Unparalleled medical and martial arts skills, saving the CEO's fiancée at the start.

"If you keep talking nonsense, you won't get dinner tonight."

Ye Chen immediately shut his mouth, but couldn't help chuckling. The smugness in his laughter was almost overflowing from the crack in the door.

Jiang Ruoxi picked up the folder on the table and threw it at him, but he caught it steadily, put it on the table, and then walked towards the door.

As he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, without turning around, his voice a few decibels lower than usual: "Wife, thank you."

Jiang Ruoxi looked up at his retreating figure: "Thank me for what?"

"Thank you for not kicking me out back then, otherwise I wouldn't have a wife, nor would I have such a big fight to fight, or such good tea to drink."

After Ye Chen finished speaking, he pushed open the door and went out.

Jiang Ruoxi stood there, looking in the direction he disappeared, her expression slowly relaxing.

That afternoon, the Jiang Group held an emergency board meeting.

At the meeting, Jiang Ruoxi officially announced that Qiao's Real Estate had completely withdrawn from the Jiangcheng market and that Wansheng Group had entered bankruptcy liquidation proceedings. At the same time, she announced that Tongda Building Materials and Tiedun Logistics had signed a five-year strategic cooperation agreement with Jiang's Group.

The meeting room erupted in applause, and several senior executives who had followed Jiang Ruoxi since the early days of the company were so excited that their eyes welled up with tears.

Ye Chen, who was sitting in the corner attending the meeting, leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and was secretly sending messages to Ghost Servant on his phone.

"Uncle Gui, how is Han Song's injury?"

"It's nothing serious, he just needs a few days of rest. He asked me to tell you that he thanks you for holding back at the last minute."

"Don't mention it, we're all family. By the way, Uncle Gui, is your old chest injury still hurting? It's time for your fourth acupuncture session, don't forget tonight."

"I know. There's one more thing. Han Song said he'll treat you to drinks next time we meet at the best restaurant in the provincial capital. It's on him."

Ye Chen looked at the words on the screen and smiled silently.

From enemy to adversary, and from adversary to friend, he has traveled a long and worthwhile path.

After the meeting, Ye Chen returned to the security department and called Gui Pu, He Jianping, and several core members together for a brief meeting.

He briefly analyzed the new situation facing the Jiang Group after the Qiao family's withdrawal. The withdrawal of the opponent did not mean that there would be no new opponents. The withdrawal of the Qiao family would inevitably leave a huge market vacuum, which other forces in the provincial capital would soon fill. Some people in Jiangcheng would also take the opportunity to make a profit.

"From today onwards, the focus of the Security Department will shift from defense to daily operations." Ye Chen stood in front of the whiteboard, his face unusually serious.

"Minister Ye is right. Everyone must implement this seriously and there can be no slackness. Did you hear me?" He Jianping quickly interrupted and began to speak, pretending to be serious.

"Minister He, you've gone a bit overboard, but that doesn't mean we can let our guard down. The Jiang Group's market share has increased, and there are more people who are envious, so the security pressure will only increase. Old He, rearrange the patrol shifts and shift the focus from preventing external attacks to preventing daily risks. Uncle Gui, keep an eye on things in the provincial capital for me. Notify me immediately if there's any disturbance. Also..."

He glanced at everyone present, then gave a meaningful smile: "It's time for our security department to expand its recruitment. This time, we can raise the standards appropriately, giving priority to those with veteran backgrounds and martial arts skills. I'll write a recruitment notice and post it on the company website later."

He Jianping's eyes lit up: "Brother, you mean...?"

"Now that the Qiao family is dealt with, the Jiang Group will only face even bigger rivals in the future." Ye Chen put down the whiteboard marker, placed his hands on the table, and had a faint smile on his lips.

Ye Chen paused for a moment before revealing his inner thoughts.

"Our security department can't always rely on me to fight alone, can it? I also need a capable team, after all..."

Ye Chen looked around, then his smile vanished, and he said the second half of his sentence in a rare serious tone: "This is the last line of defense for the Jiang Group, and I, Ye Chen, am someone who will be the head of security for life."

After the meeting, the ghost servant did not leave immediately.

He sat in the chair, looking at Ye Chen thoughtfully, his cloudy old eyes filled with a mixture of scrutiny and admiration.

Twenty years of service to the Qiao family had exposed him to all sorts of intrigue and deceit, but Ye Chen was someone he had never met before who was both skilled in fighting and scheming, and who had both methods and principles.

"Boy," the ghost servant spoke, his voice still hoarse and dry.

"Um?"

"You are better than your martial uncle, not only in terms of kung fu. If Su Youdao had been as good at dealing with people as you were back then, he wouldn't have died alone in the provincial capital. Although I never saw him in person, Grandpa Qiao mentioned him many times, and every time he talked about him, he looked regretful."

Ye Chen didn't speak, but nodded slightly, his gaze falling on the small cloth bag containing the jade pendant on the table.

Ye Chen took the jade pendant out of the drawer, gently stroking the patterns on it and feeling its warm, smooth texture.

The grudges from twenty years ago have only scratched the surface, but he knows that the real main quest has not yet begun.

Now that the master has descended the mountain, there must be an explanation for the junior brother's death.

Although the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce has disbanded, some of the experts who participated in the siege back then, their descendants, and their sects are still alive.

But that's another story.

Ye Chen said softly to the jade tablet, "Uncle-Master, I will remember your grudge from back then. Once things are completely settled here, I will investigate."

He rewrapped the jade pendant, put it back deep in the drawer, locked it, and stood up.

Jiang Ruoxi appeared at the security office entrance and knocked on the open door.

She had changed out of her suit and skirt and into loose loungewear. Her hair was down and draped over her shoulders, making her look much softer than usual.

"I'm off work, going home," she said.

"Coming, coming." Ye Chen grabbed his coat and draped it over his shoulder, waved to Gui Pu and He Jianping, and strode toward the door.

When he reached Jiang Ruoxi's side, he suddenly stopped, tilted his head, and looked her over: "Wife, don't you have to work overtime today? It's only six o'clock."

"I don't want to add anything today. I'll go home and cook, but I'll cook tonight, and you can help."

Jiang Ruoxi finished speaking coldly and walked towards the elevator.

Ye Chen's eyes lit up, but then a hint of worry appeared on his face: "Are you sure? Last time you said you would cook, but in the end I cooked four dishes and a soup and washed the dishes. You even poured salt into the scrambled eggs with tomatoes instead of sugar."

"That was my first time cooking, any objections?"

"No, no, absolutely not. It's the greatest honor for the Minister of Security to have General Jiang cook for me personally. I'd eat it even if he put arsenic in it, let alone salt."

"Try saying another one of those sarcastic remarks."

The two walked out of the Jiang Group building side by side.

Ghost Servant stood at the entrance of the security department, watching the two figures disappear into the distance. A faint smile finally appeared on his perpetually cold face.

The dust has settled, and the smoke has cleared.

Jiangcheng is still the same Jiangcheng, but some things have quietly changed.