Chapter 622 - A Wicked Trait that He Admire

His son was right.

This was a crucial time where each one of them had to be careful. They were nearing towards their goal. They just have to be patient until the day of IAmFashionista event would come.

However.

He could not allow his subordinate to harbor feelings such as hope, self-improvement, and other opinions that did not concern his orders.

Seeing the eyes filled with obsession and manic light on his father's expressionless face, Lu Jin understood that his father could not let this go.

"Father, we can give Gunan a chance. There is still three months left before the event comes. Within that time, Gunan can do what he wants. However, once the time is up, father can judge Gunan's work, if it's helpful or a poison to us."

In other words, let Gunan do what Gunan wanted for three months, then cut off his hope afterwards, when the time was right with Ming Zhi Yi's plans.

Hmm.

Ming Zhi Yi considered it.

There was a long silence in the room.

Finally, Ming Zhi Yi's countenance changed into a smoother mood. 

He walked back and sat on his couch again. "Fine, I'll follow Lu Jin's 'kindly' advice. You have three months to prove to me that Univ One is helpful. Topple down ZD World if you can." 

Ming Zhi Yi added the last word as a mockery.

However, Guan Gao Huan, no, Gunan only heard this as an encouragement from the person he wanted to impress the most. His golden eyes burned with a fevered light as he bowed deeply. "Yes, father! I will do everything that I can."

Ming Zhi Yi smirked. 

He knew very well that Gunan would fail. 

ZD World was an incredible project that even he coveted. But he also knew that it was not the time to get ZD World into his hands. He could pick this fruit once it fully ripened. It was still growing in unimaginable speed under that Zhou Linfeng's hands.

Well, it was a good lesson for the disobedient Gunan. Let him work hard and get his hopes high, before ruthlessly crushing his hopes down. 

Ming Zhi Yi's dark eyes glanced at Gunan who looked relieved. 

He smiled faintly.

"But it doesn't mean that I will overlook the fact that you went against me."

Gunan froze. 

"Lu Jin, open the briefcase for me."

Lu Jin walked forward expressionlessly and opened the case for his father.

The case had many sharp tools such as knives, cutter, nippers and other tools that were used for torture. 

These were Ming Zhi's Yi toys.

Gunan took a deep breath. He knew that he had to lose something. A finger might be too obvious, so it might be somewhere else.

But it was all worth it.

He had bought time for Univ One.

Lu Jin handed a pair of synthetic gloves to his father. 

Ming Zhi Yi put the gloves on his hands with a light smile. He then brushed his fingers on every tool inside his treasured case.

"Hmm... Shall I pluck all your nails out? Or cut a finger? Or maybe skin a part of your leg?"

Only silence answered him.

Ming Zhi Yi looked at Lu Jin. "You choose it for me."

Lu Jin eyelashes lowered. He hesitated for a bit before choosing a plain knife among the others with saw teeth, curved, and twisting blades.

"Hmm... Good choice. This knife might have plain edges unlike the rest, but it is also the smoothest and sharpest."

Ming Zhi Yi then picked another pair of gloves. He handed it to Lu Jin. "Wear it."

Lu Jin was taken aback, but he hid any emotion on his face and put on the gloves without complaints.

"Hold it." 

Ming Zhi Yi passed him the knife.

An ominous premonition suddenly rose in Lu Jin's heart.

"Now, cut one of Butler Qian's fingers."

Gunan: !!!

Lu Jin: !!!

Butler Qian just closed his eyes.

Lu Jin opened his mouth. "Father..."

"If you say one more word, I will let you cut two instead."

Lu Jin swallowed his words.

Gunan's eyes were wide.

"Fa-Master... It is my fingers that should be cut... Butler Qian is not aware of what I am doing..."

"Make it two. Since Butler Qian was a hard working and loyal butler, cut one from his hand then one from his foot."

Gunan trembled and immediately shut up. He looked at Butler Qian with wide eyes. 

His back was cold and his nerves were tight. His stomach churned as if the contents were about to rise.

Butler Qian just accepted their master's words calmly. 

"Master has wise judgment. I am your instructor and the head butler of the family. I should have known every little movement of yours. Yet, I only came to know just now. It showed my incapability. Furthermore, you went against our master's orders. This could be blamed to my lacking teaching."

He spoke calmly as he took off his gloves, socks, and shoes. 

All kinds of scars thickly covered his hands and feet, proofs of his Master's previous punishments.

Gunan's heart froze over.

The nausea rose high, but he forcefully pressed it down.

It was his own decision to go against his master's order, yet it was Butler Qian who was about to be punished.

He had already prepared his mind and body for the pain he would suffer today. Yet... he did not prepare himself in seeing one of the few dearest people in his heart to suffer and be in pain because of him.

Gunan bit his lips until they bled. 

Cruel...

His master punished Butler Qian in his stead instead of him...

But was he in the position to say this? He was also like this...

"Lu Jin, what are you waiting for? Cut it," Ming Zhi Yi darkly said.

Lu Jin's hold on the knife tightened. 

Gunan blankly looked up at his friend's face. He could see the faintest tremble of Lu Jin's lips on his expressionless face.

Gunan knew that Lu Jin hated violence the most, despite having a violent father.

And Lu Jin had to cut the person whom he knew Gunan treasured in his heart.

It was really a cruel... and wise order.

Master truly knew how to hit the most painful weakness, to simultaneously punish all of them.

Gunan darkly chuckled.

He held back the useless tears that were about to come out of his eyes. 

With red eyes, he crazedly chuckled as he muttered amidst the silence. "Father... You truly are... a wise master..."

He meant it, he truly meant it.

This cruelty of his master was the one thing he admired the most...and hated as well.

Gunan closed his eyes. 

The moment that he heard Butler Qian's painful scream and the sound of flesh and bone cutting, Gunan opened his eyes mechanically. 

During punishment, one must look carefully and engrave the scene in their minds so that one must not forget.

This was their Master's teaching. 

Gunan opened his eyes wide and dully watched Lu Jin who tremblingly cut Butler Qian's finger. 

Blood splattered and stained the floor.

After cutting Butler Qian's finger. Lu Jin, like a robot, proceeded to his feet.

Gunan watched all of it. His ears were filled with his teacher's painful groan.

When the knife cut through the flesh and bones, he felt like it was his own limbs that were being cut instead.

The darkness in his eyes condensed as he numbly watched on with a pale face devoid of expression.

He had paid so much for this. 

Just to keep Univ One.

This must be worth all of it. He must succeed so that this hefty payment would not be wasted.

Because if he failed, he would not know how to face Butler Qian and Lu Jin.

******

Days had passed.

The Guan Empire hosted a banquet to promote and celebrate their third young master's success in launching Univ One.

Univ One became more appealing in the investors and businessmen's eyes. With the help of the Guan Empire, they became the trending topic in both financial and societal news for many days. 

These helped Univ One secure the second top app in the rankings of the play stores and gathered millions of downloads in the past several days.

Guan Gu Ri had just arrived. He casually walked towards the table where the main shareholders of the Guan Empire gathered. 

At the center was his third youngest brother, Guan Gao Huan.

As the subject of the night, Guan Gao Huan was busy receiving the congratulatory remarks of the people around him. He did not notice the arrival of his eldest brother who was in overseas a day go for a business deal.

"Gao Huan," Guan Gu Ri called out.

Guan Gao Huan looked up and saw him. He excused himself gently from the shareholders and walked towards his eldest brother.

"Brother Gu Ri, I am glad you came." Guan Gao Huan saw Guan Gu Ri's slightly disheveled hair. His brows rose. "Did you just arrive from your business trip overseas?"

Guan Gu Ri arranged his hair embarrassedly. "Do I look so obvious? Grandfather hosted a banquet out of the blue. I just heard it while I was on my way that it is to celebrate your great achievement, so I hurried along. How can I not be present here? It is my youngest brother's proud days." His eyes crinkled into a gentle smile.

Guan Gao Huan smiled happily like a little brother that he was. "Thank you, Brother Gu Ri. I appreciate you coming here."

Guan Gu Ri looked at his third brother with a proud smile.

He was really happy at this moment.