Chapter Fifty-Four: Do You Know He Is Not Someone to Be Provoked?

Qin Muxue trembled all over after hearing the man’s words. The man who had suddenly shown up at her door with flowers was, of course, none other than Gao Zixiang.

Qin Muxue could not help but feel relieved that her parents were not home at this moment. If they were to see another man bringing her flowers at their doorstep, how mortifying would that be? But even now, she felt deeply awkward. She hurriedly pushed Gao Zixiang’s flowers away and quickly said, “What are you doing here? This is my home. Have you considered how I might feel about this?”

Gao Zixiang merely laughed at her words. “Muxue, I just thought these flowers were beautiful, and they suit you perfectly. Giving them to you, what’s the harm in that? Of course, if you could have dinner with me tonight, I’d be even happier.”

Inwardly, Qin Muxue thought: Gao Zixiang must be out of his mind. She was a married woman—how could he still expect her to go out to dinner with him?

She frowned and said quickly, “President Gao, I think it’s best if we keep a respectful distance from each other.”

Gao Zixiang replied seriously, “Then at least accept these flowers. Beautiful flowers for a beautiful woman. Look at them—aren’t they lovely? They smell wonderful, but you smell even better. I think these roses have the same fragrance as you.”

Qin Muxue was flustered and at a loss for words at his ambiguous remarks. As for Chen Yang, he found the whole thing disgusting. This Gao Zixiang—his very name was enough to make one cringe. How could he say such revolting things?

Naturally, Chen Yang would not let Qin Muxue face Gao Zixiang alone at the door. After all, he was her husband. How could he allow another man to disgust his own wife in this way?

With this thought, Chen Yang suddenly stepped in front of Qin Muxue, shielding her behind him, and said with a faint smile to Gao Zixiang, “Hello, Brother Xiang, is it?”

Gao Zixiang could clearly hear the mockery hidden in Chen Yang’s seemingly polite greeting, and his expression darkened. Although Chen Yang had not introduced himself, Gao Zixiang already knew who he was—Qin Muxue’s useless husband.

After a moment’s thought, Gao Zixiang sneered, “You’re Chen Yang, the deliveryman, right?”

“That’s right, Brother Xiang. Is there a problem?” Chen Yang retorted sarcastically.

Gao Zixiang shrugged off the mockery, still laughing, “Delivery boy, why don’t you go deliver your takeout orders? I’m here to discuss a business deal worth several hundred million yuan with Muxue. Several hundred million! How many takeout orders would you have to deliver to earn that much?”

“Are you talking about the Huading Company’s New Town project in the northern suburbs?” Chen Yang asked.

Gao Zixiang laughed in surprise, “Hey, not bad. For a delivery guy, you keep up with current affairs.”

Chen Yang’s smile was equally mocking. “President Shen hasn’t even agreed to work with you yet and let you earn anything, but look at you, already so smug. Don’t get slapped in the face in the end.”

Chen Yang thought to himself, Fool, do you even realize that I’m the man behind the Huading Company’s north suburb project? Who gets to partner and who doesn’t is up to me and me alone.

But Gao Zixiang was oblivious, still full of self-satisfaction. “You’d best stay out of business matters like this. Have you ever earned a million yuan in a month? No? Oh, wait, you probably haven’t even seen a million in your life.”

Chen Yang couldn’t help but double over with laughter at Gao Zixiang’s words. He nearly wanted to say: You idiot, do you know I have twenty billion? Do you really think I’ve never seen a million?

Tears streamed from Chen Yang’s eyes as he laughed, which only made Gao Zixiang more annoyed. Gao Zixiang had assumed that by mocking Chen Yang, he would shame him into the ground. Instead, the man was laughing, and obviously at him.

Gao Zixiang clenched his fists in anger, while Chen Yang, still clutching his stomach, said, “You’d better leave now, or you’ll really kill me with laughter.”

Gao Zixiang finally lost his composure and shouted, “Damn you, you useless piece of trash! You’re a deliveryman, and you dare laugh in my face?”

“And what are you? Boasting about negotiating a billion-yuan deal, why don’t you try actually securing it from Huading first?” Chen Yang sneered.

Gao Zixiang’s teeth ground in frustration. He suddenly reminded himself: Why am I lowering myself to the level of this loser? I’m here for Qin Muxue. He turned to her and said, “Muxue, look at you, with someone like this… You’re so beautiful, so young. I really think you deserve better.”

Qin Muxue’s face was serious as she replied, “President Gao, I appreciate your concern, but I am a married woman. I hope you’ll bear that in mind.”

Gao Zixiang’s face lengthened in displeasure. “Let me ask you this: If I secure half of the New Town project in the northern suburbs and offer you a share, would you take it?”

“I…” Qin Muxue wanted to refuse outright, but the thought of a billion-yuan business deal made her hesitate. Even a small share would be a vast sum. With her family needing money everywhere these days, who would turn down more money?

Caught in her own dilemma, she hesitated.

Gao Zixiang saw her hesitation and smiled smugly. “See, you talk about keeping your distance, but your body is honest—you still want to work with me, don’t you?”

“I don’t,” Qin Muxue managed to say, not wanting to be looked down upon by him.

Gao Zixiang laughed. “You say that, but I know you want to. Who turns down money? I’ll give you three days to think it over. And here’s a little secret: If you partner with me, you’ll earn at least twenty or thirty million.”

“All right, think it over. You have three days—I hope you’ll give me your answer by then.”

With that, he turned to Chen Yang, smiling with contempt, “Delivery boy, these roses are top-quality, worth twenty thousand a bouquet. Want them? Take them and make a little cash.”

With a sudden motion, Chen Yang yanked out all the roses, threw them to the floor, and stomped on them. “How about I give you twenty thousand to get out now? Otherwise, you really will kill me with laughter.”

Both Gao Zixiang and Qin Muxue were stunned to see Chen Yang destroy all the roses, grinding them into a pulp on the floor.

Arrogant! Wasn’t this simply outrageous?

Gao Zixiang clenched his teeth, then switched to a look of disdain. “Stomp them if you like. They were a gift to Muxue anyway. You’re really just trampling her roses. But I can buy more whenever I want. The question is, can you afford to buy her another bouquet?”

Chen Yang laughed again, bouncing his hand dismissively. “Go on, get out, or you’ll really be the death of me.”

Gao Zixiang, unwilling to stoop to Chen Yang’s level, gave a cold laugh, said goodbye to Qin Muxue, and drove off.

Once he was gone, Qin Muxue frowned at Chen Yang. “If I agreed to work with President Gao, what would you think?”

Chen Yang’s smile faded, and he spoke directly, “Let him get the Huading project first—do you really think he can? Do you honestly believe he’ll win the New Town project?”

Qin Muxue was momentarily stunned. Chen Yang’s gaze and confidence made it seem as though he was absolutely certain Gao Zixiang would fail, as if he himself were the project’s decision-maker.

She couldn’t say why, but she suddenly had that impression.

Yet, she knew it was impossible. The New Town project was worth several billion—how could Chen Yang possibly be in charge of it? She must be overthinking things.

With a sigh, Qin Muxue felt a little conflicted, but she decided not to dwell on Gao Zixiang any longer. She said softly to Chen Yang, “Let’s go to the hospital to see Mom.”

“All right,” Chen Yang replied with a smile.

The next morning at ten, Gao Zixiang was sitting in his Mercedes on the way to Huading Company when Shen Donghua called to inform him that Director Chen, the project leader, had reviewed his proposal and decided not to cooperate.

Gao Zixiang had been full of confidence—his company was among the strongest of all those seeking to work with Huading, and he had brought a contract offering significant concessions. With his strength and willingness to compromise, he had been sure of good results.

But before he even had the chance to meet the mysterious Director Chen, he was told there would be no cooperation. This left Gao Zixiang simmering with frustration.

Still, he did not order his driver to stop, but continued on to Huading. He had to speak to Director Chen face to face.

When he arrived at Huading’s entrance, however, two security guards barred his way.

Humiliated, Gao Zixiang immediately called Shen Donghua.

At that moment, Shen Donghua happened to be in Chen Yang’s office. Seeing the call, he smiled at Chen Yang, “Director Chen, it’s Gao Zixiang.”

Chen Yang smiled faintly, “Answer it.”

Shen Donghua nodded, picked up, and said, “Hello?”

On the other end, Gao Zixiang was agitated. “President Shen, I’m at Huading’s entrance. Let me in—I want to speak with Director Chen in person.”

Shen Donghua’s reply was cold. “No. Turn back. There’s no point in trying further.”

“Why?” Gao Zixiang was deeply disgruntled. He had come so full of confidence—now, without even a meeting, he was rejected. The disappointment was unbearable.

Shen Donghua replied calmly, “President Gao, you’re an experienced businessman. When something’s impossible, it’s impossible. Don’t trouble yourself.”

“But—” Gao Zixiang was desperate. He had boasted to Qin Muxue about securing this deal—now he would only embarrass himself.

Shen Donghua interrupted him coldly, “That’s enough, President Gao. There’s nothing more to say. Please leave. I have other matters to attend to.”

With that, he hung up.

Chen Yang listened to their conversation with a faint smile. Gao Zixiang’s humiliation came as no surprise. How could he know that Chen Yang himself was the project’s chief decision-maker—someone not to be trifled with?

Dejected, Gao Zixiang returned home, frustrated beyond words. Still, he could not bring himself to give up on the New Town project. It was too lucrative, and who would willingly walk away from such money? Yet he had no idea that the project’s chief was none other than Chen Yang, so no matter what he did, it would all be in vain.

Soon, the workday came to an end for Chen Yang. As he rose from his chair, a plan he had just thought of brought a joyful smile to his face. He murmured to himself, “Muxue, for your loyalty to our family and to me, I’ll reward you with a gift—a grand one. Just wait and see.”