Chapter 73 You dare to covet my people? You're tired of living!
The following evening, Zhao Zonglan took Shen Jingni to the Xiang family's birthday banquet.
He didn't want to go in the first place.
But considering that the little one hadn't done much fun in the two days since arriving in San Francisco, I figured I might as well take her out for some fresh air.
The dinner was small in scale; it was a very private family dinner.
In addition to Xiang family relatives and friends, several prominent figures from the political and business circles were also present.
Mrs. Xiang's name is Qiao Peiyao. She is in her early thirties and is also from Beijing. She married Xiang Xu'an when she was twenty. Their marriage was a business arrangement.
However, as Xiang's Capital expanded and grew, far surpassing the Qiao family, their business marriage became completely worthless.
Shen Jingni likes to look pretty, so she specially got a makeover tonight.
Her slightly wavy long hair was styled into an updo and adorned with a tassel pearl hairpin.
She wore a light pink strapless Chinese-style dress with exquisite embroidery. The large bow at the waist was elegant and structured, and the ribbons cinched her slender waist, perfectly highlighting her full curves.
It was cold, and the dress was backless, so Zhao Zonglan naturally wouldn't let her do as she pleased.
He wanted to ask her to change into another outfit, but the girl disagreed and started arguing with him again.
"Zhao Zonglan, don't be so domineering. Can't I have the freedom to appreciate beauty?"
Shen Jingni felt that the older man was being unreasonable.
Old-fashioned and domineering.
They even control what dress she wears.
Zhao Zonglan, of course, had to take charge.
Because this beautiful baby belongs to him, no one else has the right to see it, and even if they do, they have to cover themselves up tightly.
But Shen Jingni was disobedient. She started throwing a tantrum and yelling at him, "You annoying bastard, you old jerk, I don't want to go out with you anymore."
Zhao Zonglan felt a headache coming on.
How could he have run into such an unreasonable person?
Seeing that the little rascal was about to cry again, Zhao Zonglan could only hug him and gently coax him, "It's cold outside, be good."
Shen Jingni turned her face away angrily and remained silent.
Their attitude was firm: no change, no compromise.
"Why are you so stingy, Shen Miaomiao?" Zhao Zonglan pinched her nose and then discussed with her, "How about we add a shawl, hmm?"
Mr. Zhao had never paid so much attention to anyone's clothing in his entire life.
Even his own clothes, which were arranged by a specialist and placed in the dressing room, he would just wear whatever he wanted and not care about anything else.
Unfortunately, I encountered someone who wouldn't listen to me.
Shen Jingni then turned to look at him.
Her cheeks puffed out slightly, and she said arrogantly, "If the shawl you find isn't nice, I don't want it."
This assumption is unlikely to hold true.
For Zhao Zonglan, finding a beautiful, unique, and gorgeous plush shawl is just a matter of a word.
However, Shen Jingni was still unhappy and sulking.
I didn't talk to him much along the way.
Upon arriving at the Xiang residence, after greeting Mr. and Mrs. Xiang, Zhao Zonglan was invited by Xiang Xu'an to have a drink.
Qiao Peiyao, as the hostess, then showed Shen Jingni around the mansion.
The Xiang residence is very large, and it is a European-style building. In addition to the main building, there are several small villas inside, located in several different locations.
This style of private residence is quite rare.
In the garden, lark flowers are in full bloom, their petals falling like snowflakes, their subtle fragrance wafting through the air.
Qiao Peiyao glanced at Shen Jingni, who was admiring the flowers, and said gently, "If Miss Shen likes these flowers, why don't you stay and enjoy them for a while?"
She smiled, her enthusiasm bordering on the unsettling. "The house on the west side is currently vacant. I've had it cleaned up; you can stay as long as you like."
Shen Jingni looked up at her.
The woman in front of her, Mrs. Xiang, was elegant and poised in her speech and manners, but she always felt something was off about her.
Too enthusiastic.
They even let her live in a separate building.
Shen Jingni politely declined, saying, "No need, I have to go back with Zhao Zonglan."
Qiao Peiyao then stopped trying to persuade her.
She thought that perhaps the information Xiang Xu'an had was wrong.
The Miss Shen he had his eye on didn't look like any of the other women he brought back.
Moreover, she is Zhao Zonglan's woman, not just someone he's playing around with.
However, Xiang Xu'an, blinded by lust, might not be able to see through it.
He and several other executives were drinking with Zhao Zonglan.
But Zhao Zonglan wasn't in a good mood tonight.
He leaned back on the single sofa, his expression indifferent and as usual, the collar of his black shirt slightly open, exuding a lazy and aristocratic air.
He placed the glass cup filled with fine wine on the small table in front of him, only occasionally picking it up to take a small sip.
Xiang Xu'an handed Zhao Zonglan a cigar: "This is a Regius Double Crown that just arrived yesterday. Try it. If you like it, I'll have someone send some to your Zijing Tan Garden."
Chang An strode over and refused directly, neither humble nor arrogant: "I'm sorry, Mr. Xiang, but my husband doesn't smoke outside cigarettes; that's the rule."
Zhao Zonglan indeed did not smoke cigarettes that had not been tested by his own people.
Because there are too many people with ulterior motives, we must be on guard.
Although Xiang Xu'an didn't have the guts, there were always some who didn't know their place.
Xiang Xu'an awkwardly withdrew his hand, nodding with an embarrassed smile, "I understand, it was my oversight, I deserve to be punished."
After he sat down, he picked up the wine glass in front of him and drank it all in one gulp.
After drinking all night, the brain's nerves were gradually controlled by alcohol.
Only then did he muster the courage to ask Zhao Zonglan, "This is the first time I've seen you with a woman. I'm just curious, who sent you that girl?"
Most of the women around Xiang Xu'an were sent by people with ulterior motives.
Most people of their status and position were in the same situation, so he believed that Zhao Zonglan was the same as him.
Zhao Zonglan took a drag of his cigarette before casually opening his eyes to look at him. "Why are you asking this?"
Xiang Xu'an chuckled softly, "I think that girl next to you is really pretty, very much to my liking. If I know who gave her the gift, I'll go find someone similar, or... if you're tired of her, why not give her to me, I..."
He hadn't finished speaking.
A gunshot rang out.
The scorching heat of the bullet grazed past Xiang Xu'an's cheek, burning his skin and causing bright red blood to seep out, slide down his chin, and drip onto the carpet.
The custom-made silenced pistol made little noise, but the celadon vase behind Xiang Xu'an shattered with a loud crash, the shards exploding on the ground.
Chang An quickly dispersed the guests inside the house.
The door was closed.
Zhao Zonglan approached Xu An with a gun in his hand. His eyes were gloomy. He lifted Xu An up with one hand and then kicked him hard to the ground.
Xiang Xu'an collapsed into the pile of broken porcelain shards, begging for mercy in pain: "Zong Lan, no, Mr. Zhao, I misspoke, I offended your people, please... ah..."
Zhao Zonglan didn't want to waste time listening to his nonsense.
He stepped on Xiang Xu'an with one foot, the force was so great that the broken porcelain shards on the ground pierced his skin, and his sternum felt like it was about to break. Xiang Xu'an cried out in pain.
Zhao Zonglan leaned down, his tone chillingly cold: "Xiang Xu'an, you dare to covet my people? Are you tired of living?"
"I'm sorry, I know I was wrong, please forgive me."
Xiang Xu'an knew very well that it would be easy for Zhao Zonglan to kill him.
He could only keep begging for mercy and admitting his mistakes.
Suddenly, the gun was pressed against his forehead.
Xiang Xu'an trembled uncontrollably, cold sweat pouring down his face. He was already stammering, "Mr. Zhao, I was wrong, I was wrong..."
A cold smile appeared in Zhao Zonglan's eyes, and he slowly tapped the gun muzzle on the center of Zhao Zonglan's forehead.
His voice was low and cold: "If there is a next time, the bullet will pierce through here."
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