Xu Shuming's car, a rare sight at the Su family's estate, was parked within the grounds. However, it was apparent he wasn't there to revisit any warm family moments. He alighted from the car in a furious state. As the housekeeper approached to greet him, Xu Shuming, lowering his voice, immediately asked, "Where is Mrs. Su?"
The housekeeper replied, "Madam is on the second floor..."
Without waiting for the housekeeper to finish, Xu Shuming strode forward, pushing past the servant. It was clear he was simmering with rage, and the housekeeper sensed that another storm was brewing within the Su household. However, Xu Shuming's timing was inopportune; the housekeeper felt he had to intervene.
Just as Xu Shuming was about to push open the door to the drawing-room, the housekeeper quickly blocked his path. "Sir, Madam is currently..."
Xu Shuming roared, "Get out of the way!"
With a loud bang, the door was flung open, startling everyone inside the drawing-room by Xu Shuming's sudden intrusion! Seeing the multitude of women present, Xu Shuming found it difficult to unleash his fury openly. He suppressed his temper, greeting them politely.
The housekeeper continued, "Madam, I was about to inform Sir that you are currently attending a flower arrangement class..."
Mrs. Su placed her shears and the flowers she held on the table, smiling at her students. "My apologies, my husband is always so impatient to see me. He rarely visits, so today's class will conclude here."
As the students departed, they bid farewell to Xu Shuming, who managed to maintain a friendly demeanor as he bid them goodbye. This wasn't due to genuine goodwill, but because he knew these "students" were, in fact, Mrs. Su's friends and their daughters. The flower arrangement class was merely a pastime for these ladies of leisure, disguised as an activity to cultivate their artistic sensibilities.
Once the drawing-room was left with only Xu Shuming and Mrs. Su, he stormed towards her. He glared intently into her eyes, while Mrs. Su calmly raised her head, gazing up at a wild beast.
Xu Shuming demanded, "Why hasn't Mayor Wang approved that project yet?"
Mrs. Su replied, "Mayor Wang is so busy; perhaps he has forgotten."
Xu Shuming pressed, "Didn't I tell you to interact more with Mrs. Wang?"
Mrs. Su responded, "Mrs. Wang also said she's been quite busy lately and hasn't had time to see me."
Xu Shuming then asked, "What about the items I asked you to deliver?"
Mrs. Su stated, "They were delivered."
Xu Shuming grew more perplexed. Usually, any request he made resulted in smooth project approvals. Yet, this one had been stalled for a considerable time! The Su Group had taken out substantial loans for this project, and if it continued to be delayed, the interest would only compound.
The more Xu Shuming thought about it, the more something felt amiss. He grabbed Mrs. Su by her hair, yanking her from her chair and flinging her onto the sofa. He then firmly clasped his hands around her neck.
Xu Shuming threatened, "You're playing tricks!!!"
This time, Mrs. Su was no longer meek; she stared back at him defiantly! Despite struggling to breathe, she refused to yield. She was determined to see Xu Shuming's project fail and watch him make no progress.
"Beg... beg me!" Mrs. Su mocked, gasping for air.
Enraged, Xu Shuming tightened his grip, genuinely wishing he could strangle the woman. If he could, the Su family's assets would completely fall into his possession! Yet, at times, he still needed to leverage Mrs. Su's connections. Even though he controlled the Su Corporation, many of its assets were still registered under Mrs. Su's name! It was as if, no matter how successful Xu Shuming became, the world would always remember how he married into the Su family as a son-in-law.
Xu Shuming declared, "Don't forget, you and I are husband and wife. If my business suffers, the losses will also affect your Su family!"
Mrs. Su weakly uttered, "I... don't... care..."
At that moment, the door burst open from the outside, and Su Ruiyi rushed in! However, her speed wasn't fast enough. Mrs. Su had already endured a solid slap from Xu Shuming! On the verge of suffocation, Su Ruiyi was no match for Xu Shuming. She could only fall to her knees, pleading with her father to let go. If he continued to choke her mother, she would truly suffocate.
Su Ruiyi cried, "Dad, please, don't hit Mom anymore. I'll do whatever you want, please let go. Mom is going to die..."
Su Ruiyi pleaded again, "I'll go find Wang Ziran, I'll beg Uncle Wang. Dad, please spare Mom..."
Xu Shuming, breathing heavily, finally released his grip. Looking at his daughter kneeling at his feet, he showed no sign of remorse. However, upon hearing his daughter's promise, he finally felt that there was at least one useful person in the household.
Su Ruiyi immediately checked on Mrs. Su. Fortunately, her mother was alright, and after a few gasps for air, she recovered.
Xu Shuming explained, "Ever since Wang Ziran was injured, the Wang family has stopped respecting us. I need the Su Corporation to re-establish its prestige."
Su Ruiyi looked at her father through tear-filled eyes. She didn't understand what Xu Shuming intended to do, but as long as her mother wasn't harmed, she was willing to do anything he asked.
Just then, Xu Shuming's phone rang. It was his secretary. After listening for a few seconds, Xu Shuming erupted in fury. He overturned the table, and the vase, falling to the ground, shattered into pieces with a crash. Su Ruiyi and Mrs. Su cowered behind the sofa, screaming in terror as they watched their father lose control. It appeared the phone call had delivered even more unfortunate news.
Xu Shuming roared, "They've indeed recommended the project to someone else! If the Wang family is disloyal, don't blame me for being unjust! How much benefit has he taken from me? I'll make him spit it all back sooner or later!"
With his eyes red with anger, Xu Shuming turned back to glare at the mother and daughter, cursed them as "useless," and stormed out of the room.
Xu Shuming took his car keys from the housekeeper and was about to leave through the main gate when another white Range Rover drove in. The two cars passed each other as one entered and the other exited. Xu Shuming glanced over and saw a man wearing sunglasses driving, with a familiar middle-aged woman in the passenger seat. Still seething with anger, he didn't think twice and drove away.