533: Chapter 528 You're taking advantage of someone's misfortune!

It was an opportunity to completely absorb a top-tier decoration team at the minimum cost.

He needed a team he could trust, one with solid quality, and one he could completely control to build his commercial empire.

Instead of finding a partner, it was better to become the 'Client' himself.

"Do you know this Wei Guoliang?"

Shen Yan looked up at Feng Yuanshan.

Feng Yuanshan was momentarily stunned.

"We've met a few times and shared drinks; he's a friend worth knowing. Why, President Shen..."

He saw what was in Shen Yan's eyes.

It wasn't sympathy.

It was the unique gleam a wolf shows when spotting prey.

"Arrange a meeting with him for me."

Shen Yan's tone brooked no argument.

"Right now."

Feng Yuanshan looked at Shen Yan and suddenly understood something.

Was he offering timely help?

No, that wasn't right.

Based on his understanding of Shen Yan, this was more like taking advantage of misfortune.

But he quickly reconsidered: for Wei Guoliang right now, even being taken advantage of was better than sitting around waiting to die.

"Fine."

Feng Yuanshan no longer hesitated. He took out his phone, found a number, and dialed.

The call rang for a long time before it was answered.

"Hello, Old Wei, it's me, Feng Yuanshan."

"...Old Feng, it's so late, what's up?" The voice on the other end was full of fatigue and hoarseness.

"Forget it, forget it, I'm not in the mood. The company has a pile of mess."

"Stop the nonsense. A distinguished guest wants to see you; perhaps he can help you through this difficulty," Feng Yuanshan said in a deep voice. "I'll send you the address on WeChat. Be here within half an hour."

After speaking, he hung up, not giving the other party a chance to refuse.

He looked at Shen Yan and gave a wry smile.

"President Shen, Old Wei is a man of dignity. Later, you..."

"I know what I'm doing," Shen Yan interrupted him.

He was not a philanthropist.

What he wanted was Hua Teng Decoration, the company, and ownership of Wei Guoliang and his craftsmen for the next ten, even twenty years.

He would save Hua Teng.

But the price was that Hua Teng must completely and utterly belong to Shen.

The air in the private room was somewhat stagnant.

Feng Yuanshan's hands, which had been playing with walnuts, started moving again.

Click, click, click.

The sound wasn't loud, but it struck people's hearts like a hammer.

Time ticked by second by second.

Shen Yan held his teacup, neither drinking nor putting it down, his eyelids half-lowered, seemingly dozing.

But Feng Yuanshan knew this young man was a dormant beast; patience was his best disguise.

Finally, hurried and heavy footsteps sounded from outside the door.

Approaching from afar.

Finally stopping at the door of the private room.

The door was pushed open.

A middle-aged man in his forties walked in, still carrying a trace of outdoor dust.

His hair was slightly messy, his eye sockets were sunken, and bloodshot, but his back was ramrod straight.

He wore a work jacket faded from washing, with frayed edges on the cuffs, and a pair of old leather shoes dotted with mud on his feet.

The entire man looked like an old tree struggling to withstand a storm, yet refusing to bend.

This was Wei Guoliang.

As soon as he entered, he first saw Feng Yuanshan and forced a smile that looked worse than crying.

"Old Feng, you have to laugh at me."

Then, his gaze followed the direction Feng Yuanshan indicated and landed on Shen Yan.

He froze.

Too young.

This was far from the 'distinguished guest' he had imagined could save him from the depths of trouble.

The sliver of hope in his eyes instantly dimmed.

"And this is?"

He still asked politely.

"Shen Yan, President Shen."

Feng Yuanshan introduced him.

"President Shen, this is the boss of Hua Teng Decoration I mentioned to you, Wei Guoliang."

Wei Guoliang extended his hand; his palm was rough and covered in thick calluses.

"President Shen, nice to meet you."

Shen Yan's gaze lingered on his hand for a moment before he reached out and lightly shook it.

Cold and soft.

It formed a stark contrast with Wei Guoliang's hand.

"Sit."

Shen Yan uttered a single word, gesturing for him to sit down.

Wei Guoliang pulled out a chair, sat upright, placed both hands on his knees, like a student waiting for an interview.

His mind was in turmoil.

He had come to T City today for a batch of Golden Silk Nanmu timber.

It was ordered by an old client. Although the company's accounts were empty, he didn't want to tarnish the reputation he had built over decades.

Even if it meant losing money, he had to complete the job beautifully.

Unexpectedly, right after finishing the discussion with the lumberyard owner, he received Feng Yuanshan's call.

He understood clearly that the distinguished guest Feng Yuanshan mentioned might be his last chance.

But the young man before him gave him no confidence at all.

"Boss Wei's company has run into trouble."

Shen Yan spoke, without any wasted words, getting straight to the point.

Wei Guoliang's heart sank, but his expression remained unchanged.

"Just a small issue with capital turnover; it will be resolved soon."

He was still trying to maintain his last shred of dignity.

Shen Yan's lips curved slightly, the arc carrying a hint of mockery.

"Is that so?"

"Wang Zhen from Hongtai Real Estate absconded, taking the 38 million in project funds and material costs you prepaid."

"The Bank loan of 15 million is due next Wednesday."

"The three master craftsmen who have worked with you for over ten years were poached by 'Golden Mantis' last week."

"You have been behind on workers' wages for two months and eleven days."

With every sentence Shen Yan spoke, Wei Guoliang's face grew paler.

By the end, Wei Guoliang's lips were trembling, and fine cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

These figures, these details, were like sharp knives, precisely stabbing him in his most painful spots.

He suddenly looked up, staring intently at Shen Yan, his eyes full of shock and horror.

He couldn't fathom how this young man he had never met knew his predicament so intimately.

He instinctively looked towards Feng Yuanshan.

Feng Yuanshan also looked bewildered, shaking his head to indicate that he hadn't provided such detailed information.

The private room was dead silent.

Only Wei Guoliang's heavy gasps could be heard.

His defenses had been utterly crushed by Shen Yan's few casual remarks.

"You... what do you want?"

Wei Guoliang's voice was hoarse, laced with despair.

He knew that since the other party had figured out all his trump cards, he definitely wasn't here to offer timely help.

"I want Hua Teng," Shen Yan said lightly.

Five words, like five heavy hammers, striking Wei Guoliang's heart.

He shuddered violently, his hands braced on his knees clenching into tight fists.

His knuckles turned white from the force.

"You are taking advantage of my misfortune!"

Wei Guoliang's voice was squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with humiliation and anger.

Feng Yuanshan, standing nearby, felt his eyelids twitch. He picked up his teacup, gently blew the foam, and remained silent.

This was a battle between gods; he, a mere mortal, could not interject.

Shen Yan smiled.

The smile was faint, like thin ice on a winter lake.

"Taking advantage of misfortune?"