Jiangnan Province, Tongzhou City, Dongyun International Private Club.

Although a scorching sun hung high in the sky, Young Master Xiao Hao was drenched in sweat, looking as if he'd just been doused with water. His expression was panicked, and his hair was so matted it was practically braided.

Clearly, he had realized his "mistake," but it was already too late. Brother Zhou Shang had already made the call.

Damn it, how could this happen? Previously, our Young Master Xiao Hao had been impossibly arrogant, convinced his status and background made him untouchable. He'd been ready to renege on the bet and refuse to honor it. But now, he was intimately familiar with regret—and fear.

There was always an unspoken, hard-and-fast rule in their circle. The rule was simple: no matter how much you disgraced yourself publicly, as long as it didn't escalate to the family's attention—'inside the house'—there was still room for negotiation and forgiveness.

But if the matter blew up 'inside the house,' as it just had for Xiao Hao, implicating his uncle Xiao Qianrang and even threatening the reputation of the entire Xiao Family… that was absolutely intolerable.

RRRING...

Suddenly, the piercing sound of a phone ringing erupted from Xiao Hao's pocket, making him shudder. His face turned deathly pale. With trembling fingers, he took out his phone.

"I… you… Uncle…" he stammered.

His hands began to shake even more violently when he saw the caller ID. It was his uncle, the head of the Xiao Group himself—Xiao Qianrang!

"What's the matter, Xiao Shao? Not going to answer?" Dong Jianhui taunted, a sneer spreading across his face.

"You… I…" Xiao Hao shot back, his expression a mixture of fury and unconcealable panic. He didn't dare delay any longer. Gritting his teeth, he finally answered the call.

"Uncle, I..." he spoke into the phone, his heart nearly leaping into his throat.

"You worthless scum! Are you trying to start a rebellion? You dare to disrespect the Zhou family so openly? Do you have any idea that even I, Xiao Qianrang, wouldn't dare to act recklessly at the Dongyun Club?" His uncle's furious roar blasted through the receiver, and the color drained from Xiao Hao's face.

"Uncle… Uncle, please don't be angry. I was wrong. I'll never do it again…" Xiao Hao stammered, genuinely taken aback.

He never expected to hear such shocking words from his uncle. His uncle was Xiao Qianrang, the man in charge of the Xiao Group! He was the head of the wealthiest conglomerate in all of Jiangnan Province and the public face of the esteemed Xiao Family. And now, what was he hearing? He'd just heard his own uncle, the formidable Xiao Qianrang, admit that even *he* didn't dare cause trouble at the Dongyun Club.

"Angry? I'm past the point of being angry. You worthless fool, I'm telling you, don't think for a second I don't know about all your little schemes. Did you really believe my tolerance was infinite?"

As terrified as Xiao Hao already was, his uncle's next words sent a fresh wave of fear through him. His pupils constricted, and his entire body began to shake uncontrollably.

Xiao Qianrang had never spoken to him like this before. What did it mean? It meant his uncle's patience had finally run out. It meant he might be about to abandon him, his own nephew. From this day forward, any chance he, Xiao Hao, had of inheriting the family business would be gone.

How could he possibly bear that?

He completely forgot where he was. Right there, in front of everyone, he practically burst into tears. Snot and tears streaming down his face, he begged into the phone, "Uncle, I was wrong! I was truly wrong! Please, give me one more chance! Just one last chance!"

"Wrong? Hmph!" was the only response, a cold snort from Xiao Qianrang. His next words, however, made Xiao Hao freeze.

Because Xiao Qianrang then asked, "You worthless fool, listen to me. Is there a young man in his twenties with you? Surnamed Chen, named Chen Fei."

A young man in his twenties? Surnamed Chen, named Chen Fei?

Though confused as to why his uncle would bring up Chen Fei at a time like this, Xiao Hao answered immediately and without hesitation. "Yes! He's right here. Right in front of me."

As soon as Xiao Hao said this, both Zhou Shang and Dong Jianhui shot him strange looks.

Did the person on the other end… say something to him?

Looking for me? Chen Fei was the only one who seemed to understand. He subconsciously narrowed his eyes, a strange light glinting in their clear, inky depths. With his heightened senses, he could easily hear what Xiao Qianrang was saying through the phone. What's this all about? Is that old geezer still holding a grudge? Is he planning to cause more trouble for me?

"He's there? Good." Just then, Xiao Qianrang's cold voice came through the phone again. "You worthless thing, I'm giving you one last chance. I'm on my way to the Dongyun Club now. You are to keep him there. Make sure he doesn't leave until I arrive, understand?"

"Yes, I understand! I understand, Uncle…" Xiao Hao nodded frantically, only to hear the dull drone of the disconnected line in his ear.

Uncle is coming here himself?

It was only after hearing the piercing sound of the call ending that Young Master Xiao Hao snapped back to reality. He wiped a thick layer of sticky sweat from his forehead, murmuring to himself with a strange expression. He couldn't understand why his uncle would order him to stall Chen Fei until he arrived personally.

While he was still lost in his thoughts, Zhou Shang's voice cut through the air like a whip. "Xiao Hao, are you done with your call? If you are, then scram. From this night forward, the Dongyun International Private Club no longer welcomes you. Don't ever show your face here again."

"Brother Shang!" Xiao Hao's expression changed instantly. He hadn't expected Zhou Shang to actually go through with kicking him out. If word of this got out, how could he ever show his face in their circle again? It would be a complete and utter humiliation! His reputation would be destroyed!

Besides, he now had a mission that his entire future depended on—his last chance. He had to keep Chen Fei here until his uncle arrived. If he got thrown out, how was he supposed to do that?

"Shut your mouth!" Zhou Shang snapped, his voice cold. "I have no interest in talking to a shameless punk like you. I'll give you ten minutes. If you haven't disappeared from the Dongyun Club by then, don't blame me for what happens next. You'll have to bear the consequences yourself."

"I… you…" Xiao Hao's face burned with humiliation. To think that someone of his status and position would see the day he'd be publicly thrown out of a club—it was utterly mortifying.

The crowd erupted. "Tsk, tsk, serves him right! I never liked that hypocrite anyway."

"He really thought he could become a phoenix just by clinging to Xiao Qianrang? What a pipe dream!"

"Good thing I dropped by today, or I would've missed this amazing show! Young Master Xiao Hao getting his Diamond VIP Card revoked, being permanently blacklisted, and kicked out? That's big news!"

"It's his own bad luck to run into Brother Shang. You know, back in the day, Brother Shang was bold enough to arm-wrestle with Xiao Qianrang..."

The room was suddenly abuzz with whispers and lively discussion.

Hearing the mocking, piercing comments, Xiao Hao's face flushed red with anger, shifting between shades of purple and green. Ultimately, he couldn't take the pressure and scurried away in disgrace. He was only reaping what he had sown.

Before leaving, however, he made sure to stop Chen Fei. "You, Chen," he snarled, "don't you go anywhere. My uncle wants to see you."

"Your uncle?" Zhou Shang's expression turned grave. "What does Xiao Qianrang want?" he asked, his tone displeased.

"Brother Fei, should I call my dad?" Hearing Xiao Hao's threat, even Dong Jianhui—the son of Tongzhou's top official—grew serious. He leaned in and whispered the question to Chen Fei.

After all, this was Xiao Qianrang they were talking about—the head of the Xiao Group and the public face of the Xiao Family, the most prominent noble family in all of Jiangnan Province. Even Dong Jianhui wasn't qualified to deal with someone of that stature. Only his father, with his position as the city's top official, was qualified to speak to Xiao Qianrang as an equal, or perhaps even have the upper hand.

"Don't be so tense," Chen Fei said with a casual smile, completely unconcerned. "He's just Xiao Qianrang, not the President of America. If he wants to see me, then I'll see him. I'll wait."

Seriously, if you had brought out the old patriarch of the Xiao Family, you might have actually intimidated me. But just Xiao Qianrang? The man's been thwarted by me so many times he doesn't even register as a threat anymore.

Of course, while Young Master Chen might think that way, no one else present dared to share his sentiment.

Hearing Chen Fei's incredibly audacious words, even Dong Jianhui, the son of the city's top official, was left dumbfounded. His mouth fell open, and he couldn't seem to close it.

'Just Xiao Qianrang?' Good heavens, no wonder he's Brother Fei. He's probably the only person in the entire younger generation of Jiangnan Province who would dare say something so casual. We're talking about *the* Xiao Qianrang! The head of the Xiao Group! A titan that even his own father takes with the utmost seriousness. And in Brother Fei's eyes, he's... just that? Nothing more?

Zhou Shang, however, showed no signs of shock. Instead, he shot Chen Fei a meaningful glance, his expression complex.

Clearly, he was beginning to understand something.

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