Chapter 3014: Taming the Stubborn 31

The banquet was halfway through, and the atmosphere was in full swing.

As one of the most noticed guests today, Jin Chen naturally couldn't avoid being toasted. Most people were tactful, either raising their cups from afar or coming over to say a couple polite words and taking only a sip.

But there are always those who aren't so tactful.

Xie Chang's second son, Xie Shiyun, walked over holding a wine glass.

He is just over thirty, much younger than his elder brother Dage, bears a slight resemblance to Xie Chang, and is said to have a bit of cleverness; having just returned to Record City at the start of the year, he snapped up a family freight contract worth over a hundred billion, making him the rising star within the family and viewed as a strong contender for the inheritance.

Xie Shiyun is about the same age as Jin Chen, but Jin Chen has already established himself in Record City, controlling the port and foreign trade, while Xie Shiyun has only just been pushed forward by the family.

He walked up to Jin Chen, didn't even glance at Chenshu sitting beside him, raised his glass, and with a smile that seemed warm but actually held a hint of condescension said, 'President Jin, I've long admired your name! Let me toast you!'

Guests at the neighboring tables sent curious glances over. Those in the know secretly shook their heads—Xie Shiyun's show of force had picked the wrong target; the old powers and new money in Record City have been feuding behind the scenes for a long time, nobody yielding to anybody, and it wouldn't surprise anyone if this was the Xie family's tacit approval, using the opportunity to warn Jin Chen not to get too big for his boots.

Jin Chen seemed not to hear, continuing to eat the vegetables Chenshu had placed on his plate.

Xie Shiyun kept his glass raised, snorted, and said, 'What, President Jin… are you not giving me face, or do you think our Xie family's wine isn't worthy of your status?'

Chen Gai stood behind Jin Chen, his brows knitting slightly; Yan Rui standing at his side also darkened in expression, instinctively moving to step forward, but Chen Gai stopped him with a look.

Both of them looked at Jin Chen.

Xie Shiyun got no response, his smile faltering; he held his glass, torn between advancing and retreating, unwilling to leave like that yet unwilling to truly turn against Jin Chen, saying, 'To be frank, some people in Record City are, frankly speaking, just outsiders.'

'Just because you made a bit of money thanks to luck, you forget your own surname. In Record City, it's about roots—not everyone can put down roots.'

'Besides, in business one values harmony bringing wealth; a big tree attracts wind, and being too sharp-edged isn't always good. Don't you agree? Let this drink be a gesture of friendship.'

That remark was a bit heavy.

Many people put down their utensils and looked over. Peng Wenqiang lowered his eyes, showing no reaction.

Xie Chang sat in the seat of honor, smiling, slowly turning his wine glass in hand, 'President Jin, the junior members of the family are headstrong, and having just returned to Record City not long ago, they don't understand the situation.'

Those in the know understood: this was probably the Xie family using Xie Shiyun's mouth to warn Jin Chen, telling him to restrain himself and not overreach.

According to the usual delicate balance between old and new forces, perhaps if Jin Chen drank this glass, said a few pleasantries, the matter would blow over and everyone could save face.

But someone just couldn't stand to listen.

Chenshu had been smiling while cutting fruit for Jin Chen, arranging neat chunks of orange and dragon fruit, spearing them with a fork and bringing them to his lips; Jin Chen, never refusing, opened his mouth and ate.

Hearing Xie Shiyun speak more and more outrageously, Chenshu's smile faded a bit—'Headstrong, humph, who could be as headstrong as him?'

He set down his silver fruit fork, looked at Xie Shiyun still standing there, his face breaking into a smile again, even brighter than before, his voice clear.

'Second Young Master Xie, you say to toast… but just drinking is boring; you need some side dishes, don't you think?'

Xie Shiyun frowned, not knowing what this youngster wanted, 'What's your high opinion?'

'I think,' Chenshu walked up to Xie Shiyun, his pretty eyes curving into crescents, looking harmless, 'the best side dish for drink is……'

Chenshu grabbed Xie Shiyun's hair and, before anyone could react, slammed his head hard onto the nearby table.

Bang!!

Chenshu violently shoved Xie Shiyun's face into the nearest bowl of thick soup! Scalding broth splashed everywhere, covering his head and face!

'Mmm!!!' Xie Shiyun's choked scream was muffled in the soup bowl as he flailed his arms, struggling; the bowl tipped over, broth spread across the table and dripped onto the carpet.

'How does it taste?' Chenshu asked, tilting his head with a smirk.

Xie Shiyun: 'Mmm mmm mmm mmm!!!'

The guests gaped!

At the same moment, the bodyguards behind Jin Chen almost simultaneously drew their guns, black muzzles aimed at the host of today's banquet, Xie Chang, and all of the Xie family's attendants.

How dare they point a gun at the Xie family patriarch on the Xie family's yacht, in front of everyone!

Xie Chang's neck veins bulged, his sandalwood cane striking the carpet hard as his voice trembled with rage, 'President Jin!'

Jin Chen sat in his seat, unmoving.

He set down his fork, picked up the napkin on the table, folded it leisurely, wiped the corner of his mouth, then lifted his head to glance at Xie Chang and said, 'Funny enough, my own child is also headstrong—just over twenty, young and clueless, heavy-handed.'

Xie Chang: '……'

'Is that how you manage people, President Jin?' Xie Chang asked, suppressing his anger.

Jin Chen tilted his head slightly, beckoning to Chenshu, who still held Xie Shiyun's head, 'Come here, good boy.'

Upon hearing that, Chenshu finally let go; Xie Shiyun jerked his head up, his face smeared with sticky cream mushroom soup, strands of hair clinging to his forehead, his eyes swollen shut by the broth, choking violently, tears and snot streaming, utterly miserable.

Chenshu didn't even look at him, shaking off his hand like discarding trash, even wiping his fingers disdainfully on the expensive velvet suit, then light-footedly returning to Jin Chen's side with a faint smirk.

Jin Chen grasped the hand Chenshu had just used to commit the act.

Then, under the horrified, disbelieving gazes of everyone, he raised Chenshu's hand, steadying the gun aimed at Xie Shiyun, who had just struggled out of the soup bowl, his face full of fear as he looked this way.

Jin Chen leaned close to Chenshu's ear and whispered, 'Next time you want to strike, just do it directly—don't get your hands dirty.'

Then he pressed down with Chenshu's hand.

'Jin Chen!!!'

Bang!!

The gunshot drowned out Xie Chang's angry roar.

Xie Shiyun thought the bullet was aimed at him, trembling all over, he scrambled and dove into the nearby pool.

In the pool, Xie Shiyun sputtered in shock, realizing he had no bullet wound, and blankly lifted his gaze toward the shore.

That gun only fired a heap of confetti ribbons, which fluttered down onto the floor, giving off a slapstick sense of humor.

The guests: '……'

Jin Chen pinched Chenshu's fingertip, then waved at the bodyguards behind him.

Behind him, Chen Gai and Yan Rui, together with the bodyguards, smoothly holstered their guns and returned to their original positions.

Only then did Jin Chen turn his gaze back to the seat of honor—Xie Chang, clutching his chest as if about to collapse, and beside him Peng Wenqiang, whose expression was equally grim but whose eyes were deeper.

He gave a slight nod, his tone utterly unapologetic, 'Kids don't know better, just playing around. I'm sure Fifth Master will be magnanimous and not quarrel with my family's youngster.'

Xie Chang: '………'

He clutched his chest, his trembling finger pointing at Jin Chen, shuddering for a long time unable to utter a complete sentence.

Finally, Xie Chang could only grit his teeth, forcing out a sentence from between his teeth: "Hurry up and help the Second Young Master up! What an embarrassing thing!"

Immediately, a trembling servant stepped forward, lifting the soaked Xie Shiyun out of the pool.

Xie Shiyun was soaked through, shivering from the cold, his face smeared with soup and pool water, no trace of his earlier arrogance; head bowed, he was half‑dragged, half‑supported by the servants away, not daring to look at Jin Chen again.

The surrounding guests, still shaken, reseated themselves, glancing at the main table with complex expressions, all thinking the same thing.

As expected of Jin Chen.

The little boyfriend he found is also quite crazy.