"Look at what you've done! You turned an a.s.set into an enemy! You've turned us, his potential major business partner, into his target!"

"Didn't I tell you…" and blah, blah, blah. s.h.i.+ Fan Hai shut his mind from all the hurtful insulting and gibberish words of his dear father, intended specifically for his ears. He was on selective-hearing mode.

While being grilled over the phone, in his mind, he's sorting every vicious way of retaliation to the two men. "They will have to pay. They have to pay for this. I'll make their lives living h.e.l.l just like how they managed to inflict such with mine. Those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds."

That was weeks ago.

s.h.i.+ Fan Hai was weary and agitated because of all the days, today, a random day in July, almost at the same time, the banks sent out the notice, a warning and perhaps a threat of much more undesirable consequence if the dipping market trend and company performance continue. Aside from that, this very day, Chairman s.h.i.+ would be returning from his overseas trip.

True enough, he went straight from the airport to the s.h.i.+ Corporation office.

"Still on your thinking chair? Actions are more important. Tell me, what are the action items?" Chairman s.h.i.+ started attacking as soon as he entered his son's office.

s.h.i.+ Fan Hia turned his chair around and faced his father.

"I'll come up with something, Father."

Chairman s.h.i.+ clicked his tongue. "Tsk. No plans yet? Still NO plans? How long will you come up with one sound plan? When I'm already dead from humiliation? When the s.h.i.+ Corporation is no more?"

s.h.i.+ Fan Hai kept his silence but ruffled his head in annoyance. He couldn't refute his father this time.

"How about you listen to what I have arranged for you." s.h.i.+ Fan Hai's overbearing father gave emphasis to the word 'I'. He exhibited such imposing aura.

"I am currently having talks of marriage with the Tengs. Isnt that what you want? To take home their girl? Bed her, and own her like a pet?" Chairman s.h.i.+'s eyelids drooped and smiled sheepishly. "I am making it a reality, on the condition that you will give me what I am after. Their wealth, a lifeline for our s.h.i.+ Corporation. Of course, without them knowing anything about it. Make it subtle."

"Doesn't matter how I do it, as long as I do it. That should be the same for you. I don't give a d.a.m.n as to how you would do it, as long as you do it! d.a.m.n it! The problem is, you don't do anything! That's the problem!"

"This time, you are not expected to do anything on your own accord, just follow my instructions. We need a lifeline."

Although still silent, s.h.i.+ Fan Hai's chest heaved up and down from extreme rage. He clenched his fists so firmly that his knuckles were trembling from the force. He sent daggers of stares to his old man.

Chairman s.h.i.+ continued his never-ending rants.

"Not grateful? Isn't that what you want all this time? Your end goal? To be with the Teng daughter?"

"Isn't that what made you come to me and beg me to clothe you and give you the t.i.tle of a s.h.i.+?"

"Now, it's within your grasp. Am I not such a supportive father?" He sighed theatrically, as if he did such a good job in raising his son.

"We already ended things up, Father. We're done, Man Rui and I. She won't even agree with that marriage. She knows I had been betrothed to her best friend. And as I know it she's getting betrothed to the Xue young master…"

"And where's the Xue young master?" The s.h.i.+ patriarch barked.

"Overseas."

The old man only snorted.

"Just do what I tell you to do. You cannot fail this time. You have to marry into the Teng's no matter what. You already have the lady's heart on your palms. Make the most out of it. She's the perfect candidate."

"Bear in mind that you were nothing. You're just my b.a.s.t.a.r.d son with no rights as a s.h.i.+. Don't ever forget what your mother did to my rightful descendant, MY legitimate son. You're just a replacement."

"I took you in, and placed you to that position. People bowed at your feet. I gave that to you. Now you have to repay my kindness and generosity. Do your job well as a s.h.i.+ son." It was apparent that Chairman s.h.i.+ was not giving s.h.i.+ Fan Hai any option but to agree with him.

s.h.i.+ Fan Hai gritted his teeth, and through his suppressed rage, he affirmed, "Yes Father."

At this point, s.h.i.+ Fan Hai was wavering onto what his father wanted and what he preferred. Certainly, he was against the idea of using the Teng's as lifeline, and through Teng Man Rui, too, his queen, and the only woman he wanted by his side to rule the world. How the h.e.l.l would he able to do that if he and his family will have to suck up his queen's source of wealth for their own? But, how would he even rule the world with Man Rui by his side, without the wealth? At least if he obeyed his father, he would be with Teng Man Rui, AND still have some wealth to squander. However, is isn't anyone's wealth. It was the Teng's. That's what made it complicated.

Not to mention, he still needed to fulfill his vow of retribution to the people responsible for their current situation.

"I'm sorry Man Rui, my queen."