Chapter 458: Encountering Ma Qiming Again

Feng Qingwan was halfway through her sentence when Chen Erbao shot her a glare. She then remembered that after their last encounter, Chen Erbao had warned her not to tell anyone that he had met with Huang Sanlang.

Feng Qingwan stopped herself in time. She stole a glance at Dongfang Yuqing and, seeing she wasn’t paying attention, resumed chattering away at Chen Erbao’s side.

Dongfang Yuqing, of course, paid no mind to their conversation. She focused on driving, her personality as cold and proud as her name suggested, like a distant, cold moon.

Not wanting to deal with Feng Qingwan, Chen Erbao simply leaned back, closed his eyes, and rested.

Seeing this, Feng Qingwan huffily shook a fist and muttered something under her breath, most likely curses directed at Chen Erbao.

The car sped along the road, soon arriving at a reception hotel in Pujiang District.

The hotel was usually very low-key, but those in the know understood it was the place Binhai City used exclusively to host foreign dignitaries.

As they neared the hotel, they entered a traffic control zone. Every vehicle had to be inspected by the Patrol before being allowed to proceed.

Dongfang Yuqing’s car, naturally, didn’t require inspection and drove straight into the hotel, parking in a designated spot.

The three of them got out of the car. Dongfang Yuqing said to Chen Erbao,

“Mr. Chen, my father only asked me to bring you inside. Is there anything else you need help with?”

Chen Erbao shrugged. “Please, Miss Dongfang, go about your business. I’ll just tag along.”

His main objective tonight was to observe Huang Baiwen and see what moves the Huang Family was preparing in response to Dongfang Ming. It wasn’t the right time for him to reveal himself.

Hearing his words, Dongfang Yuqing gave a slight nod, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and walked straight toward the reception hall.

Chen Erbao dutifully followed behind her.

Feng Qingwan, wearing a snow-white gown, walked beside Chen Erbao.

“Chen… Chen Haonan, who exactly are you? What are you doing here tonight?”

she asked in a low, curious voice, glancing over at Dongfang Yuqing every so often, afraid of being overheard.

Chen Erbao, his expression calm, replied casually,

“I helped Mr. Dongfang out once before. Tonight, I’m just here for the experience. Don’t say anything reckless, or you might attract the wrong kind of attention. I have a lot of enemies. If they come after you, you’re done for!”

“Pfft, trying to scare me…”

Feng Qingwan pouted, but after entering the reception hall, she obediently kept her mouth shut.

The reception hall was dazzling, a magnificent and splendid scene.

Tables on either side were laden with fine red wine. In the center of the hall stood a large group of foreign businessmen, listening as a vigorous middle-aged man spoke with great confidence.

Dongfang Yuqing walked directly to the middle-aged man’s side and addressed him.

“Dad…”

Dongfang Ming turned, glanced at his daughter, and nodded. His gaze then fell upon Chen Erbao, who was standing behind her, and he sized him up carefully.

Chen Erbao was also studying Dongfang Ming.

‘A classic square jaw, sharp and defined features. His eyes are clear and intense, carrying a faint, imposing pressure. When he’s not smiling, he really has the air of a powerful provincial governor.’

‘So this is the new Governor of Binhai, the man who’s about to topple the entire Huang Family?’

Their eyes met for a moment. Dongfang Ming didn’t speak to Chen Erbao, but simply gave a barely perceptible nod before turning to introduce his daughter to the foreigner beside him.

“This is my daughter…”

Smith, whose thinning hair hinted at his high status, spoke in fluent Chinese:

“Miss Dongfang is truly beautiful! Without a doubt, the most beautiful Chinese lady I have ever seen!”

Dongfang Yuqing inclined her head slightly.

“Thank you for the compliment. You’re very charming yourself!”

“…”

After some meaningless small talk, Dongfang Yuqing excused herself from Dongfang Ming and led Chen Erbao and Feng Qingwan to a table in the corner of the hall, where she casually picked up something to eat.

Aside from the wealthy foreigners, nearly all of Binhai’s prominent local families and corporations were present.

Everyone present was well aware of Dongfang Ming’s all-but-declared plan. In fact, a large portion of them were affiliates of the Huang Family.

If the Huang Family were to fall, they would be dragged down as well.

And these people were part of the “rotten flesh” that Dongfang Ming was determined to excise.

However, there was also a faction of neutral families. These were the ones Dongfang Ming was trying his utmost to win over. The cooperation with the foreigners would be supported by them, and they would become the new power players in Binhai.

Whether they would one day grow into a malignant tumor like the Huang Family remained to be seen, and would depend on Dongfang Ming’s methods.

Chen Erbao spotted Xiao Guang in the crowd.

Xiao Guang was one of the few people present who represented a power that didn’t need to choose a side.

After all, the sheer scale of Medicine King Hall was undeniable. As an international super-conglomerate, even those wealthy foreign businessmen had to politely address Xiao Guang as President Xiao upon meeting him.

Thus, Xiao Guang’s status was quite high. At that moment, a dozen or so heads of Binhai’s various families and corporations were gathered around him. They appeared to be making small talk, but in reality, they were all subtly trying to probe Medicine King Hall’s perspective on the situation in Binhai.

Xiao Guang, ever the smooth operator, deliberately steered the conversation away from the topic, refusing to state his opinion.

“President Xiao, long time no see!”

A young man made his way past the crowd of local tycoons and raised his glass to Xiao Guang with a smile.

Xiao Guang smiled in return.

The local tycoons were initially a little annoyed, but upon seeing the young man’s face, they swallowed whatever complaints they were about to voice.

“Young Master Ma, you’ve been in Binhai recently?”

Xiao Guang asked politely.

Ma Qiming was, after all, the heir to the Dingsheng Group, a domestic behemoth second only to Medicine King Hall. Naturally, he was also one of the few who didn’t need to pick a side tonight.

Standing beside Ma Qiming was another of Chen Erbao’s acquaintances—Wang Ming!

As one of the rich kids who had been thrashed by Chen Erbao, Wang Ming’s life had been miserable lately.

He had come to China to increase his influence, so he had been constantly schmoozing with top-tier scions, hoping to secure a major deal or two and improve his standing within the EX Group.

Unfortunately, ever since he’d crossed paths with Chen Erbao, nothing had gone smoothly for him. Even Ma Qiming, with whom he’d always been on good terms, had been somewhat displeased with him recently.

Ma Qiming was angry mainly because Wang Ming had hired an assassin to deal with Chen Erbao.

‘In his opinion, they should have just let the matter drop. But Wang Ming insisted on revenge, which ended up getting him scolded by his own father again!’

‘Luckily, Chen Erbao didn’t know the two of them were behind it. Otherwise, if Medicine King Hall decided to pursue the matter, his father would probably ground him for several months!’

In the corner, Chen Erbao held a piece of cake, eating it as he glanced in Xiao Guang’s direction.

‘I didn’t expect those two to be here…’

He had, of course, seen Ma Qiming and Wang Ming.

The assassin in the Yunnan Triangle Zone had fled immediately after his failed attack. Although the mastermind never showed his face, Chen Erbao was certain it was those two clowns.

He couldn’t make a move on Ma Qiming for the time being—after all, the Dingsheng Group was not to be trifled with. But Wang Ming…

‘Some damn foreign rich boy dared to provoke me to my face time and time again. Today might just be the perfect opportunity!’