Chapter 531 - Approaching

(E/N: Listening to Tokyo Ghoul's 'Unravel' while reading the first half of the chapter and the former chapter. It just fits a lot, especially the meaning of lyrics.)

***

Ming Zhi Yi continued interrogating Lu Jin.

"As for that Tanaka Group, how come you cannot convince him?"

"Their reply is always that they are not interested."

Ming Zhi Yi coldly chuckled.

"Just for this reason, you are giving up? Jin, you are being too soft nowadays."

"The Tanaka Group has high surveillance. They are leading in the IT industry. Their dirty laundry is hard to dig out," Lu Jin answered instead.

Ming Zhi Yi once again did not like his answer.

"Now you're learning how to make excuses. Is it because your brother is doing so well that you are being complacent?"

Lu Jin's heart thumped. He raised his head and looked into his father's eyes.

"Father, if you give me resources like you have given to Gunan, I believe my credibility and efficiency will double."

Lu Jin knew that his father held back in some matters with him. He did not give him the entirety of the necessary resources and connections. He did not give him full power nor handed to him the most crucial of information. Like how his father had hid from him the secret from thirteen years ago that he badly wanted to know.

But he gave them somehow to Gunan...

Gunan would not be able to finish a project worth several billions without this man's support and resources.

So Lu Jin knew that there were many matters that this man was purposely hiding from him. This man, his father, did not trust him fully...

Ming Zhi Yi looked into his eyes for a while, and then snickered. He took the empty glass of wine nonchalantly. He then smashed it on the armrest.

Crash.

The loud crash was sudden and deafening.

Even Lu Jin who mostly showed no expression was slightly caught off guard.

"Lu Jin..."

Ming Zhi Yi used a tone that he had not used for a long while.

His voice was very deep, condensed, and cold. It was very familiar. It brought a chill down Lu Jin's back, reminding him of his nightmarish past during his childhood years.

Coldness enveloped Lu Jin once more. He quietly swallowed and lowered his eyes again. His sight fell on the sharp broken edges that was the remains of the wineglass.

"Is it because I am lying low that you are now baring your fangs at me? It seems I have not disciplined you for a long time now."

The already inherent fear planted deeply in Lu Jin's heart slowly made his heartbeat accelerate. Cold sweat appeared on his back.

He made the demon mad.

"Where shall I start? Shall I start with your subordinate who could not even protect the files? What is her name? The genius you spoke of?"

Apprehension grew within Lu Jin.

The man's always cruel way of disciplining him had already instilled nightmares in him and instinctive physiological reaction.

"Ah... I can't remember her name. Well, there's no use. I will just ask Butler Qian to get more information. Such a grave mistake, dismembering her is not even enough."

Lu Jin took a deep breath, bowed his head, and apologized.

"Father. It's my mistake. Please don't take it out on my people. I am lacking in manpower severely with the recent tasks."

"Do you even realize your own mistake?"

His question has a double meaning.

Have Lu Jin finally realized that talking back and going against his wishes was a big mistake?

Lu Jin eyes lowered. His inner thoughts were concealed by his pair of lifeless eyes.

"I do. I am wrong. I will see to it that matters will be dealt with soon."

"I just don't want it to be dealt with. You have to give me answers soon."

"...Yes, Father," Lu Jin answered with his head bowed.

His eyes were looking back at his own reflection on those broken shards.

** 

It had been a long night.

The Tang's privately held concert, Tang Xinyang's recital, came so suddenly that Xiong Zhi stayed up late to make arrangements for IHZHI's subcompany, IHZHI Entertainment.

Since this party was private with Mistress Tang's own choosing of guests, it was naturally a big party where the big fishes swam in the rivers and lakes.

Her talents from IHZHI, no matter whether they were the rising queen like Song Xuantin or an iconic figure like Xiong Gaiyu, were just mere shrimps compared to Mistress Tang's private 'friends'.

Xiong Zhi had to make up for that.

She chose the most promising artists who were cultivated especially and perfectly packaged for the high-end market.

She meticulously arranged the artists' visual appearance with the help of Xiong Mai. Even though the IHZHI artists'status were low in front of those big shots, their appearance and grace did not fall behind.

Their outstanding beauty and natural charisma also elevated their presence by a lot. At least, they would not seem out of place when they attended the private concert.

On the afternoon by the next day, Xiong Zhi called up her team and IHZHI's artists to attend the Tang's private banquet hosted by Tang Yin.

She provided them everything from their make-up, dresses, and their accessories. Of course, including their rides.

With Xiong Zhi's arrangement, Song Xuantin, Xiong Gaiyu, and Xiao Mei would ride the same car. The male artists, William, and King Yan would have their own.

Xiong Zhi would naturally ride with Linfeng.

As IHZHI's president, Xiong Zhi naturally had to show her splendor.

She dressed quite extravagantly but still looked elegant.

She wore a royal blue long dress that accentuated her curves perfectly. Her long hair was all primly twisted up securely with a platinum-plated sapphire hairpin. A pair of dangling silver teardrop earrings moved with her every step. Her slender neck was bare, but the smooth whiteness drew everyone's eyes. Her dark phoenix eyes with the long corners slightly curled up were distant yet enchanting at the same time.

Linfeng stepped forward and asked for her hand as soon as she stepped down the stairs. His eyes took in her entire figure with a gentle smile. Within, appreciation and possession intermingled.

Linfeng was dressed in a sleek dark blue single b.r.e.a.s.ted suit with a black shirt and blank pants underneath. His hair was meticulously arranged, but this time, more stylish than solemn.

He winked at Xiong Zhi when he saw the latter checking him out from head to toe.

"Satisfied with what you see?"

Linfeng teased her while Xiong Zhi held out her hand and put it on top of his. His hands immediately wrapped around hers.

Xiong Zhi just raised a brow with the corners of her lips rising into a smile.

"How about you? Are your eyes full?" She threw back the question.

Linfeng chuckled.

He kissed her hand and whispered, "Very much. If we are not in the mansion and your grandfather is not here sending me glares, I would have kissed you right here and now."

With her ears pregnant, Xiong Zhi's eyes subtly glanced at her grandfather who was wearing his usual traditional clothes in the living room. Beside him was Uncle Zhou Min who had a small smile on his lips.

The old man's eyes were obviously staring at them with a dark face.

Mistress Tang had invited the old man as well.

Xiong Zhi ignored her grandfather's threatening glares at Linfeng and silently concurred.

If the old man was not here, then she would have definitely exchanged passionate kisses with Linfeng.

Too bad, her grandfather was here. And he was getting more and more protective recently. She could not even sneak into Linfeng's bedroom to sleep with him.

Why did her grandfather insist in accompanying her anyway? Usually for these parties, only one of them needed to attend. She already had Linfeng as her escort too.

But the old man refused to budge. He said that he would be in the other car and that they needed to arrive at the venue together. Was it because she came to represent IHZHI this time?

Xiong Zhi thoughtfully mused.

"Leave him be. At least he did not insist on having me ride with him, or else I would have to ruthlessly refuse him. Between the two of you, I will choose you, of course."

Linfeng smiled helplessly. "That's still your elder. Don't ever say that in front of his face, or else I will be crippled." He said this but his face showed pride and satisfaction.

Old Xiong felt that the two were taking their time.

He spoke in a cold voice, "Are you two the stars of the night? You think it's fashionable to appear late? My two old legs seem faster than both of your pairs."

He then threw a hard glance at Linfeng before turning around. "Hurry it up, young man."

Linfeng: "..."

Zhou Min quietly covered his mouth behind the old master, hiding his chuckle.

His master had softened a lot to Linfeng compared to before.

If it was in the past, the old man would have ordered Linfeng to roll away from his granddaughter. Or the old man would have overreacted and call his son despicable after seeing his son kissing the Young Miss's hand.

Zhou Min himself thought that his son was too reckless to kiss a lady's hand in front of her elder.

But all Old Xiong did was to shoot his son a death glare.

Zhou Min took that as Master Xiong accepting Linfeng as his future grandson-in-law now. So he was naturally happy.

The young couple followed the old man and the butler to the Xiong family's parking lot.

As per Xiong Zhi's request, Old Xiong and Butler Zhou ride a car separately from them.

The old man had kept snorting in annoyance due to it.