Chapter 260

Chapter 260: Tan Bin's Fate The next day, Shu Mingyue invited Chu Tang for afternoon tea. They agreed to meet at a five-star hotel. When Chu Tang arrived, Shu Mingyue and Xia Yuntong were chatting about something. Seeing Chu Tang, Shu Mingyue stood up with a smile. "Tangtang, you're here." Chu Tang hummed in acknowledgment and glanced at Xia Yuntong beside her. Xia Yuntong pressed her lips together, stood up, and extended her hand to shake Chu Tang's. "Miss Ruan, let me formally introduce myself. My name is Xia Yuntong, from Shencheng. What I did on the cruise last time was wrong of me. I apologize to you. I'm sorry." Xia Yuntong's attitude was very sincere. Shencheng, surname Xia? Chu Tang looked up at her. "You're the second young miss of the Xia family in Shencheng?" The Xia family of Shencheng was a prominent wealthy household. The family had one son and one daughter—the eldest son was the president of the Xia Group. Chu Tang had met him at a cocktail party not long ago. She had always heard that the Xia family had another daughter, but she had been abroad for years and rarely returned, so Chu Tang had never met her. Xia Yuntong nodded. "Yes, it's me. Last time was my fault—I was too impulsive. Afterward, I had an in-depth conversation with Mingyue and truly recognized my mistake. Miss Ruan, can you forgive me?" Xia Yuntong's big, moist eyes stared unblinkingly at Chu Tang, full of expectation. Chu Tang took her hand and nodded. "Hello, Miss Xia. Nice to meet you." "Great, you've forgiven me!" Xia Yuntong said with a smile. "Mingyue was right—you really are a reasonable and easygoing girl." The Xia Group was a Fortune 500 company. At the cocktail party a few days ago, Xia Yuntong's older brother, Xia Yunting, had been discussing a partnership with Ruan Shaodong. Since the Xia Group and the Ruan Group would likely collaborate in the future, Chu Tang saw no need to make an enemy of the Xia family's young miss. Moreover, Xia Yuntong's apology this time was very sincere, and she seemed to have genuinely recognized her mistake. With Shu Mingyue mediating as well, Chu Tang decided to give Xia Yuntong a chance. Chu Tang pulled out a chair and sat down. The three of them enjoyed afternoon tea, desserts, and conversation. Xia Yuntong said, "Chu Tang, do you know how miserable Tan Bin's fate turned out? I heard that after he got off the cruise, he was sent straight to the hospital and has been lying there ever since. I have a friend who knows him and went to visit him—well, 'visit' is just an excuse; really it was to gawk. My friend came back and told me that Tan Bin's hand tendons were severed, damaging his nerves and bones. Both hands are completely ruined. He can't even pick up chopsticks anymore—he has to be fed." Chu Tang was slightly taken aback. "That bad?" she said in surprise. She genuinely hadn't known what happened to Tan Bin afterward. Although Shu Mingyue had mentioned that Jiang Shixu had someone take Tan Bin away for "proper hospitality," the specifics of that "hospitality" were never told to Chu Tang, and she hadn't asked. "Mm-hmm!" Xia Yuntong nodded. "And that's not all. A friend at the hospital said he was also injured down there—he'll never get it up again. It's basically chemical castration." As she said this, Xia Yuntong pointed at her own crotch. Chu Tang understood instantly. She let out a laugh, finding it novel and amusing. It was the first time she'd heard of chemical castration. How exactly did Jiang Shixu's men manage that? Shu Mingyue made an incredulous face and said, "Tsk tsk tsk, Shixu's methods are truly ruthless. He turned Tan Bin straight into a eunuch." Xia Yuntong said, "He deserved it! You have no idea how many girls he forced himself on and defiled in Sucheng. Some girls were driven to depression by him and jumped off buildings to kill themselves." Shu Mingyue: "I've heard a little, but not much. I only know he has a terrible reputation." "Reputation?" Xia Yuntong sneered. "He has a reputation? If it weren't for his family's power—his father being the third-in-command in Sucheng—he'd have been locked up long ago. Tan Bin committed countless evils and never went to prison because his old man held a high position in Sucheng." After she finished, Shu Mingyue said, "I heard from my dad that a couple of days ago, Tan Bin's father, Tan Changsheng, was taken away by the disciplinary inspection commission." Chu Tang: "That fast?" "Whoa, really?" Xia Yuntong said excitedly. Shu Mingyue nodded. "My dad said so—it shouldn't be a baseless rumor." Xia Yuntong looked at Chu Tang. "It must be your Mr. Jiang who made his move." Shu Mingyue agreed. "Probably. Tan Bin bullied someone he shouldn't have—you—and even threatened to... Given Shixu's personality, he would never let it go easily. This time, for your sake, he uprooted the entire Tan family." Shu Mingyue didn't say those words out loud, but both Chu Tang and Xia Yuntong understood. On the ship, Tan Bin had threatened to have people rape Chu Tang to death. Later, Xia Yuntong had learned from the Sucheng social circle that Tan Bin had originally planned to have several men take turns violating Chu Tang, ruin her body, and film videos and take photos to post online. When Xia Yuntong heard about Tan Bin's deranged plan back then, even though she had clashed with Ruan Chutang, she couldn't help but feel sympathy for her and cursed Tan Bin loudly for hours. "Justice has been served!" Xia Yuntong clapped excitedly. "Jiang Shixu, well done! Beautifully done!" Chu Tang's feelings were somewhat complicated. After getting off the boat, she made a point of looking into the Tan family of Su City, learning about Tan Changsheng's standing in the city, as well as Tan Bin's usual behavior. Tan Bin deserved to die, and Tan Changsheng, who had blindly shielded his son and aided his wrongdoing, should have fallen from power long ago. But the Tan family's influence was not to be underestimated, and Chu Tang worried that Jiang Shixu might face retaliation. Tan Changsheng was now under detention, but he had many "loyal followers" in Su City. For instance, with the collusion between officials and businessmen, now that Tan Changsheng was locked up, the interests of the corporate executives who had conspired with him were harmed, and they might very well retaliate against Jiang Shixu. Seeing Chu Tang looking so anxious, Shu Mingyue asked her, "Are you worried about Jiang Shixu's situation? Worried someone might retaliate against him?" Chu Tang nodded. "Your worry is unnecessary," Shu Mingyue said. "It seems Jiang Shixu has protected you too well—you still don't know him well enough." After a pause, Shu Mingyue continued, "Chu Tang, don't misunderstand. I mean you don't know Jiang Shixu's iron-fisted tactics and ruthlessness. You don't know how he treats his enemies. Since he decided to take on the Tan family, anyone with shady dealings or vested interests connected to them—he won't let a single one go. And Jiang Shixu's power far exceeds what you've seen. You really don't need to worry about him." That said, Chu Tang still couldn't help but worry. "Mingyue is right. Chu Tang, you really don't need to worry about Young Master Jiang. The Tan family alone isn't even qualified to go against him. Instead of worrying about him, you'd better worry about yourself. If those people find out the whole story—that Jiang Shixu took on the Tan family for your sake—you need to be careful. Compared to retaliating against Jiang Shixu, going after you directly is much easier." It was the same tactic as Fu Yuanzhou. Can't deal with Jiang Shixu, so they go after her? Chu Tang sneered. "Let them come. I'm not afraid." A Wen stood expressionless beside Chu Tang, like a statue. "And this is?" Xia Yuntong only now noticed A Wen. Chu Tang introduced her in a flat tone: "A Wen, my personal female bodyguard." Xia Yuntong commented, "She looks wild and fierce at first glance." Shu Mingyue spoke up, "A Wen's skills are exceptional. Once, when I was drugged, she took on six guys alone and knocked all those thugs and creeps flat on the ground." "That impressive?" Xia Yuntong looked at her with admiration. "No wonder you said you're not afraid—you've got an expert by your side." Chu Tang said, "But thanks for the reminder. I'll bring more bodyguards when I go out from now on." "Right, bring more just in case." Xia Yuntong then asked, "Do you know what happened to Liang Chuman, that woman who used to be with Tan Bin? It's satisfying to hear!" "Never paid attention," Chu Tang said. "After she issued her apology statement and compensated me for emotional damages that day, I stopped following her."