In Summer City, at the top floor of the Imperial Tower.
"Young Master, I'm sorry, the operation failed. Chu Xiaoxiao has already returned to the Chu Group, and the security around her has increased significantly. If we want to make another move, ordinary methods won't work," Feng, who had been so confident before, now stood humbly before a young man.
The young man across from him was incredibly handsome, lounging lazily on the sofa with his legs crossed, a glass of red wine swirling in his hand. He casually groped a seductive woman by his side, making her giggle uncontrollably.
"What happened, Ah Feng? I've always trusted your work, but this time, you've really disappointed me." The young man slightly furrowed his brows, his hand pausing for a moment.
This young man was Han Yi, the only son of Han Xiangsheng, chairman of the Solar Group.
A cold sweat broke out on Feng's forehead. He quickly glanced up at his young master's expression before lowering his head again. "Apologies, Young Master. It was an unexpected situation. The 'Desperadoes' we hired had succeeded, but then they turned on each other, and it seems a mysterious figure rescued the target..."
"I'm not interested in excuses. I don't care if you hired 'Desperadoes' or 'Cowards,' I only care about the results."
"Yes, Young Master!" Feng dared not say another word.
"What's your plan now?" Han Yi asked, still watching the crimson wine swirl in his glass, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Given the current situation, it seems that the usual domestic underworld channels won't suffice. However, I know the leader of a group of Annamese mercenaries. The cost will be higher, and the operation might cause some commotion."
"Then do it. Money isn't an issue. No matter how big the commotion, Solar Group will clean up the mess publicly. Just make sure everything is handled discreetly."
"Yes, Young Master! I understand!"
"Good. The Chu Group has already extended its reach into the ocean trade—a business that's our bread and butter. Thanks to them, Solar Group's financial report this year is far from pretty! Every day, we're losing staggering amounts of profit, so this matter needs to be resolved quickly. You know the consequences if you fail again."
"Yes, I'll personally handle it this time, and I won't let you down!" Feng bowed deeply.
"Alright. And make sure to capture her unharmed. I'd like to meet this so-called business genius in person," Han Yi said, a lewd glint in his eyes as he thought of Chu Xiaoxiao's exquisite features.
"Haha, no problem. Rest assured, Young Master!" Feng smirked knowingly.
As Han Yi thought of Chu Xiaoxiao, he glanced at the starlet in his arms and suddenly lost interest. Compared to her, these women were just common dust.
"Do your job well, and the Han family will reward you handsomely. As for this starlet, I'm tired of her. She's yours."
The woman in Han Yi's arms stiffened upon hearing this, looking up at him in terror.
Feng couldn't hide his delight as he eyed the woman's long legs and ample chest, swallowing hard. "Thank you, Young Master!"
Not long after, a woman's screams echoed from the room next door...
Solar Group was a massive conglomerate spanning several provinces, with its main businesses in oceanic transportation and Southeast Asian steel trade. Established since the founding of the nation, it was a behemoth. The Han family, owners of the Solar Group, were the most powerful family in Summer City, with deep connections in politics, business, and even the underworld.
However, the rise of the Chu Group, a new power, had begun to encroach on Solar Group's core interests. Despite their best efforts, Solar Group found itself repeatedly bested by Chu Feng, a shrewd strategist, and her daughter, a prodigious business talent. The Han family, unable to defeat them in a fair fight, had resorted to more underhanded methods, fully sanctioned by Han Xiangsheng and the rest of the Han family.
Back at the Chu Group headquarters...
Chu Feng sat in her office, glancing at Chu Xiaoxiao, who was sitting across from her on the sofa, browsing documents on a tablet. There was a hint of suspicion in her eyes.
"Xiaoxiao, ever since you returned, you've been selling antiques and looking for ships. These are tasks you could easily delegate to others. Why handle them personally? This isn't like you," Chu Feng probed carefully.
After returning, Chu Xiaoxiao had only given the police a brief account of her rescue, without mentioning who had saved her, much to the frustration of Liu Guodong, the head of the Public Security Bureau. But he couldn't exactly force the young lady to tell the truth, so he had no choice but to issue a warrant for the "Desperadoes."
As a mother, Chu Feng had noticed something unusual in her daughter's behavior.
"It's nothing, just helping a friend."
"What friend? Could it be the person who saved you?" Chu Feng's intuition kicked in.
"Hmm... yes," Chu Xiaoxiao hesitated for a moment before deciding not to hide it. She and her mother had always been close, with no secrets between them. She then recounted how Nie Yun had saved her.
"You're telling me that it was that man's adopted son who saved you?" Chu Feng's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Uh-huh."
"But isn't that young man just a fisherman?"
"I thought it was strange too. That guy has quite a few secrets, and he seems to have incredible luck. That silver coin I'm selling was given to me by him."
"Hmm, so this time, even though I sent you to meet him, which put you in danger, it was also because of him that you escaped. It's truly a case of every cloud having a silver lining." Chu Feng smiled wryly.
"Indeed, life is full of surprises," Chu Xiaoxiao chuckled.
"Even though you returned safely this time, we can't just let this go. The mastermind is still at large, and the Chu family won't let them off easily!" Chu Feng said, her aura radiating power and determination. She had built her empire from scratch—she was not one to be trifled with.
"Do we have any leads on who tried to kidnap me?" Chu Xiaoxiao asked.
"Hmph, it's easy to guess. Someone's getting desperate and resorting to underhanded tactics. Think about whose toes we've stepped on recently, and you'll know who the most likely suspect is. Among them, Solar Group is at the top of the list."
"Yes, I thought the same. Let's shift our focus more towards Solar Group. I'll draft some plans; there's still room to eat into their market share. If they want to play dirty, they'd better be ready to pay the price!" Chu Xiaoxiao said fiercely, showing her small but sharp canines.
"Alright. I'll also be upgrading your security detail. I'll hire the best domestic security firm to protect you around the clock."
"Thanks, Mom, but you should be careful too!"
"Oh, by the way, Mom, I... I wanted to ask you something," Chu Xiaoxiao said, her expression suddenly turning complicated.
"What is it?"
"It's about that man... Can you tell me about him?"
Chu Feng froze, staring at Chu Xiaoxiao. Her daughter had always hated the man who had abandoned them, never mentioning him unless absolutely necessary and always with a tone of disdain. But today...
"Alright, I suppose it's time you knew."
A hint of nostalgia appeared in Chu Feng's eyes. "Him... well..."