Chapter 137: Rest assured, Master—I’ll take care of everything!

In truth, Su Zheng had never intended to resolve Chen Muxue’s company issues in such a manner. However, seeing her collapse from the sheer stress of the situation, he could no longer restrain himself and opted for this blunt, forceful approach.

After hearing Su Zheng’s words, Sun Hong shuddered violently for no apparent reason. A cold sweat broke out across his body, his face turned deathly pale, and he stammered, "Sir... please, have no fear. I... I know exactly what to do. I will certainly make you satisfied!"

He was filled with immense regret and lingering fear. It was clear that Chen Muxue held a position of vital importance in this man’s heart. Recalling the things he had said to her that morning, he felt an urge to slap himself across the face. If the man on the other end of the line ever found out he had dared to treat Chen Muxue with such contempt, he would surely be skinned alive.

"Sir, it’s a misunderstanding! Truly, a misunderstanding! I had no idea she had such a connection to you. If I had known, even if you gave me a hundred times the courage, I wouldn’t have dared..."

Sun Hong was on the verge of tears, his voice trembling. "Sir... please, rest assured. I am heading out now. I will return to Qingyang immediately to beg for President Chen’s forgiveness. I... I guarantee you will be satisfied!"

"I will wait for you until noon at the latest. That leaves you two and a half hours. If you haven't secured Chen Muxue’s forgiveness by twelve o'clock, you had best never show your face in Qingyang again."

Su Zheng’s tone was beyond reproach, sounding more like an order than a request, yet it felt entirely natural, as if he were born to command others in such a manner.

Sun Hong shivered, a look of pure panic on his face. "Yes, sir, I promise I will handle it. I will..."

Before he could finish, Su Zheng had already hung up. Only then did Sun Hong’s tense body collapse, and he slumped into the rattan chair behind him, his complexion ashen and sweat pouring down his face like rain.

"Boss, are... are you all right?"

The secretary hurried over with a tissue to wipe the sweat from his face, her own hands trembling. If her boss failed to obtain Chen Muxue’s forgiveness, she would surely be implicated as well. No one could escape the wrath of the Li family.

Sun Hong impatiently swatted her hand away and grabbed his phone to call Chen Muxue again. But her phone had been smashed earlier, and the call wouldn't go through. This left him in a state of terror, filled with dark foreboding, and he roared at the secretary:

"Damn it, why are you still standing there?! Go and prepare! Call President Chen’s assistant immediately and explain things clearly. I am heading to Qingyang right now to offer my apologies in person!"

"Boss, perhaps you should try calling her from my phone?" the secretary suggested.

"Shut your mouth! Is 'Chen Muxue' a name you are allowed to speak?!" Sun Hong glared at her, his eyes wide with rage.

"Yes... yes, President Chen. Boss, perhaps you should try using my..." the secretary bowed her head, speaking with forced respect.

"Shut up! That would only make President Chen misunderstand me further. Get the driver to pull the car around, damn it! I’m leaving for Qingyang now!" As he spoke, Sun Hong scrambled to pack his belongings, his voice frantic; he wished he could grow wings and fly to Qingyang this instant.

He still possessed a shred of rationality, knowing that calling Chen Muxue now would likely be counterproductive; after all, he had been far too arrogant during their conversation that morning.

...

After taking care of matters, Su Zheng returned to the hospital room. Chen Jianguo had gone to handle the paperwork, and Lu Hongmei was holding Chen Muxue’s hand, offering comfort with a pained expression. "Muxue, you’re just a girl, don’t put so much pressure on yourself! Listen to your mother—if it comes to it, we’ll just sell the company. Your father has an income now; we won't starve."

"She’s right. There’s no need to push yourself so hard. We aren't in a position where we can't get by," Su Zheng said as he approached, his voice filled with tenderness. He hated seeing her suffer so much; there was no rush to make money, and once her health was restored, there would be plenty of opportunities.

"Not push myself? Ha! If I don’t, how am I supposed to support you?!" Chen Muxue found the comment laughable. She hadn't expected Su Zheng to say something so oblivious. Was he completely unaware of their situation?

Overcome by frustration and resentment, she lashed out: "We’ve been married for two years, and we don't even have a house of our own. Even now, we’re still crashing at my parents' place. If you don't feel ashamed, I certainly do!"

For two years, she had poured her heart and soul into her career, but the family business she had been responsible for, Haoyuan Trading, had remained in the red. Buying a home was a pipe dream, and even the car she used to maintain appearances for clients was something she had saved for over half a year to afford. Who could possibly understand the hardships of an entrepreneur?

Yet now, her business, which was finally showing a glimmer of hope, was on the verge of being shut down by the Chamber of Commerce due to her own poor judgment. All her hard work was about to be reduced to nothing.

Most of all, Cheng Hui had gone to great lengths to invite Su Zheng into a partnership with excellent terms, yet this fool had flatly refused. This only made Chen Muxue feel more aggrieved and miserable.

She wanted to ask him: Do you have any idea how hard it is to make money in this society? Does it feel good to be 'dignified' while rejecting others? But your dignity... what is it actually worth?

As she spoke of her grievances, Chen Muxue lost control of her emotions. Large tears rolled down her cheeks, and the accumulated pain of the past two years erupted at once. She covered her face and sobbed desperately, like a child who had lost her way. "Everything is about to be gone. Even the hope is gone..."

She was all too aware of the situation she faced. With the intervention of the Chamber of Commerce and the collective boycott by herbal wholesalers, Qingcheng Technology would be unable to produce anything. Furthermore, if she failed to fulfill the supply contracts signed with the Cheng Hui Group, she would be liable for massive liquidated damages.

That alone would wipe out her company instantly, leaving her with no chance of a comeback.

Lu Hongmei could not bear to see her daughter in such distress. Having guessed the severity of the situation, her own heart broke, and she began to weep as well. She pulled her daughter into an embrace, comforting her through her tears. "It’s all right, you still have your father and me. We will take care of you!"

Watching Chen Muxue sob in such agony, Su Zheng felt an indescribable weight in his heart. He decided to vent his fury on Sun Hong.

He stepped out of the ward and sent a text message to Sun Hong: "Two hours. I’m giving you two hours. If you are one minute late, you can end your own life."

Sun Hong, who was racing toward them on the highway, shivered in terror upon reading the message. *Good god, wasn't it two and a half hours? How did it suddenly become two?!*

He dared not offer a single complaint. He kicked the back of the driver's seat and roared, "Drive faster, damn it! Faster! Floor that gas pedal!"