My Contract Husband Won't Behave - Chapter 67
“Pang Kun has completely collapsed, Master Jiu,” Feng Wu reported, tension in his voice. “Production has stopped. The workers’ strike reached the labor bureau, his raw-material suppliers sued him, and this afternoon the court froze every company account. He called me personally just now. He wants to meet you.”
Bo Jiusi’s lips curved faintly. “What else did he say?”
“He… begged you to spare him.” Feng Wu paused. “His exact words were, ‘Master Jiu, I concede defeat. Please honor me with a meeting.’”
“Tell him ten o’clock tomorrow morning. The usual place.”
“Understood.”
After ending the call, Bo Jiusi rose and dressed, fastening his shirt to the very top button before the mirror. The man reflected there looked cold and unreadable.
At ten the next morning, Pang Kun was already waiting in a private room at the club.
His suit was wrinkled, and dark hollows beneath his eyes made it appear he had not slept in days. A cup of tea on the table before him had long gone cold.
The moment Bo Jiusi entered, Pang Kun shot to his feet. His lips trembled. “Master Jiu…”
Without looking at him, Bo Jiusi took the seat at the head and tipped his chin. “Sit.”
Pang Kun did not sit. He dropped heavily to his knees.
“Please show mercy, Master Jiu!” His voice shook. “The production deadline was my fault, but I truly can’t afford the tenfold contractual penalty. If you keep pushing me, I can only die.”
Bo Jiusi idly turned the ring on his finger without looking up. “What does your death have to do with me?”
Pang Kun’s face turned paper-white. His lips worked, but no words came.
Bo Jiusi stopped playing with the ring and finally raised his gaze.
“You signed the contract. You set the deadline. No one forced you. Now that you failed, you come begging me for mercy. Pang Kun, do I look like I run a charity?”
Pang Kun sagged on the floor as though everything inside him had been drained.
Bo Jiusi looked down at him. “Two choices.
“First, pay tenfold damages according to the contract. Your company enters bankruptcy and liquidation, you carry crushing debt, and you spend the rest of your life between prison and hiding from creditors.
“Second, transfer every share you own and full control of your company to me. Leave the capital and never return.”
Pang Kun’s eyes reddened. “Master Jiu, that company is my life’s work…”
“Then you choose the first option?”
After a long silence, Pang Kun kowtowed heavily. “I choose the second.”
Bo Jiusi stood and looked down at him once before turning away. “Feng Wu, take him to complete the paperwork.”
Outside the club, sunlight poured over the entrance. Bo Jiusi narrowed his eyes, took out his phone, and opened his chat with Nie Jingzhi.
*The Pang Kun matter is resolved.*
No reply came immediately. He pocketed his phone and entered the car.
As it left the club gates, the phone vibrated.
Nie Jingzhi had replied with a single word: *Mm.*
A moment later came another line.
*You’ve worked hard, Master Jiu. I’ll reward you another day.*
He stared at the words for two seconds and scoffed. She still wanted him to wait for another day?
Putting the phone away, he closed his eyes against the seat. “Back to the company.”
The driver glanced into the mirror. The face that had been cold all morning had briefly warmed, only to darken again. Unable to fathom his employer, the driver shook his head and focused on the road.
***
After signing the last document, Pang Kun collapsed onto the club sofa. Feng Wu gathered the papers and left. The door closed, leaving Pang Kun alone.
He stared blankly at the ceiling.
His phone vibrated with an unknown number.
“Pang Kun,” said an aged voice. “Do you know why you ended up like this?”
“Who are you?”
“My identity doesn’t matter. You only need to know that the contract demanding tenfold damages was designed specifically for you by Bo Jiusi from the beginning.”
“What? Why would Master Jiu do that?”
“You truly don’t know? You ruined the Nie family to take revenge on Nie Zong. Did you think Nie Jingzhi wouldn’t investigate? That woman is nobody’s fool.”
The caller snorted. “Husband and wife set the trap together, and you walked straight in.”
Pang Kun’s fingers whitened around the phone. “Why tell me?”
“Because Bo Jiusi is our common target. And because I can help you.”
“How?”
“Next Friday, Bo Jiusi will go somewhere. After he leaves, take Nie Jingzhi away. Don’t harm her. Keep her away for two hours, nothing more. Bo Jiusi will come looking.”
Pang Kun was silent for several seconds. “That’s all?”
“That’s all.” The caller’s voice abruptly hardened. “But listen carefully. That woman carries the Bo family’s blood. Lay a finger on her, and the Bo family will tear you to pieces. I want Bo Jiusi to pay a price. I do not want anyone killed. Understand?”
“…I understand.”
“I’ll also have someone watching you. Don’t do anything you shouldn’t.”
The call ended. Malice churned in Pang Kun’s eyes.
At the Bo family estate, Old Master Bo lowered his phone.
“Send someone to watch Pang Kun,” he told the butler evenly. “If he dares touch the child, dispose of him first.”
The butler bowed. “Yes, sir.”
***
Friday morning, Nie Jingzhi rolled over and checked her phone.
Seven-thirty. No new messages.
Last time, Bo Shiyun’s call had suddenly killed her mood, and she had abandoned Bo Jiusi alone in bed and fled. They had spoken normally these past few days, but she still felt she owed him something.
Besides, he had done the Nie family an enormous favor with Pang Kun. She had promised him a reward and never delivered.
After some thought, she called.
He answered after several rings, voice cool. “What is it?”
“Master Jiu, did you miss me?”
“If that’s all, I’m hanging up.”
“Wait!” She hurried to stop him, laughing. “Are you free today? I want to cook at your place. I still owe you the reward I promised, and I should thank you for helping us.”
The other end fell silent. “Today?”
“Today. What do you want to eat? I’ll buy groceries.”
“Anything.”
“What dish is *anything*? I’ve never heard of it.” She drew out her voice. “Master Jiu, could you have some standards? I’m cooking personally. At least name one dish. Don’t blame me if I’m off my game and turn the whole meal into a culinary disaster.”
“When has anything you cooked not been a culinary disaster?” he asked coldly.
“Then why did you finish it last time?”
“Wasting food is shameful.”
She choked, then laughed. “How principled of you. In that case, today I’ll prepare an entire carrot banquet—your least favorite. Let’s see if you can still bring yourself to waste nothing.”
He said nothing.
Hearing fabric rustle, she asked casually, “Are you going out?”
“Mm.”
“This early? Who are you meeting? Another woman?”
“Yes.”
Nie Jingzhi arched a brow. “Who? Do I know her?”
