A cold snort, out of place, was heard.
Everyone sitting in this reception room, though they said nothing, could not hide their uncontrollable fear from their expressions.
Who was Zhang Ke, and who were the people present?
This was no ordinary occasion.
Fear was only natural; not to be afraid would be terrifying.
In the eyes of many, the one who snorted was clearly testing Zhang Ke's bottom line, courting death.
In a moment, their gazes shifted from scattered to focused, quickly centering on Zhang Ke, who stood at the head of the room.
Even from the very first second they had entered.
Zhang Ke had repeatedly emphasized that their participation was voluntary. However, having gathered these people, how could Zhang Ke allow them to speak so freely?
Voluntary and voluntary, though they sounded the same, were in reality quite different, with much hidden beneath the surface.
The seasoned businessmen present understood this simple truth.
Their shift in focus now was merely to see how Zhang Ke would act next.
And how the person who snorted would be forced to concede.
Logically, it would not take many seconds.
Zhang Ke would likely erupt like a long-brewed volcano, finally unable to contain himself.
However, as time ticked by, Zhang Ke's behavior left everyone stunned.
Zhang Ke had clearly heard the snort. Yet, instead of showing any anger, a gentle smile curved his lips.
After standing in place for a moment, he slowly descended from his seat and, to everyone's surprise, walked towards the source of the snort.
What was he doing?
Everyone was bewildered, but what followed was even more incomprehensible.
He stopped near the table from which the snort had originated, still smiling warmly at the individuals at that table.
Then, like a polite and experienced waiter facing a difficult customer, he spoke.
"I heard the tone of your voices, and it seems you are not convinced by what I just said. Do you have any objections? Feel free to voice them. Rest assured, I may not have many skills, but when it comes to listening to opinions, I believe I can defeat at least ninety percent of people. I am confident in that."
Zhang Ke presented an image of humility.
But the more he acted this way, the more taut the nerves of those at the table and throughout the hall became.
It was like sentencing someone to death in a lighthearted, humorous manner, sending a chill down their spines.
There were six people sitting near the table. Five of them trembled involuntarily, their eyes instinctively darting away from Zhang Ke.
The alliance they had formed moments ago, which had seemed so united, instantly crumbled like plastic friendships, proving to be utterly fragile.
The man who had led the snort was now thoroughly embarrassed. Yet, in this situation, he somehow mustered a surge of courage and, with a sudden movement like an electric shock, stood up from his seat.
This person's personality leaned towards being straightforward.
Furthermore, he had a good relationship with Director Lin.
Consequently, driven by his rising anger, his words became increasingly reckless.
"Zhang Ke, you've dealt with Director Lin for so many years; you're practically brothers. Now, with just one sentence from the Dong family, everything has fallen apart. Do you realize that doing this will not only harm the Lin family but also the entire business world of Southeast City?"
This man was like a roaring lion.
Once he started speaking, the words flowed like a torrent.
Although these words were quite disrespectful to Zhang Ke,
He felt like he had a fishbone stuck in his throat by holding them in. Now that he had spoken them, the ashen color on his face diminished slightly.
However, the others nearby, especially the few at the table, listened.
They had already turned into frozen statues, as if struck by a powerful cold wave,愣在了原地.
This time, even if this man didn't die, he was finished.
Yet, strangely, Zhang Ke still showed no sign of anger.
On the contrary, the smile, which was terrifyingly gentle, only deepened.
Everyone was perplexed, and cold sweat poured down their backs.
Zhang Ke ignored them and continued to follow his own train of thought.
"Brother, if I recall correctly, your surname is Zhang, and your name is Zhang Yong. We are distantly related. But why would you have such malicious suspicions? It seems you, Zhang Yong, still haven't fully understood what I said earlier. I said that this time, we are not targeting the Lin family, nor any other entity, but that kid Lü Feng."
"That kid Lü Feng is formidable. He has deceived Lin Dong and has now become a black sheep of the Lin family. No, he is a black sheep of the entire Southeast City business community. As long as this kid is around, the Lin family will not have peace. Perhaps Lin Dong couldn't see it at first, but once the plan succeeds, he will naturally understand my good intentions as a friend."
As Zhang Ke spoke, he became more animated.
Believing his words to be highly persuasive, and with most of those present agreeing with his approach.
Under this dual pressure,
Even a cold stone would be warmed up.
This was the core reason why Zhang Ke had not lost his temper until now.
In front of everyone, he needed to establish an image of sincerity and the ability to persuade through reason.
Only then could the subsequent plan proceed smoothly and without resistance.
After all, Zhang Ke had been in the business world for so many years.
He understood human nature very well.
People do not respond as well to things being forced upon them, no matter how good they are, as they do to things they actively embrace, which can mobilize their enthusiasm.
Logically, Zhang Ke had laid out a ladder at Zhang Yong's feet.
At this point, Zhang Yong should have at least stepped down the ladder.
However, the man before him remained stubborn, refusing a toast and opting for a penalty.
Whether he was possessed or not, the man let out two more cold laughs from the depths of his throat. One person sitting nearby could no longer bear it, realizing that if this continued, an unavoidable storm was brewing.
He quickly tugged at the man's clothes, urging him to sit down.
But this action, instead of having a positive effect on Zhang Yong, who was speaking, acted as a catalyst.
Zhang Yong, like a powder keg encountering an open flame, exploded.
"You have the nerve to call me your kinsman? I don't have people as vile as you in my family. I know what you're trying to do; you want to use the Dong family's influence to unify the businesses in Southeast City, right? I don't object to that. After all, your reputation in Southeast City for doing business is well-known. But the Dong family is not to be trifled with. Have you ever considered why the Dong family is collaborating with you? If you continue like this, you yourself will eventually be swallowed by the Dong family."
These words not only targeted Zhang Ke but also pointed towards Dong Hua, who was on the platform not far behind Zhang Ke.
This was like ripping open the scars of two people and exposing them to the harsh sunlight.
Zhang Ke had anticipated that Zhang Yong, with his rebellious nature, would be difficult to deal with.