Starting as the President of a Billionaire Group Chapter 1261 - 1236: Filial Son

Leaving the police station, Ye Chen did not head home; instead, he navigated his car towards a district characterized by single-story dwellings.

Due to the extremely narrow streets within the neighborhood, Ye Chen was compelled to park his vehicle curbside and proceed on foot into the area alone.

This particular locale is inhabited by individuals who are unable to afford proper housing and are holding out hope for demolition, which they believe will fundamentally alter their circumstances.

For these residents, the prospect of demolition represents a chance to rewrite their life stories and change their destinies.

Ye Chen is quite acquainted with this neighborhood; he knows that even with demolition, the compensation offered would likely be minimal.

These structures were initially erected without proper authorization, making their subsequent demolition a logical outcome. While some compensation is provided, it is insufficient to secure new housing.

Arriving before a modest dwelling, Ye Chen delivered a firm knock on the door.

His purpose in visiting this location was to locate an individual connected to a murder investigation.

The door creaked open, revealing a middle-aged man sporting stubble, his attire featuring visible patches, and his hair in a state of disarray.

Since a significant event occurred, this man has largely confined himself to his home, venturing out only to visit his ailing mother.

While neighbors might have surmised his reclusiveness was due to sloth, Ye Chen understood the deeper reasons behind his behavior.

"Whom are you seeking?" the middle-aged man inquired, his gaze scrutinizing Ye Chen.

"Uncle, I've come specifically for you," Ye Chen replied with a disarming smile.

"For me? You must have mistaken me for someone else," the man retorted, his expression shifting to one of annoyance as he regarded Ye Chen.

The man possessed a reasonably good memory, yet he could not place having ever encountered the young man before him.

Observing Ye Chen's refined clothing, it was evident that he belonged to a wealthier stratum of society, and the middle-aged man certainly did not recall having any affluent acquaintances.

"I assure you, I am not mistaken; you are precisely the individual I need to see," Ye Chen stated again, maintaining his smile.

He then extended an invitation, "Won't you offer me a seat? It hardly seems appropriate for us to conduct our conversation standing at the threshold."

"I must visit my mother at the hospital and do not have the leisure for idle conversation, especially with a stranger," the middle-aged man declared, making to depart, but Ye Chen intervened.

"Uncle, I have something important to discuss with you. Let us speak indoors; I promise not to consume much of your time," Ye Chen said, stepping into the house.

The middle-aged man attempted to block his progress, but Ye Chen's physical strength proved overwhelming.

Unable to physically eject Ye Chen from his home, he reluctantly conceded, allowing the stranger entry.

Upon entering the room and noting its confined dimensions, Ye Chen experienced a subtle sense of melancholy; the dwelling conveyed an undeniable impression of destitution.

Notwithstanding its modest size, the interior was maintained with remarkable cleanliness and order, suggesting that the middle-aged man was not as unkempt as his exterior implied.

Noticing Ye Chen surveying the sparsely furnished room, the middle-aged man irritably demanded, "What precisely is it that you desire?"

The man felt a sting to his pride; he once associated with several successful friends, yet here he remained, confined to this cramped, dilapidated residence, a situation that bred deep resentment.

He genuinely desired to improve his and his mother's lot, but fate seemed to perpetually thwart his efforts.

Years of relentless labor had taken their toll, culminating in a diagnosis of kidney failure.

Despite his significant contributions to the company, his employer callously dismissed him upon learning of his debilitating illness and inability to continue working.

Powerless and lacking any influence, the middle-aged man found himself unable to pursue any form of recourse or justice.

His only recourse was to resign and seek alternative employment, a daunting prospect given his condition.

He had once known the warmth of a family, but when his wife realized he could no longer provide financially, she departed, taking their child with her.

Since that devastating separation, he had depended on his mother, but now her own severe illness compounded his misery.

"I seek nothing, sir, merely a conversation," Ye Chen responded with a placid smile.

Ye Chen's nonchalant demeanor further incensed the middle-aged man, who found the young man's audacity quite unsettling.

"I have no time for pleasantries here; I have urgent matters to attend to, and my mother awaits me at the hospital," the man stated unhappily, fixing his gaze on the seemingly presumptuous young visitor.

Perhaps sensing the man's frustration, Ye Chen offered reassurance, "I can guarantee that our discussion will be beneficial to you, and your time will not be squandered."

The middle-aged man’s walk faltered upon hearing this. He spun around, fixing his gaze on Ye Chen, and inquired, "Are you speaking the truth?"

"Why would I deceive you? Furthermore, my time is limited; I have no desire to squander it here," Ye Chen responded, his expression betraying no emotion as he looked at the man.

The middle-aged man was an exceptionally filial son. The news of his mother’s failing health from the doctor had struck him like a bolt from the blue.

In earlier times, this man possessed ample wealth, but the majority was channeled into his mother’s medical care, a significant factor that led to his wife’s departure.

Recalling his father's premature demise and his mother's solitary struggle to raise him, he found himself incapable of abandoning her. Now, the moment had arrived to reciprocate her devoted upbringing.

Although his circumstances would have been far less desperate otherwise, his savings had been consistently depleted over the years for his mother's treatments, compelling both him and his mother to reside in their cramped dwelling.

Were it not for his mother, he would not be enduring such a wretched existence, yet he had consciously chosen this path.

Ye Chen was privy to this information, which was precisely why he sought out the middle-aged man in person.

"But why would you offer assistance? We are complete strangers. I find it hard to believe that good fortune descends from the heavens, and even if it did, it would hardly land upon someone like me," the middle-aged man queried skeptically.

He truly could not fathom why this unknown individual had appeared at his doorstep with an offer to help his ailing mother.

"It is perfectly understandable that you do not know me; this is, after all, our first encounter. Nevertheless, my offer to help is genuine. Your unwavering commitment to your mother's illness, running errands tirelessly without forsaking her, deeply resonates with me and earns my admiration," Ye Chen stated, a gentle smile gracing his lips.

"Merely for that reason?" the man countered, his eyes brimming with persistent doubt.

"Naturally, my assistance comes with a single condition," Ye Chen revealed, a playful glint in his eyes.