Hong Kong film: The cop backs down, the ladies beg me to check his license.

Upon hearing words like "illegitimate child" and "homeless," the wariness in Chen Taotao's eyes subtly eased. These keywords touched upon certain darker parts of his own memory.

"Ni Kun died a while ago." Ye Tian's lips curled into a cold smile. "I was quite happy. Really. I set off more than a dozen strings of ten-thousand-shot firecrackers outside my office, the blasts could be heard all over the street." He paused, took a drag of his cigarette, "But after the happiness, I felt... like something was missing."

Chen Taotao was silent for a few seconds before slowly saying, "Ni Kun is dead, but the Ni family... is still around."

"Slap, slap, slap."

Ye Tian clapped three times lightly, a genuine smile appearing in his eyes.

"I knew you'd understand."

"That's right. Ni Kun is dead, but the Ni family is still around. Some people might think that Ni Kun's crime was making money from drugs. His wife and children used that money to go to school, become lawyers, doctors, and become respectable upper-class people... They weren't involved, so the debt is settled with him, and I shouldn't cause them any trouble."

Ye Tian leaned forward, staring into Chen Taotao's eyes through the wisps of smoke: "Do you think... this statement is correct?"

Chen Taotao shook his head almost without hesitation: "No. They enjoyed the benefits of their sins, living in an ivory tower built with dirty money, so they must bear the consequences of this original sin. That's fair."

Ye Tian exhaled a long, satisfying puff of smoke, and the smile on his face became much more genuine.

"Chen Sheng, I admire you."

"When an avalanche occurs, no snowflake can claim innocence." He crossed his legs. "So, I later... put in a little more effort. Now, the Ni family is completely clean."

Chen Taotao's pupils contracted slightly. This morning's newspaper's financial section did indeed have a small, inconspicuous section mentioning that the Ni family business had suddenly gone into liquidation for unknown reasons, and that family members were rumored to have left Hong Kong. He hadn't given it much thought at the time.

"The Ni family... was this Mr. Ye's doing?" He lowered his voice.

Ye Tian nodded, his tone as casual as if discussing the weather: "When it comes to revenge, of course, it's most satisfying to do it yourself."

He looked at Chen Taotao with a knowing look in his eyes: "Our experiences are somewhat similar. Perhaps... the person you hate in your heart has caused you no less pain than Ni Kun caused me."

Perhaps because of that secret connection born of shared suffering, Chen Taotao's guard lowered considerably. He remained silent for a moment before whispering, "Yes. Many years ago, my mother was seriously ill, and on her deathbed, all she wanted was to see him one last time. I knelt and begged him, but he... refused. From that moment on, I vowed to bring him down and make him taste what it feels like to lose the most important thing in his life."

He paused, then chuckled self-deprecatingly: "These kinds of things are hard to explain to outsiders. Understanding is already rare, empathy... is almost impossible."

"That's normal." Ye Tian agreed. "Everyone has their own hell. It's already quite good that I can understand why you did this. Only those who have truly fallen into the same pit know how cold and dark it is at the bottom."

He sighed, "But in the end, I wasn't ruthless enough. If I were, I would have sent him down to join my mother, and that would have been the end of it all."

Chen Taotao sighed as well. Sending his biological father on his final journey? Just thinking about it was one thing, but actually doing it—what would that make him?

He composed himself and asked, "Mr. Ye, you came to see me today specifically for more than just to talk about these...past events, didn't you?"

"Of course I don't have the time to come here and reopen my wounds for others to see." Ye Tian stubbed out his cigar. "Like I said, I came to find you. I admire your abilities and... this obsession. I want to ask you to come and help me with something."

Chen Taotao looked troubled: "Mr. Ye, I am very satisfied with my current job and have no plans to change jobs for the time being."

"I know." Ye Tian nodded knowingly. "You are the vice president of the investment department at Citibank, and you can be considered a rising star on Wall Street. However, you should have heard the saying: 'Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts.'"

Upon hearing the last eight words, Chen Taotao's eyes flickered slightly.

"You joined Wanguo Baotong not for career development, but to get revenge on Chen Wanxian, right?" Ye Tian's tone was calm, yet every word was clear. "Because Chen Wanxian has been a major client of Wanguo Baotong for many years. And as a senior executive in the investment department, you have the authority to view the information and activities of core clients. This is the most crucial step in your plan, isn't it?"

Chen Taotao suddenly looked up, staring intently at Ye Tian, ​​a chill running down his spine: "Mr. Ye... have you investigated me?"

"It will take longer than you think," Ye Tian smiled. Of course, he couldn't say something like, "I knew you from TV in my past life."

"Mr. Chen, have you ever considered this?" Ye Tian leaned forward slightly, exuding an invisible pressure. "Although you're the vice president, ultimately, you're working for CMB. And Chen Wanxian? He's the 'god of wealth' who brings CMB enormous profits. Thirty years of cooperation—far longer than any president's term. When your personal grudges clash with the bank's fundamental interests… which side do you think CMB will take?"

Chen Taotao's expression slowly changed.

"I think you understand what I mean." Ye Tian leaned back on the sofa. "Whoever can bring in more profits is the bank's 'insider.' If sacrificing a vice president can keep Chen Wanxian, a major client, in check, do you think the bank's top management would hesitate? Handing you over as a bargaining chip wouldn't even make them blink an eye."

Chen Taotao's hand unconsciously gripped the leather armrest of the sofa, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force. It took him a while to slowly release it.

"I've been preparing for this day for a long time. I've considered all the scenarios and all the possibilities. I won't lose." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a fierce determination.

Ye Tian nodded: "I believe you. Chen Wanxian has been your nightmare for over a decade, and also your only motivation. You studied so hard, working while finishing your Ivy League education... I can imagine what that was like."

Just as Chen Taotao was about to say, "You probably can't really imagine that kind of suffering," Ye Tian interrupted:

"Do you think I can't truly understand because I haven't experienced it?" Ye Tian smiled, a smile that was hard to describe. "Don't forget, I was fighting for food with stray dogs on the street when I was seven. Back then, I didn't even consider myself human anymore. What people can unleash to survive is something you'll never understand until you've been pushed to the brink."

Chen Taotao was speechless for a long time before awkwardly saying, "Although I am suffering... I am certainly not as bad as Mr. Ye."

"It's all in the past." Ye Tian waved his hand, as if brushing away dust. "Of course, we won't fall back into that pit now. But what those experiences left behind is etched into our bones. Sometimes, they are the strongest cards we hold in our hands."

Chen Taotao was momentarily dazed. The Mr. Ye before him was composed, even possessing a somewhat lazy air of nobility. He spoke eloquently, quoting classical texts, and seemed intimately familiar with the rules of Wall Street and the Hong Kong stock market. Had he... truly once struggled to survive on the streets like a stray dog?

Ye Tian suddenly smiled, a smile tinged with coldness: "I haven't mentioned these old stories to anyone in a long time. I'm not afraid to admit it, but if anyone dares to bring them up in front of me now, I guarantee they'll regret being born."

Chen Taotao forced a smile as well. He knew in his heart that Ye Tian was definitely not joking.

"You think you can take down Chen Wanxian? It's not that easy." Ye Tian changed the subject. "'Stock Market Demon' Chen Wanxian, how many years has he been in the Hong Kong stock market? He was probably there when this trading hall was first established. Back then, the only ones who could challenge him were 'Stock God' Ye Tian and 'Stock King' Fang Jinxin. Oh, right..." He seemed to suddenly remember something and waved to someone not far away, "Fang Ting!"

Fang Ting looked up at the sound, saw Ye Tian, ​​and a bright smile appeared on her face. She quickly walked over and said, "It really is you, Mr. Ye."

Chen Taotao was taken aback again: "You two know each other?"

Fang Ting smiled and said, "Yes, I know him. Mr. Ye is my best friend's boyfriend."

Ye Tian corrected, "It's my husband."