Zheng Xiaoman's voice on the phone crackled with anger, her tone anything but polite.

Chen Yang scratched his head awkwardly, about to explain that he had been away for a few days on urgent business, which was why he was delayed.

But before he could speak, Zheng Xiaoman cut in again, "Don't you think you've gone too far? Making me call and hound you like this?"

"Get to my house right now!"

CLICK.

The line went dead. Chen Yang hadn't even managed to say a single word.

This woman... isn't she a bit too domineering?

Chen Yang grumbled to himself and helplessly put his phone away.

"What's wrong?" Qin Qiu asked.

"It was Zheng Xiaoman. She's upset that so much time has passed and I still haven't fulfilled my promise to take her sister as my disciple. She told me to go over right now."

Qin Qiu smiled. "That is indeed your fault. You should have given her a heads-up when you went to Tianque City, especially since we've already received the goods."

"You're right, it was my oversight. I'll head over now." Chen Yang flashed a grin. "Honey, the problem is solved, so cheer up. You might not know this, but you're most beautiful when you smile."

"I know, now hurry up and go!"

"Will do!"

It wasn't until Chen Yang had left that Qin Qiu shook her head and chuckled. "That guy is never serious about anything."

But the smile soon vanished from her face.

She knew perfectly well that Director Zhao was just a minor tactic of Du Dingshan's. His true capabilities were far greater than this.

The factory had restarted, but what would happen next remained unknown.

Moreover, just as Du Dingshan had said, the prescription had put the Qin Corporation in the crosshairs of many pharmaceutical giants. Once they were free to act and truly came after them, how long could the tiny Qin Corporation withstand the assault?

When that time came, who could they rely on for salvation?

A bitter smile touched Qin Qiu's lips. This was akin to a path to the heavens; once you set foot on it, you were destined to rise to the very peak.

But the difficulties that accompanied it were just as terrifyingly immense.

The mere thought of it felt like a mountain pressing down on her, stealing her breath.

It wasn't that she was overthinking things. Rather, after everything she had been through, she had grown accustomed to laying out every potential danger one by one, so she wouldn't lose herself in the glow of a fleeting success.

Things being what they were, she could only take one step at a time.

「North Lake Garden.」

The artificial lake's rippling waves surrounded the area, naturally making North Lake Garden one of Lingjin City's most upscale villa communities.

「Building Three.」

With a fountain and rockery in the front and the artificial lake directly behind it, the view from the top floor offered a panoramic vista of the entire North Lake.

Still some distance from the building, Chen Yang spotted Zheng Xiaoduo pacing back and forth at the entrance, her round, pink face beaming with excitement.

Sigh...

Chen Yang heaved a long sigh. He never would have imagined, not in a million years, that he would take such a fragile-looking girl as his disciple.

If word of this got back to Hanyun Valley, wouldn't they laugh their heads off? But he had made a promise. How could he go back on his word?

Zheng Xiaoman stood quietly to one side, her face showing little expression. Even at home, she was dressed in a black suit over a white shirt, the sleeves rolled up slightly, the epitome of crisp, competent professionalism.

"Uncle, over here!" Zheng Xiaoduo called out, waving her arms excitedly upon seeing Chen Yang.

Chen Yang waved back in response.

"If I hadn't called you today, would you have simply not shown up?" Zheng Xiaoman asked, crossing her arms and shooting Chen Yang a displeased glance.

Chen Yang hurriedly explained himself, finishing with an apology. "I'm very sorry, it was my oversight."

"Hmph!"

Zheng Xiaoman snorted, finally letting the matter drop.

Inside the villa, a grand Taishi Chair was placed in the center of the room. Before it lay a prayer cushion, with tea set to one side. Clearly, Zheng Xiaoman was taking today's disciple ceremony very seriously.

In truth, she had her own ulterior motives. After witnessing Chen Yang's formidable strength, she speculated that he was far from the simple man he appeared to be. It was very likely he was backed by a significant power. After all, he had easily crushed the mighty Tianhe Pharmaceuticals. How could an ordinary person accomplish such a feat?

That was why she insisted on a formal ceremony. By establishing the official relationship of master and disciple between Chen Yang and Zheng Xiaoduo, she would gain an extra layer of protection for herself and the entire Huarui Group.

As for why Chen Yang had become the live-in son-in-law of the Qin Family and cultivated the image of a wastrel, she could never figure it out.

Seeing the arrangement in the hall, Chen Yang was taken aback. "Does it have to be this formal?"

"Becoming a disciple is a solemn affair and must naturally follow tradition. I've done my part; I haven't neglected a single detail," Zheng Xiaoman said, staring at Chen Yang. "In turn, I expect you to fulfill your responsibilities and duties as a master."

"Of course," Chen Yang nodded.

Only then did Zheng Xiaoman retract her gaze. She gestured to the Taishi Chair. "Let's begin. I shall be the witness to your ceremony."

Chen Yang delayed no further and walked toward the Taishi Chair.

However, just as he sat down, a flurry of hurried footsteps sounded from outside.

Hmm?

Zheng Xiaoman frowned and looked toward the doorway.

Soon, a middle-aged man and a younger man of about thirty walked into the villa.

"Uncle, why are you here?" Zheng Xiaoman asked, her brows tightly knitted in confusion.

Zheng Xiaoduo immediately turned her head away, her face a mask of disgust and annoyance.

"Heh." The middle-aged man—Zheng Xiaoman's uncle, Zheng Jun—gave a cold laugh. "You're asking me? I ought to be asking you!"

"Xiaoduo taking a master is a major event. How could you not inform us? Zheng Xiaoman, you're getting more and more arrogant. Do you even have any respect for me, your uncle?"

Zheng Jun's voice dripped with righteous indignation. After his tirade, he delivered his verdict, "This ceremony is canceled! I forbid it!"

"What gives you the right to forbid it?" Zheng Xiaoduo spun around, her wide eyes glaring furiously at Zheng Jun.

"The right of being your uncle!" Zheng Jun retorted unapologetically. "After your parents passed away, I am your only direct elder relative. A matter as important as taking a master naturally requires my consent."

"Direct relative? What a joke! When my sister and I were destitute after our parents died, so poor we were practically begging, where was this 'direct relative' then? Did you ever once step up to help us?"

Zheng Xiaoduo sneered, her words sharp and cutting.

It was hard to imagine that the usually quiet and gentle Xiaoduo possessed such a forceful side. Her words revealed the deep-seated grievances she must have suffered. The resentment simmering within her was so intense that it only took a single spark to ignite.

"You..."

Zheng Jun's expression flickered, and his tone softened considerably as he changed the subject. "I'm here today for Xiaoduo's own good! Since she wants to learn martial arts, she should naturally find a powerful master, preferably an acquaintance whose background we know well."

"And your cousin is the most suitable candidate!"

Pointing to the young man beside him, Zheng Jun declared with pride, "Your cousin joined the Martial Association three years ago and has already become a Steward. Moreover, his strength has reached the fifth level!"

"And him!" Zheng Jun pointed at Chen Yang, scoffing, "He's just a good-for-nothing who survives by sponging off his wife's family! All he's done is beat up a few nobodies at school."

"What qualifications does someone like him have to be Xiaoduo's master?"

"Besides, Xiaoduo taking a live-in, good-for-nothing son-in-law as her master? If word of that got out, what would happen to the Zheng Family's honor?"

Zheng Jun's words were a calculated appeal to emotion and reason. In just a few sentences, he managed to praise his son while simultaneously running Chen Yang into the ground.

"Cousin, one of my duties at the Martial Association is to instruct the new recruits in martial arts!" Zheng Jun's son, Zheng Yuanshan, said with a grin as he took a step forward.

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