Chapter Sixty-Five: Threat

After hearing Murong Xuan’s words, Zhang Wei’s face immediately darkened. Though he didn’t want to stoop to arguing with a woman, he felt there should at least be a baseline for conduct; personal attacks were out of line.

“Miss Murong, I’ve heard that your restaurant not only provides attentive service but also has ladies who accompany guests for drinks—is that true?” With a faint cold smile, Zhang Wei decided to teach Murong Xuan a lesson, to show her he wasn’t a pushover.

“You’re talking nonsense. We run a legitimate restaurant and have never had any drinking companions here. If you’re looking for that sort of thing, go to the nightlife districts yourself.” Murong Xuan’s expression changed at Zhang Wei’s words, feeling humiliated by his insinuation.

Murong Xuan wasn’t running her hotel for short-term gains; she planned to expand in the hospitality industry and build a reputable chain. She would never dabble in anything bordering on illegal—especially as a woman, her reputation mattered too much.

“Don’t be upset, Miss Murong, I only heard it as a rumor. But when Sister Zhang left, she asked me to keep an eye on the store, so I feel this matter should be reported to her, whether true or not. Wouldn’t you agree?” Zhang Wei’s face wore a smile, but there was no warmth in it.

“Zhang Wei, what are you getting at?” Murong Xuan stared at him, demanding.

“My meaning is simple. Someone like Sister Zhang, who cares about her image, would be displeased if she heard there were drinking companions at Jingxuan Residence. She might even reclaim the premises on the spot!” Zhang Wei spoke gravely.

“Zhang Wei, you’re making this up! There are no such women in my restaurant,” Murong Xuan declared firmly.

Murong Xuan had a deep impression of Zhang Yuxia, knowing her to be rather particular. If Zhang Wei smeared Jingxuan Residence’s name this way, Zhang Yuxia might well take back the storefront.

“In truth, whether it’s real doesn’t matter—the key is whose word Sister Zhang will believe,” Zhang Wei retorted.

“Zhang Wei, I rented these premises under a signed contract. If the owner breaches, she must pay me a penalty. Do you think your words are worth more than that penalty?” Murong Xuan asked.

“Storefronts are in short supply lately, and rental prices are climbing. I’m confident I can find a tenant willing to pay several thousand more than you, so the penalty would be recouped within a year, perhaps with a surplus,” Zhang Wei said with assuredness.

“Your restaurant has just opened; you’ve spent what needed spending, made all the necessary arrangements, and with the severance pay for staff, I estimate you’d lose quite a bit—perhaps three hundred thousand?” Zhang Wei raised his brows as he looked at Murong Xuan’s lovely face.

“You’re simply taking personal revenge, Zhang Wei! Don’t you think your behavior is excessive?” Murong Xuan rebuked him angrily.

If her restaurant were forced to close now, the loss would far exceed three hundred thousand. More importantly, the effort she’d invested over the past two months would be wasted—something she could not accept.

“Excessive?” Zhang Wei’s eyes flashed dangerously. “Which is worse—what I’m doing, or a sign at the door saying ‘Pets and Zhang Wei, not allowed inside’?”

“I was only joking with you, nothing more.” Murong Xuan gritted her teeth in hatred at his coercion, but to protect her restaurant, she had no choice but to endure for now.

“Is that so? Well, let me make a joke with you too.” Zhang Wei pointed to the entrance of Jingxuan Residence. “If you put up a sign saying ‘Pets and Murong Xuan, not allowed inside,’ I’ll forget everything that’s happened.”

“You…” Murong Xuan hadn’t expected Zhang Wei to turn her own trick against her. It felt like hoisting herself with her own petard.

“Pick another condition. So long as it’s not too outrageous, I’ll agree,” Murong Xuan said, suppressing her anger.

“Fine, I suppose I’m soft-hearted and can’t bear to see a beautiful woman upset.” Zhang Wei picked up the kraft paper bag and waved it in front of her. “Just sign this contract, and I’ll let the matter drop. How about it?”

“What contract?” Murong Xuan asked warily.

She had indeed looked down on Zhang Wei before; their statuses were worlds apart. In her eyes, he was just a minor agent—someone she could easily manipulate with a few favors.

Now, however, she realized she didn’t truly know him. She hadn’t expected him to be so shameless, inventing unfounded accusations just to get his way.

“The contract you previously signed with Guo Bin was an off-the-books deal—‘strictly speaking,’ it has no legal effect. So, re-sign with our company’s contract, and pay the intermediary fee directly to me,” Zhang Wei said, pulling the document from the bag and handing it to her.

In the real estate agency business in the capital, there’s an unwritten rule about agent fees: for properties rented above three thousand a month, the owner pays the agent; below three thousand, it’s the tenant’s responsibility.

Of course, this isn’t set in stone. Some owners, for convenience, lower the rental price rather than pay the agent, only collecting net proceeds. The agent’s fee from the tenant depends entirely on the agent’s skill.

Murong Xuan’s rental was 3,900 a month, but since it was an off-the-books deal, things were less formal. The owner lowered the rent, and Murong Xuan paid Guo Bin the agent fee—though only half.

“Why are you handling the contract now? Did Manager Xu assign this deal to you?” Murong Xuan asked after reading it.

“Not bad—you seem quite familiar with the real estate business,” Zhang Wei acknowledged.

“I don’t know whether to say you’re lucky, or Guo Bin is unlucky!” Murong Xuan sighed, pondering for a moment and seeing no real loss to herself. She nodded. “I can re-sign the contract and pay you two thousand in fees. But you must never threaten me with baseless rumors again.”

“I can agree not to mention the drinking companions again, but I want to change one condition,” Zhang Wei said, unwilling to let her off so easily.

“What condition?” Murong Xuan’s brows knitted.

“I want the full commission—3,900!” Zhang Wei said, leaving no room for negotiation.

“That’s impossible!” Murong Xuan refused without hesitation. “When I signed with Guo Bin, we agreed the fee was only two thousand. I’ve already signed with the owner. You have no grounds to demand more. Don’t think I don’t know the law!”

“You’re right, I have no grounds to demand more. But I happen to be calling Sister Zhang in the next few days, and if I accidentally mention the drinking companions…” Zhang Wei feigned difficulty.

“Zhang Wei, you are a ruthless, money-grubbing scoundrel,” Murong Xuan cried, wishing she could scratch his face.

“We’re just as bad as each other. You call me whenever you need, dismiss me when you don’t, and if I recall correctly, you broke your promise to me first,” Zhang Wei said, staring at her without a hint of guilt.

Initially, Murong Xuan used Zhang Wei as her fake date to placate Lin Hongwen and Li Mengfei, on the condition that she rent from him. But once they were gone, she turned cold toward Zhang Wei.

What angered Zhang Wei most was that Murong Xuan, finding their meetings awkward and fearing gossip among her staff, broke her promise. She didn’t rent from him, but had Guo Bin secretly arrange an off-the-books deal—leading to the present confrontation.

So, in Zhang Wei’s view, he wasn’t in the wrong, nor did he feel any guilt for threatening Murong Xuan with fabricated rumors. As the saying goes, “Those to be pitied often have themselves to blame.”