Chapter 9, Provocation!

Hong Jiye didn't hesitate at all; he slapped the coffee table and the teacup clinked loudly as he said, "This is no big deal! Brother, you must attend the investment banquet tonight. If you don't come, I won't even start it!"

Dozens of wealthy and powerful publicly listed companies had wracked their brains, fighting tooth and nail to snatch up spots, and Hong Jiye casually sealed the deal with a single slap.

Zhou Yang then knew that Tianqi Group was owned by the Hong Family.

Li Ya had previously boasted that becoming a partner of Tianqi Group provided Sheng Guang Group with the opportunity for a meteoric rise and breakthrough.

He wanted to deflate Li Ya's arrogance.

But considering the group's consecutive years of loss, if he didn't give Sheng Guang Group a chance to develop, when he took over from Li Ya, it could become a heavily indebted shell company, and that would be troublesome.

After all, Sheng Guang Group was the culmination of all his hard work.

After some hesitation, Zhou Yang said, "I want to ask Hong if there is a possibility to add another company to the list of partners, may I?"

"Brother, which company is it?" Hong Jiye asked.

"Shenglong Company, the person in control is named Su Xue, my ex-girlfriend. After I went to jail, it was she who took care of my parents. I want to repay her kindness. Could you keep it a secret for now? I want to give her a surprise." Zhou Yang replied.

Zhou Yang Group previously owned this company, which once had assets worth tens of millions, given to Su Xue as breakup compensation.

He wanted to use this opportunity to do something for Su Xue, to make up for his past shortcomings toward her.

Hong Sanbao and Hong Jiye were astonished. To give away such an incredible opportunity that could change one's destiny?

Noble!

This brother is reliable!

"Everything as per brother's arrangement; I'll make sure it's done beautifully! I have already arranged the banquet to thank you for saving my life, please come!" Hong Jiye readily agreed.

The three of them stood up and headed for the hotel.

After the meal.

Zhou Yang was eager to tell Su Xue the good news, and stood up, saying, "Thank you both for your generous hospitality, but I have something else to attend to and must take my leave now!"

Zhou Yang insisted on leaving, Hong Jiye and Hong Sanbao got up and arranged for bodyguards to drive him.

Garden District.

Carrying fruit he bought on the way, Zhou Yang knocked on Su Xue's door.

The door opened.

Dressed in a white gown, with her hair cascading down, Su Xue looked serene and captivating, but she coldly asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I... I came to thank you for taking care of my parents. I was wrong before; I owe you an apology," Zhou Yang stammered, unable to face Su Xue.

"Taking care of your parents has nothing to do with you. You don't need to thank me, nor apologize. Just go away!" Su Xue said as she was about to close the door.

"Xue, you have a guest? Why don't you invite them in?"

From the living room came the voice of Su Xue's mother, Zhao Furong.

Glancing back with hesitation and struggle, Su Xue sighed and opened the door wider.

"Come in."

On the living room sofa sat a man in a white suit, whom Zhao Furong was enthusiastically entertaining.

Zhou Yang suddenly understood the meaning behind Su Xue's evasive eyes; the man must be pursuing her, and Zhou Yang's heart plummeted to the depths of cold despair.

The moment Zhao Furong saw Zhou Yang, her warm smile instantly turned cold as frost, and she cursed loudly, "What the hell are you doing at our house, you scoundrel?"

Su Xue frowned and said, "Mom, he brought something to see you; can you be a little more polite?"

"Polite? I don't need to be polite to him for crap!"

Zhao Furong's anger intensified, and as she furiously cursed at Zhou Yang, she also started scolding Su Xue.

"You silly girl, you're utterly devoted to him, and what did he do? Callously dumped you to marry that vixen Li Ya!"

"The Li family was all flash and no substance, flaunting their money while their own parents had to scavenge for scraps and with their father's leg broken by someone. Serves them right!"

"How many times have I told you not to care whether those two old things live or die? Yet you never listen!"

"And now Li Ya, that vixen, bears a grudge against you and has blacklisted your company, shrinking a multimillion-dollar business down to a few million. You can't even collect on your outstanding debts. I told you to sell it when you had the chance, but you refused. Now, we can't even afford to cook a meal at home!"

"From now on, you're not allowed to contact him anymore; tell him to get lost immediately!"

What?

Li Ya blacklisted Su Xue's company?

And Su Xue is still stubbornly clinging to the company I gave her, refusing to give up. She's as obstinate as ever.

Zhou Yang felt a twinge of pain in his heart.

Taking a deep breath, Su Xue retorted defiantly:

"The company was a gift from Zhou Yang. Even if it goes down to nothing, what's it to you? The more Li Ya blacklists me and targets me, the more I want to fight her to the end. Even if I lose everything, I accept it!"

Zhao Furong, infuriated, gnashed her teeth, pointed at Su Xue and roared, "I think you've gone mad! Don't think I won't slap you!"

Zhou Yang stepped forward, bowed to Zhao Furong, and apologized: "Auntie, I'm sorry. I was in the wrong before, and I will make it up to Xue."

Zhao Furong sneered, with a look of disdain:

"After your family has cheated mine to this point, I really don't know how you have the gall to show your face here! Who cares about your measly consolation, those few apples and eggs? Get out of my house immediately; don't dirty my floors!"

Zhou Yang had wanted to surprise Su Xue, but told the truth:

"I had no idea Shenglong Company had come to this. To thank Xue for taking care of my parents and to make up for my shortcomings to her, I had someone apply for a collaboration slot for Shenglong Company with Tianqi Group."

"I came to invite Xue to the banquet tonight," he said.

Zhao Furong scoffed and scolded Zhou Yang: "You have the audacity to say that, the nerve to even speak!"

"Mr. Xu just said that Tianqi Group is backed by the Hong Family from Yuncheng. Do you know who's the big shot behind them? Hong Jiye, the formidable Vice Chairman Hong from the Yuncheng Chamber of Commerce!"

"People worth tens to hundreds of billions can hardly meet him, and here you are, without even looking at yourself, a criminal trying to pull strings for Xue's position?"

"If you had that kind of clout, you'd be hanging onto Vice Chairman Hong's pant legs and flying high. So why are you still wearing these rags?"

"You must think I'm easy to deceive, save those tricks for fooling little girls!"

Su Xue sighed inwardly and shook her head, not expecting the always sincere and upright Zhou Yang to tell such a childish lie.

The gentleman in a white suit, Xu Ming, stood up and elegantly approached, extending his hand to shake Zhou Yang's: "I am Xu Ming, general manager of Star Brilliance Group. I've heard that Boss Zhou was the president of Sheng Guang Group. An illustrious figure, a pleasure to meet you."

Star Brilliance Group?

Zhou Yang remembered, the controlling shareholder was Xu Wan, likely Xu Ming's father.

Three years ago, Xu Wan had groveled before him seeking cooperation, when the Xu Family had assets worth tens of millions. In the last three years, they might have reached the billion mark.

Zhou Yang shook hands with him, "A pleasure."

After the handshake, Xu Ming, as though disgusted, wiped his hands with a handkerchief and put on a pretentious smile: "As far as I'm aware, just the PR expenses for the eight shortlisted collaborators were in the tens of millions. It shows the financial and networking strength required. Without real power, one couldn't even afford to burn money like that. You're saying you secured a collaboration slot for Xue's company? Do you believe that yourself?"

Zhou Yang suddenly didn't know how to explain. Would they even believe him if he did?

Zhao Furong gasped, "My god, just to be shortlisted cost tens of millions? Would they even glance at Xue's small company worth only a few million? Mr. Xu, knowing so much detail, you must have deep connections!"

Xu Ming nodded gently at Zhao Furong with a warm smile. In order to highlight his own status and capture Su Xue's heart, he said:

"My dad often dines with the deputy director of Tianqi Group's Investment Department, so it's easy for me to know these things. Since Boss Zhou mentioned it, let me call my dad and have him speak to the deputy director, to see if we can grab an opportunity for Xue."

He looked at Zhou Yang with a meaningful and provocative smile: "Tonight, I will take Xue to the investment dinner. I'm sure she'll be very happy."