"You're... nowhere near as good as him!"

These words echoed in Zhang Xingguo's mind, making him chuckle in anger.

Him, the chairman of Yong'an Construction Company, with assets worth hundreds of millions, being told he couldn't compare to some gambling, drinking degenerate constantly hounded by loan sharks?

"Fine, fine. Whatever you say, Old Man. He's a genius, and I'm nothing—far beneath him!" Zhang Xingguo sneered, shaking his head in disbelief.

Watching this, Zhang Weimin sighed helplessly.

Who knows a son better than his father?

Zhang Xingguo wasn't exactly mediocre, but he certainly wasn't talented either.

The wealth of hundreds of millions? It wasn't really earned by his own intellect.

If not for the goodwill and connections Zhang Weimin had painstakingly built over the years, along with debts of gratitude owed to him by various business tycoons and officials, Zhang Xingguo would never have been able to sustain a construction company of this scale, let alone accumulate such assets.

Zhang Xingguo's only redeeming quality was his adherence to the family's strict rules. Over the years, he had conducted business ethically and stayed far from illegal activities. It was this integrity that allowed Zhang Weimin to turn a blind eye and let him leverage the family name.

As a local Party Secretary once put it, "Having Zhang Xingguo take on construction projects is still better than letting unscrupulous capitalists build shoddy constructions."

But in his complacency, Zhang Xingguo had seemingly forgotten his own limitations, which worried Zhang Weimin deeply.

Before Zhang Weimin could voice his concerns, Ye Chen suddenly spoke up. "Old Secretary, you're being too kind!"

Ye Chen brushed aside the compliment and turned serious. "By the way, that Mr. Kong from earlier—who is he?"

Initially, Ye Chen intended to let Zhang Xingguo fend for himself, but seeing Zhang Jingshan and Zhang Weimin both standing up for him, Ye Chen couldn't help but lend the Zhang family a hand. After all, if something happened to Zhang Weimin, it wouldn't bode well for Zhang Jingshan or Zhang Weimin himself.

"Ye Ge, Kong Liqun? He's the general manager of Yong'an Construction Company," Zhang Jingshan replied curiously. "Why? Is there something wrong with him?"

"Ye Xiaoyou, is there an issue with this man?" Zhang Weimin asked, catching the serious look on Ye Chen's face.

Ye Chen pursed his lips, then shook his head. "His features—his nose doesn't fit his cheekbones, his forehead is narrow, his philtrum is short, and he has 'three whites' eyes with a rebellious bone on his head. Based on his appearance, he's ambitious, self-serving, deceitful, and cunning. Such a person is prone to betraying those close to him for personal gain. Trusting someone like that often leads to disaster."

These words weren't Ye Chen's own but came from memories of his previous life.

Back then, as the Zhang family's matters gradually came to light, Kong Liqun also came under public scrutiny. Internet sleuths analyzed his facial features and concluded that Zhang Xingguo had only himself to blame for trusting someone with such a treacherous look.

Hearing this, Zhang Xingguo exploded.

"Nonsense! Do you have a personal grudge against Kong Liqun or what? He's been nothing but loyal and hardworking, and you're calling him a deceitful villain?"

Before Zhang Xingguo could continue his tirade, Zhang Weimin's stern voice cut in: "Be quiet!"

By now, Zhang Weimin was starting to believe in Ye Chen's uncanny abilities.

"Ye Xiaoyou, is what you said true?" Zhang Weimin asked gravely.

"Ye Ge, is it true?" Zhang Jingshan echoed nervously.

Ye Chen didn't reply immediately. Instead, he glanced meaningfully at Zhang Xingguo and said, "Chairman Zhang doesn't have to believe me. But if it weren't for Old Secretary and Jingshan, I wouldn't bother meddling. Based on the dark hue of your forehead, it seems like trouble—possibly even prison—may be on the horizon for you. And this might have something to do with Kong Liqun. After all, Jingshan just said he has significant authority in your company."

"Whether you believe me or not, I suggest you inspect the projects your company has undertaken, especially the municipal ones. If the construction meets standards, all will be well. But if there are shoddy, cut-corner projects, once they're exposed, you'll be the one facing the consequences."

"Shoddy construction? If I go down, won't Kong Liqun suffer too? Wouldn't he be afraid?" Zhang Xingguo retorted angrily.

"I don't know if he's afraid, but if things go south, he can always flee. After all, you're the one officially in charge. By the time they trace it back to him, he'll likely be long gone," Ye Chen replied indifferently.

The weight of Ye Chen's words turned Zhang Jingshan pale. Though he disliked Zhang Xingguo, the man was still his father. If Ye Chen's predictions came true, the entire Zhang family would suffer.

"Ye Ge, are you joking?" Zhang Jingshan asked, trembling.

Ye Chen smiled but didn't answer. Instead, he glanced at the darkening sky and turned to Zhang Weimin. "Old Secretary, it's getting late. Thank you for your hospitality. Sharing even a simple meal with someone as venerable as you is more precious than a feast. Haha!"

As he was about to leave, Ye Chen paused and addressed Zhang Xingguo again.

"By the way, Chairman Zhang, there's an old saying: Misfortune never comes alone. Since you're in construction, make sure your sites are safe. Eliminate any potential hazards before they escalate."

With that, Ye Chen left, leaving a baffled Zhang Xingguo behind.

"Ye Ge, I'll see you out!" Zhang Jingshan hurried after him, catching up at Ye Chen's car.

"Ye Ge, will he really face trouble?" Jingshan asked hesitantly.

"Do you trust me?" Ye Chen replied with a smile.

Without hesitation, Jingshan nodded.

"Then trust me—your father will face trouble. If not..." Ye Chen left the implication hanging, got into his car, and drove off.

Inside the house, Zhang Weimin spoke firmly to his son:

"I don't care if you believe him, but you must investigate this matter thoroughly. Better safe than sorry. If something happens, it won't just be you—it'll ruin our entire family."

Though reluctant, Zhang Xingguo eventually nodded grimly. "Fine, I'll investigate!"

"Do it discreetly," Zhang Jingshan added coldly. "And if Kong Liqun turns out to be what Ye Ge described, make sure he doesn't escape justice."