Chapter 96: The Type I Like

Chen Liang regretted it—truly, he did. Was he so arrogant just for being the young master of a second-rate family? Little did he realize that, in the eyes of Ye Qiu, the heir of a first-rate family, Chen Liang was nothing more than a hopeless mess, unworthy of mention.

His phone rang incessantly, all the calls coming from the managers of the Chen family’s factories, demanding to know why production had been halted. The Ye family had unilaterally terminated their cooperation agreement, citing subpar product quality, and without paying a single cent in penalty fees.

The claim of poor quality was not a fabrication; it was the truth. The Chen family’s outdated production lines simply couldn’t meet Ye Qiu’s technical standards. In the past, Ye Qiu had overlooked this, out of respect for the long-standing partnership between the Chen family’s patriarch and Ye Liancheng. In an effort to upgrade their processes, Chen Liang had just taken out loans worth billions last month to install several new assembly lines. But before the new lines could begin operation, Ye Qiu seized the opportunity to bring him down.

The Chen family was finished—this time, truly done for.

“Young Master Ye, I’m begging you, just give me one more chance!” Chen Liang cried, clinging desperately to Ye Qiu’s leg. “If the Chen family collapses now, we won’t even be able to pay our employees. Tens of thousands of workers will lose their jobs. You can’t be so heartless!”

Su Qianqian laughed. “Young Master Chen, you needn’t worry about the workers. The Su Group has its own electronics division. I wouldn’t mind opening a few branches here in the capital to provide new jobs for your laid-off workers.”

Lu Ye gave her a thumbs-up. “Damn, that’s killing someone and crushing their spirit!”

Ye Qiu chuckled softly. “Sister-in-law, I’ve heard quite a bit about your Su Group. If I’m not mistaken, you just partnered with Huawei Mobile last month, right?”

Su Qianqian nodded, a little flattered. “That’s right!”

“Partnering with Huawei Mobile is proof enough that Su Group is a powerful company. I’d considered having you process our products, but Pearl City is simply too far from the capital. If Su Group is willing to expand here, the Ye family will give you our full support.”

He wasn’t joking. The rapidly rising Su Group was no longer what it once was; its real estate, electronics, and investment divisions were all becoming industry leaders in their own right.

Besides, helping Su Group would earn him a favor with Lu Ye—why not? Ye Qiu’s position was clear: if Su Group wanted to enter the capital, the Ye family would back them with everything they had.

Chen Liang was left reeling. Moments ago, he’d been mocking them as bumpkins from Pearl City. Yet Ye Qiu brushed the Chen family aside and actively extended an olive branch to the other side. The humiliation stung, echoing in his ears.

He glanced around, wishing he could crawl into a crack in the ground—he’d lost all face.

To thank Ye Qiu for settling everything, Bai Wen hosted a dinner at Jingxiang Yipin, with Lu Ye and his wife as company, and naturally, Fei Hong joined as well. Although Bai Wen still hadn’t managed to reserve a private room, Ye Qiu’s presence was as good as a VIP pass.

The lobby manager personally led them to the ever-reserved Heaven Room Number One.

During the meal, Bai Wen’s gaze lingered on Ye Qiu, unable to tear herself away. Something inexplicable was blooming in her heart—perhaps it was love at first sight, who could say?

Lu Ye and Su Qianqian sensed the strange atmosphere and tactfully pulled Fei Hong to sit far away.

Lu Ye laughed, “Fei Hong, you’ve been invisible all day—how does it feel?”

Fei Hong played with her chopsticks, pouting. “I never realized relationships between people could be so complicated. I don’t like it. Life on our little island was much simpler—no worries. Even if the Prison Fish Tribe caused trouble, we’d just fight them openly.”

Indeed, modern society was rife with both overt and covert struggles. For Fei Hong, new to this environment, it was hard to accept.

At 8 p.m., dinner ended. Ye Qiu took his leave, leaving Bai Wen to daydream alone, her cheeks flushed with girlish affection.

Staring after him, she murmured, “He’s so handsome!”

Oh no. She’d truly fallen for him.

Su Qianqian dragged her out of Jingxiang Yipin with an exasperated sigh. “Come on!”

Bai Wen clenched her fists with determination. “He’s exactly my type—I’m going to pursue him!”

Su Qianqian groaned, “Please, you’re twenty-five and he’s only eighteen!”

Bai Wen’s eyes filled with tears. “Alas, when I was born, he was not; now he is young, and I am already old!”

Chatting idly, the three women returned to the hotel and went upstairs to continue their fierce card game.

Lu Ye, meanwhile, borrowed Bai Wen’s car to head to the headquarters of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Zijing City—the seat of the highest authority.

As Lu Ye drove the civilian Buick minivan toward the entrance, armed guards stopped him immediately.

He parked and showed his credentials, which the guards took for inspection.

After about thirty seconds, two guards suddenly raised their guns, aiming them at his head. “Out of the car, hands on your head!”

Lu Ye was baffled. “Is there something wrong with my ID?”

“Your credentials are fake,” one guard barked. “No record of you in the system. State your intentions!”

Lu Ye slapped his forehead. “Damn, how could I forget? All the agents’ files were wiped—of course they can’t find me!”

He raised his hands and got out. One guard lowered his weapon and tried to restrain him.

With a swift maneuver, Lu Ye grabbed the guard and pinned him, knocking him out with a single palm strike.

Click!

The other guard cocked his gun, but before he could fire, Lu Ye blurred into motion and somehow, the gun ended up in his own hands.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The guard reacted quickly, closing in to fight hand-to-hand, landing several heavy punches on Lu Ye’s chest. To his surprise, Lu Ye was unfazed; his body was far tougher than ordinary men.

The guard on the ground recovered and blew his whistle.

Within seconds, a squad of guards poured out of Zijing City.

“Don’t move!”

But then the squad leader, a young man, froze. “Lu, why are you fighting your own people?”

Lu Ye immediately released the guard and grinned. “They must be new—they don’t know me.”

The young man approached, explaining to the two guards, “It’s a misunderstanding. Lu is S.H.I.E.L.D.’s ace agent.”

The guards heaved a sigh of relief, though one still asked warily, “But Captain Wang, why does his ID show up as nonexistent?”

The young man glared at him. “Don’t ask what you shouldn’t.”

“Yes, sir!”

Lu Ye nodded inwardly—Zijing City indeed lived up to its reputation. Even two new guards could hold him up until reinforcements arrived; the security was truly airtight.

He asked, “Wang Miao, where’s my master?”

“He’s in the dormitory.”

“Alright, I’ll go find him.”

Lu Ye was about to drive the Buick inside, but Wang Miao stopped him, embarrassed. “Lu, civilian vehicles aren’t allowed in Zijing City. Please don’t make things difficult for me.”

Lu Ye realized he’d nearly forgotten the rules after so long away. This was no place to act recklessly.

He handed the car keys to the guards, clapped Wang Miao on the shoulder, and laughed. “In that case, give me a lift.”

Wang Miao didn’t mind, nodding in agreement.

By the gate stood a row of military Dongfeng vehicles. Wang Miao casually picked one and drove Lu Ye into the heart of Zijing City.

The two guards exchanged glances, noticing the reverent looks from the seasoned veterans nearby. One asked quietly, “Brothers, who was that? Captain Wang seemed to really respect him.”

A wily old-timer snorted, “Isn’t it obvious? He’s S.H.I.E.L.D.’s ace, the youngest war god. Of course Captain Wang respects him!”

The two guards broke into a cold sweat.

Good grief—they’d just pointed guns at his head!