Chapter 40: Handle Your Own Matters

"Enough!" Zhou Ming suddenly said to Wu Mei, "I advise you to mind your manners, or you might not even know how you died."

Zhou Ming's voice wasn't loud, but it startled Wu Mei. She looked at him and felt his gaze was terrifying. She instinctively took a step back. However, feeling embarrassed to be scared by a mainlander, she mustered up her courage and stepped forward, saying, "Are you a mainland storyteller? Saying that you don't even know how you're going to die? I think you're the one who doesn't know the sky's height and the earth's breadth. This is Harbor City; there's no room here for you mainlanders to act recklessly!"

As she spoke, a few people walked into the tea house. Wu Mei glanced at the entrance and then turned back to Zhou Ming with a sneer, saying, "Mainlander, you'd better leave while you can. If that big brother of ours arrives, you won't be treated so kindly. At that time, you might be missing some body parts, and no one will be able to guarantee otherwise."

Zhou Ming noticed the movement at the entrance. "Is that so? Then I'm curious to see what kind of trouble we're in for."

Zhou Ming said this as he walked toward the entrance. Wu Mei snorted and mumbled, "Really don't know what's good for you," and followed him. However, when they reached the group of people at the entrance, Wu Mei quickly walked up to a middle-aged man in a long robe and said, "Brother Wan, someone is bullying Zhao Lin. You must speak up for her!"

The middle-aged man furrowed his brow and asked, "Xiao Mei, what's going on?"

Wu Mei pointed at Zhou Ming and said, "It's this damn mainlander. He deliberately came to cause trouble for Zhao Lin. I told him Zhao Lin is protected by Brother Wan, but he said that even if Brother Wan came, he'd still want you to kowtow three times in front of him. He's completely looking down on Brother Wan and is extremely arrogant!"

Zhou Ming laughed. "This lady, isn't it a bit too much to turn black into white? And trying to sow discord, it seems I didn't say any of those things, did I?"

The middle-aged man in the long robe looked at Zhou Ming and asked, "Who are you?"

As he spoke, he made a hand gesture, and three bodyguards in suits and sunglasses, with muscular builds, surrounded Zhou Ming, ready to take him down at any moment.

Seeing this, Wu Mei's lips curled up in satisfaction as she looked at Zhou Ming, eager to see him panic. But to her surprise, Zhou Ming remained calm, seemingly unconcerned about the three bodyguards surrounding him. Wu Mei was astonished by Zhou Ming's demeanor, but what happened next left her completely stunned.

As Zhou Ming was surrounded, a young man who had been beside the middle-aged man suddenly spoke up, "Mr. Wan, this is Mr. Zhou Ming I introduced to you. He's here to discuss the acquisition of your fund company!"

At this moment, Zhou Ming asked him, "Wang Yunlong, is this the general manager of Wanhe Fund you mentioned?"

The man hurriedly nodded, confirming it was indeed Wang Yunlong. Zhou Ming had guessed the middle-aged man's identity based on Wang Yunlong's presence. Zhou Ming wasn't sure about his and Zhao Lin's relationship or why a fund company would be mixed up with the entertainment industry, but one thing was clear: the big brother Wu Mei mentioned was this middle-aged man in the long robe. That's why Zhou Ming hadn't taken Wu Mei's threats seriously.

Zhou Ming had previously reviewed Wanhe Fund's materials and knew that Wanhe Fund had suffered severe losses during this stock market crash, heavily in debt and eager to sell the fund company to recover funds. Given this situation, he would cater to himself and handle things to his advantage, not against him.

The middle-aged man in the long robe was stunned and asked Wang Yunlong, "Manager Wang, is this Mr. Zhou Ming?"

Wang Yunlong nodded. The middle-aged man quickly waved his hand, signaling the three burly bodyguards to step back. He then put on a smile and walked up to Zhou Ming, extending his hand. "So you are Mr. Zhou. I am Wan He, the general manager of Wanhe Fund. It's a pleasure to meet you. I apologize for the misunderstanding."

Zhou Ming shook hands with Wan He and said, "I'm also pleased to meet Mr. Wan and understand your influence in Harbor City."

This unexpected turn of events left Wu Mei dumbfounded. She couldn't understand what was happening. How had a mainland nobody suddenly become the boss intending to acquire Wanhe Fund? Was this a dream? If it was, she hoped to wake up quickly because if her previous words had delayed Wan He's business, she would be in serious trouble!

Wu Mei was panicking. Wan He glanced at her and asked Zhou Ming, "Mr. Zhou, what's going on?"

Before Zhou Ming could speak, Lin Muqing interjected, "Mr. Wan, this Miss Wu Mei just insulted us and spoke rudely."

Zhou Ming introduced Lin Muqing to Wan He, saying, "This is my friend Lin Muqing. She was unjustly insulted by your person."

Wan He's eyes lit up when he saw Lin Muqing. He thought she was very beautiful. Although she wasn't as pretty as Zhao Lin, it was just a matter of styling. She was still an exquisite beauty. Having such a beautiful woman with him made Wan He realize that Zhou Ming was indeed impressive.

Wan He nodded to Zhou Ming and then turned a serious face to Wu Mei, asking, "What's going on?"

Although it was just a short sentence, Wu Mei trembled and stammered, "Brother Wan, I… I didn't know this Mr. Zhou was your friend. If I had known, even if I had a thousand guts, I wouldn't have dared to be rude!"

"Had known?" Lin Muqing said with displeasure, "So if you didn't know, it was okay to use Mr. Wan's name to bully people?"

Wan He's expression grew darker. He said to Wu Mei, "Xiao Mei, how have I always taught you? To be modest and humble outside. Did you take my words as a breeze?"

Wu Mei lowered her head and didn't dare to speak. Zhao Lin stepped forward to help Wu Mei, saying, "I'm sorry, Mr. Wan. Mei Jie is usually not like this. She's normally very respectful of your teachings. But now is a special time; Harbor City has just gone through a stock market crash. Mei Jie has lost a lot of money, so she's in a bad mood, which led to this behavior."

Zhao Lin then turned to Lin Muqing and said, "Miss Lin, I apologize. I know Mei Jie's words were excessive, but she really didn't mean it. Please be magnanimous and don't hold it against her."

Lin Muqing looked Zhao Lin up and down and retorted, "Miss Zhao, if we were in each other's positions and you were the one being insulted for no reason, would you not care?"

Zhao Lin fell silent, and Lin Muqing turned back to Wan He, saying, "Mr. Wan, this is your matter. How you handle it is up to you. I won't intervene."

Zhou Ming couldn't help but applaud Lin Muqing's words internally. Although they seemed reasonable, they actually put Wan He in a difficult position with no room to maneuver.

Wan He thought for a moment and said to Wu Mei, "As Zhao Lin's manager, you should understand that your actions reflect on her image. You've greatly disappointed me. I think Zhao Lin needs a more suitable manager. You're fired."

"Brother Wan, no, please don't!" Wu Mei pleaded, "You're joking, right?"

Wan He remained unmoved. Wu Mei was truly frightened now. She realized that Wan He was someone who always followed through on his words. Given that Harbor City had just experienced a stock market crash, she had already lost a lot of money. If she were fired now, her livelihood might be at stake.

Wu Mei now regretted her earlier actions, wishing she could slap herself. Why did she provoke Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing?

But there's no use in regret. Wu Mei could only beg them, "Mr. Zhou, Miss Lin, I was wrong and rude earlier. I know you both have high statuses. I've sullied your eyes, so please don't hold it against me. Just treat me as if I'm nothing. I beg you!"

Zhao Lin also pleaded for Wu Mei, "Mr. Zhou, Miss Lin, Mei Jie really didn't mean to insult you. She was just in a bad mood. Please don't hold it against her."

Zhou Ming turned to ask Lin Muqing's opinion, but Lin Muqing had already turned away and returned to her seat. Zhou Ming could only smile wryly, realizing that when Lin Muqing was jealous, she was both unreasonable and stubborn.

With no other option, Zhou Ming said to Wan He, "Mr. Wan, the situation is as it is. I won't interfere in your personal matters. I'll head back to my seat. Once you've handled this matter, we can discuss the acquisition of the fund company."

Wu Mei cried out in desperation, "Mr. Zhou, please don't leave. I was wrong. I really know I was wrong. Please don't hold it against me. I beg you!"

Zhou Ming ignored Wu Mei's

 pleas and walked back to his seat. He didn't know how Wan He would handle it, but soon he heard Wu Mei's loud crying and then saw her being escorted out by Wan He's bodyguards. Since Wan He was called "big brother," he must have some ruthless methods.

Zhou Ming thought about this, glanced at Lin Muqing, and saw her with her head down, biting her lip, looking unhappy. Zhou Ming said, "Sister Muqing, don't be upset. I believe Mr. Wan, being so eager to sell his fund company, will definitely take our feelings into account and handle this matter properly."

Lin Muqing shook her head and said, "It's not about this."

Lin Muqing paused for a moment before continuing, "Zhou Ming… Do you think I was too willful just now?"

Zhou Ming smiled, "Of course not. I think you did very well. They came to provoke us without reason and even insulted you. They deserved a lesson!"

Zhou Ming glanced at Lin Muqing and then teased, "Besides, I'm glad that Sister Muqing feels jealous of me!"

This remark made Lin Muqing's face turn crimson. She glared at Zhou Ming and hurriedly said, "What nonsense are you talking about? Who's jealous of you? How shameless!"

But even Lin Muqing herself didn't realize that while saying this, she actually felt sweet inside.