Chapter 110: A Failed Business Negotiation (Adding a Bookshelf to Avoid Losing the Book)

In a five-star hotel suite in Qingdian City, Zhuang Yousong, president of the Shangjiang-based Zhuang Group, lay in bed discussing next year’s procurement plan with a female business manager from their partner, the Tianguang Group. Though the manager was not particularly well-versed in the technicalities of the business, she was a striking beauty with an enviable figure, which laid a solid foundation for their budding cooperation.

However, this pleasant atmosphere was abruptly shattered by the piercing ring of a cell phone. Zhuang Yousong threw on some clothes and picked up the device, realizing it was his wife, Ou Manrong. He signaled for the manager to remain silent, lest any sensitive trade secrets be overheard.

"Old Zhuang, our son, Zhuang Wei, has been in a car accident!"

Ou Manrong’s first sentence sent Zhuang Yousong bolting upright. "Is he alright?" he asked urgently. Although Zhuang Wei was not his only son, he was the eldest and the heir to the entire Zhuang family empire.

"He passed out! I’m transferring him to the First Hospital right now. You need to come back and check on him immediately!"

Her second sentence instantly extinguished any interest Zhuang Yousong had in discussing business with the manager. "Alright! I’m booking a flight back now!"

He hung up, threw on his clothes, and ignored the manager’s resentful gaze. After saying a hasty farewell, he instructed his secretary to book the next available flight from Qingdian City back to Shangjiang.

By daybreak, Zhuang Yousong arrived at the intensive care unit of Shangjiang First Hospital. Inside the ward, Zhuang Wei sat on his hospital bed, surrounded by Zhuang Yousong, Ou Manrong, and Uncle Fang, the head butler of the Zhuang estate.

After the ambulance had brought Zhuang Wei to the hospital near the accident site the previous day, Ou Manrong had rushed over and used her connections to transfer her son to the best facility in the city. Since arriving at the First Hospital, Zhuang Wei had slowly regained consciousness, but Ou Manrong, still uneasy, had insisted on a full battery of tests. The results showed no major injuries—only a mild concussion—and the doctor recommended a three-day observation period.

Seeing his son safe, Zhuang Yousong finally exhaled. He turned to the butler and asked, "How did Wei end up in this accident?"

Uncle Fang looked troubled. In truth, he still hadn’t fully grasped the details of the crash. However, one does not become the head butler of the Zhuang family without being resourceful. He carefully synthesized the information he had gathered from Zhuang Wei and the driver, Wang Xingsheng.

"There was a major traffic jam yesterday," Fang said cautiously. "Young Master’s driver tried to overtake using the opposite lane, and they were rammed and flipped by an oncoming vehicle."

"Flipped?" Zhuang Yousong blinked. In a city, flipping an oncoming vehicle was nearly impossible. "What car was the other party driving?"

"A pink Jaguar."

"And what was Wei driving yesterday?"

"That modified Hummer."

Zhuang Yousong gasped. Had it been anyone other than the typically reliable Uncle Fang, he would never have believed it. He turned to Zhuang Wei for confirmation, but his son had no interest in discussing the matter. In his mind, the fault lay entirely with the driver, Wang Xingsheng. He planned to order his secretary to fire Wang immediately. The very idea that he had once considered hiring him as a personal assistant now seemed laughable—he certainly didn't need an assistant who could manage to flip a Hummer.

"Dad, the driver of that car was an acquaintance," Zhuang Wei said, changing the subject, which served as a tacit admission.

"An acquaintance? Who?"

"The driver for Wei Xueying of the Swan Group—the one who beat up the Sha brothers you arranged for me last time!"

"Him again?" Zhuang Yousong mused.

"I don't care who he is, Yousong! You need to avenge Wei!" Ou Manrong interjected. While Zhuang Wei wasn't her only son, she would never tolerate such an indignity.

"Shut up! You talk too much!" Having just spent time with the younger manager, Zhuang Yousong found his wife—a woman aging past the bloom of youth—rather repulsive.

"Zhuang Yousong, don't you dare go too far!" Ou Manrong snapped, shocked by her husband's sudden outburst. Without waiting for a reply, she turned to the butler. "Uncle Fang, find someone to teach that driver a lesson!"

Uncle Fang hesitated, glancing toward Zhuang Yousong.

"Go ahead," Zhuang Yousong waved a hand. "Just find someone reliable and make sure it doesn't turn into a homicide." He hadn't wanted to pursue this, as his son was fine and the group had suffered no losses, but he didn't want to argue with his wife over such a triviality.

"Understood," Fang nodded. Having served the Zhuang family for many years, he had more than enough connections. Finding someone to handle a driver who knew a bit of martial arts was hardly a challenge.

At that moment, the driver they were discussing had just dropped off Wei Xueying at the Swan International Building. Following her instructions, Hua Tianyue took the Jaguar to be repaired. While the dent in the bumper didn't affect performance, it was bad for the company's image for the president to be seen in a damaged car.

When he finished work that evening, he followed Wei Xueying’s orders again, retrieving Wei Jiacheng’s Mercedes from the garage to take her home, before driving the car back to Jinhai Garden.

Upon his return, Tian Li didn't pounce on him as usual. Instead, she sat on the sofa, looking hesitant and conflicted, which left Lin Lin thoroughly confused. Tian Li had spent all day wrestling with a dilemma: should she ride on the back of Hua Tianyue's bike for the evening’s race? She couldn't forget the adrenaline of the previous night’s speed, and since she was the protagonist of tonight's race, she felt she had to go, even though she dreaded the experience.

At dinner, with Shu Yue present, Tian Li was even more reserved, barely uttering ten words throughout the meal. Shu Yue found her behavior inexplicable; the usually chatterbox Tian Li seemed like a completely different person.