chsdbacks Chapter 118: The Eldest Lady of the Lan Family
Chapter 118: The Eldest Lady of the Lan Family
As soon as Shen Wuxiao saw the woman walking onto the stage, his eyes lit up. He hadn’t noticed her earlier—but now, her graceful figure and perfect curves were impossible to ignore. Her every step was elegant and light, like a willow swaying gently in the wind.“Who is she?” Shen Wuxiao asked.
Wang Hua quickly replied, “Master, that’s Lan Xi, the eldest daughter of Zhonghai Lan’s Building Materials Group.”
“Lan’s Building Materials used to be a leading name in the industry. But after the family patriarch passed away, the company was handed over to the third branch.”
“Unfortunately, that branch wasn’t capable. They nearly ran the entire business into the ground.”
Shen Wuxiao stroked his chin. “Even a mismanaged company shouldn’t fall apart so easily.”
“You’re right, Master,” Wang Hua said with a slight smile. “But someone tricked them. They signed an empty contract, spent nearly all their capital on production, and even took out loans.”
“Seriously? They brought it on themselves then,” Shen Wuxiao said, unimpressed.
“But if it was premeditated and they didn’t know how to respond, then failure was inevitable.”
“Exactly. The worst part is they actually had products—if they could sell them, they’d still be able to recover a little. But someone pulled strings behind the scenes, and no one dared to do business with Lan’s Building Materials.”
“Back when the old man was alive, he favored the third branch. But once he was gone, they became an easy target for people with bad intentions.”
“This time, it’s only because it’s a Shen Group project that others are afraid to interfere. Otherwise, Miss Lan wouldn’t have dared to show up.”
Shen Wuxiao didn’t speak further. He simply watched as Lan Xi stepped onto the stage.
No wonder the people earlier had said this was the Lan family’s final chance. This was truly a last gamble—they had no choice but to go all in.
They had enemies everywhere, but no one dared touch a Shen Group project.
As Shen Wuxiao looked at the woman, he could almost see the heavy burden she carried. But it wasn’t his concern.
“If she fights too hard, she’ll just drag down prices. In the end, she’ll be accused of ruining the market,” he muttered.
When Lan Xi stood before the crowd, many couldn’t help but stare at her.
Even Shen Wuxiao felt slightly tempted.
She had a stunning face, with crescent-shaped eyebrows and a gentle curve that added elegance to her features. Her eyes were clear like still water, reflecting a calm and depth far beyond her years—like she could see through the world’s complexities. A small teardrop-shaped mole at the corner of her eye added a touch of sensuality. Her nose was delicate, and her lips—rosy and small—remained expressionless.
If she smiled, it would probably feel like a warm spring breeze.
She was the kind of woman who made people want to look, to listen, and to talk.
As she prepared to open her PPT and present her proposal, Liu Peng—who had just bragged about his second uncle—suddenly interrupted her with a smug smile.
“Miss Lan, no need to show your proposal.”
“We’re all busy here. Just tell us your price and move on.”
He acted like he had already won.
A flicker of anger crossed Lan Xi’s eyes, but she remained composed. She couldn’t afford to miss this chance—no matter what, she had to try.
“Everyone, regarding this project, our Lan’s Building Materials…”
“Miss Lan, really, don’t waste everyone’s time.”
She was interrupted again before she could even finish.
Lan Xi clenched her hands tightly. At last, she couldn’t take it anymore. “Liu Peng, you’ve gone too far!”
“Too far?” Liu Peng stood up slowly, spreading his hands and smiling wider. “I’m just stating the facts.”
“This is business. If you’re not capable, step aside. I, Liu Peng, guarantee that no matter what price Lan’s Building Materials offers, my Liu family will undercut it by 5%!”
The crowd gasped.
This wasn’t competition—it was clearly a deliberate attempt to crush Lan’s business.
Lan Xi’s heart sank. She knew Liu Peng was working with the wives from the first and second branches of the Lan family. But she had no proof, and even if she did, she couldn’t fight back.
Shen Wuxiao narrowed his eyes and pointed at Liu Peng.
He turned to Wang Hua and said coldly, “Is this how you let people behave? Some nobody daring to act like this on my turf?”
Wang Hua panicked. “Master, I’ll have him thrown out immediately—”
“No need,” Shen Wuxiao interrupted, frowning. “Let’s watch a little longer.”
Liu Peng, seeing Lan Xi remain silent, grew bolder.
“Miss Lan, don’t be mad. I believe in win-win partnerships.”
“If you agree to work with me, I’ll let you have this project. I’ll even help you clear your inventory—for a generous price. What do you say?”
“Liu Peng, you’re shameless!” Lan Xi was trembling with anger.
He smirked. “Sure, I’m shameless. But think about it. Your grandfather built that business empire. Your father already ruined it once. Are you going to be the one who finishes it off?”
“Wouldn’t it be better to join forces with me? We’d make a powerful team—unlike that loser son-in-law you married. Hahaha!”
His laughter echoed through the hall.
Suddenly, a glint flashed through Shen Wuxiao’s eyes.
Cowardly son-in-law—he’d heard a trigger phrase!
Could it be…?
Lan Xi stood frozen, her face drained of color, hands clenched tightly.
It was over.
Lan’s Building Materials was going to fall into the hands of those people from the first branch.
If she held onto it, it would just collapse anyway.
Liu Peng was not only underhanded behind the scenes—now, he was openly humiliating her and kicking her when she was down.
There was no hope for the Shen Group’s project either.
Lan Xi’s heart sank. She had worked tirelessly on her proposal for two weeks—and now, she wouldn’t even get a chance to present it.
It was heartbreaking.
Business was brutal. Even a massive corporation like the Shen Group wouldn’t refuse free money.
For this guaranteed-profit project, Lan Xi had planned to take a loss just to move her inventory and give her company some breathing room.
If she didn’t win the bid, her materials would be worthless—no one else dared buy them.
But now, with Liu Peng cutting his price by 5% below hers, she had no chance of winning.
Lan Xi said nothing more. Defeated and exhausted, she dragged her tired body out of the bidding hall. Many onlookers sighed quietly. Everyone knew the truth—Lan’s Building Materials had been deliberately targeted by a villain, which had brought the company to the edge of bankruptcy and liquidation.
Inside, Liu Peng was ecstatic. Watching the woman who once made him restless now walk away in silence filled him with satisfaction. He didn’t believe for a second that he couldn’t conquer Lan Xi in the end.
Outside, Lan Xi had hidden in the bathroom for a while to cry in secret. When she finally came out, her face was calm again—until she saw a shocking sight.
Liu Peng was being dragged away.
Just like that—dragged out of the venue in broad daylight.
Everyone instantly understood. Liu Peng must have gone too far, and his behavior had angered the young master of the Shen family. While most only heard about it, they knew deep down that the beating was no coincidence.
The man delivering the beating had dark skin, wore a helmet, and was dressed in a faded set of casual clothes that had clearly been washed too many times. He looked ordinary—except for the violence in his actions.
Liu Peng was beaten so badly that he cried out in agony.
Then, when Lan Xi looked up again, a man riding an electric bike arrived and stopped not far from her. A small crowd had gathered, watching everything unfold.
Liu Peng, earlier so smug and confident, was now a bloody mess.
Wang Hua’s cold voice cut through the murmurs: “Young Master Shen said, if you reach too high, you’re bound to fall harder. If you think this place is your personal market, you’d better prepare to beg for your survival.”
Liu Peng, of course, had been imagining a future where Lan Xi would eventually be under his control—one way or another. He believed she’d eventually give in and accept him. But reality hit harder than any fantasy.
Before leaving, Shen Wuxiao had casually pointed at Liu Peng and said, “Teach him a lesson. Let him learn to behave. This isn’t his place to act all high and mighty.”
Liu Peng’s head was covered in blood. This was what happened when a man acted like he owned the world—on someone else’s turf.
If you didn’t get beaten in a situation like this, who would?
Then, a familiar voice broke through the noise: “Xi’er, I heard you came to place a bid. How did it go? Did it go smoothly? I’m here to take you home!”
Lan Xi was slightly stunned by the crowd’s whispers.
She stepped away from the group and looked up at the bright, beautiful sky—but no trace of joy touched her heart.
The crowd, however, was speechless. When they heard that voice calling Lan Xi, everyone turned to look.
The beating was still going on. Punches and kicks continued to rain down. A stick had even been used to break Liu Peng’s hand.
Some of the bystanders whispered amongst themselves.
“Honestly, Lan Xi is stunning. It’s understandable that Young Master Shen would take a liking to her.”
“Right? Liu Peng was strutting around like he owned the place, bullying the Lan family. But before he could even enjoy the victory, he got smashed.”
The bidding event was practically over now.
“I didn’t expect Young Master Shen to be watching from the shadows. Liu Peng is doomed—he offended the wrong person.”
As people prepared to leave, planning their next moves, a string of honking horns echoed from outside.
“Tow the car, dump the rest. The contract still goes to Liu Peng’s company, but as per his own words—it’ll be 5% lower than Lan Xi’s quote.”
After giving that final order, Shen Wuxiao left.
Liu Peng, now a wreck with blood covering his face, looked half-dead.
Whispers circled again—
“Could it be… that Young Master Shen likes Lan Xi and is standing up for her?”
Lan Xi didn’t believe all that talk about love or infatuation. But seeing Liu Peng suffer such a crushing defeat, she still felt a surge of satisfaction.
She couldn’t help but smile.
And when she did, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly. It was a faint smile, but it carried undeniable pride.
Not far away, on the electric bike that had pulled up earlier, there was a basket filled with fresh vegetables and meat—ready for dinner.