Qin Xiaomeng suppressed the fury in her heart, biting her lip with her pearly white teeth. She said coldly, "I will attend the charity gala, but you must first get my brother-in-law out of the Public Security Bureau!"
"No problem!" Wu Peng sneered. "That’s a trivial matter for me. However, I want you to remember one thing: I can get Chu Tianhe out, and I can just as easily send him right back in!"
"So, you’d better not go back on what you’ve promised me!"
A meaningful smile curled at the corners of Wu Peng’s mouth. "See you tonight!"
Although it was just a charity gala, Qin Xiaomeng felt an extreme resistance in her heart. If it weren't for Chu Tianhe, she would never participate in such an event, let alone go with Wu Peng.
At that moment, the thoughts running through Wu Peng’s mind were even filthier; he was already thinking about what would happen after the gala.
Since wooing Qin Xiaomeng was useless, he would just have to try a different approach.
He would make it a done deal first, then go from there.
...
Fengshun Residential Area.
"How was it? Did your classmate agree to help?" Yang Huijuan, unaware of the truth, was still full of anxiety. Seeing Qin Xiaomeng return, she hurried forward to ask.
"Yes, he agreed to help," Qin Xiaomeng replied, her expression somewhat dejected. She nodded at Yang Huijuan while still wondering how to handle the banquet that evening.
"Good, good, that's a relief." Yang Huijuan let out a long sigh of relief. "In times of need, classmates are the most useful. When you enter society, everyone hits rough patches; if everyone gives each other a hand, the road ahead is easier."
Yang Huijuan was a kind woman. She always felt that there were more good people in the world than bad, and that mutual help between classmates was only natural. How could she possibly know of Wu Peng’s sinister intentions?
*Click!*
At that moment, the sound of the door opening came from behind them. Yang Huijuan and Qin Xiaomeng both turned their heads simultaneously. Indeed, it was Chu Tianhe who had returned!
"Daddy!"
Seeing Chu Tianhe, Yaoyao dashed over and threw her arms around him.
At that moment, the tension in Qin Xiaomeng’s heart seemed to soften just a little. She wanted nothing more than to rush into Chu Tianhe’s arms just like Yaoyao, but due to her position, she could only stand where she was, offering Chu Tianhe a faint smile. She asked, "Brother-in-law, did the people at the Public Security Bureau give you a hard time?"
"That Chen Ming, did he use illegal interrogation tactics on you?"
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
Qin Xiaomeng didn't know what had happened at the Public Security Bureau; she was still worried that Chu Tianhe might have been abused by Chen Ming, her eyes scanning him with nervous concern.
"I'm fine. The Public Security Bureau didn't give me any trouble." Chu Tianhe picked up Yaoyao and looked at Yang Huijuan. "Auntie, is the injury on your head alright?"
"It’s nothing, nothing at all." Seeing Chu Tianhe home, Yang Huijuan smiled and urged, "Tianhe, you can’t be so reckless in the future!"
"If Xiaomeng hadn't gone to beg the Wu family this time, who knows how long you would have been locked up!"
"The Wu family?" Hearing this, Chu Tianhe was stunned. He frowned immediately and asked, "What does the Wu family have to do with this?"
***
"It was Xiaomeng who went to ask her classmate Wu Peng for help so you could come home!"
Seeing this, Yang Huijuan quickly explained, "Tianhe, you beat someone in the street. Even if they don't press charges, you would have been detained for at least fifteen days. To be able to come home so quickly, the Wu family must have pulled some strings."
Both Yang Huijuan and Qin Xiaomeng were convinced that Wu Peng must have been the one to help; otherwise, Chu Tianhe couldn't have returned so soon. However, unlike the smile on Yang Huijuan’s face, Qin Xiaomeng now wore a melancholic expression, her brows furrowed with worry.
"Anyway, it's good that you're back. I’m going to go make dinner."
Seeing Chu Tianhe home safe and sound made Yang Huijuan genuinely happy, and she headed toward the kitchen before she even finished her sentence.
"Mom, I won't be eating at home tonight."
Qin Xiaomeng, looking gloomy, quickly reminded Yang Huijuan not to prepare her portion.
"What's wrong?"
Chu Tianhe sensed that Qin Xiaomeng had something on her mind. He frowned slightly and asked, "Did that Wu Peng propose some kind of condition to you?"
Although Chu Tianhe leaving the Public Security Bureau had absolutely nothing to do with Wu Peng, since both Yang Huijuan and Qin Xiaomeng believed the Wu family had helped, Chu Tianhe couldn't easily explain. He could only ask.
"It's nothing." Qin Xiaomeng composed herself, looked up at Chu Tianhe, and offered a small smile. "Brother-in-law, it’s enough that you’re back. Wu Peng just asked me to accompany him to a charity gala, that’s all."
"A charity gala?"
"I’m afraid it’s not as simple as just attending a gala, is it?"
Chu Tianhe’s brows knit together instantly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. If it were truly just a simple charity gala, it wouldn't make Qin Xiaomeng look so distressed!
Having fought on the front lines for years, Chu Tianhe understood the darkness of the human heart all too well. He immediately guessed Wu Peng’s intentions: he wanted to use the gala as an excuse to make a move on Qin Xiaomeng!
And it seemed that Qin Xiaomeng had sensed Wu Peng’s intentions as well, but found it inconvenient to speak plainly.
"Don't worry, brother-in-law. It's just a gala; I can handle it. I won't let myself be taken advantage of." As smart people, they didn't need to hide it anymore. Qin Xiaomeng looked at Chu Tianhe with her beautiful eyes, forcing a smile.
"If that's the case, then I'll go with you. I happen to want to see exactly what kind of person this Wu Peng is!"
Seeing Qin Xiaomeng’s predicament, Chu Tianhe frowned. Since this whole thing started because of him, he would only feel at ease if he went along.
"Really?!"
Hearing this, a smile bloomed on Qin Xiaomeng’s face. She looked at Chu Tianhe earnestly and asked, "Brother-in-law, are you really going with me?"
To be able to attend a charity gala as a pair with Chu Tianhe was something Qin Xiaomeng had wished for. In her heart, Chu Tianhe was her guardian deity; having him by her side always gave her an inexplicable sense of safety.
"What time does the gala start?" Chu Tianhe glanced at his watch.
"It starts promptly at eight." Qin Xiaomeng checked the time as well; if they left now, they would arrive just in time!
***
Eight o'clock, the top floor of the Jinhui Building.
The charity gala, hosted by the Public Security Bureau and organized by the Wu family, was a grand affair without precedent!
"Welcome, friends from all walks of life, to this charity gala hosted by our Public Security Bureau. I, Liu, express my heartfelt gratitude for everyone’s presence!"
On the podium, Director Liu was giving an impassioned opening speech. "Later on, there will be a charity auction. All proceeds will be donated to the children in the poverty-stricken mountainous regions!"
"I hope you will all bid enthusiastically and contribute your strength to society."
As Director Liu finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted in the hall!
Director Liu was the highest-ranking officer of the Public Security Bureau. Everyone had scrambled to get an invite to his charity gala to curry favor, especially since the Wu family was involved. The Wu family’s financial power in Jiangzhou City was second to none. Apart from the Li family of Jiangzhou, no one’s wealth could compare to the Wu family—not even Han Chuanwu’s Xingchuan Group could stand on equal footing!
However, the Li family was now gone. No one knew the truth; they only knew that the deeply rooted, all-powerful Li family of Jiangzhou had vanished overnight, without a single whisper of news leaking out.
"What happened to the Li family? Does anyone know the inside story?"
"I have no idea. The Li family just disappeared. I pulled every string I had, but I couldn't find out a thing!"
"Maybe it has to do with the Wu family!"
"That’s what I think too! In Jiangzhou, the only group that could go toe-to-toe with the Li family was the Wu family!"
"The Li family relied on their Divine Martial Guards background, while the Wu family had the support of the Public Security Bureau. The Wu family was always suppressed by the Li family, but now that the Li family is gone, Jiangzhou will belong to the Wu family!"
The crowd whispered among themselves, smiling and clinking glasses, nodding in knowing agreement. In truth, everyone was here for Director Liu and Wu Tianhao; the charity auction was merely a pretext.
"Look, it's Young Master Wu!"
Wu Tianhao was chatting with Director Liu, and no one dared to interrupt, so all eyes turned to Wu Peng, who had just walked through the door. As Wu Tianhao’s only son and the sole heir to the Wu Group, everyone knew exactly how much weight Wu Peng carried!
"Young Master Wu, long time no see! You’re looking more handsome than ever. And is this lovely lady your partner? What a perfect match! Truly a beautiful couple!"
People swarmed forward to greet Wu Peng, flattering him and the woman accompanying him, Li Ruofei.
"Everyone, you’ve misunderstood. She is just my secretary. My partner has not arrived yet."
Wu Peng’s words were like a bucket of ice water, chilling Li Ruofei to the bone. She cursed Qin Xiaomeng in her heart a thousand times over, but on the surface, she had to keep smiling, unable to lose face in front of such distinguished guests.
"Oh? This young lady is so beautiful, yet she isn't enough to catch Young Master Wu’s eye? I’m curious, which beauty from Jiangzhou has captured your heart?"
"The woman Young Master Wu fancies must be extraordinary!"
"Young Master Wu, care to reveal who this beauty is?"
The crowd, not being very familiar with Wu Peng, found a great topic and started chatting away.
At this moment, Wu Peng looked proud. He boasted triumphantly, "This beauty is someone you all likely know. She is one of the 'Two Beauties' of Jiangzhou—the second daughter of the Qin family, Qin Xiaomeng!"
***
"Qin Xiaomeng? The second daughter of the Qin family?"
"She is the goddess in the hearts of every man in Jiangzhou!"
"You have good taste, Young Master Wu! Truly good taste!"
The two sisters of the Qin family were legends in Jiangzhou, and countless eyes were fixed upon them.
Even though the eldest daughter, Qin Xiaorou, had become pregnant out of wedlock and had a daughter, there were still many men vying for the chance to play the savior!
The second daughter, Qin Xiaomeng, was even more beautiful than her sister, and she was single. Her popularity far exceeded that of Qin Xiaorou’s. Before she even graduated from university, she had been targeted by countless gazes. To call her the "nation's goddess" was no exaggeration.
The Qin family had always claimed that Qin Xiaomeng was already engaged, and everyone who came to propose was turned away without exception.
Now, with Wu Peng intentionally mentioning Qin Xiaomeng’s name ahead of time, it was clearly meant to show off. The crowd wasn't stupid; they immediately understood. They chimed in with flattery: "We heard that Qin Xiaomeng was already betrothed! So, it was to you, Young Master Wu!"
"Young Master Wu, you really are a master of keeping things low-key! You’ve already won the beauty’s heart and stayed so quiet about it!"
"Young Master Wu, are you planning to use today’s opportunity to announce your engagement to Miss Qin publicly?"
"If so, I don’t know how many handsome young men will be heartbroken!"
The crowd went back and forth, almost singing Wu Peng’s praises to the heavens. Wu Peng offered no corrections, a smug smile etched on his face.
This was exactly the effect he wanted—to make these people believe that he was the one engaged to Qin Xiaomeng!
Besides, the Qin family had offended some powerful entity and had been exiled to the cold, barren frontier. No one knew the truth about the engagement. As long as he forced Qin Xiaomeng to admit it, it would become fact!
In Wu Peng’s eyes, Qin Xiaomeng would be his woman sooner or later.
"Look, Miss Qin is here!"
Just as the crowd was showering Wu Peng with flattery, Qin Xiaomeng’s silhouette appeared outside the banquet hall. Everyone’s gaze instantly shifted toward the entrance!
"Wait... what is happening?"
However, the moment they saw her, their expressions froze. A moment ago, Wu Peng had claimed to be engaged to Qin Xiaomeng, but now she was appearing before everyone’s eyes with another man’s arm linked in hers!!
"Who is that man?"
"Young Master Wu, do you know him?"
In an instant, all eyes turned toward Wu Peng. The looks they gave him were complicated—saying nothing, yet saying everything!
"I don't know him!!" Wu Peng was gnashing his teeth in hatred, the words practically squeezed out from between his teeth.
His face was dark, his anger burning. He truly hadn't expected Qin Xiaomeng to appear like this!!
One second, he was bragging about their engagement, and the next, Qin Xiaomeng had arrived to slap him in the face.
What was this?
It was a full-blown "green hat" (cuckold) situation—the kind that glowed in the dark!
Seeing the meaningful glances and the suppressed smirks around him, Wu Peng was on the verge of exploding. He marched straight toward Qin Xiaomeng and said coldly, "Qin Xiaomeng, what do you think you’re doing?!"
***
"Who is this man?!"
"My brother-in-law." Qin Xiaomeng didn't quite grasp the situation. How could she know what Wu Peng had been bragging about moments ago? She simply introduced him in a matter-of-fact tone: "Brother-in-law, this is Wu Peng. It was he who used his connections to help you get out of the Public Security Bureau so quickly."
Hearing her introduction, Wu Peng’s anger flared even higher. His gaze snapped like lightning toward Chu Tianhe!
Others might not know the truth, but Wu Peng knew perfectly well that while he had indeed called the Public Security Bureau, they had told him Chu Tianhe had already left!
In other words, the matter had nothing to do with him, but it served his purpose if Qin Xiaomeng mistakenly believed it was his doing—it proved he had the power!
"So, you are Young Master Wu. You are the one who helped me leave the Public Security Bureau?"
Chu Tianhe arched an eyebrow. The question was clearly loaded with subtext, but Wu Peng’s face darkened, and he snapped, "Of course I helped. How else do you think you could have left the Public Security Bureau so easily?"
With Qin Xiaomeng present, Wu Peng naturally wouldn't reveal the truth. He turned his eyes to her and said sternly, "Qin Xiaomeng, don't you forget what I told you!"
"You know why I invited you to this charity gala. You’d better not make me lose my temper, or you know the consequences!"
Qin Xiaomeng appearing arm-in-arm with Chu Tianhe had made Wu Peng’s blood boil. He had just finished boasting, and now he was being slapped in the face. He needed to save face!
Hearing this, the smile vanished from Qin Xiaomeng’s face, and she grew nervous. Beside her, Chu Tianhe frowned, his gaze fixed on Wu Peng as he said, "I, Chu, would like to know what you told Xiaomeng!"
"And I would also like to know what the consequences would be if you lost your temper?"
The moment Chu Tianhe spoke, Qin Xiaomeng’s face changed. Wasn't Chu Tianhe clearly provoking Wu Peng? If Wu Peng really flew into a rage, it wouldn't end well!
"Brother-in-law, stop talking. Wu Peng has many ways to hurt us. It really was his help that got you out."
Qin Xiaomeng knew Wu Peng was not someone they could afford to cross, so she quickly tried to persuade him.
But Chu Tianhe completely ignored Wu Peng’s terrifyingly dark expression. He turned to Qin Xiaomeng and asked directly, "Xiaomeng, did he tell you that he has the ability to pull me out of the Public Security Bureau, and just as much ability to throw me back in?"
"Is this the reason he used to threaten you into attending this charity gala?"
Hearing this, Qin Xiaomeng’s eyes turned slightly red, and tears welled up. She didn't answer, but silently nodded.
"Yes, that's what I said. So what?"
"I say it, I do it!"
"Qin Xiaomeng, look closely at who is hosting this charity gala. Director Liu is right there chatting with my father!"
Wu Peng warned her coldly, then turned his gaze toward Chu Tianhe, snapping, "Chu Tianhe, I’m warning you, our Wu family in Jiangzhou..."
Seeing Qin Xiaomeng appear on Chu Tianhe’s arm had already set Wu Peng on fire. Now, with Qin Xiaomeng’s hand still locked in his, and so many eyes watching, Wu Peng couldn't swallow his pride. He began to threaten Chu Tianhe!
"Warning me? Are you even worthy?"
A cold glint flashed in Chu Tianhe’s eyes. Before Wu Peng could finish his sentence, he had already raised his hand!
*SMACK!!*
Right there in the banquet hall, in front of everyone, Chu Tianhe delivered a crisp, resounding slap across Wu Peng’s face, sending him stumbling until he collapsed onto the floor!
***
The guests had been focused on Wu Peng, and Chu Tianhe’s slap instantly silenced the lively banquet hall!
Everyone’s eyes widened, conversations stopped, and every gaze converged on Chu Tianhe!
Who would have thought that at such an event, someone would dare to slap Wu Peng? It was as if they had grown a bear’s heart and a leopard’s gall!
"Damn, who is this guy?"
"Daring to slap Young Master Wu? Is he tired of living?"
"I’ve seen people looking for death, but this is the first time I’ve seen someone do it so boldly!"
After a brief silence, the crowd began to whisper. Qin Xiaomeng was stunned, shocked by Chu Tianhe’s sudden violence.
"Brother-in-law, what... what are you doing?"
What kind of place was this, and who was Wu Peng?
To slap him here was sure to bring disaster!
"What’s going on!"
Sensing something was wrong, Director Liu and Wu Tianhao hurried over. Both of them looked grim, their eyes fixed on Chu Tianhe.
"Dad, this bastard, this bastard hit me?!"