Two grown men who start bickering the moment they meet

Better tone it down, or else I won't mind if you stay here tonight. Lin Yang's icy voice sounded like a demon straight from hell.

It was a threat, a naked, heavily murderous threat, yet Fang Tianyou stubbornly lacked the courage to raise a finger and shout back in veiled curses and counterattacks.

Under the oppressive weight of Lin Yang's superior killing intent, Fang Tianyou felt a deep sense of defeat. This was the second time since encountering that person that he felt the threat of death imposed by someone else.

Believing himself to be no match for Lin Yang, Fang Tianyou chose silence, lowering his head and muttering words the others couldn't quite understand: "Damn it, a monster. This kid must be a monster. I used to think that guy was monster enough, but I never expected to run into another one today. Where is justice? Is there any justice left?"

Well, facing Fang Tianyou's overreaction and listening to his incoherent mumbling, Lin Yang was momentarily stunned. He had initially thought his performance was just a bit too overbearing, his aura of dominance frightening the guy off. But upon closer listening, Lin Yang couldn't help but knit his brows.

Fang Tianyou's murmurs were quiet, but just because others couldn't hear didn't mean Lin Yang couldn't. Listening closely, Lin Yang managed to glean some meaning between the lines.

A monster? Lin Yang had never imagined anyone would evaluate him that way, but who could this other monster Fang Tianyou was talking about be? Clearly, this wasn't the time to press the matter. Turning his gaze to Zhu Yunyun, who had recovered and regained her rosy complexion, he asked with concern, "Elder Sister Yunyun, how are you feeling now?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine." Glancing at Fang Tianyou—who had just been severely chewed out by Lin Yang and now sat crestfallen, furious yet daring not speak—Zhu Yunyun forced a smile that looked worse than crying and whispered.

"As long as you're fine, as long as you're fine." Seeing that Zhu Yunyun was alright, Lin Yang finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, regarding the transaction, he felt a massive headache coming on, unsure of how to handle it. Before he could even begin to explain the deal, Zhu Yunyun spoke up first.

"Xiao Yang, this won't do. Absolutely not." Zhu Yunyun's opposition was resolute. Her bright, expressive eyes stared fixedly at the brocade cloth contract in Lin Yang's hand, looking ready to snatch it and tear it to shreds at any moment.

The atmosphere instantly plunged into tension, and Zhu Yunyun's stubbornness came to the surface. Her tone left no room for compromise, even if—even if she was merely a passerby in this.

The people present were at a complete loss. The primary issue was that Zhu Yunyun's identity as the daughter of the municipal party secretary was far too sensitive. With her firmly opposing the deal, Lin Yang started to grow anxious. He hadn't forgotten that Secretary Zhu was on his way over, and what they were currently negotiating involved someone from the Fang family. It was common knowledge that Secretary Zhu and the Fang family had a tense relationship. If Secretary Zhu were to walk in and see people from the Fang family inside the villa about to sign an agreement with him, heaven only knew what kind of catastrophe might happen.

People often fear the very thing they dread, and sure enough, just as Lin Yang worried about Secretary Zhu arriving and witnessing the scene, the sound of a car pulling up right to the villa's main gate reached them.

The car paused briefly at the gate before driving straight in. Recognizing the iconic official government sedan—a Passat—Lin Yang became even more certain that Secretary Zhu had arrived.

"Secretary Zhu," the people present murmured in unison.

Hearing that it was the number one figure of Jinhai, an enemy of the Fang family, Fang Tianyou's expression turned decidedly ugly. If there was anyone he disliked and wished to avoid dealing with the most, it was Secretary Zhu.

Yet since the man had already arrived, he couldn't possibly hide! Running away and losing face like that was something Fang Tianyou simply couldn't do.

Accompanied by a hearty laugh, Secretary Zhu stepped inside. Despite his slender build, his stride was vigorous and strong, showing him to be an intellectual who understood the art of wellness and health preservation.

As the host, hospitality was naturally required. Courtesy was the foundation passed down by the ancestors of the Huaxia race, and one must never forget their roots. Setting the matters of Zhu Yunyun and Fang Tianyou temporarily aside, Lin Yang stood up to welcome the incoming Secretary Zhu.

Conversations were inevitable. Despite the unpleasantness of their previous encounter, Secretary Zhu did not display any dissatisfaction toward Lin Yang on the surface. Instead, his attitude was amiable, proving him to be quite adept at putting on a pleasant front.

"Secretary Zhu," Lin Yang greeted politely, guiding him into the living room where everyone was seated.

"Where is it? May this old man have a look first?" Secretary Zhu was truly an impatient fellow with little forbearance. Meeting him meant getting straight to the point, looking as though he wouldn't rest easy until he laid eyes on the evidence.

Had Fang Tianyou not been present, Lin Yang would have unhesitatingly handed the obtained evidence over to Secretary Zhu. But now, with a pending agreement to strike with the Fang family, letting Secretary Zhu inspect it right away posed a delicate problem, leaving Lin Yang momentarily at a loss.

Just as Lin Yang was racking his brain for a win-win solution, a rich wave of hostility suddenly radiated from Secretary Zhu beside him. Lin Yang had always been sensitive, and ever since his practice of the *Thirteen Heavenly Spirits Blades* reached the fifth blade and nearly touched the sixth, his perception had surpassed its previous limits. The moment Secretary Zhu's hostility flared, he caught it.

Gazes collided as if sparking flames; Secretary Zhu and Fang Tianyou locked eyes.

"Fang Tianyou?"

"Secretary Zhu."

Secretary Zhu sounded extremely surprised to see Fang Tianyou, whereas Fang Tianyou appeared exceptionally calm. By comparison, Secretary Zhu's composure fell slightly short.

Confirming that his eyes weren't playing tricks on him and that this truly was Fang Tianyou of the Fang family, Secretary Zhu's expression darkened instantly. He turned his head to glare at Lin Yang, whose face bore an awkward expression, and demanded coldly, "What is he doing here?" His tone was chillingly harsh, clearly extremely displeased to find someone from the Fang family here.

"Hmph, what am I doing here? Is this your home, perchance? Do I need your permission to go places, Secretary Zhu?" Faced with Secretary Zhu's cold hostility, Fang Tianyou didn't budge an inch, snapping right back. He practically gnashed his teeth on the final title "Secretary Zhu," wishing he could step forward and tear the man apart alive.

Seeing the two of them start bickering the moment they met gave Lin Yang a splitting headache. Siding with either one would inevitably offend the other.

Fang Tianyou's retort was watertight. Fuming with displeasure, Secretary Zhu let out a cold snort, turned back to Lin Yang, and interrogated him once more, "Lin Yang, can you explain to me what this bastard is doing here and what his intentions are?"

Before Lin Yang could offer an explanation, Zhu Yunyun stood up from the sofa and walked right over to her father. "Dad, Fang Tianyou plans to trade the operating rights of Fang Family Pharmaceuticals in Jinhai City in exchange for the evidence in Xiao Yang's hands."

With Zhu Yunyun cutting in first, a huge weight lifted from Lin Yang's heart. Truth be told, had he been forced to explain, he wouldn't even have known where to begin.

"What?!" Hearing Zhu Yunyun's words, Secretary Zhu flew into a rage. His gloomy gaze locked dead onto Lin Yang as he demanded, "Is this what you're doing?"

"Yes." Lin Yang's reply was resolute, completely unfazed by the domineering aura radiating from Secretary Zhu.

"Yes, my foot!" Secretary Zhu spared no courtesy in chewing Lin Yang out, a shower of spit mercilessly spraying right into Lin Yang's face.

Watching Secretary Zhu throw a tantrum, the composed Meng Hu could only shake his head helplessly and sit to the side without stepping in to mediate. Su Xiaodong, usually boisterous and reckless, acted a lot smarter this time. Secretary Zhu was not someone he could afford to offend; otherwise, his father might suffer because of his recklessness, and if his dad ever got demoted, his own umbrella of arrogant protection would vanish. Therefore, he behaved like an obedient child, turning his gaze toward the stunning Leng Niuniu and putting on an air of utter detachment—none of my business, I didn't see a thing.

As for the life-or-death crisis of the Bai family, Bai Jing naturally couldn't play deaf and dumb. Lin Yang had landed in this awkward predicament precisely for the sake of the Bai family. If she didn't step up now, how could she ever work with others again?

"Secretary Zhu, I was the one who proposed this; it has nothing to do with Xiao Yang. You know the current situation of the Bai family. This opportunity is truly vital to us, and Bai Jing is willing to pay a heavy price to appease your old man's anger," Bai Jing said with a sincere attitude.

"Appease this old man's anger? You speak too lightly. This is something you obtained; does this old man have the qualification to demand it from you?" Although his words sounded calm, the tone between the lines made it clear how deeply Secretary Zhu resented the matter, and anger went without saying.

For a man newly transferred to Jinhai with the grand scheme of uprooting the tumor that was the Fang family, finally getting a glimpse of ironclad evidence to bring them to justice only to watch it vanish into thin air—it would be a miracle if he wasn't furious.

It had been nearly two years since his transfer to Jinhai, yet he had achieved no effective results, nor had he made any progress on the mandates handed down from above. Secretary Zhu had been harboring secret anxiety, which was the very reason for his rushed visit here.

As for Lin Yang, Bai Jing, and Meng Hu, they naturally remained clueless about the fundamental reasons behind Secretary Zhu's demotion and transfer. Let alone them, even Secretary Zhu's own daughter, Zhu Yunyun, had been kept in the dark, let alone outsiders.

However, just because they didn't know didn't mean nobody did. And as it happened, someone present was well aware: Fang Tianyou, the very man who had locked horns with Secretary Zhu the moment they met.

He knew Secretary Zhu's fury better than anyone. Smirking, he took a step forward, looking at Secretary Zhu whose dark expression showed clear displeasure toward the transaction. Fang Tianyou said arrogantly, "Secretary Zhu, the real reason for your demotion—our Fang family knows it crystal clear."

Thump. A word waking the dreamer. Hearing Fang Tianyou's remark, Secretary Zhu's heart skipped a beat, and he thought inwardly, *The Fang family? The reason for my transfer to Jinhai? Demotion... am I actually demoted?* Question after question surged into his mind, overwhelming him.

Demotion? The rest of the people present who overheard Fang Tianyou were equally bewildered. The one with the strongest reaction was undoubtedly Zhu Yunyun. She knew clearly that before her father came to work in Jinhai, he had served in the provincial government apparatus. Although his rank wasn't extraordinarily high—perhaps even comparable to his current position—he was nevertheless a provincial and municipal appointee, holding authority far surpassing that of the Party Secretary of a county-level city within a prefecture-level municipality.

Hearing the word "demotion" now, Zhu Yunyun finally realized that her father must have concealed some untold secret. When they moved to Jinhai, she had repeatedly asked him why he transferred here, but he always brushed her off with various excuses and kept his lips tightly sealed. Thinking about it now, she found it deeply suspicious.

"What, surprised? Hahaha!" Seeing the look of shock on Secretary Zhu's face upon hearing his words, Fang Tianyou laughed triumphantly, his obnoxious expression truly grating on the nerves.

"Hmph, you people have been investigating me?" Secretary Zhu's face darkened as he probed cautiously, staring at Fang Tianyou in hopes of catching the slightest trace of a clue. But he failed. A seasoned expert skilled at masking emotional shifts leaves behind no flaws for others to capture. Fang Tianyou, having succeeded multiple times before, belonged strictly to this caliber of strong individuals. Even Lin Yang, with his formidable spiritual perception, would find him tricky to read, let alone Secretary Zhu.