Chapter 41

There was nothing quite like the joy of one's own success, except perhaps the even greater joy of an enemy's failure.

Putting themselves in others' shoes, they could not imagine which of those two things would make the Pei family happier.

But they could be certain of one thing: no matter which it was, the Weng family would not be happy.

The Weng family truly was unhappy, yet they still had to force smiles and maintain their composure.

When Weng Shao finished speaking and stepped off the stage, the four members of the Weng family approached him with strained expressions. But before they could say anything, Pei Xingze's gang of fair-weather friends seized the chance, champagne glasses in hand, and came over to tease Weng Shao and Pei Xingze. "Well, well, well, who do we have here? Isn't this the softhearted god and his follower?"

They were referring to how Weng Shao had described Pei Xingze while filming Dialogue of Life.

When they saw that part of the interview, it had been like getting struck by lightning.

Lu Qingyang swirled his wineglass and sighed. "Weng Shao, did you know? I was actually the first one to notice you. If I'd been the one to sponsor you back then, would the softhearted god in your heart have been me?"

Lu Qingyang said it as a joke, but there was sincerity in the question.

Weng Shao merely smiled. "No. The person I was waiting for was President Pei."

Before his words had even faded, Pei Xingze wrapped an arm around Weng Shao's shoulders in satisfaction. "Did you hear that? I'm Weng Shao's only choice. It has nothing to do with who showed up first!"

A chorus of performative wails immediately rose around them.

"Seriously?"

"I don't believe it!"

"Weng Shao, have you considered taking on another partner? Jinghai doesn't only have one Pei Group. Our Lu family is pretty capable too."

"Our Wang family can do it too."

"Could you put in a few good words for our developments on your property ranking list?"

"Are you still taking online promotion jobs?"

The young heirs were utterly convinced by Weng Shao. In all their lives, they had never seen anyone better at creating buzz than him. Whether he did it intentionally or not, he had been thrown into the eye of public-opinion storms time and time again. An ordinary person would have long been swallowed by the waves, but Weng Shao could stir up the storm and ride the momentum, again and again standing at the crest of the wave. Even Lakeside Garden, where Weng Shao worked, had naturally received wave after wave of massive exposure because of him.

Lifted by Weng Shao's traffic, Pei Real Estate and Pei Group had released one piece of good news after another over the past three months. Their stock prices had soared all the way up, and their corporate image had become absurdly positive.

Not only were they amazed and envious, even their parents were the same.

Of course, while feeling envious, everyone also mocked Weng Yingjie behind his back. He had thrown away a bona fide treasure chest raised right under his own roof—and handed it over neatly to his enemy.

At first, everyone had sympathized with Weng Shao, thinking he was a pitiful little thing unloved by his parents and cruelly exploited by their enemy. But in just three short months, Weng Shao had forced everyone to see him in a new light.

By now, no one thought Weng Shao was some insignificant nobody with no one to rely on, someone others could manipulate at will. In truth, anyone who could join forces with his enemy without hesitation after being abandoned by his biological parents and turn around to deal with his own father was a ruthless character. Whoever dared look down on him was the real idiot.

No one thought they were idiots. They had already tried their best to think highly of Weng Shao, yet when it came down to it, they still had to admit helplessly that they had underestimated this young man.

They could only envy the Pei family's good fortune, envy Pei Xingze for appearing before Weng Shao at his lowest point and winning his heart. At the same time, they secretly rejoiced that they were not Weng Yingjie and had not done anything as foolish as handing a treasure chest over to an enemy. They also made a point of telling their younger family members to find a way to befriend Weng Shao.

A young man who could seize an opportunity so fiercely at rock bottom, borrow the wind, and turn his life around in just three months had limitless potential ahead of him.

"Do not despise the poor youth" was made for someone like him.

But compared to the elders' purely utilitarian mindset, the thoughts of the second-generation heirs who had been repeatedly instructed to befriend Weng Shao were far more complicated.

Young people were drawn to beauty and strength alike, and Weng Shao happened to possess both. His appearance was like a breeze rippling the surface of a still pond, plucking at everyone's heartstrings.

They regretted that Pei Xingze had gotten there first, and regretted even more that Weng Shao's choice was so unwavering.

Pei Xingze had clearly noticed the restless stirrings of these beasts. The instinctive competitive drive carved into his bones filled him with fighting spirit in an instant.

"If anyone wants to work with Weng Shao, don't just talk about it. Bring out your families' terms of cooperation, and I'll review them for Weng Shao first." With an arm around Weng Shao's shoulders, Pei Xingze struck the pose of the official partner and spoke with righteous conviction.

The rich heirs exchanged looks. Someone could not help testing the waters. "May I ask what kind of cooperation terms Young Master Pei has offered Weng Shao?"

Pei Xingze immediately laughed. He openly laid out every detail of the profit-sharing arrangement he had given Weng Shao, then added, "...In a commodity society and market economy, where the money is, the heart follows. No need to say more."

Everyone's faces turned green. In just three months, Pei Xingze had spent sixty-six million yuan on Weng Shao, and that did not even include the commission Weng Shao had earned at Lakeside Garden or the two apartments Pei Xingze had gifted him in the group's name.

Added together, it came to at least eighty or ninety million yuan. Even if their families were wealthy, they could not possibly spend that much on a single employee.

All they could say was that Pei Xingze had truly gone all in.

But Pei Xingze did not think much of it. "This is all what Weng Shao deserves. You only see how much he earns. Why don't you see how much more he has earned for Pei Group?"

With such a lack of vision and generosity, Pei Xingze could not even be bothered to say more.

The Weng family members, who had spoken so confidently before, also had green faces. They stared at Weng Shao in disbelief.

No wonder Weng Shao had sworn he wanted to be Pei Xingze's dog. He had made nearly a hundred million in three months. If it were them, they would probably be willing to be someone's dog too.

But that only made their chances of persuading Weng Shao even slimmer.

The Weng family exchanged looks, feeling miserable.

Pei Xingze watched them coldly, in an excellent mood.

When the celebration ended that night, Pei Xingze brought Weng Shao into the underground parking garage and stopped in front of a black Cayenne.

Weng Shao glanced at it. "You changed cars?"

Pei Xingze lifted Weng Shao's hand and placed the keys in his palm. "It's your car. Do you like it?"

Looking at the Cayenne resting quietly in its parking space, Weng Shao suddenly remembered that in his previous life, the first car Pei Xingze had given him had also been a Cayenne.

This man's taste truly had not changed in decades.

Weng Shao chuckled. "I don't even have a driver's license yet."

Pei Xingze said, "I've already arranged driving school for you, and I found you the best instructor in the world. You're so smart that getting your license will be easy."

Weng Shao knowingly asked, "What instructor is so impressive that he can receive such high praise from President Pei?"

Pei Xingze bowed politely. "This humble one is none other than myself."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

"...No one will treat you better than I do!" On the drive back, Pei Xingze continued chattering away. "This isn't an empty promise. It's a commitment."

"Weng Shao, I'll become the person who treats you best in this world."

"Do you believe me?"

"I do." Weng Shao sat in the passenger seat and answered casually.

His tone was too certain, and his response came too quickly, making it sound so light that it seemed almost perfunctory.

At a red light, Pei Xingze, sitting in the driver's seat, could not help frowning and giving him a look. His expression seemed to say, I'm speaking from the bottom of my heart. How can you be so dismissive?

Weng Shao smiled softly. His tone was light, yet his words carried tremendous weight as he repeated, "I really do believe you."

Author's note: Here's a ten-thousand-word update (:з"∠)

Chapter 41

Hanlin Academy was a high-end residential complex developed two years ago by Pei Real Estate's Jinghai branch. It was located in Jinghai City's university district, only a ten-minute walk from Jinghai University and a forty-minute drive from Pei Group headquarters.

Pei Xingze drove into the underground garage. After parking, he led Weng Shao straight up to the seventeenth floor.

With a ding, the elevator doors opened. Before Weng Shao stretched a lavishly decorated corridor, with two apartment doors standing quietly on either side—a two-units-per-elevator layout.

Pei Xingze took out his key and opened unit 1701. After entering, he casually switched on the wall lamp in the foyer, changed into slippers with practiced ease, then looked at Weng Shao, who was still standing behind him in thought, and said with a smile, "What is it? Are you wondering why I have the key to this place?"

Weng Shao slowly shook his head. "Because this is your home."

Having said that, Weng Shao pointed at unit 1702 next door. "That one is my apartment."

Weng Shao had a good memory. Though he had only glanced at them while signing the contract, he could tell 1701 and 1702 apart.

Pei Xingze burst out laughing. "You're still so smart." He had thought he could tease Weng Shao.

After changing into slippers, Weng Shao slowly walked into the living room. Before him lay a spacious sitting area and an enormous floor-to-ceiling window.

A bright full moon hung quietly in the dark navy night sky. Its clear radiance reflected off the artificial river within the complex, making the water shimmer. The landscape lights scattered across the green belts lining both banks looked from afar like a winding, flowing Milky Way. The view was exceptionally open.

This was an eighteen-story mid-rise building. No one lived on the top floor, making the floor below it the de facto penthouse. It was nighttime, so it was impossible to judge the natural lighting, but the ventilation and view were both excellent. The surrounding buildings formed an enclosed layout, with broad distances between them and strong privacy.

It perfectly met Weng Shao's requirements for a home.

"Your apartment has never been lived in, and the daily necessities haven't been fully prepared. Stay at my place for now. Tomorrow, we'll go to the supermarket together." As he spoke, Pei Xingze showed Weng Shao around the rooms.