Zhang Yongfu exhaled with lingering apprehension, then grimaced as he twisted his sore neck. He glanced at the injured bodyguards and sneered, "Useless bunch. Hurry up and get out of here. You're ruining my appetite and might spoil Old Chen and General Qin's meal." The six men scrambled out of the private room, barely managing to leave.
Once they were gone, the dishes were finally served. Zhang Yongfu, an old hand in this game, quickly regained his composure. Smiling, he said, "Brother Chen, don't take what just happened to heart. Let's consider it a joke. We've got to know each other through a bit of a rough start."
"I'm glad you think so, Brother Zhang," Chen Liuhe said with a smile. He hadn't taken the earlier incident to heart. If he had, Zhang Yongfu wouldn't still be breathing.
"Haha, that's the spirit! After this meal, we're good brothers." Zhang Yongfu laughed heartily, lifting his glass of red wine and turning to Qin Ruohan. "General Qin, I hope you weren't too scared by what just happened."
Suppressing her nausea, Qin Ruohan raised her glass in a token gesture and took a sip. She then got straight to the point. "Brother Zhang, how should we handle the negotiation for my club?"
Zhang Yongfu waved his hand dismissively. "No problem. Since you and Brother Chen are such good friends now, everything can be discussed."
Looking at the two of them, Zhang Yongfu continued, "Given Brother Chen's reputation, I shouldn't have to press so hard on your club. But you know, a lot of my men have invested significant effort and resources into this. If I don't get something in return, I'll have a hard time explaining it. Let's go with Brother Chen's suggestion—twenty percent of Jin Yu Mantang's shares."
Hearing this, Qin Ruohan's anger surged. She clenched her fists under the table, her frustration palpable. Zhang Yongfu's so-called "effort and resources" included causing her father's death and creating numerous threats and troubles for her.
Zhang Yongfu was shameless to the extreme, disguising his blatant robbery with a veneer of propriety. It felt as though he was doing her a great favor.
The resentment was almost unbearable for Qin Ruohan.
Chen Liuhe seemed to sense Qin Ruohan's distress. He subtly placed a comforting hand on her thigh.
The warmth from his hand made Qin Ruohan snap back to reality, though it also sparked a mix of embarrassment and anger. She shot Chen Liuhe a glare and shook his hand off her leg. This guy was clearly taking advantage of her.
Heaven knows Chen Liuhe had no such ulterior motives. But the feel of her thigh was undeniably pleasant—soft, warm, and surprisingly bouncy.
"Hehe, it's rare for Brother Zhang to be so sincere. Seems like we didn't waste this meal," Chen Liuhe said, following Zhang Yongfu's lead. He then turned to Qin Ruohan. "General Qin, let's go with what Brother Zhang proposed. What do you think?"
Taking a deep breath, Qin Ruohan gritted her teeth and nodded in agreement. This meal had indeed been a nerve-wracking ordeal, but it ended without major disaster. Afterward, Zhang Yongfu personally saw the two of them out of the restaurant.
Once in the car, Qin Ruohan realized her back was drenched with sweat. Recalling the recent events, she felt a mix of fear and anxiety. She felt like she had just walked through the gates of hell. She believed that without Chen Liuhe, she might have died in that private room—or faced something even worse.
Thinking about what had just happened, she still found it hard to believe. Watching Chen Liuhe's nonchalant expression, she was stunned.
She couldn't understand how Chen Liuhe had taken out six armed men so quickly and effortlessly. This kind of terrifying combat ability completely shattered her worldview.
"Am I too charming and attractive for you? But don't get any ideas. I only perform, not sell myself. Don't have any improper thoughts," Chen Liuhe said with a grin, starting the car without looking back.
"Chen Liuhe, who exactly are you?" Qin Ruohan asked, her voice tinged with confusion.
"Me? I'm an extraordinary young man with ideals, culture, and ambition," Chen Liuhe said with remarkable bravado as the car slowly pulled away from the hotel. He even waved goodbye to Zhang Yongfu and the others outside.
"Chen Liuhe, can't you be serious for once? We nearly died in the hotel just now. Aren't you scared at all?" Qin Ruohan glared at him angrily.
"But we didn't die, did we?" Chen Liuhe replied casually with a smile.
"Chen Liuhe, what kind of person are you?" Qin Ruohan sighed softly.
Chen Liuhe noticed Qin Ruohan's curiosity about him. He casually glanced at her and said, "Let me give you some advice: don't try to enter my world. It won't do you any good."
Qin Ruohan pressed her lips together, silent. Chen Liuhe, in her eyes, was like a mystery shrouded in a veil, making her want to uncover it.
Was this really just a young man who had been a soldier for a few years? Even ghosts wouldn't believe that if they were told.
Outside the hotel, Zhang Yongfu's smile slowly faded as Chen Liuhe's car disappeared from view, replaced by a grim expression.
There was no denying that Chen Liuhe's display of combat ability had shocked him profoundly and instilled him with immense fear. He hated this feeling and everything that threatened him, determined to eliminate any potential threats.
"Qin Ruohan's little bitch—she really underestimated her. Who would have thought she brought such a formidable adversary," Zhang Yongfu squinted at the vanishing street.
"Dad, did you really agree to that little bitch's demand? Just twenty percent of the shares?" Zhou Yunkang asked cautiously. He was unsettled, unable to understand why the six gunmen had ended up in the hospital, while Chen Liuhe and Qin Ruohan left the hotel unharmed, with Zhang Yongfu personally seeing them off.
Zhang Yongfu sneered. "Never underestimate a young man like Chen Liuhe. He's given me a very vivid lesson today. He's a real dragon crossing the river."
"Is he really that impressive?" Zhou Yunkang swallowed hard. Knowing Zhang Yongfu's usual demeanor, it was clear how extraordinary Chen Liuhe must be if he could elicit such a response.
Zhang Yongfu ignored him and instructed his men, "Send someone to investigate Chen Liuhe's background. Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find out everything. Also, bring some tough characters from the southwestern region. Money isn't an issue; they might come in handy."
With that, Zhang Yongfu tossed his cigarette aside and ground it out with his foot. "A dragon crossing the river is still just a dragon crossing the river. If it meddles in what it shouldn't, it must be prepared to sink to the bottom."
Chen Liuhe was indeed formidable, and his combat skills were terrifying. Facing such a person head-on was clearly unwise. However, there were many ways to remove such a person from the world.
Zhang Yongfu had reached his current status not just through ruthlessness, but also through his wits. Though he lived a dangerous life, he wasn't afraid of death. He would not allow someone like Chen Liuhe, who threatened his life, to continue living.
Inside the car, a tense silence prevailed. Qin Ruohan occasionally glanced at Chen Liuhe, trying to discern his secrets, but ultimately found only frustration.
To be honest, this young man wasn't particularly good-looking. He was far from handsome, dressed shabbily, with stubble and a disheveled appearance—more like a messy old man than someone appealing.
Yet for some reason, the more she looked at him, the more she felt a mysterious allure emanating from him, drawing her in inexplicably.
The pungent smell of smoke filled the car, making Qin Ruohan frown. She watched Chen Liuhe drive and smoke simultaneously, moving her lips but eventually saying nothing. She simply rolled down the window, took a deep breath, and muttered under her breath about his lack of consideration for her.
Thinking about it, Qin Ruohan couldn't help but glance at her own ample breasts and long, slender legs visible beneath her skirt. She had always been confident in her beauty and figure, often feeling the desire in men's gazes. Could it be that she had no appeal to this guy beside her?
Little did she know, every inch of exposed skin on her body had been thoroughly appreciated by Chen Liuhe, though his skills and sharp eyes were far beyond her comprehension.
"Have someone draft a contract to transfer the shares to Zhang Yongfu. You should handle it yourself," Chen Liuhe said lazily.
Qin Ruohan hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright."
Chen Liuhe smiled. "Don't look so unwilling. This is the harsh reality. When you're not as strong as others, you have to endure their bullying. Getting twenty percent of the shares to save your life is the best outcome."
Chen Liuhe signaled a turn. "At least the club is still yours, so you haven't completely let down your father."
"Is this really the end? Will Zhang Yongfu just accept this?" Qin Ruohan, not an inexperienced woman, still had some worries.
Chen Liuhe flicked the ash off his cigarette and said, "Heh, dealing with someone like Zhang Yongfu isn't easy. Unless you get rid of him, he won't just behave himself. From now on, you'll be in a cooperative relationship with him, which is like dealing with a tiger. You'll need to be extra careful in everything you do."
Qin Ruohan stared at Chen Liuhe. "Zhang Yongfu deserves to die, and so does Zhou Yunkang. They both deserve it. Do you have the ability to make them pay?"