Chapter Twenty-Two: Leave It to Me

"Settle down? I’d love to settle down, but this bastard’s stirring up trouble! Damn it, five days—five days to recover Hongxin’s bad debts. How’s this useless idiot supposed to pull that off? When the family kicks us out, where will your mother and I put our faces?"

Chen Jianguo, having bottled up his anger at the ancestral home, exploded the moment he saw Su Zheng.

"Why don’t you admit Grandma’s deliberately making things hard for us?" Chen Muxue retorted irritably.

"You… how can you take his side? If it weren’t for him, would our family be in this mess?" Chen Jianguo was shocked by his daughter’s attitude, and he glared fiercely at Su Zheng.

"Dad, Mom, leave Hongxin’s project payment to me. We still have five days, don’t worry—I’ll figure out a way to get it back," Su Zheng declared resolutely.

Seeing Chen Muxue speak up for him, Su Zheng felt compelled to stand tall and shoulder the family's burdens.

"Heh!" Chen Jianguo laughed in exasperation. "You’ll get it back? Who do you think you are—the owner of Yishou Pavilion or the Li family of Qingyang? Do you even know which underworld Shen, the boss of Hongxin, used to belong to? He’s demanding compensation from Grandma right now. You want to ask for money? If they don’t tear you apart, you should count yourself lucky, fool!"

"Dad, how can you talk like that? I’ll go with Su Zheng. We’ll explain everything. What needs compensating, we’ll compensate. As for the project payment, he’ll have to give us an answer. Why should he keep owing us?" Chen Muxue raised her voice, icy and determined.

"Fine, just a moment and you’re already siding with that useless bastard. Raising you to this age was a waste!" Chen Jianguo, furious, yanked out a cigarette, slammed the pack onto the coffee table, and stormed off to the balcony to smoke.

"It’s late. Let’s rest for now. Tomorrow, I’ll go see Boss Shen myself, hear what he has to say," Su Zheng said, moving to support Chen Muxue.

But Lü Hongmei shoved him aside. "My daughter doesn’t need your help. Don’t pretend to be a good man—it’s all your fault!" With that, she guided Chen Muxue toward the bedroom.

Su Zheng could only shake his head helplessly and return to his own room to rest.

Early the next morning, Su Zheng headed out. He wouldn’t let Chen Muxue accompany him; this was something he had to handle himself.

He didn’t drive this time—he hailed a taxi and told the driver his destination: Hongxin Real Estate.

Arriving at Hongxin Tower, he went straight to the top floor by elevator.

"Hello, is Boss Shen in? I have something to discuss with him," Su Zheng politely asked the secretary working at the door.

"Do you have an appointment?" The secretary glanced at Su Zheng’s attire, her brows creasing.

"No."

"Then I’m sorry. Boss Shen doesn’t have time."

The secretary responded coldly, then lowered her head to busy herself.

Su Zheng was about to speak when the office door swung open, and a chubby, big-eared middle-aged man stepped out.

"Xiao Liu, I’m heading out. If there’s anything, send me a message."

"Yes, Boss Shen, take care," the secretary replied sweetly, jumping to her feet.

Su Zheng’s heart stirred. He walked up to Boss Shen.

"Hello, I’m Su Zheng from the Chen family. Could I trouble Boss Shen for a few minutes to discuss the project payment?"

Upon hearing this, Boss Shen’s expression instantly turned cold. "You’re from the Chen family? Here for money, right? Fine, follow me!"

Su Zheng was taken aback but followed Boss Shen into the elevator.

Inside, Boss Shen sent several messages, then led Su Zheng down to the underground parking lot.

"Are you aware that the Chen family’s construction crew cut corners on my project?" Boss Shen asked blandly.

"I haven’t looked into that specifically, but whatever the issue is, we can sit down and talk it through," Su Zheng replied calmly.

"Talk it through? No need. Frankly, I’d rather beat you up!" Boss Shen’s face twisted suddenly, and he shouted to the surroundings:

"Come out, everyone! Beat him to a pulp! If he dies, I’ll take the blame!"

A horde of burly men surged out from the corners of the parking garage, their faces vicious as they charged at Su Zheng.

Su Zheng’s expression turned icy.

He glanced at Boss Shen, and as the thugs descended upon him, he moved swiftly, grabbing Boss Shen and pulling him close.

In a flash, Su Zheng’s left hand pressed against a vital point on Boss Shen’s body, his voice sharp and commanding:

"Stay still if you value your life!"

Boss Shen felt his whole body go limp and a piercing pain shot through him, as if his bones were being rasped by a file. The agony nearly made him faint.

"Damn it, finish him off!" Boss Shen, relying on the fact that Su Zheng had no weapon and his men were armed with clubs, barked his orders fiercely.

Several of the nearest henchmen rushed forward.

Su Zheng’s gaze remained cold, utterly unflustered.

Smack!

Smack! Smack!

One hand held Boss Shen’s vital point; the other moved rapidly.

Though the thugs wielded weapons, they hesitated to strike Su Zheng directly, fearing harm might come to Boss Shen. Their plan was to knock Su Zheng down first.

This played right into Su Zheng’s hands.

He employed the lethal techniques recorded in the Poison Scripture. With every strike, a man dropped—convulsing, shrieking in pain.

Within moments, those still standing dared not approach.

They’d been in plenty of real fights, but had never seen anything as bizarre as this. The young man had no weapon, his blows weren’t even especially forceful, yet anyone who rushed him seemed cursed, losing all combat ability in seconds.

It was uncanny!

Boss Shen, wracked with pain, was stunned. His pudgy face was filled with terror and disbelief, the vicious aura draining away until he finally pleaded in a sobbing voice.

"Hero, please spare me! I was wrong—let’s talk about the project payment, let’s talk!"

Su Zheng shot him a sidelong glance. "Wouldn’t it have been easier to do this from the start?"

He released Boss Shen without hesitation, unconcerned that the man might try something again.

Boss Shen’s full name was Shen Qingqiang. He moved his body with difficulty, trying to ease the pain. Deep in his eyes, however, hatred still simmered.

"Your name’s Su Zheng, right? This isn’t the place—let’s talk upstairs."

Ignoring the men sprawled on the ground, he gestured for Su Zheng to follow him back upstairs.

Su Zheng was unafraid, and as he left, he spoke to the men on the ground:

"Rest for two weeks, stay away from cigarettes and alcohol, and you’ll live."

He’d held back from using the most lethal techniques, giving them a chance to recover.

Back in Shen Qingqiang’s office, Su Zheng sat calmly on the sofa, ready to learn the details behind the project payment.

But Shen Qingqiang reached under his desk and pulled out a weapon, aiming the cold, dark barrel straight at Su Zheng!