Chapter Twelve: Sheer Waste

Hong Chen responded with a soft "Mm," then shifted the conversation. "Is the company running smoothly?"

Gao Tianxiong replied, "The entertainment sector has fully launched. The two acquired clubs and four KTVs have all been rebranded under Paradise, and are now operating again. For the four new bars we're planning to open, the licenses and venues are sorted out, and they're currently under renovation. The earliest we can open all of them is by the end of next month."

"The West District shopping mall still has about half a year left on construction. So far, thirty-seven businesses have expressed interest to the investment department; among them, sixteen are at least quasi-second-tier, but the four top-tier families haven’t made any moves."

"Overall, things are going well, but there's a tricky problem looming."

A flicker of intrigue flashed in Hong Chen’s eyes. For Gao Tianxiong to use the word "tricky," the problem was certainly not small.

"Yesterday, I received a call from the second son of the Huang family. Ostensibly, he wanted to discuss business, saying they're interested in acquiring three of the four bars Paradise plans to open. But in reality, it was a warning: Paradise must either open only one bar or stop expanding altogether."

Gao Tianxiong glanced at Hong Chen, his tone grave. "The Huang family is a quasi-top-tier clan in Qing City, second only in the industry."

"What will they do if we ignore them?"

"According to industry rules, they're likely to challenge us to a wager match. The loser doesn’t just lose the wager—over the next year, they’re barred from expanding in the industry and will face concerted exclusion by peers. Unless you have a powerful patron, the outcome will be bleak."

Hong Chen's expression remained calm. In every industry, beneath the placid surface, big fish eat small fish, and small fish devour shrimps. For the shrimps to survive, it's crucial to be cautious, honest, and content with leftovers from the small fish. To grow stronger, one must either turn the tables and devour the small fish, though more often, the small fish will swallow you whole.

Hongcheng Group had only recently been established, with many ventures unfolding at once. Entertainment was their boldest stride, so it was no surprise a Huang family appeared to block the way. They were merely the first; stronger competitors like the Li and Wang families would follow.

"Qing City is just for capital accumulation; Jianghai is the real battleground. A mere quasi-top-tier clan is nothing more than a stepping stone. You call this a tricky problem? Do I need to handle it myself, Mr. Gao? You were once the most formidable man in Jianghai. Even after years of recuperation and low profile, surely you've not lost your edge?"

Hong Chen lazily leaned back and lit a cigarette, his lips curled into a cold smile. Gao Tianxiong's breath tightened, and he quickly said, "Young Master Chen, please don't misunderstand me. I’m not asking you to intervene. Now that my internal injuries are healed, I can handle the Huang family even if I'm not at my peak. What I worry about is something unexpected happening during the wager match. I've heard that Paradise’s rapid expansion has upset not just the Huang family, but also the Qiao family—another quasi-top-tier clan—as well as the top-tier Lu and Li families..."

He stopped halfway, clearly hesitant. Hong Chen frowned impatiently. "And then? Don’t hold back—say it all at once."

Gao Tianxiong gritted his teeth. "Young Master Chen, I know you don’t want to reveal your identity, but if possible, I hope you’ll be present at the wager match. Should anything uncontrollable occur, your intervention would be enough to intimidate them."

After Gao Tianxiong finished speaking, he watched Hong Chen nervously. Hong Chen understood his concerns: he was the boss behind the scenes, Gao Tianxiong the manager up front. This was the first real problem, and Gao Tianxiong was asking for help, so naturally he worried it might cast doubt on his competence.

"That’s no problem. Just remember to notify me in advance." Hong Chen didn’t make things difficult, nodded with a smile, and agreed.

Gao Tianxiong secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The rest of their conversation was more casual. Hong Chen specifically mentioned Lin Feng Trading and asked Gao Tianxiong to pay it some attention. As the quartz clock on the wall turned to a quarter past two, Hong Chen stood to leave. Before he departed, he wrote down Xu Le’s name for Gao Tianxiong. "He’s a friend of mine, currently interviewing in the investment department. Have HR hire him."

Gao Tianxiong immediately agreed and put away the note.

Leaving the office, Hong Chen called Xu Le, but got a voice message: out of service area. So he took the elevator up to the sixth floor.

In the investment department’s reception hall, Hong Chen saw many candidates waiting for interviews. He scanned the room but didn’t spot Xu Le. However, amid the chatter, he overheard talk of a pervert who’d snuck in, tried to assault a woman, was caught by the deputy director, and then was beaten up by several security guards before being carried downstairs and thrown out.

Hong Chen took it as a passing amusement, laughed it off, and peered into the interview conference room, but didn’t see Xu Le there either. With no other option, he left.

Stepping out of the office building, Hong Chen raised his hand to block the glaring sunlight, pondering whether to drop into an internet café to see if Xu Le was online, or simply wait in the plaza. Suddenly, a familiar voice called out to him, "Stud horse!"

Turning, Hong Chen saw Xu Le waving from behind an advertising board—a portly figure, unmistakably his friend. As Hong Chen approached, he saw Xu Le’s face was bruised and swollen, his semi-formal outfit still new but torn in seven or eight places. He looked utterly bedraggled.

"You didn’t go and rescue a damsel in distress again, did you?" Hong Chen couldn’t help but tease him.

"Rescue, yes, but I played the villain—the pervert," Xu Le replied with a self-deprecating shake of his head, then suddenly punched the edge of the advertising board, his eyes flashing with fury.

Pervert.

Hong Chen’s eyelid twitched, instinctively recalling the topic discussed earlier in the investment department lobby.

"What happened, exactly?"

"I got played in a honey trap..." Xu Le gritted his teeth and recounted his ordeal. He’d been waiting for his interview in the investment department when, by sheer misfortune, he ran into the deputy director, who happened to be his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend. The deputy director didn’t say anything to his face, but soon a young woman approached Xu Le for help moving something. Xu Le, thinking nothing of it, followed her to the hallway, where she suddenly screamed and accused him of being a pervert. Just then, the vice president came up with four security guards, who, without a word, beat Xu Le mercilessly. That wasn’t all—they dragged him to the investment hall, assaulted him in front of everyone, took photos, and finally carried him downstairs and threw him out the main office doors.

"I wanted to call you, but then I realized my phone’s busted. Damn, what rotten luck!" Xu Le pulled out his fruit-branded phone, the screen black and covered in spiderweb cracks—clearly smashed against something hard.

Hong Chen’s face was impassive, but anger simmered within. In his own company, his brother had been framed by the man who stole his girlfriend, beaten until bruised and humiliated in every way…

"At least my fat’s not wasted—thick-skinned and sturdy, no internal injuries. My face will just have to wait for the swelling to go down." Hong Chen grabbed Xu Le’s wrist, pressed a finger to his pulse, and studied his face. Xu Le didn’t understand but didn’t pull back, though Hong Chen’s scrutiny made him uneasy, about to speak when Hong Chen released him and pronounced his verdict.

"You know medicine?" Xu Le looked skeptical. Hong Chen snapped his fingers, producing a three-inch silver needle, smiling slyly. "Want me to give you a few stitches? The swelling would vanish instantly, though you’ll have a few needle marks on your face."

Xu Le waved his hands frantically. Hong Chen, thinking it unnecessary, put away the needle and turned to gesture. "Come on."

"Where to?"

"To get justice for you."

Seeing Hong Chen’s serious expression, Xu Le hesitated. "If we go in now, it’s their turf—what can we do?"

As he spoke, he seemed to recall something and shook his head. "Better not trouble your classmate. That guy’s the deputy director of the investment department. I asked around—he’s also the acting director. The department has no director, so he’s the actual head, pretty high up in the company."

Hong Chen was unconcerned, but didn’t brag. "Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. My classmate’s position might not be high, but it’s special enough to get justice for you."

This wasn’t something that needed Gao Tianxiong personally—using a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken would be a waste. Having Gao Tianxiong’s female secretary pose as his classmate would be just right.