Chapter 358: Shocking Humiliation! Young Master Li's Face Crushed on the Spot!

In the top-floor office, the air was so quiet you could hear the distant whistle of a train outside the window.

Lu Qingjun paced restlessly like a leopard trapped in a cage, his steps making the expensive wool carpet creak.

"Brother, that old dog Li Jiasheng sent his son over; he has no good intentions! The kid studied law at Cambridge, full of rotten tricks, just here to probe us! What do you want to do with him? Just have Ye Ning send him away, and that's that!"

Lu Qingshan pretended not to hear, leisurely handling a Zisha Tea Set.

Boiling water poured into the pot, the swirling steam rose, carrying the tea's fragrance, creating an incongruous Eastern calm in this Western office steeped in money and the smell of gunpowder.

He lifted the kettle, pouring the first brew over the tea pet, his movements unhurried, as if the storm about to sweep across Europe outside was less important than the tiny golden toad in his palm.

Lu Qingjun watched anxiously but dared not disturb, only stewing with anger.

Soon, the office door was knocked, Ye Ning entered, followed by a young man in a bespoke suit, his hair meticulously combed.

It was Li Zexun.

As soon as Li Zexun entered, his gaze swept the office swiftly, finally landing on the man calmly brewing tea. A flawless smile instantly formed on his face, and he stepped forward a few paces, bowing slightly.

"Mr. Lu, I've long admired your reputation. My father often mentioned you while in Hong Kong Island, calling you a dragon among men; seeing you today, your bearing is indeed extraordinary."

His Mandarin was precise and resonant, his posture low, yet his eyes concealed a hint of scrutiny and unmistakable superiority.

Lu Qingshan didn't lift his head, simply using a tea tongs to pick up a white porcelain cup, rinse it with hot water, and place it on the tea tray before Li Zexun.

"Sit."

One word, no superfluous pleasantries, yet it choked off all the polite chatter Li Zexun had prepared. His smile froze briefly, then returned to normal as he sat opposite Lu Qingshan.

Lu Qingjun stood aside, cold-eyed, muttering "smiling tiger" under his breath.

"Mr. Lu, you have refined tastes; in this financial capital, you can still calm yourself to enjoy tea," Li Zexun tried to regain control of the conversation.

Lu Qingshan finally lifted his eyes, glanced at him with a calm, unruffled gaze, as if looking at a stranger.

"Tea can steady the mind. An unsettled heart easily loses sight of the road beneath."

The sentence made Li Zexun's heart drop sharply; he felt the remark was about him, not the tea.

He forced a dry laugh twice, then got straight to the point: "Mr. Lu, your London trip is truly lavish. My father heard of it in Hong Kong Island, was amazed, and specifically sent me to pay respects and learn from you."

Lu Qingshan pushed a cup of amber tea toward him, its fragrance filling the air.

"Not really; I'm just making a living."

Li Zexun lifted the cup, took a gentle sip, feeling the tea scorch his mouth and burn into his heart. "Making a living?" he thought. "You call that making a living? What does that make us who toil in industry? Beggars?"

He set the cup down, his gaze grew a bit stern, his body leaned forward slightly, and his voice lowered.

"Mr. Lu, a clear person doesn't speak in riddles. You've cornered the entire London spot market this time; the move is huge. The Shason Family is not like those Yingzi firms in Hong Kong Island; they're centuries-old financial aristocrats who devour without leaving a bone. With a knife at their throats now, the outcome may not end well."

He stared intently at Lu Qingshan, hoping to see any hint of nervousness or wavering.

Yet he was disappointed.

Lu Qingshan's face remained the same breezy expression, as if Li Zexun's words about a world-shaking financial gamble were merely a discussion of whether the afternoon tea snack was sweet or salty.

"Oh?" Lu Qingshan lifted his own cup, blew the steam, "Then, in your view, Mr. Li, how should I conclude this?"

Li Zexun, seeing him respond, felt a surge of joy, thinking he had hit a soft spot.

"My father's view is that harmony generates wealth." He leaned back, assuming a posture of grand strategy, "The Shason Family is hard to deal with, but not an impenetrable slab. You hold supplies the Royal Navy urgently needs; that's your biggest chip. Better to cash in now, transfer the futures contracts in batches, making a hefty profit while giving everyone face. The Li Family also has connections in London; we can mediate for you, ensuring you get a satisfactory price and safely bring the money back to Hong Kong Island."

After speaking, he looked at Lu Qingshan confidently, awaiting gratitude and a cooperative response. His words highlighted the risk, offered a solution, and showcased the Li Family's strength; to him, it was flawless.

Lu Qingjun, listening nearby, was on the verge of exploding with anger.

"What the hell, this isn't help? It's clearly trying to loot the fire, a wolf in sheep's clothing! Using a few cheap words to scoop the fattest piece from their already boiling meat broth!"

He was about to curse, but Lu Qingshan stopped him with a glance.

Lu Qingshan set the cup down; its base struck the tea tray, producing a crisp "Clack."

The office air seemed to solidify with that light sound.

He looked at Li Zexun and suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, yet it made Li Zexun feel an inexplicable flutter in his heart and a chill run up his spine.

"Mr. Li, do you think I spent all this money, mobilized so many people, risked offending the entire European financial world just to make a quick profit and then slink back to Hong Kong Island?"

Li Zexun was taken aback: "Isn't... that so?"

Lu Qingshan shook his head, rose, walked to the massive floor-to-ceiling window, hands behind his back, gazing at the city below shrouded in dark clouds.

"Your father sent you here not to teach me how to do business."

His voice was calm, yet carried a penetrating power.

"He wanted you to see how big and sturdy my ship truly is. To see if this captain has the skill to take him aboard and seize an even larger piece of cake."

The smile on Li Zexun's face vanished completely, replaced by shock and horror.

He felt like a naked child before him, every thought laid bare.

Lu Qingshan slowly turned, his gaze landing on Li Zexun's pallid face, his tone becoming casual, as if answering an exceedingly simple question.

"Tell your father I came to London without overthinking it."

"I just thought the money here seemed easier to earn than on Hong Kong Island."

"So, I came to make some money."

After speaking, he lifted the cup belonging to Li Zexun from the tea tray, walked to the window, tilted his wrist, and poured the costly Da Hong Pao, along with all of Li Zexun's probing, scheming, and self‑confidence, into the potted plant on the windowsill.

"The tea is cold now, Mr. Li, help yourself."

Li Zexun sprang up from the sofa, his complexion flashing pale and white, his chest heaving violently.

This is humiliation!

Bare, unmasked humiliation!

He stared rigidly at Lu Qingshan's breezy silhouette, his lips trembling for a long while, yet no word escaped. Finally, he flung his arm, fled the office without looking back.