Chapter Seventy: Leave Room for Others, So That You May Meet Again in the Future! (Please Subscribe!)

Tang Fei's shamelessly honest and fearful demeanor left the grandfather and grandson momentarily bewildered.

Is this how one conducts a conversation?

Even if you truly think that way, must you say it out loud in front of everyone?

"Do you take us for such uncultured people? That we’d kill someone the moment we meet?" Huo Dongbai said angrily.

What did they think of the Huo family? Clowns unfit for polite society?

"Who knows?" Tang Fei replied. "I have no ties to you, not a single connection. We don’t even know each other, and yet you show up at my door so early in the morning—who can tell what your intentions are?"

"The folks on New Star are quite wicked. Yesterday, I was minding my own business at the mall, and someone tried to kill me. I have to stay on guard."

"You—"

When his grandson was about to lose his temper, Huo Zhenwei shot him a glance to restrain him. "Dongbai, Mr. Tang makes a valid point. It's wise to be cautious when newly arrived."

"Yes, Grandfather." Huo Dongbai, intimidated by his grandfather’s authority, dared not object any further.

Huo Zhenwei smiled warmly at Tang Fei. "Mr. Tang, your innocence and candor are thoroughly entertaining. I’ve seen many young people over the years, but you rank first among them."

"Who have you seen?" Tang Fei asked.

Huo Zhenwei knew the young man harbored hostility toward him. Hostility was good—it meant Tang Fei was still inexperienced and unable to conceal his feelings.

Hostility meant vulnerability, and vulnerability made for easier negotiations.

As a successful businessman, he never cared about others’ attitudes, only about what profit they could bring him.

"It wouldn’t be right to visit empty-handed," Huo Zhenwei said, still smiling. "Dongbai, bring out the gift."

Huo Dongbai handed over the case he was carrying.

Huo Zhenwei opened it and displayed a meticulously carved, snow-white, large-bellied Maitreya Buddha.

He explained, "This is an antique from before the Great Cataclysm, brought to New Star by my ancestors. It's made from a single piece of Hetian jade from the southern border, carved over three years by the renowned artisan Lu Zifeng. It's rare to find such a large, flawless piece of jade these days, and it's nearly impossible to find one with such purity and luster."

Huo Zhenwei held out the box with both hands. "Please, Mr. Tang, accept this gift. I insist."

"You insist?" Tang Fei asked.

"I insist," Huo Zhenwei echoed.

"Alright, then." Tang Fei took the box. "I’ll accept it."

"Hahaha, Mr. Tang, you’re refreshingly straightforward."

"And you, Mr. Huo, are exceedingly generous," Tang Fei replied with a smile.

One doesn’t strike a smiling face. Tang Fei invited Huo Zhenwei to sit at the tea table and called for Little Fatty to brew tea.

The tea leaves were a gift from Phoenix, so they were sure to be excellent.

Although Phoenix didn’t live here, the house was filled with her presence.

Tang Fei looked at Huo Zhenwei and asked, "Mr. Huo, you said you had a request. What matter brings you here?"

"Ah, I’m ashamed to say it. I’m here to plead on someone else’s behalf, and to offer an apology to you, Mr. Tang," Huo Zhenwei replied with genuine embarrassment.

"Is that so? Who could possibly have such influence, to trouble the president of the Mandala Chamber of Commerce to act as a mediator?" Tang Fei asked, smiling.

From the moment Huo Zhenwei announced his identity, Tang Fei knew exactly why he’d come. Anyone willing to speak up for Yan Wangshu at this time must be a close friend or family. Tang Fei had no intention of showing them any warmth.

The friend of my enemy is my enemy.

"Little friend Tang Fei, you surely know Yan Wangshu is our vice president, and Xinyou is a junior we watched grow up," Huo Zhenwei said.

Tang Fei looked disgusted. "So all those young people you’ve seen are like Yan Xinyou? No wonder you say I’m the best. How can you compare me to them?"

"I didn’t mean that. Xinyou is indeed a junior I’ve watched over, but the young people I mentioned are outstanding talents from Phoenix City. I would never belittle you, Mr. Tang," Huo Zhenwei explained quickly.

"So you’re here to plead for Yan Wangshu and Yan Xinyou, the father and daughter?" Tang Fei asked, holding his teacup and gazing at the lone pine tree in the courtyard.

The courtyard wasn’t small, but having just a single pine was rather monotonous.

He thought Phoenix’s Phoenix Cottage was lovely—perhaps he should hire that landscape designer to help them out.

And their courtyard didn’t have a name yet. What should it be called?

Tang Fei’s Cottage? Gongshu’s Little Courtyard? Fatty’s Kitchen?

Never mind, he’d decide later.

"Yes, precisely," Huo Zhenwei replied, unfazed by Tang Fei’s indifference. "Please, Mr. Tang, show mercy and spare them this time."

"Do you know how they treated me?" Tang Fei asked.

"I’ve heard a little," Huo Zhenwei admitted.

"Then say it," Tang Fei pressed.

"Mr. Tang, let bygones be bygones," Huo Zhenwei said, helpless.

How could he recount such things? Besides, this was a negotiation—why dredge up old grievances and deepen the rift? Huo Zhenwei would never make such a mistake.

"If I’m not mistaken, the version you know is that Yan Xinyou discovered a grand tomb on Old Earth and found treasures like hammers and cloaks. I, seeing the riches, tried to kill her and take them. She escaped to New Star by luck, and out of anger, sought revenge. Is that it?"

"Of course, they were wrong to use such extreme and vile methods. They’re ready to accept full responsibility, and the Mandala Chamber of Commerce will offer generous compensation," Huo Zhenwei explained, tacitly confirming Tang Fei’s guess.

"No, you misunderstand me," Tang Fei waved his hand. "Because you never cared about the truth. You only care who’s on your side. If I were in their place, would you stand up for me? I doubt you’d even grant me a meeting."

"Now that Yan Wangshu is in trouble, you just want to minimize the issue, sweep it under the rug. Isn’t that right?"

"I’ve said, they’re willing to accept responsibility and compensate you for any losses," Huo Zhenwei said earnestly, looking at Tang Fei.

"In that tomb on Old Earth, it was us who found something. They, relying on their numbers, tried to kill us and take it. You know the outcome—they failed, and Yan Xinyou escaped to New Star with her bodyguards."

"But that time, their bodyguards nearly killed me," Tang Fei said, rubbing his chest where the pain still lingered. "Right here, several ribs were broken. If not for Little Fatty—if not for a master’s intervention, we’d both be dead now."

"And yesterday at the mall, if not for Her Highness standing next to me, if I’d been taken to the police station on those charges—Mr. Huo, do you think I’d still be alive? Could I be sitting here, listening to your plea and apology?"

"Every time they targeted me, it was to kill. Why should I give them a chance to live when it’s my turn? Is it because they're richer? Or because their lives are more precious than ours?"

"Absolutely not. If we’re talking about precious lives, yours is the most precious, Mr. Tang," Huo Zhenwei said, realizing Tang Fei was still angry, and quickly changed the subject. "I heard Her Highness was chased on Old Earth and you risked your life to save her."

"Just for that act of bravery, Mr. Tang, your future is boundless. Our Mandala Chamber of Commerce will rely on your help many times, and I hope you’ll lend your support."

"Of course, we are businessmen, and businessmen value fair exchange. Our Chamber will never let you suffer a loss."

"That’s for the future. We can talk about it then," Tang Fei said.

"Mr. Tang, you and your brother have just arrived on New Star. Surely, there are many places where you’ll need money."

"No need. I have the princess’s support," Tang Fei replied.

"Hahaha, naturally. You saved the princess’s life," Huo Zhenwei said, nearly exasperated by Tang Fei’s resistance.

This young man was impervious to both persuasion and coercion.

"Pretty boy," Huo Dongbai sneered.

Tang Fei glanced at him. "You’ll never have such an opportunity."

Tang Fei disliked Huo Dongbai and never invited him to sit. He still stood stiffly behind his grandfather, like a tree trunk.

"I don’t need it."

"People always say they don’t need what they can’t have."

"You—"

"Dongbai," Huo Zhenwei barked.

Once Huo Dongbai fell silent, Huo Zhenwei turned to Tang Fei, speaking sincerely. "Yan Wangshu is our vice president, and Yan Xinyou is a junior I’ve watched grow up. Their family’s women came to us in tears to beg for help. Both sentiment and reason compel me to speak up."

"They’ve realized their mistakes. After suffering this setback, they won’t dare offend you again."

"And I can guarantee, should you ever need anything, they won’t refuse."

"At the same time, you’ll gain the friendship of the Mandala Chamber of Commerce. We are the largest chamber in Phoenix Empire—our word carries weight."

"Your guarantee doesn’t convince me," Tang Fei shook his head. "If they’d killed me on Old Earth, would I be here on New Star? If they’d framed me at the mall, would I have the chance to sit here and listen to your plea and apology?"

"Look, my house was a gift from Her Highness, my car from the Second Prince, the Crown Prince gave me a gun, and the Emperor wanted to appoint me to office. I refused—I’m still young and I want to learn."

"If I were dead, could I enjoy all this? They wanted me to lose everything, so I must treat them the same. Only then will I not feel cheated. I hate being taken advantage of."

Huo Zhenwei fixed his gaze on Tang Fei and said gravely, "Mr. Tang, leave a way out for yourself, so you can meet again in the future."

Bang!

Tang Fei slammed his teacup on the table, his attitude resolute and uncompromising. "I won’t."

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(This chapter ends.)