Chapter 30: In Service to Another’s Ambitions

A stunning array of dunks unfolded on the court—360-degree under-the-leg dunks, behind-the-back dunks mid-air, tomahawk slams, long-distance windmill dunks—six impressive slams in all, one after the other. As Xiang Ri tossed the ball aside and slowly walked off the court, it was clear the match had ended; he'd scored six, while his opponent only had five chances remaining. The outcome was undeniable.

Beneath the hoop, Tian Feng stood with eyes closed, fists clenched tightly, muttering repeatedly, "Impossible. This can't be real… absolutely impossible."

The spectators watched in a stunned silence, eyes following the lean, almost fragile-looking man who had just humiliated their own player on his home turf—a bitter irony.

"Xiang Kui!" In an instant, Chu Chu threw herself into his arms.

"Little girl, already missing me?" Xiang Ri teased, tightening his hold on her waist.

"Scoundrel!" Chu Chu replied tenderly.

Before they reached the sidelines, Shen Peipei ran over, extended her hand to Xiang Ri's head, and moved it level with her own eyes. "My God, you're shorter than me! This isn't fair—how can you dunk when I can't? Are you even human? No, you're a monster!"

"Should I take that as a compliment?" Xiang Ri replied with a smile, finding her straightforward nature endearing.

"Wrong! I'm jealous of you!" Shen Peipei declared unabashedly.

"Peipei, watch your words! Shameless!" Chu Chu chided, laughing.

"Jealousy isn't shameful! Besides, you snagged a boyfriend this amazing—of course I'm jealous!" Shen Peipei's eyes practically glinted with envy.

"Ugh, go away! The guy you've got isn't bad either," Chu Chu said, glancing at the handsome player in the number 10 jersey nearby.

"We're not even at that level! Not like you two, hugging in broad daylight as if we're invisible," Shen Peipei protested, suddenly turning serious. "Chu Chu, what do you think? Should I accept him?"

"That's something you'll have to decide for yourself; I can't help with that," Chu Chu replied, a hint of helplessness in her tone.

"You little brat, I asked for advice, and you tell me to decide on my own?" Shen Peipei's knuckles cracked ominously as she playfully threatened.

"Wait! Let me finish! This is really up to you; if you like him, go for it, if you don't, let it go. Isn't it simple?"

"Easier said than done! The problem is, I don't even know if I like him," Shen Peipei sighed.

"Not sure? What's so hard about that?" Xiang Ri couldn't help but interject.

"Chu Chu's husband, do you have a solution?" Shen Peipei asked eagerly, ignoring Chu Chu's warning glance.

"Not a solution, just an observation: if you like someone, you'll find yourself thinking of them all the time, their image will fill your mind at night. When they're happy, you feel the same, and when they're down, it affects you. Why are you both staring at me like that?"

"Xiang Kui!" Chu Chu's brow furrowed. "Have you been seeing someone else behind my back?"

"Oh, a true romantic!" Shen Peipei teased.

"I swear, you're the only one!" Xiang Ri added in his thoughts, *at least for now.*

"Then how do you know so much?" Chu Chu's face clearly showed disbelief.

"Well, that's on you," he replied.

"What?" Chu Chu clenched her fist, ready to strike.

"Can't help it! These past days, watching those soap operas with you—every show's filled with scenes like that!" Xiang Ri feigned the wounded look of a henpecked husband.

"Really?" Chu Chu still looked doubtful.

"Hahaha! Chu Chu, your husband is hilarious! But I have to thank him. Even if it's just TV drama lines, he's helped me sort out my thoughts," Shen Peipei sighed, glancing back at the bespectacled man, "Ah, if only you were taller!"

Xiang Ri and Chu Chu exchanged a look, thinking of the research lab. Just as they were about to follow Peipei, Xiang Ri's phone rang.

"It's for you," Chu Chu reminded him.

"Yes." Xiang Ri glanced at the screen and frowned; it was her. She was only supposed to call if it was important.

"Hello? What's the matter?"

"Boss, we've got a problem," an anxious voice replied.

"Speak."

"Well, someone's been buying up the company's shares. Nearly 17% has been quietly acquired from individual shareholders."

"Don't you still have control of 40%?"

"Yes, but the other major shareholders are considering selling their shares."

"Then buy them."

"But boss, we're low on funds—most of it's locked in a major project. And recently, the tax bureau has been auditing us constantly; they're here almost daily. I suspect…"

"Why wasn't I informed of this sooner?" Xiang Ri raised his voice.

"I… I thought it was just routine oversight, so I didn't notify you. But someone started acquiring shares this morning…"

"Did you try getting a loan?"

"I did! But all the banks we usually have good relations with turned us down under various pretexts."

"All right. I understand. Your immediate priority is to acquire those shares from those bastards. Don't worry about the funds—I'll transfer it shortly. By the way, how much will you need to stabilize the situation?"

"Five hundred million! With that, I'm confident we can weather this storm," the voice replied confidently.

"I'll give you five billion. Let's make this black hand regret deeply. Can you manage that?"

"That… that's too much. Actually, after calculating roughly, a billion should suffice."

"You didn't understand me—I want them to suffer a real, lasting loss, not just feel a temporary pinch."

"But that'll incur substantial losses for us as well."

"That's of no concern. Let them know that Xiang is no easy target! Just go ahead and act—I'm not concerned with how much it costs."

"Understood! I know what to do!"

"All right, that's settled." Xiang hung up the phone, his sense of unease growing. Clearly, this hidden hand wielded considerable power, able to manipulate both the tax authorities and the banks. He would have to look into this himself—it seemed he might have to play some pieces of his own.

"Chu Chu," he called to her from a distance where she was chatting with friends.

"Yes?" Chu Chu came running over.

"A friend of mine has an urgent matter to handle, so I need to head out. You stay here with your friends; once I'm done, I'll head home without meeting up again."

"What? Should I come with you?" Chu Chu looked at him with reluctance.

"No need, it's a minor thing; I'll be quick. Just don't linger too long. If I get home and you're not there, there may be consequences," Xiang said with a knowing smile.

"Ugh, you're so annoying!" Chu Chu blushed, glancing down.

"Right then, I'll be off." Without further delay, Xiang slipped out of the gym.

"What's up, Chu Chu? Did that guy just leave you alone?" Shen Peipei asked, indignant on her friend's behalf.

"Oh, it's nothing—he just went to help a friend. He'll be back soon." Chu Chu quickly explained; she didn't want her friend to misunderstand her boyfriend.

"Relax, I'm just teasing!" Shen Peipei said with a mischievous grin.

"You brat! I'll teach you a lesson!" Chu Chu playfully lunged at her.

"Director Su, is now really the time to be enjoying coffee?" a woman in a dark business suit looked at Su Yu with disapproval as she calmly sipped coffee behind her desk.

"Ying Ying, did you forget your watch today? It's not even three o'clock yet—still plenty of time!" Su Yu replied with a relaxed expression.

"Director Su, if you don't act, the company won't belong to you for much longer," Ying Ying replied, caught between amusement and exasperation.

"No need to worry; it's not as serious as you think. This company will never change hands. It will always bear the name Xiang." Su Yu took a delicate sip of her freshly brewed coffee, her face lighting up with a sweet smile.

"Director Su, you're burning up! Want to get checked out at the hospital?" Ying Ying placed her hand on Su Yu's forehead before she noticed.

"Get lost! You're the one who needs a check-up!" Su Yu slapped her hand away, her cheeks tinged with red. She had been so absorbed in her thoughts about the boss that she hadn't noticed the girl approach.

"But if you're fine, how can you say such outrageous things?" Ying Ying muttered, rubbing her reddened wrist.

"It seems I should clarify things for you," Su Yu said, putting down her coffee and standing up.

"Clarify what?" Ying Ying's attention was instantly piqued.

"This company doesn't belong to me; I'm merely working for someone else," Su Yu declared, as if unveiling a bombshell.

"What?" Ying Ying's mouth formed a perfect "O."