133: Chapter 133 Your Backer? I Bought It

Only a thin layer of gold sand remained in the hourglass. Liu Feifei stood at the courtyard entrance, her legs weak, yet she still forced herself to shout, "Just you wait! My godfather will be here any second! He knows people from Beijing Chen Family, you're finished!"

Chen Fan looked up and glanced at her. His gaze was calm, yet it sent a chill down Liu Feifei's spine.

"Beijing Chen Family?" Chen Fan set down his teacup and smiled. "Which Chen family?"

"It's... it's the Chen family in real estate! My godfather is from one of their branches!" Liu Feifei shouted, her voice trembling despite her fierce words.

Chen Muyang pushed up his glasses and said in a low voice, "Dad, she's likely referring to Chen Jianye's lineage."

"Oh." Chen Fan nodded. "Then they are indeed relatives of mine."

Liu Feifei was stunned, then became ecstatic. "You know the Chen family too? Then shouldn't you quickly..."

"However," Chen Fan interrupted her, "they are the kind of relatives I'm about to strike from the family tree."

Just as he finished speaking, the rapid ringing of a bicycle bell came from the alley entrance. Zhao Tai rushed in on a shared bike, panting heavily. He tossed the bike aside, straightened his messy suit, and strode toward the courtyard gate. Seeing Liu Feifei standing there with a swollen face, a flash of anger crossed Zhao Tai's eyes.

"Who hit you?" Liu Feifei pointed at Chen Fan aggrievedly. "Godfather, it was him! He even said he was going to blackball me!"

Zhao Tai followed her finger and saw Chen Fan sitting in the Grandmaster's chair. A middle-aged man with a steady temperament, wearing ordinary casual clothes, yet that oppressive aura of someone in power made Zhao Tai's heart sink. He had been in the beijing elite circle for many years and had met many big figures, but the man before him felt more dangerous than the heirs of those old-money families.

"This gentleman," Zhao Tai took a deep breath and forced a smile, "I am Zhao Tai, from a branch of Beijing Chen Family..."

"I know who you are," Chen Fan interrupted, pulling a phone from his pocket. "I also know what you want to say. But before that, I'd like to make a phone call."

He pressed the speakerphone button and dialed a number. The phone rang twice before connecting.

"Hello, Legal Department? Check for me what industries are under Zhao Tai's name."

Zhao Tai's smile froze on his face. He stared at the phone in Chen Fan's hand, then at that calm face, and his heart began to pound. Who exactly was this man? His status as a branch member of Beijing Chen Family was fine for bluffing outsiders, but it wouldn't hold up against a truly powerful player.

A professional and efficient voice came from the other end: "Zhao Tai, primarily involved in media, real estate, and trade. His media company is Huaying Media, his real estate project is Imperial Residence, and his trading company is Tianhai Import and Export. Boss, which business do you need us to initiate due diligence on immediately?"

Chen Fan unhurriedly took a sip of tea, his gaze sweeping over Zhao Tai's increasingly pale face. "All of them. Especially Huaying Media; initiate hostile takeover procedures immediately. For the Imperial Residence project, check for tax evasion or illegal operations; if found, report it to the relevant departments immediately. For Tianhai Import and Export, notify the partner banks to recall loans immediately and freeze all liquid assets."

The voice on the other end didn't hesitate: "Understood! It is estimated that within three minutes, the relevant notices will reach the heads of Mr. Zhao Tai's various businesses."

Zhao Tai's face turned ashen, and his body began to shake uncontrollably. He wanted to rush over and grab Chen Fan's phone, but he was held down firmly by the bodyguards nearby. Liu Feifei watched all this with eyes full of terror; she knew she had kicked a steel plate this time.

In less than three minutes, Zhao Tai's private phone began to vibrate frantically. First it was his assistant, then the general manager of Huaying Media, then the head of Imperial Residence; everyone was reporting the sudden disaster in incoherent, tearful voices.

"Mr. Zhao! The bank notified us that all loans are being recalled early, and the accounts have been frozen!"

"Boss! Huaying Media is facing a hostile takeover, the stock price hit the limit down, and our people are being cleared out!"

"Chairman Zhao! People from the Tax Bureau are here, saying they want to audit Imperial Residence's books, and that someone reported us for tax evasion!"

Every call was like a knife stabbing deep into Zhao Tai's heart. He had originally wanted to use his status as a branch member of Beijing Chen Family for one last struggle, but now, he didn't even have the strength to speak. He slumped to the ground, his eyes vacant.

Chen Fan put down his phone, took a document from Chen Muyang, and tossed it casually onto Zhao Tai's face.

"This is the equity transfer agreement for Huaying Media, as well as the asset liquidation authorization for Imperial Residence and Tianhai Import and Export. Sign it, and you can still save your life—at least you won't end up behind bars." Chen Fan's voice was calm, yet it carried an irresistible authority. "Additionally, clear out all the trash at our courtyard entrance, including everyone and everything from the film crew."

Zhao Tai looked at the document and then at Chen Fan's indifferent face; he knew he was completely finished. He tremblingly picked up the document and the pen, but he just couldn't bring himself to sign.

Liu Feifei rushed to Zhao Tai's side, grabbing his arm. "Godfather! You can't sign! This is your life's work! Didn't you say you were going to get revenge for me?!"

*Slap!*

Zhao Tai backhanded Liu Feifei hard across the face. She was knocked to the ground, half her face swelling instantly as blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.

"You bitch! It's all because of you! You're the one who ruined me!" Zhao Tai pointed at Liu Feifei like a madman. "If I'm finished today, you're damn well going down with me!"

He knelt on the ground and crawled to Chen Fan, clutching Chen Fan's leg while weeping with snot and tears. "Mr. Chen! I was wrong! I was truly wrong! I beg you to show mercy and let me go! I'll listen to whatever you say, I'll clean it up right away, right away!"

Chen Fan ignored him and simply looked at the hourglass. The gold sand had completely run out.

"Chen Haoyu," Chen Fan said flatly.

Chen Haoyu understood and rushed over, dragging Zhao Tai and Liu Feifei directly out of the alley. Under the director's organization, the film crew had mostly finished cleaning up, leaving only some scattered props. Zhao Tai scrambled to command his subordinates to load everything onto the trucks, not daring to delay for a single second.

Quiet returned to the alley entrance. Chen Fan watched the departing convoy, stood up, and brushed non-existent dust from his sleeves.

"Dad, that move... was really ruthless." Chen Nianyao leaned in and stuck out her tongue.

Su Wanqing, however, looked worried. "Fan Zi, isn't this being a bit too high-profile?"

Chen Fan took Su Wanqing's hand and patted it gently, his gaze turning toward the vermilion gates. "Let's go, let's head inside and see our new home. Haven't you always wanted to live in a house with a courtyard?"

He led his wife by the hand toward the magnificent Siheyuan. Chen Muyang and Chen Nianyao followed behind, while Su Guohua looked around excitedly like a child.

The vermilion gates slowly opened, revealing a corner of the courtyard. The ancient eaves and carved window lattices all spoke of a profound sense of history. However, deep within the courtyard, a flash of bright red caused Chen Muyang's gaze to instantly freeze.

It was a Hongqi L5, gleaming brilliantly under the sunlight.

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