The Municipal Party Secretary, Yan Huaili, wanted to meet Brother Ye?

Zhang Jingshan was stunned.

What's Secretary Yan up to now?

What's the reason behind this meeting with Brother Ye?

"You're saying Secretary Yan wants to meet Brother Ye? What's his motive?" Zhang Jingshan asked.

"You'd have to ask him directly. I really don't know," Zhang Xingguo replied with a wry smile.

"Time and place?"

Yan Huaili's name had come up.

At this point, Zhang Jingshan had no choice but to continue the call.

"Southland Manor, 12:30 PM. Does that work?" Zhang Xingguo proposed.

"I'll need to check first."

"Alright, I'll wait for your call."

After ending the call with his father, Zhang Xingguo, Zhang Jingshan immediately dialed Ye Chen.

"What's going on?"

Ye Chen, glancing at the conspicuously flashy red Panamera trailing behind him, answered the call with a slightly exasperated look.

"Brother Ye, here's the deal. My father just called me, saying he wants to invite you to lunch. He'll be bringing along the Municipal Party Secretary, Yan Huaili. Are you available?" Zhang Jingshan asked directly.

"Your dad inviting me, I get that. But why is the Municipal Party Secretary tagging along? Do I, Ye Chen, have a face worthy of dining at the same table with a Municipal Party Secretary?" Ye Chen said, a playful smirk forming on his lips.

In his past life, forget about Municipal Party Secretaries—even provincial governors, international dignitaries, and heads of state from smaller countries would regard him as a valued guest.

Thus, the thought of dining with a Municipal Party Secretary stirred no ripples in his heart.

However, the fact that Yan Huaili was eager to meet him so soon did catch him off guard.

"I'm not sure either. My father just said Secretary Yan wants to meet you. What do you think? Should we go?" Zhang Jingshan asked.

"Well, it's almost lunchtime anyway. Sure, let's go."

Ye Chen glanced at the car clock before continuing, "What time? Where?"

"12:30 PM, Southland Manor. If we leave now, we'll make it in time. Since you've agreed, I'll let them know," Zhang Jingshan said hurriedly.

"Alright."

After hanging up, Ye Chen, who had planned to head back to his rental house to freshen up and surprise his wife and child later in the evening, had no choice but to change his route.

He keyed in Southland Manor on the car's GPS and began navigating toward it.

Half an hour later.

A G-Class Mercedes and the Panamera drove away from the bustling city into the serene surroundings of Southland Manor, nestled among lush mountains and flowing waters.

Free from urban noise, Southland Manor exuded an atmosphere akin to a wellness retreat.

Unlike typical restaurants, this estate, serving Jiangzhou's elite, offered unparalleled privacy.

Under open skies, a series of traditional wooden cottages sprawled across the estate.

Guided by Zhang Jingshan's Panamera, the two cars parked in front of a wooden cottage named "Guanlan."

"Brother Ye, here we are!" Zhang Jingshan said as he stepped out of the car.

"Alright."

With a slight nod from Ye Chen, Zhang Jingshan pushed open the door to the cottage.

Inside, Zhang Xingguo and Jiangzhou's current Municipal Party Secretary, Yan Huaili, radiating a commanding presence, were already seated.

"Uncle Yan!"

"Chairman Zhang, Secretary Yan, apologies for being late. Got caught in traffic on the way!"

Maintaining his composure, Ye Chen followed Zhang Jingshan's enthusiastic greeting to Secretary Yan with a polite introduction of his own.

"No worries. We just got here as well. Please, have a seat."

Without masking his authoritative aura, Yan Huaili smiled at Ye Chen, as if trying to glean something from his expression.

However, Ye Chen remained utterly composed, showing not the slightest trace of discomfort.

This caused Yan Huaili to nod inwardly with admiration.

Under 30 years old, yet possessing such unwavering confidence in the presence of someone of his stature.

Setting aside the privileged offspring of high-ranking officials, such individuals were exceedingly rare.

No wonder the former secretary held him in such high regard.

"Xiao Chen, you don't mind me calling you that, do you? Haha!"

Departing from his previous demeanor at the Zhang family residence, Zhang Xingguo spoke warmly after Ye Chen took his seat.

"Pretentious," Zhang Jingshan snorted quietly, visibly unimpressed.

Unbothered by his son's attitude, Zhang Xingguo carried on.

"Mr. Zhang, you can address me however you like," Ye Chen replied.

"Haha, alright then. But you don't need to call me Mr. Zhang anymore. Since you and Jingshan are friends, just call me Uncle Zhang," Zhang Xingguo said with a chuckle, deliberately avoiding the main topic.

"Anything you'd like to eat?" he asked.

"I'm not picky. Whatever suits Uncle Zhang and Secretary Yan will be fine," Ye Chen replied seamlessly.

His natural composure once again earned an approving nod from Yan Huaili.

"Alright, I'll handle the ordering."

With a smile, Zhang Xingguo began placing orders via the electronic menu. He didn't consult Yan Huaili, knowing the secretary's preferences well enough. As for his son, Zhang Jingshan, he figured it was best to avoid inviting unnecessary drama.

Once the orders were placed, Zhang Xingguo adjusted his posture and adopted a more serious demeanor.

"Xiao Chen, let me first apologize to you. At the old residence, my attitude toward you was inappropriate. I've done some self-reflection since then—jumping to conclusions and making baseless assumptions is indeed a flaw of mine. I hope you can forgive me."

For the CEO of a construction company, especially someone as self-assured and somewhat egotistical as Zhang Xingguo, to apologize to a junior so earnestly was no small feat. It was clear he had given it serious thought.

"Uncle Zhang, you're being too kind. It was nothing; I didn't take it to heart," Ye Chen said with a faint smile.

"I'm glad to hear that. Still, I must also thank you. If not for your warning, I would've ruined not just myself but also dragged Jingshan and the old man down with me. Jingshan must've told you already, so I won't repeat the details. Truly, your kindness is as weighty as a mountain, and I find it hard to express my gratitude adequately. So... here's a token of my appreciation. Please accept it."

With a solemn expression, Zhang Xingguo took out a bank card and placed it on the rotating table, spinning it toward Ye Chen.

"Uncle Zhang, since you said Jingshan and I are friends, this feels too formal. Besides, I didn't do much. Please, take it back."

Ye Chen shook his head, smiling bitterly as he spun the card back toward Zhang Xingguo.

But the latter firmly held it in place.

"Xiao Chen, you may not want to claim credit, but I must express my gratitude. Without your guidance, I, along with the entire Zhang family, would've fallen into ruin—a fate far worse than money can solve. There's not much in the card, just ten million. Consider it a token of my appreciation. You must accept it."

"Take it already! Why be so modest with him? Honestly, ten million is too little—he should be offering at least a hundred million!" Zhang Jingshan interjected.

But Ye Chen simply shook his head.

"Uncle Zhang, I appreciate the gesture, but I truly can't accept this. All I did was share my thoughts—it was up to you to believe them or not. If I were to take this money, wouldn't that make me no better than some traveling con artist?"

"Xiao Chen—"

Before Zhang Xingguo could say more, Yan Huaili, who had been quietly observing Ye Chen's demeanor, interjected with a chuckle.

"Young Ye is right. You should put away your so-called token of appreciation. Given Jingshan's and the former secretary's connections, this is nothing but overkill. Besides, judging by Young Ye's assets, I'd wager he has more liquid funds than you do, Mr. Zhang. This ten million—why not keep it for your own messes?"

This remark from Secretary Yan left Zhang Xingguo momentarily stunned.

Though not a billionaire, Zhang Xingguo could freely move four or five hundred million. Could Ye Chen's wealth exceed even that?

What a joke!

Unbeknownst to him, Ye Chen had recently made a fortune through aggressive trading of Hengda Group's stocks—information neither Zhang Jingshan nor the elder Zhang Weimin had shared with him.

Unlike Zhang Xingguo, Ye Chen was intrigued by Secretary Yan's sudden interjection.

Was the Municipal Party Secretary "throwing a brick to attract jade"?