Chapter Fifty-Three: Kneeling

“Hehehe... Thank you, Dad!” Chen Wenli’s face instantly bloomed with delight. She settled herself smugly on the nearby sofa, took out her phone, and waited for the funds to arrive. The excitement stirred by the huge sum made her forget all about the agreement she was supposed to sign.

Jin Wei’s efficiency was remarkable; soon she returned with over a dozen contracts, handing them to Chen Xiong to sign. Still basking in his recent windfall, Chen Xiong didn’t think twice and swiftly scrawled his signature on each one.

Only when Jin Wei collected the signed contracts did a concealed trace of disgust flicker in her eyes.

After she left, Chen Xiong and his daughter began busily working at the computer again. Because they were transferring ten million from the company account to a private account, the process took longer.

Just then, the door was kicked open from outside.

“Damn it, pay up! Hurry and pay what you owe!”

A powerful voice boomed through the room. More than ten people strode in behind it, each radiating an intimidating presence and anger; leading them was Shen Qingqiang. The rest were all people who had previously signed contracts with Haoyuan Trading, now gathered together.

“Mr. Shen? What... what are you doing here?” Chen Xiong, who had been terrified by Shen Qingqiang the last time, immediately lost his confidence when he saw Shen bring such a crowd. He nervously tried to greet them politely.

“Don’t pretend you don’t know what’s going on! Are you really unaware of what Haoyuan Trading has done?” Shen Qingqiang spoke with utter disdain, not regarding Chen Xiong at all. He threw himself onto the sofa, nearly displacing Chen Wenli, his dominance overwhelming.

“Ouch!” Chen Wenli just barely managed to avoid him, startled and flustered. She hadn’t expected this burly man to sit so rudely without even a word of warning. She tried to move to the other sofa, but the newcomers were all so arrogant that they shoved her toward the door, taking the seats themselves, crossing their legs and staring at Chen Xiong with unfriendly expressions.

“Mr. Shen, I really don’t know what you’re talking about. I just took over this company; I don’t owe you any money!” Chen Xiong recognized some of the faces, others he didn’t, but he knew that anyone who could stand with Shen Qingqiang was not to be trifled with. He spoke as cautiously as possible, hoping to avoid any misunderstanding.

“Well, well! Looks like you still haven’t learned your lesson. Do you need my brothers to teach you again?” Shen Qingqiang didn’t reveal his purpose immediately, instead mocking Chen Xiong with a sneer.

Chen Xiong’s face turned awkward, but he didn’t dare retort. He sat back in his office chair, forced himself to speak politely once more: “Mr. Shen, what brings you and so many business owners here today? By the way, you can trust our cooperation—I’d never shortchange any of you!”

“Shut up! Last time I was blind enough to work with you, you screwed me over. Now you’re playing games again?” Shen Qingqiang picked up a magazine and flung it at him; had Chen Xiong not dodged, it would have hit him squarely in the face.

“Let me tell you, Chen, you’re finished! Signing fraudulent contracts with so many of us and swindling our money—this won’t end here. It’s not just you, but your whole family that couldn’t pay what you owe!”

Shen Qingqiang’s threats were vicious.

“Fraudulent contracts? That’s not possible—I never signed any contracts with you. It was Chen Muxue who signed them; you should be looking for her.” Chen Xiong gave a nonchalant laugh, unconcerned about taking responsibility.

“You blockhead, I’d like to crack open your skull and see how much water’s inside. You say Chen Muxue signed them—fine. What’s her position at your company? Can a logistics worker represent Haoyuan Trading in contracts? Are you kidding me?”

Shen Qingqiang scoffed and then grinned maliciously. “I heard you just issued us all agreements for delayed delivery on behalf of Haoyuan Trading. The signatures on those documents are yours. That means you acknowledge receipt of our payments.”

“Uh!” Only now did Chen Xiong remember the batch of agreements he’d signed, brought in by his assistant Jin Wei.

“Bang!” The door was kicked open again. Wei Lao’er strode in, seething with anger. Seeing the sofas occupied, he marched straight around the desk and hauled Chen Xiong up by the collar.

“Move aside! You don’t even know to offer a seat when I arrive? Have some manners!” He sat down without waiting, then glared coldly at Chen Xiong and barked, “Pay up! According to the contract, if either party commits fraud, the other is owed five times the contract amount. I won’t be greedy—give me twenty-five million, and I’ll leave right now!”

“You...” Chen Xiong was utterly stunned, chilled to the bone, his face pale, lips trembling. He finally understood—he’d been played, lured into a trap they’d set. Five times compensation—one company alone demanded twenty-five million; there was over sixty million in total payments. At five times, it would be hundreds of millions!

Chen Xiong dared not imagine further; his vision darkened, his head spun, and he staggered, slowly collapsing.

“Dad! Dad, are you all right?” Chen Wenli, terrified, rushed to her father’s side, patting his chest and back, afraid something might go wrong.

“Ugh...” Chen Xiong gradually caught his breath. Looking at those around him, their aggressive faces brimming with confidence, his own face became suffused with bitter despair.

It was over—everything was over.

He had come to Haoyuan Trading hoping to make a fortune, but instead, he’d failed spectacularly, facing a colossal compensation bill.

Hundreds of millions in damages—unless he sold all his own companies, he could never pay it.

“Damn it, let me tell you—fainting won’t get you out of this. Don’t pretend to be sick. We’re still willing to negotiate, but if you keep this attitude, expect a court summons!”

“Then your Chen family will be finished in Qingyang; not only will you owe every cent, but your reputation will be ruined. You have three minutes—make your choice.”

Wei Lao’er, always a man of the streets, had come specially for Doctor Su, so he was especially fierce and threatening. He’d just received a call from Doctor Su and acted immediately.

He rapidly gathered all those who’d signed contracts that night and quickly devised a plan.

For them, after so many years in business, they could come up with any dirty trick. No matter how tough the situation, they’d been through worse—teaming up to deal with Chen Xiong was child’s play.