The CEO turned out to be a hidden assassin

Chapter 5

In a true aristocratic household, even the servants exhibit an air of refinement.

A young and strikingly beautiful maid, holding a tray of fruit, gracefully ascended to the second floor. As she made her way to the guest rooms, she passed by the study and was abruptly startled by the cacophony of clattering noises from within, as though... something porcelain had been shattered.

This study housed numerous antiques, including several precious Yuan dynasty blue-and-white porcelains. Alarmed, the maid hurriedly pushed open the door to investigate—

She found a disheveled young man lounging in a chair with his legs propped up, while the usually stern Chu Zhqing... was astonishingly hunched over, standing before the young man with a face full of contrite smiles.

Upon hearing the door creak open, Chu Yuxuan glanced indifferently, then callously tossed another piece of porcelain to the floor.

Chu Zhqing turned to the maid, his expression hardening with displeasure: “Leave!”

The maid, her mind a blank, bowed hurriedly and shut the door.

Chu Zhqing's expression softened once more as he saw his son pick up a Yuan blue-and-white piece. He cautiously advised, “This… is Yuan blue-and-white.”

Chu Yuxuan gave a sinister smile: “Is it not to be broken?”

“Break it, break it if you wish. If it pleases you, you can even smash me,” Chu Zhqing replied with a forced cheer.

Chu Yuxuan shook his head, placing the porcelain back in its place. He glanced at his father and asked, “Tell me, why must I marry that so-called... top beauty? And why the urgency? I want to understand the reason behind this madness.”

“Foolish son, marrying her will bring you nothing but pleasure,” Chu Zhqing retorted.

Chu Yuxuan: “Is this truly something a father should say to his son?”

Chu Zhqing chuckled and sat down on a nearby chair: “Her name is Zhao Yanan, three years younger than you. Recently, a high-ranking official in Jiangcheng fell from grace, dragging the Zhao family into scandal. Her father was sentenced to three years, and most of his assets were seized... Before going in, Old Zhao approached me, seeking a marriage arrangement. After all, he’s been a dear friend for years; I had no reason to refuse him.”

Chu Yuxuan's eyes widened with a realization: “So the marriage is essential to protect her?”

Chu Zhqing nodded: “Exactly... Beauty is a blessing, but excessive beauty can be a curse. As soon as Old Zhao’s troubles began, many sought to exploit her. I couldn't bear to let that happen.”

Chu Yuxuan teased: “Then why not marry her yourself? It would serve a dual purpose, and it wouldn’t matter much since you already have a wife.”

“Wretched child, don’t speak such nonsense! Yanan is like a daughter to me. I...”

Before he could finish, Chu Yuxuan interrupted with a smirk: “You have quite a few goddaughters already.”

Chu Zhiqing:...

“Enough of these idle topics... The wedding with Yanan may seem rushed, but it’s merely a formality. The outcome is up to your capabilities...”

Chu Zhqing paused, then changed the subject: “However, Yanan’s dowry is substantial. The Zhao family previously owned an entertainment company. She’s the president with forty-nine percent of the shares inherited from her mother, making the company quite significant to her. Old Zhao had prepared a contract before his imprisonment. Once you marry Yanan, you will become the acting owner of the company, holding fifty-one percent of the shares.”

Chu Yuxuan smiled wryly: “What kind of ridiculous dowry is that? I suppose the shares are just a means for him to distance himself from the company and use the Chu family to safeguard it, correct? I would merely have proxy rights for three years before the shares revert, wouldn’t I?”

Chu Zhqing cleared his throat and grinned: “My son is truly astute! The Chu family isn’t swayed by petty sums. I agreed to Old Zhao’s request out of friendship. If you wish, I can give you one of my companies as a gift. But there’s something I think you’ll appreciate—this company... has many beautiful female stars, each more stunning than the last!”

Chu Yuxuan finally understood what his father meant by “pleasure”...

“Chu Zhqing, I’m not as frivolous as you. Don’t assume everyone is like you, easily swayed by beauty... I have no interest in such allure!”

Chu Zhqing, unfazed, sighed: “Son, heroes have always struggled with the allure of beauty. You might find yourself appreciating it more as you face such trials... eventually, you may even question why you ever resisted.”

Chu Yuxuan:...

Realizing he couldn’t match his father’s arguments on this matter, Chu Yuxuan shifted the topic: “I can be a pawn in your social games, but you must explain what you mentioned on the phone about the Chu family’s grandiosity. What exactly can I leverage? Enlighten me.”

Chu Zhqing's expression grew serious: “You’ll need to explore that yourself. But remember, my call for your return was not solely for marriage; it’s also about claiming the family assets. You must establish yourself within the Chu family before you can expect assistance.”

Chu Yuxuan pondered this.

Chu Zhqing pulled out a cigarette, lighting it before offering one to his son.

Chu Yuxuan took the cigarette, lit it, and said, “Actually, I’ve even suspected the Chu family before, but found nothing...”

Chu Zhqing, with a hint of a smile, replied: “You haven’t... suspected me, have you?”

Chu Yuxuan’s gaze turned cold: “You likely haven’t lost your conscience to that extent... But if you were behind it, I would kill you! No, I would slice you into pieces and feed you to the dogs!”

With his eyes reddening, Chu Yuxuan’s anger was palpable.

Observing his son’s fury, Chu Zhqing’s heart seemed to be relentlessly torn by unseen claws, yet his face remained calm. After exhaling a puff of smoke, he said cryptically, “The entire Jiangcheng is shrouded in a mist... Within that mist, the lines between the living and the dead are blurred.”

Chu Yuxuan struggled to control his emotions, and then asked, “How much do you know about me?”

“You?” Chu Zhqing glanced at him: “You are my beloved son. I love you.”

Chu Yuxuan:...

“Ha ha...” Chu Zhqing, adept at feigning ignorance, smiled and added, “Your uncle and aunt are out of town and couldn’t make it today. Your grandfather is at the villa... but he prefers to remain unseen.”

Chu Yuxuan shrugged nonchalantly: “Do you think I care? They’ve never paid me any heed since I was born. Their absence is a relief; I can enjoy some peace.”

“What I mean is, would you like to see your grandfather?”

Immediately regretting his words, Chu Zhqing envisioned his son’s distinctive greeting style and dreaded the possibility of the first words being, “Oh? You’re still alive?”

The scenario was too grim to contemplate.

Chu Yuxuan took a slow drag on his cigarette and coldly replied, “Forget it. Isn’t he in poor health? He might die of shock if he sees me.”

Chu Zhqing shook his head with a smile, extinguishing his cigarette in the ashtray: “Let’s go, you need to prepare for the wedding. This is hardly fitting.”

Chu Yuxuan took a deep breath and stepped out.

By chance, he ran into the maid who had just exited.

The maid, head bowed and avoiding his gaze, had a pale, anxious face. As she passed Chu Zhqing, she paused slightly and said, “Chairman...”

Chu Zhqing remained silent, his gaze icy.

Chu Yuxuan, understanding his father’s temper, could easily guess the maid’s fate. Frowning, he said, “Old man, I find this girl to my liking. Let her stay with me from now on.”

Chu Zhqing’s smile was barely perceptible: “Very well, very well.”