Chapter Ninety-Eight: An Unexpected Disturbance

After making a quick circuit through the supermarket, Zhao Fan picked up a few things at random and carried them home.

No sooner had he stepped through the door than he received a call from Shi Wenxuan.

"President Zhao, do you know someone from the Yang family?"

As soon as the call connected, Shi Wenxuan's opening words made Zhao Fan pause.

"Which Yang family are you talking about?"

Shi Wenxuan asked in return, "How many Yang families are there in Yang City?"

In Yang City, there was only one family worthy of being called the Yang family.

Rubbing at his brow, Zhao Fan asked, "What did the Yang family say to you?"

"They wanted me to give up President Zhao's mall and do design work for them instead."

Zhao Fan almost laughed from anger. Were the Yang family idiots? How could they possibly do something this foolish?

Yet after a few seconds, he calmed down. Thinking through the maneuver behind it, he fell silent for a full minute.

"The Yang family must have offered you some terms in exchange, right?"

Shi Wenxuan did not answer, but Zhao Fan already had his answer.

"How much did they offer you?"

"Five hundred thousand."

At the number, Zhao Fan gave a soft scoff. "They really spared no expense."

Unfortunately, the Yang family had not expected that just after they left, Shi Wenxuan would turn around and reveal everything to him.

The moment Zhao Fan learned of it, it meant Shi Wenxuan had already chosen his side.

With profit on the line, Zhao Fan still found Shi Wenxuan's choice somewhat surprising.

"Five hundred thousand is no small sum. You were willing to let it go so easily?"

There was a trace of amusement in Shi Wenxuan's voice. "Of course I was reluctant. Five hundred thousand is about the entire net profit Sangtian makes in a year right now, but I, Shi Wenxuan, am not the kind of man who forgets righteousness for profit."

Zhao Fan's tolerance toward Sangtian was obvious to anyone. Even when the mall collapsed halfway through construction, he did not make Sangtian pay compensation. How could such a client possibly be betrayed for five hundred thousand?

After thinking it over, Zhao Fan said, "I know the Bai and Yang families are working together and want a hand in this mall matter. Now that they've made a move, what do you think they'll do next?"

Shi Wenxuan considered it carefully. "Whatever they do, it will probably come down to the design drawings, the mall itself, or the workers. The mall has already collapsed once. Though old tricks can still work, if they're coming after the mall, they may not strike a second time."

"So what you're saying is?"

"They may go after the workers, or the mall's design drawings."

Zhao Fan picked up the thread silently. It was not impossible that they would target both.

Workers were easier to deal with; if needed, he could simply hire more. But if something happened to the design drawings, then no matter how many workers there were, everything would have to wait until the drawings were restored before the next step could proceed.

"What does President Shi think?"

"Use their own scheme against them. First confuse them, and then figure out their real objective."

"All right. Then I'll have to ask President Shi to arrange this."

"Rest assured. I will make sure everything is arranged properly for President Zhao."

After the call ended, Zhao Fan's gaze darkened slightly. Bai Yongyuan and Yang Tiancheng could never have imagined that what Yang Yuqing had said to Shi Wenxuan would put him on guard.

If they did not make a move, so be it. But once they did...

Heh.

Putting down his phone, Zhao Fan threw himself into his studies.

Concentrated study could empty his mind of all stray thoughts and help him calm down.

A day's rest passed in the blink of an eye, so brief that before Zhao Fan had time to do anything, he was back at school again.

The moment he returned, he was greeted by an exam.

After several rounds of testing, even Zhao Fan, for all his composure, felt exhausted.

Fortunately, there was no homework that night, which let the students, worn out by the exams, breathe a sigh of relief.

But while the students could relax, Zhao Fan could not. He still had to check on company matters and make further arrangements.

Though the company now appeared to be doing exceptionally well, as if everything it touched turned to profit, Zhao Fan knew its foundation was still unstable.

Compared with the established families already in Yang City, Zhao Fan was still only a lone figure. No matter how large he spread his net, he could not compare with those who had powerful backing.

He laid out one arrangement after another, preparing defenses against whatever attack might come, waiting only for Bai Yongyuan and Yang Tiancheng to make their move.

Yet before Zhao Fan ever saw them act, trouble broke out within the company itself.

It turned out that He Xinwen had been constantly winning people over inside the company, so even though he had only joined later, his reputation was higher than Han Chen's.

At just that time, a batch of university interns had arrived early at the company. Among them was a very exacting young woman named He Man'an.

During an argument between Han Chen and He Xinwen over a technical issue, she bluntly declared that Han Chen was not qualified to argue with He Xinwen, and she even dismissed Han Chen as being worthless in every respect.

Han Chen had a mild temper and did not take it to heart, but one of the students from Kyoto University who had joined the company earlier and had been following Han Chen could not hold back.

As the two sides kept arguing, things turned physical. Ten computers, two desks, and thirteen chairs in the company were damaged, and three people ended up in the hospital.

When Zhao Fan learned of it, he was left speechless. He Xinwen had only been in the company for how long? And he was already outshining Han Chen?

If this went on, Feiteng Company would have to change its surname.

The matter had escalated so badly that Zhao Fan naturally could not sit by idly. That very night, he informed everyone to work overtime and wait for him to hold a meeting.

As soon as class ended, Zhao Fan rushed to the company as fast as he could.

All the employees were already there, each of them standing with their heads lowered, saying nothing.

Zhao Fan swept his gaze around the room and saw Han Chen and He Xinwen seated on opposite sides, both of them bruised and swollen. His brows rose slightly.

"He Xinwen, Han Chen, tell me what happened this time."

Han Chen lowered his head and remained silent.

He Xinwen forced out a smile. "A misunderstanding, President Zhao. It's just a misunderstanding."

"Don't tell me it's a misunderstanding. Tell me what happened."

Zhao Fan's face was stern, utterly giving no sign of leniency.

The smile on He Xinwen's face slowly faded. "It, it was just a disagreement over publicity."

Even now, He Xinwen still did not forget to downplay the seriousness of the matter.

Zhao Fan gave a cold laugh. "Publicity? Am I confused, or do you not even understand what you're supposed to be doing? I pay you a programmer's salary. Have you even done your own job properly? Is publicity your responsibility?"

His questioning came one after another, and He Xinwen's face went pale, humiliation flashing in his eyes.

"I, of course I know what I'm supposed to do, but..."

"No buts. I don't care what you are like anywhere else. In my Feiteng Company, no matter how capable you are, without my permission you are not allowed to cross the line even half a step. Do you understand?"

From the outcome of Han Chen's previous life, Zhao Fan had already known that He Xinwen was restless, but he had not expected him to be this restless.

From his expression alone, it was clear that resentment had already taken root. Such a man could not remain in the company.

"There's nothing much to say at today's meeting. I'm just telling you all this: stay in your own place. If you have ability, come say it to my face. Don't go around making things up behind my back and stirring up trouble in the company. This is a warning. There won't be a next time. If it happens again, everyone involved will be kicked out of the company!"

Rubbing at his brow, Zhao Fan said the final words: "Meeting adjourned. Get off work."

The employees left slowly. Zhao Fan signaled for Han Chen and He Xinwen to follow him to the office.