75: Who's in favor? Who's against?

Jin Meiting was silent for a few seconds before she explained in a low voice.

"I'm not too clear on the specifics myself, I just vaguely heard Zhao Tiangang mention it, it seems to be..."

"Related to Bing Lan's physique."

"That explanation was too mystical, I didn't take it seriously."

"Physique?" Ye Chen was startled.

In his inherited memories, the concept of physiques indeed existed.

Some special physiques were immune to all evils, and cultivation yielded twice the results with half the effort, making them veritable "human spirit medicines."

But a problem arose... he had saved Bing Lan, and they had been in frequent contact recently. If she truly had a special physique, how could he have not noticed?

Could there be another hidden reason?

Bing Lan pursed her lips and finally spoke: "So you had Ye Chen approach me, wanting him to pursue me? To make it a fait accompli, or at least turn a fake relationship into a real one, so the Zhao family would completely give up?"

Jin Meiting nodded.

"Yes."

"This is the only method I could think of..."

"As long as Daoist Master believes you are already taken by someone else, perhaps he will give up."

"After all... people like them sometimes care more about intangible things like destiny and status than ordinary people."

Silence fell over the car again.

Li Qin secretly glanced at Bing Lan through the rearview mirror, then at Ye Chen, who was touching his chin in the passenger seat, lost in thought. Her eyes darted around, but she didn't dare to speak.

"What about you?" After a long while, Bing Lan asked, "What do you plan to do next?"

Jin Meiting gave a bitter smile, gazing at the streetlights passing outside the window.

"Next? I'll take it one step at a time. Zhao Tiangang won't let me go, I know him too well..."

"People like me are like the neon lights of a nightclub; everyone thinks they're beautiful when they're lit, but once they go out, they're just a pile of scrap metal, and no one gives them a second glance."

Ye Chen casually interjected: "Then don't let them go out."

Jin Meiting was startled and turned to look at him.

Ye Chen turned the steering wheel and continued.

"Tiangong Nightclub is mine now."

"However you helped Zheng Hu manage it before, that's how you'll help me manage it from now on."

"Salaries will be paid as usual, dividends will be given as usual, and you won't miss out on a single cent of what's rightfully yours."

"Of course, all illegal businesses are strictly forbidden. Otherwise..."

His tone was calm, yet it carried a chill, "I'm much more efficient at dealing with people than Zheng Hu."

Jin Meiting stared at him blankly, momentarily speechless.

Bing Lan didn't speak.

She had originally wanted to invite Jin Meiting to The Group, but since Ye Chen had spoken, she remained silent.

Because Jin Meiting was more suited for the nightlife industry.

Li Qin whispered: "Isn't this... taking advantage of someone's misfortune and seizing the spoils of war?"

Ye Chen's expression didn't change.

"I'm merely putting talent to good use and recycling waste."

Jin Meiting: "...I thank you for that."

Ye Chen waved his hand.

"You're welcome, it's my duty."

Bing Lan: "..."

Li Qin: "..."

Sometimes, Ye Chen's words were truly venomous.

After a long pause, Jin Meiting finally replied: "Alright, I'll help you clean up Tiangong Nightclub."

Ye Chen nodded and said nothing more.

The car drove into Number One Courtyard and stopped in front of Bing Lan's villa.

Several people got out of the car, the night breeze was slightly cool.

Bing Lan stood at the door and looked at Ye Chen: "Tonight... still staying here?"

Ye Chen scratched his head.

"The contract is signed, so of course I'm staying here."

"But Tiangong Nightclub has a lot of messes to clean up, and Zheng Hu's people are unsettled, so I need to go there first."

Bing Lan acknowledged: "Then be careful."

Ye Chen grinned.

"Don't worry, the people who could make me unsafe..."

"Are all lying down for now."

Bing Lan glared at him, turned to open the door, and walked in with Li Qin.

Before the door closed, Li Qin poked her head out and made a face at Ye Chen: "Younger Male Cousin, don't be too wild, watch your kidneys!"

Ye Chen: "..."

Jin Meiting let out a soft laugh.

Ye Chen turned around speechlessly and opened the Audi car door.

"Let's go, let's go see my new territory."

Jin Meiting followed behind him, her eyes flickering as she watched the young man's tall back.

The night was deep, and the city lights hung upside down like a galaxy.

That night, the sky of Xiamen City's underworld completely changed.

And the sky in some people's hearts also quietly flipped over... Tiangong Nightclub.

The lobby was brightly lit, and all available staff were present, standing in a dense crowd.

Waiters, hostesses, thugs, underlings... everyone was uneasy.

"Did you hear? Brother Hu fell!"

"More than just fell? They say he was taken down single-handedly by a young man!"

"And Second Master, I heard he was dragged back like a dead dog..."

"This time it's big, the police cuffed Brother Hu and took him away. This Tiangong Nightclub... it's really going to collapse!"

"What do we do? Who's the new boss? Will he... settle accounts with all of us?"

...Panic spread like a plague.

After all.

Nightlife salaries are very high, and no one wants to lose this livelihood... A few tough guys who returned from the Middle East with Zheng Xiong stood in the corner with gloomy faces, their eyes flickering.

Foreman Old Chen rubbed his hands, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

He was considered an old-timer here, having been with Tiangong Nightclub since Zheng Hu took over, and had seen many storms.

But this scene today, he had truly never encountered before.

The boss arrested, the Second Master crippled and arrested... this was no longer a simple change of boss, this was a change of era!

Moreover, Jin Meiting's call earlier was terrifyingly calm, only telling everyone to gather and wait for the new boss.

Who was the new boss?

The Zhao family from the provincial capital?

Or... his mind was in a mess, and he didn't dare to think further.

"Creak—"

Just as everyone was in a state of panic, the heavy main door was pushed open.

All eyes, without exception, shot towards the entrance!

The next second, the entire lobby fell into an eerie silence.

Jin Meiting walked in, her waist swaying like a water snake, arm in arm with a young man.

When everyone clearly saw the young man's face... countless people gasped, their eyes nearly popping out!

Ye Chen?!

The driver who was just a small waiter not long ago, but suddenly drove for the Big Sister-in-law?

Could he possibly be the new boss???

"Holy crap..."

Foreman Old Chen's mouth was wide enough to fit an egg, his mind completely crashed.

Did this kid hook up with the Big Sister-in-law?

No, that's not right!

How is this hooking up with the Big Sister-in-law?

This is taking over the Big Sister-in-law along with everything the boss had, all bundled up!

But the question is... how did he do it?

He was clearly an honest and simple person just a few days ago!

The eyes of those tough guys who returned from the Middle East suddenly sharpened.

They were unconvinced!

Brother Xiong was their boss, the God of War who led them through hails of bullets to survive!

They heard that he was severely injured and dragged like trash by this kid?

Rage!

Uncontrollable rage!

The burly man codenamed "Blood Wolf" suddenly stepped forward, staring intently at Ye Chen: "You, are Ye Chen?"

Ye Chen stopped, and nodded.

"It's me."

Blood Wolf's eyes were fierce: "Brother Xiong was injured by you?"

"That's right." Ye Chen continued to nod, "And I'm the one who sent him to prison."

"Good!"

Blood Wolf roared, tearing off his jacket to reveal his muscular upper body.

It was covered in various gunshot wounds and knife scars... quite shocking to behold.

"Brother Xiong saved my life!"

"Today, I will seek justice for him!"

Before his words finished, he pounced at Ye Chen like a leopard, a punch aimed directly at his face!

This punch, with its whistling wind, carried the killing aura honed on the battlefield, far beyond what a street thug could muster!

A chorus of exclamations erupted around them!

However.

Ye Chen merely tilted his head slightly, and casually raised and parried with his left hand.

"Clap!"

Fist met palm, emitting a crisp sound.

Blood Wolf felt as if his punch, strong enough to shatter bricks, had struck a rubber wall, all its force dissipated without a trace!

He was greatly alarmed and was about to change his move when Ye Chen's right hand reached out and gripped his wrist.

Immediately after, a tremendous force came through!

Blood Wolf was swung around, like a sack, and violently smashed into a solid wood coffee table nearby!

"Boom—!!!"

The coffee table shattered instantly, wood chips flying everywhere!

Blood Wolf groaned, struggling twice amidst the broken wood, but couldn't get up... The whole process took but a blink of an eye.

Ye Chen's other hand was even still linked with Jin Meiting's arm.

Silence!

A deathly silence!

Those tough guys who returned from the Middle East all froze in place, as if doused with ice water from head to toe.

They knew Blood Wolf's skill best; he was a close-combat master who had crawled out of piles of corpses!

But in front of Ye Chen, he was knocked down... in just one move???

This disparity was simply despair-inducing!

Ignoring the entire hall, Ye Chen raised an eyebrow.

"Is there anyone else who wants to seek justice?"

"Step forward now, and I'll deal with you all at once, saving future trouble."

No one answered.

Everyone lowered their heads, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Those tough guys subconsciously took half a step back, even avoiding his gaze.

They weren't afraid of death, but they were afraid of dying without value.

Just like Blood Wolf, casually thrown out like trash... Ye Chen nodded and continued.

"Allow me to introduce myself."

"From today onwards, I, Ye Chen, call the shots at Tiangong Nightclub."

"Jin Meiting will remain the boss lady here, and she will be fully responsible for daily operations."

"All of Zheng Hu's old rules are abolished."

"I only have three new rules."

"First, prostitution, gambling, and drugs are strictly forbidden. Anyone who touches them will go to jail; in serious cases, death!"

"Second, operate legally, pay taxes according to the law, and all illicit businesses will be cut off."

"Third, and most importantly..."

He paused, his tone turning cold.

"Laying hands on my people, verbal harassment, forced transactions..."

"Once discovered, it won't just be a matter of getting fired."

"I will let you know what regret feels like."

The lobby was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

After Ye Chen finished speaking, his gaze slowly swept over every face.

"Alright, I'm done."

He suddenly smiled, harmlessly, "Who agrees, and who objects?"