80: Chapter 80 Welcome to the Top of the Food Chain

The air in the conference room still held the residual warmth from the earlier farce.

As the sound of the police siren faded into the distance, Zhang Feng plopped down onto the chairman's genuine leather armchair that Wang Tiansheng had just vacated. He slapped the armrests vigorously, the fat on his Buddha-like face quivering with excitement.

"Satisfying! Damn satisfying!" Zhang Feng grabbed the teapot and took a big swig directly from the spout. "Suffered for three years, finally got to vent that pent-up anger today! That old bastard Wang Tiansheng, even if he doesn't die this time, he'll be skinned alive!"

He turned to look at Chen Muyang, the wrinkles on his face bunching up like a chrysanthemum as he grinned. "Young Master Chen, I owe this all to you! Don't you worry, from now on, Tiansheng Group is our playground. My hundred-some pounds of flesh, I'm selling them to you from here on out!"

Chen Muyang sat opposite him, idly twirling a pen in his hand, his expression unreadable.

"Uncle Zhang, there are some things we need to get straight upfront."

Chen Muyang tossed the pen onto the table with a crisp *clack*.

Zhang Feng's heart skipped a beat, his smile freezing halfway. "Young Master Chen, please go on."

"Wang Tiansheng is gone, but the company can't be without a leader for a single day. You'll take the chairman's seat." Chen Muyang's tone was flat, as if he were assigning a team leader.

Zhang Feng was overjoyed and was about to stand up to pledge his loyalty when Chen Muyang's next words poured over him like a bucket of ice water.

"However, I'm replacing the company's CEO and CFO."

Chen Muyang clapped his hands.

The conference room door swung open, and two middle-aged individuals in professional attire, radiating competence, walked in. A man and a woman, both with steady gazes, each carrying a briefcase.

"Let me introduce you." Chen Muyang pointed to the man. "Chen Han, former Wall Street investment bank executive. He'll be the CEO of Tiansheng Group from now on, responsible for all daily operations and decision-making."

He then pointed to the woman. "Yu Zhiye, Certified Public Accountant, former partner at a Big Four accounting firm. She'll be the CFO. Every single cent that moves in or out of the company will go through her hands."

These two were precisely the top-tier business talents Chen Fan had arranged for his son through the system.

The smile vanished completely from Zhang Feng's face.

He was an old fox; how could he not understand the implication?

The CEO manages affairs, the CFO manages money. With these two in place, what real power would he, the chairman, have left besides signing documents, stamping seals, and attending banquets?

He'd be a commander without an army! A complete and utter figurehead!

"Young Master Chen, this..." Zhang Feng rubbed his hands together, his expression sour. "The company's original executive team is still in place. Suddenly parachuting in two top executives... I'm afraid the subordinates won't accept it."

"Won't accept it?" Chen Muyang stood up, straightened his suit jacket, and walked over to Zhang Feng. "Anyone who doesn't can come find me. Or, they can go see what happened to Wang Tiansheng."

He leaned down, locking eyes with Zhang Feng. "Uncle Zhang, one must know contentment. Once Wang Tiansheng's 30% shares enter judicial auction proceedings, I will acquire all of them. At that point, my shareholding will exceed 64%—absolute controlling interest."

"I'm letting you sit in this seat as a courtesy to you, and for appearances' sake. If you find this chair too hot to handle, I can replace you at any time. After all, there's no shortage of people willing to be puppets; you're not the only one."

Cold sweat instantly drenched Zhang Feng's back.

Looking at this young man in his early twenties before him, a chill shot straight to his skull. This was no fresh graduate! This was a ruthless character who devoured people without spitting out the bones!

His methods were cunning, his planning meticulous, leaving Zhang Feng absolutely no room for retreat.

"I accept! I fully accept!" Zhang Feng hurriedly stood up, vacating the seat, and bowed at a ninety-degree angle. "Anyone Young Master Chen appoints must be outstanding talents! I, Zhang Feng, support this with both hands! From now on, Young Master Chen calls all the shots in the company. I'm just here to run errands!"

Chen Muyang patted his shoulder approvingly. "That's more like it. Do well, and you'll get your year-end dividends. As for that unfaithful wife of yours..."

"Divorce! I'll divorce her as soon as I get back!" Zhang Feng gnashed his teeth. "That bitch, I'll make sure she leaves with nothing!"

After the stick, it was time for the carrot.

Chen Muyang glanced at his watch. "Alright, business is done. Uncle Zhang, you mentioned treating us earlier?"

Zhang Feng was momentarily stunned, then immediately caught on, his face once again wreathed in smiles. "Yes, yes, yes! Absolutely! To celebrate our great victory, tonight's on me! We're going to 'Yunding Clubhouse'!"

When he uttered these four words, Zhang Feng deliberately lowered his voice, a mysterious look on his face. "That's the most exclusive money-burning den in Jiangcheng. Usually, you can't even get through the door without a regular bringing you. Tonight, we drink until we drop!"

...

7 PM, night had fallen.

A black car model followed steadily behind a Mercedes-Benz S-Class like a giant beast, entering the underground garage of Yunxiao Tower—the tallest skyscraper in Jiangcheng's CBD.

There was a dedicated express elevator here, guarded by four burly security personnel. The checks were extremely strict; even a boss of Zhang Feng's status had to obediently present his membership card.

The elevator shot skyward, stopping at the 108th floor—the top.

As the doors slid open, an aura of opulence washed over them.

Underfoot was a thick Persian hand-knotted carpet. Overhead, a dazzling crystal chandelier. The air was perfumed with the expensive scent of agarwood.

Two rows of hostesses in cheongsams bowed in unison. The slits were cut to a perfect height—neither vulgar nor lacking in allure.

"Welcome to Yunding Clubhouse."

Their voices were soft and sweet, perfectly synchronized.

Chen Muyang swept his gaze over them, feeling a flicker of surprise. Any one of these hostesses, picked at random, outshone the so-called Department Flower in looks and figure, even rivaling some second-tier celebrities.

"Young Master Chen, this way, please." Zhang Feng fawned as he led the way. "Yunding Clubhouse has three floors. We're in the 'Emperor's Hall' on the very top."

Stepping into the private room, Chen Muyang finally witnessed what true top-tier aristocratic living was like.

Beyond the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, the entire nightscape of Jiangcheng was laid out beneath them. The streams of traffic far below seemed to be paying homage to this very place.

Every furnishing in the room was an antique. Chen Muyang had seen the calligraphy and painting hanging on the wall in auction news—it sold for eight million.

Several stunningly beautiful waitresses provided service on their knees, their movements as gentle as cats.

"Young Master Chen, make yourself at home." Zhang Feng passed over the menu. "All the waitresses here are graduates of prestigious universities, specially trained. Their base salary alone is fifteen thousand, tips on top. If any catch your eye... as long as the money's right, taking them with you isn't out of the question."

Chen Muyang opened the menu.

The first page made his eyebrows rise.

Wild Yangtze River Reeves' shad, sold by the *liang* (approx. 50g), eight thousand per *liang*.

Premium double-headed abalone, thirty thousand each.

There were also some game items with names that sounded downright illegal. Though written euphemistically, those in the know understood what they were.

"One wild pufferfish, have the master chef handle it personally." Zhang Feng ordered skillfully. "And open two bottles of '82 Lafite, let them breathe for half an hour."

After the waitress withdrew, Zhang Feng poured Chen Muyang a cup of tea and sighed. "Young Master Chen, this is why we work so hard to make money. Here, there's no law, no morality. Only money and power. As long as you stand high enough, the world is your playground."

Chen Muyang picked up his teacup, gazing out at the tiny mortals below.

Back when he delivered takeout, looking up at this building, it had seemed unattainably high. He'd even felt resentment towards the rich, wondering why they got to enjoy all this.

But now, sitting here, drinking tea that cost thousands per pot, enjoying the obeisance of others, that spark of resentment had long since died out. In its place was a cold acceptance of the rules.

Human nature is inherently greedy.

Since you can't change the fact that the world is a pyramid, strive to climb to the top, to be the one who eats the meat, not the meat that gets eaten.

"Uncle Zhang is right." Chen Muyang took a sip of tea, his tone indifferent. "This world is about the survival of the fittest. Wang Tiansheng lost, so he eats prison food. We won, so we eat pufferfish here. Perfectly fair."

Hearing this, Zhang Feng immediately raised his glass, his expression fervent.

"Young Master Chen sees things clearly! This glass, I toast to you!"

Zhang Feng stood up, holding his glass extremely low, his face full of respect. "From now on, in Jiangcheng, if there's ever anything you need from me, just say the word. Murder and arson I can't do, but charging into battle, taking bullets, or being the fall guy—I, Zhang Feng, would do it a thousand times over!"

Watching his desperate, heart-on-his-sleeve display, a hint of amusement curled at the corner of Chen Muyang's mouth.

He picked up his glass and lightly clinked it against Zhang Feng's rim.

"Bottoms up."

The red wine slid down his throat, slightly astringent.

Watching Zhang Feng throw his head back and drink heartily, Chen Muyang understood perfectly well.

This old fox wasn't pledging loyalty; he was seeking a patron. He was scared, terrified of following in Wang Tiansheng's footsteps, so he was desperately trying to cling to the Chen family tree.

Unfortunately, on Chen Muyang's chessboard, Zhang Feng had been a pawn to be sacrificed from the very beginning.

After several rounds of drinks and many dishes.

Zhang Feng's face was flushed red from alcohol. He suddenly leaned in conspiratorially. "Young Master Chen, just eating is boring. The real core of this clubhouse is the tea room. I know the general manager here—he's quite a figure. I'll take you to meet him later. If you can get a membership card, from then on, you could walk sideways through Jiangcheng and no one would dare stop you!"

Chen Muyang set down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth.

"Alright then, let's go see what it's about."

He stood up and straightened his collar.

Walk sideways?

Unnecessary.

Because this pinnacle of the tower was, after all, built by his family.