Chapter 11: The Banquet at Hongmen

“Are you out of your mind, you worthless nobody? How dare you sit in the chairman’s seat! Do you even know who the chairman of Evergrand Group is? How could someone like you defile his place?”
“Get down from there right now! If the chairman comes back and finds you here, you’ll regret it!”
Ye Feng remained silent, showing no change in expression. Zhang Chao assumed he was pretending to be calm, but believed he was actually terrified inside.
Ye Feng smiled calmly and replied, “Zhang Chao, when you walked in and saw me sitting here, did it ever cross your mind that I might be the chairman of Evergrand Group?”
Hearing Ye Feng’s words, Zhang Chao burst out laughing, completely disregarding his dignity. “Ha! What a joke! If you’re the chairman of Evergrand Group, then I must be his father!”
“Ye Feng, I’ve already hired a private investigator to look into you. I know everything about you.” Zhang Chao’s laughter faded, replaced by a smug confidence.
“Oh? You know everything about me? Then tell me, what do you know?” Ye Feng looked at Zhang Chao as though he were an idiot, completely unafraid of his identity being exposed—for his identity could never be discovered. If anyone managed to find out, then A could pack up and leave tomorrow.
Zhang Chao stared at Ye Feng and said,
“You’re just a beggar raised in an orphanage, your parents are dead, you attended the Su Family’s charity school, your mother jumped off a building so she wouldn’t be a burden to you. Three years ago, you married into the Su Family as a son-in-law. With your background, do you really think you deserve to be with Manman?” The more Zhang Chao spoke, the more agitated he became, his eyes burning red. One hand grabbed Ye Feng’s collar, the other clenched into a fist, ready to punch him.
Zhang Chao and Su Manman had grown up together as childhood sweethearts—he had always wanted to win her heart.
At that moment, Secretary Tao pushed open the door. Seeing Zhang Chao about to hit Ye Feng, she was so frightened that she dropped the file she held with a loud smack and stood frozen at the entrance.
Zhang Chao turned at the sound, saw Secretary Tao, and instantly released Ye Feng, smoothing his unruffled clothes and regaining his usual smile. He stepped forward and said,
“Secretary Tao, you’re just in time. This useless nobody dared to impersonate the chairman and sit in his seat!”
Turning smugly to Ye Feng, he said, “See? This is Secretary Tao of Evergrand Group, the chairman’s right hand. If you kneel and beg me now, I might, for Manman’s sake, ask Secretary Tao to show you some mercy and let you leave with a shred of dignity.”
Secretary Tao silently picked up the file from the floor, walked over to Ye Feng, bowed deeply, and said with utmost respect, “Chairman, I have brought you all the documents you requested.”
Then she turned to introduce Ye Feng to Zhang Chao, “Mr. Zhang, this is the chairman of Evergrand Group—the person you have been waiting so long to meet.”
Upon hearing Secretary Tao’s words, Zhang Chao was stunned. He staggered backward several steps, panic flooding his heart.
Was that private investigator eating dirt? He said Ye Feng was raised in an orphanage, had no family background, and even swore his information was the most accurate.
What nonsense!
The dignified chairman of Evergrand Group—how could anyone call him a worthless nobody with no background?
Then Zhang Chao remembered the death order given by the chairman of Tingxuan: he had to secure a contract with Evergrand Group or face dismissal.

Zhang Chao hurriedly knelt on the floor, crawling to Ye Feng’s feet and begged, “Chairman Ye, Chairman Ye, I was blind, I underestimated you—I’m sorry, truly sorry.”
Ye Feng, looking disgusted, kicked Zhang Chao away and said irritably, “Are you still thinking about Manman?”
Zhang Chao panicked at Ye Feng’s words and hastily explained, “I wouldn’t dare! How could I possibly covet the chairman’s wife? It’s all my fault for speaking carelessly. I know nothing good ever comes from a dog's mouth.” As he spoke, Zhang Chao slapped his own face.
“Chairman Ye, about the contract between our two companies…” Zhang Chao asked timidly.
“I can overlook your earlier insults, but you still have improper thoughts about Manman—I absolutely cannot tolerate that. And you have the nerve to bring up the contract? Let me be clear: the contract is void. As long as I am at Evergrand, Evergrand will never cooperate with Tingxuan!” Ye Feng’s face darkened, his voice cold and resolute.
Hearing this, Zhang Chao was completely dumbfounded. Ye Feng’s words echoed in his ears as he looked to Secretary Tao for help. “Secretary Tao, please, say something—don’t let the contract be voided! It’s a win-win agreement.”
Secretary Tao felt Zhang Chao’s words made some sense and was about to speak, but Ye Feng cut her off.
“Secretary Tao, call security and have him thrown out. He is never to set foot in Evergrand again.”
“Yes, sir.” Secretary Tao dared not say another word, fearing she might anger Ye Feng, and turned to leave.
“Chairman Ye, please, spare me! If I don’t get this contract, I’ll be fired.”
“I was blind; I apologize; I’ll kowtow to you.” With that, Zhang Chao knocked his head on the floor three times, each thump echoing loudly.
“I can’t lose this job, Chairman Ye, I beg you—don’t void the contract.”
Ye Feng didn’t even glance at him.
Zhang Chao was thoroughly panicked and, desperate, brought up Su Manman, “For the sake of Manman and me being childhood friends, please show mercy and spare me.”
Mentioning Su Manman only made things worse. Hearing her name from Zhang Chao’s lips felt like an insult, and Ye Feng was disgusted.
A series of knocks interrupted Ye Feng’s thoughts. Two burly security guards entered, calling in unison,
“Chairman!”
“What are you standing around for? Throw him out!” Ye Feng vented his anger on the guards.
The two security guards hurried to Zhang Chao, took him by the arms, and dragged him toward the door.
Zhang Chao knew there was no turning back, so he started cursing,
“Ye Feng, you’re nothing but a useless son-in-law. No matter how impressive you act, you’re just a dog in the Su Family’s eyes.”

“You won’t let me have peace, and I won’t let you off either. Your family—like Su Manman…” With that, Zhang Chao broke into mad laughter.
The two security guards, terrified of being implicated and losing their lucrative jobs, sped up and dragged him away.
After all, Evergrand Group was the largest corporation in Licheng, with the best salaries and benefits.
Hearing Zhang Chao’s words, Ye Feng’s expression flickered, and he soon left the company himself.
As Ye Feng walked down the street, he felt a twinge of unease. He pulled out his phone, dialed a string of familiar numbers, and a mesmerizing female voice answered, “Hello?”
“B, you haven’t had a mission in a while. It’s time to stretch your muscles…”
With that, Ye Feng hung up and decided to stop by the supermarket to buy some snacks Su Manman liked.
Just then, his phone rang. Seeing an unfamiliar number, he hung up, muttering, “Probably another insurance sales call.”
The phone rang again, and Ye Feng, annoyed, answered, “Can’t you take the hint? I hung up, so why do you keep calling! Are you crazy?”
A brief silence on the other end, then a woman spoke, “Ye Feng, it’s me.”
Hearing a woman who knew his name, Ye Feng was puzzled and demanded, “Who are you?”
The woman replied, “Ye Feng, we grew up together in the orphanage—I’m Zhou Qian. Have you forgotten me?”
Ye Feng thought for a moment. There had indeed been a girl named Zhou Qian at the orphanage. When he was little, frail, and friendless, only Si Xu and Zhou Qian would play with him. When the older kids bullied him, they were the ones who helped him.
Still, Ye Feng was puzzled. He hadn’t seen them in years, and only Manman and his family had his phone number. Even Secretary Tao only had his work line—how did Zhou Qian get his mobile number?
“Hello…hello…Ye Feng, are you listening?” Zhou Qian called out repeatedly.
“Ah…oh, yes, I’m listening.” Zhou Qian’s voice snapped Ye Feng out of his thoughts.
“Do you have time now? It’s been so many years—would you like to have a meal together?”
“Right now?” Ye Feng hesitated, since he still needed to buy things at the supermarket.