The phone number ended in six eights.

A number like this could only belong to someone extraordinary!

Who could this be, calling him directly?

After a brief hesitation, Ye Chen pressed the answer button.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Ye, can you still recognize my voice?" A cheerful voice came from the other end.

"You are...?" Ye Chen raised an eyebrow.

The voice sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.

"Haha, it's me, Xu Jia from Hengda!" The caller dropped the pretense and introduced himself.

"Xu Jia?"

What could this powerful figure want with him?

Was he interested in investing in Yi Ren Ru Xue?

That didn't seem right.

Last time, Ye Chen had made things crystal clear with Xiao Qiang.

A person of Xu Jia's stature should have already given up any hope by now.

Could it be that the recent online controversy surrounding him reignited some kind of interest?

Nonsense. Someone like Xu Jia wouldn't think a small scandal could bring Ye Chen down.

So, what was this about?

Ye Chen had no clue.

Still, he laughed casually, "With six eights as the number, I knew it had to be someone important. I didn't expect it to be you, Chairman Xu! What's the matter? Looking to hire me as a consultant again?"

Ye Chen deflected from any talk of Yi Ren Ru Xue and joked about the consulting offer from before.

"I wish! But even if I offered you a billion-dollar salary, I know you wouldn't bat an eye," Xu Jia chuckled.

"If not for that, then why are you calling, Chairman Xu?" Ye Chen asked.

Xu Jia's laughter faded. "Alright, I won't beat around the bush. Mr. Ye, could we meet? I'd like to talk to you."

"Now?" Ye Chen was slightly surprised.

"Yes, now. I can come to you, or we can meet somewhere of your choosing. What do you think?" Xu Jia replied.

Ye Chen didn't ask the childish question, Is this something we can't talk about over the phone?

After a brief thought, he nodded lightly. "Alright, I'll head over to Hengda Group."

Truth be told, Ye Chen was curious.

When Xiao Qiang sought him out last time, Ye Chen knew it was about Yi Ren Ru Xue.

But this time, he couldn't figure out Xu Jia's motive.

"Great, I'll be waiting for you at Hengda's headquarters!"

With polite pleasantries, Ye Chen ended the call.

Standing nearby, Zhang Xingguo was left in shock.

"Hengda Group? Chairman Xu?"

"Xu Jia personally called Ye Chen and invited him to Hengda?"

"Xiao Ye, Xu Jia called you?" Zhang Xingguo asked in disbelief.

Though Xu Jia was just a businessman, he was a legend on the rich list, having consistently ranked at the top.

A person like him wouldn't normally seek out a young man.

"Yes, that's right," Ye Chen nodded calmly.

"Well, you better get going then! Don't worry about the construction site. I'll personally oversee everything and make sure it runs smoothly."

Though immensely curious about why someone like Xu Jia would contact Ye Chen, Zhang Xingguo didn't press for details.

Even knowing that Ye Chen had squeezed billions out of Hengda previously, it didn't seem like a reason for Xu Jia to personally invite him over.

"Thanks, Uncle Zhang!"

Ye Chen patted Zhang Xingguo on the shoulder and walked away.

Watching Ye Chen's departing figure, Zhang Xingguo felt a wave of disbelief.

An orphan with no family or background, not even thirty years old, was now casually interacting with high-level officials and being invited by tycoons like Xu Jia.

A few months ago, Ye Chen had nothing—just part of society's lower rung.

In mere months, he had risen to heights many born into privilege couldn't reach in a lifetime.

Where would he be in a few years?

Zhang Xingguo couldn't imagine.

As the Mercedes G-Class disappeared from sight, he muttered,

"If you have a child, let it be like Ye Chen!"

After stopping at red lights along the way, Ye Chen arrived at Hengda Group about an hour later.

As he stepped inside, Liu Xueqin, a janitor mopping the floor, spotted him.

"Ye—"

She instinctively wanted to call out but stopped after the first syllable.

She knew Ye Chen wouldn't acknowledge her. Calling his name would only bring humiliation, even if she was his mother-in-law.

"Xueqin, isn't that your son-in-law? Xu's secretary has been waiting for him! My goodness, is he meeting with Chairman Xu?" a coworker exclaimed.

Hearing this, Liu Xueqin's face twisted with complex emotions, but she said nothing.

Had she not spent so much time badmouthing Ye Chen to a former colleague—words that ended up online, fueling the controversy—she might have approached him.

But now, she lacked the courage.

Even being reminded of her connection to Ye Chen made her feel ashamed.

"Xueqin, no matter what, you're his mother-in-law. How could he let you keep working as a janitor with all his success? And your daughter—didn't she create that Wu Xia Cream? I heard it makes millions daily. How could she let her mother work like this? This is ridiculous!"

The coworker's tone carried a hint of schadenfreude.

Liu Xueqin, now the subject of gossip, silently walked away, lowering her head.

Though she had loudly criticized Ye Chen in front of her husband, Chen Jianguo, regret now consumed her.

But apologizing or seeking sympathy wouldn't help. Even her son, Chen Yihao, lashed out when she acted out.

If she continued, not only would her daughter cut ties with her, but her son might do the same.

Hengda Group, top floor.

Xu Jia's office, designed for overseeing everything below, was located at the top.

After a soft knock, Xu Jia's voice came from within.

Ye Chen stepped inside confidently and composed.