C5 Charging Forward!

Jiang Zhuo gave Zhong Zhiyong a dismissive glance. "Was this your own idea, or is Zhengtian Group pulling the strings?"

Zhong Zhiyong's anger flared at Jiang Zhuo's demeanor. "You're aware that Zhengtian Group backs my Huihuang Real Estate Company, and yet you dare speak to me with such insolence?"

"I'll ask you one more time. Was this your own doing, or were you acting on orders from Zhengtian Group?" Jiang Zhuo's gaze turned icy, his presence exuding a chilling aura.

Zhong Zhiyong was taken aback, having never encountered such an intimidating stare.

In the eyes of the young man before him, he thought he saw endless fields of carnage and bloodshed!

What was this guy's story?

He was terrifying!

"The nerve! To speak so disrespectfully in front of Mr. Zhong, you truly don't know whether you're coming or going!" The man in the wheelchair couldn't contain his outrage.

Zhong Zhiyong, trying to quell his rising fear, glanced over his shoulder at the thirty-odd henchmen.

With such a crowd at his back, why should he fear the man before him?

"Listen up! I don't care about your background. Today, you've harmed my men and hindered my business, and that means you've made an enemy of me, Zhong Zhiyong, one that won't rest until it's settled!"

Hands on his hips and eyes brimming with hostility, Zhong Zhiyong barked, "I'm giving you a chance. Kneel down right now, kowtow, and beg for mercy! If I'm feeling generous, I might just let you live. But if you persist in your folly, I won't hesitate to make you vanish from this world!"

Before Jiang Zhuo could respond, Lau Ruoyan, who was beside him, frantically gestured and pleaded, "Please, don't be angry. I can apologize on behalf of my brother for the previous incident. We're willing to hand over the orphanage to you. All we ask is that you show us leniency and spare us."

Zhong Zhiyong's attention shifted to Lau Ruoyan, and upon laying eyes on her, he was visibly taken aback by her beauty.

He licked his lips, a sly smile curling at the corners of his mouth, his eyes brimming with greed and desire. "Let you off the hook? It's not out of the question..."

Lau Ruoyan's face lit up with hope, and she quickly expressed her gratitude. "Thank you! Thank you so much! You can have this orphanage. May we leave now?"

"Leave? Ha! My dear, I merely mentioned I could spare you, but there's a catch. If you agree to my terms, I'll consider the day's events water under the bridge," Zhong Zhiyong said, his smile laced with malice.

Lau Ruoyan felt a chill run through her at his grin, a sense of foreboding washing over her.

"What... what is it? If it's not too much to ask, I might agree," Lau Ruoyan said, her lips pressed tightly together.

Zhong Zhiyong's eyes gleamed as he unabashedly let his gaze wander over Lau Ruoyan's figure, lingering noticeably longer on certain sensitive areas.

"It's nothing unreasonable. I'm simply asking you to spend a month with me. Agree to that, and I'll consider today's incident forgotten. How does that sound?" Zhong Zhiyong proposed, his smile tinged with amusement.

Lau Ruoyan's complexion turned ashen, terror mounting in her eyes as she struggled to swallow.

How could she possibly consent to such an indecent proposal?

"Think it over, sweetheart. See how many men I have with me? Even if your brother is somewhat capable, do you really think he can take on all of my men?" Zhong Zhiyong taunted, his arms folded across his chest, his gaze deep and intrigued as he watched Lau Ruoyan. "Even with extraordinary abilities, he won't escape today's predicament! And if you refuse me now, once I have him seized, you'll end up yielding to me regardless. Why resist and endure needless suffering?"

"Sister Yan..." Jiang Zhuo began.

But Lau Ruoyan quickly covered his mouth, shaking her head, her eyes resolute.

She turned back to face Zhong Zhiyong, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, and said through clenched teeth, "I'll agree to your terms, but you must assure me that you'll let my brother go!"

Zhong Zhiyong's eyes sparkled with anticipation, his throat parched and his heart aflame with excitement. He nodded eagerly, "As long as you agree, I assure you, he'll be unharmed. Not a hair on his head will be touched!"

"Sister Yan, didn't I tell you that I would handle this matter?"

Jiang Zhuo felt helpless as he gently pried Lau Ruoyan's slender hand away.

He was deeply moved by Sister Yan's willingness to sacrifice herself for him, yet he had made a solemn vow to protect his family at all costs.

Unless he was dead, no one would be allowed to harm Lau Ruoyan!

Moreover, he wasn't the least bit intimidated by the likes of Glorious Real Estate Company.

"Zhuo, please don't be reckless. I am more than willing to sacrifice myself for your safety," Lau Ruoyan declared, biting her lower lip with conviction.

"Sister Yan!"

Jiang Zhuo gripped Lau Ruoyan's hand firmly and spoke with earnest, "I, Jiang Zhuo, am no longer the frail boy I once was! Starting today, I will be your protector. Trust me and let me take care of this, okay?"

Lau Ruoyan shuddered, gazing at Jiang Zhuo, her heart a whirlwind of emotions at his serious demeanor.

Then, stepping back, she whispered, "Zhuo, please be careful. If anything happens to you, I swear I'll take them down with me!"

"Damn it! Can you two cut it out? Girl, are you going to agree to my demands or not? My patience is wearing thin!"

Zhong Zhiyong, facing them, was visibly impatient, his face darkening as he barked his demand.

Jiang Zhuo stepped forward confidently, his right hand caressing the pinkie of his left, his gaze like that of a deity surveying the mortal realm, utterly devoid of emotion.

It was a chilling indifference to life itself.

It was an aura of supremacy, of being above all else.

Though alone, he exuded an overwhelming sense of dread.

To him, it seemed, all else was as insignificant as ants.

Zhong Zhiyong's heart raced with fear, his voice quivering, "You... you... are you courting death?"

Jiang Zhuo advanced towards Zhong Zhiyong with a cold, impassive face and asked in an even tone, "Do you know what I despise most in life?"

"What?" Zhong Zhiyong, consumed by fear, inquired almost instinctively.

"I have a deep-seated hatred for bullies, those who abuse their power to oppress others, and anyone who dares threaten my family. Unfortunately for you, you've managed to embody all three."

Jiang Zhuo casually spoke as he pulled a pair of white gloves from his pocket and slipped them onto his hands.

Zhong Zhiyong's heart pounded with dread, his scalp tingling and a chill spreading throughout his body.

Despite his fear, he forced himself to stand his ground and spat out defiantly, "And what of it? What can you possibly do to me, kid? Open your eyes wide and see clearly—I've got over thirty men at my command. Taking you down would be as simple as slaughtering a dog."

"Boss Zhong! Why even bother talking to him? Just take him out!" the bandaged figure in the wheelchair bellowed with rage.

Zhong Zhiyong swallowed hard and barked the order, "Get him! Beat him to a pulp. I'll take full responsibility for any consequences!"

The henchmen behind him grinned viciously, clenching their fists and shouting as they charged toward Jiang Zhuo.