In the building's lobby.

Originally, the crowd was chattering away, but they were suddenly drawn to the sound of footsteps.

"Tap, tap, tap."

In a tailored high-end suit, with a tall and upright figure, and a handsome face adorned with a pair of deep and piercing black eyes that were hard to look directly at.

Li Ze descended the stairs slowly, instantly becoming the focus of the entire banquet. Many people hurried forward, holding their wine glasses, trying to get close to this young master of the Li family and clink glasses with him.

"Young Master Li, I am the chairman of Wenlong Company. We've met before.""Young Master Li, I am the president of Shiwei Company. We have worked together before and even had drinks together.""Young Master Li, do you have any plans this weekend? I'd like to invite you to dinner.""Young Master Li..."

Li Ze smiled indifferently, responding casually. The enthusiasm of these people stemmed not only from fear of his status but also for another reason.

The Old Town Project!

A faint, playful smile appeared at the corner of Li Ze's mouth. The Old Town Project was a massive development initiative led by the Haijing City authorities. The goal was to develop and construct a large portion of valuable wasteland in the Eastern District, creating a brand-new, bustling city center!

With enormous investment involved, it was a tempting opportunity for everyone.

Anyone with a keen eye could see that this newly developed district would inevitably become the economic center of Haijing City. Once the new district was completed, all investors would reap immeasurable benefits.

As the leading family in Haijing City, the Li family naturally could not pass up this enormous business opportunity. With their status, influence, and connections, they secured nearly one-third of the project!

This, of course, made many people envious. However, even the Fang Corporation, with its substantial strength, could not undertake such a massive project alone.

Thus, Fang Corporation issued a tender announcement, seeking a capable company to collaborate with.

As soon as the news broke, many families and tycoons in Haijing City were eager to prove their connections and strength, doing everything possible to secure this opportunity to partner with the Li family.

At this year's banquet, in addition to the engagement announcement between Li Ze and Wang Jingjing, the Li family would also officially announce the winning bid for the project.

Most of the people trying to cozy up to Li Ze were families and companies participating in the tender. In their eyes, pleasing the eldest son of the Li family would undoubtedly increase their chances.

Li Ze dealt with the people in front of him, his expression calm and composed. The Old Town Project was initially a great opportunity for the Li family. With this chance, they might further solidify their status as the top family in Haijing City.

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"But..."

Li Ze's expression darkened. Knowing the plot from the television series, he was well aware that the Old Town Project not only failed to bring prosperity to the Li family but also plunged them into deep trouble, eventually leading to their downfall.

"Young Master Li!"

A shout of surprise broke through. Li Ze looked up to see a chubby, greasy-haired middle-aged man running towards him, panting heavily.

The moment he saw the man, memories in Li Ze's mind began to filter and compare, quickly confirming the man's identity. A hint of coldness appeared deep in his eyes.

As expected, he had come!

Wang Jianmin, the chairman of Jiancheng Group, possessed significant assets. The group's construction materials and real estate companies were leaders in Haijing City's industry. According to the original storyline, he was the partner chosen by the Li family for the Old Town Project. However, due to poor management, Jiancheng Group was on the brink of bankruptcy, laden with debts to various companies and even massive high-interest loans!

Wang Jianmin had been concealing the company's financial status, patching up one problem to cover another, barely keeping the company afloat. He knew that if the true financial situation were exposed, those who lent him money would never let him go, and he would be doomed.

In the end, he set his sights on the Li family. In the original plot, Wang Jianmin, under the guise of cooperation, swindled a large amount of liquid capital from the Li family to repay his loans, then absconded with the remaining funds. This ultimately led to a severe financial crisis for the Li family, causing a devastating blow.

When the Li family discovered this, they were furious. Li Ancheng even sent people to hunt him down, vowing to tear him apart if found. However, the cunning Wang Jianmin managed to escape.

As a result, the Li family was severely weakened, forced to retract their business and influence. This incident made them the first target of Wang Jingjing after she took control of the Song family. Wang Jingjing exploited the conflict between Ye Tian and Li Ze, ultimately leading to the complete downfall of this prominent Haijing City family.

Wang Jianmin ignored everyone else and walked straight to Li Ze. With a fawning smile, he greeted, "Young Master Li, it's been such a long time since I've seen you! Why haven't you come to visit me lately?"

He leaned in closer to Li Ze, speaking in a low voice, "I've got some new girls at my place, very nice ones. I guarantee you'll be satisfied, hehe..."

Li Ze's eyes grew colder. Knowing the original storyline, he was well aware of what Wang Jianmin meant by "new girls."

Wang Jianmin's group owned a film and entertainment company that recruited many attractive young actresses. He didn't run this company to cultivate talent and make money; instead, it was a means to bribe powerful figures. In the original plot, Li Ze was a regular at Wang Jianmin's company, often indulging himself with the actresses under Wang Jianmin's control.

Wang Jianmin, with his sycophantic tactics, had earned Li Ze's trust and often spoke highly of him in front of Li Ancheng. This was a significant factor in Wang Jianmin's ability to successfully swindle the Li family.

Li Ze was speechless as he recalled this. How could someone so foolish not meet a bad end?

"Young Master Li?" Wang Jianmin called out tentatively, feeling puzzled. In the past, whenever he brought up such topics, Li Ze's eyes would light up, and he would pull Wang Jianmin aside for a private conversation. What was different today?

With a smile, Li Ze patted Wang Jianmin on the shoulder and whispered, "I appreciate it. Go wait over there; you'll have your moment tonight."

Wang Jianmin was overjoyed. It sounded like he had a real opportunity this time!

The onlookers nearby all wore somewhat unpleasant expressions, their gazes towards Wang Jianmin tinged with distrust. These were all influential figures present, seeking to impress Li Ze but maintaining their dignity and limits. Wang Jianmin, however, shamelessly groveled like a dog, utterly shameless.

Yet, Wang Jianmin showed no embarrassment at all; instead, he looked smug and satisfied. Ha, there's an art to flattery! Different strokes for different folks. Did he really think he could get away with such shameless flattery?

Wang Jianmin sneered inwardly. "Li Ze is such a fool. A few favors and sweet talk, and he's all ready to do my bidding. Ha-ha, the trap is set, just waiting for the Li family to fall into it. Once they clean up their mess, I'll slip away scot-free, hahaha!"

Wang Jianmin laughed heartily inside.