Chapter 71: Don't Say I Bullied You

For someone like Song Liang, who had spent years navigating the business world, his approach to dealing with people was far more nuanced and complex than that of his peers. Even before he arrived at the driving school, he had already mapped out exactly how to handle the situation. He wouldn’t stoop to hitting Zou Hua, nor would he lay hands on that spoiled brat who opposed Li Mu. Instead, he would use the most effective means to achieve several goals at once.

When Song Liang announced he was going to smash the car, Lu Yong immediately agreed and called his men, charging forward. Zou Hua didn’t dare utter a word. Since Song Liang had said he would buy the car at full price and Zou Hua had agreed, even if the car was burned to a skeleton right there, Zou Hua couldn’t so much as frown. Otherwise, he’d risk offending this almost godlike figure.

Let alone the other party still willing to pay—even if Song Liang didn’t pay and just burned his car for nothing, Zou Hua wouldn’t dare protest. By this measure, Song Liang was already being generous.

Lu Yong’s group of enforcers were all seasoned fighters. In no time, they were swinging an assortment of weapons at the brand-new Honda Accord, which hadn’t even passed its break-in period.

Guo Yuhang, terrified, tried to escape, but one of Lu Yong’s men kicked him to the ground. Someone then dragged him before Zou Hua.

And then the scene was filled with the cacophony of destruction.

Bang! Bang! Bang!—the sound of metal rods striking the car’s body.

Crash!—the shattering of the car’s windows, large and small.

Rip!—knives slashing through the leather seats and cushions.

Hiss! Hiss!—all four tires slashed and shredded.

The chaos of smashing and clanging lasted ten minutes before the once-pristine Honda Accord was reduced to a heap of scrap metal.

Satisfied, Song Liang nodded to Lu Yong to stop. Once the wrecking crew was called off, Song Liang said to Zou Hua, “Don’t say I bullied you. Since you agreed to sell me the car, it’s mine now. Come to my company tomorrow for the money.”

Zou Hua didn’t dare object, nodding repeatedly, thanking him, apologizing, and then raising the car keys above his head to present to Song Liang.

At that moment, Zhang Wanjun, who had been silent, suddenly spoke. “President Song, is it necessary for you to spend money on such a trivial matter? Leave the car to me; call it a gift from a brother for your amusement.”

Song Liang, without hiding his insincerity, asked, “Wanjun, do you think that’s appropriate? I’d feel bad.”

Zhang Wanjun laughed heartily. “Of course it’s appropriate. What’s there to feel bad about between us?”

Song Liang feigned a brief hesitation and then agreed cheerfully, “Alright, then thank you.”

Zhang Wanjun turned to Zou Hua. “Hua, come to me for the money.”

Zou Hua was stunned.

Song Liang had just sincerely told him to get the money from him, and Zou Hua had felt incredibly lucky—after getting the payment, he’d definitely learn his lesson and keep a low profile. But in a blink, the more than two hundred thousand yuan for the car had been passed to Zhang Wanjun, and the worst part was, Zou Hua didn’t dare utter a single word of protest.

Even worse, he realized he’d never see that money again. Song Liang and Zhang Wanjun were just putting on a show. Now that Zhang Wanjun had taken on the debt, Zou Hua wouldn’t dare seek payment from him even if he had a couple more lives.

Zou Hua’s head spun, his heart sinking into despair. This time, he was truly finished. His brand-new car was gone—an immediate loss of two or three hundred thousand—and in a small city like Haizhou, today’s events would be the talk of the town by tomorrow. Having offended both Song Liang and Zhang Wanjun, he’d have no place left in the underworld.

Faced with such hopelessness, Zou Hua couldn’t help but glare at Guo Yuhang. Rage boiling over, he punched Guo Yuhang squarely on the nose, blood instantly gushing forth. Ignoring the pain in his own back, Zou Hua grabbed Guo Yuhang’s hair and rained blows down on his face, each punch more savage than the last, until Guo Yuhang’s face was a bloody mess.

“Guo Yuhang, you dare set me up!” Zou Hua was nearly hysterical; everyone else here was beyond his reach—except for this culprit.

Just then, several police cars came screeching to a halt. Someone had called the police as soon as Lu Yong started smashing the car.

When the police arrived and saw both Song Liang and Zhang Wanjun present, their scalps tingled. Ordinary officers in Haizhou wouldn’t dare provoke these two.

So, the police went through the motions, asking a few questions. When Zhang Wanjun explained that he’d bought a car just to let his friends smash it for fun, the police quickly accepted this story, downplaying the incident until it fizzled out. Thus, the car smashing was swept under the rug.

That left only the matter of Zou Hua assaulting Guo Yuhang.

Guo Yuhang’s face was so battered his own mother wouldn’t recognize him. Zou Hua, exhausted but still seething, had lost everything he’d spent years struggling to gain. He couldn’t hate anyone else, so Guo Yuhang could only consider himself unlucky.

The police politely greeted Song Liang and Zhang Wanjun, then took Zou Hua away and sent Guo Yuhang to the hospital.

After the police left, Song Liang asked Zhang Wanjun, “What are you going to do with that Accord?”

Zhang Wanjun chuckled, “Leave it here. If that kid wants it after he gets out, he can tow it home and fix it himself.”

Song Liang nodded, unconcerned. The problem was resolved; the anger vented—nothing else mattered.

But Zhang Wanjun continued, “After all that, it’s really just the bodywork and glass. Xiao Yong, isn’t this your specialty? Show us what you can do.”

Lu Yong grinned, pried open the deformed hood, drained all the coolant from the engine, and then said to Song Liang, “Brother Liang, may I have the keys?”

Song Liang tossed them over. Lu Yong bent down, started the car, wedged a brick onto the accelerator, and let the engine scream. Within minutes, there was a loud bang, white smoke billowed from the engine bay, and the engine died completely.

Song Liang, witnessing this, turned to Li Mu and said, “Tonight, let’s have dinner together. My treat.”

Li Mu couldn’t refuse. “I’ll follow your arrangements, Brother Liang.”

“Good.” Song Liang nodded, glanced at Zhao Kang and Su Yingxue across the road, and said, “There’s a new eco-garden restaurant by the North Gate River. Let’s eat there. Bring your friend, but leave your girlfriend out of it—no need to scare the young lady anymore. Take her home first.”

Li Mu didn’t explain, simply nodded. “Alright, I’ll drop her off and go straight to the eco-garden.”

“Do you know how to drive now?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Good.” Song Liang turned to Zhang Wanjun. “Join us for dinner tonight. I’ll ride in your car, let my brother drive mine to take his girlfriend home.”

Zhang Wanjun agreed readily but studied Li Mu carefully, inwardly astonished: Who is this kid, that Song Liang would make such a big scene over something so trivial?

Li Mu understood as well. Since he’d decided to befriend Song Liang, he didn’t mind owing him a favor during this initial phase, so he didn’t refuse Song Liang’s offer to lend him the car.

Song Liang then called his driver over, had him step out, and handed the car to Li Mu. Before getting in, Li Mu said to Song Liang, “Brother Liang, I’ll have my friend go with you first.”

“Fine, better than having a third wheel with you. Send him over, and call me when you’re done.”

Across the street, Zhao Kang and Su Yingxue had been stunned for twenty minutes, still unable to process what had happened. At first, they’d been worried about the two people who got into the Accord, but then a fleet of cars and over twenty people arrived, and the situation took a dramatic turn.

Zou Hua’s men had all fled, his car was smashed, he was taken away by the police, and Guo Yuhang was nowhere to be seen.

The scene had been too chaotic, with too many onlookers. By the time the unconscious Guo Yuhang was loaded into the police car and taken to the hospital, Zhao Kang and Su Yingxue hadn’t even spotted him.

Now, Li Mu was right across from them. Under their gaze, he got into the Mercedes, made a smooth U-turn, and stopped beside them.

Li Mu opened the front passenger door and said, “Kangzi, go find the friend who was with me earlier. We’ll have dinner tonight, you ride with their car. Yingxue, get in—I’ll take you home.”

Zhao Kang hesitated, glanced at Li Mu, then at the group across the street. He had a thousand questions but asked none, simply nodded and said, “I’ll head over. Be careful driving.”

With that, he greeted Su Yingxue and hurried across the street. After a moment’s hesitation, Su Yingxue suppressed her many questions, got into the passenger seat of the Mercedes.

As they drove off, Li Mu said, “It’s too chaotic over there. I won’t bring you along for dinner tonight.”

Su Yingxue asked, “Is the matter resolved?”

“It’s resolved.”

“The person you called for help—is he powerful?”

“You could say that. He’s quite influential in Haizhou.”

“Why is he helping you? Won’t this cause you trouble in the future?”

Li Mu was surprised by Su Yingxue’s insight and replied, “No trouble. I might not be able to repay him myself, but I can have others owe me favors and repay him on my behalf.”

“A roundabout solution?”

“Something like that.”

Su Yingxue nodded and asked no more, realizing Li Mu was even more mature than she’d imagined.

Li Mu drove to the police bureau’s residential compound. After bidding him farewell, Su Yingxue got out. Li Mu watched until she entered the complex before driving away.

What Li Mu didn’t expect was that, as Su Yingxue got out of the Mercedes, the entire scene was witnessed by Su Weimin, who was sitting in a Passat behind them.

When Su Weimin saw his daughter exiting a Mercedes, all the blood in his body seemed to rush to his head. His mind went blank, ears ringing, and paternal instinct made him want to chase down the car, force it to stop, and demand an explanation.

After regaining some composure, Su Weimin floored the accelerator to follow. At the same time, he grabbed the car radio and reported the license plate of the Mercedes, asking if anyone in the traffic division recognized this Jinling-plated vehicle.

Only one thought occupied Su Weimin’s mind: If someone rich and powerful was making a move on his daughter, no matter how influential they were, he would never let it go!

――――――――――――
PS: Writing isn’t easy, especially when faced with these stats. The author admits he’s bawling in the restroom and desperately needs your recommendation votes to wake him up...