After being scolded by Yang Wei, I gradually calmed down, but I was still unwilling to accept it and couldn't help but retort, "That's not how you put it! Those with nothing to lose aren't afraid of those wearing shoes! We in the Great Circle have never been afraid of anyone! We're willing to risk everything! We dare to pull the emperor off his horse!!"
“You…” Yang Wei pointed at me, her index finger trembling, then suddenly her body shuddered: “You are simply hopeless!”
Then she looked at me and gave a bitter smile: "Willing to risk your life? Who are you risking? If a real fight breaks out, do you think it's just about you, Chen Yang? This involves hundreds of your brothers, hundreds of lives!! You, Chen Yang, are so high and mighty now, pointing a gun at me and so many brothers will risk their lives for you! But aren't your brothers' lives lives too?! Willing to risk your life... you, you fucking can afford to risk it?! You acted impulsively, seeking your own pleasure, but you're selling your brothers' lives!! What kind of man are you?!"
Yang Wei, who is usually calm and composed, actually swore several times, clearly indicating that her emotions had reached a breaking point.
After saying this, Yang Wei stopped looking at me. She suddenly lowered her head and walked away from me. Then she went to the side, her back to me, her shoulders heaving, clearly trying her best to control her emotions. Then she turned around and looked at me with a cold expression: "Let me tell you, don't think that just because you have some men and some money now, you can really run rampant in the world! Chen Yang! Let me also tell you, your little bit of money and your little bit of manpower are nothing in America! Any second-rate family can't compare to you! Hmph... challenging the Gambino family? You tell me, what ability do you have to challenge them?"
"..." I was speechless.
Yang Wei ignored my demeanor and quickly questioned, "Do you know how many people the Gambino family has? How many gunmen? How many loyal followers are ready to fight at any time? Do you know how many high-ranking police officials the Gambino family has connections with? Do you think you can disregard the Gambino family just because you have a good relationship with the Los Angeles police after what happened last time? What a joke! They've been operating in Hollywood for decades! Do you think a newcomer like you can compare to that kind of relationship? When the time comes, just the police causing you trouble will be enough to make you suffer! As for higher-level connections... Chen Yang, do you have them? Do you?! Do you know which state legislators in California are enemies of the Gambino family? Which ones are subservient to the Gambino family? There are even some legislators who are Gao Qi's godson!! Okay, what about federal legislators? Do you know how many of those seats are supported by Mafia political donations every year?"
I remained silent.
Yang Wei sneered, looking at me: "Let's talk about money! How much money do you have? One hundred million? Two hundred million? Is that all your assets? But do you know how much the Gambino family invests in New York's municipal construction every year? Do you know how much the Gambino family spends every year just supporting those government spokespeople in the entire Greater Los Angeles area?!"
I remain speechless.
"You don't have as much money as them! You don't have as many men as them! You don't have as many guns as them! Your connections in the police force aren't as deep as theirs! And your government background is practically nonexistent! What do you have to compete with them? And you have the audacity to talk about a bloodbath in Los Angeles?!" Yang Wei's words were like sharp needles, piercing my heart one by one, filling me with both pain and hatred...
These words hurt me even more than the slap Yang Wei gave me earlier!
"Chen Yang, you've changed!" Yang Wei pointed out bluntly, "Perhaps you've risen too quickly! You've only spent a little over two years to reach a position that others take decades to achieve... but now you're getting too cocky! Remember, this world isn't yours to call the shots! Before you've reached a certain level of strength, you have no right to be so arrogant. If you really insist on going your own way... even if you don't care about the blood and lives of your brothers, in the end you'll only lose all the capital you've painstakingly earned over the past few years! And then you'll be left with nothing again!"
At this point, Yang Wei gave me a deep look: "Perhaps you don't care about these things, you don't care about risking everything, perhaps you think it's a display of courage... but don't forget, you're not alone! You're the leader of the Big Circle! Hundreds of brothers are watching you! Thousands of people rely on you for their livelihood! You may not care about your own life, but you have no right to not care about theirs! Otherwise, what right do you have to be their boss?!"
Seeing my silence, Yang Wei sighed. Her anger had subsided, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "I've said so much today, you must hate me... I just don't want to see you bring about your own destruction. You'd better watch yourself!"
After saying that, Yang Wei opened the door and walked out of the gym.
With a bang, she slammed the door shut, leaving me alone in the huge room, standing there silently.
Suddenly, I gave a wry smile, slowly took off my boxing gloves, and then rubbed my cheek where Yang Wei had hit me.
That slap really hurt, really hurt...
I locked myself in the gym for a long time, sitting on the floor, carefully recalling the words Yang Wei had said in her anger.
Indeed, Yang Wei's undisguised scolding made me very unhappy. Any man would be unable to bear being scolded so contemptuously and mercilessly by his woman.
But ironically, after my anger subsided and I calmed down, I had to admit that every single thing Yang Wei said was true.
Her insults were merciless. Yet, every word she uttered struck at my weaknesses! They were incisive, utterly insightful…
Perhaps Yang Wei is right; things have indeed been going too smoothly for me lately. I've risen too quickly, becoming a prominent figure at a young age, accomplishing in two or three years what others take ten years or even a lifetime to achieve! I've climbed to a position that others can never attain in their entire lives.
After all this, my arrogance and so-called self-esteem have grown exponentially... to a dangerous point.
Lately, I seem to be becoming increasingly intolerant of others opposing me or going against my wishes.
In a fit of rage, to impulsively declare war on the Gambino family... is an utterly foolish move. The Big Circle is currently experiencing rapid growth, making a fortune from smuggling and also reaping substantial profits from films. With sufficient funds, barring unforeseen circumstances, the Big Circle's overall strength will soar to a new level!
However, it seems our strength is still somewhat lacking. I am indeed the Fifth Master of Vancouver... but I must admit, my sphere of influence is still merely that of a local hero... just "local"!
As for the Gambino family, a legendary family known throughout America, a family that can command the entire American Mafia with a single call... my meager fortune is simply not enough.
If we rashly declare war, the outcome will only be like an egg hitting a rock!
Perhaps I'm not afraid of death, I'm not afraid of losing everything, I'm not afraid of being penniless again... But I have no right to make my brothers die with me! I have no right to make them sacrifice their lives for me in vain!
After my anger subsided, I suddenly realized how ridiculous my outburst today was.
As for "bloodbath in Los Angeles," that's an even more ridiculous and audacious boast.
I sat cross-legged on the floor, lost in thought for almost the entire afternoon. When I finally smiled wryly again, having figured things out, I looked up at the window and it was already dusk.
After sitting all afternoon, my body felt numb and my knees ached. I stood up and walked around the room a few times before finally letting out a sigh.
Although I've come to terms with it, facing Yang Wei now is proving difficult. Even though I understand she's right and I'm wrong, we just had a heated argument, and she even hit me in the heat of the moment… though she meant to wake me up. But as a man, I can't tolerate that.
Essentially, I am still somewhat of a male chauvinist.
So, even though I knew in my heart that I was wrong, I still harbored some resentment towards Yang Wei's actions.
I pushed open the door and walked back into the living room, where I saw Hammer sitting on the sofa with a strange expression.
As I approached, I saw Hammer looking utterly embarrassed, because his hands and feet were bound with ropes. His hands were behind his back, and his feet were cuffed to the sofa legs.
"What's going on!" I frowned and walked over. Hammer looked at me strangely and said in a low voice, "It's...it's Miss Yang."
My face turned even uglier.
Then Hammer stammered out the whole story.
It turns out that during the day, in a fit of rage, I sent Hammer out to call Ciro to gather his forces, preparing for a showdown with the Gambino family. Then, after speaking briefly with Yang Wei, I turned and went upstairs.
Yang Wei actually ran out to chase after Hammer. Hansen was originally guarding the door with Hammer, but when Yang Wei caught up, she immediately ordered Hansen to take action without saying a word, and Hammer was subdued in an instant.
Originally, given Hammer's current skills, he might not have lost to Hansen in a real fight. However, firstly, Hammer is straightforward and doesn't think much. Knowing that Yang Wei and I are close, practically like family, he was completely unsuspecting. Secondly, Yang Wei personally ordered Hansen to act, and Hansen, with his military style, acted without hesitation upon receiving the order. Moreover, in the rush, Hammer was knocked down.
Then Yang Wei told Hammer not to resist and tied him up.
Yang Wei's goal was simply to prevent Hammer from calling back to Xiluo to gather his men. After doing all that, Yang Wei had Hansen keep an eye on Hammer, while she went back into the house to persuade me.
Hammer was loyal to me and knew that Yang Wei and I had a very close relationship. Although he was restrained, he was not anxious or angry. He just couldn't figure out why.
After Yang Wei finished yelling at me, she came out of the room and told Hammer not to rush, just sit quietly and wait for me to come out. Hammer always obeyed Yang Wei's every word; in other words, Yang Wei was already one of the "boss's wives" in his mind. How could he not listen to the boss's wife? As for being tied up for a while, Hammer didn't care.
I was both angry and amused. I quickly untied the hammer. The key to the handcuffs wasn't hard to find; Yang Wei had placed it on the windowsill some distance away.
"Fifth Brother... what do we do now?" Hammer rubbed his sore and numb hands. I'd been thinking inside all afternoon, while he'd been tied up here all afternoon—he'd certainly suffered a little. He looked at me: "Should we still call Xiluo?"
"...I'm not playing anymore." I sighed and shook my head. "Alright, nothing much to do today. Eat your food and get some rest... Um, where's Yang Wei?"
"have no idea."
I thought for a moment and said, "It's alright."
I then changed my clothes and went out. I called Yang Wei, but her phone was switched off. I then drove to the film company, but Yang Wei wasn't there either.
I called Lei Xiaohu again, but he was still filming on set and told me that Yang Wei hadn't gone to the set today either.
I went home feeling dejected. Actually, I hadn't figured out how to face Yang Wei. After all, we had a huge argument today, and we'd really fallen out. We said so many hurtful things... especially Yang Wei's merciless accusations against me, which made it really hard for me, a grown man, to let go of the resentment in my heart.
Once I figured it out, the next question was what to do next. And as usual, I went to consult Yang Wei... She has always been my advisor.
I searched everywhere for Yang Wei but couldn't find her, and I couldn't help feeling a little frustrated. When I got home, I suddenly remembered…
Li Wenjing is also in Los Angeles. I wonder if Yang Wei will go to see him?
Once the thought arose, it became impossible to suppress. The thought that Yang Wei had actually gone to see Li Wenjing... well, thinking about it, a nameless fire ignited within him.
He stopped looking for Yang Wei and went straight back to his residence. He didn't even eat; he took a shower, went to his room, and went to sleep.
I was feeling down, and when I woke up in the middle of the night, I just stared at the ceiling and couldn't fall back asleep. So I jumped up, grabbed a nice new outfit, went to the garage, got my Mercedes, stepped on the gas, and went for a spin.
Part Two: The Road to Success, Chapter 173: Awe and Respect
Actually, Los Angeles is quite famous for its nightlife. However, since I came to Los Angeles, I've been constantly busy with work, film companies, various negotiations, and high-profile media appearances. Whenever I have free time, I stay home to rest.
Today, feeling frustrated, I suddenly felt a strong urge to go out and vent.
I sped along the highway, but after driving for quite a while, I realized I had no idea where I was going after going out at night. I had absolutely no idea about Los Angeles nightlife.
I thought for a moment, checked the time, and it was already midnight. A thought struck me, and I pulled out my phone and dialed a number.
The phone rang for a long time before a muffled voice finally came through: "HELLO?"
A woman's voice came through the phone. I said calmly, "Please have Charlie answer the phone."
The woman on the other end muttered something, and after a burst of static, Charlie's voice came through. His voice was clear, with his usual slick tone: "Hey boss, calling in the middle of the night, what can I do for you?"
"Um... it's like this." I chuckled, my tone slightly awkward as I spoke into the phone, "I'm out for a drive right now... all alone. I'd like to find a place to grab a drink. Can you recommend a good place around here?"
"Oh?" Charlie's voice sounded somewhat surprised. Because all along, my private life had been practically saintly in Charlie's eyes… Even though I was in Hollywood, I never went out partying. In fact, given my current status, countless female models and second-rate actresses would flirt with me, even openly trying to seduce me, attempting to climb the social ladder, but I ignored them all. So, my calling him in the middle of the night to ask if he knew any nightclubs was quite unexpected for Charlie.
But Charlie was indeed a clever fellow. He first asked where I was, and then within ten seconds gave me a name of a place: "That place is nice, but it's a club-style place, and it's always packed every night. A lot of Hollywood celebrities go there to have fun. The good thing is, because it's members-only, there won't be any outsiders bothering you. If you're looking for a place to drink, you should go there. Oh, you can mention my name when you get there, and you can get in… but I'm sure with your current fame, boss, you won't be turned away."
I wrote down the address, and then Charlie politely asked if I needed him to come out for a drink with me. I declined immediately and hung up the phone.
Although I didn't know the way, a top-of-the-line car like Mercedes naturally has a GPS system, so I quickly turned onto a highway and drove towards downtown Los Angeles.
I quickly found the place he mentioned; it was a small club located at the entrance of an alley next to a main road. I drove in and arrived at the door. Immediately, a quick-witted waiter came to open the door for me. After all, a customer like me driving a Mercedes was clearly from a wealthy family.
I casually tossed the key to the waiter and then walked to the door.
Clearly, this club is doing very well, as a long queue had formed outside its small entrance. Within the queue were many trendy young men and women anxiously waiting. Among them were many glamorous women, and quite a few whose figures clearly indicated they were models.
Sure enough, Charlie was right. This is a place where Hollywood celebrities hang out, and many girls with dreams of stardom come here on weekdays hoping to hook up with a big shot and transform themselves from nobody to star.
Several Black men in black suits stood at the entrance, their faces serious, wearing headphones, and some were maintaining order. As soon as I got out of the car, someone approached me respectfully and asked, "Sir, this is the entrance for regular guests; the VIP entrance is at the back…you…"
I was wearing sunglasses because my status was different now, and if I were recognized in public, it would probably cause a lot of trouble—although wearing sunglasses on the street in the middle of the night was indeed a bit strange. But the black waiter wasn't surprised; there were too many Hollywood celebrities here, and those stars were used to wearing sunglasses when they went out.
As I stood there, the partygoers immediately cast their gazes at me with interest. Many girls stared at me intently with shining eyes, while some of the bolder ones whistled at me.
I frowned, walked to the side, and said, "Member entrance? Where is it?"
The waiter immediately sensed something: "Uh...aren't you a member here? This..." His face showed a hint of hesitation.
Someone like me, who arrives in a top-of-the-line Mercedes, is naturally wealthy and influential; no business would turn away a member like me. But ultimately, this isn't something that the waiter at the door can decide.
As we stood there talking, several burly Black security guards at the door were already glancing our way. I sighed, pulled the waiter aside, subtly removed my sunglasses, smiled at him, and quickly put them back on. The Black man immediately recognized me.
After all, I'm much more famous now than any movie star.
"It was Mr. Charlie from Billy Hill Film Company who introduced me to this place."
His attitude immediately became more respectful: "Oh, Mr. Chen! I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you... Um, please come with me." He then beckoned two security guards over, who stood beside me, and led me through the main entrance. The people in line began to murmur, clearly unhappy with me for cutting in line. However, some sharp-eyed people recognized me and shouted, "Look! That's Chen! It's Chen!" Then came screams from many women, and some shouted, "Hey! Chen, look this way!" "Chen! Take me in with you!"... Some even went so far as to pull open their shirts, revealing their ample breasts to me...
These crazy guys...
I walked into the club with two security guards, and the black waiter who accompanied me along the way gave me a brief introduction to the place.
This club is divided into two parts, an indoor and an outdoor area. The public area, which sells tickets, attracts many men and women who enjoy nightclubs. Especially since it's located in Hollywood, and this club is rumored to have many Hollywood celebrities among its members, many second-rate actors and models are often willing to spend a lot of money to buy tickets to "hunt" for a chance encounter with a Hollywood bigwig... As a result, this place is famous for its abundance of beautiful women, and its business is always booming.
The members' area inside is exclusively for members. And all members' private matters are strictly confidential here! After all, no celebrity wants their pleasure-seeking activities to be exposed to the media.
"Are you heading straight to the VIP area? They can provide anything you want there… Oh, by the way, Mr. Clooney is having a party in the VIP area tonight. I think he'd be very happy to have you join." I paused, then asked, "Who?"
“Mr. George Clooney,” the waiter replied politely.
I thought about it and realized that I just wanted to have a couple of drinks by myself, so I declined the waiter's suggestion: "I'd like to be alone for a while. Take me to the public area."