C5 Chapter 5

A man in a floral shirt opened the door, only to be met with a familiar face. For a moment, he was so taken aback that he forgot to alert the person inside.

"Are you finished yet? Is your mom just standing at the door like an idiot?" The young man, his temper explosive, wasn't satisfied with just shouting; he hurled the teacup from the table toward the doorway.

Chen Dong caught the teacup, feeling its weight. It was heavy enough to leave a serious dent if it hit someone's head. Narrowing his eyes, he remarked, "We really need to address that temper of yours, young master."

The man in the floral shirt, clearly involved in the previous incident, went weak at the knees upon seeing Chen Dong. He turned his head, stuttering, "Chu... Chu Yun... it's that..."

"That what?" Chen Dong slapped the man's cheek, pushing his head aside as he strutted into the room. He wasn't just some 'that one'; he had a name. "I'm Chen. You can call me Dong."

"Dong, my foot! You're nothing but trash!" Chu Yun fumed at the thought of being bested by someone he considered worthless. His rage turned his face crimson as he bellowed, "Where is my crew? How could they let this nobody through? They're all a bunch of useless idiots!"

As Chu Yun ranted, Chen Dong confidently approached him, grabbed his collar, and hoisted him up, patting his face mockingly. "Quite a plump face you've got there. Seems like you're well-fed with nothing better to do."

Couldn't he just stick to his legitimate business?

Why was he after his wife? Chen Dong felt a chill; the wife of his former self was now his own, and the title was becoming increasingly fitting.

"What do you think you're doing? I'm warning you..." Chu Yun's voice trailed off, his bravado slipping away as he frantically kicked out and called for help, "Where is everyone? Get up here and take this guy down!"

The sound of leather shoes clattering against the floor echoed from the hallway as a gang of menacing figures, armed with iron rods, took their positions at the doorway.

A gleam sparked in Chu Yun's eyes as he found his confidence. He stepped off the couch, forcefully pulling his hand away from Chen Dong's grasp, and coldly commanded, "Take care of him."

The man in the suit cautiously approached, his leather shoes clicking on the floor. He was hidden among the burly men, shrinking back until he could assess the room's dynamics and seize the opportunity to act.

The burly men exchanged uneasy glances. They had been warned by their returning brothers that not one among the group was to be taken lightly. Accustomed to minor scuffles while serving the young master, they now faced a formidable opponent. Their hands alternately tightened and loosened around the iron rods they held.

Was he truly that fearsome? Chen Dong touched his nose and strode toward the door. The sight seemed to startle the burly men, who stumbled backward in succession. Amused, Chen Dong feigned a punch, sending them scattering like startled birds, leaving only the man in the suit standing, nervously swallowing. "Dong, please, calm down."

"Fools! Imbeciles!" Chu Yun raged, hopping mad. His already pallid face contorted with fury as he clenched his teeth, "Chen, if you lay a finger on me, I swear I'll have the Lee family wiped out by tomorrow!"

His threats were meant to be heeded, but to those who shouldn't, they were nothing more than a joke. However, they had reached Chen Dong's ears, and he despised threats above all else.

The room fell silent, save for the hum of the air conditioner, which seemed to drop the temperature several degrees, sending a chill up from the floor.

"Really?" Chen Dong's patience had worn thin. With a cold smirk, he advanced step by step toward Chu Yun and landed a solid punch on his nose. The frail Chu Yun cradled his nose as he collapsed, convulsing on the ground, yet still managed to point a trembling finger at Chen Dong, "You... you... stay back..."

Did he think that would stop Chen Dong?

Did he assume Chen Dong was without temper?

The punch, heavy as a sandbag, landed squarely on the right side of the young man's face, eliciting a pitiful yelp from Chu Yun. His previous injuries hadn't fully healed, and now he bore fresh wounds.

"Aren't you supposed to be tough?"

"Thought you could wipe out a whole family, mafia-style!"

"See how arrogant you are now! See how arrogant!"

Lil' Dragon, standing at the doorway, heard the yelling and instinctively shrank back, covering his eyes with his hands, not daring to watch any further. He felt some relief that he had chosen the right side to be on.

Chu Yun was out of options. After taking punch after punch, he was reduced to a quivering heap on the floor, a shadow of his former imposing self.

Chen Dong spat on the ground with disdain. "This weakling still dreams of wiping out a family?" He took a seat on a chair and dusted off his hands. "I'd advise you to wise up and back off from Susu Fashion immediately!"

The man on the floor was in so much pain that he curled up into a ball, seemingly oblivious to Chen Dong's words. Chen Dong narrowed his eyes and lifted his leg to continue his assault on Chu Yun. But before his foot could come down, Chu Yun raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, I'll get someone on it right away."

"What are you doing?!" The clatter of high heels announced Lee Susu's arrival at the door, where she gave Lil' Dragon a polite nod.

Who would dare to step in now? Afraid of crossing Dong? Lil' Dragon shrank back even further, clearing the way with a deferential, almost servile manner. Lee Susu, however, was oblivious to this shift in demeanor. Her eyes, filled with alarm, landed on Chu Yun crumpled on the floor. She hurried forward in her heels to help him up. "Chu... Chu Yun... are you okay?"

Why had she come? Chen Dong's brow furrowed, and he held his tongue. It was always better to keep such unsightly brawls out of women's sight.

"Aren't you already living it up with the Lee family? Why come out and stir up trouble for me?" Lee Susu's face turned from pale to a furious shade of blue. She had been informed by her mother of someone causing a scene at their home, and with the unexplained pressures on her work, she had a pretty good idea of what was happening.

She hadn't expected to be too late. Now, seeing Chu Yun beaten to a pulp, she feared her carefully built business might crumble to dust. And she had her so-called 'husband' to thank for it! Aside from wining and dining, he seemed to excel at nothing but causing trouble.

"Please, let me explain," Chen Dong said, licking his dry lips. He struggled to organize his thoughts. Where should he begin? Perhaps it would be better for someone else to explain. He gestured to Xiaolong, "You, come here and explain."

Xiaolong was taken aback by the sudden attention, hesitating as he stepped forward, "Uh..."

"I don't want to hear any explanations!" Lee Susu helped Chu Yun to his feet, shooting Chen Dong a frosty look. With a dismissive tone, she declared, "Chen Dong! As of today, you are banished from the Lee family!"

Chen Dong's face betrayed his frustration as he clutched at his chest, feeling a sharp pang. It seemed his former self still harbored some affection for his wife. He shrugged sheepishly.

Could it be that he was being unfairly accused?