A Dish Best Served Cold (The Man In Rage)
Chapter 1818

The men who had received orders to conduct a siege at the borders of Adonia were shocked.

"Escorted by fighter jets?"

"Cannons firing?"

"A military salute?"

The soldiers shuddered even to imagine the status of the people who were passing through their province that night.

Meanwhile, the first streaks of dawn appearing across the skies of Yunzhou heralded the arrival of a new day.

The city, however, felt a little different than other days.

To the curious astonishment of the inhabitants, the hedges on both sides of the highway had been trimmed with obvious care. Even the landmarks of the city had been scrubbed and polished with fresh plants arranged around them.

The highway that passed through the city received the most attention. Clean and presentable, it looked primed for a festive parade to take place.

"I say," remarked one old man who was out on his morning run to another as he glanced at the sparkling road. "Is there a special occasion today?"

"I think you're confused," his friend replied good-naturedly. "It's months away from anything!"

"Why else would the roads be cleaned up today?" the first old man persisted.

The other shook his head with a resigned chuckle. "You haven't been keeping up with the news, have you? Apparently, a very successful entrepreneur from our fair city is returning today. The provincial government, intending to attract the successful talent to return and help develop the province, has gone to great lengths to get on his good side. I was told that there were cops stationed throughout the entire length of the highway, all the way up to his front door, to ensure his smooth passage. The mayor of Yunzhou is already at the home of the successful young man's parents first thing this morning to await the return of their son with them."

The second man did not bother to conceal his tone of admiration.

The bystanders who had happened to listen in on the conversation were shocked.

"What the heck! The mayor must really admire him."

"Even Mr. Chu of Jiangdong did not receive a welcome as extravagant as that."

"Hurry up and tell us who it is!"

"Is it possible that we have another wildly successful young man out of Yunzhou?"

The pedestrians engaged in endless speculation.

As it had been many years since Ye Fan's dominance, his name was known by every inhabitant of Jiangdong.

We thought that Mr. Chu was already powerful enough. Here's another one even more powerful than he! What a warm welcome the city has planned for him just to return to visit his parents!

"Here's a kicker," the second old man continued mysteriously, delighted by the effect he had created. "The young man returning today is also named Chu. Rumor has it that he was a playboy who never took anything seriously at the time of his departure. After a few years of hard work, he thrived in Jiangbei and finally became the chairman of a multibillion company in a series of quick ascends. You never know where one ends up in life, eh?" He let out a sigh.

"What? His name is also Chu? Could he be kin to Mr. Chu? Stop beating around the bush, man. Who is it?"

The crowd grew even more curious.

The man stroked his beard for dramatic effect before answering, "He is Chu Wenfei, the son of Chu Yang who once ran Yangtian Real Estate!” "Yangtian Real Estate?"

"Isn't it going bankrupt soon?"

"Even his son made something of himself!"

"Chu Yang's leading a good life, isn't he?"

The crowd was simultaneously astonished and fascinated at the news.

Several miles away at that very moment, a black Rolls-Royce slowed down as it turned into a junction off the highway.

A man in a smart suit sat quietly in the backseat with a cup of exotic tea brewing next to him.

Amidst the billowing steam, he gazed out at the familiar yet foreign terrain of the town he was born in and felt a surge of emotions up his chest.

"It's been three years since I left," the man muttered to himself. "But it feels like a lifetime."

Suddenly, his monologue was interrupted by a phone call from his mother.

"When are you arriving, Wenfei?" his mother asked the moment he picked up. "Lin Shi and the rest are waiting to welcome you! Don't keep them waiting."

"Yes, Mom. I'm almost there." After the brief reply, he hung up.

The driver guffawed.

"Mr. Chu, you must be the first man your age in Yunzhou to have the mayor himself welcome your arrival. Scratch that. I don't think this has happened to anybody in all of Jiangdong before. Thirty years of age and already treated like royalty? No wonder the boss has such high expectations of you to make you his son-in-law."

The man shook his head with a chuckle. "You flatter me. It's a mutually beneficial scenario, not an exaltation. As the current economic climate isn't feasible, the provincial government is having trouble maintaining the ever-growing demands of a city like Jiangdong. As a result, they're in the midst of attracting investments. They have something to ask of me."

"You are too humble, Mr. Chu," gushed the driver. "They chose you because of your capabilities."

The man, Chu Wenfei, merely smiled and said nothing more.

In stark contrast to the version of him before he left Yunzhou, he returned with an air of maturity about him. The mustache he wore on his upper lip made him seem even more so.

A trial of time and tribulations caused him to have lost a great deal of his inexperience and naivety.

Chu Wenfei gazed hungrily at the city, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

The cause of his exile remained vivid in his mind after all those years. He remembered that it was due to the brashness of youth that had caused him to offend

somebody important in Jiangdong.

In the face of an ultimatum, he opted to start over in a foreign land.

"I was a wreck when I left three years ago with nothing in my name. And here I am today, a triumphant return to the city that had once been my home. Oh, Ye Fan. Despite forcing me out of Jiangdong with your influence back then, I have returned richer and more powerful than you could imagine just by catching the right circumstances in a place far from here. In a way, you forced me out of my comfort zone where opportunities lay. What are you going to do to me now?" Chu Wenfei's eyes flashed with a menacing glint.

Seized by a sudden eagerness to see the reactions of Ye Fan and the enemies he had made back then when they realized the wealth and status he had attained, Chu Wenfei took out his phone to compose an update on his social media platform.

The post read: Three years has been too long. Hello again, Yunzhou! Thank you to the city council and the people for the hospitality you have shown.

He attached several photographs he had taken off the streets alongside the post, one of which was of a

banner with the words "A Warm Welcome Back to Chu Wenfei of Yunzhou" emblazoned on it.

Not long after that post was posted, the likes, comments, and messages came pouring in. Someone responded: Well, f*ckme!

It was followed by another comment: Are you loaded now, Fei?

Someone else posted: What's the point of getting rich and not being able to show off any of it?

Another one responded: I'd love to catch up. Let's grab a drink when you're free!

One comment read: I'm getting married, Fei. I could do with a loan of a million!

Chu Wenfei put his phone away and shut his eyes after briefly glancing at the messages.

At that point, the car had arrived at the next station. "I beg your pardon, sir," the traffic police asked politely when the Rolls-Royce pulled over next to him. "Are you Mr. Chu Wenfei? I am the captain of the second platoon of Yunzhou's auxiliary force. I have been assigned to escort you into the city and to your home." "Lead the way!" Chu Wenfei replied as he made an impatient gesture through the window.

Vroom!

A dozen motorcycles appeared to surround the car.

The residents of Yunzhou were unaware that on that same day, another man of Yunzhou was coming home.

Before Li Er and the rest arrived, the provincial government of Jiangdong received similar letters from Yanjing and the Jiangdong military base, which ran in the same vein. The letters wrote: Mr. Chu is dead. Provide as much assistance as necessary to ensure Mr. Chu is safely laid to rest in his hometown. Do everything in your power to dignify Mr. Chu's final journey.