After I stopped trying, a rich woman trained me into a demon emperor.

The gym door was pushed open from the outside.

The visitor was Qian Jin, assistant to the vice president of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce.

Today, however, Qian Jin is no longer as arrogant and domineering as he was a few days ago.

His face was ashen, his eyes sunken, and his steps were unsteady. The horrific scene of the evil sorcerer in Hong Kong last night lingered in his mind.

Seeing Zhou Ran sitting calmly on the sofa, Qian Jin's Adam's apple bobbed, and he subconsciously shrank his neck.

But when he thought of the important person behind him, he straightened his back again.

"Mr. Zhou... Mr. Zhou."

Qian Jin walked up to Zhou Ran, but dared not sit down, much less slam his things on the table like he had done last time.

He bowed and handed over the heavy invitation with both hands.

"This was specially ordered to be delivered by our Chairman Ma."

Zhou Ran didn't even bother to lift her eyelids, blowing on the goji berries floating in her thermos.

"Chairman Ma?"

Who is it?

Are you selling toilets?

Several wealthy women who were stretching nearby couldn't help but burst out laughing, filling the room with a fragrant aroma.

Qian Jin's face turned bright red, and he gritted his teeth, squeezing out a sound through his teeth.

"This is Mr. Ma Tianhao, the president of our Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce!"

"Three days later, at the Heavenly Palace in the Clouds, the Four Seas Rising Peace Charity Gala will be held. Chairman Ma cordially invites Mr. Zhou and President Xiao to grace us with their presence."

"oh."

Zhou Ran then put down his cup, looking as if he had just remembered, and lazily accepted the invitation.

"So it's that Mr. Ma who tried to force me to buy my gym."

The invitation was extremely heavy, made of the finest sandalwood, and inlaid with red gold trim.

Upon opening it, the handwriting inside was flamboyant and elegant.

At the end of the signature, a line of small characters was deliberately added in vermilion ink:

[Having heard that Mr. Zhou is well-versed in Taoist arts and magic, a special auction of ritual implements will be held at the banquet. We hope that Mr. Zhou will be generous in offering his guidance at that time.]

This is not an invitation.

This is a declaration of war.

It's a blatant provocation.

When Qian Jin saw that Zhou Ran had accepted the invitation, he felt a little relieved, and his tone became a bit firmer.

"President Ma said that this banquet will not only feature all the celebrities of Jiangcheng, but also several true masters invited from the provincial capital."

"If Mr. Zhou is afraid, he doesn't have to come."

As long as it's publicly clarified that there are no feng shui issues with that piece of land, we can still be friends.

The land he was referring to was, of course, the mass grave that Hongtu Real Estate had attempted to swindle from the Xiao family.

Because the Xiao family spread rumors that the land had become a place of malevolent influence.

No one in the entire Jiangnan real estate circle dares to touch it now, causing Ma Tianhao to suffer heavy losses.

Snapped!

Zhou Ran casually closed the invitation and tossed it onto the table.

He stood up.

His 1.85-meter height cast a shadow, completely enveloping Qian Jin, and an oppressive aura of training washed over him.

"Go back and tell that toilet seller."

"I'll go eat."

"Make him wash his neck clean."

Forced back three steps by this fierce aura, Qian Jin bumped into the bodyguard behind him.

"Okay...okay! I'll definitely deliver the message!"

In his panic, he fled the gym in a disheveled state with his men.

Watching Qian Jin flee in panic, Lin Qingxue, who had been organizing documents nearby, walked over.

Today she changed into a tailored business suit, her straight and slender legs encased in black stockings.

The non-prescription glasses on the bridge of her nose concealed the sharpness of her heterochromatic eyes, showcasing the capable demeanor of a top-tier secretary.

"Boss, this is a trap."

Lin Qingxue's voice was soft, revealing her worry.

"I've investigated Ma Tianhao. He's the Song family's white glove planted in Jiangcheng. He has a very deep background and is ruthless."

"This banquet must have been meticulously planned and executed."

She paused, then adjusted her glasses.

"Moreover... my eyes saw that the invitation was wreathed in a bloodthirsty aura."

"A trap?"

Zhou Ran grinned, his eyes filled with bloodlust.

"I love eating at the Feast at Hongmen."

He turned his head and gently brushed Lin Qingxue's pert nose.

"Qingxue, don't be idle these next few days."

"Go and prepare a return gift for me."

Lin Qingxue's eyes flickered slightly:

"A return gift? What should I prepare?"

"Since they've gone to such lengths to host a dinner party, we can't just go empty-handed; that would be impolite."

Zhou Ran's eyes revealed amusement.

"Go to the antique street and find me a clock."

"I want a copper one, a big one, the more broken the better."

Lin Qingxue was taken aback at first, then understood and nodded vigorously with a smile.

"Okay, boss, I'll get right on it and make sure it's done perfectly."

Zhou Ran sat back down on the sofa, her fingers tapping rhythmically on the sandalwood table.

Ma Tianhao?

The Song family?

Since you've offered yourselves your faces, don't blame me for slapping you hard.

"Fatty Wang!"

Zhou Ran shouted.

"Hey! Brother, I'm here!"

Fatty Wang came running over excitedly.

"Don't just sit around grinning like an idiot among rich women these next few days."

Zhou Ran patted the fat man's paper-wrapped chicken outfit.

"Practice your 'Immovable King Golden Body Technique' a few more times. In three days, I'll take you to see the world."

Fatty Wang's eyes lit up as he rubbed his hands together.

"To broaden one's horizons?"

"Bro, is there a fight going on?"

"Don't worry, I'm tough now and can take a beating!"

Even a regular small-time karaomi couldn't break my defenses with a knife!

……

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

For the past three days, the entire business community in Jiangcheng has been on edge.

All of the Xiao family's businesses have been targeted from all sides.

Taxation, fire protection, sanitation...

Various inspection teams took turns nitpicking and finding fault with everything.

Even the stock price of the Xiao Group fluctuated wildly due to the rumor of the "mass grave" being maliciously shorted by capital.

The rain is coming and the wind is all over the building.

Everyone sensed the impending decisive battle; the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce was trying to force the Xiao family to submit and completely reshape the landscape of Jiangcheng.

Amidst this turbulent atmosphere, the gates of Cloud Palace, Jiangcheng's most exclusive private club, opened.

A red carpet was laid out, and the lights were dazzling.

Luxury cars flow like water, and celebrities are as numerous as the stars.

Countless eyes are eagerly awaiting the arrival of tonight's true protagonist.

at last.

A bulletproof Panamera, leading two imposing Mercedes-Benz G63s, ignored the signs and parked directly in the center of the red carpet at the hotel entrance.

The car door opened.

A gleaming Italian handmade leather shoe landed steadily on the red carpet.

Zhou Ran wore a perfectly tailored all-black suit, which made his figure appear even more upright.

Beneath his meticulously styled hair lay a handsome face and an indifferent expression.

He simply stood there, and became the focus of the entire room.

And beside him.

On the left, Chen Ya wore an ice-blue strapless dress, exuding an aura like a fairy under the moon.

On the right, Xiao Hongli is wearing a fiery red dress, exuding both sexiness and domineering power.

Further on, Fatty Wang was holding a huge object wrapped in red cloth, his expression solemn.

Lin Qingxue, dressed in a smart secretary outfit, held a folder and looked calm.

The moment this group appeared, they stole all the spotlight.

"That's Zhou Ran?"

"That gigolo who hooked up with both CEO Xiao and CEO Chen?"

"My God...this..."

Is this what they call "living off a woman's money"?

Shh! Keep your voice down! Haven't you heard?

Master Huang from Hong Kong Island was brought down by him! This guy is incredibly cunning!

At the entrance, several burly security guards in black suits were about to step forward to stop the invitations for a routine check.

Zhou Ran didn't stop walking, but only glanced at them out of the corner of his eye.

There was no murderous intent or oppressive aura in his eyes, only the indifference of a god looking down upon dust.

Several battle-hardened security guards felt their blood run cold after just one glance!

His legs went weak uncontrollably, and he retreated hastily, making way for someone.