Chapter 15

She had short hair and a delicate face that carried a hint of mischievousness. The only drawback... was that her chest seemed a bit small. "Who are you?" Chu Hao asked, looking at her with a blank expression. "Hee hee!" The girl extended her hand and said, "I'm Qin He's daughter, my name is Qin Shanshan! Nice to meet you!" Chu Hao looked at her, stunned, but out of politeness, he still extended his hand. Just as the two shook hands, a cold voice rang out from the distance: "Chu Hao, what are you doing?"

Chapter 39: Su Zhe's Approval?

Chu Hao looked over and saw Su Nian standing not far away. Her black hair was draped over her shoulders, and she had sunglasses perched on her forehead. Her pretty face wore a hint of coldness. Her eyes were fixed on Chu Hao and the girl. Looking at the hand he was still holding with Qin Shanshan, Chu Hao didn't know why, but he suddenly felt a sense of guilt. He gave a dry cough and hurriedly let go. Qin Shanshan also spotted Su Nian, a look of astonishment crossing her eyes. However, she wore a sly smile on her face. Ignoring Su Nian, she said cheerily, "It looks like you're busy." As she spoke, she smiled slightly and added, "Let me add you on WeChat." Chu Hao was struck dumb. He quickly said, "My phone is out of battery." Qin Shanshan didn't believe him, so Chu Hao pulled out his phone and tapped the screen, saying, "See?" "Alright then!" Qin Shanshan pouted. "I'll call you later." With that, she turned and walked inside. Chu Hao looked at her slender back, baffled as to why Qin Shanshan had suddenly chased after him. "Is she pretty?" Su Nian's cold voice sounded at that moment. "Cough, cough!" Chu Hao gave a dry cough and said, "Would you believe me if I said I didn't know her at all until just now?" "What do you think?" Su Nian asked. Then, she snorted, "You had the security guard call me to let you in just to meet this little girl?" "Uh!" Chu Hao shook his head. "No, there was a patient I needed to see. I came in, but my phone died, so I couldn't reach him. I knew you lived here, so I had security call you." Su Nian said calmly, "I noticed you hadn't arrived, so I went to the gate and checked the surveillance. That’s when I saw you went to Building 12. Does that girl live in Building 12? Is she from the Donghai City Qin family?" "How did you know?" Chu Hao asked, surprised. "This entire complex was developed by the Qin family. Every resident in Building 12 knows that," Su Nian replied. "The place where I live was a gift from the Qin family when they were trying to butter me up." Chu Hao was speechless. He gave a dry cough and said, "I really did go to treat the Qin family's patriarch." "And now?" Su Nian asked. "Ready to leave? You didn't even think about seeing me after you got inside." Chu Hao was stumped. To be honest, he hadn't planned on visiting Su Nian, but since the conversation had reached this point, he wasn't stupid. He coughed and said, "I was busy, and when they asked me to stay for dinner, I didn't even stay—I came straight to find you." "That’s more like it," Su Nian said. "Come over to my place and sit for a bit. You can charge your phone while you're at it." Chu Hao nodded. "Okay!"

...

In Building 6, on the third floor of the villa, a man with a goatee and Su Zhe were standing together, watching Chu Hao and Su Nian in the distance. "What do you think of this kid?" Su Zhe asked. "Don't know," the man with the goatee replied. "The other day I saw him getting bullied by Zuo Cheng, and he seemed like a coward." "Yet, he is still alive today," Su Zhe noted. "Who knows who that guy Ye Hao hired to assassinate him?" the man said. "I just don't think he’s as capable as the old man claims. The old man is getting on in years, he..." As he said this, he suddenly noticed that Chu Hao, who was walking toward them, looked up and glanced in his direction. The man with the goatee subconsciously shut his mouth. He felt as if Chu Hao had heard every word he just said. "Forget it, let's stop talking about it. Get ready and call Su Nian. The chairman of Zhonghai Bank in Donghai City, Han Shuguang, is hosting a banquet. We have to attend," Su Zhe said. "We have to show him some respect." "Understood," the man with the goatee nodded.

Chu Hao and Su Nian walked into the room. Inside were several men whom Chu Hao recognized as the bodyguards who usually followed Su Zhe. Seeing Chu Hao walk in, they all wore looks of interest. "Sit," Su Nian said. "I'll go get you a charger." Chu Hao ignored their expressions and sat down as if he were alone. Su Nian headed upstairs to fetch the charger for him. "Hey!" At that moment, a bald man nudged his chin toward Chu Hao and asked, "So, you actually bagged our young lady? Heard you even got the marriage certificate?" Chu Hao nodded. "Yes!" The bald man then gave a mocking smile and said, "The Su family's threshold isn't so easy to cross." "The Su family's threshold?" Chu Hao looked at him, puzzled. "It's not like I married into the family." "Ha!" The bald man chuckled. "Kid, you haven't married into the family yet? We know all about your background—a veterinarian from the countryside..." "What are you talking about!" At that moment, Su Nian walked down the stairs, frowning as she asked the question. The bald man fell silent. Chu Hao smiled slightly. "Just chatting." Su Nian handed the charger to Chu Hao and said, "There's an outlet right next to you!" Chu Hao nodded and plugged in his phone. Just then, Su Zhe walked down from upstairs. He gave Chu Hao a look of deep meaning. Chu Hao avoided his gaze and looked out the window. "Nian Nian, come out with me later. There's a banquet," Su Zhe said. Su Nian frowned. "Chu Hao is here, I..." "It's hosted by Han Shuguang, the chairman of Zhonghai Bank," Su Zhe said. "I posted on my social media that I was in Jiangcheng looking for my sister. He must have seen it and invited both of us. We have to show him the courtesy." Beside him, Chu Hao was slightly surprised. Han Shuguang's banquet? Hearing this, Su Nian frowned. "Chu Hao, I can't really turn down this invitation. The Su family has a lot of business with their bank. I'll tell the housekeeper to make something to eat, and once I'm done..." "I have things to do this afternoon," Chu Hao smiled slightly. "Don't worry about me. Go do what you need to do. I’ll leave as soon as my phone has a charge." He didn't just have things to do; he had a lot of them. Su Nian nodded. "Alright then!" Su Zhe didn't pay attention to Chu Hao, nor did he speak to him, but Chu Hao noticed that the way he looked at him was different from yesterday. Compared to yesterday, there seemed to be a hint of approval in his eyes today. Of course, Chu Hao didn't think his approval was all that important.

Chapter 40: Am I Seeing Things?

Su Nian went back to change into more formal attire. It was clear that these wealthy business families took the people at the bank quite seriously. After she came back down dressed, Chu Hao's phone finally turned on. Su Nian looked at Chu Hao and said, "Well... you can keep charging it here for a while. I’m heading out now. Just call me if you need anything." Chu Hao smiled slightly. "Alright!" Su Zhe spoke softly, "Let's go." The bodyguards in the house followed them out. Before leaving, the bald man gave Chu Hao a meaningful smile that made him feel a bit uncomfortable. But he quickly brushed it off. The fact that he and Su Nian were legally married was already settled. Looking at their respective statuses, they were worlds apart. It was only natural that some people in the Su family looked down on him. After what happened with Lin Qinyi, Chu Hao had already gotten used to it. Not long after, two cars drove away from the villa. Chu Hao stayed behind, waiting for his phone to charge a bit more. About fifteen minutes after Su Nian and the others left, Chu Hao’s phone rang. He picked it up and saw it was Han Shuguang. He answered the call. "Hello." "Master Doctor Chu!" Han Shuguang said. "I’m already in Jiangcheng. I kept calling you earlier but couldn't get through." "My phone died," Chu Hao said with a wry smile. "Didn't you say you wanted to deal with Zuo Cheng?" Han Shuguang asked. "I've already come up with a plan to handle him. I've already made a few moves, but Zuo Cheng has the backing of the Luo family. Those moves will hurt his business, but they might not bankrupt him entirely." "So, I’ve organized a banquet and invited every entrepreneur in Jiangcheng," Han Shuguang said. "This time, I’m going to finish him off for good. Are you interested in witnessing it?" Chu Hao’s expression shifted, then he nodded. "I don't have anything going on this afternoon, so I’ll come over and grab a bite." "Where are you? I’ll send someone to pick you up," Han Shuguang said. "Your eyesight is a bit inconvenient." "My eyes have already recovered," Chu Hao smiled. "But... sending someone is fine. I'm at Biqing Court." "Alright, I'll have them contact you when they arrive!" Han Shuguang said. The main reason he wanted a ride was to save a bit on cab fare. Although Jiang Shan had given him an unlimited credit card, Chu Hao had spent many years in the countryside, and frugality had become his instinct. Thinking that he might run into Su Nian again at Han Shuguang's banquet, the corner of Chu Hao’s mouth curled into a smile. Su Nian’s reaction should be quite something. About half an hour later, his phone rang again. When he answered, a woman's voice said, "Hello, Mr. Chu. Chairman Han Shuguang asked me to come pick you up." Chu Hao nodded. "Alright, I'll be right out." He checked his battery—it was over eighty percent. He unplugged the phone, then thought better of it, unplugged the charger, coiled it up, and put it in his pocket before walking to the entrance of the complex. At the gate, a black Rolls-Royce was idling in the square. Chu Hao walked over and knocked on the window. The window rolled down to reveal a beautiful woman in formal attire with black-framed glasses. She clearly froze when she saw Chu Hao's outfit, then tentatively asked, "Mr... Chu?" Chu Hao nodded. "Yes!" The beautiful woman was Han Shuguang's secretary. Han Shuguang, the chairman of Zhonghai Bank, was a man whom even the top families of Yanjing respected. He rarely sent cars to pick people up personally. She had assumed she was coming to pick up some big shot, but she never expected it to be someone dressed like this! Chu Hao's clothes looked far too cheap. She had dealt with many people around Han Shuguang; it wasn't uncommon for big shots to have strange quirks. However, she didn't see even a shred of a big shot's temperament or aura in Chu Hao. Fortunately, her professional standards were high, and she didn't show any sign of offense. Besides, this was someone Han Shuguang respected deeply, and that alone was enough to earn her attention. Chu Hao opened the passenger door and sat in. "Sorry for the trouble." "It's my pleasure!" She adjusted her composure and smiled. "I'm Chairman Han's secretary, Han Feifei. You can just call me Feifei!" Chu Hao nodded. "Alright!" "Let's go then," Han Feifei smiled slightly. The car set off, and after about half an hour, it pulled up in front of a massive hotel. Chu Hao looked up; the hotel was called "Sophie Hotel," the best in Jiangcheng. "Chairman Han is already inside. Please follow me!" Han Feifei said. Chu Hao nodded and followed Han Feifei inside. They walked through the hotel smoothly, though Chu Hao’s attire drew quite a few side-eyes! Chu Hao wasn't the type to care about others' opinions, but being stared at repeatedly did make him feel a bit uncomfortable. *It seems wearing these country clothes in the city all the time isn't so great,* Chu Hao thought to himself. *After I finish today's business, I need to find time to buy a few new outfits.* Soon, they reached the banquet hall on the third floor. Outside the hall, several people were standing around. Among them were the bodyguards Su Zhe had brought. Chu Hao noticed them, but he didn't stop, following Han Feifei into the banquet hall. The bald man watched the banquet hall doors close and rubbed his eyes. "What the hell? Did I just see wrong? How did that kid, Chu Hao, get into the banquet hall?" "Don't be ridiculous!" the man with the goatee said. "We can't even get in; what qualifications does that kid have? Sigh, I don't know what Su Nian is thinking, actually getting a marriage certificate with him. Even if he has some medical skills, their status difference is just too vast. And knowing a bit of medicine won't solve her problems!"

Chapter 41: What Kind of Nobody Are You?

The banquet hall was already packed with many people—these were the socialites of Jiangcheng! As soon as Chu Hao and Han Feifei walked in, he spotted several familiar faces. In the distance, Su Nian and Su Zhe were surrounded by a crowd, most of whom were bowing and scraping to them like servants. As one of the six major families of Yanjing, the Su family was far too powerful for a city like Jiangcheng. A mere splash of their wealth could multiply the net worth of these top executives several times over. Therefore, everyone was trying their hardest to butter them up, hoping to be the one the Su family invested in. After all, Su Nian had made it clear upon arriving in Jiangcheng that she intended to make investments there. Everyone hoped they would be the lucky recipients. Chu Hao also saw Jiang Shan. As the wealthiest man in Jiangcheng, he was surrounded by his own crowd. Likewise, Chu Hao saw Lin Teng. Even though his daughter was on her deathbed, he had still come to this banquet. Of course, he also saw Zuo Cheng, who seemed to be in a bad mood, looking deeply worried. This was proof enough of just how immense Han Shuguang's influence in Donghai City really was. This had completely exceeded Chu Hao's expectations as well. After Han Feifei entered, people quickly noticed her and began approaching with wine glasses in hand. Han Feifei frowned. Just as she was about to decline, Chu Hao smiled slightly. "You go ahead and be busy, I’ll just find some food for myself." Hearing this, Han Feifei was struck dumb. At that moment, someone raised a glass and said, "Secretary Han, long time no see. Where is Chairman Han? How come he hasn't shown up yet?" "Chairman Han is busy with something, he’ll be here soon," Han Feifei smiled. "About that loan I applied for at your bank last time, I hope you can put in a good word for me, Secretary Han." "Secretary Han!" One person after another walked over, surrounding Han Feifei completely. Chu Hao was pushed to the side, but he didn't mind. The banquet was buffet-style, with plenty of food and drinks. In essence, Chu Hao was truly a country bumpkin, and many of the items here he had never even seen before. He picked up a plate, piled it high with food, grabbed a drink, and walked over to a corner to sit down, quietly waiting for things to unfold. His attire was quite conspicuous, but most people only took a look and didn't bother to come talk to him. Chu Hao was happy to be left alone, just sitting there, eating by himself. "Chu Hao!" At that moment, a voice of surprise suddenly rang out. Chu Hao, who was stuffing food into his mouth, looked up and saw Zuo Cheng nearby, staring at him with wide eyes. "How are you here?" he asked with a dark face. His company’s situation was dire—demands for payment, suppliers cutting them off... his capital chain was at risk of snapping. He had received an invitation from Han Shuguang and intended to meet him in person to see if he could secure that loan. He never expected to see Chu Hao here. Chu Hao glanced at him, and thinking about how Zuo Cheng was finished, he felt a strange sense of satisfaction. At the same time, a sinister smile curled on Zuo Cheng’s lips. He suddenly raised his voice and said, "You country bumpkin, how did you sneak in here to mooch food and drink?" Although there were many people in the hall, most were speaking in low tones. When Zuo Cheng’s loud voice broke the silence, everyone looked over. Chu Hao frowned slightly. He was here to watch the show and didn't want to be the center of attention. Zuo Cheng clearly didn't intend to let it go. He smiled sinisterly and said, "Chu Hao, what’s this? After trying to use that ridiculous childhood engagement to scam a marriage into the Lin family and failing? Can't even afford a meal, so you came here to beg for food?" "Is this a place for you?" Zuo Cheng raised his voice even more. "Everyone at this banquet is a socialite of Jiangcheng! You dare to show your face here? Just look at yourself—a country hick from the sticks." Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Chu Hao. In the distance, when Su Nian and Su Zhe saw Chu Hao, they were visibly stunned. Su Nian immediately moved to approach Chu Hao, but Su Zhe grabbed her arm and whispered, "Let's see how the kid handles this." "He is my man!"