C3 Chapter 33

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Four solid thuds echoed.

The four men who had come to apprehend Chen Dong were swiftly knocked unconscious by his powerful punches.

"Damn it, damn it... you're a dead man... you..." The young man in the suit looked up, witnessing the scene, and erupted into a tirade of curses.

Chen Dong landed a punch on the suit-clad young man's face, instantly bringing tears and snot streaming down.

"This is for sending flowers to my wife." Chen Dong seized the young man and delivered a resounding slap.

"This is for drugging my wife."

"This is for trying to force yourself on my wife."

"This is for wearing that suit."

Slap after slap followed.

The young man's teeth were knocked out, his face swelling to resemble a pig's head, leaving him too dazed to comprehend why his choice of attire warranted a beating.

Chen Dong nonchalantly tossed the young man aside and approached Lee Susu.

Even in her unconscious state, Susu exuded a cold, haughty air that ignited a primal urge in men to dominate.

"You're not busy with clients now, are you? Meet me in the hotel's underground parking garage," Chen Dong sighed, pulling out the old driver's business card and phone to make a call.

"I'm still here in the garage, I'll meet you by the elevator," the old driver said with a tone of smug pride, as if he had anticipated Chen Dong's need for assistance.

After hanging up, Chen Dong was at a loss for words.

Man, that's some over-the-top enthusiasm from the old driver.

Chen Dong gently lifted Susu in his arms, her warmth and softness enveloping his senses, and her scent stirred something within him.

"Pal, I guess I'm helping you live out a dream," Chen Dong murmured with a low chuckle, reflecting on how his former self had never even touched Susu's hand, much less held her.

Susu moaned softly, her hands naturally finding their way around Chen Dong's neck, clinging tightly.

Feeling the softness against his chest, Chen Dong nearly lost control of his instincts.

He quickly exited the room and descended in the elevator directly to the second-level parking garage. True to his word, the old driver's taxi was there, waiting just a short distance from the elevator.

Throughout the ride, the old driver was engrossed in a one-sided conversation, while Chen Dong offered the occasional response.

"Dongdong's back. What's up with Susu?"

After knocking, Wang Lifang, Lee Susu's mother, opened the door to find Chen Dong cradling Lee Susu in his arms, prompting a tender smile from her.

"Susu's had a bit too much to drink. I'm going to put her to bed," Chen Dong said cheerfully. He always presented himself as well-behaved in front of Lee Yuan and Wang Lifang.

"Susu really should know better. If she can't handle her liquor, she should drink less. What if it affects her future children?" Wang Lifang grumbled as she helped open and close the door.

"Besides, Dongdong, it's about time you and Susu had a child. I'm eager to hold my grandchild," Wang Lifang added.

"Susu's swamped with work," Chen Dong replied offhandedly. He couldn't very well admit that he hadn't even held Lee Susu's hand in his former life.

"No matter how busy she is, having children is important," Wang Lifang said with dissatisfaction. "I need to have a serious talk with that girl."

"Cough." Chen Dong coughed awkwardly, unable to respond.

Once inside the bedroom, Chen Dong placed Lee Susu on the bed and breathed a sigh of relief. Wang Lifang's comments were tough to counter.

"Little Rong, was it really you who caused my death?" Chen Dong exhaled deeply, a bittersweet smile on his face. They had spent ten years side by side, weathering the good and the bad, building a vast business empire from scratch.

Had their relationship truly soured?

Chen Dong wasn't certain. He drifted off to sleep, vaguely aware of a soft body entwining with his, bringing him a measure of comfort.

"Chen Dong, you jerk! Who said you could sleep in my bed?"

A sharp yell jolted Chen Dong awake. He opened his eyes to Lee Susu's furious face inches from his own, her limbs entangled with his.

"It seems you're the one holding me," Chen Dong said with an innocent expression. He then remembered that Lee Susu liked to cuddle a large pillow in her sleep, and it seemed she had mistaken him for one.

"This is my bed. Get off," Lee Susu demanded, withdrawing her limbs. For some reason, her cheeks were flushed. It was the first time she had been this close to a man, and despite her anger, she felt an unexpected sense of safety.

"I saved your life yesterday. Even if I'm not your husband, offering my life in return isn't too much to ask, right?" Chen Dong said, grinning. But the look in Lee Susu's eyes made him quickly get up from the bed.

"Saved my life? Last night? You were following me!" Lee Susu's eyes widened in shock. She had been groggy the day before but still had some recollection. Chen Dong's reminder brought everything into sharp focus.

"If the company is really running low on stock, I could lend a hand," Chen Dong offered, somewhat exasperated by Lee Susu's reaction. She had nearly been assaulted, yet she was more concerned about him following her. She was missing the point.

"And how exactly can you help?" Lee Susu asked, her tone icy. She noticed Chen Dong sitting on the edge of the bed, scribbling something with a pen.

"There's no need to plead with that monster. If you're out of options, call this number and say you're a friend of Chen Dong. If he doubts you, remind him of the days we used to cross swords," Chen Dong said as he ripped out a page from his notebook and handed it to Lee Susu.

"Mind your own business," Lee Susu retorted, though after a brief pause, she took the paper and tucked it into her bag. Regardless, she couldn't deny that if Chen Dong hadn't shown up last night, the outcome could have been dire.

Chen Dong's lips curled into a satisfied smile. This was a promising beginning.

After Lee Susu left for work, Chen Dong's face turned grave. He grabbed a baseball bat and headed out the door.

Outside the Lee family's villa, several vans had pulled up, disgorging about fifty burly men, each wielding a black baton.

The villa's security guards kept their distance, making no move to intervene.

The man leading the group, despite being smartly dressed, had his head wrapped in bandages and wore a mask, which did little to hide the severe swelling of his face.

"Chu Yun wants that good-for-nothing beaten to a pulp," the suited man spoke with a lisp, his words barely intelligible through the gaps where teeth used to be.

As the suited man finished speaking, a group of individuals forcefully broke through the gates of the Lee family's villa.