The faces of the two men were a mask of shifting emotions, clearly taken aback by the young man’s words.
President Zhou couldn't hold back any longer and retorted, "Our Blue Sky Daily upholds the truthfulness of news. These contents are factual, thus they do not constitute defamation. Of course, I can recall all unsold newspapers to mitigate your losses!"
Upon hearing this, Mu Feng almost burst into laughter. "I say, are you sure your head isn't screwed on right? Are you certain what he reported is the truth?"
Qian Kang, frightened, lowered his head, nervously picking at his nails, his guilty conscience evident.
"What exactly is going on here? I need an explanation!" President Zhou trembled with rage, his face bearing a comical shoe print.
"I, I… the content does have some issues. I did embellish it a little!" Qian Kang knew that if he didn’t tell the truth now, he was in for serious trouble.
Mu Feng chuckled, "Are you sure it was just a little? Honestly tell me everything that happened yesterday, or I really will break your neck!"
"Ah, no, no, spare me! I'll tell you, I'll tell you…" Qian Kang jumped up from his seat in terror.
Having seen the error of his ways, he recounted everything that had transpired at the villa entrance the previous day.
President Zhou listened, his expression flickering between uncertainty and anger. It was then he realized that his reporter was the one who had provoked this formidable individual.
He slammed his hand on the table, furious. "You have some nerve! Do you know what you're doing?"
Mu Feng waved his hand dismissively, "Alright, I don't have time to watch you lecture your subordinate. It's time to discuss the compensation!"
"I am willing to pay fifty thousand yuan and recall the unsold newspapers!" President Zhou took a deep breath.
"Are you trying to fob off a beggar? You think fifty thousand yuan will get me to back down? I'm a public figure, after all. My reputation is quite valuable!" Mu Feng smiled innocently.
President Zhou gritted his teeth, "Then tell me, how much compensation do you deem appropriate?"
"Your newspaper doesn't seem to be short of money. How about this: I'll give you an acceptable price. Let's say, ten million yuan. Oh, and if I don't see your apology on the front page tomorrow, I'll be back to cause more trouble!"
At these words, the President and the reporter were stunned. Their newspaper did indeed have that much cash flow.
But this was money earned through years of hard work. How could they part with it so easily?
"Are you… are you kidding me? Whose reputation is worth that much?" President Zhou exclaimed, incredulous.
Mu Feng smiled faintly, "I'm afraid my reputation is indeed worth that much. Two conditions: the compensation and the front-page apology. If I don't see either one tomorrow morning, I'm afraid I can make your newspaper go bankrupt!"
With that parting threat, Mu Feng swaggered away as if no one else was there.
After Mu Feng had gone a considerable distance, Qian Kang stood up and reminded, "President, we absolutely cannot give him the money! That guy is a scoundrel!"
President Zhou, his anger mounting, slapped Qian Kang hard across the face.
Qian Kang, already injured, cried out in pain as he clutched his cheek, whimpering, "President, why did you hit me?"
"Why did I hit you? Don't you have any idea? You figure out how to pay that ten million yourself!"
"Ah? Where would I get that kind of money? I can't even produce ten thousand right now!"
Qian Kang lived paycheck to paycheck, and this sum was an astronomical figure to him.
"Whether you can afford it or not is your problem. And from now on, you're fired!"
President Zhou couldn't bear to look at him anymore. He slumped back into his chair, massaging his temples wearily.
"President, you can't do this! I've contributed to the newspaper, even if it's just through hard work. Please, just give me another chance!" Qian Kang was nearly petrified.
"Get out, you useless piece of trash! If it weren't for you, would the newspaper be in this state?" President Zhou roared, his voice filled with anguish.
Qian Kang quickly analyzed, "President, even if you fire me, I still can't pay the ten million. That person will still come after you, right? Why don't you give me a chance to redeem myself? I guarantee I can make him stop yapping!"
President Zhou was at a loss for a solution. It was impossible for him to produce such a sum.
He glanced at Qian Kang, "What method could you possibly have?"
"How about we go all the way and just get rid of him? Then, who would dare demand money?" Qian Kang grinned, making a throat-slitting gesture.
President Zhou shuddered, looking worried. "Ah? Isn't that… a bit much?"
"Now is not the time for indecision. Only the dead don't cause trouble. I know where he lives. We can hire someone to burn his house down, and then all our problems will be solved!" Qian Kang's tone was venomous.
President Zhou sighed, "I can't think of any better plan at the moment. Let's do as you say. If you pull this off, I'll give you a chance to stay with the newspaper!"
Qian Kang was ecstatic, "Thank you, President! Thank you, President!"
Time flew by, and soon it was late at night.
Mu Feng was resting in his residence as usual, while a group of uninvited guests had already crept in.
The leader, a masked man in black, curved his lips upward. "If this job is done, each of us brothers will get twenty thousand yuan. Everyone, be quick about it!"
A total of five men, each carrying a large bucket of gasoline, approached Mu Feng's residence.
These were all vagrants from society. Twenty thousand yuan was enough to make them risk arson and murder.
"Stop dawdling. Pour the gasoline quickly, and that twenty thousand yuan will be ours!" the man in black urged.
A subordinate ran over, greediness flashing in his eyes, and whispered, "Brother, this is a wealthy district. Someone living in such a luxurious villa must be rich. Why don't we sneak in and ransack his house? If he resists, we just take care of him, right?"
"Yeah, this is a chance to make big money! I heard these rich people love collecting antiques. If we find one or two, we'll be rich!" another subordinate chimed in.
Faced with their persuasion, the man in black was tempted. He licked his lips, "What you're saying makes sense. Let's go in and check everything thoroughly. We can't miss a single spot!"
Thus, the four men immediately set down their gasoline buckets and began fiddling with the lock at the entrance.