Chapter 121: The higher they are lifted, the harder they fall.

The invitation was delivered personally by Secretary Jin that morning.

Although Secretary Jin had not said much, her personal visit was enough to speak volumes. If nothing else, it confirmed that Meng Xinghe had not been lying to them. The previous cancellation of the partnership was merely a maneuver by the Meng family to avoid any conflict of interest.

"Secretary Jin delivering the invitation herself is proof of how much she values our Shen family. This time, our position is secure!" Grandmother Shen looked at the invitation in Shen Linglong’s hand with palpable excitement. She knew that the opportunity for the Shen family to soar to new heights had finally arrived.

The rest of the Shen family were equally jubilant. To them, this was a case of one person achieving success and the entire clan benefiting. As long as Shen Linglong could secure the Wanlicheng project, they would all be living in luxury, and perhaps even be able to walk with their heads held high throughout Dragon City!

"I actually thought this partnership would be canceled because of that country bumpkin!" Shen Qiushan let out a sigh of relief. "Luckily, it was just a false alarm."

At the mention of Chu Fei, the smiles on the Shen family members’ faces vanished, replaced by looks of pure disgust. Shen Linglong and Meng Xinghe, in particular, had been ruthlessly humiliated by Chu Fei at the last birthday banquet; there was no way they could forget that grudge.

"Who does that Chu Fei think he is?" Meng Xinghe said dismissively. "He only knows how to boast. He even claimed to be some chairman of the Chu Group? I’ve asked my brother, and he is definitely not the chairman!"

Ever since the birthday banquet, Meng Xinghe had been unable to reach Meng Ziyi, so he had asked Meng Kaiwen for help. Meng Kaiwen had been incredibly efficient; in less than a day, he had guaranteed Meng Xinghe that the project would be handed to the Shen family.

Now that the invitation was in their hands, the matter was effectively set in stone. It also indirectly proved that Chu Fei was no chairman; otherwise, the Shen family would never have received an invitation. Thus, even without asking his second brother, Meng Xinghe could conclude that Chu Fei had just been blowing hot air.

"I told you! How could that good-for-nothing hillbilly be a chairman?" As Shen Linglong disparaged Chu Fei, she did not forget to take a jab at Shen Miaoyu. "Only a fool like Shen Miaoyu would believe those deceptive lies of his. She even dared to threaten us with it—it’s absolutely ridiculous!"

Grandmother Shen snorted. "Don't mention that unfilial, rebellious daughter. I feel ashamed just hearing her name!"

"Exactly. Are there no other men in Dragon City? Why is she so determined to stay with a con artist?"

"It was the right choice to kick her out of the Shen family. Who knows how much shame she would have brought upon us later!"

"Linglong is the capable one. You’d think they were born to the same mother, yet the difference between them is like night and day!"

The Shen family members mocked her with biting irony. Only Jiang Hong sighed, not knowing how to speak up for her eldest daughter. As for Shen Linglong, she smiled sweetly and said, "I actually pity my sister. She’s both stupid and wicked. Do you think she’s suffering from delusions or madness, always thinking that bumpkin is the prince coming to save her?"

The room erupted into laughter at this, until Grandmother Shen waved her hand, signaling for silence. She looked at Meng Xinghe and said, "Xinghe, we owe this entirely to your second brother. When do you think I should host a dinner to invite him and Miss Meng for a casual meal?"

Although the invitation was secured, Grandmother Shen wanted to finalize the partnership before the banquet to ensure there were no lingering worries.

"Grandmother, I was just about to tell you," Meng Xinghe replied. "My second brother is coming to Dragon City tomorrow night to discuss the banquet proceedings with my eldest sister. Once they’re done talking, we can all have dinner together and finalize the deal then!"

Grandmother Shen nodded repeatedly. "That would be perfect! Simply perfect!"

***

After spending the day accompanying Jiang Yunqi at her classes, Chu Fei parted from her reluctantly in the evening. He picked up some groceries on the way home, though he would have preferred to stay with her longer—perhaps to trick her into getting a hotel room for the night.

However, ever since the events of the previous night, his phone had not stopped ringing. Meng Ziyi and Zhou Mi had been bombarding him with calls like their lives depended on it. They even threatened that if he didn't return, they would call Ye Qingcheng over.

Could a chauvinistic man like Chu Fei be threatened by two women? Well, yes, he could. After all, the destructive power of Ye Qingcheng was truly terrifying; if she were to descend upon Dragon City, no one would be left standing!

Thus, Chu Fei had no choice but to return home obediently and cook a good meal to appease his two senior sisters.

The moment he stepped through the door, he heard Meng Ziyi and Shen Miaoyu discussing the banquet, while Zhou Mi was cracking jokes on the side. Seeing Chu Fei return, all three women looked at him.

Zhou Mi spoke first. "So you remember how to come home! I thought you’d forgotten about this place entirely!"

"How could you say that? I could never forget you, Fourth Senior Sister!" Chu Fei said with a grin.

Meng Ziyi cleared her throat. Chu Fei immediately straightened up and added, "Or Third Senior Sister!"

Only then did Meng Ziyi stop dwelling on his overnight absence and asked curiously, "How much of what you said last night was true, and how much was a lie? Was Qi Yushu really the one who poisoned him?"

The Qi family and the Meng family had always had a good relationship. While Meng Ziyi would certainly side with Chu Fei in public, she still wanted to know the truth.

Before Chu Fei could answer, Zhou Mi exposed him. "Do you even need to ask? Knowing this little brat, it’s all fake!"

"Fourth Senior Sister, that’s a bit hurtful," Chu Fei said with a laugh. "It’s half-true and half-fake. The old man was indeed poisoned, but whether Qi Yushu was the one who did it is not certain."

Upon hearing the truth, Meng Ziyi said no more. It was the Qi family’s internal business, and there was no need for him to get involved. Besides, her little junior brother had saved Qi Wenshan's life, so in that regard, he hadn't completely sabotaged the Qi family.

"The banquet invitations have all been sent out," Shen Miaoyu said, maintaining her professional demeanor. "Is there anyone else on your end who needs an invitation?"

"Yes, send one to the Guan family," Chu Fei said concisely. "I intend to hand the Wanlicheng project to Song Yalan."

Shen Miaoyu frowned. After eavesdropping on Meng Ziyi over the past few days, she knew that Song Yalan was one of Chu Fei’s fiancées. She also knew that Chu Fei had appeared at the Guan residence the night before, which left her feeling rather sour.

"The Guan family’s strength is lacking. Are you sure you want to partner with them?" Shen Miaoyu sounded like she was offering professional advice, but she was secretly very displeased. "Don't let your judgment be clouded just because you’ve spent a few nights in bed with that widow. We have much better candidates to choose from!"

Chu Fei sensed the sarcasm in her tone, but he didn't care. He spread his hands and said, "If you put it that way, then my judgment was clouded long ago. After all, it was only after I slept with you that I decided to give the Shen family a chance, wasn't it?"

"Are you looking for a fight?" Shen Miaoyu snapped.

"You were the one looking for a fight first," Chu Fei retorted. "Why are you getting so worked up?"

Shen Miaoyu could only glare at him.

Meng Ziyi chimed in, "Speaking of the Shen family, I had Secretary Jin deliver their invitation this morning. They are probably popping champagne by now."

"That’s good. The higher they climb, the harder they’ll fall," Chu Fei said indifferently as he walked into the kitchen.

Meng Ziyi asked a rhetorical question: "My dear second brother is coming to Dragon City tomorrow night to discuss this with me. Do you think I should play the role of the 'brother-obsessed' sister?"

"No need to play a role," Chu Fei boasted shamelessly. "You can come and 'support' my second brother right now."

"Man, what did you say?" Meng Ziyi’s eyes turned cold as blades.

Chu Fei chuckled. "Nothing, nothing. I’m just cooking for you all."

Just then, a small head poked out from the side, and a soft, milky voice called out, "Chu Fei, I’m back."

"So you are." Chu Fei looked at Wennuan and smiled gently. "I haven't been home all day. Did you miss me?"

"Of course I did!" Wennuan replied without hesitation, then hesitated as if she wanted to say more.

"What's wrong?"

"...Did you miss me?"

Chu Fei had intended to tease her and say no, but seeing her expectant expression, his heart softened. "I did."

Wennuan immediately placed a hand over her heart and let out a long sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. "That’s good. I thought I was the only one at home secretly missing you."

This girl was too good at this. His hardened heart was instantly melted!

After dinner, Chu Fei returned to his room and picked up the black folder he hadn't touched for days. He discovered, just as he had expected, that one of the eyes had completely closed. This confirmed his theory: only by having his fiancées, like Song Yalan, fall for him wholeheartedly would he be able to break the seal.

Just as he was thinking this, the closed eye suddenly opened, its pupil transforming into an eerie black hole. A surge of dark energy shot out, piercing directly into Chu Fei’s mind...!