Chapter 508: 507: Hidden Crisis (Second Update)

The old city renovation project received funding.

The project was back in full swing.

Ye Wenhan’s fame was still soaring nonstop.

Ye Wenhan was in a state of extreme self-satisfaction. He had felt worthless under Qian Guanshu’s oppression before, but without Qian Guanshu around, his ability began to stand out. Seeing how highly he was now regarded by the outside world, he felt more than ever that the years he had spent under Qian Guanshu’s dominance were a waste of his time.

In great spirits, he asked his assistant, “Are there any media outlets who would like to have an exclusive interview with me?”

“Yes, Mr. Ye. It’s a reporter from The Renowned Journal. While The Renowned Journal doesn’t target the Yin He crowd, they are recognized for their quality content, and all of their interviews are with celebrities and notable figures. They interview people following a high-end, elite route. They want to include you in their national top ten celebrities column.”

“Do you think this interview would be interesting for me?” Ye Wenhan asked.

“I think this would be good for you, Mr. Ye. The public adores you, and you fully deserve it.”

“Since you put it that way, then go ahead and schedule it. Let them know that I’m a busy man and can only spare half an hour for the interview.”

“I understand.” The assistant hurriedly consented.

Ye Wenhan’s mood improved even more.

Before this, he had turned down all offers to be interviewed by Qian Guanshu, saying that he didn’t want to highlight himself in the media. Now, he seriously doubted Qian Guanshu’s previous arrangements. He felt there was nothing wrong with being praised by the media; instead, it brought him fame and increased his popularity.

At three in the afternoon.

The editor-in-chief of The Renowned Journal came in person to interview Ye Wenhan.

Ye Wenhan appeared very approachable and chatted with the editor for half an hour.

Ye Wenhan was pretty good at articulation, and his conversation with the editor was succinct yet meaningful.

After the interview, the editor left, extremely grateful.

Ye Wenhan, always courteous, escorted her to the main entrance of the building, further improving her impression of him.

She was impressed that he would personally see her out despite his heavy responsibilities as the head of Commercial Management.

The new head of Commercial Management was indeed as unpretentious and amiable as rumored.

After seeing off the editor-in-chief of The Renowned Journal, Ye Wenhan turned back to his office.

Song Zhizhi happened to be leaving Commercial Management for something and ran into Ye Wenhan.

Ye Wenhan deliberately blocked Song Zhizhi’s way, a smug look on his face.

Song Zhizhi gave a cold laugh.

“Manager Song, do you know who that person who just left is?” Ye Wenhan asked.

Song Zhizhi turned her head for a look.

Who didn’t know she was the editor-in-chief of The Renowned Journal.

The news that Ye Wenhan would be interviewed by The Renowned Journal was known to everyone in Commercial Management. Once Commercial Management knew, everyone in Yanshang Country knew.

Ye Wenhan’s current fame was unprecedented, and this man was naturally immersed in his joy, unable to pull himself out.

Ye Wenhan noticed that Song Zhizhi hadn’t said anything.

He told her, emphasizing his words, “Song Zhizhi, you should regret it. You were a gem-blind back then.”

After throwing down that remark, he swaggered away.

She indeed was gem-blind back then, had she not foolishly believed Nie Wenzhi and Ye Wenhan’s plan that led to her family’s ruin.

She got into the car parked downstairs.

Wei Ziming was still driving her to and from work.

At this moment, Song Zhidao was waiting for her in the car ahead of time.

It seemed that Song Zhidao had also seen The Renowned Journal’s editor-in-chief leave, and said a little unhappily, “Can Ye Wenhan really attain such honor? In my opinion, he’s really as dumb as he looks, doesn’t know anything. Yet he managed to secure his position as the head of Commercial Management, and even had such a triumphant day.”

“Yeah, he truly doesn’t know anything, that’s why he’s over the moon.” Song Zhizhi retorted coldly.

Song Zhidao looked at his sister.

“Now we’re going to the old city to check the renovation progress.”

“Sister, are you going to look for possible issues with the renovation in the old city?” Song Zhidao asked.

“Yes. With such a large project in the old district, I want to see if there’s any shoddy work or if anyone is seeking to profit illegally.”

“You think…”

“Ye Wenhan probably realized the importance of money and might take shortcuts.”

Song Zhidao nodded, something occurring to him, “Sister, wasn’t it said before that the project was short on funds? How was it resolved?”

“Ye Wenhan embezzled public funds.”

“What? Isn’t he courting death?” Song Zhidao was visibly agitated.

“Currently, Li Xiang is helping him with the fake accounting, but I haven’t got the fake account statement from Li Xiang yet. So we can’t jump the gun.”

“Is Ye Wenhan really stupid or what? Can the public funds be used at will? Once the funds are embezzled, there’s definitely a record. Even if he’s stupid, he won’t be dumb enough to use a method that anyone can verify, right?!” Even the young Song Zhidao knew that this was absolutely not something to do.

Yet, Ye Wenhan did it.

And he thought he had deceived everyone.

The car arrived at the construction site in the old city.

Song Zhizhi and Song Zhidao got out of the car to inspect the site.

Song Zhidao didn’t know what his sister was looking for, she was just scrutinizing the construction materials at the site bit by bit, not having any conversation with the workers. After a walk around the site, they left.

They then returned to the car.

Song Zhidao was somewhat baffled, “Sister, what did you find?”

“Nothing,” replied Song Zhizhi bluntly.

Song Zhidao furrowed his brows.

“Who are the contractors for this construction?” Suddenly asked Song Zhizhi.

Song Zhidao replied, “I’ll look into it when I get back.”

“Good.” Song Zhizhi appeared somewhat serious.

“Alright.”

“The reason I involved you in this is to give you some experience. Regardless of our father’s situation in the future, I can assure you that you will always have a place in Commercial Management.”

“Sister, let’s not talk about this as siblings. If I can help you, I’ll be satisfied. As for what happens in the future, I don’t really care.”

A smile appeared at the corner of Song Zhizhi’s mouth.

The wounds inflicted on her by her father were, after all, somewhat healed by her younger brother.

Not wanting to get sentimental, she said, “Once you find out who these contractors are, try to get a list of the building materials they used for this project.”

“Are you trying to see if the materials on this list match what they actually used?”

“Exactly! You’re so smart!” Song Zhizhi praised.

Song Zhizhi sneered, “Such simple logic. Do you think I’m stupid?”

“Ye Wenhan is stupid.”

Song Zhidao totally understood his sister’s point and chuckled knowingly.

The car headed back to Commercial Management.

Song Zhizhi changed the topic, “How are things going between you and Jun Mingxi now?”

“Same as usual. We meet for meals at a fixed time every week. We also satisfy each other’s needs as adults, but when it comes to feelings, there’s none.” Song Zhidao replied bluntly.

“Then, do you feel there’s a need to continue the relationship with Jun Mingxi?”

“If you think our family doesn’t have the capability to reach the top position in Commercial Management, then I feel it’s not necessary for me to have such a complicated relationship with Jun Mingxi. I always feel like this woman lacks emotion and she’s with me only because the Jun family arranged it. If the Jun family asked her to kill me, she might really do it. And as you know, as a man, I don’t want to lower myself to the level of a woman.”

“Yes, yes, you’re such a ‘man’.” Song Zhizhi said with laughter.

The little kid who once chased after her, joking and playing, seemed to have really grown up at this moment.

Thinking about how this little kid was lying in a pool of blood in his past life…

Her heart suddenly tightened.

She vowed not to let the tragedy from their past life repeat itself!

Song Zhizhi said, “Let’s keep it this way for now. Once we solve these problems, it won’t be too late to break up.”

“Alright.”

“But as you just said, don’t underestimate Jun Mingxi. What if she really acts against you?!”

“Don’t worry, sister. Since I’ve already seen through what kind of person Jun Mingxi is, I’m naturally prepared to be on my guard against her.”

“I trust you.”

At present, she didn’t trust their father much.

She knew very clearly that her father was deeply caught in the trap of power.

As for their family, she now only trusted her younger brother.

…

The official family residence.

Jun Minghan stood respectfully in front of his mother, Leng Wanqing.

Leng Wanqing asked, “Does Ye Wenhan still have strong momentum recently?”

“The old city area’s planning and renovation work were done very thoroughly, and people are currently speaking highly of him. I heard that the chief editor of a famous magazine personally interviewed him and they want to feature him in Beixia Country’s ‘Top Ten Personalities’ column. So far, only two in our official family have been featured: my father and a high-ranking official who is greatly respected. For Ye Wenhan of such a young age to be featured in this column, he really has reason to be proud.”

Leng Wanqing laughed lightly, “The reason I asked you to keep a low profile is to let you see clearly that the higher one’s profile, the more likely one becomes a target, and the easier one falls.”

“Yes,” Jun Minghan affirmed respectfully.

Even though he felt somewhat unsatisfied that Ye Wenhan, a person like that, could also receive such high praise.

“Now, Ye Wenhan is not only a thorn in the side of our government but I believe your father is also keeping a close eye on him. In addition, wouldn’t Ji Baijian also take actions?!”

“So far, there have been no signs of Ji Baijian making any moves against Ye Wenhan.”

“What about Song Zhizhi?” Leng Wanqing hit the nail on the head.

Jun Minghan paused, “I haven’t paid much attention to Song Zhizhi. She has always been protected by Ji Baijian over the years. Although she’s somewhat clever, she’s not worth our official family taking her so seriously.”

“Whether Song Zhizhi is clever or not, we’ll find out this time,” Leng Wanqing said with a cold laugh.

Jun Minghan looked at his mother.

“Since Ji Baijian hasn’t made a move, it must be Song Zhizhi driving this thing. I think you know very well how strong the desire for power is between Song Zhizhi and her father Song Shan.”

“You think Song Zhizhi is trying to help her father attain power?”

“That’s hard to say. If this is the case, then it’s still acceptable because we can see the internal conflict between Song Zhizhi and Ji Baijian and we can profit from their fight. If not…” Leng Wanqing suddenly paused.

Jun Minghan quietly waited.

Leng Wanqing pronounced each word clearly, “If not, then create conflicts between them and let them fight each other. But the premise is, Ji Baijian and Song Zhizhi must truly love each other, not a political marriage.”

“I am quite sure it’s not,” Jun Minghan said seriously.

“Then the fun begins,” Leng Wanqing chuckled, “Even the strongest man is afraid of being bound by love. Remember this, it is a man’s fatal weakness, and you absolutely cannot have this weakness!”

“Mother, please don’t worry. All I need is a tool for producing a successor. Unfortunately, she’s been unable to give me a son!”

“Don’t rush now, you are still young. Not having a child now doesn’t hinder your ambitious plan, rather, having one will only lead to concern. Once all the power is in your hands, there will be many women who can give you a child if your current woman can’t.”

“Mother is right.”

“Keep a close eye on Ji Baijian and Song Zhizhi. Wait for my next arrangement.”

“Yes.”

…

Song Zhizhi finished a busy day at work.

To her surprise, Ji Baijian, not Wei Ziming, was waiting for her in the Commercial Management parking lot.

She was somewhat excited and ran over to the man leaning against the car door.

At this moment, many people who were getting off work had their eyes on Ji Baijian.

This man with a face that could ruin countries.

“Don’t let others look!”

Ji Baijian always prioritized his wife above all else.

Whatever his wife wanted to do, he would do it!

Because of this, he sprinted back to the driver’s seat with a goofy grin after opening the car door for his wife and waiting for her to get in.

Song Zhizhi couldn’t help but laugh at Ji Baijian’s appearance.

She wasn’t sure when they started being so happy together.

And her bright smile of happiness was reflected in the eyes of Ye Wenhan, who was in a car passing by.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Ye Wenhan looked over because of the crowd’s attention and saw Ji Baijian and Song Zhizhi, their loving behavior. As he drove past their car, he saw Song Zhizhi’s unconcealed happiness.

He felt bitter inside.

He thought, this woman who abandoned him, did not deserve to be happy!