Business, after all, was an excellent refuge; to utilize every last resource available when one found oneself in darkness to conceal one's presence—this, too, could be a satisfying endeavor. The results of my collaboration with the Nakagawa Group far exceeded my expectations. The cornerstone of survival is often pulled back from the very edge of death; thus, where there is gain, there must also be a loss.—Memoirs of Yang Yi

"Wait"—this is a rather fitting word, at least for Yang Yi and his associates at this moment. Having fully anticipated that someone from the Nakagawa Group would arrive for negotiations sometime today, Yang Yi was currently seated on the sofa, lightly exhaling ring after ring of smoke.

The pungent sensation pierced his senses; the faintly fermented and stimulating thickness of the smoke brought Yang Yi a strange sense of ease. Some people become fond of cigarettes not because they appreciate them, but simply because they have become a habit.

Although the group felt that their current situation was undeniably disadvantageous, the mere presence of Yang Yi instilled in them an inexplicable sense of calm from the depths of their hearts, though for the moment, they remained silent.

"Boss, all preparations are complete." A middle-aged man in black clothing held stacks of white documents, upon which dense script covered every surface. The most conspicuous names written there were Black Guard Pictures Co., Ltd., and Dragon Guard Entertainment Co., Ltd.

"What do you estimate our chances of reaching an agreement with them are? And what about the profit margins?" Nakagawa Tengjun, ever prioritizing business profit, inquired.

"Yes, both companies are primarily involved in film and entertainment stars. If they cooperate with us, leveraging commercial channels and the strength of the Nakagawa Group to build a certain brand, success is certain. Moreover, the crucial thing is that our profit margins are very high!" the man in black analyzed.

"How much profit?"

"Up to fifty million US dollars per project."

"Hmm, acceptable enough. However, what are the chances they will choose to cooperate with us?"

"The probability of cooperation is incalculable. If both companies harbor grand ambitions for development, and judging by their words during this morning's opening ceremony, I believe they will opt to cooperate with us."

"Monopolizing seventy percent of Shanghai's economy. Once that happens, the Shangguan family's enterprises will undoubtedly become apprehensive about Shanghai; this battle won't be easy!"

"Boss, are you perhaps thinking of changing your mind?"

"No. What the Nakagawa Group needs right now is external strength. Since those two companies have invested so heavily, they must have some kind of backing. We absolutely cannot let this big fish slip away!"

As Nakagawa Tengjun spoke, his eyes revealed a fleeting, spectral glint, and he continued, "If they cooperate with us, monopolizing Shanghai's economy will be no trouble at all. What concerns me is that the Shangguan enterprise might mobilize all its resources to crush us, after all, we are not Chinese, and making a name for ourselves in China involves many constraints."

"Yes!"

"Very well, let us go find them to negotiate now. If we can get through this hurdle today, we shall see what tomorrow brings. Heh heh, once the news of our collaboration leaks out, the Shangguan enterprise is bound to make a move!" Nakagawa Tengjun chuckled sinisterly.

"Yes!" The middle-aged man in black acknowledged and then called out to the driver, "Drive! To the location of those two newly opened companies today!"

"Yes!"

At the very same time, elsewhere.

"Father, that is roughly the situation!" A handsome but deeply melancholy young man said to his father.

"If they choose to align with the Nakagawa Group, you are not to intervene," stated the middle-aged man, who exuded a lingering aura of authority. The lines around his eyes suggested he had weathered many years of vicissitudes.

"My son understands that point. However, the current situation is very unfavorable for them. Since we will not cooperate with them, I fear it might force them into a corner!" the young man said, his brow tightly furrowed.

"Heh heh. Early on, I heard of the formidable reputation of the Dragon Lord of the Black God Gang. This time, I shall see what great waves a youth not much older than you can stir up in Shanghai." A smile that seemed to carry the weight of changing destinies played on the corner of the middle-aged man's mouth; it was as if everything to him was merely a game.

"Ah!" The young man looked at his father with surprise but said nothing.

"I see from your expression that you are quite interested in him as well!" The middle-aged man's gaze sharpened as he said this with pointed interest to the young man.

"I am always interested in those who are not yet my enemies. In the world today, apart from the heir of the Ye family, he is the second person who interests me the most!" the young man coldly sneered.

"Hmph, is your sister not someone who interests you?" The middle-aged man suddenly snorted, noticing the sudden darkening of the young man's face, and raged, "What a disgrace, what a disgrace! Such a scandal in our Shangguan family."

"We are deeply in love; how is that a disgrace?" The young man's eyes turned cold. If it weren't for this damned family, he truly wouldn't have wanted to be here.

"Hmph. Next month, you had better get properly engaged to the Xuanyuan family, and don't try any small tricks, or you can forget about ever seeing that girl of yours again." The middle-aged man's expression shifted rapidly, completing a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree reversal from his initial demeanor.

"Are you threatening me?" The young man asked, a chill radiating from his eyes.

"Hmph, think whatever you wish." The middle-aged man seemed to have suddenly made up his mind, shouting toward the door, "Someone!"

"Master!" An old servant with white hair walked in and responded.

"Issue an order: until Tengfei is married to the Xuanyuan family, he is forbidden from using any of the Shangguan family's resources!" The middle-aged man glanced at the young man, Shangguan Tengfei, as he spoke.

"Yes!" The white-haired old servant acknowledged and exited.

Shangguan Tengfei wore a cold smile on his lips and stated, "Very good. In any case, I never wanted to concern myself with the affairs of this Shangguan family. But I warn you, do not do anything to anger me, or else... Hmph!"

With that, Shangguan Tengfei left.

"You—!" Seeing that his son still became irreconcilably hostile whenever that matter was brought up, the middle-aged man felt a chill deep within his heart. "Alas, what bad karma, what bad karma!"

Why did this father and son manage to negotiate so amicably before, only to become diametrically opposed now? It was entirely because, deep down in Shangguan Tengfei's heart, there had always existed a desire: he wanted both the throne and the beauty. He wanted this perfect, two-sided outcome, yet such an outcome was rarely attainable.

And the middle-aged man, the current head of the Shangguan family, Shangguan Qingyun, was a notoriously iron-fisted patriarch in the family's history. Whether in terms of methods or the capital used to manipulate power, he always chose a decisive blow. When applied to the business world, this was undoubtedly a bold and high-level approach.

Thus—and precisely because of this—the Shangguan family held the foremost position among the eight great families of contemporary Huaxia. And Shangguan Qingyun sat in the position of the Shangguan family head.

"Creak—creak!" The door to an office opened, and a high-ranking female gang member walked in, saying to Yang Yi inside, "Dragon Lord, the Chairman of the Nakagawa Group requests an urgent meeting with General Manager Xu and General Manager Ye."

"Oh? They're finally here?" Yang Yi smiled faintly and said to Xu Ming and Ye Xiaohou beside him, "Just do as I told you; don't let anything slip!"

"Understood!" Xu Ming and Ye Xiaohou responded before both walking toward the door.

However, Fatty Lin looked at Yang Yi with utter confusion. Although Yang Yi had just instructed Xu Ming and Ye Xiaohou to cooperate with the Nakagawa Group and explained the relevant details, didn't this contradict his earlier stance? Wasn't the plan to expand their own commercial influence?

Noticing Fatty Lin's puzzled expression, Yang Yi smiled faintly, took a deep drag from his cigarette, and said, "My cooperating with him doesn't necessarily violate my previous decision. Right now, I am simply taking an alternative route—using the Nakagawa Group. Besides, when such a massive object for exploitation is presented right in front of you, wouldn't you want to utilize it?"

"Are you saying!" Fatty Lin trembled, his expression shifting to one of astonishment. He quickly asked, "You intend to initiate a complete internal reform within the Nakagawa Group? Seizing control of the entire corporation in the process?"

"Tell me, besides this method being the fastest, most ruthless, and most direct, is there any other path that is more straightforward?" Yang Yi countered with a question instead of an answer.

"Brother Yi, isn't doing this quite risky, considering the Shangguan family..."

"Don't worry, I've thought this through long ago." Yang Yi smiled and continued, "I've already called Uncle Han to dispatch a portion of the dark forces; they should be starting by now."

"Uh~~~!" Fatty Lin was momentarily stunned, then suddenly sighed, "Ah, Brother Yi, I see how much you've changed. It seems you have already surpassed Grandpa."

"Hmm?" Yang Yi chuckled softly without speaking, merely crushing the cigarette butt and sitting there with his eyes gently closed.

At that very moment, in another location—specifically, the conference room of Black Guard Pictures Co., Ltd.—Nakagawa Tengjun and the man in black, flanked by three bodyguards, were already seated and waiting.