thenovelthief Chapter 574 - 562: Chen Tiansheng!
Chapter 574 - 562: Chen Tiansheng!
"Get out!"
Bao Qiudong set down his glass of red wine and spoke faintly.
"Yes, Young Master Bao!" the attendant responded, quickly retreating.
At that moment, Bao Qiudong leisurely turned around. The blank expression on his face was instantly replaced by a smile as he greeted the open door of the private room.
"Young Master Bao, you sure know how to live! Daring to set up a place like this in Jinling... I have to say, that takes some serious guts! Of course, it’s also a testament to your power! Haha!"
Outside the room, a man was walking up the stairs. He met Bao Qiudong’s smile with a cheerful grin of his own.
"When did you get back?" Bao Qiudong asked with a smile, shaking his head as if indifferent to the man’s comment.
"Just now. I called you as soon as I got off the plane! I have nowhere else in Jinling City to turn to but you," the man sighed, strolling into the private room as if he owned the place. Without another word, he picked up the decanter and began to chug the red wine. He held it twenty centimeters above his mouth, pouring the stream straight down his throat without letting the rim touch his lips. With a few gulps, the wine—from a bottle opened just moments before, from which Bao Qiudong had only poured a single glass—was gone.
BURP!
He let out a belch thick with the smell of red wine. Setting down the decanter, he said, "We haven’t seen each other in years, but you’re still drinking ’96 Cabernet Sauvignon. Young Master Bao, your taste is impressively consistent!"
Showing no interest in the life-or-death gladiatorial combat below, the man didn’t even spare it a glance as he flopped back into the large executive chair. Far from being annoyed at his guest’s casual demeanor, Bao Qiudong laughed.
His face wreathed in smiles, he said, "My taste isn’t important. What’s important is that after all these years, if you hadn’t spoken, I really couldn’t have told if you were Tiansheng or Tianyang!"
As his laughter died down, Bao Qiudong also sat, his expression turning serious. "Jokes aside, what brings you back this time? Don’t tell me you missed me and came all this way just to visit! I’m not a sixteen-year-old girl; you can’t fool me! Haha!"
"It’s nothing much! I don’t know what the boss is up to, but he suddenly got a whim for me to come back to Jinling and stir things up, throw the city into chaos! Damn, I really can’t figure out what the old man is planning," Chen Tiansheng said, leaning back in the chair and staring at the ceiling. "But it’s fine. The past few years abroad weren’t without their fun, but no matter how great it is out there, it’s never as good as home! After so many years away, the grass on our old friends’ graves must be several meters high. It’s about time I went to have a proper chat and a drink with them!"
"I have people clean them every year. The graves are immaculate," Bao Qiudong replied with a smile.
Hearing this, Chen Tiansheng was stunned for a moment. He paused, then said earnestly, "Thank you."
"It’s a small thing, nothing to thank me for. If it weren’t for you two back then, the grass would probably be growing several meters high on my grave! What a pity, though. It was a cruel twist of fate. Who could have known that the warehouse would explode right after you two got me out!" Bao Qiudong sighed, lost in reminiscence.
"Life and death are ruled by fate; wealth and honor are decreed by Heaven. The business we were in was one where you’re always putting your life on the line! We saved you back then because your father scraped together a fortune in hard cash to hire us! So you don’t owe us anything. The fact that you still tend to their graves, though... that’s a kindness. A kindness I owe you for," Chen Tiansheng said, shaking his head.
As a band of mercenaries operating within the country, their usual work involved murder and arson. I still don’t know how, by some strange twist of fate, we ended up taking on a rescue mission that one time. However, that single job led to the entire crew, except for my brother and I, perishing in that warehouse explosion. He regretted it now, absolutely regretted taking that job!
"Let’s not talk about the past. The dead can’t be brought back, and those of us still living have to look forward," Bao Qiudong sighed, then continued, "So, what kind of trouble are you planning to cause this time? I have to warn you, my father is in a transitional period. After this term, he’ll very likely be transferred to the Forbidden City. You have to do me a favor and not cause too much of a stir! Otherwise, he’ll have a hard time explaining things!"
In response to Bao Qiudong’s words, Chen Tiansheng pursed his lips. He rose from the executive chair and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the crazed nouveau riche below. He hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Young Master Bao, I investigated the situation in Jinling before I returned. There’s a guy named Qin Fan who’s been making a lot of noise lately, right? I also heard that he humiliated you badly not long ago. On top of that, Young Master Chang, who you’ve never gotten along with, has been getting more and more arrogant. Is that about right?"
Bao Qiudong’s expression changed dramatically. It wasn’t because Chen Tiansheng knew about his humiliation, but because he seemed to have read between the lines.
"You’re planning to make a move on Qin Fan?" With widened eyes, Bao Qiudong shot up from his seat and exclaimed.
"What’s wrong?" Turning around, Chen Tiansheng looked baffled. "Shouldn’t you be happy if I make a move on him?"
"No, absolutely not! His status is extremely sensitive. Moving against him would have unimaginable consequences! All of Jinling would be thrown into a storm, and my father would never be able to handle it. It would jeopardize his entire political career in an instant! No, absolutely not!" Bao Qiudong shouted frantically.
Did he hate Qin Fan? Of course, he did! He wished he could slice the man into a thousand pieces! He wished that bastard who had nailed him to a pillar of shame would suffer a fate worse than death! But hate was one thing. After thoroughly investigating Qin Fan’s background, he had no choice but to endure it, no matter how much he seethed. Especially at such a critical juncture. If anything happened to Qin Fan now, he would be the prime suspect. If the situation escalated, his father could easily be dragged down with him. It was a risk he dared not, and could not, take. A true gentleman knows when to yield and when to stand firm. He believed his chance for revenge would come, but he didn’t need to rush it.
"Are you afraid of him?" Chen Tiansheng asked with a sly smile.
"Yes, I’m afraid!" Bao Qiudong admitted through gritted teeth, making no attempt to hide it.
"It’s hard to imagine that you, Young Master Bao, are afraid of anyone in Jinling!" Chen Tiansheng sneered, a corner of his mouth lifting.
"His status is just too sensitive! Right now, it’s almost certain that his every move is being watched by people in the Forbidden City. You tell me if I shouldn’t be afraid! I have too much to consider. Unlike you, who can just up and leave whenever you want. Can I do that?" Bao Qiudong said, his face darkening.
"Haha!" Hearing this, Chen Tiansheng burst into laughter. He reached out and slapped Bao Qiudong on the arm. "I’m just messing with you! Even if I didn’t care about giving you face, I wouldn’t touch him! I wouldn’t dare. I can’t beat him. Even a few of me together couldn’t beat him! Going up against him would be suicide, and I’m not that brainless!"
"Then what do you mean?" Bao Qiudong’s eyes widened again as a thought struck him.
"I won’t touch him, but that doesn’t mean I won’t touch the people around him! The Divine Envoy’s decree is for me to come to Jinling and cause some trouble, and at the same time, to drive that guy to the brink of madness. After all, as they say, ’if you want to destroy someone, first you must drive them mad’!" Suddenly, Chen Tiansheng’s smile turned cunning and devious.
"What’s your plan?" Bao Qiudong asked urgently.