Chapter 160: Hating Yang Tianhe

"Stop the act! The car has been snatched, my man has been beaten to a pulp, and you're still playing dumb? Are you too cowardly to admit what you've done?"

Zhang Rui had originally felt a sense of gratitude toward Tian Xing, viewing him as a man of character—someone different from the typical thugs. Now, he realized they were all cut from the same cloth.

"What car? Speak clearly!"

Tian Xing was increasingly bewildered. He had been at the hospital since last night without ever leaving. How could he have possibly offended Zhang Rui?

Nearby, Heizi, ignoring his IV drip, was ready to rip out the needle and use the metal IV stand to bash Zhang Rui.

Tian Xing pressed Heizi back down. "What are you doing? Lie still."

Zhang Rui tightly compressed his lips and said, "My brother, Guo Tao, went to a used car dealership this morning to sell an Audi Q7. I’ve just received word that he was beaten by the buyer and the car was stolen. And the name that buyer invoked was Tianhua Industrial."

Zhang Rui was not usually an impulsive man, but he had spent a long time planning what to do with the money from the sale. Now, to be told the car was stolen and Guo Tao was beaten into a coma—he simply couldn't accept it.

There was also the compensation he had promised to Ye Bing, and the medical expenses for Li Liang, who had been injured multiple times. As their "Big Brother," he had to stand by his word. Even though his brothers hadn't said a word, Zhang Rui held himself to a standard: what he promised, he had to deliver.

Furthermore, he had indeed beaten Heizi and provoked Tianhua Industrial; it was perfectly normal to expect retaliation. He didn't think twice—he was convinced that the old man, Xie Tianhua, must have authorized the hit.

"What? How could I not know about this?"

Tian Xing heard this and realized it might actually be true. Zou Dian was a troublemaker; he might well have used the recent brawl as an excuse to teach Zhang Rui a lesson. After all, Zhang Rui had snatched a deal away from him. Since Tian Xing had been in the hospital for twenty-four hours, he had no idea what had happened outside. Over such a long time, Zou Dian would certainly have been bad-mouthing him to Brother Hua.

Thinking this, it really could have been someone from Tianhua Industrial.

"If you don't know, then why don't you ask your 'great' Tianhua Industrial!"

Zhang Rui crossed his arms, his breathing uneven. His mind was in turmoil. If he had offended Xie Tianhua over this, he couldn't help it. In his vision, he didn't want to make too many enemies right now, especially high-level thugs like Xie Tianhua. It would be troublesome and would severely hinder his development.

As the saying goes, minor demons are the hardest to deal with. In Zhang Rui’s eyes, these thugs were bottom-feeders, yet it was precisely such people who could leave even a dragon in the shallows helpless.

Tian Xing dialed Zou Dian directly. At that moment, Zou Dian was already sitting in Brother Hua’s Bentley, heading toward Longju County.

"What the hell do you want?"

When Zou Dian saw it was Tian Xing calling, he didn't show any courtesy. Even with Brother Hua present, he didn't care about holding back. Why should he give Tian Xing any face?

"Watch your mouth! Tell me! Did you arrange for someone to steal Zhang Rui’s car? And did you beat someone up?"

Tian Xing barked, walking toward the hospital window. Even though he and Zou Dian were at odds, they were both part of Tianhua Industrial, and having Zhang Rui and Yang Jiaojiao see this infighting was embarrassing.

"What? What kind of nonsense is this? I'm telling you, don't make up stories!"

Zou Dian was confused. What car? What beating? What was he talking about?

"Playing dumb again, are you? I’m not just saying this to you, Zou Dian—you’re over forty now, can’t you just own up to what you’ve done?"

Tian Xing didn't trust Zou Dian; that man’s words were always hollow.

"Damn, are you a fucking moron? What did I do? Who the hell is spreading rumors about me again?"

Zou Dian was furious, cursing back, "You idiot!"

"Damn you! Go to hell, you big moron. When you get back, I’ll beat you to death!"

Tian Xing cursed and hung up the phone. Their calls always ended this way; they couldn't talk for two sentences without screaming at each other. Neither would submit to the other.

Nearby, Brother Hua sat with his eyes closed, acting as if he hadn't heard a thing. He was used to this. He enjoyed watching them bicker; as long as they didn't cross his core principles, he didn't care. As long as they stood together against outsiders in a crisis, he let them vent.

Over the years, Zou Dian and Tian Xing had maintained this dynamic. Even if they were at each other's throats the second before, if an enemy appeared, they would fight side-by-side, drive the enemy away, and then close the door to continue their argument.

*Sigh.*

Seeing Tian Xing’s reaction, Zhang Rui knew he hadn't learned anything. However, it was possible Tian Xing was just putting on a show. Zhang Rui chose the safest route: he trusted no one.

"Fine, you guys go back to your business. I'm leaving."

He kept a blank expression, and as he turned to leave, he even forgot about Jiaojiao, who was standing nearby. He needed to get to the used car dealership immediately and see Guo Tao to get to the bottom of this.

Tian Xing chased after him for a few steps, wanting to call him back to reason, but Zhang Rui didn't give him any face. He shouted down the hallway, "That’s enough, go back! What’s the point of all this fake posturing?"

Tian Xing froze, unable to believe that Zhang Rui could be so volatile for his brothers, even going as far as to alienate him before the truth was clear. In Zhang Rui’s mind, it was better to keep things cold; it would save him the embarrassment of having to burn bridges later if it turned out they were involved.

Jiaojiao trotted after Zhang Rui. Meanwhile, Wang Kewei, who was being wheeled back from a CT scan by a nurse, spotted them!

Seeing Jiaojiao chasing after Zhang Rui, Wang Kewei was incensed. "Damn it! How can this girl have no self-respect? She’s throwing herself at him! Clacking around in high heels just to chase after someone! And this Zhang Rui, damn it! I’ll destroy you sooner or later."

This time, Wang Kewei didn't dare to pick a fight, only muttering viciously from the corner. The nurse nearby was terrified. What was wrong with Secretary Wang? The head nurse had specifically instructed her to look after him carefully. Was he having some kind of episode?

***

Once outside the hospital, Zhang Rui looked at Jiaojiao. "I'll take you home. Your father must be worried sick. Qinglong and his men from Xiaoqiao Village called me to say the fighting is over. I told them I already found you. If you don't go back now, it won't look good."

Jiaojiao looked heartbroken. She grabbed Zhang Rui’s hand on the gear shifter and said, "I want to be with you."

In her heart, Zhang Rui was a superman who had descended from the sky, a hero sent by the heavens. She didn't want to leave him. Even if she just stood by his side, silently guarding him, it would be better than returning to that cold villa.

Moreover, she knew clearly that she had been kidnapped precisely because she had a Vice Mayor as a father. She hated Yang Tianhe.