Gangster heir? Please call me a legitimate entrepreneur.

A few days later, a bright and sunny day.

The backstage area of ​​the Longhai Municipal Government Auditorium.

The radiators were burning hot to the touch, emitting a burnt smell of old, charred iron.

Lei Hu was wearing an ill-fitting black suit and a red tie with yellow flowers around his neck.

His large, thick fingers were frantically picking at the top button of his shirt.

"Brother Su...is this tie too small? It's so tight I can't breathe."

Su Ye leaned against the mottled green paint on the wall and took a sip of warm water from his thermos.

For the first time ever, he didn't wear that black overcoat today; instead, he wore a well-tailored, dark-patterned bespoke suit.

Beside him, Chen Suan, sporting a pair of dark circles under his eyes, was swaying his legs.

He held a stack of speech drafts in his hand, the cold sweat in his palms making the pages soft.

As the group's CFO, he had to accompany Su Ye to receive the award today.

An undercover agent sent by the provincial department followed a gang leader to the stage to receive the city's model worker award?

Chen Suan felt stomach acid rising up his throat and couldn't help but let out a loud burp.

"Director Chen, if your stomach isn't feeling well, just drink some hot water." Su Ye glanced at him, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"No, no...Mr. Su, I'm just nervous." Chen Suan stammered as he pushed up his slipping glasses.

A deafening booming sound came from the front desk.

The front of the auditorium was bustling with noise.

The huge crystal chandelier overhead cast a blinding yellow light, making one's scalp burn.

Li Jianguo, the director of the municipal bureau, sat upright on the left side of the rostrum.

He was unusually dressed in a crisp police uniform today, the wheat ears and police stars on his shoulders polished to a gleaming shine.

The old man held his enamel teacup, his fingertips tracing the three-page speech draft on the table.

The title is "A Powerful Blow: Longhai City Achieves a Major Victory in its Annual Campaign Against Organized Crime".

Li Jianguo cleared his dry throat and turned to look at Captain Gu sitting in the back row.

Captain Gu still had a white bandage wrapped around his head.

I just finished receiving an IV drip of blood pressure medication at the hospital, but I forced myself to come to this summary meeting.

"Old Gu, are you still feeling dizzy?" Li Jianguo asked in a low voice.

Captain Gu gritted his teeth and forced a smile.

"Chief, I'm not dizzy anymore. Our municipal bureau really made a name for itself today."

"The entire city has been swept clean. When you read your prepared remarks later, I'll lead the applause!"

Li Jianguo felt relieved and picked up his teacup to take a sip of hot tea.

I went to Sihai Group a few days ago but found nothing there.

But at least they wiped out Zhao Hongyuan and his gang in one fell swoop, and no one can erase that achievement.

More than a thousand people sat in the audience.

In addition to leaders from various departments, there were also representatives of entrepreneurs from all walks of life and representatives of community residents.

Mayor Chen, with his pregnant belly protruding, pulled on the microphone in front of him, producing a piercing buzzing sound.

"Hey, feed him. Comrades, everyone, quiet down."

The room fell silent instantly, with only a few sporadic coughs remaining.

Mayor Chen opened the red, gold-embossed book in front of him, his face beaming with smiles.

"This year, Longhai City has achieved a remarkable turnaround in its economic development!"

"Before announcing the public security awards, let's first present the highest honors in the economic field this year."

As Li Jianguo listened from below the stage, he unconsciously straightened his back and adjusted the hem of his police uniform.

After the economic commendations were read out, it was his turn to go on stage and read the report on the crackdown on organized crime.

This was the highlight of the day.

"The recipients of this year's title of 'Top Ten Taxpaying Enterprises in Longhai City, and Outstanding Young Entrepreneurs' are—"

Mayor Chen deliberately dragged out his words.

The hundreds of business owners in suits below the stage all held their breath, their eyes filled with anticipation.

This medal, hanging in the office, is more effective than any talisman.

Mayor Chen glanced at the list, and the wrinkles around his eyes widened into a wide smile.

"Mr. Su Ye, Chairman of Sihai Holdings Group!"

"They paid 50 million yuan in taxes throughout the year and provided 2,000 re-employment opportunities for the city!"

"Please welcome General Manager Su to the stage to accept the award!"

"Pfft—cough cough cough!"

The mouthful of hot tea that Li Jianguo had just swallowed sprayed out of his nostrils.

Brown tea splashed all over the table, even smearing a large part of his anti-gang speech.

He suddenly raised his head, his presbyopic eyes wide open as if they were about to pop out of their sockets.

The veins on his neck bulged instantly, like several writhing earthworms.

Captain Gu in the back row gasped, his blood pressure, which had just come down, suddenly surged back to the top of his head.

He covered his bandaged head with both hands, and stars spun before his eyes.

After a brief silence, the atmosphere in the audience instantly erupted.

In the area for entrepreneurs, several contractors who had previously been reprimanded by Lei Hu using the Labor Law had their faces turn as red as pig livers.

They looked at each other, their hands clapping stiffly.

"Let a bunch of thugs who collect protection money be recognized as outstanding youth? Has the world gone mad?"

A bald boss muttered under his breath, before he could finish speaking.

In the seats for the representatives of the masses next to them, twenty or thirty middle-aged women wearing red armbands suddenly stood up.

The one leading the group was Grandma Zhang, who lived in the shantytown.

The old lady was wearing a red Tang suit with gold flowers today, and she looked very energetic.

"Well done, Boss Su!"

Grandma Zhang shouted through her slurred voice.

Several middle-aged women hurriedly unfurled a large red banner and held it high.

Two lines of large characters were painted on it in yellow paint.

"Thanks to Sihai Group for repairing the roof! Boss Su is a true cyber father to us ordinary folks!"

The entire auditorium was immediately filled with thunderous applause and cheers.

Accompanied by the majestic awards march.

A slender hand lifted the heavy red velvet curtain backstage.

Su Ye strode out, his suit jacket unbuttoned, revealing a well-tailored white shirt underneath.

He handed the thermos to Chen Suan, who was following behind, and casually pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses.

The spotlight shone on him, making him appear tall, straight, and composed.

Where is there even a trace of the gangster aura of a mafia boss?

He's a spitting image of a Wall Street elite who graduated from an Ivy League university.

Li Jianguo slumped in his chair, his hands and feet icy cold.

He watched as Su Ye walked step by step onto the stage on the red carpet.

He walked up to Mayor Chen and accepted the heavy crystal trophy with both hands.

The two also shook hands and took a photo together.

Mayor Chen pushed the microphone towards Su Ye.

"President Su, come and say a few words to everyone."

Su Ye bent down and tested the microphone volume.

"Ahem. Thank you for the trust of the city leaders."

His voice, transmitted through powerful speakers, resonated throughout the dome of the auditorium.

"The success of Sihai Group today is inseparable from the supervision of all sectors of society."

Su Ye paused for a moment after saying this.

He turned slightly to the side, his gaze passing over Mayor Chen and landing directly on Li Jianguo's ashen old face.

Su Ye's lips slowly curved upwards, revealing a perfect eight-tooth smile.

"Especially, our Municipal Bureau Chief Li Jianguo."

Li Jianguo felt a jolt run through his body, and his scalp tingled.

He instinctively clenched the damp speech manuscript, crumpling the paper into a mushy mess.

A suffocating feeling, like being roasted over a fire, gripped my throat.

"In the past six months or so."

Su Ye stared at Li Jianguo, his tone so sincere that no one could find fault with him.

"Director Li personally led a team and visited our company headquarters and subordinate construction sites late at night on several occasions."

"No matter how windy or snowy it is outside, Director Li is always at the forefront."

"To educate us uncouth people about the Criminal Law and provide us with a profound legal education."

The applause from the audience grew even louder.

Several reporters in the front row held up their DSLR cameras, snapping photos repeatedly.

The flashes of cameras from long lenses and short lenses created a blinding light, and the heat made people's faces burn.

The camera kept switching back and forth between Su Ye and Li Jianguo.

"Without Director Li's tireless nighttime surprise inspections..."

Holding the trophy, Su Ye bowed slightly in Li Jianguo's direction.

"Without that, Sihai Group wouldn't be the law-abiding company it is today, resolutely paying its taxes on time."

"This trophy is half thanks to the efforts of the comrades in the Municipal Bureau."

"Director Li, thank you for your daily encouragement."

Li Jianguo almost spat a mouthful of blood onto the tablecloth.

God's daily self-discipline!

I'm bringing men to kick down your door because I want to search your shady accounts and drugs!

How did it become "legal education at the grassroots level" in your mouth?

The media reporters in the audience had no idea about the intricacies involved.

Upon hearing about the touching story of police-enterprise cooperation and prodigal sons turning over a new leaf, they became as excited as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

The flash was almost right up to Li Jianguo's nose.

"Director Li! What is your assessment of General Manager Su?"

"What advanced experience does the Municipal Bureau have in guiding marginal enterprises to legalize and transform?"

Microphones were passed around one after another.

Li Jianguo gave a stiff, forced smile.

The muscles in his face were twitching, making him look even worse than when he was crying.

He gripped the wad of scrap paper tightly in his hand, his fingernails piercing the back of the paper and digging into his palm.

All I could hear was Captain Gu's suppressed, painful breathing.

The awards ceremony has finally come to an end.

Mayor Chen took the microphone back.

"Next, please welcome Director Li Jianguo of the Municipal Public Security Bureau to give us the annual summary report on the campaign against organized crime!"

Thunderous applause erupted once again.

Su Ye has returned backstage.

Li Jianguo stared at the dark microphone in front of him, his palms covered in sticky, cold sweat.

The manuscript is ruined, and my mind is in a mess.

Su Ye's recent reverse praise had put him on an too high pedestal.

If he were to recount all those petty incidents of disrupting events and arresting henchmen now, it would make the Municipal Bureau seem petty.

The old man took a deep breath and stood up.

My legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead.

He managed to squeeze out a couple of official phrases to get by and hastily ended his speech.

This was originally a celebration banquet for the Municipal Bureau.

It turned into a whitewashing and commendation ceremony for the Sihai Group.

The meeting had just ended.

Li Jianguo didn't even feel like greeting the mayor.

He grabbed his police cap, slammed it on his head, and strode toward the side door of the auditorium with a livid face.

The leather shoes stomped on the terrazzo floor with an angry, heavy sound.

I had just reached the corner of the corridor.

Captain Gu, leaning against the wall with a bandage on his head, stumbled and caught up.

"Director... Director, please slow down, I'm feeling dizzy."

Captain Gu, panting heavily, grabbed Li Jianguo's sleeve.

"Is this all we're going to do?"

Captain Gu gritted his teeth, his eyes red from exhaustion.

"So what if it's 50 million in taxes? Didn't we transfer the case file for Su Ye's 30 million in overseas accounts to the provincial economic crime investigation department?"

He lowered his voice, his tone filled with resentment.

"If it's proven that the money flowed to drug lords, Su Ye will be shot even if he pays 50 billion in taxes!"

Li Jianguo stopped in his tracks.

A draft blew through the corridor, making the old man a little more awake.

He didn't rush to speak, but reached into his pocket to take out the flattened pack of Hongmei cigarettes.

I just took out my cigarette case.

A figure slowly emerged from the shadows around the corner.

Lei Hu was wearing that tight-fitting black suit.

Holding a black, encrypted phone that was still connected to a call, Scarface's face showed a hint of anxiety.

"Hey, Director Li! Please don't leave yet."

Lei Hu strode over, and the smell of cheap cologne mixed with sweat hit Li Jianguo's nose.

"Brother Su just stepped down from the stage and is currently throwing up in the restroom."

Lei Hu handed his phone to Li Jianguo; the screen was dimly lit.

"The Provincial Economic Crime Investigation Bureau just called and said they've found a lead on the 30 million yuan in overseas funds."

Lei Hu scratched his bald head and grinned.

"Brother Su said he couldn't explain this clearly and suggested you talk to the leader of the special task force in the provincial department yourself."

"They said...you might know the person who received that money?"