Chapter 827: A Storm of Threats

“Sister? Sister!”

Cheon Ji-young called out to Ye Xiaotong.

“Hmm?”

“What are you looking at so intently?”

“Oh it’s nothing. But what happened? The atmosphere was really tense.”

“Ah.”

At her question Cheon Ji-young let out a deep sigh and began to explain what had occurred.

Ye Xiaotong listened to Cheon Ji-young’s story then exclaimed in surprise.

“That man really did that?”

“Yeah.”

Cheon Ji-young unconsciously rubbed her captured wrist as she nodded.

Seeing the dark bruises on her arm Ye Xiaotong frowned and spoke in an incredulous tone.

“Is he insane? Does he not know where he is? Acting like a dog that can’t break its habits. So?”

“Oppa showed up and stopped him, but I don’t know. He seemed really angry.”

“Really? I guess the rumors about him really caring for you are true.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Ye Xiaotong casually waved her hand and asked again.

“Never mind. So where did that man go?”

“I don’t know. He moved somewhere with other people.”

“Hmm.”

Ye Xiaotong hummed as she organized her thoughts.

‘When Wei Zhengxing harassed Cheon Ji-young, he moved without considering the consequences.’

The Kim Mu-hyeok she knew was a very cool-headed person.

Yet when Cheon Ji-young was in trouble, he grabbed Wei Zhengxing by the collar in front of everyone without hesitation.

Ye Xiaotong’s lips curled up, thinking she had made the right choice in approaching Cheon Ji-young.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have come. I didn’t expect this to happen.”

“Well it’s not like you came somewhere you shouldn’t be. Now just stick with me and let’s enjoy the party.”

Ye Xiaotong hid her true feelings and smiled at Cheon Ji-young.

Cheon Ji-young nodded and said.

“Let’s do that. But no one helped me. Even the actors nearby all turned away. I’m disappointed.”

“Most people know that Wei Zhengxing is a scoundrel, so they probably couldn’t intervene recklessly. Try to understand.”

Sure enough the actors who had avoided the situation earlier gradually returned and apologized to Cheon Ji-young.

While Cheon Ji-young was talking with the actors, Ye Xiaotong’s gaze turned to where Kim Mu-hyeok had disappeared.

* * *

As I opened the door and entered, Bo Xilai and Wei Zhengxing, both with serious expressions, looked at me.

I looked down at Wei Zhengxing with an indifferent gaze.

“Mister Kim Mu-hyeok, I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you.”

Wei Zhengxing rose from his seat and bowed his head to me after receiving my gaze.

Looks like he got an earful. I crossed my arms and continued to look at him.

“I’m not the one you should be apologizing to.”

“I will apologize to Miss Cheon Ji-young separately.”

“Where did your earlier bravado go? Why don’t you act like you did before?”

“I’m sorry.”

Wei Zhengxing simply repeated his apology like a parrot without any further response.

I glanced at Bo Xilai who opened his mouth with a troubled expression.

“Wei Zhengxing may have a bad habit with his hands but he’s not a bad person.”

“If he doesn’t harm me I don’t care what he does. I have no interest or reason to care. But his actions towards my sister crossed the line.”

“He must have done it without knowing. If he had known he wouldn’t have done it.”

“That’s right.”

Wei Zhengxing chimed in and continued.

“I didn’t know anything. I just liked Miss Cheon Ji-young.”

“If you say my sister’s name with that filthy mouth one more time, you’re dead. I won’t repeat myself so remember that.”

“……”

Wei Zhengxing shut his mouth tightly at my শীতল words.

Bo Xilai, who knew my words weren’t empty threats, also turned pale in an instant.

“Mister Kim Mu-hyeok. Let’s sit down and resolve this through conversation. I’m begging you.”

Bo Xilai pleaded earnestly. At his words I reluctantly sat down and stared at the two.

“Apparently Wei Zhengxing had been contacting your sister several times asking her to have a meal with him.”

Bo Xilai began to explain in detail why today’s incident occurred.

The more I listened the more unbearable the anger became.

So he had been constantly making advances on Cheon Ji-young.

“He’s probably never been rejected before so he must have taken it as an insult. And when he saw her today he got উত্তেজিত.”

“A horny dog can be fixed with a beating.”

“Hey! Isn’t that too harsh? I’m apologizing here aren’t I?”

Wei Zhengxing flared up at my words and glared at me. Bo Xilai sighed and tried to stop Wei Zhengxing.

“Wei Zhengxing. Watch your mouth. How many times do I have to tell you?”

“Hey, my friend. What more do you want me to do? I apologized. Do you want me to get on my knees like a dog?”

“The bigger you make this the more you’ll lose.”

“Hmph! What would I lose?”

It seemed Wei Zhengxing was only pretending to apologize at Bo Xilai’s অনুরোধ.

He didn’t know what he had done wrong and was just going through the motions of apologizing.

Even that was quickly revealing his true nature because of his petty pride.

Eventually Bo Xilai narrowed his brows and glared at him.

“Wei Zhengxing. Are you really not going to get a grip?”

“Bo Xilai. You get a grip. Who are we? Why are you so concerned over a mere businessman? He has a good relationship with Chairman Hu Jintao? So what? Is Chairman Hu Jintao going to kill me?”

He really seems to be misunderstanding something. I opened my mouth to the frog in the well.

“Chairman Hu Jintao doesn’t need to get involved. I can kill someone like you and no one would say a word.”

“What? You crazy bastard!”

Wei Zhengxing glared at me and spewed curses.

“You may be powerful with Chairman Hu Jintao behind you but Chairman Hu Jintao can’t do anything alone. With my connections I could easily get rid of someone like you!”

Wei Zhengxing jumped up from his seat, pointed at me and raised his voice.

Bo Xilai closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead.

I chuckled and met Wei Zhengxing’s gaze directly.

“Why don’t you give it a try then?”

Respect is for people who know how to communicate, not for insects that aren’t even human.

Wei Zhengxing’s face visibly stiffened at my blatant sarcasm.

“You bastard! This isn’t Korea, it’s China!”

“So give it a try. You’ll have to use everything you’ve got. If you fail, you won’t even be able to find your own corpse.”

“You crazy bastard! Bo Xilai he’s threatening to kill me, what are you doing!”

“I don’t know anymore. Do what you want. Just don’t drag me into it.”

“What? Are you betraying me?”

Wei Zhengxing widened his eyes and asked again but Bo Xilai simply shook his head calmly.

“Wei Zhengxing my friend. Didn’t I tell you? He’s someone you’ll regret making an enemy of. Yet you’re still acting like this, what more can I do?”

“……”

“From now on I’m cutting all ties with you.”

At Bo Xilai’s declaration of breaking off their relationship Wei Zhengxing looked at Bo Xilai with a shocked expression.

“You won’t regret that?”

“I won’t.”

Wei Zhengxing bit his lip hard, trembled then pointed at Bo Xilai and shouted.

“Just wait and see! I’ll use all my connections to block your path.”

After giving Bo Xilai a warning Wei Zhengxing ignored me and headed for the door.

But Manager Ma blocked his way.

“What are you doing, you bastard?”

“Please go back. No one leaves without the Boss’s permission.”

“What? You bastard!”

Wei Zhengxing threw a punch at Manager Ma’s face.

Manager Ma easily dodged it by tilting his head then casually kicked Wei Zhengxing’s leg.

Wei Zhengxing fell clumsily then immediately got up and shouted at Manager Ma.

His bright red face was quite a sight.

“You dare lay a hand on me, you mere bodyguard?”

Manager Ma, who hadn’t taken any damage, quietly looked at me.

I nodded, giving him a signal to do as he pleased.

Then Manager Ma grabbed Wei Zhengxing’s neck with one hand.

Manager Ma lifted the startled and struggling Wei Zhengxing straight up.

“Keo, keok!”

Choking and gasping Wei Zhengxing scratched at Manager Ma’s arm in resistance.

“Let go, let go.”

Wei Zhengxing’s face gradually turned blue as he struggled for breath.

But Manager Ma stared at him with an emotionless face.

10 seconds. 20 seconds.

As time passed Wei Zhengxing’s body gradually lost strength.

Fear crept into his eyes, realizing he might actually die.

Bo Xilai’s face also turned ashen as he watched.

“Bo, Boss. You can’t kill him. That goes far beyond what I can handle.”

I ignored Bo Xilai’s words and checked my wristwatch.

When about 30 seconds had passed I said quietly.

“Manager.”

At my call Manager Ma immediately released his hand.

Wei Zhengxing fell to the floor gasping for breath. His trembling body was filled with fear.

I got up and crouched down in front of him.

“Wei Zhengxing. Do you still think I can’t kill you?”

Wei Zhengxing struggled to lift his head and looked at me.

“I guess you want me to show you what it’s like to live in constant fear of death every hour, every minute, every second.”

“……”

“I’ll give you one last chance. Get out of here right now, go to my sister, get on your knees and beg. If you beg sincerely, I’ll forgive you.”

Wei Zhengxing still trembled without saying a word.

“If you can’t do that then go back. And wait. Look forward to who might come for you and when.”

I got up without any regrets.

“Party Secretary. I’ve seen enough. Send him back now.”

Bo Xilai nodded with a dazed expression.

“Wei Zhengxing. Go back now.”

Despite the order to leave Wei Zhengxing didn’t move.

“I warned you. All of this is on you. Don’t blame me.”

Bo Xilai pressed the bell next to him to call his attendants.

The door opened and the attendants and Public Security Bureau officers entered.

“Throw Wei Zhengxing out. And make sure he can never set foot in Shanghai again.”

“What?”

The attendant asked back in confusion.

But when Bo Xilai sent a sharp glare instead of an answer he had the Public Security Bureau officers grab Wei Zhengxing’s arms.

“I, I’ll do it. Let go! Let go of me.”

Wei Zhengxing resisted fiercely.

“I’ll kneel, I’ll crawl like a dog, I’ll do it all, so send them out. Bo Xilai.”

Bo Xilai looked at me as if asking for permission.

I nodded.

“Leave for now. I’ll call you if needed.”

The attendants and Public Security Bureau officers left. Only the sound of Wei Zhengxing’s coughing echoed in the silent room.

He soon spoke.

“What do you want me to do?”

Wei Zhengxing, who had probably never felt such fear of death before, was filled with dread.

I chuckled at the sight of him.

“I told you earlier. Go out and kneel before Cheon Ji-young. Beg for forgiveness for your own wrongdoings in front of everyone. If Cheon Ji-young forgives you then I will let this go.”

“I understand.”

Wei Zhengxing bit his lip hard and got up.

Wei Zhengxing stumbled once, looked at Bo Xilai then left.

I asked Bo Xilai who had a pale face.

“Shall we go out and watch? It’s not every day you see such a spectacle.”

“……”

“If you don’t want to I’ll go alone.”

This was a warning to Bo Xilai using Wei Zhengxing.

If you betray me or disappoint me, I will treat you the same way.

“No. Let’s go together.”

Bo Xilai got up. I went outside with him.

“I was wrong. Please forgive me.”

Wei Zhengxing was on his knees before Cheon Ji-young. Cheon Ji-young was flustered by his sudden actions.

“Wh, why are you doing this?”

“I’ll stay like this until you forgive me. I’ll never appear around you again. I was wrong.”

Everyone who knew Wei Zhengxing was shocked.

It was understandable since Wei Zhengxing was on his knees begging for forgiveness from a mere Korean actress.

Cheon Ji-young looked around with a bewildered expression, found me and sent me a look asking for help.

But I didn’t step forward.

It was up to Cheon Ji-young to decide what to do. I had no reason to help.

Seeing me just watching with my arms crossed Cheon Ji-young sighed and tried to pull Wei Zhengxing up by his arm.

“Get up for now. Everyone’s watching.”

“Are you forgiving me?”

“Yes. I understand so get up.”

She’s too kind, really. But that’s just like Cheon Ji-young.

I turned my gaze to Ye Xiaotong who was standing behind Cheon Ji-young.

As expected she was looking at me. She smiled alluringly when our eyes met.

‘Ye Xiaotong. Just what is your purpose in approaching Cheon Ji-young? If you’re thinking of using her…’

I met Ye Xiaotong’s gaze without avoiding it.