Chapter 52: Game Confrontation
After the earlier events, Fang Hong and Hua Yu moved to the living room of the villa, where they met Hua Yongming, the head of Huayang Group.
Hua Yongming was one of the most influential figures in the business world of Xincheng. His influence was not just limited to Xincheng's business circles; it extended far beyond.
Despite his position, he did not appear old. He looked like a well-maintained man in his fifties, yet his youngest son, Hua Yu, was already over thirty.
Much like the classical elegance of the mansion, Hua Yongming was a traditional Confucian businessman. He never wore Western suits, whether in private or in public. At this moment, he was dressed in a Tang suit, which made him appear more like an antique dealer than the head of a massive corporate empire.
Hua Yu led Fang Hong inside. Hua Yongming, seated in the living room, did not get up but simply extended his hand with a calm smile, signaling Fang Hong to take a seat. Fang Hong nodded in acknowledgment and sat down without hesitation.
Hua Yu personally prepared tea for them.
From the very beginning, Fang Hong exuded a natural composure and confidence. It was not an act, nor did he appear to be forcing himself to remain calm. This surprised both Hua Yongming and his son.
Hua Yongming, maintaining his warm demeanor, finally broke the silence. "So, the talented trader that Mr. Zhang from Xinhong Securities spoke so highly of is actually such a young man. That is quite unexpected."
This simple remark carried significant weight.
Fang Hong smiled and responded, "I'm equally surprised to have the opportunity to meet Mr. Hua in person."
Hua Yu, seated quietly to the side, did not interrupt. Instead, he carefully observed the interaction. The age gap between Fang Hong and Hua Yongming spanned two generations. Hua Yongming's eldest grandson was nearly an adult.
Beyond the difference in age, their disparity in status and influence was even more evident. Yet, as the conversation unfolded, neither Hua Yu nor Hua Yongming felt that Fang Hong was at a disadvantage. On the contrary, his confidence unsettled them.
Fang Hong might appear to be a twenty-year-old young man, but in reality, the mind controlling this body had more experience than Hua Yongming himself. He had witnessed far greater scenes and was naturally unfazed by the so-called pressure of power.
Recognizing this, Hua Yongming found himself even more intrigued.
Eventually, the conversation shifted to the main topic. Hua Yongming smiled and said, "Young man, if you are willing to join Huayang, I will allocate a 500-million-yuan fund for you to operate freely, with a 30% commission on profits. What do you think?"
A 500-million-yuan investment was an astronomical sum, even a decade into the future, let alone in the present. For context, the wealthiest man in the country at this time had a net worth of just over 20 billion yuan.
However, Fang Hong remained composed. "If Huayang Capital is willing to invest 500 million yuan in me, I would be far more interested," he replied calmly.
His response stunned both Hua Yongming and Hua Yu. He had turned down such a generous offer?
The offer was indeed quite attractive. With a 30% commission, if Fang Hong doubled the fund's value, he could earn 150 million yuan without bearing the risk of losing the principal. It was a risk-free deal.
Yet, he had refused.
Hua Yongming's smile did not falter. "Without backing, it is difficult to even gain a foothold in society. On this land, no matter how talented or capable you are, if those above you do not support you, or worse, suppress you, progress will be exceedingly difficult," he stated meaningfully.
Fang Hong nodded in agreement but added, "Mr. Hua, I do not deny the importance of having powerful allies, but the key is whether one seeks a backer or intends to become one."
His words carried a strong implication—he saw himself as a future leader rather than a subordinate. To many, this level of confidence might have been seen as arrogance, especially in front of one of Xincheng's most powerful businessmen.
For a brief moment, Hua Yongming was taken aback. Then, his expression changed slightly, and he said in a flat tone, "Young man, what if Huayang decides that you must either join us or be eliminated? It would not be difficult for us to erase someone of your stature."
There was an underlying ruthlessness in his words, a sharp contrast to his usual easy-going demeanor as a Confucian businessman.
Huayang Group's history was not as clean as it appeared on the surface. Its "transformation" into a reputable conglomerate had been meticulously curated over time.
At this moment, Fang Hong and Hua Yongming locked eyes.
Despite the blatant threat, Fang Hong remained completely unfazed. He understood the ranking and mentality of a man like Hua Yongming. He was a smart man, and smart men were easier to negotiate with—because they weighed pros and cons rationally. The truly difficult people to handle were the foolish ones, as they acted irrationally and unpredictably.
Hua Yongming was far from reckless. Otherwise, Huayang Group would not have successfully evolved into the empire it was today.
After a pause, Fang Hong spoke methodically, "I have no doubt that Huayang has the means to make an unknown person disappear. However, doing so without leaving any loose ends is another matter. The executioners and those in the know would become potential liabilities. Of course, if you are willing to pay a heavy price, you could mitigate this risk, but it would still leave a psychological burden."
He noticed a flicker of surprise in Hua Yongming's eyes. Seizing the moment, he continued, "Would eliminating me truly benefit Huayang? No. It would only plant a landmine under your own feet—an irreversible mistake that your rivals could exploit. As a business, Huayang thrives on social image and public trust. If you were to be linked to such a scandal, all the achievements you've built would crumble overnight."
Pausing, he smiled slightly and added, "Moreover, professional killers are not exclusive to any single entity. In fact, they are not even necessary. As the saying goes, 'there will always be brave men under great rewards.' With just a couple of million yuan, one could easily hire desperate individuals to eliminate a target. So, Mr. Hua, do you believe I lack the means to return the favor? If you were to put a blade to my throat, I would make sure a blade hovered over yours and your family's as well. Would it be worth it to spend the rest of your life constantly looking over your shoulder, living in fear?"
The room fell into silence.
Hua Yu's expression stiffened slightly, while Hua Yongming remained outwardly composed.
Fang Hong, still smiling, concluded, "In the end, it all comes down to weighing the pros and cons. But the most important thing is this—right now, you are regarded as a model entrepreneur, a key contributor to Xincheng's economic prosperity. If you were to stain your hands with such an act, all your accomplishments and reputation would be ruined. No matter how much wealth you accumulate, society and the public would brand you as a ruthless capitalist and a disgrace. Even your family would bear that stain."
Having said all he needed to say, Fang Hong fell silent.
The living room remained quiet.
Hua Yongming stared at Fang Hong, deep in thought.
He had to admit that if he could not control this young man, then even his son Hua Yu would struggle to suppress him. If Fang Hong were allowed to grow, his rise was inevitable. His potential was immeasurable.
But was Huayang truly prepared to accept such a person into its ranks? If they did, would the future Huayang still belong to the Hua family?
That, he was no longer certain.