Chapter 36: Encountering an Old Enemy Again

Su Qingxue looked up at Lin Feng, who had just saved her, and felt deeply grateful to him. It seemed that, in her heart, he had already become irreplaceable.

"From today onward, you are no longer an employee of Liran Group. I will also make all your scandals public to our entire industry. Don't even think about working in this field again," Zhou Liran barked, his eyes fierce and his anger unquenched.

Boom!

Xu Tao, sitting on the floor, was instantly plunged into despair. Cold sweat ran down his body as he hurriedly knelt before Zhou Liran, banging his head on the ground and pleading bitterly, "Chairman Zhou, please spare me! Give me another chance, I swear I’ll never harbor such thoughts again and will devote myself to the company wholeheartedly."

"You still think there’s a next time?" Zhou Liran’s gaze grew even sharper, and he grabbed Xu Tao by the collar, raining slaps down on his face with both hands.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

After more than a dozen strikes, Xu Tao’s face was covered in blood. Zhou Liran flung him to the ground with a vicious command, "Get out of my sight right now. Never let me see you again. If I do, I’ll teach you a lesson every time."

"Chairman Zhou, I..." Xu Tao clutched one side of his face, wanting to beg further, but Zhou Liran’s icy stare silenced him completely.

He had lost his job and his reputation in the industry was ruined; his livelihood had been cut off. But right now, he had no other choice but to pick himself up from the floor and leave, enduring the pain as best he could.

He hadn’t gone far when Lin Feng’s cold voice stopped him: "Wait a moment."

His heart thudded violently. He thought Lin Feng had perhaps pitied him and was going to intercede on his behalf. Without a second thought, he crawled over to Lin Feng, banging his head on the ground as he begged, "Mr. Lin, please say a word for me. I’m willing to serve you like a beast of burden, for the rest of my life."

"You’re asking me?" Lin Feng found it laughable. After what Xu Tao had just done, did he really think Lin Feng would plead for him?

After a few seconds, Lin Feng sneered, "You misunderstood. I stopped you just now to settle the score for what you did to Qingxue."

"You broke company rules. Chairman Zhou fired you; that’s his business. But you harassed Qingxue and think you can just walk away so easily?"

"Then... then what do you want?" Xu Tao was panicked, realizing Lin Feng wasn’t going to help him but rather punish him.

Lin Feng considered for a moment, then said coldly, "Since you enjoy harassing others so much, why not have a romantic encounter with a sow?"

"Chairman Zhou, do you have any pigs at your company? Preferably a sow in heat. Let Manager Xu properly satisfy his greed."

"Mr. Lin, your request will be fully met. Please rest assured," Zhou Liran readily agreed, immediately calling his subordinates to follow Lin Feng’s instructions. Not long after, someone arrived in the office, having found a sow, and dragged Xu Tao away on the spot.

Xu Tao’s eyes widened as tears streamed down his face. Despite his desperate pleas, he could not escape his fate in the end.

Su Qingxue shot him a reproachful look. "Serves you right, being bullied. Maybe now you’ll learn to behave!"

"Miss Su, Mr. Lin, I’m terribly sorry for what happened today. It was my oversight entirely. Please accept my apologies," Zhou Liran said respectfully as Xu Tao was taken away.

Su Qingxue shook her head and replied calmly, "Chairman Zhou, you’re too kind. This was entirely that manager’s fault and had little to do with you."

"About the details of the contract..."

"Please don’t worry, Miss Su. I’ll handle it personally. I was busy with something important earlier and couldn’t greet you in time. From now on, I’ll make your matters my top priority," Zhou Liran said respectfully before inviting Su Qingxue to his office to discuss the details of their cooperation.

More than an hour later, Su Qingxue and Lin Feng left the company together, her steps light and her face radiant with a brilliant smile. Glancing back at Lin Feng, she said, "Lin Feng, I’m truly happy today. I never imagined Chairman Zhou would give so many concessions. He agreed to almost every request I made."

"He did it all for your sake. It seems I really can’t manage without you from now on," she added with a playful tone.

"Don’t worry. I’ll always be by your side," Lin Feng replied with a gentle smile.

In truth, his heart had already begun to fall for Su Qingxue.

Su Qingxue also felt a warm sensation in her heart, almost compelled to confess her feelings to him. But after hesitating for a few seconds, she held back. If Lin Feng were to reject her, wouldn’t they even lose their friendship?

"Oh right, Lin Feng, it’s getting late. Let’s go eat together. You helped me so much today, and even saved me at a critical moment. I must treat you to a proper meal," Su Qingxue said, her beautiful eyes sparkling with joy.

"Sure, I’m a bit hungry myself," Lin Feng agreed readily.

They got in the car and headed straight for a popular internet-famous restaurant. The place had a great reputation, and at mealtimes, was always packed with diners.

Su Qingxue had never frequented such down-to-earth places before, but since meeting Lin Feng, she deliberately chose popular restaurants to avoid putting psychological pressure on him and to share happy moments together.

Lin Feng sat down in the restaurant and, looking through the menu, smiled brightly, clearly pleased with the prices. He boldly ordered a variety of dishes he liked.

Su Qingxue also picked a few appealing items. After the waiter left with their order, she was just about to speak to Lin Feng when a flamboyant voice rang out from the entrance.

"Hao, you promised me, you can’t go back on your word. I just gave myself to you," a woman said coquettishly, twisting her slender waist in the arms of a man and pleading with him.

The man holding her looked fierce, with a blue tiger tattooed on his arm and several knife scars across his face. He exuded an air of menace. Behind him trailed four or five lackeys, all of them looking equally intimidating.

"Don’t worry, Qianqian. As long as you stick with me and work as hard every night as you did just now, I’ll take care of anything for you," the man replied gruffly, his eyes lingering on her provocative figure before glancing around the restaurant. Seeing every table occupied, his face darkened with anger.

He strode forward and thumped his stick on a table, startling all the diners.

"Are you all blind? Can’t you see Brother Hao is here? Get out!" one of his men shouted angrily at the customers.

"B-Brother Hao is here, everyone run!" a young man, recognizing him, broke out in a cold sweat, dropped his chopsticks, shouted to the others, and bolted for the exit in panic.

Hearing Brother Hao’s name, the other patrons trembled and fled in terror. He was the boss in this area, and no one dared cross him. Even the servers, upon seeing him, didn’t dare emerge to chase up bills, but instead retreated in fright.

Brother Hao shot a cold look at the staff. "What are you standing around for? Get over here and serve me!"

"Y-yes..." The waiter, hands trembling, picked up a menu and walked over.

At that moment, Su Qianqian’s gaze swept across the restaurant and, to her shock, landed on Lin Feng—the very man who had bullied her the night before!