Chapter 134: Going Back on One's Word

Chen Muxue fought back the rising tide of anger, her voice cold and sharp.

"Mr. Sun, please watch your language. We have already signed a contract. I expect you to honor it and deliver the medicinal materials as agreed. After this, I don’t think we should ever work together again!"

"Heh heh... What’s the rush, Ms. Chen? Like you said, we have a contract. Are you afraid I’m going to run away? Hahaha..."

Sun Hong laughed again. Since seeing the news that the Wu family had completely collapsed that morning, his joy had been no less than winning a grand prize. He felt refreshed and immensely smug.

He then continued, intentionally adopting a hesitant and conflicted tone.

"It’s just that... well, Ms. Chen, I’ve given it some careful thought. If I ship the goods to you now, it seems my company would be taking quite a significant risk..."

Chen Muxue’s brows furrowed even tighter at these words.

"I don’t understand what you’re talking about. I paid for your goods; what risk could you possibly have?!"

"Oh, come on... Ms. Chen, you can’t look at it that way. How long has your Qingcheng Technology even been established? How do I know what you’re going to do with my Chinese medicinal materials? If the products you manufacture fail to meet quality standards, as the raw material supplier, my reputation will be ruined!"

Sun Hong paused for a moment on the other end of the line. "Before, with Wu Chenghao vouching for you, I naturally had no doubts. But things are different now. What if you were colluding with the Wu family? Wouldn't I be implicated as well?"

Chen Muxue’s expression turned ghastly. Her fingers gripped the phone tightly, her rage evident. Sun Hong had promised just last night that he would deliver the goods today, yet here he was, blatantly going back on his word.

She desperately wanted to terminate the contract in a fit of fury, but she knew the payment had already been made; getting her money back would likely be even harder.

She steadied her emotions, forced down her anger, and said coldly, "Mr. Sun, according to you, what would it take to ship the goods?"

"Hmm... I’ve thought it over. It’s not that the shipment can’t be sent, but the terms of our cooperation need to be adjusted."

"First, you need to pay an additional one million in security deposits. And, on top of the original material price, let’s add... say, another twenty percent. Consider that compensation and a guarantee for us!"

Sun Hong spoke as if it were only natural, his tone even tinged with a sense of... dominance.

"You... what did you say?!"

Chen Muxue felt as if her head had been struck by a thunderclap; her vision blurred. Pay another million in security deposits, and on top of that, add twenty percent to the original price?!

"We already agreed on the price and signed the contract! Why should I pay more?!"

This was nothing short of daylight robbery!

"Ms. Chen, don’t be so impatient. You know that when we signed that contract, it was mediated by Wu Chenghao. You know the current state of the Wu family. If I were to take this matter to the Chamber of Commerce and tell them that you and Wu Chenghao conspired to force me into lowering my prices, what do you think would happen?"

Sun Hong’s playful, taunting voice rang out again. "I imagine the Chamber of Commerce would shut you down for rectification and launch an investigation alongside the Wu family case, wouldn't they? Also, don't forget, I am the supplier. I issued the contract, and I hold the final right of interpretation! Heh..."

Sun Hong’s tone shifted completely. After a smug, dry chuckle, he continued:

"Of course, if you find my conditions too harsh, I do have one other alternative for you. If you agree to it, then everything can be settled easily!"

Chen Muxue’s beautiful face darkened with fury. She demanded, "Tell me, what is the condition?!"

"Spend a night with me!"

Sun Hong was blunt and direct. His lecherous voice continued, "As long as you cooperate with me in bed for one night, our companies can work together however you like in the future!"

"Bah! Keep dreaming!"

Chen Muxue gritted her teeth so hard they clicked. Seething with rage, she suddenly raised her voice and shouted.

"Hmph! You’d better think carefully!"

Sun Hong snarled coldly before letting out a wicked laugh. "Either pay the extra fees and the deposit, or spend the night with me. Otherwise, I won’t ship your goods. You choose. I’ll give you two days!"

"I won’t choose either! You despicable, shameless bastard!"

Chen Muxue practically roared, tears of sheer frustration and anger sliding down her cheeks.

"Fine, fine! If you refuse to take the easy way, then so be it! You bitch, just wait for the Chamber of Commerce to come and shut you down!"

Sun Hong bit out the words and hung up the phone.

"Muxue, what’s wrong?"

Hearing their daughter’s angry shout, Chen Jianguo and his wife were anxious and rushed over to ask.

Seeing the tear tracks on Chen Muxue’s face, Lu Hongmei’s expression shifted. She hurried over to wipe her daughter’s tears, asking in a panic, "My dear daughter, what happened?"

Su Zheng, who had just been in the bathroom washing his face, also walked over with a furrowed brow to ask what had occurred.

The moment she saw Su Zheng, Chen Muxue suddenly remembered his warning from the night before—that she shouldn't rush to sign the contract, let alone wire the payment directly, and that she should first verify the other party's qualifications and reputation...

And now, everything Su Zheng had said had come true!

Chen Muxue looked at Su Zheng with a complex expression. Her eyes held not only resentment toward Sun Hong but also a deep sense of regret for not listening to Su Zheng’s advice.

Seeing her tear-filled eyes and the look of lingering anger and regret on her face, Su Zheng’s expression turned cold as ice. His internal fire rose, and he asked in a low, gravelly voice, gritting the words through his teeth:

"Tell me, who bullied you?!"

"Shut up! Even if Muxue tells you, what good will it do? Do you understand anything about business? Don't make things worse!"

Chen Jianguo, overhearing the question, barked at Su Zheng with disgust. Seeing his daughter bullied had left him feeling stifled, and he simply redirected all his anger toward Su Zheng, even giving him a shove as he berated him:

"You're a grown man, yet you can't even protect your own woman! What’s the point of you being alive?"

"Forget it, Dad. This has nothing to do with him. In fact, he had warned me, but I was the one who insisted on having my own way!"

Chen Muxue helplessly stopped her father, her expression darkening further.

"Is it about the Chinese medicinal raw materials partnership?"

Su Zheng frowned slightly, vaguely guessing what had happened. After all, Haoyuan Trading was operating quite stably with no major issues, but Qingcheng Technology’s raw material situation had yet to be finalized.

Chen Muxue’s expression was despondent; she didn't answer. She felt somewhat reluctant to let Su Zheng know the details, especially since he had specifically warned her yesterday.

"Both of you, please, just leave it alone. I’ll head to the company later. I’m going to go to my room and rest for a bit."

"Muxue, take things slowly. Don't get so worked up!"

Lu Hongmei shook her head and sighed helplessly. Knowing she couldn't intervene in her daughter’s business affairs, she offered a word of comfort before pulling Chen Jianguo away, not wanting to disturb her daughter’s mood.