As they left the restaurant, Fu Wanqing and her family rushed to their Porsche Cayenne.
Auntie San opened the car door, turned around and waved to Fu Haoran's parents, her face beaming with joy, her tone overflowing with superiority. "Old Fu, sister-in-law! Get in our car!"
"Just let Haoran use the navigation to get there slowly!"
The Cayenne is indeed a status symbol in Banyan City, especially in front of her relatives who have spent their lives running small businesses; it's something she's been showing off for years.
Fu Haoran didn't reply, but instead looked down at his phone and sent a message.
Ten seconds later, a matte black Maybach S680 slowly drove out of the parking lot.
The moment the three-pointed star logo on the front of the car flashed under the streetlight, Fu Wanqing's smile froze on her face.
The S680 starts at 3.32 million yuan, a price that is enough to deter most people.
When the Maybach stopped in front of everyone, everyone except Fu Haoran unconsciously took a half step back.
The car paint had a subtle matte sheen under the streetlights, and the chrome trim on the wheels subtly reflected the light.
There was no roar, no ostentation, but the moment it stopped there, the entire street's atmosphere was suppressed.
The chauffeur quickly got out of the car, bent down, and opened the back door. "Mr. Fu, Uncle and Aunt, please get in the car."
Everyone looked at the black luxury car, then at Fu Haoran, and were momentarily stunned.
"Dad, Mom, let's get in the car."
Urged on by Fu Haoran, the two elders got into the car.
Father Fu's back was much straighter than usual. It wasn't that he was deliberately straightening it; it was the kind of straightening that came from being gently supported by something, and he unconsciously stretched out.
Mrs. Fu sat in the back seat, gently touched the leather seat, and then quickly withdrew her hand to place it on her lap.
Watching Fu Haoran's family get into the car, Fu Wanqing quickly took out her phone and snapped five or six high-definition photos of the Maybach.
Of course she recognized the Maybach S680.
Her father runs a building materials business in Banyan City, and the family owns a Porsche Cayenne. Among their relatives, they are considered well-off, and she also managed to get into the group of wealthy second-generation overseas students by relying on her family's money.
She simply couldn't believe that her distant cousin, whose family had been even poorer than hers and who was ridiculed by relatives for "going abroad to work after graduation," could ride in a luxury car worth over four million yuan.
"If this car really belongs to Fu Haoran, I'll immediately take a screenshot and post it on my WeChat Moments with the caption 'My brother's car,' to boost my status in the rich kids' group."
"If it's not his, even better. I'll expose him in the family group chat and get back all the face I lost at the dinner table."
She opened the group chat for wealthy second-generation overseas students, posted the clearest front-facing photo, and captioned it. "Just got back to China. This Maybach S680 is so cool! What year is it?"
A reply came in the group chat a dozen seconds later.
Kai: "The 2014 S680 is the flagship car of Banyan City Shenghao Rental. It's registered under the rental company's name, not privately owned. It's most likely rented to make a good impression."
Fu Wanqing stared at the line of text on the screen, slowly exhaled, and the corners of her mouth turned up again.
She immediately took a screenshot, but instead of sending it to the family group chat, she specifically tagged Fu Haoran: "Brother Hao, this car isn't cheap, is it? The latest S680, it costs over four million."
"When did you buy it? I've never heard of it."
Fu Wanqing was ready. Once Fu Haoran admitted it, she would post the screenshot from the group chat next door and expose him in public!
Fu Haoran replied quickly, "It's rented by the company for temporary reception purposes."
Fu Wanqing's finger hovered in front of the screen, about to tap.
No, why did you admit it?
When Mr. Fu saw the message in the group chat, his expression relaxed slightly.
But after the initial relaxation, a vague sense of loss crept in.
Fu Wanqing flipped her phone over and placed it face down on her lap, but felt inexplicably choked up inside.
Even though the car was rented and I exposed him, I just couldn't shake off that suffocating feeling.
Even if the car is rented, he can easily summon a Maybach worth four million yuan, while his own family only has a Porsche Cayenne at most.
For the first time, she realized that she seemed to have never truly understood this distant cousin.
She picked up her phone again, opened Tianyancha (a business information platform), and searched for Fu Haoran's DYB domestic branch.
The page popped up, showing a registered capital of 100,000 and the company type clearly stated as "micro and small enterprise".
The section for the number of insured persons is collapsed; you need to go to the details page to see it.
She didn't even bother clicking; she simply screenshotted the words "micro and small enterprises" and sneered inwardly.
"It really is a shell company."
"That's all the Chinese men are good for; they register an empty shell and dare to pretend to be rich."
She didn't notice at all that the column for the number of insured persons was folded over, and the small gray print read: 32,749 people.
What's even more unknown is that the China National Tobacco Corporation is also listed as a "micro-enterprise" in its business registration information.
The convoy drove onto the Binjiang Avenue in Banyan City and turned onto a private driveway hidden in a camphor forest.
The Maybach was in the lead, followed by the Cayenne, and then my third uncle's Cayenne and my fourth aunt's Buick.
The driveway winds its way up the mountain, and along the way you can only see a few scattered manor gates hidden behind hedges. Each building is concealed in the mountain and the shadows of the trees. Looking up from the foot of the mountain, you can't see any buildings at all, only an overwhelming expanse of green.
Sitting in the back seat, Mr. Fu suddenly spoke up, " Haoran, are we in the wrong area? This is a luxury residential area, full of detached villas."
"That's right, Dad," Fu Haoran said, "We bought it here."
Fu Wanqing sat in the back seat of the Cayenne, looking out the window at the wrought iron gates hidden in the shadows of the trees, unable to utter a single word.
As someone who frequents the circles of wealthy second-generation individuals, how could she not recognize this place?
Riverside No. 1, the oldest and most prestigious villa community in Banyan City, offers a tranquil retreat amidst the bustling city center, less than a 15-minute drive away.
She had only heard about such places from people in her circle; she had never actually been inside one.
The convoy was stopped in front of the security booth.
--
The uniformed security guard walked to the window of the Maybach, glanced down at the license plate, then at Fu Haoran in the back seat, and immediately picked up the walkie-talkie and said a few words.
The next second, he snapped to attention, gave a perfect salute, and the electric wrought iron gate slowly slid open to both sides.
The Cayenne followed the Maybach without even registering and drove straight in.
The vehicle finally stopped at the top of the mountain, but no one was in a hurry to get off.
It's not that I don't want to get off, it's that I don't know what expression to wear as I walk into this manor.
Fu Haoran opened the car door, took his father's hand with one hand and helped his mother with the other, and led them up the steps.
"Mom and Dad, the house is a bit big. You can stay here for now, and we can move if you don't like it."
Fu Haoran hadn't expected JARVIS to buy such a big house. It was no wonder that he was the AI butler created by Iron Man Tony; even his style was so high-class.
The mansion can only be described as outrageously luxurious.
Inside the door is a three-story living room with a high ceiling.
The five-story-high floor-to-ceiling windows face the winding river in the distance, and the marble chandeliers hanging from the dome cast even light across the room.
On the marble floor, outside the window flows the rushing river, and inside, the light is warm and gentle, making the entire living room seem like a transparent box floating on the river.
The spiral staircase winds its way up, its handrail crafted from a single piece of North America black walnut wood.
Someone secretly peeked down the stairs and saw that the basement was a sunken courtyard with full natural light. A floor-to-ceiling window faced the mountain courtyard, and it was fully equipped with a temperature-controlled wine cabinet, a home theater, and a rosewood tea table. Sunlight streamed in from the courtyard, making it bright and airy.
"They're not here to look at houses—" Auntie muttered to herself, "They're here to watch a movie, aren't they?"
She spoke softly, but everyone present heard her clearly.
Because that's what everyone is thinking.
Everyone stood stiffly, and no one dared to sit.
Shen Shuwei had just returned from Amerikan a few days ago and was still jet-lagged. She had originally planned to indulge herself, since life abroad had been too tough.
After her mother's unexpected death, her father kept a very close watch on her, not only assigning people to monitor her studies but also giving her a full schedule of courses: horseback riding, skiing, ballet, piano, business etiquette, and art appreciation.
She never had the chance to enjoy what is supposed to be a wonderful university life.
--
While others study abroad to see the world, she studies abroad to check her class schedule.
However, the father left no room for negotiation.
During this trip back to China, I also assigned her tasks.
There's a luxury mansion under the company that needs to be disposed of. Her father asked her to represent the Shen family to go through the motions and get to know the buyer, saying that the buyer is also an overseas Chinese, and that the Shen family wants to expand overseas in the future, so having more friends means having more options.
She left the Miss World pageant application form face down on the table, picked up a low-key but expensive MaMara fitted cashmere coat, and went out.
The coat is a minimalist H-line fitted style, which sits perfectly at the waistline, perfectly outlining her supermodel height of 182cm and highlighting her golden ratio of 3:7.
The wide-leg suit trousers in the same color have a great drape, making her long, straight, and well-proportioned legs, which make up nearly 60% of her body, even more eye-catching.
You should know that Miss Shen spends most of her time in the ballet studio and dance studio.
With clean, upright shoulder and neck lines, and a slender waist, she exudes the relaxed aura of a professional runway model even when standing casually.
Her overly delicate face was reflected in the rearview mirror.
Before she was even nineteen, her features had fully developed, inheriting all of her mother's beauty from her youth, and perhaps even surpassing it.
Her eyes are slightly upturned at the corners, giving her a natural allure.
Leng Yuebai's skin was like porcelain; even without makeup, she was a hundred times more eye-catching than the heavily made-up socialites in the industry.
My father's tone on the phone just now sounded like he was talking about an ordinary business deal, but there was something more to it than met the eye.
"He's young, single, runs a very successful business overseas. Go there, chat with him, and make friends."
Of course she understands.
Her father forbade her from dating since she was a child, and would even question her for a long time if a male classmate sent her a message. Now, he has suddenly started arranging blind dates for her.
She felt uneasy, thinking her father was being too controlling.
However, Shen Shuwei failed to detect the weariness and anxiety that her father couldn't hide in his voice during that phone call.
That wasn't a father worrying about his daughter's marriage; it was a man on the verge of being crushed by debt, looking for someone to support his daughter.
"Okay, Dad, I know. I don't want to date right now."
After hanging up the phone, Mr. Shen sat in his empty office, staring at the pile of overdue debt collection notices on his desk. Looking at the empty room, he sighed to himself, "Xiao Wei, why don't you understand? While there's still someone willing to look at you, hurry up and find a reliable person to marry. Once the company really collapses, no one will want you anymore."
The car stopped at the entrance of the manor. Shen Shuwei got out, her 10cm stiletto heels making a crisp sound on the stone pavement.
Standing in front of the grand manor gate, I was not overwhelmed by the architecture; on the contrary, I felt perfectly in tune with the style of this ultra-luxury estate.
She looked up at the three-story mansion in front of her, and a slight thought crossed her mind.
She had heard her father mention this building more than once.
This place was originally planned by my father to be the most exclusive private club in Banyan City. He spent 100 million yuan on the renovation alone, intending to make it a high-end business and social venue. However, due to the company's tight cash flow, he had to convert it into a residential property for sale.
It was priced at one billion, and after being listed for three months, no more than three groups of people came to see it.
It's not that people look down on it, it's that nobody is willing to spend a billion yuan to buy a detached manor in Banyan City.
She took a deep breath and rang the doorbell.
The door opened, and the property manager eagerly led her inside, reporting in a low voice as they walked, "Ms. Shen, the buyer's surname is Fu, an overseas Chinese, paid in full, and it's a retirement home for her parents."
Shen Shuwei nodded and walked through the entryway into the living room.
All eyes in the living room instantly turned to her.
Her gaze habitually swept over everyone present, an instinct ingrained from growing up in a business family.
There were about ten people standing in the center of the living room, unsure of what to do with their hands and feet, looking very reserved; they were clearly not the owners of the place.
Then she saw the only person sitting there.
The man leaned back on the sofa, wearing a dark gray casual suit, with his legs crossed, his expression indifferent.
All the relatives in the room were standing, while he was the only one sitting, as if he were surrounded by stars in the center.
Shen Shuwei suddenly stopped in her tracks.
It was him.
The man who stabbed an Xenomorph throat with his bare hands using a spoon at a private dinner party in Washington three months ago.
After putting on high heels, she stood nearly 1.92 meters tall. Her tall stature, combined with her perfect head-to-body ratio and delicate face, exuded an air of nobility that was something they had never seen before in their lives.
Not to mention the relaxed aura she exuded, a unique blend of a wealthy heiress and a beauty pageant contestant—a level they had never encountered in their lives.
The property manager quickly walked up to the man, bowed, and introduced, "Mr. Fu, this is Ms. Shen Shuwei from Shengyuan Real Estate, the daughter of Chairman Shen. She has come specifically to deliver the property ownership documents to you."
Fu Haoran looked up at her and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
The living room fell silent instantly.
Uncle San's wine glass stopped in mid-air, Aunt San gasped, and Fu Wanqing's eyes widened like saucers.
Shen Group is a leading real estate developer in Banyan City.
They usually only saw members of the Shen family on television news, but now the Shen family's daughter was standing in front of Fu Haoran, like a junior visiting the family.
Shen Shuwei snapped out of her daze, took the contract and property certificate from her assistant, and then went to Fu Haoran.
She leaned slightly forward, the collar of her cashmere coat highlighting her delicate collarbone, and said politely, "Mr. Fu, all the property documents are here."
"Please check the property ownership certificate, purchase contract, and property handover Manifest."
Fu Haoran flipped through two pages and signed his name.
Shen Shuwei's gaze swept over the property registration page - in the property owner column, the names of Fu Haoran's parents were clearly written.
She paused for a moment, then looked up at Fu Haoran: "You bought this house for your aunt and uncle to live in when they retire?"
"Yes. I live abroad most of the time and don't come back often. This place is quite suitable for the elderly."
Shen Shuwei didn't ask any more questions.
She closed the file, handed it to her assistant behind her, and looked at Fu Haoran, suddenly feeling that this man was far too mature.
He looks to be under thirty, but he talks and acts like he's forty.
He's mature and steady, that's true; but he's also really boring.
She turned to leave, but stopped at the door, glanced back at Fu Haoran, and couldn't help asking, "How exactly did you manage that in Washington?"
Fu Haoran leaned back on the sofa, picked up his teacup, and took a sip. "Good luck."
Shen Shuwei stared at him for two seconds, her lips twitching slightly.
It wasn't a laugh, but rather a knowing "I knew I couldn't get an answer" kind of understanding.
"Then I won't bother you any longer, I'll be going now."
The living room was silent for a full three seconds as the door closed.
Fu Wanqing was the first to break down.
The scene from earlier kept replaying in her mind. She was the first to react, so she quickly put on a smile and went over to greet her, "Hello, Miss Shen, I'm Fu Wanqing, we're in the same group."
Shen Shuwei simply nodded politely to her, her gaze remaining fixed on Fu Haoran on the sofa.
Her words at the dinner table, "an exhibition selling small private planes and model airplane toys," were still ringing in her ears, making her cheeks burn.
Fu Haoran picked up the red property certificate and handed it to his mother. "Mom, this house will belong to you and Dad from now on."
"By the way, I've rented this house to the company as the headquarters of our domestic branch. I'll pay you rent at market rate every month."
Auntie was the first to recover. Holding her teacup, she tried to smooth things over in an extremely unnatural tone. " Haoran, you're so capable now. The Zhuhai Airshow is in a week, why don't you take us there? You're going to participate anyway, and we can broaden our horizons too."
"Great! Brother, I want to see the big airplane!" Fu Haoran's younger sister, Fu Tongtong, who was still in elementary school, immediately raised her hand, her eyes sparkling. She didn't really understand what an airshow was; she only knew that she could go out and play without having to go to school.
Third Aunt was just casually trying to save face; she never expected Fu Haoran to take it seriously.
The next second, Fu Haoran picked up his phone and dialed Cheng Beixiao's number.
"Xiao Cheng, book a private jet for tomorrow to fly to Zhuhai. It's a charter flight. There will be about twenty-five people. Arrange accommodation, VIP seats, and shuttle bus service during the airshow, according to the company's highest hospitality standards."
After hanging up the phone, he looked at the room full of relatives and said calmly, "Meet at the airport at ten o'clock tomorrow morning."
The living room was deathly silent.
Uncle San's hand, holding the wine glass, froze in mid-air, and he was completely stunned. He suddenly realized that every "not bad," "neither good nor bad," "startup company," and "rented car" that his nephew had said was never what he understood it to mean.