"Uncle Liu, you must stand up for me!"
Covering his face, Wu Peng staggered to his feet, staring fiercely at Chu Tianhe, then cast a glare at Qin Xiaomeng, his eyes filled with rage.
"Sir, what grievance is there between my son and you that moves you to strike him in public?"
Wu Tianhao maintained his composure. He looked Chu Tianhe up and down and questioned him in a cold voice.
"You can go and ask him what grievance there is!" Chu Tianhe frowned, glanced at Wu Peng hiding behind Wu Tianhao, and replied coldly, "Even if there were no grievance at all, he would still have to take my slap!"
Whoa!
As soon as Chu Tianhe said this, it instantly sparked a wave of heated discussion throughout the banquet hall!
Audacious, simply too audacious!
What did he mean by "even without a grievance, he would still have to take it"?
Looking across the entire Jiangzhou City, even the once-thriving Li Family wouldn't have dared to speak with such arrogance!
"Young man, arrogance is fine, but you need to know the occasion, the place, and who you're dealing with!" Hearing this, Wu Tianhao felt anger flare up in his chest and rebuked sternly, "Do you have any idea what the consequences will be for acting wild here?"
With Wu Tianhao's words, everyone's gaze shifted to Director Liu!
This charity banquet was hosted by Director Liu, while the Wu Family only managed the arrangements. Chu Tianhe's slap was not just a blow to Wu Peng's face, but to the faces of Director Liu and Wu Tianhao as well!
Following Wu Tianhao's words, Director Liu's expression instantly darkened!
This charity banquet was an event prepared by the Public Security Bureau for half a year. Now that someone was disrupting it, he was losing face.
"Do you have an invitation letter?"
Director Liu asked coldly with a gloomy expression.
"No!" Chu Tianhe answered straightforwardly.
In high-end social occasions like this, invitation letters weren't something just anyone possessed. Wu Peng had only given Qin Xiaomeng an invitation, and Chu Tianhe didn't have one.
"Breaking into the banquet venue without an invitation and starting fights—where did this idiot pop out from?"
"I've really seen it all today. Never thought I'd witness something like this in my life!"
Chapter 44
"Unbelievable!"
Hearing that Chu Tianhe had no invitation letter, the crowd started whispering again, their words filled with disdain.
At this moment, a trace of anger welled up on Director Liu's face. He cast a cold glance at Wu Tianhao and demanded, "How did you arrange things? How could just anyone be let in?"
"Yes, yes, it was my operational oversight!" Wu Tianhao quickly apologized to Director Liu, then waved his hand. "Security, seize this person! Lock him up in the storage room first, and after the banquet ends, send him to the Public Security Bureau for disposal!"
At Wu Tianhao's shout, a dozen security guards immediately stepped forward and surrounded Chu Tianhe.
"Brother-in-law..."
Seeing this, Qin Xiaomeng couldn't help but grow nervous, her hands instinctively wrapping tightly around Chu Tianhe's arm.
"It's fine." Chu Tianhe smiled faintly, then turned his gaze back to Director Liu and Wu Tianhao. "I just walked out of the Public Security Bureau, and I don't want to go back in quite so soon!"
"What?"
"Just walked out of the Public Security Bureau?"
"Is this guy an escaped criminal?"
Chu Tianhe never failed to shock people with his words. Every time he spoke, he stirred up a commotion throughout the banquet hall, and the discussions rolled in like a tidal wave!
Now, Director Liu couldn't hold his ground either. He reprimanded, "Audacious scoundrel, running in here to ruin things—do you know who I am?"
"I know!" Chu Tianhe's face remained completely nonchalant. "You are the Director of the Public Security Bureau, Liu Dongming!"
"Impudent!" Wu Tianhao raged. "Is Director Liu's name something you can shout directly?"
With that, Wu Tianhao turned to Director Liu and said, "Director, this person is too arrogant. I think we should have the men from the Public Security Bureau come right over and take him away."
"Hmm!" Director Liu nodded directly and waved his hand. Immediately, several plainclothes officers from the Public Security Bureau walked over.
"No, Director Liu, please listen to my explanation. My brother-in-law..."
Seeing this, Qin Xiaomeng panicked instantly and hurriedly tried to defend him. However, Wu Tianhao and Director Liu frowned almost simultaneously and said in deep voices, "Miss Qin, this is none of your business!"
"I warn you, you'd better not harbor a suspect, or even given your relationship with Young Master Wu, our Public Security Bureau won't show mercy!"
Director Liu furrowed his brows, a trace of anger in his eyes as he stared at Chu Tianhe and said in a deep voice, "In Jiangzhou City, you are the first person who dared to cause trouble at an event hosted by me. You've crossed the line!"
Seeing that Director Liu was genuinely furious, the crowd quickly fell silent, not daring to utter another word.
Yet Chu Tianhe merely smiled faintly: "Just because I don't have an invitation, I've become a troublemaker?"
"Since that's the case, I'll write you one right now!"
As his voice fell, Chu Tianhe's right hand moved with lightning speed, leaving an afterimage as he snatched a pen directly from the pocket of a nearby plainclothes officer. He then brushed three bold characters onto a piece of paper, handed it to Director Liu, and asked, "Director Liu, take a look. Is this invitation letter of mine valid?"
Seeing this action from Chu Tianhe, many people present sneered derisively!
"Could this guy have escaped from a psychiatric hospital?"
"A hand-written invitation? Right in front of the host? Is he a lunatic?"
"Even for a forgery, this is ridiculous. What is this guy playing at?"
"Does he take Director Liu for a fool?"
The whispers rose again, and everyone wore schadenfreude expressions. Loving the drama, they waited for Director Liu to fly into a rage, apprehend this bastard on the spot, and send him to the Public Security Bureau for severe sentencing!
Even Wu Tianhao lost his patience and snapped, "What are you all staring at for? Hurry up and take this lunatic down!"
"Wait!"
At that very moment, Director Liu's expression underwent a drastic change, filled with sheer horror. He hastily let out a cry of alarm, stopping Wu Tianhao's men in their tracks.
Chapter 45
"Director Liu, what is it?"
Wu Tianhao turned around hurriedly, looking at Director Liu with utter puzzlement.
He saw Director Liu holding the invitation Chu Tianhe had just written on the spot, his face completely pale. There were only three characters on the invitation: Chu Tianhe!
Yet those three characters alone were enough to shake the entirety of Jiangzhou!
Although Director Liu hadn't been present when the incident at the Public Security Bureau occurred, he had already been notified that the big figure capable of turning Jiangzhou upside down was precisely the Chu Tianhe standing right before his eyes!
Offend him, and forget about keeping his position as Director—even his life might not be spared!
"Well? Is my invitation letter valid?"
At this moment, Chu Tianhe asked again. Director Liu felt as though he had been struck by lightning. He shuddered first, then blurted out, "Valid, perfectly valid! There is no invitation letter in this world more valid than this one!"
The moment Director Liu finished speaking, Qin Xiaomeng's face filled with astonishment. She looked up at Chu Tianhe in disbelief, unable to understand why her brother-in-law writing a name on a whim could turn out more effective than an actual invitation letter!
It was simply magical, feeling just like a dream!
"Mr. Chu, this way please, take a seat in the VIP section!"
Director Liu's attitude underwent a complete, earth-shattering transformation in an instant, and he became as submissive and flattering as a tail-wagging dog!
This dramatic shift stunned everyone present. Qin Xiaomeng also felt it was thoroughly dreamlike, as if she had crossed over into a romance novel.
"What... what is going on?"
"Director Liu... why is he..."
This time, the crowd's murmurs were very quiet. After all, since it concerned Director Liu, no one dared to speculate wildly. Meanwhile, Wu Tianhao, standing to the side, was completely dumbfounded!
He truly couldn't make sense of the situation—why had Director Liu's attitude changed so drastically?
"Dad, we can't let this go!"
Without figuring out what was happening, Wu Tianhao didn't dare speak rashly, but Wu Peng couldn't care less. Chu Tianhe's slap had landed solidly on Wu Peng's face; the five fingerprint marks were stark and clear, and half of his face burned with pain.
Wu Peng could not swallow this grievance!
"Then what do you want to do?"
Before Wu Tianhao could speak, Chu Tianhe shifted his gaze back to Wu Peng and asked coldly.
"Lock him up! He must be locked up, sent to the Public Security Bureau, and given a severe sentence!"
Wu Peng clamored, completely failing to notice that Director Liu's face had darkened to the point of dripping water!
"Director Liu, what do you think?"
At this point, Chu Tianhe bypassed Wu Peng entirely, his gaze falling directly on Director Liu. A casual question from him caused Director Liu to shudder all over, his face turning ashen!
"Nonsense!" Director Liu flew into a rage on the spot, rushed toward Wu Peng in a single stride, and reprimanded harshly, "Mr. Chu is an honored guest! What's wrong with him slapping you?"
"If you dare utter another word of nonsense, see if I don't have someone pack you off to the Public Security Bureau right now!"
Director Liu's stern rebuke left Wu Peng frozen in place!
He never could have imagined that Uncle Liu, who had always protected him, would act like a completely different person today!
Standing to the side, Wu Tianhao finally caught on to the clue and hastily waved his hand. "Xiaomeng—Xiaopeng, stop talking nonsense and get out of here!"
Chapter 46
"But... Dad... I..."
Wu Peng still couldn't swallow his pride and was about to speak when he completely provoked Wu Tianhao. With a backhanded slap, Wu Tianhao struck Wu Peng directly across the face, then roared angrily, "I told you to get lost, didn't you hear me?!"
Wu Peng was young, inexperienced, and merely a spoiled young master who couldn't gauge the depth of the waters. But Wu Tianhao was a prominent figure in the business world; having struggled through the ranks for so many years, he naturally possessed sharp judgment!
Could anyone who made Director Liu's attitude undergo such a massive shift possibly be a nobody?
Seeing that his son still lacked basic awareness, Wu Tianhao wished he could give him a few more slaps to wake the idiot up!
"Mr. Chu, it is my failure in discipline. Please forgive my son's offenses!"
Immediately following this, Wu Tianhao's attitude also underwent a one-eighty-degree transformation. Just like Director Liu, he actually lowered his stance before Chu Tianhe!
This sudden reversal not only dropped the jaws of all the guests present, but even left Qin Xiaomeng completely dazed, entirely unable to comprehend what on earth was going on.
"Let's go. Since we're here, let's go see how this charity banquet is actually run."
Amidst the gaze of everyone present, Chu Tianhe wore a faint smile at the corners of his mouth and stepped forward toward the first row of the observation seats. Though Qin Xiaomeng was filled with absolute shock, she didn't dare say much and could only follow behind Chu Tianhe.
Yet as Qin Xiaomeng felt the gazes cast upon her from all directions, she felt somewhat uncomfortable. With several hundred guests present all staring directly at her, anyone would feel uneasy.
"Brother-in-law, what on earth is going on here?"
"That Director Liu, why did he..."
Finally, after arriving at the VIP seating area and taking her seat, Qin Xiaomeng couldn't hold back any longer and questioned him in a low voice.
"Nothing much. When I was previously in the military, I knew him, so we have a bit of friendship." Chu Tianhe offered a casual explanation. Suspicion flickered in Qin Xiaomeng's eyes—she clearly didn't buy his explanation and pursued, "Is it really just... a bit of friendship?"
"Mhm, just that simple." Chu Tianhe smiled and nodded.
Seeing this, although Qin Xiaomeng remained full of doubts, constrained by the present occasion, she didn't question him any further.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Wu Tianhao chased after Director Liu all the way to the preparation backstage of the charity auction and asked, "Director Liu, what on earth is the background of that Chu Tianhe? To make you..."
"Consider yourself smart for today's outcome!" Director Liu stopped in his tracks, raised a hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, and lowered his voice. "Old Wu, do you have any idea that just a moment ago, your damned son almost brought a catastrophic disaster upon your Wu Family!"
"What?" Wu Tianhao froze instinctively, then asked, "Director Liu, what do you mean by that?"
"What do I mean?" Director Liu scanned his surroundings, and making sure no one was eavesdropping, whispered into Wu Tianhao's ear, "Didn't you keep asking why the Li Family suddenly vanished?"
"Could it be..." Hearing this, Wu Tianhao's expression changed drastically, his pupils contracting violently!
"Yes, it was because of him!" Director Liu stated, "I don't know what his exact status is, but the disappearance of the Li Family, Star Media Group, Han Chuanwu's death, and the Qin family's sudden departure—all of it was his doing!"
"Not only that, do you know what happened at our Public Security Bureau this very morning?" Director Liu recounted everything that transpired inside the Public Security Bureau to Wu Tianhao in detail!
"What? Publicly punishing your officers, and even making Commander Lin... Commander Lin kneel on the spot?!"
Wu Tianhao couldn't help letting out a gasp of shock. In an instant, his forehead was covered in cold sweat, and a chill ran down his spine. Recalling the scene from moments earlier, lingering fear gripped him!
Fortunately, he had good judgment; otherwise, had he truly offended this living grim reaper, the entire Wu Family would have been finished!
"Lower... lower your voice!"
Hearing Wu Tianhao's exclamation, Director Liu's expression shifted abruptly, and he quickly lowered his voice. "Let me tell you, as long as you know about Chu Tianhe, keep it to yourself. Don't go spreading it around, or even the Jade Emperor himself won't be able to save your Wu Family!"
"Understood, I get it, I get it." Wu Tianhao quickly raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his brow.
Chapter 47
Soon, the charity banquet's auction began.
Director Liu and Wu Tianhao took their respective seats. Chu Tianhe turned his gaze toward Director Liu and asked, "Director Liu, at this auction, will all the proceeds be donated to impoverished children?"
"Yes, yes, yes." Director Liu nodded repeatedly. "This is a public welfare activity organized by our Public Security Bureau. It's been running for almost ten years. We've built six Hope Primary Schools, and over a thousand children have received a proper education."
"Good." Chu Tianhe nodded.
He had to admit that Director Liu was quite upright. At least by organizing such public welfare activities, he had indeed helped many impoverished children; it could be considered a truly good deed.
"I'd like to take part in this charity auction as well. Is that allowed?"
Chu Tianhe looked at Director Liu while also glancing at Wu Tianhao.
In an instant, Wu Tianhao's body trembled, his expression shifted drastically, and he hurriedly said, "Of course! If Mr. Chu wishes to join the auction, we couldn't ask for anything better. We're all just doing our bit for the impoverished children."
"Director Liu, do you know what the closing prices usually are in past years?" Chu Tianhe looked at Director Liu and inquired.
"Usually around several hundred thousand, I suppose." Director Liu smiled awkwardly and explained, "The things we auction are all small trinkets, not worth much. While it's called an auction, it's really just a way for everyone to donate money—just going through the motions."
Director Liu's words were honest. Most of the auction items were his own collections; there were hardly any valuables. It was simply out of respect for him that these entrepreneurs attended the charity event. Being able to raise several hundred thousand to help impoverished children in the mountains was already quite good.
"Alright, I have a rough idea now." Chu Tianhe smiled and nodded. However, right at that moment, Qin Xiaomeng, sitting beside him, could no longer hold back. She whispered into Chu Tianhe's ear, "Brother-in-law, do you have money?"
"The starting bid here is ten thousand to begin with. Do you even have ten thousand yuan?"
Director Liu and Wu Tianhao had focused all their attention on Chu Tianhe. Although Qin Xiaomeng's voice wasn't loud, both of them heard her clearly.
"No!" Chu Tianhe smiled, answering with exceptional bluntness, which left Qin Xiaomeng wearing an awkward expression.
Their own household was so poor they could barely make ends meet; where would they find money to sponsor impoverished children? Even if they had the heart, they lacked the means!
"Without money, can I still take part in the auction?" Chu Tianhe turned his head with a smile and asked Director Liu and Wu Tianhao once more.
"This..." Wu Tianhao was slightly stunned. Without money, how could one participate in an auction?
Wu Tianhao truly couldn't understand what Chu Tianhe meant by this. But Director Liu, sitting to the side, hurriedly chimed in, "Yes, yes! As long as Mr. Chu is here, whether you have money or not, you can take part in this auction!"
As he spoke, Director Liu even gave Wu Tianhao a gentle nudge with his elbow as a reminder.
Wu Tianhao was extremely shrewd and quickly nodded in agreement. "Right, right! If Mr. Chu wishes to, of course he can participate."
"Good. Since both of you say I can join, then I will also take part in this public welfare activity and do my part for the children in the impoverished mountain areas." Chu Tianhe smiled, replying with complete nonchalance.
Yet this single sentence made everyone frown, especially Qin Xiaomeng. Her beautiful eyes shifted as she looked at Chu Tianhe, her gaze filled with doubt.
Chu Tianhe clearly didn't have a single penny to his name—how was he going to take part in this auction?
Even if he won a bid, he wouldn't have the money to pay for it!
"The first item, provided by Director Liu: a pair of high-imitation Ming Dynasty official kiln blue-and-white porcelain bowls, starting bid at ten thousand yuan!"
Hearing the host's announcement, Qin Xiaomeng was slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected it to be a replica. Put nicely, it was called a high-imitation; put bluntly, it was a piece of craftwork bought at a tourist scenic spot, worth at most a few hundred yuan!
The corporate moguls present were no fools; how could they not know the value of such an item?
It seemed this auction was indeed just a formality—simply a way for these wealthy bosses to donate money to impoverished children!
Chapter 48
"Minghe Group bids thirty thousand yuan!"
"Jiangshun Group bids fifty thousand yuan!"
Even though the host had clearly stated it was a replica, because it was provided by Director Liu, the corporate bosses below still raised their bidding paddles one after another to give Director Liu face.
"Fengyuan Group bids eighty thousand yuan!"