Chapter 146: Chunlai Teahouse

“Were you guys also ‘invited’ here?!”
Xiang Yian, Ghost King Dong, and Jiaolong all widened their eyes and asked each other this question. It was truly admirable how consistent the gangsters were in their dialogue and appearance. None of them answered; instead, they all shook their heads. They all felt as if they had gone down in disgrace.

In terms of strength within the gang world, all the other gangs in Hong Kong combined might not even match the total strength of these three major gangs. Yet now, they had been captured by someone who wasn’t even from the gang world. If word of this got out, they would likely lose face and be unable to show their faces in the gang world anymore.

Chunlai Teahouse was still Chunlai Teahouse, but everyone’s mood had changed, and the roles of host and guests had completely reversed. They went up to the second floor and saw that all the tables in the teahouse had been cleared, with only Xiao Ran sitting alone at a table in the middle, as if all the other tables had been moved aside to make room for him.

Xiao Ran sat with his back straight, his right hand resting on his thigh, and his left hand gently lifting the teacup to his lips before drinking it in one gulp. Ghost King Dong and the others recognized him as Xiao Ran, but he didn’t seem like the usual cheerful and friendly person. Especially his gesture of lifting his hand made it impossible for them to see his expression, adding to his imposing aura.

Xiao Ran raised his head and saw the three of them standing there in shock. Without showing any emotion, he said, “Sit down!”

After Yangguang and Monkey brought chairs and placed them on either side of Xiao Ran, the three forced down their panic and sat down. Xiao Ran then handed the teacup to Yangguang. Yangguang and Monkey felt a sense of awe. They had never really respected Xiao Ran before, thinking he was just a rich man. Later, during the movie shooting, they realized he wasn’t only rich but also talented.

But now they understood that the cheerful smile he usually wore wasn’t one he showed to everyone. His current imposing demeanor made them too afraid to breathe loudly. They thought Xiao Ran might not be as simple as they had imagined—he was at least worthy of their protection.

After Yangguang filled the small teacup with tea and handed it to Xiao Ran, he gradually showed a smile different from his usual one. “Gentlemen, I’m sorry to have to invite you here in this way! But I think it’s time we had a talk.”

By now, Ghost King Dong and the others couldn’t even breathe loudly. They realized that Xiao Ran hadn’t been bluffing earlier—he truly had backing and strength. In fact, they could have figured this out if they had thought carefully. The fact that he could find out where they were and send people to “invite” them proved his strength.

When Xiao Ran’s gaze fell on him, Ghost King Dong didn’t dare to meet his eyes and quickly turned his face away to avoid that terrifying look. Xiao Ran smiled slightly. He had achieved the effect he wanted, and it seemed quite good.

He never intended to have the police fight for him. If he wanted to take control of the underworld, the police absolutely couldn’t help him with that. So, he didn’t plan for the negotiations arranged by the police to succeed. That’s why he did nothing in the past couple of days and instead ordered a complete withdrawal, halting filming as well.

It was all to give the three major gangs the illusion that Xiao Ran had no real strength and didn’t need to negotiate at all. Now, by “inviting” them in this way, Xiao Ran was undoubtedly telling them that as long as he wanted it, they could die at any moment.

Xiao Ran’s little trick worked. The three of them indeed started to consider the deeper meaning behind his actions—perhaps better described as a warning. Still, they didn’t dare speak up at this moment. Xiao Ran chuckled lightly, “What’s the matter? Didn’t you think I was just an empty shell a few days ago?”

“Or… do you think I don’t know about you instigating other gangs to harass Shadow?” Xiao Ran said slowly, with a calm expression. In truth, he had no real evidence of them instigating anything; it was just speculation. Given his reputation in the underworld, if it weren’t for the three major gangs, probably no one would have thought of targeting him, especially for such a pointless scheme.

The three of them lowered their heads even further, looking like three misbehaving underlings too scared to look up after being scolded by their boss. Xiao Ran loved this feeling; he was even enjoying this pleasant sensation.

Jiaolong couldn’t hold back anymore. In such a oppressive atmosphere, he truly couldn’t stay silent. He suddenly stood up and shouted at Xiao Ran, “Xiao Ran, stop talking nonsense! If you’re going to kill me, just do it! I’ve been in this business for years—I expected this day!”

After all, Ghost King Dong and Xiang Yi’an were much more cunning! Xiao Ran thought to himself, casually glancing at Jiaolong. This Jiaolong was a typical southerner—not tall or strong, but surprisingly stubborn.

Xiao Ran’s smile deepened. If he wanted Jiaolong’s life, he wouldn’t be here today. With a meaningful smile, he said, “Brother Long, don’t rush. Those who are meant to die can’t live anyway. Why not listen to what I have to say?”

“I’m a law-abiding businessman. I wouldn’t do something like harming others!” Xiao Ran’s smiling face almost made one think he was on a blind date. “Besides, I’m a pacifist. If we can sit down and talk, why ruin the relationship?”

A pacifist!? Yangguang and Monkey almost burst into laughter. As Xiao Ran’s bodyguards, they knew exactly what he was going to do next. In short, peace had nothing to do with Xiao Ran. The three below kept cursing inwardly, thinking, “What kind of bullshit peace is this?”

However, for the three of them, this was excellent news—it at least confirmed that Xiao Ran had no intention of taking their lives. Even Xiang Yi’an, who was known for his cunning, immediately expressed his stance: “Brother Ran is right. If there are any conflicts, let’s just sit down and talk!”

“Exactly, Brother Ran! Keep talking; we’ll just listen!” Ghost King Dong’s smile was one he’d never shown even to his parents. Only Jiaolong was at a loss, not knowing whether to stand or sit.

Black is black; indeed, there’s nothing good about it! Xiao Ran thought to himself once again, feeling even more grateful that his past self hadn’t joined a gang. Seeing that Xiao Ran showed no reaction, Xiang Yi’an immediately understood his meaning and spoke up first, “Brother Ran, actually, it wasn’t our idea this time—it was Fang Ruohai who forced us!”
Xiao Ran’s heart skipped a beat. Not Jiahe? It was Fang Ruohai? He found it hard to believe, as he had always thought Fang Ruohai wasn’t the kind of person who could get involved with the underworld. Seeing Xiao Ran’s eyebrows lift slightly, Ghost King Dong knew this was exactly what he wanted and quickly continued, “Fang Ruohai not only agreed to help our film company with distribution but also promised to distribute it in Europe and America. So, out of greed, we agreed!”
Distribution? Xiao Ran was stunned for a moment. The Hailue Group didn’t have its own distribution channels at all; they had relied on Jiahe for distribution until recently. How did they suddenly get a way to distribute films now?
Most importantly, Xiao Ran’s Shadow had already taken control of the distribution of films from at least one-third of the local production companies. Some others approached them on their own, leaving about 40% of the market still under Jiahe’s control.
Not to mention that Fang Ruohai didn’t even hold the distribution rights, and even if he did, no production company would give him their films. Xiao Ran sensed there was something wrong—definitely something wrong. Fang Ruohai must have obtained some advantage.
Thinking this, he grew anxious. But he quickly calmed down, telling himself that if he didn’t handle these three people properly, trouble would surely follow. Yet he had always been puzzled—what did Fang Ruohai rely on to tie Jiahe and Deppao together?
He knew very well Jiahe’s attitude toward Shadow—it was fear, fear that Shadow would threaten Jiahe’s status and market share. Deppao also feared Shadow’s rapid expansion, so it made sense for them to join forces.
But it couldn’t be that simple. Jiahe and Deppao at least recognized Xiao Ran’s strength; it would be hard for them to accept the presence of an outsider. So, there must be some undisclosed deals at play.
No need to rush. With this thought, Xiao Ran finally settled down. He nodded slightly at Jiaolong, signaling him to sit down, then said calmly, “You’re not children. What does he have to make you believe him?”
Ghost King Dong and Jiaolong could only smile bitterly. They had no choice at the time—either let the film company continue to lose money or trust Fang Ruohai, who had substantial financial power. Anyway, with their own strength, they weren’t afraid that Fang Ruohai would go back on his word.
What they didn’t know was that Xiang Yi’an knew. Given his caution, he would naturally have asked Fang Ruohai before agreeing. After hesitating for a moment and thinking of the tactics Xiao Ran had shown today, he felt a chill in his heart and immediately decided to side with Xiao Ran: “I know. He told me that he’ll soon get the distribution rights in Taiwan, and once he has those, he’ll easily obtain the rights in the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and other places. He also said that Haisen Group is planning to acquire a Hollywood film company!”

Xiao Ran’s smile froze for a moment before quickly spreading again, making it impossible to guess what lay behind it. The Haisen Group wanted to acquire a Hollywood film company? At that instant, Xiao Ran felt as if his blood was about to freeze in his veins.
Could Fang Ruohai really know my plans so well? Xiao Ran’s mind raced, filled with countless thoughts. Fang Ruohai had already taken the lead in buying the television station; if he also acquired the Hollywood film company, it would essentially mean defeat for him.
But after careful consideration, he realized it was unlikely. The Haisen Group’s main business wasn’t the film industry. If they were willing to provide funds for Fang Ruohai to operate in Hong Kong, it was probably already the limit of Wen Bowen’s concessions. So, buying a Hollywood film company was definitely just empty talk.
Or maybe not. Xiao Ran smirked slyly. Buying an independent production company didn’t require much money, and it could still be considered a Hollywood film company. Spending two billion dollars on a film company was something only someone as wealthy as Sony—or someone as ambitious as Xiao Ran—would do.
With that thought, Xiao Ran calmed down and said slowly, “So you agreed to team up with Fang Ruohai to deal with me! Not bad, really not bad! I wonder what you’re thinking now!”
The three of them immediately wore bitter smiles. What could they possibly think? Things had reached this point—Xiao Ran had already shown he could take their lives at any time, anywhere. What more could they do?
They weren’t fools. Those who reached such positions weren’t stupid. They treated Xiao Ran with such respect not only because of his strength but also because they realized those who captured them weren’t ordinary people—they were more like professional soldiers or even stronger. It was almost undeniable that Xiao Ran had very strong backing.
At this point, they had no choice but to accept defeat. If Xiao Ran could bring them here today, he could easily take their lives tomorrow—something even a fool could understand. So, they neither wanted nor dared to say anything further.
Xiao Ran smiled slightly, slowly drank up his tea, and handed the cup to Yang Guang. Then, with deep meaning, he said, “Since you have no ideas, let me share mine. The underworld is yours—so long as nothing goes wrong, I won’t interfere. But the rules of the entertainment industry are set by me. Anyone who dares to interfere or break the rules will be punished!”
After saying that, Xiao Ran stood up and glanced at the three of them. They understood what he meant. Given Xiao Ran’s background and strength, it wasn’t out of the question for him to do so. They nodded and said, “Brother Ran, we’ll do as you say!”
“Not bad. This tea is really good. Want to try some?” Xiao Ran’s smile suddenly became relaxed, reducing the pressure on everyone present. Just as Ghost King Dong was about to reach for the teacup, he heard Xiao Ran say calmly, “Brother Dong, go back first. I need to talk to Brother An and Brother Long.”

The Three Kings of the Ghosts were all stunned. Xiang Yian and Jiaolong had no idea what Xiao Ran wanted to talk to them about. The East King of the Ghosts glanced at Xiao Ran in confusion before leaving with his palms sweating. Seeing the East King of the Ghosts leave, Jiaolong couldn’t help asking, “Brother Ran, why couldn’t you just tell him what you wanted to say?”
Xiao Ran smiled without answering, merely calculating the time of the East King of the Ghosts’ death, while constantly talking about how good the tea was. His enthusiasm was overwhelming for the two of them. After estimating the time roughly, Xiao Ran finally smiled and patted their shoulders, saying, “One must not make mistakes. You two can go now. It’s just late at night, so be careful on your way!”
Not long after going downstairs, Xiang Yian and Jiaolong set off in silence when they saw their respective families coming out of a restaurant across the street. This shock was truly significant…