Chapter 155: Heart Demon
Mei Bin was being so courteous, but Xu Ke didn’t dare get ahead of himself. He quickly raised his glass. "Young Master Mei, how can you call me brother? Just call me Xiaoxu. I’d like to propose a toast to you!"
"Hahaha, Xiaoxu, you’re being too distant. Forget ’Young Master Mei.’ Just call me Brother Bin."
"Alright, Brother Bin."
While Cheng Yuan’s group divvied up the spoils as if no one else existed, Tang Mingcheng sat on the sidelines, feeling as if a fishbone were caught in his throat, thorns were pricking his back, and he were sitting on pins and needles.
After what felt like an eternity, once the spoils had been divided, Tang Mingcheng looked pitifully at Mei Bin. "Young Master Mei, we’ve known each other for so many years. You know full well what kind of situation Dawn Doors and Windows is in. Could you possibly..."
Mei Bin cut Tang Mingcheng off without a hint of mercy. "Tang Mingcheng, I am well aware of your family’s situation. However, begging me is useless. You need to beg Brother Yuan."
The corner of Tang Mingcheng’s mouth twitched. He was so full of regret he wanted to kill himself.
’It’s all that damn Bai Xuening’s fault! Otherwise, how could I have possibly offended Brother Yuan?’
’On the strength of his relationship with Young Master Mei, Brother Yuan’s huge contract should have been his for the taking!’
Tang Mingcheng hardened his heart and stared coldly at Bai Xuening. "Give me my ring back! We’re through! From this moment on, don’t you ever show your face to me again!!"
With that, Tang Mingcheng snatched the ring box away.
Bai Xuening collapsed back into her seat, utter despair flooding her heart.
’Three years! For three whole years, Cheng Yuan had been her Heart Demon!’
’She thought that after getting together with Tang Mingcheng, she could finally be free of this Heart Demon that was Cheng Yuan. Who knew that in the end, this Heart Demon would only grow stronger!’
’It was utterly immovable!’
Through it all, Cheng Yuan watched with cold indifference, not saying a word.
Tang Mingcheng turned, directing an obsequious gaze at Cheng Yuan. "Brother Yuan, I didn’t know about the history between you and Bai Xuening! If I had known, I swear I never would have gotten involved with her! Bai Xuening and I are finished now, so about that doors and windows contract..."
Cheng Yuan looked at Tang Mingcheng impassively. "If you had actually treated Bai Xuening well, I might have respected you as a man. For the simple fact that she pursued me for three months, I would’ve thrown you a bone. But after seeing how callously you treated her, do you really think I’d let you have a piece of the pie?"
Hearing this, Bai Xuening could no longer hold it together. As tears streamed down her face, all the hatred and bitterness she felt toward Cheng Yuan completely dissipated.
Through her tear-streaked face, Bai Xuening looked at Cheng Yuan and shouted, "Cheng Yuan! You are the bane of my existence! My Heart Demon!!"
After her outburst, Bai Xuening ran away, looking utterly heartbroken.
She would leave this place of heartbreak and never appear before Cheng Yuan again.
This...
Tang Mingcheng wanted to weep at his own stupidity.
’So Brother Yuan never hated Bai Xuening. In fact, he felt like he owed her!’
’He had really shot himself in the foot!’
Cheng Yuan looked at Tang Mingcheng with disgust. "Young Master Tang, this is a reunion for my classmates. You’re no longer a plus-one, so why are you still loitering here?"
"I... I’ll leave..."
As if all his strength had been drained away, Tang Mingcheng lost all his Essence, Qi, and Spirit. He staggered dejectedly out of the private room.
He knew he was done for. Dawn Doors and Windows was done for.
Once outside Champion Scholar Pavilion, Tang Mingcheng dialed his father. "Dad, I’m in deep trouble! I offended a big shot, the kind even Young Master Mei has to go out of his way to please! Dawn Doors and Windows is finished in Luocheng!"
"Don’t panic. Tell me everything in detail."
"Okay, Dad, here’s what happened..."
Tang Mingcheng recounted the whole affair in detail.
Tang Mingcheng’s father was silent for a long moment, then heaved a long sigh. "Go find Xu Ke. At any cost, get Tengya to buy a stake in our Dawn System Doors and Windows! Or, if they want a direct acquisition, that’s fine too. We can just rename ourselves Tengya System Doors and Windows!"
"Will that even work?"
"It can. You and Mr. Cheng have no deep-seated grudge. As long as we offer up enough benefits and adopt a humble enough attitude, Mr. Cheng won’t stoop to our level. He won’t care about the small profits, but Tengya Decoration needs an opportunity like this to soar and expand its industrial supply chain."
"I understand."
...
「Champion Scholar Pavilion.」
After offering a few toasts, Mei Chao also left.
With the outsiders gone, the private room once again grew lively.
Cheng Yuan became the absolute center of the reunion. Everyone crowded around him, desperately trying to curry favor, which made him feel a little awkward.
"Brother Yuan, you’ve been hiding your strength too well! You actually own such a huge plot of land! If you’re developing it into commercial housing, you could offer even more internship positions!"
"Brother Yuan, I taught myself architectural design and even won the Luocheng Young Designer Excellence Award. I could probably help with the residential complex’s planning and design."
"Brother Yuan, my older cousin has a construction team. Are there any small, odd jobs available?"
"Brother Yuan, my third uncle grows a lot of trees back home. You should give that cushy landscaping job to one of us, not some stranger!"
...
Cheng Yuan was getting a massive headache, so he quickly passed the buck to Xu Ke. "My dear classmates, you’re petitioning the wrong guy! I’m just the hands-off boss; Xu Ke is the one who actually runs the show. Whatever you want to ask, take it to him."
The classmates immediately changed their target of attack, swarming Xu Ke and frantically toasting him.
Xu Ke was soon plied with more drinks than he could handle. Still, he remained clear on his position: everything he had was thanks to Brother Yuan, so he had to be a good gatekeeper for him!
"Classmates, I’ve heard you all and taken note. But we have to do things by the book. I will evaluate everyone’s qualifications. As long as you’re genuinely capable, I will absolutely give priority to our own classmates. Please submit your proposals or project plans as soon as you can."
The classmates’ enthusiasm cooled considerably, since the vast majority of them had no real qualifications and were just hoping to get some scraps.
Only the few who actually had something to offer became excited, immediately getting on their phones to prepare their documents and plans.
Cheng Yuan seized the opportunity to wolf down his food. He had a feeling an earth-shattering battle awaited him at home, so he needed to eat up and conserve his energy.
Cheng Yuan checked his watch. It was already 9:30 PM.
Cheng Yuan gave a dry cough. The classmates quieted down and all turned to look at him.
Cheng Yuan spoke with a slightly apologetic tone. "Classmates, I’m really sorry, but rules are strict at my house. I have a curfew and have to be home before ten o’clock."
Of course, the classmates weren’t about to let Cheng Yuan go so easily and quickly held him back.
"Brother Yuan, you’re our guest of honor! You can’t leave! We’re all going for karaoke later!"
"Brother Yuan, we know your wife is the Pearl of Luocheng, but surely she can spare you for one night! We’re all just getting started, don’t spoil the fun!"
"Come on, Brother Yuan, don’t feed us a lame excuse like a curfew! A man as successful as you, why would your wife put you on a curfew?"
Cheng Yuan gave a wry smile. "I’m really not trying to fool you all. Xu Ke can be my witness."
Xu Ke laughed. "I can confirm it. I ran into his wife at the hotel entrance earlier, and I heard her tell Brother Yuan with my own ears that he had to be home before ten."