Chapter Nineteen: Not Qualified Enough!

“This…” They stared at Zhou Shuang’er’s departing figure, astonished. She—she had, without a word, directly ordered Ye Long, the head of Ruby Entertainment, to get out?

Xu Chengyang had thought that, with Ye Long on his side, today’s matter was all but settled, effortless. Indeed, everything had gone smoothly just moments ago. But he hadn’t expected that Zhou Shuang’er would suddenly intervene midway.

Xu Chengyang was utterly baffled. He didn’t know Zhou Shuang’er at all, let alone offend her. Why had she immediately targeted him upon arrival?

Ye Long’s face shifted between pale and flushed. He glared at Xu Chengyang, gritting his teeth. “Xu Chengyang, just who on earth have you offended?”

He hadn’t expected that, because of Xu Chengyang, he himself would be caught up and swept out.

“I…” Xu Chengyang wracked his brain, but couldn’t think whom he might have offended. If anyone, perhaps only Xu Qingran and her circle. But how could Xu Qingran possibly have the power to summon Miss Zhou, or even prompt a change of leadership at Ruby Entertainment?

“No, I’ve finally gotten this opportunity—I can’t lose. If my reputation isn’t enough, I’ll use the prestige of the Fang family. I don’t believe a mere Ruby Entertainment would dare disregard the Fang family.” Xu Chengyang clenched his teeth.

Though Ruby Entertainment was backed by the Zhou family, it was hardly their main concern, merely a trial company within their vast business empire. The Zhou family wouldn’t risk offending the Fang family over a single partnership.

Having made up his mind, Xu Chengyang immediately went to contact Fang Zhipeng.

Ye Long, meanwhile, hurried after Zhou Shuang’er. The position of head of Ruby Entertainment was a lucrative post: not only was it backed by the Zhou family, with immense wealth and bright prospects, but also filled with beautiful women. If he left now, where else could he find such a good job?

At the very least, he had to find out why he was told to leave—surely it couldn’t be over someone as insignificant as Xu Chengyang?

He chased Zhou Shuang’er all the way and quickly entered an office.

The moment he stepped inside, his pupils contracted sharply. “You…”

He saw Xiao Chen.

Instantly, his heart trembled. Xiao Chen sat there, while Zhou Shuang’er stood at his side.

“This…” For a moment, Ye Long was frozen with fear.

He knew that Zhou Shuang’er was the Zhou patriarch’s favorite granddaughter, the family’s darling. In all of Linzhou, hardly anyone would dare sit while she stood beside them—especially a young man like Xiao Chen.

Cold sweat broke out over Ye Long’s body. Now he understood what was really happening. It was all because of Xiao Chen.

Yet he couldn’t fathom who this person truly was. Wasn’t he supposed to be Xu Qingran’s useless husband?

How could the infamous “good-for-nothing” wield such power?

But regardless of who Xiao Chen was, Ye Long knew he was far beyond his reach.

He fell to his knees before Xiao Chen with a thud. “Mr. Xiao, I’m sorry. I know I was wrong. Please be merciful—don’t bother with someone as insignificant as me. Just let me go.”

He was, in truth, adaptable.

“Oh? And what exactly did you do wrong?” Xiao Chen gazed at him with a faint smile.

“At lunch in the restaurant, I shouldn’t have looked down on people. It was all Liu Feifei’s instigation. I’ll fire her immediately,” Ye Long hurriedly said, gritting his teeth. It was all Liu Feifei’s fault.

Xiao Chen sneered. “You don’t even understand your own mistake, yet you hope I’ll let you off?”

“Fine, I’ll make it clear for you. The restaurant incident is too petty for me to bother with. But what you absolutely shouldn’t have done was join forces with Xu Chengyang to bully my wife,” Xiao Chen said coldly.

Ye Long finally understood, and was close to tears—it was all over such a minor matter.

A few days ago, Xu Chengyang had asked him to refuse a partnership with City Beauty Cosmetics. He hadn’t thought much of it and had readily agreed.

He hadn’t expected that it would provoke this “King of Hell.”

“Aren’t you going to leave?” Zhou Shuang’er snorted coldly. “Or do you want me to call someone to throw you out?”

Ye Long didn’t dare offend this young lady. Though unwilling, he had no choice but to depart.

Just then, a phone rang. He Huan quickly answered, listened for a moment, then said to Xiao Chen and Zhou Shuang’er, “President Xiao, Miss Zhou. It’s Fang Zhipeng, second son of the Fang family. He hopes we’ll give him face and allow Xu Chengyang to partner with us.”

“Tell him this: if the Xu family wants to cooperate with Ruby Entertainment, let Xu Qingran come in person. No one else is qualified,” Xiao Chen replied calmly.

He Huan hesitated—wouldn’t this offend the Fang family too much? She glanced at Zhou Shuang’er, who appeared indifferent, leaving everything to Xiao Chen. Only then did He Huan relay Xiao Chen’s message to Fang Zhipeng.

As expected, Fang Zhipeng was furious and hung up with a bang.

…

Xu family.

“Grandmother, that Ruby Entertainment is outrageous. They won’t even give the Fang family face, and they say if we want to cooperate, Xu Qingran must come herself—no one else is qualified,” Xu Chengyang complained bitterly before the old lady.

“Ruby Entertainment is nothing but a company propped up by the Zhou family. Without them, it’s nothing,” he grumbled, but only dared vent his frustration here.

“Oh?” The old lady’s brows furrowed. “A few days ago, didn’t Ruby Entertainment refuse to work with Xu Qingran? Why now are they insisting she come herself?”

Xu Chengyang, disgruntled, could only explain how he’d asked Ye Long to refuse Xu Qingran’s partnership days before. He went on, “I don’t know what happened today—Miss Zhou suddenly dismissed Ye Long and appointed a new head at Ruby Entertainment. I don’t know what connection she has with Xu Qingran, but she seems to think highly of her.”

“Could it be that Xu Qingran has a lover outside?” The old lady shook her head, as though she saw through everything. “You must learn to consider things from different angles. Maybe they’re not interested in Xu Qingran herself, but in a pretty girl.”

“That Qingran girl, I never liked her much, but she is indeed good-looking. If they specifically want her, there’s nothing else in her branch worth scheming for but her face and body.”

“Take a pretty girl along with you. If their new head is pleased, maybe he’ll agree.”

Xu Chengyang’s eyes immediately lit up. “Grandmother, you’re truly insightful. I’ll arrange it right away.”