Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The gunshot still lingering in his ears, Zhan Haoze woke up from his dream. His head hurt a little. He rubbed his forehead, but he couldnât suppress the headache.
Ever since he returned to Qing City, he couldnât control the nightmares. Nightmares came one after another. Even if he wanted to resist, it was useless.
He got up and looked at the gloomy night outside. He took out his phone and unlocked it. He looked at Shi Mengwanâs phone, but he didnât pull it out.
The sky was getting brighter. He got up early and went downstairs to the gym to exercise. He was used to getting up early. He had the habit of doing morning exercises every day.
Not only did he do morning exercises, but he also did boxing. The guards at Cherry Blossom Villa were quite good. This villa was even more heavily guarded by him. He had arranged many people in the open and in the dark.
When he came out of the gym, the people below had already prepared breakfast. While he was eating breakfast, he read through the financial news.
Just as he put down the bowl in his hand, Tang Hua entered the door with a rare solemn expression. âBoss, something happened to sixth brother.â
Zhan Haoze looked at Tang Hua with a sullen expression. âWhat happened? Tell me clearly.â
âThe last time you asked sixth brother to keep an eye on the club under the Zhan familyâs name, he seemed to have found a breakthrough. The day before yesterday, he told me that he wanted to go in and investigate. But even today, I still havenât heard from him.â
Tang Huaâs expression was a little anxious. They had been together since they were young, so they knew each otherâs ways very clearly.
âBoss, sixth brother isnât the kind of person who doesnât know the gravity of things. If nothing happened to him, no matter what, there would definitely be news brought out. Right now, he hasnât given out any news for a whole day. Iâm afraid that ââ
Tang Hua didnât say that something bad happened, but he believed that Zhan Haoze would understand.
Zhan Haoze was silent. He thought of Uncle Chiâs words last time and the death warrant. His expression was very serious.
âHave you looked for it?â
He knew about the clubhouse that Tang Hua mentioned. Previously, sixth brother had said that he wanted to check it out. He knew that it wasnât easy. He tried to stop sixth brother, but he didnât get what he wanted.
âIâve looked, but thereâs no news for now.â
Zhan Haozeâs expression was solemn. He sat there with his brows tightly knitted together.
The Zhan family couldnât be dealt with in a day. For so long, he had been slowly laying out his plans and slowly pulling in the net. From the moment he decided to go against the Zhan family, he knew that this was a path full of thorns.
The Zhan family was, after all, a family that had been established for so many years. It was impossible to topple them in a day. He had this understanding.
However, this understanding didnât include sacrificing the lives of those whom he regarded as best friends.
âLet old seventh brother people to find out where sixth brother is and bring him back.â
âBut ââ Tang Hua looked like he wanted to say something, but he hesitated. He didnât say anything else, but Zhan Haoze understood what he meant.
If seventh brother brought people in to get sixth brother out, he might even be dragged into it.
If that was the case, then that wouldnât be a good thing.
Zhan Haoze also realized that it wasnât suitable for seventh brother to look for someone. Perhaps he should directly look for a breakthrough from the Zhan family.
At this moment, the phone rang again. The person on the other end of the phone was Uncle Chi.
âI think we can meet now.â
âI donât see why thereâs a need to meet.â Zhan Haoze had a very bad impression of Uncle Chi.
âIs that so?â Uncle Chi smiled and said a name. Then he asked, âAre you sure you donât want to see me?â
Zhan Haozeâs expression was unsightly. He clenched the phone in his hand tightly and resisted the urge to throw it out.
Two hours later, Zhan Haoze met Uncle Chi in the office of Qing City Company.
Uncle Chiâs expression was much more smug than last time.
Zhan Haoze was expressionless. Even though he was in a weak position, he wouldnât admit defeat in front of the Zhan family.
Uncle Chi wasnât in a hurry to speak. He slowly took out a few photos from his pocket and placed them on Zhan Haozeâs desk.
In the photos, a man who looked to be less than thirty was tied to a chair. The man was obviously injured. He seemed to have been beaten up.
No matter how calm Zhan Haoze was, his expression still changed slightly when he saw sixth brother in this state.
However, he quickly calmed down. He looked at Uncle Chi coldly. His narrowed eyes were sinister and dangerous.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Uncle Chi wasnât annoyed by his glare. He chuckled. âHow about we discuss the terms now?â
Zhan Haoze frowned. His expression was very cold.
âI donât think we have any terms to discuss.â
âWhy do you say that? I donât believe you donât know what the situation is like now.â
Zhan Haoze didnât respond to him, Uncle Chi leaned forward slightly. âI can say for sure that you canât eat this big cake of the Zhan family in one go, but if youâre willing to take a step back and you can get it, why donât you take a step back and weâll both be happy?â
If he could, Uncle Chi really didnât want to beg a junior like this.
But he had no choice. Zhan Yi, Zhan Li, Zhan Yang, and the others, since the last time, not only did they not unite as one, but they also became more and more unruly.
Zhan Lieâs ability wasnât bad, but the Zhan familyâs business was big. He didnât carry all the burden in the past, and there were many things that he couldnât make a decision on. He was too cautious in doing things. He really didnât have the decisiveness that Zhan Kun had in the past.
If it werenât for the fact that Uncle Chi really couldnât find anyone, he would not have abandoned his pride and come here to beg Zhan Haoze.
Zhan Haoze curled the corners of his lips. âTake a step back? How?â
âYou take over the Zhan family and let the Zhan family become yours. How about that?â
âAre you sure that you can make the decision? Zhan Kun isnât dead yet.â
He really called Zhan Kunâs name. His expression was full of mockery and didnât have the slightest bit of respect. Uncle Chi wasnât angry either.
âI donât believe you donât know what the old man is like now, so I can make the decision now.â
Uncle Chi had been by Zhan Kunâs side for more than thirty years. In the Zhan family, he had absolute authority. He was also confident that as long as he was around, those people wouldnât be able to cause any trouble.
Zhan Haoze was silent. He didnât respond to Uncle Chiâs words. Uncle Chi wasnât in a hurry. He was extremely patient today and was waiting for Zhan Haoze to compromise.
Tang Hua, who was standing beside Zhan Haoze, saw the conflicted look on his face. His lips moved and he wanted to say something, but he stopped himself.
As if sensing his thoughts, Zhan Haoze picked up the stack of photos. Looking at the confident and smug look on Uncle Chiâs face, he tore up the photos one by one.
âI refuse.â
âYou ââ
Uncle Chi, who had never expected such an answer, was stunned on the spot. He was stunned for almost an entire minute. When Zhan Haoze asked Tang Hua to chase him away, he suddenly put his hands on the desk.
âZhan Haoze, are you sure?â
âThereâs nothing to be unsure about.â
Sixth brotherâs life wasnât in danger for the time being. Uncle Chi was afraid that he would resort to extreme measures and wouldnât dare to hurt Lao Liu for the time being, and he was confident that he could bring sixth brother out.
âDonât you want Lu Taoâs life anymore?â Lu Tao was sixth brother.
âHeâs just a subordinate. But if you dare to hurt him, I will repay the Zhan family tenfold, a hundredfold.â Zhan Haoze wasnât afraid of Uncle Chiâs threat. âYou can give it a try.â
âIs that so?â Uncle Chi sneered and took out a few photos from his pocket. âEn, youâre amazing. You donât care about Lu Taoâs life. Then, you donât care about her life either?â
This time, the photos on the desk were of Shi Mengwan.
On the top was a single photo of Shi Mengwan. The second photo was of Zhan Haoze and Shi Mengwan dancing together on the dance floor when they were in France.
Zhan Haozeâs gaze became sinister and dangerous. He almost couldnât help but stand up, but he quickly sat down again.
âIf you dare to touch a single hair on her head, do you believe that I will let you have a taste of what itâs like to be unable to live and beg for death?â
âDonât be so agitated. âUncle Chi didnât care about his threat at all. âIf youâre so agitated, you wonât be able to calm down after this, donât you think so?â
Zhan Haoze knew that he had lost control just now. He should have acted calmer.
He felt very unhappy that this weakness was grasped by someone else.
âWhat exactly do you want to do?â
Uncle Chi smiled. âStop all your revenge and go back to the Zhan family to support the overall situation.â
Zhan Haozeâs expression was quite unsightly. Uncle Chi wasnât in a hurry. He had been by Zhan Kunâs side for thirty years, and he had been able to walk step by step in the Zhan family until now. He wasnât someone to be trifled with.
âWhat if I refuse?â
âI think you donât have much of a choice.â Uncle Chi didnât mind stating the truth. âYes, you can also refuse. However, I canât guarantee the lives of Mr. Lu and Miss Shi.â
Looking at Zhan Haozeâs gloomy face, Uncle Chi chuckled. âOf course, you can also kidnap me now and use me, an old fellow, to exchange hostages with the Zhan family. However, Iâm already so old. If I really die, thereâs nothing to regret. If I really have the two of them to die with me, itâll be worth it. Donât you think so?â
Zhan Haoze glared at Uncle Chiâs face. He didnât restrain his aura at all. That pressure made even an experienced person like Uncle Chi feel a little shaken.
However, the more Zhan Haoze acted like this, the more Uncle Chi was determined to let him return to the Zhan family.
Only a person like this could support the Zhan family.
The atmosphere in the office was rather silent. Zhan Haoze sat there without moving. Behind him, Tang Hua completely listened to him. Naturally, he wouldnât disturb him at this time.
He didnât speak, and Uncle Chi wasnât in a hurry either. Originally, he didnât plan for Zhan Haoze to agree immediately, so he was gambling.
After all, he was Zhan Lie and Qiao Ruoliuâs child. Zhan Haoze was like Zhan Kun, but not like him. His methods were similar, but psychologically, there was still a soft spot.
And this soft spot was enough for Uncle Chi to make use of.
Ten minutes later, Zhan Haoze finally said, âOkay, I agree. But I have a few conditions.â
âSpeak.â
âFirst, the old man is old. Since his body isnât healthy, donât keep coming out. Rest well.â
This meant that he was going to separate Zhan Kun. Uncle Chi hesitated for a moment before nodding his head. After all, he was Zhan Kunâs spokesperson now.
He would do whatever Zhan Kun ordered. As long as he kept an eye on Zhan Kun, no one would go in front of Zhan Kun.
âSure.â
âSecond, Iâll take over the Zhan family. I donât want to see the other members of the Zhan family.â
âThis is a bit too much. After all, theyâre all doing their jobs. For the time being, they wonât hinder you.â
âIf you donât agree, then thereâs no deal. Iâm that personâs grandson. If you provoke me, at worst, weâll fight to the death.â
âOkay. I agree.â
Those useless trash wouldnât be of much use in the Zhan family anyway. It didnât matter if they stayed or not.
âThird, let my people go. Also, you have to promise that youâll never touch my people. Youâre not allowed to hurt them.â
âNo problem. Since you are willing to take over the Zhan family, then you are my master. Not only will I get people to revoke the assassination order against you, but I can also get people to protect the people you care about.â
Protect? What did this protection mean. Zhan Haoze knew that very clearly.
He looked at Uncle Chi coldly. âGive me a week. I will arrange things properly and I will enter the company.â
âOkay. Iâll wait for you for a week.â
Uncle Chi, who had received an affirmative reply, was very easy to talk to. âIf you think a week isnât enough, you can have more time.â
After Uncle Chi left, Zhan Haoze sat on the chair and rubbed the space between his brows. Tang Hua asked worriedly, âBoss?â
Zhan Haoze didnât look at him. He half-closed his eyes and said very softly, âDonât worry. I know what Iâm doing.â
..
Shi Mengwanâs life returned to peace. After that day, Zhan Haoze never came to look for her again.
In the blink of an eye, more than a month had passed. Su Qingsangâs belly was already big. She wanted to fly to Rong City to see her a few times, but she had too many things on her hands.
The studio recruited two new people and slowly started to get used to the job, but many of the clothes were requested to be mass-produced on Weibo.
They had always been making custom-made clothes. Of course, there wasnât much difference, but there was still a little bit of meaning to it.
If they wanted to be big, they had to mass-produce. Shi Mengwan understood this principle.
In the following period, she went to a few factories and went to a few manufacturers that produced raw materials. Her busy schedule made it impossible for her to take care of her own matters.
Shi Mengwanâs mother had probably guessed something. Ever since the last blind date was ruined, she didnât mention the matter of her being asked to go on a blind date.
This way, Shi Mengwanâs life was much more tranquil. That day, she finished her last factory run. When she returned to the city, it was already very late.
Although this stretch of road had been repaired, there werenât many cars.
Shi Mengwan was in the middle of her drive. She didnât know if there were stones or other things, but the car jolted a little. Shi Mengwan reacted quickly and gripped the steering wheel tightly.
After she finally stabilized the car, she was about to continue driving. However, she realized that the car seemed to have broken down or something. It actually stopped moving.
She tried to start the car several times but failed. After that, she hurriedly got out of the car. She wanted to see what the problem was. If it didnât work, she could only call a tow truck.
Shi Mengwan got out of the car and opened the front cover. She didnât understand much about the problem with the car, and this action was just to see how to solve it.
It was already late, and she was alone in the middle of nowhere. Just thinking about it was a little scary.
She lifted the front cover and checked the car with the light from her phone. With her level, she couldnât find anything wrong with her car.
After checking for a long time, Shi Mengwan really couldnât see that she was thinking of calling for a tow when a voice sounded from behind her.
âMiss, the car is broken. Do you want me to take a look?â
Shi Mengwan was shocked by the sudden sound. She turned around and saw a few young people who seemed to be in their early 20s gathered behind her.
The person who spoke was the leader of the group. He was wearing a black jacket. He seemed to think he was handsome and shook his head.
âMiss, come, let us examine for you.â
Shi Mengwan swallowed her saliva. The situation in front of her didnât seem too good. âNo need, Iâve already called a tow truck.â
She held her phone in her hand and wanted to call the police without a trace. However, the leader of the group took her phone away at this moment.
âMiss, donât be so ungrateful. No matter what, we brothers have good intentions.â
As he spoke, he waved his hand behind him. âCome, you guys, examine this beautiful lady properly.â
Under the night sky, Shi Mengwanâs face was pale. She forced herself to remain calm and stretched out her hand towards that person. âGive me back my phone. I donât need you to examine me.â
âMiss, who knows, you might need it later.â
The man in the black jacket smiled wickedly. The few people he had brought with him were already approaching Shi Mengwan.
Shi Mengwan was really frightened this time. She was alone, but there were six of them.
She pressed her body tightly against the hood of the car and was still thinking about how to escape. Suddenly, the sound of a car came from behind her.
She turned around, and making her squint her eyes, the light of the car shone on her face.
Thinking that they would continue after the other party left, the man in the black jacket and the others werenât in a hurry to move.
Who knew that the car stopped beside them. At this moment, the man in the black jacket saw clearly. The other party wasnât a car. It was five cars.
Two Bentleys in the front and two Bentleys in the back. In the middle was a Rolls-royce Phantom.
Even people without common sense were stunned when they saw this row of luxury cars, not to mention punks.
Shi Mengwan saw it clearly now. She saw many tall men in black suits getting out of the cars.
Someone opened the back door of the Rolls-royce. A pair of extremely long and powerful legs got out first.
Under the lights of the car, the owner of the legs walked towards Shi Mengwan step by step.
Shi Mengwan swallowed her saliva. Before she could react, the owner of the legs had already walked in front of her.
The young men were so scared that they didnât dare to open their mouths. Zhan Haoze looked at Shi Mengwan and stretched out his hand towards her.
Shi Mengwan didnât know what she was thinking, but she unexpectedly moved her hand back and pulled it back.
Not only that, she even took a step to the side. She had forgotten that there was someone beside her. As she stood there, she bumped into the hooligans beside her.
This time, Shi Mengwan wanted to dodge in time, but she lost her balance and fell to the side.
Zhan Haozeâs hand caught her waist in time. In the next second, she was carried horizontally.
Pressing her head into his chest, Zhan Haoze gave the leader of the black-shirted men a look.
That man understood. The man in the black jacket realized that something was wrong and wanted to escape, but it was too late. Soon, sounds of wailing and fighting could be heard behind Zhan Haoze and the others.
Shi Mengwan wanted to poke her head out to take a look, but she was already carried into the car by Zhan Haoze.
Shi Mengwan and Zhan Haoze hadnât seen each other for almost two months. Sitting in the car, she didnât have time to look outside. She just looked at Zhan Haoze and discovered that the Zhan Haoze in front of her seemed to be different.
She didnât have time to think about what was different about Zhan Haoze because he had already pulled her body into his arms again.