Upon hearing Zhang Yonghao's words, Vice President Wang pondered thoughtfully for a moment before raising his head to ask, "Are you talking about... Zhao...?"

Zhang Yonghao smiled and nodded, signaling agreement.

Vice President Wang couldn't help but clap and said, "Brilliant."

"This could indeed work."

Because the two were chatting without mentioning full names,

the finance director was a bit confused watching the two of them, not sure what kind of riddle they were playing.

And Zhang Yonghao, clearly a layer removed from the finance director, didn't bother to explain, but continued, "The person before has been trying to find out exactly who was provoking him."

"After all, attacking him directly with his son's affair has already touched his raw nerve."

"If we could give him Chen Yan's information at this point, then exchange it for his support,"

"that would be killing two birds with one stone."

"Not only could we pit him against Chen Yan once again, but also, gain support from an external ally."

Vice President Wang thought for a while and nodded silently.

However, a moment later, he frowned slightly and asked, "But... with that person's network of connections, won't he be able to find out that this was done by Chen Yan?"

"Wouldn't we be providing them with useless information?"

Zhang Yonghao, evidently having considered these problems even before revealing his plan, smiled confidently, "That's not important."

"Some things, it's not about the effect, but the attitude."

"By proactively providing Chen Yan's information and betraying him, we can't possibly stand with him again, that's the attitude."

"And that person harbors more hatred towards us and Chen Yan, so we become allies on the same front."

"Helping us is the same as suppressing Chen Yan."

"He won't fail to see the reasoning behind it."

After analyzing it himself, Zhang Yonghao's confidence only grew.

He even envisioned driving Chen Yan out of the company and regaining full control of the business himself...

..........

Meanwhile,

Chen Yan was unaware that as he plotted against Zhang Yonghao, Zhang Yonghao was also plotting against him.

If he knew, he would probably think: this is reality...

This reality is just so cruel. If you don't devour the other person, they'll think of devouring you...

After daydreaming by the window about the future, Chen Yan turned back into the room, ready to have a chat with He Mengxue.

But as soon as he left the study and hadn't reached the master bedroom, Chen Yan heard a "slap slap" smacking sound from his own room.

Curious, Chen Yan peeked over.

And saw that somehow, He Mengxue had already climbed onto the bed.

She seemed to have just taken a bath, wearing a red silk robe. Her already milk-white complexion appeared even paler in the reflection of that robe.

While he was on the phone with Qin Ming, she seemed to have swiftly changed the sheets and duvet cover, which made Chen Yan almost fail to recognize it was the same room he had lived in for two days.

At this moment, seeing Chen Yan pass by the door and noticing her, she provocatively raised her left shoulder, causing half of the robe to slide down, exposing her milky-white shoulder and highlighting the beauty of her clavicle.

Then biting her lips, she tossed a seductive glance at Chen Yan, her voice laced with a hint of seduction, "What are you looking at from the doorway? Are you resisting me?"

"Gulp." Seeing her like that, Chen Yan couldn't help swallowing his saliva.

If it had been the Chen Yan from before, he might have pondered the situation.

But after what happened yesterday, when they did what they should and shouldn't have, there was no need for Chen Yan to restrain himself anymore.

Thus, how could he refuse the invitation of a beauty!

So, Chen Yan hummed lightly and then strode into his own room, closing the door while saying, "Why should I resist you? I want to sink into your tender embrace forever..."

...

A night without words.

After some descriptively-forbidden, and if described, would lead to censoring activities, they both fell deeply asleep.

Before sleeping, Chen Yan took a chance to check He Mengxue's "Unlocked Positions" in the bathroom.

Aside from the most crucial one, nearly all were unlocked.

In two days, Chen Yan had indeed fully enjoyed the amorous delights of He Mengxue...

The next day,

Since there were no other plans, Chen Yan slept in.

When he finally awoke, He Mengxue was no longer by his side.

Brushing his teeth, Chen Yan looked around the suite for her but couldn't find her anywhere.

Eventually, on his own pillow, he found a note.

[Chen Yan, I have made plans to go shopping with Xiao Yun. Will not be back for lunch. Find something to eat for yourself.]

[Love you, your Xue.]

Reading the note from He Mengxue, Chen Yan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

This girl… really had a sense for ceremony.

Even leaving messages on paper.

He just wondered if leaving a WeChat message nowadays would be more convenient than a paper note.

Shaking his head, Chen Yan took out his phone and opened the Virtual Girlfriend Simulator to check.

The pixelated avatar representing He Mengxue was currently browsing through Tiandu's well-known high-end shopping mall.

Next to her was another adorable avatar, unmistakably Jiang Xiaoyun.

By this time, the two girls had already picked up quite a few little pixelated shopping bags, seemingly gaining quite a haul.

Having confirmed He Mengxue's whereabouts, Chen Yan was able to relax.

He carried his tooth mug to the bathroom and then brushed his teeth clean.

Afterward, he wiped his mouth and made his way to the desk in the master bedroom, picking up the hotel's menu to have a browse.

Though the hotel's meals were average, Chen Yan was too lazy to go out, so he thought of casually ordering something to taste.

He would eat out with Qin Ming and his sister in the afternoon.

However, just as Chen Yan picked up the menu to take a quick look,

there was a "bang bang bang" knock at the suite's door.

Chen Yan walked over and casually opened the door.

Expecting a housekeeper or service worker, he was surprised to find several suit-clad, sunglass-wearing men in black at the door.

Seeing these men in black startled Chen Yan; for a moment, he thought some big shot might be trying to kidnap him.

In that instant, his heart even harbored some annoyance: he felt he had been too careless when opening the door. He should have been more cautious.

However, as he contemplated this, he also felt the men looked somewhat familiar.

So, he scrutinized them intensely.

Sure enough, upon closer inspection, he recognized that the leading man in black was the same one Zhao Xuan had previously sent to deliver an iPad to him.

Realizing that they were Zhao Xuan's men, Chen Yan also let out a sigh of relief, and took the initiative to ask, "What's happened?"

The leading man in black bowed slightly to Chen Yan and said, "President Chen, Mr. Zhao requests your presence."

To make sure he was not mistaken, Chen Yan asked again, "Zhao Xuan?"

The man in black answered, "Yes."

Chen Yan nodded, "Wait just a moment for me. I'll put on my coat."

Saying this, he closed the door, went back inside to change into his clothes.

Once dressed, he exited the suite, and the men in black respectfully waited outside.

With their hands crossed at their waist, they stood in two lines, wearing sunglasses and suits, standing upright at the door.

Occasional guests from the same floor exits their rooms and glanced at them, appearing quite astonished.

After all, the display was somewhat imposing.

And once outside the room, Chen Yan straightened his collar and said, "Let's go."

With that, the men in black followed Chen Yan out in single file.

I have to admit, that feeling was pretty exhilarating, and Chen Yan was nearly tempted to keep a group of people like that on his company's payroll.

On the way to see Zhao Xuan, Chen Yan, sitting in the car, began to inquire about the "rates" for these men in black.

Chen Yan, "What's your name?"

The man in black wearing sunglasses remained expressionless: ...

Chen Yan: ?

"How much do you get paid a month?"

The man in black wearing sunglasses remained expressionless: ...

Chen Yan: ??

"Are you trained by the Zhao Family yourselves? Have you ever thought about switching jobs?"

The man in black wearing sunglasses remained expressionless: ...

Chen Yan, "Anyone who answers a question gets ten thousand Yuan!"

The man in black: ...

Chen Yan figured, these must be some new type of security robot the Zhao Family developed.

He guessed if you peeled back their clothes, you'd see complex circuits inside.

After "chatting" with the men in black for a bit and finding it fruitless, Chen Yan lost interest in asking further questions.

He thought he wouldn't get anything out of these tight-lipped folks; he might as well ask Zhao Xuan.

President Xuan wouldn't keep secrets from him, would he?

So, as Chen Yan mulled this over, the motorcade gradually made its way to a villa complex within Tiandu's Third Ring.

After a thorough identity check, everyone was allowed to proceed smoothly.

Entering the villa area, the motorcade weaved through the streets and stopped in front of a villa.

Chen Yan got out of the car, and Zhao Xuan was already there waiting.

Upon seeing Chen Yan, his smile, already warm, broadened even more.

He smiled and approached, giving Chen Yan a half-hug, then said, "Xiao Chen, you're here."

Chen Yan returned the half-hug and curiously asked, "Uncle Zhao, how did you know I was coming to Tiandu?"

Zhao Xuan smiled as he guided Chen Yan inside and said, "Do you think your data are a secret?"

"In the eyes of our Zhao Family, everything is transparent."

"When a person of interest like you arrives in Tiandu, we usually get the news immediately."

"We knew before you even landed."

Hearing Zhao Xuan's words, Chen Yan couldn't help but be a little surprised.

Although he knew about the capabilities of these big clans, he hadn't realized they were so far-reaching.

Considering the myriad of channels through which people arrived in Tiandu every day, how could the other party monitor it all and even pick out key individuals?

It was truly terrifying.

As he pondered this, Chen Yan followed Zhao Xuan into the villa.

Leading Chen Yan to sit on the sofa, Zhao Xuan took the seat opposite him and picked up his usual tea bowl from the table, beginning to brew tea.

He was brewing his favorite jasmine tea.

Taking advantage of the time Zhao Xuan was preparing the tea, Chen Yan took the opportunity to closely observe him.

Zhao Xuan seemed a bit different from before.

Chen Yan wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he thought Zhao Xuan looked much younger, more vibrant, and his expression more confident.

Even his usually kind smile now had an edge.

While Chen Yan was making these observations, Zhao Xuan finished making the tea.

With a smile, he poured a cup for Chen Yan and then one for himself.

Then, he picked up his cup, savored a sip, and said with feeling, "Xiao Chen, only by visiting Tiandu can you understand what it means to be at the national center, what true vastness is."

"Just like this tea, although it's all jasmine, when brewed with water from Jade Spring Mountain Water, it tastes lighter, clearer, and sweeter..."

Listening to Zhao Xuan's words, Chen Yan felt like there was more to what he was saying.

But despite trying to discern it, he couldn't quite grasp the underlying message.

Combining this with Zhao Xuan's somewhat different demeanor from their last meeting, Chen Yan sensitively felt that something was off....

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