Golden Scales Mansion—this real estate project is well-known to anyone familiar with Jiangzhou's news.

From the very beginning of its construction, it has been mired in controversy.

Even figures like Zhang Weimin and Zhang Xingguo believed that this project would likely end up in the hands of its developers as a failure.

Yet, under these circumstances, before the city government even held its press conference, Zhang Jingshan unexpectedly went ahead and bought two units?

But that's not the real highlight.

The real focus is that someone suggested he buy a few more units. Someone even advised him to purchase ten units at once, hinting that if he had the financial capability, he should just buy the entire Golden Scales Mansion.

Was this a display of extraordinary foresight or the result of insider information?

The former seems far-fetched.

The latter? Impossible!

"Dad, didn't you say insider information wouldn't leak?" After hearing this, Zhang Xingguo looked toward his father, Zhang Weimin.

Zhang Weimin declared firmly, "There's no way it could have leaked. No one would risk their political career for this! Even if the information somehow got out, anyone in the know would never share it."

Zhang Xingguo was silenced.

"Jingshan, who's the person you mentioned?" Zhang Weimin asked urgently.

"Grandpa, he's quite an enigmatic character!" Zhang Jingshan replied with a complex expression.

"Enigmatic?" Zhang Weimin's eyes widened.

Nodding, Zhang Jingshan proceeded to describe Ye Chen.

From the Buddhist bead bracelet at the antique market, to Ye Chen's warnings about a trap, and his tips about Li Changfeng, Zhang Jingshan laid it all out, even recounting the Golden Scales Mansion purchase.

However, when it came to the trap he had fallen into, he downplayed it, as the memory was too embarrassing to recount.

"You must be joking! Someone this mystical exists? Are you sure you weren't duped into doing someone else's dirty work and even thanked them for it?" Zhang Xingguo immediately chimed in, skeptical.

Despite being secretly shocked by the story, he couldn't bring himself to believe such an extraordinary individual could exist—especially when the claim came from his unreliable son, making it all the harder to accept.

"Excuse me, was I talking to you? If you don't like it, why don't you take a hike? And whether I've been duped or not, what does that have to do with you? Do you really need to meddle in everything?" Zhang Jingshan retorted sharply.

Eighteen years had passed, but he still harbored resentment toward his father, Zhang Xingguo, believing that if not for him, his mother wouldn't have died in that car accident.

"You little bastard! You—" Zhang Xingguo, enraged, raised his hand, ready to slap Zhang Jingshan.

"Enough!" Zhang Weimin roared, stopping him.

"Do you two ever stop? Were you mortal enemies in a past life, here to settle scores in this one?" Zhang Weimin scolded both father and son.

"Dad, don't you think he's going too far? I brought him into Yong'an Construction Company so he could inherit it someday, but all these years, has he ever listened to me? Not only does he refuse to listen, but he's running some live-streaming business. Can that even be called a proper career? Every time I criticize him, he argues back. Now it's worse—he lashes out when I show concern. Does he even see me as his father anymore?" Zhang Xingguo complained.

"I don't need your concern. As for that lousy construction company, I don't care about it. Let whoever wants it take it. You have another son out there, don't you? Groom him to make it bigger and better. I couldn't care less!" Zhang Jingshan spat out angrily.

"You little—! Get out of my sight!" Zhang Xingguo, unable to bear it any longer, stormed off after being ushered out by Zhang Weimin, who wanted to defuse the situation.

With a deep sigh, Zhang Weimin recognized the deep rift between father and son. He had said all there was to say over the years, and nothing had healed the divide. He could only leave it to fate now.

"Grandpa, wherever he is, I won't be. If he's home, please don't call me back," Zhang Jingshan said, his tone softening.

"Watch your words! No matter what, he's still your father," Zhang Weimin said helplessly.

"From the moment I turned twelve, I stopped seeing him as my father," Zhang Jingshan replied firmly.

"You—never mind, let's not drag this out." Zhang Weimin shifted the topic. "You mentioned that Ye Chen picked up a Buddhist bead bracelet at the antique market, which you bought. What kind of bracelet is it?"

"Grandpa, didn't Uncle Lu tell you?" Zhang Jingshan asked.

"Lu Cheng? No, he didn't. What about it?" Zhang Weimin replied.

"Grandpa, Uncle Lu said it's a string of Arhat beads from Jingang Temple, crafted from ancient sandalwood by Master Hongyi during his decades of meditation. I was planning to surprise you with it for your birthday!" Zhang Jingshan explained.

Hearing this, Zhang Weimin froze.

Moments later, he began trembling, overwhelmed with excitement.

"You mean the Arhat beads that accompanied Master Hongyi for decades until his passing?"

"Yes, that's what Uncle Lu said," Jingshan confirmed.

"Where is it? Bring it to me now!" Zhang Weimin, losing his composure, was desperate to see it.

"I didn't bring it home. It's still in my office. I wanted to present it as a surprise on your birthday," Zhang Jingshan replied.

Zhang Weimin paused, his years of political experience helping him suppress his eagerness.

After a deep breath to calm himself, he said, "Let's set the beads aside for now. This Ye Chen—can he really be that extraordinary? Predicting dangers for you and Li Changfeng and foreseeing the rise of Golden Scales Mansion?"

"Yes, Grandpa. That's exactly how extraordinary he is! But I don't think he's some divine fortune teller. From my investigation of his background, he used to be a degenerate gambler. I want to dismiss all this as coincidence, but it's so far-fetched that even I can't believe it. I'm convinced there's more to him beneath the surface," Zhang Jingshan said resolutely.

Weimin nodded. "A single coincidence can be dismissed. Two or three cannot. No matter how extraordinary someone may seem, there's always a logical explanation. Based on what you've said, I don't oppose you associating with Ye Chen, but maintain your distance. Until his true nature is clear, don't let emotions cloud your judgment."

"Understood, Grandpa. I'll handle it."

"Good. If you get the chance, bring him to see me. I'd like to have a chat with him."

Meanwhile, in a modest rental apartment, Ye Chen, unaware that he had already caught the attention of a former top-ranking city official, turned off the television after confirming that events were still following their past trajectory.

As he prepared to resume work on his immaculate ointment, the apartment door creaked open.

"Daddy!" an excited, childlike voice exclaimed.

Leaping toward Ye Chen like a joyful rabbit was Ye Youyou, while Chen Yinuo, entering behind her, froze in shock at the scene inside.

The cluttered apartment resembled an illegal workshop, conjuring images of scenes from films depicting drug manufacturing.

For a moment, her mind nearly collapsed!