ALL NOVEL Chapter 48 - A Choice Between Two: The Competition or Saving Lives?
Chapter 48 – A Choice Between Two: The Competition or Saving Lives?
This was a common phenomenon, and the very reason advertisements exist – if you repeat the same phrase multiple times, the brain automatically receives and firmly remembers it.
Businesses take advantage of this for marketing.
Just like the slogan “No gifts this holiday season, except for Brain Platinum” – hear it enough times and you’ll remember the Brain Platinum brand.
Su Mu thought this must be why Chu Group had bought advertising across all major platforms to promote their opening.
So he repeated the phrase, but suddenly, like a floodgate opening, memories from his past life rushed in. He jerked upright from his relaxed position.
His eyes filled with terror.
He emptied his mind to recall events from his previous life.
He remembered hearing news that the Chu Group’s new commercial complex had suffered an accident right after opening, resulting not only in its closure but also in significant compensation payments.
Back then, he had hated Chu Hanting intensely and wished for his downfall, never caring about him or the Chu Group’s affairs.
When he heard the news, he had even felt a vengeful satisfaction.
He struggled to remember more details from that time. He recalled that Chu Hanting was often absent from home during that period, looking pale.
Remembering these details now made Su Mu break out in a cold sweat, filled with fear.
What exactly had happened?
Think! Su Mu, think harder!
His body was covered in nervous sweat, his fists clenched tightly on his legs.
But he didn’t care about any of that, or how this state might affect his upcoming competition.
He just kept forcing himself to remember.
His efforts finally paid off as he caught hold of a crucial detail.
It was a bombing!!!
The Chu Group’s commercial complex had been rigged with explosives by competitors, causing many casualties during the opening, and even Chu Hanting himself had been injured then.
No!
He couldn’t let this happen again!
He had to stop it!
He needed to tell Chu Hanting about this right away!
He pulled out his phone from his pocket and, knowing the number by heart, dialed it immediately.
“Ring ring ring…”
Until that gentle female voice said “The number you’ve dialed…”
Su Mu hung up with a “click” and dialed again, but still no answer.
He sent messages to Chu Hanting on WeChat, but got no response.
Su Mu was sweating profusely, his clothes soaked through.
How could this be? Why wasn’t anyone answering?
Had something already happened?
Su Mu deeply regretted that in his previous life, due to his poor relationship with Chu Hanting, he didn’t know the phone numbers of Liu Yu or any of the Chu family members – only Chu Hanting’s mobile number.
“Driver, turn around, go to the new Chu Da Plaza by Chu Group.”
“What? Turn around now? Weren’t you going to the competition? Chu Da Plaza is in the opposite direction. If you go there now, you’ll miss your competition.”
Su Mu clenched his teeth, his nails digging into his palms. He knew how important this competition was to him, and that turning back now meant he might not make it in time.
But he had no choice!
If he hadn’t known about what would happen, he could have gone to the competition with a clear conscience. But with his knowledge from his past life, he would regret it forever if he didn’t try to stop this.
He couldn’t bear the thought of innocent people dying needlessly, nor could he stand the idea of Chu Hanting getting hurt at all.
He remembered how pale Chu Hanting had looked during that time in his memories. He had once mockingly said, “So weak? What’s wrong? Found better flowers elsewhere?”
Chu Hanting had gotten angry, pinned him against the wall, and kissed him forcefully for a long time, not letting him resist.
And he, furious at being forced, had angrily bitten Chu Hanting’s lip, even taking a piece of flesh.
Back then, he hadn’t known about these events. Now he realized that Chu Hanting’s pallor was probably due to serious injuries, but he had never told Su Mu about it.
“Driver, I can’t worry about that now. I have something very important to do. I must get to Chu Da Plaza. Please get there as fast as you can.”
Seeing Su Mu’s anxious state, the driver could only comply. After all, the customer is always right. Even though he felt sorry for Su Mu, as a driver, he had to go where the customer wanted.
So he said nothing more and drove as fast as safely possible.
Su Mu kept trying to call, but no one answered.
He could only pray he would make it in time to solve this before everything happened.
While Su Mu was rushing to Chu Da Plaza…
Meanwhile, in the chairman’s office at Chu Da Plaza, Liu Yu was leaning back on a leather sofa, his hand with an expensive watch tapping occasionally on the armrest.
“Why are you in such a hurry to open two hours early? Security won’t have time to check for potential risks.”
“Aren’t you worried something might happen?”
The Chu Da Plaza was primarily led by the Chu family, but the Liu family held a small share. So Liu Yu was present for today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“Security has checked multiple times over the past two days. It shouldn’t be a problem.”
Liu Yu glanced at Chu Hanting. “This careless attitude isn’t like you.”
“Tell me, what’s so urgent that you have to open early even if it’s raining knives? The feng shui master specifically calculated this as an auspicious time for the ribbon cutting.”
“Even if you’re not superstitious, for a major event like an opening, you should at least choose a time that brings good fortune.”
Chu Hanting replied calmly, “It’s nothing.”
“After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, I’ll leave the rest to you. I have to go.”
Liu Yu: …
Still saying it’s nothing? Then why don’t you stay instead of dumping everything on him!
Liu Yu noticed that Hanting had been checking the clock frequently today – clearly, he must have something urgent later.
It looked like he was going on a date or something.
Wait! Could it be…?
Liu Yu adjusted his glasses and probed, “Hanting, you’re not rushing off to a date, are you? With whom? That young master from the Su family?”
Chu Hanting couldn’t be bothered to respond. Besides, it wasn’t even a date. He just felt that since the kid had invited him so many times, although he hadn’t responded, it wouldn’t hurt to show up.
He didn’t want the little brat to be sad about not seeing him.
After all, as his arranged marriage partner, it was his duty to keep him from being upset.
As it was almost time, Chu Hanting wanted to text his assistant Yang to prepare the car early.
He patted his pockets several times but couldn’t find his phone.
Just then, there was a “knock knock knock” at the door.
“Come in.”
A warehouse manager in work clothes, whom they had met earlier during inspection, entered.
He held out the latest Huawei phone with both hands: “Chairman Chu, this is your phone. It was ringing non-stop in the warehouse and staff found it stuck in a gap.”
Chu Hanting took it and waved him away.
Liu Yu mocked from the side: “How rare, even the mighty Chairman Chu can lose his phone.”
Chu Hanting had no interest in bantering with his friend now, because after receiving the phone, he discovered there were over thirty missed calls – all from Su Mu.