When Chu Rong received Wang Xiao's call, he had just finished breakfast with Quan Jiu.
"...They said they absolutely want to see you. It's their Zhuang family who was in the wrong first, and they want to personally apologize to the young madam."
A personal apology was nothing more than bowing their heads, admitting fault, and seeking peace.
Chu Rong saw Quan Jiu had changed clothes and sincerely praised, "You look very good."
Quan Jiu smiled, pursing her lips. "Who called? Is the company really okay? I don't necessarily have to go today. If you're busy, prioritize company matters. After all, the child and I still want to cling to your coattails."
Chu Rong hung up the phone, stood up, and walked to Quan Jiu. He took a hairpin from his pocket and tucked it behind her ear. His gaze lingered on her face, his fingertip finally stopping at the corner of her lips, gently caressing it with extreme ambiguity. "Don't worry, the person who drove and hit us has already been dealt with."
In fact, because he had snatched the Zhuang family's business, the market value of Chu Group had already soared to over five hundred billion yuan, and this was just the beginning. Once all businesses were on the right track, the market value would only continue to rise.
Quan Jiu's face flushed, her heart pounding. Thinking of their intimacy last night, she was so shy she dared not look up and quickly said, "Then let's go."
Chu Rong watched her trot ahead, his eyes full of smiles, and followed her out.
Wang Xiao, who had been hung up on, understood the boss's meaning clearly, even though he hadn't finished speaking. Clearly, offending the young madam was unforgivable in the boss's eyes.
He called Zhuang Wan Chong's second brother back. "Boss Zhuang, I've conveyed everything you said. However, our boss said it's a minor matter and not to worry about it. He's currently on a business trip abroad, so there's no need to meet. But he accepts your intentions."
Zhuang Wan Peng didn't explicitly mention the matter of the company's business being completely seized, but everyone was a sensible person and understood what was happening. However, Chu Rong was playing dumb, and his intentions were self-evident.
Zhuang Wan Peng became disheartened and sat in the cold conference room, looking at a pool of blood on the floor, his head throbbing.
Soon, the butler came to announce, "Second Master, Young Master Qu has arrived and is waiting in the living room."
Zhuang Wan Peng seemed to come back to life, his eyes widening like copper bells, shining brightly. He hurried out to greet his guest. Upon seeing Qu Yi, he stepped forward to shake his hand. "Young Nephew Qu, it's been a long time. You've truly become more distinguished. All the young ladies in the New City area are lining up for you. When will the good news be near?"
Qu Yi had known early in the morning that the Zhuang family's foundation was ruined, leaving only an empty shell. He had come today on his father's orders to inquire about the situation. After all, the Zhuang family was one of the four major families. For now, the news had not spread, and the New City area was not in chaos. But once it did, the families below would surely not sit still.
It could be said that the fall of the Zhuang family was equivalent to stripping away a layer of the New City's foundation, which would stir up countless troubles.
The reason he waited until now to come was that he wanted to wait for the Quan family's move. Unexpectedly, the Quan family made no reaction, so he quietly came to inquire about the situation. After all, the vast Zhuang family could collapse just like that. If one fell, the others would be affected. Not only the Qu family, but possibly even the Quan family, would feel uneasy.
He knew that it wasn't one of the other three major families that caused the Zhuang family to collapse. This was something that had to be taken seriously.
"Uncle Zhuang, you flatter me. The good girls nowadays are unwilling to marry someone like me." Qu Yi sat down with a smile. Although he was here to inquire, he didn't ask directly. Instead, he leisurely drank his tea.
Zhuang Wan Peng looked at him as if he were a savior. If the Qu family was willing to lend a hand, the Zhuang family would surely be able to overcome this difficulty. Thus, he didn't beat around the bush.
With a heavy sigh, Zhuang Wan Peng actually started to cry in front of Qu Yi.
Qu Yi naturally responded, quickly putting down his teacup and asking with concern, "What's wrong, Uncle Zhuang? Why are you crying out of the blue?"
Zhuang Wan Peng was truly crying. His heart was being cut by a knife. The business was the Zhuang family's, and he was the second-in-command. To have it disappear just like that, how could he not be heartbroken?
"Young Nephew Qu, you must think I'm making a spectacle of myself. I truly... alas... perhaps I won't even have the chance to see you get married and send you my wedding gift."
Qu Yi was confused. "What do you mean by that? Uncle Zhuang, don't think too much. You're still so healthy; you'll surely live a hundred years."
Zhuang Wan Peng then briefly explained the situation.
"...I never expected that the person surnamed Chu would be so ruthless. It was just a minor scratch from the child's car, and he brought our Zhuang family to this state. What kind of heart does this person have to be so wicked?
Your uncle was furious and took his anger out on Young Zhuang, slapping him a few times. Young Zhuang was also confused and retaliated with a couple of punches. As a result, father and son are now in the hospital fighting for their lives. I don't know if they'll make it through this.
The company is in chaos now. People are leaving, scattering. It truly fits the saying: when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. I'm so anxious that I might as well go and beg for peace, but when I called just now, they wouldn't even see me. Our Zhuang family is probably finished this time. The New City area is going to be in chaos."
With the last sentence, he glanced at Qu Yi, intentionally or unintentionally, wanting to remind him that with the Zhuang family gone, the other three families would also not benefit. At this time, they should unite and face the common enemy.
Qu Yi understood perfectly. Although his expression was neutral, his heart was actually churning like a stormy sea.
Chu Rong's reputation in the New City area was well-known. He was a ruthless man, and an extremely intelligent one at that. Offending him usually resulted in a miserable end, and the Zhuang family was a bloody example.
And by chance, he had also offended him.
He hadn't expected that Liu Zhi Xi, that little vixen, would first call Zhuang Ming Hao, asking him to be the executioner. Then, perhaps fearing Zhuang Ming Hao might fail or as a double guarantee, she contacted him again. Unfortunately, he was too greedy and fell into such a childish trap.
Qu Yi had never been afraid, but at this moment, he suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
Seeing that Qu Yi remained silent, Zhuang Wan Peng decided to get straight to the point. "Young Nephew Qu, Uncle is saying this by sacrificing his old face. I want to ask your Qu family to lend us some funds for a bit of turnover. As long as we get through this period, I will definitely repay you double, and our Zhuang family will remember this kindness for generations to come."
Qu Yi's face was filled with indignation. "The person surnamed Chu is indeed too arrogant. For so many years, this is the first time someone from the outer city has dared to make a move against the New City area. Uncle Zhuang, don't worry, we definitely won't stand by and do nothing. I'll go back right now and inform the elders of my family."
After speaking, he took his leave without waiting for Zhuang Wan Peng to ask him to stay.
Zhuang Wan Peng slumped back down, the spark of hope in his eyes gradually extinguishing, returning to darkness.
Qu Yi naturally did not agree. But he did not relax either.
After hastily returning home, Qu Yi told the old master about the Zhuang family's affairs and finally, awkwardly, confessed that he had offended Chu Rong's woman last night.
"Zhuang Ming Hao was actually going to capture Quan Jiu, but he failed. Even though he failed, he was ruined by the Chu family. As for me... although I also failed, I did manage to tie someone up." He had almost slept with her, but he didn't dare to confess that honestly.
After listening, the Qu family's old master frowned deeply. "There won't be any major trouble. After all, the person surnamed Chu has just swallowed that elephant, the Zhuang family, and it will take him a long time to digest it. He won't shoot himself in the foot by coming to confront us again."
Qu Yi nodded repeatedly. "I thought so too, but..." Judging by the Zhuang family's fate, he didn't believe Chu Rong would stop.
"There will definitely be some cost," the old master Qu said slowly. "Fine, as long as he doesn't ask for an exorbitant price, we'll compensate him. Who told you, you little rascal, that you were in the wrong first, and moreover, that was a person from the Quan family."