Things Remain, But People Have Changed

Inside Cloud Sea Club, one is surrounded by Chinese poetic and picturesque scenery, with an elegant and refined atmosphere.

If you didn't see the photos on the wall every few steps, you might just think this is some high-class, sophisticated club.

"These..." Luo Xinyu stood in front of the wall full of group photos, speechless with shock.

Zhang Yang looked up, smiled, and said nothing.

The wall covered with group photos are naturally photos of members and guests who have visited Cloud Sea Club over the years. Behind each face is a mountain of wealth, representing the leaders of their respective industries.

Unreachable, a towering mountain to be revered...

The only thing they had in common was that Zhang Yang was always in the center of every group photo, seemingly omnipresent.

Zhang Yang isn't actually keen on hanging up group photos.

However, the details of the club's operation were handled by the staff. According to them, hanging up group photos helps to unite people and create momentum, and even the biggest bosses always have a lot of group photos in their offices.

This has a clear meaning and function.

Zhang Yang then went with them.

"Zhang Yang... you've actually grown to this extent." Luo Xinyu looked at the photo, then at Zhang Yang.

She finally understood where Zhang Yang's confidence came from.

Because he has become a towering mountain in himself.

"Let's go, I'll treat you to a welcome dinner." Zhang Yang pointed to a private room in the distance.

A welcoming banquet is naturally held with people seated and accompanying guests.

As for the scale of the event, Zhang Yang certainly wouldn't invite a bunch of big shots; that wouldn't be appropriate or necessary. Those invited were naturally from the circles that Ms. Luo used to have access to.

For Zhang Yang to personally appear in this kind of circle is already quite an honor.

The door to the private room opened, and a group of people inside stood up, their faces showing excitement.

"Hello, Mr. Zhang."

"Mr. Zhang."

In the past, when Zhang Yang was in the elite circles, it was perfectly acceptable to call him Young Master Zhang or Brother Zhang. Now, as a top-tier bigwig, aside from his old friends who still use those terms, why would strangers address him that way?

"Sit down." Zhang Yang led Luo Xinyu inside and sat down directly in the reserved main seat.

To be honest, he wasn't familiar with anyone here.

Strictly speaking, he could be considered a subordinate of his subordinate, though he wasn't familiar with him, while Luo Xinyu was very familiar with him.

These···

She held her breath and remained silent.

Everyone present was once a star in her circle, and now they were all sitting on their chairs, looking incredibly flattered.

"Start serving the dishes," Zhang Yang ordered. "Oh, and where's the person pouring the wine?"

Suddenly, everyone looked towards the doorway.

Two figures, their faces pale, walked in.

Luo Xinyu looked up and froze.

A man and a woman; they are brother and sister.

It was the Tang Family siblings, Tang Junchu and Tang Yinan, who had been at odds with their family back then.

Without Zhang Yang needing to speak, some people in the room naturally rushed to stand up and say something.

"What are you all standing there for, Young Master Tang..." someone drawled, "Quickly pour Mr. Zhang a drink."

"Miss Tang, it's been a long time..." someone said jokingly.

The two of them dragged their heavy steps and walked stiffly to Zhang Yang's side.

"Mr. Zhang, I'd like to give you..." Tang Junchu stepped forward first.

"Yes, your sister is going to pour wine for Luo Xinyu," Zhang Yang said, glancing up at him.

Given his status, these two people before him seemed as insignificant as ants. If it weren't for Luo Xinyu, he wouldn't have given them a second glance.

Even now, he wouldn't stoop so low as to specifically target those two.

Having them serve him drinks and smile throughout the meal was already a testament to his magnanimity; he wasn't going to hold a grudge against them.

"I... I don't want to." Tang Yinan glanced at Luo Xinyu beside him and blurted out instinctively.

Her former defeated foe, the object of her mockery.

Today, she sits there openly, while she has to bow her head to pour the wine. How can she accept this?

Snap!

Tang Junchu, who was standing to the side, gritted his teeth and suddenly slapped him.

In an instant, Tang Yinan's cheeks became red and swollen.

"Brother... you!"

She covered her cheeks, her eyes reddening, looking at her own brother in disbelief.

"Mr. Zhang ordered you to pour wine for Ms. Luo, didn't you hear me?! Do I have to repeat myself?" He stared into his sister's eyes, trying to convey his feelings. "If you don't do it... I..."

He pretended to raise his palm again, but in reality, his heart was aching terribly.

"Xiao Tang, don't do it... If your sister doesn't want to, then forget it. It makes me look like a gangster." Zhang Yang said with a smile, "You're the same. If you feel unwilling, you can just turn right and leave."

"No, no... Mr. Zhang, it's my honor! It's a blessing I earned in my past life." Tang Junchu's lips trembled with fright. "Yi Nan, what are you standing there for?"

Tang Yinan was stunned for several seconds before finally lowering her eyes and looking down.

Then, amidst a multitude of gazes with varying expressions, he slowly stepped forward and walked to Luo Xinyu's side.

Nearly two years later, no one could have imagined that the two, who were once at odds, would meet again under such circumstances.

Luo Xinyu was clearly somewhat unaccustomed to it.

"This··"

She instinctively covered her wine glass.

"Let her pour it. If you don't let her, she probably won't be able to sleep day and night," Zhang Yang said with a laugh. "Don't feel pressured. They're all doing it willingly, right?"

He looked at the two people beside him.

"Yes! Yes! Mr. Zhang is right. I'm happy to do it, and I couldn't ask for more." With that, he quickly stepped forward, picked up the wine bottle, and began to pour wine.

Luo Xinyu hesitated for a moment, then slowly let go of her hand.

Beside her, Tang Yinan, his eyes red, leaned slightly forward to pour wine for Luo Xinyu.

"Ms. Luo, please."

"Thank you." Luo Xinyu looked at the wine in her glass, then at the arrogant and haughty young lady she remembered, who was now bowing her head and speaking softly in front of her.

How does it feel?

Is it enjoyable?

Not really... just a sense of regret...

Was it all because of her own fault? Of course not.

Luo Xinyu glanced at Zhang Yang, who looked as handsome as a god under the lamplight, and felt only a sense of bewilderment.

Unable to contain herself, she couldn't help but reach out and grasp Zhang Yang's hand.

A flurry of gazes exchanged glances, and the way they looked at Ms. Luo shifted rapidly...

Then, the dishes were served.

The entire banquet was not a normal business dinner at all; instead, it was filled with flattery and ingratiation.

It was utterly obsequious, so obsequious it was outrageous.

In this kind of atmosphere, what serious business could Zhang Yang possibly discuss with them?

"I've invited everyone here today for no other reason than this." Zhang Yang shook Luo Xinyu's hand. "Luo Xinyu is my friend. She's planning to return to China to develop her career. She just wanted to let you all know that if we meet in business in the future, please give way to her."

"Mr. Zhang, you flatter me!"

"Don't worry, Mr. Zhang, we know about Ms. Luo's family situation." Someone patted their chest and assured them, "If Ms. Luo needs any orders in the future, we'll have as many as you want."

"Haha, Sister Luo, let me toast you. With General Manager Zhang here, it looks like your family is definitely going to have a prosperous year."

Everyone turned around and started toasting each other, while also pledging their loyalty.

Zhang Yang smiled as he looked at everyone vying to show their loyalty.

Since they were so cooperative, he naturally wouldn't mind giving them a little something extra in the future.

His numerous favors were enough to make the families of everyone present extremely wealthy.

Amidst the shower of compliments, Luo Xinyu's cheeks flushed, her heart overflowing with an overwhelming sense of security.

Hmm... so this is how the women of powerful figures are treated.

After the drinking session, Zhang Yang saw that the Tang Family siblings had maintained a proper demeanor throughout, and not wanting to make things difficult for them any further, he waved them away.

Every sip and every bite is a cycle of cause and effect.

The seeds they sowed in the past will naturally yield the fruits they must bear today.

After this incident, their reputation in the industry was completely ruined. Even if Zhang Yang didn't say a word, their family would probably suffer the consequences in the future.

As the crowd dispersed, Zhang Yang and Luo Xinyu stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, where the lights were dim and the magnificent skyline of Magic City stretched into the distance.

"Zhang Yang... thank you." Luo Xinyu looked at Zhang Yang, her face reflected the lights outside the window.

"There's no need to be so polite between us," Zhang Yang said with a smile. "You got a much better price for that house back then."

"That's true... I guess I'm just too soft-hearted." Luo Xinyu smiled and snuggled into Zhang Yang's arms. "Hey, speaking of which, I still remember that girl who brought you to buy the house. You and she seemed to be quite close, right?"

"Her?" Zhang Yang was taken aback.

Oh.

Luo Xinyu was referring to Pei Xiaoru.

At that time, Pei Xiaoru worked as a real estate agent in Magic City, braving wind and rain, relying on her performance to make a living.

It was quite a coincidence that old classmates met again. He took Pei Xiaoru on a trip, gave her a lot of sales performance, and even used the system's power to give Pei Xiaoru a house.

Later, she went back to her hometown.

Before they knew it, it seemed like a long time had passed since they last saw each other.

On WeChat, however, she's always sending herself messages.

The previous message was...

I can't remember.

Call it being a busy man or something else, he certainly has a lot on his plate right now and is very busy.

"What?" Luo Xinyu looked at Zhang Yang's expression and suddenly laughed. "After my reminder, did you realize something? That you started something and then abandoned it?"

"Not every intersection needs a beginning and an end," Zhang Yang said, shaking his head.

That being said...

However, his relationship with Pei Xiaoru was different from a casual fling; after all, there was the added advantage of being old classmates.

Let's wait and see.

I'll go back and look at the chat history.

After leaving Cloud Sea Club, Zhang Yang led Luo Xinyu straight to COFCO Seaview No. 1.

He was very familiar with that house, Luo Xinyu was even more familiar with it.

Going back together now can be seen as reliving old memories.

"It feels like... the layout hasn't changed much." Walking through the house, Luo Xinyu looked at every familiar corner, her eyes filled with emotion. "Look here... and here..."

She spoke of every corner with familiarity, as if taking this opportunity to relive the past.

The two walked from the living room to the balcony, looked at the Huangpu River and the Bund on the opposite bank, and then walked from the balcony to the bedroom, where they undressed each other.

Time is like a circle.

It's like drawing a circle, and everything seems to have returned to where it all began.

The two fell asleep in each other's arms, lulled by the sound of cruise ship horns on the Huangpu River, unaware of the time.

··

In the middle of the night, Zhang Yang stood on the balcony, took out his phone, and found Pei Xiaoru's WeChat.

Open the chat window.

The timeline spans from a year ago to recently, a month ago.

The frequency of their chats went from frequent at first, to every few days, and then to holidays and festivals. Basically, or rather, it was all Pei Xiaoru who took the initiative.

Looking through the chat window, Pei Xiaoru often seemed to be talking to herself as she shared her daily life.

It's not that he didn't reply.

Once he calmed down and had some free time, he still chatted with Pei Xiaoru in a casual manner.

But it's hard to truly connect with someone anymore.

Pei Xiaoru seemed to sense his attitude afterward, and she rarely bothered him anymore.

As for recent news...

[Are you there? The house you bought for me is all renovated, and we're planning a housewarming party soon. We'd like to invite you over. Would you do me the honor of coming?]

A string of smiley faces followed.

"What was I busy with back then? What distracted me? Why didn't I reply?" Zhang Yang felt a little guilty.

Especially seeing that string of smiling faces.

If you're going, then go; if you're not going, then don't go. Just make it clear. Why not reply?

I took another look at Pei Xiaoru's WeChat Moments.

"Huh."

The latest post on WeChat Moments was only a few days ago.

[Letting go... a new beginning...]

Letting go? Letting go of what? And a new beginning? Judging from this background image, are you back to work in Magic City?

Zhang Yang put down his phone without giving it much thought.

I'll find some time tomorrow to go to her shop and take a look.

After putting down his phone, Zhang Yang didn't think much of it and went straight back to sleep with Luo Xinyu in his arms.

Early the next morning, Zhang Yang took Luo Xinyu home.

Their family still has one last house in Magic City, their last remaining asset. To be honest, if Luo Xinyu hadn't come back this time, they would have sold it soon.

But now, everything has taken a dramatic turn for the better.

The opportunity to regain momentum is right in front of us, and the future is bright, almost visible to the naked eye.

After dropping off Ms. Luo, Zhang Yang checked Pei Xiaoru's location on WeChat Moments, calculated it, and drove straight there.

···

Home Realty

Returning to the store where she used to work after more than a year, Pei Xiaoru felt both familiar and unfamiliar.

My former colleagues have all disappeared without a trace.

Some went back to their hometowns to develop their careers, while others changed careers. The former store manager of one of their former competitors in the area was even replaced.

It really is true... things have changed.

Pei Xiaoru sat in front of the computer, looking at the listings on the intranet somewhat absentmindedly, her hands a little clumsy.

After all, it had been more than a year since I had touched my work.

"Pei Xiaoru." A voice came from the side.

A woman in a store manager's uniform walked over and glanced at Pei Xiaoru's computer desktop.

"Although you have achieved success in the past, the market is constantly changing, and you haven't been in the industry for over a year. So this time, you can only start from scratch as a newcomer. I hope you can adjust your mindset."

Pei Xiaoru glanced at her but didn't say anything.

The store manager smiled, not taking it to heart.

"By the way, I heard you used to have a big client... How are you still in touch?"

Pei Xiaoru's expression changed slightly.