Chapter 678 - 456: You Shut Up Too
"Lin made a good point. These days, it’s all about resonating with both the culture and policy. One can’t exist without the other."
"Yes, ’resonating.’ That’s a good way to put it. You young people are so quick-witted. I’m getting old," the man in casual clothes with graying temples lamented.
"Hardly old. You just smashed several winning shots past me," Chen Yuan chuckled.
Anyone would have been astonished to learn that such a major leader of Mingzhu City was speaking so cordially with a young man who was just starting out.
To say nothing of the fact that they had just seen the old man and the young one play badminton for half the day.
The chief aide, pouring tea off to the side, couldn’t help but give Chen Yuan a few extra glances.
"Director Lin previously discussed a proposal with your father to encourage focusing on key areas and implementing targeted policies. But after several meetings, there’s still no answer. It’s understandable, though. The Jiang corporation’s main development focus is now abroad, so their outlook is different from what it once was," another, more weathered-looking middle-aged man with a square jaw chimed in.
𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
"I don’t get it either. The old saying goes, ’To repel foreign invaders, first pacify the homeland.’ Gao, I’ll be sure to have a good talk with my dad when I get back," Chen Yuan replied with a strained smile.
"Don’t do that. This is all just casual conversation," the middle-aged man said with a smile, shaking his head.
The bright sunlight shone down, making Chen Yuan, dressed in his athletic wear, seem especially vibrant. Surrounded by his elders, he exuded a boundless, youthful energy that was deeply enviable.
Tugging at the leg of his white pants, Chen Yuan chatted idly with the two leaders.
’This is surprisingly a lot less stressful than the last banquet.’
However, as the men were talking, a car horn blared a few times from outside the courtyard.
The chief aide reacted, giving the nearby driver a meaningful look.
"Well, it seems our guests have arrived," Lin said nonchalantly, setting down his teacup.
As he spoke those calm words, Chen Yuan’s eyes narrowed in an instant, and the smile vanished from his face.
He hadn’t originally wanted to make such a big fuss and create such a major scene.
But he’d been unable to resist the impulse last night and had spoken directly to the director.
Upon hearing what happened, Secretary Lin had become furious, promising to investigate the matter strictly and give Chen Yuan a proper resolution.
Whatever the business dispute, it was irrelevant to the nature of the act itself. If word of this got out, it would be a huge embarrassment.
Furthermore, Secretary Lin and Jiang Zhengfeng were old friends.
Now Chen Yuan had come to Mingzhu City, and not only had Lin failed to play the part of a proper host, but he had also allowed the young man to suffer such an injustice under his watch. It was completely unjustifiable.
The narrow gate opened with a CREAK.
Director Yang entered first, exchanged pleasantries with the men at the tea table, and then found a place to sit. A moment later, a man walked in, trembling with trepidation.
Who else could it be but Qi Yingchen?
He scarcely dared to raise his head, walking forward with his gaze fixed on the ground. He wrung his hands nervously, a cold sweat continuously beading on his forehead.
Everyone was watching him, including Pei Youwen, who stood behind Chen Yuan.
Under the immense pressure of their stares, Qi Yingchen didn’t even dare to cross the threshold. He just stood there for a moment before suddenly dropping to his knees.
"Director, all the Directors! Mr. Jiang, I was wrong! I had no idea my secretary went behind my back and arranged for people to cause trouble for Miss Jiangg. I only said a few harsh words in his presence; who could have predicted he’d actually dare to do it? It’s all my fault, completely and utterly my fault..."
In an instant, the big, burly man was bursting into tears.
He bore no resemblance to the arrogant and domineering figure he cut among his business associates and at the negotiating table.
Chen Yuan simply watched him coldly as Qi Yingchen kept his head lowered, not daring to look up.
Chen Yuan said nothing, and the room fell silent.
An oppressive, suffocating atmosphere spread through the room.
SMASH—
The director with the surname Gao threw his ceramic cup, and it shattered on the stone floor. He let out a cold snort, his eyes fixed on Qi Yingchen, who flinched violently.
"You bastard! It seems you think you’re above the law."
A man long accustomed to a position of authority, he possessed an intimidating aura even when not angry.
And this square-jawed, middle-aged man, in particular, carried the stern, cutting authority of a military officer.
Now that someone had set a harsh tone, Secretary Lin, who was usually more reserved and refined, picked up the thread.
"In broad daylight, an innocent person is just walking down the street, and you hire thugs to go after her. Now she’s lying in a hospital bed. What exactly were your intentions? If word of this gets out, people will think our city is some kind of lawless wasteland," Secretary Lin sneered.
"I deserve to die! It’s my fault," Qi Yingchen said, raising his hand and slapping himself hard across the face. He knew arguing was useless now; it would only make them more disgusted. "I don’t dare ask for Mr. Jiang’s forgiveness, I only pray that you will let your anger subside... For committing such a crime, even if I were to walk out of here and be killed by a car, it would be no great loss!"
"A true ruffian. Now you’re just putting on a vulgar display," the square-jawed director remarked, sitting upright and scrutinizing him.
Through it all, Chen Yuan had not said a single word.
It wasn’t that he felt no emotion; rather, he was overcome by a profound sense of disgust.
’That this kind of lawless, black-hearted boss with his despicable tactics had actually threatened the safety of the two people he loved most... ’ Chen Yuan felt utterly insulted.
’Even getting revenge on this man felt like it would dirty his own hands.’
"Regarding the Jiangg Family’s company... you pulled your strings, framed my mother-in-law and had her sent to prison, orchestrating the whole affair. When I found out, I didn’t come after you. That’s because she made mistakes, too, and deserved to be punished by the law. But that doesn’t justify your repeated schemes, treating the law like a child’s plaything..." Chen Yuan looked down at the kneeling Qi Yingchen and said with a sneer, "I simply couldn’t be bothered to stoop to your level."