The Crazy Son-In-Law

“Mr. Kong, are you using me as a shield?” Tang Shishi asked with a displeased face as they left the room.

“What are you talking about? Don’t you dislike Cheng Yu? This way, he won’t stick to you like a plaster. I’m doing this for your own good,” Kong Yi said with an innocent face.

“Besides, Mr. Xiao is a good man. He makes a great boyfriend for you. There’s nothing wrong with admitting it openly. Or, do you want to have your cake and eat it too?”

“You don’t need to worry about me. I have a mouth to speak for myself,” said Tang Shishi, irritated.

“Could you say that in front of your dad?” Kong Yi snickered. Tang Shishi was silent.

Several round tables were set up on a spacious balcony on the second floor, covered with pastries and dried fruits. A couple of servants were serving the guests, and they could enjoy the lovely scenery outside from here. It was quite pleasant.

A group of well-dressed young men and women were chatting and laughing together. When Xiao Shun and the others arrived, they immediately attracted dozens of stares.

Kong Yi, from the most powerful family in the capital and handsome, was a popular figure among the city’s young ladies. Tang Shishi’s beauty was self-evident, and she was practically the future daughter-in-law of the Cheng family. If not for this, countless young talents would pursue her relentlessly.

However, most of the scrutiny fell on Xiao Shun. The news had spread fast. Tang Shishi’s arrival at the banquet with a young man quickly became known. Some even said that the young man was Tang Shishi’s boyfriend. They were curious about the man who had won the heart of a beauty like Tang Shishi and who could outshine Cheng Yu. Their expressions ranged from curiosity, doubt, jealousy, ridicule, to disdain.

Facing many unfriendly gazes, Xiao Shun had long since grown accustomed and remained calm and composed. Xiao Shun and the others found an empty seat under the guidance of the servants. After pouring tea for the three of them, the servant said, “Please enjoy,” and then left.

Kong Yi picked up the tea cup and smelled it, “The tea is good.”

“From the conversation between Mr. Kong and Cheng Yu’s dad just now, it seems that there is some animosity between your two families. Why would you attend the Cheng family’s banquet?” Xiao Shun asked, trying to start a conversation.

“Business competition can’t be called animosity. Today you bite a piece off me, tomorrow I bite a piece off you. One must accept defeat gracefully. Isn’t that right, Shishi? Our Kong family took over many industries from the Tang family years ago, but aren’t we still sitting here, laughing and talking?” Kong Yi said with a hearty laugh. Tang Shishi only smiled and didn’t reply.

The business world was a battlefield, survival of the fittest, nothing more than that.

“Well, if I accidentally take over your Kong family’s industries in the future, Mr. Kong, don’t take it to heart,” Xiao Shun said with a smile.

“Of course, I would congratulate you with a smile at that time,” Kong Yi replied, sipping his tea, without any intention of evading the subject. His grandfather had told him never to underestimate any enemy, so he didn’t take Xiao Shun’s words as a joke. Although he was not clear about Xiao Shun’s background, anyone who could catch Tang Shishi’s eye couldn’t be a commoner. It’s just that he didn’t have time to investigate Xiao Shun’s identity yet.

“Do you smoke, Xiao?” Kong Yi asked after a moment of silence.

“No.”

“Then I’ll go for a smoke. You guys stay here. I’ll excuse myself for a while.”

Xiao Shun nodded.

“That guy is quite arrogant,” Xiao Shun said to Tang Shishi with a smile after Kong Yi left.

“He has the capital to be arrogant. The Kong family is a large clan with numerous descendants. The internal competition is far more intense than in our two families. Naturally, anyone who can stand out from the younger generation must have some skills,” Tang Shishi replied with a light smile.

“Who do you think is more powerful, him or me?” Xiao Shun asked.

Tang Shishi chuckled, pondered for a moment, and said, “You are you, unique and real. There’s no need to compare with him. He has the Kong family as a mountain to rely on for his display, you… also have your advantages.”

“That’s quite tactful. So the point is, I’m not as good as him, right?” Xiao Shun said, clearly not satisfied.

“The Kong family, although an ancient clan, is not conservative. They have the leading biopharmaceutical company in the country, and their other industries are also in trending and promising sectors. Our Tang and Cheng families have relatively single industries and are not as large-scale as the Kong family, making them our biggest enemy at present. This is why the Cheng family is eager to expand into other fields, and why my dad is so anxious to secure the agency rights for Starline and the scar removal formula in your hands,” Tang Shishi explained.

“No wonder your father was so generous, offering me 20% of the shares right off the bat.”

“The 20% shares given to you is mainly to thank you for saving my life,” Tang Shishi said with a pout.

“If I had known that the shares of your family’s company were so valuable, I wouldn’t have accepted the one hundred million consultation fee later.”

“You can still give it back now.”

“That would be too formal. I’ve already accepted it. It would be inappropriate to give it back,” Xiao Shun said with a cheeky smile. Tang Shishi snorted at his pretense of modesty after gaining an advantage.

“I’ve already seen two of the Four Young Masters. Will I be able to see all of them today?” Xiao Shun asked.

Tang Shishi shook her head, “The other two rarely appear in public, let alone at such private banquets.”

“Oh?”

“One of them is named Feng Yang, whose family is in the officialdom, and the other is Ye Shaoqing, whose family works for the Old School Society. You’ve heard of the Old School Society, haven’t you?”

“I have,” Xiao Shun said, but he didn’t mention that he was not only familiar with them but was also their branch head.

“The power dynamics within the capital’s families are complex, with thousands of connections intertwining and interlocking. However, the most prominent and active figures are mainly those in the marketplace,” someone voiced.

“The Feng and Ye families, on the other hand, maintain a low profile, shrouded in mystery. That’s why, when people discuss the major families of the capital, they mainly talk about the Kong, Cheng, and our Tang family,” Tang Shishi elaborated further.

“However, it is said that these two families also have top-notch figures in their respective fields. It’s too complicated to explain in a short time. All you need to know is that these four are not to be messed with, especially the Feng and Ye families.”

“But I’ve already offended one of the Chengs,” another voice interjected.Original content from NôvelDrama.Org.

“Cheng Yu is manageable, after all, I’m here. He won’t do anything to you,” Tang Shishi assured.

“Okay, since this situation arose because of you, you are responsible,” Xiao Shun chuckled.

…

As Mu Yuxin was passing a lounge reserved for the rich young ladies’ gossip, she suddenly heard a burst of discussion from inside and involuntarily paused.