These are questions that Shen Jida really hadn't considered.

At this moment, Li Yuanyuan's words exposed his true feelings, and he felt a chill run down his spine, as if an invisible hand had gripped his throat.

Late-stage cancer?

Qian Zheng's fate is still fresh in everyone's mind.

If he dared to provoke the smelter, he probably wouldn't even have a chance to get sick; he would simply vanish into thin air.

“Mr. Li, it was…it was my greed.” Shen’s voice was hoarse, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. “Thank you for your reminder, otherwise I would have died without even knowing how.”

"It's not that I think too deeply, it's that you're too greedy."

Li Yuanyuan's voice remained calm, yet it carried a power that pierced through people's hearts.

Shen Ji was so speechless by those words that his face turned bright red, and he could only cough awkwardly.

Just then, Li Yuanyuan suddenly stood up, her gaze passing over Shen Ju and looking towards the glass door of the office.

Shen Jiju subconsciously followed her gaze, his pupils suddenly contracting.

A young man in a sharp suit strode in, his steps not fast, but with an imposing aura, as if he were walking through his own territory, not a corridor.

The person who arrived was none other than Li Yuanchao.

Shen Jida only knew this name, and only dared to know this name.

He knew perfectly well that Li Yuanyuan was able to manipulate events within half a month, creating a huge mess in Funing County and then patching it up, all thanks to this unfathomable young man behind her.

Li Yuanyuan personally opened the office door, a perfectly timed smile on her face.

"Mr. Li, what brings such a busy man like you here today?"

Li Yuanchao deliberately put on a stern face, his tone carrying a hint of affectionate complaint: "Yuanyuan, we are friends. I have told you many times to call me Yuanchao."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Li Yuanyuan's bright face, and continued, "What, you've stopped considering me a friend so quickly?"

"Okay, okay." Li Yuanyuan covered her mouth and chuckled, her expressive eyes curving into crescents. "So, Yuanchao, is there something special that brought you here today?"

Li Yuanchao clearly appreciated the title, and the lines on his face softened.

"Two of my childhood friends have come from out of town, and I'd like to introduce you to them."

A barely perceptible glint flashed in Li Yuanyuan's beautiful eyes.

Given Li Yuanchao's status, his childhood friend could not possibly be an ordinary person.

"Where are they? When will they arrive in Funing?"

"The person is already waiting at the Lanjiang Hotel. I came here specifically to pick you up."

"Okay, please wait a moment."

Li Yuanyuan turned and walked into the office, saying to Shen Jida, who had already stood up, "Boss Shen, you can keep an eye on things at the Chamber of Commerce for now. I'm going to see some friends. Call me if it's urgent."

“Yes, Mr. Li!” Shen Jiju nodded respectfully.

Standing at the door, Li Yuanchao smiled and nodded at him. The smile was gentle, but it made Shen Jida feel an invisible pressure.

Soon, the two walked out of the Chamber of Commerce building.

Li Yuanchao drove a Volkswagen Santana today, which is a symbol of wealth in this era, but for his status, the car was so understated that it was almost plain.

Inside the car.

Li Yuanchao gripped the steering wheel, his gaze inadvertently falling on Li Yuanyuan in the passenger seat, and he spoke with a smile.

"My two childhood friends are Zhong Yaodang and Zheng Jiuyang."

“Zhong Yaodang is tall and thin. He can talk the dead back to life, but nine out of ten of his sentences are nonsense. If he offends you later, don’t take it to heart. Just treat it as him farting.”

“Zheng Jiuyang, his family and my family have been friends for generations. He has been working hard in the army for the past few years. His personality is the opposite of Zhong Yaodang's. He is ruthless and doesn't talk much.”

Li Yuanchao did not explicitly state the backgrounds of the two men, but with just a few words, he had already sketched out the distinct images of two powerful and wealthy scions.

Soon, the car came to a smooth stop in front of the Lanjiang Hotel.

Manager Sun greeted him like he was seeing his own father, running up to him and bending over at a ninety-degree angle.

The earth-shattering scene from more than half a month ago has become his biggest secret. He keeps his mouth shut no matter who tries to find out, for fear of getting into trouble.

"Mr. Li! Your two friends have an incredible capacity for alcohol. In just a short while, they've already downed two bottles of Moutai!" Manager Sun said with a fawning smile.

Li Yuanchao smiled but didn't reply. Instead, he turned to Li Yuanyuan and said, "Those two guys have been stealing my dad's wine since they were kids. They've built up their drinking capacity. Yaodang has been living a life of debauchery in Hangzhou these past few years, and his drinking capacity has improved even further. Jiuyang is serving in the army in Luzhou, which is a veritable wine vat. When the two of them get together, they won't stop until one of them is drunk out."

As they were talking, Manager Sun carefully pushed open the door to the private room.

A strong smell of alcohol mixed with the noise hit us.

Li Yuanyuan looked up and saw two young men in the private room, their faces flushed, playing a drinking game. One was spirited and the other was silent and resolute, just as Li Yuanchao had described.

"You've finally arrived, Yuan Chao!"

Zhong Yaodang, who was wearing a white shirt, saw the newcomer at a glance, stood up with a loud laugh, and his eyes immediately locked onto Li Yuanyuan next to Li Yuanchao.

He looked him up and down, grinned, and said with a hint of cynicism, "This must be the legendary Boss Li, right? He lives up to his reputation. Yuan Chao has a really sharp eye; he'd rather leave all those mediocre women in the capital and come to this little place to dig for treasures."

This metaphor is frivolous, but not vulgar.

Li Yuanchao still pretended to be displeased, raised his foot and lightly kicked Zhong Yaodang's butt, laughing and scolding, "If you can't speak, then shut your mouth, no one will think you're mute!"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!