C3 Investment
"What do you think you are, speaking to us like that?"
The black-clothed youth who had been mocking Chen Xue turned to Ye Yufei with a furious bellow.
"What do I think I am?"
Ye Yufei's smile turned icy upon hearing this. He twirled the glass in his hand and forcefully set it down on the table with a loud bang.
Thud!
The middle-aged man with a scarred face, already soaked in sweat, dropped to his knees the instant Ye Yufei's glass hit the table.
Everyone except Ye Yufei was too stunned to react.
What just happened?
Why did their leader suddenly kneel?
"Boss, what's this about?"
"Kneel down! If you three don't kneel now, we're all dead!"
The middle-aged scarred man turned and bellowed at his three underlings.
He had felt a sense of familiarity with the man on the sofa as soon as he walked in, and now he remembered who he was.
He was the infamous Young Master Ye of D City!
Even his own boss wouldn't dare make a sound in his presence, and here was this fool yelling at him!
Was he asking for a death wish?
He was fine with his own demise, but he didn't want to drag them into it!
Without hesitation, the three men dropped to their knees behind the middle-aged scarred man.
"Die? Do you really see me as that cruel?"
Ye Yufei stood up and crouched in front of the middle-aged man.
"Young Master Ye... Young Master Ye, about earlier... earlier..."
The middle-aged man stuttered, unable to complete his thought.
They had never seen their boss act this way before.
"Go back and tell your boss that Chen Hai is under my protection now. He can come to me for the debt if he dares."
"Yes! Yes!"
The middle-aged scarred man quickly got to his feet and hurried out of Chen Hai's house with his three underlings.
...
"Boss, who was that guy? Should we really be that scared of him?"
Smack!
The black-clothed man received a sharp slap across his face the moment his words fell.
"Do we really need to be that terrified of him? Do you even know who he is?! The top young master of D City, Ye Yufei! He's the crown prince of the Ye family!
With just one word from him, it's not just you who's in trouble; even I or my bosses could be completely wiped out. We might not even leave behind an intact body!"
The middle-aged man with the scarred face pointed accusingly at the man in black and bellowed furiously. Hearing his boss's words, the man in black was so petrified that his knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the steps.
...
After resettling in his chair, Ye Yufei turned to Chen Xue, who was still lost in thought nearby.
"The kettle's empty. Could you fetch some water for me? Talking earlier made me quite thirsty."
Upon hearing Ye Yufei's voice, Chen Xue quickly snapped back to reality, nodded, and hurried into the kitchen with the kettle.
Ye Yufei watched Chen Xue's flustered retreat, not sure whether to be amused or concerned. Was he really that frightening?
Just as Chen Xue dashed into the kitchen, Chen Hai burst in from outside.
He had encountered the debt collectors, each wearing a look of sheer terror. When he questioned them, they remained tight-lipped about the cause, merely mentioning that Young Master Ye had settled his debt.
"Why are you lingering at the door? Come in and have a seat."
Ye Yufei noticed Chen Hai hesitating at the entrance and, with a smile, gestured for him to sit across from him.
"Where's my daughter? What have you done to her?!"
Chen Hai, not seeing his daughter, pointed at Ye Yufei, his voice shaking.
At these words, Ye Yufei was at a loss for words. Was his reputation truly that dreadful?
"Huh? Dad, were you looking for me?"
Chen Xue, having just filled the kettle, emerged from the kitchen and expressed her bewilderment at her father's concern.
Realizing his daughter was unharmed, Chen Hai's face flushed with embarrassment, realizing he had misjudged Ye Yufei.
Taking a seat across from Ye Yufei, Chen Hai then inquired, "Young Master Ye, what brings you here today?"
"Young Master Ye, may I inquire about the purpose of your visit today?"
"There's no need for formalities like 'Young Master Ye'; it makes me sound arrogant and dissolute. Just call me Yufei," Ye Yufei said, clearly uncomfortable with the title.
"Ah?"
Chen Hai was taken aback. Could this be the same Ye Yufei from the rumors, the haughty scion of the Ye family?
"Do you find that I'm quite different from the rumors?"
"Yes."
Ye Yufei smiled wryly as Chen Hai openly acknowledged the disparity. "The image of a profligate heir was a facade. Being the eldest son of the Ye family, if I presented myself as too virtuous, wouldn't I become an easy target for our family's adversaries?"
Chen Hai's eyes widened in sudden understanding, and his perception of Ye Yufei shifted in that instant.
A cold sweat broke out on his back as he realized the man before him was no mere wastrel, but a visionary capable of reshaping the power dynamics of D City.
"Uncle Chen, I've reviewed your profile. Building a business empire from scratch is no small feat; it's clear you're no ordinary man. A tiger, though fallen, is still a tiger. Do you really want to be a tiger at the mercy of dogs?"
Ye Yufei casually accepted the glass of water Chen Xue handed him, continuing with a chuckle.
"If you're comfortable addressing me as Uncle, then Yufei, please be straightforward about what you need from me," Chen Hai said, steadying his excitement.
The fact that Ye Yufei called him Uncle signified a level of trust and kinship. Why shouldn't he reciprocate that trust?
"One hundred million, Uncle Chen. I'm offering you one hundred million in startup capital. Pursue whatever venture you wish. Whether you succeed will be up to you."
Chen Hai stared at the bank card Ye Yufei slid across the table, momentarily lost in thought.
One hundred million...
One hundred million...
"Very well! Yufei, since you're willing to back me, I assure you, I won't disappoint. A tiger may fall, but it can rise again with ease!"
Chen Hai gripped the bank card tightly in his hands, his eyes brimming with tears as he spoke in a deep voice.
Witnessing the resurgence of Chen Hai's determination, Ye Yufei couldn't help but smile with relief.
Chen Xue's tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably as she watched her father stand up once more, the droplets falling to the ground.
"Here's my phone number. If you ever need anything, give me a call."
After offering his number, Ye Yufei stood up, ready to leave. Unexpectedly, just as he was about to go, Chen Hai called out to him.
"Yufei, Uncle Chen has another favor to ask of you."
Upon hearing this, Ye Yufei turned around only to find Chen Hai suddenly kneeling before him.
"Uncle Chen, what are you doing?!"