Chapter 354: Feed It to the Dogs

With that, he led Jiang Ruan out of the private room.

…

“Chairman Gu, Chu Zhengnan has explained the whole situation to me.”

“My sincerest apologies for disturbing you.”

Upon seeing Gu Heng, Chu Zhengxiong adopted a very humble attitude—a world of difference from how he had treated Gao Zhengyang just moments before.

“Miss Jiang, I am deeply ashamed that you were frightened on our own territory. This is a major failure in our group’s management.”

After apologizing to Gu Heng, Chu Zhengxiong then expressed his regrets to Jiang Ruan.

As far as appearances went, Chu Zhengxiong’s performance was flawless.

After all, Chu Zhengxiong was the chairman of a major entertainment group worth over a billion, while Jiang Ruan was merely one of Gu Heng’s many women. For him to go to such lengths was already quite something.

“Chairman Chu, I just told President Nan that I only care about the result.”

Gu Heng’s expression was grim as he met Chu Zhengxiong’s gaze. “So, you have a result for me now?”

“Chairman Gu, right this way…”

Chu Zhengxiong’s actions were his answer: there was indeed a result.

Seeing this, Gu Heng took Jiang Ruan’s small hand in his and strode in the direction Chu Zhengxiong indicated. Zhong Hua, Xiang Lingshuang, and his other personal bodyguards followed close behind like shadows.

The group finally entered a private room.

It was an ordinary private room at the Platinum Association; they could even faintly hear caterwauling from the room next door.

“Chairman Gu, Miss Jiang, please have a seat…”

After ushering Gu Heng and Jiang Ruan into the room, Chu Zhengxiong sat with them in the center while the others stood scattered around the perimeter.

Standing by the wall, Chu Zhengnan watched as Zhong Hua and the others entered. Their eyes scanned every suspicious corner of the room like radar, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe mixed with lingering fear.

‘Thank god we didn’t try anything funny. If we had dared to treat Gu Heng the way we just treated Gao Zhengyang, his bodyguards would have found out in an instant.’

‘Their vigilance is on another level!’

‘So professional!’

Chu Zhengnan felt that compared to them, his own men were like raw recruits. The two groups were not on the same level at all.

“Bring it in.”

Chu Zhengxiong wasted no time with pleasantries and gave a direct order.

Chu Zhengnan waved his hand. Immediately, two men came forward and placed a square wooden box and a tablet computer in front of Gu Heng and Jiang Ruan.

“Chairman Gu, please take a look…”

Chu Zhengxiong entered a password, unlocked the tablet, and played a video for Gu Heng and Jiang Ruan. It was a clip from the private room where Gao Zhengyang and his son were.

On the screen, Gao Hailong’s face was clearly visible, swollen and beaten to a pulp. He was kneeling on the floor, sobbing and wailing, begging for mercy from the middle-aged man standing before him with a machete.

Seeing this, both Gu Heng and Jiang Ruan’s hearts skipped a beat.

“That’s Gao Hailong’s father, Gao Zhengyang,” Chu Zhengxiong explained softly. “His company, Jiuyang Trading, has been a long-time partner, primarily handling our group’s alcohol supply.”

Gu Heng gave a slight nod, his attention now completely captivated by the video.

“But—”

“When the fuck have you ever changed!”

Gao Zhengyang’s enraged roar was clearly audible. Then, in the next second…

“AHH!”

Seeing the gory scene, Jiang Ruan let out a scream. She threw her arms around Gu Heng’s shoulders, squeezed her eyes shut, and buried her face in his back.

In truth, the moment Gu Heng saw Gao Zhengyang bring the machete down, he felt his own heart clench as if squeezed by a giant hand. He almost jumped out of his seat.

But he forcefully suppressed the instinct, maintaining a state of calm indifference. He could feel Chu Zhengxiong watching him, his gaze analytical.

“To sacrifice family for righteousness.”

“This Gao Zhengyang has some nerve.”

Gu Heng commented coolly, forcing down the discomfort and nausea churning in his stomach.

Ever since the day he took control of Xingchuan International Group, Gu Heng had kept the public’s assessment of Chu Zhengxiong firmly in mind.

If you’re strong, he respects you.

If you’re weak, he preys on you.

As long as you can keep him under your thumb, he’s a sharp blade in your hand.

But show the slightest weakness, and he’ll bare his fangs, wondering if he can tear a chunk of flesh from your bones.

And a wolf has no shortage of patience.

Just now, Chu Zhengxiong had been observing him, waiting to see how he would react to such a brutal and bloody scene.

If he had panicked like Jiang Ruan, it would have undoubtedly planted seeds of dissent in Chu Zhengxiong’s mind, severely undermining the powerful image Gu Heng had so carefully cultivated.

‘That sly old fox…’

Gu Heng mused, gaining a new appreciation for Chu Zhengxiong’s ruthlessness and cunning.

Gu Heng had expected, at most, for Gao Hailong to get a severe beating, maybe a broken arm. He never imagined Chu Zhengxiong would be so ruthless as to take the man’s entire right hand—and have his own father be the one to do it.

Even the most vicious tiger won’t eat its own young. For Chu Zhengxiong to make a father like Gao Zhengyang take a machete to his own son’s hand, he must have used some method to leave him no other choice.

The job was done, but his own hands remained clean.

It was a brilliant move.

After making his calm assessment, Gu Heng extended a finger and flicked open the lid of the wooden box. Inside, just as he’d expected, was Gao Hailong’s right hand.

The real thing, laid out before him, was far more visually shocking than the video.

“Chairman Gu,” Chu Zhengxiong asked with a smile, “is this explanation to your satisfaction?”

“The methods were a bit crude, but I’m satisfied.”

After his cool appraisal, Gu Heng changed the subject. “As for the cleanup… I trust you can handle that, Chairman Chu? I’d rather not be taken in for questioning so close to the New Year.”

“Rest assured.”

“It’s all been taken care of.”

Chu Zhengxiong was quick to promise, “I guarantee there will be no loose ends.”

“Mm…”

“Good.”

Gu Heng nodded slightly, then turned to look Chu Zhengxiong directly in the eye. “It was a lot of trouble for you to come out this late, Chairman Chu. Why don’t you join us for a drink in our room later?”

“You’re entertaining friends, Chairman Gu. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to intrude.”

“Let’s skip it for today. I’ll arrange to meet with you privately some other time, Chairman Gu.”

Chu Zhengxiong said with a familiar wave of his hand.

“Another time, then.”

“It is an old friends’ reunion today.”

Seeing Chu Zhengxiong decline, Gu Heng didn’t press the issue.

“Then we won’t disturb you any further.”

“As long as you’re no longer angry, Chairman Gu. Today’s incident has been a real wake-up call for us. If this hadn’t happened to Miss Jiang, I would never have known that some people, just because of some connections to the group, would dare to act so recklessly. It’s utterly lawless.”

At this, Chu Zhengxiong slapped the table with a serious expression.

“Chairman Gu, you can rest assured.”

“After tonight, I will personally see to rectifying the long-standing issues at the Platinum Association, Xiyue Club, and Celestial Bath Spring to ensure nothing like this ever happens again.”

Hearing this, Gu Heng had nothing more to say.

“Well, we’ll be heading back then.”

“You should also get some rest when you’re finished here, Chairman Chu.”

Gu Heng lifted his arms to hold the still-trembling Jiang Ruan and stood up from the sofa.

“I’ll see you out, Chairman Gu…”

Chu Zhengxiong quickly stood up as well and escorted Gu Heng and Jiang Ruan toward the door.

However, just as Gu Heng was about to step out of the room, Chu Zhengnan’s extremely respectful voice suddenly sounded from behind him. “Chairman Gu, excuse me, but will you be taking the contents of this wooden box with you?”

As Chu Zhengnan finished speaking, Chu Zhengxiong also turned his head, staring intently at Gu Heng’s profile as if trying to read his expression. But the result was a disappointment; Gu Heng’s face was a complete blank.

Gu Heng didn’t turn around. He simply angled his head slightly and replied in a flat voice:

“What would I do with that?”

“Go feed it to the dogs.”