Seeing the evidence before him, Ye Yongsheng felt a surge of fury, so intense that he became dizzy.
Those two despicable people! If it weren't for the few old board members who held significant power, they probably would've already sold the company to Chu Zhiqing!
After taking a moment to calm down, Ye Yongsheng gritted his teeth and asked, "Which of my old brothers have betrayed me?"
Cui Zhe calmly pulled out more documents. "Take a look yourself. Actually, Ye Corporation started with ties to the underworld. They've been loyal enough to you, but Chu Zhiqing's coercive and tempting tactics are hard to resist. Some were bound to give in."
Ye Yongsheng breathed heavily. "You want my company. How do you plan to deal with Chu Zhiqing?"
Cui Zhe responded, "That's something I can't reveal, but I can promise that you and your son will get your revenge. At least in that regard, our goals are aligned."
Ye Yongsheng remained silent, weighing his options.
Cui Zhe continued, "This could be seen as a blessing in disguise for you. If it weren't for that man named Ying getting into trouble, all your assets would've long been in Chu Zhiqing's hands before we even had the chance to act."
Ye Yongsheng still didn't respond.
Cui Zhe added, "I'll help you with your final appeal and try to reduce your sentence. Hao Ran has also promised that once you're released, you'll get a large sum of money—enough for you to live out your retirement. Don't hesitate anymore. Working with us is your only way out now. Toppling Chu Zhiqing is something we all want to see."
"Let me think about it," Ye Yongsheng said in a deep voice. "Come find me tomorrow."
Cui Zhe understood that the old man wanted to meet with his old brothers.
"Alright, I'll come back tomorrow, but remember: don't expect your old brothers to stand up to Chu Zhiqing. They won't be able to protect your legacy."
Without another word, Ye Yongsheng walked heavily back to his prison cell.
Cui Zhe leisurely gathered his documents and walked out of the detention center, stepping into the Cullinan waiting at the entrance.
Sitting in the back, Chu Haoran was engrossed in a financial magazine. Without looking up, he asked, "How did it go?"
Cui Zhe replied, "No problem. He doesn't have any other choice."
Chu Haoran nodded and told the driver, "Head to the meatpacking plant."
The heavy rain continued to pour like a waterfall, with dark clouds looming overhead, and occasional flashes of lightning followed by resounding thunder. It was an oppressive, gloomy atmosphere, almost demonic.
Cui Zhe, a bit puzzled, asked, "What are we going there for?"
Chu Haoran didn't answer immediately. After finishing a page of the magazine, he finally responded, asking suddenly, "Ah Zhe, what do you think of my brother, Yuxuan?"
Cui Zhe was momentarily taken aback. "I'm not really familiar with him. How would I know?"
"Not familiar?" Chu Haoran pressed.
"Are you crazy? How could I know him?" Cui Zhe replied, exasperated.
Chu Haoran calmly said, "He was also in the U.S. during the eight years he disappeared."
Cui Zhe was speechless. "I also know Biden! What's your point? This is so random."
Chu Haoran smiled and, after a moment of silence, asked again, "Ah Zhe, I've never asked you this, but why did you come back to China? Isn't being a lawyer more lucrative abroad?"
Cui Zhe chuckled. "I would've loved to stay abroad, but you know, I defended too many gangsters. I've been shot at more than ten times. Sure, making money is important, but you need to live long enough to spend it! At least it's safer back home."
Chu Haoran glanced at him, smiling slightly. "More than ten times? You're like an unkillable cockroach. Then again, you know some martial arts and are good with guns, so I guess it's not easy to kill you."
Cui Zhe smirked. "I learned proper martial arts when I was young, so teaching foreigners a lesson isn't a problem."
"What about your shooting? You really learned it on your own?" Chu Haoran asked with a smile. After a pause, he added, "Ah Zhe, are you hiding something from me?"
Cui Zhe was caught off guard and frowned. "What are you talking about? What could I possibly hide from you? If my shooting wasn't self-taught, then what? Would I need to kill my mentor for teaching me crap?"
Chu Haoran's smile deepened. "Brother, are you sure you're not hiding anything from me?"
Cui Zhe, now visibly irritated, retorted, "What's your point?"
Chu Haoran's smile suddenly vanished, his gaze cold and intense. "Answer me—yes or no?"
Meeting Chu Haoran's gaze, Cui Zhe didn't flinch and said angrily, "What the hell are you accusing me of? I'm telling you, no!"
Seeing his friend getting upset, Chu Haoran suddenly burst into laughter. "No? Then why did you sneak off to Red Mansion last night to 'study English'? Think I didn't know? You even used my card and tried to hide it from me! What, you think I'm stingy?"
Cui Zhe cursed under his breath, letting out an awkward laugh. "I thought it was something serious! D*mn, can you not be so dramatic? You're making it seem like I did something terrible to you!"
Chu Haoran laughed too. "It's just so dull right now, so I figured I'd joke around. What, did you actually get mad? Don't be so petty."
Cui Zhe flipped him off, giving him a glare. "What are we even doing at the meatpacking plant? Burning incense for Ye Tianyi? Is he haunting you, watching over you at night while you sleep?"
Chu Haoran's smile faded slightly as he looked out the window, saying calmly, "I am a bit afraid of ghosts."
He paused, then turned back to Cui Zhe. "I'm afraid of the ghosts around me."
Cui Zhe spread his hands, his expression odd. "Do I look like a ghost to you? If I do, I can help you sleep tonight. Haha!"
Chu Haoran chuckled as well. "Ah Zhe, you know me. I hate betrayal more than anything. So, how do you think I should deal with the 'ghosts' around me?"
"You're already going to the meatpacking plant. Why ask me?" Cui Zhe rolled his eyes. "Come on, tell me who it is. I need to mentally prepare since it might be someone familiar."
"You'll know soon," Chu Haoran said, flipping through his magazine. "You won't need to do anything today."
"Such a mystery," Cui Zhe muttered, turning his gaze to the window.
Half an hour later, the Cullinan pulled into the meatpacking plant.
Inside one of the warehouses, a dozen bodyguards in black suits stood in two rows, with three battered men kneeling between them. As Chu Haoran, Cui Zhe, and the driver walked in, the bodyguards bowed and greeted in unison, "Mr. Chu!"
Cui Zhe noticed the bodyguards referred to Chu Haoran as "Mr. Chu," not "Young Master." His gaze swept over their faces, and he realized these were new faces—he didn't recognize any of them.
Chu Haoran strode toward the kneeling men. They immediately began pleading for mercy.
"You work for Chu Zhiqing," Chu Haoran said coldly to the man kneeling on the far left, who had been his personal bodyguard just yesterday. "He planted you under my father seven years ago, didn't he?"
The man trembled violently, begging, "Young Master! Please, give me a chance! Let me prove myself!"
Chu Haoran shook his head. "I've been giving you chances. I didn't care when you were under my father, but three years ago, you made your way to me. Now, how am I supposed to give you another chance?"
Without waiting for the man's continued pleas, Chu Haoran turned to the other two. "As for you two, you both work for the Second Family. One's been here nine years, the other five..."
"My shark has only been with me for three years, but it knows I'm the one who feeds it. Even if I put my hand in its mouth, it wouldn't bite. What about you two, huh?"
The two men burst into tears, kowtowing as they begged for mercy. "Young Master, give us one more chance! We can help you deal with the Second Family!"
Chu Haoran inhaled deeply, smirking. "My aunt can be dealt with by a dog. I don't need you."
With that, Chu Haoran slowly turned, locking eyes with Cui Zhe. He stretched out his hand. "Give me the gun."
Cui Zhe hesitated for a moment before loading the gun. "Let me do it. No need to dirty your hands."
Chu Haoran pressed his lips together and lightly shook his head, still staring directly at Cui Zhe.
Helplessly, Cui Zhe handed over the gun.
Chu Haoran took the gun but didn't use it himself. Instead, he