Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Boss Gao takes a risk_1
"What’s going on?" Gao Zhitong was completely dumbfounded after being cursed out by Dongfang Hao. He had absolutely no idea what was happening.
You said you know Su Xuan, and it’s fine if you don’t want to lend me money, but why are you saying Su Xuan is your daughter’s father? Then who are you?
"Brother Su! Someone’s out to get you!"
After hanging up on Gao Zhitong, Dongfang Hao wasn’t idle. He immediately called Su Xuan to tell him about the situation. He finally breathed a sigh of relief only when he learned that everything was under Su Xuan’s control.
Still, he said to Su Xuan, "Brother Su, if you ever need my help, just say the word. I’m pretty good at dealing with people!"
"Hmm, thank you, Brother Dongfang!" Su Xuan replied gratefully.
...
"Hey, Brother Zhao! How have you been feeling lately?" Gao Zhitong asked, having not given up on his plan to borrow money. "I’m a bit tight on cash recently. Could you lend me two hundred million?"
"Hello?! Hello?!"
He continued to call people, but what chilled him to the bone was the reaction from his so-called friends. These were men he was once close enough with to swear brotherhood before a statue of Guan Gong. Yet, as soon as they heard he wanted to borrow money—especially a sum in the hundreds of millions—they would either hang up immediately or make all sorts of excuses. Not a single one would lend him a penny.
"The world is cold and cruel! People’s hearts have grown so indifferent!"
Gao Zhitong was both angry and disappointed. He lit a cigarette and smoked. A few minutes later, all that was left between his fingers was a smoldering butt, but he was utterly oblivious, his expression dazed.
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ!
Suddenly, a mosquito appeared out of nowhere and landed on the hand holding the cigarette. It quietly pierced his skin with its sharp proboscis.
Gao Zhitong squinted at the mosquito and raised his other hand.
SLAP!
He viciously smashed the mosquito, leaving a small smear of blood on his skin.
"Su Xuan! You want to use me as an example to warn others and leave me with no way out, right?" he muttered, his eyes fixated on the bloodstain. "And all my friends, they all refuse to lend me money, don’t they? Good. Very good! Just keep pushing me!"
A sinister glint flashed in his eyes. He decided to resort to desperate measures. He immediately picked up his phone, dialed a number, and said, "Brother Qiang, I want to mess someone up! Name your price!"
The person he was calling was Liu Huaqiang, once a notorious underworld boss who had committed many ruthless acts. Even now, the mention of his name would make many gang leaders clench their fists and respectfully acknowledge the legacy he left behind. He was also Gao Zhitong’s childhood friend. In his own rise to fortune, Gao Zhitong had leveraged Liu Huaqiang’s power to eliminate several business rivals.
However, they had barely been in contact in recent years. Gao Zhitong’s business had grown to the point where he no longer needed to resort to such despicable, violent methods. But this time, his opponent, Su Xuan, was simply too formidable. He had no choice but to play this last, desperate card.
I don’t even want Su Xuan’s life. I just need to scare him enough to back off. Or better yet, extort a hefty compensation fee from him! That’s right, a compensation fee! And it’s not without reason. It includes damages for mental anguish—my nerves are completely shot! And compensation for the loss of a lover! I just got divorced and was about to marry my mistress, and you just took her from me! How heartless can you be?
"Brother Zhitong," the man named Liu Huaqiang said slowly, much to his surprise. "We’re both in our sixties. How can you still be so hot-tempered? To be honest with you, I just got out of prison. I was released early due to poor health. I’ve washed my hands of the underworld and retired for good. I can’t help you with this. I have to go buy a watermelon for my granddaughter. It’s too hot and muggy tonight, and the little one is crying for some."
With that, he hung up without another word.
"Damn it!" Gao Zhitong held his phone and couldn’t help but curse. What the hell was going on tonight? Was no one going to help him?
"Brother Qiang!" he dialed Liu Huaqiang’s number again. "It’s fine if you won’t help me, but what about your old crew? Surely not all of them have retired, right?"
"Do you really want to go after this person?" Liu Huaqiang asked.
"I have to. Otherwise, I’m finished!"
"Then wait a moment," Liu Huaqiang said.
BEEP.
A few seconds later, Gao Zhitong received a text message from Liu Huaqiang containing a phone number.
"Who is this?" Gao Zhitong asked.
"This man is a rising star from my era," Liu Huaqiang explained. "Many underworld bosses are wary of him. Even I have to swallow my pride and call him ’little brother’ when I see him. He’s a real force to be reckoned with, dominating his own turf. See if he can help you."
A glimmer of hope finally appeared. Gao Zhitong asked excitedly, "What’s his name?"
"Cen Haonan!"
Just from the name, he sounds like a badass!
He called Cen Haonan, and the line connected right away. A din of noise came through the receiver; the other man was clearly in the middle of a wild party.
"Hello, is this Cen Haonan?" Gao Zhitong asked.
"Who’s this?" Cen Haonan’s voice was cautious.
"I’m a brother of Liu Huaqiang’s. I have a favor to ask."
"What is it?"
Gao Zhitong hurriedly explained his conflict with Su Xuan, then said, "I need you to scare that guy, Su Xuan. Make him back off and pay me some compensation. He should be at the Lycar Hotel drinking right now!"
"Su Xuan..." Cen Haonan muttered.
Gao Zhitong didn’t understand the strange tone Cen Haonan used, assuming he was just committing the name to memory. If he was memorizing the name, it must mean he had accepted the job.
"Yes, that’s right! Su Xuan!" Gao Zhitong said joyfully.
Cen Haonan was silent for a moment before asking, "What’s your offer?"
"What’s your usual price for this kind of work?"
"The price varies depending on the target’s status and wealth."
"What about him, then? The owner of the Lycar."
"At least a hundred million!"
"I’m not asking you to kill him! That’s way too much. Can’t you give me a discount for Brother Liu Huaqiang’s sake?"
"Sixty million. That’s my final offer."
"That’s still too high!"
"Then what’s the most you can pay?"
Gao Zhitong, who was truly short on cash, gritted his teeth. "The most I can give you is five million!"
"Alright. Bring the money and meet me at Xihe Riverside Park now."
"Okay!"
After hanging up, Gao Zhitong cursed to himself. You moron, asking for a hundred million right off the bat! Do you take me for a fool? Do you think I’ve never dealt with people like you before? I bet you’d be over the moon with just a few hundred thousand!
He then opened the safe in his office, took out five million from his dwindling cash reserves, and hurried to the meeting point with Cen Haonan.