Chapter 35: The Richest Man in the Capital, Wealth Rivaling a Nation

Before the beaten Luo Lin could speak, a stern, angry reprimand thundered from behind them: "What arrogance! In Yunding, you dare to show no respect for me, the second-in-command? I’d like to see what kind of background you have!"

Hearing this voice, the beaten Luo Lin’s arrogance soared instantly. He swept a look of disdain toward Ye Fan and jeered, "Did you hear that? My uncle is here! With your pathetic attitude, you still want to throw your weight around in front of me? You aren't worthy!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Luo Lin hurried to his uncle’s side. Pointing at Ye Fan, he exclaimed, "Uncle, it’s this reckless fool! He was causing trouble here, hitting me, insulting me, and he didn't even show you any respect. You must not let him get away with this!"

His uncle, Zhang Ming, nodded silently. But as he lifted his head and saw that the person standing before him was Ye Fan, he was suddenly struck with terror, breaking into a cold sweat and trembling uncontrollably. He had never dreamed in his wildest fantasies that Luo Lin would provoke Ye Fan, the new owner of the Yunding Company.

At that moment, Luo Lin, having seen his uncle nod, was no longer paying attention to his uncle’s expression and remained completely oblivious to the change in his face. Instead, emboldened by his uncle’s arrival, he became even more insolent and provocative, shouting recklessly at Ye Fan, "You ignorant fool! Didn't you just brag earlier that if my uncle stood before you, he wouldn't dare to sit? What’s wrong? Are you mute now? Can't even let out a fart? Hit me? If you have the guts, try hitting me again in front of my uncle!"

*Smack!*

Before the arrogant Luo Lin could react, Ye Fan raised his hand and struck him across the face. With a sharp lift of his brow, his voice and gaze turned ice-cold: "Since you asked to try, then let's try."

In that instant, the scene, which had been buzzing with excitement upon Zhang Ming’s arrival, was suddenly struck by the slap into a deathly, deafening silence. The onlookers were stunned into speechlessness, staring at each other in shock before beginning to whisper among themselves.

"That Ye Fan is truly bold. He actually dared to hit Luo Lin right in front of Director Zhang. He’s in big trouble!"

"Exactly. Striking Luo Lin is a direct challenge to Director Zhang. Doesn't he know his own place?"

"You're right. An ignorant fool like him, daring to be presumptuous in front of Director Zhang—his good days are over."

...

Amidst the whispers of the crowd, the beaten Luo Lin clutched his face, trembling with rage, and shrieked hysterically at Ye Fan, "Ye Fan, you have such nerve! Hitting me in front of my uncle is a blatant provocation! With my uncle’s status and position, one word from him is enough to make you wish you were never born!"

*Boom!*

Before Luo Lin could even understand what was happening, Ye Fan kicked him to the ground. He looked at Zhang Ming with a serious expression and asked, "Zhang Ming, did you hear that? He said that with your status and position, one word from you is enough to make me wish I was never born?"

"That's right!"

Before the panicked Zhang Ming could speak, Luo Lin scrambled up from the ground and roared, continuing his provocation toward Ye Fan, "You reckless piece of trash, daring to talk to my uncle like that—you are headed for disaster..."

*Smack!*

As soon as Luo Lin finished his sentence, another deafening slap echoed across the room. This sound left the previously murmuring crowd in a state of absolute, tense silence. They were all utterly horrified, as they had never expected that the one who had struck the blow was not Ye Fan, but his own uncle, Zhang Ming!

Luo Lin, who had been slapped, was left completely bewildered. He looked at his uncle and asked, "Uncle, did you hit the wrong person? It was clearly this reckless fool Ye Fan who started the trouble and hit me. Why didn't you hit him, but hit me instead?"

Just then, Wei Tian rushed onto the scene, his face grave and anxious. "Luo Lin, stop this nonsense! If you dare to show any more disrespect to Mr. Ye, even Director Zhang won't be able to protect you!"

Hearing this, Luo Lin was incensed. He turned back to his uncle and shouted, "Uncle! And this Wei Tian, he’s a traitor! You ordered him to help me, but he actually hit me for the sake of this Ye Fan! And now, right in front of you, he’s saying your status is inferior to Ye Fan’s! You must not spare him!"

*Smack! Smack!*

Zhang Ming, his face pale and his body shaking with fury, snapped, "Luo Lin, shut your mouth! The one who is reckless and suicidal is you! Do you even know who this gentleman is?"

Before Luo Lin could respond, Deng Li hurried to Zhang Ming, nodding repeatedly. "Reporting to Director Zhang, I know who he is. He is just that useless waste from the Ye family military household whose family was wiped out..."

*Smack!*

Before Deng Li could finish, Zhang Ming slapped her across the face and reprimanded her sternly, "Who do you think you are? You have no right to speak here!"

Afterward, Zhang Ming walked over to Ye Fan, bowed deeply, and said respectfully, "Zhang Ming of Yunding Company greets you, sir. It is my failure to discipline my subordinates that has led to such rebellious behavior. I apologize to you, sir!"

The crowd was stunned, unable to process what they were seeing. None of them had imagined that the dignified second-in-command of Yunding Company would be so subservient to this Ye Fan!

Luo Lin, who had been so arrogant just moments before, turned pale and began to tremble violently as he watched his uncle bow and apologize. He had never expected that his uncle, a man of such high standing, would be as humble as an ant before Ye Fan.

Just then, Zhang Ming added respectfully, "Sir, President Qin is waiting for you in his office."

With that, Zhang Ming led Ye Fan and Ye Xiaoya toward the Yunding president’s office. Watching them walk away, the crowd erupted into hushed exclamations.

"Did you hear what Director Zhang said? He said President Qin is waiting for Ye Fan in his office. Could it be that Ye Fan is the new owner of Yunding?"

"That's right! Looking at the situation, it’s highly likely that Ye Fan is the owner of the Yunding Company!"

...

Deng Li, previously so overbearing, heard the whispers and turned deathly pale. Once the others had left, she approached Luo Lin in a panic. "Brother Luo, they say that Ye Fan might be the owner of the company. What should we do?"

*Smack!*

Before Deng Li could react, Luo Lin struck her across the face and bellowed furiously, "What do you mean 'might'? Ye Fan is the owner! If he weren't, why would my uncle hit me and be so respectful to him? It’s all your fault, you bitch! You’ve ruined me!"

Luo Lin was trembling with terror. He had heard his uncle mention that the new owner of Yunding Company had saved the life of the richest man in the capital. That man had warned his uncle that anyone who disrespected the new owner was disrespecting him. And the richest man in the capital was a titan of wealth whose single word could make the entire business world of Yunzhou tremble!