Hades, the Urban Legend

Chapter 628: Chapter 631: The Toad

Feeling a bit regretful, Yang Chen finally arrived at Yu Lei International's branch office after an hour and a half. His mood had slightly calmed, but several times during the ride, he had been tempted to jump out and go back to punch Li Dun again. He ultimately restrained himself.

He thought to himself that he had made a poor choice in friends. Luckily, they had only known each other for half a day; it was best to see less of him in the future. Men are like this—before getting to know each other, they act cool, but once they become friends, they are just a mess.

Yu Lei International's branch was located in the upper floors of a standalone office building, with over ten floors in total. In a city as expensive as Yanjing, such financial power was quite impressive.

Yang Chen had already called Hui Lin while in the taxi, but her phone was on, yet unanswered. This made Yang Chen uncertain if she was at the office, but he decided to come and check anyway.

Riding the elevator to the floor where Yu Lei International's reception was located, Yang Chen went straight to the front desk, where two pretty receptionists were sitting, and asked with a smile, "Is Miss Hui Lin in the office?"

One of the receptionists smiled and asked, "Sir, are you referring to Miss Lin Hui?"

Yang Chen then remembered that Hui Lin was her Dao name, and she had changed back to Lin Hui as a celebrity.

"Yes, I'm her family and would like to see her," Yang Chen said.

The receptionist shook her head apologetically. "I'm sorry, sir, but without an appointment, you can't just meet Miss Lin Hui. Besides, you have no proof that you're actually her family."

Yang Chen felt a bit frustrated. He was the director of Yu Lei Entertainment, and this Yanjing branch was under his jurisdiction. Yet here he was, unable to find someone in his own company!

Yang Chen then said, "I'm your director. I'm Yang Chen, not an outsider."

The two receptionists burst into giggles, looking Yang Chen up and down with amusement. "Sir, do you have a business card?"

Yang Chen was taken aback. A business card? Zhao Teng had given him a box of them, but he had left them on his desk and never carried them. He had underestimated this situation.

Seeing Yang Chen unable to produce anything, the receptionists felt even more certain he was lying. They mentally scoffed at him several times.

Although Yang Chen was wearing branded clothes, his overall appearance was too "plain." The receptionists assumed that his branded clothes were likely fake.

They simply didn't believe that someone like this could be their director, Yang Chen!

Scratching his head, Yang Chen had an idea. "How about this, you have a computer, right? Check the company records; there should be a photo of me. You can confirm it that way."

The receptionists, though reluctant, saw Yang Chen's earnest demeanor and reluctantly searched the company's internal archive.

When they found the photo of Director Yang Chen, both receptionists looked puzzled. They compared it with the man in front of them and realized it was indeed the same person.

"Alright, ladies, do you believe me now? I just didn't wear a suit and tie," Yang Chen said with a bitter smile.

The receptionists, slightly embarrassed, apologized, "We're sorry, Director Yang. We just started working here and are not very familiar with things. Please forgive us."

"No problem, you're just doing your job," Yang Chen replied graciously. The company was still new, so everyone was relatively inexperienced. He then asked, "Is Lin Hui in the office?"

The receptionist replied, "Yes, Miss Lin Hui is in the studio upstairs, and Deputy Director Zhuang is in a meeting."

Because the company was based in Yanjing, it was impossible to manage everything remotely. So the day-to-day administrative tasks were handled by a deputy director named Zhuang Feng. Yang Chen had heard of him but never met him.

Finally finding out where Hui Lin was, Yang Chen immediately headed for the elevator, thinking how much harder things were when you weren't familiar with the place.

As he walked away, the two receptionists watched him with mixed feelings. The real-life director of their company was not what they had expected, and it had been a bit of a shock.

"Ding."

The elevator went up another floor. Yang Chen stepped out, looked around, and headed towards the side marked "Meeting Room."

When he reached the black and red doors of the meeting room, he noticed two men in short-sleeved military uniforms standing guard.

Yang Chen quickly judged that they were skilled special forces soldiers. Yu Lei International would not hire security guards in military uniforms, let alone special forces-level personnel. The only explanation was that there were outsiders present.

Frowning, Yang Chen walked up to knock on the door.

The two soldiers blocked his way, saying coldly, "No unauthorized persons allowed. Leave now."

Ignoring them, Yang Chen shouted towards the meeting room door, "Hui Lin! It's your Brother Yang! Open the door!"

Anyone else might have felt embarrassed to shout in an office, but Yang Chen didn't care. While he could easily knock the soldiers out in the blink of an eye, it was better to resolve things peacefully if possible.

Just before leaving, Lin Ruoxi had advised him to be lenient whenever possible.

His shout, infused with some internal energy, was definitely heard inside.

Sure enough, there was immediate commotion inside, and Hui Lin's familiar, excited voice called out, "Brother Yang!" She then ran towards the door.

As the door opened, Yang Chen finally saw Hui Lin, whom he hadn't seen in days.

The girl, who had now transformed into a big star, had professional makeup artists and stylists to meticulously choose her look. She no longer had the youthful and naive appearance she once did. Her jet-black hair was cut with a slanted fringe, and she wore a light blue checkered top paired with a bright yellow asymmetrical ruffled skirt, with light eyeshadow and lip gloss.

Originally just a pretty girl, Hui Lin now exuded the ethereal and serene beauty forged from growing up on Mount Emei, mixed with a hint of feminine allure that was truly eye-catching.

Hui Lin's bright eyes were filled with joy, and she almost ran up to hug Yang Chen. "Brother Yang, why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

Yang Chen shrugged, feeling a bit frustrated. "I called you so many times, but you didn't answer."

Hui Lin paused, her eyes showing a trace of indignation. She turned to a middle-aged woman in a black uniform and asked, "Sister Meifeng, why didn't you tell me Brother Yang called?"

Yang Chen peeked into the meeting room and saw several people sitting there with varied expressions. At the head of the table was a middle-aged man in a beige suit and glasses, and several other men and women who seemed to be part of the management team. The woman in the black uniform Hui Lin had addressed was among them.

Yang Lie was there too?!

When Yang Chen's gaze met that of a young man in a military uniform, sitting furthest in, with a grim expression, he pursed his lips. No wonder there were soldiers guarding outside. If Yang Lie was involved, it all made sense. The Yang family never lacked military personnel at their command.

The two soldiers guarding the meeting room hadn't stopped Yang Chen from calling out, but they now moved to pull him away. However, Yang Lie spoke up, "You two can leave. No need to guard here."

The soldiers, though puzzled, promptly obeyed. They didn't know that Yang Lie didn't want to confront Yang Chen just yet.

Meanwhile, Sister Meifeng, the woman in the black uniform, responded icily to Hui Lin's question. "Miss Lin Hui, as your agent, I am responsible for your work and life. Randomly interacting with strange men can negatively impact your reputation. Therefore, I decided not to inform you about unnecessary calls."

Yang Chen frowned, wondering why Hui Lin had such a domineering female agent.

"Brother Yang is not a stranger!" Hui Lin stomped her foot and pouted angrily.

"Hmph, then who is he to you?" Yang Lie sneered from inside. Hui Lin was momentarily at a loss for words, biting her lip and glaring at Yang Lie. Her simple nature didn't allow her to lie easily. After all, her relationship with Yang Chen was primarily due to Lin Ruoxi's presence; she didn't know what exactly Yang Chen meant to her.

Yang Chen stepped forward, patting Hui Lin's shoulder, and addressed the group. "It seems there's been a misunderstanding. I'm Yang Chen, the director of Yu Lei Entertainment. Hui Lin is my wife's sister, which makes her my sister-in-law. So, I came to see her. There shouldn't be a problem with that, right?"

"Take your filthy hand off her!"

Sister Meifeng suddenly stood up, glaring at Yang Chen with contempt. "Do you think you can deceive us like you've deceived Lin Hui? We won't be fooled by you. Thinking you can act like a toad wanting to eat swan meat, I advise you to leave immediately, or we'll have you sent straight to the police!"

Yang Chen's smile faded, and he looked at her coldly. If he weren't unclear about her exact relationship with Hui Lin, he would have slapped her by now.

"Hui Lin, who is this menopausal woman?" Yang Chen asked calmly.

Sister Meifeng's face turned red with rage. "Watch your mouth! Do you want to go to jail?!"

Hui Lin, now angry at Sister Meifeng for speaking so rudely to Yang Chen, retorted, "She's the agent that Yang Lie forced into the company to manage me a while ago. Everyone calls her Sister Meifeng. They say she's a top agent with many first-tier artists under her belt."

"So, she has nothing to do with you personally?" Yang Chen asked.

Hui Lin nodded, "Yes, she's just taught me some things. Other than that, we have no relationship. Sorry, Brother Yang. Sister Meifeng said that since I'm an artist now, I can't answer calls randomly, so she kept my phone. That's why I didn't know you called."

"So, she's a bitch that some people insisted on placing next to our dear Hui Lin," Yang Chen said with a grin.

Meifeng's face turned ashen, as if she wanted to devour Yang Chen alive. She spoke in a chilling tone, "Miss Lin Hui, you are my artist under contract. If this scoundrel by your side continues to insult me, don't blame me for not taking responsibility for your career."

"Hmph, it was you who crossed the line first, Sister Meifeng!" Hui Lin retorted angrily, her face flushed.

The atmosphere was tense, and the man in the beige suit finally couldn't hold back. He stood up with a smile, trying to defuse the situation. "So, Director Yang is here. I apologize for not being informed earlier; otherwise, we would have prepared a proper welcome. I'm Zhuang Feng, the deputy director here. Please don't take offense, Director Yang."

Zhuang Feng, clearly a veteran in the corporate world, approached warmly and positioned himself between Yang Chen and Meifeng. Despite Yang Chen's reluctance, he shook hands with him and continued, "Director Yang, we were just discussing some details regarding Miss Lin Hui's first concert. Since you're here, it would be great to have your input."

"I want to know why that person is in my company," Yang Chen said, pointing at Yang Lie.

Zhuang Feng quickly explained, "That young officer is Colonel Yang, a newly appointed commander in the Yanjing garrison. He is an old acquaintance of Miss Lin Hui and has come specifically to help her." He then whispered to Yang Chen, "Director Yang, it's better to avoid unnecessary trouble. Madam Meifeng holds a high status in both the entertainment industry and high society. The artists under her management are top-tier stars that no one wants to offend. And Colonel Yang is a direct descendant of the prestigious Yang family in Yanjing. Neither of these two are people we can afford to cross. Even President Lin would have to tolerate them."

Yang Chen hadn't expected that during his brief absence, Yang Lie had already risen to the rank of colonel. It seemed the Yang family's influence hadn't diminished much despite Yang Pojun's failed election. Otherwise, it would be outrageous for someone so young to become a colonel without notable military achievements.

At this point, Yang Lie stood up with a sneer. "I am the exclusive sponsor for this concert and also responsible for Hui Lin's security. Naturally, I should be here. But you, a freeloading scumbag, barging into a meeting like this, have no manners at all. Then again, it's no surprise since you grew up without proper parental guidance."

Yang Chen glanced at Yang Lie indifferently, showing no sign of anger, as if he didn't even care to respond. Instead, he walked straight towards Meifeng.

Meifeng's eyes were filled with contempt and rage as she watched Yang Chen approach. However, before she could react further, Yang Chen spoke in a calm yet icy tone, "Sister Meifeng, you seem to misunderstand something. I won't tolerate anyone disrespecting my family, regardless of their so-called status. You have no right to dictate who Hui Lin can or cannot see."

The room fell silent, the tension palpable as Yang Chen's words hung in the air. Hui Lin, though angry at Meifeng's earlier remarks, looked at Yang Chen with a mix of concern and admiration.

Yang Lie's expression darkened. "You think you can talk to Meifeng like that? Do you know who she is? And do you think you can just walk in here and throw your weight around? You're nothing but a leech."

Yang Chen ignored Yang Lie's provocation and addressed Hui Lin, "Pack your things, Hui Lin. We're leaving. I don't want you to be around people who don't respect you."

Hui Lin hesitated for a moment, looking at Meifeng and Yang Lie, but then nodded firmly. She walked over to Yang Chen's side, ready to leave with him.

Zhuang Feng, seeing the situation escalating, tried to intervene. "Director Yang, let's not be hasty. This is a matter that can be resolved amicably. Miss Lin Hui's concert is a major event, and we should all work together for its success."

Yang Chen turned to Zhuang Feng and replied, "Deputy Director Zhuang, I appreciate your position, but my priority is Hui Lin's well-being. If she stays here under these conditions, it will only harm her."

As Yang Chen and Hui Lin prepared to leave, Yang Lie stepped forward, blocking their path. "Do you think you can just walk out like this? You're underestimating me and the Yang family."

Yang Chen's eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin. "Yang Lie, step aside. This is between me and Hui Lin. Don't make it more complicated than it needs to be."

Yang Lie smirked. "What if I don't?"

Yang Chen's demeanor remained calm, but there was an unmistakable edge in his voice. "Then I'll have to make you."

The room's tension reached its peak, and it was clear that a confrontation was imminent.