As the saying goes, once you've tasted the marrow, you crave the flavor. After that kind of experience, men and women alike find it even harder to resist temptation.
Although Flora Thrall knew it wasn't right to monopolize Young Master Chu like this, she couldn't control her own body. So after dinner, she quietly slipped into Ian Song's room.
Among Ian's women, Flora wasn't the most beautiful, but when it came to sensitivity, she was definitely number one. So when Flora offered herself so willingly, there was nothing to say—just one word: do. Or three words: do it hard!
At the same time, not long after the action started, a sneaky figure crept up to the door and squatted there, eavesdropping through the wall.
Ian Song, in the midst of his wild ride, paused for a moment, then a wicked grin appeared on his lips and his movements suddenly sped up. Flora's cries grew even louder.
Outside the door, Yanna Zhou's face turned bright red. She couldn't help but quietly release her spiritual sense and probe into the room...
A whole night of battle.
As usual, Ian got up early the next morning. When his gaze casually swept past the door, he actually spotted a patch of dried water stains.
"Come on! No way!"
Ian blurted out, a certain image flashing through his mind.
Not long after breakfast, Lena Wei arrived—it turned out the Doyle Family Patriarch was here to visit.
Half a quarter-hour later, in the Tang Clan's Reception Hall.
Ian sat in the main seat, the Doyle Family Patriarch in the guest seat, while Shawn Du stood behind him, shooting Ian a look full of hidden resentment.
"I wonder what brings the Doyle Patriarch here today?"
Ian picked up his teacup, blew the leaves aside, took a sip, and only then spoke slowly.
"Young Master Chu, I've come today specifically to apologize."
The Doyle Patriarch's posture was extremely humble.
"Oh?"
Ian deliberately showed a hint of puzzlement.
With a serious expression, the Doyle Patriarch said, "I'm very sorry. Although I received Young Master Chu's invitation yesterday, I joined the other eleven family heads in inviting the Dragonfolk Third Prince to a banquet, so I had to decline your invitation. Today, I've come first to beg your forgiveness, and second, I've prepared a table at Mystic Heaven Pavilion, hoping Young Master Chu will do me the honor."
"The Doyle Patriarch is much too polite. Honestly, I didn't mind at all!"
Ian smiled. As the saying goes, you don't hit a smiling face. Since the other side was being so humble, there was no need to act aloof. Besides, he still needed the Doyle Family and the other family heads to buy up the Tanner Clan's assets.
The Doyle Patriarch hurriedly said, "Young Master Chu really is magnanimous. I admire you!"
"You're too kind, Doyle Patriarch!" Ian said with a wave of his hand.
Suddenly, the Doyle Patriarch changed the subject: "By the way, I have a favor to ask. I hope Young Master Chu can help me out."
"What a coincidence!" Ian clapped his hands. "I also have something I need to trouble the Doyle Patriarch with!"
"Then please, Young Master Chu, you go first!"
Ian didn't beat around the bush. "I'll be blunt, then. Doyle Patriarch, you probably know I'm an outsider. Although I've acquired the Tanner Clan's assets, I just don't have enough manpower to manage them. So, I want to sell them off, preferably to the other eleven families. I wonder if the Doyle Family is interested in any of these assets?"
"Young Master Chu wants to sell the Tanner Clan's assets?" The Doyle Patriarch was a bit surprised. He paused for a moment, then said, "To be honest, I'm very interested in those assets, but with the Doyle Family's finances, I'm afraid we can't swallow it all!"
"No problem. The Doyle Family can take as much as it can handle!"
The Doyle Patriarch straightened his face. "If Young Master Chu says so, then I'll be direct. How about the Doyle Family takes one-fifth of the Tanner Clan's industries? As for the price, how about ninety percent of market value?"
"Ninety percent is too low. Let's go with full market price!" Ian replied. After swallowing up the Hua Clan, the Tanner Clan jumped to third place among the twelve great families. All their industries are top-tier. In normal times, people would consider it a bargain to buy them at even 110% or 120% of market value.
It was obvious the Doyle Patriarch was trying to take advantage by offering ninety percent. Ian wasn't about to agree—he had no special ties to the Doyle Family, so why let them profit at his expense?
"Young Master Chu, ninety percent is already quite generous!" the Doyle Patriarch insisted.
Ian shook his head and stayed silent.
"How about this: the Doyle Family buys one-fifth at full price, but we get to pick which industries we want!"
"That's fine, but the price will have to be 120%!" Ian replied coolly.
The Doyle Patriarch's face darkened. "If you say that, Young Master Chu, it shows you aren't sincere!"
Standing behind him, Shawn Du was getting anxious—the Doyle Patriarch still hadn't brought up his son's issue.
Ian just curled his lip. "It's not that I'm insincere—you're just being greedy! In fact, I've changed my mind. I'll personally designate the industries, and all of them will be sold at 110%!"
"Why should I?"
The Doyle Patriarch was getting angry.
"Because the Tanner Clan's industries belong to me!" Ian stared him down.
"Fine! Very well!"
The Doyle Patriarch was furious. "Young Master Chu, to put it bluntly, in Skywind City, aside from us eleven great families, nobody else could possibly take over the Tanner Clan's industries. If all eleven of us refuse to buy, I doubt anyone else would dare!"
"Are you threatening me?" Ian's eyes turned cold.
The Doyle Patriarch sneered, "Don't misunderstand. I'm not threatening you, Young Master Chu—just stating a fact!"
"You're far too confident, Doyle Patriarch. When it comes to profit, so-called alliances are worth nothing. Believe me, if I put out word that I'm selling the Tanner Clan's industries at eighty percent of market price, the other families would be fighting to buy. Besides, if I could wipe out the Tanner Clan, ranked third, do you really think I couldn't wipe out the Doyle Family?"
As Ian spoke, a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. Clearly, he'd been too polite, which made the Doyle Patriarch mistakenly think he was easy to deal with.
Hearing this, the Doyle Patriarch was shocked—but mostly furious. The other party was openly threatening to destroy the Doyle Family, but he didn't dare gamble. If Ian could wipe out the Tanner Clan in a day, he could definitely crush the Doyle Family just as easily.
Thinking this, he hurriedly laughed, "Young Master Chu, there's no need for that—my earlier words were just a joke. No need to take it seriously. Let's go with your suggestion: all industries at full market price, how about that?"
"120%!"
Ian replied, utterly fearless.
"...You...!"
The Doyle Patriarch was left speechless with anger.
"No worries. If the Doyle Patriarch doesn't want to buy, I'm sure the other families will be interested!" Ian added.
"Fine, I agree!"
The Doyle Patriarch gritted his teeth, feeling utterly frustrated—as if he'd just shot himself in the foot. If he hadn't gotten greedy and tried to haggle, he could've gotten the assets at full price and avoided offending this little demon. Truly not worth it.