Yang Jian and Yang Ru, brother and sister, arrived in Jiangzhou seething with suppressed anger. Wang Zhuo's attempt to seize control of Tongyuan Youse was a widely known secret, regardless of his true objectives. He had already set his plans in motion.

Yet, throughout the entire process, he had neither communicated nor made any contact with the Yang family. This went beyond mere hostile takeover; it was a blatant challenge and an outright snub. The subtext was simple: I'm infringing upon your interests, and what are you going to do about it?

Faced with this situation, the Yang family naturally sought dialogue through intermediaries, asking the Qin faction and Wang Zhuo what their intentions were. However, Qin Xue’s reply to the intermediary was that this was Wang Zhuo's personal action, which he neither supported, opposed, nor interfered with. Wang Zhuo, meanwhile, spouted nonsense—talking about industrial layouts and charting a new chapter of mutual success—a shift more dramatic than a press spokesperson masterfully deflecting reporter questions!

By seniority, Yang Yujiang could not directly engage with Wang Zhuo; that would violate hierarchy and protocol. But Wang Zhuo utterly dismissed Yang Yuyuan, the head of Tongyuan Youse, viewing him merely as a proxy for vested interests, equivalent to a manager Wang Zhuo himself had hired. What right did he have to step forward for a talk?

Yang Yujiang refused to humble himself by contacting Wang Zhuo, while Yang Yuyuan could only face the hypocritical masks of Wang Zhuo’s corporate employees. Coupled with Qin Xue’s ambiguous stance, the Yang family suddenly felt like a tortoise trapped on its back, unable to strike out despite possessing immense martial skill! Wang Zhuo’s recalcitrance infuriated the Yang family members.

Yang Jian and Yang Ru privately conferred, suspecting that Wang Zhuo's aloofness was closely tied to the highway assassination attempt orchestrated by Liu Jieming last year. "Liu Jieming made his move last mid-year, and Wang Zhuo has been silent ever since,” they reasoned. “Perhaps it’s not that retribution never comes, but that the time hasn't arrived yet.

Wang Zhuo might have been laying the groundwork for this action since then.” It had been over eight months since May 1st of last year. Such a long period afforded Wang Zhuo ample time for preparation. The siblings were startled by this realization.

With that much time, Wang Zhuo could easily have secured a stake higher than ten percent. If that were the case, Tongyuan Youse was in grave danger! After hashing it out, they both felt the situation was dire, yet they dared not voice their fears to Yang Yujiang and the others.

Left with no choice, they made a bold decision: travel to Jiangzhou and try to secure a face-to-face meeting with Wang Zhuo to clarify everything! “The Fortune Club” was the name of An Guangjia’s upscale clubhouse—it lacked signage or official permits, serving only as an activity venue for its members and their guests. It was a four-story building, capable of hosting gatherings of around three hundred people without issue.

It was fully equipped with various recreational facilities, integrating dining, entertainment, and leisure, omitting only the service of retail shopping. Stepping onto the paved area of the parking lot, Yang Jian looked up to assess the environment of the Fortune Club. There were many similar private clubs in Jingcheng, and this one seemed unremarkable.

According to Chu Nan’s introduction, this was An Guangjia’s territory. Data suggested Wang Zhuo’s relationship with An Guangjia was merely casual, implying Wang Zhuo either lacked the awareness to choose his own stronghold or truly didn't consider the siblings important enough to warrant one. To hell with it!

Yang Jian curled his lips in a slight sneer. Today, he would see if this "Little Dragon of Wang" in Jiangzhou truly had three heads and six arms. Even if this trip from Jingcheng turned out to be self-humiliation, offering their faces up to be slapped, it was unavoidable.

A true man knows when to yield and when to press on. To confront a figure like Wang Zhuo, risking some embarrassment was worth it! As they neared the main entrance, Yang Jian and Yang Ru froze simultaneously.

Wang Zhuo was actually coming out to greet them, a placid, faint smile on his face, showing no hint of arrogance or haughtiness. After exchanging bewildered pleasantries with Wang Zhuo, the two were led by An Guangjia into a warm and elegant tearoom. “You two chat at your leisure; I won’t interrupt,” An Guangjia said politely before departing.

“I’m going for a round of golf,” An Qi also informed Wang Zhuo before heading out. She was unaware of the old grievances between these two guests and Wang Zhuo, so she offered the siblings a slight, smiling nod before leaving. The moment the tearoom door closed, Wang Zhuo’s expression executed a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree pivot.

His gentle smile vanished, replaced by a look of playful mockery as he leisurely reassessed Yang Jian and Yang Ru, leaning back in a rattan chair with his legs crossed comfortably. It had to be admitted that the Yang family possessed striking good looks. When Yang Feng was at the Medical University, he was the handsome young master adored by all, the charming youth that made flowers bloom.

His height and build were similar to Wang Zhuo’s, but his looks were fit for the lead in a popular romance drama, surpassing Wang Zhuo by more than a small margin. Yang Jian’s appearance shared eighty percent resemblance with his brother Yang Feng, tempered by a greater maturity and capability. He was slightly shorter, though still nearly one meter eighty tall.

A man like this was an object of admiration everywhere—his every move exuded the charm of a mature male: handsome, dashing, with extraordinary bearing. Furthermore, he came from an illustrious background, was known for being affectionate, and was undeniably wealthy. His sister, Yang Ru—Yang Feng’s elder sister and Liu Jieming’s wife—was also a rare beauty.

Standing at 1.7 meters, she had a tall, alluring figure, appearing to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Her long hair was pulled up into a neat chignon on top of her head, not a single stray strand dangling. Her smooth forehead was round and lustrous; her phoenix eyes tilted slightly upward; her dignified nose was perfectly straight; and her cherry lips were tinted with a delicate rose hue, her jawline sharply defined as if cut by a knife.

For some inexplicable reason, Wang Zhuo was reminded of the great villain from the Calabash Brothers—the Snake Spirit. He inwardly grumbled, wondering if Liu Jieming was as dull-witted and clumsy as the Scorpion Spirit... With a smile that didn't reach his eyes, Wang Zhuo let out a soft, dry laugh.

"What wind blew you two luminaries my way today?" Seeing his sudden hundred-and-eighty-degree shift in demeanor, Yang Jian offered no courtesy in return: "Mr. Wang, surely you know why my sister and I have come to see you?" "I genuinely don't," Wang Zhuo glanced at him and continued, "Are you here to explain the incident on May 1st when I was nearly run over by a car, or perhaps to update me on Yang Feng's recent condition, thanking me for helping the Yang family eliminate a ticking time bomb early?" That was hitting where it hurt most! Yang Jian nearly choked, realizing Wang Zhuo’s earlier cordiality at the club was purely for show.

This was his true attitude! Yang Ru’s face paled with fury. She snorted, "Wang Zhuo, don't be smug.

My brother Yang Feng is living a fate worse than death thanks to you; his life is utterly ruined. After what you did to him, anything we do to you would be justified!" "I didn't ruin him; he did that to himself," Wang Zhuo scoffed. "You two know better than I what he’s done.

Scum like him shouldn't be walking this earth; he deserves to be shot three times over." Yang Jian met the cold laugh with a cold sneer: "And you dare say you're a good person? That you’ve never bullied the weak or taken advantage of women?" "You investigated me, didn't you?" Wang Zhuo shrugged. "Then you can state what you know, and we'll see whose evidence stands firm, or whose rebuttal better represents the facts." Yang Jian immediately fell silent.

The phrase "bullying the weak and taking advantage of women" was nuanced. Wang Zhuo certainly loved to fight, and he had many female acquaintances; he was a rake, but describing him with that term didn't hold up well under scrutiny. At the very least, he hadn't used his power to oppress anyone, nor was there evidence proving he had forced himself on any woman.

"Forget it, let's not drag up old history," Yang Ru knew that pursuing this topic would yield no benefit and would only result in her and her brother being disgraced. She swiftly changed the subject: "We came to see you today regarding Tongyuan Youse..." "Oh? Tell me about it..." Wang Zhuo lifted his chin.

Yang Ru stated plainly, "Then I'll be direct. Is the purpose of your hostile takeover attempt to gain controlling shares of Tongyuan Youse and seize the reins from our Yang family?" "Hostile takeover? I'm clearly making a friendly investment," Wang Zhuo feigned surprise.

"Tongyuan Youse isn't owned by your Yang family, is it? I thought its name suggested it belongs to the shareholders? Whoever holds the most shares dictates the name.

It’s a publicly listed company; whoever has the money can play the game." "Stop pretending you don't understand," Yang Jian sneered. "Tongyuan Youse was founded by our Yang family, from its inception to its listing and subsequent development into what it is today—it’s all the Yang family’s achievement. Even if you gain control through share superiority, you’ll only be a figurehead chairman.

Everyone from top to bottom in Tongyuan Youse is Yang family personnel; you won't manage anything!" Wang Zhuo chuckled, unmoved: "So what? I'm not short on cash. Let’s just see how this game plays out." "We admit you are wealthy," Yang Ru exchanged a look with her brother and said to Wang Zhuo, "But spending billions just to watch the water turn to foam seems unwise, even for a shrewd person." "How do you know I’m just splashing money away?" Wang Zhuo eyed the 'Snake Spirit' with keen interest and chuckled darkly, "Tongyuan Youse belongs to all shareholders, not your private enterprise.

I suspect everyone knows the extent of the Yang family’s unilateral control over the years and how much shady business has gone on. If I take the helm, an audit of the old books, digging into the past—I imagine the Securities Commission, shareholders, and retail investors would be very interested." Like a clap of thunder from a clear sky, Yang Jian and Yang Ru froze on the spot. Wang Zhuo calmly picked up his teacup and took a slow sip, saying faintly to the two, "Although this is our first meeting, we are old acquaintances, in a way.

Let me tell you my plan: I know exactly what Tongyuan Youse's actual annual profit is. Once I drive out your Yang family—this leech—and integrate it with my copper mine supply chain, Tongyuan Youse will immediately transform into a cash cow." A chill rapidly climbed from the soles of Yang Jian's feet straight to his scalp. The ruthlessness of Wang Zhuo’s scheme exceeded his expectations, perhaps even exceeding the expectations of the formidable Yang Yujiang.

If Wang Zhuo truly succeeded in blowing the lid off Tongyuan Youse, not only would the Yang family face enormous turmoil, but the patriarch, Yang Yujiang, might also be implicated. Not only would his path upward be blocked, but his entire political career could end right there!