Tsundere Campus Goddess and Rogue Master

C29 – Forest City Chu Family

​In the executive office atop the Chen Group building, Chen Peng sat at his desk, his expression grave. A wave of anxiety washed over him.

“Why is it so late and still no sign of Little Jie and Baldy? Could something have happened?” he murmured, his face etched with concern.

He had tasked Chen Jie with leading Baldy and thirty of the company’s trained swordsmen to abduct Tong Waner, hoping to force Tong Shan’s hand by presenting him with a fait accompli. By all accounts, they should have been back by now. Their delay was troubling.

“Your son, always chasing after beauty—I bet he’s got Soft Jade in his arms by now and has forgotten all else,” sneered a tanned middle-aged man lounging on the office sofa, sipping tea.

“Chu Yang, if you’re not going to get involved with my business with the Tong Group, then save your biting comments,” Chen Peng retorted with a slight frown, his voice icy.

He was well aware that Chu Yang was more powerful, but he showed no fear.

“Chen Peng, the Chu Family never said we wouldn’t help you against the Tong Group. But about the annual profits we discussed—shouldn’t you be giving us an extra twenty percent?” Chu Yang said casually, his hands open in a gesture of indifference.

“Twenty percent? That’s excessive, don’t you think? I already pay the Chu Family thirty percent of my profits each year,” Chen Peng replied, his brow furrowing as he spoke with a chill in his voice.

Chen Peng, remember that the Chen Group’s foothold in Forest City’s Eastern District is all thanks to the Chu Family’s backing. Without our support, do you think your company would be where it is today?” Chu Yang said with a cold laugh, his disdain for Chen Peng evident. “You ought to remember where your water comes from when you drink it. Surely you understand that much.”

At Chu Yang’s words, Chen Peng’s face grew darker, his fists clenched as anger roiled within him.

Despite the audacity of his demand, Chu Yang’s point wasn’t without merit.

A decade ago, he was nothing more than a destitute man eking out a living. Without the Chu Family of Forest City recognizing his talent and supporting him to establish the Chen Group in Eastern City, he wouldn’t be where he is today.

The catch, though, was that he had to contribute 30% of his profits to the Chu Family annually.

As the Chen Group flourished, that 30% grew increasingly substantial.

Unexpectedly, the group’s swift expansion caught the covetous eyes of some direct descendants within the Chu Family.

Chu Yang, acting as a spokesperson for one of the factions, arrived at the Chen Group that evening with a bold request for Chen Peng to surrender half of the profits. It was unthinkable for Chen Peng to comply.

“Let’s be clear, giving up half of our profits is out of the question. The Chen Group needs those funds for operations and liquidity,” Chen Peng stated firmly, locking eyes with Chu Yang.

Chu Yang’s reaction was calm, betraying a sense of foreknowledge of Chen Peng’s refusal. Yet, he remained patient, confident that Chen Peng would soon see things his way.

Suddenly, the office door was violently kicked open, and a man and a woman strode in.

“Who dares to barge into my office?” Chen Peng, already in a foul mood, was incensed by the intrusion. But his anger turned to shock upon recognizing the newcomers. “Wang Xiao? What brings you here?”

It wasn’t just Wang Xiao’s presence that startled him, but also that of Tong Waner at his side. If Waner was here, it meant something had happened to Chen Jie and the others…

“Wang Xiao, what have you done with Little Jie and Baldy?” Chen Peng demanded, his voice tense.

“Looks like I’ve interrupted something. Got company?” Wang Xiao remarked casually, casting a glance at the dark-skinned middle-aged man seated on the sofa, a smirk playing on his lips.

“Go ahead, don’t mind me. I’ll just be a fly on the wall. The Chu Family won’t be getting involved in the Tong Group’s affairs for now.”

Chu Yang heard Wang Xiao’s words and offered a faint smile in response. He had come here tonight well aware of the longstanding feud between the Tong and Chen Groups. The actions of Chen Jie and his associates were common knowledge among the various factions of the Chu Family.

Wang Xiao’s eyebrows lifted slightly at Chu Yang’s remark. Meanwhile, Tong Waner gasped in surprise, “You’re a member of the Chu Family from Forest City?”

“Indeed, you are the Tong Group’s heiress, to recognize the Chu Family of Forest City,” Chu Yang said, casting a glance at Tong Waner, his smile tinged with mild amusement.

She was quite the beauty; it was no wonder Chen Jie, the young master of the Chen Group, was so captivated by her.

“Waner, is the Chu Family from Forest City really that influential?” Wang Xiao asked, intrigued by Chu Yang’s air of pride.

“Big Brother Wang Xiao, the Chu Family is one of the four major families in Forest City. They made their fortune in the Eastern City, with their enterprises spanning the entire district. They’re a dominant force in the Eastern City, to say the least,” Tong Waner murmured to Wang Xiao, her voice laced with awe.

Chu Yang’s lips curled into a slight smile. His keen hearing allowed him to catch every word of Tong Waner’s praise. Standing a little taller, he wore his pride openly.

“Oh, is that so?” Wang Xiao responded, his demeanor nonchalant.

Chu Yang’s eyes suddenly bulged in disbelief at Wang Xiao’s reaction. How could this young man remain so composed?

He was, after all, in the presence of a representative from one of Forest City’s most prestigious families. Most people would be overwhelmed with respect, unable to meet his gaze.

“Wang Xiao, I’m talking to you. Where have my son Chen Jie and Baldy gone?” Chen Peng demanded, his face contorted with rage as he felt ignored in favor of Chu Yang.

“Oh, your son? He’s dead. And your henchmen are likely not far behind,” Wang Xiao replied, turning to face Chen Peng with a casual indifference, as if discussing the most mundane of facts.

Chu Yang’s eyebrows shot up at the news. The Chen Group’s thirty meticulously trained blade experts had all been dispatched by this youngster? Clearly, this guy’s abilities were no joke.

“What? Little Jie is dead?”

Chen Peng’s face contorted with shock upon hearing Wang Xiao’s words, as if he’d been struck by lightning. He stood rooted to the spot, eyes bulging in disbelief.

After a moment, his expression twisted into a snarl. With an icy glare at Wang Xiao and Tong Waner, he hissed, “You’ve killed Little Jie. I’ll make sure you both go down with him!”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Chen Peng sprang into action. Despite his bulk, he leaped forward with clawed hands, lunging for Wang Xiao’s throat.

“Who knew you had it in you?” Wang Xiao remarked, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, followed by a chuckle.

He showed no sign of backing down. Releasing Tong Waner’s hand, his right fist rocketed towards Chen Peng’s incoming claws.

Their fist and claw met with a thunderous crash.

Bang!

A muffled thud echoed through the air, quickly succeeded by the crisp snap of breaking bones.

Wang Xiao’s punch shattered all five of Chen Peng’s fingers. Unrelenting, his fist continued its trajectory, slamming into Chen Peng’s chest.

Puff!

Blood spurted from Chen Peng’s mouth as he was hurled backward, slamming into the mahogany desk which splintered under the impact. His complexion turned ashen, his breathing feeble.

“Your moves might work on the average person, but against me, it’s just your bad luck,” Wang Xiao said coolly, retracting his fist and fixing Chen Peng with an indifferent gaze.

“Cough… Chu Yang, are you just going to sit there and watch me get thrashed? I promised you half the profits, but you’ve got to earn it by taking out these two,” Chen Peng rasped, clutching his chest and coughing. His eyes, dark with anger, turned to Chu Yang, who was still calmly sipping his tea. Chen Peng’s expression darkened further as he spat out the words through clenched teeth.

“Chen Peng, had you agreed sooner, you wouldn’t have had to endure this torment,” Chu Yang said, his voice tinged with a knowing calmness. A faint smile played on his lips as he regarded Chen Peng, who seemed to have anticipated his acquiescence.

Chu Yang set down his teacup and rose from the sofa, his gaze shifting to Wang Xiao. “It appears you’re not just a bystander, but his accomplice,” he observed.

Wang Xiao met Chu Yang’s gaze, a cold smirk crossing his face. “Heh, what can I do? The Chen Group is willing to concede fifty percent of their profits. If the Tong Group were as generous with the Chu Family, we’d be more than willing to help you swallow up the Chen Group—Tong Group’s dear son-in-law.”

With a shrug and a look of feigned helplessness, Chu Yang addressed Wang Xiao. Chen Peng’s expression darkened at these words; Chu Yang’s message was clear: comply with the Chu Family’s demands for profits, or they would find another group to support and take over his company.

“Concede fifty percent of the profits? Ha! Even if I did control the Tong Group, which I don’t, I wouldn’t give the Chu Family of Forest City a single cent,” Wang Xiao retorted, his voice laced with contempt.

The room fell into a stunned silence at his bold declaration. Wang Xiao had just brazenly challenged the Chu Family—was he seeking his own demise?

“So, it seems my only option is to side with the Chen Group,” Chu Yang concluded, his brows knitting together as a fierce killing intent emanated from him, his stare fixed unyieldingly on Wang Xiao. It was clear—he was contemplating murder.

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