Chapter 40

"Enough!" Zhou Ming suddenly said to Wu Mei, "I advise you to watch your words, or you won't even know how you die."

Zhou Ming's voice was not loud, but it frightened Wu Mei. Wu Mei looked at Zhou Ming, finding his eyes terrifying, and instinctively took a step back. However, Wu Mei felt it was a loss of face to be scared by an inland person, so she forced herself to step forward and said to Zhou Ming, "Are you from the mainland? You say I won't even know how I die, but I think you are the one who doesn't know your place. This is Hongcheng, there's no room for you mainlanders to act wild."

As she spoke, a few people walked into the teahouse. Wu Mei glanced at the door, then turned to Zhou Ming with a cold laugh, "Mainlander, it's not too late to run now. When that big brother comes, he won't be as nice. By then, no one can guarantee that you'll still have all your parts."

Zhou Ming also saw the commotion at the door: "Is that so? Then I'll see how he talks."

After saying this, Zhou Ming walked toward the door. Wu Mei snorted, "Truly a reckless person," and followed Zhou Ming. However, when she reached the few people at the door, Wu Mei took a few quick steps and spoke to a middle-aged man in a long robe first, "Brother Wan, someone is bullying our Zhao Lin. You have to speak up for Zhao Lin!"

The middle-aged man in the long robe frowned, "Xiao Mei, what's going on?"

Wu Mei pointed at Zhou Ming, "It's this damn mainlander. He deliberately came to cause trouble for Zhao Lin. I told him that Brother Wan is protecting Zhao Lin, but he said Brother Wan is just a scumbag. Even if you come, he will make you kowtow three times in front of him. He is completely looking down on Brother Wan, he is too arrogant!"

Zhou Ming laughed, "Sister, you really know how to twist things, don't you? You even tried to sow discord. I don't think I said those things, did I?"

The middle-aged man in the long robe looked at Zhou Ming, "Who are you?"

As he spoke, he made a gesture. The three bodyguards in suits and sunglasses who had been following him stepped forward and surrounded Zhou Ming, ready to take him down at a word from their boss.

Seeing this, Wu Mei's lips curled into a smile as she looked at Zhou Ming triumphantly. She wanted to see Zhou Ming panic, but to her surprise, Zhou Ming stood there calmly, seemingly unconcerned about the three bodyguards. Zhou Mei was surprised by Zhou Ming's attitude, but what happened next left her completely stunned.

When Zhou Ming was surrounded, a young man who had been with the middle-aged man in the long robe suddenly spoke, "Boss Wan, what are you doing? This is the Mr. Zhou Ming I introduced to you, the one who wants to buy your fund company!"

Zhou Ming then asked, "Wang Yunlong, is this the general manager of Wanhe Fund you mentioned?"

The man nodded, confirming he was Wang Yunlong. Zhou Ming had guessed the identity of the middle-aged man in the long robe when he saw Wang Yunlong there. Zhou Ming didn't know the relationship between him and Zhao Lin and Wu Mei, or why his fund company was involved with the entertainment industry, but he was certain that the "big brother" Wu Mei mentioned was this middle-aged man. Therefore, Zhou Ming didn't take Wu Mei's threats seriously.

Zhou Ming had read the materials on Wanhe Fund and knew that it had suffered heavy losses in the stock market crash and was heavily in debt, eager to sell the fund company to recover funds. Under these circumstances, he would only cater to Zhou Ming, ensuring everything went smoothly and not oppose him.

The middle-aged man in the long robe was taken aback and asked Wang Yunlong uncertainly, "Manager Wang, you mean this is Mr. Zhou Ming?"

Wang Yunlong nodded, and the middle-aged man quickly waved the three bodyguards away, putting on a smile and stepping forward to shake Zhou Ming's hand, "So you are Mr. Zhou. I am the general manager of Wanhe Fund, Wan He. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Zhou. I'm really sorry."

Zhou Ming also shook hands with Wan He, "I'm also glad to meet you, Mr. Wan, and to understand your influence in Hongcheng."

This sudden turn of events left Wu Mei speechless. She couldn't understand what was happening. How could a mainland scumbag suddenly become the boss who wanted to buy Wanhe Fund? Was this a dream? If it was, she wished she would wake up soon, or else the words she said to Zhou Ming might ruin Wanhe's business, and she would be in big trouble.

Wu Mei's heart was pounding. Wan He glanced at Wu Mei and asked Zhou Ming, "Mr. Zhou, what's going on?"

Before Zhou Ming could speak, Lin Muqing said, "Mr. Wan, Miss Wu Mei just spoke rudely to us and insulted us. What do you think should be done?"

Zhou Ming introduced Lin Muqing to Wan He, "This is my friend, Lin Muqing. She was insulted by your people without cause."

Wan He's eyes lit up when he saw Lin Muqing. He thought she was very beautiful, though not as much as Zhao Lin, but that was just a matter of different styles. She was still a top beauty. Having such a beautiful woman following him, it seemed that Zhou Ming was indeed not simple.

Wan He nodded at Zhou Ming and then turned to Wu Mei with a stern face, "What's going on?"

Although it was a short sentence, Wu Mei trembled and stammered, "Brother Wan, I... I didn't know Mr. Zhou was your friend. If I had known, I wouldn't have dared to speak rudely, even if you gave me ten thousand lives!"

"If you had known?" Lin Muqing said angrily, "So if you didn't know, you could just use Mr. Wan's name to bully people outside?"

Wan He's face darkened, and he said to Wu Mei, "Xiao Mei, how have I always taught you? You should be low-key and humble outside. Have you forgotten my words?"

Wu Mei lowered her head, not daring to speak. At this moment, Zhao Lin came to Wu Mei's defense, "I'm very sorry, Brother Wan. Sister Mei is not usually like this. She usually follows your teachings. But now is a special time. Our Hongcheng has just experienced a stock market crash, and Sister Mei has lost a lot of money, so she is in a bad mood, which led to this."

Then Zhao Lin turned to Lin Muqing, "Miss Lin, I'm very sorry. I know what Sister Mei said was very rude, but she didn't mean it. Please don't take it to heart, okay?"

Lin Muqing looked up and down at Zhao Lin and asked, "Miss Zhao, if we were in your position and you were insulted without cause, would you not take it to heart?"

Zhao Lin was speechless. Lin Muqing then said to Wan He, "Mr. Wan, that's what happened. This is your person, and how you handle it is your business. I won't interfere."

Zhou Ming couldn't help but admire Lin Muqing's words. Although they seemed reasonable, they actually put Wan He in a difficult position.

Wan He thought for a moment and said to Wu Mei, "As Zhao Lin's agent, you should understand that your actions represent her image. You have disappointed me greatly. I think Zhao Lin needs a more suitable agent. You are fired."

"Don't, don't do this, Brother Wan!" Wu Mei cried, "You're just joking, right?"

Wan He was unmoved. Wu Mei was truly panicked. She knew that Wan He always kept his word, and Hongcheng had just experienced a stock market crash. She had already lost a lot of money in the stock market, and if she was fired now, her life would be in trouble.

Wu Mei really wanted to slap herself. Why did she have to go and provoke Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing?

But there was no medicine for regret. Wu Mei could only beg them, "Mr. Zhou, Miss Lin, I was blind and disrespectful to you both. I know you are important people, and I have dirtied your eyes. Please don't take it to heart. Treat me like a fart, okay? I beg you!"

Zhao Lin also pleaded with Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing, "Mr. Zhou, Miss Lin, Sister Mei didn't mean to insult you. She was just in a bad mood. Please don't take it to heart, okay?"

Zhou Ming turned to ask Lin Muqing's opinion, but she turned and walked back to her seat. Zhou Ming smiled bitterly, thinking that when she was jealous, she was not only unreasonable but also heartless.

With no choice, Zhou Ming said to Wan He, "Mr. Wan, that's what happened. I won't get involved in your business. I'll go back to my seat. When you're done, we can talk about the acquisition of the fund company."

Hearing this, Wu Mei cried out, "Mr. Zhou, don't go! I was wrong, I really know I was wrong. I beg you not to take it to heart, I beg you!"

Zhou Ming ignored Wu Mei and walked back to his seat. He didn't know how Wan He would handle it, but soon he heard Wu Mei's wailing and saw her being dragged out by Wan He's bodyguards. It seemed that since Wan He was called "big brother," he must have his ruthless methods.

Zhou Ming thought about this and glanced at Lin Muqing, who was biting her lip and looking down, her face not good. Zhou Ming said, "Sister Muqing, don't be angry. I believe that since Mr. Wan is eager to sell his fund company, he will consider our feelings and handle this well."

But Lin Muqing shook her head, "It's not that."

After a long pause, she continued, "Zhou Ming... do you think I was too capricious just now?"

Zhou Ming laughed, "Of course not. I think you did a great job. Why should they come and cause trouble for us? They deserved a lesson for provoking you."

Zhou Ming looked at Lin Muqing and added teasingly, "And I'm happy that you can be jealous of me!"

This made Lin Muqing's face turn red. She glared at Zhou Ming and said hurriedly, "What are you talking about? Who is jealous of you? How shameless!"

But even Lin Muqing didn't realize that when she said this, her heart was actually sweet.