Upon receiving Yang Chen's order, Ma Chao flicked his finger, sending a small stone flying toward the signboard bearing the four large characters.
**"Bang!"**
The sign reading "First Residence" crashed to the ground, shattering into pieces.
The staff inside hadn't even processed what was happening when they saw the sign break apart, their faces paling in shock.
**"What do you think you're doing?"**
A man wearing a manager's badge on his chest stepped forward, his face twisted in fury.
**"Scram!"**
Ma Chao strode forward and kicked the manager, sending him flying.
**"Boom!"**
With a loud crash, the manager slammed into the wine cabinet behind the front desk, smashing countless expensive bottles. Liquor spilled everywhere.
It was the peak business hour for the nightclub. Many patrons panicked and fled at the sight of trouble, though a few bold ones lingered in the distance, watching the spectacle unfold.
**"Who the hell are you? How dare you cause trouble at First Residence? You've got a death wish!"** Over a dozen burly men charged downstairs, the leader brandishing a baton as he roared at Yang Chen.
Yang Chen couldn't help but laugh. These men must be new hires by Xiong Wei—they didn't even recognize him, despite the incident that had happened just the night before.
**"First Residence? Is it supposed to be impressive?"** Yang Chen smirked coldly.
**"Damn it! Get them!"** The leader bellowed, and the dozen men rushed at Yang Chen and Ma Chao, swinging their batons.
Without needing orders, Ma Chao lunged forward.
His movements were ghostly. With a single punch—**"Bang!"**—one man was sent flying. His attacks were swift and precise. In just over ten seconds, all the men were sprawled on the ground.
Everyone stared at Ma Chao in horror. Taking down over a dozen men in mere seconds—was this even human?
**"If you value your lives, stay out of my way. Today, I'm only here for Xiong Wei,"** Yang Chen said indifferently before turning to sit at the bar.
---
On the top floor of First Residence, Xiong Wei was partying with a group in a private room when an employee suddenly burst in.
**"Brother Xiong! It's bad—they're causing trouble again!"** the young man cried in panic.
**"Damn it!"** Xiong Wei grabbed the man by the collar and snarled, **"Who the hell are you talking about?"**
**"It's those two from last night!"** The employee's face was deathly pale.
**"What?!"** Xiong Wei flung the man aside, his face contorted in rage. **"Didn't they get into a car accident?!"**
He had gone to great lengths to orchestrate that "accident." Just moments ago, he'd been boasting that Yang Chen would be dead or disabled—only to be proven wrong instantly.
**"Goddamn it! Let's see if you really have three heads and six arms, daring to mess with my turf again!"** Xiong Wei stormed out with his men.
When he reached the lobby, the entire place was already wrecked. The sound of destruction continued, and what infuriated him most was that the ones doing the smashing were his own men.
**"Stop, all of you!"** Xiong Wei roared, his liver nearly exploding from fury.
**"Keep smashing. Whoever stops, I'll smash them instead."**
When Xiong Wei arrived, the thugs who had been beaten down by Ma Chao hesitated—until Yang Chen's chilling voice rang out like a demon's command.
Xiong Wei's face darkened. Not a single person listened to him. In fact, they started smashing even more frantically.
**"Yang Chen!"**
Xiong Wei's eyes burned with hatred as he glared at Yang Chen. **"What the hell do you want?"**
**"Boss Xiong, you know exactly why I'm here,"** Yang Chen replied icily.
**"Tell them to stop first, then we'll talk,"** Xiong Wei gritted out.
**"Negotiate with me? You're not worthy."** Yang Chen's aura turned murderous. If he hadn't reacted quickly earlier, that Jeep would have T-boned his car, with catastrophic consequences.
In just a few minutes, countless bottles of premium liquor were shattered, and high-end furniture was reduced to splinters. The financial loss was staggering for Xiong Wei.
But worse than the loss was the humiliation—his own men were being forced to destroy his property in front of a crowd, a brutal slap to his face.
**"What do I have to do to make them stop?"** Xiong Wei took a deep breath, struggling to keep his voice level.
**"You tried to kill me, and now you're asking what I want?"**
Yang Chen's rage erupted. He grabbed a bottle from the bar and hurled it.
**"Bang!"**
The bottle struck Xiong Wei's head, shattering. Alcohol and blood streamed down his face.
The crowd gasped. This was Xiong Wei—boss of First Residence and a member of the Xiong family, one of Jiangzhou's elite clans. Not only had his establishment been trashed, but he'd also been struck in the head.
**"Drag him here,"** Yang Chen ordered.
Ma Chao strode over, grabbed Xiong Wei—now limp as a dead dog—and tossed him at Yang Chen's feet.
**"This is your last chance. If there's a next time, I'll make sure you live to regret it."** Yang Chen pressed his foot against Xiong Wei's chest, his voice glacial.
**"Boom!"**
With a kick, Xiong Wei was sent flying over ten meters, crashing through several tables before losing consciousness.
Yang Chen and Ma Chao turned and left. Not a single soul dared to stop them.
---
**"Brother Chen, that bastard nearly got Sister-in-law killed. Why not just finish him?"** Ma Chao grumbled as they walked away.
Yang Chen shook his head. **"This is Jiangzhou, not the Northern Frontier. We have to be measured in our actions."**
**"Understood!"**
By the time they left First Residence, Xiong Wei had already been rushed to the hospital by his men.
---
In a VIP room at Jiangzhou First People's Hospital, a well-dressed man stared at the unconscious Xiong Wei, his face stormy.
**"Find out who that kid really is. How dare he lay a hand on my son, Xiong Boren? I want him dead!"** Xiong Boren bellowed.
**"Yes, sir!"** A subordinate hurried out.
---
Meanwhile, Yang Chen had returned to Cloud Peak Summit.
Fresh out of the shower, he received a WeChat message from Qin Xi:
**"Starting tomorrow, I'll be working at Sanhe Group as a new employee. You are not to interfere with my work."**
Reading it, Yang Chen smiled wryly. At the Starlight Garden Hotel rooftop, he had revealed his identity and offered Sanhe Group to Qin Xi, but she had refused.
Now that she was finally willing to return, she insisted on starting from the bottom.
After a brief hesitation, he replied: **"Okay."**
At least it was a step forward.
On the other end, Qin Xi curled her lips slightly at his response. **"I'll climb back to the top on my own merit,"** she murmured to herself.
---
Early the next morning, Old Master Qin, still hospitalized, finally received good news.
**"Chairman, it's a miracle! Sanhe Group stepped in to resolve the Qin family's crisis and even initiated a partnership. The Qin family is saved!"** an elder of Qin Corporation exclaimed excitedly.
**"Is this true?"** The old man sat up abruptly.
The elder, tears in his eyes, handed over a contract. **"Sanhe Group has already signed. Once you countersign, the deal is official. The factory seals have been lifted, and the companies that abandoned us are crawling back!"**
**"Hahaha! Good! Heaven has blessed the Qin family!"** The old man trembled with joy.
**"Father, it's all thanks to Xiao Fei that we survived this crisis,"** a lavishly dressed middle-aged woman interjected.
It was Qin Fei's mother, Lin Xuelian.
The old man's jubilant expression darkened instantly.
**"Do you also want to be disowned?"** he snapped.
Lin Xuelian quickly backtracked. **"Father, that's not what I meant. Think about it—Xiao Fei's scandal brought shame, but it also inadvertently advertised the Qin family. Otherwise, we wouldn't have attracted so much attention. Please give him another chance. He won't disappoint you."**
**"Chairman, Xiao Fei was framed. He's your only grandson. If he's exiled, what future does the Qin family have?"** the elder added, pleading for Qin Fei.
Over the past days, the old man had reflected deeply. Disowning Qin Fei had been a decision made in anger. After all, Qin Fei was his sole heir. But having spoken the words, he couldn't easily take them back.
Now, with Lin Xuelian and the elder giving him an out, he relented coldly, **"Fine. Since this incident inadvertently helped the company, I'll give him one last chance. If he embarrasses the family again, even if it means the Qin line ends with me, I'll cast him out."**
Lin Xuelian beamed. **"Thank you, Father! I'll keep a close eye on him. He won't slip up again."**
When Qin Fei learned he'd been forgiven, he wasn't surprised. He knew his grandfather valued lineage above all else—exile was never a real possibility.
**"Yang Chen, just you wait. One day, I'll make you pay,"** Qin Fei muttered, his face twisted in malice.
With the crisis resolved, the Qin family was euphoric.
---
Yang Chen soon received a call from Luo Bin.
**"Chairman, as you instructed, the Qin family's crisis has been fully resolved."**
**"Good."**
Had it not been for Qin Xi's plea, the Qin family would have been history the night before.
As soon as he hung up, another call came in—this time from Qin Yi.
**"Yang Chen, are you free this afternoon?"**
To his surprise, it was Qin Yi.