Chapter Eight: Wang Yong

Wang Yong appeared very polite, a smile lingering on his face, looking as harmless as an elementary school student. Ling Tian nodded and extended his right hand, intending to shake Wang Yong’s hand. Yet just as his hand reached halfway, Ling Tian’s expression darkened instantly. He had thought this kid wanted to test his grip, but to his surprise, Wang Yong withdrew his hand at the last moment.

Acting as though nothing had happened, Wang Yong waved his hand before Ling Tian and said arrogantly, “You really dare accept even the slightest courtesy, don’t you? Do you even know your own worth? Got a smoke? Give your big brother one.” His tone was full of disdain and arrogance.

By nature, Ling Tian would have beaten Wang Yong to a pulp, but remembering it was his first day at the company and not wanting to embarrass his fiancée, he decided to hold back—for now. He pulled out a hard-pack of Zhongnanhai, his favorite, from his pocket. Even when working abroad, Ling Tian always carried several cartons with him.

He took out a cigarette, lit one for himself first, then handed another to Wang Yong. “I’ll let what just happened slide this time. But don’t try it again.”

Wang Yong was momentarily stunned, then burst out laughing. “Damn, that’s the funniest joke I’ve ever heard.” His cronies joined in, laughing uproariously, faces full of schadenfreude. One of them jabbed a finger at Ling Tian. “Kid, you’ve got guts, I’ll give you that—daring to challenge Brother Yong? Do you know who he is? He’s a big shot who’s equally at home in both the underworld and the business world.”

Basking in the flattery, Wang Yong felt as refreshed as if he’d drunk an ice-cold soda on a sweltering day. Smugly, he took the cigarette Ling Tian offered, sniffed it under his nose, then casually tossed it aside. “What kind of trash is this? Are you out of your damn mind, offering this garbage to me?”

Ling Tian’s face grew even darker. A petty thug like this, daring to act out in front of him, utterly shameless.

Drunk on his own arrogance, Wang Yong failed to notice the danger drawing near. Still acting the fool, he barked, “What are you standing there for? Go inside and buy me a pack of Su Yan. Oh, and I’m not one to take advantage—here’s ten bucks. Go get it, and don’t forget the change.”

Damn it! This was outright bullying. A soft-pack of Su Yan cost several times that amount, and the bastard gave him only ten and even asked for the change. To make it worse, he actually claimed he wasn’t taking advantage of anyone—what a joke.

“Are you deaf or just stupid? Move your ass!” Wang Yong hurled the ten-yuan note in Ling Tian’s face, shouting furiously.

Ling Tian’s expression was now so cold, it seemed it might drip water. His fists clenched, knuckles cracking. He hadn’t wanted to make a scene, for the sake of Mu Qingcheng, but the more he held back, the more brazen Wang Yong became.

“Looks like you’re really deaf—daring to ignore Brother Yong!” Wang Yong’s lackeys jeered and shouted.

No one knew how, but word of the incident spread, and soon the entire admin department was abuzz. Dozens of people crowded into the PR department, eager to see what was going on.

“Oh dear, the new guy’s in for it—he’s crossed paths with Wang Yong, that troublemaker.”

“All Wang Yong’s good for is bullying newcomers. What else can he do?”

“This is going to be good. Did everyone bring their phones? Let’s record it and post it on WeChat.”

…

The PR supervisor, Xue Kun, heard the news and hurried over; after all, Ling Tian was a special hire, and if Wang Yong roughed him up, there’d be hell to pay. On the way, Xue Kun called HR manager Wang Ling to come along.

Learning that Ling Tian had clashed with the infamous Wang Yong, Wang Ling was beside herself with excitement. Ling Tian’s earlier stunt with the business card had left her fuming, and she’d been racking her brain for a way to teach him a lesson. Now opportunity had fallen right into her lap. Overjoyed, Wang Ling grabbed her phone and headed for the admin department.

Admin manager Zhang Ming and PR supervisor Xue Kun found Wang Ling’s enthusiasm strange. When employees clashed, shouldn’t the HR manager be anxious? Instead, she seemed thrilled, more interested in the spectacle than in resolving the conflict.

As the three hurried to the PR department, Zhang Ming spoke sternly, “Xue Kun, given the nature of your department, I usually turn a blind eye to some things, but this has gone too far. You need to handle it.”

Xue Kun nodded quickly. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it. That bastard Wang Yong is nothing but trouble. If he weren’t related to one of our biggest clients, I’d have fired him long ago.”

They rushed into the PR department—only to be stunned by the scene: Wang Yong and his gang had surrounded Ling Tian and looked ready for violence.

“Wang Yong, stop right there! Security, get in there and break it up!” Xue Kun shouted, but the crowd blocked his way, making it impossible to reach the center. He pushed and shoved, desperate to intervene.

Wang Yong paid Xue Kun no mind, and the security guards pretended not to hear, even blocking Xue Kun’s path. Wang Yong had always been arrogant in the company, relying on his cousin’s status as a major client to run roughshod over the PR department. Now, in his anger, he cared even less about the supervisor’s authority.

“I’m in a foul mood today, and this greenhorn dares to challenge me? I’m going to teach him a lesson he’ll never forget. No one gets in my way—anyone who tries, gets it too!” Wang Yong shouted.

Ling Tian looked up and flung the ten-yuan note back in Wang Yong’s face. Backed by his inner strength, the soft bill hit Wang Yong like a stone, sending stars dancing before his eyes. Wang Yong, always certain he had the upper hand, was utterly stunned that Ling Tian would strike first—and with such force.

“Damn it, what are you all standing around for? Didn’t you see me get hit? Get him!” Wang Yong roared, regaining his senses.

If it had come to blows, then so be it. Ling Tian stepped forward and drove his foot into Wang Yong’s stomach—a kick with no less than two hundred pounds of force. If he hadn’t held back, that kick might have killed Wang Yong outright.

Wang Yong crashed into four people in succession, finally smashing a desk as he landed. The sound of the desk collapsing was drowned out only by Wang Yong’s pig-like screams, echoing through the office.

The onlookers were stupefied. This wasn’t what they’d expected at all. Everyone had been ready to watch the new guy get thrashed, only for the tables to turn—one kick, and the burly Wang Yong was down for the count.

A single thought rose in everyone’s mind: this new employee is a force to be reckoned with!

Ling Tian strode over to Wang Yong, picked up a table leg, and looked down at him with an expressionless face. “Having fun?” he asked coldly.

Wang Yong looked utterly miserable, on the verge of tears. His voice trembled. “No. Not fun at all.”

“Not fun? Then let’s try something more interesting,” Ling Tian replied icily. “How about a game of baseball?”

Wang Yong was confused. Baseball? There was neither ball nor bat—wait, there was a bat. The table leg in Ling Tian’s hand.