Courtyard House: My Wife is Xu Huizhen

Page 820

Chapter 593

In an instant, a deep and powerful engine roar suddenly rang out, and a series of cars of various shapes and sizes sped away like arrows released from a bow.

They sped along the winding streets toward the luxury villas in affluent areas like Victoria Peak and Repulse Bay, disappearing from sight in an instant, leaving behind only a trail of dust kicked up by their wheels that lingered for a long time, as if telling the story of the strange and unpredictable nature of the secret meeting that had just taken place.

Ye Deli was overjoyed, waving his hands in the air, and said excitedly, "Oh my, this bidding was really too thrilling! Just think about it, when we were waiting for the results in the conference room, the atmosphere was so tense that it was like we could wring water out of our skin."

Who would have thought that Taixing's company would offer such a high price of 408.8 million! When I heard that number, my heart was in my throat.

Fortunately, Mr. He was farsighted. He led our team to spend several days and nights carefully analyzing the situation, from market supply and demand to competitors' usual strategies, from potential industry risks to possible variables, and gradually anticipating the possible competitive landscape.

That's why our quoted price was a full 2.2 yuan higher than Taixing's! That 2.2 yuan, at that moment, was like a key, precisely unlocking the door to victory, becoming the crucial figure that decided the outcome!

Those around them nodded in agreement, their expressions still showing lingering fear: "That's right, today's situation was extremely dangerous. We set off ahead of schedule, the timing was perfect, down to the second."

The journey was completely smooth, without even encountering a red light, as if divine intervention had been granted.

If there's even the slightest delay, like a traffic jam or some minor mishap, the trip will definitely be late.

If you're late and miss the bidding deadline, it's all over; you won't even be eligible to compete.

"We invested so much manpower, resources, and money in the early stages, and did so much preparatory work, all of which has gone down the drain. The consequences are simply unimaginable."

At this moment, someone added with lingering fear, "What's even more unexpected is that Taixing Company actually arranged for assassins to ambush us here, attempting to harm us! It's all thanks to Mr. He; if he hadn't been quick-witted and pulled you down at the last second, that deadly bullet would probably have pierced your head! Thinking back on that scene now, it's absolutely terrifying."

Just submitting a bid almost cost him his life! The competition behind it was incredibly brutal and treacherous.

He Hong nodded with deep emotion, her eyes still lingering with the shock of surviving a close call. Her voice trembled slightly with excitement, as if the harrowing past was replaying in her mind: "That's right. Looking back, it was truly a brush with death. Life and death were separated by only a moment! The chaotic scene, the sudden gunshots, the crowd instantly descended into panic, and screams and shouts mingled together all around."

If I had been even a fraction of a second later, and He Yuzhu hadn't managed to pull me down so quickly, that whistling, deadly bullet would have struck my head directly and taken my life instantly.

Even now, a long time has passed, but whenever I recall that thrilling moment alone in the quiet of the night, I still feel lingering fear, and my back is soaked with cold sweat.

What I thought was just a routine bidding process, merely a chance to seize an opportunity in the turbulent world of commerce, never imagined it would nearly cost me my life, a struggle for survival amidst a hail of bullets. This brush with death made me acutely aware that our industry, seemingly calm on the surface, is fraught with hidden dangers and unknown risks at every turn. A single misstep can lead to utter ruin, with no turning back.

He Hongshen looked relieved to have survived the ordeal, his eyes glistening with tears, and he gripped He Yuzhu's hands tightly as if he had grasped a lifeline.

His voice trembled, and he was overcome with emotion: "Brother He Yuzhu, you are truly my second father! If it weren't for your divine intervention today, my old life would have been taken by those ruthless bastards long ago."

From the moment you stepped forward, this kindness has been etched into my heart. For the rest of my life, if you ever ask, I will go through fire and water for you without hesitation!

The people around them gradually regained some color in their faces from their deathly paleness, their legs still trembling slightly, as they finally recovered from the terrifying shock they had just experienced.

They first looked at each other, their eyes filled with relief at surviving the ordeal. Then, as if drawn by an invisible force, they staggered over and surrounded He Yuzhu.

An elderly man with gray hair and wearing a long robe clasped his hands together, his arms trembling slightly with excitement, and said in a slightly choked voice, "Brother He, today you single-handedly repelled that group of villains and protected us. You are truly our savior! If you ever need my help in the future, just let me know!"

Beside him, a slightly thin young waiter nodded vigorously in agreement, his face full of admiration: "Yes, yes, Mr. He, if it weren't for you today, those vicious bastards would have done all sorts of things to us, and we wouldn't know what to do. The shop might have been smashed to pieces, and we might have all ended up injured!"

In an instant, words of praise and gratitude poured out, overwhelming He Yuzhu like a tidal wave.

Faced with a flood of praise and sincere thanks, He Yuzhu still wore that familiar gentle smile on his face, waved his hand unhurriedly, and said in a steady and powerful voice with a reassuring calmness: "Everyone, please don't be so polite. We've known each other for a long time and have a very close relationship. We're really good friends."

In this world of adventure, helping each other is the most natural thing to do.

The best outcome is that we were able to escape danger unscathed and everyone was safe and sound.

The current situation is complex, both overtly and covertly, with various forces poised to make moves, and a slight misstep could lead to a quagmire.

In the days to come, we must unite even more closely and work together as one. Only in this way can we have the confidence to face the endless and unpredictable challenges. Who knows, one day we might have to join hands to overcome difficulties again.

Night falls like a giant black ribbon, silently and gently enveloping the earth like a hidden traveler.

As night falls, the carved wall lamps sway and flicker in the room, their warm yellow glow resembling the gentle warmth of the spring sun, softly spilling into every corner.

The group sat around a sandalwood table laden with delicacies and fine wines. The dishes were all meticulously prepared, their colors enticing, their aromas irresistible, and wisps of steam rising like ethereal clouds. The rich fragrance of the wine permeated the air, quickly filling the entire room.

Everyone was in high spirits, their words filled with ease and joy. Their cheerful chatter, like lively musical notes, echoed in the air, completely dispelling the tension and gloom brought on by the bidding during the day.

The clinking of glasses created a series of pleasant sounds, like a cheerful melody playing in the warm atmosphere, adding a unique touch to this precious time of gathering.

It's unclear who started it, but in an instant, everyone's gaze seemed to be drawn by invisible threads, focusing entirely on He Yuzhu.

Immediately afterwards, they all raised their glasses, their enthusiasm clearly mixed with a hint of cunning, and lined up to toast him.

"Yuzhu, let's drink to our hearts' content today. We're all busy with our own lives, so it's not easy to get together! But we've managed to gather together today, and after going through all this, we should celebrate properly and thank God for protecting us and keeping us safe and sound."

It was Old Li who spoke.

He had a big smile on his face, his eyes were squinted into slits, and the wrinkles on his face became more and more obvious.

He raised his wine glass high, the liquid inside gleaming with an alluring amber luster under the warm light of the crystal chandelier.

With a gentle sway, it seemed to be telling the story of this rare moment of reunion.

"That's right, Yuzhu, you can't refuse to give us face!"

Fatty Liu had a big smile on his face, and his round belly jiggled with each laugh.

He quickly stood up, raised his glass with both hands, leaned forward slightly, and said almost obsequiously, "You're the hero today! If it weren't for your prior intelligence gathering and your skillful maneuvering with the brothers, we wouldn't have been able to close this big deal so smoothly. You have to drink this glass; consider it a toast from everyone. From now on, we brothers will have to rely on you to make our way in the Hong Kong business world!"

After saying that, he looked at He Yuzhu expectantly, his eyes full of anticipation, as if to say, "If you don't drink, that would be really unfair, it would be against all reason."

At this moment, Li Lao Er, who was sitting to the side, quickly stood up, his face beaming with a smile, and chimed in, "Brother Yuzhu, what Brother Liu said is absolutely true. You don't know, when we found out that there was a risk with that batch of goods, everyone was terrified, afraid that the cooked duck would fly away. But you stepped in and settled things in no time. No one can compare to your skill. This drink must be offered, you absolutely must do me the honor!"

Everyone nodded in agreement, and for a moment, toasts were offered one after another, with all eyes focused on He Yuzhu.

Looking at the glasses of clear, transparent wine exuding a strong and rich aroma on the table, He Yuzhu secretly groaned inwardly.

He knew his own drinking capacity perfectly well; it was only average. He could manage a few drinks on a normal day, but if he really drank freely with everyone as they expected, the result would inevitably be that he would get completely drunk and make a fool of himself.

But there's a crucial presentation tomorrow, a key step in advancing the company's major projects, and I can't afford to miss it under any circumstances.

He Yuzhu was extremely anxious, his mind racing. Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck him – he decided to pretend to be drunk to get through this round of aggressive toasts.

He deliberately swayed his body, his steps unsteady, as if he might fall to the ground at any moment.

His tongue also got tied up, and he mumbled incoherently, "Oh dear, I... I really can't take it anymore, this alcohol... it's too strong, it's like strong liquor, rushing straight to my head, my head is almost turned into mush."

However, the people around him, with their malicious glints in their eyes, were not about to let him off so easily.

The crowd roared with laughter, their mockery undisguised, shouting all at once: "Zhu Zi, stop pretending! This little bit of alcohol won't knock you out!" "That's right, that's right, stop acting and drink up!"

As he spoke, he picked up the wine pot without saying a word. His strong hands, like iron clamps, firmly grasped He Yuzhu's wine glass, and the amber liquid poured into the glass like a rushing stream.

He Yuzhu waved his arms, trying his best to push away the surging flow of wine, his hands flailing wildly in the air as he tried to stop it, shouting repeatedly, "I really can't take it anymore, everyone, please spare me!"

But his voice sounded so faint amidst the clamor of the crowd, like willow catkins scattered by a strong wind.

The crowd remained unmoved and continued to do as they pleased.

One glass of spicy liquor after another was forced down his throat.

At first, He Yuzhu was indeed pretending to be drunk in an attempt to get away with it, but as he continued to drink the wine, the strong alcohol began to ravage his body.

He felt his head growing heavier and heavier, as if a huge rock was pressing down on it, and his thoughts gradually became muddled.

My steps became unsteady, each step feeling like walking on fluffy, soft cotton, weak and powerless. My body began to sway uncontrollably from side to side, as if I were a lone boat in a turbulent sea, about to be swallowed by the waves at any moment.

In the noisy and bustling banquet, he struggled to maneuver amidst the crowd's attempts to surround him and offer toasts. It took him a great deal of effort to finally escape the relentless onslaught of people.

With unsteady steps and a staggering gait, he staggered upstairs, each step feeling like he was walking on cotton, weak and powerless.

Lin Wanting stayed nearby the whole time, her eyes following his every move with worry and concern.

Seeing his swaying figure, she was extremely anxious. She quickly stepped forward, stretched out her slender arms, as delicate as willow branches in spring, and firmly embraced his waist to support him.

She frowned slightly, her eyes full of concern, and softly complained, "You, why don't you drink less? How can you take care of your health like this?"

With Lin Wanting's gentle yet caring support, He Yuzhu, though slightly unsteady on his feet, finally sat down steadily on the small sofa.

The room was dimly lit and so quiet that you could almost hear each other breathing.

At this moment, Lin Wanting had already carefully prepared a bowl of hangover soup on the coffee table next to her.

Wisps of steam rose from the rim of the soup bowl, appearing as if shrouded in a thin veil under the dim light.

She gently raised her jade-like hand, steadily picked up the bowl, and took light steps like a cat, her figure swaying as if a willow swaying in the breeze. Every step was taken with care, as if she were holding a rare treasure in her hands.

Chapter 594 Looking for Enemies

When she reached He Yuzhu's side, she leaned down slightly, her eyes full of tenderness.

He Yuzhu's head was still a little dizzy, but when he looked at the bowl of hangover soup, his eyes cleared up a bit. A sly, teasing look flashed across his face, and he deliberately dragged out his words, teasingly saying, "Oh, there's no poison in this, is there?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Wanting glanced at him with her beautiful eyes, her gaze as gentle as a spring breeze brushing against the willow branches, carrying a hint of reproach, and as delicate as the blossoming stamens of a peach blossom, revealing a touch of loveliness.

She didn't speak immediately, but gracefully extended her slender, delicate fingers and steadily raised the bowl to her cherry-like, luscious red lips. Then, she tilted her head back slightly and, in one smooth motion, took a large gulp of the hangover soup.

After swallowing, she pretended to be serious, staring straight at He Yuzhu, looking just like a kitten pretending to be fierce, and said viciously, "Yes, I added arsenic to this. If we're going to die, we'll both die together."

Looking at Lin Wanting's flustered yet charming appearance, He Yuzhu found it extremely amusing and couldn't help but throw his head back and burst into laughter. His hearty laughter echoed in the quiet room for a long time.

After laughing, he remained calm, reached out and steadily took the bowl of still steaming hangover soup. With clean and swift movements, he tilted his head back, his Adam's apple bobbing, and in the blink of an eye, he drank the soup in one gulp.

After finishing his drink, He Yuzhu didn't give Lin Wanting any time to react. Suddenly, he stretched out his arms, his strong arms passing under Lin Wanting's knees and back, and lifted her up steadily. Then he strode towards the bathroom.

Lin Wanting was completely taken aback by He Yuzhu's sudden action. She was so frightened that her face turned pale and she couldn't help but let out a sharp scream. In the instant of weightlessness, out of instinct, she frantically waved her hands a few times, and then tightly hugged He Yuzhu's neck, her fingertips turning slightly white from the force.

He tiptoed to the bedside and carefully tucked Lin Wanting in, afraid that any movement might disturb her.

Then, he tiptoed around, slowly opened the door, and stepped very lightly, trying not to make a sound.

Once outside the room, one could see that the guards were scattered across the ground of the villa like a forest of wooden stakes.

These guards stood tall and straight like pine trees, their feet firmly planted on the ground, exuding a strong sense of power.