Li Wei’s body was sent flying instantly, spinning through the air a few times before slamming hard against the office desk!
"How dare you speak about my wife like that and call me some random man off the street? It seems I need to teach you employees a lesson on her behalf!" Su Lin glared fiercely at the board members.
"You brat! How dare you strike someone in our company..." The pot-bellied director stood up in a rage, shocked that Su Lin had actually dared to lash out.
Before he could finish, Su Lin grabbed him by the collar and hauled him up. "Old man, do you have a problem with that?"
"Boy, I am a member of the board! You had better let me go right now, or you’ll be sorry!" the director blustered, feigning composure.
"Is that so?" Su Lin curled his lip, completely unimpressed, and threw the director aside.
*Bang!*
The man slammed into the wall and passed out cold on the spot.
"And all of you—don't think any of you are getting away!" Su Lin turned his gaze toward the remaining board members.
Having witnessed Su Lin’s methods, the directors scrambled in a panic, racing for the exit. But Su Lin was faster; he blocked the doorway and began delivering slaps.
*Smack! Smack! Smack!*
A series of slapping sounds echoed through the room, and within moments, all the directors who had mocked Xia Bingyu were sprawled on the floor.
"Wife, was I impressive?" After finishing, Su Lin returned to Xia Bingyu’s side, smiling and looking for praise.
Xia Bingyu finally snapped back to reality, feeling a mix of amusement and frustration. Although his actions had felt satisfying, she didn’t know how she was going to deal with the fallout of him beating so many board members.
"Xia Bingyu! You actually conspired with some random man to beat up the board of directors! You are completely lawless! Do you really think this company belongs to you alone?" Li Wei, having regained her senses, clutched her face and shrieked.
"Exactly! If you don't give us an explanation for what happened today, we are definitely pulling our shares!" the other directors echoed, just as furious.
*Swish!*
In a flash, Su Lin appeared before Li Wei and slapped her away again. "You foul woman, you really don't learn, do you? You’re just asking for a beating!"
He then turned to the director who had demanded an explanation earlier. "You wanted an explanation, right?"
"That's right... so what?" the director stammered.
*Smack!*
Su Lin slapped him to the ground and looked at the others. "That is my explanation. If anyone else wants one, I guarantee I’ll satisfy every one of you!"
The room fell silent. The board members realized this guy was completely unreasonable and feared absolutely nothing.
"Enough!" Xia Bingyu finally stopped him. She looked coldly at the board members. "Everyone, I am sorry about what happened to you. The company will cover all medical expenses."
"As for pulling your shares, if you have truly made up your minds, you can come to my office to discuss it anytime."
"Let’s end the meeting here. Su Lin, come with me!"
***
**Chapter 11: I'll Listen to Your Command!**
Watching Su Lin follow Xia Bingyu out of the office, the board members finally let out a breath of relief and stood up from the floor.
Immediately, they turned their aggression toward Li Wei.
"Li Wei, we only demanded to pull our shares today because you told us to, and now we’ve been beaten for it. You owe us an explanation!"
"That's right! You can't seriously expect us to actually pull our shares now!"
...
Li Wei, having taken two slaps, had a face swollen like a pig’s head. Facing their interrogation, she could only force a smile. "Directors, please don't be angry. I’ll call Mr. Xia right now and report what happened. I will definitely get you an answer!"
With that, she hurriedly pulled out her phone and dialed Xia Guodong to report the incident.
Meanwhile, Su Lin followed Xia Bingyu into her finely decorated office.
"Wife, did you call me in here to give me a private reward?"
"An office! Black stockings! Floor-to-ceiling windows! You’ve got all the elements covered—you know me too well, wife!" Su Lin looked at her with burning eyes.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Do you realize that by hitting those directors, you’ve almost ruined me?" Xia Bingyu said, her face dark with frustration.
Su Lin scratched his head, confused. "Wife, what do you mean by that?"
"The people you hit are board members. They were in the middle of trying to remove me from my position as CEO. With you acting like that, them coming after me is going to be a huge headache!"
"But fortunately, they were just bluffing. The company is still profitable, so I doubt many will actually pull their shares." Xia Bingyu sat in her office chair, eyes closed, massaging her temples.
"You’re so capable, wife—why do they want to remove you?" Su Lin asked.
"It’s all Xia Guodong’s doing. The Xiashi Group is in the pharmaceutical industry. Recently, our rival, the Wang Group, somehow developed several strength-enhancing drugs with amazing effects, which has completely suppressed us."
"Because of my grandfather’s original rules, Xia Guodong isn't allowed to interfere in company affairs. So, he’s trying to use this opportunity to push his son, Xia Fei, into the CEO’s chair. That’s why he’s targeting me in every way possible."
The more Xia Bingyu spoke, the angrier she became. Of course, she wasn't expecting Su Lin to be able to help; she just needed someone to vent to.
"Is that all? A small matter like that?"
"Wife, you should have told me earlier! I have all kinds of prescriptions here. Whatever type you need, I’ll just write one for you!" Su Lin boasted, patting his chest.
"Forget it. You grew up on a mountain—your so-called 'prescriptions' are probably just folk remedies. They wouldn't hold up in the real world." Xia Bingyu shook her head, not believing him at all.
Su Lin didn't argue. Instead, he walked behind her chair and placed his hands on her head.
"What are you doing?" Xia Bingyu, who had been keeping her eyes closed, was startled and nearly jumped up.
"Why are you so tense, wife? I just noticed you looked uncomfortable, so I wanted to give you a massage." Su Lin explained.
His fingers began to gently knead her head. His movements were soft. As he massaged, wisps of mysterious energy flowed through his fingers and into Xia Bingyu’s mind.
In an instant, she felt a wave of refreshment. The exhaustion she had been carrying for so long simply vanished. Even more, her mind felt clearer than ever before, and her thoughts were remarkably sharp.
Feeling so comfortable, Xia Bingyu couldn't help but let out a soft moan.
Su Lin smiled and asked, "Wife, how’s my technique?"
"Not bad. It would be even better if you used a bit more pressure," she replied instinctively.
As soon as she said it, she realized how that sounded. Her face turned bright red, right down to her neck!
"Understood, wife. Just sit back and enjoy. I’ll make sure to serve you comfortably!" Su Lin said with a grin, increasing the pressure.
Meanwhile, at the Xia family home, Xia Guodong had already learned about what happened in the meeting room through Li Wei. His expression was grim.
"Dad, what happened at the Xiashi Group? Was Xia Bingyu removed?" Xia Fei asked as he walked into the house and saw his father on the sofa.
"The attempt failed. That guy Su Lin broke into the meeting and beat up every single board member," Xia Guodong said darkly.
"Damn it! That brat again! Does he really think that just because that woman Xia Bingyu is protecting him, we wouldn't dare touch him?" Xia Fei slammed his fist onto the table in anger.
A cold, sinister glint flashed in Xia Guodong’s eyes. "It seems we have no choice but to execute the second plan."
Xia Fei’s spirits lifted. "Dad, are you saying we should use Young Master Zhang..."
Xia Guodong nodded heavily. "That’s right. I told Young Master Zhang about Su Lin yesterday. Given his personality, he’s bound to take action soon."
"For now, we just wait. Once Young Master Zhang makes his move, we’ll see how things play out!"
***
Back at the office, just as Xia Bingyu was enjoying her massage, the phone on her desk rang. After answering it, her face changed drastically. "What? How can the Hundred Flowers Bank do that? That is completely unreasonable!"
"Fine, I understand. I’ll find a way to solve it!"
After hanging up, her face was heavy with worry. Su Lin asked, "Wife, what happened now?"
"Our company took out a loan from Hundred Flowers Bank, originally agreed to be repaid in a year. Now, they’re suddenly demanding early repayment."
"This money is critical to the company. If we pay it back early, it will break our capital chain. The company might go bankrupt."
"Forget it, why am I telling you this? You wouldn't understand." Xia Bingyu shook her head halfway through and started making calls to the bank to plead for more time.
After over ten minutes of talking, she finally hung up, feeling slightly relieved.
"Wife, how is the situation?" Su Lin asked with a carefree grin.
"It's hard to say for now. I’ve arranged to have dinner with the bank president tonight. Hopefully, we can reach an agreement then." She sighed helplessly.
Su Lin’s eyes lit up. "Wife, let me go with you!"
Xia Bingyu frowned slightly. "What for?"
"You're treating someone to dinner—you certainly won't go to a bad place, and it’s bound to be a feast! How could I miss that?" Su Lin analyzed with a straight face.
"Fine. But when we get there, just stay by my side and don't say anything." Xia Bingyu thought about it and finally agreed.
Even though Su Lin’s thought process was a bit unusual, having him around gave her an indescribable sense of security.
Seeing her agreement, Su Lin stood at attention and said solemnly, "Don't worry, my dear wife. I will follow your every command!"
***
**Chapter 12: You Fat Pig, You Seem Pretty Cocky, Don't You?**
After staying at the office until the end of the workday, Su Lin and Xia Bingyu left and headed to the Pinxiang Restaurant.
While not as grand as a five-star hotel, it was still a well-known high-end establishment in Jiang City, with an average bill of four to five thousand per person.
Inside, Xia Bingyu led Su Lin to a private room, waiting nervously.
"Wife, it’s just a meeting. Do you really have to be this tense?" Su Lin couldn't help but ask.
"What do you know? This concerns the life and death of our company. Just keep your mouth shut and don't make trouble!" she glared at him.
"Oh!" Su Lin nodded and said nothing more.
About twenty minutes later, footsteps approached. The door was pushed open, and a middle-aged man walked in.
He looked to be in his fifties, sporting a receding hairline and a bloated figure, giving off a greasy vibe.
"President Sheng, you're finally here! Please, take a seat!" Xia Bingyu stood up to greet him warmly.
Sheng Lei simply nodded, his hands clasped behind his back, looking smug as he walked to the table. But as he went to sit down, he noticed Su Lin and paused. "President Xia, who is this..."
"President Sheng, this is my husband." Xia Bingyu hesitated for a few seconds before answering honestly.
"Since when did you get married, President Xia? I hadn't heard." Sheng Lei frowned.
Xia Bingyu was a famous beauty in Jiang City, and Sheng Lei had been eyeing her for a long time. More importantly, rumor had it she was cold to all men, so he had suspected she was still untouched. Now, suddenly, she had a husband?
"We got married recently, President Sheng. To avoid attention, we didn't hold a ceremony," she explained with a forced smile.
Sheng Lei didn't press further, though he felt a pang of regret. He had hoped to be the first. Still, it didn't matter. A married woman was fine, too—it saved him the effort of 'breaking her in,' and there was the extra thrill of cuckolding another man. He swallowed hard, finding the prospect even more exciting.
Xia Bingyu, unaware of his thoughts, signaled the waiter to serve the food. Soon, rare delicacies filled the table. Su Lin didn't stand on ceremony and dove right in, completely ignoring Sheng Lei.
Sheng Lei looked displeased. "President Xia, what does your husband do? Does he not know his manners?"
"I'm sorry, President Sheng. My husband has been busy all day and hasn't eaten," she apologized, kicking Su Lin under the table and signaling him with her eyes.
"I haven't said anything, why are you kicking me?" Su Lin asked, confused.
Xia Bingyu gritted her teeth, regretting bringing him.
Sheng Lei’s eyes flashed with a sharp light as he noticed the tension between them. "Haha, this gentleman certainly has a unique personality," he said with a sardonic smile.
"President Sheng is asking you a question! Why won't you answer?" Xia Bingyu kicked him again.
"You told me not to speak!" Su Lin felt wronged.
Xia Bingyu was left speechless—she began to wonder if he was doing this on purpose.
"Haha, quite a character, isn't he?" Sheng Lei sneered.
"President Sheng, I'm so sorry..." she apologized again, keeping her posture low.
Sheng Lei interrupted her. "President Xia, let's stop beating around the bush. You didn't invite me here just for dinner, did you? Let's talk business."
"Very well. I wanted to ask: the Xiashi Group took out a loan of one billion, to be repaid in a year. Why are you suddenly demanding it now?"
Sheng Lei sighed performatively. "The bank's leadership decided this. Your company's performance has been sliding, and our assessment is that bankruptcy is a real possibility. Naturally, we need to recover the loan."
"President Sheng, I can guarantee that the Xiashi Group will not go bankrupt. Our performance will recover soon! I beg you to show some leniency!" she pleaded.
"I'm sorry, President Xia. This isn't my decision alone, and why should I believe your word?" he said coldly.
"President Sheng, you are forcing us into a corner!" Xia Bingyu gripped her fists in anger.
"I wouldn't say that. I'm acting for the greater good. Besides..." Sheng Lei’s tone changed, finally revealing his true colors. "There is a condition. If you can meet it, not only will I not recall the loan, I’ll extend the term for another year."
"What condition?" she asked cautiously.
Sheng Lei didn't answer directly. Instead, he pulled two items from his briefcase: a suggestive piece of lingerie, specifically black stockings with most of the fabric missing, and a hotel room key card.
Xia Bingyu’s face turned pale with disgust. "Sheng Lei, what is the meaning of this?"
Sheng Lei licked his lips. "President Xia, we’re all adults. Why play dumb? You're married; you've experienced these things. I don't need to explain."
"At ten o'clock tonight, I’ll be waiting at the hotel. I hope to see you wearing this. Just one night, and I promise your company’s loan problems will vanish."
Xia Bingyu’s voice trembled with rage. "And if I refuse?"
"Then, I'm afraid your company will not only have to repay the loan immediately, but you'll be blacklisted by every major bank!" Sheng Lei said with a mocking grin.
Xia Bingyu shivered. She looked at Su Lin. He was her husband, at least in name. Surely he would stand up for her?
But Su Lin sat there quietly, completely motionless.
Sheng Lei laughed, thinking Su Lin was terrified. "President Xia, it seems your husband has no objections. I’m curious, can a man this weak actually satisfy you?" He patted Su Lin on the shoulder. "Brother, feel free to leave her to me. I guarantee her pleasure like she's never had before!"
Su Lin frowned. He looked at Xia Bingyu. "Wife, I can handle you telling me not to speak, but I can't stand for this. What should I do?"
"Do whatever you want!" she shouted in frustration.
"Got it!"