Chapter 213: Just How Deep Is This Grudge?

Chapter 213: Just How Deep Is This Grudge?

Mao Rusong was baffled.

He even wondered whether Wu Chen was being sarcastic.

When Wu Chen had called earlier, every word had carried an unmistakable threat. He had spoken with a smile in his voice, but the message Mao heard was clear: I know what you did. I have something on you, and I’m here to use it.

Then, after meeting Wu Chen in person…

Mao Rusong had begun to suspect he was a world-class professional assassin.

Their encounter had been brief, but his overall impression was that Wu Chen was not a “good man.” He was someone who could prove extremely dangerous to Mao—possibly dangerous enough to cost him his fortune, or even his life.

And now…

What was this supposed to mean?

Wasn’t Wu Chen planning to use Mao’s betrayal of Ding Ruilong against him?

Why was he praising him for it?

“Mr. Wu, when you say I did a good job… what exactly do you mean?” Mao Rusong genuinely did not understand.

It was not the words themselves that confused him.

It was Wu Chen’s attitude.

“I mean exactly that.” Wu Chen smiled. “You did a good job. A very good job.”

Mao Rusong’s eyes, made unusually prominent by his gaunt face, shifted slightly.

He carefully considered the possibilities before asking tentatively, “Mr. Wu… do you have a grudge against Ding Ruilong?”

“Yes.” Wu Chen smiled and nodded, admitting it without hesitation.

“Ah…” Mao Rusong drew a deep breath, his mouth falling open in sudden understanding.

His entire body visibly relaxed, and a smile spread across his face.

“Hahaha! Mr. Wu, you should’ve said so earlier! You nearly scared me to death…”

In truth, he was not nearly as relaxed as he appeared.

“Then we’re friends…” Mao Rusong gestured as he spoke. “Mr. Wu, we’re on the same side.”

He was merely trying to establish some rapport.

Inwardly, however, Mao Rusong was confused all over again.

If Wu Chen was Ding Ruilong’s enemy, he obviously would not sell Mao out. But why had he come to see him in the first place?

He must want Mao to do something.

Betray Ding Ruilong again?

Mao Rusong did not want to.

But if Wu Chen made such a demand, should he agree or refuse?

If he refused outright, Mao genuinely did not know whether he would leave this office alive.

“Boss Mao, I hear you’ve been looking after He Shiqin all these years,” Wu Chen said with a smile.

“He…” Mao Rusong’s expression changed abruptly.

He Shiqin.

Ding Ruilong’s former woman.

The woman who had even borne him an illegitimate daughter.

Mao Rusong was adept at making connections and cultivating relationships. He liked to study people.

He had known for years that Ding Ruilong’s illegitimate daughter lived in Modu.

And he had done more than merely know.

He had helped watch over them.

Ding Ruilong had never asked him to. Mao Rusong had taken the initiative himself.

Any man who tried to get too close to He Shiqin received a warning from Mao Rusong.

Anyone who tried to bully He Shiqin and He Xinxin, a mother and daughter living alone, would be very thoroughly dealt with by Mao’s men.

Mao Rusong was already an extraordinarily well-connected figure throughout Modu, with friends at every level.

But in Dongpu District…

Ninth Dimension Bar itself stood in Dongpu District, and Mao’s influence there was even greater.

From street thugs to billionaires, anyone who knew him would respectfully address him as Fifth Master Mao.

Those higher still—men of greater wealth and status—either treated Mao Rusong as a brother or affectionately called him Old Mao.

In Dongpu District, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Mao Rusong could summon the wind and rain.

And He Shiqin and He Xinxin lived in Dongpu District.

To prevent anyone from disturbing their peaceful lives, Mao Rusong had even arranged for trusted subordinates to buy homes near He Shiqin’s residence.

Several of his men took turns watching He Shiqin and He Xinxin.

It was protection, certainly.

But it was also surveillance.

Mao Rusong knew that although Ding Ruilong no longer cared for He Shiqin, he possessed a pathological fixation on purity and an obsessive need to possess. If another man took a woman who had borne his child, Ding Ruilong would lose his mind.

Besides, Ding Ruilong was not entirely heartless.

He refused to acknowledge his illegitimate daughter publicly, yet every year he still transferred an eight-figure sum into He Shiqin’s account for the girl’s support.

Because Mao Rusong understood what Ding Ruilong cared about, he had always gone out of his way to look after the mother and daughter.

He had even tipped Ding Ruilong off before, informing him that a man was trying to pursue He Shiqin—a man who did not mind that she was a single mother and was even willing to become a father to Ding Ruilong’s illegitimate daughter.

That was why Wu Chen had come to Mao Rusong first upon arriving in Modu.

If Wu Chen met with He Shiqin and even entered her home as a tutor, Mao Rusong was certain to notice.

And once Mao sensed anything unusual, he would investigate.

He might even warn Ding Ruilong.

If Ding Ruilong learned of it, Wu Chen’s plan involving He Shiqin would almost certainly fail.

“He… He Shiqin…” Mao Rusong’s expression grew increasingly troubled.

Wu Chen had openly admitted that he was Ding Ruilong’s enemy.

And now he had brought up He Shiqin of his own accord.

Ding Ruilong’s illegitimate daughter was living with her.

What the hell was he planning?!

“Mr. Wu, are you trying to…” Mao Rusong’s eyes widened.

Just how deep was this grudge?

There were different degrees of enmity.

Take Gu Ruibo and Ding Ruilong. They had fought in business for years, but their conflict had remained limited to corporate schemes and counterschemes.

It was not as though Gu Ruibo did not know that Ding Ruilong had an illegitimate daughter in Modu.

He simply paid her no attention.

Unless, of course, he intended to go to war with the entire Ding family.

He Xinxin might be illegitimate, but she still carried Ding family blood. The Ding family refused to acknowledge her, yet they still cared about saving face.

As the old saying went, even when you beat a dog, you look at its master.

And this was an illegitimate daughter, not a dog.

“I’m going to take them to Donghai,” Wu Chen said with a smile, entirely open about it.

“Take them away? To… Donghai?” Mao Rusong’s eyes remained wide.

A moment earlier, he had assumed Wu Chen meant to hurt He Shiqin and He Xinxin as revenge against Ding Ruilong.

Now it sounded as though that was not the case.

But then…

Was this kidnapping?

Was he going to use them to threaten Ding Ruilong?

“Kidnap them?” Mao Rusong asked.

“No. I’ll have them come back to Donghai with me willingly,” Wu Chen replied.

“Willingly…” Mao Rusong was baffled again.

How could he possibly make them willing?

Wait.

Donghai?!

The first name Mao Rusong associated with Donghai suddenly came to mind—

Li Ruotai.

Donghai was not the Li family’s base, but Li Ruotai had flourished there over the past few years.

Mao Rusong had heard plenty about Young Master Li of Donghai.

He knew that Donghai was Li Ruotai’s “territory.”

And the Li family…

Although the proposed marriage between the Li and Ding families had fallen through four years ago, the two families had gradually entered into a partnership and were currently allies.

Yet this young man named Wu Chen wanted to take Ding Ruilong’s former woman and illegitimate daughter to Donghai?

Could there be some connection?

Mao Rusong blinked at Wu Chen for a long moment.

Then another thought seemed to occur to him.

“Mr. Wu… your name is Wu Chen?”

“Mm.” Wu Chen smiled and nodded.

“Wu Chen… Wu Chen…” Mao Rusong felt as though he had heard the name before.

Someone had mentioned it in passing.

But he could not remember who.

He vaguely recalled that Donghai had come up in the same conversation.

Ring, ring…

A phone rang.

Mao Rusong’s.

He picked it up and glanced at the caller ID.

Brother Gu.

It was Gu Ruibo.

Mao Rusong looked at Wu Chen again.

“I need to take this.”

He cleared his throat and answered.

Before Mao could speak, Gu Ruibo’s voice came straight through the phone.

“Hello? Old Mao? What’s going on over there? One of your men called me. Is it some professional killer or what? I’m already on my way. I’ve got people with me and I’m heading over…”

“Uh…” Mao Rusong suddenly had no idea how to explain.

He glanced at Wu Chen again, considered his words, then said, “Brother Gu, let me ask you something first. Do you know… who Wu Chen is? The one from Donghai…”

Mao Rusong vaguely remembered now.

It seemed Gu Ruibo had been the one who mentioned Wu Chen to him before.

“Wu Chen? Yeah, I know. Why? I’m asking what’s going on over there. Why are you bringing him up?”

“No… it’s him. He’s sitting right across from me.”

“What?! Him?! Are you sure?!” Gu Ruibo’s voice shot up.