In the reception room of Changhong Trading Group...
Zhao Yan sat with one leg crossed, a smile playing on his lips.
He observed Zhou Ping on the opposite side with great interest, rhythmically tapping his fingers on the table.
"Thump, thump, thump, thump."
"Chairman Chen, our cooperation has come to an end. What exactly do you want to discuss with me?" Zhou Ping grew impatient as he heard the sound of fingers drumming on the table.
Having just completed the signing ceremony, he was preparing to go home and meet his sister, but Zhao Yan stopped him in his tracks.
Zhou Ping was eager to obtain the actual control of shares from his sister's hands, transforming himself into Chairman Zhou. Therefore, he became annoyed when Zhao Yan stopped him without saying a word.
"Ended?" Zhao Yan chuckled and took out his phone from his pocket, playing a surveillance video.
The video showed their meeting in the office that day, with Zhao Yan instigating Zhou Ping to betray He Ming.
As Zhou Ping watched the contents of the video, his face changed instantly. He almost instinctively tried to snatch the phone, but Zhao Yan was quicker and effortlessly dodged his attempt.
"What do you mean?" Zhou Ping's expression turned sour.
With a casual demeanor, Zhao Yan toyed with his phone and calmly said, "What do I mean? Zhou Ping, if your sister sees this video, do you think you can get your hands on the shares of Changhong Trading? Forget about becoming Chairman Zhou, you might end up as just another Zhou, relying on stealing electric scooters for a living."
Based on their conversation during their first meeting in the office, Zhao Yan could be certain of one thing.
Zhou Ping was merely holding the shares in proxy, bound by another contract with He Ming. The actual controller of the shares, without a doubt, was Zhou Ping's sister.
Otherwise, Zhou Ping wouldn't have mentioned the possibility of He Ming going to jail and his sister and nephew inheriting the shares.
Zhou Ping's only reliance was his sister's unconditional trust. He could exploit this to convince his sister to transfer the shares to his name.
After all, his sister was unlikely to understand these matters; otherwise, He Ming wouldn't have entrusted Zhou Ping with holding the shares, and Zhou Ping wouldn't have been confident in deceiving his sister.
But once Zhou Ping's sister saw the video in Zhao Yan's possession, he would lose that trust. Not only would he fail to obtain Changhong Trading's shares, but he wouldn't receive a penny!
That's why Zhou Ping was now so anxious, fearing that he had done so much, only to end up empty-handed.
"What do you want to do?" Zhou Ping gritted his teeth. Ever since he saw the video, he knew he had been manipulated by the other party long ago.
Zhao Yan smiled faintly, "What do I want to do? Do you think there's anything on you worth my attention?"
"Do you want Changhong's shares? You're so cunning and deceitful! Let me tell you, it's impossible! They belong to me!" Zhou Ping's excitement caused the veins in his neck to bulge.
Zhao Yan remained calm throughout. "It's not that I want them, it's that the young master Zhao behind me wants them. You have two options: first, cooperate with me, and you will gain the friendship of young master Zhao and me, as well as a sum of money."
"Secondly, if you don't cooperate with me, your sister will see this video. Then, not only will you lose your shares in Changhong, but everything you have now will be taken back by your sister. You will also lose a bond of kinship."
In fact, deep inside, he was far from as calm as he appeared on the surface. He had never done something like this before. It was a risky move, but the potential rewards were immense, skyrocketing his value by billions!
He used to be an ordinary student, but now he had to engage in this high-stakes game of manipulation. To say that he wasn't nervous would be an absolute lie.
After all, Changhong Trading was ill-gotten wealth acquired by He Ming through unjust means. This opportunity had presented itself to him, and he didn't want to miss it. He decided to take a gamble, to make a leap from a bicycle to a motorcycle.
Opportunities come and go in the blink of an eye. Those who achieve great things don't get caught up in trivial matters. They must act decisively, otherwise, they will struggle to achieve success. This was something the former orphanage director had told him.
"You bastard! You're nothing but a devil! You've been plotting against me from the very beginning! From the very beginning!" Zhou Ping's eyes were bloodshot as he roared hysterically.
His heart was filled with anger and helplessness.
He regretted his actions. He shouldn't have let his greed harm his brother-in-law. He realized he was no match for these people. Collaborating with these businessmen was like seeking a tiger's skin for oneself.
He felt exhausted, tired of the intricate schemes of the big city. He longed to return to the countryside and work on the fields.
Zhao Yan remained calm, patiently waiting for him to vent his emotions. After the outburst, he knew Zhou Ping would eventually calm down and make a choice.
Don't be fooled by his current excitement.
But Zhao Yan was certain that in the end, Zhou Ping would choose the path that would benefit him the most. Since their first encounter and conversation, Zhao Yan had seen through him — he was driven by personal gain, lacking loyalty and consumed by greed.
Zhou Ping was afraid of offending the mysterious Zhao Yan. He feared that if his sister discovered the truth, he would lose every penny. Therefore, he would undoubtedly choose the first option.
About a minute later, Zhou Ping regained some composure. He took a deep breath, and with a dry and low voice, he said, "I... I choose... the first option."
After speaking, he seemed to have been drained of all his strength. He slumped weakly onto the sofa.
"A wise choice indeed," Zhao Yan praised him, taking out a pre-prepared contract from his pocket. "Make your sister sign this. I believe you can manage it. Don't disappoint me."
Damn, why did he suddenly feel like a villain, forcefully seizing wealth and oppressing the innocent ⊙ω⊙?
No, Changhong Trading was originally created by He Ming through illegal means and then legalized. So, at most, he was using force against force.
Taking money from bad people wouldn't be excessive, right? With this thought, Zhao Yan's confidence grew.
"I want to see the money first." Zhou Ping had finally learned his lesson this time. He was afraid of being tricked by Zhao Yan again.
Without Changhong Trading, his sister could rely on the dividends from Hanjiang Group and live a worry-free life. But if he had no money, would he really go back to the countryside and become a farmer?
Are you kidding? He was used to living the high life in the city. Who could adapt to being a poor loser?
Zhao Yan tossed a bank card to him. "There's ten million yuan inside. The password is the last six digits of the card number."
He could consider this money as a loan from Chen Han. Once he obtained Changhong Trading, he would pay him back.
"You're not afraid that I'll take the money and run?" Zhou Ping was bewildered when Chen Han handed him the money so easily.
Zhao Yan chuckled lightly, "I've said it before, it's not me who wants Hanjiang Group, it's Zhao Yan, the young master. You can go and inquire about the attitude of those wealthy tycoons in Binhai towards the young master. If you dare to take the money and not do your job, what do you think will happen to you? Am I the one who should be afraid of you running away?"
Originally, he only wanted to show off using Chen Han's identity, but it ended up creating an air of mystery around his own background.
Unexpectedly, the benefits were immense.
Zhou Ping shivered. Zhao Yan, this name had been frequently heard by him recently, and it resounded like thunder.
With a mysterious origin and an influential background, he single-handedly supported Hanjiang Group under Chen Han's name, exhibiting a strong and resolute manner.
Even with a hundred times more courage, he wouldn't dare to offend Zhao Yan. Wasn't the reason why he compromised so easily also because of this?
"Alright, do your job well. If you handle things beautifully, the young master might even meet you in person. That would be a great opportunity for you."
Zhao Yan stood up, patted Zhou Ping's shoulder, casually painted a bright future, and left confidently.
As he walked out of Changhong Trading, his back was already soaked, and the warm sunlight greeted him. A smirk formed at the corner of Zhao Yan's mouth; today's sun seemed exceptionally bright.
The sunlight bathed him as if he were a divine being.
With his hands in his pockets, walking calmly, he felt that his state of mind had undergone some changes.
He, Zhao Yan, was not an ordinary person!
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
saw a female celebrity tied up and stuffed in the trunk! Little did he know, countless cameras were aimed at him at this moment - this was a new type of reality show. The first randomly selected passerby was caught in less than an hour. But when Xu Moru was selected, things started to take an unexpected turn. "Damn, this isn't how the script goes. This Xu Moru is too bold, he's not following the rules at all." "Crap, is this guy taking it seriously?" "The female celebrity has been scared to tears!"
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!
