Chapter 459: Huang Baicheng

Xiao Guang was chatting casually with Ma Qiming when he caught sight of a figure approaching them.

“Chen—”

Just as Xiao Guang was about to say Chen Erbao’s name, he saw Chen Erbao raise a finger to his lips with a “shhh,” and he immediately fell silent.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Young Master Ma. It’s a small world, isn’t it?”

Chen Erbao came up from behind them, a sarcastic smile on his face as he looked at Ma Qiming.

The corner of Ma Qiming’s mouth twitched when he saw him.

‘Why is Chen Erbao everywhere!’

Wang Ming’s expression soured as well. After being repeatedly humiliated, he was starting to develop a complex.

Not wanting to get into an argument with Chen Erbao here, Ma Qiming simply straightened his sleeves, turned, and walked away toward the group of foreign businessmen in the distance.

Dingsheng Group had many business allies overseas. With his status, he would be an honored guest no matter where he went.

Chen Erbao watched them leave and curled his lip in disdain.

‘I can’t believe those two didn’t even give me an opening.’

“Mr. Chen… what brings you here tonight?”

Xiao Guang thought Chen Erbao was planning to get involved in the current mess in Binhai, so he couldn’t help but ask.

Chen Erbao waved his hand dismissively and said casually,

“I’m just here to watch the show. Binhai is too much of a mess lately, and I don’t want to get mixed up in it.”

“That’s good…”

Xiao Guang breathed a sigh of relief. If Chen Erbao got involved, Medicine King Hall might get dragged into it, which would be a huge headache for him.

‘Thank goodness Chen Erbao has no intention of doing so.’

After exchanging a few words with Xiao Guang, Chen Erbao grew bored and returned to his seat, sizing up the group of Neon Merchants from a distance.

Huang Baiwen was also among them.

He was holding a glass of red wine, laughing and chatting with the Neon Merchants. They seemed to be getting along splendidly.

And Ma Qiming and Wang Ming were heading right toward their location.

‘Fuck, they’re all gathering together… If they dare pull any shit, I’ll wipe them all out in one go!’

As time ticked by, Chen Erbao sat in his seat, growing drowsy.

A constant stream of second-generation scions came over to greet Dongfang Yuqing, but no one paid him any mind, which left him happily in peace.

Banquets of this nature were inherently boring. The small handful of people who actually wanted to talk business would finish their discussions in a few sentences, while the vast majority were just there to fill the room.

Surrounding Huang Baiwen were the Neon Merchants, the Korean Merchants, and a few of Binhai’s local business families—though Ma Qiming and Wang Ming, of course, didn’t count.

Meanwhile, Dongfang Ming was chatting amiably with a group of blond-haired, blue-eyed Westerners. The two men had effectively split the banquet hall in two, their factions clearly divided. The situation was gradually becoming clear.

Merchants from smaller countries and Binhai’s local power players also began to pick sides, making their allegiances clear.

This was precisely Dongfang Ming’s goal.

He was forcing these neutral fence-sitters to choose a side. Only by distinguishing friend from foe could he act without restraint later on.

Of course, there was also a small, neutral faction. They didn’t want to bet on either side, preferring to just quietly protect their own little patch of turf.

These people had little influence on the bigger picture, so both Huang Baiwen and Dongfang Ming ignored them.

Medicine King Hall was also among the neutral parties. Xiao Guang ambled over to Chen Erbao’s side and sat down next to him. Watching the two subtly confrontational groups with great interest, he smiled and said,

“Mr. Chen, after tonight, the situation in Binhai will be crystal clear. A war is about to break out, and I wonder who will come out on top!”

Chen Erbao smiled faintly.

“It doesn’t matter who wins. It has nothing to do with us. I’m just here in Binhai as a tourist.”

“Mm, that’s right.”

Xiao Guang glanced at Chen Erbao and nodded in reply.

Inwardly, however, he was complaining, ‘You had me investigate Huang Baiwen, and you still have the nerve to say you’re just a tourist… I just hope you don’t stir up too much trouble!’

The banquet soon drew to a close. As the guests began to disperse, Chen Erbao left the hotel with Dongfang Yuqing.

As they were leaving, Chen Erbao saw Ma Qiming and Wang Ming leaving with the group of Neon Merchants. It looked like they were heading to an after-party.

He couldn’t help but worry. ‘Those two assholes haven’t given up, have they? Are they going to keep causing trouble…’

He wasn’t worried about a direct confrontation, but about their underhanded little schemes.

After all, the Neon People were known for their methods—utterly without honor. Coupled with historical reasons, he’d never had a good impression of them.

Dongfang Yuqing drove Chen Erbao toward Binhai University. Feng Qingwan was still sitting beside him, but with Dongfang Yuqing present, she didn’t do anything too outrageous.

The car soon arrived at Binhai University. Chen Erbao opened his door, said goodbye to Dongfang Yuqing, and walked over to his own sports car.

Just as he got into the car, the passenger door was pulled open and Feng Qingwan deftly slipped inside, grinning at him.

Chen Erbao looked completely exasperated.

“What is it now?”

Feng Qingwan blinked her clear eyes twice, her towering peaks trembling slightly as she said brazenly,

“You’re taking me home.”

“Have Dongfang Yuqing take you!”

“Sister Yuqing has to go back to campus to get something, so it’s out of the way. You take me!”

“…”

“If you don’t take me, I’ll tell your little girlfriend you assaulted me!”

Feng Qingwan’s bright eyes twinkled triumphantly as she watched Chen Erbao with a sly smile.

Chen Erbao wanted to say, ‘You’re the one who threw yourself at me that night,’ but thinking about this crazy girl’s relentlessly clingy nature, he figured she’d just latch onto him even more if he brought it up.

Chen Erbao sighed, slowly started the car, and said wearily,

“Buckle up.”

“Okay!”

The seatbelt was pulled taut and sank into the majestic valley between her breasts, making her twin peaks all the more prominent. The sight was so startling that Chen Erbao feared those two “bunnies” might just pop out of her clothes.

“What are you looking at!”

When Feng Qingwan noticed Chen Erbao’s eyes fixed on her chest, she couldn’t help but blush.

Chen Erbao averted his gaze and started the car, heading toward Feng Qingwan’s house.

…

「In the suburbs of Binhai, inside a luxurious manor.」

A dazzling array of luxury cars was parked in front of a villa. Inside the main hall, some thirty-odd people stood packed together, every one of them with a grave expression.

Huang Sanlang was also there, but he stood at the edge of the living room, watching the group with a blank expression. His gaze was deep and unfathomable, making it impossible to know what he was thinking.

“Third Brother, what are you doing back here?”

The speaker was Huang Baiwen’s full brother, Huang Baicheng.

Compared to the immensely talented and sharp-witted Huang Baiwen, this Huang Baicheng was a complete and utter waste.

The kind of waste everyone in Binhai knew about, at that.

Eating, drinking, whoring, gambling—there wasn’t a vice he wouldn’t indulge in.

If the Huang Family hadn’t been backing him, he would’ve been beaten to death in the streets long ago.

Yet he insisted on riding his brother’s coattails, acting not only arrogant and domineering outside but also running wild even within the Huang Family.