Best Young Master
Chapter 219 - 195: Taking the First Step!

Chapter 219: Chapter 195: Taking the First Step!

"Buzz... Buzz..."

As Chu Ji looked forward to Ye Fan’s answer, Ye Fan’s phone in his pocket began to vibrate.

Hmm?

Ye Fan was slightly startled.

Only a few people knew his mobile number. Su Yuxin and Su Jindi had already been informed about the situation in Dong hai and wouldn’t be bothering him at this time, and both Chu Ji and Situ Ruoshui were in the villa.

Could it be Jin Ye?

After a moment’s confusion, Ye Fan recalled that Jin Ye had noted down his number before leaving.

With this speculation in mind, Ye Fan took out his phone and saw that it was not Jin Ye calling, but rather an unfamiliar number with the area code from Yanjing.

Looking at the strange number displayed on the phone screen, Ye Fan gave it some thought and then decided to answer the call.

"Hello, Ye Fan." Once the call connected, a magnetic voice came through the receiver, its tone subtly authoritative.

Detecting the unmistakable assertiveness in the caller’s tone, Ye Fan deduced that the person on the other end must be someone accustomed to wielding power and giving orders, which intensified his curiosity, "Who are you? How did you get my number?"

"Let me introduce myself, my surname is Feng, first name Dong, I’m the deputy minister of the GA Department, and currently, I am in charge of Dong hai’s Police work as per the orders of the higher-ups."

On the other end of the phone, Feng Dong first introduced himself and then explained, "You left your number when recording your statement for the Ao Xiang Villa homicide case."

"It seems we don’t know each other. I’m curious, what’s the purpose of your call?" Ye Fan asked with a slight frown, a guess forming in his mind but still uncertain.

"I’d like to have a chat with you, if you’re interested?" Feng Dong extended the invitation.

"The location."

Hearing Feng Dong’s invitation, something clicked in Ye Fan’s mind. After a brief contemplation, he asked for the meeting place.

"Jinmao Grand Hyatt Hotel’s Jiuchongtian Bar, I’ll wait for you." After revealing the meeting place, Feng Dong didn’t wait for Ye Fan’s response and hung up the phone directly.

Ye Fan put down the phone, deep in thought.

"Are you going?"

Seeing Ye Fan in contemplation, Chu Ji couldn’t help but ask. As a strong person in the Martial Arts World, she heard the entire conversation between Ye Fan and Feng Dong loud and clear.

"Yes." Ye Fan nodded and asked, "Are you familiar with this Feng Dong?"

"Not familiar."

Chu Ji shook her head and said, "However, I know he’s not from the Ye Family or Bai Family camps; he’s a core member of another faction. His current appointment in Dong hai to oversee the police force is probably an opportunity for his faction to garner support for the Ye Family in exchange for a golden opportunity to be assigned here. If nothing unexpected happens, he will stay in Dong hai and become one of the political bigwigs while concurrently heading the police force."

"I see." With Chu Ji’s explanation, Ye Fan’s guess was fully confirmed, and he said, "I’ll go see him."

"Do you want me to accompany you?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Ji immediately guessed Ye Fan’s intention and felt relieved, yet she worried that Ye Fan might be at a disadvantage dealing with a politician for the first time.

"No need."

Ye Fan declined Chu Ji’s offer with confidence, saying, "He wants to see me at this time, most likely to make use of me to bring order back to Dong hai’s Underworld. And I can take this opportunity to cooperate with him."

"Xiao Fan, you catch on quickly."

Hearing Ye Fan succinctly express Feng Dong’s intentions, Chu Ji was momentarily surprised, then smiled with relief, "It seems you have your plans, so I won’t accompany you. I’ll stay here to protect them."

"Yes."

This time, Ye Fan did not refuse Chu Ji’s kindness. He knew that, with the Dong hai Gang now in complete chaos, those core members fighting over territories and dividing the gang’s assets might come to Ao Xiang Villa and pose a threat to the safety of Situ Ruoshui and the others.

Two minutes later, Ye Fan walked out of the villa. He first visited the mourning hall to comfort Situ Ruoshui, asked Su Liuli to take care of her, and then drove alone away from Ao Xiang Villa, heading to the Jinmao Grand Hyatt Hotel.

As one of the tallest hotels in the world, the Jinmao Grand Hyatt Hotel boasts a 31-story atrium that is also the tallest in the world. Starting from the 56th floor, the hotel’s atrium—with a clear height of 152 meters and a diameter of 27 meters—is one of the iconic features of the Jinmao Building, known as the "Golden Annular" and "Time Tunnel." Looking up from here, layer upon layer of gently lit golden lights sketch out 360-degree, spiraling patterns, tranquil and serene, like an ancient pagoda, conveying a sense of harmony and auspiciousness.

The "Jiuchongtian Bar" located on the 87th floor of the hotel has successfully replaced the "Cai hong Hall" of the Rockefeller Center as the highest rooftop restaurant in the world. Here one can enjoy music and wine while taking in the classical-style architecture that grew with Dong hai on the opposite Puxi bank along the river and the skyscrapers of the bustling Pudong New District.

When Ye Fan arrived at the Jiuchongtian Bar of the Jinmao Grand Hyatt Hotel, the bar was bustling with patrons, who listened to soothing piano music while drinking with their companions and admiring the night view of Dong hai.

"Sir, may I do anything for you?"

As Ye Fan surveyed the condition of the bar, a female waiter approached with a smile, politely inquired.

"No thank you," Ye Fan responded with a smile, and then strode toward a seat by the window—he saw Feng Dong waving at him from there.

"Hello, Minister Feng." Ye Fan approached the seat but did not immediately sit down. Instead, he greeted Feng Dong first.

"Hello, Mr. Ye," Feng Dong replied with a smile, gesturing for him to sit, "Let’s sit and talk, care for a drink?"

"Minister Feng should know that, as a Martial Artist, drinking alcohol is detrimental to cultivation. I’ll just have a glass of ice water," Ye Fan declined.

No sooner had he spoken than he signaled to the waiting waiter with a wave and made his request.

Meanwhile, a glint flashed in Feng Dong’s narrow eyes behind his glasses—he could tell that Ye Fan was a man of strong convictions.

"I’ve heard that Mr. Ye is a young Innate Great Success Martial Artist, a rare Martial Arts genius in the Huaxia Martial Arts World. It’s truly my good fortune to make your acquaintance," Feng Dong said as the waiter brought over the iced water. Though his words were complimentary, his tone subtly conveyed the authority of a powerhouse within the establishment, giving off the impression that in his eyes, Ye Fan’s identity as a Martial Artist was nothing much to speak of.

In fact, that was indeed the case. For Feng Dong, who had been involved in politics, having worked with the police for nearly ten years, he had no fondness for Martial Artists who revered physical power—on the contrary, he held some disdain from deep within because the resurgence of the Martial Arts World and the establishment of the Yanhuang Organization had greatly weakened the police’s standing in Huaxia!

"I am but a mere Martial Artist, not worth mentioning," Ye Fan said with a smile, seemingly indifferent to Feng Dong’s subtly displayed authority.

Hmm?

Feng Dong was slightly startled to hear Ye Fan’s response.

Before coming, he had thoroughly investigated Ye Fan’s background, understood everything Ye Fan had done from Hanghu to Dong hai, and concluded that Ye Fan was a proud, almost arrogant person who would hardly bow his head.

Yet at that moment, Ye Fan’s words made him question his judgment—Ye Fan didn’t come across as arrogant at all, but rather, he seemed humble and low-profile.

"Come, let’s toast to our new acquaintance."

Despite doubting his own judgment, Feng Dong didn’t let it show on his face. Instead, he raised his glass to toast with Ye Fan.

"Minister Feng, someone as important as you inviting me to meet this late couldn’t just be for drinks and enjoying the night view of Dong hai, could it?" After clinking glasses, Ye Fan took the initiative to steer the conversation.

"So, what do you think my purpose for arranging a meeting with you is?" Feng Dong asked with a smile.

"You want me to help you restore order in Dong hai’s Underworld, to bring back normalcy to Dong hai’s public security," Ye Fan said slowly, his tone seemingly casual yet filled with confidence.

Feng Dong was taken aback once again, appearing not to have expected Ye Fan to guess his intentions so quickly.

However—

Before Feng Dong could recover from his surprise, Ye Fan’s next words almost overturned his impression of Ye Fan: "Not only am I aware of this, but I also know that you’re choosing to enlist my help in restoring order to Dong hai’s Underworld not because I am a Martial Artist, but because of my identity. You plan to leverage the deterrence my father and Chu Ji granted the core members of the Dong hai Gang, to make them submit to me, thereby achieving your goal."

"Mr. Ye, I must admit, your words have upended the rumors about you and overturned my own judgments," Feng Dong said after a moment’s contemplation and with a more serious demeanor. "You are not rash at all."

"People always change."

Ye Fan responded with an ambiguous remark, then got straight to the point, "I can help you achieve your goal, but I have one condition."

"What is it?" Feng Dong’s eyebrows lifted.

"Provide help to me, or I should say, to the Dong hai Gang, when necessary," Ye Fan stated cryptically.

"Agreed."

Feng Dong hesitated slightly before agreeing to Ye Fan’s request, then continued with an earnest face, "But I’ll only give you one day! Within a day, you must restore normal order to Dong hai’s Underworld!"

"To our cooperation," Ye Fan said, raising his glass, ignoring the implications.

"Cheers."

Feng Dong lifted his glass to clink with Ye Fan’s, but his expression was somewhat unpleased.

Because he realized that ever since meeting Ye Fan, the initiative had always been in Ye Fan’s hands!

"Mr. Ye, the iced water is on me; I look forward to hearing the good news from you," Feng Dong said, perhaps because he had misjudged and underestimated Ye Fan, and no longer wished to stay, he rose from his seat to take his leave after toasting with Ye Fan.

Hearing this, Ye Fan did not stand up but merely responded with a smile and a nod of his head.

Feng Dong’s face changed, but he controlled himself, not letting the anger show as he turned and exited straight away.

"Buzz... Buzz..."

No sooner had Feng Dong left than Ye Fan’s phone began to vibrate again.

With a sense of anticipation, Ye Fan took out his phone and saw that it was Jin Ye calling.

"Mr. Ye, this is Jin Ye, I have important matters to report to you," Jin Ye spoke as soon as the phone was answered, his tone slightly grave.

"Go ahead."

"Since this evening, those bastards have been calling me nonstop, demanding that I divide the assets that belong to them!" Jin Ye said, with some anger: "Damn it, they used to be at best middle-ranking in the Dong hai Gang, they never held any shares in the Dong hai Group, why should they divide any assets? Moreover, after Mr. Situ passed away, they only cared about fighting for turf and slicing the cake, none of them even bothered to pay respects, so even if there is a share for them, they won’t get it!"

"In my name, inform them that a meeting to discuss asset division will be convened an hour from now at Villa No. 16 in Ao Xiang Villa," Ye Fan instructed authoritatively. "Additionally, when you notify them of the meeting, tell them that if anyone is late or absent, they can forget about getting a penny!"

"Alright."

Jin Ye was momentarily caught off guard, curious as to why Ye Fan would do this, yet he tactfully refrained from asking further and simply agreed to it.

Ye Fan put down his phone, picked up the iced water, and turned to look out the window.

Outside the window, the lights were brilliant, and his heart was like a painted landscape.

Tonight.

He had taken the first step in his transformation! (To be continued. If you like this work, please go to qidian.com to vote for the recommendation ticket and Monthly Ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)