Love in the Midst of Mistaken Identities

Li Manxuan picked up a cup from the table and threw it on the floor. The cup shattered into little pieces. Chu Lui had robbed them of their deal with Ling Qiang Technology. Once again, Li Manxuan’s face turned another shade of green when he recalled this. Earlier today, he had gone over to their office full of confidence with the intention of signing the contract. He had even made an appointment with their project manager. With this deal, his family would make tens of millions once the contract was signed, and they could use the money for the company’s expansion. In a few years, he would be on par with Chu Lui and also take revenge for the embarrassment he had suffered.

However, he had nothing now. Someone had robbed his family of this contract, and that person was none other than Chu Lui.

“How is this possible?” Mr. Li was dumbfounded with disbelief. No, no, no. This couldn’t be true. He stood up violently, and the lumps of fat around his stomach started shaking. “How is this possible?” he asked again.

Chu Lui was his son-in-law. No matter what, some lines couldn’t be crossed. Although Mr. Li had kept Chu Lui in the dark and stole several business contracts from Chu Enterprise, he knew that those contracts were a drop in the bucket to Chu Lui. Naturally, Chu Lui knew what was going on. However, due to the business dealings between both families, it became an unspoken mutual understanding. For the past four years, Chu Lui had been turning a blind eye and allowed the Lis to do whatever they wanted.

One time, he even said that taking those contracts away from him was equivalent to plucking a strand of his hair. On the other hand, those contracts were a big deal for the Li family. Although the investment amount for Ling Qiang Technology might be larger than what the Li family could afford, Chu Lui wouldn’t hijack the deal from them in broad daylight on account of his relationship with the Li family.

Mr. Li was beyond words with disbelief. Did his son-in-law really steal that business deal away from them? If that was true, the Li family would be taking a significant blow to their finances this year.

They were not Chu Lui. Neither did they have his means or the solid financial support from Chu Enterprise. Thus, they couldn’t afford to lose.

“Manxuan, are you telling the truth?”

Mr. Li sat on the sofa and reached out for the cup on the table. He drank a big gulp and started coughing because he had drunk too hard. At last, his cough subsided, and he turned his attention towards the sullen-faced Li Manxuan.

“Dad, do I look like I’m lying?” he sneered. “Why don’t you call that manager, Mr. Wang, and ask him if Chu Enterprise was behind all this? Has he negotiated the deal with them at their head office and signed the contract? Chu Lui has eaten all the meat, but he is refusing to let us have the bones.”

This was impossible. Mr. Li was still in disbelief. His son-in-law might not be his own flesh and blood, but he was a son by marriage to Mr. Li. Moreover, Chu Lui had called him ‘Dad’. Mr. Li couldn’t believe that his son-in-law had actually done it and stabbed him in the back.

Li Manxuan’s face was as dark as the night. The flesh around his face was shaking with anger one could hear the chattering coming from his teeth. He must be irate.

At the sight of his son’s behavior, Mr. Li realized that something bad had truly happened. He hastily picked up the telephone and started dialing a number which he had memorized by heart with his quivering fingers. He was calling Ling Qiang Technology. He had been paying attention to this company for over a year. However, Chu Lui had been keen in collaborating with them from the start. Mr. Li had been secretly inquiring from many avenues, and he managed to find a lot of information. Finally, through the connection with their regional manager which was Mr. Wang, Mr. Li exploited the information he had gained from Chu Lui covertly and gradually stole this business deal away from him. If it wasn’t for Chu Lui, they would definitely have clinched this deal because everything was in their favor.

“Mr. Li, I’m really sorry. Please accept my most sincere apologies.” The voice from the other end of the telephone sounded formal and business-like, devoid of its usual friendliness. “A representative from our head office has already signed the contract with Chu Enterprise. My hands are tied. We will have another chance to work together in the future.”

“Mr. Wang... hello...”

Mr. Li wanted to say more, but the person from the other end had already hung up.

Bang! The telephone receiver fell from Mr. Li’s hand onto the table. That sound almost shattered his heart to pieces.

“Manni, come over with Chu Lui.”

Mr. Li picked up the receiver again. His chest was heaving, having reached the peak of his anger, as he barked the order at his daughter. This was the first time he had been this furious.

What was Chu Lui trying to do? Slapping his own father-in-law in the face with embarrassment until it became swollen? Mr. Li didn’t need his son-in-law’s recognition. He had brought up his daughter and allowed her to marry Chu Lui, keep him company for life and to bear him children. After all he had done, Chu Lui was treating him like this? Did he have any respect at all for Mr. Li, his father-in-law?

Right now, Li Manni was also at a loss. The roaring voice from her father had stunned her. What was happening? Her father was so furious as though he had swallowed a bomb.

At the moment, in Chu Lui’s office...

Chu Lui took out his personal phone. His thin lips curled up ever so slightly as he saw the number on the screen. His smile was small but so cold and frosty as it pierced into one’s heart. Even his secretary shuddered unconsciously while she sat outside his office.

Strange. Why was she experiencing a hair-raising creepy feeling?

“What is it?” Chu Lui pressed the button and answered the call. He placed the phone between his shoulder and ear as his fingers continued to type swiftly on the keyboard.

It was such a cold greeting. Li Manni folded her hands at her elbows.

“Lui, my father wants us to go back later. He seemed unhappy.”

“Okay.” Chu Lui cut Li Manni off before she could finish and hung up. The line went dead with a click. He tossed his mobile phone casually on the table as he continued to type on the keyboard. The smile on his lips remained.

No one could read his mind now; he was obviously smiling, but it was indescribably cold.

Knock, knock. Suddenly, Chu Lui heard someone knocking on his door. His hands stopped as he called for the person to enter.

Du Jingtang strode in with a wide grin on his face. His eyebrows looked like they were dancing in joy.

“It’s done.”

Chu Lui straightened his back. Rather than asking, he sounded assertive.

“Of course.” Du Jingtang patted his chest. “You have nothing to worry about when I’m involved. I went straight to their boss. Naturally, he chose us, not the Li family. He is not an idiot. They may have offered him a good deal in order to clinch the contract, but that doesn’t matter. The Li family’s infrastructure is up to their standard, and yet they are not as reputable as we are. Only a fool would give up on a big fish in favor of small bait.

Du Jingtang continued as his smile lessened. “Brother, no matter what, he is your father-in-law. I’m afraid he won’t let you off after suffering such a huge loss because of us. What are you going to do?”