Slap!
A crisp slap echoed through the Imperial KTV Heavenly Room, as a young man dressed as a waiter staggered, almost crashing headfirst into the door frame. A clear imprint of five fingers instantly appeared on half of his face.
"Chen Tang, are you out of your damn mind? What's it to you if the guests are getting cozy with each other? You actually smashed a wine bottle over Boss Zhang's head—are you insane? If you've offended Boss Zhang, can you bear the responsibility?" the shift supervisor, holding a walkie-talkie, angrily scolded the young man named Chen Tang.
After regaining his balance, Chen Tang still shielded the girl in a miniskirt behind him. The girl, wearing a white blouse, with snowy white skin and flowing long hair, had a certain air of quality about her. However, her gaze towards Chen Tang was somewhat complicated, as well as a bit helpless.
Chen Tang was a waiter at the Imperial KTV, responsible for serving drinks and fruit platters to the Heavenly Room. Just now, he had seen several corpulent bosses trying to make moves on this girl. With a fruit knife in hand, she pleaded while retreating, until she was cornered against the wall!
As the men knocked the fruit knife out of the girl's hand and were about to forcefully grab her, Chen Tang got angry, snatched up a beer bottle, and smashed it onto the back of Boss Zhang's hand!
Boss Zhang's hand split open, blood gushing out, and at that moment, a doctor was at his side, helping with the bandaging.
"Don't you dare touch her!" Chen Tang did not directly respond to the supervisor but instead fixed his gaze resolutely on the group of men within the KTV, "If any of you touch her, I'll fight you with my life."
That deep, sharp gaze was like that of a venomous snake, instilling a sense of unease the moment it landed on you.
Boss Zhang stood up from the sofa, waved his bandaged hand, took two steps forward, and suddenly kicked Chen Tang in the stomach. "The heck! Who the hell are you? President Lin came to drink with us; what right do you have to interfere? Let me tell you, even if I take her right here, right now, she wouldn't dare utter a word of objection!"
"Boss Zhang, calm down, please. Rest assured, I guarantee you'll have a satisfactory outcome today!" Manager Liu placated Boss Zhang with a sycophantic smile on his face.
This Boss Zhang dealt in real estate in Yun City and had more than a dozen properties under him. In Yun City, he had connections in both the legal and the underworld, and was truly a significant figure. Even those big shots who frequently appeared on Yun City television behaved respectfully when they saw Boss Zhang.
If such a significant figure was not served well, it would lead to big trouble!
Chen Tang fell on his butt to the ground, while Boss Zhang, looking down from his lofty position, had a look of pride and arrogance in his eyes as if a high and mighty king was staring down at his slave.
"You dare!" Chen Tang rose from the ground and took the girl's wrist behind him, saying, "Chu Xue, let's go home!"
This act left Boss Zhang, Manager Liu, and the others dumbfounded, followed by a roar of laughter.
"Haha, you want her to leave with you? Well, I'd like to see if President Lin dares to leave! She didn't come here to drink with us because I forced her; Miss Lin herself initiated the invitation, right?" Boss Zhang looked triumphantly at several other men, who nodded and agreed in unison.
"Yeah, Miss Lin's company has a funding gap of thirty million. Have a drink with us, and you'll get a thirty million investment. What a deal! After all, it's just a few drinks, and it's not like she'll lose any parts, haha!"
Another bald-headed boss chimed in, "Kid, Miss Lin is known as the number one beauty of Yun City. Who are you to her? What right do you have to take her away?"
Chen Tang stopped in his tracks, eyes blazing as he stared at the men on the sofa, posing like dogs, and said, "On what grounds? Humph! Because she is my wife! Is that reason enough?"
Chen Tang uttered these words deliberately and clearly. The whole room was stunned, their eyes turning in unison to look at the girl behind Chen Tang, known as Lin Chuxue.
Lin Chuxue's eyes showed a struggle before she shook off Chen Tang's wrist and said, "Chen Tang, can you stop making a scene?"
Huh?
So this Chen Tang really was the husband of Yun City's number one beauty, the pathetic loser that Old Master Lin supposedly picked up from a trash heap?
"Ha... Miss Lin, this is the so-called loser husband of yours? It's said that Old Master Lin found you in the garbage back in the day, hahaha... Yun City's number one beauty married a beggar! Now we finally have the chance to see him up close. Come on, turn around, let's all have a good look..."
Boss Zhang, as if he had discovered a new world, beckoned everyone over. Someone immediately adjusted the lighting, making the room brighten substantially.
Lin Chuxue's lips moved slightly, and with an embarrassed smile, she said, "Boss Zhang, you're joking! Chen Tang isn't a beggar—he was just injured at the time and happened to faint near the trash pile, that's all!"
Chen Tang looked at Lin Chuxue, sighing deeply in his heart, unsure whether Lin Chuxue was protecting him or her own dignity.
But no matter what, over these years, the girl had suffered quite a few indignities. Moreover, with the cover of being the Lin Family's son-in-law, Chen Tang had also enjoyed a few years of peace.
Ten years ago, the family issued a banishment order against Chen Tang when he turned fifteen. He left the family, and halfway through, was ambushed by men sent by his cousins. He was severely injured in Yun City, fainted near a trash pile, and narrowly escaped death. By chance, Elder Pang of the Lin Family saved him, and later even married Lin Chuxue to him.
Though they had been married for three years, they were only husband and wife in name. Lin Chuxue hadn't let Chen Tang touch her finger, but Chen Tang was still grateful to the Lin Family!
After all, his own wife! Being bullied right before his eyes was something Chen Tang couldn't swallow!
Boss Zhang waved his hand, giving Chen Tang a sly look, "That's not the point. The point is... about today's drink? Miss Lin, shall we continue drinking?"
Lin Chuxue sighed deeply, "Drink, we'll continue drinking! Chen Tang, you can leave now. I'm just keeping Boss Zhang company for a few drinks. I know my limits!" Lin's Garment Group recently faced a financial shortfall; if they couldn't raise thirty million in three days, Lin Group might well collapse.
The Lin Group was Grandpa's life's work. Before he died, he had entrusted the company to Lin Chuxue. She didn't want the company to fall apart in her hands, which was why she'd come to the KTV, bearing with Boss Zhang and others' company for drinks.
But Lin Chuxue also didn't expect that she would coincidentally end up at Chen Tang's workplace. Boss Zhang even made his moves...
Although she married Chen Tang to follow Grandpa's wishes, they still bore the name of husband and wife, which made her feel somewhat awkward.
Seeing Lin Chuxue's slender shoulders, Chen Tang felt a surge of tenderness. This girl had too many burdens to bear. "Chu Xue, it's just thirty million... I can help you," Chen Tang said softly to Lin Chuxue.
Lin Chuxue immediately flew off the handle at Chen Tang's words, "Help me? You make it sound so easy. How will you help me? Thirty million—what are you going to do, rob a bank? Just get out, leaving now is the best help you can give me! Don't worry, I won't do anything to betray you!"
"I..." Chen Tang wanted to explain, but Boss Zhang cut him off, "Idiot, didn't you hear clearly? Your wife told you to get lost!"
Looking at Boss Zhang's infuriating face, Chen Tang was livid, "Old bastard!" Chen Tang grabbed a wine bottle from the table, ready to attack Boss Zhang again.
The manager there got a huge fright and urgently shouted to the security at the door, "Quick, get someone here and throw him out!"
Several hands hurriedly dragged Chen Tang out; taking advantage of the moment security caught Chen Tang, Boss Zhang, unsatisfied, stepped forward and punched Chen Tang a few times, "Damn it, dare to hit 'la zi'? Hmph, you just wait. Today I'll make your wife beg on her knees. What can you do about it? Just watch, haha..."
After Chen Tang was thrown out, the manager respectfully assured Boss Zhang, "President Zhang, please continue, I guarantee there won't be further disturbances!"
...
After all, they knew each other. After the security brought Chen Tang outside, they let him go.
Chen Tang touched the blood at the corner of his mouth and suddenly a text message alert "ding dong" sounded from his phone. He picked it up to read, "Chen Tang, congratulations, the family's ten-year ban has been lifted. Now, you can utilize all family resources, including financial and A-Grade or lower martial support!"
The family's ban was finally lifted?
Hmph!
Chen Tang quickly dialed a number, "Elder Pang, I need D-Level support, send someone to Imperial KTV Heavenly Room right away—someone is trying to mess with my wife..."