Picking a fight with the king of hell himself

Country A.

Pei Xuan rubbed his bleary eyes and looked at the two men calmly sipping tea, swearing under his breath.

"Are you two sick in the head? You dragged me out of bed this early just to watch you drink tea?"

Huo Chuyun gave him an expressionless look and said flatly, "Do you still want to go home? Are you planning to spend the rest of your life studying in Country A?"

Pei Xuan irritably raked a hand through his short, forward-spiked hair. He had thick eyebrows and large eyes, and with his brows tightly furrowed and hostility radiating off him, he looked downright fierce. He slammed a fist onto the table as though he felt no pain.

"Just talking about it pisses me off. Why couldn't I have a brother like Zichu to take over the family business? I don't fucking want to learn how to run a company. I just want to go wherever I please and have fun."

"My parents couldn't stand me being a good-for-nothing, so they insisted on sending me to Country A to study. They even had someone confiscate my passport so I couldn't go home."

Gu Zichu wore a well-tailored black suit and silver-rimmed glasses. His elegant movements as he poured tea accentuated his refined, easygoing manner.

A trace of amusement flickered in his eyes. "We called you here to help you get home, so you'll stop bombarding us with calls over every little thing."

"Seriously?" Pei Xuan's eyes lit up with excitement. He looked just like a husky wagging its tail for all it was worth. "Of course I trust you two. What's your plan?"

Huo Chuyun saw right through his little scheme and dashed his hopes. "Don't think you can get away with doing nothing. You know about the Country A project, right?"

Pei Xuan wiped a hand over his face and said smugly,

"I may be a good-for-nothing, but I've definitely heard of the Country A project. My dad goes on about it at home all the time. What family in the Capital isn't itching to get in on it? My old man wants to compete for it too, but he's getting on in years and doesn't have that much energy."

He paused, then continued, "Uh, but what's happening with that project now? I heard bidding opened in the Capital two years ago. Hasn't any corporation landed it yet?"

Gu Zichu pressed a hand to his forehead, despairing over Pei Xuan's intelligence. "Brother Huo made it obvious enough. Huo Corporation landed the Country A project. Otherwise, do you think he has so much time on his hands that he'd come to Country A on vacation?"

Pei Xuan smacked his forehead hard. Remembering how Huo Chuyun practically wanted to live at the office and worked all year without a day off, he realized there really was no way he would come to Country A on vacation.

"Holy shit, is this what I think it is? Bro, you really are my brother! You're bringing Zichu and me in so we can get a slice of this project?"

Huo Chuyun watched his exaggerated expression with amusement and took a sip of tea. "Your attitude is sincere enough," he said in satisfaction. "If you're working on this project, would your dad stop you from going home?"

"Exactly, exactly." Pei Xuan rushed over in delight and wrapped Huo Chuyun in a bear hug. Even when Huo Chuyun pushed him away in distaste, he wasn't upset.

"If my dad finds out I'm working on this project, he'll set off firecrackers outside our front door for seven days."

"Bro, we really are sworn brothers! You've got my back!"

Gu Zichu, however, asked, "Brother Huo, how did Huo Corporation suddenly land this project? I remember Huo Corporation withdrew from the bidding last year, didn't it? Lu Corporation was the one staying in close contact with the person in charge in Country A."

Huo Chuyun unhurriedly rinsed the tea leaves, smiling without a word.

Gu Zichu didn't press him, but Pei Xuan said blithely, "Come on, Zichu. If Brother Huo didn't have some skills, he couldn't have single-handedly secured the Huo family's position as the Capital's Number One Wealthy Family."

But the very next second, a phone abruptly rang.

Silence fell, leaving only the sweet, romantic ringtone echoing through the spacious room in 3D surround sound.

The sea breeze chases the tide, I catch up with you, take a bite of love-struck ice cream, hold your hand as we stroll through summer nights, stars slip into your eyes unnoticed...

The two of them thought a server must have left their phone in the room, only to turn and see the expressionless Huo Chuyun calmly silence the ringtone.

At the sight, Pei Xuan quickly laughed it off. "Wasn't expecting that, Brother Huo. Your ringtone is pretty unique."

"Mm."

Huo Chuyun answered calmly. It was the WeChat call ringtone Lu Xingchen had specially set on his phone. It wasn't convenient for him to answer just then, and he frowned as he read Lu Xingchen's messages.

Gu Zichu adjusted his glasses, sensing something amiss. With Huo Chuyun's darkening mood, the atmosphere in the room gradually grew oppressive. None of the three spoke for a while.

Until a familiar, nasty male voice abruptly rang out.

"I thought you were some rich family's young master, throwing money around like that and snatching this car from the Huo family's heir. Turns out you're just selling your ass."

"Tsk, tsk, what a waste of such a pretty face. Why don't you leave that old man who can't keep up and come with me? I'm young, strong, and healthy. I like them feisty like you, and I've got plenty of money too."

Gu Zichu's hand froze as he held his tea. His expression shifted slightly, turning cold.

Who else could that sleazy, suggestive male voice belong to but his own good-for-nothing younger brother?

Gu Zichu simply set down his teacup and looked at Huo Chuyun apologetically.

"Brother Huo, I know how badly behaved my brother is. He definitely started this. I'll call my dad in a moment and have him brought home for a family punishment."

Huo Chuyun considered for a moment, his expression stern, making the savage scar around his brow look all the more cold and ruthless.

"Zichu, your brother really does have a lousy disposition. How about this: call him and have him apologize to the other person first."

Although he didn't know whom Gu Lingchuan had provoked, Gu Zichu and Huo Chuyun were as close as brothers, so he naturally knew his temperament.

He was always expressionless and aloof, and rarely ever got angry over anyone.

Gu Zichu remembered that the last time Huo Chuyun had lost his temper, someone had tried to force themselves on another person right in front of him. Without a flicker of expression, he had smashed his wineglass, beaten the offender soundly, then dumped them at the J Bureau for a month of ideological education.

"Brother Huo, I've spoiled him too much."

Gu Zichu knew his mother had nearly suffered a difficult delivery when she was pregnant with Gu Lingchuan, so he had indulged Gu Lingchuan ever since he was little. That was how Gu Lingchuan had developed his utterly lawless disposition.

The reason Gu Lingchuan could behave so lawlessly and still live perfectly well was that his older brother was always behind him, cleaning up his messes and covering for him.

Because Gu Zichu was very strict with Gu Lingchuan and never spared him a beating or a scolding when he did something wrong, Gu Lingchuan feared nothing and no one except his own older brother.

But Gu Lingchuan was thick-skinned and tough. Even a beating couldn't make him learn his lesson.

Over the years, his parents had finally realized the consequences of letting Gu Lingchuan carry on like this and had begun reining him in too.

Whenever Gu Lingchuan caused trouble, the couple teamed up against him: one administered the beating, while the other poured salt water on the wounds.

Who could have known that after staying out of trouble for so long, Gu Lingchuan would pick a fight with the king of hell himself?

Gu Zichu took out his phone, called Gu Lingchuan, and gave him a furious tongue-lashing.

He ordered Gu Lingchuan to get over there and apologize right this instant, no matter whom he had offended!

On the other end of the call, Gu Lingchuan clutched his faintly aching backside, as though he could already see the beating awaiting him. Wanting to cry but unable to shed a tear, he hurried after Lu Xingchen to apologize.