C15 Dynasty Hotel

Chen Yang strode purposefully to the door without so much as a backward glance. He swung open the door to the supreme private room, revealing an interior dripping with luxury. Every item was a high-end custom piece, down to the gold-plated toilet.

This was a room that money alone couldn't grant access to.

Inside, Chen Yang had already made himself comfortable, pouring a cup of tea and sipping it slowly.

The tea was the finest West Lake Dragon Well, the tender tips. As the subtly bitter yet sweet liquid filled his mouth, a refreshing fragrance lingered.

Sunn Qiang watched Chen Yang, seated on the sofa, leisurely enjoying his tea, and clenched his teeth in a mix of rage and envy.

This room was reserved for the boss's esteemed guests, a place even Sunn Qiang had no right to enter. How did Chen Yang have the audacity to do so?

It became clear to Sunn Qiang: Chen Yang was here to stir up trouble.

And this time, Chen Yang had sealed his fate.

Such a private room was no place for someone of his standing.

Earlier, during their conversation, Chen Yang had overheard Sunn Qiang boast about this very room—a room not typically open to the public and unused for over half a year.

"Do you have a death wish?" Sunn Qiang bellowed, seizing Chen Yang by the collar.

With Sunn Qiang's godfather away from the shop today, he figured a good thrashing of Chen Yang in front of Mimi would surely impress her with his machismo.

Just then, over twenty burly men, alerted by Sunn Qiang's roar, surged into the room. They were the muscle under Sunn Qiang's command.

"Is there trouble?" one of the men inquired.

"He came looking for it, but I've got him now," Sunn Qiang said with a sneer, glancing at Chen Yang. He turned to Lee Mi and asked, "Would you like me to teach him a lesson for you?"

Lee Mi, infuriated by Chen Yang's nonchalant demeanor and recalling the times he had embarrassed her, seethed with anger.

"Have him kneel and apologize to me, then throw him out. I can't stand the sight of him," she demanded.

Sunn Qiang shouted, "Well, what are you waiting for? Kneel and beg Miss Lee for forgiveness, or do you have a death wish?"

"Guys, bring out the goods."

No sooner had he spoken than the burly men behind him each pulled out an electric baton from their waists.

Blue sparks crackled, filling the air with the sharp sound of electricity.

"Do you see this? Your choices are simple: kneel and apologize, or get zapped until you wet yourself," Sunn Qiang said, elongating his words for emphasis. "You've got one shot at this, so choose wisely."

Lee Mi's fury subsided significantly. She retrieved her phone from her bag, ready to capture Chen Yang's moment of submission and send the evidence of his humiliation to Su Miao—if he knelt.

"And if I refuse to kneel?" Chen Yang asked, his smile fading into an icy stare.

Sunn Qiang's smile twisted cruelly. "Then I'll make sure you kneel," he snarled.

He lunged at Chen Yang, grabbing his collar with one hand and swinging the other at his face.

"Enough!"

The unexpected bellow brought Sunn Qiang to an abrupt halt.

Moments later, a group of four or five people entered the room.

Sunn Qiang and his crew were visibly taken aback.

Among them were Zhao Heqiu, owner of the Muse Hotel; Zhou Youming, proprietor of the Dynasty Hotel; Liu Guobang, head of the Guobang Real Estate Company in Xichuan City; Zhang Liren, CEO of Beauty; and Shi Lei, head of Jiangnan Energy.

All were tycoons with fortunes in the billions.

Chen Yang's smile returned upon seeing them. These were old friends he hadn't seen in years, friends he'd supported financially during their early entrepreneurial days. Now, they had all carved out renowned names for themselves in their respective industries.

Chen Yang's faith in them had been well placed.

Zhao Heqiu stepped forward and delivered a resounding slap to Sunn Qiang's face. The audacity to lay a hand on Chen Yang was beyond the pale.

The slap was forceful, sending Sunn Qiang reeling, his cheek ballooning instantly.

"Why did you hit me?" Sunn Qiang, clutching his swollen face, looked to his godfather, his voice tinged with betrayal. "He was the one causing trouble, I was just..."

Before Sunn Qiang could get his words out, another slap flew at him.

"Smack."

Sunn Qiang's other cheek swelled up, his face now numb to the point of losing all sensation.

"How dare you still deny it?" Zhao Heqiu bellowed. "You clearly threw the first punch, and now you have the audacity to twist the truth? Have you grown so bold that you no longer respect me?"

Cradling his face, Sunn Qiang protested, "Godfather, I'm your godson! How can you strike me over someone you think is an outsider?"

Zhao Heqiu snapped back, "Who said Chen Yang is an outsider?"

Trembling with rage, Zhao Heqiu jabbed a finger at Sunn Qiang's nose and berated him, "Look closely! He's the Elder Young Master of the Chen family, my savior. Without Chen Yang, there would be no me today. His pocket change alone could sustain you for a lifetime."

Sunn Qiang stared at Chen Yang, incredulous. "He's the Chen family's Elder Young Master?"

The room fell into a hush, so silent you could hear a pin drop.

Sunn Qiang was utterly flabbergasted. He often heard Zhao Heqiu credit his success to the Elder Young Master of the Chen family. Without Chen Yang's recognition and support, Zhao Heqiu wouldn't be where he was today.

Sunn Qiang had never imagined that the Elder Young Master of the Chen family would be clad in street market clothes.

In that moment, he was filled with profound regret.

Lee Mi was equally stunned.

She couldn't fathom that the matrilocal son-in-law, whom she'd ordered around and who had been subjected to such humiliation, was actually the Chen family's Elder Young Master.

She felt as though she was in a dream, yet her gut told her this was all too real.

Lee Mi watched as these top-tier executives stood with utmost deference before Chen Yang. Her legs turned to jelly, and it felt like something was lodged in her throat, leaving her speechless.

"I was wrong. Please, forgive me," Sunn Qiang pleaded, dropping to his knees. He gestured towards Lee Mi and continued, "It's all her fault. Had it not been for her, I never would have disrespected you."

Lee Mi's knees buckled, and she stumbled backward, her voice quivering as she protested, "How can you blame me? I invited you for drinks to seal the deal, not to provoke a fight."

Lee Mi was employed at a renovation firm and had met Sunn Qiang at a social drinking event. It was there that Sunn Qiang let slip that Muse's Bar was due for a makeover—a piece of information that Lee Mi kept close to her heart.

She reached out to Sunn Qiang by every means possible, scheming to snag the renovation job for herself. If she could land it, she stood to make at least two million. Such a substantial profit was not something she could let go of without a fight.

Rising to his feet, Sunn Qiang, his face contorted with anger, lashed out at Lee Mi, "You're the one who led me astray, causing me to clash with the Elder Young Master. Forget about the deal; you've made a mess of things for me. I'll make sure our boss knows, and you can brace yourself for a lawsuit."

Lee Mi's complexion drained of color the moment Sunn Qiang's words hung in the air.

Her company had strict policies against side jobs: at best, you'd lose your salary and your job; at worst, you'd end up in court.

The Muse's Bar project was a major deal, and by jeopardizing the company's interests, she was in real danger of imprisonment if the company decided to take legal action.

She was too young, too beautiful to face jail time.

Desperate, Lee Mi approached Chen Yang, clutching his arm as she implored him, "I admit my mistake. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?" Her plea was barely audible, a whisper lost unless listened for intently.

In that moment, she shed her usual pride, humbling herself before Chen Yang in a way she never imagined possible.

Chen Yang regarded her with an amused smile and remarked, "Weren't you the one demanding that I kneel and apologize to you just a moment ago?"

"I truly realize my error. I'm begging for your forgiveness," Lee Mi pleaded, seeing that Chen Yang was not inclined to let her off easily. She played her last card, bringing up Su Miao, "Please, don't let him report this to our boss. I'm too young to be behind bars. For Miao's sake, please give me another chance."

As she spoke, Lee Mi's legs gave out, and she found herself kneeling on the ground.

"I might be willing to let you off the hook," Chen Yang said with a smile, looking down at Lee Mi. "However, we've got an unsettled score to address."

An unsettled score?

A flicker of realization crossed Lee Mi's face. She attempted a strained smile, seemingly on the verge of speaking, but Chen Yang cut her off.

"It seems you're still not getting the full picture. I'm inclined to pursue this matter to the very end..."

"Daddy."

Lee Mi interrupted before Chen Yang could finish.

"Speak up; your voice is too faint. I didn't catch that," Chen Yang said, pretending to clear his ear.

"Daddy!"

Lee Mi raised her voice and called out again, louder this time.