Chapter 960: I Am Xu Shaochen

In the car.

“Ah, if this was any other time, I would have taken you around the Northwest to really experience the local culture, but this time, it’s not possible.”

Noticing that Xu Shao was looking out at the street scenery, Deng Tianwen said somewhat apologetically.

“So, tell me about the current situation. It’s not clear enough over the phone.”

Xu Shaochen withdrew his gaze and looked at Deng Tianwen.

“The situation? It’s not looking good.”

Deng Tianwen smiled bitterly, pointing at a street outside: “See that? That street used to be full of my Deng Family’s signs. Now, they’re all Zhao’s.”

“In four words: lacking money and lacking power.”

Xu Shaochen tilted his head, looking at him: “Now that I’m here, doesn’t that mean you don’t lack anything anymore?”

“I’ve seen people who like to boast, but never anyone as bold as you.”

Deng Tianwen gave him a thumbs up, though it was clear he was in a relatively good mood, at least enough to joke.

Liu Jun sat silently nearby the entire time, with a perfectly measured smile on his face, looking like a scholar.

They spent the entire journey discussing the current situation. Half an hour later, they arrived at the hotel.

“Mr. Deng, please come inside.”

The hotel’s manager had been waiting at the door to greet them.

Even though the Deng family was struggling now.

But a dead camel is still bigger than a horse, and there were still many who wanted to give them face.

Of course, in the past, it wouldn’t have been the manager waiting at the door but the hotel owner.

Led by the manager, the group headed into the hotel’s largest private dining room.

Xu Shaochen and Deng Tianwen’s bodyguards were placed in separate rooms to get to know each other.

Of course, Long Yi and Long Er stayed with Xu Shaochen, just in case anything unexpected happened.

“You’re the guest. You decide what to order.”

Deng Tianwen handed the menu to Xu Shaochen.

Xu Shaochen didn’t stand on ceremony and directly ordered the most expensive items. No matter how broke the Deng family was, they weren’t lacking enough to worry about one meal.

Soon, the kitchen started serving the dishes.

The four of them started eating and chatting.

“Shaochen, this toast is for you. No matter what, I’ll remember this favor for a lifetime. I’ll drink first.”

Deng Tianwen suddenly stood up with a cup of wine, speaking to Xu Shaochen in a serious tone, then downed it in one gulp.

Xu Shaochen was momentarily stunned, taking a while to respond: “Your sudden seriousness startled me. What’s wrong, did your brain short-circuit?”

Deng Tianwen smiled without saying anything. Even blood brothers couldn’t do as much as Xu Shaochen had done.

“Mr. Xu, Tianwen is right. Without you, the Deng family wouldn’t have lasted this long. *Cough cough*…”

Hou Xiaoyan also struggled to hold back the burn of the drink as she downed a glass of liquor, coughing hard afterward with tears in her eyes.

“Look at this… It’s making me feel incredibly awkward, as if I’m some kind of savior. Don’t put on these formalities. We don’t do that here.”

Xu Shaochen knew the two of them were struggling to express their gratitude. Given the Deng family’s current state, it wasn’t possible for them to offer anything grander.

After this opening exchange and a round of drinks, the atmosphere of the meal reached its peak.

“Bang!”

Halfway through the meal, the door to the private room was kicked open violently.

The four people’s gazes instantly turned toward the door.

Long Yi, Long Er, and a few other bodyguards immediately tensed up.

Standing at the door was a group of young men, led by Zhao Fei and Ye Shihu, two notorious second-generation heirs.

“Oh! Isn’t it the great Deng Shao? What a coincidence.”

Upon seeing Deng Tianwen, Ye Fei exaggerated his tone. However, when his gaze fell on Xu Shaochen, his smile froze, and he stuttered:

“M-Mr. Xu, y-you’re here too. What a… surprise. Welcome to the Northwest.”

The hotel’s manager had told him that Deng Tianwen had invited a guest to dine here.

He had thought Deng Tianwen was planning to borrow money from someone but didn’t expect it to be Xu Shaochen.

“What do you want?”

Xu Shaochen asked calmly.

Zhao Fei swallowed hard and forced a smile: “I… I just came to greet Deng Shao, say hello, and I’ll leave now. I’m going, I’m going.”

After saying that, he turned around, about to leave without even looking back at Ye Shihu.

The first reason was to escape quickly, the second was to report this news back.

“What the hell are you doing? Didn’t you say you came to stir up trouble? The Deng brat is right there. Why are you leaving?”

Ye Shihu grabbed Zhao Fei, pointing at Deng Tianwen with a hostile gaze.

After all, his ear becoming disabled was partly Deng Family’s fault.

Zhao Fei was on the verge of tears. My dear Lord! How can you not understand the situation? “M-Mr. Xu, y-you mustn’t take what he says seriously. My friend here is drunk.”

Zhao Fei desperately explained to Xu Shaochen while whispering anxiously into Ye Shihu’s ear: “Young Master Ye, that man is Xu Shaochen. We should leave. With him here, we won’t gain anything.”

Ye Shihu narrowed his gaze at Xu Shaochen.

“So, you’re Xu Shaochen?”

Ye Shihu shook off Zhao Fei’s hand and strode toward Xu Shaochen with a sharp look in his eyes.

Zhao Fei was left dumbfounded. It was over.

“I am Xu Shaochen.”

Xu Shaochen chuckled lightly, continuing to eat his food unhurriedly.

“You’re here to back up the Deng family?” Ye Shihu asked, and before Xu Shaochen could respond, he pointed to his ear: “This ear was crippled by someone from the Deng family.”

“That has nothing to do with me. Deng Tianwen is my friend. You aren’t.”

Xu Shaochen replied indifferently. He had heard Deng Tianwen mention this incident before.

In his opinion, the Zhao family had probably set up the Ye family as a trap. The injury to Ye Shihu’s ear couldn’t be pinned on the Deng family.

Ye Shihu sneered: “Stopping me from getting revenge means you’re against the Ye family!”

Xu Shaochen put down his chopsticks and looked at him seriously, giving a warning: “If you don’t leave right now, I guarantee your other ear will be in danger too.”

“Are you threatening me?” Ye Shihu tilted his head and smirked with a mocking smile.

With his older brother backing him, Xu Shaochen was just a minor figure in his eyes.

He had absolute confidence in his brother.

Xu Shaochen ignored him and turned to Liu Jun: “Do you know why I brought you here?”

“Bang!”

Hearing that, Liu Jun immediately stood up and grabbed a plate, smashing it over Ye Shihu’s head.

“Argh!”

Ye Shihu screamed, collapsing to the ground instantly.

“Young Master Ye?”

“Young Master Ye, are you okay? Young Master Ye…”

Zhao Fei and the others were startled, quickly rushing forward, fumbling to help Ye Shihu up.

“I’m Liu Jun, the most insignificant underling of Mr. Xu. If Young Master Ye remembers me for this, I’ll consider it an honor.”

Liu Jun adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, smiled, and said warmly while looking at Ye Shihu.