On the way to the city center square, a sleek black luxury Mercedes sped by, drawing the attention of passersby.
Inside the vehicle, Xiang Ri reclined comfortably against the leather seat and languidly inquired, "How did you know I was there?"
"By chance, while we were on duty, Mr. Xiang!" replied a burly man in a black suit sitting next to the driver.
"That makes sense! I suppose your employer was inside? I'm just curious—didn't see you there in the restaurant," Xiang Ri remarked, unfazed that he had recognized his surname. Given the man's penchant for eavesdropping, it was likely he knew even the most obscure details about Xiang's past.
"It was the employer's request; she preferred not to have anyone dining beside her, so we had to stay outside."
"Ah, I see! May I ask who your employer is this time?" Xiang Ri's curiosity was piqued about someone who would choose such a bustling place yet wanted solitude during a meal, though this was merely to satisfy his own intrigue. After all, in a public dining hall like Bihai Qingtian, private booths were nonexistent, and mingling was unavoidable.
"Mr. Xiang, you don't know?" The expression on the man's face was oddly perplexed, as if he had witnessed something inexplicable, coupled with a vague yet unmistakable camaraderie that men often share.
"Should I know?" The rogue hesitated, suddenly recalling a disconcerting possibility, "Your charge isn't that woman who presents as a man but speaks like a woman, is she?"
"Most likely," the man in the black suit replied, struggling to adapt to Xiang's peculiar way of phrasing, his tone lacking certainty. Even the driver beside him shook his head in disbelief, evidently struggling to process what had been said while attempting to focus on the road.
"Understood!" Xiang Ri finally comprehended the reason for their earlier expressions. Although these two had remained outside, they must have been keeping a close watch on that dubious figure, likely equipped with listening devices, meaning that his rather significant remarks were probably scrutinized in detail.
Feeling a touch of embarrassment for having been overheard while flirting with someone so ambiguous, Xiang Ri quickly shifted the topic: "I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience; I regrettably caused you to lose a client." The two men in black were none other than the bodyguards who had followed him during an altercation with a privileged young heir at a local shop.
"No, Mr. Xiang! He insulted our company. If his father hadn't personally sought an apology from our boss…" The unfinished thought hung heavily in the air, the meaning crystal clear.
Xiang Ri understood that the so-called apology likely came with a blank check, and given that man's greed, it was inevitable that he would demand a hefty sum. It wouldn't be long before a certain wealthy patriarch awoke in a cold sweat, rueing the day he fathered such a reckless son.
On the 38th floor of the Zhongtian Tower, within a vast office of the Caisheng Security Company, a formidable man clad in a tight white tank top and checkered shorts was fiercely assaulting a punching bag, clad in boxing gloves.
Standing around five feet seven, he was an imposing figure—not merely in height, but in breadth and muscularity. If one hadn't witnessed it firsthand, it would be hard to believe that a man who seemed to barely reach the minimum height requirement could possess such a hulking physique.
Despite the simple attire, his chest was remarkably defined, rivaling that of a woman with a size 36 bust. His arms were so thick they resembled the combined girth of four adult limbs, and his massive thighs surpassed the waist of an average person. Such extraordinary proportions could only be described as terrifying!
Yet, beneath this intimidating exterior lay a remarkably delicate face, leaving one to wonder if God, in a moment of extreme enthusiasm during creation, had misplaced the head atop this muscular body.
A loud knock echoed through the room.
The fearsome man halted his assault, loosening his boxing gloves as he called out, "Come in!"
"Boss, Mr. Xiang has arrived," announced a man in a black suit as he pushed open the door.
"Bring him in at once!"
"No need! I can enter myself!" Xiang Ri sidestepped into the office, casting a quick glance around and noting that nothing had changed—apart from a grand desk and a punching bag suspended three feet from the ground, the room was empty.
The formidable man waved dismissively at the suited man. Once he exited and closed the door, he scrutinized the young man before him, noting his frail appearance, likely so thin that the man's finger was probably thicker than the young man's wrist.
"Take a seat!" the muscular man said, his expression flat.
Xiang Ri nearly burst into laughter—was this all the man had to offer? It reminded him of his first visit, when the previous occupant had held a similar demeanor, and in that instance, the one without a chair naturally commandeered the only available seat in the room.
Once again, Xiang Ri did the same, circumventing the lavish desk to recline comfortably on a plush sofa.
A glimmer of intrigue crossed the muscular man's eyes. "You are the second person to dare occupy my seat."
"And what of it?" Xiang Ri adjusted the sofa into a reclining position, making himself even more comfortable.
"You remind me of an old friend," the muscular man sighed, an inexplicable melancholy flickering in his gaze. Suddenly, his tone turned sharp. "But he possessed strength sufficient to secure his place here. If you lack similar strength, I shall simply toss you out!"
"Well, that would be splendid; I've been eager to experience flying, though I'm uncertain if you possess that capability," Xiang Ri teased, fixing his gaze on the man.
"You are quite bold," the muscular man began, yet his expression abruptly shifted as he witnessed the supposedly frail individual before him manipulate the ten-centimeter-wide, two-centimeter-thick armrests of the sofa as if they were mere dough.
"This is impossible!" The formidable man surged toward Xiang Ri, prying his hands apart and testing the strength of the young man's grip. However, he was met with disappointment; no matter how much force he exerted, he could only slightly alter its shape, unable to mold it as effortlessly as he had imagined.
"Why is this happening?" he exclaimed.
"Because your strength is insufficient."
"I want to compete with you in strength!" The man growled, his face twisted in fury, each word punctuated with intensity.
"Bring it on!"
The results of their contest only drove him further into madness. "You must have internal strength, right? Teach me, teach me!"
"I'm afraid not; this is a lineage passed down through blood, not some martial art." Had Xiang Ri not been remarkably composed, he might have already dialed for help, declaring a lunatic was on the loose.
"Lineage? Damn that lineage!" The man cursed violently, suddenly recalling something as he seized Xiang Ri's collar, "What is your relation to that Xiang character?" His memory was jogged by a similar question posed years ago.
"I bear the surname Xiang, just as he does. What do you think our relationship is?" Xiang Ri felt a wave of relief; at least he could attribute his identity to someone with the same surname, otherwise, explaining might have been difficult.
"Damn it, so you're a twisted sibling! I'm no longer jealous of you, for you and that guy are not human; you're beasts, true beasts! Ha! I'm still the third strongest, no, the second strongest…" His voice faltered, and a shadow fell over his demeanor. "You know about his situation, don't you?"
"I do."
"Why haven't you sought revenge? With your strength, it should be easy, and you could inherit his fortune!"
"Now is not the time. If I deal with those minor players, the real big fish will slip away deeper into the shadows."
"Are you suggesting this is not a mere betrayal, but that there's more behind it?"
"Exactly. Do you really think a few insignificant shrimp could possibly ensnare my brother?"
"Fair point! I know all too well the strength of that perverse creature; he's not someone an ordinary person can take down. So, do you have any leads now? Do you need my assistance?"
"Needless to say, otherwise, why would I be here? To see a grotesquely malformed gorilla?"
"Damn! You really are just like that bastard brother of yours! What do you mean 'gorilla'? This is sensuality, you know?"
"Alright then. Even if that's your definition of sensuality, have you ever seen a wild boar with legs like an elephant?"
"I'm starting to seriously suspect you might be that guy who had plastic surgery in Korea just to come back and scare me!" The thought made Xiang Ri break into a cold sweat; this guy had quite the imagination! Yet, there was a shred of truth in it—wasn't he himself appearing as if he had been "modified" in some way?
"Last question." Xiang Ri chose to ignore the furious veins bulging on the man's forehead.
"Speak!" The man gritted his teeth, the hours of questioning had made him loathe this individual more than he did his brother.
"Why did you know where I was but wait until your people stumbled upon me before calling me? As far as I know, you aren't exactly a patient gorilla."
"Well, that question…" The man began to feign seriousness, "You know I have the utmost respect for scholars, primarily because I didn't want to disrupt your studies…"
Before he could finish, Xiang Ri raised his middle finger, flipping it downward and then upward repeatedly, expressing his "deep respect" for such "heartfelt" sentiments.
"You can leave now; I have several concubines waiting for my attention, and I won't entertain you any longer." The man dismissed him, unable to endure the incessant rambling any longer.
"It seems someone has only one legitimate wife; I wonder what would happen if that statement reached her ears." Xiang Ri picked up an exquisitely patterned golden ashtray weighing five kilograms from the opulent desk. "This will serve as my parting gift. Thank you!" He said, ignoring the pained expression on the man's face as he swaggered out of the office.
"Xiang Ri, you bastard, what else are you hiding from him?" Even though the soundproofing was excellent, Xiang Ri still heard the thunderous roar from within. Yet, it had no effect on him. As he admired the decorative yet impractical ashtray, his eyes sparkled with excitement. He could melt it down to fashion a crown for his sweetheart, though he wondered if she could bear the weight of such an item!
In the elevator, Xiang Ri lost in thought, failed to notice that what had once been a crowded space was now empty save for two people due to the ebb and flow of foot traffic. A sudden waft of fragrance jolted him from his reverie, and he realized he was alone with a stunning woman in the lift.
However, upon catching sight of her, his eyes widened in disbelief; this woman was none other than Su Yu, the powerful businesswoman he often saw on financial news.
"How is it you?" Xiang Ri couldn't help but ask.