254: Chapter 254 The Entanglement of a Playboy

Outside the art studio. Chen Muyang stepped over the threshold and walked inside.

He walked up to Bai Yu, raised his foot, and stepped on Bai Yu's designer leather shoes, grinding down hard twice.

"Who did you just say you were going to crush to death?" Chen Muyang looked down at Bai Yu on the floor.

Bai Yu grimaced in pain, his face pressed against the blue paint as he cursed loudly: "Chen Muyang! You dare touch me? Do you know who my grandfather is? I'm telling you, the Huihuang Group will be shut down tomorrow!"

Chen Muyang took out his phone and dialed Chen Haoyu's number.

"Investigate the Bai family of the capital," Chen Muyang instructed over the phone.

Bai Yu struggled frantically on the ground, shouting at the top of his lungs: "No need to investigate! Tomorrow, the city's Joint Inspection Team will seize your headquarters building! You Chens better pack your bags and get lost!"

On the other end of the line, the group's intelligence center acted extremely fast.

In less than half a minute, detailed information on the Bai family was sent to Chen Muyang's phone.

Chen Muyang looked down and scanned the screen.

The Bai family of the capital. The old man had some connections before he retired. Now, his two sons held deputy positions in several city departments. Relying on this background, Bai Yu acted like a tyrant in his social circles, setting up several shell companies under his name specifically for extortion and kickbacks.

A second-rate powerful family.

Chen Muyang put his phone back into his suit pocket. He moved his foot off Bai Yu's leather shoe.

"Throw him out," Chen Muyang ordered the two Shadow Guards. "Don't let him dirty the studio floor."

The two members grabbed Bai Yu by his arms and dragged him out of the studio.

"Chen Muyang! You just wait! If I don't have your doors sealed tomorrow, my last name isn't Bai!" Bai Yu shouted all the way, his voice echoing in the hallway until he was tossed out the front gate.

The studio fell silent.

Chen Muyang walked over to Chen Nianyao. The bouquet of Ecuadorian Blue Roses, worth a million, lay next to the trash can with petals scattered everywhere. Several buckets of paint had been overturned, spilling across the wooden floor.

Chen Nianyao put down the rag in her hand. She usually had a good temper, but today she was genuinely furious.

"You weren't frightened, were you?" Chen Muyang asked.

"No," Chen Nianyao looked at the paint on the floor. "This rogue has been bothering me every day lately. I ignored him, so today he just smashed the door and broke in."

Chen Muyang glanced at the explosion-proof glass door, which was now covered in cracks.

"I'll find you a new studio," Chen Muyang said. "From now on, four Shadow Guards will be stationed around your workspace. If anyone dares to force their way in again, break their legs and throw them out."

After comforting his sister, Chen Muyang turned and left the studio, taking a car back to Longwan No. 1.

That night. The Courtyard House at Longwan No. 1.

In the study, Chen Fan was using a dry towel to wipe a Paperweight made of Old Sandalwood.

Chen Muyang stood before the desk and recounted everything that had happened at the studio that afternoon, including Bai Yu's threats, exactly as they occurred.

"The Bai family said they're sending a Joint Inspection Team to seize the headquarters tomorrow," Chen Muyang said. "Should I have Chen Haoyu reach out and block them?"

Chen Fan placed the Paperweight on the table.

"No need." Chen Fan pulled out a chair and sat down. "Keep the doors wide open and let them inspect."

Chen Muyang didn't reply, waiting for Chen Fan to continue.

"The Chen family has developed too quickly these past few years. Many people only see that the Huihuang Group is wealthy, forgetting what the group actually does." Chen Fan picked up the teacup on the table. "If someone wants to use power to suppress others, then let them take the stage and perform. Once they've finished their act, we'll tear down the stage."

Chen Muyang understood. They were going to use the Bai family to set an example for everyone else.

The next day. 10:00 AM.

Huihuang Group Headquarters Building.

It was a workday, and thousands of employees were working in the building.

Suddenly, seven or eight government vehicles with various department labels drove into the plaza outside. Two red fire trucks parked directly at the main entrance, blocking all entry and exit routes.

The doors opened, and dozens of people in various uniforms poured out. Tax, Fire Department, and Industry and Commerce—they were all there.

Leading them was a balding middle-aged man. He carried a black leather bag under his arm and walked at the very front.

The security guards at the door stepped forward to inquire but were immediately pushed aside by two uniformed men.

The group of dozens pushed through the glass revolving doors and swarmed into the first-floor lobby.

The receptionist in the lobby stood up, watching the aggressive crowd.

The balding middle-aged man walked to the front desk and slammed his black leather bag onto the marble tabletop.

"Who's in charge here? Get your manager out here!" the middle-aged man shouted.

The receptionist picked up the landline to make a call.

"Full suspension of operations for rectification!" the middle-aged man pointed at the employees in the lobby. "The Huihuang Group's fire exits are substandard, and there are issues with the tax accounts! Starting now, everyone must evacuate the building immediately! Set up the cordon!"

Several uniformed men, holding white papers printed with the word 'Sealed,' headed toward the various entrances and exits of the lobby.

The employees in the first-floor lobby all stopped their work. No one left, and no one made a scene. Everyone just stood there watching them.

The elevator gave a 'ding.'

The private CEO elevator doors opened.

Chen Muyang, dressed in a deep black suit, stepped out of the elevator. Following behind him were Chen Haoyu and two executives from the Legal Department.

Chen Muyang strode to the center of the lobby and looked at the balding middle-aged man.

"I am the person in charge of the Huihuang Group," Chen Muyang spoke. "Who is leading your team?"

The middle-aged man thrust the documents from under his arm forward.

"I am the leader of the Joint Inspection Team, Bai Jianguo!" the middle-aged man said with full confidence. "This is the notice for suspension of operations! Clear the area immediately; we are going to seal this building. Also, disconnect your main servers from the internet; we are taking the hard drives to audit the tax data!"

They wanted to touch the main servers. Those were connected to the Pangu Computing Center.

Behind him, Chen Haoyu cracked his knuckles.

Chen Muyang didn't take the notice. He just looked at Bai Jianguo.

"Do you have a seizure warrant from the court?" Chen Muyang asked.

Bai Jianguo sneered twice. "A rectification notice from a joint inspection is enough! What, does your Huihuang Group want to resist the law?"

Just then, another person walked in from the main entrance.

Bai Yu, with a circle of gauze wrapped around his head and wearing a black leather jacket, swaggered inside.

He walked over to Bai Jianguo and called him "Second Uncle."

Then, Bai Yu turned to Chen Muyang and burst into laughter.

"Young Director Chen, weren't you quite the tough guy when you were stepping on me in the studio yesterday?" Bai Yu pointed to the gauze on his head. "Now that we're on your own turf, why aren't you acting so arrogant?"

Chen Muyang glanced at Bai Yu but ignored him.

Seeing that Chen Muyang remained silent, Bai Yu grew even more arrogant. He walked up to Chen Muyang until they were less than half a meter apart.

"I told you yesterday," Bai Yu lowered his voice, his tone insolent. "In this Sijiu City, money doesn't mean a damn thing! When power wants to crush you, it's easier than squashing an ant. My second uncle can seal this building whenever he says so!"

Bai Yu pointed at the uniformed personnel outside and continued, "Now, send your sister to the hotel I specify. I might let my second uncle show some mercy and leave you a way out. Otherwise, all your servers will be unplugged and taken away today. By tomorrow, the Huihuang Group will have to declare bankruptcy!"

The lobby was incredibly quiet. All the executives and employees were watching.

Chen Muyang looked at Bai Yu's finger, which was waving around erratically.

"Young Master Bai," Chen Muyang said calmly. "Are you sure you'll be able to put up that seal today?"

Bai Yu shouted back.

"What? You dare refuse to cooperate?" Bai Yu turned to Bai Jianguo. "Second Uncle, he's resisting the law. Just cut the power and put up the seal!"

Bai Jianguo waved his hand. Several people holding seals moved toward the glass of the main entrance.

"Bai Jianguo," Chen Muyang called out the middle-aged man's full name.

Bai Jianguo stopped and turned around.

"You want to unplug the Huihuang Group's servers. Do you know what's running on them?" Chen Muyang took out his phone. "Stop now and get out with your nephew. This is the Bai family's last chance."

"Are you threatening me?" Bai Jianguo was furious. "Unplug them! I'll take responsibility if anything happens!"

Chen Muyang pressed a key on his phone.

"Then get ready to answer the phone," Chen Muyang said.

Just as he finished speaking, the phone in Bai Jianguo's pocket suddenly let out a sharp ring.

Not just his, but Bai Yu's phone beside him also began to ring.

One sharp ring after another echoed abruptly in the first-floor lobby. This call would determine the life or death of the Bai family.