Gu Beichi had once commanded the wind and rain in Shangjing and weathered great storms, yet now, faced with Jiang Kun's provocation, his expression remained as calm as still water. "As his father, I naturally know what kind of character my son has," he said calmly, his voice carrying unquestionable resolve. "But I've heard your son has been running amok at school. You failed to discipline him, and now you've come to demand an explanation from me? Do you expect me to educate your son for you?"
"Boss Gu, those are some sharp words!"
A chill flashed in Jiang Kun's eyes. He suddenly stepped close to Gu Beichi, until they were almost near enough to feel each other's breath. His voice was low, but laced with a bone-piercing chill. "I don't know if you've been eating bear hearts and leopard guts lately, but you're a pawn the Gu Family cast aside. You still think you can fight me in Zhou City? I have countless ways to make you and your son beg for life and be unable to live, beg for death and be unable to die!"
Gu Beichi sprang to his feet and swept Jiang Kun's outstretched hand aside. His voice was cold as frost. "Boss Jiang, if you want to talk, then talk. Keep your hands to yourself. I may have fallen on hard times and ended up in Zhou City, but I'm no soft persimmon for anyone to squeeze. This is a matter between the younger generation. Don't you think it's beneath you as an elder to interfere? Give me some face..."
"Hahahaha!" Before Gu Beichi could finish, Jiang Kun burst into unrestrained laughter. Then he gave him a contemptuous look. "Give you face? What face do you have left to give? Why should I give you face? You're a piece of trash the Gu Family swept out the door. Wouldn't it be the joke of the century if I gave you face?"
The words stabbed into Gu Beichi's heart like a sharp blade. His face turned scarlet in an instant, and his whole body trembled with rage. The guests around them cast strange looks their way, but no one dared step forward to intervene.
"Boss Gu, let's be realistic." Once Jiang Kun had laughed his fill, he sighed and rested a hand on Gu Beichi's shoulder. "If you were still a direct descendant of the Gu Family of Shangjing, of course I'd give you face. Even if your son beat mine to death, I could only swallow my anger. But unfortunately, you aren't anymore. Tell me, what reason do I have to give you face?"
"What exactly do you want, then?" Gu Beichi was beside himself with anger, but he still kept a tight rein on his fury.
A cold sneer curled Jiang Kun's lips. "I'm a simple man. Your son crippled one of my son's legs, so all I want in compensation is one of your son's legs and one hand. Bring your son to me after the banquet!"
"In your dreams!" Gu Beichi roared.
Jiang Kun paid him no mind, his smile growing even brighter. "Of course, you can refuse, but the consequences won't be as simple as what I just described! You'd better think it through!"
With that, Jiang Kun patted Gu Beichi on the shoulder like a victor, a warning in the gesture.
Just then, Gu Chen walked in from outside. When he saw Jiang Kun putting his hands on his father, his expression changed sharply. He strode over and shoved Jiang Kun aside. "What are you doing?" he asked coldly.
"Young Master Gu, you're just in time." Jiang Kun wasn't angry. Instead, he lightly brushed off the spot where Gu Chen had pushed him and sneered. "I have a word of advice for you. Since you've become trash, be good and act like it. Today was just a warning. If you want to keep getting by in Zhou City, you'd better rein yourself in!"
With that, Jiang Kun left the open seating area with his bodyguards amid a chorus of laughter.
Gu Beichi's face was flushed scarlet, his breathing heavy, his body trembling beyond his control.
Back then, as one of the Four Young Masters of Shangjing and the Gu Family's de facto heir, how glorious his life had been in Shangjing, in all of Huaxia!
But now he had fallen so far that someone from a third-rate Jiang Family had pointed a finger in his face and warned him, even threatening him with his own son!
Humiliation! No, it was more than humiliation. It was an utterly disgraceful humiliation!
His fists clenched tight, his nails nearly digging into his flesh, he stared at Jiang Kun's arrogantly departing figure, his eyes full of anger and unwillingness.
"Dad!"
Gu Chen took his father's hand, his gaze fixed on Jiang Kun's retreating figure. "Are you all right?"
Gu Beichi came back to his senses from his anger and forced a smile, though it looked exceptionally strained. "I'm fine," he said in a low voice.
"What did that guy want with you just now?" Gu Chen asked. "Was he here because of his son?"
Gu Beichi had already calmed down. Rather than take Gu Chen to task for injuring Jiang Yu, he first comforted him.
"Don't worry. As long as Dad's here, no one can make things difficult for you!"
A warm current welled up in Gu Chen's heart, but looking at his father's face, which seemed to have aged years overnight, he felt a needle-like pain in his heart. He knew of his father's former glory in Shangjing.
Though the Gu Family wasn't among the top families, Gu Beichi's exceptional talent and unruly character had earned him a place among the Four Young Masters of Shangjing!
But now, a tiger had fallen onto the plains. He knew how much humiliation his father had endured for his sake. If not for him, his father would have exploded long ago!
Listening to his father's reassurance, Gu Chen felt a pang in his heart, but he still nodded without answering. Many things didn't need to be said; they had to be proven through action.
Meanwhile, on the second floor of the villa, Zhou Xue'er had finished dressing and making herself up. Lifting the long skirt of her evening gown, she prepared to go downstairs. Just then, a square-faced middle-aged man in a suit, with a full beard, appeared in the doorway. Seeing his daughter all dressed up, his face immediately broke into a smile. "My daughter looks so beautiful today."
The man was none other than Zhou Nanfeng, the man at the helm of the Zhou Group. He was a legendary figure in his own right. Starting from nothing at sixteen, he had built a vast business empire by the age of forty-three. That he had climbed to a position among the three great families in Zhou City's business world showed how many storms he had weathered and how capable he was!
"Dad!" Zhou Xue'er protested coyly. This willful, headstrong young miss showed such a gentle side only in front of her father.
"Thanks for the effort." Looking at his graceful daughter, Zhou Nanfeng was overcome with emotion. "I really wonder what kind of man a girl as beautiful as my daughter will marry someday. As her father, it pains me just to think about it..."
"Dad, what are you saying?" Zhou Xue'er took Zhou Nanfeng's hand and spoke coquettishly. "If you don't want me to get married, I can stay by your side forever."
"That won't do." Zhou Nanfeng smiled faintly. "Marriage is something a girl has to go through. Even as your father, I can't deprive you of the right to pursue happiness. But when you do marry, your dad will have to help you pick a good man. I misjudged Gu Chen before. I won't make that mistake again."
At the mention of Gu Chen, Zhou Xue'er's body trembled slightly. The changes in Gu Chen over this period surfaced involuntarily in her mind. She opened her mouth, but hesitated to speak.