Who's going to be the female lead's simp? Aren't the supporting female characters mor

The air in the banquet hall seemed to freeze for a moment.

The previously noisy conversation receded like the tide, and everyone's eyes involuntarily turned to the doorway.

There was no grand spectacle there; only a woman walked in slowly.

Ye Lingqing.

The head of the Ye family in Beijing, known in the business world as a "female devil".

She looked to be in her early thirties, wearing a dark blue modified cheongsam and a black cashmere coat. She wasn't carrying a designer bag or holding a male companion; instead, she was clutching a string of sandalwood prayer beads.

She walked very slowly, each step seeming to tread on the hearts of everyone present.

His imposing aura, though not angry, caused the powerful figures around him who held sway in Haicheng to lower their heads instinctively, like soldiers awaiting inspection.

Chen Hao's eyes lit up.

This is his last chance.

As long as we can get in touch with Ye Lingqing, the predicament of the port being blocked can be easily resolved, and we can even use the power of the capital to crush the Bai family.

He straightened his tie, took a deep breath, and pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses.

"Chen Mo, watch closely." Bai Jingyou stood not far away, gently swirling the champagne glass in his hand, a playful smile on his lips. "A textbook example of courting death is about to unfold."

Jiang Mengyao tightened her grip on his arm with some worry: "Jingyou, Ye Lingqing is notoriously difficult to talk to, and Chen Hao is a smooth talker and a master of disguise. What if..."

"There's no 'what if'." Bai Jingyou took a sip of his drink, his eyes cold. "Ye Lingqing hates two kinds of people the most in her life. The first is people who smoke without considering the occasion, and the second is opportunists like the one surnamed Chen."

At this moment, Chen Hao had already gone to meet him.

He didn't rush directly to Ye Lingqing, but instead cleverly bumped into her on her route, then bowed slightly, his posture extremely humble.

"President Ye, I've heard so much about you." Chen Hao's voice wasn't loud, just loud enough for Ye Lingqing to hear. "I am Chen Hao. My father, Chen Qiming, often spoke of your brilliance back then."

This tactic is called cultivating personal relationships.

Chen Hao was smart; he knew that talking business with a big shot like Ye Lingqing was useless; all he could do was talk about ideals.

Although his adoptive father, Chen Qiming, was a scoundrel who absconded with embezzled funds, he did spend some time in Beijing in his early years and had met the Ye family a few times.

Ye Lingqing stopped in her tracks.

She turned her head, her narrow phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, her gaze falling on Chen Hao's face as if she were looking at an antique that wasn't particularly valuable.

"Chen Qiming?" Ye Lingqing's voice was cold, with a unique hoarseness. "That Chen Qiming who ran off with his master's money to launder his money in Southeast Asia?"

Chen Hao's face stiffened, but he quickly regained his composure, a bitter yet resolute expression on his face: "My father did indeed make mistakes back then, but he always repented before he died. The sins of the father must be visited upon the son; all these years I've worked hard to build my business in Haicheng, hoping to wash away the shame of the past. But..."

He changed the subject, his gaze drifting intentionally or unintentionally towards Bai Jingyou.

"But the business environment in Haicheng is truly disheartening. The Bai Group is all-powerful and monopolizes resources. It's so difficult for a small entrepreneur like me to do anything meaningful."

These words were spoken with such vividness and emotion.

She acknowledged her father's flaws while maintaining her image as someone who endured humiliation and persevered, and incidentally, she also put a bad word to the Bai family.

People around started whispering.

"This Chen Hao is something else, daring to complain to President Ye."

"The Bai family really went too far this time, directly blocking the port. President Ye hates this kind of behavior that disrupts market rules the most."

"Looks like Young Master Bai is going to suffer a setback today."

Ye Lingqing didn't speak, but simply gently fiddled with the prayer beads in her hand.

Da, da, da.

The sound of the wooden beads colliding was exceptionally clear in the quiet hall.

Chen Hao was overjoyed.

There's hope! The fact that Ye Lingqing didn't react on the spot means she listened.

Just then, a lazy voice broke in.

"Aunt Ye, it seems like one bead is missing from your string of beads."

The crowd erupted in uproar.

Who dares to be so bold as to call Ye Lingqing "Auntie"? And even dares to comment on her Buddhist prayer beads?

Chen Hao turned around abruptly and saw Bai Jingyou walking over with Jiang Mengyao on his arm, as if they were strolling in their own backyard.

He didn't look at Chen Hao, but walked straight to Ye Lingqing, smiling like a boy next door.

"Bai Jingyou!" Chen Hao shouted sternly, "How dare you be so insolent in front of President Ye? Step back now!"

Bai Jingyou didn't even glance at him out of the corner of his eye, he just stared intently at Ye Lingqing.

Ye Lingqing stared at Bai Jingyou for three seconds, then suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, yet it instantly raised the temperature in the surrounding area considerably.

"The Bai family's lad?" Ye Lingqing spoke up. "Good eye. This string of beads is indeed missing a bead. It broke once a few years ago when I was praying for it at Mount Putuo."

"It's better to break it off." Bai Jingyou's words were astonishing. "The Great Dao is fifty, the Heavenly Evolution is forty-nine, and one is missing. Things that are too perfect often don't last long. Lacking one can actually hold more blessings."

A fleeting look of appreciation crossed Ye Lingqing's eyes.

She had heard countless flatteries in her life, but Bai Jingyou was the first person to flatter her in such a cultured and pleasing way.

"You're more interesting than your rigid old man," Ye Lingqing commented casually.

"Thank you for the compliment, Aunt Ye." Bai Jingyou seized the opportunity. "Since Aunt Ye thinks I'm interesting, could I ask you for a favor?"

"Oh?" Ye Lingqing raised an eyebrow. "What do you want to say? That I should let this kid surnamed Chen go?"

A glimmer of hope ignited in Chen Hao's heart.

Has Bai Jingyou chickened out? Is he trying to play peacemaker?

Bai Jingyou shook his head, pointed at Chen Hao, and said in a calm tone as if he were saying that the dishes tonight were good.

"I wanted to remind Aunt Ye that some people not only have dirty blood, but even their names are stolen."

He turned around, looked at Chen Hao's pale face, and a cruel smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Chen Hao, you just said your dad's name is Chen Qiming, right?"

"So what if it is...?" Chen Hao gritted his teeth.

"Not so great." Bai Jingyou shrugged. "I just remember that twelve years ago, before Chen Qiming absconded with the Lin family's assets, he was a purchasing manager on the periphery of the Ye family in Beijing. Because of his dishonest behavior, he stole a batch of antiques and calligraphy from the Ye family and was kicked out of the Ye family. That's how he ended up in Haicheng and joined the Lin family."

The entire room fell silent.

Everyone's eyes widened.

Even Chen Mo couldn't find out about this secret, so how did Bai Jingyou know it?

Of course, it's because of the original plot.

In the original novel, Chen Hao later revealed this past trauma to gain power and play the victim.

But now, Bai Jingyou has prematurely detonated this bomb.

"You...you're talking nonsense!" Chen Hao panicked, cold sweat instantly soaking his back.

He looked at Ye Lingqing, only to find that her face was so gloomy it could drip water.

"So it was the bastard child of a family traitor."

Ye Lingqing's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a heavy hammer blow that slammed into Chen Hao's chest.

She hated betrayal more than anything in her life.

Among the paintings and calligraphy that Chen Qiming stole back then, one of them was her mother's keepsake.

This matter is a thorn in her heart.

"President Ye, please let me explain, I don't know... I really don't know..." Chen Hao stammered, his legs went weak, and he almost knelt on the ground.

"Throw it out."

Ye Lingqing didn't even glance at him, but waved her hand in disgust, as if shooing away a fly.

"From now on, I don't want to see anyone with this surname in any setting where I am."

Several bodyguards in black immediately stepped forward and dragged Chen Hao up like a dead dog.

Chen Hao struggled, his eyes filled with venom as he glared at Bai Jingyou: "Bai Jingyou! You tricked me! You knew all along! You'll get what's coming to you!"

"Shhh."

Bai Jingyou raised a finger and placed it to his lips.

"Young Master Chen, save your energy. It's windy outside, don't bite your tongue."

As Chen Hao was dragged out of the banquet hall, the shrill screams gradually faded away, and the hall returned to calm.

This time, however, everyone looked at Bai Jingyou differently.

It's no longer like looking at a spoiled brat, but like looking at a wolf in sheep's clothing.

That was a brilliant move—using someone else to do the dirty work.

He not only avoided getting his hands dirty, but also completely cut off Chen Hao's escape route in the Beijing circle, and incidentally did Ye Lingqing a favor as well.

This isn't just a good-for-nothing; this is clearly a prodigy!

"Kid, you're quite good." Ye Lingqing turned her head and re-examined Bai Jingyou. "It seems the rumors were wrong. This next generation of the Bai family has not only not collapsed, but is going to cause a huge upheaval."

"Aunt Ye, you flatter me." Bai Jingyou smiled modestly. "I just don't like flies spoiling your enjoyment."

"Alright, stop being so cheeky." Ye Lingqing glanced at Jiang Mengyao beside him. "A girl from the Jiang family?"

"Hello, Mr. Ye." Jiang Mengyao quickly bowed slightly, displaying impeccable manners.

"You have good taste, much better than that crybaby Lin family woman." Ye Lingqing rarely praised her, then turned and walked towards the VIP room on the second floor.

She took two steps, then stopped without looking back.

"Young man, come up with me. I'm interested in that shipment from Haicheng Port."

These words caused a stir throughout the room.

The shipment from Haicheng Port? Isn't that the same dock that Bai Qing just sealed off?

Is Ye Lingqing about to... get involved? And on the Bai family's side?

Bai Jingyou's smile deepened.

He knew things were settled.

This round not only slapped Chen Hao in the face, but also completely tied the powerful Ye family of Beijing to the Bai family's chariot.

"Sis, it looks like your 300 million is about to double."

Bai Jingyou winked at Bai Qing in the distance, then took Jiang Mengyao's hand and strode after her.

……

Half an hour later, in the VIP room.

The aroma of tea wafts through the air.

Ye Lingqing sat in the main seat, playing with the string of Buddhist beads in her hand, her eyes deep.

"Kid, let's not beat around the bush." ​​She looked at Bai Jingyou. "You know what I'm looking for, right?"

Bai Jingyou put down his teacup, his previous playful smile vanished, and his expression became solemn.

"Aunt Ye's trip south this time wasn't for port trade, but for that 'key'."

Ye Lingqing's pupils suddenly contracted.

His aura exploded instantly, and a tangible pressure enveloped Bai Jingyou.

"Do you know what a 'key' is?"

"Not only do I know." Bai Jingyou met her gaze without flinching. Instead, he took out a USB drive from his pocket and gently pushed it in front of Ye Lingqing.

"I also know that the so-called bargaining chip in Chen Hao's hands is nothing but a fake. The real 'key' has always been in the Lin family's bankrupt old mansion, being thrown away as scrap metal in the basement."

"And that house was taken back by my sister yesterday."

Bai Jingyou leaned forward, his voice deep and alluring.

"Aunt Ye, the Bai family doesn't want much. We want absolute control of Haicheng, while you want that position in Beijing."

"Are you going to do this deal or not?"

Ye Lingqing stared at the USB drive for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"Good! Well done, Bai Jingyou!"

She slammed her hand on the table, her eyes gleaming.

"This deal is done!"

Meanwhile, in a secluded room somewhere in Haicheng.

Chen Hao, who had been thrown out of the hotel, stared at the contract termination notices and bank payment reminders that kept popping up on his phone screen. His eyes were bloodshot and his face was twisted like a demon.

"Bai Jingyou... Ye Lingqing..."

He pulled a dusty box from under the bed, opened it, and inside lay a black voice recorder and several yellowed photos.

"Since you won't give me a way out, then don't blame me for dragging everyone down to hell with me."

He dialed a number that wasn't saved in his contacts.

The call connected, and a cold, distorted voice came from the other end.

"Have you figured it out?"