Chapter 172: How Is It Her

SLAP!!

The crisp, loud slap echoed through the quiet office like a clap of thunder.

Qian Peichuan’s head whipped to the side. A bright red handprint instantly appeared on his face as his gloomy eyes widened in sheer disbelief, staring at Zhou Yuan.

Everyone was stunned. Utterly and completely stunned.

The thugs, who had been so arrogant and aggressive just moments before, now stood frozen in place like chickens with their necks wrung, mouths agape, not daring to even breathe.

Meng Qiaofei and Xu Feifan held their breath as well, their eyes wide with the same incredulous shock.

’What just happened?’

’Young Master Zhou... hit one of his own men?’

But Yang Xun remained standing where he was, his expression unchanging, perfectly still.

He knew Zhou Yuan must have figured out the truth.

"B-Boss, why did you hit me?"

Qian Peichuan clutched his face, his voice trembling as he looked at Zhou Yuan in confusion.

"Apologize!"

Zhou Yuan spat out a single word, his voice cold to the extreme.

He didn’t have time to explain. There was only one thought in his mind: ’I absolutely cannot offend the man who cured my grandfather!’

"Huh?!"

This time, the room erupted into chaos.

Apologize?

They were supposed to apologize to the guy who "stole the black card"?

But just ten minutes ago on the phone, Young Master Zhou himself had called the man a fraud! How could things change so drastically?

What in the world had happened?!

"Apologize, now!!"

Seeing Qian Peichuan and the thugs still frozen in place, Zhou Yuan’s expression darkened. His sharp gaze swept over them as he forced the words through his teeth.

That look made Qian Peichuan feel as if he had a fishbone caught in his throat.

He wanted to ask why, to understand what was going on, but the moment he met Zhou Yuan’s eyes, he swallowed all his questions.

In this casino, Zhou Yuan’s word was law.

"S-Sorry!"

Qian Peichuan turned to Yang Xun and bowed, his voice dry.

Seeing their manager apologize, the thugs didn’t dare to just stand there. One after another, they bowed their heads and mumbled apologies.

"Sorry!"

"Sorry, man!"

"We were blind!"

But what truly stunned everyone was that after they had finished their apologies, Zhou Yuan himself walked up to Yang Xun, bowed slightly, and spoke with the utmost respect.

"Mr. Yang, I am so sorry. My men were ignorant and offended you. This whole incident is my mistake. Please, be the bigger person and don’t hold it against them."

The entire room fell dead silent.

Qian Peichuan’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

The thugs were collectively petrified, their mouths hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.

’Young Master Zhou... was apologizing to a delivery-boy-turned-live-in-son-in-law? And with such reverence?’

Meng Qiaofei covered her mouth, her almond-shaped eyes filled with unconcealable shock.

She truly couldn’t figure Yang Xun out anymore.

’Since when could the most insignificant live-in son-in-law in the family command such respect from the Young Master of the Zhou Family?’

As for Xu Feifan, he was completely dumbstruck, squatting in the corner with his head buzzing.

He never would have imagined that the useless live-in son-in-law he always looked down on could actually make Zhou Yuan bow his head and apologize!

’This is too fucking ridiculous!’

"It’s fine. It was all a misunderstanding."

Yang Xun’s tone was calm. He waved his hand dismissively, not taking the matter to heart.

"So, can we consider this matter closed?" he asked, looking at Zhou Yuan.

"It’s closed! It’s closed!"

Zhou Yuan nodded repeatedly, afraid that Yang Xun wasn’t satisfied.

He turned, strode to the desk, picked up the black card, and presented it to Yang Xun with both hands.

"Mr. Yang, please take this black card. From now on, you are the Zhou Family’s most honored guest. What happened before was my fault. I hope you won’t hold it against me."

Yang Xun took the black card, slipped it into his pocket, and said coolly, "Like I said, it was a misunderstanding. It’s in the past."

Then, as if remembering something, he glanced at Xu Feifan cowering in the corner and asked Zhou Yuan, "So, he’s in the clear now?"

Zhou Yuan followed Yang Xun’s gaze and replied respectfully, "He’s fine, he’s fine. Since he’s with you, Mr. Yang, he’s in the clear."

Xu Feifan let out a huge sigh of relief and slumped to the floor, his face a picture of someone who had just survived a disaster.

However, Yang Xun’s tone suddenly shifted, growing colder. "Does he come here to gamble often?"

Zhou Yuan glanced at Xu Feifan, realized he didn’t recognize the man, and turned to Qian Peichuan. "Is this guy a regular?"

Qian Peichuan nodded immediately. "Yes, Young Master. He’s here almost every day. And he’s lost a lot."

Yang Xun nodded, his voice calm. "From this day forward, he is not to set foot in here again. If you find him inside this casino, throw him out for me."

He paused, his voice growing deeper. "And not just here. I want you to keep an eye on all the casinos in Zhonghai City. If you find him entering any of them, cripple his legs for me."

"Yang Xun! Who the hell do you think you are!"

Xu Feifan leaped up from the floor, pointing at Yang Xun’s nose and cursing, "What gives you the right to control me? It’s my freedom to gamble wherever I want! What right does a useless, live-in son-in-law like you have to boss me around in here!"

SLAP! SLAP!

The words had barely left his mouth before Qian Peichuan strode forward without a second thought and delivered two vicious slaps, one to each of Xu Feifan’s cheeks.

Xu Feifan was completely stunned by the blows, collapsing to the ground. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and he couldn’t get back up.

"Mr. Yang told you to stay out of the casinos, so you stay out. What’s with all the bullshit?"

Qian Peichuan loomed over Xu Feifan, his tone icy.

Xu Feifan lay on the floor, his face bloody. He opened his mouth, but not a single word dared to come out.

Yang Xun withdrew his gaze and turned to Meng Qiaofei. "Sister-in-law, you should take him and go home first. I still have some business to handle here."

Though her face was full of questions, Meng Qiaofei didn’t press him. She just nodded slightly. "Then you be careful. Call me if you need anything."

"Mm."

Meng Qiaofei then walked over to Xu Feifan and hauled him up from the floor.

Xu Feifan clutched his swollen cheeks, his face a mask of grievance and venom. But in this place, he didn’t dare make a peep, so he could only follow Meng Qiaofei obediently out of the office.

Once they were gone, Zhou Yuan immediately approached Yang Xun and asked respectfully, "Mr. Yang, do you have any other instructions?"

Yang Xun thought for a moment. "Let’s talk somewhere else."

"Of course!"

Zhou Yuan nodded and led Yang Xun through a corridor to an office in the deepest part of the casino.

This was Zhou Yuan’s private office. Two bodyguards stood guard at the door, and its location was so secluded that no outsider even knew it existed.

After entering, Zhou Yuan personally poured Yang Xun a cup of tea, then sat down properly across from him, waiting for him to speak.

Yang Xun raised the teacup, took a sip, set it down, and got straight to the point. "I need you to help me find a few things."

"Please, Mr. Yang, go on," Zhou Yuan said seriously.

Yang Xun picked up a pen and paper from the desk, quickly scribbled down five names, and pushed the list to Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan picked up the piece of paper and read the items out one by one. "Nine Nether Cold Jade Grass, Red Flame Reishi, Thousand-Year-Old Ice Cocoon, Green Blood Dragon Saliva Fragrance, Purple Cloud Soul Condensing Flower..."

He didn’t know anything about medicinal herbs. After reading the list, he just frowned slightly before looking up and saying decisively, "Rest assured, Mr. Yang. I will use my entire network to find these. As soon as I locate the herbs, I’ll have them sent to you immediately."

Yang Xun shook his head and said earnestly, "Young Master Zhou, these aren’t ordinary herbs. The five of them together would cost at least a hundred million, and that’s if you can even find them for sale. You just need to help me find information on their whereabouts. I’ll figure out a way to buy them myself."

"A hundred million?!"

Zhou Yuan sucked in a sharp breath, his brow twitching.

He might not have understood herbs, but the number "a hundred million" still shocked him.

But remembering that Yang Xun was his grandfather’s savior, he barely hesitated before patting his chest and declaring, "Mr. Yang, how about this: as long as it’s something money can buy, I’ll pay for it. The Zhou Family owes you a life; this amount of money is nothing. But if it’s something that money can’t buy, I’ll notify you immediately."

Yang Xun looked into Zhou Yuan’s sincere eyes and nodded gravely. "Then I thank you."

"It’s what I should do," Zhou Yuan said with a smile.

As they were talking, a sudden KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK sounded on the office door.

Zhou Yuan frowned slightly, glanced at the door, and said, "Come in."

The door was pushed open.

A tall woman walked in.

She had short, neat hair and wore a black business suit and stilettos. She walked with a commanding presence, radiating an aura of sharp competence.

The moment he saw this woman, Yang Xun froze, a clear look of surprise flashing in his eyes.

’Holy shit, what is *she* doing here?!’