Chapter 133: The Panicked Tycoons

"What are we going to do now!"

Shen Chong was frantic, pacing back and forth in the conference room, unable to stop.

"For heaven's sake, stop pacing! You're driving me crazy!" Liang Zhanpeng looked like he wanted to kick Shen Chong to death. "If you hadn't kept pushing that narrative about him being an illegitimate child, they wouldn't have joined you in driving Mr. Hong away. Look at this guy—this is the trash you were so eager to keep and suck up to!"

Liang Zhanpeng pointed at Cheng Long, who was lying on the ground, his life hanging in the balance.

At this moment, Li Tian stepped forward and said, "This isn't entirely Boss Shen’s fault, I..."

"Don't 'you' me!" Liang Zhanpeng snapped. "And you! If you hadn't started the rumor that Mr. Hong was an illegitimate child, we wouldn't be in this mess. Look at Cheng Long, and look at that disciple of Huang Tian lying outside. Do you still have the nerve to try and mediate?"

Li Tian was left speechless. In truth, his status was on par with, or perhaps even slightly higher than, Liang Zhanpeng’s, but he knew he was in the wrong and found it hard to speak. He realized that Liang Zhanpeng must have a good relationship with Hong Yu; when everyone else was driving Hong Yu away, only Liang Zhanpeng had stood by him. Li Tian wasn't a fool; he could see that much.

More importantly, Li Tian could only hope for Hong Yu to intervene now. If Huang Tian’s disciple, who had come to deliver a challenge, had been killed by Hong Yu, Huang Tian would never let them off the hook. Among the wealthy men present, he and Liang Zhanpeng held the highest status. With Hong Yu as his backer, Liang Zhanpeng had nothing to fear, but Li Tian was different—he might be the first to die. Like Shen Chong, he could theoretically buy a plane ticket and flee, but given how quickly Huang Tian’s intelligence network operated—sending someone to deliver a challenge that very day—he doubted he could escape notice. Being intercepted and killed was a real possibility.

Li Tian remained silent, contemplating a strategy. Shen Chong, fully aware that he had caused a catastrophe, cried out, "Boss Liang, I know I was wrong, but I can't take the blame for this alone! When we were driving Master Hong away, I wasn't the only one. Your daughter was the loudest and most enthusiastic of all."

"You... what is the point of bringing that up now?" Liang Zhanpeng frowned, his complexion, which had just begun to regain some color, turning deathly pale again.

It was true, as Shen Chong said; the act of driving Hong Yu away, and even the initial targeting of him, had been led by his daughter. Liang Zhanpeng had been full of confidence that Hong Yu would help him, but now, thinking of Liang Siqi’s actions, his confidence wavered.

Liang Zhanpeng looked at his daughter and saw that she still looked quite composed, showing no signs of nervousness. He burst into a rage: "You! You still have the nerve to smile? Do you have any idea what kind of disaster you’ve brought upon us?"

Liang Siqi hadn't expected to be scolded for a slight upturn of her lips. Feeling wronged, she said, "Dad, why are you being so fierce?"

"Fierce? If you weren't my daughter, I would kill you right here!" Liang Zhanpeng cursed. "How could I, Liang Zhanpeng, be smart my whole life only to sire a wretch like you? Do you realize that the catastrophe you’ve caused today could lead to the total annihilation of the Liang family? Think of your two brothers, think of your nephew—how could you do this to them? You wretched girl!"

Liang Zhanpeng grew more furious as he spoke, nearly rushing over to strike her. Realizing she had made a mistake, Liang Siqi quickly voiced her plan.

"Dad, don't be angry yet. We need to win back Master Hong—no, Master Hong’s favor!"

Liang Zhanpeng retorted, "Everyone knows that! But you all offended Mr. Hong terribly. Tell me, as his father, how exactly am I supposed to win him back?"

Liang Siqi urged, "There’s a way! Didn't Master Hong come here specifically to buy a gift? And it was that man in black who kicked away Master Hong’s gift, which is why he got so angry! If we want to please him, we have to start with a gift."

"A gift!" The wealthy men looked at each other. Shen Chong shouted, "That could work! It’s just a gift, right? I can buy whatever Master Hong wants! I have a Tang Dynasty porcelain piece at home that I bought for over twenty million. Do you think Master Hong would like that?"

"Don't bother bringing out something worth twenty million. Is your life really only worth that much?" Liang Zhanpeng scoffed. "It needs to be worth at least a hundred million, and it must be meaningful."

"That depends on who Master Hong is giving it to. Giving to parents, a spouse, or an elder—there are nuances to all of it. Siqi, do you know who he’s gifting it to?"

Liang Siqi was clueless and looked bewildered. Liang Zhanpeng thought for a moment and said, "It should be for an elder. I recall hearing Mr. Hong mention that he came here to pay his respects for the birthday of his wife’s grandfather."

"That makes it easy!" Li Tian was overjoyed. "I have many antiques from various dynasties at home. As long as Master Hong is willing to help, he can choose whatever he wants!"

Liang Zhanpeng sneered, "Do you really think Mr. Hong would be impressed by our gifts?"

"Boss Liang, what do you mean by that?" Li Tian frowned. "From what I know, Hong Yu is just an illegitimate son of the Hong family; he shouldn't be very wealthy, right? And didn't your daughter say he came here specifically to borrow ten thousand yuan to buy a gift for his wife's grandfather? My antiques are worth at least fifty million each. Surely they aren't inferior to a ten-thousand-yuan gift?"

Liang Zhanpeng shook his head. "Boss Li, what am I supposed to do with you? I don't know who you know in the Hong family, but I can tell you this: Mr. Hong’s status in the Hong family is incredibly high! I have been to the Hong estate; those antiques you treasure are treated as mere decorations, scattered throughout their hallways and rooms. They are everywhere."

Li Tian was left speechless, and Shen Chong grew anxious. "Boss Liang, if that’s the case, isn't this plan useless?"

Liang Zhanpeng pondered for a long time before gritting his teeth. "Fine. I’ll make a call and ask. I can’t guarantee Mr. Hong will agree, so don’t get your hopes up too high."

The group stared at him intensely. "Boss Liang, you are our only hope now. We don't even have Master Hong’s phone number. If you don't reach out, we’ll be waiting here for our deaths!"

"I even thought about using that man in black to threaten Huang Tian, but I went to check and found that Master Hong had punched him to death... Don't look at me like that, I don't mean anything against Master Hong. In any case, a person like Huang Tian wouldn't care about the life of a single disciple anyway! Let’s just do our best to make amends. Whatever demands Master Hong makes, even if he asks us to kneel before him, we will do it!"

Liang Zhanpeng nodded. "Alright, I understand what everyone wants. Be quiet, I’m calling Mr. Hong."