Chapter 45

Li Shaoze was preparing tea when the bell rang. He had had a good rest over the weekend and had expected for Xu Hua to come visit today.

Due to his already positive friendship with Pei Qian, he had come to accept the kindness of the Pei's as a whole. So Li Shaoze learned to get better and friendlier with the Pei's, much to Li Junfeng's delight. He didn't awkwardly refuse them anymore.

Li Shaoze walked to the door to open it, expecting Xu Hua and Pei Qian. But he was dumbfounded to see a few more older women strutting into his home, following Xu Hua on the lead.

Pei Qian who was standing at the side, smiled guiltily as she couldn't stop her mother.

Xu Hua first hugged Li Shaoze tightly for a good ten seconds before she looked around the house.

"You're just like Zeyan! His apartment is also minimalist like this. Are all men like this?" Xu Hua laughed heartily, showing a standard neighborhood aunty smile.

The women behind her also looked around like hyenas as they laughed, "Aiyaaa such a handsome bachelor with a fitting home!"

Li Shaoze stood there frozen. He didn't know what to say. How come strangers were able to come as they pleased now?

The aunties all wore a kind smile on their faces. Their clothes and purses were all branded items. Indicating they were all from high society.

"I'm sorry for this, Shaoze. But they came to visit me for tea and I told them I'm going to your house to send some homemade food. They became so curious so they tagged along. Don't worry, they won't stay long, right folks?" Xu Hua scanned her circle of friends which consisted of three older women with thick make-up.

"Yes! Yes! We just came to see a handsome boy like you,"

"Pardon us for intruding, young man!"

"Are you single? Would you like to get to know my daughter?"

The women were chatty and loud it caused Li Shaoze to become so perplexed. Xu Hua glanced over them and raised her voice, "Enough! Go back home now. You guys aren't invited,"

The women clicked their tongues and proceeded to the door.

Li Shaoze stared for a long time before he regained his senses. He immediately stopped the aunties, "Wait a minute,"

He walked to the kitchen and picked up three small boxes of oranges. He got them from Zhu Zijin and Mu Ziyi when they went to meet the parents. They received blessings for their relationship and so they wanted to share the good news by giving him a lot of fruits which he knew he couldn't finish by himself.

The boxes were wrapped delicately with ribbons and weren't yet opened. He gave each to the aunties to bring home.

"There's a lot at home so I'm giving you some. Thank you for coming, even if it's short," Li Shaoze put up a smile. It was hard to practice a warm smile besides his usual business smile he often used. But the older women didn't seem to care.

Instead, they looked at each other and laughed loudly.

"Aiyaaa, you're so polite!"

"The packaging's beautiful!"

"Thank you, young man!"

"We'll be sure to come again but for longer!"

"Hahahaha!"

Soon, they disappeared as fast as they came. Li Shaoze looked over like he was still confused. But his trance broke when Xu Hua patted him on his shoulder.

"Even my son doesn't have such conscience. You're kinder than you look," Xu Hua joked. She placed the luncheon in her hands on the table in the kitchen.

"Thank you for the food, aunty Pei," Li Shaoze thanked the woman. Warmth seemed to seep from her eyes when she looked at him.

"It's nothing. You didn't get to finish the dishes I made before. I'm making it up now so make sure to taste everything, okay?" Xu Hua's face was like an older version of Pei Qian and Li Shaoze had a very good impression of her.

"Sure-" just when he was about to answer, his front door seemed to be forced opened from outside. As if a robber was at work against it.

Crash-!

A significantly older man rushed inside with a woman chasing after him from behind in a hurry.

"Li Shaoze, where are you?!" it was Li Qinfeng, followed by a red-faced Lu Mimi.

Behind the two, Li Junfeng was seen scrambling about to reach Li Shaoze. He jumped to Li Shaoze's shoulder and quickly explained.

"Brother! I just went to Li Group and they seemed to already know about your involvement with Quze Industries! In fact, even the public knows!" he shouted, his face showed confusion as to how this could happen.

Li Shaoze listened quietly and silently deduced the reason why. He admitted that he had forgotten to take measures against Li Qinfeng's recent investigation. But he didn't really care about it much since the beginning because he had already warned Zhu Zijin of such possibility when he first arrived in this country.

Zhu Zijin had already prepared some countermeasures about this topic once he mentioned it to him before coming back to the country.

However, what reason could cause even the public to know about him? There was only one obvious source where the news could leak- the insiders in Quze Industries itself. The members of the board who were initially against him.

"Li Shaoze, tell me how you got involved with Quze Industries?! What's your relationship with Qin Meili?!!" Li Qinfeng was fuming. He didn't even acknowledge Xu Hua and Pei Qian's presence as if he couldn't see them.

He pointed his index finger to Li Shaoze who was a little taller than him, saying, "How come a bastard like you can have the connection to become one of the highest managements in Quze Industries!"

Lu Mimi was beside Li Qinfeng, not trying to appease him but instead fanning the flame, "That's right! There's no way an illegitimate son like you can have the privilege from that giant conglomerate!"

"And it's our rival company! What are you trying to achieve, huh?! To make me look bad? Are you trying to mess with the Li's who fed you!!" Li Qinfeng came forward and in the blink of an eye, he was already in front of his son, strangling his collar.

Every word was harsher and louder than the next. Li Qinfeng and Lu Mimi echoed each other as they drowned in their anger. Their passion to scream their lungs out equaled the peak of a mountain.

They both looked like a beggar and a shrew respectively. Gone was the noble air they usually held in great regards.

Pei Qian was shocked, she was slow to react when she saw the two targeting Li Shaoze. Her eyes stared critically over Li Qinfeng's hands that were clutching onto Li Shaoze's collar. He looked as if he would drag the younger man against the floor in any second now. Her heart was suddenly burnt so hot, she shouted.

"Let go of your hands!"

Li Qinfeng finally turned around and saw Pei Qian, his eyes widened. How could Li Junfeng's ex-fiancee be here? What was she doing together with Li Shaoze? Inside his house too?

"Haa... what a surprise," Li Qinfeng nodded as if he finally understood.

"You couldn't get my son, Junfeng. So now you wanted Li Shaoze, this bastard? What kind of woman are you, Pei Qian? You're being unfaithful to-"

Pak-!

A slap rang across the surrounding, causing the environment to turn death still for a moment. Li Qinfeng's hands that were tight on Li Shaoze's collar slackened as he inadvertently let go. Shock was plastered on his face, along with a prominent handprint.

The one who moved was Xu Hua. With red eyes full of anger, she looked totally different than her usual pleasant and smiley attitude.

"How dare you say such things to my daughter. You don't know anything!"

Lu Mimi who was initially eating melons while fanning the flame on the side instantly became furious. Her husband was slapped across the face right in front of her! She felt so humiliated because she was the wife of the said man. She felt her authority being challenged and her face became menacing, like a witch.

"You bitch!" discarding all pretense, she jumped towards Xu Hua but was pushed away by Pei Qian who protected her mother tightly.

"What right do you have to meddle in our family matter!" Li Qinfeng felt humiliation fill up his sense of being but he still acted a tad bit rational. He couldn't get physical with Xu Hua, the madam of Pei's. Or else his reputation would become questionable.

"Don't talk about rights when you're the one who broke into this house. We can charge you for it and we'll call the police!" Pei Qian threatened, her voice raised so high as she protected her mother behind her.

Once it suddenly involved the police, Li Qinfeng clicked his tongue. He was still in a great shock after he found out Li Shaoze had been working in Quze Industries. He also found out that Li Shaoze was also the CEO of Quze A. Investment. A very accomplished investment company in Country E which was richer in capital than any other. It was a leading figure in the European continent!

How could he accept that the son whom he belittled, whom he gained pleasure in looking down on- being on top of him?! Had Li Shaoze gained enough fun in tricking him all these years? How much pleasure did he get in pretending to be a lamb all this while??

Incorrigible!

Li Qinfeng couldn't accept it no matter what.