“Didn’t you say… that if I could successfully negotiate with Away Logistics, you would become my strategist?” Wenjie asked, his eyes locked onto Adisorn with unwavering intensity.
Adisorn stood with impeccable posture, cloaked in a chillingly calm aura.
“I have made my decision,” Adisorn replied. “I will install you as the Chairman of CLS, just as I promised Chairman Li Ming.”
Wenjie’s brow furrowed before he glanced toward his father. “Chairman of CLS? In place of Zhang Wei?”
“However… I decline to be your strategist,” Adisorn stated, his voice devoid of emotion, as flat and cold as a tombstone.
Wenjie’s eyes widened. A searing heat surged through his chest, making his frame tremble before his lips curled into a mocking sneer. “Is this your decision? Or is it my father’s idea!”
“Excuse me,” Adisorn said curtly. He walked past without a backward glance, leaving Wenjie standing isolated in the center of the stone bridge, as a biting wind swept through the silence.
Wenjie turned to see his father, who was calmly pouring liquor in the pavilion. He marched toward him.
“Father… did you plan for me to take Zhang Wei’s place?” the young man asked, his voice vibrating with suppressed resentment.
Li Ming set the ceramic kettle down as Wenjie sank into the seat opposite him.
“To become the Chairman of CK Group, you must prove your worth. CLS is your final trial the only way to gain the Board’s recognition.” Li Ming didn't even look up; his finger slowly traced the rim of the scalding ceramic cup.
“So this is the path you’ve carved for me?” Wenjie let out a bitter, mocking laugh, his gaze tightening with stress. “You never believed I could succeed you on my own merit, did you?”
Li Ming finally looked up, his eyes meeting his son’s with a terrifying stillness before he let out a dry chuckle. “Tell me… do you honestly think your capabilities even come close to Gawin’s?”
Wenjie’s eyes flared, his lips trembling.
“Even Mark Rim chose Meiling. Think about that… and realize just how pathetic you are.” Li Ming narrowed his eyes, the predatory glint of an old dragon sharpening under the lantern light. “That is why you must prove yourself harder than ever instead of sitting here and whining like a child.”
Wenjie clenched his fists so hard they shook. “Prove myself… by following the path you dictated? That’s what you call being recognized?” He snapped back, his voice rising. “In your eyes, Gawin… that outsider… still has more potential than your own blood!”
The mention of Gawin made Li Ming slam his cup onto the wooden table. “If I didn't do this, would you ever have a prayer of becoming the Chairman of CK Group?”
The insult was a jagged blade driven straight into Wenjie’s insecurity. He was the "incompetent heir" who needed a father’s hand to steady his back forever shadowed by the Thai businessman and even Meiling, a woman he had once deemed worthless.
Wenjie erupted into a manic, chilling laugh. His eyes turned cold with a newfound malice.
“Then… if I were to become Chairman without going through CLS… would you accept me then?”
Li Ming’s lip curled in derision. “Do you truly want CK Group… or are you just desperate to defeat me?”
Wenjie’s mouth twitched into a sharp smirk. “You’ve never believed in me anyway. But if it were Gawin standing here asking that, you would have answered with pride instantly, wouldn't you?”
“Hmph… if you were actually capable, I would have handed you the title long ago. But because you aren’t, I have to cling to it to prevent you from destroying everything I’ve built.”
Wenjie sneered, looking at the father who tried so hard to maintain the image of a titan, yet was rotting with weakness and cowardice inside.
“I will show you. I will make you see. Mark Rim will be my strategist, and together, we will crush you into the dirt. No one not a single soul will stand in my way.” Wenjie’s voice was absolute, his eyes a defiant challenge.
Li Ming chuckled softly. “Mark Rim has no goodwill toward you, nor me. Do not be so foolish as to trust that man.”
“The more you say that… the more I want to defy you.” Wenjie smiled, though his eyes remained hard as flint. “I will burn your CK Group to the ground, and build it anew under my own name!”
He stood, gave a mocking bow, and turned to stride out of the pavilion.
Silence reclaimed the garden, save for the rhythmic flow of water. Li Ming watched his son’s retreating figure a man who had finally transformed into a demon, ready to annihilate everything in his path. The old dragon’s laughter echoed through the air, trailing behind the boy.
Yong Chang reclined against the plush leather seat of the luxury sedan, his heart smoldering with a thirst for vengeance against the old strategist, Ming Zhi. After being discarded like a stray dog in a foreign land, his only choice was to cling to the coattails of this country’s most influential businessman.
The car glided through a lush tunnel of trees before coming to a halt in front of a majestic estate: Gardenia Manor The two-story edifice was a masterpiece of Lanna Colonial architecture a seamless marriage of pristine white masonry and golden teakwood. The windows were adorned with intricate wood carvings of Intricate Kanok Scrollwork, while the roof gables bore the delicate Sapao fretwork.
A faint light filtered through the swirling mist of the forest garden, making the estate look like a celestial vision from a bygone era. A path of laterite stone led into the grand hall. The moment Yong Chang crossed the teak threshold, he was enveloped in a cool, haunting fragrance a heady blend of Gardenia, Peacock Flower, Jasmine, and the sacred Som Poi.
In the central hall stood a vibrant red pedestal , decorated with a Sum Dok (a magnificent ceremonial flower dome) a traditional Lanna offering crafted from woven bamboo and adorned with fresh Gardenia, Cape Jasmine, and the striking hues of Cordyline leaves.
The walls were draped with Tung Chai—Lanna Victory Banners banners their silk surfaces shimmering with the jagged 'Dog-Tooth' patterns a signature of Northern Thai weaving that flickered with every breath of wind.
A crystal chandelier cast a brilliant glow upon the man standing in the center of the hall: Phakphoom stood with a composed elegance, dressed in a contemporary Lanna ensemble. He wore a deep indigo, hand-loomed tunic featuring a refined Mandarin collar, layered over a breathable cream cotton shirt. Fastened to his lapel was a sterling silver brooch, intricately embossed in the silhouette of a Gardenia blossom, its metallic sheen catching the dim light
Phakphoom turned to meet Yong Chang’s gaze, a thin smile playing on his lips.
“Yindee Ying Laew Kaek Kaew Ma Yuen... A profound welcome to the Gardenia Manor my sanctuary of contemporary Lanna soul.”
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Cultural Insights: The Soul of Lanna
1. Lanna (ล้านนา): Located in the Northern region of modern-day Thailand, Lanna was formerly an independent kingdom from the 13th to the 18th centuries. Today, it remains a cultural powerhouse, possessing its own distinct dialect, traditional laws, and sophisticated arts that define the North's unique identity. In a contemporary business context, Lanna represents "Old Money" prestige a refined, slow-paced elegance that stands in stark contrast to the chaotic urban pulse of Bangkok.
2. Lanna Colonial Architecture: Emerging in the late 19th century during the peak of the teak wood trade, this style is a grand fusion of Western masonry and delicate Thai teak carving, symbolizing a period of great international wealth and cultural exchange.
3. Sum Dok (สุ่มดอก): A traditional Lanna offering crafted from a bamboo framework and adorned with fresh foliage and flowers. Historically used in Buddhist rituals and high-level ceremonies, it symbolizes respect and auspicious beginnings.
4. Tung Chai (ตุงไชย): A long, vertical ceremonial banner that is an icon of Northern Thai culture. Woven from cotton or silk with intricate patterns, these "Victory Banners" are displayed during celebrations to proclaim triumph, peace, and prosperity.
5. Gardenia (ดอกเก็ตถวา): Known as the Cape Jasmine or Gardenia, this flower is famed for its cool, intoxicating fragrance that intensifies at night. In Lanna culture, it is a symbol of purity and divine grace.
6. The Inthakhin Scent (กลิ่นอินทขิน): Inspired by the sacred ritual of worshipping the Inthakhin (City Pillar) of Chiang Mai. This fragrance is a curated blend of aromatic woods and the tart, cleansing scent of Som Poi (Acacia concinna) a sacred plant used in ancient rites to wash away bad omens and purify the spirit.
7. "Yindee Ying Laew Kaek Kaew Ma Yuen" (ยินดียิ่งแล้วแขกแก้วมาเยือน): A formal Northern Thai greeting of the highest order.
Yindee Ying Laew: Expresses profound honor and delight.
Kaek Kaew: Literally translates to "Crystal Guest." In Lanna, the word "Crystal" refers to something of supreme value or sacredness; thus, it defines the visitor as a highly esteemed guest of honor.
Ma Yuen: upon your arrival
8. Contemporary Lanna Silverware & Textiles: The attire features hand-woven fabrics and silver accessories inspired by local artisanal designs, reimagined with a modern silhouette to reflect a bridge between ancestral heritage and global sophistication.