Tang Beixuan drove towards Zhang Corporation that morning. The busy roads of Shenzhen were still something he didn't appreciate. He left his apartment an hour earlier to make sure he wouldn't be late, but he still consumed a lot of time on the road and barely made it on time on his first day at work.

  After his long argument with his mother, Tang Beixuan finally conceded and accepted her request to join Zhang Corporation instead. He initially wanted to join Qing Tian Group, especially when he found out that his brother-in-law, Feng Tianyi was the president of the company.

  He wanted to learn more from the best, and who was the best person for him to learn from, aside from his sister, other than Song Huifen? Song Huifen's name had been known for her business ac.u.men and insight comparable to the empress, but was better.

  Pulling his car into his designated spot, Tang Beixuan alighted from his car and pulled out his new identification card bearing his face and the Zhang Corporation logo. He frowned as he looked up at the unfamiliar building in front of him.

  This place was certainly like the Tang Enterprise, which gave an amicable and welcoming atmosphere, not only to their clients, but also to their employees. Entering Zhang Corporation felt like he was entering a kodoku [1], where he was destined to fight tooth and nail with other people until only one remained victorious.

  When he reached the main lobby of the building, Tang Beixuan was greeted and welcomed by Zhang Jiren's personal assistant.

  "Mr. Tang. Welcome to Zhang Corporation. CEO Zhang is expecting you today. Please follow me." He told the youngest of the Tang siblings, to which Tang Beixuan only answered with a curt nod.

  People were glancing his way, curious as to why a Tang family member came here and was being escorted by their CEO's assistant. There was a heavy tension in the atmosphere when Tang Beixuan entered the company, but he refused to back down from those stares.

  His older sister had informed him of what to expect if he so chose to join Zhang Corporation. Although they had never met this Zhang Jiren in person, Tang Moyu had told him to be wary of him and keep an arm distance from the man.

  It would also be better if he didn't get a close encounter with the man, since they weren't sure yet if the Zhang family was planning to get even with the empress for spoiling their plan.

  Tang Beixuan followed the assistant to the elevator and they came up to the floor where the CEO's office was. The assistant lightly knocked on the door twice before announcing their arrival.

  "Boss, Mr. Tang is here." They stepped inside and Tang Beixuan saw a man sitting behind a black marbled desk with a pair of spectacles on his handsome face.

  For a moment, Tang Beixuan thought that he was looking at his older sister, but as Zhang Jiren raised his head to look at him, all the thoughts he was having instantly dissipated into thin air.

  He swallowed the invisible lump in his throat and straightened his posture. They were supposed to be cousins. Zhang Jiren was his cousin from the Zhang family, but neither had he met him nor ever sensed a familiarity between them.

  There was something about Zhang Jiren that Tang Beixuan couldn't point out. Just like the rumors described, Zhang Jiren had manly features that were pleasing to everyone's eyes. The hint of indifference and coldness in his eyes added a charm to his persona.

  Zhang Jiren didn't bother to get up from his seat and greet Tang Beixuan. Instead, he twined his fingers together on top of his desk and stared blankly at the other man who was standing across him.

  "Tang Beixuan, I suppose you already know the reason why you are here." He said with a harsh, stoic voice.

  Tang Beixuan's jaws hardened but he nodded in return. He had to remind himself that this man wasn't like his sister, Tang Moyu, who would look after his welfare.

  "Yes. I still have so much to learn. I…"

  However, his words were cut off by Zhang Jiran's cold stare, which made Tang Beixuan feel like he was suffocating on the spot. Why was he looking at him like that? Was he seeing things or did he feel a strong animosity coming from Zhang Jiren?

  Tang Beixuan couldn't remember offending this man. In fact, this was the first time he had met Zhang Jiren in person. So why would this man look at him as if he had touched his bottom line?

  "This isn't like Tang Enterprise. You should know that no one will save your back if you make a mistake." Zhang Jiren reminded him harshly. "I accepted your mother's request to allow you to work here. It's not because I want to."

  "I understand." If he put it that way, then Tang Beixuan understood that his mother didn't have a strong influence here. He preferred it that way because he needed to spread his own wings to become a man he wanted to be.

  "Good, then Liu Kai, make sure to give Tang Beixuan a proper orientation." Zhang Jiren told his assistant. "You may go now." He said as he dismissed both men with a wave of his hand before returning to what he was doing before their arrival.

  "Yes, Boss." The assistant said before opening the door, leading Tang Beixuan outside. "Mr. Tang, if you could please follow me…"

  Tang Beixuan cast his cousin one last glance before stepping out of the CEO's office without a word. He couldn't understand why Zhang Jiren seemed to hold a grudge against him when they had never encountered each other before this.

  Once he and the assistant were out of sight, Zhang Jiren's pen stopped midair. He thought he would be able to suppress his disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e over meeting Tang Beixuan.

  Just the mere sight of the man was enough to make his blood boil in anger. Tang Beixuan had taken everything that he should have.