The Rise of a Special Forces Soldier Abandoned by a Wealthy Family

The atmosphere inside the private room was lively.

Laughter, clinking glasses, and conversation swelled like waves of heat under the glittering crystal chandeliers. Everyone's face glowed with excitement.

"Squeak—"

The heavy, ornate doors to the private room were pushed open silently and steadily.

A figure appeared at the doorway.

The noise was as if it had been muted.

Stopped abruptly.

All the laughter, the words, even the half-raised wine glasses, froze in mid-air.

The excitement vanished from most people's faces instantly, replaced by surprise and astonishment.

Because they all recognized the person at the door—

Kong Zhuo.

This young man is already a political star holding a substantive deputy director-level position within the system.

He is one of the "Three Young Masters" in Beijing's younger generation, along with Luo Haoran and Wu Jun.

Behind him stands the Kong family, a top political family that once stood at the pinnacle of power in the Dragon Kingdom and still flourishes today, with disciples and former associates scattered throughout the court and the countryside.

Unlike Teng Ao and other privileged young men who wield considerable influence in business or specific fields, Kong Zhuo's circle has long transcended mere "entertainment" or "business interests."

Surrounding him were mostly "system officials" who had already entered the system, had deep backgrounds, and were ambitious.

Once this force grows over time, it will become a truly unshakeable towering tree deeply rooted in the state apparatus.

Kong Zhuo himself rarely participates in such purely insider gatherings.

It's not arrogance, but rather the sensitive nature of their position within the system, the political mission they bear for their families, and the uniqueness of the social circle they belong to!

This meant he had to remain more cautious, discreet, and mysterious.

More importantly, the Kong family had already poured most of its political resources and connections into this most outstanding eldest grandson.

For Kong Zhuo now, his opponents and partners are already figures of the father or even grandfather level of many people in the arena.

Many of his rivals in local governments or ministries who disagreed with his family's political views or stood in his way had long been suppressed, divided, or marginalized by him using political tactics that were beyond his years—tactics that were shrewd, decisive, and even ruthless.

Its energy and future potential are terrifying.

At this moment, one of the three young masters, who almost never appears in such "entertainment" occasions, has come uninvited.

Kong Zhuo did not bring many people with him, only two calm and capable-looking attendants, who stood quietly in the shadows by the door.

He himself stepped in.

He wore a seemingly ordinary but actually exquisitely made and tailored dark gray Zhongshan suit, with an upright posture and steady steps.

His brows naturally exude a composed demeanor cultivated from long years in a position of power and handling significant matters, as well as a keen insight into people's hearts.

Faced with the sudden silence of the entire venue and countless focused gazes, Kong Zhuo revealed a perfectly timed, slightly aloof smile.

"Feel sorry."

His voice has a gentle yet undeniably magnetic quality.

"I'm an uninvited guest..."

His gaze slowly swept across the entire room, finally landing on Zeng Linglong, who was in the main seat.

"Did I dampen everyone's spirits?"

Who dares to say "yes"?

Of everyone present, except for the person in the main seat, no one dared to respond to this remark. The atmosphere was subtle and tense.

Teng Ao reacted extremely quickly. He immediately leaned slightly forward and whispered in Zeng Linglong's ear in a very fast and concise manner:

"Brother Long, Kong Zhuo, the eldest grandson of the Kong family, a deputy director-general within the system, one of the 'Three Young Masters,' a leading figure of the new generation in the political faction, with immense power, and his intentions are unclear."

Zeng Linglong remained calm, as if he had only heard a trivial remark.

His gaze calmly met that of Kong Zhuo, who was walking towards him.

He did not get up.

He did not speak.

They simply looked at each other calmly, even with a hint of detached curiosity.

Kong Zhuo stopped two or three steps away from Zeng Linglong's table.

The faint smile on his face remained, and he calmly met Zeng Linglong's gaze.

"Young Master Long."

He spoke, his tone calm and devoid of any emotion, as if stating a fact.

"Excuse me."

"I am an uninvited guest, I have come uninvited."

"I'd like to... have a drink."

"To show that you understand..."

"or……"

"To express my congratulations on Young Master Long's glorious return."

They did not introduce themselves.

They did not explain their purpose.

There wasn't even a single unnecessary greeting.

A few simple words, yet they were like a steel needle wrapped in cotton thrown out.

Is it a friendly acquaintance? Or a condescending scrutiny? Or something more complex and astute probing?

Everything was hidden beneath a bland tone and vague wording.

Zeng Linglong's expression remained unchanged after listening.

He merely raised his eyelids slightly and uttered a very soft "Oh," the last syllable rising slightly, carrying a faint, almost imperceptible question.

"Here I am..."

His voice was equally calm, even more casual than Kong Zhuo's.

There are many dining tables.

"There are plenty of seats."

"Fine wines at all levels..."

"A lot as well."

He looked at Kong Zhuo again, and a very faint smile finally appeared on his lips.

"I want to ask..."

"Brother, how should I... treat him?"

Counterattack!

A relentless counterattack!

Didn't you say you wouldn't introduce yourself or explain your purpose?

Then I won't ask.

But I'll give you a choice—the dining table (representing status), the seat (representing position), and the wine (representing attitude). You choose for yourself.

If you choose correctly, you're a customer. If you choose incorrectly, or don't choose at all... then you'll bear the consequences.

Zeng Linglong casually tossed back a seemingly simple multiple-choice question that was actually full of traps.

It was neither impolite nor inferior.

They firmly grasped the initiative in their own hands.

Kong Zhuo's smile froze almost imperceptibly for a moment.

A sharp glint flashed deep in his eyes, like a swordfish suddenly darting across the surface of a calm lake.

Zeng Linglong's reaction was completely unexpected.

They didn't rush to greet him because of his identity, nor did they press him for answers because of his ambiguity, and they didn't offer him wine because he asked for it.

Instead, they used a more ambiguous, proactive, and implicitly rule-based question to push the ball back, forcing him to make a clear stance choice.

If he doesn't clarify his purpose and identity, the other party can treat him as an "ordinary guest who doesn't know the rules" and make arrangements for him at will. If he loses face then, he can't blame anyone else—it's his own fault for not making things clear.

His thoughts raced in an instant.

Kong Zhuo's smile returned, even more pronounced than before, but the sharpness in his eyes did not diminish.

"I, Kong Zhuo—"

He announced his name for the first time, his tone calm, yet carrying an invisible weight.

"One of the Three Young Masters of the Capital..."

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping across the entire room before finally settling on Zeng Linglong's face.

"Always... in the superior position."

"Drink...the finest wines."

He leaned forward slightly, his voice low, carrying a hint of provocation and inquiry:

"I...don't know..."

"Young Master Long, how should we treat him?"

See you in the picture!

He stopped hiding his identity and revealed his "rules" directly.

Zeng Linglong's previous multiple-choice question was thrown back to him exactly as it was, with even more specific "requirements" added.

The pressure instantly shifted entirely onto Zeng Linglong.

Is it to satisfy his desire for "superiority" and "supreme status" in order to show respect or even yield?

Or should we find another way to maintain our dominance?

The entire private room was deathly silent.

Everyone held their breath, their eyes darting back and forth between the two young people, their hearts pounding.

Under the watchful eyes of countless tense individuals.

Zeng Linglong's faint smile deepened.

"Okay."

He uttered two words softly, his tone relaxed, as if he were simply responding to an ordinary request.

He slowly stood up.

This action made Kong Zhuo's eyes flicker slightly—finally, he got up?

But Zeng Linglong's next move made everyone's eyes widen.

He reached out and picked up the bottle of vintage Lafite that had already been opened and was regarded by everyone as the "king of wines" for the evening, located in the center of the table. The wine shone with a deep and beautiful color under the light.

Then, he didn't just take the usual red wine glass.

Instead, he picked up three wine glasses of completely different sizes and shapes at the same time:

One is the smallest, a pure white wine cup with a capacity of no more than one qian (approximately 3 grams).

One is a medium-sized, classic rock glass, typically used for drinking whiskey.

Finally, there's the standard, largest wine glass.

Amidst the puzzled gazes of the crowd, Zeng Linglong slowly began pouring wine into the three glasses.

As he leaned back, he spoke in a calm tone:

"Young Master Kong..."

"This is a collector's edition, reportedly one of only three bottles of the 'Tears of the Stars' vintage Lafite in the world."

"I'm sure Young Master Kong... knows his stuff."

He filled all three glasses to the brim, the liquid almost level with the rim, but not a drop spilled.

"I personally...filled your glass too."

"Completely satisfied..."

He put down the bottle, raised his gaze, and looked at Kong Zhuo. His smile remained gentle, but his eyes had become as deep as an abyss.

"but……"

He then changed the subject, his voice clear and resonant, striking a chord in everyone's hearts.

"Wine, there are good and bad."

"Humans are capable of both good and evil."

"Wine glasses... come in all shapes and sizes."

"People...have varying heights, and people's hearts...have varying sizes!"

He reached out and gestured "please," pointing to the three glasses placed side by side, each filled with the same wine but in different containers.

"Young Master Kong..."

"Look..."

"It's up to you... to decide!"

Whoosh—!

Although no one spoke, it felt as if a storm was raging in everyone's heart!

Absolutely!

That was absolutely brilliant!

Zeng Linglong was not led by the nose by Kong Zhuo's demands for "higher position and the highest" at all!

He acknowledged the "highest level" of wine, but then used three different containers to throw the choice back to Kong Zhuo himself!

Moreover, it gives this choice a deeper symbolic meaning!

You, Kong Zhuo, wanted the "highest level" of wine, and I gave it to you.

But the "container" you use to drink represents your "mindset" and "scope" in drinking this glass of wine, in treating this meeting, and in defining the relationship between us—the choice is yours!

Choosing the smallest liquor cup? That shows you're narrow-minded and have a limited perspective; it makes drinking this liquor pointless.

Choosing a mid-range rock cup? It's conventional, a cautious approach, but it also seems to lack boldness.

Only by choosing the largest wine glass can you match the "superior" demeanor that you, the "Third Young Master," claim to possess, and only then can you appear magnanimous and sincere.

But... that was a full tall glass of strong red wine! (Although Zeng Linglong poured red wine, the context implies that "the container determines the mindset," meaning the actual wine poured is not necessarily the point; the point is the choice itself.)

Moreover, once a wine glass is chosen, it is tantamount to acknowledging in front of everyone the tone and rules of this meeting "set" by Zeng Linglong!

It's yet another open conspiracy that forces you to jump into the "pit" willingly!