Silence.

Absolute silence.

As Ye Chen finished speaking, Zhang Weimin's deep, experienced eyes—ones that had seen countless people and events—locked firmly onto him.

If it had been the Ye Chen of the past, he would likely have squirmed under such scrutiny.

But the Ye Chen of today was a different man—a titan of the business world in his previous life, once commanding a personal fortune worth hundreds of billions.

He had dealt with countless high-ranking officials and influential elites, often as a guest of provincial governments.

With such experiences, Ye Chen was now unfazed, his composure unshakable.

"Old Secretary, is there a problem with what I said?"

After holding Zhang Weimin's gaze for a few seconds, Ye Chen smiled calmly and asked.

"Judging by your earlier remarks—the foresight and acumen you've shown—you are undoubtedly one of the best I've encountered. Even some of those entrepreneurs who soared to fame by seizing opportunities can't compare to you!" Zhang Weimin replied, his tone solemn.

"Old Secretary, you flatter me!" Ye Chen said with a humble laugh.

"No, it's not flattery, nor is it an exaggeration. With your level of foresight and sensitivity, as long as you stay on the right path, within ten years, your reputation will surely spread across this vast land!" Zhang Weimin said with a hint of admiration in his voice.

He then sighed and added, "If only you were born twenty years earlier, during the era brimming with opportunities for reform, you might have already reached the pinnacle of success."

Hearing this, Ye Chen couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.

Born twenty years earlier?

No, with my knowledge of the next sixty years, it's as if I've already been born sixty years ahead of everyone else.

As for those ten years...

Ten years is far too long.

Within just three to five years, the name Ye Chen will be known in every household!

"Old Secretary, are you praising me or setting me up for failure?" Ye Chen joked with a smile.

Zhang Weimin, however, simply shook his head, steering the conversation away from the topic.

"Last night, Jing Shan mentioned something—how you invested over twenty million to short Si Hai Group's stocks. Can you tell me what made you think of doing that? I may not know much about the stock market, but I understand that shorting is an extremely risky move. And given Si Hai Group's current momentum, it seems to be thriving. What led you to take such a gamble?"

Here it comes!

Ye Chen thought to himself, realizing the real reason behind this meeting.

The matter of the Jinlin Estate was just a pretext—Zhang Weimin's real concern was about shorting Si Hai Group.

"Simply because I believe Si Hai Group is on the brink of collapse," Ye Chen replied straightforwardly.

"You're probably the only one bold enough to say that. With Si Hai Group's current growth trajectory, how can you predict it's about to fail?" Zhang Weimin frowned.

Unlike facing Zhang Jingshan, Ye Chen couldn't rely on his instincts as an explanation here.

Meeting Zhang Weimin's sharp gaze, he responded, "Old Secretary, I know you brought me here to ask about this, so I won't beat around the bush. Si Hai Group and Maple Leaf Hotel are strategic partners, correct?"

"That's right. What about it?" Zhang Weimin nodded.

"Old Secretary, you've probably heard from Jing Shan about my past. Yes, I used to be a hopeless gambler, sinking all my time and energy into gambling. I even ended up in debt to loan sharks, who came to collect in person," Ye Chen said.

Zhang Weimin nodded slightly, remaining silent.

"The loan shark I owed money to was Anda Finance, a notorious company known for its ruthless methods. And the man behind Anda Finance is Sun Tianqi, a member of the city's legislature and the owner of Maple Leaf Hotel. Moreover, I learned from insider sources that Maple Leaf Hotel is actually a front for illegal activities, and it seems the inspection team has already targeted Sun Tianqi and the hotel.

"If Sun Tianqi and Maple Leaf Hotel go down, their close ties to Si Hai Group and its chairman, Li Sihai, mean they won't escape unscathed. Once that happens, Si Hai Group will inevitably be dragged into a storm of negative publicity. Their stock will plummet, and that's when my shorting will pay off massively!" Ye Chen explained earnestly.

"You're basing all of this on the assumption that the inspection team is targeting Maple Leaf Hotel and Sun Tianqi? And from there, you conclude Si Hai Group will be implicated?" Zhang Weimin narrowed his wise eyes, finding himself unable to see through Ye Chen.

"I don't know for certain, and I can't be sure," Ye Chen replied.

"And yet you still put over twenty million into shorting Si Hai Group?" Zhang Weimin frowned.

"Old Secretary, it's just a calculated gamble. If the inspection team leaves and Si Hai Group isn't affected, I'll withdraw my position—at worst, I'll lose a little. But if Si Hai Group does get caught up in the fallout, the return will be astronomical. It's a bet worth taking!" Ye Chen said.

For some reason, Zhang Weimin felt Ye Chen wasn't being entirely honest.

He sensed an unshakable confidence in Ye Chen's tone—a sense of certainty that didn't align with his claims of merely taking a gamble.

Yet, no matter how closely Zhang Weimin scrutinized his words, he couldn't find any flaws or inconsistencies.

The analysis sounded speculative on the surface, but upon deeper consideration, it was both logical and reasonable.

This paradoxical feeling was something Zhang Weimin hadn't experienced in years.

It was as if the young man before him wasn't someone in his late twenties but a deeply cunning old fox.

He couldn't help but believe Zhang Jingshan's earlier comment—that there was something inexplicably extraordinary about Ye Chen.

Letting out a deep sigh, Zhang Weimin said, "You haven't shared this analysis with anyone else, have you?"

"No, I wouldn't dare. If word got out, the people at Maple Leaf Hotel and Si Hai Group would be after my head. I haven't even told Jing Shan or Chang Feng. It's only because I trust your character, Old Secretary, that I dared to reveal this to you," Ye Chen replied with a bitter smile.

Zhang Weimin chuckled wryly. "You're right. If your analysis were made public, it could indeed have significant repercussions for both Maple Leaf Hotel and Si Hai Group. They definitely wouldn't let you off easily."

"Old Secretary, so what do you think? Is the inspection team targeting Sun Tianqi and Maple Leaf Hotel?" Ye Chen asked playfully, feigning innocence.

"You're something else, young man. We've just met, and you're already trying to pry information out of me?" Zhang Weimin laughed, suddenly relaxing.

"Honestly, I was just curious about why you decided to short Si Hai Group. As for the inspection team's objectives, I haven't looked into it. I've spent my whole life working, and now that I'm retired, I just want to enjoy some peace and quiet. I don't bother myself with such things anymore."

Pausing briefly, Zhang Weimin added with a playful tone, "And even if I did know something, do you think I'd tell you?"

"Fair enough," Ye Chen replied with a smile.

The two exchanged a knowing glance—a silent exchange between two foxes, one old and one young.

"Let's talk about something else. Putting aside the matter of Si Hai Group, what are your plans moving forward? With your sharp insight and keen analysis, I'm curious about which industry you're planning to venture into," Zhang Weimin asked.

"Well, Old Secretary, I might need your help with that," Ye Chen responded.

"Oh? What kind of help? Let's hear it," Zhang Weimin said with interest.

"I'm planning to produce a scar-removal ointment. Manufacturing it won't be an issue, but navigating the approval process will be tricky. I was hoping you could help smooth the way and speed things up," Ye Chen said bluntly.

Zhang Weimin was momentarily surprised. Venturing into a different industry was one thing, but producing a scar-removal ointment?

However, he quickly composed himself and replied, "If the product meets all the required standards, there won't be an issue. But if it fails to meet even the slightest requirement, I'm afraid I won't be able to help."

"Don't worry, Old Secretary. Your reputation is well-known throughout Jiangzhou. I wouldn't dare bring you any trouble. Besides, even if I wanted to, I couldn't. I guarantee everything will be legal and compliant. I'm just asking for your help to save time and avoid the runaround," Ye Chen said with a helpless smile.

"Then it's settled," Zhang Weimin nodded.

At that moment, a car pulled up nearby.

A middle-aged man dressed plainly stepped into the courtyard.

"Old Secretary, you've got a guest!"

The man smiled and greeted Ye Chen upon seeing him under the grapevine trellis.

Ye Chen froze for a moment, recognizing the man instantly.

Wasn't this Jiang Wenrui, the leader of the inspection team?