Chapter4
1265 Words
If the extravagance of the wealthy is characterized by "villas by the sea and rows of luxury cars," then the Chumen family surpasses such descriptions with a grandeur that defies mere words.
Chu Chao-tian, the patriarch of Chumen, emerged from a military background and spent the better part of his life navigating the tumultuous waters of commerce. Benefiting from the era's prosperity, he gradually built the Chumen empire, worth hundreds of billions. For decades, their estate, Phoenix Mountain, has stood majestically in the northern city, an opulent private garden that has drawn criticism from both political and business circles.
The estate itself is reminiscent of ancient royal residences, overlooking a picturesque landscape of mountains and lakes, surrounded by lush forests and bamboo groves.
The interior is nothing short of magnificent, with pavilions and terraces arranged in perfect harmony, and paths that twist and turn through serene, secluded gardens. The intricate carvings and ornate decorations add a touch of exquisite craftsmanship, with a myriad of courtyards and corridors seamlessly interconnected. The estate's entrance, adorned with a blood-red jade safety buckle, is worth at least a large, upscale apartment in the city center.
Today, on New Year's Day, the weather is exceptionally fine.
The estate's gates are wide open, with security guards standing at attention in perfect military formation.
Before noon, luxury vehicles arrive in succession, greeted with respectful salutes from the guards as they usher the cars through the gates and up the winding mountain road before turning their attention to the next arrival.
The bustle is not just due to New Year's Day but also because it marks a significant occasion for one of Chumen’s young masters.
Soon, a Skoda, emitting black smoke from burning oil, approaches in the distance. The guards, wary, watch as a Maybach ascends the hill. As they turn their gaze back, they see this "unremarkable" little car arriving at their gates.
It is akin to a shabby raft arriving at a prestigious naval dock.
The guard on the left, unable to mask his astonishment, steps forward and halts the car, his expression stern as he inquires, "Hello, what is your business here?"
Inside the car, Chu Yuxuan appears disheveled, his hair in disarray, wearing a scruffy black trench coat. He lazily speaks into his phone as he slowly lowers the window.
"Xia Zhu, just how busy are you?" Chu Yuxuan yawns, his tone indifferent. "How many days has it been?"
On the other end of the line, Xia Zhu responds coldly, "After New Year's. Ning Ge and I were photographed by paparazzi, and I am currently dealing with the situation with the company."
Chu Yuxuan smiles faintly, "Perfect timing. Let’s finalize the paperwork swiftly. You and Ning Ge can get your marriage license and post it online. Problem solved."
Xia Zhu knows well that announcing her marriage as a celebrity could be detrimental to her career. Furthermore, the company, unwilling to let her ruin its cash cow, has already issued numerous denials claiming that Xia Zhu and Gao Ning are merely childhood friends.
"Rest assured, we’ll finalize the divorce after New Year's," Xia Zhu senses Chu Yuxuan's impatience and cold detachment, feeling an unsettling sense of being a nuisance. She sighs, "I know I’ve wronged you, Yuxuan. Please accept my compensation—this house…"
Before she can finish, Chu Yuxuan hangs up—he has little patience for such discussions and the guard has already begun calling for reinforcements.
"Bro, don't get agitated. I’m here to get married," Chu Yuxuan says with an odd smile.
Having made his decision that day, he called Chu Zhi-qing, his father. While Chu Zhi-qing was delighted to hear his son was returning, he set one condition: the marriage must be to Jiang Cheng's most beautiful woman.
Chu Yuxuan understood this was likely another business alliance masked as a marriage. As his return to Chumen had other motives, he agreed without much thought.
However, he did not expect the wedding to come so quickly. Waking up groggy, he received a call from Chu Zhi-qing, asking him to come home for a simple meal and a bit of wedding fun, catching him off guard.
Yet, the pressing issue was that he hadn't yet divorced!
Chu Zhi-qing reassured him that there was no need for concern; the wedding was at home with only guests, and the marriage was discreet—no one knew.
Chu Yuxuan thought little of it and hurried to the estate.
At the gate, upon hearing that he was there for a wedding, the guards had to stifle their laughter, frowning as they said, “You’re here to get married? Have you lost your mind? Today is the young master’s big day. Move aside and don’t block the way!”
Ignorant of the situation, Chu Yuxuan, disinterested in further arguments, called Chu Zhi-qing, “Old man, it seems I can’t get in.”
Soon, a voice crackled over the guard’s radio, “That must be the young master! Quickly let him in!”
The guard, pale and flustered, put on a forced smile and respectfully ushered the “shabby raft” inside, dreading the loss of his job.
At the lakeside reception hall, the spacious room is already filled with distinguished guests, a gathering of the city's elite.
Given Chumen's standing in the business world, those invited are all significant figures. The upper echelons of society, known for their capriciousness, only pay attention to those with substantial power and influence.
Amid the gathering, a middle-aged man with a commanding presence and suave demeanor, Chu Zhi-qing, is engaged in animated conversation. Today, dressed in a black suit and sporting a meticulously groomed hairstyle with a characteristic “*” on his brow, he exudes an air of authority.
As he discusses a topic of interest to all, the sound of a harsh voice rings out from the entrance: “Chu Zhi-qing!”
Startled, Chu Zhi-qing spits out his wine, coughing as he turns around, an unexpectedly obsequious smile on his face, “Son, you’ve arrived?”
The room falls silent, with all eyes on Chu Yuxuan, who appears notably unkempt and surprisingly understated.
Chu Yuxuan smirks, ignoring the curious glances of the guests, and strides towards his father. He grabs a nearby vase, holding it by the neck, and with a forced smile, says, “Chu Zhi-qing, long time no see. Let me show you some affection!”
Chu Zhi-qing shudders, retreating behind a sofa and pointing at his “recalcitrant son” with a smile, “Yuxuan, there are so many people here. Show some respect…”
“You shameless old man, respect? Stand there and don’t move!”
The father and son chase each other around the sofa, surprising everyone with such a dramatic display from a figure known for his ruthless business tactics.
“Son, let’s talk somewhere else, shall we?”
Chu Yuxuan stops, scanning the astonished faces around him, and coldly replies, “Fine, choose the place. I want a private talk!”
“Let’s go to the study on the second floor… come on,” Chu Zhi-qing, with a conciliatory smile, gestures for him to follow.
Chu Yuxuan, cutting through the pretense, strides forward, grabbing Chu Zhi-qing by the expensive tie worth a year's salary, and dragging him towards the stairs.
Chu Zhi-qing clutches the tie, fearing he might be strangled by his unruly son, and apologizes to the guests, “Please excuse the disturbance. I need to attend to a family matter. I’ll be back shortly!”
The guests exchange glances, wondering if Chu Zhi-qing will return alive.
- Writer
