The Xu family mansion.
ZhiXu sat stiffly on the sofa, his face stern as he absentmindedly fiddled with a few of his cultural relic strings.
Fyren wore a polite smile. "Uncle Xu, I'm grateful for the Xu family's help in raising capital for the shantytown project. This is a contract—please review it. Once signed, the project's collateral will be secured. Regardless of the project's future earnings, Houde Group will recover its costs."
ZhiXu glanced at it, snorted, and slammed the contract onto the table.
"Fyren, your father and I have been friends for decades, so I'll be blunt—if you think you're marrying my daughter, forget it!"
Fyren froze.
[Did you grow eyes? This is a business contract, not a wedding invitation!]
"No, I mean—as you know, this shantytown project will likely lose money. Although our stock rose yesterday, today's gains have stabilized. The surge wasn't as big as expected, and there are fewer calls about internal listings. I estimate—"
ZhiXu rapped his tobacco pipe against the coffee table. "I can lose money, but I won't sell my daughter!"
Fyren said, "You're a real man!"
[Are you even listening? Who said anything about marrying her?]
"Uncle Xu, this is a business contract. Could you at least read it before responding?"
"No need!"
ZhiXu suddenly stood, waving his pipe excitedly. "Listen, Fyren—your sharp eye picked this project, but its future is still uncertain. If you're using this money-losing venture to manipulate stocks and fleece investors, that's your skill!"
He slashed the air emphatically. "But! I, ZhiXu, have weathered storms! Even if I invested two hundred billion and lost our family fortune, I won't be blackmailed by you!"
Fyren glanced back at Zaring and Chloe, both at a loss for words.
He took a deep breath. "Uncle Xu, look—just review the contract. This has nothing to do with Xena. She refused to sign, so I came to you. My intention is—"
"If Xena won't sign, neither will I!"
ZhiXu declared, "I know your game! You're trying to pressure us into letting you two be together—using this 'favor' to sweet-talk my daughter. Next, you'll knock her up to force a wedding, and then our Xu family fortune—our drug factories, R&D teams, research organizations, hospitals—will all fall into your hands! Isn't that right?"
Fyren tilted his head, staring at the old man in speechless exasperation.
[You've got quite the imagination! The one scheming like that is Otto, not me!
I can't even avoid your damn daughter!]
Fyren struggled to contain his frustration. "Uncle, just take one look at this contract, just one glance—"
"Look at what? I refuse!"
Fyren suddenly exploded, roaring, "Take a fucking look!"
ZhiXu froze. "You dare shout at me?!"
Fyren grabbed him by the collar and yanked him forward. ZhiXu tried to resist, but Fyren was now a genuine Ancient martial artist—his physical strength far beyond ordinary comprehension.
Grabbing him was as easy as lifting a chick.
Gritting his teeth, Fyren shoved ZhiXu's face toward the contract. "Business contract! BUSINESS CONTRACT! There's no trickery here! Not a single advantage taken against your Xu family! Read it properly! If you can't see clearly, I'll rip your damn head off!"
ZhiXu was stunned into silence.
Fyren had always been called a scoundrel, but never this unhinged.
In the past, he was the sly, smirking type—scheming behind pleasantries.
But today? Pure, unfiltered rage.
ZhiXu glanced back. Even his subordinates were too terrified by Fyren's outburst to intervene.
Clearing his throat, ZhiXu picked up the contract. Something felt off. He reread it several times.
"That's it?"
"What else?!"
Fuming, Fyren flopped onto the sofa opposite, legs crossed, angrily loosening his tie.
"ZhiXu, I call you 'uncle' out of respect! Will you listen like a normal person? I said it's a business contract—why keep dragging your daughter into this? Your shitty drug factories? Your shitty hospitals? You think I care? I've got a special license to run those damn factories myself—why would I need yours?"
He jabbed a finger at the contract. "Sign it! If it makes you happy, I'll transfer all the pharmaceutical shares to you afterward! I want NOTHING to do with your Xu family!"
ZhiXu hesitated. "But... your father called me saying... you liked my daughter— oh. Uh. Sorry, Fyren. I'm... getting old."
Only now did ZhiXu realize: this contract was solid gold.
No strings attached—just a full guarantee on their 20-billion investment.
The kind of deal you sign without thinking twice.
His family's 20 billion would be completely safeguarded—zero risk, pure profit.
ZhiXu gleefully signed, his heart at ease.
[All that heartache over Xena tossing out 20 billion in cash? Gone! The Zhang family's eldest young master has lost his mind—handing us this ironclad guaranteed contract!]
Perfect! Secured! Not a single loss possible, and the terms are crystal clear - if the project loses money, Dasheng Group will compensate the full 20 billion investment plus double the standard bank interest rate.
It's equivalent to buying a guaranteed financial product - bound to turn a profit.
Handing the contract back to Fyren: "Fyren, don't be angry now, uncle misunderstood. You know I only have one daughter like Xena - how could I bear to hand her over to some bastard son of a bitch, right? Let's reconcile our hearts..."
Fyren glared at him. "Do you believe I'll tear up this contract right now?"
"Whoa whoa whoa, easy! As long as you stay away from my daughter, I promise our cooperation remains strong. How about... a drink?"
Seeing how the supposedly doomed 20 billion investment had not only returned safely but was guaranteed to yield profits in coming years, ZhiXu was delighted.
"No time!" Fyren said irritably. "Two copies - we each keep one. The contract takes effect immediately. Guard yours well - if you lose it, don't expect a single cent from me!"
"Now kid, no need for such harsh words! It's not like you actually like my daughter anyway!"
Fyren handed the contract to Chloe and stared at ZhiXu. "You! Focus on controlling your daughter instead! At my house she's just..."
Fyren couldn't even find the words. "I'm not interested in your daughter! Not in your shitty pharmaceutical company or your shitty hospital! Understand? And you think I'm forcing marriage... Tell your daughter to stay the hell away from me from now on!"
"Hey, you..."
"What about me?" Fyren snapped. "Your family invests 20 billion, I provide full guarantee - what does that make me?"
"Your daughter pesters me daily, putting on shows at my house until even my parents think I'm some bastard - what does that make me?"
"I kindly bring this guaranteed contract and you drag your feet like some pig's uncle - what does that make me?"
ZhiXu stood frozen under Fyren's tirade, speechless.
By the time he recovered, Fyren had already stormed out with his entourage.
Exiting the Xu mansion, Fyren's anger still simmered. "Next stop - the Chen family!"
...
BinChen was polishing an antique vase, attended by several assistants holding trays of specialized tools.
A servant announced from the doorway: "Young Master, Zhang family's eldest son Fyren requests an audience."
BinChen froze. "Who?"
"Fyren."
BinChen's face immediately darkened. "That good-for-nothing young master."
The surrounding staff all chuckled quietly.
BinChen placed the antique back in its case, and an assistant carefully took it away to be stored.
BinChen frowned. "When this kid was young, he at least had some spirit. But the older he gets, the more useless he becomes. If not for my father's inexplicable fondness for him, humph, I wouldn't even allow him to set foot in our Chen residence."
The house steward smiled diplomatically. "After all, he is the Zhang family's eldest son. Though he's all show and no substance, we must still show some respect to the Zhang family."
BinChen sneered. "A man - I don't fear if he's wicked, lustful, uneducated, or even ugly."
"Then... what do you fear?"
BinChen declared, "What I fear most is spinelessness! A capable man may be flawed in many ways. But a gutless, temperamentless coward who relies on petty schemes to scrape together dirty money? Such men are doomed to fail. When I see that kind of man, I feel nothing but utter contempt."
"So... shall we refuse to see him?"
"See him. Why not?" BinChen said. "Let him come in. Want to bet? With just a few words, I can make him stammer and scurry out of our Chen Mansion like a frightened mouse."
"Of course, Master. Your presence alone is overwhelming for ordinary people."
Soon after, Fyren entered with Chloe and Zaring in tow.
Fyren had spent the entire walk trying to compose himself, but recalling his treatment at the Xu mansion only stoked his anger further.
Forcing a smile, he greeted: "Uncle Chen! My, it's been too long! You're as dignified and handsome as ever!"
"Mmm." BinChen offered a perfunctory smile and adopted an official tone. "Fyren. Have a seat."
"Thank you, Uncle."
"What brings you here?"
Fyren's mood instantly soured.
[What's with this old man's attitude? Did I desecrate your family graves? Can't even offer tea to a guest?]
Fyren began: "Here's the situation, Uncle Chen. Earlier, the Chen family invested 12 billion in my shantytown project. I've prepared a guarantee—"
"That's fine." BinChen interrupted. "A mere ten-odd billion? I can afford the loss."
Fyren thought bitterly:
[Why don't you go bankrupt, you bastard! Can't you let me finish a damn sentence?!]
"No, what I mean—"
"Fyren."
"Yes?"
"I know your little games." BinChen said. "Don't think that just because you're slightly clever, you can outmaneuver everyone. Compared to me, your tricks are child's play - like a kid playing with mud."
[Here we go again.]
BinChen continued his mental tirade:
[I never approved of you with my Cora, you know that. But times change - let bygones be bygones. Still, are you two even compatible? My daughter - her figure, looks, talents, intelligence, capabilities - all first-class! Yes, you have money now. But we're old aristocracy. You? Frankly, just nouveau riche muscle! Wealthy today, but tomorrow? Who can guarantee your family fortune won't be squandered by—]
Fyren closed his eyes, taking deep breaths:
[Life's but a play, meetings are fate. Why lose temper over trifles? If I rage, who'd care? Fall ill from anger, none will share...]
Chloe stifled a giggle hearing Fyren's internal mantra.