Inside the presidential suite on the top floor of the Junxi Hotel, two men were already present.
One was Jiang Tao, the current chairman of Tianhai Heavy Industry in Shashi City, and the other was Rao Yilong, the chairman of Shashi Jinxiang Entertainment.
Both Tianhai Heavy Industry and Jinxiang Entertainment were leading enterprises in Shashi City, and both men were worth over a hundred billion yuan. However, these two magnates were now sitting in the presidential suite, daring not to move. Their actions were almost identical: staring at the water cups in their hands, their brows furrowed in deep thought.
"Not here yet..."
Rao Yilong nervously tapped his fingers on the table twice.
But after just two taps, he suddenly retracted his fingers, afraid to move.
"I truly admire you," Jiang Tao said with a light chuckle upon seeing this action. He poured tea for both of them from the pot on the table, then continued, "Brother Long, you've been to this suite so many times, yet you've never experienced such an agonizing wait, have you?"
"..." Rao Yilong picked up his tea and glanced at the suite door. He quickly replied, "Indeed not. I used to come here for enjoyment. I never imagined there would be a day I'd be waiting here for someone, and even more so... for 'that' esteemed person."
"Yes."
Jiang Tao took a sip of tea, his face etched with worry. "To be contacted by this esteemed person, I wonder if it's our good fortune... or perhaps our misfortune?"
"...You're bolder than I am, daring to speak like that. Aren't you afraid of death?"
Rao Yilong furtively glanced at the door again.
These two middle-aged men, their combined age well over a hundred, now resembled students who had misbehaved and were waiting for their teacher to arrive at the office.
However, neither of them were students, nor were they waiting for a teacher.
"If saying such a thing would lead to my death... then it wouldn't be 'that' esteemed person who has arrived," Jiang Tao said, offering a cigarette.
He didn't light one for himself, however, and looked at Rao Yilong. "I don't smoke. If you do, it's best to go to the balcony."
"I wouldn't dare."
Rao Yilong said, taking the cigarette and preparing to find a place to put it down, when the suite door was pushed open.
"Gentlemen, thank you for waiting."
Lin Xiao and Ye Chen walked into the room.
"Not at all! Not at all!"
The moment Lin Xiao entered, both men immediately sprang from their seats, plastering smiles on their faces. "It is my honor to be personally met by the Dragon King!"
At their level, they were naturally privy to certain information that others were not.
For instance, they knew that the Dragon King of Beijiang was surnamed Lin, and they knew this earlier than the three great families.
After all, the three great families had only found out yesterday.
"Please, sit. There's no need to be so formal," Lin Xiao said politely as he approached them. However, his every movement carried an air of superiority.
"Gentlemen, do you know why I've summoned you?" Lin Xiao walked to the tea table and poured himself a cup of tea.
"We do."
Jiang Tao quickly stood up, retrieved the tea he had prepared earlier, and personally brewed tea for Lin Xiao. He said, "Today, I heard that the Dragon King reprimanded those corrupt elements. However, the businesses of those individuals have many connections with our companies..."
Lin Xiao gestured for him to stop brewing tea and looked at him. "Uncle Jiang, I've told you, there's no need to be so formal. After all, you and my Lin family are old acquaintances."