Best Young Master
Chapter 383 - 342 Renowned, Strategy to Meet the Challenge (Making Up the Second Update)

Chapter 383: 342 Renowned, Strategy to Meet the Challenge (Making Up the Second Update)

Like Ye Zhen, Bai Yuan too stood at the top of the power pyramid and owned an office villa within the Hong Qiang Courtyard that symbolized power and status.

The office villa had two study rooms, one of which covered an area of up to two hundred square meters and was used by Bai Yuan for his regular office work, while the smaller one, less than one hundred square meters, was his private study.

In the office room of the villa, Bai Yuan sat in front of a majestic rosewood desk but didn’t review the documents his secretary had prepared earlier. Instead, he was holding a cigarette.

Perhaps sinking into deep thought, Bai Yuan let the cigarette burn halfway without flicking the ash. He only snapped back to reality when the cigarette was completely burnt out and swiftly crushed the butt, tossing it into the ashtray.

Next to the ashtray, there were three phones laid out, two white and one red. The red phone was the legendary "Red Machine"—a secure line equipped in the main leadership offices of units at and above the provincial level in Huaxia.

There was also a mobile phone next to the telephones, with security comparable to a special communicator of the Yanhuang Organization.

It was his only personal mobile phone, mainly used for contacting his family.

"Buzz... Buzz..."

Just as Bai Yuan threw the cigarette butt into the ashtray and was steadying himself to review the documents, the personal mobile phone suddenly vibrated.

Hmm?

At the sound, Bai Yuan slightly raised his eyebrows but didn’t rush to pick up the phone. Instead, his gaze flickered, seemingly guessing who might be calling.

Two seconds later, Bai Yuan had guessed the caller’s identity, then picked up the phone and saw that it was indeed his prediction—Bai Guotao, the third-generation successor of the Bai Family!

"Dad." As soon as the call connected, Bai Guotao greeted first.

"Why did you choose this moment to call me?" Bai Yuan asked.

Perhaps not expecting Bai Yuan to ask that, Bai Guotao was completely unprepared and momentarily didn’t know how to respond.

"The incident with Ye Family’s Young Master occurred the night before last, the Ye Family dispatched their decision yesterday. You should have heard the news by then." Bai Yuan added.

"Yes, Dad, I was aware of it yesterday."

After a moment of thought, Bai Guotao replied, "Regarding this issue, I’ve carefully considered and scrutinized the matter and decided it would be better to discuss it with you."

"Sigh..."

Unable to restrain himself, Bai Yuan heaved a sigh and said, "The last time we spoke, I told you not to worry about anything during this period and just to focus on your own duties. It seems you still can’t contain your impatience."

"—"

Bai Guotao had no reply. Remembering Bai Yuan’s advice from their last conversation and indeed unable to contain himself as Bai Yuan had observed, he pondered for a long time before deciding to make this call.

"Now that you’ve already called, let’s hear it. I’ll give you five minutes, I have a meeting to convene in ten minutes." Bai Yuan instructed.

"Phew~"

Relieved by his words, Bai Guotao paused to think and then asked, "Dad, considering the Ye Family’s decision, it must mean that Ye Yuanshan and Ye Zhen have acknowledged Ye Fan’s identity as Ye Family’s Young Master and also solidified Ye Wenhao’s leadership of the Ye Family and even the Ye Family Camp, right?"

"What do you think?" Bai Yuan countered.

"To me, it’s certain that Ye Yuanshan and Ye Zhen have acknowledged Ye Fan’s identity, otherwise they wouldn’t have made such a decision. However, I believe there’s a specific intention behind their acknowledgment. As for Ye Wenhao’s side, I personally lean toward what the Ye Family just mentioned, but I also feel something’s off, though I can’t put my finger on what exactly." Bai Guotao spoke frankly.

"Their purposes are mainly two-fold—to temper the descendants of the Ye Family who’ve lost their aggression and also to use that youngster as a gun aimed at us."

Bai Yuan spoke evenly, "As for whether it is Ye Wenhao holding the flag or the ever-cautious Ye Wenhai, it’s still uncertain for now. We need to wait until the assembly in March to see the Ye Family Camp’s maneuvers. Choosing Ye Wenhai would mean they delay no efforts to promote him and transfer him out of Beijing."

"Like you just said, based on the Ye Family’s handling of this matter, the likelihood of the latter seems less likely." Bai Yuan concluded, implicitly agreeing with Bai Guotao’s assessment.

"Will we maintain our current stance?" Bai Guotao hesitated before asking.

"Yes."

Bai Yuan affirmed, and his eye flickered as he added, "All in all, this matter is to our advantage."

"What do you mean?"

"Firstly, the intention of Ye Zhen and Ye Yuanshan in training the Ye Family’s youth is good, but they have overlooked the youngster’s aggressiveness, which could backfire. Secondly, like I’ve said before, if it had been Ye Wenhao all along, he would have been the best candidate for leading the Ye Family Camp. The Ye Family internally would strongly support him, and other forces would also consider balancing and ultimately opt for compromise. But with the emergence of that youngster, nothing is certain until the last moment - he is like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment. When he does, it’s not just him, Ye Wenhao will be blown to pieces as well." Bai Yuan said smoothly.

"You mean Jianghu?" Bai Guotao was quick on the uptake.

"Exactly. That youngster has offended us, as well as Qinghong, the Hongwu Sect, the Wudang Sect, and even the Ghost Sect from Jianghu. Getting recognized by the Ye Family, for us, poses a great threat, but it imposes an even greater deterrence to those Jianghu forces."

Bai Yuan smirked, "Even if he doesn’t go after those forces, given the long-term perspective, they might still take dangerous risks under crisis. Should anything happen to him, surely Ye Wenhao wouldn’t just stand by. He’d make a big move to avenge him, even risking his life, unleashing a massacre. Hence, even if the Ye Family Camp supports all the way, other forces, for the sake of overall stability, are likely not to endorse Ye Wenhao stepping up."