Phakphum picked up a tiny Shuiping clay teapot and placed it gently on the stone tray. He poured boiling water into the pot and every teacup with movements as fluid as a mountain stream. Yong Chang, the visitor, watched the rising steam, sensing the temperature in the room slowly climb.

  The Thai CEO used wooden tongs to carefully rinse the cups before adding raw Pu-erh leaves, pried from a compressed cake, into the pot to "wake" the tea. A raw, earthy scent, like a forest after the rain, wafted through the air as he rinsed the leaves and discarded the first steep immediately.

  Then, he raised the kettle high. The stream of water fell, creating a swirling vortex inside the pot like a waterfall plunging into a deep pool. Phakphum closed the lid and poured more hot water over the exterior to maintain an even heat. His deep gaze remained fixed on a wooden hourglass. When the last grain of sand fell, he decanted the tea into a fairness pitcher and served it to Yong Chang, pouring in a circular motion to ensure every drop carried the same intensity of flavor. He finished with a sharp flick of the wrist, ensuring the final drop fell without a trace left behind.

  The tea, a clear golden amber, glowed under the lights. Phakphum gestured with the poised grace of a grandmaster from a martial arts epic. "Please, enjoy."

  "You possess a remarkable understanding of the art of Chinese tea," Yong Chang complimented sincerely. Few people maintained such meticulous detail and composure.

  Phakphum arched an eyebrow, his sharp eyes shimmering with a mischievous glint. "Oh... I watched a tutorial on YouTube," he replied smoothly, a smirk playing on his lips a deliberate, calculated provocation.

  Yong Chang’s lip twitched. A wave of irritation surged through him, causing him to clench his fist beneath the table. This brat is mocking me, he thought, but he maintained his facade. He lifted the cup to sip, hiding his annoyance behind the steam. "A fine taste... bold and satisfying." He set the cup down, his tone turning clinical. "Now, shall we get down to business?"

  Phakphum sipped his tea calmly. "By all means."

  Yong Chang leaned in slightly, lowering his gaze to exert pressure. "I’ve heard that you... are an ally of Mr. Gawin from Wonder Package." His predatory eyes searched for any flicker of reaction.

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  Phakphum let out a low laugh, his shoulders shaking. His fox-like eyes glinted with amusement. "To an outsider, it might look that way... but if you look deep into the core, the word 'ally' doesn't exist in our vocabulary."

  Yong Chang raised an eyebrow. "So, the rumors that you are his chief rival for the Presidency of Wonder Package... are true?"

  Phakphum offered a chilling smile. "Since he snatched that position, I could hardly contest the higher-ups' decision. That’s why I chose to sit as the Chairman of Miracle Construction instead."

  "You gave up that easily?" Yong Chang probed. Phakphum lifted his brow with haughty pride.

  "I’m far more ambitious than that. This is only the beginning. But tell me... does a giant like CK Group have any interesting projects to offer me?"

  Yong Chang leaned through the faint mist of Pu-erh tea toward Phakphum. "Indeed, we do. But... wouldn't jumping into a project with CK Group be seen as overstepping Mr. Gawin’s bounds?"

  Phakphum chuckled, the sound cold and hollow. "Overstepping? I couldn't care less. I just want to be a rival worthy of him." He flicked his gaze, sharp as a blade, to meet Yong Chang’s defiantly.

  Yong Chang remained silent, assessing the man’s greed. The more Phakphum displayed his hunger to surpass Gawin, the easier it would be to use CK Group’s power to intervene for massive profit.

  "And which project specifically interests you?" Yong Chang asked with a cunning look.

  Phakphum smirked, setting his cup down softly. "CK Group is the master of technology and energy. I want to dive into the very source of that power."

  Yong Chang frowned. "You’re interested in the Hydrogen business, like Gawin?"

  "Not exactly..." Phakphum glanced at the amber tea in his cup before flashing a sly, fox-like grin. "I want to invest in the industries that manufacture the components for Hydrogen energy."

  Phakphum rose and walked toward two gargantuan safes standing like sentinels. As the heavy steel doors groaned open, the interior lights illuminated stacks upon stacks of US dollars. "If you can give me access to those industries... all the money in this safe is yours."

  Yong Chang’s throat went dry. But Phakphum wasn't finished. He opened the second safe, revealing a mountain of gold bars that reflected a brilliance so blinding Yong Chang nearly stopped breathing.

  "And if I can crush Gawin and stand over him... the gold in this safe is yours."

  Yong Chang blinked rapidly, his heart thundering with a greed so overwhelming it felt ready to burst.

  "So... what specific industry do you wish to invest in?" Yong Chang asked, struggling to regain his scattered focus.

  Phakphum stared at the gold, then turned back with a sneer that made the room turn bone-chillingly cold.