Chapter 110: The Scapegoat

"Ms. Lin, I'm not trying to gossip, but for the sake of Brother Qi, I feel I need to give you some advice."

Zhang Yi's words caused Lin Shuyu to frown.

Lin Shuyu replied coldly, "What is it now? Did you not hear me say that if you continue to insult Hong Yu, I will leave immediately?"

"No, no, no, Ms. Lin, you've misunderstood," Zhang Yi said, waving his hands repeatedly. "It’s not an insult, nor is it a quarrel. I just have some things I want to share with you and Brother Hong."

Lin Shuyu was impatient and didn't want to listen to Zhang Yi's nonsense, but under the urging gaze of Wang Qi, Zhang Yi quickly continued, "Ms. Lin, did Liang Jiajie really give you that diamond ring worth over ten million?"

Lin Shuyu nodded. "I know what you're thinking! A man giving me such an expensive gift for no reason—you're trying to say that Liang Jiajie is after me, right?"

"No, Ms. Lin, you are wrong!" Zhang Yi said with a mysterious air. "A top-tier tycoon in Huaizhou like Liang Jiajie has seen plenty of women. Even if you are breathtakingly beautiful, Ms. Lin, it’s unlikely he would go to such great lengths so easily."

"Ten million in jewelry—Liang Jiajie is rich, yes, but he wouldn't be that generous without a reason."

Lin Shuyu asked impatiently, "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Zhang Yi smiled mysteriously. "What I’m saying is, I have a brother who is just like Brother Hong."

"I’ve known this guy since we were kids. He’s spineless and useless, just working odd jobs and never accomplishing anything."

"But for some reason, a few years ago, he met a big boss who took a strange liking to him, giving him houses, cars, and even arranging his marriage for him."

"He really is just like Brother Hong!"

Seeing Lin Shuyu beginning to grow angry, Zhang Yi quickly added, "Ms. Lin, don't be hasty, let me finish."

"Everyone envied the stroke of luck my brother had, but do you know what? When I went back home for the New Year, I heard from friends that my brother had actually been thrown into prison."

Lin Shuyu frowned. "Why? Was it because he got into trouble after coming into money?"

"No," Zhang Yi said, taking a sip of wine before continuing slowly. "As I said, my brother is just like Brother Hong—a spineless coward. He would never dare to cause trouble on his own."

"It’s because that big boss got into trouble!"

Lin Shuyu’s heart skipped a beat. She asked quickly, "What does his boss's trouble have to do with him? Was he implicated or targeted in retaliation?"

"Heh, Ms. Lin, you are still too naive. If that were the case, my brother wouldn't have gone to jail in vain." Zhang Yi sneered. "It’s because that big boss never considered my brother one of his own; he was just using him the whole time!"

"He was essentially keeping a scapegoat, ready to take the fall for him at any moment."

"What!" Lin Shuyu was shocked.

Just moments ago, she had carefully tucked the diamond ring into her bag. Now, she felt a burning urge to return it to Liang Jiajie immediately and tell Hong Yu to stop associating with such people.

Although Lin Shuyu had just arrived in Huaizhou and didn't know much about Liang Jiajie, she had heard enough to know that the Liang family had risen through the underworld. If that were true, keeping a scapegoat on standby wasn't out of the question.

Seeing Lin Shuyu's fear, Wang Qi finally spoke up. "Sigh, Xiaoyu, in this society, nobody is a fool."

"If there wasn't some hidden agenda, who would give away a ten-million-dollar diamond ring for nothing? You saw Liang Jiajie’s attitude earlier; he wasn't interested in you—he was purely targeting Hong Yu."

"A live-in son-in-law with no background and no skills—what does he have to offer? What he has is his life, of course!"

"You might be enjoying the ten-million-dollar ring now, but you’ll have a hard time ahead of you."

Chen Yingying immediately sneered, "I thought Hong Yu was one of Liang Jiajie’s chess pieces, but I clearly overestimated him."

"Oh my, I might be in trouble too!" Chen Yingying exclaimed. "Liang Jiajie gave me a diamond necklace, too. Could he be planning the same thing for me?"

Wang Qi laughed. "It's fine. Don't you have Hong Yu the scapegoat? Just rest easy and keep it."

Lin Shuyu’s face turned pale. Wang Qi and Zhang Yi knew they had said enough; saying any more would make their intentions too obvious.

Zhang Yi had drunk a fair amount, so after a while, he went to the restroom.

As he walked down the hallway after leaving the restroom, he suddenly spotted a woman wearing heavy makeup and a stunning figure.

Perhaps under the influence of alcohol, Zhang Yi felt a bit reckless. He followed her, eyes fixed on her high heels, until they bumped into each other.

The woman was holding two bottles of Moutai. Nearly dropping them from the collision, she cursed angrily, "Are you blind? If you're drunk, stay put!"

Zhang Yi chuckled. "Miss, delivering wine? Why don't you bring two bottles to my private room later?"

Zhang Yi had forgotten he was at the Pengzhan Restaurant. As he spoke, his hand reached out just as he would have on any other day.

The woman, seeing his behavior while holding the bottles, immediately kicked him.

"Damn it! You actually dare to kick me!"

"Smack—"

Zhang Yi dodged quickly, avoiding a hit to his vital parts, but outraged that a mere waitress would be so insolent, he raised his hand and slapped her across the face.

"Consider yourself lucky today. If you had actually hit me, I'd make you pay with your life!"

"You're just a waitress; you're here to serve people anyway. Who are you putting on airs for?!"

After cursing, Zhang Yi noticed people looking their way and stormed off in a rage.

***

At the Pengzhan Restaurant, in the Supreme VIP Room, several middle-aged men were raising their glasses, chatting and drinking.

"Hahaha, Boss Xiao, your restaurant is truly impressive. I heard the annual profit is in the hundreds of millions, is that right?"

A tall, imposing man toasted a man with short hair and glasses.

"Boss Zhou, you flatter me too much." Xiao Sa smiled, finishing his drink before replying, "All of Huaizhou knows I’m just a hired hand. My boss is the truly formidable one."

Zhou Teng laughed. "Boss Xiao, you’re joking. Your boss is certainly powerful, but he wouldn't bother with a business like a restaurant."

"The fact that the Pengzhan Restaurant is thriving is entirely due to your efforts, Boss Xiao."

"Boss Xiao, Brother Zhou, you must seek justice for me!!"

Just as the two bosses were exchanging pleasantries, the woman who had been slapped by Zhang Yi burst into the Supreme VIP room in tears.

"What? Someone actually dared to hit you!" Zhou Teng’s face darkened as he looked at Xiao Sa.

Xiao Sa was also red with fury. "Let's go! Who the hell has the guts to hit one of Brother Zhou’s people in my establishment? I will definitely give you an explanation for this!"