Anyang City, Ling Manor's study.
Ling Hongfeng slumped weakly in his grand chair, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Sitting in the Ling Family Patriarch's seat had once been his greatest dream.
One of the biggest reasons Ling Hongfeng had been a wastrel and degenerate in his youth was that he knew he could never surpass his wise and mighty elder brother, so he had simply let himself go.
But when his dream came true and he took the Ling Family into his hands, he discovered just how naive he had been.
This seat was truly not one just anyone could occupy!
The scheming and infighting within the family, the open and covert struggles in business dealings, had left Ling Hongfeng exhausted in body and mind.
In merely half a year, he felt as though he had aged ten years.
Most importantly, after Ling Hongyun died, the Ling Family's influence had greatly declined. Many of its partnerships with other families had consequently been cut off, resulting in enormous losses.
Moreover, many people in the family refused to accept Ling Hongfeng, believing that aside from his status as a direct descendant, he was good for nothing.
With his prestige severely lacking and little talent to speak of, what could he rely on to resolve the Ling Family's troubles within and without?
Ling Hongfeng regretted it every single day now.
If he had known this would happen, why had he done it in the first place?!
Bang!
Just as his soul wandered beyond the heavens, the study door was forcefully shoved open.
Ling Hongfeng did not even raise his eyelids as he lazily asked, "What happened?"
There was a trace of irritation in his tone.
In the entire Ling Family, only one person dared to barge into his study so rudely—and he still