After His Wife Left, the Disabled Tycoon Stood Up - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: I Like Him

Zhong Yue laid the words plainly on the table, yet Chen Xie did not immediately admit to anything. In high society, conversation remains civil to the end; one does not tear off the mask of politeness. Playing dumb is a proven method.

Chen Xie smiled. “Hmm? What painting?”

Zhong Yue put down his chopsticks and refinedly wiped his hands. “Does President Chen know Chairman Shen?”

Though it was a question, Zhong Yue’s tone was brimming with certainty.

Chen Xie laughed. “How could I have the great ability to establish a connection with Chairman Shen?”

“I also went to the auction last week.” Zhong Yue smiled and crossed his legs, his gaze becoming increasingly suggestive. “President Chen’s voice is very pleasant to the ear.”

“…………”

During his years in Hong Kong, Chen Xie had learned quite a bit about the city’s inner circles. There were three major surnames in Hong Kong: Shen, Duan, and Zhong, with the Shens at the head. For the past decade or so, the Shen and Duan families had been on good terms, while the Zhong family’s power had gradually faded. Naturally, the Zhongs were unhappy and frequently did disgusting things behind the scenes to spite the other two.

At the auction house last week, he had seen two men enter VIP Box No. 2, but when it was time to leave, only the bodyguard and one man emerged.

The soundproofing of the auction boxes was average, and the commotion inside had not been small.

Later, he heard someone had commissioned the auction house to sell a painting by Shen Changting. Although he didn’t win the bid, he had connections within the auction house and quickly obtained information about Chen Xie. Now seeing him in person…

Chen Xie was indeed a beauty.

Worth a painting by Shen Changting.

Chen Xie raised an eyebrow. “What are you trying to say, Mr. Zhong?”

Zhong Yue smiled and leaned closer to Chen Xie. “President Chen, why not follow me instead?”

“Whatever Chairman Shen gives you, I’ll give you double.”

Zhong Yue’s hand was about to touch Chen Xie’s leg when Chen Xie let out a light laugh and firmly clamped down on the other man’s wrist. “Mr. Zhong, you must be joking. If you like men, I’ll pick a beautiful one from ‘Heaven on Earth’ and send him to you another day.”

Chen Xie’s tone was cold, yet he didn’t let the situation with Zhong Yue get too out of hand.

In the Zhong family, the mother was a scientific researcher and the father was a high-ranking political official. Over a decade ago, the Zhong family’s legitimate heir—Zhong Yue’s older brother, had started an equestrian center that was very trendy and made a lot of money, but he later moved to Europe. Although the Zhong family’s status was currently not as high as the Shen family’s, many people in Hong Kong still had to act according to Zhong Yue’s whims. Ma Tianyuan was one of them.

Chen Xie had a favor to ask, so naturally, he couldn’t make things too ugly.

Having been rejected, Zhong Yue’s expression was not pleasant. “President Chen, the needs of Guangqi Technology are just a matter of you nodding your head and spreading your legs. Don’t be ungrateful.”

“What can that cripple Shen Changting give you for accompanying him?”

Zhong Yue laughed lewdly.

Chen Xie forced back his nausea and pushed Zhong Yue’s hand away. “Mr. Zhong, I won’t disturb you further.”

Chen Xie walked quickly past Zhong Yue, unbuttoning his shirt cuffs and repeatedly rubbing the spot where he had been grabbed, wishing he could rinse it with water. Zhong Yue’s depraved playstyle was famous in Hong Kong.

Two years ago, at two in the morning, Zhong Yue had played with a male Hong Kong star until he was broken and sent to the hospital. That star never appeared again; Chen Xie later heard the man had lost his fertility and gone to America for treatment.

Seeing Chen Xie being so ungrateful, Zhong Yue rotated his pained wrist. “President Chen, do you think I gave you a choice?”

Just as Chen Xie pulled the door open, two bodyguards stood directly in front of him, blocking his sight and his path. Chen Xie’s heart hammered wildly, as if gripped by something, trembling with pain.

This man Zhong Yue was somewhat pathological.

Coercion, to him, was a distinct kind of thrill.

Chen Xie’s heart raced, his hands balled into fists, his brow tightly furrowed.

Opposite this private box was an elevator. The elevator went “ding,” and between the two walls of flesh, Chen Xie saw a figure in a wheelchair. In Hong Kong, the only one who would attend a high-end venue in a wheelchair was the one from No. 32 Deep Water Bay.

Clutching a sliver of hope, Chen Xie shouted: “Teacher Shen…”

“Teacher Shen!”

Chen Xie wasn’t sure if the person was Shen Changting, much less if Shen Changting would bother with him. This was a gamble, and gambling was not Chen Xie’s forte; he trusted himself more.

Chen Xie exerted himself to push one of the bodyguards aside, his fist slamming down hard. “Bang!” A heavy sound as it hit the bodyguard’s face. An adult man’s explosive strength is formidable, but against technique and absolute height and weight, it appeared to be just “so-so.”

The bodyguard reacted quickly, catching Chen Xie’s hand as he aimed a second punch and pushing him against the door. His lower back slammed into the door handle with a heavy thud.

Chen Xie let out a muffled groan of pain, his face turning pale.

“Still a wild horse.”

Zhong Yue laughed. The desire for conquest in his heart and his hatred for the Shen family reached a peak, making him walk toward Chen Xie step by step with immense excitement.

The next second, the bodyguard pinning Chen Xie felt a tap on his back and was swiftly taken to the ground. The two bodyguards looked up to see an aristocratic man in a wheelchair with a chilling gaze. The wheelchair rolled over their knuckles, making them cry out in pain.

Shen Changting’s face was cold as he rotated the signet ring engraved with his family crest, leaning back slightly, noble and elegant.

He looked at Chen Xie, his voice gentle and slow. “Xiao Xie, come here.”

Chen Xie endured the pain and stood beside Shen Changting.

When Zhong Yue saw Shen Changting, his face changed color, but his heart became more certain of the rumors. He gave a fake smile. “Chairman Shen.”

“Little Zhong.” Shen Changting said with a smile.

Shen Changting’s tone and manner were clearly those of someone greeting a dog.

The Zhong family had two sons, and Zhong Yue was the second. He had never been able to squeeze into Shen Changting’s circle; only Zhong Yue’s older brother could earn a second glance from Shen Changting. Although Zhong Yue smiled at Shen Changting, his heart was itching with resentment.

Zhong Yue glanced at Chen Xie. “Does Chairman Shen know President Chen?”

Shen Changting said nonchalantly, “A little kid, we’ve met a few times.”

Zhong Yue laughed. “That’s good then. I like him. I was worried just now that he was one of Chairman Shen’s people!”

Shen Changting showed no emotion on his face, merely offering a faint smile.

The atmosphere between Zhong Yue and Shen Changting was subtle. Although the Zhong family had not been equal to the Shen family in recent years, the two families had not truly torn their faces apart. Chen Xie knew that as the heir to the Shen family, why would Shen Changting endure an awkward confrontation with Zhong Yue for an old lover like him?

If he wanted to live, if he wanted to leave, Chen Xie had to show Shen Changting an attitude that signaled a total break from Zhong Yue.

“Chairman Shen, I have something to discuss with you.”

Chen Xie placed his hand lightly on the wheelchair, his fingertips trembling slightly, his nails pale and bloodless.

Shen Changting’s gaze darkened as he responded, “Mhm. Talk in the car.”

Shen Changting looked at Zhong Yue. “I’ll be taking this little kid with me first.”

Zhong Yue’s expression was grim. “Chairman Shen calls the shots.”

Zhong Yue watched the two of them leave the box, smiling as he bid Chen Xie farewell. “Mr. Chen, you’re so fine~ I’ll find you to play next time!”

Chen Xie’s back felt a chill. He took over the wheelchair from the bodyguard. “I’ll do it.”

They left the “National Beauty and Heavenly Fragrance” restaurant and got into the car. Shen Changting signaled with his eyes for the bodyguards and driver to wait outside. Inside the car, only Chen Xie and Shen Changting remained, the atmosphere inexplicably heavy.

Two years ago, the person who had said they would never return to find Shen Changting even if they died was Chen Xie.

After a moment of silence, Chen Xie spoke first. “Teacher Shen…”

Shen Changting lightly patted his thigh. As an underground lover who had followed Shen Changting for three years, Chen Xie knew exactly what this meant.

Shen Changting meant: lie down on here.

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