At Ye Chen's end.

Life seemed to settle into a simple and unpretentious calm.

Dropping off and picking up his wife and child.

Buying groceries, cooking meals.

A routine of three fixed points.

For someone like him, who carried guilt through his past life and ultimately grew old in solitary loneliness, this routine didn't feel dull at all. Instead, he found it deeply fulfilling.

For three consecutive days, Ye Chen enjoyed this plain but meaningful existence. Aside from shuttling his wife and daughter, and accompanying Li Changfeng and Zhang Jingshan to Henda Group to sign the transfer agreement for Jinzhong Village, he spent almost all his time in his rented apartment.

Even when Li Changfeng and Zhang Jingshan persistently invited him out for food, drinks, and entertainment, he politely declined.

However, even while staying in the apartment, Ye Chen kept himself busy.

Taking advantage of these rare quiet days, he meticulously reviewed the future developments stored in his past-life memories.

Every single event he had experienced or learned about was systematically imprinted into his mind.

That Day

At the Zhang family residence.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Seemingly calm and uneventful, but for Zhang Xingguo, those three days were the most maddening of his life.

As one damning inspection report after another was laid before him,

As the shady accounts of his company were peeled back layer by layer,

This self-proclaimed prominent chairman of Jiangzhou finally panicked.

"How's the investigation going?"

At the lunch table, Zhang Weimin, the family patriarch, deliberately called back Zhang Xingguo and Zhang Jingshan. Setting his chopsticks down, he asked the question.

Faced with this inquiry, Zhang Xingguo's already uneasy expression faltered completely.

Seeing this, Zhang Jingshan's heart skipped a beat.

Was Young Master Ye truly right?

Noticing the panic on Zhang Xingguo's face, Zhang Weimin frowned deeply.

"Hah!"

Zhang Xingguo let out a long, trembling breath.

"Father, I... I planned to bring this up with you today. I need your guidance—I don't know what to do!"

His voice shook as he spoke.

Hearing this, Zhang Weimin's heart sank.

"Go on," he urged.

"I secretly hired a team to reinspect all the projects under Yong'an Construction. The results showed serious quality issues in 23 projects, including seven municipal livelihood projects commissioned by the city government!"

Zhang Xingguo's forehead broke out in sweat, and his face turned pale.

"Are they all shoddy projects?" Zhang Weimin's hands trembled.

"Their quality values are less than half the standard minimum!" Zhang Xingguo admitted, his voice quivering.

"Dammit, people could die from this!"

Beside him, Zhang Jingshan exclaimed in shock.

He had assumed that even if Kong Liqun, that bastard, were to sabotage Zhang Xingguo, he would still exercise some restraint.

But using materials that brought the quality to less than half of the standard?

This was clearly an attempt to drag Zhang Xingguo and the entire Zhang family straight into hell.

It was evident that if these quality issues were exposed and led to casualties, Zhang Xingguo and the Zhang family would face utter ruin.

"I never imagined that bastard could be so vicious, so utterly unscrupulous! A project requiring ten million in materials—he used less than five million! The remaining funds went straight into his pocket. Across those 23 projects, he pocketed at least 50 million. As a result, not one of them meets the quality standards!"

By now, Zhang Xingguo was so distressed he could barely sit still.

"Father, what should I do next?"

"I've warned you so many times, warned you repeatedly!"

Zhang Weimin slammed his hand on the table.

"I told you to be cautious of Kong Liqun! Twenty-three projects, and seven of them are public municipal projects! With quality not even meeting half the standard, Zhang Xingguo—how many lives do you think you have to lose, huh?

"If not for Ye Chen's warning, if this was left unchecked until something happened, do you realize even being executed ten times wouldn't calm public outrage?"

As rage surged within him, Zhang Weimin clutched his chest in pain.

"Grandfather!"

"Father!"

Seeing the old man clutch his chest in agony, both Zhang Xingguo and Zhang Jingshan rushed to support him, shouting in panic.

When Zhang Jingshan reached for his phone to call an ambulance, Zhang Weimin shook his head and pushed them away.

"Let me go! I can hold on—I'm not dying yet!"

"Father, I... I didn't expect Kong Liqun to be so ruthless! What should I do now?" Zhang Xingguo asked, his voice trembling as his body went weak.

"Immediately report him to the authorities and have Kong Liqun arrested. Then, rebuild every problematic project unconditionally! Beyond that, compensate for any negative impacts—whatever it costs. Even if it means bankruptcy, selling off family assets, or borrowing money, you must resolve this!"

Zhang Weimin gritted his teeth, his fury unrelenting.

"Yes, Father. I'll do as you say!"

Lacking much resolve of his own, Zhang Xingguo hurriedly agreed under the old man's scolding.

"Jingshan, go get my heart pills from the cabinet!"

The usually robust Zhang Weimin now pointed shakily toward a cabinet.

"Yes, yes!"

In his frantic state, Zhang Jingshan quickly retrieved the heart pills and administered them to his grandfather.

"Grandfather, should we go to the hospital?"

"No need. I know my body—I'll be fine."

Zhang Weimin, his complexion gradually improving, waved his hand dismissively.

His expression, however, was one of profound complexity.

"This time, our Zhang family owes Ye Chen a debt so great that even three generations wouldn't suffice to repay it."

"Father, I'll find a chance to apologize to him and express my gratitude!"

Thinking back to how he had treated Ye Chen before, Zhang Xingguo felt utterly ashamed.

Without Ye Chen's reminder, without Ye Chen's patience to warn him repeatedly for the sake of the old man and Jingshan,

He would never have realized just how greedy and heartless Kong Liqun was before disaster struck.

And if disaster struck, not even a deity could save him or the Zhang family.

"Now isn't the time for apologies and gratitude! What are you still standing here for? Waiting for a crisis to hit before trying to make amends?" Zhang Weimin scolded sharply.

"Yes, Father, I'll go right now!"

With a dry throat and trembling hands, Zhang Xingguo ran out as if possessed.

After he left, as the old man's breathing steadied, Zhang Jingshan hesitated briefly before speaking.

"Grandfather, the ten properties I bought with Brother Ye in Jinzhong Village—they've sold!"

"Henda Group bought them?" Zhang Weimin's eyes widened in surprise.

"Yes. We bought them for ten million; Henda Group just acquired them for a hundred million—a tenfold increase!" Zhang Jingshan replied.

Zhang Weimin was stunned.

For a moment, he sat in silence, as if processing the enormity of it.

Eventually, he muttered, "I originally estimated ten years... But now, I see it'll take no more than five. The name Ye Chen will surely resound across all of China!"