Return of the Celestial King

Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Forming a Clique

The moment he returned home, he saw his parents, frantic with worry. Their eyes were even a little red and swollen, a clear sign they had just been crying.

Beside them, the mother-daughter pair of Han Guixiang and Han Zilin were trying their best to console them.

Even the father-daughter pair of Zhou Dahai and Zhou Kexin were here.

When they saw Qin Tuo return, everyone’s eyes widened. Then, in a flurry, they all crowded around him!

"Qin Tuo, you’re back! Are you okay?"

"Oh, Qin Tuo, it’s so good you’re home! We were worried sick about you!"

One after another, they all expressed their concern for him.

Luo Xianglan, in particular, pulled her son close and looked him over from head to toe.

Only after seeing that Qin Tuo was unharmed did she finally feel relieved.

"Son, you must be hungry. Mom will go make you something to eat!"

Worried her son was hungry, Luo Xianglan happily hurried off to the kitchen to cook.

A warmth spread through Qin Tuo’s heart. ’As expected, the ones who care about me most in this world will always be my parents.’

Zhou Dahai walked over, his face full of concern, and asked:

"Qin Tuo, are you alright?"

Qin Tuo nodded and smiled.

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle. I’m fine."

Zhou Dahai said, looking a little ashamed,

"Sigh, it’s a shame none of my contacts could help. I was worried something might happen to you."

Qin Tuo smiled.

"Thank you for the concern, Uncle. I’m really okay, you don’t have to worry about me!"

Hearing this, Zhou Dahai finally relaxed completely and said with a smile,

"As long as you’re okay. Well, it’s getting late. We won’t disturb your family any longer, so we’ll be heading out."

With that, he prepared to take Zhou Kexin home.

Qin Hongguo quickly tried to persuade them to stay.

"Dahai, you came all this way. Stay a little longer before you go!"

But Zhou Dahai just smiled and waved his hands dismissively.

"That kid Qin Tuo just got back. You three should have a good family chat. I’ll come back another time when I have the chance, and we can have a few drinks."

"Alright, it’s a deal then!"

Qin Hongguo personally saw the father and daughter out.

Before leaving, Zhou Kexin turned back and gave Qin Tuo a concerned look.

Her gaze seemed to hold a hint of something complex.

Qin Tuo looked back at Zhou Kexin, offering her a slight smile and a nod.

After the Zhou family father and daughter left, Han Guixiang also prepared to leave with her daughter.

Han Zilin, who had been quiet the whole time, suddenly walked over.

"Brother Tu, are you alright?"

Looking at Han Zilin’s somewhat indifferent expression, Qin Tuo was quite puzzled.

’What’s going on? This girl seems so listless lately.’

Qin Tuo nodded and smiled.

"I’m fine, Zilin. Sorry to make you worry."

Han Zilin said softly,

"Mm, as long as you’re okay. I’m going home now."

With that, she followed Han Guixiang and left the Qin family’s home.

Watching Han Zilin’s retreating back, Qin Tuo wondered, ’What’s gotten into her?’

"Son, go wash your hands and eat!"

Luo Xianglan called out caringly from the kitchen.

With Qin Tuo safe and sound, Qin Hongguo and his wife seemed to have regained their pillar of support, and their spirits lifted considerably.

Early the next morning, Qin Tuo left the house and made his way to Half Moon Bay.

When he reached the entrance of the residential complex, a security guard quickly came out to greet him respectfully, opening the gate with a broad smile.

After all the commotion yesterday, there wasn’t a single guard who didn’t recognize Qin Tuo.

The property manager had already given instructions: all property management staff in Half Moon Bay were to be utterly respectful to Qin Tuo and must not offend him in any way.

Qin Tuo returned to his villa in the Upper Bay Area and, without a second thought, sat down cross-legged on the spot and began to cultivate.

The Spiritual Qi here was indeed much denser than in other places.

However, after cultivating for more than two hours, Qin Tuo carefully assessed his progress and his brow furrowed slightly.

’Oh, the progress isn’t that great...’

Qin Tuo muttered to himself.

His current goal was to reach the next realm of cultivation.

But it was clear this was not something that could be achieved overnight.

So, Qin Tuo could only end his cultivation session and return home again.

On Monday morning, Qin Tuo drove to work.

The moment he arrived at the company entrance, he noticed the atmosphere was off!

He saw employees gathered in twos and threes, whispering about something with very strange expressions on their faces.

This strange scene continued even after he walked into the sales department.

Qin Tuo spotted Liu Ping and walked over to ask what was going on.

"Liu Ping, what’s everyone talking about?"

Liu Ping lowered his voice and said mysteriously,

"You haven’t heard yet, Qin Tuo? President Zhang has resigned. The position of president is now vacant!"

Qin Tuo nodded. ’So that’s what it is. No wonder everyone is so focused on it.’

A president’s resignation was indeed a major event for a company.

Qin Tuo thought to himself, ’That guy Zhang Cheng sure ran off quickly!’

Just then, Wang Lei also walked in, and it was clear he was in a foul mood.

He had spent a lot of time kissing up to Zhang Cheng and giving him gifts, hoping that Zhang Cheng would promote him.

But now, unexpectedly, Zhang Cheng had inexplicably taken off.

Didn’t that mean all his past brown-nosing had been for nothing?

At that moment, someone suddenly started a discussion.

"With President Zhang gone, who do you think will take over the president’s position?"

"Sigh, it’s hard to say. We’ll just have to wait and see!"

Hearing this, an idea suddenly sparked in Wang Lei’s mind.

He thought, ’If Chen Man Ni comes to the company today and decides to promote someone to president, wouldn’t I have a great chance?’

Moreover, Wang Lei felt that as long as all the members of the sales department wholeheartedly supported him, it wasn’t an impossibility.

After all, with the president gone, his own position as sales department manager carried significant weight.

With this in mind, Wang Lei coughed twice and announced loudly,

"Everyone, don’t worry! Listen to me for a moment!"

Everyone immediately fell silent and looked at Wang Lei.

Only Qin Tuo saw right through Wang Lei’s little scheme, a mocking smile touching the corners of his lips.

Wang Lei continued,

"Everyone, it’s precisely at a critical moment like this that we must unite. Let me take the president’s seat, and then no one will be able to bully you!"

Hearing Wang Lei’s words, the people in the sales department felt he had a point, and one by one, they nodded emphatically.

"Manager Wang, we’ll follow your lead! Just tell us what to do, and we’ll do it!"

"That’s right, Boss! The president’s position is definitely yours for the taking. We’re all waiting for you to get promoted and rich so you can pull us up with you!"

The crowd cheered him on, some even whistling.

Seeing so many people supporting him, Wang Lei beamed with joy.

But just then, Qin Tuo laughed at the inappropriate moment.

"Manager Wang, at a time like this, you’re still trying to form a faction? I guess you don’t want this job anymore, huh?"