《I Inherited 5,000 Years of Family Property》


 Chapter 1 Not Striving to Inherit the Family Fortune

    "Thank you for attending Wangyi Group''s autumn recruitment. After careful consideration, we regret to inform you that you may not be suitable for the position at this time. Your information will be entered into our talent pool in case..."


    "Damn it!" Zhang Menglong mmed the mouse onto the desk. This was the twenty-something interview he had attended this fall.


    This year had not been smooth, with various events urring since the beginning of the year¡ªviruses, fires, earthquakes, floods¡ªas if even the world was telling you to cherish everything.


    The impact on the economy made this year''s autumn recruitment extremely tough, with even graduates and PhDs struggling to find jobs. Zhang Menglong, a graduate of Materials Science, one of the four least promising majors, had it even worse.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    He had sent out over a hundred resumes, and this time, he had managed to pass through five rounds of interviews to the final one, only to be reced by someone with connections, right when the job was almost within his grasp.


    This was something he found out during the interview from an interviewer who took a liking to him; otherwise, Zhang Menglong might have really thought it was due to his ownck of capabilities.


    "Brothers, how''s the job hunting going?" Zhang Menglong noticed that his roommates also had gloomy expressions.


    "Don''t even mention it. The interviews are fierce like a tiger, but the sry is just twenty-five hundred," Xu Li sighed from the bunk next to him, "My family is thinking about having me study for a graduate degree."


    "Forget it. In our major, unless we change fields, even with a graduate degree we''d only make six or seven thousand a month. Some have to work shifts too. It''s better to face society''s harsh realities sooner, maybe there''s still a way out."


    "What about you, boss Sun?"


    "What else can I do but continue selling houses? It''s tough, but it''s still better than being uncertain about the next meal."


    "Ah, if only we all came from better families," Xu Li said.


    "Hahaha, exactly, the kind where if things don''t work out, you just go back and inherit the family fortune," Sun Yuleimented.


    "Why don''t we call home and check? Maybe our parents are actually billionaires behind our backs?"


    "Hahaha, you think big!" Everyone started joking around, and Zhang Menglong felt a bit of the gloom lift from his heart.


    Just then, Zhang Menglong''s phone suddenly rang. He looked at the number, tagged "Zhang Shixian"¡ªhis nickname for his dad Zhang Xiaoyun, because even at fifty, his dad was still all smooth talk like Hong Shixian.


    "Dad, what made you think of calling me today?" Zhang Menglong said listlessly.


    "Isn''t it the autumn recruitment season? I called to ask how the job search is going. From the sound of your voice, it seems you''ve hit a dead end? Hahaha!"


    "Zhang Xiaoyun, are you still my father, making fun of me at a time like this?" Zhang Menglong looked helpless, but that was just his father''s personality. Ever since he could remember, Zhang Xiaoyun had been different from other fathers.


    "Is it such a big deal to not find a job?"


    "Old Zhang, if I can''t find a job, I won''t make money, and I can''t buy you a car and a big house. Eventually, I won''t be able to marry a beautiful wife to pass on our excellent Zhang family genes. Isn''t that worth feeling upset about?"


    "That''s all nonsense. I only wanted you to experience the life of an average person so you wouldn''t be conceited from a young age. Seeing as your values are pretty solid now, it''s time for you to inherit the family fortune."


    "What? The family fortune?" Zhang Menglong burst outughing, "Old Zhang, you think I don''t know? Our family has just a 89-square-meter house and a car worth two hundred thousand, along with some savings at most. You better keep those for your retirement!"


    "You little rascal, you dare to look down on me?" A coldugh came through the phone, "The National Day ising soon;e home for a visit. There are some things you need to know!"


    "Got it. Just say you miss me, stop with the nonsense, really." Zhang Menglong hung up the phone, not taking seriously the things Zhang Xiaoyun had just mentioned.


    "Well, might as well go home to rx a bit. Looking for a job won''t be affected by a week or two''s break." He thought it had been quite a while since he hadst visited home.


    "What, Menglong, was that a call from your family?" his roommates asked.


    "Yeah, they were asking how my job search was going," Zhang Menglongughed, "My dad even told me to stop looking for a job ande home to inherit the family fortune. That old man is so tricky, I don''t believe a word!"


    "Hahaha!" The roommates couldn''t help butugh as well. They had visited Zhang Menglong''s hometown two years ago. While his family was not poor, they were just an average wage-earning household.


    "Maybe your dad''s worried you''ll go astray; he kept it secret from you as a child!"


    "Hahaha, right, your dad said he was a fisherman¡ªmaybe all those hundreds of inds belong to your family?"


    "Menglong, don''t forget your friends if youe into wealth!"


    "You guys are getting wilder with this. We might as well say we ride dolphins!" Zhang Menglong shut down hisputer and gave onest scathing look at that email, "When I have money, I''ll definitely take over Wangyi Group!"


    ...


    "Damn, they''ve been talking about building high-speed rail for five years, and still nothing to show for it!" Zhang Menglong grumbled as he disembarked from the bus, the bumpy several-hour ride having stirred his stomach.


    "Weird, didn''t my dad say he would pick me up today? Why can''t I see him anywhere?" Zhang Menglong looked around the parking lot but couldn''t find Zhang Xiaoyun.


    Just then, a car pulled up beside him.


    "Damn, a Rolls-Royce? We have such rich people in this small broken city?" Zhang Menglong gazed at the luxurious emblem with envy.


    The driver, dressed in a suit and wearing gloves, which made him look like a chauffeur, got out of the car, opened the door, and an elderly man, who seemed to be in his sixties or seventies, stepped out from the back seat.


    Zhang Menglong gasped slightly¡ªthis distinguished-looking elderly man actually bowed deeply to him and then said, "Young Master Menglong, please get in the car, we have been waiting for you!"


    "Wait? Young Master Menglong?" Zhang Menglong''s head buzzed, "What''s going on? Are you here to pick me up?"


    Just then, Zhang Menglong''s phone buzzed. He opened it up, and there was an image from his dad¡ªa meme of a man with a big sword and a cheeky expression with four words:


    "Unexpected, right?"

 Chapter 2 Little Friend, Do You Have Many Questions?

    "What''s going on? Is this really your car, or did you rent it?" Zhang Menglong immediately snapped a photo and sent a message back to Zhang Xiaoyun.


    This was a Rolls-Royce, and although Zhang Menglong didn''t know much about cars, even the cheapest Rolls-Royce cost millions, surely selling everything their family owned wouldn''t evenpare to the price of such a car, right?


    "Kid, you''re already surprised by this little thing? Later on, won''t you start questioning life? Come on, get in the car. This is the butler who has always managed our family''s assets, just call him Uncle Hong."


    "Butler? Our family has a butler?" Zhang Menglong was a bit disoriented. In those novels and movies, he thought butlers were only something group CEOs or some Western countries had.


    "Young Master, please get in the car quickly, it''s more than half an hour''s drive from the station to home, don''t keep Mr. Zhang waiting anxiously."


    "Oh, oh..." Zhang Menglong tiptoed into the car. Even though it seemed like the car really belonged to their family right now, he still didn''t dare to rx, because if he identally damaged the interior, that wouldn''t be something a few tens of thousands could fix.


    "Drive!" Uncle Hong resumed his previous authority, and the driver closed the door carefully and returned to the driver''s seat. The car smoothly headed toward his home.


    "Old man, are you Uncle Hong?" asked Zhang Menglong cautiously, "My dad said you are our family''s butler, but why have I never seen you before?"


    "Hehehe, Young Master, Mr. Zhang didn''t want you to know these things, naturally he had his reasons. Now that you are informed, it means he is ready to hand everything over to you. When you get home, you will know everything," Uncle Hong replied respectfully.


    "Damn, is what my dad said about inheriting the family fortune true?" Zhang Menglong''s heart suddenly started beating violently. If that was the case, why bother working hard? Wouldn''t it be better just tozily inherit the wealth?


    "Uncle Hong, may I ask you a question?"


    "Young Master, please go ahead. As long as it''s not something Mr. Zhang has instructed me not to disclose, I will surely answer all your questions."


    "Is this car really ours? It''s not rented, is it?" Zhang Menglong was still full of doubts up to this moment.


    "Of course this car belongs to Mr. Zhang''s household," said Uncle Hong, "Is the Young Master thinking that this car is too low-ss? Unfortunately, there was nothing I could do. Mr. Zhang''s arrangements were so sudden, I had no time to prepare, so I had to make do with picking you up in this car first."


    "Low-ss? Make do?" These words rocked around in Zhang Menglong''s mind.


    Are you serious, old man, that you need to be so pretentious? This is a Rolls-Royce. In the whole of Jiangnan City, not that many can afford to drive one, right? This car is definitely considered a top-level luxury car, and you call it low-ss?


    What kind of car is considered high-ss? What kind of car is not just making do?


    "Are we really that rich?" Zhang Menglong asked again.


    "Hehehe, Young Master, I don''t know the full extent of Mr. Zhang''s wealth, but I can tell you, the value of just the part of the assets I manage for Mr. Zhang far exceeds that of the current world''s richest man, Mr. Bezos," answered Uncle Hong.


    "My gosh!" Originally, Zhang Menglong thought that even if his family was wealthy, it would just mean owning a fairly sizablepany. But ording to Uncle Hong, a portion of his family''s property was enough to be the wealthiest in the world, which was just too...


    "Young Master, regarding your family matters, in fact, I don''t know much. Our family''s mission is simply to help Mr. Zhang manage his wealth, and we do not inquire into anything else."


    "Your family?" Zhang Menglong was stunned again, not quiteprehending the meaning of these words.


    "Our Hong family''s genealogical records have registered more than twenty generations. From the first ancestor recorded in our genealogy, we have been serving your family," said Uncle Hong.


    "What in the world is going on?" Zhang Menglong''s mind was inplete chaos, and the lyrics "kid, do you have a lot of question marks" kept echoing in his ears. He even wondered if he was still dreaming and hadn''t woken up yet.


    ```


    But at this time, the car had already arrived at the entrance of their residentialplex. Standing at the gate was a man and a woman, none other than Zhang Menglong''s father, Zhang Xiaoyun, and his mother, Wang Yajie.


    "Mr. Zhang, I have brought the young master back as you instructed," Uncle Hong said, bowing deeply to Zhang Xiaoyun. Zhang Menglong noticed that Uncle Hong''s gaze towards Zhang Xiaoyun contained a hint of reverence, almost as if it was worship!


    "You''ve worked hard, Uncle Hong. You may go back now. Remember the task I assigned to you. Please take good care of Menglong from now on." Zhang Xiaoyun said to Uncle Hong.


    "Mr. Zhang, what are you saying? This is what I ought to do. Rest assured, I will take good care of the young master in your absence."


    "Alright, then you may go and take care of things."


    "Yes!" Uncle Hong got back into the car, and the Rolls-Royce swiftly drove away.


    "What''s going on? In your absence? Dad, where are you guys going? A honeymoon? No way, no way. You are both getting on in years, still seeking romance and excitement?"


    "Smack!" Zhang Xiaoyun pped Zhang Menglong on the head, "You brat, what do you mean ''getting on in years''? Can''t you speak properly?"


    "Then where are you going? To the deep forests, to be a couple of heroes like in the Condor Heroes?" Zhang Menglong continued teasing.


    "Have you been reading too many novels?" Wang Yajie poked Zhang Menglong on the forehead.


    "Let''s go home first and discuss it there," Zhang Xiaoyun said.


    It was still that 89-square-meter house, which felt strangely incongruent with the Rolls-Royce they had just been in. While there was a table full of delicious dishes, Zhang Menglong was so filled with questions he couldn''t muster much of an appetite.


    He aimlessly picked at his food, and suddenly the atmosphere at the dinner table grew tense.


    "Mom and Dad, isn''t it about time you tell me what''s going on? Are you two teaming up to bamboozle me? It''s really unnecessary. So what if thepany fired me? If they don''t want me, it''s their loss. Work can always be found."


    "Who''s bamboozling you? Now, I''m telling you seriously that starting today, all ownership of the family''s assets are transferred to you."


    "All assets? How much?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "I don''t know. I''ve never counted. Just know that you won''t be able to make a dent in it for the rest of your life."


    Zhang Xiaoyun pulled out a box as if by magic. Inside the boxy a green stone, which under the light, seemed to emanate a captivating luster, "Besides the family''s assets, you will also take over the control of this school."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "School? Isn''t this just a stone? What school?" Zhang Menglong grabbed the stone, but unexpectedly, as soon as the stone was sped in his palm, it melted like ice and seeped into his skin, disappearing without a trace.


    "What the hell!" Zhang Menglong was so frightened that he flipped his chair over. An unidentified object had prated his body. Could there be anything more bizarre than this?


    However, Zhang Menglong''s parents werepletely unfazed, as if all this had been expected.


    "Alright, go to sleep. When you wake up from this sleep, you''ll understand everything!"


    Wang Yajie''s hand suddenly moved in front of Zhang Menglong''s eyes as if performing hypnotism, and he found his vision blurring. He fell into a deep sleep.


    In his dream, he arrived at a ce of utmost mystery...


    ```

 Chapter 3 Giving You a Test

    This seemed like a ce straight out of the Immortal Realm, with colorful auspicious clouds and pinkkes, and covered with gemstones, and gold-and-jade magnificent lofts.


    Exotic flowers and herbs emitted a rich fragrance, and there was even a hint of mist lingering around; hidden within the thick fog were deep valleys and towering mountains.


    In the distance, there were various buildings, some traditional, some replete with modern technology, and others in architectural styles Zhang Menglong had never seen before, something not even the most imaginative fantasist could conjure up in their mind.


    Yet, for some reason, Zhang Menglong felt this dream was incredibly real, as if his soul had left his body and arrived at this mysterious and beautiful ce.


    "Respected new master, wee to the Super God Academy. I am the AI butler of this school; you may give me a new name," it said.


    "What''s going on? How can a country bumpkin like me have such a trendy dream?" Zhang Menglong was shocked by this sudden voice.


    "Master, you are not in a dream right now because you have not yet obtained the permission to activate the Super God Academy. Therefore, your mother used hypnotism to let your consciousness enter here. Strictly speaking, you are not dreaming," it exined.


    "My mom hypnotized me?" Zhang Menglong paused, "I didn''t know my mom knew hypnotism."


    "Kid, there are many things you don''t know!" Just then, the voice of Zhang Xiaoyun appeared behind Zhang Menglong; his parents had appeared behind him unnoticed.


    "Mom, dad, what exactly is going on? Can someone exin this to me?" Zhang Menglong felt his worldview of over twenty years was starting to crumble.


    "It''s not something I can exin quickly," Zhang Xiaoyun said. When he had inherited this vast wealth and the miraculous Super God Academy from his own father, Zhang Menglong''s grandfather, his reaction had been even more exaggerated than Zhang Menglong''s.


    "Simply put, the Super God Academy is a treasure that has been passed down through generations of the Zhang Family. Once you unlock all its permissions, anything you desire can be made real here!"


    "Dad, I am a materialist, I believe in science. So, can I be immortal?" Zhang Menglong asked in return.


    Zhang Xiaoyun and his wife, Wang Yajie, looked at each other and then smiled, "Immortality, is that hard?"


    Immortality is not just hard; it''s downright impossible!


    "You will slowlye to understand how magical the Super God Academy is as you gradually unlock its permissions," Zhang Xiaoyun said with a mysterious smile, "But as this treasure is our family heirloom, I can''t just let you inherit it so easily. I must first test you!"


    "Alright, you have to spend a trillion within one year, then I will give you ess to the Super God Academy," he dered.


    "Yes, settingspleted. The new master can unlock ess to the Super God Academy after spending a trillion within a year. Donations, damages, and gifts are invalid!" the earlier voice chimed in again.


    "What? Spend a trillion?" Zhang Menglong shuddered at the number, spending a trillion in one year meant spending three billion a day; what kind of test was this?


    "Wait a minute, if you have entrusted the family wealth and this heirloom to me, what are you going to do?" Zhang Menglong always felt something was off. Usually, assets were transferred to the next generation when someone was making final arrangements, could it be...N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Zhang Xiaoyun knew what Zhang Menglong was thinking from his expression, "What nonsense are you thinking about, kid? We just want to check out other ces!"


    Zhang Xiaoyun pointed towards the end of the magical Super God Academy where there was a spectacle simr to a stairway to heaven, spiraling into the clouds as if leading to an unknown new world at its end.


    "In this world, mom and dad have enjoyed all that money can buy. The joy it brings is fleeting, and we''re tired of it; we want to explore a new world!"


    "Wait, what are you talking about? I don''t understand!" Zhang Menglong was utterly confused. What new world were they exploring? Were they monsters or immortals?


    "Son, when wee back next time, we hope to see that you''ve gotten married and had children, one or two won''t be too few, five or six won''t be too many!"


    "Boom!" Just at that moment, at the top of the heavenlydder, a beam of light descended from the sky, and a golden column enveloped the entiredder as if a mysterious force was pulling everything together.


    "Honey, it''s about time," Zhang Xiaoyun and his wife Wang Yajie exchanged nces.


    "Yes! It''s time to go!"


    The couple reluctantly looked at Zhang Menglong, "Menglong, enjoy your life thoroughly. If there''s anything you need, just go to Steward Hong. In this world, you only need to remember three points!"


    Although he didn''t know exactly what was happening, Zhang Menglong knew that their words must be important!


    "First, there is no one richer than our family; second, there''s nothing our family can''t solve; third, if you ever find someone richer than us or something we can''t solve, you must still be dreaming!"


    Zhang Menglong opened his mouth. He was seriously waiting for Zhang Xiaoyun to assign some important task, and this was what he had to say?


    But, was all of this real? Or was everything since he picked up the phone in his dorm until now just a dream?


    Suddenly, Zhang Menglong''s parents held each other''s hands, and to his shocked eyes, they actually flew up. They soared through the ce known as Super God Academy like a shooting star, then merged into the distant heavenlydder and disappeared into the clouds bathed in that golden column.


    "Did... Did my parents ascend?" Zhang Menglong stared nkly at the sky, his face filled with astonishment. Yes, he must be dreaming. When he reopens his eyes in a while, he will definitely be leaning over his dorm room desk, theputer screen still disying that failed interview email!


    "New master, please name the system as soon as possible!"


    "Let''s call you Xiao Ji then!"


    "This name has already been used by the 23rd generation master. Please rename it!"


    Zhang Menglong: "???"


    "Alright then, let''s call you Xiao Wang!"


    "This name has already been used by the 16th generation master. Please rename it!"


    "What? What kind of monsters were my ancestors?" Zhang Menglong pped his forehead, "Then let''s call you Gen Ji!"


    "This name has already been used by the 249th generation master, who is your father. Please rename it!"


    "Zhang Xiaoyun, you..." Zhang Menglong clenched his fist, "I''ll call you Gou Dan then!"


    "Naming sessful. Super God Academy smart assistant Gou Dan at your service. ording to themand of the 249th generation master, you need to spend 100 billion within a year to unlock Super God Academy. The countdown starts now!"


    Suddenly, everything around became pitch ck, and the fantastical academy disappeared from his view.


    "Just you watch!" Zhang Menglong took a deep breath, if this is all real and not a dream, I will stand on my head, washing my hair while eating instant noodles!


    Zhang Menglong opened his eyes, a blinding light from the window shot into his eyes. He was lying in his own room, now the only person left in the house. On the bedside table, there was that small box adorned with a green gemstone.


    Zhang Menglong''s breathing suddenly became rapid. Could... could all this be real?

 Chapter 4 Can NetEase be acquired?

    "Dudu dudu..." Zhang Menglong tried to dial his parents'' cell phone numbers, but instead, he was greeted by a busy tone. At that moment, the first emotion that surged in Zhang Menglong''s heart was actually panic.


    For over twenty years, he had grown up almost entirely under the care of his parents, and it wasn''t until he went to college that he began to spread his own wings a little. Although he was now nearing graduation, he was fundamentally still just a student.


    He immediately rushed to the living room where the rice cooker was still keeping warm, containing two eggs and a bowl of porridge, and beside it was a small note.


    "Son, you must take good care of yourself while Mom and Dad are away. Don''t worry about us. At ten o''clock in the morning, Housekeeper Hong wille to see you, and you just need to follow his arrangements."


    The note contained those simple lines, and Zhang Menglong immediately let out a sigh of relief. As long as nothing was wrong with his parents, he was reassured.


    Having not really eaten much the previous night, Zhang Menglong wolfed down a bit of food as a makeshift breakfast. At that moment, the doorbell of his house rang.


    Zhang Menglong nced at the time, the hands on the clock had just reached ten o''clock sharp. Peering through the peephole, he saw not only Butler Hong in the hallway, but also two other people; one of whom he recognized very well¡ªit was his dad''s friend, Hong Yuqin.


    Zhang Menglong generally referred to Hong Yuqin as Uncle Hong, who would visit their home almost every few weeks, making him a regr guest at their ce.


    The other was a girl who appeared to be about his age. Her facial features bore a resemnce to both Hong Yuqin and Butler Hong, which suggested she was probably Uncle Hong''s daughter, but Zhang Menglong had never seen her before.


    "Damn, Uncle Hong and Butler Hong both have the surname Hong, could they be from the same family?" Zhang Menglong felt as if he had been part of a y since he was very young.


    In his memory, Hong Yuqin was just a sailor who went to sea day after day, just like his father, Zhang Xiaoyun. When at home, they either ate meals together or chatted, just like ordinary friends.


    But seeing Butler Hong riding in a "low-tier" Rolls-Royce with a chauffeur, Zhang Menglong found it tough to reconcile these images.


    "Click!" After drifting off for a while, Zhang Menglong still opened the door.


    "Meng... Young Master, it''s been a while!" On seeing Zhang Menglong, Hong Yuqin showed a smiling face, but the address he was so used to calling out had now turned into the respectfully uttered title, "Young Master."


    "Uncle Hong, so you really have been acting alongside my dad for twenty years," Zhang Menglong said with a wry smile.


    "Young Master, this was all your father''s idea. Please don''t me Yuqin," Butler Hong said, "In our family, each generation has one person who serves as a dedicated assistant to your family, helping with all matters. Yuqin is your father''s assistant. To keep you from learning about all this too soon, he has always pretended to be a friend of Mr. Zhang."


    "So that''s how it is," Zhang Menglong had guessed as much, "Then Uncle Hong''s real identity..."


    "Publicly, I''m merely the chairman of Huaxia''s Tenghui Group," Hong Yuqin said.


    "What? The chairman of Tenghui Group? That Tenghui Group that started in real estate?" Zhang Menglong eximed.


    "Yes, that Tenghui Group."


    "My goodness!" Zhang Menglong''s eyes twitched slightly; he had applied for the management trainee positions at Tenghui Group.


    Tenghui Group was one of Huaxia''srgest enterprises, starting with real estate. It was said that in the international real estate circles, Tenghui Group was a leading enterprise. Even experts didn''t know how Tenghui managed topete fornd from local businesses in those countries.


    Later on, Tenghui Group began to diversify, whether it be in software, gaming, smart home, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, or other industries, their presence was everywhere.


    An annual sry of 500,000 yuan for a bachelor''s degree holder, just this alone drove countless undergraduates mad. Getting into thispany was even harder than the national college entrance examination, which is like trying to cross a single-log bridge with an army of thousands.


    Unsurprisingly, Zhang Menglong was eliminated in the very first round of resume screening, and as one of the rejected applicants, each even received a constion prize of 500 yuan, a testament to thepany''s wealth.


    When preparing for the interview, he saw the name of the chairman and thought it was just a coincidence of name. However, he had never expected that Uncle Hong, who alwaysined about high housing prices and his wife''s extravagant spending at his home, was actually the chairman of this conglomerate!


    The most terrifying thing was that this chairman was actually just his father''s personal assistant.


    "Cough, cough, cough!" The mental shock was no less than that of a tsunami.


    "Wait, what do you mean ''publicly''?" Zhang Menglong suddenly noticed these words.


    "Oh, this identity is just a cover. Our Hong Family has served your family for over a thousand years. Under the cover of the Zhang Family, we''ve actually be the wealthiest family in Huaxia and even the whole of Asia."


    "Cough, cough, cough!" Zhang Menglong had just swallowed half of his porridge when he coughed it back out. Just their family butler had be the richest man in Asia, didn''t that mean their family must be at least the wealthiest in the world to start with?


    "Because Mr. Zhang didn''t want us to break some worldly conventions, only a very few people know of our existence. However, for convenience in doing certain things, we needed an identity that was almost appropriate, that''s about it."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "An almost appropriate identity..." Zhang Menglong''s face was already twisting into a grotesque shape. It was the first time he had heard that the chairman of a world-ss group was just an almost appropriate identity.


    Suddenly, Zhang Menglong thought of a joke he had made a few days before, "Uncle Hong, I have a question, could you manage to acquire Wangyi Group if I wanted you to?"


    "How much of it does young master want to acquire? The current market value of Wangyi Group is about 500 billion Huaxia currency. If you want to acquire about 20%, it would only take one day. However, if you want to acquire the whole thing, it might take a bit longer, about five to seven days!"


    "Does young master want to acquire Wangyi? If you need it, I can start arranging now and by the end of this holiday, at most one week, I could have it all acquired for you," said Hong Yuqin with utmost seriousness.


    "No need, no need, I was just asking casually!" Zhang Menglong''s mood was undoubtedly turbulent.


    Apany with a market value of 500 billion, a major corporation countless graduates were breaking their heads over to get into, and he could actually acquire full stock in just a few days with a single word; wasn''t that just too fantastical?


    "Achoo!" Far away, over a thousand kilometers distant in the chairman''s office of Wangyi headquarters, a middle-aged man suddenly sneezed. This was none other than Mr. Ding Sanshi, the chairman of Wangyi.


    "Strange, why have I been feeling unsettled recently? Could it be those games have made the yers criticize me again?"


    ...


    "Right, why are you here today..." It was only now that Zhang Menglong remembered to ask for their purpose ining.


    "Oh, we received a notification from Mr. Zhang; he must have gone to that ce along with your grandfather and the other elders!" Uncle Hong said.


    Having served the Zhang Family for a lifetime, he had some understanding of the affairs of the Zhang Family. He only knew that every once in a while, a generation of the Zhang Family would go to a mysterious ce. As for where, he didn''t know, nor did he inquire.


    "Mr. Zhang entrusted you to our care, which is also our Hong Family''s duty and mission. However, Yuqin is getting on in years and doesn''t have the strength for many things anymore. I''m worried he won''t be able to take good care of you, so I thought of having Yi Yi be your full-time personal assistant."


    "Yi Yi!" Uncle Hong nced at the girl beside him, "This is my granddaughter, Hong Yi. From now on, if you have any issues with life or other matters, you can ask her for help."


    "Hello, Mr. Zhang, from today on, you can entrust any task to me," said the girl called Hong Yi, bowing deeply in front of Zhang Menglong.


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong began to really observe this girl called Hong Yi. She was about 165 centimeters tall, with fair skin and long, slender legs. Her jet-ck hair was tied into a high ponytail at the back of her head. She was a standard beauty, but it was hard to associate her with a personal assistant.


    "Young master, although Yi Yi is young, her capability in handling matters is even beyond Yuqin," said Uncle Hong, "She just obtained dual doctorate degrees in finance and clinical medicine this year. To serve you better, she has been learning nationalnguages from a young age and should be able to help you in many ways.


    "A prodigious youngdy!" joked Zhang Menglong. "Uncle Hong, are you sure you''refortable leaving your beautiful granddaughter with me?"


    Unexpectedly, Uncle Hong bowed to him and said, "If young master approves of her, it would be a blessing for Yi Yi and our Hong Family!"


    "This..." Zhang Menglong was choked up by this statement, "Uncle Hong, even an Emperor wouldn''t have this kind of treatment, right?"


    "Emperor?" Uncle Hongughed and shook his head, "If your ancestors wanted to be emperors, none of those emperors would have had anything to do. Even in the most prosperous dynasties, a word from your family''s elders could overturn the entire empire!"


    Zhang Menglong admitted that when he heard that, he was scared stiff...

 Chapter 5 The Entire Complex Belongs to Your Family

    "Alright, then stay," Zhang Menglong didn''t have a very concrete concept of his own home, or rather, he couldn''t possibly imagine how awesome it really was.


    If there was someone familiar with his family around, it wouldn''t be a bad thing, especially since Hong Yi was quite a beauty with curves in all the right ces. It was also pleasing to the eyes to have her around. Just now, when she bent over, the glimpse of snow-white skin that showed through her neckline... tsk tsk tsk...


    "Hong Yi, from now on, I''ll be relying on you. I hope we''ll get along," Zhang Menglong said, reaching out a hand generously.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    But Hong Yi took a step back and gave Zhang Menglong a respectful bow, "Mr. Zhang jests, this is the responsibility and duty of the Hong Family!"


    "Feels like this girl has been brainwashed," mumbled Zhang Menglong, but he didn''t take it to heart.


    "Young Master, Mr. Zhang''s assets have just been transferred to your name, and there are many details we need to deal with, so we''ll leave Yi Yi with you for now."


    "Oh oh oh, go ahead with your work, I''m fine!" said Zhang Menglong cheerfully.


    With another deep bow to Zhang Menglong, Uncle Hong and his son left, and now only a man and a woman remained in the room, creating an instantly awkward atmosphere.


    "Um, have you had breakfast yet? I still have an egg!" Zhang Menglong offered, holding out the boiled egg that he had almost crushed.


    "Thank you, Mr. Zhang, I''ve already eaten," replied Hong Yi. "Do you have any ns for what''s next?"


    "ns?" Zhang Menglong didn''t quite understand what she meant.


    "I mean, what do you intend to do for theing period?"


    "This..." Zhang Menglong suddenly felt as if his life had reached what would be an end for the average person in an instant.


    If nothing unexpected happened, he was supposed to continue job hunting. If he found a decent job, he would stick with it; if he couldn''t find one to his liking, he would choose an industry he preferred, gain some experience, then consider switching jobs and such.


    But he hadn''t expected to go home overnight and inherit a family fortune so vast he had no idea of its size until now, leaving the future to seem perplexingly uncertain.


    "Weird, isn''t it said that the happiness of the wealthy is unimaginable? Why do I feel like I''m staring into a fog?" pondered Zhang Menglong. To be someone who only knew how to eat, drink, and enjoy himself every day? What difference would that be from a salted fish?


    "Right, that Super God Academy I saw subconsciously!" Zhang Menglong remembered his father saying thatpared to their family''s wealth, the Super God Academy was the real family treasure.


    But he was given a challenge: to spend 100 billion within a year in order to officially inherit it and unlock its potential, which seemed like an interesting task indeed.


    "By the way, Hong Yi, if I wanted 100 billion, how long would it take to gather that sum?" Zhang Menglong knew that even for the world''s richest, most of the assets were not cash, and even mobilizing 10 billion in cash was no easy feat.


    "If it''s just 100 billion, it''s avable at any time," answered Hong Yi without a moment''s hesitation.


    "What? Anytime? Are you joking?"


    "Mr. Zhang, even just among the assets managed by the Hong Family, there are always over 3 trillion in liquid funds readily avable for allocation."


    "3 trillion!? That terrifying number nearly made Zhang Menglong''s tongue twister."


    "US dors," Hong Yi added another unit.


    "Could you not give me a heart attack next time by finishing your sentence all at once? This is how you give someone a heart attack." Now Zhang Menglong finally understood why his father had warned him not to be too rmed; it truly was the kind of fortune that could scare someone to death.


    Hong Yi couldn''t help but giggle internally¡ªMr. Zhang seemed to know nothing about his family wealth! Indeed, when she had been tasked with assessing the Hong Family''s resources, even she was shocked. The so-called wealth was just a small part of the sprawling empire that was the Zhang Family.


    "Mr. Zhang, this is the money your father arranged for us to give you previously," Hong Yi handed Zhang Menglong a purple bank card. "Your father mentioned some little tests he had set for you. My question about the 100 billion just now, does it have something to do with this?"


    "You''re not going to tell me there''s 100 billion on this card, are you?" Zhang Menglong shook all over, hardly daring to ept the card.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, this is a Honored Card from Huaxia Bank. Nationwide, wherever there is a cooperation with Huaxia Bank, whether it is hotels, shopping malls, you will enjoy the highest level of treatment."


    "Holy moly, I thought the ck card was already badass, but who knew there was even such a thing as an Honored Card?" Zhang Menglong yed with the bank card in his hand, which seemed to be covered in ayer of purple crystal, feeling icy and hard to the touch.


    "Mr. Zhang, this Huaxia Bank ck card might be rare, but in every city, quite a few people possess them. However, this Honored Card, there won''t be more than ten in the entire country. Its discount rate and service level are not something that a ck card canpare with. Sometimes, due to its high level, it might not even be recognized by people, so it''s not actually that convenient to use."


    "Sounds fancy, but it seems pretty awesome." Anyway, it was his parents'' money, so Zhang Menglong had no psychological burden holding it.


    "Mr. Zhang, you''re not nning on staying here any longer, are you?" Hong Yi asked.


    "Yeah, since my parents aren''t home, there''s no point in staying here. I n to go back to Jiangnan City. After all, I''ve lived there for over three years, and all my friends are there."


    "I figured as much," Hong Yi said with a smile, "I''ve already arranged for someone to apany you. If you don''t have anything to attend to, we can depart right away. You can move into any of the 17 properties you own in Jiangnan City whenever you want."


    "Seventeen properties? That many?" Zhang Menglong was well aware of how Jiangnan City had developed¡ªback in his freshman year, a residential area across from their school hung a price tag of 6,666 yuan per square meter and still found no buyers.


    But with the Asia-Pacific Conference''s kickoff, the real estate prices in Jiangnan City soared like a rocket, and now, even 40,000 yuan per square meter was not enough to buy a property near their school.


    Moreover, those schools were twenty kilometers away from the city center, where houses priced at 100,000 yuan per square meter weremon.


    Seventeen properties, even assuming each one was 100 square meters at an average price of 50,000 yuan, that would be close to a hundred million in value!


    "Do I have any properties near our school?" Zhang Menglong inquired.


    "Of course, there''s one 1.2 kilometers away from Mr. Zhang''s school. However, it''s not veryrge, only 400 square meters. It might be a bit crowded," said Hong Yi matter-of-factly.


    "Crowded, with a 400-square-meter house?" One of Zhang Menglong''s ssmates had spent nearly three million on a 50-square-meter second-hand apartment in the city center and was quite pleased with himself. Zhang Menglong had never even dared to dream of a 400-square-meter house.


    But to Hong Yi, 400 square meters indeed wasn''t consideredrge. After all, she lived in a three-story vi with an area exceeding 800 square meters. For Zhang Menglong, even a 1000-square-meter ce might still feel a bit inadequate, right?


    "However, I''d still rmend a different property for you. It''s a bit further from the school, but you probably don''t have many sses left, do you? If needed, I can arrange for a driver to take you back and forth," she continued.


    "Is that ce big?" he asked.


    "Very big. And I can arrange for someone to take care of your daily needs and meals. It''s also one of the most bustling areas in all of Jiangnan City," she exined.


    "Alright, then let''s go there!" Zhang Menglong decided.


    "Understood. Please pack some of your important belongings, and then we can get ready to leave," Hong Yi suggested.


    "Alright!" Zhang Menglong nodded, walked around the house a few times, and in the end, he only took an album with him. Nothing else seemed to matter anymore.


    "Mr. Zhang, your car is ready!" A Maybach was waiting for them downstairs.


    "Good afternoon, Menglong!" Just as Zhang Menglong was about to get into the car, Auntie Liu, who had just finished grocery shopping, brushed past them downstairs.


    "Auntie... Auntie Liu, hello!"


    "Weird, why isn''t she surprised at all?" Among all the residents of Unit Two, Auntie Liu had always been the one with the loosest tongue. Any little thing would spread like wildfire once it reached her ears.


    Logically, having stepped into such a luxurious car, she should havee up like usual to interrogate him for quite a while. Why was she so calm?


    "Mr. Zhang, actually, the people here are aware of your identity. Like us, they serve your family as well, just not for as long as we have!" Hong Yi revealed shockingly.


    "What? What do you mean by that?"


    "All the houses in thisplex, including all the residents, property management staff, and so on, they all belong to your family!"

 Chapter 6 Poverty Limits Imagination

    "How is this even possible!" After spending the whole morning, Zhang Menglong''s face had be somewhat stiff from excessive astonishment.


    Although theirmunity wasn''trge, it still had 12 buildings, each with 17 floors and 4 households per floor¡ªthat was over 800 households, thousands of people, all from his family?


    "Mr. Zhang, have you forgotten? Tenghui made its fortune in real estate. This small property doesn''t cost much at all. As for those residents, strictly speaking, they are just staff, mainly responsible for your daily security and normal social activities. Certainly, they all signed non-disclosure agreements.


    I guess after so many years, they have probably started treating you as an ordinary person,"


    "Isn''t this a little too exaggerated?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but smile bitterly. His parents had gone to such great lengths for him to grow up like an ordinary person, hiring thousands of actors, "Wouldn''t it be nicer to just buy a house in a randommunity?"


    "Is there a big difference between buying a single house and buying 12 buildings?"


    "Isn''t there a big difference?" Zhang Menglong screamed hysterically in his heart, "Is this the gap between ordinary people and tycoons? Normal people struggle just to buy one house, while his family buys 12 buildings at once, as if they are shopping for vegetables at the market?"


    "No, right now, I am the tycoon!" Zhang Menglong suddenly realized the well-intentioned rigour behind the challenge his father set for him, to spend 100 billion in a year.


    His concept of spending waspletely unfit for owning such wealth!


    "Let''s go, let''s go. Give me a moment to process this." Zhang Menglong sat in the car and fell into silence, even starting to doubt his life choices.


    ...


    "Beep beep!"


    "Beep beep!"


    "Move it already, why isn''t it moving!"


    "What kind of driving is this, cmn? Such traffic and still trying to cut in? It''s because of people like you that the expressway is jammed like this!"


    ...


    The day Zhang Menglong was returning home was the afternoon before National Day. From that evening on, the expressway was jammed to the point of no return due to the citizens who had been waiting for half a year. And today was another peak period¡ªdreaming of a smooth ride back to Jiangnan City was pure fantasy!


    "I am stuck on the expressway right now, and the map tells me it''ll be another 7 hours of jam. I am done for!"


    "Hahaha, luckily I had the foresight. Isn''t a seven-day dormitory tour fragrant?"


    "You scoundrel, what''s 7 hours? I''m estimated to be stuck for 23 hours, alright? I drove less than ten kilometers fromst night until now!"


    "Damn, they even deliver takeout to the expressway now? Delivery guys are simply invincible!"


    Zhang Menglong took a brief nap and when he opened his phone, there were already 99+ints in the dormitory chat group.


    He nced at the time, more than four hours had passed. Under normal circumstances, he would have already arrived in Jiangnan City.


    "Mr. Zhang, you''re awake. We''ve been stuck on the expressway for over two hours now. There was a chain-reaction ident ahead, and I''m afraid you''ll have to wait a few more hours."


    "Oh, it''s fine. We''ll wait. I''m not in any rush anyway." Zhang Menglong turned on his phone to chat with his roommates, and it didn''t seem too boring. After all, he had been stuck on the expressway for six or seven hours before, so he was used to this kind of situation.


    Because of the time adjustment, the League of Legends S tournament had officially started that day.


    "Damn, why is the signal so bad?" Apart from messages from the roommate group, the streaming videos wouldn''t load properly.


    "Mr. Zhang, everyone is using their phones to pass the time on the freeway, so it''s normal to have no signal," Hong Yi said.


    "Forget it, I''ll go back to sleep!" Zhang Menglong decided to close his eyes again but just then, he started to feel a faint swelling in his lower abdomen. It seemed that since he got up this morning, he hadn''t been to the restroom.


    He had drunk two bowls of porridge in the morning and didn''t feel anything before, but now he could feel his dder protesting.


    "I''m not going to be stuck here on the expressway today, am I?" Zhang Menglong nced at the map. They had covered less than half the distance, and they were still on the sea-crossing bridge from their small city. Once they entered the expressway to Jiangnan City, who knew what it would be like.


    There were no rest stops on that stretch of road, and his upbringing and sense of shame over the past twenty plus years didn''t allow him to relieve himself by the side of the road.


    But if he were to use a mineral water bottle in the car, with a girl sitting next to him, how could he possibly pee?


    "Guys, is there any way to deal with a bathroom emergency in the car? Waiting online!" Zhang Menglong immediately asked in the chat group, since Sun Yulei had already been stuck in the traffic on the highway all night, he must have some experience, right?


    "We''re a long-distance bus to begin with, the bus has a toilet!"


    "Hahaha, Menglong, can''t hold it in anymore? See if you can find a mineral water bottle in the car!"


    "Just crack open the car door a bit and stretch your ''buddy'' out through the gap, no one will notice!"


    "Hahaha, genius, genius, that''s so like you!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "You''re the real yer here!"


    ...


    "These treacherous dogs, don''t they know I''m in deep trouble here? And they still have the mood to joke around?" Zhang Menglong''s legs had already begun to rub together uncontrobly.


    "Mr. Zhang, are you in a hurry to get back?" Hong Yi could see Zhang Menglong''s embarrassment. Of course, she didn''t know that Zhang Menglong was just really desperate to pee.


    "Yeah... quite in a hurry. A roommate of mine is in trouble, I need to rush back to school to help him. Do you have any solutions?"


    "Since that''s the case, let''s switch to another mode of transportation to get back. Actually, I had intended to take you back this way, but I was afraid you might find it too showy."


    "What way? At this point, who cares about being showy or not?"


    "I understand, please give me a moment."


    Hong Yi took out her phone and dialed a number, "Mr. Zhang''s car is stuck on the highway, and there''s an urgent matter that requires immediate return to Jiangnan City. Please arrange it right away!"


    "Who did you call?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "I called the person responsible for your daily transportation. He said he can send a helicopter in no more than twenty minutes!"


    "I never thought I''d actually get to experience a helicopter ride!" Zhang Menglong had thought of this solution earlier, but even by helicopter, it would take an hour to get to Jiangnan City. Was he supposed to anoint the masses with a golden shower from the sky?


    "Well, holding it in for another hour is better than being stuck here on the highway for several more hours!"


    ...


    Indeed, in less than twenty minutes, a loud noise of propellers vibrating came from the sky, immediately drawing everyone''s attention.


    "Mr. Zhang, your private helicopter has arrived!" Hong Yi announced.


    "I''ve seen helicopters before, why is this sound so loud?" Zhang Menglong opened the car window and stuck his head out, and the dark shadow that loomed instantly made him gasp.


    This helicopter was more than 40 meters in length, which waspletely different from the private helicopter he had imagined!


    "Look, the helicopter is starting tond!" The people on this stretch of the highway suddenly erupted with excitement. Such a scene was not something one would see every day.


    "I''ve seen this helicopter on military shows before, it''s the Soviet Russia''s Mi-26, said to be the world''srgest helicopter. There are only two in service with airlines in Huaxia, why would it appear here?"


    "Could it be that some big shot couldn''t handle the traffic jam and called for a helicopter?"


    "How could that be possible? Who has the clout to summon this aircraft? Ordinary private helicopters are usually just small ones that can fit a few people, right?"


    "How rich does someone have to be to use this kind of aircraft as a private ne?"


    "It''s not just about having the money, for such arge helicopter, if you don''t have the authority, how could you possibly get through air traffic control?"


    "This is just too wild, poverty really limits my imagination!"


    ...

 Chapter 7 Picasso Personally Gave to Your Ancestor

    "Hong Yi, is... is this the helicopter you called for?" Zhang Menglong''s jaw nearly dropped. Even many models of passenger nes couldn''t match this length; it was truly a behemoth of the skies!


    "Mr. Zhang, this is a Soviet Russian-made Mi-26 multipurpose transport helicopter. It was retired and showed up at an auction in Europe. Your father acquired it at the auction for 17 million US Dors andter converted it into a private helicopter. Although it has not been used, it''s been routinely maintained every year and is in excellent condition."


    "Another two hundred million-dor guy," Zhang Menglong was almost too astonished to feel anything.


    "No no no, that 17 million US Dors was just the base price. In order to enhance thefort and safety features of the aircraft, your father made additional modifications. Including all the decorations, the total cost must have surpassed 1.2 billion US Dors."


    "1.2 billion US Dors? The modifications cost more than the helicopter itself?" Zhang Menglong eximed, wondering if the interior was lined with gold tiles or something.


    "You''ll see in a bit," Hong Yi said with a smile.


    "Begin the towing!" At Hong Yi''smand, the cargo bay of the Mi-26 opened immediately.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    A few people dressed in tight suits and wearing masks slowly descended next to them on several cables. They quickly secured the cables to the bottom of the car, and momentster, a strong pulling force emanated from the helicopter.


    "Fuck! What are they doing? What''s happening? Aren''t they here to pick me up? Why is the car being hoisted too?" Zhang Menglong felt the entire car swinging back and forth, which gave him no sense of security at all.


    "Mr. Zhang, please rest assured, these cables are of special quality; each can individually support a 5-ton weight, and the helicopter can handle a load of 20 tons without any issue, so a few more cars wouldn''t be a problem."


    "But even so, I''m freaking out!"


    They were currently on a bridge, and due to the bridge''s width limitations, the helicopter could only tow from dozens of meters above the ground. Combined with the crosswinds at sea, the two-ton-plus Maybach swayed like a pendulum.


    "I''m going to be sick, bleh!" Zhang Menglong grabbed a bag and didn''t hesitate to start vomiting into it.


    ...


    "Click click!"


    "Fuck, that''s awesome! What kind of rich tycoon is this, getting stuck in traffic and having the helicopter airlift both the person and their car away?"


    "Take a closer look, that car is a Maybach, which has been out of production for several years. I remember its release price was over five million, right?"


    "Forget the car, even the license te would be worth a luxury car, right?"


    "I can''t, I need to record this and upload it online, it''s definitely going to go viral!"


    Below, people watched as the helicopter ingested the Maybach and eventually disappeared into the distant horizon, but the video spread online like a virus almost immediately.


    ...


    "Don''t touch me, let me settle down first!" Zhang Menglong stepped out of the car. The helicopter was big enough to fly extremely steadily, but he hadn''t gotten over the swinging sensation just yet.


    A few minutester, they climbed up a short flight of stairs and entered the cabin of the helicopter. When he walked into the cabin, Zhang Menglong was dumbstruck.


    Was this supposed to be the cabin of a helicopter? It was nothing short of a luxurious suite!


    The cabin''s floor was covered with elegant tiles, and a gorgeous crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. In the center stood a dining table that could amodate ten people, fully set with cutlery and light fixtures, with a small lounge area on the side.


    Further back, there was a separate small room and a bathroom.


    Seeing the restroom, Zhang Menglong was as excited as a PUBG yer spotting the safe zone, and he rushed into the restroom and let loose!


    "Refreshing!" Along with a shiver, everything started feeling wonderful.


    By the time Zhang Menglong came out, the dining table was already filled with food: steak, red wine, sd, dessert, everything one could ask for.


    "Mr. Zhang, the cargo hold of this Mi-26 helicopter has been converted into a private space, and although it''s only a few dozen square meters in size, it''s small but fully equipped and can meet most of your needs when traveling. Plus, ites with a full-time chef, two assistant chefs, and three service staff at your disposal,"


    "This steak isn''t bad, huh? Must be expensive, right?" Having endured several hours of mental torture, Zhang Menglong was already starving and began to gobble up the food on the table.


    "Of course, this is the world-renowned Kobe beef. In order to maintain its freshness, the freshest stock is prepared daily and stored on the ne for you."


    "Didn''t you say this ne hasn''t been used for a long time?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Yes, but even during the time it was out of use, the contents of the ne''s refrigeration unit were being updated every day, ready for your use at any time!"


    "Isn''t that a bit too wasteful?" Zhang Menglong even felt a tinge of guilt; with the ne being idle for so many years, how much manpower and resources must have been wasted?


    "The annual maintenance cost for all personnel involved with this ne is only 5 million US Dors, which isn''t much."


    "Not much..." Zhang Menglong suddenly felt the steak in his mouth wasn''t that tasty anymore. Four years of disuse would amount to 20 million US Dors¡ª99.9% of people in the world could never earn that much in their lifetimes!


    "By the way, didn''t they say the cost of customizing this ne was 1.2 billion US Dors? I can''t really see where that 1.2 billion went," Zhang Menglong suddenly asked.


    "Mr. Zhang, please take a look at the painting on the wall."


    "Is there something special about it?" Zhang Menglong put down his knife and fork and approached a painting behind him. It was an oil painting portraying a young girl working in a garden, with a signature on the lower right corner.


    "pi...ca...sso, Picasso, Pablo Picasso! Is this a Picasso painting?" Although he hadn''t studied art, Zhang Menglong was certainly familiar with these famous painters¡ªPicasso could be named alongside Da Vinci and Van Gogh as a master!


    "Is this the real deal?" Zhang Menglong didn''t know much about Picasso''s works, but if it was genuine, it would bemon for it to be worth tens of millions of US Dors.


    "Of course, it''s real. Among the collections registered in Mr. Zhang''s name, there can be no fakes," Hong Yi said. "If an identical painting were to appear at any museum or auction, it could only be they who have the counterfeit!"


    "So how much is this painting worth?" Zhang Menglong cautiously asked.


    "This painting, titled ''Flower Art Girl'', has never been seen on the market because it was a personal gift from Mr. Picasso to your ancestor."


    "What? Picasso personally gave this to my ancestor?" This news was undoubtedly a bombshell.


    "You might want to look at the back of the painting," said Hong Yi.


    Zhang Menglong took down the painting, and indeed, there was a line of small print on the back, written in Spanish.


    "Heh, well, I don''t understand Spanish. Can you trante it for me?" Zhang Menglong said, a bit embarrassed.


    "This painting is presented to Mr. Zhang Jun from the Orient, in memory of the delightful afternoon spent admiring flowers in the Royal Park¡ªPablo Picasso."


    Hong Yi continued, "This painting was always stored in a suitcase and waster found by your father during a clean-up, so he hung it here. Based on the size of the work, the period of creation, and the methods employed, its current market price should be above 200 million US Dors."


    "I... my God, my ancestor was such a badass!"

 Chapter 8 Is This the Place 1 Property You Mentioned?

    "It seems, Mr. Zhang, you still don''t quite understand your family history!"


    "Understand my ass!" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself, "How would I know about my family history when I didn''t even know my family was this rich? I didn''t even know my parents could freakin'' fly!"


    "What do you know? Tell me about it," Zhang Menglong asked for guidance.


    "Well, I don''t know too much either. After all, by the time our Hong Family started following Mr. Zhang''s family, the Zhang Family had already be an enormous entity," Hong Yi said. "Mr. Zhang''s ancestors were all extremely wise. They started making various investments a very long time ago.


    You have to understand, many things were not valuable back then, but as thousands of years pass, even an ordinary cup can be priceless!"


    "That makes sense," Zhang Menglong nodded.


    "Let''s not even mention other things for now. When Hanli Country had just been established, right next door, your ancestors bought a huge amount ofnd there. At that time, their government was broke, and they pretty much bought one-fifth of the country''snd easily!"


    "What? One-fifth of the country? Are you saying that one-fifth of Hanli Country''s territory belongs to us?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t find the words to describe the shock he felt that day.


    "Yes, so the administrative taxes from those regions in Hanli Country, 70% go into the hands of the Zhang Family each year. You can freely buy and sell thatnd."


    "Then your Tenghui Group..." Zhang Menglong suddenly thought of something. The Tenghui Group was thriving in the real estate industry in so many countries around the world; could it be...


    "Yes, your family not only in Hanli Country but almost boughtrge tracts ofnd all over the world early on. Thosends were originally yours, and when Huiteng Group developed thosends, naturally, we could easily beat those local real estatepanies!"


    "Badass!" Zhang Menglong shouted internally. What about gettingnd from those countries''nd bureaus to build and sell houses? Thatnd was originally theirs! They just need to handle the development, sell the ownership, and then just rake in the money! No wonder Tenghui Group is so powerful; it turns out their family business is massive!


    "So many things, your ancestorsid out a long time ago. Thousands of years ago, your family was already the wealthiest family in the world, and traveling all over the world was one of their hobbies."


    "In the process, they met many famous painters, musicians, artists, and so on. Mr. Picasso was someone your ancestor Zhang Jun met while traveling in Europe!"


    "They were close friends?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Not really; they only met once."


    "Then why did Picasso give a painting to my ancestor?"


    "Because Mr. Zhang Jun thought Mr. Picasso was very talented, he gave him a sum of money as a sponsorship for his creation. In that era, that amount of money was enough for him to squander for a lifetime; hence, Mr. Picasso could devote himself entirely to his paintings."


    "This... money does make the world go round."


    "While Mr. Picasso was still alive, every now and then, he would send a painting he was proud of as a gift. Butter on, as the paintings piled up, Mr. Zhang Jun found it too troublesome and started using them as cemats or dropping food scraps on them." Even Hong Yi found this part somewhat difficult to say.


    "Shit, using paintings worth hundreds of millions of US dors as cemats? I concede defeat!" Zhang Menglong admitted that indeed, poverty limited his imagination¡ªsuch outrageous deeds were beyond his wildest thoughts.


    "Give me a break, I''ll just have a look!" This hall, with tens of square meters, was like a mini art exhibition. Even the cheapest painting here was priced in the tens of millions of US dors. Now, he realized why the ne his father bought for just 12 million US dors was now worth 1.2 billion US dors after being refurbished.


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, we''ve arrived!" A few dozen minutester, the ne slowlynded at Jiangnan City Airport.


    "Huh? Why is there only my ne here? Where are the others?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously. The airstrip, spanning thousands of metres, was deserted¡ªnot a single person in sight.


    "Mr. Zhang, this is your private airport, of course there''s just your ne," Hong Yi said. "Now that you''re back in Jiangnan City, I''ll arrange for your private jet for long-distance travel and the nes for transporting goods to be gathered here. It should all return to normal operation within three days."


    "I have other nes?"


    "Of course!" Hong Yiughed. "You own a total of 127 cargo nes, which are always on standby in various countries, ready to bring you local specialties from anywhere at any time. For example, if you want to eat the finest Australian lobster, by tomorrow morning, there will be a ne to airfreight it here for you!"


    "You also have 12 private passenger jets specifically prepared for your travels, and a team of thousands ready to serve you at any time!"


    "Enough, stop there, I''m about to split open, this is some serious first world problems!" Zhang Menglong eximed. How strong would his mental resilience need to be to withstand these constant shocks?


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s gettingte, I should take you to where you''ll be staying," Hong Yi said.


    "Hmm, okay, let''s go check out where I''ll be staying first."


    ...


    Most of the vehicles were stuck on the highway, but the city area and the overpass were quite smooth. Zhang Menglong opened his phone to find that there were over 99+ messages in the dorm group chat.


    "Guys, check out the trending searches! Holy shit, have you seen a helicopter literally tow away a car?"


    "So freaking awesome, this is the power of money! What does it take to get a helicopter to do that?"


    "There must be somepany CEO in that car, probably needed to hurry for some emergency, right?"


    "That''s for sure, I bet there''s some important meeting or contract they''re rushing to sign!"


    "Nobody knows who it actually is,izens have been flesh-searching for hours without any results."


    "Menglong, isn''t that your side''s sea-crossing bridge? Did you see it? Come out and say something!"


    "@Zhang Menglong,e out to witness the magic!"


    "@Zhang Menglong, have you been suffocated to death on the highway? Say something!"


    "Oh, my son, you died a tragic death!"


    "Three minutes of silence for my son''s dder!"


    ...


    "These damn traitors!" Zhang Menglong posted a disdainful emoji in the group.


    "Yo, boss Zhang came out? How is it, is your dder still alive?"


    "Going home this time to inherit the family fortune, didn''t expect it to be thisplicated, did you, haha?"


    "You might not believe what I''m about to say, but I truly did inherit a fortune. That Maybach and helicopter are mine!" Zhang Menglong dered in the group, sure that they wouldn''t believe him!


    "Hahaha, in what position were you when you dreamt this? I want to give it a try too!"


    "Hurry back, we''re waiting to y with you, everyone''s all set!"


    "Give me an hour!"


    Zhang Menglong quickly left the group chat as the car entered a residential area in the city district. The previously bustling environment suddenly became quiet.


    "Who would''ve thought there''d be such an elegant residential area in the city?" Zhang Menglong opened his location to check on the neighborhood, but oddly, although the neighborhood was shown on the map, there was no name for it.


    "Mr. Zhang, we have arrived. This is yourrgest property in Jiangnan City," Hong Yi said.


    "Thergest? This ce?" Zhang Menglong took a nce at the buildings in the neighborhood. They all seemed to be just one or two hundred square meters in size. Given the location and the size of the units, the price would be over ten million, but after the helicopter incident, Zhang Menglong felt a twinge of disappointment.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Which building?" Zhang Menglong asked. There were a total of 8 buildings in the neighborhood, with the one in the middle being the tallest, surrounded by others that circled around it like stars around the moon, a rather unique architecturalyout.


    "Which building? What do you mean?" Hong Yi asked, puzzled.


    "I''m asking which building and which floor my house is on?" Zhang Menglong repeated.


    Hong Yi smiled: "Mr. Zhang, it seems you didn''t quite grasp what I meant. When I said this property, I meant this entire neighborhood."


    "The entire neighborhood?" Zhang Menglong''s previous disappointment was instantly swept away, reced by shock, "Is this what you call ''one property''?"

 Chapter 9 Do You Have a Mine at Home?

    "Yes, isn''t this just a property?" Hong Yi retorted.


    "I find myself at a loss for words." The wholemunity is in one location, and if one really has to say it''s a single property, it seems indeed there''s no problem with that.


    "Mr. Zhang, let me give you a brief introduction. Thismunity was developed by Tenghui Group a little over three years ago when you were admitted to Jiangnan University of Science and Technology. Your father had been considering your settlement in Jiangnan City for a very long time."


    "Zhang Menglong really did have foresight!" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself.


    "Themunity consists of 8 buildings in total. The one in the center has 29 floors, and the seven buildings around it each have 17 floors. They are all built with ayout of two elevators to four apartments, ranging from 95 to 121 square meters each. Based on the property prices of this location, each square meter should be within 90,000 to 110,000."


    "My god, 7 times 17 plus 29, then times 4..." Zhang Menglong quickly calcted in his head how much the entiremunity''s houses could be worth, but his mental arithmetic wasn''t up to the task anymore. Now, all he could think about was how much money this was? How many lifetimes of ordinary work would it take to earn that?


    "The building in the center has the best lighting and the mostprehensive facilities, specially prepared for you." Hong Yi led Zhang Menglong into the elevator and pressed the button for the 25th floor.


    "Mr. Zhang, the 25th to the 29th floors of this building are interconnected, mainly for your living and personal use. The topmost floor has a small open-air garden and swimming pool. Thanks to the advanced smart home technology, only you can enter the house before you set the permissions."


    "How do I open it?" Zhang Menglong was already somewhat eager to go in and have a look.


    "Your fingerprint will do."


    "Beep! Verification sessful, respected Mr. Zhang Menglong, wee home!"


    Click!


    The door slowly swung open, and seeing the spacious foyer, Zhang Menglong couldn''t help but gape.


    Passing through the foyer, there was a living room exceeding two hundred square meters, and within this apartment, there was also an internal elevator for him to freely travel between the 25th floor and the penthouse.


    "Mr. Zhang, the actual area of each of these five floors is over 500 square meters. Of course, if you need it, I can also arrange for someone to interconnect the floors below for you," Hong Yi said respectfully.


    "No... no need, it''s already big enough. Even if I live on just one floor by myself, it seems a bit too extravagant!" Zhang Menglong asked, "What about the other seven buildings and the floors below?"


    "Oh, the floors below mainly include an esports room, gym, server room, guest rooms, library, etc.


    This building is mainly for when you or your friendse to hang out," Hong Yi exined, "As for the surrounding 17 buildings, if you decide to live here, your driver, pilot, chef, security, housekeeping staff, and other service personnel will live nearby, ready to attend to your needs at any moment."


    "Compared to this, Tomson First Grade is nothing!"


    In Zhang Menglong''s memory, Mingzhu City''s Tomson First Grade had once been considered the epitome of luxury homes, butpared to his ce, it fell more than just a notch short.


    After all, Tomson First Grade, no matter how luxurious, serves all its residents, while these eight buildings are all serving just him; can that even be considered the same level?


    Zhang Menglong walked into the lobby, at the center of which was a set of sofas he didn''t dare ask the price of, and on the wall was a huge painting, very simr in style to "Starry Night."


    "This couldn''t be a van Gogh painting, could it?" Zhang Menglong asked offhandedly.


    "Yes, but Mr. Van Gogh''s paintings only became famous after his death. This painting was a birthday gift to your father from the King of France 12 years ago, free of charge."


    "This Zhang family must have some serious clout!" Zhang Menglongughed, "Don''t tell me my ancestors bought a huge chunk of Frenchnd or something?"


    "That''s not the case," Hong Yi said. "Historical events have a way of happening, you know. There was a time when Huaxia was not very peaceful. Actually, if at that time, the Zhang Family had still been in Huaxia, none of this would''ve happened. But during that period, your ancestors were all at that ce."


    "The Super God Academy again?" Zhang Menglong suddenly became full of interest in that ce. What kind of ce was it that beckoned his parents and ancestors sopellingly?


    "But your family members have quite the temper, and they''re not the type to let offenses go unavenged. The first thing your grandfather did when he came back was to cut off those countries'' energy supply. After all, a major portion of their petrochemical resources depended on imports from Africa.


    And even though those oil fields and wells were ostensibly owned by countries like Saudi Arabia, in reality, the rights belonged to your family."


    "Damn, ruthless!" Zhang Menglong hadn''t expected his family to be not just wealthy andndowners, but also to have mines¡ªand oil mines at that!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Then what?"


    "What could they do? Their own oil fields couldn''t even produce one-tenth of the necessary supply. Apart from some stubborn elements, they had no choice but to forthrightly return the seized treasures and sign a heap of unequal treaties. On the surface, they have a very friendly rtionship with the Zhang Family, but in reality, they are terrified of you!"


    Hong Yi continued adding, "In Asia, it''s mainly our Hong Family handling things. There are corresponding families on the other continents as well, and they have been following the Zhang family for a very long time. Any one of them could easily overturn a country with just one sentence!"


    "I... I think I''m getting high blood pressure!" Zhang Menglong quickly patted his chest. ording to Hong Yi, wasn''t his family practically the ruler of the Earth?


    "Why does this piano look so old?" Like many luxury homes, there was a piano in the corner of the hall, but this one was quite decayed in many areas. "This isn''t just for show, is it?"


    "Mr. Zhang, this piano is called a Broadwood, which was used by Mr. Beethoven towards the end of his life. After the death of Mr. Beethoven, it came into the hands of Master Liszt and eventually ended up in the Hungarian National Museum."


    "Later, it was bought by your grandfather, originally intended for Mr. Zhang Xiaoyun to practice piano, but since he didn''t like music, it was left unused. After this ce was built, it was moved here."


    "A piano that Beethoven and Liszt had yed¡­" Zhang Menglong wisely refrained from asking about the price, guessing it was yet another astronomical figure with his gut feeling.


    "What about this crystal statue?" Zhang Menglong had also noticed a 1:1 scale sculpture beside the piano. "Is this Beethoven or Liszt?"


    "This... This is one of your ancestors, named Zhang Lanfeng. He was fond of the piano and even mentored quite a fewter famous musicians while studying abroad in Europe. However, he was very low-key; aside from the individuals involved, no one else knew about these events. This statue was created after he won first prize in a royal musicpetition."


    "By the way, this isn''t crystal; this statue was carved out of a diamond!"


    "Diamond? A diamond this big?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.


    "Oh, aside from the oil fields, your family has several diamond mines in Africa. This was made from a huge raw diamond carved out back in the day!"


    "I can''t handle this!" Zhang Menglong slumped directly onto the sofa, overwhelmed by his own family''s wealth.


    "Mr. Zhang, the service staff we''ve arranged for you have been carefully selected, and they will all be here tomorrow. Please let me know if you need anything done. You must be exhausted from the journey today; you should rest early. My residence is in building number 1 nearby."


    "Alright, you''ve worked hard today too. Go get some rest." Zhang Menglong nodded. Right now, he wanted to be alone to process the shocks he had received throughout the day.

 Chapter 10 The Trouble with Spending 100 Billion

    Zhang Menglong had not rested for a few minutes before his roommate called him.


    "Did you vanish or something? Weren''t you supposed to be back in an hour? I''ve already started two rounds, are you going to y or not?" Xu Li started with a ranting tone.


    "Hahaha, I''ve just been busy inheriting too much property from my family, it''s taking a while to sort through!"ughed Zhang Menglong, "It''s not toote now, is it?"


    "Inherit my foot, do you actually think you inherited a fortune? Enough chit-chat, log on now. And, bring that lovely-voiced girl you mentionedst time too!"


    "Got it!" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself, "More than a fortune? Pretty much the whole Earth is almost ours."


    "I''m so pissed, today our Huaxia team was just awful, fierce as tigers in domestic fights but like scared dogs in international matches, it''s just so frustrating! No way, tonight I must control Thunder and Lightning in the bronze kiddie league. Hurry up, we''re only waiting for you two!"


    "Coming,ing!" Zhang Menglong casually walked into a room and instantly perked up at the sight of the huge screen¡ªit was just the room''s built-inputer, he could only wonder how luxurious the esports room downstairs might be.


    "Huh? Where''s the main unit? Howe there''s no main unit?" Zhang Menglong searched under theputer desk for a long time but couldn''t find it, "This isn''t even an all-in-one!"


    "Hong Yi, are theputers here not equipped with main units yet?" Zhang Menglong dialed Hong Yi''s number.


    "Mr. Zhang, for the optimal experience, all theputers here are connected to the supeputer one floor below, with a 5Gwork to ensure you face nogs in whatever games you y. Whenever you need to use it, just issuemands to the smart housekeeper by voice control," said Hong Yi.


    "Using a supeputer as a homeputer''s main unit? Really, must we be so extravagant?" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself and then hung up the phone, "Aputer costing a few tens of thousands is already great for gaming, this is totally unnecessary!"


    But just momentster, Zhang Menglong had downloaded the game in mere minutes, enjoying the lightning-fast running speed and the smooth operating system, he could only sincerely exim, "Truly awesome!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "How about a couple of rounds?" Zhang Menglong opened his friend list and habitually clicked on the avatar named "Double Sugar Starbucks", which showed the smiling face of the neighboring country''s goddess, Shi Yuan Li Mei, but only Zhang Menglong knew that behind that smile was a very lonely figure.


    Zhang Menglong had known her for over half a year by now. She liked to sing, Zhang Menglong liked to y the piano. They met on a short-video tform during a low point in Zhang Menglong''s life, starting from mutual likes to coborating on singing, eventually bing part of each other''s friend lists.


    They were two very simr people. Zhang Menglong had never met her and even after half a year, he still didn''t know her real name. Aside from sharing their daily troubles and fun incidents, they also yed games and shared songs and movies together.


    It might sound absurd, but Zhang Menglong had already developed special feelings for this girl who was a year older and whom he had never met.


    "Duo?" The reply came quickly back to Zhang Menglong.


    "And my three roommates. They''ve heard about your beautiful voice and insisted I invite you to y today," sent Zhang Menglong with a helpless emoticon.


    "You haven''t even met me, how could you boast like that? What if I turned out to be some 200-pound auntie using a voice changer? That would shatter your roommates'' dreams, wouldn''t it?"


    "That''s a man''s sixth sense. If my intuition is wrong, I''ll wash my hair standing on my head!"


    "Hahaha, log in, hurry up, I''ve been so free these days!"


    "I''ll pull you in soon!"


    "Where''s the pretty girl? Where''s the pretty girl?" As soon as Zhang Menglong connected with his roommates, they couldn''t wait and started howling.


    "Zhang Menglong, what''s going on with you? You''re back in Jiangnan City, aren''t you? Why aren''t you back in the dorm thiste? nning to pull an all-nighter at the cafe?"


    "I''m at my own house. You might not believe it, but this whole 29-story building is mine, and myputer runs off a supeputer. ying games is super smooth," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Hahaha, you''re awesome. I wouldn''t even dare to dream of saying something like that. Hurry up and bring the pretty girl in!"


    "Right, right, let her experience the warmth of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, Room 310!"


    "Hello everyone!" A sweet girl''s voice chimed in over the team''s voice chat.


    "Holy crap! That voice, Mom, I''m in love!"


    "Waaa, it feels like first love!"


    "Zhang Menglong, I finally understand why you chat with her every night with your headphones on, this voice is a treasure!"


    Zhang Menglong''s roommate, the Ghost House Wolf, howled.


    Zhang Menglong chuckled softly, her voice was indeed unbelievably sweet; he even had to listen to her voice messages several times over.


    The roommates were all quite skilled; "Frappino Double Sugar" had substantially better skills than the average girl in the duo matches with Zhang Menglong, driving a tank around Summoner''s Rift, summoning thunder and lightning and crushing everything in its path.


    Since they were still on holiday and didn''t have sses the next day, they yed until after midnight, reluctantly ending the game. For them, about to step into society, such joyful days were bing rare.


    "Had a lot of fun today, I''m sleepy, going to bed first!"


    "Together, I''m sleepy too!" Zhang Menglong said with a mischievous grin.


    "Good night!"


    "Good night!"


    Zhang Menglong set her phone aside andy down on her huge bed that was almost big enough to roll around ten times.


    Everything sincest night felt like a dream.


    "Oh right, the family heirloom called ''Super God Academy'' that Mom and Dad mentioned!" When he woke up in the morning, Zhang Menglong discovered that by concentrating, he could see a green glowing mark in his mind.


    "Enter Super God Academy!" Zhang Menglong issued amand.


    "Master has notpleted the challenge left by the previous master; entrance permission to the academy will be granted after the challenge ispleted!" The voice of Super God Academy''s smart butler, Gou Dan, suddenly rang out next to Zhang Menglong''s ear.


    "Damn, so they really left me with such a task?" Zhang Menglong chuckled bitterly. He had never dealt with amounts like 100 billion, let alone a single time use of even 10,000; the most extravagant he had been was probably his annual university tuition of 8,800.


    What made it even more difficult was that he couldn''t donate or give the money away.


    "How to spend 100 billion!" Zhang Menglong typed this question into Baidu.


    "Buy houses? Half of Earth belongs to me, why on Earth would I buy houses!"


    "Tip streamers? Am I crazy, tipping those inte beggars?"


    "Travel the world? I could travel for 100 years, indulging in food and fun every day, and still not spend all that money!"


    "Buy cars? Hmm, that''s a stretch!"


    "Make investments? Do what Wang Duoyu does?"


    Looking at one bizarre answer after another, Zhang Menglong let out a heartfelt sigh, "Having too much money is a problem too!"

 Chapter 11 This Luxury Must Shorten Ones Life

    ```"What a beautiful morning!" Zhang Menglong opened his eyes, climbed out of the several-meter-long bed, and walked through the dozens of meters long hallway to the living room. Today, he was ready toplete his first task of spending 100 billion, buying a car!


    In this era, mostizens were without money but knew all about cars, whereas the former Zhang Menglong had neither money nor knowledge about cars. After working for quite some timest night, he had somewhat understood some top-level luxury cars.


    In the center of Jiangnan City, there was a boutique shop specializing in luxury cars. It was said that as long as you had enough money, you could even get a limited-edition sports car from 20 years ago!


    "Ding-dong!" The doorbell rang outside the room, and the figure of Hong Yi appeared on a liquid crystal disy at the door. "Mr. Zhang, are you up? All your service personnel are in ce today. May I know what you''d like for breakfast this morning?"


    "Anything light will do, perhaps just a sandwich," Zhang Menglong casually said. Actually, in school, he mostly slept until ten in the morning, got up, washed up, got dressed, and by the time he was ready, it would already be noon. Breakfast was entirely optional for him.


    "By the way, I''ll give you partial ess to thispound''s authorizationter, and you can arrange those workers," Zhang Menglong said, fearing trouble the most; leaving this minor matter to Hong Yi would suffice, as he trusted she would handle it properly.


    "Certainly, Mr. Zhang, I''ll take care of it right away! Your breakfast will arrive within 20 minutes. You can go freshen up in the meantime," she responded.


    Zhang Menglong, groggy-eyed, walked into the bathroom, but was momentarily taken aback by the full array of toiletries lined up.


    All the items werebeled in foreignnguages. Zhang Menglong couldn''t even distinguish which was the facial cleanser, which was the toothpaste, and which was the lotion, as each type seemed to have several brands and even the packaging was very simr.


    "Damn, how am I supposed to use this?" Suddenly, he was at a loss.


    "Ptooey! Ptooey! Ptooey!" Zhang Menglong licked something that looked like toothpaste in a long tubr package, but it had a strange taste and even some granr stuff. "Could this be facial cleanser?" he wondered.


    "Right, with Dad Ma''s AI recognition, whatever it is, I should be able to find it on Taobao, right?" Zhang Menglong opened an app and casually picked up something that looked like facial cleanser and held it in front of the phone''s camera.


    "Beep beep!" Soon, the item in the image was identified.


    "Greek Sea of Heaven moisturizing lotion, 50ml, 21499? Damn, facial cleanser is this expensive?" Zhang Menglong''s hand shook. He felt too rough a man to deserve such an expensive lotion.


    "Desire from Italy facial cleanser, 50ml, 19999..."


    "Over twenty thousand for hand cream..."


    "Over ten thousand for shaving foam, is this a robbery?"


    Zhang Menglong really couldn''t imagine that even things like facial cleanser and hand cream could be priced so extravagantly.


    ...


    "Finally found the toothpaste!" Zhang Menglong scanned a dozen items and finally found a tube of toothpaste.


    "Ennd''s Royal Exclusivity... No genuine product on Taobao, estimated price 12,000 pounds... Nevermind..." Overwhelmed once again by the expensive toiletries, Zhang Menglong, who had just regained some mental capacity after sleeping, felt smashed.


    "Is it because my Yunnan Baiyao toothpastecks presence, or is Zhonghua toothpaste not ssy enough?" Zhang Menglong sighed, resigned to his fate. At his age, he was bearing psychological burdens he shouldn''t have to, but he could only grit his teeth and persevere.


    When Zhang Menglong finished washing up, breakfast had already been served on his table, and beside the table, there was a chef who did not look Huaxian.


    ```


    "Good morning, Mr. Zhang. I am one of the chefs in charge of your daily meals. You can call me Bruce," the chef said in fluent Huaxia.


    "One of?" Zhang Menglong repeated the phrase.


    "Of course, you have a total of 79 chefs. Each of us specializes in different cuisines. I am best at European-style breakfast desserts."


    "79..." Zhang Menglong seemed to slowly begin to ept this incredibly extravagant lifestyle. He expressionlessly opened the dish in front of him, which was simple: something that looked like a sandwich and a cup of milk.


    "Finally, something normal people would eat!" Zhang Menglong doubted whether living such avish life daily might shorten his life. He took a bite of the sandwich, and a taste of fresh lobster and crab instantly overwhelmed his pte.


    It was his first time trying such a unique sandwich.


    "This thing must cost over a hundred bucks, right?" Zhang Menglong took another sip of the milk, which was equally delicious.


    "Mr. Zhang, this is a London Seagull Egg Roll. Even if made by the most ordinary chef, it costs 150 US dors. When I worked in Europe, one would cost 680 dors!"


    "Pfft! Cough, cough, cough!" Zhang Menglong almost sprayed out the milk in his throat. He nced at the milk and the dessert beside him. Judging by the price of the egg roll, this breakfast probably cost around ten thousand Huaxia currency. Most of their recent graduates couldn''t earn that much in a month; he''d just spent it in a few bites.


    Knowing the value of this breakfast, Zhang Menglong ate with extra care, but surely, the high cost was justified by the delightful taste and texture.


    "Mr. Zhang, I have already arranged ess for you to all eight buildings, except for some private areas. Most regions will have staff to clean and maintain them daily," said Hong Yi meticulously, "Do you have any ns for today? Your private ne and flight crew are ready, in case you''d like to travel anywhere in the world."


    "No need, today I n to go look at cars," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Are you nning to buy a car?" Hong Yi was not surprised. Logically speaking, a man of Zhang Menglong''s age with some money would be interested in sports and luxury cars. "Do you need me to arrange it? Your family owns shares in many sports carpanies."


    "No need. I want to check it out by myself. You don''t have to find someone to apany me," Zhang Menglong didn''t want to make himself look like a spoiled rich kid, always having an assistant tagging along.


    "Alright then, if you need anything, just let me know."


    "I got it," Zhang Menglong said as he put on a jacket and walked out of the room.


    As a natural born directionally challenged person, Zhang Menglong got lost several times, relying on a map before eventually arriving at the luxury car dealership, reportedly co-owned by a few rich second-generation individuals from Yanjing.


    Whether it was Ferrari, Lamborghini, Pagani, or McLaren, if you could name a luxury car, you could see it here.


    Since it was National Day, there was an influx of tourists, and they had set up a car show for seven days that attracted quite a crowd. Even if they couldn''t afford to buy, justing to see the show was worthwhile.


    The dealership was veryrge, including an underground garage with four levels in total; each level was thousands of square meters. From the outside, the building outright dominated the neighboring 4S shops.


    "Mount Akina Club?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help butugh when he saw the sign of this luxury car dealership. These rich kids really had a sense of humor, turning a car dealership into a club. Indeed, it was a novel idea.


    However, the value of making friends here probably outweighed the value of making money, for them.


    "I wonder if I can find a few cars to my liking here." With high hopes, Zhang Menglong walked into the "Mount Akina Club."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 12 I Never Care About the Price When Buying a Car

    ```


    Although it was National Day, given it was still morning, most of the customer traffic was concentrated in the afternoon and evening, so there weren''t too many people when Zhang Menglou walked into the club.


    Unlike him, most of the people who came here were older sessful individuals, and naturally, as standard practice, almost all of them were apanied by a beautiful woman, whether she was a girlfriend, wife, or mistress, that was unknown.


    Since there weren''t that many customers, most of the salespeople sat chatting in the resting area. As people who only mingled with the elite, they never ran out of topics to talk about every day.


    "Sister Zhang, there''s a new customer," noted a girl in her early twenties as she spotted Zhang Menglong entering the store.


    The one referred to as Sister Zhang merely nced at Zhang Menglong before averting her eyes. Having worked in the store for several years, the sales staff had developed a knack for figuring out who had spending power with just one look.


    Zhang Menglong was young, clearly not some sessful individual. The clothes he wore, when added together, wouldn''t exceed 1000 yuan¡ªhe was merely an ordinary student.


    "It''s fine, just a poor student. He''s probably here to take a couple of photos before leaving. There''s no need to waste time on them," they had grown ustomed to such visitors over time.


    The basic wages of these luxury car salespeople weren''t high, so for them,missions were the most significant part of their ie. Since the cars here could easily cost millions, selling just one a month was enough for them to live better than most people.


    Therefore, for them, identifying the right, precise customer was the most crucial skill.


    "Little Meng, you''re new here and there''s a lot you don''t understand. Learn from us, and you''ll know in the future that entertaining this kind of person is simply a waste of your time. With that effort, you might as well touch up your makeup. With your beauty, sweetening your words a little, selling a few more cars a month wouldn''t be that difficult."


    Just then, another man with a potbelly walked in behind Zhang Menglong, a tall beauty hooking onto his wrist, sporting a glittering LV logo on her bag.


    Sister Zhang''s eyes lit up, "Watch and learn, this is what a real customer looks like!"


    Sister Zhang checked herself in the mirror she carried and put on a professional smile as she greeted the neer.


    "Sir, are you here to look at cars? Is it for you or for the beautifuldy by your side?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    The man smiled so broadly that the wrinkles on his face almost crowded together. For sessful people like him, the most enjoyable moments came from shopping and enjoying the fawning and admiring nces from sales staff.


    "Take us to see the Maserati, I heard you''ve recently got a new red model, quite suitable for women to drive."


    "Sir, you are indeed well-informed! Right this way, please!"


    ...


    "Damn, I was here first!" Zhang Menglong was utterly bemused. Truth be told, although he was carrying a hundred billion yuan in funds, it was his first time in such a high-end ce and he really didn''t know where to put his hands and feet.


    Would ite off too unsophisticated if he called for a salesperson here?


    "Sir, may I ask if you''re here to look at cars?" Noticing Zhang Menglong''s embarrassment, Sun Yumeng took the initiative to approach him. As a naive girl, Sun Yumeng still held the innocent belief that every customer was a customer, regardless of their spending ability, and deserved good service.


    Of course, the thoughts of others weren''t wrong either; it was just a matter of different principles.


    "Yes, but I''m not very familiar with this ce; if it''s convenient for you, could you show me around?" Zhang Menglong actually felt some goodwill towards the girl since she didn''t judge him by his appearance like the others did.


    "What price range are you interested in, sir? Our cars here range from several hundred thousand to tens of millions."


    "Any is fine, I''m not particr about cars. As long as I like what I see, I''ll buy it."


    ```


    Sun Yumeng''s eyes shed with a hint of astonishment, as she had never heard before that buying a car required looking for a connection; it was like this was about purchasing a car, not dating or matchmaking.


    "Right, I heard you guys have a lot of limited edition cars here?" Zhang Menglong asked, now that he had money, he naturally wanted something distinctive, and limited edition cars should be quite expensive, right? Maybe he could spend a portion of his 100 billion budget today.


    "You''re interested in a limited edition car? But at our ce, the limited cars start at a million at least. Are you sure?"


    "Of course, why don''t you show me a Pagani first!" It wasn''t because Zhang Menglong understood Paganis, but solely because the name sounded cool when pronounced, nothing more.


    "Sir, we do have a limited edition Pagani Wind Spirit, but the price..." Sun Yumeng struggled for a moment, not knowing how to broach the subject. This car was a limited edition model released a few years ago tomemorate the coboration with the Huaxia factory, with only three in the world.


    The owners of this store had gone to great lengths to acquire this car, and even they were reluctant to buy it with their own money, as the base selling price back then was said to be 5 million Euros, with the current price an astronomical figure.


    This car had been on disy here for a very long time, seen by thousands upon thousands, but its continued presence in the showroom attested to its daunting price tag.


    "No worries, I''ll just take a look. When I buy a car, I don''t care how expensive it is, as long as it looks handsome," Zhang Menglong inquired further, "By the way, as long as I like it, I can buy it, right? Don''t hit me with some ''not for sale'' nonsenseter."


    Sun Yumeng, observing Zhang Menglong''s natural and easy tone, couldn''t quite determine whether the young man was just showing off or really had the financial capability.


    This was a tens of millions car, could there really be someone who wouldn''t even ask the price and just buy it if they liked it? What was this? Financial freedom? No! This was beyond financial freedom; this was supercar freedom!


    "Rest assured, sir, this car is avable for sale. If you really set your heart on it, we can sign the contract today."


    "Great, let''s go!" Zhang Menglong had long heard of the name Pagani Wind Spirit, but he had only ever seen it in pictures, so he was somewhat excited to see the actual car this time.


    "Sir, this car, due to its high value, is parked in the underground garage. Please follow me."


    "Hmm!" Zhang Menglong followed Sun Yumeng directly towards the front desk.


    "Miss Su, I need the keys to the underground garage," Sun Yumeng said.


    "The underground garage? Him?" Su He looked at Zhang Menglong with surprise, knowing that the cars parked in the underground garage were tens of millions worth of sports cars, including limited edition models, and wondered if this young man could afford it.


    But at their ce, they were not allowed to refuse a customer''s request to see a car; even if Zhang Menglong truly couldn''t afford it, if he wanted to see a car, they had to amodate.


    "Be careful not to let him touch the cars randomly," Su He whispered.


    "You two, follow them and have a look," Su He instructed two other sales associates. If anything happened to the car, everyone would be responsible.


    Following the elevator, the group arrived at the underground exhibition hall. As the lights came on, a series of cool cars suddenly appeared before Zhang Menglong.


    Instantly, Zhang Menglong''s gazended on a purple sports car directly in front of him. Its perfect aerodynamics, decorated with elements of Chinese culture, immediately captured his attention.


    "Sir, this is that Pagani Wind Spirit, it also has another name, ''Yazi'', named after the legend of the ''Dragon''s Nine Offspring'', because the first person to reserve it was a Huaxia customer, butter the car ended up in our boss''s hands."


    "I''ll take this car!" Zhang Menglong didn''t have any second thoughts, his gaze fixed on the car the moment he saw it.


    "Sir, I haven''t told you the price yet."


    "As I said before, I don''t look at the price when buying a car, since there isn''t one I can''t afford!"

 Chapter 13 Does He Think This Is Grocery Shopping?

    Having worked here for so long, the salespeople had never seen someone with such a big talk. The price of this car alone could make even their bosses wince for a long time. Could this inly dressed young man really pull out so much money?


    "Sir, although you are very confident in your wealth, we still need to inform you of the price," Sun Yumeng said seriously, "The price of this car is currently 45 million. If you want it, you must first pay a deposit of 5 million to demonstrate your purchasing power."


    "A deposit is required?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "I''m sorry, sir, it''s our store''s policy, and rtively speaking, our deposit is very low in the industry," Sun Yumeng exined.


    "No, no, no, I mean, can''t I pay in full all at once?"


    "You... You want to make a full purchase?"


    "Yes, is there a problem?" Zhang Menglong took out the Honored Card from Huaxia Bank from his pocket, "If there are no other issues, let''s pay now!"


    "This..." Sun Yumeng carefully took the bank card. She and the other two salespeople exchanged nces. From this bank card, they couldn''t see anything special.


    "Sir, please show your driver''s license and ID card first."


    "Oh, sure." Zhang Menglong was well-prepared and immediately took out his documents.


    Soon, Sun Yumeng verified the information in the system and returned the documents to Zhang Menglong, "Sir, your documents are fine. Can we now sign the contract and proceed with the payment?"


    "Yes, please hurry. I''d still like to look at other cars."


    "You want to look at other cars?" Hearing this, Sun Yumeng was even more surprised. Even if he had the financial power to buy this Pagani Fengshen, there shouldn''t be much money left, yet he still wanted to look at other cars?


    "Did I say I only wanted to buy this one?"


    "Is this the normal way for people to buy sports cars?" The two other salespeople were holding back this thought. They had initially thought he was just an average student, but unexpectedly, he was a deep-pocketed second-generation rich kid. If he actually paid, all themission would go to Sun Yumeng!


    "Sir, here is the contract. If there are no issues, once you sign and make the payment, the car will be yours," Zhang Yumeng handed the contract to Zhang Menglong.


    Zhang Menglong hardly nced at the contract. If there were any problems, hiswyers stationed around the world woulde to Jiangnan city at once to sue on his behalf.


    He entered his password on the point-of-sale machine, signed his name, and along with a receipt being generated, the payment was dered sessful.


    "He really has 45 million!" At that moment, the two salespeople heard the sound of their hearts breaking. If they had been a bit more proactive and enthusiastic earlier, they could have made this deal!


    Of course, the most surprised was Sun Yumeng. Until Zhang Menglong paid, she had not held out much hope. Themission from this deal would almost yield her nearly one hundred thousand!


    "Show me some other cars," Zhang Menglong put away his card, "I point to one, you note one, and we''ll tally up the costter!"


    "Sure... sure, Mr. Zhang," the impact of this statement was undoubtedly terrifying.


    People have heard of ordering dishes in a restaurant, one dish at a time, but who has heard of someone shopping for luxury cars like picking out vegetables, noting one car after another?


    "Is this Lamborghini also a limited edition?" Zhang Menglong strolled casually in the underground garage.


    "Yes, sir, this one is the Lamborghini Venom, you must have heard of its name. This car isn''t owned by our dealership but was brought here through our boss''s connections with Audi Company. However, the car is for sale to the public, and the price is 72 million Huaxia dors."


    "So this is the legendary Lamborghini Venom? It''s quite an experience seeing it!" Zhang Menglong had long heard of the legendary status of this car and didn''t expect to see it here, which shows that the owner of this store must be quite powerful.


    "I heard Lamborghini started by making tractors. If I buy it, can you throw in a Lamborghini tractor?" Zhang Menglong joked.


    "Sir, I might have to ask our manager about that, but if you purchase it, the motorcycle over there could be given to you as a gift."


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong''s gaze fell on the silver motorcycle next to them, which also bore a Lamborghini logo, "I didn''t even know Lamborghini made motorcycles."


    "Put it down, I''ll take this one too!" Zhang Menglong nced over and continued walking.


    "God of Wealth! God of Wealth ah!" The two salespeople were only there to watch Zhang Menglong, preventing him from identally damaging any cars; but now, it seemed that he was a low-key super-rich tycoon, paying tens of millions without even blinking, did such a person even need monitoring?


    The primary goal of this dealership was to help its owner establish connections with major figures. Their manager had mentioned that they needed to notify him immediately if any of the cars in the underground showroom were purchased, and then he would inform the owner. This major yer just bought two cars outright, which was no small matter.


    "Yumeng, attend to the guests, I will notify the manager!"


    "Okay!" Sun Yumeng was just a senior in university who had never encountered such a character. Although the customer hadn''t raised any difficult issues from the start, she was already stunned by the amount of money he spent, even losing her ability to think clearly.


    "What is this car? I''ve never seen this brand before?" Zhang Menglong pointed at an unfamiliar car emblem and asked.


    "Sir, this is the Koenigsegg One:1, and it''s the most expensive car here, priced at 120 million Huaxia dors!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Damn, the most expensive car is only 120 million?" Zhang Menglong said speechlessly. At this rate, spending the 100 billion would take forever. "Don''t you have anything more expensive?"


    Zhang Yumeng had originally thought the gentleman found the car too expensive, but unexpectedly, he thought it was too cheap ¡ª it was a car worth over a billion! How much money did he have to consider a billion too little?


    "Well, better than nothing, I''ll take this one too!"


    Zhang Menglong sighed as if everything had be boring; he had hoped to spend a few more billion today.


    ...


    "What? Someone just outright bought the Pagani Wind God and the Lamborghini Venom? And paid in full?" In the manager''s office, the club''s manager was incredulous, "Who was it? Could it be Yanjing''s Young Master Qin or Mingzhu City''s Young Master Wang?"


    Young Master Qin and Young Master Wang were two of the most famous rich second-generation in Huaxia. They were not only from prominent families but also very capable themselves. In the manager''s mind, they were the only young people in Huaxia capable of buying these two cars in one go.


    Plus, he remembered that these young masters and their bosses were somewhat acquainted.


    "No, manager, it''s a very young person!"


    "Take me to see them!" The manager knew someone significant hade today. As he walked, he pulled out his phone, "Boss, the cars in our underground showroom have been bought, and not just one!"


    ...

 Chapter 14 Get me one of each model

    "Who exactly is this person who could just whip out over a hundred million to buy two limited edition sports cars? Do we really have such young people in Jiangnan City?" Manager Zhen wondered as he walked, specting about the young man''s identity.


    But as soon as he stepped out of the elevator, that voice made him shiver all over.


    "I''ll take this Bugatti Veyron as well, note it down!"


    "And that Lykan too!"


    "The Pagani''s God of Wind, Apollo''s Sun God, and Aston Martin''s Valkyrie, that makes a full set, not bad!"


    "Oh right, you haven''t forgotten the McLaren I mentioned earlier, have you? Although it''s just over ten million and rtively cheap, it has quite a nice shape; don''t miss that one!"


    ...


    "Just over ten million is rtively cheap?" Manager Zhen''s mouth twitched slightly. Was this something a human would say? As the sales manager of this club, his annual ie was just over a million, and it would take him ten years without eating or drinking to afford that car, yet this person thought it was cheap?


    What kind of monster was this young man?


    "The manager is here!" a few salespeople whispered.


    Trying to appearposed, Manager Zhen approached Zhang Menglong, "Hello, sir, my surname is Zhen, the sales manager of this club. I was just handling some matters; I hope these youngdies haven''t neglected you."


    "Oh, it''s fine, I was just having them introduce me to some cars, nothing negligent about it." Zhang Menglong turned to ask Sun Yumeng, "Right, how many have we noted so far?"


    "Mr. Zhang, apart from the Pagani for which you''ve already paid, you''ve selected a total of 14 cars, amounting to seven hundred seventy-seven million three hundred and twenty-eight thousand Huaxia currency."


    "Hiss!" Even Manager Zhen couldn''t help but take a sharp breath at that number. Thirteen cars purchased in one go; this Mr. God of Wealth was really treating sports cars like cabbages!


    "Is that all?" Zhang Menglong frowned, "Well, I''ll have a look then!"


    Manager Zhen''s mouth twitched again; over seven hundred million had elicited just an "Is that all?" What kind of position would he need to sleep in to have such a dream?


    "Right, let''s also buy a few more low-key cars for running errands and grocery shopping." Zhang Menglong casually pointed at several cars, "That one, this one, and that one over there, all with the highest specifications. Make a note of all of them."


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," Sun Yumeng had be somewhat numb by now. As for how muchmission she would take today, she didn''t dare to calcte, but it was certain that she wouldn''t have to work a day more in her life.


    "Alright, that''s it," Zhang Menglong sighed; all this hassle and he hadn''t even spent ten billion yet.


    Of course, he could probably spend a good amount of money if he bought all the cars here, but there was no need; buying cars he didn''t fancy was as pointless as buying trash.


    He was spending money for the bizarre test his father had imposed, but that didn''t mean he was about money waste and squandering.


    "This... this is the Honored Card of Huaxia Bank!" Manager Zhen''s heart quivered when he saw the card Zhang Menglong was holding. As the manager of this store, his horizons were naturally higher than the salespeople, but even to him, the Honored Card was something legendary.


    Even his boss, and the n Leader of his boss''s family, couldn''ty their hands on such a card!


    "Just who is he?" Manager Zhen''s worldview was teetering. One thing was clear, this young man''s background might be bigger than all of his bossesbined!


    "Right, did you say you''re the manager here?" Zhang Menglong asked another question.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, can I assist you with anything?"


    "Hmm... I just wanted to ask, that Koenigsegg, is it really the most expensive car you have?" inquired Zhang Menglong.


    "This... strictly speaking, this car does have the highest price among the items for sale."


    "You have non-sale items here?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up. He was eager to broaden his horizons with cars more expensive than the Koenigsegg worth 1.2 billion. If possible, he definitely wanted to try to buy it. Not only could it help him spend arge amount of money, but only such cars were fitting for his current status, weren''t they?n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Yes, sir. This car actually doesn''t belong to us, and we don''t hold the sales rights; it''s just stored here temporarily by the manufacturer."


    "So mysterious? Can I take a look?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Of course, I will personally take you there!" Manager Zhen walked to a wall, and to their surprise, there was a hidden switch!


    As the electric gate lifted, a small disy tform appeared before them, with a sleek ck sports car atop it, emzoned with the Koenigsegg logo at its center.


    "Is this also a Koenigsegg?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Yes, sir. This limited edition Koenigsegg CCXR is one of only two in the entire world, freshly produced at the end ofst year. Prior to that, it was merely a concept car. It''s paired with a 12-cylinder engine that allows it to reach top speeds near 500 kilometers per hour, and it can elerate from zero to a hundred kilometers in just 1.7 seconds."


    "That''s so cool!" Zhang Menglong admitted that this was the most perfect car he had ever seen. "Is this beauty really not for sale?"


    "Mr. Zhang, that''s beyond us. If you wish to purchase it, you may have to contact the Koenigseggpany yourself," they replied.


    "Can''t you help me get in touch with them?"


    "That..." Manager Zhen found himself in a dilemma. He had no way to contact the person responsible for the car! However, the young man before him was clearly not someone he could afford to dy.


    Just then, Manager Zhen''s phone rang¡ªit was his boss''s call!


    Relieved, Manager Zhen said, "Sir, please wait a moment; our boss has arrived. Perhaps he can help you get in touch with the person in charge of the car."


    "Sure," Zhang Menglong nodded.


    Soon, a young man dressed in a hoodie and work pants, nked by several people, stepped into the underground showroom. His outfit seemed ordinary, but it was worth at least tens of thousands of RMB, especially the pair of Air Jordans on his feet. Zhang Menglong had heard his roommates say they were a Dior cob model, already being resold for over 200,000 Huaxia yuan!


    It seemed this was one of the club''s owners.


    "I heard that a friend has bought my Fengshen and Duoyao, and I was curious to see who had such financial power, so I came over," the young man spoke bluntly but not unpleasantly, "I am one of the founders of this club, Su Yu. May I know how to address my friend?"


    "Hello," Zhang Menglong shook hands with Su Yu unreservedly, "My name is Zhang Menglong!"


    "Boss, Mr. Zhang here has bought a total of 14 cars, including that Koenigsegg One:1!" Manager Zhen whispered to Su Yu.


    "What? Fourteen cars?" Such a grand gesture made Su Yu tremble slightly.


    "Unexpectedly, there is someone like Brother Zhang in Jiangnan City. It is indeed eye-opening for me today," Su Yu said. As one of the owners of the shop, he naturally knew the value of those cars. Even he couldn''t possibly cough up such an amount all at once.


    "Mr. Su tters me, but what I''m really interested in now is this car. I wonder if Mr. Su can help me acquire it? Any price is negotiable!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "I''m sorry, Brother Zhang, it''s not that I don''t want to sell the car, but I don''t have the authority over its ownership or sale. However, today I''m willing to make friends with Brother Zhang. I can inquire with the person in charge to see if they''re willing to sell this car," Su Yu responded.


    "Then thank you very much!" Zhang Menglong was overjoyed, sensing an opportunity.


    Su Yu made a call and then conversed in a foreignnguage Zhang Menglong couldn''t identify.


    "Brother Zhang, the owner said the car is for sale, but there is a condition," Su Yu exined.


    "What condition?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "The car is amemorative model from Koenigsegg, so it''s only avable to their most loyal customers. To purchase this car, one must own at least seven of the 22 models sold by Koenigsegg so far. The price is set at 220 million Huaxia yuan."


    "Phew!" Zhang Menglong let out a sigh of relief. "And here I thought it was going to be a very onerous condition!"


    "Is that condition not onerous?" Su Yu was dumbfounded. Every Koenigsegg car cost at least 40 million in Huaxia, and some couldn''t be bought even if one had the money.


    "I''ve heard Mr. Su can get almost any car here?" Zhang Menglong smiled and said, "Then, I would like Mr. Su to do me a favor. Please get me one of every model Koenigsegg has ever produced!"

 Chapter 15 Ill Take You There

    "Brother Zhang, this really puts me in a tough spot," Su Yu immediately revealed a bitter smile. In his store, there were only two Koenigsegg cars, treasures that took significant manpower and material resources to obtain.


    The number of Koenigsegg cars released each year is also limited, they are usually fully reserved the moment the designs are revealed. While their connections are influential in Huaxia, overseas the locals may not respect their status as much.


    Forget about acquiring all models of Koenigsegg, even getting five cars would require extraordinary efforts, and sess is not guaranteed.


    "Is it that hard to get these cars?" Zhang Menglong really had no concept of this because his father had told him before he left that there is nothing in the world that money couldn''t solve. If there is, it''s just not enough money.


    "Give me a month, and maybe I can get you two more cars, but to obtain the entire series, I''m afraid not even the richest man in the world could do it!"


    "Is that so? Then let me make a phone call and ask." Hong Yi had told Zhang Menglong that she could help him with anything, but he didn''t know if she could really acquire these cars for him.


    "Brother Zhang, if you want to get the entire series, the only way is to find the big boss of Koenigsegg himself, then use his connections to buy back the cars from their owners; otherwise, it''s absolutely impossible to collect them all."


    In Su Yu''s view, this was downright impossible, as buying back vehicles from customers is a very face-losing affair. Unless Zhang Menglong were the father of Koenigsegg''s owner, why would someone give him such face?


    "Mr. Zhang, do you need my assistance in handling something?" Hong Yi still disyed an utterly serious attitude.


    "I fancy a limited edition Koenigsegg, but they have a rule that you must be a senior member of theirpany, requiring ownership of at least seven historical models. Is there any way you can help me acquire them?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "This is a trivial matter," Hong Yi said, "Although Mr. Christian von Koenigsegg is the chairman of Koenigsegg, there are three shareholders in thepany who belong to the European Bradley family; they own 78.1% of the shares."


    "What the hell is the Bradley family?" Zhang Menglong inquired with curiosity.


    "Oh, the Bradley family is like our Hong family, responsible for managing your European industries. They have been serving your family for even longer than we have," she exined.


    "I''ve heard something about a Rothschild family in Europe. Aren''t they very formidable?"


    "Yes, indeed there is such a family, but the head of their family is also just a member of one of the Bradley family''s branches."


    "Impressive!" The Rothschild family had always been a symbol of power and mystery in Zhang Menglong''s heart; they were almost mythic due to rumors on the inte. But, to think that they were just his subordinates after all.


    "So what you''re saying is, this Koenigseggpany is almost mine?" Zhang Menglong asked, scarcely believing it.


    "That''s one way to understand it. You have virtuallyplete control over thepany, as even Mr. Christian cannot afford to sh with the Bradley family," she confirmed.


    "About the car I want..."


    "You really don''t need to go through all this trouble. If you like that car, I can directly contact Mr. Christian and have him arrange it," she offered.


    "No, no, no! I don''t like taking things for free!" Zhang Menglong quickly stopped Hong Yi. This was an excellent opportunity to spend tens of billions at once, how could he just let it slip away?


    "Just tell Mr. Christian how much the cars cost; I''ll buy them outright. And make sure he doesn''t give me any discount. If he does, he''ll have me to answer to!"


    At the other end of the phone, Hong Yi was utterly dumbfounded. What on earth was he thinking? Refusing something for free, shunning discounts, insisting on spending money, and even getting anxious over it¡ªwhat was going through Zhang Menglong''s mind?N?v(el)B\\jnn


    But since this was Zhang Menglong''smand, Hong Yi could onlyply. A few tens of billions were just a drop in the oceanpared to their enormous family wealth.


    "How''s it going, Brother Zhang? I told you it wasn''t going to be easy, didn''t I?" Su Yu saw the stunned expression on Zhang Menglong''s face and thought he had hit a dead end with his phone call.


    Just then, Manager Zhen''s phone rang, her expression first revealed astonishment, then she respectfully conversed in a foreignnguage with the person on the other end of the line.


    "Are they from Koenigsegg?" Su Yu asked, having some understanding of the Swedishnguage, he could tell that Manager Zhen was speaking in Swedish.


    "Boss, Mr. Saige, who is in charge of this car, said he''ll being over soon!"


    "Mr. Saige ising over?" Su Yu was also somewhat surprised. Although Mr. Saige was just a manager at the Koenigseggpany, he was incredibly haughty, and it was extremely difficult to even invite him for a meal.


    "He said a very special person ising to our ce this year, and he will arrive within an hour."


    "A special person?" Su Yu nced at Zhang Menglong. Could the special person Mr. Saige mentioned be Zhang Menglong?


    "Su Yu, I''ve been looking for you for so long, why are you in this ce?" Just as Su Yu was pondering what Zhang Menglong''s background might be, a hearty voice came from the elevator entrance.


    The leaders were two young men, dressed simply in a hoodie and a pair of jeans, but no one thought the clothes on them were cheap street stall goods.


    Several inte celebrity-faced beauties also surrounded them.


    "This... Wow, isn''t that Principal Wang? To think I''d encounter him here?" Zhang Menglong was quite surprised; one of the young men was none other than the highly influential scion of the Wan, Wang Ling.


    As for the other one by his side, while he might not be as famous as Wang Ling, there was a saying among all theizens in Huaxia, "You may not be rich despite being hardworking, but Qin Feng definitely is!"


    It''s said that Qin Feng''s background is even more unfathomable than Wang Ling''s!


    And these two, who usually resided in Mingzhu City, happened to run to Jiangnan City today, and even ended up at this "Mount Akina Club," which was quite the coincidence.


    "Yo, I thought the two of you wouldn''t arrive until the afternoon!" Su Yu was surprised.


    "Isn''t this to extort a lunch from you?" Qin Feng said with augh, "By the way, Old Wang has been eyeing your Lamborghini Venom for a long time, he was hoping you''d have the heart to part with it today!"


    The three of them appeared quite familiar with each other; clearly, Su Yu''s background, while perhaps not quite up to par with Qin Feng and Wang Ling, was not too far behind.


    "Man, a car worth 72 million, even if I begged my dad on my knees, he wouldn''t give me the money to buy it, although I do have a billion or so in liquid assets. But purchasing this car really does hurt," Qin Feng said enviously, having coveted the car for a long time but unable to bring himself to buy it.


    "This... This is awkward," Su Yu said helplessly, "the car was just sold a few moments ago, you guys are just a few minutes toote."


    "What? Sold? Who? Are there really people in Jiangnan City with that kind of strength?" Qin Feng and Wang Ling were both surprised.


    "Here, let me introduce the two of you. This is Brother Zhang Menglong. I just met him today; he''s the one who bought the car!"


    "Awesome, brother!" Qin Feng and Wang Ling were open-minded and didn''t show any displeasure over a car, "I''m Qin Feng, this guy is Wang Ling, the dude who''s always on the trending searches, no need for more introduction, I guess."


    To them, anyone with such financial capability was definitely worth getting to know.


    "I''ve long admired your reputation," Zhang Menglong never expected that he would be able to interact with such high-profile individuals up close.


    "It''s not just one car that Brother Zhang bought!" Su Yu picked up the bill of sale from the side, "Look, he almost bought up all the limited-edition sports cars that can be named here!"


    "Wow!" Wang Ling thought he knew how to spend money, but there''s always someone better. Spending over seven hundred million in one go, even he didn''t have the audacity for that!


    "By the way, are you two also here to buy a car?" Zhang Menglong inquired.


    "Yeah, I originally wanted that Venom, but since Brother Zhang has already bought it, we''ll have to figure something else out," Wang Ling exined.


    "No worries, since we''ve met today, I''ll give the car to you as a gift," Zhang Menglong offered.


    "You... you mean give it to me?" Such a grand gesture left even the worldly Wang Ling somewhat speechless.


    Wang Ling had grown up being the one to ssh cash on others; could it be that today someone was dunking money on his head?

 Chapter 16 The factory has already started production for you

    "Brother Zhang, that car costs 72 million, are you kidding me?"


    "What''s there to joke about with just a car!" Zhang Menglong said with the air of a man to whom money was no object, "I just like making friends, and this little amount of money is well spent if it makes everyone happy, right? Anyway, I''ve bought so many cars I can''t possibly drive them all myself."


    "By the way, do you know any professional vehicle lubricators?"


    "Vehicle lubricators? What job is that?" Qin Feng and Wang Ling looked at each other in confusion, as this was the first time they had heard of such a profession.


    "It''s someone who specializes in driving," exined Zhang Menglong, "I''m afraid if I buy too many cars and just leave them in the parking garage without driving them for a year or half, they''ll all gather dust. Someone has to regrly take them out for a spin to lubricate the machinery, right?"


    Zhang Menglong''s exnation almost drove Qin Feng and Wang Ling crazy. How many cars did he possibly have? But then again, it made sense; someone who could casually buy 14 cars probably had far more at home.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "I want to be a vehicle lubricator too!" a few of the male sales associates whispered to each other, "Even if there''s no sry, driving sports cars every day to pick up girls sounds unbeatable!"


    "Forget it, with cars like those, would you even dare to drive them? Scratch it by ident, and you''ll be selling your house to pay for the damages!"


    "As if I have a house to sell..."


    "By the way, Qin Feng, I heard you really like Aston Martin cars¡ªthat Valkyrie is my gift to you. I can''t y favorites now, can I?"


    Qin Feng''s eyes lit up when he heard this. Although the Valkyrie wasn''t as valuable as the Poison, it was still a limited edition worth tens of millions!


    "Hahaha, since Brother Zhang is so generous, we''ll shamelessly ept," Qin Feng said, "If you evere to Mingzhu City, we''ll make sure to show you a good time riding the open road!"


    Qin Feng and Wang Ling didn''t stand on ceremony; after all, Zhang Menglong was clearly someone who wasn''t short of cash. If they refused, it might actually offend him.


    As for the social media influencers nearby, witnessing this scene almost made their jaws - even the surgically-enhanced ones - drop. They thought they were living the high life mingling in Wang Ling and Qin Feng''s circle, but today''s events had surpassed their wildest dreams.


    Meeting someone for the first time who casually gives away cars worth millions was an emotional shock that couldn''t be imagined unless experienced firsthand.


    "Boss Su, I''ll leave the car arrangements to you."


    "Don''t worry, it''ll be taken care of perfectly!" The money was all in ce; this was just a matter of procedure.


    "Let''s go, dinner is on me today!" Wang Ling said, overjoyed at getting a car without spending a cent, "Meeting Brother Zhang today has been such a happy urrence, nobody darepete with me for the bill!"


    "No one ispeting with you, Principal Wang!" Su Yu said with a smile, "However, we might need to wait a bit longer; Mr. Saige, the Asia Regional Manager of Koenigsegg, ising over soon."


    "What? The car''s being moved away?" Wang Ling looked reluctant to let go, knowing that Su Yu had a Koenigsegg CCVR, which he always admired for a long time every visit.


    "That''s something you''d have to ask Brother Zhang," said Su Yu, turning her gaze to Zhang Menglong.


    "You didn''t buy this car too, did you? Wasn''t it said that this car was here just temporarily and not for sale?" Wang Ling asked in surprise.


    "Cars are made to be sold, where does this notion of not for salee from?" Zhang Menglong said with augh, "The conditions might be a bit harsh, but nothing that can''t be dealt with!"


    "Boss, Mr. Saige is here!" Just then, a sales associate came in, apanied by a middle-aged Caucasian man, into the underground showroom.


    "That was quick!" He had just been told it would take an hour, and not even half an hour had passed when Mr. Saige arrived.


    "Mr. Saige, long time no see!" Su Yu greeted him immediately, even using the few Swedish phrases she knew.


    "Good afternoon, Mr. Su," Saige responded politely, then his eyes began sweeping over everyone present.


    "May I ask which one of you is Mr. Zhang Menglong?" an interpreter apanying Saige inquired.


    "Oh, that''s me," Zhang Menglong stepped forward.


    To everyone''s surprise, Saige, who had appeared exceedingly arrogant and condescending just a moment earlier, now adopted an extremely humble attitude in front of Zhang Menglong, bowing deeply, "I''m sorry for making you wait, Mr. Zhang."


    Witnessing this scene, not only Su Yu but also Qin Feng and Wang Ling were astonished. They had been present during the entire process of delivering the Koenigsegg CCXR to their location. Even when they tried to invite the Asian director for dinner that evening, they were turned down¡ª the man simply didn''t acknowledge them!


    But such a person was now revealing apletely different side in front of Zhang Menglong, which made them even more curious about his identity.


    All these scions of wealth had their own circle. Without knowing everyone, they were certainly familiar with the top-level tycoons. Yet, they had only met Zhang Menglong today. Could he have always been this low-key?


    "It''s alright, I''ve only waited for less than half an hour," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "I want to buy this car, but I heard one needs to own at least seven Koenigsegg series vehicles, correct?"


    "That''s the case for others, but our chairman said if you, Mr. Zhang, want this car, you can take it away any time. Here is the key to the car!" Saige handed over a luxuriously packaged key box to Zhang Menglong with utmost respect.


    "My God, who is he?" The trio of Wang Ling exchanged nces, all seeing the shock in each other''s eyes, especially Su Yu. He hadn''t expected Zhang Menglong to actually stir the chairman of Koenigsegg.


    "No, no, no, have you not understood me? I don''t want to break your rules. Just arrange for me to acquire the full series first, and I will pay just the same!"


    "Are you out of your mind?!" The three on the side were all itching to curse. Gathering the entire series would cost at least several billion, not to mention this CCXR worth over two billion. They''re offering it to you for free, and you think you have too much money? If it''s too much, give some to us, we''ll help you spend it!"


    "Mr. Zhang, our chairman has already instructed that all these cars are limited editions, and they already have owners. It''s not very realistic to recall them. However, our factory has suspended all other orders to produce a new vehicle of each model for you. So you are now our supermember and have the purchasing rights for this vehicle!"


    "What? Koenigsegg''s factory actually suspended all other orders just for him?"


    "Holy crap, does he own the damn factory?"


    If simply convincing the owner of Koenigsegg to sell him the car was surprising enough, this move absolutely blew their minds.


    Suspending factory orders meant offending other clients. How many people capable of affording a Koenigsegg are easy to provoke? What kind of power does he have to persuade Koenigsegg''s owner to alienate other clients just for him?


    "Okay, if that''s the case, let''s proceed with the transaction. Remember, not a penny less, and no discounts!"


    "Yes, yes, yes!" Saige wiped sweat from his forehead; such a request was certainly a first for him.


    In fact, he didn''t know exactly who Zhang Menglong was, but his boss had made it clear¡ª they had to keep this gentleman satisfied, or not just him but even their headquarters could copse in minutes!


    "Mr. Zhang, the total is 1.68 billion!"


    "I don''t like decimals," Zhang Menglong stated.


    "Yes, how about we round it to 1.6 billion? Does that seem alright?" Saige cautiously had his trantor ry the message.


    "Are you wiping off 80 million just like that?" The likes of Wang Ling were dumbstruck. Was there such a way to round numbers?


    "No, what I mean is, you can charge more. Let''s make it 1.7 billion. The extra can be considered a service fee." Zhang Menglong was eager to spend more rather than have them round down!


    "Reverse... rounding down?" Wang Ling clenched his fists,pletely baffled. What sort of tactic was this? It was way beyond hisprehension!

 Chapter 17 Someone slammed a dunk on me with money

    "Mr. Zhang, here''s your receipt." After the payment waspleted, Saige finally rxed a bit. It seemed that he could now guess why his boss valued this gentleman so highly.


    In capitalist countries, money is everything. This gentleman doesn''t treat money like money at all; he doesn''t want freebies, he doesn''t want discounts, and he tips twenty million just like that. Does his family own a mint?


    "Perfect!" Spending over two billion in a day made Zhang Menglong feel as though he had achieved a small goal.


    "Boss Su, add me on WeChatter. I''ll send you the location of my house. Drag all these cars to my underground garage. I''ll arrange someone to coordinate with you."


    "You''re the boss, you call the shots!" The mental shock Su Yu received today was beyond description with words. They''re now realizing that in front of Zhang Menglong, they, the so-called super-rich second-generation and distinguished gentlemen, were nothing but insignificant.


    "Hahaha, thanks a lot." This small episode quickly warmed up the rtionship between the four, and the initial awkwardness dissipated.


    Although each of them was a second-generation rich kid, when surrounded by people of simr or even greater wealth and status, none of them put on airs and they quickly started to chat with one another.


    Having left the club matters to Manager Zhen from earlier, the group went straight to Su Yu''s car and drove off towards the nearest five-star hotel.


    "Let me tell you, I''m paying for the mealter. No one is to fight over the bill with me!" Wang Ling, who always liked to show face, had all his thunder stolen by Zhang Menglong today. He was determined to regain all his face in this meal.


    "Alright, alright, no one''s going to fight with you, Principal Wang!" Zhang Menglong estimated that even if he ordered all the best dishes in the hotel, he could spend at most one or two million. Compared to his 100 billion expenditure challenge, it was merely a drop in the ocean. Even if he ate like this for three meals a day, it would take a hundred years to spend it all.


    So, there was no need to vie for this bill.


    Although Wang Ling wasn''t a regr at this hotel, as a seasoned inte celebrity, his face was his best advertisement. As soon as he got out of the car, phones started snapping photos around him. Thankfully, Zhang Menglong, being cautious of viruses, wore a mask every day. Otherwise, he would have been identified online today.


    They found a quiet and elegant private room and sat down with the four of them and a few inte celebrities.


    "Never would''ve thought Principal Wang still likes inte celebrities as always," Zhang Menglong joked.


    "Hahaha, want me to introduce a few to you? Seeing youing out alone to buy cars, it''s obvious you must be a lonely single man!" Wang Ling didn''t shy away from it. He indeed liked inte celebrities. Although their faces were all alike, he could still find interesting souls among them.


    "What lonely single man? Only the broke are called that. Menglong here should be called a ''single aristocrat''!"


    "Hahaha, that''s such an outdated term. I''m still surfing the!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Stop it, you guys. It''s so awkward I almost scraped together a three-bedroom t with my toenails!"


    "By the way, we still don''t know where you''re from!" Wang Ling asked.


    "Oh, my family is originally from Dongji City. I study in Jiangnan City," Zhang Menglong replied.


    "What? Haven''t you graduated yet?"


    "Not yet!" Zhang Menglongughed, "I''m a senior this year, graduation is still over half a year away."


    "Weird, with your family background, you''re actually studying in the country. That''s truly a breath of fresh air." Qin Feng and the others were sent abroad by their families early on. Their academic ability may not have been strong, but the degrees they got were from world top 100 schools.


    "If I may ask, Mr. Zhang, what kind of business does your family do? Perhaps our elders know each other!" Su Yu asked curiously.


    Wang Ling and Qin Fengye instantly perked up their ears. This was also their most pressing question; they guessed that Zhang Menglong''s family business must be frighteningly huge.


    "This... to tell the truth, I''m not very clear myself," Zhang Menglong scratched his head, "You might not believe it, but I only found out a few days ago how wealthy my family is."


    "What?" The three of them and the group of inte celebrities all had their mouths wide open in astonishment.


    "After getting battered by society while sending out resumes, my dad told me toe home and take over the family business, and then I became what I am now."


    "Holy shit, you''re the real deal, a genuine ''rich second generation''!"


    "I''m blown away. I bow down to no one but you!"


    "Epic!"


    "As for our family business, all I know is that we drill for oil in Africa, dig for diamonds, work on real estate... oh right, the majority of Koenigsegg''s shares are owned by my family."


    "Mother of god¡­"


    "Your family really owns a mine, huh!"


    "No wonder even the chairman was startled by this matter, turns out your family is the biggest shareholder of Koenigsegg!"


    "Big boss, big boss, untouchable!"


    "Why do I feel like you came here to buy a car just to show off your wealth?" Su Yu said, "If you want a car, couldn''t you just have your own family make one for you? Why go through the hassle of buying one?"


    "This... I didn''t want to, honestly, but my dad said that I''ve only inherited the family''s wealth for now, and if I want to inherit the heirloom, I must first pass a test."


    "Wait a minute, this test... it isn''t about spending money, is it?" Qin Feng''s eyes widened.


    "In one year, I have to spend a hundred billion."


    "Cough, cough, cough!"


    "Ambnce! Ambnce!"


    "Quick, pinch the philtrum! Pinch the philtrum!" The three super-rich second generations couldn''t help but act it up.


    This wasn''t a test at all; it was clearly a reward! Now they understood why Zhang Menglong had just now declined any freebies or discounts, splurging over twenty billion on cars¡ªit was all toplete this family challenge?


    "Who would''ve thought that our little Jiangnan City was actually such a hidden dragon and crouching tiger!"


    "Oh right, have you guys heard about this? Yesterday, the Jiangnan Bridge Expressway was jammed for hours because some mysterious tycoon called in a helicopter, which lifted away the car and its owner!"


    "Oh yes, I heard about that too. It was supposedly a Mi-26 helicopter. I remember there are only two of those in Huaxia, right?"


    "I had my dad check on it, and those two helicopters were still at the original airport, never deployed. This must have been a private helicopter!" Wang Ling was exceptionally well-informed, of course, because he was very interested in the owner of that Maybach.


    "I might have seen that helicopter!" Qin Feng said, "A few years ago, I went with my dad to Europe for fun. We just happened to catch an auction where an Mi-26 was on sale. It was eventually sold to a Huaxia buyer for nearly 20 million US dors. Wonder if it''s the same one."


    "Menglong, do you know about this?"


    "Who knows what the background of that person is, I definitely have to meet them, too awesome!"


    "Er... what if I said that person was me, would you believe me?" Zhang Menglong spoke haltingly.


    "What? You''re saying that person was you?" Everyone''s gaze once again converged on Zhang Menglong.


    "Do you know, that incident hit the top of the trending search list? It was still blowing up the next day!"


    "I can''t be med for that. It was an emergency, and I had no other options. I didn''t want to cause such a big scene!" Zhang Menglong said with an innocent shrug.


    "What in the world was so urgent?" the three of them asked curiously.


    "This..."


    "It''s okay, we''re all friends here, and even if it''s business-rted, it''s not like there''s anything we can''t talk about, right?" Seeing Zhang Menglong''s expression, their curiosity intensified.


    "I... I urgently needed to pee, and I''d been holding it for hours, I really couldn''t hold it any longer, so..."


    "Because you needed to pee?"


    "Just that?"


    "You, my friend, are a true talent!"


    Hearing this ridiculously strong reason, everyone couldn''t help but give a thumbs up.


    "I can''t not post this on Weibo!" Wang Ling took out his phone, opened Weibo, and snapped a photo of the feast in front of them, then added a line of text.


    "Met the tycoon today who got past the expressway in a helicopter yesterday. You may not believe it, but I, Wang Ling, have lived for more than two decades, and today was the first time someone m dunked money over my head!"

 Chapter 18 The More You Spend, the More You Have

    Wang Ling, as the chairman of a venture capital firm, owned arge number ofpanies and, within just a few years, had multiplied the five-hundred million US dors in startup capital his father gave him several times over.


    But all of these were merely his side jobs. To the vast majority ofizens, his main gig was being an inte celebrity. On Weibo''s trending searches, his name would appear every now and then, even leading some to suspect that he had bought an army of fakementers.


    Now, his Weibo follower count had exceeded 40 million, even more fearsome than many top-tier celebrities. Each of his Weibo posts could cause quite a stir.


    Whenever he saw something he didn''t like, he never kept it to himself. Although he was a rich second-generation who asionally looked a bit unkempt, it had to be said that his values were pretty uprightpared to many. This made him incredibly popr online.


    This Weibo post had been up for less than a minute, and already there were over a thousandments, with the number growing at a frightening rate.


    "Hahaha, Principal Wang, you finally had a day when someone dunked on you with money?"


    "Yo, did ''Ajax'' dunk on you? Is it that Dunk Brother?"


    "The person above, Dunk Brother has already started birdging."


    "What a sight to behold, someone actually wealthier than Principal Wang?"


    "Principal Wang, hurry up and tell us how that big shot dunked on you. We want to know just what kind of thing it takes to make you post something like this."


    ...


    Stimted by the users'' questions, Wang Ling instantly felt the urge to share. He directly posted the photo of the Lamborghini Venom he had taken at "Mount Akina Club," along with other sports cars, on his Weibo.


    "First time seeing someone treat sports cars like cabbages, buying more than twenty at once and even giving me one as a meeting gift. That''s all, off to dine with the big shot!" After posting this, Wang Ling turned off his phone and focused on the conversation and the meal.


    But at that moment, Weibo exploded.


    "What the heck, a Lambo as a meeting gift? What kind of deity is this? Doesn''t that car cost at least ten million?"


    "Bro, that''s Lamborghini Venom, it''s a global limited edition, just a few of them out there, don''t even dream of it unless you have fifty or sixty million!"


    "Damn, such inhuman opulence! Does this tycoon stillck friends? It doesn''t matter about money, I just want to make friends."


    "That''s not just inhuman opulence, man, there are also a Pagani Wind God, Aston Martin Valkyrie, Apollo Sun God, Koenigsegg One1, Lamborghini Hermes¡ªall limited edition supercars in that photo!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Can someone enlighten us on who this magnate is? It couldn''t be Qin Feng, could it?"


    "With that kind of financial power, maybe even Qin Feng doesn''t measure up, right? Who would dare to reveal that kind of person? You might identally not see tomorrow''s sun!"


    "Don''t forget, the guy can even get a Mi-26 as a private helicopter. Worshiping such a godly tycoon is all we can do!"


    "@Wang Deyun take a look at someone''s friends (strong hint)."


    "One of my roommates wants to know where to meet this big shot."


    "Old perv, I reckon your roommate is just thirsty for his body!"


    "If you were this rich, I''d be thirsty for your body too!"


    ...


    Although it was their first meeting, they were not the slightest bit restrained. The group behaved like friends who hadn''t seen each other in ages. Even though there were many topics Zhang Menglong couldn''t join in on, if he were to let out a fart, the others would nod and praise him. That was the power of money.


    Truly worthy of a five-star hotel, the bill for just this one meal came to over a hundred thousand; of course, Wang Ling saved tens of millions this time, so the hundred thousand he spent was nothing to him. He didn''t even feel a pinch and even thought about having another round.


    After exchanging contact information, everyone went their separate ways, back to their homes and moms. Of course, out of courtesy, Wang Ling and Qin Feng made ns with Zhang Menglong to hang out in Mingzhu City if he ever found the time¡ªthough that was a big if.


    "That felt amazing!" Zhang Menglongy back on the sofa as soon as he got home, thinking to himself this must be what it''s like to be a second-generation rich kid!


    "Right, I wonder how much money I spent today." Zhang Menglong took out his phone, then suddenly remembered he hadn''t downloaded the online banking app, since he never used Huaxia Bank for his living expenses or tuition fees before.


    But when he linked his ount and saw the long string of digits representing his bnce, he was dumbfounded.


    "What the hell! Weren''t they talking about spending 100 billion? They didn''t say it was in US dors!" Zhang Menglong had struggled to spend just over twenty billion that day, and was shocked to find that the amount had almost septupled beyond his expectations.


    "Huh? Mr. Zhang, didn''t your father tell you that the 100 billion he mentioned was in US dors?" Hong Yi looked surprised because she was the one who had arranged the transfer to that card, and she had known from the start that it contained 100 billion US dors.


    Because of the Honored Card''s special features, Zhang Menglong could spend without worrying about currency exchange rates, so he had no idea the card was loaded with US dors!


    "How on earth am I supposed to spend all this?" Now Zhang Menglong understood why his old man had deemed this task a test. Without some serious skills, even spending money could prove impossible!


    "Ding! Respected Mr. Zhang Menglong, your ount 620394xxxxxxxxx at Huaxia Bank has received a deposit of 24,760,000 yuan!"


    "Ding! Respected Mr. Zhang Menglong, your ount 620394xxxxxxxxx at Huaxia Bank has received a deposit of 12,360,000 yuan!"


    "Ding..."


    In an instant, several notifications arrived on his phone. Each deposit was in the tens of millions, some even in the hundreds of millions. A quick calction showed that nearly ny percent of the money he''d spent that day had returned to his ount!


    "What in the world is going on?" Zhang Menglong waspletely bewildered as he looked at his phone.


    "Mr. Zhang, did you buy a lot of cars today?"


    "Yes, I meant to spend over twenty billion, but what...?"


    "Mr. Zhang, most carpanies in the world are part of your property holdings."


    "How is that possible?"


    "Of course, not all shares of somepanies are in your name; they may be held under one or several other persons'' names. But those people belong to your family, so it''s no problem to say those assets are yours. After all, there''s a limit to corporate shareholding in many countries, and it can only be circumvented this way."


    "But why did the money return?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you''ve essentially moved your own money from your left pocket to your right, but it''s still your money. The money spent on those sports cars isn''t actual ie for thepanies, so after taxes, it went straight back to your ount."


    "So what you''re saying is, I spent the whole day buying cars, just for the sake of it?"


    "That would be one way to look at it."


    "I bought a watchst year!" Zhang Menglong booted up hisputer and began to calcte ording to today''s exchange rate, "That''s not right. Today''s exchange rate is 1 to 6.77 between the US dor and Huaxia currency. Howe my bnce still exceeds 100 billion US dors?"


    "Mr. Zhang, the money in your bank naturally rues interest. Therger the capital, the higher the interest. Your funds garner over four billion US dors in interest a year. It seems likely that today''s interest earnings have already been credited to your ount."


    "Over four billion US dors a year, that''s close to ten million in Huaxia currency every day..." Zhang Menglong suddenly realized that no matter how he spent money,pleting the challenge to spend 100 billion US dors in a year was utterly impossible.


    Zhang Menglong sighed deeply, "Can I...can I swear now..."

 Chapter 19 I Really Am the Bank President

    "Damn it, why did Wang Ling post about my affairs on Weibo?" As usual, Zhang Menglong opened Weibo and saw a notable hot search already dominating the charts.


    "Some mysterious tycoon spends a fortune buying dozens of sports cars and even does this to Principal Wang!"


    "What kind of clickbait headline is this? Can you believe it?" Seeing this title, Zhang Menglong could onlyugh in speechlessness; if whoever came up with this title went to work at UC, they''d be directly promoted to head of the publicity department!n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Luckily, Wang Ling hadn''t posted his photo, otherwise Zhang Menglong''s phone would probably have blown up with calls from his friends by now. He knew he couldn''t keep this secret for long, but he figured he''d dy it as long as possible.


    What really gave Zhang Menglong a headache now was how to spend this 100 billion US dors in just one year. If he cked off for even a day, an extra 100 million Huaxia currency would appear in his ount each day. Such days made him utterly frustrated, thinking when in the world could he ever spend it all?


    Moreover, he had to constantly check whether the recipient of his spending was one of his properties, otherwise, despite all the effort to spend arge sum of money, he''d end up finding out it was all for nothing as it was his own business!


    "Thunderstruck! The heavens copse and the purple-gold hammer, purple lightning..."


    "What the hell, why did my ringtone turn into this nonsense?" Just as Zhang Menglong was about to continue looking online for money-spending strategies, his phone suddenly rang.


    "Hello, may I ask who''s speaking?" Zhang Menglong asked politely out of habit.


    "Mr. Zhang, hello, I am the President of Huaxia Bank of Jiangnan City. We''ve just..."


    "Nutcase!" Without letting the person finish, Zhang Menglong hung up the call. "What kind of people are these, pretending to be a bank president? I might as well be a descendant of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Howe scammers are getting so low-level in their tricks these days?"


    A city-level bank president, busy all day with a myriad of tasks, how could they have the time to call him? Without a second thought, Zhang Menglong categorized the call as a scam.


    Furthermore, if it were really a call from the bank, it shoulde from a bank number, right? Clearly, this was a personal mobile number¡ªthe scammer''s techniques were seriously outdated, weren''t they?


    "This..." On the other end of the phone, a middle-aged man looked at his own phone in disbelief. He had never imagined that he, the president of Huaxia Bank, would be mistaken for a scammer and hung up on?


    A few days ago, their city-level branch had received an astonishingly huge sum of money, a whopping 100 billion US dors! Even for the entire history of Huaxia Bank, such a terrifying amount of funds had never been moved.


    As the president, his annual ie was directly linked to the amount of savings, and the bonus this deposit could bring him goes without saying. To him, Zhang Menglong was no less than his benefactor.


    Just today, the ount had seen transactions amounting to several billion Huaxia currency, which was a drop in the bucketpared to the huge savings, but it caused him a bit of concern. If one day this deposit were to be transferred out, it would be nothing short of a catastrophe for him.


    Therefore, no matter what, he must keep this VIP client, absolutely not allowing him to transfer out these funds easily!


    The best way to entice customers to deposit money is to offer them sufficient benefits. The wealth that this sum could create for the entire Huaxia Bank was unimaginable, so even offering a higher interest rate was negotiable.


    If this money were to be used to purchase some long-term financial products, even an interest rate of four or five percent per year wouldn''t be a problem! The key was that the money must be retained!


    That was why the middle-aged man thought of contacting this customer as soon as possible, and using his personal phone might seem more sincere.


    But unexpectedly, he had been treated as a scammer, which was somewhat amusing and frustrating.


    Yet, even after being called a scammer, for the sake of this money, he still had to get in touch with the customer. So the middle-aged man gritted his teeth and dialed Zhang Menglong''s number again.


    "Mr. Zhang, hello, I really am the President of Huaxia Bank''s Jiangnan City branch. My name is Gu Anshan, and you can..."


    ```


    "Damn it! You scammer, just can''t get enough, can you?" Zhang Menglong blurted out impatiently as soon as he saw the phone number, he was already annoyed, "Are you ever going to stop? If you keep harassing me, I''ll just transfer tens of millions into your cell phone ount to let you experience what it''s like to be charged with possession of unexined property!"


    Gu Anshan was baffled by these words. In his decades of life, it was the first time someone had threatened to transfer money into his ount. If a normal person suddenly found tens of millions in their ount, it would be surprising if the authorities didn''te for a ''tea talk'', and if one couldn''t exin the source of the wealth, they could indeed be convicted!


    "What kind of god-level move is this? Even if one is rich, they shouldn''t y like this, right? Is he trying to crush someone to death with money?" Gu Anshan was actually rendered speechless by Zhang Menglong''s threat.


    "Definitely a scammer!" Zhang Menglong hung up the phone once again, "Such low psychological tolerance and still being a scammer, truly a disgrace to scammers everywhere!"


    "He hung up on me again!" Gu Anshan had been hung up on twice in a row.


    In all of Jiangnan City, who knows how many people want his private number, and how many want to exchange a few words with him, hanging up on him? That''s a joke¡ªunless their head is filled with water!


    But in the face of this customer, he truly didn''t dare show any temper. If he angered this person, and they transferred the money to another bank, he might as well prepare for early retirement!


    "Branch Manager? Why the long face? Is something troubling you?" The secretary, who had just walked in, saw Gu Anshan''s troubled expression.


    "Isn''t it because of that Honored Card client? I just tried to call and arrange a visit, but he mistook me for a scammer and hung up on me twice!"


    "Is that so?" Secretary Liu couldn''t help but smile, "In that case, Branch Manager, why don''t you use our bank''s number to send a text message to that client? That way he should believe you."


    "Right, why didn''t I think of that!" Gu Anshan''s eyes lit up, "You always have the solution!"


    ...


    "Ding!" Zhang Menglong, who was watching various Middle Eastern tycoons'' lifestyles, received a text message on his phone.


    He thought to himself, it couldn''t be another paymenting through, could it? The 100 billion has already left him gasping for air, if a few more paymentse through, he might as well give up on inheriting the family treasure!


    "Mr. Zhang, I am Gu Anshan, the man who just called you. I truly am the Branch Manager of Huaxia Bank in Jiangnan City. If you don''t believe me, you can check my name on the official website!!!"


    "The bank Branch Manager for real?" Zhang Menglong was dumbfounded, not expecting the man he had hung up on twice to think of this method. Worthy of someone who could be a Branch Manager.


    A momentter, the same number called again, and this time, Zhang Menglong didn''t hang up.


    "Haha, Branch Manager Gu, sorry about that, I''ve never received a phone call from a bank Branch Manager before, my apologies, haha!"


    Although Gu Anshan had a bitter face on the other end of the phone, he still spoke as if it was no big deal, "Mr. Zhang must be busy with numerous daily affairs, I was the one who disturbed you, I should be the one to apologize."


    "Do you need something, Branch Manager Gu?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "It''s like this, you have deposited a substantial sum in our Jiangnan City main branch, and I would like to discuss the matter of this deposit with you. When would you have time, so I can pay you a visit?"


    "Oh, I see," Zhang Menglong nodded, "I''ll be free tomorrow afternoon, but I''ll juste to the bank myself, it''s not very convenient for me here."


    Zhang Menglong temporarily did not want others to know where he lived.


    "That''s fine, I''ll await your arrival at the main branch tomorrow afternoon!"


    ```

 Chapter 20 Bring me 10 trucks of coins.

    The Huaxia Bank''s Jiangnan City main branch was located right in the city center. Zhang Menglong had a sumptuous lunch and headed there directly afterward, as his new car still required some transfer procedures that would take a day or two, so he could only have his driver take him.


    When it came to matters involving money, Zhang Menglong didn''t dare to be careless and directly asked Hong Yi to apany him, thinking that she might handle the situation more adeptly.


    A Maybach pulled up at the entrance of the luxurious bank building. Since it was just past lunchtime, there weren''t many people inside, and it seemed that some staff were off to take their break, leaving only a few employees at the service windows conducting business.


    An elderly sanitation worker couple, supporting each other, were conducting some business at one of the counters, with a sack full of change in their hands.


    "It''s not easy," Zhang Menglong remarked. However, he couldn''t help but feel a twinge of envy¡ªwasn''t this the very picture of growing old together, hand in hand? Suddenly reminded of a past memory, Zhang Menglong felt a sour twinge in his heart.


    "Miss, isn''t the bank for depositing money? All of this is our hard-earned cash. It''s a bit in small change, but it''s clean. Please help us deposit it," they pleaded.


    "What''s the matter with you? I''ve told you, I only handlerge transactions here. Please take these savings services to the next counter," the staff member said with impatience.


    The amount in the elderly couple''s sack wasn''trge, but there was a considerable number of coins. If she were to sort them slowly, it might take her the whole afternoon.


    "But there''s nobody at the next counter. You''re not busy right now, so could you please help us deposit it?"


    "I''m sorry, but it''s time for the shift change. You''ll have to wait for the next person toe and handle it," the employee said, hanging up a ''Resting'' sign and reclining in a chair to start ying on her smartphone.


    "Damn, what the hell is this?" Zhang Menglong red up when he witnessed the scene.


    Having just gone through the autumn recruitment season, he had applied to many banks and was very familiar with their requirements. Banking employees had to have at least a bachelor''s degree, and some positions were only open to graduates of prestigious universities or even required a master''s degree.


    That employee appeared to be in her early twenties; she definitely hadn''t been working long to have such poor professionalism. Could she have passed the banks'' rounds of interviews and exams?


    The two elderly individuals looked disappointed, but they had no choice and had to wait until the afternoon when the counters resumed operations to continue their savings business.


    "Uncle, Auntie, please wait a moment!" Zhang Menglong approached the counter and nced at the namete, "Zhou Yue, is it? Is this how you treat customers? Call your manager out¡ªI want to make aint."


    "Our manager doesn''t have time to deal with you!" Zhou Yue retorted with an arrogant air. Zhang Menglong''s suspicions were confirmed¡ªshe had not joined the bank through the rigorous examinations as most fresh graduates.


    Her uncle was the manager here, and with that connection, she secured the job amidst many superior candidates with her ordinary second-tier university qualifications.


    Zhang Menglong sneered, "So your counter only handlesrge-value savings transactions, right?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "That''s right. Do you see the sign? It says this counter only handles savings transactions above one hundred thousand. It''s shift change time now; even if you want to deposit money, you will have to wait till the next person arrives," she stated.


    After finishing her exnation, Zhou Yue continued to absentmindedly scroll through TikTok.


    "Interesting! This is the first time I''ve seen bank staff so neglectful of their duties," Zhang Menglong said to the elderly couple, "Uncle, Auntie, please have a seat for a moment. I guarantee she will be begging to help you with your savings shortly."


    "Humph! You''ve got quite the mouth on you. Do you think you''re the bank president or something?" With her uncle backing her, Zhou Yue felt untouchable, even obnoxious senior staff didn''t dare to provoke her¡ªin her mind, her uncle was the boss, and she ranked number two.


    "Good, I hope you can stillughter," Zhang Menglong checked the time. It wasn''t even half-past twelve, and he had more than half an hour before his appointment with the bank president. He had time to entertain Zhou Yue''s antics.


    "You don''t ept small deposits here, do you?" Zhang Menglong said to Hong Yi at his side, "Is there any way you can get me ten truckloads of coins within half an hour? I mean the kind that''s used for hauling cement!"


    "Mr. Zhang, if you need it, I can immediately have all the bus and subway stations in Jiangnan City put at your disposal, half an hour is more than enough." Hong Yi seemed to have understood Zhang Menglong''s intention.


    "Good, you should know what I want to do."


    "Rest assured, Mr. Zhang, I will make the arrangements now. Please take a seat over here." Hong Yi took out her phone and dialed a number to start giving instructions.


    "Posing." Seeing Zhang Menglong settle into the waiting area, she immediately disyed a look of disdain, thinking this young man might actually have some real skills, when in reality he appeared to be nothing more than a pushover.


    Zhang Menglong paid no attention to her, knowing that before long, a brand-new Mask of Pain would appear on her face.


    "Rumble!" In less than half an hour, a roaring sound came from the street outside the bank.


    Tenrge trucks were neatly lined up in a row, orderly parked at the entrance of the bank. The parking space at the bank''s entrance was already limited, and with tenrge trucks stationed there, almost no space was left except for a narrow path leading to the service hall.


    "How odd, the trucks aren''t heading to a construction site; why are they at the bank entrance?" Many passersby curiously nced over.


    It wasn''t a big deal not to look, but one would be in for a shock once they did. The trucks weren''t loaded with bricks or cement, but were piled high with coins!


    "Damn, what''s going on? I''ve seen trucks carrying bricks, cement, timber, but this is the first time I''ve seen one carrying so much money!"


    "Oh my, ten trucks filled with coins, could this be the legendary ''showing off wealth''?"


    "It looks like there are not only one yuan coins, but also ten cents, fifty cents, could this be the public transitpany transporting money?"


    "Possible! But using trucks to carry it is a bit too much, right? Quick, snap a picture, you don''t see this kind of scene often!"


    "What''s the actual situation? Ten big coaches, if they''re all one yuan coins, that has to be over a million, right?"


    "Look, someone''sing out!"


    From the tenrge trucks, more than twenty people jumped down and walked straight into the bank. The onlookers, full of curiosity, followed to see what they were really up to.


    This group marching into the bank with such amanding presence gave the bank''s security guards quite a fright; they hesitated between letting them through or stopping them.


    "Miss Hong, did we bring the money you asked for?" A middle-aged man approached Hong Yi and respectfully asked, "How should we handle this money?"


    "Put it into sacks, then carry it inside. Mr. Zhang wants to make a deposit at the bank." Hong Yi instructed.


    "Yes!" Dozens of middle-aged men immediately went back to the trucks. You could tell they were well-prepared as the clinking coins were efficiently bagged. Their efficiency and execution could rival that of well-trained soldiers.


    Zhang Menglong walked back to the counter and knocked on the ss in front of Zhou Yue, "Hello, I have a few million in coins here, could you please help me with the savings service?"

 Chapter 21 I Dont Feel Safe Entrusting You with the Money

    "This gentleman, I..." Zhou Yue panicked upon seeing the situation.


    She wasn''t a fool and naturally knew that Zhang Menglong''s sarcastic tone was directed at her. She originally thought this young man was just an ordinary person, but to her surprise, one phone call from him summoned tenrge trucks!


    In Jiangnan City, there were not a few people who could produce several million in cash, even quite a lot, but those who could manage to bring in ten trucks of coins were absolutely rare, and even thinking about it, this young man definitely had an extraordinary background!


    Such a person was definitely not someone she could afford to provoke, not even her uncle might be able to afford provoking him.


    Was it necessary to make such a fuss for the sake of two sanitation workers?


    "Didn''t you say you don''t ept the management of small savings services?" Zhang Menglong said, "Now I have millions here, shouldn''t that count as arge amount? Moreover, it''s past shift change time now, ording to bank regtions, aren''t you supposed to help me with the services now?"


    Zhang Menglong turned to the several strong men and said, "Gentlemen, we are here to deposit money, not to make trouble, please be careful not to obstruct the bank''s employees or affect other customers."


    "Mr. Zhang, we''ll be careful!" several strong men nodded, their movements bing even more agile.


    In just a few minutes, the bank''s business hall was already piled with dozens of money sacks, all filled with silver coins!


    "Damn, what''s going on here?" the onlookers with dazed faces watched the scene; this was the first time they saw someone arrive with ten trucks to deposit coins¡ªa real rarity!


    "I just got here, I don''t know either."


    "I know! Two elderly people came to deposit money earlier, that short-haired staff member thought it was too troublesome to manage, and the young man couldn''t stand watching and argued a few words, and was even reprimanded by that clerk,"


    "Isn''t his temper too big?"


    "Nonsense, in less than half an hour, he could summon ten trucks of coins, do you think such a person would be ordinary? Either a second-generation official or a rich second-generation, aren''t these people just foolish, wealthy, and quick-tempered?"


    "Keep your voice down, don''t let others hear you!"


    "Wow, that girl really got herself into a pickle!"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "No kidding? But I think she had iting!"


    "Sorry, my family is quite poor, I don''t have exact change, so I might need you to count how many coins there are," Zhang Menglong said, "But if you count wrong, even if you count one dime less, I''m going toin to your branch manager!"


    By this time, Zhou Yue was utterly panicked, the sacks in the store were increasing, and if she had to count them one by one, not to mention this evening, even a month without sleep might not be enough.


    What''s worse, if this got back to her uncle, it would be a disaster, and if it got even worse and reached the deputy manager or even the main manager, even her uncle couldn''t save himself!


    She had actually thought earlier that this young man was just an ordinary person without any background, but could an ordinary person so easily summon ten trucks of coins in less than half an hour? Now she realized that she had really kicked an iron te.


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong''s phone rang, he nced at the caller ID, and it was none other than the bank''s manager, Gu Anshan.


    "Manager Gu? I thought you went out for a meal with your staff, turns out you remembered I wasing today!" Zhang Menglong said grumpily.


    Gu Anshan was immediately puzzled, he hadn''t done anything, so why was there a hint of gunpowder in Zhang Menglong''s tone?


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you mean by that?" Gu Anshan asked perplexedly, "Knowing you wereing today, I didn''t even dare to go out for a meal, I had to order takeout and eat in my office!"


    "Oh, then continue your meal, I need to handle some things first, we can chat slowly after I''m done." Zhang Menglong said and then hung up the phone.


    Zhou Yue witnessed this whole scene, who was Gu Anshan? He was the manager of their main branch!


    She hadn''t expected that this young man was not only able to contact the manager directly but even dared to hang up on the manager''s call!


    "Could there be trouble?" How could Gu Anshan remain calm enough to eat at this time? The reason he had reached his position was precisely because the previous manager had provoked someone he shouldn''t have, not only losing his position but even those past corruption and bribery issues were dug up, and now he was still eating the breadid by socialism!


    Although he had never engaged in abusing power for personal gain, the people didn''t need to target him intentionally; just if he became unhappy and withdrew his deposit, he could be dismissed and forced to leave within minutes!


    Thinking of this, he hurriedly put down his chopsticks and walked towards the hall.


    When he reached the hall, the bup sacks filled with coins had already piled up half of the lobby. Gu Anshan was instantly stunned. What on earth was happening? Where was security? Were they all vegetarians? Just letting someone cause trouble like this?


    The security guards tried to stop it, but the person was there to deposit money. Bringing money in to deposit it shouldn''t be too excessive, right? Without money, how could one make a deposit? No one could find fault with that!


    "What''s going on? What exactly is happening?" Seeing the scene, Gu Anshan shouted out loud.


    "You must be President Gu, correct?" Zhang Menglong recognized Gu Anshan as soon as he saw his face, which indeed didn''t look too different from the online photos.


    "You are..."


    "I am Zhang Menglong."


    "You''re Mr. Zhang? Pleased to meet you!" The president had not expected Zhang Menglong to be such a young man.


    "Forget the pleasantries. I don''t think there''s anything good for us to talk about," Zhang Menglong said. "I feel a bit uneasy about leaving my money in your bank!"


    "Why would you say that, Mr. Zhang? Our Huaxia Bank is absolutely the most authoritative and safest bank in all of Huaxia!" Gu Anshan guaranteed, patting his chest.


    "Oh? Is that so?" Zhang Menglong raised an eyebrow. "Here, even getting a savings ount handled involves half a day of difficulties from your staff. I can''tpliment that."


    "What exactly is going on?" Gu Anshan finally caught on that Zhang Menglong had obviously been mistreated here. "Speak up! If I have to investigate it myself, none of those present today will escape responsibility! And if anyone dares to speak out, their bonus for this year will be doubled!"


    At that moment, Gu Anshan finally showed some of a bank president''s authority.


    Where there are great rewards, there will be brave followers. Especially since Zhou Yue was clearly not an ordinary person. Now, it wasn''t a matter of whether Zhou Yue could keep her job, but whether her uncle, the manager, could continue his role. At this point, what was there to fear?


    Soon, the action Zhou Yue had just taken was exposed.


    "We have such oversight in our bank? Who is in charge of campus recruitment today? Have theme to my office tonight!" Outraged by the incident, Gu Anshan burst out.


    "President, Zhou Yue didn''te through campus recruitment. Our business manager is her uncle, so..."


    "Good! Very good!" Gu Anshan struggled to suppress his anger. "Tell him, before he leaves work today, to submit his resignation report directly on my desk!"


    "It''s over!" Hearing this news, Zhou Yue copsed directly at her workstation. Her backbone was gone, and so was she. She was not only losing this job, but her uncle''s entire family and perhaps even her whole family would treat her as a criminal.


    "Mr. Zhang, I will handle this matter seriously, I assure you. Such incidents will absolutely not ur again in our bank," Gu Anshan promised.


    "Hmm." Zhang Menglong nodded since Gu Anshan had given him enough face, he could not make things too difficult for him.


    "Alright, stop moving them," Zhang Menglong ordered. "Take this money away and set up several charity boxes at various bus stations and subway stations. There''s always someone who goes out without change for the bus or subway. Just put the money in those charity boxes!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang!" Dozens of strong men then moved the money back onto the truck, which left with a roar, leaving only the stunned faces of the passersby Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta.


    "Millions of coins donated just like that?"


    "He really is a tycoon! Impressive!"


    "To be honest, although he was a bit overbearing, his principles are quite right."


    "Yes, such people deserve to be rich!"

 Chapter 22 If Interest Were Offered, I Wouldnt Save

    "Mr. Zhang, I''m truly sorry. I had not anticipated that someone like this could exist in our bank. It''s really embarrassing," Gu Anshan invited Zhang Menglong into his office and personally made him a pot of tea.


    He had indeed been shocked by what had just urred. Ten trucks loaded with coins were no joke; one slip and they could have topped the trending search lists. If this got back to the Huaxia Bank headquarters, he as the bank manager might have faced disciplinary action.


    This young man was not ying by the typical rich second generation ybook at all. Such audacious moves were something he had never heard of in his life, making him treat Zhang Menglong with much more caution.


    "Forget it, no harm to those who don''t know. However, your bank really needs to tighten up its employment screening," Zhang Menglong said as he plopped down on the sofa, adopting the posture of a seasoned cadre.


    "By the way, there''s a pair of elderly sanitation workers outside. They were just having a hard time with someone named Zhou Yue. You should quickly send someone to handle it."


    "Secretary Liu, please hurry and arrange for someone to help the two elders!" Gu Anshan could see now; this was the main reason for the conflict between Zhang Menglong and Zhou Yue.


    He must ensure that the two elders are well taken care of, as this would maximize the restoration of Zhang Menglong''s good opinion of him, so he directly instructed his secretary to personally take care of it.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Secretary Liu was also a smart person; a simple look from Gu Anshan and he understood the meaning. He closed the door for them and immediately went to arrange things.


    "This is so refreshing!" Zhang Menglong gulped down half of the tea in front of him in one go.


    "Refreshing..." Gu Anshan twitched the corner of his eye. This was not ordinary tea. It was not avable on themon market and he had pulled many strings to get it from a friend. He himself rarely indulged in it, reserving it only for very important guests.


    Seeing Zhang Menglong''s manner, treating it like in water, was simply a waste of good resources.


    But he dared not express his anger. The person in front of him might only be a young man around 20 years old, but his wealth was frightfully immense!


    He had been so scared when he heard about it that he had been unable to sleep all night.


    What did a hundred billion US dors signify? Even the assets of the richest person in the world were only about one hundred fifty billion US dors, and that included stocks, houses, and other fixed assets. In cash terms, it definitely would not reach such a figure.


    Yet, Zhang Menglong''s ount contained exactly one hundred billion in cash! If this news were to break, it would probably shock the entire world! The next day headlines on UC and Tengxun would be all over the ce.


    Thinking deeper, a person whose cash assets exceeded a hundred billion US dors likely had some fixed assets as well. He even suspected that this young man''s assets might surpass those of the world''s richest person!


    That night they reviewed this transaction, and the final verdict was that there was nothing amiss with this asset, all sources linked back to assets under the young man''s name!


    Their investigation revealed staggering amounts derived from several domestic and even international conglomerates. In other words, this young man was a shareholder in those giant world-ss consortia and, judging by the vast amounts of funds, a major one at that.


    They racked their brains but couldn''t fathom why a 20-year-old would possess such terrifying industries.


    To maintain client confidentiality, everyone who knew about this matter that day signed a confidentiality agreement, including Gu Anshan, ensuring that no more than five people knew of this incident!


    "I really did not expect, Mr. Zhang, that you would be so young," Gu Anshanplimented, "I had thought you were one of our Huaxia tycoons. Mr. Zhang, you truly are young and promising."


    "I wouldn''t say sessful, just lucky with a good birth," Zhang Menglong spoke without pretence, "I originally wanted to find a decent job, but my capabilities didn''t allow it, and I identally inherited the family business. It really gives me a headache."


    Zhang Menglong truly felt the headache. With his assets, earning 100 billion US Dors a year was easier than spending 100 billion US Dors.


    But to Gu Anshan''s ears, that statement was pure bragging. Today''s wealthy didn''t utter a word of truth¨Ceither they were disinterested in money, couldn''t distinguish between beautiful women, had a ''small'' goal of a billion, or now another who ''identally'' inherited billions.


    "This stuff is no different from the tea that costs hundreds of thousands per gram we drink at home!" Zhang Menglong gurgled with the remaining half-cup of tea before spitting it back into the cup.


    "Hundreds of thousands per tael..." Gu Anshan had no doubts about that statement; not just hundreds of thousands per tael, if there was tea costing hundreds of thousands per gram, Zhang Menglong could definitely afford it!


    However, that statement even gave Gu Anshan the urge to kill Zhang Menglong. Such exquisite tea was rare, made from solitary tea nts and supposed to be delicately savoured for its charm. Yet in his mouth, it was just like in boiled water¨Csomething a tea aficionado like him could never tolerate.


    "By the way, Mr. Gu, what exactly did you call me here for today?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    Gu Anshan took a deep breath, having wasted so much time, finally getting to the point.


    "Here''s the thing, Mr. Zhang, we will set up a management team specifically to handle that sum in our bank, so I hope you can trust us and feelfortable leaving those funds with us," said Gu Anshan.


    "No problem at all," Zhang Menglong looked puzzled. Where would all that money go if not in the bank? Turn it all into cash and withdraw? There would have to be that much cash avable!


    Hearing Zhang Menglong''s response, Gu Anshan immediately smiled, realizing Zhang Menglong was quite agreeable.


    "However, I really like spending money, and you mustn''t restrict my spending limit!" Zhang Menglong said.


    "Of course, our management team will serve you 24/7. Whenever you wish to make expenditures, we''ll fully support you!"


    "That''s good to hear."


    "And concerning the interest, you can absolutely be assured. For regr clients, our current interest rate is 0.24%, but for significant clients like you, we can raise the current interest rate above fixed-rate levels. ording to our regtions, we can offer you up to a 7% annual interest rate!"


    With 100 billion US Dors, handled properly, the bank could earn far more than 7%. This was the oue of consultations with the president of Huaxia''s head branch, and they didn''t mind offering such a rate at all.


    "What? Seven percent?" Zhang Menglong suddenly stood up from the sofa, his face darkening.


    At a 7% interest rate, that''s 70 billion US Dors a year, and his bank ount was growing by more than a billion in cash daily. This was outright financial murder!


    "Mr. Zhang, are you dissatisfied with the interest rate?" Gu Anshan immediately became tense. Indeed, the 7% rate was too lowpared to the potential earnings from such a sum, but the bank wasn''t a charity either; they wanted to earn more as well.


    "If you''re not satisfied, we can still negotiate. What about 8%?" Gu Anshan tentatively asked, though his bottom line was much higher, testing step by step was the way to secure the maximum profit.


    "8%?" Zhang Menglong mmed the desk, "If you offer me such high interest, I won''t deposit it; I''ll transfer all these funds away immediately!"

 Chapter 23 Are there any investments that are very easy to lose money on?

    "What the heck?" Gu Anshan even thought there was something wrong with his ears.


    Since ancient times, people have onlyined about low interest rates¡ªwhen has anyone everined about interest being too high? Could it be that Zhang Menglong suddenly inherited so much wealth that he became mentally unstable and had a breakdown? Otherwise, how could a normal person not want to make money?


    An 8% interest rate a year, that''s 7 billion US dors! Even among the richest people in Huaxia, there wouldn''t be anyone who could produce 7 billion in cash, right?


    "I mean, can you lower your interest rate a bit?" Zhang Menglong said, "I recall the bank next door, Jiangnan Bank, has lower rates than you? I might as well deposit there!"


    Zhang Menglong had a hard time spending a billion in a day, only to wake up the next day and find that he effectively wasted that money. When would he ever be able to spend all of it? If he decided to take a break and rx, his bank ount would just grow again in a few days. How could he live like this? When could he start the college that even his parents imed was magical?


    Gu Anshan immediately responded with a wry smile. Banks oftenpete by offering higher or lower interest rates to attract customers. When did lower interest start drawing customers in? Was this the legendary reverse operation?


    "No, no, no! Mr. Zhang, please wait!" At this point, Gu Anshan couldn''t care less about whether Zhang Menglong was insane or not; the bank would be only too d to pay out less in interest!


    "How about we offer you an annualized interest rate of 4.25%? You''d be satisfied with that, wouldn''t you?"


    "What? Still 4.25%? Isn''t that still over 4 billion US dors in interest a year? No, I won''t deposit it!"


    "Then we''ll offer the lowest annual demand deposit rate of 0.24%," Gu Anshan hurriedly said.


    When he discussed it with the head of the head office, the rate offered was between 4.25% and 10.75%. He had already offered the lowest rate, and if it went any lower, it would be the regr savings ount rate for ordinary customers.


    But he just couldn''tprehend what went on in Zhang Menglong''s mind. An interest rate of ten points a year would bring in tens of billions of US dors without doing anything. Wasn''t that tempting?


    "0.24%?" Upon hearing this figure, Zhang Menglong''s expression eased a bit, but that still amounted to over four million Huaxia currency in interest every day, "Can it be even less?"


    "You still think it''s too much?" Gu Anshan was on the verge of going crazy.


    "Can we just not have any interest? Or I can give you interest instead!" Zhang Menglong said, "You see, managing this amount of money for me isn''t easy, considering the manpower cost involved every day. If you charged some service fees, I would have absolutely no objections. I''d even give you a bonus at the end of the year!"


    Upon hearing this, Gu Anshan was dumbfounded. Having lived for several decades, this was the first time he''d heard of someone wanting to pay the bank service fees for depositing money. What kind of spendthrift was this?


    "Mr. Zhang, we really can''t go any lower. The 0.24% is already our lowest demand deposit rate. It''s the bank''s policy. If I cut it down on my own initiative, I would be disciplined!"


    "Then I might as well go to..."


    "Mr. Zhang, even if you went to another bank, it would be the same," said Gu Anshan with a wry smile.


    "Is that so? Well, I won''t make it hard for you then." Zhang Menglong said, looking clearly disappointed. It seemed his daily spending n had to increase by 4 million Huaxia currency to offset this interest.


    "Phew!" Gu Anshan finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although he hadn''t spoken much to Zhang Menglong, his back was soaked with sweat. Dealing with someone who didn''t y by conventional rules was simply fatal at every turn.


    "Forget it, it''s not my money, why should I bother?" Gu Anshan consoled himself internally. His job was to figure out how to make the most out of these funds for the bank. Everything else was none of his business.


    "Right, your bank should have a lot of investment projects, right?" Zhang Menglong suddenly had an idea.


    "Of course, Mr. Zhang, are you interested in them?" Gu Anshan''s eyes lit up. If the client invested in those projects, the bank''s returns would be very high. Normally, employees had to strongly encourage clients to spend money on these purchases. Yet today, this God of Wealth was bringing it up on his own¡ªhow could he not be delighted?


    He even wondered if those projects could handle such a massive amount of capital. Normally, those projects were in the millions of Huaxia currency, and tens of millions were already consideredrge projects. Zhang Menglong could potentially fund countless projects by himself.


    If these projects were all settled, his bonus as the bank president this year would certainly be astronomical!


    Thinking of this, Gu Anshan felt like the air around him was tinged with the scent of money.


    He immediately pulled out a thick project brochure.


    "This is a financial product recently released by our bank, guaranteed 100% principal protection. The annual return is about 3.8%, you..." Gu Anshan was exining, but when it came to the investment return, he abruptly stopped.


    Zhang Menglong had just rejected an 8% savings interest rate. Could this 3.8% rate catch his eye? The problem wasn''t that the return was too low, it was that the man simply didn''t want interest, didn''t want a return.


    "Could it be he''s asking me for something like..."


    "No, what I''m asking about isn''t this kind of investment product," Zhang Menglong added. "I''m wondering if your bank has those kinds of investments that take many years before yielding returns, or those that are very likely to lose money? The higher the risk, the better!"


    Is this guy nuts? If Zhang Menglong were an ordinary person, Gu Anshan would''ve already started cursing by now.


    Investment, wealth management¡ªof course it''s about guaranteeing a return! The bank''s financial products are very stable now, the returns might not be that high, but they almost all guarantee 100% principal protection. If the risk was too great, how couldmon clients possibly buy them? They might as well buy funds or stocks instead, why buy wealth management products?


    Financial products are all about stability; losing money is almost an impossibility.


    "Mr. Zhang, we don''t have such projects!"


    "There could be such projects!"


    "We really don''t have them!"


    "Really none?" Zhang Menglong confirmed again.


    "Truly none!"


    "How is it so hard to spend some money these days?" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself.


    As the president of the bank, Gu Anshan, who had been through thick and thin, was very sensitive to customer needs. He figured out that Zhang Menglong wasn''t out of his mind; he simply wanted to spend money purely!


    Perhaps, like many nouveau riches, his first thought upon getting rich was to consume.


    Clearly, ordinary consumption could no longer satisfy Zhang Menglong. Big gold chains, luxury goods¡ªfor him, they were less than the petty cash of one day''s interest. What he wanted was the kind of spending ordinary people wouldn''t even dare to dream of¡ªperhaps this was the joy of being wealthy.


    "Mr. Zhang, although we don''t have any investment projects that lose money, if you''re looking to spend, we do have some projects that could satisfy you!"


    "Oh? Let''s hear it?" Zhang Menglong immediately perked up, this was the answer he was looking for.


    "You know, because of the global virus, many countries are facing economic recessions, especially those that rely on tourism to support their economies. They''re nearly at the point of copse. Hence, some countries have started to sell off some industries or even theirnd. Are you interested?"


    "Are they expensive?" Zhang Menglong asked tentatively.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Very expensive," Gu Anshan nodded. "Actually, these are all projects of our bank, but the risk is too high. Even we don''t dare to take them lightly, and to recoup this investment would take a very long cycle. If you''re interested..."


    "Yes, yes, yes, that''s exactly what I want!" Zhang Menglong said excitedly. "Let me have a look quickly, I can''t suppress the all energies within me any longer!"

 Chapter 24 Buying the World with Money?

    "Mr. Zhang, take a look, this is the property and territory that Briz Country is looking to sell." Gu Anshan ced a map in front of Zhang Menglong.


    Briz Country is a small nation with and area of less than 100,000 square kilometers, it doesn''t have arge poption, and its industry and agriculture aren''t particrly developed. However, due to its favorable geographical location, it has many picturesque ces.


    Each of these scenic areas brings in huge tourism revenue every year, and the majority of the citizens are involved in the tourism industry. A previously poor country has be prosperous in just a few years thanks to these abundant tourism resources.


    But with the rampage of the virus, most of the global flights were almost paralyzed for the better part of a year. Forget about traveling, many people couldn''t even leave their own cities.


    This suddenly brought a national crisis down upon the country.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    With no ie for over half a year, not only the popce but even the country''s economy was barely hanging on. Now that international flights have resumed, most tourists are still maintaining a cautious attitude and are unwilling to take the risk to travel.


    For them, that small trickle of visitors is like a drop in the bucket.


    As for international aid, many countries were worse off than they were, so forget about aid!


    Driven to desperation, they had to make a painful decision to sell two of their scenic areas, the Aurora Coast and Bermanzi Mountain.


    "Tsk tsk tsk, such a beautiful ce!" Briz Country is located within the Arctic Circle and experiences the Aurora Borealis each year. The endless white sandy beachesbined with the beautiful Northern Lights are unquestionably world-ss scenery that made Zhang Menglong yearn just by looking at a few photos.


    "They''re really selling this ce?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Yes, theck of tourists has caused their economy to stagnate, and the virus has depleted a lot of manpower and resources. If they truly had any other option, why would they ever consider selling their own territory?"


    "How much?"


    "''How much?'' That question made Gu Anshan pause. Why did it feel like Zhang Menglong was asking the price of vegetables at a market? This was a nation''s territory, couldn''t he be more serious?"


    "Does Mr. Zhang want to buy the right to use this ce for a fixed period of time or purchase it outright?"


    "Sorry, it''s my first time buyingnd, I have no experience." Zhang Menglong was a bit embarrassed. His ancestors were probably experts at buying territory, and here he was, not knowing anything, which was indeed awkward.


    "Briz Country has two quotes. For Aurora Coast, you can choose to buy usage rights for 100 years. During those 100 years, the coast is your private territory. You can do anything you want with it, and if you want to develop a tourism project, you can do so as long as you pay taxes ording to regtions. The price is 150 million!"


    "Euros?"


    "Huaxia currency," Gu Anshan said.


    "Ah? That''s so cheap?" At first, Zhang Menglong was somewhat excited. Hearing that number, he changed his expression faster than flipping a book, "What about the permanent usage rights?"


    "That''s probably going to be more expensive."


    "Then I''ll take the permanent usage rights to Aurora Coast!" Zhang Menglong said without a second thought.


    "Ah? I haven''t told you the price yet." Gu Anshan was utterly worn out by Zhang Menglong''s shocks today. The operations of these top-level tycoons were beyond hisprehension, "The price for the permanent rights is 2.027 billion."


    "Euros?"


    "Still Huaxia currency!"


    "Damn, I thought it was going to be much more expensive!" After all that, it was only about three hundred million US Dors, not even enough to cover his yearly interest!


    "Mr. Zhang, this coast is indeed beautiful, but frankly speaking, it is a bit overpriced. Maybe you want to reconsider?"


    "No need to think it over, consider the money as our way to help their economy," Zhang Menglong continued, "How about that mountain?"


    "The price for Bermanzi Mountain is 1.57 billion Huaxia currency." Gu Anshan knew then, this was not the God of Wealth, this was aplete spendthrift! It''s not even about billions anymore, he felt embarrassed even saying it out loud.


    "Then I''ll take that too. Anything else?"


    "Mr. Zhang, that''s all the territory Briz Country is selling. Aside from that, they also have a small diamond mine for sale."


    "A diamond mine? I like that. How much?"


    "520 million Huaxia currency."


    "Write that down, write that down. I want that too. Anything else?"


    "Well... That''s all for Briz Country for now," Gu Anshan thought. The country was only so big, and resorting to selling these assets was already an act of desperation. If they sold any more, they''d be risking the nation itself.


    He believed that as long as Briz Country was willing to sell, Zhang Menglong would be willing to buy. If Genghis Khan had had this kind of money back then, why would he need to send out the Mongolian cavalry to conquer the world? He could have just followed Zhang Menglong''s lead, smashing out a realm with cash, and been done with it.


    "That''s it?"


    "Well... There are others from different countries too, would you like to take a look?"


    "Just tell me how much there is in total, I''ll take it all."


    "Cough cough cough!" Gu Anshan almost spit out a mouthful of blood.


    He organized the materials in his hand, then took a deep breath, "Mr. Zhang, right now, our bank is handling projects that include 12 inds, 7 natural scenic areas, and 4 energy industries, with a total value of 10.72 billion Huaxia currency."


    "Well, better than nothing. I''ll take it all."


    "All of it?" Gu Anshan had thought of this possibility before, but when he heard Zhang Menglong''s final decision, he still couldn''t help but be shocked.


    But thinking about Zhang Menglong''s 100 billion US Dor deposit, these industriesbined didn''t even amount to 20 billion US Dors. It wasn''t even as much as the interest he had initially promised Zhang Menglong for a year; he didn''t even blink an eye!


    "Hong Yi, I''ll leave these matters to you," Zhang Menglong said to Hong Yi beside him. "Make sure to look carefully at any contracts before signing so there won''t be any disputester on."


    "Rest assured, Mr. Zhang. Even the undefeated Nanshan Pizza Hut from Tengxun is just a retirement project from one of your former legal personnel. These are trivial matters."


    "Damn, am I really that awesome?" Zhang Menglong was familiar with the fame of "Nanshan Pizza Hut" and was surprised to think that its founder once worked for him.


    "By the way, are there any national construction projectsing up? As a contemporary youth, I see it as my duty. It doesn''t matter if it costs money or not, what''s important is patriotism..."


    "Mr. Zhang, at our bank, all these projects are profitable, so if you want to undertake any construction projects, you would have to bid for them. That''s not something we can do here." Gu Anshan didn''t expect Zhang Menglong to consider throwing his money at national projects.


    "Well, that''s about it for today; I''ll be taking off." Without any opportunities to spend money, Zhang Menglong wasn''t interested in staying any longer. He had spent billions of US Dors in one go, which was a trip well spent, wasn''t it?


    "Hong Yi, keep an eye out for me. If there''s anything like moving icebergs from the Arctic or Antarctic or and swimming device, I, Zhang Menglong, will fund it."


    "Pfft!" Even Hong Yi couldn''t help butugh. "Sir, are you looking to learn from Wang Duoyu?"


    "I just don''t believe these things can actually make me money in real life!" Zhang Menglong refused to believe such nonsense.


    "Mr. Zhang, you''ve got a call, would you like to answer it?" Hong Yi pointed at Zhang Menglong''s vibrating pocket.


    "Hello, Menglong, have you seen the message?" Xu Li''s voice came through from the roommate on the phone.


    "Huh? A message? What message?" Zhang Menglong was clueless.


    "Check our ss group chat. Lu Xuchao is saying that everyone is going to start internships soon, so it might be hard to meet upter. He wants everybody to gather once after the National Day holiday. Who doesn''t know that he''s just scored an offer from Unicorn Technology and obviously wants to show off under the guise of this gathering."


    "Let''s go then, what''s there to be afraid of?" Zhang Menglong chuckled. When it came to unting wealth, even Uchiha Madara would have to call him the strongest.

 Chapter 25 Lets Build a Gas Station at the Front Door

    "Zhang Menglong, have you lost your mind? Don''t you know that Lu Xuchao is famously pretentious?"


    "I know," Zhang Menglongughed, "but the guy does have real talent. He''s been the captain of the school debate team since his freshman year, and he started trying to start his own business in his junior year. Though he''s a bit annoying, these kinds of people do well in society."


    "I heard that the treatment at Unicorn Technology has improved another level this year. Even the most basic positions are reaching sries of over 250,000 a year. Apparently, Lu Xuchao got lucky somehow; a senior executive took a liking to him and offered him an annual sry of 800,000 outright."


    "That impressive?" Zhang Menglong was also surprised. For an undergraduate graduate, a sry of 800,000 a year is really a terrifying figure. Just relying on part-time jobs, most people wouldn''t achieve that ie in their entire lives.


    "He organized this dinner purely to show off. For those of us who haven''t even found a job yet, isn''t it like asking for trouble?"


    "That''s just jealousy!" Zhang Menglong remarked.


    "Aren''t you jealous?" Xu Li was not one bit insincere, "Lemon fruits on the lemon tree, you and I beneath the lemon tree, don''t forget, you twopeted for the ''Outstanding Graduate'' award, and you won over him. He might just try to get back at you this time!"


    Even though Lu Xuchao spent a lot of time on clubs and starting his business, he thereby neglected his studies. Zhang Menglong, relying on hisst-minute cramming skills, snatched the title of ''Outstanding Graduate'' from Lu Xuchao, for which he had received no shortage of disdainful looks from him.


    "It''s just a lousy certificate, what''s the use!" Zhang Menglong had seen through it all. In society, those honors from the school are nothing. In the eyes of those business HRs, an outstanding graduate is far less popr than a student with internship experience. That''s the reality of society.


    "You do have a point."


    "Buddy, now that I''ve inherited a billion-dor fortune, do I still care about these things?" Zhang Menglong said nonchntly.


    "Are you ever going to wake up from this dream?" Xu Liughed, "Alright, you inherited a billion-dor fortune, huh? If you''re capable, why don''t you show something to us then?"


    "Sure, but you''d better find a doctor in advance because I''m afraid your heart might not take it and will need some rescuingter."


    "Hahaha, you crack me up," Xu Li clearly didn''t take Zhang Menglong''s words seriously, "Since you''re going too, let''s all go. There''s a saying that''s indeed correct, the chances for all of us to gather together will only get rarer, let''s cherish it while we still have the time."


    "By the way, what about the other ssmates?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Those guys? Why even ask, how could they miss an opportunity to suck up? You know very well, our ssmates... hard to describe in a word. Just watch, it''s going to be a major bootlicking scene!" Xu Li snorted disdainfully at the thought of their ssmates.


    "Well, let''s be real, society is pretty pragmatic after graduation; maybe Lu Xuchao really could help them out?"


    "Forget it, besides showing off, when has he ever thought about us? Enough talk now, I''m off to upgrade my Kun. I must get it to level 100 today, I''m out."


    "This guy." Zhang Menglong hung up the phone with augh and a sigh.


    "Mr. Zhang, your car sent by Mr. Su has arrived. Would you like to check it out?" just at that moment, Hong Yi came over to report to Zhang Menglong.


    "Oh? That was timely!" Zhang Menglong smiled slightly, "Let''s go, apany me to take a look."


    Walking downstairs, rows of trucks were neatly lined up beneath his building. Excluding the two cars sent for Qin Feng and Wang Ling, there were a total of 13 cars, including that one Koenigsegg CCVR.


    "Will my underground garage fit them all?" Zhang Menglong asked quietly.


    "Sir, your underground garage has three levels, each capable of amodating over 100 cars, so there''s absolutely no problem."


    "Damn, this is nuts. Do I look bored enough to buy over 300 cars? That''s enough to not wear the same one any day of the year! They would just gather dust and rust, right?" Zhang Menglong realized that his understanding of this particr property was quite superficial.


    "Sir, if you need, I can help recruit a team of sports car maintenance staff for you."


    "Er... I was just speaking off the cuffst time, why did you take it seriously?" Zhang Menglong was suddenly full of frustration.


    Thirteen limited edition sports cars were carefully unloaded. Originally, Zhang Menglong really liked that one Pagani due to its spirit, but the moment he first set eyes on that Koenigsegg CCVR, the Pagani suddenly seemed less appealing.


    "Get the others into the garage for me, I''m going out for a spin." Although Zhang Menglong had obtained his driver''s license when he graduated from high school, apart from his dad''s old beater, he had hardly driven any decent cars, let alone sports cars.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Zhang Menglong gently ran his hands over the pure carbon fiber body of the car, touching it as if it were the delicate body of a beautiful woman. That streamlined body, that cool design, this truly is every man''s dream!


    Zhang Menglong pressed the switch on the key, and the gull-winged doors slowly opened; although the interior of the sports car was much morepact, it didn''t feel ufortable at all.


    "Boom!" With a press on the elerator, the powerful V12 engine immediately burst into a roar like that of a wild beast.


    "Mr. Zhang, please be sure to drive safely."


    "Don''t worry, you can''t really speed in the city, nothing will happen." Zhang Menglong said, excitement filling his voice as he slowly drove out of his residential area.


    "Damn, what''s going on?" Just as Zhang Menglong had driven out of the residential area, the streets on both sides were surprisingly filled with people.


    Actually, the trucks that had delivered the sports cars had transparent covers over their cargo areas. With 13 trucks loaded with sports cars, how could they not attract a crowd? Everyone wanted to see which wealthy individual had splurged on so many sports cars.


    "Here ites!"


    "Holy shit! It''s that Koenigsegg XXVR from earlier! If only I could press the elerator once, I''d be content for the rest of my life!"


    "Buddy, one press on that elerator, and there goes your month''s sry."


    "The person who buys these kinds of cars must be young, right? Wonder who''s the young master."


    "It''s weird, the person who drives this kind of car, living in such an ordinary residential area?"


    "You know nothing, in this area, the lowest housing price is 80,000 per square meter. Look at the size of those houses; just one of them costs tens of millions. Can you afford it?"


    Zhang Menglong didn''t pay any attention to these remarks and just drove onto the road.


    "My God, what a handsome car!"


    "That emblem, oh my, Koenigsegg, slow down! Slow down, man!"


    "Honey, isn''t that car good-looking? It must be really expensive, right?"


    "At least tens of millions, what do you think?"


    "That expensive? If we were to scratch it, selling our house might not even cover the cost."


    "Then why aren''t you slowing down? Are you nning to crash into it?!"


    Wherever this car went, it was met with envious gazes. As for the drivers, they all maintained a distance of more than ten meters from him. During the congested National Day evening rush, Zhang Menglong actually had a smooth ride on the elevated roads.


    ...


    "Awesome!"


    Although he didn''t reach the top speed, just this onep, with the intense pushback and perfect driving sensation, showed Zhang Menglong what a top-level sports car felt like.


    "Damn, I only drove ap, howe so much fuel is gone?" Zhang Menglong nced at the dashboard and immediately looked displeased.


    "What''s the matter, Mr. Zhang? Are you unsatisfied with the new car?" Hong Yi noticed Zhang Menglong''s expression.


    "No, it''s not that, it''s just too troublesome to refuel every few days."


    "What''s the big deal?" Hong Yi said with a smile, "How about this, I''ll arrange it so we build a gas station right at your doorstep."


    "You can actually build one just like that?" Zhang Menglong had always thought that was just a joke on the inte.


    "It''s not possible for ordinary people, but for you, it''s no problem," Hong Yi replied, "Over 80% of the oil wells from which our country imports oil are under your businesses. I''ll just have someone build a private gas station for you!"


    Zhang Menglong looked at Hong Yi, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly, "I concede defeat."

 Chapter 26 Why Should He Deserve My Toast?

    A few days went by in the blink of an eye, and Zhang Menglong didn''t leave theplex for several days straight, taking a full three days just to tour the entire ce!


    Who knows what his dad was thinking when he designed this house; almost every bathroom faced a world-famous painting worth tens of millions of US Dors. Every time Zhang Menglong took a shower, he felt like someone was watching him,


    And that wasn''t all. Right in front of every toilet and urinal hung a painting with a starting price of a million US Dors. He really wanted to ask his dad if facing these masterpieces somehow made going to the bathroom smoother or what?


    But the most surprising thing to him was the library, which was a staggering three stories high. Calling it a library was an understatement; it was more like a museum. Almost everything on disy was priceless, and Zhang Menglong even found an original copy of "The Plum in the Golden Vase" among the items!


    He wondered what the hell the use was in his ancestors preserving this thing¡ªwas it to enlighten future generations?


    Zhang Menglong initially thought the value of theplex was already terrifying, but after seeing the library, he realized thatpared to the worth of the collections inside, the rest of theplex was nothing.


    "What''s wrong with you today, ying the game so listlessly?" On thest afternoon, Zhang Menglong was ying games as usual with "Frappino Double Sugar."


    "Don''t even mention it. I don''t know what''s wrong with my house''s plumbing today; several toilets are clogged. Do you know the agony of riding the elevator up and down 22 floors just to use the restroom? Plus, I got food poisoning from eating seafood yesterday and have already run to the bathroom seven times!" Zhang Menglong was pale, struggling even to aim with his 98k sniper rifle.


    "Hahaha, keep bluffing!" "Frappino Double Sugar"ughed at Zhang Menglong''s exaggerated description, "Why don''t you also say it takes you ten minutes to drive to your kitchen for meals?"


    "Believe it or not, I''ll give you a tour of my house sometime and you''ll see!"


    "I bet you just want to show me what color your bedsheets are."


    "Ohe on, what''s with you, girl? I am a decent person!" Zhang Menglong grinned foolishly at his phone; they didn''t shy away from making risqu¨¦ jokes while chatting.


    "Shut up, I suspect you''re ying this game with me while you''re taking a dump."


    "Damn it, take down that camera you installed in my bathroom right now!" Zhang Menglong said fiercely.


    "Hahaha, nope! L!"


    "Boom!"


    "Zhang Menglong, you actually used a grenade to blow me up! Apologize now!"


    "Nope,la!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, your ss reunion is at six in the evening; it''s about time you headed out."


    "Okay, I got it!" Zhang Menglong had just finished ying his game, and he looked at "Frappino Double Sugar"''s avatar with a rich smile, "I wonder what kind of person she really is."


    "Mr. Zhang, your girlfriend?" Hong Yi noticed the sweet expression on Zhang Menglong''s face.


    "No, just a good friend," replied Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, if you like her, why not go after her? With your status, even European princesses would line up to marry you!" joked Hong Yi.


    "Is that really so exaggerated?" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes.


    "I heard from my father that the year you were born, those European royal families, knowing you were a boy, sent at least a hundred letters seeking marriage," she continued.


    "Not only that, but those European royal families without a princess but only princes even started a frenzied ''baby-making campaign.'' In the few years after you were born, the number of princesses under 5 in Europe more than tripled!"


    "Damn, what are they making me out to be?" The thought of that scenario made Zhang Menglong feel incredibly uneasy¡ªhe had apparently even boosted the birth rate of the European royalty? Wasn''t that just too bizarre?


    "Mr. Zhang, do you need me to arrange someone to take you there?" Hong Yi asked with a suppressedugh.


    "No need, I''ll go by myself. It''s just a ss reunion, no need to make it like a business negotiation." Zhang Menglong picked a casual outfit from his wardrobe at random and left.


    The reunion was to be held at the Lofitte Hotel in Jiangnan City''s Wend Park, a five-star global chain that liked to operate in very special ces, such as beaches, forests, ice fields, and even prisons. If you wanted to experience a different style of hotel, they were definitely the best choice.


    But the Lofitte Hotel in the Wend Park was pretty standard, and this reunion had been meticulously organized by Lu Xuchao.


    During school, he had already made his first pot of gold from entrepreneurship¡ªtwo million Huaxia currency. That might not be much for some entrepreneurs, but for a student just out of school, it was quite impressive.


    Andnding an offer from Unicorn Technology, Lu Xuchao truly reached the peak of his life!


    Unicorn Technology was apany that suddenly emerged in Jiangnan City two years ago. Within just two years, they hadpleted financing, went public, and even stood shoulder to shoulder with giants like Tengxun and Alibaba. Even internationally, their products upied a significant market share.


    The position Lu Xuchao held at Unicorn Technology was one that ordinary graduates wouldn''t reach until five or more years into their careers, and his future looked incredibly bright.


    This reunion was all his doing; between all the arrangements and the buffet dinner, it cost a total of eighteen thousand, and he had recently spent a million to buy a Maserati President, truly appearing as a portrait of sess.


    When Lu Xuchao arrived, many of his ssmates were already there. They looked at thevish wend-themed party venue with envious expressions, and it was precisely such looks that Lu Xuchao enjoyed.


    "President Lu is here!"


    "Lu Xuchao, you''re incredible. Right after graduation, you''re nearly making a million a year in sry. If you strike it rich, don''t forget us old ssmates, okay?"


    "What? A million-a-year sry?"


    "Hahaha, it''s not that exaggerated, just over eight hundred thousand," Lu Xuchao said, feigning modesty.


    "I don''t even know this news, and I''m in the same ss!"


    "Haha, my bad, my bad, I''ll drink to President Lu first!"


    "Sigh, I make just over five thousand a month. That''s barely enough to live on here in Jiangnan City."


    "You''re doing well, brother. I''m at 4000!"


    ...


    Many people announced their ies, and such stark contrasts immediately made Lu Xuchao the sole focus of the event.


    "Hey, don''t belittle yourselves like that. We''ve only just graduated. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. If I get the chance, I''ll definitely not forget you guys, my ssmates."


    "President Lu is generous!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Come on, let''s all drink to President Lu!"


    Suddenly, someone asked, "By the way, how many of us from the ss came today? Has everyone arrived?"


    "In total, 12 people couldn''t make it for various reasons. There are 32 of us left, and only 31 have arrived."


    "Seems like Zhang Menglong hasn''t shown up yet, has he?"


    "Oh right, when I sent out the message, it seemed like he was the only one who didn''t reply. I''ve no idea what''s up with him."


    "The guy is an honor graduate, a real geek. As if he''d stoop low enough to hang out with us!"


    "Being an honor graduate is useless crap. When you get to the workce, it''s all about what you can do. I heard Zhang Menglong got rejected in the final round of an interview at Wangyi not long ago."


    "What a pity, the Pig Factory isn''t much worse than the Big Three!"


    "What''s there to pity? If he got rejected, it just means his abilities weren''t up to snuff. Look at our President Lu, he didn''t just get an offer from a Unicorn, but he started at a P7 level, leaving him far behind!"


    "Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Look, here hees!"


    It was at this moment that Zhang Menglong finally hurried over. It was thest day of the National Day holiday, and the roads were so congested it was almost impassable. He''d almost had to call for his helicopter.


    "Sorry, sorry, the traffic was a bit heavy, so I got here a littlete," Zhang Menglong apologized with a smile on his face.


    "Menglong, we''ve been waiting for you for ages. What took you so long?" a few roommates immediately surrounded him warmly and punched him yfully.


    "Zhang Menglong, you''rete," Lu Xuchao said, swaying his wine ss, his smile concealing an imperceptible sneer.


    "Zhang Menglong, since President Lu is treating today, you should at least drink to President Lu for beingte, shouldn''t you?"


    "Exactly, drink to President Lu, consider it an apology for yourteness!"


    Zhang Menglong frowned, suddenly feeling somewhat estranged from the ssmates around him.


    "Menglong, what Zhang Xucao said to you was obviously meant to target you," Xu Li whispered.


    "I know," Zhang Menglong replied with a slight smile. Lu Xuchao really knew how to exploit the ssmates'' clinging mentality.


    But Zhang Menglong wasn''t going to fall for it.


    "Zhang Menglong, why are you still standing there? Hurry up already!"


    "That''s right, haven''t you not found a job yet? Maybe Xucao could refer you!"


    "So, I should drink to him?" Zhang Menglong spread his hands, "Why should I?"

 Chapter 27 Todays expenses are all covered by Young Master Zhang

    "What?" Zhang Menglong''s unabashed retort caught everyone off guard; they hadn''t expected his attitude to be so strong, especially since the reunion had just begun, and the thick smell of gunpowder was already wafting through the air.


    "Awesome, Zhang!" Those ssmates were ufortable while they were constantly ttering before, but now they felt a mix of sourness and relief.


    "We can''t just pamper him, can we?" Zhang Menglongughed, "I didn''te here to see them; it''s mainly for us to catch up properly!


    "Hahaha, you''re right, as long as we aren''t awkward, they are the awkward ones," Sun Yulei said.


    "Zhang Menglong, what do you mean by that?"


    "Youe here to eat and drink for free, so why the attitude like someone owes you something?"


    "Exactly! Lu, General Manager, is cherishing our ssmates'' friendship by paying for this, and by acting this way, you''re just ruining the harmony in the ss!"


    "Hey, we''re all ssmates, there''s no need to be so confrontational!" Although Lu Xuchao was quite annoyed, he couldn''t show it in front of so many people; he had to maintain a perfect image, and at that moment, he had to promote his own moral excellence.


    "It''s understandable that Menglong has been upset recently since he faced so many rejections while job hunting; let''s not force him to drink."


    "Menglong," Lu Xuchao walked up to Zhang Menglong and pped him on the shoulder, "though I just joined thepany, I do have some connections. If you''re interested, I could refer you internally. With your skills, you should have a chance to join Unicorn Technologies."


    "That''s so magnanimous of General Manager Lu!"


    "Unlike some people, who are just clueless."


    Suddenly, envious and jealous nces converged on Zhang Menglong. Just getting into Unicorn Technologies, even at a P5 level, was far better than being amon wage earner!


    "Thanks, but I don''t need it right now," Zhang Menglong tly refused Lu Xuchao, knowing exactly what was on his mind.


    "No problem, the fall recruitment isn''t over yet, take your time!" Lu Xuchao''s face had already turned somewhat ugly.


    For some reason, he was confident he could dominate over Zhang Menglong today, but there was an inexplicable confidence emanating from Zhang Menglong.


    "It must be my imagination!"


    "Waiter, let''s start!" The party had just begun, and now Lu Xuchao had already be the center of attention. He no longer cared about Zhang Menglong; after all, they were not from the same world anymore, so why should he dwell on it?


    "Everyone, let loose and have fun today, I''m paying!" Lu Xuchao shouted.


    That statement immediately revived the somewhat awkward atmosphere.


    Before long, beautifully wrapped bottles of red wine and several trolleys were rolled in.


    "Wait a minute!" Lu Xuchao''s gaze suddenly fell on the wines, "What is this?"


    "Sir, this is Roman¨¦e-Conti from 2005," the waiter politely responded.


    "Damn! Roman¨¦e-Conti? Did I hear that right?"


    "Is this wine expensive?"


    "Not just expensive, it''s legendary in the world of wine! My god, just these ten bottles must be over a hundred thousand, right?"


    "You jest, sir. The 2005 Roman¨¦e-Conti is the best and it retails for 120,000 per bottle here."


    "General Manager Lu is awesome! Such high-ss wine, we almost dare not drink it!"


    "Wait, let''s not open it yet; let my phone drink first!"


    "I also want to take a couple of photos; my goodness, wine worth tens of thousands per bottle, I''ve never seen anything like this in my life!"


    At that moment, Lu Xuchao''s mind was a total mess. Although the wine he''d ordered was decent, it definitely wasn''t this one. Ten bottles¡ªthat would be 1.2 million, and right after buying a car, he didn''t even have enough money to cover just the cost of the wine.


    "Is there some mistake?" Lu Xuchao asked.


    "No way, sir, isn''t this A07 hall?"


    "It''s A07, but..."


    "Then there is no mistake."


    "But the wine we ordered is definitely not this one."


    "Sir, you misunderstood, this wine is our gift to Mr. Zhang, you don''t have to pay anything extra, please be assured."


    "Mr. Zhang? Which Mr. Zhang?"


    "Of course, Mr. Zhang Menglong." The waiter suddenly looked puzzled; their general manager had personally arranged this, and this Mr. Zhang was clearly a significant figure. How did these people seem oblivious?


    "Could you have made a mistake?"


    "This was personally entrusted by our general manager."


    "Swoosh!"


    All eyes suddenly focused on Zhang Menglong.


    "Menglong, what''s going on?" Zhang Menglong''s roommates were all startled. This was a bottle of wine worth 1.2 million, just given away like that, and it was arranged by the general manager of this five-star hotel, this...


    "Buzz!" Zhang Menglong''s phone suddenly vibrated, a message from Hong Yi.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Mr. Zhang, I forgot to tell you, the Lofitte Hotel where you are attending the gathering today is also one of your properties. I have already arranged everything for you."


    "This is also my property?" Zhang Menglong waspletely baffled. Just how many properties did he own?


    At that moment, a middle-aged chubby man rushed in hurriedly. The headquarters'' leader had just called him personally, saying that the hotel''s biggest shareholder was holding a gathering there tonight and he must entertain them well, otherwise he should prepare to resign!


    The news terrified him so much that he was sweating all over. He had no time to attend to some of the VIPs of the day and hurried over here.


    "May I ask which one of you is Mr. Zhang?" The middle-aged chubby man adjusted his clothes and hair and asked cautiously.


    "Oh, that''s me." Zhang Menglong stood up.


    "Mr. Zhang, sorry, I just found out you wereing. I..."


    "It''s fine, I''m just having a meal with my ssmates. Just make sure the food and drinks are good."


    "Mr. Zhang, this ce seems a bit small. How about I change the venue for you? We always have a VIP venue reserved for you here."


    "Oh? There''s such a thing?" Zhang Menglong looked around. The ce wasn''t actually small, but to amodate more than thirty people, it indeed was a bit cramped, "That would be great, thank you."


    "No trouble, no trouble at all!" The chubby man smiled broadly, personally leading them to the so-called VIP venue.


    This VIP venue was located on the top floor of the hotel, a rooftop design from where one could even see a panoramic view of the entire wendndscape. Not only that, there was a swimming pool, a dance floor, and all sorts of musical instruments. It was truly a massive party scene!


    "Not bad at all." Zhang Menglong nodded in satisfaction.


    "Mr. Zhang, if you have any other requests, just let me know. I will make sure everything is taken care of."


    "Hahaha, no need, it''s rare to gather with ssmates, I will pay for all expenses tonight!" Zhang Menglong chuckled.


    "What?" The manager was stunned for a moment. The hotel was your property, what difference did it make whether you paid the bill or not?


    "Mr. Zhang, why would you need to pay when you are consuming at your own hotel?"


    "Oh, that''s right." Zhang Menglong also felt a bit awkward.


    "This... this hotel is your property?" Zhang Menglong''s roommates were dumbfounded. This was an international chain of five-star hotels, not some roadside diner!


    "I told you I inherited a fortune, now do you believe me?" Zhang Menglong shrugged.


    "How is this possible?" Lu Xuchao''s face turned from green to purple. This hotel was Zhang Menglong''s property, he had such a fortune and still looked for jobs and worked?


    As for the other ssmates, their expressions were even more vivid. They had been ssmates for over three years and only now did they find out that Zhang Menglong was an unequivocal rich man! They had just been troubling Zhang Menglong earlier to tter Lu Xuchao.


    Suddenly, everyone wanted to find a crevice to crawl into.


    "Well then, let''s do this, I''ll take care of the expenses for the entire hotel today!" Zhang Menglong directly handed a card to the manager, "The money that should be collected has to be collected since the hotel still has to operate!"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, I understand." Although the hotel''s daily turnover was terrifying, he knew that as the owner of this hotel chain, Zhang Menglong''s wealth was even more formidable, and he did not need to worry about him.


    Momentster, the background music in all private rooms and venues of the entire hotel was turned down, and a somewhat excited voice suddenly echoed throughout the Lofitte Hotel.


    "Dear guests, tonight''s expenses for the entire venue will be covered by Mr. Zhang from the VIP venue, let''s cheer for him!"


    Instantly, the entire hotel became deadly quiet, and guests holding chopsticks had a nk expression, unsure where to look.


    But after the moment of silence, a wave of loud noises suddenly erupted.


    "Holy shit! What''s happening?"


    "Are you kidding? Just a private room at Lofitte Hotel costs tens of thousands, plus those special event venues, without millions, who can cover it all?"


    "Awesome! Big spender! Where is the VIP venue? I want to pay my respects!"


    "Rich or not, doesn''t matter. Mainly I like making friends, I want to go meet this Mr. Zhang."


    "Mr. Zhang? Zhang Wujie?"


    ...

 Chapter 28 So it turns out that Unicorn Technology is mine too

    The vast VIP venue had be utterly silent, nobody expected that Zhang Menglong, someone they interacted with day and night, had hidden his true capacity so deeply.


    As of now, Lofitte Hotel''s market value has already exceeded 40 billion US dors, and to be called a boss by the general manager here would imply that Zhang Menglong was at least one of the major shareholders of this hotel, right?


    In other words, was Zhang Menglong now a billionaire?


    Inparison, what difference was there between Lu Xuchao, who had an annual sry of 800,000 and was considered young and promising in everyone''s eyes just a moment ago, and a beggar?


    Not just that, Zhang Menglong had also just footed the bill for the entire hotel''s expenses today!


    They were unclear about how much the hotel made in one night''s revenue, but judging from the expenditure at their event, it wouldn''t be less than several million, and even ten million would be considered normal. Zhang Menglong had reached such avish level of spending that describing it as "spending money like water" would not be an exaggeration!


    "Zhang Meng... Mr. Zhang," those ssmates who had just been saying that Zhang Menglong was freeloading immediately changed their expression, "Mr. Zhang, you''ve hidden it from us for so long, no, we must all have a good drink today!


    "Sorry, I drove here today, so can''t drink," Zhang Menglong bluntly refused. Although he could call for a designated driver, he didn''t feel the slightest joy in drinking with a group of people he barely had any rtionship with.


    "Hahaha, that''s true, you take a drink, and we''ll down ours!" A few guys from the ss chugged their wine, a bottle worth over a hundred thousand they had never tried before. Even if Zhang Menglong didn''t grant them this courtesy, today''s trip would not have been in vain.


    "Zhang Menglong, what the hell is going on with you? Spill it!" Several roommates immediately surrounded Zhang Menglong, "Last time we went to your ce, all you had was an apartment of 89 square meters and a Honda, so why are you so stingy? Last time, we were sent off with a meal of seafood that cost more than a thousand?"


    "Yeah, you even said your dad was a fisherman, could it be that he has taken over the entire ocean farm?"


    "And does your family really own hundreds of inds?"


    "Alright, alright, will you give me a chance to exin?" Zhang Menglong hurriedly interjected.


    "Okay, let''s hear it, let''s see how you spin this!"


    "What if I say I also just found out how rich my family really is, would you believe me?" Zhang Menglong said with a look of grievance.


    "This..." The three roommates looked at each other, indeed, Zhang Menglong''s behavior over the past three years was really no different from ordinary people, eating at the cafeteria every day, with at most a weekend treat at the shopping center.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    The shoes on his feet were typically justmon items that cost two or three hundred yuan, and those AJ sneakers were fake. His everyday demeanor didn''t resemble at all that of a child from a family with hundreds of millions in assets; he couldn''t have been pretending all this time, could he? But if he were, he was ying the part way too convincingly, right?


    Looking at Zhang Menglong now, although they didn''t recognize the brand of his clothes, the pair of shoes he wore were Dior co-branded AJs, now priced at over 100,000, and even with money, they were hard toe by.


    When Zhang Menglong came in earlier, they had thought the guy had bought another pair of Putian knock-offs, but now, even if those shoes were indeed Putian goods, as long as they were on his feet, they''d be the genuine article!


    "You really hit the jackpot all of a sudden?" Xu Li asked for confirmation.


    "Absolutely true, if I''m lying to you guys, I''ll limit myself to just one small goal for next month''s living expenses!"


    "A billion?"


    "Are you trying to attract hatred here, aren''t you?"


    "Damn it, you scoundrel, showing off your wealth right to our faces, let''s take him down!"


    "I''m sorry, I was wrong!" Amid the yful scuffles, a smile finally appeared on Zhang Menglong''s face.


    Compared to those who had a shift in attitude, all respectful after learning of his identity, it was his roommates that made him feel more at ease. Only they represented true friendship.


    "Excuse me, which one of you is Mr. Zhang?" At this moment, a man who looked to be about thirty-five or thirty-six walked in, holding a ss of red wine. He was dressed in an expensive Armani suit, very much the image of a sessful businessman.


    "Director?" Lu Xuchao, who had been left to one side, suddenly seemed to have found his soul again.


    "Hmm? Xuchao, what are you doing here?" The man seemed surprised.


    "I''m here for a reunion with my college ssmates," said Lu Xuchao, his face beaming. Despite being young, their director was one of the founding members of Unicorn Technology. Unicorn Technology''s current market valuation had exceeded one hundred billion US dors, and this director held shares in thepany.


    Although it wasn''t arge percentage, he had already joined the ranks of billionaires. In his eyes, Zhang Menglong relied only on his family''s background. This hotel was surely part of his family''s assets. Inparison with his director, they were simply not on the same level.


    "Let me introduce everyone. This is the marketing director of our Unicorn Technology. The entire Huaxia''s strategicyout is his responsibility," Lu Xuchao said with pride, as if he were introducing himself. Even though this director had high expectations for him and was grooming him to be his right-hand man.


    "I just heard the announcement, Mr. Zhang is picking up the tab for everyone today. We''ve all benefited from it, so I specifically came over to express my thanks. Xuchao, is this Mr. Zhang your ssmate?" Xu Feng, who had the ability to be the marketing director of Unicorn Technology, naturally had exceptional social experience. This Mr.


    Zhang was generous. Either he had personal energy, or his family background was extraordinary.


    Making connections with such people could possibly lead to close business coborations. Even if there wasn''t a chance right now, it would be an important part of hiswork. That''s why he personally came to meet Mr. Zhang.


    "Hi, my name is Zhang Menglong," said Zhang Menglong as he walked out from the crowd. "Just call me by my name, ''Mr. Zhang'' sounds like I''m in a period drama."


    "You... not... you..." Xu Feng''s expression suddenly froze, and his entire body seemed to lock in ce.


    Not long ago, theirpany had suddenly announced a significant transfer of shareholder shares. Most of thepany''s equity had been transferred to a new boss. As part of the leadership, after making inquiries, Xu Feng found out that the shareholders holdingrge amounts of shares were just representatives of the real mastermind behind the scenes!


    And now, rumor had it that the boss intended to hand over all his assets to his younger generation. That''s why he was reorganizing all his assets. Although the boss only appeared to own 37% of the shares on the surface, in reality, he controlled over 95% of thepany''s shares!


    A piece of top-secret information circted among thepany''s leadership: it was the picture and name of their trusted chairman. Although it was said that the chairman never interfered with the business, leaving most of the matters to the directors, Xu Feng still quietly took note of the chairman''s information.


    This chairman was a young man in his early twenties. At the time, Xu Feng found it hard to believe. How could such a young person have established such a colossalpany?


    And the person before him now matched the chairman who had never appeared in public.


    "Mr. Zhang! It''s an honor to meet you. I didn''t expect to see you here!"


    "Huh?" Zhang Menglong paused, "Do you know me?"


    "Mr. Zhang, the ordinary staff and management of thepany naturally do not know your true face, but Director Bai showed us your information."


    "Wait, what information about me?" Zhang Menglong was getting more confused as he listened.


    "Mr. Zhang, don''t you know? The directors already transferred most of the shares back into your name. Although you don''t manage thepany, in reality, you are still ourpany''s chairman."


    "What? So Unicorn Technology is mine too?" Zhang Menglong finally understood what he was saying. "Damn, how much stuff did my dad arrange for me?"


    "What? Mr. Zhang, you didn''t know about this?"


    "Er, I''ve just inherited the family''s assets. I don''t know how much stuff there is, so..."


    Upon hearing this, the ssmates who had just regained someposure from their shock all opened their mouths wide again in amazement.


    So it turned out Zhang Menglong was actually the chairman of Unicorn Technology! They had actually asked Zhang Menglong to work in Unicorn Technology a moment ago? Asking a chairman to do a regr employee''s job¡ªthey hadmitted such an absurd mistake!


    They were wrong! Terribly wrong. Zhang Menglong was not just a billionaire; damn it, he was a hundred-billionaire!

 Chapter 29 I Originally Wanted to Keep a Low Profile

    "Mr. Zhang, this one''s for you first!" Xu Feng downed the drink in his ss, "Have a great time, I''ll leave you be."


    Xu Feng bowed slightly to Zhang Menglong and then left the VIP area on that level.


    If Lu Xuchao was merely shocked upon learning that the hotel belonged to Zhang Menglong, now he was practically soul-shaken to the core.


    Zhang Menglong was actually the chairman of Unicorn Technology!


    Initially, standing before Zhang Menglong, he had felt a sense of superiority, but now, just a word from Zhang Menglong could potentially get him fired the next day for entering thepany with his left foot before the right.


    He believed that if Zhang Menglong wanted, he had a thousand ways to make him unable to stay in thepany!


    "Mr. Zhang, I hadn''t thought..." At this moment, Lu Xuchao''s heart was overwhelmed by fear and regret. All these years in university and he''d missed a huge ship! No, not a ship, a friggin'' Gctic Battleship!


    However, Zhang Menglong wasn''t so petty as to use his connections to get back at Lu Xuchao over such a minor squabble, because he never really took Lu Xuchao seriously to begin with. Lu Xuchao had always been silentlypeting with Zhang Menglong, but it waspletely one-sided.


    "Tsk tsk, which Mr. Zhang could it be, indeed it''s you, the tycoon!" Amidst a heartyughter, a group of people walked into the VIP area.


    "Principal Wang!" Everyone present recognized the young man who had just walked in; he was also at this hotel, and from his tone, he seemed to know Zhang Menglong.


    "Ah!! Ling Ge!" A group of fangirls screamed.


    Though not as popr as the current traffic stars, Ling Ge was undeniably a top-tier star among the younger generation of actors, still highly popr among girls.


    Wang Ling didn''t really care about anyone else; in his eyes, only those whose wealth and background were equal to his own were worthy of being his true friends. As for Ling Ge, he was just quietly following behind Wang Ling.


    "Principal, what brings you here?" Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling bumped fists.


    "Just came to see which big shot was so generous as to book the entire Lofitte Hotel tonight, and seeing it''s you, I''m not surprised at all." Wang Ling seemed still to be holding a grudge from the day Zhang Menglong had smashed his car worth tens of millions on him.


    "Just hanging out with some college friends today, took the rare chance to have some fun!"


    "Yeah, you''ve got ''happy'' written all over your face!" Wang Ling was extremely shrewd; he could tell that Zhang Menglong''s mood wasn''t actually that great.


    "Hahaha, with so many people here, give me some face!"


    "Damn, who in the world would dare not give you, Mr. Zhang, face?" Wang Ling said to Ling Ge beside him, "Ling Dog, this is Mr. Zhang Menglong, this rascal is filthy rich. I never used to care if my friends were rich or not, but now I do because my friends might not be as rich as me."


    "Is this the friend you mentioned who dunked money on your head?" Ling Ge had heard about Zhang Menglong from Wang Ling.


    "Who else but him?" Wang Lingughed.


    "Nice to meet you, Mr. Zhang, I''m Ling Ge. If you watch movies, you should know me."


    "Of course, I know you." Zhang Menglong shook hands with Ling Ge. The stars of the past, who used to be aloof, are now just ordinary people with more fans.


    "It''s not often someone can put the principal in his ce; I''ve known him for so long, and you''re the first."


    "Cut it out!" Wang Ling said, "If he wanted to make someone look foolish, I doubt even the richest man in the world could withstand it!"


    Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling started talking, their conversation clear to everyone around them!


    As a top-level influencerparable to a top-tier inte celebrity, Wang Ling''s fanbase is quite substantial, which of course includes haters and casual onlookers.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    At least in Zhang Menglong''s ss, almost everyone who used Weibo followed Wang Ling''s Weibo, and the information he posted a few days ago was there for all to see.


    Some unknown super rich guy bought dozens of sports cars and even gifted a Lamborghini Poison worth 72 million Huaxia currency to Wang Ling. Even Wang Ling eximed that he was being smashed with money on the head.


    Not only that, the tycoon who transported a car via helicopter over the cross-sea bridge a few days earlier was the same person, and now they''ve realized that this person mentioned by Wang Ling was none other than Zhang Menglong!


    He was that mysterious rich man!


    ording to those car experts on Weibo at the time, the total value of those cars definitely exceeded two billion Huaxia currency!


    If a person spends over twenty billion to buy cars, it means that his total assets exceed ten times that twenty billion, or even more! And it''s all in cash!


    Hundreds of billions of Huaxia currency in cash. Did Zhang Menglong grow up in an ocean of money since childhood?


    "By the way, where''s Qin Feng?" As Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling were chatting eagerly, Zhang suddenly thought of Qin Feng.


    "Oh, he has gone back to Mingzhu City!"


    "Then why aren''t you going back?"


    "Hehe, I''m not nning to go back!" Wang Ling said with a smile, "I n to move my business to Jiangnan City. As you know, the development here is getting better and better, especially in the emerce and inte sectors. I want to make some achievements based on my own skills, so I won''t just bebeled as a spoiled second-generation rich kid."


    "Hahaha, ying less with a couple of inte celebrities is better than anything!"


    "No way!" Wang Lingughed, "These are the only hobbies I have in life. By the way, I know quite a few socialites. Would you like me to introduce you to some?"


    "Forget it, socialites? Just a bunch of women brainwashed by budget shopping, how could they catch my eye?"


    "Hahaha, you are amazing, Mr. Zhang!" Wang Ling also heard about thetest hot gossip, "Alright, I''m heading back now. If you''re free, why note over to my ce tomorrow?"


    "Sure!" Now that Zhang Menglong was in his senior year, he barely had any sses left, and since he didn''t need to look for a job, why not?


    "OK, it''s settled then. I''ll send you the location tomorrow, and show you some cool stuff that will definitely blow your mind!"


    "Eh, I hope it''s not some messy stuff? I am a respectable person!"


    "Get lost!" Wang Lingughed and cursed as he left the venue.


    After Wang Ling left, several more groups of people arrived. They were either somepany''s CEO or some inte-famous stars¡ªthe ce was almost turning into a major high society mingle spot. With all the abundant food, no one had the appetite to continue eating.


    After sending off thest group of guests, Zhang Menglong was somewhat exhausted. Had he known it would be so troublesome, why bother paying? The money just circted and ended right back in his own pocket; not a cent was spent, and yet here he was, busy being a socialite, really not worth it.


    "Zhang Menglong, you keep things so under wraps!"


    "We underestimated you!" his roommates cast threatening nces at him.


    Zhang Menglong spread his hands, "I originally wanted to keep a low profile, but my strength doesn''t allow it!"


    "Are you even speaking humannguage? Keep a low profile? When you, Mr. Zhang, paid for everyone at the event, where was your hint of low profile?"


    "Ah!" Sun Yulei sighed, "Perhaps in the eyes of the wealthy, the ultimate low profile is just to this degree..."

 Chapter 30 Actually, I Built Your House

    Jiangnan City''s most luxurious vi is located by the West Lake waterfront. The location in this scenic area is literally worth its weight in gold. During the development of thisnd, at least hundreds of real estatepaniespeted, but in the end, Huiteng Group easily acquired it.


    When this vi district wasunched, the price had reached an astronomical 120,000 yuan per square meter, and that was the price five years ago. Since the Asia-Pacific Conference, the price here had skyrocketed to 250,000 yuan per square meter, a price onlyparable to First-grade in Mingzhu City.


    The residents here were almost all among the wealthiest in Jiangnan City, such as Mr. Ma Yun of Alibaba, who owned a private vi here.


    In the heart of the vi district, a particr vi spanned an area of 1,200 square meters. With various fees included, this vi''s price exceeded 300 million Huaxia yuan!


    This vi had been revealed several years ago and was said to have been purchased by the chairman of Wanda, who is Wang Ling''s father.


    However, this vi had been idle for a long time, until not long ago, it was quietly transferred to Wang Ling''s name.


    "Dad, I''ve invited Menglong to my ce today!" Wang Ling was on the phone with her father in that spacious study.


    As someone born into a family of merchants, Wang Ling''s friendship with Zhang Menglong was genuine, of course, though she hoped to gain some benefits from him as well¡ªthat was also true. But it didn''t affect their rtionship, as long as she managed it properly.


    "Hmm, I know," a voice full of authority came through the phone, "I''ve checked the information you mentioned, this Zhang Menglong is quite interesting!"


    "Dad, did you investigate him? Didn''t I tell you not to just investigate my friends? If he finds out, this..."


    "Don''t worry, I used some special connections; he won''t find out," said Wang''s father, "I found several identities for him, the most representative being that he is actually the chairman of Unicorn Group!"


    "What?" Wang Ling was stunned. She had nned to enter the inte industry two years ago, but the live streaming sector had been hit by the short video industry, and it was Unicorn Group that thrived on the short video industry, causing her considerable loss at the time.


    Now, Unicorn Group had be a giant she had to look up to, and its market value was even closing in on their family''s Wanda Group!


    "But what''s really strange is that I couldn''t find a single piece about his family background. My data shows that his father is just a fisherman and his mother is just a housewife, and his other elders have been deceased for a long time."


    "How could that be?" Wang Ling had always believed Zhang Menglong must havee from an incredibly powerful family.


    "Of course, it can''t be like this, otherwise, do you think a youngster in his twenties could own such an enterprise?" Wang''s father asserted, "This only shows that his background is far more formidable than we can imagine. What we see is merely what he''s willing to let us see."


    Wang''s father continued, "Wang Ling, make sure you maintain a proper bnce while befriending Zhang Menglong. Growing close to him would be best, it could benefit your future."


    "I understand, I was serious about befriending him anyway!" Wang Ling suddenly received a message from Zhang Menglong on WeChat, "Alright, dad, Menglong is here, I''ll talk to youter!"


    Wang Ling had already informed the security of the vi district, and Zhang Menglong faced no obstructions, moreover, his sports car clearly showcased its high price. Even if she hadn''t informed them earlier, it''s unlikely the security would have had the guts to stop him.


    "Tsk tsk tsk, this car of yours, when will you let me drive it for a few days?" Wang Ling said enviously as she looked at Zhang Menglong''s car.


    "This shy car isn''t practical at all!" Zhang Menglongined, "I have to go to the gas station every day, it''s so annoying!"


    "Haha, then you might as well build a gas station right at your doorstep," Wang Ling joked.


    "Huh? How did you know?" Zhang Menglong said unexpectedly, "I just bought several storefronts outside the residential area, and they should bepleted within a month at most."


    The smile on Wang Ling''s face instantly stiffened, "You''re joking, right?"


    Zhang Menglong said seriously, "Brother, I''m not joking. You''ll know next time you visit my house."


    "I... All right, I admit Icked imagination!" Wang Ling nced at the vi behind him, and only then did he feel slightly more confident. He believed that there was no vi more luxurious than the one behind him throughout Jiangnan City.


    "How''s that, not bad where I live, huh?" Wang Ling said confidently, determined to regain some face this time. After all, he was once Huaxia''s top rich second generation, how could he tolerate any humiliation?


    "Not bad." Zhang Menglong nodded slightly. This vi was indeed grand, but after experiencing his own residential area, this vi seemed rather ordinary.


    "What do you mean ''not bad''?" Wang Ling didn''t expect Zhang Menglong to be expressionless as if the vi worth three billion simply wasn''t impressive at all, "Brother, just the size of this vi is worth three billion. Could it be that it doesn''t catch the eye of Young Master Zhang?"


    "Hm? Was it developed by Huiteng Group?" Zhang Menglong noticed the property logo on the side.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "That''s right," Wang Ling said.


    "I see, you invited me over today just to regain your image," Zhang Menglong said half-jokingly.


    "You have a good eye, Young Master Zhang!" Wang Ling readily admitted, "That day, you crushed me with money. Today I must recover some face. And let me tell you, my house has many treasures, all collected by my old man, guaranteed to amaze you!"


    "Let''s not talk about being amazed or not yet," Zhang Menglong pointed at the property logo with a calm expression, "You might not believe this, but Huiteng Group is also part of my family''s assets. In other words, this house was basically built by my family."


    "What the heck?" Wang Ling''s expression instantly twisted, "Huiteng Group... is yours?"


    "Shush!" Zhang Menglong gestured, "Keep it down, keep it down!"


    "Keep it down your sister!" Wang Ling suddenly burst out swearing. He finally found a chance to restore a bit of his dignity, but it turned out, the vi he was so proud of was developed by Zhang Menglong''s family''s real estate group.


    And this real estate group was none other than Huaxia''srgest, Huiteng Group, making him want to find a crack in the ground to crawl into!


    "Wait, I remember that the chairman of Huiteng Group is surnamed Hong, not Zhang." Wang Ling was puzzled.


    "Oh, that''s just for keeping a low profile!" Zhang Menglong exined, "The current chairman of Huiteng is my dad''s former butler, and his daughter, my full-time assistant."


    "I..." Wang Ling raised his hand and pped himself hard on the face, "What am I even showing off! Everything is yours, how can I evenpete! I''m totally breaking down!"

 Chapter 31 This Friendship Is Over

    "Stop, stop, stop, don''t fight," Zhang Menglong hurriedly interjected, "If you can''t handle this little thrill, I''m afraid you''ll p your own head off after being friends with me for too long."


    "How was I supposed to know you''re so damn rich? I''m practically throwing my face out there for you to punch!" Wang Lingmented, on the verge of tears, "I always thought I was one of the top second-generation rich in Huaxia, butpared to you, I''m just a pauper!"


    What kind of behemoth is Huiteng Group? A Fortune Global 500pany, with a market value of over 300 billion US dors, while byparison, Wang Ling''s family''s Wanda Group was only worth 300 billion, but their currency was Huaxia yuan.


    That''s a gap of nearly 7 times!


    And heaven knows if Zhang Menglong has any other industries besides Unicorn Group and Huiteng Group, Wang Ling was even too afraid to ask.


    "Hey, don''t keepparing like that, I''m not interested in money, well, except for spending it!"


    "Shut your mouth, will you!" The more Wang Ling spoke with Zhang Menglong, the more irritated he became, "Juste on in, someone will park your car for you. Just give the keys to the butler."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Thanks." Zhang Menglong handed the car keys to the butler, then walked into the luxury vi with Wang Ling.


    The first floor of this vi alone was a whopping 500 square meters, featuring an immensely spacious living room, a small private cinema, a sweat room, a spy room¡ªeverything one could wish for was there.


    "You sure know how to enjoy life!" Everywhere Zhang Menglong looked, there were items from internationally renowned brands, he estimated that the cost of decorating and furnishing this vi might even exceed the value of the vi itself.


    "They''re just some of my old man''s hobbies," Wang Ling said with augh, "This is where he nned to retire, but now it''s mine."


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk, it must be nice to be a rich second-generation," Zhang Menglong remarked.


    "What right do you have to talk about me?" Wang Ling gave Zhang Menglong a disdainful look, "I just snagged a vi under my dad''s name, whereas you have several hundred-billion-dor corporations. You''re even richer than my old man!"


    "I don''t want to either, but there''s no helping it, that''s fate!" Zhang Menglong said helplessly, "I simply wanted to be a regr person with a job, but you can me NetEase for this, it''s all because one of their rted parties took my position, otherwise I wouldn''t have been forced to take over the family fortune."


    "Can you say that with a clear conscience? What do you mean ''forced''? Will your dad need a foster son anytime soon? I too would like to be ''forced'' into inheriting his assets."


    "Alright, enough of that. Aren''t you going to give me a tour? Didn''t you say you had many things here that would blow my mind?" Zhang Menglong stopped the banter.


    "Hehe, these things, even if you were to have all the money, you still might not be able to get them!" Wang Ling suddenly puffed out his chest, "Take a look at this painting on the wall."


    Zhang Menglong''s gaze shifted to the huge painting in the center of the living room, which was close to five meters in length and more than 30 centimeters wide,parable even with Master Zhang Zeduan''s "Along the River During the Qingming Festival."


    "This is pretty interesting," Zhang Menglong said, scrutinizing the painting, "Northern Song style of painting, the style is indeed somewhat close to that of Master Zhang Zeduan, using a scattered perspective technique. This seems to depict the scenery near the Qin Great Wall."


    "Wow, you seem to know quite a lot."


    "Learned a bit in art ss in second grade," Zhang Menglong responded offhandedly.


    "God, second grade... you''ve been watching too many videos on your little broken site, huh?" Wang Ling retorted sarcastically.


    "But you do have a point. The style of Master Zhang Zeduan was actually a continuation from this painting. On the back, there arements and a signature from the master himself. He called this painting his ''teacher'', which shows the high artistic value of this work."


    "This thing wasn''t cheap, was it?"


    "Cheap doesn''t even begin to cover it. It wouldn''t be an exaggeration to call it a national treasure. And that master only had this one work in his life, there isn''t a second piece in existence anywhere in the world. My father bought it for 1.2 billion at an antique auction in 2013 after over 50 bids!"


    "Awesome! I wonder which master''s heirloom creation it is. Can I take a look?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "You can look, but be careful. Although the painting has undergone surface treatment, you should still wear gloves." Wang Ling meticulously pulled out a pair of gloves and handed them to him before taking the scroll down from the wall.


    "This painting belongs in the heavens; Wu Jian thinks of it as a master''s guide." These were the words left by Master Zhang Zeduan on the back of the painting.


    "This master must be about seventy or eighty years older than Zhang. It''s a work from the year 1003, named Zhang Xizhi."


    "Love wild?" Zhang Menglong instinctively added two words.


    "Hehehe!" Wang Ling and Zhang Menglong exchanged nces and began tough sleazily, "Looks like Brother Zhang is a man of simr tastes. I also admire Teacher Xizhi''s works."


    "Great minds think alike. Next time, let''s exchange views. I''ve got a few gigs of that stuff, you know what I mean." Wang Ling was particrly excited when it came to such matters; a man''s joy is often found in the simplest things.


    "Cough cough cough! Let''s talk serious!" said Wang Ling, "It''s said that this painting was just a hobby for Master Zhang Xizhi. He was also the richest man of the time, so wealthy that even the Emperor of the Northern Song would often borrow money from him."


    "Wait a minute, Zhang Xizhi, why does that name sound so familiar?" Zhang Menglong took out his phone and opened a file, a family tree given to him by Hong Yi not long ago.


    "What''s this?" Wang Ling curiously leaned over.


    "Genealogy!" Zhang Menglong''s ancestral line stretched back over two hundred generations, and he was the 250th, "Found it, my 192nd ancestor, named Zhang Xizhi!"


    "You..." Wang Ling''s expression suddenly froze, and he looked at Zhang Menglong as if he were a monster, "This Master Zhang Xizhi is your ancestor? It can''t be a coincidence of names, can it?"


    "If he was the wealthiest, then there''s no mistake," Zhang Menglong said earnestly, "My dad told me that our family has been wealthy for thousands of years, of course, we''ve been low-key, so almost no one knows."


    "I bought a watchst year!" At this moment, Wang Ling felt like tearing up the priceless painting right there and then.


    He had been boasting in front of Zhang Menglong for so long, hoping to elicit at least a hint of envy from him, or at the very least, to bask in the glow of his astonished gaze.


    But to hisplete surprise, the painting also turned out to be a work by his ancestor.


    "Wait, if your family has been the wealthiest for thousands of years, how much money do you guys have now?" Wang Ling was full of curiosity ¨C it was just too incredible. Logically, if such a family existed, they would have been legendary in history, but there was no Zhang Family mentioned anywhere. Perhaps Zhang Menglong was just boasting?


    "I really don''t know about that," Zhang Menglong opened his phone, "but when I inherited the family wealth, my dad gave me a year''s living expenses."


    "A year''s living expenses? With the way you act, it must be at least in the hundreds of billions, right?" Wang Ling hadn''t forgotten about Zhang Menglong''s tens of billions spent on a fleet of sports cars.


    "Here, count for yourself!" Zhang Menglong showed Wang Ling the bnce on his bank card.


    "One, ten, hundred, thousand, million... over nine hundred billion?" Wang Ling''s mouth gaped open wide enough to fit an egg. His earlier joke about hundreds of billions was just that, a joke. Perhaps Zhang Menglong had just recently inherited his family fortune and was behaving like a nouveau riche, possibly having spent the majority of this so-called year''s living allowance on cars.


    "Look at the currency unit."


    "US Dor?!" Wang Ling''s eyes bulged like bells, nearly a trillion US dors in assets, and in cash, and this was only Zhang Menglong''s yearly allowance?


    "This..." Wang Ling''s voice even trembled, "Friend, I can''t continue this rtionship..."

 Chapter 32 Can the Entire Universe Be Your Home?

    ```


    $100 billion, that''s a number that causes awe just by looking at it. Even if they sold all of the Wanda Group''s assets, they couldn''t buy $100 billion. Zhang Menglong merely needs to take out his yearly allowance, and he could directly buy two Wandas!


    "Zhang Menglong, I now find that being friends with you is just too much pressure," Wang Ling said with a bitter smile and shook his head. From now on, his title of the richest second-generation in Huaxia was only in name.


    "It''s okay, don''t feel pressured," Zhang Menglong patted Wang Ling''s shoulder, "I don''t make friends based on whether they have money or not. After all, definitely no one has more money than I do!"


    "You, haha, I admit defeat!" Wang Ling saw Zhang Menglong use that same line he had once said to tease him, and he couldn''t help but feel both annoyed and amused.


    "Got anything else? Let me broaden my horizons," Zhang Menglong said.


    "How would I dare show off anything in front of you? For all I know, it could be something one of your ancestors left behind. I''d rather not embarrass myself," Wang Ling admitted, thoroughly daunted.


    "This piano is quite nice!" Zhang Menglong walked up to the brown piano in the hall, "It''s of a certain age, but surprisingly, the sound quality is still so intact, it must have been well-maintained."


    Zhang Menglong pressed a few keys, and the piano emitted a clear and touching sound.


    "An expert, I see!" Wang Ling remarked, his excitement picking up again when talking about the piano. "What, have you learned to y?"


    "A bit, but it''s just amateur grade ten level."


    "This piano has been renovated many times. It''s quite significant because its first owner was Chopin."


    "You managed to get your hands on this?" Zhang Menglong remembered that his own family also had a piano used by Beethoven and Liszt; these two pianos, if we''re talking about historical value, should be considered fairly equal.


    "My old man loves collecting these things," Wang Ling chuckled, "But this piano is a bit different. Chopin used many pianos throughout his life, and this one was gifted to him by a Huaxia merchant who also carved his inscription on it."


    Wang Ling lifted the lid of the grand piano, and neatly written in regr script on it was a line, "To my friend Chopin¡ªQing, Zhang Wenshan."


    "Wait," Wang Ling''s body abruptly tensed, then slowly turned toward Zhang Menglong, "This merchant''s surname is Zhang, it can''t be that much of a coincidence, can it?"


    "You''re right, it is indeed such a coincidence." Zhang Menglong found Zhang Wenshan''s name in the family tree, and the era he lived in matched perfectly with Chopin''s.


    "Well, I''m at a loss for words!" Wang Ling had nothing more to say. Anyway, it seems like everything belonged to their family!


    "Now I''m really starting to regret inviting you over," Wang Ling said helplessly, "I thought I could put on quite a show, but it turns out I was just setting myself up for disappointment."


    "If you visited my house, I guarantee the shock you suffered today would be ten times worse!" Zhang Menglongughed. The treasures stored in his three-story study could fill a national-level museum; any single artifact taken out could be considered a national treasure.


    Not to mention Wang Ling, even he himself was indescribably shocked when he saw that study.


    "Let''s go, let me treat you to a simple meal," Wang Ling patted Zhang Menglong''s shoulder, "My chef was specially brought in from overseas; not only is he proficient in a variety of Western dishes, but he''s also quite outstanding at cooking our Huaxia cuisine."


    "I''m pretty hungry, too." Zhang Menglong patted his stomach, "By the way, I heard your live streaming tform shut down; what do you n to do next?"


    "I think I''ll move towards technology. After all, the Inte market is pretty saturated, and jumping in now would definitely lead to a bruising. Now that the Western countries are afraid of our Huaxia''s rise, they''re imposing strict technology restrictions; I think this could be a good opportunity."


    "Sounds good, if you decide to go for it, I''ll invest!" Zhang Menglong said. Working on technology is quite a nice way to spend money. If he had some connections, he could certainly look for ways to invest in scientific research!


    "By the way!"


    ```


    Zhang Menglong pped his forehead. All those Ph.D. advisers and master''s advisers in this school, aren''t they the best investors he could ask for?


    Zhang Menglong had already chosen his graduation project, and in a couple of days, he would return to school to start working on his graduation design. Before that, he had a chat with the senior in charge of supervising his experiment.


    His supervisor was considered quite prestigious within the school. Every year, the scientific research funding for his group was calcted in tens of millions.


    For those teachers engaged in scientific research, funding was the most headache-inducing issue. They ran back and forth betweenpanies and schools all day long. Some of the lesser-known teachers couldn''t secure much funding even in an entire year.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    If he were to support their scientific research funding, that wouldn''t be considered a donation! This was called investment! There were hundreds of teachers in their school, including professors, associate professors, andb technicians. Zhang Menglong could absolutely spend arge sum of money!


    "Hahaha, Old Wang! You really gave me an inspiration!"


    "Huh?" Wang Ling was immediately puzzled. What had he said? How had he inspired him, "And please, don''t call me Old Wang, it sounds a bit indecent!"


    "Hahaha, you don''t need to know exactly what inspiration you gave me, but I must really thank you for this. How about it? Want to pick any one of the cars I boughtst time? But the Koenigsegg CCXR is off-limits!"


    "Zhang Menglong, I find you to be a beast!" Wang Ling said through clenched teeth, "Even if I, Wang Ling, were to die broke, even if I jumped off the third floor, I would never take anything from you again!"


    "Is that so? I was actually nning to have the factory make another CCXR for you!"


    "What? Make another one for me? Do you think you own Koenigsegg or something?"


    "You guessed right. I hold a majority of the shares in Koenigsegg through my people. Otherwise, why do you think they would stop all other orders to build cars for me?"


    "Holy shit!"


    "Since you don''t want it, then forget it, to avoid the hassle..."


    "I want it, I want it, who said I didn''t!" Wang Ling quickly interjected, "Damn, that''s sweet!"


    "By the way, there''s a gemstone appreciation event next week in Jiangnan City. Are you interested in checking it out?" Since Wang Ling had already be close with Zhang Menglong, naturally, he wanted to create more opportunities to strengthen their rtionship.


    "You''re interested in that?"


    "Hahaha, I heard that this appreciation event will have quite a few jade raw stones. Have you ever heard of stone gambling?"


    "The kind that''s been written to death in urban novels?" Zhang Menglong quipped.


    "Exactly, but this is reality, so there''s no such thing as X-ray vision or supernatural powers. I n to buy a couple of pieces and try my luck too. Who knows, I might make a small fortune."


    "No supernatural powers, but I have the power of cash!" Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up. He had heard that stone gambling often involved raw stones worth hundreds of thousands or even millions. Wasn''t this a faster way to spend money than buying sports cars?


    ...


    As the two chatted over their meal, Wang Ling, who had grown up in a wealthy family, really had a different perspective. After this conversation, Zhang Menglong felt that there might be a chance to aplish his task of spending 100 billion US dors within a year.


    He also wondered what exactly the Super God Academy was like. Zhang Menglong''s curiosity grew stronger. He believed that as long as he gained ess to the Super God Academy, he would definitely find out where his parents had gone!

 Chapter 33 Lets start by investing 50 million

    "Menglong, how was your October 1 holiday?" The next morning, bright and early, Zhang Menglong received a call from his senior, Zhu Mengchao.


    "Not bad, and you, senior?"


    "Us miserable PhD students, of course, were just shaking those bottles and jars in theb," Zhu Mengchao said helplessly. "I don''t know what got into my head, finishing grad school and then enrolling in a PhD program. My hair is thinning by the day, yet my pockets have never bulged."


    "Don''t you get a decent monthly subsidy?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Subsidy? Forget about it! The university''s three-thousand subsidy is barely enough to live on, a casual purchase by the girlfriend and it''s all gone. This year, Teacher Han''s research funding is too tight; ourbor fee has already been cut from four thousand a month to eight hundred. More tears than words!"


    "Oh?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up. It seemed that due to this year''s overall situation, these traditional enterprises had been affected, and even university professors were unable to secure research funding.


    "Let''s not talk about that anymore. You should start preparing for your thesis. Let''s start tomorrow; I''ll send you some materials to look over, and tomorrow I''ll take you to start the experiments."


    "Alright," said Zhang Menglong.


    Zhang Menglong turned on hisputer, and indeed a file had already been sent to his email.


    "Graphene surface modification?" Zhang Menglong nced briefly at his topic. Graphene was a very popr inorganic material recently; its excellent performance ys a critically important role in many domains.


    However, the cost of producing graphene was quite high; the mostmon Hummer''s method produced inbs results in less than one gram per week, and its purity was very low.


    Those high-purity graphenes even sold for thousands of yuan per gram, ten times more expensive than gold!


    "Wow, indeed, engaging in scientific research is the most expensive!" Zhang Menglong nced at his experiment content; just the price of this one gram of high-purity graphene reached 2000 yuan. No wonder these professors are always trying to make money in various enterprises, a research group is simply like a money-burning machine.


    Thinking this, Zhang Menglong immediately called Zhu Mengchao again.


    "Menglong, what''s up, do you have any questions about the topic?"


    "No issues with the topic," Zhang Menglong said, "I just wanted to ask, senior, whether our research group''s funding is really tight?"


    "Ah, speaking of this, I''m really troubled!" Zhu Mengchao lowered his voice. "Last year, Teacher Han secured 30 million yuan in research funding, hoping to achieve some breakthroughs in graphene. We''ve had some sess now."


    "But this 30 million in funding willst less than a month at most. The enterprises coborating with us are also pressing us for results. Business is tough, and they are unwilling to increase their research investment anymore. Teacher Han has been worried sick during this period."


    "Is the funding gap huge?" Zhang Menglong tentatively asked.


    "Quite huge, at least 25 million I''d say. But don''t worry, the funding for your graduation project is still sufficient, but we are the ones who will suffer, s..."


    "Senior, is Teacher Han at the university these days?"


    "Teacher Han went to the enterprises again these past two days, but he will be back at the university the day after tomorrow. Is there something you need?" Zhu Mengchao asked. "Wait, you aren''t thinking of doing a graduate study, are you? Don''t make that mistake, advising people to get a PhD is like cursing their lineage; don''t step into this pitfall of a major, you have a bright future ahead."


    "Senior, I''m thinking of investing some research funding into our research group."


    "What? Could you repeat that?" Zhu Mengchao thought he had misheard. Investing in research was no joke; not only did it bear enormous risks, but even if there were results, turning research achievements into an industry took a very long time.


    Most importantly, Zhang Menglong was just an ordinary senior undergraduate student; where would he get the money to support research? Even millions wouldn''tst long with their research group''s rate of spending.


    "Senior, I mean I want to invest some research funding into our research group." Zhang Menglong repeated, "You just said there is still a 25 million gap, right? I''ll first invest 50 million."


    "What? 50 million? Wait, junior, you must be joking, right? You..."


    "Seriously, I''m not joking. Look, I''m about to leave the university, and I just thought of making a contribution to our school, to our research group before I graduate."


    "But..." Teacher Han had a notoriously tough temperament. If Zhang Menglong was joking, he, as a senior, would have to face severe repercussions from Teacher Han.


    "Senior, this is what we''ll do, give me Teacher Han''s contact info, and I''ll speak to him myself; that way, even if there are issues, it won''t affect you," Zhang Menglong knew what Zhu Mengchao was worried about. ÔÚÕâÖÖÊÂÇéÉÏ,»»×öÒ»°ãÈË,Ë­ÄÜÏàÐÅÄØ?n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Even though that 30 million had been hard-won by Professor Han making trip after trip, signing many agreements and uses, the school still took a portion of it for the so-called "procedural fees", so what he actually got was nowhere near 30 million.


    "Okay, but you must not say that I gave you the number."


    "Don''t worry, senior, I''ll treat you to a meal when the timees!"


    "No need for a meal," Zhu Mengchao said, "If you can really help our research group solve the funding issue, I''d be more than thankful. This way, Old Han won''t deduct ourbor fees anymore."


    "Hahaha, don''t worry, senior, I''ll definitely talk to them for you!"


    Zhang Menglong got Professor Han''s phone number smoothly from Zhu Mengchao.


    Professor Han, full name Han Jinyu, was a well-respected professor at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology and also the head of the Materials Science department. He held the title of Yangtze River Schr, and if this project seeded, he even had the chance to be the second self-developed Academician of the university, which was no small feat for an ordinary university like theirs.


    Han Jinyuy on the hotel bed with a troubled expression, surrounded by a thick stack of documents.


    Though he appeared to be a suave professor, only they knew how painful it was to deal with business owners.


    Especially when asking them for money, it was like bowing and scraping.


    Today, he had been given the cold shoulder again. The project had been ongoing, and its achievements were merely on paper. However, the businesses werepletely uninterested in what level of papers were published, even if they were on top-notch international journals like Science or Nature.


    They only cared about how the research results could be applied to the industry, how it could help them make more money, and that was all.


    Having already invested 30 million, they had seen no returns yet, and now Han Jinyu was asking them for more funds. Wasn''t that a joke? Businesses were not charities!


    Just as Han Jinyu was on the verge of a breakdown, his phone rang, but on the other end was the voice of a very young man.


    "Hello, may I speak to Professor Han?"


    "Who is this?"


    "Professor Han, I''m Zhang Menglong, who chose your research group for my graduation project this year. You should remember me, right?"


    "Oh, it''s you," Han Jinyu said, "Didn''t I assign Zhu Mengchao to guide you with the experiments? What''s the matter, did something go wrong with the experiments, or has your senior neglected his duties?"


    Han Jinyu''s attitude quickly made Zhang Menglong feel favorable towards him. He knew many teachers who always acted high and mighty towards ordinary students. Just for that, Zhang Menglong was willing to help him.


    "No, not at all, senior has been taking good care of me."


    "Well, that''s good. So, did you call me for something?" Han Jinyu really couldn''t imagine why a graduate would call him unless he hoped for leniency in his graduation project.


    "Professor Han, I heard that your research group has recently encountered some financial problems, so¡­"


    "Did Meng Chao tell you that?" Han Jinyu''s tone suddenly became serious. That kind of information was supposed to be confidential within the research group. How could it be casually mentioned to a student doing a graduation project?


    "Teacher, please don''t be angry, here''s the thing: I have some funds I''d like to invest in our research group as research funds. When would you be avable to discuss this matter?"


    "Research funds?" Han Jinyu couldn''t help butugh, "How much are you nning to invest in ourb?"


    "Let''s start with 50 million for now?"


    "What? 50 million?"


    "Yes, and if that''s not enough, I can add moreter. You said you''re out of town these days, so I¡­"


    "No, no, no, where are you right now? I''ll return to the university immediately!" Han Jinyu suddenly seemed to regain all his energy. This time, his research was saved!

 Chapter 34 Hazy, I Have a Daughter

    Han Jinyu purchased his return flight ticket to Jiangnan City with the utmost urgency. Although he was still not certain if what Zhang Menglong had said was true or false, with the research funding at such a critical juncture, he had to explore every possible opportunity!


    "This Professor Han really does things with vigor!" Zhang Menglong chuckled helplessly, clearly having underestimated just how vital research funding is to a professor.


    Because he would have to travel frequently to the school for his graduation project in theing period, Zhang Menglong temporarily moved to another apartment of his near the school.


    Although it wasn''t as luxurious as the one in the city center, the 400-square-meter apartment was still quitefortable and convenient to live in; at least he didn''t have to ride the elevator up and down all day. As for other household matters, Hong Yi had already arranged them for him.


    "If only there was a mistress of the house as well." Two girls suddenly came to mind for Zhang Menglong, one who had made him cry like an idiot on his dormitory balcony, the other whose thought made the corners of his lips rise in a smile without him realizing it.


    The next day, Zhang Menglong arrived at the research group''sboratory at the time agreed with Zhu Mengchao. As thergest research group in their material science department, Professor Han had under him 2 associate professors, 7 lecturers, and over thirty doctoral and masters students.


    This entire building floor was theirboratory and office area, and just maintaining the operation of this vast research group cost a fortune each year.


    "Junior brother, did you really go to see Professor Han yesterday?" Zhu Mengchao exined the main experimental content and the points to pay attention to, and he asked during a lull.


    "Yes, Professor Han seems to being back today," Zhang Menglong replied.


    "What? He''sing back today?"


    "Click!" Just then, the sound of a door opening came from the next office; it was Han Jinyu''s office ¡ª he was back!


    "To be able to bring back Professor Han in such a short time, over the years, you''re the only one who could do it!" Zhu Mengchao gave Zhang Menglong a thumbs-up.


    "Then I''ll go see Professor Han now," said Zhang Menglong.


    "Junior brother, whether the rest of us can eat well in theing year all depends on you, don''t let our excitement be in vain!" Zhu Mengchao said with full anticipation.


    ...


    "Knock, knock, knock!" Zhang Menglong knocked on the door of Han Jinyu''s office.


    "Come in." A robust voice of a middle-aged man came from the office.


    Despite his many honors and achievements, Han Jinyu was only under fifty years old. Having such aplishments at this age was already quite remarkable in the academic world.


    "Professor Han, it''s Zhang Menglong."


    "Oh, Menglong is here!" Han Jinyu hurriedly put down what he was holding, ran to open the door for Zhang Menglong, "Come in,e in, sit down quickly!"


    Professor Han greeted Zhang Menglong into his office with the warmth one would show a money tree, "I''m sorry, I was on a business trip yesterday and only rushed back to the school today. I made you wait."


    "Wherever could Professor Han be wrong? It''s only natural for a student to wait for a teacher, there''s nothing to apologize for," Zhang Menglong said.


    "About that research funding issue you mentioned..." Han Jinyu, being quite straightforward, directly broached the topic with Zhang Menglong.


    "Professor Han, I know that conducting scientific research is not easy for all of you. Our country is always under pressure from Western countries because our capacity for independent research and development is too weak. If we want to be stronger, we must invest more effort into scientific research!"


    "Yes!" Han Jinyu sighed, "But you also know, our university is not a top-level institution; it''s not even counted among the 985 and 211 projects, and our yearly research funding isn''t even a fraction of Jiangnan University''s. It''s only by begging businesses like beggars that people like us old fellows can secure any funding."


    "Do they have a lot of funding?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "At least fifty billion yuan a year!"


    "That really is quite a bit." Zhang Menglong nodded slightly. That was just the portion given by the state. It was said that Jiangnan University of Science and Technology''s annual scientific research funding didn''t even reach five billion yuan, and that included the funding these professors secured from businesses. No wonder the gap between schools was widening by the day.


    "Teacher Han, I heard there is still a funding gap of over 20 million here?"


    "Yes, ording to our current results, just the principle of the experiment alone requires over 10 million. Adding the cost of various scientific instruments, 25 million is still a conservative estimate."


    At this point, Han Jinyu became visibly worried, "If we had better instruments, I''m even confident I could contend for the Academician election next year. It''s just a pity that our university''s conditions¡­"


    "Teacher Han, do you still need any instruments?"


    "Actually, the university has all of them, but because of funding issues, their precision really isn''t up to scratch, which has led us down many unnecessary detours. But instruments like these are really too expensive." Han Jinyu said, "Just any electron microscope alone costs at least several million, not to mention energy spectrometers, fluorescence spectrophotometers, electric pulse emitters¡­"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Hearing these things, Zhang Menglong''s eyes even began to sparkle with excitement, "Teacher Han, if you wanted the best scientific research conditions, what instruments would you need?"


    "This stuff really has no limit," Han Jinyu said, "Take these basic instruments for instance, energy spectrometers, mass spectrometers, all sorts of electron microscopes¡ªif you wanted the best of them all, I''m afraid your 50 million would just barely cover it."


    "Teacher Han, let''s not talk about money for now, just tell me what else you need to support your research."


    "Hahaha, if there were a Particle Collider, plus the instruments I just mentioned, then my project could definitely produce all the results I want within a year." Han Jinyu clearly did not take Zhang Menglong''s words to heart; after all, the price of a Particle Collider is tremendously intimidating, and such equipment is a national-level strategic instrument, not something you can get just because you want it.


    "How much does this thing cost?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "Do you know about the electron-positron collider CEPC that Huaxia is currently nning to build? Its estimated construction cost is about 36 billion Huaxia yuan."


    "36 billion?" Zhang Menglong abruptly stood up from the sofa.


    "Y...Yes, what''s the matter¡­" Han Jinyu noticed that the look in Zhang Menglong''s eyes wasn''t one of panic due to this terrifying number, but instead, it was an inexplicable excitement.


    "Teacher Han, you''ve really helped me out a lot this time!" Zhang Menglong excitedly grabbed Han Jinyu''s hand, "Teacher Han, I''ve decided, this time I''m going to sponsor ourb with a hundred million!"


    "A hundred million?" Han Jinyu''s eyes widened, "Menglong, you''re not joking, are you?"


    Since the establishment of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, no research group had ever had such a staggering research fund, especially since in past years, the entire university had only a few hundred million yuan in funds.


    "Teacher Han, give me an ount number for theb''s funds."


    "Oh... okay." Han Jinyu, still in a somewhat hungover state, mumbled a string of numbers to Zhang Menglong.


    "Hong Yi, help me transfer a hundred million into this ount!" Zhang Menglong sent a message to Hong Yi.


    A momentter, Han Jinyu''s phone vibrated with an alert from the bank.


    The text message showed that their research group''s public ount had just received a fund transfer of a hundred million!


    Zhang Menglong was telling the truth; he wasn''t joking!


    A big smile suddenly creased Han Jinyu''s face with wrinkles.


    "Menglong, don''t just stand there, sit!" Han Jinyu shouted out to the room, "Uh, Meng Chao, hurry over here, wash the teaware for me, and brew a pot of tea for your junior brother!"


    In Han Jinyu''s eyes, Zhang Menglong was no longer just an ordinary student, but a gold-master daddy!


    "Menglong, don''t worry about your thesis this time. I will have Meng Chao assist you with all his might, and as for authorship on our research group''s oues, whether you want to be the first author or the corresponding author, it''s up to you to choose!"


    "Uh, Teacher Han, you don''t have to do this; the research results are all yours. I wouldn''t feel right monopolizing them. I just purely wanted to support our scientific research cause," Zhang Menglong interjected.


    "No way! How can the results be all ours? You also have a part in this!" Han Jinyu insisted, "Well, Menglong, if you''re not interested in the research results, I have a daughter who is about to return from studying abroad. She''s very beautiful. Since you''re both young, you surely have a lot to talk about. How about I give you her WeChat¡­"

 Chapter 35 35 chapters Do you have any friends who lack scientific research funding?

    "Mr. Han, there''s really no need, no need at all!" Zhang Menglong simply wanted to spend some money, why had Mr. Han started to promote his daughter in desperation?


    Mr. Han Jinyu was already nearly in despair. If he couldn''t secure this funding for scientific research, his research would stagnate; moreover, without any output, he was facing the risk of breaching contracts with thatpany.


    Yet the money from Zhang Menglong could not only solve his immediate crisis but even smoothly handle his research work for theing years. He had never thought that he would identally end up with such a wealthy student this year.


    Being able to get into Jiangnan University of Science and Technology was proof enough of Zhang Menglong''s excellent learning capabilities. Coupled with his profound family background, even if he truly married his daughter to him, his daughter wouldn''t be at a loss, and perhaps there would even be a steady flow of research funding, making bing an academician just a matter of time.


    "Menglong, I definitely won''t let you be disappointed with this investment. If weter reach industrialization, you''ll be thergest shareholder!" promised Han Jinyu. His project wasn''t just theoretical research; otherwise, nopany would be interested. Of course, the timeline would be at least three to five years, but now, aside from this, he had nothing else to impress Zhang Menglong with.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Mr. Han, please wait a moment, I''ll make a call to order someb equipment," said Zhang Menglong as he took out his phone.


    "There''s no need, Menglong, we can handle the equipment issue ourselves," Han Jinyu hastily said, knowing best what type of equipment delivers the best value for money.


    "Mr. Han, this money is simply for purchasing raw materials as well as for the routine operation of theb. The money for the equipment isn''t included," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "The senior brothers and sisters are also working quite hard. You should issue them more for theirbor fees!"


    "What? The money doesn''t even include the cost of the equipment!" Han Jinyu felt like he''d been struck by lightning. Was Zhang Menglong saying he''d need to take out extra for the equipment? Exactly how wealthy was he? Had Han Jinyu not known Zhang Menglong before, he might have really suspected that Zhang had ulterior motives regarding him.


    "Our school''s equipment must be the best if we are to use it. I n to spend money to equip our research group with a batch of top-level experimental equipment. Just give me the list, and I''ll arrange it right away!" Zhang Menglong said, "I might not know much about this stuff, but we definitely need the best and most expensive.


    You don''t need to worry about how difficult they are to purchase, as long as any country on Earth manufactures them, I can get them!"


    "Great, great, great!" Han Jinyu was so excited he almost knocked over his chair. What kind of miraculous student was this? If every student was this wealthy and generous, why would he worry about not producing results? He could simply buy his way to academician-level achievements with money!


    "Mr. Han, your tea is here," Zhu Mengchao said as he entered the office with a tea set.


    "Meng Chao," Han Jinyu frantically searched the literature for the best equipment, his head too busy to even look up, "Tell the younger brothers and sisters, starting today, the graduate students in our research group will receive abor fee of 10,000 per month, doctoral students 15,000 per month, and since you are the senior brother, you get 20,000 per month.


    As long as there are results, I will also award you a bonus at the end of the year!"


    Zhu Mengchao''s hands trembled as he held the tea set, nearly spilling it on the floor. In just a few minutes, what on Earth had Zhang Menglong done to make Han Jinyu offer such highbor fees?


    Even at their research group''s wealthiest periods, as the senior brother, he had only received a monthlybor fee of 5,000 yuan.


    For usual graduate students, a sry of 8,000 yuan after graduation was quite high. As for doctoral students, they made only about a couple hundred thousand yuan a year, yet now they were earning this much while still in school!


    At that moment, Zhu Mengchao saw Zhang Menglong gesture an OK sign to him.


    "Little brother, I love you to death!" Zhu Mengchao whispered as he walked past Zhang Menglong. This kind of treatment would definitely make members of other research groups green with envy. If this got out, his research group''s enrollment numbers for the next term would surely max out!


    "Alright, Menglong, look at this, these are the most advanced instruments internationally, but many are restricted from export by other countries, some are proprietary developments which might be difficult to obtain. If really necessary, you could consider other models I''ve listed."


    "Okay, I''ll speak to my assistant right away," said Zhang Menglong as he directly sent the spreadsheet to Hong Yi.


    Less than five minutester, Hong Yi called back, and though the office wasn''t veryrge, Han Jinyu could clearly hear the voice on the phone.


    "Mr. Zhang, I have already looked at the list of equipment you gave me. There are a total of 17 machines, of which 11 can be directly purchased with a total price of 32.56 million Huaxia currency. The remaining five machines are foreign and are prohibited from being sold abroad; they are specialized equipment even within their own countries."


    "Can you acquire them?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Yes," Hong Yi simply replied, "Three of the machines are manufactured bypanies we control. For the remaining two, I will just need to ''knock on a few doors'' with the management families from the continent."


    "Who exactly is he?" Upon hearing this, Han Jinyu couldn''t help but show astonishment in his eyes. Zhang Menglong actually had the capability tomunicate with the upper echelons of those countries and even used the term ''knock on,'' which seemed utterly unthinkable.


    "But thest item is a bit of a challenge," Hong Yi said.


    "Is it the Particle Collider?" Zhang Menglong asked, "Sorry to be presumptuous, but when you say it''s difficult, does that mean it''s still possible?"


    Zhang Menglong remembered his father saying that on Earth, there was nothing their family couldn''t aplish, and if there was, he must be dreaming without having woken up yet.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, you own arge number of research institutes, and thergest Particle Collider in Europe was partly developed by those institutes. In other words, you control the technology for building the Particle Collider, and the only issue is the time cost."


    "He can even build a Particle Collider?" Han Jinyu''s eyes lit up at hearing this news. Having a Particle Collider would open up possibilities for many projects he previously wouldn''t even dare to think about!


    "It''s good if it can be built," Zhang Menglong breathed a sigh of relief, "How much?"


    "The cost is approximately 25 billion Huaxia currency, but it will take a rtively long time."


    "That''s not expensive at all!" Zhang Menglong pursed his lips. How wonderful it would be if it were 25 billion US Dors?


    As for how much earlier it would be ready, Zhang Menglong didn''t care about that at all; spending money was all that mattered to him.


    "25 billion? That''s not expensive?" Han Jinyu was utterly dumbfounded. Was this even a humannguage? Across the entire Huaxia, aside fromrge research institutions, which organization could pull together such a massive amount of money to purchase such an instrument?


    The most crucial part was that Zhang Menglong was buying this Particle Collider for their research group! He could already imagine that in a couple of years, Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, his research group, would be the scientific research hub for the entire Eastern China region!


    "Okay, go ahead and make the arrangements. Remember, it has to be the most expensive, the best quality!"


    "Understood, Mr. Zhang, I''ll handle it. However, your school might not have enough space for this instrument..."


    "I''ll talk to the principal!" Han Jinyu shouted thoughtlessly. He was confident the principal would willingly clear a substantial amount of space for their use, and might even revere him, Han Jinyu, since he was the one who secured this investment!


    "Professor Han, I need to discuss another matter with you."


    "Go ahead, if there''s anything I can help you with, I''ll do my best, whether it''s helping you secure a position for graduate study or even direct admission to a doctoral program," Han Jinyu said.


    "That won''t be necessary," Zhang Menglong nced around and lowered his voice, "Professor Han, do you have friends who work in scientific research, those who are terribly poor and can''t secure funding?"

 Chapter 36 First Come, First Served

    "Menglong, what do you mean by this?" Given Zhang Menglong''s recent behavior, Han Jinyu had already roughly guessed the purpose behind his question.


    But this made no sense. Han Jinyu, apletely high-ranking intellectual who had entered a top-level Huaxia institution at 18 andpleted his master''s and doctoral studies abroad, filled his mind with nothing but wisdom, yet he could not fathom what Zhang Menglong intended with these actions.


    Having sponsored their research group with one hundred million, Han Jinyu was confident he''d break even within three years once his project wasmercialized.


    Yet, spending a huge sum on a Particle Collider for him was absurd. Even if the project wasmercialized sessfully, breaking even was not guaranteed, and such equipment was consumable, with astronomical sums required yearly for maintenance and personnel.


    inly put, the money Zhang Menglong spent could never be recovered!


    He didn''t believe Zhang Menglong''s deration of supporting their scientific research. Even if he truly had the funds, sponsoring a few tens of millions was already excessive. Spending billions was preposterous unless he was out of his mind or had some ulterior motive.


    As for Zhang Menglong''s motives, Han Jinyu didn''t care at all. As long as he had the funding for research and top-level experimental conditions, he wouldn''t even frown if it meant giving up his daughter. Perhaps that''s just what being a scientific research magnate entails.


    "Teacher Han, honestly, I have some funds and now that I have graduated, I would really like to do something for our school. But it wouldn''t be fair to favor some over others, right? If you have other colleagues who need research funding, I am also willing to invest in them."


    "Are you serious?" Han Jinyu''s ability to advance to his position at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology was indicative of his good rtionships; otherwise, he wouldn''t have the support of other teachers and leaders to be the department head.


    Isn''t there a schr in the world who doesn''tck research funding? Conducting scientific research is like a money pit, and every teacher is short of funds! This year has been particrly tough, to the point where some have even been hospitalized over their concern about theck of research funding.


    If Han Jinyu could secure research funding for these teachers, they would owe him a tremendous favor. In the future, his reputation in the school might rival even that of the president!


    "Of course, it''s true. Rather than picking another day, how about today?" Zhang Menglong didn''t have time to find these teachers one by one. Besides, if they knew someone was willing to provide them with research funding, wouldn''t theye crawling over even if their legs were broken?


    "How about this, Teacher Han, please inform our school''s teachers that I am willing to allocate ten billion to our school''s research groups."


    "Did you say ten billion?" Han Jinyu gasped, but considering that Zhang Menglong had effortlessly spent 250 billion just moments ago, perhaps ten billion was nothing more significant to him!


    "Yes, ten billion!" Zhang Menglong nodded to confirm.


    "Okay, okay, okay, I''ll call them right now!"


    Han Jinyu quickly pulled out his phone. Although he was older, in this age of information overload, these professors all had their own groups, and as a department head, Han Jinyu was present in many of them.


    "Old pals, I have news for you. I''ve secured a sponsorship of ten billion for our university today!"


    The moment he sent out this message, the groups exploded.


    "Old Han, are you pulling our leg? Even Jiangnan University only gets about fifty billion a year in research funding. I heard you''ve been running around so much these days for your graphene project that you''re about to break a leg. Where did you get ten billion?"


    "Hahaha, Old Han, are you going crazy thinking about research funding?"


    "Old Han, don''t put so much pressure on yourself. Look at Professor Zhou in the group next to yours; he''s been hospitalized."


    "Who the hell is badmouthing me? My cholesterol is just a bit high, it has nothing to do with scientific research!"


    "Old fellows, here''s your chance to think about how you''ll thank me." Han Jinyu directly posted his research group''s fund ount bnce in those groups.


    "Ten million? Old Han, not bad, if you grit your teeth, there might still be hope toplete your project."


    "Did the stubborn old man from Jinding Group finally agree to provide the funds?"


    "Now you guys better look carefully and count the zeros!" Han Jinyu was speechless at these old fellows.


    "8...8 zeros? One billion?"


    "Damn!" Even the usually eloquent professors couldn''t help but swear.


    "Old Han, whose prestigious coattails are you riding now?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Damn, a hundred million, that''s enough for you to splurge until retirement!"


    "Congrattions, congrattions, congrattions to our future Academician Han, with this funding, it''s a sure thing!"


    "Stop the chatter, the investor is in my office right now, ten billion, firste, first-served; anyone whoester can just cry!" Han Jinyu had just finished hisst sentence and immediately closed the group chat.


    "This... Han isn''t really serious, is he?"


    "We''re talking about ten billion here, what kind of investor can dish out that much money at once?"


    "That one billion of his wouldn''t be photoshopped, would it?"


    "That old Han, you can''t say it''s photoshopped, he only just learned how to use WeChat from his daughter; it definitely can''t be faked."


    "Damn, could he actually be telling the truth?"


    "You guys keep chatting, I just remembered I still have some documents to check, I''m heading out."


    "Hahaha, same here, one of my students seems to have blown up the equipment again, I need to go check on that."


    "I''m off too, my doctor wants me to do some rehabilitation training, you guys continue!"


    All of a sudden, the dozens of teachers in the group each imed to have something to attend to, and the once lively group instantly fell silent.


    ...


    "That Han, what kind of stroke of luck has he got himself into to find such an investor? If he dares to deceive me, I will definitely vote against him during the review!" Professor Qi, the closest to Han Jinyu, using the excuse of reading documents, was the first to arrive at Han''s scientific research building.


    Knowing Han Jinyu as he did, he was certainly not someone to joke about such matters; there might really be something to it!


    Just as Professor Qi entered the building, a short, chubby professor came running in, panting heavily.


    "Old Guo, didn''t you say your student blew up the equipment? What are you doing here?"


    "You''re one to talk, weren''t you off to read literature? Your office isn''t in this building, is it?"


    "Just then, a middle-aged man pushing a wheelchair hurried into the building."


    "Old Ding? Weren''t you hospitalized? You''ve moved your rehab training here?"


    "Err..." Professor Ding, unwilling to admit he was here for the funding,ughed, "Hahaha, the doctor told me to breathe some fresh air and somehow I just ended up here."


    Just then, they saw several other figures converging towards the building from a distance.


    "Damn, Old Wang is here too!"


    "And there''s Old Liu. That guy took on a money-devouring projectst year, he must be here for the money too."


    "Alright, enough pretending, though ten billion is a lot, with our college''s dozens of research groups, if we divide it evenly, each group might only get a few tens of millions. Old Han got himself a whole billion, we definitely need to strive hard!"


    "Right, soon everyone will get as much funding as they can from the investor, and nobody''s allowed to cause trouble afterward!"


    "Okay! Let''s go!"


    "Boom!" Zhang Menglong and Han Jinyu were chatting while drinking tea when suddenly a loudmotion came from outside the door.


    "Bang!" The sturdy door was suddenly forced open by a tremendous force, and the entire hallway was packed with people, all of whom were those seemingly in their fifties or even older teachers.


    Instantly, Han Jinyu''s face darkened, and he who rarely cursed couldn''t help but break his usualposure and burst out, "You old bastards, have you all gone mad?"

 Chapter 37 I like those projects that burn money

    "What''s going on here?" Han Jinyu''s students were all bewildered by the scene before them.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    All these professors were well-known doctoral advisors at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, each with considerable achievements in scientific research, and besides the one or two sses they taught each week, they were almost impossible to find.


    But today, they had all gathered in this narrow corridor, and it seemed they were looking for their advisor, Han Jinyu.


    "Could it be that Teacher Han has made enemies with these professors?" The students in the office stick their heads out one after another.


    "It could be so bad that even Teacher Han''s door has been damaged."


    "Should we go help? This is our advisor we''re talking about!"


    "Help with what, a basket? We''re just a bunch of students, we can''t afford to offend any of those professors out there!"


    "Alright already, don''t you have experiments to do?" Zhu Mengchao came over at this point.


    "Big brother, what''s going on?" someone asked.


    "Oh, it''s nothing. They''re probably all here to brown-nose Old Han," Zhu Mengchaoughed. He had witnessed the entire episode in the office, and with those ten billion smashing down, how could these professors note running one by one?


    However, Old Han has quite the temper, and the matter of the damaged door might not be so easily settled.


    "What?" After hearing Zhu Mengchao''s exnation, the students became even more curious, but Zhu Mengchao didn''t continue to stop them. Instead, he joined them in watching the spectacle with glee.


    "Old Han, where are you? Where''s the investor?" The first professor who charged in looked around the room.


    This was Professor Zhou Wenmin, the head of the Polymer Department. In terms of prestige in the school, he was practically on equal footing with Han Jinyu, and besides scientific research, he also held some administrative positions in the school, actually wielding a bit more power than Han Jinyu.


    But after looking around for a while, except for Han Jinyu, there was only a student in the office, and clearly, this student couldn''t be the investor capable of coughing up ten billion.


    "Old Han, didn''t you say the investor is in your office? Are you ying with us?" Professor Zhou demanded.


    "Hmph, I don''t know whether the investor wants to fund you, but right now, you''ve really put me in a bad mood!" Han Jinyu gritted his teeth as he red at the already damaged door.


    "Menglong, why don''t you go back first? We can talk about the equipmentter. Just focus on your project for now, and if you run into any problems, seek out your fellow students ore directly to me," Han Jinyu deliberately said to Zhang Menglong.


    "Okay, Teacher Han, I''ll head back then." Zhang Menglong understood from Han Jinyu''s look what he was trying to do and immediately went along with the act.


    "Since when has Old Han been so kind to an undergraduate?" the professors were dumbstruck.


    Han Jinyu''s strictness was well known, even towards his own PhD students his demands were extremely high. When had they seen him being so amiable to a student?


    As mentors, they knew all too well that they never personally guided the students'' scientific research. What they cared about were results, and at most, they would only provide a research direction. When had it been their turn to personally guide a student?


    There was something fishy about this student''s identity!


    "Wait, didn''t they just mention equipment?"


    "Could it be that the investor Han mentioned is this student?"


    "That''s impossible, right? How could a studente up with ten billion?"


    As if to p them in the face, Han Jinyu added another line, "Menglong, I will definitely produce results with this one billion of funding you''ve given me. You just rx, and as for this year''s outstanding graduation thesis, I will also do my best to help you get it, and your senior brother will give you his full support."


    "This one billion really is from this student!" Upon hearing this, all the teachers were suddenly aze with envy. What kind of luck had Han Jinyu stumbled upon tond such an extraordinary student? Research funding of a billion just like that!


    "Excuse me, young man, wait a moment," Zhou Wenmin immediately put on a beaming smile, "Student, I hear you''re offering ten billion for our college''s scientific research fund, is that right?"


    "Yes, may I ask who you are?"


    "Oh, I am Zhou Wenmin, the head of the Polymer Science Department. I am pretty much the same as your Han teacher here at our Jiangnan University of Science and Technology. You know, you have already supported him with one hundred million yuan of Scientific Research funds. As for my department..."


    "Old Zhou, what are you doing?" Han Jinyu pulled Zhang Menglong back and protected him behind himself, "This is my student, don''t touch him!"


    "Hehehe, Old Han, why the big temper?" Zhou Wenmin''s smile grew even broader, "The door was an ident, you know."


    This student was Han Jinyu''s student, and it seemed he had a very good rtionship with Han Jinyu. If he offended Han Jinyu, perhaps a few words from him and he wouldn''t be able to get a single cent of funding.


    It should be noted that standing behind him were over eighty master''s and doctoral advisors. There were plenty of monks, but not enough porridge!


    "I''ll have someone fix this door for you immediately, the best kind!"


    "Humph!" Han Jinyu was not buying any of it, "Menglong, let me tell you, some teachers in our school are very careless. You must absolutely not give them funds lightly; you might as well throw your money away."


    "Hmm, that makes sense." Zhang Menglong nodded thoughtfully. He couldn''t help but chuckle inwardly; he hadn''t expected this Teacher Han to be quite so crafty.


    "No, no, no, it was just too crowded outside, it wasn''t on purpose!" Professor Zhou realized that Han Jinyu was insinuating something about him.


    "Teacher Han, you always liked the office building where I am, right? Hehehe, I''m also tired of it. Why don''t I vacate that ce for your research group? I''ll personally go and talk to the dean."


    "That''s more like it," Han Jinyu''s face immediately lit up with a smile. When had Professor Zhou ever spoken to him so humbly?


    "Menglong, actually, although some teachers are not that great, we can still give them a chance, right?"


    "Yes, Teacher Han is right." Zhang Menglong echoed Han Jinyu''s words.


    At this, Professor Zhou finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Alright, old guys, I won''t tease you anymore," Han Jinyu exhaled deeply, feeling much more rxed, "This Zhang Menglong student here is the investor I mentioned. I have introduced him to you, so how much funding you can get is up to your own skills."


    Having said that, Han Jinyu settled himself down to the side and began to leisurely drink tea. Such a scene was not often seen; he had to make sure to enjoy watching these proud old guys act like bootlickers.


    "Menglong student, you have attended my Polymer Materials ss, haven''t you?"


    "Bullshit! He was taught Polymer Materials by me!"


    "Menglong student, do you remember me? You took my Organic Chemistry ss, and I even gave you an ''excellent''!"


    "Menglong student, would you like to learn about my project? My project isn''t just theoretical; it can definitely provide a return on investment. We can even sign a contract, a bet agreement works too!"


    "Menglong, my family has a daughter around your age. Come to my office for a visit sometime!"


    "Stop bringing up your dinosaur daughter; how does she match up to our Menglong?" Another teacher immediately took out a phone and showed a photo of a very pretty girl, "Menglong, this is my daughter, absolutely a knockoutpared to his dinosaur daughter!"


    "Damn, I was careless! Why did I have a son?" Those teachers without daughters instantly regretted it terribly.


    "Okay teachers, stop fighting," Zhang Menglong felt somewhat overwhelmed watching this unfold. As for Han Jinyu behind him, he was alreadyughing so hard that he was starting to cramp.


    "This Scientific Research funding, I''ve got plenty of it. These ten billion, they''re definitely not the limit for you teachers!"


    Upon hearing this, all the teachers'' eyes burned with desire.


    "Before that, I would like to hear about your projects," Zhang Menglong added, "What I like the most are the kinds of projects that burn through cash!"

 Chapter 38 Ten Billion Scientific Research Funds

    "Me, me, me!" Professor Guo was the first to stand up, and when it came to burning money, there was definitely not a single teacher in Jiangnan University of Science and Technology who would dare im they exceeded him.


    Since the virus outbreak at the beginning of the year, his research group had thrown themselves into developing a new antiviral drug formtion, and as it''s known, drug development is definitely one of the most cash-consuming projects!


    In ten months'' time, they had burnt through more than 30 million, yet thepletion level of his project was only at 10%, and the subsequent investment needed for research development was even expected to be counted in billions!


    This was why so many drugs sold in the world were so expensive. In fact, the manufacturing cost of the drugs was really low, but the selling price was, at the very least, dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of times higher¡ª all because of the exceedingly high research costs incurred during the early stages.


    "Professor Guo, I must support your project!" Zhang Menglong pped his thigh, "How much funding do you need?"


    "This..." Professor Guo suddenly found it difficult to speak. His research was carried out in stages, so he never considered securing all the funding at once, and besides, it was nearly an impossible feat.


    Ordinarily, such research could only be carried out with the backing ofrge pharmaceuticalpanies or under the impetus of state machinery.


    "For the current stage, I''m afraid it will require around 50 million." Professor Guo tentatively said, afraid that saying too much might inadvertently offend Zhang Menglong.


    "Professor Guo, we can''t squeeze funding out like toothpaste in scientific research. If we can''t even solve the money issue, what''s the point of doing research!" Zhang Menglong said, "Give me a figure, and I''ll support you all the way until youplete your project."


    "This... Menglong, I fear the amount might be quiterge."


    "Just say it; we''re not short of money!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t wait for arger figure. He had finally found a righteous method to spend money, and he intended to drop dozens or even hundreds of billions of US dors today.


    "Since you''re so generous, then I''ll just say it." Professor Guo spoke up, "To support thepletion of all the project content, it will require at least 500 million in funds."


    "Damn, Old Guo, what do you mean? There''s a total of just 10 billion, and you want five billion for yourself? What are the rest of us supposed to do?" Teachers immediately started protesting in discontent.


    "Exactly, your family has arge business, Old Guo, but you can''t monopolize everything. Look at Old Han, he''s Menglong''s supervisor, and he only got one billion in scientific research funding. You''re going too far!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Han Jinyu almostughed out loud watching their bickering. With a particle collider worth over two hundred billion attributed to their research group, what were a few billion to him, Han Jinyu?


    "You''ll alle begging to borrow equipment when the timees!" Han Jinyu smiled slightly, thinking that this was the time to keep a low profile and amass wealth quietly.


    "Professor Guo, I''ll directly sponsor your scientific research with 10 billion!"


    "10... 10 billion?" Professor Guo was so startled that his voice trembled. He never imagined he could get one billion, let alone the huge surprise Zhang Menglong just gave him.


    "But there''s one condition, once the drug is industrialized, I want a share of the technology stock!" Zhang Menglong proposed this to avoid treating the money as a donation, which would go against the rules and requirements of Super God Academy.


    "Certainly, certainly!" Professor Guo nodded repeatedly. Even if he had approached apany for funds, they would have made a simr demand, along with many additional uses, and they would even want a part of the academic results to be attributed to thepany. However, Zhang Menglong only wanted shares, which was far better by many counts.


    When Professor Guo saw that his ount suddenly had an additional 10 billion, he bit his tongue hard, barely believing that all of this was true!


    10 billion spent just like that? All the instructors instantly wore sorrowful expressions, and some even looked at Professor Guo as if he was their father''s murderer.


    "Fellow professors, when I mentioned the 10 billion just now, I was just speaking offhand," Zhang Menglong started, "As long as you have good projects, there''s no upper limit to my total funding!"


    "No upper limit! How rich is he?"


    "Who cares how rich he is if he''s willing to invest in me, I''d even be his student!"


    "Menglong, I have a project too!"


    "Menglong, hear out my topic. My research also burns through money, I''m working on astrophysics!"


    "Oh!" Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up. He didn''t expect there to be a teacher in his academy who researched in this field. But after thinking about it, since there wasn''t an astrophysics major in their school, it must be affiliated somehow with the college of science.


    Astrophysics is purely theoretical research, and as for the research tools, just the astronomical telescope alone is a huge money burner!


    "Teacher, do you need an astronomical telescope?"


    The teacher was instantly stunned. Manufacturing arge astronomical telescope could easily cost millions or even tens of millions of US dors, and such an item had no practical return. Apart from the state and educational institutions, nobody would invest in such a project.


    "If we could have one... that would certainly be the best."


    Zhang Menglong immediately took out his phone and dialed Hong Yi''s number, "Hong Yi, I want to build arge radio astronomical telescope at our university. How much will it cost?"


    "If there''s no issue with the location, several tens of millions of US dors should suffice."


    "Get me one!" Zhang Menglong said without a second thought, then turned to the teacher, "Teacher, about the location issue..."


    "I''ll go to the Dean to resolve it!" the teacher promised, pping his chest,


    A telescope costing tens of millions of dors wasparable to a national-level scientific research project. If such a major project were to be realized, not just the university, but even thend bureau of Jiangnan City would be willing to allocatend for their telescope construction!


    "Also, I will sponsor another hundred million dors for your scientific research fund," Zhang Menglong added.


    The teacher was ecstatic, but he also felt somewhat uneasy because he really couldn''t give Zhang Menglong anything in return. He felt guilty epting this scientific research funding!


    "Of course, I do have a condition," Zhang Menglong added, "If during the exploration, you discover any unnamed asteroids or other celestial bodies, you must name them after me!"


    "Haha, I''m such a clever devil!" Zhang Menglong gloated in his heart. This was as if he had spent the money to buy the naming rights of a celestial body. This wasn''t called a donation!


    "Damn, even research on those crappys gets a hundred million!" Other teachers realized Zhang Menglong was just there to ssh the cash, and whether it made money or not, he simply didn''t care!


    "Menglong, my research group has a project on postnatal care of alpacas. To better collect data, we need ten thousand alpacas for a two-year tracking observation. It''s absolutely a money-burning project!"


    "Damn, postnatal care for sows isn''t enough for these professors in life sciences anymore?" Zhang Menglong scathingly criticized inwardly. But alpacas weren''t cheap, and he even doubted whether it would be possible to get ten thousand alpacas.


    "Then I''ll sponsor you a hundred million first!"


    "Menglong, I''ve got a project for a sky diving device. Would you consider it?"


    "Menglong, I have a project onnd desertification control!"


    "Hey, at this rate, it''ll never end!" Zhang Menglong directly said to Teacher Han behind him, "Teacher Han, could you help me out, please? Compile a list of the projects and their total funding amount, the more the merrier. I''ve prepared several tens of billions in scientific research funds, so count ''em up without hesitation!"


    "Several tens of billions?" Han Jinyu took a cold breath; he had underestimated Zhang Menglong!


    "Alright, leave these things to me. You go ahead with your work!" Knowing how wealthy Zhang Menglong was, Han Jinyu also knew he must be very busy.


    "He... He''s gone?" Seeing Zhang Menglong leave the office, all the teachers were full of confusion.


    "Ahem, old fellows, Menglong has entrusted me to manage these funds, so you..."


    "Hehehe!" Instantly, all the teachers became obsequiously ttering.


    "Old Han, don''t you have a daughter? It just so happens my boy is also of age. Here''s how much I''ll give as a betrothal gift!"


    "Old Ding, you shameless thing, resorting to such methods!" another teacher used righteously, "Old Han, you''ve been divorced for so long without finding someone. I have a sister, still unmarried, young and pretty, and a professor at another school. How about dinner at my ce tonight?"


    ...

 Chapter 39 She is Getting Married

    That evening, Han Jinyu sent Zhang Menglong a detailed spreadsheet, densely packed with over a hundred projects, all of which were the topics and main content of various teachers'' research.


    Han Jinyu was indeed very responsible, having estimated the expenses for each project, which altogether exceeded 30 billion Huaxia currency!


    Including the previously promised instruments, Zhang Menglong had almost spent close to 10 billion US Dors today!


    "Should I consider visiting other schools next time?" Zhang Menglong pondered, but he immediately abandoned the idea. He had his biases, after all, having graduated from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, he really hoped his own school could continue to improve. If he invested in other schools, wouldn''t that be creatingpetitors for their own scientific research?


    "Come on, junior brother, have some milk tea!"


    "Junior brother, are you tired? Rest for a while, I''ll watch the equipment for you!"


    "Junior brother, are you free tonight? Your senior sister is treating you to dinner!"


    After Zhang Menglong''s scientific research funds were received, Han Jinyu generously issued two months'' worth ofbor fees to his students.


    Once they found out that the funding came from Zhang Menglong, he became the darling of the entire research group.


    As for literature reviews and experimental procedures, the senior brothers took care of all the detailed processes and exnations, sparing him the arduous task of reading and tranting foreign literature.


    And when it came to the hours-long experiments and tests, there was no need for Zhang Menglong to lift a finger; the senior brothers and sisters were practically fighting to do it for him, even directly handling and analyzing the data for him.


    While other students racked their brains over their theses and worked through the night on experiments, Zhang Menglongy in theboratory on a Taishi chair, drinking milk tea, watching the S10 World Championship, thoroughly rxed and happy.


    Of course, he still had to spend a lot of time each day figuring out how to spend money. Naturally, ying games with "Starbucks Double Sweet" was also an essential part of Zhang Menglong''s daily routine.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Zhang Menglong, didn''t you say you''d start working on your graduation thesis in October? How do you still have time to y games with me?" The same sweet voice sounded over the team chat.


    "Have you ever seen a rich second-generation write their own thesis?"


    "Rich second-generation, my foot! Last time, I don''t know who almost cried not getting through an interview here," the girl teased.


    "Whoa, bro, my ego is shattered, don''t spill it, all that''s in the past."


    "It''s not even half a month yet, and it''s already ''in the past''? But seriously, how''s the job search going?"


    "Stopped looking. I''ve inherited a fewpanies in my family, now I''m just living it up, never gonna work a day in my life!"ughed Zhang Menglong, "Why don''t you quit your job too? I can provide for you!"


    "Get lost! Are you worthy?" the girl jibed with augh, "I only ept Hu Ge and Peng Yuyan. You, an engineering student, probably don''t even have a hair on your head!"


    "Dang, I was worried you might be some Auntie Qiao using a voice changer!"


    "Zhang Menglong, you''re asking for it, I''ll twist your head off! Me, a universally unparalleled beauty? Getting to y games with me is the fortune of yourst lifetime."


    "Alright then, since that''s the case, I''lle find you in Gusu in a few days; you''ve got to treat me to Haido at least, right?"


    "Ah? You''reing?" The voice of "Starbucks Double Sweet" suddenly tensed up.


    "What, not happy to see me?" Zhang Menglong chuckled, "Or are you afraid that you can''t hide your true self after we meet in person?"


    "Sure,e on over, as long as you''re not afraid I''ll harass you! I''m off to take a shower."


    "Then I''ll go turn on the camera in your bathroom."


    "Hooligan!"


    Zhang Menglong smiled as he put down his phone, his heart brimming with anticipation. What kind of person was she, really? Was she exactly as he had imagined in his mind?


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong''s phone rang, and upon seeing the caller ID, his body trembled slightly.


    Wang Yujia¡ªit was his roommate. Ever since the two of them had broken up, Zhang Menglong had not been in contact with any of her friends or roommates.


    "Hello? Wang Yujia? Is something the matter?" Zhang Menglong tried his best to keep his voice calm.


    "Siqi is getting married, this Saturday."


    "Oh, really?" Zhang Menglong had already thought of this possibility when picking up the phone, but upon hearing it firsthand, he couldn''t help but clench his hand into a fist.


    "Are you going? Siqi asked me to inform you. She said it was a promise you two made at the time."


    "Heh, have me attend the wedding just to humiliate me once more?" Zhang Menglong scoffed coldly.


    "If you''re unwilling to go, then I''ll just tell her..."


    "No need, tell her I''ll be there. I, Zhang Menglong, am not someone who goes back on his word."


    "Zhang Menglong, are you really going?" Wang Yujia was merely the messenger, but she had thought that Zhang Menglong would never agree to go, yet to her surprise, he agreed so readily.


    "I will be there on time."


    Zhang Menglong promptly hung up the phone. His expression alternated between somber and tormented. No matter what one has been through, when hearing certain news, how could one remain entirely indifferent?


    "Hey, see you in Gusu at the end of the month. If you stand me up, you''re dead meat. I''lle straight to Jiangnan City to whack you!" Seeing that message, Zhang Menglong pictured a person he had never met before, as if in a sh, letting go of something, his whole demeanor suddenly bing much brighter.


    "It''s just the wedding of an ex-girlfriend, not a dragon''s den or a tiger''s cave. She''s just someone who passed through my life," Zhang Menglong realized at once.


    Xie Siqi, Zhang Menglong''s ex-girlfriend and the only girlfriend he had ever had, they''d shared many beautiful memories and had even promised to attend each other''s wedding, even if they didn''t end up together in the end.


    It seemed that this was bing a reality.


    The story was actually quite simple. Xie Siqi''s family background was not very strong, and starting from the summer of her sophomore year, she began using all her spare time to work part-time jobs.


    Last summer, she worked at a mid-sized intepany operated by a certain family, not expecting that the son of thepany''s owner would take a fancy to her. At first, Xie Siqi stayed true to her heart, but as the man''s persistent pursuit intensified, she finally wavered.


    Not until Zhang Menglong saw her getting off a Panamera and kissing an unknown man at the dormitory did he understand what was meant by "I see raindrops falling on the fresh green grass."


    That night was the first time Zhang Menglong had lost control of his emotions since elementary school.


    He had confronted Xie Siqi once, but ended up being humiliated beyond recognition by her and the rich second-generation guy. Had his roommate not held him back, Zhang Menglong might have lost itpletely.


    "Good. It''s about time to put an end to the past," Zhang Menglong mused. He couldn''t always let the past trap him. If he couldn''t say goodbye to the past, how could he possibly wee the future?


    "Hong Yi,e to my room for a bit, help me arrange some things."


    ...

 Chapter 40 Your Car is Rented, Right?

    "Mr. Zhang, the formal attire you requested is ready," Hong Yi had someone carry severalrge boxes into the living room.


    The boxes contained a ck suit, which looked clean and tidy without any exaggerated cut or design. Zhang Menglong tried it on, and the suit fit perfectly, offering a great level offort as well.


    "I actually thought you would get me some branded suits!" Zhang Menglong looked at himself in the mirror. It was his first time dressing so formally, and he seemed a bit unustomed to it. But he had to admit, his physique was naturally perfect for clothes, and he looked incredibly handsome no matter what.


    "Mr. Zhang, those brands are only purchased by ordinary tycoons and the newly rich. Even the biggest names are just mass-produced after all."


    "Then these..."


    "Of course, these were custom-made especially for you," Hong Yi exined, "When you moved to Jiangnan City, we prepared a clothing studio here for you. The designers and tailors we employ are highlypensated from both domestic and international sources. The designer of this suit is the former chief designer from Armani, and 16 top tailors took a week toplete it."


    "Much appreciated." He couldn''t stop praising the suit, understated yet luxurious¡ªa true hidden tycoon''s essential.


    "Mr. Zhang, all the other items you requested are also ready. Shall we leave now?"


    "Let''s set off. I''m only going to the wedding for a drink, not to gatecrash. If I arrive toote, it wouldn''t be good to be mistaken for a troublemaker," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    A Rolls-Royce Cullinan slowly exited the neighborhood, carrying Zhang Menglong and Hong Yi toward the Wantai Hotel in the city center.


    Wantai Hotel is also a top-tier five-star hotel, but it is one of the few hotels in Jiangnan City that had no affiliation with Zhang Menglong.


    The hotel hadn''t been doing well, but in the past two years, a very capable manager took charge. He shifted the hotel''s business focus to wedding banquets, coborated with several powerful wedding nningpanies, and turned it into an inte-famous wedding venue.


    The decoration for each wedding was almost dreamlike in its opulence, and all the staff involved were extremely professional. Of course, the price was exorbitant.


    Just the cost of the scene decoration started at 200,000 yuan, and the price for each banquet table was over 8,888 yuan. An ordinary wedding wouldn''t happen for less than nearly a million yuan.


    Yet despite this, the hotel''s wedding halls were almost always fully booked 365 days a year. Some people even changed their wedding dates, which had been set long ago, just to hold their celebrations there. This showed just how attractive the hotel really was.


    Since early morning, the hotel''s decorations had been progressing in an orderly manner. By six o''clock, the site was almost fully set up, and the lighting and sound systems were being arranged steadily.


    In the makeup room, four girls surrounded the bride, chatting andughing jovially.


    Today, Xie Siqi was truly radiant, and beneath that magnificent wedding dress, she seemed like an angel descended from heaven. Her delicate makeup enhanced her already graceful features, making her all the more captivating.


    "Siqi, who would have thought that out of all of us, you''d be the first to get married!"


    "Right? And we haven''t even graduated yet!"


    "What can you do? We''ve all applied to study for master''s degrees overseas. If we don''t get things sorted out now, it would be postponed for years," Xie Siqi said.


    "I''m so envious of you, finding such a great boyfriend. Not only is his family wealthy, but he''s also well-educated and he even took care of your ns to study abroad together. You''re truly a winner in life!"


    "Exactly,pared to him, your ex-boyfriend is just a loser. I heard he still hasn''t found a job. A few days ago, I saw him wandering aimlessly around the school. Look at the others, they''re all attending job fairs if they haven''t found employment. Unlike him, taking it easy. I think he''s given up on himself."


    "Haha, Ding Rui, aren''t you joking? Liu Qingsu is the son of a listedpany''s chairman, how can youpare Zhang Menglong with him?"


    "Haha, sorry, my bad!"


    Xie Siqi smiled faintly. She had felt a bit guilty about her ex-boyfriend, but hearing how unmotivated he had be assured her that her decision was not wrong.


    "By the way, Siqi, didn''t Zhang Menglong promise toe today?"


    "Yeah, he agreed pretty quickly."


    "No way, I remember when hest came to find Siqi, he was severely humiliated; if it were me, I would have been too ashamed to show up again."


    "Right? What if he''s here to make trouble this time? When people go to extremes, they can do anything!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Don''t worry, with so many guests today, Qingsuo has arranged for theirpany''s security team, nothing will go wrong." Xie Siqi applied her lipstick, having finished her makeup for the day.


    "We should get going and greet the guests," Xie Siqi said, "it looks like there are a lot of bigpany leaders and even bossesing today, all cooperating with Qingsuo''s familypany; we can''t neglect them."


    "Hahaha, let''s go, maybe we''ll meet some exceptional people like Qingsuo."


    "It''s not that easy, hahaha, sisters, let''spete fairly today, no one is allowed to y dirty!"


    "Then I''ll go do my makeup."


    "Hahaha, wait for me, I''m going too!"


    ...


    This was an outdoor banquet, surrounded by green nts and purple vines that decorated the ce extraordinarily beautifully, with various luxury cars parked along the road, many worth over a million.


    As the son of a listedpany chairman with a market value of over a billion, this wedding attracted many people of status, even some industry moguls.


    "Siqi, is everything ready?" A handsome young man in a white suit was greeting guests when he saw Xie Siqi and her friendsing over, his face breaking into a satisfied smile.


    "Everything''s ready, I''m here to help you greet the guests," Xie Siqi naturally wrapped her arm around Liu Qingsuo''s.


    "President Zhou is here!" A Cayenne pulled over to the side of the road, and a spirited middle-aged man stepped out.


    "President Zhou, pleasee inside!" This President Zhou was a friend of Liu Qingsuo''s father, hispany''s scale evenrger than his father''s, and it was said that he had recently partnered with one of the Big Three, Alibaba, and if the project was sessful, thepany''s market value might even double!


    "Hahaha, the bride looks beautiful. Congrattions, Qingsuo." President Zhou handed over a thick red envelope through his assistant.


    "President Zhou, you are too generous." Although Xie Siqi didn''t know this President Zhou, she still greeted him with a smile; the red envelope contained not only ten thousand in cash but also a bank card.


    For people of such status, ten thousand was not enough to offer, but too much was troublesome, so the red envelope was just for show; the card contained his real gift money, and the amount in it was probably at least a six-figure sum.


    As time passed, more and more people arrived.


    "Wow!" Amidst exmations, a Rolls-Royce Cullinan slowly pulled over, and a driver in a suit got out to open the car door.


    "Who could this be?" Although the price of this Rolls-Royce Cullinan was not yet ten million, it wasn''t something just anybody could afford or acquire; in the whole of Jiangnan City, there would be no more than ten of these cars, and the owners were all significant figures.


    "Siqi,e with me to wee the guests!" Liu Qingsuo was sure that this car''s owner might be even more influential than his own father; their attendance today probably gave his family a lot of face, and he had to make sure to serve them well.


    But when the car owner stepped out, both Liu Qingsuo and Xie Siqi were stunned.


    "Zhang... Zhang Menglong? Why is it you?" Xie Siqi knew Zhang Menglong wasing today, but in her mind, he was supposed to arrive hurriedly by subway or riding a shared bike, looking pitiable; she never imagined he would actuallye in a Rolls-Royce.


    Liu Qingsuo was just as surprised; he knew that Xie Siqi had a boyfriend, and he even humiliated him in front of Xie Siqi once; what on earth was going on?


    But then he thought to himself that it was impossible; he whispered to Xie Siqi: "Your ex-boyfriend is quite the character, huh? To save face today, he must have borrowed some kind of private loan to rent a car and show off!"

 Chapter 41 Im Just the Ex-Boyfriend

    "Zhang Menglong, I never thought you woulde." Xie Siqi said with a sarcastic tone, the presence of an ex-boyfriend at her wedding was quite sensitive, especially since the man she was marrying had an extraordinary status.


    Actually, when inviting Zhang Menglong, Xie Siqi had also acted on Liu Qingsu''s suggestion. Although Zhang Menglong and Xie Siqi did not have any substantial rtionship, even a nominal one could cause a man to feel uneasy.


    If Zhang Menglong had note today, then such a person would pose no threat to him, and he could just let it go as if it were nothing.


    But if he hade, he felt confident that he could crush him at the wedding today, showing him what it would take to make Xie Siqi happy, and even rob him of the courage to recall this past from now on.


    However, Zhang Menglong''s appearance caught Xie Siqi slightly off guard, and for a moment she didn''t even know what to say to him.


    "Oh, I''m a man of my word. I once said that no matter who gets married, we must attend. I''m just here to keep my promise," Zhang Menglong said with a calm and somewhat unbelievable look.


    "But why did you have to rent a car specifically? Is face that important to you?" Xie Siqi thought Zhang Menglong''s remarks were a jab at her disloyalty, "Even renting a car must cost a good amount of money, right? You didn''t take out some kind of private loans, did you?"


    "I''ve heard that the interest on those loans is calcted by the day. You better return the car soon. If you''re tight on money, we can help you a bit ¨C this small amount of money is still something I can afford for Siqi," Liu Qingsu echoed.


    "Rent?" Zhang Menglong sneered, "Then you can just think of it as rented."


    Zhang Menglong had no intention of exining. Wasn''t Xie Siqi''s departure due to finding someone who could offer her a better material life? Since she had already tagged him as a poor kid, no matter how much he exined, it would be pointless.


    "Anyway, today is your wedding day. I wish you a happy marriage." Zhang Menglong handed over a red envelope that contained not a single dor, just a bank card."


    "Looks like Brother Zhang came prepared today," Liu Qingsuughed. Today''s event was filled with businesspeople and their descendants, besides some ssmates. Under such circumstances, any gift less than a five-digit sum would be embarrassing.


    Here, either incredulously thick red envelopes appeared or bank cards.


    Zhang Menglong''s financial circumstances were well known to Xie Siqi; while he was studying, he lived on a mere 2000 per month from an average sried family, and he hadn''t found a job yet, so saving a few thousand in living expenses was the most he could do ¨C this bank card was probably just to mask his insecurity.


    "Can''t be too rude," Zhang Menglongughed.


    "Brother Zhang wouldn''t mind if we check the amount on this bank card, right?" Liu Qingsu pointed to a gift money station nearby. Unfamiliar guests would leave their gift money there and write down the amount and their names.


    "Please do," Zhang Menglong knew they were trying to embarrass him in every possible way, but the number on this bank card would surely astound them.


    Is this money worth it?


    Of course not. Zhang Menglong felt even donating to beggars would be more worthwhile than giving it to them, but he had ways to get this money back.


    "Jia Jia, help me check the amount on this card."


    "Sure." As part of the bridesmaid group, they all received rather generous tokens today, and of course, they also had the task of serving the bride and groom.


    Wang Yujia took the bank card with an awkward look at Zhang Menglong. Morally, she sympathized with Zhang Menglong''s ordeal, but emotionally, she had to side with Xie Siqi, so her interaction with Zhang Menglong was somewhat ufortable.


    "13.14 million?" When she checked the bnce on the card, she was stunned on the spot.


    "What''s wrong, Jia Jia?" Xie Siqi felt secretly pleased, thinking her guess that the bank card had a few thousand was too high for Zhang Menglong.


    Indeed, renting such a luxury car for a day costs several thousand, and he probably had spent nearly all his money by now.


    "This card has over ten million!" Wang Yujia confirmed again.


    "Over ten million? Are you sure you didn''t see it wrong?" A bank employee and some equipment were present at the wedding scene; Xie Siqi immediately crowded in front of the device.


    "How is this possible? Impossible! This can''t be!" Xie Siqi shook her head repeatedly. How could Zhang Menglong possibly have so much money?


    "Are you done checking? Then I guess I can take my seat now?" Zhang Menglong revealed a cultured smile and then walked into the venue.


    "He''s been lying to me all along!" Xie Siqi didn''t know what came over her, her head suddenly throbbing, "Zhang Menglong, you lied to me!"


    "What did I lie to you about?" Zhang Menglong turned around and asked.


    "So you''ve been pretending to be ordinary all along, what''s the meaning of this? Testing me?" Xie Siqi yelled hysterically, even attracting quite a few nces.


    "Testing you?" Zhang Menglong revealed a mocking smile, "Do you deserve it? Believe it or not, I really was just the poor boy you thought I was. It''s just that my parents always kept it from me, I only guessed and found out just now that my family is really rich."


    Zhang Menglong spread his hands with an expression that said "me me, huh?"


    "President Zhang! I didn''t expect to see you here!" Just then, a somewhat familiar voice came from behind him.


    "Xu Feng?" Zhang Menglong recognized the man who greeted him at a nce; it was the marketing director from Unicorn Technology they met at Lofitte Hotel on thest day of National Day, "What are you doing here?"


    "Oh, I have some business cooperation with the groom''s father and received an invitation today, so I came to show him some face," Xu Feng said. "I heard the bride is also a recent graduate from Jiangnan University of Science and Technology; are you friends with her?"


    "Friends? Not really," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "I''m just an ex-boyfriend."


    "What?" Xu Feng''s expression turned to one of disbelief. The bride chose not to marry the CEO of apany worth billions of US dors but instead married the young owner of apany with merely a billion in assets?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Although,pared to ordinary people, it''s still like climbing high on the branch to be a phoenix, but there are differences amongst phoenixes too.


    "She really has no taste!" Xu Feng pursed his lips, "But President Zhang, it''s quite rare for you toe back for your ex-girlfriend''s wedding."


    "Someone wanted to p me in the face, wouldn''t my absence disappoint them?" Zhang Menglong replied.


    "Oh?" Hearing this, Xu Feng''s expression suddenly changed. It looked like there was quite a story behind this. Although he didn''t know the details, he could see that Zhang Menglong was quite hostile towards the bride and groom.


    "I''ll go in first." Zhang Menglong waved his hand and went straight into the venue.


    "Alright, I''ll look for youter."


    ...


    "Mr. Xu, you know Zhang Menglong?" Liu Qingsu had been watching them from the side for quite some time now.


    This Mr. Xu was no ordinary person; at thirty-five, he became the regional director for a billion-dorpany. Even his father had to tter him, and he had gone to great lengths to secure this coboration.


    Seeing how humble Xu Feng was during their conversation made him somewhat anxious.


    "President Zhang is our chairman at Unicorn Technology." The people Zhang Menglong resented, how could Xu Feng show a friendly face? He left some gift money and walked in, showing no desire to chat.


    "What? Zhang Menglong is the chairman of Unicorn Technology?" This news burst like a bomb, stunning everyone.

 Chapter 42 Who is the Main Character?

    "Impossible, this simply can''t be, how could Zhang Menglong possibly be the chairman of Unicorn Technology?" Xie Siqi felt as if she had been struck by lightning.


    The Zhang Menglong who had once stood silent in the face of humiliation right before her eyes had suddenly transformed into the chairman of a giant inte conglomerate?


    Although she didn''t recognize the Mr. Xu from just now, by looking at Liu Qingsu''s attitude, even his father had to curry favor with this director, and this Mr. Xu was so obsequious in front of Zhang Menglong; the disparity in their status and position was apparent at a nce.


    She had heard Liu Qingsu say that the recent project was the most important one for theirpany, that if it were sessful, thepany could double in size, but if it fell through, all the massive manpower and resources previously invested would go up in smoke. In such a fiercelypetitive market, if you''re not moving forward, you''re falling behind.


    With Zhang Menglong''s current identity, just one word from him could possibly cancel the cooperation n between Unicorn Technology and Liu Qingsu''s familypany. Exaggerating a bit, theirpany''s future was merely a word away for Zhang Menglong!


    Xie Siqi''s friends had already started whispering among themselves. Most of them knew Zhang Menglong, but today, they had met apletely new Zhang Menglong.


    Wang Yujia also finally understood why Zhang Menglong had epted the offer without any hesitation; who would want to let go of such an opportunity to hold one''s head high?


    "Who would have thought that Zhang Menglong could hide so deeply!"


    "Right? When he was dating Siqi and invited us to eat, didn''t he just pick an ordinary restaurant? Who knew he was so rich!"


    "I''ve heard that guys from such families often test their girlfriends; no one wants their significant other to be with them just for money, right?"


    "Sigh, it''s a pity to let go of such a money tree!"


    "Isn''t that right? But Qingsu isn''t bad either; at least Siqi won''t have to worry about food and clothing in the future."


    "Oh,e on! Don''t forget how harsh the words between Zhang Menglong and Siqi were when he found herst time. Though there were no swear words, every word was cutting to the heart."


    "Yeah, I know Zhang Menglong''s roommate; I heard he sat on the balcony all night that evening and there were asional sobs. Who could stand that?"


    "Hmph, if it were me, now with this status, I would definitely seek revenge."


    "Oh, do you guys remember? Siqi seemed to have said that Qingsu''s familypany got to its current size by relying on Unicorn Technology, you guys think..."


    "It''s over!"


    "Hey, have you guys noticed that Zhang Menglong is actually quite handsome?"


    "Hahaha, I noticed a long time ago; if he hadn''t been dating Siqi back then, I would have made my move!"


    "What ''noticed a long time ago''? You must have just realized it, right? When you say ''made my move'', which ''move'' are you referring to?"


    "Hahaha, I just realized it too!"


    They exchanged nces secretly, "Sisters, old rules, may the best woman win!"


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, you''ve really given that young couple a fright," Hong Yi sneaked a peek at Xie Siqi and herpanion, who were still stunned.


    "Well, everyone has to pay the price for their actions," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "but I haven''t done anything, I''ve paid a hefty gift money after all."


    "Chairman Zhang!" At that moment, Xu Feng approached, "Chairman Zhang, did youe alone?"


    "Hmm." Zhang Menglong nodded.


    "Would you mind if I sit next to you?"


    "Of course not."


    "Chairman Zhang, forgive my boldness, but I noticed just now that you seemed to be in a bad mood," Xu Feng said.


    "Do you see the green light above my head?" Zhang Menglong mocked himself.


    "Ah? This..." Xu Feng''s back suddenly felt cold, as if he had asked something he shouldn''t have, "President Zhang, I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to."


    "To live a decent life, we all need to have a bit of green on us, it''s okay once you look past it." Zhang Menglong said with a smile, he had indeed moved on from this matter; in fact, it wasn''t so much about Xie Siqi as it was about letting go of his own obsessions.


    "By the way, President Zhang, ourpany has some market coborations with Liu Qingsuo''spany, and I am in charge of that. Do you think I should..."


    "That won''t be necessary," Zhang Menglong hadn''t be vicious enough to use such methods to plot against others, "However, I just gave a gift of over ten million, and I''ll need your help to get it back."


    Xu Feng was quite intelligent; he knew exactly what Zhang Menglong meant by just one sentence, "President Zhang, rest assured, I will handle this matter properly and won''t let them detect a trace of anything."


    "Hmm," Zhang Menglong nodded in satisfaction, this gift of over ten million wasn''t much, but when ites to pocketing it, one has to prove they are worthy!


    "President Xu, you''re here too?"


    "Isn''t this President Zhou? Hahaha, what a coincidence!" Xu Feng, the director in charge of the entire East China market for Unicorn Technology, naturally had a vastwork in this area. He knew almost all the entrepreneurs, big and small, at the wedding.


    "President Xu, this is..."


    "Oh, President Zhou, this is our Chairman Mr. Zhang."


    "Chairman?" A flicker of surprise crossed President Zhou''s face. He had indeed heard that Unicorn Technology''s shareholders had recently undergone some changes, with the majority of the shares transferred to a new chairman who practically controlled the entirepany. To put it more dramatically, the entirepany was his, and that was no exaggeration.


    But the identity of this new chairman had always been a mystery, and he didn''t expect to see him at this wedding banquet, and such a young man at that.


    "President Zhang, what an honor to meet you. I am Zhou Lizhe, chairman of Yun Xiang Technology. Here is my business card," President Zhou offered his card with proper respect.


    "Yo, isn''t that President Zou?"


    "President Bai is here too?"


    "President Xu, Liu really has face, doesn''t he? To have invited you to his son''s wedding."


    "Hahaha, I just happened to be free today, so I came to take a look. Oh, and this is our Chairman Mr. Zhang."


    "President Zhang, I am Zou Guangyu from Bo Mei Media."


    "President Zhang, you are truly young and promising. I am Bai Wanling from Giant Technology."


    "President Zhang, in the future, we hope that you can take more care of us smallerpanies!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    ...


    As a small group of people gathered around Zhang Menglong, the gazes of those around were immediately drawn. Why were people ignoring the bride and groom at the wedding and crowding around a young man instead?


    But upon inquiring, they found out that this young man was the chairman of Unicorn Technology!


    Such a big shot is not easy toe across. With more than seventy percent of the people present involved in the Inte industry, if they could get on this big leg, maybe even a little resource sharing, wouldn''t that send Wuhu skyrocketing?


    Within a few minutes, more than half of the people at the wedding were gathered together, leaving the bride and groom nearly alone.


    Actually, these people weren''t really acquainted with the bride and groom; they had onlye to the wedding for the sake of appearance. Now that such an important figure had appeared, what did the wedding matter?


    Zhang Menglong found himself surrounded by a group ofpany presidents. Fortunately, Hong Yi was experienced and managed the onught with order. Meanwhile, on the side, the expressions on Xie Siqi and Liu Qingsuo''s faces were uglier than if they had eaten shit.


    Wasn''t it supposed to be their wedding today? But howe the main characters had nothing to do with them anymore?

 Chapter 43 I Actually Hold Grudges Too

    A grand wedding''s brilliance dimmed instantly with the arrival of Zhang Menglong, rendering both protagonistsckluster.


    Throughout the banquet, numerous individuals approached Zhang Menglong to offer toasts. To those unaware, it seemed as though he was the groom himself today. Not only did the newlyweds feel overshadowed, even their parents struggled to save face.


    Wasn''t this disruptive?


    "What in the world is going on? Who is that young man?" Liu Qingsu''s mother asked, her expression darkening. Ever since that young man arrived, he had be the center of attention.


    Liu Qingsu''s mother was a woman who highly valued reputation. Was this really her son''s wedding, or some businessworking event?


    "He''s the chairman of Unicorn Technology." Liu Qingsu said begrudgingly. The poor student he once humiliated beyond protest had unexpectedly transformed into a magnate who could now dominate the fate of their family business.


    "So young?" Liu Qingsu''s mother expressed her surprise. "Right, since he was invited to your wedding, he must be Siqi''s friend, right?"


    Liu Qingsu''s mother initially had reservations about Xie Siqi. While their family boasted assets over a billion, Xie Siqi was just an ordinary girl who was slightly more attractive than average.


    With Liu Qingsu''s prospects, couldn''t he find any attractive girl? Wasn''t it better to choose a well-matched girl, whose family''s resources could integrate with theirs for mutual enhancement?


    However, due to Liu Qingsu''s insistence, his mother had no grounds for argument.


    But if Xie Siqi knew Zhang Menglong, evident from his attendance at the wedding, their rtionship must be quite good. Supporting their family business even slightly would be more valuable than ten well-matched daughters-inw!


    With this realization, Liu Qingsu''s mother''s attitude towards Xie Siqi underwent a drastic change.


    "Mom, Zhang Menglong was my...college ssmate." Xie Siqi found it too hard to utter the words ''ex-boyfriend''. She was well aware of Liu Qingsu''s mother''s attitude towards her. Should she learn of this, Xie Siqi foresaw a very difficult life at the Liu family.


    "College ssmate? College ssmates are wonderful!" Liu Qingsu''s mother suddenly embraced Xie Siqi warmly. "The friendship between college ssmates is the best. That a man like him epted your invitation means your rtionship must be quite good, Siqi. You really do have an eye for people."


    These words stung painfully in Xie Siqi''s ears as if they wereden with irony. If she really had an eye for people, she would probably be the wife of the chairman of Unicorn Group by now.


    "You see, all thesepany heads are here. If they knew about your rtionship with the chairman of Unicorn Group, our family business would surely thrive here in Jiangnan City. You are truly our family''s lucky star!" Liu Qingsu''s mother''s smile was nearly splitting her face.


    In the face of benefits, the protagonists of the wedding mattered little. The purpose of the wedding was initially to mingle and build connections with business executives. Now having found a shortcut, it couldn''t be better.


    "What are you two doing standing around? Go and offer your toasts!" Seeing Liu Qingsu and Xie Siqi rooted to the spot, Liu Qingsu''s mother immediately grew anxious. Such an opportunity was rare, and it was a perfect moment to showcase their influential connections. The bride was a college ssmate of the chairman of Unicorn Group¡ªthat rtionship alone could make them walk tall.


    "Mom, he is also..."


    "Enough!" Liu Qingsu quickly tugged at Xie Siqi''s sleeve. If his mother found out about this, not only would Xie Siqi suffer, but Liu Qingsu himself would be in trouble as well. He knew all too well how domineering his mother was.


    "Come on, let''s go toast!" At this point, Liu Qingsu could only bite the bullet, believing that Zhang Menglong would not expose their past openly, as having one''s girlfriend stolen was hardly honorable.


    "Come on, everyone, make way, make way!" Liu Qingsu''s mother charged ahead, breaking through the crowded crowd. "Now, everyone wanting to toast with Director Zhang, please wait. Director Zhang is our most important guest today. He''s our Siqi''s ssmate!"


    "Tsk tsk, Director Zhang is actually the bride''s ssmate?"


    "I told you, how could the Liu family settle for just an ordinary daughter-inw? Clearly, they have connections too."


    "Move aside quickly, they areing to offer a toast!"


    "We must forge a good rtionship with the Liu family from now on. With their connection to Unicorn Group, they are bound to soar!"


    "Yes, we can''t reach the chairman of Unicorn Group, but getting closer to their Liu family''spany should definitely give us a share of the benefits!"


    "Yes, Director Zhu, your foresight is truly exceptional!"


    Liu Qingsu and Xie Siqi, carrying sses of wine, reluctantly approached Zhang Menglong. Xie Siqi bowed her head, not even daring to look into Zhang Menglong''s eyes.


    "Zhang Menglong, thank you foring to my wedding today. We both toast to you." Xie Siqi drained her ss in one gulp, but the corners of her eyes were already reddening.


    She truly regretted. If she had held on a bit more back then, perhaps the oue wouldn''t be like this.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Director Zhang, I too toast to you." Liu Qingsu also finished his drink in one gulp.


    "You are too kind. I had promised Siqi that we would attend each other''s weddings in the future. I am merely here to fulfill my promise today," Zhang Menglong said with a slight smile.


    Nobody caught the underlying message in Zhang Menglong''s words. In their eyes, the bride''s rtionship with Zhang Menglong must be so good that they were envious. Director Zhang even invited the bride to attend his future wedding, which was an incredibly honor.


    "Well, I''ve had the drink and attended the banquet, so I will take my leave now." Zhang Menglong said to Hong Yi beside him, "Let''s go, Hong Yi."


    "Certainly, Mr. Zhang." Hong Yi collected all the business cards handed to Zhang Menglong, and then followed him to the Rolls-Royce parked by the roadside.


    "Xie Siqi, see off Director Zhang!"


    "Oh, sure." Xie Siqi was still stunned in ce. She had not expected Zhang Menglong to show no sign of making things difficult for her.


    She had thought that now, with his wealth and power, Zhang Menglong would seek every possible way to exact revenge. However, Zhang Menglong remainedposed, as if he was truly just attending a regr friend''s wedding. Stay tuned for updates on empire


    "In his heart, perhaps there has been no room for me since that day," Xie Siqi whispered to herself in a voice only she could hear.


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, how could you be so lenient with them? You know with just one word from you, theirpanies would be cklisted by all businesses in Jiangnan City."


    "But, there is no need," Zhang Menglong said, "If I really did that, wouldn''t it mean that I still take this matter too seriously?"


    "My world has another person now," an image that appeared only in his imagination came to Zhang Menglong''s mind, "Let''s go, time to head back."


    "Oh, by the way, remember to reim the cash gift for me, and just double it!" Zhang Menglong chuckled, "Those who insult me, I do hold a grudge after all."


    "Mr. Zhang, you just said you didn''t want to take this matter too seriously."


    "That''s a different matter!"


    ...

 Chapter 44 They All Work for My Family

    "Big shot? Is it the same one who gave you a sports carst time?"


    "Wow, I know thisplex; it''s right next to my house. It''s been developed for several years now, always with a ban on external sales. So, it was all bought out by someone?"


    "You''re pretty impressive yourself, living nearby thisplex. You must have at least a ten-million-yuan fortune, right?"


    "Truly awesome. Even Daddy Ma would cry."


    "Principal, say something, who exactly is this big shot? I''ve got a friend who wants to lick their boots."


    Wang Ling''s Weibo was flooded withments in just a few minutes, and one of thosements, which was prominently liked byizens, was from Qin Feng, whose wealth was fully on par with Wang Ling''s.


    When Wang Ling once said, "I never care if my friends have money or not, because they surely can''t be richer than me," Qin Feng had replied below, "What about me?"


    Given Wang Ling''s personality, he would have pped back, but he chose to remain silent instead, which showed that this Mr. Qin Feng''s strength was not any less than his own.


    "I''ve got to admit, even I''m losing my cool!" Qin Feng left such ament under Wang Ling''s Weibo post.


    "My goodness, even Young Master Qin has been drawn out."


    "Who on earth could this be? Someone who''s got two super-rich second-generation kids all riled up? Do we even have someone richer than them in Huaxia?"


    "Lu Benwei is amazing!"


    "Wang Yuan, if you see this, bring me a pack of cigarettes, the Hua brand."


    ...


    Though essentially a jade stone gambling event, to avoid official scrutiny, the organizers named it a "Jade Stone Appraisal Convention."


    It was thergest appraisal event in recent years, attracting merchants from across the country. Some rarely seen raw stones from old pits were abundant, and of course, the prices were sky-high. Without significant wealth, one wouldn''t even be able to step foot in the venue.


    The minimum requirement for a merchant to participate in this event was 5 million yuan in liquid assets, and all registrants had to go through an asset verification process. Despite this, the number of applicants was still hair-raising.


    As jade mines became scarcer over the recent years, the shortage of high-quality raw stone resources had caused a severe supply chain crisis for many jewelry and jadepanies.


    Smaller enterprises wanted to move volume, whilerger ones hoped to obtain a few pieces of top-quality jade to bolster their brand. Thus, the demand for high-end raw stone resources was immense; participants didn''t care how much they had to spend, they only cared about finding what they wanted.


    The rules of stone gambling were simple: one strike could lead to heaven or hell. Buyers relied on their experience to judge whether the raw stone contained any jade and performed live stone cutting on the spot, which was the most exhrating part of stone gambling.


    "It''s really crowded here!" Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling had just parked their car in the underground garage, which was like a mini car show. Although it still paled inparison to Zhang Menglong''s sports car garage, cars worth over a million were still plenty, a testament to the immense wealth of the event''s attendees. Discover more content at empire


    "Of course, this event is the most substantial in nearly a decade. Thebined value of the raw stones appearing here is astronomical. The most expensive stones here can go for tens of millions; ordinary people wouldn''t even dare touch them."


    "Tens of millions?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes lit up. Isn''t that just delightful?


    "Sir, please show your asset verification report and entry permit."


    "I need an asset verification report?" Wang Ling red at the security guard.


    "Of course not! It''s an honor to have Young Master Wang visit us!" An attending manager, who had been greeting guests, immediately ran over like a fawningckey. "I apologize, this guard is new and doesn''t understand how things work. Young Master Wang, please go right in."


    "That''s more like it." Wang Ling smiled satisfactorily and strolled with Zhang Menglong into the vast venueparable to a World Expo.


    "You''re really acting like a true second-generation rich kid," Zhang Menglong couldn''t help butugh.


    "Pssh, what do you know? Not using your resources is what makes a Muggle. Come on, let me introduce you to a few people!"


    Zhang Menglong felt somewhat out of ce on his first visit to such an event. It may have been an exhibition, but it had the air of small vendors scrambling at a market. Large raw stonepanies even hadvish booths, while smallerpanies just sat on the ground with their disys out.


    "Boss, how much for this stone?"


    "2.4 million, take it and go!"


    "That expensive? Can it produce green jade?"


    "If I knew whether it would produce green, would I be an idiot selling it?"


    "What about this one?"


    "This bargain, 100,000, just the lowest grade raw materials."


    "You dare to sell it so expensive?"


    "Don''t want it? Forget about it!"


    "Damn, such a big piece of raw stone? No, this piece of raw stone doesn''t seem toe from an ordinary mine."


    "Boss, what an eye you have! Thises from an old mine, but as for the price, you can tell just by the look of it. If you really want it, it''s yours for 17 million!"


    "Holy shit, this kind of lousy rock costs over ten million?" Zhang Menglong was bbergasted.


    "You don''t know the market price," Wang Ling seemed to enjoy the astonished look on Zhang Menglong''s face, "Back in 2007, there was a raw stone that weighed 2.1 tons, initially bought for 40 million. Guess how much was made in the end?"


    "A hundred million?" Zhang Menglong guessed.


    "Guess again!"


    "Five hundred million?"


    "A whole 20 billion!" Wang Ling said, "That raw stone yielded 180 kilograms of jade, and it was of a rather high-quality ss type. If someone were to sell it now, the price would probably skyrocket even more."


    "Sheesh!" Zhang Menglong gasped in shock. This was simply high-stakes gambling.


    "Although a 17 million raw stone is expensive, it hasn''t reached that level yet. If indeed jade is found within, its value could increase by dozens of times or more."


    "Of course, more often people end up losing everything they have: bankrupted, with families breaking up, or even worse, leading to their own demise. That''s why a master stone assessor with rich experience is so important."


    "Master Hu, over here!" Just then, Wang Ling called out to someone in the distance. An old man with grizzled hair, wearing sses, but looking quite hale and hearty approached them.


    "Menglong, this Master Hu is a renowned stone assessor in the industry. Here in Jiangnan City, he''s definitely in the top three. If not for my dad''s connections, I probably couldn''t have invited him over," Wang Ling introduced.


    "Master Hu, this is my friend, Zhang Menglong."


    "Hmm." Master Hu nodded, hardly giving Zhang Menglong another nce.


    "Are all capable people this arrogant?" Zhang Menglong whispered to Wang Ling.


    Suddenly, a disturbance arose from within the crowd, drawing their attention.


    "My God, Master Yu is here today? Didn''t he retire many years ago?"


    "And Master Meng is here too. He is undoubtedly the number one stone assessor in contemporary Huaxia. It''s said that there''s hardly any loss on the stones he assesses. To get him to make a move costs a fortune!"


    "Master Bai hase as well, and he''s definitely one of the top three in the stone assessment world!"


    "What kind of wind has blown today that all three masters have been invited? How influential are the organizers?"


    "Who are these three guys?" Zhang Menglong curiously asked, seeing they seemed to be quite famous in the circle.


    "Hmph, ignorant boy. Master Yu is known as the ''Divine Eye'', truly a legend, and both Master Bai and Master Meng are pirs of the stone assessment world. You don''t even recognize them, and you dare show up at this big event?" Master Hu said disdainfully.


    "Damn, what did I do to provoke him?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat baffled. He hadn''t done anything, yet he''d been berated; was Master Hu from Zaun?


    "Menglong, make way; these masters areing over!" Wang Ling hurriedly said. Even though these three masters didn''t have as much money as Zhang Menglong, theirwork was extremely formidable.


    But to everyone''s surprise, the three of them walked straight up to Zhang Menglong and stopped.


    "Mr. Zhang!" The three gave a slight bow to Zhang Menglong.


    "What''s going on?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt confused. He didn''t know any of them.


    Suddenly, he remembered what Hong Yi had mentioned to him, that today a few professionals might apany him. Could it be that these were the master stone assessors of the stone assessment world?


    "Zhang Menglong, you... this..."


    "Although I don''t know what''s happening," Zhang Menglong scratched his head, "but it seems like these three masters might as well be my employees."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

 Chapter 45 The Poor Only Gamble on Stones

    "Beast!" Wang Ling''s face changed colors repeatedly, and atst, she forced out an inexplicable word.


    "Hold on, I''ll call Hong Yi to see what''s going on," Zhang Menglong still felt it necessary to make a confirmation call to Hong Yi.


    "Hong Yi, I''m already at the venue. Were these three masters Yu, Meng, and Bai arranged by you?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang."


    "Aren''t they seniors in the stone appraisal world? Did you hire them with money?" Zhang Menglong said, "That''s not necessary, you know as well as I do, I just want to spend money, not earn it. This puts me in a difficult position."


    "Mr. Zhang, these three masters weren''t invited with money; they are originally from the Zhang family."


    "What? What do you mean?" Zhang Menglong was suddenly a bit confused.


    "Mr. Zhang, stone appraisal is a skill that greatly relies on experience. Without decades of research and a vast number of incidents, it''s impossible to train a genuine master of stone appraisal. All of them were nurtured by the elders in your family."


    "Brought up? I don''t quite understand what you mean?"


    "To put it simply, it''s about investing money. In the past, your elders spent a tremendous amount of funds to purchase countless raw stones. The art of these masters was honed among those raw stones. In the whole of Huaxia, probably only your family can afford to spend money like this."


    "Damn, so they really were built up with money!" Hearing the recent price tags of raw stones, which ranged from a million to even ten million, Zhang Menglong could almost imagine how much money was burnt to train these three masters.


    "These three masters have long signed a lifetime servitude contract with the Zhang family. When you don''t need them, they are free to do as they wish, but once you need them, they will be at your service immediately. That''s why I arranged for them to apany you to the conference today."


    "So that''s how it is. I understand now."


    "Today, I must trouble the three masters." Zhang Menglong spoke with a respectful tone. Although the rtionship was that of master and servant, they were still three elders, so Zhang Menglong was courteous.


    "Mr. Zhang, you''re too polite. This is all part of our duty. If you take a fancy to any raw stones, just let us know. The expertise of us three old fellows is still quite reliable," said Yu, the leading master.


    They were all very surprised when they received Hong Yi''s call. Thest time someone from the Zhang family asked them to make a move was several decades ago, and they had even begun to forget about the family. The emergence of Zhang Menglong doubtlessly helped them recall everything.


    In the entire Huaxia, and even in the whole world, there exists such a low-profile but unrivaled family.


    "Old Wang, I''ve found out. These three masters are all from our family."


    "They really work for your family?" Although Wang Ling didn''t run in these circles, she had done some homework beforeing. These three masters were definitely legends in the stone appraisal world.


    "And it''s a lifetime exclusive deal."


    "Damn, then what''s the difference between them and the servants of your family!" Wang Ling couldn''t help shouting out loud, unable to control her emotions, but the three masters just smiled. She wasn''t wrong, technically speaking, and they really were no different from the servants of the Zhang family.


    However, being a servant of the Zhang family was not easy; to be associated with the Zhangs meant an evesting protection under the shelter of this massive entity. In front of Zhang Menglong, they might be servants, but to everyone else, they remained people of high status!


    "Did you all hear that? The three masters just said they came here to apany that young man."


    "Heard it, and I would have noticed even if I hadn''t been told. The masters were very respectful in their tone."


    "What kind of background does this young man have to wield such energy?"


    "This must not be your ordinary rich second generation; just being rich can''t make these masters treat him with such an attitude."


    "Could he be a junior member of some leadership in Yanjing?"


    "Possibly, everyone pay attention, and make sure not to unwittingly provoke this one in the future."


    ...


    At this moment, Master Hu, who had been very arrogant towards Zhang Menglong earlier, was starting to feel his legs go weak.


    He truly had skill, and had even umted a fortune of over a billion through stone appraisal, butpared to those three masters, he was still several levels behind. From the attitude of the three masters, one could butt-guess that this young man had an extraordinary origin.


    "Mr. Zhang, I''m sorry, my attitude just now was somewhat unreasonable, I..."


    "Hmph," Zhang Menglong nced at him coldly, the thing he despised the most was this kind of fair-weathered person.


    Seeing that Zhang Menglong paid him no mind, he immediately turned towards the three masters and approached them.


    "Master Yu, I am..."


    But the three masters also just gave him a cold look, since Zhang Menglong was unwilling to deal with such a person, they naturally were not going to show any kindness.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "This is the area for stone cutting," Wang Ling led Zhang Menglong to a row of machines, where an entrepreneur had already chosen his desired raw stone and was having it cut there.


    "There should be nothing in these stones," Master Yu concluded with a nce, and the other two masters nodded slightly, obviously in agreement with Master Yu''s judgment.


    Sure enough, those stones turned into a pile of rubble without a trace of green.


    "Make way, make way!" A middle-aged man with a sharp face and a big gold chain, looking like a nouveau riche, pushed a cart into the area; his raw stone alone weighed at least two hundred pounds.


    "Hehe, brother, please be careful, this stone cost me over four million."


    "Don''t worry, I have never damaged the jade inside the stones I have cut," said an experienced-looking worker, immediately getting to work.


    "Hehe, all show and no substance, I''m afraid these four million will just go down the drain," Master Yuughed.


    A few minutester, only the man with a face as if his entire family had died and a pile of rubble were left.


    "Hmm? This one is interesting!" Master Yu''s gaze suddenly fell upon a raw stone held by a man who looked to be in his fifties, not too far away. This piece of raw stone, weighing only about ten pounds and looking like a leftover piece, would not normally be purchased by ordinary people.


    "Brother, you''re buying this kind of stuff? Even if you have excess money, it shouldn''t be wasted like this."


    "Hahaha, I just buy things based on a feeling,e on!"


    "Alright, as you wish!" The worker sprinkled on a bowl of water and began to cut the stone carefully.


    After only grinding off a thinyer, a green sheen suddenly spread out with the debris.


    "There''s green!"


    "Damn, even this waste stone can produce green?"


    "This is effing luck?"


    When the stone was fully cut, it revealed a piece of ice-type jade as big as a fist! He had bought that stone for only twenty thousand yuan, but this piece of jade was worth nearly a million!


    "Interesting!" Seeing such a scene, even Zhang Menglong felt somewhat eager to try.


    "How about it? Fancy ying with a couple of stones?" Wang Ling was also brimming with excitement, with these three masters around, could he, Wang Ling, possibly lose today?


    "Let''s go!" Zhang Menglong headed straight for the raw stone market.


    "With these two masters here today, we''re going to make a fortune!" Wang Ling''s face was written all over with excitement; even though he was already wealthy, who wouldin about having too much money? Especially when being friends with someone like Zhang Menglong.


    "To think I''d get such an opportunity on my first try at stone gambling, hahaha!" Wang Lingughed, his eyes squinting into slits ¨C the prowess of these three masters could be seen from the casual judgment they made earlier, they truly had real skill!


    Continue reading at empire


    "Stone gambling?" Zhang Menglong looked at Wang Ling, "Who said I''m going to gamble on stones."


    "If you''re not here to gamble on stones, what are you doing here? And hiring two masters? As bodyguards perhaps?"


    "Hehe," Zhang Menglongughed enigmatically, "Gambling is for those without capital, a choice only a poor person would make!"

 Chapter 46 Whats the use for us?

    "What do you mean by that?" Wang Ling clearly didn''t grasp Zhang Menglong''s intention. Weren''t they here to gamble on stones with these three masters today?


    "Right!" Wang Ling pped his forehead. With these three masters around, how could it even be called gambling? Master Yu can predict the presence of jade in a stone with over 90% uracy. If he favored a stone, it almost always contained jade!


    With such experts here, it couldn''t really be called stone gambling¡ªit was stone buying, practically just stocking up on goods directly. If Zhang Menglong opened a jade store, the profits would be outrageous!


    But Wang Ling still underestimated Zhang Menglong. He thought he was on the fifth floor, but Zhang Menglong was already in the stratosphere!


    He walked straight to a stall, "Boss, how much for this stone?"


    Zhang Menglong pointed at a giant stone over two meters tall, which probably weighed several tons. It was one of thergest raw stones you could find in this huge venue.


    "This one is 37 million!" The stall owner immediately quoted a sky-high price. When he saw the masters next to Zhang Menglong, his eyes lit up; having these masters at his stall was like a free advertisement!


    "Sir, if you are serious about it, take it for 35 million!" the stall owner raised his voice on purpose.


    The sky-high price of 35 million immediately attracted quite a crowd, and seeing the three masters there, the area soon became packed with people threeyers deep inside and out.


    "There''s a good showing, the three masters are making a move¡ªthis is going to be big!"


    "Yes, with such a big stone, it''s sure to yield green jade."


    "Not necessarily, if it only contains jade the size of an egg, then it''s still a losing deal, right?"


    "We have to rely on the masters'' judgment, if the masters nod, there''ll be a great show."


    Meanwhile, the three masters approached the stone, put on gloves and magnifying sses, and began to examine it thoroughly. Their techniques and angles made many spectators watch closely, hoping to learn something from their expertise and never worry about money again in their lives.


    A few minutester, the three masters sighed and shook their heads, "Mr. Zhang, this stone does contain green jade, but it will lose money. You''d better look at another one!"


    "Eek¡ª" The surrounding crowd instantly let out a hiss.


    "I told you, this stone is just big, it''s deceiving!"


    "Hahaha, this stall owner is in trouble now. The three masters have said it''ll be a loss. Definitely, no one will buy it!"


    "He''s just unlucky, hahaha!"


    Sure enough, the stall owner''s face immediately donned the ''Mask of Pain''. This huge raw stone was magnificent and very costly, with a base cost of 20 million alone. After the masters had spoken, who would buy it?


    If someone actually bought it, wouldn''t that be like pping the masters in the face?


    "I''ll take it, don''t even give me a discount, just as you said, 37 million, no bargaining!" Zhang Menglong directly took out his bank card, "Where do I swipe the card?"


    "Are you out of your mind?" Wang Ling pped Zhang Menglong''s hand away. "The three masters have said it''ll be a loss, and you still want to buy it? Are you crazy?"


    Not only Wang Ling, but the three masters were also utterly baffled. What was Zhang Menglong really up to? Was he challenging their abilities? But they dared not say anything since Zhang Menglong was the boss and they were merely workers.


    "I''m perfectly lucid!" Zhang Menglong chuckled, "And that one, this one, and the biggest few¡ªI want them all!"


    "Buddy, the total for these three pieces is 53 million. Are you really taking all of them?"


    "Mr. Zhang, the possibility of those other two yielding green jade is even smaller than the biggest one. You should think this through!"


    "Perfect!" Encouraged by the two masters''ments, Zhang Menglong felt even more confident.


    "Boss, I''ll take all of them, let''s swipe the card!"


    "Alright, alright!" Fearing Zhang Menglong might change his mind, the boss quickly brought out the POS machine. Amid the astonished gazes of everyone, Zhang Menglongpleted the payment.


    "What kind of y is this? I cannotprehend it," someone murmured.


    "Could this be the reverse gamble on raw stones, vi by the sea?"


    "What relies on the sea? If three masters all say it''s a loss, then it must be a loss. Tonight, just wait to go up to the rooftop!"


    "Mr. Fang, this..." The three exchanged nces, confusion evident in their eyes. It was rare to find jade in the raw stones, but at least they could tell Zhang Menglong which ones definitely didn''t contain jade. However, he simply wouldn''t listen! In their careers, this was undoubtedly a Waterloo.


    "Boss, how much for this? 18 million!"


    "Mr. Zhang, this one is a waste stone!"


    "Oh? Haha, okay, I''ll take this one!"


    "Boss, how much for this? 24 million."


    "Hmm? This one seems not bad!"


    "The quality looks very promising, like it could increase in value." Experience tales at empire


    "Boss, I''ll take this one!"


    Along the way, Zhang Menglong purchased dozens of raw stones, with a total value exceeding ten billion. Whether the masters judged them as likely to increase in value or to lose money, Zhang Menglong bought them all,pletely ignoring their advice.


    "Zhang Menglong, you''re not here to gamble on stones, are you? You''re here to stock up!" Wang Ling waspletely speechless now.


    "I just said that poor people gamble on stones because they need it to turn their luck around, but I don''t need it," Zhang Menglong continued enthusiastically picking out raw stones.


    "What''s the fun if every stone you buy has jade? It wouldn''t be thrilling at all; it wouldpletely lose its charm!"


    "Who the helles here for the thrill?" Upon hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, all the onlookers cursed in their minds. Everyone came here hoping to spend little and buy raw stones containing jade. Who the hell came for the thrill? Are they crazy?


    The raw stones here are worth hundreds of thousands to millions each, with a risk of losing everything if not careful. And yet, he said he was here for the thrill¡ªwas his family''s money overflowing?


    "Old Wang, whether I spend money or not, I am the world''s richest man. Is spending a little money for this thrilling experience not worth it to you?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "I''ll turn you into a banana boat!" Wang Ling finally couldn''t help but curse aloud. "Are you poison or what? Even with all the money, this is not the way to spend it!"


    "Do you know how much money I just spent?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "Probably a few tens of billions."


    "And do you know how long it takes me to earn tens of billions?"


    Wang Ling shook his head.


    Zhang Menglong paused for a second, "Well, I''ve earned it just now."


    "You..." Wang Ling wanted to say more, but he unclenched his fist, realizing this guy was simply a monster!


    Yes, to others, Zhang Menglong''s actions seemed like a waste of money. However, in his view, what he spent was merely the money he made in a breath¡ªa mere breather. Do ordinary people fret over spending a dor or two to make themselves happy?


    No!


    Would Zhang Menglong fret over spending tens of billions?


    The answer is also no!


    "I find that the more I hang out with you, the closer I am to a total worldview copse," Wang Ling said with a bitter smile, "Being friends with you makes me feel like I might end up in a mental institution one day."


    "Don''t worry. If that day reallyes, I''ll arrange everything for you. I own a few mental hospitals. I''ll ensure you get the best doctors, the best wards, and the most beautiful nurses!"


    "Zhang Menglong, I''m taking you on!"


    Watching Zhang Menglong frolic with Wang Ling, the three masters suddenly looked at each other. They had thought they could showcase their expertise before this new master today, but they had not expected to be just decorations; Zhang Menglong had never intended to let them act!


    Their morale was broken too!

 Chapter 47 I plan to frame it as a keepsake

    After a round of browsing, Zhang Menglong had already purchased more than two hundred raw stones, almost exclusively securing all the stones worth tens of millions at the venue for himself. Someone quietly calcted the price of these raw stones, and the total value was probably close to 50 billion!


    Many jewelers travel far and wide, they''ve seen people splurge tens of millions to buy a single raw stone, and they''ve also seen people spend billions to buy jade of exceptional quality and size. But this was the first time they had seen someone spend 50 billion to buy a pile of worthless rocks.


    ording to the judgment of those three masters, among the two hundred plus raw stones Zhang Menglong purchased, the probability of any turning out green wouldn''t exceed ten pieces, and even those ten might not recoup the cost of a single raw stone.


    By this calction, if he could recover 10 billion from these 50 billion, it would already be quite remarkable. If he''s unlucky and only gets one or two billion back, he might even cry himself to sleep.


    "Are you nning to go back and develop a graveyard?" Wang Ling waspletely speechless about Zhang Menglong; if those few experts hadn''t apanied him, she could have understood his purchases somewhat.


    But they all said he was definitely going to lose, and he still bought them; if he wasn''t crazy, then he must have some other idea.


    "What graveyard? I just want to see how good these three masters actually are," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "You spent 50 billion just to test these three masters'' ability to evaluate stones?" Wang Ling heard this robust exnation and her jaw almost dropped. If it were her, she would have taken that 50 billion to buy a bunch of premium jade, make some beautiful jewelry, and then use it to charm thedies. Wouldn''t that be delightful?


    "Alright, that''s enough, if we keep buying, we won''t leave anyone a way to make a living," Zhang Menglong dusted off the ash from his palms, "Let''s go, time to cut the stones, now is the moment to witness a miracle."


    "I''ll witness your ''giant m'' of a miracle; if you can make back this 50 billion today, I''ll eat all these stones!"


    The raw stones that the three masters said wouldn''t turn green were almost as good as being sentenced to death. Of course, they could make mistakes, but their mistakes were usually identifying jade that couldn''t turn green as one that could; the chances of the reverse happening were probably less than one percent.


    Unless Zhang Menglong had the luck of the God of Wealth, his 50 billion would certainly go down the drain.


    "Come on, I need some help," Zhang Menglong called out, "It''s quite a big job, I''ll give each of you ten thousand as a hardship fee afterward."


    "Ten thousand each?" When the stone cutters heard the news, their eyes lit up; when had they ever met such a generous customer? He was simply the God of Wealth in person!


    They immediately buckled down with full spirit and began earnestly to help Zhang Menglong process these two hundred plus stones.


    More and more people gathered around; although there was hardly any suspense, they all wanted to see what expression this wealthy young man would have when he discovered he had lost everything.


    "Worthless stone!" As the first stone, weighing over 500 kilograms, turned into a pile of rubble on the ground, it announced that Zhang Menglong''s investment of 18 million had been lost.


    Everyone immediately turned their gazes to Zhang Menglong''s expression, but he was unfazed and even seemed on the verge ofughter.


    The 18 million dissolved into nothing, yet Zhang Menglong had no reaction at all!


    "These mortals, how could they possibly know that spending money is just a task for me." Others might think Zhang Menglong was brainless, but how could they know the logic behind his actions?


    "Still worthless stone!"


    "More worthless stone!"


    One stone after another was processed, and a thickyer of dust and debris had already piled up on the ground. Staff with carts began to dispose of these broken stones.


    After twenty or so stones, not a hint of jade was found, not even a flicker of green.


    "Zhang Menglong, your luck has all gone to your head!" Wang Ling said, stirring up trouble.


    "You say that again!" Zhang Menglong red at Wang Ling fiercely. "Believe it or not, I''ll buy your family''s Wanda and make you unemployed on the spot?"


    "Whoa, you''re ruthless!" Although Wang Ling knew Zhang Menglong was joking, she was very aware that he quite possibly had the means to do it!


    "It''s green, it''s green!" Just as Zhang Menglong and Wang Ling were bantering, a cheer rose from the crowd.


    Considering the odds of finding green, getting one out of the twenty or so stones was already eptable, but it was yet to be seen how big the jade was!


    "It''s of the ice variety, and the color is quite nice!"


    "I wonder how big this jade is."


    "It looks quite sizable!"


    The staff members'' movements became more careful and slower, until, with thestyer of dirt falling away, the full appearance of the jade was revealed.


    "Hiss! We''ve hit the jackpot this time!"


    "This jade must weigh at least ten kilograms, right?"


    "With such shape and quality, it''s probably worth no less than 80 million!"


    "What''s the use, the price for these twenty-some odd raw stones is already several hundred million. Even if you earn back these 80 million, it''s just a drop in the bucket; he''s definitely at a loss today."


    "Young man, how about you sell this jade to me?" Just then, a rather burly middle-aged man walked over.


    "Sorry, I''m not nning to sell this jade," Zhang Menglong immediately shook his head. It has to be a joke, right? Was it easy for him to spend a hundred million? If he sold it, he would have to spend another hundred million; only a fool would sell.


    "Young man, don''t be in a hurry to refuse me. Here is my business card," the middle-aged man handed over a gold-embossed card.


    "Chairman of Yirui Jewelry, Yuan Muye?"


    "My God, it''s actually the Chairman of Yirui Jewelry, and he came in person!"


    "Gosh, I''m just taken aback! Yirui Jewelry is easily among the top five in our country, right?"


    "No wonder he has the confidence to acquire this piece of jade."


    Your next read is at empire


    The people around quickly recognized the identity of the middle-aged man.


    "I just heard someone offer 80 million. If young man, you think that price is low, I can go up to 90 million!"


    Immediately, there was a chorus of gasps around. This was a direct increase of 10 million, something only a boss of such arge-scalepany could so casually put forth.


    "Sorry, even for a billion, I wouldn''t sell," Zhang Menglong said politely, "Do I look like I came to this gambling stone event just to make money?"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Everybody shook their heads. Almost everyone had seen Zhang Menglong''s performance earlier; he wasn''t here to gamble on stones, nor was he here to stock up on goods. He was simply here to burn money.


    "Today, I just wanted to see how lucky I am and to experience the stone appraising skills of the three masters. As for money, I don''t care about it at all," Zhang Menglong said with a smile, "This is the first piece of jade I''ve unveiled. I n to mount it on something and then ce it in my study as a memorial."


    "This..." The middle-aged man was at a loss for words. This was the first time in his life he had encountered someone who didn''t want to earn money. "Well, in that case, I won''t insist anymore."


    He was quite regretful in his heart as a jade of this size was extremely rare.


    The stone-cutting continued, and soon, only thest dozen or so of the two hundred plus raw stones remained. Although more jade pieces were found in the remaining stones, none couldpare in size and quality to the one just unveiled, not even enough to break even.


    Finally, a huge stone over one meter tall was lifted onto the machine. It was thergest raw stone Zhang Menglong had purchased, weighing 1.8 tons, for which he had spent 62 million. However, the three masters had already dered that there were no jades inside this stone.


    "Disperse, there''s nothing to see anymore!" Many people''s curiosity had been exhausted after watching for so long.


    "Wait a second!"


    "No! This is impossible!"


    "It''s actually imperial purple!"


    "My goodness, the three masters actually made a mistake!"

 Chapter 48 Making a Friend and Giving It to You

    "This is impossible!" Not only the onlookers around, but even the three masters showed deep surprise in their eyes.


    That piece of raw stone, they were almost a hundred percent certain it couldn''t contain jadeite, and all three agreed on that. Logically speaking, such a thing shouldn''t have happened.


    "Hehehe, well, looks like I missed the mark!" Master Yu didn''t dwell on it too much, as being open-minded is most important in this line of work.


    "Imperial Purple! Such color and quality are extremely rare!"


    "Keep cutting, this piece might even be bigger than the ice-type jadeite we just saw!"


    "This is truly a treasure! The Stone Gambling World hasn''t seen such a fine jadeite in a long time."


    "Take pictures, record a video!"


    Just as people were about to disperse, everyone suddenly crowded around again, the news spreading like wildfire, attracting nearly everyone at the venue, packing the stone-cutting area threeyers deep both inside and out.


    "It''s just so beautiful!" Even Zhang Menglong had to admit, this piece of jadeite was incredibly beautiful! If he were a woman, he probably would have gone crazy.


    As for Wang Ling, he was almost drooling.


    "We''re going to be rich, Zhang Menglong, you might just break even today!" Wang Ling said enviously.


    Jadeite of a type superior to ice-type is already rare, not to mention this Imperial Purple. Its value could probably be measured in grams, and with such arge stone, it wouldn''t be impossible if it weighed around one hundred and eighty kilograms based on the part that had appeared!


    "Damn, I''m not looking to break even. If it really appreciates, I''m going to put it in my bathroom at home, to rest my feet on when I poop!"


    "You beast!" Wang Ling looked at Zhang Menglong with clenched teeth, believing that Zhang Menglong could truly do such a thing!


    This jadeite was so precious that a worker, who had been in this field for decades, had never seen such before. One person would hardly manage to process it quickly, yet no one was leaving this prolonged and stinky stone-cutting process because they knew such an opportunity was too rare to miss, even once in several decades.


    Finally, under the gaze of a captivated crowd, this piece of Imperial Purple jadeite revealed its full glory, and its huge size left everyone stunned.


    A few workers joined forces to lift it onto the scale.


    "154 kilograms!"


    "Wow!" An astonished murmur spread through the crowd.


    Until now, thergest piece of jadeite ever to appear in the Stone Gambling World was one that weighed 180 kilograms and sold for 20 billion US dors, as mentioned by Wang Ling.


    Zhang Menglong''s piece weighed a bit less, but remember, that piece was only ice-type, while this one was the superior Imperial Purple, which is a totally different concept.


    "I doubt anyone here could afford this piece of jadeite!"


    The 20 billion from those days was notparable to today''s 20 billion, and they could hardly imagine how much this piece of jadeite would finally fetch.


    "Mr. Yu, please give us an estimate, even though we can''t afford it, we still want to know how valuable it really is!"


    "Hehehe, I, Yu Pingqiu, have also never seen such arge piece of Imperial Purple jadeite in my life, and yet I missed it," Master Yu, stroking his beard, "In my estimate, the price of this piece of jadeite would be no less than 80 billion US dors!"


    "Sss!" Hearing that number, no one could remain calm anymore, everyone had thought Zhang Menglong was going to lose everything today, but this piece of jadeite made him turn the tables and even earn billions more!


    "Hey Wang, I think I just heard someone say that if I won the bet, they''d eat these stones today," Zhang Menglong said with a quirky tone.


    "Who''s that audacious? Isn''t this just sponging off others?" Wang Ling acted as if he wouldn''t acknowledge such a im.


    "What do you n to do with this piece?" Wang Ling asked, "Are you really nning to bring it back to use as a footrest? I even feel sorry for it."


    "Let me think..." Anyway, there was one thing, Zhang Menglong would definitely not sell. If he sold it, he would instantly have several billion US dors credited to his ount, and all his efforts today would have been wasted.


    "Mr. Yuan!" Zhang Menglong called out to Yuan Muye not far away, "Are you interested in this piece of jade raw stone?"


    Who wouldn''t be interested? If handled well, let alone being a treasure of the store, it could be passed down through generations as a family heirloom, and even be treated as a national treasure if taken to a museum.


    But 80 billion yuan, that''s just the starting price, who could afford it? Even Yuan Muye couldn''t!


    Hispany, although valued far more than 80 billion yuan, mostly consisted of fixed assets. He didn''t even have ten billion yuan in liquid assets on hand, and even if he could mobilize it, he would need the agreement of a group of shareholders. He truly had the will butcked the strength!


    "Young man, not just me, even if you add up everyone in this whole venue, we probably couldn''t gather that much money," Yuan Muye said with a wry smile. Of course, if given some time, he might have had a chance to gather the 80 billion yuan.


    "I didn''t say I wanted to sell it to you," Zhang Menglong said, "I''m the kind of person who likes making friends. I quite like your style, so I''ll give you the jade!"


    "What?"


    "Zhang Menglong, are you crazy? You''re just going to give it to me for free, I''ll take it!" Wang Ling immediately became anxious.


    As for the others, they simply looked at him as if he were a fool. This was an 80 billion yuan jade, and he was giving it away to a stranger for such a bizarre reason?


    "But I do have a requirement!" Zhang Menglong added, "Mr. Yuan, yourpany is so big, you must have some really fine craftsmen and designers, right?"


    Yuan Muye was still in shock from the initial surprise and hadn''t even noticed his expression was somewhat dazed.


    "Mr. Yuan? Mr. Yuan?"


    "Oh, oh, oh," Yuan Muye finally replied, "Mypany might not be as big as Mr. Zhang''s, but my designers are well-known both domestically and internationally, absolutely world-ss!"


    "How about this, Mr. Yuan. For this piece of jade, carve half of it into a batch of jewelry and ornaments for me, and the other half will be yourbor payment. What do you think?"


    "Really?" Yuan Muye''s breathing hastened. Compared to the sky-high priced jade, thebor cost was nothing, that half of the jade was almost like being free!


    "Of course. You can take the jade now, but I hope to get the items I want within a week, can you do it? Oh, and for that piece of ice jade, make me an Ultraman statue. You can take more time with that, I''m not in a rush."


    "What kind of bizarre request is that?" Wang Ling suddenly covered her face. In front of so many people, asking for an Ultraman statue was simply too embarrassing.


    "Yes! A week is a very harsh timeline. With such a treasure, even a few months of rushed work wouldn''t be strange. However, Yuan Muye''spany has the best craftsmen and top-tier equipment. Working day and night, one week is not unimaginable."


    "Then please do!" Zhang Menglong said, and then he truly walked away without looking back.


    "Zhang Menglong, do you know that Yuan Muye?" Wang Ling hurriedly followed and asked curiously. From her understanding of Zhang Menglong, he surely wouldn''t do such a thing without reason.


    "No," Zhang Menglong shook his head.


    "Then you¡­"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "I really don''t want to make any more money, and I actually quite like him."


    "Then give it to me, whatever he can do, I can do too!"


    "I don''t like your style!" Zhang Menglong nced disdainfully at Wang Ling, "Unless you can eat those stones!"


    "I''ll eat your pig skin!"


    ...

 Chapter 49 Play or Not for 1000 Yuan

    "Menglong, we''ve already helped you revise your graduation thesis, so you don''t have toe to school anymore if you don''t want to. Just show up for the graduation defense when it''s time,"


    "Got it, senior. I''ll thank the other seniors on your behalf. I''ll treat everyone to a meal when the timees!"


    In just half a month, Zhang Menglong had gotten his hands on a graduation thesis that others might not be able toplete in three or four months. Moreover, every data graph and every word had been carefully revised; it was absolutely a model among undergraduate theses.


    "Haha, junior brother you''re too polite. If it weren''t for you, we couldn''t be living such a wealthy life, right?" Zhu Mengchao said mysteriously. "Do you know? This year, the number of students who pre-registered for our research group has already exceeded 100! Our entire department only enrolls 120 students a year, and that''s before word has even spread."


    Zhang Menglong already could imagine how bustling it would be on the day of the official interview at Teacher Han''s research group.


    "Alright, I won''t disturb you any longer; we still have experiments to do. Remember toe by the research group anytime you want to hang out!"


    "Sure thing!" Zhang Menglong hung up the phone and picked up an exquisitely packaged small box next to him.


    Inside the box was a string of purple jadeite bracelets, exceptionally beautiful under the sunlight, shining like a dazzling violet.


    They were delivered by Yuan Muye earlier that morning. That huge emperor purple jadeite raw stone was crafted into several dozen jewelry pendants. Although traditionally, jadeite essories are seen as somewhat outdated,


    the designers and craftsmen at Yuan Muye''s ce were truly exceptional. These pieces were not only full of luxury but also incorporated modern, youthful elements, making them extremely fashionable even for twenty-year-olds.


    This particr bracelet was the piece Zhang Menglong was most satisfied with, with an inner diameter of 14 centimeters, made of smoothly polished jadeite beads and adorned with some precious and rare metals. It was the kind of piece that could capture anyone''s attention at first sight, regardless of age or gender.


    Yuan Muye told him that even though this bracelet didn''t use much material, it was crafted from the best part of the entire jadeite stone. If sold on the market, it would be worth tens of millions at the very least!


    "Hong Yi, I''m heading out; I''m leaving this ce to you for the next few days," said Zhang Menglong as he put the small box into his bag and stepped out of his room.


    "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, I will take care of everything here. If you encounter any issues in Gusu City, just call the number I gave you,"


    "Got it!"


    "And, I hope Mr. Zhang can bring back a girlfriend this time. Living alone in this big house must feel quite empty, huh!"


    "Hahaha, I''ll take that as a good omen!" Zhang Menglong''s mouth was practically crooked with how much he''d grinned today; the day they had been anticipating for so long had finally arrived.


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong, are you home today? I heard you''ve received that batch of emperor purple jewelry. I want to level up my style and take a look around your ce," Wang Ling messaged, just as Zhang Menglong had barely settled into his car.


    "Damn, why does this guy linger like a persistent ghost? Could he be gay?" Zhang Menglong muttered to himself. Since meeting him, Wang Ling seemed to be in touch, intentionally or not, yet Zhang Menglong could sense that he meant no harm.


    "Sorry, Principal Wang, I''m heading to Gusu City soon. I''ll entertain you when I get back!"


    "What? You''re going to Gusu City? I heard there''s an international art exhibition there soon, and they''ll auction off some masters'' works. Don''t tell me you''re going there to splurge again?"


    "Oh? There''s such an event?" Zhang Menglong immediately took note of this. "Thanks for the info, I''ll treat you to whatever you want when I get back, but you guessed wrong, I''m going to meet someone today."


    "Yo, judging by your tone, you must be meeting someone important, right?" Wang Lingughed. "For someone to be on your mind, Master Zhang, they must be at least on the level of a goddess like Liu Yifei."


    "Meeting a female online friend, but I''ve never met her in person. This is the first time."


    "What? Meeting an online friend? That''s outrageous! You''re going to meet an online friend? Aren''t you afraid it''s a Qiao Biluo on the other end?" Wang Ling sent an emoji of Auntie Qiao, "Got any photos? I''ve got a friend who wants to take a look."


    "No, besides her voice, I have no other information."


    "That''s so you!" Wang Ling gave a thumbs up. "These days, a voice changer is all it takes to make someone head over heels with just a few ''little brother'' calls. Don''t just blindly trust a woman''s voice."


    "You don''t know shit. This is a connection of souls. Even if she''s a Qiao Biluo, I''d ept it!"


    "Strong, my brother!" Wang Ling eximed in admiration. "I, a mere mortal, can''tpare to your realm. Oh, and if it turns out to be a tank, give me a heads up first; I''ll hook you up with the best orthopedic hospital to save your pelvis from being shattered." Stay updated with empire


    "Get lost!" Zhang Menglong sent a disdainful emoji and focused on driving.


    It was just over a hundred kilometers from Jiangnan City to Gusu City. With Zhang Menglong''s increasingly skilled driving, it took him less than two hours to reach the urban area of Gusu.


    Of course, that''s also because no one dared to drive side by side with him, nor dared to changenes in front of his Koenigsegg CCVR¡ªfor even the merest scratch could cost more than just a house to settle.


    The car stopped at the entrance of Gusu University, the most prestigious university in Gusu. "Starbucks Double Sweet" had told him that she studied there, currently a master''s student in her first year.


    "What''s the situation? She won''t pick up a voice call; something didn''t happen, did it?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat worried, but other than MYY Voice, all he had was her WeChat ID. He didn''t know her major, which building she lived in, or even what ''Starbucks Double Sweet''s real name was until now.


    "Glug glug!" Zhang Menglong chugged half a can of Red Bull and put it on the car before starting to frantically make voice calls again.


    Such a handsome sports car appearing at the university entrance quickly drew a crowd, with some even whipping out cameras to snap pictures. If it weren''t for Zhang Menglong wearing a mask, his identity might have been exposed that day.


    "Handsome, are you looking for someone?" Just as Zhang Menglong was at his wits'' end, two very fashionably dressed girls came up to him.


    Their eyes hadn''t left Zhang Menglong''s car for the entire time.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Yeah, looking for someone." Zhang Menglong replied.


    "How do we look to you?"


    "Ah? How do you look?" Zhang Menglong was utterly confused.


    "Handsome, you even have Red Bull in your car, and still you''re asking us?" One of the girls suddenlyughed, "Just for your car, we''ll both join you for 1000 yuan, you down?"


    "You down?" Zhang Menglong was momentarily stunned. He''d always heard that having drinks in the car signified a certain indescribable meaning, but thought it was all just rumors. Could it actually be true?


    Realizing this, he couldn''t help but smile wryly.

 Chapter 50 Are the Handsome Guy and Beautiful Girl Short of Money?

    "Sorry, this is for my own use, not what you think it is," Zhang Menglong said, quickly grabbing the half-empty can of Red Bull and downing it, then tossing it into the nearby trash. If "Extra Sweet Starbucks" saw this, his image as a tall and impressive character wouldpletely copse.


    The two girls, seeing Zhang Menglong''s serious demeanor, felt somewhat disappointed, but they didn''t give up. Although luxury cars often appeared at the entrance of Gusu University, they had never seen one like this before.


    They heard someone discussing a car parked at the school gate as they walked over. Apparently, there were very few of this car in the whole world; it was a top-notch sports car with a price over a hundred million!


    Could someone who could afford such a car be ordinary? If they could have even an indescribable rtionship with him, just a trifle slipping through his fingers would be enough to sustain them for a lifetime.


    Even if they couldn''t snag tangible benefits, just getting in this car and taking a picture would be enough to skyrocket their social status. They''d have plenty of opportunities to boast about itter.


    "Handsome, let''s be friends. Who are you waiting for here, if not us? We are both free tonight, and can ''eat ice cream''. Judging from your license te, you must be visiting from Jiangnan City, right?"


    To ride in such a car, even if it meant being taken advantage of, they were willing.


    "What''s be of female students these days?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help shaking his head, "Sorry, I''m waiting for my girlfriend. She''d be angry if she saw you."


    Hearing that Zhang Menglong had a girlfriend, the two girls deted immediately. He already had a girlfriend, so what was the point? They also wondered which girl from their school was lucky enough tond a boyfriend like that. Truly enviable.


    "Wait a sec!" Zhang Menglong suddenly called out to them. Waiting like this wasn''t working; if "Extra Sweet Starbucks" had really gotten into trouble, would he just keep waiting?


    "What''s up, handsome? Changed your mind?" The two girls immediately showed hopeful smiles.


    "Are you students here?"


    Find adventures at empiren/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Yeah," the girls nodded.


    "Then you must be pretty familiar with this ce, right?"


    "We''ve lived here for over three years, of course, we''re familiar," said the more forting girl. "Handsome, you''re not looking for some excitement, are you? It''s not okay during the day, but at night, I know a few pretty good spots."


    "No, I want to ask you, are you short of money?"


    "Huh?" The question caught the girls off guard. Who isn''t short of money nowadays? Even rich people don''t think they have enough.


    "Give me your payment code."


    "What are you doing?" The girls exchanged a puzzled look but still pulled out their mobile phones to show him their payment QR codes, as there was no risk in showing them to someone else unless money was being sent.


    "Ding! You''ve received a transfer of 100,000 yuan on your ZhiFuBao!"


    "Ding! You''ve received a transfer of 100,000 yuan on your ZhiFuBao!"


    The pleasant notification sounds rang out from both girls'' phones.


    "Handsome, what''s this for...?"


    "I want to ask you to help me find someone. If you provide any useful information, I''ll give you another hundred thousand."


    "Tell us! If we know them, we''ll definitely find them for you. We know many people at the school and can also help you inquire."


    "Yeah, just tell us the person''s name. Even if they are the school cafeteria''s auntie, we can find out for you."


    "I don''t know the person''s name."


    "Huh?" The girls were stunned. How could they find someone without even a name?


    "Do you have a photo then?" The two girls figured that this rich young man must have fallen for someone from their school at first sight, which is why he was willing to spend so much to find her. Just for helping with the search, he offered one hundred thousand, and another hundred thousand upon sess. It sounded like a serious investment.


    "I don''t have a photo either."


    "Then how are we supposed to help you find the person you''re looking for? You must have some clues, right?"


    "See if the person you are looking for is among these people," one of the girls immediately showed him a recent school beauty contest held at their university. It was a public election by the students, and Zhang Menglong''s person of interest was likely among them.


    "I haven''t even seen this person before. Even if she appeared before me, I''m afraid I wouldn''t recognize her," Zhang Menglong smiled helplessly.


    "So, do you have any useful information, like height, weight?"


    "All I know is that her voice is sweet, and she sings beautifully. Her nickname on ''Some Sound'' is ''Extra Sweet Frappino''."


    "Okay, we got it, but we can''t guarantee we''ll find her for you. Your information is too scant. If we don''t find her, this money..."


    "Don''t worry, as long as you try your best to help me search for her, the money is still yours."


    "Deal!" One hundred thousand yuan per person, even after they graduated and started working, they wouldn''t make that much in a year. Just for helping to find someone, they could get this much money; such good fortune didn''te every day.


    They immediately took out their mobile phones and began to mobilize all their contacts to start searching for this person.


    The onlookers around them were growing in number, and of course, they were all attracted by Zhang Menglong''s car.


    It was at this moment that Zhang Menglong walked straight towards those people.


    "Handsome guys and beautifuldies, are you short of cash?"


    Everyone looked at Zhang Menglong with puzzled faces, not knowing what this rich-looking young man was about to say.


    "Help me find someone, and I''ll give each of you one hundred thousand. If you have any useful tips, I''ll add another hundred thousand, and if you manage to help me find her, I''ll give an extra reward of one million!"


    "Damn! Has this guy lost his mind?"


    "No way, is there really such a good deal? Is it for real?"


    "Could he be here looking for our school''s beauty queen?"


    "If he''s looking for the beauty queen, would it be that troublesome? Just look it up on the phone, right?"


    "Handsome guy, does this mean all of us help you search together, and you''ll give each one of us one hundred thousand?" someone asked.


    "Exactly!" Zhang Menglong nodded.


    "Whoa!" As soon as he said this, there was a stir in the crowd.


    There must have been nearly a hundred people gathered here, one hundred thousand per person, that''s ten million! Ten million just to find one person? That was beyond belief.


    "If you call your friends to help me look for this person, I''ll pay them the same!"


    "I''ll help you search!" a girl broke free from her boyfriend''s hand and stepped forward.


    "Give me your payment code!"


    "Ding! Your ''Support Treasure'' ount has received 100,000 yuan!" a clear voice echoed through the crowd.


    "He''s telling the truth, he''s really giving out one hundred thousand per person!" The crowd exploded with excitement all at once.


    "Handsome guy, I''ll help you search!"


    "Handsome guy, I''m from a university society; I know lots of people. I can definitely help you find the person you''re looking for!"


    "I''m from the student council; I know someone from every department in the school!"


    "Buddy, I''m a teacher at this university. Can I help you search too?"


    "Line up, line up! With you all mouring like this, I can''t make transfers!" Zhang Menglong shouted.


    Quickly, a long line formed at the entrance of Gusu University. Everyone acted with surprising unanimity: take the money, then start making calls to search for people, and of course, some immediately notified their friends.


    "Old Liu, some tycoon is looking for someone at our school. Whether you find the person or not, it''s one hundred thousand per head, an extra hundred thousand for any clues, and another million if you actually find them. Don''t me me if I didn''t tell you. It''s at the school gate!"


    ...


    In just a matter of minutes, the entire student body and even teachers at Gusu University were mobilized, all beginning to search for a person with the ''Some Sound'' nickname "Extra Sweet Frappino"...

 Chapter 51 No Matter How Much It Costs, Its Worth It to Find You

    Inside a girls'' dormitory at Gusu University, a girl was anxiously checking her phone, as if it contained the most important thing in her life.


    The girl was quite tall, nearly reaching 170 cm, and she had thick, flowing long hair, a pair of slender legs, and a pair of beautiful eyes. However, deep within those eyes, there was always a hint of indescribable sorrow.


    Her desk was tidy, with a mirror, makeup box, books,puter; everything was arranged in an orderly fashion. There was also a ck guitar leaning against the side of the table, which used to be her bestpanion.


    "Creak!" The dormitory door was suddenly pushed open, and another girl hurriedly rushed in, "Yiyi, didn''t you say you were going to meet an online friend today? Why are you still in the dorm? I saw you started putting on makeup early in the morning, what happened, did someone stand you up? I told you online dating is unreliable..."


    "No, my phone suddenly turned off for some reason, and I haven''t even agreed on a ce with him yet. Hurry up and lend me your phone!" The girl called Yiyi seemed to have found a savior.


    "Yiyi, it''s not that I don''t want to help you today, but if you miss this opportunity, you won''t find such a chance to make money in your lifetime!"


    "What money-making opportunity is more important than your sister?"


    "You don''t know, there''s a super-rich tycoon who came to our school gate, and he''s definitely a second-generation rich kid. He seems to have taken a fancy to some girl in our school and almost got the whole school looking for her, even some teachers are helping him."


    "Who has such capability?" the girl eximed, "Our school has tens of thousands of students and faculty."


    "I might be exaggerating a bit, but there are definitely thousands! You won''t believe it when I tell you, just by helping him find this person, you get a reward of 100,000 right away, additional 100,000 for clues, and if you help him find the person, another reward of 1 million. If we know this person, that''s 1.2 million instantly, and with that, we could buy a small apartment in a cheaper area."


    "Is there such a strange person?"


    "Right? I bet this guy has spent a few hundred million by now. If it weren''t for everyone in our friend circle sharing screenshots looking for this person, I would never believe it. Oh, I have a spare phone, take it quickly, it''s 100,000 we''re talking about, don''t let it slip away!"


    "You have a spare phone? Why didn''t you say it earlier? Lend it to me quickly!"


    "Alright, what''s mine is yours," the girl said and pulled out an old phone from the drawer, "It''s an old model from a few years back, don''t look down on it."


    "Qianqian, I love you to death!" The girl hugged Qianqian and nted a kiss on her face.


    "Hurry up and go, this is our chance to strike it rich. With this money, we can go to d for the winter break to see the aurora, isn''t that your dream?"


    "I know, stop pushing me!" Yiyi immediately took out her sim card and put it into the spare phone. Luckily, the phone still had some battery left. Although it wouldn''tst very long, it was enough tost until she could contact Zhang Menglong.


    "I wonder whichdy is so lucky to catch the eye of such a rich second-generation guy; this isn''t just throwing away money, I really don''t understand the world of the wealthy."


    "What''s the matter? Are you jealous? I''m not the least bit jealous!"


    "Cut it out, you''repletely love-struck right now. Be carefulter and keep in touch with us. If this Zhang Menglong turns out to be some creep, we''ll rush over and help you take him down!"


    "I know! He''s not like that!"


    "Bullshit!" The girl named Qianqian said nonchntly, "You guys always chat so loudly, do you think we''re deaf? I''m telling you, Yiyi, you''re a girl after all, constantly chatting about all kinds of crap with a guy you''ve never even met, can''t you be a bit more reserved?


    Besides, listening to the content of your chats makes even my face turn red; I could almost imagine a raunchy nove of 100,000 words."


    "Ah, Qianqian, stop talking!" The girl quickly covered her roommate''s mouth, "You don''t understand our rtionship!"


    "Alright, alright, I don''t understand, but let''s get going, OK? Otherwise, the cooked duck will fly away!"


    Finally, the girl logged back into her WeChat, and at that moment, Zhang Menglong''s profile showed 99+ messages. Seeing this barrage of messages, the girl instantly revealed a charming smile.


    "Look at you, almost drooling withughter, you... hey..."


    "My phone just broke, sorry about that, where are you now? I''lle out and find you right away!" She immediately sent a message to Zhang Menglong.


    "Oh my dear mother, I thought you had been kidnapped, you scared me to death." Zhang Menglong received her message and finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Sorry, it''s not like I did it on purpose."


    "I''m right outside your school gate now, the most conspicuous one there is me."


    "As if! Everyone knows you''re an engineering student who''s always in theb, probably bald by now?" Although she was teasing Zhang Menglong, the girl''s steps quickened.


    "By the way, I heard there was a rich guy at the school gate today looking for someone, offering 100,000 per person, have you seen him?"


    "Seen him? Of course!" Zhang Menglongughed.


    "Who knows what kind of fool would do that, is it necessary to find someone?"


    "Are you calling me a fool?" replied Zhang Menglong, "Unless you kiss me, I won''t get over it."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "I wasn''t calling you a fool, I meant that fool... wait, the person they''re talking about isn''t you, is it?"


    "Well if that isn''t me then!" said Zhang Menglong. "I didn''t even know your name or what you looked like, I only knew your nickname, so I had to look for you this way."


    "Qianqian, who is that person looking for?" the girl confirmed with her roommate.


    "I have no idea, no name, no photo, just a nickname on some video tform called ''Double Sugar Starbucks'', how could that ghost help him find anyone?"


    "Is it really you?" The girl suddenly showed a surprised expression, "But you aren''t..."


    "I told you before, if I don''t work hard, I''ll have to inherit the family wealth, but even though I''m trying hard, I still have to inherit it, nothing I can do, it''s beyond my abilities!"


    "Why... why are you wasting money like this?"


    "If it means I can find you, any amount of money is worth it."


    "Are you crazy!" The girl immediately became anxious, "Don''t go anywhere, I''ming over now!"


    The girl immediately turned off her phone. She flicked her long hair back and sprinted towards the school gate.


    "Yiyi, why are you running so fast, wait for me!"


    "So what if you have long legs!"


    "Wuu wuu wuu, take my phone with you, help me collect the money first!"


    ...

 Chapter 52 Hello, my name is Lu Yiyao

    "I''m sorry, everyone behind me, but I''ve found the person I was looking for. Thank you all for being so enthusiastic in helping me," Zhang Menglong felt a weight lift off his chest as he received the message about the "double-blended sugar in the Starbucks Frappino."


    "Ah! It''s all your fault. I asked you toe shopping with me, but you had to y video games. If we hade out just a few minutes earlier, we could have made that money!"


    "Aaah! I will never spend so much time putting on makeup again! 100,000 yuan, and I was just four people away from the front!"


    "Hahahaha! I''m thest one, my luck is way too good!"


    "Wonder who that well-connected big shot is who found the person, 1.2 million yuan, man. You could work for ten years and still not save that much!"


    "Handsome, are you looking for anyone else?"


    ...


    Upon hearing this news, the people gathered at the school gate were a mix of joy and sorrow. Many were just one step away from winning 100,000 yuan, and many had even postponed important matters to be here, now all for naught.


    But Zhang Menglong had found his person, and they couldn''t shamelessly go on asking for money; otherwise, it would be like freeloaders. They could only disperse gradually, filled with regret.


    "Wait for next time, everyone. Since you''ve alle here to help, you must have put off a lot of things. It wouldn''t be right to let you leave empty-handed, so please ept this little token of my appreciation!"


    Because there were too many people just now, Zhang Menglong directly had several students make the transfers on the spot, and naturally, each of these students also received a sum of 100,000 yuan as a hardship fee.


    "Trouble you to transfer 10,000 yuan to everyone here, but no need for the ones who came after."


    "Got it!" The students nodded their heads, thinking inside that Zhang Menglong was a fool with too much money; these people didn''t do anything and yet were still getting a hardship fee. Was he here to find someone, or was he just doing charity work?


    Upon hearing that there was still money to be had, the downcast students'' faces immediately lit up. Though it wasn''t 100,000 yuan, getting 10,000 for doing nothing was still good, as it was almost like money falling from the sky.


    Soon, everyone was satisfied with the money they received, but they didn''t leave. Zhang Menglong was still standing at the school gate and hadn''t left, hinting that the person he was looking for might show up here at any moment.


    After making a rough estimate, Zhang Menglong must have sought the help of over a thousand people, ten thousand for each, which added up to a billion yuan. Who could be so significant to warrant a billionaire''s search?


    During this time, many tried to strike up a conversation with Zhang Menglong, including several who were voted onto the campus beauty ranking, but he scarcely gave them a second nce, further piquing everyone''s curiosity about this person.


    "Yiyi, wait for me! Stop running, Sisi just told me that the rich heir has found who he was looking for. Even if we go now, there''s no money for us!"


    But the girl didn''t slow down at all and kept running forward.


    "Is it her? Or could it be her?" Zhang Menglong''s gaze darted around the people nearby, many of whom had hurried over, but once they heard there was no money to be earned, their faces fell with disappointment.


    By their expressions alone, Zhang Menglong knew they weren''t the one he was looking for.


    Suddenly, a girl caught his eye. She wore light makeup, gasping for breath, her hair was somewhat windblown and messy, and her gaze swiftly swept around before finally settling on him.


    At the moment their eyes met, Zhang Menglong felt as if a current ran through him.


    "It''s her!"


    Zhang Menglong removed his mask, revealing his face in front of so many people for the first time.


    "My goodness, not only is he rich, but he''s also quite handsome!"


    "Wuuu, I''m so jealous. Who could be so lucky?"


    "From now on, I''ve decided he''s my husband."


    "Who wants to steal my husband? I''ll fight her to the death!"


    "Wait, look, he''s walking towards someone."


    "Isn''t that Lu Yiyao?"


    "You know her?"


    "I know her, but she doesn''t know me. I went to this year''s Top Ten Singers contest, and she was the champion."


    "Really? Although she''s also pretty, isn''t there still a bit of a gappared to the top-ranked beauties in our school?"


    "Damn, are you as pretty as she is? Giving her a 7 out of 10 isn''t an overstatement, right?"


    Lu Yiyao''s appearance suddenly attracted everyone''s attention. Could it be that this young wealthy man really came for her?


    At this moment, Lu Yiyao''s roommate arrivedte. Her gaze lingered on Zhang Menglong for a moment. Although there was no face on the photos in the friend circle, it wasn''t hard to identify from the clothes that he was the wealthy man looking for someone at the school gate.


    "This... can''t be such a coincidence, right?" Guo Yuqian never expected that the so-called online friend Lu Yiyao was going to meet today would turn out to be that young man? Was he making such a big fuss just to meet Lu Yiyao?


    She had just been envying whoever was so lucky, and that lucky woman turned out to be her own roommate!


    Actually, Zhang Menglong was quite an extrovert, and he could easily bond with any acquaintance, whether they were strangers or not. But whenever it came to a girl he liked, he would instantly be timid as a pup and so nervous that he could hardly speak.


    Zhang Menglong had imagined all the way what kind of person she would be, but when he saw her in person, he couldn''t help but be a bit dazzled. Lu Yiyao wasn''t one of those typical inte celebrity faces; her beauty was incredibly natural.


    In fact, not just Zhang Menglong, Lu Yiyao felt almost exactly the same. A flush of red gradually spread across her cheeks, and the scene of their first encounter was as warm as a scene from aic strip.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Do you guys feel the air around us is filled with the sour stench of love?"


    "I smell it, I also smell the sweet scent of money."


    "You might not believe me if I say it, but I really want to ship this couple."


    "I can be single, but the couple I ship must end up together!"


    "Whoever stays here to watch, I''m going to move the civil affairs bureau over right now."


    ...


    "Um, are you ''Frappino with Double Sugar''?" Zhang Menglong''s hands didn''t quite know where to put themselves.


    "Doesn''t look like it?" Lu Yiyaoughed. "I just didn''t expect that we would meet in such a way."


    "What could I do?" Zhang Menglong said with a helpless smile. "I couldn''t contact you, didn''t know what you looked like or your name, which school and ss you were in, so I could only resort to this most basic level of carpet searching for you."


    "Hmm..." Lu Yiyao reached out her hand generously, "Then let''s get to know each other again. My name is Lu Yiyao, a senior student of Gusu University Music Department."


    "Nice to meet you, my name is Zhang Menglong, a senior student of Polymer Materials at Jiangnan University of Science and Technology."


    ...

 Chapter 53 You, Scoundrel, Are on Fire

    "Are we being too conspicuous here?" The crowd around them not only didn''t disperse but seemed to be growing. At this rate, Lu Yiyao would soon be a celebrity at the school.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Yeah, I''m actually quite shy. With so many people watching, I feel a bit embarrassed," Zhang Menglong said.


    "You, embarrassed?" Lu Yiyao gave Zhang Menglong a look, "I remember someone who couldn''t be stopped by ten bulls when ites to talking nonsense."


    "Right, let me introduce you. This is my roommate, Cici, Guo Yuqian." Lu Yiyao pulled the girl next to her closer.


    "Hello," since she was Lu Yiyao''s friend, Zhang Menglong naturally wouldn''t ignore her, "Do you want to join us for something to eat?"


    "Is that really okay?" Guo Yuqian nced at the sports car not far away, which only had seating for two. Besides, it was their first meeting, and she didn''t feel it was appropriate to intrude so heavily, "I have some other things to do, maybe next time."


    In fact, Guo Yuqian really wanted to join them. She wasn''t sure how rich Zhang Menglong was, but she was certain that dining with him would definitely be the most luxurious dinner she''d ever have. Not only that, she also wanted to experience what it felt like to sit in the passenger seat of a sports car.


    But today really wasn''t the right time, for a simple reason: she wasn''t just Lu Yiyao''s roommate; she was also her good friend. She was actually worried whether a guy like Zhang Menglong could be a jerk.


    "Take good care of yourself. If you can''t make it back to the dorm tonight, I''ll call the police!" Guo Yuqian whispered into Lu Yiyao''s ear.


    "Got it, I promise I''ll be back before 10 p.m.!" Lu Yiyao promised.


    "That''s better," In such a situation, Zhang Menglong naturally didn''t want anyone intervening. His previous offer was just out of politeness, "Next time, I''ll find a chance to treat your whole dorm to a meal."


    "Alright, I''ll remember that, and you better not back out!"


    "If I do, Lu Yiyao could twist my head off!" Zhang Menglong joked.


    "When have I ever been that violent?" Lu Yiyao suddenly wasn''t pleased.


    "Who was itst time during the game who said they''d twist my skull open?"


    "Wasn''t that because you were so bad at it? I don''t know if you were practicing the ''Merciful Shooting Technique'' or using a hack that can''t even kill an enemy right in front of your face!"


    "That''s because you were messing around!"


    The two couldn''t help but start bickering again, even though it was technically their first formal meeting, they seemed like friends who had known each other for years.


    "Enough chitchat, get in the car!" Zhang Menglong led the way to his car.


    Luckily, Lu Yiyao hadn''t worn a skirt today, so she didn''t need to worry about the low clearance exposing her. She was full of curiosity about Zhang Menglong. She had known him for a while, but from his previous appearance, she would have never guessed he was so wealthy.


    Could it really be as he said, that he had suddenly inherited a fortune from his family? But weren''t those stories just found in novels?


    "All set, the old driver is about to hit the road!" Zhang Menglong grabbed a drink from the side, "Pomegranate yogurt, your favorite!"


    "Thanks!" Lu Yiyao wasn''t shy, and Zhang Menglong indeed remembered her favorite fruit.


    "Vroom!"


    With a loud roar, the Koenigsegg CCVR sped away.


    As a provincial capital, Gusu City was a ce known for its wealthy poption, but a car of this caliber was still a rare sight. Not to mention in the whole of Huaxia, those who owned a Koenigsegg were few, let alone this limited edition model which required very stringent conditions to purchase.


    "Tsk tsk tsk, if I could ride in this car just once, I''d die happy!"


    "Stop dreaming, look, there''s already a beauty in the passenger seat!"


    "Damn, look, she''s got drool in her mouth, today''s rich kids really know how to live it up!"


    "My god, why is it red? I only know about bleeding out, but this actually..."


    ...


    Zhang Menglong, you did it on purpose!" Waiting at the traffic light, Lu Yiyao still heard the voicesing from the cars nearby.


    "Hehehe, but you have no evidence!" Zhang Menglong smirked, actually he hadn''t thought too much about it. Lu Yiyao liked pomegranates and yogurts, they were good for the body and stomach, he swore he had absolutely no dirty thoughts or schemes.


    "Where are we going to eat?" Zhang Menglong said, "I''ve waited for you so long, I''m about to starve to death."


    "Don''t ask me, I have decision-making phobia."


    "I do too..." Ever since he moved into that neighborhood, Hong Yi had arranged everything neatly for him every day, Zhang Menglong didn''t need to use his brain, but once he went out by himself, especially with Lu Yiyao, he immediately started having trouble deciding.


    "Then let''s just go to Wanda," Zhang Menglong took out a card, which was a shopping card given to him by Wang Ling. As long as he spent it at Wang Ling''s Wanda, Zhang Menglong wouldn''t have to spend a dime, this was a return gift for that Lambo he had given.


    "Or let''s just grab something casual, stuff in the mall is pretty expensive."


    "Don''t worry, as long as it''s Principal Wang''s turf, I can freeload!" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt that Lu Yiyao''s family background wasn''t very wealthy.


    "You know Principal Wang?"


    "Is it strange?" Zhang Menglong chuckled, "You might not believe it, but the guy who was mming money on his head on the trending listst time, that was me!"


    "The one who bought dozens of sports cars in one go, that was you?" Lu Yiyao eximed.


    "Precisely, the humble me."


    "That''s it," Lu Yiyao pped her forehead, "Going out with you today, I might end up on the trending list."


    "What''s there to be afraid of," Zhang Menglongughed, "I can just buy Weibo and then whatever is on the trending list, wouldn''t it be up to me?"


    "You... I''m speechless."


    ...


    "Who is it, bothering me at this time," Zhang Menglong had just parked the car, when his phone started ringing, "Damn, it''s Wang Ling again."


    Zhang Menglong''s face showed his displeasure, but he still answered the call, "I say Principal Wang, why aren''t you just hanging out with your inte celebrity girlfriend, having dinner, and doing it, always calling to bother me?"


    "Damn, you actually ran off to Gusu District to meet a friend today?"


    "Yes? Didn''t I tell you earlier, why would I lie to you?"


    "You dog thief, you better open Weibo and see, you''re trending!"


    "What?" Zhang Menglong was stunned, "Seriously? I just met one person, and such a small thing got on Weibo trending?"


    "Small thing?" Wang Ling directly shouted on the other side, "You drove that Koenigsegg CCVR, you could make the news wherever you go, okay? You''re not keeping a low profile, and you went all guns zing, looking for girls at Gusu University, now your photos and videos have been uploaded, you''re famous!"


    "Damn!" Zhang Menglong quickly opened Weibo, sure enough, the first post was about his video, in the video he was holding a phone and transferring money, although he was wearing a mask and didn''t show his face, other photos were also uploaded online, his identity couldn''t be hidden anymore!


    "Shocking, billionaire looking for love-interest at Gusu University, wire transfers 100,000 on the spot to any helper! ording to iplete statistics, over a thousand participants, spending over a hundred million!"


    "Hehehe," Wang Lingughed mischievously over the phone, "From now on, theizens don''t need to just focus on me anymore, go ahead, let them fire at you!"


    "Is that it?" Zhang Menglong was only shocked momentarily then regained hisposure, having inherited the family fortune, it was only a matter of time before his identity and wealth were exposed, now it was just a bit earlier than expected.


    "Since that''s the case, I won''t hide anymore," Zhang Menglong told Wang Ling, "Starting today, I, Zhang Menglong, am going to be the most dazzling man in the world!"

 Chapter 54 Are All the Presenters This Awesome Now?

    "Okay, if that''s the case, then I''ll just give you a hand!" Wang Ling chuckled and hung up the phone.


    "Give me a hand? What does that mean?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat confused.


    "What happened, what''s wrong?" Lu Yiyao asked curiously.


    "It''s nothing. Principal Wang called and said I became famous," Zhang Menglong said with a yful smile, "and you too, you''re famous now."


    "Zhang Menglong, it''s all your fault!" Lu Yiyao pinched the soft flesh around Zhang Menglong''s waist.


    "Hey, no worries, like I said, even if I really became famous, as long as I buy Weibo, no one can see what I don''t want them to see."


    "It''s not just Weibo in the country. What about Toutiao, Tengxun News, and Wang Yi News? Even if you buy Weibo, what about the others?"


    Zhang Menglong grinned crookedly, "Then I''ll just buy them all, not leaving a single one!"


    "You really think you''re the Emperor now!" Lu Yiyao burst outughing. How could he possibly acquire such giants, each worth billions or even hundreds of billions of US dors?


    Lu Yiyao now believed that Zhang Menglong had indeed inherited a fortune, but she could never imagine that just a small test from Zhang Menglong''s parents would cost 100 billion US dors.


    "You''re actually right!" Zhang Menglongughed, "Oh, and by the way, that Toutiao you just mentioned is mine; I''m the chairman of Unicorn Technology."


    Lu Yiyao''s mouth fell open in shock.


    "Let''s go, let''s go eat!" Zhang Menglong patted Lu Yiyao on the shoulder. "Sticking with me, you''ll have plenty of chances to be surprised. If you can''t handle this, then we can''t even be friends!"


    "Who''s with you!" Lu Yiyao heard the implications in Zhang Menglong''s words.


    "Hehehe," Zhang Menglongughed foolishly, feeling really rxed when he was with Lu Yiyao.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ...


    Friday night, Wanda za was unusually crowded. For ordinary people, it might take at least two to three hours to have a meal, but with Wang Ling''s VIP card, Zhang Menglong could not only skip the queue but even dine and dash.


    "Hahahaha! I told you there was a line and you insisted on using a VIP card toe in, now do you understand what embarrassing means?"


    At a special seat in Haido, Lu Yiyaoughed uproariously.


    As everyone knows, Haido is a magical ce where if you celebrate your birthday there, a group of people with cakes and props wille to your table to celebrate, a scene that has embarrassed countless customers.


    They just wanted to have a good meal, but for the sake of KPI, the staff didn''t care whether you wanted it or not, they''d just put a crown on you and a dozen people would surround you to sing "Happy Birthday."


    As a VIP, Zhang Menglong received an imperial-like reception.


    In any given city, not more than 10 people could get such a VIP card, even in a city like Gusu; at most, only twenty to thirty people could own this card, which was a symbol of status and identity.


    No sooner had they walked into Haido than the manager personally came out to greet them, even prepared a cape and crown, and with a group of staff escorted Zhang Menglong to his seat, and even broadcast it three times on the loudspeaker for everyone to hear.


    "As long as I''m not embarrassed, the embarrassment is theirs!" Zhang Menglong stood up abruptly from his seat, "Old rules, I, Young Master Zhang, am paying for tonight''s expenses, so everyone eat and drink to your heart''s content!"


    After all, it was Wang Ling''s money, and not spending it would be a waste, especially since Wang Ling wouldn''t even notice the expense of one night''s sales.


    But this shout not only suppressed the awkward atmosphere, it even livened up the entire restaurant, turning an awkward moment into a bustling party.


    "Young Master Zhang is awesome!"


    "Hahaha, thanks Young Master Zhang!"


    "Waiter, add more dishes!"


    "Hahaha, everyone add more, I''ll pay for it all!"


    Zhang Menglong chatted andughed with the people at the nearby tables, as if everyone there was his friend.


    "See, I have a way, don''t I?" Zhang Menglongughed.


    Awkward moments really did vanish in the blink of an eye.


    "You''re so impressive!" Lu Yiyao rolled her eyes at Zhang Menglong.


    After a satisfying meal, Zhang Menglong patted his stomach and walked out of the restaurant with Lu Yiyao while the manager, with a wide smile, saw him off.


    "We still have more than an hour before meeting your roommate, so how about we stroll around a bit?" Zhang Menglong nced at the time¡ªit was just after 8 pm.


    "Sure, I haven''t gone shopping in ages!" Indeed, shopping seems to be in every woman''s nature, and Lu Yiyao was no exception.


    ...


    Half an hourter, Zhang Menglong regretted his earlier suggestion. Thebat prowess of women when shopping was more terrifying than that of a Super Saiyan; they never seemed to tire when trying on clothes, and they always asked how each piece looked.


    "Zhang Menglong, hurry up, can you manage or not?"


    "A man who can''t cope should say so, woman, you''re ying with fire!" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt energized and quickly followed Lu Yiyao into a Louis Vuitton store.


    "I normally wouldn''t even dare to walk into a ce like this, but with a big boss like you here today, I feel confident enough to try it out."


    "Hahaha, if you like it, I''ll buy the whole store''s clothes for you."


    "No need to go that far; I just want to see how different the clothes here are from those that only cost a few hundred dors!" Lu Yiyao wasn''t really interested in luxury goods; she was just curious.


    "Sir, are you looking for clothes for your girlfriend?" Despite Zhang Menglong''s unbranded outfit, the salesperson could tell from the unique material and craftsmanship.


    "We''re just looking around," Lu Yiyao interjected quickly. "And we''re not that kind of couple."


    "You do have a keen eye." But Zhang Menglong was utterly shameless, and the sales assistant immediately gave him a knowing "I get it" look.


    "This coat costs over thirty thousand?" Lu Yiyao picked up a winter coat and her expression changed slightly at the price tag.


    "Try it on; it''s free to try." Zhang Menglong said.


    "True that!" Lu Yiyao went straight into the changing room.


    "Hm? What''s going, why suddenly so many people?" Zhang Menglong suddenly heard amotioning from outside.


    Soon after, a female streamer walked into the store with a cameraman and a group of other staff, followed by hundreds of fans who quickly crowded the ce.


    Zhang Menglong looked at the female streamer, who seemed to be a fairly famous influencer known as Mina. His roommate used to watch her streams, but all she did was shake her hips and dance, offering nothing substantial in her broadcasts.


    In the past two years, the livestreaming economy had boomed, and Mina had transitioned from a gaming streamer to a sales influencer. Reportedly, her sales effectiveness was among the top ten influencers, with over fifty million followers¡ªmaking her a top-tier influencer.


    "Manager, this..." The sales staff were suddenly at a loss.


    "No problem, let them in!" The manager''s face lit up with joy. Having such an influencer in the store was like free advertising. He spected that sales could potentially multiply over this period, as Mina''s sales prowess was well recognized.


    Mina imed today''s stream was a spontaneous outdoor broadcast, but in reality, her agency had arranged everything. However, the fans and customers weren''t aware of this, and her arrival immediately attracted many eyes, with the viewing numbers online soaring past five million!


    "Babes, I heard LV released a bunch of new autumn and winter clothes recently. Today, I''ll take you to the physical store to check it out, and if you like what you see, don''t forget to smash that like button!"


    "These streamers really do all follow the same script." Zhang Menglong shook his head with a wry smile.


    "Manager, do you have thetest trench coat in stock?" Mina asked.


    "Yes, but it seems there''s only one left, and ady is trying it on in that changing room right there."


    Mina immediately signaled her assistant with her eyes, and the female assistant understood at once and headed straight for the changing room where Lu Yiyao was.


    "What are you doing?" Zhang Menglong stood up abruptly and blocked the entrance to the changing room.


    "Hey, didn''t you see Mina is here? We''re live streaming right now, and this is our featured product for the stream. There''s only one left now, so hurry up and have your girlfriend take it out."


    "Really?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt amused. "This is the first time I''m hearing about asking someone who is trying on clothes to take them off. Are streamers really that powerful now?"

 Chapter 55 I Bought All the Clothes in the Store

    "What''s the matter with you, can''t you understand what''s being said? This clothing costs over thirty thousand a piece; can you afford it?" The female assistant was getting impatient, as Mina''s live broadcast time was limited, and the exnation time for each product was fixed. Dying one minute meant losing one minute.


    Although this live broadcast session had randomly selected locations, Mina''s studio and lv''s agency had already signed a contract, and this trench coat was part of the selected merchandise for the session. And with just the slot fee costing 800,000, if sales were affected due to timing issues, Mina''s studio would have topensate for the losses.


    "Whether or not I can afford it is none of your concern. Please keep your distance. In my ears, any sound over 60 decibels is noise, and you''re bothering my eyes!" Zhang Menglong said, mimicking the ssic lines from idol dramas.


    "What''s the matter? Why isn''t it ready yet?"


    "I''m here today to see that new model; hurry up!"


    "Are you guys doing your job properly? If not, change the work team!"


    "Not watching anymore, I''m out, what a waste of time!"


    With no news in two minutes, some discordant voices had already appeared in the barrage, and Mina''s expression immediately turned serious.


    "Sorry, babes, there''s been a slight issue; I''ll check it out."


    "What''s the matter? Why isn''t it fixed yet, don''t you know that the audience is waiting?" The smile on Mina''s face, gentle as a breeze, vanished in an instant, all the affability, all the smiles, were just a fa?ade presented to the viewers.


    "Sister Na, they won''t give up the clothing," the assistant said.


    "Handsome, I''m sorry, but this live session is very important to me," Mina said, "How about this, consider that I bought this piece of clothing from you, thirty thousand, how does that sound?"


    "Not so good," Zhang Menglong shook his head, "My friend has already taken a liking to it."


    "Manager, have they paid yet?" Mina asked.


    "Not yet."


    "Hmph!" Mina let out a coldugh, "They haven''t paid yet, so this clothing has nothing to do with them yet. Now, I''ve bought this piece. You, pay for it!"


    "Alright, Sister Na!"


    "Wait a minute!" Zhang Menglong''s tone became colder, "Buying things is a matter of firste, first served, right? It seems we were the ones to try on this clothing first. Even if you want to buy it, it should be after we decide we don''t want it, right?"


    "Zhang Menglong, I''ve changed; how does it look?"


    Just then, Lu Yiyao walked out of the fitting room.


    Lu Yiyao''s figure was already great, and this coat perfectly entuated her slender curves, as if it was custom-made for her.


    "Beautiful, very beautiful!" Zhang Menglong was somewhat awestruck.


    "What''s going on? Why are there so many people?" Lu Yiyao hadn''t realized that so many people had suddenly appeared outside.


    "Nothing, just a minor streamer, don''t mind them," Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "Minor streamer?" Mina had yet to erupt, but her assistant couldn''t hold back any longer, "Country bumpkin, who are you calling a minor streamer? Our Sister Na is a well-known top streamer. Are you just pretending to be oblivious to our ongoing live broadcast because you want to go viral that badly?"


    "I think the ones who are desperately trying to get famous are you," Zhang Menglong said, "We were minding our own business trying on clothes, and you all came over demanding that people take them off. Do you own this store, or what?"


    "Hey, how can you..."


    "You, we''re still live!" Mina suddenly shouted, stopping her assistant. They were in the wrong here, and it would greatly affect her reputation if the viewers found out.


    Once a streamer''s reputation dips, their viewership can plummet, and without viewership, they lose their standing in the streaming world.


    "What''s going on, why does it look like Mina is getting into an argument?"


    "Not sure, seems to be over that piece of clothing."


    "Really?"


    "Wait, does anyone else think that young guy looks familiar?"


    "Right, I feel like I''ve seen him somewhere."


    "Damn, I remember now, from today''s trending searches, he''s the guy who spent over a hundred million looking for someone in front of Gusu University!"


    "That''s right, that''s right, I remember he was wearing this exact outfit!"


    "Just now Principal Wang even posted on Weibo, and that person who was mming money on his head was this guy!"


    "What? I haven''t checked Weibo for just half a day, and this mysterious big shot has been dug up?"


    "He seems to have gotten into an argument with Mina and her group."


    "Hmph, the moment I learned of his identity, I knew he definitely couldn''t be in the wrong!"


    "Hahaha, I feel the same way as the person above!"


    "Husband! That''s my husband!"


    "Get lost, that''s my daddy!"


    The originally calm barrage of onlinements suddenly became extraordinarily lively.


    Zhang Menglong had twice made it rain cash on Wang Ling, causing him to post on Weibo, and today he showed up at Gusu University, spending a fortune just to find someone. Almost the entire inte was filled with curiosity about this person who even Principal Wang had to respect, and today this person finally showed up, even appearing on the live broadcast.


    The news spread from one to ten and from ten to a hundred, as more and more people flocked to the live stream. The live room, which originally had only 5 million viewers, surprisingly broke through 10 million in just a few minutes.


    "What''s happening?"


    "I''m just a passerby, is that young man the big shot?"


    "My husband is so handsome, s, it''s a pity he''s already taken."


    "Big shot, do you still need a hanger on your thigh?"


    "Big shot, next time you''re looking for someone, remember to notify me, I''ll be satisfied with just 50,000!"


    "What are they arguing about?"


    "I''m not sure, it seems to be because there''s only one piece of clothing left that Mina wants to sell, and the big shot''s girlfriend is trying it on, it seems that''s what started the argument."


    "Damn! What do you mean, does the streamer think she''s something special?"


    "Exactly, I''ve been annoyed by these people for a while now, each one acting like they''re celebrities, being all high and mighty? Are they your father or something? Do they have to give way to you?"


    "Our Mina is so easy-going, how could she possibly get into an altercation? It must be that person who''s being unreasonable!"


    "That''s right, think you''re amazing just because you''re rich?"


    ...


    As another wave of viewers flooded in, the supporters of both sides immediately started to sh in thements.


    "Forget it, forget it, just return the sponsorship fee!" They had already wasted a lot of time, and anyway, they still had other styles to promote in this store. Now, time was the most important thing.


    "Pff, a couple of paupers, let''s see what you''ll use to pay in a bit!" sneered the assistant contemptuously.


    "You don''t need to worry about what I''ll use to pay, but sorry, today you''re not going to sell a single thing!" Zhang Menglong admitted that sometimes, his temper was really big, and his eyes couldn''t tolerate a speck of dirt.


    "Store manager, I''ll buy all the clothing in this store, including the current inventory in the shop!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Huh?" The store manager was instantly taken aback.


    "Hahaha, crazy guy, do you think you''re Ma Yun?" mocked the assistant.


    Mina also showed a trace of mockery on her face, "Don''t bother with him, let''s continue!"


    After speaking, Mina reached out for another piece of clothing.


    But Zhang Menglong immediately blocked her path, "I said, I''m buying all the clothes in this store."


    Zhang Menglong directly took out his Honored Card from Huaxia Bank, "Store manager, swipe the card!"

 Chapter 56 I Dont Like Fractions

    "Holy shit, that''s awesome!"


    "Damn, bought out the entire store? How much money is that?!"


    "Hahaha, see that? You think your livestreamer is cool? Our big shot is way cooler, buying everything in the store. Let''s see what you''ve got to livestream now!"


    "Damn, being rich is that amazing huh?"


    "That''s right, if you''re rich you can do whatever you want. If you''re so capable, why doesn''t your precious Mina buy everything too? No money then shut up!"


    "This time I''m with the big shot! What''s with that, don''t they know about firste, first served? A livestreamer thinks they''re above everyone else?"


    "Isn''t that card-swiping move just too cool?"


    "I''ve heard of ck cards, but what the hell is a purple card? Can the big shot enlighten us!"


    "I''ve heard that banks have a card even higher level than ck cards, called Honored Card, and it''s supposed to be purple. Not sure if it''s this one though!"


    "Netizens are amazing. No money, but they know all this stuff."


    ...


    "Sir, do you really want to buy everything? The price for all the disy and stock items in our store might be close to 100 million."


    "Do I look like I''m joking?" Zhang Menglong said, "Swipe the card, or do you want me to speak directly to your boss?"


    Zhang Menglong took out that ck card and waved it in front of the store manager.


    Seeing this ck card, the store manager''s breathing halted for a moment. Although he didn''t recognize Zhang Menglong''s Honored Card, he knew about this Wanda ck card; since the LV store had opened at Wanda za, he hadn''t seen anyone with such a card.


    He knew that the young man before him probably had a terrifyingly powerful background.


    "Yes, sir!" The store manager immediately ordered his staff behind him, "Check the stock quickly and calcte the price."


    For the store manager, this was an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If the store was cleared out, hismission was assured.


    Business in the physical retail sector wasn''t great this year. Normally, their monthly sales ranged from 30 to 50 million, but this year, not even the best month had broken 20 million in turnover. With Zhang Menglong''s single flourish, he might deal with a year''s worth of business.


    Now he only wished there had been more in the stockroom.


    "Manager, it''s all counted, the total price for everything in the store right now is 85.37 million."


    "Mister, you heard that, do you still want to..."


    "Swipe it!"


    "Sir, with such arge sum, I''m afraid your card might not go through."


    "My card has no limit!" Zhang Menglong said nonchntly.


    "No limit!?" The store manager was taken aback; only the bank''s ck cards had no limit. Usually, clients eligible for such cards were personally invited by the bank to manage their savings. Who exactly was this young man?


    And his card clearly wasn''t a ck card, but with no limit? Could there be an even higher tier of card above the ck card? This was beyond his knowledge.


    "Quick! The POS machine!"


    "Here it is!" Another clerk immediately ran over with the POS machine.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "I don''t like small change!" said Zhang Menglong.


    "Don''t worry, sir, I can still make that decision," the store manager ordered, "Swipe it for 85 million!"


    "No, what I mean is, just make it 90 million!"


    "What?" The store manager was stunned, the clerk was stunned, and the viewers watching the livestream were even more stunned.


    "66666! I''m convinced, truly a boss!"


    "Is this the legendary dislike of small change?"


    "Mom, over four million, I like small change, toss it to me. Whether it''s money or not, doesn''t matter, I just like being dunked on by a boss!"


    "Today I''ve truly seen a real god of wealth. Now I understand why even the school principal and Qin Feng lost their cool. If I were in their shoes, my mind would be blown too!"


    "Poverty really has limited my imagination. I just don''t understand the world of the rich."


    ...


    "Sir, you have spent 90 million, here is your receipt," the store manager said respectfully as he handed the card and invoice to Zhang Menglong, "This is our lv membership card, from now on you can enjoy the highest discount at any of our stores."


    "No need, I don''t like discounts." Zhang Menglong directly stuffed the card back to him, "I''ll give you an address, haul all this stuff over there, someone will take care of it."


    "Damn, you may not like discounts, but we do!" the female viewers in the live stream erupted. These top-level VIP card discounts were significant, only avable to those who had spent over ten million to earn one. If they could get their hands on such a card, they could show off for a whole year!


    By this time, Mina and her assistant were stunned. They couldn''t imagine that this seemingly ordinary young man had such terrifying financial power, paying for close to a billion worth of items without even blinking an eye.


    It seemed they had inadvertently offended someone not to be trifled with!


    Mina was just a live streamer, and although she appeared morous on the surface, she was merely a small figure driven by capital. In the face of real business sharks, she was nothing; they could easily pay top celebrities for endorsements, not giving a second nce to a streamer.


    Even with her strong selling power, Mina''s annual ie was only tens of millions. In front of this young man, over four million was just spare change. What could she use topete with him?


    "Sis Na, let''s go to another store," said the assistant. All that remained in the lv store besides the staff were items belonging to Zhang Menglong, and staying there would only be humiliating.


    "Alright, let''s go!" Mina''s expression darkened considerably, especially when she noticed the barrage ofments in the live stream, which were almost entirely in favor of Zhang Menglong.


    "Hahaha, my hubby is so powerful!"


    "Does anyone know my hubby''s Weibo? I''m going to follow him right now!"


    "Breaking news, Principal Wang has already @mentioned this magnate on his own Weibo!"


    "Crap! Only 12 followers? Is he that low-key? No way, I''m going to follow him now, then I''ll be one of the originals!"


    "Don''t tease, streamer!"


    "Stop streaming, I bet that since you''ve annoyed my husband, no matter where you live stream outdoors, you won''t be able to sell a single item!"


    "Serves you right! You oppress people by your power and now you''ve hit an iron te, haven''t you?"


    "Iron te? This is more like a board full of nails!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong had no idea what Wang Ling meant by "I''ll help you out," and now his Weibo had been exposed. In just a few minutes, his followers had soared from 12 to 2 million and were still growing rapidly, increasing by tens of thousands each time he refreshed the page.


    "Sis Na, let''s do a food broadcast first. Shangai Desserts has already been arranged for us."


    "Okay." Mina adjusted her mood and entered the store.


    "Shangai Desserts," the dessert shop that had recently risen to fame as a trendy spot loved by many young people. Mina''s task was to help advertise for the shop, a deal worth 2 million!


    "Where''s your person in charge? Sis Na is here, hurry up and get ready!" the assistant strutted into the store, bossing people around.


    "I''m sorry, Miss Mina, but all our ingredients have been used up, and we won''t be able to amodate you today," the store manager approached with an apologetic tone.


    "Used up? Then what are they eating?" Mina questioned.


    "A few minutes ago, our boss called and said all of today''s ingredients have been reserved by someone else."


    "Didn''t you tell your boss I wasing to live stream today?"


    "I did, but he said that no matter what anyone says, it won''t make a difference. The person who reserved all the ingredients is Wanda''s young master, Wang Ling."


    "What?" Mina''s face changed color; this was someone she couldn''t afford to provoke. But this meant the 2 million ad deal was gone!


    "Server, bring me an extended passionfruit pomegranate ice cream!"


    "Sir, our ingredients have been reserved. You..."


    "Hmph!" Mina huffed, irritated. What''s the use of having money if you can''t even buy what you want?


    "Myst name is Zhang!" Zhang Menglong said tly.


    "Are you the Mister Zhang that young master Wang Ling mentioned?" The manager''s attitude changed to one of utmost respect, "Master Wang said that this batch of ingredients is for you to deal with. Do you have any instructions?"


    "Oh, nothing much. Make two ice creams for us. Give the rest away for free to everyone in the za, except for them!" Zhang Menglong pointed at Mina and her group.


    "Yes, sir. I''ll arrange it immediately!"


    "What the hell is going on?" Mina and her assistant looked at each other, confused....

 Chapter 57 Money Allows You to Do Whatever You Want

    "Sir, what exactly do you mean?" Despite being full of rage, Mina still restrained her emotions.


    "Oh, nothing, just in a good mood today and felt like treating everyone here to some dessert!"


    Zhang Menglong was a very stubborn person; they were just trying on clothes peacefully in the shop when they were rudely interrupted, and it had spoiled his good mood halfway.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Alright, so you want to be famous, huh? I''ll make you famous then! You won''t be able to aplish a single thing in your livestream today!


    As a major broadcaster, all of her live streaming content was pre-announced, and so-called outdoor live broadcasting was nothing more than a script set up in advance. Zhang Menglong randomly checked and immediately knew her entire itinerary and the products for the day. If he wanted, she wouldn''t be able to advertise a single item today!


    "Zhang Menglong, I can''t believe you can be so nasty!" Lu Yiyao gradually understood what was happening, "But you don''t have to go this far, getting angry with such a person isn''t worth it, and it''s a waste of money. You just bought so much stuff, how are you going to deal with it all?"


    "Pick a few items you like, and I''ll just give away the rest in a Weibo lottery."


    "That''s tens of millions worth of goods, hey!"


    "What''s the matter? You''re already starting to save me money even before bing my girlfriend?" Zhang Menglong teased.


    "Dream on! Who wants to be your girlfriend? When men get rich, not one of them is any good!"


    "No, no, no, I''m different!"


    The two of them chatted andughed as if no one else was around,pletely ignoring Mina and the others whose faces were ashen.


    "Sister Na, the agency is calling." Suddenly, one of Mina''s fans passed her the phone with a gray face.


    "Mina, where are you?"


    "Hu¡­ President Hua?" The voice on the other end of the phone was actually the president of the talent agency!


    Thepany Mina was signed to was not a small one, and their boss had significant clout in the entertainment industry. He only needed to say one word, and although it might not cause the whole industry to shake, his words carried enough weight that their consequences had to be seriously considered.


    "President Hua, I''m in Wanda City of Gusu." President Hua''s voice seemed a bit


    "Did you offend someone?"


    "President Hua, listen to my exnation, I..."


    "I don''t want to hear your exnation!" President Hua''s voice revealed an irrefutable tone, "Tonight, if you can''t satisfy the other party, don''t say it''s you, even mypany might shutdown immediately!"


    Mina shuddered; just who was this young man, to have such terrifying energy that even their boss was frightened to this extent, "Boss, who exactly is this young man?"


    "I don''t have the right to know who he is, but I do know that if you can''t resolve this matter today, it''s very likely that tomorrow, I''ll be thrown into the Huangpu River to feed the fish!" President Hua''s voice became increasingly gloomy, "If I go down, I assure you that your fate will be a hundred times worse than mine!"


    "Beep beep beep..." A busy tone came from the other end of the phone.


    "ck!" Mina''s phone fell to the ground, her face turning ghostly pale. For her boss to say such words meant the severity of the situation had escted to an exaggerated level.


    "Zhang Menglong, why has she suddenly be so pale? You didn''t do anything to her, did you?" Lu Yiyao noticed Mina shaking beside them; she seemed to have something to say to Zhang Menglong, yet she hesitated.


    "I don''t know, maybe she ate something bad and wants to take a dump!"


    "I think you''re the one who wants to take a dump?"


    "Hahaha, as a girl, could you not always talk about pee and poop? You won''t find a boyfriend like this!"


    "Mind your own business!"


    "How did she get so scared?" Zhang Menglong also nced at Mina. He had only told Hong Yi to figure out a way to give this so-called top broadcaster a heads-up. Insulting Zhang Menglong was one thing, but insulting Lu Yiyao was something that wouldn''t be so easily settled.


    Besides, ever since this incident happened, Zhang Menglong hadn''t heard even half an apology. Since no one in the broadcastingmunity seemed to be willing to correct their ways, he wouldn''t mind making a contribution himself, especially since he was already famous and wasn''t afraid of bing even more so.


    However, the connections Hong Yi had activated seemed even more exaggerated than Zhang Menglong had imagined, and he didn''t know what exactly had happened.


    At this moment, President Hua, who had put down the phone, had a face full of worry.


    "President Hua, what''s wrong with you? Why did you lose such a big temper all of a sudden?" Hua Yunshan''s secretary asked, "I just heard something about Mina offending someone. Who is that person? Do they have a big backing?"


    Hua Yunshan''s secretary, who had worked with Hua Yunshan in the entertainment circle for so many years, was seeing his boss look this upset for the first time. By all ounts, there shouldn''t be many people in the Huaxia entertainment industry who could make him this anxious.


    "I don''t know who Mina has offended," Hua Yunshan tried to calm his tone, "but the call just now was personally made by Mr. Hong."


    "Mr. Hong? You mean that Mr. Hong?" Hua Yunshan''s secretary also shuddered.


    "Exactly," Hua Yunshan said with a respectful expression when he mentioned the name, well aware of what kind of resources and "Energy" the Hong Family controlled.


    In the eyes of ordinary people, the wealthiest individuals in Huaxia are those who frequently appear in the news, but only a select few know that there is a low-profile yet powerful family hidden within Huaxia.


    He had the fortune to meet a member of the Hong Family once, and it was then that he realized how insignificant he, Hua Yunshan, was in front of this family, and even that a single word from them could reshuffle the entire Huaxia entertainment industry in an instant!


    The person who had just phoned him was a member of the Hong Family!


    "This idiotic woman, I''ve invested so many resources into building her up, and now that she has achieved some sess, she''s brought me such big trouble," Hua Yunshan mmed the table, "No, I must disassociate myself from her. Draft a notice stating that Mina has behaved improperly and does not fit the public figure image. Starting today, Yunyou Media will ban her!"


    "Yes, President Hua, I''ll take care of it immediately."


    ...


    "So, you won''t even say sorry?" Zhang Menglong said coldly, looking at Mina.


    "Sir, I... I''m sorry... It was our poor attitude. As a public figure, I should be promoting positive energy, not making such unreasonable actions against you and your friend," Mina finally bowed her head in the face of such a threat.


    "And her?" Zhang Menglong nced at Mina''s assistant, realizing that the root of all this conflict came from this presumptuous assistant. Of course, from this he could see what kind of people they were usually, since some influences are subtle.


    If a broadcaster had a very upright set of values, their assistant would likely maintain their image to some extent, rather than doing what was done just now.


    "Xiaoyou, apologize!"


    "Sister Na, I..."


    "Are you not listening to me anymore? I told you to apologize!"


    "Sir, sorry, it was my attitude that was poor earlier."


    "Hmph!" Zhang Menglong snorted coldly, "Someday, your assistant here will bring about your total downfall."


    "Let''s go, we should get back, otherwise your roommate might call the police," Zhang Menglong said to Lu Yiyao, transforming back into that big boy.


    "Yes." Lu Yiyao nodded, and the two of them walked shoulder to shoulder into the distance...


    "Sis... Sister Na..." Mina''s assistant suddenly became hesitant.


    "What now?"


    "Thepany just released a statement, saying you behaved improperly and thepany has terminated its contract with you, and..."


    "And what? Speak up!"


    "And in the industry, they''ve directly cklisted you!"


    Mina''s world wentpletely dark...

 Chapter 58 The Newly Popular Internet Celebrity Zhang Menglong

    On his way back, Zhang Menglong drove directly to Gusu University. The security guard, seeing such a luxurious sports car, didn''t dare to stop him and simply let him through. Zhang Menglong went ahead and dropped Lu Yiyao right at her dormitory building.


    "Alright, I''ve brought you here!" What was supposed to be a happy first meeting today turned sour because of a female broadcaster, which left Zhang Menglong in a somewhat bad mood.


    "Thank you for bringing me back," Lu Yiyao stood in front of Zhang Menglong, appearing a bit reserved.


    "I didn''t really want to bring you back," Zhang Menglong''s mouth started to wander again, "I have several vis here in Gusu and keep some cute little animals. If you''re interested, you coulde over to pet cats all night and maybe take a tour of my bedroom..."


    "Stop, stop!" Lu Yiyao, already used to Zhang Menglong''s rambling flirting, interrupted, "What are you pretending for, I know you, you''re all talk."


    "Hahaha, you really know me," Zhang Menglongughed.


    "When are you going back?" Lu Yiyao asked, a hint of nervousness in her voice.


    "I''ll go back after I win you over!" Zhang Menglong said without hesitation.


    "With all your money, people wanting to be your girlfriend could line up from here to the capital," Lu Yiyao pouted.


    "That''s different," Zhang Menglong''s tone suddenly became serious, "When I met you, I was just a poor kid. You were willing to chat with me, sing with me, and help me through the toughest times. No one canpare to you."


    Lu Yiyao''s face quickly turned a shade of red, "Alright, alright, alright, stop it, I need to go up now, or Xixi will start worrying"


    "Alright, then I''ll head back," Zhang Menglong said, his demeanor reluctant.


    "Zhang Menglong!" Just as Zhang Menglong turned to leave, Lu Yiyao suddenly called out to him. Her hands were crossed behind her back, looking a bit shy, "There''s an international art exhibition in Gusu soon. I have an exam tomorrow, but the day after tomorrow, do you want toe with me?"


    "Sure!" A smile appeared on Zhang Menglong''s face. He had just been worrying about how to ask Lu Yiyao out again, just one day, he could wait!"


    "See you the day after tomorrow then!"


    "See you the day after tomorrow!"


    Watching Lu Yiyao disappear into the hallway, Zhang Menglong quietly clenched his fist, then drove away.


    "Silly!" From the balcony, Lu Yiyao watched the joyful Zhang Menglong leave, also showing a rare smile.


    Suddenly, Lu Yiyao''s phone vibrated. Seeing the number, her smile vanished instantly...


    ...


    In nearly every city in Huaxia, Zhang Menglong owned at least one property, and Gusu was no exception. He dialed the number Hong Yi had given him and, following the provided address, quickly arrived at a vi area not far from Gusu University.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Mr. Zhang, this is your residence in Gusu. Ms. Hong Yi instructed us to have it ready for you. If you need anything, you can call me anytime," the man, a middle-aged man in his forties, greeted Zhang Menglong.


    "Thank you for your effort."


    Zhang Menglong nced around. The three-story vi was roughly 1500 square meters in size. The two Qing dynasty dragon-patterned vases at the entrance hinted at the vi''s extravagant opulence.


    Yet, Zhang Menglong had already grown ustomed to these constant surprises; after all, it was as if the whole world was his.


    As usual, Zhang Menglong sat on the toilet, pulled out his phone, and began scrolling through Weibo. Tonight''s conflict with Mina, a top-tier broadcaster, had likely already stirred up quite a fuss.


    "Damn, what''s going on?" Zhang Menglong had just opened his Weibo when the numerous message pop-upspletely crashed his phone.


    In the dying moments of Zhang Menglong''s phone, he saw that his Weibo followers had unexpectedly surpassed four-digit numbers, and the unit was in millions!


    "Mom''s spaghetti, what happened thesest few days?" Zhang Menglong originally had only 12 followers, half of whom were his friends. Suddenly, he had over ten million followers. He had never blocked messages from strangers, so you can imagine the devastating impact this information bomb had on his phone.


    Zhang Menglong hurriedly picked up thendline to call Hong Yi for help. With this situation, he might need to blow up a whole truck of phones to open Weibo, right?


    "Hong Yi, is there any super powerful phone that even hundreds of millions of messages at once won''t break?" Zhang Menglong roughly exined his situation to Hong Yi.


    "Mr. Zhang, a regr phone might really not handle suchrge amounts of information, but you have a supeputer at home. This amount of data is a piece of cake for the supeputer."


    "Help me block all messages from strangers. I will give you the verification code in a moment!" Zhang Menglong pulled out a spare phone from his drawer.


    Soon, Hong Yi had taken care of everything for Zhang Menglong. From 7 p.m. onwards, his follower count began to skyrocket, and it was still rising at an astonishing rate.


    "Good one, Wang Ling!" Zhang Menglong soon figured out the source of the problem.


    Today, while Zhang Menglong was at Gusu University, someone had snapped a photo of him and posted it on Weibo. Wang Ling had stolen a photo and posted it on his own Weibo, then tagged Zhang Menglong.


    Wang Ling''s followers outnumbered those of top-tier celebrities. In minutes, Zhang Menglong''s Weibo had blown up online, and everyone knew that the guy who had taken a helicopter over the highway, bought dozens of sports cars, and twice made Wang Ling''s mental state copse with his wealth was Zhang Menglong!


    "Wow, did Mina just get canceled?" Zhang Menglong spotted a trending topic just below his on the hot search list.


    The incident at Gusu University had already stirred up theizens, and this event undoubtedly added a huge wave of poprity for Zhang Menglong. Now, Zhang Menglong was so famous he was practically glowing!


    At that moment, Zhang Menglong''s phone rang; it was Wang Ling calling.


    "You backstabber!" Zhang Menglong answered the phone and immediately cursed, understanding that this was what Wang Ling meant by "helping" him.


    "Hahaha, how does it feel to be an inte sensation?" The voice on the other endughed mischievously. "Also, how are your phone andputer? Are your private messages overflowing?"


    "Hmph! You think you can mess with me with that junk n?" Zhang Menglongughed. "My house has a supeputer; even if you multiply your data load by a hundred, it won''t even make myputer flinch!"


    "Damn! You installed a supeputer in your house?" It was the first time Wang Ling had heard of such a thing. How many resources did it take to get a supeputer?


    "Haha, didn''t see thating, did you? Jealous much? It''s super fast for gaming!"


    "I have no words! Using a supeputer for gaming? Don''t you have any ambition?"


    "Mind your own business!" Zhang Menglong shot back. "Wang Ling, you''re doomed today!"


    "Hahaha, anyone can talk tough! If you''re capable, mess with me! I''ve turned off my private messages!"


    "Then I''ll have people tag-spam you!"


    Zhang Menglong immediately opened his own Weibo activity and posted a message.


    "Today''s giveaway, 5000 prizes, just the batch I bought at LV tonight. To enter, just tag Wang Ling and insult him within one hour¡ªyou might win. To maintain inte harmony, no foulnguage allowed. The most creative insult wins a big G!"

 Chapter 59 Brother, I was wrong, dont scold anymore

    "Holy shit, the big shot just tweeted! Branding iron Liu Ming!"


    "The big shot is so freaking awesome!"


    "For real? 5000 copies? That''s gotta be worth over a hundred million, right?"


    "Guys above, are you new fans who followed less than ten minutes ago? Us old fans who''ve been following for hours know the big shot never jokes around!"


    "Exactly, didn''t you see Mina''s already out in the cold? The big shot didn''t even blink before buying something close to a hundred million, you think he''s joking with you?"


    "No kidding, not to mention just today, the big shot has spent over a billion at the Gusu University gates looking for folks. He''s spent more money than you''ve eaten in meals!"


    "Hahahaha, big shot, what grudge do you have against Principal Wang? No more talking, I''m starting with insults as a token of respect. It just so happens my girlfriend''s birthday ising up; bless me with winning an LV bag!"


    "Big G! I want a Big G!"


    In just a few minutes, thousands ofments appeared under Zhang Menglong''s one tweet. This mysterious tycoon had finally made his appearance, and his entrance was such a bombshell.


    The allure of money is endless; within minutes, the people of Zaun swarmed in.


    "@Wang Ling, tonight your Papa is nting a loquat tree in the courtyard."


    "@Wang Ling, stand here and don''t move. I''ll go buy you some oranges."


    "@Wang Ling, your dad''s going to be banging a basin and dancing tonight."


    "@Wang Ling, bright moonlit night, the short pine hill, your sister sits by the small bay window."


    "@Wang Ling, to hell with your Digital Monster Pikachu, to hell with your Zhang San Crazy Monk Taiji Sword, to hell with your Nine-Turn Large Intestine Fat Snake Monster..."


    "@Wang Ling, I wish you to severely beat up your girlfriend''s lover, much more justified than self-defense against betrayal!"


    "@Wang Ling, I wish you to get run over by a truck and start a harem in an alternate world!"


    "@Wang Ling, may you be granted parole when you go to prison!"


    "@Wang Ling, when you buy a grave, may you get a buy-one-get-one-free deal!"


    "Stop cursing, guys. If you keep this up, the principal will have a nervous breakdown!"


    "Hahahaha, I''m splitting my sidesughing. Netizens are just too talented!"


    "What kind of Underworld blessings are these, haha!"


    "Lu Xun would''veughed all the way from Hundred Grass Garden to the Three vor Study.


    "Your ount is doomed!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "I''m starting to regret not studying hard back in the day. Now, I have to search up these insults on Baidu as I read them."


    "You''re not alone upstairs. I''m on Baidu too."


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong, I''m going to drag you down with me!" As soon as Wang Ling opened Weibo, he was bombarded with a barrage of poetic lines; outwardly elegant, but upon a careful taste, they were sharp as knives, and he couldn''t even find a single dirty word.


    "Guys, I''ve got over 40 million followers; am I going to lose to this scoundrel?" Wang Ling was about to rally and counter-attack, but then something urred to him.


    In the past, when he shed with others, he usually just threw money back at them, and those people were typically left speechless by his wealth.


    But this time his opponent was Zhang Menglong, that beast. Opening his mouth, billion-worth prizes were tossed out like nothing. He could gamble away a spur-of-the-moment fury with aeback.


    But you see, a billion for Zhang Menglong and a billion for him, Wang Ling, were not the same concept at all! That kid simply doesn''t treat money as money!


    "Principal Wang, speak up! Why are you silent now?"


    "Principal, did you die of anger? If you''re dead, who''s going to fight our battles?"


    "I suspect the principal''s mental state has copsed!"


    Wang Ling''stest tweet suddenly gained thousands ofments; this was the first time Wang Ling had been insulted like this and remained silent. Could this be the power of money?


    "Zhang Menglong, I''ve already hired awyer. Every word you''ve said now, every person you''ve incited, will be evidence in court! I demand youpensate me for the mental and reputational damage!" Finally, after much anticipation, Wang Ling''s Weibo was updated.


    "Hahahaha, Principal Wang is resorting to legal weapons to protect himself now!"


    "Hahahaha xswl!"


    "The president used to impress people with money, but now he''s started ying hooligan."


    "No way, no way, president, where''s your guts? Fight back!"


    "Compensation for emotional distress and damage to reputation, right? Sent it to you!" Faced with Wang Ling''s counterattack, Zhang Menglong once again unted a screenshot on his own Weibo. It was a bank transfer record, the sender was Zhang Menglong, the recipient was Wang Ling, and the note read "Compensation for emotional distress".


    As for the amount, a whopping one billion!


    "Holy shit! How many times have I cursed today?"


    "One billion for emotional distress? I''m stupefied."


    "Gah, gah!"


    "Big shot,e curse me, I don''t need so muchpensation for emotional distress, one million is enough!"


    "Hubby, curse me! Or hitting me works too!"


    "It''s not about the money, the main thing is I love being cursed."


    "Roommate wants to be cursed by the big shot before dying!"


    "I...I bought a watchst year!" Wang Ling couldn''t help twitching as he held his phone. If it were a normal situation and he earned one billion, he probably wouldn''t be able to sleep all night.


    But earning this one billion in such a way, he didn''t know whether to cry orugh.


    "Guys, keep cursing, I''ve got plenty forpensation for emotional distress!" Zhang Menglong added another follow-upment!


    "Bro, I was wrong, stop cursing!" Ten minutester, Wang Ling finally conceded, leaving a pale and powerless admission of guilt on Weibo.


    "The president conceded? I''m stupefied!"


    "I dere, my husband is no longer the president as of today, from now on, the big shot is my husband!"


    "Is this the third time the big shot has made the president crumble with money?"


    "There''s going to be a change in the inte celebrity world!"


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong, aren''t you afraid I won''t pay back this billion?" Although the two seemed like fire and water online, they both knew that it was just yful bickering.


    "If you don''t pay it back, then don''t pay it back, it''s just a small target, a brief chat and it''lle back," said Zhang Menglong indifferently, "Keep it, consider it like you''ve opened a Wanda VIP card with me."


    "I''m not going to be polite with you!" Wang Ling said shamelessly, "But brother, there''s something I need to remind you of."


    "What is it?" Zhang Menglong asked curiously.


    "With famees trouble; now that you have so many fans, you also have many more eyes on you, and every little move you make will be seized upon by some trolls, who will use it as a weapon to attack you."


    Wang Ling had the most experience with this; his Weibo was filled with indecent insults and he had been sted onto hot search on several asions.


    "It might not necessarily be you; it could also be someone close to you," Wang Ling added.


    "Yeah," Zhang Menglong nodded. Wang Ling was right, and for him, there were many such people, including his parents, and now there was Lu Yiyao as well.


    Suddenly, Zhang Menglong''s eyes took on a dark tint, fearing precisely what was happening. The images of him appearing alongside Lu Yiyao had now surfaced on the trending search.


    Zhang Menglong already had a hot topic, and if someone close to him emerged at this time, without thinking, they would be a target,


    and now people had started digging for information on Lu Yiyao.


    "Great, are they really pushing me to create a scene?" Zhang Menglong opened several other apps. Not just Weibo, but also forums, social tforms, short video tforms, all featuring posts about the two of them.


    "Xu Feng, you haven''t slept yet, right?" Zhang Menglong dialed the number of the marketing director of Unicorn Group.


    "President Zhang? Not yet, is there anything you need to instruct?"


    "You know about the incident regarding me today?"


    "Yeah, I''ve roughly heard about it." As someone who always paid attention to current affairs, Xu Feng''s nightly routine included checking thetest news on various tforms, and today''s topic involving Zhang Menglong practically exploded nationwide.


    "From now on, there must be no information about the girl who appeared with me today on any of ourpany''s products!"

 Chapter 60 Whoever else issues, I will buy it

    "Mr. Zhang, are you talking about that girl named Lu Yiyao?"


    "Damn, you already know her name?" Zhang Menglong eximed.


    "Mr. Zhang, you underestimate the power of the inte nowadays. After your photo with Miss Lu Yiyao appeared online, it took less than half an hour to dig up most of her personal information. Not to mention her name, we could even find her household registration if you wanted."


    "Damn, I was careless!" Zhang Menglong clearly underestimated theizens'' capabilities.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    However, upon further reflection, this was normal. Zhang Menglong was on the verge of recing Wang Ling as the national heartthrob, so it was expected that any woman seen with him would have her entire ancestry scrutinized.


    Previously, whenever Wang Ling dated a girlfriend, she would instantly trend on social media. Information about these inte celebrities was everywhere, and even if they eventually fell out of favor, the publicity alone would ensure they never had to worry about living expenses just by doing advertisements.


    And now, there was someone who could use money to make Wang Ling apologize directly on Weibo without saying a word. It was no surprise that such a person would spark an explosive topic and his suspected girlfriend would naturally not escape theizens'' scrutiny.


    "Listen, I don''t care how you do it, but if I see her photo or her personal information on any of Unicorn Technology''s products in the next half an hour, you can stop being the director!"


    "Half an hour?" Xu Feng immediately became anxious.


    "What? Can''t do it?"


    "Fine! Half an hour it is!"


    "If you manage in half an hour, I''ll double your year-end bonus!" Zhang Menglong added.


    "Mr. Zhang," Xu Feng didn''t know whether to feel moved or sad at this moment. It was a difficult task, but the reward was so generous it was both lovable and hateful, "You really go crazy with money, even on your own people!"


    "Go do it now!"


    The moment Xu Feng hung up the phone, he immediately initiated a video conference with all his top executives. The content was simple: how to make Lu Yiyao''s information disappear from Unicorn Technology''s products within half an hour.


    "Have tech set those keywords as vitions, give a warning on the first discovery, and ban the ount on the second!"


    "What about videos and photos?"


    "Blurry ones don''t matter, for clear photos use facial recognition technology topare, and block any rted content directly!"


    "Director, half an hour, it''s simply not possible!"


    "If it can''t be done, then get lost!" Xu Feng was always decisive in action, "Any more questions?"


    "No!"


    "Get to it now!"


    ...


    As a tform capable ofpeting with the three giants, the poprity of Unicorn Technology''s tform had even led the trend over the past two years. On their tforms, information about Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao had already be a hot topic.


    Twenty minutester, the topic had already disappeared from the trending list.


    At twenty-one minutes, all their pictures were unviewable, and all videos were taken down.


    At twenty-two minutes, any information about Lu Yiyao had be a blocked keyword.


    By the twenty-fifth minute, more than eighty percent of the information was gone.


    At the thirtieth minute, all information about Lu Yiyao could no longer be seen, as if she had never existed, yet the topic still explosively revolved only around other information rted to Zhang Menglong.


    "Damn, what''s going on? Where''s the video I just posted!" Many users suddenly found that the photos and videos they had posted about Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao had all disappeared!


    "What the heck! My video got millions of views for the first time, and they banned it? Are you kidding me?"


    "What''s going on? The name Lu Yiyao is blocked?"


    "Suspected girlfriend? This isn''t allowed? Girls from Gusu University... damn, this is blocked too? Are you kidding me?"


    Just when all Unicorn Technology product users were baffled, Zhang Menglong''s Weibo had new content again.


    "Everyone, from now on, I do not want any information about my friend to appear online. I''ve had Unicorn Technology block all information about her on all their products. I''m warning otherpany products, please handle this information before noon tomorrow, or else you will face the consequences!"


    "66666! Boss is awesome!"


    "Damn, what did the boss do? He even made Unicorn Technology block all information? Could he be the boss of Unicorn Technology?"


    "Spilling the beans here, I am the boss''s ssmate. The boss is named Zhang Menglong, and he is the current chairman of Unicorn Technology, just so you know!"


    "What? The boss is the chairman of Unicorn Technology?"


    "Zhang Menglong? I had a primary school ssmate named Zhang Menglong, but he''s just a loser."


    "I admit defeat!"


    "Impressive, this is practically dering war on otherpanies! What will happen if they don''tply?"


    "Could the boss be nning to acquire all thesepanies? Hahaha!"


    "Based on Zhang''s personality, I think he could absolutely do it!"


    "My husband is just too handsome, wuwuwu, I''m so jealous, I wish I could be protected like that too!"


    "The person above add me on vx... I''ll protect you!"


    "This is just like the legendary domineering CEO, no way, I''m about to fall!"


    However, at that moment, Zhang Menglong released another message, "Someone asked me how I will deal with it. I am a straightforward person. If you don''t do as I say and continue to expose information about my friend without restraint, I will directly acquire thepany that hosts that tform. Don''t doubt my words!"


    "Awesome! But I don''t believe it!"


    "Hahaha, Zhang, you''re going too far now. These products belong to some of the biggest intepanies in the country. If you were really going to acquire them, wouldn''t you need several hundred billion US dors? Are you the richest man in the world?"


    "I don''t believe you, you dirty old man, very bad."


    Upon this news, thements below immediately filled with mockery.


    Not to mention anything else, just Weibo''s market value is nearly 10 billion US dors; to fully acquire it, even the world''s richest person couldn''t bring out so much cash at once.


    As for other tforms, Baidu''s market value exceeds a hundred billion US dors; acquiring it would be a joke. Even if you really had that money, do you think it would be easy to get those shares from the shareholders?


    Everyone assumed that Zhang Menglong was just joking, that he couldn''t possibly do it!


    "Heh!" Looking at all those doubtfulments, Zhang Menglong could onlyugh it off, "Ignorant Earthlings, it seems you really have no idea whom you''re mocking!"


    "Hong Yi," Zhang Menglong directly dialed Hong Yi''s phone, "Did you see my Weibo?"


    "Mr. Zhang, are you nning to buy them all? It might be difficult to manage in one day, but a week should be no problem. If we just need to acquire one first, then it can be sorted out by tomorrow."


    "Does it take a long time to prepare?" Zhang Menglong asked.


    "It takes some time, just because the transfer of shares isplicated. Whether in Huaxia or abroad, there are regtions regarding the proportion of shares. We need to find a sufficiently trustworthy shareholder for you, ensuring those shares arepletely under your control. Who the actual holder is, isn''t important."


    "Okay, I understand," Zhang Menglong said, "Start preparing. I don''t think any of the inte giants will take my words seriously. Let''s just start with anypany tomorrow, beginning with Weibo."


    ...

 Chapter 61 I Have Money, But Dont Treat Me Like a Fool

    "Zhang Menglong, we''ve been apart for less than an hour, and you''ve already made such big news?" It wasn''t long before Zhang Menglong received a call from Lu Yiyao.


    "I did it to protect you!" Zhang Menglongughed, "I certainly don''t want the private life of my future girlfriend to be monitored every day by everyone!"


    "Have you no shame, who agreed to be your girlfriend in the future?" Lu Yiyao said, "Ah, Qianqian, go away, don''t eavesdrop on my conversation!"


    "Hahaha, it sounds like your dorm room is quite lively tonight!" Zhang Menglong heard the chatter of a group of girls.


    "That''s all because of you!" Lu Yiyao said angrily, "You could have juste to see me, but you had to make such a big scene, as if you were worried the whole world wouldn''t find out about it."


    "I''m worried about you getting into trouble," Zhang Menglong said, "By the way, when could you help me invite your roommates out for a meal? I''ll bribe them so the next time we go on a date, they won''t lock you out!"


    "Keep dreaming!"


    "Wait a minute, you don''t have the final say!" Suddenly, a wave of protest erupted from the other end of the phone, "Handsome Zhang! We heard what you said!"


    "Are you Guo Yuqian?" Zhang Menglong remembered that one of Lu Yiyao''s roommates seemed to have that name.


    "Yes, Handsome Zhang, you have a great memory!" Guo Yuqian snatched the phone from Lu Yiyao, "We''ll give you a chance to treat us to a meal on Saturday night. Maybe we''ll be so pleased that instead of just not locking Yiyi out, we might even get her drunk and deliver her to your bed!"


    "Hahaha! Exactly, exactly!" Several other voices piped up on the phone, "We''d even help you steal household registration books if you want!"


    "You guys, ah! I''m going to kill you!"


    "Holy shit! Lu Yiyao, you dare to kick us? Just because you have long legs, you think you''re something special?"


    "Having long legs is being special!"


    "Ah! Qianqian don''t mess around!"


    "Handsome Zhang, some people have really good figures, so soft!"


    "Qianqian, you hooligan!"


    "Tear..." Zhang Menglong almost had an image in his head; he originally thought that only boys'' dorms would have such incidents, but the girls'' dorm seemed even messier!


    "All right then, it''s a deal. Saturday, I''ll take you all out for a meal. Don''t forget to bring a bag, I''m afraid you won''t be able to carry all the things I''ll use to bribe you!"


    "Haha! Definitely, definitely!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Not knowing what was happening in the girls'' dormitory, the call was directly hung up.


    "Life is truly beautiful!" Zhang Menglong eximed and turned to walk into the gigantic bathroom where he could almost swim.


    ...


    "Sure enough, not a single one of them took my word seriously."


    The next day, Zhang Menglong opened his phone; apart from products from Unicorn Technology, on every other website and app, there was news about him and Lu Yiyao everywhere.


    Even several chairpersons and executives of inte giants publiclymented on the matter, unanimously thinking that Zhang Menglong was just trying to attract attention, and they weren''t shy about mocking what seemed to be his ridiculous behavior.


    Not just them, but hordes ofizens were also waiting to see how things would unfold, as it was soon to be 12 o''clock. They wanted to see whether Zhang Menglong was all talk or really had the ability to back it up.


    If he couldn''t do anything by then, the whole inte would likely beughing at him.


    "Start now, Hong Yi!" Zhang Menglong sent a message to Hong Yi.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang. As of today, the market value of Weibo is 9.212 billion US Dors, with 30% of the shares controlled by a domesticpany called Hongmu Capital and the remaining 70% of the shares in the hands of domestic and international venture capital institutions, with stakes ranging from 1.4% to 17.3%."


    "I don''t understand all that stuff; you just take care of the acquisition for me."


    "Alright Mr. Zhang, give me two hours."


    No sooner had Zhang Menglong put down the phone than Wang Ling called.


    "Zhang Menglong, what are you up to? Did you run away or something?"


    "Run away? I''m busy!"


    "Busy my ass. You put on such a big showst night, and it''s almost 12 o''clock now. We''ll see how you''re going to exin yourselfter!" Wang Ling knew Zhang Menglong was wealthy, but acquiring apany wasn''t that simple, to begin with. First of all, you have to get the other party to agree to sell their shares to you.


    Just like with Wanda, most of the stock was in the hands of Wang Ling and his son. Even if Zhang Menglong was loaded with cash, they could just refuse to sell, and he could do nothing about it unless he used somemercialpetitive methods to force them to sell their shares, which would likely take a very long time.


    "Busy with what? Busy with purchasing Weibo!"


    "What? Purchasing Weibo?" Wang Ling suddenly twitched at the corner of his mouth, "Weibo''s market cap is close to 10 billion US dors, and you''re going to purchase it?"


    "What''s wrong, can''t I?" Zhang Menglong retorted.


    "You''re the man!" Wang Ling was at a loss for words, "Are you serious?"


    "Serious or not, won''t you know in a bit?" Zhang Menglong said with augh. Although he didn''t know how Hong Yi was going to purchase shares of Weibo, he believed that whatever method she used, she would definitely seed.


    ...


    Less than an hourter, Hong Yi''s call came through.


    "Mr. Zhang, we have nowpleted the acquisition of 85.25% of the shares, and this portion is all in the hands of people you can fully trust."


    "Damn, that fast?" Zhang Menglong didn''t know much about this stuff, but with 85.25% of the shares, Weibo was practically under his say-so, as those shareholders represented his will, "What about the rest?"


    "The rest is with a European venture capital firm called Camorra. But those guys are slick. We acquired the 85.25% of the shares at a mere 15% premium over the market price, but even with a 30% stock premium offered to Camorra, they''re not willing to sell. Obviously, they''re looking to make a killing."


    "There are always some unsatisfied people in this world." Although Zhang Menglong didn''t understand the concept of a 30% premium purchase price, the fact that other shares were acquired with only a 15% premium indicated that this percentage wasn''t insignificant.


    "Mr. Zhang, the head of Camorra Venture Capital now wishes to speak with you. If you are willing, I will transfer the call to you."


    "Transfer it over. I''d like to hear just how greedy these Russians can be."


    After a burst of dial tone, a slick middle-aged man''s voice soon came through.


    "Hellow, is that Mr. Zhang speaking?"


    "Don''t speak English to me," said Zhang Menglong, "Can you speak Chinese? If not, piss off!"


    Taking down a small venture capital firm, Zhang Menglong might not know how to go about it, but he believed that with the resources he had, there were ten thousand ways to solve this.


    "Zhang... Mr. Zhang, I am Chavi, the head of Camorra Ventures."


    "What? Trashy Chavi? Never mind, it''s not important. I want to buy the rest of your Weibo shares, name your price."


    "Mr. Zhang is straightforward," came augh from the other end of the phone, "I just heard that aside from our shares, the rest has already changed hands not too long ago; it must be through someone under Mr. Zhang, right?"


    "Hm?"


    "I believe Mr. Zhang isn''t short of money. I''m a businessman, naturally, I aim for higher profits. For this part of the shares, I am willing to sell them to you at a 100% premium over the stock price."


    "Doubled?" Zhang Menglong thought this Russian would at most increase to around 50%, but he couldn''t believe his appetite was so big.


    "Trashy Chavi, right? I''ve got money, but you''d better not take me for a fool! 100%? You must be dreaming, buddy!"

 Chapter 62 Come to Headquarters to be a Cleaner

    "Mr. Zhang, please don''t get angry just yet." Zhang Menglong''s reaction was within Chavi''s expectations; any rational person would explode upon hearing such an excessive price, "Since we are talking business, any condition is up for negotiation, right?"


    "That depends on whether you have the qualifications. A maximum of 30% market premium is already quite generous. If you''re not willing to sell, then I''ll just have to find another way."


    "Mr. Zhang, are you threatening me? But I''m sorry to say, such tactics are ineffective on me."


    "I think I shouldn''t have any problems directly acquiring your venture capital firm, and then you can just get lost."


    "Hahaha," Chaviughed aloud, "Mr. Zhang, I know you''re very wealthy, but our institution isn''t a publicly listedpany. Even if you have all the money in the world, you can''t acquire us."


    "Oh? How can an ordinarypany have so much capital to make such numerous investments?" Hong Yi had just told Zhang Menglong that Camona''s external investments totaled over 5 billion US Dors. Without being a publicpany, how could it possibly have so much capital?


    "You are correct, Mr. Zhang, we are not an ordinarypany; we are a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Kaido Group. I assume you must have heard of Kaido Group before?"


    "Kaido?" Zhang Menglong had heard the name before; it was apany that started with inte and finance and now has a market value of over 400 billion US Dors, a colossal entity on a global scale.


    "Of course, if Mr. Zhang has the capability to acquire such apany, then I have nothing more to say." Chavi smiled, thinking about the acquisition of a publicly listedpany valued at 400 billion US Dors, especially a foreign one¡ªcould Zhang Menglong possibly do that?


    If he really wanted to fully acquire Weibo, he would have to pay double the money to buy the shares from them.


    "Fine, then I''ll acquire thatpany!" Zhang Menglong said icily, "Trying to profit from my situation, standing in my way? Do you even know who I am?"


    Zhang Menglong snapped the phone shut with a smack.


    On the other end of the phone, Chavi still wore a confident expression. He knew that before long, Zhang Menglong woulde back to him, but by then, the purchase price would be more than 100% over the stock market premium.


    "Hong Yi, acquire the Kaido Group as well," Zhang Menglongmanded.


    "Mr. Zhang, that won''t be necessary," said Hong Yi, "I just checked, and the Kaido Group is controlled by the Bradley family. They hold more than 97% of the shares."


    "Are you saying that the Kaido Group is actually already mine?"


    "Yes."


    "Damn it! Can''t you stop shocking me like this? How manypanies do I own?"


    "I haven''tpiled a count because your assets are growing explosively every year, and it''s just too much trouble to keep track. It''s not necessary."


    "Alright then, you know what to do. It''s time to rece the person in charge of that venture capital firm. That Chavi, send him to clean toilets."


    "Mr. Zhang, you really are wicked," Hong Yi said with augh, "But with his experience, I think it would be quite easy for him to secure a senior position in any venture capital or financial firm."


    "Is that so? Then ban him. If anyone dares to hire him, drive thatpany into bankruptcy."


    On the other end of the phone, Hong Yi was speechless. When it came to being shameless, Zhang Menglong was indeed the best.


    "Understood, Mr. Zhang. It will be taken care of within half an hour at most."


    ...


    "Hello, trash Cheung?"


    "Mr. Zhang, my name is Chavi," Chavi revealed a smug smile. As expected, Zhang Menglong ultimately had toe to him on his own initiative.


    "You just said you would sell me that portion of the stock at 100% over the stock market price, right?" Zhang Menglong asked again.


    "No no no, 100% was just the initial price. Given your rude behavior just now, I think 120% would be more appropriate."


    ```


    "Go to hell!" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help butugh, "I''m not here to talk business with you, I''m here to tell you that starting today, you are no longer the general manager of Camona Venture Capital. In a few minutes, the notice from the headquarters should arrive."


    "ck!" Zhang Menglong hung up the phone abruptly.


    "What nonsensical Chinese!" Chavi put down the phone, paying no regard to Zhang Menglong''s final words.


    However, in just a few minutes, Chavi''s phone rang. Seeing the number, he instantly perked up; it was the number of the chairman of their head office, the Kaido Group!


    "Chairman, are you looking for me?" Chavi ditched his formerly arrogant tone. When it came to the big boss of the head office, he did not dare to show any disrespect.


    "Chavi, you''ve made quite a few contributions to thepany over the years, haven''t you?" The chairman of the head office spoke in an inscrutable tone.


    "That''s my duty," Chavi suddenly sensed that the chairman''s call that day seemed to be about a promotion!


    Although he was the general manager of this venture capital firm, he was only earning a fixed sry. An annual sry of 500,000 US dors had long stopped satisfying him. If he could move into the head office, his ie would definitely more than double!


    "I''m calling you today to notify you that starting from tomorrow, you don''t need to continue at Camona. Come work at the head office."


    "Really?" Chavi was so excited he almost jumped. He had been waiting for this day for a long time!


    "Of course. Get the handover done in the next couple of days, and you can report to the head office next week."


    "Thank you, boss! Thank you, boss!" Chavi thanked him profusely, "Boss, which department should I report to when I get to the head office?"


    "Janitorial department!"


    "Jan... Janitorial department?" Chavi was taken aback, "Boss, you aren''t joking with me, are you?"


    Chavi, a graduate of an Ivy League school with a rich resume, was certainly an elite in the venture capital industry. Their boss actually wanted him to work in janitorial?


    "Do I sound like I''m joking with you? Did you really have the gall to demand excessivepensation from Mr. Zhang? Are you sick of living?"


    "Mr. Zhang? The Mr. Zhang from Huaxia?"


    "I''m telling you, Mr. Zhang is our group''srgest shareholder. You better straighten up!"


    "How is this possible?" Chavi''s hands trembled slightly. What Zhang Menglong had said was not a threat; he truly had the capability! What was even more frightening was that he didn''t even need to buy out the Kaido Group¡ªthe Kaido Group was already his!


    "Well, if you don''t want to do it, you can choose to resign. But I think in the entire venture capital and finance industry, there probably isn''t a singlepany that would dare hire you. If you don''t believe it, you can try."


    With that, the chairman of Kaido hung up the phone.


    "How can this be?" Chavi had never doubted the chairman''s words; with his prestige in the industry, a single word from him and no one would dare take Chavi in!


    "Janitorial work..." Chavi stared nkly at the ceiling, his eyes empty...


    ...


    In less than twenty minutes, Hong Yi called Zhang Menglong to tell him that all the shares had been acquired.


    "Transfer them all to my name," Zhang Menglong instructed.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Mr. Zhang, if an individual''s shareholding exceeds 75%, thepany will have to be delisted."


    "Then let it be delisted. From now on, this Weibo will be my personal toy!"


    ...


    ```

 Chapter 63 Are you selling your shares?

    When the stock market closed that day, news exploded like a bombshell.


    Today, Weibo''s shares were fully acquired by a mysterious tycoon, and the delisting procedures were even swiftlypleted¡ªWeibo has now be a privately heldpany!


    "What''s happening? Weibo got acquired in just one day?"


    "Weibo is valued at over 90 billion US dors, and delisting requires over 75% personal shareholding. Does someone actually have 70 billion US dors in funds?"


    "You can''t calcte it like that. Those shareholders aren''t idiots. They wouldn''t sell such arge batch of shares at the stock market price. The buyer''s funds might be far more than that!"


    "Who on earth did it?"


    "Could it be that big shot named Zhang Menglong?"


    "Yeah, didn''t he say that if those tforms don''t control the messages about his friend by 12 o''clock, he would acquire those tforms''panies? He wasn''t joking!"


    As if confirming thoseizens'' guesses, Zhang Menglong posted the Weibo share certificate on his own Weibo, which stated that Zhang Menglong had be the legal person with 100% of the shares!


    "I did what I said!" There were these five words beside the apanying picture.


    This Weibo post was undoubtedly a shock to the entire¡ªa shock that Zhang Menglong had truly fully acquired Weibo in just half a day. How on earth did he do it?


    "Could this be photoshopped?"


    "Right, even if you offer money, it doesn''t mean people are willing to sell."


    "Acquiring Weibo in half a day? That seems too fake, right?"


    Not only were there voices of astonishment, but skepticism was also rampant.


    However, all Weibo users received an official system notice from the tform within a few minutes.


    Weibo Announcement: All users are required to delete any personal information about Mr. Zhang Menglong''s friend within one hour, otherwise, the system will ban the ount for 5000 years.


    "Sk... Sk..."


    "Damn, this is real! Zhang the boss has be a power user!"


    "Banned for 5000 years, does he think we''re immortal monsters?"


    "My ount finally gathered a few tens of thousands of followers; I can''t afford to be banned!"


    "Scared, scared, can''t afford to provoke, can''t afford to provoke. This isn''t an iron te; it''s a nail board, whoever provokes it will be unlucky!"


    The messages about Lu Yiyao began to be swiftly deleted. As Huaxia''srgestmunity tform, no one wanted their ount to be banned.


    "You rock!" Zhang Menglong received a message from Wang Ling.


    "Keep it low-key!" Zhang Menglong replied with augh.


    But the event was just beginning. Although Weibo''s traffic was huge, it was only a small part of the entire Inte industry.


    They remembered that it wasn''t just Weibo that Zhang Menglong dered war on, but also other major tforms. This war without smoke was not over yet!


    "You''re not going to continue, are you?" Wang Ling asked.


    "Do I look like someone who just jokes around?" Zhang Menglong replied, "Acquiring Weibo was just a warning. Leave some leeway for the future, right?"


    "How much money do you actually have?" From what Zhang Menglong said, it seemed like there was nopany he couldn''t acquire if he wanted to.


    "I''m not sure myself, but buying your family''s Wanda would probably just be a drop in the bucket. Chatting with you for this long, I''ve probably earned a few billion US dors."


    "Stop it, stop it. I didn''t provoke you, so leave a way out for our family." Wang Ling was no longer able to have a normal conversation with Zhang Menglong¡ªthis guy was simply a beast.


    Wang Ling had struggled to death to make just over ten billion in these few years, yet Zhang Menglong''s few words were worth his years of effort. How was he supposed topete?


    "Alright, I''ve got to go knock on the doors of otherpanies. I''ll stop talking for now."


    Zhang Menglong hung up the phone, and went straight to Weibo to mention several inte giants'' official ounts.


    "Which one shall I start acquiring tomorrow? @Sohu @Tengxun @Baidu..."


    "Going head-to-head, huh? Boss Zhang is invincible, this is outright deration of war!"


    "I''d like to call you the strongest!"


    "Zhang Menglong, the eternal god!"


    "@Tengxun, Ma Hua,e out and take your beating!"


    "Supporting Boss Zhang in acquiring Tengxun, you gotta increase the odds for the lucky draw, we can even crowdfund for it!"


    "I''m willing to support Boss Zhang with ten bucks!"


    "Shut up, everyone! Does Boss Zhang look like he needs this chump change?"


    "Boss Zhang, need a cleaner at home?"


    ...


    In Pengcheng of Huaxia, within a majestic building, Ma Hua, the Chairman of Tengxun, had just finished dinner when his private phone rang.


    This number was not disclosed to the public and only his rtives and some key business partners knew it.


    "Li Hong? Why would he call me at this hour?" Despite the marketpetition, the two shared a good personal rtionship, asionally meeting up to have a meal together, sip tea, and discuss their business ideas.


    "Chairman Ma, have you seen the news online?" Li Hong got straight to the point.


    "What news?"


    "That young guy named Zhang Menglong, he has already acquired Weibo, the whole stake!" When Li Hong saw the news, he couldn''t believe it at first. Even with Baidu''s size and resources, acquiring Weibo would be a huge undertaking. And even if they did n an acquisition, it wouldn''t be possible toplete all the processes in just half a day.


    "What?" Ma Hua had spent the whole day reviewing documents for a new game product and had just taken a break for dinner, only to hear such explosive news.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    When Zhang Menglong posted on Weibo yesterday, it was the first time they had heard of this young man, but they had never taken his words seriously. A man in his twenties, boasting about wanting to acquire Baidu and Tengxun, could that be possible?


    They had regarded Zhang Menglong as nothing more than a clown seeking attention, desperate to be famous.


    But now that he had actually acquired the full stake in Weibo, it was no small matter!


    "Do you think what he said could be true?" Li Hong asked, not knowing why, but he always felt there was something mysterious about this young man.


    "That''s impossible, right? Ourpanies are both worth hundreds of billions of US Dors. If he wants to be the chairman, he needs to acquire 51% of the shares. Hundreds of billions of US Dors, can he afford that?"


    "Indeed, maybe I''m just being paranoid."


    "Hold on, let me take this call!" Ma Hua''s phone suddenly received a call from an unknown number.


    "Ma Xi Ma Xi?" A quite young voice came through from the other end, "May I speak with Chairman Ma?"


    "Who is this?"


    "Hello Chairman Ma, I am Zhang Menglong. You must have heard of me."


    "Zhang Menglong? How do you have my number?" Ma Hua''s number was highly confidential, and in theory, Zhang Menglong shouldn''t know it.


    "That''s not important. I''m calling today because I want to discuss something with Chairman Ma."


    "What is it?"


    "I''m interested in buying all of your shares in Tengxun, would you sell them?"


    Ma Hua''s breathing paused for a moment, "Are you... are you serious?"

 Chapter 64 Two Choices for You

    Now, Tengxun''s total market value exceeds 4 trillion Huaxia currency. Although Ma Hua only holds about 10% of Tengxun''s shares, that''s still 400 billion Huaxia currency. How manypanies in the world cane up with 400 billion Huaxia currency in capital? Individuals? That''s even more like a fairy tale.


    "Young man, do you know how much my Tengxun shares are worth?"


    "I do," Zhang Menglong said airily, "it''s probably just several hundred billion Huaxia currency, quite a lot indeed."


    "Quite a lot?" Ma Hua repeated Zhang Menglong''s words¡ª400 billion, and just a casual "quite a lot" to gloss over it?


    "How about this, if Mr. Ma is willing, I''d like to buy all the shares you hold at a 20% premium over the stock market price. I wonder if you''d be interested."


    "Are you joking?"


    "What about 30%?" Zhang Menglong casually added another 10%.


    "It''s not... what I mean is..."


    "Then 40%, no more!" Zhang Menglong dered, "When I acquired Weibo, there was this old Russian who wanted to bite off more than he could chew, asking for a 100% premium over the stock market price to sell that portion of shares. Mr. Ma, you shouldn''t emte such people."


    "Are you talking about Kamolov Venture Capital''s Chavy?"


    "You know him?"


    "More than that, I''ve dealt with him several times," Ma Hua said helplessly, "Ourpany had ns to acquire Weibo a couple of years ago, but that bastard actually wanted a 50% premium, simply extortionate!"


    "Damn, what the hell? He only wants 50% from you guys, but 100% from me? Looks down on me?" Zhang Menglong suddenly felt he had been too lenient in punishing him.


    "How exactly did you manage to get those shares from him?" Ma Hua asked curiously. Based on his understanding of Chavy, he was a pure businessman dedicated only to benefits. Without meeting his price, there was no way he would budge."


    "There was no particr tactic. The parentpany behind Kamolov Venture Capital is mine. I just transferred him to the head office to work as a janitor, and the rest was easy."


    "Their parentpany is yours?"


    "Yes." Zhang Menglong replied.


    "That Okaido Group?"


    "Right, you seem to know quite a bit, Mr. Ma!" Zhang Menglongplimented.


    "I am a businessman!" Ma Hua stated earnestly. The Okaido Group was worth over 400 billion US dors, as grand as their Tengxun and not a bit weaker. This group, it''s Zhang Menglong''s?


    Now Ma Hua seemed to know why Zhang Menglong could so effortlessly acquire Weibo. The Unicorn Group was his, the Okaido Group was his¡ªwho dared to say that these twopanies were the only ones under Zhang Menglong''s control?


    "Where on earth did this kid spring from?" Ma Hua racked his brain thinking if there was any notable person surnamed Zhang, but try as he might, he couldn''t match anyone to Zhang Menglong.


    Logically speaking, if there really was such a remarkable person in the country, he, Ma Teng, should not have been oblivious to any news about him.


    "Could it be that I''m out of the loop?" Ma Hua fell into deep thought.


    "Mr. Ma, back to the main topic, are you selling the shares or not?"


    "I..." Having lorded over the inte industry in Huaxia andmanded respect in Feng Yun for so many years, this was the first time Ma Hua had ever encountered someone pestering him to sell his own shares.


    "Wait, you''re buying my shares just to block your friend''s news?" Ma Hua sought confirmation.


    Spending hundreds of billions of Huaxia currency to acquire apany''s shares just to hide information for a girl, does this person have a problem with their brain or just too much money with nowhere to spend it?


    "This..." Zhang Menglong hesitated for a moment, "Half and half, I guess. The other half I just get angry about. I''ve been ying your Tengxun games for over a decade, and with all those 10% chance lotteries, I''ve never won once. You guys must have rigged something, right? Once I acquire Tengxun, I''m going to fire every single person involved in game numerical nning!"


    Ma Hua''s mouth twitched. What sort of mighty reasoning was this? You''re spending hundreds of billions, and you could just top up any game you want, 648 after 648, what item can''t you get? Why would you use tens of thousands times the cost to acquire apany? Are you sick?


    "Look, even if you buy all the shares I hold, you still can''t be the chairman of Tengxun!" Ma Hua seemed to believe that Zhang Menglong truly had the ability to acquire part of his shares, but to be the chairman, you need to have 51% of the shares, which would cost 2 trillion Huaxia currency. Converted into US dors, that''s 300 billion US dors!


    Even the current richest man in the world only has a personal wealth of 150 billion US dors. Could he be richer than the world''s richest man?


    "Zhang Menglong? Zhang Menglong?" Just then, the voice on the phone suddenly stopped.


    "Sorry, I just went to make a financial transaction. Mr. Ma, you should be receiving a call shortly."


    True to Zhang Menglong''s words, no sooner had he finished speaking than Ma Hua''s phone rang. It was a very special number, one that only a certain team knew about¡ªthe team responsible for handling his personal assets and ounts!


    "Ma... Mr. Ma..."


    "What is it? Stop mumbling. I have an urgent matter, so speak quickly!"


    "We have just received a message from a Swiss Bank to one of your ounts. A sum of 500 billion US dors is going to be deposited into your ount. But you don''t have any ounts with the Swiss Bank, and it will be quite troublesome to transfer it directly to a Huaxia bank, so they are asking if you want to open an ount with them."


    "Smash!" The phone in Ma Hua''s hand was instantly crushed on the ground, shattering the screen.


    He picked up his phone incredulously, still on the line with Zhang Menglong, "This 500 billion US dors... you transferred this?"


    "Otherwise?" Zhang Menglong retorted, "But I didn''t n to give it to you yet. I''m just letting you know that I, Zhang Menglong, can fork out the money!"


    "I... damn it..." Ma Hua, who had always been very mindful of hisposure, couldn''t help but curse out loud. What world''s richest man? In front of Zhang Menglong, the world''s richest man was just a pauper!


    "Let''s do this, Mr. Ma. If you do not want to sell the shares, it''s okay. But as I said on Weibo, I hope that within two hours, I can see Tengxun do what I want them to do. Otherwise, I might have to think of other methods."


    "Alright, you go ahead, I''m going to call Li Hong of Baidu now. By the way, what is his bank ount number? I''ll transfer some money to him first to save us the half-day hassle of talkingter."


    ...


    It took a few minutes for Ma Hua to recover from the deep shock. The fund from Zhang Menglong had already been withdrawn, but those few minutes of interaction had left a deep shadow in his heart.


    Soon, Li Hong''s phone rang again.


    "Old Ma, did you also get his call?"


    "Yes, and you?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Just finished with him. Boy, a direct transfer of 500 billion US dors, just like that. I''ve been in this business for so many years, confident that I could keep myposure even if Mount Tai crumbled in front of me, but my hands are still shaking."


    "Who''s telling me? " Ma Hua nced at his own hands, still trembling continuously.


    "What should we do?"


    "What else can we do? We need to have a meeting right away, to remove any information we can and block what we can''t!"


    "Sigh... That''s all we can do for now. Who would have thought we could be knocked down by a young guy with money..."

 Chapter 65 They Were All Afraid

    "Everyone, open the online meeting immediately, we have an urgent task! Anyone not appearing in the meeting within ten minutes, prepare your resignation tomorrow!"


    All the senior executives of Tengxun almost received the message from Ma Hua at the same time.


    In less than five minutes, all the notified executives had appeared in the online meeting.


    "President Ma, what on earth has happened that is so urgent you had to call us all together?" a technical director asked curiously.


    "From now on, block and censor any information about that female friend of Zhang Menglong from all of our Tengxun tforms."


    "President Ma, is that really necessary? You''re not scared just because of the threat from that youngster named Zhang Menglong, are you?" one of Tengxun''s shareholders said.


    Blocking and censoring information was a minor issue for them, almost too easy for their technology team, which could handle it in a short time.


    But by taking such action, wouldn''t they be indirectly admitting that they were afraid of Zhang Menglong?


    A publicly listedpany with a trillion Huaxia currency market value, an inte industry titan, bowing down to a twenty-something-year-old, would be utterlyughable, and from then on, it could even be a dark piece of history.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Exactly, President Ma, even if he did acquire Weibo, with such a huge amount of capital, he must be significantly weakened. Even if we Tengxun wanted to acquire Weibo, we would need to recover for a while before doing so. Can he possibly be the richest person in the world?"


    "President Ma, there is really no need for this."


    "Enough!" Ma Hua mmed the table hard, "He is not the richest person in the world, he has more money than the richest man damn it!"


    Facing the questions of his subordinates and shareholders, Ma Hua''s anger was ignited instantly, and it was Zhang Menglong who just called me, wanting to buy all of my Tengxun shares, at a premium of up to 40%!


    Everyone fell silent, seeing Ma Hua lose his temper like this for the first time.


    "That''s impossible! How could he have that much capital? Not even the world''srgestpany could do that!"


    "Idiots, he''s already dumped 500 billion US Dors directly into my bank ount, do you think I''m joking with you?" Ma Hua was even somewhat hysterical.


    "500 billion?"


    "And in US Dors?"


    "That could buy more than 50% of the shares."


    "Not just me, such arge sum of money, even if refunded, would take hours to process, and a few minutester, Li Hong told me that he also received 500 billion US Dors!"


    At this point, everyone was dumbfounded as the entire video conference fell so silent that you could hear a pin drop.


    So, ording to Ma Hua, in just a few minutes, Zhang Menglong had pulled out 1 trillion US Dors in cash?


    To know, even for Amaxon, the total assets amount to only 1.65 trillion!


    They even began to suspect whether Ma Hua was so overworkedtely that he had started to hallucinate?


    "With the money he has, not to mention buying my shares, it''s possible he could buy our entirepany!" Ma Hua wasn''t just being rmist; given Zhang Menglong''s high-profile behavior and his carefree character, it really wasn''t impossible.


    "I want results within an hour! Deploy immediately!"


    "Yes, President Ma, we''re on it right away!"


    "Damn it, I''m convinced by this madness!"


    "Get to work, get to work!"


    Exactly such a scene, nearly y-by-y, was happening over at Baidu.


    Half an hourter, all mentions of Lu Yiyao disappeared without a trace from Baidu, Huaxia''srgest search engine, as if they had never existed, and Tengxun News, Tengxun Weibo, various top headlines were taken down as well.


    ounts that refused to delete posts or rted information were immediately banned, everything was identical to the products under the Unicorn Group!


    "Thank you for your cooperation, gentlemen, I''m very satisfied, so I don''t n to acquire Tengxun and Baidu for the time being."


    Zhang Menglong posted another shocking update on Weibo.


    "He... he really did it? They all backed down!"


    "What on earth did he do? The information on Baidu and Tengxun, it''s all really gone."


    "Wait, what does ''for the time being'' mean? My mind is blown."


    "Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit! I''m truly convinced this time!"


    "A friend from Baidu told me they just had an emergency meeting, and apparently, Boss Zhang gave Boss Ma and Boss Li two options, either buy theirpany or block the news. I thought he was just bullshitting."


    "Having money really means you can do whatever you want¡ªLu Xun."


    "If Lu Xun heard that, he''d curse all the way from Hundred Grass Garden to the Three-vor Study."


    "Big bro, please ept my kowtow."


    "A friend of mine wants to ask if Boss Zhang is short of dogs, you know, the kind that walk on two legs."


    "Funny, that''s exactly what my friend wanted to ask."


    ...


    "What about you guys?" As the incident''s heat continued to ferment, at this moment, Zhang Menglong tagged a bunch of slightly smallerpanies.


    "Boss Zhang, please have mercy, we''ll delete it right away!"


    "My bad, my bad, won''t dare again, won''t dare again."


    "You''re the big brother, we can''t afford to mess with you!"


    Most intepanies directly chose to chicken out, what could they do, even their big bro chickened out, could they not chicken out? None of these intepany bosses were fools.


    "What''s Zhang Menglong? We just won''t delete. If you have the guts,e and buy us out!" Apany called Tear Soul Technology actually stepped forward, directly challenging Zhang Menglong.


    "Holy shit? Are you that tough guy? Bro, yourpany is gonna be gone in no time!"


    "Desperate for attention, huh? Do you think Boss Zhang is joking?"


    "Here''s a suggestion, just kneel and apologize, or it won''t be about whether you soar or not, but whether yourpany will even exist."


    "I get it, you guys only see the secondyer, their boss is already out in the stratosphere!"


    "Can someone exin what the guy upstairs is saying?"


    "Think about it, even the two big giants caved, how rich and powerful must Boss Zhang be? If theirpanies get bought out, they''ll be working for Boss Zhang. Could their treatment be bad?"


    "Bro, that''s some unique thinking! Literally a corporate level of understanding."


    "That really is the logic, worthy of a big V, full marks for this analysis!"


    With this example, manypanies actually started to mimic, as if they couldn''t wait for Zhang Menglong to hurry up and buy them out.


    "Damn, what the hell are these people thinking?" Seeing thosepanies crying out with such gusto, Zhang Menglong was suddenly speechless, "Trying to trick me into buying you out, do you think I''m a Muggle?"


    Zhang Menglong immediately made a call to the chief technical officer of Weibo.


    "Boss Zhang... You''re calling me at this time, is there something you need?" Although they had gotten a new boss less than half a day ago, the CTO was quick on the uptake.


    "See thosepanies causing a ruckus? Change all their verified names for me!"


    "Change to what?"


    "You figure it out!"


    ...


    "Hahaha, look, Tear Soul Technology''s verified name got changed!" An eagle-eyedizen quickly noticed something funny.


    "Hahaha, Zhang Menglong''s idiot son, hahahaha!"


    "Zhulu Technology''s verification got changed too, ''Born without an asshole,'' hahaha!"


    "And this one too, ''My Husband Only Lasts Three Seconds,'' hahaha!"


    "My Three Lifetimes with a Pig, hahaha, I can''t take it anymore!"


    "It must be Boss Zhang''s doing, he''s the king of permissions after all, and they dared to make noise on Weibo!"


    "Hahaha!"


    Tonight on Weibo was destined to be full of joy.


    ...

 Chapter 66 I have always impressed people with money.

    "Mr. Zhang, looking for a girlfriend again?" The next day when Zhang Menglong arrived at Gusu University, the security guard at the gate had already recognized him.


    Although it had only been a day, Zhang Menglong hadpletely be a household-name inte celebrity, with even the streets and alleys buzzing about the recent events.


    The top-tier inte celebrity Mina was banned, liberally throwing billions around to make Wang Ling admit in front of all theizens that she was the chairperson of Unicorn Group, acquiring Weibo, forcing inte giants like Tengxun and Baidu to back down.


    All these seemingly outrageous acts had happened in just a day and a half, hinting at the young man''s terrifying background and wealth.


    Even a security guard, as long as he hadn''t disconnected from the inte, couldn''t possibly be unaware of Zhang Menglong''s affairs, especially since Zhang Menglong had made such a spectacle at the school gate just yesterday.


    "Yeah, it shouldn''t be a problem for me to go in, right?" Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    "Of course, of course," the security hurriedly lifted the entrance barrier. How could he dare to stop Zhang Menglong? If he did, based on the events of the past two days, he would either lose his job, or Zhang Menglong might just buy Gusu University.


    Although Gusu University was directly under the Ministry of Education, who knew what godly, earth-shattering moves Zhang Menglong might pull off? To regard him as just another rich second generation would be utterly foolish.


    "Mr. Zhang, care for a cigarette?" The guard jogged up to Zhang Menglong and offered him a cigarette.


    "One won''t do, I usually take a pack," Zhang Menglong replied.


    The expression on the guard''s face froze instantly, was this the world of the wealthy, where even offering cigarettes was done by the pack?


    "Hahaha, just kidding, I don''t smoke, thank you though!" Zhang Menglong thanked him and drove straight into Gusu University.


    Zhang Menglong had visited Gusu University two days ago and, coupled with yesterday''s news, he had already be a central topic of conversation. His car had been widely shared on the students'' social media, and the moment he appeared on campus, countless students gathered around.


    "Holy shit! Zhang Menglong is here again! He''s back!"


    "Why scream, can you just shout my husband''s name like that?"


    "Hahaha, don''t be jealous, he''s obviously here for Lu Yiyao, it''s none of your business!"


    "Shush! Dare to say that name? Did you forget what Zhang Menglong did for him yesterday? He acquired Weibo, even Tengxun and Baidu backed down, if you''re overheard, you might be sent to Africa to mine coal!"


    "I''m so envious. How great would it be if I were Lu Yiyao?"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong parked his car under Lu Yiyao''s dormitory building. They had made ns today to go see an international art exhibition. Zhang Menglong quickly sent Lu Yiyao a message, "I''m under your dorm building, hurry up ande down!"


    "I''m already down here!"


    "What? Howe I didn''t see you?"


    "Left front, the one with a hat, sunsses, and a mask, that''s me!"


    "What?" Zhang Menglong looked in the direction Lu Yiyao described, and when he saw her, he couldn''t help but burst outughing, "Hahaha, what are you doing, dressed like a big star?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "You''re still making fun of me! It''s all because of you!" Lu Yiyao, under the gaze of countless eyes, fled into Zhang Menglong''s car, "All the mess you made, even if I weren''t famous before, I''d be famous now because of your antics!"


    "I wanted to keep it low-key too, but my capability wouldn''t allow it."


    "You''re still the most cunning!" Lu Yiyao said, "No matter where you go, you always stir up big trouble, and you still have the nerve to im you''re low-key? If you''re low-key, then there''s no such thing as high-profile in this world."


    "If a man isn''t a bit cunning, what''s the difference from a salted fish? That saying is actually a ssic quote by Mr. Lu Xun."


    "Keep it up, I''ll hold Mr. Lu Xun''s coffin board down for you."


    "I really can''t me myself for this, I just want to be a quiet, handsome guy, but some people keep bothering me. There''s nothing I can do about it," Zhang Menglong said innocently, "I also don''t want to disrupt your life too much because of my involvement."


    "Fine, you win," Lu Yiyao rolled her eyes. Perhaps from the day she met Zhang Menglong online, it was destined that she wouldn''t remain unnoticed, "Ah, poor choice in friends."


    ...


    Zhang Menglong drove away from Gusu University with Lu Yiyao, and many students took photos. However, these photos could only be shared within a small circle because of Tengxun''s interference; they couldn''t even post them to their Moments. This time, it didn''t attract much attention.


    Beforeing to Gusu City, Zhang Menglong had heard from Wang Ling about arge-scale international art exhibition held by a group of European artists. Not only would some of their works be present, but even some of the world''s most famous masterpieces might appear at this exhibition.


    In the days leading up to the exhibition, the media had already started the preliminary hype. The most eye-catching news was that even Da Vinci''s "Mona Lisa" had been brought out of the Louvre for a global tour.


    As of 1920, the "Mona Lisa" had already been appraised at over 3 billion US dors. In modern times, even some replicas had been auctioned for tens of millions of dors, showing the incredible artistic value of this painting.


    Of course, with such a world''s treasure on exhibit globally, security was a major concern. The organizers and coborators deployed meticulous security measures; the protective force was evenparable to a small army. Even an entire division would likely not be able to damage the artwork.


    "It''s no wonder it''s Gusu City''s international convention center; it really is grand. Even this underground parking garage is filled with luxury cars," Zhang Menglong said as he parked the car in the underground garage, which was practically a luxury car showroom filled with vehicles worth millions.


    "It sounds right, but it feels kind of weird hearing that from you."


    "Hehehe," Zhang Menglong chuckled. "It seems you''re getting to know me better."


    "I was forced to get to know you!"


    As they bantered, the two made their way from the parking garage up to the entrance of the convention center. Because of the high volume of people, it was strictly required for everyone entering the exhibition hall to wear masks, which made Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao less conspicuous.


    After all, in such a world-ss event, many art students flocked to the scene. Zhang Menglong''s poprity among students was well-known, even without having to think about it.


    "Wow, there are so many people!" Once back on the ground, seeing the winding queue, Zhang Menglong was momentarily speechless, "It''ll take hours to get through this line, we won''t even get through the entrance!"


    This exhibition featured numerous world-famous paintings, a rare opportunity that urred only once. Moreover, this event in Gusu City was the only instance in Huaxia,sting only for a brief week. Artists, painting enthusiasts, and art school students from across the country had alle upon hearing of the event.


    The scale was foreseeable; the crowd was overflowing every day, and even the organizers had to take special measures such as limiting the number of people and the time allowed inside.


    Even if you had money and status, you could only stay inside for a maximum of two hours.


    "Why do you have such a long face?" Zhang Menglong nced at Lu Yiyao''s expression.


    "Ah, I knew we should have set off earlier today. At this rate, we might only get in by evening."


    "Queue up with Zhang Menglong to see the exhibition?"


    "Hey, I''m a person of high quality; I won''t skip the queue with you!"


    "Cut it out, how could I possibly skip the queue? I''m a very reasonable person," Zhang Menglong said.


    "What are you up to now?" Lu Yiyao suddenly had a bad feeling.


    Zhang Menglong smiled mysteriously, then patted the student-looking person ahead, "Hey, buddy, can we discuss something?"


    "What is it?" The guy in front, already very impatient, exuded a grumpy aura.


    "100,000 cash, let us queue in front of you, will you?"


    "Is this what you call being reasonable?" Lu Yiyao couldn''t help butugh and cry.


    Zhang Menglong said righteously, "I''m a man who believes in using money to solve problems!"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 67 Mainly Hopes Everyone is Happy

    "Is that really true?" Although he was wearing a mask, the boy''s pupils dted in surprise for an instant, several times their normal size.


    "Of course it''s true. If you don''t believe me, I''ll transfer the money right now," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Deal!" The boy immediately took out his phone and opened his payment code.


    "Ding, your ount has received 100,000 yuan!" As the clear electronic tone sounded, the boy''s hands began to tremble. It was actually true¡ªthe 100,000 yuan had really appeared in his ount.


    "I just remembered that I have something to do this afternoon. I''ll give you my spot; I''ve got to go," the boy hurriedly stuffed the number tag into Zhang Menglong''s hand. Entry to the art exhibition would be ording to the sequence on the number tags.


    It was as if he feared that Zhang Menglong had made such a move on an impulse, and if he came to his senses and wanted the money back, then it would have been all for nothing.


    With this thought, the boy decided to leave immediately. Even if Zhang Menglong regretted itter and wanted to find someone, he wouldn''t be able to find him.


    Although the art exhibition was a rare event, he had just arrived, and there were at least a hundred people ahead of him. Considering the speed of entry, even by evening, it might not be his turn. To earn a 100,000 yuan just by giving up his spot¡ªit would be foolish not to make such a transaction.


    Most of these art students probably couldn''t even make 100,000 yuan a year after graduating. Walking away with this money now would be delightful.


    "Did that guy just run off that fast?" In just a few seconds, the boy had vanished out of sight.


    "Zhang Menglong, does your family specialize in printing money?" Lu Yiyao couldn''t understand Zhang Menglong''s behavior with her more than 20 years of thinking. Her family background was somewhat special, and she usually lived frugally at school. Zhang Menglong''s way of spending 100,000 yuan as if it were 10 yuan was something she simply couldn''t understand.


    "Although my family doesn''t specialize in printing money, the speed at which we make it is probably faster than a money printer," Zhang Menglong said. Strictly speaking, probably more than half of the world''s poption was directly or indirectly making money for his family.


    And to Zhang Menglong, 100,000 yuan really wasn''t much different from 10 yuan!


    "But it''s useless even if you do this. There are still hundreds of people ahead, and you''ve just wasted a 100,000 yuan for nothing," Lu Yiyao was somewhat speechless.


    "Yes, buying one person''s spot is useless, but what if I buy every single person''s spot in line ahead of us?" After saying that, Zhang Menglong patted the shoulder of the person in front of them.


    "Miss, would you sell your spot for 100,000 yuan?"


    "Sell! Of course, I''ll sell!" The girl in front had heard their conversation when Zhang Menglong was making the payment. She had been hoping that the same sucker would spend another 100,000 yuan to buy her ce.


    To her surprise, her wish suddenly came true.


    Money for spot, the transaction was quick and easy. In no time at all, Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao had moved up another ce in the queue.


    "Hello, sir..."


    "Handsome, short on cash?"


    "Lady, how about a deal?"


    "Brother, let me tell your fortune¡ªI foresee ack of money..."


    ...


    With money paving the way, Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao advanced smoothly forward. Even people ahead in line had heard the news and had their payment codes ready for him to approach.


    Some even regretted not bringing their boyfriends or girlfriends, or other friends and rtives. If they had ten people queueing here, they could have made enough for a down payment on a house.


    "This guy must have a problem in his head, right? This is probably going to cost him tens of millions!"


    "Yeah, he could just go to the very front and buy someone''s number for 100,000 yuan. Any normal person would likely agree to that, right?"


    "Exactly, could this guy be showing off just because he has too much money?"


    "Brother, do you feel like this person looks really familiar?"


    "You feel that too? I do as well!"


    Lu Yiyao followed behind Zhang Menglong with a face full of shock. This wasn''t how one was supposed to y the game, yet Zhang Menglong''s antics outshone even his own chattering mouth.


    "Hey, brother, don''t waste money buying them one by one. How about I sell you me and my girlfriend''s queue slot for half a million dors?" Finally, someone in front couldn''t hold back anymore, "Look, there are just over a dozen people between you and us. You''d have to spend over a million dors to reach my spot. What a loss!"


    "That won''t do, I''m a person of quality," Zhang Menglong said, "I can''t let those queued behind you suffer, can I?"


    "If I give you our slot directly and we move to your spot, wouldn''t that solve the issue?" A difference of a dozen people meant, at most, a couple more hours of waiting. For half a million dors in one hour, they''d dly take the deal a hundred times over!


    "That works, then!" Zhang Menglong nodded, as this wouldn''t negatively affect anyone else.


    "Damn! Are you sick in the head?"


    "Right, there are so many people behind us too!"


    The dozen people stuck between them immediately showed displeasure.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Indeed, ording to this exchange method, they would remain in their original positions without any loss, but Zhang Menglong would have effectively skipped them, preventing them from making that money.


    "Brother, our spots are even further ahead than his, we''ll sell for 450,000!" The people in front also got anxious, fearing that someone at the very front might suddenly realize they could do the same. Your journey continues on empire


    "Damn, stealing our business? Brother, I''ll take just 400,000!"


    "Handsome, I''ll do it for 300,000!"


    "These damn dogs, can''t we all just make a hundred thousand each and be happy? Isn''t that good enough?" The people behind started grinding their teeth in frustration, but what could they do? Their spots weren''t as advantageous, leaving them without room topete.


    As for those behind Zhang Menglong, they were simply relieved. Had the others thought of this earlier, they wouldn''t have earned a single cent.


    "Damn it, is it easy for me to spend money?" Zhang Menglong originally nned to spend over ten million, but at this rate, a few million would suffice.


    So far, he hadpleted less than 20% of his 100-billion-dor task. Last time, after acquiring Weibo, that amount of money hadn''t even been counted towards his expenses, leaving Zhang Menglong frustrated for a long time.


    Showed off, money spent, and yet it doesn''t count?


    "Enough shouting!" Just then, the two people at the very front finally heard themotion behind them. A look of smug satisfaction spread across their faces, as they held the most advantageous position in thepetition.


    "Brother, for just half a million, we''ll sell you two spots right now, and in no more than 10 minutes it will be the next group''s turn to enter.


    "No need," Zhang Menglong waved his hand.


    "You don''t want to move forward anymore?" The young man at the front asked in astonishment.


    "No, of course I want to keep moving forward; I just think my method is quite good."


    "Ten thousand dors a person, and there are still forty or fifty people. You''ll have to spend a few million more!" That guy even doubted if Zhang Menglong had a problem with his brain. Why would anyone spend ten times more money on something that could be settled for just a few hundred thousand? Wasn''t that idiotic?


    "Money''s not the issue," Zhang Menglong said impassively, "my main goal is just to make everyone happy."

 Chapter 68 Our Family Likes to Do Charity Work

    ```


    Stay connected with empire


    "What a fierce reason, but I like it!"


    "This guy is really loaded."


    Even though only his eyes were showing, my intuition tells me he must be a handsome guy!"


    "You think his transfer gesture is handsome, right?"


    "Hahaha!"


    "Everyone, just show your QR codes for payment, I''m in a hurry," Zhang Menglong saw that the staff at the entrance were starting to arrange for the next group to enter.


    Upon hearing Zhang Menglong''s words, everyone quickly took out their phones and stood in a row waiting for him toe forward.


    "Fine, a hundred thousand it is. It''s better than nothing!" Although the person at the front of the line was somewhat unwilling, there was nothing he could do. The other party simply didn''t care how much they spent; what mattered to them was whether they were happy or not.


    "Handsome guy, it''s my turn," the sleazy-looking man at the front extended his phone towards Zhang Menglong.


    "It''s okay, this spot is fine, no need to move forward," Zhang Menglong put away his phone, not intending to transfer any more money, "I just heard someone say that each group can enter 5 people at a time, so I only need to be in the first five. There''s no need to spend money that serves no purpose."


    "You... are you ying me?" the sleazy man suddenly became a bit rageful.


    "ying you?" Zhang Menglong was speechless, "Why would I y you? Who are you, anyway, to be worthy?"


    Getting scolded for no reason, Zhang Menglong also felt quite frustrated, as if he owed the guy money. Being willing to spend a certain amount of money was one thing, but needing to spend it was another.


    As long as the spending was worth it, Zhang Menglong wouldn''t mind. After all, money was just a number to him. But if there was no difference whether the money was spent or not, why bother?


    "Ridiculous!" Zhang Menglong muttered, then walked into the art exhibition venue with Lu Yiyao, following the staff''s directions.


    "I remember now, this person seems to be Zhang Menglong!" At that moment, someone in the queue finally recognized his identity.


    "Damn, I thought so. This attitude of spending money without batting an eye, it''s him."


    "Seeing him in person, my God, just like the legend, he''s like a money-splurging kid!"


    ...


    After presenting their IDs and having their temperatures checked, Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao smoothly entered the venue. It was just as crowded as they imagined, almostparable to thentern festivals from more than a decade ago.


    This exhibition boasted nearly a thousand famous paintings from around the world. Painters whose names one could find in art textbooks were almost all represented at this event with their works.


    "Strange, why are you interested in art pieces?" To tell the truth, Zhang Menglong had some musical talent, but when it came to painting, he was like a ck hole. The paintings he produced couldn''t even be described with the term ''abstract''.


    "Art is interconnected. I like music, so I''m also interested in art."


    "Yeah, right. You''re probably just interested in me and used seeing an art exhibition as an excuse to ask me out, didn''t you?"


    Lu Yiyao had long been ustomed to Zhang Menglong''s asional off-script antics. She rolled her eyes at him and then focused her attention on the world-famous paintings.


    "This area features works from the Renaissance period, which hold great significance in both their artistic and historical value. I didn''t expect there to be so many; the organizers really have some clout!" Lu Yiyao was full of praise for these paintings.


    ```


    "What historical significance could a painting possibly have?" For most people, these world-famous paintings are precious works of art, the realm they pursue their entire lives, and even their faith.


    But for Zhang Menglong, the mural in the entrance hall of his home is a world-famous painting, the wall opposite the toilet in his bathroom is a world-famous painting, and the hanging wall art on his bedside table is a world-famous painting. To him, these things are just like newspapers and magazines to ordinary people.


    His family''s legacy spans 5,000 years. For his elders, that history was just yesterday''s news, and those world-famous paintings might have simply been something they casually bought because they took a liking to some impoverished artist''s decent work.


    As time passed and art fermented, those paintings once deemed unworthy of even the trash bin transformed into universally acimed masterpieces.


    Of course, this kind of feeling is iprehensible to outsiders.


    "Ah, you don''t understand," Lu Yiyao said, "This art exhibition is practically a segment of modern and contemporary painting history!"


    "But it seems to me that it''s pretty much like my family''s library, no, maybe not even up to the standard of my family''s library."


    "Library?" Lu Yiyao didn''t grasp what Zhang Menglong meant. What would it take to build a library in one''s home?


    "Yes, my ancestors and elders have always liked to collect these things." Zhang Menglong looked up at the ceiling, reminiscing, "Take Picasso''s artworks for instance, there''s about forty thousand of them in existence, right?"


    "Probably around 37,000." Lu Yiyao gave a more precise figure.


    "Actually, the number is far beyond that," Zhang Menglong said, "He actually created over eighty thousand paintings in his lifetime, a third of which were produced in hisst ten years."


    "That''s impossible. ording to what you''re saying, where did the other forty thousand plus pieces go? Were they destroyed?"


    "They''re piled up in my library!" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes, "You have no idea how much space these things take up. And those paintings... they all look like gibberish, hey, don''t look at me like that, I really don''t understand his art..."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Over forty thousand..." Although she hadn''t seen them with her own eyes, based on her knowledge of Zhang Menglong so far, what he said could very well be true.


    It is said that Picasso''s paintings, up until now, fetched at least 1.5 million US Dors each at auctions, and the priciest one, "The Women of Algiers," sold for a staggering 179 million US Dors.


    The average value of Picasso''s paintings exceeded ten million US Dors each, so wouldn''t those forty thousand plus paintings be worth several hundred billion US Dors?


    Thinking of this figure, Lu Yiyao didn''t know how to continue the conversation.


    "Your family couldn''t only have Picasso''s paintings, right?" Lu Yiyao asked as if possessed.


    "Of course not, we have works from Michngelo, Paul C¨¦zanne, Da Vinci, you name it. Maybe not as many, but we have them," Zhang Menglong continued.


    "Oh right, and Van Gogh''s paintings. He wasn''t famous during his lifetime, so one of my ancestors bought a lot of them at a low price, over 1,200 in total, which cost just a few hundred thousand US Dors ording to today''s purchasing power.


    "A few hundred thousand for over 1,200 Van Gogh paintings?" Lu Yiyao''s expression froze. That would be an increase of tens of millions of times in value now, wouldn''t it?


    Now she understood why Zhang Menglong was so wealthy. For a family with such a long legacy, it would be difficult not to have money!


    "Right, in my bedroom there''s also a plus version of Van Gogh''s ''Starry Sky,'' about five meters by three meters in size. My ancestor back then probably spent what would be 80 US Dors today. Van Gogh was nearly starving to death. Actually, my ancestor didn''t want his paintings, but he felt so sorry for the poor artist, he spent the money just to help him out."


    "So by that ount, your ancestor was actually engaging in charity?"


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong sighed, "It''s a family tradition. Our family likes doing charity. When travelling in Europe in the old times, they would often help some destitute musicians and painters. Those things, it would''ve been disrespectful to throw them away, so they had no choice but to stack them all up somewhere. Who knew they''d be so valuable now."


    "Are you even speaking humannguage?" Listening to Zhang Menglong''s tone, she felt like he was making it seem as if he was very aggrieved. This wasn''t charity, this was clearly an investment! And not just any investment, but one with ten thousand percent, or even a million percent return!

 Chapter 69 I, Zhang, bought them all.

    "Oh? All these paintings even have price tags?" Suddenly, Zhang Menglong noticed that some of the works had a tag underneath, which not only introduced the painting and the artist but even listed a price, with a long string of zeros at the end.


    "I heard that many paintings at this exhibition are for sale," Lu Yiyao said, "not all the works are from formal organizations or museums, but some are from private collectors who want to use this opportunity to sell their works for a good price."


    "That sounds pretty good," Wang Ling had warned Zhang Menglong before they arrived not to do anything foolish, but Zhang Menglong had already tossed his words to the back of his mind. As long as he wasn''t stealing or robbing, everything was legal, so why not?


    Although Zhang Menglong couldn''t appreciate art, these works were priced in the millions and even billions of US Dors. Perhaps he couldplete a significant part of the $100 billion task today!


    "Wait, you''re not nning to buy all these paintings, are you?" Seeing the expression on Zhang Menglong''s face, Lu Yiyao suddenly realized what he was about to do.


    "I just remembered, the rooms of my nannies, drivers, and chefs seem to be missing some wall paintings, not to mention theirmunal bathroomsck something as well."


    "Zhang Menglong, I think you''re insane!" Lu Yiyao said seriously, watching him. If he decorated his own room thatvishly, so be it, and even mming up the bathroom could be tolerable, right?


    But to hang world-famous paintings in the bathrooms and rooms of household staff? Wasn''t that like having hemorrhoids in his brain? Could he really not stand not spending money?


    "That''s right, I am sick, but it''s not a mental illness!"


    "Then what is it?"


    "Love-sickness!" Zhang Menglong said slickly.


    "Hmph, tui!"


    ...


    Zhang Menglong did not suppress his voice; in this incredibly crowded venue, where people were just inches away from each other, Zhang Menglong could even smell the body odor of a fat woman in front of him, so naturally, people around could hear what he was saying.


    This young man actually wants to buy all the paintings here?


    Keep in mind, the threshold for this art exhibition was extremely high. Those messy paintings couldn''t catch the eyes of the organizers, and this wasn''t an auction¡ªthere was no price jacking, so all the paintings were at a fixed price.


    The cheapest one was valued at over $500,000! Could a young man in his twenties afford that?


    "These young people these days don''t have much skill, but they do have big mouths," the smelly fat woman and a greasy man beside her said mockingly.


    "Hehehe, just a kid, trying to save some face in front of a girl, understandable."


    "True, just two poor students. If this exhibition weren''t free, I bet they couldn''t even afford the tickets."


    Zhang Menglong''s ears twitched; at such close range, and as these two were not whispering, how could he not hear their undisguised mockery?


    "Snap!" With a crisp sound, Zhang Menglong''s car keys suddenly dropped to the floor, the Koenigsegg logo gleaming under the light, catching the eyes of some sharp-eyed individuals.


    If it had been before,pared to world-renowned sports cars like Lamborghini and Ferrari, Koenigsegg might not have been known by everyone, but after Zhang Menglong''s incident, Koenigsegg''s fame had increased significantly.


    "Holy crap! A Koenigsegg car key?"


    "What? Koenigsegg?"


    "For real?"


    In an instant, several gazes were drawn over.


    Zhang Menglong nced at Lu Yiyao and from her gaze, Zhang Menglong saw her seemingly asking him, "Did you do that on purpose?"


    "I''m saying this was really an ident, do you believe me?" Zhang Menglong quickly bent down to pick up the car keys and put them into his pocket.


    "I''d believe you when pigs fly!" Lu Yiyao gave him a huge eye roll.


    Discover hidden stories at empire


    Although it was only a brief moment, whispers had already started circting around them.


    "Was that really car keys? Couldn''t it be a lighter?"


    "Hahaha, definitely a lighter, I just heard that guy bragging that his family owns thousands of Picasso''s paintings."


    "Don''t joke, he really talked big hahaha, he just said he''d buy all the paintings for sale at this exhibition, maybe he really is some big hidden boss."


    "Do you think everyone is Zhang Menglong? Hahahaha, if it were him, maybe he could really do it."


    Zhang Menglong and Lu Yiyao were wearing masks and clothespletely different from two days ago, making them unrecognizable by their eyes and hairstyles alone to those unfamiliar with them.


    Moreover, is someone like Zhang Menglong the kind of person you just stumble upon? With all his wealth, would he really be squeezed among these people at an art exhibition?


    "Found him! Right here!" Just when everyone had pegged Zhang Menglong as a show-off loser only in front of girls, amotion suddenly erupted a few meters away.


    "Yes! It''s him! He was just wearing those clothes!"


    "I was just so close to him, I need a selfie with him!"


    "Damn, seeing a celebrity in the flesh, do you think if I try to scam him, he might justpensate me a billion in emotional damages like Principal Wang did?"


    "Idiot, do you not know who Zhang Menglong is? His friend''s information popped up online, he almost bought Tengxun Baidu, if you try to scam him, you might end up being dumped in the Huangpu River to feed the fish!"


    "Damn, am I that fierce?" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes, "Ah, I didn''t expect my disguise to be so good yet still get recognized."


    I just wanted to enjoy the exhibit and flirt with Lu Yiyao, yet ended up being recognized by a bunch of fans.


    "You were so noticeable earlier, I thought you wanted to be recognized!"


    "Hahaha, oh well, since I''ve been recognized, it''s no skin off my back, right?"


    Zhang Menglong''s gaze suddenly turned toward the fatdy and the greasy middle-aged man next to her, "By the way, you two, what were you just saying to me? I didn''t quite catch it."


    "I..." Even though they''re not from the same generation, this man was a small private enterprise boss. With such a major event happening yesterday, how could he have not heard about it?


    Zhang Menglong, a man who could casually buy social media tforms and make big factories bow down publicly, how could he possibly provoke such a person?


    "Hehehe, I was just saying Mr. Zhang really has good taste, not only achieving so much at such a young age but also having an appreciation for art, trulymendable." The greasy man immediately spewed ingratiating ttery.


    "So boring," For Zhang Menglong, such people were just opportunistic and unworthy of his interest, no need to bother with them.


    "Look, now what? You''re surrounded by so many people, I want to see how you get out of this!" Lu Yiyao said with augh.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Why panic? As long as I''m not embarrassed, the embarrassed ones are them," Zhang Menglong cleared his throat, "Excuse me, does anyone know where the organizer''s contact person is? As for these paintings for sale, I, Zhang Menglong, am buying them all today."

 Chapter 70 He is not shocked; he is delighted

    ```


    "Wow!" As soon as the words were out, a murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd.


    "It''s starting, he''s starting again!"


    "Did I hear that right? Did he say he''s buying them all?"


    "I heard that today''s art exhibition features over 12,000 works, and private collectors own more than a third of them, all of which are for sale."


    "Doesn''t that mean at least 4,000 paintings are up for sale this time?"


    "Oh my, doesn''t that mean if each is ten thousand, it would be 40 million dors?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Hehehe, at this level of art exhibition, do you think these paintings would be that cheap? I''ve been walking around here for over half an hour, and the cheapest piece I saw is 500,000 US dors! The priciest one, priced at 120 million US dors, doesn''t have the concept of Huaxia currency in this exhibition!"


    "Hiss!"


    Upon hearing this, people around couldn''t help but feel a twinge in their mrs, as if pondering, even if the average price was 5 million US dors, those 4,000 paintings would amount to 20 billion US dors. Wouldn''t this money be better spent on eating spare ribs, ying games, startingpanies, buying stocks, or even getting some pampering? Isn''t that more appealing?


    "Such extravagance, truly inhumane extravagance!"


    "Hey, Zhang Menglong, are you serious?" Lu Yiyao felt a chill go down her spine when she heard the conversation around her. She was aware of Zhang Menglong''s acquisition of Weibo and its staggering 10 billion US dor valuation.


    But not having experienced these events herself, she couldn''t quite grasp what they truly felt like¡ªuntil now, when she was really getting a sense of it.


    "What''s true or not true about it, a few thousand paintings, that''s all. I''ll make that money back in one day," Zhang Menglong said, unconcerned.


    Although his words seemed nonchnt, his heart was bursting with joy. He wished there were even more, more prestigious paintings; he wouldn''t hesitate to buy even the "Mona Lisa" if it were for sale. It wasn''t spending money that he feared, but not being able to spend it!


    "But what''s the use of buying so many paintings if you don''t know how to appreciate them?" Lu Yiyao said, having gathered from their earlier conversation that Zhang Menglong was only interested in the value of the paintings and knew nothing else about them.


    Put bluntly, if he were to buy them and just pile them up at home to collect dust, that would be the biggest waste of these artworks!


    "No worries, I''ll just build a museum at our Jiangnan University of Science and Technology. I can exhibit all the paintings in my home as well as these, free of charge for everyone. That way, people cane and see them whenever they wish without having to queue up and get exhausted in the sun."


    Upon reflection, not only would this be making good use of the paintings, but it would also elevate the prestige of Jiangnan University of Science and Technology by a notch. Why wouldn''t he do that?


    A monstrous sum of funding for scientific research, plus a museum, and it''s not unlikely that in a matter of years, Jiangnan University will be the second-ranked school in Jiangnan City, after Jiangnan University itself.


    And as for catching up with Jiangnan University, that isn''t impossible either¡ªjust spend the money to lure all those professors and academicians over!


    "Building a museum..." Lu Yiyao was speechless. "Why do I feel like you''re not living life, but ying in ''Minecraft''?"


    "Your analogy is surprisingly apt!" Zhang Menglong reflected. It really wasn''t much different; as long as he wished, the world could operate ording to his will.


    "Here theye, the organizers are here!" At that moment, the crowd parted to make way, and a middle-aged man who''d lost about half of his hair approached.


    "May I ask which gentleman wished to purchase paintings?" the European man said.


    "That would be me," Zhang Menglong stepped forward cheerfully, "I hear many of the paintings at this event are for sale?"


    "Yes, sir," the European man bowed to Zhang Menglong. Although he was a person in charge, he was still just an employee.


    ```


    To tell the truth, this art exhibition was not merely for disy; since there was almost no ie from the ticket sales, how could the capitalist harvesters possibly let people freeload?


    The main purpose of this exhibition was to sell those artworks. And it wasn''t just the ones with price tags¡ª even world-famous paintings were up for grabs if they weren''t national treasures and the price was right. The organizations that owned the collections were willing to consider selling.


    So, leaving aside the cost, the prices of these artworks were actually marked up significantly from the collectors'' original purchase price.


    "Let me introduce myself," said the European in broken Huaxia, "My name is Bruce, and I''m the main person in charge of this world tour exhibition."


    "If I want to buy a painting, can you make the decision?"


    "Of course, respected sir. Which piece are you interested in?" Bruce asked respectfully.


    Although Zhang Menglong looked quite young, his assistant had told him that this young man seemed to be quite famous in Huaxia, a very wealthy second-generation rich kid.


    To Bruce, as long as you had money, you were a client, you were a friend.


    "All of them!"


    "Ah?" Bruce was taken aback, "Excuse me, sir, I might have misheard you. Could you please repeat which one you''d like to purchase?"


    "No, Mr. Bruce, you heard correctly. I said I''ll buy all the paintings here that are for sale!"


    "Oh God, you must be joking!" Huaxia was already the tenth stop on this tour. In the previous countries, some of the pieces had already been bought by various tycoons.


    Of course, there were many art-loving magnates who had spent a fortune to purchase several paintings, even up to a dozen or more, but nobody had ever announced an intention to buy all the works at once.


    "Mr. Bruce, I am not joking, I am serious," said Zhang Menglong solemnly.


    "Sir, we have 4,320 pieces left for sale in our exhibition, some of which are valued at over a hundred million each. The total worth is close to 50 billion US Dors!"


    "50 billion US Dors?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes widened in astonishment.


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang," seeing Zhang Menglong''s shocked expression, Bruce knew he might be having second thoughts.


    "I thought people from Huaxia were really that wealthy. It seems I have overestimated the country," Bruce thought to himself.


    But on second thought, even the world''s wealthiest individual had assets worth just over 100 billion US Dors, and most of that was in stocks, bonds, and fixed assets. There probably wasn''t anyone in the world who could casually fork over 50 billion US Dors.


    "Hahaha, great! Fantastic!" Just as Bruce''s thoughts were racing, Zhang Menglong suddenly beganughing hysterically, "Hahaha, I thought these paintings could be had for just 20 billion US Dors, and here I can spend more than double that. This trip wasn''t in vain after all!"


    "Ah?" Seeing Zhang Menglong''s reaction, everyone wore a strange expression, and some even started to twitch at the corners of their mouths.


    "What the heck? What kind of weird thought process is this?"


    "What''s the matter, he''s upset because he''s spending less money?"


    "The look on his face just now, I thought he was scared off by the high price!"


    "Pfft, is Mr. Zhang someone who gets scared off that easily? He''s the man who bought Weibo in half a day!"


    "That''s terrifying, he wasn''t shocked, he was thrilled!"

 Chapter 71 These Are All Basic Operations

    "Mr. Zhang, are you sure? If you really want to buy those paintings, I''ll arrange for someone to handle it immediately!" Bruce''s tone betrayed a trace of excitement.


    He had expected to sell five or six hundred of the more than four thousand paintings, and he hadn''t even dared to hope for a thousand, but Zhang Menglong was ready to buy them all at once. Was this not the God of Wealth?


    "Go ahead and arrange it," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Ok, ok, I''ll get on it right now!" Bruce''s face lit up with a smile.


    "Damn, did he really buy them?"


    "Awesome, I didn''t hear wrong, did I? It''s close to fifty billion, right?"


    "In US dors, brother, my head is buzzing right now."


    "Fifty billion US dors, and in cash? Isn''t he richer than the world''s richest person?"


    "On this year''s Forbes list, isn''t the richest person still the CEO of Amazon? How much is his personal fortune? 150 billion US dors?"


    "The 150 billion US dors are mostly water, nearly half of it is fixed assets and shares. Logically, it would be incredible just to have a few tens of billions in cash."


    "Even if those 150 billion US dors were all cash, put it bluntly, would you spend a third of your total assets on a bunch of pretty but useless paintings?"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "If you had a million, would you spend 300,000 on a painting?"


    "Definitely not!"


    "So, Zhang Menglong''s assets must be more than 1,500 million. In fact, this might just be his liquid assets!"


    "Hiss!"


    The people around analyzed and immediately came to an incredibly terrifying conclusion.


    It was highly probable that this young man who had never appeared in the public eye before was the real world''s richest person!


    "Wait a minute!" Zhang Menglong suddenly called out to Bruce.


    "Mr. Zhang, is there anything else I can do for you?" Bruce''s heart skipped a beat. Could Zhang Menglong be having second thoughts? It was hard enough to reach the peak of his life, could it alle crashing down so quickly?


    "I wanted to ask you, are other paintings for sale?" Zhang Menglong pointed distantly at the "Mona Lisa".


    "Mr... Mr. Zhang, do you want to buy that painting?" Not just Bruce, everyone around had shock written all over their faces.


    The "Mona Lisa" was more than just a painting. It represented something far beyond its artistic value, having be an emblematic presence while being housed in the Louvre.


    The organizers had gone to great lengths to bring it out of the Louvre, and the extravagant manpower deployed was primarily for its protection. Describing it as a priceless treasure was no exaggeration.


    A hundred years ago, its auction price had already reached 3 billion US dors. A hundred yearster, even if the Louvre were willing to sell it, there would probably be very few who would dare to inquire about the price, right?


    "Yeah, I always feel that one wall in my living room is a bit empty, and it seems the size is just perfect."


    "Damn! The king of swagger, swagger beyond limits! I admit defeat."


    "Da Vinci leaves cursing and swearing in the middle of the night."


    "Damn, world-famous paintings used as home decor, I''m impressed."


    "Maybe this is just the world of the wealthy, I just don''t understand it."


    "Confused, are you? Working-ss people?"


    ...


    "s!" Zhang Menglong shook his head. The "Mona Lisa" was indeed precious, but it was not unique. In his home library, there were quite a few paintings worth no less than the "Mona Lisa".


    "Sorry, Mr. Zhang, this painting really can''t be sold," Bruce forced a pained smile. This was a national treasure, as well as the biggest draw of the exhibition. If it got sold, the number of visitors to the exhibition would be cut in half at least!


    Not only that, such a national treasure ending up in another country would be a disgrace to their own nation. No one wants to see their country''s treasures disyed in museums of other countries.


    Moreover, if Zhang Menglong were to buy this painting, the best-case scenario would be its cement in a Huaxia museum. He didn''t doubt for a second that this piece could actually end up on the wall of Zhang Menglong''s house, or even in his bathroom or toilet!


    "What a pity," Zhang Menglong sighed. If this painting could be sold, he could easily rake in a few hundred billion US dors, right? Perhaps this trip to Gusu would evenplete that sted mission, something he quite looked forward to with regards to that mysterious academy.


    ...


    "Mr. Zhang, we havepleted our calctions," before long, Bruce came jogging over to Zhang Menglong. They had tagged every frame in this batch of paintings and created an intelligent management system to calcte the price of the artworks avable for sale, with just a simple tap.


    "How much?"


    "Mr. Zhang, it''s a total of 49.226 billion US dors. I''ve already consulted with our boss, and he''s willing to round it down to 49 billion US dors for you," Bruce said with a wide smile stered on his face.


    With this 49.226 billion US dors, they could make so much money¡ªit was clear to see just how much leeway was involved when more than 2 billion US dors could be shaved off like mere change.


    "Hisss! 49 billion US dors! Goodness gracious!"


    "Dude, can you spare me that change?"


    "Why do I suddenly have this strange feeling that I''ve seen this scene somewhere before?"


    "Bro, I think I feel the same way."


    "Are we on high alert?"


    Someone, somehow, had stealthily started a live broadcast online, simultaneously streaming this scene to the web. Since it was just a small website, the number ofizens flocking there almost crashed their servers due to overwhelming traffic.


    "I don''t need it!"


    "Huh?" Bruce was stunned for a moment, thinking he might have misheard, "Mr. Zhang, are you unsatisfied with the price? Give me a little more time, I will negotiate for you, we might be able to make it cheaper!"


    "No, what I mean is, I don''t want a discount. I''ve never had the habit of getting discounts when I buy things. Please, let''s stick to the original price, or else I won''t buy it, or I could even pay more!"


    "Ha ha ha! Does Mr. Zhang even need a discount?"


    "Looks like the high alert warning was right, it''s starting again! I''ve seen this scene at Wanda!"


    "I was there at that time!"


    The chat in the live stream suddenly dominated the entire screen, and for some reason, everyone seemed unsurprised by Zhang Menglong''s refusal of the discount. Rather, it seemed like it was the expected attitude all along.


    "There, I''ve transferred the money to your ount," Zhang Menglong checked his phone, Hong Yi informed him everything had been handled.


    "50 billion?" Bruce''s hands trembled slightly as he saw the feedback from thepany''s headquarters.


    "Don''t be nervous, I like to round up. Let''s leave it at that!"


    "Mr. Zhang... You really have opened my eyes!" Bruce had never before seen someone spend money like this. Even though he had met quite a few wealthy tycoons along the way,pared to Zhang Menglong, they were leagues apart.


    "Ha ha ha, just look at the baffled face of that foreigner."


    "Neers, don''t be rmed. Mr. Zhang''s style has always been wild, the kind who rounds up on a whim. Last time it was a couple million, now he''s gone straight to a few billion US dors."


    "Baldy, got scared, huh? This is just the basics!"


    "Everybody stand up!"


    ...

 Chapter 72 Did I say that this matter was over just like that?

    "Whoo-whoo-whoo, I''m so moved, it''s like a tribute to our nation''s grandeur!"


    "See that? The bald guy was nearly scared witless!"


    "Actually, Zhang doesn''t have much to him, he''s just one of Huaxia''s inte celebrities."


    "Zhang is mighty!"


    For some reason, seeing the surprised expressions on the foreigners'' faces made everyone feel an inexplicable sense of satisfaction, especially the angry youth, who seemed to have reached some sort of peak.


    "Mr. Zhang, do these paintings need us to deliver them somewhere for you?" Having witnessed Zhang Menglong''s financial power, Bruce became even more respectful.


    "Someone will contact youter; just deliver them to the address they give you."


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, I understand," although Bruce hadn''t left any contact information with Zhang Menglong, nor had he told Zhang Menglong his boss''s ount details, the money had been transferred in a matter of minutes, indicating that his information resources were quite astonishing.


    Bruce was a smart man; he knew that asking certain questions was pointless and simply shut his mouth.


    ...


    "Sorry, we rushed here from Yanjing just to attend this exhibition. Could you let us stay a bit longer?"


    "Yes, sir, look at our professor; he''s quite old. Please make an exception for us!"


    "No, our exhibition has rules. Each visitor is not allowed to stay for more than two hours. If everyone were like you, wouldn''t that lead toplete chaos?"


    "Friend, we''ll just stay half an hour more at most; it won''t affect others. Please let us stay a little longer!"


    "I said no means no! Aren''t you Huaxia people known for your manners? If you are a people of propriety, you should understand the rules!"


    "Get moving now, or we will have to forcibly remove you!"


    "Please, let us stay a little longer; I am a professor from the Painting Department of Yanjing Art University. Here''s my ID. I''vee here carrying a lofty artistic faith¡ªplease allow us to admire these works a bit more!"


    "Why are you so relentless, old man? Are all you Huaxia people this thick-skinned?"


    "Hey, how can you push someone like that!"


    At that moment, a dispute could be heard not far away.


    It involved several Huaxia people and a European, two young people, a man and a woman, assisting an elderly man who was at least in his eighties, while the European was a robust man in his thirties.


    Zhang Menglong didn''t catch anything else, but he did hear the European''s insultingnguage. Although it was in English, Zhang Menglong had at least passed Level Six; his English was up to scratch.


    "What''s going on?" Zhang Menglong''s expression darkened instantly.


    Everyone around felt a drop in pressure at that moment, noticing the grimness on Zhang Menglong''s face.


    "This is Huaxia''s territory; you have no right to expel us on our own soil!"


    "Miss, this venue has already been rented by us. During this week, the right to use this ce belongs to us. We set the rules and you must follow!"


    "Damn it! I can''t stand this!"


    "Dammit, these old Russians are so arrogant on Huaxia soil?"


    "Exactly, people have said that an old professor over 80 years old made the long trip here. Would it kill them to make a small exception?"


    The behavior of that staff member immediately sparked public outrage. Although the main organizers of the exhibition were Europeans, the majority of the guests were from Huaxia. How could they just stand by and watch someone being bullied like this?


    "Security!" However, that European man did not show any fear in the face of such pressure. It''s known that their security forces are very strong, and soon a group of burly Caucasian security guards arrived.


    The people who were just seeking justice for the old man suddenly became too scared to speak upon seeing this show of force.


    "Hmph! A bunch of cowards!" The staff member scoffed, "I thought you Huaxia people were really united. Turns out you''re just a bunch of scaredy-cats!"


    "Since you don''t have the guts, then shut your mouths. If you want to see the exhibition, follow our rules, or we''ll have to ask you to leave as well!"


    "Who do you want to ask to leave?" Just as the European man was strutting about, a young man walked up to him.


    "rk!" Bruce immediately came over. Zhang Menglong had just spent 500 billion to purchase all of their artworks for sale, and he absolutely couldn''t afford to let Zhang Menglong have any dissatisfaction. No one would know the kind of power this young man had behind him.


    "Mr. Bruce, is this how you Europeans conduct business?" Zhang Menglong asked with a piercing look at Bruce!


    "Damn! So arrogant?"


    "F*ck! Kicking out Huaxia people on Huaxia''s own soil? I can''t stand this!"


    "It makes me want to hit someone!"


    "Get out, roll out of Huaxia!"


    "I heard him just now saying we Huaxia people are cowards!"


    "President Zhang, a petition signed by thousands, begging you to take him down!"


    No one expected that this live broadcast, originally just to showcase arge-scale scene of Zhang Menglong showing off, would turn into such an incident.


    Even though Huaxia''s international status had skyrocketed worldwide in recent years, especially during the pandemic and the contributions made, many of the world''s major organizations had expressed respect for Huaxia.


    However, in many countries, some attitudes remain deeply ingrained, such as discrimination, which is an inevitable phenomenon.


    "rk, shut up!!" said Bruce.


    "Bruce, what''s this? You''re yelling at me for a Huaxia person?"


    "You don''t know, Mr. Zhang here is our guest, he just bought the artworks on sale at our exhibition!"


    "This young man is actually so wealthy?" A flicker of surprise crossed rk''s eyes. The cheapest artwork at the exhibition was worth several hundreds of thousands of US dors. This Zhang Menglong seemed to be only in his twenties; if he wasn''t extraordinarily capable, then it must be that his family was wealthy.


    "At least until he leaves this ce, don''t do anything that might offend him. If this deal goes south, you won''t be able to escape responsibility!" Bruce whispered only loud enough for the two of them to hear.


    "F*ck, go to hell! Although unwilling, rk really didn''t dare to mess up this time. He wasn''t afraid of Huaxia people, but he was afraid of their boss. If the boss found out he had screwed up a deal, he could probably kiss his year''s bonus goodbye.


    "Fine, I''ll give him this face!" rk smiled. "Alright, you can continue to watch. You should feel lucky, as Huaxia people, you still have the chance to see the most dazzling European works!"


    "You!" The old man''s face turned red with rage, as if he was holding a breath of anger in his chest, "Our Huaxia culture is not inferior to yours!"


    "Oh? Is that so?" rk smiled, but his smile was filled with mockery, "If you think so, then so be it!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Wait a minute!" Just as rk was about to leave, Zhang Menglong suddenly extended a hand in front of him, "Did I say this matter is over?"

 Chapter 73 Pack Up and Get Ready to Leave

    "Huaxia people, I''ve already given you enough face, don''t think just because you''ve got some money you can do whatever you want!"


    "Huh!" Zhang Menglongughed, "Do whatever I want? Learned a few Huaxia idioms and think you''ve got a bit of cultural depth? It''s shameful to see things created by our ancestors used by you so nonsensically!"


    "What exactly are you trying to say?"


    "I''m asking you, where is this?"


    "Gusu City."


    "Let me tell you, this is Huaxia, and in Huaxia, no matter where you''re from, you''d best leave your so-called arrogance and discrimination at the door. Huaxia is and of etiquette; we wee friends, but we won''t indulge those who don''t know how to appreciate it!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Young man, don''t ask for trouble. We were just shamelessly hoping to look a little longer, and he was just maintaining order," the old man said, immediately trying to mediate as he saw Zhang Menglong and rk arguing.


    "Elder, this is a different matter!" Zhang Menglong said, "And it''s not me causing trouble, he''s the one doing it!"


    Zhang Menglong then tried to soothe the elder, "I can understand him asking you to leave ording to the rules, but he just said we Huaxia people have thick skins, said our Huaxia culture is inferior to their Europe. That''s a big deal!"


    The Huaxia people in the venue mostly knew a bit of English and had almost all heard what rk had said just now, the word of mouth quickly stirred up indignant feelings.


    But theizens in the live streaming room were totally confused. They were wondering, why does Zhang Menglong seem to pick fights wherever he goes? Some even followed the trend and said Zhang Menglong was causing trouble everywhere just because he had money.


    Now the truth was out, and from what Zhang Menglong had said, it wasn''t hard to discern the cause of the conflict. And for those keyboard warriors, it was one thing for their own people to criticize each other, but quite another to be berated by foreigners. Did they no longer care about their own mother?


    "Where are those who just said that Boss Zhang was always asking for trouble? Stand up! Apologize!"


    "Boss Zhang is mighty! We can''t let them be too arrogant!"


    "This time I support you, knock them down!"


    "Boss Zhang, if you can take care of them this time, I''ll be your loyal fan forever!"


    "Daring to put on airs in Huaxia, what are they, still thinking this is Huaxia from decades ago?"


    ...


    "Huaxia person, you look like you want to fight, eh? With that scrawny monkey appearance, can you even haha?" rk had torn off the facade, scoffing without restrain.


    "rk, what are you doing, do you realize Mr. Zhang is our big client?"


    "Bruce, don''t think you can talk to me this way just because you''re my superior!" rk''s face twisted in rage at Bruce''s words, "It''s just a Huaxia man, right? What are you afraid of? There are plenty of people who would buy the paintings at our exhibition, and if the deal falls through, so be it. I have many friends in other Asian countries who would be willing to buy these paintings!"


    "Idiot! Do you think he''s only buying one painting?" Bruce finally roared, if it were just one painting, he wouldn''t be so reverent to this young man, "Listen up, this Mr. Zhang has purchased all our priced paintings! Over 4000, 50 billion, have you got shit for brains?"


    "What?" When he heard this, rk''s expression suddenly froze. When Bruce had said this Mr. Zhang from Huaxia was their client, he had thought Zhang Menglong had only bought one painting.


    But how could he have ever imagined that Zhang Menglong hadn''t bought just one painting, but over 4000! If this deal fell through because of him, it wouldn''t just be a matter of no year-end bonus; his boss might even sell him to Africa to mine coal!


    "This..." rk, his face reddening, had realized that this was not a Huaxia person he could afford to offend! In the capitalist countries of Europe, capital is everything, money is everything, as long as you have money, no matter what country, what race, that''s the big boss!


    This time he had offended not just an ordinary boss, but a God of Wealth!


    "Mr. Zhang, please calm down; I''ll make sure that rk''s issue is dealt with, and the oue will definitely be satisfactory to you!"


    "Heh, heh, heh!" Zhang Menglong sneered, but his expression revealed no trace of emotion. "Mr. Bruce, do you take me for a fool? You think I didn''t hear your whispers with rk just now? Your respect for me is based solely on money.


    "Mr. Zhang, I..."


    "You look down upon Huaxia culture, don''t you? Think your art exhibition is so spectacr, right? Let me tell you, with our 5000 years of history, if you want to talk about cultural depth, Huaxia is your daddy!"


    "Well said!"


    "Damn, I''m about to cry!"


    "I''ve turned from a passerby fan to a die-hard fan!"


    "A second-generation rich with such upright values, I''m impressed!"


    A chorus of supportive voices rose from the crowd. Even the critic from before straightened his back. Yes, when ites to culture, although the forms are different, with such profound historical depth, Huaxia''s culture is never inferior to that of any other country.


    "You want to run some sort of exhibition, right? You''re just hoping to make a tidy sum and then promote your so-called Renaissance culture, sorry, but I''m not buying what you''re selling. Please, leave this ce!"


    "What do you mean by that, Mr. Zhang?" Bruce suddenly felt a foreboding feeling in his heart.


    "Nothing much, just want to let you know that you don''t need to bother with the exhibition anymore. You can take your so-called masterpieces and leave the venue. Feel free to host your art exhibition wherever you like, but you''re not wee here."


    "Mr. Zhang, you don''t have the authority. We signed a contract with the Gusu International Convention and Exhibition Center, which is legally binding."


    "Oh, you''re right, it is legally binding. I never said I wanted to break the contract, but, I''m thinking that as long as we''re willing to pay the breach of contract fee, there shouldn''t be a problem, right?"


    Having said that, Zhang Menglong picked up his phone and dialed Hong Yi''s number.


    "Hong Yi, can you check who is in charge of the Gusu International Convention and Exhibition Center?"


    "Mr. Zhang, is there a problem?"


    "Nothing serious, just want to get some people who can''t see clearly and have foul mouths out of this convention center!" Zhang Menglong briefly exined the situation in a few words.


    "Mr. Zhang, although the convention center was overseen by Tenghui Group, it''s not owned by any private organizations; it''s under the local cultural department."


    "I don''t care about that, I just want to know if we can kick them out."


    "Can do, give me twenty minutes!"


    "Great! Also, investigate their uing schedule for me. I want their so-called ''World Art Peak Touring Exhibition'' to not get past a single country!"


    "Don''t worry, Mr. Zhang, these are trivial matters!"


    "Hmm, thanks for the trouble."


    ...


    Zhang Menglong''s call hadsted only a few tens of seconds, but the people around had already started discussing.


    "President Zhang made a call!"


    "He''s blowing his top! Who knows whom he''s contacting."


    "The man can easily pull out 50 billion US dors in cash, do you think his background would be simple?"


    "Time to watch the show! I can already sense a nuclear warning up ahead!"


    "President Zhang, power to you!"


    "Brilliant!"


    "Mr. Zhang, what you just did was..."


    "Oh, it''s nothing. Just pack up and get ready to leave!"

 Chapter 74 The Fear of Being Dominated by Huaxia People

    In France, Europe, on the morous Champs-¨¦lys¨¦es, sat an incredibly opulent building. Beside it stood the Louis Vuitton Tower, a Cartier boutique, and various other high-fashion brands. This building was called the Cheryl Building, headquarters to a very famous local conglomerate.


    The Cheryl Group''s businesses spanned across the world, covering various domains, and most of their ventures were closely linked with art. Relying on these, they had established a vast business empire, even ranking among the top 100panies in the former world.


    The global peak art exhibition this time was a project they had crafted over a year, into which they had poured an unknown amount of human and material resources. Just managing to get the "Mona Lisa" from the Louvre had already consumed a considerable amount of resources.


    This touring exhibition would pass through over fifty countries and hundreds of cities. If they couldplete it, it was expected to bring them several billion US dors in direct revenue, not to mention the impact on other brand effects and cultural influence, which was immeasurable in terms of money. Thepany ced great importance on this project from top to bottom.


    "Audra, which country has the tour reached now?" Mossang, the CEO of the Cheryl Group, asked as he looked down at the mourous Champs-¨¦lys¨¦es from behind the ss.


    "Boss, it has now reached Huaxia. Today is the second day of the exhibition."


    "How is the financial report?"


    "So far, we havepleted exhibitions in 12 countries, selling a total of 142 pieces of artwork; one-third of those were purchased by clients from Huaxia."


    "Huaxia indeed is a ce of remarkable people and spirit," Mossang mused.


    "Boss, why do you say that? They are just a developing country."


    "Ha, Audra, you are still too young. Huaxia is a very mysterious country. If you only know the tip of the iceberg about it, you will understand just how unfathomably deep it really is."


    "Oh? Can you tell me about it?"


    "There are too many stories about Huaxia, but what most impacted me was a young Huaxian I met over twenty years ago," Mossang recounted, as if he remembered the fear of being dominated.


    "Is there someone that made such a deep impression on you?"


    "Have you heard about an auction held in Europe in ''99, during the Century Auctions?"


    "You mean that one where the total transaction amount broke historical records by ten times?"


    "Exactly!" Mossang nodded. "You know, not a single item at that auction was passed on, yet still, it''s impossible for the maximum amount to exceed the historical auction records by ten times!"


    "Were you at that auction?"


    "Ha, at that time, our Cheryl Group had just started, and I was merely joining in for the excitement," Mossang said. "Do you know why such a thing happened?"


    "Sorry, boss, I can''t imagine it."


    "Because there was a person, who with an almost frantic bidding style, bought over eighty percent of the items at the auction!" Mossang exined. "I have never seen anyone attend an auction and start bidding at double the starting price, and if anyone dared to bid against him, he would recklessly raise the price further!"


    "One person bought all those items? How is that possible? Even if he had a lot of money, he couldn''t possibly buy so many items, right?"


    "If I hadn''t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn''t believe such a baffling thing could happen. You know, simply because a European at the auction called the Huaxians poor, that young man retorted by saying that no European present could take away a single item from the auction today!"


    "Did he manage to do it?"


    "Indeed, he did. The auction was carried out in Europe, with over 80% of participants from Europe, and not a single European stole away any auction item from him. To reim their pride, almost every auction item''s price was multiplied several times its original value, hence the astonishing total transaction amount at the end."


    "Did he really have the money?"


    "Hehe, not only did he have it, but he also produced it very effortlessly," Mossang said. "Can you imagine? One man''s wealth challenged the whole of Europe."


    "And now the Forbes rankings¡­"


    "That''s just child''s y. If we truly talked about personal wealth, Bezos wouldn''t even make the top ten!"


    "Huaxia... truly a mystical country."


    "Your phone is ringing."


    "I''m sorry, boss, I was too engrossed," Audra pulled out her phone, "Zorn? What''s the matter?"


    "What did you say? How could something like this happen?" Audra''s expression suddenly changed, "And the penalty fees?"


    "Alright, I understand. I will inform Mr. Mossang."


    Audra hastily ended the call, her expression so dark it seemed moisture could drip from it.


    "Audra, you have never been this panicked before." Although Mossang knew that no good news woulde, he still remained nonchnt.


    "Boss, did something happen to our project?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Don''t panic, take it slow, what happened?"


    "All the venues we contacted previously, now all of them are calling to cancel their contracts with us, they will no longer provide a venue for our art exhibition."


    "What about the penalty fees?"


    "They have all been transferred to our ount."


    "The reason?"


    "I don''t quite understand, something was mentioned about the Bradley family..."


    "What? Say that again?" Mossang''s face showed fear as if he had heard a ghost story.


    "The... the Bradley family..."


    "Why?" Mossang''s lips quivered slightly, "I have never provoked the Bradley family, why would they target the Sheryl Group?"


    "Boss, is the Bradley family that powerful? Howe I have never heard of them?" Seeing Mossang''s expression, Audra sank into deep thought, this was the first time she had ever seen her boss so rmed.


    "Not just powerful," Mossang said with a bitter smile, "If the Bradley family stomps their foot, the whole of Europe feels an earthquake. They can even make a beggar be the president of any European country if they wish! Their power is beyond imagination."


    Audra''s mouth dropped open, disbelief thick in her eyes, could a single family really do such a thing? Could they be the emperors of Europe?


    Even if Mossang racked his brains, he could not imagine the cause of such serious consequences was merely triggered by a minor employee in theirpany.


    "Investigate! I want you to find out which staff member in this exhibition tour has offended someone from the Bradley family!" It was clear that the target was this tour exhibition, so the cause must rte to it as well.


    "Yes, boss, I''ll start investigating right away!"


    ...


    At that time, it had been less than ten minutes since they were at the Gusu International Convention and Exhibition Center.


    "Manager, something''s happened!" Bruce was pondering how to resolve the issue, but Zhang Menglong had alreadypletely lost interest in talking to him.


    "What''s the big fuss about?" Bruce was in distress, and someoneing to him at this time was just adding insult to injury.


    "Just now, the head of the Gusu International Convention and Exhibition Center called us, they want to terminate our coboration, telling us to clear out all our stuff and personnel within half an hour, or they will take forcible measures to expel us!"


    "How could this be?" Bruce was so surprised that he was speechless. This international convention isn''t a private entity; it''s a building of the Gusu Cultural Bureau, a national structure, even with Zhang Menglong''s capabilities, how could he possibly influence people within the system?


    And forcibly evacuating in half an hour? That''s certainly not something ordinary measures could achieve!


    Zhang Menglong showed a cryptic smile; their family had been around for 5000 years, and they possessed much more than just wealth...

 Chapter 75 The boss asks you to go to Africa to mine coal

    "Wow!" After hearing what the employee ryed, the audience''s expression turned into one of shock once more.


    Initially, they thought Zhang Menglong might resolve the issue by throwing money at it again, such as buying thepany behind the organizer.


    But unexpectedly, this time Zhang Menglong had simply used such a blunt method, employing connections that shouldn''t be brought to light.


    To have a non-privatized organization outright dismiss an international-level exhibition, the energy required was not something that could be exined in a few words. Zhang Menglong''s wealth was not only astonishing but evidently, his reach touched the heavens.


    "He''s even more formidable than Wang Ling!"


    "Yes, Wang Ling is just rich, but he''s richer than Wang Ling and even has a stronger backing. What kind of background does he have?"


    "Who cares about his background, as long as it feels good!"


    "Hahaha, right, just now those old Russians still acted like they were the best, look at him now, his face is wearing a Mask of Pain!"


    "So satisfying, truly satisfying indeed!"


    "Get out, pack up your stuff and scram!"


    "Gusu doesn''t wee you, Huaxia doesn''t wee you either!"


    "It''s just a lousy art exhibition, who cares if we don''t see it!"


    "Exactly, acting like your art is the only great one!"


    "Hey, did you hear that? Pack up your things quickly and get lost, and take your so-called exquisite artworks with you!" Zhang Menglong said coldly, "Just make sure I don''t hear you insulting the Huaxia people or Huaxia culture again. I can have you thrown out of this international convention center, and I can do even more outrageous things!"


    "Mr. Zhang, let''s talk this over again, there has been a misunderstanding!" Bruce was already anxious.


    Although the several thousand paintings had all been sold, exceeding their boss''s expectations, the significance of this touring exhibition wasn''t merely about the paintings. The brand effect and the cultural impact were absolutely more important than the money.


    If they were cut off here, how would they exin to their boss? Huaxia was a huge market; this much was evident from the sales volume of the paintings, and Huaxia was also their key area!


    "If you want to leave, then leave!" Now that faces had been torn, rk no longer needed to act subservient, "You in Huaxia don''t understand what art is, nor do you appreciate art. If you don''t let us exhibit here, there are plenty of countries begging us to hold exhibitions!"


    "Idiot!" Zhang Menglong wasn''t sure whether tough at his na?vet¨¦ or his ignorance, "It seems you still haven''t figured it out. Do you think you''re only unable to hold it down in Huaxia?"


    "Mr. Zhang, what do you mean?" ir was starting to get scared.


    "You might want to ask him," Zhang Menglong pointed at the employee who had just delivered the message.


    "Do you have anything else you haven''t said?" ir pressed.


    "Manager, it''s not just the Gusu International Convention and Exhibition Center in Huaxia; all the partners on our original itinerary have also canceled their cooperation with us, and the penalty fees have already been returned to our ount!"


    "What!" Because this tour was highly anticipated, those cities were eager to host this art exhibition on their turf, so they hadn''t charged any fees.


    Of course, ordingly, the penalty fees weren''t high, because they had never imagined these partners would back out!


    And this small sum from the penalty fees was only a drop in the bucketpared to their losses!


    Anyone could tell that the instigator behind all this was Zhang Menglong! He had just said he''d make it impossible for their exhibition to proceed anywhere!


    Just as Bruce was about to struggle further, his phone rang.


    "B... Boss?" When Bruce saw the number, his breathing suddenly quieted significantly.


    "I''ve just received a message that all our partners have canceled their cooperation with us. What exactly happened? What did you do in Huaxia?" the voice on the other end bombarded him with questions.


    "Boss, rk the idiot caused trouble!" Now that the headquarters were holding him ountable, Bruce''s first thought was to clear his own name. Clearly, such a big issue couldn''t possibly go unnoticed by the higher-ups!


    "So it was indeed trouble on your end, what exactly happened?"


    "Boss, here''s what happened..." Bruce recounted the event exactly as it had happened.


    "Does that bastard have shit for brains?"


    The roar was so loud that everyone in the venue heard it clearly.


    "President, what should we do now?"


    "Give the phone to that young man, open the international video call, I will talk to him personally!" Mossang was beyond furious.


    "Mr. Zhang... our boss would like to have a word with you, if you..."


    "Sure, let''s talk. I want to see what he has to say!" Zhang Menglong crossed his arms in front of his chest, looking as if he were watching a show.


    The video showed a man in his fifties, slightly overweight, with thin, graying hair, but it seemed well-maintained and not bald.


    The moment Mossangid eyes on Zhang Menglong, his expression froze.


    In his mind, he recalled the face of a young man from Huaxia who had deeply shocked him over twenty years ago.


    That face bore an eighty to ny percent resemnce to Zhang Menglong''s!


    "They''re exactly alike... Could this be just a coincidence?" A bold thought popped into Mossang''s head. Could this young man be the descendant of that Huaxia youth?


    "What coincidence?" Zhang Menglong was somewhat puzzled, "Who are you? Their boss?"


    "I am Mossang, the President of Cheryl Group. May I ask how I should address you, sir?"


    "Myst name is Zhang," Zhang Menglong said coldly.


    "Zhang!" Mossang''s heart rate spiked, remembering that the Huaxia youth also bore the surname Zhang!


    The same appearance, the same wealth, capable ofmanding that colossal family¡ªit could only be that person!


    "I''m sorry, Mr. Zhang, I am aware of the cause and progression of this incident, and I apologize for the rudeness of my employee," Mossang said cautiously.


    "What''s with this guy? Do I look that intimidating?" Zhang Menglong said to Lu Yiyao next to him, noting how Mossang seemed almost fearful of him.


    "Intimidating or not, just a bit silly!" Lu Yiyao joked.


    "Hey, I''m a reasonable person. This isn''t your fault, you don''t need to apologize. I want him to apologize to our people of Huaxia, to our Huaxian culture!"


    "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, I will handle it properly. Please hand the phone back to Bruce," Mossang said.


    "Fine, I''ll give you a chance to handle this," Zhang Menglong said.


    Bruce took the phone and chatted with Mossang excitedly. A few minutester, he put down the phone.


    He walked over to rk, who by then had turned pale, knowing he had upset someone who even his boss feared.


    "Bru... Bruce, what did the boss say?"


    "The boss said, starting today, you no longer need to stay on this project team," Bruce said, "Ourpany has bought a coal mine in Africa, starting tomorrow, you can go dig coal there!"


    "To dig coal?" rk hadn''t expected his boss to be so harsh! Mining coal was almost always reserved for the lowest of workers, most of whom he looked down upon, especially the Africans!


    "Not just that!" Bruce continued, "Huaxia''s culture is far more profound than you thought, it''s a pity you don''t understand it. Starting today, you must recite one Huaxian ssical text each day. For every text you miss, you''ll dig coal one more day until you master Huaxian culture, and then you can go back."


    "Recite Huaxian ssical texts? I... I don''t recognize Huaxian characters!"


    Bruce coldly said, "That''s your problem, not mine. I''m only rying the boss''s orders!"


    "Snap!" rk felt as if all his strength had been drained in an instant, and he copsed onto the ground...N?v(el)B\\jnn

 Chapter 76 Ill Organize an Art Exhibition

    The on-the-verge-of-copse rk had already been taken away by his colleagues, and as per Zhang Menglong''s request, the art exhibition was forcibly terminated. All the staff began to pack up the artworks, and the once bustling gallery suddenly fell silent.


    Actually, the people at the venue hadn''t left. Huaxia''s culture is indeed profound and extensive, but it must be acknowledged that during Europe''s Renaissance, a great number of painters brimming with creativity did emerge. Not just during that period; the painters from other times also possessed extraordinary abilities.


    The paintings of Huaxia and Europe are quite distinct in style. Learning from their paintings is meaningful for many, as this is not only a matter of Huaxia culture and sentiment, but for many, it is also their way of life.


    "Ah!" sighed a professor from the Arts University, reluctant to see the paintings being taken down from the walls.


    He was of advanced age, and flying was no longer a very safe activity for him. The hope of seeing these artworks was almost a luxury!


    Finding it difficult toe by, Gusu City had finally weed this art exhibition. He had traveled a long distance here to have the opportunity to witness the originals, only to encounter such an incident.


    The glory of the nation is above all, which is indisputable, but to miss the chance to see those works is a great regret for him, and it may even be his only opportunity in this lifetime.


    Not just the professor, but many others also harbored the same sentiment. The termination of this art exhibition was really a shame.


    Some, more extreme individuals, even held a bit of resentment towards Zhang Menglong in their hearts, but since Zhang Menglong was acting for the sake of the nation''s culture and integrity, they could not condemn him from any moral standpoint.


    "Zhang Menglong, everyone seems very disappointed," Lu Yiyao tugged at the hem of Zhang Menglong''s clothes, "Why don''t we just let this go? rk has received his due punishment, and ending the exhibition like this will disappoint many people."


    Truth be told, Lu Yiyao was somewhat disappointed herself, after all they had only just arrived and hadn''t appreciated many paintings.


    "I did not consider this thoroughly," Zhang Menglong did not deny his mistake. Indeed, he was exhrated, as were those onlookers on the inte, because they had no real interest in this art exhibition.


    But for those who truly pursued art, this was a lost important opportunity.


    "Ah, well, let''s go. Who knows if there will be another chance to see these works with our own eyes."


    "I haven''t even properly appreciated Da Vinci''s ''Mona Lisa'', a piece housed in the Louvre. Without this opportunity, I''m afraid I''ll never see it in my lifetime."


    "What a pity, such a pity!"


    "Let''s leave together!"


    ...


    Surprisingly, a repressed atmosphere filled the venue.


    "Hey, everyone, wait a moment!" At that moment, Zhang Menglong took a microphone from an interpreter, "Don''t hurry off just yet!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Hearing Zhang Menglong''s voice, everyone turned back, looking at him with puzzled faces. What else did he want to do?


    "I''m very sorry about what happened today that made everyone''s trip here in vain," Zhang Menglong frankly admitted, "But as I just said, our Huaxia culture is profound and extensive, and our works are no less than theirs. Today, I will hold an art exhibition!"


    "Did I hear that right? He''s going to hold an art exhibition?"


    "The over four thousand paintings he just bought? Although those paintings are decent,pared to the non-sale items, they are still a notch below!"


    "I think he must have some more collections from both home and abroad, right?"


    "How many can he have? Compared to the scale of this exhibition, I''m afraid they''re still of apletely different level?"


    "And he just said that he wants to showcase our Huaxia culture. I imagine even if he does have other works, they must be from our ancient painters, right?"


    "I''m not saying our ancient Huaxia paintings aren''t good, but as someone who studies Western art, I can''t understand our own works!"


    "You''re telling me! I just wanted to broaden my horizons too!"


    The tourists began to converse among themselves. They didn''t doubt Zhang Menglong''s ability to hold an art exhibition, butpared to the scale and the preciousness of the works at this international exhibition, could it really match up?


    "Do you all really think that only they have such works to show?" Zhang Menglongughed, knowing what the people were disappointed about, "I can tell you all, the paintings I''ve collected are absolutely ten times better than this exhibition! And even for works of the ''Mona Lisa''s caliber, I can bring out several!"


    "I have already notified people to bring the artworks over. Give me two hours, and to express my apologies, I will treat everyone to lunch!" Zhang Menglong had arranged everything. The artworks being air-shipped from Jiangnan City to Gusu City, with the help of his family''s private jet, would take just an hour or two.


    "Really?!"


    "He isn''t just bluffing us, is he?"


    "Since there''s nothing else going on today, why not stick around and take a look!"


    "Exactly, there''s a free meal to boot, no harm in looking!"


    "Has Zhang Menglong ever let anyone down before?"


    Perhaps it was because of the sensation caused a few days earlier, but everyone seemed to really hold a glimmer of hope for Zhang Menglong. Except for a few who had urgent matters to attend to, everyone else chose to stay here.


    ...


    Quickly, it approached noon, and it was getting close to lunchtime. Many people had temporarily left the venue to find ces to eat, despite Zhang Menglong''s announcement about arranging lunch. But with so many people, it was probably just some slightly better takeout, right?


    "What''s that smell? So fragrant!" Just at that moment, a rich aroma wafted over.


    "Yeah, I smell it too; it seems like cumin."


    "And there''s the scent of herbs!"


    "Look, suddenly there are so many cars outside!"


    "Hmm? What are these strange vehicles? Food trucks?"


    "Wait a minute, look at the logo on these trucks!"


    "Isn''t that the Noma Restaurant logo? I''ve heard that the average cost per person there is 2,000 US dors. Anyone who dines there is definitely wealthy."


    "And there''s the Modena Restaurant''s logo! That''s one of the finest Western restaurant brands. I''ve only seen that in the Michelin magazine!"


    "Big Gao cuisine too! That''s a top ten brand in the Japanese culinary world!"


    "My God, these are logos of world-ss restaurants, what''s going on?"


    Soon, the vast za in front of the International Convention and Exhibition Center was filled with densely packed food trucks. It should be noted that the food from these restaurants is generally not avable for delivery; these trucks are reserved for the most distinguished guests!


    A middle-aged man hurried up into the venue and then approached Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, the takeout you requested has been arranged!"


    "Much obliged!" Zhang Menglong nodded with satisfaction, "Ladies and gentlemen, I''ve ordered a few trucks of takeout for everyone. Please don''t be too critical; I can''t guarantee how tasty it will be, but at least there will be plenty!"


    "Is this the lunch Zhang Menglong was talking about?"


    "A few trucks of takeout... my mom''s asking why I''m kneeling."


    "Damn! A world-ss restaurant meal, averaging thousands of dors; I''ve never had that in my life!"


    "And there will be plenty, even if it costs thousands of dors, it''s just to taste something new, right?"


    "Hahaha, those idiots said they were going to have lunch on their own. Lucky I didn''t leave!"


    "Sob, it smells so good, being rich is really too good!"


    "Damn! Where are you running off to? No one''s fighting you for it!"


    "You scoundrel!"


    "Damn, stop pulling me! Gold caviar! It''s said to be several tens of dors per gram, and there''s a whole barrel of it!"


    "What the hell kind of king crab is this?"


    "Is that truffle? Seriously?"


    "I''ve seen this in a magazine! It''s Serendipity restaurant''s upscale ice cream sundae! If I remember correctly, one costs 25,000 US dors!"


    ...

 Chapter 77 This is What You Call a Peak Art Exhibit

    "How is it, tastes good, right?" Zhang Menglong passed a cup of pomegranate juice to Lu Yiyao.


    "At least you remember!" Lu Yiyao took the cup of pomegranate juice, the unique taste fluttering her eyshes slightly, "How is this pomegranate juice made? I''ve never tasted such delicious pomegranate juice before!"


    "Nothing special about the method, it''s all natural pomegranate juice," Zhang Menglong said, "This is from the blood pomegranates of the Ural Mountains, which can only thrive at very high altitudes. I had someone airship them over this morning."


    "Airship? Just for a few pomegranates?" For a moment, Lu Yiyao felt as if she were drinking money rather than juice, estimating the air shipping cost must be many times higher than the price of the pomegranates themselves.


    "It also depends on who it''s for. If it''s something you like, even if it''s from under the Antarctic ice cap, I can dig it up for you!"


    "So slick!" Lu Yiyao yfully tapped on Zhang Menglong''s shoulder twice. "By the way, don''t you think that what you did today seemed impressive, but actually let those Europeans earn quite a bit?"


    "Are you saying I spent 500 billion to buy those paintings, just to send them packing?" Zhang Menglong retorted.


    Lu Yiyao nodded, "Never mind whether these 500 billion US dors were worth it, but this money ended up in the hands of the Europeans. If it had been used for construction in our country, how much could it have helped people here!"


    "Don''t call me a Holy Mother!" Lu Yiyao pointed at Zhang Menglong emphatically.


    "Hahaha, do you think I, Zhang Menglong, would ever take a loss?" Zhang Menglongughed, "It might sound incredible, but 80% of the people in Europe work directly or indirectly for me, and arge portion of many countries'' fiscal revenues find their way into my pocket."


    Watching Lu Yiyao''s astonished expression, Zhang Menglong continued, "This 500 billion US dors just moved from one of my pockets to another; I can take it out anytime."


    "But this..."


    "Let''s put it this way, if you''re shearing a million from them annually, would you mind tossing them ten dors asionally?"


    "This analogy actually leaves me speechless." Initially, Lu Yiyao wanted to say more, but after hearing this analogy, she realized that 500 billion US dors really meant little to Zhang Menglong, and it seemed like he could garner a thousandfold return from those European countries annually.


    As for where these profits originated, she probably couldn''t figure it out even if she racked her brain.


    "Forget it, as long as you''re happy, I''ll keep quiet."  Arguing with Zhang Menglong about money was a sure way to end up choking oneself.


    ...


    If young people today eat a meal, their phones start eating before they do, all the more so on such a once-in-a-century asion.


    This square had gathered cuisines from around the world¡ªWestern, Japanese, various Huaxia styles of food¡ªand all from the top-level restaurants. The square had almost be a gourmet za.


    Friends circles, microblogs, and various tforms were already flooded with all sorts of videos and photos.


    "You might not believe it, but today I freeloaded a meal off Zhang Menglong!"


    "This is the first time I''ve eaten king crab to the point of bursting, I can''t take anymore."


    "Wuuu, I was supposed to go to an exhibition today, it''s all my boyfriend''s fault, I''m going to hit him now."


    "Damn! I was just inside, I thought this meal would at most be some cheap takeaway for us."


    "Upstairs, are you doubting my boss Zhang''s grandeur?"


    "Your ount is gone!"


    "Bros, quickly double-tap like crazy, I just downed this coconut as big as my head in one go!"


    "Dude! Free food with a food stream, where''s your shame?"


    "How many food streamers did Zhang feed today?"


    ...


    "Zhang Menglong, you''ve been shearing the wool of capitalists, but today someone came to shear yours! Look, so many people came just to freeload. Aren''t you afraid of going broke?"


    "Hahaha, if they can shear it off, that''s their skill. It''s just a few flecks at best," Zhang Menglongughed, "Speaking of which, hurry and think about what we should eat tonight. Me being an Aquarius, I hate having to think about what to eat, talk about choice phobia."


    "There are a lot of barbecue stalls near our school, I think that''s a good choice!"


    "Are you just looking out for your dorm mates'' benefits?" Zhang Menglong teased, "You''re not even my girlfriend yet, you don''t have to save money for me."


    "I won''t be your girlfriend in the future either!"  Lu Yiyao turned away from Zhang Menglong, but her expression clearly betrayed her.


    "Buzz, buzz, buzz!" a jarring noise suddenly came from the sky.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "A helicopter? What''s happening?"


    "And in formation? Is it some military helicopter squad on a mission?"


    "Such arge helicopter? Is this a transport helicopter?"


    "Do you all remember the first time Zhang Menglong appeared online? It was because of that helicopter."


    "Hahaha, could this fleet of helicopters be his again?"


    "Hahaha, nonsense, there are at least dozens of helicopters, it must be


    "...wait, why do I feel like that''s actually possible?"


    "Be confident, bro, discard the words ''it seems''!"


    After more than an hour, facing such tempting food, everyone was by then fully satisfied, and this suddenly appearing helicopter fleet instantly attracted everyone''s attention.


    "What kind of helicopter is that? Quick, look it up!"


    "I found it, that''s the CH-40K helicopter, made in America, it only first appeared in front of the public in 2014!"


    "A total of 24 helicopters, damn, are they going to war?"


    "24 helicopters? How coincidental? I just found a news article from 2018, it said 24 helicopters of this model were dmissioned, purchased by a mysterious wealthy figure, and have never been seen since then!"


    "Could this mysterious wealthy figure be Zhang Menglong?"


    "It might also be one of his family elders, but it''s almost certain these 24 helicopters are his."


    "Damn, what kind of family background is this, how can they even procure such things?"


    "You think just having money is enough for a private helicopter? You also need to expand the private airspace and routes, without the right connections you can''t even think about it!"


    "Move aside, move aside, it''s about tond!"


    Amid a flurry of noise, arge area in the center of the square was cleared, fortunately, the square was big enough, otherwise it wouldn''t have been possible to amodate so many helicopters, especially since the CH-40K is arge transport helicopter!


    The doors of the helicopters opened one after another, and a group of well-trained, uniformly dressed individuals immediately disembarked, inside were piled up numerous boxes, some of which looked ancient, even somewhat tattered and decayed, apparently quite old.


    "Holy shit! What''s going on? Another group has arrived?" Before the awe of the helicopters had subsided, another convoy of vehicles drove into the square in front of the exhibition hall, twenty-some cars, easily several hundred people, huh?"


    "What exactly is going on here?"


    A man in a suit got down from a car, looked around the entire square, and finally his gaze settled on Zhang Menglong, he immediately beamed with a smile, and jogged over to Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, the items and people you arranged have all arrived, can we get started?"


    "Let''s begin!"


    "Begin!" The middle-aged man signalled to everyone, the people from the cars immediately started gathering with various tools, while those who hade down from the helicopters began opening the boxes.


    Some people curiously crowded around, but those people did not stop them.


    "This...these boxes are all filled with paintings?"


    "This box contains a sculpture!"


    "This is a scroll of calligraphy!"


    "Could it be that all these boxes contain art pieces?"


    "Oh my god, how much is there? Thousands? Tens of thousands?"


    "He...he wasn''t bragging, he really has a collection richer than this art exhibition!"


    "This is indeed a true peak art exhibition!"

 Chapter 78 That "Mona Lisa" Is Just an Imitation

    "Uncle, what should I call you?" Zhang Menglong said to the middle-aged man.


    "Mr. Zhang, my name is Cao Yushan, you can just call me Old Cao," he replied.


    "Then Cao Hongshan is..." Zhang Menglong''s reference to Cao Hongshan was the middle-aged man who had taken him to his residence the day before yesterday.


    "Mr. Zhang, that''s the eldest of my family, I''m the third in the Cao Family," Cao Yushan exined, "perhaps Miss Hong Yi hasn''t told you, but your properties in Gusu are all managed by our Cao Family."


    "Oh, I see," Zhang Menglong replied, "you mean there''s a family like yours in every city?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, except for some remote small cities, the Hong Family has chosen a family like ours in almost every city. Whenever youe to these cities, we are responsible for all your needs, from food and lodging to everything else."


    "How is this different from an emperor making an incognito visit and passing through the domains of local magistrates?" Lu Yiyao blurted out when she heard this.


    "Miss, you are quite right, but the only difference is that those magistrates might not be able to do what the emperor wants, whereas as long as Mr. Zhang needs something, our globalwork can take care of everything for Mr. Zhang in the shortest time possible," Cao Yushan said unconcernedly, aware that Lu Yiyao could very well be the future mistress of the Zhang Family.


    "By the way, how much stuff did you bring back this time?" Zhang Menglong had told Hong Yi that as long as it wasn''t too much, it would be fine, but looking at this situation, it seemed like they brought out almost half of his library.


    "I''m not quite sure about that, let me ask for you." Cao Yushan called over to the people moving boxes, "Who here is in charge?"


    Quickly, a person in a ck uniform came running over, "Mr. Zhang, Mr. Cao, I am Xing Yue, the person in charge arranged by Miss Hong. What can I do for you?"


    "Are you a soldier?" Zhang Menglong asked, sensing a kind of military bearing on the middle-aged man.


    "I used to be, then I retired," the middle-aged man answered.


    "That''s good, their treatment should be quite decent, right?" Zhang Menglong asked on behalf of the middle-aged man.


    "Rest assured, Mr. Zhang, the ie of these retired soldiers is more than triple that of local civil servants, and their benefits are paid ording to the highest standard. Of course, they are the elite among the retired soldiers," he was told.


    "As long as their treatment is up to standard, that''s good," Zhang Menglong nodded, "by the way, how many items did you bring this time? Do you have a list?"


    Hearing this, the people around became curious and crowded closer.


    "Mr. Zhang, given the scale of this venue, we have prepared around thirty thousand paintings and several hundred other pieces," Xing Yue said.


    "Damn it, thirty thousand pieces? Doesn''t that European art exhibition by the old Russians only have like twelve thousand paintings in total?"


    "No, there''s more! Don''t forget he just bought over four thousand pieces!"


    "They can''t all be works by unknown chicken-rib artists, can they?"


    "Pah! Are you belittling Boss Zhang?"


    "You''re out of your mind! Would Boss Zhang use garbage to fool us?"


    "Even if we weren''t having this meal today, I would have to step up and say something!"


    "Exactly!"


    As if overhearing the whispers around him, Xing Yue proactively said, "Mr. Zhang, among these thirty thousand works, ten thousand are from Huaxia, including calligraphy and ssical Chinese paintings. They feature works by masters like Wang Xizhi, Yan Zhenqing, Tang Yin, Wu Daozi, Qi Baishi, among others."


    "Sss!"


    Upon hearing these names, many were visibly shocked.


    Even those untrained in calligraphy and painting knew the names of the Sage of Calligraphy Wang Xizhi and the Sage of Painting Wu Daozi. Their acimed expertise was confirmed by these very titles.


    Yan Zhenqing and Tang Yin were talents not an iota lesser than the others, with each of their worksmanding sky-high prices!


    To be able to offer ten thousand such pieces, even if not all were of this high caliber, just the works of these famous artists alone were more than enough for a standalone calligraphy exhibition and a painting exhibition!


    "What about the others?"


    "This ce also houses over 7,000 works by Picasso, 12 undiscovered works by Da Vinci, as well as works by other artists like Van Gogh, M, M, Renoir, Degas, Sisley, and Pissarro."


    "Besides that, there are some sculptures, Miss Hong Yi said those items have been gathering dust for too long, and this is a good opportunity to air them out!"


    "Shit! I thought Mr. Zhang was already good at showing off, but his employees are even better at it!"


    "I just saw works by Myron and Maillol."


    "Who are they? I need a crash course!"


    "Idiot, they''re some of the most renowned sculptors in Europe. Ever heard of the Discobolus? Their works, that''s what!"


    "Air them out, is that even human speech? Such treasures in someone else''s hands are safeguarded and passed down as heirlooms, who would dare to air them out?"


    "Only someone like Mr. Zhang could pull off such a disy!"


    "Alright, thank you all for the hard work, please start getting ready, I''ve rented this venue and the Gusu City Department of Culture has leased it to me indefinitely. In the future, anyone who wants to visit can do so anytime!"


    "Mr. Zhang, can we take a look around now?" that professor from earlier asked, somewhat timidly making his way over.


    "Of course, you can, as long as you don''t mind the current disarray. Feel free to browse, just don''t damage the paintings, after all, creating some ''white trash'' isn''t ideal!"


    The professor was moved by the first half of Zhang Menglong''s statement, but upon hearing thetter half, he even felt the impulse to p Zhang Menglong.


    These are world-famous paintings! Each one destroyed is one fewer in the world! How could they be considered ''white trash'' in Zhang Menglong''s words? To him, are these masterpieces the same as nk sheets of paper?


    As the staff began setting up the exhibition, the previously quiet venue suddenly filled with people, turning boisterous in an instant.


    "This!!! This is a painting by Van Gogh!"


    "There really are paintings by Picasso! All these boxes are full of them! He wasn''t lying!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "This is ''The Holy Mother of Anjou''!"


    "How can that be, wasn''t that painting lost in the eighteenth century?"


    "Could it be a fake?"


    "What? ''The Holy Mother of Anjou''? Let me have a look!" The professor, who was initially scrutinizing a painting by Picasso, dashed over as if he had just heard his long-deceased mother calling him home for dinner.


    Several staff members immediately stepped forward to block the professor.


    "It''s fine, let him through, it''s just a painting." Zhang Menglong said with a smile.


    The professor nodded gratefully at Zhang Menglong, then took out a magnifying ss and started to inspect the painting meticulously. The more he looked, the more his hands shook.


    "It''s real! This is truly one of Da Vinci''s lost paintings!" the professor eximed excitedly. "Are there any more? Are there any more?"


    "The ones by Da Vinci seem to be just these few, all here," Zhang Menglong said, pointing to a box nearby. "Take them all out, let the gentleman have a good look."


    "Thank you! Thank you!" the professor said, over and over again. For him, to be able to appreciate these pieces of art was the greatest gift of all.


    "Hm? What''s going on here? Isn''t this ''Mona Lisa''?" Zhang Menglong noticed the paintings pulled out from that box, seven ''Mona Lisas'' in a row, "What''s the matter? Does our family also have fakes?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you must be joking," Cao Yushan said. "There can''t possibly be any fakes in your collection."


    "Then how do you exin these? Are you saying there could be that many ''Mona Lisa'' paintings in the world?"


    "Yes, Mr. Zhang, all these ''Mona Lisa'' paintings are actually imitative works, even the one in the Louvre!"


    This revtion sent shockwaves through the crowd.

 Chapter 86 Ill Pay for Your Dream

    "Damn, that''s too much for me!" Watching Lu Yiyao just out of the bath, Zhang Menglong admitted that he almost lost control.


    It was just a set of pajamas, but because the vi is always at a constant temperature throughout the seasons, these pajamas didn''t need to consider warmth, only aesthetics andfort were the priority.


    Lu Yiyao''s skin was the fairest among all the girls Zhang Menglong had seen, and those long legs were as perfect as crafted art, the swan-like delicate neck and the alluring corbones, plus her slightly wet hair, probably no man could withstand such temptation.


    "Crap, I''m gonna get a nosebleed!" Zhang Menglong felt a warm flow in his nose and quickly turned his head up.


    "Hey, what are you doing?"


    "That, I''ve been eating too welltely, a bit overheated, no big deal, no big deal!" Zhang Menglong would never admit that his nosebleed was due to the strong visual impact.


    "Hahaha, Zhang Menglong, did you get knocked out by my charm? If you be anemic, don''t expect me to take responsibility!"


    "You''re stillughing!" Desperate, Zhang Menglong ran downstairs, grabbed a few tissues, stuffed them into his nostrils, and after calming down a bit, he noticed his "little brother" was also somewhat overly excited.


    "I should''ve just let her live here alone, this is like torturing myself!" Whening to Gusu, Wang Ling even warned me that Lu Yiyao might be a Qiao Biluo, but who would''ve thought she''s not a Qiao Biluo, but actually a Wang Zuxian; who can withstand that!


    "Let''s have some midnight snacks... I ordered some barbecue and milk tea for you, knowing you''ve got the ''I don''t gain weight'' body type." Zhang Menglong grabbed a skewer of kidneys and took a big bite.


    "Zhang Menglong, look at me! Why aren''t you looking at me anymore? So love can disappear, huh?" Teasing Zhang Menglong, Lu Yiyao also let herself go a lot more.


    "Why are you starting to gnaw on kidneys, are you not feeling well?"


    "Woman! You''re ying with fire!" Hearing Lu Yiyao''s "provocation," Zhang Menglong could not hold back any longer¡ªthat would shame any man.


    He wiped his mouth, lifted Lu Yiyao sideways, ced her on the sofa, and immediately, a somewhat entrancing scent rushed into his nostrils.


    "Click!" The chef and nanny glimpsed this scene and quickly left, sensing that what followed might not be suitable for children.


    This was the first time they were so close; Zhang Menglong could even hear Lu Yiyao''s rapid heartbeat, and, of course, his own heart was beating incredibly fast.


    "Do you want to find out if I''m up for it?" Zhang Menglong stared at Lu Yiyao''s lips, trying hard to suppress his impulse.


    "Zhang Menglong, are you crazy? Get up now, or I''ll kick you!" Lu Yiyao''s legs were already twitching, but to Zhang Menglong, the scene was even more enchanting.


    "Stay cool! Stay cool!" Zhang Menglong let go of Lu Yiyao, took a sugar cane from the table, and started to chew on it, mumbling something to himself.


    "Hahaha, shouldn''t a man light a cigarette in times like this? What are you doing chewing on sugar cane?"


    "I don''t do smoke and mirrors!" Zhang Menglong rolled his eyes, "I''ll let you off today, but next time it won''t be so easy!"


    "By the way," Zhang Menglong quickly found a topic to ease the somewhat ambiguous and awkward atmosphere, "graduation is approaching, have you thought about what you''ll do after graduating?"


    "Of course, I''ll continue singing," Lu Yiyao blurted out.


    "That''s not an easy path," Zhang Menglong said, "You don''t know how many talented musicians end up on the streets unable to find a meal, and finally take jobs in electronics factories. There are lots of such cases."


    "I can be a teacher," Lu Yiyao said, "I have obtained a lot of certificates during my spare time, I''ll treat music as a side job and hobby, won''t that work?"


    "Come to Jiangnan City after you graduate," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Huh?"


    "Since you love music, I''ll definitely do everything in my power to help you," Zhang Menglong said seriously, "as long as you persevere, I will foot the bill for your dream."


    "I can bring in the best music teachers to guide you, and I can even ask Fang Wenshan to write lyrics for you. If necessary, I could even get Teacher Daboku to sing backup for you!"


    "If all else fails, I''ll just buy NetEase Music and put your song on the homepage!"


    "Are you serious? Leave some room for other singers to make a living!" Lu Yiyao couldn''t help butugh. If things really worked out like Zhang Menglong was nning, who knows how many talented singers would be overshadowed.


    "I n to try it out on my own first," Lu Yiyao said, "I do have several hundred thousand followers after all, so I''m not about to starve to death. If it really doesn''t work out, then I''d seek help from you, Mr. Zhang. That should be okay, right?"


    "That''s fine. Since you''ve decided on this, what else can I say," Zhang Menglong respected Lu Yiyao''s own decision, "just call me anytime you need help."


    "Once I''ve finished my graduation thesis, I''lle to Jiangnan City to find you."


    "You''re serious?" Zhang Menglong brightened up.


    "Actually, I''ve received a lot of offers frompanies to sign with themtely. I was hesitating about where to go, but now I might as well head to Jiangnan City," Lu Yiyao said with a smile, "At that time, I''ll be counting on Mr. Zhang to cover for me."


    "Sure thing," hearing this news, Zhang Menglong felt much more at ease, "Alright, it''ste now, you should get some sleep. You have ss tomorrow, don''t you?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "Don''t you?" Lu Yiyao retorted.


    "Me? I''ve invested billions in research funding for my research group. That little graduation thesis? My senior brothers and sisters have already taken care of it for me. Graduating is just a formality!"


    "Gross!"


    "What do you mean gross! I''ve seriously done experiments okay, I''ve actually done all the experiments hands-on every day!"


    "Alright, alright, I believe you, now scram and go to sleep!"


    "Sure, I''ll sleep above you. If there''s anything, just call me anytime. If you feel lonely, cold, and alone at night, I can provide any service!"


    "What do you mean ''sleep above me''? Zhang Menglong, you better rify!''"


    "You''re on the second floor, and I''m on the third, so naturally, I''m sleeping above you!" Zhang Menglong exined, "If you want to be on top, that''s fine too. We can switch ces!"


    "That''s more like it¡­ No, wait! That''s even more outrageous! Don''t run away! I''m gonna beat you to death!"


    ...


    Afterughing and joking around for a while, Zhang Menglongy exhausted on the bed. He turned on his phone, and today, the entire trending section was filled with content about him.


    No one knew how powerfulizens could be. The information about Zhang Menglong''s ancestor, Zhang Jingzhi, had been dug up. Of course, these were only superficial details. Those secrets that the Zhang family didn''t want people to know couldn''t be investigated by anyone.


    "Ding!" A text message popped up, with the title from "Dads of 314," the chat group for Zhang Menglong''s dormitory. These guys seemed to have been busy looking for jobstely, and there hadn''t been any new messages in the group for a long time.


    "Brothers, let''s find a time to meet up!" Zhang Menglong quickly typed out a string of words.


    "Menglong, Old Sun is in trouble!" Xu Li''s message popped up, "He''s been falsely used, and now we''re out of options and can only ask for your help!"

 Chapter 81 79章 致敬伟大的张先生

    "The Mona Lisa in the Louvre is a forgery? How is that possible?"


    "Exactly, that painting has undergone countless scrutinies and tests; it is indeed from the hand of Master Da Vinci!"


    "What situation?"


    "This is straight from the Louvre; the news has broadcasted it countless times. How could it possibly be a forgery? Could it be that a fake has been in the Louvre for so long?"


    "What in the world is going on? Mr. Cao, I''m a bit confused." Zhang Menglong was also baffled. One moment they imed the painting was a forgery, and the next, they said their family''s collection contained no forgeries. Isn''t this contradictory?"


    "Mr. Zhang, you might not be aware," Cao Yushan said with a smile, "if we''re to trace back to this part of history, we must start with your family''s background. These seven paintings, including the Mona Lisa they just took away, are all from the hand of Da Vinci."


    "Are you throwing riddles at me here?" Zhang Menglong couldn''t help butugh and cry, "Stop beating around the bush."


    "Mr. Zhang, actually, Master Da Vinci didn''t paint just one Mona Lisa, but a total of 12, and he destroyed four of them over 500 years ago because he was dissatisfied with them. Of the remaining eight, one is treated as a national treasure in the Louvre, and the other seven have always been in your family."


    "What do you mean by forgery?" Zhang Menglong could understand an artist painting many versions of the same painting because artists are very particr about their work. But he still didn''t understand why he was calling these Mona Lisas forgeries.


    "Because the original Mona Lisa was not painted by Da Vinci but by another artist. Da Vinci''s 12 paintings were all attempts at copying it, so, I say, all of these works are nothing but forgeries."


    "Is that so?"


    "Seriously? I studied Western Art History; I have never heard of anything like this!"


    "A forgery being treated as a national treasure and world-famous painting, just how incredible must the original be? You''re kidding, right?"


    "You almost made me believe it!"


    "Exactly, does Da Vinci''s artistic ability still require copying someone else''s painting?"


    "Since you''re saying such a person exists, do tell, who exactly is this person?"


    The surrounding tourists weren''t making a scene without reason; such news was simply too mind-boggling, especially for those who were specialists, as it was nearly a challenge to their knowledge base and worldview!


    Imagine, someone who studies history being told all of a sudden that Emperor Qin Shi Huang was merely a puppet forcibly ced into the annals of history. Who could ept that?


    "Everyone, no need to be anxious. First, there''s no need to argue whether what I''m saying is true or false. Why not first verify if these Mona Lisas really are the work of Da Vinci?" said Cao Yushan.


    "May I have a look?" Just then, a young man with a backpack timidly stepped forward.


    "Have you studied Da Vinci''s paintings?" Zhang Menglong asked, noting that the young man appeared to be about his age.


    "A bit," the young man nodded.


    "Okay, have a look. If you need any instruments to assist with the verification, tell me."


    The young man walked up to one of the Mona Lisas, his eyes brimming with uncontroble excitement. But momentster, he exuded a strong confidence, as if he were very confident in his appraisal skills.


    "It''s the same as the one in the Louvre; also painted on por wood. Judging by the extent of the paint''s cracking, it''s indeed around 500 years old," the young man said simultaneously observing and articting his findings.


    "The painting has employed ''sfumato'' painting techniques. However, I have studied the original, and the technique on this one seems even more proficient."


    Suddenly, he seemed to notice something, "Does anyone have a magnifying ss?"


    "I have one here!" The professor from Yanjing Art University immediately passed his specialized magnifying ss over.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Thank you!" the young man said in gratitude, immediately immersing himself in the painting once again.


    "The right eye still bears the letters ''LV,'' Da Vinci''s initials, but the number on the arch is 5, not 2. What does this mean?"


    "May I take a look at the others?"


    "Of course," Zhang Menglong gestured to the staff nearby, and the remaining copies of the Mona Lisa wereid out on the table.


    "This one has a 1, although the technique is still very sophisticated, it seems much more naivepared to the one we just saw!"


    "This one has a 3, this one 4..."


    "I get it! The number on the arch isn''t some kind of special code at all, it''s a sequence number Da Vinci marked for himself when he created these paintings!" The young man suddenly showed an excited expression.


    "So that''s it!?"


    "These centuries-old mysteries, they are actually unraveled today?"


    "It''s unbelievable, if these paintings hadn''t appeared here at the same time, who would have thought that there''s such a secret behind this artwork!"


    "Does that mean all these paintings are real?"


    "They should be. Da Vinci''s paintings can''t be replicated by just anyone, and the degree of the pigments'' discoloration, this wooden panel, they simply cannot be reproduced. Plus, Da Vinci''s signature technique, ''sfumato,'' where he could control the thickness of the ink to just 2 microns. Just a simple test with an instrument, and we can immediately tell the real from the fake!"


    "Oh my God!"


    "This time I''m truly convinced!"


    "This news could make the front page of the Global Weekly tomorrow!"


    "Quick, take photos! Take photos!"


    "Idiots, don''t photograph the paintings, they are national treasures! They are historical artifacts!"


    ...


    Who would have thought that a puzzle which perplexed countless painters and art historians for centuries would be solved like this during an art exhibition, and even reveal such astonishing information.


    Over the centuries, numerous imitations of the Mona Lisa have appeared, and even these imitations have fetched over a hundred million in high prices. Now, the value of the original has be immeasurable in mary terms.


    There are as many as seven! Seven Mona Lisas! If it can be proven that all of them are indeed Da Vinci''s originals, it would definitely shock the entire art world!


    "Wait a minute! If the Mona Lisa is a copy of some work, where is the original painting?"


    "Indeed, its value might be more terrifying than all of these paintingsbined, right?"


    "And, who could the painter be? Was it Da Vinci''s teacher, Verrhio? Or perhaps the master, Donatello?"


    "Mr. Cao, don''t keep us in suspense, you must know, right?" Zhang Menglong listened to this twisting history, itching with curiosity.


    "It''s actually very simple!" Cao Yushan said, "There''s a letter in the left eye of each painting which is the first two letters of some Italian words."


    "Al...gr...si...Zh... What does that mean?"


    With a mysterious smile, Cao Yushan said, "Al grande signor Zhang, tranted into thenguage of Huaxia, it''s ''To the great Mr. Zhang.''"

 Chapter 80 He begged for three days and three nights

    "Respected Mr. Zhang? Which Mr. Zhang? That''s a Huaxia surname, right?"


    "Did any famous Zhang surname painters emerge in Huaxia during the 16th century?"


    "Zhang Menglong is also surnamed Zhang, and so is this painter; could it be his ancestor?"


    "Damn! It''s not impossible, right?"


    "Why do I feel like this has been a setup from the start? Could this story be something his family made up just to create a sensation?"


    "Exactly, what with all this talk about there being 12 ''Mona Lisas'' and tributes. Isn''t that just what they im?"


    Once the mystery was unveiled, the onlookers were all talking at once. Events from 500 years ago are almost untraceable, and without any evidence, it reallycks any credibility.


    "Could it be that I have such a badass ancestor?" Zhang Menglong, who had already known a bit about the tip of the iceberg that was his family history, didn''t doubt Cao Yushan''s words, he just couldn''t imagine. His ancestor could earn money, that was true, but how did he end up painting on the side? And even earn such respect from someone like Da Vinci? That''s not scientific!


    "Could it be that magic school again?" Mulling over it, Zhang Menglong could only attribute everything to that school. Since it was called a school, it surely must teach some skills, right? Perhaps his ancestor''s painting abilities were acquired from there?


    "Damn it!" Thinking of this, Zhang Menglong mmed the table hard. He had already spent money fiercely. How had he not spent that 100 billion US dors yet?


    Never mind not allowing donations, every time he spent arge sum of money, by the next day it was back in his ount again, as if all the enterprises in the world belonged to his family.


    "Hiss! Ah!" The solid wood made Zhang Menglong grimace in pain.


    "Zhang Menglong, what are you going on about?" Lu Yiyao, who was nearby, was utterly confused, wondering why he suddenly started hurting himself. Could it be that the story about his ancestors was such a big shock to him?


    "It''s nothing, just that I can''t seem to spend the money, and it''s making me anxious!" Zhang Menglong blew on his reddened hand.


    "Such a problem to have," Lu Yiyao was rendered speechless. "If anyone else heard you say that, they''d want to kill you!"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "I''m really annoyed!" said Zhang Menglong with a helpless face. "I''ve been desperately spending, but it''s still so slow. I''m losing my mind over it!"


    "My mind is breaking too!"


    ...


    "Mr. Cao, what about my ancestor''s paintings?"


    "Of course, we brought them too!" Cao Yushan said. "Your ancestor dabbled in various styles and subjects including Huaxia''s ink paintings and foreign oil paintings. It''s just that he did not leave many works behind, and he kept them close. Otherwise, the world would have had another unparalleled painter."


    "That''s true. To get such an evaluation from a master like Da Vinci, I imagine his realm must be unmatched."


    "Mr. Zhang, since these works really exist, why not exhibit them for everyone to see?"


    "Yeah, Boss Zhang, let us have the honor, please!"


    Some people were hopeful, while others were more sarcastic, but everyone was curious about this authentic ''Mona Lisa''.


    "Then bring it out," Zhang Menglong instructed.


    "Bring it out!" With a wave of Cao Yushan''s hand, a supremely delicate box was carried up by two people, a far cry from those famous paintings stored in battered boxes¡ªthis one was luxurious!


    With a metal shell, adorned with glittering gemstones, the box alone was probably worth a fortune.


    "Isn''t this way too exaggerated?"


    "Mr. Zhang is quite particr about his own creations. This box was made with the most outstanding craftsmanship avable back then. Under those conditions, it couldn''t be opened by any external force. Even now, it couldn''t be cut open with temperatures below 5000 degrees."


    "That awesome?" Zhang Menglong inspected the box from all sides, "How could such a thing seem achievable with the craftsmanship from over five hundred years ago?"


    "Mr. Zhang, your ancestors were already wealthy beyond measure thousands of years ago. With the extra time they had, some traveled around the world while others started researching various things. The achievements they attained are beyond the reach of modern people."


    "Forget it, let''s not talk about that. Let''s look at the paintings first," directed Zhang Menglong.


    Cao Yushan walked up to the box and gently tapped it a few times. Unbelievably, a refined button appeared on its wless surface. Apanied by the sound of "click, click" from the mechanics, the top of the box actually began to disassemble!


    "Is this... Is this really something from 500 years ago?" Not just anyone else, even Zhang Menglong was shocked by this scene. Never mind 500 years ago, could modern technology create such a thing?


    "We must uncover the secret of that academy as soon as possible!" Zhang Menglong resolved silently.


    The box wasrge, but inside there were only a few paintings. On a well-preserved wooden panel, there was indeed a "Mona Lisa"!


    "There truly are other versions of the ''Mona Lisa''!" The people around excitedly gathered.


    Cao Yushan hung the painting, "This one is quite special. I hope everyone will be civilized in their observation."


    "Oh my God! What kind of premiere painting is this?"


    "I''ve seen Da Vinci''s ''Mona Lisa.'' No matter which angle you stand in front of the original, you feel those eyes watching you, but I''m standing behind this one! Why do I feel a gaze on me?"


    "This is unscientific!"


    "Look, her lips are smiling! They''re really moving! How is this possible?"


    "Although Da Vinci''s painting also captures Mona Lisa''s smile, it requires changing perspectives and focus, seeing the smile through thebination of various details. I''ve been staring at the same spot on this painting, and she is actually smiling!"


    "Iprehensible, just too iprehensible!"


    The audience members may not necessarily be outstanding painters, but their ability to appreciate art is beyond reproach. This painting seems even more magical than Da Vinci''s ''Mona Lisa''!


    It feels like this isn''t just a painting, but a real person!


    "This painting was done by Mr. Zhang Jingzhi when he was 21 years old. Back then, it only appeared in a small circle in Europe. Those who saw it were amazed, and even many nobles at the time wanted to purchase it for a high price."


    "But my ancestor didn''t sell it?"


    "Of course not. That amount of money didn''t interest Mr. Jingzhi at all. During the Renaissance in Europe, after that painting was exhibited, countless painters wanted to emte and refer to it, including Da Vinci. However, in the end, Mr. Jingzhi only lent it to Da Vinci for three days."


    "Why only lend it to him?"


    "It is said that at that time, Mr. Da Vinci pleaded outside Mr. Jingzhi''s residence for three days and nights. He was so bothered that he finally lent the painting to him."


    "Keep it up, I can take it." The idea of Da Vinci, one of the triumvirates of the Renaissance, begging outside his own ancestor''s door for three days and nights was hard for Zhang Menglong to imagine. Isn''t that a bit too sensational?


    "Back then, Mr. Da Vinci was actually just starting out," Cao Yushan continued, "Later on, Mr. Jingzhi thought Da Vinci had some talent and gave him a few minutes of guidance, and only after that did the great master of art emerge."

 Chapter 82 Insulting Bridewealth

    "What''s the matter? Why does your expression suddenly look so terrible?" Through the rearview mirror, Zhang Menglong saw Lu Yiyao''s grave expression.


    "It''s nothing. How about you just drop me off at the school gate and head back? Something came up with my roommate, and I''m afraid I can''t have dinner with you tonight."


    "Yiyi, you''re not good at lying," Zhang Menglong had heard everything clearly, "Your roommate said ''he'' ising. Who is ''he''?"


    "Don''t ask, this is my own business."


    "What do you mean, your own business? Your business is my business. Haven''t I said that more than once or twice?" At this moment, Zhang Menglong suddenly took on the demeanor of a domineering CEO, "An ex-boyfriend? No problem, give him a couple billion and tell him to get lost!"


    "No," Lu Yiyao shook her head, "It''s... it''s my dad."


    "Your dad?" Zhang Menglong furrowed his brow.


    He and Lu Yiyao were close enough to share almost everything, and apart from Lu Yiyao herself, probably no one knew her family better than he did.


    In fact, Lu Yiyao appeared cheerful in front of others, but when alone, she almost became someone who shut herself off, keeping only music forpany. It was only after meeting Zhang Menglong that she began to change somewhat.


    The initiator of all this was her own family.


    Lu Yiyao used to have a happy family, but then her father, Lu Huiyang, developed a terrible gambling habit. Each time he lost money, he would throw a tantrum at home, which eventually led to her mother''s decision to divorce because she couldn''t stand such a life.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Later on, her father even started to exhibit some mental issues, and several times he injured Lu Yiyao badly enough to require hospitalization. The worst incident had herid up in the hospital for an entire month!


    Only after Lu Yiyao went to university did she begin to escape the torment of her father. Relying on her musical talent, sometimes giving music lessons to little children, sometimes releasing her work on various music sites, she managed to earn a decent ie. At the very least, she could be self-sufficient.


    Since then, she hadn''t contacted her father again, and she stayed in Gusu even during the New Year. This year had been the happiest Spring Festival for her, thanks to Zhang Menglong''spany.


    The university years were the most rxed of her life. After graduation, she could find a job she loved. Maybe she would even meet the person she had known for a long time but had never met. Everything seemed to be getting better.


    But now, without any prior indication, her father had actuallye to her school. His gambling addiction had not abated over the years¡ªin fact, it had gotten worse. He had lost even the house and was buried in debt.


    The crazed Lu Huiyang had only now remembered he had a daughter. This was his second timeing to find her. Thest time, he forcibly took away nearly half a year of Lu Yiyao''s living expenses and the entire year''s tuition. If it had not been for her roommates'' help, she might not have even been able to continue her studies.


    "I''lle with you!" Zhang Menglong stepped on the gas, speeding up the car. A trip that should have taken twenty minutes waspleted in less than ten.


    As expected, there was already a crowd gathered at the bottom of Lu Yiyao''s dormitory building, with even the school security on the scene. But the guards were somewhat hesitant in the face of Lu Huiyang''s crazed behavior. After all, if someone with a mental illness hurts someone, they''re not held ountable.


    "Lu Yiyao,e down here!"


    "I''ve raised you for over twenty years, and now that you''ve met a wealthy boyfriend, shouldn''t you repay your old man?"


    "If you don''te down, I''ll wait right here until you do!"


    "What are you all looking at? It''s only natural for a father to look for his daughter. Get lost, all of you!"


    Although the news about Lu Yiyao and Zhang Menglong had only spread online for less than two days, Lu Huiyang had seen it by chance. The person who had been very close to the recently famous rich second-generation online was his own daughter!


    He immediately sought out all the information he could find on Zhang Menglong. After some investigation, he realized that the young man''s wealth and background were shockingly unimaginable!


    He immediately assumed that Lu Yiyao was dating Zhang Menglong, which gave him some hope. Perhaps he could get arge sum of money from his daughter¡ªmaybe even enough to not worry about gambling money ever again!


    ...


    "This is your dad?" Zhang Menglong looked at the man, disheveled and unkempt, and for a moment, he didn''t know what to say, "These years must have been difficult for you, right?"


    "It''s okay," Lu Yiyao said with a helpless, bitter smile, "It''s been bearable since I started college. After all, he is my dad. I owe it to him, I guess."


    "Owe him? A man who fathers but does not raise does not deserve to be called a father," Zhang Menglong was filled with rage, and he even wanted to rush over and give Lu Huiyang a beating. If not for him, Lu Yiyao''s personality wouldn''t have be so fragile and reclusive.


    "Zhang Menglong, don''t be rash, he''s still my father after all..."


    "It''s okay, don''t worry. I won''t do anything rash," Zhang Menglong said. He sent a voice message to Hong Yi, "Hong Yi, find out all the information about Yiyi''s father as soon as possible. Something came up here."


    "Mr. Zhang, we''ve always had his information," Hong Yi replied promptly, "From the moment you first met miss Lu, all her information has been with us."


    "Damn, are you guys spies or what?"


    "We need to make sure that everything around you poses no danger to you," Hong Yi said, "Lu Huiyang, 49 years old, diagnosed with moderate mental illness,pulsive gambler, currently owes a total of 1.27 million in debts and is homeless."


    "Gee, they even let someone with moderate mental illness out, who knows which hospital made that diagnosis," Zhang Menglong muttered, "I got it, you help me contact Cao Yushan, have him bring some guys over. I''m afraid the security here can''t handle this lunatic."


    "Okay, I''ll contact him right away."


    "Let''s go, we''ll go up and take a look."


    "I''m afraid..."


    "It''s alright, I''m here." For the first time, Zhang Menglong took Lu Yiyao''s hand. It was their first physical contact since they''d known each other.


    Lu Yiyao did not resist, that hand made her feel very secure.


    "Excuse me, please make way!"


    "Zhang Menglong? It''s Zhang Menglong!"


    "Lu Yiyao is here!"


    "This is going to be a good show, the drama of the year!"


    "How could Lu Yiyao have such a father? She has never mentioned him before."


    "Family scandals should not be aired in public, if I had such a father, I wouldn''t want to tell anyone either."


    "True, it''s also a wonder how they''re going to handle this."


    "What''s there to handle? With a boyfriend like Zhang Menglong, what problem can''t be solved?"


    "True, maybe Boss Zhang will just drop a bag of money and make that madman scram!"


    "Haha, where are my sunflower seeds?"


    ...


    "It''s nothing!" Sensing the emotion that Lu Yiyao showed when she heard the gossip around her, Zhang Menglong gripped her hand even tighter.


    "You little brat, so you''ve run off outside!" It was unclear whether Lu Huiyang was genuinely mentally ill or faking it, but at that moment he seemed very lucid.


    "Come here!" Lu Huiyang shouted, "I heard you''ve got yourself a very wealthy boyfriend, is it this guy?"


    "Young man, are you dating my daughter?"


    "Yes," Zhang Menglong pulled Lu Yiyao behind him!


    "Wow! He admitted it!"


    "Crap, crap, crap!"


    "Wuu, my youth is over!"


    "So romantic, I''m so jealous!"


    "Hahaha, good!" Lu Huiyang startedughing, "I''ve spent quite a bit of money raising my daughter, I won''t meddle in your affairs from now on. Give me a dowry of 5 million, and my daughter is yours, how about it."


    "Damn! Selling his daughter?"


    "5 million for a dowry? Why doesn''t he just rob someone?"


    "Pfft, only 5 million, that''s practically an insult to Boss Zhang!"


    "Hahaha, exactly, the man just spent 500 billion US dors today to buy a few thousand famous paintings. This dowry offer is nothing but insulting!"


    "Hahaha, ''insulting dowry'', that''s a good use of words! This old lunatic probably has no idea just how wealthy his daughter''s boyfriend really is, huh?"


    ...

 Chapter 83 Build Him a Mental Hospital

    The surroundingughter left Lu Huiyang somewhat stunned; was asking for a dowry of 5 million such aughing matter?


    Back when he married Lu Yiyao''s mother, it had only cost a few yuan for the bride price. Even though decades had passed, and the present intion was iparable to that time, 5 million remained a figure Lu Huiyang didn''t even dare to dream of.


    Even the house he had lived in for over a decade, if mortgaged to the creditors, was only worth a few hundred thousand. He no longer had any serious job. If he had to repay this debt of over a million by himself, he feared he wouldn''t finish paying it off even at his death.


    He knew Zhang Menglong had money, but that was just a vague idea. With his troubled mental state, he didn''t have the energy to investigate how much money Zhang Menglong actually had.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He had only heard that Zhang Menglong bought apany for his daughter. With that kind of capability, he must have a worth of at least few tens of millions, after all, in his ridiculous worldview, a worth of a few tens of millions was already quite remarkable.


    Even when he asked for a dowry of 5 million, he felt like he was asking for too much.


    But what he didn''t expect was that his demand immediately provokedughter from the people around him.


    "Are you sure you''re only asking for 5 million?"


    "5 million, not a penny less, or I''ll take her away right now!"


    "Dad!" Tears welled up in Lu Yiyao''s eyes, "Am I just a product to you? You drove mom away, and now you want to ruin my life too, don''t you?"


    "I''ve raised you all these years so that you can support me in the future!" Lu Huiyang showed no signs of remorse, "I''ll tell you, Lu Yiyao, I am your father now, and I will be forever. You''ll never get rid of me for as long as you live!"


    "You just said, as long as you get the 5 million, you won''t pester her anymore?"


    "That''s right!" said Lu Huiyang, "Give me the money, and our obligation of parental support is settled. I will absolutely not bother her again."


    "Okay," said Zhang Menglong, "5 million, I hope you''ll keep your word!"


    Zhang Menglong easily got Lu Huiyang''s bank ount information from Hong Yi and immediately transferred the 5 million.


    When Lu Huiyang''s phone received the bank''s message, his face lit up with surprise. This young man actually gave him 5 million!


    "Hahaha!" Lu Huiyangughed hysterically, "5 million, 5 million, hahaha!"


    "Damn, you believe that? A gambler, might lose the 5 million in just a few days and definitelye back again!"


    "Exactly, once he''s tasted sweetness, how could he just stop? Zhang Menglong, you shouldn''t trust him!"


    "Yeah, just ignore such a person!"


    "Forget it, consider it my responsibility as his junior," Zhang Menglong patted Lu Yiyao''s shoulder, who by that point could no longer speak due to her sobs.


    Although she didn''t have much affection for her father, only hatred, one could imagine the despair in her heart upon hearing his attitude.


    "Wait a minute!" Just then, Lu Huiyang spoke up again, "5 million isn''t enough!"


    "What did you say?" Zhang Menglong''s eyes narrowed, "Just now, you said after the 5 million, you would stop pestering her."


    "Hmph, it''s not that simple!" Lu Huiyang had no difficulty guessing that Zhang Menglong''s wealth was far greater than this number, since he had effortlessly parted with 5 million.


    He was well aware that after paying off his debts, the 5 million probably wouldn''tst him long. With such an opportunity, why not ask for more? Would it not be a waste of his ''valuable'' daughter?


    "I want 10 million!" Lu Huiyang demanded, "Give me another 5 million and I''ll leave immediately!"


    "Doubled extortionate bride price!"


    "Hahaha, to insult Boss Zhang twice, if it were me, I couldn''t stand it!"


    "Right, at least change the unit or add a few more zeros to make it enough!"


    "Yiyi, it looks like your dad has no intention of letting go of his cash cow," Zhang Menglong sighed, "I''m afraid I have to use some special methods now. You wouldn''t be angry, would you?"


    "Just don''t hurt him," Lu Yiyao felt Zhang Menglong''s anger. Thest person who angered him had already been sent to dig for coal in Africa. Even if Lu Huiyang was her father, Lu Yiyao couldn''t guarantee that Zhang Menglong would spare him. Not hurting him was herst bit of hope.


    "Don''t worry, after all, he''s your dad. I won''t only not hurt him, but I''ll also take him to a ce that to him will be heaven."


    "What?" Lu Yiyao had no idea what Zhang Menglong was talking about.


    At that moment, a car drove into the student dormitory area. Cao Yushan, apanied by a few men that looked like bodyguards, arrived in front of Zhang Menglong.


    "Mr. Zhang, we''re here. Miss Hong Yi has already informed me about the situation. Is there anything you need us to do here?"


    "Hmm," Zhang Menglong nodded, "do you know any doctors who specialize in treating mental illness?"


    "Mr. Zhang, your family cultivates arge number of talents in various fields every year and also recruits talent through various means. Their capabilities are definitely not inferior to world-ss doctors."


    "Good, find me a ce near Gusu City, it''s fine even if it''s in the suburbs."


    "Mr. Zhang, are you nning to..."


    "Build him a mental hospital!" Zhang Menglong pointed at Lu Huiyang and said, "Make it look like a casino. Later on, hire a group of staff to bet with him and y cards every day. You set the sry. If he gets better, let him out once he''s cured. If he doesn''t get better, he can just stay and be the God of Gamblers for the rest of his life."


    Zhang Menglong''s voice wasn''t loud, but the people closest to him heard him loud and clear.


    What kind of situation was this? To build a mental hospital for a single person and even hire a group of actors to y along? Was this a mental patient or an Emperor? What kind of mental patient would receive such treatment?


    "You see, even if you''re mentally ill, as long as you rely on Boss Zhang, you can get a private hospital set up for you!"


    "I just want to know, can I apply for the job?"


    "Hahaha, I''m fierce at ying Fight the Landlord. I used to watch Grandpa Lu''s live streams every day!"


    "De de de de de de de de de..."


    "Light incense."


    "Stop talking, I''ve got the whole picture in my head already."


    "You shouldn''t have any objections to the way I''m handling this, right?" Zhang Menglong turned to ask for Lu Yiyao''s opinion.


    "Is it worth it?" Lu Yiyao said.


    "What bullshit are you talking!" Zhang Menglong raised his voice. "For your sake, it''s all worth it!"


    "Take him away," Zhang Menglong ordered. "Be careful not to injure him."


    "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, we will take care of Miss Lu''s father appropriately."


    "Hmm, I''ll leave it to you then," Zhang Menglong said.


    "Hey! What are you going to do? Are you going to start something? I warn you, I''ve trained in martial arts!" Lu Huiyang adopted a stance, "Wing Chun, Ye Wen!"


    Cao Yushan held his forehead. This wasn''t a mental patient, this was an idiot, "Be careful with him, take him back to the second hospital first."


    "Let go of me! You let go of me, I''m not mentally ill, you have no right to catch me!"


    "Ah! I won''t go! Lu Yiyao, you ungrateful thing, you just wait, as long as I''m alive, you''ll never be rid of me!"


    "Gag him!" Zhang Menglong said coldly.


    "Mmm mmm mmm..."


    ...


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