29. Angering Someone to Death Without Paying with One's Life

Lu Chengwen really wanted to curse.

Bad luck indeed, Long Aotian's personal guard, Hua Xuening, was hiding right where he was trying to climb the wall.

His fall from the top of the wall was most likely caused by her hitting his thigh.

Now his thigh was numb, and he was limping. Escaping over the wall was impossible.

The front door!

Long Aotian should have already entered the house by now. He wouldn't run into him by using the front door.

But after only a few steps, Lu Chengwen tripped again. He was discovered by people in the mansion and was quickly helped back to the living room as if he were a precious guest.

In the study.

Leng Tianhao, of course, still occupied the main seat.

Lu Chengwen and Long Aotian sat on the guest sofa. Long Aotian squinted his eyes and looked at Lu Chengwen with disdain.

Lu Chengwen plastered on a smile and looked at Long Aotian obsequiously.

Leng Qingqiu sat in a chair to the side, pondering: Why is this Long Aotian everywhere? Why is Brother Chengwen always so wary of this person?

Leng Tianhao said, "Mr. Long, please explain this matter in detail."

Long Aotian said, "Dayu Group is a super group in Nanguo. I believe Mr. Leng is aware of this, right?"

"Of course," Leng Tianhao replied. "Dayu Group has established over forty large amusement park projects in more than thirty cities domestically. In addition, it is involved in hotels, film and television investment, tourist city development, art gallery construction... and other types of project development and construction. Its estimated assets are around four trillion, making it a truly major group."

Long Aotian nodded. "They have been secretly surveying this project for a long time, and the location has already been selected. The information is naturally top secret. But I can tell you that they are about to start negotiations. If we act now and acquire that piece of land, we will definitely catch them off guard. At that time, we will simply sit back and relax, and they will come to us to negotiate."

Leng Tianhao nodded, gritting his teeth, his heart filled with excitement. "Over two billion. If we can secure that land, we can even increase the price threefold!"

Long Aotian shook his head. "No."

"Do you think I'm selling it too expensively?"

"It's too cheap."

Long Aotian smiled and said, "Selling land is just a one-time deal, it's not interesting. Relying on this piece of land, there are many things we can do."

"Oh? Such as?"

Long Aotian said, "They have the funds and are already in the design and negotiation stages. Everything is ready except for the land. As long as we get this land, we can use it to negotiate with Dayu Group."

"Please elaborate."

Long Aotian said, "Firstly, we can request to acquire shares at a price of seven billion. For the new large amusement park, we will hold more than 20% of the shares. If negotiated well, we can reach 25% or even higher. Once the amusement park is completed, its annual net profit will be at least over five billion. This means our annual dividends alone will be over one billion."

"But that's a long-term profit chain. It's uncertain how many years it will take for the amusement park to be completed. Our Qianfeng Group..." Leng Tianhao didn't say it explicitly, but he had made his point clear.

He meant that his side needed to make quick money; they couldn't afford to drag things out or wait.

"Hahaha!" Long Aotian exclaimed. "Mr. Leng, why are you still confused? The later profits are for later. With the land in our hands, our negotiations won't just be about the share percentage. Construction, materials, teams, procurement, publicity... If we pick just two or three of these aspects and write them into the contract, do we need to worry about not making money?"

Leng Tianhao excitedly slapped his thigh. "Brilliant! If that's the case, we can earn back a significant portion of these over two billion during the construction phase. Moreover, if our Leng Family can participate in this project, the entire family will be revitalized!"

"Precisely!"

Leng Tianhao then looked at Lu Chengwen.

"Chengwen, you're not an outsider. You know Qianfeng's situation well. Moreover, you and Qingqiu are about to get engaged, so you're family. That's why I haven't kept this matter from you today. What do you think about this?"

Lu Chengwen was still rubbing his thigh.

He thought to himself:

What do I think? What does this have to do with me? This Long Aotian wants to woo your daughter. This project is just a big stepping stone for him.

Just obediently listen to him. He's helping you get this land, and he's not even asking for money, it's free. Aren't you excited? Aren't you moved? If you don't cry tears of gratitude, this situation won't be resolved!

Plus, my relationship with Leng Qingqiu is strained, so you have to promise your daughter to him! From now on, everything will follow his lead. Just listen to him.

Leng Qingqiu almost spat blood from anger.

This blockhead! Even now, he still suspects I like Long Aotian! Which eye of yours saw me liking him? I clearly don't!

Why do you keep misunderstanding him?! I need to find a way to make him stop misunderstanding.

Wait... why do I care so much about Lu Chengwen's "misunderstanding"?

Leng Qingqiu was actually starting to fall for him, but she was too proud and found it difficult to quickly accept her inner feelings.

For a girl like Leng Qingqiu, pride and coldness were just her defense mechanisms.

At this age, who isn't a pure young girl? Who doesn't long for love?

It's just that Leng Qingqiu couldn't quickly accept the changes within herself.

She didn't have this ability; it was her flaw.

Lu Chengwen stammered, "I... I think Brother Long's words make... sense..."

Wait!

Lu Chengwen suddenly had a flash of inspiration!

Why am I fanning the flames? Why should I help Long Aotian?

[I should oppose Long Aotian!]

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[Is this guy trying to show off? Everyone unanimously agreed with him, so how can he show off? This move won't be as satisfying.]

[I need to stand up and oppose him, confront him, go against him, and do the opposite of what he wants! That way, his move will have the maximum impact.]

[Yes! I need to give him a chance to dominate the entire scene, let him be completely satisfied, and feel like he's destroying the world and turning things around.]

[But I need to be careful with the scale! If I push it too far, he'll crush me. Right, right, that's what I'll do.]

Leng Qingqiu narrowed her eyes. What a guy, Lu Chengwen. Your thinking is too bizarre.

If I couldn't hear your inner thoughts, who would know you were harboring such devious schemes?

Good grief, how much do you actually hate me? You don't even do the good deeds you're offered, and you insist on playing the villain against yourself?

What's your goal? Is there something wrong with your brain?

Lu Chengwen stood up at this moment. "I believe Brother Aotian, despite his extraordinary talent, distinguished appearance, and unparalleled literary prowess..."

What a disgusting guy, Long Aotian thought.

"Hey, hey, hey, stop buttering me up. Get to the point!"

"Yes, I disagree with Brother Aotian's idea."

"Oh?" Leng Tianhao was surprised.

This was a clear business opportunity. By asking for his opinion, he was actually giving Lu Chengwen a chance to do him a favor.

Leng Tianhao asked Lu Chengwen precisely because he wanted Lu Chengwen to strongly agree, actively show off in front of Leng Qingqiu, declare his full support, and proactively offer money and effort to help him acquire the land and participate in subsequent operations.

This was Leng Tianhao's strategy.

A veteran of the business world for many years, Leng Tianhao had become a seasoned old hand.

Would he not understand the commercial value of this information? Would he not know how important this project was to the Leng Family?

Great figures always spoke with hidden meanings at critical moments. They aimed to kill two birds with one stone, achieve three goals with one action, and wished they could eliminate a whole group with a single shot.

Long Aotian's information was priceless. Any of the four major families would gain lifelong wealth by hearing it.

However, Leng Tianhao didn't want Long Aotian to take all the credit. He hoped to leverage the Lu Family's resources through this matter, and ideally, have the Lu Family contribute some funds as well.

After all, you couldn't put all your eggs in one basket!

But Lu Chengwen, this new and outstandingly unscrupulous businessman, was playing dumb at this very moment.

Leng Tianhao's face showed displeasure. "Chengwen, why do you oppose this project?"

Let me think, I need to come up with something on the spot, Lu Chengwen thought.

Leng Qingqiu was almost spitting blood with anger.

If it were the previous three years, and this opportunity fell into Lu Chengwen's hands, he would have been the first to jump out and make a big deal out of it.

He would have said he would help negotiate for the land without asking for money, that he would pay half the cost of the land, without interest or shares, and without seeking any return – only asking for their permission to get engaged to Leng Qingqiu.

This was absolutely the old Lu Chengwen's playbook. He was shameless and absolutely capable of such actions.

But today, he was determined to draw a clear line between himself and her. Knowing that this deal would be profitable, immensely profitable, he still wanted to distance himself.

Detestable!

Absolutely detestable!

Lu Chengwen thought for a moment. "Firstly, this piece of land is very difficult to acquire. Once the news leaks, its price will skyrocket."

Isn't that stating the obvious? What are we discussing here? Leng Tianhao thought.

"Secondly..." Lu Chengwen felt he couldn't come up with any more elaborate excuses, so he decided to just give up and be blunt. "Secondly... I think the project to renovate the shantytown in the suburbs is more worthwhile. I suggest we do that project instead."

Leng Tianhao could hardly believe his own ears.

Was Lu Chengwen insane?

What did this mean? Was he going against me?

Couldn't he see that I already had a plan and was just asking you as a formality?

What kind of nonsense is the old city renovation? Where would I get so much money to throw into such a desolate place right now?

Leng Tianhao's expression grew increasingly displeased.

"Oh," he still managed a smile. "I actually think this project is worth trying. Chengwen, I recall your Lu Family has a good relationship with the Land Property Bureau. Could you help me pull some strings, inquire about the situation, and arrange a meeting with the person in charge of the auction? We should meet and chat. Later, regarding funding, could you provide some assistance? We're family, you wouldn't refuse this small favor, would you?"

Lu Chengwen was ecstatic inside.

Old man, you guessed right! I do want to refuse!

Your family's future will be firmly held in the hands of this great Buddha, Long Aotian. I won't interfere.

Lu Chengwen sat on the sofa like a lord and said slowly:

"Ah, this... it's not very convenient. I do know the person in charge of the auction, but I'm really not optimistic about this project. As for the funding, my side is also too tight, too difficult, too tight, too difficult..."

Leng Tianhao was absolutely furious.

If it weren't for the sake of maintaining face between the two families, he would have already started cursing him out.

You little brat, what did you say to me when you were pursuing our Qingqiu back then?

You said you were willing to do anything for Qingqiu, that the Leng Family's affairs would be your affairs from now on, and that money, people, or connections were just a word away. You even said that as long as Qingqiu married you, you could change your surname to mine and be called Leng Chengwen.

The person who said such shameless, sappy things is suddenly acting high and mighty now?!

Leng Tianhao gritted his teeth, trying his best to maintain diplomatic decorum, and forced a smile. "Alright, Chengwen. Since that's the case, Uncle won't make things difficult for you. It's getting late, you should head back."

He thought to himself: Get out! Just get out!

"Okay."

Lu Chengwen didn't waste any more words and turned to leave.

"Wait."

Leng Qingqiu could no longer stand it. She looked at Lu Chengwen with cold indifference and said stubbornly, "Father, I think Chengwen ge is right. I plan to invest all my funds into the shantytown renovation project."

Lu Chengwen, who was already at the door, turned his head back in terror, looking at this troublesome woman.

Big sister, are you crazy?!