As Director Jiang finished speaking, the five bodyguards stepped forward. The restaurant security at the entrance noticed the disturbance, and several guards rushed out, along with their manager.

Director Jiang walked over and said a few words to the manager, who looked at him with suspicion before moving toward Long Cheng and whispering a few things.

Long Cheng waved him away, and the manager could only return to the restaurant with a wry smile, taking his own security detail with him.

He recognized both groups; he had intended to play the peacemaker, but unexpectedly, both sides told him not to meddle. He couldn't afford to offend either party, so he retreated to the restaurant.

At least they were outside, not inside; if anything happened, he would have an excuse.

With Director Jiang backing him, the nouveau riche fellow immediately became arrogant.

“You bastards, how dare you hit me yesterday? Don't you know who I am? It’s good you didn’t run; today I’ll make sure you regret it!”

The upstart shouted loudly, while the thirty-year-old man beside him frowned and shot him a cold glance.

The upstart didn't sense the shift in atmosphere. Believing his side had the superior numbers, he yelled even louder.

Every nasty word he could muster came out. Long Cheng and Huang Hai’s brows were deeply furrowed; if Li Ya hadn't been restraining Wang Chen, Wang Chen would have already landed a punch on that man.

“Darling, I want that little doggy!”

The woman suddenly interjected, pointing at Lightning on Zhang Yang's shoulder. Lightning immediately turned its head, baring its teeth at her.

The treasure-hunting rat was no longer in Zhang Yang’s canvas bag. It had emerged for some air earlier and crawled right next to Lightning. Since they had both consumed the Immortal Fruit Pill together, this little creature was no longer afraid of Lightning.

The treasure-hunting rat poked its head out from under Lightning's tail, looking around suspiciously.

Beside Lightning, its fur appeared exceptionally white—one small, one large, a mink and a rat, they looked quite harmonious standing together.

“What an adorable little mouse! Darling, I want this little mouse too!”

The woman cried out again. This time, it wasn't Lightning baring its teeth at her; the treasure-hunting rat squeaked at the woman, seemingly protesting that it wasn't a mouse but the great spirit beast, the Treasure-Hunting Rat.

Zhang Yang’s treasure-hunting rat also surprised Long Cheng and the others.

They had seen Lightning before, but they didn't know Zhang Yang was carrying a little rat. The treasure-hunting rat was tiny, and it had stayed in the canvas bag until it crawled out by itself to join Lightning; nobody had noticed it.

“Alright, Darling, rest assured, I will definitely bring them to you today!”

The upstart bellowed forcefully, yet he failed to notice that the eyes of the thirty-something man beside him were growing colder and colder.

“Miss Liu, please be at ease. Anything you fancy, just name it, and we will acquire it for you!”

Director Jiang also smiled and said, failing to notice that the person next to him had already turned his gaze toward him, also carrying a chilling intent.

“Don’t hold me back, I can’t stand it anymore!”

Wang Chen suddenly broke free from Li Ya’s restraint and ran straight toward the upstart.

These few people not only bragged and insulted them but were now shamelessly talking about buying Lightning, claiming there was nothing they couldn't obtain.

If they hadn't been in Shanghai, those people would have already started fighting.

If anyone dared speak to them like this in Changjing, they would beat the person until their own parents wouldn’t recognize them.

Wang Chen was inherently the son of a wealthy man, possessing a bit of a dissolute air. Being repeatedly insulted by this upstart whom they looked down upon, he felt he might vomit blood if he tolerated it further.

As Wang Chen moved, the five burly bodyguards also sprang into action. Their speed was far superior to those so-called "Ah San" and "Ah Si."

Zhang Yang could tell at a glance that these five were genuine professionals who had come from the military. As for "Ah San" and "Ah Si," they were all flash and no substance, likely hired from who knows where.

“Come back!”

Long Cheng suddenly stepped forward, grabbed Wang Chen by the collar, and dragged him back.

“I’ll go!”

Long Cheng’s words were simple, but his eyes held a killing intent. Wang Chen stared blankly for a moment before nodding immediately.

Wang Chen understood that Long Cheng was truly furious; otherwise, he wouldn’t choose to act personally. Wang Chen was certain that if Long Cheng made a move, it wouldn't matter if the opposition had double the men—it would be useless.

They had immense faith in Long Cheng.

“Everyone, fall back!”

The thirty-something man, who had remained silent until now, suddenly said softly. The five bodyguards hesitated slightly and immediately retreated.

The upstart and Director Jiang beside him turned around in astonishment.

“Mr. Xie, why are you calling them back? Teach them a lesson! Give them a severe lesson! They were the ones who hit me yesterday!”

The upstart urged anxiously, not noticing that the man’s expression was growing increasingly grim.

Seeing the internal strife on the other side, Long Cheng also paused. After hesitating for a moment, he stood his ground, deciding to wait and see what the other party was planning.

“Bao Zizai, I am formally announcing now that all contracts between you and Xie Group are canceled. You are no longer a supplier for Xie Group!”

The man said quietly. The people around him widened their eyes, especially the upstart.

This upstart was indeed a genuine self-made man, having come from extreme poverty, living almost on relief money.

Later, he learned that his cousin had remarried a rich man and immediately rushed over.

His cousin treated him kindly. Seeing her cousin’s pitiable state, she found him a job delivering goods for Hongfa Supermarkets—a nationwide chain owned by the Xie family.

The man his cousin married was Xie Changgen, the chairman of Hongfa.

Xie Changgen’s first wife had passed away several years ago before he finally found a suitable partner and remarried. His wife pleaded with him once to do this favor, so he arranged this simple delivery job for his cousin’s husband. All he had to do was deliver the required goods, and he could earn a significant amount of money, enough to change his life, if not make him rich.

Indeed, with Hongfa’s numerous stores, supplying just the Southeast Three Regions allowed him to earn several million annually. Unfortunately, having known poverty, he lost all sense of self once he acquired wealth.

After earning money, he bought many fine things and hired two bodyguards from home, renaming them Ah San and Ah Si, whom he paraded around daily to look impressive.

Later, he found a woman—the one standing beside him now—and became even more insufferable.

He earned a few million at most each year, but he spent money faster than he made it, buying cars, property, and showering the woman with jewelry.

His surplus money was borrowed. Lenders saw that he was attached to the huge client, Hongfa, and was actually earning money every year, so they were willing to loan him funds at high interest rates.

Currently, he owed nearly two million in external debt. If Hongfa terminated his business, his creditors would force him into ruin.

“Mr. Xie, Mr. Bao is under direct instruction from the Chairman!”

Director Jiang hurriedly turned and whispered to the man. It was precisely because of the upstart’s peculiar status that Director Jiang treated him so well, almost deferentially. If he could put in a good word with the Chairman through the upstart, his position might even be promoted.

“I know. Even if the Chairman knew, he would agree with my decision!”

The man nodded lightly and said again: “Director Jiang, you don't need to come to the company tomorrow either. Settle your final wages with finance this afternoon. From this moment on, you are no longer an employee of Xie Group!”

The man said this casually, but Director Jiang’s eyes widened.

Terminating the contract with Mr. Bao had already surprised him, but he never imagined he would also be implicated and fired.

“Mr. Xie, I am a high-level manager in the company! You have no right to fire me!” Director Jiang yelled urgently, a bead of cold sweat appearing on his forehead.

“I may not have the right, but you should understand that what I say will certainly take effect!”

The man gave him a cold look and ignored him, striding forward.

As he walked away, the others beside him followed suit, including the five sturdy bodyguards.

“Dr. Zhang, I sincerely apologize; I hope this spectacle hasn’t troubled you too much!”

He walked over, approached Zhang Yang directly, and bowed deeply, apologizing to him.

“Brother Xie Fei, don't be so formal; you make me uneasy behaving this way!”

Zhang Yang smiled slightly. This man before him was Xie Fei of the Xie family; Hongfa Supermarkets were indeed the Xie family's property.

Chairman Xie Changgen was Xie Fei’s paternal uncle and Xie Hui’s father. It was true that this upstart was Xie Changgen’s brother-in-law, but Zhang Yang was the savior of the old Mr. Xie.

The Xie family valued sentiment above all else, and the old Mr. Xie was the most important person in the family. In the eyes of the Xie family, this upstart could never compare to the importance of Zhang Yang to them.

Not to mention that Xie Fei held great disdain for the upstart.

“Lightning, do you remember me? Dr. Zhang, you finally decided to let Lightning out!”

Xie Fei also greeted Lightning. Zhang Yang had first encountered Lightning at the Xie family villa, but at that time, he dared not release the mink and had kept it caged.

This action had caused many of the Xie family children to hold reservations against him; such a cute little mink shouldn't be kept confined.

Even Old Mr. Xie had spoken about this matter, let alone others. At that time, Xie Fei had harbored similar thoughts—it was indeed wrong to keep such a cute mink locked up all the time.

“Squeak squeak squeak!”

Lightning suddenly jumped onto Xie Fei’s shoulder and brushed its tail across his face, tickling Xie Fei until he threw his head back, laughing loudly.

While he was laughing, the upstart next to him turned ashen-faced, and the woman who had been clamoring to buy Lightning fell silent, staring blankly at them.

Her voice might have been nauseating, but it didn't mean she was stupid. She knew what her man relied on for his current lifestyle. Once the Xie family cut them off, they would be nothing.

Director Jiang’s face also paled. He hadn't expected that someone among the opposition was known to Xie Fei. Looking at Xie Fei’s demeanor toward him, he understood he had gotten into serious trouble this time… RQ