Chapter 144 Lin Shuyu Targeted

"Hey, are you the live-in son-in-law that Xiao Yu took in?"

Hong Yu was in the midst of carrying gifts when someone abruptly tapped him on the arm.

Turning his head, he saw Dai Yanqiu, another son-in-law of the Chen family. Hong Yu immediately frowned and said, "What business is that of yours? Don't get in my way."

Had Dai Yanqiu politely asked Hong Yu if he was Lin Shuyu's husband, Hong Yu certainly would have responded with a modicum of courtesy.

The problem was that Dai Yanqiu's tone was obnoxious, and he had rudely jumped straight to calling him a live-in son-in-law. Hong Yu could tell at a glance that this guy was deliberately looking for trouble.

Toward someone who came looking for trouble, Hong Yu felt no need to show any goodwill, knowing that doing so would not earn him an ounce of respect and would only invite worse bullying.

Dai Yanqiu frowned. "Is that any way to speak to me?"

Hong Yu sneered. "What else do you expect? Do you think you're some kind of emperor? Why should I be polite to you?"

"Impudent!" The elderly patriarch of the Chen family stood up from his chair and roared, "You ungrateful beast, is that how you talk to your uncle-in-law? Apologize to him this instant!"

Chen Jianwei also chimed in angrily, "Hong Yu, do you even know what kind of status Yanqiu holds in Huaizhou? If you weren't Xiao Yu's live-in son-in-law, just using that tone with Yanqiu would be enough to get you killed!"

Killed?

What the hell, do you think this is still feudal society, where people can be put to death at a whim?

Hong Yu sneered. Seeing that these threats failed to intimidate him, Dai Yanqiu narrowed his eyes.

Dai Yanqiu said coldly, "Fine! It's been a long time since I've seen anyone dare to be this arrogant in front of me. Your name is Hong Yu, right? I'll remember you."

Lin Shuyu hurried over and apologized, "Uncle, Hong Yu was just in a bad mood for a moment. Please don't hold it against him!"

If it were anyone else in the Chen family, Lin Shuyu wouldn't have been this scared.

However, she had heard Chen Lan and Chen Jianwei mention this uncle-in-law, Dai Yanqiu, countless times. He wasn't just a minor tycoon with considerable influence in Huaizhou; he was a truly ruthless individual.

Otherwise, how could a penniless bumpkin with no family background have used a small amount of capital from her aunt to rise so rapidly in just a few years, earning himself the title of a Huaizhou tycoon?

Dai Yanqiu's face had been chillingly cold, but upon seeing Lin Shuyu step forward to plead for mercy, he immediately broke into a bright smile. "It's nothing. I was just joking around with Hong Yu."

"For your sake, Xiao Yu, I certainly wouldn't make things difficult for him!"

This reaction from Dai Yanqiu sent a jolt of alarm through both Hong Yu and Chen Shufen.

Chen Shufen had spent many years with Dai Yanqiu and knew his behavior inside and out. One look told her that Dai Yanqiu was indeed starting to harbor improper intentions toward Lin Shuyu.

As for Hong Yu, it was purely a man's intuition.

Damn it!

Can't this bastard look for women somewhere else?

Chen Shufen cursed viciously in her heart, then walked straight over.

She looped her arm through Dai Yanqiu's and smiled, "Alright, alright, stop arguing with them. Don't forget you came here today to wish my dad a happy birthday!"

Dai Yanqiu reined in his smile, realizing he had indeed been a bit too obvious. He nodded and walked back to the old patriarch's side.

Hong Yu leaned in close to Lin Shuyu and whispered, "You need to watch out for that guy. I can tell he's no good."

Lin Shuyu nodded. "I'm not stupid; I could sense it just now. Besides, my mom told me long ago that this uncle of mine is far from a good person."

Hong Yu looked at her in mild astonishment.

He had previously taken Lin Shuyu for a naive young innocent who understood nothing of the world's dark side. Seeing her display such insight now, alongside his surprise, he felt a small sense of relief.

After exchanging a few more words, Hong Yu gently urged Lin Shuyu to go back over there.

After all, she was the old patriarch's granddaughter, and with all the Chen family members gathered together, it wouldn't look good for her to be standing off to the side waiting for him to finish moving things.

*Clatter—!*

Suddenly, a harsh, shattering sound rang out.

The Chen family members and guests hurriedly turned to look. Seeing that the noise had come from Hong Yu's direction, they instantly frowned.

"What's going on now? Why is it always this live-in son-in-law?"

"Damn it! Even when there's nothing wrong, he has to stir up trouble. Are you here to deliberately sabotage things today, you bastard?"

"I'm honestly speechless. I actually felt a bit sorry for the guy just now, but not only is he shameless enough to refuse to leave, why does he always have to cause a mess for us?"

"Throw him out! Trying to reason with a freeloader like this is useless. There are so many of us, let's just physically toss him out."

The guests were thoroughly irritated.

At first, they had treated the whole spectacle as a good show and watched with great amusement, but by now they were thoroughly sick of it and just wanted to eat early and leave. Seeing Hong Yu cause yet another scene naturally displeased them.

Chen Shufen had initially been snickering while watching the guests scold Hong Yu, but when she saw what had caused the noise, her anger flared.

She rushed right up to Hong Yu, pointed at the ground, and yelled at the top of her lungs, "You useless piece of trash! Is that how you move things?"

"Deliberate sabotage, you're definitely doing this on purpose!"

A fair amount of shattered glass lay scattered on the ground. Of course Hong Yu hadn't done it on purpose; he would never stoop to such petty, humiliating acts of revenge.

The problem was that Dai Yanqiu had brought way too much junk. A piece of tape on the bottom of one of the small cardboard boxes had somehow stuck fast to a glass jewelry box inside, causing Hong Yu to lift the whole thing up inadvertently.

The glass box had shattered, though the jewelry inside was undamaged. Still, it looked terrible, and the sight of it sent Chen Shufen into a fury.

Hong Yu sneered, "Don't read too much into it. If I wanted revenge, I wouldn't resort to such petty tricks!"

"What the hell! What is that supposed to mean? Are you still plotting how to get revenge?" Chen Shufen's eyes widened in rage.

Not far away, Chen Jianwei also shouted angrily, "Hong Yu, you really are a beast! We spared you and let you stay for dinner just for Xiao Yu's sake, and you're actually plotting revenge?"

"How did our Chen family ever get entangled with a petty villain like you? What terrible karma!"

Dai Yanqiu stepped forward as well, sneering, "Hong Yu, if you want revenge, come at me directly."

"To be honest, no one in the entire Huaizhou dares to touch a single hair on my head. You'd better banish that thought from your mind immediately, or you're bound to face a catastrophic disaster."

Lin Shuyu hurriedly tried to defuse the situation. "Please don't get upset, everyone. Isn't it just a glass jewelry box? I'll pay for it, I'll pay for it, okay?"

Chen Shufen was about to snap at her when Dai Yanqiu immediately smiled and said, "Xiao Yu, why would you ever need to pay for something like this? As long as you want one, forget this glass box, I can buy you a diamond-encrusted jewelry box instead!"

Damn it!

This bastard can't be allowed to stay!

A cold gleam flashed in Hong Yu's eyes.