Summer Zhu quickly stood up and wiped the tea leaves off Gao Ning's clothes, then glared at Chu Yuxuan, fuming, "Chu Yuxuan! Don't push people too far!"
Chu Yuxuan snorted coldly, "Summer Zhu, to be frank, you're just a commodity. I'm trying to raise your value and sell you at a good price, yet you don't even appreciate it?"
"You... you're despicable!" Summer Zhu trembled with anger.
Chu Yuxuan sighed, slightly exasperated, and said something that Summer Zhu didn't quite understand: "You're so... foolish it's scary. Why do you always have to involve yourself in everything? And why do you always like to buy the casket and return the pearls?"
Mr. Jin hurried to mediate, "Brother Chu, calm down. Everything was fine just a moment ago, and Gao Ning didn't say anything out of line!" Chu Yuxuan glanced at him sideways, "Haven't had enough to drink?"
Mr. Jin smacked his lips, "Brother Chu, we're all friends here, you—"
"Drinking with you is me giving you face," Chu Yuxuan said with a faint smile. "Letting you call me 'brother' is me giving you even more face! Mr. Jin, listen to some good advice: don't stick your nose into everything. Qingya Media may be a small company, but it doesn't need to fawn over you. If you truly want to do business and be friends with me, I'll invite you for a drink later. But if you keep meddling, I'll deal with you too!"
Mr. Jin, feeling embarrassed, waved his hand, "Alright, alright, you guys talk first. I'll give you a proper welcome after you're done." Zhao Yanan, pondering, gave Mr. Jin an apologetic look and said, "Mr. Jin, I'm really sorry." He smiled faintly and said nothing more.
Gao Ning, barely containing his anger, said, "Mr. Chu, I know your father is a big shot, and our Gao family can't afford to provoke him, but do you really need to show off like this?" The implication being: you're just relying on your father, so what's there to boast about?
Chu Yuxuan, both amused and annoyed, said, "Hey, don't confuse things. Who's the one constantly bringing up their father? Gao Ning, I don't know what you're trying to do, but I warn you, you're not qualified. Get your dad to play with me, okay?"
"Mr. Chu, I just want to terminate Summer Zhu's contract! You're overthinking this!"
"Redeem her contract? I understand, just pay up. I'm not interested anyway."
Zhao Yanan glanced at Chu Yuxuan as he said this, her thoughts unknown. Gao Ning bit his lip and glared, "The penalty amount isn't up to you! If we can't come to an agreement, we'll take it to court!" Chu Yuxuan nodded dismissively, "Sure, I know the Gao family might not think much of Qingya's legal department, but I wonder... will the Chu family's legal team meet your standards? Hmm?"
If it's about using power to oppress, who doesn't know how to do that?
Everyone in Jiangcheng's business circle knows the Chu family's legal team—elite among elites, they've handled countless cases over the decades with only a handful of losses.
Gao Ning deflated immediately, unsure what to say.
At that moment, Gao Zhensheng unexpectedly entered the private room.
Out of courtesy, Zhao Yanan stood up to greet him, and Mr. Jin also cheerfully said hello. Gao Ning was stunned, not expecting his father to find this place. After a moment of shock, he called out, "Dad."
Only Chu Yuxuan and Summer Zhu remained silent—the former out of disdain, the latter out of fear.
"Mr. Chu," Gao Zhensheng said with a forced smile, reaching out to shake Chu Yuxuan's hand. "I just got back from out of town half an hour ago. I heard my useless son was up to no good again, so I came straight here without even going home."
Chu Yuxuan didn't extend his hand, smirking mockingly, "Oh? What foolish thing did he do? Tell me."
Gao Zhensheng, being a sensible man, knew that Chu Yuxuan wasn't interested in explanations. He turned directly to his son and scolded, "You fool! Mr. Chu already showed mercy to our Gao family last time, that was already more than enough! How could you be so ungrateful? Are you willing to drag the entire Gao family down for a woman?"
"Dad, I—"
Gao Zhensheng didn't let him finish, turning to Summer Zhu with a glare, "Miss Zhu, I think I was too vague with you before, and you didn't fully understand. So listen carefully now—as long as I, Gao Zhensheng, am alive, you will never marry into our Gao family. Get that idea out of your head! Whether you terminate your contract or not has nothing to do with Ning, and I won't give him a single cent. You'd better behave, or don't blame me for being rude!"
Summer Zhu nodded meekly, not daring to raise her head or speak.
In truth, when she was with Gao Ning before, she frequently faced opposition from his parents. But she loved him deeply and believed that if she persevered, she would eventually be accepted.
"Dad! You…" Gao Ning was about to speak up for Summer Zhu but was cut off by his father's scolding, "Shut up! Can't you live without a woman? Three years ago, you insisted on going to America for another woman despite your mother's and my objections. Now that she's married, you're ready to die for this one? When will you grow up?!"
Chu Yuxuan: "Oh?"
Zhao Yanan: "Hmm?"
Both of them had the same amused look, like they were watching a good show.
Summer Zhu felt like she'd been struck by lightning!
Wasn't it supposed to be... a strange illness that couldn't be treated domestically, so he had to go to America?!
Thinking back to that time in the underground parking lot when Chu Yuxuan pushed Gao Ning and the pained expression on Gao Ning's face... was it all an act? She even scolded Chu Yuxuan for it! And lately, Gao Ning had been complaining about discomfort, saying it was post-surgery complications... it was all fake... everything was fake!
The true love she always believed in turned out to be... was she just a backup?
Gao Ning panicked, "Xiaozhu, listen to me, it's not true, it's not true!" Summer Zhu's mental world collapsed instantly. She staggered back a few steps, then turned and ran out of the room. "Xiaozhu!" Gao Ning tried to chase after her, but Gao Zhensheng pushed him back, "Don't go! I have other plans for your marriage, so don't contact her again!" After saying this, Gao Zhensheng walked up to Chu Yuxuan, his expression softening as he smiled and said, "Mr. Chu, I'm sorry you had to witness that!"
Chu Yuxuan clapped his hands, "Interesting, very interesting... Old Gao, your son has been rather disrespectful to me lately, and I thought it was you who gave him the courage. But now it seems I misunderstood you, my apologies!"
"I, Gao Zhensheng, am not a fickle person. Mr. Chu, you showed mercy to us last time; how could I not appreciate it? I sincerely apologize for this matter... I will discipline Ning well and make sure he never bothers you again!"
Chu Yuxuan smiled, "No worries, let him come as much as he wants! After all, I'm bored anyway; it'll be fun to play... And if you're free, care to join?"