CHAPTER 410: CHAPTER 411: I DON’T LIKE OTHERS TOUCHING MY THINGS, 2600 WORDS

Jiang Chaoge’s face suddenly turned ashen. She stared at Gu Anxi and asked lightly, "Did you stop the production of Jing?"

Gu Anxi chuckled softly, not hiding anything. She raised her eyebrows lightly. "I didn’t do anything to you. However, I did do something to my company, Clearwater Yun Tian. That shouldn’t be a problem for anyone, should it?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yunchen chuckled. Shen Congwen was taken aback. Jiang Bin also understood, his face darkening. Jiang Chaoge understood even more clearly, her face turning black as she exclaimed, "Gu Anxi, are you crazy? You know perfectly well what a gold mine Clearwater Yun Tian is! You’ve ruined it!"

Gu Anxi wasn’t angry at all. She was still all smiles. "It’s mine, and I don’t like others meddling! I’ve told you that before, Sister Chaoge."

Jiang Chaoge was furious. Gu Anxi reached up and stroked her chin. "It’s my first time playing the innocent maiden. I wonder if I’m any good at it? Dr. Jiang, how many points would you give my performance?"

Jiang Chaoge was utterly flabbergasted. She stared fixedly at Gu Anxi. "Are you doing this because of me?"

Gu Anxi gave a cold laugh, all trace of playfulness gone, her expression hardening. "Dr. Jiang, don’t think too highly of yourself. Do you really believe just anyone is worthy of being my opponent?"

She turned to Jiang Bin. "Uncle Jiang, Clearwater Yun Tian isn’t just a gold mine; it’s built on my father’s blood and mine. This is a blood debt I am determined to settle."

Jiang Bin looked at the young woman before him. Her imposing aura was far beyond Chaoge’s, as if she had been reborn from fire.

He clearly remembered this young woman by Bo Xichen’s side at the banquet, so gentle and obedient. Yet, standing her ground alone now, she was so incredibly domineering. No, tyrannical! Jiang Bin knew he had lost this round. This young lady’s shrewdness and strategic thinking were on par with the Bo father and son. Truly, birds of a feather flock together, and people of the same caliber end up in the same family.

Jiang Bin, ever the old fox, managed to remain outwardly composed despite the heavy losses and loss of face. "Miss Gu is truly formidable. Mr. Gu is indeed fortunate."

Gu Anxi gave a faint smile. "Thank you for the compliment, Uncle Jiang."

Jiang Chaoge wanted to say more, but the Family Head cut her off, not nearly as courteous to the doctor, "Haven’t you caused enough embarrassment?"

Jiang Chaoge’s voice was steady. "Uncle, I’ll try to find a way to see if this can be reversed."

Jiang Bin, a seasoned veteran, smiled. "Chaoge, I know you want to help your uncle. But since Miss Gu was able to stop us from extracting Jing, she undoubtedly has ways to ensure we can’t extract it ever again. I’m just curious what Miss Gu plans to do next. What about An Pu? Will it really stop doing business?"

Gu Anxi understood Jiang Bin’s implication but didn’t respond.

Just then, Zhou Yunchen chuckled and interjected, "Mr. Jiang, you can rest assured. An Pu has already stockpiled enough Jing for the next ten years. As for what happens after ten years, well, that will be a whole new ball game!"

Jiang Bin was seething internally! Jiang Chaoge felt the same. She hadn’t expected Gu Anxi to be so ruthless!

Gu Anxi grinned. "Otherwise, why else would I have been willing to sell you my used equipment?"

As she left, the memory of Jiang Chaoge’s expression still made her feel quite pleased.

Shen Congwen, however, knew he had walked right into their trap this time. He had no idea how he would explain this to Mr. Gu when he got back.

Gu Anxi drove them to the hotel. After the car stopped, she asked quietly, "Yun Chen, when are you heading back to Beicheng?"

Zhou Yunchen actually wanted to stay. After all, he wanted to look after Mr. Gu more. But he also knew Beicheng couldn’t manage without him. So, after a moment’s thought, he said, "I’m leaving early tomorrow morning."

Gu Anxi smiled. "And Vice President Shen?"

Shen Congwen hadn’t expected her to ask him. He was taken aback for a moment, then said, "Me too, I suppose."

"Alright then. Safe travels," Gu Anxi said briskly.

Zhou Yunchen got out of the car and waited by it for Shen Congwen.

Shen Congwen had been quiet and composed in the car, but once he got out, he largely ignored Zhou Yunchen, walking briskly ahead.

Zhou Yunchen followed, asking with an amused chuckle, "Upset again?"

Shen Congwen didn’t wait for him and pressed the elevator button himself. Nevertheless, Zhou Yunchen managed to squeeze in just as the doors were closing.

Zhou Yunchen was still smiling. "There you go again!"

Shen Congwen took a deep breath. "Zhou Yunchen, I’m not like you. I have parents and a younger sister. I can’t afford to be reckless. I’ve betrayed Mr. Gu. He could crush my entire family with ease."

Zhou Yunchen watched him quietly, saying nothing.

The elevator reached the top floor. Shen Congwen stepped out, and just as he was unlocking his room door, Zhou Yunchen slipped in past him.

Shen Congwen exploded, "Zhou Yunchen, what in God’s name do you want?"

"Nothing much!" Zhou Yunchen’s gaze was electric. "Shen Congwen, do you intend to be manipulated your whole life? Don’t you know Gu Yuanshan and Bo Jingshen are in cahoots, both openly and secretly?"

"So what if I know?" Shen Congwen scoffed. "Zhou Yunchen, forget me; even you, Gu Anxi, or the current Bo Family can’t touch Gu Yuanshan, at least not for a while. We’re all just pieces in this game. How could we not understand that no one can stand alone and unaffected?"

Zhou Yunchen nodded in understanding. "Well said!"

He reached out, his hand pressing on Shen Congwen’s shoulder, and gently pushed him against the door panel. Leaning closer, he said in a low voice, "But, in your heart, have you truly never betrayed Gu Yuanshan? If not, then why did you tell me about his affairs with the Jiang Family? Shen Congwen, you’re just a coward, a two-faced turncoat, a fence-sitter... duplicitous and fickle like a woman."

"I’m not," Shen Congwen retorted, turning his head away.

He was silent for a moment before saying softly, "Don’t push me, Zhou Yunchen. We both have benefactors to whom we owe a debt of gratitude for recognizing our worth. I don’t agree with some of Mr. Gu’s methods, but my parents and I were all brought up by him."

Zhou Yunchen pinned him. "Profiting at the expense of righteousness, huh?"

Shen Congwen couldn’t take it anymore and swung a punch.

Zhou Yunchen’s tall frame stumbled back onto the sofa, a red mark blooming on his cheek. He was stunned for a second, but Shen Congwen was already lunging at him again—

"You actually hit me!" Zhou Yunchen’s eyes narrowed, and then he didn’t hold back either.

The two grappled, trading punches and kicks without reservation. Shen Congwen was no match for Zhou Yunchen and soon got the worst of it...

Finally, both sporting cuts and bruises, they collapsed against the back of the sofa together...

Zhou Yunchen panted, "The last time I fought like this was back in school."

It was over some girl. Zhou Yunchen hadn’t liked her, and neither had Shen Congwen, but they fought over her anyway and ended up in the hospital for several days.

"And now? What are we fighting over this time?" Zhou Yunchen turned his head, reaching out to touch the bruise on Shen Congwen’s face.

Shen Congwen jerked his head away. "None of your business."

He fetched some ice and carefully pressed it to his injuries, wincing in pain.

"Oh, come on. Wailing like a little girl over a scratch like this? Seriously, Congwen, no offense, but you’re just too gentle, too easygoing..." Zhou Yunchen casually lit a cigarette, taking a slow drag.

Shen Congwen was not pleased. "If you want to smoke, do it in your own room."

But Zhou Yunchen didn’t leave. Instead, he propped his feet up on the coffee table and casually picked up a menu with one hand. "Let’s order some noodles. I’m starving."

Shen Congwen took another deep breath. "You can eat in your own room."

"See? Pushing people away again," Zhou Yunchen grinned.

Shen Congwen suddenly asked, "Zhou Yunchen, why do you always mess with me?"

Zhou Yunchen idly flipped through the menu. "Hmm, I don’t really know. To be honest, swaying you isn’t all that important. But the thought of you ending up just like Gu Yuanshan... well, that’d be a pity. I’d have one less person to pick on... Hey, Congwen, I didn’t mean it like that. Not looking down on you in the slightest."

Shen Congwen remained silent.

After a long moment, he took out a cigarette and quietly lit it.

But Zhou Yunchen reached over and snuffed out his cigarette, saying softly, "Smoking’s bad for you."

Shen Congwen, of course, paid him no mind. He smoked in silence for a long while before finally saying, "Let’s not return to Beicheng together tomorrow. It’s going to be very difficult for me to explain things to Mr. Gu now."

In other words, Zhou Yunchen had royally screwed him over.

Zhou Yunchen had finally decided on some noodles. He looked up and again took Shen Congwen’s cigarette, extinguishing it. "Trying to avoid suspicion now? Gu Yuanshan has known for ages that we were classmates. Besides, what’s so strange about you accompanying me to see the man who raised me?"

Shen Congwen muttered, "Given the current circumstances, Zhou Yunchen, it’s best we don’t associate too closely."

He thought it over carefully. Nothing good ever seemed to happen when Zhou Yunchen was around. It felt like he, Shen Congwen, had somehow gotten dragged into every misfortune that befell Mr. Gu lately.

Zhou Yunchen grinned. "Fine by me!"

Shen Congwen was surprised he’d agreed so readily.

Zhou Yunchen’s grin widened. "Starting tomorrow, I’m going to seriously pursue your sister."

Shen Congwen gritted his teeth. "Zhou Yunchen!"

"I’m serious!" Zhou Yunchen said with a gentle smile. "I’m almost thirty; it’s about time I settled down. Congwen, your sister is attractive and has a great personality. If I marry her, we’ll be family through marriage, making our bond even stronger."

Shen Congwen finally snapped. "Zhou Yunchen, get out!"