She was surrounded by a crowd of young, able-bodied men.
Weren't these the unprincipled tech geeks who had just resigned from Huatai?
Zhan Bei Jue was planning to settle scores with them, and now they had shown up together. Perfect.
As soon as Jiang Nan Fang appeared, she beamed and greeted everyone warmly.
"Mr. Ke, Min'er, you’re dining here and didn't tell me? We haven't eaten together in ages, let’s share a table and catch up."
"What are you guys talking about? I’ve invited myself, I hope I’m not interrupting?"
Seeing the men accompanying him, Min'er breathed a sigh of relief and quickly stood up to welcome her.
"You're here? You're not interrupting. Come and sit down quickly."
The waiter, seeing so many people arrive, realized one private room wouldn't suffice.
He professionally asked Ke Teng if he wanted to add more chairs or change rooms.
Jiang Nan Fang smiled and said.
"No need to trouble yourself. Since Mr. Ke has other guests, I'll just say hello and offer a toast, then you can get back to your business."
"Mr. Ke, I've come to apologize."
With that, she picked up Shen Min'er's wine glass and filled it to the brim.
"I brought them to apologize to you with me. I won't go into specifics; we all understand."
"We've wronged you in this matter, and we hope you'll be magnanimous and not hold it against us."
"I'll drink this one down. If you need anything in the future, just ask. You do as you please."
After speaking, she tilted her head back and downed the glass.
Ke Teng didn't move, calmly looking up at her.
After finishing her drink, Jiang Nan Fang turned and gestured to the others.
"What are you all standing around for? Mr. Ke is in a good mood today and won't hold grudges. Why aren't you coming over to admit your mistake?"
Everyone walked over with their wine glasses.
Ke Teng raised his hand to stop them.
"No need."
"I don't like to mix things up and resolve them vaguely. Since you're here to apologize, let's settle your matters first today."
"Jiang Nan Fang, you think a single glass of wine can earn your forgiveness? Am I, Ke Teng, that cheap?"
The conversation had inevitably circled back to this point.
Jiang Nan Fang felt speechless but maintained a faint smile.
"Of course, Mr. Ke is worth a lot. I could never afford your value in this lifetime."
"So even if I drank all the wine in this restaurant, I still couldn't repay your kindness, I can only do my best."
"Be magnanimous. Don't hold it against me, and your reputation in the martial world will be good. Anyone who sees you will respect you more in the future."
She thought a few flattering words could smooth things over?
How wishful thinking.
Ke Teng sneered.
"Don't think a few sweet words and flattery can make me let you off. It's impossible."
"I don't need others' respect, nor do I need a good reputation. These are the things I care about least."
"You know what I want. If you can't give it to me, I'm sorry, drinking more won't help."
Since that was the case, Jiang Nan Fang decided to be direct.
"Shen Min'er has had too much to drink. She absolutely cannot drink any more tonight."
"Besides, she's just an ordinary employee. She has no obligation to stay out after work for drinking and socializing."
"As her sister-in-law, I want to take her home. Mr. Ke, do you have any objections?"
"What if I say I do?"
"Then we'll have to give up this job."
Jiang Nan Fang said neither subserviently nor arrogantly.
"Ke Corporation has a high threshold. We lack the qualifications and can't do it. You should find someone else."
Ke Teng was amused to the point of exasperation.
"So Miss Jiang, oh no, I should say Mrs. Zhan. Is Mrs. Zhan planning to declare war on me openly?"
"Say whatever you want. I've apologized to you many times. If you refuse to accept it, there's nothing I can do."
Jiang Nan Fang shrugged, feigning helplessness.
"I didn't want things to get this ugly originally."
Ke Teng ignored her and looked at Shen Min'er with a pensive gaze.
Shen Min'er was torn between fearing she wouldn't survive the night and worrying about him harassing her mother.
Ke Teng saw her inner turmoil clearly and then asked, "Miss Shen, what do you say?"
Min'er's face turned ashen.
"Mr. Ke, please show some mercy…"
"It seems no one intends to give me face."
Ke Teng interrupted her.
"Fine. Then you go with her. Don't regret it."
Shen Min'er felt both fear and hatred. Hearing the words "don't regret it," she could already anticipate what would happen next.
Her nose twitched, and her eyes welled up.
"What do you want to do? Don't push your luck!"
"I'm bullying you?"
Ke Teng laughed.
"Buying you clothes, paying your salary, driving you out for fun yourself, treating you to good food and drink, and I'm bullying you?"
Shen Min'er had only been at the company for a few days before being assigned to the technical department to help.
She had worked on project bidding with Engineer Zhang.
Engineer Zhang had taken quite a liking to her.
She was already unhappy at Huatai.
Now seeing a delicate woman being bullied by Ke Teng like this.
Having had a few drinks, he impulsively took a few steps forward.
"Mr. Ke, a true man uses his word as his bond! A promise is a promise! Not for bullying women!"
"If you have a problem, come at us! What's the point of making trouble for a young girl?"
Ke Teng turned and looked at Engineer Zhang with disdain.
"A bunch of losers. I wasn't going to bother with you, but you're getting out of hand, lecturing me? Who do you think you are?"
The entire technical department surged forward.
They glared angrily at the arrogant rich second-generation heir.
"Who do you think *you* are? You're only as good as your family's money, so what makes you so great?"
"Without your father, you're nothing! We took your salary, it's true, but it was earned through labor. What right do you have to look down on us?"
Very good.
They were all ganging up on him?
Ke Teng's gaze slowly shifted back to Jiang Nan Fang.
"Mutiny? How wonderful."
"These words, you made them say them, right? They're what you wanted to say too. You've been holding back for a long time, haven't you?"
At this point, further explanation was useless.
Jiang Nan Fang decided to go all out.
"I've said all I need to say. Shen Min'er's salary is forfeited, and she resigns immediately. Do as you wish, we're leaving."
Saying this, she grabbed Min'er and prepared to leave.
Ke Teng shot up with a "clang," grabbed the bottle of wine she had just brought, and slammed it on the table.
"Bang," the glass bottle shattered.
Only the neck of the bottle, surrounded by sharp glass shards, remained in his hand.
Everyone heard a loud crash.
Before they could react to what he was about to do.
Ke Teng lunged at Engineer Zhang like a gust of wind.
He put all his strength into plunging the bottle neck into his shoulder.
Ke Teng was a few centimeters taller than Engineer Zhang and caught him by surprise.
He gripped Engineer Zhang's neck with one hand and pressed the bottle with the other, his face contorted with rage. Everyone was startled by him.
"Ah—"
Jiang Nan Fang quickly let go of Min'er and rushed forward.
"What are you doing? Ke Teng, are you crazy?"