C31 Are You Worthy??

Zhang Chen found himself somewhat perplexed.

Chen Dafu was clearly out of their league, yet if there was a change in leadership, it had to have been orchestrated by Chen Dafu himself.

Didn't they fear the repercussions of bringing Chen Dafu into this?

Secretary Wu quickly cleared up Zhang Chen's confusion. "Young Master Chen, please don't be upset. Everyone is aware that Director Chen wouldn't bother with such trivialities."

"Besides, given your youth, they're all aware you're not an heir to a fortune. They probably assume you've landed this role through networking rather than lineage."

Gradually, Zhang Chen came to a realization.

Before he knew it, everyone had taken their seats, yet the prime spot to his left remained conspicuously vacant.

Zhang Chen's curiosity was piqued. Who could this leading shareholder be?

Soon, the sound of footsteps approached once more.

He glanced up as the conference room door was thrust open by several sturdy figures.

In no time, four muscular men strode into the room.

Each one was the epitome of strength.

Yet, Zhang Chen couldn't shake off a nagging sense of familiarity with these men, though he couldn't quite place where he'd seen them before.

Amidst his bewilderment, the protagonist of the moment made his entrance.

A muscular man with a commanding presence walked in, his bald head catching the light.

Upon a clearer view, recognition dawned on Zhang Chen.

This was the same Guang Tou from before, wasn't it?

Zhang Chen's eyebrows lifted, a subtle smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Guang Tou wore a smirk of self-assurance.

Zheng Guoyuan's eyes flickered with dark intent. After a lengthy contemplation, he finally rose to his feet.

"Qiang, good to see you," Zheng Guoyuan greeted warmly.

Guang Tou gave a terse reply.

Truth be told, Guang Tou's current standing was not without Zhang Chen's influence.

After returning from the hotel that day, Guang Tou had recounted the events to his boss, Mr. Hwa, expecting a reprimand. To his surprise, Mr. Hwa had praised him instead!

From that moment, Guang Tou rose to become Mr. Hwa's top lieutenant!

With all eyes on him, Guang Tou took his seat and gave Zhang Chen a nonchalant once-over.

But with just one glance, Guang Tou felt his heart plummet.

Why was it him?

His seated body froze solid. Shifting his weight, he slid right off the edge of the stool!

"Qiang! Are you okay?"

"Qiang, watch out!"

"Qiang, let me help you."

In an instant, all the shareholders, except for Zheng Guoyuan, swarmed to assist.

Guang Tou struggled to swallow.

At Mr. Hwa's behest, aiming to secure future control over Hongtai Hotel, he had planned to intimidate the new boss.

But to his shock, the new boss was Zhang Chen!

Confusion clouded Guang Tou's mind.

Supported by the others, he finally eased back into his chair, which inexplicably felt scorching hot.

Zhang Chen's lips curled into a smile as he spoke leisurely, "Now that we're all here, let's begin the meeting."

Guang Tou instinctively straightened up, as rigid as a schoolboy in class.

Zheng Guoyuan's lips twisted into a sneer, his voice dripping with scorn, "You're calling a meeting? You think you're up to it?"

A collective intake of breath filled the room.

Though everyone had arrived ready to assert their dominance, nobody anticipated Zheng Guoyuan's brazen defiance.

Zhang Chen chuckled softly, his tone light, "Perhaps you'd like to take over as boss?"

"No need!"

Zheng Guoyuan's sneer was cold and dismissive, "To us, a boss is nothing more than a tool."

Zhang Chen's eyebrows lifted inquisitively, "Oh? So by that logic, even Director Chen is just a 'tool man' to you?"

The remark made everyone's lips twitch.

They considered Chen Dafu a mere tool?

Zheng Guoyuan snapped back, "Silence! Don't you dare invoke Director Chen to intimidate us!"

"Director Chen has neglected this place for years. You think someone of his stature would bother with a small hotel like this?"

"Don't be deluded. We're well aware that you're merely the Lin family's son-in-law. What makes you think you're fit to run Hongtai Hotel? Even if Director Chen trusts you, we certainly won't!"

Zhang Chen paused, taken aback. It was then he truly grasped their brazenness.

It turned out they had already dug up his identity long before.

Once that was said, a buzz of conversation rose among those nearby.

"Sure, back in the day, we might have shown some deference to the Lin family, but they've fallen on hard times now!"

"Did you hear? Our boss here is the Lin family's son-in-law, and his reputation is well-known far and wide!"

"Still, I'm really curious how the modest Lin family managed to connect with someone as high-ranking as Director Chen."

...

Suddenly, the other shareholders began to buzz with speculation.

Zheng Guoyuan's smirk deepened at the final question, and he quipped, "Seems you've all forgotten about the Lin family's daughter, a beauty renowned for her looks that could overthrow empires."

At those words, Zhang Chen's smile instantly disappeared.