After Snagging a Stuffy Giant-Wealthy Daddy - Chapter 19

In the boardroom on the top floor of the Shao Corporation building, beyond the massive floor-to-ceiling windows lay the azure Victoria Harbour and rows of towering skyscrapers in Central. The long table was filled with the group’s senior executives and department heads, while the projector screen displayed the revenue data and analysis for the current quarter’s shipping routes.

“The throughput of the newly opened feeder lines in Southeast Asia has exceeded expectations, but the main European trunk lines have seen a slight decline in schedule reliability due to local strikes. We anticipate that in the coming quarter.”

At the head of the long table, Shao Tingyue sat in a tan-gray three-piece vest suit. He appeared cold and stern, but in reality, his mind was far away. Li Chu’s comment, “Daddy, I will provide for you when you are old,” had made Shao Tingyue so angry that he could not even eat breakfast before leaving the house. He was only thirty this year, in the prime of his life; how could he possibly be considered old?

Liang Wei had been observing his boss for a long time. The boss was clearly distracted during the subordinate’s report, so he had no choice but to brew a cup of coffee and bring it in. What was wrong today? Last time, when Zhao Hongye secretly hired people to cause trouble at the pier, the boss did not even blink. Could there be a problem more troublesome or vexing than that?

The meeting concluded, and the executives left one by one. Liang Wei followed Shao Tingyue back to his office. Hong Kong’s wealthy families have always valued feng shui, and the Shao family was no exception. This office occupied the best position on the floor, facing south to overlook the Jade Belt Waist water feature of Victoria Harbour, which gathers wealth. In the wealth position diagonally across from the door, a mystical silver dragon fish was swimming slowly.

Liang Wei placed the meeting minutes and documents awaiting signature on the desk. “Boss, if there is nothing else, I will head out.”

“Wait,” Shao Tingyue called out to him. Liang Wei stopped and turned around, seeing his boss return from the floor-to-ceiling window to sit behind the desk. His brows were slightly knit, his expression grave. Liang Wei held his breath, expecting to hear some major instruction.

However, Shao Tingyue looked up at him and asked, “Liang Wei, do I look very old?”

Liang Wei: “…” It seemed he had encountered the most difficult problem of his career.

Li Chu recuperated at home for a few days, drinking plenty of nourishing soups, and finally regained his energy. The weather was fine that day, so he went to the equestrian club for a lesson. The coach gave him a gentle mare named Cherry to let him get familiar with the horse and learn how to mount and dismount.

James was chatting with a few friends, but his gaze could not help but follow the figure in the arena.

“Hey, James,” the boy next to him nudged him with his elbow, joking, “I saw you staring at this young master of the Shao family the whole time at the golf course last time. Did you have a change of heart? Are you interested in men too?”

James withdrew his gaze, a playful smile curling his lips. “Whether it is a man or a woman, have you ever seen anyone better looking than him?”

The friend looked closely for a few seconds and had to admit, “That is true, there really is no one. It is a pity he belongs to the Shao family.”

“So what if he belongs to the Shao family?” another person chimed in, his tone sounding a bit like incitement. “James, why do you not just make an excuse to host a birthday party and invite him to come play? Just get him to drink a few more glasses, or give him something strong, and I guarantee all his young master airs will disappear.”

James felt tempted and frowned. “Shao Tingyue is not someone to be trifled with. If he goes back and tells on us…”

“What are you afraid of?” the boy whispered in his ear. “I have a friend who brought back a batch of new stuff from Southeast Asia. They say people become extremely obedient after using it, doing whatever they are told. Most importantly, they will remember nothing when they wake up the next day.”

“Really?”

“It is as true as it gets! When have I ever bragged?”

James paused, and his gaze shifted to the equestrian arena once more. Li Chu was nimbly leaping onto the horse, his movements fluid and beautiful, his smiling face pure and vivid. James’s eyes flickered, and he tilted his head to finish the drink in his glass.

A few days later, Shao Mingzhu came to the Shao Mansion to visit the Old Madam, chatting affectionately for quite a while. Taking advantage of the Old Madam’s afternoon nap, she slipped away to find Li Chu. Li Chu was studying in the sunroom in the garden, with BOBO drooling as it sprawled at his feet.

Shao Mingzhu hadn’t seen him for a while, and her beautiful face bloomed with a smile. However, as soon as she saw the fierce-looking BOBO, she could not help but back away slightly. “Second Brother’s dog is usually very cold. Why is it so close to you? Be careful, do not get bitten.”

Li Chu smiled and stroked BOBO’s head. “It will not. It just looks fierce; it is actually very cute.”

Shao Mingzhu went around the dog and walked up to hook her arm around his neck. “Chu Zai! James is having a birthday party at the Peninsula Hotel in two days. Will you accompany me to go play?”

Last time at the equestrian club, Li Chu had seen James from a distance, but he had deliberately avoided going to greet him. For some reason, he always felt uncomfortable around him. Li Chu pursed his lips. “Sister Mingzhu, I think I will pass. I am not very close to him.”

“Oh, do not be such a party pooper!” Shao Mingzhu shook his arm. “He specifically invited you. Wouldn’t it be rude not to go? You are so bored staying home reading books all day. Just come accompany me; Sister Mingzhu will have your back!”

Seeing Li Chu’s hesitation, Shao Mingzhu struck while the iron was hot. “I am being forced back to the UK by my Daddy next month. Do you not think I am miserable? Just think of this as accompanying me for one last fun time. Second Brother will not disagree!”

Since she had put it that way, Li Chu had no choice but to agree. He then shuffled over to the study. Shao Tingyue was busy with paperwork, and seeing him peeking in, he put down his pen. “What is it?”

“Second Uncle,” Li Chu walked in and sat properly in the chair. “James is having a birthday party in two days and invited Mingzhu-jie and me. Can I go?”

Shao Tingyue shifted his gaze from the documents to his face, his expression unchanging. “You want to go?”

Li Chu was actually indifferent, but thinking of Shao Mingzhu’s expectant expression, he nodded.

“Hm,” Shao Tingyue responded, then lifted his eyelids. “Remember, you are not allowed to drink, and you are not allowed to go wild with Shao Mingzhu. She has no sense of propriety when she plays. Go early and come back early.”

This meant he agreed? Li Chu’s eyes brightened. “Thank you, Second Uncle! I promise I will not run around and I will not cause trouble!”

Shao Tingyue’s eyes were profound as he gazed at Li Chu’s excited little face. He thought that children simply could not hide their feelings; a little bit of sweetness made them lose all their composure. Li Chu thanked Shao Tingyue with a smile and was humming a tune as he prepared to leave when he was suddenly called back by the man.

He turned his head. “What is it, Second Uncle?”

Shao Tingyue’s expression was as usual as he said softly, “I am going to Europe at the end of the month. Do you want to go?”

Li Chu tilted his head. “Are you taking me on your business trip, Second Uncle? Will it delay your work too much?”

“Just tell me if you want to go or not.”

Li Chu nodded vigorously. Of course he wanted to go! He had not been abroad in his entire life!

Shao Tingyue responded with an “hm,” already calculating how to compress his work schedule with his secretary to free up time to take Li Chu out for some fun. This season was perfect for hot springs, and they could also vacation at a manor, which happened to have a very cute pony.

On the night of the party, Uncle Ming arranged for a car early to take Li Chu to the Peninsula Hotel. Traffic in Central was heavy at this hour, and Li Chu arrived at the private room a little late. Inside, glasses were clinking, and the sounds of music and conversation were intermingled. James and his friends were all there. Li Chu looked around, but could not see Shao Mingzhu, and a sense of unease grew in his heart.

James approached with a wine glass, beaming. “Chu Zai, you are here! We were just waiting for you.”

Li Chu asked, “Where is Mingzhu-jie?”

“Oh, her,” James shrugged, his tone casual. “Something urgent came up at home, and she said she could not make it. It is fine, we can have fun just the same.”

Li Chu could feel many gazes in the room falling on him intentionally or unintentionally.

“Come, come, let the birthday boy toast you!” James picked up a wine glass and handed it to Li Chu. Amber liquid swirled in the crystal glass.

Li Chu pursed his lips and declined, his tone sincere. “I am sorry, I cannot drink tonight.”

The smile on James’s face faded slightly but quickly returned. He put down the wine glass and personally took a glass of plain water from a waiter’s tray. “Fine, if you will not drink alcohol, that is okay, but surely you can drink some water? It is my birthday today.”

Li Chu looked at the glass of water and felt that something was not right. The gazes around him only amplified his growing unease. He placed the glass back on the table beside him and offered an apologetic smile. “I am not really thirsty.”

James’s expression turned completely cold this time. A person nearby leaned in, holding a cigarette between their fingers, and teased, “Young Master Chu, this is not interesting. It is James’s birthday, and you will not even drink a glass of water; you are not giving the birthday boy any face. Do you look down on us friends?”

With things having reached this point, Li Chu was almost certain that James had ill intentions in inviting him tonight. He did not want to entangle himself with these people and felt that this was not a place to stay. He took a step back, his tone cold. “I just remembered I have something to do, so I will leave first.”

Li Chu had a gentle temperament and was usually always smiling when he spoke; no one expected he could look so cold. James stared at him, a flash of madness crossing his eyes.

He is just a country bumpkin found in a slum. Who knows if he is real or fake? Perhaps Shao Tingyue just likes this type and used an excuse to bring him home to keep. Ostensibly uncle and nephew, but actually having a clandestine affair. Pretending to be innocent and reserved, for all we know, he has already been played with.

“Hey, do not be in such a hurry to leave!” James’s friend saw that Li Chu was leaving and immediately hooked his arm around his shoulder. “Do not be angry, Young Master Chu. I spoke without thinking just now; do not take it to heart.”

Li Chu wanted to push him away, only to see the man pop a cigarette in his mouth, take a deep drag, and then, the next second, blow the smoke directly at him. The gray-white smoke, carrying a pungent odor, made Li Chu cough violently.

He heard the man and his companions laughing meanly nearby.

“Young Master Chu, how about it? Is this smoke strong enough?”

When Shao Tingyue returned to the Shao Mansion, Li Chu had already left. Uncle Ming followed closely behind, reporting meticulously, “Young Master Chu was in high spirits this afternoon and ate half a bowl of rice more than usual. After waking up from his nap, he ate some dessert and then went to the garden to play with BOBO for a while. He wore that casual outfit you asked to be prepared last time before he left. The driver sent him to the Peninsula Hotel and said he is in a private room on the middle floor.”

Shao Tingyue nodded slightly and walked toward the living room while loosening his tie. Auntie Mei greeted him with a smile, mentioning that Li Chu loved the mango pomelo sago from the afternoon. He had never been fond of sweets; in his view, desserts were things children ate. Whether it was Hong Kong-style milk tea, egg tarts, or mango pomelo sago with ginger milk curd, Li Chu loved them all.

“Hm, bring me a serving as well.”

Auntie Mei responded and walked to the kitchen with a light step. At that moment, the telephone in the living room rang. Uncle Ming walked over to pick it up: “Hello, Shao Mansion.”

After listening for a few seconds, his expression changed: “Miss Mingzhu? Are you not attending the party with Young Master Chu?”

Shao Tingyue frowned and walked over to take the receiver. Shao Mingzhu’s angry voice came through immediately. “I am so pissed off! What is that James up to? I was already in Central, and he suddenly called to say the party was canceled! Is he messing with people? Does he know how bad the traffic in Central is at this hour? Not only did I waste a trip, but I also have to turn around and head back!”

“Canceled?” Shao Tingyue’s heart skipped a beat, his voice sinking. “When did he notify you? Where is Chu Zai?”

Hearing that it was Shao Tingyue’s voice, Shao Mingzhu mentally cursed that she was done for. Her speech became stuttering: “S-Second Brother, you are home? I also just received the notification; I have not arrived yet! James canceled the party himself; he should not have missed any guests. Chu Zai, has he not returned yet?”

Shao Tingyue did not listen to Shao Mingzhu’s subsequent complaints and hung up the phone directly. He asked Uncle Ming, “How long has Chu Zai been out?”

Uncle Ming was also shocked by this sudden turn of events and hurriedly recalled: “There was some traffic on the road, probably less than an hour. The driver has been waiting in the parking lot as instructed and has not received any notification that Young Master Chu has left.”

“Call the driver immediately, tell him not to wait, and go into the Peninsula Hotel to find him right now.” Shao Tingyue’s voice was taut. As he spoke, he grabbed the jacket he had just taken off and strode toward the door. “I am leaving right now.”

“Yes! I will contact him immediately!” Uncle Ming did not dare to delay and ran toward the telephone.

Inside the Peninsula Hotel suite, Li Chu sat on the edge of the bed, motionless, his hollow eyes staring ahead, his eyelashes casting small shadows on his face, quiet as a porcelain doll.

“What do we do now?! The Shao family’s driver is looking for him on every floor downstairs!” James lowered his voice, pacing the room agitatedly, sweat beading on his forehead. “Shao Tingyue must know by now! He might even be on his way!”

“What are you afraid of!”

The friend was unfazed, his eyes greedily scanning Li Chu by the bed, his tone excited. “The hotel is so big; they might not find their way up here so fast! Look how obedient he is now? Even if you told him to get naked right now, he absolutely would not resist. James, this kind of opportunity might only come once in a lifetime! If you miss it, would you be content?”

James took a deep breath and calmed down a bit. “Is it really that effective?”

The friend sneered at him, calling him a coward, and to prove his words, he walked straight to Li Chu and reached out to pinch Li Chu’s smooth cheek hard. Li Chu’s small face showed some pain, his eyelashes fluttering, but his gaze remained dazed.

“See that?” The friend’s expression grew more smug. He leaned into Li Chu’s ear, blew a light breath, and commanded in a wheedling yet malicious tone: “Young Master Chu, come, be a good boy and take off your clothes, let us have a look?”

Li Chu blinked his beautiful eyes, seemingly receiving the instruction, and nodded lightly.

“Hm.”

Then, he obediently raised his hand and began to undo the top button of his shirt, his movements somewhat sluggish. As the first button came undone, a segment of exquisite collarbone was revealed.

Li Chu’s skin was very fair; he had noticed this the first time they met. If one looked closely, one could even see the fine blood vessels underneath; it was beautiful and full of vitality.

James watched this scene, his breathing heavy, the suppressed desire in his eyes erupting.

“Tsk tsk tsk, truly good stuff. It is a good thing we took medicine in advance as a precaution. I guessed he would not drink it obediently; his guard was quite high.”

The only flaw was that the smoke might have been less effective, but it was enough for them to have fun. James stared at Li Chu’s face, his Adam’s apple rolling. “You can leave now.”

The friend looked back at him and sneered: “James, do you want to eat alone?”

“I was the one who set my sights on him first. I will pay you for this.”

The friend shrugged and stopped entangled. “Fine, fine. I do not like men. By the way, I brought a camera…”

Just at that moment, “Bang! Bang! Bang!”

A sudden, violent pounding came from the door, the force so great that the entire door panel was trembling!

James’s face changed instantly; he nearly collapsed on the floor, his voice changing pitch. “How can he be here so fast?! Is Shao Tingyue flying a plane?!”

Before he could finish, another violent boom! The heavy hotel room door was actually kicked open from the outside! The lock shattered, and wood chips flew! Several men in black suits swarmed in, quickly capturing the two, twisting their arms behind their backs, and violently pinning them to the floor.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. James’s knees slammed heavily against the floor, and he screamed in agonizing pain. In his peripheral vision, a tall figure stepped over the mess and entered the room.

Shao Tingyue was wearing a crisp suit that made his features appear even sharper as he looked down at him from above.