"Boss, are you all right?"
The car came to a stop, and a young man jogged over from the driver's seat.
"I'm fine. Have the driver check up ahead. If the car is still there, have it towed away." With someone here, Gu Mingwei's expression finally improved.
He pointed ahead and told the tow truck driver to see whether that wreck of a car had been taken away.
Li Chen immediately told the driver to go check, then waited for his boss's instructions.
Gu Mingwei nodded. Instead of leaving, he turned to the person behind him and asked, "Brother, what's your bank card number? I'll have someone transfer the money to you."
Li Chen looked in the direction his boss had turned. Gu Mingwei was asking a younger man for his bank card number. He did not know whether he had heard wrong, but he sensed a trace of respect in his boss's tone.
The thought flashed through his mind, only to be quickly dismissed.
This man did not look like some wealthy young master. Yet his boss was being so polite—normally, he only treated a few people this way.
"Here's my bank card. Transfer the money into this account."
Lu Chengchuan took out his bank card and told him to transfer the money into it. With these three million added in, he would not only clear the debts from the past few years, but still have quite a bit left over.
Gu Mingwei took the bank card and handed it to his secretary. "Xiao Li, transfer three million into this card. Use the special funds channel directly and get the money transferred as soon as possible."
"Yes, Boss." Li Chen took the bank card, even more puzzled than before.
"Brother, it'll take about an hour for the money to arrive. How about we find somewhere to wait?"
Since the money could not arrive immediately, Gu Mingwei thought it over and invited him out for tea.
He deliberately wanted to build a good relationship with him. After all, he had seen the other man's strength. There was no downside to befriending someone like this; perhaps he might need his help someday.
"Sure. Let's find somewhere to wait."
Lu Chengchuan did not want to sit around here either. Since a big boss was treating him, he readily agreed.
"Good, good. Brother, what should I call you?"
Even now, Gu Mingwei did not know his name.
"Lu Chengchuan. Just call me by my name," Lu Chengchuan said casually.
"Brother Chengchuan, please. I remember there's a pretty good tea restaurant around here. Let's go sit down."
That was what he said, but how could Gu Mingwei possibly call him by his name directly?
After inviting Lu Chengchuan into the car, he turned to his wife and children. "You go home first. I'm going to have a chat with Brother Chengchuan. Be careful on the way back."
Gu Mingwei had specifically called over two cars so they could go home first and not interrupt his conversation with Lu Chengchuan.
Everyone got into the cars, and the two luxury vehicles drove off in different directions.
Secretary Li Chen drove them to the tea restaurant. A few minutes later, the sedan stopped at the entrance. The three got out, and Li Chen ran inside to reserve a private room.
Li Chen arranged everything, so the two of them did not need to do anything after going in.
"Brother Chengchuan, are you from around here?"
The secretary waited outside. Only the two of them were in the private room, and Gu Mingwei took the initiative to start a conversation over the meal.
Lu Chengchuan responded casually a few times. He knew what Gu Mingwei was thinking—he simply wanted to improve their relationship.
"Boss Gu, what kind of work do you do?"
"Me? I handle a few real estate projects, nothing worth mentioning. If you ever need a house, just come to me. I'm not some huge boss, but I do have a few properties in hand."
When the topic turned to himself, Gu Mingwei's words carried a trace of pride.
"Thanks, but I'm not interested in houses," Lu Chengchuan said, shaking his head.
"If there's anything you need, just say so. I have some connections in Anyang City too."
"I'd better not trouble you."
Gu Mingwei set down his chopsticks and said solemnly, "There's no such thing as trouble. You trouble me, I trouble you. The more we trouble each other, the closer we become."
There was something strange about the way that sounded, though Lu Chengchuan could not put his finger on it.
Still, since the man had said so, Lu Chengchuan thought of martial arts. After considering it for a moment, he set down his chopsticks. "I'm interested in martial arts. Real martial arts, not those fake tricks."
"Martial arts..."
Learning that this was what interested him, Gu Mingwei fell into thought.
Lu Chengchuan raised his teacup and took a sip. He had made the hint obvious enough; Gu Mingwei would definitely understand.
Their afternoon tea lasted nearly fifty minutes. Around that time, his phone chimed with a message—the full three million had arrived.
"Boss Gu, it's about time. I still have things to do."
With the money in hand, Lu Chengchuan hinted that he wanted to leave.
Naturally, Gu Mingwei understood what he meant and stood up at once. "Where are you going, brother? I'll give you a ride."
"Then thank you."
Lu Chengchuan did not refuse. He gave him an address, and the two left the private room.
"Xiao Li, let's go. We'll take Mr. Lu home first." After coming out, Gu Mingwei found his secretary and prepared to leave.
The secretary drove Lu Chengchuan home. Looking at the rundown street, Gu Mingwei grew even more curious. This place did not look very nice, yet Lu Chengchuan actually lived here.
However, he did not show it on his face. After saying goodbye to Lu Chengchuan, the luxury sedan turned around and left.
When Lu Chengchuan returned to the rented apartment, he found his mother at home. Not only her—there were two relatives there as well.
"Auntie, Qingyu, hello."
The visitors were his mother's younger sister and her daughter. The three women sat in the small living room, and his mother was chatting with his aunt.
Seeing him return, his aunt stared at him in disbelief. "Xiaochuan? Your illness is really cured!"
Huang Yuqing looked at her nephew. Unlike the frail figure in her memory, he was now tall and strong, brimming with vitality. He did not look like someone who had just recovered from a serious illness.
"He suddenly got better. Heaven has truly blessed us," Huang Yuyun said from the side.
Her words left the other two deeply puzzled. They had treated him for years without any results, so how had he suddenly recovered?
"Auntie, didn't my mother borrow five hundred thousand from your family before?" Seeing them here, Lu Chengchuan thought of the debt and asked.
Huang Yuqing waved her hand. "Ah, don't mention that. It's wonderful that you got better. Don't worry about the money. Work slowly and pay it back slowly."
"No need. I've already earned it. Auntie, tell me your card number, and I'll transfer the money over."
He had money now, and since she was here, he could repay his aunt.
His aunt's family had truly treated the two of them well. They had lent them the money without hesitation, not worrying at all that it might never be repaid. Lu Chengchuan was very grateful to them.
"What? You've earned five hundred thousand already? How did you make that money?"
His mother, aunt, and cousin were all shocked to hear that he had earned the money. His mother stared at him in astonishment, his aunt asked incredulously, and even his cousin Lin Qingyu looked stunned.
He had been well for less than a month. Where could he have found the time to earn so much money? Had he gone out and sold drugs?
"Please don't ask so much. All I can say is that the money is absolutely clean." Lu Chengchuan did not want to explain further; he only said that the money was not tainted.
Huang Yuyun was also curious about how her son had earned the money, but since he did not want to say, she did not ask.
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