Chapter 86: Damn, I Can’t Stand People Who Pretend!

All those years atop Dragon Roaring Mountain, Chu Fei had mastered far more than medicine; in fact, his skills in physiognomy surpassed his medical expertise. Though many nowadays exploit the guise of physiognomy to swindle money, it is the people who deceive, not the art itself. Physiognomy is not mere trickery. Otherwise, why would the Book of Changes be revered as the foremost classic of the Longxia Empire, the source of all wisdom? Behind every phenomenon lies its eternal order; physiognomy is but a means to deduce these rules. At the end of science lies metaphysics.

Yet Chu Fei seldom read faces. He regarded peering into another’s fate as a tasteless act, best avoided—unless he encountered someone like Qi Yushu, whose misfortune was so palpable it could not be ignored. After all, with his own luck so abysmal, was it not comforting to glimpse someone whose fate was even worse?

Qi Yushu was furious upon hearing Chu Fei’s words. He jabbed a finger at Chu Fei. “You damn bastard, you dare curse me!”

“Believe it or not.” Chu Fei grinned. “If you die, remember to invite me to your family’s banquet.”

If Meng Ziyi weren’t present, Qi Yushu would undoubtedly have taught Chu Fei a lesson. But given the current situation, he couldn’t make a move. “Kid, you’d better watch yourself!” Qi Yushu’s anger turned to mockery. “Meng Ziyi won’t protect you forever. When she’s not around, you’d best not fall into my hands!”

With that threat, Qi Yushu followed Qi Wenshan out. Back in the car, he was still indignant. “Meng Ziyi must have brought that brat here just to disgust us. And to think we helped her bring down the Xiang family!”

People who are self-centered never admit their own faults; they always cast blame elsewhere. Especially families like the Qi clan, local tyrants with pride to spare—they could hardly endure being challenged by a young upstart.

“Ziyi is a good child; she cares about me,” Qi Wenshan sighed. “I suppose she’s been deceived by that arrogant brat.”

“Someone like that, left by her side, will surely harm her in the end!” Qi Xueqing perked up at these words. “Why don’t I go help Sister Meng teach that little bastard a lesson, so he learns what it means to behave himself?”

“Forget it,” Qi Wenshan shook his head. “This matter is already ugly enough; don’t make it worse. Besides, with that kid’s temperament, he’ll offend the wrong person sooner or later, and won’t even know how he died.”

In the martial world, brash youths like Chu Fei who know no bounds die every year without count. In Qi Wenshan’s view, Chu Fei would be no exception.

“But I really can’t stand that foul-mouthed guy!” Qi Xueqing gritted her teeth. “He not only cursed Grandpa, but also said Uncle would suffer a bloody disaster—what a joke!”

“Uncle is a proper Second Rank Martial Lord; who could possibly harm him?” Qi Yushu sneered. “That brat just wants to scare us so we’ll beg him. Laughable—our Qi family isn’t so easily fooled!”

“Enough!” Qi Wenshan interjected. “If a dog bites you, do you bite it back?”

“These next few days, we should—”

He had barely started when a sharp pain pierced his chest, contorting his face in agony and leaving him unable to finish his sentence.

“Grandpa, what’s wrong?” Qi Xueqing looked at him worriedly. “Could that guy have actually been right?”

Qi Wenshan fished a pill from his pocket and swallowed it. Soon, he recovered, letting out a relieved breath. “Impossible, just an old ailment acting up.”

“Girl, you haven’t let that kid scare you, have you?” Qi Yushu teased.

Qi Xueqing snorted. “That freeloader couldn’t fool me. All he knows is how to sponge off others and run his mouth—what else is he good for?”

Their laughter filled the car, oblivious to the calamity soon to befall them.

After the Qi family departed, Shen Miaoyu finally dared to speak. She looked at Chu Fei, curiosity brimming. “Is the old man really going to die within three days?”

“If not for Third Senior Sister, he wouldn’t survive the day,” Chu Fei replied sourly. “Damn, I hate people who pretend to be superior.”

Zhou Mi chuckled. “Relax, he’ll come begging soon enough.”

“Begging?” Chu Fei rolled his eyes. “He’s not worthy.”

“But is he really sick, or were you just scaring him?” Shen Miaoyu pressed.

Zhou Mi answered confidently, “Little Brother never jokes about such things. If he says the old man won’t last three days, then he won’t last three days.”

“And the bloody disaster—is that real too?” Shen Miaoyu was like an eager child.

“It’s real,” Meng Ziyi said, picking up her phone and dialing. “Hello, arrange for a few people to rough up Qi Yushu—a bloody lesson.”

Shen Miaoyu fell silent. So that’s how the bloody disaster would come.

“No need,” Chu Fei snatched the phone from Meng Ziyi. “Third Sister, don’t get entangled in this karma. It’ll only bring trouble; someone else will handle him.”

Meng Ziyi gave up on her plan to punish Qi Yushu.

She looked at Chu Fei, a hint of apology in her eyes. “Little Brother, I didn’t expect—”

“Oh, come now!” Chu Fei said cheerfully. “We’re siblings—no need for such words.”

“By the way, Secretary Jin should have told you about the Shen family matter, right?”

Before Meng Ziyi could respond, her phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and frowned, but still answered.

“Yes, I’ll send an invitation to the Shen family. Right, the cooperation will be announced as theirs…”

After the call, Shen Miaoyu asked, “President Meng, who was that?”

“My idiot father,” Meng Ziyi replied irritably. “I bet it was that fool Meng Xinghe—no, he lacks the brains; it must be Meng Kaiwen.”

“He and that foxy mother of his persuaded my lust-driven father that the Wanlicheng project must cooperate with the Shen family!”

In the past, Shen Miaoyu would have been delighted by this news. Now, with her faith in the Shen family shattered, she felt nothing but unease—and a whiff of conspiracy.

The Wanlicheng project had always been managed by Meng Ziyi, with little interference from the Meng family. Yet just as the project was about to begin, they pulled this stunt—not simply because they valued the Shen family.

In truth, those below fought tooth and nail for the Wanlicheng project, while those above battled for authority and influence. This was merely a probe into Meng Ziyi’s depths.

Shen Miaoyu couldn’t help but ask, “Will you do as they say, President Meng?”

“Take a guess.” Meng Ziyi exchanged a knowing glance with Chu Fei; their understanding was silent but complete.

Elsewhere, Song Yalan had slept poorly last night. All night, her mind churned—was Chu Fei disgusted by her age? Or perhaps women who are too easily won are never cherished. It had only been a few days, and he was already tired of her!

Across from her, Tan Yingyao watched the distracted, alluring woman and couldn’t help but speak, “President Song, if there are no issues with the contract, shall we sign?”