ã€ŠUrban Super Medical Saintã€‹


 Chapter 1 Farewell

    "Master, tomorrow I'm going to the county seat for my school preparations, and I won't be able to visit you every day anymore. Here is your favorite Huadiao Wine, aged ten years, and your favorite beggar's chicken wrapped in lotus leaves. Today, let's drink and eat to our hearts' content," said a young man in front of a tomb on Baiyun Mountain, holding a jug of Huadiao Wine and placing a beggar's chicken in front of it, along with two porcelain bowls, pouring wine into the bowls while muttering to himself.This young man was named Ge Dongxu, a villager from Ge Family Village at the foot of Baiyun Mountain. Buried in the grave was his master, Ren Yao.
    Ge Dongxu had followed him in cultivation practice from the age of eight until Ren Yao's death at fourteen. Now, two years after Ren Yao's death, Ge Dongxu was a sixteen-year-old teenager. Because he had been admitted to Changxi No. 1 Middle School, he was leaving for the city tomorrow and had come to bid farewell to his master today.
    Speaking of Master Ren Yao, although Ge Dongxu had followed him in cultivation for six years, he knew very little about his life, and didn't even know his name until right before he closed his eyes for good. All along, his master had been a crazed old man whose sanity fluctuated.
    Ren Yao didn't often appear in the village and mostly lived in a dilapidated small Daoist temple deep in Baiyun Mountain. On the rare occasions he did visit the village, he was usually seen in a demented state. The mischievous children in the village, seeing the old man in such a state, would playfully chase him, throwing rotten fruits and mud at him.
    Ge Dongxu, being naturally humble and kind-hearted, was not like other mischievous children. Whenever he saw his peers throwing things at the old man for fun, he always stepped in to shield Ren Yao. As a result, he ended up being the one covered in dirt.
    Once, when Ge Dongxu was protecting Ren Yao and got dirty again, Ren Yao suddenly became lucid, drove the other children away, and after staring at Ge Dongxu for a long time, he suddenly asked, "Would you like to accept me as your master and follow me in cultivation?"
    Ge Dongxu was about to shake his head, but seeing Ren Yao's white hair and ragged clothes, looking quite pitiful, he inexplicably nodded and agreed.
    Ren Yao was overjoyed and immediately took Ge Dongxu to meet his parents to formally accept him as a disciple.
    Ge Dongxu's parents naturally refused to let their son be apprenticed to a crazed old man, although he seemed very normal at that time.
    Whether it was the shock of being rejected by Ge Dongxu's parents or not, Ren Yao's sanity slipped again right there and he left muttering to himself.
    From then on, he would come to visit Ge Dongxu every now and then.
    Seeing Ren Yao in his demented state persistently bothering their son, Ge Dongxu's parents were afraid he might harm him. After a few visits, they couldn't help but try to drive him away.
    No matter how much they tried to send him away, Ren Yao still came every few days, and Ge Dongxu's parents still insisted on chasing him away, not letting him near their son.
    Until one day, when Ge Dongxu suddenly developed a high fever that wouldn't subside, and the doctors were at a loss, Ge Dongxu's parents, tear-filled and desperate, were preparing to send him to the city for treatment, when Ren Yao suddenly appeared, scooped up Ge Dongxu, and ran off.
    Ge Dongxu's parents, frantic, chased after him. Strangely enough, although Ren Yao was clearly an old man with white hair, he ran faster than Ge Dongxu's father with a child in his arms, and soon disappeared into the forest.
    At the time, Ge Dongxu's parents didn't think much, seeing their son being carried off into the woods by a demented old man and disappearing from sight, tears streaming down their faces, fearing the worst as their son's fever was not subsiding.
    But to their utter surprise, while they were desperately searching the mountain and calling their son's name, Ge Dongxu suddenly appeared from a small mountain path running towards them, not only looking very spirited but also moving agilely, nothing like his feverish self before, who was so drowsy and weak that he could barely stand.
    From that day on, Ge Dongxu's parents made a significant decision to allow their son to apprentice under Ren Yao, the intermittently crazed and lucid old man.
    Interestingly, after Ge Dongxu's parents gave their consent, Ren Yao suddenly became mostly lucid. However, although Ren Yao became mostly lucid, he hardly remembered past events, nor did he know his own name. Later, Ge Dongxu's parents noticed a scar on the back of Ren Yao's head and speculated that he must have suffered some head trauma, which was why he was like this. They wanted to take Ren Yao to the city hospital for a check-up, but Ren Yao stubbornly refused, and there was nothing they could do.
    Fortunately, apart from not remembering his past and occasionally losing his mental clarity, Ren Yao remembered the matters of cultivation. He taught Ge Dongxu how to draw talismans, identify various herbs, locate and hit acupoints, and practice breath control.
    When imparting these teachings, Ren Yao always took Ge Dongxu to the Broken Taoist Temple on the mountain, forbidding Ge Dongxu's parents from watching. Fortunately, after following Ren Yao in his practice, Ge Dongxu had not fallen ill since then and seemed to become exceptionally intelligent and agile. He learned things much faster than other children his age, and he was also much stronger. Thus, Ge Dongxu's parents let Ren Yao teach their son. Sometimes they were curious, but they thought that Ren Yao must be a mysterious figure from the martial world with his own rules, so they refrained from asking what exactly Ge Dongxu learned from Ren Yao.
    As parents, as long as their son was healthy, everything else was secondary.
    Two years ago, in a summer, Ren Yao finally succumbed to the ravages of time and passed away. In his final moments, perhaps as a last flicker of brightness before his passing, he suddenly remembered some past events. Regrettably, the time left to him was too short, and Ge Dongxu only learned a small part of these memories; it was then that he finally learned his master's name.
    Thinking back on the little details of the past with his master, Ge Dongxu became lost in thought until the wine filled his porcelain bowl and spilled out, at which point he suddenly snapped back to reality, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, poured the bowl filled with Huadiao Wine over Ren Yao's grave, and then picked up another bowl and gulped it down until it was empty.
    A blush crept over his still somewhat youthful and simple face, but it quickly faded.
    "Master, after you left, I have diligently practiced every day and have not slacked off. I haven't shown off the skills you taught me in front of others, nor have I used them for wrongdoing. Rest assured, no matter where I go, I will always remember your teachings," Ge Dongxu said as he poured another bowl of Huadiao for Ren Yao and drank one himself, also eating some beggar's chicken.
    "Also, Master, I have some good news for you. During my morning practice today, I finally broke through to the Qi Cultivation Third Layer. You probably didn't expect my progress to be this rapid. This is all thanks to the Bagua Furnace pendant you left me. It contains another universe, holding the cultivation insights of our Pill Talisman Sect ancestor Ge Hong, and also includes the complete volume of the Baopu Nine Pill Mysterious Scripture. Unfortunately, this secret was discovered too late, or else you might have been inspired by this Pill Scripture and not left your disciple so hastily," Ge Dongxu said as he reached for a small Peach Wood Sword pendant hanging around his neck. The Peach Wood Sword pendant looked ordinary, but when Ge Dongxu touched it, a faint green light flowed over it, emitting a slight fragrance of peach wood.
    In fact, there used to be another old-fashioned Bagua Furnace pendant hanging there, left to him by Ren Yao when he died. Once, by accident, Ge Dongxu dropped a drop of his blood on it, and the Bagua Furnace reacted to his blood, entered his body, and disappeared without a trace. At the same time, many cultivation-related knowledges, especially on medicine and pill-making, inexplicably filled Ge Dongxu's mind.
    Originally, Ge Dongxu had practiced with his master Ren Yao for six years, barely breaking through to the Second Level of Qi Cultivation. But since acquiring the cultivation knowledge from the Bagua Furnace pendant and the complete Baopu Nine Pill Mysterious Scripture, his cultivation speed had increased significantly, achieving the Third Layer in just two years.
    As he chatted with his master and ate and drank, Ge Dongxu didn't notice that he had emptied a five-kilogram jar of wine. Despite being only sixteen, aside from a slightly flushed face, he showed no signs of drunkenness.
    Seeing the jar empty, Ge Dongxu finally stopped talking, respectfully kowtowed three times to his master's grave, then got up and walked down the mountain along a narrow path.
    The path was overgrown with weeds, clearly a trail seldom trodden.
    At the end of the path lay Ge Family Village. Ge Family Village used to be a poor and secluded mountain village, but in recent years, Changxi County had vigorously developed tourism. City dwellers liked to escape the summer heat and play in the mountains, and Ge Family Village, located at the foot of Baiyun Mountain, the tallest mountain in Changxi County, had luckily benefited from this development. The village had not only gained paved roads but also, due to the influx of tourists, many villagers had opened small stores or homestays in their homes, effectively earning money without leaving their houses.
    To attract tourists, the villagers even promoted their ancestral hall, claiming that Ge Family Village was the birthplace of the legendary Taoist scholar, alchemist, and medical practitioner of the Eastern Jin dynasty, Ge Hong.
    Previously, Ge Dongxu had not believed it, thinking it was just a tale fabricated by the village elders to attract tourists. But since the Bagua Furnace pendant merged into his body and his mind filled with various new information, he had realized that he truly was a descendant of Ge Hong, which was why his drop of blood had reacted with the Bagua Furnace pendant passed down by the Pill Talisman Sect ancestor Ge Hong.
    Ge Dongxu's mother, Xu Suya, was a private tutor at the village elementary school, and his father, Ge Shengming, ran a homestay at their home, serving both as chef and boss.
    It was the end of August. The weather in Jiangnan Province was still scorchingly hot. However, it was cooler in the mountains, and since the children were still on summer vacation, many city dwellers liked to come to Baiyun Mountain to escape the heat and have fun. With the increase in tourists, Ge Shengming's homestay business had also greatly improved.
    Thinking of the recent good business at home and that it was now mealtime¡ªan urgent time for help at his father's place¡ªGe Dongxu quickened his pace.
    But before he could reach home, from a distance Ge Dongxu saw many people gathered around the courtyard of his house, pointing and gesturing inside. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ps: This is the new book's debut, please vote and leave lots of comments to support, thank you very much.

 Chapter 2 Showing Ones Edge [Please Bookmark, Please Recommend]

    "Cancel the bill? Do you have any idea what brand this dress I'm wearing is? It's Chanel! Talking to you country bumpkins about Chanel, you wouldn't understand. But do you have any idea how much this dress costs? It costs a full ten thousand yuan! Ten thousand yuan could practically buy out this lousy family-run rustic resort. And you think just canceling the bill is enough? What a joke!" In the shop, a woman dressed in garish and flamboyant fashion stood with one hand on her hip and the other pointing and gesturing at the man and woman in front of her, a look of utter disdain and superiority on her face.She was wearing a beige dress that was now covered in vegetable juice stains.
    Standing beside her were six or seven fashionably dressed men, one of whom wore a Longines mechanical watch, clearly a man of wealth.
    "Ten thousand yuan!" The simply dressed young woman standing opposite the garish woman turned so pale that she lost all color in her face, and the middle-aged man next to her also went white at the figure.
    In the nineties, most workers in Huaxia Country earned only three to four hundred yuan a month, making ten thousand yuan a tremendous amount of money for many people.
    "This, this... I'm really sorry. I didn't mean it, it was you who stumbled, and that's why I..." The plainly dressed young woman's face was pale as she stammered out her apology.
    "What kind of attitude is that? Are you saying this is my fault?" The garish woman's voice suddenly turned shrill when she heard this, her finger almost poking the other woman in the nose.
    "Qiuzi!" The middle-aged man hurriedly stopped the young woman who still wanted to argue and then bent forward with a conciliatory smile, "The child doesn't understand, please don't be angry. Fortunately, the dress is just dirty. It should be fine after a wash. I'll pay for the laundry, and the meal is still on the house!"
    "Damn, what are you talking about? Can a luxury brand like this just be casually washed after being stained with vegetable juice? Is one meal enough to settle this? Do I look like I need your charity for a meal?" The man with the Longines watch protested loudly, advancing on the middle-aged man and shoving him hard in the chest.
    The middle-aged man was caught off guard and pushed back several steps, only stopping when his back hit a table. While rubbing his lower back vigorously, he looked up with an expression of anger and said, "Hey, how can you push people like that?"
    "So what if I push you? If you don't give Yue Ting a satisfactory explanation today, I'll do more than just push!" The man with the Longines watch said arrogantly, while the other trendy young men behind him rolled up their sleeves, looking at the middle-aged man with hostility.
    "Who dares to touch my dad? Just try it!" As soon as the man with the Longines watch finished speaking, a voice that was still tinged with boyishness but filled with anger suddenly came from behind the crowd. A teenager about sixteen or seventeen years old emerged, walking up to the middle-aged man, steadying him, and asking with concern, "Dad, are you alright?"
    This teenager was naturally Ge Dongxu, and the middle-aged man was his father, Ge Shengming. The young woman was named Ye Qiu, an assistant hired by the father.
    "I'm fine, how did you get here? Go back inside, this has nothing to do with you," Ge Shengming said urgently upon seeing his son.
    "How can it have nothing to do with me when you're being bullied?" Ge Dongxu replied, then looked up at the young man who had shoved his father.
    "Damn, a little brat who still reeks of mother's milk, what are you staring at? Get lost!" The man became even more irate when he saw a mere teenager staring at him.
    "The ones who should get lost are you! It was clearly this woman who tripped and bumped into Sister Qiu. What's that got to do with us?" Ge Dongxu retorted, not displaying a trace of timidity typical of a young person.
    "Damn, do you know who I am? You ****** milk-scented brat dare to talk back to me like that?" It was the first time the man with the Longines watch had been cursed at by a country lad, and he became furiously embarrassed, raising his hand to slap Ge Dongxu across the face.
    But before the Longines watch man's hand could touch Ge Dongxu, Dongxu grabbed his wrist. With just a little bit of force, the man with the watch immediately bent over in pain, crying out, "It hurts, it hurts! My hand is about to break, you ****** let go!"
    Watching a teenager casually hold the wrist of a twenty-four or twenty-five-year-old burly young man, who was now bent over and crying out in pain, everyone except Ge Shengming was as shocked as if they had seen a ghost, staring incredulously at the young face still carrying a hint of innocence.
    Because the visual contrast was simply too stark!
    "Dongxu, let go quickly!" Ge Shengming, fearing his son might really break the man's wrist, hurriedly shouted at Ge Dongxu.
    "Okay, Dad." Ge Dongxu nodded and released his grip. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    As soon as Ge Dongxu let go, the Longines watch man immediately became infuriated with embarrassment and viciously aimed a kick at his stomach.
    The sight of a robust adult forcefully kicking a youth was something the onlookers found almost too brutal to witness, much less see with their own eyes. Thus, many people cried out instinctively at the scene, and even some women closed their eyes, completely forgetting how composed the youth had been when he dealt with the Longines watch man just moments ago.
    "Hmph, still want to hit someone!" Just when everyone thought Ge Dongxu would definitely be knocked to the ground, his expression darkened slightly as he reached out and gently flicked the Longines watch man's leg upwards.
    "Bang!" A loud noise.
    The Longines watch man tumbled backwards, landing spread-eagle on the ground in a most disheveled way.
    "Haha!" The onlookers burst into laughter.
    "Are you okay, Brother Kun?" A few young men hurriedly went to help the Longines watch man up.
    "Okay, my ass! I'm about to have my butt broken into four pieces, and you're not beating up this brat for me!" Brother Kun shouted angrily while holding his buttocks and getting up.
    Only then did the young men snap to reality, some rushing forward directly, others grabbing chairs as they launched into action.
    Seeing several young men going after a single youth, the onlookers' expressions changed, and some of the men wanted to rush forward, but were held back tightly by the women beside them.
    The women were more cautious, it was clear that these young townsmen were not to be trifled with, and they didn't want their own men getting into trouble over a rash move.
    In the blink of an eye that ensued as they all pulled and tugged, the young men had already reached Ge Dongxu.
    Ye Qiu had already started screaming, trying to rush forward, but was held back by Ge Dongxu's father, Ge Shengming.
    "Dongxu, go easy on them!" While holding Ye Qiu, Ge Shengming furrowed his brows, feeling a mix of anger and helplessness.
    Though he never inquired into what exactly his son had learned from Ren Yao over the years, as a father living with him day and night, he more or less knew his son had learned some real skills from Ren Yao; ordinary men stood no chance against him.
    ps: As the new book is uploaded, I see many familiar readers leaving messages and rewards, which warms my heart and moves me greatly. Thank you all for your constant support. During the launch of a new book, ranking is very important, hence please don't find it troublesome to add the book to your shelf, as that counts towards the ranking score, and also kindly click, recommend, as these actions are converted into scoring points too. I really need everyone's help, so please support as much as possible. There will be more updates on the old book as well, right up to its completion, thank you.

 Chapter 3 Lets Have a Good Talk [Please Bookmark, Please Recommend]

    "Don't worry, Dad, I've got it under control," Ge Dongxu said as he spoke, his body suddenly squatting down, spinning around his right leg as the axis, just like a spinning top, while his left leg whipped out like a lash.Those young men seemed to have some size to them, but their stances were clearly unsteady. With a sweep like that from Ge Dongxu, "bang bang bang," in the blink of an eye, they were all sprawled out on the ground. Two of them even lost control and smashed their chairs against their companions.
    "Damn!"
    "No way!"
    The onlookers were all dumbstruck, hardly believing what they were seeing, and Kun Brother and the haughty Yue Ting, who was looking down on everyone before, were also taken aback.
    They had never dreamt that five or six young men would be brought to the ground by a single youth's sweep.
    "You spill soup on your mother's dress, refuse to pay for it, and even attack others, it seems like this rundown family resort doesn't want to stay in business! Akun, call the police! Have them arrest everyone!" Yue Ting's shrill voice erupted as her face, which had a bit of beauty to it, was now twisted with anger.
    Upon hearing the woman wanting to call the police, Ge Shengming's face suddenly turned pale. Farmers from the mountains, ordinary citizens, feared the police the most. Moreover, it was his own son who had been fighting, and if the police really took him away, what would that mean for them?
    "Please, please don't call the police, I'll apologize, I'll pay whatever you want," Ge Shengming pleaded earnestly as he repeatedly bowed.
    "Too late, old man! Just wait for your son to be arrested and sent to jail!" Kun Brother, seeing Ge Shengming's constant bowing and supplication, smugly pulled out a black Ericsson phone from his pocket.
    In the mid-1990s of Huaxia Country, when cell phones were far from common, a single phone would cost over ten thousand yuan, something ordinary folks could not afford. It was often a symbol of status and wealth in society.
    When Yue Ting had mentioned her dress was Chanel or something, Ge Shengming and the onlookers didn't have much of a concept about it, somewhat thinking that she was bluffing¡ªin those times, why would any article of clothing be that expensive? But as soon as Kun Brother pulled out his cell phone, Ge Shengming including the onlookers had their eyes widened in surprise.
    This was an item that only the truly rich could afford to buy and use! In their village, nobody owned one to this date.
    Seeing Kun Brother take out his cell phone, Ge Shengming was completely panicked. He grabbed Ge Dongxu and said, "Dongxu, quickly apologize to these brothers and sisters..."
    As Ge Dongxu saw the panic and worry written across his father's honest face, his own expression, which had been fairly calm, gradually grew darker. His gaze towards Kun Brother who was proudly ready to dial on his phone, and Yue Ting who was standing arrogantly with her hand on her hip, grew especially cold.
    "Dad, don't worry, I'll handle this," Ge Dongxu gently removed his father's hand from his arm and confidently walked towards Kun Brother and Yue Ting.
    Strangely, although Ge Dongxu was just a young man dressed simply, when they saw him approaching, Kun Brother and Yue Ting instinctively took a step back. Kun Brother even subconsciously hid his hand behind his back, looking at Ge Dongxu with a mix of apparent ferocity and inner timidity, "Kid, what do you think you're doing? My dad is the owner of Changxi Grand Hotel. He's friends with county leaders, even the county police chief!"
    "Dongxu, don't mess around!" Seeing Kun Brother bragging about his connections, Ge Shengming panicked and called out.
    Others might not know his son's capabilities, but he did.
    "Dad, don't worry, I've got it under control," Ge Dongxu turned back and gave his dad a reassuring look, then reached out and grabbed both Kun Brother and Yue Ting's arms.
    He knew that these were the leaders among the group of young people.
    "What are you doing? Let go of me!" Kun Brother and Yue Ting immediately shouted, struggling to break free from Ge Dongxu's grasp.
    But Ge Dongxu gripped their hands, which appeared neither large nor thick, but were ice-cold and rigid like iron pincers.
    They didn't struggle initially, but as soon as they did, Ge Dongxu exerted force and immediately, they were in so much pain that cold sweat beaded on their foreheads. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Gentle, gentle, it hurts!"
    "I didn't plan to hit you guys. I just wanted to have a heart-to-heart chat with you, but you kept making a fuss," Ge Dongxu said with a cold face.
    "We won't yell anymore, we won't yell anymore," Kun and Yue Ting quickly said.
    They now realized that this young man was formidable in a fight. It's best to take a short-term loss and plan for revenge later.
    "That's more like it!" said Ge Dongxu, his icy expression turning into the simple and sincere smile characteristic of mountain folk. Then, while leading them into the inner room, he turned to Ge Shengming and Ye Qiu and said, "Dad, Sister Qiuzi, please continue to entertain the guests. I'll have a good chat with Kun and Sister Yue Ting inside."
    Ge Shengming watched his son "escorting" Kun and Yue Ting to the inner room, his face showing a helpless and worried smile. In the end, he did as his son had instructed and went to entertain guests with Qiuzi. He also shooed away some of the village kids who had gathered to watch the excitement.
    Once inside, Ge Dongxu released their hands, closed the door, then looked at Kun and Yue Ting with a faint smile and said, "We're just simple country folk here, not like you city folks. Please, feel free to sit down."
    Watching Ge Dongxu's face bear the simple smile unique to those from the mountains, which even carried a trace of a young man's shyness and immaturity, Kun and Yue Ting almost found it impossible to associate the youth before them with the fierce individual who singlehandedly routed five or six young men in the restaurant.
    "Speak up, what exactly do you want?" Despite their status, Kun and Yue Ting were not truly afraid of Ge Dongxu. They were worried about getting physically hurt, but since he was only a martial artist, they weren't truly intimidated. They sat down carelessly and looked at Ge Dongxu, expecting an answer.
    "It's not about what I want. What exactly do you want? I know both of you have significant statuses. We're just ordinary people. You might temporarily submit to me, but if you take revenge later, wouldn't we suffer?" Ge Dongxu looked at them calmly as he spoke.
    Kun and Yue Ting, faced with Ge Dongxu's calm expression, unexpectedly felt a chill run through them.
    Is he really just a fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth? Such meticulous thought and sharp insight were totally uncharacteristic for someone his age!
    "Since you understand, why did you still dare to beat us? You can't be na?ve enough to think that, just because you know some martial arts, you can do whatever you want. Do you actually believe we are scared of you and won't seek retaliation afterward? Let me tell you, this matter won't just end like this! Unless you have the ability to silence us forever or kneel down to me right now, knock your head on the ground, and be my underling from now on, doing whatever I ask," Kun said arrogantly, propping up his legs while looking at Ge Dongxu as if he had the upper hand.
    In these times, people with status like them were only afraid of fools. Since Ge Dongxu understood everything, it made things easier for them.
    Because a wise man would always have reservations!
    "Smack!" Just as Kun was basking in self-satisfaction, confident that he had Ge Dongxu under control, Ge Dongxu suddenly picked up a book from the table and smashed it down hard on his head.
    "Watch your mouth. Who do you think is your 'old man'?"
    "You dare to hit me! Do you really want your shop to..." Kun was caught off-guard by Ge Dongxu's blow. Wasn't this kid afraid of reprisal? How come he was still so arrogant? Fuming with rage, Kun jumped up.
    ps: I'm genuinely grateful for your company along this journey. Many readers have rewarded the book, and I recognize many familiar names. I won't list them all here, but they are ingrained in my memory. Please continue to support this book. Every favorite, every click, every recommended ticket, and every reward you give allows this book to achieve higher rankings and go further. The current schedule for this book is one chapter at 6 a.m. and another at 1 p.m. If my writing goes well, there may also be occasional bursts of chapters.

 Chapter 4 Paper Man

    "Slap! Slap! Slap!" Just as Kun Ge had barely jumped up, Ge Dongxu suddenly reached out and grabbed his neck, and started beating his head with the book in his hand."Say 'father' one more time, I dare you?" The smile on Ge Dongxu's face had disappeared without a trace, replaced by icy coldness.
    Kun Ge felt the chilling hardness at his neck and the throbbing pain in his head. Looking at Ge Dongxu's icy expression, he shivered internally and suddenly realized that this young man in front of him was no pushover! To avoid suffering right now, he thought it best to act more obediently.
    "I won't say it again, I won't say it again!" Seeing Ge Dongxu raise the book to hit his head again, Kun Ge hastened to cry out.
    "If you had been like this earlier, you wouldn't have been beaten. You really do deserve a thrashing," Ge Dongxu finally let go of him and sat back down in the chair, muttering.
    Kun Ge was gnashing his teeth with hatred inside, but at this moment, he didn't dare to be arrogant and talk back.
    "Right, just now you mentioned that this matter wouldn't just end here, right? And that I should kowtow to you, become your lackey, right?" Ge Dongxu spoke again after sitting down.
    Kun Ge and Yue Ting exchanged glances, then said in unison, "No, no, it was just a joke. It's only a piece of clothing, right? Let's just forget about it, forget about it."
    A wise man knows better than to fight when the odds are against him; it's better to deceive this young Ghost Head for now!
    "Too bad you've already spilled the beans, do you think I'd believe you now? But if I don't believe you and let you go just like that, what should I do if you come back for revenge later?" Ge Dongxu stroked his chin, looking troubled as he observed them with bright, intelligent eyes.
    Kun Ge and Yue Ting, seeing Ge Dongxu's troubled look and his eyes surveying them, wished they could slap themselves hard. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    This was certainly self-defeating. If they had simply agreed to drop the matter and leave earlier instead of trying to be tough and stubborn, now they wouldn't be facing the problem of the young Ghost Head not willing to let them go, unpredictable in his next moves.
    "It seems I'll have to go through some trouble after all!" After contemplating with his chin in hand for a while, Ge Dongxu finally stood up with a look of distress, took out two pieces of yellow talisman paper from a drawer, mixed some cinnabar powder, then took a writing brush, dipped it in the cinnabar, and handed it to Kun Ge, "Here, Kun Ge, do me a favor and write down your birth date and name."
    "My birth date?" Kun Ge looked at Ge Dongxu full of confusion.
    "Yes, the year, month, day, and Chinese Hour you were born. Just write this down along with your name, and then you can leave," Ge Dongxu said.
    "Really?" Kun Ge exclaimed with a look of surprise. He had thought he would have to endure some torment by Ge Dongxu, at the very least a beating, and did not expect it to be so easy.
    "Of course, it's true," Ge Dongxu nodded, a faint sneer flashing in the depths of his eyes.
    Without any suspicion, Kun Ge picked up the brush and awkwardly wrote his birth date and name on the yellow talisman paper. After he finished, without waiting for Ge Dongxu's instructions, he dipped the brush in the cinnabar himself and passed it to Yue Ting.
    Yue Ting hesitated for a moment when she took the brush, but in the end, she dutifully wrote down her own birth date.
    After all, it was just a birth date and name; she didn't think that Ge Dongxu, a rural youth, could do anything significant with it.
    "So, can we leave now?" After finishing writing, Yue Ting put down the brush, and as she watched Ge Dongxu cut two yellow pieces of paper into the shape of a person, she couldn't explain why, but an eerie feeling crept over her. Her voice trembled as she asked.
    After asking the question, realizing her own voice was shaking, Yue Ting felt she was being overly sensitive. In this day and age, all this talk about talismans, curses, and paper effigies was stuff from TV shows and movies, just tricks to fool people. How could she, a young person, believe in such things? She had really been bewitched!
    "Wait a second," Ge Dongxu said with a smile. He snipped a little lock of hair from the heads of Yue Ting and Brother Kun with scissors, and then waved his hand, "You may go now."
    Yue Ting and Brother Kun promptly picked up their feet to leave, not expecting that at this moment, Ge Dongxu's mouth was curled into a cold smirk. The hair he'd cut was now sticking to the paper figures, much like the meridians of a person.
    Then, Ge Dongxu flicked the "armpit" of the paper effigy lightly.
    "Ah!"
    "Thud!"
    The two of them had just reached the door and were about to pull the handle when they suddenly felt a pain in their armpits, lost their balance, and ended up kneeling on the ground.
    At first, they felt nothing amiss, merely puzzled why their armpits had suddenly felt a sharp pain, like a needle prick. But when they realized their companion had also dropped to his knees, a shiver went through their hearts, and they blurted out, "Did your armpit suddenly hurt too?"
    The words came out nearly at the same time, almost identical. Both of their faces instantly turned pale, drops of cold sweat rolled down their foreheads, and their eyes involuntarily showed a look of terror.
    "You little bastard, how dare you use such trickery on us!" After the initial shock, Brother Kun spun around, glaring furiously at Ge Dongxu, who was casually sitting in a chair with his legs crossed, smiling and holding two paper figures. The figures bore their names and birth details scrawled in red.
    Previously, they hadn't been bothered by it, but now, seeing the crooked red letters made them feel particularly offended, and there was even a sinister vibe emanating from them.
    "I had no choice. We're just an ordinary family. If I didn't take precautions and you called the cops the moment you left my house, wouldn't we be at your mercy? And you'd better be a bit more polite. You're the ones who started the trouble, so you can't blame me for dealing with you now," Ge Dongxu said with a helpless expression, pinching the arm of the paper figure lightly as he spoke.
    "Ah! It hurts! It hurts!" Brother Kun immediately screamed in pain.
    Seeing Brother Kun scream like that, Ge Dongxu felt annoyed by his previous arrogance and the way he had pushed his father, but ultimately, he was a good-hearted young man. Seeing Brother Kun in pain, he let go.
    "What, what do you want from us?" This time, having personally witnessed and experienced the bizarre events, Brother Kun was truly scared. He looked at Ge Dongxu as though he were some evil ghost, stammering with a pale face, while Yue Ting, by his side, had already turned pale, her thick makeup unable to hide her pallor.
    "Don't worry, I'm only taking precautions for the future and don't wish any harm on you. As long as you don't cause trouble for my family afterwards, I won't do anything to you. But if you decide to make trouble for us later, then you can't blame me for not being polite," Ge Dongxu assured them with a sincere look on his face.
    Seeing Ge Dongxu's earnest expression, this time tears fell from the eyes of Yue Ting and Brother Kun.
    Over a dress, for the sake of young people's bragging rights, now their lives were in the hands of Ge Dongxu. And why had they been so compliant? Why hadn't they thought to write something false for him?
    PS: During the release of this new book, please don't forget to cast your recommendation vote after reading, and if you haven't added the book to your shelf, please do so. Thank you very much.

 Chapter 5 Brother Xu, please [3 updates today, please favorite and recommend]â€

    "Master, we definitely won't dare to do it again in the future. Please, could you return that paper figure to us?" Yue Ting pleaded with tears streaming down her face."Yes, yes, master, we really won't dare again. Please give us that paper figure back!" Brother Kun also begged tearfully.
    "I'm not any master, my name is Ge Dongxu. I definitely won't give you this paper figure back. But rest assured, this paper figure can only cause you to break arms or legs, it can't take your lives. Of course, as long as you don't trouble my family, I definitely won't lay a hand on you," Ge Dongxu said.
    "Brother Xu, can I call you brother? Please give us that paper figure back. I swear, I swear, if I, Lin Kun, dare to do anything harmful to your family in this lifetime, may I be struck by thunder from the heavens," Lin Kun continued to plead tearfully.
    Could he feel reassured? What if one day Ge Dongxu felt unhappy and played with the paper figure, bending their arms just for fun? Who could he cry to then? What he feared most was, what if by accident his third leg got bent? Then he could only be a eunuch for the rest of his life!
    "Brother Xu, I swear too, I swear too!" Yue Ting also hurriedly promised.
    "Promising is fine! How about this, write down your vows, and drop a drop of blood on them," Ge Xudong, seeing their pitiful looks, thought it over and spoke. He felt that if he kept this paper figure, they would probably live in constant fear every day and likely die young.
    "Thank you, Brother Xu, thank you, Brother Xu." Both of them were immensely grateful upon hearing his words. They quickly picked up the brush and wrote their vows on yellow paper, and as instructed by Ge Dongxu, they also added a vow not to reveal the events of today, then dropped blood on it.
    Ge Dongxu took the two pieces of yellow paper in his hand, muttered something under his breath, and then suddenly the two pieces of paper with vows written on them burst into flames, causing Yue Ting and Lin Kun to stare wide-eyed, their hearts pounding nonstop.
    "Okay, remember your vows, otherwise if you're struck by lightning, don't blame me," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, then "rip, tear!" he tore the two paper figures into pieces.
    "Ah! Ah! Ah!" Both of them yelled in shock as Ge Dongxu tore up the paper figures.
    "What are you screaming for?" Ge Dongxu couldn't help but laugh as he glared at them.
    "You just tore up the paper figures, how come we're alright?" The two of them then realized that nothing had happened.
    "Nonsense, I didn't activate the Unique Power, so of course you're fine. Otherwise, couldn't everyone learn to do this? What? Got ideas to break your vows?" Ge Dongxu looked at them, half-smiling.
    "Ah, no, no! Brother Xu, you must be joking, how could we dare break our vows!" Upon hearing this, the two jumped in fright, shaking their heads like rattles.
    Having witnessed Ge Dongxu's capabilities first-hand, they didn't dare to joke with their lives!
    What if they were really struck by lightning? No, it wasn't a matter of if, but rather quite likely! That was a risk they absolutely couldn't take, as once taken, there was no chance for regret at all!
    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu secretly chuckled inside. He didn't yet possess the power to enforce others' vows, he was merely frightening them. Yet, seeing the two of them now, Ge Dongxu knew that even if someone gave them great courage, they wouldn't dare to break their vows.
    Who these days would dare jest with their own lives!
    "Alright, the vows are made, you can really go now. Oh, and when you leave, be nicer to my dad. And remember to pay for the things that got broken during the fight!" Ge Dongxu kept his smile hidden inside as he said this.
    "Of course, that's only proper." The two quickly agreed, now devoid of any preceding arrogance.
    "Then that's settled, let's go," Ge Dongxu said.
    "Yes, yes, please go ahead, Dongxu." Lin Kun hurriedly opened the door and struck a welcoming pose, while Yue Ting flashed Ge Dongxu a flattering and ingratiating smile.
    Truth be told, if Yue Ting hadn't worn such heavy makeup, she would have looked quite charming and her figure was also noteworthy, with curves in all the right places. Her coquettish smile indeed made Ge Dongxu, who was in his adolescence, feel a stir inside, and his cheeks blushed slightly.
    After the fight at the farmstay, other customers had already left, leaving mostly the group of young people who came with Lin Kun and Yue Ting.
    When they saw the inner door open and Lin Kun and Yue Ting following Ge Dongxu out with apologetic grins, like two followers, their eyes nearly popped out in astonishment.
    "Uncle, I'm sorry, it was all my fault earlier. Here's one thousand yuan for today's meals and for the damage caused, do you think that's enough?" As soon as they stepped out, Lin Kun quickly stepped forward to bow and apologize to Ge Shengming, offering him one thousand yuan with both hands.
    One thousand yuan was already quite a large sum of money at the time, causing Ge Shengming to be visibly shocked as he quickly waved his hands and said, "No need, no need. It was our carelessness that caused the lady's clothes to get dirty. We should be the ones treating you, how can we ask you for money now? No need, no need!"
    Seeing that Ge Shengming was reluctant to accept the money, Lin Kun felt extremely frightened, almost to tears.
    If you don't take it, aren't you putting my life at risk, brother Kun?
    "Uncle, it was our youthful impulsiveness that caused you to lose business today, you must accept this one thousand yuan," Lin Kun insisted, pushing the money into Ge Shengming's hands.
    Of course, Ge Shengming dared not accept it; these were influential people.
    So, it was a battle between pushing and declining, leaving the other young ones almost petrified.
    Was this really their boss, Kun? The same man who strutted around in many parts of Changxi County? The son of Changxi Grand Hotel's owner?
    "Dad, since they are sincere, you might as well accept it," Ge Dongxu said, seeing his father hesitate to accept the money.
    Ge Shengming looked at his son doubtfully. He knew that ever since his son had followed Ren Yao, there were many times when he should no longer be treated as a child.
    "Rest assured, they have realized their mistake," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, nodding at his father.
    "Correct, correct, Dongxu is right, we've recognized our mistake," Lin Kun and Yue Ting quickly nodded in agreement.
    "Dongxu!" The followers were completely flabbergasted. What was this rhythm? People in their twenties addressing a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old as 'brother'? Despite his doubt, Ge Shengming, seeing his son nod, finally accepted the one thousand yuan.
    In fact, the one thousand yuan was quite tempting for Ge Shengming. His farmstay, even during the peak summer period, only made profits of about two or three thousand yuan a month. During the off-season, there were days without a single customer.
    Now that his son was going to study in the city and would certainly need to attend university in the future, spending was inevitable. He, as a father, naturally had to work hard to earn money. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Seeing Ge Shengming accept the money finally allowed Lin Kun and Yue Ting to heave a sigh of relief. They quickly apologized a few more times and then hurriedly left with their group.
    "Kun, Ting, should we go back first, or should we call the police now?" After leaving the farmstay, on the way to where their cars were parked, a young person asked.

 Chapter 7 Hero Saves the Beauty [3rd Update, Request for Votes]

    The next morning, Ge Dongxu carried his suitcase onto the minibus that traveled between the countryside and the city.Ge Family Village was not actually far from the county town of Songyang Town, only about forty kilometers away, but because it was all mountain roads, and the roads at that time were not as good as they are now, it took almost an hour and a half with several stops along the way for Ge Dongxu to reach the county town of Songyang.
    Dongxu had previously visited the county town with his parents twice. However, those trips had always been with a purpose, and as soon as their business was finished, they left; they had never spent the night in the county town, let alone played there. But this time, he was here to study and live, and for the next three years, he would spend most of his time here.
    Today was Saturday, and it was not actually the official day to enroll at Changxi County No.1 High School. Ge Dongxu had come two days early because he needed to find a place to rent before school started.
    Carrying his suitcase, he stood at the bus station and roughly felt the energy flow of the county town, then headed towards the direction of the sun.
    The east belongs to wood, and from the bus station looking over, there was a small mountain, richly covered with trees. The air nearby should be relatively fresh and contain more of the spirit of wood, making it a somewhat more suitable place for him to cultivate. Of course, it could not compare to Baiyun Mountain.
    Carrying his suitcase, he walked along the streets toward the east.
    Back then, the streets were not as wide as they are now, and the buildings on either side of the street were basically all four or five stories tall, with high-rise buildings being a rare sight. Cars were still a rarity, so the streets were mostly filled with people and bicycles, and it was rare to see a few vehicles, which meant the traffic situation was good.
    However, all of this was only relative. Dongxu had not walked for long when he saw a young woman being blocked by a Yamaha motorcycle.
    The woman had a ponytail, wore a white casual tee on her upper body, and denim shorts below. She was about 165 centimeters tall, quite tall. Just her figure alone was enough to turn heads, not to mention her innocent face with a hint of innate allure ¨C it was hard not to attract attention.
    "Xinyu, this bike is cool, isn't it? Come on, I'll take you for a ride," the man on the motorcycle said to Dong Xinyu with a proud look on his face, his eyes occasionally scanning her chest and long legs.
    In the nineties, motorcycles were a symbol of wealth and coolness among the young, which was evident from the envious glances many young people threw at the bike as they passed by on the street. Some girls even looked at Dong Xinyu with envious eyes, as if they wished they were the heroine.
    "Thank you, but I don't need it," Dong Xinyu said, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, and she then moved to walk away.
    But she had barely taken a few steps when the man chased after her and grabbed her arm from behind.
    "Hey, Chen Zihao, what are you doing?" Dong Xinyu hadn't expected Chen Zihao to come up and grab her arm directly, she was somewhat taken aback and began to struggle to shake off his hand, calling out at the same time.
    "Dong Xinyu, don't think you're all that just because you have a pretty face. There's no girl that Chen Zihao wants to chase that he can't. Today you might not want to go for a ride with me, but you're going to have to accompany me anyway," Chen Zihao said, holding onto Dong Xinyu's hand without letting go, a look of bullying on his face.
    "Chen Zihao, let go!" Dong Xinyu cried out.
    Chen Zihao, however, did not pay any attention to Dong Xinyu, but furrowed his brows fiercely and looked around, saying, "What are you looking at? Haven't you seen a couple having a quarrel?"
    The people around, seeing how fierce Chen Zihao was, and noticing that he was riding a motorcycle, and through the conversation between the two, it was obvious they knew each other, so no one dared to interfere.
    "Chen Zihao, you bastard, who's your couple!" Dong Xinyu, seeing she couldn't break free, raised her other hand to hit Chen Zihao, but he caught her other hand too and chuckled, "Fighting is intimacy, scolding is love. You even want to hit me, aren't we a couple then?"
    Dong Xinyu saw Chen Zihao grabbing her hands and teasing her like that, and she was so angry and anxious that tears were rolling in her eyes.
    "Hey, big guy, bullying a girl in broad daylight like this, isn't that a bit shameless?" Just as Dong Xinyu's tears were rolling in her eyes, a plainly dressed boy who was clearly from the countryside approached, holding a bag. He patted Chen Zihao on the shoulder, showed a row of snow-white, neat teeth, and asked with a smile.
    This youngster was none other than Ge Dongxu, who had come to the county town to attend high school.
    "Fuck, you're just a countryside bumpkin whose hair isn't even fully grown yet, and you dare meddle in my business, are you tired of living? Get lost!" Chen Zihao turned his head, saw that it was a clearly rural boy daring to interfere with his affairs, and anger made him release one of Dong Xinyu's hands. He then raised his hand and swung a slap towards him.
    But just as Chen Zihao's hand was swinging over, there was a "smack!" as Ge Dongxu grabbed his wrist, and immediately felt his wrist clamped by an ice-cold iron pincer, causing him so much pain that he immediately began to wail.
    "Kid, let go, you're killing me!" Chen Zihao shouted, while he had already let go of Dong Xinyu's other hand and threw a punch at Ge Dongxu.
    However, his punch only got halfway before his wrist was grabbed by Ge Dongxu again.
    "Whose daddy are you? Try calling out again and see what happens?" Ge Dongxu detested people who always called themselves 'daddy' in front of him. His face slightly chilled, and he increased the strength of his grip a bit more. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "I won't say it, I won't! Let go of me!" Chen Zihao, with both hands in pain, finally didn't dare to be arrogant anymore and hurriedly begged.
    Ge Dongxu didn't want to cause trouble, so seeing Chen Zihao begging for mercy, he let go of his hand.
    "Damn it!" As soon as Ge Dongxu let go, Chen Zihao immediately regained his bullish arrogance, stepped out of the car, and aimed a kick at Ge Dongxu.
    "Watch out! Chen Zihao, what are you trying to do?" Dong Xinyu saw Chen Zihao raise his foot to kick Ge Dongxu, and shouted in shock and anger.
    But before Dong Xinyu's voice had died away,
    there was a loud "bang!" Ge Dongxu had already kicked Chen Zihao's stomach in advance, causing him to feel a sharp pain in the belly, and the whole person lunged forward, falling face down to the ground.
    Immediately, Dong Xinyu's eyes widened, and she covered her small cherry mouth with her jade hand, unable to believe as she looked at Chen Zihao who had fallen to the ground.
    Some people who were watching this scene were also very surprised.
    Because whether in terms of body size or age, Chen Zihao appeared larger, yet it was Chen Zihao who ended up being the one knocked down by a kick.
    "Well kicked!" But soon someone shouted out.
    Even though these people saw Chen Zihao riding a motorcycle, tall and looking arrogant, they didn't dare to step forward to help. However, they didn't mind cheering when someone stepped up to teach him a lesson.
    ps: New book seeks all kinds of support, thank you!

 Chapter 7 Hero Saves the Beauty [3rd Update, Request for Votes]

    The next morning, Ge Dongxu carried his suitcase onto the minibus that traveled between the countryside and the city.Ge Family Village was not actually far from the county town of Songyang Town, only about forty kilometers away, but because it was all mountain roads, and the roads at that time were not as good as they are now, it took almost an hour and a half with several stops along the way for Ge Dongxu to reach the county town of Songyang.

    Dongxu had previously visited the county town with his parents twice. However, those trips had always been with a purpose, and as soon as their business was finished, they left; they had never spent the night in the county town, let alone played there. But this time, he was here to study and live, and for the next three years, he would spend most of his time here.

    Today was Saturday, and it was not actually the official day to enroll at Changxi County No.1 High School. Ge Dongxu had come two days early because he needed to find a place to rent before school started.

    Carrying his suitcase, he stood at the bus station and roughly felt the energy flow of the county town, then headed towards the direction of the sun.

    The east belongs to wood, and from the bus station looking over, there was a small mountain, richly covered with trees. The air nearby should be relatively fresh and contain more of the spirit of wood, making it a somewhat more suitable place for him to cultivate. Of course, it could not compare to Baiyun Mountain.

    Carrying his suitcase, he walked along the streets toward the east.

    Back then, the streets were not as wide as they are now, and the buildings on either side of the street were basically all four or five stories tall, with high-rise buildings being a rare sight. Cars were still a rarity, so the streets were mostly filled with people and bicycles, and it was rare to see a few vehicles, which meant the traffic situation was good.

    However, all of this was only relative. Dongxu had not walked for long when he saw a young woman being blocked by a Yamaha motorcycle.

    The woman had a ponytail, wore a white casual tee on her upper body, and denim shorts below. She was about 165 centimeters tall, quite tall. Just her figure alone was enough to turn heads, not to mention her innocent face with a hint of innate allure ¨C it was hard not to attract attention.

    "Xinyu, this bike is cool, isn''t it? Come on, I''ll take you for a ride," the man on the motorcycle said to Dong Xinyu with a proud look on his face, his eyes occasionally scanning her chest and long legs.

    In the nineties, motorcycles were a symbol of wealth and coolness among the young, which was evident from the envious glances many young people threw at the bike as they passed by on the street. Some girls even looked at Dong Xinyu with envious eyes, as if they wished they were the heroine.

    "Thank you, but I don''t need it," Dong Xinyu said, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, and she then moved to walk away.

    But she had barely taken a few steps when the man chased after her and grabbed her arm from behind.

    "Hey, Chen Zihao, what are you doing?" Dong Xinyu hadn''t expected Chen Zihao to come up and grab her arm directly, she was somewhat taken aback and began to struggle to shake off his hand, calling out at the same time.

    "Dong Xinyu, don''t think you''re all that just because you have a pretty face. There''s no girl that Chen Zihao wants to chase that he can''t. Today you might not want to go for a ride with me, but you''re going to have to accompany me anyway," Chen Zihao said, holding onto Dong Xinyu''s hand without letting go, a look of bullying on his face.

    "Chen Zihao, let go!" Dong Xinyu cried out.

    Chen Zihao, however, did not pay any attention to Dong Xinyu, but furrowed his brows fiercely and looked around, saying, "What are you looking at? Haven''t you seen a couple having a quarrel?"

    The people around, seeing how fierce Chen Zihao was, and noticing that he was riding a motorcycle, and through the conversation between the two, it was obvious they knew each other, so no one dared to interfere.

    "Chen Zihao, you bastard, who''s your couple!" Dong Xinyu, seeing she couldn''t break free, raised her other hand to hit Chen Zihao, but he caught her other hand too and chuckled, "Fighting is intimacy, scolding is love. You even want to hit me, aren''t we a couple then?"

    Dong Xinyu saw Chen Zihao grabbing her hands and teasing her like that, and she was so angry and anxious that tears were rolling in her eyes.

    "Hey, big guy, bullying a girl in broad daylight like this, isn''t that a bit shameless?" Just as Dong Xinyu''s tears were rolling in her eyes, a plainly dressed boy who was clearly from the countryside approached, holding a bag. He patted Chen Zihao on the shoulder, showed a row of snow-white, neat teeth, and asked with a smile.

    This youngster was none other than Ge Dongxu, who had come to the county town to attend high school.

    "Fuck, you''re just a countryside bumpkin whose hair isn''t even fully grown yet, and you dare meddle in my business, are you tired of living? Get lost!" Chen Zihao turned his head, saw that it was a clearly rural boy daring to interfere with his affairs, and anger made him release one of Dong Xinyu''s hands. He then raised his hand and swung a slap towards him.

    But just as Chen Zihao''s hand was swinging over, there was a "smack!" as Ge Dongxu grabbed his wrist, and immediately felt his wrist clamped by an ice-cold iron pincer, causing him so much pain that he immediately began to wail.

    "Kid, let go, you''re killing me!" Chen Zihao shouted, while he had already let go of Dong Xinyu''s other hand and threw a punch at Ge Dongxu.

    However, his punch only got halfway before his wrist was grabbed by Ge Dongxu again.

    "Whose daddy are you? Try calling out again and see what happens?" Ge Dongxu detested people who always called themselves ''daddy'' in front of him. His face slightly chilled, and he increased the strength of his grip a bit more. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I won''t say it, I won''t! Let go of me!" Chen Zihao, with both hands in pain, finally didn''t dare to be arrogant anymore and hurriedly begged.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t want to cause trouble, so seeing Chen Zihao begging for mercy, he let go of his hand.

    "Damn it!" As soon as Ge Dongxu let go, Chen Zihao immediately regained his bullish arrogance, stepped out of the car, and aimed a kick at Ge Dongxu.

    "Watch out! Chen Zihao, what are you trying to do?" Dong Xinyu saw Chen Zihao raise his foot to kick Ge Dongxu, and shouted in shock and anger.

    But before Dong Xinyu''s voice had died away,

    there was a loud "bang!" Ge Dongxu had already kicked Chen Zihao''s stomach in advance, causing him to feel a sharp pain in the belly, and the whole person lunged forward, falling face down to the ground.

    Immediately, Dong Xinyu''s eyes widened, and she covered her small cherry mouth with her jade hand, unable to believe as she looked at Chen Zihao who had fallen to the ground.

    Some people who were watching this scene were also very surprised.

    Because whether in terms of body size or age, Chen Zihao appeared larger, yet it was Chen Zihao who ended up being the one knocked down by a kick.

    "Well kicked!" But soon someone shouted out.

    Even though these people saw Chen Zihao riding a motorcycle, tall and looking arrogant, they didn''t dare to step forward to help. However, they didn''t mind cheering when someone stepped up to teach him a lesson.

    ps: New book seeks all kinds of support, thank you!

 Chapter 8 Renting a House

    "Screw your mother!" Chen Zihao scrambled up from the ground, gave the cheering crowd a furious glare, and then, with a ferocious look on his face, charged towards Ge Dongxu, who was already walking away with his back to him, carrying a bag, and kicked out at him again."Watch out!" Many people shouted.

    But while their voices were still echoing in the air, Ge Dongxu had reacted as if he had eyes in the back of his head, delivering a backward kick. Chen Zihao fell to the ground once again with a "thump" and took another face-first tumble. This time it was worse than before; he even chipped half of his front tooth, and blood was streaming from his lips.

    "Nice!" This time the crowd burst into applause.

    Chen Zihao got up from the ground, and this time seemed to realize that the young man from the countryside was not to be trifled with and might have some skills. He dared not charge forward again. Moreover, having thoroughly embarrassed himself that day, he finally climbed onto his motorbike.

    He revved the engine and sped towards Ge Dongxu.

    "Watch the motorbike! Chen Zihao, have you lost your mind?"

    "Ah! Be careful!"

    Seeing the motorbike charging at Ge Dongxu, many people turned pale and shouted out. Some women even covered their eyes, not daring to watch. But Ge Dongxu seemed completely unaware and continued to walk unhurriedly with his bag. However, if someone had been able to observe him closely at that time, they would have noticed his gaze was particularly cold.

    "Screech!" In the end, Chen Zihao didn''t dare to crash the motorbike into Ge Dongxu. He swerved and brushed past him, then executed a sharp turn and stopped several meters away from Ge Dongxu, glaring at him fiercely and said, "Kid, you better watch out! You better hope I don''t see you in town again, or it''ll be really bad for you!"

    After finishing his threat, Chen Zihao rode off on his motorbike.

    Ge Dongxu watched Chen Zihao''s retreating figure and shook his head with a bitter smile. His parents didn''t want him to cause trouble in the county town, but he had managed to find trouble as soon as he got off the bus.

    Of course, if the same thing happened again, he wouldn''t hesitate to intervene.

    "Thank you so much for just now!" Just as Ge Dongxu was shaking his head with a bitter smile, a pleasant fragrance suddenly wafted over from behind, followed by a ponytailed girl in denim shorts, showing off her long white legs.

    "It was nothing, just lending a hand," Ge Dongxu replied with a hint of shyness on his face in front of the innocent yet subtly charming young girl.

    "My name is Dong Xinyu. What''s yours?" Dong Xinyu said, extending her delicate hand towards Ge Dongxu.

    "Ge Dongxu, ''Dongxu'' as in the rising sun in the east." Ge Dongxu gently grasped the delicate hand reaching out to him, his face flushing even more with shyness.

    "The guy just now was called Chen Zihao. He went to the same high school as me but was one year above. Relying on his family''s wealth and power, he always harassed the pretty girls at school," Dong Xinyu''s pretty face blushed slightly as she said this, realizing that her words might sound like she was boasting about herself. Fortunately, Ge Dongxu didn''t seem to notice, and only then did she secretly breathe a sigh of relief and continued, "Luckily he graduated this year and will probably go to college in a few days, otherwise it would have been really troublesome. However, if you''re going to stay in Songyang for these few days, it''s better to avoid him. In the end, it''s all because of me that you got involved." sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "How could this be your fault? If anyone is to blame, it''s that guy''s parents for not educating him properly!" Ge Dongxu said.

    "How old are you to talk like an old soul?" Dong Xinyu couldn''t help but roll her eyes at Ge Dongxu who, despite looking to be just fifteen or sixteen years old, spoke as if he were as old as her parents.

    "Really?" Ge Dongxu smiled awkwardly. Having trained with Ren Yao since he was young and spending a lot of time with the elderly, he naturally developed more of an adult way of thinking, although his nature was still that of a young person.

    "Of course. Also, the way you taught Chen Zihao a lesson was so calm and cool, not like a youngster at all. Oh, you must have practiced martial arts, right?" Dong Xinyu said, her beautiful eyes filled with curiosity as she looked at Ge Dongxu.

    "I''ve practiced some, and a few average men shouldn''t be able to get close to me," Ge Dongxu admitted. After all, he was still a na?ve youth who came from a mountain village, and being praised by a beautiful girl to his face made him blush, touching his nose sheepishly and modestly.

    "A few average men can''t get close to you?" Dong Xinyu''s beautiful eyes glanced at Ge Dongxu''s body which, due to being in the developing stage, appeared rather tall and lean, and suddenly she pursed her lips and chuckled, giving him a sidelong glance as she said teasingly, "Hehe, I''ve discovered that not only are you mature for your age, but you also like to boast! Hehe, just kidding with you. Anyway, I really should thank you today. I''m meeting with a friend and gotta go. Bye!"

    After saying this, Dong Xinyu waved at Ge Dongxu, swayed her slim waist, and walked away with her long, white legs, exuding youthful energy.

    "He thinks I''m boasting?" Watching Dong Xinyu''s retreating figure, Ge Dongxu shook his head with a smile. He had been modest in his statement; in reality, with his current Combat Power, even a dozen men couldn''t get close to him.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu didn''t feel the need to catch up with Dong Xinyu to explain. After shaking his head with a smile, he continued to carry his suitcase and walked eastward.

    In the 1990s in Huaxia Country, even big cities didn''t have many proper real estate agencies, let alone small places like Changxi County. Typically, landlords would simply write ''for rent'' or hang a rental sign outside their own homes.

    At that time, the Changxi County town had very few apartment-style commercial buildings; it mostly consisted of four- or five-story buildings built along streets or small alleys. Houses were connected to each other, with each family occupying a building from the ground floor to the top. Each floor was about forty or fifty square meters, with internal stairs winding from the ground floor to the top.

    The first floor was often used as a storefront facing the street, the second floor as a living room and kitchen, and from the third floor up were the residential rooms. Since a building typically had four or five floors or sometimes even six or seven, it was common for one or two floors to be vacant. Some households would rent out one or two floors rather than leave them empty.

    As he walked, Ge Dongxu saw some rental properties, but none that he liked, and the ones he did like were not for rent. It was only when he was about to reach the lush little hill he had seen from far away at the bus station that Ge Dongxu finally found a rental place he liked.

    The rental property was a five-story building along the street with a sign-making shop on the ground floor, filled with various types of signage.

    The shop was tended by a slightly overweight middle-aged man who, seeing Ge Dongxu standing at the door looking at the rental advertisement hung outside, got up and walked to the front, asking with a smile, "Young man, are you looking to rent a place?"

    ps: The new book urgently needs support such as recommendations, collections, rewards, and promotions. Thank you very much!

 Chapter 9 Special Rental Conditions [Seeking Recommendations and Favorites]

    "Yes, boss, are you the landlord?" Ge Dongxu nodded and asked."Indeed, I am the landlord. However, I only rent rooms to high school students from Changxi No. 1 High. If you''re not a student there, I''m afraid I can''t rent a room to you," the landlord said.

    "I just passed the entrance exam to Changxi No. 1 High this year." Ge Dongxu smiled.

    "So you''re a freshman this year, that''s great. Which township are you from, and how many points did you score on your entrance exam?" the landlord''s eyes lit up upon hearing that.

    "I''m from Baiyun Mountain Township, and I scored five hundred fifty points on the entrance exam." Ge Dongxu felt a bit puzzled by why the landlord was asking these questions, but he still answered honestly.

    "Five hundred fifty points, that''s quite high! Good, good." The landlord nodded continuously in praise, looking at Ge Dongxu with much more affection.

    At that time, the full score for Jiangnan Province''s middle school leaving exam was five hundred ninety points, and the admission score for Changxi No. 1 High was five hundred twelve points, so Ge Dongxu''s score was indeed commendable.

    "Uncle Landlord, how much is the rent? Also, can you show me the room first?" Ge Dongxu was there to rent a house, not to discuss academic achievements, so naturally, he didn''t want to keep circling around on this topic with the landlord.

    "Right, right, look at how confused I am. As for the rent, in this area it''s generally around one hundred fifty per month, but seeing as you have such good grades and you''re from the countryside, uncle will give you a discount, one hundred. As for the room, just wait a moment, I''ll get your aunt to come down and watch the shop while I show you around," the landlord said, after Dongxu raised the question, suddenly remembering the actual reason for his visit, he slapped his head and then sized Dongxu up, smiling.

    "Thank you, Uncle Landlord." Ge Dongxu''s family wasn''t wealthy, so any savings on the rent naturally made him happy; he quickly bowed slightly to express his thanks.

    "You''re such a sensible kid." Seeing Ge Dongxu''s polite demeanor, the landlord looked at him even more affectionately and complimented him, then opened the door behind the shop counter that led to the back room and called out inside.

    Soon after, a middle-aged woman who looked rather kind and amiable came out from the back room.

    "Ah Juan, this young man, oh, what''s your name again?" the landlord, while introducing, suddenly remembered he didn''t yet know Ge Dongxu''s name.

    "Auntie, my name is Ge Dongxu, I am here to rent a room," Ge Dongxu said politely, smiling slightly at the middle-aged woman.

    "From Changxi No. 1 High?" the woman known as Ah Juan asked.

    "Yes, from Changxi No. 1 High, and he scored five hundred fifty points on his entrance exam," the landlord said.

    The middle-aged woman''s eyes brightened slightly and she nodded, "That''s very high, quite a few points above the admission score line."

    "Yes, if only he could give a few points to our Lehao, we could save quite a bit of money!" the landlord remarked, then with Ge Dongxu looking somewhat puzzled, led him through the back door of the shop into the rear room on the ground floor.

    The ground floor was divided into two rooms, the front one being used as a shop where customers frequently came and went, somewhat like a public space, while the back room, separated from the shop by a wall and a door, became a completely private area.

    Inside, there were various items such as cardboard boxes, bicycles, brooms, dustpans, among other things, and the stairs leading to the other floors were also here, with several pairs of slippers placed at the foot of the stairs.

    "Just go up with your shoes on, since your aunt is going to thoroughly clean it again in a couple of days!" Seeing Ge Dongxu about to take his shoes off, the landlord waved his hand laughing.

    Though Ge Dongxu noticed the stairs were very clean, he still insisted on taking off his shoes to go up.

    The staircase was a spiral wooden one, painted in a reddish-brown color, and felt very good to step on.

    The spiral staircase was in the middle of the house, neatly dividing it into front and back sections.

    "The kitchen and dining room are at the back on the second floor. The side facing the street has the living room and a bathroom," the landlord explained, pointing to either side of the staircase as they reached the second floor. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    These areas were for the landlord''s use, so he casually mentioned them before leading Ge Dongxu upstairs.

    "The floors above the second floor are all bedrooms. The third floor is where your aunt and I live, with the master bedroom at the front and a study at the back. The fourth floor has my son Cheng Le Hao''s bedroom and the guest room. The fifth floor is for rent, and each floor has a bathroom," the landlord explained as they climbed the stairs. Reaching the fourth floor, he turned his head to look at the master bedroom, saw that the door was closed, and walked straight over, knocking loudly, "Bang, bang, bang."

    "Classes are starting in a couple of days, can''t you let me sleep in peace for two more days?" a dissatisfied voice came from the room, followed by the door swinging open, revealing a chubby young man in boxer shorts and no shirt, about the same age as Ge Dongxu.

    "All you do is sleep all day. Look at him; he''s been up early to find a place to live from Baiyun Mountain," the landlord scolded, seeing the chubby boy''s disgruntled grumbling.

    "Hey, buddy, you''re coming to Changxi High School?" the chubby boy asked eagerly, recognizing the condition set by his father for the tenant. He completely ignored his father''s scolding, leaving his dad to shake his head in frustration.

    Watching the father and son, and recalling everything that had happened, Ge Dongxu finally understood why the landlord was so specific about the tenant''s profile and so concerned about his grades. It turned out he wanted a study companion for his own son to encourage him to study!

    However, Ge Dongxu saw that the family was quite nice and didn''t mind the additional task.

    "Yes, my name is Ge Dongxu!" Ge Dongxu said with a smile, nodding his head.

    "Then we''ll be classmates from now on. Come on, Dongxu, let me show you your room," Cheng Le Hao said enthusiastically, draping his arm around Ge Dongxu''s shoulders.

    Seeing that his son seemed to like Ge Dongxu, the landlord''s expression relaxed considerably, and while following behind, he said to his son, "Lehao, Dongxu scored 550 in the middle school exam. You were enrolled through a paid seat, and your foundation is weaker than most; you must learn diligently from him. If there''s anything you don''t understand, ask Dongxu. Aim for a good university."

    "I know, I know!" Cheng Le Hao said impatiently, clearly having endured his dad''s nagging often.

    "You child!" the landlord said, slightly irritated, smacking him on the back of his head.

    "Dad, you''ll knock me stupid!" Cheng Le Hao exclaimed.

    The landlord was about to hit him again but eventually retracted his hand sheepishly, unsure whether he was genuinely worried about harming him or because Ge Dongxu was there.

    The layout of the fifth floor was similar to the floors below, with a large master bedroom of over twenty square meters at the front and a smaller bedroom at the back, albeit with a small balcony.

    The interior was elegantly decorated and very clean, equipped with necessary furniture such as a desk, bed, and cabinets.

 Chapter 10 I Am Strong [Please Recommend, Please Collect]

    "How does it feel? You''re satisfied, right?" Cheng Le Hao asked."Very good," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Since you''re satisfied, I should tell you that originally the rental was just for one of the two rooms on the fifth floor. But it''s empty anyway, so from now on the whole fifth floor is yours to use. If guests come, however, and I can''t manage room arrangements on my side, you''ll have to temporarily vacate the back room," the landlord said with a concealed sigh of relief, smiling after seeing Ge Dongxu''s satisfaction.

    To be honest, he rather liked Ge Dongxu. Although he came from the countryside, his whole demeanor was proper and polite, and he looked honest. His clothes were plain but very neat and clean. Of course, the main reason was that he was an exceptional student at Changxi No.1 Middle School.

    "Then I really thank you, Uncle," Ge Dongxu was very satisfied with such a room for the price and quite grateful to the landlord.

    "From now on, we''re like family, no need to be polite with Uncle here," the landlord said with a smile, then turned to Cheng Le Hao, "Le Hao, go downstairs and help Dongxu carry his luggage up."

    "Okay!" This time Cheng Le Hao didn''t grumble and agreed readily, then was about to go downstairs to carry the luggage.

    "No need, I can do it myself, I''ll do it myself," Ge Dongxu hurriedly said.

    "Dongxu, you must be exhausted from looking for a room all day. You rest first, let this kid carry it, he''s so plump he should move around more!" the landlord said.

    The landlord could say that, but of course, Ge Dongxu couldn''t really let him do that, so he quickly followed downstairs.

    But Cheng Le Hao was quite enthusiastic, and quick to act in this matter. Ge Dongxu hadn''t even reached the ground floor when the plump boy had already descended the stairs, his face flushed red, both hands straining to lift the luggage.

    "The stuff is a bit heavy, let me do it," Ge Dongxu hurriedly said upon seeing this and went down the stairs.

    "It''s not just a bit heavy, it''s seriously killing me! It''s better if we both do it," Cheng Le Hao said, gasping for air.

    "Nonsense! I just saw Dongxu carrying it with one hand into our house. It comes to your hands, and suddenly it''s killing you, and you can''t lift it with both hands! I bet it''s not the luggage that''s heavy, it''s that you spent the entire summer just eating, sleeping, and playing games, and now you''re weak!" the landlord also went downstairs and seeing his son''s face beet red and forehead sweating, whilst saying the luggage was incredibly heavy, he couldn''t help but glare angrily.

    At that moment, Ge Dongxu just reached out and took the suitcase from Cheng Le Hao, who was straining to carry it, indeed with just one hand, effortlessly.

    Cheng Le Hao stood there dumbfounded! And the landlord took the opportunity to lecture his son again, "You brat, do you see that? You''re almost the same age, and as for stature, you''re even larger than Dongxu, yet look at him? Now look at yourself? Aren''t you ashamed?"

    Cheng Le Hao, being reprimanded like that by his dad and seeing Ge Dongxu''s ease, didn''t believe it and naturally felt disgruntled. He stepped forward briskly, grabbed the handle of the luggage, and said, "Dongxu, let go, let me try again. I refuse to believe this. You can lift it so easily with one hand, and I struggle so much even with two!"

    "No need to try again, it really is quite heavy. I''m a mountain person, used to heavy labor, so I''m strong," Ge Dongxu said kindly, not wanting Cheng Le Hao to embarrass himself further.

    But Cheng Le Hao was stubborn and insisted on trying, so Ge Dongxu reluctantly let go.

    "Bang!" The moment Ge Dongxu let go, Cheng Le Hao, still not exerting full strength in his tug-of-war, not only failed to lift the luggage all at once but was also pulled forward by its weight, nearly toppling over it.

    "Look at you, all you do is play games, sleep, and snack all day. From today on, your gaming console is confiscated, no more snacks, and you''re starting to exercise," the landlord said sternly after seeing Ge Dongxu handle his bag with ease while his own son nearly toppled over with the luggage, his heart wrenching.

    "Dad, you really can''t blame me for this, the suitcase is seriously heavy. If you don''t believe me, try lifting it yourself," Cheng Le Hao immediately burst into tears and cried out in protest.

    "I''ll lift it myself, but if it turns out to be light, you, my boy, will have to seriously start your workouts," the landlord didn''t believe Ge Dongxu could lift what seemed to be a heavy suitcase effortlessly. He walked over, pushed Cheng Le Hao aside, grabbed the suitcase with one hand, and said with an easy smile, "Silly boy, look... "

    However, before he could finish his sentence with "okay," his face turned red, and it took a strong yank to lift it.

    "Dad, seems like you also need to step up your exercise," Cheng Le Hao couldn''t help but laugh when he saw his dad''s face turn red and struggling to lift the suitcase with one hand, and quickly teased.

    "Cheeky kid, itching for a spanking, huh? Even daring to boss your own dad around!" The landlord glared at Cheng Le Hao, then turned his astonished gaze to Ge Dongxu and asked, "Dongxu, what on earth did you pack in this suitcase? Why is it so heavy?"

    "The weather is still hot, and clothes are lighter, so I brought some extra books. That''s why it''s a bit heavy," Ge Dongxu explained with a smile.

    "No wonder it''s so heavy! But you''re strong, almost catching up to your uncle," the landlord revealed a look of understanding.

    "Oh, come on, Dad, don''t flatter yourself. Dongxu lifted it easily with one hand, while you almost popped a vein on your forehead," Cheng Le Hao immediately unabashedly pointed out.

    "All you do is run your mouth. Look at Dongxu, he knows to bring books when he goes out. And you?" The landlord''s face turned slightly red, and then he swiftly changed the subject and started to scold.

    "Aren''t my books at home? Why would I need to lug them around?" Cheng Le Hao muttered, then, seeing his dad raise his hand as if to hit him, he quickly scampered up the stairs.

    After reaching the stairs, he couldn''t resist shouting to Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, you''re strong, I''ll leave the heavy lifting to you!"

    Having said that, he promptly dashed upstairs.

    "This kid!" the landlord shook his head in defeat and then told Ge Dongxu, "You see what I''m dealing with, this guy has been coddled since he was little. You guys will be attending the same school, the same year, and you might even end up in the same class. Now you''ll be living one floor apart; you''ve got to help your uncle keep an eye on him."

    "Rest assured, Uncle, I will," Ge Dongxu, now rather fond of the father and son duo, nodded with a smile and agreed.

    "Good, good, with your help, I''ll feel much more at ease," said the landlord, his mood brightening as he patted Ge Dongxu on the shoulder. "You go settle into your room. If you need anything, just let your uncle or aunt know, I''m going to check on the store."

    "Thanks, Uncle, go ahead with your business; I''ll bring down the rent later," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "No rush about the rent, no rush!" said the landlord, still smiling as he headed to the store.

    Ge Dongxu went up to the fifth floor, opened his suitcase, took out his toiletries, arranged them in the bathroom, and was about to put away his clothes when Cheng Le Hao suddenly barged in, grabbed Ge Dongxu''s arm, and dragged him towards the window. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Do you see that girl with the ponytail and denim shorts?" Once by the window, Cheng Le Hao pointed to the house across the street, his eyes lighting up as he asked in an excited, wolfish manner.

 Chapter 11 The Girl Across

    Ge Dongxu followed Cheng Le Hao''s pointing finger and looked across the street from the building. His expression briefly froze; wasn''t that Dong Yuxin, the girl he had met on the street earlier?"I see her, what about it?" Ge Dongxu''s face quickly shifted to one of confusion, not understanding why Cheng Le Hao was so excitedly dragging him to look at Dong Yuxin. Did he witness the scene where he played the hero just now? Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    No way, when I came to his place earlier, he was still fast asleep in his room wearing nothing but boxers!

    "Holy crap, brother, are you truly clueless or just pretending? Didn''t you notice that the girl across the street is super hot? Tsk tsk, such a pretty face, those legs so white and long, and then there''s¡­ hiss-slurp!" Cheng Le Hao gave Ge Dongxu a sidelong glance, his voice trailing off as he couldn''t help but let his saliva drip, quickly sucking it back in with an expression as lecherous as one could be.

    "Definitely hot, but that seems unrelated to you. Don''t tell me, you''re planning to chase after her!" Even though Ge Dongxu disapproved of Cheng Le Hao''s lewdness, he couldn''t deny that Dong Yuxin was indeed beautiful. He nodded and deliberately sized up Cheng Le Hao from head to toe with his gaze.

    "Hey, don''t look down on a fatty! Maybe Dong Yuxin likes a bit of meat on the bones, you know?" Cheng Le Hao was annoyed at Ge Dongxu''s scrutinizing look, shot him a disdainful glance, and then purposely hitched up his trousers, giving his flab a shake that left Ge Dongxu feeling a bout of chills.

    "I think your chances are about as good as winning the lottery, so you might as well calm down, exercise properly, and aspire to have abs like mine," Ge Dongxu lifted his shirt to reveal his steel-like eight-pack abs and said.

    "Holy shit! No wonder you''re so strong! Those are the legendary eight-pack abs, huh? Let me touch them, let me touch!" Initially, Ge Dongxu wanted to give Cheng Le Hao a good knockdown, but instead, the fat man exhibited no sign of enlightenment. Seeing this, his eyes lit up as if he had discovered a new world, reaching out his chubby hands to touch Ge Dongxu''s abs. Ge Dongxu, disgusted, quickly pulled down his shirt and harshly slapped away his hands.

    "Pssh, what''s so great about that? You''re not Dong Yuxin. Even if you let me touch them, I wouldn''t care!" Cheng Le Hao retorted dismissively after Ge Dongxu slapped his hand away.

    Having said that, Cheng Le Hao returned to lying on the windowsill, his eyes squinted and drooling at the corners of his mouth as he stealthily watched Dong Yuxin.

    "Tsk tsk, she''s indeed the perpetual top school beauty at our school! Starting the day after tomorrow, she and I will be schoolmates, then I''ll be able to see her every day. Just the thought of it excites me," Cheng Le Hao murmured to himself, his eyes glowing.

    "Your two families live right across the street from each other, don''t you see her every day?" Ge Dongxu rolled his eyes and said.

    "She rarely comes out, so it''s hard to catch a glimpse of her," Cheng Le Hao said. As he spoke, he suddenly slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Crap, I''ve been so busy arguing with you, a guy who doesn''t understand women, that I forgot to grab the binoculars."

    With that said, Cheng Le Hao hurriedly ran downstairs.

    Watching his hefty figure quickly exit his room, Ge Dongxu was completely speechless.

    This guy actually used a telescope!

    However, Cheng Le Hao didn''t run away for long before he came back with a face full of disappointment, saying, "I was too late, she went inside."

    "We live just across from each other, and we''ll both be alumni in the future. Is it necessary to spy on her with a telescope? Just say hello the next time you see her, get to know her, and that''ll be it," Ge Dongxu saw Cheng Le Hao''s dejected look and couldn''t help but laugh and cry at the same time.

    "Talk is cheap for you! That''s the school beauty of Changxi No. 1 Middle School we''re talking about, and she''s a senior this year. We''re just freshmen. Do you think she would even care to acknowledge you if you greet her? Besides, it''s said that there are a lot of guys in Changxi No. 1 Middle School who are after Dong Yuxin, and several of them are top students with good family backgrounds, but she just ignores them all," Cheng Lehao rolled his eyes as he spoke.

    "Really? I actually don''t think she''s the type to reject people outright. She probably just isn''t interested in dating right now, which is why she''s intentionally ignoring those guys. By the way, you haven''t even started attending Changxi No. 1 Middle School yet, so how do you know so much already?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "I asked a classmate about it. His brother goes to Changxi No. 1 Middle School," Cheng Le Hao replied.

    "I see. But we''re still students, young, we should focus more on studying rather than worrying about school beauties, women!" Ge Dongxu seriously advised.

    "Get out, talking to a bookworm like you who hasn''t even grown up or seen the world about women is like playing the lute to a cow." Cheng Lehao rolled his eyes disdainfully when Ge Dongxu, instead of joining in on the conversation about women, advised him to study hard.

    With that, Cheng Lehao turned and clomped downstairs.

    The thoughts of teenagers in the mountains are more simple and conservative than those of city folks. Moreover, at that time, Ge Dongxu and his peers were young and fully focused on the middle school exams. In Baiyun Mountain Town Middle School, aside from a few rebellious youths, the topic of women was always off-limits. Ge Dongxu, besides studying, put a lot of effort into cultivation, maintaining his demeanor and spirit, so he certainly didn''t have the energy to talk about women. But Ge Dongxu was, after all, at the age where adolescence stirs, and he began to harbor a faint curiosity towards the matters between men and women, especially after the pressure of middle school exams had lifted and a summer vacation had passed. His curiosity about the opposite sex seemed to explode like crazy-growing grass after the rain, to the point where he''d even dream about it at night.

    Originally, after helping Dong Yuxin, Ge Dongxu had pretty much put her out of his mind, free of distractions. But just now, after what Cheng Lehao said, that youthful heart couldn''t help but begin to feel restless. As he tidied up his room, the pretty face of Dong Yuxin, her puffy chest, perky butt, and long, white legs would uncontrollably pop into his mind.

    "What''s gotten into me today? It''s all Cheng Lehao''s fault!" Ge Dongxu, essentially a boy with a pure heart, felt guilty whenever such inappropriate images surfaced in his mind. He grumbled to himself and simply put down his work, sat cross-legged on the floor, adjusted his breathing, and tried to keep his Spirit Platform clear and serene.

    After doing this for a short while, Ge Dongxu''s state of mind gradually regained its calm, free from distractions.

    With his mind cleared, Ge Dongxu then opened his eyes, stood up, continued tidying the room, and felt particularly refreshed.

    This meditation technique was also one of the secrets behind how Ge Dongxu could achieve good results in his studies and be the only person from Baiyun Mountain Town to get into the county''s best middle school despite spending a lot of time on cultivation. Whenever he found studying tedious and hard to focus, just meditating like this for a while would refresh him, enabling him to immerse in his studies efficiently, making him far more productive than the others.

 Chapter 14 Thousand-Year-Old Wild Polygonum Multiflorum

    "If it really doesn't work out, I can just continue to cultivate slowly like this, and over time I will definitely see some improvements," after pondering for quite a while without coming up with any good solutions, Ge Dongxu consoled himself."But after graduating from high school, I definitely have to go to university. After university, I will surely need to enter society to work and live, and it won't be possible to become a hermit secluded in the deep mountains, unconcerned with worldly matters. Given how it is now, the spiritual energy in the big cities will probably be even more diluted. Could it be that I should continue to cultivate at this snail's pace in the future?" Just as Ge Dongxu had begun to console himself, he suddenly remembered that this wasn't just a problem for the three years of high school, but an issue that pertained to the rest of his life's cultivation, and he couldn't help but start to worry again.
    "I absolutely can't go on like this! My master taught me and placed great hopes in me, how can I allow myself to continue on carelessly and dispirited? Moreover, I was fortunate enough to inherit Ge Hong Ancestor's mantle; if I were to waste such a grand opportunity, that would simply be begging for a lightning strike."
    "Since I don't have money, then I should work hard to earn it, to become a wealthy tycoon. When I have enough money, do I still need to worry about not being able to afford the materials for refining elixirs or setting up a Spirit Gathering Array?" In the darkness of the night, Ge Dongxu's gaze gradually became resolute.
    That night, a sixteen-year-old boy made up his mind to become a tycoon while in his rented room!
    After making his decision, Ge Dongxu closed his eyes and went to sleep.
    Sleep is the most natural form of deep relaxation and rest, and even for cultivators, it's no exception. Of course, due to their cultivation and meditation, they can sleep fewer hours than ordinary people and still maintain robust energy and physical strength.
    Waking up at about 4:30 in the morning, Ge Dongxu got out of bed because Mao Hour is when the sun rises in the east, all things thrive and vitality is at its peak, making it another optimal time for cultivation in the day.
    After washing up, Ge Dongxu once again went to the balcony on the fifth floor, sat cross-legged facing the east, and closed his eyes.
    In the east, the sky behind the park's mountains began to turn red, with the purple and red of the morning glow tumbling like turbulent seas.
    Finally, a round of the red sun broke through the clouds, casting golden red rays onto the earth.
    "Huff!" Ge Dongxu exhaled a breath of stale air, then opened his eyes, got up, and went downstairs for breakfast.
    The cultivation during Mao Hour, just like during the previous Chinese Hour, made almost imperceptibly slight progress.
    After breakfast, Ge Dongxu didn't return to his rented room but meandered aimlessly around the county, looking to see if there were any business opportunities for making money. However, as a boy who came from a mountain village without any experience in doing business, how could he spot any business opportunities just by wandering around? It was when he passed a small bridge on the riverfront road and saw a few fortune tellers that Ge Dongxu's eyes lit up, but he quickly laughed bitterly and dispelled the thought. Not to mention that his master had advised him before passing away not to casually reveal his cultivation or use it to make a living for profit, would anyone come to him given his young age, even if he was willing to swallow his pride and set up a stall to tell fortunes?
    After wandering around aimlessly for quite a while, Ge Dongxu suddenly stopped in his tracks and stared at a traditional Chinese medicine shop in front of him, smacking his forehead and saying, "Look at my poor memory, I only thought about buying medicinal ingredients to refine medicinal cuisine and elixirs, and purchase jade to arrange the Spirit Gathering Array. Why didn't I think of that thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum? I don't need it right now anyway, so why not sell it and buy the materials I need instead?"
    Ge Dongxu had been practicing cultivation in Baiyun Mountain for years, and last year, he came across a secluded cliff on the mountain where he inadvertently discovered a Polygonum multiflorum plant.
    Having studied medicinal herbs and the healing arts with Ren Yao for six years and inheriting knowledge passed down from Ge Hong, he easily identified it as a thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum.
    Polygonum multiflorum can nourish the blood and liver, solidify essence and benefit the kidneys, strengthen muscles and bones, and darken hair. It is a nourishing good medicine that is neither too cold nor too hot, and its benefits surpass those of rehmannia and asparagus root. It is indeed a precious medicinal material.
    Not to mention that it has nourishing effects when consumed by ordinary people, even cultivators can benefit from it to some extent. However, nowadays most Polygonum multiflorum is cultivated artificially, with wild ones becoming scarce, especially a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum which is extremely rare and precious. So when Ge Dongxu discovered a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum on Baiyun Mountain last year, he was very excited, and wanted to dig it up right away. But then he remembered that the effects of consuming this wild thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum directly were far less than if it was combined with other herbs and brewed into a medicinal decoction or refined into an elixir. If he were to just dig it up and consume it directly, it would be a waste. It would be better to wait until he had gathered the other herbs, dig it up then, and brew it into a medicinal decoction or refine it into an elixir according to ancient methods.
    However, among the several ancient methods Ge Dongxu knew that required thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum, the other herbs needed were also extremely precious, and there was no way he could collect them all in a short time. So after careful consideration, he let go of the idea of digging it up immediately. Instead, he concealed it further, making it more hidden, so that it could continue to grow in the crevices of the cliffs, to be dug up when needed in the future.
    Because he always cherished the extreme preciousness and rarity of the thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, something that was difficult to come by, he planned to save it for his own medicinal refining in the future. Thus, Ge Dongxu had never thought about selling it, nor did he consider the immense wealth it represented.
    Today, as he passed by the traditional Chinese medicine shop and saw the price tags of some nourishing herbs hanging at the entrance, he suddenly remembered that he was not, in fact, a poor boy; if he sold that thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, he could likely be considered a wealthy man.
    Thinking about selling the Polygonum multiflorum to raise money, Ge Dongxu's heart suddenly came alive, and he wished he could return to Baiyun Mountain right now to dig up and sell that thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum.
    "The thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum is the greatest wealth I possess, if sold, it would be gone, I must inquire thoroughly, haste makes waste. Otherwise, if I sell it for too low a price, wouldn't that be a great loss?" Although Ge Dongxu was only a sixteen-year-old boy, having lived with an elderly person for six years, he naturally picked up the elder's calmness. He quickly realized that his eagerness was misplaced and immediately took several deep breaths, letting his mind gradually calm down.
    With a heart neither arrogant nor impulsive, Ge Dongxu looked at the medicine shop ahead without the previous excitement, and after thinking for a moment, calmly walked into the shop.
    In this day and age, Western medicine is much more popular than traditional Chinese medicine. Even though it's called a Chinese medicine shop, there are still quite a few Western medicines on display. Perhaps it was because it was still early, or maybe the shop just didn't have much business. There were no customers in the store, only a middle-aged man attending it. Seeing Ge Dongxu come in, he didn't show much energy and just asked lazily, "Young man, what medicine do you need to buy?"
    "Uncle, I'm not here to buy medicine, I'd like to consult you about something," Ge Dongxu said, bowing slightly to the middle-aged man.
    "Come to consult about something? Young man, are you sure you haven't made a mistake? This is a pharmacy," the middle-aged man said with some curiosity as he looked at Ge Dongxu.
    ps: There will be another update after midnight, which is also the start of a new week's rush for the rankings. By then, dear readers, please be sure to support the event and strive to push the book into the top ten of the new book list.
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 Chapter 13 Talisman Drawing and Cultivation

    Returning to the rented house, Ge Dongxu saw Cheng Le Hao''s room door was tightly closed, and he breathed a sigh of relief inside. He did not want Cheng Le Hao to see him carrying a large pile of yellow ritual paper.He dashed into his own bedroom, then closed the door. Ge Dongxu prepared some cinnabar and laid out the yellow ritual paper. He took a deep breath, completely clearing his mind of any stray thoughts, focusing his mind, and with a brush in hand, he began drawing talismans.

    The talismans he was drawing were relatively simple runes, such as the Heart-Cleansing Talisman, Evil-Repelling Talisman, House-Protecting Talisman, and some Water Arrow Talismans and Fireball Talismans with not very strong attack power.

    However, simple as these talismans might be, drawing them successfully was not easy. Even after eight years of following the Dao and inheriting Ge Hong''s legacy, with his cultivation having reached the Qi Cultivation Third Layer Realm, he had wasted nearly a hundred sheets of yellow ritual paper but only managed to successfully draw one Evil-Repelling Talisman and one Fireball Talisman, with a success rate of about two percent.

    After drawing over a hundred sheets of yellow ritual paper, Ge Dongxu was nearly spent. He sat cross-legged for a brief period of breath regulation before he felt some strength return. Then he stood up and carefully stored the actual talismans imbued with mana, the Evil-Repelling Talisman, and the Fireball Talisman.

    These two talismans had almost taken him half a day, nearly a hundred sheets of yellow ritual paper, and three days'' accumulation of mana to complete. To others, they might seem like nothing more than ordinary ghost drawings, but to him, they were the fruit of his labor, which of course had to be well kept for any emergency.

    Because his current success rate in drawing talismans was so low, he needed to prepare in advance. This was what it meant to be prepared for anything.

    "I wonder when I''ll be able to reach the realm where the talismans follow my heart, able to create a talisman with a single stroke, without the hardship of the process," Ge Dongxu muttered to himself somewhat dissatisfied after storing the talismans.

    What Ge Dongxu did not know was that in this world today, those who truly knew how to draw talismans were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, and they were mostly older people whose success rates were not much better than Ge Dongxu''s. If people knew that a teenager of about fifteen or sixteen could produce real talismans and was still unsatisfied, they would probably be banging their heads against a wall.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu was just grumbling to himself. He knew that to reach the state where talismans followed his heart, it required not only an extremely refined spiritual power but also that his mana reached at least the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, and even his highly skilled master had only achieved the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer. He had a long way to go.

    After storing the talismans and grumbling a few words to himself, Ge Dongxu''s stomach started to protest with a growling sound.

    It turned out that drawing talismans not only consumed mental and mana energies but also physical strength. Moreover, Ge Dongxu was at an age where he was still growing, so after half a day''s practice, the bit of food he had eaten for lunch was long digested.

    He went downstairs for dinner, and after eating, Ge Dongxu did not linger outside and went straight back to the rented house.

    When Ge Dongxu returned, Wu Xiaojuan was washing the dishes, evidently, they had just had dinner. Seeing that Ge Dongxu had returned to his room early and had not roamed outside, Wu Xiaojuan felt much relieved. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Smiling, he greeted Wu Xiaojuan, then continued upstairs. Passing by Cheng Le Hao''s room, he saw him lying on the bed reading a novel, Huang Yi''s "A Step into the Past." This novel was very popular recently and was rather explicit in some aspects. Perhaps for this reason, when Cheng Le Hao heard footsteps at the stairway, he quickly stuffed "A Step into the Past" under his pillow, pretending to be pondering something. But the chubby fellow had not noticed the tent pitched high in his crotch.

    "Damn, it''s you, kid!" When Cheng Le Hao realized it was Ge Dongxu, he gave him a white look and then took out "A Step into the Past" from under the pillow and continued reading.

    "What novel are you reading? Hiding it like it''s something shady!" Ge Dongxu asked casually.

    "Huang Yi''s novel ''A Step into the Past'' is really good. Do you want to read it? I''m on the third volume right now, and I still haven''t returned the first two volumes. I can lend them to you," Cheng Le Hao said.

    "Thanks, but I''d better stick to my own reading," Ge Dongxu smiled, shaking his head as he walked away.

    "Damn, you''re already this diligent before school starts!" Cheng Le Hao rolled his eyes and then lowered his head to enjoy his novel once more.

    Ge Dongxu returned to his room, closed the door, and instead of reading, sat cross-legged on the bed, guarding his Spirit Platform, maintaining its clarity, and commenced his daily meditation.

    The Cultivation Technique Ge Dongxu practiced was called the ''Baopu Nine Pill Mysterious Method'', a Superior and Profound method. Unfortunately, nowadays nature''s spiritual energy is scarce, everywhere is filled with murky energy, and only during the Chinese Hours of zi and mao can one barely cultivate. At other times, even Superior and Profound techniques are mostly ineffective, so Ge Dongxu usually relied on the Meditation Method to condense spiritual power, which is unaffected by the fluctuations of the murky energy of nature''s spiritual energy.

    Since Talisman Drawing had consumed a significant amount of mental energy today, Ge Dongxu needed to meditate promptly to recover his spiritual power.

    He sat in this position until the zi hour, which is from eleven at night until one o''clock in the morning.

    Ge Dongxu quietly opened his room door, crossed the stairway, passed the room behind it, and reached the balcony.

    A bright moon hung in the sky, and the moonlight, like water, poured down, carrying a hint of coolness rare in the summer days. At this time, the usually bustling county city had become exceptionally silent. One could faintly hear the chirping of insects.

    "The zi hour, when Yin is at its peak and Yang begins to arise, the time of Yin Yang transition, is the best moment for cultivation in the day. Treasure it," Ren Yao''s words flashed through Ge Dongxu''s mind and, almost reflexively, he sat cross-legged, with his hands embracing his abdomen.

    Soon, Ge Dongxu''s abdomen rhythmically ballooned and contracted, and at the tip of his nose, one could vaguely see breaths moving in and out, like one''s breath on a cold winter day, visible as a mist, though relatively less obvious.

    Quietly, the moon hid behind the clouds, and soon an hour passed. Ge Dongxu slowly opened his eyes, sighed lightly, stood up and returned to his bedroom, lay on his bed with his hands behind his head, gazing at the ceiling with a somewhat desolate expression.

    "The county town has a high population density, dense buildings and not few factories. Even though I picked a place close to a park on the mountain, the air here is still much muddier compared to Baiyun Mountain. Even during the zi hour, the spiritual energy in the air is pitifully scarce. Cultivating here ten times might not even compare to one session on Baiyun Mountain. But I need to study in the county town, so it''s definitely not convenient to return to Baiyun Mountain for cultivation. What should I do?" Ge Dongxu gazed at the ceiling, feeling the Mana in his body that had scarcely increased, and couldn''t help feeling quite vexed.

    Since receiving his inheritance two years ago, he had made rapid progress, and after each cultivation session, the Mana in his body had a noticeable increase, yet today it was barely discernible.

    "It seems I can only think of solutions through Elixirs and setting up Spirit Gathering Arrays, but Refining Elixirs requires precious materials, and setting up Spirit Gathering Arrays needs Jade. Where can I, a poor student from the mountains, get the money to buy these expensive materials?" Ge Dongxu thought about two solutions, but the need to buy expensive materials for either Refining Elixirs or constructing Spirit Gathering Arrays caused him more worry and a headache.

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 Chapter 14 Thousand-Year-Old Wild Polygonum Multiflorum

    "If it really doesn''t work out, I can just continue to cultivate slowly like this, and over time I will definitely see some improvements," after pondering for quite a while without coming up with any good solutions, Ge Dongxu consoled himself."But after graduating from high school, I definitely have to go to university. After university, I will surely need to enter society to work and live, and it won''t be possible to become a hermit secluded in the deep mountains, unconcerned with worldly matters. Given how it is now, the spiritual energy in the big cities will probably be even more diluted. Could it be that I should continue to cultivate at this snail''s pace in the future?" Just as Ge Dongxu had begun to console himself, he suddenly remembered that this wasn''t just a problem for the three years of high school, but an issue that pertained to the rest of his life''s cultivation, and he couldn''t help but start to worry again.

    "I absolutely can''t go on like this! My master taught me and placed great hopes in me, how can I allow myself to continue on carelessly and dispirited? Moreover, I was fortunate enough to inherit Ge Hong Ancestor''s mantle; if I were to waste such a grand opportunity, that would simply be begging for a lightning strike."

    "Since I don''t have money, then I should work hard to earn it, to become a wealthy tycoon. When I have enough money, do I still need to worry about not being able to afford the materials for refining elixirs or setting up a Spirit Gathering Array?" In the darkness of the night, Ge Dongxu''s gaze gradually became resolute.

    That night, a sixteen-year-old boy made up his mind to become a tycoon while in his rented room!

    After making his decision, Ge Dongxu closed his eyes and went to sleep.

    Sleep is the most natural form of deep relaxation and rest, and even for cultivators, it''s no exception. Of course, due to their cultivation and meditation, they can sleep fewer hours than ordinary people and still maintain robust energy and physical strength.

    Waking up at about 4:30 in the morning, Ge Dongxu got out of bed because Mao Hour is when the sun rises in the east, all things thrive and vitality is at its peak, making it another optimal time for cultivation in the day.

    After washing up, Ge Dongxu once again went to the balcony on the fifth floor, sat cross-legged facing the east, and closed his eyes.

    In the east, the sky behind the park''s mountains began to turn red, with the purple and red of the morning glow tumbling like turbulent seas.

    Finally, a round of the red sun broke through the clouds, casting golden red rays onto the earth.

    "Huff!" Ge Dongxu exhaled a breath of stale air, then opened his eyes, got up, and went downstairs for breakfast.

    The cultivation during Mao Hour, just like during the previous Chinese Hour, made almost imperceptibly slight progress.

    After breakfast, Ge Dongxu didn''t return to his rented room but meandered aimlessly around the county, looking to see if there were any business opportunities for making money. However, as a boy who came from a mountain village without any experience in doing business, how could he spot any business opportunities just by wandering around? It was when he passed a small bridge on the riverfront road and saw a few fortune tellers that Ge Dongxu''s eyes lit up, but he quickly laughed bitterly and dispelled the thought. Not to mention that his master had advised him before passing away not to casually reveal his cultivation or use it to make a living for profit, would anyone come to him given his young age, even if he was willing to swallow his pride and set up a stall to tell fortunes?

    After wandering around aimlessly for quite a while, Ge Dongxu suddenly stopped in his tracks and stared at a traditional Chinese medicine shop in front of him, smacking his forehead and saying, "Look at my poor memory, I only thought about buying medicinal ingredients to refine medicinal cuisine and elixirs, and purchase jade to arrange the Spirit Gathering Array. Why didn''t I think of that thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum? I don''t need it right now anyway, so why not sell it and buy the materials I need instead?"

    Ge Dongxu had been practicing cultivation in Baiyun Mountain for years, and last year, he came across a secluded cliff on the mountain where he inadvertently discovered a Polygonum multiflorum plant.

    Having studied medicinal herbs and the healing arts with Ren Yao for six years and inheriting knowledge passed down from Ge Hong, he easily identified it as a thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum.

    Polygonum multiflorum can nourish the blood and liver, solidify essence and benefit the kidneys, strengthen muscles and bones, and darken hair. It is a nourishing good medicine that is neither too cold nor too hot, and its benefits surpass those of rehmannia and asparagus root. It is indeed a precious medicinal material.

    Not to mention that it has nourishing effects when consumed by ordinary people, even cultivators can benefit from it to some extent. However, nowadays most Polygonum multiflorum is cultivated artificially, with wild ones becoming scarce, especially a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum which is extremely rare and precious. So when Ge Dongxu discovered a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum on Baiyun Mountain last year, he was very excited, and wanted to dig it up right away. But then he remembered that the effects of consuming this wild thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum directly were far less than if it was combined with other herbs and brewed into a medicinal decoction or refined into an elixir. If he were to just dig it up and consume it directly, it would be a waste. It would be better to wait until he had gathered the other herbs, dig it up then, and brew it into a medicinal decoction or refine it into an elixir according to ancient methods.

    However, among the several ancient methods Ge Dongxu knew that required thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum, the other herbs needed were also extremely precious, and there was no way he could collect them all in a short time. So after careful consideration, he let go of the idea of digging it up immediately. Instead, he concealed it further, making it more hidden, so that it could continue to grow in the crevices of the cliffs, to be dug up when needed in the future.

    Because he always cherished the extreme preciousness and rarity of the thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, something that was difficult to come by, he planned to save it for his own medicinal refining in the future. Thus, Ge Dongxu had never thought about selling it, nor did he consider the immense wealth it represented.

    Today, as he passed by the traditional Chinese medicine shop and saw the price tags of some nourishing herbs hanging at the entrance, he suddenly remembered that he was not, in fact, a poor boy; if he sold that thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, he could likely be considered a wealthy man.

    Thinking about selling the Polygonum multiflorum to raise money, Ge Dongxu''s heart suddenly came alive, and he wished he could return to Baiyun Mountain right now to dig up and sell that thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum.

    "The thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum is the greatest wealth I possess, if sold, it would be gone, I must inquire thoroughly, haste makes waste. Otherwise, if I sell it for too low a price, wouldn''t that be a great loss?" Although Ge Dongxu was only a sixteen-year-old boy, having lived with an elderly person for six years, he naturally picked up the elder''s calmness. He quickly realized that his eagerness was misplaced and immediately took several deep breaths, letting his mind gradually calm down.

    With a heart neither arrogant nor impulsive, Ge Dongxu looked at the medicine shop ahead without the previous excitement, and after thinking for a moment, calmly walked into the shop.

    In this day and age, Western medicine is much more popular than traditional Chinese medicine. Even though it''s called a Chinese medicine shop, there are still quite a few Western medicines on display. Perhaps it was because it was still early, or maybe the shop just didn''t have much business. There were no customers in the store, only a middle-aged man attending it. Seeing Ge Dongxu come in, he didn''t show much energy and just asked lazily, "Young man, what medicine do you need to buy?"

    "Uncle, I''m not here to buy medicine, I''d like to consult you about something," Ge Dongxu said, bowing slightly to the middle-aged man.

    "Come to consult about something? Young man, are you sure you haven''t made a mistake? This is a pharmacy," the middle-aged man said with some curiosity as he looked at Ge Dongxu.

    ps: There will be another update after midnight, which is also the start of a new week''s rush for the rankings. By then, dear readers, please be sure to support the event and strive to push the book into the top ten of the new book list.

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 Chapter 15 Worth a Million [Monday, urgently seeking recommendation tickets]

    ps: Monday is the most important day for competing in the rankings, so I kindly ask all readers to please vote and support us. There will be more updates during the day......

    "Isn''t this a Chinese medicine shop? I''d like to ask about something related to Chinese medicine," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Asking about Chinese medicine, eh? Well, you''ve certainly come to the right person, as I have some knowledge on the subject." Since there were no customers in the shop and Ge Dongxu was very polite, the middle-aged man smiled as Ge Dongxu posed his question about herbs.

    "Thank you, Uncle. I''d like to know, how much would millennia-old wild Polygonum multiflorum cost nowadays?" Ge Dongxu responded with a bow and then asked.

    "Millennia-old wild Polygonum multiflorum? Ha-ha, come on, young man, have you been mesmerized by martial arts novels? Thinking that consuming millennia-old wild Polygonum multiflorum will help you open the governor and conception vessels and become a master in the martial world or something?" Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter.

    "No, I''m just curious," Ge Dongxu said, somewhat embarrassed by the reaction.

    "Ha-ha, don''t be shy, young man. I also had a phase when I was obsessed with martial arts novels, dreaming about falling into an abyss and then consuming a millennia-old Lingzhi or ginseng, suddenly gaining the cultivation power of sixty years. But all those things, they''re just in novels, and taking them seriously is not right. Polygonum multiflorum is just an herb and, although it does have a nourishing effect, it''s definitely not as miraculous as it''s described in martial arts novels. The ''Compendium of Materia Medica'' records that this herb is warming, tastes bitter, nourishes the kidneys, and warms the liver..." Seeing Ge Dongxu''s embarrassed expression, the middle-aged man was convinced that he was confused by martial arts novels and started giving a lecture.

    "Uncle, I really am just curious about how much millennia-old wild Polygonum multiflorum would sell for?" Ge Dongxu interrupted, a bit helplessly.

    Becoming slightly unhappy as Ge Dongxu interrupted his lecture, the middle-aged man said, "You young fellow, it seems you''re beyond help. Even if millennia-old wild Polygonum multiflorum had those miraculous effects, it would still cost at least a million. Can you afford that?"

    Ge Dongxu was stunned upon hearing this. He knew millennia-old wild Polygonum multiflorum would be valuable, but he hadn''t expected it to be that expensive.

    Considering that in Changxi County, the latest apartment housing costs about one thousand yuan per square meter, and a whole five-story building like the one Cheng Yazhou owns would cost at most about three hundred thousand yuan.

    One million yuan was undoubtedly an astronomical figure for Ge Dongxu at the moment.

    However, Ge Dongxu was no ordinary person, and he quickly recovered. Ignoring the middle-aged man''s earlier comment about him being beyond help, he eagerly asked, "Really, one million?"

    "I really do find you amusing, yes, over one million. Two years ago, Yongqing Hall in Linzhou City of the provincial capital acquired an eight-hundred-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, and a wealthy individual paid a million yuan for it," the middle-aged man said, shaking his head as he looked at Ge Dongxu, his eyes filled with a hint of longing.

    "Yongchun Hall in the provincial capital," Ge Dongxu muttered to himself, then happily bowed to the middle-aged man again and said, "Thank you, Uncle, for your information. Goodbye."

    After finishing speaking, Ge Dongxu turned around and walked away with joyful and excited steps, for he had already seen a million yuan beckoning to him.

    "This kid has deviated!" The middle-aged man watched as Ge Dongxu left with a face full of happiness and excitement, and couldn''t help shaking his head.

    He could never have dreamed that this plainly dressed young man would possess a wild Polygonum multiflorum that was a thousand years old!

    After leaving the herbal medicine store, it took Ge Dongxu a long while to calm down.

    After all, it was a huge amount of one million yuan, and even though he had cultivation power, it was very hard to control his emotions at once; he needed to adjust gradually.

    Once he had calmed his emotions, Ge Dongxu then returned to Cheng Lehao''s home.

    Passing by Cheng Yazhou''s room, it was closed, and he didn''t know whether Yazhou was oversleeping or engaging in novels, playing games. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    However, Ge Dongxu was not in the mood to care about that at the time, he returned to his room and sat at his desk, thinking about the wild Polygonum multiflorum that was a thousand years old.

    "That uncle mentioned Yongqing Hall, even specifying the time, the age, and the price very precisely, which shows that the information is reliable. The price of the wild Polygonum multiflorum that is a thousand years old should be worth at least over one million. I have to enroll at school tomorrow. It''s definitely not suitable to go back to Baiyun Mountain now, and such a large sum of money definitely can''t be carried with me; I must get a bank card, and to get a bank card, I certainly need an identity card. I''ve heard that now in the town, you can get an ID card as soon as you turn sixteen, not like before when you had to be eighteen. I will turn sixteen in another month, just in time to investigate some things thoroughly, and then go to the bank to get the card after getting my identity card. The thing is, I''m only just about to turn sixteen, which still isn''t the legal age of adulthood. I wonder if the bank will agree to issue the card; if not, that would be somewhat troublesome."

    Sitting at the desk, Ge Dongxu''s mind was racing.

    About the matter of the wild Polygonum multiflorum that was a thousand years old, Ge Dongxu did not want to alarm his parents just yet. The first reason was that the matter wasn''t even certain yet; bringing it up might disappoint them. The second reason was that the amount was indeed too enormous; if he did tell his parents, it would definitely disrupt their peaceful life and might even frighten them, leaving them anxious and restless with so much money. The third reason was that, in the eyes of his parents, Ge Dongxu was still a minor; once his parents learned he had such a large sum of money, they would definitely want to control it and not let him manage it freely, which would restrict him in investing in cultivation.

    "Whether the bank agrees to issue me a card or not, the first thing is to get the identity card, and I have one month for that. During this month, I should mainly focus on my studies and cultivation. Other matters should be dealt with slowly; I can''t rush them, I need to maintain a regular mindset." After pondering the matter for a while, Ge Dongxu quickly gathered his thoughts and silently warned himself to keep a regular mindset.

    For a sixteen-year-old to have such a mindset without supervision is related not only to Ren Yao''s long-term guidance but also significantly to Ge Dongxu''s own temperament. From this aspect, he is a person very suited for cultivation.

    A cultivator not only needs a steadfast and persistent heart but also a tranquil and unattached heart.

    These might seem contradictory; if one is steadfast and persistent, how can they be tranquil and unattached? But actually, it is not so. This is like the yin and yang sides of things¡ªboth opposing and complementing each other, the key is in balance. The heart of cultivation is similarly such.

    Ge Dongxu had a steadfast and persistent heart for cultivation, never giving up since childhood, even without Ren Yao''s guidance and monitoring, he still persisted day after day without failure. But on other matters, even faced with a huge amount of a million yuan, aside from initial shock and anxiety, he quickly managed to let it go and treated it with a regular mindset, which is being tranquil and unattached.

 Chapter 16 The School Beautys Invitation [Monday, Please Vote for Recommendation]

    ```After setting aside the matter of receiving a huge sum of a million, Ge Dongxu once again laid out yellow talisman paper on the table, prepared the cinnabar ink, and began to write talismans.

    This time, Ge Dongxu only wrote thirty talismans before he set down the brush, as the nature''s spiritual energy in the county town was thinner than at Baiyun Mountain, he still hadn''t fully recovered the mana he spent yesterday, and couldn''t continue.

    None of the thirty talismans were successful, but Ge Dongxu did not get discouraged. Although not a single talisman was successful, he had slightly improved his proficiency in talisman writing. As long as his mana could become more concentrated, the success rate would definitely increase.

    "If I persist, one day I will reach the realm my master spoke of, ''when the talisman follows the heart, and with a stroke of the brush a talisman is formed,''" Ge Dongxu''s eyes revealed a firm gaze, then he collected all the discarded yellow talisman papers and threw them into the trash can.

    That day, apart from going out at noon and in the evening to resolve the problem of hunger and to deliver the monthly rent to Cheng Yazhou, Ge Dongxu didn''t leave again. He spent the whole time in his room meditating and reading.

    The books Ge Dongxu read the most were on physics and chemistry, as he had a special interest in them. He believed that Taoist studies analyze and interpret the world and the universe through Tai Chi and the Two Instruments, the Four Symbols, and the Eight Trigrams, whereas physics and chemistry analyze the world and the universe from another perspective. The former views the universe as a whole for analysis, while the latter starts from the analysis of specific parts. This was similar to the relationship between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine.

    Traditional Chinese medicine talks about the Yin Yang and Five Elements and views the person as a whole. Therefore, the treatment of illness isn''t just for the symptoms, but from a holistic differential diagnosis. Western medicine tends to treat the symptoms directly, such as treating the head for a headache and the foot for foot pain. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Of course, in Ge Dongxu''s view, traditional Chinese medicine regards the condition from a holistic perspective, which is a layer higher than Western medicine. But in terms of effectiveness, Western medicine is often quicker and more direct.

    Regardless, Western medicine has a lot to offer as a reference for traditional Chinese medicine. Just as Ge Dongxu believes that natural sciences are greatly referential for his cultivation path, this is why he is particularly interested in physics and chemistry, hoping to find inspiration for his cultivation.

    In the meantime, Cheng Le Hao had come up several times and saw that Ge Dongxu had begun studying even before school started. Although he couldn''t help but complain, deep down he greatly admired Ge Dongxu. After going downstairs, he even picked up a book to read for a change. This scene was just witnessed by Wu Xiaojuan who came upstairs to clean, which made her so happy that she kept telling Cheng Yazhou downstairs that renting the house to Ge Dongxu was a good decision.

    Although the spirit energy in the county town was much thinner than at Baiyun Mountain, making cultivation progress almost imperceptible, Ge Dongxu still persisted in cultivating during the period of the midnight hour and the next day''s Mao Hour.

    The next day was Monday, and it was also the day to report to Changxi No. 1 Middle School.

    Because she saw her son take the initiative to study yesterday, Wu Xiaojuan believed that Ge Dongxu played a big role in this. Therefore, when Ge Dongxu came downstairs in the morning, she insisted on having him join them for breakfast, persuading him, "You are at the age when you grow the most. You should really sleep more, but to get into a good university, you will have to wake up early and sleep late. So, in the future, you should have breakfast here with me. This way, you won''t have to take time to find a breakfast place outside, and it might save you a few minutes of sleep as well. Anyway, it''s only a few buns, eggs, and porridge in the morning, so it''s not too much trouble."

    Ge Dongxu, after all, was a young man with a thin face, and with Wu Xiaojuan insisting and Cheng Le Hao not giving him a chance to speak, forcefully seating him at the dining table, he found it even harder to refuse. He could only continuously express his thanks and then joined Cheng Le Hao''s family for breakfast.

    After breakfast, Ge Dongxu and Cheng Le Hao left together.

    "Don''t rush off, it''s still early. Wait a bit," said Cheng Le Hao, as he pushed a mountain bike from the back door to the front street, glancing at the house diagonally across from them, he pulled Ge Dongxu who was ready to walk along the street towards the school''s direction.

    "What''s there to wait for on the street? Let''s talk about it at school," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Of course, there''s a good reason to wait, hehe, the school beauty hasn''t left her house yet!" Le Hao wore his trademark lecherous grin on his face.

    ```

    """

    "No way, are you planning to confess to the school beauty on the first day of school?" Ge Dongxu asked exaggeratedly, even though he knew what Cheng Le Hao was thinking. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "That''s the school beauty we''re talking about! And she''s a senior in high school. Confess to her? Am I crazy? I''m planning to follow her from a distance, just to admire her from afar. Forget it, there''s no point talking about this boy-girl stuff with a bookworm like you who knows nothing but studying." Cheng Le Hao rolled his eyes at Ge Dongxu repeatedly after hearing this.

    "Oh please, ''admiring from afar?'' Isn''t that just peeping?" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Peeping my ass, this is what they call ''a fair maiden makes a gentleman''s good match!'' It''s admiration, get it? Don''t be so crude, okay? Dong Yuxin is the goddess in my heart!" Cheng Le Hao said disdainfully, as if Ge Dongxu couldn''t possibly understand his "noble" feelings.

    "Alright, alright, it''s admiration. Since you admire Dong Yuxin so much, how about this¡ªI''ll introduce you to her when we get to school. It''s a bit undignified standing around on the street like this, as if we''re trying to chase her." Ge Dongxu smiled as he spoke.

    "Go away, get lost, don''t disturb me while I''m waiting for my goddess." Cheng Le Hao, obviously not aware that Ge Dongxu knew Dong Yuxin, took his words seriously, thinking he was just mocking him, and straightforwardly shoved him away.

    "Alright then, I''ll go ahead." Seeing that Cheng Le Hao wasn''t listening to him, Ge Dongxu didn''t bother to explain further, just shook his head smilingly, and walked toward the school with his backpack, unhurriedly along the street.

    About five to six minutes into his walk, a breeze brought a faint, pleasant scent from behind, followed by a bicycle speeding past him. On the bicycle was an attractive figure.

    It was the attractive figure of a girl with a ponytail, long beautiful legs, and a youthful rear wiggling on the bike''s seat.

    Just after brushing past Ge Dongxu, the owner of the attractive figure let out a sudden "Oh!", then stopped her bicycle and looked back at Ge Dongxu.

    "It really is you! You''re still in Songyang Town!" The owner of that attractive figure was naturally Dong Yuxin; she called out in surprise when she saw it was truly Ge Dongxu.

    She obviously thought that Ge Dongxu, coming from a rural area, wouldn''t continue to stay in the county town.

    "I''m starting school at Changxi No.1 High today, so of course I''m still in Songyang Town," Ge Dongxu smiled and said.

    "Ah, you''re a new student at Changxi No.1 High! So you''re going to Changxi No.1 High to register and start school now?" Dong Yuxin said, her face full of surprised astonishment.

    "Yes, senior, you''re going to Changxi No.1 High as well, right?" Ge Dongxu asked with a plain and honest smile. Although Dong Yuxin was very beautiful and brimming with youthful vitality, Ge Dongxu was still calm and composed in her presence, not feeling nervous or restrained.

    "Yeah, we can go together. What do you say, junior, want a lift on my bike?" Since Dong Yuxin wasn''t some icy beauty and was relatively cheerful by nature, she felt more relaxed seeing Ge Dongxu''s composed attitude. Moreover, since Ge Dongxu was just a freshman, she felt a natural advantage psychologically. So, when Ge Dongxu called her senior, she patted the back seat of her bike and looked at him with a smiling gaze.

    PS: Monday''s recommendation tickets are very important, so please don''t think it too much trouble to log in and vote. I will try to keep up with three chapters in the morning, noon, and evening this week. Thank you.

    """

 Chapter 17 Senior, Get in the Car [3rd Update, Request for Votes]

    "No need, no need, I''m too heavy." Ge Dongxu, who finally still was a boy from the mountains, wasn''t as open as city people when it came to interaction between the sexes. He had never been so close to such a beautiful girl before. When Dong Yuxin suggested carrying him for a ride, his normally plain face couldn''t help but turn red, and he quickly waved his hands.At that moment, the usually composed and mature Ge Dongxu showed the nature of youth he should have at his age.

    Having seen the cold and steady side of Ge Dongxu the day before, the sudden sight of his embarrassed panic made Dong Yuxin''s eyes light up. She felt a sense of accomplishment and, for some reason, dismounted the bicycle, pushed it towards Ge Dongxu, and said, "Then you take me, this should be okay, right? Don''t say you''re too scared to carry a girl!"

    As she spoke, Dong Yuxin''s beautiful eyes looked at Ge Dongxu with a teasing smile.

    Since the girl had already pushed the bicycle into his hands, asking him to carry her, Ge Dongxu had no reason to refuse, even though he wasn''t used to being so close to a girl so suddenly. Moreover, Dong Yuxin''s teasing gaze and tone made him feel slightly challenged.

    "What''s there to be scared of?" Ge Dongxu took the bicycle, mounted it, then suppressed the nervousness in his heart and pretended to be carefree as he patted the seat behind him and smiled, "Senior, get on."

    When Ge Dongxu hopped on the bike and patted the seat behind him, inviting her to get on, it was Dong Yuxin''s turn to feel her cheeks heating up and turning red.

    To be honest, she had never ridden on a boy''s bicycle before. She didn''t know what had gotten into her; she first offered to carry him, then pushed the bike to him, and now she couldn''t find the words to say no.

    "I''ll just ride. He''s just a freshman, and I''m a senior. Am I afraid of him?" Dong Yuxin finally bit her lip, adjusted her hair to disguise her nervousness, then bravely sat down, gripping the back of the seat, and said delicately, "Hey, be careful, and don''t let us fall!"

    "Don''t worry! Settle in." Ge Dongxu said, then started pedaling the bicycle, carrying Dong Yuxin along the street toward the school. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Dozens of meters away, Cheng Le Hao, who had been trailing far behind, watched Ge Dongxu confidently ride away with Dong Yuxin towards the school. His eyes widened as if he''d seen a ghost in broad daylight.

    Dammit, no way, he''s actually riding a bike with Dong Yuxin to school? That''s Dong Yuxin, my goddess, the reigning beauty queen of Changxi No.1 High School, and he''s just a freshman, a mountain boy from Baiyun Mountain!

    How is that possible? God, this must be a hallucination in broad daylight!

    "Crash!" Suddenly, the shocked Cheng Le Hao rode his bicycle straight into the curb and fell, exclaiming in pain as he clutched his backside.

    After shouting a few times, Cheng Le Hao remembered Ge Dongxu was currently riding with Dong Yuxin to school. He quickly got up, picked up his bike, and hurried toward the school.

    Ge Dongxu was naturally unaware that Cheng Le Hao had crashed his bicycle into the roadside cliff because of him. At the moment, he was riding his bicycle towards the school at an unhurried pace, facing the morning sun and enjoying the cool breeze, with Changxi''s top school beauty sitting behind him.

    Years of hard cultivation had kept his mind as calm as still water, but now, it felt as if a stone had been thrown into it, rippling through his calmness. His heartbeat unconsciously quickened. He wanted to say something to ease the barely-there awkwardness, but he didn''t know what to say, which made him even more nervous and uneasy.

    Dong Yuxin''s mindset wasn''t much better than Ge Dongxu''s at this point. Initially, she thought Ge Dongxu, wearing plain clothes and apparently from the countryside and younger than her, posed no threat since he was also a freshman. She felt a condescending sense of superiority, thinking it would be no big deal to sit behind him as she believed it impossible to feel anything for him.

    However, once she actually sat behind Ge Dongxu, her jade-like hands holding the bicycle''s rear seat cushion, Dong Yuxin''s cheeks unknowingly started to feel warm, and her heart began to beat faster.

    But after all, Dong Yuxin was a senior two grades ahead of Ge Dongxu and a city dweller. Realizing something was amiss, she took the initiative to distract herself, "By the way, you''re called Ge Dongxu, if I''m not mistaken?"

    "You''re not mistaken." Ge Dongxu replied, feeling his nervousness ease slightly.

    Just as Ge Dongxu had relaxed a little, the bicycle started bumping along the road: the path to the school was in poor condition, full of pits and bumps.

    "This part of the road is tough to ride, be careful." Holding on to the rear seat cushion wasn''t very stabilizing, and as the bicycle jolted, Dong Yuxin felt unstable and instinctively let go of the cushion to grab Ge Dongxu''s shirt at his waist to better steady herself.

    Yet doing so meant that with every bounce of the bicycle, Dong Yuxin''s jade-like hands inevitably touched Ge Dongxu through his clothes.

    For sixteen-year-old Ge Dongxu, in the tender phase of youth and particularly sensitive to contact with the opposite sex, and with his sharpened senses from years of cultivation, the light touch of Dong Yuxin''s hands through his clothes due to the jolting bicycle made him tense up. His mind wandered and he nearly missed seeing a large pothole ahead. He quickly braked and swerved, narrowly avoiding it.

    But although he avoided the pothole, Ge Dongxu forgot that he was not alone. With his sudden braking and swerving, an unprepared Dong Yuxin reflexively tightened her grip around Ge Dongxu.

    Dong Yuxin certainly hadn''t expected that one day she would have such a close encounter with a boy. She was momentarily dumbfounded and forgot to let go of Ge Dongxu''s waist.

    "My goddess! What a beast!" Who''d raced up from tens of meters away, saw Dong Yuxin''s jade-arm wrapped around Ge Dongxu''s waist, and his eyes widened again as his heart wailed!

    "Bang!" Once again, the bicycle crashed into the roadside cliff.

    ps: Third update, another chapter at eight tonight, please help by favoriting and voting. I''ve also started a WeChat public account, do follow for occasional updates on novel progress and personal life snippets.

 Chapter 18 Dont Tell Me You Still Have 8-Pack Abs [4th Update]

    "Isn''t that Dong Yuxin? Oh my God, my goddess! What a beast!""Clang!" With a sound, someone went straight into a light pole by the roadside.

    "Crash!" Another person riding a bicycle slammed right into another bike ahead, both tumbling to the ground.

    This was a road leading straight to Changxi No. 1 Middle School, bustling with students headed to the same place.

    Dong Yuxin was also the goddess in many of their hearts!

    "Hey, you, I told you to be careful, why did you suddenly make that sharp turn? You did that on purpose, didn''t you?" Dong Yuxin finally realized what had happened, quickly let go of him, and then hit Ge Dongxu''s back twice in a row.

    "Clang!"

    "Clang!"

    More "accidents" happened because of Dong Yuxin''s incredibly intimate gesture.

    "No, definitely not. I didn''t foresee that big hole suddenly appearing ahead, so why don''t you bike instead, and I''ll walk." Ge Dongxu, being interrogated like this by Dong Yuxin, felt his entire face begin to heat up and said hurriedly.

    Although it wasn''t intentional, having touched a girl''s "tofu" for the first time in his life, Ge Dongxu still felt a little guilty like a thief.

    Even though she couldn''t see Ge Dongxu''s face directly, Dong Yuxin could still sense his embarrassment and nervousness from his tone, and after looking back at the big hole behind them, she couldn''t help but let out a chuckle, poking Ge Dongxu''s back with her finger and said, "Why are you so nervous? I''m just teasing you, I bet you don''t have the guts to be a real thief!"

    "Cough cough!" Ge Dongxu coughed awkwardly, his mind involuntarily reliving the electrifying, intimate collision.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu becoming increasingly embarrassed, Dong Yuxin felt more relaxed, and it even seemed to her that she had suddenly grown much closer to the boy in front of her.

    Her hand didn''t return to the back of the seat but naturally rested lightly on Ge Dongxu''s waist. When Dong Yuxin realized her hand was on Ge Dongxu''s waist, her pretty face instantly blushed. She thought about retracting her hand but found the position quite comfortable, so she sneaked a peek at Ge Dongxu, who seemed not to notice anything unusual, and then she reassured herself to keep it there, even puckering her lips and warning in a soft voice, "But you''d better not suddenly brake or swerve again, or you''ll have me to deal with!"

    "Definitely not anymore," Ge Dongxu hurriedly said.

    "By the way, I still don''t know where you''re from?" With Ge Dongxu''s assurance, Dong Yuxin didn''t continue to warn him but instead started asking about other things.

    "From Ge Family Village in Baiyun Mountain town. Now I''m renting a place right across from your house," Ge Dongxu replied. Oddly, after the close contact they just experienced, he felt more relaxed when he came back to his senses, no longer as nervous and uneasy as before because there was a girl sitting behind him.

    "Huh, how did you know I live opposite your house? I get it now, you must be renting the place from that peeping Tom, the fatso who lives across from me, right? That''s how you know I live opposite you," Dong Yuxin was first surprised, then suddenly remembered the fatso who always hid behind his window to spy on her, thinking she was unaware.

    "No way, you knew about that!" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help feeling a moment of silent sympathy for Cheng the Fatty upon hearing this.

    "Nonsense, a girl''s sixth sense is very sharp. That guy hides behind the window peering at my house all day long, thinking I don''t know!" Dong Yuxin said.

    Ge Dongxu felt a flush of embarrassment upon hearing this, thinking to himself that it was fortunate he never had a habit of peeping at girls; otherwise, he might have ended up with the notorious label of a peeping Tom.

    "Look here, Dongxu, you can''t start picking up bad habits from that dead fatty," Dong Yuxin added.

    "Yes, yes, but actually, Lehao is pretty nice. He peeps at you because you''re just too beautiful. As the saying goes, ''For a lovely lady jetting slim, gentlemen would yearn,'' everyone has a love for beauty, and since you live right across from him, it''s natural for him to sneak a peek at you," Ge Dongxu defended Cheng the Fatty in his mind, though he felt what Cheng was doing was wrong. After all, he now lived under the same roof and had become friends with him, so naturally, he felt compelled to speak on Cheng''s behalf.

    No girl dislikes being complimented on her beauty, and Dong Yuxin was no exception. She took great pleasure in Ge Dongxu''s words, though she feigned annoyance and asked, "So, you mean to say that if a beautiful girl lived opposite you, you would do the same?"

    "Cough cough!" Ge Dongxu suddenly realized he had inadvertently ensnared himself with his words but, fortunately, he was quick on his feet and immediately came up with a retort, "Of course not! If I were to look, I''d definitely be upfront and honest about it. Look, right now I''m talking to you in a totally upfront and honest way, aren''t I?"

    "Psh, flatter yourself! It''s only because you helped me the other day; otherwise, this senior wouldn''t bother with a freshman like you!" Dong Yuxin said, her face reddening slightly as she rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu''s back.

    "Isn''t it because I''m rather handsome?" Ge Dongxu said, becoming more relaxed and casual in his conversation with Dong Yuxin.

    "Psh, such a kid, what''s so handsome about you? Besides, you''re as dark as charcoal," Dong Yuxin immediately retorted dismissively, becoming more at ease with Ge Dongxu and lacking the wariness and restraint she showed around other men.

    Truly, people their age should be just as casual and unrestrained. Now that they had seemingly become close friends, it was only natural for them to be their true selves.

    "Hey, senior, that''s not fair to put me down like that, I''m already sixteen this year. And I''m not dark, this is a bronze color, you know, bronze, representing masculinity and fitness," Ge Dongxu indignantly protested.

    "By law, you''re only an adult when you''re eighteen. I''m just eighteen this year, and you at sixteen, if not a kid in my eyes, then what? Besides, charcoal is charcoal, what bronze color? You think you''re one of those bodybuilders on TV? Don''t tell me you have six-pack abs too!" Dong Yuxin continued with a look of disdain.

    "Heh heh, I actually do," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Pfft! Blowing your own trumpet won''t make your tongue sprain, a skinny and still developing kid like you with six-pack abs? Hee hee, let me feel it!" Dong Yuxin couldn''t help but laugh, her hand honestly made its way to Ge Dongxu''s waist and then to his abdomen, actually pressing down to check. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The weather in Jiangnan was still quite hot at the time, and Dong Yuxin was wearing a white T-shirt that revealed her snowy white arms. Her slender fingers felt less like pressing and more like massaging through the clothes. And because her arms were encircling his waist again, Dong Yuxin''s upper body inevitably leaned in closer to Ge Dongxu, her back warmth causing a faint touch that set one''s heart racing.

    For an instant, Ge Dongxu felt a shock like that of an electric current, his body''s muscles tensing up abruptly.

    ps: Fourth update, asking for recommendations, clicks, favorites, and rewards, thank you. Also, just to mention, I''ve achieved the unity of nine-nine into one, developing a single ab, wondering how many abs my dear readers have, haha.

 Chapter 19 Remember, Call Me Senior [Please Favorite, Please Recommend]

    "One, two, three, four, five, six..." Dong Yuxin''s delicate fingers traced Ge Dongxu''s abdominal muscles, pressing down on each one until suddenly she realized something. Her fingers snapped back as if shocked by electricity, and her cheeks instantly became burning hot.Although her hand withdrew, the tips of her fingers lingered with an indescribable strange sensation, giving her the urge to reach out again and press along those powerful abs.

    An ambiguous and awkward atmosphere that can hardly be described in words began to ripple between the young man and the youthful beauty, rendering them both suddenly silent.

    Eventually, it was Ge Dongxu, the mountain boy who had slowly become accustomed to interacting with beautiful girls, who broke the silence.

    "See, I wasn''t bragging, right? It''s an eight-pack," Ge Dongxu said, trying to sound casual but with a hint of pride, seemingly oblivious to the impropriety just a moment ago.

    "Oh please, look at you being all proud. Even with eight-pack abs, you''re still just a little boy in my eyes," Dong Yuxin said, regaining her lively spirit and immediately belittling him when she saw that Ge Dongxu seemed unaware.

    "Come on, I''m sixteen years old. In the old days, I would be married with kids by now," Ge Dongxu felt pretty annoyed being repeatedly told he was just a kid by Dong Yuxin.

    "That was in ancient times. Now, you''re not an adult until you''re eighteen, so, hehe, you''re just a little brat, while I''m already an adult," Dong Xinyu said, feeling exceedingly pleased and happy at Ge Dongxu''s annoyance.

    Along the way, the two chatted and laughed. Sometimes Dong Yuxin would pout her sexy cherry lips and pound Ge Dongxu''s back with her fists in jest. This scene formed a beautiful sight on the morning streets.

    Older men and women who saw them couldn''t help but feel nostalgic about their youth, while others shook their heads, lamenting that the morals of students these days were declining, criticizing them for dating at such a young age. At this time, the most people on the road were students reporting to Changxi Middle School, and when they saw a clearly out-of-town boy biking with their school''s top beauty, Dong Yuxin, they were all staring agape, hardly believing what they saw.

    Damn, isn''t that my goddess!

    Damn, good cabbage has been nabbed by a pig!

    Considering how suave I am, why doesn''t the goddess fancy me but fancies that dark-skinned kid instead? There''s no justice, no justice!

    ...

    Cheng Le Hao, who was lagging far behind, watched Ge Dongxu and Dong Yuxin flirt with each other from the start with shock, but then his feelings turned to envy, jealousy, and hatred, and in the end, all he could do was look up in admiration.

    This guy is just too freaking awesome! On the first day of school, he''s already hooked up with the beauty of Changxi Middle School. And here I was laughing at him for not understanding women, yet he turns out to be such a dark horse!

    "We''re almost at the school. Let me down here, it wouldn''t be good for the teachers to see," Dong Yuxin said in a low voice to Ge Dongxu when she could see the school gates from afar. Although she considered her interactions with Ge Dongxu to be perfectly normal and not a case of puppy love, she still felt a bit guilty, fearing that being seen by a teacher might lead to misunderstandings.

    When it comes to the matter of student romances, middle schools and parents in Huaxia Country are far stricter than in Western countries like the United States. While Ge Dongxu was still in junior high, a boy got called to the office for passing a love note to a girl, and even her parents were called in.

    It''s safe to say that what would be considered normal curiosity and affection between teenagers during this special time are seen by teachers and parents as something terribly dangerous. If they found out their children were dating, many parents reacted as if the sky were falling.

    Therefore, when Dong Yuxin mentioned this, Ge Dongxu also immediately realized the situation and quickly stopped the bike, letting Dong Yuxin get off.

    "Let''s walk the bike together; that way the teacher won''t think we''re dating!" Dong Yuxin got off the bike and, while walking shoulder to shoulder with Ge Dongxu, said, but her pretty face turned slightly red when she got to the word ''dating,'' "Pfft, I''m not dating you anyway!"

    "Xinyu, I heard from Lehao that many boys in school are secretly chasing after you. Haven''t you taken a fancy to one and secretly passed notes or something?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile upon hearing this.

    Now that he had had a bit of "skinship" with Dong Yuxin, their relationship had made great strides, and Ge Dongxu spoke without much reservation. Besides, matters between men and women were topics that were both yearned for and suppressed at their age.

    "Pfft, as if I would fancy them. They''re all like little kids who haven''t grown up. I like mature, steady guys! Go away, why am I even telling you this. Remember, call me senior, senior. You think you can call me Xinyu?" As Dong Yuxin spoke, she waved her small fist at Ge Dongxu with a threatening expression, yet she couldn''t help but recall the cold and steady way Ge Dongxu had dealt with Chen Zihao the day before yesterday.

    "He might look young, but he''s indeed more steady than the other boys. Pfft, why am I even comparing him? He''s just a first-year high school student!"

    "Alright, senior, you sure are mature for your age. You have to remember you''re still a student," Ge Dongxu said seriously.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu call her senior, Dong Yuxin first showed a hint of pride, but then, hearing the serious lecture that followed, she immediately raised her small fist to hit Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu quickly pushed his bike forward to dodge, while Dong Yuxin chased after him. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Senior, we''re almost at the school. You should restrain yourself a little," Ge Dongxu slowed down after not getting far, and Dong Yuxin had already caught up. Just as she was about to teach Ge Dongxu a lesson with a smug face, he turned around and said something seriously again.

    Dong Yuxin, who was about to throw a punch, suddenly realized they were nearing the school gate, surrounded by classmates, and her pretty face blushed. She quickly withdrew her hand, but she couldn''t help kicking Ge Dongxu''s foot and then threatened with a "ferocious" face, "You little brat, dare to make fun of senior, just you wait and see!"

    "I didn''t, senior!" Ge Dongxu said with an innocent face.

    "You still say you didn''t!" Dong Yuxin kicked him again.

    "Really, I didn''t," Ge Dongxu''s mouth twitched as he spoke.

    "Still saying you didn''t," Dong Yuxin pouted and kicked him once more, suddenly realizing that kicking like this was good¡ª it wasn''t too obvious and managed to hurt Ge Dongxu.

    "Senior, you''re framing me!" Ge Dongxu complained with a pained expression.

    "So what if I am?" Dong Yuxin tossed her hair back, her chest puffed up proudly, and she said triumphantly.

    "Sure, sure, of course, who am I to argue? You''re the senior, and I''m just a freshman," Ge Dongxu said helplessly.

    "That''s more like it." Seeing this, Dong Yuxin''s face showed a victorious and smug smile. Although Ge Dongxu gritted his teeth in irritation, he had to admit she looked beautiful.

    "Bro, isn''t that Dong Yuxin? Doesn''t she always give boys the cold shoulder? How come she''s all smiles with a boy today?" As Ge Dongxu and Dong Yuxin went towards the school gate, smiling and walking shoulder to shoulder, a skinny boy wearing glasses said to the tall, proud young man next to him.

    That young man was none other than Chen Zihao, who had been pestering Dong Yuxin on a motorbike the day before yesterday.

 Chapter 20 Threat

    "Damn, it''s that kid! Dong Yuxin, this woman who pretends to be decent, actually hooked up with him!" Upon hearing this, Chen Zihao followed the direction the bespectacled boy was pointing and immediately recognized Ge Dongxu, his eyes blazing with anger, his face darkened."Brother Hao, do you know that country bumpkin?" The bespectacled boy pushed up his glasses, sounding quite surprised.

    "Hmph!" Chen Zihao did not answer the bespectacled boy''s question but instead strode toward Ge Dongxu and Dong Yuxin.

    He had made a fool of himself the day before yesterday, and naturally, Chen Zihao wouldn''t tell the bespectacled boy about it.

    "Hey, isn''t that Chen Zihao? Didn''t he graduate already? Why is he still at Changxi Number One High School?" Near the school gate, quite a few people recognized Chen Zihao, the older student, and were surprised to see him there.

    "I heard his college entrance exam scores were bad, so he''s retaking his final year at Changxi Number One High School," said a classmate who knew the inside story, whispering.

    "Seriously? Our school is the only key high school in Changxi County of Jiangnan Province, not a school for retaking college entrance exams. How can this be?" A classmate said, looking surprised and displeased upon hearing this.

    "Psh, what''s so strange about that? If you had a dad who was the head of the personnel department at the county education bureau and a rich mom who owns a restaurant, you could come to Changxi Number One High School for a repeated year too," the classmate with insider knowledge said disdainfully.

    "Damn, don''t jinx it! Do I need to repeat a year with my grades?" another classmate immediately retorted with a roll of his eyes.

    While classmates near the school gate were quietly discussing Chen Zihao, Dong Yuxin finally saw an unfriendly-looking Chen Zihao walking toward them, and her smile instantly disappeared.

    "Oh no, isn''t this guy supposed to have graduated? Shouldn''t he be at university by now? Why is he still here?" Dong Yuxin''s face showed deep surprise and unease as she whispered to Ge Dongxu.

    "Who cares what he''s doing? It''s none of our concern," Ge Dongxu said indifferently. After all, as a man who possessed Strange Arts, why would he fear a second-generation rich kid?

    "You don''t get it, do you? Haven''t I told you that this Chen Zihao has some background, and he even knows some socially influential people? Last time, you offended him because of me, and normally it wouldn''t matter if he went off to university, but him still being here today probably means it''s not that simple," Dong Yuxin, seeing Ge Dongxu''s bewildered face, couldn''t help but kick him out of irritation.

    "Don''t worry. If this guy dares to cause trouble for you and me, I''ll definitely teach him a lesson," Ge Dongxu stated.

    "No, you really shouldn''t mess around. I''ve heard his dad is a leader in the education bureau. If you really fight with him at school, the school leaders and teachers will definitely side with him," Dong Yuxin said, frightened, suddenly grabbing Ge Dongxu''s hand as if afraid he would go knock Chen Zihao down like he did the day before yesterday.

    Ge Dongxu obviously didn''t expect Dong Yuxin to reach out and grab him. His hand was suddenly held by a soft, moist delicate hand, and he was quite stupefied.

    All his life, he had never been held by a girl! Let alone by a school beauty who was two years older than him.

    Ge Dongxu was stunned, and so were the students at the school gate.

    "My god, no way! The school beauty is actually taking the initiative to hold that country bumpkin''s hand!"

    "Oh, bro, I totally worship you!" Fat Cheng, who was riding his bicycle from afar, stared at their joined hands, his eyeballs almost dropping to the ground.

    Seeing this, Chen Zihao was so enraged his lungs nearly burst, his eyes glared deathly at Dong Yuxin, his face looking so hideous it frightened Dong Yuxin into clutching Ge Dongxu''s hand even tighter.

    "Kid, you''ve really got some nerve, daring to hit on my girl!" Chen Zihao approached Ge Dongxu and said in a lowered voice.

    Although Chen Zihao had some connections and was bold, he was still just a student and didn''t dare to strike anyone in front of so many people at school, and even if he did, he knew he couldn''t beat Ge Dongxu. Thus, he didn''t rush up to start a fight.

    Chen Zihao''s words reminded Dong Yuxin, who hurriedly let go of Ge Dongxu''s hand. She looked at Chen Zihao with embarrassed and annoyed eyes and also lowered her voice, "Chen Zihao, what are you talking about? Who is your girlfriend?"

    This topic was ultimately too sensitive and embarrassing for a young girl like Dong Yuxin, so she couldn''t speak loudly.

    "Of course it''s you! Just to let you know, for your sake, I begged my dad and mom to let me repeat a year at Changxi High School." Chen Zihao unabashedly scrutinized Dong Yuxin''s beautiful face and her chest, his face full of smug threats.

    "What? You''re repeating another year at Changxi High School?" Dong Yuxin''s face turned pale upon hearing this.

    "That''s right, I even promised my dad that as long as he arranges for me to be in Class 3, I will study hard. So, Miss Dong, we are in the same class this year! How about that? I am pretty considerate towards you, right?" Seeing Dong Yuxin''s pale face, Chen Zihao became even more proud.

    "You''re shameless!" Dong Yuxin was both angry and frightened by his words.

    "Dong Yuxin, aren''t you being a bit too harsh? After all, we''re going to be classmates," Chen Zihao said with a smug smile.

    "Have you said enough? If so, get lost!" Ge Dongxu''s deep, dark eyes grew increasingly cold as he finally couldn''t help but speak out coldly.

    "Kid, don''t think you''re something special just because you can fight! I''ve been looking for you since that day, and I didn''t expect you were also a student at our Changxi High School. Heh, this will be a long acquaintance. You''ve got some suffering waiting for you," Chen Zihao, furious that Ge Dongxu dared to talk to him like that, almost kicked him but eventually held back and threatened coldly.

    "Hey, Chen Zihao, what are you doing? This has nothing to do with him!" Dong Yuxin became anxious when she saw that Chen Zihao was obviously looking to settle scores with Ge Dongxu.

    "What? You''re scared now? You feel pity for him?" Chen Zihao said coldly.

    "What nonsense are you talking, Chen Zihao? He and I have nothing to do with each other. Please don''t mess around!" Dong Yuxin said, her eyes turning red.

    "Okay, if you become my girlfriend, I''ll let him off," Chen Zihao said with a sneer.

    "You¡ªI''m going to tell the teacher!" Dong Yuxin stamped her foot in anger.

    "Go ahead and tell the teacher then. I''ve done nothing. Let''s see who the teacher will believe," Chen Zihao said fearlessly.

    His dad was the head of the personnel department of the county education bureau, responsible for the entire county education system''s staffing, job title evaluations, awards, and so forth. He was a powerful bureaucrat in the education system. Which teacher would dare offend his dad?

    "You..." Dong Yuxin then remembered that Chen Zihao''s father held a leadership position in the county education bureau and was so angry and anxious that she almost burst into tears.

    "You better not bully Dong Yuxin, or I promise you''ll regret it greatly!" Ge Dongxu''s gaze swept over him coldly, then he reached out and took Dong Yuxin''s hand, saying, "Let''s go, senior. Don''t bother with such people. This is a school, he wouldn''t dare to mess around."

    ps: Another update at 8 p.m., please favorite and recommend. Thank you very much.

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 Chapter 21 Alright then! Lets go to and from school together from now on

    Her small hand was forcefully grasped by Ge Dongxu''s hand, and as she saw his cool and composed expression once again, Dong Yuxin seemed to suddenly forget Chen Zihao''s existence. Looking at Ge Dongxu, her heart began to thump wildly."Damn! That country bumpkin actually dared to grab the school beauty''s hand!" Near the school gate, eyeballs were practically dropping to the ground.

    "God, this guy is so damn cool!" Cheng Le Hao, who had just caught up and was hesitating whether to greet Ge Dongxu and Dong Yuxin, saw Ge Dongxu boldly grab Dong Yuxin''s hand. His eyes uncontrollably revealed an ardent admiration.

    As for the silent battle between Chen Zihao and Ge Dongxu, Cheng Le Hao, being a freshman, didn''t know Chen Zihao and naturally couldn''t sense the severity of the situation. He just vaguely felt that the atmosphere between them was somewhat off.

    However, this was not surprising to Cheng Le Hao. A freshman managed to charm a senior girl; it would be strange if the older students showed Ge Dongxu a good face!

    "What are you doing? Let go!" Dong Yuxin had walked a few steps with her hand in Ge Dongxu''s grasp when she suddenly felt many burning gazes on her. It was then that she realized her hand was still held by the first-year student who had just reported to school. She quickly pulled away and glared at him, whispering sternly.

    "Ahem," Ge Dongxu also realized that his act was somewhat reckless and offensive and awkwardly chuckled.

    "Kid, you better just hide in school every day!" Just as Ge Dongxu felt embarrassed, he heard Chen Zihao''s threatening voice beside him. Yet, Chen Zihao didn''t dare to make a scene at the school gate and coldly brushed past them.

    "Dongxu, I''m sorry, it''s all my fault. Don''t worry, I''ll talk to the teacher today," Dong Yuxin said, gazing at the arrogant departing figure of Chen Zihao, her face full of guilt.

    "He hasn''t done anything to us now, so it would be pointless to tell them. Besides, didn''t you say his dad is a leader in the Education Bureau? The teachers wouldn''t just listen to your side of the story. Don''t blame yourself for this, and don''t worry about it. He can''t do anything to me!" Ge Dongxu said.

    "Nonsense, what do you mean he can''t do anything to you, thinking just because you learned a bit of martial arts you can really fight! I heard Chen Zihao has connections even outside the school. But what you said is also true, Chen Zihao doesn''t cause trouble at school, so telling the teachers is pointless. So, let''s commute to and from school together every day, especially since you''re renting a place at that fat guy''s house, which is just diagonally opposite my house. If we''re together, he should restrain himself a bit; besides, if something happens, I can report it to the teacher in time," Dong Yuxin rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu, scolded him, then after a moment''s thought, she came up with a plan.

    "That''s really not necessary, even if he really brings a few people, they can''t do anything to me." Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but be dumbfounded upon hearing this, as he was indeed a person with Mysterious Arts, not needing a woman''s protection.

    "Enough, this is no joke. You''re just sixteen, how many people can you fight! Besides, others beg me to commute with them and I couldn''t care less, and here you are, a freshman, getting this treatment and still acting all delicate!" Dong Yuxin saw Ge Dongxu refusing her arrangement and rolled her eyes annoyed.

    Ge Dongxu really wanted to say he wasn''t being delicate, but saying that he knew would definitely hurt Dong Yuxin''s pride, and definitely his own foot since Dong Yuxin would surely employ her kicking technique again.

    "Fine then! Let''s commute together from now on," Ge Dongxu said helplessly.

    "What do you mean ''fine then!'' It''s as if I''m forcing you! Humph!" Dong Yuxin saw Ge Dongxu''s reluctant face, got angry, kicked him, and turned her head away, ignoring him.

    Ge Dongxu hadn''t expected that even after he had agreed, his foot still couldn''t escape being trampled on. But watching Dong Yuxin turn her angry head away, taking in her slender waist and perky bottom, and her hair like silk, he just couldn''t feel aggrieved. He could only try to appease with a smile, "Of course you aren''t forcing me, it''s just that, it''s just..."

    "What is it then?" Seeing Ge Dongxu grinning apologetically, Dong Yuxin turned her head toward him, her beautiful eyes probing as she questioned him.

    "It''s, it''s... Your appreciation, senior!" Ge Dongxu stammered for quite a while before blurting out a sentence that made his skin crawl.

    "Hehe, that''s more like it." Dong Yuxin''s angry face finally broke into a smile, and suddenly the sunlight seemed to brighten beautifully.

    Ge Dongxu stared at that charming smile, suddenly a bit stunned.

    "What are you staring at? Never seen a school beauty?" Dong Yuxin glanced at Ge Dongxu proudly, then pointed toward the teaching building located behind a large flower bed with a fountain, right in front of the school gate, and said, "That''s the teaching building, your freshman classes are on the first floor. My friends are here, I''m going to find them so I won''t accompany you."

    "Okay, Yuxin, I can go by myself, you go ahead!" Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Remember to call me senior, senior!" Dong Yuxin saw Ge Dongxu calling her by her name again and immediately glared at him to correct him while again kicking his foot.

    "Alright, alright, if you keep kicking me like this, one day you will have kicked me into a cripple," Ge Dongxu said with a pained smile.

    "Serves you right, who told you to be so disrespectful. Also, remember not to leave after class; you have to wait for me!" Dong Yuxin shot Ge Dongxu a glare, then flicked her hair and turned to leave.

    Watching Dong Yuxin sway her youthful waist with a hint of pride, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but smile wryly and shake his head, then walked past the flower bed towards the first floor of the teaching building. Far off, he could faintly hear the voices of girls questioning Dong Yuxin from behind.

    "Hey, miss school beauty, who is that guy? Kicking him and giving him the cold eye. Don''t tell me you''ve fallen for that unsophisticated guy!" On the other side of the flower bed, two girls surrounded Dong Yuxin, asking curiously.

    One of these girls wore glasses and appeared serene, easily mistaken for a studious girl. The other, however, had a somewhat fuller figure, particularly her well-developed chest which was impressively voluptuous, catching the gaze of many passing boys who would sneak glances at her ample bust. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Teenage boys at the age of fifteen are indeed curious about these features of the opposite sex.

    The one who had spoken was the girl with the fuller figure.

    "Pssh, what nonsense! That guy''s just a freshman! But you say he''s unsophisticated; I didn''t feel that way though!" Dong Yuxin rolled her eyes in denial and then, as if possessed, unexpectedly spoke up for Ge Dongxu.

    ps: Today''s update is complete. The new book urgently needs support for ranking; please help by adding to your favorites, recommending, and leaving lots of supportive comments. Thank you very much.

 Chapter 22 From Now On, Youre My Boss [Please Recommend, Click, and Add to Favorites]

    "It''s over, looks like the rumors I heard all along the way were true. The school beauty must really be into that guy, otherwise why would such a dowdy and dark fella, who''s always so picky, ever catch Dong Yuxin''s fancy?" said the plump girl, dramatically slapping her forehead."Oh, stop it! I''ve only just met him two days ago. What''s all this about being into him?" Dong Yuxin rolled her eyes and said, although her cheeks inexplicably began to feel a bit hot.

    "Then can you explain why you don''t think he''s dowdy?" asked the plump girl.

    "Su Qian, do you think he''s dowdy too?" Dong Yuxin didn''t pay attention to the plump girl but turned to ask another girl, who looked quiet and gentle.

    "Yeah, he is pretty dowdy, and he''s also younger. That really doesn''t fit your aesthetic," Su Qian nodded earnestly.

    "See, even Su Qian says so. Tell me, isn''t there something off?" the plump girl insisted.

    "Tsk, you''re all judging by appearances. I look at the inner qualities. Besides, what time is it now? We''re in our final year of high school, the most crucial one. Jiang Lili, don''t you go spreading nonsense. Who has time to think about that stuff?" Dong Yuxin said.

    "That''s not necessarily true, look at Su Qian and Li Jian being together, it hasn''t affected their studies, right?" retorted Jiang Lili unconvinced.

    "Lili!" Su Qian immediately glared at Jiang Lili.

    "Hehe, don''t worry, we only talk about this stuff when it''s just the three of us, I won''t tell anyone else. Why so nervous?" Jiang Lili laughed when she saw Su Qian''s glare.

    "Alright, alright, let''s drop these topics and head to the classroom," Dong Yuxin urged, pushing the two of them.

    "Speaking of going to class, Yuxin, you should be careful. I heard that Chen Zihao didn''t do well on his exams and chose to redo the year, and he''s in our class now," Su Qian whispered while pushing up her glasses.

    The three girls had been classmates since freshman year and had become close as sisters, knowing each other''s business quite well.

    "Actually, I think Chen Zihao isn''t too bad. He''s tall, and his face, well, it''s pretty handsome, at least he''s not dark. Plus, his dad is a leader in the education bureau, and his mom owns a restaurant. If he pursued me, I might just be tempted," Jiang Lili said, looking down at her full bust somewhat narcissistically as she spoke.

    She was well aware that many boys in her class sneaked peeks at her chest during lessons, but since her face wasn''t as pretty as Dong Yuxin''s and she wasn''t as tall and slim, the titles of class beauty or school beauty couldn''t land on her but went to Dong Yuxin instead. Privately, Jiang Lili grumbled a lot about this, thinking the silly young boys didn''t know how to appreciate a woman.

    In this regard, Jiang Lili was among the more mature, bold high school girls. Of course, girls mature earlier than boys generally, and an eighteen-year-old girl pretty much knew everything she needed to. It was only because of their student status and the control of parents and teachers that they didn''t show it.

    Su Qian and Dong Yuxin knew privately that Jiang Lili was quite vain about her bust and often bragged in front of them. Of course, she also frequently talked about men with them. Seeing her flaunting herself now, with that smidge of a lovesick look, they couldn''t help but roll their eyes in unison.

    "You''re the very gold digger the textbooks talk about! You can''t seriously be considering someone like Chen Zihao!" Dong Yuxin said in a low voice.

    "Talking to you innocent little girls about this stuff is like playing the lute to a cow," Jiang Lili said with a look of disdain.

    "Really, Jiang Lili, so talking to us is like playing the lute to a cow!" Dong Yuxin and Su Qian said, taken aback, and moved forward to pinch Jiang Lili.

    Jiang Lili hurriedly ran away, and as she ran, her chest heaved tumultuously, causing the eyes of many boys to almost pop out.

    ...

    Ge Dongxu had just gone around the flowerbed and arrived at the academic building, preparing to check the class assignment list posted on the wall, when suddenly a chubby face appeared in front of him¡ªit was Cheng Le Hao.

    "Dongxu, you are really awesome, from now on you are my boss!" Cheng Le Hao''s plump face was full of sycophantic adoration.

    "Get lost, what are you blabbering about!" Ge Dongxu hurriedly pushed Cheng Le Hao away, as he wasn''t used to being looked up to with such sycophantic admiration by another guy.

    "Boss, don''t be modest. On the way here, I saw you hugging and holding Dong Yuxin, looking all lovey-dovey. Holy moly, that''s so badass, how did you manage to hook up with her? Teach your brother a trick or two." But Cheng Le Hao was not at all annoyed and again pressed his chubby face close while speaking.

    "Stop talking nonsense, I just gave her a ride on my bike!" Ge Dongxu retorted with an annoyed glare.

    "Hehe, right, just a bike ride. But that''s still bloody brilliant. Just share one or two tricks with your brother," Cheng Le Hao said with a grin.

    "What tricks? It''s simple, I took the initiative and introduced myself, said I was her alumnus and also her neighbor, living diagonally across from her home, and I wanted to get to know her." Seeing Cheng Le Hao''s insistence, Ge Dongxu knew he wouldn''t let him go without saying something, so he just made things up off the top of his head.

    He naturally couldn''t bring up Chen Zihao''s matter to Cheng Le Hao, to prevent him from worrying.

    "Is it really that simple?" Cheng Le Hao''s eyes widened in disbelief.

    "Of course, what else could it be? It''s just getting to know each other, it''s nothing. Only someone like you, with dirty thoughts, would make things so complicated. In fact, Dong Yuxin is quite easy to talk to," Ge Dongxu said as a matter of course.

    Cheng Le Hao looked up and down at Ge Dongxu, feeling that there had to be more to it. But after thinking it through, Ge Dongxu lived dozens of kilometers away in the mountains, having no connection with Dong Yuxin for generations, and he was also a new student. If it wasn''t like what Ge Dongxu said, what else could it be?

    "So it''s really that simple? Had I known, I would''ve confidently introduced myself to her long ago." After thinking for a long time and coming up with no other possibilities, Cheng Le Hao slapped his forehead in regret. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "It''s exactly that simple. Sometimes it''s us who overcomplicate things. But now it''s too late for you since Dong Yuxin already knows about your peeping. So, don''t even think about showing your face and introducing yourself to her next time; she won''t give you a warm welcome," Ge Dongxu said with a straight face as he saw Cheng Le Hao''s regretful expression, though he couldn''t help but silently chuckle.

    He needed to keep his story consistent. With the peeping excuse, when Cheng Le Hao would introduce himself to Dong Yuxin and she didn''t pay much attention to him, it would make sense.

    "Damn, you''re kidding, she found out? That''s so embarrassing!" Cheng Le Hao''s head drooped down upon hearing this.

    "Isn''t that obvious? A woman''s intuition is the most sensitive. You always hide behind and peep at her; it would be strange if she didn''t find out," Ge Dongxu replied, applying his newly learned knowledge on the fly.

    "A woman''s intuition! Damn, so you understand even more than me! No way, boss, even if the school beauty is yours now, you''ve got to let your brother bask in some of your glory, right? You have to say a few good words about me in front of her to change the poor impression she has of me," Cheng Le Hao pleaded with a frown, completely altering the bookish image Ge Dongxu had in his mind.

    ps: Seeing the supportive, caring, and encouraging messages from many readers, I am truly moved. Today both my old and new books will have three updates each. The new book will have one update in the morning, afternoon, and evening; the evening update will be around eight o''clock. Please continue to support and leave messages to help boost the popularity. Thank you very much.

 Chapter 23 Classmates

    Seeing Cheng Lehao''s pitiful plea for help, Ge Dongxu was about to say that he had already put in a good word for him, but then had second thoughts. He wondered if this wasn''t the perfect opportunity to push him into studying harder."No problem, but I have one condition," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Whatever the condition is, just say it. As long as it can make the school beauty stop being biased against me, I''ll agree," Cheng Lehao immediately said with a resolute look on his face.

    "Alright, from now on, you''ve got to study hard, sleep early and get up early, and you''re not allowed to always think about playing games or reading novels. As long as you do these things, I''ll definitely put in a good word for you. Actually, girls naturally tend to like boys who do well in their studies. Dong Yuxin asked me how many marks I scored on the middle school exams. When I told her my score, she became significantly nicer to me and even let me give her a ride on my bike. So, this isn''t really a condition, but whether you want to change the school beauty''s view of you or any girl''s opinion, or even to overlook your chubby figure, this is the best way," Ge Dongxu said.

    Initially, Cheng Lehao wasn''t too happy about Ge Dongxu asking him to study more, but after hearing the rest of his speech, he was immediately convinced, especially with such a vivid success story in front of him. He couldn''t help but be touched, putting his arms around Ge Dongxu''s shoulders and saying, "You''re absolutely right, that''s why you''re a true brother. Fine, from now on, I will take your advice and study seriously. If I don''t, boss, you have the right to teach me a lesson!

    "That''s your own words; you can''t go back on them!" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but be overjoyed when he heard this and quickly said.

    "If I go back on my word, I''m a turtle and a bastard," Cheng Lehao immediately swore.

    "Alright, it''s settled then," Ge Dongxu said, immediately raising his hand and giving Cheng Lehao a high-five when he heard the oath. Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel sentimental, thinking that it really was a case of opposites attract. No, that''s not right, it''s the attraction between men and women!

    "Ok, it''s settled. It''s getting late; let''s go to our class and report," Cheng Lehao said, his whole demeanor becoming particularly spirited and shedding his previous laziness as he high-fived Ge Dongxu.

    "You go first; I still don''t know which class I''ve been assigned to," Ge Dongxu said to Cheng Lehao.

    "No need to check; I looked for you earlier. You''re in Class Six, and I''m in Class Seven. We''re right next to each other," Cheng Lehao said.

    "Next door classes, huh? That''s great; it will make giving each other a shout easier," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, walking together with Cheng Lehao toward the left side of the corridor.

    Soon, Ge Dongxu found the classroom for Grade One, Class Six.

    There to register the new students in the classroom was Ge Dongxu''s homeroom teacher, Li Haoran, a young teacher with a warm and scholarly temperament.

    After reporting to the homeroom teacher, paying the fees at the administration office, and receiving his books and school uniform, Ge Dongxu returned to Grade One, Class Six.

    The homeroom teacher arranged seating for the whole class based on their heights. Thanks to Ge Dongxu''s years of training, although neither of his parents were very tall, his own stature was quite respectable, now standing at one meter sixty-eight.

    That height was already fairly tall among the freshmen, so he was placed in the first row from the back, second desk from the end. His desk mate was a skinny and tall boy with glasses, who had the refined look of a scholar.

    However, when the boy started to speak, Ge Dongxu immediately lumped him with the fatso Cheng, because as soon as Ge Dongxu sat down, the guy leaned in, a face full of ambiguous admiration, and whispered, "My name''s Du Yifan. I never expected you were a freshman too! That''s so ******* awesome! Quick, share some tips with me, how did you manage to hook up with our school''s top beauty on the very first day of school?"

    "Don''t talk nonsense, I live just across from Dong Yuxin and have known her from before," Ge Dongxu hurriedly explained, while a wry smile couldn''t help but emerge inside, not expecting that the landlord''s son was kind of a sleazebag, and now his desk mate turned out to be one as well, not to mention that he had witnessed the whole scene at the school gate earlier.

    "That''s still super awesome. I have a middle school classmate who lives just across from Dong Yuxin''s house, but that guy hasn''t even spoken to her to this day," Du Yifan said.

    "You''re not talking about Cheng Lehao, are you?" Ge Dongxu asked with a laugh and cry, looking at Du Yifan. He now knew who this "refined" boy was; he was the brother of a schoolmate Cheng Lehao had mentioned a few days ago, also studying at Changxi No.1 Middle School.

    "Damn, you know fatso Cheng? Then how come I''ve never seen you before?" Du Yifan was surprised and astonished that Ge Dongxu knew Cheng Lehao.

    "I just moved into Cheng Lehao''s house, so it''s not strange that you haven''t seen me," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Damn, you just moved into Cheng Lehao''s place and already got together with Dong Yuxin, fatso Cheng has really lived up to the pig''s life all these years." When Du Yifan first heard Ge Dongxu knew Dong Yuxin, his admiration for him decreased a bit, but now hearing that he had just moved into Cheng Lehao''s place, his admiration for him shot right back up. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu also didn''t expect to encounter Cheng Lehao''s classmate, and thus was unsure how to continue explaining. Fortunately, by this time everyone had taken their seats, and the homeroom teacher Li Haoran tapped his desk to signal everyone to be quiet, giving Ge Dongxu the chance to ignore Du Yifan.

    After signaling everyone to be quiet, Li Haoran began calling each student''s name for them to introduce themselves.

    Originally, because of the conversation they just had, Ge Dongxu had categorized Du Yifan with fatso Cheng, but after Du Yifan''s self-introduction, the homeroom teacher specifically added, "Du Yifan ranked fifth in the whole school in the middle school examination, scored full marks in math. Everyone should learn from him, and Yifan should also continue to maintain and strive to improve his weaker subjects, Chinese and English."

    This took Ge Dongxu by surprise, as he didn''t expect this somewhat sleazy Du Yifan to be a top student, especially with a full score in math, which was quite rare.

    Just as Ge Dongxu was secretly surprised, the homeroom teacher specifically mentioned his name, saying, "Apart from Yifan, Ge Dongxu in our class got full marks in science. Now it''s his turn to introduce himself."

    Ge Dongxu hurried onto the stage, and gave a brief introduction. As Ge Dongxu came from a mountainous area, dressed simply, and his skin was dark from frequent outdoor labor, he did look somewhat unsophisticated. Therefore, even though everyone was shocked that he scored full marks in science, they didn''t pay much attention to him. Instead, several handsome boys and pretty girls were the focus of everyone''s attention. After the introductions were over, many students were privately discussing who was handsome and who was pretty.

    "That Li Wanjun, although not as pretty as school beauty Dong Yuxin, is still quite good-looking, just not tall enough. That Deng Yujie too, she''s developed quite a good figure, and then there''s Lin Yaran, did you notice that although her face is average, her legs are exceptionally long..." Du Yifan was also no exception, as he hadn''t stopped commenting on the girls since Ge Dongxu came down from his introduction.

    Listening to Du Yifan left Ge Dongxu dumbfounded, hardly able to imagine that this guy was actually the fifth-ranked student in the whole school!

 Chapter 24 Schools Out

    Changxi Number One High School, as a provincial key high school, prides itself not only on its hardware and teaching resources but also on its strict school regulations.On the first day of school, the morning was a bit chaotic with activities like receiving textbooks, cleaning, selecting class leaders, and so on, but by the afternoon, everything returned to normal order. Moreover, even on the first day, evening self-study sessions commenced, not sparing the freshmen.

    Since Changxi Number One High School admits students from all over Changxi County, it provides not only student dormitories but also a student canteen.

    Typically, students who live in the county town go home for meals and sleep, though a few find commuting inconvenient and time-consuming, choosing to both eat at the school canteen and reside in the student dormitories.

    In this regard, the school does not enforce any mandatory rules.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t choose to stay in the student dormitory because he needed to practice cultivation, but he opted to have lunch and dinner at the school.

    Cheng Le Hao''s parents, concerned that their son was growing and studying hard, and that the school canteen might not provide adequate nutrition, insisted that he eat at home. In fact, many parents from the county town had similar concerns. As a result, the students who really stayed to eat at the school canteen were mostly those from outside the county town, like Ge Dongxu.

    Since Ge Dongxu ate lunch and dinner at the school canteen and it was broad daylight, Dong Yuxin didn''t need to worry. Besides, she needed to study and had her circle of classmates, so she never sought out Ge Dongxu during the day.

    Since Dong Yuxin didn''t look for Ge Dongxu, naturally, he didn''t take the initiative to find her either.

    As freshmen in high school, everyone had just transferred from different places and schools across the county to Changxi Number One High School. Very few actually knew about Dong Yuxin, the top school beauty. At that time, Du Yifan was the only one who happened to see Ge Dongxu with Dong Yuxin. Hence, for a youth like Ge Dongxu, who appeared a bit unsophisticated and came from a mountain area, he was easily overlooked in a class of fifty unless you were Du Yifan, no one would particularly pay attention to him.

    Not only did they not pay attention, but some students, from better-off families and a bit snobbish, would occasionally throw disdainful glances his way as if to assert their own superiority.

    As a cultivator, Ge Dongxu was naturally more detached in character. He was pleased that others did not pay attention to him, and he was even less concerned about the disdainful glances from a few classmates.

    So went the day, and apart from getting familiar with Du Yifan, who had been appointed by a teacher as the study committee member, Ge Dongxu merely became acquainted by face with the other classmates.

    The evening self-study had two sessions, from six-thirty to nine-twenty, with a fifteen-minute break in between.

    No sooner had the bell for the end of the second session of evening self-study rung than Dong Yuxin, whose backpack was already neatly packed, quickly left the classroom.

    "Hey, Yuxin, wait for us! Why are you in such a hurry? Are you that eager to reincarnate?" Seeing this, Su Qian and Jiang Lili hurriedly grabbed their bags and left the classroom. They finally caught up with Dong Yuxin at the staircase entrance on the ground floor, panting.

    "You guys go ahead, I''m going to Class One Grade Six to walk with Ge Dongxu," said Dong Yuxin as she caught sight of Su Qian and Jiang Lili, turning to the direction of Class One Grade Six while waving at them.

    ```

    "No way, you''re really ditching friends for a pretty face! It''s only the first day, and you''re already ditching us," Jiang Lili and Su Qian couldn''t help but feel dumbfounded.

    "Get outta here, what are you talking about! Didn''t I tell you before, because of me, Dongxu offended Chen Zihao the day before yesterday. I''m worried that Chen Zihao might try something on the way home from school, so I need to walk with him, just in case something happens, to have some backup. What were you two thinking!" Dong Yuxin retorted, not happy with their comments.

    "So that''s it, but isn''t it safer for four people to be together than just two?" Su Qian pushed her glasses up on the bridge of her nose and asked, puzzled.

    Dong Yuxin was taken aback by the question. Yeah, isn''t it safer with four people? Why leave the two of them out?

    "Hehe, isn''t it obvious? She wants a world for two!" Jiang Lili said with a suggestive smile.

    "Lili, if you keep this up, I''m going to get angry!" Dong Yuxin began to feel embarrassed and annoyed at Jiang Lili''s teasing about her and Ge Dongxu.

    "Alright, it was just a joke. Why would our school beauty be interested in some bumpkin of a freshman? Let''s go together; it''ll be a good chance to get to know Ge Dongxu." Seeing that Dong Yuxin was getting angry, Jiang Lili didn''t dare to joke anymore, nudged her, and said.

    "Remember that, no more joking about such things, if the teachers hear and get the wrong idea, I''ll be coming to you to settle the score," Dong Yuxin warned.

    "Got it, got it. But if you don''t want to be misunderstood, we should all walk together after school. Although he''s just a freshman and looks so unsophisticated, totally not matching with you, if you keep walking to and from school together like this, it would be hard not to be misunderstood," Jiang Lili said.

    "Lili has a point. Let''s stick together from now on. Besides, he''s just a high school freshman and since it''s on the way, the teachers definitely won''t get the wrong idea. Normal interaction between male and female students should be perfectly fine," Su Qian, although appearing demure, was clear-headed and spoke logically.

    "Mhm." Dong Yuxin nodded her head, then paused, realizing they had arrived at the entrance of class 6, first year. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Since Dong Yuxin and the others had left the classroom quickly after the bell, the students of class 6, first year, were just starting to trickle out when they reached the entrance.

    As they stepped out, the girls saw Dong Yuxin and her two friends; it wasn''t as much of a big deal for them since they were all girls. They were just somewhat envious of Dong Yuxin''s beauty and figure, and of course, Jiang Lili''s maturity and curves. Su Qian wasn''t as noticeable. That wasn''t to say Su Qian wasn''t pretty or well-endowed; she just seemed more ordinary next to Dong Yuxin and Jiang Lili.

    The boys were suddenly faced with three obviously older girls standing at the classroom corridor, each stunningly beautiful, especially Dong Yuxin''s grace and stature, and Jiang Lili''s mature voluptuousness. Their hearts raced, their strides became awkward, wanting to look but somewhat daunted.

    After all, they were all freshmen, on their first day of school, and no one yet had the courage to strike up a conversation with such beautiful and sexy upperclasswomen. Even the popular guys in the class didn''t have the nerve.

    "Holy crap, Dongxu, look, just look, isn''t that the school beauty Dong Yuxin? Good heavens, she''s not here waiting for you, is she? Man, not just one, but three! Dongxu, you''re freaking amazing, I''m sticking with you from now on!" At that moment, still inside the classroom, preparing to follow his classmates out, Du Yifan caught sight of Dong Yuxin. He was shaken, his eyes showing disbelief, followed by a chicken-blooded excitement as he grabbed Ge Dongxu''s arm and whispered in an enthusiastic and admiring tone.

    ps: New book climbing the ranks, please support! Clicks, additions to favorites, recommendations, comments, and rewards are all greatly appreciated, thank you!

    ```

 Chapter 25 The Aura of a Newcomer

    ```Ge Dongxu had of course already seen Dong Yuxin and her friends by then, and seeing that she indeed came to wait for him to walk home together after school, he couldn''t help feeling a touch of warmth in his heart. As for Du Yifan''s words, he acted as if he hadn''t heard them.

    This guy was just like that kid Cheng Le Hao, acting all superior. If Ge Dongxu really responded to him, this kid would only get more excited. Cold treatment was more appropriate.

    "Hello, hello, three senior sisters. My name is Li Xingchen. Excuse me, are you looking for someone?" Just as Ge Dongxu ignored Du Yifan and simply walked quickly out with his backpack, finally, a male student mustered up the courage to approach and say hello.

    Although Li Xingchen repeatedly tried to act more mature and gentlemanly, even bowing slightly, his stuttering tongue and trembling voice betrayed his nervousness.

    However, this didn''t prevent many male students from looking at Li Xingchen with admiration.

    These days, having the courage to strike up a conversation with three senior sisters on the very first day of school at Changxi No.1 Middle School, and such beautiful ones at that, was definitely a feat of courage. At least they wouldn''t dare.

    Of course, this also had to do with individual capital. The reason why Li Xingchen had the nerve to strike up a conversation with older senior sisters was not only because he was the tallest and most handsome in Class 6 of the first grade but also because his family was relatively well-off. In his self-introduction earlier, he had specifically mentioned that his dad worked at the county public security bureau, bragging with some pride. He was also one of the few in the class who looked at Ge Dongxu with disdain.

    However, while Li Xingchen''s behavior was seen as bold and brave by the freshmen, it seemed somewhat childish and laughable to Dong Yuxin and the other two senior sisters, showing a lack of maturity. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    To stutter while speaking and still think he can chat them up, thinking he''s got the guts and skill.

    Newcomers will be newcomers!

    "Yes, but we''re not looking for you." Jiang Lili, a relatively bold and impetuous girl, looked down on Li Xingchen''s immaturity and deliberately teased him.

    "Then who are you looking for? I''ll call them for you." Li Xingchen, failing to detect the sarcasm in Jiang Lili''s words and seeing that she actually responded to him, was overjoyed and quickly asked. As he spoke, his face beamed with pride, and he intentionally glanced at the other students, clearly boasting.

    "No need, he''s here." Jiang Lili pointed at Ge Dongxu, who had just appeared at the entrance, and said.

    At that moment, everyone except Du Yifan was stunned. The smug look of triumph on Li Xingchen''s face instantly froze, as if he''d been hit with a paralysis spell.

    It''s him! The three beautiful senior sisters actually came to look for this bumpkin from Baiyun Mountain! How is that possible?

    "Yuxin senior sister, you''re here. These two are your classmates, right? Hello, my name is Ge Dongxu." Ge Dongxu, of course, didn''t care about the other students'' reactions. He greeted Dong Yuxin and then naturally extended his hand to Jiang Lili and Su Qian.

    With a mentality far more mature and composed than most boys his age, and having been hugged from behind by the school beauty Dong Yuxin and held her hand during the day, he had long lost the nervousness of first-time interactions with a girl.

    Jiang Lili and Su Qian clearly didn''t expect Ge Dongxu, the new student dressed in such a down-to-earth manner, to have such natural and proper manners. They were taken aback for a moment, unprepared for his greeting.

    Classmates from Class 6 of the first grade, along with students passing by in the corridor, were again shocked to see Ge Dongxu extend his hand so naturally and confidently to the two senior sisters. Damn, isn''t he much cooler than Li Xingchen? He actually went and offered a handshake directly.

    Li Xingchen was evidently shocked as well, but he soon turned to disdain and contempt. Psh, who do you think you are, trying to act like an adult with a handshake upon first meeting? As if the senior sisters would bother with you.

    ```

    It had a distinct whiff of the sour grapes.

    There were quite a few students who, like Li Xingchen, harbored a bit of jealousy toward Ge Dongxu. After all, Ge Dongxu dressed in a rather unfashionable way, had dark skin, and came from a mountainous area, so many believed they were better than him.

    "Hehe, this is kind of interesting!" But, contrary to everyone''s expectations, after pause, Jiang Lili actually extended her hand to Ge Dongxu with a faint blush on her pretty face and said, "Hello, I''m Jiang Lili."

    "Hello, I''m Su Qian." Su Qian also reached out and shook Ge Dongxu''s hand lightly.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu so effortlessly take the hands of two upperclassman girls, the boys felt a complex mix of emotions, as if their hearts were upset bottles of mixed flavors. Li Xingchen was especially downhearted.

    Without comparison, you''d never know; but now, Li Xingchen''s behavior just moments ago seemed particularly childish compared to Ge Dongxu''s.

    If I had known it was this easy, I would have done the same thing! It would have been so cool and impressive!

    "The two upperclassman girls and me too, I''m Du Yifan, Ge Dongxu''s..." As Du Yifan watched Ge Dongxu easily shake hands with the two girls, he couldn''t hide his excitement. Rushing forward from behind, he too tried to imitate Ge Dongxu by reaching out to Jiang Lili and the others.

    At this point, Jiang Lili and Su Qian, who had shaken hands with Ge Dongxu, were beginning to regain their composure, feeling somewhat embarrassed and annoyed that they had been somewhat overshadowed by this unsophisticated freshman''s presence. Seeing Du Yifan, the bespectacled boy, also daring to try his luck with them, they felt the unwelcomed challenge to their status as senior girls and immediately snapped, "What ''Yifan'' or whatever, go away, it''s not like we came for you. Let''s go, Ge Dongxu!"

    Indeed, why should they, as senior students, be led around by the nose by a freshman? Naturally, they should be the ones in charge.

    Seeing that the two senior girls didn''t even spare him a glance, Du Yifan was internally dismayed.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu knew all about Du Yifan''s character and was rather pleased to see him rebuffed. He patted his shoulder and said, "I''m heading off first."

    Then, he casually approached Dong Yuxin and the others and said, "Let''s go."

    Having a girlfriend really changes a man! Even though we were deskmates and brothers, he didn''t even bother to help me out! Watching Ge Dongxu walk away accompanied by Dong Yuxin and the other three senior girls, Du Yifan felt a sharp pang of resentment. The other students'' perception of Ge Dongxu began to change.

    Suddenly, the guy from the mountains, who seemed rough around the edges, appeared unusually tall and handsome.

    How could he not? On the very first day of school, three beautiful senior girls had specifically waited to walk home with him. Especially that tall senior girl, who was practically a school beauty, the goddess of many a boy''s dreams!

    What they admired most was the boy''s serenity amid the attention. He was as unflappable as if a mountain were crumbling in front of him, completely unfazed by honor or disgrace!

    "Yifan, where''s Dongxu?" Just as Du Yifan was stewing in his resentment, a pudgy hand suddenly patted his shoulder heavily, and a voice rang out beside his ear.

    "Don''t even talk about that guy who ditches his buddies for a girl!" Du Yifan grumbled. He had been a top student and quite popular with the girls in middle school, so being dismissed so disdainfully by the two senior girls had really hurt his pride.

    ps: My new book is climbing the ranks, and I''m extremely grateful for any and all support. Still aiming to update in the morning, around noon, and at eight in the evening.

 Chapter 26 Get Lost [Seeking Recommendation and Favorites]

    "What''s this about genders but no humanity, what happened?" Cheng Le Hao had just come out from the classroom and didn''t know what was going on, he asked, puzzled."Just look!" Du Yifan pointed towards Ge Dongxu and his group who were gradually walking away.

    "That''s Ge Dongxu and Dong Yuxin, wait, why are there two more? Damn! No way, that''s incredible!" Cheng Le Hao recognized Ge Dongxu and Dong Yuxin''s figures from their backs instantly. First he was shocked, and then when he noticed there were two more girls'' silhouettes, he was so astonished he almost jumped.

    "Tell me, is this guy not totally dismissing his bros for girls? There are three of them, aren''t the three of us just right? We could even let him have the school belle, but look, this guy keeps all to himself, that''s really not cool of him," Du Yifan complained angrily.

    "Forget it. I''ve realized that chatting up girls just isn''t my thing; even if I followed them, I''d be too nervous to speak. And you, kid, although you''re somewhat witty, compared to me you''re basically on the same level, not much better. We should learn from Ge Dongxu in the future," Cheng Le Hao said.

    Du Yifan, who was already a bit resentful, recalled Ge Dongxu''s calm and suave demeanor, and suddenly felt dispirited, he had to admit, "That guy is truly incredible. You didn''t see it just now, but when he left the classroom, he shook hands with a busty upperclassman and a quiet upperclassman so coolly. No blush, no heartbeat. Tsk, we really can''t compare to him."

    "What''s so incredible about that? This morning he was even riding his bike with the school belle Dong Yuxin, and Dong Yuxin was hugging his waist from behind," Cheng Le Hao whispered.

    "Damn, no way!" Du Yifan''s eyes widened on the spot. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What do you mean no way? I was right behind them this morning!" Cheng Le Hao whispered back.

    "That''s too awesome! I''m telling you, Fatty Cheng, I heard he just moved into your place two days ago, compared to him, you''ve been practically living a pig''s life these years."

    "You''re the one living a pig''s life! Do you think just anyone can do what he does? Only a true master can manage that, got it?" Cheng Le Hao retorted irritably.

    "That''s true!" Du Yifan nodded solemnly after hearing this.

    ...

    "I say, ladies, can we maybe not make such a big deal next time? I''m worried that one day I''ll get stoned by classmates while walking on the road!" Walking towards the school gate pushing his bike and feeling envious, jealous, and hateful gazes, Ge Dongxu said to Dong Yuxin and the other two with a wry smile.

    He was a cultivator, naturally more reserved in character, not liking to stand out, but now as a freshman, standing among three upperclassmen, it was hard not to stand out!

    Especially Dong Yuxin, new students may not recognize her, but who among the upperclassmen does not know this top school belle, not to mention Jiang Lili, whose bust alone made her somewhat famous among the boys at Changxi Middle School, often the subject of private discussions.

    Only Su Qian seemed relatively ordinary in comparison, but that was only comparatively speaking.

    "Don''t play coy with us after taking advantage! If it weren''t for Dong Yuxin''s sake, I wouldn''t bother with you!" Jiang Lili immediately shot an annoyed look at Ge Dongxu.

    This was not just because of what Ge Dongxu had just said, but also because he hadn''t ogled at her chest like other boys usually did, which she had always taken pride in.

    Of course, if Ge Dongxu was like other boys and did sneak a peek at her chest, he would definitely have been scorned by her. Yet when Ge Dongxu truly didn''t notice her prized chest, she felt somewhat annoyed.

    From this, it''s clear that girls really are quite complicated creatures.

    "But I didn''t get any advantages!" Ge Dongxu replied feeling wronged.

    "You..." Jiang Lili, always the fieriest among the three, was instantly annoyed by Ge Dongxu''s remark and rolled her eyes.

    Yeah, what advantage did he get?

    "Pfft!" Dong Yuxin, seeing Jiang Lili at a loss, couldn''t help but laugh out loud, saying, "Lili, you''ve met your match this time."

    "Psh, what match? He''s just a freshman! If it weren''t for you, I wouldn''t even bother talking to him." Jiang Lili said disdainfully.

    Jiang Lili''s words were a bit too much. Ge Dongxu felt slightly annoyed inside, but, considering Dong Yuxin, he didn''t say anything.

    However, though Ge Dongxu didn''t say anything, suddenly a voice rang out, "Student Lili is absolutely right, just a freshman, a complete bumpkin, nothing impressive at all!"

    Of course, it was none other than Chen Zihao speaking.

    "How can you be so foul-mouthed? Nobody would think you''re mute if you didn''t speak. Get lost!" Ge Dongxu, already feeling irked inside, saw Chen Zihao popping up again like a bad penny, and his face darkened as he shouted without any politeness.

    Apart from Dong Yuxin, who knew that Ge Dongxu seemed simple on the surface but could be fierce when provoked, neither Jiang Lili nor Su Qian knew this. Seeing Ge Dongxu, who was just respectfully addressing his seniors, suddenly cursing at Chen Zihao, a notorious bully in the school, and even telling him to get lost, they turned pale with fright, thinking to themselves, "This is bad, a fight''s going to break out."

    Seeing this, the four-eyed boy with Chen Zihao grinned maliciously, thinking that Ge Dongxu dared to offend brother Chen Zihao and was surely going to suffer for it.

    Sure enough, upon hearing this, Chen Zihao''s face turned furious, and he clenched his fists, saying, "Kid, keep being arrogant and see if I don''t smash your head in!"

    "What, you want to fight? Come on!" Ge Dongxu glanced at Chen Zihao disdainfully and challenged him.

    Ge Dongxu''s words seemed to remind Chen Zihao. His face underwent several changes, and finally, he dropped a harsh sentence, "Kid, you''re arrogant. We''ll see about that!", and then he actually rode off on his bicycle.

    Unable to fight Ge Dongxu, Chen Zihao certainly couldn''t afford to lose face!

    The four-eyed boy couldn''t help but be dumbfounded. This wasn''t Chen Zihao''s style at all!

    Jiang Lili and Su Qian were also dumbfounded. Was this really Chen Zihao? To be cursed and challenged by a freshman and just walk away like that?

    And, was this really a freshman? To dare to curse Chen Zihao like that!

    "Hey, couldn''t you have just endured it a bit? It seems you''ve deepened your feud with Chen Zihao." Dong Yuxin had already anticipated this outcome, and her face couldn''t help but show deep worry.

    "This guy deserves a lesson! Looking at him pisses me off, and what good would enduring do?" Ge Dongxu said nonchalantly.

    "You need to endure even if it''s futile. I heard Chen Zihao knows people in society; you''re definitely going to suffer badly now. I advise you to find some time to apologize to him and beg for mercy; perhaps there''s still a chance to turn things around." Jiang Lili said.

 Chapter 27 Boldness

    "Lili''s right, Chen Zihao definitely wouldn''t dare to do anything to you at school, right? But once you''re outside the school gates, it''s definitely a different story. You can''t expect Yuxin and us to accompany you every day," Su Qian followed up, echoing the sentiment."Actually, you guys really don''t need to stick with me. It''s just dealing with people from society, right? Let him send his horses over; I''m truly not afraid of him!" Ge Dongxu said.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu wasn''t taking advice and bragging so boldly, Jiang Lili and Su Qian naturally thought he was trying to play the hero in front of Dong Yuxin, to win the heart of the beauty. Their gaze towards him couldn''t help but take on a different flavor, thinking he was quite naive and foolish.

    That''s Chen Zihao we''re talking about! What''s there for you, a freshman from the mountainous area, to be so arrogant about!

    Only Dong Yuxin knew that Ge Dongxu wasn''t trying to play the hero in front of her or to please her. If that were the case, he would have surely clung to her after helping her that day instead of walking away. The way he spoke must be because he didn''t want her to worry. So, she felt very touched and hesitated before saying, "How about I go and apologize to Chen Zihao another day? After all, he and I are now classmates. Apologizing should resolve the issue."

    "Don''t you dare. If you apologize to him, that guy will definitely stick to you! Don''t worry, it will be alright. He can''t do anything to me!" Ge Dongxu, seeing that Dong Yuxin was willing to apologize to Chen Zihao for his sake, felt somewhat touched and hurriedly advised.

    "What Dongxu said makes sense. If you apologize to Chen Zihao, he will definitely stick to you every day," Su Qian and Jiang Lili said. They naturally stood on Dong Yuxin''s side. As for Ge Dongxu, they didn''t have much affection for him. If something really happened, they wouldn''t care too much.

    "Then what should we do?" Dong Yuxin''s eyes began to redden a bit upon hearing those words.

    "What can we do but wait and see! No matter what, Chen Zihao still wouldn''t dare to mess around in school," said Jiang Lili and Su Qian.

    "Right, you don''t need to do anything for now! Things will always pass," Ge Dongxu also advised, his eyes flickering with thoughtful light under the night sky, thinking that he should find a good time to have a proper "talk" with Chen Zihao soon, to stop his harassment once and for all.

    "I hope so," Dong Yuxin knew what kind of person Chen Zihao was, understanding that apologizing was only the last resort. Seeing her friends and Ge Dongxu all advising her, she thought it over and nodded.

    With Chen Zihao stirring things up, everyone was clearly not in the mood, plus Jiang Lili and Su Qian ultimately had some contempt for Ge Dongxu, the freshman from the mountain area. They didn''t want to talk to him much, so the mood was somewhat heavy on the way.

    Ge Dongxu, being a cultivator, had a sixth sense that wasn''t inferior to a woman''s, so he easily sensed the subtle contempt from Jiang Lili and Su Qian, and naturally couldn''t be bothered to initiate conversation with them. And the less Ge Dongxu did so, the more irritated Jiang Lili and Su Qian became, thinking that he, a freshman, was too arrogant and unappreciative.

    Luckily, before they reached the rough section of the road, Jiang Lili and Su Qian turned a corner at a street intersection and parted ways from Ge Dongxu and Dong Yuxin.

    Just as Jiang Lili and Su Qian had left, Ge Dongxu suddenly felt a warm and soft sensation at his waist¡ªit turned out that earlier, with Jiang Lili and Su Qian present, Dong Yuxin didn''t dare to rest her hand on Ge Dongxu''s waist and instead clutched the back seat. Now that they were gone, she became bold.

    "The road ahead is a bit uneven, be careful when you''re cycling, and don''t let it be like it was this afternoon," Dong Yuxin said, her pretty face blushing under the dim streetlights, looking exceptionally charming, though Gex Dongxu couldn''t see it.

    "Don''t worry," Ge Dongxu replied, his mood unexpectedly lightening and he felt particularly cheerful, completely forgetting the previous harassment and provocation from Chen Zihao, as well as the disdain from Jiang Lili and Su Qian.

    "Dang dang dang!" As soon as Ge Dongxu''s voice fell, the bicycle started to bounce along.

    Sitting behind, Dong Yuxin''s face blushed as she stealthily looked around and quietly wrapped her arms around Ge Dongxu''s waist. She felt this gave her more of a sense of security and comfort.

    Ge Dongxu''s body stiffened for a moment, but his legs soon started pedaling more briskly, youthfully spirited.

    "Stop the car and let me down here." As they were nearing her home, Dong Yuxin''s face turned red as she clung tightly to Ge Dongxu''s waist and said.

    "Afraid your parents will see?" Ge Dongxu stopped the bike and asked.

    "Pfft, we haven''t done anything, what''s there to be scared of? It''s just annoying when they ask too many questions!" Dong Yuxin smoothed her hair back and said indifferently, but under the streetlights, a blush spread unknowingly across her pretty face, making her look particularly enticing.

    "Ha-ha, that''s true." Ge Dongxu chuckled and nodded in agreement.

    "What are you laughing at!" Dong Yuxin saw the smile on Ge Dongxu''s face and for some reason felt a sudden rush of embarrassment and annoyance, and she kicked him.

    Ge Dongxu, bewildered by Dong Yuxin''s unexpected kick, wondered, can''t one laugh without making a mistake?

    Young as he was, even with mysterious arts at his disposal, how could he understand the mind of a young girl?

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s confused expression, Dong Yuxin also felt that her kick had been somewhat senseless, but she wanted to kick him nonetheless. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Tomorrow, same time, start walking ahead of me slowly and wait for me." Of course, Dong Yuxin would not admit she was wrong. She got on her bicycle, tossed her hair, threw those words at Ge Dongxu, and then pedaled away.

    Ge Dongxu still stood there, scratching his head in confusion, but he didn''t feel any annoyance from being kicked; on the contrary, he felt an indescribable sweetness in his heart.

    "I''m telling you, boss, she''s already ridden off into the distance. If you keep staring like that, you''ll turn into a ''Looking-for-Husband Stone.'' No, make that a ''Looking-for-Wife Stone.''" Just as Ge Dongxu was standing there in a daze, Cheng Le Hao''s voice came from behind him.

    "Looking at your big head!" Ge Dongxu turned and snapped back, then headed home with a spring in his step.

    "Wait for me, boss." Cheng Le Hao hurriedly pushed his bike and followed after him.

    ...

    Midnight had passed, and in the darkness, Ge Dongxu lay with his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling in a daze. Usually, after his midnight cultivation, Ge Dongxu would fall asleep quickly. But tonight, images of Dong Yuxin''s smiles and frowns, the electric shock he felt when she suddenly hugged him from behind, and even the occasional flashes of Jiang Lili''s voluptuous chest, kept drifting through his mind.

    As a teenager brimming with curiosity about the opposite sex, how could he possibly ignore Jiang Lili''s generously endowed chest, let alone remain unaffected? It was just that Ge Dongxu, as a cultivator, had self-control that ordinary teenagers lacked.

    In that case, Jiang Lili had somewhat wronged Ge Dongxu.

    Eventually, the images in Ge Dongxu''s mind settled on the detestable face of Chen Zihao.

    How to deal with him? Call him out and beat him up? Obviously, that wasn''t a suitable solution. It seemed he had to come up with a strategy using techniques.

    ps: Today''s update is complete, thank you for your support.

 Chapter 28 Changxi Grand Hotel

    Changxi Grand Hotel, the nineties, the only three-star hotel in Changxi County, and the only hotel that was involved in serving foreigners.The Changxi Grand Hotel had twelve floors and was the iconic building of Changxi County at that time. Many people who came to the county from rural areas would specifically visit to see it and take a photo with it. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It''s fair to say that Changxi Grand Hotel was tremendously prestigious, and those who could often be seen entering and leaving were among the most influential figures in the political and business circles of Changxi County. Ordinary folk hardly dared or would even think of setting foot in this hotel, as the cost of a single banquet could equate to half a month''s income for an average person, and if one ordered the more expensive dishes and drinks, it could amount to half a year''s income, which was not unusual here.

    Even the somewhat wealthy families in the city would only consider coming here during festivals, celebratory events, or to entertain important guests.

    In short, at that time, Changxi Grand Hotel was the most luxurious high-end venue in the whole of Changxi County. In fact, the requirements for a three-star rating then were high standard and high specification, some of which are now the requirements for four-star and even five-star hotels.

    For example, the requirement for dedicated porters to provide luggage services for 18 hours, duty managers to attend to guests 24 hours a day, having an enclosed bar, a small shopping center, providing turn-down service, a caf¨¦ (simplified Western restaurant) offering buffet breakfasts, and 18-hour meal delivery service for Chinese and Western-style breakfasts and meals, are now the requirements for four-star hotels. Likewise, requirements such as the front desk manager providing 18-hour service, rooms with bathtubs, accessible rooms for disabled guests, providing formal Western meals, and the ability to provide Chinese and Western banquet services are now requirements for five-star hotels.

    Because of this, Changxi Grand Hotel had an extremely high social image and status throughout Changxi County at the time, and Lin Jinnuo, the owner of Changxi Grand Hotel, had become an influential figure in Changxi County due to the hotel. As for his son, Lin Kun, he too became one of the notable figures among the second generation in the political and business circles of Changxi County, due to this the county''s only international three-star hotel. Below him, there was a group of underlings who eagerly followed his lead.

    It was already eleven o''clock at night, and on the second floor of the hotel, in the splendidly decorated KTV room, the singing was still loud and the drinks were flowing. Women dressed in white tight tops and ultra-short skirts, showing off their long, white legs, could be seen standing in the lobby or moving in and out of the various private rooms.

    "Look here, Chen Zihao, it''s rare that your dad is on a business trip and your mom is too busy with the restaurant to mind you, and you''re sulking all evening. Who are you trying to impress? If you don''t want to stay, then just scram!" In a luxurious KTV private room, Lin Kun leaned back on the sofa with his legs crossed, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He blew a ring of smoke and pointed at Chen Zihao, who was sitting on the other side, drinking morosely.

    "It might be better for you to go home early, after all, Chen Zihao is still a student," a woman''s voice chimed in, and it was Yue Ting.

    Today, Yue Ting was not wearing her Chanel suit, but a low-cut vest and denim shorts, revealing a deep cleavage and her plump, white thighs, which made the men in the room steal glances at her, though they dared not stare.

    That''s because Yue Ting was the big sister of their circle.

    "Yue Ting''s right, Chen Zihao, you better come here less often in the future. Anyway, every time you come, you just look like a corpse," Lin Kun waved his hand impatiently at Chen Zihao.

    "Sister Ting, Brother Kun, I''m sorry for ruining everyone''s good time with my moodiness. I''ll punish myself with this bottle," seeing that Lin Kun and Yue Ting were somewhat annoyed, Chen Zihao panicked, quickly stood up, grabbed a bottle of beer, and downed it in one go.

    "That''s more like it. Speak up, what''s bothering you so much? Is it ''cause you have to repeat a year at high school? If that''s it, there''s nothing I can do to help!" Lin Kun''s mood seemed to lighten after Chen Zihao chugged the bottle as an apology. He blew another ring of smoke and asked.

    "It''s not about that. Repeating a year doesn''t really bother me, especially with the school beauty by my side¡ªI''m actually looking forward to it. What''s annoying me is that someone messed up a good thing for me," Chen Zihao responded, waiting for Brother Kun''s question, gritting his teeth as he spoke.

    "Damn, so someone was hitting on your girl, huh! No wonder you''ve been so down today. But let me tell you, Chen Zihao, you''re a repeater after all, and you''re a big guy. While your looks aren''t great, you could still pass for handsome at a glance. Damn, someone steals your girl and you don''t fight to get her back, but drown your sorrows in booze instead. Are you even a man?" Yue Ting said, pointing at Chen Zihao and scolding him harshly, completely lacking the demeanor of a business magnate''s daughter¡ªshe was totally acting like a tough girl.

    "Haha, Sister Ting, Chen Zihao is still a student after all; he''s hardly a man! Brother Kun is the real deal." A guy as fat as a pig burst out laughing upon hearing this.

    "Shit, Shen Fatty, you''re no man. If you''ve got the guts, pull it out and let''s compare." Chen Zihao was feeling extremely depressed by Yue Ting''s scolding but didn''t dare retort, so when he heard the fat guy mocking him, he immediately pointed and cursed at him.

    "Yeah, pull it out, let''s compare!" Everyone in the room started egging them on, even the women joined in.

    Instantly, the one called Shen Fatty chickened out, but his mouth was still tough, "What''s there to compare with your ''embroidery needle''? A win would be meaningless!"

    "Tsk!" Everyone let out a sound of disdain upon hearing this.

    "Enough!" Lin Kun and Yue Ting, ultimately the bosses of the group, didn''t really want things to go too far, and seeing how things were going, they simultaneously waved their hands to stop it.

    Seeing Lin Kun and Yue Ting speak up, no one dared to continue mocking.

    "Actually, what Yue Ting said just now makes a lot of sense. Chen Zihao, you''re a repeater and a big guy, yet you''re too scared to take back your girl. Is that guy someone with a big backing or what? But that''s unlikely, looks like the big shots'' kids in Changxi County are either not yet in high school or have already gone to university," Lin Kun pointed out after the room quieted down.

    "That guy has had some martial arts training. I can''t beat him!" Chen Zihao said in extreme frustration.

    "Damn, you can''t even beat him? You''re such a wimp, I can''t believe how big and tall you are. You''re just a pretty face¡ªnot useful at all!" Shen Fatty, having just been despised, immediately mocked him gleefully.

    "Enough, Shen Fatty!" Lin Kun glared at Shen Fatty, then turned to Chen Zihao, "Isn''t he just a high school student? Have him meet you here next Saturday at three in the afternoon. You''ll all be free from class, and it''s a good time. I want to see what high school kid is so cocky, daring to hit on my bro''s girl."

    "Thanks, Brother Kun!" Chen Zihao, seeing that Lin Kun agreed to help him, couldn''t help but feel overjoyed and quickly bowed in thanks.

    "Alright, you''ve got school tomorrow, now get lost!" Lin Kun waved him off, not really concerned about a mere high school student.

    ps: Today will continue with updates in the morning, afternoon, and evening as we push up the charts for the new book. Please dear readers, help by clicking, voting, adding to your favorites, rewarding, and commenting. I sincerely appreciate the support from all the readers since the book was first published.

 Chapter 29 Mens Agreement

    The next day, Ge Dongxu didn''t complete his entire Mao Hour cultivation practice, but finished half an hour early instead. Because school started at seven o''clock with a morning reading class, and attendance would be taken.He ate breakfast at six-thirty and left home at six-forty.

    "I won''t disturb your little world of two, go for it, boss!" As soon as he went out, Cheng Le Hao hopped on his bike and zoomed away.

    Ge Dongxu watched Cheng Le Hao''s fast-disappearing figure, shook his head with a wry smile, and then walked unhurriedly along the street toward school.

    He hadn''t walked far when a light fragrance wafted over from behind, and soon there was someone beside him.

    "Here you go!" Dong Yuxin pushed her bike directly to Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t refuse, jumped on the bike, and Dong Yuxin sat on the back seat, her jade hand gently resting on his waist, grasping his shirt.

    Everything seemed very natural, as if after one night, the two had become close friends who had known each other for a long time.

    Riding the bike with Dong Yuxin to school, when they reached that bumpy section of the road, Dong Yuxin confidently wrapped her arms around his waist. Her upper body didn''t seem to deliberately keep distance from Ge Dongxu''s back anymore, and there was occasional light contact due to the road conditions, causing both young hearts to thud excitedly.

    The entire day went by without any unexpected incidents, but what made Ge Dongxu feel somewhat uneasy was that his classmates kept sneaking curious glances at him from time to time, including the girls, as if he were from another planet.

    But that was normal, considering how flamboyant he was the previous night when three senior girls had waited for him after school.

    Of course, there were a few guys with higher self-esteem who sneered at Ge Dongxu and talked behind his back with other students, saying it was no big deal, just that the senior girls had matters to discuss with him. They said that it would be impressive if those girls came to wait for him again today. Among these guys was Li Xingchen.

    It wasn''t surprising that they thought this way. After all, he was just an unsophisticated freshman. If it wasn''t for the senior girls having something to discuss, why would they come to wait for him at the classroom door?

    However, everyone was dumbfounded come study hall in the evening.

    Because those three senior girls from last night actually showed up at the entrance of Class 6 of the freshmen again.

    If the first time was by chance, what about this time?

    Damn, that''s seriously awesome, having beautiful senior girls waiting for school dismissal every day! How did this guy pull it off?

    However, Ge Dongxu didn''t show any trace of pride; on the contrary, when he walked out of the classroom and saw Dong Yuxin for the first time, he felt rather annoyed. He sensed that she must have been wronged today because her eyes were a bit red when she saw him.

    But with many onlookers at the classroom door, Ge Dongxu didn''t ask what happened, instead, he greeted Du Yifan and then left with the group that included Dong Yuxin.

    "What happened? Did Chen Zihao hassle you again?" When they reached the school gate, Ge Dongxu finally couldn''t help asking in a low voice.

    "You had to show off, didn''t you? Dong Yuxin, worried you''d get bullied, specifically went to see Chen Zihao today, asking him not to trouble you. But he said he wouldn''t let you off unless Dong Yuxin immediately agreed to be his girlfriend." Jiang Lili looked unhappily at Ge Dongxu, obviously annoyed by his show of strength, which made her ample bosom heave up and down as she spoke, particularly eye-catching in the night.

    "Lili, I''ve said it before, this has nothing to do with Dongxu! He was just trying to help me!" Dong Yuxin said with tears in her eyes.

    "He''s just trying to help but doing more harm," Jiang Lili retorted. She always thought that newcomers like Ge Dongxu, with no real ability, were just trying to show off, the epitome of immaturity and incompetence.

    "Lili, I''ve already told you it was Chen Zihao last time..." Dong Yuxin stomped her foot, clearly aware of what had happened.

    "Lili''s not entirely wrong. Don''t worry, Yuxin, I''ll go talk to Chen Zihao and make things clear. Starting from tomorrow, he won''t bother you anymore." Having said that, Ge Dongxu handed his bicycle to Dong Yuxin, then turned around and strode back to the school.

    "Lili, look, just look." Dong Yuxin, seeing this, urgently stomped her foot, wanting to chase after Ge Dongxu.

    "If he wants to act tough, let him. Besides, this issue needs to be resolved eventually. Luckily, it''s happening at school, Chen Zihao won''t do anything to him, and as a newcomer, he definitely won''t be foolish enough to fight in school. At most, he''ll just have to apologize. That''s better than you agreeing to be Chen Zihao''s girlfriend," Jiang Lili and Su Qian said, holding Dong Yuxin back.

    Dong Yuxin was anxious and kept stamping her feet, but she knew her friends were right. It was better to resolve the issue sooner rather than always feeling like there was a rock hanging over her head. But the thought of Ge Dongxu having to bow to Chen Zihao for her sake made her feel very guilty.

    "Regardless, you should let me go have a look, just in case something unexpected happens," Dong Yuxin said, shaking off her friends'' hands, still unable to put her mind at ease.

    "Alright, alright," Jiang Lili and Su Qian relented, accompanying Dong Yuxin.

    ...

    "Kid, what do you want?" At the flower bed beside the teaching building, Ge Dongxu cut off Chen Zihao''s path with a cold face, causing an inexplicable fear in Chen Zihao who instinctively took a step back, then quickly realized he was on school grounds and pointed angrily at Ge Dongxu. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "If you''re a man, come directly to me. What kind of skill is it to threaten and pester a girl?" Ge Dongxu said coldly.

    "Alright then, if you don''t want me threatening and pestering Dong Yuxin, be at Changxi Grand Hotel at 2:40 this Saturday afternoon to settle our differences. Do you dare to come?" Chen Zihao''s face went through several changes, then he looked at Ge Dongxu with provocative eyes.

    Ge Dongxu had been thinking of finding a place outside school to deal with Chen Zihao, and now that Chen Zihao had offered a location, it couldn''t be more suitable. He nodded and said, "Fine, Saturday afternoon at 2:40, Changxi Grand Hotel. But don''t bother Dong Yuxin in the next few days, otherwise don''t blame me for being ruthless."

    When Ge Dongxu spoke the last sentence, a chilling aura seemed to emanate from him, tightening Chen Zihao''s body involuntarily as if targeted by a fierce beast. It took him a while to suppress the fear in his heart and nodded: "Fine, Saturday afternoon at 2:40, don''t be absent. I want to see just how tough your bones are."

    After speaking, Chen Zihao hopped on his bicycle and rapidly pedaled away.

    As Chen Zihao rode off, Ge Dongxu turned to head back, soon running into Dong Yuxin and her returning friends.

    "Dongxu, are you okay?" Dong Yuxin asked with concern.

    "I''m fine, what could be wrong? And you, stop worrying needlessly, right, Dongxu?" Jiang Lili glanced at Ge Dongxu and said.

    "It''s all settled, I''ve talked to Chen Zihao and he won''t bother you anymore," Ge Dongxu said, ignoring Jiang Lili and smiling at Dong Yuxin.

 Chapter 30 Intentional Humiliation [Third Release, Requesting Votes]

    "I mean, the problem still lies with Dongxu. As long as he apologizes to Chen Zihao, everything will definitely be much simpler," Jiang Lili said, glancing at Ge Dongxu with a bit of frustration when he ignored her. She couldn''t understand where on earth this mountain boy had his eyes; he was completely oblivious to her charms."I''m sorry, Dongxu, for dragging you into this. Did you promise something to Zihao?" Dong Yuxin thought more deeply than Jiang Lili, not believing that Chen Zihao was that easy to talk to.

    "I''m just a poor student from the mountains, what could I possibly promise Chen Zihao? Don''t worry; the matter has been cleared up. Chen Zihao definitely won''t bother you anymore," Ge Dongxu replied, naturally not revealing any agreement he had with Chen Zihao to Dong Yuxin. He was happy to let Jiang Lili and the others misunderstand.

    "Could Chen Zihao have really changed his ways? Could Dongxu really just need to soften and apologize?" Although Dong Yuxin still had her doubts, everything was indeed as Ge Dongxu had said; what could a poor mountain student promise to Chen Zihao? So, she finally had to say, "That''s good then, thank you, Dongxu."

    As she spoke, her look towards Ge Dongxu was filled with gratitude and guilt.

    Dong Yuxin knew very well how hard it was for a guy like Ge Dongxu to bow his head and admit fault. Yet today, he had done so for her, humbling himself before Chen Zihao.

    "Okay, finally you''ve come to your senses, kid. You''re still a freshman and a countryman; you can''t compare to Chen Zihao. Trying to prove yourself will only end in your detriment," Jiang Lili preached to Ge Dongxu in her role as a senior. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled and didn''t respond.

    He had never been the one to show off. It was Chen Zihao who did! But no one knew that, only he himself knew.

    It was still at the bumpy road''s junction ahead where Jiang Lili and Su Qian parted ways with the two men.

    Under the dim street lights, the road remained uneven with no change. For some reason, Dong Yuxin''s arm was wrapped around Ge Dongxu''s waist even tighter than that morning, as if the two had truly become an early-dating, youthful couple.

    On Saturday afternoon at 2:40 sharp, Ge Dongxu stood at the entrance of Changxi Grand Hotel, feeling somewhat ill at ease.

    The people entering and exiting the hotel, each dressed to the nines, glanced at him with contempt and superiority as they walked past. Even a bellboy in a small vest and white shirt, under the instructions from the lobby manager, purposely came over to suggest that Ge Dongxu not stand at the entrance of the hotel.

    This made Ge Dongxu feel humiliated and also faintly realize that Chen Zihao choosing this location was meant to ridicule and embarrass him.

    However, Ge Dongxu did not storm off angrily! As a practitioner of the mystical arts, if he lacked even this level of forbearance, then his years of cultivation would have been in vain.

    Ge Dongxu quickly suppressed the turmoil inside him and stood calmly by the flower bed at the entrance of the hotel, considering this as a test for his temperament.

    Chen Zihao didn''t emerge from some corner of the hotel until five to three, stood at the entrance without saying a word, just waved at Ge Dongxu, then turned, and walked back inside, a condensing sneer playing at the corner of his mouth.

    When Ge Dongxu saw Chen Zihao appear, he walked toward the hotel''s main entrance.

    The hotel staff who had been eyeing Ge Dongxu for a while saw a young man dressed in country clothes trying to enter and immediately stepped forward to stop him.

    Changxi Grand Hotel was the only international hotel in Changxi County, naturally not allowing a country boy dressed as shabbily as Ge Dongxu to barge in aimlessly.

    "Young man, what are you doing here?" The staff eyed Ge Dongxu sternly, as if he was a thief trying to sneak into the hotel to steal something.

    "Chen Zihao, you find this amusing? If you don''t want to have a proper talk with me, that''s fine, I''ll just leave. But you better not regret it later." Ge Dongxu ignored the staff and said to Chen Zihao, who deliberately turned away and walked inside, dismissing him.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu acting so insolent even in such a place, Chen Zihao really felt like turning around and slapping him.

    You goddamn bumpkin, acting all arrogant with me!

    However, the real show was yet to come. It was impossible for Chen Zihao to really let Ge Dongxu leave like that, so he reluctantly turned back and waved to the staff, "Let him in, he''s here for me."

    The staff clearly recognized Chen Zihao, and a flash of confusion crossed his face, but he still let Ge Dongxu in.

    "You hick, never been to a place like this, huh? Today, I''ll let you open your eyes wide so you don''t remain ignorant of the ways of the world! You''re nothing in my eyes, not even worth a fart," Chen Zihao said, looking down on him with utmost contempt as he waited at the elevator door for Ge Dongxu to approach.

    "He who insults others will be insulted himself, I advise you not to bring shame upon yourself! The more you say now, the more you''ll suffer later," Ge Dongxu frowned slightly and said calmly, showing none of the nervousness or unease one would expect from a country boy entering the most luxurious establishment in Changxi County for the first time.

    The truly cultivated remain unshaken in face of dishonor or honor; the more critical the moment, the calmer one must be!

    That was exactly how Ge Dongxu was. When he first walked into the hotel, although he was also astonished by its opulence, just like what he had seen on television, he quickly suppressed the emotional turmoil inside him.

    "Damn it, I can''t wait to see how long you can keep this act up! Hopefully you can still talk tough later!" Seeing Ge Dongxu still more arrogant than himself even in such a place, Chen Zihao was so furious he felt like his lungs were about to explode, gritted his teeth and spat out those words before angrily walking into the elevator.

    Although Ge Dongxu didn''t know where Chen Zihao was taking him, having Mysterious Arts within him, he followed without fear.

    The elevator opened on the third floor at the KTV entertainment hall.

    Since it was daytime, there were very few people coming to play at KTV. There weren''t many staff in the hall either, but there were two women in low-cut, ultra-short skirts standing at the elevator doors.

    "Chen Zihao, what do you mean by bringing me to a place like this?" Ge Dongxu quickly realized that a place like this wasn''t suitable for a student like him, nor were such women meant for him to casually look at, so he quickly averted his gaze and angrily looked at Chen Zihao.

    "No particular reason? Didn''t you want to have a proper talk with me? I chose this place. What, scared now? Pff, such a country bumpkin who''s never seen the world!" Chen Zihao looked at Ge Dongxu with scorn, his face full of mockery.

    ps: With the third update completed, dear readers, please leave more comments and support after reading, thank you very much.

 Chapter 31 Goodbye Kun Ge

    "Seriously, Brother Hao, where did you pick up this country bumpkin? He''s just a kid whose fuzz hasn''t even filled in yet! You''re terrible!" The two women standing at the door obviously knew Chen Zihao, and they glanced disdainfully at Ge Dongxu before playfully hitting Chen Zihao."This is a spring chicken! Isn''t that what you girls like?" Chen Zihao said with a wicked smile on his face, even patting the woman''s tightly skirt-wrapped buttocks as he spoke.

    "Ah! Brother Hao, you''re so bad, be careful or I''ll tell Brother Kun!" The woman immediately exclaimed dramatically, invoking Brother Kun''s name.

    Seeing the woman bring up Brother Kun, Chen Zihao laughed sheepishly, no longer daring to lay hands on the two women. Instead, he turned to Ge Dongxu and said, "Let''s go, country bumpkin!"

    Brother Kun? Ge Dongxu felt his heart skip a beat, as a chill flashed in the depths of his eyes. He had now come to understand who the "people in society" Chen Zihao knew were, as mentioned by Dong Yuxin, and he fully comprehended why Chen Zihao had invited him to meet here today.

    So, he had asked Brother Kun to come and teach him a lesson!

    "The humiliator is humiliated by others, it seems everything I just said to you was casting pearls before swine!" Now that he knew Chen Zihao''s backup today was Lin Kun, Ge Dongxu was much more certain.

    Originally, when Chen Zihao brought him to such a place, he thought it would be unavoidable to go through some troubles.

    "Kid, what are you showing off for, you''ll be crying soon!" Chen Zihao cursed and then quickly walked ahead.

    Past the lobby was a corridor, decorated as lavishly as gold, and in the daylight, no customers could be seen, only four men, wearing black suits and sunglasses, stood rigid and stern at the door of a private room, just like in a Hong Kong movie.

    "Stop!" When Chen Zihao approached the door, one of the men reached out to stop him.

    "Please tell Brother Kun that I''ve brought the guy," Chen Zihao said, sneaking a smug glance at Ge Dongxu, thinking to himself that Brother Kun''s act must have scared this kid to the point of wetting himself!

    But just as he looked, Chen Zihao became so frustrated he almost spat blood because not only was Ge Dongxu not scared in the least, he seemed quite interested in the four men wearing black suits and sunglasses, scrutinizing them up and down.

    Damn, is this guy missing a brain cell or what? He''s not even scared like this!

    "Is this the kid? Brother Kun has already explained, when you arrive, bring him in!" The man said while deliberately twisting his neck, causing a "crack crack crack" sound, and another man helped push open the door of the private room.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu wasn''t intimidated by the man''s gesture; he looked on as if watching a monkey perform, giving the man such a look that it frustrated him to the point of vomiting blood. If it weren''t for Brother Kun''s earlier instructions to try to scare him first and deal with him in the private room afterward, he would have been unable to stop himself from flattening Ge Dongxu''s face with a punch. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Damn! Kid, you''ve got some nerve, even daring to mess with... cough cough... cough cough... my Brother Kun''s girl," Ge Dongxu had just stepped through the door after Chen Zihao when he saw Lin Kun slouching with his legs crossed on a leather sofa, puffing smoke rings, squinting his eyes, and cursing as he pointed at him, several men stood behind him, sporting tight tank tops, bulging muscles, and tattoos.

    But Brother Kun had only gotten halfway through his tirade when he seemed to be choked by the smoke, constantly coughing.

    Chen Zihao, of course, didn''t realize Brother Kun wasn''t choked by smoke but startled; seeing Lin Kun''s dominating presence and his immediate berating of Ge Dongxu, Chen Zihao naturally felt a surge of smug satisfaction, and he raised his hand to slap Ge Dongxu on the head, saying, "Damn it, don''t you know I roll with Brother Kun? Act tough in front of Brother Kun again, I dare you?"

    This slap was something Chen Zihao had been holding back for a long time, and now that he finally landed it, the satisfaction he felt was immense!

    But as joyous as Chen Zihao was, Lin Kun, as well as Yue Ting sitting in the corner watching the drama unfold, were scared out of their wits.

    "Chen Zihao, fuck your mother!" Lin Kun picked up the ashtray from the table without thinking and smashed it towards Chen Zihao.

    Joking around, it wasn''t long ago that they had sworn at Ge Dongxu''s house never to trouble Ge Dongxu''s family again or provoke Ge Dongxu, otherwise they would be blasted by bolts from the blue!

    Now, because of Chen Zihao, the two of them ended up getting involved in this matter today. If Chen Zihao beat up Ge Dongxu, how could they possibly escape being implicated in this ordeal!

    If they couldn''t escape being implicated, wouldn''t they be blasted by bolts from the blue?

    Others might not believe this oath, but having witnessed Ge Dongxu''s seemingly magical spell themselves, how could they not believe it?

    "Bang!" With a loud sound, the ashtray hit Chen Zihao right on the forehead, followed by Chen Zihao''s scream and the "clang" of the ashtray hitting the floor, one after another.

    Chen Zihao was holding the spot on his forehead where he was hit, tears welling up in his eyes, and looked bewilderedly at Lin Kun, who was storming towards him around the table, and at Yue Ting, who was also standing up from the corner and walking towards him.

    "Brother Kun, what are you doing?" Chen Zihao asked with a gloomy face.

    "What am I doing? I''m ****ing pissed!" Lin Kun answered Chen Zihao with a heavy kick and a string of curses.

    With anger boiling, Lin Kun''s kick was especially hard, sending Chen Zihao to the ground immediately, where the pain made him curl up into a ball.

    But Lin Kun didn''t care whether he was in pain or not, and began kicking him wildly. Not just him, Yue Ting also rushed up and joined in, wildly kicking the downed Chen Zihao.

    Chen Zihao was about to bring the wrath of bolts from the blue upon them; how could they not vent their fury by beating him mercilessly to suppress their shock and fear?

    "Brother Kun, Sister Ting, stop hitting me, stop! Please, I''m begging you, my bones are breaking, my legs, my legs!" Chen Zihao howled like a ghost, rolling around on the ground.

    Ge Dongxu watched Chen Zihao rolling on the ground and howling, and although a moment of pity flashed in his eyes, it quickly turned to coldness. Then, with a calm face, he walked around the table and sat down in the spot where Lin Kun had been sitting, quietly observing as Lin Kun and Yue Ting beat Chen Zihao.

    After all, this kid was only nineteen years old and still a student, yet he was already so lawless. If one day he really entered society and gained some power and money, who knew how many people he would harm?

    How could they not teach him a profound lesson?

    When Ge Dongxu sat down in Lin Kun''s spot, a few people in the room who hadn''t seen him before were about to teach him a lesson for acting so arrogantly, when they were hastily pulled back by the people beside them, scared.

    Those who held them back were naturally the ones who had accompanied Lin Kun to Baiyun Mountain last time.

    Are they kidding? Didn''t they see that Chen Zihao was already beaten like a dead dog all because of this mountain boy! They must have a death wish, daring to concern themselves with where this master chooses to sit!

    ps: Continuing with three updates today. Updating two books at once is really as tiring as a dog, so please continue to support with your votes and leave more comments!

 Chapter 32 Brother Xu

    "Brother Xu, here''s some freshly squeezed orange juice for you," one of the more perceptive guys hurriedly poured a glass of fresh orange juice and respectfully handed it to Ge Dongxu."Hmm," Ge Dongxu merely nodded noncommittally, took the orange juice, and had a sip. Autumn was raging now, after standing outside for a while, he couldn''t deny that he was actually a bit thirsty.

    "That''s about enough," after a sip of the cold orange juice, his anger seemed to subside somewhat. Seeing the ruthlessness of Lin Kun and Yue Ting''s beating, he feared it might indeed cause serious problems. Ge Dongxu put the glass down on the table and said indifferently.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu speak, Chen Zihao and Yue Ting stopped, panting for air. Yue Ting even lightly pressed her ample bosom, not sure if it was still from fright, needing to calm her nerves.

    With Lin Kun and Yue Ting ceasing their kicks, Chen Zihao also stopped rolling and wailing, then hurriedly lifted his eyes towards the leather sofa opposite him.

    Lin Kun and Yue Ting had been merciless in their beating. Chen Zihao was only concerned with protecting his head with his arms and rolling around, not at all contemplating why Lin Kun and Yue Ting suddenly erupted in violence against him, nor did he have the strength to pay any attention to the rest of the room. Only after Lin Kun and Yue Ting stopped did he vaguely remember someone had spoken up for him and that the voice seemed somehow familiar.

    "Damn it, you, you little shit actually¡­" It was better before Chen Zihao looked up, but upon doing so, he couldn''t help but become so furious his lungs might explode and subconsciously pointed at Ge Dongxu and cursed.

    Great, while I was being battered to the ground, wailing in pain, you just sat there on the sofa watching the show, all high and mighty.

    Poor Chen Zihao was beaten senseless, it took him a while to realize that the reason for his beating was because of Ge Dongxu.

    "Fucking hell! Daring to curse at Brother Xu, are you ****ing tired of living!" Lin Kun and Yue Ting, seeing Chen Zihao quickly forget his pain as the scars healed, weren''t about to be polite with him any longer, and without needing instructions from Ge Dongxu, immediately lunged forward to kick him wildly again.

    "Xu¡­ Brother Xu! Ge Dongxu!" This time, Chen Zihao didn''t curl up rolling around, but rather stared blankly at Ge Dongxu, looking completely dumbfounded.

    "Enough, any more might kill someone!" Ge Dongxu waved his hand again.

    "Damn, such scum deserves to die! How dare you compete with Brother Xu for a chick!" Lin Kun said bitterly, giving Chen Zihao another kick.

    "Exactly, deserves to die! Don''t you even look at what you are!" Yue Ting followed with a kick and spat indignantly.

    This time Chen Zihao saw and heard clearly, the fear in his heart, oh how he wanted to cry!

    He couldn''t have dreamed that the first-year student from the mountain area could actually make Lin Kun and Yue Ting call him ''Brother Xu''!

    Lin Kun and Yue Ting were big shots in Changxi County''s young elites! And both were in their early to mid-twenties, while Ge Dongxu was only sixteen!

    "If you kill him, you''re responsible!" Ge Dongxu glanced indifferently at Lin Kun and Yue Ting.

    That indifferent glance immediately caused Lin Kun and Yue Ting''s hearts to nearly leap out of their throats. They hastily bowed and approached Ge Dongxu, apologizing repeatedly, "Brother Xu, sorry, really sorry. If I had known that this blind fool was messing with you, I wouldn''t have dared to interfere in this matter!"

    "Yes, yes, we truly didn''t expect that Brother Xu was still a student at Changxi No.1 Middle School!" Yue Ting also bowed repeatedly, her ample, snow-white chest straining the neckline of her shirt as she bowed, resembling the peaches from the Queen Mother''s orchard, unfurling under Ge Dongxu''s gaze and giving off a seductive fragrance.

    Ge Dongxu was still nothing but a high school freshman who had never been exposed to society, much less such overt sexual temptation right before his eyes, which frightened him into hurriedly shifting his gaze and taking a deep breath in the dark.

    "Do not look upon impropriety! I''m still just a student!" Ge Dongxu sternly warned himself, and then he gradually suppressed the urge to peek again, regaining a calm state of mind.

    "From what you''ve said, if it wasn''t for me, you two could just mess around, right?" After regaining his composure, Ge Dongxu''s gaze coldly swept over the two of them, and he asked lightly. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "This, this, uh, uh..." The two stammered, not knowing how to answer.

    In the face of Ge Dongxu who could decide their fate, they dared not lie recklessly.

    "Smack!" Ge Dongxu suddenly slapped the table and harshly demanded, "Speak! Is it or isn''t it?"

    Ge Dongxu''s sudden outburst not only scared Lin Kun and Yue Ting to the point where their souls nearly flew away but also frightened everyone in the private room who hadn''t understood the extent of Ge Dongxu''s fierceness, sending shivers down their spines.

    Because they suddenly realized that the seemingly rustic teenager, once angered, actually radiated a dominant and chilling aura befitting a superior.

    "It is, it is!" Lin Kun and Yue Ting wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads and finally nodded heavily.

    "Very good, it seems the lesson I taught you last time wasn''t profound enough!" Seeing the two nodding, Ge Dongxu''s chill grew even thicker, but his expression remained as calm as ever.

    "Brother Dongxu, please no, it was profound, really profound! We swear, we swear that from now on we will repent and never again engage in such despicable deeds!" Upon hearing Ge Dongxu say that the last lesson wasn''t deep enough, the two were terrified to their very cores. Yue Ting in particular immediately started tearing up, nowhere near the imposing figure of a big sister but rather a pitiful, helpless little woman.

    This scene left everyone in the private room agape and shivering, completely bewildered by the harsh lesson this high school freshman from the mountains must have given Brother Kun and Sister Ting for them to be scared to the point of tears by a mere mention.

    As for Chen Zihao, lying on the ground, he had long since forgotten his own pain, staring at the unfolding scene with nothing but shock in his eyes, trembling uncontrollably.

    If even Brother Kun and Sister Ting were this scared, what was he, Chen Zihao, in comparison? He had dared to threaten Dongxu time and time again, even dared to have someone fix him up, not knowing at all how the word ''death'' was written.

    "Are you sure you want to make an oath?" Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu''s eyes suddenly lit up with a sharp glint, becoming exceptionally piercing, as if able to see right through to a person''s innermost being.

    To swear, these two words, in today''s society which had widely lost faith, meant little more than a fart to many people, hardly credible or sufficient to constrain their actions.

    But for Lin Kun and Yue Ting, to "swear" meant a constraint that would follow them for life, more sacred than a marriage vow.

    At their weddings, loving men and women all say they will love each other for life, through sickness and health, for better or worse, but in the end, how many can really walk hand in hand until the end of life?

    When Ge Dongxu''s piercing gaze bore into them as though seeing through their souls, they started trembling, their hearts torn by an inner struggle.

    Because they both knew that once they swore an oath in the presence of Ge Dongxu, there would be no chance for regret!

 Chapter 33 Roll on

    Ge Dongxu watched the internal struggle of the two, nodding to himself. He had just heard them speak of turning over a new leaf, so he watched their expressions closely and realized that though their actions were arrogant, their true nature didn''t seem inherently bad. Now, seeing them wrestling with their inner conflicts further proved that their innate goodness had not been extinguished."Since you haven''t rotten to the core," Ge Dongxu said, "today I will persuade you to be virtuous, as an act of kindness and a benefit to society."

    Ge Dongxu thought to himself and spoke again, "The path of life is one''s own choice, and what path you choose determines what kind of life you will lead. I can tell you now that if you continue on this path, the only future awaiting you will definitely be imprisonment!"

    For youth like Lin Kun and Yue Ting, who were of a certain age and born with a silver spoon, spoiled and indulged, it was almost impossible for them to listen to others, not even their own parents. However, the words of this young man from the mountains, Ge Dongxu, struck them like the sound of the morning bell and the evening drum, suddenly awakening the kindness ingrained in their bones.

    "Thank you, Brother Dongxu, for your guidance. We are willing to swear," they said to each other with serious faces after exchanging glances.

    "Swear then," said Ge Dongxu with a nod, a flicker of relief in his eyes.

    Upon seeing Ge Dongxu''s nod, the two seriously took an oath never to do evil again.

    Seeing them take the oath, Ge Dongxu''s gaze softened considerably when he looked at them. But when his gaze shifted to Chen Zihao, it was laced with undisguised disgust.

    Last time, Lin Kun and Yue Ting caused trouble at Ge Dongxu''s family''s farm because Yue Ting''s Chanel clothes got splashed with vegetable juice. Without that incident, they would not have caused a scene. Essentially, they behaved like spoiled children because of the power and money of their families, arrogantly unreasonable. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Chen Zihao was completely different from Lin Kun and Yue Ting. At only nineteen, he dared to "abduct a civilian girl" in broad daylight, which showed an extremely vile nature. Plainly speaking, he had bad roots! Furthermore, because Ge Dongxu truly detested Chen Zihao, he had no intention of persuading him to be good.

    "Brother Dongxu, please have mercy. I won''t dare to do it again, I really won''t!" Chen Zihao was startled when he saw Ge Dongxu looking at him and quickly crawled to the front of the table, his face pale as he begged for mercy.

    "Next time, will there even be a next time?" questioned Lin Kun as he slapped Chen Zihao on the head upon hearing this. Their previous oath was about not doing the kind of evil that took advantage of their position to bully good people, but it didn''t mean they couldn''t hit a scumbag like Chen Zihao.

    "No more, no more, Brother Kun!" Chen Zihao quickly responded with a face full of dismay.

    "What''s the use of telling me there''s no more? You should be telling this to Brother Dongxu!" Lin Kun said, slapping Chen Zihao on the head again. He could tell that Ge Dongxu was very disgusted by Chen Zihao, so naturally, he would not be polite to him. What''s more, because of Chen Zihao, he almost got struck by five thunderbolts from heaven!

    "Yes, yes, Brother Dongxu, it''s all my fault, I was blind and didn''t see Mount Tai, I was ignorant. Please have great mercy and spare me!" Chen Zihao said, continuously slapping his already bruised and swollen face.

    "You''re a smart man, so I think you should know how to get along with Dong Yuxin from now on, and how to ensure she is completely assured that you will no longer bother her, right?" Ge Dongxu wasn''t someone with a heart of stone or ruthlessness, and seeing Chen Zihao''s face swollen like a pig''s head, his heart softened in the end, and he waved his hand, speaking indifferently.

    "Thank you, Brother Dongxu, I understand, I really do. Rest assured, from now on, whenever I see Dong Yuxin, I will definitely stay far away and never tell her about what happened today," Chen Zihao, seeing Ge Dongxu relent, was overcome with joy, hastily bowing profusely.

    He was truly scared by the beating today!

    "Get lost!" Ge Dongxu didn''t want to see Chen Zihao anymore, and seeing that he understood, he waved his hand dismissively, speaking as if he were shooing away a dog.

    "Yes, yes." Chen Zihao felt as if he had been granted amnesty, bowing repeatedly, then turned toward Lin Kun and Yue Ting, tentatively saying, "Brother Kun, Sister Ting..."

    "Why are you looking at us? Didn''t you hear Dongxu telling you to scram? Remember, from now on you have nothing to do with me, don''t come looking for me if there''s an issue!" Lin Kun glared and said.

    "The same goes for me!" said Yue Ting.

    Upon hearing this, Chen Zihao''s heart ached, knowing that today he had been officially kicked out of this circle!

    But Chen Zihao didn''t dare say anything, nodded his head, and then limped out of the private room, not daring to look back.

    After Chen Zihao left, Lin Kun played the role of host, walking over to Ge Dongxu with a flattering smile on his face, and cautiously asked, "Brother Dongxu, would you like me to call over some girls to chat with you, have a drink, and sing some songs?"

    Lin Kun''s suggestion made Ge Dongxu involuntarily recall the two scantily clad women he had seen at the elevator entrance, which startled him, and he quickly glared at Lin Kun, saying, "Are you sick in the head? I''m still a student!"

    When Ge Dongxu scolded him, Lin Kun suddenly remembered that Dongxu was still just a high school student, realizing that his flattery had missed the mark, he began to stutter, not knowing what to do.

    Indeed, in this sort of place, if you don''t call for girls to accompany you for drinks and singing, what else could you possibly do? Lin Kun really couldn''t come up with anything.

    "Yeah, you really are dumb, Brother Dongxu. What kind of person do you take him for? Can he mingle with those girls here? Dongxu, I''ll drink and sing with you! What would you like to drink? Liquor or beer?" Seeing Lin Kun at a loss, Yue Ting rolled her eyes at him and then turned to Ge Dongxu with a seductive smile, saying.

    However, Yue Ting''s appearance today, from her clothing to her makeup, was hardly different from that of a rough girl¡ªnot only were her clothes tattered, adorned with shiny metal ornaments and printed with many crude English slogans, but her face was also thickly made up with smoky eyes that normally looked nice. She had sweated a bit during the fight with Chen Zihao, and later, Dongxu''s fright had brought her to tears, making her face now look like a "Ghost Drawing Talisman," with her crimson lips, it was more of a ghoulish grin than a seductive smile, which gave Ge Dongxu quite a start.

    "I''ve already said I''m a student. Why would I drink?" Ge Dongxu glared at Yue Ting, annoyed. Although he could hold his liquor well, he only drank with his master and never in front of others, and today was no exception.

    "Yes, yes, look at me getting all muddled too. Then I''ll sing with Dongxu. Do you sing any songs? How about Zhang Xinzhe''s ''Love is like a tide''? It''s quite popular lately." Seeing Ge Dongxu glare at her, Yue Ting wasn''t angry, but continued with a face full of "seductive smiles," trying to please him.

    ps: Today''s three updates are complete, please support generously, thank you very much.

 Chapter 34 Isnt this very pretty?

    "I can''t sing a song, but could you please go wash your face first? It''s a good face, why make it look like a ''Ghost Drawing Talisman''?" Ge Dongxu said, hardly able to bear the sight of Yue Ting''s face smeared with sweat and tears.Such words probably could only be spoken by Ge Dongxu to Yue Ting, and instead of getting angry, she hurriedly got up to wash her face.

    Seeing Yue Ting stand up to wash her face, the others in the private room found it quite amusing and couldn''t help revealing their amusement.

    "Laughing your head off, huh? Asking for a beating, are you?" As Yue Ting passed by the hangers-on and saw all of them trying hard not to laugh, she picked up the songbook from the table and hit each one of them with it.

    Naturally, the people scattered, holding their heads, which made Yue Ting feel much better. Ge Dongxu shook his head as he watched, but gradually realized that this group wasn''t as bad as people imagined. They were simply spoiled because of their good family conditions and lack of discipline. In their inner circle, they also had their own lifestyle and way of expressing feelings.

    Yue Ting came back quickly after washing her face.

    Yue Ting, now barefaced, was actually quite beautiful, with slightly full lips that added personality and a touch of sexiness. The lines of her face were clear, with a hint of masculine energy, and a straight, pointed nose. Her eyes weren''t too big or too small, single-lidded, but pleasing to the eye.

    "Isn''t this much prettier? Why always overdo your makeup?" When Ge Dongxu saw the barefaced Yue Ting return, his eyes lit up, and he couldn''t help praising her.

    "Really?" Hearing Ge Dongxu compliment her, a woman like Yue Ting actually blushed rarely, feeling somewhat bashful and embarrassed.

    The people in the private room were stunned to see the domineering lady''s shy side brimming with femininity, and even Lin Kun, who often hung out with her, was taken aback.

    "What are you looking at? Never seen a beautiful woman before?" It was fine for Ge Dongxu to look at Yue Ting, but when the others gazed at her with their intense stares, it immediately irked her, and she grabbed the songbook and threw it at one of them.

    Watching this scene, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but shake his head inwardly, wondering what kind of family could raise such an extraordinary woman.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu wasn''t a gossip, and he wouldn''t ask such prying questions. Instead, he patted the couch and said, "Lin, Ting, don''t just stand there, come and sit. I have something I need to consult you on."

    "No, no, Dongxu, we really can''t bear your ''bro'' and ''sis'' titles," Lin Kun and Yue Ting said, breaking into a cold sweat at being called ''Lin bro'' and ''Ting sis'' by Ge Dongxu, and hurriedly protested.

    "I''m younger than you, so I should call you bro and sis," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "If you call us that, Dongxu, it could scare us to death," Yue Ting exaggeratedly clutched her ample chest as she spoke.

    "Yeah, Dongxu, Yue Ting is right; don''t scare us like that," Lin Kun nodded vigorously in agreement.

    "Alright then, as you wish. Please come and sit. I really do have something I need to ask you," Ge Dongxu helplessly said.

    Only then did the two of them sit down on either side of him. Yue Ting, whether intentionally or not, sat a bit close, her snow-white, full thigh lightly touching Ge Dongxu''s leg, causing him to hastily close his legs a little.

    "Dongxu, have some orange juice," Yue Ting said as she saw this, picking up the orange juice from the coffee table and passing it to Ge Dongxu while she moved her hips a bit closer, as if to make it easier to hand him the drink.

    Yue Ting was already twenty-four this year, obviously more mature than Dong Yuxin, and had a fuller figure. Sitting so close to her, especially with their legs touching, naturally made Ge Dongxu''s heartbeat quicken, but he felt it improper to move away, which would seem like a tacit admission of guilt.

    Yue Ting''s smile was so vibrant that she didn''t seem to notice the intimate contact between them at all. Yet, a sly and triumphant look flashed in her attractive single-lidded eyes, but Ge Dongxu failed to catch it.

    "Thanks," Ge Dongxu said as he took the orange juice, took a sip, and then set it on the table. He asked, "I wanted to ask if you guys know about the age requirements for opening a bank account? How old do I have to be to open one?" S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "We really don''t know that, but no worries, I''ll call and ask right now," Lin Kun and Yue Ting said as they shook their heads.

    "Alright, can you guys check for me? I''m sixteen this year, and I''ll get my ID card soon. Can I open a bank account then?" Ge Dongxu inquired.

    "Sure, I''ll call now," Lin Kun said as he stood up, took out his black Ericsson mobile phone, flipped through the contacts, and dialed.

    Through Lin Kun''s conversation with the other party, Ge Dongxu, who was nearby, learned that according to the rules, one needs to be at least eighteen years old to open a bank account. However, thanks to Lin Kun''s connections, someone who was sixteen could also open an account as long as they had an ID card.

    "Dongxu bro, no problem, just call me when you''re ready to set it up," Lin Kun said after hanging up the phone.

    "Alright, I''ll trouble you then," Ge Dongxu replied. He knew that with his age and identity, the bank definitely wouldn''t consider his application.

    "Dongxu bro, you saying that is like underestimating me!" Lin Kun said.

    "Then I won''t stand on ceremony with you," Ge Dongxu patted Lin Kun on the shoulder, stood up, and said, "Alright, I''m good now. You guys keep having fun; I''ll be heading out first."

    "Dongxu bro, let me walk you down," Lin Kun quickly stood up as well.

    "Dongxu bro, I''ll go down with you too," Yue Ting also quickly followed suit.

    The other followers hurriedly stood up as well, looking every bit like they wanted to join in sending him off.

    "Isn''t this a bit too much? I''m not the head of a triad or anything," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh as he waved his hand dismissively.

    "What''s with all this fuss, everyone just stay put for me!" Lin Kun glanced back at the crowd sternly, then hurriedly walked ahead to open the door, saying, "After you, Dongxu bro!"

    By now, Ge Dongxu had slowly grown accustomed to these people''s temperaments, so without further ado, he nodded and confidently walked out of the private room.

    Outside the private room, those four guys were actually hotel security arranged by Lin Kun to make a show of force and intimidate Chen Zihao who, according to rumor, had some martial arts training. Because the door had been closed, the four guards were unaware of what had transpired inside.

    However, when Chen Zihao left the room with his face swollen and limping, they did see that and were quite shocked. They even asked if something had happened, but Chen Zihao was in such a sullen mood, and besides, he wouldn''t discuss such an embarrassing event, so not only did he not answer, he glared at them and cursed, "None of your damn business!"

    Hence, the four men at the door remained puzzled, not knowing what had actually gone on inside. They were tempted to go in and check, but without orders from inside, they dared not barge in. When the private room door suddenly swung open and they saw the young man, whom they had previously dismissed as a country bumpkin, walk out accompanied by Lin Kun and Yue Ting, their jaws nearly hit the floor.

    What the heck is going on!

    PS: Recommending a fantasy novel by my good friend, "Prodigal Evil Emperor." If you like it, please show your support, thank you.

 Chapter 35 Haoge, what happened to you?

    Ge Dongxu naturally wouldn''t bother with the astonished expressions of the four people at the door, who looked as though they had seen a ghost. He simply proceeded with Lin Kun and Yue Ting by his sides through the splendidly decorated passageway, into the lobby, and then headed straight for the elevator.The two girls still guarding the elevator door were dressed strikingly.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu take the lead, with Lin Kun and Yue Ting flanking him respectfully, both girls bore humble, obliging smiles and spoke to him in soft voices. Their mouths hung open in shock, and they were unable to close them for a long time.

    When Lin Kun and the others approached, the girls finally snapped back to reality and remembered that they had previously mocked the young man as a country bumpkin. Their faces suddenly turned pale, and they quickly crossed their hands over their abdomens, bowing slightly and saying, "Director Lin, Miss Yue, this gentleman..."

    But when it came to addressing Ge Dongxu, they hesitated, not knowing what to call him.

    Because Ge Dongxu was clearly still a youth, calling him "sir" seemed somewhat inappropriate. Of course, it would have been fine before this encounter.

    "Call him Brother Dongxu!" Lin Kun said.

    The two had initially thought that even "sir" was somewhat unfitting because Ge Dongxu was still just a youth. They had never expected Lin Kun to ask them to call the young man Brother Dongxu.

    However, the women working here were all adept at reading the room and had quick wits. After a moment of inward shock, they immediately bowed deeply to Ge Dongxu with great respect, saying, "Hello, Brother Dongxu!"

    This time, their bows were much deeper than before, so much so that Ge Dongxu could see nothing but a swath of white under his eyelids, making his cheeks burn slightly.

    There was no helping it; even the boss''s son had to call this young man "Brother," and they had just mocked him. If they didn''t behave well and apologize by bowing even lower, didn''t they essentially not want to work here anymore?

    Ge Dongxu, of course, wouldn''t pick on these two girls in front of him, considering them pitiable.

    It was Yue Ting who pressed the elevator button, a task normally done by the two girls, but she took it upon herself. Moreover, when the elevator doors opened, she specifically blocked them with her hand, inviting Ge Dongxu inside.

    This scene naturally made the two girls even more terrified, silently grateful that Ge Dongxu didn''t bring up their earlier mockery.

    It should be noted that Yue Ting was the beloved daughter of the biggest private business owner in Changxi County! Her status was certainly not inferior to Lin Kun''s.

    The two were often together, partly because their parents hoped to match them, but unfortunately, Yue Ting wasn''t attracted to Lin Kun at all. Instead, they shared some kind of chemistry in their rebellious behaviors and often hung out together for fun. Both families secretly thought they might end up together.

    Exiting the elevator led them into the lobby.

    The lobby manager, along with the staff inside, saw Lin Kun and Yue Ting accompanying Ge Dongxu as they came out, inevitably causing another bout of shock and fear, especially for the person who had just rushed out to drive Ge Dongxu away, now dripping with cold sweat.

    "Where are you heading, Brother Dongxu? Let me drive you," Lin Kun said, after escorting Ge Dongxu out of the hotel, seemingly feeling it was still not enough.

    "No need, the place I''m staying isn''t far from here. I''d rather walk, it''s good exercise," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Upon hearing "exercise," Lin Kun and Yue Ting couldn''t help but inwardly wince, thinking to themselves, does your body really need exercise?

    Of course, they definitely wouldn''t dare voice this thought aloud. Seeing that Ge Dongxu declined their offer to drive him, they hurriedly presented their business cards with both hands.

    "Brother Dongxu, here are our business cards. They have our mobile numbers on them. Please call us anytime you need anything," Lin Kun and Yue Ting said as they handed over the business cards.

    Ge Dongxu took the business cards and saw that Lin Kun''s card stated he was the Vice General Manager of the Changxi Grand Hotel, while Yue Ting''s bore the title of Vice President of the Jiangnan Yu Group.

    "Vice president and vice chairman, those are impressive titles!" Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Hehe, it''s just for show. Basically, we are just idling around," Lin Kun and Yue Ting replied with embarrassed smiles.

    Seeing that the two didn''t appreciate the good life they had and recalling his own childhood in the impoverished mountain area and how now, only in his first year of high school, he had to think about making money for his cultivation, Ge Dongxu felt deeply moved and couldn''t help but say earnestly, "You don''t know how blessed you are. If you were to visit our Baiyun Mountain area, you''d see families who are still struggling for basic needs. Now that your parents have laid such a great foundation for you, you should cherish it. Moreover, considering your ages, you are much older than me and should be thinking about settling down and starting families. You can''t live under your parents'' care forever, can you?"

    Though just a teenager, he posed like a person who had seen life''s many phases, instructing the younger generation with earnest concern, which was oddly bizarre and absurd to behold.

    Yet, strangely enough, Yue Ting and Lin Kun, who usually didn''t heed anyone''s advice, took his words seriously for once, showing solemn reflections about life on their faces for the first time.

    It must be said, there really is a counter for every stance in this world.

    "All right, think it over," Ge Dongxu nodded to them, then turned and left.

    "Have a good walk, Dongxu," they said as they suddenly came to their senses and hurriedly waved to Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu did not turn back, just waved his hand.

    The next day was Sunday, and besides eating, Ge Dongxu didn''t go out. Instead, he spent time in his room either reading books, meditating, or drawing talismans.

    Fatty Cheng, influenced by Ge Dongxu or perhaps due to the words he said a few days earlier, also began to diligently study. During this time, his mother went upstairs several times and was utterly shocked to see her son studying, almost dropping her jaw to the floor, mistakenly thinking the sun had risen from the west that day.

    On Monday, Chen Zihao''s appearance in the senior year caused quite a stir.

    Because Chen Zihao, who used to walk with his head held high and full of vigor, was limping today, and his once handsome face was bruised and swollen. He even had plasters on his forehead and limbs, looking utterly miserable, almost unrecognizable.

    "Bro Hao, what happened to you?" Chen Zihao''s lackey, a bespectacled male student, was also shocked and rushed up to ask with concern.

    "I crashed while riding a motorcycle," Chen Zihao hissed in pain as he spoke.

    He couldn''t help it; he had been beaten so badly on Saturday. Though it was painful then, it didn''t penetrate to the bone, but after a night, his whole body hurt nearly everywhere. Any slight movement made him break out in a cold sweat.

    "Wow, that''s a severe fall, are you alright, Bro Hao?" the bespectacled student quickly asked again with concern.

    "You ******, isn''t that a ridiculous question? Do I look alright to you?" Chen Zihao raised his hand as if to slap the bespectacled student, but he hurriedly lowered it again because he saw Dong Yuxin.

    "Yuxin, good morning," Chen Zihao hurriedly moved aside to let Dong Yuxin pass.

    Dong Yuxin, seeing Chen Zihao''s pig-like face, was greatly surprised, but what astonished her even more was Chen Zihao''s behavior at that moment.

    Every time before morning self-study, Chen Zihao used to deliberately block the door, chatting nonsense to prevent her from entering easily. But today, he voluntarily moved aside, with an obviously ingratiating smile on his face. Although the smile was forced, looking more pained than crying, it was starkly different from his previous lascivious, rascally smirk.

    However, Dong Yuxin, clearly fed up with Chen Zihao''s harassment, quickly stepped backward and scrutinized him with a wary look, sharply chiding, "Chen Zihao, what are you up to now?" S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ps: The third release will come around 8 pm, your support is greatly appreciated, thank you.

 Chapter 36 Chen Zihaos Apology

    "I, I didn''t do anything! I just stepped aside to let you in!" Seeing Dong Yuxin''s guarded expression, Chen Zihao felt like crying inside.My lord, as long as Dongxu has your back, you don''t have to do anything to me, okay? I wouldn''t dare to touch you!

    "Pfft, you think I would believe that?" Dong Yuxin said disbelievingly.

    As Dong Yuxin remained unconvinced, Chen Zihao couldn''t help but panic. He was genuinely afraid after being beaten up. If Dong Yuxin kept this attitude, it would surely reach Ge Dongxu''s ears afterward, and Chen Zihao knew too well what that would mean, even if he thought about it with his butt.

    "Dong Yuxin, I truly meant well by letting you go first. Also, today, in front of our classmates, I sincerely apologized to you. From now on, I, Chen Zihao, will never bother you again." Thinking about what happened in the private room on Saturday, he finally bit the bullet and bowed deeply to Dong Yuxin as he apologized.

    The students of senior year three class three were dumbfounded at the scene. Was this still the arrogant Chen Zihao? Could his brain have been damaged?

    Dong Yuxin was just as shocked. Was this still the same Chen Zihao who had the gall to block her on the main road?

    "Yuxin, what''s happening? It doesn''t seem like Chen Zihao is joking," whispered Jiang Lili and Su Qian as they arrived at the classroom door and witnessed the scene.

    "I don''t know either, but something feels off!" Dong Yuxin was bitten by the snake once and feared the well rope for ten years. Although she felt that Chen Zihao wasn''t joking, she still felt uneasy.

    "If I, Chen Zihao, continue to bother you, or if I bother Ge Dongxu, let me die a miserable death!" Chen Zihao, observing Dong Yuxin''s still wary and skeptical expression, cycled through several emotions before biting the bullet and making a vow. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He had no choice; Ge Dongxu''s words from that day had been echoing in his ears, and Chen Zihao dared not provoke the man again. Otherwise, what awaited him would surely be a fate worse than what had happened that day.

    Being part of that circle, Chen Zihao understood the energy of Lin Kun and Yue Ting and their families more than the average person. His family simply couldn''t compare with theirs. Yet Lin Kun and Yue Ting didn''t dare to breathe heavily in front of Ge Dongxu, and the mere thought of it made Chen Zihao''s heart pound and stripped him of any courage to oppose Ge Dongxu.

    This time, the senior year three class three students were utterly astonished! Previously, some had doubted whether Chen Zihao was just teasing Dong Yuxin. But now, with Chen Zihao uttering such a malicious vow, it was clear he wasn''t joking to such an extent just to tease someone.

    Dong Yuxin, Jiang Lili, and Su Qian were also completely stunned.

    "Why? Did you get beaten up by Ge ... cough cough, by someone?" It took a while for Dong Yuxin to snap out of it; she involuntarily recalled the scene on the road where Ge Dongxu reprimanded Chen Zihao and blurted out the question.

    However, upon mentioning Ge Dongxu''s name, Dong Yuxin quickly realized that this was not something to be said lightly and hurriedly corrected herself.

    "No, no, I fell off a motorbike," Chen Zihao, startled by the question, quickly shook his head in denial.

    Ge Dongxu had instructed him not to divulge the truth.

    "Riding a motorbike is pretty dangerous; you should ride it less in the future." Although Dong Yuxin suspected that Chen Zihao''s injuries weren''t from a fall, seeing that he had reformed and stopped bothering her, she looked at his pitiful state and showed a flicker of compassion as she spoke with concern.

    After all, they were classmates now.

    "Yes, yes," Chen Zihao felt almost moved to tears. After having bothered Dong Yuxin for so long without receiving a single word of concern from her, he didn''t expect that when he finally decided to give up and vowed not to bother her again, he would receive her caring words.

    "Yuxin, when you mentioned ''Ge'' just now, you don''t really think that Chen Zihao looks like this because Ge Dongxu beat him up, do you?" Jiang Lili and Dong Yuxin were desk mates; after entering the classroom, Jiang Lili leaned close to Dong Yuxin''s ear and asked in a low voice, full of disbelief.

    "No, of course not." Dong Yuxin vehemently denied it, as hitting someone as a student is a serious matter that could lead to expulsion. Even in front of her good friend, Dong Yuxin dared not voice the suspicions in her heart.

    "That''s what I thought, how could it be possible? With Ge Dongxu''s stature, where would he get the guts or the ability? You really scared me with what you said just now." Jiang Lili gently patted her prominent chest and whispered.

    After dealing with Chen Zihao''s matter, Ge Dongxu had a very peaceful day of classes.

    When evening self-study ended, Dong Yuxin and the others waited for him to go home together, just like before.

    The boys in the class were now completely convinced by Ge Dongxu, even those few who had looked down on him had to admit his superiority in this incident.

    Because of this incident, girls in the class began to take an interest in Ge Dongxu. During breaks, they would find excuses to talk to him, including the girls Du Yifan had commented on the first day of school. Beauties like Li Wanjun, the well-endowed Deng Yujie, and the long-legged Lin Yaran, had all privately approached Ge Dongxu.

    Such scenes naturally made many male classmates envious, jealous, and resentful!

    Why him? Why? Am I not fairer than Ge Dongxu? Am I not as handsome? Doesn''t my family have as much money? Am I not as proactive?

    Why does he just sit there without moving, and girls come up to strike up a conversation?

    Ge Dongxu himself did not understand why he was so popular with the girls; perhaps it was because people have a herd mentality, or maybe because girls are naturally drawn to gossip.

    In any case, these past few days, Ge Dongxu, who scarcely spoke to girls in junior high, had become quite the ladies'' man in the county town.

    "Hey, Dongxu, did you know? Chen Zihao has promised not to bother Dong Yuxin anymore," Jiang Lili glanced at Ge Dongxu and said on the way home.

    "Oh, really? That''s great. The guy has finally seen the light!" Ge Dongxu feigned surprise and then said happily.

    "Seen the light? I bet someone gave him a good thrashing! Dong Yuxin even suspected you were the one who hit him, which is really laughable. Do you even have the guts?" Jiang Lili scoffed and shot Ge Dongxu a disparaging look.

    She was becoming increasingly dissatisfied with Ge Dongxu for his lack of appreciation, always failing to even glance at her chest. But strangely enough, the more Ge Dongxu acted like this, the more she would seek him out to chat, even deliberately provoking him and putting him down over the last few days.

    Now she had begun to find excuses to provoke and belittle Ge Dongxu again.

    "Heh, you''re right, I''m just a high school student, I really don''t have that kind of courage," Ge Dongxu laughed it off, unconcerned.

    He had gotten used to Jiang Lili''s fiery temperament by now, and after all, there were some uncertainties about the incident; Jiang Lili speaking like this was for the best.

    ps: The first update on Monday will be at midnight. I sincerely ask all readers to remember to vote in support when reading the book on Monday, as Monday is very important for shooting up the rankings. Thank you very much.

 Chapter 40 Digging Up Thousand-Year-Old Polygonum multiflorum

    "Do you think it's a good thing or a bad thing if the county develops the entire Baiyun Mountain into a tourist area?" Wu Yili suddenly asked Ge Dongxu, who had lowered his head.But as soon as the question left her lips, Wu Yili couldn't help but shake her head subtly, thinking to herself that after all, he was just a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy. What kind of answer could she expect from him?
    However, to Wu Yili's surprise, the expression on the young man's face in front of her turned thoughtful and serious. It took a long time before he managed a wry smile and said, "If it were just me living here, I would definitely choose to preserve the original and beautiful scenery of Baiyun Mountain, rather than develop it into a tourist area. But times have changed, many people in the mountains are trapped and can't leave, their lives falling further and further behind the outside world. If Baiyun Mountain were developed into a tourist area, many mountain villages could enjoy the benefits of tourism development just like our Ge Family Village. But once developed, these trees, these plants and flowers, the various wild animals and snakes, and the peace here..."
    A look of heaviness and reluctance appeared on Ge Dongxu's face.
    He had grown up here since he was a child and had deep feelings for every plant and tree; he didn't want anyone to disturb the tranquility, but as he grew older and read more, Ge Dongxu knew that the people in the mountains needed to live, and people in the cities needed places to have fun. It was just a matter of time before the entire Baiyun Mountain would be developed into a tourist area.
    Although he didn't know who the woman in front of him was, he could now guess that she must be connected with the development of Baiyun Mountain, otherwise why would such a woman¡ªwith her temperament, so beautiful and stylish, obviously cultured like a woman from the city¡ªsuddenly appear here?
    Ge Dongxu wasn't wrong; Wu Yili was one of the experts hired by Changxi County and Ouzhou City's Tourism Bureau. She was mainly responsible for assessing the environmental impact of the tourism development on Baiyun Mountain.
    To facilitate the experts' site inspections and discussions about the overall development of Baiyun Mountain, this meeting was arranged at Baiyun Mountain Resort, already developed into a tourist area.
    Wu Yili had woken up early in the morning and had left Baiyun Mountain Resort alone. She was so captivated by the pristine scenery of Baiyun Mountain that she unintentionally ended up on a secluded mountain path, leading to the subsequent events.
    "Yes, these trees and these flowers, such pristine tranquility, it's really hard to let go. But you're right, if it were my choice, I would choose to preserve all of this, but if it's for the people of the entire mountain area, we still have to choose development," said Wu Yili, nodding in agreement, her gaze towards Ge Dongxu taking on a different light. She realized that this mountain boy was quite unlike the average youth.
    "Letting go is necessary to gain; that's life. You can't have it perfect every time; you can only try to make it as perfect as possible. The same goes for the development of Baiyun Mountain¡ªI just hope we can preserve as much of these trees and plants as possible," Ge Dongxu remarked pensively.
    "How old are you, to have so many profound thoughts?" Wu Yili murmured, nodding involuntarily. But she quickly realized that she was speaking to a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy and couldn't help but roll her eyes at Ge Dongxu, laughing.
    Having lived with Ren Yao for a long time, Ge Dongxu had inevitably acquired an old person's sense of vicissitude and depth, but deep down, he was still just a teenager. So when Wu Yili spoke like that, Ge Dongxu felt a little embarrassed and scratched his head shyly, showing the bashfulness appropriate for his age.
    The two of them talked and walked, and soon they arrived at the main road leading to Baiyun Mountain Resort.
    "Baiyun Mountain Resort is not far from here. This road is safe, and I won't be able to accompany you further since I have other things to do," Ge Dongxu said, pointing to Baiyun Mountain Resort built halfway up the mountain.
    "Thank you, Dongxu. I don't know how to thank you for saving my life. Here's a little something from me, please accept it." Hearing that Ge Dongxu was leaving, Wu Yili realized that she had unwittingly reached the main road leading directly to Baiyun Mountain Resort and quickly opened her handbag, taking out a stack of hundred-yuan bills to stuff into Ge Dongxu's hand.
    "No need, no need, this is what I should do," Ge Dongxu hurriedly waved his hands and then turned to leave without looking back, no matter how much Wu Yili called after him.
    "This Dongxu!" Wu Yili, seeing Ge Dongxu disappear from sight in the blink of an eye, reluctantly put away the money, and then walked towards the resort. Yet in her heart, she firmly remembered this youth who had saved her life, had seen the most mysterious part of her body, and had displayed the composure and calm of an adult at every turn.
    After bidding Wu Yili farewell, Ge Dongxu quickly made his way toward the place where the Polygonum multiflorum grew.
    Soon, Ge Dongxu reached the edge of a cliff. The cliff was covered with some pine trees, various climbing plants, flowers, and under it was a gorge.
    Ge Dongxu grabbed a vine and descended along it, dropping about fifty meters until he reached a protruding rock covered with vine leaves.
    Among those vine leaves were leaves of Polygonum multiflorum as well as other wild vines that Ge Dongxu had deliberately redirected to conceal the area.
    Parting the layers of leaves, the roots of Polygonum multiflorum partially exposed on the rock crevice could be seen, with exposed roots larger than an adult's fist by half.
    Seeing the Polygonum multiflorum growing in the crevice again, recalling that it was worth at least a million, Ge Dongxu couldn't help but get excited, his hand holding the small hoe trembling slightly.
    "It's just a million. Is it worth getting so worked up?" Ge Dongxu secretly scorned himself, and after taking a few deep breaths, he managed to steady his emotions and then carefully chiseled the rock with the small hoe.
    The roots of Polygonum multiflorum had deeply penetrated the rock crevice, and after much effort and sweating profusely, Ge Dongxu finally extracted the whole root system intact.
    This was a forty-centimeter-long dark brown Polygonum multiflorum, irregular in surface texture and weighing at least ten kilograms.
    "This is a thousand-year wild Polygonum multiflorum, what a pity! However, one day, I will possess it again." Smelling the fragrant scent emanating from the thousand-year Polygonum multiflorum, Ge Dongxu, thinking of the need to sell it, could not help but feel a bit reluctant, but quickly that turned into firmness and strong self-confidence.
    He put the Polygonum multiflorum into a bamboo basket, covered it with vine leaves, and climbed up the cliff along the vine.
    Returning home with the basket on his back, Ge Shengming and his wife did not ask their son what he had gathered that day. They knew that their son had learned many things from Ren Yao, including medical knowledge, things they did not know.
    When Ge Dongxu was just around ten years old, he was the one who treated their colds and fevers, brewing the medicine which made them well. By the time Ge Dongxu was thirteen, he had started making medicinal wines for them. By drinking a little every day, they had not had a cold or fever for years, and had even appeared more vigorous and younger. Therefore, when it came to their son dealing with herbs, they were very confident and never questioned it.
    Of course, if Ge Shengming and his wife knew that the herbs in their son's basket were worth a million, they certainly would not have been able to refrain from asking. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ps: I need to get something off my chest today. I've been writing books since 2007, nearly ten years, and I can say with confidence that I've never engaged in vote manipulation. Even though every book of mine has over ten thousand subscribers, and the average subscription for "The Supreme Immortal Doctor in the City" should be around twenty thousand when counting QiDian, I have never attained a significant ranking in monthly votes. This is because the grandfather who has passed away taught me from an early age to be honest, a lesson that has been deeply etched into my bones since I started contemplating life in middle school. But has the era really changed? Despite having over ten thousand collections for a new book and finally getting the new book to the sixth spot on the QiDian New Book List through the hard-won recommendation votes from my loyal readers, it fell beyond the tenth place in just one afternoon. I don't want to criticize other people's actions because that's just how society is today; many are compelled to behave this way. If you don't engage in manipulating votes, you simply don't stand a chance to rise above the rest, and with so many channels available, it's become all too easy to do. Yet I choose to continue to hold onto my principles, which is why I, an old author, am shamelessly asking other authors for recommendations¡ªit's all to avoid walking down that path! There's no other reason than seeing many authors continuing to write honestly as I do¡ªI can't offer them much, but I can tell them, I respect them, I won't use underhanded methods to beat them! Does this make me a stubborn old man? Maybe some things are worth holding onto, right? Like back when I left my job at the research institute because I refused to bribe my superiors as I earned a living through solid research capabilities. Is that being stubborn? Ridiculous? Do you know why scientific research in China struggles to advance? It lacks a sincere heart! The only time I ever seriously punished my son was when he lied. Writing this, I'm moved to tears! I beg my readers to give me the strength to persist. Please support me as much as possible. I want to fight for the rankings fairly and squarely; I don't want to forsake my convictions. Yet as I watch my rank being trampled step by step, the temptation grows and my resolve weakens. I must hold on, I must! Roar! At least when the end approaches and I look back on my life, I can say there was something I pursued to the very end.

 Chapter 38 Saving People [Monday asks for recommendation tickets]

    "What happened?" Just as Wu Yili began to feel increasing pain in her buttock wound, a numbness spreading from the wound and even a slight dizziness and chest tightness, her heart growing more and more panicked, a voice suddenly sounded behind her."I''ve been bitten by a snake!" Upon hearing the voice behind her, Wu Yili, like a drowning person grasping at straws, quickly turned her head to look.

    However, upon looking, Wu Yili couldn''t help but feel deeply disappointed because it was just a young boy.

    "Bitten by a snake in the buttocks? Let me see," Ge Dongxu''s gaze was sharp, and he immediately noticed Wu Yili''s hand pressing on her buttocks, where a faint bloodstain was visible on her beige pants just below where her hand was.

    "No, is there any adult around? If not, please hurry along the road to Baiyun Mountain Resort and call for help. Do you know Baiyun Mountain Resort?" Wu Yili, seeing that Ge Dongxu was just a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy and a male, didn''t think much before blurting out when she saw him staring at her buttocks and offering to help.

    "The area where the snake bit you is already swelling up. If it''s not treated immediately, it won''t be fatal, but the muscle around the bite will likely atrophy and die. Baiyun Mountain Resort is several miles away from here, I can get there quickly, but their back and forth won''t be that fast. I''m a local, and I can usually handle wounds from poisonous snakes," Ge Dongxu, though still not of age, was already sixteen and knew the differences between men and women. He slightly frowned and then looked up at Wu Yili.

    If it were anywhere else, Ge Dongxu wouldn''t have wasted words and would have just treated her. But on the buttocks, he obviously needed to pull down the pants, and some places that shouldn''t be seen could not be avoided. Moreover, this woman, clearly a city dweller, was both beautiful and had an air of elegance. Without her permission, Ge Dongxu dared not take off her pants.

    Upon hearing this, Wu Yili glanced at the winding mountain road leading to the front mountain, a thoughtful look flashed in her eyes, knowing Ge Dongxu was right. She had walked a good half hour from Baiyun Mountain Resort along the mountain road earlier that morning to get here. Going back and forth would indeed take a significant amount of time. And now her buttocks were already numbing, even spreading to her thighs. Without immediate treatment, it might not be fatal, but as the young man said, the bitten area''s muscles could atrophy and die.

    Thinking about having a large, ugly pit of flesh on her body sent a shiver of fear through Wu Yili. She quickly redirected her gaze back to Ge Dongxu.

    Looking at him now, she noticed the medicine basket on his back and saw his clear, calm eyes, which increased her trust in him.

    "Then take a look, and if you can''t manage, please hurry to Baiyun Mountain Resort and call for help." Wu Yili was a decisive and strong woman in handling matters. Since she felt trust in Ge Dongxu, she no longer delayed and wasted no time.

    "This, this will require you to pull down your pants," Ge Dongxu said, seeing Wu Yili really wanted his help to treat the snake bite. Looking at her, his clear eyes showed a ripple, and his youthful, honest face also turned slightly red and flushed.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu falter in his words and noticing his face turning red, Wu Yili couldn''t help her face from blushing too, and her heart rate slightly increased.

    Illness should not be hidden from a doctor, and after all, he was still just a child¡ªwhat was there to be ashamed of?

    Wu Yili repeated these words to herself twice internally, gradually restoring her complexion to normal, then she pulled down her outer pants to her knees.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu''s face instantly turned completely red.

    However, Ge Dongxu was, after all, a straightforward and simple young man. He soon felt a twinge of guilt and quickly shifted his gaze to the part of Wu Yili that had been bitten by the snake.

    The wound had stopped bleeding and had turned purple-black, surrounded by swelling and blisters, blood blisters included.

    "You were bitten by a cobra," Ge Dongxu said gravely, his face showing the calm composure of an adult.

    "It must be a cobra; I saw that the snake''s head was triangular. What about now? Do you have a solution?" Ge Dongxu''s words and his displayed maturity gave Wu Yili an illusion for a moment. It was as if the man before her was not a youth, but a composed adult, adding a bit more confidence in her gaze towards him.

    "If it had been later, you would inevitably have some scarring, but now it''s not a problem," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Really?" Wu Yili asked with unconscious delight, noticeably relieved.

    She had indeed been worried about being left with an ugly scar.

    "No problem, just bear with the pain for a bit," Ge Dongxu confidently replied.

    "Do you need to cut open the wound to let the blood out?" Wu Yili asked, turning slightly pale.

    Being an overseas-educated scholar and a university professor, Wu Yili was well versed in many fields and knew quite a bit about general knowledge. She knew some methods on how to deal with snake bites. If the bite had been elsewhere, she would have quickly found a way to tie a band near the heart to prevent the venom from spreading, but since it was on her buttock, she did not know how to deal with it and simply pressed on it to prevent the poison from spreading upwards. Therefore, when Ge Dongxu told her to bear with the pain, she immediately thought that Ge Dongxu was going to cut open the wound to let blood out.

    "If that were the case, you would still end up with some scars, plus I don''t have a knife!" Ge Dongxu shook his head.

    As he spoke, his thumb and forefinger were already pressing on the upper part of Wu Yili''s buttocks, and he pushed down along the way.

    Wu Yili saw Ge Dongxu pressing directly on her upper buttocks with his fingers. She had wanted to speak up to stop him, but when she saw the black blood slowly oozing out of two small holes, and the swelling around them gradually subsiding, the numbness in her buttocks and thighs gradually returning to normal, she obediently closed her mouth, her beautiful eyes looking up at Ge Dongxu involuntarily.

    Seeing him focused intently on the area below, with his eyes serious and concentrated, and a few drops of sweat on his brows seemingly unnoticed, she felt a warmth in her heart and couldn''t help but reach up to gently wipe the sweat from his brows and forehead.

    "Thank you!" While Wu Yili was thinking of wiping more, Ge Dongxu suddenly looked up and gave her a smile, revealing a row of white, neat teeth. His smile was genuine and simple, his eyes dark and clear, giving Wu Yili a moment when her heart felt like it had been fiercely struck by something, leaving her somewhat lost.

    PS: It''s Monday, a critical day for climbing the charts. I would appreciate if you could log in to your account to click, recommend, and comment. If you could donate a little, boosting popularity, I would be even more grateful. As a new book in the race, I apologize for the inconvenience to my readers. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 39 39. Dont Call Her Auntie

    "Hey, what are you doing?" Just as Wu Yili was getting somewhat distracted and lost in her thoughts, she suddenly felt a coolness at the injury on her buttocks, followed by a sharp pain. It turned out that Ge Dongxu had suddenly brought his mouth to her wound and was sucking hard.As a woman, Wu Yili instinctively screamed and raised her hand to push Ge Dongxu away.

    "There''s still some residual poison that''s hard to squeeze out!" Just as Wu Yili was about to push Ge Dongxu away, he lifted his head, spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground, and then said to Wu Yili, His teeth, which were once snow-white, were now tinged with fresh blood, standing out starkly, but his eyes remained dark and clear.

    Wu Yili''s hands froze in mid-air as she looked into those dark, clear eyes, feeling an indescribable sense of shame and gratitude. Then she suddenly realized something, hurriedly reached out to wipe the blood from the corner of Ge Dongxu''s mouth, and anxiously said, "You fool, how can you use your mouth to suck out the poison like that? You could get poisoned too."

    "Don''t worry, I''ll be fine," Ge Dongxu said, as he bent down again to suck the blood from Wu Yili''s injury.

    "How could you be fine? People''s mouths generally have tiny cuts, you could get poisoned by direct mouth suction like that," Wu Yili said, quickly extending her hand to stop him.

    "Alright then, there probably won''t be any more issues. Don''t move; just sit still. I''ll go find some herbs nearby to treat the snakebite," Ge Dongxu said. He knew he couldn''t explain to Wu Yili about his cultivation and that a mere snakebite couldn''t harm him. He looked at her wound and saw that the blood coming out was already bright red, knowing there would be no further issues. So, without arguing, he simply instructed her and then got up to search for herbs that could treat snake poison.

    "Be careful," Wu Yili said instinctively, her concern slipping out as she saw Ge Dongxu standing up to go look for herbs.

    "Don''t worry, I grew up in the mountains," Ge Dongxu replied, turning back to give her a brief smile. But as he turned his head, his gaze reflexively swept over that expanse of snow-white skin.

    Though it was just a fleeting glance as he turned his head, Wu Yili, being a woman, noticed it, and her face flushed slightly. She quickly pulled up her trousers and also picked up the handbag that had fallen to her side to cover the critical area, yet she couldn''t help but spit inwardly, "Little devil!" Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu soon returned with some herbs in his hand, the names of which Wu Yili could not call to mind.

    Seeing Wu Yili covering her buttocks with her bag, Ge Dongxu remembered the scene that kept coming up in his mind while he was looking for the herbs, his face blushing. In a low voice, he said, "Auntie, could you move your bag away for a second? I need to apply these herbs, and then there won''t be any marks left."

    "Auntie? Am I that old?" Wu Yili retorted reflexively, her eyes widening. After her outburst, seeing Ge Dongxu''s bewildered and blushing face, hands wavering, she couldn''t help but snort with laughter and move her bag away, adding, "Remember, from now on, call me sister, not auntie."

    "Oh, okay!" Ge Dongxu nodded awkwardly and then moved behind her to apply the herbs.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s embarrassed look, Wu Yili couldn''t help but blush. Honestly, she was thirty, and Ge Dongxu was only sixteen, a clear student, so calling her auntie was actually quite appropriate. Yet for some reason, she subconsciously disliked being addressed as ''auntie'' by Ge Dongxu.

    Although he said he was applying the herbs, Ge Dongxu didn''t actually attach the herbs themselves, but rather mixed several types together and dripped some juice on them.

    The droplets fell coolly, quickly soaking into her wound and skin.

    "It''s done!" Ge Dongxu wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a huge sigh of relief, feeling a huge burden lifted.

    When Wu Yili heard that it was done, she too let out a huge sigh of relief and hurriedly put her pants back on.

    As she put on her pants, Wu Yili could no longer feel any numbness in her legs or the tingling pain from the wound, knowing that the bite from the poisonous snake had indeed been cured by the young man before her. Realizing the dire consequences if he hadn''t arrived at that deserted mountain path¡ªwhere cries for help would be unheard and help would be unreachable¡ªshe felt an immense sense of gratitude and intimacy towards Ge Dongxu''s gaze.

    "Little brother, my name is Wu Yili, and you can call me Lili Sister. What''s your name? Where''s your home?" Wu Yili asked softly.

    Lili was Wu Yili''s nickname, a term of endearment only used by her parents and close friends.

    "Ge Dongxu, I live just at the foot of this mountain in Ge Family Village," replied Ge Dongxu.

    "Oh, Ge Family Village, I know it. I happen to have some things I need to find out about. Do you have any urgent matters this morning? If not, could you escort Lili Sister back to the holiday resort and we can chat along the way?" Wu Yili''s heart stirred at his response and she said.

    "Even if you didn''t say, I would have accompanied you back anyway. This little mountain path is one mostly walked by the locals, and not often by outsiders, so it''s common for snakes and insects to lurk around. We locals aren''t afraid because we have the experience, but it''s dangerous for you. If something happens again on the way, that would truly be troublesome," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Thank you," Wu Yili felt a warmth in her heart upon hearing this. Seeing a few droplets of perspiration still shining on Ge Dongxu''s forehead in the sunlight, she couldn''t help but raise her hand again to wipe them away, causing Ge Dongxu to feel a mix of enjoyment and discomfort, prompting him to hurriedly step back and use his sleeve to vigorously wipe his forehead himself.

    "What''s the matter? Are men and women not supposed to have such interaction? I am much older than you," Wu Yili said with a slight eye roll, exuding the charm and allure of a mature woman in the morning sun, something Dong Yuxin, a young girl of eighteen or nineteen, couldn''t compare with.

    Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but blush with awkwardness at Wu Yili''s words.

    "You''ve grown up in Baiyun Mountain, do you think Baiyun Mountain is beautiful?" Wu Yili, being a university professor and significantly older than Ge Dongxu, quickly regained her composure after a moment of coquettishness, and while walking, she adjusted her hair and asked.

    "Of course, it''s beautiful!" Ge Dongxu replied without hesitation.

    "But I''ve heard that life in the mountains is quite difficult," Wu Yili said, her eyes conveying a touch of sympathy as she observed Ge Dongxu''s old clothes and the bamboo basket on his back with a small hoe, clearly indicating that he had come to collect herbs. In the city, someone of his age would only need to focus on their studies, without the need to do such hard labor.

    Not to mention the dangers in the mountains!

    "Yes," Ge Dongxu nodded, acknowledging her point. Baiyun Mountain was in the countryside, the poorest area in the whole Changxi County, especially those mountain villages not yet connected by roads, where life was even harder. His own Ge Family Village, privileged by the tourism to Baiyun Mountain, had been living relatively better these years.

 Chapter 40 Digging Up Thousand-Year-Old Polygonum multiflorum

    "Do you think it''s a good thing or a bad thing if the county develops the entire Baiyun Mountain into a tourist area?" Wu Yili suddenly asked Ge Dongxu, who had lowered his head.But as soon as the question left her lips, Wu Yili couldn''t help but shake her head subtly, thinking to herself that after all, he was just a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy. What kind of answer could she expect from him?

    However, to Wu Yili''s surprise, the expression on the young man''s face in front of her turned thoughtful and serious. It took a long time before he managed a wry smile and said, "If it were just me living here, I would definitely choose to preserve the original and beautiful scenery of Baiyun Mountain, rather than develop it into a tourist area. But times have changed, many people in the mountains are trapped and can''t leave, their lives falling further and further behind the outside world. If Baiyun Mountain were developed into a tourist area, many mountain villages could enjoy the benefits of tourism development just like our Ge Family Village. But once developed, these trees, these plants and flowers, the various wild animals and snakes, and the peace here..."

    A look of heaviness and reluctance appeared on Ge Dongxu''s face.

    He had grown up here since he was a child and had deep feelings for every plant and tree; he didn''t want anyone to disturb the tranquility, but as he grew older and read more, Ge Dongxu knew that the people in the mountains needed to live, and people in the cities needed places to have fun. It was just a matter of time before the entire Baiyun Mountain would be developed into a tourist area.

    Although he didn''t know who the woman in front of him was, he could now guess that she must be connected with the development of Baiyun Mountain, otherwise why would such a woman¡ªwith her temperament, so beautiful and stylish, obviously cultured like a woman from the city¡ªsuddenly appear here?

    Ge Dongxu wasn''t wrong; Wu Yili was one of the experts hired by Changxi County and Ouzhou City''s Tourism Bureau. She was mainly responsible for assessing the environmental impact of the tourism development on Baiyun Mountain.

    To facilitate the experts'' site inspections and discussions about the overall development of Baiyun Mountain, this meeting was arranged at Baiyun Mountain Resort, already developed into a tourist area.

    Wu Yili had woken up early in the morning and had left Baiyun Mountain Resort alone. She was so captivated by the pristine scenery of Baiyun Mountain that she unintentionally ended up on a secluded mountain path, leading to the subsequent events.

    "Yes, these trees and these flowers, such pristine tranquility, it''s really hard to let go. But you''re right, if it were my choice, I would choose to preserve all of this, but if it''s for the people of the entire mountain area, we still have to choose development," said Wu Yili, nodding in agreement, her gaze towards Ge Dongxu taking on a different light. She realized that this mountain boy was quite unlike the average youth.

    "Letting go is necessary to gain; that''s life. You can''t have it perfect every time; you can only try to make it as perfect as possible. The same goes for the development of Baiyun Mountain¡ªI just hope we can preserve as much of these trees and plants as possible," Ge Dongxu remarked pensively.

    "How old are you, to have so many profound thoughts?" Wu Yili murmured, nodding involuntarily. But she quickly realized that she was speaking to a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy and couldn''t help but roll her eyes at Ge Dongxu, laughing.

    Having lived with Ren Yao for a long time, Ge Dongxu had inevitably acquired an old person''s sense of vicissitude and depth, but deep down, he was still just a teenager. So when Wu Yili spoke like that, Ge Dongxu felt a little embarrassed and scratched his head shyly, showing the bashfulness appropriate for his age.

    The two of them talked and walked, and soon they arrived at the main road leading to Baiyun Mountain Resort.

    "Baiyun Mountain Resort is not far from here. This road is safe, and I won''t be able to accompany you further since I have other things to do," Ge Dongxu said, pointing to Baiyun Mountain Resort built halfway up the mountain.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. I don''t know how to thank you for saving my life. Here''s a little something from me, please accept it." Hearing that Ge Dongxu was leaving, Wu Yili realized that she had unwittingly reached the main road leading directly to Baiyun Mountain Resort and quickly opened her handbag, taking out a stack of hundred-yuan bills to stuff into Ge Dongxu''s hand.

    "No need, no need, this is what I should do," Ge Dongxu hurriedly waved his hands and then turned to leave without looking back, no matter how much Wu Yili called after him.

    "This Dongxu!" Wu Yili, seeing Ge Dongxu disappear from sight in the blink of an eye, reluctantly put away the money, and then walked towards the resort. Yet in her heart, she firmly remembered this youth who had saved her life, had seen the most mysterious part of her body, and had displayed the composure and calm of an adult at every turn.

    After bidding Wu Yili farewell, Ge Dongxu quickly made his way toward the place where the Polygonum multiflorum grew.

    Soon, Ge Dongxu reached the edge of a cliff. The cliff was covered with some pine trees, various climbing plants, flowers, and under it was a gorge.

    Ge Dongxu grabbed a vine and descended along it, dropping about fifty meters until he reached a protruding rock covered with vine leaves.

    Among those vine leaves were leaves of Polygonum multiflorum as well as other wild vines that Ge Dongxu had deliberately redirected to conceal the area.

    Parting the layers of leaves, the roots of Polygonum multiflorum partially exposed on the rock crevice could be seen, with exposed roots larger than an adult''s fist by half.

    Seeing the Polygonum multiflorum growing in the crevice again, recalling that it was worth at least a million, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but get excited, his hand holding the small hoe trembling slightly.

    "It''s just a million. Is it worth getting so worked up?" Ge Dongxu secretly scorned himself, and after taking a few deep breaths, he managed to steady his emotions and then carefully chiseled the rock with the small hoe.

    The roots of Polygonum multiflorum had deeply penetrated the rock crevice, and after much effort and sweating profusely, Ge Dongxu finally extracted the whole root system intact.

    This was a forty-centimeter-long dark brown Polygonum multiflorum, irregular in surface texture and weighing at least ten kilograms.

    "This is a thousand-year wild Polygonum multiflorum, what a pity! However, one day, I will possess it again." Smelling the fragrant scent emanating from the thousand-year Polygonum multiflorum, Ge Dongxu, thinking of the need to sell it, could not help but feel a bit reluctant, but quickly that turned into firmness and strong self-confidence.

    He put the Polygonum multiflorum into a bamboo basket, covered it with vine leaves, and climbed up the cliff along the vine.

    Returning home with the basket on his back, Ge Shengming and his wife did not ask their son what he had gathered that day. They knew that their son had learned many things from Ren Yao, including medical knowledge, things they did not know.

    When Ge Dongxu was just around ten years old, he was the one who treated their colds and fevers, brewing the medicine which made them well. By the time Ge Dongxu was thirteen, he had started making medicinal wines for them. By drinking a little every day, they had not had a cold or fever for years, and had even appeared more vigorous and younger. Therefore, when it came to their son dealing with herbs, they were very confident and never questioned it.

    Of course, if Ge Shengming and his wife knew that the herbs in their son''s basket were worth a million, they certainly would not have been able to refrain from asking. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ps: I need to get something off my chest today. I''ve been writing books since 2007, nearly ten years, and I can say with confidence that I''ve never engaged in vote manipulation. Even though every book of mine has over ten thousand subscribers, and the average subscription for "The Supreme Immortal Doctor in the City" should be around twenty thousand when counting QiDian, I have never attained a significant ranking in monthly votes. This is because the grandfather who has passed away taught me from an early age to be honest, a lesson that has been deeply etched into my bones since I started contemplating life in middle school. But has the era really changed? Despite having over ten thousand collections for a new book and finally getting the new book to the sixth spot on the QiDian New Book List through the hard-won recommendation votes from my loyal readers, it fell beyond the tenth place in just one afternoon. I don''t want to criticize other people''s actions because that''s just how society is today; many are compelled to behave this way. If you don''t engage in manipulating votes, you simply don''t stand a chance to rise above the rest, and with so many channels available, it''s become all too easy to do. Yet I choose to continue to hold onto my principles, which is why I, an old author, am shamelessly asking other authors for recommendations¡ªit''s all to avoid walking down that path! There''s no other reason than seeing many authors continuing to write honestly as I do¡ªI can''t offer them much, but I can tell them, I respect them, I won''t use underhanded methods to beat them! Does this make me a stubborn old man? Maybe some things are worth holding onto, right? Like back when I left my job at the research institute because I refused to bribe my superiors as I earned a living through solid research capabilities. Is that being stubborn? Ridiculous? Do you know why scientific research in China struggles to advance? It lacks a sincere heart! The only time I ever seriously punished my son was when he lied. Writing this, I''m moved to tears! I beg my readers to give me the strength to persist. Please support me as much as possible. I want to fight for the rankings fairly and squarely; I don''t want to forsake my convictions. Yet as I watch my rank being trampled step by step, the temptation grows and my resolve weakens. I must hold on, I must! Roar! At least when the end approaches and I look back on my life, I can say there was something I pursued to the very end.

 Chapter 41 Going to the Provincial Capital [Please Collect, Please Recommend]

    The next day was Sunday. Ge Dongxu wrapped the millennium wild Polygonum multiflorum in a plastic bag, put it in his backpack, and then, as usual, took the rural-urban bus back to Changxi County''s Songyang Town in the afternoon.However, after returning to Songyang Town, Ge Dongxu didn''t go back to Cheng Le Hao''s home but went straight to the train station. After buying a train ticket to Linzhou City in Jiangnan Province, he had a quick dinner near the train station. Around eight o''clock in the evening, Ge Dongxu boarded the train.

    There were no bullet trains or high-speed trains yet, just a regular train that took a full twelve hours from Songyang Town to Linzhou City.

    This meant that Ge Dongxu would not arrive in Linzhou City, the provincial capital, until eight o''clock the next morning.

    Having never ventured further than Changxi County''s Songyang Town, Ge Dongxu had never even visited Ouzhou City, the administrative city a level above Changxi. And now, he was about to take a train alone to Linzhou City in Jiangnan Province. It would be a lie to say Ge Dongxu wasn''t nervous; after all, he was only a sixteen-year-old youth. In fact, this was his first time taking a train.

    Luckily, Ge Dongxu had a strong psychological constitution and quickly steadied his nerves, starting to look around the train.

    The night train didn''t have many passengers. The seat beside him was empty, and across from him, there was a young couple whispering and embracing, clearly in the throes of love.

    Although the young couple seemed unbothered, Ge Dongxu wasn''t accustomed to watching them embrace so freely, and since there was no scenery to appreciate outside in the late evening, he decided to rest with his eyes closed, hugging his backpack containing the millennium wild Polygonum multiflorum.

    The train would stop at each station, and people were constantly getting on and off. Eventually, the young couple across from him disembarked, and others took their place, but Ge Dongxu paid them no attention.

    After all, everyone was just a stranger, and it was the middle of the night. Besides, Ge Dongxu was just a youth, not a great beauty or a handsome guy, so no one was interested in striking up a conversation with him.

    Ge Dongxu enjoyed the quiet and even quietly circulated the True Qi inside his body to cultivate during the Chinese Hour of the Rat, but the effects were exceedingly poor. Eventually, he gave up and simply closed his eyes to sleep, as he needed to maintain his energy and spirit for selling the herbs at Yongchun Hall the next day.

    However, due to his preoccupation with the millennium wild Polygonum multiflorum and being on a train, Ge Dongxu''s sleep was intermittent at best. By around five o''clock in the morning, he had completely lost the desire to sleep, as this was the time he usually did his morning exercises.

    At around a quarter to seven o''clock, the train arrived at a station in Kuiji City, which was next to Linzhou City.

    At this point, the number of passengers clearly increased. Initially, two women with a child boarded from Kuiji City and sat opposite Ge Dongxu. Soon after, a man came and sat beside him.

    One of the women opposite him looked quite young, probably not yet thirty, while the other was a bit older, around sixty years old. The child was cradled in the younger woman''s arms, looking a bit over a year old. Normally, a child of this age should be chubby and cute. However, the child in front of him seemed listless and thin, with a slightly swollen abdomen, giving the appearance of being sickly. The young mother would hug the child tightly with a tender, heartbroken look and occasionally kissed his forehead. The older woman beside her would cough from time to time and even seemed to have difficulty breathing.

    The man sitting beside Ge Dongxu appeared to be in his fifties, but Ge Dongxu''s intuition told him he was probably older than that. The man had a lean face and a vigorous spirit, displaying a refined and scholarly temperament, which easily garnered a sense of affinity.

    "Madam, is your child ill?" the man asked as soon as he boarded the vehicle, occasionally glancing at the child in the young woman''s arms. Finally, he seemed unable to resist any longer and spoke up.

    "Yes! My child has been lacking appetite lately, sleeping poorly, and constantly crying. It''s been very distressing," the young woman replied, nodding her head.

    "I see, if you don''t mind, may I take a look?" said the man. Afterward, realizing how abrupt his offer may have sounded, he quickly followed up with a reassuring smile and explained, "Please don''t misunderstand, I am a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, and this is my business card. It breaks my heart to see a sick child, and one shouldn''t delay in such matters, so I took the liberty of offering my help. Of course, I''ll just take a look¡ªif you trust me, I can offer some treatment advice. Naturally, since we''ve met by fate, I wouldn''t charge you."

    The young woman and the older woman were initially wary upon hearing the man''s offer to examine the child, as cases of child abduction and trafficking were not uncommon and one must always be cautious. However, after hearing his explanation, their expressions visibly relaxed. The younger woman even smiled apologetically as she took his business card.

    A quick glance at the business card, and the young woman immediately exclaimed with delight, "So you''re the esteemed Professor from Jiangnan Province''s University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. That''s wonderful, we''re actually traveling to the provincial capital to seek out a reputable traditional medicine expert. You know, Western medicine is effective for things like colds and fevers, but for a condition like my child''s, they don''t have many answers. We consulted several practitioners in Kuiji City, but to no avail, and that''s why we decided to look for a specialist in the provincial capital."

    "So you''re Professor Tang Yiyuan! I''ve heard of your great reputation, and I didn''t expect you to look so young," the older woman chimed in with excitement when she heard that the man was an expert from the University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Jiangnan Province. She eagerly leaned in to look at the business card in the younger woman''s hand, her face alight with enthusiasm.

    "Heh, you flatter me too much, big sister," said Professor Tang Yiyuan, who couldn''t help feeling a little smug at the woman''s praise and comment on his youthfulness, yet he quickly responded with modesty.

    "Yes, the weather has gotten much colder recently, and worrying about my grandson has made it hard to sleep, so my asthma has started acting up again," the older woman said in response.

    "Well, I''ll take a look at you too in a bit," Professor Tang Yiyuan said with a smile.

    "Oh, thank you so much! But my condition is chronic; it''s hard to treat," the older woman replied, full of gratitude.

    "Asthma is indeed a difficult disease to cure completely, but that doesn''t mean it''s untreatable. Don''t lose hope. Let me first take a look at your grandson," Professor Tang Yiyuan reassured her.

    "Thank you, Professor Tang. We really appreciate your help," the two women said, overwhelmed with gratitude. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Don''t mention it," Professor Tang Yiyuan replied politely, then asked the young woman to hand him the child. However, as soon as the child left his mother''s arms, he started to cry, so Professor Tang Yiyuan had no choice but to let the young woman hold him while he examined the child.

    Professor Tang Yiyuan first took the child''s pulse and then expended quite some effort examining his tongue coating, which wasn''t easy with a small child who wouldn''t stick out his tongue on command, unlike an adult, causing quite a bit of a fuss.

    ps: In the wee hours, an urge to write suddenly came over me. I once wondered if many readers would laugh at my old-fashioned ways, but what I received was nothing but encouragement and support. I am at a loss for words and can only strive to keep writing, to do my best in crafting this book, as perhaps that is all I can do.

 Chapter 42 Heart Disease

    "How are the child''s bowel movements and urination?" Tang Yiyuan took the pulse, examined the tongue coating, and pressed the child''s stomach, then turned to the child''s mother and grandmother and asked."Both are not very good. The urine is yellow, and the stools are dry. Moreover, he hasn''t had a bowel movement for six or seven days now. It''s really driving me crazy," the young woman said, her eyes reddening as she spoke.

    "Don''t worry, it''s very normal for children to get sick," Tang Yiyuan reassured her, then followed up by asking, "Does the child usually drink breast milk or formula?"

    "I don''t produce much breast milk, so he''s been on formula since he was three months old," the young woman replied.

    "Hmm, have you changed his formula recently?" Tang Yiyuan nodded and asked again.

    "Yes, a friend of mine came back from the Netherlands recently and brought some formula with her. She said it was good, so I switched to it. The child liked it and drank even more than usual the first time," the young woman replied.

    "That should be the issue. ''Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun'' states that children''s food should not be excessive, as overeating harms the spleen, and a damaged spleen cannot digest food. The child''s stomach and intestines are still fragile. By switching his formula and then consuming so much at once, it likely caused food retention and indigestion. This is quite common, so you need not worry. I will prescribe a medicine to facilitate digestion, clear heat from the stomach, and relieve food stagnation. Just follow the prescription and give it to him a few times, and he should completely recover," Tang Yiyuan said with an understanding nod.

    As he spoke, Tang Yiyuan opened the briefcase he carried with him, took out paper and pen, and began to write the prescription in a flourish but failed to notice the hint of disappointment and hesitation on the faces of the two women sitting opposite him.

    After a long pause, the young woman hesitated and then said, "Professor Tang, we have also consulted Western and Chinese medicine doctors in Kuiji City before, and they all said the same thing, prescribing medicine for digestion, but it didn''t have any effect."

    "Oh!" Tang Yiyuan raised his head with a hint of confusion which quickly turned to enlightenment as he smiled and said, "Chinese medicine is different from Western medicine. The combination of each kind of medicine is crucial, and although different Chinese doctors might start with the same intention, the dosage of the medicine they prescribe can vary significantly, producing different effects."

    When Tang Yiyuan said this, he did so with great confidence, which was not surprising, as he was a professor at the Jiangnan Province College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and a renowned expert in traditional Chinese medicine in Jiangnan Province, holding a towering figure in the traditional Chinese medicine community there. Naturally, an ordinary Chinese doctor''s prescriptions could not compare to his.

    Having explained, Tang Yiyuan handed over the prescription he had written to the child''s mother.

    The child''s mother thought about it and then apologized with a smile to Tang Yiyuan, thanking him before accepting the prescription.

    The older woman still seemed somewhat uneasy, took the prescription, and began to read it. As she did, her expression grew animated, and after hesitating for a while, she said, "This, Professor Tang, could you see if this prescription is the same as the one you''ve written?"

    Saying this, the older woman pulled out a prescription from her bag and handed it to Tang Yiyuan.

    Upon seeing it, Tang Yiyuan''s face turned red, as the prescription was almost identical to the one he had written. Even with slight variations, based on Tang Yiyuan''s years of experience, the effect should not differ much. Moreover, he noticed that the person who had written the prescription was one of his disciples from his early years.

    "That''s unexpected!" Tang Yiyuan quickly overcame his embarrassment, reviewed the prescription intently, and said, "Did you really follow this prescription and give it to the child, with no effect at all?"

    "No effect!" The two women affirmed together, shaking their heads.

    "That''s strange, these are clearly symptoms of indigestion! Could there be some other hidden illness?" Tang Yiyuan muttered to himself, puzzled.

    Engrossed in his own thoughts, Tang Yiyuan didn''t realize that the child''s mother and grandmother were right across from him. His words alarmed the mother and grandmother so much that one of them burst into tears, while the other started coughing anxiously.

    "Professor Tang, do you mean my son might have some serious illness?" the young woman asked tearfully, her tears falling like broken pearls.

    "Ah, no, that''s not what I meant at all. Please don''t misunderstand," Tang Yiyuan quickly realized he had misspoken and hurried to reassure them.

    Yet once suspicion takes root, it''s hard to eliminate, especially when the child is the apple of the eye for both his mother and grandmother, who were already extremely worried. Tang Yiyuan''s words inadvertently made them think the worst. No matter how much he tried to reassure them, both still looked distressed and had red-rimmed eyes. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu was young and knew his influence was limited; not many would take his words seriously. Moreover, he didn''t want to draw attention to himself, so when the two women holding the child approached him, although he noticed something was off with the child and the old lady seemed to have asthma, he didn''t pay much attention.

    After all, if they were ill, they would naturally see a doctor, and the doctor would take care of them. There was no need for him, a young man, to meddle.

    But after Tang Yiyuan''s actions, Ge Dongxu found it hard not to pay special attention to the child. He also began to observe the child quietly along with Tang Yiyuan, noting the child''s complexion, tongue coating, and eyes, among other things.

    Initially, Ge Dongxu didn''t want to get involved and knew that given some time, the child would naturally recover. However, seeing that the child was ill and how distraught the mother and grandmother were, he eventually gathered the courage to say, "Actually, the child''s problem isn''t indigestion or food retention; he has a heart issue."

    "What are you talking about, kid? What heart disease could a little child have?" Tang Yiyuan was startled by Ge Dongxu''s sudden statement and couldn''t help but scold with a frown.

    This scolding ignited a defiant pride in Ge Dongxu, who retorted without showing weakness, "Humans are highly intelligent beings. Even a child over a year old, let alone a few months old, has his own thoughts and feelings. Why couldn''t a little child have a heart condition?"

    Tang Yiyuan was somewhat at a loss for words. He wanted to express anger, but felt it beneath him to argue with a naive young man. Finally, he shook his head and said, "I won''t argue with you, your reasoning is flawed."

    This response from Tang Yiyuan was obviously a blatant dismissal of Ge Dongxu''s presence, which only fueled Ge Dongxu''s pride. He glanced at Tang Yiyuan and said, "I won''t argue with you either!"

    After speaking, Ge Dongxu turned towards the two visibly upset women¡ªunderstandably upset with his naive statement.

    They were already annoyed and this young man was making light of their child''s condition. If Tang Yiyuan hadn''t already scolded him and if they weren''t well-mannered women, they would have berated Ge Dongxu by now.

    "Auntie, Grandma, may I ask, what toys does the baby usually play with?" Ge Dongxu, ignoring the women''s upset expressions, asked with a smile.

    ps: Continuing to seek support, every click, every bookmark, every recommendation, every comment, and every penny in rewards are the greatest support to me and to this book. Thank you very much.

 Chapter 47 Yongchun Hall [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    "Whether I'm talking nonsense or not, you know best. How about this, drive the car to a place where there's a traffic cop, and we'll ask them, okay?" Ge Dongxu saw that the driver, after being exposed, not only refused to admit his mistake but also had an arrogant attitude, which made him quite annoyed, and he said coldly."Screech!" The driver abruptly brought the car to a halt, then turned to Ge Dongxu and said, "Settle the fare. Since you don't trust me, you can get out and hail another cab."
    "You took me on a roundabout route, haven't even gotten me to my destination, and you still want me to pay you? Are you not being too much of a bully?" Ge Dongxu said angrily.
    "So I'm bullying you, what about it? Damn, what's a country bumpkin like you acting all high and mighty for? Either pay me what the meter says plus an extra ten yuan and I'll take you to Yongqing Hall, or pay up and get out right now!" The driver thought that Ge Dongxu, a young man, would be easy to intimidate, and with a menacing look, he stated.
    But Ge Dongxu was unwilling to comply and simply opened the car door and got out.
    Seeing Ge Dongxu getting out of the car without paying, the driver immediately got out too and went forward to grab Ge Dongxu by the collar. However, before his hand could touch Ge Dongxu's neck, Ge Dongxu grabbed his wrist, and he started to howl in pain.
    "You have two options, give you fifteen yuan, and you take me to Yongqing Hall, or you won't get a single cent. Of course, you can also call someone over, and we'll see if I get scared," Ge Dongxu said coldly.
    Only then did the driver realize he had encountered someone tough and reluctantly said, "Give me fifteen yuan, and I'll take you to Yongchun Hall."
    Being unfamiliar with the place, Ge Dongxu didn't want to make a big fuss, and seeing that the driver was willing to give in, he got back into the car.
    Because of the driver taking detours, and after such a commotion, Ge Dongxu arrived at Yongchun Hall at almost nine o'clock.
    Yongchun Hall was established at the end of the Qing dynasty and has been passed down for over a hundred and thirty years in Huaxia Country.
    Yongchun Hall still retains some of its ancient architecture from the late Qing dynasty, appearing particularly rustic and permeated with a sense of history, containing the cultural accumulation of the years, making people feel as if they have stepped into an ancient pharmacy upon entering, and unconsciously start to show a kind of solemn respect and trust for the antique Chinese medicine.
    Yongchun Hall is quite large, not only featuring a Chinese medicine museum but also a health clinic, a medicinal food restaurant, and a sales hall. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The sales hall serves as the public business front for Yongchun Hall with Chinese medicine specialist clinics and a pharmacy.
    Ge Dongxu was not sure whom to approach, but figuring that he was there to sell medicine, it seemed appropriate to find the pharmacy, so he headed there.
    Although there were quite a few patients coming to Yongchun Hall for treatment, there were only a sparse number of patients waiting at the pharmacy counter to get their prescription filled. This was because Yongchun Hall also offered medicine brewing services, so most patients seeing a doctor here also entrusted Yongchun Hall to brew their medicines. Hence, patients generally only needed to pay at the cashier after getting their prescriptions and didn't need to worry about anything else. The prescriptions would naturally be processed to the brewing and pharmacy departments, and patients just had to return at the specified time to pick up their prepared medicine.
    While there were few patients waiting for their prescriptions, the pharmacists behind the pharmacy counter were very busy, continuously drawing drawers and grabbing medicines according to prescriptions, then wrapping up the medicine packages.
    "Where's your prescription?" As there weren't many patients waiting for prescriptions, Ge Dongxu, a young man dressed like a country person, stood out conspicuously. A pharmacist, having just finished one prescription, came to the back of the counter and asked Ge Dongxu.
    "Hello, doctor, I'm not here to fill a prescription; I've come to sell some wild Polygonum multiflorum. Do you have a specific place that buys medicinal herbs?" Ge Dongxu asked.
    "Oh, I didn't expect a young man like you to be selling medicine! We do have a place for that, but we have regular suppliers for our ingredients, and we only make one-off purchases for rare items. How old is your wild Polygonum multiflorum? If it's not old enough, our purchasing department won't even consider it." The pharmacist was quite nice. Upon hearing the question, he initially expressed surprise, then proceeded to explain the details to Ge Dongxu.
    Clearly, the pharmacist didn't believe that Ge Dongxu, a mere youth, could possess wild Polygonum multiflorum of significant age. Otherwise, if an adult had come with the same claim, he wouldn't have asked these questions but would have directed them straight to the purchasing department.
    "It should be about a thousand years old!" Ge Dongxu replied.
    "A thousand years!" The pharmacist exclaimed loudly upon hearing this, and everyone else stopped their work to look at Ge Dongxu. However, they quickly shook their heads with smiles, clearly disbelieving that a youngster like Ge Dongxu could have a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum.
    "Young man, thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum is extremely rare, and how can you recognize it? Don't be misled by martial arts novels, thinking that any wild Polygonum multiflorum you dig up is a thousand years old," the pharmacist said with a smile, shaking his head after his initial shock.
    Clearly, he didn't believe it either.
    "It really is a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, I recognize traditional medicine," Ge Dongxu insisted.
    "Oh, then bring out your thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum and let me have a look," the pharmacist said with a smile, his expression casual. He clearly didn't believe Ge Dongxu; he just wanted to see the herb and then send the young customer on his way.
    "Fine!" Ge Dongxu opened his backpack and took out the dark brown, unevenly surfaced Polygonum multiflorum that weighed at least ten pounds.
    The moment Ge Dongxu produced the Polygonum multiflorum, the pharmacist's eyes widened in astonishment, and everyone hurried over. One of the older pharmacists even reached out to touch the uneven texture caused by rock pressure, his hand trembling slightly.
    "This Polygonum multiflorum is indeed very old, very old! Xiao He, take this young man to the purchasing department to find Chief Liu," the older pharmacist said, after caressing the thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum to steady his emotions, then turned to instruct a younger person next to him.
    "Okay, Teacher Zhang," the young person responded, then stepped out from behind the counter and said to Ge Dongxu, "Young brother, follow me; I'll take you to the purchasing department."
    "Thank you, doctors," Ge Dongxu replied with a slight bow to the pharmacists behind the counter, then turned to the young man with a smile and said, "Thank you for the trouble, Doctor He."
    "No trouble at all; it's a minor matter," the young man, actually an apprentice, replied with a smile, clearly pleased to be called a doctor, as he led the way.
    "Teacher Zhang, how does this Polygonum multiflorum compare to the one we sold in our hall a couple of years ago, which one is older?" After Ge Dongxu left, the pharmacist who had first attended to him had lost interest in preparing medicine and quietly asked the oldest pharmacist.
    "I think this one is older," Teacher Zhang replied thoughtfully and with certainty.
    PS: When I woke up today I saw my book had shot up to the fifth place on the Qidian Chinese Network home page's new book rankings; it's also doing well on platforms like Genesis Chinese Network and QQ Book City. My dear readers, your support is overwhelming; I am truly moved, and I thank you very much! I will still release one chapter in the morning, one at noon, and one in the evening today. Please continue your powerful support as the gap is very small.

 Chapter 44 Thank You, Doctor [Seeking Recommendations]

    Ge Dongxu was not someone who held grudges when he had the upper hand, and considering that Tang Yiyuan was quite aged and had shown good intentions by offering to treat the child, Ge Dongxu chose not to rebut when Tang Yiyuan mentioned it was "an accidental success." Instead, he pretended not to hear and, smiling, said to the child''s mother, "Auntie, could you go make a cup of milk to see if the baby will eat?""Yes, yes, I''ll do it right now." The reply came not from the child''s mother but from the child''s grandmother, who, seeing her grandson''s revived spirits and apparent recovery from asthma, hurriedly took out a milk bottle, formula, and a thermos of hot water from her bag.

    The grandmother was quick and efficient, clearly accustomed to making milk. She had just finished making the milk when the baby, holding a teddy bear in one arm and reaching for the milk bottle with the other, cried out, "Milk! Milk!"

    Seeing the baby eagerly start to drink, both the child''s grandmother and mother relaxed completely and repeatedly thanked Ge Dongxu, "Thank you, young man, thank you. If it weren''t for your reminder, who knows how much more suffering my baby would have to endure!"

    "Haha, it''s nothing, really, just an accidental success," Ge Dongxu hastily responded modestly, quoting Tang Yiyuan directly as the words slipped out smoothly. This caused Tang Yiyuan''s face to alternately flush and pale, yet he found himself without a good way to respond.

    Because the fact was right there! This man had truly cured the child''s illness.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu had not the slightest intention of mocking Tang Yiyuan; his words were purely modest.

    Upon hearing Ge Dongxu say this, the child''s grandmother and mother were somewhat at a loss for words, as they needed to consider Professor Tang''s reputation.

    The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat awkward and unnatural.

    However, those of an older age, ultimately having richer experiences, are more adept at handling such situations. The child''s grandmother quickly broke the awkwardness with a cough and asked Tang Yiyuan, "I''m sorry, my old problem is acting up again, could I trouble Professor Tang to take a look?"

    The child''s grandmother''s request brought a touch of glow back to Tang Yiyuan''s face. He said, "Western medicine categorizes asthma as a common and intractable global disease and often resorts to using ''anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy, antispasmodic bronchodilator'' drugs to control the symptoms. However, these treatment methods are only symptomatic, offering temporary relief, and can lead to numerous side effects, like the drowsiness from anti-allergy drugs and hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other drug-induced diseases from hormone use. Antispasmodic bronchodilator drugs might even cause heart issues and sudden death due to sympathetic excitement. Chinese medicine, although slower in effect, addresses the root cause. Once cured and with continued care, the condition should not recur."

    "Yes, yes, Professor Tang is absolutely right. Initially, I also sought treatment from Western doctors, which seemed effective at first, but it never completely cured the condition and later led to drug dependency. During severe episodes, I needed nebulization to manage it. After prolonged use of steroids, I developed hypertension a few years ago, which scared me into switching to traditional Chinese medicine. But I wasn''t very confident in its efficacy, so I thought of also consulting specialists while visiting the Provincial Capital, and fortunately, I met Professor Tang. Now that you''ve explained it this way, I feel much more assured," said the child''s grandmother, eagerly nodding continuously.

    Upon hearing this, Tang Yiyuan''s expression relaxed significantly, and he said, "The underlying principle of asthma involves deficiencies in the organs of the lungs, spleen, and kidneys. Its pathogenesis involves abnormal ascending and descending movements of qi, leading to a failure of the lungs to distribute and descend qi properly, which causes the asthma. Therefore, the key to treating asthma lies in regulating qi flow, and in regulating qi flow¡­"

    While Tang Yiyuan was checking the grandmother''s pulse and examining her tongue coating, he continued to speak at length. Occasionally, his eyes flicked toward Ge Dongxu. The grandmother, clearly understanding Tang Yiyuan''s feelings, knew the earlier incident had embarrassed him. Thus, she inevitably spoke more, chiming in with a few sycophantic remarks.

    When Tang Yiyuan later realized his mindset was misguided, he couldn''t help but scoff at himself silently, thinking, ''Why am I wasting words on this? Do I really need to stoop to the level of this young man? Could I even expect this young person to understand?'' S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In the end, Tang Yiyuan still believed that Ge Dongxu must have just happened to encounter a similar situation, which allowed him to accidentally cure the child''s illness, rather than truly understanding medicine, let alone possessing any exceptional medical skills.

    Ge Dongxu understood Tang Yiyuan''s mindset, but he was too lazy to make it clear. Initially, he did not want to attract attention.

    However, sometimes, the more someone wishes to avoid attention, the more likely events will seek them out. While Tang Yiyuan was both treating and chatting with the child''s grandmother, she suddenly started coughing violently.

    She coughed so relentlessly that she could not stop, eventually convulsing in pain.

    Recently, the elderly woman''s asthma, exacerbated by the child''s issues and changes in the weather, had grown more severe than before. However, because she was constantly worried about the child, she had suppressed her symptoms. Now that the child''s issues had been resolved, the tension she felt had eased, and her body, in turn, suddenly lost its resilience, leading her asthma to erupt like a volcano.

    Seeing the old woman in such distress, Ge Dongxu could no longer hide his abilities and hurriedly stood up, saying to the child''s mother, "Please step aside."

    At that moment, the child''s mother, bereft of ideas and hearing Ge Dongxu asking her to move aside, instinctively stood up with her child and stepped aside. Ge Dongxu quickly took a seat next to the grandmother, placing one hand on the acupoint on her cervical spine and gently massaging it, while his other hand massaged the "heavenly rush" acupoint in the center of the sternum.

    In just a few seconds, the grandmother''s breathing eased.

    This scene left both the child''s mother and Tang Yiyuan astonished.

    "Phew, thank you, doctor, I feel much better," the old lady exclaimed as she took a deep breath and then turned to Ge Dongxu.

    This time she did not address Ge Dongxu as a young fellow or boy, but directly as a doctor. By now, she surely understood that the young man before her was indeed a highly skilled doctor, and his treatment of her grandson was no fluke.

    "You''re welcome, grandma. I was just giving you a temporary relief. Since the train hasn''t arrived yet, sit up straight, and I''ll massage a few more acupoints to thoroughly alleviate your condition." Having already revealed his skill, and seeing that the old woman called him a doctor, Ge Dongxu simply stopped hiding his expertise and smiled as he spoke.

    "Thank you so much, doctor. You don''t know how painful it is when the asthma attacks," the old woman said eagerly, sitting up straight and expressing her gratitude.

    "Thank you so much, doctor!" the child''s mother also hurriedly thanked him on the side.

    Tang Yiyuan did not speak, but his expression was a mix of embarrassment and surprise as he watched Ge Dongxu. It was clear to him now that this young man was no ordinary person, and he indeed had some real skills.

    Of course, having practiced medicine for decades and serving as a university professor, Tang Yiyuan was surprised but did not think Ge Dongxu''s medical skills surpassed his own, especially since Ge Dongxu was only sixteen or seventeen years old.

    PS: The new book is just short by one rank to hit the front page of the new book ranking list. I kindly ask for more support from the readers. A member''s click counts the same as a recommendation ticket, so I greatly appreciate it if readers with an account could log in and click¡ªevery few hours counts as it does not accrue from continuous clicking. Please don''t exert effort in vain, thank you!

 Chapter 45 Healing Asthma

    After the old man sat up straight, Ge Dongxu didn''t hesitate but instead skillfully and precisely manipulated the Lung Shu acupoints, Spleen Shu acupoints, Kidney Shu acupoints, and the previously mentioned Heaven Rushing acupoints and Asthma Relief acupoints, pressing and kneading them back and forth, occasionally tapping and rubbing.About five or six minutes later, Ge Dongxu was so tired that sweat was faintly dripping from his forehead when the old man''s chest suddenly began to heave violently, and a flush of color spread across his face. The old man quickly grabbed a tissue to cover his mouth and then let out a violent cough that produced a mouthful of thick phlegm.

    With that mouthful of phlegm coughed out, the old man took a thorough breath of relief, a look of contentment and comfort on his face, as if he had just had a chilled bayberry juice on a June day, saying, "That feels so good, I haven''t felt this comfortable in a long time!"

    Seeing the old man''s comfortable expression, Tang Yiyuan was involuntarily shaken all over and, without bothering to greet the old man, hurriedly reached out to grab the old man''s wrist and started taking his pulse.

    This pulse examination left Tang Yiyuan utterly astounded.

    Before, when he had taken the old man''s pulse, it was clearly a taut pulse, an asthma pulse. But now, although his pulse was still taut, it had improved a lot, moving towards a state of composure and ease, neither sinking nor floating, neither fine nor overflowing; the rhythm was even -- this is the pulse of a healthy person, that is to say, a normal pulse.

    But how could this be possible? The old man''s asthma had just seemed quite severe, but now there were signs of recovery, just because of the young man''s few moments of kneading the acupoints! That was simply too miraculous.

    Tang Yiyuan naturally didn''t know that the few minutes of kneading that Ge Dongxu had done, which seemed simple, were actually using a lost technique, and moreover, he had stimulated True Qi while kneading. It was precisely for this reason that Ge Dongxu had broken into a sweat in just a few short minutes.

    The effects of such kneading were naturally miraculous!

    Ge Dongxu, after all, was young and only focused on curing the old man''s asthma, without considering that doing so was too shocking and disruptive. It wasn''t until he saw Tang Yiyuan''s expression that he suddenly realized he had gone too far. But by then it was obviously too late, so Ge Dongxu pretended not to notice Tang Yiyuan''s shocked expression and, smiling at the old man, said, "Your current condition is only temporary, and you''ll need to persistently take Chinese medicine for a period of time before you can completely eradicate your asthma. If you trust me, I''ll write you a prescription, and you should be completely healed after taking it for two weeks." S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Trust you, of course I trust you. Thank you so much, doctor," the old man quickly nodded, as if afraid that if he was too slow, Ge Dongxu might change his mind.

    Seeing the old man nodding eagerly, Tang Yiyuan felt somewhat embarrassed, but even more so, he was shocked by the medical skills Ge Dongxu had displayed.

    Since it had already come to this, Ge Dongxu didn''t bother with modesty. Seeing the old man nodding, he took out paper and a pen from his bag, swiftly wrote a prescription, and handed it to the old man, saying, "Just take this prescription to get the medicine, and take it for two weeks."

    As the old man took the prescription, Tang Yiyuan hesitated for a moment and said somewhat sheepishly, "Young man, may I take a look at your prescription?"

    "What, afraid I wrote the wrong prescription, endangering grandma''s condition?" Ge Dongxu raised his eyebrows slightly and asked.

    "No, no. The young man has already proven his medical skills, and I deeply admire that. Now I''m just curious and would like to see your prescription," Tang Yiyuan quickly said, his old face turning slightly red.

    ```

    He asked for the prescription out of curiosity to see it for himself, but also with a tinge of skepticism, always wondering if he could find any faults.

    The prescription was written by Ge Dongxu, and at this moment, the elder did not consider Tang Yiyuan''s face, but looked to Ge Dongxu, obviously waiting for his nod before she was willing to let Tang Yiyuan review it.

    "Then take a look, anyway, it''s not such an incredible prescription," Ge Dongxu said nonchalantly.

    Upon hearing this, the elder handed the prescription to Tang Yiyuan, who had just taken it and had not yet had the chance to scrutinize it closely before being struck by the powerful and vigorous calligraphy that danced across the paper, involuntarily exclaiming, "Good writing!"

    Shortly after, Tang Yiyuan started to examine the prescription in detail.

    "Angelica, prepared Rehmannia root, dried tangerine peel, pinellia, poria, roasted licorice..." Tang Yiyuan murmured as he read along. After he finished, he thought it over carefully and could not help showing a hint of admiration on his face, standing up to bow with clasped hands towards Ge Dongxu, "I was quite offensive just now, please don''t take it to heart, young sir!"

    After looking at the prescription Ge Dongxu had written, and comparing it to what he would have prescribed for the elder, Tang Yiyuan found Ge Dongxu''s to be superior, leaving him with no room for criticism. And if he were to draft one himself, he certainly couldn''t have come up with something as sophisticated. He finally let go of the disdain he had held for Ge Dongxu, realizing that although this young man might not have as comprehensive knowledge in traditional Chinese medicine or as much clinical experience as him, he undoubtedly excelled in treating asthma and also had unique approaches for treating children''s diseases.

    Seeing that Tang Yiyuan, a university professor who was much older than himself, bowed and apologized, Ge Dongxu felt somewhat embarrassed and hastily stood up to return the gesture, "Hehe, it''s nothing, I''m young, so misunderstanding is normal. Besides, I really only know these few tricks."

    Tang Yiyuan felt a secret relief when he heard Ge Dongxu say that he only knew these few tricks; otherwise, if someone so young could treat any disease with ease, wouldn''t it make him, a lifelong student of traditional Chinese medicine, seem incapable?

    Although Ge Dongxu spoke modestly, Tang Yiyuan knew that just with that skill alone, Ge Dongxu had already qualified to be listed among the prominent doctors of Jiangnan Province. So, although he was relieved, he did not have the slightest intention of underestimating Ge Dongxu, hastily saying, "That''s already very impressive. May I ask which famous doctor you apprenticed under?"

    "My master has passed away and was not fond of people mentioning his name during his lifetime, so I ask for your understanding that I''m not at liberty to reveal it," Ge Dongxu replied hesitantly.

    His master possessed strange arts, but due to a brain injury, he suffered from amnesia, only recalling some past events when he was on his deathbed. He advised Ge Dongxu not to reveal his name lightly to others before surpassing the realm of his master''s cultivation, lest it bring unnecessary trouble.

    Ge Dongxu did not understand this before, but as he aged, he gradually began to understand. His master feared that even the innocent could be charged simply for possessing a gem, and what his master had passed on was not just medical knowledge but also the secret arts of the mysterious sect.

    An old saying goes, "Heroes with martial power may violate prohibitions," and since ancient times, those in power have always been wary of those who wield martial power¡ªlet alone someone like Ge Dongxu, who has superpowers.

    The tradition of Chinese medicine has a long history, and since ancient times, it has not lacked extraordinary individuals who stay hidden in the city or retreat to the mountains, not keen on being disturbed. Such people still exist in today''s society, which Tang Yiyuan was somewhat aware of. So when he heard Ge Dongxu say this, it dispelled the previous amazement at his wonderful medical skills. However, learning that his master had passed away did bring some disappointment, as he had hoped to meet him.

    ps: I recommend a new book by my good friend Tomorrow and Tomorrow called "My Big and Small Beautiful Flowers"; readers who like urban romance stories should not miss it.

    ```

 Chapter 46 Communication [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    "Since that''s the case, I apologize for the offense, young master." Tang Yiyuan, once he knew that Ge Dongxu had a mysterious medical mentor and preferred not to mention him, respected his wishes and did not inquire further."My name is Ge Dongxu. Just call me by my name, Professor Tang," Ge Dongxu, not accustomed to being addressed as ''young master'' by a professor, replied upon hearing this.

    "All right, then I''ll call you Dongxu. Here''s my business card; you can contact me if you need anything." Tang Yiyuan nodded, then took out a business card and handed it to Ge Dongxu.

    "Thank you." Ge Dongxu took the business card, expressed his gratitude, and then examined it for a few moments. It listed many titles, not only Professor at the Jiangnan Province University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and doctoral supervisor but also expert of the Jiangnan Province Expert Medical Group, member of the Jiangnan Province Political Consultative Conference, and other significant positions.

    Ge Dongxu was young and lacked social experience, unaware that the most prestigious title among these was that of the expert of the Jiangnan Province Expert Medical Group. Being on this list meant that he was one of the top doctors in Jiangnan Province, and there were only a few such individuals. While there were many professors and doctoral supervisors in Jiangnan Province.

    In his eyes, being a university professor and a doctoral supervisor seemed even more impressive, so when he saw the term "doctoral supervisor," he thought this Professor Tang in front of him was quite remarkable, even mentoring doctorates. After all, he was just a high school student.

    "May I ask, Dongxu, where are you from? How can I find you if I need to?" Tang Yiyuan, seeing that Ge Dongxu put his business card away, seized the opportunity to ask.

    Although Ge Dongxu''s master was no longer alive, his medical skills were enough to amaze Tang Yiyuan, who naturally wanted to befriend him and perhaps seek his help in the future. At least in treating asthma, Tang Yiyuan considered the young man before him an authority, not just in Huaxia Country but in the entire world.

    "I''m from Ouzhou City," Ge Dongxu answered simply, without elaboration.

    Tang Yiyuan''s eyes flashed with a hint of disappointment at the response, but he did not press further. He was a smart man, and it was clear from Ge Dongxu''s words that he preferred to remain a hermit rather than enter into public service, following his master''s practices.

    Since Ge Dongxu did not reveal his contact information, Tang Yiyuan turned the conversation to the topic of traditional Chinese medicine. Mostly, Tang Yiyuan asked questions, and Ge Dongxu answered. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In the beginning, Tang Yiyuan asked about common knowledge and cases in Chinese medicine, but upon seeing that Ge Dongxu answered easily, he began questioning him about some of the complex and unusual cases he had encountered and cured in his lifetime.

    These successful cases were a source of pride for Tang Yiyuan, who deliberately brought them up to Ge Dongxu, partly wanting to restore some face he felt he had lost and to challenge Ge Dongxu''s sharpness.

    However, when Tang Yiyuan posed questions about the complex and unusual cases he had cured and secretly prided himself on to Ge Dongxu, he did not expect Ge Dongxu to respond as easily as before, treating these challenging cases as if they were as common as a cold or the flu.

    Tang Yiyuan, not one to accept defeat, was about to list several more difficult cases to question Ge Dongxu about when the train arrived at the Linzhou train station in the provincial capital.

    Upon reaching the station, Ge Dongxu stood up to leave. Simultaneously, the mother and grandmother of the child opposite him also stood up quickly to thank Ge Dongxu, "Doctor Ge, thank you so much. This is a small token of our appreciation; please accept it."

    With those words, they took out a red envelope and tried to put it in Ge Dongxu''s pocket.

    It turned out that the mother and grandmother had prepared a red envelope in private but were concerned that Ge Dongxu might refuse it and create an awkward situation on the train, so they waited until the station to give it to him.

    "No need, no need, this is what I should do!" Ge Dongxu hastily refused.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu and the two women insist on giving and refusing the red envelope, Tang Yiyuan naturally felt it inappropriate to continue inquiring about Dongxu''s expertise on difficult cases.

    After pushing back several times, seeing that the two women were adamant, Ge Dongxu had to resort to the best move of all¡ªwalking away. No matter how much they clamored behind him, he just walked swiftly to the front.

    Tang Yiyuan had not expected Dongxu to leave as soon as he said he would. By the time Tang realized he should have followed up and discussed more with him, it was already too late. Dongxu had gotten off the train and disappeared into the bustling crowd in a blink of an eye.

    "What a pity," Tang Yiyuan couldn''t help feeling regret as he shook his head. He was not sure if he regretted not being able to continue the inquiry and stump Dongxu, or if he regretted losing the opportunity to learn from him, or perhaps both.

    Naturally, Ge Dongxu felt no such regret. After leaving the station and standing on the bustling road, watching skyscrapers towering into the sky, he felt like a country bumpkin entering the city for the first time, a bit overwhelmed and unsure of where to go.

    It took a while for Ge Dongxu to calm his nerves. Not caring about eating, he did what he had seen on TV and, for the first time in his life, hailed a taxi off the street and took his first-ever ride in a sedan.

    "Where to, young man?" asked the taxi driver.

    "To Yongqing Hall on Fengtang Road," Ge Dongxu replied. He had specifically looked up information about Yongqing Hall in recent days and knew that there were two Yongchun Halls in Linzhou, and the one on Fengtang Road was the headquarters and the largest.

    "Alright," the taxi driver responded, then turned down the vacancy sign, started the car, and began the meter.

    During the ride, the taxi driver observed Ge Dongxu through the rearview mirror several times, occasionally asking questions, including where he was from and whether it was his first time in the provincial capital.

    Ge Dongxu, unsuspecting, honestly answered that he came from Changxi County.

    But gradually Ge Dongxu realized something was wrong. He noticed the fare had jumped to thirty-one yuan, and they still hadn''t arrived at Yongqing Hall. He had specifically looked at a map before coming and knew the station was not far from Fengtang Road.

    "Master, are you sure we haven''t taken the wrong way?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "No, I''ve been driving a taxi in Linzhou City for over ten years, how could I get lost? It''s only another ten minutes or so." The taxi driver replied impatiently, turning the car into another street.

    "You definitely took the wrong way; we''ve been down this road before!" As soon as the car turned into another street, Ge Dongxu''s expression turned serious, and he spoke with a cold voice.

    As someone practicing spiritual cultivation, he had a good memory. A place he had passed by once in the car was not something he would forget in a short time.

    So when he saw the driver going back the same way they came, Ge Dongxu immediately understood that the taxi driver had realized he was from out of town and was deliberately taking him for a ride.

    "Look here, young man, watch what you say! I''ve been driving a taxi for over ten years, do you really think I''d know the roads less than someone who has just arrived in Linzhou City?" The taxi driver did not expect this country fellow, Ge Dongxu, to recognize the route. At first, a flicker of panic crossed his eyes, but upon recalling that the other party was just a countryman coming to the city to find work for the first time, what was there to panic about? Instead, he became angry and accused Dongxu of talking nonsense.

    The way Ge Dongxu dressed naturally led the taxi driver to assume he was a rural guy coming to the city to look for work.

 Chapter 47 Yongchun Hall [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    "Whether I''m talking nonsense or not, you know best. How about this, drive the car to a place where there''s a traffic cop, and we''ll ask them, okay?" Ge Dongxu saw that the driver, after being exposed, not only refused to admit his mistake but also had an arrogant attitude, which made him quite annoyed, and he said coldly."Screech!" The driver abruptly brought the car to a halt, then turned to Ge Dongxu and said, "Settle the fare. Since you don''t trust me, you can get out and hail another cab."

    "You took me on a roundabout route, haven''t even gotten me to my destination, and you still want me to pay you? Are you not being too much of a bully?" Ge Dongxu said angrily.

    "So I''m bullying you, what about it? Damn, what''s a country bumpkin like you acting all high and mighty for? Either pay me what the meter says plus an extra ten yuan and I''ll take you to Yongqing Hall, or pay up and get out right now!" The driver thought that Ge Dongxu, a young man, would be easy to intimidate, and with a menacing look, he stated.

    But Ge Dongxu was unwilling to comply and simply opened the car door and got out.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu getting out of the car without paying, the driver immediately got out too and went forward to grab Ge Dongxu by the collar. However, before his hand could touch Ge Dongxu''s neck, Ge Dongxu grabbed his wrist, and he started to howl in pain.

    "You have two options, give you fifteen yuan, and you take me to Yongqing Hall, or you won''t get a single cent. Of course, you can also call someone over, and we''ll see if I get scared," Ge Dongxu said coldly.

    Only then did the driver realize he had encountered someone tough and reluctantly said, "Give me fifteen yuan, and I''ll take you to Yongchun Hall."

    Being unfamiliar with the place, Ge Dongxu didn''t want to make a big fuss, and seeing that the driver was willing to give in, he got back into the car.

    Because of the driver taking detours, and after such a commotion, Ge Dongxu arrived at Yongchun Hall at almost nine o''clock.

    Yongchun Hall was established at the end of the Qing dynasty and has been passed down for over a hundred and thirty years in Huaxia Country.

    Yongchun Hall still retains some of its ancient architecture from the late Qing dynasty, appearing particularly rustic and permeated with a sense of history, containing the cultural accumulation of the years, making people feel as if they have stepped into an ancient pharmacy upon entering, and unconsciously start to show a kind of solemn respect and trust for the antique Chinese medicine.

    Yongchun Hall is quite large, not only featuring a Chinese medicine museum but also a health clinic, a medicinal food restaurant, and a sales hall. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The sales hall serves as the public business front for Yongchun Hall with Chinese medicine specialist clinics and a pharmacy.

    Ge Dongxu was not sure whom to approach, but figuring that he was there to sell medicine, it seemed appropriate to find the pharmacy, so he headed there.

    Although there were quite a few patients coming to Yongchun Hall for treatment, there were only a sparse number of patients waiting at the pharmacy counter to get their prescription filled. This was because Yongchun Hall also offered medicine brewing services, so most patients seeing a doctor here also entrusted Yongchun Hall to brew their medicines. Hence, patients generally only needed to pay at the cashier after getting their prescriptions and didn''t need to worry about anything else. The prescriptions would naturally be processed to the brewing and pharmacy departments, and patients just had to return at the specified time to pick up their prepared medicine.

    While there were few patients waiting for their prescriptions, the pharmacists behind the pharmacy counter were very busy, continuously drawing drawers and grabbing medicines according to prescriptions, then wrapping up the medicine packages.

    "Where''s your prescription?" As there weren''t many patients waiting for prescriptions, Ge Dongxu, a young man dressed like a country person, stood out conspicuously. A pharmacist, having just finished one prescription, came to the back of the counter and asked Ge Dongxu.

    "Hello, doctor, I''m not here to fill a prescription; I''ve come to sell some wild Polygonum multiflorum. Do you have a specific place that buys medicinal herbs?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Oh, I didn''t expect a young man like you to be selling medicine! We do have a place for that, but we have regular suppliers for our ingredients, and we only make one-off purchases for rare items. How old is your wild Polygonum multiflorum? If it''s not old enough, our purchasing department won''t even consider it." The pharmacist was quite nice. Upon hearing the question, he initially expressed surprise, then proceeded to explain the details to Ge Dongxu.

    Clearly, the pharmacist didn''t believe that Ge Dongxu, a mere youth, could possess wild Polygonum multiflorum of significant age. Otherwise, if an adult had come with the same claim, he wouldn''t have asked these questions but would have directed them straight to the purchasing department.

    "It should be about a thousand years old!" Ge Dongxu replied.

    "A thousand years!" The pharmacist exclaimed loudly upon hearing this, and everyone else stopped their work to look at Ge Dongxu. However, they quickly shook their heads with smiles, clearly disbelieving that a youngster like Ge Dongxu could have a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum.

    "Young man, thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum is extremely rare, and how can you recognize it? Don''t be misled by martial arts novels, thinking that any wild Polygonum multiflorum you dig up is a thousand years old," the pharmacist said with a smile, shaking his head after his initial shock.

    Clearly, he didn''t believe it either.

    "It really is a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, I recognize traditional medicine," Ge Dongxu insisted.

    "Oh, then bring out your thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum and let me have a look," the pharmacist said with a smile, his expression casual. He clearly didn''t believe Ge Dongxu; he just wanted to see the herb and then send the young customer on his way.

    "Fine!" Ge Dongxu opened his backpack and took out the dark brown, unevenly surfaced Polygonum multiflorum that weighed at least ten pounds.

    The moment Ge Dongxu produced the Polygonum multiflorum, the pharmacist''s eyes widened in astonishment, and everyone hurried over. One of the older pharmacists even reached out to touch the uneven texture caused by rock pressure, his hand trembling slightly.

    "This Polygonum multiflorum is indeed very old, very old! Xiao He, take this young man to the purchasing department to find Chief Liu," the older pharmacist said, after caressing the thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum to steady his emotions, then turned to instruct a younger person next to him.

    "Okay, Teacher Zhang," the young person responded, then stepped out from behind the counter and said to Ge Dongxu, "Young brother, follow me; I''ll take you to the purchasing department."

    "Thank you, doctors," Ge Dongxu replied with a slight bow to the pharmacists behind the counter, then turned to the young man with a smile and said, "Thank you for the trouble, Doctor He."

    "No trouble at all; it''s a minor matter," the young man, actually an apprentice, replied with a smile, clearly pleased to be called a doctor, as he led the way.

    "Teacher Zhang, how does this Polygonum multiflorum compare to the one we sold in our hall a couple of years ago, which one is older?" After Ge Dongxu left, the pharmacist who had first attended to him had lost interest in preparing medicine and quietly asked the oldest pharmacist.

    "I think this one is older," Teacher Zhang replied thoughtfully and with certainty.

    PS: When I woke up today I saw my book had shot up to the fifth place on the Qidian Chinese Network home page''s new book rankings; it''s also doing well on platforms like Genesis Chinese Network and QQ Book City. My dear readers, your support is overwhelming; I am truly moved, and I thank you very much! I will still release one chapter in the morning, one at noon, and one in the evening today. Please continue your powerful support as the gap is very small.

 Chapter 48 Dont Assume Others Are That Stupid

    "Hiss!" Hearing this, the pharmacists all took in a sharp breath, envy shining in their eyes.Two years ago, Yongchun Hall sold a batch of eight-hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum for a million. And now, two years had passed, with prices having soared in general, plus the age of this Polygonum multiflorum being even greater, naturally, the price would be higher.

    Most of their salaries were just over a thousand, which was considered quite decent in Linzhou City.

    "It''s just a pity, such a young person selling such precious herbs, I''m afraid they are going to be undercut to the price of cabbage by Chief Liu," lamented Teacher Zhang, shaking his head.

    "Indeed, it''s such a waste. If this youngster hadn''t brought it to Yongchun Hall, we wouldn''t have the opportunity to intercept the sale. Otherwise, I would really want to buy it and make a fortune¡ªenough to last a lifetime!" a pharmacist sighed.

    "Alas, that''s fate for you! The young man could have become a millionaire overnight, but now, I guess he''ll be fobbed off by Chief Liu with just a few thousand at most," someone said, shaking their head.

    "I say, young brother, why did you come alone? Where are your elders?" whispered the young man who was showing the way.

    "I''m already sixteen, is there a problem?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "There''s no problem, per se, but it''s better to have an adult handle the sale of such items. Moreover, this Polygonum multiflorum seems to be quite old and should be worth some¡­" the young man whispered back.

    "Cough, cough, Xiao He, this has nothing to do with you; off you go," just then, a middle-aged man came out from an office and said to the young guide.

    The young man shrank his head and then hurried away.

    This middle-aged man was naturally Chief Liu from the procurement department, his office was close to the pharmacy, and he had noticed the commotion there. He had already had some suspicions, so when he saw Xiao He whispering, he made a point of coming out to dismiss him. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Young man, do you have some wild herbs you want to sell to us? If it''s not a wild herb of significant age, we do not purchase them separately," said Chief Liu, patting his round belly and speaking officiously to Ge Dongxu.

    The procurement department was quite a lucrative section, and with Chief Liu in a pivotal position, he naturally received quite a few benefits from herb suppliers. Hence, he was plump and chubby, with a fat face and large ears.

    "Yes, Section Chief Liu, I have a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum that I want to sell. Take a look and tell me how much I can get for it," Ge Dongxu said.

    "If it really is a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, it could be worth a couple hundred thousand. Come in, let me have a look and see if it really is a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum," Section Chief Liu said, his eyes lighting up slightly as he spoke, leading Ge Dongxu through the door.

    "A couple hundred thousand?" Ge Dongxu''s heart skipped a beat when he heard this, but when he saw the cunning and disdain inadvertently revealed by Section Chief Liu, he immediately thought of the taxi driver who had previously taken advantage of him being a country boy, unfamiliar with the city, leading him in circles.

    It seems that city folks are not as simple and honest as us mountain people; even those in this medical hall are the same. I need to be careful, Ge Dongxu warned himself inwardly, then calmly took out the Polygonum multiflorum.

    As the head of the procurement section, Section Chief Liu was very familiar with all kinds of medicinal herbs. As soon as he saw the wild Polygonum multiflorum Ge Dongxu had brought out, his eyes brightened fiercely, but he quickly returned to normal. He picked up the Polygonum multiflorum casually and weighed it in his hand, saying leisurely, "It''s wild, indeed, not cultivated, but the age is off, at most forty or fifty years. Polygonum multiflorum is unlike ginseng; it''s not considered a precious medicinal material. It is valuable only when it has aged. Look, it''s not easy for you to come all this way, I''ll give you two thousand yuan for this Polygonum multiflorum, and we at Yongchun Hall will take it off your hands, saving you the trouble of carrying it back."

    Having said that, Section Chief Liu looked at Ge Dongxu with a certain gaze. In his eyes, Ge Dongxu was just a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old boy, and judging by his rural attire, two thousand yuan would surely seem an astronomical sum to him. He expected Ge Dongxu to be overjoyed at the offer.

    But to Section Chief Liu''s surprise, the young man in front of him was not at all pleased with the offered price. Instead, he took back the thousand-year Polygonum multiflorum from Section Chief Liu, placed it carefully back into its bag, and then packed it into his backpack.

    At first, when the boy started to put it back into the bag, Section Chief Liu retained some confidence that the young man was preparing to hand it over to him; it was not until he saw him packing it into the backpack that he realized something was amiss and hurriedly said, "Young man, what does this mean? Forty or fifty years of wild Polygonum multiflorum, and I''m already giving you a good price of two thousand yuan. If you go anywhere else, people won''t give you a thousand yuan tops."

    "Section Chief Liu, don''t take others for fools," Ge Dongxu retorted and then shouldered his backpack and left.

    "Hey, hey, young man, we can still talk about the price. Don''t walk away!" Seeing Ge Dongxu about to leave, Section Chief Liu became anxious. His portly figure quickly blocked the doorway as he spoke.

    "What''s there to talk about? This is a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, and you''re saying it''s only forty or fifty years old. You''re plainly taking advantage of my youth, aren''t you? Besides, do you think I''m not aware that your Yongchun Hall sold a wild eight-hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum for a million yuan two years ago?" Ge Dongxu said, staring at Section Chief Liu coldly.

    Upon hearing this, Section Chief Liu''s chubby face turned purple almost instantly. He never dreamed that this plainly dressed boy would have detailed information about the wild Polygonum multiflorum Yongchun Hall sold for a million yuan two years ago.

    However, as the head of the procurement section, Section Chief Liu was very shrewd. Seeing that Ge Dongxu was well-informed, he knew he couldn''t fool him about the price of wild Polygonum multiflorum; he could only try to deceive him about its age. After all, determining the age of medicinal materials is challenging, and even Section Chief Liu couldn''t precisely judge the age of the Polygonum multiflorum in front of him. He only knew that its size and skin color suggested it should not be inferior to the one sold two years ago. But whether it was a thousand years old, Section Chief Liu really couldn''t say. In fact, even some experienced traditional Chinese medicine practitioners couldn''t accurately judge. So, Section Chief Liu was convinced that Ge Dongxu simply wanted to sell at a high price, which is why he claimed it was a thousand years old, when in reality, he surely didn''t know the true age of the Polygonum multiflorum. After all, he was just a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy; how much could he possibly know about medicinal herbs? Recognizing Polygonum multiflorum was already commendable.

    Having had this realization, the purplish hue on Section Chief Liu''s face faded, and he regained his cunning composure. He pulled Ge Dongxu back to the coffee table and forcibly seated him on the sofa, saying with a smile, "Young man, bargaining is a part of doing business. But since you''ve done your research, I won''t try to hide it from you. Indeed, Yongchun Hall sold a wild eight-hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum for a million yuan two years ago. But as you know, not everyone can afford such precious medicinal material. It was by chance that we found such a wealthy buyer, which is why it fetched a high price. But in reality, it''s not worth that much. And of course, we need to make a profit, right? So, in truth, buying an eight-hundred-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum would cost at most three to four hundred thousand yuan."

 Chapter 49 So Its Mr. Ge

    "This is somewhat reliable," Ge Dongxu''s face relaxed slightly as he nodded in agreement.Seeing that he had swayed Ge Dongxu, Liu Kechang''s eyes flashed triumphantly, and he continued, "What I mentioned is the eight-hundred-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, but your Polygonum multiflorum isn''t really a thousand years old, at most it''s just three to four hundred years old. A three to four hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum can be worth forty to fifty thousand yuan at most. If you don''t believe me, I can get the most famous old traditional Chinese doctor from our hospital to come over. He is the most accurate when it comes to appraising such medicinal herbs."

    As he spoke, Liu Kechang reached for the telephone on his desk, preparing to make a call.

    Ge Dongxu was, after all, a young man. Although he had been influenced by his master for several years, he couldn''t remain as composed as an older person. Seeing that Liu Kechang was repeatedly deceiving him, he finally got annoyed, stood up, grabbed his backpack, opened the office door, and left without another word.

    At that time, the average annual salary of employees in state-owned enterprises and institutions in Linzhou City was only about eight or nine thousand yuan. Forty to fifty thousand yuan was equivalent to about five years of income for employees in such enterprises and institutions. Originally, Liu Kechang thought that by offering this price, Ge Dongxu, a young man from the countryside, would certainly not be able to resist the temptation and would immediately make a deal. As for making the phone call, it was just Liu Kechang putting on a show.

    But to his complete surprise, Ge Dongxu just stood up and walked away without a word, leaving him staring at the telephone in a daze for quite a while. By the time he realized he had to chase after Ge Dongxu or he might leave Yongchun Hall, Ge Dongxu was already nearly at the pharmacy.

    "Hey, hey, young man, wait, wait, what about a hundred thousand, a hundred thousand, how about that?" Liu Kechang was finally forced into a corner by this young man and chased after him, panting and calling out.

    "A hundred thousand!" The people in the pharmacy saw Ge Dongxu come out so soon and thought he had been let go at a bargain price by Liu Kechang. They never expected Liu Kechang to follow him out and directly offer a hundred thousand, shocking everyone in the pharmacy so much that their hearts couldn''t help but skip several beats. All eyes turned towards Ge Dongxu, thinking to themselves that it was unexpected for such a young man to drive the price up to a hundred thousand.

    However, Ge Dongxu continued walking forward without turning his head.

    At that point, the way the people in the pharmacy looked at Ge Dongxu completely changed.

    A hundred thousand yuan! This seemingly simple and unrefined young man didn''t even blink or hesitate! Even the oldest Zhang teacher in the pharmacy couldn''t help but feel inferior to such determination.

    "Two hundred thousand, two hundred thousand, how about that? I really can''t go any higher!" Seeing that Ge Dongxu walked away without turning back, Liu Kechang had no choice but to chase after him while raising the offer once more.

    "Two hundred thousand!" The people in the pharmacy''s eyes bulged out, thinking that this time Ge Dongxu would surely stop.

    To know, two hundred thousand yuan taken to the mountains could undoubtedly make someone the richest person in the village! Even in Linzhou City, two hundred thousand yuan was definitely a lot of money. At that time, the housing prices in the city center of Linzhou City were only around one to two thousand yuan per square meter, and in the outer areas, some were only eight or nine hundred to a thousand yuan per square meter. Except for the Zhang teacher in the pharmacy, none of them had a net worth exceeding two hundred thousand yuan.

    But contrary to everyone''s expectations, the young man still did not stop walking.

    What they didn''t know was that although Ge Dongxu was young, his perception was very sharp, and his thought process was extremely clear. Especially after being swindled by a taxi driver on the way here, he gained a new understanding of the maliciousness of people''s intentions and would no longer be easily swayed by others'' words.

    As for the figure of money, even though two hundred thousand was indeed a huge number for Ge Dongxu and very tempting, his determination was firm. He would not easily waver unless he reached the price he had in mind.

    "You, young man, why are you so stubborn and greedy? Your Polygonum multiflorum is at most a few hundred years old, I''m already offering two hundred thousand, aren''t you satisfied yet? Then you tell me, how much do you want?" Liu Kechang finally caught up with Ge Dongxu and stopped him, saying. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "First, I want to make one thing clear. My Polygonum multiflorum is a thousand-year-old wild one, not just three to four hundred years old as you said. I am very certain about this; you can''t fool me! Furthermore, two hundred thousand is indeed a large number, but the problem is my Polygonum multiflorum is worth more than that, so why should I sell it to you for two hundred thousand? This has nothing to do with me being stubborn or greedy. Now I''ll give you one last chance to make an offer. If you try to deceive me again, I''m really leaving. I believe Linzhou City doesn''t only have Yongchun Hall, a century-old brand."

    Liu Kechang looked at Ge Dongxu''s calm demeanor, and his expression finally became solemn. He began to regard the young man in front of him as an equal trading partner, rather than looking down on him from a height as he had done before, almost as if he had Ge Dongxu firmly in his grip.

    "Young man, what''s your name?" Liu Kechang asked.

    "Ge Dongxu," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "So, Mr. Ge, I''ll tell you the truth. Your Polygonum multiflorum does have some age to it, but I can''t conclusively say whether it''s a thousand years old. If it truly is a thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum, it is indeed worth more than two hundred thousand. But as for the exact amount, I can''t just offer that to you right now. I need to consult with a few old traditional Chinese medicine doctors to confirm," Liu Kechang said earnestly, his way of addressing Ge Dongxu having changed.

    Because by now, he found it difficult to see Ge Dongxu as an ignorant sixteen or seventeen-year-old young man. Moreover, once Ge Dongxu sold the Polygonum multiflorum, it wouldn''t be fitting to regard him as just a young man anymore because of his wealth.

    "That''s not a problem, as long as you don''t try to exploit my youth and deceive me, we can talk," Ge Dongxu said.

    Even though Liu Kechang had been rolling in the business world for many years, he couldn''t help but feel his face heat up upon hearing Ge Dongxu''s words.

    "How could that be!" said Liu Kechang sheepishly, and then he took Ge Dongxu to the counter. He asked the elder pharmacist, "Zhang teacher, you have much experience. Could you help me take a look and judge the age of this Polygonum multiflorum?"

    Upon hearing this, Zhang teacher nodded, then carefully picked up the thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum. He not only touched it with his hands but also sniffed it with his nose, and even used a magnifying glass to take a closer look.

    This time he was much more thorough and formal than before.

    After a long time, Zhang teacher finally looked up at Liu Kechang and said, "Liu Kechang, it is very difficult to judge the age of medicinal herbs. However, generally speaking, I should be able to judge it as being at least as old as the one from two years ago. But whether it''s a thousand years old, I can''t make that conclusion. I suggest you should still have Professor Tang take a look, he is the real expert in this field, and if he says it''s a thousand years old, then it definitely is."

    Seeing that Zhang teacher''s judgment was the same as his own initial assessment, Liu Kechang''s expression unconsciously became much more serious, and he nodded, saying, "If that''s the case, it is indeed prudent to have Professor Tang take a look as well."

    ps: The new book is striving for the rankings, your support would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

 Chapter 50 Someone Might Be Able to Cure Your Illness [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    "Professor Tang, the medicine you prescribed for me last time has indeed had some effect; the frequency of my fainting episodes has decreased. However, after taking this prescription, not only have I had significant issues with my stomach and intestines, but my menstrual pain and flow have also noticeably increased. Can you find a way to change the prescription?" In Professor Tang''s clinic, a young woman asked softly.She was a beautiful young woman with long, elegant black hair, slender willow eyebrows, enchanting eyes, a refined, pretty nose, and cherry-red lips like dewdrops. However, her complexion was pallid, almost sickly, which was rather heart-wrenching to see.

    The young woman was wearing a printed dress with a light white jacket over it, lending her an air that was both ethereal and elegantly simple.

    "Ms. Liu, it''s difficult! I have already changed the prescription many times before, with basically no effect. This time, I pondered the prescription for a long time before I wrote it. All medicines have their toxicity, and I increased the dosage this time too, so the effects are rather strong. I told you this in advance. Now it seems your body can''t handle this prescription. If I were to prescribe again, the result would be the same: too small a dose and there''s no effect, too large a dose and your body can''t cope. If it doesn''t work, we might have to resort to acupuncture. Your condition should be related to blockages in your meridians; all the prescriptions I provided were based on this diagnosis, which means the approach is correct. It''s just that the side effects of the medicine are too strong for your body to endure," Tang Yiyuan said with a hint of helplessness as he looked at the woman before him.

    Not only was Tang Yiyuan a professor and doctoral supervisor at Jiangnan Province University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, but he was also engaged as an expert by Yongchun Hall, where he would hold a clinic every Monday morning. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Today was Monday, so he was sitting in Yongchun Hall''s expert clinic.

    "That probably won''t work; I even made a special trip to the capital earlier this year to ask Professor Wei Min, a famous acupuncturist, for treatment, but it was of no use," Liu Jiayao sighed.

    "I know Professor Wei Min. If even she can''t help, then maybe acupuncture really isn''t the solution... However, there might be someone who could treat your condition," Tang Yiyuan began with a sigh, shaking his head, when suddenly the face of a youthful boy flashed through his mind, prompting him to change the direction of the conversation instinctively.

    "Who?" Liu Jiayao''s eyes brightened dramatically, and she asked eagerly.

    Liu Jiayao''s strange illness began when she was twenty-three. That year, her parents died in a sudden car accident. On hearing the terrible news, she fainted on the spot. In the following years, she often fainted inexplicably. Despite extensive tests at several major hospitals, including abroad, no diagnosis was made. It was speculated that the cause might be related to abnormal heart muscle function; sometimes, her heart''s contractions weren''t strong enough, leading to inadequate blood supply to the brain, resulting in these unusual symptoms. Since there were no organ abnormalities to explain the symptoms, doctors had no effective treatment or medication, only advising her to exercise more to strengthen her heart.

    So for years, Liu Jiayao had persisted with exercise, which helped her develop a toned and shapely figure, particularly her round and pert buttocks, which could capture a man''s soul if she wore a tight-fitting dress. Yet, the bizarre fainting spells still occurred intermittently.

    Out of desperation, Liu Jiayao turned to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Despite consulting many well-known doctors and consuming plenty of bitter concoctions, there was little to no effect. Only the prescription from Tang Yiyuan had some effect, but the side effects were also significant. After taking it for a while, the issues with her stomach and painful menstruation became unbearable, forcing her to seek help once again.

    When Tang Yiyuan previously admitted there was nothing he could do, she had felt a sense of despair; but now, suddenly hearing him mention someone who might be able to cure her, Liu Jiayao clung to the hope like a drowning person grasping for a lifeline.

    "This, this person... I also don''t know where he is," Tang Yiyuan hesitantly replied, finding it difficult to confront the hope in Liu Jiayao''s eyes, which resembled that of a drowning person clutching at a straw for salvation.

    "You don''t know? How could you not know?" Liu Jiayao responded, taken aback, her bright eyes quickly dulling.

    "I''m sorry, I only just this morning..." Seeing the look of despair on Liu Jiayao''s face, Tang Yiyuan regretted mentioning Ge Dongxu.

    Since he did not know Ge Dongxu''s whereabouts, why raise her hopes, only to cruelly dash them again?

    Tang Yiyuan had not finished speaking when the knock on the door sounded.

    "Come in." Tang Yiyuan frowned slightly, speaking with some displeasure. He usually let one patient in only after the previous one had left. Now that Liu Jiayao had not yet left and someone was knocking, it made Tang Yiyuan, already in a somewhat bad mood, feel even worse.

    "Professor Tang is seeing a patient, I''m sorry, miss, I have something to discuss with Professor Tang, and it will only take a few minutes of your time." The door was pushed open, and in came Liu, the head of the procurement department, followed by Ge Dongxu.

    "No problem, I''m done anyway." Liu Jiayao forced a smile, not noticing that Professor Tang Yiyuan looked as if he had just seen a ghost, staring straight at Ge Dongxu.

    "Is it you?" Ge Dongxu had not expected to encounter Tang Yiyuan here, and was taken aback.

    "Yeah, Dongxu, I didn''t expect to see you again so soon." As soon as Ge Dongxu spoke, Tang Yiyuan immediately came back to his senses, a joyful smile appearing on his face.

    "Professor Tang, you know this Mr. Ge?" Liu, the department head, was no less surprised than Tang Yiyuan when he first laid eyes on Ge Dongxu, the youth from the countryside.

    "On my way back to Linzhou from my hometown this morning, we happened to sit in the same row on the train," Tang Yiyuan, aware that Ge Dongxu disliked ostentation, replied casually.

    "So that''s how it is. I was wondering how Professor Tang could know Mr. Ge, it turns out to be a coincidence!" Liu, the department head, showed a face of relief, while also secretly breathing a sigh of relief.

    This was because Tang Yiyuan had a lot of prestige in the Traditional Chinese Medicine community of Jiangnan Province, and he was very knowledgeable about Chinese medicine. If he had a relationship with Ge Dongxu, there would be no way Liu could take advantage of Ge Dongxu when negotiating prices.

    Although Liu now regarded Ge Dongxu with an entirely equal eye and went by the book when it came to handling affairs, when it came to the final price negotiation, he would definitely try to take a cut from Ge Dongxu. After all, Ge Dongxu was young, not from the industry, and despite having done some research, his knowledge of insider dealings was limited.

    But if Tang Yiyuan stepped in, then Liu would have no chance to cheat Ge Dongxu.

    "Thank you, Professor Tang, I won''t disturb you any longer, I''ll take my leave." Liu Jiayao forced a smile towards Tang Yiyuan and then prepared to leave.

    "Ms. Liu, there''s no rush, there might still be hope for your condition. After I finish discussing things with Liu, we can talk about your illness," Tang Yiyuan said hastily, stopping her as she was about to leave.

    Liu Jiayao did not realize that the man Tang Yiyuan had mentioned earlier, who might be able to cure her odd illness, was now right in front of her. Seeing that Tang Yiyuan had just previously claimed there was no solution, yet now suddenly called her back, she couldn''t help but feel a hint of confusion. However, having hope was certainly better than none, so Liu Jiayao did not hesitate to stay. She thanked Tang Yiyuan, then turned her somewhat curious and doubtful gaze towards the young man who was dressed in a rustic manner, clearly from a small rural area.

    ps: Continue to support with three updates today, let''s push the new book higher in the rankings!

 Chapter 51 Thats the young man from before

    "Section Chief Liu, what seems to be the matter?" Tang Yiyuan called out to Liu Jiayao, then turned to address Section Chief Liu. His gaze then shifted with a hint of confusion toward Ge Dongxu, who was with him. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.He could naturally tell that this issue was related to Ge Dongxu.

    "Professor Tang, the situation is this: Mr. Ge has a wild Polygonum multiflorum he wants to sell to our Yongchun Hall. He claims this wild Polygonum multiflorum is a thousand years old. Just now, Teacher Zhang from the pharmacy helped us take a look and said it should be older than the one Yongchun Hall sold two years ago, but as to whether it''s really a thousand years old, he couldn''t confirm. I''m even less sure, so I wanted to ask for Professor Tang''s assistance to have a look," Section Chief Liu replied humbly.

    "A thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum? Bring it here; let me take a look," Tang Yiyuan exclaimed, his eyes shining eagerly as he urged.

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu took the Polygonum multiflorum out of his backpack and handed it to Tang Yiyuan.

    After briefly looking at it, Tang Yiyuan nodded excitedly and said, "Yes, this is a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum."

    "Professor Tang, don''t you need to look at it more carefully?" Section Chief Liu, seeing that Tang Yiyuan had hardly examined it before reaching a conclusion, quickly interjected a reminder, giving him a meaningful look as he spoke.

    On one hand, Section Chief Liu didn''t expect Professor Tang to reach a decision so quickly; on the other hand, he hoped Professor Tang would state a somewhat lower age, perhaps around eight hundred years or so, which would be close enough since the distinction between eight hundred years and a thousand years was already quite blurred and difficult to ascertain. But when it came to price, there was a significant gap. If Professor Tang pinned down the age as a thousand years, it would be difficult for him to negotiate the price later.

    Tang Yiyuan, old and shrewd as he was, clearly understood Section Chief Liu''s reminder and the meaning behind it. The problem was that the young man before him was no ordinary youth. From the moment Section Chief Liu mentioned that Ge Dongxu claimed it was a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, Tang Yiyuan had already believed there would be no discrepancy, and it was precisely because of this preconceived judgment that he did not scrutinize it carefully. Otherwise, had it been brought by someone else, he certainly would not have identified it so rapidly. After all, the price of a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum was astronomical for ordinary people!

    "No need to look further, there won''t be any mistake. Regarding the price, two years ago we at Yongchun Hall sold an eight hundred year old piece for one million, and this one is older. Moreover, the current market has improved compared to two years ago. If sold by Yongchun Hall, it could definitely fetch one million seven or eight hundred thousand. Considering such valuable medicinal material and our cost risk, I think a purchase price of around one million three hundred thousand is appropriate. I wonder if Dongxu is satisfied with this price?" Tang Yiyuan stated, and at the end, he did not look at Section Chief Liu but instead turned to Ge Dongxu.

    Section Chief Liu was completely dumbfounded upon hearing this!

    The heck, was Professor Tang really serving as an outpatient expert for Yongchun Hall anymore, or was he turning his back on them, laying things bare in such an upside-down fashion? There went his bargaining power.

    Even though Ge Dongxu had suspected that the price wouldn''t be too disappointing since he saw Tang Yiyuan, he was still secretly startled by the figure of one million three hundred thousand.

    This price had surpassed his expectations. He had anticipated a price ranging from nine hundred thousand to one million, knowing that Yongchun Hall would also want to make a profit. He never expected Tang Yiyuan to immediately suggest one million three hundred thousand.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu wasn''t foolish enough to tell Tang Yiyuan and Section Chief Liu that he didn''t need that much money. After considering it for a moment, he nodded and said, "Since Professor Tang proposed this price, let''s go with it."

    Damn it, what does it mean to accept the price just because Professor Tang says so, as if he''s doing Professor Tang a favor by agreeing to sell. This is absolutely acting coy after getting a good deal! Absolutely!

    Watching Ge Dongxu''s expression and tone, Section Chief Liu felt so frustrated he almost spat out blood.

    But Tang Yiyuan was a leading authority in traditional Chinese medicine in Jiangnan Province, and he had good relations with the owner of Yongchun Hall; otherwise, with his status, he might not condescend to hold a half-day clinic at Yongchun Hall every week. Since he had spoken up, Section Chief Liu naturally couldn''t object. Moreover, Tang Yiyuan''s analysis was based on the actual situation. If Yongchun Hall were to purchase at that price, they stood to profit, so there was no reason for Section Chief Liu to push away such a surefire profitable deal.

    "Sure, let''s settle on that price! Do you have a bank account? I''ll notify our finance department to transfer the money into your account. One million three hundred thousand is a huge sum; it''s definitely not suitable to pay in cash," Chief Liu said with resignation, wincing as he mentioned the sum of one million three hundred thousand.

    "I do, here''s my bank card," Ge Dongxu said as he promptly took out his bank card.

    "Then come with me to the finance department," said Chief Liu, his teeth clenched with resentment at how smoothly and elegantly Ge Dongxu produced his bank card.

    One million three hundred thousand, just like that! This country bumpkin of a kid digs up some Polygonum multiflorum and sells it for one million three hundred thousand, while I''ve been slaving away without ever having made that much in my whole life!

    "Okay," Ge Dongxu nodded, then turned to Professor Tang Yiyuan and said, "Thank you, Professor Tang. I''ll come back later."

    "Don''t mention it; you deserve it," Professor Tang replied with a smile, evidently pleased upon hearing that Ge Dongxu would return later, hurriedly responding with courtesy.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled and didn''t say much, following Chief Liu out.

    "Professor Tang, you just said that there''s still hope for my illness. Could it be you''ve thought of a new prescription?" Liu Jiayao finally got the chance to speak with Tang Yiyuan once Ge Dongxu had left.

    Although the amount of the transaction was enormous, it wasn''t much for Liu Jiayao, so she was more concerned about her illness.

    "No, I''m afraid there''s nothing I can do for your illness. But remember, I mentioned someone who might be able to treat your rare condition? I didn''t know where he was before, but now I do," Tang Yiyuan said with a smile.

    "Really? Where is he?" Liu Jiayao asked excitedly.

    "It''s the young man who was just here, Ge Dongxu," Tang Yiyuan replied with a smile.

    "What? You mean that young man from before?" Liu Jiayao''s beautiful eyes widened in shock. In her wildest dreams, she would not have imagined that the doctor who could possibly cure her strange illness, as mentioned by Tang Yiyuan, would not be an old traditional medicine practitioner or a young talent in the Chinese medicine community, but a rural-looking youth!

    "Exactly, it''s him. It''s a good thing he''s not here now because with the attitude you had earlier, I would have been embarrassed to ask for his help," Tang Yiyuan said earnestly.

    Liu Jiayao, who had become the head of a company and steered its business to flourishing success, making Qinglan Cosmetics well-known throughout the Jiangnan region and gaining a certain market share in Huaxia Country, was naturally a very shrewd and intelligent woman, not just a pretty face.

    Once Tang Yiyuan elaborated, she immediately understood why Tang Yiyuan had taken Ge Dongxu''s side during the Polygonum multiflorum sale instead of siding with Yongchun Hall; he identified the herb very quickly without detailed inspection, clearly placing great trust in the young man.

    But Ge Dongxu did not look like a doctor at all, and his age made it quite difficult to associate him with a miraculous doctor capable of treating complicated diseases. Even with her great trust in Tang Yiyuan, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but express her doubt, "Professor Tang, can he... can he really do it?"

    ps: I recommend my friend''s new book, "The Extraordinary Soldier King." If you like action-packed stories, feel free to check it out and add it to your collection, thank you.

 Chapter 52 Taking the Pulse

    "No doctor can cure all diseases, and I certainly can''t guarantee he can do it. But his medical skills are unique, especially in some difficult and complicated cases where even I can admit I''m no match for him. So, if there''s anyone in this world who can heal your condition, I believe he is definitely one of them," Tang Yiyuan thought and then replied.After leaving the train station, on the road, Tang Yiyuan kept thinking over and over about the incident on the train and his conversation with Ge Dongxu. Eventually, he realized a harsh truth: although Ge Dongxu was much younger than him, his medical skills were likely superior to his own, even incomparable in some aspects. For instance, the miraculous method of treating asthma, Tang Yiyuan knew, it would be very hard to find a second person like that in the world.

    It was precisely because of this that when he saw Liu Jiayao''s look of despair, he suddenly thought of Ge Dongxu.

    Seeing Tang Yiyuan say this, Liu Jiayao, even if skeptical, found it inappropriate to express doubt and could only hope that the young man was as impressive as Tang Yiyuan described.

    But whenever she thought about that young face still carrying a trace of immaturity, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help feeling disheartened.

    This was, after all, a strange illness that many formidable Eastern and Western doctors hadn''t been able to solve. Could a young man really do it?

    "Ms. Liu, while we''re waiting for Ge Dongxu to arrive, I''ll see the other patients who have registered. When he arrives, I''ll discuss your situation with him and see if he''s willing to help. I forgot to mention, he''s a peculiar young man¡ªin layman''s terms, what we usually describe as a recluse who hides in the city. Such people often have quirky temperaments, so I can''t guarantee that I can convince him to help treat your illness, and you should be prepared. Also, don''t put on airs just because he''s younger," Tang Yiyuan instructed, and recalling how he got rebuked by Ge Dongxu on the train for showing off his seniority, his face couldn''t help but feel a bit hot.

    With Tang Yiyuan''s urging, Liu Jiayao, whose spirits were somewhat low, felt hope rise again and hurriedly said, "Thank you, Professor Tang. I''ll be mindful of that. You go ahead; I''ll wait outside."

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    "Okay, then I won''t stand on ceremony," Tang Yiyuan responded with a nod.

    To take care of the expert''s health and to allow enough time for the diagnostic process, the number of expert consultation slots is usually limited per day.

    Tang Yiyuan, with his extensive medical practice experience, quickly saw to the patients who had registered later since none of their conditions were severe. By the time Ge Dongxu returned to the expert consultation room, Tang Yiyuan had only one patient left to see.

    Ge Dongxu naturally didn''t want to disturb Tang Yiyuan, so he also prepared to wait outside.

    At this moment, his expression appeared as calm as ever, but his heart was beating much faster than usual because the bank card in his pocket now contained a whopping 1.3 million yuan.

    For any ordinary young person, this would have already caused an emotional breakdown, yet he managed to maintain a calm expression, which was definitely no small feat. A slightly faster heartbeat was indeed nothing out of the ordinary.

    "Hello, my name is Liu Jiayao. We just met in Professor Tang''s clinic room. I''m pleased to meet you." As Ge Dongxu walked towards the clinic room, Liu Jiayao started to observe him stealthily after seeing him handle the huge sum of 1.3 million yuan with a still calm expression. She finally began to believe that this young man was not ordinary and remembered that her own illness still depended on this young man, so she stood up, swayed her graceful waist, walked up to him, and extended her delicate hand.

    "Hello, my name is Ge Dongxu, and I''m also pleased to meet you." Ge Dongxu, who had seen a few beautiful women by now, felt a moment of nervousness when he saw such a beautiful woman like Liu Jiayao extending her hand towards him, but then he returned the gesture with a slight smile and shook her hand gently.

    Her hand was soft but surprisingly cold.

    Ge Dongxu frowned slightly involuntarily but said nothing.

    "I''m older than you, may I call you by your first name?" Liu Jiayao, being a company president herself, naturally had some social skills. Seeing that Ge Dongxu didn''t seem averse to interacting with her and wasn''t as temperamental as the rumors suggested, she elegantly brushed her hair with her hand, smiled, and asked in a friendly and casual manner that didn''t make one feel alienated or awkward.

    "Of course, you can, Ms. Liu," Ge Dongxu nodded and smiled.

    Beautiful women always tend to make men feel good, especially when the beauty initiates contact. Few men could resist her charm, and Ge Dongxu was no exception. Moreover, he was naturally a simple man from the mountains; he treated others as kindly as they treated him.

    Finding that Ge Dongxu was much easier to get along with than she had imagined, Liu Jiayao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, just thinking about continuing to chat with Ge Dongxu when the door to the clinic opened, and the last patient had finished their visit.

    "Dongxu, you''re here, why didn''t you come in?" Tang Yiyuan saw that Ge Dongxu was already standing outside and was slightly startled, then hurriedly smiled and said. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You were seeing a patient. How could I disturb you?" Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    "Hehe, saying that makes me feel like you''re treating me like a stranger. Your medical skills are even more profound than mine, so how could you be a disturbance?" Tang Yiyuan laughed.

    Noticing that Tang Yiyuan had cleverly concealed Ge Dongxu''s identity in front of Director Liu, but now in front of Liu Jiayao, he made no attempt to hide it. Moreover, when Ge Dongxu had held Liu Jiayao''s hand earlier, he felt it was very cold, and Tang Yiyuan had specifically asked Liu Jiayao to stay earlier, Ge Dongxu realized that Tang Yiyuan probably wanted him to help diagnose this beautiful lady.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t want to make a fuss at the moment, but he owed Tang Yiyuan a favor, and Liu Jiayao had left a good impression on him, so he wasn''t upset about Tang Yiyuan taking the liberty to bring him a patient. Instead, he walked into the clinic with a smile, humbly saying, "I''m just a student, I can''t compare to Professor Tang."

    Without waiting for Tang Yiyuan to exchange pleasantries, Ge Dongxu turned to Liu Jiayao and asked, "Do you mind if I take your pulse?"

    "Of course not, thank you so much, Dr. Ge," Liu Jiayao didn''t expect Ge Dongxu to volunteer and was overjoyed, hurriedly said. As Ge Dongxu explicitly revealed his identity, Liu Jiayao also appropriately changed how she addressed him.

    "Hehe, just call me by my name, I''m not really a doctor, my main occupation is being a student," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Really? You''re just a student?" Liu Jiayao exclaimed in surprise.

    She thought prodigies didn''t need to attend school.

    "Of course, at my age, what else would I be doing if not studying?" Ge Dongxu said, laughing as he stretched out three fingers to take Liu Jiayao''s pulse at the "inch, bar, and cubit" positions.

    "In recent years, have you been experiencing occasional dizziness or even fainting spells?" Ge Dongxu asked closely after taking her pulse. He didn''t ask Liu Jiayao to show her tongue but frowned slightly.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu spoke, not only was Liu Jiayao shocked to the point of losing color in her face, but even Tang Yiyuan, the experienced herbalist, was so astonished that his mouth fell open.

    While diagnosing Liu Jiayao''s dizziness through her pulse was within Tang Yiyuan''s capability, further asserting that she had fainting spells was beyond his abilities.

    ps: That''s it for today''s update, continued support is greatly appreciated, thank you very much!

 Chapter 53 Treatment Methods

    "Yes, yes, Doctor Ge, you are absolutely right. This phenomenon started happening four years ago." After the shock, Liu Jiayao nodded repeatedly, her beautiful eyes sparkling with anticipation and admiration as she looked at Ge Dongcheng.Ge Dongxu was somewhat uncomfortable with Liu Jiayao''s gaze and shifted slightly, pondering for a moment before speaking, "Did something frightening happen to you four years ago, causing your emotions to fluctuate greatly?"

    At this point, Liu Jiayao and Tang Yiyuan were so astonished that they could hardly speak.

    Especially Tang Yiyuan, as a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, he knew how difficult it was for a doctor to diagnose an illness as if seeing it with his own eyes!

    "Four years ago, my parents died in a car accident, and I was indeed greatly frightened," Liu Jiayao finally regained her composure after a long while, her eyes slightly reddening as she responded.

    "I''m sorry! I didn''t mean to remind you of the painful memories," Ge Dongxu, although able to guess that something frightening had happened to Liu Jiayao a few years ago, did not expect it to be such a tragic event, and he sincerely apologized.

    "It''s been four years now, and I''ve gradually adapted. Doctor Ge, can my illness be cured?" Liu Jiayao wiped the corner of her eye and then looked at Ge Dongxu with a face full of hope.

    She was still young and naturally did not want to one day faint and never wake up.

    "This..." Ge Dongxu looked at Liu Jiayao with a troubled expression on his face.

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    Seeing the troubled expression on Ge Dongxu''s face, Liu Jiayao thought he could not treat her. Her hopeful expression gradually faded, and she gave Ge Dongxu a tragically beautiful smile, saying, "Even though it can''t be cured, I still thank you very much."

    Seeing the tragically beautiful smile on Liu Jiayao''s face, Ge Dongxu felt an inexplicable pain in his heart and blurted out, "I didn''t say it couldn''t be cured, I just, just..."

    "Just what? You say, no matter how much it costs, one million, two million, five million, I can give it all to you." Liu Jiayao''s face suddenly lit up brilliantly, and in her excitement, she abruptly grabbed Ge Dongxu''s hands.

    "I don''t treat illnesses for money! You don''t need to worry, it''s just that your condition is a bit inconvenient for me to treat," Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile as he gently pulled his hands away from Liu Jiayao.

    "Not for money?" Liu Jiayao was slightly stunned, her gaze at Ge Dongxu slowly turning bewildered. She found that she could no longer see through the young man in front of her.

    Hadn''t he just been selling wild Polygonum multiflorum to make money a moment ago? And what could be so inconvenient about treating an illness?

    "Doctor Ge, do you mean to use massage or acupuncture instead of medication?" Tang Yiyuan, after all, was a doctor and had some understanding of Liu Jiayao''s condition. In addition, having witnessed Ge Dongxu''s miraculous massage technique in the morning on the train, he quickly grasped what Ge Dongxu meant when he said that.

    However, Tang Yiyuan''s way of addressing Ge Dongxu experienced a subtle change; he no longer called him by his name but switched to Dr. Ge.

    Clearly, Ge Dongxu''s diagnosis had completely won over Tang Yiyuan!

    "You''re right. The main reason Ms. Liu experiences dizziness and even fainting is due to blockages in the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian and the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, causing hindered circulation, which results in an insufficient supply of Qi-Blood to the heart. The natural treatment method would be to unblock these two meridians. Originally, we could have used medication for treatment, but just now when I was diagnosing Ms. Liu''s pulse, I found that she had been previously prescribed a high dosage of medication to unblock the meridians, which damaged her gastrointestinal organs. Now, using more medication might not be appropriate because while it might cure this, it could cause ailments elsewhere," said Ge Dongxu, nodding.

    "Cough, cough, that prescription was written by me before, I was indeed rash," said Tang Yiyuan, his face flushing with embarrassment and guilt as he interjected. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Your idea to unblock the meridians is correct, but the consideration was not thorough enough. A major difference between Chinese medicine and Western medicine is that Chinese medicine treats the human as a whole, not just treating the head for a headache or the foot for foot pain. You only focused on unblocking the meridians, forgetting about Ms. Liu''s visceral tolerance, which actually resembles more of a Western medical treatment. Your prescription should have taken these factors into account," Ge Dongxu said.

    "What Dr. Ge said is correct," Tang Yiyuan nodded in agreement.

    Watching the scene unfold, Liu Jiayao was so shocked that her red lips parted slightly, forgetting about her own medical treatment.

    The scene should have been one where a professor lectures a youth, but here it was a youth instructing and criticizing a professor, while the professor nodded continuously like a student.

    "Due to this mistake, the current treatment options can only consider acupuncture and massage," said Ge Dongxu, pausing slightly with a hint of difficulty on his face.

    As both of these meridians pass through the chest, and the "Tianchi" acupoint of the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian is even above the breasts, achieving better results would ideally involve a whole-body meridian unblocking. If it were a man, Ge Dongxu would naturally have no hesitation, but for a delicate urban beauty, how could the young man not feel awkward?

    Was he supposed to ask this older sister figure in front of him to strip off her clothes for a full-body acupuncture and massage treatment?

    "Does acupuncture and massage really work? I went to Professor Wei Min in the capital city for acupuncture before, but it didn''t have much effect," said Liu Jiayao, who had previously experienced acupuncture focusing on the chest area in Beijing. Now, she finally understood why Ge Dongxu felt awkward and said it was inconvenient. Although Liu Jiayao was a female executive not typically prone to shyness, her cheeks burned and her voice trembled as she asked.

    "If you were just feeling a slight dizziness, ordinary acupuncture would be effective. But since you have progressed to fainting, it suggests that the blockages in your meridians are quite severe, and ordinary acupuncture can no longer help you unblock them; you would need my special acupuncture and massage techniques. Moreover, because of my limited abilities, one session wouldn''t be sufficient¡ªit might require seven or eight sessions. And since the meridians are interconnected, a full-body unblocking would be best, especially focusing on the chest area. Sadly, my master isn''t here; otherwise, he could cure you in one go," said Ge Dongxu, a wistful look in his eyes that quickly disappeared.

    "Since, since that''s the case, then, could I trouble Dr. Ge to help me with acupuncture, massage?" Liu Jiayao bit her glowing lips, her voice trembling as she stuttered out her request after a long pause.

    "This... how about this? I''ll start by prescribing some medicine to regulate your stomach and body, and after about a year or half a year, once your gastrointestinal system is in optimal condition, I''ll prescribe you a formula to unblock the meridians. You should be able to be cured after taking it for some time. As there is a distinction between male and female, it''s inconvenient for you and also for me, wouldn''t you say?" Looking at Liu Jiayao, Ge Dongxu''s heart felt a bit uneasy.

    ps: Writing two books simultaneously, three updates per day for each has become unsustainable. The old book is nearing its end, and I plan to focus on it in the coming days, so I should be able to wrap it up by next week, which will lessen the mental strain. Therefore, for today and tomorrow, there will be one update in the morning and one in the afternoon, but no updates in the evening. Updates will resume to three times daily next week, and if I finish the old book, conditions permitting, there might occasionally be more frequent updates, but for the next two days, it will be two updates per day. I hope for your understanding.

 Chapter 54 Lets Go to My House

    "I''ve had enough of suddenly losing consciousness without knowing when; I don''t want to wait any longer. If you would help me with acupuncture and massage, let''s do it today," Liu Jiayao said through gritted teeth, bravely looking up at Ge Dongxu, no longer trembling and lowering her head as before."Dr. Ge, Miss Liu is a good person. She has sponsored many children in the mountains to enable them to have an education. For this reason, you shouldn''t let Miss Liu''s condition be delayed any further. Besides, a doctor''s duty is parental, and there''s no issue of convenience. Personally, I trust in your unique massage techniques even more," said Tang Yiyuan, seeing that Ge Dongxu was still somewhat hesitant, and began to persuade him after looking back at Liu Jiayao.

    "In that case, I can only offend." With even a young lady not minding and Tang Yiyuan saying such, Ge Dongxu really had no reason to refuse.

    Particularly when Tang Yiyuan mentioned that Liu Jiayao had also sponsored many children in the mountains, Ge Dongxu felt even more respect.

    "It''s not that you are offending me, but I should thank you! Thank you, Dr. Ge!" Liu Jiayao said, bowing deeply to Ge Dongxu.

    As she bowed, her neckline gaped slightly, revealing a flash of porcelain-white skin, which both excited and tormented the young Ge Dongxu inwardly.

    But with the words already spoken, he had no way to take them back. Moreover, Tang Yiyuan''s words were not wrong; the best cure for the condition was indeed acupuncture and massage. Of course, this kind of massage and acupuncture would definitely consume a large amount of Ge Dongxu''s True Qi, as his so-called unique method involved manipulating Qi to administer acupuncture and massage to help clear the Meridians. He just found it inconvenient to reveal that he utilized True Qi.

    "I do have a private room here. Miss Liu, would you prefer having Dr. Ge perform the acupuncture and massage here, or would you like to find another place?" seeing the two had made their decision, Tang Yiyuan asked.

    "Dr. Ge, could I invite you to come to my house to give me the acupuncture and massage?" Liu Jiayao asked Ge Dongxu instead of replying to Tang Yiyuan.

    Women often tend to have a bit of cleanliness obsession, especially those like Liu Jiayao who come from good families. Under the premise of needing to remove all her clothing, naturally, if given a choice, she would prefer it to be done at home. Moreover, this way she could feel more at ease and relaxed.

    "I''m the same anywhere, just choose wherever you feel more relaxed," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Then let''s go to my house," Liu Jiayao said, then turned to Tang Yiyuan and added gratefully, "Professor Tang, I really owe you a huge thanks. Today is not convenient, but I''ll make sure to visit you another day to express my gratitude."

    "Miss Liu, you''re being too polite. I didn''t really do much. In fact, I might have caused you some trouble," Tang Yiyuan replied.

    "Professor Tang, please don''t say that; my condition is already difficult to treat as it is," Liu Jiayao hastily responded.

    "For us maybe, but not for Dr. Ge," Tang Yiyuan said self-deprecatingly.

    "Professor Tang, your medical skills are very impressive. It''s just, just¡­ never mind. I''ll leave my address; you can write to me if there''s anything, but it''s best not to visit me. My parents still want me to study hard and get into a good university," Ge Dongxu initially wanted to compliment Tang Yiyuan, but felt it seemed a bit disingenuous, as in his eyes, Tang Yiyuan''s medical skills were at most above average. So, halfway through, he simply picked up a pen and paper and left his school and class for Tang Yiyuan.

    That morning on the train, Tang Yiyuan had wanted his contact information, but at that time Ge Dongxu was still wary of him and could not fully trust him. Now, discovering that although Tang Yiyuan''s medical skills were not impressive, he was indeed a decent person, a true benevolent doctor, he decided to leave his contact information.

    Fortunately, no one knew what Ge Dongxu was thinking at the time; otherwise, if someone found out a young man dared to secretly criticize Tang Yiyuan''s medical skills, they''d surely jump up and scold him angrily. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Tang Yiyuan never expected that after having been unable to ask for Ge Dongxu''s contact information on the train earlier, and now seeing his medical skills becoming even more miraculous, hardly daring to hope anymore, Ge Dongxu would actually take the initiative to leave his contact information. Although he said it was best not to seek him out, he mentioned that it was possible to write letters, which meant that Ge Dongxu didn''t mind if he reached out for advice when in trouble.

    This was an unexpected joy for Tang Yiyuan. He quickly took the paper with Ge Dongxu''s contact information and carefully put it away, saying, "Dr. Ge, rest assured, I will absolutely not disturb you unless absolutely necessary. Even if I really need something, I will seek you out privately and will definitely not alert anyone else."

    This time, Tang Yiyuan, an elderly professor and expert, used honorifics when addressing Ge Dongxu. This was very rare in Jiangnan Province. Because people in the South are different from people in the North, due to custom, Southerners seldom use the polite form "you" and generally just use "you", even toward elders on regular occasions. It is only when they deliberately want to express respect that they use the word "you". For example, when subordinates want to flatter their leaders, they will deliberately use "you", or sometimes when dealing with Northerners, who often say "you", Southerners also have to follow suit, otherwise, it would seem arrogant. In fact, when Southerners say "you", it doesn''t mean disrespect.

    At this time, Tang Yiyuan''s use of "you" was obviously intended to express his respect for Ge Dongxu, hoping to seek his advice when facing future difficulties.

    "Then it''s settled! I took a day off to come to the Provincial Capital today and must rush back to Changxi County before class tomorrow morning, so I won''t delay any longer. If there''s anything in the future, we can contact through letters." Having heard Tang Yiyuan say this, Ge Dongxu also felt completely relieved, exchanged a few more words, then left the clinic with Liu Jiayao.

    Tang Yiyuan initially wanted to see them out, but Ge Dongxu declined. Knowing Ge Dongxu''s character, Tang Yiyuan did not insist.

    Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu left the specialist clinic together and went downstairs.

    Downstairs was the registration hall, where a bold and vigorous young woman, about the same age as Liu Jiayao, was sitting. Seeing Liu Jiayao come down, she quickly stood up and approached her.

    "Ms. Liu, are you leaving?" the woman greeted as she approached. Her eyes skeptically scanned Ge Dongxu a few times, unsure of who this plainly dressed young man was, wondering why he was with her boss.

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    "Yes. Dongxu, this is my driver, Li Min. Li Min, this is my friend Ge Dongxu. You can call him Mr. Ge," Liu Jiayao nodded, then said.

    This was an agreement the two had privately made after leaving the specialist clinic. This form of address was mainly because Ge Dongxu did not want to draw too much attention to himself. After all, being a sixteen-year-old doctor, it would be hard not to attract others'' attention.

    Upon hearing this, Li Min''s eyes showed a flash of shock, but she quickly dismissed it.

    A sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy called a mister?

    Of course, Li Min was just a driver. Whatever her boss said, she would follow; thinking to herself was enough, and she wouldn''t voice her thoughts.

    ps: I need to focus on finishing the old book first, so there will be only this much update today. Please understand and continue to support the book, much appreciated.

 Chapter 55 I Dont See a Doctor for Money

    "Hello, Sister Liu," Ge Dongxu extended his hand, greeting her proactively."Hello, Mr. Ge," Li Min''s eyes flickered again with a hint of surprise. She hadn''t expected this young man, dressed so plainly, to behave so generously and appropriately, nothing like his attire or age.

    "Just call me Dongxu, ''Mr. Ge'' is too awkward," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "You''re a friend of Boss Liu, I wouldn''t dare to call you by your first name," Li Min replied with a smile, then started to lead the way.

    It wasn''t long before they reached the parking lot, which was quite empty, unlike now, where cars are parked everywhere. Of course, there were hardly any luxury cars, mostly black Nissan Sentras or white Volkswagen Jettas, along with a few Citroens and Xialis, so Liu Jiayao''s imported black Audi 200 stood out prominently parked there.

    Ge Dongxu spotted that car at a glance and was thinking that it was nice when Li Min had already walked forward, opened the rear car door, and tried to let Liu Jiayao take a seat. But Liu Jiayao stopped instead, turned to Ge Dongxu, and said, "Dongxu, after you."

    Ge Dongxu didn''t stand on ceremony with Liu Jiayao, and ducked into the Audi 200.

    Oftentimes, it''s not until you compare that you realize the gap between things. The first time Ge Dongxu rode in a sedan, he thought the taxi was very comfortable, far better than those rickety minibuses from the countryside. Now, sitting in the Audi 200 and touching its smooth leather seats, he couldn''t help but exclaim, "This is a really nice car! It even feels comfortable to the touch."

    Upon hearing this, a mocking glint flashed in Li Min''s eyes; she thought to herself, a country bumpkin is still a country bumpkin, probably never in his life had he ridden in such a nice car.

    This wasn''t Li Min''s fault. At that time, being able to drive was considered quite impressive, and even more so for a woman. Although Li Min was just a driver, her income was higher than many pharmacists at Yongchun Hall. Moreover, accompanying Liu Jiayao, she met government officials and business owners, which naturally elevated her perspective. For someone dressed as plainly as Ge Dongxu, if not for Liu Jiayao''s connection, she really wouldn''t have spared him a second glance.

    "Hehe, it''s not that expensive, just about four hundred thousand. You''re now a millionaire, you could easily buy one if you really wanted to," Liu Jiayao said with a smile.

    "You make it sound so easy, just about four hundred thousand. If I spent that way, my little bit of money wouldn''t last long!" Ge Dongxu said, laughing.

    The conversation between the two made Li Min, who was driving, jolt her hand on the steering wheel, nearly hitting a middle-aged man who was crossing the street on a bicycle.

    Goodness, you really can''t judge a book by its cover, this plain-looking young man is actually a millionaire!

    "If you can''t bear to spend that money, I could buy one and give it to you," Liu Jiayao said.

    Upon hearing this, Li Min''s hand on the steering wheel trembled once more.

    A forty-thousand vehicle! Even if you wanted to give a gift, this wasn''t the way to do it! Besides, the other party was just a countryside youth.

    "Hehe, I''m only sixteen this year, still a high school student, even if you gave me a car, I wouldn''t have any use for it," Ge Dongxu said, laughing.

    Only then did Liu Jiayao realize that Ge Dongxu was still young, and even with a car, he wouldn''t be able to drive it, so she could only laugh awkwardly.

    Liu Jiayao''s apartment was a twenty-story high-rise situated alongside the Jinglin River that flowed across the urban area.

    It was the first generation of high-rise residential apartments in the whole of Linzhou City and truly a high-class living area. Inside, there was an elevator, central air conditioning, as well as a security entrance system. Whenever someone visited, the residents could simply use the intercom to inquire and even see the visitor''s appearance on TV, just like in some of the buildings featured in Hong Kong TV dramas. Thus, to the ordinary people, living in these high-rise apartments was akin to living in Hong Kong.

    At that time, Hong Kong symbolized an extremely developed place, not like now when some cities in Huaxia Country''s mainland have caught up with, and in some respects are not inferior to, Hong Kong.

    Of course, such upscale apartments came with a hefty price tag, with per square meter reaching around five thousand, while the surrounding ordinary apartments only cost one to two thousand per square meter at most.

    Although Ge Dongxu had visited the Changxi Grand Hotel, and one could say he had seen the world for a rural person, a hotel differed from a residential property. Thus, when he first entered the Yadu Garden, this first-generation high-rise apartment with Liu Jiayao, Ge Dongxu still felt a sense of amazement. Especially since Liu Jiayao''s apartment was on the nineteenth floor, where standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows allowed one to overlook the broad Jinglin River and most of Linzhou City.

    This was because at that time, even though Linzhou City was the provincial capital, it lacked many skyscrapers, and the urban area was not that large.

    "This place is really nice!" Ge Dongxu stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the view below, feeling a sense of achievement and could not help but exclaim.

    "If you like it, there are still a few unsold units in Yadu Garden. I can help you buy one, so in two or three years if you come to Linzhou City for university, you''ll have a place to stay off campus," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Sister Liu, I''ve already said, I don''t cure patients for money. It''s like this now and it will be the same in the future. I won''t use my medical skills to make a living. If I did, I would lose my way of life," Ge Dongxu said, knowing Liu Jiayao''s intentions, he spoke with a serious face. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s resolute statement, Liu Jiayao stopped thinking about compensation and said with a smile, "It seems I''ll owe you a favor for the rest of my life that I won''t be able to repay."

    "You trust my medical skills so much? Aren''t you afraid you''re speaking too soon?" Ge Dongxu, now familiar with Liu Jiayao, spoke casually, losing the restraint one might have in front of a beautiful female executive.

    "If Professor Tang trusts you so much that he seeks your advice, what reason do I have not to believe you? If even you can''t cure my illness, then I''ll completely give up the hope of seeking medical treatment. When the King of Hell calls for me, I''ll go," Liu Jiayao said as she looked at Ge Dongxu.

    "Cough cough, don''t speak so gravely. Alright, let''s start earlier. I still have things to do later, and after I finish, I still need to catch the six o''clock train in the evening," Ge Dongxu hurriedly interrupted, seeing that Liu Jiayao was becoming a bit pessimistic.

    When Ge Dongxu mentioned starting, it reminded Liu Jiayao of the upcoming session, and her face turned red all of a sudden. She spoke in a very soft voice, "I''ll take a quick shower first."

    She didn''t wait for Ge Dongxu to respond, hurriedly entering her master bedroom and then closing the door.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu smiled wryly and shook his head. It was just a matter of needling and simple physical therapy; did it really require a special bath and change of clothes?

    Ge Dongxu waited outside for about fifteen minutes before the door of the master bedroom swung open. Liu Jiayao, wrapped in a white bathrobe, revealed a hint of snow-white chest, her hair casually draped over her shoulders and glistening with a few drops of water, looking exceptionally alluring.

    ps: Today I continue to rush to finish the old book, so the new book will have just two updates today. However, the old book should be completed by tomorrow morning at the latest, which means I can devote myself to writing the new book. On Monday, because I''m aiming for the rank list, I will still post a chapter of the new book at midnight, so I ask for readers'' support with more recommendations, clicks, comments, and if possible, donations, for which I would be extremely grateful. Since it''s the initial stage of the new book, please don''t mind the more frequent requests for support.

 Chapter 56 The Theory of Meridian Circulation

    "I''m ready!" Liu Jiayao, thinking about the immediate task ahead, leaned weakly against the doorframe and bit her red lips as she said to Ge Dongxu, all the while telling herself repeatedly in her heart, he''s a doctor, he''s a doctor, and also a child, just a child!However, no matter how much Liu Jiayao tried to convince herself, she couldn''t ignore Ge Dongxu''s nearly 1.7 meters height, the clearly defined Adam''s apple, and the increasingly evident stubble on his lips.

    How could she possibly treat him as a child?

    Liu Jiayao didn''t realize how enticing she looked, wearing a bathrobe with slightly damp hair, leaning against the doorframe. If Ge Dongxu hadn''t been a man of pure heart and firm resolve, any other man would have probably pounced on her at this moment.

    "Okay!" Ge Dongxu took a deep breath and then, like a hero marching to execution, he lifted his head and walked towards the bedroom.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu approach, Liu Jiayao turned away from the door and walked to the bedside, turning her back to Ge Dongxu as she started to undo her bathrobe.

    "Wait a moment!" Ge Dongxu hurriedly exclaimed, his gaze quickly scanning the bedroom.

    The room was arranged to be very cozy and feminine, with everything in pink. Pink curtains, pink bedding, a pink vanity...

    Such a color scheme easily evoked images of a princess from a fairy tale, hardly reminiscent of a female corporate executive, a strong woman.

    Yet the room of Liu Jiayao, the female executive, the strong woman, was indeed all pink.

    Feeling the romantic and ambiguous pink decoration filling the bedroom, Ge Dongxu''s heart did not stir with any flirtatious thoughts, but rather, a strong sense of tender affection inexplicably rose within him.

    He knew that within the heart of this seemingly strong woman, she deeply yearned to be loved and pampered like a little princess, but the ones who could love and pamper her were no longer here. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Don''t I need to take it off for you to treat me?" Liu Jiayao''s hand froze on the tie, then slowly relaxed, as she turned around and asked Ge Dongxu, puzzled.

    "Before treating you, I need to explain a few things so that you are aware and can relax more during the treatment, and also cooperate with me. Otherwise, if you know nothing and your thoughts are in chaos and your energy scatters wildly, it might even affect me," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "Thank you, you are very thoughtful," Liu Jiayao said softly, appreciatively.

    "We have already become friends, so we don''t need to be so formal, let''s sit down and talk," Ge Dongxu said, scanning the bedroom only to awkwardly notice that aside from a chair near the vanity, there was no extra chair.

    "Let''s sit on the bed," Liu Jiayao said, seeing that Ge Dongxu had an honest and upright look, especially since his gaze at her just now had not only lacked any inappropriate thoughts but also carried a hint of compassion. This eased Liu Jiayao''s nerves, and she sat down on the soft Simmons bed, then patted the spot beside her.

    Ge Dongxu initially wanted to suggest moving to the living room, but seeing Liu Jiayao''s invitation to sit on the bed and remembering what they were about to do, he felt it was alright and walked over to sit next to Liu Jiayao on the Simmons bed.

    "This bed is so soft; actually, from a health and wellness perspective, it is better to sleep on a hard bed," Ge Dongxu remarked as he sat down and felt himself sink into the mattress, saying this without thinking.

    "But sleeping on a hard bed makes my bones ache, I like it soft," Liu Jiayao replied.

    "Well, alright then," Ge Dongxu said, just making a casual remark, and smiled helplessly as he nodded his head, then changed the topic, "Western medicine now believes the human body has two circulation systems: blood vessels and nerves, but traditional Chinese medicine believes there is also a Meridians circulation system. Blood vessels carry blood, nerves conduct electrical signals, but the Meridians carry Qi-Blood. The former two can be concretely located, but Meridians and Qi-Blood are still mysterious, no one can truly understand it or display it for others to see. However, Meridians do exist, and so does Qi-Blood. Hm, you might not understand when I say Qi-Blood, but if I say True Qi or the Qigong that Qigong masters practice, which people often talk about, then you''ll know. Qi-Blood actually refers to that special energy."

    "Ah, I understand when you mention Qigong. So, Qigong is real, not a scam?" Liu Jiayao asked. After she spoke, she suddenly felt as if she might be questioning Ge Dongxu too, and quickly added, "I don''t mean you, I know you truly have skills."

    "It should be said that most Qigong masters are fake, but there are real ones. It''s like fortune-telling, most are deceiving people, but real fortune tellers do exist, sorry, I digress. Back to Qi-Blood, well, let''s use True Qi instead, I''m more used to describing that special energy as True Qi. Because True Qi is like air, invisible to the naked eye, so we describe it as Qi. Both Meridians and that strand of True Qi are indeed inherent to humans and related to the life and death of a person, hence the saying, ''a man lives as long as he breathes, a Buddha fights for a stick of incense''. Here, ''Qi'' actually refers to that strand of True Qi within the Meridians," Ge Dongxu explained further.

    "So, the saying that ''a man lives as long as he breathes, a Buddha fights for a stick of incense'' has this interpretation," Liu Jiayao said with a glimmer in her eyes, unable to resist interjecting.

    "The human body has the Twelve Regular Meridians and the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, each of the Twelve Regular Meridians governs an organ within the body, and the body''s True Qi operates in each of the twelve meridians according to the twelve Chinese Hours, which is what is called ''midnight and noon channels'' flow. Cough cough, sorry, I digressed again."

    "No problem, what you are saying is eye-opening for me, very interesting," Liu Jiayao remarked.

    "So, if a certain organ has a problem, accordingly, the True Qi of the governing Meridian becomes obstructed at certain organ points, and then the person becomes ill. If methods like Acupuncture are used to stimulate certain Meridians and points, it can have a therapeutic effect. Conversely, if there is an issue with a Meridian and True Qi cannot flow through it, unable to provide life energy to the organs via the Meridians, the person will also become ill."

    "Oh, now that you''ve explained it, I completely understand. My current condition is exactly what you mentioned, the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian and another Meridian are blocked, which is why my heart has issues. No wonder, Western medicine couldn''t detect any problems; it''s the Meridians they can''t detect," Ge Dongxu had said. Now, Liu Jiayao finally understood fully. However, after realizing, she suddenly thought of another question and couldn''t help but ask again, "In martial arts novels, there''s often talk of unblocking Meridians, especially the governor and conception vessels and then becoming a martial arts master. But according to what you just said, Meridians are supposed to be unblocked already."

    ps: As the rankings battle on Monday is very important, I will try to rush out another chapter at midnight on Monday. Please support me in abundance then, dear readers.

 Chapter 57 Its okay, this is normal

    "Hehe, you''ve already pointed out that it''s just a martial arts novel. Are you really taking it seriously? However, if we look at it from another angle, what''s said in martial arts novels isn''t completely without sense. It''s true that people''s meridians are naturally interconnected and that breath circulates automatically through the Twelve Regular Meridians and the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. But the size and resilience of each person''s meridians and the strength of their breath vary. It''s like the world''s rivers¡ªeach river has its own size and flow rate.""If you reinterpret the martial arts novels'' concept of ''unblocking meridians'' as expanding and strengthening all meridians to allow the breath to circulate more smoothly, and considering that the governor and conception vessels are ''the master of all yin meridians'' and ''the sea of the yang meridians,'' respectively, then the martial arts novels make some sense. Your current condition is that the two meridians passing through your heart are blocked. Although the breath still gets through, it''s very difficult. If you let this go on, and the meridians become completely blocked, the breath will no longer circulate freely within you, and your life will reach its endpoint."

    "What I''m doing now is like the martial arts masters in novels, using my own inner strength, which is True Qi, to forcefully clear the blockage. Because my True Qi is very strong, and it''s invading from outside your body, you should be able to feel it if you keep a calm mind. When you do feel it, your thoughts must follow that sensation, and you must not let your mind wander. While breath normally circulates on its own¡ªbecause your brain can''t sense it¡ªonce you can feel its presence, you can direct it. So you must synchronize it with my movements and not resist me. Remember this well, otherwise both of us will suffer."

    "So that''s how it is. I''ve got it, don''t worry, I will cooperate with you!" Ge Dongxu explained very clearly and thoroughly, and Liu Jiayao was a smart woman. After his explanation, she fully understood the principles and methods of Ge Dongxu''s treatment.

    Of course, understanding Ge Dongxu''s principles and methods was one thing, but the mystery was another. To Liu Jiayao, she understood, but still found the concepts of meridians and True Qi very mystical and magical, which made Ge Dongxu seem even more incredible in her eyes. She really wanted to ask if he was a martial arts master, but since Ge Dongxu was already opening his backpack and solemnly taking out an old-fashioned sandalwood box, Liu Jiayao didn''t dare to ask these gossipy questions at that moment.

    "Should I undress now?" Liu Jiayao put away her curiosity and asked Ge Dongxu.

    Strangely, after Ge Dongxu''s explanation and their time together, Liu Jiayao was no longer nervous. Instead, she was eager to experience Ge Dongxu''s magical skills and wanted to feel that mysterious breath herself.

    "Yes!" Dongxu watched as Liu Jiayao gently untied the belt of her bathrobe, revealing a glimpse of springtime beneath. He couldn''t help but feel his mouth go dry, but he finally took a deep breath and nodded.

    Seeing Dongxu nod, Liu Jiayao lightly pulled the belt and the bathrobe slid to the floor, revealing her perfect, sculpture-like body before Dongxu.

    This was the first time Dongxu had seen a woman''s naked body. Liu Jiayao''s heart might not be well, but because she had faithfully exercised daily for years as advised by doctors, her figure was exceptionally well-proportioned and fit. At twenty-seven, she was at a time in a woman''s life when her body was most mature and alluring, creating a stunning vision that no artist could fully capture.

    Dongxu''s gaze was captivated by this indescribable beauty and remained fixed for a long time until Liu Jiayao, blushing, asked, "Should I lie down now?"

    "Ah, yes, I''m sorry, Sister Liu, please lie down," said Dongxu, coming back to his senses and filled with a deep sense of guilt.

    Because he had just entertained an inappropriate thought, a thought he should not have had.

    "It''s okay; it''s totally normal!" Seeing Dongxu''s self-reproaching expression, Liu Jiayao, far from blaming him, felt a strong sense of tender affection instead. She gently reassured him before lying down on the bed.

    There Jiayao lay, naked on the pink bed, an even greater temptation than before. However, after the previous moment, Dongxu had completely refocused his mind, his dark eyes now exceptionally clear and piercing.

    That piercing gaze made Jiayao feel as if he could see right through her, causing goosebumps all over her body and a vague sense of loss in her heart.

    It seems she preferred the way Ge Dongxu looked at her just now, yet with the feeling of loss, she grew ever more respectful towards him. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    She knew that a sixteen-year-old boy, able to exhibit such self-control in this situation, must be a person of firm determination and simple honesty. In all these years of interacting with all kinds of men, even when she was fully clothed, those men''s eyes seemed as if they could not wait to pierce through her clothes to glimpse her body.

    But Ge Dongxu, facing her naked body now, managed to keep his gaze clear and sharp, utterly unmoved. If it had not been for Dongxu''s brief moment of distraction and his obvious physical reaction just now, Liu Jiayao would have doubted his sexual orientation.

    Now, of course, she had no such doubts, only respect!

    "Because my abilities are limited for now, I won''t be able to completely clear your meridians using acupuncture alone, so later I will have to use my hands to massage them directly. You must be mentally prepared," Dongxu said gravely.

    "It''s okay! You''re the doctor, do whatever you think is necessary. I trust you," Liu Jiayao said.

    Liu Jiayao''s words made Ge Dongxu feel even more guilty about the wicked thoughts he had just entertained, and he silently warned himself not to let his mind wander again, then finally climbed onto the bed following her.

    Liu Jiayao''s biggest problem lay in the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian and another meridian. The former was manageable since it was mainly along the arm, with the most sensitive area being just under the armpit. However, the location of the first point "Tianchi" on the latter was on the breasts, which made Dongxu break out in nervous cold sweat.

    Liu Jiayao was no exception. She had never exposed her body in front of a boy, let alone allowed a boy to touch those sensitive spots while naked.

    When Ge Dongxu''s hands touched those sensitive spots, her body couldn''t help but shiver slightly.

    Fortunately, both knew this was a medical treatment and they had to restrain their feelings. Also, with anything, one tends to get used to it over time. So, after an initial period of discomfort and nervousness, both their emotions gradually returned to calm.

    Soon regaining her composure, Liu Jiayao indeed felt a very faint flow, like a stream of air, moving slowly inside her body along the locations of the two meridians, as Dongxu had said.

    Remembering Dongxu''s words, Liu Jiayao quickly let her thoughts follow the flow.

    As soon as her mind caught up with it, the flow seemed to grow stronger and become more noticeable.

    In this way, Liu Jiayao completely forgot that she was lying naked on the bed next to a man who was moving around on top of her.

    ps: It''s Monday, not only is Qidian continuing to fight for the rankings but QQ Book City has also started an official PK challenge. The results of the PK will determine subsequent recommendations, so I ask my readers for their strong support. The old book will end today, and the new book will definitely be updated more.

 Chapter 58 Moved [Vote for Recommendation on Monday]

    It was unclear how much time had passed when Liu Jiayao realized that no more external airflow was coming through and she could no longer feel that stream of air, which startled her awake. She hastily looked towards Ge Dongxu to find his whole complexion pale, his clothes soaked with sweat, and even sitting there, he appeared as if he might collapse at any moment.Seeing this scene filled Liu Jiayao''s eyes with tears all of a sudden. She scrambled out of bed, not caring that she was undressed, and looked at Ge Dongxu with concern, urgently asking, "Are you alright?"

    "It''s okay, it''s just that it''s my first time clearing someone''s meridians like this, and I''m a little inexperienced, so I''m somewhat drained," Ge Dongxu managed to squeeze out a smile as he replied.

    "It''s all my fault! Will this cause you to lose your cultivation power?" Seeing Ge Dongxu smile at her in such a state made the tears brimming in her eyes finally spill over.

    Since her parents had passed away, she couldn''t recall the last time someone had cared for her with such pure and selfless love, just like her parents did.

    Today, she felt it again.

    The young man before her had no connection to her, sought neither her money nor her beauty, yet he had given so much for her!

    "It seems Sister Liu is still a fan of the martial world. You''re thinking too much. It''s not that exaggerated, I just expended more energy and need some time to recover. Right now, please let me rest with my eyes closed. I have things to attend to this afternoon, so I must complete them promptly before I rush back to Changxi County, or else my headteacher will scold me," Ge Dongxu smiled at Liu Jiayao once more, then closed his eyes.

    Although Ge Dongxu spoke lightly, Liu Jiayao, watching him rest without any delay, could not hold back her tears, which flowed even more freely. After a long while, she finally wiped her tears, got out of bed, and got dressed.

    As she got dressed, Liu Jiayao suddenly realized how much more relaxed her entire body felt, especially around her chest. She had always had a lingering chest tightness and a faint pain, but today, it had significantly lessened, especially the pain, which was almost imperceptible.

    She had been so focused on Ge Dongxu that she hadn''t noticed the change in her body until now.

    This realization made Liu Jiayao not only happy but also deeply moved.

    After getting dressed, seeing Ge Dongxu still sitting in meditation with his eyes closed, Liu Jiayao, perhaps out of some inexplicable sentiment, did not leave the bedroom. Instead, she walked over to the bed, laid down with her chin propped on her hands, and watched Ge Dongxu meditate, her expression somewhat infatuated.

    As she watched, something crossed Liu Jiayao''s mind, making her face suddenly turn red and her eyes become bewildered.

    But quickly, her expression and gaze turned resolute, as if she had made some significant decision.

    Ge Dongxu really overexerted himself this time by clearing Liu Jiayao''s Meridians, so much so that his own Meridians were nearly empty. After about an hour of Breath Regulation, he finally regained his strength. Of course, regaining his strength didn''t mean his True Qi was fully restored; that would likely take some more time.

    Therefore, even though martial arts novels exaggerate with phrases like "spending ten years of Cultivation Power" or "a cycle of sixty years", there is still some truth to them. Like Ge Dongxu, given the scarcity of nature''s spiritual energy nowadays, it would take a month or two for his Meridians to recover fully.

    Of course, the consumption of True Qi is one thing, but on a regular basis, due to cultivation, the True Qi slowly seeps into and nourishes the internal organs, making the body''s organs gradually stronger, which is another matter altogether. So, it''s not that when the True Qi is depleted, one''s cultivation power is gone. Rather, the foundation built from past cultivation still solidly accumulates, and it won''t be lost just because the True Qi is depleted. Thus, what those martial arts novels describe, such as a martial arts master imparting sixty years of his power, turning instantly into a frail, white-haired man, is nonsense. The body''s foundation won''t be lost just because of the consumption of True Qi.

    This is actually easy to understand. Just like how a person''s strength might be used up but can recover after some time, and the body doesn''t get affected¡ªin fact, it may even become stronger due to the exercise.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu opened his eyes, he saw Liu Jiayao lying on the bed staring at him, which startled him. He hurriedly jumped off the bed, scratching his head with a chuckle. "Sorry, Sister Liu, I was really exhausted and ended up meditating on your bed." sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What are you talking about? You were so exhausted because of me, and I don''t even know how to thank you!" Liu Jiayao said with a playful glare. She used to refer to herself as ''I'' when speaking to Ge Dongxu, but now she had switched to ''sister''.

    "Hehe!" Ge Dongxu, feeling somewhat embarrassed, scratched his head again, not knowing quite what to say in modesty. Regarding Liu Jiayao''s change of address, he hadn''t noticed it. Being relatively young, he thought Liu Jiayao''s self-reference as ''sister'' was quite normal, just like Dong Yuxin who also insisted he call her ''senior sister'', frequently using that title, even though she was only a couple of years older than him.

    Ge Dongxu was unaware that for a female CEO like Liu Jiayao, referring to herself as ''sister'' to a man carried a different implication altogether compared to a young girl like Dong Yuxin.

    "You were all sweaty and tired just now. Continue resting a bit; I''ll run a hot bath for you. It''ll help you relax," said Liu Jiayao, noticing Ge Dongxu''s embarrassed state, her demeanor unwaveringly sincere, a brief haze passing through her beautiful eyes before she gave him a flirtatious smile.

    "No, no need. Now that I''ve cleared your Meridians, I should be going," said Ge Dongxu, who had after all seen and touched Liu Jiayao''s body, though she had behaved very naturally. However, facing her made him feel uncomfortable, as if guilty, especially about taking a bath there, he nearly jumped up in haste, frantically waving his hands.

    "What are you leaving for now? It''s almost noon! You''ve been busy all morning; can''t you have a bath and lunch here? Besides, going out smelling like sweat, do you want to suffocate people?" Liu Jiayao immediately grabbed his hand when she saw him about to leave, looking quite displeased as she scolded him.

    Realizing himself how badly he smelled, Ge Dongxu blushed and said, "But I can''t bathe here, I don''t even have a change of clothes..."

    "Wouldn''t I go down and buy you a change of clothes? A shirt is not going to cost you anything, right? Now, stay put. I''m going to draw the bath for you, or you''ll really make me angry," Liu Jiayao said, giving Ge Dongxu another playful glare, then without waiting for a response, she pushed him back onto the bed and turned, swishing her hair as she strode towards the bathroom.

    This was the most feminine and coquettish side she had shown in four years. Ever since her parents died in a car accident, she had been quite indifferent to everyone, let alone the men. But today, in front of Ge Dongxu, she was all eye-rolling and closely engaging, one could hardly believe they weren''t in a romantic relationship if Ge Dongxu hadn''t been just sixteen.

    ps: Another chapter will be updated at 1 PM and 8 PM today for the rankings, please support generously.

 Chapter 59 Taking a Hot Bath

    Seeing signs of irritation in Liu Jiayao, and also because Ge Dongxu couldn''t stand the stench of his own sweat, he stopped refusing. However, as soon as he touched the pink mattress, he immediately remembered his sweaty condition and hurriedly stood up, catching up and saying, "Sister Liu, let me do it myself.""Why? You''re only allowed to help me, but I can''t help you? Besides, you''re a guy, so of course, such matters like preparing a bath should be left to me," Liu Jiayao glanced sideways at Ge Dongxu and chided again.

    "Alright then." Faced with Liu Jiayao''s "dominance," Ge Dongxu had no choice but to completely retreat and honestly left the bedroom to stay in the living room.

    At that time, Ge Dongxu was still young and lacked social experience. He didn''t realize that in the city, even very close friends who visit generally bathe in the guest room if there is a shower, or in the living room if there isn''t. It''s rare for hosts to invite guests into their own master bedroom to bathe because the master bathroom is considered a very private place for the host. Not to mention a young female host actively offering to prepare a bath for a young man in her bedroom''s bathroom.

    Luckily, Ge Dongxu did not understand what this implied then; otherwise, if it had been another man, he might have joyously dragged Liu Jiayao for a coupled bath already.

    For such an attitude was too obvious! Unless the man was completely oblivious, he would understand the intentions of the woman.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu was not oblivious; he was just sixteen years old, without much social experience, and had always lived in the mountains, with a very innocent mind, not thinking about such things.

    After turning on the hot water, Liu Jiayao then rummaged through the wardrobe and took out a bath towel, a new towel, a new toothbrush, and a clean bathrobe of her own. Thinking that her bathrobe would soon be worn by Ge Dongxu, Liu Jiayao''s pretty face felt somewhat hot, yet she meticulously folded it and placed it in the bathroom along with the towel and toothbrush.

    After everything was arranged, the bathtub was nearly full. Liu Jiayao specifically felt the water temperature and seeing it was about right, she left the bathroom and called Ge Dongxu in, saying, "The water is ready now. Take a good hot bath. The bath towel, towel, and toothbrush are all prepared. The towels and toothbrush are new, and although the bath towel and robe are old, they are clean. Make do with these for now. Later, I''ll get you a set right here. There''s a Li Ning sportswear store nearby on the ground floor. I''ll go down and buy a set for you now, including shorts. After you finish bathing, wrap up in the bathrobe. Don''t put the dirty clothes back on."

    By now, Ge Dongxu realized that if he said no or acted formally with Liu Jiayao, she would definitely roll her eyes at him again, so he didn''t decline anymore and nodded, then went into the bathroom.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu not being formal with her this time, Liu Jiayao showed a happy smile, greeted Ge Dongxu, and then left the room.

    Liu Jiayao''s bathroom was also arranged very cozy and romantic, reflecting a woman''s touch from the tiles to the decor, easily identifiable as a woman''s bathroom.

    It was then that the young man from the mountains realized he probably shouldn''t be bathing in the bathroom of this room.

    But since Liu Jiayao had already prepared the hot water, it would be a waste to change bathrooms now. Therefore, Ge Dongxu had no choice but to brush his teeth uncomfortably in there because he had been on a train overnight and hadn''t brushed his teeth yet today.

    After brushing his teeth, Ge Dongxu took off his clothes and pants, then stepped into the bathtub.

    Immersing himself fully in the bathtub, the extremely tired Ge Dongxu felt all 36,000 pores open up, so comfortable that he almost shouted out loud.

    "Wealthy people really know how to enjoy life!" Ge Dongxu lay in the bathtub, his hands gently touching the smooth ceramics, unable to help feeling emotional.

    "It looks like I''ll need to divide this money into two parts, one part for myself and another for my parents. They''ve also worked hard for half their lives and should enjoy life a bit." While reflecting on the lifestyle of the wealthy, Ge Dongxu''s thoughts drifted unknowingly to his parents. He suddenly felt that he should allocate part of the money for them. As for what they might think, or whether it would disrupt their lives, Ge Dongxu believed that as long as he kept the amount within a range they could accept, there shouldn''t be any problems.

    Thinking this way, Ge Dongxu''s mood improved considerably. Previously, he had many concerns and was not planning to tell his parents about the money, but he always felt uncomfortable keeping it from them, feeling that no matter the reasons, he should not hide it from them.

    After soaking in the bath for a while, the water gradually became cool, so Ge Dongxu got up, experimented for a bit, and finally figured out the right way to adjust the hot and cold water before thoroughly rinsing himself from head to toe. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After the bath, Ge Dongxu grabbed a towel to dry himself off, and then put on a bathrobe.

    Ge Dongxu was still growing, now about 1.7 meters tall, and Liu Jiayao was also nearly 1.7 meters, so the bathrobe was not too small for him. However, the bathrobe had a faint delicate fragrance and recalling that Liu Jiayao had worn it, Ge Dongxu spaced out for a moment but quickly controlled his mind and avoided wandering thoughts.

    Just as Ge Dongxu had put on his bathrobe and stepped out of the bathroom, Liu Jiayao happened to walk in through the door.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu emerge from the bathroom in her bathrobe made Liu Jiayao''s pretty face blush slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and said, "Why did you come out without drying your hair?"

    "It''s okay, my hair is short, it dries quickly," Ge Dongxu smiled and replied.

    "What does short have to do with it? The weather has gotten colder, what if you catch a cold? No, you go back in, I''ll dry it for you." Saying this, Liu Jiayao placed the clothes she had bought on her bed, then pushed Ge Dongxu back into the bathroom.

    "I won''t catch a cold!" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but laugh and cry, and said, he was after all a cultivator. If he were to catch a cold just because his hair wasn''t dried, his years of cultivation would really go to waste.

    "That''s still no excuse, stand still!" Liu Jiayao insisted as she pulled open the drawer beneath the washbasin, took out a hairdryer, and commanded.

    "Alright, then I''ll do it myself," Ge Dongxu reluctantly said.

    "I''ll help you!" Liu Jiayao insisted again.

    With no choice, Ge Dongxu stood reluctantly in front of the mirror while watching Liu Jiayao turn on the hairdryer to dry his hair.

    In the mirror, Liu Jiayao, nearly as tall as him, stood close to him while drying, her body slightly leaning towards him, her hand gently touching his hair, her eyes tender and focused on his head. For a moment, something inside Ge Dongxu seemed to be struck hard, and then he quickly warned himself not to let his thoughts wander.

 Chapter 60 It Turns Out You Are Quite Handsome

    After drying his hair, Ge Dongxu muttered a thank you and then fled the bathroom as if escaping.There was no helping it; the bathroom was cramped. Standing in front of the mirror, with each breath Ge Dongxu took, he could smell that incredibly nice fragrance.

    Once out of the bathroom, Ge Dongxu picked up the clothes Liu Jiayao had left on the bed and was about to change in the living room bathroom. He had just picked them up when Liu Jiayao stopped him, saying, "Wait a moment before you change; you can''t wear the underwear directly, it needs to be washed first."

    "They''re new and clean," Ge Dongxu, who had grown up in a mountain village, replied naturally.

    "What do you know, underwear is worn close to the skin. Even if they are new, you can''t just wear them without washing," Liu Jiayao exclaimed, snatching the clothes from Ge Dongxu''s hands and pulling out a pair of men''s underwear.

    "Really, it''s not a problem, otherwise, I¡­" Ge Dongxu was stunned upon hearing this. The underwear needed to be washed; what was he supposed to do? He couldn''t possibly wear his pants with nothing underneath.

    "Just keep wearing the bathrobe. I''ll wash it for you quickly and then blow it dry," Liu Jiayao, seeing the dumbfounded look on Ge Dongxu''s face, probably guessed what he was thinking, her face blushing slightly as she spoke.

    "Okay then, I can do it myself," Ge Dongxu replied, seeing as Liu Jiayao had offered, he couldn''t continue to insist. Otherwise, it would seem like he, the country bumpkin, was being unrefined. He reached out to take back his clothes to wash and dry them himself.

    "Enough, no need to be so formal with me! Besides, washing and cleaning up is really a woman''s job," Liu Jiayao said decisively, pushing Ge Dongxu away.

    "But, but those are my underwear, isn''t it inconvenient for you to wash them¡­," Ge Dongxu stammered, his face turning red. He wanted to say that they were his underwear and it might be inappropriate for a girl to wash them.

    "Oh, come on, you''re still a kid. What do you know about being meticulous?" Liu Jiayao chided, giving Ge Dongxu an exasperated look.

    "Sister Liu, I''m already sixteen years old, I''m not a child!" Ge Dongxu felt provoked by Liu Jiayao''s words and immediately retorted, feeling indignant. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Liu Jiayao paused slightly, taken aback by Ge Dongxu''s strong reaction, but quickly pursed her lips and smiled.

    "What are you laughing at? I have my ID card and everything." Being sixteen, Ge Dongxu hated when older people called them children, especially because he was a capable young man and disliked being treated as a child. Therefore, seeing Liu Jiayao laugh made him even more annoyed.

    Liu Jiayao stopped smiling, walked over to Ge Dongxu, and gently hugged him. Her cherry-like lips lightly kissed his forehead and said, "Silly boy, it was my mistake. You are definitely not a child! Does that satisfy you now?"

    Ge Dongxu froze completely, unaware of when Liu Jiayao let go of him or when she took his underwear and entered the bathroom.

    After a long while, Ge Dongxu finally touched the spot where Liu Jiayao had kissed him, dazedly walked back to the living room in his bathrobe, and sat on the sofa, lost in thought.

    All his life, except for being kissed by his mother when he was little, no girl had ever held him and kissed him like that. Even his mother, since he had grown up to the age of twelve or thirteen, would no longer make such affectionate gestures, at most she would pat his head.

    But today, Liu Jiayao not only hugged him but also kissed his forehead. Her tender words echoed in his ears, sounding like the voice of a soul enticer. Just thinking about it made him feel as if his soul was being hooked away. A strange feeling indescribable in words was rippling through Ge Dongxu''s heart.

    Although that odd feeling was indescribable in words, it carried a magical power that was mesmerizing, made one''s heart beat faster, and brought a sweetness, truly sweet as honey.

    It was not until Ge Dongxu heard the sound of a hairdryer coming from the master bedroom that his soul seemed to return to his body, restoring normalcy.

    "Ge Dongxu, you are actually just a sixteen-year-old high school student, really just a big kid, Sister Liu wasn''t wrong, don''t overthink it," Ge Dongxu admonished himself silently, finally regaining his composure.

    "All right, go change," Liu Jiayao soon walked out of the master bedroom, handed the underwear to Ge Dongxu, and despite a slight redness on her pretty face, her demeanor was casual as if such interactions were normal between them, without anything to be taboo about.

    "Thank you, Sister Liu." Ge Dongxu took the underwear and then went to the restroom in the living room with his clothes.

    At that time, Li Ning sportswear was still quite trendy, certainly not as commonplace as it is now. Especially for someone like Ge Dongxu, from a lower county, Li Ning sportswear could even be worn as a new outfit for the New Year.

    Ge Dongxu actually had quite a handsome face, with a high nose and bright eyes, and because he was growing tall, his body looked slightly lean, but overall very well-proportioned, giving him a vigorous appearance, not the delicate type of scholar without physical strength.

    The only thing that made city people look down on Ge Dongxu at first glance was his skin, as he often helped his parents with farming in the village, which had darkened his skin. At that time there wasn''t any talk of a healthy tan or malt color, generally, dark skin was seen as a sign of hard labor.

    In this regard, many people in Asian countries shared the same view as those in Huaxia Country. For example, in the Philippines, generally, only the wealthy class had lighter skin, with most people having darker skin than those in Huaxia Country. Therefore, some moderately wealthy Filipinos did not like it when others commented on their dark skin, as it implied they were still poor. Even some wealthy Filipinos specifically took certain medications and injections to whiten their skin, to appear more noble rather than poor. This was actually a kind of psychological oddity.

    In this respect, people in Western countries felt the same, but just the opposite to the Filipinos. For instance, in England, where it''s almost always cloudy and seldom sunny, the common working class has very pale skin. Whereas the wealthy, who often have the chance to go on vacation and spend time at the beach getting roasted, frequently ended up with tanned skin. Therefore, for the British, you couldn''t compliment them on having pale skin, being tanned was a status symbol for them. Some even went to the extent of desperate sunbathing in their own yards during vacations when they couldn''t afford to travel, just to appear as though they had gone on vacation.

    I digress, but anyway, Ge Dongxu''s dark skin didn''t look like that of a city person, inevitably causing people to look down on him. Coupled with his rustic attire, it was even more likely for people to underestimate him.

    Now that Ge Dongxu had changed into a Li-Ning brand tracksuit, except for his dark skin, not only did he look much more spirited, but also significantly more handsome, causing even Liu Jiayao to briefly lose her composure and laugh, "You actually look quite handsome!"

    ps: Today, let''s rock it! Asking for all kinds of support. Also, thanks to many fellow readers for their messages and rewards, and thanks to the user from QQ Book City, Depth-Height 100,000 points reward, becoming the first Alliance Hierarch of this book on QQ Book City. Initially, today should have been a celebration with an additional update for our Alliance Hierarch, but I''m too exhausted to write more, the additional update will be left until tomorrow.

 Chapter 61 Cant I Hold Your Arm?

    "Hehe!" Seeing Liu Jiayao complimenting him, Ge Dongxu felt a bit embarrassed."Giggle, you''re embarrassed even in front of Sister? Alright, it''s about time. Shall I take you down for a meal? How about KFC? It''s just fast food abroad, but there isn''t one where you''re from. Try something new, it''s convenient and there''s hardly any waiting." Seeing Ge Dongxu embarrassed, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but laugh for a while, then brought up the subject of eating, fearing that the young man couldn''t handle losing face.

    "I''ll do as you say." Ge Dongxu, seeing that Liu Jiayao wasn''t teasing him, breathed a sigh of relief and quickly responded. As for what to eat, he really didn''t care.

    "Then let''s go to KFC!" Liu Jiayao said.

    "Okay, I''ll go grab my clothes." Ge Dongxu nodded, then grabbed his backpack to go to the bathroom, as the clothes he had changed out of hadn''t yet been packed into his backpack. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What are you grabbing! If you''re so attached to those clothes, I''ll wash them for you later. I can give them back the next time we meet. Didn''t you say that my condition still needs several more sessions?" Liu Jiayao caught Ge Dongxu by the arm and said.

    "How could I trouble you like that, I can wash them myself." Ge Dongxu quickly responded.

    "Why are you being formal with Sister again?" Liu Jiayao rolled her eyes and said.

    Hearing this, Ge Dongxu could only respond, "Alright then, actually, the clothes aren''t worth much. You can throw them away later, no need to wash them."

    "How come as soon as I mention washing, you''re willing to throw them away?" Liu Jiayao rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu again, then reached out to grab his backpack and said, "What do you need a backpack at dinner for? Just leave it at my place, and you can come up and sit for a bit after we eat."

    "Sister Liu, I really do have other things to do this afternoon, I have to go right after eating, so I won''t come back up," Ge Dongxu hurriedly said.

    "Really busy? Then I''ll call Li Min to drive here later and have her take you," Liu Jiayao said, a hint of reluctance in her heart, but she didn''t press Ge Dongxu further.

    "No need, I''ll take care of it myself," Ge Dongxu quickly insisted.

    Liu Jiayao knew Ge Dongxu was a unique guy. Not sure what he needed to do, and worried it might infringe on his privacy, she didn''t press him when he declined and said with a smile, "Since you say so, I won''t insist. But if there is anything you need Sister for, don''t hesitate to ask me, or else I''ll get mad."

    "Alright, I won''t be formal with you," Ge Dongxu finally relaxed, not wanting to let Liu Jiayao know he was planning to spend a lot of money on jade.

    "That''s more like it, let''s go eat then!" Liu Jiayao, seeing Ge Dongxu respond this way, showed a happy smile, grabbed Ge Dongxu''s arm tightly, and said.

    When his arm was suddenly embraced closely by Liu Jiayao, Ge Dongxu stiffened for a moment and thought about pulling his hand free.

    "What''s wrong? I''m your sister, can''t I hold your arm?" Liu Jiayao said, displeased.

    Ge Dongxu had no choice but to go along with her, feeling a strange sensation in his heart, as if ever since he had given Liu Jiayao acupuncture and a massage, her attitude towards him had become particularly intimate, seemingly disregarding the distinction between men and women.

    Perhaps in her eyes, I am just a child! Ge Dongxu silently reasoned with himself, feeling vaguely disappointed.

    Liu Jiayao naturally didn''t know what Ge Dongxu was thinking. At this time, her health had improved significantly, and she would soon be fully recovered, which made her already good mood even better. Additionally, because of the previous treatments and the decision she had secretly made, seeing Ge Dongxu not oppose to her holding his arm, and being able to go out to eat with him, her mood improved even further. Her originally somewhat pale face radiated a youthful glow like never before, looking exceptionally beautiful.

    "By the way, Dongxu, when will you treat me next? Are you still coming to my house? Oh, I forgot, you are still a student, and it is not easy for you to come to the Provincial Capital. I will come to you then." Inside the elevator, Liu Jiayao was still holding Ge Dongxu''s arm. Anyone who saw them might think they were siblings, which is why she acted without any hesitation, not knowing that they were not related by blood at all.

    "Three months later, Ti would be best if you came to Changxi County. It really isn''t convenient for me to come to the Provincial Capital, but we''ll get in touch by that time to confirm," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Ah, it''s going to be as long as three months?" Liu Jiayao exclaimed spontaneously.

    "Your meridians have been blocked for some time now. You can''t continuously withstand such clearing. You need to take a break, let it stabilize this treatment, and then you can go for the next one. The time gaps can get shorter after the next session," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "Oh, I see!" Liu Jiayao stole a glance at Ge Dongxu and saw that he seemed unaware of the real meaning behind her previous comment. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but her face turned slightly red.

    It''s a good thing he doesn''t understand romantic relationships yet, otherwise, he might have teased her!

    "However, don''t worry. After this clearing, your blockage has greatly improved. As long as you don''t overexert yourself or have major emotional fluctuations during this period, you definitely won''t faint," Ge Dongxu said, noticing that Liu Jiayao seemed a bit awkward and thinking she was worried about fainting. He reassured her with a smile.

    "That''s great! Thank you so much, Dongxu. Sometimes I''m really afraid that if I faint, I might never wake up, so I dare not fall asleep at night, always keeping my eyes open," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Don''t worry, with me here, I won''t let that happen again," Ge Dongxu said softly, feeling a surge of tender affection as he recalled the lonely and helpless days Liu Jiayao had been through.

    "Hmm!" Liu Jiayao lightly rested her shoulder on Ge Dongxu''s shoulder, but just then the elevator door opened, and she quickly lifted her head.

    After all, she and Ge Dongxu were not blood siblings, and at this time, Ge Dongxu was also not of an age to talk about love with her.

    The area where Yadu Garden was located was in the city center of Linzhou City, surrounded by bustling scenes. Hence, nearby there were not only Li Ning specialty stores but also Western fast food like KFC.

    At this time, Western fast food like KFC was still considered a high-end restaurant in Huaxia Country, frequented mostly by well-off individuals, mainly young people. So when Liu Jiayao pulled Ge Dongxu into KFC, many young people''s eyes were immediately captivated by her.

    Her tall figure, graceful demeanor, stunning beauty, and especially her tightly jean-clad thighs, rapidly accelerated the secretion of hormones among the young patrons dining in KFC.

    After the treatment, Liu Jiayao had specifically chosen a casual outfit, which made her appear even more youthful and sexy.

    "Hello, beautiful lady, and little brother, what would you like to eat? I can get it for you," said a man who appeared to be in his thirties, dressed nicely and looking somewhat handsome, who finally couldn''t resist Liu Jiayao''s charm and approached them openly.

    ps: During the new book period, unless specifically stated otherwise, updates are made three times daily: one chapter at seven in the morning, one at eleven noon, and one at six in the evening. Today there will be an extra update for the high-altitude Alliance Hierarch, making it four chapters today, with the fourth update around seven in the evening. During the new book period, I aim to climb the leaderboards, so please add this book to your library, click frequently, and recommend it. Thank you very much.

 Chapter 62 Thats a Good Boy [Requesting Recommendation Tickets]

    "Thank you for your kindness, but no need," Liu Jiayao replied indifferently, then released Ge Dongxu''s hand and said, "Dongxu, go find a seat. I''ll bring it over to you in a bit.""Sister Liu, let me do it," Ge Dongxu said.

    "No need, just go sit down," Liu Jiayao pushed Ge Dongxu slightly, making the other man who observed this feel his bones soften, thinking how nice it would be if that beauty pushed him like that.

    "Alright then," Ge Dongxu nodded and returned to his seat.

    After Ge Dongxu had left, that man apparently said something to Liu Jiayao, who glared at him a few times, then sheepishly returned to his own seat.

    However, watching Liu Jiayao''s slender waist and well-rounded, perky buttocks from behind, the man couldn''t give up, picked up his tray, and directly went to sit next to Ge Dongxu.

    KFC was not like Chinese restaurants with assigned seating rules; one could sit anywhere there was space. Although it was Ge Dongxu''s first time at KFC, he understood the rules there as he saw many strangers sitting together. Seeing that man stick to him like a plaster, he slightly frowned but didn''t tell him to get lost.

    After all, it was his right and freedom, and Ge Dongxu, who was very clear about such principles, wouldn''t abuse his abilities to infringe on someone else''s rights and freedom.

    "Young man, is that your sister? I''d like to make friends with her. See if you can help me out later, I''ll give you two hundred bucks, how about that?" The man sat next to Ge Dongxu and whispered.

    "Get lost!" Although Ge Dongxu was annoyed by the man sticking to him, he wouldn''t have told him to get lost, but now seeing him actually trying to bribe, Ge Dongxu could hardly bear it any longer and coldly responded without any courtesy.

    "It looks like you''re not so easy. How about five hundred bucks? All you have to do is say a few good words, I genuinely want to be friends with your sister," the man''s face slightly changed, but he still persisted. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Just drop that thought, she is definitely not going to be interested in you," Ge Dongxu said as he stood up and changed his seat.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu directly change his seat, the man showed a look of frustration but could do nothing in the end. After all, this was KFC with many people dining around; he couldn''t shamelessly pester Liu Jiayao.

    "What did that guy talk to you about just now?" Not long after, Liu Jiayao came over with a tray, set it down, went to wash her hands, returned, and asked in a low voice.

    She had seen that man talking to Ge Dongxu.

    "He wanted to spend five hundred yuan for me to say some good words about him in front of you. Haha, Sister Liu, this money would have been easy to earn!" Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    "Are you asking for a beating?" Liu Jiayao raised her hand as if to hit Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu quickly ducked his head and then laughed, "I dare not, I dare not. But I think Sister Liu needs to bring a bodyguard when going out in the future, or else it''s annoying to always have men hanging around."

    "Are you worried that sister will be taken away by another man?" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s concern, Liu Jiayao''s eyes curved into crescent moons as she asked.

    "Cough, cough!" Ge Dongxu, still young and a bit bashful, became somewhat embarrassed by Liu Jiayao''s teasing.

    Of course, this was also because subconsciously, Ge Dongxu indeed did not want this beautiful sister to be snatched away by another man, which probably revealed his embarrassed look from the teasing, which might be called guilty conscience. Otherwise, if he truly had no thoughts at all, Ge Dongxu would not have been embarrassed.

    "Here, have a French fry; KFC''s fries are really good, can''t get this taste at home," seeing Ge Dongxu looking embarrassed made Liu Jiayao even happier. She grabbed a fry, dipped it in ketchup and brought it to Ge Dongxu''s mouth.

    "I''ll do it myself," Ge Dongxu reached out quickly to grab it.

    "Open your mouth," Liu Jiayao insisted.

    Ge Dongxu, his face flush, glanced around quickly and then promptly opened his mouth to bite the fries.

    "Pfft!" Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but burst into laughter, saying, "Such thin-skinned behavior won''t do, you won''t be able to find a girlfriend like that in the future."

    "Sister Liu, I''m only in freshman year of high school!" Ge Dongxu replied with a bitter smile.

    "True, you have to wait until college before you can have a girlfriend, by then I''ll be an old woman," Liu Jiayao said somewhat distantly.

    "How could that be? Sister Liu, you''re so beautiful, and your skin is so well-maintained, you''ll probably look like you''re in your twenties or thirties even in your fifties or sixties," Ge Dongxu blurted out without thinking.

    "Pfft! I just said you were thin-skinned, but I didn''t expect you to be so sweet-talking. However, I''d be completely satisfied if you just stayed as you are now when you go to college, and as for looking like I''m in my twenties or thirties when I''m sixty, I dare not hope for that!" Liu Jiayao said, beaming with happiness.

    "That''s definitely no problem. Your innate conditions are good, and it''s only because you contracted this strange illness four years ago, causing insufficient circulation of Qi-Blood, that your skin isn''t even better. Once I cure your illness, not only will you not age in the coming years, you might even look younger as the Qi-Blood circulates properly," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Really, are you just trying to make me feel better?" Liu Jiayao suddenly became excited upon hearing this, and in her excitement, she grabbed Ge Dongxu''s hand.

    "Of course not," Ge Dongxu nodded with a smile, gently freeing his hand from Liu Jiayao''s hold. Being young, he was still uncomfortable being held by such a beautiful woman in public.

    "That''s great, hehe, so that means when you''re in college, I''ll still look as young as I do now. What do you say about me being your girlfriend then?" Liu Jiayao, seeing Ge Dongxu nod in confirmation, became even more cheerful.

    "Ahem!" While Ge Dongxu was okay with the earlier statements, the last remark made him choke on the Pepsi he was drinking.

    "Giggle!" Seeing Ge Dongxu choke on her words, Liu Jiayao smothered her mouth and started laughing joyously, taking a while before she picked up another fry dipped in ketchup to feed him.

    As the saying goes, once bitten, twice shy; Ge Dongxu, initially embarrassed and ready to take it by hand, this time obediently opened his mouth to accept it.

    "Hehe, that''s being good! Here''s another one," Liu Jiayao said with a smile upon seeing this.

    "Sister Liu, maybe let''s not," Ge Dongxu smiled wryly.

    "Nope, I want another one!" Liu Jiayao pouted, not giving in, her expression akin to that of a woman playfully begging her boyfriend during the throes of romantic affection.

    Although Ge Dongxu was still young and unaware of romantic emotions, he was almost irresistibly charmed by the allure Liu Jiayao exuded, and he obediently opened his mouth again.

    Liu Jiayao, seeing this, happily stuffed the fry into Ge Dongxu''s mouth and, perhaps because her fingers were a bit oily and salty from the fries, she gently sucked on her fingertip, causing Ge Dongxu''s heart to inexplicably quicken.

    Anyway, that move felt even more enticing than the pouting she did before!

 Chapter 63 Buying Jade

    Seeing Ge Dongxu put on a "silly brother" face, Liu Jiayao gave him a sideways glance and said, "What? Haven''t you seen a beautiful girl before?""Cough cough!" Ge Dongxu suddenly felt embarrassed again.

    "Giggle, your skin is still thin." Liu Jiayao started laughing, finding herself increasingly fond of seeing the boy in front of her looking embarrassed. His demeanor was simply genuine and charming.

    "Right, I''ve been meaning to ask you a question." Seeing Ge Dongxu''s face turning a bit red, Liu Jiayao finally changed the subject, still worried he might become angry out of embarrassment.

    "What question?" Ge Dongxu replied, finally letting out a quiet sigh of relief. He really had been a bit dreamy moments ago.

    "Since you helped me clear my meridians, does that mean you are also a martial arts expert like in the novels? Can you do qinggong or something?" Liu Jiayao whispered the question in a low voice.

    This topic was a bit absurd, naturally not suitable for others around to hear.

    "The novels exaggerate it quite a bit, but beating ten people alone wouldn''t be a problem. As for qinggong, that''s just fiction... perhaps..." Ge Dongxu heisted, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes.

    Although he had inherited Ge Hong''s "Baopu Nine Pill Mysterious Scripture", for some reason although he knew it was the complete scripture and more profound cultivation techniques should follow, he could only read up to the qi cultivation stage. Beyond that was inscrutable. The qi cultivation stage didn''t mention qinggong, let alone the legendary cloud riding. Thus, when Liu Jiayao had asked, Ge Dongxu''s initial reaction was to deny the existence of qinggong, but after speaking, he thought since there were more techniques, who could guarantee that qinggong would not be one of them?

    After all, just because he couldn''t do it didn''t mean qinggong didn''t exist.

    Liu Jiayao was already shocked by Ge Dongxu saying he could fight ten people and hadn''t noticed the speculative look in Ge Dongxu''s eyes.

    Keep in mind, Ge Dongxu was only sixteen years old!

    However, upon reflection that he could clear her meridians, Liu Jiayao thought perhaps it wasn''t so surprising after all.

    "Qinggong, I can''t do it, but whether it exists in the world, I can''t really say right now." Mid-thought, Ge Dongxu changed his tune halfway through his sentence.

    "Oh, it would be magical if you could do qinggong!" Liu Jiayao said, her eyes filled with longing.

    Walking on rooftops and walls has been a dream, not just for men but also for women, since ancient times.

    "Indeed!" A wishful gleam appeared in Ge Dongxu''s eyes as well.

    It was Ge Dongxu''s first time at KFC and the food was quite tasty, with over half of the dishes ending up in his stomach. Liu Jiayao ate very little, and for most of the meal, she just quietly watched Ge Dongxu eat, a look of happiness and contentment on her face that made Ge Dongxu somewhat embarrassed.

    After eating at KFC, Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu her business card, carefully writing down her personal mobile number on it. She then asked for his contact details. Seeing that Ge Dongxu didn''t have a mobile phone, Liu Jiayao initially wanted to buy him one, saying it would make communication easier, but Ge Dongxu refused, saying he was still a student and carrying a mobile phone was too conspicuous.

    Liu Jiayao knew Ge Dongxu didn''t like to draw attention, so she reluctantly let the matter drop.

    Upon leaving the KFC, Ge Dongxu wasn''t sure if he didn''t want to part with Liu Jiayao or if he was worried about men bothering her halfway, so he escorted her back down to Yadu Park. Only then did he say, "Sister Liu, I won''t accompany you upstairs. I have other matters to attend to urgently, otherwise, I''ll miss my train."

    "Hmm!" Liu Jiayao nodded and then stepped forward to give Ge Dongxu a gentle hug, softly saying, "Take care on your journey!"

    After she finished speaking, Liu Jiayao kissed his forehead gently once again.

    Ge Dongxu''s body stiffened for a moment, feeling a kind of indescribable sensation spreading throughout his body¡ªit was sweet and warm.

    "I understand, Sister Liu. Take care," it took Ge Dongxu a while to nod his head and wave at Liu Jiayao before he left Yadu Garden.

    After walking some distance, Ge Dongxu suddenly looked back and found Liu Jiayao still standing downstairs, quietly watching him leave.

    A slight tremor ran through Ge Dongxu''s heart. He quickly turned his head away, afraid that Liu Jiayao would see him looking back at her. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Standing by the roadside, Ge Dongxu waved down a taxi.

    "To Renmin Road at Jiang Region Jewelry," he told the taxi driver after getting in.

    Jiang Region Jewelry, managed by the Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources of Jiangnan Province, boasted a professional background in geology and minerals, making its gems and jade somewhat more authentic compared to other stores.

    Ge Dongxu had come to the provincial capital not just to sell thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum but also to buy jade for setting up a Spirit Gathering Array. Therefore, he had made enquiries back in Changxi County. Despite still being a young man, Ge Dongxu already demonstrated the meticulousness and steadiness of an adult in his actions.

    Before coming, Ge Dongxu had looked up the route from Yongchun Hall to Jiang Region Jewelry. He knew that the distance between the two was somewhat far, but since he was departing from Yadu Garden this time, he was unsure of the distance and didn''t know if the driver would overcharge him like the previous ones had.

    Fortunately, with £¤1,300,000 in his account now, he had enough confidence. As long as the driver didn''t deliberately take him in circles, thinking him naive, he would turn a blind eye and go along with it, as he wasn''t familiar with the provincial capital anyway.

    However, this time the driver didn''t take advantage of him and dropped him off at Jiang Region Jewelry within the base fare.

    Walking into Jiang Region Jewelry, he saw glass display cases, while a winding staircase in the sales hall led to the second floor. Behind each display case stood young sales clerks, dressed in white shirts and black skirts, with shapely figures and attractive appearances.

    The glass cases displayed various gold, gem, and jade ornaments. Since Ge Dongxu was specifically there for jade, he went straight to the display case containing jade.

    "Could you please take out this jade pendant for me to look at?" Ge Dongxu pointed at a jade pendant shaped closely to a rectangular jade token inside the display case and asked.

    Two young sales clerks stood behind the counter. One with a melon seed face and phoenix eyes looked quite shrewd, while the other was slightly younger with an apple-shaped face.

    The melon-faced clerk, standing closer to Ge Dongxu, noticing he was only a teenage boy, said indifferently, "This pendant costs three thousand yuan. Are you going to buy it?"

    Then in the early 1990s, the jade market in Huaxia began to heat up, and prices have soared since then.

    The jade pendant Ge Dongxu had pointed at cost three thousand yuan, which was a significant amount for an average family. For sales clerks like her, not counting commissions, it could equal almost half a year''s salary, so naturally, the melon-faced clerk was not inclined to pay much attention to a young boy pointing at such an expensive item.

    "Whether I buy it or not, I should at least take a look at it first," Ge Dongxu said upon seeing the clerk''s indifferent attitude. He was slightly annoyed but did not lose his temper.

    Just then, a man approached¡ªit was the same man Ge Dongxu had encountered at KFC. The melon-faced clerk lit up upon seeing him. She moved a few steps aside, subtly elbowing the apple-faced clerk out of the way, all the while smiling and saying, "Oh, Manager Zheng, what brings you to our store today? Are you looking to buy some jade as a gift?"

    ps: I recommend a new book by Hotpot Brother titled "Urban Peach Blossom Mad Youth." If you like it, please add it to your favorites and support. Additionally, thanks to the reader Qing Shi San Kong for pointing it out, I have changed Pepsi back to Coca-Cola. Also, the previous mention of Primordial Fierce Beasts has been changed to Water Beasts, as I''ve been too busy with both a new and old book recently and didn''t have time to make changes, hence I forgot who reminded me. Thanks to that reader for pointing it out.

 Chapter 64 Call Your Manager Over [Additional Chapter for Alliance Hierarchs Deep Support]

    "Yes, there''s a project I''m working on recently, and I need to buy a few pieces to manage some relationships," Manager Zheng replied casually, but it was this casualness that gave off a sense of naked ostentation."Manager Zheng really has good taste. Jade has been very popular in the last few years, and it''s also very collectible without being tacky. It''s perfect for gifting," the melon-faced salesperson said with an even brighter smile, her attitude a stark contrast to how she treated Ge Dongxu.

    Witnessing this, Ge Dongxu was quite annoyed. He wanted to walk away, but then he reminded himself that he was there to buy jade, not to engage in a contest of ego with these people. Why let her affect him? Thus, he pointed again to the piece of jade he liked earlier and said to the apple-faced salesperson who had been squeezed out of the way, her expression clearly aggrieved, "Could you please take out that pendant for me to look at?"

    Seeing a big customer being poached by a colleague made the apple-faced salesperson feel wronged, but seeing that Ge Dongxu was interested in looking at jade, she immediately put aside her grievances and managed a small smile, "Sure, please wait a moment." Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As she spoke, the apple-faced salesperson opened the cabinet door and brought out the pendant for Ge Dongxu, handing it to him with a smile, "Please be careful with it, this is a genuine glutinous jade. Look at the transparency and the quality; it''s quite exceptional among glutinous jades..."

    The apple-faced salesperson was polite and attentive in her service to Ge Dongxu, not disregarding him because of his young age. She even started to explain the qualities of the jade. She was also understandably worried that his youth might mean he wasn''t familiar with handling such items, so she specifically reminded him to be careful as she handed over the jade.

    At first, Manager Zheng was captivated by the melon-faced salesperson''s smile and hadn''t noticed Ge Dongxu. However, once Ge Dongxu spoke up, he immediately turned his attention to him, his expression revealing a flicker of surprise before a sly smile formed on his lips. He pointed at the piece of jade Ge Dongxu had just picked up and said, "Oh, that piece of jade looks quite nice. Bring it here for me to have a look."

    "Sure, Manager Zheng, please wait," the melon-faced salesperson responded with a smile, then quickly walked over, reaching for the pendant in Ge Dongxu''s hand.

    "What do you mean by this?" Ge Dongxu moved his hand slightly and asked the melon-faced salesperson, his face showing a hint of displeasure.

    "It doesn''t mean anything. Manager Zheng wants to see the jade, so let him have a look first," the melon-faced salesperson replied with a hint of impatience after seeing that Ge Dongxu wasn''t handing it over to her and was questioning her intent.

    "Sister Chen, this isn''t very nice," the apple-faced salesperson whispered to the melon-faced one.

    "What''s not nice about it? I''m telling you, Xiao Zhang, you''ve got to keep your eyes open in the future," the melon-faced salesperson glared at her apple-faced colleague before spreading her hands in front of Ge Dongxu again, "Please hand me the pendant, Manager Zheng wants to see it."

    "There''s a sequence to everything; first come, first served. This isn''t how you do things," Ge Dongxu finished speaking and ignored the melon-faced salesperson, not even giving a glance to the self-important Manager Zheng. Instead, he lowered his head and continued to examine the jade pendant in his hands.

    The melon-faced salesperson''s expression turned ugly upon seeing that Ge Dongxu didn''t hand the jade over to her and even criticized her. Manager Zheng, who had initially just wanted to vent the frustration he had bottled up at KFC earlier, was surprised to find that the young man in front of him was just as unyielding as he had been in KFC, and this added to his irritation.

    "You''re just a kid, and you don''t understand jade. What are you looking at? And can you even afford this jade?" Manager Zheng couldn''t help blurting out arrogantly and disdainfully.

    "Whether I understand or can afford it is none of your business," Ge Dongxu responded without even looking up, then handed the jade back to the apple-faced salesperson and said, "This jade isn''t what I''m looking for."

    Before the apple-faced sales clerk could put the Jade away, the melon-seed-faced clerk had already taken it, muttering disdainfully, "If you can''t afford it, you just can''t afford it!", and immediately followed by offering the Jade to Manager Zheng with a flattering smile, "Manager Zheng, please have a look."

    "Heh, the young people these days, huh?" Manager Zheng shook his head, lamenting with a look of disdain.

    "Please bring out this piece of Jade for me to see." Ge Dongxu naturally didn''t bother with those two and pointed to another Jade Pendant, saying.

    This Jade Pendant was even more expensive, costing seven thousand Yuan, almost reaching the average annual income of a state-owned enterprise worker in the Provincial Capital at that time.

    The apple-faced clerk hesitated when looking at Ge Dongxu, but still carefully took it out for him.

    "Hey, little Zheng, is this sales clerk new here? How come she doesn''t know anything? This kind of youngster, at first glance, you can tell he can''t afford Jade. Why does she still persist in showing him Jade? However, this young guy does have some taste, you bring that piece of Jade for me to look at as well." Manager Zheng had been scolded by a youngster at noon, telling him to "get lost," and the grudge just wouldn''t settle in his heart. Seeing Ge Dongxu preening like a peacock and pointing at yet another more expensive piece of Jade, his irritation grew, he handed the pendant back to the melon-seed-faced clerk and then pointed at the Jade that Ge Dongxu was about to pick up, speaking again.

    The melon-seed-faced clerk immediately took the Jade that was lying on the counter, which Ge Dongxu hadn''t had the chance to pick up and inspect, and then cheerfully handed it to Manager Zheng.

    "Smack!" A slap on the counter, not too heavy but also not light, rang out. Ge Dongxu had finally become annoyed.

    "Is this how you do business? Call your manager over. I want to ask if there''s such a thing as first come, first served when looking at items?"

    "What are you shouting about? This Jade costs seven thousand Yuan. Can you afford it? If you can''t afford it, why are you even looking?" The melon-seed-faced clerk, startled by Ge Dongxu''s slamming of the table, quickly became embarrassed and turned angry, pointing at him and taunting.

    "That''s right, young man, if you can''t afford it, don''t hinder others'' business, right? You keep asking to see this and then that, do you think this is a vegetable market? This is jewelry and Jade, valuable goods." Manager Zheng said maliciously from the side and, taking control of the situation, gestured to the security guard in the jewelry store, "Security, please escort this young man out. He''s making a fuss and disturbing the peace. How are people supposed to shop for jewelry in peace?"

    "I really don''t know how someone like you became a manager, still hung up over some shameless incident from lunchtime." While speaking, Ge Dongxu ignored Manager Zheng and instead said to the apple-faced sales clerk, "Please call your manager over. I must have an explanation for today''s events; otherwise, I won''t be patronizing your store anymore!"

    The apple-faced clerk displayed a troubled expression upon hearing this, while the melon-seed-faced clerk had already a face full of mockery, "If you don''t patronize, then don''t. Acting like you''re some big spender, a major customer or something!"

    "What''s the situation here?" Just at that moment, a woman appeared at the staircase entrance. She was about thirty-five or six years old, wearing a beige professional suit and sporting an ear-length bob haircut that made her look quite competent.

    ps: This chapter is a special update dedicated to the first Alliance Hierarch of QQ Book City - Depth-Height, and also thanks to the other readers for their rewards. Your rewards are an additional show of love for Old Du, and for this, I am truly grateful.

 Chapter 65 Manager Tang [Seeking recommendation votes]

    "Are you the manager of Jiang Region Jewelry?" asked Ge Dongxu as he approached the woman with a badge on her chest.However, inside, he felt something odd, as the woman seemed somewhat familiar.

    "Yes, I am Tang Yahui, the manager of Jiang Region Jewelry. May I help you with something?" Tang Yahui, seeing a young man approaching her to speak, showed a trace of puzzlement on her face, but remained very gentle in her manner, not putting on airs due to Ge Dongxu''s young age.

    "It''s like this, I came to your store to look at jade stones. But whenever I asked to take a look at the jade, this salesperson, without waiting for me to finish, forcefully took it to show to another customer. Can Manager Tang give me an explanation? Is this how you treat customers?" Ge Dongxu pointed at the sales assistant with a melon-seed face, and asked Tang Yahui.

    "Of course not!" Tang Yahui replied briskly, then turned to the sales assistant with a slightly stern face, "Chen Xiaoling, what is this customer talking about?"

    "Manager Tang, this Manager Zheng is one of our regular patrons. He just happened to be interested in the piece of jade the customer was looking at, so I thought I''d let Manager Zheng have a quick look first. I didn''t mean anything else by it," Chen Xiaoling replied with a slight look of unease, and, inwardly, she was annoyed with Ge Dongxu for making a scene.

    "Yes, indeed, Manager Tang, I''ve been a loyal customer of your shop for years. I visit three to five times a year and spend thirty to forty thousand yuan. Miss Chen was just embracing the customer-first approach, there''s really nothing wrong with that!" Manager Zheng stepped forward to speak for Chen Xiaoling with a rather haughty tone. The implication was clear in his words¡ªI''m a big spender in your store, spending tens of thousands of yuan a year; what''s this kid compared to me?

    Considering that Jiang Region Jewelry''s annual turnover was only a few million yuan, the thirty to forty thousand yuan spent by Manager Zheng did make him stand out.

    Upon hearing this, Tang Yahui''s expression changed slightly, and a moment of hesitation flickered in her eyes before she finally said, "Manager Zheng is indeed our valued regular customer, and naturally, we strive to provide the best service possible. However, since this customer showed interest first, he should have the chance to view it first, don''t you agree? Here''s what we can do: today, if you take a liking to any piece of jade, I''ll give you a 30% discount. That''s the discount only middle-level personnel from the Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources can enjoy."

    Because Jiang Region Jewelry emphasized professionalism in their line of work, their pricing wasn''t as inflated as other department store jewelers, and discounts were generall rare. However, since Jiang Region Jewelry was a business unit under the Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, people from the Bureau often received a higher discount, similar to an internal employee discount, and naturally, the leaders received even greater discounts.

    In doing so, Tang Yahui was adopting a typical businessperson''s tactic¡ªpleasing both sides without offending either.

    "Haha, well, I must thank Manager Tang for that. I agree with your principle too, of course. However, it should depend on who that principle applies to! For the likes of a young man who clearly can''t afford jade yet wants to put on airs, without knowing his own limitations, why bother treating him like a customer at all?" Manager Zheng, having gained an advantage from the dispute, felt quite pleased but couldn''t help showing disdain for Ge Dongxu, glancing at him scornfully after reaping the benefits, still feeling that Tang Yahui was siding with Ge Dongxu in principle.

    Tang Yahui saw that even after she had spoken, Manager Zheng still wanted to kick the young man while he was down. She frowned slightly, quite unsure how to smooth things over.

    "Heh, a customer is a customer. Even if he can''t afford it now, can you guarantee he won''t be able to in a few years? If we were really to treat customers with such short-sightedness, I can assure you that this jewelry store would not last very long. Moreover, who said that my friend here can''t afford it?" Just then, a male voice came from behind Manager Zheng.

    "Dad, why are you here?" Tang Yahui saw the man who had spoken, a look of surprise and delight appeared on her face as she quickly called out.

    The man who had arrived was Professor Tang Yiyuan.

    When Manager Zheng heard someone defending Ge Dongxu behind him, he was initially quite irritated, but upon seeing Tang Yahui calling the man dad, his heart skipped a beat in shock. He quickly turned his head to look, and immediately blurted out in surprise, "Are you Professor Tang?"

    "Do you know me?" Professor Tang Yiyuan said, not recognizing Manager Zheng.

    "Yes, you''ve treated me before," replied Manager Zheng.

    "Professor Tang, we meet again. No wonder Manager Tang looked somewhat familiar to me; turns out she''s your daughter," Ge Dongxu said as he naturally noticed Tang Yiyuan and reached out to shake his hand.

    As Ge Dongxu spoke, both Manager Zheng and the melon-seeded face salesperson''s expressions became incredibly animated as they suddenly remembered the words that Tang Yiyuan had just spoken.

    "I didn''t expect you to be buying jade. If I had known you were interested in jade, I would have said something and accompanied you here," Tang Yiyuan hurriedly stepped forward to shake hands with Ge Dongxu and said.

    Even though he didn''t address Ge Dongxu as "Doctor," he still used the respectful "you" when speaking to him.

    Seeing the elder and the younger shaking hands, and Tang Yiyuan even using "you" to address Ge Dongxu, Manager Zheng and the melon-seeded face salesperson''s expressions turned even more splendid, while his daughter''s mouth slightly agape, her face a picture of surprise.

    She knew well that her father was a master of traditional Chinese medicine in Jiangnan Province. Although seemingly humble on the surface, he carried a sense of pride in his bones, not necessarily showing this level of respect and courtesy to some of the provincial leaders. She didn''t expect to see him acting so polite and respectful to a young man today.

    "How should I have foreseen the world to be so small, your daughter would be selling jade? But now that I know, it''s not too late. I was just fretting over how expensive these jades are; with you here, your daughter can give me a bigger discount. That one, like the 30% discount for mid-level officials of the Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources," Ge Dongxu, having seen Tang Yiyuan arrive and speak up for him just now, couldn''t be bothered to deal with Manager Zheng or Chen Xiaoling any longer and said with a smile.

    "Hehe, naturally, as my father''s friend, we will give you the maximum discount. But I wonder which piece of jade you are interested in?" Tang Yahui didn''t wait for her dad to answer and already took over the conversation with a smile.

    "Just this level of jade, the best-shaped ones, if you have them, bring me two hundred pieces. Remember, I need a 30% discount, otherwise I won''t have enough money to pay you," Ge Dongxu said after picking up the pendant that Chen Xiaoling had taken away, feeling it in his hand, and then giving it some thought.

    "Two... two hundred pieces!" As soon as Ge Dongxu uttered those words, everyone including Tang Yahui widened their eyes in shock, their mouths gaping wide open, aside from Tang Yiyuan whose expression remained somewhat normal. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This was a piece of jade worth seven thousand yuan, and even with a 30% discount, two hundred pieces would cost nine hundred and eighty thousand yuan!

    What did nine hundred and eighty thousand yuan represent? That was enough to buy seven or eight apartments in the provincial capital, and their locations wouldn''t be bad either, all being at least one hundred square meters in size.

    And here was this young man, nonchalantly throwing out nine hundred and eighty thousand yuan with a single sentence!

    Manager Zheng, who had just been sneering that Ge Dongxu couldn''t afford jade and boasted about spending thirty to forty thousand yuan a year on jewelry in the Jiang Region, suddenly felt his cheeks burning with painful embarrassment.

    His face had indeed been slapped resoundingly!

    Chen Xiaoling, that is, the salesperson, was now pale as a sheet, inwardly filled with regret so intense that even her insides felt green with remorse. Ninety-eight thousand yuan! How much commission she could have made this month!

    Even Chen Xiaoling in her shock and regret had forgotten that their store couldn''t possibly have two hundred pieces of the same type of jade! Nor did anyone buy jade in such a manner!

    ps: The new book is vying for the rankings, and as the platform doesn''t have much in terms of recommendations for now, I can only rely on my readers to help by clicking, recommending, leaving comments, giving rewards, etc., to boost this book to the top. Thank you!

 Chapter 66 Could This Be the Legendary Rich Second Generation?

    For a long time, everyone gradually came back to their senses, and Manager Zheng had already slipped away quietly while everyone was focusing on Ge Dongxu.Having lost so much face, why would he wait to be embarrassed further by this young man?

    "May I know how to address you?" Tang Yahui came back to her senses, her eyes shining as she looked at Ge Dongxu, as if he were a pile of glowing gold.

    There was no way around it¡ªa 980,000 jewelry deal was not only a huge transaction at the time, but even today, it still wasn''t a small amount, and it would at least require the involvement of someone at a managerial level.

    As the manager of Jiang Region Jewelry, Tang Yahui''s position and annual income were directly tied to the store''s sales performance.

    With Ge Dongxu starting the conversation with 980,000, how could she not be dazzled?

    "Ge Dongxu, just call me Dongxu," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Mr. Ge, the quantity of jade you want is too large, and for the same type and style of jade, we only have one or two pieces at most, and other stores are the same. How about we go to my office to discuss in detail to see if there is another way to meet Mr. Ge''s requirements?" However, Tang Yahui still did not call Ge Dongxu by his first name, but referred to him as Mr. Ge.

    "That sounds good," Ge Dongxu nodded, then followed Tang Yahui''s invitation to go upstairs together. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a saleswoman with an apple-shaped face. Seeing a slight look of disappointment on her face, he suddenly had an idea, paused, pointed at the saleswoman, and said to Tang Yahui, "Manager Tang, this saleswoman served me with great enthusiasm just now, and I am very satisfied. Later, all my expenses should be counted as her sales performance."

    Tang Yahui was slightly taken aback, then smiled and nodded, "Of course."

    After that, she even specifically nodded at the saleswoman with the apple-shaped face to encourage her, "Zhang Qiqi, well done, keep it up."

    Zhang Qiqi''s face turned as red as an apple, and she quickly bowed repeatedly to Ge Dongxu and Tang Yahui, saying, "Thank you, Mr. Ge, thank you, Manager, I will definitely do well."

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu smiled and nodded at Zhang Qiqi, then followed Tang Yahui upstairs, and Tang Yiyuan naturally also went upstairs with them.

    No sooner had Ge Dongxu and the others gone upstairs than the sales staff in the showroom crowded around Zhang Qiqi, saying, "Wow, 980,000 yuan, Qiqi, you''re treating us."

    "Our store doesn''t have that much jade, so the final deal definitely won''t reach 980,000!" Zhang Qiqi said, her face red.

    "That''s true, but looking at Mr. Ge''s demeanor, even if it''s not 980,000, having a deal of two or three hundred thousand is still possible, and your commission isn''t small either, you must treat us," someone said.

    "As long as there''s a transaction value of over 100,000, I''ll treat you." Zhang Qiqi said with a flushed face, her eyes full of excitement and anticipation.

    "That''s great, we get to have a feast today!" The sales clerks, all young girls, were very happy upon hearing this. Only Chen Xiaoling hung her face in annoyance and regret, no longer possessing her earlier shrewdness. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "However, you said Mr. Ge looked only about sixteen or seventeen, how is he so rich? Could he be the legendary rich second generation? Ninety-eight thousand, you could buy several big houses in Linzhou City with that. We would need to work for over a hundred years without eating or drinking! If only we could find such a wealthy husband in the future, there wouldn''t be a need to stand here smiling all day." After a joyful moment, some sales clerks gathered quietly when there weren''t many customers, whispering among themselves.

    "Right! Why don''t you chase after Mr. Ge later?"

    "I would love to, but with his wealth, why would he notice me!"

    "..."

    Unbeknownst to Ge Dongxu, he had just become the topic of conversation among the young sales clerks downstairs, nor did he realize that at sixteen, he was already seen as a "diamond bachelor" by the girls. At this moment, he was sitting on a long couch in Tang Yahui''s office, next to Tang Yiyuan, chatting sporadically, while Tang Yahui was busy making tea for them.

    "Mr. Ge, you want that type of glutinous ice jade, you just need it to be similar in shape to that pendant, and you even want two hundred pieces at once, definitely not for wearing, right? Do you have some other special use for it? Perhaps I can think of another way for you, and it will cost much less than buying it this way. After all, the value of a pendant includes not only the jade itself but also its carving, which is a significant part of its value. Sometimes the value of the carving even surpasses that of the jade itself." After serving tea to her father and Ge Dongxu, Tang Yahui sat down and asked.

    "Really? That would be awesome! I do have a special use for them. In fact, I don''t need any carving; I just need it to be polished smoothly and about the size of that pendant we just discussed, and the type of jade doesn''t have to be exactly the one we discussed, but I need to see it first to decide." Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu''s eyes lit up with excitement.

    His money didn''t just appear out of nowhere; it was from a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum that he had saved. Besides wanting to buy jade with this money, he was also thinking of saving some for his parents and using a portion to generate more money. After all, he would need to buy a lot of jade and various elixir ingredients for his cultivation in the future. He had to find a way to make money. Although he hadn''t found a way yet, whatever it was would definitely require some initial capital.

    However, because Ge Dongxu was not familiar with the jade market, and just as Jadeite''s demand had reached a peak in the domestic market in recent years, it was only after seeing the prices that Ge Dongxu realized he had been too optimistic. Just buying the jade alone might deplete more than half of his wealth, which was largely thanks to Tang Yiyuan''s connection that Tang Yahui had offered him a substantial discount, otherwise his money wouldn''t have been enough to buy the jade.

    "You really just need it polished smoothly? What if the size and thickness differ slightly from that pendant? Would that be an issue?" Tang Yahui, though having guessed that Ge Dongxu had a special purpose for such a large quantity of jade, couldn''t help but show a trace of confused astonishment on her face, hesitating before asking again.

    "As long as it has the texture of the jade we just saw, a slight difference in size, thickness, or even shape is no problem." Ge Dongxu thought for a moment before answering.

    The reason he bought the jade was to inscribe Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans on it, akin to drawing talismans on yellow paper. But since the Spirit Gathering Array needed to continuously gather and store Spirit, yellow paper wouldn''t suffice, so he needed jade that could gather and store Spirit to inscribe these talismans, especially the type of jade that could do so. Earlier, when Ge Dongxu was examining the jade, he was not actually using his eyes but using his True Qi to feel the texture of the jade, to see if the jade could retain the True Qi. The first pendant could gather and store a bit, but it didn''t meet his standards; the second one did, though it was more expensive.

    Clearly, the better the quality of the jade, the more effectively it could gather and store Spirit. Thus, the quality of the jade was more crucial for Ge Dongxu than the shape; it was just more convenient to write Formation Talismans on a rectangular shape, not that it had to be that specific shape and size. It was like with paper¡ªsquare sheets could be written on, and so could round ones, the main thing was that the surface needed to be flat and smooth, suitable for writing. As for why Ge Dongxu needed two hundred pieces, he considered that currently, his success rate of drawing talismans on yellow paper was only about two percent, and achieving one percent on jade would be quite good, so to be safe, he needed two hundred pieces.

    Of course, it was possible that none of the two hundred pieces would successfully be inscribed, but given the earlier price, two hundred was about the upper limit Ge Dongxu could afford, so if the engraving failed, he would have to think of another solution.

    ps: After reading, please don''t forget to cast a vote! If you haven''t added this to your bookshelf, please help me by doing so.

 Chapter 67 Much Cheaper

    "If that''s the case, then you don''t need to spend that unnecessary money at all, you just need to purchase some raw jade stones and have a master craft them into polished pieces. Even the trimmings from good jade can be suitable for your use. Of course, the trimmings from good jade are not cheap either, but they are certainly much more affordable than the jade pendant you were just asking about." Tang Yahui spoke upon hearing this, her heart growing increasingly curious about what this young man in front of her intended to do with these jades.Jade has been associated with many ethereal legends involving gods and ghosts in the folk customs since ancient times, which is why many ancient nobles chose to be buried with jade instead of gold and silver. Even now, many people still believe that jade can ward off evil spirits, protect the home, and avert disasters, and so they often have jade carved into shapes like Guanyin, ruyi, dragons, tigers, and pixiu.

    As someone in the industry, Tang Yahui naturally had heard plenty of legends about jade and had also encountered people who used jade for special purposes. However, most of these people were elderly, or at least middle-aged; she had never met someone as young as Ge Dongxu before, and it was also her first time encountering someone who wanted such a large quantity all at once. Normally, people would only buy a few pieces and have them carved into specific shapes before having a master bless them. So, she couldn''t help but be curious.

    Of course, Tang Yahui had been educated in Marxism from an early age, and she did not believe in the mysterious uses of jade.

    "Then where can I buy them?" Ge Dongxu asked eagerly upon hearing this, thinking to himself how fortunate he was that the manager was Tang Yiyuan''s daughter; otherwise, as a country bumpkin with no experience in this area, he would indeed have spent a lot of undue money.

    "Hehe, I have some here, but I''m not sure if I have enough. It doesn''t matter, though; I still have some acquaintances in this circle who can immediately arrange for more to be delivered. Regarding the price, with me overseeing it for you, you won''t be taken advantage of," Tang Yahui replied.

    "Then thank you very much, but business is business, and you should still earn what you''re supposed to. Just because I know your father, it doesn''t mean you shouldn''t earn money from me. Of course, a suitable discount would be appreciated," Ge Dongxu laughed and said. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Doctor Ge, you''re being too formal. Regarding the jade stones from Jiang Region Jewelry, since it''s a government matter, it wouldn''t be appropriate to ask Yahui to forgo making money from you. As for the rest of the quantity that isn''t enough, it''s okay for the seller to make a profit. How could Yahui, acting as the intermediary, justify making more money from you?" Tang Yiyuan interjected before his daughter could reply.

    "Doctor Ge? Could it be that Mr. Ge is also a doctor?" Tang Yahui was startled to hear her father refer to Ge Dongxu as a doctor.

    A young man suddenly wanting to buy two hundred pieces of jade for some special purpose was already astonishing enough, but now this young man was actually a doctor, and judging from her father''s attitude, he clearly held high regard for his medical skills. Otherwise, why would he specifically address him as Doctor Ge, given Ge Dongxu''s young age?

    "Hehe, not only is he a doctor, his medical skills are much stronger than mine," Tang Yiyuan said without any need to keep it secret in the absence of others.

    "What!" This time, Tang Yahui was truly shocked. She knew her father''s status in the traditional medicine field of Jiangnan Province, and she knew that he rarely acknowledged the medical skills of others, let alone those of a young person.

    "Hehe, Professor Tang, you don''t have to praise me so much. Let''s talk about the jade stones instead," Ge Dongxu was somewhat embarrassed by Tang Yiyuan''s compliments.

    Tang Yiyuan then remembered that Ge Dongxu did not like others knowing about his medical skills and refrained from discussing the miraculous aspects of Ge Dongxu''s medicine any further. He turned to Tang Yahui seriously and instructed, "It''s enough that you know about this matter. You mustn''t mention it to anyone else; otherwise, Dr. Ge won''t be able to study in peace."

    "I understand, Dad. Don''t worry, even if I share this with someone else, no one would believe it anyway," Tang Yahui nodded and said.

    Feeling reassured, Tang Yiyuan didn''t press further on the matter. Instead, he turned the conversation to the jade, "Then have someone bring the jade for Doctor Ge to inspect as soon as possible. If it''s not enough, hurry and get more from other places."

    "Alright." Seeing her father valued Ge Dongxu, Tang Yahui dared not delay. She acknowledged with a reply, greeted Ge Dongxu, and then went out.

    Before long, she returned with a middle-aged man carrying a box.

    Upon opening the box, it was filled with unprocessed jadeite stones.

    "Basically, all the unprocessed jade in our shop is here. Take a look to see which ones are suitable, and then I''ll give you a quote. We won''t charge for the polishing, just a simple cutting," Tang Yahui pointed to the jade in the box and said.

    Ge Dongxu''s mind was fixated on the jade, so he didn''t bother with formalities with Tang Yahui. He began to carefully feel each stone. The unprocessed jade that Tang Yahui had brought was mostly of the lower grade varieties, such as glutinous ice type, rice white type, blue flower type, and bean green type. There was none of the glass type or ice type, let alone the top-grade old pit glass type or imperial green jadeite. These latter types were high-end goods among jadeite that certainly required renowned craftsmen or even master-level individuals to work on them; otherwise, it would be a waste of excellent material.

    Jiang Region Jewelry didn''t have the resources to employ such renowned craftsmen or masters, nor the capital to purchase such high-end goods. At most, they managed to bring in a few finished pieces to display in the store, enhancing the shop''s prestige.

    Of course, even if such high-end goods were available, Ge Dongxu wouldn''t be able to afford them.

    Ge Dongxu picked out some jade he thought suitable and piled them to one side, estimating they should yield about one hundred and forty to fifty jade tokens. Then he pointed to the selected jade and asked Tang Yahui, "How much for these?"

    The purchase of jadeite was different from other goods; it could cost hundreds of thousands or even millions, so as the person in charge of Jiang Region Jewelry, Tang Yahui was responsible for negotiating and overseeing the purchases. She knew the prices well, and upon Ge Dongxu''s inquiry, she added the cost and profit and said, "In total, it would be two hundred seventy-six thousand."

    "That cheap, are you sure you didn''t make a mistake? These should be enough to make about one hundred and forty to fifty jade tokens that I need." Ge Dongxu was taken aback when he heard this because if he went by seventy percent off the previous pendant prices, even for one hundred and forty tokens, it would be around seven hundred thousand. Yet now, the price had dropped by more than half.

    "Hehe, how could I make a mistake about this! Your requirements are low, so it''s possible to create about one hundred and forty to fifty jade tokens, but if we were to process them into pendants, bracelets, and such ornaments, the waste would be quite severe, not to mention the cost of craftsmanship. At this level of jade, every piece is carved and polished as an artwork, requiring not only time but also experienced master craftsmen. It''s not possible to just assign an apprentice to work on it like with lower grades of jadeite such as the green bean type. Moreover, you are buying so much at once; we''re just flipping the inventory, so I can naturally give you a larger discount on the price. Therefore, two hundred seventy-six thousand is not a small amount. Any more, and I think my dad would scold me for being a profiteer!" Tang Yahui said.

    Although Tang Yahui explained why the price difference was so large, Ge Dongxu was a smart man and didn''t naively think that this was the price he should get. He knew very well that if it weren''t for Tang Yiyuan''s sake, Tang Yahui wouldn''t have been so lenient with him; she would''ve likely overcharged him mercilessly.

 Chapter 68 Chance Encounter on the Return Journey [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    "It looks like I owe your dad another favor," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, no longer continuing to talk about the price."Doctor Ge, you are being too modest, too modest," Tang Yiyuan hastily demurred, but his heart blossomed with joy.

    For someone like Ge Dongxu, owing him more favors was always better, as it would make it easier for him to seek help in the future.

    As the saying goes, ''a daughter knows her father best.'' Although Tang Yiyuan did not show his inner joy, Tang Yahui still noticed it, feeling increasingly surprised and curious about what special skills this young man possessed that made her father value his favor so highly.

    The conversation touched upon the topic briefly, and Ge Dongxu did not continue being polite with Tang Yiyuan but instead turned to inquire about other jades.

    Since he had to catch a train in the afternoon and was pressed for time, he did not want to delay.

    Tang Yahui, a woman who acted decisively, did not wait for Ge Dongxu to urge her again. She immediately called the master craftsman to tell him about the jade processing and asked him to start right away. Then she called a jade merchant friend in Linzhou City. After making the arrangements, she personally drove Ge Dongxu over, with Tang Yiyuan originally having other plans that afternoon but naturally abandoning them as accompanying Ge Dongxu was more important.

    During the drive, Tang Yiyuan asked many questions about traditional medicine. This time, he did not approach it with the same scrutinizing attitude he had on the train but instead brought out some medical puzzles he had to ask Ge Dongxu for advice.

    Because Ge Dongxu felt that he owed Tang Yiyuan a favor and also found him to be quite a good person, he did not hold back much and shared his knowledge generously, which greatly benefited Tang Yiyuan. Meanwhile, Tang Yahui, who was driving, was so astonished that they nearly had an accident.

    She had never imagined that in Jiangnan Province there would be someone who could offer guidance in traditional medicine to her father, especially a young man.

    Her father was a doctoral supervisor, so did that mean this young man could also supervise doctoral students? The mere thought made Tang Yahui feel as if it was all a fantastical tale.

    With Tang Yahui being an expert present, the jade merchant did not dare to cheat Ge Dongxu. Moreover, Ge Dongxu chose jades based on how they gathered and stored spiritual energy, picking them correctly almost every time, which made it difficult for the merchant to pawn off lesser quality goods as finer ones.

    After spending ninety-four thousand yuan, Ge Dongxu acquired approximately forty to fifty pieces of jade that could be made into Jade Tokens. Adding to his previous expenses, he had spent exactly three hundred seventy thousand yuan in total.

    While paying, Ge Dongxu thought about the remaining nine hundred thirty thousand yuan he would have left and felt a sense of relief. Otherwise, losing nine hundred eighty thousand yuan all at once would have really felt like being thrown back to much harder times.

    In reality, even after spending nine hundred eighty thousand yuan, Ge Dongxu would still have three hundred twenty thousand yuan left, which for an ordinary family was still a considerable sum. However, human nature is such that once you''ve had over a million, looking back at just a few hundred thousand can make you feel impoverished.

    Back at Jiang Region Jewelry, Tang Yahui helped Ge Dongxu arrange and supervise the polishing of the Jade Tokens, while Ge Dongxu and Tang Yiyuan occupied her office to discuss knowledge of traditional medicine.

    After a thorough discussion, Tang Yiyuan was completely impressed by Ge Dongxu. Although he still addressed him as Doctor Ge verbally, in his heart, he had already regarded him as his mentor and considered himself a student.

    Around four-thirty, under Tang Yahui''s personal supervision and urging, the Jade Tokens that Ge Dongxu had requested were finally all polished. Then she personally drove him to the train station.

    As he boarded the train for the return trip and found his seat, looking out at the train station and the high-rise buildings behind it, and thinking about the one hundred ninety-eight Jade Tokens worth three hundred seventy thousand yuan in his bag and the bank card with nine hundred thirty thousand yuan in his wallet, Ge Dongxu felt an unreal sensation.

    This trip to the Provincial Capital had given him too many experiences he had never had before, and he had encountered many people he would definitely not have been able to meet otherwise. His mind seemed to mature unknowingly.

    Indeed, traveling thousands of miles is better than reading thousands of books. If it were not for being swindled by the taxi, if it were not for Director Liu eying people like she didn''t even blink, if it were not for meeting Tang Yiyuan and his daughter, how could I have so profoundly understood the evils and kindness of the human heart? If it were not for buying jade, how could I have known the complexities within the jade industry?

    As he thought, Ge Dongxu''s mind involuntarily conjured up that immaculately sculpted, pure white body. The captivating eyes, beautiful face, long neck, soaring peaks, slim waist, perfectly plump buttocks, and long, straight legs...

    "Stop! Stop! Ge Dongxu, how can your thoughts be so dirty? After all the trust Sister Liu has placed in you!" Ge Dongxu quickly realized he shouldn''t be thinking this and hurriedly chastised himself while trying not to dwell on that image.

    But the image was like grass with a strong will to live; just as Ge Dongxu suppressed it, it would break through the soil again unexpectedly.

    "Dongxu? Why are you here? Didn''t you go to class today?" Just as Ge Dongxu was struggling internally, suddenly a familiar voice came from across the way.

    "Ah, it''s Uncle Zhou! What are you doing here?" Ge Dongxu quickly looked up and was surprised to see Cheng Le Hao''s father, Cheng Yazhou, then began to silently lament.

    This really was hard to explain!

    "You rascal, I''m asking you, why are you turning the question on me? I am a businessman, of course, I travel for work. But what about you, a high school student¡ªwhy aren''t you in school and instead have run off to the provincial capital?" Cheng Yazhou''s face darkened slightly, his tone serious and interrogative.

    "I have a sister in the provincial capital, she''s ill. I came specifically to see her," Ge Dongxu knew Cheng Yazhou meant well, so he wasn''t annoyed by his questioning tone. He hesitated, and then suddenly remembering Liu Jiayao, he blurted out a reply.

    "I see. What about your parents? Why didn''t they come with you? Are they that trusting of you?" Cheng Yazhou said as he sat down across from Ge Dongxu and asked, his expression softened.

    His seat was just opposite Ge Dongxu''s.

    "Both of my parents are too busy, so I had to come by myself," Ge Dongxu responded.

    "A poor man''s child matures early! You''re so young and already off to the provincial capital by yourself. My son doesn''t know when he''ll grow up like you. By the way, is your sister very sick?" Cheng Yazhou''s face completely lost its sternness, replaced by admiration and affection.

    "She''s much better now," Ge Dongxu replied, his cheeks feeling slightly warm. He had always been an honest child and was unaccustomed to lying outright in front of others.

    "That''s good!" Cheng Yazhou nodded, showing a slight smile, and said, "You should have told your uncle earlier, maybe then you could have come with me."

    "Aren''t we together now?" Seeing that Cheng Yazhou no longer pressed him about his trip to the provincial capital, Ge Dongxu breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

    "That''s true." Cheng Yazhou nodded and smiled, then seemed to remember something, spoke no more, and his face showed a trace of melancholy and worry.

    ps: The ranking is falling; I will not speak of persistence or vent my complaints; I only ask for continued support from my readers. The situation is urgent; don''t forget to vote and leave messages of support; thank you very much. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 69 Sudden Illness

    "How is it, Uncle, was your trip to the Provincial Capital not smooth?" Ge Dongxu, who was very observant, noticed that Cheng Yazhou looked exhausted and his expression carried a mix of anguish and worry, prompting him to ask out of concern."Yes, the funds haven''t come through. Haha, you''re still young; you don''t need to worry about these things." Cheng Yazhou replied reflexively, but he quickly realized that Ge Dongxu was too young to discuss such matters and did not elaborate further.

    Seeing that Cheng Yazhou did not want to continue, Ge Dongxu did not press further but thought to himself that he needed to mention this to Cheng Lehao when he had time, and to encourage him to study harder. Knowing how hard the parents worked for the family, he could not afford to add to their burdens.

    Afterward, Cheng Yazhou asked about Ge Dongxu''s studies at Changxi High School and mentioned that his son had recently been studying more diligently. As he spoke of this, a look of gratitude and relief clearly appeared on his face.

    Cheng Yazhou had obviously been very tired these past few days. After talking for a while, he began to yawn incessantly, then he excused himself to Ge Dongxu, closed his eyes to rest, and soon began snoring, fast asleep.

    Seeing Cheng Yazhou asleep, Ge Dongxu, also feeling quite bored and worrying that unwanted images might begin to appear in his mind, decided to close his eyes as well and entered a state of meditation.

    After an indeterminate amount of time in meditation, Ge Dongxu suddenly heard Cheng Yazhou''s painful moans, which startled him and jolted him out of his meditation.

    Awakening from his meditation, Ge Dongxu saw Cheng Yazhou pressing his hands against his chest, curled up in his seat in agony, his face pale, covered in sweat, and breathing shallowly.

    Alarmed at the sight, Ge Dongxu quickly got up and asked, "Uncle, what''s wrong with you?"

    At the same time, he had already placed his hand on Cheng Yazhou''s wrist, feeling his pulse.

    "My chest hurts terribly! Hurry, go get a crew member, I, I might be having a myocardial infarction," Cheng Yazhou gasped out the words with difficulty, his eyes showing pain and panic.

    Because it was nighttime and not a peak travel period, the train car was not very crowded, and most passengers were asleep at this time, so no one but Ge Dongxu noticed the situation yet. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You''re right, this is a myocardial infarction. At this time, calling a crew member won''t help. Lie on your side; I''m going to apply acupuncture now," Ge Dongxu, a skilled physician, naturally knew that a myocardial infarction was a severe, acute condition that could not be delayed. If prolonged, it could lead to extensive myocardial infarction, which even his current medical skills would be powerless to reverse. Thus, without any hesitation, he urgently spoke.

    "You?" Though Cheng Yazhou was in severe pain and struggled to breathe, he was still conscious. Seeing Ge Dongxu offering to perform acupuncture, his eyes widened in surprise. He was about to tell Ge Dongxu not to mess around as his sudden illness wasn''t something he could deal with when he saw Ge Dongxu pulling out an ancient-looking sandalwood box from his bag. As he opened the box and took out several silver needles, the words Cheng Yazhou was about to say were swallowed back.

    By the time he realized he shouldn''t let Ge Dongxu perform acupuncture, Ge Dongxu had already torn open his shirt and, without saying a word, expertly placed needles into his Shen Shu acupoint, Di Shu acupoint, Ju Que acupoint, Tan Zhong acupoint, among others.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu inserted the needles, Cheng Yazhou immediately felt much less pain, and his breathing seemed not as labored as before. At that moment, he finally understood that Ge Dongxu could indeed treat him, so he no longer insisted on calling someone else. Instead, he sat up as Ge Dongxu instructed, positioning his body upright.

    Due to the position of the seats on the train, which had a backrest and were narrow, Cheng Yazhou was lying on his side, making it inconvenient for Ge Dongxu to administer the acupuncture. Initially, Cheng Yazhou was in severe pain, so asking him to sit up was clearly unrealistic. Therefore, Ge Dongxu allowed him to remain lying on his side. Now that the pain had eased somewhat, he asked him to sit upright.

    After Cheng Yazhou sat upright, Ge Dongxu helped him target a few acupoints, then alternately gently rotated the silver needles with his fingers. Each rotation consumed some of his True Qi.

    As a result, Cheng Yazhou''s complexion soon became rosier, while Ge Dongxu''s face turned pale.

    There was no choice, today at Liu Jiayao''s home, Ge Dongxu''s True Qi had already been almost depleted. After most of the day, he had just barely recovered a bit of strength, when Cheng Yazhou suddenly fell ill again.

    Cheng Yazhou was a good person, and over the past few days, everyone had grown quite close. Faced with his medical condition, Ge Dongxu naturally did all he could.

    Fortunately, Ge Dongxu had consistently and diligently cultivated his skills over the years, building a solid foundation. Thus, although he had expended a lot of energy at Liu Jiayao''s home earlier, he was able to muster a bit of True Qi after recovering for most of the day. Otherwise, Cheng Yazhou''s myocardial infarction would not have eased so quickly.

    After a while, Ge Dongxu saw that Cheng Yazhou would not have any more problems and thus began to remove the silver needles one by one. He then massaged Cheng Yazhou''s chest and other areas for a while before finally letting out a long sigh of relief, saying, "Finally, it''s all right."

    Having said this, Ge Dongxu practically collapsed into the chair, breathing heavily.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s exhausted appearance, Cheng Yazhou was very touched and said, "Thank you, Dongxu. If it wasn''t for you today, Uncle Cheng might have died right here. Just like Lehao''s grandfather, who passed away suddenly from a myocardial infarction. The doctors told me this illness isn''t hereditary, but that all turned out to be nonsense."

    "We''re all family, Uncle Cheng, so there''s no need for formalities with me. However, you were wrong to blame the doctor earlier. This disease indeed does not necessarily have hereditary factors. The main issue is with yourself. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is said that improper diet, indulging in rich and fatty foods, or frequently overeating can harm the spleen and stomach over time, impairing their functioning. This leads to the production of phlegm from retained dampness which ascends and clouds the chest. When the clear yang fails to rise, and the qi circulation is impeded, this obstructs the heart''s vessels. Alternatively, phlegm can turn into fire, where heat can further congeal the liquids into phlegm and scorch the blood into stasis, blocking the heart''s vessels with phlegm and stasis, and thus causing heart pain. So, Uncle Cheng, you really need to lose weight, otherwise, you might face today''s situation again," Ge Dongxu waved his hand as he spoke.

    "Yes, yes. I was scared to death today. When I get back, I''ll start losing weight, and not just me¡ªLehao needs to as well," Cheng Yazhou nodded repeatedly, still frightened.

    He was only a little over forty this year, and if something similar to his father''s sudden myocardial infarction happened, how could he rest assured about Lehao and his wife?

    "That''s right. Also, don''t overwork yourself in the future and try to maintain a relaxed mood. This occurrence of a myocardial infarction surely also had to do with your recent travel and stressed mood," Ge Dongxu continued.

    "Yes, these past few days have not only worn me out but also stressed me quite a bit. However, let''s not talk about this. Let''s talk about you¡ªhow did you learn acupuncture, and how is it that you are so miraculously skilled?" Cheng Yazhou nodded, then quickly turned to Ge Dongxu with curiosity, asking him about his acupuncture skills.

    ps: The youth stage primarily sets the foundation for the protagonist''s rise in university and future, so it will not be lengthy, and readers can be assured.

 Chapter 70 Discussing Investment

    "When I was young, I once apprenticed under a master and learned Chinese medicine, but I wanted to study without distractions, so I''d prefer if only you knew about this, Uncle. Please don''t mention it to anyone else," Ge Dongxu replied.Cheng Yazhou, being a businessman, had seen a bit of the world and understood certain norms. Besides, he didn''t want his family to worry, so since Ge Dongxu asked him not to bring it up, it suited him just fine.

    "I understand, and I don''t want to concern your aunt and Lehao either, so you don''t need to tell them about it. I''m still somewhat worried about my condition though. You''re skilled in medicine¡ªother than maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle, do you have any other ways to ensure this illness won''t happen again? Lehao is still young; I really can''t rest easy just leaving things as they are." Cheng Yazhou nodded, then looked at Ge Dongxu with a gaze full of expectation and pleading, and as he spoke of Cheng Lehao, his eyes reddened a bit.

    "Since I''ve detected your illness in advance, Uncle, you don''t need to worry too much. Once you get back, I''ll write a prescription for you to adjust your condition, and if you pay attention to your diet and exercise more, you certainly won''t relapse," Ge Dongxu said. Find more to read at empire

    Having gone through the recent event, Cheng Yazhou had developed considerable trust in Ge Dongxu. His own father had died of a sudden myocardial infarction, and even after being taken to the hospital, they couldn''t save him, whereas Ge Dongxu had managed to snatch him from death''s grasp with just acupuncture. Such a vivid experience left no room for Cheng Yazhou to doubt Ge Dongxu, unless there was something wrong with his brain.

    "That''s good to hear, really good. For assisting Lehao in his studies and now saving my life, I don''t know how to thank you," Cheng Yazhou sighed with relief, his face full of gratitude.

    "Hehe, there''s no need for such formalities, Uncle. Speaking of which, what exactly happened in Provincial Capital? Were people intentionally avoiding repaying their debts, or were they genuinely unable to pay up?" Ge Dongxu said with a smile, waving his hand, before bringing up Cheng Yazhou''s issue with debts.

    It wasn''t that Ge Dongxu was being nosy; he wanted his money to earn more money, and he needed to understand more about business to gain experience. Considering his age, it was unlikely anyone would discuss business matters with him, but since he''d just saved Cheng Yazhou, asking him about these matters was no issue. Moreover, if the other party genuinely had money and was deliberately avoiding payment, Ge Dongxu had the means to help Cheng Yazhou.

    "It''s not that they''re intentionally avoiding repayment, but rather their business has taken a loss and they temporarily can''t repay the money. Unfortunately, I urgently needed a large sum of cash to purchase a machine for producing laser anti-counterfeit labels, and without their repayment, I can''t afford the machine," Cheng Yazhou explained, unable to see Ge Dongxu in the same light as before ever since he''d saved him, and so he offered an explanation when asked again.

    "What, Uncle, are you planning to invest in the production of laser anti-counterfeit labels?" Ge Dongxu asked, his eyes lighting up upon hearing this. He had some funds at hand and was pondering how to make more money from them, and Cheng Yazhou''s words gave him a hint of an investment opportunity. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Of course, he knew investments shouldn''t be made blindly, so he needed to gather more information.

    "Yes, laser anti-counterfeit labels have started to become popular over the last couple of years. I have a few clients who were using traditional labels but now they all want to switch to laser anti-counterfeit labels, and this is definitely a trend for the future. It''s better to start early to get more profit, as opposed to when everyone else jumps on the bandwagon and it''s too late. But importing a set of production machinery for the labels takes about one and a half to one and six million yuan. I''ve made some money from my businesses over the years, so I thought I could collect some of that money, mortgage my house for a loan, and bring in Lehao''s uncle as a partner. It should have been fine. But then two big customers ran into trouble, leaving me with very little capital," Cheng Yazhou said, clearly disheartened.

    "Why not find a few more people to partner with?" Ge Dongxu suggested, feeling somewhat enticed by Cheng Yazhou''s analysis.

    "It isn''t easy to find business partners, you''re too young to understand. When it comes to interests, even brothers can end up in conflict. I''ve been in business partnerships with close friends in previous years. It was fine when the business was good, but once we started losing money, they blamed me, and we ended up no longer being friends. Producing laser anti-counterfeit labels requires significant investment. I may talk a good game, believing in its prospects, but business is unpredictable. If we make a profit, it''s fine, but if we lose, it''s a different story. I''ve been burned before, so I can''t just casually bring in more partners. Lehao''s uncle, on the other hand, has a more agreeable personality, so I thought there wouldn''t be a problem there," Cheng Yazhou said with a rueful smile and a shake of his head.

    Ge Dongxu was intelligent. From what Cheng Yazhou had said, he understood that Cheng Yazhou''s primary concern was the fear of the business failing and dragging others down with him. Ge Dongxu admired him all the more for his concern and said, "Business is naturally risky; one shouldn''t blame others if things go south. I actually find the laser anti-counterfeit label business quite promising and would like to partner with you, Uncle. What do you think?"

    "You, partner with me?" Cheng Yazhou''s eyes widened in shock as if he suddenly didn''t recognize Ge Dongxu.

    It''s not surprising for Cheng Yazhou to react this way. Despite his years in business, he had never discussed business with someone so young, let alone consider a partnership. Moreover, this young person was his son''s classmate, which was even more absurd. Had it not been for Ge Dongxu''s life-saving act just before, prompting him to view this young man as out of the ordinary, Cheng Yazhou would have outright scolded Ge Dongxu for speaking nonsense.

    "That''s right. I''ve got some spare cash and am looking for a place to invest it," Ge Dongxu affirmed with a smile.

    "Are you serious, Dongxu? This isn''t a joke. Do you really have spare money? How much? Do your parents know?" Having spent over a month getting to know each other, Cheng Yazhou was still adjusting to the idea and subconsciously saw Ge Dongxu as a child.

    "I have about seven hundred thousand that I can use, earned by myself. I can make decisions on my own when it comes to that money," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Seven... seven hundred thousand!" Cheng Yazhou''s eyes bugged out, nearly exclaiming in surprise.

    "If it''s not enough, I could potentially shuffle around another hundred thousand, but any more than that would be impossible," Ge Dongxu said earnestly. He had planned to set aside about two hundred thousand for his parents, but if Cheng Yazhou''s situation was truly dire, he was willing to consider giving his parents less for now.

    ps: Continuing to seek all kinds of support, thank you very much.

 Chapter 71 Investing in Shares

    "Dongxu, today you have completely shocked me," Cheng Yazhou said as he repeatedly rubbed his temples, "First, you saved my life, and then you told me you could invest up to eight hundred thousand as a partner. My mind just couldn''t process it all at once, couldn''t make the turn. Give me a moment, let me settle down, let me settle down!"Ge Dongxu knew his performance tonight was astonishing and that Cheng Yazhou, who had always known him as a student, was finding it hard to accept. So, when he heard this, he wasn''t surprised or upset but just nodded with a smile and quietly waited.

    After a while, Cheng Yazhou seemed to slowly accept the reality and took a deep breath, looking seriously at Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, I''ve realized now that you are not an ordinary kid, and I can''t look at you the way I did before. Let''s discuss the investment partnership properly now."

    "Okay, you know more about this, Uncle Cheng, so you start, and I''ll listen," Ge Dongxu nodded and straightened up as he spoke.

    "Now I''ll ask you again, are you certain about making this investment? I can''t guarantee we will make money; in fact, it''s quite possible that we could lose everything," Cheng Yazhou looked seriously at Ge Dongxu and asked.

    "I trust Uncle Cheng''s analysis just now, and with Uncle Cheng''s full storehouse, his financial luck shouldn''t be bad," Ge Dongxu nodded his head in agreement.

    "Okay, you can read fortunes too. But, my financial luck hasn''t been good recently. If it hadn''t been for meeting you today, I would have been done for," Cheng Yazhou said with a laugh, not taking Ge Dongxu seriously.

    "Either way, I trust Uncle Cheng, as well as my own judgment and discernment; even if we lose everything, I will never blame you," Ge Dongxu said earnestly.

    "Since you have so much faith in Uncle, I''ll discuss the detailed aspects of the investment with you," Cheng Yazhou said, seeing the determination in Ge Dongxu. He refrained from further persuasion, as it would appear he did not trust Ge Dongxu or want to partner with him.

    "Okay, go ahead," Ge Dongxu nodded. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Regarding the investment in an anti-counterfeit laser label factory, the major expenses are for purchasing the machinery, followed by the factory building and staff salaries. For purchasing machinery, as I mentioned before, it will roughly cost between $1.5 to $1.6 million, but I think we can negotiate it down to $1.5 million."

    "About the factory, I''ve previously mentioned that I rented one in the suburbs of the county town with a friend. The lease is for three years, but my friend left me with a mess after the business incurred losses. Since the lease is only up at the end of this month, we can continue renting it. We can also opt to buy it, as land in the suburbs is cheap, costing about twenty to thirty thousand per acre at most. The main expense would be the actual buildings, but even there, spending sixty to seventy thousand should be enough. However, since we haven''t started the business and don''t know whether it will profit or incur losses, and my funds are already tight, I am inclining towards continuing the lease. The rent is just eight hundred per month, payable annually."

    "Regarding salaries, the main expense is for laser plate making, which requires special skills, so the wages are higher, possibly needing one or two thousand, but salaries are paid monthly and aren''t a big problem. As for other materials like plastic film and adhesive, having built some credit over the years, I could initially pay in advance with deferred payment. So, adding it all together, if we have $1.6 million, we should be able to set up and operate the factory," Cheng Yazhou explained.

    "Lehao''s uncle doesn''t have much capital; two hundred thousand would be his limit. I can scrape together eight hundred thousand on my side, so you could put in six hundred thousand. We could then divide the shares into eight parts¡ªLehao''s uncle would have one share, I would have four shares, and you three. What do you think? If you feel the investment is too high, I could try to gather some more money, so you''d feel less burdened," Cheng Yazhou said.

    "Hehe, I''m only sixteen this year. Even if I lose it all, I''ll have plenty of opportunities to make money later, so there''s no psychological burden at all. Let it be six hundred thousand for three shares. But there''s one thing I need to make clear first¡ªI am currently focusing on my studies and won''t be able to participate in the management. So in this regard, Uncle Cheng, you''ll need to think this through to ensure neither you nor Lehao''s uncle suffer a loss," Ge Dongxu said.

    "That''s easy to handle; Uncle Lehao and I will be involved in managing the business, and the factory just needs to pay us a salary," Cheng Yazhou replied.

    "Alright, that''s settled then. I''ll make time to go to the bank tomorrow afternoon after school to transfer the money to you. Over the weekend, take me to see the factory. If the location feels right, we''ll settle on it," Ge Dongxu said.

    Because Cheng Yazhou had incurred losses with his last factory venture, Ge Dongxu was worried it might be related to the factory''s Feng Shui, so he wanted to take a look himself. However, Cheng Yazhou had just teased him about his fortune-telling, reminding Ge Dongxu to keep his special abilities hidden. Thus, this time he wouldn''t mention Feng Shui, but just said he wanted to see the location.

    "Alright, I''ll draft a contract when I get back to make things official. Then this weekend, we can call Uncle Lehao too, and go check out the factory together," Cheng Yazhou said without giving it too much thought.

    Of course, even with the wildest imagination, Cheng Yazhou could never guess that the young man before him not only possessed miraculous medical skills but also had proficiency in physiognomy and Feng Shui.

    "Done, it''s decided then. It''s getting late, Uncle should close his eyes and rest for a while; I need to rest too, otherwise, I won''t have any energy for class tomorrow," Ge Dongxu nodded and said. Stay tuned to empire

    "Yes, yes, you should rest too. You must be exhausted from performing acupuncture and massage on Uncle just now," Cheng Yazhou hurriedly said upon realizing that Ge Dongxu still looked a bit pale.

    Ge Dongxu nodded, then closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.

    Sleep is the most natural way for cultivators to rest and relax, also an essential part, although cultivators don''t need as much sleep as ordinary people do.

    The train arrived on time at six o''clock in Changxi County, and Ge Dongxu and Cheng Yazhou headed home together. Since the two were now business partners, they would definitely need to communicate and negotiate about various matters, and engage in financial transactions, so keeping it a secret from Cheng Yazhou''s family would certainly be unrealistic, at least it would be impossible to hide it from his wife, Wu Xiaojuan. Thus, on the way home, Cheng Yazhou discussed this issue with Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu was aware that it was a serious matter, so he had no objection to Cheng Yazhou mentioning it to Wu Xiaojuan. However, because he was worried it may affect Cheng Lehao''s study mindset and he might leak the information, he asked Cheng Yazhou to try not to mention it to him for the time being, as the young man usually wasn''t interested in his dad''s business affairs.

    So, after getting home, Ge Dongxu took a bath and had breakfast before heading to school, while Cheng Yazhou talked with Wu Xiaojuan about partnering with Ge Dongxu to invest in an anti-counterfeit laser label factory.

    When Wu Xiaojuan heard that Ge Dongxu had so much money, she couldn''t believe it. Helplessly, Cheng Yazhou ended up sharing with her about his myocardial infarction on the train and how Ge Dongxu had saved him, which she knew her father-in-law had died from. Hearing that her husband had a sudden heart attack on the train terrified her, but she gradually accepted the reality of Ge Dongxu having so much money.

    Because of this incident, it was clear that they could no longer view Ge Dongxu as just an ordinary young man.

    ps: Thank you, dear readers, for every click, every recommendation, every tip, every favorite, and every comment. Thank you for your support Along the way!

 Chapter 72 Transfer [Request for Recommendation Tickets]

    In the afternoon, Ge Dongxu went to the Industrial and Commercial Bank.Inside the Industrial and Commercial Bank, Ge Dongxu happened to run into the branch leader from the last time he came to get a card.

    This was a woman with the air of an office beauty, dressed in a white blouse underneath a black suit uniform, with a black knee-length skirt wrapping tightly around her hips, revealing two voluptuous legs clad in silk stockings, looking very plump and sexy.

    Because it was Lin Kun who had accompanied Ge Dongxu to get the card last time, and considering Ge Dongxu''s unusual age, the branch leader still remembered him. When she saw him come in, she didn''t rush to her office but instead made a point to greet him, "Xiao Ge, do you need to conduct any business?"

    After all, she was a leader of the Changxi County branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank and quite a figure in Changxi County. She wouldn''t casually call Ge Dongxu, a young man, Mr. Ge because of Lin Kun''s relationship, and since Lin Kun, following Ge Dongxu''s instruction, had not called Ge Dongxu ''Dongxu Brother'' in her presence that day, the fact that she voluntarily stopped to call him Xiao Ge and ask if he needed anything was quite a face-giving gesture on her part. It drew the attention of many onlookers.

    "Hello, President Yuan, I''m here to make a transfer." Ge Dongxu vaguely remembered that this leader''s name was Yuan Li and that she was the vice president of the branch. Seeing her taking the initiative to greet him, he quickly replied with a smile and a greeting.

    "Oh, a transfer, is it inter-bank?" Yuan Li asked casually.

    "Yes, to CCB (China Construction Bank)," Ge Dongxu nodded and replied.

    "How much is the amount?" Yuan Li nodded, initially ready to enter her office, but as she turned around, out of professional habit, she asked.

    "Six hundred thousand." Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Six hundred thousand!" Right then, Yuan Li''s delicate body shivered, and she set her raised foot back down, looking at Ge Dongxu with a very surprised gaze.

    Six hundred thousand was absolutely a large sum at the time, and even Yuan Li, as a branch leader, couldn''t ignore this figure. Her annual salary according to the account books was just over ten thousand.

    Of course, as a branch leader, she enjoyed many benefits, bonuses, and hidden income, not to mention the superiority of her status, which were all hard to calculate.

    But no matter how one looked at it, six hundred thousand was definitely a large sum for Yuan Li, and seeing this young man casually mention transferring six hundred thousand, how could Yuan Li not be surprised?

    "That''s right, is there a problem?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    Enjoy new adventures from empire

    "Of course not, come, come, sit in my office for a bit, there''s something I''d like to discuss with you," Yuan Li quickly said, with a very polite demeanor.

    Once in Yuan Li''s office, she personally poured water for Ge Dongxu. Watching Yuan Li smile as she poured water for him, her buttocks, wrapped in the skirt, slightly lifting, feeling very sensual and quite attractive to the male gaze. However, Ge Dongxu, the young man, while observing this scene, was puzzlingly reflective of the allure of money.

    The last time Yuan Li entertained him, it was completely out of respect for Lin Kun, but this time it had nothing to do with Lin Kun, it was all for Ge Dongxu.

    Because he was a young man with money!

    For the first time in his life, Ge Dongxu personally felt the status that money brought him! It was quite a pleasant feeling.

    After pouring a glass of water for Ge Dongxu, Yuan Li engaged in a bit of small talk before revealing her true intent. It turned out, she hoped Ge Dongxu would trouble Cheng Yazhou into opening a bank account at the Industrial and Commercial Bank.

    Although Yuan Li had made the special exception for Ge Dongxu last time as a favor to Lin Kun, Ge Dongxu still owed her a favor no matter how you looked at it. Besides, it wasn''t a big deal, so Ge Dongxu immediately used Yuan Li''s office phone to call Cheng Yazhou''s shop.

    Opening another account wasn''t a bad thing for Cheng Yazhou, especially since the Industrial and Commercial Bank had the most branches anyway, and he had been considering getting a card there. Once Ge Dongxu called, Cheng Yazhou rushed to the Industrial and Commercial Bank straight away.

    When Cheng Yazhou arrived at the Industrial and Commercial Bank and saw Ge Dongxu laughing and chatting with the bank''s leaders as if they were old acquaintances, he couldn''t help but be greatly surprised and thought to himself that he had really misjudged him before.

    With the presence of Yuan Li, a leader, Cheng Yazhou was able to open an account at the Industrial and Commercial Bank very quickly. However, it would take a few days before he could receive his card. Ge Dongxu''s six hundred thousand was transferred to this account on the spot.

    Cheng Yazhou took the passbook home and showed it to Wu Xiaojuan, who counted the string of digits after the six several times before she truly believed that Ge Dongxu was an extraordinarily wealthy high school freshman.

    In the following days, Ge Dongxu resumed his normal student life.

    He attended classes on time and returned home on schedule. In the morning, he still went to school with Dong Yuxin, but without the threat of Chen Zihao, Dong Yuxin seldom waited for him after evening self-study. This allowed Ge Dongxu, who had once been the talk of Class 6, to gradually fade into the background and become just an ordinary member of the class. Only his deskmate, Du Yifan, who heard from Cheng Lehao, knew that Ge Dongxu still drove the school belle to school every morning and continued to admire him greatly.

    Due to treating Liu Jiayao and Cheng Yazhou, Ge Dongxu had very little True Qi left in his body. Since the Spirit Qi in the city was scarce and muddled, he couldn''t recover in just a few days. Although he had bought nearly two hundred pieces of jade, he had not started making the Spirit Gathering Array Jade Talisman in these days.

    By Saturday, Ge Dongxu met Cheng Lehao''s uncle, Wu Qianjin. Wu Qianjin was in his early thirties and bore a striking resemblance to his older sister, Wu Xiaojuan, appearing quite astute. However, Ge Dongxu, finding nothing malicious in Wu Qianjin''s appearance, actually liked his shrewdness.

    After all, a sharp and clever mind is needed in business.

    The factory that Cheng Yazhou mentioned was in the eastern part of Songyang Town, a distance further beyond Changxi Middle School. That area was formerly rural but had now been included in the town limits as the county enlarged, making it part of the urban area.

    Still, aside from some houses close to the town that looked like urban street dwellings, other places remained distinctly rural, and it was unclear how many years it would take for the area to develop.

    The factory, which still maintained a rural appearance, was essentially similar to a warehouse and quite simple. It covered a considerable area of three acres, almost two thousand square meters. Its proximity to the road meant that transportation was convenient, and since it was in the outskirts, the rent was cheap. Probably for these reasons, Cheng Yazhou had initially rented the place.

    Ge Dongxu, having heard that Cheng Yazhou and a friend had previously lost money running a factory there, was a bit worried about the Feng Shui of the factory, which was why he wanted to check it out. Otherwise, with his limited social experience, he wouldn''t have been able to discern anything special about the factory, particularly since Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin were more experienced than him in that regard, and there was no need for him to intervene.

    Once at the site, Ge Dongxu found the Feng Shui of the factory quite favorable, a place brimming with prosperity. The land behind the factory was high, with mountains in the distance, which was like having support from a mountain ¨C advantageous for stability. The front had lower terrain, and a small river flowed past, creating an open court, which is considered auspicious Feng Shui for wealth, encircled by mountains and water, ensuring abundant Qi.

    The reasons why the factory had good Feng Shui but still led Cheng Yazhou and his friend to losses could only be attributed to their misfortune in other aspects or personal mishandlings. After all, Feng Shui can influence a person''s fortunes and life, but it''s only a part of the equation. Just like a famous Minnanese song says: three parts are due to luck, seven parts are due to hard work, speaking to this very concept.

    Ge Dongxu favored the location once he saw the good Feng Shui of the factory. Furthermore, after staying for a while, he discovered that the area''s Feng Shui was quite favorable, with Spirit Qi seemingly more abundant than where he was currently living. If he practiced here, the results should be better than at Cheng Yazhou''s home.

    This discovery slightly moved Ge Dongxu, and he said to Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin, "I think this factory is not bad. If it''s possible to buy it, why not make the purchase? After all, Uncle, you mentioned it wouldn''t take much money."

    S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 73 Individual Purchase of Factory Building

    "This factory building was originally owned by the Jiangqian Village collective; after Jiangqian Village was incorporated into the county town and became a street, the building came under the management of the street office. Last time I came here to rent the factory building with a friend, the director of the Jiangqian Street Office had hoped that we would just buy it outright. We were also limited by funds at the time, and we couldn''t guarantee that the business would definitely be profitable, so we eventually opted for renting. Now, I still feel the same, let''s earn the money and cover our initial costs, and then consider the situation," Cheng Yazhou said."Yeah, Dongxu, you make it sound easy, not needing much money. But it''s still three acres of land, plus the factory building, and with deed tax and all, it would come down to at least a hundred and forty or fifty thousand. That''s no small amount; I nearly went broke just raising the two hundred thousand for the factory start-up this time and can''t dare to increase the investment cost. Let''s rent instead; this kind of rural place won''t appreciate in value even if bought; it''s a waste to just throw the money away here. With a hundred and forty or fifty thousand, it''d be better to buy a house in the county town. At least you could get one on Lianchi Street, where the location is also quite decent. A store facing the street can be rented out for six or seven thousand a year, and the rent keeps on increasing every year, much better than here," Wu Qianjin chimed in with firmer resolve.

    Seeing that both were insistent on not buying the land and factory building outright, Ge Dongxu didn''t want to urge them further and thought for a moment before saying, "Since you both disagree, then I will spend my own money to buy it and rent it out to our factory after the purchase." Discover stories with empire

    "Dongxu, Qianjin is right, although Jiangqian Village is said to be part of the county town, it''s basically still a rural area. It was like this five years ago, is still the same now, and will remain so for a long time to come; spending this money really isn''t worth it, you really need to think it through," Cheng Yazhou saw that Ge Dongxu was willing to spend his own money to buy the property, thought for a while, and seriously advised.

    "Hehe, my money would just sit idle anyway. Besides, once bought, the land will still exist; how much could I possibly lose? Moreover, being a landlord feels pretty good," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment but still held on to his decision.

    Ge Dongxu actually knew that Cheng Yazhou was making sense, but what he valued more was the cultivation environment here; he felt that with three years of high school still ahead, he would eventually have to move out of Cheng Lehao''s house and come here to cultivate.

    "You make some sense as well; since you''ve decided, I''ll help you schedule a meeting with Director Jiang, what time would be suitable for you?" Seeing that Ge Dongxu was resolved, Cheng Yazhou no longer urged him, nodded, and Wu Qianjin was still shaking his head on the side, considering this an investment squandering money.

    "If we can meet now, let''s do it now and get this settled early," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Okay, let''s go to the street office now and find Director Jiang," Cheng Yazhou was impressed by how Ge Dongxu was not dragging his feet on matters, while Wu Qianjin kept stamping his feet in distress over the money.

    Though called a street office, it was actually just the former village head''s office. There, Cheng Yazhou and others found Director Jiang and brought up the matter of the land and factory building.

    Director Jiang''s eyes lit up immediately, then he haggled intensely with Cheng Yazhou; in the end, including all miscellaneous expenses like processing fees and deed tax, the total cost was approximately a hundred and sixty thousand, a bit more than expected. When the final price was set, and a contract was being signed, Director Jiang realized that the real buyer was actually a sixteen-year-old youth, which nearly made his eyeballs pop out.

    After signing the contract, many other procedures had to wait until Monday, when the government offices reopened, before they could be processed. Hence, Ge Dongxu took a city-country bus back home that day. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu was so eager to return home partly because he needed to go back to Baiyun Mountain to cultivate and restore his True Qi as soon as possible, and partly because he wanted to transfer the money to his parents a day earlier.

    Having purchased the land and factory building, Ge Dongxu only had a hundred and seventy thousand left in his account. He thought of momentarily giving a hundred and fifty thousand to his parents and keeping twenty thousand for emergencies.

    When he got home, during dinner, Ge Dongxu brought up to his parents that he had dug some herbs a few days ago and sold them for quite a sum. Ge Shengming and Xu Suya initially didn''t show much surprise; they simply acknowledged with an "Oh" and casually asked how much he made, as Ge Dongxu had frequently gathered herbs and captured snakes and centipedes in the mountains during summer vacations to exchange for money in the town.

    Ge Dongxu, not wanting to scare his parents and also worried about them fretting over his investments, simply said one hundred seventy thousand.

    Even so, Ge''s parents could hardly keep their composure; one of them couldn''t hold their bowl, which clattered onto the table, and the other dropped their chopsticks with a similar clatter, both staring wide-eyed and open-mouthed at Ge Dongxu.

    After a while, the couple suddenly stood up, each grabbing one of Ge Dongxu''s arms, and asked with trembling voices, "Can you, can you repeat that, how much?"

    "One hundred seventy thousand," Ge Dongxu replied, looking at his parents'' excited expressions, feeling a bit heartbroken but also secretly relieved he hadn''t told them about the one million three hundred thousand, unsure how they might''ve reacted.

    "This, this is, where''s the money, where''s the money?" Xu Suya asked with a trembling voice after confirming the amount.

    "It''s in my ICBC card. Tomorrow, we should go to Xiyuan Town, and you both can open an account. I''ll transfer one hundred fifty thousand into your account," Ge Dongxu replied.

    Although Baiyun Town controlled a large area, being a poor and backward mountainous region, it didn''t have a branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. Xiyuan Town, being the economically stronger town nearest to Baiyun Town, did have one.

    "ICBC card? When did you get an ICBC card? Also, wasn''t it one hundred seventy thousand? Why are you transferring only one hundred fifty thousand? What could a child possibly need with¡­" Xu Suya immediately began bombarding him with questions, somewhat excitedly.

    It couldn''t be helped; Xu Suya had never seen so much money in her life, and to her, Ge Dongxu would always be her child.

    Ge Shengming, noticing his son''s hesitant expression and remembering the recent incident when Lin Kun had caused trouble and he himself needed his son''s protection, and now hearing about the one hundred seventy thousand, suddenly realized that his son had truly grown up. He was no longer a child needing his father''s protection and upbringing, but rather becoming an adult who began to look after and support them instead. His heart swelled with a mix of emotions, both proud and a bit sad, but overall more comforted.

    As a father, what else could he hope for but a son who could make a living and establish himself early? But it seemed Ge Dongxu had matured too early, causing Ge Shengming to feel somewhat melancholic.

    "Enough, Suya. Can''t you see that your son has really grown up, he is no longer a child? Moreover, he is much more accomplished and capable than we are. He has his own thoughts; we don''t need to inquire too much into his affairs from now on. Besides, children from poor families have to grow up early. At around his age, my own parents had basically stopped meddling in my life," Ge Shengming suddenly decided, pulling Xu Suya close.

    Xu Suya, being a teacher, had a high level of awareness, but it was just that the news of her son making one hundred seventy thousand came so suddenly that it took her a moment to process. Now, with Ge Shengming putting it into perspective, Xu Suya was jolted, swallowing the words she had on the tip of her tongue, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

 Chapter 74 The Attitude of Parents [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    "Yes, our son has grown up; he doesn''t need us to worry about him anymore!" Xu Suya sighed, feeling somewhat lost, as if there were a hollow space inside her, and her eyes started to moisten."Mom, no matter how much I grow up, I''ll always be your and Dad''s child!" Ge Dongxu seemed to feel his mother''s sense of loss and moved forward to gently hug her, saying.

    "Yes! You know, Suya, with our son being so promising, we should be happy. Why are we feeling sentimental today? Seventeen thousand! Which kid out there is as promising as our Dongxu, as good at making money?" Ge Shengming also came over and grasped Xu Suya''s hand tightly as he spoke.

    Money really is a strange thing; it can change a person''s mood in an instant.

    Seeing this, Xu Suya suddenly realized that their family had suddenly gained a substantial fortune of seventeen thousand, so why should she feel sentimental? If others knew, wouldn''t they call her hypocritical? Others couldn''t even beg for this!

    Thinking this, Xu Suya immediately wiped the corners of her eyes and started to laugh, saying, "Exactly, what am I being sentimental for! No, we must drink some wine today to celebrate. Seventeen thousand, how many years would it take you and me to earn that?"

    "Haha, right, right, I''ll go get the snake wine that Dongxu brewed for us. We should drink a good few cups today." Ge Shengming joined in the laughter, then went to get the snake wine that Ge Dongxu had brewed for them and poured half a cup for Xu Suya and himself.

    "Give me some too, Dad." Ge Dongxu took a cup and smiled ingratiatingly at his old man.

    Although he had often drunk alcohol when he was with his master, his parents never knew about it.

    "You get out of breath as soon as you''re called fat. You''re only sixteen, why drink?" Xu Suya picked up a chopstick and tapped Ge Dongxu''s hand while laughingly scolding him. Read exclusive adventures at empire

    "Hehe, Mom, I''ve been training with my master since I was little; a little drink won''t hurt me." Ge Dongxu said with a mischievous grin.

    "Then have a little, as you know we can''t treat this child as an ordinary one." Ge Shengming finally relented and poured Ge Dongxu a bit, but only one third of a cup.

    "Psh, that''s not even enough to wet my lips!" Ge Dongxu complained discontentedly as he saw his dad pour him just a small amount.

    "Don''t let a little sunshine go to your head, or do you want me to confiscate your cup of wine now?" Xu Suya glared at him.

    "I believe, of course I believe!" Ge Dongxu hurriedly took back his cup, not daring to complain any further.

    "Haha!" Ge Shengming and Xu Suya burst into laughter upon seeing this, and Xu Suya even snorted proudly, saying, "Don''t think just because you made some money, you can haggle with your mom and dad. You''re still a child in this house!"

    "Yes, yes!" Ge Dongxu bobbed his head like a pecking chicken.

    Noting Ge Dongxu''s "sincere" attitude, Xu Suya and Ge Shengming finally nodded in satisfaction.

    However, once the drinking started, it could sometimes be hard to control, especially when in a good mood. Eventually, as they drank, Ge Shengming ended up pouring some more for Ge Dongxu without him even asking for it.

    "In ancient times, it was said, ''The poor study, the rich train in martial arts.'' Dongxu, tell your mom honestly, did you keep twenty thousand yuan for yourself because cultivation also costs money?" Halfway through the drink, Xu Suya couldn''t help but ask Dongxu why he had kept twenty thousand yuan for himself.

    "Mom really is a teacher ¡ª so cultured. Only you could say something like ''The poor study, the rich train in martial arts.'' Dad definitely couldn''t have said that." Seeing Xu Suya bring up the costs of cultivation, Dongxu was pleased. It was always better to clear some things up rather than keep them hidden, so he immediately gave his mom a thumbs up and flattered her.

    "You rascal! Picking on your dad for being uneducated, huh?" Ge Shengming immediately picked up his chopsticks and knocked Dongxu on the head.

    "Don''t hit our son on the head. Do you want to make him as silly as you?" Xu Suya immediately defended her son.

    "You two are too much, one says I''m uneducated, and the other even calls me silly!" Ge Shengming pointed at them and joked.

    Dongxu made a face at his dad and then slightly straightened his expression before saying, "Yes, cultivation does cost money, but don''t worry, I''ll earn it myself. You just spend this money without worries, and if it''s not enough, just tell me."

    "So, you mean to say you''ve earned more than just the one hundred seventy thousand?" Like parents, like child ¡ª the two of them immediately realized their son was still hiding something after he spoke.

    "Hehe, it''s more than that! I bought some materials for cultivation and took some to..." Dongxu scratched his head and carefully replied.

    "You''ve grown up, and your mom and I trust that you can judge and decide things on your own. You don''t have to tell us everything. We''re just ordinary folks; even if you told us everything, we wouldn''t be able to help you, but instead, we''d be worried. I think you''re hiding something for that reason. From now on, you can manage your own affairs. Your mom and I only have three requests: first, no matter how capable you become, never do anything that harms others or is against morality. Second, since you are still a student, you must focus on your education and get into a prestigious university, and find a respectable job. Your grandpa was poor, and your dad had to quit school when he was young, which has always been a regret for your grandpa and me. Third, if you ever face insurmountable difficulties, you must come back home, no matter what, because your mom and I will always be with you." Ge Shengming didn''t wait for Dongxu to continue speaking but raised his hand and, with a serious face, cut him off.

    "Dad, I''m sorry for what I said earlier. I will work hard and get into a prestigious university," Dongxu said earnestly, his eyes moistening a bit.

    "Silly boy, your dad may be uneducated, but luckily, he married an educated wife and had an educated son. Doesn''t that prove your dad''s capabilities?" Ge Shengming said.

    "Always trying to glorify yourself. If you hadn''t been so persistent back then, do you think I would have married you?" Xu Suya gave Ge Shengming a glance, but their fingers were intertwined under the table.

    "Hehe, that''s also a skill!" Ge Shengming boasted shamelessly.

    "Pssh, that''s just being thick-skinned!" Xu Suya shot Ge Shengming another look and then spoke again to Dongxu, "Our family might not be wealthy, but we don''t owe anyone money. Our income is enough for our household expenses. Since your cultivation needs money, you keep that money for yourself; no need to transfer it to us."

    "I have enough here. It always feels a bit better to have a bit more money in your pockets. Besides, you both should really buy some new clothes, and we should renovate the house a bit, get some new things," Dongxu said. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Silly child, you don''t need to give us so much. Since you have this intention, just transfer fifty thousand to us; too much, and your dad and I won''t be able to sleep at night," Xu Suya said.

    Dongxu wasn''t sure if the one hundred ninety-eight pieces of jade would successfully be engraved into a Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman; if not, more money would definitely need to be spent. He also wanted to buy a house in the Jiang Family village for his future cultivation, which was another expense, so hearing his mother speak like this, he thought that fifty thousand was indeed a large sum for them and hence didn''t push back anymore.

    During Mao Hour and the next day, Dongxu cultivated in the mountains, the effect being several times better than in the county town, but because he had overstrained himself the previous days, a day''s cultivation in the hills was far from enough for him to fully recover.

    On Sunday, after having breakfast, the family went to Xi Yuan Town, Dongxu transferred fifty thousand yuan to his parents, and then he took a car back to the county town from Xi Yuan Town.

 Chapter 75 Buying a House

    Returning to the county town, Ge Dongxu did not go straight back to Cheng Yazhou''s home, but made another trip to Jiang Family Village.Since he had only given his parents fifty thousand yuan, Ge Dongxu now had a balance of one hundred and twenty thousand in his account; he thought about buying another house in Jiang Family Village so he could move out of Cheng Yazhou''s house as soon as possible.

    After circling the village a few times, Ge Dongxu took a liking to a house on the eastern side of the village. It was an old house connected to three others, its walls even slanted due to typhoon damage, to the point that it could be considered a dangerous building.

    Behind this row of four houses were a small bamboo grove, a vegetable garden, and a winding river, with visible hills further away. In front was a shared courtyard belonging to the four households.

    This arrangement, where four families shared a courtyard in the front and a vegetable garden in the back, was very common in the rural areas of Changxi County. Moreover, often times, the houses connected to each other were inhabited by siblings and their parents.

    Ge Dongxu, being young, was not well-suited to negotiate the purchase of a house, and since all four houses were vacant with no one living in them, he just walked around the property a few times and felt that the house was the place in the area with the most abundant spiritual energy. If he could properly renovate and arrange it, his cultivation speed would surely increase significantly.

    After taking a fancy to the house, Ge Dongxu returned to Cheng Yazhou''s home and mentioned to him his desire to buy a house.

    Cheng Yazhou was startled at first, seeing as Ge Dongxu had just bought a factory building yesterday and now wanted to buy a house. Naturally, he felt obliged to advise Ge Dongxu, but seeing that Ge Dongxu was insistent on buying, Cheng Yazhou could do nothing but agree to help him negotiate with Director Jiang and the homeowners next week.

    Cheng Yazhou was quite efficient in handling matters, and by Monday, he had clarified the situation with the house for Ge Dongxu. He found out that the row of four houses belonged to two brothers from the village. Now, the two brothers and their families were permanently doing business out of town, leaving the four houses vacant, and unsuitable for living in due to typhoon damage from the previous two years. Since the brothers had settled their businesses out of town and were not planning to return to Jiang Family Village, they had no intention to reinforce or rebuild the houses. Today, Cheng Yazhou had already obtained the brothers'' phone numbers through Director Jiang and specifically called to inquire if they were willing to sell.

    Since it was an old and dangerous building, and the brothers had no plans to return, upon Cheng Yazhou''s inquiry, they hardly hesitated before agreeing to sell. They offered five thousand yuan for each house, but if he bought all four together, they would sell them to him for eighteen thousand yuan.

    Hearing that it would only cost eighteen thousand yuan, Ge Dongxu almost didn''t need to think before he asked Cheng Yazhou to help him buy all four at once.

    "Dongxu, your uncle has also carefully inspected the house for you. The houses are all old and dangerous, and even if you buy them, major reconstruction would be required before they are livable. Actually, only the foundations are worth a little money; it''s not worth spending this amount," Cheng Yazhou said, unable to resist advising when he saw that Ge Dongxu wanted to buy all four houses together.

    "It''s okay, Uncle. I just quite like the bamboo grove and river in the backyard, and if the house is properly renovated and decorated, it will certainly be very comfortable to live in. Besides, it''s just eighteen thousand yuan. Even if I just leave it for now, it''s no big deal," Ge Dongxu said with a smile. Naturally, he couldn''t tell Cheng Yazhou that the place had the best spiritual energy in the village and was the most suitable spot for his cultivation. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You, you, let''s leave it at that. You have your own ideas, and if you want to buy it, then buy it," Cheng Yazhou said, seeing that Ge Dongxu didn''t take eighteen thousand yuan seriously. He wanted to reprimand him, but then he remembered that Ge Dongxu was only sixteen years old with a net worth of nearly a million and possessed skilled medical knowledge. Eighteen thousand yuan really wasn''t much after all, so he refrained from saying more.

    So, during that week, in addition to attending regular classes, Ge Dongxu also took the time to complete the procedures for buying the factory building and the four houses.

    ```

    With these developments, the sixteen-year-old boy now had a factory building, four dilapidated houses, and a thirty-seven point five percent share in an about-to-be-registered anti-counterfeit laser trademark factory.

    Since it was necessary to reserve some funds for emergencies, and the anti-counterfeit laser trademark factory had not started production, and its prospects were not one hundred percent guaranteed to make money, and as refurbishing or rebuilding the four dilapidated houses would require a substantial amount of money, Ge Dongxu decided not to rush into renovating them. He planned to wait until the anti-counterfeit laser trademark factory''s prospects became clear before starting to invest in remodeling the four houses.

    ...

    Time quickly moved into December.

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    The weather turned cold, but Cheng Yazhou, Wu Qianjin, and Ge Dongxu were all burning with enthusiasm.

    Because Changxi County''s Yaxu Trademark Factory had not only officially been established and started production but also received its first order.

    Just as Cheng Yazhou had predicted, laser anti-counterfeit trademarks were the trend, and there were still very few factories equipped with such machinery at the time. So although the initial investment was significant, the scarcity of production facilities and less competition meant that the profits were particularly substantial.

    For instance, the cost of producing an anti-counterfeit laser plate was estimated to be around 300 to 400 yuan each at that time, but it required an expenditure of two to three thousand yuan per plate, which indicates how lucrative the profits were, not to mention that the value of money back then was much greater than now. As for the actual trademark products, they were priced based on size, costing around six to seven cents per square centimeter, with the profit margin being over fifty percent. However, at that time, the profit mainly came from the plates'' production unless the client needed a large number of trademarks printed.

    Therefore, factoring this in, the first order for the Yaxu Trademark Factory came with nearly three thousand yuan in profit, an absolute fortune. Practically, if they collected just a portion of the deposit from clients, they could cover all costs, with the remainder being pure profit.

    Of course, such enormous profits were not sustainable in the long term and were sure to decrease gradually, something which Cheng Yazhou and his peers were well aware of. However, even if such high profits could last only a year or two, it would be quite extraordinary. The real fear was that it wouldn''t even last a year.

    However, at that time, an investment of one to one and a half million yuan was still a significant amount. Even if some people recognized the business opportunity, without seeing the massive profits actually being made, they might not have the capital or the courage to invest, which led Cheng Yazhou to believe that the high profits could be sustained for at least a year before they would start to decline gradually. But with a year''s time, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin optimistically estimated that they should be able to recoup the initial investment, and after that, real profit would begin to roll in.

    Ge Dongxu''s excitement, aside from the official start of production at Yaxu Trademark Factory and the beginning of revenue generation which presented a bright future, also stemmed from today being the day he finally began the formal construction of the Spirit Gathering Array Jade Talisman.

    Prior to this, he had spent almost a month and a half in preparation. Aside from getting his True Qi in the best condition, he also needed to repeatedly practice drawing the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans to ensure that he became skilled enough so that he wouldn''t fail when drawing on jade due to lack of proficiency.

    If he failed due to inexperience, Ge Dongxu would never forgive himself because a piece of jade cost nearly two thousand yuan!

    ```

 Chapter 76 Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation

    ```It was a night deep and serene, when all had slipped into profound slumber, yet Ge Dongxu sat alone cross-legged on his terrace, holding a jade token in his hands, allowing the cold breeze to sweep across his cheeks. He remained steadfast and immovable, fixating solely on the jade stone within his grasp.

    His fingers appeared to glide gently over the jade token, but they emitted a grating "squeak squeak," akin to claws scratching the surface of something hard.

    By the light of the moon, if one looked closely, it would become apparent that Ge Dongxu''s fingers as he etched upon the jade were extraordinarily translucent, and a barely discernible breath followed his engraving movements into the jade token.

    Indeed, in drawing talismans upon the jade token, no longer were cinnabar and a brush used, but rather, True Qi was directly infused into the jade. Using True Qi as ink, it was branded within the stone.

    Jade has the capacity to accumulate and contain spirit energy, allowing True Qi to inscribe runes within it that persist, whereas ordinary yellow paper cannot, thus necessitating the use of cinnabar as a medium, to hold the mana of the talisman, which then adheres to the yellow paper. As soon as the talisman''s mana is activated, the yellow paper instantly turns to ash.

    Of course, directly etching runes with True Qi inside a jade token is undoubtedly much more difficult than writing talismans on yellow paper. Especially since Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans are legendary talismans; even Ge Dongxu''s master, Ren Yao, had not seen them, let alone etched them into jade. Ge Dongxu only knew of some Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans thanks to the heritage he had received from Ge Hong.

    The Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman was the simplest Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman that Ge Dongxu currently knew of.

    Taiyin refers to the moon, which absorbs the Sun Essence and transforms it into gentle Taiyin luminescence. The sun is also called the Red Crow, the Golden Crow; its essence is extremely yang and vigorous, and cultivators dare not absorb it directly into their bodies, for otherwise their meridians would be immediately incinerated to ashes, and their lives would thereby reach their end. However, once the Sun Essence is absorbed by the moon and then sprinkles down, it becomes Taiyin luminescence, a soft and balanced force of yin and yang, and precisely the pure energy required by Dao practitioners.

    Yet Taiyin luminescence is exceedingly rare and cannot compare with the abundance of Sun Essence. On nights without moonlight, it is even more scarce, and the cultivation seated in meditation can absorb only so very little.

    But with a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation, the Taiyin luminescence can be accumulated, enabling the cultivator to absorb a large amount of pure Taiyin luminescence.

    Of course, this "large amount" is only relative to situations without a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation.

    His fingertips danced upon the jade token, concentrating his spiritual power fully as he controlled the True Qi to deposit stroke after stroke of rune inscriptions within the stone.

    Gradually, a complex and ancient rune, invisible to the naked eye and detectable only with spiritual power, began to take shape within the jade.

    But before the rune could fully form, the True Qi suddenly trembled slightly, and the mana-laden rune instantly dissipated into chaotic True Qi, scurrying in all directions.

    "Crack crack crack!" A web of cracks spread from within the jade token like spiderwebs, followed by a soft "pop" sound ¨C the jade token burst open, shattering into pieces.

    "As expected, it wasn''t going to be easy!" Ge Dongxu wiped the sweat from his forehead and cracked a bitter smile, not at all disheartened.

    This was within his expectations. In fact, he had lasted this long because, with life experience growing day by day, his character had gradually matured and steadied, or else the jade token would have exploded even earlier.

    Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, Ge Dongxu took out another jade token, took a deep breath, and then continued to engrave the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman.

    However, the result was still a failure.

    One token, two tokens, three tokens, four tokens... When the fifth also failed, Ge Dongxu''s face started to turn pale, a bitter smile showing at the corners of his mouth. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Ten thousand wasted just like that! Truly squandering my resources!" Ge Dongxu silently mocked himself, then closed his eyes to recuperate, not continuing to etch any further.

    Using a brush to draw talismans on yellow paper, as long as his True Qi was abundant, he could produce a hundred in a day, but with the jade tokens, he could ultimately carve only five a day.

    ```

    ...

    In the following days, Ge Dongxu had one more thing to do each day, which was to carve the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman onto the jade token during the tranquil nights. Of course, none were successful. Stay updated through empire

    This also meant that every day, the sixteen-year-old Ge Dongxu was squandering nearly ten thousand yuan.

    Fortunately, Ge Shengming had wisely chosen not to inquire into his son''s affairs, otherwise, if he knew that his son was squandering nearly ten thousand yuan every day, it would have been no surprise if he were so heartbroken that he suffered a heart attack.

    Of course, watching ten thousand yuan turn into dust in his hands each day caused Ge Dongxu great pain in his heart, and he finally began to understand why, in ancient times, some who pursued the Dao often appeared as honored guests among officials and nobles, giving off an impression of courting the powerful and rich. In history, there was even a point when the Heavenly Master Dao was so prosperous that it nearly vied for the ruling status of the Huaxia Country.

    Because cultivating the Dao is an extremely luxurious act, requiring strong financial support. In ancient times, with the social hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, merchants were regarded as the lowest class and commerce was underdeveloped. Thus, those who cultivated the Dao naturally could not engage in commerce to accumulate wealth; yet cultivation required the consumption of vast amounts of wealth, leaving them no choice but to attach themselves to the influential and powerful, who provided their resources. In exchange, they would offer services at appropriate times.

    In contrast to Ge Dongxu''s heartache, Cheng Yazhou was overjoyed during these days.

    Yaxu Trademark Factory''s business was booming, netting nearly sixty thousand yuan in profits in just half a month. For Cheng Yazhou, this was undoubtedly the fastest he had ever made money in any business, and this was just the beginning.

    Of course, if Cheng Yazhou knew that Ge Dongxu was squandering nearly ten thousand yuan every day, he probably wouldn''t think the current rate of making money was fast.

    On the twenty-ninth of December, in the deep, silent night, Ge Dongxu once again sat cross-legged on the balcony, carving the jade stone.

    This also signified that he had wasted a total of one hundred and forty jade tokens, squandering nearly two hundred and eighty thousand yuan.

    Touching the jade token in his hand once again, and thinking of the ten thousand yuan slipping through his fingertips every day, Ge Dongxu''s mood was not discouraged but unusually calm.

    He belonged to the kind that grew more tenacious with setbacks, with a steadfast determination.

    One hundred and forty failures had not crushed his confidence; on the contrary, they had ignited his tenacity and tempered his will.

    Strands of True Qi once again entered the jade token from his fingertips.

    One piece, two pieces, three pieces, four pieces...

    This was the fifth piece, but on Ge Dongxu''s face, there was no trace of tension or anxiety, only the still calm of an ancient well.

    Strands of True Qi, like the strokes of a brush, inscribed one rune after another within the jade, the strokes linking together, gradually forming a complex and ancient talisman, exuding a mystical aura.

    The strands of True Qi fell unhurriedly, without the slightest tremble.

    Eventually, a complete talisman was stamped within the jade, like a seal invisible to the naked eye, but Ge Dongxu, connected to it with his mind, could see it clearly.

    ps: Asking for recommendation tickets to support, thank you.

 Chapter 77 Brother Xu, Can You Treat Illnesses? [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    A trace of magical power emanated from the talisman, casting a net that gathered the surrounding spiritual energy.As more and more spiritual energy accumulated, a large amount of impure energy followed.

    Clearly, the formation was of a low level, its "filtering" function not very strong.

    However, feeling the rich spiritual energy around him, Ge Dongxu was already fully satisfied. As long as he chose to cultivate during the hours when the impure energy of heaven and earth was relatively low, then with the help of the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade, even cultivating in the county city would be twice as effective as in Baiyun Mountain.

    Do not underestimate this double efficiency, as it meant that Ge Dongxu now cultivating for one year was equivalent to two years previously in Baiyun Mountain.

    Ge Dongxu waited until the designated hour to begin his cultivation, and indeed, traces of cool spiritual energy flowed through his meridians toward his dantian, constantly nourishing and expanding his meridians, while also enriching and tempering the various organs they passed through.

    When his cultivation at that hour ended, not only did Ge Dongxu feel the fatigue from earlier symbol drawing disappear, but he also felt full of strength, and his mind seemed exceptionally clear and alert.

    "The Spirit Gathering Formation really is extraordinary. If I continue cultivating at this pace, perhaps in a year and a half, I might break through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation," Ge Dongxu felt the harvest of this hour''s cultivation, and his mood was very good.

    However, when his gaze fell on the jade token in his hand, a twinge of pain involuntarily rose in his heart. Not only because he had previously spent nearly 280,000 RMB for this jade talisman, but also because he found that there were faint cracks on the jade token that were difficult for the naked eye to see.

    Clearly, although a jade talisman was not the same as a paper talisman and could be reused, it also had a limit to the number of times it could be used.

    "It seems I still need to work hard to earn money," Ge Dongxu caressed the jade talisman in his hand, his face showing a bitter smile.

    ...

    The next day, before the evening self-study began, the life committee member Lin Yaran, who Du Yifan described as a girl of average appearance but long legs, brought Ge Dongxu a letter.

    Since going to the provincial capital over two months ago, Ge Dongxu had regularly received letters from Tang Yiyuan instructing him about once a month. Ge Dongxu thought this was another from Tang Yiyuan, but upon receiving it, he discovered it was sent by Liu Jiayao.

    Only then did Ge Dongxu remember that the three-month agreement he had made with Liu Jiayao was nearly up. Indeed, upon opening the letter, Liu Jiayao was inquiring about this matter.

    Thinking of having to treat Liu Jiayao again, Ge Dongxu felt a mix of anticipation, but more so nervousness and fear.

    Since returning from the provincial capital, Ge Dongxu had consecutive dreams for a week or two, where Liu Jiayao would appear lying naked in bed in the dreams, and on a couple of occasions she suddenly turned into Wu Yili, and once even Jiang Lili, though Dong Yuxin hardly ever appeared in the dreams.

    Upon waking, there were even a couple of instances where Ge Dongxu''s pants were wet, which was quite embarrassing for him.

    Later, as time passed, Liu Jiayao gradually stopped appearing in his dreams, at least not naked. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    So when Ge Dongxu suddenly received a letter from Liu Jiayao and thought about having to treat her again, his emotions instantly became complex. However, Liu Jiayao''s illness definitely needed ongoing treatment, so after his emotions had been complicated for a while, he planned to call her at noon the next day and tell her he would visit the Provincial Capital that weekend.

    In the end, Ge Dongxu decided to go to the Provincial Capital himself instead of having her come to Changxi County to find him.

    One reason was that Ge Dongxu worried the back-and-forth would tire her, and secondly, Ge Dongxu felt it was necessary to meet Tang Yiyuan in person. While some of Tang Yiyuan''s inquiries from these past days could be clarified through letters, others could not be explained clearly in writing and needed face-to-face guidance.

    Since he considered Liu Jiayao and Tang Yiyuan his friends, Ge Dongxu definitely had to treat them sincerely, and it was only natural for him to look out for them.

    While Ge Dongxu was thinking about going to the Provincial Capital, his arm was gently nudged by his deskmate, and Du Yifan''s whispered exclamation reached his ears,"Boss, quick, look outside, there''s a beauty on the prowl!"

    "I say, Yifan, can''t you focus on your studies instead? Always thinking about beauties!" Ge Dongxu replied irritably, but his gaze nevertheless followed the direction of Du Yifan''s pointing finger toward the window.

    "I''m combining work and leisure!" Du Yifan retorted, then seeing Ge Dongxu also looking out the window, he laughed slyly, lowered his voice, and said,"Boss, spot on, right? Look at those black leather pants, how shapely they wrap around her butt! Oh, it seems like she''s here to find someone."

    "Shapely, my foot! Focus on your studies!" Ge Dongxu was startled when he saw the woman, grabbed a textbook, smacked it on Du Yifan''s head, and then quickly left the classroom.

    "Damn, no way? Is the boss really going to hit on this woman? She''s not exactly a schoolgirl!" Seeing Ge Dongxu leaving the classroom, Du Yifan rubbed his head and muttered to himself.

    While he was muttering, Du Yifan saw the woman suddenly walk briskly towards Ge Dongxu, then hurriedly grabbed his hand.

    "Damn! No way, this is too awesome!" Du Yifan was immediately struck dumb.

    "What''s the matter, Yue Ting, why did you come to our school? And you look a bit pale," Ge Dongxu patted Yue Ting''s hand, signaling her to calm down.

    "Damn, he''s already holding her hand!" Du Yifan watched the scene unfold, his admiration for Ge Dongxu flowing endlessly like the Yangtze River.

    "Xu, Brother Xu, can you treat illnesses?" Yue Ting finally stabilized her emotions, then looked at Ge Dongxu with anticipation and asked.

    "A bit, what''s the matter?" Ge Dongxu hesitated, then finally nodded and asked.

    "Then, you must save my uncle! My uncle, he''s critically ill!" Upon hearing this, Yue Ting''s eyes suddenly lit up, her tears brimming as she pleaded.

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    "Yue Ting, I''m just a high school student, and if your uncle is critically ill, the hospital doctors should be saving him. I can''t help you with this," Ge Dongxu said with a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, but ultimately he wisely declined.

    This wasn''t to say that Ge Dongxu was indifferent to someone''s plight, but he was young, had no medical license, and why would someone let him participate in a rescue? Besides, he didn''t know Yue Ting''s uncle¡ªwhether he was a good person or a bad one. At best, his connection to Yue Ting was nothing more than a coincidence, not a genuine relationship. Moreover, Ge Dongxu''s medical skills were not omnipotent and not every illness was within his ability to cure. What if he went, and it didn''t work? Could he, a sixteen-year-old boy, bear that responsibility?

    ps: Currently ranked fourth on QiDian, we only need a little more to reach third in the new book rankings. On QQ Browser, we are ranked tenth in the recommendations and not far from the top three, while on QQ Bookstore we are seventeenth. So, I am setting a small target for next Monday¡ªif you help me get this book into the top three of QiDian''s new book rankings on Monday, I will strive to release five chapters. If the readers on QQ Browser also come through and get this book''s recommendation tickets into the top three, I will add two more chapters. If QQ Bookstore also rises, I will agonizingly add two more chapters. Of course, this is for Monday only, not for the entire week¡ªI couldn''t handle that.

 Chapter 78 Rushing Over

    "Dongxu, I know my request is very presumptuous. But my uncle has always cherished and loved me like his own daughter, and this time he had an accident because he was trying to crack down on a child trafficking gang. I know you are a kind-hearted and righteous extraordinary person, so please, you must help." Yue Ting said, sobbing and sniffling."You''re saying your uncle had a car accident while fighting a child trafficking gang, and that''s why he is in critical condition?" Ge Dongxu asked with a suddenly stern face.

    As a simple and honest youth from the mountainous regions, Ge Dongxu was innately filled with a sense of justice, so when he heard that Yue Ting''s uncle was in danger because he was fighting a child trafficking gang, he felt it was even harder to remain indifferent. Otherwise, if he learned in the future that such a hero had lost his life because he knew about the situation but failed to help, his conscience would surely be condemned.

    "Yes, yes! My uncle is the deputy police chief in charge of criminal investigations. Upon learning that an inter-provincial child trafficking gang had been active around Baiyun Mountain, he led his team there to make arrests overnight. Unexpectedly, while the arrests were made, someone knocked him down a slope, and he suffered severe injuries. When I got there, the people at Changxi County People''s Hospital said my uncle was badly hurt and must be transferred to the city hospital. I thought of you, knowing you are an extraordinary person, so I rushed to find you," Yue Ting said, nodding repeatedly.

    Hearing that Yue Ting''s uncle had been injured at Baiyun Mountain, Ge Dongxu felt even less reason to stand by idly and nodded seriously, "Then I''ll go with you to take a look, but I can''t promise I can save your uncle. And if your aunt and others refuse to let me help, there''s nothing I can do." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. Thank you, Dongxu," Yue Ting repeated, nodding her head again and again.

    "Alright, I''ll grab my backpack and say goodbye to my classmates, then I''ll leave with you right away," Ge Dongxu said hastily and then turned to go back to the classroom. As he picked up his backpack, he said to Du Yifan, "Yifan, if the class teacher comes looking for me later, please ask for leave on my behalf, just say I have an emergency."

    "Boss, you''re so awesome!" Du Yifan gave Ge Dongxu a thumbs up.

    "Awesome my foot!" Ge Dongxu, clearly understanding the meaning behind Du Yifan''s ''awesome'', glared at him annoyedly and then grabbed his backpack and hurried out of the classroom.

    Exiting the classroom, knowing the urgency of the situation, Ge Dongxu didn''t waste time talking with Yue Ting, just nodded at her, and started jogging towards the school''s exit.

    He had only just reached the fountain near the teaching building when Ge Dongxu spotted a motorcycle parked there.

    Yue Ting swung herself onto the motorcycle, then handed the helmet to Ge Dongxu, saying, "Dongxu, wear this."

    "You wear it, I''ll be fine," Ge Dongxu declined, seeing there was only one helmet.

    "It''s cold out, but I''m used to riding the motorcycle all the time, I''ll be fine. You wear it, Dongxu," Yue Ting insisted.

    "I''m not afraid of the cold, and I''ve got you to block the wind in front of me! Stop your fussing and wear it right now!" Ge Dongxu insisted, showing a bit of warmth in his heart upon seeing Yue Ting''s reluctance but maintaining a stern face as he spoke.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. Then hold on tight to me later, and rest your face against my back, it''s okay!" Yue Ting, touched by Ge Dongxu''s concern for her not to catch cold, thanked him and then put on the helmet, started the motorcycle, and sped off towards the school exit.

    In the past, Ge Dongxu had never paid much attention to Yue Ting, but sitting behind her today, he realized her figure was truly exceptional. Her tight leather jacket and pants outlined tempting curves, especially around her waist and hips; the curves were breathtaking. If a man were sitting behind her, he would have been passionately aroused and reached out to hug her. Find exclusive stories on empire

    Although Ge Dongxu felt a slight stirring, he was still young and his nature was pure, so he simply placed his hands gently on her waist.

    "Dongxu, if you feel cold, just hold on to me tight, it''s really okay," Yue Ting saw that Ge Dongxu was only lightly touching her waist and said.

    "I know," Ge Dongxu replied, but he did not hold her waist any tighter.

    Yue Ting, moved by Ge Dongxu''s reluctance to hold her waist, couldn''t help feeling a faint sense of loss along with her gratitude.

    Under the cloak of night, the motorcycle raced rapidly, soon arriving at the county''s People''s Hospital.

    The two rushed out of the car and headed straight for the emergency room, only to be informed that Yue Ting''s uncle had been taken by ambulance to Ouzhou City for emergency treatment overnight.

    Hearing that her uncle had been urgently transported to Ouzhou City, Yue Ting was both incredibly anxious and worried but also found herself in a difficult position.

    "Let''s hurry to Ouzhou City!" Ge Dongxu patted Yue Ting on the shoulder and said.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. I treated you so badly before, yet you are still so...," Yue Ting, seeing that Ge Dongxu had taken the initiative to suggest rushing to Ouzhou City, couldn''t help but have her eyes turn red, showing her shame.

    "Why bring up the past? Let''s get going!" Ge Dongxu patted Yue Ting''s shoulder again and said.

    "Okay!" Yue Ting nodded vigorously, and then hurriedly got back on the motorcycle, with Ge Dongxu also mounting the bike.

    Soon, the motorcycle sped out of Changxi County, racing on the national highway headed towards Ouzhou City.

    After leaving the county town, the surroundings were wide open, and as the night deepened, the temperature grew even colder, with the wind cutting against the face like a knife.

    By the time they had covered about a third of the journey, whether it was the cold Yue Ting couldn''t endure or her concern for Ge Dongxu, Yue Ting turned her head slightly and called out to Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, hold me tight, I''m a bit cold."

    Hearing this, Ge Dongxu hesitated, but ultimately wrapped his arms around Yue Ting''s waist and pressed his face against her fragrant back.

    ...

    At Ouzhou Medical College''s First Affiliated Hospital, outside the emergency room, the atmosphere was enveloped by a heavy and oppressive mood.

    Two women were incessantly sobbing. One of them, who bore some resemblance to Yue Ting between her brows, was Yue Ting''s mother, Zuo Yun, while the other was Yue Ting''s aunt, Xu Jingfang.

    "I warned him so many times. He''s the deputy director of the police; he could have let others handle some affairs, but he never changed his obstinate attitude! Does he really still think of himself as a young man? Pushing himself! And now, see? He''s gambled with his life, and what am I to do now, left here alone?" Xu Jingfang cried with sobs.

    "It won''t come to that, little brother has always been tough, he will surely get through this!" Zuo Yun said, wiping away tears.

    Yet even as she spoke, she herself did not believe those words. Her brother, Deputy Director Zuo Le of Changxi County Public Security Bureau, had been seriously injured, so much so that as soon as the senior doctors at Changxi County People''s Hospital saw his condition, they immediately instructed them to rush him to the city''s First Affiliated Hospital.

    Throughout the journey until now, her brother had been in a deep coma, with blood intermittently bubbling out of his mouth. Upon arrival at the city hospital, the experts immediately took him into the emergency room.

    No sooner had Zuo Yun finished speaking than a chubby middle-aged man, panting alongside Lin Kun, hurried over from the other end of the corridor.

    "Mr. Yue, how is Elder Zuo doing now?" As soon as the chubby man arrived outside of the emergency room, he asked, with a look of urgency, the middle-aged man who was pacing anxiously back and forth in the corridor.

    This chubby man was none other than Lin Kun''s father, the owner of Changxi Grand Hotel, Lin Jinnuo. He had always had a good private relationship with Deputy Director Zuo Le, and since running a hotel involves maintaining a good relationship with the police department, Lin Jinnuo, for both personal and professional reasons, had rushed over from Changxi as soon as he heard that Zuo Le was seriously injured.

    The one referred to as Mr. Yue was the president of Jiangnan Yu Group, Yue Ting''s father, Yue Feng.

    ps: Congratulations to the book friend RPG Defense, your cameo as Chief Zuo Le has officially begun!

 Chapter 79 He Definitely Has a Way

    "I think it''s really touch and go this time!" Yue Feng sighed deeply, his hand subconsciously reaching for a cigarette, but remembering he was at the hospital, he put it back."How could this happen? Originally, Elder Zuo was about to become the bureau chief and join the Changxi County Committee team." Although Lin Jinnuo had braced himself, the news still dumbfounded him, and he said feelings of deep pain.

    "If he''s dead, what''s the use of being a bureau chief or a member of the county committee!" Yue Feng exclaimed.

    "Alas!" Lin Jinnuo sighed heavily upon hearing this, unsure whether it was for Zuo Le''s critical condition or for losing a backer in the official circles, or perhaps both.

    "It''s all our fault, we failed to protect Chief Zuo!" Several police officers in uniform had red eyes and spoke with self-reproach etched on their faces.

    They were all police officers who had been out on duty with Zuo Le tonight. The leadership from the bureau and the county leaders had been notified and were on their way, but they hadn''t yet arrived.

    "You can''t blame yourself for this!" Lin Jinnuo shook his head and sighed again.

    As Lin Jinnuo was shaking his head and sighing, Ge Dongxu and Yue Ting finally rushed to the city hospital.

    "Mom, dad, how''s uncle doing now?" As soon as she arrived outside the emergency room, Yue Ting asked in a rush, and Lin Kun, seeing that Ge Dongxu had actually come with Yue Ting, was greatly shocked. However, he seemed to remember something abruptly, and with a start, he hurriedly stepped forward, bowed slightly, and softly called out, "Dongxu."

    "Hmm!" Ge Dongxu nodded, but his eyes were on Yue Ting''s parents.

    While everyone else was mostly distracted by Yue Ting''s arrival and her questions, only Lin Jinnuo was still partly focused on his son, noticing him walking towards the young man with a respectful attitude, even appearing to call him "Dongxu." He wondered if it was the boy''s name or if he was truly being called ''brother.''

    Regardless of whether it was a name or a real brotherly call, his son''s behavior surprised Lin Jinnuo greatly. He knew his son''s true nature all too well; even though he had been making progress these days, it wasn''t easy to completely change the prideful attitude he had developed since childhood. Yet today, he was acting remarkably humble in front of a young man.

    "Your uncle has just been taken into the emergency room; we don''t know what will happen!" Yue Feng replied with a heavy heart.

    No sooner had Yue Feng finished speaking than the door to the emergency room opened, and a middle-aged man in a white coat with a badge identifying him as the chief physician walked out, looking very grave.

    "Director Qin, how is Zuo Le doing now?" Seeing the doctor come out, Xu Jingfang immediately stopped crying and rushed up to grab the middle-aged man''s arm, asking anxiously. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "The patient is seriously injured. The examination shows he not only broke two ribs, but they also pierced his lung. He must have surgery immediately, but," Dr. Qin said.

    "Then what are we waiting for? You need to operate on Zuo Le right away!" Xu Jingfang interrupted before the doctor could finish.

    Dr. Qin slightly furrowed his brow.

    "Jingfang, calm down first, the doctor hasn''t finished talking!" Yue Feng stepped forward and took hold of Xu Jingfang.

    "I, I am calm, Dr. Qin, please continue," Xu Jingfang took a deep breath.

    "But not only are the patient''s lungs injured, he also has intracranial hemorrhaging. The injuries are extremely severe and complex, our hospital may not be able to handle it. I suggest transferring him to the Provincial Capital immediately," Dr. Qin said somberly.

    "What did you say? You want us to transfer hospitals again? Do you know how many hours it takes to drive to the Provincial Capital from here? Will Zuo Le be able to hold on by then?" Xu Jingfang first went numb at the words, and then her voice sharply rose, her eyes furiously staring at Doctor Qin as if he had harmed her husband.

    "The chances are very slim," Doctor Qin furrowed his brows slightly as he replied again.

    "So you still want him to be transferred? Is this the way you practice medicine? Are you fit to be a chief physician? You..." Xu Jingfang shouted shrilly at Doctor Qin, pointing at him in a barrage of accusations.

    "Jingfang!" Yue Feng stepped forward to pull Xu Jingfang back, while Doctor Qin, being a specialist of the hospital, had his face turn rather ugly. If it hadn''t been for the consideration that Xu Jingfang was the patient''s wife, and given Zuo Le''s status as the deputy director of Changxi County Public Security Bureau, Doctor Qin would have already left in a huff.

    "Maybe I could take a look, perhaps there might be a way," a young voice chimed in amidst Xu Jingfang''s wailing.

    The hallway suddenly fell deathly silent, everyone looked at the young speaker with eyes full of disbelief.

    "Yes, yes, let Dongxu take a look! He definitely has a way," as the incredulous stares of the crowd quickly turned into utter rage, Yue Ting suddenly spoke up, repeatedly echoing in support.

    "You! You! Get out! And you as well, get out! Are you hoping your uncle dies sooner?" Xu Jingfang''s suppressed emotions finally erupted completely, first pointing at Ge Dongxu, then at Yue Ting, shouting hysterically.

    "Auntie, I... how could I possibly wish for my uncle to die? I sincerely want to save my uncle, that''s why I specifically asked Dongxu to come," Yue Ting said tearfully and with a sense of grievance, all the while sending pleading glances toward Ge Dongxu, fearing he would leave in anger.

    "Get out! Leave right now! I never want to see you again! And there is no longer a niece like you!" Xu Jingfang completely ignored Yue Ting.

    Seeing this, Yue Ting still wanted to persuade, but her father had already pulled her aside, scolding her, "Do you think this place isn''t chaotic enough? Take this ''Dongxu'' and leave immediately!"

    "Uncle Yue, actually Dongxu might really have a way!" Lin Kun couldn''t help speaking up for Yue Ting.

    With his daughter causing such a scene, Yue Feng was already furious, but remembering that everyone else had already lost control and his brother-in-law was still in the emergency room, he knew he couldn''t lose his composure, so he had restrained himself from exploding in anger. However, when Lin Kun added to the chaos at this moment, Yue Feng finally couldn''t hold back and roared at Lin Kun, "Get the hell out of here!" Stay connected via empire

    "I''m sorry, President Yue, I''m sorry!" Lin Jinnuo had not expected his son to interject at this moment and quickly apologized to Yue Feng twice while pulling his son aside and giving him two fierce slaps to the head, scolding angrily, "Has water gotten into your brain, boy? Is this a matter to joke about? Are you trying to kill your father with worry?"

    In saying this, Lin Jinnuo felt his heart pounding fiercely, a surge of blood rushing to his forehead.

    Seeing things turn out just as he had expected, Ge Dongxu inwardly sighed and turned away.

    Ge Dongxu had very little confidence in being able to save Yue Ting''s uncle to begin with, and now with the family''s attitude being what it was, he certainly couldn''t insist on treating them. Otherwise, if things went wrong, it could completely drag him down too.

    He had done all he could; this was the full extent of his obligation. He was far from reaching the noble Realm of "If I don''t enter Hell, who will?" and he never expected to reach it in this life!

    Ge Dongxu had not gone far when Lin Jinnuo suddenly collapsed towards Lin Kun, spitting something out of his mouth.

    Seeing this, Lin Kun instinctively cried out in shock, "Dongxu, Dongxu, my dad has fainted, please come save him quickly!"

    ps: On QiDian, we are currently ranked fourth, and the difference between us and the new book total list''s third place is really small. On QQ Browser, we are ranked tenth in the recommendations list, and not far from the top three. On QQ Book City reading list, we are seventeenth, so let''s set a small target for next Monday. If you guys help me push the book into the top three on the QiDian new book total list by Monday, I''ll strive to release five chapters on Monday. If readers on QQ are also strong, and we get the recommendation tickets on QQ Browser into the top three, I will strive to add two more chapters. If QQ Book City reading list also climbs up, I will go all out and add another two chapters. Of course, this refers to Monday, one day, not the whole week, as my body can''t handle it. After midnight, I will first update one chapter, and then, depending on how many chapters, let''s work hard together! I believe in you! Hehe.

 Chapter 80 What are you going to do? [Ask for recommendation tickets on Monday]

    Ge Dongxu heard the words and quickly turned around, walking swiftly towards Lin Kun."Quick, lay your dad down flat, he, he might have had a cerebral hemorrhage!" That Dr. Qin, who had become an expert at the First Hospital affiliated with the City Medical College, was indeed skilled in medicine. Seeing Lin Jinnuo''s condition and his obesity, he immediately diagnosed a possible sudden cerebral hemorrhage. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Lin Jinnuo like this, Xu Jingfang momentarily forgot all about her sadness and anger.

    Yue Feng and the others were no exceptions.

    "Nurse! Nurse! Go get an ice pack right now, then move the patient to the emergency room," Dr. Qin ordered Lin Kun, then hastily called for the nurse.

    However, Lin Kun seemed as if he hadn''t heard Dr. Qin''s instructions at all. Seeing Ge Dongxu approaching, he urgently begged, "Brother Xu, please save my dad!"

    "Save what? Your dad had a cerebral hemorrhage because he was angered by this incident!" Dr. Qin saw that Lin Kun was ignoring his expert advice and instead pleading with a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy, which made him so angry his face turned green.

    Upon hearing this, Lin Kun''s body shuddered, a hint of self-reproach and hesitation flashing in his eyes, but his gaze quickly firmed as he looked at Ge Dongxu and said, "Brother Xu, as long as you say you can save my dad, I''ll believe you."

    Facing Lin Kun''s trust, Ge Dongxu nodded his head and then took out an antique sandalwood box from his backpack. Although Dr. Qin''s words were not entirely correct, there was some truth to them. Lin Jinnuo''s sudden cerebral hemorrhage was indeed related to him, and he couldn''t stand by idly.

    Of course, Lin Jinnuo being so obese and having hypertension, coupled with his rushed arrival just now, also contributed greatly to the sudden cerebral hemorrhage.

    "What, what are you going to do?" Seeing Ge Dongxu open the sandalwood box and take out Silver Needle, Dr. Qin was both shocked and furious, pointing at Ge Dongxu and questioning him fiercely.

    Ge Dongxu ignored Dr. Qin and deftly inserted several Silver Needles into Lin Jinnuo''s head.

    "You, do you know you are committing a crime? Do you realize you are harming... harming..." Dr. Qin saw Ge Dongxu actually sticking needles into Lin Jinnuo''s head, shaking so much that his fingers trembled, and he kept cursing. But halfway through his rant, he couldn''t continue, his eyes bulging behind his glasses.

    Because he saw Lin Jinnuo, who had been unconscious, suddenly open his eyes and his breathing became steady.

    Xu Jingfang and the others all stared wide-eyed, the hallway falling utterly silent.

    "My head suddenly hurt a lot just now, and did I faint?" After a long silence, Lin Jinnuo broke the quiet, reaching up to touch his head.

    "Mr. Lin, don''t move. This needle needs to stay in a bit longer to completely seal the blood vessel to prevent it from bleeding," Ge Dongxu grabbed Lin Jinnuo''s hand.

    "You?" Lin Jinnuo, seeing Ge Dongxu holding his hand, was stunned.

    "Dad, you had a sudden cerebral hemorrhage just now. Brother Xu just now saved you with his acupuncture," Lin Kun quickly interjected.

    Lin Jinnuo had made his business so successful because he was naturally sharp-witted, and since he hadn''t completely lacked awareness earlier, he immediately realized what was happening upon hearing the news. He quickly expressed both his gratitude and shame to Ge Dongxu, saying, "Thank you so much, young man. I was unaware of the situation just now and may have offended you. Please don''t take it to heart."

    Stay connected with empire

    "It doesn''t matter. You can now sit up in the chair, and in a little while, I will help you remove the needle," Ge Dongxu said, as he and Lin Kun helped Lin Jinnuo to stand.

    "Okay, thank you so very much." After Lin Jinnuo''s corpulent body stood up, he once again expressed his gratitude to Ge Dongxu with a thankful face.

    Cerebral hemorrhage strikes suddenly and dangerously; it''s a medical emergency with a very high mortality rate. Moreover, one should avoid randomly moving a person with a cerebral hemorrhage as it might cause blood vessels to rupture and bleed more. But now, not only had Lin Jinnuo quickly regained consciousness, clearly having passed the critical period, but he had also gotten up and even found a seat on his own.

    If Doctor Qin hadn''t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn''t have believed that such miraculous medical skills existed in the world. He even doubted his initial diagnosis, wondering if Lin Jinnuo had not experienced a cerebral hemorrhage, but merely had a normal fainting episode.

    But what sudden medical condition could it be, if not a cerebral hemorrhage, especially given that such an obese person had vomited during the fainting?

    While Doctor Qin was still shocked and his thoughts in chaos, he saw blood with a hint of dark color slowly flowing from where Ge Dongxu had inserted the needle.

    "That''s about right." Just as Doctor Qin was staring wide-eyed at this scene, Ge Dongxu stepped forward and removed the Silver Needle that was inserted in Lin Jinnuo''s head.

    "Was that, that bruising?" Unable to contain his astonishment and curiosity, Doctor Qin stepped forward and asked in a low voice, devoid of his earlier arrogance.

    No sooner had Doctor Qin asked this question than one of his assistants rushed out of the emergency room, looking very anxious and saying, "Director Qin, the patient''s blood pressure is getting lower, and his heartbeat is accelerating¡­"

    "Brother Xu, Brother Xu, it was all my fault just now, I was blind and foolish. Please go and save my Zuo Le! I''m begging you. If he dies, I won''t be able to go on living either! I''m kneeling before you." The assistant''s voice, as sudden as a bolt from the blue, echoed in the hallway, causing Xu Jingfang''s body to jolt violently, then she frantically rushed to Ge Dongxu and was about to kneel in front of him.

    "No, no, get up. This is a hospital, and even if I agree, the doctors here must agree as well," Ge Dongxu said, hurriedly helping her up.

    "They can''t save Zuo Le themselves, so they forbid others from saving him?" Xu Jingfang glared at Doctor Qin on the spot.

    "Doctor Qin, what do you think?" Yue Feng, being the head of Changxi County''s leading enterprise and a man of stable actions, knew Xu Jingfang was emotionally upset and quickly held her back, then turned to Doctor Qin and asked.

    "The patient was under our care when the incident happened, and our hospital must also bear the responsibility. So even if this doctor lends a hand, you must sign the surgery consent forms, and I must be involved throughout the process," Doctor Qin stated decisively, knowing the situation was urgent, not putting on airs or being verbose.

    "That''s no problem. We will sign the consent forms immediately. Whatever happens, we won''t hold Brother Xu or your hospital responsible," Xu Jingfang, knowing time was of the essence, quickly wiped her tears and nodded in agreement upon hearing Doctor Qin''s consent.

    "Then there''s no problem. Doctor, what do you think?" Doctor Qin nodded, then turned to Ge Dongxu.

    He wasn''t sure what title to use for Ge Dongxu, but since Ge Dongxu had just saved Lin Jinnuo and out of respect for his medical skills, he addressed him as "doctor."

    ps: It''s Monday, desperately asking for all kinds of support. Today, it all depends on you how high we can climb in the rankings. I''ll keep on writing.

 Chapter 81 Taking Action to Save People [2nd update, ask for recommendation tickets]

    "I have just one request, once I start the treatment, only Dr. Qin can be present. And when others come later and ask, just say that it was Dr. Qin who treated the patient, and I was just assisting. You must promise me this!" Ge Dongxu said with a grave voice.He certainly didn''t want to attract attention from all sides, let alone be interviewed and exposed by the media.

    "No problem, no problem," Xu Jingfang and the others nodded hurriedly, only Dr. Qin still hesitated a bit.

    "Dr. Qin, do you know Tang Yiyuan? I have a very good relationship with him," Ge Dongxu said, his real worry actually being that Dr. Qin might talk about his involvement, since Yue Ting and the others definitely wouldn''t dare to speak carelessly due to the favor they owed him. But Dr. Qin was a different story. Seeing him hesitate, an idea struck Ge Dongxu, and he mentioned Tang Yiyuan''s name.

    He wasn''t sure how well-known Tang Yiyuan was, but considering he was a doctoral supervisor and an expert on the Jiangnan Province Medical Expert Group, he should have some reputation in the medical community of Jiangnan Province.

    "You know Professor Tang! Then there won''t be any problem," Dr. Qin indeed knew Tang Yiyuan and seemed to hold him in high regard. Hearing this, he hesitated no further and quickly said so.

    Dr. Qin was a practitioner of Western medicine, and what he revered was not Tang Yiyuan''s title as a professor of Chinese medicine but his title as an expert in the Jiangnan Province Medical Expert Group. That title was very weighty in the province, allowing direct contact with high-ranking officials and magnates. Countless doctors had tried their best to get on that list but never had the chance. Despite being a well-known expert in the First Affiliated Hospital of Ouzhou City Medical College, Dr. Qin was still far from qualifying to be part of the expert group. Even their hospital''s director didn''t qualify. So when Ge Dongxu brought up Tang Yiyuan''s name and stated he had a close relationship with him, Dr. Qin had no more doubts.

    Seeing how Dr. Qin immediately agreed upon the mention of Tang Yiyuan''s name, Ge Dongxu regretted not invoking it earlier to avoid the hassle.

    At the same time, Ge Dongxu realized the weight Tang Yiyuan held in the medical community of Jiangnan Province! S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    So Ge Dongxu followed Dr. Qin into the resuscitation room swiftly.

    At that moment, the line on the monitor had almost flattened, and everyone around was at a loss for what to do.

    Upon seeing Dr. Qin''s return, they looked at him as if he were a savior and asked anxiously, "Director Qin, what do we do now? Transferring to the Provincial Capital is definitely not an option."

    "You all leave, this doctor here can assist me," Dr. Qin said, waving his hand and simultaneously shaking his head at the sight of Zuo Le lying on the bed in a deep coma.

    Years of clinical experience told him that Zuo Le''s condition, barring a miracle, was beyond saving.

    Of course, as doctors, as long as the patient''s heart hadn''t stopped beating, they must do their utmost to resuscitate.

    Only then did the others notice the young man with Dr. Qin. As they were about to speak, the young man already spoke sternly to them, "Get out, all of you, and make it quick!"

    The First Affiliated Hospital of Ouzhou City Medical College was the best hospital in Ouzhou City. Being a part of it, each one of them carried a bit of pride, so when they saw Ge Dongxu, this young man, ordering them out so bluntly, their faces showed a hint of dissatisfaction. Just as they were about to protest, Dr. Qin, sensing Ge Dongxu''s urgency and remembering his miraculous methods from before, quickly looked stern and said authoritatively before they could speak, "Didn''t you hear the command to leave? What are you waiting for?" Read exclusive content at empire

    Dr. Qin''s words carried a different weight from Ge Dongxu''s, and with his say, they obediently left the resuscitation room.

    When the medical staff had left the resuscitation room, Ge Dongxu had already completed taking Zuo Le''s pulse and, with a grave expression, took out the Silver Needles. Then like a lightning, he inserted the needles behind and on the nape of Zuo Le''s neck within a single breath''s time, followed swiftly by acupuncture points at Zuo Yun''s Juque, Tanzhong, Tianchi¡­ and more.

    The former was to address Zuo Le''s cranial hemorrhage while the latter to stimulate his life potential to increase his cardiac output.

    After this dazzling series of Silver Needles insertion, Ge Dongxu wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a sense of relief, "Thank goodness, just in time. Any later and not even Hua Tuo reincarnated could have been of use."

    By this time, Doctor Qin''s mouth was hanging wide open, his eyeballs bulging like those of a goldfish.

    Because, in just a short moment, he had seen the nearly flat lines on the life-signs monitoring equipment beside the emergency table start to show regular fluctuations, and the blood pressure was gradually climbing up...

    Everything indicated that Zuo Le, who had been hanging by a thread, was gradually moving past the critical phase.

    "Actually, even if Hua Tuo were to return, I doubt he could perform such a miraculous feat as you have," Doctor Qin said after a long while. Unconsciously, he, a native of Jiangnan Province, used the respectful "you" that was seldom used.

    "I don''t deserve such praise," Ge Dongxu replied, before taking out a long silver needle from the rosewood box. This silver needle was more than twice as long as the others.

    Due to gravity, the lengthy silver needle bent downwards as soon as Ge Dongxu took it out from the rosewood box. With just a pinch of his fingers on the needle, however, it immediately straightened out.

    Then Ge Dongxu inserted the entire long silver needle into Zuo Le''s brain, and black blood slowly started to flow out along the silver needle.

    Doctor Qin''s mouth fell open once again, for he clearly understood that the slowly oozing black blood was a hematomas from the brain. This was definitely the most magical "surgery" to remove blood clots inside the skull he had ever seen in his lifetime.

    When the flow of the black blood had nearly stopped, Ge Dongxu then slowly pulled the silver needle out.

    "Phew!" Ge Dongxu let out a long sigh of relief.

    The most dangerous part for Zuo Le was not actually his lungs, but the cranial hemorrhage.

    Now that Ge Dongxu had finally sealed off the bleeding in his brain and cleared the clots inside his skull, from Ge Dongxu''s medical perspective, Zuo Le was, at this moment, truly past the critical period.

    As Ge Dongxu sighed in relief, Zuo Le slowly opened his eyes.

    Seeing Zuo Le open his eyes, Doctor Qin was so shocked he almost stepped back as if he had seen a ghost. Fortunately, he soon realized he was a doctor and the person before him was very much alive, not a ghost.

    "How are you feeling now?" Doctor Qin asked subconsciously.

    "Pain!" Zuo Le managed to gasp out the word.

    "Don''t talk, your lungs are still pierced by your ribs!" Ge Dongxu said.

    "Right, right, don''t talk now, listen to the doctor!" Doctor Qin hurriedly said.

    Zuo Le felt confused by Doctor Qin''s words. Shouldn''t the doctor be this middle-aged man in the white coat? And who was this young man dressed in sportswear?

    ps: Monday''s ranking rush is very important, I hope all my readers won''t find it troublesome to cast your votes, thank you very much.

 Chapter 82 Slip Away Quietly [3rd Update, Request for Recommendation Votes]

    As Zuo Le showed a puzzled look, Ge Dongxu pulled out some silver needles that were inserted into his chest and said, "You don''t need to think about anything right now, I am going to treat the injury in your lung. Although I have already needled some acupoints to suppress your pain perception nerves, you will probably still feel a bit of pain. Bear with it.""Mm!" Zuo Le''s heart was still full of doubts, but he was now certain that the young man before him was indeed his savior.

    Seeing that Zuo Le understood him, Ge Dongxu didn''t hesitate any longer. He gently probed the upper half of Zuo Le''s body with his hands and then found the broken rib. He quietly activated his True Qi.

    The True Qi entered Zuo Le''s body, and like an invisible tentacle, pulled out the broken rib from his lung and then one by one set them back in place.

    This was a task that greatly consumed "physical" energy in the form of True Qi, and soon beads of sweat the size of soybeans started to form on Ge Dongxu''s forehead.

    Dr. Qin, seeing this, hurriedly grabbed a towel to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, with all the demeanor of an assistant, showing none of the signs of a senior expert doctor.

    Luckily, there was no one else present at the time apart from Zuo Le, otherwise, their jaws would have dropped to the floor in astonishment at the sight.

    When had a senior expert doctor been reduced to wiping sweat for a young man?

    "Phew!" Finally, Ge Dongxu let out a long sigh of relief and then took the white towel from Dr. Qin''s hand, expressing gratitude, "Thank you, Dr. Qin."

    "I should be thanking you, for letting me witness such miraculous medical skills!" Dr. Qin said with a face full of admiration.

    "Director Zuo should no longer be in any life-threatening danger. However, there are probably still some small bone fragments inside him that I am not suited to handle. That will have to be left to you," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Leave those to us," Dr. Qin replied with a nod.

    "Good, there must be quite a few people outside by now. You go out front to draw their attention, and I''ll follow behind. While they''re not paying attention, I''ll make my escape," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Actually, um, may I ask how to address you?" Dr. Qin suddenly realized he did not know Ge Dongxu''s name, only that Yue Ting and the others called him Brother Dongxu earlier. But of course, given Dr. Qin''s age, it would not be appropriate for him to address him as Brother Dongxu.

    "Ge Dongxu, you can call me Dongxu or Xiao Ge," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "I''ll just call you Dr. Ge then. In fact, with your medical skills, if word got out, countless patients would seek you out. Not only would you become world-famous, but you could also make a fortune every day. So why not..." Dr. Qin said.

    "What is the point of making money? For living, right? If I had countless patients coming to me every day, could I still live a good life? What use is all the money and fame? Besides, I am still young. There are many things I want to do, and I don''t want to be the center of attention wherever I go, followed by patients wherever I turn. So please don''t expose me. I don''t want fame, nor do I want to make money through medicine," Ge Dongxu interrupted before Dr. Qin could finish.

    "You do have a point. Like right now for me, even though I make good money, I am as busy as a dog every day. Sometimes, after several surgeries in a row, I am so exhausted I don''t even want to speak, and I wonder what it''s all for. But other than medicine, I have no other skills, and in the world, there are who knows how many people just like me. If I lose my job today, someone will replace me tomorrow. Not like you, your medical skills are truly unique in this world, available whenever you wish, for people who will come seeking you out. Rest assured, I know you are an extraordinary individual. Since you don''t want others to know, I will certainly not speak of it," Dr. Qin assured with a serious tone.

    After all, with his age and having personally witnessed that miraculous medical technique, how could Dr. Qin not understand the pros and cons of ingratiating himself with Ge Dongxu or offending him? Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Because he was a doctor, he too could fall ill at times, and so could his family, relatives, and friends. What if one day it was a terminal illness?

    Doing Ge Dongxu a favor now might very well be worth a human life in the future. But if he offended Ge Dongxu today¡ªa man like Dongxu was bound to become a big shot in the future¡ªdealing with a minor director of a city hospital would be as easy as drinking water for him.

    "Then thank you, Dr. Qin. If there''s anything urgent and you need to reach me, you can contact Professor Tang," Dongxu, whose social experience was gradually expanding, was getting crafty with his understanding of human nature. Seeing Dr. Qin agree, he said with a smile.

    Dr. Qin was a smart man, knowing that Dongxu had accepted his favor, he couldn''t help but happily say, "Thank you, Dr. Ge."

    Ge Dongxu smiled upon hearing this, and then said to Zuo Le, "Director Zuo, you also have to remember, the one who saved you is Dr. Qin here, not me."

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    Zuo Le, being clever enough to be the deputy director of the Changxi County Public Security Bureau, had already figured out the situation through the conversation between Ge Dongxu and Dr. Qin. Hurrying to say, "Dr. Ge is my life-saving benefactor, I''ll remember whatever you say, don''t worry!"

    Ge Dongxu nodded at Dr. Qin in relief and said, "Let''s go."

    Dr. Qin nodded and then led the way to the emergency room door, where indeed a crowd of people had gathered outside.

    Not only were there leaders from Changxi County and the Public Security Bureau, but also leaders from the city''s Public Security Bureau, and even a deputy mayor had rushed over in person. The hospital''s dean also rushed over in person.

    As soon as they saw Dr. Qin emerge, they hurried up to inquire about the situation. Meanwhile, Xu Jingfang and others knew that the key figure was Ge Dongxu. While other people might not have noticed the young man hiding behind Dr. Qin, Xu Jingfang and the rest noticed, and instinctively wanted to rush up to him. But seeing Ge Dongxu giving them a signal, they remembered the instructions he had given earlier; seeing Dr. Qin''s smiling face, obviously Zuo Le had been saved by Dongxu. Surprised and delighted, they still didn''t dare to forget Dongxu''s earlier instructions and cooperated by pulling Dr. Qin aside to ask about Zuo Le''s condition.

    As the attention of the crowd was drawn away by Dr. Qin, Ge Dongxu slipped out of the emergency room.

    Because Ge Dongxu was wearing a tracksuit and not a lab coat, he blended in with the families and friends who had come to visit once he stepped out of the emergency room. Except for Yue Feng and a few others, no one else took notice of him.

    "The patient has passed the critical period. After some time, when his condition stabilizes further and we carry out some treatments, he should be out of danger," Dr. Qin replied with a smile.

    Although they had guessed the answer, Xu Jingfang and others still cried tears of joy. They instinctively wanted to thank Ge Dongxu, but remembering his instructions, they had to hold back.

    "I''ll go see Mr. Ge off with Lin Kun. Please tell Elder Zuo for me to take good care of himself and that I''ll come visit him another day," Lin Jinnuo whispered to Yue Feng as he approached him.

    "Uh, thanks. We are not at liberty right now," Yue Feng whispered back.

    "What thanks? Actually, I owe him my life too. Cerebral hemorrhage, a lot of people even if saved, would still have many complications," Lin Jinnuo whispered, and then he and Lin Kun hurried to catch up with Ge Dongxu who was disappearing at the end of the corridor.

    "Mr. Ge, Mr. Ge!" Lin Jinnuo panted as he called out to Ge Dongxu from behind, causing the two nurses in the hallway to look on in astonishment.

    They had no idea why this chubby man was calling a teenaged boy a "Mr."

    ps: Now on Qidian we''re still in fourth place, and on the QQ browser recommendation ticket list we''re in eighth place, and on the QQ reading recommendation list in ninth place. Whether we can make it to third place on the new book list here on Qidian or not, I''m going to explode those five chapters first, and for the rest, I''ll do my best, and so should you. We can set high goals, and if we don''t meet them, so be it, but we shouldn''t be without goals, right? Heh.

 Chapter 83 Making Friends [4th update, asking for recommendation tickets]

    "Eh, why did you guys follow? Weren''t you going to visit Director Zuo?" Ge Dongxu expressed a hint of surprise when he saw Lin Jinnuo and his son catching up.Read the latest on empire sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "It''s more important to get Mr. Ge back home. I can visit Elder Zuo anytime," Lin Jinnuo said, panting.

    "I can find a car to get back by myself. No need to trouble you," Ge Dongxu declined.

    "How could we not? If it weren''t for you today, I would have been a goner," Lin Jinnuo said.

    "It''s not that serious, there were doctors there!" Ge Dongxu said, somewhat embarrassed, with a light laugh.

    "Mr. Ge, you don''t have to be modest. I know I just had a cerebral hemorrhage. Even if I had been saved later, I would definitely have suffered some sequelae, not like now ¨C as if nothing happened, still able to run," Lin Jinnuo said.

    "Don''t think it''s nothing. This time was luck; next time might not be so fortunate. You still need to pay attention to exercise and watch what you eat and drink," aware that further humility would seem insincere, Ge Dongxu adopted a serious tone and advised.

    "Ah, I know all that. I will definitely exercise more from now on, but the eating and drinking, that''s really difficult! We run a hotel, and leaders come to the hotel from time to time. When a leader comes, isn''t it proper for me, the boss, to join them for a few drinks?" Lin Jinnuo sighed.

    Seeing Lin Jinnuo''s body as big as a pig''s, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel a pang of sympathy. Indeed, every family has its own difficult scripture. Who says rich people live comfortably?

    "Dad, what''s more important, money or life? Don''t forget the pain once the wound heals. Do you think you''ll always be so lucky to have Brother Dongxu around? From now on, if you can avoid drinking, then don''t drink. Our family isn''t lacking money anyway," Lin Kun said from the side.

    "Lin Kun, you''ve finally grown up. Your father will listen to you and try to drink less from now on," Lin Jinnuo said, his hefty body quivering slightly with contentment.

    In the past, his son rarely said such caring words to him.

    "It''s all thanks to Brother Dongxu. If it weren''t for him, I would still be straying further and further on the wrong path," Lin Kun said earnestly.

    Lin Jinnuo''s flesh trembled again as he finally realized why his son had been showing such dedication recently. It was all because of the young man before them.

    "Mr. Ge, you saved my life and made my wayward son turn over a new leaf. I really don''t know how to thank you!" Lin Jinnuo said gratefully.

    "It was just a helping hand. And Mr. Lin, please don''t keep calling me ''Mr. Ge.'' I''m only sixteen years old, so just call me by my name," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Alright then, I''ll take the liberty of calling you Dongxu, and don''t call me Mr. Lin. I''m old, so you can just call me Old Lin. It sounds more friendly," Lin Jinnuo, a hotel owner, had the frank and forthright style of someone from the fraternity, direct and unpretentious.

    "Old Lin? Haha, I''ll just call you Uncle Lin," Ge Dongxu said.

    "No, I really can''t live up to that title of ''uncle,'' just call me Old Lin!" Lin Jinnuo hurriedly objected.

    "Alright then," Ge Dongxu, seeing Lin Jinnuo''s insistence, agreed to do as he wished.

    After all, one was a big hotel owner and the other a high school student; it was unlikely they would meet often in the future.

    While chatting, the three of them reached the hospital''s parking lot.

    Lin Jinnuo''s car was also an Audi 200, just like Liu Jiayao''s.

    Lin Kun was driving, while Lin Jinnuo accompanied Ge Dongxu in the back. Being a hotel owner, Lin Jinnuo knew all kinds of people and could mingle with them easily. He had his own unique way of building relationships and was also a very good talker.

    He felt both gratitude and respect for Ge Dongxu in his heart, naturally wanting to become friends with him by any means possible. And since Ge Dongxu was after all a young man with limited experience, under Lin Jinnuo''s earnest efforts to befriend him, he was quickly attracted by Lin Jinnuo''s charismatic personality, talking and laughing together, and taking the opportunity to ask about many business matters.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu, despite his youth, was interested in adult matters of society, Lin Jinnuo talked about many business issues, and even some political matters, including Elder Zuo.

    "This time, Elder Zuo really turned misfortune into fortune! Originally, when Director Yao stepped down, it wasn''t certain that Elder Zuo could take over the director''s position. But with this work-related injury, the directorship is definitely his now," Lin Jinnuo said.

    "It''s what he deserves," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "That is true; Elder Zuo is quite a decent man, capable and practical. Unlike some officials who don''t do any work, but are greedy. Frankly speaking, for us in business, we really don''t mind officials taking a bit more, but the problem is, they need to get some work done. You can''t just take the money and then go out of your way to cause trouble," Lin Jinnuo explained.

    Ge Dongxu smiled upon hearing this but didn''t speak, as these matters were beyond his understanding, so naturally, he did not feel it right to comment casually.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu remained silent, Lin Jinnuo knew he might not like these topics and changed the subject.

    With Lin Jinnuo''s company along the way, Ge Dongxu learned a great deal, so time felt like it passed very quickly, and before long, they arrived at Cheng Yazhou''s doorstep.

    "Dongxu, I really thank you for today, I''ll treat you to a meal another day," Lin Jinnuo said as he got out of the car and shook hands with Ge Dongxu.

    "Haha, no need to be polite, Old Lin. It''s getting late; I''ll go up first, or Uncle Cheng might start to worry," Ge Dongxu responded.

    "Alright, take care on your way up. If you need anything in Changxi County, just give me a call. I still have some connections there," Lin Jinnuo declared.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and nodded, then went back to Cheng Yazhou''s home.

    ...

    On Friday night, Ge Dongxu boarded the train to the Provincial Capital.

    As soon as he passed through the ticket gate, he saw Liu Jiayao.

    Liu Jiayao was dressed casually today, in bleached tight jeans and a snug woolen sweater with a denim jacket, exuding a youthful energy, not at all like a female company president.

    Upon seeing Ge Dongxu, she happily approached him and expertly linked arms with him, her lovely, enticing eyes scanning him up and down as she smiled and said, "We haven''t seen each other for three months, and you seem to have grown quite a bit taller."

    "It''s been three months, and Sister Liu seems to have become younger and prettier," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Hehe, in three months, your flattery has gotten sweeter too," Liu Jiayao cheerfully commented, playfully glancing at him with her enchanting eyes.

    "I''m only telling the truth," Ge Dongxu chuckled.

    "Really? Then it seems I have indeed become younger," Liu Jiayao said gleefully, touching her cheek.

    The driver was still Li Min. When she saw Liu Jiayao walking arm-in-arm with Ge Dongxu, she couldn''t help but feel puzzled as to why Liu Jiayao was so good to this young man. Not only had she personally come to pick him up early in the morning but she even walked arm-in-arm with him!

    Of course, she would never think that Liu Jiayao had taken a liking to Ge Dongxu!

    PS: Fourth update, I continue.

 Chapter 84 Zuo Les Promotion [5th Update, Request for Votes]

    Upon arriving at Yadu Garden, Liu Jiayao sent Li Min away."You must be tired from sitting on the train all night. I''ve already prepared some porridge for you, along with some fried dough sticks and steamed buns. Go wash your face and brush your teeth first. I''ll get the porridge ready for you," said Liu Jiayao as she opened the door and handed Ge Dongxu a pair of slippers.

    Although it had been three months since Ge Dongxu had last seen Liu Jiayao, for some reason he felt even more familiar with her. He nodded without any pretense of formality at her words.

    After washing up and coming out, Ge Dongxu saw Liu Jiayao carrying a steaming bowl of porridge from the kitchen. Read exclusive content at empire

    Liu Jiayao, now without her jacket, wore a tight wool sweater that accentuated her curves, momentarily bewildering Ge Dongxu.

    After the meal, Liu Jiayao chatted with Ge Dongxu for a while, and then, as if by tacit agreement, they both entered her bedroom.

    This time, Liu Jiayao didn''t mention taking a bath, which was evidently because she had already taken one that morning. Her body carried a faint and pleasant scent of post-shower freshness.

    Although it wasn''t the first time he had seen Liu Jiayao''s near-perfect body, because he had had consecutive dreams of her over a week or two, Ge Dongxu''s reaction was even stronger than the last time. He felt very uncomfortable and, covering his lower body, nearly looked for a crack in the floor to crawl into.

    Fortunately, Liu Jiayao was very understanding. She smiled and told him it was okay, that she could understand him, which made Ge Dongxu feel all the more unworthy.

    With that deep sense of self-blame, Ge Dongxu''s state of mind gradually returned to tranquility, no longer tempted by the appealing form before him.

    After helping to clear Liu Jiayao''s meridians, Ge Dongxu naturally broke into a profuse sweat. However, having cleared her meridians before and assisted by the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation in the past few days, his True Qi was quite abundant. Thus, despite sweating profusely, the effort was much easier than the last time.

    It was Liu Jiayao who prepared the bath for Ge Dongxu, getting him a towel and fresh clothes to change into.

    After a good soak in the bath, Ge Dongxu realized it was already half-past ten and told Liu Jiayao that he had arranged to talk with Tang Yiyuan.

    "I''ve been so busy lately I haven''t had the chance to invite Professor Tang for a meal to express my gratitude. Since you are here today, let''s invite him out for tea first to talk, and then have a meal together," proposed Liu Jiayao.

    Ge Dongxu and Tang Yiyuan''s discussion would merely involve medical matters, so there was no need to avoid Liu Jiayao. Hearing this, he nodded and said, "Okay, you pick a place, then call Professor Tang."

    "The sun is quite nice today. How about we go to Longqi Mountain to find a quiet and elegant teahouse, have some tea, and try the local farmhouse dishes?" suggested Liu Jiayao.

    "That would be perfect as I like places with mountains and forests," Ge Dongxu enthusiastically agreed with Liu Jiayao''s suggestion.

    Teahouses that served tea and farmhouse dishes had just started to become popular at the time, so there was no need to reserve a place in advance. Liu Jiayao directly called Professor Tang and arranged to meet at the teahouse on Longqi Mountain.

    After making the arrangements, Liu Jiayao decided not to ask Li Min to take them but instead drove Ge Dongxu to Longqi Mountain herself.

    When they arrived at the agreed-upon teahouse, Professor Tang was already there waiting for them.

    Upon seeing Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao coming over, Professor Tang first shook hands with Ge Dongxu, and then with Liu Jiayao. When shaking hands with Liu Jiayao, Tang Yiyuan''s gaze lingered on her face, showing a look of surprise.

    "What''s the matter, Professor Tang? Don''t tell me you don''t recognize me after a few months," joked Liu Jiayao.

    ```

    "Heh, to be honest, in just three short months since we last met, you''ve really changed a lot. Not only do you seem more spirited, your complexion has become much more rosy than before, as if you''ve suddenly turned back into a twenty-year-old girl. If I ran into you on the street, I really might not recognize you," Tang Yiyuan said.

    "Really? With what you just said, I suddenly feel seven years younger!" Liu Jiayao touched her own smooth and delicate cheeks, laughing happily as she looked at Ge Dongxu with an unconsciously tender gaze.

    "I''m of an age myself, so why would I lie to a young person like you? Dr. Ge''s medical skills are truly miraculous. I can''t help but admire him!" Tang Yiyuan exclaimed with great emotion.

    The speaker was unintentional, but the listener took it to heart, and Liu Jiayao''s pretty face unknowingly blushed at Tang Yiyuan''s words.

    Since there was still time, the three of them started by ordering tea.

    "Professor Tang, Dongxu mentioned that you have some medical issues to discuss with him. Go ahead and talk; don''t mind me. I came purely to keep you company," Liu Jiayao said, pulling her chair up next to Ge Dongxu and addressing Tang Yiyuan.

    "An opportunity to consult with Dr. Ge face-to-face is rare, so I won''t stand on ceremony with you," Tang Yiyuan replied with a slight seriousness in his demeanor.

    "Of course, there''s no need to be polite," Liu Jiayao replied with a smile.

    Tang Yiyuan indeed did not stand on ceremony with Liu Jiayao, eagerly seeking knowledge from Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu appreciated that Tang Yiyuan, despite his age, was willing to ask questions without any sense of shame and was so dedicated to learning. Thus, aside from issues related to cultivation medicine, he answered every question without reservation.

    Watching Ge Dongxu, despite being so young, explain things like an old scholar to Tang Yiyuan, ripples of adoration flickered in Liu Jiayao''s eyes from time to time.

    Since he had class on Monday, Ge Dongxu took the train back to Changxi County that Sunday night.

    ...

    The year-end approached in the blink of an eye, and all the students at Changxi No.1 Middle School were immersed in the intense preparation for their final exams, including Ge Dongxu. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    While he was a cultivator and was always able to maintain full energy, clear thinking, and strong memory, he was only a bit smarter than the average person in terms of intelligence and not a learning genius. Like anyone else, he often needed to spend time reading and doing exercises to achieve good grades.

    Because of the upcoming finals preparation, Lin Jinnuo and Zuo Le, who had been discharged from the hospital, wanted to invite Ge Dongxu for a meal to thank him in person, but he had no time.

    Lin Jinnuo and Zuo Le, knowing that Ge Dongxu was still a student, did not insist and decided to wait until after the New Year. They planned to ask him out for a meal after school resumed, as the study pressure usually wouldn''t be as intense right after the start of a new term.

    As Ge Dongxu finally faced his final exams, Zuo Le was celebrated as a hero and a role model for having been injured while busting a child trafficking gang by the Provincial Public Security Department. When even the provincial authorities issued a document calling for everyone to learn from Zuo Le, Ouzhou City and Changxi County naturally had to show their support. So before the New Year, Zuo Le not only fulfilled his wish of becoming the director of the Changxi County Public Security Bureau, but he was also inducted as a member of the county''s Standing Committee.

    The former position of bureau director was considered a division-chief level status, while a Standing Committee membership was at the level of a deputy department head, which meant that Zuo Le had jumped two ranks, from deputy division head directly to deputy department head.

    Also, for this reason, Zuo Le and his family felt even more grateful towards Ge Dongxu. Without him, not to mention a promotion, they wouldn''t even know where their lives might be.

    PS: Here''s the fifth update, and I will keep pushing on. Regardless of the outcome, I aim to update some more by evening time.

    ```

 Chapter 85 New Year Greetings [6th update, seeking recommendation tickets]

    After the final exams, it was time to receive the grades.Although Ge Dongxu wasn''t a study genius, as a cultivator, he had advantages in studying that others did not possess. Despite spending a lot of time in meditation, Talisman Drawing, and cultivation, his final exam rankings were still much higher than when he had first entered Changxi High School.

    In his class, his grades were around sixteenth, but this time, he had jumped to fifth place. This surprised the class teacher, Li Haoran, who specifically called Ge Dongxu to his office to give him some encouragement.

    The top scorer was Ge Dongxu''s deskmate, Du Yifan, who was exceptionally strong in mathematics, physics, and chemistry, and had scored full marks in math. However, because of lower scores in politics, English, and Chinese, he was only ranked fifth in the whole grade.

    Cheng Le Hao''s grades had surged from the bottom of the class to thirty-second, which made his parents, Cheng Yazhou and his wife, so happy they almost couldn''t close their mouths. That day, Xu Suya prepared a lavish meal to formally thank Ge Dongxu.

    ¡­

    After receiving the report card, the three shareholders of Yaxu Trademark Factory held an annual meeting in the factory office. Though called an annual meeting, it was actually about profit distribution, as their small factory didn''t have much need for lengthy summary reports or future projections. Read exclusive chapters at empire

    The profits were very substantial. In just under two months, after all expenses, the net profit was around two hundred thousand. Because the laser trademark was still in high demand and short supply, there were few credits, and by the end of the year, nearly all debts were collected. Therefore, Ge Dongxu, the second largest shareholder, received seventy-five thousand in profits at the end of the first year.

    This profit made Ge Dongxu very happy, confirming that his decision to invest in the laser trademark was the right one, and that he hadn''t misjudged Cheng Yazhou back then.

    ¡­

    A few days later, it was New Year''s Eve.

    Since Ge Dongxu''s grandparents had passed away early and there was only Ge Shengming as the sole descendant, the New Year at Ge Dongxu''s home was relatively quiet with just the three of them.

    However, because Ge Dongxu had scored well in the final exams and had brought back a substantial amount of money previously, the family was in a particularly good mood. Despite being just the three of them, they still had a joyful and lively celebration. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    On the first day of the first lunar month, according to the customs of Changxi County, people do not visit others to offer New Year greetings. Ge Dongxu took the opportunity to visit his master''s grave and poured a jar of Huadiao Wine for him.

    On the second day of the first lunar month, the family visited some of his uncles'' homes.

    On the third day of the first lunar month, dressed in new clothes and carrying gifts, Ge Dongxu''s family went to his maternal grandparents'' home to offer New Year greetings. This was a tradition formed over many years at the Xu Family. Every year on the third day of the first lunar month, the two daughters who had married out, the eldest son who worked in the county, and the second son who ran a business abroad, all returned to the old family home in Xiyuan Town.

    Ge Dongxu''s third uncle, Xu Zhewei, had opened a small restaurant in Xiyuan Town, and the annual reunion dinner was held there at the Xu Family Restaurant, this year being no exception. Thus, as soon as Ge Dongxu''s family reached the town, they headed straight to Xu Family Restaurant.

    Once daughters marry out, they consider themselves part of another family, so when Ge Dongxu''s family arrived, the families of the oldest uncle Xu Zheming, the second uncle Xu Zhebo, along with the grandparents, were already at Xu Family Restaurant. Needless to say, the third uncle Xu Zhewei''s family was also present.

    This restaurant was originally his business.

    However, Aunt Xu Suying and her family hadn''t arrived yet, even though their home was just in Xiyuan Town.

    "Happy New Year, Grandpa and Grandma, I''m here to give my New Year''s greetings!" As soon as Ge Dongxu arrived at the restaurant, he rushed to greet his grandparents.

    Since his grandparents had passed away early and Ge Shengming''s family was relatively poor, his grandparents were especially fond of this nephew, so Ge Dongxu had always been particularly close to his grandparents since he was young.

    "This Suying really is a daughter married off, like spilled water. Her home is just a short distance away, yet she is always the last to arrive every year. But my little nephew here, he came running from Baiyun Mountain early in the morning to greet us!" First, the grandparents complained about their eldest daughter, then they held Ge Dongxu by the hand, praising him repeatedly.

    "Why wouldn''t he come early? He gets a red envelope to take home every year!" Aunt Liang Zhen muttered from the side, her face showing a hint of disdain and dissatisfaction.

    It turned out that because their youngest daughter''s family was a bit poorer, even though the elders accepted the red envelopes from Xu Suya''s family every year for New Year''s greetings, they actually gave back more in return. The amount given to Ge Dongxu, their little nephew, was always more substantial secretly, fearing that he would suffer.

    Aunt Liang Zhen was petty-minded and always felt that the old man was giving his own money to outsiders.

    Upon hearing this, Xu Zheming quickly elbowed Liang Zhen and whispered, "Keep it down."

    "It''s true! You give elders money every year, and he doesn''t even spend it himself but uses it for his daughter instead. What sense does that make? Is it that easy to earn money?" Instead of calming Liang Zhen, Xu Zheming''s comment ignited her temper.

    This time Liang Zhen''s voice was a bit loud and everyone in the house heard it. Both elders pulled a face but didn''t say anything, pretending they hadn''t heard. On one hand, what Liang Zhen said was true and the elders were indeed biased in this matter, and on the other hand, Liang Zhen came from a well-off family, and her father had been a minor official in the town; marrying into the Xu Family was considered elevating the Xu Family''s status, so the elders often had to give way to their older daughter-in-law.

    "We''re all family, why do you have to be so nitpicky?" The eldest uncle said angrily as his face began to show he was unable to maintain his composure.

    "Even real brothers settle accounts clearly, where did I speak wrong?" Liang Zhen argued back unremittingly.

    "Mom, it''s Chinese New Year, can you say less?" Xu Jirong, Ge Dongxu''s older cousin, said embarrassedly while holding Liang Zhen''s hand.

    "Hehe, Jirong''s right. It''s Chinese New Year; having a harmonious gathering is the most important. Let''s all hold back a bit, just a bit!" Xu Zhewei and his wife, the hosts, usually close with Ge Dongxu''s family, quickly came out smiling to smooth things over.

    "Hmph, it''s nothing really? I was just chatting casually, and your older brother acts as if I''m bullying his sister-in-law." Liang Zhen said.

    Actually, such incidents happened more or less every year, so Ge Dongxu had no fondness for this aunt, but out of respect for his uncle, he as a junior didn''t react on the spot. Ge Shengming and his wife also had to consider the feelings of the elder brother, and knowing that they could not contribute much financially to the elders in previous years, the elders had pitied them, subsidizing them instead. When Ge Shengming opened his family inn, the elders had even secretly sponsored it. So, Liang Zhen''s words weren''t entirely baseless, but they were overly scrupulous, hence the couple did not confront her directly but only exchanged glances. Then Xu Suya walked up to the elders, handed them a thick red envelope, and said, "Dad, Mom, you have been helping us all these years, and Shengming and I have not fulfilled our filial duties. This year our situation is not bad, please accept this red envelope and don''t give us anything in return."

    ps: Didn''t achieve three targets, but still fiercely managed to achieve two alone, this is the sixth update, with the seventh coming later. That should be commended, right? I deeply appreciate the support from all readers, thank you very much.

 Chapter 86 Cousins Job [7th update, recommendation ticket]

    The old man took the red envelope and saw how thick it was, surely holding at least five or six thousand. He hurriedly said, "What are you doing? This isn''t how you should give living support money, and besides, Dongxu is attending high school now, and his annual tuition and living expenses are significant. In a couple more years, he''ll need to attend university, and that will be a major expense. You should keep this money for yourselves.""Dad, we have the money for Dongxu''s university. Take this money and buy whatever you want. Don''t hesitate to spend it," Xu Suya said as her eyes reddened slightly when she saw her father reluctant to accept the money.

    "Mom and Dad, since Suya is so filial, you should just accept it!" Liang Zhen spoke from the side.

    "You..." Finally, the two elders couldn''t help but glare at Liang Zhen.

    "Mom and Dad, my sister-in-law is right. Just take it. We still have tens of thousands in our account, so you don''t have to worry about Dongxu''s university in the future," Ge Shengming hurriedly stepped forward and said as he saw the situation.

    The elders, seeing that their son-in-law had also spoken up, reluctantly accepted the money to avoid hurting his pride. They thought to themselves that they would find a time to return the money privately later.

    And Liang Zhen''s face revealed a trace of disdain, clearly not believing Ge Shengming''s words and suspecting it was just for show.

    However, Xu Zheming and his son Xu Jirong, seeing that because of their mother''s insistence, Ge Shengming and his wife had to make a public stance, felt somewhat embarrassed. The younger generation cared even more about these things. Xu Jirong deliberately ignored his mother and went to Ge Dongxu instead, draping an arm over his shoulder and asking, "Dongxu, I heard you got into Changxi First High School this year. You''re way better than us cousins."

    "Cousin, you''re amazing too. Grandpa said you performed really well in the army and even received praise from the leaders," Ge Dongxu said with a smile. Although he was irritated with his aunt, he still felt close to this older cousin, often following him around like a shadow setting off firecrackers during the New Year when he was younger.

    "Seems like after getting into Changxi First High School, you''ve started talking like an adult," Uncle Xu Zhewei said with a laugh.

    "Of course, getting into Changxi First High School means one foot is already in the door of a university! It looks like our Xu family is going to have a university student," Uncle Xu Zhebo said.

    "University graduates aren''t as highly valued as before. In the past, graduates were guaranteed jobs, and even their education was funded by the state. But now, not only do they have to pay their own way, our Jiangnan Province has stopped guaranteeing job placements from this year. When Dongxu graduates from university, finding a job might itself be a challenge," Liang Zhen said, annoyed at seeing her son, Xu Zhewei, and the others praising Ge Dongxu, as if they were stealing her limelight, and couldn''t help but throw cold water on the discussion.

    "That''s different. Graduates from key universities are still highly sought after. Dongxu does well in school, and he''s bound to get into a key university," the grandfather said.

    "Dongxu might be doing well in our town, but all those who got into Changxi First High School were the top students from their respective schools. Once he''s there, he''ll just be average," Liang Zhen continued to dampen the spirits.

    "Who says Dongxu will be average at Changxi First High School? This year, he ranked fifth in his class and thirty-second in his year group," Xu Suya, no longer able to contain herself after hearing her sister-in-law belittle her son like that and out of respect for her brother, jumped in and said.

    "Really? If Dongxu maintains this performance, he''s definitely heading for a key university," the uncles said, their eyes lighting up upon hearing this.

    "Haha, that''s great!" The grandfather laughed heartily, pleased.

    The second aunt and third aunt also joined in, praising Ge Dongxu for being sensible and doing well in his studies. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After everyone had sung Ge Dongxu''s praises for a while, noticing that Liang Zhen looked somewhat displeased and remembering she was someone who really cared about saving face, they began to ask about Xu Jirong''s situation.

    "Right, Jirong, didn''t you transfer from the military to a civilian job this year? How has that worked out?"

    "There are actually several units interested in taking him in, all state-owned enterprises and institutions, but I always felt it would be better to get into a government department." Seeing everyone asking about Xu Jirong, a trace of radiance and evident pride finally began to surface on Liang Zhen''s face as she spoke. Experience exclusive tales on empire

    "Actually, state-owned enterprises and institutions are quite good. Many people are banging their heads against the wall trying to get in," Xu Zhebo remarked.

    "That''s right! After all, it''s a public-sector job, an iron rice bowl! This way, your entire family will all be on the public payroll, which is pretty remarkable, and you''ll all get pensions when you retire. Unlike us in business, we might make a bit this year, but who knows if we''ll lose or earn next year. When we get old, we have to rely on our children, unlike you guys, who are taken care of by the state; how cool is that!" Xu Zhewei and others also chimed in one after the other.

    "What are you talking about, it''s all just fixed salary, guaranteed income regardless of the weather, guaranteed income regardless of the weather," Liang Zhen said modestly with a wave of her hand, but anyone could read the pride and conceit on her face.

    "Sister-in-law, you''re being too modest now," Xu Zhewei and the others laughed and said.

    "Go on, who''s being modest with you guys." Liang Zhen rolled her eyes at Xu Zhewei and the others and said reproachfully.

    "Who''s being modest?" Just as Liang Zhen''s words fell, a woman''s voice was heard, none other than Ge Dongxu''s Aunt Xu Suying, who came in with her husband and daughter.

    "We were talking about the sister-in-law!" said Xu Zhewei.

    "Does the sister-in-law ever have a moment of modesty?" Xu Suying said with a smile.

    "Suying, are you asking for a beating? Today you''re going to clear things up for me, when have I ever not been modest?" Liang Zhen stepped forward with her hand raised as if to hit Xu Suying.

    "Okay, okay, my mistake. The sister-in-law is always very modest," Xu Suying said, still laughing as she quickly stepped aside.

    Xu Suying''s circumstances were much better than her sister Xu Suya''s. She had gone to a technical secondary school and upon graduation was assigned to the supply and marketing cooperative in Xiyuan Town. Although the cooperative was merely a public institution directly under the government and not considered a power structure within the town government, its benefits and treatment were quite acceptable. Xu Suya''s husband, Jin Yimin, was also a technical secondary school graduate. After his graduation, he was assigned to an office at the Xiyuan Town government. Although he was just a clerical official there, after all he worked in a government office, which meant decent benefits and a respectable social status.

    Liang Zhen was a rather status-conscious woman, and since Xu Suying and her husband were both on the public payroll, just like Liang Zhen and her husband, she tended to be closer to Xu Suying''s family.

    Seeing Xu Suying''s allusive words, Liang Zhen remained unconvinced, and finally Xu Suying had to think fast and change the subject, saying: "Right, I heard you talking about some job matters just now, was it about Jirong? Has his work transfer from the military been settled yet?"

    "There are a few potential units, but they''re all state-owned enterprises. I think it''s best to get him transferred to a government office, but my dad retired early, and he doesn''t hold much sway now, so it''s quite difficult. Oh, right, Suying, I heard you were in the same class as the wife of Director Zuo back in elementary school, do you think you could help me have a word with her?" Liang Zhen said, her eyes suddenly lighting up with hope.

    PS: This is the seventh update, I can''t type any more. That''s all for today. In order to have this burst of updates, I didn''t rest over the weekend, and because of the burst, the word count will soon exceed the requirements for the new book rankings on Qidian. At most, I can only support one more day, then it will fall off the Qidian new book rankings. The best performance of this book in the Qidian new book rankings so far is fourth place in the new book general list, and first place in the urban new book rankings. I am very grateful for the support from all the readers.

 Chapter 87 Director Zuo Has Arrived

    "Which Director Zuo are you talking about?" Xu Suying asked, slightly startled."Which other Director Zuo? Of course, the current Standing Committee member of the County Party and Director of the Public Security Bureau, Zuo Le. His wife, Xu Jingfang, used to be from your Xu family village. You mentioned to me two years ago that you went to Xu family village elementary school with her and were even in the same class," Liang Zhen explained.

    Xi Yuan Town was actually just a township previously, and the town center was quite small. However, in the past few years, it gradually expanded by incorporating some surrounding villages and then reformed from a township to a town. Xu family village was a village on the edge of Xi Yuan Town before it also got merged. Naturally, all the people in Xu family village bore the surname Xu, and Zuo Le''s wife, Xu Jingfang, just happened to be from Xu family village.

    But now that the village had become a street district, naturally, people scattered, and interactions couldn''t stay as close as when living together in the same village. Moreover, because Xu family village was a large village with six to seven hundred households, it wasn''t as familiar and intimate as smaller villages. Once merged into Xi Yuan Town, the relationships became even more distant. Gradually, except for some elders who still often kept in touch and greeted each other on the street, many of the younger ones no longer recognized each other.

    However, because Xu Jingfang had married the director of the county public security bureau, her name was quite eminent around the Xi Yuan Town and Xu family village area, so when Liang Zhen mentioned her, Xu Suying recalled and smiled, "So you were talking about Xu Jingfang."

    "Yes, exactly Xu Jingfang! See if you can talk to her about our Jirong''s matter. If Director Zuo is willing to put in a word, Jirong is certain to get into a county government agency," Liang Zhen hurriedly nodded, her eyes filled with a hint of hope.

    "Zuo Le?" Ge Dongxu overheard and was momentarily stunned, wanting to interject but hesitated and closed his mouth instead.

    "That''s years ago. Besides, I was only in the same class as Xu Jingfang for two years, during the first and second grade of elementary school. Later, her father moved her to the township elementary school, and we were never in the same class again. So many years have passed, she probably doesn''t remember me! And you know, nowadays, it''s not easy to arrange someone into a government agency unless they are close relatives or friends. I definitely can''t help with this," Xu Suying hurriedly waved her hand.

    With such ancient connections, a mere employee at a supply and marketing cooperative, she dared not forge a relationship with the esteemed wife of the Standing Committee member and the director of the Public Security Bureau, let alone ask for favors.

    "Yeah, Liang Zhen, you really shouldn''t trouble Suying with this. Xu Jingfang is the wife of the county public security bureau director. What can she possibly say? I think getting into a state-owned enterprise or public institution is quite good," Xu Zheming said.

    "How is that good? Can a public institution compare to a government agency? Look at Wei Fang''s son, he''s no better than our Jirong, but his father-in-law found a leader''s connection, which got him into the county health and planning bureau. Look how boastful she''s been these past few days, bragging in front of me about how her son excels in the army, and asking about whether Jirong has secured a position yet. What am I supposed to answer? You''re a long-time employee at the transportation bureau. You''ve been honest your whole life. When it came time for you to bring a gift to your bureau leader to get your son a position in the transportation bureau, you couldn''t even manage that, and then you have the nerve to say a public institution is fine. Additionally, our Jirong has earned military service merits and fully qualifies for a government agency position. Why shouldn''t he get in?" Once Xu Zheming spoke, Liang Zhen''s words fired off like a machine gun.

    "Zheming, Jirong''s employment is not a trivial matter; it''s something that affects his whole life. I think what Liang Zhen is saying is right, you still need to find a way," Xu Guozhong, also Ge Dongxu''s grandfather, didn''t blame Liang Zhen this time but spoke up.

    In the elderly''s hearts, the grandchild''s work was naturally important.

    "Big cousin, what are your own thoughts?" Ge Dongxu, seeing the situation, was moved and asked Xu Jirong in a low voice.

    "Getting into a government agency would naturally be better, and my credentials are quite good. But it''s not as exaggerated as my mom says. Isn''t working anywhere still working?" Xu Jirong replied in a low voice.

    "I see, I''ll ask around for you another day." Seeing that his big cousin still leaned toward getting into a government agency, Ge Dongxu thought about finding a time to ask Zuo Le, but, being young, he wasn''t sure how simple or difficult these matters could be, hence he didn''t make any promises.

    "You? Okay, okay, stop causing trouble here!" Xu Jirong said irritably upon hearing this.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled and did not defend himself. He did not like to show off and he was not like some people who talk a lot before doing anything. He preferred to keep a low profile and be practical, liking to get things done before talking about them.

    "Dad, you don''t know, things are not the same as before, it''s not so easy to get into government offices now! Even our own Director of Transportation had trouble getting a relative in, and he couldn''t arrange it." While Ge Dongxu and Xu Jirong whispered, Xu Zheming bitterly responded.

    "Come on, that''s because your director''s relative is just too incompetent. Your director was afraid he''d embarrass himself by hiring him, that''s why he didn''t arrange it. He is just using that as an excuse to fob you off, and you actually fell for it? I don''t believe for a second that a Transportation Director couldn''t arrange something for a relative," Liang Zhen scoffed.

    Xu Zheming actually knew that what Liang Zhen said was true, but he too needed an excuse to save face and respond to his father. Now that his wife had blown his cover, he could only awkwardly shake his head, at a loss for a response. Experience new stories on empire

    "Bro, I think you should visit your director more often, or maybe give a little more in gifts. In today''s world, nothing gets done without gifts!" The younger brother, Xu Zhebo, who had been more active in business over the years, knew the importance of gift-giving in getting things done and thus spoke up.

    Xu Zheming fell silent upon hearing this.

    "Look at you, just look at you, what should I even say about him? He''s just got this lifeless attitude; marrying him is just asking for trouble!" Liang Zhen pointed at Xu Zheming and complained.

    "Alright, alright, big sister-in-law, don''t talk about big brother like that. Didn''t you marry him for that very temperament?" Xu Suying came out to mediate.

    "Well, I never expected he would be this honest, like giving gifts is as bad as killing him!" Liang Zhen retorted unapologetically.

    "Mom, just tone it down, I think it''s the same with public institutions," Xu Jirong finally couldn''t resist speaking up in defense of his father.

    "You father and son are cut from the same cloth! It''s so infuriating..." Liang Zhen pointed at the two and said angrily, but mid-sentence, her eyes suddenly lit up, and she quickly grabbed Xu Suying by the arm, pointing toward the entrance of the restaurant, "Suying, look, look, isn''t that Director Zuo and Xu Jingfang''s family? They''ve also come here to dine. This is a great opportunity; you must go and acknowledge your classmate."

    It turned out that Xu Jingfang was also returning to her parents'' home for a New Year visit today. Since Zuo Le is now a standing committee member of the county party and the Director of Public Security, his status is extraordinary. On the one hand, Xu Jingfang''s family felt it would be too shabby to invite them to eat at home, and on the other hand, they were motivated by vanity to show off their son-in-law, so they took their daughter, son-in-law, and the whole family to the Xu family restaurant.

    Xu Family Restaurant, though not a large hotel in Xiyuan Town, is clean and elegantly decorated, situated right at the center of the former Xu She Village. Generally, when people from Xu She Village have festivals or celebrations and host dinners, they prefer to come here.

    ps: The new book needs your support, whether it be favorites, clicks, recommendations, rewards, or comments, please leave them all! Thank you.

    S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 88 Ge Dongxu Loses His Temper [Seeking Recommendation Votes]

    "Elder sister, please don''t make it difficult for me, going to establish connections during the New Year, what if Xu Jingfang says she doesn''t know me? Wouldn''t that be embarrassing?" Xu Suying said with a troubled face."What''s there to be embarrassed about? After all, you were classmates once," Liang Zhen said.

    "But that was so many years ago, and besides, she is the wife of the county public security bureau director!" Xu Suying said.

    "It''s precisely because she is the wife of the county public security bureau director that you need to establish a connection," Liang Zhen said.

    "Enough, Liang Zhen, even if Xu Suying does establish a connection, Chief Zuo certainly won''t intervene on behalf of our family for Jirong," Xu Zheming said, finding himself unable to do anything but speak up as Liang Zhen pressured his sister. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Fine then, if Suying won''t go, you go yourself. After all, you''re from the same village," Liang Zhen said with a roll of her eyes.

    "That''s from who knows how many years ago; moreover, their family was from the front village, and our family was from the back village, a good distance away, so there was hardly any interaction," Xu Zheming said with a pained expression.

    "No matter what, when it comes to getting things done and finding connections, you always have an excuse. If you''re not going to go, then let''s just have dad go. He is an elder from the village; Xu Jingfang''s parents will definitely recognize him," Liang Zhen said angrily.

    "Enough, Liang Zhen, today I''ll give face to my uncle and cousin. I''ll go over to Chief Zuo now to greet him and see if my cousin''s issue can be resolved. If he can handle it, he will definitely help you. If he can''t, there''s no use in uncle asking either." Ge Dongxu, having seen his aunt repeatedly make things difficult for his uncle, even now dragging his grandfather into this situation, had no respect for his elders left. Added to this, the numerous times she had humiliated his own parents, he couldn''t stand it any longer and stood up to speak, even ditching the honorifics in addressing her out of frustration.

    "Suya, Shengming, is this how you teach your child? What kind of attitude is this? What attitude?" Liang Zhen, seeing Ge Dongxu address her by name, immediately pointed at Suya and Shengming with an iron-blue face and demanded.

    "You child, how can you speak to your aunt like that? Apologize to your aunt now!" Xu Suya and Ge Shengming, both startled by Ge Dongxu''s sudden display of assertiveness, quickly grabbed his hand and scolded.

    "Mom, Dad, I know exactly what I''m saying. Since she never truly sees us as family, why should I respect her? I''m going to see Chief Zuo today, but it''s only for the sake of my uncle and cousin; it has nothing to do with her," Ge Dongxu, who had always been a very obedient child and never lost his temper with anyone, confessed, but once he did get angry, he was unstoppable. That was the situation now.

    "You''re going to see Chief Zuo? Listen to this, listen! This young kid is actually saying he''s going to see Chief Zuo, and even claiming it''s for Zheming and Jirong''s sake? How ridiculous is that! Suya, Shengming, I think no matter how much education your son gets, he''ll still be a fool!" Liang Zhen, furious to the point of absurdity, scoffed disdainfully.

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    "Alright, alright, elder sister, Dongxu is just a kid, he was just talking big, are you really going to take him seriously?" The other two aunts, seeing Liang Zhen go as far as to call him a fool, quickly stepped forward to mediate.

    As for uncle Xu Zhewei, he had already left earlier to act as a greeter.

    "Fine, I''m the fool! After today''s incident with you, Liang Zhen, we will have nothing to do with each other," Ge Dongxu said forcefully as he pulled away from his parents and strode towards where Zuo Le and others had found seats in the hall, chatting and laughing.

    At that time, there were no private rooms in small places; everyone dined in the main hall.

    "This child, this child!" Although Xu Suya and Ge Shengming knew their son was not an ordinary teenager, seeing him actually go to find Chief Zuo still made them anxious enough to stamp their feet.

    In Huaxia Country, the common people always had a deep-seated belief that officials ranked higher than ordinary citizens. Xu Suya and Ge Shengming, both mere common folk, would normally regard even a police officer with great deference, let alone the county public security bureau director who oversaw the local police.

    To them, such an official was absolutely a high-ranking one!

    How could they not be frantic upon seeing their own son recklessly seeking out Director Zuo?

    "Look, look, this is all your great doing." Xu Zheming, seeing his nephew actually went to find Director Zuo, became so anxious that he pointed at Liang Zhen with trembling hands.

    "What about me? This is the brilliant son your sister raised! So foolish, I find it embarrassing!" Liang Zhen''s temper flared up at being blamed, immediately puffing out her chest and retorting.

    "You... I won''t talk to you." Xu Zheming, infuriated, finally stomped his foot violently, then shouted at Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, come over here to your uncle!"

    At this point, Xu Zheming obviously couldn''t afford to yell anymore. Should Ge Dongxu, in his scholarly indignation, really approach Director Zuo, the joke would truly be on them.

    "Dongxu?" Just having sat down, Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang jerked upright upon hearing Xu Zheming''s shout, quickly following the direction of the voice and, indeed, seeing a familiar young face. The couple immediately lit up with joy and hastily stood back up, striding towards Ge Dongxu.

    Watching Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang suddenly leave their seats to greet Ge Dongxu, Xu Zheming and the others were baffled and secretly cursed their luck.

    It was too late to stop them now!

    Just as Xu Zheming and the others were internally panicking, they witnessed a shocking scene. They saw the director stretching out his hands from afar before he even reached Ge Dongxu, appearing as if greeting a superior official coming to inspect the work.

    At this moment, Xu Zheming and the others widened their eyes. In the hall''s corridor at this moment were only Ge Dongxu and Director Zuo, with Zuo obviously reaching out his hands towards Ge Dongxu.

    Liang Zhen covered her mouth, her eyes bulging and her face suddenly flushing red.

    "Dongxu, what are you doing here too?" Zuo Le quickly took two steps forward, grabbed Ge Dongxu''s hands tightly, and asked excitedly.

    "This hotel is owned by my maternal uncle, and my maternal grandfather used to be from Xu Village." Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    "Ah, your grandfather was from Xu Village? Then we really are one family! Jingfang used to be from Xu Village too," Zuo Le said with a face full of surprise.

    "Right, where is your grandfather now? I might even know him!" Xu Jingfang stepped forward, equally surprised.

    "Over there." Ge Dongxu turned and pointed in the direction of his grandfather.

    "My eyesight isn''t so good, I think he looks somewhat familiar. Dongxu, you''ll have to lead me to greet the elderly, to pay my respects." Xu Jingfang, unable to see clearly from afar, told Ge Dongxu.

    "Sure, that works, my uncle also needs to ask Director Zuo for a little favor," Ge Dongxu said.

    "What favor? You''re being too formal, Dongxu. Besides, I heard from Lin Jinnuo that you call him ''Old Lin'' affectionately, and here you are being formal with me? Remember, I''m also a son-in-law of Xu Village, even closer to you. No, you must call me Elder Zuo, ''Director'' is too impersonal," Zuo Le laughed.

    Others might not know of Ge Dongxu''s miracles, but having experienced it firsthand, how could Zuo Le be unaware? This time, if it weren''t for Ge Dongxu, he would have not only missed out on a promotion but could have lost his life.

 Chapter 89 Seniority

    "Alright, but when you speak to my grandfather and the others later, be careful not to bring up the incident from that day. Just mention that I''ve helped you out a bit," Ge Dongxu said to Zuo Le, who nodded helplessly and then whispered in reply."I understand, I understand." Since Ge Dongxu had already given them instructions at the city hospital, both of them were clear on this, and they hurriedly nodded in agreement upon hearing his words.

    Seeing that they understood, Ge Dongxu didn''t harp on it anymore and led them toward Elder Zuo''s table.

    At this moment, Elder Zuo and the others had already stood up when they saw Ge Dongxu bringing Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang over. Liang Zhen stood up as well, but her face was flushed red, and she was constantly fidgeting with her clothes, clearly at a loss.

    She was, of course, filled with regret.

    A lifetime of opportunism, always trying to ingratiate herself with those of higher status, and to think that the person high above was actually a member of her own family, whom she had discarded like an old shoe!

    Is there anything more ironic or regretful in this world?

    "Elder Zuo, Jingfang, this is my grandfather, this is my grandmother!" Ge Dongxu introduced his grandparents to Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang first.

    Seeing a young man like Ge Dongxu calling the head of the county public security bureau ''Elder Zuo'' and directly addressing his wife by her name was enough to nearly give everyone else a heart attack.

    "Elders, we wish you a Happy New Year!" Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang quickly reached out to shake hands with the elders and respectfully kowtowed to wish them a Happy New Year, to which the two elders hurriedly responded, "You shouldn''t, you shouldn''t."

    "Elders, I am also from Xu Village, you look somewhat familiar, but I can''t recall exactly, and I don''t know how to address you?" After greeting the elders, Xu Jingfang specifically asked.

    "My name is Xu Guozhong, you may not recognize me, but I certainly recognize your grandfather; his name is Xu Guoli, correct?" Xu Guozhong replied with a smile.

    As Xu Guoli''s family had a grandson-in-law who was the head of the county public security bureau, they naturally rose in status and became well-known in Xu Village. Xu Guozhong, being of the same generation as Jingfang''s grandfather, naturally knew him.

    "Ah, then I should call you Grandpa. Grandpa Guozhong, Grandma, your granddaughter Jingfang wishes you a Happy New Year," Xu Jingfang exclaimed in surprise and then formally reiterated her New Year''s wishes to Xu Guozhong.

    "Grandpa Guozhong, Grandma, I, as a son-in-law of Xu Village, also wish you a Happy New Year," Zuo Le followed suit, calling them Grandpa and Grandma as well.

    Seeing Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang actually following the old customs and calling Xu Guozhong and his wife Grandpa and Grandma, Xu Zheming and the others were all dumbfounded.

    However, Ge Dongxu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that this way, his own calling Zuo Le ''Elder Zuo'' wouldn''t pose any problems with seniority. Otherwise, if he called him Elder Zuo, it would be awkward for him on how to address his own parents.

    Yet, Xu Guozhong and his wife hurriedly said, "What era are we in now, no need to worry about seniority, no need to worry about seniority."

    "It''s proper, it''s the right thing to do," Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang replied in a hurry.

    Seeing Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang insisting, Xu Guozhong and his wife could not say anything more, just repeatedly praising them as good people, good officials.

    Their words were filled with the simplicity of ordinary folks.

    "This is my father, Ge Shengming, and this is my mother, Xu Suya." Ge Dongxu immediately introduced his parents to Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang.

    "Uncle and Auntie, happy new year to you." Seeing that the couple were Ge Dongxu''s parents, Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang naturally did not dare to neglect them and hurriedly shook hands and exchanged New Year''s greetings.

    "Oh no, we''re actually younger than you two when it comes down to it," Ge Shengming and Xu Suya said in embarrassed haste, their faces flushed.

    Xu Jingfang had been classmates with Xu Suying, so she was naturally a bit older than Xu Suya.

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    "Hehe, since Jingfang is from the same village as you, it''s only right to follow the old traditions and not mix up the seniority," Zuo Le said.

    "That won''t do either, my parents are older, so it''s not unreasonable for you to call them grandfather and grandmother, but we really can''t accept that. Let''s just call each other by names, let''s call each other by names!" Ge Shengming said. How could he dare to accept the title of uncle from the head of the county public security bureau?

    Xu Suya was the youngest, and Xu Suying was the second youngest, so although Xu Suya was only forty years old, their parents were already seventy-six.

    "Dongxu, what do you think about this..." Zuo Le and his wife said, looking at Ge Dongxu a bit awkwardly.

    "Let''s just call each other by names; names are meant to be used. If you really go by the old traditions, that would actually make my parents seem old!" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Alright, then we''ll do as you say." In reality, Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang were not accustomed to calling Ge Shengming and his wife uncle and auntie, but on one hand, Ge Dongxu was their savior and quite an extraordinary person, and they were very grateful and respectful towards him, and it seemed like they were taking advantage of him if they were to treat his parents as equals; on the other hand, because Xu Jingfang was from the same village as Xu Suya, the generational seniority was there, which was why they addressed Ge Shengming and his wife as uncle and auntie.

    Seeing that Zuo Le and his wife even sought Ge Dongxu''s opinion on such a matter, and only dared to change the way they addressed his parents after he had spoken, the Xu family were all inwardly shocked and terrified, unsure of the exact relationship between Ge Dongxu and the Zuo couple and why Zuo Le, the head of the county public security bureau, was so respectful towards a young man.

    Of course, the one with the most complicated feelings at the time had to be Liang Zhen, who regretted her actions so much she almost wished to smash her head against a wall.

    After introducing his parents, Ge Dongxu then introduced his three uncles and two aunts to Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang, deliberately omitting Liang Zhen.

    This left Liang Zhen mortified, but she knew it was a situation of her own making and had nowhere to vent her anger. Naturally, even the head of the county public security bureau respected Ge Dongxu so highly that she, with her mercenary nature, would absolutely not dare to lose her temper at him. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After the introduction, Xu Jingfang''s relatives, also curious, came over.

    Xu Jingfang''s parents were quite old, senior villagers of Xu village, and did recognize Xu Guozhong and his wife. In the past, because they had a son-in-law who was the head of the county public security bureau, they held themselves in high regard in the village, but seeing their daughter and son-in-law addressing them so respectfully as grandfather and grandmother, they naturally could not keep up any pretense and pleasantly caught up with old times.

    As they were all from the same village, this catching up fostered deeper emotional connections, so that in the end, at Zuo Le''s suggestion, the two families simply decided to dine together at the New Year banquet.

    Given Zuo Le''s prestigious status, he should have sat at the same table as the elders, including Xu Guoli, and also take the seat of honor, while the younger generation and the women would have separate tables. Being part of the younger generation, Ge Dongxu would naturally sit with his cousins and his aunts. But with Ge Dongxu and his elders there, Zuo Le did not feel it was his place to take the seat of honor and insisted on arranging the seating according to the village''s seniority. Eventually, Xu Zhebo, who did business outside, had the foresight to recognize that the key lay with Ge Dongxu.

    Therefore, he suggested that Ge Dongxu be seated at the main table, not with his cousins, and arranged for him to sit next to Zuo Le, who then accepted the arrangement.

    PS: Three chapters completed today, please continue to support me, thank you.

 Chapter 90 Apology [Seeking Recommendation Votes]

    During the banquet, everyone naturally wondered how Zuo Le had come to know Ge Dongxu. Zuo Le explained lightly, mentioning only that Ge Dongxu had helped him before but didn''t specify the nature of the help.Zuo Le, being the head of the county public security bureau, didn''t elaborate, and even his father-in-law didn''t press him, thinking he could only ask his daughter privately later. The Xu Family, along with Ge Shengming, harbored the same idea, planning to ask Ge Dongxu after the banquet.

    Thus, no one brought up the matter again during the banquet, which secretly relieved Ge Dongxu.

    Through the course of the meal, except for the uncle''s family who felt particularly conflicted, especially Liang Zhen, everyone else was quite happy.

    With Ge Dongxu''s connection, Aunt Xu Suying and Xu Jingfang rekindled their old classmates'' relationship and even reminisced about some childhood incidents.

    Zuo Le, having worked his way up to head of the county public security bureau, acted with caution. Seeing that there were many people around, he didn''t bring up the matter Ge Dongxu had mentioned earlier until everyone had finished and Zuo Le had found an opportunity to pull him aside and asked, "By the way, you mentioned earlier that your uncle needed to see me. What''s the matter?"

    "It''s about my older cousin. He''s transitioning from military service this year, and he''s very well-qualified. I heard he even received commendations in the military," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Ah, that matter. No problem. What kind of organization does your cousin wish to join?" Zuo Le asked, feeling relieved upon hearing this. At his Level, relatives and friends often asked him for favors. While he could refuse others, he definitely found it hard to refuse Ge Dongxu. He had been genuinely worried that Ge Dongxu might pose a difficult request. Now, knowing it was a straightforward enlistment made him worry less.

    The local government naturally has the duty to arrange for military personnel transitioning to civilian careers, and since Ge Dongxu''s cousin had also been commended in the military, he would be given priority. Such matters are challenging for minor officials, but for an officer of Zuo Le''s level, it was merely a matter of facilitating the process; it was hardly a hassle at all.

    "Are you sure it''s no problem? My cousin wants to join a government agency. Don''t feel obliged on my account. If it can be done, do it; if not, he could also work in a public institution," Ge Dongxu stated upon hearing this.

    "Handling the placement of military personnel transitioning to civilian roles is a basic government duty. Besides, your cousin has commendations, so joining a government agency is not a problem at all. If he wants to join the public security bureau, I can make that decision right now. However, if he wants to go elsewhere, I will still need to make some inquiries, but it''s all manageable," Zuo Le replied with ease.

    "I think I''ll call my cousin and my uncle over so he can talk to you directly about his situation. You can then ask him personally and decide," Ge Dongxu said.

    "That works too," Zuo Le replied, appreciating Ge Dongxu''s thoughtful and thorough approach to matters.

    Although Zuo Le was grateful to Ge Dongxu for saving his life and respected his extraordinary abilities, he would have found it troublesome if Ge Dongxu had continually approached him without adhering to principles.

    Now, it seemed that despite his young age, Ge Dongxu handled matters methodically and was not like some who didn''t understand the importance of restraint.

    So, Ge Dongxu then called over Xu Zheming and Xu Jirong. As for Liang Zhen, Ge Dongxu naturally did not call her.

    However, Liang Zhen shamelessly followed along. Seeing Liang Zhen join them, Ge Dongxu didn''t say anything. Even though he was reluctant to acknowledge her as his aunt, he could not change the fact of their familial relationship.

    To have reached the positions of a standing committee member of the county committee and the director of the county public security bureau, Zuo Le naturally had a high EQ. Seeing that Ge Dongxu didn''t seem to like his big aunt, he did not go out of his way to greet her, but instead politely greeted Xu Zheming and then kindly inquired about some situations regarding Xu Jirong.

    Xu Jirong''s credentials were indeed impressive, and even Zuo Le had a moment of appreciation for his talents as he smiled and said, "In that case, personally, I would like you to come to the Public Security Bureau. If you''re willing, after the New Year, I will have the personnel bureau transfer your file to the county Public Security Bureau. However, if you wish to go to other departments, like the county committee, the procuratorial organs, or the tax bureau, you will have to wait until after the New Year. I need to speak with the leaders of these departments and confirm before you can go. Of course, with your credentials, there shouldn''t really be any issues."

    "This young man has always wanted to be a police officer since he was young. He chose to join the military because he didn''t get accepted into the police academy. It would be best if he could go to the Public Security Bureau," Liang Zhen interjected before Xu Zheming and Xu Jirong could express their thoughts, hurriedly replying on their behalf. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Liang Zhen, being such a pragmatic person, was well aware of the advantage having Ge Dongxu as a connection could bring. She knew her son would definitely be able to advance steadily in his career at the county Public Security Bureau with just a little effort, as it had always been a powerful department in Huaxia Country. Many people were desperate to get in and could not. Even without the connections of Ge Dongxu and Zuo Le, it was one of the departments Liang Zhen most wanted her son to join.

    "What do you think, Jirong?" Zuo Le, ignoring Liang Zhen''s opinion, smiled and asked Xu Jirong.

    "Thank you, Director Zuo, I really want to join the Public Security Bureau," Xu Jirong said excitedly.

    "Since that''s the case, after government departments officially resume work on the seventh day of the first lunar month, come to the director''s office at the county Public Security Bureau to find me," Zuo Le said. Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire

    "Thank you, Director Zuo, thank you, Director Zuo," the Xu family, including Xu Zheming, expressed their thanks excitedly.

    "No need to thank me. Jirong is Dongxu''s cousin and so outstanding, I would definitely help," Zuo Le smiled and said.

    Zuo Le''s words made Xu Zheming and his family feel somewhat uneasy, especially Liang Zhen, whose face turned bright red. She looked at Ge Dongxu, wanting to speak but not knowing how to start.

    Seeing that Xu Zheming and his family seemed to have something to say to Ge Dongxu, Zuo Le smiled, greeted Ge Dongxu, mentioned meeting again after the New Year, and then took his leave.

    After Zuo Le and others had left, the restaurant was left with only the Xu family and their two sons-in-law''s families.

    The atmosphere, which no one could tell when it had started, suddenly became subtle.

    Ge Dongxu still chose to ignore Liang Zhen, but after hesitating for a long time, Liang Zhen, with a red face, walked up to Ge Dongxu and said, "Dongxu, it was all my fault in the past, can you forgive your aunt?''

    "To tell the truth, as a junior, whatever you scold me or say about me, I can endure it. But you shouldn''t repeatedly bully my parents or fail to show respect for my grandfather and big uncle in front of so many people. Also, aunt, it would be good if you could temper your temper a bit, otherwise, sooner or later, it''s going to hurt you." Although they were family, the harsh words Ge Dongxu had just said were spur of the moment due to anger. Besides, Liang Zhen was ultimately his aunt. Considering the respect for their familial relationship, now seeing Liang Zhen admitting her faults, he felt he could not continue to ignore her, and again addressed her as aunt.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu addressing Liang Zhen as aunt again, for some reason, everyone felt a great sense of relief, almost as if the anger of this junior, Ge Dongxu, made the older generations feel somewhat scared.

    ps: Will continue with updates in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Please continue to support, and many thanks.

 Chapter 91 Visiting

    "Yes, yes, you''re right. I really should have kept my mouth shut, and from now on, I definitely won''t act that way anymore." Liang Zhen truly experienced today the consequences her snobbish attitude had brought upon herself. Fortunately, Ge Dongxu ultimately spoke up for her son on account of her husband and son''s sakes, otherwise, her son''s future would have been ruined because of her big mouth, which is why Liang Zhen kept nodding and admitting her faults as soon as she heard what was said.Afterward, Liang Zhen specifically offered Xu Suya and Ge Shengming a formal apology, which took Xu Suya and Ge Shengming somewhat aback as they were not used to such manners, but deep down they felt quite gratified.

    After apologizing to Xu Suya and Ge Shengming, Liang Zhen also made a point of pouring a cup of tea for Ge Dongxu''s paternal grandparents with great respect.

    There was no choice, with someone as influential as Ge Dongxu around, Liang Zhen was well aware that if she dared to show disrespect to the elderly couple, her family could forget about asking him for favors in the future.

    Thanks to Liang Zhen''s sincere attitude in admitting her mistake, the family quickly resumed their jolly atmosphere, chatting and laughing together.

    Find adventures at empire

    During this time, the elders couldn''t help but inquire curiously about how Ge Dongxu came to know Zuo Le.

    "Actually, there''s nothing much to it. I just lent Zuo Le a hand by chance one time," Ge Dongxu scratched his head, seeming rather embarrassed as he replied.

    The aunts were all the type who couldn''t keep their mouths shut, and since he was a younger family member and also relatively young, even if he warned them not to go around spreading rumors, there was no guarantee they could contain themselves. So, he simply stuck with his original, vague and general answer.

    Times had changed, and Ge Dongxu''s standing in the Xu Family was now quite exceptional. Seeing that he genuinely didn''t wish to discuss it, and considering that the matter also involved Chief Zuo, they were also worried that there might be some secret that was inconvenient to disclose. Therefore, no one pressed further, except for Ge Shengming and his wife, who glared at their son sternly in private, their intentions clear as day. You''re still keeping secrets from us? Just wait, we''ll deal with you once we get home.

    Thus, the matter ended up being pushed aside, which greatly relieved Ge Dongxu. As for his parents, he knew he couldn''t keep it hidden from them. If they asked him about it when they got home, he would certainly have to come clean.

    However, contrary to Ge Dongxu''s expectations, upon returning home, his parents didn''t mention a word about Zuo Le, which made Ge Dongxu feel rather awkward. Finally, before dinner, he took the initiative to say, "Dad, Mom, why didn''t you ask me about Zuo Le''s matter?"

    "My son has grown up; he should have his own secrets. As long as we know you wouldn''t do anything bad, that''s enough," Xu Suya said while patting Ge Dongxu''s head.

    "Heh, I''m your son, what secrets could I possibly have? I was mainly concerned about the aunts'' gossiping, hence the lack of details. But there are no secrets between us. Anything I can say to them, I can say to you." Ge Dongxu laughed and then briefly mentioned Zuo Le''s situation, of course skimming over many details and presenting it lightly, to prevent alarming his parents. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After all, his parents were just ordinary folks.

    "You did the right thing. Although your master instructed you to keep a low profile and not draw attention, good officials like Chief Zuo, who are unnoticed, may be passed by, but since we''re aware of him, we must lend a helping hand when needed. And the fact that you didn''t make a fuss afterwards puts our minds at ease. In the future, as long as you''re confident in your actions, your parents won''t pry, and you don''t have to explain things to us specially," Ge Shengming and his wife said with heartfelt approval, finally fully realizing that their son had grown up, was stable and calm like an adult, and no longer needed their concern.

    "Thank you, I feel truly blessed to have both of you!" Ge Dongxu said, deeply moved by his parents'' understanding and support.

    "You silly boy!" Xu Suya said with teary eyes as she stroked Ge Dongxu''s head, while Ge Shengming stealthily turned his face away and pinched his nose.

    ...

    Time spent with parents at home passed quickly, and soon it was already the tenth day of the first lunar month.

    On this day, the eldest uncle''s family brought some gifts and made a special trip to their house. The aunt had even bought Xu Suya a jade bracelet, which was something unimaginable in previous years.

    This year, the aunt''s unusual behavior indeed made the Ge Shengming couple feel unexpectedly honored.

    Besides bringing gifts, Liang Zhen also busied herself helping Xu Suya in the kitchen, and no matter how much Xu Suya tried to dissuade her, she wouldn''t leave.

    Of course, there are few acts of love without reason, and few instances of enthusiasm without cause. Liang Zhen''s warmth came naturally because she pinned her hopes on Ge Dongxu, considering her son had entered the Public Security Bureau. She also knew that Zuo Le''s respectful attitude towards Dongxu meant that a word from Dongxu might weigh more than a hundred acts by her son. Not only her son, but including herself and Xu Zheming, could be within the influence of Zuo Le, a standing committee member of the county party committee. If she could build a good relationship with Dongxu, it would naturally be convenient to ask for his help in the future.

    Especially since Xu Zheming was a long-time employee of the Transportation Bureau, having worked hard and honestly for most of his life, and was still just an ordinary employee, Liang Zhen naturally felt a bit discontented. Now that she had such an exceptional nephew, of course she wanted to cultivate a good relationship.

    "Dongxu, speaking of it, I really feel ashamed as your eldest uncle! All these years, I''ve been suppressed by your aunt. Now, thanks to your blessing, I''ve finally become my own master," said Xu Zheming as he watched Liang Zhen and Xu Suya bustling about the kitchen, and he looked at Ge Dongxu with deep emotion.

    "Eldest uncle is just being considerate of family harmony and doesn''t want to argue with the aunt; otherwise, how could she have the upper hand over you?" Ge Dongxu said.

    "Haha, that''s right, that''s right. You, my boy, have the gift of gab!" The eldest uncle beamed at Ge Dongxu''s words, feeling his backbone straighten quite a bit.

    "It''s not that I have the gift of gab, it''s just the truth. You are my uncle, and how could I not understand your nature? You are just being accommodating!" Ge Dongxu said with a chuckle, complimenting him again.

    "Haha, alright, alright, no need to flatter your uncle anymore. If you keep it up, I''m going to blush. Actually, sometimes your aunt is right too. I''m just like this; sometimes I can''t even muster a fart for half a day. Like giving gifts to our bureau chief, I''m really not cut out for that sort of thing," Xu Zheming said.

    "Life is very short, uncle, don''t force yourself too much. If you think something is right, go for it. If you think it''s wrong, at your age, why bother changing your principles of life and live with regrets?" Ge Dongxu said earnestly.

    Upon hearing this, Xu Zheming looked at Ge Dongxu, stunned, then gave him a hearty pat on the shoulder and said nothing.

    On that day, Xu Zheming''s mood was exceptionally good, and he drank quite a bit of alcohol. It was unclear whether it was because his son had found a good job or because of Ge Dongxu''s earlier words that made him feel like he had found a kindred spirit, or perhaps it was both.

    PS: If you have time, don''t forget to leave a comment to show your support, comments can also gather popularity, thank you.

 Chapter 92 Preparing to Rebuild the House

    School resumed after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, so a few days after the visit from his uncle''s family, Ge Dongxu packed his things and returned to the county town.Because he had an extra income of seventy-five thousand at the end of last year, not only did Ge Dongxu''s bank account not decrease after buying those four houses, but it actually increased by more than fifty thousand. Therefore, before returning to the county town, Ge Dongxu insisted on leaving twenty thousand for his parents so they could spend more freely.

    Originally, before purchasing the four houses, Ge Dongxu had one hundred and twenty thousand in his bank account. Then, including the house payment and various fees, he spent about twenty thousand. After earning seventy-five thousand at the end of the year and leaving behind twenty thousand, his account balance was around one hundred and fifty-five thousand. As for the factory rent, it was payable annually and was not a significant amount, so Ge Dongxu let the factory keep it to pay him later.

    Even though there were one hundred and fifty thousand in the bank, Ge Dongxu wanted to demolish the four dilapidated houses and rebuild them as soon as possible. But remembering that the crack in the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade was becoming more obvious and its effect not as good as before, he estimated it would break down within a month at most. Now with only fifty-four jade tokens left, although he had improved his cultivation power and his proficiency in talisman drawing, the chance of successfully crafting a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade with fifty-four jade tokens was still very slim. Therefore, he didn''t dare to touch the one hundred and fifty thousand for the time being, and the four dilapidated houses had to remain as they were.

    For the first few days of school, Ge Dongxu did not meet Dong Yuxin on his way to school, which puzzled him. So he took the opportunity during the class break to go upstairs and look for her.

    He found out that Dong Yuxin had moved at the beginning of the year to a house closer to school. This fact made Ge Dongxu feel a bit dejected. Not because Dong Yuxin moved away and that it would be hard to commute with her, but because it had been several days, and she hadn''t mentioned it to him until he asked about it.

    Perhaps it was because senior year and college entrance exam preparation were so intense. Ge Dongxu made excuses for Dong Yuxin in his heart, but no matter what, he couldn''t help feeling somewhat disheartened.

    However, the mood of young people changes quickly, and especially for a cultivator like Ge Dongxu, his disposition was naturally broad-minded. He quickly put aside this disheartening matter and focused on his studies and cultivation. As for the Yaxu Trademark Factory, there was no need for him, a shareholder, to worry. He simply had to sit back and collect the money. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In this way, more than half a month of school quickly passed.

    The cracks in the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade became more apparent, and its effectiveness worsened. Knowing the talisman jade wouldn''t last much longer, Ge Dongxu had no choice but to take the jade tokens and begin the extravagant effort of crafting a new Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade all over again.

    Because his cultivation power and skill in talisman drawing had improved during this period, he could craft six talisman jades per day instead of the previous five. Of course, this also meant he was spending more money daily than before.

    Today was the ninth day that Ge Dongxu had been crafting the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade, which meant he only had the last six jade tokens left.

    After today, he would have to go to the Provincial Capital to purchase more jade tokens.

    Thinking that after today''s failure, he would have to buy more jade tokens, leaving his pockets empty, Ge Dongxu felt a twinge of pain in his heart.

    These days, money comes quickly and goes just as quickly!

    One, two, three, four; when he reached the fifth one, Ge Dongxu actually succeeded.

    This time, he had managed to craft a Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade with only fifty-three jade tokens.

    "Haha!" In the dead of night, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but crack a happy smile. If he were to calculate based on the success rate of the last time, this time he had saved a whopping one hundred and sixty to seventy thousand!

    Of course, Ge Dongxu knew that the high success rate this time was not only due to his improved cultivation power and proficiency in Talisman Drawing, but also due to a great deal of luck, so it would be hard to say for the next time.

    Nonetheless, this success had saved him a lot of money, and with it, he no longer had to worry about the Jade Talisman matter for at least the next two or three months. As a result, his funds had become much more flexible.

    "It seems that this weekend, I can ask Uncle Cheng to help me check out those four old houses to see if he can find a reliable construction team to help me tear down and rebuild the old houses." With some extra cash on hand, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but think about those old homes again.

    Ge Dongxu still wanted to move out and live alone as soon as possible, partly because of his cultivation, and partly because living with others always involved some discomfort.

    So, this weekend, Ge Dongxu didn''t go back to Ge Family Village. On one hand, he wanted to ask Cheng Yazhou for help with the house matter, and on the other hand, Zuo Le and Lin Jinnuo had asked Yue Ting to reach out to Ge Dongxu to invite him for dinner on Saturday evening, to express their thanks in person.

    Last year, close to the end-of-term exams and busy with studying, Ge Dongxu declined the invitation, but this time it would not be good to do so again, so he agreed.

    "Uncle Cheng, you seem to have been a bit off these past couple of days, not looking so well. Are you feeling unwell somewhere?" On the way to look at the houses with Cheng Yazhou, Ge Dongxu noticed that Cheng Yazhou seemed preoccupied and rather haggard, so he couldn''t help asking with concern. Enjoy new adventures from empire

    "No, I''m fine, perhaps I''ve just been tired from chasing after TV series these past few days," Cheng Yazhou replied hesitantly.

    "Then Uncle Cheng should be careful, staying up late is very harmful to one''s health," Ge Dongxu said, taking his words at face value, and then kindly reminded him.

    "Yeah, I know," Cheng Yazhou nodded, then shifted the topic to the houses and asked, "Dongxu, are you really planning to spend the money to tear down those four rooms and rebuild them?"

    "Yes, the environment here is good, with mountains in the distance and water nearby. If those four rooms were demolished, and if a two-story western-style villa of roughly two to three hundred square meters, surrounded by a garden and enclosed with walls, were built in their place, I think living here would be quite comfortable," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "It seems I can''t keep up with the ideas of your young people. However, demolishing and building a house involves a lot of procedures, and finding a trustworthy construction team is also an issue; it can''t be rushed. Of course, the cost will surely be substantial; you should be mentally prepared," said Cheng Yazhou, who knew that Ge Dongxu always had his own strong opinions and didn''t try to persuade him further this time.

    "I''m aware of that, but being too young, I don''t understand these matters, and since I''m still studying, it''s not convenient for me to deal with these things. I''ll still need to trouble Uncle Cheng to handle this for me," Ge Dongxu stated.

    "That''s no problem, even if you hadn''t mentioned it, I would definitely have stepped in to help you. As for the specific costs, I don''t know at the moment; we''d need to ask a construction team to find out. But if we want something decent, a price of three to four hundred per square meter is probably to be expected; add on the costs of decoration and the garden, it''s probably going to be around one hundred and eighty to ninety thousand," Cheng Yazhou nodded, then gave a rather uncertain estimate.

    In the countryside, building a house didn''t cost much money. If people knew that it cost one hundred and eighty to ninety thousand to build a house in the countryside, they would certainly believe it was an act of a spendthrift madman. But Cheng Yazhou was aware of Ge Dongxu''s temperament, so naturally, he estimated it according to a high standard.

    ps: Today''s update is complete, thank you. QQ Book City and other platforms are still on the new book lists, but on Qidian platform, because we''ve hit two hundred thousand words, it was automatically withdrawn from the new book list. Since the book was first published on Genesis, Qidian side almost had no recommendation before going live, and from now on, it can only rely on Qidian readers to vote and click a lot for more visibility opportunities.

 Chapter 93 Dinner Party

    Ge Dongxu now had one hundred and fifty thousand in his account, and he was certain that the factory would also yield profits in the next two months. After some consideration, he felt that such an investment was not significant, at least not when compared to buying jade¡ªit was practically nothing.So, without any hesitation, Ge Dongxu nodded and said, "Mm, since we''re building, we naturally need to pay attention to some details. If Uncle Cheng finds a suitable construction team, I''ll need to go over the layout with him in detail."

    Ge Dongxu understood Feng Shui, and he naturally wanted to arrange a good Feng Shui setup for his own house.

    "Compared to you, I''ve realized I''ve completely turned into a poor man and a miser!" Seeing that the young man Ge Dongxu didn''t even frown when he mentioned eighteen or nineteen thousand, Cheng Yazhou couldn''t help but say with a wry smile.

    "Hehe, I''m still young with few worries. Unlike you, uncle, who has to consider Lehao''s future. Naturally, you can''t spend money as liberally as I do," said Ge Dongxu with a laugh.

    "Ah, if that kid Lehao could have half your ability, I''d wake up laughing from my sleep, and I wouldn''t need to worry about this and that," Cheng Yazhou said, shaking his head and sighing.

    Hearing this, Ge Dongxu gave an embarrassed smile and then the two of them walked around the four dilapidated rooms. Ge Dongxu roughly gestured his ideas, such as where the villa should be built, what trees to plant around it, where to dig a pond, create a rockery, and so on.

    In fact, the true essence of Feng Shui is not the superstition that people imagine. On the contrary, genuine Feng Shui creates an environment where humans can coexist harmoniously with nature, allowing one to feel comfortable in body and mind at all times. Otherwise, it''s just fake Feng Shui.

    This is actually quite easy to understand. For instance, in Huaxia Country, the houses are generally positioned to face south with their backs to the north, a Feng Shui pattern that has been formed and passed down over thousands of years.

    Because Huaxia Country is located in the northern hemisphere on the eastern part of the Eurasian continent, with most of its land area north of the Tropic of Cancer, sunlight streams in from the south all year round, providing warmth.

    If houses were built facing east to west instead, it would probably be uncomfortable. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As someone who truly understood Feng Shui, Ge Dongxu''s layout ideas naturally conformed very well to the rules of nature. Therefore, with his simple strokes and gestures, even though Cheng Yazhou did not understand Feng Shui, he felt that if the layout were arranged according to Ge Dongxu''s ideas, the result would not only look beautiful but would also surely be very comfortable to live in.

    "I really don''t know how a young person like you thinks. It seems that if I ever build a house one day, I must consult you," Cheng Yazhou said with admiration after listening to Ge Dongxu''s description, the more he thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed.

    "No problem," Ge Dongxu laughed. They were all friends, and in this matter, Ge Dongxu genuinely wanted to help Cheng Yazhou, so he wouldn''t be falsely modest anymore.

    "Haha, you sure are confident in yourself," Cheng Yazhou laughed.

    "Hehe!" Ge Dongxu touched his nose and chuckled.

    After walking around the four dilapidated rooms, Cheng Yazhou had a rough idea in mind and said, "I have an approximate idea now. On Monday, I''ll first ask Director Jiang about the process and procedures for rebuilding the house, and then look for a construction team."

    "Okay, I''m not in a hurry with this matter. Uncle Cheng, don''t tire yourself out for my sake. Just help me handle it when you have the time," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Sure, don''t worry, I have it in mind. Besides, didn''t you give me a prescription for conditioning my body? I''ve been taking it lately and it''s been working great; even my white hairs seem to have reduced a bit," Cheng Yazhou nodded and said.

    "That''s good to hear," Ge Dongxu nodded. Then the two of them headed back home. On the way, when they passed by Yaxu Trademark Factory, Ge Dongxu saw that the factory gate was closed. He didn''t think much of it, assuming that the workers were off on Saturday.

    Ge Dongxu, with his limited social experience, had no idea that in a small place like theirs, aside from government agencies and state-owned enterprises, which privately-owned factory workers could enjoy two days off every week? It was good enough to have a job to earn some money.

    Moreover, since the beginning of the year, Yaxu Trademark Factory had been swamped with business, working overtime was still not enough, how could they possibly close for rest on Saturday?

    After returning to Cheng Yazhou''s home, Dongxu spent his time in deep thought, drawing talismans, studying, and doing homework. Evening approached in the blink of an eye, and remembering Zuo Le and Lin Jinnuo''s invitation, Ge Dongxu had to put away his books, went downstairs to say hello to Cheng Lehao, and then left for Changxi Grand Hotel.

    Zuo Le and Lin Jinnuo together had invited Ge Dongxu to dinner, and naturally, the venue was the Changxi Grand Hotel.

    Upon arriving at Changxi Grand Hotel, Yue Ting and Lin Kun were already standing at the hotel entrance waiting for him. Seeing Ge Dongxu coming, they hurried to greet him in a low voice, "Brother Xu, you''re here. My dad and the others are worried about attracting attention, so they didn''t come out."

    "That''s better. Otherwise, others might treat me like a panda," said Ge Dongxu quietly.

    Changxi Grand Hotel was actually a double-winged building; the right wing had twelve floors and was the tallest building in Changxi County at the time. The left wing, on the other hand, was only three stories tall, housing the hotel''s restaurants and large conference rooms.

    Because people back then were fascinated by tall buildings, when they saw Changxi Grand Hotel, they first thought of the twelve-story right wing and neglected the left wing.

    The most upscale restaurant private rooms of the hotel were located in the semi-circular section on the third floor of the left wing. Sitting inside, one could gaze across the street scenes through large curved floor-to-ceiling windows.

    Accompanied by Lin Kun and Yue Ting, Ge Dongxu entered what was considered the most upscale private room at that time.

    In the private room, not only were Zuo Le and his wife present, but so were the CEO of Dayu Group and his wife, Yue Feng and Yue Ting''s parents. Lin Jinnuo, the host, was needless to say there as well, but Ge Dongxu did not see Lin Jinnuo''s wife.

    "Dongxu is here, please take the main seat," said Zuo Le and the others, rising to greet him as Ge Dongxu entered.

    "No, no, I''ll just sit with Lin Kun and the others," said Ge Dongxu, seeing Zuo Le and the others trying to lead him to the main seat facing the door of the private room.

    "How could that be? You are the star today, and you must sit in the main seat," Zuo Le and the others disagreed.

    Unable to resist them, the young Ge Dongxu ended up sitting in the main seat accompanied by the leaders of Changxi County''s top enterprises, the restaurant industry big shot, and even the county police chief, making the two beautiful waitresses in slit qipaos standing to the side almost weak at the knees, nearly collapsing on the floor.

    These two attractive women were dedicated servers for the hotel''s most upscale private rooms and were no strangers to seeing big shots from Changxi County''s political and business circles. However, they had never seen such a young person of such high status before.

    Once the guest of honor had arrived, Lin Jinnuo asked the servers to notify the kitchen to serve the dishes and privately warned them, once out, not to gossip, or else they would not be able to continue working there.

    The servers, chosen by Lin Jinnuo to serve the guests of Changxi Grand Hotel, were not only picked for their beauty and figures but also because they were quite sharp and smart. In fact, even without Lin Jinnuo''s words, they knew that today''s event was not something to be shared casually. Now that Lin Jinnuo had specifically warned them, they were even more mindful.

    ps: Asking for all kinds of support, thank you.

 Chapter 94 Daughters Red

    "Dongxu, are you going to drink a beverage or have some alcohol?" After instructing the waiter to notify the kitchen to serve the hot dishes, Lin Jinnuo asked Ge Dongxu again.If Ge Dongxu had been an ordinary person, Lin Jinnuo wouldn''t have bothered asking and would have just served a beverage, but Ge Dongxu was rather special, so Lin Jinnuo made a point of inquiring.

    "Let''s have some Huadiao Wine, it''s more nourishing," Ge Dongxu said after thinking it over.

    He had developed a bit of a taste for alcohol during his time with Ren Yao.

    "Okay, it just so happens that I''ve got a jar of twenty-year-old Huadiao stored away. Lin Kun, go get it," Lin Jinnuo said promptly to Lin Kun upon hearing that Ge Dongxu wanted to drink Huadiao Wine.

    Huadiao Wine and Huadiao actually both refer to Huangjiu. In Jiangnan Province, there''s a custom where when a girl is born, the family will brew some wine, then bury it, to be opened and drunk when the girl gets married¡ªit''s called Huadiao, usually aged sixteen to eighteen years. The term Huadiao has been used when a girl passed away before reaching marriageable age and thus the wine was opened earlier. Nowadays, the distinction doesn''t really hold, and Huadiao more commonly refers to a type of brand of Huangjiu from Jiangnan Province.

    "Dongxu, today Zuo Le and I can thank our lucky stars because of you. We''ve been salivating over Boss Lin''s jar of twenty-year-old Huadiao for a long time, but he''s always been too stingy to share it. Today, because of your visit, he''s finally being generous," Yue Feng said with a sparkle in his eyes and a laugh.

    These days in the Huangjiu market, there''s a lot of talk about ten-year, twenty-year, or even fifty-year aged wines, but most of it is just for show. True decades-old Huangjiu is very rare and expensive, and ordinary people seldom get to taste the real deal. The decade-old Huadiao that Ge Dongxu poured for his master was not genuinely decade-aged¡ªit was most likely produced through special processes to approximate the taste of a true decade-aged wine.

    "Then I really have to thank Old Lin. Pour me a small bottle later; I''ll take it home with me," Ge Dongxu''s eyes also lit up as he said this.

    His request for a small bottle wasn''t for himself but was meant to be taken to his deceased master.

    "Heh, since Dongxu likes Huangjiu so much, why don''t you just take the jar of Huadiao home to enjoy at your leisure. We big lugs wouldn''t appreciate its flavor anyway; it''d be a waste of good wine," Lin Jinnuo remarked.

    "No need, no need, good wine is best shared with everyone¡ªthat''s what gives it flavor. I want a small bottle for a different purpose, not because I intend to drink more," Ge Dongxu hurriedly replied.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu had another use for the small bottle, Lin Jinnuo didn''t insist on being formal with him anymore.

    It didn''t take long for Lin Kun to bring over a wine jar that clearly looked quite old.

    Zuo Le, who obviously enjoyed good alcohol, couldn''t wait to open the jar as soon as Lin Kun brought it over, and immediately a fragrant aroma wafted out.

    The glasses had been prepared in advance by the waitstaff, and then Zuo Le, the Standing Committee member of the county committee and head of the county public security bureau, personally poured wine into each one.

    Originally the jar had contained ten jin of wine, but after twenty years, only about a third remained. The wine that was poured out had an amber color and was thick, resembling honey more than wine.

    Because there wasn''t a lot of wine, Zuo Le, the bureau head, seemed rather stingy, filling only Ge Dongxu''s and host Lin Jinnuo''s glasses. Everyone else got only half a glass, especially Lin Kun and Yue Ting, who received just under half a glass each, making them mock Zuo Le''s miserliness.

    "You two don''t know the first thing about wine. It''s already pretty good that I gave you a little to try. Complain anymore, and I might just cancel your share altogether," laughed Zuo Le.

    Hearing this, Lin Kun and Yue Ting quickly guarded their wine glasses as if afraid they would actually be confiscated, eliciting laughter from everyone present.

    "Come, Dongxu, I''d like to propose a toast to you, to thank you for saving my life and for guiding my son," Lin Jinnuo, the host, said as he lifted his glass, and after finishing his words, he tilted his head back and downed it all in one go.

    ```

    Ge Dongxu had no choice but to finish his drink as well. When he brought the wine to his nose, there was a unique and fragrant aroma. Before he had time to savor it properly, it smoothly slid down his throat, feeling quite marvelous.

    Zuo Le saw Ge Dongxu finish his drink, so he picked up the container to pour him another.

    "Just a little, just a little. A full cup like that is too wasteful," Ge Dongxu said hastily to Zuo Le. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Thus, Zuo Le only poured him half a cup, then lifted his own glass and said, "Dongxu, today Jingfang and I want to thank you with Old Lin''s wine for saving my life. Without you, there would be no Zuo Le today."

    With that, the couple drained their glasses.

    "You''re too kind, too kind," Ge Dongxu hurriedly responded modestly and then followed by draining his glass as well.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu drink another half cup, Lin Jinnuo and others, worried he might not be able to handle it, promptly urged him to eat some dishes.

    After eating for a while and seeing that Ge Dongxu was perfectly fine, Yue Feng and his wife also toasted Ge Dongxu, thanking him for saving their brother and for teaching their daughter.

    It turned out that since the incident with Chen Zihao, Yue Ting had become much more sensible and began to help her father with many things in the business. At first, Yue Feng and his wife were puzzled until last year''s incident with Zuo Le, and they, like Lin Jinnuo, only learned after asking that their daughter''s change was related to Ge Dongxu''s guidance, their gratitude for Ge Dongxu naturally deepened.

    After drinking a glass with Yue Feng and his wife, Lin Kun and Yue Ting also respectfully toasted Ge Dongxu, after which things became much more casual.

    Everyone was laughing and chatting, glasses clinking, and before long, they had emptied a whole container of wine. Fortunately, Zuo Le had thoughtfully set aside a bottle earlier, otherwise, there would have been nothing left.

    Because Ge Dongxu liked to drink yellow wine, and seeing that a container had been emptied, Lin Jinnuo called for two bottles of twenty-year Huadiao Wine to be brought out. However, it tasted much worse than the Daughter''s Red they had just drunk, leading to Yue Feng and others teasing Lin Jinnuo as a sly merchant.

    As the wine flowed and cheeks grew red, Zuo Le, somewhat hesitantly and with a flushed face, asked Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, you are highly skilled in medicine, and there''s something else I want to ask for your help with, but I don''t know..."

    "Are you asking about your inability to have children?" Ge Dongxu interjected before Zuo Le could finish.

    When he had entered the room earlier, both Yue Feng and Lin Jinnuo were with their children, but only Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang had not brought any. During the third day of the Lunar New Year at his uncle''s Xu Family restaurant, he also hadn''t seen Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang with children. Logically, at their age, it wouldn''t be normal to be childless, so Ge Dongxu had specifically observed them subtly and realized that their Meridians indicated they were without children.

    "Yes, yes, can you see if there''s anything you can do?" Zuo Le asked, excitedly.

    "Dongxu, you must help us. Everything in our family is good now, except for not having a child, which has always been a great regret for us," Xu Jingfang said, looking at Ge Dongxu with a face full of hope and urgency.

    "Don''t worry, don''t worry, let me take your pulse first," Ge Dongxu said, smiling and comforting them.

    "Dongxu, won''t taking the pulse after drinking be inaccurate?" Yue Feng asked, seeing Ge Dongxu ready to take Zuo Le couple''s pulse, concerned that Ge Dongxu''s drinking might have affected his judgment.

    "Hehe, it''s fine, I have a clear idea," Ge Dongxu waved his hand and said.

    His pulse reading was not only about the pulse beat, but also about the state of the Meridians. While the pulse might show significant changes after someone has been drinking, making it difficult to discern the truth, the flow of energy within the Meridians is intangible, the very source of life, and thus would not be affected.

    ```

 Chapter 95 Oppression

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu said he had a grasp of the situation, Yue Feng, although still somewhat doubtful and feeling that Ge Dongxu seemed a bit overconfident, refrained from raising any further questions.After all, Ge Dongxu was a remarkable person, and Yue Feng did not dare to easily offend him.

    Ge Dongxu took the pulse of both members of the Zuo couple and, after completing the examination, looked at Elder Zuo and said, "Elder Zuo, the problem lies with you, and it has nothing to do with Jingfang."

    As soon as Ge Dongxu spoke, aside from Lin Kun and Yue Ting who didn''t show much surprise, everyone else in the private room who was in the know was utterly astonished. Yue Feng, who had doubted Ge Dongxu just moments ago, was so shocked that his mouth agape.

    When a couple encountered infertility, in ancient times the problem was almost always attributed to the woman. It wasn''t until the development of modern medicine that this notion was slowly corrected. Infertility is often significantly related to the man as well. The reason Elder Zuo and Xu Jingfang were infertile, after numerous checks, was found to be due to the lack of vitality in Elder Zuo''s sperm, leading to their infertility.

    But that was a conclusion reached after high-tech, multi-faceted testing. The fact that Ge Dongxu could determine the issue simply by taking the pulse was a shock to them all.

    "Yes, yes, Dongxu is absolutely right, the problem is with me. Do you see any way to help?" Recovering from their shock, both Elder Zuo and Xu Jingfang were extremely excited, their eyes blazing with the fire of hope.

    "Don''t worry, let me take a closer look at you." Ge Dongxu reassured them with a smile, then laid his fingers again on Elder Zuo''s wrist, gently closed his eyes, and a thread of True Qi slowly seeped from his fingertips into Elder Zuo''s meridians, carefully examining the area around the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian.

    The Twelve Regular Meridians each govern one of the body''s organs, and the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian is responsible for the kidneys. When Ge Dongxu took the pulses of Elder Zuo and Xu Jingfang earlier, he noticed that the Qi-Blood was not flowing smoothly in Elder Zuo''s Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, which led him to determine that the issue was with Elder Zuo.

    Now, it was merely a matter of a thorough reexamination to see how serious the problem was and whether it could be treated.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu close his eyes to check Elder Zuo, everyone else held their breath, not daring to even exhale loudly, fearing they might disturb him, especially Xu Jingfang, who was so tense she had completely held her breath.

    "It''s not a serious problem. I didn''t bring my silver needles today, and since you''ve had quite a bit to drink, it''s not suitable for acupuncture. Let''s wait until tomorrow; either I''ll come to your home, or we''ll meet at the Changxi Grand Hotel. I''ll bring my silver needles to give you acupuncture therapy, then prescribe some medicine for you. As long as there are no surprises, after a couple of acupuncture sessions and a period of medication, you should be fine," Ge Dongxu said slowly, opening his eyes with a relaxed smile on his face.

    The blockage in Elder Zuo''s Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian was much less than the obstruction in Liu Jiayao''s two meridians, which is why it only caused issues with the vitality of Elder Zuo''s sperm. Otherwise, it wouldn''t just be this issue but might likely lead to kidney failure, impotence, and a series of other problems.

    In such cases, as long as Ge Dongxu could clear the blockage in the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, allowing the Qi-Blood to flow smoothly and nourish the kidneys, the sperm vitality would naturally not be a problem anymore.

    "Really? The hospital tests indicated that it was Zuo Le''s lack of sperm vitality that caused the infertility. We''ve tried many medications, both Western and Chinese medicine, but none of them worked. Pah, pah, look at me babbling on. Dongxu, if you say there won''t be a problem, then naturally there won''t be a problem!" Xu Jingfang said, her excitement making her speech nearly incoherent.

    "Haha!" Seeing Xu Jingfang''s incoherent state, Yue Feng and the others started laughing happily.

    Ge Dongxu also laughed along, for no matter how one looked at it, he was indeed a miracle doctor, and that level of confidence and certainty was something he possessed.

    Because of this incident, the atmosphere in the private room became even more pleasant. At some point, Lin Jinnuo even leaned his chubby head close to Ge Dongxu and, in a low voice, mentioned that he had been feeling somewhat lackluster in certain areas lately, and asked Ge Dongxu if he had any solutions.

    From the fact that Lin Jinnuo was asking Ge Dongxu about this type of adult private matter, it was clear that he had completely come to see Ge Dongxu as an adult, to the point where he even overlooked his age.

    Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but laugh and cry upon hearing this, as if his physique would ever lack vigor!

    "Increase your exercise, I don''t have any other good remedies. And as for various tonics, you''d better not believe in them. With your body, consuming stimulants is just overdrafting your life," Ge Dongxu replied.

    Yue Feng was sitting right next to Lin Jinnuo, and when he heard Ge Dongxu''s response, he couldn''t help but burst out laughing, which led everyone else to ask what was happening and made Lin Jinnuo''s face turn bright red.

    Despite the embarrassment, Lin Jinnuo actually took Ge Dongxu''s advice to heart. After all, Ge Dongxu was a miracle doctor, and Lin Jinnuo wouldn''t dare dismiss his words as mere wind by the ears. Afterwards, he really did insist on exercising every day, but that''s a story for later.

    After this event, everyone continued to eat, drink, and chat. Since Ge Dongxu was still a student who was concerned about his studies and cultivation, and because he was renting a place at someone else''s home, it was inappropriate to return too late. So, at around eight o''clock, at Ge Dongxu''s suggestion, they concluded the dinner party.

    When the dinner party ended, Lin Jinnuo gave Ge Dongxu a card that shimmered with golden light, explaining it was a VIP card for the hotel. He said that from now on, Ge Dongxu could present this card whenever he consumed services at the Changxi Grand Hotel or any other dining, accommodation, and entertainment venues under his name.

    Aside from this only three-star foreign-related hotel in Changxi County, Lin Jinnuo also owned some hotels, dance halls, and other such dining, accommodation, and entertainment venues in other locations. Of course, his main asset was the Changxi Grand Hotel. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t understand the significance of this card and, assuming it was like the member VIP cards at some malls that offer discounts when shown at the time of purchase, he didn''t decline and accepted it.

    What Ge Dongxu didn''t know was that this was the Changxi Grand Hotel''s Super VIP Supreme Card, which not only meant all his expenses would be waived upon presentation, but he would also enjoy the highest level of service. Throughout the whole Jiangnan Province, or more precisely in Ouzhou City, up until now, Lin Jinnuo had only given out three of these cards, and Ge Dongxu''s was the third.

    Because Lin Jinnuo and the others were prominent figures in Changxi County, and since the hotel saw a constant flow of people which meant many eyes and many who recognized them, they merely escorted Ge Dongxu out of the private room and didn''t continue any further. Instead, Lin Kun and Yue Ting were tasked to take Ge Dongxu home on their behalf, while the others returned to the private room to continue their business.

    Escorted by Lin Kun and Yue Ting, Ge Dongxu exited the private room and hadn''t walked far before he saw Cheng Yazhou and another shareholder of the Yaxu Trademark Factory, who was also his brother-in-law, Wu Qianjin, standing in the passageway, smoking and looking rather upset.

    "Brother-in-law, what should we do now?" Wu Qianjin asked, frowning with a look of indignation in his eyes.

    "If it won''t work, we''ll just have to give more money," Cheng Yazhou said grimly.

    "I don''t think that''ll be of any use. Liu Shang isn''t going to make a move without seeing the rabbit, this time he''s definitely after the shares," Wu Qianjin shook his head.

    ps: The book''s second QQ group: 601021709, (new group, vacancies available.), everyone is welcome to join. Also, this Saturday, December 3rd, there will be a "Great God Speaks" event all day on QQ Book City, featuring invited "Great God" - Broken Bridge Remnant Snow [that''s me, heh]. So on December 3rd, throw any questions you may have, such as what exactly is Old Broken obsessed with? What has driven Old Broken further down the path of showing off? Does Old Broken really have foreign girlfriends in real life, and how many? Of course, I''ll try my best... not to answer!

 Chapter 96 The Factory is Forced to Close [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    "Fuck his grandmother! Ten percent of the shares, that''s equivalent to 160,000. He thinks he can have ten percent of the shares for just 50,000 yuan, and with the current profits, ten percent of the shares would bring in at least 10,000 yuan a month! Damn it, this is outright robbery!" Cheng Yazhou said with an ashen face."But what can we do? He knows he''s got us cornered! And for every day we''re not operational, we''re losing money. That''s not even the worst of it, the key issue is that our clients are waiting for their orders. If we delay and lose our reputation, the great progress we''ve made may well be ruined," Wu Qianjin said with an oppressed look on his face.

    "Let it be, the people cannot fight the officials! Let''s go in and talk to him again, if it really doesn''t work out, we might just have to agree. At least with him involved, he''ll take care of dealings with government departments in the future. It''s like paying to dispel disaster, solve the issue once and for all," Cheng Yazhou said, consoling himself after hearing Wu Qianjin''s words, deflated like a punctured ball.

    "Shouldn''t we let Dongxu know about this? After all, ten percent of the shares is not a small matter," Wu Qianjin hesitated, then asked.

    "He''s still a student, do you think it''s appropriate to tell him about such murky business?" Cheng Yazhou said with a wry smile.

    "Uncle Cheng, although I am a student, I am also a shareholder of Yaxu Trademark Factory. How can you not inform me when you''re facing difficulties?" Before Cheng Yazhou had finished speaking, a familiar voice sounded behind him.

    "Dongxu, how come you''re here?" Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin hurriedly turned around upon hearing this and, seeing that it was indeed Ge Dongxu, were startled and said with a look of surprise.

    "A friend invited me over for dinner, so I came," Ge Dongxu replied.

    Upon hearing this, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin instinctively glanced at Lin Kun and Yue Ting beside him. Although Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin had some wealth, they were not yet in the ranks of Changxi County''s wealthy class. Moreover, since Lin Kun and Yue Ting were quite young and not as well-known as their fathers, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin did not recognize them.

    Seeing the two unfamiliar young people, they assumed that when Ge Dongxu spoke of friends, he was referring to them.

    "I see," the two men nodded, their expressions no longer as surprised as before.

    After all, it wasn''t outrageous for Ge Dongxu, who at the age of sixteen had put up 600,000 yuan to join them in setting up a factory and had spent over 100,000 to buy land, to be invited to dine at the Changxi Grand Hotel.

    Of course, there was still some surprise, given Ge Dongxu''s young age.

    Of course, if they knew that Ge Dongxu''s friends were not Lin Kun and Yue Ting, but instead the standing committee member of Changxi County, the head of the county public security bureau, the owner of the Changxi Grand Hotel, and the boss of Changxi''s leading enterprise, Dayu Group, their surprise would not be just a bit, but rather they would be shocked to the point of their eyeballs falling out.

    "I just heard something about shares and something dark. What exactly is going on?" Ge Dongxu didn''t want to talk much about himself, and seeing that they weren''t probing further, he didn''t elaborate and instead turned to inquire about their situation.

    Thanks to his cultivation, Ge Dongxu had strong eyesight and hearing. Although he was some distance away earlier, he could still clearly see the angry and helpless expressions on both men.

    Faced with Ge Dongxu''s earnest questioning, Cheng Yazhou knew he couldn''t hide it from this formidable young man and could only smile bitterly with a sense of resignation: "You saw it for yourself today, the doors of our Yaxu Trademark Factory are closed."

    "Saw it, so what, isn''t it because we''re closed for the weekend?" Ge Dongxu asked, quite surprised.

    "Of course not, our business is doing so well right now, we wish the factory could operate 24 hours a day. How could we possibly shut down on a Saturday?" Cheng Yazhou said with a wry smile.

    "So, it was a forced shutdown?" Ge Dongxu, being a smart man, his face immediately darkened upon hearing this. He finally understood why Cheng Yazhou had seemed in poor spirits these past few days¡ªit was because there were problems with the factory. And Cheng Yazhou, not wanting him to worry, had claimed that morning that he was tired from binging TV dramas. Stay updated via empire

    "Let me tell you the truth, Dongxu, because our business is good, a lot of departments have been coming to inspect our factory these days. Trade and Industry, Fire Services, Tax Authorities, you name it. We dealt with all of them, but got stuck on safety production. A deputy director of the Safety Supervision Office in Songyang Town, Liu Shang, has quite an appetite and is well aware of the profits in our laser trademarks, so he''s been relentless. He took fifty thousand and is dead set on buying a stake in our trademark factory," Wu Qianjin said, taking over the conversation bitterly.

    "Oh, there''s such a thing? How many shares does he want?" Ge Dongxu''s face grew even more somber. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Ten percent," Wu Qianjin replied.

    "Fifty thousand for ten percent of the shares? Why doesn''t he just go rob someone?" Ge Dongxu said angrily.

    "Exactly, but the man has power! Without giving in to him, we can''t resume production," Wu Qianjin said indignantly.

    "Is there no law left, can''t we just report him?" Ge Dongxu said furiously.

    "Heh, Dongxu, you''re still young. Some things aren''t as simple as you think. The guy''s a deputy director of the Safety Supervision Office. If he decides to make it about safety production, what can you do to him? And about the shares, he didn''t say it outright. He had his wife''s cousin come to talk, suggesting that the cousin wanted to invest in the laser trademark business. How can you go and report him? If you really go to report him, I''m afraid after all the trouble, not only would you fail to bring him down, our factory might just end up closing down for good. Let it go, don''t worry about it, leave it to Uncle Cheng and Qianjin," Cheng Yazhou said with a bitter smile.

    "Damn it, when did a deputy director of the Safety Supervision Office in Songyang Town become so badass! To think they would dare to bully Big Brother Xu? He must really have the guts of a bear and the heart of a leopard!" After hearing all this, Lin Kun and Yue Ting finally understood the whole story. They knew that Ge Dongxu partnered with the two middle-aged men to run a factory, and now a deputy director from the Safety Supervision Office had set his sights on them, demanding a piece of their pie. They couldn''t help but see red and cursed out loud.

    "Shush, kids, don''t talk nonsense about things you don''t understand!" Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin, seeing Lin Kun and Yue Ting cursing, were startled and quickly admonished them.

    Yue Ting and Lin Kun, about to argue back after being told by Cheng Yazhou they didn''t understand, were cut off as Ge Dongxu sternly said, "Yue Ting, go ask your uncle to come over, I''ll meet this Deputy Director Liu Shang with Uncle Cheng and Uncle Wu."

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu reached out to push open the door of the private room.

    "Dongxu, don''t be rash!" Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin, seeing Ge Dongxu''s temper flare up, paled with fear and hurriedly reached out to stop him, but Ge Dongxu was faster and had already pushed open the door of the private room.

    ps: Recommended by Qidian author Zhe Tian''s novel "The Supreme Martial World." There are fewer and fewer authors writing wuxia these days, please support them if you can.

 Chapter 97 What Are You Anyway?

    This was a small private room with three men sitting inside.The one facing the door of the private room was a somewhat fat fellow, who was puffing on a Zhonghua cigarette with his head tilted slightly upward, the very image of a petty grassroots official who thinks he''s exceptionally important just because he holds some minor authority, an insufferably arrogant type that just begs to be thrashed.

    A real high-ranking official would never adopt such an attitude!

    The three of them had been talking when suddenly the door to the private room was flung open; they immediately fell silent, turning their eyes toward Ge Dongxu with a mix of confusion and dissatisfaction as they barked, "Who are you? What are you doing coming in here?"

    "You must be Chief Liu, right?" Ge Dongxu walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down, looking at the man puffing on the Zhonghua cigarette across from him with disdain as he asked.

    "You little punk, who the hell are you? Get the fuck out!" The other two men, seeing a young guy barge in and speak to Chief Liu with such arrogance, immediately stood up and pointed at Ge Dongxu, scolding him.

    "I''m sorry, Chief Liu, this is another one of our shareholders, Ge Dongxu, he''s young and doesn''t understand how things work." Seeing that an argument was about to break out, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin had already rushed in and hurriedly explained.

    "Dongxu, we told you not to involve yourself in this kind of thing, why won''t you listen to us?" Wu Qianjin''s face darkened slightly as he reprimanded.

    "Who doesn''t know the rules here? Can you involve a kid whose hair isn''t even full-grown yet? Get him out!" Liu Shang, upon hearing this, initially showed a flash of surprise, but then his brows furrowed, and his expression became stern, pointing at Ge Dongxu with the fingers holding his cigarette, and scolded sharply.

    "Smack!" No sooner had Liu Shang''s voice fallen, Lin Kun had already stepped forward, slammed his palm down on the table, and pointed at Liu Shang, cursing, "Fuck, who do you think you are to tell Xu Brother to get lost?"

    Seeing Lin Kun barge into the fray with an even more arrogant posture than Ge Dongxu, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin were so frustrated they were nearly in tears. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The situation had already been tricky enough, and now this hot-blooded youth was slamming the table and yelling at Liu Shang; weren''t they just adding fuel to the fire?

    "Dongxu, you and your friend, get out!" Originally, Cheng Yazhou had been quite concerned about keeping face for Ge Dongxu. Even when Wu Qianjin had spoken up to scold him, Cheng Yazhou had held back. But seeing that things could escalate further, potentially leading to the factory shutting down for good, Cheng Yazhou also hardened his expression and scolded.

    Initially, Liu Shang had felt slightly intimidated by Lin Kun''s aggressive stance, unsure if the latter had some significant backing. However, seeing Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin clearly looking to avoid trouble, Liu Shang''s courage swiftly returned.

    "Smack!" With a loud slap on the table, Liu Shang also pointed at Lin Kun and Ge Dongxu, speaking with an air of superiority, "Who the hell do you think you are? If I tell you to get lost, you better fucking get lost! Piss me off, and you can kiss your factory goodbye!"

    "You think you can close down Xu Brother''s factory just because you say so? Who do you think you are?" Lin Kun, upon hearing this, didn''t slam the table again, but looked at Liu Shang with the eyes one reserves for the dead, full of disdain as he mocked.

    Others might not know Ge Dongxu''s background, but would Lin Kun be in the dark?

    The very life of a Standing Committee member of the county party committee, the director of the County Public Security Bureau, was saved by him, and whether he could have a child in the future still depended on this man before him. And you, a mere deputy director of the public security department in Songyang Town, not even a legitimate section-level cadre, but merely a deputy section-level clerk, have the audacity to threaten the life savior of a Standing Committee member of the county party committee, the director of the County Public Security Bureau, to close down his factory? You''re literally asking for death!

    "Heh, don''t worry about who I am, just know that if I want to shut down your factory, then there''s no way you''ll continue running it!" Liu Shang replied arrogantly, then turned to Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin, saying, "Elder Cheng, Elder Wu, do you still want to run your factory or not? If you do, then get these two out of here pronto! Damn it, what trash! Their beards haven''t even fully grown in, and they dare slam tables and shout!"

    Upon hearing this, Lin Kun was naturally about to flare up again, but with a slight raise of his hand from Ge Dongxu, Lin Kun immediately quieted down.

    "Dongxu! Stop being," Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin naturally wouldn''t bother with Lin Kun, but instead, they spoke to Ge Dongxu with somewhat troubled expressions.

    "Uncle Cheng, Uncle Wu, you know I''m not the kind of person who acts without considering the consequences. Don''t worry, I have a plan," Ge Dongxu once again interrupted Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin with a raise of his hand, then looked at Liu Shang and said, "Director Liu wants to talk about shares, right? I am one of the major shareholders after all, if I don''t agree, how could you possibly get any shares?"

    "Kid, what do you mean by that?" Liu Shang''s expression faltered slightly, then he asked discontentedly.

    "No particular meaning, I just want to tell Director Liu that I disagree with you owning shares in the business," Ge Dongxu replied indifferently.

    "Smack!" Director Liu slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his gaze swept over Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin as he coldly said, "Elder Cheng, Elder Wu, seems like there''s nothing left to discuss. Your Yaxu Trademark Factory better brace itself for closure!"

    Upon hearing this, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin''s faces went pale, their legs going weak.

    This was related to their hard-earned investments and their very livelihood!

    "Such arrogance! Such authority! Can you tell me, who gave you this power? To just shut down the people''s factories on a whim?" Just as Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin were feeling despair, even beginning to resent Ge Dongxu, the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open, and an authoritative voice filled with anger resounded in the room.

    "Zuo, Director Zuo!" Liu Shang, seeing someone else push open the door and about to unleash a tirade in his arrogant manner, looked up and immediately shuddered, the words on his lips stumbling out into a stuttered "Director Zuo."

    "Director Zuo?" Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin both didn''t recognize Zuo Le and were slightly confused, but they did recognize Lin Jinnuo of the Changxi Grand Hotel who came in with Director Zuo. His hefty figure was hard to forget once someone had pointed it out. So when the two saw the owner of the Changxi Grand Hotel, Lin Jinnuo, also come in, they couldn''t help but shudder.

    Compared to the owner of the Changxi Grand Hotel, they, as shareholders of a small factory, were like minnows before a whale, incomparable.

    Find adventures on empire

    "Elder Zuo, you''ve arrived! Let me introduce you, these are my partners, shareholders of the Yaxu Trademark Factory, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin," Ge Dongxu stood up from his seat as he saw Director Zuo arrive, pointing to Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin as he introduced them.

    "Elder Zuo!" Upon hearing Ge Dongxu''s address to Zuo Le, Liu Shang and the other two nearly collapsed to the ground.

    Damn it, they had tried to extort from the head honcho himself!

    ps: Still a fresh new book, continuing to ask for clicks, recommendations, collections, comments, rewards, thank you.

 Chapter 98 Pursue to the End

    "Uncle Cheng, Uncle Wu, this is Chief Zuo Le from the county Public Security Bureau. You can discuss the specifics with him. I refuse to believe it¡ªwe run our factory and do business fair and square, and yet someone can simply order us to close our doors just like that?" Following that, Ge Dongxu turned to Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin and said, the Chief of the Public Security Bureau of D County? Hearing Ge Dongxu''s introduction, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin''s minds almost exploded, as they could never have dreamed that the woman Ge Dongxu had just asked to call her uncle was actually the Chief of the county Public Security Bureau. No wonder the young man with Ge Dongxu was so arrogant¡ªhe was a big shot!Wait, hold on, why did Ge Dongxu call the chief "Elder Zuo," and the woman who just called Chief Zuo her uncle seem to address Ge Dongxu as "Brother Dongxu" in the same way earlier!

    Ge Dongxu is clearly younger than them!

    Their minds were a mess until Zuo Le took the initiative to reach out to them. Only then did they abruptly come to their senses and hastily shook hands with Zuo Le, while Liu Shang was already sweating profusely, saying, "Chief Zuo, this is a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding, I didn''t mean it like that!"

    "What exactly did you mean then? Do you think I''m deaf? Alright, let''s say I am deaf, what about the boss of Changxi Grand Hotel, Lin? And Mr. Yue, the president of Dayu Group? Are they deaf too? Do you realize you''re committing a crime? You''re abusing your power! You''re openly extorting!" Zuo Le pointed at Liu Shang and scolded, each word cutting deep.

    "No, no, not at all. It''s him, it''s Sun Zhiyang, he sees the business potential in the laser trademark industry, wants to buy into Yaxu Trademark Factory, I was just here to connect them!" Liu Shang''s forehead beaded with even more cold sweat, yet he was smart enough to know he absolutely couldn''t admit to the crime of blatant extortion.

    "Is that so? For fifty thousand yuan, you want a ten percent share? Do you think we''re idiots, or are you the idiots?" Ge Dongxu asked with a sneer.

    "It was Sun Zhiyang''s lack of thorough consideration, not investigating properly," Liu Shang hastily said, winking frantically at Sun Zhiyang. Discover hidden content at empire

    "Yes, yes, it''s all my fault, I didn''t investigate properly," knowing that if Liu Shang goes down, he definitely can''t escape unscathed, Sun Zhiyang quickly took the blame. At most it would be seen as a business blunder, which could not be criminally charged.

    "Chief Zuo, no matter what, I share the responsibility as well. I admit my mistake sincerely and offer a sincere apology to the shareholders of Yaxu Trademark Factory!" Although Sun Zhiyang had taken most of the blame, Liu Shang would not be naive enough to think that things could be settled just like that¡ªnot with someone who is a standing committee member of the county party committee and the Chief of the county Public Security Bureau involved. So after Sun Zhiyang took the blame, Liu Shang immediately followed by bowing and apologizing repeatedly to Zuo Le, Ge Dongxu, Cheng Yazhou, and others, with genuine sincerity.

    Seeing Liu Shang bow and apologize to him, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin felt quite uncomfortable, and at the same time, they thought this might be the end of the matter.

    Liu Shang had long prepared for such situations; if he adamantly denied everything, Chief Zuo couldn''t do much about it and might actually stir up a lot of trouble. After all, Chief Zuo was not Liu Shang''s direct superior.

    Of course, after this incident, as long as Zuo Le, the standing committee member of the county party committee and Chief of the county Public Security Bureau, was in office, Liu Shang could forget about any chance of promotion, and even his position as deputy head might be at risk of being revoked, which would be a significant punishment for Liu Shang.

    However, contrary to what Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin expected, and to the surprise of Liu Shang and others, Zuo Le simply sneered in response, "You don''t need to apologize to me. As for what actually happened, let the prosecution''s people come, and you can explain it to them slowly!"

    When public officials are involved in abuse of power or corrupt practices, it is typically the prosecution''s office that launches the investigation. In saying so, Zuo Le effectively indicated his determination to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring Liu Shang to justice accordingly.

    "Chief Zuo, what are you¡ª?" Liu Shang clearly did not expect Chief Zuo to be resolute in taking action against him and couldn''t help but panic.

    "Boss Cheng, Boss Wu, you must cooperate with the comrades from the prosecutor''s office in their investigation." Zuo Le did not bother with Liu Shang but instead instructed Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin, then directly called the chief prosecutor. As a member of the Standing Committee of the County Party Committee and the head of the Changxi County Public Security Bureau, he personally reported Liu Shang''s dangerous crimes of corruption and extortion, demanding they initiate an investigation.

    In Huaxia Country, among the three major judicial departments¡ªpublic security, prosecution, and law¡ªthe public security is at the forefront. Therefore, in many places, the head of the county public security bureau generally joins the Standing Committee of the County Party Committee, and in some places, the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee who oversees the three departments often doubles as the head of the public security bureau.

    Although Zuo Le was not serving as the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee at present, he was also doubling as the first deputy secretary. This made him a leader of the prosecutor''s office too. His phone call prompted the chief prosecutor to not dare to neglect the matter, immediately starting to sign arrest warrants and dispatching personnel to the Changxi Grand Hotel to apprehend the suspect.

    "Of course, of course; that''s what we should do." Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin were both excited and relieved, yet anxious, looking at Ge Dongxu with an uncontrollable hint of reverence in their eyes. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    They naturally knew that Director Zuo Le''s swift and decisive action to pursue Liu Shang to the end was greatly related to Ge Dongxu. It also fully demonstrated Ge Dongxu''s significant importance in the director''s heart.

    How could it not be important? Whether Zuo Le could become a father again depended on Ge Dongxu''s miraculous healing!

    With Liu Shang''s bold and blatant extortion of Yaxu Trademark Factory, one could imagine how arrogant he usually was and how much filth was under his buttocks, and how could he withstand the investigation of the prosecutor''s office? Therefore, seeing Zuo Le unhesitatingly calling the chief prosecutor on the spot, Liu Shang was so scared that he collapsed to the ground. All his previous arrogance was gone!

    He knew his life was over! Yet in his wildest dreams, he never expected he would fall at the hands of a young man!

    Seeing Liu Shang collapsing to the ground, Sun Zhiyang immediately panicked and hurriedly said, "Director Zuo, Director Zuo, this has nothing to do with me. It''s all my brother-in-law''s doing; in fact, those shares are not even mine."

    "Director Zuo, this, this has nothing to do with me either! It''s Director Liu who told me to do this, that''s why we deliberately held up Yaxu Trademark Factory," another man, a confidant of Liu Shang at the Safety Supervision Office, also hurriedly tried to dissociate himself from the matter upon seeing Liu Shang sitting paralyzed on the ground.

    "You should save these words for when the prosecutor''s office people arrive," Zuo Le said coldly.

    In Songyang Town, where the Changxi County government is located, due to its small size and the fact that it was Zuo Le who made the call, the prosecutor''s office personnel quickly arrived at the Changxi Grand Hotel and took away Liu Shang and two others. Cheng Yazhou and the rest, including Zuo Le, Yue Feng, and Lin Jinnuo, followed as well.

    They followed, of course, to serve as witnesses, to confirm everything they had just heard outside.

    The prosecutor''s office staff, seeing a minor factory causing such a stir not only among the Standing Committee member and head of the Changxi County Public Security Bureau, Zuo Le, but also the bigwigs of Dayu Group and the owner of Changxi Grand Hotel eagerly wanting to come as witnesses, were trembling with nervousness. They thought Liu Shang really had bad luck to have poked such a hornet''s nest.

    What could be done? With these influential figures in Changxi County, if they were intent on framing someone, even innocent people could be implicated¡ªLiu Shang had bullied his way to their benefactor''s doorstep, so how could he possibly escape unscathed?

    PS: This Saturday, December 3, for the whole day, QQ Book City is hosting the "Great Gods Speaking" event, and I, "Broken Bridge in Snow" [that''s me, hehe], have been invited to guest online. So on December 3, feel free to fire away with any questions!

 Chapter 99 Reopening

    Just now in the hotel, because of Zuo Le and Lin Jinnuo''s arrival, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin almost failed to notice Yue Feng. It wasn''t until they were on their way to the prosecutor''s office that Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin realized that the other man was actually the big boss of all the factory owners!Thinking about how, because of Ge Dongxu, they had unexpectedly roused the attention of the Chief of the Public Security Bureau, a leading enterprise boss, and the owner of a grand hotel, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin''s hearts thumped wildly, almost believing they were dreaming. They even couldn''t resist pinching their thighs to make sure, and upon feeling the pain, they confirmed that they were not dreaming.

    At the Changxi Grand Hotel, Liu Shang had already broken down, and his two accomplices likewise. So, by the time they got to the prosecutor''s office, there actually wasn''t much for Ge Dongxu and the others to do. After a short recording session, they all went home, leaving the rest to be handled by the comrades of the prosecutor''s office.

    However, based on what Liu Shang had confessed so far, what awaited him was definitely a life behind bars. As for how long he would stay there, it would depend on how much he had swindled over the years.

    Of course, all this had nothing to do with Ge Dongxu and the others anymore. At this moment, what Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin cared about and were happiest about was the relationship between Ge Dongxu and Zuo Le.

    With this connection, they no longer had to worry about this inspection or that inspection at their factories.

    Not only that, but because of the relationship between Ge Dongxu and Lin Jinnuo, when they left the prosecutor''s office, Lin Jinnuo specifically gave each of them a silver VIP card.

    As long as they had this silver VIP card, they would enjoy a 50% discount on all their expenses at the Changxi Grand Hotel from now on. This made Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin so happy that they kept looking at the card over and over on the way home, making Ge Dongxu shake his head with mixed laughter and curiosity, especially curious about the golden card that Lin Jinnuo had slipped into his pocket earlier in the private room.

    But Ge Dongxu was a steady person, and didn''t make a big deal of it, thinking he would ask Lin Kun about it another day.

    ...

    "This, Dongxu, you''re so well connected to Chief Zuo and the others, why didn''t you tell Uncle earlier? It caused me to worry about the factory''s affairs for the past few days, barely able to eat or sleep," Cheng Yazhou said to Ge Dongxu on the way home, both happy and complaining.

    "How would I have known that running a factory would lead to so much trouble? Luckily, we just happened to run into each other today," Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile. He was still a student, mostly exposed to textbook knowledge, and his interactions and life experiences were mostly within the school; how would he know about these dark sides of society?

    However, after this incident, Ge Dongxu''s mind had matured a bit more, unbeknownst to himself. Just like yin and yang in cultivation, society also has its sunny and dark sides, and sometimes, knowing only the sunny side is not a good thing. Only by seeing more clearly the dark side can one cherish the sunny side more.

    At this moment, Ge Dongxu had this psychological understanding, and he silently admonished himself that no matter how capable he became in the future, he should never become someone like Liu Shang! Instead, he should do more things that are beneficial to society.

    Don''t underestimate Ge Dongxu''s insights in this matter. Life is because of these firsthand insights that one will not go astray in the future. Especially for someone like Ge Dongxu who possesses supernatural abilities, these little life insights are even more valuable and important.

    "That''s also true. But, Dongxu, I''m really sorry about today. Before I had no idea you had such capabilities, that you knew Chief Zuo, Mr. Lin, Mr. Yue, so when I spoke earlier..." Wu Qianjin said, feeling quite embarrassed and anxious.

    "Ha, Uncle Wu, to say such things, aren''t you being a bit distant?" Ge Dongxu said, laughing and waving his hand dismissively.

    "No, no, just call me Old Wu! I don''t know why, but whenever you call me Uncle Wu now, I get a creepy feeling inside," Wu Qianjin hurriedly said.

    There was no helping it. Even heavy hitters like Director Zuo, Lin Jinnuo, and Yue Feng were simply called Elder Zuo and Old Lin by Ge Dongxu; how could he, Wu Qianjin, dare to let Ge Dongxu call him uncle?

    "Hehe, you and Uncle Cheng are different. I have a classmate relationship with Lehao, so I follow his lead in calling him that. Moreover, we''ve always addressed each other this way from the start, so there''s no need to change it, right? Shifting back and forth might even make me seem opportunistic!" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "How could you be opportunistic! If you were, you wouldn''t have partnered with small fries like me and my brother-in-law to do business in the first place," Wu Qianjin quickly said.

    "Uncle Wu wasn''t such a humble man before. What do you mean by small fry! Someone of my young age is what you call a small fry!" Ge Dongxu teased.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu hadn''t changed his attitude because of people like Zuo Le, Wu Qianjin and Cheng Yazhou completely relaxed. They pointed at him and burst into laughter, saying, "If you''re a small fry, then there are no big shots in Changxi County!"

    Find exclusive stories on empire

    After joking around for a while, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but remember the matter with Liu Shang. Worried that Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin might be heading towards a situation he didn''t want to see because of their connection with Zuo Le, he gradually put away his smile and said seriously, "Uncle Cheng, Uncle Wu, there''s something I need to make clear first. Zuo Le is Zuo Le, and I am me. You mustn''t bend the rules just because of Zuo Le. Of course, if anyone tries to bully us by not following the law like Liu Shang did, there''s no need to be polite with them."

    "Dongxu, rest assured, we''re well aware of this and will definitely follow the rules," Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin both put away their smiles and said seriously upon hearing this.

    "That''s good. And on weekends, if you have the workers do overtime, make sure you pay them properly. Now that we''re making money, we can''t shortchange them," Ge Dongxu nodded and gave another reminder.

    "Hehe, don''t worry about that. Do you think Uncle Cheng and Qianjin are the kind of stingy people?" Cheng Yazhou laughed.

    This made Ge Dongxu feel somewhat embarrassed, and he chuckled awkwardly.

    ¡­ Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Due to Zuo Le''s attention, the very next morning, people from the Songyang Town Safety Supervision Office were sent to Yaxu Trademark Factory for another safety inspection. They issued a pass certificate that day, allowing the factory to resume production. That same day, Ge Dongxu visited Zuo Le''s home, performed acupuncture, and prescribed a medicine for him.

    Since Zuo Le''s condition was quite mild, and given that Ge Dongxu''s cultivation power had been steadily growing these days, he didn''t end up sweating profusely like he had at Liu Jiayao''s house. Of course, fatigue was still inevitable due to the use of True Qi.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu looking tired after completing the acupuncture on Zuo Le, both Zuo Le and his wife were very moved. They also fully understood why Ge Dongxu kept such a low profile and didn''t want others to know about his miraculous medical skills.

    Such medical treatment clearly demanded a lot of physical and mental effort. Both husband and wife doubted that Ge Dongxu could survive for long if patients kept coming without end.

    ps: A great author on QQ Reading said an event has started, and everyone is welcome to ask questions; an advance chapter update as a treat, hehe.

 Chapter 100 Whispers

    Time flew swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, it was the beautiful, sunny days of swallows flying and grass growing all over Jiangnan.While first- and second-year high school students still had the chance to go on spring outings, the seniors had plunged headlong into the ocean of college entrance examination papers, with no time left for leisure.

    Perhaps because of this, or perhaps because he had moved, by the second semester of his freshman year, Ge Dongxu hardly ever had a chance to meet with Dong Yuxin. Even on the rare occasions when they did run into each other on campus, Dong Yuxin always seemed very hurried, as if she had forgotten the friendship they once shared.

    This occasionally made Ge Dongxu feel a twinge of loss. However, he understood that it was a highly stressful time due to their studies, and since they had no special relationship, it was natural that Dong Yuxin wouldn''t constantly think about a junior like him, especially after he moved.

    The business at Yaxu Trademark Factory was still thriving, but profits had started to show signs of decline. Fortunately, the volume of business had increased, so each month, Ge Dongxu, as a shareholder, still managed to earn fifty to sixty thousand yuan.

    This income was considered a fortune-making good business by the standards of the time.

    With Cheng Yazhou''s help, the four dilapidated houses were being demolished to build new villas. Because of Ge Dongxu''s high standards, the budget ended up being even higher than Cheng Yazhou''s original estimate, reaching 230,000 yuan. Fortunately, with fifty to sixty thousand yuan coming in each month, Ge Dongxu could handle it, otherwise he would have fallen short with the savings he originally had in his account. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As a result, although now a millionaire with fifty to sixty thousand yuan income each month, Ge Dongxu''s finances became tight again. He would have to wait until around April or May, when earnings came in, before he could afford to purchase some of the Jade Tokens. And the newly carved Talisman Jades were expected to last until only about May.

    Realizing that the profits for the next few months were likely to end up in someone else''s pocket made Ge Dongxu lament the slowness of his earnings and realize he needed to find more ways to make money, which was the righteous path.

    However, making money was not an easy task, especially for a young man with no business experience. Although Ge Dongxu thought about it, he had no good ideas for the moment. But because he associated making money with his future cultivation practices, he had recently been studying books on business investment apart from his schoolwork, hoping to learn some tricks to wealth.

    Fortunately, Ge Dongxu read these books in his room; otherwise, if the teachers knew that he was distracting himself with books on business investment during high school, they would surely have given him a serious talk.

    Life often seems to operate on the principle of "flowers don''t bloom when you want them to, but the willows grow into shade when you don''t intend them to." Since high school, Ge Dongxu had been pondering ways to make money, even beginning to delve into thick books on business investment during the second semester of his freshman year. Yet before he could learn how to make money from those books, the value of the land where he''d inadvertently bought a factory suddenly increased.

    The price rose because rumors spread from the county government that they were discussing rebuilding the old county government office building due to its dilapidation.

    There were several rumors about rebuilding the county government office building. Some said it was unfounded, others mentioned relocating to the LC district, and another that the county leaders were considering the rapid economic development of Changxi County and thinking of finding a suitable place in the suburbs to rebuild the office building. Then, starting from the new county government office building as a center, an XC district might be developed. Since the LC district to the south was in the direction of Baiyun Mountain and was hilly, it was unsuitable, and the west was also hilly terrain. That left the eastern and northern sides. Jiang Family Village was located slightly to the northeast. From there, not only was the terrain flat, but it also connected Changxi County with the economically strong town of Longjiang. So now there were rumors that if the county government decided to build a new office building and not in the LC district, it was very likely to choose Jiang Family Village.

    Of course, the county government had been talking about reconstructing its office building for several years, but each time the talk was big and the action negligible, always ending in nothing. But this time, the rumors were loud, and some speculative-minded individuals couldn''t resist the temptation, beginning to set their sights on Jiang Family Village and trying to buy up some land beforehand.

    The land where Yaxu Trademark Factory was located was used for the factory, but it was actually residential land. Therefore, some people turned their attention to Yaxu Trademark Factory, approaching Cheng Yazhou with an offer to buy their current factory and land for 320,000 yuan.

    When Ge Dongxu originally purchased the factory, it cost him about 160,000 yuan in total; now, in just about half a year, the value had doubled, making Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin envious. Wu Qianjin especially regretted not listening to Ge Dongxu back then.

    "It''s just an extra 160,000 yuan, and I''m not in a hurry for money. Selling it wouldn''t make sense; better to keep it and save us the trouble of finding a new factory," Ge Dongxu said upon hearing the news, surprised but considering that an extra 160,000 yuan wouldn''t change his situation much now. Moreover, he felt the Feng Shui of Jiang Family Village was good and despite this period possibly being just a blip, he believed that as the city developed, Jiang Family Village would eventually rise. Experience more tales on empire

    "Dongxu, aren''t you just taunting me? Just an extra 160,000 yuan! Remember last year, Uncle Wu''s entire fortune was only 200,000 yuan! Where else nowadays can you make an easy 160,000 yuan just by flipping something? Better sell it now; once this craze blows over, you won''t be able to get this price," Wu Qianjin, thinking Ge Dongxu was hesitant because it wasn''t enough profit, advised earnestly.

    "Qianjin is right; they''ve been talking about rebuilding the county government building for years, and it always comes to nothing. Plus, if the county government really were to rebuild, I feel the likelihood of it being in the LC district is higher since the facilities there are more established. And even if it''s not in the LC district, it might not necessarily be Jiang Family Village; there''s also Beiyang and Pingchao ahead in line. Moreover, the biggest fear is that these rumors are deliberately stirred up by people in Jiang Family Village," Cheng Yazhou added.

    "It doesn''t matter. For now, I''m not short on cash," Ge Dongxu casually responded. He was actually in need of money, but an extra 160,000 yuan was not enough to attract his attention, for if he truly wanted to buy Jade Tokens, he would need to spend tens or hundreds of thousands.

    "Actually, Dongxu, don''t you know Chief Zuo? He''s a member of the county committee and leadership team. If there''s any news about this, he definitely would know. Why don''t you ask him? If he says nothing''s happening, you could quickly sell then," Wu Qianjin, seeing Ge Dongxu''s reluctance to sell, grew anxious and suddenly remembered Zuo Le, thus brought him up.

 Chapter 101 The Man Who Bears the Burden

    "How can you ask him that? No, you all are also forbidden to ask," Ge Dongxu said sternly upon hearing this.Although young, Ge Dongxu knew this was definitely against principles.

    "Hehe, I was just mentioning it in passing, just in passing," Wu Qianjin said with an embarrassed smile as he saw Ge Dongxu''s expression turn serious.

    Even though Wu Qianjin habitually called him Uncle Wu, deep down he was somewhat afraid of this young man after the incident at the Changxi Grand Hotel.

    "Truthfully, it''s not that I look down on this profit, but because I think our country''s economic situation is so good right now that land, in general, is bound to appreciate in value, or at least preserve its value against inflation. It''s like the blue-chip stocks in the stock market; they might not skyrocket in the short term, but in the long term, they always grow in value. If it weren''t for the fact that I currently don''t have much capital I''d consider buying up the surrounding land as well," Ge Dongxu explained in a gentler tone upon seeing Wu Qianjin looking somewhat uncomfortable, feeling his tone had been too harsh before.

    These days, he had started to read books on business investments. Although he hadn''t immediately become a business expert, he had still learned something.

    After all, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin were just small-time, local bosses, not the sort who would read books on business investments. Seeing how methodically Ge Dongxu spoke, they were somewhat taken in by his words.

    It took a while before Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin came back to their senses and said, "Since you think this way, we won''t persuade you otherwise. You shouldn''t lose money at least. As for buying more land, let''s forget about it!"

    At the end of the day, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin still weren''t optimistic about the rural areas around Jiang Family Village.

    Ge Dongxu himself wasn''t sure either, so he didn''t persuade them to buy land. Besides, the land prices in Jiang Family Village had already been driven up quite a bit. If it was just a fleeting trend, entering the market now might result in being stuck with a loss.

    Perhaps to prove Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin''s words, when the calendar turned to May, the trend that had started at the beginning of the year peaked in April and then suddenly disappeared in May, causing land prices to drop accordingly.

    Because of this, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin didn''t hesitate to blame Ge Dongxu for not listening to their advice and missing out on a money-making opportunity. By this time, besides the money set aside for building a house, Ge Dongxu finally had an additional one hundred twenty thousand in his bank account that he could use.

    At that moment, the Talisman Jade Ge Dongxu had carved two months prior was on the verge of shattering. Logically, it was time for him to buy new Talisman Jade.

    However, Ge Dongxu felt that one hundred twenty thousand could at most buy only sixty to seventy Jade Tokens. Last time, by a stroke of luck, he succeeded on the fifty-third token. This time, Ge Dongxu didn''t think he would be so fortunate. Moreover, if he continued in this cycle of earning money at the factory, spending it on Jade Tokens, earning more money, and then buying more Jade Tokens, he would never have excess funds. Furthermore, Yaxu Trademark Factory might not maintain its current profits, and as his cultivation progressed, the duration for which he could use Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade would only decrease. Eventually, he would find himself in a deficit. Therefore, Ge Dongxu thought that rushing to buy jade with the extra one hundred twenty thousand wasn''t a long-term solution. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The long-term solution was still to find a way to make enough money!

    To make enough money, the best method would naturally be like the ancient magicians who attached themselves to the powerful and wealthy for support, or making quick money by treating rich patients, but this was not the path Ge Dongxu wanted to follow. It was also the resolve he had made in front of his master when he was younger!

    A person of cultivation doesn''t just cultivate their breath; they must also cultivate their spirit. Once a resolution is made, how could it be shaken by a little difficulty?

    Ge Dongxu''s cultivation might be far from what his master had achieved back in the day, but he seemed to be a natural-born cultivator, possessing a persistent and determined heart. Therefore, Ge Dongxu was willing to slow down the pace of his cultivation rather than change the ambition he had initially set out with.

    "Why not just buy more land? After all, the land prices have fallen back again, and it won''t result in a loss if bought now. But if the county government office building really chooses Jiang Family Village as its site in the next couple of years, then the profits would be several times higher!" Perhaps it was the complaints of Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin that prompted Ge Dongxu, or maybe Ge Dongxu wanted to take a gamble, or perhaps the business investment books he read these days had given him inspiration and confidence, so without thinking of other ways to make money for the time being, Ge Dongxu suddenly made a decision.

    Once the decision was made, Ge Dongxu did not want to delay any longer. He not only planned to take out 120,000 from his account to buy the land, but he also took the property rights certificate of the factory building to Deputy Branch Manager Yuan Li of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of Changxi County, preparing to mortgage it to the bank.

    Yuan Li, whether it was because she believed in Ge Dongxu''s integrity or because of Lin Kun''s face previously, actually lent Ge Dongxu 160,000 according to the current market valuation of the factory and land, a full amount.

    This way, Ge Dongxu now had 280,000 in available funds.

    With 280,000 available, Ge Dongxu approached Cheng Yazhou and told him that he was going to continue buying land in Jiang Family Village.

    "Dongxu, just forget it, If you really feel that keeping money is a waste, it''s better to buy a shop along the street in the town. In recent years, the rent for shops has been steadily increasing," Cheng Yazhou said, taking a big jump when he heard that Ge Dongxu still planned to invest money in buying land in Jiang Family Village, and advised with a frown.

    "No, I still see potential in Jiang Family Village, Uncle Cheng, please help me arrange a meeting with Director Jiang to discuss this." Ge Dongxu had already borrowed the money from the bank and naturally would not give up halfway, he insisted.

    "You... alright, buying land is also a way of saving money, it''s better than spending it recklessly," seeing Ge Dongxu insisting on buying the land, Cheng Yazhou could only nod in agreement and even comforted himself with a remark.

    Fortunately, at this time Cheng Yazhou did not know that Ge Dongxu had also specifically borrowed from the bank, otherwise, he would not have spoken so.

    Thus, with Cheng Yazhou mediating the negotiations, Ge Dongxu spent a total of 280,000 yuan, purchasing another nine mu of land around the Yaxu Trademark Factory.

    The reason they were able to buy so much this time was that these plots were all barren lands, void of any structures, and hence comparatively cheaper.

    As a result, Ge Dongxu now had twelve mu of residential land in the town area, though to others, Ge Dongxu merely owned twelve mu of rural farmland. Discover stories at empire

    For this matter, Wu Qianjin privately complained a lot to Cheng Yazhou, believing that Ge Dongxu''s expenditure was a waste.

    And after spending such a large amount of money, the Talisman Jade finally crumbled into pieces, leaving Ge Dongxu with only a portion of money reserved for building a house in his pockets, his account nearly empty, and even owing the bank 160,000, very avant-garde, he had become a "debt-laden man."

    ps: Continue to ask for recommendation tickets to support, thank you.

 Chapter 102 Pregnant

    because he had no money in his pocket and still owed the bank 160,000, ge dongxu had no choice but to wait for the villa to be finished soon so that he could move to jiang family village sooner. even without the taiyin spirit gathering formation talisman jade, he could still barely cultivate.as for the profits of yaxu trademark factory in the coming period, ge dongxu planned to continuously invest in jiang family village before the end of this year. since he had already borrowed from the bank, ge dongxu decided to stick to this path for the year. as for the bank''s money, he planned to pay it back with next year''s profits. s§×ar?h the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    time quickly moved to mid-may.

    jiangnan province is located in the subtropics, and its climate becomes hot earlier than other places. female students in the campus had already started wearing skirts and t-shirts, exuding a youthful vibe.

    it was friday of this day, and as ge dongxu went home after school, cheng yazhou told him that chief zuo le asked him to give him a call.

    ge dongxu didn''t know what zuo le wanted, so he immediately borrowed cheng yazhou''s cell phone and called zuo le.

    "dongxu, i have some good news. jingfang went to the hospital today, and the result is that she''s pregnant!" ge dongxu had just connected the call when zuo le excitedly said.

    "that''s wonderful, congratulations elder zuo!" ge dongxu also felt happy for zuo le, and at the same time, he breathed a sigh of relief. no matter what, at the beginning of the year, he had boasted that if xu jingfang really couldn''t get pregnant, it would be embarrassing for him.

    "haha, i can''t thank you enough for this. tomorrow is saturday, will you be in the county town? if you are, jingfang and i would like to invite you to dinner, we both want to thank you in person!" zuo le said happily.

    ge dongxu was about to say there was no need, as he planned to return to baiyun mountain, but remembering that xu jingfang was already 42 years old, a definitely advanced-age pregnant woman, with considerable risks even with the pregnancy, he hesitated and then said, "that would be good, i can also check her pulse and prescribe some medicine to stabilize the pregnancy!"

    "thank you so much, dongxu, we had the same intention. after all, jingfang is older, if something goes wrong this time, it might be difficult in the future." zuo le and his wife had the same thought, and they were moved that ge dongxu had considered it first.

    "haha, i haven''t had the chance to thank you for our factory''s issue last time," ge dongxu said with a smile.

    "it''s not the same, not the same. back then, it was my fault as a county committee leader for not doing my job well; i should apologize to you," zuo le immediately said.

    "haha, anyway, we don''t need to be so formal with each other, just set a time and place," ge dongxu said.

    "let''s go to old lin''s place then, at six in the evening. i''ll have yue ting wait for you in the lobby," zuo le said.

    ge dongxu acknowledged and then hung up the phone.

    the next day, at six in the evening, ge dongxu arrived at changxi grand hotel as scheduled.

    it was the same private room and people, everyone''s face brimming with happy smiles. when ge dongxu pushed the door and entered, everyone instinctively stood up, their gaze inadvertently laced with a hint of awe and gratitude, of course.

    "dongxu is here, come take a seat, take a seat!" today was zuo le''s treat, and as soon as he saw ge dongxu, he immediately waved him over.

    with the experience from the last meal, ge dongxu was no longer hesitant or overly polite.

    after ge dongxu sat down, lin jinnuo immediately instructed the waiter to serve the dishes and huadiao wine.

    "jingfang, why don''t you switch seats with zuo le before we start drinking, so i can check the child''s health condition," ge dongxu said with a smile.

    "thank you, dongxu," xu jingfang promptly got up and switched seats with zuo le.

    "dongxu, auntie just got pregnant not long ago, can you already tell what''s going on?" yue ting couldn''t help but ask curiously.

    "of course, i can even tell the gender." ge dongxu laughed. everyone is born with a breath of primal energy; the stronger the life breath of this primal energy, the healthier the child will naturally be. as for the gender, you just need to feel whether this life breath is more yin or yang.

    "really? then...never mind, dongxu, don''t tell me whether it''s a boy or a girl. it''s nice to have something to look forward to." xu jingfang''s eyes lit up at first, but then she shook her head.

    ge dongxu smiled and then placed his hand on xu jingfang''s wrist.

    "the child is doing well; there won''t be any problems. i''ll prescribe some pregnancy and health-preserving medicine based on your constitution to ensure you have a healthy, chubby son!" ge dongxu laughed.

    "haha! i''m going to have a little cousin!" yue ting laughed happily upon hearing this.

    "what cousin? ah..." ge dongxu was momentarily stunned, suddenly realizing he had let the cat out of the bag and couldn''t help but slap his own head.

    "haha! congratulations, elder zuo, jingfang." lin jinnuo hurriedly stood up, cupping his fists towards zuo le and xu jingfang to congratulate them.

    yue feng and his wife also joined in the congratulations.

    in changxi county, the preference for sons over daughters was still quite strong. although xu jingfang had just told ge dongxu not to tell her the gender, deep down she was hoping for a son. and bureau chief zuo le of the zuo family, who only had one son himself, took the matter of not having children very seriously. now that he heard his wife was carrying a boy, he was all smiles, repeatedly giving thanks: "it''s all thanks to dongxu, all thanks to dongxu!"

    "elder zuo, you really shouldn''t say things like that carelessly!" lin jinnuo, seeing how the couple spoke, couldn''t resist teasing them, which made xu jingfang''s face turn red, while zuo le pointed at lin jinnuo, laughing and cursing, "you, old lin, daring to make such jokes. be careful or i''ll send inspectors to your hotel every day!"

    "no, no, director zuo, i was wrong, i apologize, i apologize!" lin jinnuo quickly apologized emphatically, while ge dongxu was still young and had not yet caught the teasing in lin jinnuo''s words, showing a puzzled look and couldn''t help but ask, "old lin, what did you do wrong?" explore more at empire

    "i, i..." only then did lin jinnuo realize that ge dongxu was still just a high school student, and his face instantly turned red.

    "let''s see if you dare to talk nonsense in the future!" zuo le and yue feng pointed at lin jinnuo, then said to ge dongxu, "dongxu, don''t listen to this guy''s nonsense, nothing good comes out of his mouth."

    "right, right, don''t listen to my nonsense." lin jinnuo hurriedly said.

    ge dongxu was a smart person. even if he hadn''t yet grasped the meaning of lin jinnuo''s words, he understood by now that this was not a topic to continue, so he laughed and said, "alright, the child has been seen, now let''s drink."

    so, everyone agreed, and lin jinnuo finally sighed in relief.

    some things are commonly said at the dining table; lin jinnuo had momentarily forgotten that ge dongxu was not the same as the others, and that his earlier comment was indeed not suitable.

    it was just a small interlude. soon, the private room burst into lively toasting, with everyone frequently toasting to ge dongxu and the soon-to-be father, zuo le.

    "elder zuo, there''s been a rumor lately that the county government is planning to rebuild the office building. is that true?" lin jinnuo suddenly asked when the wine was flowing freely.

    zuo le was slightly taken aback, then pointed at lin jinnuo and said, "old lin, you know the principle i work by; don''t ask me about this again. when it''s time to know, you''ll naturally find out."

    ps: continuing to ask for recommendation votes, thank you very much.

 Chapter 103 Old Fox

    "i understand, i understand, it won''t happen again, it won''t happen again. this drink is my apology." lin jinnuo, far from looking ashamed, happily picked up his glass and punished himself with a drink."you business people are all as cunning as foxes. if you ask me a similar question next time, i''ll cut ties with you." seeing lin jinnuo''s happy face, zuo le''s expression darkened slightly as he pointed at him.

    "is it really necessary to be so ruthless? i''ll definitely be careful next time, very careful," lin jinnuo quickly wiped the smile off his face and said seriously.

    ge dongxu watched the scene unfold and seemed to understand something, a thoughtful look flickered in his eyes.

    afterward, zuo le clearly had something on his mind, and lin jinnuo, realizing he might have gone too far, repeatedly toasted zuo le. yue feng and his wife also followed with several toasts, and xu jingfang whispered something in his ear, after which zuo le gradually regained his hearty demeanor.

    the time was still around eight o''clock when the dinner ended.

    at the end of the meal, ge dongxu didn''t forget to prescribe a nurturing and pregnancy care recipe for xu jingfang and reminded her of a few things to pay attention to.

    this time it was zuo le and his group who left first. lin jinnuo used the excuse of having something to discuss with ge dongxu to specially keep him behind.

    "is there something old lin can''t discuss in front of elder zuo and the others?" after they had left, ge dongxu asked.

    "didn''t you see elder zuo getting a bit annoyed just now? even though we all know well enough, this can''t be discussed in front of him anymore," lin jinnuo replied with a laugh, his plump face revealing a slyness akin to a cunning fox.

    "do you mean the county government really plans to rebuild the office building?" ge dongxu looked at the sly smile on lin jinnuo''s face, and suddenly, as if struck by lightning, he understood why elder zuo had been unhappy, and why lin jinnuo was so cheerful.

    it turns out elder zuo had slipped up just like him earlier and lin jinnuo had guessed the real answer.

    ''tsk!'' lin jinnuo looked at ge dongxu in surprise and couldn''t help but exclaim after a moment, "dongxu, it would be a huge waste if you didn''t go into politics or business! how did you figure that out?"

    "it''s not really that difficult. with elder zuo''s character, if it were not true, he would have definitely answered no right away. after all, denying something that isn''t true doesn''t breach any principles," ge dongxu replied, inwardly marveling, lin jinnuo managed to run such a large business, definitely with good reason. he clearly knew what kind of person elder zuo was and that elder zuo would never give him the answer, yet he still managed to get the truth he wanted without forcing elder zuo to break any principles.

    "truly, great heroes emerge from youth!" lin jinnuo gave a thumbs up.

    "so, old lin, what advice do you have for keeping me here?" ge dongxu asked.

    "how could i advise you? however, now that it''s confirmed that the county government is considering rebuilding the office building, it would eventually come down to picking a spot either in the old city or beiyang, or near pingchao and jiang family village. as you know, in our country, wherever the government buildings are located, that place will definitely become the future development center. it''s just that the specific location might not have been decided by the county leadership team yet, so i can only offer you a suggestion: if you have some spare cash, consider buying up the land around your factory. even though it''s only partially possible that it falls in jiang family village, business inherently carries no guarantees of success. anyway, given the current economic development climate of changxi county, the land around the county seat is always likely to hold its value. of course, if you''re tight on funds, don''t go out of your way to buy land, as there are still risks. plus, though the county government has plans, who knows when they will materialize? what if it gets delayed for years?" lin jinnuo said.

    "i bought that plot of land by the factory last year, and just a few days ago, i bought some more around it. now, i don''t have a single penny left," ge dongxu said. sea??h th§× nov§×lf~ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    this time, lin jinnuo was genuinely surprised and stared at ge dongxu for a long while before saying, "it seems i did an unnecessary thing."

    "hehe, not really. at least after your analysis, i feel much more at ease. i was hoping to make a fortune from these plots of land," ge dongxu laughed.

    "so, how much land do you have now in jiang family village?" lin jinnuo asked.

    "about twelve acres," ge dongxu replied.

    upon hearing this, lin jinnuo was taken aback again. twelve acres was quite substantial, requiring a few hundred thousand dollars. although this amount of money was not huge for lin jinnuo, it wasn''t small either, and for a young man like ge dongxu, it was even more significant. one could imagine the boldness of a young man possessing such courage, and even lin jinnuo felt extremely shocked.

    read exclusive content at empire

    initially, he thought ge dongxu was only skilled in mysterious arts and was not much different from other young people in other respects. lin had intended to offer him some guidance, but it turned out that ge dongxu had already surpassed him.

    since ge dongxu had already surpassed him, lin jinnuo naturally had nothing more to instruct. after chatting a bit more with ge dongxu, he had lin kun escort ge dongxu home.

    as they left the elevator, ge dongxu''s peripheral vision seemed to catch a glimpse of a familiar figure sandwiched between two men.

    ge dongxu was momentarily stunned and just as he wanted to take a closer look, the elevator doors closed.

    "it must be my imagination, how could she possibly be here!" ge dongxu shook his head and then left the hotel with lin kun''s company.

    "dongxu, i''ll go bring the car over," lin kun said.

    "no need, it''s so cool this evening, perfect for a nice walk. i''d rather walk back," ge dongxu waved his hand and smiled.

    after saying this, he did not wait for lin kun to insist, and headed towards cheng yazhou''s place.

    he hadn''t walked far when ge dongxu felt uneasy, and eventually, he returned to the hotel.

    "dongxu, is there something the matter?" at this time, lin kun was still in the hotel lobby. seeing ge dongxu return, he went up to him and asked.

    "just now i thought i saw a school senior. can you help me check who checked in when we came out and which room they''re in?" ge dongxu asked.

    normally, this was not allowed, but since ge dongxu asked, lin kun naturally did not object and went to inquire at the reception.

    as the deputy manager of the hotel and the owner''s son, lin kun quickly had the reception staff check the previous registrations and then they told him the room number.

    "dongxu, i got the room number. however, it seems inappropriate to just knock on the door. should i have a staff member find a reason to go in and check for you? or maybe check the surveillance room?" after asking for the room number, lin kun suggested to ge dongxu.

    "no need, i should be able to tell just by getting to the room door." at this point, ge dongxu felt increasingly uneasy. not wanting to waste more time, he waved his hand and declined.

 Chapter 104 Big Brother Xu Hits Someone

    "alright, i''ll take you there," lin kun, knowing ge dongxu was a man of uncommon abilities, didn''t protest further. he immediately led him to the elevator and pressed the button for the eighth floor.the room of the guest from just now was on the eighth floor, room 806.

    exiting the elevator, ge dongxu followed lin kun quickly toward room 806.

    as they arrived at the door of room 806, ge dongxu was about to press his ear against the door when he vaguely heard sounds coming from inside.

    ge dongxu''s face changed drastically and he immediately turned back to ask lin kun, "do you have a room key?"

    the hotel had good soundproofing, and lin kun''s hearing wasn''t nearly as keen as ge dongxu''s. he had not yet realized something was wrong and seeing ge dongxu asking for the key, he shook his head. then, out of professional habit, he showed difficulty on his face and pointed to the do not disturb sign on the door, saying, "dongxu, there''s a do not disturb sign hanging there, it''s not convenient for us to¡­"

    seeing that lin kun didn''t have a key card, ge dongxu directly knocked on the door forcefully.

    "fuck, can''t you see the do not disturb sign on the door? get lost!" a fierce and impatient voice shouted from inside.

    seeing that the person inside didn''t open the door, ge dongxu grew anxious. he told lin kun, "you stay out here."

    after speaking, ge dongxu lifted his foot and gave the door a fierce kick.

    "bang!" the door was forcefully kicked open.

    seeing the door fly open with ge dongxu''s kick, lin kun took a deep breath of shock, remembering the incident at the ge family village farmstay. he silently thanked his lucky stars that ge dongxu hadn''t kicked him like that; otherwise, his liver and spleen would''ve ruptured.

    while lin kun was inwardly gasping and feeling relieved, ge dongxu had already stepped briskly into the room.

    inside the room, jiang lili was wearing very little, with two middle-aged men touching her.

    jiang lili froze when she saw it was ge dongxu who entered.

    "fuck! who the hell are you? get the fuck out!" the two men became enraged at the sight of a young man bursting in, with one of them cursing angrily while lifting his foot to kick ge dongxu in the stomach.

    just as the man aimed a kick at ge dongxu''s stomach, jiang lili suddenly came to her senses and screamed, "ah! don''t!"

    "fuck! scumbags!" although ge dongxu wasn''t completely clear about what was happening, the sight of two middle-aged men bringing a high school girl to a hotel room was enough to know they were scumbags. when one of them kicked at him, he immediately counter-kicked fiercely.

    "thump!" with a kick as fast as lightning, ge dongxu sent the man flying into the wall with a heavy thud.

    swiftly, before the other man could react, ge dongxu kicked him as well. find your next read at empire

    "thump!" like the first, the second man was also kicked heavily into the wall.

    "ah!" jiang lili screamed again at the shocking scene before her.

    ge dongxu grabbed a bedsheet and threw it to jiang lili.

    jiang lili caught the bedsheet and hastily wrapped herself up.

    seeing jiang lili wrapped up, ge dongxu let out a sigh of relief, then walked over to the two men who were cursing as they tried to get up from the ground. before they could stand, he stomped heavily on their backs.

    "ah!"

    "ah!"

    the two men were immediately pinned to the ground by his stomps. s§×ar?h the novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    although ge dongxu didn''t have much affection for jiang lili, she was a schoolmate and they had some interactions. the thought of what might have happened if he had arrived a moment later or had not returned when he grew suspicious made ge dongxu feel both frightened and furious.

    "scumbags! i''ll stomp you to death!" ge dongxu continued to stomp furiously on the two men.

    watching the high school junior who used to be so respectful in front of her and others ¨C the mountain boy she hadn''t thought much of ¨C suddenly reveal such a fierce side, jiang lili was dumbfounded.

    she couldn''t believe this person before her was the same ge dongxu she knew.

    "do you know who i am? you dare to hit me! if you''ve got the guts, kill me now; otherwise, you''re going to die a horrible death!" the two men, furious at being stomped on by a young man, shouted angrily.

    however, they quickly lost their fight under ge dongxu''s relentless stomping and began to beg for mercy.

    there was no other way; a wise man knows better than to fight against insurmountable odds.

    after venting his anger and calming his rage somewhat, ge dongxu called out to lin kun at the door, "you can come in now."

    lin kun dared to enter, and upon entering he saw the two men pinned to the ground by ge dongxu''s foot. the screams he had clearly heard from outside made him tremble.

    "manager lin, manager lin, you''ve arrived just in time. call security quickly and get this guy arrested. damn it, he barged in and attacked us for no reason, you owe us an explanation!" recognizing lin kun, the two men recovered their energy upon seeing him enter and began shouting loudly.

 Chapter 105 Mr. Lin, youve come at the perfect time!

    "it''s you guys!" lin kun obviously recognized the two men and showed a hint of surprise on his face."you know them?" ge dongxu asked with a cold face.

    "yeah, a couple of guys from the underworld in songyang town, they''ve got some clout there," lin kun nodded.

    lin kun''s family owned a hotel, and they also dipped into the entertainment industry, so naturally, they knew some people from all walks of life.

    "kid, scared now, huh? get your foot off, or else i''ll¡­" seeing lin kun reveal their identities, the two men couldn''t help but regain their energy, and even started to get aggressive again.

    "your mom''s old head!" ge dongxu, who had already deemed these two as scum, was even more confirmed in his judgment by lin kun''s words. seeing the two men acting all tough, he immediately lifted his foot and stomped on them again fiercely.

    the two men, in pain, cried out to lin kun, "president lin, call security! call security!"

    while the two men were shouting, the hotel security, already alerted by the commotion, finally arrived at room 806.

    ge dongxu had been frequenting the changxi grand hotel lately, and each time he was personally welcomed by lin kun and yue ting and seen off at the hotel''s entrance, so most of the security staff recognized ge dongxu. seeing that it was him fighting, they didn''t dare to rush in, but rather looked towards lin kun with questioning eyes.

    "damn it, are you all blind? don''t you see i''m being beaten up here?" the two men on the ground thought their savior had come, but when their saviors turned out to be like wooden statues, motionless, they couldn''t help but swear in anger.

    "dongxu bro!" lin kun, hearing the two men yelling, worried about the impact on the hotel''s business, quietly called out to dongxu.

    the room fell silent the moment lin kun''s "dongxu bro" was uttered.

    the two men on the ground stopped yelling. they understood very well lin kun''s standing, and anyone who even lin kun had to address as ''bro'' was definitely not someone they could afford to mess with. at this point, they finally understood why none of the security staff had come forward to help.

    as for jiang lili, she was completely stunned, staring at ge dongxu as if she had seen a ghost.

    although she was still in shock, she realized that even the two men on the floor had to call lin kun "president lin," and if jiang lili had half a brain, she''d know that this young man in front of her was no ordinary person.

    but even he had to call ge dongxu "dongxu bro," what did that imply?

    suddenly, jiang lili remembered the incident from last year when chen zihao came to class with a bruised and swollen face, limping, and apologized to dong yuxin, saying he wouldn''t bother her anymore.

    and suddenly, jiang lili finally realized why chen zihao had been bruised and limping, why he later never dared to bother dong yuxin anymore. it turned out all this was done by that first-year student who never seemed to be in her eyes!

    seeing lin kun whispering to him, ge dongxu remembered he was in a hotel, and he still hadn''t gotten a clear answer about jiang lili''s situation, so he said to lin kun, "have someone keep an eye on them. once i''ve got the whole story, we''ll settle the score with them."

    "sure thing, dongxu bro," lin kun replied respectfully, then waved at the security guards, "take them away, don''t let them go."

    "mr. lin, should we inform the boss about this incident?" the head of security, recognizing the two men beaten by ge dongxu, knew they had a bit of a reputation in the underworld and was somewhat worried that lin kun might not understand the seriousness of the situation, exacerbating matters and causing trouble for those who had to handle it. he cautiously reminded him.

    "right, call lin jinnuo over! fuck! what exactly is going on here? i came here to spend money, not to get beaten up! and what right does he have to arrest someone? once word gets out, does he think his hotel can continue to operate?" the man pressed down by ge dongxu showed a glimmer of hope when the head of security mentioned lin jinnuo.

    young men can sometimes be impulsive and fail to grasp the severity of a situation, but lin jinnuo was an old hand in the game and certainly knew how to weigh his actions.

    "what''s the situation?" just as their voices died down, the voice of lin jinnuo came from the doorway.

    it turned out that the commotion here had already been reported to lin jinnuo, stirring him into action.

    "perfect timing, boss lin! ah, it hurts like hell, get your people to take care of this brat for me," said the beaten man, as if he had seen his savior upon seeing lin jinnuo. s§×ar?h the n??elfir§×.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "dongxu!" however, lin jinnuo didn''t attend to the two men on the ground, instead staring at ge dongxu, surprised enough that his eyes nearly dropped out.

    because lin jinnuo had always thought ge dongxu was just a man with miraculous medical skills, a high school student who typically appeared very amiable and refined, never knowing he was also a master fighter.

    but now, the domineering presence of ge dongxu as he stood with his foot on the two men clearly showed he was a fighter as well.

    this completely overturned lin jinnuo''s understanding of him! discover hidden stories at empire

    "old lin, you''re here just in time. these two scumbags must have done something awful, forcing my senior sister to get a room with them here. you take them into custody for now; don''t let them get away. after i sort out what happened, i''ll settle the score with them," ge dongxu, seeing lin jinnuo''s arrival, spoke directly without any formalities.

    lin jinnuo, being an old-timer, immediately understood the situation when he saw jiang lili wrapped in the bedsheet, considering the identities of the two men. he knew they must have been up to some abominable deed.

    "fuck!" lin jinnuo stepped forward and kicked the two men, saying, "what do you take my hotel for?"

    the two men pinned by ge dongxu were underworld figures, well aware of lin jinnuo''s influence in both the legitimate and illegitimate spheres of changxi county. seeing that even ge dongxu only addressed him as old lin, they already felt extremely ill at ease. true to their fears, shortly after they heard the young man''s words, lin jinnuo didn''t hesitate to kick them. they were now thoroughly panicked and quickly begged for mercy, "boss lin, we''re sorry, we''re sorry! we admit our mistake, and we apologize to you and this young brother!"

    "apologies are bullshit! take them away, damn it; who do you think you are, doing such inhuman things!" lin jinnuo kicked the two men again, cursing them angrily.

    "lin jinnuo, let us go! you have no right to arrest us; i''ll sue your changxi grand hotel!" the two men, seeing lin jinnuo giving them no face and actually following ge dongxu''s command to detain them, yelled in a panic, not caring about offending lin jinnuo anymore.

    "old lin, he''s not wrong. call elder zuo and ask him to bring some people over." the scumbags'' words reminded ge dongxu. seeing the security take the two men away, he thought for a moment and then said to lin jinnuo.

    "elder zuo, who''s elder zuo?" hearing ge dongxu acknowledge that they had made a valid point, the scumbags felt relieved for a moment. but then ge dongxu mentioned elder zuo, and their hearts skipped a beat as they blurted out their question.

    "zuo le, chief zuo! now do you understand what kind of trouble you''re in? fuck!" hearing this, lin jinnuo slapped both men on the head.

    ps: it''s monday again; i earnestly request recommendation tickets, clicks, favorites, rewards, and comments in support. today will have at least four chapters.

 Chapter 106 This is a Different Matter [2nd Update, Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    "director zuo... director zuo!" when the two scumbags heard this, their legs went weak, and they almost collapsed on the ground.they weren''t very afraid of lin jinnuo; after all, he was just a businessman. but zuo le was a terrifying figure specifically known for dealing with scum like them in changxi county! that wasn''t even the main issue. the crucial factor was that the young man just called zuo le "elder zuo"!

    with zuo le''s current position and status, the only people in changxi county who dared to call him that were probably only his best friends or his superiors. but now? this young man actually called him elder zuo!

    it was clear that once zuo le arrived and personally investigated this case, not only would today''s deeds be thoroughly exposed, but past misdeeds would likely also be unearthed. s~ea??h the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    thinking about this, the two completely broke down in tears.

    "young man, young man, let''s talk this out, let''s talk this out!" the two cried desperately, begging for mercy.

    however, ge dongxu ignored such scum and simply waved his hand, signaling the security guards to drag them out.

    "old lin, lin kun, you guys go out first. i''ll call you back in once i''ve clarified the situation," ge dongxu said to lin jinnuo and his son after the guards left.

    "alright, but the door has been kicked and is busted, so it''s a bit inconvenient. maybe we should change rooms," suggested lin jinnuo, nodding his head and then considerately proposing.

    "that sounds good," ge dongxu also felt it was inconvenient to keep the door open, especially with jiang lili wrapped in a sheet, wearing only underwear underneath. upon hearing the suggestion, he nodded his head.

    fortunately, the room next to 806 was vacant, so ge dongxu, carrying jiang lili''s clothes, led the still somewhat dazed jiang lili to the neighboring room.

    once in the neighboring room, ge dongxu closed the door, then handed the clothes and trousers to jiang lili, saying, "go to the bathroom and put these on first."

    jiang lili silently took the clothes and trousers, then suddenly let go of the sheet wrapped around her, allowing it to fall to the floor.

    "what are you doing?" ge dongxu quickly turned away and exclaimed.

    "do you look down on me now? think i''m a piece of trash, a cheap woman? yes, i am trash, i am a cheap woman! if you men like to watch, then watch enough!" jiang lili said, standing bare-chested in front of ge dongxu, her expression becoming somewhat crazy and hysterical.

    "what are you talking about? why would i think you''re trash or cheap? if that were true, i wouldn''t have kicked the door in earlier," ge dongxu saw jiang lili''s self-degradation and wanted to explode in anger, but he ultimately restrained himself.

    "you say that, but you must still look down on me deep down! woohoo!" ge dongxu''s attempts to console her seemed to not only be ineffective but also made jiang lili cry even more.

    she sat on the floor, burying her face in her knees and sobbing.

    jiang lili''s crying put ge dongxu in a tough spot.

    eventually, ge dongxu reluctantly stepped forward, and without hesitation, picked up jiang lili''s t-shirt and put it over her head, pulling it down.

    this covered her body.

    "okay, i promise i won''t say anything about today''s events, and i''ll instruct others not to reveal them either. now that it''s just the two of us here, tell me what actually happened? you have to tell me what happened so that i can help you," ge dongxu said after forcing the t-shirt over jiang lili, sitting down next to her on the floor and gently patting her shoulder.

    "wah!" jiang lili suddenly threw herself into ge dongxu''s arms, crying loudly.

    having no experience in consoling girls, ge dongxu could only gently pat jiang lili''s shoulder, saying things like "don''t cry," which weren''t technically savvy.

    after jiang lili had cried loudly, her emotions were vented, and after not too much time, her mood gradually stabilized, and she sat up from ge dongxu''s embrace.

    seeing her face covered in tears and her eyes red, ge dongxu handed her a tissue.

    "thank you!" jiang lili wiped the tears from her face, and seeing how her crying had wet ge dongxu''s clothes, her pretty face blushed a bit.

    but as she recalled the recent events that had occurred to her family, the flush quickly turned pale.

    "xu, you must help me, help our family!" wiping her tears and thinking of the events that had happened to her family these days, jiang lili suddenly grabbed ge dongxu''s arm, tears falling from her eyes again.

    "you don''t need to call me like lin kun does, just call me dongxu. also, don''t rush, tell me slowly, i''ll definitely help if i can," ge dongxu said.

    "you can definitely help! you must help! if you help me this time, i, jiang lili, will be your woman for life!" jiang lili, tears streaming down her face, said.

    "what nonsense are you talking!" ge dongxu couldn''t help but scolded irritably upon hearing this.

    "i mean it seriously. if it weren''t for you coming this time, my life would have been ruined by those two men!" jiang lili said.

    "these are two different matters, can we talk about the crucial issues?" ge dongxu said with a headache.

    "alright, i won''t talk about that now. as long as you know deep down that my body is yours for life," jiang lili said, wiping away her tears.

    "jiang lili, if you keep talking like this, i won''t deal with your matters!" ge dongxu said, his head aching and growing angry. find your next read at empire

    "do you really look down on me?" jiang lili asked, tears falling again upon hearing this.

    "not at all, can we please talk about crucial matters?" ge dongxu looked at jiang lili beginning to cry again, feeling his brain almost exploding. he couldn''t understand the structure of a woman''s mind, why she would cling to such absurd issues at a time like this.

    "okay!" this time, jiang lili finally stopped dwelling on it, wiped her tears, nodded, and then explained the whole situation to ge dongxu.

    ps: it''s monday, so please don''t find it troublesome, help cast a recommendation vote, thank you.

 Chapter 107 Trashã€Third release, ask for recommendation ticketsã€‘

    ge dongxu grew angrier as he listened, but his gaze on jiang lili gradually became filled with deep sympathy.it turned out that the two men from just now, one named duan qiaoxue, and the other jin ma, were two friends her father had met early last year while doing business.

    in the beginning, they both seemed very generous and loyal. they not only paid promptly in their business dealings with her father but would also take small losses upon themselves rather than letting her father bear them. thus, through their back-and-forth interactions, her father came to regard them as confidants, and jiang lili, having met them, would enthusiastically call them "uncle".

    however, this relationship underwent a drastic change after a gambling event some days ago. in that gambling bout, not only did her father lose all his savings, but in his bet-blinded state, he also mortgaged their house to the bank to get more funds to continue gambling. in the end, he lost all the borrowed money and, completely maddened by his losses, begged his two friends to act as guarantors for a loan of one hundred and fifty thousand yuan from another gambler. he promptly wrote an iou and continued to gamble, only to continue losing.

    her father wanted to borrow even more when those two so-called good friends, duan qiaoxue and jin ma, saw he had nothing left to offer and refused to guarantee any more loans. moreover, they had been coming to their house every day to press for repayment, claiming they had guaranteed the loan out of goodwill. now the creditor was pressing them for the repayment daily, and they also mentioned that the creditor was involved in the underworld. if the money wasn''t repaid soon, there would be serious trouble.

    at that point, her father started to realize that his two "friends" had set him up in a scam. naturally, he cursed at them and refused to pay the debt.

    seeing jiang lili''s father refuse to repay the debt, the two men showed their true colors. not only did they have someone take her father to a place and beat him up, but they also showed him the iou, saying that it was black on white, debts must be repaid, and that no matter where they argued, her father was in the wrong. moreover, they warned her father that they had connections in both the underworld and the legitimate world, and he better not try anything, or it wouldn''t just be a matter of repaying the money in the end.

    jiang lili''s family was just an ordinary household and knew those people were capable of anything. naturally, they didn''t dare make a scene, and her father had since been left somewhat dazed from the incident and took to heavy drinking. what was worse was that those people would still come to their door demanding the debt.

    jiang lili, feeling helpless, cried and begged them to show mercy and spare her family, promising to repay the money once she started earning. s§×arch* the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    those two scumbags, whom she used to warmly call "uncle," then leered at her chest, saying that could work as well, as long as she was willing to please them really well, they could delay the debt.

    and then, the incident from earlier unfolded.

    "scum! they are nothing but scum!" a youthful ge dongxu, upon hearing the story, felt for the first time the urge to kill.

    but ge dongxu quickly suppressed this murderous impulse, knowing they lived in a lawful society where all should be left to legal judgment. moreover, with zuo le present, ge dongxu was confident they wouldn''t escape severe legal punishment.

    "dongxu, i know you''re capable, and you know many people. please help me, our family really has not a penny left, our house is gone, and my dad has even borrowed a lot from relatives and friends. we really can''t pay them back!" after saying this, jiang lili clutched ge dongxu''s arm and pleaded with tears.

    "hmph, repay what money? rest assured, i will make sure these scumbags get jailed!" ge dongxu, in his anger, didn''t bother to correct jiang lili''s address of him as "dongxu" and spoke with a cold face.

    "really? but i heard they have connections in both the underworld and legitimate world. there was even a time they beat someone so badly, my mom called the police. when the police came and saw the iou my dad wrote, they didn''t say a word and left," jiang lili said, both excited and worried.

    find exclusive stories on empire

    "don''t worry! this time, not just them but even the people backing them won''t get away with it!" ge dongxu declared coldly.

    "dongxu, was that mr. lin just now the owner of the changxi grand hotel? and who is chief zuo he mentioned? is he a government official?" jiang lili, seeing ge dongxu''s confident demeanor, had her eyes filled with deep hope.

    "yes, the chubby one just now is the owner of the changxi grand hotel, and the chief zuo mentioned is the chief of the public security bureau in our county," ge dongxu nodded and said.

    "ah! the chief of the public security bureau!" on hearing this, jiang lili''s mouth flew open, and she couldn''t recover her senses for a long time.

    for ordinary people, especially a high school student, the chief of the public security bureau is an enormously important official. furthermore, since the public security bureau is a law enforcement department, it further highlights the chief''s status in the eyes of ordinary people.

    "that''s right, so you don''t need to worry," ge dongxu nodded and told her.

    "ah, i''m not worried, i''m not worried. thank you, dongxu. you must ask chief zuo to punish those bad people severely!" as soon as ge dongxu spoke, jiang lili finally snapped out of it, hurriedly nodding repeatedly. and in her excitement, she even bowed to ge dongxu.

    jiang lili already had a large chest, and since she wasn''t wearing a bra, her bending over suddenly caused her neckline to stretch widely, hanging down, seeming even more enticing than when she wasn''t wearing one, which frightened ge dongxu into quickly turning his head away, with a wry smile he said, "you better hurry up and put on your clothes, and don''t call me dongxu in the future. what if other students from school hear you?"

    "got it, dongxu. i''ll just call you that in private from now on," jiang lili saw ge dongxu turn his head away, and not only did she not feel dejected, but there was even a hint of mischief in her eyes. she leaned in close to ge dongxu''s ear and whispered sweetly, then, without avoiding ge dongxu, she started getting undressed right there in the room.

    ge dongxu inadvertently turned his head back, saw a flash of white, and quickly turned away again, saying, "hey, jiang lili, don''t go too far, we''re still just students!"

    "what''s too far about it? anyway, you''ve already seen it before, and there wasn''t a problem, right?" jiang lili responded nonchalantly.

    "how can that be the same?" ge dongxu replied irritably.

    "so you''re saying, dongxu, that you did feel something? hehe, it seems you''re not as pure as you pretended to be in front of us before, right? could it be you''ve spied on me before?" jiang lili had a naturally cheerful and lively personality. thinking that her ordeal was finally about to end and the bad guys were going to be punished, she felt a cathartic joy, regaining some of her usual vivacity and spiciness.

    "ahem!" ge dongxu turned a little red with jiang lili''s question.

    "giggle!" seeing ge dongxu blush, jiang lili laughed out loud.

    seeing jiang lili laugh out loud, ge dongxu stopped blushing. in fact, he let out a sigh of relief.

    he knew that after experiencing something like that, it''s inevitable for a girl to be left with some psychological scars. the fact that lili could laugh out loud meant that her condition was relatively good.

 Chapter 108 Stubbornness is Useless [4th Update, Request for Votes]

    "have you had your fill of laughter?" ge dongxu finally turned around and, upon seeing jiang lili whose attire was now tidy, his face darkened slightly as he spoke."are you angry, dongxu? the most i can do is not to behave like this in the future, okay?" seeing the slight darkening of ge dongxu''s face, jiang lili felt an inexplicable shiver in her heart. she quickly stepped forward, hugged his arm, and gently shook it, revealing a pitiful expression on her face.

    looking at the docile and pitiful girl in front of him, who seemed like a rabbit and drastically different from the fiery jiang lili of the past, ge dongxu felt almost as if he didn''t recognize her anymore. after a long while, he forced a bitter smile and said, "i still prefer the way you were before, though a bit hot-headed and realistic, it looked normal and genuine, unlike now, which makes me feel somewhat uneasy."

    "what''s the matter? it depends on the person, you know! back then, you were just a freshman, and a poor boy at that, so as your senior, i naturally had to put on a fiery front and show some attitude. but now that you''re so impressive, and have rescued me from misery, of course i''d behave differently. otherwise, would i, jiang lili, still be considered normal?" jiang lili said, pouting.

    upon hearing this, ge dongxu realized there was some truth to it and could only force a bitter smile. "anyway, i hope that our interactions remain the same as before, unaffected by today''s events." continue your journey on empire

    "don''t worry, i understand! it''ll just be like this in private," jiang lili reassured. having been admitted to the most prestigious high school in changxi county, changxi no. 1 high school, she was naturally not dull-witted. she immediately nodded in agreement at his words.

    seeing jiang lili nod her head in agreement, ge dongxu let out a silent sigh of relief and said, "i''ll give elder zuo a call to see. he should be arriving soon. when he gets here, you just say what you need to say. there''s no need to be afraid."

    "yeah, i understand, dongxu. thank you," jiang lili nodded and said.

    seeing that jiang lili still insisted on calling him dongxu in private, ge dongxu initially wanted to persuade her otherwise, but considering the unpredictable temper of women, he figured more persuasion would lead to more trouble and let it be.

    of course, being called "dongxu" by jiang lili, who had always acted superior to him, gave ge dongxu a rather bittersweet feeling.

    so, ge dongxu used the room phone to call zuo le.

    as expected, zuo le had already arrived at changxi grand hotel, and his men were also on their way. he was currently in the hotel''s security room.

    knowing that zuo le was in the hotel''s security room, ge dongxu told him he would be right there and then hung up the phone.

    "elder zuo has arrived. let''s go there now," ge dongxu suggested.

    "okay," jiang lili nodded, then followed ge dongxu out of the hotel.

    they hadn''t yet reached the elevator when the doors opened, and lin kun hurried out.

    seeing ge dongxu and jiang lili coming out, he quickly pressed the elevator button and then used his hand to block the doors from closing.

    it was clear that lin kun was worried ge dongxu wasn''t sure where the security room was and had specifically come up to escort him.

    at this point, jiang lili was aware that lin kun was the son of the changxi grand hotel''s owner. seeing him take the trouble to personally welcome ge dongxu for such a trivial matter, she felt increasingly puzzled by this junior from the first year of high school.

    "what happened to those two scumbags named duan qiaoxue and jin ma? did they say anything?" ge dongxu didn''t bother with formalities when speaking with lin kun, as he stepped into the elevator with jiang lili and asked.

    it was the first time jiang lili had seen a genuine second-generation rich kid, and she felt somewhat nervous. however, when she saw how casually ge dongxu questioned lin kun and how respectfully lin kun responded, her anxiety gradually faded.

    "they''re quite obstinate, claiming that your friend here volunteered to get involved with them," lin kun spoke with some hesitation when mentioning jiang lili, fearful of upsetting ge dongxu. his gaze also inadvertently swept quickly over jiang lili.

    seeing that jiang lili wasn''t stunningly beautiful but had an attractive figure, it was clear why those two men had resorted to tactics to get her.

    even he, lin kun, would be tempted by such a woman!

    of course, even if lin kun had a hundred or a thousand times the courage he possessed now, he wouldn''t dare harbor improper thoughts about the woman with the impressive figure before him.

    "they''re lying, i, i was coerced!" jiang lili became anxious upon hearing this, and tears involuntarily started rolling in her eyes.

    "don''t panic, their stubbornness is useless!" ge dongxu saw jiang lili''s emotions drastically fluctuate and quickly tried to comfort her.

    "yes! but what if they outright refuse to admit it, and they also have the iou my dad wrote." jiang lili felt a bit calmer when ge dongxu spoke to console her, but she couldn''t help showing a worried expression on her face.

    "don''t worry, i will find a way to make them talk. not only about this matter, but everything they have done will also be completely revealed by them," ge dongxu patted jiang lili''s shoulder and consoled her again.

    when lin kun heard ge dongxu''s calm words, he couldn''t help but shudder. he thought back to the events that had occurred in ge family village. s§×ar?h the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    at the same time, lin kun began to silently mourn for those two guys and the people behind them!

    of all people to offend, they had to offend dongxu. they really didn''t know what death means!

    "um, thank you!" jiang lili either intentionally or because she really needed a shoulder to lean on at that moment, nodded and said thank you as she conveniently leaned her body against him, showing a rather dependent appearance.

    knowing that jiang lili''s emotions were still unstable, ge dongxu didn''t dare to push her away. instead, he gently held her fragrant shoulder a bit tighter.

    seeing this, lin kun hurriedly averted his eyes, feeling even more sorry for those two scumbags and the people behind them!

    so, this woman has another kind of relationship with dongxu. you guys are definitely going to suffer a very miserable death!

    after exiting the elevator, jiang lili finally moved away from ge dongxu''s shoulder.

    when ge dongxu arrived at the security room, a few detectives temporarily called in by zuo le had also made it to the security room.

    at first glance, this incident seemed quite ordinary, nothing more than two middle-aged men arranging a meet up with a woman, but once lin jinnuo explained the identities of these two men, along with jiang lili''s identity to zuo le, a detective by training, he knew this case wasn''t so simple but rather a criminal affair. so he immediately called in some of his reliable former subordinates.

    coincidentally, the detectives who came over today happened to be the ones ge dongxu had met outside the emergency room at ouzhou city hospital.

    they were all aware of what had happened back then, but were later instructed not to speak of it, so these detectives recognized ge dongxu. seeing him appear, they were all surprised and involuntarily showed a mix of awe and gratitude.

    the last time they had taken action together with zuo le, others might not have known the severity of zuo''s injuries, but they were very clear about it. yet, in the end, chief zuo recovered and left the hospital in not so many days, soon taking up the post of a county party standing committee member and the head of the public security bureau. naturally, these former subordinates of zuo le also benefitted from his rise.

    so for ge dongxu, this extraordinary man, they not only had a deep respect but also felt grateful. because by saving zuo le, ge dongxu didn''t just alleviate their guilt and self-blame but also helped them in their careers.

    ps: today''s update is complete.

 Chapter 109 Acupoint Sealing [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    because of this reason, the detectives were surprised to see ge dongxu arrive with a girl, and they hurriedly saluted him as if he were their leader.last time ge dongxu had slipped away, and they had no chance to express their gratitude; the salute just now was their way of expressing their appreciation, making up for the previous omission.

    the sudden gesture from the police startled ge dongxu, while jiang lili''s eyes nearly popped out in amazement.

    for her, a high school student with little worldly experience, no matter what was said, it was not as shocking as seeing these uniformed individuals salute!

    "no, no, you''re making it so that i don''t even know how to respond," ge dongxu quickly scratched his head and showed the unique shyness of a young man.

    seeing this, the police officers all smiled, lowered their hands, and one of them, who looked like an officer, asked, "elder zuo called just now but didn''t explain much, could it be that this matter is related to you?"

    "yes, it involves my senior here. let''s go inside and talk," ge dongxu nodded and said.

    "please, after you," a few policemen quickly stepped aside and said.

    seeing this, ge dongxu didn''t stand on ceremony, thanked them, and then led jiang lili into the security room. sear?h the ¦Çov§×lfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "chief zuo, sorry to trouble you again." since there were quite a few people in the security room, including some of zuo le''s subordinates, ge dongxu did not call zuo le ''elder zuo'' but referred to him as chief zuo instead.

    as ge dongxu''s social experience grew and he met more people, he gradually became familiar with formalities and no longer appeared as na?ve as before. he knew he could not diminish zuo le''s authority in front of these police officers.

    zuo le was slightly taken aback, then quickly understood ge dongxu''s intention, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes, and he hastened to say, "dongxu, you''re being too polite, this is my duty."

    as he spoke, zuo le''s gaze shifted to jiang lili and he asked, "is this the victim?"

    "exactly, this is the victim, my senior jiang lili. thankfully, i arrived in time to prevent a bigger disaster!" ge dongxu nodded, then added specifically, after all, jiang lili was still a maiden, and he couldn''t let others misunderstand.

    "jiang lili, do not be afraid. we will thoroughly investigate this matter and bring the perpetrator to justice! please cooperate with our investigation," zuo le said gently to jiang lili.

    jiang lili had been quite nervous at first at the sight of zuo le, the chief of the public security bureau, but seeing his kind manner and noticing that ge dongxu was indeed very familiar with him, she felt less anxious and nodded, "thank you, chief zuo, i will definitely cooperate with your investigation."

    "dongxu, this is the hotel security room, not a suitable place for taking statements. what do you think about moving to the public security bureau with jiang lili now?" zuo le nodded at jiang lili, then said to ge dongxu.

    "no problem, just follow the procedure," ge dongxu nodded and replied.

    seeing that ge dongxu had no objections, zuo le ordered his men to take the two scoundrels to the police car.

    the two were thugs from the streets, understanding that showing weakness was futile by now, and that remaining tough might still offer a chance. thus, their attitude was no longer humble as before, but rather, they shouted, proclaiming that they were the ones beaten, yet they were the ones being arrested, accusing zuo le and others of abusing their power.

    seeing that the two were still causing a ruckus at this point, ge dongxu was quite annoyed and also worried that their shouting could negatively affect zuo le and the others once they left. he gestured with his hand to the police detaining the two and said, "one moment."

    saying this, he walked towards the two men.

    duan qiaoxue and jin ma were clearly frightened by ge dongxu previously, and as they saw him approaching, fear flashed immediately in their eyes as they yelled apprehensively, "what are you going to do? the police are here, do you still want to hit someone?"

    "keep it real for me!" ge dongxu didn''t hit them, instead he pushed the police officer next to him who directly slapped them on their heads.

    these officers were all detectives, whose deducing abilities were much stronger than those of ordinary police officers. from the recent dialogue between ge dongxu, jiang lili, and zuo le, and seeing jiang lili''s reddened eyes, her beautiful and voluptuous appearance, they had already guessed something and had long wanted to thrash the two, and now seeing them yelling at ge dongxu, they finally could not restrain themselves and slapped them.

    "the police are hitting people! the police are hitting people!" the two men began to shout loudly.

    fortunately, the door of the security room was closed at that time, otherwise, it might really lead to a misunderstanding.

    zuo le furrowed his brow, while ge dongxu''s face suddenly darkened. he walked behind the two, searched around the back of their necks for a moment, then extended a finger to a spot where the governor vessel and the yang wei vessel intersect at the back of the head and gently massaged it a few times.

    suddenly, those two could no longer make a sound.

    the men, realizing that they had suddenly lost their ability to speak, panicked and their faces turned pale. the way they looked at ge dongxu was as though they had seen a ghost, filled with fear. although the others hadn''t personally experienced the horror of suddenly losing one''s voice, seeing the two men frantically moving their mouths without making a sound, their eyes filled with terror and their hair standing on end was enough to make the security room seem ominously eerie.

    only lin kun was somewhat calmer, though he was still shaking inside.

    "now we can take them out," ge dongxu said, seeing that the two men had become silenced, and nodded.

    "dongxu, was that the legendary acupoint sealing just now?" zuo le walked forward, following the others out, and asked in a low voice.

    as zuo le asked this, the police officers and others around them all perked up their ears, including jiang lili.

    acupoint sealing was seen by many as a magical and mysterious martial arts skill, often only seen in tv shows, movies, or novels, never witnessed in reality by them.

    "if you want to think of it that way, you can, but it''s really nothing. the acupuncture in traditional chinese medicine is to dredge and stimulate the meridians and acupoints of people, while what i just did was the opposite, and then they were unable to speak," ge dongxu casually explained.

    since these police officers all knew about ge dongxu''s miraculous medical skills, such an explanation actually made sense to them, but still, they felt a bit fearful of him, always feeling that his fingers were magical.

    on the way to the county public security bureau, afraid that cheng yazhou would worry if he returned late, ge dongxu took the time to call him and tell him that he would be back later.

    since this case also involved jiang lili''s parents, zuo le had already sent someone to notify jiang lili''s parents partway through, asking them to come to the public security bureau as well.

    at the public security bureau, ge dongxu saw jiang lili''s parents. speaking of which, jiang lili''s father was also just over forty this year, but he was very slow in reaction and his eyes appeared lifeless, his entire mental state resembling that of an elderly man nearing his death.

    however, ge dongxu felt no pity for him because, due to him, his daughter''s life was almost ruined, he absolutely did not deserve to be a father!

    of course, seeing him in this state, ge dongxu couldn''t bring himself to be angry at him anymore.

    in the end, this whole thing was a trap set by duan qiaoxue and others to deceive him; he too was a victim! find your next read on empire

    ps: the new book needs the strong support of all my readers, please don''t forget to vote for the book, thank you very much. i should individually thank those who have rewarded the book, but since there are too many of you, i can only express my thanks here once again. your rewards, no matter how big or small, are extra encouragement, and i sincerely appreciate it, thank you! additionally, in response to a cameo request from a reader at qq book city, the scumbag duan qiaoxue makes a grand appearance.

 Chapter 110 You Let Me Judge

    by the time they reached the police station, jiang lili''s parents, due to their prior experience with reporting to the authorities, were initially afraid to tell the truth. it was only when zuo le informed them that their daughter had nearly been ruined by those two men that they came to a sudden realization.jiang yidong, lili''s father, clutched his head and kept pulling at his own hair, his eyes bloodshot. he probably would have taken a knife to those two scumbags if they weren''t at the police station, while lili''s mother was sobbing and hitting jiang yidong.

    eventually, it was zuo le who calmed lili''s mother down and then he told jiang yidong, "i am zuo le, the head of the county public security bureau. you just need to rest assured, no matter what backgrounds duan qiaoxue and his associates come from, i will have them prosecuted according to the law."

    only then did they realize that the man before them was the head of the county public security bureau, and they immediately began crying and tried to kneel before him.

    zuo le couldn''t dare allow them to kneel, so he quickly helped them up and then personally recorded their testimonies.

    after clarifying that another suspect was involved in the case, he immediately deployed officers to apprehend him as well.

    however, duan qiaoxue and his two associates still had tough attitudes, insisting that the money was borrowed by jiang yidong. regarding lili''s affair, they claimed it was voluntarily done by lili to help her father repay his debts.

    thus, what seemed to be a straightforward case had hit a dead end unless zuo le and his team resorted to using torture. otherwise, the case would be dragged on for a while.

    of course, since all three were seasoned criminals with undoubtedly shady backgrounds, now that zuo le, the head of the county public security bureau, had taken interest, investigating them would inevitably lead to their imprisonment sooner or later. for now, their obstinacy meant that zuo le had no immediate way to deal with them.

    zuo le explained the situation privately to ge dongxu to avoid any misunderstanding that he was reluctant to do his best in handling the case.

    "they refuse to speak, do they? that''s simple, let me do the interrogating, and i guarantee everything will come out," said ge dongxu, his face darkening slightly, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

    as for such scum of society, it was only because of legal constraints and also ge dongxu''s concern about affecting his own moral nature, considering he was still a young man taking ruthless measures on his own, that he hadn''t dealt those two harsh punishment back at changxi grand hotel, ensuring they would spend their lives on a hospital bed.

    "you really have a way? i mean, without using torture?" zuo le asked in surprise.

    "yes," ge dongxu nodded.

    "that''s great, how can i assist you?" zuo le asked excitedly.

    "just write down the questions you want to ask on a piece of paper, and i''ll ask them, then you record the testimonies," said ge dongxu.

    in the interrogation room, the police were questioning duan qiaoxue. your next read awaits at empire

    "officer, how many times do i have to say it before you believe me? debts must be paid; it''s only natural. i admit that involving his daughter was wrong, and we are willing to accept any sentence or fine," duan qiaoxue stated weakly, his demeanor as if he were a pig not afraid of boiling water.

    "duan qiaoxue, do you think we don''t know who you are? who do you think you''re fooling? are you going to confess today or not?" the interrogating officer asked, his temper flaring up as he suddenly stood up and slammed his hand on the desk. sea??h th§× n?velfire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "officer, i have already confessed everything i needed to confess," duan qiaoxue feigned confusion.

    the interrogating officer, infuriated to the point of explosion, was just about to slap duan qiaoxue when he suddenly saw director zuo entering the room. he hurriedly snapped to attention and saluted, reporting, "director zuo, this guy¡­"

    "that''s enough, i heard everything from outside. you all leave now, i''ll take over the interrogation," zuo le waved his hand and said.

    the two interrogating officers looked at each other and, after saluting sharply, exited the room.

    as soon as duan qiaoxue saw ge dongxu, this young man, he inexplicably felt his skin crawl and pointed at him, saying, "what, what do you want? i must tell you, this is the police station!"

    "why are you nervous? i''m not going to hit you! come on, let''s have a good talk." ge dongxu said as he sat down and then moved the lamp on the interrogation table away from him.

    "really?" duan qiaoxue was frightened by this young man at the hotel, especially after he softly rubbed the back of his head a few times, leaving him unable to speak. this incident made him inexplicably fearful of the young man in front of him, and now, the young man''s unusual demeanor truly made him puzzled.

    "of course it''s true. why would i hit you for no reason? besides, i''m still a high school student. do i look like someone who would hit people?" ge dongxu''s face displayed a harmless smile, and his voice became particularly gentle, carrying a hint of beguilement.

    "it seems not." duan qiaoxue shook his head, with a look of dazed confusion on his face.

    zuo le, watching the scene unfold, felt a chill in his heart and, without delay, began writing the questions he wanted to ask on a piece of paper while pressing the recorder.

    "yes, i''m here to help you. if you don''t believe me, just look into my eyes; you''ll know, eyes don''t lie." ge dongxu''s smile deepened, and his voice grew softer and more melodious.

    upon hearing this, duan qiaoxue unconsciously looked up into ge dongxu''s eyes.

    with that glance, duan qiaoxue''s expression became completely blank, and he responded, "i really do believe you''re here to help me now."

    "that''s right. but to help you, i first need to know what happened, so you must tell me the truth." although ge dongxu felt inward joy at his reaction, he continued to smile gently, his gaze growing softer.

    "of course." duan qiaoxue replied without hesitation.

    zuo le, being an experienced detective, knew exactly what to do and quickly passed the prepared questions to ge dongxu.

    ge dongxu then began asking the questions one by one, and duan qiaoxue, like a puppet, answered everything that was asked, detailing all the misdeeds he had committed over the years, even confessing the involvement of a deputy chief of the songyang town police station, who had been his protector.

    this interrogation lasted about an hour, and seeing that it was nearly enough, zuo le gestured with his hand for ge dongxu to conclude.

    ge dongxu then withdrew his gaze and gently rubbed his temples.

    the "bewitching soul technique" is a technique that heavily consumes spiritual power, and even if zuo le hadn''t signaled to stop, ge dongxu was already suffering from a headache and couldn''t continue.

    "what, what did you just do to me?" the moment ge dongxu withdrew his gaze, duan qiaoxue immediately shivered and looked at ge dongxu with a frightened expression.

    "what do you think?" ge dongxu replied with a cold smile, as zuo le cooperatively pressed the recorder once again.

    "you, you... how is this possible? how could i be so foolish!" hearing his own voice played back from the recorder, duan qiaoxue''s face turned deathly pale, looking at ge dongxu as if he had seen a demon from hell.

    "you''re not foolish, you''re scum! very much scum!" ge dongxu said as he stood up, but as he did, his head spun dizzyingly, and his body swayed slightly.

    "are you okay!" zuo le quickly supported ge dongxu.

    "i''m fine, just need to rest a bit and i can continue." ge dongxu said.

    ps: continuing to ask for recommendation tickets, thank you.

 Chapter 111 Accidents

    "hehe, with this detailed confession, if we still can''t solve the case, and need you to step in, then we might as well go back home to farm. don''t worry, not a single one of them will escape. leave the rest to us," said zuo le with a laugh, his gaze toward ge dongxu filled with a hint of awe without realizing it.now, he felt even more the mystery and dread that this young man embodied!

    fortunately, this young man wasn''t a bad person, or else he would certainly have been their police nightmare.

    "since that''s the case, i''ll save myself the energy. not to mention, my head still hurts," said ge dongxu, breathing a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

    "then you should go back and rest as soon as possible," urged zuo le anxiously.

    "mhm," ge dongxu nodded, and then the two left the interrogation room.

    afterward, ge dongxu said goodbye to jiang lili and others and went back to cheng yazhou''s place.

    once ge dongxu had left, zuo le immediately re-interrogated jin ma and another accomplice. since duan qiaoxue had confessed everything, jin ma and the other accomplice, fearing severe punishment if they confessed too late, also divulged everything.

    with confessions from these three people, zuo le held a police department meeting overnight and dispatched personnel to gather evidence. they also arrested all the suspects mentioned in the confessions, including the deputy police chief.

    the next day was sunday. while ge dongxu was reading upstairs, cheng yazhou knocked on his door to tell him that zuo le had called for him.

    after speaking with zuo le on the phone, ge dongxu learned that zuo le had conducted an overnight operation the previous night, breaking up a fraud gang that had been protected by the deputy chief of the songyang town police station. not only had jiang lili''s family been victimized, but over ten other families in changxi county as well, involving several million in funds.

    the jiang lili family''s gambling fraud case was a recent incident, and some of the money had not yet been squandered by duan qiaoxue and the others, so some was recovered. thanks to ge dongxu, zuo le also tried to reimburse jiang yidong as much as possible. of course, even though jiang yidong was a victim, because he was involved in gambling, he still received a stern lecture.

    but no matter what, it was thanks to ge dongxu''s timely arrival and zuo le''s prompt case breaking that jiang lili''s family was saved from who knows what miserable future. at the very least, jiang lili, a girl with excellent academic performances, might have had her life utterly ruined.

    "thank you, elder zuo," ge dongxu said, finally feeling relaxed after hearing what elder zuo had said, expressing his gratitude.

    "it is we who should thank you, being able to solve the case so quickly this time. you deserve the most credit. it''s just a pity you don''t like to showboat, otherwise, i would definitely apply for a bonus for you," zuo le said with a smile.

    "please don''t, it''s also my responsibility," ge dongxu responded hastily.

    "i knew you would say that. alright, i still have things to do, we''ll chat more when we meet," zuo le said, laughing as he hung up the phone.

    after hanging up the phone with zuo le, ge dongxu was returning the phone to cheng yazhou when he suddenly remembered what lin jinnuo had said the night before and hesitated before saying to uncle cheng, "uncle cheng, do you have any spare cash at the moment?"

    "i do have some spare cash, it was originally meant to pay back a bank loan, but if you need it, i can lend it to you temporarily," said cheng yazhou, startled at first, then he said.

    he thought ge dongxu might need the money because of his recent large spending.

    ge dongxu felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing this and smiled as he said, "thank you, uncle cheng. i don''t need money right now. i just think that if you have spare cash, it''s better to buy some land in jiang family village. of course, you can also diversify, buying some in both beiyang and pingchao." s§×arch* the ¦Çov§×lfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    according to lin jinnuo''s analysis, if the county government doesn''t choose the lc district, beiyang and pingchao will likely have a better chance than jiang family village. however, dongxu had specifically gone to look at beiyang and pingchao two days ago and felt that the feng shui there was just average, so he was still more optimistic about jiang family village and obviously biased cheng yazhou toward it when urging him.

    cheng yazhou may not be as shrewd as lin jinnuo, but as a businessman, he thought quickly. remembering that ge dongxu knew director zuo le and that they had dined together the night before, he had an idea and said, "since you say so, i''ll hold onto this money for buying land, especially since the bank loan hasn''t matured yet."

    "mm, if you''re going to buy, you should do it quickly," dongxu nodded and said. he knew that even someone as principled as elder zuo couldn''t help but let slip some information; one can only imagine what those without principles would do. therefore, dongxu knew that he couldn''t keep the news secret for long.

    "alright, i''ll head to jiang family village now as well as take a look at pingchao and beiyang for any suitable land." dongxu had made his point so clear that if cheng yazhou still didn''t understand that dongxu must know some insider information, it would mean that all his years of experience would have been for naught, so upon hearing this, he immediately nodded with an excited expression.

    "mm," dongxu nodded again, without adding anything more.

    "can i bring qianjin along?" cheng yazhou was about to leave when he hesitated, turned around, and asked.

    "sure. but this is just my personal opinion and suggestion. if you buy it and have to hold onto it, you can''t blame me, so you need to make this clear to uncle wu. don''t force him to buy," dongxu said.

    "of course. as you said, the economic situation is good now, and even if we buy and hold onto the land, it will appreciate one day. our trademark factory is doing well right now, so it''s good to invest these profits rather than spending them recklessly once we have the money in hand," cheng yazhou nodded and said with a smile.

    "haha, if uncle cheng thinks so, then there won''t be a problem," dongxu laughed and replied.

    "thank you, dongxu," cheng yazhou suddenly said.

    as a businessman, cheng yazhou knew the importance of such information, and dongxu''s willingness to share it with him showed that he regarded him as a close friend or family.

    dongxu was momentarily stunned, then smiled and said, "i just saw uncle cheng had some extra money, and it would be a shame to waste it. there wasn''t any other intention."

    "haha, i understand, i understand," cheng yazhou laughed and said, then turned and went downstairs.

    as soon as he was downstairs, he immediately called wu qianjin. when wu arrived, he didn''t waste a word and took him straight to jiang family village.

    nobody expected that even lin jinnuo, the owner of changxi grand hotel, who thought the news about the county government office building reconstruction had been circulated on and off for years, would think that even if the news was confirmed by zuo le, it would still take some time. but this time was an exception. read latest stories on empire

    on monday morning, the county committee leaders held an urgent meeting. following the meeting, a red-headed document was suddenly issued, stating that all transactions for state-owned land use rights in jiang family village were to be suspended.

    in huaxia country, the land didn''t belong to individuals; buying land meant acquiring the land use rights, with the maximum term being seventy years. thus, the county''s document effectively halted the trade in state-owned land in jiang family village. as for personal residences, those were private transactions, and the government wouldn''t ban them. however, once the government issued the document, no one would sell their houses at a low price at such a time, unless they were particularly foolish.

    ps: i recommend my friend''s hot new book, "the strongest show-off system in the city," by an author named "must-fire," which is indeed a great and boastful read from the pen name alone!

 Chapter 112 Bidding 3 Million [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    suddenly, the changxi county billionaires like lin jinnuo, who were already preparing funds to gradually buy land in beiyang, pingchao, and the jiang family village, were caught completely off guard, and the same happened to cheng yazhou and wu qianjin, who had also taken a fancy to the land and planned to talk with director jiang on monday. they too were struck unexpectedly and were dumbfounded!the changxi county government office building really was going to be rebuilt, and the site selection was actually in the jiang family village, which was especially sudden this time! s~ea??h the novel?ire(.)ne*t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    almost as soon as the county committee''s leadership team had finally made their decision, an order was directly issued to stop all transactions concerning the state-owned land use rights in the jiang family village!

    within a single day, the property prices in the jiang family village skyrocketed two or three times, and yet there was no market for these properties even at these prices.

    the four rundown houses that ge dongxu had bought, which were initially priced at five thousand yuan each, and later discounted because he bought all four, costing a total of only eighteen thousand yuan, or four thousand five hundred yuan each, were now being offered at more than ten thousand yuan each by other people, but no one was willing to sell.

    everyone was holding out for higher prices, waiting for the county government''s specific planning scheme to come out before seizing the opportunity for another leap in value.

    "damn it, why am i so stupid! why didn''t i listen to dongxu back then? that guy has hit the jackpot this time, completely struck it rich. a full twelve mu of land, plus four houses, how much would that earn! damn it! we labor so hard running our factory and it''s not worth as much as someone else flipping their hand." wu qianjin, back from being rebuffed by director jiang, was dejectedly pounding the table at the yaxu trademark factory.

    "yeah, we really are fools! we knew dongxu was no ordinary kid, why didn''t we listen to him? we just wasted a great opportunity to make money." cheng yazhou also expressed his deep regret.

    while the two were regretting their decisions, a car pulled up at the factory gate, and a man with the appearance of a boss got out, along with director jiang from the jiang family village street office.

    since the county government office building''s reconstruction was confirmed and would be located in the jiang family village, director jiang, who had previously been as inconsequential as a rural director dealing with trivial matters, suddenly transformed into an important figure overnight. from the afternoon onwards, countless people had sought him out.

    among them were many wealthy individuals, big bosses from changxi county, as well as relatives and friends of government officials.

    here came an ouzhou city real estate company boss, well-informed and seeking to deal, having heard that a shareholder of yaxu trademark factory owned twelve consecutive mu of land and was immediately interested. he insisted on having director jiang mediate, eager to talk with this shareholder.

    "director ma, this is mr. cheng and mr. wu from the yaxu trademark factory," director jiang said with a smile as he introduced cheng yazhou and wu qianjin to the man beside him, then turned to cheng and wu to introduce, "this gentleman is chairman ma xiaoguang, director of ouzhou city da ming real estate development company."

    ouzhou city is a coastal city in huaxia country with a developed economy and a strong commercial atmosphere. while most parts of the country were still distributing housing in-kind, ouzhou city had already taken the lead in transitioning to a monetized housing system. the commodity housing market in ouzhou city was at the forefront of the country, and property prices were relatively high on a national level. especially residential properties with street-front shops in bustling urban areas were priced exceedingly high. changxi county, under ouzhou city''s jurisdiction, was not much different in this regard.

    for example, when ge dongxu was considering investing in land, wu qianjin and cheng yazhou had advised him to buy street-front store properties in the county''s bustling districts. this reflects the idea of housing commodification that had already deeply permeated the minds of the people in ouzhou city.

    ouzhou city da ming real estate development company was a fairly well-known property company in ouzhou city, having developed two very famous estates in the city. cheng yazhou and wu qianjin, both businessmen who frequently dealt with ouzhou city, were aware of these estates and had heard of the company''s reputation. so, when they realized that the man before them was the chairman of the ouzhou city da ming real estate development company, they were startled and became somewhat nervous and restrained.

    there was no helping it, they could at most be considered slightly wealthy small-scale bosses, but the man before them was a tycoon of ouzhou city, a major boss! the gap between them was quite significant.

    "hello, director ma!" cheng yazhou and wu qianjin hurriedly extended their hands to shake hands with ma xiaoguang.

    your next read awaits at empire

    ma xiaoguang wore a faint smile as he shook hands with cheng yazhou and wu qianjin, then said, "director jiang mentioned that this factory building along with roughly twelve acres of surrounding land all belong to one of your shareholders, ge dongxu. could you help me get in touch with him? i''d like to discuss the acquisition of the land with him."

    cheng yazhou and wu qianjin exchanged glances, each seeing shock and regret in the other''s eyes.

    they were shocked because in such a short amount of time, even the well-known real estate company boss from ouzhou city had come knocking at ge dongxu''s door to talk about acquiring land. of course, their regret stemmed from not having listened to ge dongxu back then, and now they could only watch vast sums of money slip away before their eyes.

    "i''m sorry, but ge dongxu is somewhat indisposed right now, and at the earliest, he won''t be available until around 9:30 tonight. how about i leave his number for you so he can give you a call at that time? or we could arrange another appointment," cheng yazhou said, suppressing the complicated emotions in his heart as he spoke to ma xiaoguang.

    ma xiaoguang, being a big boss, did not know that ge dongxu was still a student and genuinely unavailable at the moment. hearing this, he slightly furrowed his brow, feeling a tinge of displeasure. however, as a businessman eager to make money, he wouldn''t let his displeasure show or storm off immediately. thus, ma xiaoguang''s brow soon smoothed out, and he handed three business cards to cheng yazhou and wu qianjin, saying, "in that case, i will leave my card here. please have mr. ge give me a call back when he''s available, and we can set up a meeting time."

    "alright, no problem. if you don''t mind being disturbed, i will have him call you as soon as he gets back tonight," cheng yazhou replied.

    "i don''t mind, i usually stay up late," ma xiaoguang said.

    "great, once he''s back, i will have him call you," cheng yazhou nodded and then hesitated before adding, "if you don''t mind, you could also give me a tentative offer now. i can let him know in advance, so he has something to consider."

    "hmm, that''s a good idea. for the twelve acres, i can offer three million," ma xiaoguang stated.

    "how much, three, three million!" cheng yazhou and wu qianjin stammered upon hearing this figure. director jiang did not speak, but his mouth hung open and his eyes were as round as marbles.

    no one understood better than them that ge dongxu had spent a total of only four hundred and forty thousand on that piece of land! and it had been just a bit more than half a year since then, not even a full year had passed.

    and now, the four hundred and forty thousand had transformed into three million!

    three million! even though the economy in the entire region of ouzhou city was relatively good and the locals were somewhat well-off, three million was still an astronomical figure for the average person.

    in fact, even today, three million is still a considerable number for many people!

    but now, all it would take was ge dongxu''s nod of agreement, and he would suddenly possess a fortune of at least three million, not to mention his shares in yaxu trademark factory and the four houses he had bought at the beginning of the year, which were also now worth quite a bit of money.

    and he was still just a young man, nothing more than a high school student! this, cheng yazhou and the others were very clear about!

    ps: i humbly ask for your recommendation tickets in support, thank you. also, in response to the request of fellow reader mu sherry in the comments section of ying long, ma xiaoguang makes a grand entrance. congratulations to mu sherry, applause!

 Chapter 113 Worried

    "yes, three million. if mr. ge agrees, i can sign the transfer agreement with him immediately." seeing the shocked expressions on cheng yazhou''s and wu qianjin''s faces, a hint of smug confidence flashed in ma xiaoguang''s eyes.as the ceo of a real estate company, ma xiaoguang had a sharp eye. after walking around jiang family village, he was very clear that once the county government settled in jiang family village, the piece of land occupied by yaxu trademark factory would definitely become the center of the xz district.

    in such a case, once the planning scheme for xz district was officially introduced, the prices of the land where yaxu trademark factory was located and its surrounding areas would inevitably be much higher than they were at present.

    therefore, if he wanted to acquire this piece of land, he had to act quickly. thus, ma xiaoguang immediately offered a large sum; he wanted to stun the landowner with this price, making him feel that if he missed this opportunity, he wouldn''t find another, and thus should immediately sell the land to him.

    now, from the shocked expressions of cheng yazhou and wu qianjin, it was clear that his calculation had worked!

    "alright, alright, i will inform dongxu as soon as possible and have him contact you immediately," cheng yazhou finally managed to suppress the shock in his heart, and of course, the endless regret, as he spoke.

    "good, i won''t disturb you any longer." ma xiaoguang nodded, then shook hands with cheng yazhou and wu qianjin again, and left yaxu trademark factory accompanied by director jiang. discover exclusive content at empire

    "three million! brother-in-law, three million! with that, we could buy three houses on city center road. then, we could live off rental income and never worry about food or clothing for the rest of our lives. if only we had listened to dongxu from the start, how good would that have been!" as soon as ma xiaoguang left, wu qianjin began to loudly lament, repeatedly smacking his own head. sear?h the n?vel(f)ire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    at that time, city center road was the busiest commercial clothing street in lc district, where a four or five-story building along the street, one of the most expensive in changxi county, cost about a million per unit and a unit like cheng yazhou''s with a storefront, although in a fairly good location and having increased in price over two years, was only about three hundred thousand.

    "enough, talking about this is useless! i think we better go find ge dongxu quickly, or it''ll be too late to even cry if this deal falls through," said cheng yazhou.

    "right, right, this price is definitely super high. translated into about fifty square meters per unit, that would be around twenty thousand per unit," wu qianjin hurriedly added.

    in changxi county, residential houses occupied an entire building, typically covering forty to fifty square meters, and the average citizen bought land to build houses on this sized plot.

    if it was in lc district with a storefront facing the street, the price could be at least one hundred thousand. however, if it lacked a storefront facing the street, it would only be thirty to forty thousand. jiang family village was still just a rural area after all, and nobody knew when the d county government building would officially start construction¡ªit might be delayed for a few more years due to financial issues.

    therefore, from this perspective, having twenty thousand for a piece of land at this time was already very high.

    seeing that wu qianjin agreed with his thoughts, cheng yazhou handed over the factory matters to wu qianjin and hurriedly cycled towards changxi no. 1 middle school.

    when ge dongxu, who was in class, saw cheng yazhou rushing to find him, he thought something serious had happened at the factory, so as soon as he came out, he hurriedly asked, "uncle cheng, what''s so urgent? has something happened at the factory?"

    "pshaw! don''t talk nonsense! it''s good news, great news!" cheng yazhou exclaimed excitedly.

    "what good news? is it worth you rushing over to tell me?" ge dongxu asked, bewildered.

    "it''s about the land you bought. it''s increased in value! now a real estate tycoon wants to buy your land. do you know how much he''s offering?" cheng yazhou asked excitedly.

    "so it''s about that! it seems the news has spread. did you and uncle wu buy any land?" ge dongxu realized why cheng yazhou had come and nodded as he asked.

    "buy land? we haven''t even discussed the details of buying land with director jiang before the county government issued a red-headed document, halting the transfer of all state-owned land. as soon as this document came out, it spread throughout jiang village, and now land prices are skyrocketing. where do we even have a chance to buy now?" cheng yazhou said, frustrated.

    "that doesn''t make sense. just last saturday evening, old lin was hinting about it, and from elder zuo''s tone, he deduced there was something brewing, at least for a while longer. how could it be settled today?" ge dongxu said, surprised.

    "that reminds me of the incident two years ago when the wen yuan county government was rebuilding its office building. it caused a huge uproar. the reason was that some county officials had leaked the news to their relatives and friends in advance, leading to the surrounding land and houses almost being bought out before the official document was issued. afterward, when the news broke, many people who had sold their properties at low prices were naturally unwilling, so it caused a lot of unrest. later, the city even sent investigators, but the reconstruction of the wen yuan county office building is still on hold. i guess our county leaders worried about repeating the same mistake, so they decided to issue the document immediately to prevent any misuse of power," cheng yazhou said thoughtfully.

    "i see. that explains it. the day before yesterday, old lin was asking elder zuo about this and even got scolded for it. how come the red-headed document was issued today? it turns out the county government adopted a quick decision-making approach because of the wen yuan case," ge dongxu realized.

    seeing ge dongxu say this, cheng yazhou felt much better inside and admired ge dongxu even more secretly. he had initially thought that ge dongxu had known the insider information and had only clarified it with him yesterday. now it appeared that ge dongxu had only just inferred it the night before, and his previous land-buying actions were investments made without prior knowledge.

    "ah, never mind the reason now. the important thing is there''s a real estate developer from ouzhou city who wants to buy your land, and he''s offering three million. he said as long as you agree, he can sign the transfer agreement with you right now," cheng yazhou remembered, slapping his forehead.

    although ge dongxu had decided to take out a mortgage on the factory to buy the land, hoping to make a profit, he hadn''t expected such a huge amount. hearing this, he couldn''t help but bulge his eyes and exclaimed, "three million!"

    "yes, three million! this price is definitely high, so i rushed to tell you. you must make a decision quickly. otherwise, if director ma suddenly changes his mind, this deal might fall through," cheng yazhou said eagerly.

    seeing cheng yazhou''s excitement, ge dongxu calmed down and smiled at cheng yazhou, saying, "uncle cheng, don''t worry. since director ma is a big boss, he definitely won''t foolishly agree to be the sucker. he must have his reasons for offering this price, and if we agree too hastily, maybe we''ll be the ones at a loss. even if my estimate is wrong, after all, i only spent a total of four hundred and forty thousand on this land from start to finish, and originally i didn''t expect it to sell so high. now that someone is offering so much, it''s practically free money, so even if director ma changes his mind, it''s just like missing out on a windfall¡ªit''s nothing to regret. so there''s no need to rush. since the county''s red-headed document has been issued, there''s no loss in holding onto the land," ge dongxu said.

 Chapter 114 Seeking Guidance [Requesting Recommendation Tickets]

    cheng yazhou stared blankly at ge dongxu like he was looking at a monster."what''s wrong, uncle cheng? is there a problem?" ge dongxu scratched his head, feeling somewhat embarrassed as he asked.

    "i''m beginning to suspect we''ve gotten our ages mixed up. you''re forty-one this year, and i''m seventeen. here i am, the uncle, and yet i''m not nearly as composed as you!" cheng yazhou said with a wry smile.

    "haha, uncle, you''ve got it wrong. it''s precisely because you''re forty-one this year, you''ve been through more, you know the difficulties of making money, so you value it more. i''m still young, haven''t gone through as much to earn money, so i can afford to be more detached," ge dongxu laughed.

    "are you trying to comfort your uncle, or are you trying to give him a hard time? here i am, a teenager, suddenly making a few million while uncle has worked his whole half-life and if you count it all up, has merely amassed a fortune of around a million," cheng yazhou pointed at ge dongxu and said with a bitter smile.

    "hehe, didn''t uncle also have quite a few unpaid debts to collect, amounting to more than a million?" ge dongxu said with a laugh.

    "okay, ge dongxu, you don''t care about making a few million, but you sure are clear about every dime of your uncle''s money," cheng yazhou shook his head as he pointed at ge dongxu.

    having said that, cheng yazhou still couldn''t stop thinking about the three million, and he brought the conversation back to that topic, saying, "what do you plan to do about director ma''s side? are you going to sell to him, or are you going to haggle over the price a bit more?"

    although ge dongxu spoke lightly, he actually valued money even more than cheng yazhou. the cost of cultivating could easily amount to tens of thousands of dollars in just one day, and as his cultivation improved, the financial demands would definitely increase significantly. so when cheng yazhou asked this question, ge dongxu bowed his head in thought.

    to be honest, three million was incredibly tempting to him. after all, he had only invested four hundred and forty thousand, and in just over half a year''s time, he could make over two million just by turning it over; any person would likely find it hard to resist such a temptation. s§×ar?h the n?velfire(.)net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    however, ge dongxu always felt it was too early to sell now, and he should withstand the temptation.

    "uncle cheng, can you give me your phone? i''ll give old lin a call. he does business on a larger scale and definitely has more foresight," ge dongxu thought for a while, and suddenly, an idea struck him, and he thought of lin jinnuo.

    "right, how could i have forgotten him!" cheng yazhou slapped his forehead and then handed his phone to ge dongxu.

    ge dongxu smiled, took the phone, and then dialed lin jinnuo''s number.

    explore more at empire

    lin jinnuo was in his office, smoking one cigarette after another, feeling very annoyed.

    he had thought that with inside information, he would surely make a good profit, but he didn''t expect the county government to pull such a move, catching him off guard and making him watch helplessly as a great moneymaking opportunity slipped away.

    while lin jinnuo was wallowing in his annoyance, his phone rang. he didn''t want to answer it, but seeing that it displayed cheng yazhou''s number and knowing cheng yazhou''s close relationship with ge dongxu, he didn''t dare to neglect it and hurriedly picked up.

    "old lin, it''s me, dongxu," lin jinnuo had just answered the call when he heard ge dongxu''s voice through the receiver.

    as soon as lin jinnuo heard ge dongxu''s voice, his displeased mood was immediately cast to the back of his mind. lin jinnuo had built his business empire from scratch, commanding a vast family business in changxi county and holding sway over both the legitimate and underground worlds naturally endowed him with exceptional abilities.

    ever since he witnessed ge dongxu''s miraculous medical skills in the hospital, lin jinnuo had been resolute in forging a relationship with him. the events of the recent period only added weight to this resolve, so the moment he received a call from ge dongxu, he promptly cast aside all emotional baggage and hurriedly said with a laugh, "you calling me is like the sun rising from the west. is there anything you need to instruct me to do?"

    "you''re the big boss; i wouldn''t dare to tell you what to do. i do, however, have some matters i''d like to consult you about," ge dongxu said quickly with humility.

    "you are my life-saving benefactor and my son''s mentor. it''s absolutely an honor for me to do something for you. ask me anything you need to know. i''ll definitely spare no detail in response. as for the words ''consult,'' please don''t mention that again, or i''ll get angry," lin jinnuo said.

    no one dislikes hearing kind words, and lin jinnuo''s were especially sincere. despite being only a youth, ge dongxu found the praise quite gratifying, momentarily feeling a bit carried away. however, he soon realized that his proud emotions were unwarranted, for he was still just a young man. compared to his mentor back in the day, he had much to learn and truly had no grounds for pride.

    "there is no sequence of study; those who excel are teachers. you''re an influential figure in the business world of changxi county, and i am but a newcomer. in this matter, i naturally have to ask for your advice," ge dongxu said, putting aside his pride and speaking earnestly.

    lin jinnuo, being someone adept at discerning truth from words and tone, especially, felt a chill in his heart upon hearing this, finding ge dongxu to be an incredibly rare kind of young man.

    despite his youth, he harbored mysterious arts. when faced with admiration from adults, he displayed neither arrogance nor rashness, but humility and steadiness.

    "since you put it that way, i, old lin, will take the liberty this time. tell me, what matter would you like to consult about?" lin jinnuo asked.

    "it''s about the jiang family village land!" ge dongxu said.

    "speaking of the jiang family village land, as a newcomer, you''re really slapping the face of us old-timers in the business community!" upon hearing this, a self-deprecating smile involuntarily appeared on lin jinnuo''s face.

    "that was just a fortunate blunder," ge dongxu replied modestly.

    "ha ha, you don''t need to be modest about that. when it comes to setting up a factory in the jiang family village, why is it that only you knew how to invest? that''s ability and vision," lin jinnuo countered.

    "let''s not talk about that. now there''s a real estate developer from ouzhou city who wants to buy my piece of land for three million. what do you think?" ge dongxu said with an embarrassed laugh, not humbling himself further. of course, he also didn''t feel it was right to tell lin jinnuo that he was interested in the feng shui of the jiang family village, and that he needed a large amount of capital, which is why he was investing in that piece of land.

    "three million, by current standards, is definitely not low. after all, even if you''re to build the county government office building, that still takes time. if you plan to wait, it would mean you are holding three million in capital there. if you cash out now, it''s like having three million in funds to continue investing in other areas. this must be taken into consideration. of course, the key still lies in the exact location of your land¡ªif the location is good, then the potential for appreciation is significant, and the appreciation could far exceed the profits generated from investing the three million in other industries. however, i am not yet clear about the exact location of your land," lin jinnuo said thoughtfully.

    three million was a huge sum for cheng yazhou and wu qianjin, enough to nearly make their eyes pop out, but lin jinnuo was a big boss. although he was also surprised by the number, he did not make a big fuss over it.

    ps: continuing to ask for support with your votes, thank you very much.

 Chapter 115 Decision

    ge dongxu roughly explained the location of his land in jiang family village to lin jinnuo.lin jinnuo had already been planning to invest in jiang family village, so there happened to be a map of changxi county on the table. he quickly pinpointed the approximate location described by ge dongxu with the help of the map.

    after ascertaining the location, lin jinnuo couldn''t help but take a sharp intake of breath, followed by a wry smile.

    that was because the piece of land was the one he had studied again and again and believed that if the county government was to build a large building in jiang family village, that land would most likely become the center of the xc district.

    of course, the area of land that lin jinnuo had studied was much larger than the twelve acres owned by ge dongxu.

    but what was the use of it being larger? the county government had already issued a document temporarily halting the transfer of state-owned land use rights in the whole jiang family village. lin jinnuo wanted to buy but could not, and by the time the county government finally settled on a planning scheme and lifted the restriction, the price would surely be many times higher than it is now. the profit margin would be limited by then, and due to speculation, it might even lead to an inflated land price and potential loss.

    unlike ge dongxu, who had bought it early at a bargain price, even if it was smaller, it was countless times better than him having the idea but ultimately not being able to implement it.

    "what do you think?" lin jinnuo, realizing that the land ge dongxu held was within the range he identified as the center of the xc district, didn''t answer immediately but asked ge dongxu for his opinion.

    "my opinion is, since the county government''s office building is confirmed to be built in jiang family village, my piece of land should still have room for appreciation. i don''t really want to sell it right now. however, i''m not familiar with the real estate and investment business, so i don''t have a clear idea of how much it could appreciate," ge dongxu pondered before replying.

    "dongxu, to be honest, that piece of land is exactly what i had my eye on before, so according to my idea, your piece should be right in the center of the xc area, hence it still has considerable space for appreciation. if you are willing to transfer it for three million, why not just transfer it to me instead of to those ouzhou city property developers?" lin jinnuo admired ge dongxu''s judgment even more upon hearing this. after thinking for a moment, he spoke in a deep voice.

    "since you say so, i will continue to hold on to it. anyway, i don''t have any good investment projects right now," ge dongxu, seeing lin jinnuo''s judgment was the same as his, made up his mind on the spot.

    "yes, it''s better to hold on to it," lin jinnuo said.

    having discussed this matter, ge dongxu, considering that he still had classes to attend, did not continue the conversation with lin jinnuo. he soon hung up the phone, returned the mobile phone to cheng yazhou, and said, "uncle cheng, i''ve decided to hold off for a while. could you send a reply to director ma for me?"

    cheng yazhou opened his mouth upon hearing this, but ultimately nodded and said, "fine, i trust your judgment. i''ll send the reply to director ma. but three million, thinking about it, i can''t help wanting to cash it in!"

    "actually, although the housing prices in jiang family village are soaring now, they definitely haven''t peaked. also, the specific plans haven''t come out yet. i think uncle cheng and uncle wu can still look around our factory area to see if some local families have more than one house. if you offer a higher price, they might be tempted to cash in. of course, if it''s too high, it''s not worth investing, as there are still risks. just focus on the area around our factory, no need to bother with other places," ge dongxu hesitated before calling cheng yazhou back as he was about to leave and suggested.

    since not just himself but also lin jinnuo and that director ma were optimistic about that land, ge dongxu felt much more confident in his judgment. so, he ultimately advised cheng yazhou to continue buying. those big bosses would still be thinking about how to get a whole piece of land from the government and wouldn''t bother buying one or two plots.

    for them, such acts were not significant and also troublesome. but for cheng yazhou and wu qianjin, it was different. they were just small business owners with not much spare cash. if they could flip properties and make a few tens of thousands from this opportunity, that would be a very attractive investment.

    "alright, if you say buy, i''ll buy," cheng yazhou immediately nodded in response this time.

    after this incident, he almost had a kind of blind confidence in ge dongxu.

    there was no helping it, in a bit over half a year, a young person could make more than two million just like that if he was willing to let go, the shock that gave cheng yazhou was simply too huge!

    ge dongxu smiled and then turned around to return to the classroom.

    "weird, uncle cheng comes to school but doesn''t look for lehao, what does he want from you?" as soon as ge dongxu returned to his seat, du yifan couldn''t help but ask in a low voice, driven by curiosity.

    "would you believe me if i told you that someone offered three million to buy my land, and uncle cheng came to ask for my opinion?" ge dongxu asked quietly.

    "cut it out, do you think i''m an idiot?" du yifan gave ge dongxu a look and said.

    "then there''s no need for you to ask anymore." ge dongxu said with a smile.

    "fine, i won''t ask. but it''s been a long time since the school beauty senior and that bustier senior, as well as the gentle senior, came to find you. even if the school beauty moved away and you don''t cross paths now, you should still take the initiative to visit them, right?" du yifan, originally uninterested in those matters and seeing that ge dongxu clearly didn''t want to tell the truth, shifted the topic to dong yuxin and the others. s§×ar?h the n??efire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "go on, what are you thinking about all day long? the college entrance exam is just around the corner, how can i go and disturb them!" ge dongxu replied irritably in a soft voice.

    "it''s exactly because the college entrance exam is almost here that you need to go and give them a boost. that way, even if they graduate and leave school, they''ll remember you, their junior." du yifan said quietly.

    "if that''s the case, then you go." ge dongxu replied.

    "cut it out, you think i don''t want to? but the problem is that those three seniors would absolutely ignore me!" du yifan said.

    while they were talking, ge dongxu saw the teacher glance their way and immediately nudged du yifan with his elbow. find your next read at empire

    du yifan immediately clamped his mouth shut.

    ¡­

    "hey, yuxin, weren''t you always very close to that dongxu? didn''t you two always go to and from school together? how come you haven''t been looking for him after school lately?" during the break in the evening self-study class in senior year three class, jiang lili quietly asked dong yuxin, who was still engrossed in solving problems.

    "lili, what''s gotten into you lately? you''ve been absent-minded and distracted for a while, and now you''re asking such an outrageous question. we''re about to take the college entrance exam, where do we have the time for him?" dong yuxin said, looking up and giving jiang lili a glance.

    "i''m fine, i''m very normal. wasn''t it you who said that chen zihao was pestering you on the street and that he helped you out of the situation? if that''s the case, how can you say you don''t have time for him?" jiang lili said.

    "i''m grateful to him, that''s true, but it''s been so long since then. besides, i''ve moved now, and we don''t take the same route. am i supposed to go out of my way to find him?" dong yuxin replied matter-of-factly.

    ps: old rules, robbing for tickets every morning, thank you.

 Chapter 116 Waiting for You After School

    "why can''t you just go find him? no matter how you look at it, he has helped you several times," jiang lili said."seriously? just because he has helped me, i should dedicate my whole self to him? lili, it seems you really have some problem. weren''t you always picking fights with him before? now you''re actually speaking for him." dong yuxin finally raised her head, giving jiang lili a strange look, unaware that jiang lili''s words about ge dongxu helping her several times had a hidden meaning.

    "that''s not what i meant. but i''ve just felt that you two were closer before, and recently you''ve been ignoring him too much. how about this, let''s wait for him after school tonight. i think he''s actually quite interesting," jiang lili said with a slightly guilty flush on her pretty face, then casually added.

    "wait, lili, did you take the wrong medicine today? you actually want to wait for dongxu after school?" dong yuxin reached out to touch jiang lili''s forehead.

    "are you going or not? if you''re not, i will!" jiang lili shoved dong yuxin''s hand away and said.

    "miss jiang, what kind of drama are you putting on here? the college entrance exam is in less than twenty days, and you still have the mood to wait for that guy after school? if you want to go, then go. i''m not going," dong yuxin said, slapping her forehead.

    jiang lili hesitated, wanting to say something more, but ultimately she didn''t try to persuade dong yuxin again.

    if even dong yuxin wasn''t willing to go, then su qian, who already secretly had an attachment, didn''t need to be mentioned. sure enough, when su qian heard that jiang lili was planning to wait for ge dongxu after school, she reached out like dong yuxin to touch her forehead, laughing and scolding her for being sick.

    as soon as evening self-study ended, jiang lili immediately hurried out of the classroom alone, leaving dong yuxin and su qian with astonished expressions.

    they thought jiang lili was just speaking impulsively, but they didn''t expect that she would dash out of the classroom as soon as the class ended. find adventures at empire

    jiang lili headed straight for class six of the first year as soon as she descended the stairs. on her way, boys who came out of their classrooms couldn''t help but stealthily glance at jiang lili''s chest, which was relatively more developed than that of the first-year girls.

    however, jiang lili, who usually felt a sense of pride and looked down on those little kids, had no interest in those surreptitious gazes today. as she approached class six of the first year, her heartbeat increased, becoming more intense and she felt increasingly anxious.

    she didn''t know how ge dongxu would react when he saw her. would he be upset? angry? disgusted...

    "boss, look, it''s big-chest..." du yifan was always especially alert when girls were around. as soon as jiang lili reached the entrance of class six of the first year, du yifan spotted her, his eyes lighting up behind his glasses as he quickly elbowed ge dongxu, who was packing his bag.

    "big your head!" ge dongxu looked up to see it was jiang lili and couldn''t help but glare at him, then hurriedly grabbed his bag and headed for the classroom door.

    "dongxu, i..." seeing ge dongxu quickly walk out of the classroom, jiang lili''s heart inexplicably shuddered and she called out timidly. she didn''t possess her usual fiery and proud senior sister demeanor.

    "let''s go!" ge dongxu didn''t want to be the subject of an audience. without waiting for jiang lili to finish, he nodded at her and said.

    "okay!" seeing that ge dongxu didn''t seem angry, jiang lili heaved a sigh of relief and immediately responded with a smile, chasing after ge dongxu with her youthful, energetic waist.

    "holy shit! no way, she''s so full of herself!" the boys from class 6 of grade one watched as ge dongxu spoke indifferently to jiang lili, then walked ahead while jiang lili cheerfully caught up. they could hardly believe their eyes and couldn''t help but curse out loud.

    "yifan, where''s the boss?" cheng lehao arrived at the entrance of class 6 of grade one, saw only du yifan, and didn''t see ge dongxu, so he couldn''t help but ask curiously.

    since dong yuxin and her group stopped looking for ge dongxu, cheng lehao had basically waited to walk home with ge dongxu every day after school.

    "there, over there! look at the busty senior running faster than a rabbit without even introducing her to us! but geez, the boss is still the boss, the busty senior is so busy with her studies and yet she comes to wait for him to walk home together!" du yifan pointed toward the departing figures of ge dongxu and jiang lili, his gaze behind the glasses falling on ge dongxu''s retreating figure, filled with admiration.

    "damn, it can''t be jiang lili!" cheng lehao stared at those two departing figures, one of which had a particularly plump and perky rear, and his eyes went wide.

    "but it''s wrong, shouldn''t it be dong yuxin?" it took cheng lehao a long while before he swallowed and spoke.

    "isn''t it obvious? definitely, the boss has set his sights on the school beauty''s best friend, then she discovered their affair, and after that, the school beauty got mad and stopped paying attention to the boss." du yifan pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose, confidently speculating.

    "wow, didn''t know you had the detective skills of holmes! it must be that, otherwise how could the boss and dong yuxin have split up just like that. but, heh heh, i actually found out later that jiang lili is the tastier one, that body is so stacked." cheng lehao''s chubby hand looped around du yifan''s slender shoulder, grinning lewdly.

    "heh heh, great minds think alike!" du yifan likewise revealed a lewd expression.

    obviously, for their age group, the unique physical attributes representing the opposite sex were more attractive than just a pretty face.

    "dongxu, i waited for you after school, are you upset by that?" walking side by side with ge dongxu, pushing her bicycle, jiang lili asked softly with caution.

    "how are things at home now?" ge dongxu didn''t answer jiang lili''s question, but instead switched the topic.

    because jiang lili''s question was difficult for him to answer; saying he was unhappy would definitely hurt her, and from a certain perspective, it would also be insincere. after all, having a beautiful senior wait for him after school would flatter any boy and ge dongxu was no exception. although the feeling wasn''t as strong and he could take it more calmly, to say he was unhappy would certainly be insincere.

    but to say he was happy, especially after the incident the day before yesterday, ge dongxu was actually a bit worried that jiang lili would start waiting for him after school every day.

    thus, ge dongxu simply shifted the conversation. from this, one could see that as ge dongxu dealt with more societal matters, his character had matured.

    sea??h th§× nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 117 Preparing for Refinancing

    ```"thanks to you, director zuo helped my dad recover most of the money. now we''ve not only paid off our debts, but we also have a little extra to buy a house in the county town again, though the location certainly won''t be as good as before. but compared to that time, it''s practically heaven now!" jiang lili said gratefully to ge dongxu, a happy smile spreading across her face.

    people are strange. lili''s living conditions used to be better, and she didn''t feel the happiness in life, but now she feels an unprecedented sense of bliss!

    it was as if after that terrifying period, she suddenly grew up.

    "that''s good," ge dongxu nodded, "now that your family situation has stabilized, you should focus on your studies."

    "thank you, dongxu. i will!" jiang lili nodded earnestly in response.

    everything that needed to be said was said, and ge dongxu found himself not knowing what else to say, while jiang lili, because of her deep respect for ge dongxu, couldn''t act as boldly as she used to and became somewhat silent, only occasionally stealing glances at him with her beautiful eyes.

    fortunately, the two weren''t far from the school gates when they had to part ways, so the awkwardness quickly disappeared with their separation.

    however, walking alone on the way home, because jiang lili had suddenly come to find him, the stunning scene he had seen the night before involuntarily popped into his mind, and it took ge dongxu a while to suppress these inappropriate images that kept surfacing.

    on the way, cheng lehao caught up with ge dongxu on his bike.

    "boss, isn''t what you''re doing a bit unscrupulous? you''re like looking at the pot while eating from the bowl, even prying away the school beauty''s best friend! but, i like it, heh heh!"

    "like it my foot! you''ve got all these messy things in your head, don''t forget the final exams are coming up soon." ge dongxu replied in irritation.

    "man, boss, i find you''re starting to sound more and more like my parents. boring, i''m off!" cheng lehao immediately took off upon hearing ge dongxu remind him of the final exams.

    "you little..." ge dongxu laughed and shook his head, but as he laughed, he suddenly realized that he was becoming more like an adult than a teenager.

    was this a good or a bad thing? ge dongxu suddenly felt a bit lost.

    why am i thinking so much, just do what needs to be done, the confused ge dongxu suddenly laughed.

    when he got home, cheng yazhou was waiting for him in the living room on the second floor. seeing him return, he hurriedly brought him into the living room and said in a low voice, "dongxu, your decision was indeed correct. i replied to director ma as you said, do you know what he said later?"

    "did he raise the price?" ge dongxu''s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.

    "that''s right, he increased it to 3.8 million. he said that''s his final offer, and if you agree, you should get back to him, and if not, then forget it," cheng yazhou said with a slight tremble in his voice.

    3.8 million, for cheng yazhou at that time, it was a figure he never thought he would see in his lifetime.

    "forget it, don''t sell. but uncle cheng, please call him back later for me." although ge dongxu was startled by the figure, it confirmed his decision to hold onto the property even more.

    "okay, i''ll get back to him later. also, qianjin and i looked around near our factory today and found a few landlords willing to sell. the prices are a bit high, at least 35,000 before they would sell. i decided to take a leap and buy three, and qianjin bought one," said cheng yazhou.

    the houses in jiang family village are basically old two-story buildings, so buying a house is essentially just buying the land. therefore, 35,000 is already as high as the land price in non-main street locations in lc district, which is already quite expensive.

    "well, the trademark factory is still profitable for now, so buying a few more won''t hurt, at least there would be no loss." ge dongxu nodded in agreement.

    ```

    ```

    "hehe, with your words, i can rest assured, nephew. alright, it''s getting late; you should go up and rest early," cheng yazhou said with a smile.

    "okay." ge dongxu smiled, nodded, and then went upstairs to his room.

    back in his room, ge dongxu read for a while, then mixed some cinnabar and spread out the yellow paper, beginning to practice talisman drawing.

    as his cultivation gradually improved, his success rate in drawing talismans had reached about four percent, which was a whole double the two percent from before. sear?h the n?vel?ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    today, ge dongxu was drawing heart-cleansing talismans. these were talismans that helped maintain a calm demeanor and a clear mind, and they belonged to the third grade category of dharma talismans.

    the talismans ge dongxu currently knew could be divided into four grades: dharma talismans, spirit talismans, treasure talismans, and immortal talismans, each grade further divided into upper, middle, and lower third grades.

    ge dongxu could now barely manage to draw middle grade dharma talismans, but his success rate was very low, less than two percent.

    immersed in drawing talismans, he unconsciously succeeded in making three heart-cleansing talismans, and by this time, it was almost midnight.

    ge dongxu stored the three heart-cleansing talismans carefully, tidied up his room, then went out to the terrace, sat cross-legged, and began his midnight cultivation practice.

    moonlight fell like water, but without the aid of taiyin spirit gathering formation talisman jade, the moonlight was sparse and scattered, mixing into the murky air, so ge dongxu could not absorb much of it.

    unbeknownst to him, the moon had hidden behind dark clouds. ge dongxu slowly opened his eyes, stood up, and returned to his room.

    after washing up, he undressed and lay in bed, gazing at the ceiling, thoughts turning in his head.

    the higher the cultivation, the more demanding the purity of spiritual energy required. without the help of taiyin spirit gathering formation talisman jades, tonight''s cultivation practice was almost ineffective; it merely consolidated the cultivation level, preventing any drop.

    "now that the land prices in jiang family village are rising rapidly, the same piece of land should be able to secure a larger loan. perhaps i should talk with vice president yuan li, pay off the loan, have the factory land re-evaluated, and take out a new loan. then, i''ll have the money to buy jade." with the increase in land prices, ge dongxu had finally started to think about buying jade again. stay connected with empire

    ¡­

    the next day at noon, ge dongxu took advantage of the lunch break to make a special trip to the changxi county branch of the industrial and commercial bank.

    since ge dongxu was now considered a fairly significant customer of the branch, and had been personally received by vice president yuan li during his previous visits, one of the tellers on duty, who recognized him, greeted him proactively and politely asked if there was any business he needed to handle.

    as the last mortgage loan had been processed by yuan li, and ge dongxu also felt it more convenient to talk with her, he told the teller that he was there to see yuan li.

    it was now midday, and yuan li, being the vice president of the branch, would typically be resting, but due to ge dongxu''s somewhat special status, the teller still took the initiative to call yuan li''s office for him.

    "mr. ge, the leader said you can just go up to see her yourself," the teller said with a smile after making the call.

    there was a staircase next to the banking hall that led directly upstairs, and yuan li''s office was located there.

    "thank you." ge dongxu said his thanks and then ascended the stairs.

    ```

 Chapter 118 Maybe I Can Help You

    yuan li, still dressed in her office uniform, exuded the demeanor of a corporate beauty. since it was already summer in jiangnan province, yuan li had forgone her jacket and was simply dressed in a white shirt and a black pencil skirt.no sooner had ge dongxu pushed the door open than he was struck by a bright impression, but soon his attention focused on yuan li''s eyes.

    her eyes were somewhat red and swollen, clearly revealing that she had cried earlier.

    ge dongxu didn''t have a deep relationship with yuan li, but he had interacted with her previous credit card business, and especially the subsequent loan request, in which yuan li had been particularly accommodating. typically, loans would cover about 60-70% of the collateral''s appraised value, but yuan li had granted him the full amount. so, in a way, ge dongxu felt slightly indebted to her.

    seeing her with swollen eyes naturally evoked a sense of concern, and he asked, "manager yuan, has something happened?"

    "nothing, just a trivial matter. come, take a seat, i''ll get you a glass of water." upon ge dongxu''s inquiry, yuan li''s eyes momentarily reddened again, but she quickly conjured a strained smile and spoke to ge dongxu.

    hearing this, ge dongxu decided not to press further and smiled, saying, "i can get it myself."

    with that, he quickly took a cup, filled it from the water dispenser, and then sat down on the elongated sofa facing the office desk. s§×ar?h the novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    given ge dongxu''s youth, yuan li couldn''t help but act more casually around him. instead of sitting behind the desk in a formal manner, she sat down next to ge dongxu.

    "tell me, what brings you, a young millionaire, to see me in the middle of the day?" yuan li asked, initiating the conversation as they sat down.

    "let''s talk about your issue first. if you''re really in trouble, maybe i can help," ge dongxu said. seeing yuan li clearly upset and still taking time from her midday break to meet him had genuinely moved him, and he really felt a desire to help her.

    "it''s adult stuff, talking about it with you won''t make a difference!" yuan li, seeing ge dongxu''s sincere concern, glanced at him gratefully but still refused to divulge her problems.

    "true, you''re an adult, but i''m also seventeen this year, not really a kid anymore. besides, have you ever seen a kid discussing loans with you? just talk about it, even if i can''t help, sharing it with someone else might make you feel better," ge dongxu urged.

    yuan li considered ge dongxu''s words and suddenly realized that this young man was different from others. she stared at him for a long while before sighing deeply, saying, "alright, indeed, this issue has really been suffocating me."

    then, yuan li began to share her story.

    two months ago, one afternoon, due to her period, she had felt unwell and gone home early. when she arrived, she opened her front door and suddenly heard noises coming from her bedroom. they were the sounds of a woman''s moans and a man''s panting, along with the creaking noise from a double simmons bed.

    yuan li violently pushed open the bedroom door and then saw a steamy scene unfolding on the simmons bed. the man in the scene was her husband, liu lihe, and the woman was her cousin, yang hong, who was also her husband''s business partner.

    because of this, she had divorced him a month ago.

    yuan li, having strong career aspirations, was constantly striving for the position of branch manager. fearing that having children would hinder her future prospects, she and liu lihe had been married for many years without having children. the house they currently lived in was assigned by her employer, and since liu lihe had wronged her first, the divorce was, relatively speaking, a straightforward matter.

    however, the issue lay in the herbal tea beverage factory that liu lihe and her cousin yang hong had invested in together. when they established the factory because of financial reasons, yuan li had guaranteed the loan under her name.

    originally, this wasn''t a problem, as long as liu lihe and yang hong regularly repaid their loan after the divorce. but what yuan li could never have imagined was that over the years, liu lihe and yang hong had been fooling around, and apart from regularly paying the interest to the bank, all other income was hidden from her as they claimed it was lent out to friends for interest. in reality, they squandered it all without her knowledge.

    private lending was always popular in the area around ouzhou city, and the interest rates were much higher than those of banks. therefore, it was challenging for banks, especially those in the smaller towns and counties, to attract deposits. this was another reason why yuan li had been so excited last year when she heard that ge dongxu was transferring 600,000.

    given this background and the fact that there wasn''t much interest to be earned from keeping money in the bank, yuan li, the wife and cousin to the pair, didn''t suspect anything untoward.

    a few days ago, a bank loan matured and needed to be repaid. when the bank went to collect the debt and couldn''t, they approached yuan li, the guarantor. that was when she went to inquire from liu lihe and yang hong and found out that the income from the beverage factory had been squandered by these two over the years.

    naturally, yuan li was furious, berated them harshly, and demanded that they find a way to repay the bank. she could think of ways to give them some time.

    today, the bank attempted to collect the debt again and failed. as the guarantor, yuan li was approached by the old branch manager. he mentioned that if the situation wasn''t handled well, it wouldn''t only damage yuan li''s reputation, but he also wouldn''t be able to recommend her for the position of branch manager when he stepped down.

    yuan li had no choice but to call liu lihe and yang hong again. unexpectedly, this time they simply played the scoundrels, claiming they had no money and could only mortgage the factory to the bank.

    since the factory was built at the foot of wangzhou mountain, the land was worthless and the buildings were fairly rudimentary. these were the minor investments initially; the real investment went into purchasing the production equipment and machines. discover more content at empire

    however, once the factory was sold, not to mention whether there was anyone willing to take over, even if there was, the production equipment and machines had depreciated over the years and selling them at half the price would be considered decent.

    if no one took over in a short period and the bank was forced to auction it off, the prices would undoubtedly be lower. by that time, if liu lihe and yang hong could not make up the shortfall, and they had neither the face nor decent jobs to lose, the bank would be left with no recourse but to approach yuan li, the guarantor, in the end.

    after yuan li made the phone call, she thought about how much she had dedicated to her family over the years; her husband and cousin both betrayed her, leaving her such a mess. compounded by the fact that she couldn''t share this with anyone¡ªfirstly, because she was a successful and ambitious woman who couldn''t afford to lose face, and secondly, it would surely impact her career advancement if word got out. alone, she thought about these disheartening things and lay on her desk, crying for a long while.

    ps: asking for your votes of support, thank you.

 Chapter 119 Herbal Tea

    "i am somewhat interested in investing in the herbal tea drink factory, how much money did you borrow back then?" after listening, ge dongxu saw yuan li''s eyes filled with tears and handed her a tissue while asking.ge dongxu said he was interested in the herbal tea drink factory not because he wanted to help yuan li specifically but because her words reminded him that it was a good investment opportunity.

    herbal tea is "neither cool nor tea." it is a beverage commonly made in lingnan, hong kong, and macau from a complex combination of locally produced herbs or single herbs, brewed to create a drink that cools the body internally, dispels "internal heat," and addresses conditions such as heatstroke in summer or dry throats in winter. people have developed herbal teas based on local climate and soil conditions, guided by traditional chinese health-preserving theories and using herbs as ingredients, providing benefits like clearing heat, detoxifying, generating fluids to quench thirst, and dispelling dampness.

    the climate in jiangnan province is actually quite similar to that of lingnan and hong kong, especially in coastal cities like ouzhou, where there''s a traditional habit of drinking herbal tea due to the easy onset of heatstroke from the humid and hot summers. in changxi county, during this season, one can find vendors selling herbal tea on the streets everywhere. these vendors mostly sell herbal tea made from immortal herbs.

    the history of herbal tea is long, tracing back to the shang dynasty of huaxia country. an important figure in the history of huaxia country''s herbal tea is ge hong, a taoist and medical scholar from the eastern jin dynasty, who is regarded as the founder of taoist herbal tea.

    it is said that in 306 ad, ge hong moved to lingnan. at that time, due to the prevalence of local diseases, he was able to thoroughly study the various fever-related medicines of lingnan. later, the medical works left by ge hong and the subsequent compilations by medical scholars in lingnan formed a rich cultural foundation for lingnan herbal tea, with formulas and terminology passed down through generations. the renowned "lingnan medicine valley" herbal tea, for example, adheres to the authentic formulas originated by the founder of taoist herbal tea.

    unfortunately, during the "cultural revolution," the culture of herbal tea was severely damaged. not only were herbal tea shops closed, but artifacts related to the production of herbal tea, such as tools, sites, relics, historical documents, and photographs, were almost entirely lost. fortunately, some of these cultural aspects were partially preserved in hong kong and macau. famous formulas like he''s original, shangqing drink, huang zhenlong, and wang laoji have been passed down from generation to generation.

    ge dongxu, as the direct descendant of ge hong, the founder of taoist herbal tea, naturally inherited a variety of unique and complete herbal tea formulas. however, ge dongxu habitually categorized this heritage under the field of medicine and never considered brewing herbal tea that is cooling but not cold, clearing heat without harming the spleen and stomach, non-toxic to the liver and kidneys, suitable for all seasons, preventative when healthy, and therapeutic when sick, "fighting dryness in autumn and winter, dispelling heat and dampness in spring and summer," and certainly healthier by many times than foreign sodas like coca-cola or pepsi.

    because he hadn''t thought of this aspect, ge dongxu had never considered setting up a herbal tea drink factory, especially since he didn''t have much money before. however, now, although he still doesn''t have money in his pockets, he owns land. those twelve acres of land could be sold for as much as 3.8 million currently.

    3.8 million, at this time in changxi county, is definitely a huge amount of money, enough for him to invest in several small herbal tea drink factories.

    "thank you for your kindness, dongxu. but when we invested in the herbal tea drink factory, we were very optimistic about its future, which seems wrong now. now, liu lihe can''t come up with the money to pay off the loan, partly because he and yang hong secretly squandered it behind my back, and partly because of the poor business. otherwise, if the business were booming, even their extravagant spending wouldn''t have left them with not even a penny to their names. moreover, you just mortgaged the factory to take out a loan not long ago, which shows you are also strapped for cash," yuan li said, moved by ge dongxu''s interest in investing in the herbal tea drink factory.

    seeing yuan li still considering his situation under these circumstances, ge dongxu finally understood why her ex-husband and her cousin managed to deceive her to this extent.

    this was a woman whose kind nature had not been worn down by society.

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    because of this, ge dongxu became even more determined to help her, especially since he had planned to invest in a herbal tea beverage factory. s§×arch* the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "you don''t have to worry about that. since i''m prepared to invest in a herbal tea beverage factory, i definitely have the necessary funds. for now, just tell me how much you''ve actually borrowed," ge dongxu said.

    "550,000! the factory building and equipment are currently worth at most 300,000. the apartment i''m living in has 85 square meters, and because it''s quite old, it could at most sell for about 50 to 60 thousand. i also have 30,000 in savings, and they might be able to squeeze out another 10 to 20 thousand from their side. so, the shortfall is roughly 150,000¡ªa conservative estimate," yuan li, seeing that ge dongxu insisted, said with a bitter smile.

    150,000, in this era, might be negligible for a county industrial and commercial bank branch manager, but at that time, it was an absolutely enormous amount. just the interest for one year could amount to nearly half of yuan li''s salary. so even though yuan li was the deputy manager of the changxi county industrial and commercial bank branch, she was tearful and utterly helpless about the money.

    "selling the apartment is out of the question. can you, a dignitary deputy manager, really live in a rented house? here''s the plan, tomorrow at eleven forty, you book a car and wait for me at the entrance of changxi no. 1 middle school. i''ll join you for a trip to the herbal tea beverage factory at wangzhou mountain. i''ll see what the factory is like, and if it''s passable, i''ll invest 500,000 to buy it. but don''t tell your ex-husband and cousin yet, let''s see how much they can really contribute. they''ve already taken great advantage; they shouldn''t continue to do so," ge dongxu thought it over and concluded that 500,000 was completely manageable for him, especially considering that if he had to build a new factory and buy new equipment, not only would it waste time, it would definitely cost more than 500,000. therefore, he didn''t mind spending 500,000 to buy the factory outright.

    this way, not only could he start the herbal tea beverage business with relatively less investment and quickly, but he could also help yuan li weather her financial crisis, achieving two ends with a single action.

    actually, yuan li had only revealed the loan amount because ge dongxu had persistently asked her. she hadn''t genuinely expected that ge dongxu would invest in the herbal tea beverage factory, considering it involved an investment of several hundred thousand¡ªafter all, who would casually throw in such an amount for someone they weren''t very close with.

    unless that person coveted her beauty, or wanted to engage in a power-for-money trade, considering that her looks and physique were quite remarkable, and the position of deputy manager of the changxi county industrial and commercial bank branch did hold some power.

    but ge dongxu was still a young man, and it definitely wasn''t because he coveted her beauty or wanted to engage in a power-for-money trade.

    so when yuan li heard ge dongxu say he really planned to invest money to buy their factory, and he was willing to pay an extra 200,000 for a factory worth at most 300,000, she was stunned and eventually said with disbelief, "you, you''re really planning to invest 500,000 to buy the factory?"

    ps: brother xu is finally about to start another promising business venture, support needed!

 Chapter 120 More Than One Plot

    "do i look like i''m joking?" ge dongxu said, looking at yuan li."but, but¡­" yuan li''s eyes were already brimming with tears at this point.

    her husband had betrayed her, cheated her, and the cousin she trusted had likewise betrayed her and pushed her into a corner. and now, a young man, with whom she''d only had a few encounters and at most some business dealings, was willing to lend a hand generously.

    at this moment, yuan li''s emotions were indescribably complex!

    "heh, are you worried i don''t have the money?" ge dongxu laughed as he took out the documentation for another nine acres of land in jiang family village from his backpack, "this is the land near my factory in jiang family village. you should know how much the land prices there have skyrocketed. it shouldn''t be a problem to get a loan of a hundred million or so for these lands, right?"

    "six thousand and fifty square meters!" yuan li''s eyes went wide when she saw the area listed.

    as the deputy branch manager of changxi county''s industrial and commercial bank, yuan li was of course keenly aware of how drastically land prices in jiang family village had soared, and money couldn''t even buy land there now. previously, when a teller called to tell her that ge dongxu wanted to see her, she thought to herself that this young man really had a good eye; the factory land was worth at least five or six hundred thousand by now.

    but what yuan li never expected was that this young man before her owned not just one plot in jiang family village, but another even larger plot, totaling nine acres¡ªand a bit more, in fact¡ªtriple the size of the factory plot.

    if the factory land was worth five or six hundred thousand now, then this plot would probably fetch around one hundred and fifty or sixty million. the two plots combined¡­

    at this thought, yuan li couldn''t help but cover her mouth, her beautiful eyes wide with astonishment.

    two hundred million, even for yuan li at this moment, was an astronomical figure, but the young man before her, as far as she knew, already had at least that much.

    after checking the area, yuan li then looked at the date and was completely stunned.

    because the date on it was very close to when ge dongxu had applied for the mortgage loan, and with yuan li''s wit, it wasn''t hard to deduce why ge dongxu had taken the loan at that time.

    it was to buy this plot of land!

    but this unexpected move by the county government had caught many well-connected individuals off guard, missing the opportunity. yuan li found it unimaginable, how a young man could have such a unique and sharp investment vision, and the audacity to invest in a plot of land in jiang family village before the land prices had even begun to rise.

    "you, you took out the loan last time just to buy this plot of land?" after a long while, yuan li finally regained her composure, but she still couldn''t believe that a young man could have such foresight and boldness.

    one has to understand that many powerful figures in both the political and business realms of changxi county had stumbled in this incident, missing out on the benefits they should have received!

    "yes, is there a problem?" ge dongxu asked.

    yuan li was almost driven mad by ge dongxu''s rhetorical question! yes, is there a problem? no problem, no one said you can''t do that! but, the issue is, how could you, a high school student, be so visionary and bold, making her, a deputy branch manager who was almost driven to desperation by money, feel so inadequate? stay tuned with empire

    it took a good moment for yuan li to stabilize her emotions. only then did she truly believe that ge dongxu was sincere in his desire to help her, and that he indeed had the capacity to do so, not just paying lip service.

    these days, it''s easy to talk the talk, but putting your money where your mouth is can be extremely difficult. siblings even settle accounts with each other, let alone a customer with whom there isn''t much of a relationship.

    perhaps that''s why yuan li was even more grateful. she looked at ge dongxu with a resolute face and said, "there won''t be any problem with a million loan for this piece of land. however, i must sell my house. even though you have money, i can''t let you suffer a loss like this!"

    "if you insist, then let''s do it this way. you don''t have to sell your house. after seeing the factory, if the condition is still so-so, i will invest four hundred and seventy thousand. if it''s still not enough, i will cover the rest, and you can consider the difference a loan from me." ge dongxu saw yuan li''s insistence, and knowing that continuing the conversation might hurt her pride, he thought for a moment and then said.

    "thank you, dongxu, thank you so much!" yuan li said, wiping away tears from the corner of her eyes, and suddenly stood up to give ge dongxu a deep bow.

    as she bowed deeply, a snow-white cleavage became visible beneath her fair neck, which startled ge dongxu. he quickly got up, waving his hands and saying, "president yuan, what are you doing? i''m helping you, but it''s also to make things easier for myself, given i was going to invest in the herbal tea beverage factory anyway."

    "so, i''m not even allowed to say thank you after you''ve done a good deed? is that it?" yuan li saw ge dongxu''s repeated gestures, wiped the corner of her eye again, and gave him an annoyed yet charming glare. it had an indescribable allure that made ge dongxu''s young heart skip several beats.

    "heh heh, why don''t we just go ahead and handle the mortgage loan, president yuan?" ge dongxu said with an embarrassed scratch of his head and a smile, quickly changing the subject.

    "if you don''t mind, just call me sister li. it feels so distant to keep calling me president yuan." yuan li nodded and said.

    "alright, then i''ll call you sister li from now on," ge dongxu actually liked yuan li''s straightforwardness and readily agreed without further ceremony.

    "i''ve made a profit this time, suddenly gaining a wealthy younger brother," yuan li said with a happy smile, evidently in a good mood as ge dongxu called her sister li.

    "ha, a few million and a wealthy person? hardly," ge dongxu said modestly.

    "a few million, just like that? i haven''t slept well in days over tens of thousands! and around here in our little place, if a few million doesn''t make you wealthy, then how much does?" yuan li said, raising her hand and tapping ge dongxu''s forehead with her delicate fingers, reproaching him.

    after hearing this, ge dongxu couldn''t be modest anymore, so he redirected the conversation back to the loan, saying, "actually, sister li, someone offered three hundred and eighty thousand for the land and factory, which i didn''t accept. do you think i could get a bigger loan? it would be best to have a hundred and three or forty thousand. that way, i can pay off the previous loan, get that land back, invest about fifty thousand in the beverage factory, and still have six or seventy thousand left over. a portion of this money could be used as a reserve for the beverage factory, and the rest i have other uses for."

    upon hearing that someone had offered three hundred and eighty thousand for ge dongxu''s land and he hadn''t sold it, yuan li was stunned for a while. then, as she smoothed over her prominent chest strained by her shirt, she said, "that shouldn''t be a problem, but we still need to follow the process."

    "i understand that," ge dongxu, having already taken out a loan once, knew about the process and nodded.

    "then i''ll have someone come over to start the appraisal report," yuan li said.

    after saying this, yuan li went to her desk and made a phone call. then, an asset appraisal staff member arrived.

    upon seeing the state-owned land use rights materials provided by ge dongxu, the staff member was so shocked he couldn''t recover for a long time.

    it was really because ge dongxu was so young; it made the appraiser feel like he''d wasted his own years living like a pig. sea??h th§× ¦Çovelfire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ps: cough cough, today i saw many comments saying that the author is into mature women, into big sisters, ah, can your thoughts not be so dirty? do i? do i? do i? important things must be asked three times?

 Chapter 121 Looking for a Partner [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    the asset evaluator seemed to know well and was quite optimistic about the land prices in jiang family''s village, as he gave ge dongxu''s piece of land an appraisal value of 1.9 million. consequently, yuan li had no trouble at all approving a loan of 1.4 million for ge dongxu.with this money, ge dongxu, besides redeeming the factory land, had no immediate use for the remaining funds, so he naturally deposited it into the industrial and commercial bank of china changxi county branch. this was a substantial transaction for yuan li, which made her mood much better. of course, she became even more grateful to ge dongxu.

    having taken care of the bank mortgage loan, ge dongxu rushed off to attend classes at school.

    when evening self-study ended that day, jiang lili proactively came to wait for him after school, which of course caused quite a stir, especially when du yifan saw jiang lili coming to wait for ge dongxu again; he seemed as if he had been injected with chicken blood, though it was unclear exactly what he was so excited about. s§×ar?h the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ge dongxu had the intention to advise jiang lili not to wait for him after school, but considering her imminent college entrance examination, he thought that speaking up might hurt her feelings and negatively affect her exam preparations, so on the way home, he swallowed his words several times just as they reached the tip of his tongue.

    of course, jiang lili''s figure was truly attractive, and walking with her was indeed a pleasant view. moreover, today jiang lili seemed to have gradually adjusted her attitude as well, regaining some of her usual liveliness. chatting and laughing with ge dongxu, the journey was not awkward and silent like the night before.

    after walking with jiang lili for a while, the two said their goodbyes.

    walking home alone, ge dongxu started to think about the acquisition of the herbal tea beverage factory.

    acquiring the herbal tea beverage factory, he definitely didn''t need to worry about the recipes. ge dongxu had several in mind, all originating from ge hong. they were genuine teas that were cool but not cold, could clear heat without harming the spleen or stomach, had no liver or kidney toxicity, were suitable for all seasons, could prevent illness when healthy, and treat diseases when sick, encapsulating the "autumn and winter moisture prevention, spring and summer heat and dampness removal" herbal tea recipes.

    the key issues were still production management and marketing.

    ge dongxu certainly had no time to handle these matters himself, so it was essential to find partners. when thinking about partners, ge dongxu first thought of his own relatives.

    the last investment in the trademark factory was initiated by cheng yazhou, who decided who to partner with. but this time, as ge dongxu was investing in starting a factory himself, he would decide whom to partner with.

    when it came to seeking partners, naturally, one would prefer to keep benefits within one''s own circle, so ge dongxu naturally thought of his second uncle who did business outside, his third uncle who ran a restaurant, and a relatively closer cousin. moreover, in ouzhou city, there was an existing custom of partnering with family members to run businesses, resulting in many family enterprises in this region. cheng yazhou''s decision to partner with his younger brother-in-law wu qianjin was also influenced by this custom.

    however, ge dongxu quickly dismissed the idea of partnering with relatives. he felt that running a business should remain strictly business, and once relatives got involved, too many personal feelings and complications would inevitably arise. especially considering his young age, people like lin jinnuo and cheng yazhou would maintain the necessary respect for him as an outsider, always valuing his opinions. but his own uncles and cousin, who had watched him grow up, might not necessarily do the same. if opinions differed, given ge dongxu''s character and his considerations for elders and family sentiments, he certainly wouldn''t be able to firmly speak his mind.

    and these days, ge dongxu had started to peruse some books on business and investment. the books mentioned quite a few flaws in family enterprises, and he himself began to pay intentional attention to the business news around him. he found that many family businesses in the ouzhou city area had a common characteristic: they typically grew very fast at the beginning but hit a plateau once they reached a certain scale and then gradually declined. the issue seemed to stem from stuffing too many relatives and friends into a business.

    so ge dongxu felt that, rather than involving relatives in his business, he would prefer to just give them money to invest and conduct their own businesses when he made profits in the future. moreover, he had many secrets that he did not find suitable to share with relatives.

    however, if he were to cooperate with relatives in running a business, it would be awkward for him when they inquired about its inner workings. unlike cheng yazhou and others, who would be mindful of their status and would definitely not pry unnecessarily, and even if they did, ge dongxu could ignore them. but if his uncles and other relatives pursued the matter, it would be fine once or twice, but after too many inquiries, they might take issue with it.

    since he had decided not to involve his relatives, ge dongxu naturally thought of cheng yazhou and wu qianjin. after all, the three had previously collaborated on a trademark factory, and their cooperation had been comfortable and smooth. moreover, both of them were trustworthy.

    after determining his partners, ge dongxu returned home and approached cheng yazhou to discuss his intention to invest in a herbal tea beverage factory, asking if he was interested.

    although ge dongxu was very confident in his formula, he knew that even a good wine needs no bush, so he could not guarantee 100% that the herbal tea beverage factory would be profitable and naturally sought cheng yazhou''s opinion.

    "the trademark factory is doing very well, why did you suddenly think of getting into the herbal tea beverage business?" cheng yazhou was quite surprised by ge dongxu''s idea.

    ge dongxu briefly told cheng yazhou about his trip to the bank that day and also specifically mentioned that he had an excellent herbal tea formula.

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    cheng yazhou knew ge dongxu''s medical skills were astonishingly remarkable, and he absolutely believed ge dongxu when he said he had an excellent herbal tea formula. so, after listening, cheng yazhou was somewhat tempted. his only concern was that he had never ventured into this industry and was utterly clueless about how to proceed. of course, regarding the matter of ge dongxu agreeing to buy the herbal tea beverage factory for a high price, he did have some reservations, but considering the favor ge dongxu had done for him, this could be overlooked.

    "i definitely trust your formula, and your insights have always been accurate. since you want to invest in this industry, there must be potential in it. however, as the saying goes, different trades are as different as different hills, and uncle has never dealt with herbal tea beverages before. i''m afraid of ruining your excellent formula," cheng yazhou said, stroking his chin.

    cheng yazhou''s remark about different trades being as different as different hills reminded ge dongxu of someone, tang yiyuan. he was an old traditional chinese medicine practitioner and would definitely have done research on herbal tea. in the future, he could be asked to consult, and with his reputation and prestige in the field of traditional chinese medicine, his help in promotion would unquestionably be beneficial. moreover, herbal tea was essentially a type of medicinal brew, and since ge dongxu would not have time to manage production, he could have tang yiyuan help find a traditional chinese medicine student with both good character and scholarship to help manage production.

    thus, the biggest remaining issue was only that of sales. of course, for a product like a beverage, sales are the most critical aspect. if the product cannot be sold, everything else is in vain.

    "that''s not a big problem. since we''re buying their herbal tea beverage factory for a high price, they ought to lead us in and hand over some of their sales channels to us. in the beginning, we need not be ruthless; let''s first stabilize their existing sales channels, then gradually become familiar with them through exploration, and slowly find ways to expand our herbal tea to the national market. besides, the market capacity for the laser trademark factory is always limited. profits have begun to decline notably, mainly compensated by volume. eventually, as more people enter the industry, it will probably no longer be viable. but beverages are different; we have so many people in huaxia country, and everyone needs to drink every day. once we really get our herbal tea off the ground, the profits will be far beyond what the laser trademark factory could match," ge dongxu analyzed. as for tang yiyuan, since he had not yet sought his opinion, ge dongxu did not want to bring him up yet.

    ps: speaking should be based on conscience; you''ve hurt the heart of a pure man, so votes for comfort, please! additionally, a fellow reader, he wu sha zhou, who''s a banking professional, pointed out that there is a problem with this method of evaluation for mortgage loans. i am especially grateful for his professional advice, which has been educational for me. however, due to professional and experience limitations, similar mistakes may still occur in the future. i request readers to point them out without dwelling on them too much, considering this as a story occurring in huaxia country, a parallel to china.

 Chapter 122 Independent Holding

    "you''re making sense. laser trademark factory can operate for another two years, and the three of us split the profits, but i estimate it won''t be that exciting, so we must seize the moment to plan the next investment project. the beverage market for herbal tea is indeed huge, and once it gets going, we surely won''t have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of our lives. the key is how to market it. but you''re right, at the beginning, we shouldn''t be too aggressive, we should slowly get accustomed to it as we go along, considering it''s just a small factory with a small investment. you tell me how much you want me and qianjin to put in, but not too much, okay? i''m not the same as you, a young tycoon¡ªi''m still in debt to the bank," cheng yazhou said, nodding his head."the herbal tea beverage factory is actually estimated to be worth around three hundred thousand, and the asking price of four hundred and seventy thousand is mainly because of my personal reasons¡ªit shouldn''t be counted against you two. so, we''ll calculate the investment for the factory and equipment at three hundred thousand, and have an additional two hundred thousand in reserve for purchasing raw materials and other variable expenses such as salaries, totaling an investment of five hundred thousand. the formula is my exclusive recipe, and i''ve named it qinghe herbal tea. it could be converted into capital shares, or i could hold the qinghe trademark independently from the beverage factory," ge dongxu explained.

    "although it''s for personal reasons, given our relationship, you don''t need to be so precise. we should still count the fixed assets of the factory at four hundred and seventy thousand. as for the formula, it''s difficult to asses its value. if we price it too low, it''s a big loss for you; if it''s too high, i don''t mind, but qianjin might have objections. let''s choose to have you hold the ''qinghe'' trademark and formula independently. for the next five years, we won''t pay any fee. after five years, we''ll pay an annual fee for the use of the trademark and formula," cheng yazhou proposed after pondering.

    "don''t bother arguing with me about the investment amount for the fixed assets of the factory, as i''m not short of that bit of money. regarding the trademark and formula, i also prefer to hold them independently, as right now, not even the basics are set, and if we were to convert the formula into capital shares, it would increase the costs for the beverage factory. so here''s the deal: three hundred thousand for fixed assets, plus two hundred thousand for working capital, making a total of five hundred thousand. i''ll contribute three hundred thousand, and you two will pitch in two hundred thousand. if you find this inappropriate, we can adjust, or you can discuss it with uncle wu and adjust later," ge dongxu said.

    "alright, i''ll discuss it with qianjin and then confirm the final investment amount with you. i know you''re not short of money; the main reason you''re bringing us in is because you trust us," cheng yazhou agreed with a nod.

    "hehe, yes. i''m still a student, so apart from offering the formula and helping with production, most of it is indeed dependent on you two," ge dongxu chuckled and nodded.

    "no problem, we''ll be drawing a salary anyway," cheng yazhou laughed.

    hearing this, ge dongxu chuckled and then remembered about visiting the factory at noon the next day, saying to cheng yazhou, "tomorrow at eleven forty, i have an appointment with deputy branch manager yuan li at the school gates to visit the factory together. you and uncle qianjin should also come along."

    "sure, one thing is personal relationships, another is business; we still need to see the site in person before investing," cheng yazhou nodded in agreement. s§×arch* the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    having arranged these matters with cheng yazhou, ge dongxu returned to his room.

    back in his room, ge dongxu thought about the imminent investment in the herbal tea beverage factory and was quite looking forward to it. he planned to go to the provincial capital this weekend, partly to buy the jade token, and also to arrange a meeting with tang yiyuan.

    although herbal tea isn''t a medicine, it is originally derived from medicinal soups, so when herbal tea is mentioned, people can easily associate it with the tradition of chinese medicine. tang yiyuan is a veteran practitioner of traditional chinese medicine, not just famous in jiangnan province, but also well-known in the wider chinese medicine community of huaxia country. having him represent us would be akin to having an authoritative spokesperson, which would surely be greatly beneficial for establishing the brand. moreover, transitioning from hand-cooked tea to industrialized production also requires some feasibility experiments. ge dongxu lacks expertise in this area and would need professional assistance; undoubtedly, tang yiyuan is the best candidate for this.

    of course, this would still depend on whether tang yiyuan is willing, so a meeting to discuss is necessary.

    as for liu jiayao, she was already almost completely healed. even if ge dongxu didn''t continue to provide acupuncture treatments, there wouldn''t be any issues¡ªshe''d just need some chinese medicine for regulation. however, liu jiayao found the taste of chinese medicine bitter, and insisted that ge dongxu give her another acupuncture treatment the next time he was in the provincial capital.

    so, in addition to those two matters, ge dongxu would also need to provide one last acupuncture session for that beautiful ceo sister on his upcoming trip to the provincial capital.

    after mulling it over for a while, ge dongxu started to read and then practiced calligraphy and making talismans until midnight, when he finally began to meditate.

    the next day at noon, ge dongxu, without even eating, hurried to the school''s entrance.

    there, a black santana called by yuan li was parked at the entrance, and yuan li was dressed in professional attire, with a white blouse paired with a black pencil skirt that revealed a fair stretch of her silky legs in stockings.

    cheng yazhou and wu qianjin were already waiting at the entrance, and they were talking to yuan li. cheng yazhou knew yuan li and was also relatively older, so he appeared normal. wu qianjin, a man in his thirties, facing such an office beauty who was also the deputy branch manager of changxi county''s industrial and commercial bank, was clearly somewhat restrained, nervously smoking and glancing towards the school to hide his inner tension.

    when wu qianjin saw ge dongxu, he hurriedly waved him over, calling out, "dongxu, over here."

    ge dongxu smiled and nodded, quickly walking toward them. getting closer, he said directly, "class starts at 1:50 pm, so we don''t have much time. let''s get in the car and talk."

    "you must not have eaten, right? i brought you some buns on the way. make do and fill your stomach with these," yuan li said, revealing a complicated look of gratitude and pity as she handed over a bag.

    find your next read on empire

    "president yuan really thinks of everything. we two guys didn''t consider this at all," cheng yazhou said with a laugh, smacking his forehead.

    "thanks, sister li," ge dongxu said after acknowledging yuan li as his elder sister, not standing on ceremony, casually thanking her before taking the bag and starting to eat the buns.

    seeing ge dongxu, so young and yet so casually calling the deputy branch manager of the county industrial and commercial bank ''sister'', and acting so naturally, wu qianjin couldn''t help revealing a look of envy and admiration.

    he wanted to as well! but whenever he saw yuan li, his heart would feel a bit flustered.

    the four of them got in the car without much ado. yuan li sat in the front passenger seat, with the three men in the back.

    as ge dongxu ate his buns, yuan li took out a thermos from her handbag, turned around, handed it to him, and said with care, "eat slowly, don''t choke."

    her gentle voice made wu qianjin, a thirty-year-old man, feel all warm and fuzzy!

    ps: many readers have been urging for more updates recently. let me explain that for now i can only ensure a slightly longer update on mondays. other days will have three chapters each day. i strive to have a backlog ready, to then give you all a surprise. i really can''t rush it more than this, i am sorry!

 Chapter 123 Shameless to the Extreme

    wangzhou mountain is just a small mountain ridge, incomparable to baiyun mountain. it''s not far from the county seat either, only half an hour''s drive away.on the way, cheng yazhou whispered to ge dongxu that he and wu qianjin had discussed it: their funds were a bit tight at the moment, so they could only invest one hundred and fifty thousand¡ªhim one hundred thousand, wu qianjin fifty thousand.

    ge dongxu didn''t really care whether they invested an extra fifty thousand or not. what mattered most was finding two trustworthy partners, so he had no objections when he heard this. that settled it: ge dongxu invested three hundred and fifty thousand for a seventy percent stake, cheng yazhou invested one hundred thousand for a twenty percent stake, and wu qianjin invested fifty thousand for a ten percent stake, with the recipe trademark solely owned by ge dongxu. however, it would be free to use for the first five years.

    the area surrounding wangzhou mountain is called wangzhou township.

    the beverage factory run by liu lihe and the others is located on the eastern side of the township''s town center, close to wangzhou mountain.

    wangzhou township''s town center is quite run-down and small; you can see from one end of the street to the other.

    the santana passed through the town center''s street, passing by the local government courtyard, which had signs for the chinese communist wangzhou township committee, the people''s government, the people''s armed forces department, the discipline inspection committee, the people''s congress presidium, and the police station. that building seemed relatively new and imposing compared to the rest of the town.

    at the end of the street, the santana turned left and drove for another three to four minutes on a bumpy road before reaching a factory building with the sign "liu jiansheng herbal tea beverage factory."

    "liu jiansheng" was the original tea recipe trademark brand used by liu lihe, named after an ancestor from their village. according to legend, the recipe for this herbal tea came from this ancestor, and every household in their village knew how to brew it. some villagers even set up tea stands in towns for a living. married to yuan li, a woman with broader horizons than her fellow villagers, liu lihe was thus inspired to persuade yuan li to help him with a loan to start a herbal tea beverage factory.

    initially, yuan li disagreed because it was a significant investment for them, but she couldn''t resist liu lihe''s relentless persuasion. deep down, she too wanted to get rich, so she eventually agreed.

    unexpectedly, the factory ended up thoroughly trapping them in a quagmire.

    ge dongxu had his own recipe and naturally was unwilling to use another person''s trademark brand, so he decided yesterday to rename it "qinghe," meaning clear and harmonious, with the implication of cooling without harming the body.

    the exterior of the factory was surrounded by a white wall and planted with trees all around. with the forest at the back, it exuded an extra touch of greenery. the factory itself covered an area of about three thousand square meters, which was decent.

    from the outside, it looked quite decent, but once inside, it appeared desolate. people, dressed simply, either chatted idly in the shade of the trees or squatted on the ground playing cards. surrounding the factory were piles of discarded herbal residue, and a complex herbal scent permeated the air.

    yuan li apparently came to the factory often, so as soon as she entered, someone recognized her and threw down their cards, saying, "the boss''s wife is here!"

    consequently, a swarm of people crowded around her, bombarding yuan li with questions, "boss''s wife, when will we get our wages for the past two months? our families are waiting on this money to put food on the table."

    not far away, at the window of an office in the factory, a man and a woman looked out at yuan li being surrounded by the workers.

    the man appeared to be in his early thirties, tall and handsome. at his age, with such an appearance, he was at the peak of his charm, but his expression of schadenfreude was somewhat punchable at the moment.

    the woman was younger, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. her looks were no match for yuan li''s, but she had a fuller figure, especially a notably large rear. watching the scene outside, her expression revealed a slight unease.

    "lihe, are we going too far with this?" the woman asked in a low voice. s~ea??h the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "what''s too far about it? they say a couple owes a hundred days of grace for one night of marriage, but damn, as soon as she divorces me, your cousin turns her back and plays dumb. she''s clearly a bank leader, yet she lets the bank push us to death. fine, since we both don''t have formal jobs, and our only fixed assets are a rundown house in the village and this factory, let them auction off the factory, and take that shabby house. i couldn''t care less about the rest; what can the bank do to us anyway? in the end, they''ll still go to her. as for these workers, let them go to her also. let her taste what it''s like to be hounded for debts. isn''t that just perfect?" the man, naturally, was liu lihe, his handsome face revealing the shameless and vile sneer only a scoundrel would possess.

    "but¡­" the woman hesitated before speaking; she was naturally yuan li''s cousin, yang hong.

    "there''s no ''but'' about it. it''s clear that we can''t save the factory. by doing this, i''m also making her and the bank realize, we indeed don''t have a penny left. otherwise, if they actually found out about the fifty thousand in cash we have stashed, we wouldn''t be able to protect that money," liu lihe interrupted.

    upon hearing liu lihe mention the fifty thousand, yang hong fell silent.

    "i''ve divorced liu lihe already, this factory has nothing to do with me. if you want to collect your debts, go find liu lihe and yang hong. what''s the meaning of surrounding me?" yuan li said with furrowed brows and an annoyed expression.

    "yuan li, you''re being too heartless with your words. no matter what, you and he were once husband and wife. now, liu lihe and yang hong are saying the bank''s debt has come due, and the bank is forcing them to sell their factory buildings. they really can''t come up with a single penny right now. even though you''re a leader in the bank, it''s one thing if you don''t help with the bank''s money, but you should at least help pay back the hard-earned money of our fellow villagers. everyone agrees, right?" a very brassy woman said.

    "right, right! you need to pay back the money!" the others clamored in agreement upon hearing this.

    wu qianjin and cheng yazhou both frowned at this scene, looking at yuan li with a hint of sympathy in their eyes, while ge dongxu''s face had already darkened.

    as a cultivator, his senses were much sharper than normal people''s. when liu lihe and yang hong hid in the office to watch, ge dongxu sensed them, and when he focused his energies on his ears, he even vaguely heard some conversation between them. although the distance meant the sounds were unclear and fragmented, with ge dongxu''s intelligence, he could roughly infer the meaning from those fragments after a little deduction. continue your saga on empire

    "utterly shameless!" ge dongxu was extremely angry in his heart.

    not only had he cheated on his ex-wife, but he also seemed to think she was heartless and ungrateful for turning her back on him. ge dongxu found people like liu lihe even more despicable than duan qiaoxue and jin ma, who had previously conspired against jiang lili''s father, mainly because they were so disgusting.

    yuan li naturally couldn''t mention the affair between liu lihe and her cousin, and the one leading the commotion was actually liu lihe''s sister-in-law, han zhen, notoriously brazen in their village. she knew the real reason yuan li and liu lihe divorced. at that point, not speaking up for yuan li was one thing, but to take the lead in instigating, yuan li naturally felt very annoyed, and reached out to push her away, saying, "get out of my way, where are liu lihe and yang hong? we need to find them."

    "ah! you owe money and hit people, how dare you! you think you''re justified!" han zhen, caught off guard by the push, nearly fell on her backside and immediately shrieked, lunging forward to tear at yuan li''s clothes in a frenzy.

    yuan li, also caught unawares, had buttons on her shirt ripped open, causing her ample bosom to stretch the fabric, revealing a glimpse of skin.

    scrambling to cover her chest with her bag, yuan li''s eyes began to redden.

    "what are you trying to hide? if you won''t pay back the money, then let everyone have a good look at whether a city girl''s skin is whiter than ours country folk''s!" said han zhen as she reached to snatch yuan li''s bag.

    seeing this, others also started to jeer along.

    ps: at the request of mo wenqing, a friend from the ying long''s threads message board, despicable liu lihe makes a grand appearance. congratulations to my friend mo wenqing.

 Chapter 124 You Can Try to Rush Up

    ge dongxu hadn''t anticipated han zhen to be so fierce. besides, since she was a woman, he didn''t react initially. but now, seeing that she had even popped a button off yuan li''s shirt and yuan li had to cover herself with a bag, yet han zhen wouldn''t stop and even tried to snatch the bag to humiliate her in front of everyone, ge dongxu couldn''t help but get furious. he raised his foot and kicked towards her stomach as he cursed, "shameless woman, get lost!"although ge dongxu controlled the force of his kick, it was still quite powerful as it was driven by anger.

    the woman clearly hadn''t expected that an outsider would dare to strike her on her own turf. she was kicked so hard that she stumbled back several steps and then fell on her buttock to the ground.

    the factory yard immediately quieted down, everyone staring blankly at ge dongxu.

    yuan li, cheng yazhou, and wu qianjin did the same.

    usually, they only saw ge dongxu''s neighborly, sunny side, and perhaps at times, a maturity beyond his age. but they had never imagined that he could also be so fierce.

    however, after their initial shock, cheng yazhou and wu qianjin began to sweat coldly, realizing the situation was bad.

    this was a rural area after all; how could hitting someone here end well?

    as expected, han zhen immediately started to wail loudly on the ground, as if she had been assaulted by a group of men, and since most people in the factory were from her village, they knew she wasn''t a good person, but couldn''t accept her being struck by an outsider. seeing han zhen crying on the ground, some people rushed to hit ge dongxu.

    "hey, hey, what are you doing? he''s just a student, he doesn''t know any better!" cheng yazhou and wu qianjin hurriedly stepped forward to intercept them, while yuan li was already somewhat frightened, and the driver had stepped back to the factory entrance.

    but soon yuan li screamed and rushed forward to protect ge dongxu. sear?h the novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    by then, ge dongxu had moved to the front when he kicked the woman, and by the time they reacted, it was too late; some people had already started hitting ge dongxu with their fists and feet.

    seeing this, ge dongxu was somewhat annoyed, but since these people were ordinary folks and considered violence somewhat justified, especially seeing their fellow villager getting hit and rushing to help, he didn''t fight back with full force. he just slightly sidestepped and threw his arm horizontally, shouldering forward.

    the two men at the forefront felt an overwhelming force hit their chests. one couldn''t keep his balance and kept backing up, knocking down several others behind him.

    witnessing ge dongxu''s simple arm swing and shoulder thrust that made two large men lose their balance, and even caused them to knock down two men and two women behind them, everyone''s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

    especially cheng yazhou, wu qianjin, and yuan li, who were so shocked their mouths hung open.

    they had never dreamt that the young man they knew was so capable of fighting!

    fearing yuan li might be further exposed, ge dongxu quickly grabbed the bag from her hand, shoved it against her chest, and said, "sister li, don''t be afraid; i''m here for you."

    it was only then that yuan li realized she had forgotten to cover herself in her fright. she blushed slightly and nodded at ge dongxu, feeling an unprecedented sense of security and trust in him, as if with him by her side, she could withstand even the sky falling.

    ge dongxu turned and walked towards the still-seated shrew, han zhen.

    han zhen saw ge dongxu approaching her and couldn''t help showing a look of panic in her eyes, pointing at ge dongxu and saying, "what, what do you want to do?"

    "slap! slap!" ge dongxu slightly crouched and directly slapped her face twice, saying, "i want you to remember that there must be limits to how people act!"

    having said that, ge dongxu stood up and swept his gaze over those who clearly looked angrily unsettled and seemed about to rush at him, and he said coldly, "you can try to come at me, to see if i alone can handle all of you?"

    read exclusive adventures at empire

    saying so, ge dongxu bent down and leisurely picked up a broomstick that someone had left in the factory yard.

    in changxi county, broom handles are usually made of either wood or bamboo, generally as thick as a child''s arm. the one ge dongxu picked up had a wooden handle.

    seeing ge dongxu bend over to pick up the broom, those people thought he was grabbing a weapon to fight them. seeing such arrogance from a young man, they all felt humiliated and provoked. some started looking around to see if they could find suitable weapons, while cheng yazhou and wu qianjin were terrified by ge dongxu''s action and hastily said, "dongxu, calm down, calm down! everyone, please cool..."

    it was a joke. how could a young man, no matter how tough, really beat so many people? and if the fight escalated to armed conflict, the result could very likely involve serious injuries. in the eyes of cheng yazhou and wu qianjin, it was certain that ge dongxu would be the one getting injured.

    after all, two fists are hard to match four, and even a hero cannot outfight a crowd!

    however, before cheng yazhou and wu qianjin could finish their plea for calm, they heard a "snap" sound. ge dongxu had actually broken the thick broom handle with his bare hands as if he were snapping a chopstick, not a broomstick thick as a child''s arm.

    the two men simply gulped, struggling to swallow, and retracted the remaining words they were about to say.

    the people who had been looking around for weapons, feeling as if they had been humiliated, suddenly inhaled sharply, as if they felt a pain in their arms.

    the two men who had been pushed earlier and stumbled backward were now trembling all over, filled with a wave of relief and fear.

    they weren''t fools; they could see plainly that, with ge dongxu''s strength, had he gone all out, their retreat would have involved more than a few steps; they likely would have broken several ribs.

    now no one felt that ge dongxu''s earlier words were arrogant, nor did they feel he had humiliated them!

    because the fact was there, if he really wanted to fight, they indeed wouldn''t stand a chance against him!

    the woman, who initially received two slaps from ge dongxu and had started crying and screaming, suddenly shut her mouth and glanced around, secretly preparing to slip away.

    people like her always bully the weak and fear the strong. since ge dongxu was both capable of fighting and fierce, she naturally wanted to flee to avoid getting slapped by him again, as she would have nowhere to cry.

    "stand right there! you wanted your salary, right? we need to settle this matter clearly, where do you think you''re going?" ge dongxu called her out.

    ps: please support, thank you.

 Chapter 125 Theres nothing much to say about this kind of person

    "i''ll forget about my share, we are all family here, all family!" han zhen, seeing ge dongxu calling her back, got so frightened that her legs began to tremble, and she hurriedly said.ge dongxu, hearing this, couldn''t help but look at yuan li with some confusion.

    "she is liu lihe''s sister-in-law!" yuan li saw the puzzled look on ge dongxu''s face and whispered an explanation.

    the explanation was not helping at all; not only did ge dongxu, who had already established a friendship with her, but even cheng yazhou and wu qianjin, who didn''t have much affection for yuan li, were filled with fury upon hearing this.

    liu lihe''s family really was despicable! after swindling yuan li to this extent, his sister-in-law even led the charge in demanding wages from her!

    "slap! slap!" ge dongxu, furious, stepped forward and grabbed han zhen by the collar, and fiercely slapped him on her face.

    "damn it! other people might not know what exactly happened between yuan li and liu lihe, but don''t you know, being his sister-in-law? yet, you still come here demanding wages from her. are you even human!" ge dongxu grew angrier as he spoke and couldn''t help but slap her several more times.

    at this moment, the people around who heard ge dongxu speak started to sense that something was amiss and looked at han zhen with a hint of doubt.

    previously, han zhen and liu lihe had told them that yuan li had found another man and had disowned them. not only did she divorce liu lihe, but she also made the bank press them hard for debts.

    whether yuan li had a man outside or not was something these workers did not know and couldn''t judge. but the bank pressing for debts, causing the factory to halt production, was true. moreover, in the eyes of the ordinary people, since yuan li was a leader at the bank, they naturally associated her with the bank''s actions. they were unaware that yuan li did not own the bank and that she was only a deputy branch manager with limited power. moreover, since they had divorced, she naturally wouldn''t continue to vouch for delays in payment or similar issues on behalf of liu lihe.

    at this point, han zhen was completely overwhelmed by ge dongxu''s dominance and barely dared to respond, while yuan li, seeing ge dongxu speak and vent for her, couldn''t help but have her eyes well up with tears.

    "stay right there, don''t move. if you dare take one step, i''ll break your leg; don''t think i can''t do it!" ge dongxu released han zhen''s collar and said coldly.

    "i won''t leave, i won''t leave." han zhen, covering her face, hurriedly said, terrified that ge dongxu might slap her again.

    seeing that han zhen didn''t move, ge dongxu then looked toward the factory office and shouted, "liu lihe, yang hong, have you seen enough? if you have, come out and clarify things in front of everyone."

    liu lihe and yang hong had, of course, seen everything clearly outside. seeing ge dongxu, this "fierce god," shouting at them, yang hong immediately turned pale, saying, "what do we do now? he''s not going to hit me too, is he?"

    "what''s there to be afraid of? this is wangzhou township, not the county town! moreover, i already called my classmate, and he''ll be here soon," liu lihe said darkly and with forceful pretense.

    liu lihe''s classmate was a police officer at the wangzhou township police station, and also his childhood playmate. liu lihe, when squandering the money made from this factory, often treated him to a good time.

    although the income of rural police officers isn''t comparable to their urban counterparts, due to being far from the emperor''s reach and dealing with powerless common people, rural police have more prestige than city police and are less restrained in their actions. for this reason, rural police hold a significant status in the eyes of the local community.

    with liu lihe''s assurance, yang hong felt somewhat relieved and asked, "should we go out now?"

    "go out, of course, we go out. if we don''t, wouldn''t it appear that we are afraid of them, that we have something to hide?" liu lihe said as he led the way out of the office.

    as liu lihe approached, ge dongxu finally had a clear view of his face and thought to himself, truly a case of a splendid exterior hiding a rotten interior. who would have thought that such a handsome and tall man could be so shameless and despicable. he guessed sister li must have been deceived by his looks in the past.

    "yuan li, didn''t you say you were going to bring someone to acquire our factory? what is this supposed to mean?" after approaching, liu lihe pointed at his sister-in-law and preemptively accused her. find more to read at empire

    "i should be asking you the same. isn''t the mess you dumped on me enough? now you even have your sister-in-law demanding wages from me?" when yuan li saw liu lihe and yang hong come out and accuse her first, she couldn''t help but become emotional, her voice sharp with accusation.

    "what do you mean by ''mess''? it wasn''t just me who managed the factory, you were also involved. now that we''re divorced, you just ignore it and throw the whole burden of debt on me, how can you do that?" liu lihe retorted.

    "you, you¡­ bullshit! all the money we made over the years has been squandered by you and yang hong, and i didn''t get a penny! and now that you''re insolvent, i was the guarantor initially, and i still have to cover for you!" yuan li trembling all over from liu lihe''s questioning, burst out with a curse.

    "you don''t have to cover for me! i''m not forcing you!" liu lihe shamelessly responded. s§×arch* the ¦Çov§×lfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "you..." yuan li was so angry she was lost for words.

    ge dongxu gently patted yuan li''s shoulder and said, "sister li, don''t be angry, there''s no point in talking to someone like him!"

    after speaking, ge dongxu charged forward and fiercely grabbed liu lihe''s arm, giving it a harsh pull.

    "snap!" liu lihe''s arm was immediately dislocated, hanging loosely as he cried out in pain.

    ge dongxu, however, paid no heed to him and grabbed the other hand, once again giving it a vicious pull to dislocate it.

    everyone witnessing this scene broke out in a cold sweat, including cheng yazhou and others.

    they had never expected that once ge dongxu became ruthless, he could be so harsh! they used to think he was a good, obedient student!

    "alright, stop yelling. do you believe if you keep on, i''ll break both of your legs too?" ge dongxu coldly warned liu lihe.

    although in excruciating pain, liu lihe had finally realized how fierce ge dongxu was and dared not make another sound. inwardly, he cursed that police officer classmate of his for not arriving yet.

    seeing fear in liu lihe''s eyes, ge dongxu slowly took his arm, "snap, snap," he reset the dislocated joints.

    ge dongxu, already past sixteen though not yet eighteen, wasn''t legally an adult, but causing a disability would still hold him criminally responsible, albeit possibly with a lighter sentence. hence, teaching liu lihe a lesson was enough; there was no need to actually break his arms.

    "i suggest you answer whatever i ask you, otherwise next time i won''t fix them back, and your legs might be next," ge dongxu warned as he dusted off his hands.

    watching ge dongxu''s casual demeanor, people around felt their own elbows ache in sympathy.

    "fine, you''re ruthless! it was me who had my sister-in-law demand wages from yuan li¡­" liu lihe, looking at ge dongxu''s seemingly harmless face, was thoroughly intimidated and gritted his teeth as he spoke.

    there''s no choice, a wise man knows better than to fight when the odds are against him!

    "what''s going on? what''s going on? who was hitting people in the factory just now? is there no law anymore?" before liu lihe could finish, a fierce shout came from the entrance of the factory.

 Chapter 126 I Still Have Money By My Side

    hearing the shouts at the door, liu lihe and han zhen felt as if they heard the music of heaven, instantly invigorated."it was him, this bastard just pushed me down and hit my face!" han zhen pointed at ge dongxu and shrieked.

    "li geng, you came just in time, it was this guy who hit people! he just dislocated my two hands!" liu lihe also cried out, lifting his hands deliberately.

    the people who entered through the door were two men; one of them had a beer belly, was wearing a formal police uniform with a cap slightly askew on his head, a fierce look on his face, holding a baton in his hand. he had been shouting at the door, and was also liu lihe''s classmate.

    the other was a chubby auxiliary policeman, panting as he walked, making one wonder if he could even run should he encounter a criminal. he also held a baton in his hand.

    li geng, looking at liu lihe claiming that ge dongxu had dislocated his hands while deliberately raising them, cursed inwardly, "this idiot, if both hands are dislocated, why the hell are you lifting them so high? are you afraid i can''t see they are fine? damn it!"

    though cursing liu lihe inwardly as a fool, li geng outwardly swaggered, pointing his baton at ge dongxu and said, "damn, lawbreaking thug, hitting people, come to the police station with me!"

    upon hearing this, the auxiliary policeman behind him pulled out handcuffs.

    seeing this, ge dongxu slightly furrowed his brow and signaled to cheng yazhou with a glance. cheng yazhou, a smart man, sneered and stepped aside to call elder zuo on his phone.

    jokingly, even elder zuo is someone ge dongxu had to address respectfully, yet this village police officer dares to arrest him without a word, really lawless!

    "which eye of yours saw me hitting someone? you want to arrest someone without even asking!" after seeing cheng yazhou making the call, ge dongxu coldly asked.

    "damn! even dare to talk back, this is wangzhou village and i make the arrests here!" li geng, accustomed to throwing his weight around in this small place, saw a young ge dongxu daring to defy him and cursed as he jabbed his police baton towards his stomach.

    seeing li geng assaulting him, liu lihe''s eyes showed a gleeful and vindictive look, which han zhen also shared.

    the locals in small towns naturally hold a kind of inherent awe towards the police, believing common people would never dare to hit a policeman, and ge dongxu was no exception.

    however, liu lihe and han zhen were mistaken this time. normally, ge dongxu was an amiable, simple-natured youth with little temper. often, such people when angered, could be particularly fierce.

    that was the case with ge dongxu, who was now utterly disgusted and infuriated with people like liu lihe and han zhen because of the matter with yuan li. now that the police officer, clearly liu lihe''s accomplice, poked him with a police baton without any questions, why would he still be polite?

    "damn!" ge dongxu kicked fiercely at the baton thrust towards him.

    "bang!" the baton didn''t reach ge dongxu''s stomach, but was kicked back by ge dongxu''s foot, striking li geng''s beer belly, causing him to immediately double over in pain, tears streaming down his face.

    seeing li geng clutching his stomach unable to stand up after his baton was kicked by ge dongxu, the chubby auxiliary policeman also grabbed a baton and wanted to rush forward. but when ge dongxu''s cold gaze swept over him, the auxiliary policeman immediately chickened out, pointing at ge dongxu said, "daring to hit a cop, just you wait, just you wait!"

    while saying this, the chubby auxiliary policeman started retreating, then suddenly turned and ran, surprisingly quick, it was a wonder how his hefty body could achieve the speed of a rabbit.

    seeing one police officer unable to recover from being kicked to the ground by ge dongxu and one auxiliary policeman fleeing, everyone looked at each other with complex expressions, while liu lihe, han zhen, and yang hong were truly frightened.

    this kid is really a fool; he dares to hit anyone! even the police are not exempt!

    "what, what do you want to do? i''m telling you, lin er has already gone to call people, the police will be here soon, if you dare..." liu lihe saw ge dongxu suddenly looking at him, and his whole body shivered uncontrollably. s§×arch* the ¦Çovelfire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "crack!" the response to liu lihe was the sound of his arm being dislocated again.

    "ah!" liu lihe cried out.

    "crack!" ge dongxu popped it back into place.

    "ah!" liu lihe cried out again.

    this time, li geng, who was squatting on the ground, forgot to hold his stomach and stared straight at the scene in front of him, his forehead unwittingly covered in cold sweat.

    damn! what liu lihe just said was actually true! his arm really was dislocated!

    the people in the factory began to feel a bit sorry for liu lihe, but no one dared to rush forward.

    didn''t you see how proficiently he pulled and pushed? it was like he was a skilled worker! it was unclear what this young man used to do, whether he was specialized in setting bones or not, but this was no way to set bones!

    "now can you confess honestly? how much money do you still have on hand?" after popping liu lihe''s dislocated arm back in place, ge dongxu asked with a calm expression.

    "dongxu, should we just go back today? we can talk about the acquisition another time," yuan li ultimately feared dragging ge dongxu down and also because the auxiliary police had run away, a large group of people would definitely come soon, and since they were outsiders, they were bound to be at a disadvantage. hence, seeing ge dongxu pressing liu lihe for answers, she hurriedly stepped forward and whispered to dissuade him.

    seeing yuan li being cautious, liu lihe''s eyes suddenly brightened up, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, truly scared of ge dongxu now, the expert in disassembling and reassembling bones.

    "it''s okay, sister li!" ge dongxu turned his head and said to yuan li with a slight smile.

    seeing that ge dongxu could still smile and insist on standing up for her at such a time, yuan li''s tears suddenly couldn''t help but roll down her cheeks. she wanted to say something more, but ge dongxu had already gently hugged her shoulder and whispered, "i know what i''m doing, don''t worry!"

    yuan li swallowed the words that came to her lips, and for some reason, at that moment, the young man in front of her suddenly seemed very tall. she found herself naturally believing whatever he said. read new adventures at empire

    seeing that ge dongxu was not heeding advice, liu lihe''s heart, which had just settled, tensed up again.

    after comforting yuan li, ge dongxu looked at liu lihe again.

    "i, i don''t have any..." liu lihe shivered as ge dongxu looked at him, stuttering.

    "what, do you want me to do it again?" ge dongxu said coldly.

    "no, no, i''ll tell, i''ll tell, i still have money, still have money, ten thousand, ten thousand!" liu lihe hurriedly replied.

 Chapter 127 Are You Going to Hit Me? [Vote for Recommendation on Monday]

    as soon as liu lihe made this statement, there was an immediate uproar among the crowd."damn it, lihe, you got the money but still won''t pay us what you owe for our hard work, and you even tell us to ask your divorced wife for it, that''s just filthy!"

    "exactly, exactly! and we come from the same village too!"

    in the countryside, the monthly salary is only a few hundred dollars, and the factory is just a small one without many workers¡ªten thousand dollars would have been enough to pay their wages!

    seeing the commotion among the people, ge dongxu raised his hand to signal.

    despite his young age, ge dongxu''s gesture carried authority, and the crowd fell immediately silent.

    "just ten thousand dollars? seems like i really need to work on your legs too," ge dongxu said with a cold laugh.

    "no, no, i remembered wrong, it''s twenty thousand, twenty thousand!" liu lihe blurted out in panic upon hearing this.

    the onlookers then wore skeptical expressions, suspecting liu lihe was admitting this under duress.

    "who''s throwing punches here? which little bastard dares to cause trouble in our wangzhou township!" at that moment, over ten people poured in through the door, including some in police uniforms and some without, along with the chubby auxiliary policeman who had run off before.

    the one shouting was a man in a police uniform, probably in his forties.

    "mayor liu, chief wang, you''ve come at the right time. it''s him, it''s him, he hit me just now!" seeing the people from the town government and the police station arriving, liu lihe rushed forward as if he''d seen his own parents, sobbing and sniveling.

    the push and pull they''d had earlier was indeed more than anyone could bear.

    "yes, yes, mayor liu, chief wang, you''ve come just in time. arrest that guy quickly. this guy not only resisted arrest but also hit a cop. in front of me, he hit liu lihe and dislocated his arm!" at this moment, li geng''s stomach pain was gone, and he eagerly stood up, rushing forward to report.

    mayor liu was a middle-aged man with an air of leadership about him. after hearing li geng''s words, his eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he looked dissatisfied.

    damn, do they really take me for a fool? can''t even tell if someone''s arm is dislocated or not?

    however, in huaxia country, township police stations at this level are branches of the county public security bureaus and are managed by county-level public security authorities, not under the jurisdiction of township governments. they''re only responsible for assisting township governments and serving the social order of the townships. therefore, even though mayor liu is in charge of the entire wangzhou township, he still doesn''t have direct authority over the police station chief or officers. sometimes, even when he needs something done as the mayor, he still has to speak pleasantly to chief wang.

    thus, although mayor liu was irritated by li geng''s blatant lies in front of him, showing no respect for his status as mayor, he didn''t erupt in anger right away.

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    chief wang, of course, knew what his subordinates were like; seeing that liu lihe''s arm was clearly fine and yet li geng claimed it was dislocated, he cursed internally, "damn it, li geng, you idiot! didn''t you see mayor liu here? can you spew such nonsense?"

    however, no matter how wildly li geng blabbered, they were still on the same side, sharing the same trenches. despite being displeased with his reckless talk, chief wang didn''t call him out on it right then and there.

    small places often have a mindset that leans towards clannish behavior, especially for semi-militarized professions like the police. in such localities, the atmosphere of sticking together and valuing loyalty tends to be stronger.

    "who do you think you are? is there no law in your eyes?" chief wang glared fiercely at li geng and then turned to look at ge dongxu and others, while li geng was left feeling inexplicably rebuked by that look, thinking to himself that he had said nothing wrong.

    damn it! liu lihe''s arm was put back on by that guy! but it didn''t take long for li geng to figure out where the problem was, feeling so frustrated he could almost cough up blood. sear?h the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "you are president yuan!" on closer inspection, chief wang did recognize yuan li.

    since the herbal tea beverage factory was located in wangzhou township and yuan li, the owner of the factory, inevitably had to deal with some of the local government leaders. after all, she was also the deputy branch manager of the county''s industrial and commercial bank. sometimes her involvement could significantly boost the status of the herbal tea factory, so chief wang recognized yuan li.

    "so it''s president yuan!" township head liu naturally recognized yuan li as well, and he stepped forward to shake hands with her.

    leaders, of course, look at issues and people differently from a small-town police officer like li geng. seeing that it was yuan li, both township head liu and chief wang''s attitudes softened significantly.

    "president yuan, what''s going on? it''s not easy for us to run a factory in such a poor township. why did the bank come to collect debts a few days ago, nearly forcing the herbal tea beverage factory to close? what brings you here today with more people?" after shaking hands with yuan li, township head liu asked her.

    "this bitch just came here to force our factory to shut down! to leave all of us without a meal! she even brought people to beat us! township head liu, chief wang, look at my face, it was people brought by this bitch who hit me!" seeing that both the township head and the police station chief had arrived, followed by a large group of people, han zhen resumed her aggressive demeanor, pointing at yuan li and ge dongxu and cursing them bitterly.

    township head liu and chief wang hadn''t noticed han zhen before, but now they saw her swollen face and remembered that closing the factory would certainly mean a loss of income for the township. besides, liu lihe had always taken care of entertaining them, and even though yuan li was an outsider, seeing the factory about to close and her, the deputy branch manager, unwilling to help, their expressions turned somewhat sour.

    "president yuan, what are you trying to do here?" chief wang asked with a displeased expression.

    "what can she do? this woman is just a disloyal and thankless bitch!" emboldened by the township head and station chief''s disapproval, han zhen stepped up her tirade against yuan li, her words sharp and bitter.

    ge dongxu was so enraged that his glare suddenly shot towards han zhen.

    "what are you looking at? you got the guts to hit me again in front of township head liu and chief wang? hit me then? go ahead, hit me!" han zhen stood with her chest out, her finger pointing at ge dongxu as she taunted him, the very picture of a shrew. even township head liu and chief wang couldn''t help but frown slightly at the scene, showing a hint of disgust in their eyes.

    as grassroots officials in townships, what they most disliked were such shrewish women, for they are the toughest to deal with.

    "you think i wouldn''t dare?" ge dongxu stepped forward, grabbed han zhen by the collar, and slapped her face fiercely twice.

    "wuwu! goddamn, is there no law left! chief liu, chief wang, you see, he hit me again!" han zhen didn''t expect ge dongxu to actually dare to hit her again. she was initially stunned, then immediately began to wail loudly, and if it weren''t for ge dongxu still holding onto her collar, she might have already thrown herself on the ground in a tantrum.

    "you woman deserve to be hit for the way you run your mouth!" ge dongxu raised his hand and gave han zhen two more slaps, then looked at township head liu and chief wang, who seemed somewhat bewildered, and said, "you heard it yourselves, this woman asked me to hit her!"

    ps: it''s monday, a great time to compete on the charts. throw all your collections, clicks, recommendations, rewards, and comments this way. there will be at least four chapters today, perhaps even five, hehe, you know what i mean.

 Chapter 128 Elder Zuo, How Did You Get Here? [Second Update]

    as soon as ge dongxu spoke up, mayor liu and chief wang suddenly came to their senses, looking at ge dongxu with complex and bizarre expressions.just now, when the chubby auxiliary police officer hurriedly ran to the township government to call someone, he didn''t make it clear who had hit who. when they arrived, mayor liu and chief wang naturally assumed cheng yazhou and wu qianjin were the culprits and completely overlooked ge dongxu.

    because ge dongxu obviously still looked like a high school student!

    but as it turned out, it was ge dongxu, the teen who still looked like a high school student, who had hit someone. not only that, but he had done it right in front of them!

    after ge dongxu said those words, he ignored mayor liu and chief wang and once again turned his attention to liu lihe, asking, "weren''t we just in the middle of a conversation? how much did you say you kept for yourself just now?"

    "i didn''t keep any, i don''t have a cent! you just pressured me into saying that! chief wang, please help me, he''s going to hit me again!" liu lihe was naturally unwilling to admit anything at this point, retreating behind mayor liu and chief wang while calling out.

    seeing a tall, grown man cowering behind a teenager, desperately seeking refuge behind mayor liu and chief wang, the scene was indeed rather comical.

    "it seems you really are trash that won''t shed tears without seeing a coffin!" ge dongxu saw that liu lihe had lied just before and was still lying, his face suddenly turned cold as he spoke sharply.

    "what are you going to do? arrest him! this is outrageous!" although chief wang was inwardly cursing liu lihe as a coward and incompetent, ge dongxu''s arrogance in front of him had already made him almost explode with rage, and he pointed at ge dongxu, roaring.

    "arrest who? have things been cleared up yet? just talking about arresting people?" right after chief wang''s words fell, a commanding voice sounded from behind. unbeknownst to them, a police car had stopped at the factory entrance, and a person had emerged from the vehicle, none other than the director of the county public security bureau, elder zuo.

    at this moment, his face was full of anger!

    how could he not be angry? he had just gotten out of his car and heard one of his subordinates ordering someone to arrest ge dongxu!

    "elder, elder zuo!" chief wang, who was already quite annoyed at being shouted at from behind in his jurisdiction of wangzhou township, turned around to see who had the audacity to rebuke him. but as soon as chief wang turned around, his whole body involuntarily shivered!

    as the head of the police station of wangzhou township, how could chief wang not recognize the director of the county public security bureau? this was his superior leader!

    "elder, elder zuo!" mayor liu also saw zuo le at this time, and seeing his furious look, he too shivered all over.

    zuo le was not only the director of the county public security bureau but also a member of the county party standing committee and a leader of the county government, which made him a superior to mayor liu as well.

    "elder zuo, how come you are here?" ge dongxu saw zuo le''s arrival and, surprised, forgot to address him as director zuo in front of others.

    "i just happened to be next door in yupu town when i got a call from elder zhou and rushed over! elder zhou told me that some cop was about to hit you; which bastard was it?" zuo le replied and then asked, his face looking menacing.

    as if it was a joke, it''s wrong for police to hit people, not to mention ge dongxu was still a minor!

    of course, ge dongxu was also a great benefactor to him, zuo le! how could zuo le not be furious when his benefactor was getting beaten up by the police? he was the director of the county public security bureau, after all, and these cops were all his subordinates!

    his own subordinates about to beat up his great benefactor made zuo le''s face burn with shame when he faced ge dongxu!

    seeing zuo le''s wrathful demeanor, as if he could kill someone with a gun, and remembering ge dongxu''s recent address to zuo le, the common people might be alright, still a bit confused about the situation, but chief wang and mayor liu, being insiders of the system, immediately turned pale with fear. chief wang, in particular, recalling how he had just ordered ge dongxu''s arrest, felt his legs go weak and couldn''t help but want to turn around and kick liu lihe, who was hiding behind him, in the legs.

    damn it! is he trying to screw me over?

    of course, at this point, li geng was already trembling with fear, inwardly crying and hating li to the core! s~ea??h the n?vel(f)ire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    he was merely a lowly policeman, usually trained by director wang like a dog, and now suddenly there was a county public security bureau chief who could treat director wang the same way. you can imagine how dreadful the outcome would be.

    by this time, yuan li''s beautiful eyes were already wide open, and her lips were parted in shock. thankfully, she remembered to cover her chest with her purse, or else ge dongxu would have had to remind her again.

    she had never dreamed that ge dongxu not only knew the member of the county party standing committee, the head of the public security bureau, zuo le, but also called him elder zuo despite his young age!

    how strong their relationship must be!

    only cheng yazhou and wu qianjin, who had experienced this once before, remained relatively calm. although they knew about ge dongxu''s good relationship with zuo le, they felt a secret dread experiencing it for the second time.

    how long had that phone call been? zuo le had rushed over so quickly. even if he was in the next town, it meant that as soon as cheng yazhou had hung up, zuo le immediately dropped everything he was doing to come here urgently.

    "director zuo, it''s, it''s me, i''m a bastard, i didn''t know..." li geng, faced with zuo le''s stern gaze, knew he couldn''t shirk responsibility and stammered out his statement.

    "very good!" zuo le didn''t come forward to hit him, but just coldly interrupted him, then turned towards director wang, village chief liu, and then his gaze fell on ge dongxu''s face.

    "we will address the scum of the police force later. let''s first settle the score with this scum in front of everyone, so they don''t think sister li is heartless and ungrateful." ge dongxu, seeing zuo le looking at him, pointed at liu lihe and said.

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    "okay." zuo le nodded, his gaze shifting to liu lihe, while director wang, seeing this, was so scared that he hastily turned around, reached out, and dragged liu lihe, who was hiding behind him, out.

    "factory director liu, you said just now that i forced you, so now i''m not forcing you. please willingly tell me how much money you''ve hidden." ge dongxu looked coldly at liu lihe and asked.

    "it''s twenty thousand! it''s twenty thousand! i was confused just now, confused!" at this point, liu lihe knew only too well that it was already good enough that people like village chief liu didn''t beat him up. hoping they would help him again was probably as likely as the sun rising from the west. so, when ge dongxu''s gaze turned towards him, he immediately trembled and said.

    seeing liu lihe trembling like that, and the looks elder zuo and others were giving, the people from the factory couldn''t help but show a mix of anger and sympathy in their eyes.

    not knowing the full story, they naturally thought ge dongxu was using director zuo le''s power to force liu lihe, that liu lihe was saying this under duress.

    "twenty thousand? do you really think i don''t know that you''ve still kept fifty thousand?" ge dongxu saw that liu lihe was still trying to deceive him and almost couldn''t restrain himself from grabbing his arm.

    "how did you know that?"

    "how did you know that?"

    liu lihe and yang hong, shocked to see ge dongxu suddenly announcing the exact amount they had hidden, widened their eyes in disbelief, as if they had seen a ghost, and blurted out subconsciously.

    however, after the words came out, they quickly realized they had said something they shouldn''t have, and they hurriedly shook their heads while denying, "no, no, not at all!"

    people in the countryside, though down-to-earth, are not stupid. at this point, who didn''t realize that liu lihe and yang hong had been treating them like fools all along! immediately, each one of them felt a deep sense of being humiliated and deceived.

    "damn you, liu lihe! are you even human? you have fifty thousand yuan, and yet you still cry poor to us, refusing to repay our money and even inciting us to trouble president yuan! i''ll beat you to death, you little shit!"

    when a normally honest person gets angry, it''s truly terrifying. the workers from the factory swarmed up, pummeling liu lihe with punches and kicks, while the women scratched at his face and pulled his hair.

    yang hong was no exception; her clothes and skirt were torn off by several women.

    ps: here''s the second update, looking for your votes.

 Chapter 129 Winning People Over with Virtue [Third Update]

    Watching the chaotic scene where a group of people were beating and tearing at two individuals, the police officers from Wangzhou Township, who were responsible for public security, and naturally government employees, should have intervened to stop the violence. However, the problem was that both Director Wang and Li Geng had developed a deep hatred for Liu Lihe and Yang Hong, the shameless couple who had dragged them into this mess. Seeing that both Zuo Le and Ge Dongxu hadn''t said a word, they naturally didn''t bother to step in and put a stop to it.In fact, if it weren''t for Zuo Le being present, Li Geng was quite tempted to step forward and kick Liu Lihe a few times.

    Damn it, what the hell! Betraying their own townsfolk!

    "Enough!" Zuo Le, after all, was the director of the county public security bureau. Ge Dongxu, not wanting to make things difficult for him, made a gesture to Zuo Le, who then timely spoke up to halt the commotion.

    But the farmers, feeling that their good nature had been greatly deceived, were in such a rage that none of them listened to him and continued to assault Liu Lihe and Yang Hong.

    "Enough!" Ge Dongxu, seeing that the situation might escalate if the beating continued, also had to shout out.

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    And wouldn''t you know it, while Zuo Le, the director of the county public security bureau, had no effect, Ge Dongxu''s word seemed to carry unusual weight. The moment he shouted to stop, all the farmers immediately shuddered and ceased their beating.

    Zuo Le, the village chief, Director Wang, and the others were all dumbfounded.

    Fuck, what''s this rhythm! The words of the director of the county public security bureau are less effective than those of a brash youngster!

    The village chief and the others had no idea that Ge Dongxu had effortlessly snapped a broom handle just before and had twisted Liu Lihe''s arm as if it were a model, pulling and snapping it repeatedly. With such terrifying strength and brutal methods, who would dare to disobey him?

    Seeing that everyone had stopped, Ge Dongxu, looking at Liu Lihe''s face scratched up by the women, finally felt somewhat satisfied.

    For such scum, if it weren''t for the fact that this was a society governed by laws, Ge Dongxu would really have liked to have torn off his arm and not reattach it.

    Considering that he needed to continue running a factory here and would inevitably have to deal with government personnel like the village chief and the local people employed in the factory, Ge Dongxu felt it necessary to offer some explanation.

    His assertive actions just now, along with the timely arrival of Zuo Le, had already helped establish his authority, ensuring that nobody would dare cause trouble at his factory in the future. However, to win people over and have them willingly work for him, he would need to influence them with virtue and not let them think he was suppressing them with power.

    Of course, a necessary degree of assertiveness was still required, or else one would eventually end up in a situation where the good are bullied, and the kind are ridden like horses. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Now that his authority had been established, Ge Dongxu felt it was time to clarify the situation to everyone, so they would understand that he wasn''t bullying others with his power, but rather, all of Liu Lihe''s misfortunes were of his own making.

    The thoughts were spinning in his mind, and soon Ge Dongxu had weighed his words, opening his mouth to speak again, "You''ve beaten the man, but I think it was out of righteous indignation, and you knew when to stop. I''m sure Mayor Liu and Chief Wang won''t pursue this matter."

    "Yes, yes, we won''t pursue it, we won''t pursue it," Mayor Liu and Chief Wang hastily echoed on the side.

    There was no choice, even Director Zuo was on his side, and now he was speaking up for the villagers. Mayor Liu and Chief Wang would have to be out of their minds to talk about pursuing the matter.

    Ge Dongxu nodded to Mayor Liu and Chief Wang, then roughly explained the whole situation, and out of consideration for Yuan Li''s face, he did not go into detail about Liu Lihe''s affair with Yang Hong. But everyone present was not brainless. With Ge Dongxu''s explanation, recalling Liu Lihe and Yang Hong''s past intimate behavior at the factory, how could they not understand what was going on?

    After understanding the situation, and thinking back to how they had been deceived and incited by Liu Lihe and Yang Hong to demand debt from the poor Yuan Li, the factory workers felt ashamed and wished they could beat up Liu Lihe and Yang Hong again. Even Li Geng, a disgrace to the police, felt that Liu Lihe was no good. No matter how bad he was, he just bullied people and made some undeclared money relying on his uniform, but he wasn''t like Liu Lihe, who had wronged his wife and was scamming her to death.

    He was the scum of the scum!

    "Moreover, President Yuan did not come here to trouble Liu Lihe but to help him solve the problem. She invited me along with Boss Cheng and Boss Wu to invest in buying this beverage factory, so we can pay off the bank''s debt and revitalize the factory, allowing you all to go back to work and earn money. Of course, the factory is undoubtedly insolvent, and President Yuan has already planned to use all her savings and even mortgage her house to help pay off the debt. But unexpectedly, these two scumbags, not only did they hide their own money and refuse to repay the bank, but they also withheld your wages and let you demand your pay from President Yuan. Do you think such people are despicable?" Ge Dongxu continued.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu finished his words, the room exploded into an uproar. The women, easily swayed by emotions, could not help rushing at Liu Lihe and Yang Hong, scratching at them.

    "You two are not human, you''re animals, you''re scum!" Not only scratching, but the women also spat on their faces, cursing and pointing at them, and even Liu Lihe''s sister-in-law ended up being spat upon multiple times.

    After the scratching, spitting, and cursing, those from the factory who had previously demanded debts from Yuan Li said to her with shamefaced apologies, "We''re sorry, boss''s wife, we didn''t know you were a good person. Hit us, scold us!"

    "President Yuan, on behalf of Wangzhou Village''s government, I offer you our apologies and thanks," Mayor Liu finally understood that Yuan Li had come to revive their factory, bringing investment to Wangzhou Village, and couldn''t help but feel remorseful, hastily stepping forward and bowing deeply to apologize and express gratitude to Yuan Li.

    Seeing Mayor Liu apologize to Yuan Li, Chief Wang suddenly realized he should apologize too and hastily followed suit with a bow. However, Director Zuo looked at Chief Wang somewhat coldly. A new official usually takes office with a show of authority; Director Zuo had yet to assert his authority, but witnessing Chief Wang and Li Geng''s behavior today, he felt it was time to take a stand.

    Yuan Li had endured untold humiliations and grievances in those days, and when she came to the factory earlier, she was greatly humiliated. Now, seeing those familiar faces bowing and apologizing to her one by one, she couldn''t help but have her eyes redden with tears falling down, unable to speak for a long time.

    Seeing Yuan Li like this made everyone feel even more remorseful.

    In the end, it was Ge Dongxu who broke the silence, "Alright, let the past be the past. Now we need to inspect the factory to see how much it''s worth investing. Also, Director Zuo, please take care of Liu Lihe and Yang Hong for the time being."

    ps: Come on, I need you to prove with your votes, with your votes, with your votes!!!

 Chapter 130 Still Need to Work Hard to Make Money [4th Update]

    ```"Of course, they just stirred up the employees to demand wages from President Yuan and make trouble, while deliberately concealing their own assets, defaulting on the money they owe to the bank and the workers, which is all against the law!" Zuo Le said with a serious face.

    Originally, Liu Lihe and Yang Hong were still worried about the loss of those fifty thousand yuan, thinking it was definitely gone for good. They didn''t expect to not only lose the fifty thousand yuan and get beaten for nothing but also, upon hearing Zuo Le''s words, realized they had broken the law, which scared them to the point of peeing their pants. They scrambled to their feet and rushed to Yuan Li, sobbing and sniffling, "Yuan Li, it''s all my fault, I''m not a human, please I beg you, look at..."

    Yuan Li felt incredibly disgusted upon seeing this and turned her head away. As for Director Wang, Li Geng, and the others, they wasted no time and pounced like hungry wolves, seizing Liu Lihe and Yang Hong without hesitation.

    This was a golden opportunity for them to atone for their crimes with meritorious deeds!

    Unfortunately, they didn''t know that their attempt to make amends had come too late. Zuo Le had already decided to make an example out of them as the first step in a determined effort to rectify the internal discipline of the police force.

    There was actually not much to see at the factory, it was just some production equipment, including high-temperature extraction, filtration, filling, and other such devices. Ge Dongxu and the others didn''t understand these things and would have to experiment with them first to get to know how they worked. Luckily, the machines seemed to be in good condition and could operate normally. The workers operating them were among those who had just demanded wages, and they had all expressed their willingness to stay on and work. Therefore, if Ge Dongxu wanted to continue producing "Liu Jiansheng" herbal tea without changing the formula, it was possible to start right away. As for the sales channels, Ge Dongxu also inquired and found it wasn''t as complex as they had initially thought.

    Essentially, Liu Lihe had just been delivering the goods directly to several county and district non-staple food wholesale markets in Ouzhou City, with the stores in the market distributing them further. Beyond that, there were hardly any other sales channels to speak of, which explained the modest sales volume.

    However, for small factories like theirs, without any significant advertisement investment, their main expense went into the initial investment in factory equipment. The other costs, including wages and raw material expenses, were actually very low, so a large portion of the revenue would be profit. This aspect was rather similar to the Yaxu Trademark Factory that Ge Dongxu and the others were running. Even though the sales volume was not huge and the market was limited to the Ouzhou City region, with a large share in Changxi County, as long as Liu Lihe and Yang Hong didn''t squander recklessly and maintained operations, there would still be some surplus each year.

    After getting a grasp of the general situation, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin felt greatly reassured. On the one hand, the business wasn''t as complicated as they had imagined, and on the other, their investment in the herbal tea beverage factory was mainly due to Ge Dongxu. As long as there was no loss and a small profit yearly, it was acceptable to them. Wu Qianjin even couldn''t help but suggest they might as well continue to produce under the "Liu Jiansheng" brand. This would mean they wouldn''t need to change production processes, trademarks, packaging, and so on. Plus, they could retain the old customers without having to reintroduce "Qinghe" herbal tea to them.

    But Cheng Yazhou, well aware of Ge Dongxu''s brilliant medical skills, still preferred using his formula, and Ge Dongxu, naturally, thought the same. Thus, Wu Qianjin''s suggestion was immediately rejected.

    Wu Qianjin merely made the suggestion without insisting, especially since he had only invested fifty thousand yuan.

    Since Ge Dongxu had classes in the afternoon, after a quick look around and seeing no issues, he instructed the workers to clean the factory thoroughly before heading back to school by car. As for the subsequent transfer, re-registration of trademarks, and other procedures, naturally, Ge Dongxu didn''t need to worry; Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin would handle it all. He just needed to transfer the money to Cheng Yazhou and sign some documents. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As for resuming production, it would definitely have to wait until these procedures were completed and the new production processes were successfully researched. All these required time and couldn''t be rushed.

    Fortunately, the summer vacation was approaching, and Ge Dongxu would have two months off. He would then have plenty of time to research new production processes. Once the new production processes were successful, there wouldn''t be much left for Ge Dongxu to do. At most, he would provide some ideas and suggestions, with the specifics to be implemented by Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin.

    Time quickly arrived at Friday. After class in the afternoon, Ge Dongxu first returned to Cheng Yazhou''s home, briefly reviewed his books, then packed some clean clothes and left Cheng Yazhou''s home for the train station.

    ```

    After purchasing a train ticket to Linzhou City in the provincial capital, Ge Dongxu found a small restaurant near the train station to take care of a simple meal, then returned to the waiting hall to wait.

    With nothing else to do, Ge Dongxu took out a thick book on economics and started to browse through it casually.

    Unlike other high school students, in order to cultivate, he must start earning money early, and it had to be a substantial amount. Therefore, in his spare time, he tried to read as much as he could about investment and economics.

    However, this subject was not his genuine interest or hobby, it was purely out of necessity. After flipping through the book for a while, Ge Dongxu''s thoughts inevitably began to drift as he recalled the events of the past few days.

    The acquisition of the herbal tea beverage factory went smoothly after some initial troubles on the first day at the factory. On Thursday, Ge Dongxu transferred 520,000 yuan out of his account.

    Out of this 520,000 yuan, 350,000 was needed for his 70% share of the investment. The additional 170,000 was a personal expense, as Liu Jiansheng''s herbal tea beverage factory was only valued at a maximum of 300,000 yuan normally. To help Yuan Li, Ge Dongxu acquired it for 470,000 yuan, so this extra 170,000 came from his personal funds.

    Due to the fact that Liu Lihe and Yang Hong still had 50,000 yuan hidden, after paying the workers'' salaries, there was a surplus of 42,000 yuan. All of this was naturally appropriated to repay the bank loan. They had originally borrowed 550,000 yuan in total. Adding 42,000 to the 470,000 made 512,000 yuan, with only a shortfall of 38,000 yuan.

    Continue your adventure at empire

    Yuan Li had slightly over 30,000 yuan in savings, which was just enough to cover the gap, so she didn''t have to owe Ge Dongxu any money. Originally, Ge Dongxu intended to contribute 500,000 yuan, but could not win against her insistence on 470,000 yuan. He agreed to cover the shortfall herself, which was considered a debt to him.

    Although Yuan Li didn''t formally owe Ge Dongxu money, in her heart, she was very clear that she owed him a lot.

    This time, Ge Dongxu had taken out a loan of 1.4 million yuan, and with 520,000 yuan spent on the herbal tea beverage factory and 160,000 yuan on redeeming the factory land, he calculated that there was still 720,000 yuan lying in his bank account.

    Thinking of the 720,000 yuan lying in his account, Ge Dongxu felt a little excited. But when he remembered that the trip to the provincial capital would cost at least 300,000 to 400,000 yuan, his heart couldn''t help but ache with the expense. And this was all predicated on the successful carving of a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade. If the carving failed, he would have to spend even more money. Therefore, if the jade and price were right, he actually wanted to buy a bit more. As a result, it was hard to say how much money would be left in his account afterward.

    Thinking of this, Ge Dongxu felt that the task of earning money was arduous and the road ahead was long; he could not relax his studies, so he quickly put away the distracting thoughts and forced himself to concentrate on the economics book again.

    "Dongxu? What are you doing here?" Just as Ge Dongxu was about to read, a familiar voice reached his ear.

    PS: Fourth update, for the fifth, keep on voting!

 Chapter 131 Encounter Again [Fifth Update]

    Discover stories with empire"Uncle Cheng, how come you''re here too?" Ge Dongxu looked up, saw it was Cheng Yazhou, and couldn''t help feeling surprised.

    "I''m a businessman, it''s quite normal for me to be here. You, on the other hand, are not here because your sister is unwell again, are you?" Cheng Yazhou said jokingly as he sat down beside Ge Dongxu.

    Clearly, after the incident on the train last time and spending time together since, Cheng Yazhou had guessed that what Ge Dongxu had said was just a brush-off.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Cheng Yazhou with a somewhat embarrassed smile and said, "Not entirely, not entirely. I do have some other business in the Provincial Capital this time. What about you, Uncle Cheng? Are you here to collect debts again?"

    "Yes, but in addition to collecting debts, I have other business matters to deal with," Cheng Yazhou, a clever man, replied with a smile when Ge Dongxu turned the question on him, and so he didn''t press any further.

    "Oh, what book are you reading?" After answering, Cheng Yazhou saw the thick book in Ge Dongxu''s hand and curiously reached out to take a look. Once he saw it, he was taken aback for a moment before saying, "Uncle is truly impressed with you, young man. Lehao, that brat, isn''t even qualified to carry your bag."

    "Heh, I''m just idling and flipping through it; I don''t really understand it, to be honest," Ge Dongxu quickly said with false modesty.

    "Don''t be modest in front of your uncle. Look at Lehao, that boy. What else can he do now aside from constantly asking me for money? Look at you, at the same age, and now you are already the major shareholder of two factories and a big landlord. There''s no comparing, no comparing at all!" Cheng Yazhou kept shaking his head with a sense of exclamation.

    Seeing Cheng Yazhou speak like this, Ge Dongxu felt too awkward to keep being modest and said with a smile, "Lehao has made a lot of progress."

    "That''s true! And it''s thanks to you! If you hadn''t set an example and helped me keep an eye on him, who knows what that boy could have learned," Cheng Yazhou said with a mix of relief and gratitude on his face.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t expect to end up talking about himself after going around in circles, so he just smiled modestly and didn''t dare continue the conversation.

    After that, the two chatted intermittently, mostly about the current situation at Jiang Family Village.

    Ever since the county government decided to build the new building in Jiang Family Village, the news about this area has been spreading more and more. The land price in Jiang Family Village, especially around Yaxu Trademark Factory, has been rising sharply as more people with foresight have noticed its prime location. So, although Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin initially paid a high price, it now looks like they made a profit, though the exact amount is still uncertain.

    The next topic was the herbal tea beverage factory. Ge Dongxu wanted to bring up Tang Yiyuan''s matter several times, thinking it was a good opportunity to let him meet Cheng Yazhou since they were both going to the Provincial Capital. But, as the deal had not been finalized and due to his personality, Ge Dongxu ultimately didn''t mention it, figuring he would plan it after everything was settled and based on the timing and circumstances.

    Neither of them talked much about Yaxu Trademark Factory because its development has been quite stable, its scale will more or less remain the same without significant changes, and Ge Dongxu hadn''t been involved from the beginning. Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin were in charge, so there was not much to discuss.

    So they chatted intermittently like this and boarded the train. On the train, Cheng Yazhou switched seats with the person next to Ge Dongxu so that they could continue their conversation. Then, unable to resist sleepiness and having to deal with matters the next day, Cheng Yazhou bade Ge Dongxu goodnight and leaned back in his seat to sleep.

    When Cheng Yazhou fell asleep, Ge Dongxu took out his book again to continue reading until well past midnight when he finally closed his eyes to rest.

    Cheng Yazhou''s first stop was in Kuiji City, next to the Provincial Capital. After advising Ge Dongxu to be safe, he got off the train before Ge Dongxu did.

    The train arrived on time at Linzhou City in the Provincial Capital at eight in the morning.

    Upon exiting the ticketing gates of the train station, Ge Dongxu saw Li Min waiting for him outside.

    Liu Jiayao was away on a business trip and wouldn''t be back until the afternoon, so she had asked Li Min to pick him up. Originally, Ge Dongxu had told Liu Jiayao that it wasn''t necessary, but she insisted, saying he must be tired from the day''s train journey. She wanted Li Min to pick him up so he could freshen up by taking a shower at her place before handling his business.

    Ge Dongxu couldn''t resist Liu Jiayao''s kindness and just went along with her good intentions.

    Li Min wore jeans, a white T-shirt, and sneakers, her short hair just as before, carrying an air of brisk and heroic temperament.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu from a distance, Li Min waved at him and he hurriedly approached.

    "I''m sorry to trouble you, Sister Li, to have to come pick me up even on the weekend," Ge Dongxu said with a hint of apology as he approached.

    "Hehe, it''s fine, those of us in this line of work are basically on call for the boss 24/7," Li Min said with a laugh.

    "If it weren''t for me, you could have taken the day off. You just need to drop me at Sister Liu''s house and you won''t have to worry about me," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Alright, if you need anything just give me a call. The boss instructed that I''m at your disposal today," Li Min nodded and said, a trace of perplexity flickering in her eyes.

    To this day, she still can''t figure out why Liu Jiayao treats this young man before her with such special consideration. You should know that even though this young man isn''t yet of age and is just a student, he''s still seventeen years old. Some more mature boys at this age might already have several girlfriends, and the bolder ones might have even tasted the forbidden fruit.

    Yet, Liu Jiayao seemed to let her guard down completely around this boy, not only walking arm in arm but even giving Ge Dongxu a key to her house, which Li Min only found out about today.

    Naturally, Li Min didn''t think there was any affair between Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu because their statuses and ages were clear to see!

    It just didn''t make sense, it just didn''t!

    Li Min shook her head secretly and then got into the driver''s seat.

    Since Liu Jiayao wasn''t there, Ge Dongxu sat in the passenger seat.

    The car sped along the roads of the Provincial Capital. Watching Li Min shift gears and turn the steering wheel with ease, Ge Dongxu suddenly felt that having a car wouldn''t be so bad. It would make visiting his parents more convenient, without having to squeeze onto the rural-urban buses.

    It wasn''t so much that Ge Dongxu disliked the crowds or the bumpy ride, but the mixture of odors on the rural-urban buses was unbearable for him.

    However, in Huaxia Country, he had to wait until he was at least eighteen to get a driver''s license, so for now, Ge Dongxu could only think about it. Moreover, because his birthday came late in the year, he would have to wait at least until the first half of his senior year of high school.

    As he was pondering this, Ge Dongxu noticed that Li Min''s hand on the steering wheel was slightly trembling, and her face didn''t look too good.

    "What''s wrong, Sister Li?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "My stomach''s a bit achy, I''ll pull over here for a moment to take some medicine," Li Min said as she made a turn with the steering wheel and pulled over to the side of the road. She then took out a bottle of medicine from the car''s drawer, poured out a pill, and prepared to swallow it.

    ps: Today''s five updates are complete, thank you for your support! S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 132 Pain Relief [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    "Wait." Ge Dongxu hastily intercepted her, then reached out to take the medicine bottle from Li Min''s hand. Seeing that it was painkillers, he couldn''t help but frown slightly, then looked up at Li Min, who was gently pressing on her abdomen, and said, "You''re having menstrual pain, right? Why would you take painkillers for menstrual pain? Although painkillers work fast, taking them too much can lead to nervous system dysfunction, memory loss, insomnia, and other adverse effects.""Huh, how do you know I have menstrual pain?" Li Min was surprised to hear this and looked at Ge Dongxu with astonishment.

    "Of course I know a bit, give me your hand and let me take your pulse." Ge Dongxu said.

    "Pfft! Come on! I compliment you and you really think you''re a doctor. I have seen so many doctors for this menstrual pain problem and it hasn''t been any good. Ouch, it''s killing me!" Li Min couldn''t help but laugh at Ge Dongxu''s serious demeanor, but immediately after, her brows furrowed and she reached for the pills, ready to swallow them.

    "I told you not to take painkillers recklessly, and you''re still doing it." Ge Dongxu reached out and snatched the painkillers from her hand, rebuking her sternly.

    "What are you doing, Dongxu? Of course, I know that too many painkillers aren''t good, but what can I do when the pain hits? Give me the medicine quickly." Li Min didn''t expect Ge Dongxu to actually take her medicine away, and was somewhat annoyed.

    "Who says there''s nothing to be done when the pain hits? Don''t move, just sit there, I''ll help stop the pain for you." Ge Dongxu said in a deep voice. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Look, Dongxu, can you please stop messing around? I''m in so much pain." Li Min was so anxious she almost wanted to curse him out, but as Ge Dongxu was someone Liu Jiayao valued, she didn''t have the heart to lash out at him; if it had been anyone else, with Li Min''s temper, she would have already started scolding.

    "Who''s messing around? I cured Sister Liu''s illness. Your menstrual pain, what''s that in comparison?" Ge Dongxu, seeing that Li Min didn''t believe him, had no choice but to bring up Liu Jiayao''s case.

    "What, you''re saying you cured Manager Liu''s illness?" Li Min''s eyes widened in shock. As someone close to Liu Jiayao, Li Min naturally knew that the unexplained fainting illness had not occurred for over half a year, but she had always thought it was Tang Yiyuan who had cured her. Because of this, she even went to see Tang Yiyuan for her condition once, but there was little improvement with her menstrual pain.

    Originally, she wanted to ask Tang Yiyuan what was going on, but afraid of making him lose face, she didn''t go back. After all, this problem is common among many women, and many doctors don''t have any particularly good solutions; they say that in most cases, after getting married and having children, menstrual pain will naturally disappear. Li Min didn''t want to get married and have children for the time being, so she had to endure a few days of pain every month.

    "Don''t you know?" Ge Dongxu asked in return, thinking that Li Min, since she was close to Liu Jiayao, would know about this.

    "Of course, I didn''t know; I thought it was Professor Tang who treated her." Li Min replied. After a while, she still seemed somewhat incredulous as she looked at Ge Dongxu and asked, "Did you really cure Manager Liu''s illness, can you really treat ailments?"

    "If you don''t believe me then forget it, continue taking your painkillers." Ge Dongxu, seeing that he had made himself clear but Li Min still refused to believe, couldn''t help but shrug his shoulders in annoyance.

    "No, no, take a look at me. Didn''t you say you had a way to alleviate my pain?" Seeing Ge Dongxu say this, Li Min started to believe him somewhat and urged him anxiously.

    "Then sit up straight and lift your clothes a bit to show your belly button, and that should be enough," Ge Dongxu said.

    Li Min''s cheeks blushed slightly, but seeing that Ge Dongxu wasn''t joking with her, she lifted her clothes a bit and then sneakily glanced at Ge Dongxu. Noticing that there wasn''t much change in his expression, she couldn''t help but think to herself, what kind of taste does this guy have, is my abdomen not sexy?

    No wonder Li Min felt this way. She was a former soldier with some combat skills. After being discharged, she could have been placed in a state-owned enterprise, but because Liu Jiayao was looking for a female driver with certain bodyguard skills and offered high wages, and her family needed the money urgently, she applied for and became Liu Jiayao''s driver. Therefore, not only did Li Min have the air of a valiant female bodyguard, her figure was also quite nice due to years of training, with no excess fat on the abdomen.

    Li Min had thought that Ge Dongxu, this young guy, would surely have his imagination running wild once he saw her slender waist, but to her surprise, he was completely indifferent, staring at her waist as if it were a piece of pork.

    Poor Li Min had no idea that although this young man in front of her had yet to experience real combat, he had seen much more impressive scenes than this bit of exposed waist.

    "Relax your mind, don''t be tense. I''m going to start by massaging the acupoints near your navel," Ge Dongxu said.

    Pfft! You as a young guy aren''t even nervous, why the hell should I be tense! Li Min was feeling depressed and frustrated within when she heard Ge Dongxu telling her to relax and not to be nervous. What was this nonsense?

    As Li Min was wallowing in her frustration, Ge Dongxu had already pressed his thumbs on the acupoints on both sides of her abdomen, near the navel, and started to gently massage them.

    A warm sensation flowed from the acupoints along the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming as Ge Dongxu massaged. Li Min instantly felt the previously cold and painful area of her abdomen warming up, as though basking in the sunlight, and couldn''t help but let out a long sigh of relief, saying, "It feels so good!"

    "Disgusting! Shameless!" As soon as these words left her mouth, a woman''s scornful voice came from outside the car. It turned out that a middle-aged woman was passing by and saw a man touching a woman''s stomach. She lamented the decline of public morals and couldn''t help but voice her disdain.

    What was a completely normal situation turned Li Min''s face crimson with embarrassment due to the woman''s scolding. She quickly snuck a look at Ge Dongxu and, seeing his unruffled expression, felt greatly relieved.

    After Ge Dongxu finished massaging the acupoints on either side of the belly button, he proceeded to massage the Zhongji acupoint below it, then told her to pull down her clothes and lift up the trouser legs to start massaging another acupoint on the inner side of her calf, above the ankle¡ªthe Sanyinjiao acupoint.

    When Ge Dongxu had finished massaging the Sanyinjiao acupoint, Li Min no longer felt any pain, and even felt comfortably warm. She looked at Ge Dongxu in amazement and admired, "Your medical skills are indeed miraculous, no wonder even President Liu''s unusual illness was cured by you. I don''t feel uncomfortable at all now."

    "The massage I did this time can only ensure that you won''t feel pain during this menstrual period, but it will recur next time," Ge Dongxu said.

    ps: Sorry about the wrong names in the previous chapter; I didn''t catch them. Please vote as a punishment.

 Chapter 133 Youre Really Something

    "What should I do, then? I can''t ask you to help me massage every month, can I?" Li Min was stunned when she heard this."That''s easy to handle. I''ll write a prescription for you, and you should be fine after taking it for a couple of weeks. Of course, with your condition, you should avoid taking cold showers, and if you have a habit of winter swimming, stop that too, at least for a year or two," Ge Dongxu said.

    Li Min, initially relieved and cheerful that a prescription from Ge Dongxu could cure her, was immediately shocked by what he said afterward. With wide eyes, she asked Ge Dongxu in amazement, "How did you know that I have the habit of taking cold showers and winter swimming?"

    "I''m a doctor, of course I know. Moreover, the fact that other doctors haven''t cured your condition is probably related to this," Ge Dongxu replied matter-of-factly. When he was massaging Li Min earlier, he had felt a strong chill within her body, coupled with a great amount of dampness, accumulated over many years, so he deduced the causes.

    "No wonder, you really are incredible. The other doctors never thought about this issue," Li Min said, giving Ge Dongxu a thumbs up.

    Actually, it wasn''t fair to blame those other doctors, because there were very few girls who liked to take cold showers these days, and even fewer who went winter swimming. Moreover, menstrual pain is a common disease for women and is hard to cure. Their abilities to diagnose were not as brilliant and extraordinary as Ge Dongxu''s, so they didn''t consider that aspect.

    "Everyone overlooks something," Ge Dongxu said modestly, and then added, "By the way, let''s keep the fact that I can cure diseases to ourselves, okay? Please don''t go around spreading the word."

    "I understand, don''t worry," Li Min replied. Being chosen by Liu Jiayao to be by her side meant she was naturally smart. Upon hearing this, she immediately nodded with a serious expression.

    "Alright, then continue driving. When we get to Yadu Garden, I''ll write you a prescription," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Sure thing." With hope for a cure for her longstanding menstrual pain, Li Min''s spirits lifted. She smiled, replied cheerfully, and then restarted the car and hit the road. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "By the way, Dongxu, don''t doctors say that cold showers and winter swimming are good for health? How come I ended up having problems with them?" Li Min asked, puzzled, as they drove.

    "Everything should be done in moderation. When your body is healthy, cold showers and winter swimming certainly can improve your physique. But when your body is weak, you need to pay attention to keeping warm. You must have caught a chill some time but insisted on continuing with cold showers or winter swimming, worsening the symptoms. It wouldn''t have been a big deal if you had stopped for a while, as the chill would have dissipated and you wouldn''t have developed menstrual pain. But since you persisted with the cold showers and winter swimming, the chill couldn''t disperse and accumulated over time. If you don''t stop that habit, no medicine a doctor gives you will work," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "Now that you mention it, I do remember one time after a particularly exhausting field training in the military, I took a cold shower afterward and then got a fever, which led to the onset of my menstrual pain. Later on, I even thought I was just weak and needed to do more of that kind of exercise, so I kept up with the cold showers and winter swimming. I''m lucky I met you today; otherwise, I''d still be suffering," Li Min said with a mix of hindsight and relief.

    "It''s not that exaggerated. If the doctors were a bit more careful, asked more questions, or you talked more about your lifestyle habits, the cause of your condition would have been found. Your condition is common, and the doctors didn''t think in that direction or ask more, and you''re not one to talk much, so naturally, it was delayed," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, continuing his analysis.

    Because she had served in the military and her current profession wasn''t one for talking, Li Min''s demeanor was rather cold and she didn''t speak much.

    "You''re giving them too much credit. Their medical skills can''t compare to yours," Li Min said with a laugh.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled and didn''t bother to be modest anymore.

    The car quickly arrived at Yadu Garden, where Ge Dongxu wrote a prescription for Li Min before getting out of the car.

    Liu Jiayao had insisted on giving Ge Dongxu the keys to her apartment in Yadu Garden last time, claiming she often went on business trips and in case he ever came by and she wasn''t home, he could enter and rest.

    Ge Dongxu was still young and hadn''t thought too much about it, so when Liu Jiayao insisted on giving him the keys, he accepted them.

    Taking the elevator up to the nineteenth floor, he unlocked the door to find the familiar arrangement that gave him an inexplicably warm feeling, yet the absence of Liu Jiayao left him with a slight sense of loss, as if something was missing.

    After slipping into his sandals, Ge Dongxu carried his bag and pushed open the door to Liu Jiayao''s bedroom. Because his toiletries, along with his change of underwear and bath towels, were all stored in her bedroom.

    As soon as he opened the door, Ge Dongxu''s cheeks flushed intensely, because strewn messily on the pink bed were many pieces of women''s sexy, intimate clothing.

    Clearly, Liu Jiayao had not expected Ge Dongxu to come by this weekend before leaving for her business trip, so she hadn''t tidied up her bedroom.

    Not daring to look too much, Ge Dongxu found his things in the wardrobe and then hurried into the bathroom.

    After washing up and taking a shower, looking at his wet hair in the mirror, Ge Dongxu missed the days when Liu Jiayao was around.

    Because every time, she always insisted on helping him dry his hair.

    Dressed in clean clothes, Ge Dongxu went downstairs for a quick bite before heading straight to the Jiang Region Jewelry Mall. As he had made an appointment in advance while in Changxi County, when he arrived, Tang Yiyuan and his daughter Tang Yahui were already waiting for him in the sales hall, their eyes lighting up at the sight of him.

    The sales clerks behind the counters in the sales hall also looked at Ge Dongxu with burning eyes when they saw him, as if wolves spotting a sheep. It was a pity that Tang Yiyuan and his daughter directly escorted him upstairs, otherwise those clerks would have certainly fought to do business with him.

    There was no helping it; he was indeed a bona fide rich second-generation! It was said that last time, he had almost cleared out Jiang Region Jewelry''s unprocessed Jadeite level jade stock!

    Since the commission for Jadeite stones is higher than for gold or diamonds, Zhang Qiqi, who served him that time, made nearly ten thousand in commission¡ªalmost equivalent to two years of their basic salary. This made all the other sales clerks at Jiang Region Jewelry green with envy, and Chen Xiaoling, the "opportunistic" sales clerk with the melon seed face, was so frustrated she couldn''t eat for days.

    Nearly ten thousand, after all! For these young girls, it was definitely a substantial amount of money! And she had driven that business away herself; how could she possibly eat?

    Since Ge Dongxu had notified her in advance, Tang Yahui had already prepared ample stock this time.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu arrived, Tang Yahui ordered someone to bring out the unprocessed jade stones from the safe.

    The quality of the jade stones varied, but most of them were of the Jadeite level that Ge Dongxu had selected last time, clearly indicating that Tang Yahui had specifically stocked up on this level of jade for him.

 Chapter 134 Suggestions

    While selecting, Ge Dongxu saw a small piece of Ice Type Jadeite, the only one of its kind in the box.Ge Dongxu picked it up and touched it, feeling that the small piece of Ice Type Jadeite, having been bathed in the essence of the sun and moon over the years, had accumulated a trace of spirit energy. If it were to be used to make a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade, not only would it gather moonlight more effectively, but it would also be purer.

    However, the success rate for crafting Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade was simply too low. Even though Ge Dongxu now had several million in wealth, he couldn''t afford to squander such high-quality jadeite. Therefore, after touching it, he obediently put it back and conscientiously picked out Ice Seed Jadeite instead.

    Since the price of jadeite continued to climb, even though the amount he purchased was about the same as last time, the price had risen by fifty thousand, reaching four hundred and twenty thousand. Moreover, when checking out, Tang Yahui hinted hesitantly, based on her judgment of market trends, that the likelihood of jadeite prices further strengthening was higher.

    This was something Tang Yahui definitely wouldn''t say to others, but since Ge Dongxu had a special relationship with her father, she couldn''t help but remind him when he mentioned he might continue to purchase jadeite of this level in the future.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t understand the jadeite market, so when he heard what Tang Yahui said, he immediately bit the bullet and bought an additional two hundred thousand worth of jadeite. As a result, this trip saw him spending a total of six hundred and twenty thousand on jadeite, leaving only a hundred thousand in his account from the original seven hundred and twenty thousand.

    Although Ge Dongxu''s money came quickly and was easy to earn, such extravagant spending still pained his heart. What pained him most was that this was just the beginning, and he estimated that the next time he came, he would probably need to take out at least a million.

    "With such a large demand, you could actually go directly to Myanmar or to Wanding, the largest of the five major trading markets in Huaxia Country''s YN, along with Ruili, Longchuan, Yingjiang, and Tengchong¡ªall in YN. Of course, the markets there are a bit chaotic, and it''s necessary to be knowledgeable to do well there. Plus, there are many who sell rough stones, although gambling on rough stones is quite a gamble. If lucky, you might spend a few tens of thousands to obtain jadeite worth millions, but there''s also the risk of losing everything. I can tell that you have a unique method of discerning jade, much better than me. You definitely won''t suffer a loss buying there, but the main concern is your personal safety. After all, you''re purchasing in large amounts, yet you are still young," said Tang Yahui, her gaze filled with indecision as she sat in the office drinking tea with Ge Dongxu, having handed over the jade to her father for polishing. After hesitating for a long time, she finally spoke.

    "Oh! That''s actually a good idea." Ge Dongxu felt tempted upon hearing this, and as for personal safety, he had some ability to protect himself. However, when he looked up and saw the reluctance in Tang Yahui''s eyes, he suddenly realized how precious her suggestion was and was deeply moved, saying, "Thank you for the suggestion. If I manage to find good jade in the future, I will definitely give you a piece."

    "You''re welcome. I mean, I would have brought it up today or eventually, you would run off to those places to buy jade someday," Tang Yahui replied, her eyes shining as she hurriedly spoke.

    "Yahui is right, you don''t need to be so formal with her. But you really must pay attention to personal safety. It''s unfamiliar territory, and those border areas are somewhat chaotic. Plus, you''re young. So, if possible, it would be best if you took it slow and considered going a few years later," Tang Yiyuan said with concern.

    Tang Yiyuan, a seasoned practitioner of traditional medicine, was deeply influenced by the tradition of revering teachers and their teachings. Hence, following the custom of people from the South, Tang Yahui had naturally come to address Ge Dongxu as "you." However, believing that Ge Dongxu had granted him the favor of teaching medical knowledge, Tang Yiyuan still insisted on addressing Ge Dongxu as "you."

    "Thank you, Professor Tang. You make a good point. I''m still young now, and unless it''s absolutely necessary, I won''t be in a rush to go there," Ge Dongxu said with a serious look, nodding earnestly upon hearing the words.

    Huaxia Country was vast and abundant in resources, brimming with extraordinary people. Ge Dongxu''s level of cultivation was far from being able to dominate the world, especially since Yunnan and Guizhou had been known since ancient times as The Hundred Thousand Mountains, a place shrouded in mystery, with legends of hermits living deep in the mountains. His late master, Ren Yao, had been worried that Ge Dongxu, young and brash, might become arrogant with a bit of ability. Thus, he often cautioned him not to show off his techniques lightly in front of others and even on his deathbed did not forget to remind him.

    Over this period, Ge Dongxu, with the assistance of the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade, had made rapid progress in his cultivation. His endeavors had also been smooth sailing. Even figures of authority in Changxi County, such as Lin Jinnuo and Zuo Le, showed him great respect. In his heart, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel a hint of pride and complacency. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Tang Yiyuan''s words suddenly reminded Ge Dongxu of his master''s advice, and that nascent pride and complacency in his heart were immediately extinguished like a flame doused with water.

    "Hehe, it''s mainly because I haven''t been to those places either, so I''m a bit worried. If you feel it''s really necessary to go in the future, just give me a word, and I''ll help you find one or two trustworthy people to accompany you," Tang Yiyuan said with a sigh of relief, laughing.

    At this time, Tang Yiyuan did not know that Ge Dongxu possessed mysterious arts; ordinary men, even more than a dozen strong ones, couldn''t get close to him.

    "Sure," Ge Dongxu said with a smile and a nod.

    Next, while waiting for the Jade Tokens, Tang Yiyuan inquired about matters concerning traditional medicine, which Ge Dongxu answered one by one.

    Since a larger number of Jade Tokens were being purchased this time, they hadn''t been processed by noon, and Tang Yahui invited Ge Dongxu to have lunch at a nearby restaurant.

    During the meal, Ge Dongxu brought up his recent investment in a herbal tea beverage factory. He mentioned his lack of experience in the industrial production of traditional herbal tea formulas and sought Tang Yiyuan''s help.

    "Is it a new formula?" Tang Yiyuan perked up, immediately interested upon hearing this.

    "Yes, it''s a unique formula. It not only cools the body and reduces internal heat but also nourishes the vital energy. It has no liver or kidney toxicity, doesn''t harm the spleen or stomach, and is suitable for all ages and for all seasons," Ge Dongxu confirmed with a nod.

    If anyone else had claimed this, Tang Yiyuan would definitely have doubts. There are many varieties of herbal teas these days, but since they are designed to cool the body, they tend to be somewhat cold in nature. Drinking too much can damage the spleen, stomach and yang energy, making it hard to cater to all needs.

    But he had no doubt in Ge Dongxu''s words. Consequently, after hearing them, Tang Yiyuan became even more interested and said, "That would be my honor. If you hadn''t brought it up, I would have asked you myself! If you don''t mind, I would also like to involve my students in this project."

    Seeing Tang Yiyuan''s response, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel elated. Knowing that Tang Yiyuan would surely not accept money as a salary, he thought about it and simply offered, "Why don''t you join as a shareholder? I''ll give you 10% of the shares as a technical investment. My main focus right now is still on my studies, and I don''t have time to be involved in production and technical management."

    ps: Continuing to ask for your support, thank you.

 Chapter 135 Professor Tang Buys Shares [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    Tang Yiyuan was worried about how to further develop his relationship with Ge Dongxu, so he could legitimately consult him on medical issues regularly. Now that Ge Dongxu brought it up, they would become business partners, making it much easier to ask questions later on. He couldn''t help but be overjoyed and hastily said, "That''s exactly what I''ve been hoping for. However, when it comes to buying shares, I will invest my own money, my own money, and it can''t be considered a technical investment. With you around, I can learn the technology, so how can it count as a technical investment?""Hehe, all I''m contributing is the recipe, and I independently own the recipe and the trademark. The herbal tea factory is free to use them only for the first five years; after that, they have to pay me a usage fee," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "Of course, your formula is priceless," Tang Yiyuan said matter-of-factly. He understood the value of a formula created by Ge Dongxu far better than Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin did.

    "It''s not that exaggerated, they''re just some ordinary recipes," Ge Dongxu said.

    "You''re being modest. What''s ordinary in your eyes is a priceless recipe in mine. So, let''s not talk about technical investment anymore. If you''re willing to let me buy shares, I''ll put up the money. Otherwise, I''ll work for you for free," Tang Yiyuan said.

    "Alright, if you insist on giving me money, I won''t be polite to you. Ten percent of the shares are fifty thousand yuan, and this ten percent is carved out from my share, so you can transfer it directly to me," Ge Dongxu said, seeing that Tang Yiyuan was resolute, and could no longer feign modesty. Besides, for a stalwart of the traditional Chinese medical community in Jiangnan Province like Tang Yiyuan, fifty thousand yuan was not a considerable sum.

    "Deal! Give me your card number, and I''ll transfer it to you later," Tang Yiyuan indeed didn''t even frown at the mention of fifty thousand yuan and agreed promptly.

    "Dad, it looks like you''re going to get rich with Doctor Ge! Come on, let me toast to you both and wish your business prosperity!" Tang Yahui knew her father had never been interested in business, yet he had surprisingly invested in Ge Dongxu''s factory, and she couldn''t help finding it amusing as she raised her glass with a smile.

    "Haha, definitely," Tang Yiyuan said laughingly, in a great mood, while Ge Dongxu felt somewhat embarrassed. Although he was confident in his recipe, what if it didn''t sell and they lost money?

    After settling the investment details, Tang Yiyuan couldn''t wait to ask about the herbal tea recipe.

    Going forward, Tang Yiyuan was already responsible for overseeing the production technology, so naturally, Ge Dongxu had nothing to hide about the recipe. He wrote it down for Tang Yiyuan right there and said, "I have to start preparing for the final exams soon, so I probably won''t have time to get involved in the production research until the summer holidays. If you have time, you can go ahead and give it a try."

    "Okay!" Tang Yiyuan carefully reviewed the recipe and noticed a Medicinal Guide, which made him very happy. "I was just worrying that once we scale up production, it would be hard to keep the recipe secret for long, and it would eventually get out. But with this Medicinal Guide, there''s nothing to worry about. As long as we keep the Medicinal Guide safe, nobody else will be able to produce the real Qinghe Herbal Tea." S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Dad, what''s this Medicinal Guide for the herbal tea?" Tang Yahui asked curiously.

    "My child, I told you to study medicine with me when you were little, but you refused, and now you don''t understand, do you? Herbal tea is essentially a decoction made from herbs, and since it''s a decoction, it''s natural to prepare it following the principle of the emperor, minister, assistant, and courier herbs. It''s normal to have a Medicinal Guide. Modern herbal teas seem to lack this, so your surprise makes sense, but if you analyze it deeper, having a Medicinal Guide is not at all strange," Tang Yiyuan explained with a smile, pointing at Tang Yahui.

    "I see! Now that you''ve explained it, I understand," Tang Yahui, having learned a bit of traditional Chinese medicine from her father in her childhood, immediately grasped the concept once Tang Yiyuan explained it.

    Ge Dongxu and Tang Yiyuan then discussed more about the herbal tea beverage factory. Since Tang Yiyuan had become a shareholder, and Cheng Yazhou was very likely in Linzhou City now, Ge Dongxu thought it was a good opportunity for them to meet. Once acquainted, they could discuss certain matters directly without needing him as an intermediary. After all, he would have to return to class after the weekend and wouldn''t have much free time on weekdays.

    So Ge Dongxu got Tang Yiyuan''s phone and called Cheng Yazhou.

    Cheng Yazhou was quite surprised to receive a call from this unknown number, but when he answered, he discovered it was from Ge Dongxu and asked what was the matter.

    Ge Dongxu then repeated to him the story about Tang Yiyuan buying into the company. Cheng Yazhou, being a businessman, naturally understood how significant it would be for the herbal tea factory to have a TCM university doctorate supervisor, a leading figure in Jiangnan Province''s field of traditional Chinese medicine. It wasn''t just about his network, but simply playing the card of his name alone would immediately elevate Qinghe Herbal Tea several notches, and this wasn''t even touching on the production technology oversight, after all, the man was a doctoral supervisor, a university professor!

    In the eyes of ordinary folk, especially in smaller places like towns and counties, a university professor, a doctoral student supervisor, that was someone they had to look up to with admiration.

    So when Cheng Yazhou heard Ge Dongxu had brought Tang Yiyuan on board and that he''d actually become business partners with a university professor, a doctoral supervisor level person, he couldn''t suppress a burst of pride and excitement. It was as if his own status had changed overnight, and he couldn''t wait to meet Tang Yiyuan face to face. However, since Tang was still in Kuiji City and couldn''t get away due to commitments that afternoon and evening, they would have to wait to meet until tomorrow or whenever Tang Yiyuan could come to Changxi County.

    Although Cheng Yazhou couldn''t immediately rush over to meet Professor Tang Yiyuan, he still asked Ge Dongxu to let him speak with Tang Yiyuan over the phone, where naturally all kinds of grateful and honored sentiments were expressed, leaving Yiyuan''s face flushed with embarrassment.

    What could he do? With Ge Dongxu there, what did it matter that he was a traditional Chinese medicine professor?

    After dinner, the three of them returned to Jiang Region Jewelry to continue waiting for the Jade Token.

    Around two o''clock, Ge Dongxu received the Jade Token. As he still had to give Liu Jiayao acupuncture, and he had a train to catch afterwards, Ge Dongxu hurriedly rushed to Yadu Garden after getting the Jade Token.

    Just as Ge Dongxu reached the nineteenth floor, the elevator doors opened and he saw Li Min standing in the hallway, which made him exclaim in surprise, "Eh, Sister Li, what are you doing here?"

    "Of course, I''m waiting for you. Just now Ms. Liu called me and said her flight was delayed. She was worried you might be anxious waiting for her, so she made a point of calling me, telling me to inform you. She didn''t call me long ago though, I reckon the plane still hasn''t taken off yet. You should give her a call."

    "Alright, I''ll go inside and call her right now," Ge Dongxu said as he opened the door. "Come in and sit down."

    "No need, I''ve done my part by letting you know," Li Min said, waving her hand.

    It''s actually quite inconvenient for a single man and a single woman to be alone together, and besides, this is Liu Jiayao''s home. Seeing Li Min decline, Ge Dongxu didn''t insist.

    PS: I recommend a book by a new author named Rentimeishi called "Days of Survival on a Deserted Island with a Beauty", a tale many men have probably fantasized about. Alright, I might be being unclean here, because the true tale for men should be Robinson Crusoe. Anyway, it''s a new author, new book; for those who like this genre, please add it to your shelf and give your support.

 Chapter 136 Friendly Restaurant

    Once inside, Ge Dongxu used the landline at Liu Jiayao''s home to call her.The phone was answered as soon as it rang, evidently Liu Jiayao had been waiting for the call.

    "Is that you, Dongxu?" As soon as the call connected, Liu Jiayao''s voice came through with a hint of surprise.

    "Sister Liu, it''s me. Haven''t you taken off yet?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Pfft, isn''t that obvious? Could I answer your call if I had taken off?" Liu Jiayao laughed.

    "Hehe, that''s true. By the way, when will you be back?" Ge Dongxu looked at the time and asked.

    "I can''t say for sure right now, but I guess I definitely won''t be home until the evening," Liu Jiayao replied.

    "I see..." Ge Dongxu said, feeling somewhat troubled. His original plan was to return by train that evening since he had class on Monday, and taking the Sunday night train would be quite a rush.

    "Yep, why don''t you stay in the city today and not go back to Changxi? Just stay at my place, okay? Tomorrow I can drive you back to Changxi County," Liu Jiayao suggested.

    "This..." Ge Dongxu hesitated. It wasn''t that he couldn''t stay an extra day, but he felt it was inconvenient to stay at Liu Jiayao''s place because, after all, there was a difference between men and women.

    "Don''t leave tonight, pretty please?" While Ge Dongxu was hesitating, Liu Jiayao''s voice came through the phone with a touch of pleading coquetry.

    Ge Dongxu, the young lad, was no match for such entreaties from a beautiful woman like Liu Jiayao. His heart thumped wildly, and he quickly said, "Okay, then."

    "Hee hee, it''s settled then. Wait for my call at home. If I come back late, we''ll meet directly at the restaurant to save you from starving, but if I''m back early, we''ll go together," Liu Jiayao happily said, seeing that Ge Dongxu was willing to stay.

    "Okay, I''ll wait for your call at home," Ge Dongxu responded.

    Afterward, the two chatted for a while longer before Liu Jiayao hung up the phone.

    At around seven o''clock in the evening, as dusk began to settle, the home phone rang.

    "You must be starving, right?" The moment the phone was picked up, Liu Jiayao''s concerned voice came through.

    "Not hungry, not hungry. Have you arrived?" Ge Dongxu hastily replied. Although he was still at the age to grow, as a practitioner, he didn''t get hungry as easily as others his age.

    "Just got off the plane. It''ll take some time to get home from the airport. I''m starving too, let''s just meet directly at the restaurant," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Sure, just say the word, and I''ll take a cab there," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Let''s go to the revolving restaurant at Mingyue Lake in the Friendly Hotel. The scenery there is nice, and the food is delicious, especially the chocolate series of cakes which are particularly tasty," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Alright, whatever you decide is fine by me. I''ll follow your lead," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Okay, I''ll make a reservation now. You can head over there directly. I reckon I''ll be a bit later than you, so just wait for me at the lobby bar downstairs," Liu Jiayao said.

    Ge Dongxu responded with an okay and then hung up the phone.

    After hanging up, Ge Dongxu took the keys and left the house, hailing a taxi at the entrance of Yadu Garden and saying, "To the Friendly Hotel."

    The taxi driver acknowledged with an "Okay," but glanced at Ge Dongxu through the rearview mirror with a hint of confusion.

    The Friendly Hotel was a four-star establishment and, at the time, it was the most luxurious hotel in Linzhou City, much like the Changxi Grand Hotel in Changxi County. It was the kind of place that ordinary people seldom could afford. Moreover, the name itself suggested that it catered to foreign guests. Many international friends and leaders would stay at this hotel when visiting Linzhou City.

    Ge Dongxu was unaware of the reputation of the Friendly Hotel in Linzhou City and its significance. Sitting in the taxi, he watched the city lights beginning to glow in the early evening, neon signs illuminating both sides of the road, and the streets bustling with traffic. Linzhou City at night seemed even more prosperous than during the day.

    Mingyue Lake, also known as the Beauty Lake, is one of Huaxia Country''s first batch of national key scenic spots and one of the top ten scenic attractions in the nation. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, with shimmering waves and willows providing shade, it exudes the demure gentleness characteristic of Jiangnan women, resembling a beautiful woman from Jiangnan, hence its alternate name, Beauty Lake.

    Ge Dongxu had heard of the fame of Mingyue Lake early on. As a child, he often saw it on television, but his previous visits to the Provincial Capital had been rushed, and he never had the chance to visit Mingyue Lake until today.

    As the car drove by the lake, he could see the countless lights along the shore, which adorned Mingyue Lake with incredible beauty.

    The city of Linzhou had developed outward from Mingyue Lake, making it the true central area of the city at that time. Many high-end businesses and hotels were concentrated around the lake. Yadu Garden was also located near the city center, so the ride was not long. Just as the taxi meter jumped past the starting fare, they arrived at the Friendly Hotel.

    Ge Dongxu paid the driver, got out of the car, and looked up at the tallest building by Mingyue Lake. In the night, the Friendly Hotel was captivating, illuminated by enchanting lights.

    "Uncle Cheng!"

    "Dongxu!"

    As he approached the lobby of the Friendly Hotel, Ge Dongxu and Cheng Yazhou spotted each other and were mutually surprised.

    "It''s a small world after all! How did you end up here?" said Cheng Yazhou after a long moment, filled with emotion. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I''ve got a dinner appointment here with a friend. How about you?" Ge Dongxu replied, equally amazed at how small the world was.

    "I''m also here for a dinner meeting, but to discuss business," said Cheng Yazhou.

    "Is it business related to the trademark factory?" asked Ge Dongxu.

    "Yes, if we land this deal, our trademark factory will have a steady stream of long-term business. Not like before with random clients; after completing an order, we never knew when the next one would come," nodded Cheng Yazhou.

    "You''ve been working hard, uncle," said Ge Dongxu, feeling a bit guilty since his main responsibility at the moment was to focus on his studies and he couldn''t help with running the business.

    "Haha, it''s only right. Don''t forget, both Qianjin and I are salaried workers, and we get a commission for the business we bring in on our own," said Cheng Yazhou with a laugh.

    Yaxu Trademark Factory''s business came from clients seeking them out, as well as from personal efforts. The latter earned a commission, a system Ge Dongxu had devised based on his own situation, to avoid everyone relying on a fixed income for too long. Cheng Yazhou might have been fine with it; after all, he owed Ge Dongxu a life debt and likely had no objections, but Wu Qianjin would inevitably have concerns.

    In business, even with brothers, it''s best to keep accounts clear. Establishing rules upfront prevents conflicts later on.

    "That''s true but if it weren''t for you and Uncle Qianjin running around, our business would have probably folded a long time ago," Ge Dongxu responded.

    "Hehe, it''s not that dramatic. Alright, just focus on your studies and don''t worry about these matters," Cheng Yazhou said with a smile, waving his hand dismissively.

    "Hehe, even if I wanted to worry, I couldn''t be of much help," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    "Well, running the trademark factory is one thing, but you really gave me a shock with the herbal tea factory. You even managed to invite PhD supervisors and professors from Jiangnan Province University of Chinese Medicine! That''s a feat Qianjin and I could never match, no matter how hard we tried. It''s a pity that funds have been tight recently, otherwise we''d have to secure even more shares at any cost," said Cheng Yazhou.

    PS: It feels much more satisfying to move the evening''s third update to noon, so starting today, the third update will be at noon. Therefore, in an hour, there will be another update, with none in the evening.

 Chapter 137 A Youthful Inexperience

    "Hehe, no problem at all; I can allocate a bit more shares to you, consider the money as a temporary loan from me," Ge Dongxu laughed and said."No need, no need, let''s stick to the agreed amount. It''s just that seeing Professor Tang investing made me suddenly greedy," Cheng Yazhou waved his hand and laughed.

    Seeing Cheng Yazhou talk so honestly, without hiding his little schemes, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but laugh and said, "It seems that Uncle Cheng and Uncle Qianjin were still not confident about the herbal tea factory before!"

    "Hehe, who knew you had such capability, even involving a university professor," Cheng Yazhou didn''t deny it, just smiled somewhat sheepishly.

    "Hehe!" Ge Dongxu laughed upon hearing this and said, "Professor Tang is usually busy, I always have to ask for his opinion before I can say anything."

    "Indeed, indeed, but tell me, don''t tell me your meeting today is with Professor Tang?" Cheng Yazhou asked.

    "No, a good friend," Ge Dongxu replied. He did not want to mention Liu Jiayao to avoid frightening Cheng Yazhou again.

    One should know that Qinglan Cosmetics is quite famous nationwide and almost a household name in Jiangnan Province. If Cheng Yazhou knew that he was having lunch with the gorgeous CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics today, it would probably scare him to bits.

    "Oh!" Cheng Yazhou showed a hint of disappointment on his face, but he didn''t ask any further.

    The two of them chatted for a bit more in the lobby, then Cheng Yazhou suddenly brightened up, whispering to Ge Dongxu, "Here they come."

    With that, Cheng Yazhou quickly walked towards the lobby entrance. Ge Dongxu, being a major shareholder of Yaxu Trademark Factory, thought it over and followed him out.

    As Cheng Yazhou walked toward the lobby entrance, a man and a woman stepped up the stairs.

    The man was about thirty-six or thirty-seven, not very old, but already somewhat balding and chubby. The woman accompanying him was around twenty-four or twenty-five years old, fairly attractive, with a decent figure. She wore a pair of washed white jeans that flattered her hips and a sweet smile, giving her an especially youthful and unsophisticated look.

    "Uncle Cheng, this is our Purchasing Department''s Manager Zhang Huowang. Manager Zhang, this is Cheng Yazhou, the factory manager of Yaxu Trademark Factory and a business friend of my father," the sweet-smiling young woman introduced helpfully.

    "Manager Zhang, nice to meet you. Thank you for honoring us with your presence," Cheng Yazhou hurriedly stepped forward and shook hands with Zhang Huowang enthusiastically.

    "Nice to meet you, nice to meet you, you''re an acquaintance of Che Yingying, so I had to give face," Zhang Huowang said neutrally, his chubby double chin lifting slightly in a somewhat dismissive manner.

    "Thank you, Manager Zhang and thank you, Yingying," Cheng Yazhou hurriedly said.

    "Hehe, Uncle Cheng, you don''t have to be so formal with me. By the way, shouldn''t we go inside and sit down to talk?" Che Yingying smiled and suggested.

    "Yes, yes, let''s sit down inside and talk," Cheng Yazhou said, as he turned around to lead the way, just as he saw Ge Dongxu already standing behind him and hurriedly said, "Dongxu, this is Manager Zhang Huowang, and this is Uncle Cheng''s friend''s daughter, Che Yingying. Manager Zhang, Yingying, this is Ge Dongxu, one of our factory''s shareholders as well."

    "Nice to meet you, Manager Zhang," Ge Dongxu smiled and extended his hand to Zhang Huowang.

    Zhang Huowang glanced at Ge Dongxu, his eyes revealing a hint of surprise before he frowned, but he still reluctantly shook hands with him.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t mind, after all, he was young, and it was natural for them to act a bit aloof since his Yaxu Trademark Factory needed their favor. The only thing Ge Dongxu disliked was that Zhang Huowang seemed a bit lecherous, his green-bean eyes occasionally stealing glances at Che Yingying''s well-shaped buttocks wrapped in jeans, exuding a lascivious look.

    But nine out of ten men are lecherous, and the tenth is color-blind¡ªit''s a lot of men''s nature and his own concern, so naturally, Ge Dongxu didn''t interfere.

    Then, Ge Dongxu also shook hands with Che Yingying, who seemed very surprised that Ge Dongxu had become a shareholder of Yaxu Trademark Factory at such a young age, measuring him with her dark eyes several times.

    "Dongxu just happens to have a dinner here as well, so we ran into each other. He''s not with me. Manager Zhang, Yingying, please," Cheng Yazhou hurriedly explained when he noticed Zhang Huowang frowning, obviously not liking the involvement of Ge Dongxu, the young lad, and then gestured for them to follow with a wave of his hand.

    Zhang Huowang then nodded and led the way in.

    Cheng Yazhou quickly nodded to Ge Dongxu as a greeting, then hurried off with Zhang Huowang and Che Yingying toward the elevator.

    "Young and inexperienced, how could Uncle Cheng choose such a young lad as a business partner?" from a distance, Ge Dongxu heard Zhang Huowang''s disdainful voice.

    Hearing this, Ge Dongxu smiled wryly and shook his head, helpless because his youth was an undeniable fact.

    "Ha, Dongxu is different from other youngsters, he handles things quite steadily," Cheng Yazhou quickly explained.

    "I can''t see it!" Zhang Huowang replied disdainfully, and then the three of them entered the elevator.

    After Zhang Huowang and the others went in, Ge Dongxu continued to wait in the lobby bar for Liu Jiayao.

    About twenty minutes later, Ge Dongxu saw Liu Jiayao.

    Since it was a business trip, she hadn''t had time to change after the plane, so Liu Jiayao was dressed more like an office professional at the moment. The white dual-sleeved shirt, partly see-through, gave a cool, seductive hint of femininity, and the black high-waist pencil pants beautifully outlined her long legs and perky buttocks, coupled with a pair of black high heels. Tonight, Liu Jiayao not only fully displayed the sharp, professional demeanor of a working woman but also perfectly showcased her curvy and tall figure.

    This was the first time Ge Dongxu had seen Liu Jiayao dressed so professionally, and his eyes lit up immediately. As he approached, he couldn''t help but look her up and down a few times, because he felt that Liu Jiayao had a unique charm at this moment.

    "What? Don''t you recognize your sister?" Liu Jiayao glanced sideways at Ge Dongxu, her voice teasing.

    "No, it''s just that you look so beautiful today, I almost didn''t recognize you," Ge Dongxu laughed. He was now quite familiar with Liu Jiayao, so his speech was more relaxed. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Little rascal! Now you realize how pretty your sister is!" Liu Jiayao said with a mischievous glance at Ge Dongxu, and then, delightedly, she hooked her arm through his, much to the amazement of the onlookers in the lobby, who nearly exclaimed, "Let go of that woman, let me do it!"

    At this, Ge Dongxu became a bit embarrassed, mumbling softly, "I always knew you were beautiful."

    "You say that now, but in a few years, when I''m older, you won''t say that anymore," Liu Jiayao paused, suddenly feeling a bit sentimental.

 Chapter 138 Talking Business

    "How could that be, Sis? You''re getting younger by the day, aren''t you? If you''re still worried, next time I come, I''ll bring you some of my homemade medicinal wine. Drink a little before bed every night, and I guarantee that even when you reach your forties or fifties, you''ll still look like you''re in your twenties or thirties," Ge Dongxu hurriedly reassured her."Really?" Liu Jiayao said with surprise and delight.

    Read new chapters at empire

    "Of course, it''s true. Would I lie to you?" Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "I knew you''d be good to me!" Liu Jiayao glanced at Ge Dongxu with a smug look, then hugged his arm gleefully.

    Feeling somewhat uneasy at her embrace, Ge Dongxu, the young man, tried to suppress his discomfort to avoid being looked down upon by Liu Jiayao, who seemed completely unaware, thinking he might be a lecher.

    The revolving restaurant was on the twentieth floor, surrounded by huge, transparent, floor-to-ceiling glass windows. As the restaurant slowly spun, diners sitting by the windows could enjoy a 360-degree view of Mingyue Lake and Lincheng.

    Liu Jiayao had already reserved a table for two by the floor-to-ceiling windows in the hall, and upon reaching the twentieth floor, a waiter naturally led them there.

    Their seat was directly facing Mingyue Lake, and looking down from there, one could see the myriad lights along the lake''s edge, and the illuminated pleasure boats on the water, antique and charming, adding layers of historical elegance to Mingyue Lake and making one feel as if they had traveled through time.

    "So beautiful!" Ge Dongxu felt that even if the food wasn''t great, the view alone was worth it.

    "Hehe, beautiful, isn''t it? In winter, when I have nothing to do, I like to sit by myself with a cup of coffee, quietly enjoying the scenery outside," Liu Jiayao said.

    Ge Dongxu imagined the winter sun warming him through the huge glass windows while the sunlight on Mingyue Lake turned the water into rippling gold, and couldn''t help but daydream for a long while before he exclaimed, "The life of the rich sure is comfortable!"

    "Oh please, as if you''re short on money?" Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a look, then stood up and said, "What do you want to eat? I''ll get it for you."

    Liu Jiayao had ordered the buffet in the revolving restaurant.

    "I''ll come with you," Ge Dongxu said, getting up to follow her.

    "Sure, let''s go together then," Liu Jiayao said with a happy smile, then took Ge Dongxu''s hand and went with him to get their meal.

    ...

    In Huaxia Country, there''s always been a custom of talking business over drinks.

    Manager Zhang Huowang, who had been rather arrogant and dismissive towards Cheng Yazhou earlier in the lobby, softened significantly after a few drinks. With Che Yingying flatteringly buttering him up occasionally at the side, his mood improved considerably. From time to time, he''d crack dirty jokes with Che Yingying while intoxicated, his beady eyes leering at her, which greatly annoyed Cheng Yazhou. However, knowing how society operated, Cheng Yazhou could only send apologetic glances towards Che Yingying.

    Since she began working, Che Yingying had clearly experienced such behavior frequently. Although her eyes hid indignation and humiliation, her face still bore a sweet smile, and she raised her glass to toast Zhang Huowang from time to time.

    After a while, Cheng Yazhou gave Che Yingying a signal, and she took the excuse of needing to use the restroom to leave the private room.

    Once Che Yingying had left, Cheng Yazhou pulled an envelope from her bag and handed it to Zhang Huowang, saying, "Manager Zhang, you''ve just seen our samples; you don''t need to worry about the quality or the price."

    Back then, it wasn''t common to send cards as a backdoor gesture; people generally just stuffed money into an envelope.

    Zhang Huowang, seeing that Cheng Yazhou was playing ball, had a smile on his face. But when his hand felt the thinness of the envelope, his smile quickly vanished. He pushed the envelope back and said, "Boss Cheng, Qinglan Cosmetics is a big company. Last year, the total sales volume of Qinglan''s various cosmetic products reached 30 million bottles. Just think about how many labels we''d need if we switched to laser brand labels!"

    At this point, Zhang Huowang paused and showed a hint of difficulty, "Honestly, with such a large quantity, I really can''t call the shots!"

    Zhang Huowang''s words were, of course, a pretense. As the purchasing manager, bulk purchases of raw materials, which greatly affected product profit margins, were definitely overseen by senior executives, and even Chairman Liu Jiayao might personally get involved in negotiations. For laser brand labels that cost at most one cent each, 30 million bottles would cost at most 300,000 yuan¡ªwithin the decision-making power of Zhang Huowang as the purchasing manager of a big company like Qinglan.

    Claiming to be unable to make the decision meant either he didn''t want to give the business to Yaxu Trademark Factory, or he thought the money was too little.

    As an experienced businessman, Cheng Yazhou caught on when Zhang Huowang specifically mentioned Qinglan Cosmetics'' sales volume from the previous year, emphasizing the vastness of the numbers. Cheng silently cursed, "Damn, he''s really got a big appetite!"

    To get this deal, Cheng had already put ten thousand yuan in the envelope.

    Back then, ten thousand yuan was certainly not a small amount! And according to business custom, it wasn''t just a one-time payment; if they wanted to continue business next year, they''d definitely have to keep paying. Cheng had thought this amount would be enough, but Zhang Huowang still found it lacking.

    Of course, the essence of business is profit, and as long as there was a margin, Cheng would certainly not give up on the deal. In fact, since the market profit for laser brand labels was still quite high at the moment, giving a little extra was still very profitable, albeit somewhat irritating.

    "Manager Zhang, as the purchasing manager, how can you not be in charge of this matter?" Cheng Yazhou wanted to push further, to see whether Zhang Huowang was genuinely finding the amount too little or was just putting on airs to haggle. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Let''s talk about this some other time, some other time. Let''s drink for now, drink." Zhang Huowang pushed the envelope back again, and Cheng reluctantly took it back, feeling an internal urgency.

    Qinglan Cosmetics was a well-known brand in Jiangnan Province, and countless packaging and label manufacturers were eyeing it. Qinglan Cosmetics wanted to switch their labels to laser anti-counterfeit labels, and Cheng had found out about this in advance through a friend''s daughter¡ªChe Yingying¡ªwho worked in Qinglan''s purchasing department. Anxious not to be beaten to the punch by other label manufacturers, he had hurried over.

    The matter certainly couldn''t be delayed; it had to be finalized tonight, or else Yaxu Trademark Factory might miss its chance.

    Luckily, Zhang Huowang didn''t decline outright. Of course, Cheng couldn''t openly ask Zhang how much he wanted. This was a part of Huaxia''s culture, akin to wanting to be a saint but also a sinner!

    Everyone knew what was going on, yet such matters always had to be conducted subtly.

    ps: Why are all of you so smart, guessing everything correctly? Do you think it''s easy for me to set up a plot? I need your recommendation tickets for comfort! Also, the third update has now been moved to noontime.

 Chapter 139 Uncle Cheng, this is Liu Jiayao

    Cheng Yazhou was feeling anxious when Che Yingying, guessing that the time was about right, pushed the door open and came in.Seeing Che Yingying enter, Cheng Yazhou''s heart stirred, and he smiled at her, "Yingying, you''ve come at just the right time. I need to step out for a moment, so can you keep Manager Zhang company and have a couple of drinks for me?"

    As he spoke, Cheng Yazhou even gave Che Yingying a meaningful look. Although Che Yingying was a simple girl from the countryside, after working a few years, she had come to understand many of the tricks of the trade. Seeing this, she knew that Cheng Yazhou must not have reached an agreement with Zhang Huowang, so she nodded obediently and said, "Hehe, Manager Zhang is my superior, Uncle, even if you hadn''t asked, I would have ensured our leader eats well and drinks well!"

    "Haha, look at this brain of mine!" Cheng Yazhou said, exaggeratingly slapping his own head, then he said to Zhang Huowang, "Manager Zhang, excuse me for a moment, I have to step away."

    Zhang Huowang nodded indifferently, as if he didn''t know what Cheng Yazhou really was about to do.

    When Cheng Yazhou left the private room, he pulled out his wallet to look inside and couldn''t help feeling anxious.

    Because he hadn''t expected Zhang Huowang to be so greedy, he hadn''t prepared enough cash. And from his many years'' experience, he knew that with Zhang Huowang''s large appetite, adding a few thousand yuan would definitely not suffice; at least double was necessary or, to be safe, it would be best to have even more. But the problem was that the banks were closed, and money could only be withdrawn from ATMs, which had a daily limit. His card''s daily withdrawal limit was a maximum of five thousand yuan, which was clearly not enough.

    Just as he was growing desperate, Cheng Yazhou suddenly thought of Ge Dongxu and hurriedly looked around the hall. With that one look, he indeed saw Ge Dongxu.

    Cheng Yazhou was overjoyed and quickly walked over.

    "Uncle Cheng?" Ge Dongxu, seeing Cheng Yazhou walking towards him with an anxious expression, obviously had something to discuss with him, felt quite surprised and quickly stood up saying, "Sister, a friend of mine might need to talk to me about something."

    "Your friend?" Liu Jiayao swiftly turned to look behind her and saw Cheng Yazhou rushing over.

    "I am Cheng Yazhou, Dongxu''s friend, and you must be Dongxu''s friend too, sorry to intrude, I have some urgent matters to discuss with Dongxu." Before Ge Dongxu could stand up, Cheng Yazhou, having noticed Liu Jiayao, was initially stunned, clearly taken aback by Liu Jiayao''s beauty and poise. But remembering that Che Yingying was covering for him with Zhang Huowang in the private room, and that time was of the essence, he couldn''t afford to think too much about how beautiful and poised Ge Dongxu''s friend was. He hurriedly apologized to Liu Jiayao without waiting for her response and already pulled Ge Dongxu aside.

    "What''s the matter, Uncle Cheng?" Ge Dongxu asked with a puzzled face.

    "Do you have five thousand yuan in your card?" Cheng Yazhou asked instead of answering.

    "Yeah!" Ge Dongxu nodded, his expression becoming even more puzzled.

    "That''s good. Can you leave now, or are you not able to? If you can leave, that would be best. I''ll give you my bank card, you use your card along with mine, withdraw five thousand from each, and then come find me in the private room. If you can''t leave now, just give me your bank card." Cheng Yazhou hurriedly instructed, not even thinking to explain to Ge Dongxu.

    "What do you need so much money for? Oh, right, is it for that Manager Zhang wanting a kickback? His appetite is way too big! Forget it Uncle Cheng, if we can do this business deal then let''s do it, but we should still do business above board in the future. A little bit of social interaction is still acceptable, but we shouldn''t deal with someone who bites off more than they can chew like this," Ge Dongxu said, first in shock, then understanding quickly and speaking with a frown.

    "Don''t be so idealistic, Uncle understands these things. To tell you the truth, that Zhang Huowang is the purchasing manager for Qinglan Cosmetics. Just think about it, Qinglan Cosmetics is such a big company, and they sell millions of bottles of cosmetics every year. If we get this order, even if our laser branding business declines later on, we will still have a steady income of profit. What''s this expense in comparison? It''s also my fault for thinking too simply at the start and only preparing ten thousand yuan. If I had known, I would have prepared more." Cheng Yazhou explained. Continue your journey with empire

    "You''re saying that Zhang Huowang is the manager of Qinglan Cosmetics'' procurement department?" Ge Dongxu''s expression suddenly became animated upon hearing this.

    He never dreamt that the deal Cheng Yazhou was running tonight would involve Qinglan Cosmetics. If he had known earlier, there wouldn''t have been any need to rush around. The CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics was having dinner with him right now!

    "Yes, is there a problem?" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s expression, which did not seem to be one of being awestruck by the grandeur of Qinglan Cosmetics, but rather an odd one, Cheng Yazhou couldn''t help but ask in surprised bewilderment. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Without answering, Ge Dongxu turned to look at Liu Jiayao, whose pretty face now wore a hint of anger.

    Although she hadn''t deliberately eavesdropped on their conversation, it was taking place nearby, and it just so happened to involve Qinglan Cosmetics, so naturally, she paid some attention to it.

    Upon hearing bits of it, with Liu Jiayao''s high intelligence, she easily surmised what was happening.

    Thinking about how her company''s staff not only asked for kickbacks from Ge Dongxu''s friend but also had the audacity to make exorbitant demands, she naturally felt very annoyed and embarrassed.

    At that moment, Liu Jiayao had not yet realized that Ge Dongxu and Cheng Yazhou were business partners; otherwise, she would have been even more angry.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu turn to look at Liu Jiayao, Cheng Yazhou subconsciously followed his gaze, but felt somewhat perplexed. He couldn''t fathom why Ge Dongxu was looking at Liu Jiayao at this moment.

    When he saw the trace of anger on Liu Jiayao''s face, Cheng Yazhou felt even more strange. He wondered what could''ve possibly upset such a beautiful girl. Was it simply because he had interrupted them?

    "I''m sorry, Mr. Cheng, for not recognizing a person''s true character, which has led to quite an embarrassment. You''re in the laser trademark business, right? Rest assured, as long as the quality is up to standard, since you''re Dongxu''s friend, we will certainly let you handle this business," Liu Jiayao said somewhat awkwardly as Cheng Yazhou looked towards her.

    "What is this about?" Cheng Yazhou became even more puzzled upon hearing this.

    "Uncle Cheng, this is Liu Jiayao, the CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics Company. You didn''t tell me that Zhang Huowang was from Qinglan Company before. If I had known you were chasing this deal, then there wouldn''t have been any need for all this trouble!" Ge Dongxu explained hurriedly upon seeing Cheng Yazhou''s puzzled face.

    "What, you, you''re the CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics Company, Ms. Liu?" Even though Cheng Yazhou was quite worldly, he was still so startled by the revelation that he stumbled over his words.

    After all, Qinglan Cosmetics Company had annual sales of hundreds of millions! That figure was absolutely astronomical to Cheng Yazhou.

    How could Cheng Yazhou not feel nervous facing her? Of course, amid the nervousness there was even more shock.

    He could never have imagined that Ge Dongxu''s friend he mentioned would turn out to be the CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics Company! If he had known about the deal beforehand, there would have been no need for him to step in at all!

 Chapter 140 Falling Out [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    "That''s right, Mr. Cheng, rest assured, this matter is settled. You don''t need to worry about Zhang Huowang; I will naturally take care of him," Liu Jiayao nodded and said."Thank you, President Liu, thank you, President Liu; there''s no need to bother with that, no need at all. Doing business is just like this," Cheng Yazhou said, startled once again and hastened to say.

    "Such people are very detrimental to the company''s development, and they must be dealt with. Luckily, I happened to come across this issue this time. Speaking of which, I should be thanking you for allowing me to discover the problem in time," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Not at all, not at all, it''s definitely I who should be thankful to President Liu. But since you and Dongxu are friends, I won''t say too much thanks. I''ll let Dongxu say more on behalf of our factory, as he is also a shareholder of Yaxu Trademark Factory," Seeing Liu Jiayao speak in such a manner, Cheng Yazhou felt it inappropriate to persuade her further. In fact, he was also very displeased with Zhang Huowang, especially the way he looked at Che Yingying, which made him particularly annoyed.

    "Good for you, Dongxu, investing in a factory without giving your sister a heads up?" Liu Jiayao couldn''t help being greatly surprised upon hearing this and then looked at Ge Dongxu with an accusatory glance.

    In Liu Jiayao''s impression, Ge Dongxu was an exceedingly skilled and extraordinary doctor; such people were traditionally aloof, making it hard for her to associate him with businessmen. Moreover, Ge Dongxu was still young, a high school student, so Liu Jiayao never thought that he would start investing and partnering in factories at this age.

    "Hehe, it''s just a small factory; compared to your company, it''s insignificant, not worth mentioning," Ge Dongxu explained with a smile.

    "How can it be the same? What I have is an inherited business, not my own achievement. At your age, I only knew about studying and watching TV," Liu Jiayao said, giving Ge Dongxu a glance.

    "I''ve heard about President Liu''s deeds from a daughter of a friend of mine. She works in the procurement department of your company. She said you started managing such a large company at the age of twenty-three and are her idol she admires!" Cheng Yazhou said with a smile.

    "Oh? What''s your friend''s daughter''s name?" Liu Jiayao asked, intrigued.

    "Her name is Che Yingying, a very nice girl. I was able to get the news ahead of time also because she kindly informed me," said Cheng Yazhou, naturally trying to help Che Yingying by mentioning her when Liu Jiayao asked, and he could not help but feel overjoyed as he quickly said.

    "Che Yingying, right, okay, I''ll remember that," Liu Jiayao said with a smile as she nodded, already moved to cultivate and promote Che Yingying out of affection for Ge Dongxu.

    "Thank you, President Liu, then I won''t disturb you and Dongxu any longer," Cheng Yazhou said with a smile, taking his leave since his purpose had been achieved.

    Liu Jiayao, as it was rare for her to spend time alone with Ge Dongxu, did not retain Cheng Yazhou.

    When Cheng Yazhou returned to the private room and saw that Zhang Huowang was taking advantage of his manager''s status to tease Che Yingying, he felt some annoyance inside. However, remembering that because of him, Zhang Huowang would probably have to pack up and leave after tonight, his irritation disappeared in an instant. Thinking of it as the last feast for a condemned prisoner before execution, he decided to let him enjoy himself for the night. After all, his job loss was somewhat related to himself.

    Therefore, Cheng Yazhou pretended not to see it and sat down to continue drinking with Zhang Huowang. Without the need to please him any longer, ''absence of desire lends strength'', and his mentality had naturally shifted, no longer showing the enthusiastic respect he had before.

    Zhang Huowang had not yet noticed this change and continued to act superior, occasionally teasing Che Yingying while taking advantage of the alcohol. Continue reading stories on empire

    Originally, it was all right to just tease each other, especially since Cheng Yazhou had made up his mind that Zhang Huowang wouldn''t be around much longer and decided to let him be proud for one more night. But unexpectedly, after Zhang Huowang had a few drinks, he became more and more inappropriate.

    Later on, he even draped an arm over Che Yingying''s shoulders and grabbed her hand and glass with the other, saying, "If our feelings are deep, we chug. No, you have to drink this for me. Drink! Drink!"

    "Manager Zhang, Yingying has had enough to drink today. Don''t force her to drink more. If you want to drink, I''ll drink with you!" When Cheng Yazhou saw this, he stepped forward, somewhat annoyed, and removed Zhang Huowang''s salacious hand as he spoke. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Fuck! Mr. Cheng, what do you mean by this? Are you telling me you don''t want to do business anymore?" Zhang Huowang, seeing Cheng Yazhou''s change of attitude, immediately felt the alcohol rush to his head and pointed at Cheng Yazhou, cursing him out.

    "No, no, of course not. Here, Manager Zhang, I''ll drink up, see!" Che Yingying, seeing the two men stiffen their relationship because of her, hurriedly said this. She also repeatedly made eyes at Cheng Yazhou.

    "Drink what! Yingying, don''t bother with such people. The more face you give them, the more fucking full of themselves they become. What trash!" Cheng Yazhou, seeing Zhang Huowang so arrogant, naturally didn''t bother giving him any more face and pointed at him, mocking him without the slightest courtesy.

    "Fine, fine, Che Yingying, who is this that you introduced me to? I think you''d better write a resignation letter when you get back tonight and hand it to me on Monday! It would save me the trouble of having to report to HR myself and spare you the embarrassment." Zhang Huowang, as the purchasing department manager, was accustomed to being flattered and couldn''t stand being treated with such disdain. Without arguing with Cheng Yazhou anymore, he pointed at Che Yingying with a grim face, threatening her and then huffily left the table.

    Obviously, Zhang Huowang hadn''t lost his temper completely; he knew he couldn''t handle Cheng Yazhou, so he took his anger out on Che Yingying. After all, Cheng Yazhou was introduced by Che Yingying, and dealing with her was essentially a slap in Cheng Yazhou''s face.

    "Manager Zhang! Manager Zhang, we can talk this out, please!" Seeing Manager Zhang Huowang leaving, Che Yingying, in her desperation, hurriedly tried to chase after him.

    "Why bother with that kind of person?" Cheng Yazhou, however, held back Che Yingying.

    "Uncle Cheng, you''ve really done me in this time!" When Che Yingying saw Cheng Yazhou holding her back, she couldn''t help but stomp her feet with tears rolling in her eyes, repeatedly saying.

    She had never imagined that her good intentions would turn into such a disaster, potentially costing her her job.

    "Don''t worry, the one who''s going to be packing up and leaving is this Zhang Huowang!" Cheng Yazhou said with a smile.

    "Uncle, I''m not joking with you. Zhang Huowang is a relative of one of our company''s vice presidents and holds a lot of power. If he wants to fire me, I''m definitely out," Che Yingying said, thinking Cheng Yazhou didn''t realize how serious the situation was, becoming even more anxious, and internally blaming herself for meddling.

    "Oh?" Cheng Yazhou was momentarily stunned, but then he thought that even the vice president had to report to Liu Jiayao, so he dismissed the concern and said with a smile, "No problem, no problem, I know your chairman. All right, let''s go too."

    Che Yingying, seeing Cheng Yazhou still in the mood for jokes at such a time, was so frustrated that she stepped past him and quickly stomped out of the private room in her high heels.

    The salary at Qinglan Cosmetics Company was quite high, and as a department flush with resources, Che Yingying''s annual income in the purchasing department was substantial. Hence, she still wanted to catch up with Zhang Huowang and plead for a chance to make amends.

 Chapter 141 Mr. Liu, Hear Me Out

    "This girl! She actually didn''t believe the truth!" Cheng Yazhou saw that Che Yingying seemed to be angry with him and couldn''t help but smile and shake his head as he hurriedly followed her out.He had just chased her out and hadn''t reached the lobby exit when Cheng Yazhou saw Che Yingying and Zhang Huowang standing dumbfounded in the lobby, their eyes staring straight ahead as if they had seen a ghost.

    Cheng Yazhou followed their gaze and saw the esteemed CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics, Liu Jiayao, intimately linking arms with Ge Dongxu as they walked toward the door. Cheng Yazhou''s eyes nearly popped out as well.

    Although he knew that Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao were friends, he had never imagined they were close enough to walk arm in arm.

    This was Liu Jiayao, the beautiful CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics whose products had annual sales exceeding a hundred million!

    Yet now she was intimately linking arms with Ge Dongxu! If Ge Dongxu hadn''t been considerably younger, describing Liu Jiayao''s demeanor as a woman totally smitten would''ve been fitting.

    If Cheng Yazhou felt this way, it was even more so for Che Yingying and Zhang Huowang. Especially since Zhang Huowang had always looked down on Ge Dongxu, even saying he was unreliable since he was "inexperienced", but now what?

    Even their company''s CEO was intimately linking arms with this "inexperienced" guy!

    Zhang Huowang felt a burning pain on his face, but after the pain, he suddenly realized a very serious problem.

    The person he had mocked as "inexperienced and unreliable" was also a shareholder in the Yaxu Trademark Factory!

    Only moments ago, he had explicitly stated that he would not give the laser trademark business to Yaxu Trademark Factory and even threatened in front of Cheng Yazhou to fire Che Yingying!

    Realizing this, Zhang Huowang shivered all over and urgently grabbed Che Yingying''s arm, lowering his voice, "Che Yingying, I was confused just now, let''s go back and see your Uncle Cheng. We''ll give this business to Yaxu Trademark Factory." S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Zhang Huowang''s sudden grip and apology finally snapped Che Yingying out of her daze. She realized that Cheng Yazhou was not joking earlier and that this young lad of merely sixteen or seventeen years old was indeed incredible!

    At such a young age, not only was he a shareholder of the Yaxu Trademark Factory, but he was also as close as a "lover" to her idolized CEO.

    "Manager Zhang, I guess you don''t need to decide on this matter anymore!" If Cheng Yazhou had felt somewhat guilty before, that sentiment vanished completely after Zhang Huowang forced Che Yingying to drink alcohol and even pointed at him and cursed.

    This kind of person was despicable and truly did not deserve any sympathy!

    "No, no, Mr. Cheng, I was confused because I drank too much just now. Please, forgive me¡­" Hearing Cheng Yazhou''s voice behind him, Zhang Huowang jolted, hastily turned around, and repeatedly bowed to Cheng Yazhou.

    The procurement department was a lucrative sector, and Zhang Huowang had secured his position through his brother-in-law. Naturally, he had reaped many benefits and was reluctant to lose his job.

    "What are you doing, Manager Zhang? I truly can''t accept that," Cheng Yazhou stopped Zhang Huowang, acting unaware, and then said to Che Yingying, "Yingying, go call the waiter so we can settle the bill."

    "Certainly, Uncle," Che Yingying glanced at Zhang Huowang with evident satisfaction and then responded with a sweet smile.

    "No need, no need, I''ll pay, I''ll pay," Zhang Huowang hastily interjected.

    "Uncle Cheng, Sister Yingying, are you also finishing up and leaving?" Just as Zhang Huowang finished speaking, a very young voice rang in his ear.

    Hearing this voice that was both unfamiliar and familiar, Zhang Huowang''s face instantly paled, and turning his head, he saw that the young man and Liu Jiayao had already appeared behind them.

    "Yes, President Liu, Dongxu, you are leaving too?" Cheng Yazhou quickly stepped forward and greeted them with a smile.

    And Che Yingying even forgot to reply.

    Before, when Ge Dongxu called Cheng Yazhou "Uncle" and referred to her as "Sister Yingying," Che Yingying thought it was nothing out of the ordinary, but now that Ge Dongxu addressed her in such a manner, she felt her whole body bristle.

    It couldn''t be helped, had she not seen how CEO Liu clung to the young man''s arm, looking utterly dependent?

    "Yes!" Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu both nodded with a smile.

    "CEO Liu!" It was only after Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu spoke that Che Yingying finally snapped back to reality and hurriedly stepped forward to call out in a restrained and low voice.

    "CEO, CEO Liu!" Zhang Huowang too stepped forward calling out in a low voice, his face filled with nervous unease. Although he was somewhat of a middle manager in the company and had numerous dealings with CEO Liu Jiayao, he normally wouldn''t be this anxious, but after what happened today, he no longer had the confidence he once had.

    Liu Jiayao did not look at Zhang Huowang but just nodded with a smile to Che Yingying and said, "Che Yingying, is it? Come to my office on Monday."

    "Yes, yes," Che Yingying, seeing that Liu Jiayao had called her by name, first froze, then immediately bowed continuously with a face full of surprise.

    Liu Jiayao smiled, then whispered to Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, shall we head home now?"

    "Hmm." Ge Dongxu nodded, then smiling, said to Cheng Yazhou and Che Yingying, "Uncle Cheng, Sister Yingying, Sister Liu and I have some matters to attend to, we''ll be leaving first."

    He also ignored that Zhang Huowang!

    "Alright, alright, please go ahead, take care!" Cheng Yazhou and Che Yingying quickly said with a wave of their hands, while Zhang Huowang was already sweating profusely.

    It was because Liu Jiayao''s attitude couldn''t be clearer.

    "CEO, CEO Liu, I truly didn''t know Mr. Ge was your friend, so..." In a panic, Zhang Huowang rushed up, blocking their path, and stammered.

    "So you think you can just make outrageous demands, do you?" Liu Jiayao asked coldly.

    "No, no, I didn''t, I didn''t, please listen to me, CEO Liu..." Zhang Huowang hurriedly said, naturally refusing to admit it.

    "I don''t want to hear your explanation now; let''s talk on Monday. Now, don''t block our way," Liu Jiayao said, cutting him off directly.

    Zhang Huowang opened his mouth, wanting to explain more, but Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao had already brushed past him.

    Watching their retreating figures, Zhang Huowang''s previously puffed-up beer belly seemed to deflate suddenly, like a balloon losing air.

    Cheng Yazhou and Che Yingying exchanged glances, then shook their heads and went straight to settle the bill.

    People like him weren''t worth their sympathy!

    "It''s been a long time since I visited Mingyue Lake. Would you keep me company for a walk there, Sister?" Outside the restaurant, looking at the surrounding greenery and the flickering lights of Mingyue Lake, Liu Jiayao showed a hint of reminiscence and melancholy in her eyes, she gently hugged Ge Dongxu''s arm a little tighter and spoke softly.

    ps: Please recommend this, thank you.

 Chapter 142 First Kiss

    "Aren''t you tired?" Ge Dongxu asked with concern. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality."With you here, I don''t feel tired." Liu Jiayao felt a rush of sweetness in her heart as Ge Dongxu showed his concern. She stopped thinking about the times her parents had accompanied her around Mingyue Lake and gave Ge Dongxu a sweet smile.

    "Then I''ll listen to you," Ge Dongxu smiled. He actually wanted to take a walk by the famous Mingyue Lake as well.

    It was now summer, and the willows by Mingyue Lake provided shade. A gentle breeze brought a rare coolness, making it a popular spot for the people of Lincheng on summer evenings. Although it was almost nine o''clock, there were still quite a few people walking around the lake.

    Liu Jiayao leaned on Ge Dongxu and slowly walked around the edge of Mingyue Lake. Although she had just claimed she wasn''t tired, she had been bustling about for several days and was indeed fatigued, especially wearing high heels. The more she walked, the more she felt she couldn''t cope.

    "Shall we go back?" Ge Dongxu, noticing Liu Jiayao''s obvious signs of weariness, suggested.

    "But I still want to stroll. How about you carry me for a while, please?" Liu Jiayao said, her eyes suddenly lighting up as she shook Ge Dongxu''s arm and spoke in a coaxing tone.

    Seeing Liu Jiayao''s pleading eyes, Ge Dongxu couldn''t bring himself to refuse and crouched down, saying, "Climb on."

    "Hehe!" Liu Jiayao happily climbed onto Ge Dongxu''s back, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning her head out from behind him, her cheek lightly pressing against Ge Dongxu''s cheek.

    "It''s so nice to have you here! It''s just too bad you have to go back to Changxi County tomorrow," Liu Jiayao whispered softly.

    "Yeah. But I will try to get into a university in Linzhou, so I can be with you from time to time," Ge Dongxu, feeling Liu Jiayao''s attachment, felt a stir in his heart and blurted out.

    "Seriously, you must try to get into Linzhou, and you are not allowed to go to any other city," Liu Jiayao immediately responded.

    "Of course not. With such a beautiful sister here, why would I go to another city?" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "So sweet-tongued at such a young age, I wonder how many girls you will charm in college! Hehe, but I like when you talk like that," Liu Jiayao said, giving Ge Dongxu a light kiss on the cheek.

    Ge Dongxu was momentarily stunned and after a while, said somewhat awkwardly, "I wouldn''t charm any girls!"

    "Hehe, you say that now because you''re young. When you''re older, you will naturally think of ways to charm girls. Actually, with your abilities, you don''t even need to actively charm them; many beautiful girls will flock around you," Liu Jiayao continued, revealing a hint of melancholy in her eyes, "By then, who knows if you''ll still remember what you said today."

    "What are you talking nonsense about? What kind of relationship do we have, how could I forget you!" Ge Dongxu said, his expression showing a hint of displeasure.

    "Really? Then tell me, what kind of relationship do we have?" Liu Jiayao, her eyes brightening, tilted her head and asked Ge Dongxu.

    "We are... we are..." Liu Jiayao''s question really stumped Ge Dongxu; he couldn''t quite say what their relationship was.

    "What are we?" Liu Jiayao pressed, her eyes showing a mix of nervous anticipation.

    "I can''t really say clearly, but it''s a very close relationship, yes, a very close relationship!" Ge Dongxu, pressed by Liu Jiayao''s questioning, blurted out in haste.

    "Very close... very close..." Liu Jiayao, upon hearing his words, trembled slightly and murmured softly, her eyes revealing a hint of confusion.

    Suddenly, Liu Jiayao''s dazed eyes lit up with a spark as she said, "Dongxu."

    "What''s up?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Turn your head here," Liu Jiayao instructed.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t know why Liu Jiayao wanted him to turn his head, but he did as he was told.

    No sooner had Ge Dongxu turned his head than Liu Jiayao''s delicate and enticing lips sealed his.

    Ge Dongxu immediately felt as if a bomb had exploded in his brain as he stared blankly at Liu Jiayao.

    Though the kiss was brief, Ge Dongxu felt as if it had lasted a century. He would never forget the sweet, moist aftertaste.

    Because this was his first kiss!

    "Doesn''t it feel very intimate?" Liu Jiayao asked softly, looking directly at Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu nodded subconsciously.

    Yes, that was the feeling! It was indescribable, a sentiment that had begun the day he treated Liu Jiayao''s illness, showered in her bedroom, and she helped him blow-dry his underwear and hair.

    "Can I kiss you again?" After a while, Ge Dongxu looked at Liu Jiayao with earnest eyes.

    Liu Jiayao hesitated, then cradled Ge Dongxu''s face and her sensual lips found his again.

    For both of them, it was their second kiss, and both were equally clumsy.

    After their lips parted again, seeing the passion still in Ge Dongxu''s eyes, Liu Jiayao felt a wave of weakness and muttered to herself under her breath; she then lightly pecked his cheek, whispering, "Silly boy, you are still young. We shouldn''t do this now, okay? Let''s wait for later."

    As a cultivator, Ge Dongxu had more control than most young men. He jerked at her words, waking from his daze, and recalling his behavior. He felt somewhat at a loss on how to face Liu Jiayao, as if he had made a mistake.

    "I''m sorry," Ge Dongxu said quietly, not daring to turn his head to face Liu Jiayao.

    "It''s not your fault, I initiated it," Liu Jiayao said tenderly, kissing his cheek again, "Just remember, no matter how many girls are by your side in the future, I''ll always be close with you."

    "Of course!" Ge Dongxu smiled happily, seeing that Liu Jiayao was not blaming him, which eased his worried mind.

    Afterward, Ge Dongxu carried Liu Jiayao on his back and they walked a bit more alongside Mingyue Lake before she suggested they head back, not wanting to tire him.

    Back at Yadu Garden, Liu Jiayao took a shower and then Ge Dongxu performed acupuncture on her for the last time.

    Due to the kiss by Mingyue Lake, this session of acupuncture left Ge Dongxu sweatier and more tired than the previous ones.

 Chapter 143 Virtual Management

    After administering acupuncture to Liu Jiayao, Ge Dongxu took a shower, and then Liu Jiayao was still the one to blow dry his hair.Perhaps out of fatigue, or perhaps worried that continuing to interact like this late at night might lead to issues, Liu Jiayao, after drying Ge Dongxu''s hair, gently hugged him, stood on her toes, and lightly kissed his forehead, taking the initiative to say, "Good night!"

    More than half a year ago, when Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu had just met, both were nearly 1.7 meters tall; now Liu Jiayao was still nearly 1.7 meters, but Ge Dongxu had grown to 1.72 meters.

    "Good night!" Ge Dongxu also said softly, then fled back to the guest bedroom.

    ...

    The next day, Ge Dongxu didn''t ask Liu Jiayao to drive him back to Changxi County, instead, he accompanied her on a shopping trip.

    Since her parents had passed away, Liu Jiayao, young as she was, took over the huge company and simply had neither the mood nor time for shopping¡ªadded to her poor health, even Liu Jiayao didn''t know how long it had been since she had last gone shopping.

    Ge Dongxu insisted she not take him back to Changxi County, claiming that with his cultivation, even sitting on an overnight train wouldn''t affect his alertness for class the next day. Liu Jiayao thus insisted he accompany her for a shopping trip.

    Since Liu Jiayao felt like shopping, Ge Dongxu naturally couldn''t bear to refuse and ended up accompanying her for a great part of the day, playing the role of a bag carrier. Of course, Liu Jiayao didn''t forget to buy him clothes, but the large department stores at that time mainly sold foreign brands, or more formal attire, which weren''t quite suitable for a high school student from a small town like Ge Dongxu. Initially, Ge Dongxu declined, but Liu Jiayao insisted on taking him to Yanming Road, not far from Mingyue Lake.

    This was Linzhou City''s clothing street, home to several very popular and trendy casual clothing brand specialty stores, targeting a vibrant and fashionable clientele aged sixteen to twenty-five. For example, there was Giordano from Hong Kong, and the Italian casual clothing brand "Benneton," acquired by Hong Kong''s Deyongjia Group Co., Ltd., as well as the mainland''s own Mettes Bonwe casual brand specialty store.

    Actually, all these clothing companies utilized what was then a very common "virtual management" model in the international apparel industry, which focused on brand and design development capabilities at the core. The model outsourced non-advantageous or non-core production and sales segments to leverage resources efficiently, turning non-core capabilities into core strengths. Brands like Nike and Reebok had adopted this virtual management model quite early, while on the mainland, this model was just beginning to take off.

    Mettes Bonwe was the first company to start experimenting with operating the brand and managing data, outsourcing the garment production and sales to other companies, hitting the jackpot and becoming the first mainland brand as renowned as those from overseas and Hong Kong.

    When Liu Jiayao accompanied Ge Dongxu into these specialty stores, the decor that differed from the small county town shops, the simple, natural, casual, and comfortable design styles in clothing, and the uniformly youthful and vibrant sales staff instantly caught Ge Dongxu''s eyes, making him think that such clothing stores were bound to do well.

    In fact, just as Ge Dongxu had thought, stores like Giordano and Mettes Bonwe were bustling with people, mostly young men and women.

    After visiting several stores suitable for him, Ge Dongxu eventually settled on a pair of jeans and two T-shirts from Mettes Bonwe.

    After finishing their shopping and taking a brief rest back at Yadu Garden, they grabbed something to eat nearby, and then Liu Jiayao personally drove Ge Dongxu to the train station.

    "Don''t forget to come visit Linzhou during summer vacation!" Liu Jiayao lightly hugged Ge Dongxu as she saw him off on the train, reminding him.

    Ge Dongxu naturally agreed.

    ...

    As for the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, Tang Yiyuan was even more concerned than Ge Dongxu, the largest shareholder. On Tuesday, he specifically brought along a PhD student and personally rushed to Changxi County.

    The reception duties were naturally handled by Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin, while Ge Dongxu, who needed to study, only joined Tang Yiyuan and the PhD student for lunch.

    The PhD student was named Huang Wenjie, and he was already twenty-nine years old. Since he was mentored by Tang Yiyuan, a leading figure in traditional Chinese medicine in Jiangnan Province, and being a PhD student himself, he naturally felt somewhat proud visiting a small place like Changxi County, always thinking highly of himself.

    In fact, being able to study towards a PhD at that time was indeed impressive, as it meant being truly at the top of one''s academic and research fields, especially being selected by Tang Yiyuan to be his PhD student, which made Huang Wenjie an exceptionally outstanding individual, unlike the current inflation in the number of Masters and PhDs.

    Especially for Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin who hadn''t had much education, a PhD was an incredible figure in their eyes. Thus, when Tang Yiyuan brought Huang Wenjie, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin did not dare to show any slackness because he was Tang Yiyuan''s student. Instead, they were thoroughly respectful, calling him "Doctor Huang" at every turn. This naturally made Huang Wenjie, who already carried some pride within, even more proud and somewhat aloof.

    However, Huang Wenjie''s pride was completely shattered during lunch when Ge Dongxu specifically came to join them.

    During the meal, his mentor maintained a respectful attitude towards Ge Dongxu throughout, addressing him with "you" in a deferential manner, almost causing Huang Wenjie''s eyeballs to drop onto the table. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Having been with Tang Yiyuan for two years, even when facing some provincial leaders, Tang Yiyuan was neither servile nor overbearing, never showing such respectful courtesy before, let alone to a high school student.

    Poor Huang Wenjie had no idea that people like Tang Yiyuan, who inherently carried a sense of dignity, were truly convinced and admiring only of those who could steadily surpass him in medical skills. Furthermore, Ge Dongxu was exactly such a person, not only steadily surpassing him in medical skills but also sufficiently equipped to be his mentor, which recently accounted for Tang Yiyuan''s significant medical improvement. Therefore, although Tang Yiyuan was quite aged and held a status in Jiangnan Province, he always treated Ge Dongxu with the respect of a disciple behind the scenes.

    The way Tang Yiyuan treated Ge Dongxu naturally shocked Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin immensely.

    Considering that Tang Yiyuan was a university professor and a PhD supervisor, yet he was reverentially respectful to just a high school student!

    After the meal, since Ge Dongxu had classes in the afternoon, he did not accompany Tang Yiyuan and Huang Wenjie. He returned to school, while Tang Yiyuan and Huang Wenjie, accompanied by Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin, set off for the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory in Wangzhou Township.

 Chapter 144 Surprising

    Before they set out, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin thought of Professor Tang Yiyuan and Huang Wenjie, a university professor and a doctoral student, respectively. Not to mention for a small village in the mountains like Wangzhou, which had hardly produced any college graduates, they were important guests; they would be considered important even to Changxi County. Now that they were going to visit the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory in Wangzhou for an inspection, it was only proper to give Wangzhou''s township government a heads up. On one hand, it was out of respect and importance for Tang Yiyuan and Huang Wenjie, and on the other hand, it could also elevate the status and standing of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory in the eyes of the township''s leadership.Even though, thanks to the relationship with Ge Dongxu and Zuo Le, Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory had already stood out from the few township enterprises in Wangzhou, rising sharply in importance in the minds of the township''s leaders, such importance could never be too great.

    Therefore, before their departure, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin had called Township Chief Liu, saying that another shareholder of the tea factory, Dr. Tang Yiyuan, a doctoral supervisor from Jiangnan University of Chinese Medicine, was bringing his doctoral student to the factory for an inspection, and asking whether the township should also send someone to express a welcome.

    Upon receiving this call, Township Chief Liu was so excited, he nearly dropped the phone.

    It should be known that Wangzhou was a backward mountainous area, with neither money nor talent. The mere investment of several hundred thousand yuan in the "Liu Jiansheng" Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was enough to merit a mention in his annual performance report; one could imagine how stifled Township Chief Liu felt in his role.

    Indeed, a good wife can''t cook without rice!

    Now, Cheng Yazhou told him on the phone that the tea factory, now renamed to "Qinghe," actually had a shareholder who was a professor and doctoral supervisor from the Jiangnan University of Chinese Medicine. To Township Chief Liu, this was an incredibly pleasant surprise, one that would allow him to write a truly glorious passage in this year''s government annual report.

    So as soon as Cheng Yazhou had hung up the phone, the top leaders of Wangzhou''s party committee and government personally took charge of the arrangements to welcome Professor Tang Yiyuan, not only that, but Township Chief Liu also took the initiative to report the matter to the director of the office of Changxi County Government.

    In Huaxia Country, although a professorship is an academic position or title, and separate from administrative rankings, the treatment for an associate professor is in accordance with a division-level cadre, and for a professor, it aligns with a department-level cadre. If a professor were to take a temporary administrative position for training, they would be given at least a deputy county head or even a higher-level administrative post. So if one were to make a direct comparison, Tang Yiyuan was essentially at the level of a department-level cadre, except that he had no administrative power. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In such circumstances, if the county government leaders felt it necessary, they would definitely send at least a vice-county-level official to receive him, but if they deemed it unnecessary, they might completely ignore it. After all, Tang Yiyuan was a professor, not a bureaucrat, and had no power to dictate policy to Changxi County.

    The director of the county government office obviously hadn''t heard of Tang Yiyuan''s renown, and upon receiving the call, upon hearing that it was a professor from the University of Chinese Medicine, didn''t take it very seriously. Yet, he still instructed Township Chief Liu to ensure proper reception. He would look into the leaders'' schedules and arrange a meeting with Professor Tang Yiyuan if time permitted.

    Township Chief Liu was somewhat disappointed after hearing this, but since this was still a very important event for Wangzhou, he energetically mobilized the township government staff to prepare for the welcome.

    "Welcome Dr. Tang Yiyuan, PhD Supervisor from Jiangnan Province University of Chinese Medicine, to Wangzhou Village"

    "Welcome Dr. Tang Yiyuan, PhD Supervisor from Jiangnan Province University of Chinese Medicine, investing in Wangzhou Village"

    "Welcome Huang Wenjie, PhD from Jiangnan Province University of Chinese Medicine, to Wangzhou Village"

    "..."

    A series of red banners were hung up, and the dilapidated main street of the township suddenly became festive, as though a holiday celebration was underway.

    The Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was even less of a question¡ª not only had it been cleaned spotlessly, banners were also hung at the front.

    Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin, after all, were not politicians and had no idea how significant the investment of a university doctoral supervisor professor could be to the political achievements of the township leaders. When their car carried them onto the broken-down street of Wangzhou, and they saw the red banners waving, with the Party Secretary Shangguan Yunfeng and Township Head Liu Yongjin, along with some government staff, smiling widely as they stood there to greet them, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin were almost blinded by the sight.

    Stay tuned for updates on empire

    Shit! Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin looked at each other, both seeing the surprise in each other''s eyes.

    With such a commotion, who knows what will happen elsewhere, but in Wangzhou Township, the fame of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory is definitely established now.

    The title of a professor really carries weight!

    "Professor Tang, welcome, welcome!"

    "Dr. Huang, welcome, welcome!"

    As soon as Tang Yiyuan and his student Huang Wenjie got out of the car, the secretary and mayor of Wangzhou Township rushed forward eagerly to shake hands warmly with them.

    Tang Yiyuan, an expert from the Jiangnan Province medical expert group, who is usually able to talk face-to-face with provincial leaders, was clearly used to such scenes. He smiled, shook hands unhurriedly with the secretary and mayor of Wangzhou Township, exchanged a few pleasantries, then headed into the factory accompanied by everyone who had come to welcome him.

    The Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was small and not of much interest to someone worldly like Tang Yiyuan. But after all, it was a factory invested in by Ge Dongxu, and he himself held a stake in it. Therefore, he naturally took it seriously, asking detailed questions here and there.

    The county secretary Shangguan and Mayor Liu found these professional questions quite dull and grew bored as Tang Yiyuan asked in detail.

    Just as they were feeling bored, Mayor Liu''s mobile phone rang.

    Less than a year had passed, and mobile phone prices had dropped again and again. Unlike before, pulling out a mobile phone no longer signified a ten-thousand-yuan household. Mayor Liu, as the mayor of Wangzhou Township, also had one.

    He saw the call was from the director of the county government office, and Liu''s heart skipped a beat. He hurried to a corner to answer the call.

    "Director Li, hello. May I ask if you have any instructions?" Mayor Liu asked humbly as soon as he picked up.

    "Is Professor Tang still at your Wangzhou Township?" the director of the county government office inquired.

    "Yes, yes." Mayor Liu''s heart thumped again. Naturally, he hoped Professor Tang would attract the county leaders'' attention. That way, he, as the mayor, would also have the chance to make an appearance in front of the leadership.

    "Remember, you must host him well. County Chief Peng and I will be rushing over immediately, and Secretary Jia Kai is already on his way from the city," Director Li''s serious voice came through the phone.

    Hearing that the county chief and the county party secretary were both rushing over, and that Secretary Jia Kai was specially coming back from the city, Mayor Liu was so shocked that he forgot to reply, his hand holding the phone trembling badly.

    After all, he was the mayor of a township, a sectional-level official, Mayor Liu could deduce from these arrangements in the county that Tang Yiyuan''s background was much greater than he had imagined.

    Otherwise, a university doctoral supervisor, who wasn''t from prestigious universities like Huaxia Qing University or Yanjing University, and moreover a Chinese medicine professor, wouldn''t have the county party secretary and county chief so eager to come over.

 Chapter 145 The Significance of Tang Yiyuan

    "Yes, yes, rest assured, Leader, I will make sure the reception is well handled," it took a few moments for Head Liu to snap back to reality, hurriedly saying. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality."Remember, Professor Tang is very important!" Director Li reminded once more before hanging up the phone.

    After hanging up the phone, Director Li immediately called the head of the county television station, instructing Changxi County TV to promptly dispatch reporters to accompany the trip to Wangzhou Township.

    Then, a driver came to report that the car was ready, and Director Li hurriedly went to fetch County Mayor Peng Jin before they both got into the vehicle.

    In addition to County Mayor Peng Jin, several other key officials from the County Party Committee and County Government, who were in the office building, also set out in response.

    Initially, Director Li had not taken Head Liu''s call to heart. After all, a professor of Chinese medicine, unlike those in law or economics, was unlikely to have the chance to get involved in politics or influence their career advancement.

    Just after Director Li ended the call, the head of the county health bureau came to consult with him on a matter. Since the health bureau oversaw the county''s medical work, Director Li casually mentioned Tang Yiyuan''s name to him.

    Since the health bureau head belonged to the medical community, he recognized the name Tang Yiyuan and was startled, exclaiming that Professor Tang was no ordinary figure; he was an expert on our province''s specialist medical team.

    Upon hearing this from the head of the health bureau, Director Li sprang up from his seat as if his buttocks were on fire.

    As the director of the County Government Office, he was well aware of the significance of being an expert on the provincial specialist medical team. This was the "Imperial Physician" to the provincial leaders of Jiangnan Province! A person who could meet with provincial leaders from time to time, have a chat, and treat their illnesses, and who was generally treated by the leaders with equal respect. Could such a person be slighted in Changxi County?

    Of course not! Not only could he not be slighted, but he also had to be hosted well. Otherwise, if this expert were to speak ill of Changxi County in passing while treating provincial leaders one day, leaving a bad impression of Changxi County in their minds, wouldn''t that be disastrous?

    This was especially troubling to Director Li when he considered that such a "big shot" was coming to invest in Changxi County, which was a great honor for them, yet none of the local leadership had come forward to receive him. He felt increasingly fearful.

    Therefore, Director Li hurried to report to County Mayor Peng Jin. The leadership team in Changxi County was very united, unlike some places where the Party Secretary and the County Mayor couldn''t see eye to eye.

    After hearing this report, County Mayor Peng Jin was also taken aback and immediately gave it his utmost attention. He not only instructed Director Li to immediately take care of the reception arrangements, including arranging for TV reporters for interviews, but also personally called Secretary Jia Kai, who was away on business in Ouzhou City.

    Secretary Jia Kai was well aware of the weight carried by an expert physician who had direct contact with provincial leaders, and he too immediately rushed back from the city.

    After taking the call, Head Liu quietly shared the news with Secretary Shangguan Yunfeng in a low voice, and Secretary Shangguan became extremely anxious as well.

    Thus, Head Liu and Secretary Shangguan Yunfeng, who had initially been somewhat impatient, began to feel as though they were treading on thin ice, their hearts filled with trepidation. Of course, what dominated their feelings was an excitement almost akin to a surge of adrenaline.

    Because the greater Professor Tang Yiyuan''s importance was in the eyes of the county leaders, the greater Wangzhou Township''s significance would be in their esteem, as the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was located in their Wangzhou Township.

    ```

    Of course, this was all predicated on the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory not moving elsewhere; hence, while experiencing a mix of anxiety and excitement, Secretary Shangguan and Mayor Liu had already made up their minds to do whatever it took to ensure the factory was firmly rooted in Wangzhou Township.

    It wasn''t too far from the county seat to Wangzhou Township, about half an hour later, a formidable fleet of cars arrived at the Qinghe Herbal Tea Factory. Continue reading at empire

    Not only were there the county head, deputy county head, deputy secretary, and the head of the county health bureau, but also reporters from the TV station.

    My goodness, the sight of this procession of cars, and the people alighting from them, completely dumbfounded Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin.

    Not being part of the officialdom, they naturally didn''t comprehend the significance the title of Jiangnan Province expert medical group specialist held for the subordinate county leaders.

    It was only after they saw the county leaders, who they had only seen on television before, extending their hands to warmly shake hands with Tang Yiyuan, that Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin suddenly realized what an incredible shareholder Ge Dongxu had introduced to them.

    Thinking about how such an impressive individual behaved so respectfully in Ge Dongxu''s presence, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin felt their hearts could barely handle such a tremendous shock.

    Professor Tang wasn''t usually a high-profile person; however, because it was Ge Dongxu who provided the herbal tea recipe for the factory, Professor Tang had complete confidence that this was genuinely tea that cooled but did not chill, and that if properly promoted, not only would he make a fortune, but it would also significantly benefit public health. It might even, if well promoted, reach the global market like American beverages such as Coca-Cola.

    You should know that Qinghe Herbal Tea is many times healthier than carbonated drinks like Coca-Cola.

    So, Professor Tang, who usually kept a low profile, was not displeased when he saw that both the county leaders and the television station were alerted; on the contrary, he went against his usual style and became uncharacteristically high-profile for a change.

    He first warmly met with local government leaders like Peng Jin and even gave an interview to the Changxi County television station. As a result, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin also made an appearance on TV.

    Fortunately, Professor Tang and others knew Ge Dongxu preferred to stay out of the limelight and just wanted to quietly remain a student, so they didn''t mention Ge Dongxu during the interview.

    That evening, the Changxi County government leaders held a banquet at the Changxi Grand Hotel to entertain Professor Tang and Dr. Huang Wenjie, with Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin in attendance, and, of course, the Permanent Secretary of the county committee, Zuo Le. The owner of the Changxi Grand Hotel also heard the news and came specially to toast them several times.

    Because Professor Tang intended to establish good relations with the local government, and the Changxi County government leaders wished to do the same, that night''s reception was a merry one for both hosts and guests. Secretary Shangguan and Mayor Liu from Wangzhou Township, as the parents of their locality, rarely had the chance to be at such a high-level banquet and repeatedly assured, patting their chests, that they would provide excellent government support.

    That evening, the Changxi County television station news devoted a significant segment to the coverage of Professor Tang''s visit to Wangzhou Township in Changxi County and his investment in the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory.

    The Changxi County television station had a considerable viewing rate within the county, and with this broadcast, the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory caused quite a stir in Changxi County even before it began production. Especially when the locals heard that Qinghe Herbal Tea was researched and improved by Professor Tang Yiyuan, a doctoral supervisor at Jiangnan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine University, based on an old local herbal tea recipe, they felt an increased level of trust and anticipation.

    They generally believed that a herbal tea recipe improved by a doctoral supervisor professor would surely be better than what they could concoct using their traditional methods. That very night, a wholesaler from the Changxi County non-staple food wholesale market, who previously did business with the herbal tea beverage factory, called Cheng Yazhou''s cell phone, inquiring about when Qinghe Herbal Tea would hit the market.

    ```

 Chapter 146 A Piece of Sincerity

    Ge Dongxu had clearly not expected Tang Yiyuan''s influence to be so great. Just casually coming down for a visit, showing his face, had startled the county leaders into action, each of them making an appearance, and even the county television station gave the news extensive coverage.It wasn''t until the evening when Cheng Yazhou came back from dinner, mouth reeking of alcohol, that Ge Dongxu learned just how significant the title of expert from the Provincial Specialist Medical Team was to Tang Yiyuan. Remembering Tang Yiyuan''s humble demeanor in front of him, Ge Dongxu''s admiration for him only increased. At the same time, he was secretly glad that he had made the right move. With Tang Yiyuan on board, Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory now essentially had an expert-level living signboard and spokesperson! There was no need for him to pull in advertisements himself, as others had already begun actively promoting the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory.

    As Cheng Yazhou was speaking to Ge Dongxu, his phone rang.

    Cheng Yazhou looked at the call and immediately answered when he saw it was from Lin Jinnuo, the owner of the Changxi Grand Hotel, saying, "Manager Lin, what instructions do you have so late at night?"

    "What bloody instructions, is Dongxu with you right now? I want to have a word with him." Lin Jinnuo laughed, speaking somewhat crudely and casually. However, it was this very quality that made Cheng Yazhou feel much closer to him, no longer seeing the owner of the Changxi Grand Hotel as someone high above.

    "Yes, yes. Hold on, I''ll give him the phone," Cheng Yazhou said, passing the phone to Ge Dongxu and whispering, "It''s Manager Lin."

    "Old Lin, what''s the matter calling me so late?" Ge Dongxu asked as he took the phone. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What''s the matter? I''m saying, Dongxu, don''t you consider me a brother? Investing in a herbal tea factory, such a promising project, how could you not call me? You didn''t call me but you called Lin Kun, that kid. Even leading him would be okay, prevent the kid from achieving nothing when hanging around me," Lin Jinnuo complained.

    Although Lin Jinnuo was full of complaints, Ge Dongxu listened with a warmth in his heart and laughed, "You''re a big boss, this is just a small investment of a few hundred thousand from me. I didn''t have the nerve to ask you to join in the shares!"

    "A small investment for big profits sounds even better! I have absolute confidence in you," Lin Jinnuo said.

    "Don''t, don''t, I''m still just a high school student," Ge Dongxu hurriedly said modestly.

    "There''s no need to be modest with me. Alright, since things are set this time, I won''t barge in. But make sure to remember me for any future projects! Whatever you fancy, I''ll even go so far as to sell my pots if I have to, just to raise the investment," Lin Jinnuo stated.

    What else could Ge Dongxu say upon hearing this? Of course, he agreed repeatedly.

    Just after hanging up with Lin Jinnuo, the boss of the leading enterprise in Changxi County, Yue Feng from Yu Da Group, also called. He too gave Ge Dongxu an earful for making money without including him, causing Ge Dongxu to embarassingly be modest once again.

    After hanging up with Yue Feng, Ge Dongxu handed the phone back to Cheng Yazhou.

    Cheng Yazhou took the phone, looked at Ge Dongxu with emotion, and said, "Dongxu, thank you for trusting your uncle and Qianjin, for pulling us into shares! From now on, whatever you say, your uncle will listen to you."

    Cheng Yazhou was right next to Ge Dongxu when Lin Jinnuo and Yue Feng were on the phone, so naturally, he heard everything loud and clear.

    Thinking back on Ge Dongxu''s relationship with Lin Jinnuo and the others, he could have easily invited them to buy shares. Considering their connections and business experience, their participation would undoubtedly bring more benefits than his and Wu Qianjin''s, but Ge Dongxu chose not to call them. Instead, he exclusively called him and Wu Qianjin. Cheng Yazhou was truly moved in his heart.

    "Hehe, uncle, you''re being too formal with me. We are old partners. Of course, I would think of you first for any profitable business," Ge Dongxu laughed and said.

    "Alright, I won''t be polite. Anyway, uncle will listen to you from now on," Cheng Yazhou said, his eyes slightly moist.

    ```

    ...

    By Tang Yiyuan''s current status, he actually had a lot of freedom with his time. Because of his confidence in Ge Dongxu''s formula, he was quite eager to start its factory production as soon as possible, so before coming this time, he had made some arrangements in the Provincial Capital and planned to stay in Changxi County for a few days.

    So the next day, Wednesday, Tang Yiyuan did not go back to Changxi County, but took Huang Wenjie to the beverage factory to start researching factory production processes. Cheng Yazhou handed over the affairs of the trademark factory to Wu Qianjin to manage and specially accompanied Tang Yiyuan and Huang Wenjie as an assistant.

    Find your next read on empire

    After all, he was from Changxi County and familiar with things here.

    Ge Dongxu''s life suddenly became very busy. In addition to his regular studies, he often had to visit the herbal tea beverage factory at noon to check on the situation with Tang Yiyuan''s research and tuning, and after the evening self-study sessions at school, he needed to engrave Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades.

    Time flew by quickly, and before they knew it, it was the beginning of June, three days before Jiang Lili and the others were to take their college entrance exams.

    Changxi No. 1 High School was the exam site for Changxi County''s college entrance exam. Not only did the seniors need to start their holiday early to relax, but the first and second-year students also had to temporarily stop classes to free up classrooms for the exam.

    Today, when school ended, Ge Dongxu made sure to leave the classroom early to wait outside the door of Senior Year Class Three for Dong Yuxin, Jiang Lili, and Su Qian to finish school.

    Except for the days when the teacher delayed classes, Big-chested Senior Sister Jiang Lili had still been coming to the door of Junior Year Class Six every day to wait for Ge Dongxu after school.

    Today was no exception. She was ready to wait for Ge Dongxu upon dismissal, but instead found that Ge Dongxu was unexpectedly waiting for her at the door, which made her exclaim with pleasant surprise, "Dongxu, why are you here?"

    Seeing the sincere surprise on Jiang Lili''s face, Ge Dongxu felt a wave of warmth in his heart and said with a smile, "The college entrance exam is in just a few days, so I came especially to say a few words of blessing to you and the other two senior sisters."

    "Thank you, Dongxu!" Dong Yuxin and Su Qian also came out at this time, and upon hearing this, they were slightly taken aback, and then they smiled and said.

    "It''s been a long time since the four of us walked home from school together," Jiang Lili suddenly said with some sentiment as they walked.

    Dong Yuxin''s expression subtly changed upon hearing this; she used to be the closest to Ge Dongxu, while Jiang Lili had the worst relationship with him, always picking on him. But for some unknown reason, it was she who had gradually distanced herself from him, while Jiang Lili had grown increasingly close to him and even gave Dong Yuxin the illusion that Jiang Lili seemed to be infatuated with the younger boy before her.

    Thinking of this, Dong Yuxin couldn''t help but glance at Ge Dongxu and suddenly noticed that he had grown a lot taller and his skin had become much fairer than before; he no longer resembled the dark-skinned and rustic country boy who had just arrived in town.

    "There''s nothing to be done about it; we''re all seniors with intense studies!" Su Qian replied nonchalantly.

    "Yes, your college entrance exam is coming up soon; after today''s farewell, I don''t know when we''ll be able to see each other again," Ge Dongxu sighed, looking at Dong Yuxin with a complex expression in his eyes.

    This was the first girl with whom he''d had close contact and the first to give him an electrifying feeling, but then, for some unknown reason, they had gradually drifted apart. Perhaps it was because he was from the countryside and there was a gap in their social status, or maybe because his dark complexion had a rural air that was unattractive, or perhaps a young girl''s feelings are fickle, and once past the initial gratitude she felt, she naturally distanced herself from him.

    Regardless, these were the first three senior sisters he had really interacted with after coming to Changxi No. 1 High School. No matter how they saw him, he still held affection for them. So after his moment of sentiment, Ge Dongxu took out three Heart-Cleansing Talismans that he had specially painted for them and said, "You''ll be taking your college entrance exams in three days, and I can''t be of much help. But last time I went back to Baiyun Mountain, I specifically went to a Taoist temple in the mountains to ask for three talismans for you, and also requested the Taoist priest to consecrate them. Whether or not they work, consider them a token of my regards; I hope you can keep them close during your exams."

    ```

 Chapter 147 Believing Exists, Not Believing Does Not

    "Really? Thank you so much, Dongxu!" Ever since that incident at the hotel, Jiang Lili had always felt inferior in Ge Dongxu''s eyes. She constantly thought he looked down on her, always believing that Ge Dongxu truly cared about Dong Yuxin. Unexpectedly, he had gone to the extent of getting a talisman from the Taoist temple for them, including her. Overwhelmed with joy, she took the Heart-Cleansing Talisman, then suddenly hugged Ge Dongxu and planted a kiss on his cheek with a "pop"."Damn!"

    "Damn!"

    "Damn!" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    On the road, students from Changxi First Middle School, heading home after school, were shocked by the scene.

    "Beast! Beast! Our boss really got the busty senior! My busty senior!" Du Yifan and Cheng Le Hao were equally shocked. After their astonishment, they dramatically beat their chests and wailed in grief.

    Ge Dongxu was also startled, not by Jiang Lili''s sudden kiss. By now, he had even experienced French kisses, so such a light peck was nothing. It was the full, bouncy pressure when Jiang Lili hugged him that truly shocked him.

    They''re really big!

    Dong Yuxin and Su Qian were also taken aback by Jiang Lili''s sudden hug and kiss. They quickly recovered and pointed at Jiang Lili, saying, "Lili, have you gone mad? The school is right over there!"

    "What about the school? I''m graduating anyway! Can''t I hug and kiss my junior before I leave?" Jiang Lili replied nonchalantly.

    "Alright, alright. Do whatever you like. Really, it''s just a talisman, right? Don''t you know it''s superstitious? And you were so moved you even gave away your first kiss," Su Qian said, seeing Jiang Lili''s disregard. She then rolled her eyes, crushed the Heart-Cleansing Talisman Ge Dongxu handed her, and threw it away casually.

    "Hey, what are you doing? Even if it''s superstition, it was Dongxu''s kind gesture. You didn''t have to throw it away for me!" Jiang Lili, seeing Su Qian throw away the talisman paper, glared at her, then quickly picked up the crumpled Heart-Cleansing Talisman, smoothed it out, and carefully stored it with the one Ge Dongxu gave her earlier.

    "Isn''t that a bit extreme, Lili? Dongxu is from the mountains and believes in these things, but do you have to follow suit? Well, since you believe in it, here''s another one for you," Dong Yuxin hesitated a moment and then, smiling, handed her the talisman in her hand to Jiang Lili.

    Seeing this, a complex look flashed in Ge Dongxu''s eyes, and he silently sighed. He felt he had done enough as a friend. Since they did not appreciate his gesture and treasured his sentiment, it meant their fates were only meant to go so far.

    Jiang Lili knew Ge Dongxu had special feelings for Dong Yuxin. Seeing Dong Yuxin hand her the Heart-Cleansing Talisman Ge Dongxu gave, she hesitated to accept it, instead looking to Ge Dongxu.

    "These things, believe it and it exists, disbelieve and it doesn''t. Since Dong Yuxin doesn''t believe, Lili, you keep it. Make sure you keep it close during your exams. Okay, here we are at Wanghe Road. I wish you all the best in your entrance exams!" Ge Dongxu then reluctantly smiled at Jiang Lili, nodded, and bid the trio farewell with a blessing, walking away with a touch of melancholy and loss in his heart.

    As Dong Yuxin watched Ge Dongxu walking away, she recalled how he had addressed her as Dong Yuxin but referred to Jiang Lili simply as Lili. Suddenly, a sense of loss flashed through her heart, as if she had lost something. But this feeling vanished in a moment. She then smiled at Jiang Lili and said, "Lili, you now have three master-blessed talismans. You''ll definitely ace your exams this time!"

    "Yeah, yeah. Otherwise it would''ve been a huge loss. You even gave away your first kiss for this!" Su Qian joined in the teasing.

    "Anyway, it was Dongxu''s sincere gesture. You guys were a bit harsh just now. Besides, as long as Dongxu is willing, what''s a first kiss?" Jiang Lili argued.

    "Oh no, oh no, this girl hasn''t even graduated and she''s already crazy about boys, haha!" Su Qian quipped, her body shaking, and then she exaggeratedly teased some more.

    "You little minx, weren''t you the one who started dating in sophomore year?" Jiang Lili advanced and pinched Su Qian, and the two quickly started a playful scuffle.

    As Dong Yuxin watched Jiang Lili and Su Qian playing and joking together, Jiang Lili''s words flashed through her mind, bringing a sense of loss that quickly passed¡ªsoon, Yuxin joined in their playful banter.

    Returning to his room, Ge Dongxu thought about how Yuxin had passed on the Heart-Cleansing Talisman he had prepared especially for her to Jiang Lili. He shook his head with a wry smile, then buried those tender feelings that once touched him deeply, resolving not to think about them anymore.

    After today, their lives might never intersect again, and he had already done all that he could for her.

    Settling his mind, Ge Dongxu took out pieces of Jade Token and began carving the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Jade Talisman.

    His Cultivation Power had been growing; he could now carve seven pieces per day. However, his luck wasn''t as good as last time; after carving about a hundred pieces, he had not succeeded even once.

    But Ge Dongxu was not discouraged. He quietly continued his meticulous carvings. For him, such work was also a form of training, whether in terms of mental focus or control over True Qi. With each carving session, he felt subtle improvements. So even if he ruined a Jade Token, it was not without gain.

    Of course, the cost was considerable; casually, 2000 yuan would be gone.

    Three days later, the college entrance exam began.

    This year, the weather was not kind; during last year''s exams, the cool, drizzling weather had been favorable for the students. This year, however, it was scorchingly sunny, enveloping the entire Jiangnan Province in suffocating heat. With no air conditioning in the classrooms, many students found themselves drenched in sweat after each exam, their heads heavy and foggy. The tense atmosphere of the exams, compounded by such weather, meant that even students who were fully prepared could not perform their best.

    Jiang Lili, who was naturally fuller-bodied and detested hot weather, however, felt a continuous coolness swirling in her head during the exam days. It not only shielded her from the outside heat but also kept her mind exceptionally clear. Faced with difficult questions, she felt neither nervous nor confused; instead, her thoughts were remarkably sharp.

    "It''s over, it''s done; this damned weather might ruin my chances of getting into a good university. How did you guys do?" Once the exams ended, Su Qian found Jiang Lili and Dong Yuxin, looking dejected as she spoke.

    As their teachers had instructed, they had refrained from discussing or comparing answers after each exam to avoid affecting their performance in the subsequent ones. So, having held back during the previous sessions, Su Qian couldn''t keep it in any longer after the last subject test of the day.

    "I don''t feel good either; this hot weather made my head so foggy, I couldn''t solve problems I usually could," said Dong Yuxin, looking equally disheartened.

    "Really? I didn''t feel the heat at all! I felt quite good, actually. I think I have a good shot at getting into my dream school, Yanjing Institute of Broadcasting," said Jiang Lili.

    "No way, aren''t you the one who hates the heat the most? You didn''t feel hot this time?" Dong Yuxin and Su Qian said, surprised.

    "Not at all! Oh, I think it must be the Talisman Dongxu gave me that''s working," said Jiang Lili.

    "Pfft!" Both her friends rolled their eyes at her remark.

    "Believe it or not, I''m sure it''s the Talisman Dongxu gave me that worked. Why else would I feel so good and think so clearly?" Jiang Lili insisted.

    But Dong Yuxin and Su Qian, raised with atheistic beliefs, could hardly believe Jiang Lili''s words and couldn''t help but tease her again.

    ps: please vote for this story, thank you.

 Chapter 148 Farewell

    As Jiang Lili and the others were discussing matters about the college entrance exam, Ge Dongxu was at the herbal tea factory, holding a bowl of tea. He took a sip, then closed his eyes to savor the taste."The temperature and pressure settings this time were quite good, and the medicinal effects are present, but the taste is lacking," Ge Dongxu finally opened his eyes after a while and said.

    "You can distinguish the medicinal effects just by tasting like this?" Huang Wenjie couldn''t help but mutter softly upon seeing this.

    "Wenjie, you mustn''t speak recklessly. If Dongxu says the medicinal effects are there, then they definitely are," Huang Wenjie''s voice, although soft, was still heard by Tang Yiyuan, who showed a hint of displeasure and glared at him, saying.

    Others might not know about Ge Dongxu''s expertise in traditional Chinese medicine, but Tang Yiyuan was well aware of it. Moreover, as he had more contact with him, he became increasingly amazed at Ge Dongxu''s medical expertise, which seemed boundless.

    "Haha, if you can''t taste it, that''s because you don''t have the ability. Legend has it that Emperor Shen Nong tasted all sorts of herbs. Do you really think he was just testing for poison? If that were the case, why would he need to taste them himself? Tasting is to discern the properties of herbs," Ge Dongxu didn''t blame Huang Wenjie but simply explained to him lightly.

    Then he turned to Tang Yiyuan and said, "Professor Tang, let''s stick with the settings of this trial, but we could try adding a little bit more rock sugar and a touch of Immortal Herbs. After all, we''re making a beverage, not a medicine. While we want to preserve as much of the medicinal effect as possible, we need to make sure it''s tasty."

    "Alright," Tang Yiyuan nodded, then hesitated before saying, "The factory-based research and testing are going very smoothly this time. I estimate that by the time you are on vacation, our Qinghe Herbal Tea can start production and go to market. Do you think we should hurry up and finalize the packaging design now?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "If you hadn''t mentioned it, I would have forgotten about that. I''ve thought about it privately. Since Qinghe Herbal Tea has the function of reducing internal heat, we should set the bottle color to fiery red, which could emphasize the concept of ''fire,'' and our people have always liked red, considering it festive. As for the rest, you can handle it," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Originally, I thought about going for green, to highlight the idea of Qinghe''s health benefits, but hearing your suggestion, I feel that your idea is more likely to attract attention and make an impression," Tang Yiyuan said with brightened eyes, showing a trace of admiration.

    "Green is also good. Once our herbal tea really catches on, we can launch a version in green bottles. That way, our product range won''t seem too monotonous," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment and then said.

    Afterwards, the two discussed some ideas for the pattern design. As a practitioner, although Ge Dongxu hadn''t formally studied fine arts, the patterns he drew casually not only did not clash with the red background but, on the contrary, exuded a harmonious, natural charm, as if the yin and yang energies were melding together.

    ¡­

    After the college entrance exam ended and Ge Dongxu returned to the classroom, the herbal tea factory continued experimenting under the direction of Tang Yiyuan, while the trademark and packaging were entrusted to Wu Qianjin, who was in charge of contacting the manufacturers for production.

    One day, after evening self-study, Ge Dongxu was walking out of the school gate with Du Yifan and Cheng Le Hao, laughing and talking, when they saw Jiang Lili standing at the school entrance.

    "Damn, boss, you''re too awesome! Even though the senior student has graduated, she''s still waiting for you at the school gate after school," Du Yifan and Cheng Le Hao said with a mix of jealousy and admiration as they gave Ge Dongxu a punch on the shoulder, then wisely hopped on their bikes, waved at Jiang Lili, and rode off in a flash.

    "Dongxu, am I disturbing you?" Seeing the two wave at her, Jiang Lili''s expression noticeably changed, and her pretty face couldn''t help but turn slightly red. She walked up to Ge Dongxu and asked in a low voice.

    "Hehe, what''s there to disturb? How did you do on the college entrance exam?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "I did really well, I should be able to get into Yanjing Broadcasting College. I have to thank you for the talisman you gave me," Jiang Lili said excitedly upon hearing this.

    "Then I must congratulate you, that''s the place for famous hosts!" Ge Dongxu sincerely felt happy for Jiang Lili when he heard this.

    "Even if I become famous in the future, I''ll still call you Brother Xu, and this place will always be yours," Jiang Lili said, raising her hand to gently press her chest with a serious look on her face.

    "What nonsensical things are you saying? How old are you today? There are still so many people and events you''ll encounter in the future. Besides, I''m only sixteen myself, I don''t even know where my own life is headed yet?" This wasn''t the first time Ge Dongxu had heard Jiang Lili say this, but the last time it was said in a special environment, Ge Dongxu always thought it was something she said in a moment of agitation, not thinking clearly. But now, seeing the state Jiang Lili was in, clearly very lucid, and the fact that she had chosen to say this after the college entrance exam was over indicated a declaration of intent, which took Ge Dongxu by surprise, making him hurriedly say.

    "I know all this, and I know I''m not worthy of you, so rest assured, I''m not clinging to you, nor will I interfere with your life in the future. I just want to tell you that I am yours, no matter where I go in the future or how much I achieve, I will always be yours," Jiang Lili continued to speak seriously.

    "Let''s talk about the future when it comes, okay? When you talk like this, it makes me feel uncomfortable," Ge Dongxu didn''t know how else to console the seemingly intoxicated upperclassman and resorted to putting the issue on hold. After all, they were both young, who knew whether a few years from now, after she had seen the outside world, she would still remember him, her Brother Xu.

    Just like Dong Yuxin, hadn''t their relationship been quite good before? But what happened later? They gradually drifted apart.

    "Fine, this is my decision," Jiang Lili said as she ran her fingers through her hair and gave Ge Dongxu a sweet smile. True to her word, she didn''t continue the serious topic, which secretly relieved Ge Dongxu.

    He wouldn''t truly be seventeen until October, thinking about this issue was really too far off for now.

    This time, Jiang Lili didn''t choose to part ways with Ge Dongxu on Wanghe Road ahead of time but accompanied him all the way to Cheng Yazhou''s apartment building.

    "Brother Xu, I won''t bother you again before you go to college, and I myself will also work hard at my studies. I will definitely become an outstanding woman in the future!" Having escorted Ge Dongxu to the bottom of Cheng Yazhou''s building, Jiang Lili looked at Ge Dongxu and said with determination in her eyes and a deep sense of reluctance.

    "Don''t say disturbance, no matter what, we are friends. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can also come to me," Ge Dongxu said. After spending some time together, they developed some affection for each other, and the thought of potentially not seeing this upperclassman for a long time made him feel a slight sense of loss.

    "Thank you, Brother Xu. Before parting, can I hug you? Just for a moment!" Jiang Lili pleaded.

    Ge Dongxu hesitated, but in the end, he opened his arms.

    Seeing this, Jiang Lili plunged into Ge Dongxu''s embrace and hugged his waist tightly, as if she wished to merge her entire being into his body.

 Chapter 149 The Great Fire

    Jiang Lili seemed to feel the changes in Ge Dongxu''s body as well, her pretty face blushing with a hint of joy and haziness. She tiptoed to hug him even tighter.Unfortunately, Ge Dongxu soon came to his senses and gently pushed her away, leaving her feeling suddenly empty.

    But Jiang Lili knew that both she and Ge Dongxu were still young, especially since Ge Dongxu was only a freshman in high school, and some things were definitely inappropriate. Ultimately, she dismissed her empty feeling and said to Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, you go in first. I''ll watch you go in."

    Upon hearing her words, Ge Dongxu''s heart quivered slightly, but he turned around and entered the house calmly. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As Ge Dongxu pushed the door open and then slowly closed it behind him, tears finally streamed down Jiang Lili''s cheeks.

    She couldn''t forget that moment of despair¡ªthe kind that plunged her into endless darkness with a single step!

    And just when she had closed her eyes and taken off her shirt, lost in a sea of endless darkness, the door was suddenly kicked open.

    Ge Dongxu appeared in front of her and fiercely beat up those two filthy men time and again.

    She knew she could never erase that scene from her memory¡ªthe man who had pulled her out of an endless abyss!

    Now she had to part ways with him, and wouldn''t see him for a long time. She also made a quiet resolve that the next time she saw him, she would surely become an impressive woman. She knew that if she didn''t become such a woman, she wouldn''t even get the chance to meet him again, let alone be his woman, given how outstanding he was even in his youth.

    Jiang Lili left, and in the room, Ge Dongxu sat cross-legged and meditated for a good while before he gathered his thoughts.

    The way things work in this world is curious¡ªoccasionally, one or two incidents change the relationships between people. Previously, he was close with Dong Yuxin, and Jiang Lili was his rival; but now, it was Jiang Lili who reluctantly hugged him goodbye and affected his state of mind.

    With jade tokens laid out, Ge Dongxu continued to carve the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade.

    It must be said that Ge Dongxu had really good luck previously. Though his cultivation had significantly improved, he had ruined nearly one hundred and forty jade tokens and still hadn''t managed to successfully carve a single Talisman Jade.

    Days passed, and soon it was July, the time for summer vacation.

    After ruining exactly two hundred and twenty jade tokens, Ge Dongxu finally succeeded in carving a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade, and once again resumed his normal cultivation.

    On the same day, the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory officially began production.

    On this day, not only did the leaders of the county committee rush to offer their congratulations, but even the vice mayor in charge of medical affairs in the city personally came.

    Both Changxi County Television and Ouzhou City Television reported on the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory in the news that day, with the Changxi County Television even creating a special report on the factory.

    To express his gratitude for Ge Dongxu''s lifesaving help and for guiding his son onto the righteous path, Lin Jinnuo, the owner, specifically ordered a large red canister of Qinghe Herbal Tea to be displayed at the entrance of the Changxi Grand Hotel. The hotel''s menu also prominently featured Qinghe Herbal Tea, and red canisters of the tea were served for free at every table that evening.

    This was the first batch of products from the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory.

    At that time, the Changxi Grand Hotel was a landmark building in Changxi County; it was always bustling with people coming and going every day. As the leading high-class restaurant in the county, placing Qinghe Herbal Tea in the hotel not only decorated the Changxi Grand Hotel in brilliant reds but also immediately elevated the status of Qinghe Herbal Tea. Every customer who visited the hotel would remember the fiery red packaging even before they tasted the tea.

    Naturally, the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory also planned a strong promotional campaign that day. In every village and township of Changxi County, particularly along every street in the county town, banners advertising the factory were put up.

    As soon as the banners were placed along the streets, it was clear how wise Ge Dongxu had been to choose red packaging. A wave of red swept through the streets, bringing festivity and instantly catching people''s eyes.

    Thus, the official opening day of the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory caused quite a stir, especially in Changxi County where it could almost be described as creating a sensation throughout the town. So much so that over the following days, when people in Changxi County met, they no longer asked, "Have you eaten?" but "Have you tried it? The Qinghe Herbal Tea developed from our county''s traditional Chinese medicine formula by that renowned professor?"

    The sensational advertising was just the first step towards the product''s success. Whether the product could ultimately withstand the market test still depended on its quality.

    The taste of Qinghe Herbal Tea is quite unique; it is not addictive but instead offers a cooling sensation that truly quenches thirst, and because its medicinal effects were attested by Ge Dongxu, it genuinely has health benefits. Unlike some current herbal teas which, due to excessive additives, make you thirstier the more you drink, or even cause heatiness or harm the spleen and stomach if consumed in excess.

    Thus, once products like Qinghe Herbal Tea successfully took the first step, there really wasn''t much to worry about, because the eyes of the common people are sharp. They know very well what is good and what is not. Sometimes, when there really isn''t quality to choose from, they simply have to pick the best among the worst.

    Qinghe Herbal Tea was delicious and refreshing, and truly had the health benefits of reducing internal heat and nourishing energy. For example, when some children suffered from heat-induced cough yet clamored for a drink, their parents dared not give them beverages like Coca-Cola but instead tried giving them Qinghe Herbal Tea. As a result, the symptoms of the children''s cough showed signs of easing.

    In this way, Qinghe Herbal Tea stood out like a tall figure among many beverages, and the public naturally chose this tall figure.

    Especially in Changxi County, the fact that Qinghe Herbal Tea genuinely had health benefits spread thoroughly among the populace in just about ten days, and gradually spread throughout the entire Ouzhou City area.

    Because of this, after the fiery start on the official opening day of the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, there came a few days of cool-down, and then an explosion in demand suddenly began.

    Various stores, restaurants, and beverage dealers either called to request deliveries or came in person to pick up goods. At one point, the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was producing at full capacity, yet there were still signs of demand outstripping supply. If this frenzied demand continued, there surely would be stockouts before the summer ended.

 Chapter 150 Cultivation Breakthrough [1st Update, Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    Although they anticipated some profit from the initial phase with Ge Dongxu''s formula and Tang Yiyuan''s endorsement, the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was definitely not going to suffer losses, at least it could generate some profit.But including Ge Dongxu and Tang Yiyuan, no one expected the market to be explosively hot, far beyond their imaginations.

    As for Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin, there was even less need to mention it. Initially, they were not very optimistic about the herbal tea business, joining merely out of respect for Ge Dongxu. It was only after Tang Yiyuan joined that they gained real confidence. However, they never expected to see signs of demand outstripping supply from the start.

    "We''ve struck it rich, we''re really going to make it big this time! We must immediately start the second production line!" This was the excited shout from Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin after the sales volume broke through twenty thousand bottles in one day and continued to rise, ten days after the herbal tea factory became operational.

    Thus, ten days after the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory officially started production, all four shareholders unanimously agreed to immediately purchase a second production line. Not only that, but they also decided to establish a herbal cultivation base in Wangzhou township because, at this rate, the demand for herbs would be substantial.

    With the large quantity of purchases, it was inevitable that there would be variations in quality. For long-term consideration, establishing their own herbal cultivation base was deemed absolutely necessary.

    The four shareholders also discussed and decided that after the second production line was installed, they would immediately allocate some funds to advertise on the Ouzhou Television Station. As for the provincial station, it was still too early. Experience more tales on empire

    They decided not to use a celebrity endorsement; instead, they would use the vivid red bottles as a backdrop, and the slogan was simple, "Drink Qinghe Herbal Tea for cooling and nourishing your energy." These were all suggested by Ge Dongxu.

    Because the second production line needed to be set up, naturally that required a sum of money. However, since they had originally allocated two hundred thousand for operating funds, and since the goods had been selling fast and, due to demand outstripping supply, the factory required cash payments, there was unexpectedly enough money on the books to purchase the second production line without requiring another investment from the four shareholders.

    As the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory''s business was booming, Cheng Yazhou had completely withdrawn from the trademark factory and took charge of the herbal tea factory. Since Tang Yiyuan still had matters to attend to in the provincial capital, he could not stay long-term at the factory. Thus, he carefully chose a graduate from this year''s pharmacy program, trained him for a few days, and gradually let him take charge of the production aspect.

    Ge Dongxu still prioritized cultivation and academic studies. During the summer break, after initially spending some time in Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory and seeing that everything was running smoothly and that he particularly could not provide additional help, he returned to Baiyun Mountain to accompany his family and continued with his cultivation and studies.

    At midnight, the night was cool as water, and a bright moon hung high in the sky.

    In the courtyard of a rural household on Baiyun Mountain, a young man sat cross-legged, bathed in moonlight that seemed to spill like mercury over his body, even reflecting a hint of rosy light.

    Engendered from the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade, the moon glow was absorbed by Ge Dongxu, starting from the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, transferring in order to the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming, Lung Meridian of Taiyin, and so on, circulating back to the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian through the Twelve Regular Meridians, in a continuous cycle.

    For cultivators, their pursuit is the Path of Longevity. One reason people age and die, besides the weakening of Qi-Blood, is that as they age, their internal organs gradually weaken until they can no longer support the body, ultimately leading to death. Therefore, cultivators strive to enhance their Qi-Blood, nourishing their organs with it, so that the Qi-Blood flows abundantly in the organs, never deteriorating.

    The Twelve Regular Meridians connect and manage twelve organs ¡ª the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian governs the lungs, the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian governs the large intestine, the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming governs the stomach, the Lung Meridian of Taiyin governs the spleen¡­

    Ordinary people allow their Qi-Blood to circulate through the Twelve Regular Meridians on its own, naturally nourishing their twelve organs. However, cultivators are different; they not only absorb nature''s spiritual energy but also control the flow of Qi-Blood through the Twelve Regular Meridians in a continuous cycle to keep it growing and use the Twelve Regular Meridians to regulate the flow of Qi-Blood into the twelve organs to nourish them without deterioration.

    Since the organs are extremely complex parts of the human body, controlling the rhythmic circulation and nourishment of Qi-Blood inside them is exceedingly difficult.

    The Qi Cultivation Stage encompasses twelve layers, and Ge Dongxu has now mastered the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, and Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming. He could regularly channel Qi-Blood into the lungs, large intestine, and stomach, thus reaching the Third Layer. The day he could simultaneously control the flow of Qi-Blood into the organs through four meridians would signify his advancement to the Fourth Layer.

    Once the Twelve Regular Meridians fully govern the twelve organs, enabling the seamless flow and robustness of the Qi-Blood in these organs, it signifies that the Cultivator has completed the Qi Cultivation stage, also known as the Foundation Establishment stage, laying a solid foundational base. At this point, living up to 130 or 140 years would pose no issue whatsoever.

    Following the Qi Cultivation Stage comes the Dragon Tiger Realm, wherein the cultivation of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians takes place.

    The Eight Extraordinary Meridians consist of the Conception Vessel, the Governing Vessel, Thrusting Vessel, Belt Vessel, Yin Qiao Vessel, Yang Qiao Vessel, Yin Wei Vessel, and Yang Wei Vessel. The Conception Vessel intersects with the three yin meridians of the hands and feet, and the Yin Wei Vessel, collectively overseeing the body''s Yin Meridians and also known as the Sea of Yin Meridians. The Governing Vessel intersects with the three yang meridians of the hands and feet, and the Yang Wei Vessel, collectively governing the body''s Yang Meridians and also known as the Sea of Yang Meridians.

    Recognizing the True Dragon in fire and the True Tiger in water. When Dragon and Tiger converge, they transform into a yellow sprout, which then amalgamates and forms the Great Medicine, known as the Golden Core.

    Therefore, after Qi Cultivation, the cultivation of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians involves evolving the True Tiger from the Sea of Yin Meridians, also known as True Yin, and the True Dragon from the Sea of Yang Meridians, also known as True Yang. At that moment when Dragon and Tiger meet, a Golden Core forms, and one becomes a true terrestrial Immortal.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu is currently only at the Third Layer of Qi Cultivation, far from the legendary Golden Core Great Dao and the status of a terrestrial Immortal.

    Pure moonlight energy was absorbed into his body, enhancing the True Qi, which is also the Qi-Blood, within his meridians. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu controlled the True Qi, allowing it to slowly circulate through the Lung Meridian of Taiyin in his feet, and then carefully moved into the deeper parts of the spleen.

    When the True Qi reached the deeper part of the spleen, Ge Dongxu felt a piercing pain akin to being pricked by needles, but he remained undisturbed and slowly directed the True Qi to revolve inside the spleen following the pattern of a Tai Chi Diagram.

    With this rotation, his spleen seemed as if it were placed in a meat grinder. In an instant, beads of sweat the size of beans emerged from Ge Dongxu''s forehead, and his body could not help but tremble.

    Bits of acquired substances were expelled from the spleen along with the rotation of the True Qi, which seemed to flow more smoothly with each turn. Eventually, it formed a slowly rotating air cyclone, releasing strands of vibrant and pure energy that infiltrated every blood vessel and cell in the spleen.

    "Sigh!" Ge Dongxu took a deep breath, then opened his eyes, filled with a look of surprise.

    From starting from scratch to reaching the Second Level of Qi Cultivation, Ge Dongxu spent a total of six years. Later, after inheriting the complete "Baopu Nine Pill Mysterious Scripture," it took him just two years to reach the Third Layer.

    The path of cultivation is akin to climbing a mountain, becoming increasingly challenging as one ascends. Normally, it would take Ge Dongxu at least two more years to break through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation. However, in less than a year, he had achieved this breakthrough.

    Having the support of a Spirit Gathering Array clearly made a significant difference, indicating that sparing expenses was not an option moving forward, although cultivation truly was costly. After the initial joy, Ge Dongxu took out the Talisman Jade, which had now turned to powder, and shook his head in reflection.

    However, cultivating was precisely Ge Dongxu''s purpose for earning money. Feeling the abundant Qi-Blood within his body, as though a single punch could knock down a bull, filled Ge Dongxu''s heart with indescribable joy.

    PS: Monday again, seeking recommendation votes, four more updates today, thank you.

 Chapter 151 The Same Taste as Our Familys Herbal Tea [2nd Update]

    "Mom, where''s Dad?" Early in the morning, after practicing at Mao Hour, an invigorated Ge Dongxu returned from the mountain and asked his mother curiously upon not seeing his father."He went to town to get some Qinghe Herbal Tea. Lately, this Qinghe Herbal Tea is so popular that every guest asks for it. Honestly, if you ask me, what''s so special about it? It tastes just like the herbal tea we make at home," Xu Suya replied.

    Another scorching summer season had arrived, and Baiyun Mountain was welcoming its peak tourist period, and Ge Shengming''s family inn was experiencing a surge in guest traffic as well.

    "You''re right, if you ask me, even the tea Dongxu brews has a purer taste than that one," Xu Suya had barely finished speaking when Ge Shengming''s voice came from outside.

    He was just getting off the three-wheeler used for hauling goods, carrying a box with a fiery red packaging inside¡ªit was indeed the Qinghe Herbal Tea.

    Seeing his dad going to town early in the morning to fetch the beverages produced by his own factory, Ge Dongxu''s expression was indescribably splendid.

    After a while, Ge Dongxu scratched his head sheepishly and said, "Mom and Dad, actually, there''s something I haven''t told you."

    "We''ve said it before, it''s your business, you decide for yourself. If you want to tell us, you do; if you feel it''s unnecessary, then don''t," Ge Shengming spoke as he continued to move the beverages inside.

    Ge Dongxu hurriedly helped carry a few boxes and then sat down with his parents before scratching his head again, looking embarrassed, "I think I still need to mention this matter."

    "Alright, go ahead," Ge Shengming and his wife looked at their son curiously, noting his embarrassed expression.

    "Actually, that Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was started by me and a few friends. I am the biggest shareholder," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Pfft!" Ge Shengming, who had been busy to the point of smoke coming out of his throat, had just taken a sip of the iced tea on the table and sprayed it out when he heard Ge Dongxu''s words.

    "You, you mean the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory that''s so popular now, the one the Deputy Mayor attended the opening of, and Professor Tang, he''s your friend too?" Ge Shengming didn''t even bother to wipe the drops of water hanging at the corner of his mouth but stared blankly at his son and asked.

    Discover more stories at empire

    Ge Dongxu nodded with a smile.

    "Whack!" Xu Suya suddenly slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "That explains it! I knew the taste of this herbal tea was the same as the one you used to brew for us¡ªit was your recipe all along!"

    "You sneaky little guy! You''ve been doing business on such a large scale without me realizing it! And here I am, still running a family inn!" Ge Shengming''s mouth gaped upon seeing his son nod, then he heavily patted Ge Dongxu''s shoulder with an expression full of amazement.

    As a father, Ge Shengming was naturally supposed to be happy about his son''s impressive achievements, but when he compared himself to his son, he immediately felt a profound sense of defeat.

    "Actually, Dad, if you wanted to open a big hotel, it wouldn''t be a problem. I bought a piece of land in the county a while ago; we could totally build a restaurant even bigger than Uncle Three''s," Ge Dongxu said.

    "You also bought land in the county town?" Ge Shengming''s mouth fell open again.

    Ge Dongxu figured that since the subject was broached, there was nothing to hide from his parents, so he told them about his investment in setting up a trademark factory, buying land, and how much the land was currently worth.

    Ge Shengming and his wife were rendered speechless and stunned, taking a long while before managing to say, "You mean to say that our family now has assets worth several million?"

    "Pretty much like that, and considering the growth momentum of Qinghe Herbal Tea and the currently rising land values, I estimate we might have six to seven million in assets by the end of the year," Ge Dongxu said after some thought.

    "Six to seven million!" Ge Shengming and Xu Suya found it difficult to breathe.

    For a family like theirs, at this time last year, ten thousand yuan was still a significant amount to them. Now, Ge Dongxu was suddenly telling them that by the end of this year, they might possess assets worth six to seven million, a leap so large it was beyond the scope of their imagination and endurance.

    "So, Mom and Dad, you really don''t need to work so hard now. I''m currently building a villa in the city where you can live and go wherever you want to have fun," Ge Dongxu said as he handed each of his parents a bottle of herbal tea.

    They drank a big gulp of herbal tea before they seemed to slowly recover. Then, after staring at their son for a good while, making Ge Dongxu feel quite uncomfortable, they seemed to come to a significant resolve. They looked at each other, Xu Suya nodded at Ge Shengming, he nodded back, and then he began to speak, "Dongxu, your mother and I are very happy that you''re doing so well and earning so much money. But you know your mother has always loved children and the teaching profession. If you ask her to live in the city while she''s still young, she''d definitely get sick from boredom. As for me, you know I''ve been used to being poor since I was young; I get restless if I''m not working. Running this family farm might not make much money, but it''s my passion and happiness, simple and enjoyable. Plus, the environment in Baiyun Mountain is great, with fresh air and beautiful scenery, which your mom and I both love. So, we''d prefer to keep things as they are. Just knowing that you are successful makes us happier than anything else. Teaching and running the family farm have truly become our way of enjoying life, not just a means to earn money."

    "Your dad''s right, you''re already making so much money, there''s no need for us to get caught up in the hustle. Living simply and quietly is the best. With a successful son, we don''t have to worry about money. Your dad may be uneducated, but he really hit on something profound with his last sentence," Xu Suya followed up with a nod.

    Ge Dongxu, being a cultivator, pursued the natural way. Seeing his parents happy with such a lifestyle, which was indeed healthy, suited him just fine. Unlike some city dwellers who lived indulgently and dissolutely, appearing to lead lush lives but feeling incredibly empty inside, it did not necessarily mean they lived well. So, without further persuasion, he nodded and said, "Anyway, you decide what you want. Live the life you enjoy, and don''t overexert yourselves. Just let me know what you need. But, I think Dad could learn to drive. Then we could buy a car, so you two can be more free to go wherever you want." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What do we need a car for? A small truck would be so much better, good for carrying both people and for hauling goods from the market," Ge Shengming replied.

    "Alright then, it''s certainly better than the hard work of pedaling a tricycle," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, knowing that his father still had a small-scale farmer mentality and would need time to adjust his thinking.

    After all, slowly but surely, as people''s living conditions improve, their mindset will naturally evolve, and buying a car all at once might be too conspicuous in the village.

    "Haha, that''s for sure!" There isn''t a man who doesn''t like cars. Imagining himself with a car in the future, Ge Shengming couldn''t help but laugh joyfully.

    "Okay, once you''re past this busy summer period, I''ll give Director Zuo a call and ask him to arrange a good instructor for you," Ge Dongxu said.

    "There''s no need for all that trouble, I can go by myself," Ge Shengming replied.

    Ge Dongxu, having gained more experience in society, knew that the one thing the world never lacked was opportunistic people. He didn''t want his father to be treated like a dog by an instructor while learning to drive, so he firmly said, "No, let''s have Director Zuo arrange someone. We can pay a bit more."

    Knowing his son was considerate of him, Ge Shengming no longer opposed the idea and nodded, "Alright, you arrange it."

 Chapter 152 Another Increase [3rd Update]

    The benefits of breaking through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation were obvious. Since Ge Dongxu had broken through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, not only did he feel an abundance of True Qi and strength throughout his body, but his success rate in drawing talismans had also increased significantly.Drawing the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade had become much easier than before, no longer like the previous times when he didn''t have even a bit of confidence in each attempt. Therefore, this time Ge Dongxu only spent seven days, and after using seventy pieces, he successfully drew a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade.

    And this success was not due to luck; it was Ge Dongxu''s normal level of performance.

    Continue your adventure at empire

    Having only used seventy pieces for a successful drawing of a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade, Ge Dongxu was naturally ecstatic. This success rate meant he would save a lot of expenses.

    However, it was only at midnight, while sitting cross-legged alone in the courtyard cultivating, that Ge Dongxu realized he had celebrated too early.

    He was like a child growing taller; with the increase in height came an increase in his appetite.

    With the breakthrough in his realm, the amount of moonlight gathered by a single Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade was no longer sufficient for his cultivation needs. Usually, with the help of the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade during a single midnight practice, he would definitely feel a significant increase in his cultivation, but today, he found almost no progress.

    Darn, it seemed that he would need at least two Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans to proceed. Once midnight passed, Ge Dongxu slowly opened his eyes with a very subtle expression.

    One Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade was not enough for his cultivation, which meant he had made great progress¡ªan undoubtedly good thing. However, it also meant that he needed to buy more Jade Tokens, and at that moment, his bank card was already running low on funds.

    But having started earning money at such a young age for cultivation, Ge Dongxu could not put the cart before the horse and skimp on buying Jade Tokens to save money.

    It seemed he needed to make a trip to the bank for a loan, then head to the Provincial Capital, and it was also a good opportunity to deliver the prepared medicinal wine to Sister Liu. Ge Dongxu quickly made up his mind.

    ...

    The next morning, after greeting his parents, Ge Dongxu left Ge Family Village.

    Once in Changxi County, Ge Dongxu first dropped off the medicinal wine at Cheng Yazhou''s house, collected some factory certificates, and then went to the Industrial and Commercial Bank.

    "I thought you big boss had forgotten about me. What brings you to see me today?" As she opened the office door, Yuan Li smiled while pouring a cup of water for Ge Dongxu and spoke with a laugh.

    Yuan Li was still dressed in her office attire, a white blouse and a tight-fitting black pencil skirt that wrapped tightly around her hips, showing off her full, silky legs as always¡ªplump and sexy. And perhaps because people feel spirited during happy events, she looked exceptionally youthful and beautiful today.

    "Heh, I''m short on money again, so this time I''m thinking of re-mortgaging the factory that I redeemed last time, to borrow some money from the bank," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "You, always remember your sister when it''s time for a loan!" With a laugh, Yuan Li lightly tapped Ge Dongxu''s forehead with her jade finger. The charm that is unique to mature women made Ge Dongxu''s heart involuntarily flutter.

    "Heh, that''s not it. Besides the loan, I also wanted to come see you," Ge Dongxu hastily said.

    "Really?" Yuan Li asked.

    "Really, really," Ge Dongxu hurriedly nodded.

    "That''s more like it." Yuan Li finally smiled happily, and after a while, she became serious and said, "Dongxu, I really want to thank you for last time."

    "Sister Li, isn''t that like treating me as an outsider?" Ge Dongxu said.

    "Alright, alright, you said not to treat you as an outsider, so today I want to cook a few dishes for you myself. Come to my place for dinner," Yuan Li said.

    With the conversation reaching this point, Ge Dongxu naturally couldn''t refuse. He smiled and nodded, "I never imagined that Bank Manager Sister is also a beautiful chef. I definitely have to try your cooking."

    "What''s beautiful? I''m an old woman already!" Yuan Li rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu and spat, but her expression clearly showed she enjoyed Ge Dongxu calling her a beautiful chef.

    "Not at all, Sister, you are in the prime of your life," Ge Dongxu quickly said.

    "Giggle, you have such sweet talk, and you''re handsome, plus you have money and abilities. If you go to university in the future, I don''t know how many beauty queens you''ll make fall for you!" Yuan Li said, pursing her lips happily and laughing upon hearing this.

    "Hehe!" Ge Dongxu was somewhat embarrassed by Yuan Li''s compliments.

    Looking at the young man''s smile, which held a boyish innocence, Yuan Li''s beautiful eyes revealed a hint of haziness. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    If only I were ten years younger!

    "Hehe, look at you getting embarrassed. Alright, let''s not talk about that anymore, and discuss the loan instead," Yuan Li quickly collected her emotions, being an experienced and strong woman, and looked at Ge Dongxu with a smile as she spoke.

    "Um, this is my factory. Would there be a problem with getting a loan of five hundred thousand this time?" Ge Dongxu handed his documents to Yuan Li and asked.

    He was basing the loan amount on the valuation of the land from the last time.

    "Of course, it''s possible. You''re not still unaware that the planning map for the XC district has already been released, are you? The land around your factory is near the county government building, it''s the real commercial and residential center of the XC district. The state-owned land near the Jiang Family Village has now officially started to be placed on the market for public bidding. Do you know what the current bid is for a ten-acre land use right near your factory?" Yuan Li looked at Ge Dongxu, her eyes full of envy and admiration as she asked.

    Even now, she found it hard to accept this reality. A young man had such courage and vision to invest in a parcel of land near the Jiang Family Village so early on.

    "Really? I spent the summer in Ge Family Village and was completely unaware of this. How much is the bid for that land you mentioned now?" Ge Dongxu''s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked.

    "Six million! There''s still half a month before the announcement deadline, so it''s hard to say if anyone will offer a higher price," Yuan Li said.

    "Six million!" Even though Ge Dongxu had anticipated that once the planning map was released, his land would increase in value, he had not expected such a dramatic rise. Ten acres were worth six million, so his twelve acres could sell for seven million? Moreover, considering the circumstances, there seemed to be room for an even higher price.

    "That''s right, six million!" Yuan Li said, her gaze at Ge Dongxu filled with indescribable complexity.

    The land she controlled was worth almost seven million, and with the herbal tea factory now thriving under his management, Yuan Li estimated that by the end of the year, Ge Dongxu''s net worth would reach ten million.

    A seventeen-year-old millionaire, just the thought of it made Yuan Li feel as if she was dreaming.

    "It seems like I''m about to get rich again." Ge Dongxu soon regained his composure; what he truly cared about was cultivation. Making money was just to facilitate his cultivation.

    "It''s a pity that Sister is already married and over a decade older than you; otherwise, I''d definitely chase after you. How many millionaires are there in our entire Changxi County? And yet you, just a high school student, are about to become one!" Watching Ge Dongxu quickly regain his composure, Yuan Li couldn''t help but express her feelings.

 Chapter 153 What Are You Looking At? [4th Update]

    "Cough, cough!" Ge Dongxu was suddenly choked by his tea at Yuan Li''s remark."What''s the matter? When I was young, I was also the school beauty of Changxi No. 1 High," Yuan Li saw Ge Dongxu choking from her words and couldn''t help but roll her eyes at him in irritation.

    "Of course, of course! In fact, you''re still very charming now, really!" Ge Dongxu quickly said.

    "You and your sweet talk! Never mind, let''s not talk about this. Let''s get on with the loan processing," Yuan Li rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu again and then got up to take care of his loan.

    After sorting out the loan, Yuan Li gave Ge Dongxu her home address and reminded him to come over that evening before him leaving. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After leaving the Industrial and Commercial Bank, Ge Dongxu remembered that the official plan for the XC district had been released, and because he''d been at his hometown, he still didn''t know about it, so he decided to buy a mobile phone.

    This way he could also stay updated with the news in time.

    After all, mobile phones were getting cheaper and smaller. Tucking it into his backpack should be fine, and nobody would know.

    Therefore, Ge Dongxu spent some money and bought a Motorola mobile phone. Although mobile phones had become a lot cheaper than the tens of thousands they used to cost, they still cost several thousand yuan, so they were still considered luxury items. Thus, when Ge Dongxu, a teenager, casually bought a mobile phone, it really surprised people.

    After buying the phone, Ge Dongxu first called home and told his parents his mobile number. Since Ge Dongxu brought back money, Ge Shengming and his wife generously installed a landline phone at home.

    Then Ge Dongxu called Liu Jiayao, Tang Yiyuan, Cheng Yazhou, Wu Qianjin, Zuo Le, Lin Jinnuo, and others to tell them his mobile number.

    When Liu Jiayao received the call, she naturally asked when he would come to Linzhou. When Ge Dongxu told her he would go the next day, Liu Jiayao was very happy.

    "Dongxu, this time Old Lin truly understands the saying ''the new waves push the old waves forward.'' You''re freaking awesome! I think by next year, your assets could even surpass mine," Lin Jinnuo picked up the phone, saw it was Ge Dongxu calling, and couldn''t help but swear in admiration.

    "How can that be? How much is Changxi Grand Hotel worth? There''s no way I can compare with you!" Ge Dongxu hurriedly said modestly in response.

    "Changxi Grand Hotel may look glamorous on the outside, but it doesn''t make that much in a year. Your herbal tea, on the other hand, is different. Once the market opens up, it''ll snowball. And about that piece of land you have, man, it''s worth seven to eight million now," Lin Jinnuo said.

    "Hehe, it''s just good luck," Ge Dongxu said humbly once again.

    "If you keep being so modest, I''m going to get angry with you!" Lin Jinnuo said half-jokingly, half-angrily.

    "Alright, I won''t be modest. This number is mine, remember it. Call this number if there''s anything, but don''t call if it''s nothing important," Ge Dongxu said laughingly to Lin Jinnuo, as there was no need to be overly polite with him.

    "Speaking of which, I actually have something to discuss with you. Are you really going to sell that piece of land? If you''re going to sell, I''ll offer you eight million for it. I''m planning to open another hotel in the XC area. Of course, if you''re willing to be a part of it by investing the land''s value, that would be even better," Lin Jinnuo said.

    "I don''t have the capital to develop that land at the moment, so I will definitely sell it, but I need to think it over more specifically," Ge Dongxu said, slightly taken aback in his reply.

    "Sure, this is a big deal. Take your time thinking about it. When you''ve thought it through, let''s set a time to talk," Lin Jinnuo said.

    "Alright, I''ll think it over and let you know," Ge Dongxu said. Experience more tales on empire

    After hanging up, Ge Dongxu then called Yue Feng. Yue Feng was in manufacturing and hadn''t thought about buying land for property development or opening a hotel. He just marveled at how Ge Dongxu was going to make a killing this time and reminded himself to include him in any future money-making schemes.

    Naturally, Ge Dongxu couldn''t avoid being modest.

    Having made these calls, Ge Dongxu made a special trip to Wangzhou Township''s beverage factory. Seeing the factory yard filled with tricycles and small trucks loading goods and Cheng Yazhou busier than a bee, his heart swelled with joy. He knew Lin Jinnuo was right; once the market opened up, it would snowball, and who knows, maybe one day, their sales would reach billions and match Liu Jiayao''s company.

    Regarding the beverage factory, Ge Dongxu hadn''t mentioned it to Liu Jiayao and had also reminded Tang Yiyuan to keep it from her for the time being.

    Sometimes, men''s thoughts can be as complicated as women''s.

    After chatting with Cheng Yazhou at the factory for a while and getting an update on production and sales, Ge Dongxu had lunch at the factory before heading back to Cheng Yazhou''s place.

    Back at Cheng Yazhou''s home and after shooting the breeze with Cheng Lehao, seeing how the kid was fixated on video games, Ge Dongxu left him to it, went upstairs alone, read for a while, and drew some talismans. As the sun began to set and remembering he was invited to dinner at Yuan Li''s place, he pondered whether he should bring something along.

    With no experience in giving gifts to women, after considering for a while and still unsure what to buy, he simply grabbed a jar of his homemade medicinal wine.

    This medicinal wine was made according to an ancient recipe, with herbs gathered from Baiyun Mountain, and could nourish the vital energy, moisten the yin, and strengthen the kidneys. It was particularly effective for women''s beauty and skincare. Ge Dongxu brought back several jars, planning to give one to Liu Jiayao and to share some with others as well.

    Since Yuan Li invited him over and had joked about becoming an old woman earlier that day, he thought the wine would make the perfect gift.

    Yuan Li''s apartment, provided by her employer, was about eighty-five square meters and had two bedrooms, two living rooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom.

    Ge Dongxu carried the jar of wine up five flights of stairs and knocked on Yuan Li''s door.

    Then he heard footsteps inside, followed by the door opening.

    As soon as the door opened, Ge Dongxu was taken aback. He saw Yuan Li still in her work uniform, only with an apron around her front. Due to the summer heat and cooking in the kitchen, her white blouse clung to her body, revealing her fair skin underneath.

    That wasn''t all; because Yuan Li was cooking alone at home without guests, she had unbuttoned the top two buttons of her shirt, leaving her collar open and revealing most of her fair, soft peaks. When Ge Dongxu knocked, she got up in a hurry and didn''t realize this detail. As she opened the door, her glowing white fullness was right before Ge Dongxu''s eyes, mere inches away!

    "What are you looking at? Haven''t you seen a pretty cook before?" Yuan Li, not yet aware she forgot to button up, saw Ge Dongxu standing at her door, holding a jar of wine and staring blankly at her. She rolled her eyes at him with a smile, recalling what he said in her office earlier that day.

    "Ahem, yes, I mean, no!" Ge Dongxu was at a loss for words, clearly flustered by Yuan Li''s attire¡ªat the peak of his adolescence, he found it quite provocative.

    "Look at you, can''t even talk straight. Come in, I''ll get you some slippers," said Yuan Li, giving Ge Dongxu another playful roll of her eyes before she bent down to fetch slippers from the shoe cabinet by the door.

    As she bent over, her blouse gaped open, and the two soft buns inside nearly tumbled out. Yuan Li finally realized what had gone wrong. Her face flushed red, and she cursed under her breath, ''Sly little rascal!''

    Strangely enough, even though she cursed him secretly, the thought of Ge Dongxu''s gaze and his flustered reaction didn''t disgust her or make her unhappy. On the contrary, she felt a hint of delight.

 Chapter 154 Drank Too Much

    Yuan Li, after all, was a leader, and her ability to react on the spot was strong. Seizing the opportunity as she bent down, she fastened her button, then acted as though nothing had happened, placing the slippers in front of Ge Dongxu and saying, "Put on the slippers, they''re cooler."Seeing that the slippers were new, Ge Dongxu felt a slight warmth in his heart.

    "It''s my first visit, and I didn''t know what gift to bring you, so I brought a jar of medicinal wine I mixed myself. Drink a little before you sleep each day, and I guarantee it will keep you looking younger," said Ge Dongxu as he put on the slippers and entered the house, placing the jar of wine on the table.

    "Really? Then this gift is rather precious; I must store it well," Yuan Li said as she purposefully placed the jar of wine in a cabinet in the kitchen.

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    "It''s nothing fancy, just some regular baijiu with a few herbs, but if you think it''s good, I''ll mix some more for you next time," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. Have a seat, I still have two dishes to finish in the kitchen," Yuan Li said, thanking him, then hurried off to the kitchen.

    "I''ll help too," Ge Dongxu followed and said.

    "Off with you, how can I let you help in the kitchen at my house? Just sit over there," Yuan Li quickly pushed Ge Dongxu back.

    Ge Dongxu had no choice but to return to the living room, looking around somewhat bored, but luckily Yuan Li soon had the dishes ready.

    Looking at the little table full of dishes, there were braised carp, sweet and sour spareribs, boiled shrimp...

    Ge Dongxu was a bit taken aback and said, "Sister, do I look like I can eat that much?"

    "You''re at the age where you''re still growing; of course, you should eat a lot. I don''t care, I''ve cooked these dishes, and if you don''t eat them all, you''re not leaving tonight," Yuan Li said, looking at Ge Dongxu with a determined look that did not allow him to leave until he finished eating.

    "Alright, I''ll try my best," Ge Dongxu reluctantly agreed, nodding.

    "What drink would you like? Is it the herbal tea from your own factory, or Coke? Sprite?" Yuan Li finally smiled as she saw Ge Dongxu nodding.

    "With such good food, how can we not have some wine? Let''s drink a little," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Are you old enough to drink?" Yuan Li asked Ge Dongxu.

    "Have you ever seen someone my age getting a loan from the bank?" Ge Dongxu countered with a question.

    "Lol, that''s true, you can''t just be seen as a typical high school student!" Yuan Li was slightly startled, then she laughed and said, "Let''s try the medicinal wine you brought, then."

    Yuan Li got up to fetch two wine cups, then brought out the jar of wine Ge Dongxu had brought, pouring a small cup for each of them.

    "Hmm, this wine is strong, let''s have some dishes first," Yuan Li took a sip, then stuck out her tongue slightly and fanned herself with her hand.

    Ge Dongxu was taken aback by her gesture, finding it particularly enticing.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu a bit dazed, Yuan Li then realized it was somewhat problematic to stick out her tongue in front of a young boy, rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu, then picked up a piece of sweet and sour rib and put it in Ge Dongxu''s bowl, saying, "What are you staring at, didn''t you see enough just now?"

    Yuan Li''s words made Ge Dongxu blush furiously. He hurriedly stuffed the sweet and sour ribs into his mouth, prompting Yuan Li to burst into giggles.

    After eating some food, they started drinking.

    As they drank, Ge Dongxu found out that today was actually Yuan Li''s birthday, and, having handled the beverages factory''s loan issue efficiently, she was likely to be promoted to branch manager in two months. Thus, she had specifically invited Ge Dongxu to celebrate.

    "Sister Li, why didn''t you tell me earlier? If you had, I would have brought a cake," Ge Dongxu said, feeling a bit resentful.

    "At my age, every birthday brings me closer to becoming an old yellow-face. What''s there to celebrate with a cake? Come on, drink up. Today, let''s drink till we''re merry since it''s my birthday and I might get promoted," Yuan Li said.

    Ge Dongxu thought that it was too late to get a cake now, so he just raised his glass to clink it with Yuan Li''s.

    People say that alcohol is the best way to provoke nostalgia. The medicinal wine was strong, and after a few cups, Yuan Li''s face turned red, and her mind started to recall recent events, making her emotional.

    Once the emotions kicked in, she drank even more cheerfully.

    At first, Ge Dongxu hadn''t realized what was happening, and he drank each time Yuan Li clinked glasses with him. But after a while, he noticed something wasn''t right. Seeing Yuan Li filling their cups again, he hurriedly said, "Sister, that''s enough drinking, let''s eat some food."

    "It''s fine, I can hold my liquor," Yuan Li said with a flushed face.

    "I know, but drinking too much is harmful to your health. Let''s not drink any more today," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Isn''t this medicinal wine? It''s fine. Come on, keep me company and drink some more. It''s not every day your sister has a birthday and gets a promotion, let''s celebrate!" Seeing Ge Dongxu reluctant, Yuan Li simply sat next to him, grabbing his arm and shaking it.

    Unable to resist her, Ge Dongxu thought since it was her house, drinking too much would at worst mean sleeping it off, so he continued drinking with her.

    "It''s so hot! So hot!" After drinking quite a bit, Yuan Li felt a surge of heat throughout her body and subconsciously unbuttoned her collar. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu quickly stood up and said, "Sister, that''s enough, I really have to go."

    As Ge Dongxu stood up, Yuan Li also sobered up a bit, quickly standing and saying, "I''ll see you out."

    ps: Seeking recommendation tickets, thank you.

 Chapter 155 New Investment Direction

    Watching Ge Dongxu practically flee through the door, Yuan Li sobered up in an instant and, recalling the incident that had just occurred, wished she could slap herself twice.It''s a disaster, it''s a disaster, he wouldn''t think I was trying to seduce him, would he? Now he''ll look down on me! He won''t ignore me from now on, will he?

    As Yuan Li thought about it, she also remembered the physical reaction Ge Dongxu had when he held her, and her cheeks flushed again. This guy!

    That night, Yuan Li tossed and turned, unable to sleep, her mind in chaos. It was only around two or three in the morning that she finally drifted off to sleep in a daze.

    In her dreams, she seemed to see a man pressing down on her; she wanted to push him away, only to realize it was Ge Dongxu.

    Then Yuan Li woke up. When she did, it was already daylight outside, and she lay in bed, stunned, for a while.

    "Sigh," after a long time, Yuan Li let out a deep sigh, then got up from the bed.

    At the office, Yuan Li found it hard to concentrate on work and finally decided to give Ge Dongxu a call. During dinner the previous night, Ge Dongxu had given her his new mobile number.

    "Dongxu, about last night..." After the call connected, Yuan Li, who had always been efficient and decisive in her work, lost her usual composure.

    "Sister Li, I''m really sorry about last night, I didn''t mean to offend you, it''s just that..." Before Yuan Li could finish speaking on her end, Ge Dongxu was already hastily apologizing on the other.

    After returning home last night, Ge Dongxu indeed felt waves of guilt and also struggled to sleep for a good part of the night. He thought about calling Yuan Li in the morning but didn''t know what to say. Now that Yuan Li had called, he blurted out his apology.

    "Silly, what are you apologizing for? Sister didn''t mind anything, as long as you don''t hold a grudge against me, that''s all." Hearing Ge Dongxu apologize, Yuan Li''s anxious heart finally settled, and she replied eagerly.

    "Of course not, how could I!" Hearing Yuan Li say that, the stone in Ge Dongxu''s heart also fell to the ground; he truly worried that Yuan Li would see him as a lecher.

    "Really not? Then come over for dinner again tonight." Once her anxious heart settled, Yuan Li regained her usual confidence and said with a smile. Read exclusive adventures at empire

    Ge Dongxu let out an "Ah!"

    "What''s the matter? Afraid Sister will eat you up? You get all startled just by being invited to dinner," Yuan Li teased with a laugh. After last night''s incident and seeing that Ge Dongxu didn''t hold it against her, she found their relationship seemed closer, and some things were easier to say.

    "No, no, it''s because I have to go to the Provincial Capital tonight," Ge Dongxu hurriedly explained.

    "Well, that''s more like it. Alright, Sister is going back to work now. If you want some good food, just give me a call, and I''ll make it for you." Yuan Li hung up the phone with a smile, and her mood was exceptionally pleasant for the entire day afterward.

    That night, Ge Dongxu set off for the Provincial Capital, bringing along three jars of homemade medicinal wine, one of which was for Liu Jiayao, and the other two for Tang Yiyuan and his daughter Tang Yahui.

    Because it was summer vacation, Liu Jiayao nagged him to stay in the Provincial Capital for a couple of more days. Unable to resist her pleading, Ge Dongxu ended up staying in the Provincial Capital for two more days.

    Perhaps it''s in the nature of girls to love shopping, and even a strong woman like Liu Jiayao was no exception. During those two days, Ge Dongxu spent half his time accompanying her on shopping sprees, and they even made another trip to Yanming Road.

    During his last visit to Yanming Road, Ge Dongxu had seen a leisure clothing specialty store and simply thought the business model was good and would definitely be prosperous, but he had not given it much thought. However, after visiting Yanming Road again and recalling the call from Lin Jinnuo a few days prior about purchasing his land, he hesitated to reply to Lin Jinnuo because he hadn''t yet figured out where to reinvest the substantial funds that would be freed up from selling the land.

    Of course, he could have invested in the hotel that Lin Jinnuo was preparing to build, but Ge Dongxu felt that Changxi County was after all a small place with few outsiders, so it didn''t seem wise to build another big hotel, and that''s why he hadn''t considered the investment offer.

    Now, seeing Zodan Nuo, Missida? Bonwe, and other specialty stores, and realizing that similar specialty stores had not yet appeared in their county town, an idea suddenly struck him. He felt that this was an emerging business model, and if he joined the fray early enough, he would definitely make money.

    After all, food, clothing, shelter, and transportation are always essentials that people cannot do without. The key is to find the right products and sales channels.

    However, Ge Dongxu was not familiar with the apparel industry, and he also didn''t have time to manage a business. Fortunately, Yue Feng''s Yu Da Group owned a garment factory, which was perfect for collaboration. As for Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin, Ge Dongxu didn''t plan to involve them anymore.

    On one hand, the trademark factory and the beverage factory were already keeping them busy enough, and they simply did not have the additional energy to manage a clothing company. Moreover, they didn''t have much available capital at the moment.

    After returning home, Ge Dongxu didn''t immediately go to discuss the matter with Yue Feng. Instead, he gathered some information on "Virtual Management," and after giving it some thought, he finally called Yue Feng and Lin Jinnuo to discuss the matter over dinner.

    "Old Lin, I can sell you my land, but the price is nine million. If you think that''s acceptable, we can sign the agreement tonight," Ge Dongxu said straightforwardly to Lin Jinnuo as they settled down in the hotel''s private room.

    Having heard that, Lin Jinnuo only pondered for a brief moment before nodding and saying, "Nine million is no problem. Are you planning to sell it to me directly, or are you considering an equity swap? I would prefer an equity swap."

    "I''ll sell it to you directly," replied Ge Dongxu.

    "Actually, running a hotel is still profitable. Are you sure you won''t reconsider?" Lin Jinnuo, a bit disappointed and not ready to give up, tried to persuade him.

    "I won''t reconsider. Changxi County is only so big, and there aren''t many outsiders visiting. Even if it''s profitable, how much can it really make? Besides, the investment is substantial," Ge Dongxu replied without hesitation, shaking his head. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Does it seem to you that there is a new investment project?" Lin Jinnuo, who managed to grow his business significantly, was indeed sharp. At the mention of this, his eyes lit up immediately, and he asked.

    "I have some thoughts, which is why I also invited Old Yue here," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Let''s hear it," urged Lin Jinnuo and Yue Feng. Although they were both big bosses in Changxi County and were used to leading in business deals, Ge Dongxu, a young man, had earned more than eight million in just over half a year from land sales and had turned a small herbal tea factory into a major sensation in Changxi County in a short period. The way things were going, it looked like he would dominate the entire Ouzhou City by the end of the year. They couldn''t help but respect him!

    "I visited the Provincial Capital a while ago and saw businesses like Zodan Nuo and Missida? Bonwe. Their specialty clothing stores were booming. I specially looked up information on this aspect and found that ''Virtual Management'' is already quite common and successful in developed countries, whereas our country is just beginning. I think there''s potential. If you''re interested, we can partner up to create a leisure clothing brand," proposed Ge Dongxu.

    "Dad, look, Dongxu also thinks highly of ''Virtual Management.'' You''re always sticking to the old ways, always thinking it''s unreliable to spend a large sum of money to build a brand," Yue Ting chimed in, her bright eyes shining, as she stood with her prominent chest puffed out, a look of triumph on her face.

 Chapter 156 Donglin Yue

    "What, Yue Ting is also thinking about this?" Ge Dongxu looked at Yue Ting with a bit of surprise, as Yue Ting had always seemed more like a rebellious girl to him rather than a career-oriented heiress.""Yes! But dad won''t listen to me, he doesn''t agree with me using millions to fund a virtual brand," Yue Ting pouted. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Dongxu, is this business really viable?" Yue Feng asked, ignoring his daughter and turning to Ge Dongxu instead.

    Compared to his daughter, who had only known fun and trouble, he naturally trusted Ge Dongxu''s judgment more. Enjoy new chapters from empire

    "Old Yue, your question is interesting, there''s no business that guarantees a hundred percent profit. But in business, you should understand the advantage of seizing the opportunity, when many people start to enter this path, it won''t be easy to get a share, and the profits certainly won''t be as attractive," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Dongxu, don''t worry about Old Yue, I trust your judgment, just tell me, how much do you need me to invest? I''ll have Lin Kun work with you. You are the only one who can manage him! Even if we lose out, we''ll just consider it tuition for the kid," Lin Jinnuo didn''t have as many worries as Yue Feng, and he slapped the table as he spoke.

    "What do you mean by that, Old Lin? Who said I''m not investing! Dongxu, tell me, how much do I need to invest, preferably more than this chubby guy here. And let me tell you, Yue Ting studied fashion design, and our company has a garment factory under it. If it''s about fashion, she''s definitely more professional than Lin Kun," Lin Jinnuo''s words reminded Yue Feng that his daughter was no pushover. If this investment project could really put her on the right track, it would be worth a lot more than a few million.

    And Lin Jinnuo was obviously right, in this world, Ge Dongxu was indeed the only one who could manage his daughter. Sometimes Yue Feng felt like a failure as a father, unable to control his daughter, whereas a high school student could keep her in line, with her always respectfully calling him ''Brother Xu''.

    "Oh!" Ge Dongxu became even more surprised after hearing this. He had seen Yue Ting''s previous rebellious outfits, always thinking she was a woman without taste, but it turned out she had studied fashion design.

    "Brother Xu, come on, say it, hahaha, now you''re really our boss!" Lin Kun and Yue Ting became excited upon hearing their fathers were ready to let them cooperate with Ge Dongxu on starting a company.

    "Damn! My old dad really screwed up!" Lin Jinnuo and Yue Feng could not help but curse when they saw this.

    "Yue Ting, since you studied fashion design and your family has a garment factory, and you''ve had this idea for a while, you definitely know more about this than I do. Tell me, how much do we need to invest?" Ge Dongxu didn''t answer but looked at Yue Ting instead.

    He really didn''t have much experience in this area.

    "I''ve looked into this. The owner of ''Mister Bonwe'', Zhou Chengjian, only invested about four million initially to start the brand, but that was three years ago. It''s certainly going to be more now. And our capital is much stronger than Zhou Chengjian''s back then. If we''re going to do this, we should go big, I think it needs to be about ten million," Yue Ting thought for a moment and said.

    "I think that''s fine, it''s just over three million each if we split it three ways," Ge Dongxu said, as he now had over seven million left after selling his land and paying off the bank loans, so he was quite comfortable financially.

    "How can that be, you are the boss, naturally, you should contribute the most, we shouldn''t be contributing the same as you. How about this, you put in five million, Yue Ting and I each put in two and a half," Lin Kun immediately objected.

    "Tch, you''re the two fifty!" Yue Ting retorted.

    "Look at my head, since two hundred fifty sounds bad, then let''s make it two hundred each, Brother Xu six hundred," Lin Kun said.

    "I think that works, Brother Xu, what do you think?" Yue Ting nodded and then looked at Ge Dongxu.

    Watching Lin Kun and Yue Ting go back and forth, even owning equal shares with Ge Dongxu wasn''t enough, Yue Feng and Lin Jinnuo looked at each other with wry smiles on their faces.

    He really was a failure as a father! Look at Ge Dongxu, not even seventeen yet, and he''d already managed to keep his son and daughter in line, even more obedient than grandchildren.

    "Is that really necessary? I still need to study, and I definitely won''t have time to manage the company later on. It will have to rely on you to manage. Logically, you should hold the majority of the shares," Ge Dongxu said, watching them settle on the investment ratio through their back-and-forth, and he couldn''t help but cry and laugh.

    "It''s our duty to manage the company, boss. You just need to remotely give some pointers occasionally. Don''t worry, we''ve both been abroad for a couple of years and have seen some of the world. We will definitely not let you down and will manage the company well!" Lin Kun immediately said.

    "Yes, yes. Don''t worry, Dongxu, we will definitely work hard," Yue Ting also hastily added.

    Upon hearing this, Lin Jinnuo and Yue Feng didn''t know whether to feel relieved or cry.

    They were relieved because it was the first time their son and daughter showed such a great determination to work hard, but they cried because all this was because they didn''t want to let Ge Dongxu down.

    What on earth is this mess?

    Ge Dongxu looked at Lin Kun and then at Yue Ting, seeing the fervent gaze they held towards him, and he simply said, "Then I''ll listen to you; I''ll invest six million yuan, and each of you will invest two million. As for legal representation, positions like chairman and general manager, you will hold those roles, and I''ll just be a shareholder. Of course, if I have time, I''ll also offer some suggestions. Old Lin, Old Yue, what do you think?"

    Finally, Ge Dongxu turned to Lin Jinnuo and Yue Feng.

    "What else can we say? We''ve already left them in your care, following you can never be wrong," Lin Jinnuo and Yue Feng said to each other with a wry smile.

    Thus, the venture into the fashion retail chain industry was settled at the Changxi Grand Hotel, with Ge Dongxu investing six million yuan, holding sixty percent of the shares, and Lin Kun and Yue Ting each investing two million yuan, each holding twenty percent of the shares. In terms of the brand name, Lin Kun and Yue Ting leaned towards a more Westernized name, like Zara or M&S, which sounded foreign and upscale. However, Ge Dongxu still had some national pride, disagreeing with a Westernized name, suggesting a name combining "Dong" from his name and their last names, naming the brand "Donglin Yue."

    Lin Kun and Yue Ting greatly admired Ge Dongxu, and with him suggesting to combine a character from each of their names to create the brand, they naturally loved the idea and immediately applauded.

    Thus, "Donglin Yue," a clothing brand that would resonate throughout Huaxia Country and the entire world for decades, was born.

    Afterward, they discussed the headquarters'' location, unanimously agreeing that it should either be in Ouzhou City or the Provincial Capital, definitely not in Changxi County, as this concerned the brand''s image.

    Ultimately, they decided to temporarily set up the company in Ouzhou City, since the fashion industry there was quite developed, and compared to the Provincial Capital, Lin Jinnuo and Yue Feng were more familiar with Ouzhou, making business operations more convenient.

    After determining the city for the headquarters, they moved on to more professional and detailed issues, including recruitment, fashion design, and brand promotion, etc.

    These were things Ge Dongxu did not understand, so he left Lin Kun and Yue Ting to plan and handle these aspects.

 Chapter 157 Explosive ã€Extra for Alliance Hierarch Genius Junã€‘

    Lin Kun and Yue Ting had been somewhat rebellious in their youth, yet after all, they were born with a silver spoon in their mouths. The education they received and the world they had seen were not something that children from ordinary families could compare with. Moreover, these years, they had been more or less involved in the management of their family businesses, and such experiences were even more valuable, far beyond what could be learned from books.Once the two of them resolved to strive and make a career alongside Ge Dongxu, they immediately displayed the business talents inherited from their parents.

    One week after that dinner meeting, a beautifully crafted business plan was delivered into Ge Dongxu''s hands.

    Although Ge Dongxu still lacked social experience and didn''t have much hands-on business experience at the time, his repeated successful investments and the successful launch of the red packaging for Qinghe Herbal Tea were enough to prove that his vision and judgment were far beyond the ordinary person.

    These capabilities were related to his innate talent, as well as his practice of meditation and the refining of his Spirit Platform from a young age, which gave him an exceptionally sharp sixth sense. It also had to do with his upbringing alongside an elder who had experienced the vicissitudes of life and observed people of all stripes, endowing him with an extraordinary steadiness and wisdom to see through all things.

    So while Ge Dongxu would certainly not have been able to write such a business plan, lacking the literary skills and knowledge in this area, he could still understand whether the business plan was good, bad, or feasible upon reviewing it.

    From this, it was clear that Ge Dongxu already possessed the preliminary qualifications to be a boss or a CEO.

    The real bosses and CEOs don''t need to do the specifics; what they need to do is to plan behind the scenes, control the overall situation, and make final judgments and decisions on major policy directions.

    Ge Dongxu read through the business plan submitted by the two of them and felt that they had written it very well, but they were still somewhat overly cautious with spending. In Ge Dongxu''s view, they had not emphasized the key point of "virtual management" when it came to hiring designers and investing in advertising.

    "What does ''virtual management'' mean?" Ge Dongxu asked the two after he had reviewed the plan and made his assessment.

    "Virtual management is, with limited resources, to achieve the greatest competitive advantage by only retaining the most crucial functions within a company and virtualizing other functions, using various external resources..." the two replied fluently.

    "Then what are our most crucial functions? It is the planning and promotion of our product brand, it is the design of the apparel. We virtualize sales and production, letting others handle it. Given that this is the case, you should be using those ten million to heavily invest in brand promotion and apparel design. This means we must spare no expense in hiring design talent for apparel design, and we should similarly spare no expense in advertising. It is also imperative to invite a celebrity to endorse the brand and make a sensation! If ten million isn''t enough, we will continue to increase our investment. If we fail, we can start over. We are still young; what is there to fear?" Ge Dongxu said.

    At that time, the chain stores of Metersbonwe were doing well, but they hadn''t yet hired a celebrity to endorse their products.

    "Alright, we understand. We will modify it and submit it to you later," Lin Kun and Yue Ting replied. Faced with Ge Dongxu''s bold decision, not only did they raise no objections, but they also felt a surge of excitement. Being young, they were full of the spirit for adventure and initiative.

    ...

    In the second half of that year, two sensational events occurred in Ouzhou City, both of which were related to Ge Dongxu.

    The emergence of Qinghe Herbal Tea was one phenomenon, blazing through Ouzhou City and eventually becoming so popular that every banquet in the Ouzhou City area would almost certainly include the fiery-red canned Qinghe Herbal Tea on the table. With its genuine effect of reducing internal heat and nurturing energy, the tea became a word-of-mouth sensation over the past six months, deeply embedded in the consciousness of seven million people in the Ouzhou City area and gradually spreading throughout the entire Jiangnan Province. Many families even began to forgo hospital visits for minor coughs, opting directly for a few cans of Qinghe Herbal Tea. Due to this, Qinghe Herbal Tea frequently sold out, and new distributors simply could not get any stock from the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, while only the longstanding distributors could.

    There was no helping it, the market demand for Qinghe Herbal Tea had far exceeded the expectations of Ge Dongxu and others, and their production expansion simply could not keep up with the growth of the market.

    Another phenomenon was the dramatic entrance of Donglinyue casual clothing brand. Unlike Metersbonwe''s initial "slow pace," Donglinyue was very high-profile from the start, especially in terms of advertising¡ªit could almost be described as a bombardment.

    Not only had they invited Hong Kong''s hottest megastar Xu Chenfeng as the brand spokesman, but they had also poured as much as seven million into advertisements across both Jiangnan Provincial channels and central television. Explore hidden tales at empire

    Central TV''s advertising rates at the end of the 90s were not nearly as high as they are now, where a few seconds could cost tens or even hundreds of thousands. For example, Wanglaoji, a brand that was popular throughout Huaxia, had an advertising budget of only ten million in 2002. Therefore, the seven million spent by Donglinyue Apparel, Ltd., for advertising at that time was definitely no small figure.

    And when the news of Xu Chenfeng''s yearly endorsement fee nearly hitting eight figures broke, it caused a sensation throughout Huaxia Country, turning Donglinyue Apparel into a focal point of media reports. However, the actual endorsement fee was, of course, not close to eight figures; Ge Dongxu and his partners'' total investment amounted to ten million, so it was impossible to pay such a high endorsement fee. But the endorsement fee was still high, at one million two hundred thousand.

    Nearly eight figures was just a publicity stunt in the advertising industry. Ge Dongxu didn''t particularly like this method, but the media loved gossip, and as things got blown out of proportion, Ge Dongxu himself could not control it, unless he was willing to clarify on behalf of the company.

    As Donglinyue became popular, the number of businesses seeking to join as franchisees naturally skyrocketed. Because Ge Dongxu had initially insisted that Lin Kun and Yue Ting invest heavily in fashion design, the apparel styles were quite attractive. Upon hitting the market, they were well-received, which further boosted Donglinyue''s fame and attracted even more franchisees.

    Whether it was the popularity of Qinghe Herbal Tea in the Ouzhou City area or the fact that Donglinyue franchise stores had already spread through capital cities and some developed cities across Huaxia Country, these successes seemed to have little effect on Ge Dongxu, the man behind the scenes.

    Aside from a few people who knew that with the current trajectory of Qinghe Herbal Tea and Donglinyue''s development, Ge Dongxu was likely to become Changxi County''s richest person next year, to the majority, Ge Dongxu was still just a high school student.

    And Ge Dongxu saw himself as a high school student as well. He attended classes punctually every day and then went home to practice Talisman Drawing and cultivation.

    However, starting in November, Ge Dongxu was no longer visiting Cheng Lehao''s home but returning to his own villa in the Jiang Family Village.

    By this time, Cheng Lehao had learned about Ge Dongxu''s partnership with his father in managing the trademark factory and the herbal tea factory. Seeing the villa where Ge Dongxu lived, Lehao''s admiration grew, accompanied by a deep-seated awe hidden in his heart. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Of course, regarding his move to the villa, Ge Dongxu sternly warned Lehao not to leak the information. His classmates at school were unaware of this fact, even his deskmate Du Yifan didn''t know.

    ps: Thanks to the bookworm Tiancai Jun''s generous reward, becoming the second Alliance Hierarch of this book on Qidian Chinese Network.

 Chapter 158 Acquisition Plan

    In the spring of 1998, the entire Asia was enveloped in the cold wave of a financial crisis. Although Huaxia Country, thanks to the decisive and wise measures adopted by the government, ultimately did not fall deeply into this financial maelstrom that swept across all of Asia, its economy was still somewhat affected.That year, Ge Dongxu was seventeen years old, in the second half of his sophomore year. He had invested in two businesses which, instead of being affected by this financial tempest and plummeting into a cold trough, were actually developing at an explosive rate.

    Similarly explosive was his cultivation. Having inherited Ge Hong''s mantle and knowing how to carve the Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade, coupled with sufficient financial backing, and the fact that the villa was located on a Feng Shui treasure land rich in spiritual energy, Dongxu had broken through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer just after the New Year. His true Qi entered the heart through the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian, forming an air cyclone within the heart.

    In contemporary medicine, the heart is considered the most important organ in a vertebrate''s body, providing pressure for the blood and circulating it to every part of the body; the cessation of its beating often signifies the end of life.

    For cultivators as well, the heart is an immensely important organ and one of the hardest hurdles in the Qi Cultivation stage. Most cultivators, without exceptional talent or opportunity, typically find themselves stuck at this stage.

    Yet Dongxu, in this age of declining Daoist practices and scarce spiritual energy, had broken through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer at just seventeen, controlling the true Qi to form an air cyclone inside the heart, thereby significantly strengthening it¡ªan absolute miracle. Even in the previous eras when Daoist practices thrived and spiritual energy was abundant, reaching the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer at such a young age was commendable.

    Dongxu himself was unaware that he had created a miracle in this Dharma Ending Age. He only knew that he was becoming increasingly strong, that his Talisman carving was becoming smoother, and he was even able to barely draw top-grade Dharma Talismans. The only imperfection was that now he needed to use his family''s Feng Shui treasure land, setting up seven pieces of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade to meet his cultivation needs.

    This also meant that his expenses were exploding as well, which meant he could not be complacent with the status quo; he still needed to work hard to earn money.

    "Dongxu, are we really going to acquire the Linzhou City beverage factory?" Wu Qianjin asked with a worried frown in the conference room of the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory.

    Previously, the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory didn''t have any conference room, but now it had rapidly become a star enterprise in Changxi County, with production lines increasing and the plant expanding significantly. Even the local government, in order to retain this star business, had provided twenty acres of land for the expansion almost as a gift.

    After all, the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was now a major source of revenue for Wangzhou Township. Without offering incentives and land, there were plenty of other towns and counties in Changxi ready to offer them. Everyone who wasn''t foolish could see that even if the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory might not spread across Jiangnan Province or the whole of Huaxia Country, it would undoubtedly dominate the local beverage market in OuZhou City for years to come.

    "What do you guys think?" When Ge Dongxu saw Wu Qianjin''s worried expression, he knew he was reluctant to spend money that had just entered their coffers, so instead of asking him further, he turned directly to Cheng Yazhou and Tang Yiyuan, the other shareholders.

    "It''s a bit risky! But since you''re the majority shareholder, if you say we take it, we''ll take it. It''s just hard to part with the money we''ve just started to warm up, and we''d have to take out a loan, which really gives me mixed feelings. Honestly, I''m quite content with our current rate of earning. But of course, I''ll go along with your decision, you''re always right," Cheng Yazhou said after a moment of thought.

    "Right, right, of course we''ll listen to you, Dongxu. You make the call," Wu Qianjin quickly added. Now that he had risen from a small merchant to a shareholder of a star enterprise in Changxi County, all thanks to Ge Dongxu, he had to maintain the right attitude despite his reluctance to part with the money, lest one day Dongxu should decide to kick him out, leaving him nowhere to turn.

    "I''ll go by your decision, but it''s natural to have worries," Tang Yiyuan said after some thought. Find more chapters on empire

    "The acquisition price of thirteen million is indeed a bit high, but have you considered this? Our herbal tea sales are still increasing, and with summer just around the corner, we are certainly going to encounter a sales peak, by which time we''ll definitely be out of stock given our current rate of development. Moreover, there''s another phenomenon developing¡ªmore and more distributors from outside Ouzhou City are starting to inquire about our products, hoping to purchase from us. This is an excellent opportunity to break into markets outside the Ouzhou City area, but we don''t have enough production capacity to supply them. Therefore, the pressing matter is to proceed with the acquisition, which would quickly increase our production capacity and solve our supply issues. Only by solving the production issues can we confidently invest in advertising and promotion. To put it another way, the thirteen million we spend will not vanish, we''re buying tangible assets," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Then let''s make the purchase!" Seeing that Ge Dongxu was clearly decided, Tang Yiyuan and the other two didn''t waste further words and simply nodded in agreement.

    "Alright, I''ll talk to President Yuan about mortgaging the factory for a loan. We''ll leave enough working capital in the factory and if it''s still not enough, then we''ll have to dig into our own pockets again," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Hehe, it''s definitely not going to be enough. Looks like the house I just redeemed will have to be mortgaged again," Cheng Yazhou said with a wry smile.

    Although the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory had been booming over the past six months, because they had continuously expanded their production lines and made hefty investments, the real earnings were just over two million yuan. The factory''s main assets were not the buildings or the land, but the "Qinghe" brand itself. However, how much they could actually borrow against it was uncertain, and it was surely not going to cover thirteen million. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Over the years, I''ve managed to save some money, though I''m not sure if it''s enough. If it''s not, I''ll just have to swallow my pride and mortgage my house again," Tang Yiyuan said.

    He had been practicing medicine for many years and was a university professor; naturally, he had a considerable amount of money. However, even if his shares were only ten percent, thirteen million still amounted to one million three hundred thousand.

    One million three hundred thousand was a huge amount in 1998, even for Tang Yiyuan, and certainly not something he could produce at a moment''s notice.

    "You all stop pretending to be poor for a minute. If anyone should be complaining, it''s me¡ªI have the largest stake here!" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Dongxu, stop being modest in front of us. With ''Donglin Qi'' being so successful, are you really short on money?" Cheng Yazhou laughed.

    "You only see the success of ''Donglin Qi'' but haven''t noticed how much we have put into advertising. To tell you the truth, I invested six million in ''Donglin Qi,'' and I haven''t seen a penny in return yet since all the earnings have been reinvested. If President Yuan isn''t willing to extend a larger loan to me, then I might have to temporarily mortgage the ''Donglin Qi'' brand," Ge Dongxu said with a bitter smile.

    Upon hearing Ge Dongxu say this, Cheng Yazhou and the others started looking at him more seriously.

    This was a man who was bound to be someone they looked up to in the future!

    ps: Starting today, I''m going on a trip with my family for eleven days and will be back at the end of the month. I''ll try to keep the updates the same as before, though there might be fewer updates occasionally. Please forgive any delays, and I''ll try to make up for it when I return. If you want to know more about this trip, follow me. I''ll be posting some photos. Hehe, the destination is a place known for its glitz and glamour!

 Chapter 159 Ill Take Care of You From Now On

    "Thirteen million! You''re asking for a loan of thirteen million!" In the office of the Changxi County branch manager of the Industrial and Commercial Bank, Yuan Li''s eyes widened as she looked at Ge Dongxu, almost as though she wanted to devour him.Last October, Yuan Li had been promoted to the branch manager of the Changxi County branch.

    "Not me, it''s Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory." Ge Dongxu said with a smile, facing Yuan Li''s astonished expression.

    There was a time when Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory''s predecessor was just a small factory that couldn''t even pay back a loan of a few hundred thousand, but now? The largest shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was casually asking for a loan of thirteen million!

    Yuan Li''s emotions were anything but calm.

    After a long while, she straightened her hair, gently tapped Ge Dongxu on the shoulder, and with a roll of her eyes said, "Whether it''s Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory taking out a loan or you, what''s the difference!"

    "There is a difference, though. If I personally asked for such a large sum, would your superiors approve it? But if it''s Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory applying for the loan, they would likely consider it," Ge Dongxu replied with a laugh.

    Ge Dongxu wasn''t just boasting; Qinghe Beverage''s sales were booming in the Ouzhou City area. No bank could ignore Qinghe Beverage, a client with such promising prospects. Of course, thirteen million was definitely a high figure.

    "Go on, you make it sound so easy. It''s thirteen million we''re talking about! If it weren''t for your sake, do you think I would even consider submitting it for approval?" Yuan Li nudged Ge Dongxu gently and rolled her eyes.

    A loan amount that large certainly wasn''t something Yuan Li, the manager of the Changxi County branch of the Industrial Bank, could approve directly. It would require going through several layers of approval.

    However, from Yuan Li''s words, it was not hard to tell that if it weren''t for Ge Dongxu''s sake, she definitely wouldn''t take such a risk. Because with such a large sum, even if the decision were ultimately made by higher-ups, her position as branch manager would be at stake if there were any issues.

    "Thank you, Sister Li," Ge Dongxu said, feeling a warmth in his heart as he looked at Yuan Li and spoke softly.

    "Silly boy, what''s there to thank your sister for? At worst, I just won''t be a manager," Yuan Li said, lifting her finger to gently poke Ge Dongxu''s forehead, feigning annoyance.

    "If you really end up not being a manager, I''ll look after you," Ge Dongxu suddenly blurted out as he looked at Yuan Li.

    "Really? You''ll look after me!" Yuan Li''s eyes lit up dramatically at his words, staring straight at Ge Dongxu.

    Feeling Yuan Li''s gaze, Ge Dongxu suddenly realized that looking after a woman wasn''t something to be said lightly, and he became somewhat flustered.

    "Just knew it, men are all talk, deceivers," seeing Ge Dongxu flustered, a hint of disappointment and self-mocking flashed deep in Yuan Li''s eyes. She gently poked his forehead again, rolling her eyes. Stay connected through empire

    "Who said I''m deceiving anyone! It''s just that you''ll eventually get married," Ge Dongxu said, not knowing where the emotion came from, suddenly sticking his neck out as he spoke.

    At his words, Yuan Li''s delicate body trembled slightly, then she stared intently at Ge Dongxu for a long time before finally pursing her lips into a smile and saying, "You said it, so if I don''t get married in the future, let''s see what you''ll do?"

    "Then I''ll look after you!" Ge Dongxu immediately replied.

    At that, Yuan Li''s body trembled again, a different kind of sparkle flashed in her beautiful eyes, but it quickly turned dull. In what seemed to be a mixture of emotions, she gently held Ge Dongxu''s head and buried it in her chest, which strained against her blouse. She kissed his forehead and said, "You silly boy, you''re great at making money, but after all, you''re still young and don''t yet understand what it means to look after a woman; it''s not a simple matter. But hearing you say that makes me very happy."

    Ge Dongxu sat on the sofa, caught off guard when Yuan Li suddenly hugged his head and buried her face in her towering bosom. The pleasant scent of her womanly fragrance occasionally wafted into his nose, and for a moment, he forgot to listen to what Yuan Li was saying, as a loud buzzing filled his head.

    By the time he came to his senses, Yuan Li had already pushed him away with a blushing face, realizing that her way of hugging was a bit inappropriate. It was just that, in the heat of the moment, she hadn''t thought too much about it.

    "Don''t worry, about the loan, I''ll try my best to fight for you," Yuan Li straightened her clothes and sat up properly, saying earnestly.

    Watching Yuan Li adjusting her clothes made her peaks seem even more towering, and Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but look.

    "You, where are your eyes looking?" Yuan Li poked Ge Dongxu''s forehead with her jade finger and rolled her eyes at him.

    Ge Dongxu''s face reddened, and he said with an awkward smile, "Then I''ll have to trouble you with the loan issue."

    "If you talk like that again, do you believe I won''t let you into my office anymore?" Yuan Li put her hands on her hips, feigning anger.

    "Right, right, it won''t be a trouble for you!" Ge Dongxu hurriedly said.

    "Pfft, are you implying you don''t want me to help you with the loan anymore?" Yuan Li couldn''t help but laugh when she heard his words.

    "Haha, Sister Li, I can''t outtalk you, just do what you think is best," Ge Dongxu followed with a laugh.

    "You''re smart," Yuan Li said, proudly tilting her chin up.

    ...

    After some time, thanks to Yuan Li''s efforts and after the higher-up branch personnel conducted multiple surveys of the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, the loan was finally approved. However, the amount was not thirteen million but ten million.

    This was the maximum loan amount the bank determined after assessing various risks.

    The herbal tea factory originally had a surplus of more than two million. After setting aside approximately one million for the factory''s working capital, the shortfall was two million.

    With a sixty percent stake in the two million, Ge Dongxu had to bear one million two hundred thousand.

    After investing in Donglinyue Apparel last year, Ge Dongxu had over one million two hundred thousand in his account, plus he received nearly two hundred thousand in profits from the trademark factory in the second half of last year. Technically, it was enough to cover the payment, but due to expenditures in cultivation, he couldn''t pay the one million two hundred thousand. In the end, he had no choice but to mortgage his villa for a loan, finally putting together the one million two hundred thousand.

    Thus, Ge Dongxu once again became a "debtor," owing a huge amount to the bank.

    Although the massive acquisition once more gloriously turned Ge Dongxu into a "debtor" and saddled Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory with a huge debt, time soon proved Ge Dongxu''s decision was extremely correct as it flew to May. Jiangnan Province, located in the subtropical region, began to welcome the hot weather, and orders came flying in like snowflakes.

    Because the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory had completed the acquisition and reform of Linzhou City Beverage Factory before the peak sales season, production capacity had greatly increased.

    Just in the month of May, Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory''s sales reached six million. At this time, due to minimal advertising expenses, mainly relying on word-of-mouth from earlier periods, large supermarkets were just starting to emerge in big cities. Qinghe Herbal Tea wasn''t sold through these large supermarkets, nor was there any so-called entry fee expense. Therefore, the profits for Qinghe Herbal Tea were quite high at this time¡ªof the six million in sales, after deducting various expenses, profits were around four million.

    S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 160 The Problem with Grades

    After the sales and profit data for May were released, Cheng Yazhou and other shareholders were almost stunned on the spot, and even Tang Yiyuan, the veteran traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, was no exception.Because this meant that in just one month, shareholder Cheng Yazhou had earned eight hundred thousand, while Tang Yiyuan and Wu Qianjin each made four hundred thousand. At that time, in 1998, these amounts were what many people believed they could never earn in a lifetime, not to mention Ge Dongxu, who had made two million four hundred thousand from the herbal tea in just one month.

    However, Ge Dongxu was not dazzled by this figure, on the contrary, he made another major decision, which was to not repay the loans yet and instead invest all the profits generated in May into advertising.

    This time, even the most cautious and frugal Wu Qianjin did not frown and agreed immediately.

    If someone asked what the hottest advertisement in June was, surely someone would answer Qinghe Herbal Tea.

    The fiery imagery of the canned product splashing into the water, and the slogan "Drink Qinghe Herbal Tea to reduce internal heat and nourish life force," seemed to appear on any channel they turned to.

    That month, Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory received orders not only from Ouzhou City or just Jiangnan Province but from all over the country.

    That month, Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory''s sales reached eighteen million, three times that of May.

    This data energized Cheng Yazhou and others like a shot of adrenaline; they all awaited Ge Dongxu''s command to increase the investment and pursue further victories. However, Ge Dongxu, deviating from his usual approach, not only cashed out a portion of the profits to each shareholder that month but also did not continue to increase the investment in advertising. Instead, he asked Cheng Yazhou and others to focus on improving talent recruitment and management.

    Because over the past year, the expansion and development of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory had been extraordinarily fast, especially in the recent months, it had been alarmingly fast. If it were left unchecked, it would definitely go out of control, and stability was necessary.

    Tang Yiyuan, a university professor, immediately understood Ge Dongxu''s concerns the moment he raised them, and could not help but silently admire his wisdom.

    Indeed, he was already well past his prime, yet under the stimulation of such favorable circumstances, he had lost the calm and rationality he should have possessed, while a young man managed to keep a clear and calm mind throughout.

    After Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory slowed down, Ge Dongxu also faced the final exams of his second year in high school.

    In the second semester of the second year, the school had conducted a major in humanities and sciences division, and both Ge Dongxu and Du Yifan chose the science stream and were fortunate to continue being in the same class and at the same desk. Cheng Le Hao chose the humanities because there were more girls in the humanities class. Of course, his scores in science were not good, but his humanities scores were passable.

    Ge Dongxu''s academic performance continued to improve steadily, securing third place in his class and tenth in the science section of his grade. Ge Dongxu''s grades could have been even better, but now a significant part of his focus was on cultivation, and the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory and Donglin Yue Clothing Company also drew some of his attention.

    Since both ventures were at critical stages of development and related to his future money-making plans, Ge Dongxu had to devote part of his attention to them.

    However, to everyone''s surprise, Du Yifan''s grades suddenly plummeted, ranking only tenth in his class and fiftieth in the science section of his year, although he had always been fifth in his year group before. However, his math score was still perfect.

    Experience tales at empire

    "What''s going on with you, Yifan? Has it been because you''ve been too distracted with computers lately? I think you should put aside your computer studies for now, as the most crucial thing is to get into a good university," Ge Dongxu said with concern as he caught up with Du Yifan on the way home.

    Du Yifan was very talented in mathematics. By the second half of his first year in high school, Ge Dongxu had noticed that he had already started reading books about computers and had even ambitiously told Ge Dongxu that he would definitely become a great programmer one day. After the start of the second year in high school, Du Yifan''s determination had become even stronger, to the point where he no longer paid attention in classes like history and other humanities, always scribbling on paper. Ge Dongxu knew he was thinking about computer software programming.

    However, at that time, Ge Dongxu did not stop him because, to some extent, he was even more distracted than Du Yifan, spending a large part of his energy on cultivation and secretly investing in real estate and starting companies to make money. But this time, he suddenly discovered that Du Yifan''s grades had dropped severely and started to feel that it wasn''t wise for Du Yifan to continue being distracted, at least not without better time management.

    "Thanks, boss. I know what I''m doing," Du Yifan said, glancing at Ge Dongxu, hesitated to speak further, but finally managed a forced smile in response.

    "No, are you hiding something from me?" As Ge Dongxu''s cultivation soared and his social experience increased, his ability to perceive deepened, and he immediately noticed something was off with Du Yifan.

    "What could I possibly be hiding from you?" Du Yifan said, lowering his head.

    "No, lift your head and let me have a good look at you," Ge Dongxu said, noticing Du Yifan''s head lowered and seeing that the heavenly lines on his forehead were faint and almost broken, a shock going through his heart as he spoke in a serious tone.

    "Damn, boss, are you sick? What''s there to look at on me? If you want to look at something, why don''t you look at beauties? Speaking of which, ever since Busty Senior went to college, you haven''t flirted with any girls. Actually..." Du Yifan, pretending to be indifferent, lifted his head and looked at Ge Dongxu disdainfully.

    "It''s not me who''s sick, it''s your dad who''s sick, and it''s serious," Ge Dongxu said, ignoring Du Yifan''s rambling comments and staring at him with a serious expression. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "How do you know that?" Upon hearing this, Du Yifan''s eyes widened in shock, staring at Ge Dongxu as if he had seen a ghost.

    Though Du Yifan wore glasses and was thin, appearing sleazy around beautiful women, his frail body harbored an unknown strength and pride; thus, he had never told anyone about his father''s illness, not even Cheng Lehao.

    "Don''t ask how I know. Where is your dad now? Take me to see him," Ge Dongxu said gravely.

    "What''s there to see? He''s pretty sick anyway. But don''t worry, boss, I''m currently developing a software, and once it''s done, it will make money," Du Yifan said casually, trying to appear unconcerned, but the area behind his glasses became noticeably red, and his head tilted slightly upward as he sniffled.

    In an instant, Ge Dongxu understood why Du Yifan''s grades had plummeted. He hadn''t been focusing on his studies recently, but had been entirely consumed with developing software to make money.

    "I''m sorry, I haven''t been paying enough attention to you lately. Alright, take me to see your dad, I should be able to help," After realizing the situation, Ge Dongxu felt remorseful, he sighed, patted Du Yifan''s shoulder, and said.

    Ge Dongxu was not a talkative person, and combined with a maturity that far exceeded his peers, he sometimes seemed a bit out of place in class, but he and Du Yifan had been desk mates for two years and their friendship had always been strong.

    ps: Seeking recommendation tickets, thank you for your support.

 Chapter 161 Im Here to Return

    "You have a way?" Du Yifan''s body shook slightly upon hearing this, and then he looked at Ge Dongxu with doubt in his eyes."I should have one, or at least I could help," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Boss, this is not funny at all!" Du Yifan said.

    "Who''s joking with you? I learned some traditional Chinese medicine from an old man on Baiyun Mountain, and I do know some medical techniques," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Thanks, boss, but forget it. My dad has chronic kidney failure, commonly known as uremia. It got severe all of a sudden, and the doctor said he needs a kidney transplant. I have a kidney to give, but not the money for the surgery. However, once I sell the software I developed, I should have the money," Du Yifan said.

    "Cut the nonsense. You keep calling me boss; do I look like someone who acts without considering consequences? Take me to see your dad," Ge Dongxu saw that Du Yifan didn''t believe him and simply sternened his face and said.

    "Boss, can you really treat my dad''s illness?" Sure enough, when Ge Dongxu got angry, Du Yifan started to feel a spark of hope.

    "Nonsense, can I joke about such a thing with you? Am I that kind of person?" Ge Dongxu said.

    "Of course you''re not that kind of person, boss. It''s just my dad''s illness..." Du Yifan scratched his head and said.

    "Alright, let''s go," Ge Dongxu said as he patted Du Yifan''s shoulder, not allowing any further discussion.

    Du Yifan opened his mouth to speak, but eventually he just got on his bicycle and rode towards his home. Although he still didn''t believe that Ge Dongxu could cure his father''s illness, a sliver of hope was better than none.

    Ever since Ge Dongxu had moved to the Jiang Family village, he had also bought a bicycle for convenience. Seeing this, he got on his bicycle and followed.

    Du Yifan''s home was located on Xia Pu Road in the LC District, in a five-story building as well. However, it wasn''t considered a street-facing property and wasn''t worth much.

    "Yu Xi, you know your elder brother''s current situation. He has to go for dialysis every week, and it costs a lot of money. We really can''t pay back your money for the time being," Ge Dongxu and Du Yifan had just entered when they heard a woman''s voice coming down from the upstairs, tinged with sobs.

    "Sister-in-law, of course, Haibin and I are aware of my brother''s health situation and your family''s circumstances. But you have to understand the difficulties our family is facing. You know that Haibin recently lost money in his business. Now we don''t even have the capital to continue doing business. Can you figure out a way to shift some money to us?" another woman''s voice rang out.

    Hearing this voice, Ge Dongxu saw that anger clearly appeared on Du Yifan''s face, and his lifted foot halted in its step.

    "Yu Xi, we really don''t have any money at home now. Every time your brother goes to the hospital, it''s borrowed from my maternal family''s side. We are all family here; please wait a bit longer for this money. Once your brother''s health improves, we will definitely pay you back," the first woman''s voice rose again, this time not only with sobs but also with pleading.

    "Haibin, you deadbeat, can''t you say something?" the other woman''s voice suddenly turned shrill, as if she was pinching another man.

    "Cough, cough, sister-in-law, actually, actually..." a man''s voice stammered out.

    Your journey continues at empire

    "Haibin, I know your situation is difficult, but Haichen is your elder brother. As his younger brother, you can''t just watch him be ill and do nothing, right?"

    "That''s true, that''s true," the man, upon being addressed by the woman, couldn''t continue his previous thought and just kept nodding and agreeing.

    "What do you mean, ''that''s true''? Everyone has their own difficulties. Just because your brother is ill, does our family have to suffer along with you? Sister-in-law, I can understand your family''s difficulties, but have you ever thought about helping with ours?" the woman''s voice sharpened again.

    "What do you suggest we do then? I really can''t pay back the money now," the woman said, her voice laced with helplessness as she sighed.

    "Don''t you still have this house?" the woman with the sharp voice retorted.

    A brief silence fell upon the room. Du Yifan stood trembling slightly, her slender body tense, her fists clenched tightly.

    "Haibin, do you feel the same way?" After a pause, a woman''s voice broke the silence, filled with suppressed grief and anger.

    The man didn''t answer. Silence once again filled the room, then the sharp-voiced woman spoke up again, "Sister-in-law, Haibin and I mean just that. Real estate prices are decent lately; sell now and you can get a good price. Once the XC district is built up, who knows how it''ll be."

    The room fell silent once more, followed by the quiet sound of a woman''s sobbing, and then the bang, bang, bang of someone hitting the bed frame from another room, the sounds revealing deep helplessness, disappointment, and sorrow.

    "Go up," Ge Dongxu patted Du Yifan on the shoulder, anger evident on his face.

    From these conversations, he had basically understood what was going on.

    Du Yifan''s clenched fists slowly relaxed, and she climbed the stairs with heavy steps, her eyes reddening.

    "Yu Xi, let''s go. Big brother and sister-in-law didn''t mean to..." a man''s voice rose again.

    "Go? Debts must be paid, even between brothers, we must be clear..." the sharp voice of the woman cut in once more.

    "Bang!" The door was pushed open forcefully.

    The person pushing the door with force wasn''t Du Yifan, but Ge Dongxu.

    "How much does Yifan''s family owe you? I''ll pay it back," Ge Dongxu said coldly as he stepped in, looking at a woman dressed in garish clothes and with big curly hair.

    This was a back room on the fifth layer; there were three people inside. One woman, with tears on her face and features that resembled Du Yifan''s, looked like she was just over forty, but her face was visibly worn, making her seem much older than Ge Dongxu''s mother. This was presumably Du Yifan''s mother.

    The other two, a man and a woman, bore some resemblance to Du Yifan as well. The man, skinny and tall, wore an expression of awkward embarrassment, likely Du Yifan''s uncle, Du Haibin. The woman, the one Ge Dongxu was speaking coldly to, was naturally Du Yifan''s aunt Yu Xi. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Who are you?" Yu Xi, startled by the door suddenly being thrust open and the cold gaze of a young man upon her, couldn''t help but jump.

    "He''s my classmate. Aunt, don''t worry. The money our family owes you, I, Du Yifan, will pay it back, even if I have to beg," Du Yifan said, pulling at Ge Dongxu, then stepped forward to glare at Yu Xi.

    "What are you talking about, child. This is adult business, you kids shouldn''t get involved. Take your classmate upstairs," Du Yifan''s mother quickly wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, gave Du Yifan a stern look, and spoke.

    "Mom, I''m not little anymore. Next year I''m going to college!" Du Yifan said.

    At Du Yifan''s words, her mother was reminded of the upcoming college exams, and the fact that there was no money for her to attend, causing her heart to twist painfully, nearly bringing her to tears.

    "So you''re Yifan''s classmate! Off with you, go stand aside. There''s no place for children to interrupt when adults are talking," Yu Xi, having been intimated by Ge Dongxu''s stern demeanor at first, relaxed upon learning he was just Du Yifan''s classmate. At the same time, annoyance flared up, and she waved her hand impatiently at Ge Dongxu.

 Chapter 162 The Style of a Young Boss

    "You think you''re worthy of being called an adult?" Ge Dongxu said scornfully with disdain."Hey, what kind of way is that to talk, kid? Where are your parents?" Yu Xi, seeing a high schooler mock her to her face, couldn''t help but place her hands on her hips and point at Ge Dongxu''s nose as she scolded him.

    "You don''t need to worry about my parents. Just say it, how much money does Yifan''s family owe you? I''ll pay it off, and then you can take the money and scram early. Seeing someone like you makes me sick," Ge Dongxu said without any courtesy.

    "Dongxu!" Although Du Yifan was also really angry at his aunt who cared about nothing but money and not at all about family, and he wished he could slap her twice, they did owe her money after all. So, seeing Ge Dongxu talk big, he quickly tried to pull him back.

    In his urgency, he didn''t even use the honorific ''big brother'' but directly called his name.

    "Relax, Yifan, I''ve got a bit of money," Ge Dongxu patted Du Yifan''s hand that was gripping his arm, saying calmly.

    Hearing this, Du Yifan felt a surge of emotion that almost brought him to tears. Everyone in Class 6 of the second year in high school knew that Ge Dongxu came from the poor Baiyun Mountain area, and Du Yifan, as his deskmate, knew this all too well.

    Du Yifan still vividly remembered their first meeting, when Ge Dongxu wore such old and shabby clothes, and his skin was so dark. Now Ge Dongxu was telling him to relax, saying he had money¡ªhow could Du Yifan not cry?

    With his little bit of spending money, what could he do, really?

    "Fine, listen up. I want to see how a little brat like you is going to help someone pay back money," Yu Xi said with a mocking sneer.

    "Yu Xi!" Du Haibin gave his wife a tug.

    "What are you pulling at!" Yu Xi glared at Du Haibin, who then sheepishly let go of his hand.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu looked contemptuously at Du Haibin. He had never before seen a man so cowardly.

    "Just say it, without all the nonsense," Ge Dongxu said coldly, without a shred of politeness.

    "Alright, kid, you listen up. Du Yifan''s family owes our family eighty thousand yuan!" Yu Xi puffed out her already somewhat shriveled chest and said.

    "I thought it was a lot of money. Eighty thousand yuan has got you so anxious you''ve even thrown brotherly affection and familial bonds to the back of your mind. I truly pity you," Ge Dongxu said, mocking her with a cold laugh before taking out his phone from his backpack.

    Originally, when Ge Dongxu scorned them, Du Haibin was both angry and embarrassed, and Yu Xi was about to verbally lash out at Ge Dongxu, filled with anger, when her eyes suddenly bulged.

    At that time, mobile phones might not have been much to the wealthy, but for an ordinary family, it was still a rather expensive item. Not to mention high school students, many adults didn''t even own one.

    And now, a high school student had just pulled out a mobile phone from his backpack, and the shock this caused to the people in the room was imaginable!

    Especially Du Yifan, who knew exactly where Ge Dongxu came from. Seeing this, he was so stunned that his jaw almost dropped to the floor.

    He could never have dreamed that inside Ge Dongxu''s tattered backpack, there would actually be a mobile phone!

    In the midst of everyone''s shock, Ge Dongxu dialed Wu Qianjin''s number.

    The Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was developing quickly. Now, Wu Qianjin was basically in charge of the factory in Changxi County, while Cheng Yazhou managed the factory in the Provincial Capital. As for Tang Yiyuan, once the herbal tea beverage factory was on track, he shifted his focus back to the field of medicine, which was the career he truly had a passion for.

    Though Ge Dongxu mentioned the eighty thousand yuan lightly, it wasn''t a small amount. At that time, to withdraw it from the bank, one would need to make a reservation ahead of time; and besides, the bank was a distance away from Du Yifan''s home. It would be more convenient to give Wu Qianjin a call and ask him to take out some funds directly from the finances for the time being.

    "Wow, what do we have here? Dongxu, is the sun rising from the west today? The big boss himself is actually calling me." Wu Qianjin said dramatically upon receiving the call from Ge Dongxu.

    "I need eighty thousand in cash temporarily for a turnover, have someone go to finance and borrow it, then help deliver it to 300 Xia Pu Road. I''m in a hurry to use it." Because there were other people in the room, Ge Dongxu didn''t bother with pleasantries with Wu Qianjin and got straight to the point.

    "Okay, I''ll get it from finance and bring it to you right away." Wu Qianjin, upon hearing Ge Dongxu needed money, immediately replied. Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire

    After hanging up the phone, Wu Qianjin didn''t send someone else to handle it; instead, he himself rushed to the finance office, withdrew eighty thousand in cash, and drove his Audi towards the county.

    Joking aside, who was Ge Dongxu? Without him, there would be no glory for Wu Qianjin today. Now that he needed something done urgently, of course, it was best to deliver it in person.

    Watching Ge Dongxu hang up the phone, the people in the room were stunned, still echoing with the words Ge Dongxu had spoken during the call.

    Terms like "turnover" and "finance" sounded grand and were typically uttered by leaders or big bosses, yet now, they were coming from the mouth of a high school student.

    It took a while before everyone recovered. Du Yifan tugged on Ge Dongxu''s arm still with some disbelief and asked softly, "Boss, are you really having someone send over eighty thousand yuan?"

    "Of course. It''s disgusting to owe these kinds of people money!" Ge Dongxu said, glancing disdainfully at Yu Xi and her husband.

    "Humph, if there''s no money when the time comes, I''ll tear your damn mouth up!" Yu Xi growled through gritted teeth. However, her tone was no longer filled with the earlier scorn and condescension, rather, it now carried a hint of lack of confidence.

    No choice; Ge Dongxu, with a smartphone in hand making a call, really put on the air of a big boss. If it weren''t for Ge Dongxu''s young age and the fact that he was Du Yifan''s high school classmate, she certainly would have mistaken him for a major boss.

    Of course, she still couldn''t believe it now, but her confidence was already wavering.

    "Don''t worry, you won''t be short of money from such people." Ge Dongxu sarcastically retorted, then turned to Du Yifan''s mother and said, "Auntie, Yifan, take me to see your dad."

    With these words from Ge Dongxu, Du Yifan remembered the purpose of Ge Dongxu''s visit and hurriedly said, "Okay, okay, my dad''s in the front room, I''ll take you there."

    After speaking, Du Yifan quickly grabbed his still somewhat dazed mother''s arm and whispered, "Dongxu used to learn some medical skills from an elder in his hometown, so he wants to help out with Dad''s condition."

    If Du Yifan had said this before, his mother would surely have reprimanded him for being silly. But having seen Ge Dongxu handle the phone call with such a boss-like demeanor, hope unwittingly lit in her eyes as she said, "Really?"

    "Of course, it''s true, Auntie. Don''t worry, even if I can''t cure Uncle''s illness, I can certainly at least alleviate the symptoms a bit," Ge Dongxu asserted.

    "Tsk, you''re not afraid of your tongue snapping from blowing your own trumpet!" Yu Xi finally found a chance to mock Ge Dongxu.

    "Are you even human? That''s your husband''s older brother! Do you actually wish he won''t get better? Believe it or not, if you say another word, I won''t hesitate to slap you across the face!" Ge Dongxu turned cold at her words. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Being a woman who didn''t easily back down, Yu Xi was about to puff up her chest and confront Ge Dongxu. But when she met his icy gaze, she inexplicably felt a chill in her heart, as if her instincts were telling her that this Du Yifan''s classmate who suddenly appeared would indeed dare to slap her.

    "Forget about them, boss, I don''t have such an uncle and aunt!" Du Yifan pulled on Ge Dongxu, saying.

 Chapter 163 Treating Illness

    Du Yifan''s words left Du Haibin both embarrassed and annoyed, while Yu Xi just "hmph"ed. Before, she would at least pretend to say a few insincere words, but now that things had escalated to this point, she couldn''t even bother to wear the last bit of her hypocritical mask."Don''t worry, Yifan, with your talent in computers, they are bound to regret what they did today!" Ge Dongxu patted Du Yifan on the shoulder and said.

    He was Du Yifan''s deskmate, and no one knew better than him about Du Yifan''s talent in computers. Thus, when he heard Du Yifan was going to develop software to sell, Ge Dongxu did not show any surprise. His only reaction was guilt and self-reproach for not having taken more care of his deskmate, to the extent that he was unaware of such a serious situation occurring at his friend''s home.

    "Can computer talent be eaten as food?" Yu Xi muttered disdainfully. This ruthless and shortsighted woman with little education couldn''t comprehend what computer talent meant.

    Hearing this, Ge Dongxu''s mouth curled into a cold smile, ignoring the woman and following Du Yifan into the room ahead.

    Inside, a similarly frail man was lying on the bed, but his legs were swollen disproportionally to his frail body, a shocking sight that was difficult to face directly.

    His palms were slightly red, clearly, he had just been striking the bed.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu enter, his expression became visibly excited, and with reddening eyes, he said, "You must be Yifan''s deskmate, Ge Dongxu, whom he often mentions, right? Regardless, your uncle is very grateful to you!"

    It was evident that Du Haichen had heard the conversation that Ge Dongxu and the others had in the back room.

    "Uncle, you shouldn''t say that. I feel ashamed. I have been Yifan''s deskmate for two years and yet I didn''t know about your illness. If I had known earlier, I would have visited you sooner. You wouldn''t have had to suffer so much," Ge Dongxu said.

    "What nonsense are you talking, child? This disease of mine, even doctors have no way to cure it. You having this intention is enough. It just pains me that it has been a burden on them, mother and son," Du Haichen said as he patted his chest, his voice breaking with emotion.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu''s nose turned sour. He knew that the man''s suffering probably stemmed not only from being a burden to his wife and son but also from his weak and heartless brother.

    "It''s okay, uncle. Don''t get worked up. Let me take your pulse first," Ge Dongxu said softly and then moved closer to sit at the edge of the bed.

    Upon hearing this, Du Haichen stopped hitting his chest and stared at Ge Dongxu for a while before extending his hand and sighed, "You are a good child. It''s just this disease of mine, oh..."

    "Don''t worry, uncle. There''s always a way to treat an illness," Ge Dongxu reassured him, then placed his fingers on the pulse.

    By now, Ge Dongxu had reached the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, not only had his True Qi grown much stronger than before, but it was also much easier to control.

    As soon as his fingers touched the pulse, strands of True Qi entered Du Haichen''s Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian and then passed through the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian... reaching the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian.

    The True Qi, like an extension of Ge Dongxu''s own senses, allowed him to "see" through its investigation. In the interstitial space outside the blood vessels of Du Haichen''s kidneys, he spotted several accumulations of fluid. The kidneys were clearly shriveled and lacking in vitality, much like those of a severely ill person, and were incapable of processing these fluids.

    After examining the kidneys, Ge Dongxu continued his investigation and discovered that other areas of Du Haichen''s body were also affected to varying degrees by the kidney failure, though not severely. But if left untreated, the prognosis could become serious.

    "There''s no serious problem. Today I''ll start with some acupuncture for your uncle to increase his urination and reduce swelling, allowing him to regain mobility. With continuous acupuncture and herbal treatment for a while, he should fully recover." Ge Dongxu observed that the situation wasn''t very bad, since there wasn''t a large area of organic damage in the kidneys, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

    Now at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, he had not yet formed an Air Cyclone in the kidneys and his understanding of them was far less deep than that of the heart, lungs, large intestine, stomach, and spleen, where he had already formed an Air Cyclone. Of course, even so, his knowledge was much deeper than that of other doctors. If there had been a substantial organic change, it would have been quite troublesome for him. Now, dealing with simple exhaustion was relatively easy for him.

    He possessed True Qi, the Life Qi, which could nourish the kidneys and enhance their vitality.

    "Really?" Du Haichen suddenly became excited and grabbed Ge Dongxu''s hand upon hearing this.

    Du Yifan and his mother looked at Ge Dongxu with equal excitement.

    "Of course, I wouldn''t joke about something like this," Ge Dongxu gently patted the back of Du Haichen''s hand, then took his backpack and pulled out an ancient-looking wooden box.

    Upon seeing the ancient-looking box, Du Yifan''s eyes widened. Despite sharing a desk with Ge Dongxu for two years, he had not known that he carried such an item in his backpack.

    Ge Dongxu took a Silver Needle from the box and with a slight turn of his True Qi, the needle faintly glimmered as if lit by a lamp, reflecting light.

    Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    However, since the Silver Needle was too fine, it did not draw the attention of Du Yifan and the others. But Ge Dongxu saw this and smiled confidently; His Cultivation Power had grown much stronger than before, now a slight turn of True Qi could detoxify the needle, unlike previously, when it required several turns.

    Ge Dongxu had Du Yifan help his father remove his pants and lift his shirt, then selected Acupoints for water diversion, Guanyuan, Zusanli, Sanyinjiao, Yinlingquan, Taixi, Fuliupoint, gently twisting them, sending strands of True Qi through these acupoints, flowing through the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, clearing the Meridians and nourishing the kidneys.

    Gradually, the kidneys, which had already begun to atrophy, started to regain strength, and the fluids started to decrease bit by bit.

    At this moment, neither Du Yifan nor his mother could notice the changes, but Du Haichen seemed to feel something, feeling his bladder filling up progressively.

    Lately, because of the severity of his exhaustion, his daytime urination had dwindled, thus the sensation of a filling bladder was genuinely pleasant, bringing a gradual brightness to his dim eyes, shining with hope. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Since Du Haichen''s illness had dragged on for some time, improvement could not be rushed. Ge Dongxu occasionally twisted the needles and injected some True Qi at intervals.

    After several sessions, his mother finally noticed some reduction in the swelling of Du Haichen''s legs, and couldn''t help but excitedly point to his legs and say, "Look, Haichen, the swelling in your legs has gone down a bit. Really, it has reduced!"

    "Yes, Dad, it has really gone down a bit! Really!" Du Yifan said excitedly, his eyes suddenly reddening.

    No one could understand the pressure that this young man had borne these days. Nor could anyone grasp how much he had despised his own helplessness during this time.

    Now, he had finally seen hope!

    PS: Please support with a recommendation ticket, thank you.

 Chapter 164 You are Boss Wu of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory

    "Really? Brother, your leg''s swelling has gone down!" An excited voice came from outside, and Du Haibin rushed in.Seeing his younger brother burst in, Du Haichen turned his head away, tears welling up in his eyes.

    There was nothing more painful than lying on a sickbed while his own younger brother came to collect a debt. Although it wasn''t his brother''s intention¡ªmainly because of his sister-in-law¡ªDu Haichen still couldn''t forgive him.

    Seeing the elder brother turn his head away, Du Haibin''s expression became very awkward, but seeing that his leg had truly reduced in swelling, his eyes still showed joy.

    No matter what, they are still brothers!

    "Enough, why the excitement? He doesn''t even care about you!" Another voice came from behind Du Haibin.

    "You!" Du Haibin, angered, raised his hand, having had quite enough of his wife.

    "What ''you''? You think you''re going to hit me? Go on then, hit me!" Yu Xi, seeing this, puffed out her chest and lifted her chin.

    Looking at Yu Xi with her face drawing near, Du Haibin eventually lowered his hand.

    Seeing his younger brother so helpless, Du Haichen silently shook his head, and Ge Dongxu didn''t know whether to be angry at or pity the man.

    When Du Haibin lowered his hand, Yu Xi huffed and then turned to Ge Dongxu, saying, "It''s been half an hour, where''s the money you talked about? Stop bluffing!"

    "Relax, everybody else''s money might come short, but not yours," Ge Dongxu replied disdainfully.

    No sooner had his voice faded than a knock came from downstairs. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The moment the knocking sounded, everyone''s reaction was not to go down to open the door but to cast their gazes toward Ge Dongxu, including Yu Xi, who eyed him with disbelief.

    Could it be that this high school student could really make a phone call and have someone deliver eighty thousand yuan just like that?

    It''s no wonder they couldn''t believe it; eighty thousand yuan was definitely not a small sum for ordinary families like theirs! Otherwise, Yu Xi wouldn''t have come to collect debts regardless of Du Haichen''s serious illness.

    What she feared was that if Du Haichen died, the debt would vanish, so she wanted to take the opportunity while he was still alive to get the money back.

    "It should be the person I called. I''ll go open the door," said Ge Dongxu.

    "I''ll do it, I''ll go," blurted Du Yifan, hurrying down the stairs ahead of the others.

    Soon, Du Yifan brought Wu Qianjin upstairs. Du Yifan had never met Cheng Lehao''s uncle and didn''t realize that Wu Qianjin was that uncle.

    "Uncle Wu, how come you came yourself?" Ge Dongxu, seeing Wu Qianjin carrying a bag himself, was quite surprised.

    Wu Qianjin didn''t rush to answer. Instead, he looked around the room with a puzzled expression, and then smiled at Ge Dongxu, "How could I not come myself after your order? Besides, I have a car, and it''s just a few minutes'' drive."

    As Wu Qianjin spoke, Du Haibin and his wife Yu Xi were staring intently at him, their eyes growing wider, and then suddenly, they both stuttered, "You, you''re Wu, the manager, the boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory!"

    "Oh, you recognize me? I''m a bit embarrassed!" Wu Qianjin really hadn''t expected that he was now a celebrity in Changxi County, that he could just visit someone''s home and be recognized. He scratched his head sheepishly, yet couldn''t help feeling a bit elated inside.

    After all, just over a year ago, his entire fortune hadn''t even reached two hundred thousand!

    "Of course, of course. Who in Changxi County doesn''t know about Boss Wu from Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory! My brother and my husband, Du Haibin, have a beverage wholesale store in the vice food market of Xi W County, and the best seller is Qinghe Herbal Tea. Last year, it sold so well we ran out of stock. Your factory had limited supplies, but you still looked favorably on a fellow townsman and sent us a batch of goods. We will need to ask for your continued support."

    Yu Xi nodded her head like a pecking chicken, her face full of flattering smiles.

    There was no choice; Qinghe Herbal Tea was so popular that it was flying off the shelves, and now it was the businessmen who were begging the factory for stock.

    Yu Xi''s flattery delighted Wu Qianjin, making him feel even more conceited. He was just about to nod and say no problem when he suddenly caught sight of Ge Dongxu''s sneer. The words at the tip of his tongue were immediately swallowed back.

    After all, Wu Qianjin had become quite a figure in Changxi County. Having met many people, his judgment had naturally improved a lot compared to before.

    "Uncle Wu, please give the money you brought to this lady. You don''t have to supply them with goods anymore," Ge Dongxu said coldly, seeing that Wu Qianjin hadn''t picked up the conversation.

    "Why? Why not?" Caught up in the excitement of meeting the important figure, Wu Qianjin, Yu Xi hadn''t yet adjusted her thinking. Of course, even with the wildest guesses, she couldn''t have imagined that a high school student could be the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory. Seeing that she was having a good conversation with Wu Qianjin and Ge Dongxu suddenly interrupted to say they wouldn''t be supplying them anymore, she reflexively pointed at Ge Dongxu and asked shrilly.

    She had forgotten that Wu Qianjin had come at the call of Ge Dongxu.

    "Because I am the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory! I wonder if that''s enough of a qualification?" Ge Dongxu stated coldly.

    "You say you''re the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea? How old are you? What kind of international...," Yu Xi retorted sharply, pointing at Ge Dongxu again. But her question cut off halfway, her face suddenly turning pale.

    Obviously, she wasn''t completely foolish. She finally remembered that Wu Qianjin had come because of a phone call from Ge Dongxu.

    "Here is eighty thousand yuan, please count it," said Wu Qianjin, seeing Ge Dongxu''s attitude towards Yu Xi. He didn''t care how much Yu Xi had sucked up to him before; he threw her a bag of money with an expressionless face and said coldly.

    Offend Ge Dongxu and you still want to get goods from our Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory? What a joke.

    Wu Qianjin''s attitude confirmed what Ge Dongxu had just said. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire

    The room fell silent, everyone staring at Ge Dongxu with an almost dazed look.

    Although Qinghe Herbal Tea hadn''t yet claimed to be popular throughout the whole country, saying it had taken over Jiangnan Province was no exaggeration at all. The explosive sales had led some to estimate that Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory''s sales volume would reach hundreds of millions this year.

    What is the concept of hundreds of millions? And what does it imply?

    Those present might not have a clear idea, as the number was too distant for them. But one thing they definitely understood was that if Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory''s sales volume really reached hundreds of millions this year, then the annual income of the big boss in front of them would be at least tens of millions of yuan!

    An annual income of tens of millions! And he was still a high school student! And this was just the beginning of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory''s rise!

    Yu Xi took the bag Wu Qianjin handed her with stiff movements, suddenly feeling so ridiculous, so pathetic.

    For eighty thousand yuan, she was willing to pressure her husband''s elder brother to sell his house! She had even acted all high and mighty in front of her nephew''s classmate.

    But it turned out, her nephew''s classmate was the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, casually tossing her eighty thousand yuan!

 Chapter 165 You Will Always Be My Boss

    "The money has been taken, can you leave now?" Du Yifan finally snapped back to reality, his gaze filled with contempt and resentment as he coldly addressed his uncle and aunt before him."Yifan, your auntie I..." Yu Xi this time didn''t get angry but forced a smile uglier than crying.

    "I don''t have an aunt like you!" Du Yifan rudely interrupted.

    "Yifan!" Du Haichen called out. Du Yifan could be young and impetuous, but for him, severing the deep brotherly bond of decades with his brother was very hard.

    "Dad!"

    "Haichen!"

    Both Du Yifan and his mother understood Du Haichen''s intentions and immediately called out, eyes reddening.

    Du Haichen, looking at the tearful and angry expressions on the faces of the mother and son, sighed softly, and finally waved weakly at Du Haibin and his wife, saying, "You can go!"

    Yu Xi opened her mouth wanting to say more, but Du Haibin had already taken her hand, and then with reddened eyes, he said to Du Haichen, "Brother, sister-in-law, Yifan, I''m sorry."

    After speaking, he pulled his wife away without further explanation.

    "Sigh!" After all, they were brothers, and watching Du Haibin forcibly taking his sister-in-law away, Du Haichen knew that from today on, the relationship between the two families would be completely severed.

    However, that was all he could do. As the elder brother, no matter what his younger brother did, he could always find forgiveness in his heart, but he had to consider the feelings of his wife and son too. His brother and sister-in-law had really hurt them too deeply.

    "Uncle, there''s no need to feel sad. Learn from this setback, and maybe after this incident, Yifan''s uncle will completely come around. If so, even if your two families are estranged, it might actually be a good thing for his future life path," Ge Dongxu could understand Du Haichen''s feelings at this moment, and he patted his hand as he spoke.

    Because he himself had had a similar experience, except his aunt was not as mercenary to such an extent, so in the end, he forgave her for his uncle''s sake.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. If it weren''t for you, uncle..." Du Haichen choked up towards the end.

    "Ha, don''t be so formal with me, uncle. Yifan and I were desk-mates!" Ge Dongxu hurriedly said.

    Hearing this, Du Yifan didn''t say anything but turned his head to quietly wipe away the tears in his eyes.

    "All right, all right, I won''t be formal with you. Rest assured that we will certainly..." Du Haichen also wiped away tears as he spoke.

    "You see, there you go being formal with me again!" Ge Dongxu interrupted with a laugh.

    Du Haichen was about to say something, but Ge Dongxu had already taken the lead and said, "The acupuncture is almost done for today, I''ll help you remove the needles first."

    "Oh, dad, your leg has almost completely gone down in swelling!"

    "Yes, yes! It''s really almost completely gone down!"

    As Ge Dongxu said this, he reminded Du Yifan and his mother, who hurried to look at Du Haichen''s leg. When they saw it, they were so excited they burst into tears and shouted.

    "Yes! It really has gone down in swelling, I feel much better now." Because of Wu Qianjin''s arrival, even Du Haichen had not noticed the change in his body. When his son and wife called attention to it, he only then realized his entire body felt much better, and he too couldn''t help the tears from overflowing. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Don''t worry, uncle. As long as you keep up with the acupuncture and Chinese medicine for a while, your condition will completely improve," Ge Dongxu assured with a smile.

    If Ge Dongxu had said these words before, Du Yifan''s family would certainly not have believed him, but now the facts were laid out before them, leaving them no choice but to believe. Upon hearing this, they were all so overjoyed that they burst into tears, and Du Yifan''s mother was so grateful that she took Ge Dongxu''s hand, thanking him repeatedly, almost kneeling before him.

    Ge Dongxu couldn''t bear such an atmosphere and said, "Now Uncle, you just rest well, I''ll go with Yifan to the pharmacy to get some medicine."

    "Don''t trouble yourself so much, just write a prescription and let Yifan go get it," said Du Haichen and his wife hurriedly, their tone very respectful.

    After going through such an event, how could they not understand that Ge Dongxu was no ordinary person? Moreover, Ge Dongxu was Du Haichen''s lifesaver!

    "Hehe, Uncle, Auntie, you are being formal with me again, what''s the relationship between Yifan and me?" Ge Dongxu chuckled.

    "Or maybe I should go and help get them," Wu Qianjin added from the sidelines.

    When Wu Qianjin spoke up, it gave Du Haichen and his wife a start. After all, Wu Qianjin was now a local celebrity in Changxi County, quite a different class from ordinary folks like themselves. They never imagined that with just one phone call from Ge Dongxu, Wu Qianjin would not only have brought money but was also offering to help fetch medicine.

    "Okay then, Uncle Wu, there''s no need for this courtesy. I forgot to tell you that Yifan and Lehao have been best pals since middle school. Yifan, Uncle Wu here is Lehao''s uncle," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "So we''re all family," Wu Qianjin said in surprise at first and then burst into laughter.

    The Du Yifan family felt the same way.

    "We''re all family here; you go busy yourself with the factory. It''s enough if Yifan and I go for the medicine," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Hehe, then I won''t be polite," Wu Qianjin said. He left his business card with Du Haibin, expressing his concern and telling Du Haibin to rest well and call him anytime if he needed help.

    Du Haibin and his wife were naturally very grateful, but they both knew in their hearts that such concern from a big boss like Wu Qianjin was mainly due to their connection with Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu and Du Yifan left the building following Wu Qianjin downstairs.

    Wu Qianjin initially wanted to drive Ge Dongxu and Du Yifan, but Ge Dongxu gestured not to bother, and Wu Qianjin did not insist further.

    No sooner had Wu Qianjin and the other two left than Du Haibin rushed to get out of bed to urinate, producing a large volume, which left him and his wife so thrilled that they could not hold back their tears.

    It''s only after going through such hardships that one realizes how precious a normal life is.

    "Boss, I won''t say thanks. Anyway, from now on, my life, Du Yifan''s life, is yours, and I''ll do whatever you tell me to." As Du Yifan walked side by side with Ge Dongxu in the street, his face, normally marked by a sleazy expression, was now exceptionally serious.

    "Hey, what are you doing? Isn''t this a bit too dramatic?" Ge Dongxu punched Du Yifan in the chest, laughing.

    "Boss, maybe a small fry like me doesn''t amount to much to you, but I, Du Yifan..." Du Yifan said.

    "Damn it! What are you talking about? What do you mean not amounting to much to me? If you keep talking like that, do you believe I''ll punch you?" Ge Dongxu suddenly got angry. Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire

    Seeing Ge Dongxu angry, Du Yifan started crying, saying, "Anyway, you will always be my boss!"

    This time, Ge Dongxu said nothing, just firmly hugged his shoulder.

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 Chapter 166 Chain Hotels

    "With the college entrance exam coming up next year, what''s your plan moving forward? Are you going to put computer science on hold or continue with it?" Ge Dongxu asked as he released his grip and walked alongside Du Yifan."I''m drawn to the virtual data and worlds, and the development of computers is really fast nowadays. I don''t want my computer studies to lag behind because of the college entrance exam," Du Yifan said after some thought.

    "I''m not very knowledgeable in this area, but since you believe what you''re doing is right, stick with it. However, learning is endless; eventually, you''ll need to go to university to access higher levels of knowledge. Plus, much of that knowledge requires mental maturity and different life experiences to fully understand, so university life is indispensable for you. You definitely can''t slack off in your studies," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    The advice Ge Dongxu gave Du Yifan was also a reminder to himself. Otherwise, why would he bother going to university with his current abilities and wealth?

    "Boss, no wonder you''re so awesome, tricking one school sister after another. Turns out you have such a profound understanding of life at such a young age!" Upon hearing this, Du Yifan looked at Ge Dongxu with admiring eyes.

    "What the heck! When have I ever tricked any school sisters!" Ge Dongxu said, clearly annoyed, and gave Du Yifan''s head a good thump.

    "Ouch, if you keep hitting me on the head like that, the computer science field will lose a genius," Du Yifan exclaimed dramatically.

    "Genius my foot, let''s see if you can even get into a university first," Ge Dongxu said with an eye roll and annoyance.

    "I''m sure I can get into a university. It''s just uncertain which one I''ll get into, as you know my English and Chinese are rather weak," Du Yifan deflated like a punctured ball and said with a wry smile.

    "That''s not good," Ge Dongxu shook his head and after thinking for a moment, said, "How about this? Once your dad is better, come and stay with me. I''ll teach you a meditation technique which should help improve your study efficiency."

    "Meditation? Boss, don''t tell me you''re also a martial arts master?" Du Yifan''s eyes suddenly lit up with excitement.

    "Shall we have a go and see?" Ge Dongxu said with a smile, watching Du Yifan.

    "No way, with my skinny arms and legs, you could take me down easily even if you''re not a martial arts master. Let''s call Cheng Le Hao over next time. If you can take down both of us, then you''ll truly be a martial arts master," Du Yifan quickly sidestepped to avoid confrontation and said.

    "So in your eyes, taking down you and Cheng Le Hao qualifies someone as a martial arts master? That title isn''t worth much then," Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but laugh and cry at the remark.

    "Heh heh, all right, all right, let''s get serious, boss. Does that meditation technique really improve my study efficiency?" Du Yifan asked. As a former top student, Du Yifan naturally had his dream university in mind, but he didn''t want to neglect his computer studies. With such a divided focus, he could kiss that university goodbye.

    "At the very least, it can help you calm down when you get frustrated with learning Chinese and English," Ge Dongxu said.

    "That''s good enough for me. I''m fine with the sciences. Those are my biggest problems right now," Du Yifan said, delighted at the response.

    After the excitement, Du Yifan couldn''t help asking with some curiosity, "Why do you need me to move in with you just to teach me meditation? I usually sleep very late, and Cheng Le Hao''s place isn''t that big; I''m sure I''d disturb you."

    "Who said I still live with Cheng Le Hao? I moved out last year to live alone. And you think I want you to stay with me? Since you''re studying computer science and aiming for a good university, often staying up late, you''re certainly going to run out of energy. Staying with me should help keep your energy levels up," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "Damn it, you moved and you didn''t even tell me, you fatso!" Du Yifan cursed at Cheng Le Hao, then his face lit up with excitement and he said, "Could it be that the boss is planning to make some tonic for me to take every night?"

    As for whether Ge Dongxu was a martial arts master, Du Yifan had just asked casually; deep down he didn''t really believe that Ge Dongxu was a martial arts master. However, he had witnessed Ge Dongxu''s medical skills firsthand, which was the reason for his question.

    "If you don''t want to wake up with a nosebleed every morning, then no problem, I''ll brew a tonic for you every night," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Then I''d rather not, but if you''re not making tonics for me, why should I move in with you?" Du Yifan hastily waved his hands and asked with a puzzled look.

    "You''ll understand once you move in," Ge Dongxu said with a smile. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The place he was living in now was not only a Feng Shui treasure land in the Jiang Family village, but he had also specially arranged the Feng Shui when building the house. The spiritual energy inside was denser than other places, which naturally brought great benefits to anyone living there.

    "Oh!" Du Yifan, seeing that Ge Dongxu wouldn''t say more, didn''t dare to ask further. Just then, they arrived at the pharmacy.

    Ge Dongxu gave the prescription to the pharmacy owner, and after getting the medicine, he returned to Du Yifan''s house. As soon as he pushed open the door, he heard laughter from upstairs. Hearing the laughter, Du Yifan''s eyes couldn''t help but redden, and he stealthily wiped the corner of his eyes.

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    ...

    The summer vacation passed by quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was the final year of high school, twelfth grade.

    During the two months of the summer vacation, the sales of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory hit new highs again and again, with the sales volume in August reaching thirty-six million, double that of June.

    After continuous investment, Donglin Yue Clothing Company finally started to turn a profit during the summer vacation. Although it was still far from comparing with Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, the earnings were quite impressive, with the profits in August reaching 1.2 million. And this figure was set to continue growing rapidly with the increase in franchise stores.

    The company was finally making a profit, and with increasing funds, Lin Kun and Yue Ting proposed the concept of "virtual management" for the hotel, meaning to open a chain of budget franchise hotels.

    At this time, chain budget franchise hotels were an emerging industry in Huaxia Country, and Ge Dongxu thought this idea was feasible. Now that Donglin Yue Company had started making profits and the initial investment for a chain budget franchise hotel wasn''t too high, they could easily use the profits from Donglin Yue Clothing to acquire one or two small hotels in the capital of Jiangnan Province and some other Earth Level cities as company-owned hotels. They could gradually build up the brand and then expand further to attract franchise stores.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu agreed to the project, and an important factor was that Lin Kun''s family was in the hotel business, giving him experience in this field.

    After discussing, the three of them decided to name the hotel chain Kun Ting. ''Kun'' was taken from Lin Kun''s name and implied the concept of heaven and earth (Qiankun), while ''Ting'' was a homophone of Yue Ting''s name, with the meaning of ''courtyard''.

    ...

    Whether it was the herbal tea factory or opening a chain of hotels, Ge Dongxu didn''t need to worry about the details; he just needed to make decisions on the general direction.

    What he had to concern himself with now was that two fellows had suddenly moved into his house. One was naturally Du Yifan, who had already agreed to this, and the other, needless to say, was definitely Cheng Le Hao.

 Chapter 167 The Elderly

    Given the relationship between Ge Dongxu and Cheng Lehao, it made no sense for them to invite Du Yifan to stay at his place and leave Cheng Lehao out in the cold.So, before the school year started, Ge Dongxu had already suggested to Cheng Yazhou and his wife that Cheng Lehao stay with him.

    Others might not have known Ge Dongxu''s abilities, but Cheng Yazhou and his wife certainly did. With Ge Dongxu looking after their son, they were more than willing, continuously thanking him and telling him that if Cheng Lehao dared to not listen, Ge Dongxu should feel free to discipline him without holding back.

    Cheng Yezhou and his wife said this in front of Cheng Lehao, which really frustrated him, tears streaming down his face. Both were high school seniors, so why was there such a big gap between people?

    The villa was two stories high, with each floor covering about one hundred twenty square meters. The first floor, aside from the living room, dining room, kitchen, and bathroom, only had one guest room with an en-suite bathroom, so both the living room and guest room were quite spacious.

    The second floor had a master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, a study, and a cultivation room that Ge Dongxu had designed specifically for himself.

    As two people were moving in, Ge Dongxu thought about moving into the cultivation room himself, offering the master bedroom to one of them. However, the two guys were insistent, adamantly choosing to stay together in the guest room downstairs, saying it would be more convenient for Ge Dongxu if he ever brought a female classmate back upstairs.

    Of course, it was impossible for Ge Dongxu to bring a female classmate home to stay, but having someone live upstairs did make his cultivation inconvenient. Besides, that room downstairs was very spacious, easily accommodating two single beds and two desks. Since Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao did not mind sharing a room, Ge Dongxu just went along with it.

    The day the two moved in, Ge Dongxu taught them meditation and the basics of breath control.

    These were very basic cultivation methods, not some profound mental techniques. For those with good talent, it might be possible to gradually step into the threshold of cultivation. For those with average talent, like Cheng Lehao and Du Yifan at their age, these techniques could only help in maintaining health and prolonging life, definitely not enough to step into the realm of cultivation.

    Just like learning a language, cultivation should start in early childhood, becoming a mother tongue, a part of the body, otherwise, it''s merely parroting, unable to truly integrate a language into one''s bones.

    Even so, with the rich spiritual energy in Ge Dongxu''s villa, once he taught Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao the techniques of meditation and breath control, and they followed the practices for half an hour, they felt indescribably refreshed and clear-headed.

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    "Wow, it really is miraculous! I feel so energetic now. No wonder, boss, your academic performance is so good; you had this great technique!" Cheng Lehao exclaimed with an exaggerated face.

    "Thank you, boss. With this technique, I''m sure I can get into Huaqing University," Du Yifan said. After experiencing the incident with his father, Du Yifan had become much more composed than before.

    "What''s so good about Huaqing? I want to go to Yuezhou University. I hear the girls there are very open-minded, and it''s all bikinis on the beach in summer!" Cheng Lehao immediately said disdainfully.

    "Cut it out!" Ge Dongxu and Du Yifan gave him a contemptuous hand gesture together.

    And so, Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao settled into Ge Dongxu''s home.

    They both understood that their senior year was crucial. They were conscientious without needing Ge Dongxu''s supervision. Plus, living on different floors, they did not disturb Ge Dongxu''s cultivation. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    About a month had passed, and Du Yifan had improved significantly in a quiz, reaching fifth place in his class, while Cheng Lehao progressed even more, shooting from around thirtieth to the top ten. When the results came out, his parents were overjoyed, and they specially prepared a meal to thank Ge Dongxu on a weekend, which left Lehao feeling quite frustrated.

    It seemed that after all that effort, Lehao''s improvement was credited to Ge Dongxu, and had nothing to do with him personally.

    In Jiangnan Province, the weather starts to cool down after November, bringing intermittent autumn rains, yet the herb tea business did not slow down after the hot summer, instead, it continued to rise, albeit not as dramatically as during the summer because of the weather.

    Donglin Yue''s clothing company was not affected by the weather and continued to expand its franchises at a rapid pace. Kunting Chain Hotels finally opened its first directly-managed store in Ouzhou City in November, with the second one located in Linzhou in the provincial capital, where they had outright purchased a small hotel that was currently undergoing intensive renovations.

    However, none of these concerned Ge Dongxu; his primary focus was his master Ren Yao''s gravesite and the slightly better-than-thatched cottage he used to live in called the Broken Taoist Temple.

    Although it is said that after death, rest in peace, no amount of work posthumously could compare to filial piety during one''s lifetime. But now that Ge Dongxu had money, he still wanted to do something for his master. He spent money to rebuild the little Broken Taoist Temple, enshrined portraits of Ge Hong and his master, and spent more money to refurbish his master''s grave, planting flowers, plants, and trees around it according to the Feng Shui layout.

    Everything was modest, without purposely expanding the land, but many aspects like portraits, inscriptions, talismans, planting trees, and selecting stones and wood were personally tended to by Ge Dongxu during the summer break and several weekends after school started.

    Because every detail was meticulously crafted and thought out, by this weekend, the seemingly small project was finally completed.

    Carrying a real twenty-year-aged Huadiao wine and a beggar''s chicken, Ge Dongxu went early on Saturday morning to his master''s gravesite.

    "Master, I have reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivation now, and I estimate that it won''t be long before I reach the Sixth Layer. If I can keep up this pace, there''s a good chance I might reach the legendary Dragon Tiger Realm. Isn''t that impressive, Master? It''s just a pity you can''t see this. Otherwise, you would have been extremely delighted," Ge Dongxu poured a cup of wine for his master and one for himself, then mused aloud.

    ¡­

    Capital City, a plain gray-bricked courtyard in a back alley behind Zhongshan Mountain. However, this inconspicuous courtyard stood out because there were two armed police officers standing guard on each side of the gate.

    A solemn atmosphere subtly emanated from the courtyard, causing anyone approaching it to unconsciously slow down their steps, speak softly, and refrain from loud or disruptive behavior.

    Today was a rainy day, and being in the north, Capital City felt the brunt of the cold wave from Siberia sooner than Jiangnan Province.

    Inside one room of the courtyard, the heating was fully turned on.

    An elderly man sat in a wheelchair, and though the heat was fully on, his thighs were still covered with a woolen blanket.

    The old man was frail, his back slightly hunched, and his face was covered with wrinkles like old tree bark, his hair and beard white. He was wearing glasses and reading a newspaper, evoking an image of benevolence that one might see on television.

    But if Ge Dongxu were here, he would definitely sense the dense, lingering Evil Qi and the innate authority surrounding the old man that required no anger to assert itself.

 Chapter 168 A Familiar Taste

    "Cough cough!" The old man suddenly covered his mouth, coughing violently, the nursing staff on standby hurriedly stepped forward, gently patting the elderly man''s back.After some time, the old man finally stopped coughing, gasping for air.

    "I''m old, so old, no good anymore." The old man shook his head, then returned to reading his newspaper.

    However, after just a short while, he started coughing violently again.

    "Commander, how about taking some medicine?" the nursing staff whispered gently.

    "No need, no need. This is an old problem of mine. When this season comes around, I''m always like this, can barely make it out of bed, and the coughing is unbearable. Even if you were to bring me medicine, it would only provide temporary relief. In the end, my stomach and intestines would be the ones to suffer." The old man had grown wise to his illness, knowing that medicine is good, but it also damages the gut. Once the gut is upset, frequent trips to the restroom become necessary. His legs weren''t convenient for him anymore, and he hated having digestive problems the most.

    Seeing the old man''s refusal to take medicine, the nursing staff had no other option but to continue gently patting his back, hoping to smooth out his breathing.

    But just as the old man had said, it didn''t take long before he began coughing again.

    The nursing staff was both anxious and heartbroken to see the old man suffering so much from his cough.

    This anxiety and sympathy reminded her of something. She was trained in medicine and had never believed in the healing and qi-nourishing properties attributed to herbal teas. However, just recently, she had a sore throat and felt a bit inflamed, and someone had happened to gift her a case of Qinghe Herbal Tea. She decided to give it a try.

    Surprisingly, it did have some effect¡ªcooling and refreshing, and it didn''t upset her stomach at all. After drinking it for a few days, her throat pain had completely disappeared.

    "Commander, you are sensitive to cold in your stomach. How about I fetch you a hot bottle of herbal tea? There''s one that was released a while ago that I tried and felt was quite good, and it won''t harm the gut," the nursing staff hesitated before suggesting.

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    "Herbal tea is good, I do like to drink it. Unfortunately, although herbal tea is good, the person who truly knew how to brew it is no longer here. Today''s herbal teas, they''re not the same!" The old man''s eyes revealed a trace of reminiscence and sorrow.

    The old man''s remark suddenly turned the nursing staff''s complexion deathly pale.

    The ancient saying goes, serving a leader is as dangerous as tending to a tiger. Although the old man had always been kind to her and never spoken a harsh word to her, his identity was extraordinary, a founding general who once held a vice-national level office. Even if he was kind and affable, she walked on thin ice every day in caring for him, allowing no room for the slightest error or neglect. Now that the old man suddenly mentioned that the person who truly knew how to brew herbal tea was gone, how could it not frighten her?

    The old man, having experienced countless trials and tribulations, and met innumerable people, saw the sudden change in the nursing staff''s complexion and immediately knew he had alarmed her. He quickly said, "Lin, don''t overthink it. I was just reminded of some old memories. Your suggestion is good. Go ahead, just as you said and get me a hot bottle of herbal tea to try."

    Relieved by the old man''s words, the one called Lin, the nursing staff, said, "All right, I''ll ask for permission. If it''s okay, I''ll heat it up and bring it over to you, Commander."

    "Herbal tea is just a drink, not a medication. Drinking a bit won''t hurt; there''s no need to be so nervous," the old man commented.

    Lin smiled and replied that she understood, but after leaving, she still asked the healthcare doctor responsible for the old man for approval before heating up a bottle of Qinghe Herbal Tea and pouring it into a cup for him.

    "This herbal tea! This herbal tea!" After taking a sip of the Qinghe Herbal Tea, the old man''s hand suddenly began to tremble. He muttered again and again, and the corners of his eyes appeared to dampen suddenly.

    "Commander, Commander, I''m sorry, I''m sorry. If you don''t like the taste of this herbal tea, I''ll dispose of it right away," the nursing staff said, seeing the old man''s sudden agitation, she became so nervous that her face turned white.

    "Who said I don''t like this herbal tea? This is real herbal tea! Real herbal tea!" The old man suddenly raised his voice, then gulped down an entire bowl of herbal tea in one go.

    "Ah, so cool and refreshing, comfortable! Just a bit too sweet!" After finishing, the old man put down the cup and took a deep breath, then suddenly became lost in thought, with a tear streaming down from the corner of his eye.

    Seeing the old man suddenly in tears, the nursing staff was so frightened that they didn''t even dare to breathe, full of regret internally.

    This time they had been done in by Qinghe Herbal Tea¡ªif only they hadn''t mentioned it!

    The old man this time seemed not to notice he had startled the nursing staff; he let the tears fall from the corners of his eyes as memories flickered through his mind.

    It was a time of war, an era when Huaxia Country suffered under the oppressive devastation of foreign powers.

    Countless joyful families were torn apart by the conflict, and numerous children lost their loved ones in the chaos of war.

    The old man was no exception.

    He had lost his family and even found himself collapsing on the roadside, barely breathing from hunger and disease¡ªif it hadn''t been for a middle-aged man who had passed by and kindly saved him, he would have long ceased to exist.

    That year he was twelve.

    The middle-aged man took care of him with great dedication, and during that time, the old man witnessed the man slaying several bandits trying to rob them using magical Techniques.

    With the attentive care of the middle-aged man, the old man quickly recovered. After his recovery, he wanted to become the man''s disciple and learn his Techniques to kill enemies and serve his country.

    But the middle-aged man said that he was already too old and not suited for the path of cultivation; he only taught him the most basic meditation and Breath Control techniques and left him in the care of a farming family before drifting away.

    After that, the old man never saw the middle-aged man who had saved him, took care of him, and taught him meditation and Breath Control again. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Armed with the Breath Control and meditation Techniques given by the middle-aged man, and his innate talent in warfare, he remained composed in every major battle and gradually grew into an outstanding soldier. Moreover, because of the Breath Control and meditation techniques taught by the middle-aged man, during the tumultuous years after the founding of the country, although he went through political persecution, was sent to the coldest places for re-education, and was confined to a cattle shed¡ªwhile many of his former comrades in arms could not endure and perished in that peaceful era¡ªhe survived. Despite being left with many ailments, he remained strong and lived to see the present day, becoming one of the last surviving founding generals of Huaxia Country.

    As people grow older, they tend to reminisce more about their younger days.

    In his lifetime, the old man had acted with integrity, without guilt in his heart. Now that the country was growing stronger and his children and grandchildren were all grown up and successful, he felt very comforted despite his poor health. The only regret that often came to mind was that he never saw that benefactor again, the middle-aged man who had been like a teacher and mentor in practice, if not in name.

    Now, this cup of Qinghe Herbal Tea made him think of that benefactor once more for it was he who had once given him tea with this very flavor while taking care of him.

    Over the years, the old man had always enjoyed drinking herbal tea, but he had never found the taste he truly longed for, hence why he previously said that while herbal tea was good, the person who really knew how to make it was no longer around.

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 Chapter 169 As Soon As Possible

    "Xiaolin, haha, I didn''t scare you, did I? Don''t worry, I''m fine, very fine, and I really need to thank you for introducing such good herbal tea to me." The elderly man gently wiped away the tears from the corner of his eyes and said with a smile to the nurse.With that smile, the wrinkles on his face became even more pronounced, but they seemed to radiate a light. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Really? If you like it, I''ll heat up another cup for you next time," Xiaolin said, his heart finally settling as he spoke with a face full of surprise.

    "That''s a must. Now I need to make a phone call," the elder laughed.

    Upon hearing that he wanted to make a phone call, Xiaolin quickly handed him the phone.

    As the elder took the phone, he asked Xiaolin, "What did you say this herbal tea is called?"

    "Reporting to the commander, this herbal tea is called Qinghe Herbal Tea, produced in Jiangnan Province," Xiaolin replied, confusion flickering in his eyes. The old commander had always been focused on national affairs and rarely inquired about such matters.

    "Qinghe Herbal Tea, Jiangnan Province, alright," the old man nodded and then dialed a number.

    As soon as the call connected, a solemn and steady voice came from the other end.

    "Send me the information on Jiangnan Province''s Qinghe Herbal Tea Factory," the elder ordered straightforwardly.

    Xiaolin knew the elder rarely made calls, and when he did, it was always about something important. But he had never imagined that this time the call would be to request information on the Qinghe Herbal Tea Factory; he was so shocked his eyeballs nearly popped out of their sockets.

    After that phone call, the elder made another call to his daughter in the capital, asking her to come home.

    The two calls were made one after the other, and as a result, the information on Jiangnan Province''s Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory reached the elder''s hands before his daughter arrived at the Siheyuan.

    The old man originally had three sons and two daughters, but one son and one daughter died during the years of war unrest, leaving him with only two sons and one daughter.

    The two sons were both out of town; one was a local government official governing a region, and the other was a group army commander, while the daughter worked at the central bank.

    The daughter who worked at the central bank was the youngest child of the family. Her name was Feng Jiahui, a middle-aged woman in her forties, dressed neatly and conservatively, with a face that carried a certain degree of authority.

    "Dad, was there an emergency for you to suddenly call me back?" On her return home and seeing the old man sitting well in his wheelchair looking at the documents, Feng Jiahui breathed a sigh of relief and asked with a puzzled face.

    In families like theirs, in the eyes of ordinary people, phone calls between family members often carry a special and significant meaning.

    "Take a look at this," said the old man, handing over the documents to Feng Jiahui.

    Feng Jiahui took the documents and looked at them, noticing they were about Jiangnan Province''s Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory. The puzzled expression on her face deepened as she said, "Dad, why have you suddenly taken an interest in a small enterprise?"

    Feng Jiahui, as a central bank leader, had encountered countless large enterprises and corporations, including some of the world''s top 500 firms. The Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory might have been flourishing recently, but in her eyes, it was still nothing more than a small local business.

    Even she considered it to be just a small enterprise, so one could imagine what significance it held in the view of her father, who once commanded great influence in the world? Yet, her father had urgently summoned her to look at the information on such a small business, which couldn''t help but leave her perplexed.

    "This is not merely a small business, but a very special one," the elderly man said with a smile.

    "What''s so special about it? Is it just developing quickly? Oh, there is an interesting shareholder; the factory was established when he was not yet seventeen. But that''s not very unusual, there are quite a few teenagers like that in the capital." Hearing this, Feng Jiahui looked again but failed to see anything particular. The only notable thing was that the shareholder, Ge Dongxu, was somewhat young.

    Nevertheless, in those days, there was no shortage of wealthy second-generation individuals or children of officials, who, with the help of their families'' wealth and power, achieved something at a young age ¨C this was hardly a rare occurrence.

    Even if they were not the second-generation of the wealthy or officials, in a country as large as Huaxia, it wasn''t too extraordinary to see a few business prodigies emerge.

    People at Feng Jiahui''s level, who viewed the world from high above, were accustomed to encountering people who appeared impressive to the average person, but at her level, these individuals didn''t seem too remarkable.

    "Never mind, you won''t understand even if you look. Do you remember the lifesaver I mentioned to you before?" the elderly man asked.

    "Of course, I remember. He taught you the methods of deep contemplation and Breath Control," Feng Jiahui replied, her thoughts struggling to keep up with the leaps in her father''s conversation.

    "That savior once brewed a kind of herbal tea for me to drink; it had this Qinghe Herbal Tea flavor," said the elderly man. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire

    "Ah! Does that mean that this Qinghe Herbal Tea is very likely run by the descendants of your savior?" Feng Jiahui had ascended to her position as a central bank leader not just on her family connections¡ªshe was smart and capable in her own right. As soon as the old man mentioned this, she immediately grasped the implication.

    "Exactly! Not being able to see the savior again and offer my gratitude has always been a regret weighing on my heart. Fortuitously, heaven seemed to show pity, offering me a clue before I pass away. Even if I cannot offer gratitude to him personally, meeting his descendants to express my feelings would still be gratifying," the elderly man said with melancholy, his emotions weighing on him, causing him to cough again.

    "Dad, don''t get excited. Now that we have a clue, we can just invite the person over and find out," Feng Jiahui quickly stood up and gently patted the old man''s back while trying to console him.

    "If it is indeed the descendant of the savior, it would be inappropriate to neglect our manners. Ideally, I should be the one to visit him personally, but given my current physical condition and status, it''s not advisable for me to travel. That''s why I need you to invite this Tang Yiyuan to the capital," the elder said.

    Obviously, even with the old man''s wisdom, he had been mistaken this time, thinking that the traditional Chinese medicine professor, Tang Yiyuan, was the descendant of his savior, not realizing it was Ge Dongxu.

    Given the common perceptions, it was understandable, as Tang Yiyuan, in terms of both age and status, seemed more likely to be that person''s descendant.

    A professor of traditional Chinese medicine would ordinarily not warrant attention from a central bank leader, much less a personal reception by the child of a vice-national level leader. However, since her father had made the request, and considering that it was very likely the descendant of his savior, Feng Jiahui did not dare to object. She said, "Alright, I will delegate my work and fly to Linzhou City today."

    "Good, as soon as possible!" the old man nodded, his eyes conveying a sense of anticipation.

    Although he only uttered the simple words "as soon as possible," they carried exceptional weight, coming from a person of his stature and age. He remained composed even in the face of major national affairs and rarely spoke with such urgency; but today, he had. Understanding the significance of his words, even as his daughter, Feng Jiahui did not dare to take them lightly. She quickly replied, "I''ll make arrangements right now."

    After speaking, Feng Jiahui hurriedly left the courtyard home. On her way, she called her secretary and asked her to book the next available flight to Linzhou City.

 Chapter 170 Someone Else

    Although Tang Yiyuan had frequently visited the provincial government residence and was a significant figure in the medical community of Jiangnan Province, he had never imagined that one day he would step into this solemn siheyuan, nor had he imagined that he would meet this elder, whom he could only ever see on television.Before coming, Feng Jiahui had not told Tang Yiyuan why her father had invited him. It would be more appropriate for her father to explain this matter. Moreover, back then, that person had not even left a name for her father. After so many years, she, an outsider, truly had no way to clarify.

    "Elder, Elder Chief, hello!" Even as someone well-traveled, Tang Yiyuan felt a surge of warmth around his eyes and instinctively straightened his back when he saw the elder.

    Not knowing why, the elder felt a bit disappointed upon seeing Tang Yiyuan because his instincts told him that this man was definitely not the Descendant or inheritor of his benefactor.

    However, the fact that Tang Yiyuan had produced Qinghe Herbal Tea was undeniable. And so, despite some disappointment, the elder still welcomed him with a smile, "Ha-ha, Professor Tang, please, have a seat, a seat."

    "Yes, Elder Chief." Tang Yiyuan took a deep breath and then carefully took his seat, keeping his spine straight.

    Seeing Tang Yiyuan acting so constrained and nervous, the elder became even more convinced that he was not the person he was looking for.

    Because in the elder''s mind, that person''s every action exuded a strong sense of confidence and ease. Even if his Descendant didn''t have comparable abilities, at least he should have inherited a bit of his confidence and ease.

    "You must be wondering why I invited you here, aren''t you?" the elder said cheerfully.

    Tang Yiyuan glanced at the elder''s legs covered with a blanket, his eyes showing confusion, and nodded, "Yes, Elder Chief."

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    Although his medical skills were excellent, what place was the capital? It was a gathering place for National Medical Masters. Tang Yiyuan was not yet confident enough to think that the elder''s daughter had invited him from afar just to treat the elder.

    "Who gave you the formula for this Qinghe Herbal Tea?" the elder saw Tang Yiyuan''s confused expression, smiled, and finally got to the point.

    Tang Yiyuan trembled when he heard this question and then suddenly became very tense.

    He finally understood why the elder had invited him¡ªit was because of the Qinghe Herbal Tea, or rather, because of Ge Dongxu behind the Qinghe Herbal Tea!

    No one knew better than Tang Yiyuan the miraculous nature of Ge Dongxu, especially his dealings with jade, which were shrouded in indescribable mystery!

    But the more mysterious a person, the greater the matters they are likely involved in!

    Now indeed, because of Qinghe Herbal Tea, he had alarmed this former influential figure of Huaxia Country!

    But was this a good thing or a bad thing? As the saying goes, a tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. For someone like Ge Dongxu, who possessed miraculous abilities, what awaited him once the state discovered him?

    Tang Yiyuan felt utterly unsure!

    So, he was nervous. Faced with a simple question, he did not know how to respond. Because Ge Dongxu had told him they were friends, but in reality, he was also his teacher, and subconsciously, Tang Yiyuan wanted to protect him.

    "Don''t be nervous. The owner of this formula is in my good graces," the elder noticed Tang Yiyuan''s nervousness and hurriedly reassured him with a smile.

    Tang Yiyuan looked at the elder, knowing the elder''s reputation and status, he surely didn''t need to lie to him. Moreover, with the elder''s status, if he were to delve deeper into the investigation, it would be easy to uncover Ge Dongxu. Hence, Tang Yiyuan finally let go of his nervousness and honestly replied, "Elder Chief, since you are aware of me, it must mean you have seen information about our Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory. You should know our factory has a young major shareholder, Ge Dongxu."

    "It''s him!" The elder was slightly stunned by this revelation. He had thought that if it was not Tang Yiyuan, then it must be one of Tang Yiyuan''s elders or someone similar. He hadn''t expected that, after all the twists and turns, it would lead back to the young shareholder of the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory.

    "That''s right, the formula was provided by him. Since he still needs to study, he gave the formula to me and asked me to be in charge of the technology," Tang Yiyuan explained.

    "I didn''t expect that I was the one who misjudged!" The elder found the situation somewhat worth both tears and laughter, and Feng Jiahui felt it the most.

    Because this meant that her trip had been in vain and that she would need to make another trip, and this time, to invite a high school student.

    Keep in mind that she is a central bank leader!

    But the problem is that her father couldn''t care less whether she was a leader or not!

    "Since the old chief wants to meet him, why don''t I give him a call and ask him to come to the capital," Tang Yiyuan mustered his courage and said. After all, Ge Dongxu wanting to keep a low profile definitely wouldn''t be possible anymore, so it''s better to take initiative.

    "Let Feng Jiahui go again. After all, the young man is just a high school student. It''s not good for him to travel so far alone, and also someone needs to find a reason to inform his school," the elder said.

    Since the elder had spoken, Tang Yiyuan naturally did not dare to speak further, and Feng Jiahui felt the same. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    She just had to make another trip to Jiangnan Province, but this time Tang Yiyuan accompanied her.

    ...

    Ge Dongxu had never imagined that one day he would be face-to-face with the old revolutionary he had seen in history books and on television.

    To say he wasn''t thrilled would be a lie; this was a genuine hero of the resistance against Japan, a figure nobody in Huaxia Country could meet without feeling stirred and deeply respectful! Ge Dongxu was no exception.

    He had admired this veteran of the resistance against Japan since he was very young!

    However, Ge Dongxu wasn''t particularly nervous or uneasy; instead, he excitedly bowed and said, "Hello, Grandpa Feng!"

    From the moment Ge Dongxu stepped through the door, Elder Feng knew he was the person he had been looking for because he saw that person''s reflection in him¡ªcalm, confident, cool, and with an especially sharp gaze, as if he could see through everything.

    "Who taught you the herbal tea formula? Cough cough¡­" Seeing the person he was looking for, the elder''s excitement was no less than Ge Dongxu''s, and he immediately asked with a trembling voice, even erupting into a severe cough due to his agitation.

    "Dad! Please, don''t get too excited," Feng Jiahui hurried forward and gently patted the elder''s back.

    But once the elder caught his breath, it didn''t settle easily, and in her urgency, Feng Jiahui''s patting became somewhat forceful.

    "Let me do it!" Seeing Feng Jiahui being a bit too rough, Ge Dongxu stepped forward and offered. He couldn''t care less that this was Elder Feng''s house, and that, normally, an ordinary person shouldn''t get too close to an elder with such a status.

    "No way!" Feng Jiahui swiftly rejected him without a second thought, joking aside, what status her father held, how could she let a young kid pat his back.

    If he wasn''t gentle enough and caused any pain, that would be too much to bear!

    "I understand medicine," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Even if you do, it''s a no," Feng Jiahui replied instantly. In her eyes, Ge Dongxu was just a high school student, how much could he possibly know about medicine?

    ps: Traveling outside, I carry my laptop, tickets in hand, paying during the day, playing, writing at night to make a living, really up early till late, quite tired, today only two chapters, sorry.

 Chapter 171 The Benefactors Disciple

    Seeing Feng Jiahui say this, Ge Dongxu could no longer intervene, so he could only shake his head, preparing to take a seat."Cough cough, let him come." However, Elder Feng, while coughing and gasping for air, pointed at Ge Dongxu.

    "Dad! He''s just a high school student, what if he''s not careful..." Feng Jiahui couldn''t help being somewhat anxious.

    Since the matters discussed between Ge Dongxu and Elder Feng involved Elder Feng''s private affairs that had been sealed away for many years, there were only Ge Dongxu and her in the room, without any nursing staff accompanying them. As for Tang Yiyuan, who returned with Ge Dongxu, he didn''t come back up.

    Since he was not related to the Qinghe Herbal Tea formula, it was naturally inappropriate for him to freely enter and exit this Siheyuan.

    Yet Elder Feng kept pointing at Ge Dongxu, gasping for breath.

    Feng Jiahui, knowing her father''s temper, did not dare to disobey and could only instruct seriously, "Be careful, and make sure you don''t overdo it."

    Ge Dongxu furrowed his brows slightly, somewhat displeased, "I understand medicine, I know what to do."

    What a joke, if Elder Feng wasn''t a respected veteran of the revolution he admired, with Feng Jiahui''s attitude, he probably wouldn''t have even bothered to lend a hand!

    Who was Feng Jiahui? Not to mention coming from a prominent family, just the position she held, many people could only look up to her. When had she ever been talked back to by a high school student, frowning like this, her face couldn''t help but reveal a tinge of indignation. She really wanted to explode, but seeing her father glaring at her, she ultimately moved aside helplessly, yet her gaze was sternly fixed on Ge Dongxu.

    As a cultivator who seeks the path to undying life, who masters the arts of flying and escaping through earth and moving mountains and seas, Ge Dongxu may appear friendly on the surface, like a boy-next-door, but deep down he has the pride of a cultivator. How could he be frightened by Feng Jiahui''s glare? Not only was he not intimidated, but he also returned a faint glance to Feng Jiahui, nearly making her choke on her own anger.

    In this day and age, only this young man in front of her dared to disregard her so blatantly.

    Walking behind the elderly man, Ge Dongxu did not lightly pat the man''s back, but instead gently massaged the Dingchuan acupoint on his cervical spine, while his other hand was placed on the Tianchu acupoint in the center of the sternum, gently massaging both at the same time. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu placing his hands on the elderly man''s cervical spine and the center depression of the sternum, Feng Jiahui''s face changed dramatically, and she immediately shouted sternly, "What are you doing?"

    "I should be asking you that! Making such a fuss. Didn''t your father teach you how to treat guests?" The one who answered Feng Jiahui was not Ge Dongxu, but the angry voice of Elder Feng.

    His voice was full of strength, not at all like someone who had just been gasping for breath.

    "Dad, are you alright?" Feng Jiahui exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise, forgetting even her father''s rebuke that she did not know how to treat guests.

    "With this young man''s help, what could possibly be wrong with me! Now apologize to him!" Elder Feng said with a stern face.

    Only then did Feng Jiahui realize that her father was angry, and she immediately showed a sincere and fearful expression.

    Life is like that, when she gained certain things, sometimes she inevitably lost others. In ordinary households, it was normal for fathers to scold their children, and it even felt warm at times, because that''s what made a family feel like a family. But in a political family like the Fengs, Elder Feng''s scoldings often held a different significance, making children like Feng Jiahui unable to view their father''s scoldings with the same perspective as the children from ordinary families would from a young age.

    Even though the old man had long since retired, this situation hadn''t changed much.

    Seeing Elder Feng''s anger, Feng Jiahui, who was just over forty, became so flustered, Ge Dongxu felt somewhat guilty and hastily said, "Elder Feng, please don''t be angry. Aunt Feng just didn''t expect me to understand medical practices at such a young age, and I hadn''t explained beforehand that I would massage the Dingchuan and Tiantu acupoints."

    "Hmph!" Elder Feng''s expression softened slightly upon hearing this, he glared at his daughter, then looked at Ge Dongxu with a tender and kindly smile and revisited the old question, "Who exactly passed on to you the recipe for this herbal tea?"

    "My late master!" Ge Dongxu replied, a hint of sorrow flashing in his eyes.

    Ge Hong was the founder of Taoist herbal tea, but many of the recipes had been lost. The Qinghe Herbal Tea recipe, however, had been passed down, and Ren Yao had even taught it to Ge Dongxu. When Ge Dongxu thought about going into the herbal tea business, he went through the various herbal tea recipes that Ge Hong had left behind in his mind and ultimately chose Qinghe Herbal Tea.

    "I''m sorry for bringing up a painful memory, but please forgive me for asking you one more thing," Elder Feng asked with a hint of disappointment and apology in his eyes. "Did your master ever mention your grandmaster to you?"

    In Elder Feng''s view, the benefactor was at least thirty years his senior, and would be over a hundred years old by now if still alive. Ge Dongxu was so young that it was definitely not possible for him to be a direct descendant, but perhaps it was possible for him to be a disciple or even a grand-disciple. Normally, it would have been most appropriate to ask his master, but to Elder Feng''s surprise, Ge Dongxu was so young, and his master had already passed away.

    "May I ask why Elder Feng is so concerned with Qinghe Herbal Tea?" Ge Dongxu counter-asked instead of answering.

    This question had been lingering in his mind all the way here.

    "Because I drank this tea when I was young," the old man said with a nostalgic expression on his face. "That year, I was twelve and had fallen severely ill. I had gone several days without food and was undoubtedly on death''s door. Later, a middle-aged cultivator came and saved me, then looked after me diligently. During that time, I drank the chilled tea he brewed, which had the taste of Qinghe Herbal Tea. Right, he also taught me meditation and ''Breath Control'' techniques. Without those methods of meditation and ''Breath Control,'' I might not be in this world anymore. I have always wanted to find him, but unfortunately, he didn''t leave his name, and in the chaos of war, there was no way to start. As time passed, it became even harder to locate him. This incident has always been a regret in my heart. Oh, I remember he had a small Peach Wood Sword and a Bagua Furnace pendant on his waist at the time."

    After saying this, Ge Dongxu already knew who Elder Feng was talking about, and his eyes couldn''t help but redden. He took out his wallet, and then from it, he pulled out a yellowed photograph.

    In the photo was a white-haired cultivator leading a child in patched clothing.

    This was the only photograph that Ge Dongxu had taken with his master, and he always carried it with him.

    "Is it him?" Ge Dongxu asked, his voice trembling.

    "It''s him! It''s him! How do you have his photo?" Although many years had passed, and although Elder Feng had seen Ren Yao as a middle-aged man, he immediately recognized the white-haired old Daoist in the photograph as his benefactor, the one who had taught him meditation and ''Breath Control'' techniques.

    "The child he''s leading is me!" Tears fell from Ge Dongxu''s eyes.

    "You! You are the disciple of my benefactor!" Upon hearing this, Elder Feng''s whole body shook, and he then tried to stand up tremblingly from his wheelchair, tears rolling down from his increasingly cloudy old eyes. Enjoy new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 172 Senior Brother Feng

    "Elder Feng, what are you doing? Please, sit down." Ge Dongxu saw Elder Feng trying to stand up and hurriedly came forward to support him."How can you call me Elder Feng? Speaking of which, your master was not only my benefactor but also my mentor! It''s a shame that he told me I was already old and not the right person for cultivation, so he didn''t pass on his true skills to me." Elder Feng managed to stand up despite trembling slightly, his hands shaking as he held a photograph.

    "Dad, please sit down." Feng Jiahui knew about her father''s painful leg condition, and seeing him standing unsteadily, she quickly stepped forward to persuade him.

    "No, you help Dad place this photo properly; Dad wants to pay his respects with a bow," Elder Feng said, waving his hand.

    "Elder Feng, you really shouldn''t, especially with my picture on there. Please sit down. I took care of master''s funeral and burial, after all. Another day, I will take you to visit his resting place to pay our respects," Ge Dongxu said, startled at his words.

    "Really? You were the one who attended to the benefactor''s last rites?" Elder Feng asked, gripping Ge Dongxu''s arm excitedly, his voice trembling.

    "Yes," Ge Dongxu said.

    "That''s good, that''s good," Elder Feng said, finally sitting back down.

    Seeing her father return to his seat, Feng Jiahui silently heaved a sigh of relief, then cast a complicated look at Ge Dongxu.

    Who would have thought that such a young man would be the disciple of her father''s benefactor?

    "Dongxu, others may call me Elder Feng, but you should not. You are his disciple, and I not only received his great kindness but also his teachings of contemplation and Breath Control¡ªeven though we don''t have the name of master and disciple, in reality, it exists. If you don''t mind, call me Elder Brother Feng as a favor to fulfill a wish of mine," Elder Feng said affectionately, holding Ge Dongxu''s hand.

    "Elder Brother Feng!" Feng Jiahui''s mouth fell open, and her eyes widened in shock upon hearing this.

    If this young man was to address her father as a fellow disciple, what would she do? Should she call a high school student her "uncle" in seniority? She''d be laughed at to death!

    However, to Ge Dongxu it wasn''t that surprising; his master was a very traditional man. The fact that he taught Elder Feng the methods of contemplation and Breath Control showed that he truly considered taking him as a disciple. However, Elder Feng was then quite old and not suited for cultivation, which is why my master dismissed that thought, only teaching him the most basic contemplation and Breath Control methods. Given that, it''s true there was an actual master-disciple relationship, just without the formal name.

    "Alright, from now on I''ll call you Elder Brother Feng," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment, feeling that from his master''s generation, this manner of addressing was indeed proper. In fact, calling him Elder Feng or Grandpa Feng seemed somewhat disrespectful to his master, so he nodded and agreed.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu, this youngster, actually nod and agree, Feng Jiahui almost rolled her eyes and fainted.

    However, Elder Feng''s reaction was the complete opposite; hearing Ge Dongxu agree, he couldn''t help but burst into happy laughter, "Ha ha! Good! Good! Who would have thought that I, Feng Boyi, close to death''s door, would end up gaining a junior disciple!"

    It was strange that for someone in Elder Feng''s condition, such a burst of laughter would normally lead to a coughing fit, but this time there was no issue at all.

    "Ha ha, Elder Brother, you''re still full of vitality; how can you say you''re close to departing?" Ge Dongxu, suddenly with a new elder brother, felt quite joyful and joked with a smile.

    Elder Feng struck a chord with him because of his connection with his own master, lending an exceptional familiarity to their relationship, and seeing him gave him the feeling of seeing his master again.

    "Old indeed, old indeed. I''ll be ninety in two more years, brother. If I can make it to ninety, I''ll be completely satisfied," Elder Feng said with an open smile, waving his hand.

    "By the time my senior brother was twelve, he had already obtained Master''s instruction in deep contemplation and Breath Control methods, and he has been persistent throughout the years. Although his body has suffered some distress due to the hardships over the years, the energy within him is robust. It''s not just ninety years, I think even a hundred would pose no problem." When Ge Dongxu was massaging Elder Feng''s Dingchuan and Tiantu acupoints, he had already noticed that Elder Feng''s physical organs were quite deteriorated, but the energy within his Meridians was far from the decay of his body. Instead, it was brimming with vitality.

    "Ha ha, birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural laws, Dongxu, you don''t have to comfort me. Moreover, even if I live, having to sit in a wheelchair frequently makes for a rather dull existence over time," Elder Feng patted Ge Dongxu''s hand and said with a smile, revealing a touch of emotion in his eyes.

    He could tell, this newly accepted little junior brother, Ge Dongxu, genuinely wished for him to live a long and healthy life.

    "Ha ha, has senior brother forgotten who my master is? This little ailment of yours may be beyond others, but I have a way," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    "Do you really have a way?" Feng Jiahui immediately stood up, looking at Ge Dongxu with a face full of surprise.

    As a daughter, no matter how strict her father had been, she always wished for him to be healthy and live a long life. Besides, Elder Feng was the pillar of the Feng Family. As long as Elder Feng was around for one more day, the Feng Family would not fall! Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    How could Feng Jiahui not care about Elder Feng''s health!

    As for Elder Feng himself, rather than expressing surprise, he stared intently at Ge Dongxu, only after a long while wiping the corners of his eyes, he laughed and said, "I had indeed forgotten that you are the direct disciple of the old man."

    "So, senior brother, there''s no need to worry, leave your illness to me," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile upon hearing this.

    After saying that, Ge Dongxu turned towards Feng Jiahui, opened his mouth, and suddenly was unsure how to address this middle-aged woman.

    Calling her "Aunt Feng" was definitely inappropriate now. If not Aunt Feng, then what? Calling her by name seemed somehow presumptuous for a young man like him. Referring to her by her official position seemed more suitable, but he had no idea what her position was.

    "Can you, um, please bring me my suitcase?" In the end, Ge Dongxu simply avoided using any form of address.

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    Due to Elder Feng''s extraordinary status, Ge Dongxu''s suitcase had been temporarily detained outside when he entered the house.

    Feng Jiahui paused when she heard this request. To date, considering her position in Huaxia Country, how many people could there be who could ask her to fetch their suitcase?

    But now, a high school student was asking her, without any title or honorifics, to go outside and fetch his suitcase for him! For a moment, Feng Jiahui was truly unaccustomed to this.

    "What are you standing there for? Didn''t you hear your Shishu ask you to go help fetch the suitcase?" Elder Feng saw that Feng Jiahui did not move and became somewhat displeased, his face darkening as he spoke.

    "Shishu!" As soon as Elder Feng uttered these two words, both Ge Dongxu and Feng Jiahui were taken aback.

    "No, no, senior brother, I am only eighteen years old this year. I really can''t accept the title of ''Shishu,''" Ge Dongxu hurriedly said.

    And of course, Feng Jiahui dared not contradict her father. She could only look eagerly at the old man, internally anxious and wanting to cry.

    She was a Central Bank leader!

    ps: I''m outside, so there won''t be additional updates this Monday. I''ll try to make up for it when I return. Sorry.

 Chapter 173 173 Chapter Expelling the Cold Qi

    "Why wouldn''t you deserve the title? You and I are fellow disciples, moreover, you are the old man''s direct disciple. If the old man were still alive, he would be over a hundred years old now!" Elder Feng saw his daughter obviously reluctant to acknowledge this uncle-disciple due to the difference in their status and age, so he became somewhat displeased."Elder brother, times have changed! Let''s just call each other by our names, that way I won''t feel awkward and others won''t find it strange either, don''t you agree?" A melon forcibly twisted off its vine is not sweet, and Ge Dongxu had never been comfortable being called uncle-disciple by a woman who could have been his mother. Seeing that she was also clearly unwilling, he naturally insisted on disagreeing.

    Elder Feng looked at his daughter, then at Ge Dongxu, and finally had to say, "Forget it, forget it, you young people have your own way of thinking. I won''t force the issue of addressing each other. From now on, Dongxu, you don''t have to be polite with her, just call her Jiahui."

    "Yes, yes, just use names, only names." Seeing her father finally relent, Feng Jiahui let out a big sigh of relief, spoke hurriedly, and looked at Ge Dongxu with a hint of gratitude.

    If it had not been for Ge Dongxu''s persuasion, she surely could not have escaped the title of uncle-disciple.

    She didn''t dare to defy her father''s orders.

    "You girl! Can''t let go of your dignity now that you''re an official, is that it? I''m telling you, it''s fine to call each other by name, but you must remember in your heart that Dongxu is your father''s junior disciple, your uncle-disciple! This is a relationship with roots, not something you can casually acknowledge," Elder Feng, seeing his daughter''s delighted expression, pointed at her with his finger and said grumpily.

    "Dad, I know. I''ll get Dongxu''s suitcase inside right now." Feng Jiahui said hurriedly.

    "Dongxu, don''t take it to heart, these kids, I''ve spoiled them too much!" Seeing Feng Jiahui almost flee the room, Elder Feng shook his head and spoke to Ge Dongxu with a hint of apology.

    "Haha, Jiahui is already good enough. To be so amiable with me, even when she sits in such a high position¡­ But still, asking her to call me uncle-disciple is bound to shock the world, it''s only natural for her to be reluctant to accept," Ge Dongxu said.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu speak with the air of someone wise beyond his years, Elder Feng looked at him with a touch of admiration and said, "The old man had good judgement!"

    While they were talking, Feng Jiahui came in, carrying Ge Dongxu''s suitcase.

    Ge Dongxu opened the suitcase and took out the antique-looking sandalwood box.

    Upon seeing the sandalwood box, Elder Feng couldn''t help feeling sentimental again. The box had also been passed down from Ren Yao, and Elder Feng had seen it when Ren Yao had treated him back in the day.

    "Elder brother must have been severely affected by the cold back in the day, so much so that it penetrated into your bone marrow, like a relentless bone disease. With the state of your cultivation power, there was no way to drive it out. But fortunately, you have kept up with your breathing exercises since you were young and have managed to hold on until now. Otherwise, someone else in your condition would have been bedridden long ago, let alone be able to sit in a wheelchair like you do now and move around a bit when the weather is warm," Ge Dongxu took out the sandalwood box, but didn''t hurry to perform acupuncture on Elder Feng. Instead, he took his pulse and massaged his thigh a bit before speaking.

    "Exactly, exactly. During that special period back then, those people really made my father suffer terribly. In the frigid nine-nine cold days, even water had ice in it, and they still made father dig dikes. Standing in the water, it would chill you to the bone. Many people couldn''t stand it, and their legs just completely rotted away," Feng Jiahui, knowing that an eighteen-year-old like Ge Dongxu wouldn''t be aware of that special period, was amazed that he could deduce what happened almost perfectly with just a pulse diagnosis and some rubbing and kneading of her father''s leg, as if he had seen it with his own eyes.

    "It''s all in the past, let''s not mention it," Elder Feng waved his hand and said.

    Seeing that her father didn''t want to bring up those unbearable memories, Feng Jiahui stopped talking and looked at Ge Dongxu, asking, "Dongxu, can my dad''s leg really be cured?"

    "It can be cured, but with my current cultivation power and medical skills, I can''t completely heal it in one go. It will need to be done over several sessions," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    After finishing his words, Ge Dongxu helped roll up Elder Feng''s pant leg and then inserted silver needles into acupoints such as the crane''s crown, inner and outer knee eyes, yang mound acupoint, Blood Sea, and Liangqiu.

    "Elder brother, when I twist the silver needles, you should also circulate your True Qi as master taught you. It will hurt a bit, so bear with me," said Ge Dongxu after all the silver needles were in place.

    "Good!" Elder Feng nodded, then slightly closed his eyes, and embraced his hands around his lower abdomen.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu gently twisted the Silver Needle, and strands of True Qi followed his movements into Elder Feng''s body, seeping into his bones to drive away the coldness lurking in his marrow.

    It was as if a knife were scraping the bone, causing Elder Feng to break out in large beads of sweat that fell like rain, his whole body trembling slightly, yet he didn''t let out a single groan from his mouth.

    Feng Jiahui had never imagined that Ge Dongxu''s treatment method would be so intense. Seeing her father''s forehead sweating profusely and his body trembling, she was so frightened that she almost lost her soul. It was then she remembered that Ge Dongxu was just an eighteen-year-old high school senior¡ªhow could she let him treat her father?

    After all, her father was not an ordinary person, but a major figure related to the state. If something went wrong, even as his child, she wouldn''t be able to take the responsibility! S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

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    But now that Ge Dongxu had already started, seeing the serious expressions on his and her father''s face, she didn''t dare to interrupt rashly for fear of causing a disaster.

    Yet without interrupting, seeing her father in such a state, she was genuinely worried whether Ge Dongxu knew the severity of his medical skills!

    After all, Ge Dongxu was only eighteen! She really didn''t know much about him, except that she had seen him show some of his skills earlier, and that he was the Direct Disciple of her father''s benefactor. But this didn''t change the fact that he was only eighteen!

    Just as Feng Jiahui was nervously at her wit''s end, Ge Dongxu himself began to tremble slightly, his sweat pouring down like rain, his complexion gradually turning pale.

    This made Feng Jiahui even more nervous.

    "Whew!" Just when Feng Jiahui was extremely anxious, about to call someone, Ge Dongxu suddenly withdrew his hands and took a long breath.

    "Whew!" Elder Feng followed suit, taking a long breath as well.

    "Dad, how are you? Are you alright?" Seeing this, Feng Jiahui rushed over and asked.

    Before her father could reply, she immediately berated Ge Dongxu, "You have some nerve! Do you have any idea how risky that was? What if..."

    "Presumptuous!" Before Feng Jiahui could finish, Elder Feng, full of anger, rebuked sternly.

    With Elder Feng''s anger, the temperature in the entire room seemed to drop suddenly.

    "Dad! I..." Feng Jiahui, who rarely saw her father so angry, couldn''t help but shudder.

    "Do you realize how much Vital Energy it takes for Dongxu to heal me in this way? Apologize to Dongxu immediately!" Elder Feng, still furious, demanded.

    "It''s not that serious, Jiahui was just worried about you," Ge Dongxu said with a tired smile, and then skillfully removed the needles from Elder Feng''s leg.

    "What are you standing there for? Do I need to break your leg before you understand you need to apologize?" As soon as Ge Dongxu removed the needles from Elder Feng''s leg, he suddenly stood up, full of life and vigor, with none of the slight trembling he had shown before.

 Chapter 174 I Just Want to Live the Life I Want

    "Dad, what''s this..." Seeing her father suddenly stand up, bursting with vigor as if his previous frailty had vanished, Feng Jiahui''s eyes widened, she didn''t even seem to hear her father''s angry threat to break her legs.After a while, Feng Jiahui suddenly realized what was happening and hurriedly turned to look at Ge Dongxu.

    Upon looking, she noticed that Ge Dongxu''s face was very pale, devoid of the prior sun-kissed glow. Remembering her father''s words and seeing his vigorous state, Feng Jiahui finally understood that she had truly made a terrible mistake.

    Someone young like Ge Dongxu was actually a miraculous healer. For ordinary people, having him offer treatment was not even a certainty, let alone him expending such cultivation power as he had just done!

    It was ridiculous that she had even blamed him.

    "I''m sorry, Dongxu, it was my fault just now¡­" Realizing her mistake, Feng Jiahui bowed apologetically to Ge Dongxu with genuine sincerity, finally acknowledging him as her uncle in her heart, though she still addressed him by his name verbally.

    "It''s all right, all right, you were only concerned for your father," Ge Dongxu hastily interjected with a wave of his hand.

    "Hmph, lucky for you Dongxu doesn''t hold grudges, otherwise what would you have done!" Seeing this, Elder Feng''s anger gradually subsided, he coldly said.

    "Yes, yes, it was my fault!" Feng Jiahui, no longer defiant, quickly nodded in acknowledgment.

    A person who could get her father on his feet so quickly and restore his health, regardless of his youth, commanded her respect.

    Moreover, being a clever person, Feng Jiahui was acutely aware that the younger Ge Dongxu was, the more it proved his remarkable abilities!

    "The cold energy within my brother''s body, my cultivation power is limited, I still can''t completely eliminate it. He will need at least two more treatments. So during this period, he better avoid cold exposure. If our master were here, he could have cured you in one go," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "It''s already very good, very good! Dongxu, you''re only eighteen, yet to possess such cultivation power is truly amazing! And I know, you were worried about my old body not handling your full force, which is why you were restrained; otherwise, you might have cured it in one go," Elder Feng said, his eyes filled with admiration. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu smiled noncommittally.

    Elder Feng''s words were somewhat speculative. Strictly speaking, he wasn''t yet a Daoist practitioner, merely hovering at the threshold of Daoism. These praises were aimed at commending Ge Dongxu, and unexpectedly, he had guessed correctly, which left him momentarily at a loss for words and staring at Ge Dongxu as if looking at a creature from another world.

    Because Ge Dongxu was only turning eighteen this year and was just a high school senior!

    After a long moment, Elder Feng regarded Ge Dongxu with a stern expression and asked, "Dongxu, with your skills, have you ever considered serving the nation?"

    Ge Dongxu had anticipated this issue ever since he had started treating Elder Feng. His master had also advised him not to reveal his Qimen Dunjia in front of others, partly due to this concern. But Elder Feng was an object of admiration in his childhood, and he also had a deep connection with his master; Ge Dongxu couldn''t just ignore him. Moreover, the times had changed compared to the past, which led him to reveal his true capabilities.

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    Now that Elder Feng had indeed brought up the question, Ge Dongxu''s face gradually became serious. He looked at Elder Feng and said solemnly, "The rise and fall of a nation is the responsibility of every citizen, and if the nation truly needs me, I certainly cannot shirk my duty. But I am a cultivator; unless it is necessary, I just want to live the life I desire."

    Ge Dongxu had made his thoughts very clear with those words. Elder Feng, being a wise man, nodded and said, "Since ancient times, there has always been a government department responsible for dealing with extraordinary individuals from the martial community, and it is no different today. These individuals, once they disrupt society, have a far greater destructive power than ordinary citizens, and some supernatural events also require their intervention. My intention is for you to be attached to this department in name, but I respect your choice. If in the future someone from this department discovers you and wants to invite you or trouble you, have their leader contact me. After all, you are my junior fellow disciple, and they should at least..."

    At this point, Elder Feng seemed to suddenly recall something. An odd expression appeared on his face, which then turned into a bitter smile as he said, "Heh, I seem to have forgotten that you can already control True Qi to help me dispel the cold. Moreover, back in the day, I saw the elder using Techniques to kill people. You certainly have inherited this, and with your current Cultivation Power, coupled with those incredible Techniques, not troubling them is already giving them face, unless they directly use modern weapons."

    "Could it be that none of them possess such Cultivation Power?" Ge Dongxu asked with a puzzled look. Not only had he inherited his master''s Techniques, but he had also taken on Ge Hong''s mantle. When it comes to the inheritance of Techniques, in this declining age of Daoist cultivation, probably no one could compare with him; only his Cultivation Power might be comparable since he was still young, only eighteen years old. This was why Ge Dongxu raised the question.

    However, no sooner had he spoken than he realized how foolish his question was. If there were anyone among them capable of doing such a thing, Elder Feng''s condition wouldn''t have dragged on till now.

    "No! Partly it''s a matter of medical skills, and partly, it''s a matter of Cultivation Power. If you''re interested, I can call and have them send an expert over to spar with you, then you''ll know what level you''re at now," Elder Feng said, a hint of expectation in his eyes.

    He still hoped that Ge Dongxu would join this special department.

    "Thank you, senior brother, but there''s no need. I cultivate for wellbeing, not to fight with others," Ge Dongxu declined without a second thought. He just wanted to cultivate in peace, live his simple life as a commoner, avoiding any contact with those people, and attracting their attention.

    Besides, those people didn''t even have the ability to expel the cold penetrating Elder Feng''s bones; their fighting skills could probably at best take on a dozen people, merely possessing some Low-Level Techniques. Ge Dongxu, who had now reached the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, really felt disdainful about sparring with them.

    "That''s probably for the best!" Seeing that Ge Dongxu was unmoved, Elder Feng nodded his head and did not press the issue.

    Afterwards, the two of them stopped discussing these matters and switched to talking about Ren Yao.

    When Ge Dongxu brought up that Ren Yao had suffered amnesia due to an injury, Elder Feng couldn''t help but shed tears, feeling somewhat guilty.

    Now that he knew the benefactor''s name and that he had once suffered an injury that caused amnesia, Elder Feng intended to investigate the matter, but Ge Dongxu vetoed it.

    Although Ge Dongxu also wanted to know all about his master''s past, his mentor had reached the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer in his lifetime, which suggested that such great masters probably still existed in the world. Ge Dongxu was currently only at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, and thanks to inadvertently inheriting Ge Hong''s mantle, his strength was rapidly improving daily. If things went smoothly, it was possible for him to advance to the legendary Dragon Tiger Realm in the coming years; hence, he wasn''t in a hurry to inquire into his master''s affairs just yet.

    If he truly encountered someone with skills like his master and couldn''t defeat them, dying before his abilities were fully recognized would be very unwise!

 Chapter 175 Meeting an Acquaintance in the Capital City

    The more Elder Feng interacted with Ge Dongxu, the more he realized the young junior brother''s composure and calmness, which increased his respect for Dongxu''s thoughts. Therefore, seeing that he currently did not want to pursue the matter, and knowing he had his reasons, Elder Feng nodded in agreement and did not bring it up again.After that, Elder Feng also reminisced about the times he spent with Ren Yao.

    Listening to Elder Feng''s memories, imagining how in the past his master wandered the lands as a healer with a heart to save lives and wielded his sword against enemies with the valor of a hero, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but shed tears.

    An old man and a young man, their talk lasted from noon until evening.

    Elder Feng, after all, was a man approaching ninety, and although Ge Dongxu had helped remove a significant amount of cold energy from his body, he was still frail and began to feel tired by evening.

    Seeing the old man''s weariness, Ge Dongxu was about to get up to leave when a young man walked in from outside. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The man, probably around twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, had an average appearance, and was just over 1.7 meters tall, but was well-dressed, walked with a straight back, had bright eyes, and carried himself with a composed and calm demeanor.

    As the man walked in and saw that Elder Feng was not sitting in a wheelchair and had no blanket over his legs and appeared to be in good spirits, his eyes couldn''t help but show a trace of excitement, but he quickly composed himself and walked up to Elder Feng, respectfully saying, "Grandfather!"

    "Ah, you''ve come," said Elder Feng, nodding slightly before pointing to the young man and telling Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, this is my eldest grandson, Feng Chenqing."

    After the introduction, Elder Feng turned to Feng Chenqing, his expression serious, and said, "Chenqing, this is Ge Dongxu, your grandfather''s junior brother. By relation, you should address him as your grand-uncle master. But seeing that you''d likely prefer keeping face and wouldn''t be willing, I won''t force you. You can just call him by his name like your aunt does, but remember in your heart that Dongxu is your grandfather''s junior brother and you should not disrespect him."

    "Yes, Grandfather, my aunt has already told me before coming!" Feng Chenqing said respectfully, nodding his head, then turned to Ge Dongxu and bowed deeply, saying, "Thank you for treating my grandfather''s illness."

    "Your grandfather is my senior brother, it was my duty," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    "Dongxu, today as senior and junior brothers we meet, I should have shown you the hospitality due from a host and taken you around to see the sights. However, as you know, with these old bones and my status, it''s inconvenient for me to move around, and being young, you might not enjoy your time fully with an old man like me around. So earlier, I asked Jiahui to call Chenqing over. He will take my place to accompany you tonight for a stroll and to dine at a specialty restaurant. Tomorrow is the weekend, don''t be in a hurry to go back; let him accompany you around," Elder Feng said.

    "There''s no need for such trouble, Senior Brother, I can just wander around by myself," Ge Dongxu hastily said.

    "What are you saying? You are my junior brother, and it is only right for these younger generations to show such affection," Elder Feng replied.

    "Then I''ll just have to trouble Chenqing," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "It''s my duty, my duty," Feng Chenqing hurriedly replied. There was no way around it; even though he was young, how could he dare put on airs in front of his grandfather''s junior brother?

    Seeing his reaction, Ge Dongxu no longer held back and got up to say to Elder Feng, "Then, Senior Brother, rest early. Tomorrow, I will work on your meridians again."

    "No need to expend your cultivation power anymore, I am already feeling much better, much better," Elder Feng replied, moved.

    "It''s no trouble, I am young now, and the energy spent quickly returns," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, then left the courtyard accompanied by Feng Chenqing.

    Once outside the courtyard, Ge Dongxu noticed Feng Chenqing''s expression had significantly relaxed, and couldn''t help but privately reflect that being born into a wealthy family was not easy.

    Although his expression had relaxed, Feng Chenqing, mindful of his grandfather''s instructions, did not dare to neglect Ge Dongxu. Upon reaching where the car was parked, he made it a point to personally open the car door for Ge Dongxu, then opened the driver''s side door and got in.

    Fortunately, this scene was not witnessed by people from Feng Chenqing''s usual circle; otherwise, their jaws would have dropped.

    When had Feng Chenqing, one of the capital''s Crown Princes, ever been so humble as to open a car door for a younger man?

    "Dongxu, where shall we go?" Feng Chenqing asked after they had gotten into the car.

    "I''m not familiar with the capital either, you make the arrangements," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Alright, I''ll take you to eat first, then show you around," Feng Chenqing responded upon hearing this.

    "That works, thank you," Ge Dongxu nodded politely.

    "You really shouldn''t be so formal with me. You are my grandfather''s junior, I''m in no position," Feng Chenqing hastily said.

    "Haha, we each have our own roles, no need to be so formal," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    Feng Chenqing smiled upon hearing this but dared not continue the topic. Ge Dongxu could say this, but it wasn''t something he could casually mention.

    As the saying goes, a monarch''s words carry weight, law follows the utterance! Although his grandfather was not an ancient monarch, his words weren''t taken as law to such an extent, but he had been one of the few leaders at the peak of Huaxia Country''s power. His officially recognized junior, who wouldn''t take that seriously?

    Moreover, Ge Dongxu''s master had saved his grandfather''s life. Now, Ge Dongxu himself also had an obligation toward his grandfather. Otherwise, given his grandfather''s physical condition, it would have been difficult for him to live past ninety. But now, it seemed there should be no issues.

    "For us, the most interesting eats in the capital are some private home cuisines. But since you are from outside the city, what you''ve probably heard about most is the Peking Duck. How about we go for Peking Duck tonight and tomorrow I''ll take you to some well-known private home cuisines?" As the car drove out of the alley, Feng Chenqing suggested.

    "Indeed, Peking Duck is too famous, I''ve always wanted to try it," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Then let''s go to Quanjude for Peking Duck," Feng Chenqing said, then upon reaching the intersection, turned the steering wheel and headed towards the Quanjude restaurant.

    As night fell, cars streamed endlessly on the road, illuminated by lights all throughout, making the atmosphere far more bustling and majestic than in Linzhou, the Provincial Capital.

    Originally, Feng Chenqing had planned to arrange a private room for Ge Dongxu, but Ge Dongxu said that it wasn''t necessary for just two people, so they chose to sit in the main hall.

    Since Ge Dongxu had a special identity, Feng Chenqing had made a call ahead of time and informed the manager of Quanjude about their arrival. Thus, their Peking Duck not only arrived quickly, but the chef personally took charge.

    Quanjude''s Peking Duck was indeed as good as its reputation: the meat was rich but not greasy, crispy on the outside and tender inside, Ge Dongxu thoroughly enjoyed it.

    After eating the duck, Feng Chenqing suggested a walk around Shichahai, mentioning that the nighttime view there was quite nice.

    Ge Dongxu had no objections and followed Feng Chenqing out.

    Just as they reached the doorway, Feng Chenqing''s phone rang. He took it out to look and was about to hang up.

    Earlier during the meal, his phone had rung once and after checking it, Feng Chenqing had hung up; now seeing him about to hang up again, Ge Dongxu felt somewhat concerned and said, "It''s alright, you take your call."

    With Ge Dongxu''s permission, Feng Chenqing answered the call.

    When Feng Chenqing answered, Ge Dongxu clearly heard a young woman''s voice on the other end, evidently carrying a hint of displeasure.

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    After that, Ge Dongxu didn''t listen further because Feng Chenqing had already walked away with the phone, and naturally, Ge Dongxu wasn''t going to eavesdrop.

    "Sister Li!"

    Standing at the entrance of Quanjude, while interestedly observing the bustling streets around, Ge Dongxu suddenly saw a familiar figure, which surprised and startled him.

    ps: I''m on a family trip outdoors, playing during the day and writing at night, it''s really exhausting. For the next three to four days, I can only maintain two updates per day. I hope to write more when I return, thank you for your understanding.

 Chapter 176 I thought I was dreaming!

    "Yuan Li, things are different from when we were studying. Cui Mingshuo is now the deputy director in the Banking Regulatory Department of the Central Bank. Aren''t you aware of what the Banking Regulatory Department of the Central Bank does? The qualifications of banking leaders of various countries all need their review! By not giving Cui Mingshuo face, aren''t you making life difficult for your own future?" said a woman who was about the same age as Yuan Li but somewhat lacking both in looks and figure, with a bitter smile on her face."Su Qi, isn''t that a bit exaggerated? I''m just a branch manager in a little county branch below, far from the emperor''s reach. Can he really interfere with that?" Yuan Li said, unconvinced.

    "Come on, Yuan Li, are you really that naive or just pretending? Haven''t you heard the saying ''a capital official is equivalent to three levels up''? Besides, he holds a real power position in our industry. If he went to Jiangnan Province, not to mention the Ouzhou City branch manager would definitely have to receive him courteously, perhaps even the provincial bank leaders would come out to meet him. Now, tell me, if he deliberately badmouths you, do you think you''ll ever have a chance of getting promoted in this lifetime?" Su Qi said.

    Yuan Li''s expression changed upon hearing this, and finally, gritting her teeth, she said fiercely, "So what you''re saying is, I should just submit to his lecherous power? No way, I refuse! What''s so great about Cui Mingshuo?"

    "Alright, alright, no matter what he''s worth! Just humble yourself a bit later, make a toast if you can, laugh along if you can. Really, isn''t it a good thing to have men fancy you? Just like me, I''d love it if he took an interest in me," Su Qi said.

    "Tch, shameless. Be careful or I''ll tell your husband!" Yuan Li spat.

    "Bah, what''s there to tell? Is it fair that he gets to fool around outside, and I don''t?" Su Qi''s eyes revealed a hint of resentful bitterness.

    "There''s not a single good man! They have one thing in their bowl but are still eyeing the pot!" Yuan Li''s expression darkened upon hearing this.

    "Exactly, so actually, it''s quite normal for Cui Mingshuo to be like this. Now that he''s got this position, his confidence has inflated. There''s no need to take it to heart; just deal with it and move on," Su Qi said.

    "I know, but his smug face is just so disgusting! If it weren''t for the rare chance of a class reunion making it inappropriate not to show up, I''d really feel like just heading straight home," Yuan Li said, her eyes reflecting disgust and helplessness.

    "Don''t, don''t. Earlier when Cui Mingshuo invited you to ride in his car, you used me as an excuse, and that was okay, but if you just walk out now, he''s definitely going to hold a grudge against you," Su Qi said.

    "Sigh, being a woman is so tiring, and being a woman in the workplace is even more exhausting!" Yuan Li sighed in resignation.

    "Hehe, actually, it''s easy to avoid getting tired. With your beauty and now being single, wouldn''t it be restful to find a wealthy man to provide for you? Actually, Cui Mingshuo isn''t bad either. If it really comes down to it, why not just make a little sacrifice, Miss Yuan?" Su Qi teased.

    "Go away, I can fend for myself; why would I need someone to provide for me?" Yuan Li lifted her hand and playfully smacked Su Qi, but for some reason, she suddenly thought of something Ge Dongxu had once said.

    "If you really can''t be a bank manager, I''ll take care of you in the future."

    "This silly boy!" Remembering Ge Dongxu''s words, Yuan Li''s face suddenly blushed as she muttered softly.

    "Hey, who are you calling a silly boy?" Su Qi immediately objected upon hearing Yuan Li.

    "Ah, no, I didn''t mean you!" Yuan Li realized her murmur had caused a misunderstanding with Su Qi and hurriedly clarified.

    "If not me, then who are you talking about?" Su Qi persisted.

    At a loss for an answer, Yuan Li''s gaze suddenly sharpened, foolishly staring at the familiar face that had just appeared in her mind a moment ago.

    "No way! Am I seeing things?" Yuan Li raised a hand to rub her eyes. It was too much of a coincidence since they were thousands of miles away from Changxi County in the capital.

    Su Qi had also noticed Yuan Li''s unusual behavior by then and followed her gaze to see Ge Dongxu as well.

    A young man who still looked like a student!

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    Su Qi wore a puzzled face, not understanding why Yuan Li was staring at this young man who had suddenly appeared before them!

    "Sister Li, you didn''t expect this, did you? I''m also in the capital!" Ge Dongxu saw Yuan Li staring in disbelief, as if he had done something very proud of himself, and started to laugh.

    "Wow! It really is you! I thought I was dreaming!" Yuan Li finally realized it was true, and excitedly threw herself into Ge Dongxu''s arms in surprise.

    Su Qi''s eyeballs nearly popped out at that moment!

    Ge Dongxu''s eyeballs also bulged, for he certainly did not know that women are emotional creatures. Just a moment ago, Yuan Li was thinking of him, and now he had suddenly appeared before her eyes. One could imagine how intense the impact was on a woman''s psyche and emotions.

    In her excitement, it was not strange for an emotionally impulsive woman to suddenly embrace Ge Dongxu tightly.

    Having finished a phone call and about to look for Ge Dongxu, Feng Chenqing also had his eyes somewhat glazed over, secretly feeling impressed that indeed, someone who could befriend his grandfather despite his young age had quite the knack for charming ladies. He traveled all the way to the capital, and with just a stroll through the streets, there were acquainted girls throwing themselves into his arms!

    "This, Sister Li!" Ge Dongxu gently tapped Yuan Li''s fragrant shoulder and quietly reminded her in her ear. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    On one hand, Ge Dongxu was somewhat uncomfortable with the stares from Su Qi and Feng Chenqing; on the other, he was also somewhat affected by the warmth and tenderness in his arms, feeling his blood flow accelerate a bit.

    With Ge Dongxu''s gentle reminder in her ear, Yuan Li realized that he had already grown into an eighteen-year-old lad with a height of 1.78 meters. Her sudden embrace could indeed seem ambiguous and lead to misunderstandings.

    So Yuan Li quickly released her hands and then straightened out her hair in an attempt to cover up and alleviate the awkward atmosphere.

    "I say, Yuan Li, who is this young man?" Seeing Yuan Li let go, Su Qi sized up Ge Dongxu with a look of ambiguity and curiosity, asking.

    "I forgot to introduce him, my sworn brother Ge Dongxu." After all, Yuan Li was a leader and quickly regained her composure, smiling as she pulled Ge Dongxu over to introduce him.

    "So you''re the sworn brother, hehe, hello Dongxu, my name is Su Qi, I''m Yuan Li''s college classmate." Su Qi reached out to Ge Dongxu with an outstretched hand.

    "Hello, Sister Qi." Ge Dongxu reached out his hand to her and they shook lightly.

    At this point, Feng Chenqing also walked up, and Ge Dongxu took the opportunity to introduce him to Su Qi and Yuan Li, of course without mentioning that he was Elder Feng''s grandson.

    Though Feng Chenqing had an average appearance, he had a fine temperament and was dressed elegantly, which made Su Qi take an extra glance at him, her eyes betraying a hint of puzzlement. Yuan Li, however, didn''t think much of it.

    She knew that Ge Dongxu was quite remarkable, and him knowing a few men of quality was not strange at all.

    "Sister Li, how come you are in the capital?" After the introductions, Ge Dongxu curiously asked.

 Chapter 177 You Accompany Sister on This Trip

    "Organizing a reunion. What about you?" Yuan Li responded, then asked back."Me? Oh, I came to visit a friend''s grandpa." Ge Dongxu paused upon hearing this and casually made up a reply. He certainly couldn''t say he was here to visit Elder Feng. Otherwise, he would really shock the two women in front of him!

    "I didn''t realize you had friends in Beijing," Yuan Li said, blinking at Ge Dongxu. Having spent some time with Ge Dongxu, Yuan Li could tell he wasn''t telling the truth, but she didn''t pursue it.

    "Yeah," Ge Dongxu replied with some emotion. He truly hadn''t expected that one day he would become a fellow student with Elder Feng.

    "Oh, by the way, where are you heading next? Do you want Chenqing to drive you?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    Having a car these days still carried a certain prestige. When Ge Dongxu asked this, Yuan Li didn''t react much. She knew Ge Dongxu was worth tens of millions now, so it wasn''t surprising his friend had a car. However, Su Qi couldn''t help but look at Ge Dongxu and Feng Chenqing with curiosity.

    "No need, I also drove here," Su Qi replied, clearly proud.

    Ge Dongxu heard this and didn''t mention the car anymore, but turned to Yuan Li and asked, "Sister, when are you heading home?"

    "Tomorrow''s Saturday. We''ve got another day of activities. Going back on Sunday? How about you?" Yuan Li asked.

    "If that''s the case, I''ll also stay here tomorrow, and I''ll go back with you the day after tomorrow," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment, then replied.

    "Great, have you booked your plane ticket yet? If not, I can book it for you," Yuan Li said with a happy smile upon hearing that Ge Dongxu chose to go back with her.

    "Hehe, no need to trouble Sister Li. I''ll book Dongxu''s plane ticket. I wonder if you''ve booked yours yet? If not, I can book yours too," Feng Chenqing quickly responded before Ge Dongxu could.

    "I haven''t booked mine yet. Well, it would really be helpful if you could do it, so we can pick the seats easily. I''ll give Dongxu the money for the ticket," Yuan Li said.

    "Hehe, don''t mention it," Feng Chenqing replied with a smile, not specifically declining the offer of money. At his level of success, quibbling over such a small sum would be below his dignity.

    "Okay, then I''ll give Dongxu my ID number later," Yuan Li said, ready to join Su Qi for the next activity.

    However, just as she was about to leave, she suddenly had a thought, pulled Ge Dongxu aside, and asked in a low voice, "Dongxu, are you free this evening?"

    "I''m free now, just letting Chenqing keep me company as I wander around. Is there something you need?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "That''s great. Then you can join me at the reunion tonight," Yuan Li said, her eyes brightening with excitement.

    "That might not be a good idea!" Ge Dongxu responded with a wry smile.

    "What''s wrong with that? Many classmates are bringing their spouses, and some even brought their mistresses. Today, you can just be my knight in shining armor!" Yuan Li gave Ge Dongxu a look and said.

    "What, has some toad been trying to eat swan meat?" Ge Dongxu''s expression darkened slightly as he asked.

    "Giggle, you crack me up!" Yuan Li playfully punched Ge Dongxu and then said, "But you''re right, so if you don''t want your sister to be devoured by toads, you''ll have to go with me."

    "You say that, what can I do?" Ge Dongxu said helplessly upon hearing this.

    "I knew you care about me, not willing to let others take advantage of me!" Yuan Li said happily, then pushed Ge Dongxu slightly and added, "Then you go and talk to your friend."

    "Alright." Ge Dongxu nodded, then turned to Feng Chenqing who was casually chatting with Su Qi behind him and said, "Chenqing, I''ll be joining Sister Li tonight, don''t worry about me."

    "How can that be? I am your driver today," Feng Chenqing said urgently.

    "It''s not that serious. I see you have something on tonight too, even if Sister Li didn''t have plans, I would have gone back early. Just leave me your number, and I''ll call you if I really need anything," Ge Dongxu said. Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

    After thinking it over, Feng Chenqing knew that since Ge Dongxu was going to be with Yuan Li, it indeed wouldn''t be convenient for him to tag along and he did have some matters to attend to tonight, albeit less urgent than Ge Dongxu''s. Since Ge Dongxu insisted, he decided not to impose anymore and said, "Alright, call me anytime if you need anything."

    After that, Feng Chenqing exchanged numbers with Ge Dongxu, then bid farewell to the trio and left.

    "Really, Yuan Li, even if you want a shield, at least bring someone decent. Do you think it''s appropriate to bring him?" Su Qi couldn''t help but relax after Feng Chenqing left, pointing at Ge Dongxu with slightly furrowed brows.

    It wasn''t that Ge Dongxu looked shabby. In fact, over the past couple of years, Ge Dongxu''s skin had gradually become lighter, his height had shot up to 5 feet 10 inches, and due to his cultivation, his physique was well-proportioned, giving off a wholesome and sunny vibe. Even if his features weren''t handsome, they were definitely pleasing to the eye and easy to generate a good impression.

    Su Qi felt this way because Ge Dongxu was really too young and was also dressed in simple sportswear that made him look like a student, not like a successful figure from society.

    "What''s inappropriate? He''s quite good!" Yuan Li retorted unconvinced, pulling Ge Dongxu''s hand and sticking out her chest defiantly.

    "What''s good about it? Yes, he''s tall, and yes, he looks fine, but he totally looks like a student. If you bring him along, isn''t that just blatantly fooling people?" Su Qi rolled her eyes and said.

    "Oh, that''s true! It does seem too obvious!" Yuan Li conceded, looking at Ge Dongxu and slightly furrowing her brows.

    Because she knew what Ge Dongxu was capable of, she often viewed him through an adult''s perspective. But now that Su Qi mentioned it, upon a closer look, Yuan Li realized Ge Dongxu did indeed still seem too naive.

    If she really brought him along, it wouldn''t be shielding anymore; it would be deliberately slapping Cui Mingshuo in the face.

    After all, such matters, everyone knows it''s enough, but if you make it too obvious, then it puts people in an awkward position.

    Ge Dongxu touched his face, then looked down at his attire and couldn''t help but laugh wryly to himself. Well, his outfit really wasn''t qualified to be a shield.

    However, Ge Dongxu was a cultivator after all, and now a millionaire business owner, naturally having his self-confidence; he wouldn''t get cold feet or back out just because of Su Qi''s words.

    So, he touched his face, scanned around, and seeing a high-end mall on this street, Ge Dongxu came up with an idea, smiling, "This is simple, just wait here for me for a while."

    Without waiting for Yuan Li and Su Qi to respond, he had already quickly walked towards the nearest mall.

    ps: Since this book was uploaded, I''ve always had more than 6,000 words, but these days I''m out and really can''t manage, so today is still two updates, striving to burst out after a few days when I''m back home, really sorry.

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 Chapter 178 Astonishing Changes

    "What''s he up to?" Su Qi said, a bit stunned."I''m not sure either," Yuan Li was also somewhat puzzled.

    "Could he be going to the bathroom?" Su Qi wondered, wearing a look of utter disbelief.

    "You might be overthinking this, I bet he''s just getting prepared. Right, he''s probably going to buy clothes," Yuan Li suddenly slapped her forehead and said.

    "Buy clothes? Many of the brands in this mall are international. Some are worth several months of our salaries! He''s going to buy from here?" Su Qi said with a face full of surprise and disbelief.

    "Let me tell you a secret, he''s really rich," Yuan Li thought about how Ge Dongxu was probably rushing to buy clothes for her sake, and felt an extra sweetness in her heart. Seeing Su Qi''s incredulous expression, she couldn''t help but lean in and whisper to her.

    "Come on! That Feng Chenqing definitely looked like someone from a wealthy family, but this so-called sworn brother of yours, forget it. And I have no idea how those two came to be together, they are obviously not from the same league," Su Qi said dismissively.

    "Hey! What''s with you, Su Qi, looking down on people like that? Where is Dongxu lacking, huh?" Yuan Li immediately became unhappy at the words.

    "Hey, hey, Yuan Li, why are you getting so worked up? It wouldn''t be that you actually have a thing with your so-called sworn brother, would it?" Su Qi asked curiously, looking at Yuan Li.

    "Get out of here, what nonsense are you spouting! He''s only eighteen!" Yuan Li''s face suddenly flushed with a guilty conscience upon hearing this, but she firmly denied it nonetheless.

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    "Eighteen is great! So young and robust! Hee hee, you''re blushing! Oh, my God, you actually fell for that Ge Dongxu! You haven''t actually done anything with him, have you¡­" Su Qi had only been teasing casually, but when she saw Yuan Li''s face turn a bit red, she couldn''t help but exclaim as if she had discovered a new continent.

    "You little hussy, who''s shameless like you! If you keep this up, watch me tear your mouth apart!" Yuan Li, infuriated and embarrassed, made a gesture to tear at Su Qi''s mouth, which scared Su Qi into a quick trot toward the mall, begging for mercy as she ran, "Okay, okay, I''ll stop joking! Our Yuan Li, the beautiful Yuan Li, President Yuan, how could she possibly fall for a little boy? If she''s going to like someone, it would be a successful man with a stable, handsome career."

    "I really can''t figure it out, it''s only been six or seven years since we graduated, how could you have changed so much!" Yuan Li saw that Su Qi was saying she wouldn''t joke anymore, but the more she spoke, the more preposterous it got, leaving her looking helplessly resigned.

    "How could I not change? From a young girl to a young wife, from a student to a woman in the workplace, society has taught me so much. Teachers often said society was a big dyeing vat, which I never understood until later. As for you, to still retain this na?ve modesty after experiencing a failed marriage, I''m genuinely surprised. If it were me, I''d let Cui Mingshuo take advantage if he wanted to," Su Qi said with a sigh, giving Yuan Li a glance.

    "I''ve seen through marriage, I won''t step into the palace of matrimony again in this lifetime. But when it comes to the matters between men and women, it still requires feelings. Someone like Cui Mingshuo, who thinks he has some power and treats women like playthings, even classmates are no exception, he''s what I despise the most. Besides, his little bit of power came from his father-in-law''s promotion. Now that his father-in-law has passed away, he''s fooling around outside; what kind of man is that! If he had the ability to climb to his current position on his own, I might have had a bit more respect for him," Yuan Li said.

    "You, you''re still na?ve. These days, no matter how you get to the top, that''s his ability," Su Qi said unpersuasively.

    "Let''s not argue about this, it''s meaningless!" Yuan Li said.

    "Indeed, it''s pointless. Let''s head to the mall and see what your sworn brother is really up to? If we don''t leave now, they''ll start calling to hurry us along soon," Su Qi felt arguing was a waste of time too. After all, since entering society, many of the once pure-smiling classmates had changed; the only thing that might remain unchanged was the pure friendship of the old days. Of course, some people had even thrown away those pure friendships. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ...

    In the department store''s Ermenegildo Zegna counter, a young and attractive sales associate looked at Ge Dongxu, who seemed like a completely different person, with disbelief.

    When Ge Dongxu first came in, one of the sales associates didn''t think much of him, worried that he might dirty the clothes. Out of a customer-first mentality, she still suppressed her prejudice and served him.

    To her surprise, this young man who looked just like a student, from inside out, from his feet to his head, changed entirely into Zegna apparel. The price tags, ranging from thousands to tens of thousands, didn''t even make him frown; he simply went ahead and paid with his card. Then, he packed his old clothes into a bag and took them away.

    "The world of the wealthy is truly incomprehensible! Who would have thought this guy was so loaded!" The mistaken sales associate watched Ge Dongxu''s tall figure walk away effortlessly, repeatedly expressing her regret.

    After changing into a new outfit, Ge Dongxu felt quite good. Passing by the watch counter, he thought it over and spent a good ten thousand on a Swiss Eterna mechanical watch, then went to the restroom to tidy up his hair a bit. Even Ge Dongxu had some trouble recognizing himself in the mirror.

    The black, slim-fit, two-button suit, casually unbuttoned at one button, the dark red lining, the discreet yet dignified watch, and the shining black leather shoes perfectly complemented Ge Dongxu''s physique, which was even more exceptional than that of a model, and also highlighted the mature and cool demeanor he didn''t usually show.

    At this moment, no one could tell that he was still just an eighteen-year-old high school student!

    Of course, he couldn''t suddenly become a successful man in his thirties.

    He seemed more like a young man in his early twenties, with a calm and understated temperament.

    Indeed, clothes make the man. Ge Dongxu looked at himself in the mirror, lost in thought for a moment before leaving the restroom and heading towards the exit of the department store.

    Before reaching the entrance, Ge Dongxu saw Yuan Li and Su Qi walking towards him, looking around as if they were searching for him.

    Ge Dongxu''s lips curled into a confident smile as he walked briskly towards them, waving his hand at them.

    But to Ge Dongxu''s dismay, Yuan Li and Su Qi seemed not to notice him.

    "Can it really be such a drastic change?" Ge Dongxu touched his own cheek, finding himself in a somewhat amusing predicament.

    "Ladies, are you looking for me?" With no other choice, Ge Dongxu stepped forward, smiling as he asked.

    "No!" Su Qi blurted out without thinking, but after she spoke, she felt something was off, followed immediately by her opening her mouth in shock, pointing at Ge Dongxu and exclaiming, "You, you''re Ge Dongxu!"

 Chapter 179 Truly Earned by Myself

    "Yeah! Qi, you wouldn''t have forgotten me so soon, would you?" Ge Dongxu laughed."Tsk, tsk, tsk! I couldn''t tell, but it turns out you''re quite the handsome guy, and well, look at this physique. No wonder Yuan Li fell for you," Su Qi circled Ge Dongxu, appraising him from head to toe with continuous sounds of admiration, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at him.

    "Hey, Su Qi, what are you talking about!" Yuan Li had also been "stunned" by Ge Dongxu at first, staring at him without blinking, and when she suddenly heard Su Qi mention that she liked him, she got startled, quickly raised her little fist to hit her, then said to Ge Dongxu with a blushing face, "Dongxu, don''t listen to Su Qi''s nonsense, she''s always like this, she loves to gossip."

    "Hehe, it''s okay, it''s okay. Do I look all right now?" Ge Dongxu said with a somewhat embarrassed smile, then asked.

    "Of course, you look great! You''re really giving Yuan Li face! This way no one can gloat over her getting divorced, or laugh at her misfortune! Come on, let''s go." Su Qi said, and she grabbed Ge Dongxu''s hand and started to lead him out without another word.

    Su Qi suddenly grabbing his hand really gave Ge Dongxu a start, and he quickly withdrew his arm.

    Su Qi was slightly taken aback at his reaction, then said, "You''re killing me here. Am I that bad? I take the initiative to hold your hand and you don''t even appreciate it!"

    "Giggle!" Yuan Li couldn''t help but laugh at this, then she walked up and gently took Ge Dongxu''s hand, saying, "Don''t bother with her, Dongxu! Let her be crazy!"

    With that, she started to walk outside with Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu offered a sheepish smile, but this time, he did not shrug off Yuan Li''s hand.

    After all, he and Yuan Li were close, so how could he shake off her hand?

    "Hey, wait for me!" Seeing this, Su Qi quickly caught up, then, regardless, she grabbed the other arm of Ge Dongxu, and said with a hint of agitation, "What''s this all about! Yuan Li holds your arm, and you stand still like a good boy, but when I grab your hand, you act as if you''ve been bitten by a snake. Besides my face not being as pretty as Yuan Li''s, in what way am I inferior? I have the chest, I have the butt... *cough cough*, anyway, back in school, I also had many admirers."

    Ge Dongxu was at a loss for words, this time he really encountered a formidable woman!

    But truth be told, Su Qi did have a notable figure, and the pressure when she held his arm made him very uncomfortable, but this time he dared not shake her off.

    After all, Su Qi was Yuan Li''s classmate, and she had gone so far in what she said, he had to give her some face. He might as well sacrifice a bit of his dignity and let her take a little advantage.

    That''s what Ge Dongxu thought, but the men around them didn''t think so. They watched two vibrant women, one on each side, holding the arm of a young and handsome man, especially the one on the left, who looked as radiant and dignified as a white-collar beauty from TV dramas, and they were filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

    When will I ever be that awesome!

    "Dongxu, did you spend a lot of money on this outfit?" Su Qi, unable to contain her curiosity, asked as they walked towards where the cars were parked.

    "It''s okay, including the watch, less than thirty thousand," Ge Dongxu nodded and replied nonchalantly.

    When he was buying jade tokens, he would spend hundreds of thousands, and lately, it had even amounted to millions, so thirty thousand really wasn''t a big deal to him. If only he hadn''t thought it unnecessary to buy an expensive watch, he could easily have afforded one of those gold Rolex watches that went for hundreds of thousands with his current wealth.

    Yet even so, Ge Dongxu''s casual mention of spending thirty thousand managed to stagger Su Qi, almost causing her to twist her ankle. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Thirty thousand! The average annual salary of a worker in the capital city last year was just over ten thousand, which meant this was equivalent to an ordinary worker''s salary for three years. And yet, Ge Dongxu had spent it in the blink of an eye, just to be an adequate decoy.

    The cost, the price, made Su Qi''s little heart start to pound. She didn''t dare to cling to Ge Dongxu''s arm anymore.

    Previously, the reason why she dared to tease Ge Dongxu and walk arm in arm with him was mainly because of the first impression he had given her. She never truly placed Ge Dongxu on a high pedestal in her mind, always feeling that he was just a young man from a small place. And she was a white-collar worker at a bank in the capital, feeling a sense of superiority both in terms of social status and age, which made her behave quite casually, without ever feeling anything improper.

    But now, she truly felt something was off. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire

    In the last few years, although her husband had made some money from his business, they never dared to spend thirty thousand so casually, a few thousand was already the limit.

    "Dongxu, what does your family do? You''re spending so much money so casually," after a while, Su Qi couldn''t help but ask curiously.

    "This money is all earned by Dongxu himself," Yuan Li chimed in to help.

    "Earned it himself? Didn''t you say Dongxu is only eighteen years old?" Su Qi asked, eyes wide with disbelief.

    "It''s really earned by myself," Ge Dongxu had to confirm himself.

    "Okay, I got it!" Su Qi glanced at Ge Dongxu, nodding her head as if she understood everything.

    Ge Dongxu thought Su Qi really understood, so he didn''t explain further, while Yuan Li knew Su Qi had misunderstood him. She cleverly assumed that Ge Dongxu had some background in Changxi County and that it was not convenient to explain clearly.

    However, since Ge Dongxu didn''t continue explaining, Yuan Li didn''t feel it was right to explain further. She always knew that Ge Dongxu was low-key and didn''t like showing off; otherwise, with his wealth, he wouldn''t have dressed so plainly just now.

    Wearing such attire today, this must be a first for him!

    Thinking this, Yuan Li felt a sweetness in her heart, and unconsciously hugged Ge Dongxu''s hand a bit tighter.

    Su Qi didn''t drive a fancy car, just a white Jetta.

    Once in the car, Yuan Li explained to Ge Dongxu that they had also been at Quanjude eating roast duck just now, and the next item on the agenda for the evening was to go to a place called the Jinyi Entertainment Club to drink and sing.

    Halfway through the drive, Su Qi''s phone rang. A man''s dissatisfied voice came through, "What''s going on, Su Qi? Why haven''t you and Yuan Li arrived yet?"

    "Director Cui, we will be there soon, very soon," Su Qi hurriedly responded.

    "Aren''t you all classmates? Why call him Director?" Ge Dongxu asked curiously after Su Qi hung up the phone.

    "Giggle! You''ll understand once you start working and enter society," Su Qi laughed, now more convinced than ever that Ge Dongxu was wealthy because of his family.

    Otherwise, how could a truly capable person, who could earn so much money on his own, ask such a naive question?

    What Su Qi didn''t know was that the way Ge Dongxu made money was different from others; he only made decisions on the big directions, and details of dealing with people and government departments didn''t require his involvement. Thus, he didn''t have as deep an understanding of such realistic aspects of society yet.

    ps: Still on a trip, only two chapters today, sorry, sorry.

 Chapter 180 Alumni Meeting

    Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library EmpireThis was an opulently decorated club whose colorful lights could be seen from afar under the night sky.

    When Yuan Li and her two companions arrived, a group of classmates had already entered a large private room.

    The private room was similarly adorned in grandeur, with about twenty people¡ªmen and women¡ªseated inside. Most were around their thirties, with two women who appeared to be just over twenty sticking close to a couple of men who were starting to show a touch of corpulence.

    The table was laid with snacks and bottles of beer.

    A man with a classic "parted 70:30 hairstyle" sprawled on the long couch, taking up at least three people''s space, and looking very ostentatious.

    A woman on the stage was singing a love duet with a man.

    Seeing Yuan Li and Su Qi walk in, the ostentatious man''s eyes lit up. He sat up in his seat and waved Yuan Li over, saying, "Classmate Yuan Li, why have you just arrived? Come, sit over here."

    "Yeah, Yuan Li, why are you so late? Without you, even Director Cui doesn''t feel like singing or drinking." Someone chimed in, egging her on.

    "If Director Cui isn''t in the mood for singing or drinking, that''s a question for all of you in the capital, isn''t it? Why turn it around on someone from a small place like me?" Yuan Li responded with a laugh and then pulled Ge Dongxu to a seat on the side.

    As Yuan Li sat down with Ge Dongxu, people in the room realized she had brought someone with her, and a good-looking man at that. Some who had been keen to tease held back, and Director Cui''s face darkened noticeably. He looked at Yuan Li and forced a smile, "Old classmate, you brought a friend and haven''t introduced us?"

    "That''s right, that''s right. Classmate Yuan, you''ve got a handsome friend in the capital and only brought him out now? Not cool! Hurry and introduce him," some people started jeering again, with one or two women sounding particularly sour upon seeing the young and handsome Ge Dongxu.

    "You misunderstand, Sister Li. My name is Ge Dongxu, also from Changxi County. Because I happened to come to the capital this time, I joined in for some fun," Ge Dongxu said as he stood up.

    Hearing that Ge Dongxu was a fellow townsman of Yuan Li, a number of people in the room displayed a smirk that carried a touch of disdain. Director Cui, even more, slouched back into the couch, patted his belly and pointed toward Ge Dongxu, "Little Ge, both you and Su Qi are late with Yuan Li, shouldn''t you make some sort of gesture?"

    Director Cui''s right, let me suggest something. One drink for each lady, but Little Ge here, a man should tough it out a bit more, so make it a bottle," said a man, balding a tad although he was just in his thirties.

    "Great idea, I second that!" Many voiced their approval.

    "How is that okay? What era are we living in? We should advocate for gender equality!" Yuan Li spoke up for Ge Dongxu.

    "Since Yuan Li suggests gender equality, I find it very sensible. Women are no less capable than men, so let''s go with a bottle each." The balding man said, rising to his feet and opening three beers on the table.

    The men laughed at his antics, calling him as mischievous as he had been in university, while a few of the women who had a good relationship with Yuan Li and Su Qi spoke up on their behalf, questioning why it should be the women who have to match the men''s drinking, and not the other way around.

    Amidst the laughter and liveliness, Ge Dongxu couldn''t get a word in and somehow ended up being penalized a whole bottle, while Yuan Li and Su Qi each had to drink a glass.

    Drinking was no issue for Ge Dongxu, so he simply downed a bottle.

    "Great! Great!" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s straightforward manner, everyone cheered him on, except for Director Cui, who felt somewhat irked. After Ge Dongxu set down the bottle, he suggested, "Ge, since you''re the new guy here and the youngest of us all, shouldn''t you toast the older brothers and sisters seated here?"

    With Director Cui''s suggestion, many joined in to cheer, while some slightly frowned but no one spoke up to object.

    But Yuan Li wouldn''t have it. A slight anger showed on her pretty face, and just as she was about to speak, Ge Dongxu had already picked up a bottle of beer, popped it open with a smile, and said, "No problem, good things come in pairs, I''ll toast everyone with another bottle."

    With that, Ge Dongxu chugged down another bottle.

    After all, it was a class reunion, and since he had come to be the shield, Ge Dongxu didn''t want to make it difficult for Yuan Li or spoil the mood for everyone.

    When Ge Dongxu finished another bottle, everyone cheered again, and Director Cui also called out in approval, even though his expression was rather gloomy, clearly not pleased. This was particularly true when he saw that as soon as Ge Dongxu had finished the bottle, Yuan Li immediately pulled him to sit and quickly offered him peanuts and beef jerky to eat¡ªthis made Director Cui feel even worse.

    "You fool, they obviously want to see you make a fool of yourself, why would you still drink? Eat something quick, fill your stomach." Yuan Li pulled Ge Dongxu to her side and whispered, her eyes filled with emotion. She was not oblivious to the fact that Ge Dongxu was doing all this to keep her from being put in a difficult position.

    "I just had Peking duck at Quanjude, just what I needed for my thirst," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    "All you do is boast! You think you''re a German or what, drinking beer like water," Yuan Li scolded with a twinkle in her eyes and lightly pinched Ge Dongxu.

    "Heh, when it comes to drinking, even the Germans can''t outdrink me!" Ge Dongxu boasted.

    "Keep boasting, but I''m warning you, take it easy later. These folks have been rolling around in the workplace for years, each of them slicker than the last," Yuan Li couldn''t help but give Ge Dongxu another eye roll as she whispered.

    "Don''t worry, Sister Li, I know what I''m doing," Ge Dongxu whispered into Yuan Li''s ear reassuringly.

    "Now, Yuan Li, that''s not quite right. We''re all classmates here, and you two lovebirds are only busy whispering to each other. That won''t do, that won''t do, we have to separate them, or we can''t continue this reunion," the balding man started railing against Ge Dongxu and Yuan Li.

    "Boss Zhang, Boss Li, why don''t you lead the way!" After scolding Ge Dongxu and Yuan Li, the balding man turned towards two obviously well-fed men sticking close to two seductive-looking women, and said. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Damn, this Zhou Xialiu, you really are the worst! Nowadays people say it''s too expensive to pay for prostitutes, too tiring to date, it''s better to have a class reunion, breaking up one couple after another. It seems like that saying started with you," Boss Zhang and Boss Li laughed and pointed at the balding man, then gently patted the women beside them and said, "Didn''t you hear Manager Xie''s words? Go on, find that handsome guy and let President Yuan go."

 Chapter 181 Im a Little Attracted to You

    ```Indeed, the two women stood up and, swaying their serpent-like waists, walked toward Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu saw the commotion picking up and thought the class reunion was getting a bit too messy.

    Clearly, he wasn''t the only one who felt this way, as many cast a glance at Zhou Xialiu and at Director Cui, who wore a cold smile, and frowned slightly, disdain clearly visible in their eyes.

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    Anyone with half a brain could see that Zhou Xialiu and the General Managers Li and Zhang were all trying to curry favor with Director Cui.

    However, nobody voiced any objections. Most of them had graduated with a degree in finance and, after graduation, had mostly gone to work in banks. Those with connections stayed in the capital, while those without, like Yuan Li, returned to work in local areas.

    At that time, a finance degree was highly sought after, and with just a little effort and some smarts, it was possible to land a mid-level position in a bank, like Zhou Xialiu who was a department manager at a branch in the capital. As for General Managers Li and Zhang, they had gone into business for themselves.

    Still, they were only in their thirties, not long out of school. Among those attending the reunion, Cui Mingshuo had done the best for himself, holding a deputy director position in an important department at the central bank. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Since they were all from the banking system, they inevitably needed Cui Mingshuo''s favor, and even if they didn''t, they dared not offend him. As for General Managers Li and Zhang, being in business, they inevitably needed loans and such, and they often interacted with Cui Mingshuo and Zhou Xialiu, so when Zhou Xialiu made his suggestion, they joined in the raucous support.

    Yuan Li, seeing the two women swaying their hips as they approached, also felt somewhat annoyed.

    She really didn''t know how to counter this move!

    "Why has no one started singing? Weren''t we going to sing? Sister, how about I invite you to sing a song with me?" Ge Dongxu saw the two women were almost upon him, a strong fragrance assaulting his nostrils, which made him frown slightly. A thought struck him, and he suddenly grabbed Yuan Li and stood up, saying.

    Yuan Li, hearing this, blinked at Ge Dongxu and said happily, "Sure!"

    With that, she and Ge Dongxu took microphones and went to the screen to pick a song.

    As Yuan Li and Ge Dongxu stood up and left, General Managers Li and Zhang''s mistresses were a bit stunned, not sure what to do. Zhou Xialiu couldn''t come up with a plan on short notice either and could only offer an awkward laugh, saying, "Little Ge is quite crafty in his workings!"

    The crowd all laughed, and the two mistresses returned to the sides of General Managers Li and Zhang, coiling around them like serpents, while occasionally pinching them and complaining that they had been sent away and embarrassed.

    While everyone else was roaring with laughter, Ge Dongxu was getting worried. He leaned over to Yuan Li''s ear and whispered, "Sister, I think I''ve never sung love songs before!"

    "Pfft! And you were the one to propose such an idea! Now you have to go along with it whether you like it or not. I''ll find a popular love song, and you just hum along as best as you can," Yuan Li said, finding joy in Ge Dongxu''s predicament for not having sung love songs before yet stepping forward for her.

    "Sister, what''s with that expression? You look like you''re reveling in my misfortune. I did this for you, you know!" Ge Dongxu, seeing Yuan Li not in a rush and actually looking happy, couldn''t help but say with a mix of laughter and tears.

    "Do I? No way. There are only love songs here, which one have you heard more of? Do you know ''Heart Rain''?" Yuan Li turned the song catalog to show Ge Dongxu.

    Though Ge Dongxu had never put in the effort to learn a song thoroughly, back when he was studying, there was always a song before class¡ªthat''s when, before the teacher arrived, the class would sing led by the secretary for literature and arts. Whatever song was popular at the time, Ge Dongxu would hum along. So, looking at the song list, he found he could recall the melodies of quite a few. He knew a bit of the song "Heart Rain" that Yuan Li mentioned, but remembering that its lyrics were rather sad, he thought for a moment and said, "The lyrics of that song aren''t great; let''s choose this one, ''I''m Slightly Attracted to You''. I like this song better and I should be able to hum it."

    Yuan Li didn''t have much of a reaction when Ge Dongxu said the lyrics of "Heart Rain" weren''t good, but when he pointed to "I''m Slightly Attracted to You," her face flushed red, and she gave Ge Dongxu an enchanting side glance, leaving him confused by her meaningful look.

    "Let''s go with that one then." Seeing that Ge Dongxu seemed oblivious to the implication, Yuan Li couldn''t help but throw another glance at him and said.

    So the two selected "I''m Slightly Attracted to You," and the melodious tune began to play in the private room.

    You and I, men and women, can''t escape love

    ```

    Who has the courage to give their true heart regardless of everything else?

    What you''re saying includes not just you, but also myself.

    Should we continue or should we respond?

    Let love take its steps closer.

    I''m slightly moved by you,

    Yet so afraid to look into your eyes.

    A little bit moved, a little bit hesitant,

    I can''t believe my feelings are beyond my control.

    ...

    Ge Dongxu was a bit uncomfortable at first, singing off-key, and people were quietly mocking him. But as a cultivator, his vocal range was much broader than the average person''s, and soon enough, when he got into the groove, his magnetic, effortless voice filled the private room, quickly intoxicating the audience.

    The lyrics coincidentally expressed Yuan Li''s feelings at the time, and Ge Dongxu sang so well that Yuan Li quickly became emotional, especially when Ge Dongxu looked into her eyes singing "I''m slightly moved by you, yet afraid to look into your eyes," her eyes couldn''t help but moisten, and at some point, their hands found each other.

    "Great! Kiss! Give us a kiss!" When the song ended, someone from below started to tease.

    Yuan Li, hearing the calls, really wanted to slowly close her eyes and wait for Ge Dongxu''s kiss, yet she knew he was only eighteen, and he''d soon become a billionaire, while she was merely a divorced woman. How could she be worthy of his kiss?

    "Go on, stop fooling around!" Ultimately, Yuan Li waved her hand at the crowd, smiling brightly as she pulled Ge Dongxu back to their seats by his hand.

    "Not bad, Little Ge, have a drink." After Ge Dongxu came down, Cui Mingshuo made a point of getting up and grabbing two bottles of beer, handing one to him.

    Although Ge Dongxu didn''t like the man, since it was a reunion with Yuan Li''s classmates, he didn''t want to be rude, so he clinked bottles with him.

    "What does your family do for a living, Little Ge?" After having a sip with Ge Dongxu, Cui Mingshuo casually sat next to him and asked.

    "Nothing much, just a small business," Ge Dongxu replied casually.

    "Doing business is great, not like us who work for salaries," Cui Mingshuo said with a laugh, though his face clearly showed a hint of disdain.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled and did not continue the conversation.

    "I know a number of business owners and government officials in Jiangnan Province. If you need any help with your business next time, just let me know. After all, you''re a friend of Yuan Li''s, and I ought to help when I can," Cui Mingshuo said.

    "Yeah, Little Ge, Director Cui has extensive connections. You should toast him a few more times," Zhou Xialiu chimed in.

    ps: I can only update two chapters today, but no matter what, I will update four chapters tomorrow.

 Chapter 182 I Wont Apologize

    "Heh, thanks, but I rely on integrity and product quality in my business, not really on networking." Ge Dongxu replied nonchalantly."Dongxu, that way of thinking is wrong, it''s even somewhat naive. Nowadays, without connections, it''s hard to get anywhere!" Cui Mingshuo, upon hearing this, didn''t mince his words and said with a sneer.

    "Heh, I don''t know if my idea is naive, but I think, Director Cui, your idea is quite terrifying." Ge Dongxu was already annoyed with Cui Mingshuo, and seeing him deliberately mocking him to his face, finally couldn''t bother to save his face, and just smiled lightly in response.

    The meaning couldn''t be clearer¡ªit was because of people like him that society had become terrifying!

    "Hmph, just a kid! What do you know?" Cui Mingshuo, just as annoyed with Ge Dongxu, had intended to embarrass him in front of everyone, but didn''t expect Ge Dongxu to confront him so boldly, which made him furious, darkening his expression as he spoke bluntly.

    The contempt was unmistakable!

    Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    Ge Dongxu became instantly enraged upon hearing this, and just as he was about to lash out, people around him sensed the tension and one of them already pulled Cui Mingshuo away, while Su Qi pulled Ge Dongxu aside and said, "Dongxu, you sing love songs so well, sing one with Sister Qi too."

    "I can''t sing love songs. I just bluffed earlier, and I only know that one song." Ge Dongxu naturally didn''t want to sing a love song with Su Qi, and hurriedly waved his hand.

    Since Cui Mingshuo had already been pulled away, Ge Dongxu didn''t bother to confront him anymore. After all, it was a class reunion, and Ge Dongxu actually didn''t want to spoil everyone''s mood.

    "How come you can sing with Yuan Li but not with me? Since you only know that one, sing that one then," Su Qi said with dissatisfaction.

    Seeing Su Qi say this, Ge Dongxu had no choice but to reluctantly step forward and sing one with her.

    The voice was still very pleasing, but it had less emotion than before, making it quite noticeable.

    So when Ge Dongxu and Su Qi finished singing, someone shouted from below, "Dongxu, you''re playing favorites! Su Qi was also one of our class beauties back in the day, how could you sing so dryly! No, no, you must sing another one!"

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu''s head began to ache. Singing was already hard enough for him, now he had to sing a love song, and even try to feign emotion with a woman he felt nothing for, it was enough to give him goosebumps.

    In the end, Ge Dongxu came up with a quick idea and reluctantly used the "urine escape" tactic.

    Once out of the private room, Ge Dongxu felt relieved.

    He didn''t like the atmosphere of this class reunion with Yuan Li, which made him feel oppressed.

    Once he relaxed, Ge Dongxu actually did feel the urge to pee, so he went to the restroom.

    "Oh, what a coincidence, you''re here too!" After relieving himself and washing his hands, Ge Dongxu saw Feng Chenqing walk in, and couldn''t help but express his surprise.

    "Ah, you''re here too," Feng Chenqing was also visibly pleased.

    "Yeah, Sister Li and some classmates are having a gathering. They dragged me here to join in the fun," Ge Dongxu explained with a smile.

    "I''m here for a friend''s friend''s birthday. They insisted I make an appearance," Feng Chenqing said.

    "Heh, must be a girlfriend''s friend," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    Feng Chenqing laughed shyly.

    "Alright, I''m heading back to the private room," seeing this, Ge Dongxu didn''t say more.

    "Which room are you in? I''ll come by to visit later," Feng Chenqing said.

    "Don''t bother with that, your status is no small matter. If someone recognizes you, it could blow up," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Alright, just give me a call if you need anything," Feng Chenqing, a wise man, knew that Ge Dongxu preferred to keep a low profile, so he didn''t insist further.

    Ge Dongxu nodded and then left the restroom to head back to the private room.

    ¡­

    "Fuck, it''s just singing¡ªwhat''s with the attitude?" Cui Mingshuo cursed at Yuan Li in the private room. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Director Cui, you''re drunk, you''ve had too much," someone hurried to Cui Mingshuo and attempted to restrain him.

    "I''m clear as hell! She''s just a fucking bitch! What''s so great about her? I can have any woman I want¡ªwhy the hell are you acting all high and mighty? I could fuck you over with just one phone call!" Cui Mingshuo shoved the person holding him aside and pointed at Yuan Li, cursing arrogantly.

    At that, Yuan Li picked up a glass of beer and splashed it directly into Cui Mingshuo''s face.

    "Splash!" The beer hit Cui Mingshuo full in the face, soaking his hair and eyebrows with frothy droplets.

    The private room suddenly fell silent.

    On one hand, no one expected Cui Mingshuo to be so swollen with arrogance, and on the other, they were surprised by Yuan Li''s fierce temperament as she retaliated by throwing beer in Cui Mingshuo''s face.

    "Smack!" A loud slap broke the silence in the room.

    "You fucking bitch, how dare you splash beer on me! Do you fucking want to lose your job?" As he spoke, Cui Mingshuo reached out to grab Yuan Li''s hair, cursing menacingly,

    "Director Cui, Director Cui, you''re too drunk!" Seeing this, the people in the room panicked completely and hurried to restrain Cui Mingshuo, with Su Qi desperately trying to pry his hand away.

    "I''m not too drunk. Yuan Li, let me tell you, you''re done! Just so you know, the branch manager of your Ouzhou City is here today, and I''m calling him over right now. Motherfucker! What bullshit!" Cui Mingshuo struggled to shake everyone off, pointing at Yuan Li and cursing bitterly, while grabbing his phone to make a call.

    Just then, the door to the private room was pushed open, and a chubby head peeked in, its owner still holding a bottle of liquor.

    However, as the door swung open and he saw the scene, he was momentarily stunned, while Cui Mingshuo''s eyes lit up as he said, "Manager Liu, you''re just in time. This Yuan Li just splashed beer on me¡ªhandle it!"

    At this, Manager Liu''s face immediately darkened. Looking at Yuan Li, whose hair was somewhat disheveled and who still had the imprint of a slap on her face, he said, "Comrade Yuan Li, what is this about? Apologize to Director Cui right now!"

    "Why should I apologize? He insulted me first!" Yuan Li lifted her chin, tears brimming in her eyes, and said with quivering lips.

    "What kind of attitude is that? Do you think it was right to splash Director Cui with beer? Apologize to him right now!" Manager Liu demanded angrily.

    "I won''t apologize! He should be the one apologizing!" Yuan Li retorted.

    "Fine, fine. It seems you no longer want to be the branch manager!" Seeing Yuan Li disobey him, Manager Liu turned blue with rage, his face trembling with fat.

    The people in the room showed varying degrees of disdain and outrage, but no one spoke up for Yuan Li, except for someone who nudged her and whispered, "Just apologize, Yuan Li!"

    Su Qi also urged her this way.

    It couldn''t be helped; their positions were at best comparable to Yuan Li''s, with some even lower, including those stationed in the capital¡ªno one dared to stand up to Cui Mingshuo for Yuan Li''s sake.

    Since they didn''t dare confront Cui Mingshuo, they naturally could only persuade Yuan Li to back down.

    "What''s going on?" While everyone was trying to persuade her, the door to the private room was once again pushed open, and Ge Dongxu walked in, seeing a few women quietly consoling Yuan Li around her, he asked with a puzzled expression.

    ps: That''s it for today, four more updates tomorrow for sure. Talking about tomorrow, I''m returning home. For those interested in my journey, everyday life, and writing situation, feel free to join my WeChat public account.

 Chapter 183 Hitting People [First Update]

    "Wow! Dongxu!" Yuan Li heard Ge Dongxu''s voice, suddenly pushed the people beside her and threw herself into his arms, bursting into tears.No one stood up for her when so many people saw her, a woman, being hit by a man. Instead, they actually urged her to apologize to the man who had hit her. She felt so wronged and sad.

    Now that she heard Ge Dongxu''s voice, she couldn''t control her feelings of grievance and sadness anymore.

    "Don''t cry, Sister Li, don''t cry. I''m here for you!" Seeing Yuan Li cry her eyes out in his arms, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel a surge of heartache and quickly embraced her, gently patting her shoulders.

    "Hmph, what a bold claim. Don''t you even look at your own status? A bumpkin daring to speak such words in the capital," Cui Mingshuo sneered.

    Ge Dongxu gave Cui Mingshuo a cold glance but didn''t rush up immediately; instead, he softly consoled Yuan Li.

    "Dongxu, let''s go." After a while, having found comfort in Ge Dongxu''s embrace, Yuan Li gradually calmed down, looked up at him with tear-stained eyes and said.

    "What happened to your face? Who hit you?" As soon as Yuan Li looked up, Ge Dongxu saw the slap mark on her face, and his expression suddenly turned cold.

    "It''s nothing, let''s go, Dongxu." Yuan Li forced a smile at Ge Dongxu and said.

    She knew this was the capital, not like the small place of Changxi County! She couldn''t let Ge Dongxu act recklessly.

    "Tell me, who hit you?" Ge Dongxu grabbed Yuan Li''s shoulders and asked, seeing the slap mark on her delicate face filled him with an unbearable mix of heartache, outrage, and self-reproach.

    Today, he had promised to be her knight in shining armor for the evening!

    Yuan Li bit her lip and shook her head, refusing to speak.

    "It was me! What about it?" While Yuan Li remained silent, Cui Mingshuo spoke up. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire

    "It was you! You damn bastard hit Sister Li! Fuck!" Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu let go of Yuan Li, turned towards Cui Mingshuo, and charged at him, grabbing his hair, slamming him to the ground, and throwing punches at his head and face. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Fuck, who do you think you are? Daring to hit my sister!" Ge Dongxu cursed while he hit him.

    Everyone in the private room was stunned by this sudden turn of events.

    No one had expected the Ge Dongxu who had seemed shy while singing just moments ago to be so fierce, striking someone as soon as there was cause.

    "Let go, let go!" Soon the others snapped back to reality and rushed forward to pull Ge Dongxu away.

    "All of you get the hell away from me! You''re all unworthy of the title ''classmate''. Shit, you watched a man hit a woman and just stood there doing nothing?" Ge Dongxu stood up fiercely, his eyes coldly sweeping over everyone, his foot still on Cui Mingshuo''s head.

    "Let me go, let me go! You''re dead, kid, you''re so dead!" Cui Mingshuo started shouting.

    "Shout your mother''s head! Shut your mouth!" Ge Dongxu, enraged, was not about to take Cui Mingshuo''s defiance lightly. He lifted his foot and stomped down hard on Cui Mingshuo''s body.

    In no time, Cui Mingshuo was left with nothing but his howls, no longer daring to be defiant.

    "Qi Sister, come here, what the hell just happened?" Ge Dongxu, stepping on Cui Mingshuo, waved to the already scared stiff Su Qi.

    Among these people, except for Yuan Li, she had had the most contact with Ge Dongxu, even jesting and fighting with him. She never imagined that Ge Dongxu could be so fierce when provoked.

    "Dongxu, let it go, let''s just leave!" Seeing this, Yuan Li hurried forward, tears streaming down her face as she tugged at Ge Dongxu, consumed with regret and self-reproach.

    "You think you can leave? You hit someone and you think you can just walk away? This isn''t over..." Cui Mingshuo, seeing Yuan Li pulling Ge Dongxu to leave, somehow found his bravado again and started to make noise.

    "Fuck! Can''t you understand what I''m saying? Still daring to shout!" Ge Dongxu, seeing Cui Mingshuo opening his mouth again, immediately scowled and kicked and stomped him violently once more.

    Cui Mingshuo quickly shut his mouth, while the others felt a chill in their hearts, especially Zhou Xialiu, who thought to himself that it was good he hadn''t continued to make a fuss earlier, or else he would have been miserable.

    "Su Qi, you tell the story!" Ge Dongxu, seeing that Cui Mingshuo was no longer yelling, turned again toward Su Qi and demanded coldly.

    This time he didn''t call her ''Qi Sister'' nor did he speak to her in a negotiating tone, but with one of command.

    At that moment, Ge Dongxu finally revealed his truly domineering side!

    Gazing at Ge Dongxu, even though Su Qi clearly knew he was only eighteen and from a small place, for some reason, facing him, she felt as if he were a powerful figure with great authority. Trembling with fear, she meticulously recounted the entire incident to Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu heard that Cui Mingshuo had insulted Yuan Li simply because she refused to sing a love song with him, had thrown beer at her, and then had struck her, even pulling her hair. Furthermore, he had instructed Manager Liu to revoke Yuan Li''s position, and Manager Liu had indeed threatened to dismiss her to coerce an apology to Cui Mingshuo. Enraged, Ge Dongxu was nearly about to explode.

    "You lot are utterly unworthy of being Sister Li''s classmates!" Ge Dongxu pointed at Zhou Xialiu and the others one by one, then finally landed on Manager Liu who was also a bit shocked out of his wits, and said, "You there, come here?"

    Seeing Ge Dongxu calling him, Manager Liu stepped back.

    Ge Dongxu, upon seeing this, stepped forward, grabbed his collar, raised his hand intending to slap him, but ultimately lowered his hand and scolded, "What the fuck kind of leader are you? Not speaking up for your staff is bad enough, but to actually abet the bully! Fuck!"

    Boiling with rage, Ge Dongxu shoved Manager Liu away, in the end choosing not to hit him.

    "What''s going on? What happened?" Just as Ge Dongxu had released Manager Liu''s collar, the private room door was suddenly barged open, and several security guards rushed in, followed by a man in a suit wearing a duty manager badge.

    It turned out that while Ge Dongxu was dealing with Manager Liu, Cui Mingshuo had hurriedly taken out his phone and dialed a number in desperation.

    "Manager Zhang, perfect timing. Arrest this guy quickly, and then call the police. He assaulted someone!" The moment the security guards arrived, Cui Mingshuo immediately pointed at Ge Dongxu and started shouting.

    "So what if I hit you? You asked for it!" As Cui Mingshuo started shouting again, Ge Dongxu turned, grabbed his hair, and pushed him back down to the ground, stepping on him.

    Laymen watch the excitement; experts observe the technique. The people in the private room saw Ge Dongxu''s ferocious side when he grabbed and subdued Cui Mingshuo, but the security guards, who had some experience in scuffles, gasped at the sight of Ge Dongxu easily grabbing the hair of such a tall northerner, pinning him to the ground with a foot.

    This guy was clearly a master!

    ps: Today my journey finally comes to an end. Tomorrow, January 1st, I''ll be launching, and I''m crying here, having to rush writing on the airplane and continue through the night when I get home. Regardless, I''ll grit my teeth and give you four more updates before the launch as compensation for this time. Tomorrow I''ll try to burst out as much as I can. I hope everyone can help by casting a monthly vote and support the official subscription. Thank you.

 Chapter 184 Do You Still Want to Leave? [2nd Update]

    Manager Zhang was clearly a perceptive person. Moreover, this being the capital and Ge Dongxu being dressed in high-end attire that day, who knew if he had any clout, so even though Manager Zhang recognized Cui Mingshuo and was aware of his influence, he didn''t heed Cui Mingshuo''s words but instead hurriedly said, "Sir, let''s talk this out calmly, please. Could you release Director Cui first?"Don''t look at how Cui Mingshuo was flaunting his bravado today, that was only because he knew the background of everyone present, so he was unreserved. In reality, he was humbler than anyone at his workplace. Because he knew there were many who could decide his future there.

    So seeing Manager Zhang simply asking Ge Dongxu to let go and not immediately ordering the security guards to come and help, he knew what Manager Zhang was wary of.

    Because Manager Zhang''s mindset at that time was the same as Cui Mingshuo''s at work. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "A load of crap, this punk is just a nouveau riche from a small county town in Jiangnan Province!" Cui Mingshuo yelled loudly.

    Upon hearing Cui Mingshuo''s shout, Manager Zhang''s face indeed changed color, and he cursed, "Dammit, a country bumpkin dares to run wild here! Let go of him this instant or don''t blame me for being rude!"

    "You can try being rude for a change!" Ge Dongxu saw Manager Zhang''s face change faster than flipping a book and couldn''t help but respond coldly.

    The thing he hated the most was this type of opportunist!

    "Dammit, and now you''re getting cocky with me, huh? What the hell are you guys standing there for? Didn''t you see Director Cui get hit by this punk?" Manager Zhang, seeing Ge Dongxu actually threatening him, had his face change again and cursed at the security guards who were still standing rooted to the spot.

    Although the security guards were somewhat wary of Ge Dongxu''s prowess, they were armed with rubber clubs, and they outnumbered him, naturally not afraid. Seeing the manager issue an order, they swung their rubber clubs and started to beat Ge Dongxu mindlessly while cursing, "Dammit, you dare hit someone in Jin Yi? Are you tired of living or what? Let go of him!"

    "Hey, what are you doing? This has nothing to do with..." Seeing the security guards raising their rubber clubs and rushing forward to attack Ge Dongxu, Yuan Li couldn''t help but turn pale with anxiety, and from somewhere she found the courage to rush forward, throwing her arms wide in front of Ge Dongxu.

    "Get lost!" Most of the security guards saw Yuan Li suddenly block the front and quickly drew back their rubber clubs, but one of them kept cursing without stopping and even aimed a blow at Yuan Li.

    Ge Dongxu hadn''t expected Yuan Li to rush up and shield him. By the time he realized it, the security guard''s rubber club was nearly striking Yuan Li''s delicate shoulder.

    Ge Dongxu''s eyes immediately flashed dangerously: "Dammit!"

    He reached out and embraced Yuan Li''s slender waist, pulling her aside, as his other hand shot up and grabbed the rubber club.

    "Let go!" Ge Dongxu demanded coldly.

    The rubber club in the security guard''s hand was now in Ge Dongxu''s grasp.

    "Do you know why I hit this person?" Ge Dongxu, holding the rubber club, looked coldly at the security guard, now empty-handed, and asked in a cold voice.

    The security guard who previously appeared very fierce suddenly felt like he was being stared at by a ferocious beast upon meeting Ge Dongxu''s icy gaze, felt a chill in his heart, and reflexively stepped back.

    "That''s because this person hit Sister Li!" Ge Dongxu said as he raised the rubber club and struck at the shoulder of that security guard.

    The other security guards naturally hurried forward with their rubber clubs to help.

    ```

    "Get out of the way!" Ge Dongxu barked coldly, his rubber stick striking their incoming rubber sticks like lightning.

    ```

    ```

    Although rubber sticks don''t conduct electricity, when Ge Dongxu''s rubber stick hit theirs, every one of them felt a current-like energy transfer from the stick to their hands. Their arms went numb instantly, they cried out "Ah!" and the rubber sticks they held dropped to the ground one after another.

    ```

    ```

    Instantly, four rubber sticks lay scattered on the ground, and the four security guards each covered the hand that had held a stick, their faces pale, looking at Ge Dongxu with a hint of fear in their eyes.

    ```

    ```

    Inside the private room, there was a moment of silence so still it seemed you could hear a pin drop.

    ```

    ```

    Previously, when Ge Dongxu had pinned Cui Mingshuo to the ground and beaten him, they hadn''t thought much of it, assuming Cui Mingshuo was just weak, unable to defend himself against Ge Dongxu, looking like a beaten dog in a one-on-one fight.

    ```

    ```

    But now, these four burly security guards had come at him with rubber sticks, and with one strike from Ge Dongxu''s stick, had all let go of theirs, and only then did the people realize Ge Dongxu was actually a very capable fighter.

    ``` Find more to read on My Virtual Library Empire

    ```

    "What skill do you have hitting a woman? If you''re brave enough, come hit me!" In the midst of everyone''s shock, Ge Dongxu had already struck the shoulder of one of the security guards with his rubber stick.

    ```

    ```

    The security guard immediately crouched down in pain, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

    ```

    ```

    As Ge Dongxu struck the security guard, Manager Zhang had already sneaked out of the private room, hurriedly picking up the phone to call the police.

    ```

    ```

    After hitting the security guard once, Ge Dongxu didn''t continue, but instead, threw the rubber stick aside and shouted at him, "Learn how to be human before you work as a security guard! And if there''s a next time, it won''t be so easy!"

    ```

    ```

    Having said that, Ge Dongxu turned back to Cui Mingshuo.

    ```

    ```

    Seeing Ge Dongxu turn towards him, Cui Mingshuo''s eyes showed a fear as he kept backing away, saying, "You, you, what do you want to do? Don''t go too far! This is the capital city."

    ```

    ```

    "I know this is the capital," Ge Dongxu replied as he stepped forward and grabbed Cui Mingshuo by the collar, "I''m just a guy from a small rural place. So what? You think that makes it okay for you to pick on me, right? That gives you the right to humiliate Sister Li, to hit her, right?"

    ```

    ```

    "Let me tell you, I was already holding back just now! But to think you actually see yourself as some big shot," Ge Dongxu said, unable to restrain himself from giving Cui Mingshuo a slap.

    ```

    ```

    "Dongxu, let''s just go," Yuan Li implored, worried that Ge Dongxu would lose control of his emotions and really hurt Cui Mingshuo, she pulled at Ge Dongxu''s hand, both touched and anxious.

    ```

    ```

    "Go? You think you can still leave? I''m telling you, Manager Zhang must have already gone out to call the cops. You''re fucking waiting to go to jail! You hit me too! You think you''re so badass just because you can fight?" Cui Mingshuo said with a vicious look on his face.

    ```

    ```

    "This has nothing to do with Dongxu. If you''ve got the guts, just come at¡­" Yuan Li, hearing this, was so anxious her tears rolled in her eyes.

    ```

    ```

    After all, the capital is not a small place like Changxi County; in ancient times, it would be right under the emperor''s nose. An ordinary citizen here could, with enough twists and turns, be connected to some royal relatives, let alone a character like Cui Mingshuo.

    ```

    ```

    He had managed to get into the central bank and become a minor department head in his early thirties, certainly with the help of his deceased father-in-law, but he also had his own connections and abilities. Not to mention Ge Dongxu was just a simple commoner, even if it were the top leaders of Changxi County who caused a ruckus here and beat Cui Mingshuo, they couldn''t expect to walk away without consequences.

    ```

    ```

    Yuan Li, who had once studied finance in college in the capital, knew this all too well.

    ```

 Chapter 185 How Are You Here? [3rd Update]

    "What are you supposed to be? Is Yuan Li''s face that big? You say it''s none of this kid''s business just like that..." Cui Mingshuo immediately yelled, his eyes revealing a hint of madness.Today, he had been beaten by Ge Dongxu to the point he was nearly bursting with anger.

    "Do you want me to push you down and hit you again?" Ge Dongxu tightened his grip on Cui Mingshuo''s neck and asked coldly.

    Cui Mingshuo immediately shut his mouth, but his gaze was filled with hatred as he stared at Ge Dongxu.

    "I''m giving you a chance, apologize to Sister Li now." Ge Dongxu ignored Cui Mingshuo''s hateful look and said coldly, looking down at him.

    Cui Mingshuo turned his head away, not responding to Ge Dongxu.

    He was a man of status and standing after all, and everyone present today had been his classmates in the past. Having been beaten by Ge Dongxu earlier, he had lost face completely. How could he possibly lower his head to apologize to Yuan Li now?

    "Very well! You had your chance and you didn''t take it, so don''t blame me!" Ge Dongxu said softly, then gently patted his abdomen.

    Last time, Yuan Li''s ex-husband, Liu Lihe, was so despicable and shameless, yet Ge Dongxu had held back. But this time, he finally made a heavy move.

    Because Cui Mingshuo''s behavior was beyond despicable and shameless!

    "You, you, what are you going to do?" Cui Mingshuo shivered inexplicably when Ge Dongxu spoke so casually, because it wasn''t like Ge Dongxu''s previous fierce demeanor.

    "I''m not doing anything. What could I do? You think if you don''t apologize, I''m going to break your legs? I''m not that stupid! This is the capital. If I really did that, going to jail would be inevitable. As for hitting you a few times earlier, at most it would warrant some police criticism or a few days of detention. It''s hard to avoid getting into a little fight when someone''s tempers flare up." Ge Dongxu released Cui Mingshuo''s neck and dusted off his hands, with an indifferent expression on his face.

    "Haha, so you''re scared now? Detained for a few days, you motherfucker hit me and you think just a few days in detention? Are you fucking day-dreaming?" Seeing Ge Dongxu maintaining his composure, Cui Mingshuo secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then quickly returned to his arrogant demeanor, pointing at Ge Dongxu with a wild look and shouting.

    "What, you want someone to arrest me and throw me in jail forever? Seems like Director Cui''s ''Energy'' is not small indeed!" Ge Dongxu asked with a cold smile.

    "What? Now you know how big I am! Come on, kneel down and beg me, maybe if I''m pleased..." Cui Mingshuo sneered.

    "It seems some people just can''t be given any leeway!" Ge Dongxu said with a cold laugh.

    "You, what are you going to do? I''m telling you, the police are on their way!" Seeing the fierce light return to Ge Dongxu''s eyes, Cui Mingshuo hurriedly backed away, regretting that he hadn''t been able to restrain his emotions, even though he knew well about Ge Dongxu''s fierceness.

    "With your cowardly appearance, if it weren''t for your status and power, who the fuck would even look at you!" Seeing that he hadn''t even made a move and Cui Mingshuo was already retreating in fear, Ge Dongxu shook his head in contempt and mocked.

    The others also showed a trace of contempt upon hearing this.

    This kind of person, he can only bully those who are timid and incompetent. When he really meets a fierce person, he just crumbles!

    Cui Mingshuo, seemingly agitated by Ge Dongxu who had shaken him just moments earlier, was furious enough to want to throw punches at Dongxu. However, his feet were involuntarily stepping backward because Dongxu was advancing toward him as he spoke.

    "What''s happening here? What''s happening here?" Just then, a group of police suddenly appeared at the door. A commanding officer coldly inquired, his gaze quickly scanning the surroundings before settling on Cui Mingshuo''s face with a slight start, "Director Cui, what are you doing here?"

    "Officer Zhu, you''ve arrived just in time. Look at me, here, here, he hit me!" Cui Mingshuo, seeing that a subordinate''s brother had come, couldn''t contain his joy. He hastily pointed at his face and head where Dongxu had struck, then pointed at Dongxu with fierce resentment.

    Officer Zhu, named Zhu Chen, was the deputy director of the police station for the district where Jin Yi Entertainment Club was located, and coincidentally, Cui Mingshuo was the immediate superior of his brother Zhu Min.

    Director Cui had previously sought his help in an incident, so they were no strangers to each other.

    Upon hearing this, Zhu Chen glanced at Cui Mingshuo. His eyebrows slightly creased, and his expression showed a tinge of difficulty. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    For aside from Cui Mingshuo''s slightly disheveled hair, there were no signs on his face or head of being hit at all.

    Zhu Chen was an experienced officer, and he could tell whether Cui Mingshuo had been hit or not.

    Since there was no evidence of any assault yet Cui Mingshuo was pointing at his head and yelling, it was clear that he was deliberately trying to frame and take down the young man.

    Of course, for someone like Zhu Chen, handling a young man would usually be easy. But this was the capital, and one careless move could implicate a prominent figure. Moreover, the young man was dressed so properly and carried a commendable demeanor, Zhu Chen dared not act rashly.

    However, since Cui Mingshuo was his brother''s superior, which could affect his brother''s future, he could not simply dismiss him.

    "Officer Zhu, this guy who hit people is from Changxi County, Jiangnan Province!" Cui Mingshuo, evidently aware of Zhu Chen''s hesitations, quickly clarified Dongxu''s identity, feeling inwardly annoyed that Zhu Chen, despite clearly seeing his beaten condition, still hesitated.

    Upon hearing that Ge Dongxu was from a county under Jiangnan Province, Zhu Chen inwardly breathed a sigh of relief but his brows knitted slightly again, a look of difficulty and disdain flickering in his eyes. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    Zhu Chen fully understood Cui Mingshuo''s intention in revealing Dongxu''s identity, but since there were no visible injuries on Cui Mingshuo, his earlier statement was too blatantly manipulative, making Zhu Chen inwardly curse him as foolish and incompetent.

    Nevertheless, Zhu Chen still had to consider his brother''s career prospects. Although he internally struggled with and disdained Cui Mingshuo''s blatant and flamboyant actions, he finally turned to Dongxu, speaking sternly, "Comrade, you are suspected of assault and battery. Please come with us for an investigation."

    "Officer, this matter has nothing to do with my friend. It was Cui Mingshuo who insulted and hit me first, and my friend just couldn''t take it and got into an argument with him," Yuan Li explained hastily as she saw the police were about to take Dongxu away, almost tearing up in her urgency.

    "Don''t listen to her slandering me, Officer Zhu. He was the one who first splashed drinks on me and then this young man hit me. Look at my face, my head! If you don''t believe it, ask these classmates of mine," Cui Mingshuo quickly responded, not foolhardy enough to think his status alone could command Zhu Chen to act on his behalf.

    Whether it was out of their conscience or otherwise, aside from Zhou Xialiu and those two directors who spoke up, everyone else simply bowed their heads.

    At this point, both Zhu Chen and the other officers could clearly see what had really happened, and they all inwardly cursed Cui Mingshuo for being useless, while Zhu Chen cursed him even more harshly in his heart.

    This maneuver by Cui Mingshuo was essentially putting him in a difficult position!

 Chapter 186 186 Chapter Are you okay? [4th Update]

    "Director Cui, you''re an adult, how can you have the nerve to blatantly lie? I was just scaring you a bit, I didn''t actually hit you. Go look in the mirror!" Ge Dongxu said with a disdainful sneer."Damn it, you''re the one blatantly lying!" Cui Mingshuo, who always twisted the truth about others, had never been accused this way before. Seeing Ge Dongxu turn the tables on him left him swearing up a storm, though he did glance toward a mirror in the private room.

    When he looked, Cui Mingshuo was stunned.

    The others, hearing this, subconsciously turned their gazes to Cui Mingshuo and they were all stunned as well. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Damn! Just now you clearly beat me up until my face was swollen and I had lumps on my head!" After being stunned, Cui Mingshuo screamed like a stepped-on cat.

    "Director Cui, you may be dumb, but don''t think everyone else is too!" Ge Dongxu sneered coldly.

    As a cultivator, especially at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, Ge Dongxu could inflict pain that made someone scream, all the while not leaving any visible marks.

    A trace of annoyance flickered through Zhu Chen''s eyes, and rightly so, as Cui Mingshuo was obviously treating him like a fool!

    Su Qi and a few others all wore expressions of disbelief.

    Just moments ago, they had clearly seen Ge Dongxu beating Cui Mingshuo severely. How come there wasn''t even a bit of swelling?

    "Officer Zhu, listen to me, this guy really did beat me up until my face was swollen and I had lumps on my head, I still feel extremely painful now!" Cui Mingshuo, not being Zhu Chen''s superior and unable to command him directly, hurriedly explained, seeing the unmistakable displeasure on Zhu Chen''s face.

    "Enough, you all come with me to the police station!" Zhu Chen finally spoke out, gesturing with his hand, his expression darkening.

    Seeing Zhu Chen finally siding with him, Cui Mingshuo flashed a triumphant smile at Ge Dongxu and whispered smugly in his ear, "Kid, you''re going to suffer at the station!"

    "Is that so? I think you''re the one who''s going to suffer!" Ge Dongxu retorted with a disdainful sneer.

    "Keep being arrogant! You''ll be crying soon!" Cui Mingshuo said coldly.

    "Officer, this really isn''t Ge Dongxu''s fault!" Yuan Li panicked as the police were about to take Ge Dongxu away, clearly siding with Cui Mingshuo, and she stepped forward to intervene again.

    "Sister Li, it''s okay, after the scene we caused, it''s only right for the officers to do this. We shouldn''t make it difficult for them. I just hope they can live up to the uniform they wear and not wrongly accuse the innocent," Ge Dongxu said, holding Yuan Li back.

    Ge Dongxu''s words sounded particularly grating and juvenile to Zhou Xialiu and the others, their faces unconsciously showing a sneer of disdain.

    Anyone with common sense could see that Cui Mingshuo and Zhu Chen knew each other and that Zhu Chen was biased! Only someone from a small place like Ge Dongxu would say such naive things.

    "Hmph, we don''t need you to tell us that! Once we get to the station and the investigation is clear, we will handle the case justly!" Zhu Chen said coldly.

    After finishing his sentence, Zhu Chen waved his hand, "Take him away," then pointed at Cui Mingshuo and a few others, "Director Cui, you and these people come with us to make a statement."

    These people included Zhou Xialiu who had just testified, two executives, Yuan Li, and a few others.

    It was unclear whether Zhu Chen intended to make a show for everyone or genuinely wanted to investigate the matter thoroughly.

    However, by taking away Cui Mingshuo''s favourable witness Zhou Xialiu and two managers, he clearly showed some bias. As for how biased he would be, that could only be known once they reached the police station.

    "Take what? First explain the matter clearly!" Just as Zhu Chen was about to take Ge Dongxu and others back to the police station, Feng Chenqing hurriedly pushed through the crowd and coldly shouted.

    After speaking, he didn''t look at Zhu Chen and the others'' expressions or reactions, but hurried to Ge Dongxu''s side and asked in a low, concerned voice, "Are you alright?"

    A young woman, dressed fashionably, followed Feng Chenqing. She looked surprised when she saw Feng Chenqing quickly approach a young man and ask in a concerned, low voice.

    Recently, Feng Chenqing had made a girlfriend. Her family was alright, but not as wealthy as Feng Chenqing''s. Coincidentally, she had a friend who was celebrating a birthday.

    Women tend to have a bit of vanity, and she insisted on Feng Chenqing showing his face to join in the fun.

    Since her friend''s family was only moderately well-off, they didn''t choose a top-tier club but selected Jin Yi Entertainment Club instead.

    When the police came earlier, someone had just come out to use the restroom and saw them, mentioning it on their return.

    Normally, this wouldn''t be a big deal, as it''s common for people to drink too much and cause disturbances at entertainment venues, leading to police visits. However, upon hearing this, Feng Chenqing immediately left his private room in a rush to see what was happening.

    After all, his grandfather''s junior fellow disciple was having fun there tonight! If he alarmed the old man, then Feng Chenqing would indeed have failed in his duties!

    But as is often the case, what you fear most tends to happen. Feng Chenqing had just arrived at the scene of the disturbance when he saw Ge Dongxu and Zhu Chen''s commanding gesture.

    Although Feng Chenqing often casually called him Dongxu, Ge Dongxu was younger than him, and calling him "junior uncle" would indeed be shocking and inappropriate. Feng Chenqing was very clear that someone of his grandfather''s stature wouldn''t just casually acknowledge a junior fellow disciple. Thus, while he might call him by name outwardly, he could never truly regard him as just another young man.

    So, when he saw the police attempting to take Ge Dongxu away, Feng Chenqing immediately broke through the crowd and rushed in.

    Joking aside, this was his grandfather''s junior fellow disciple. If he were taken to the police station, would his grandfather not be furious?

    If his grandfather were to be furious, it would cause a stir throughout the whole Huaxia Country¡ª who could bear such a responsibility?

    "I''m fine, it''s just that Sister Li was treated unfairly," Ge Dongxu said upon seeing Feng Chenqing arrive, not particularly surprised since the two had just met in the restroom. He waved his hand dismissively.

    Hearing that Ge Dongxu was alright, but that it was his friend who had been mistreated, Feng Chenqing breathed a sigh of relief.

    But he only relaxed slightly because he had personally witnessed the close relationship between Ge Dongxu and Yuan Li.

    "Who are you? Is it your place to interrupt while the police are working?" Cui Mingshuo was thinking about how to deal with Ge Dongxu at the police station later and was annoyed to see someone unexpectedly butt in who was apparently on Ge Dongxu''s side. Without giving it much thought, he immediately started scolding Feng Chenqing.

    "And who are you? What does my questioning the police have to do with you? Besides, since when is it wrong to question the police while they are handling a case?" Feng Chenqing, being a clever person, sensed from Cui Mingshuo''s attitude that this incident definitely involved him. His expression darkened, and he asked sternly.

    ps: I''ve gone to the airport. This book will be listed tomorrow. I hope friends can continue to support Old Duan by purchasing the official version. I''ll try to deliver five chapters tomorrow. They will be uploaded after midnight. Please support us with a guaranteed monthly vote after midnight. This month marks the beginning of a challenging monthly ticket leaderboard struggle. I will strive to update, and you strive to vote. Thank you.

 Chapter 187 Impressive Background [First release, asking for monthly votes.]

    "How is this none of my business? I''m telling you, if your friend hit me, he can wait to go to prison!" Feng Chenqing was usually low-key, and Cui Mingshuo did not recognize him. Seeing Chenqing''s arrogant demeanor, Cui immediately pointed at his nose and said wildly."Is that so? You have quite the nerve!" Feng Chenqing sneered, then turned to Zhu Chen and said, "Comrade, what''s the meaning of this? I see this man doesn''t have any injuries, yet he''s clamoring that my friend hit him and wants him sent to jail? This is barefaced threatening, shouldn''t you, as a police officer, make a statement about this?"

    "Whether there are injuries, whether someone was hit, and whether prison is warranted is not for you to decide. We, the police, will handle the case impartially!" Zhu Chen, seeing the accusatory look on Feng Chenqing''s face, also felt a surge of irritation and said in a cold voice.

    He didn''t recognize Feng Chenqing either and assumed he was also from Changxi County, Jiangnan Province.

    Seeing that Feng Chenqing was also a hothead who had irritated Zhu Chen, Cui Mingshuo couldn''t help feeling a bit of schadenfreude and looked at Feng Chenqing with a smug expression.

    "Very good!" Feng Chenqing saw that Zhu Chen was not being impartial, sneered, and without giving him any more attention, turned to Ge Dongxu and whispered, "Dongxu, could you briefly tell me what happened? I''d like to make a call to clarify things."

    Ge Dongxu saw that Feng Chenqing didn''t pull rank by directly invoking his status as the eldest grandson of the Feng Family and not only wasn''t upset but rather showed a hint of admiration, nodding and saying, "That is only right."

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu was about to give Feng Chenqing a brief account of the incident, when Cui Mingshuo began to scoff repeatedly, "What, trying to pull some strings and call someone? Let me tell you, I''m an official at the central bank, and you people from the small places, if you hit a central bank official in the capital, thinking of calling someone for help, forget it!"

    "You''re with the central bank? What''s your name? Which department?" Feng Chenqing looked up in some surprise at Cui Mingshuo, and asked in a deep voice. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Feng Chenqing''s aunt was a leader at the central bank, and of course, her level was very high within the bank, far surpassing what Cui Mingshuo could compare to. Now that Cui Mingshuo was flaunting the name of the central bank in front of him, it was natural for Chenqing to ask for clarification.

    Cui Mingshuo, of course, was unaware that the young man before him had an aunt who was one of the central bank''s top executives. Seeing the persistent questioning, Cui showed a smug look and arrogantly said, "Trying to get the lowdown? Fine, I''ll tell you, so you don''t keep...""

    "Cousin, why are you here?" Before Cui Mingshuo could finish speaking, a young woman hurried over, pushed through the crowd, and looked at Zhu Chen with some surprise, asking.

    "Li Hui! I''m handling a case. Are you playing here tonight?" Zhu Chen, seeing the young woman come in and showing a look of surprise, responded and then followed up by asking.

    "Yes, it''s my birthday tonight, so I invited a few friends to come here and have fun. A friend just told me that something happened here..." the woman who arrived later, identified as Li Hui, replied.

    "How come, Li Hui, is this man your cousin?" Feng Chenqing didn''t wait for Li Hui to finish, raising his eyebrows slightly as he asked.

    "Are these two your friends?" Almost simultaneously, Zhu Chen also interrupted Li Hui, pointing to Feng Chenqing and another girl who had just arrived with him, asking.

    "Yes, that''s right. Why?" Li Hui, still unaware of the situation, asked curiously.

    "I thought he was... never mind, since everyone knows each other, let''s sit down and clarify the issue. Have your friend''s friend apologize to Officer Cui, and we''ll consider the matter settled. What do you say, Officer Cui?" Zhu Chen, realizing that Feng Chenqing was not from Changxi County and also seeing he knew his own cousin, didn''t want to blow things out of proportion. He first spoke to Li Hui and then turned to Cui Mingshuo to ask.

    "Police Chief Zhu, what do you mean by this? This guy beat me up like this, and a simple apology is supposed to make it all right?" Cui Mingshuo had just been beaten up miserably by Ge Dongxu on the ground, so how could he possibly accept a reconciliation, and immediately spoke with a very ugly expression on his face.

    And Li Hui, seeing her cousin actually suggesting that Feng Chenqing''s friend should apologize to Cui Mingshuo, and that Cui Mingshuo was still not letting it go, couldn''t help but open her mouth in surprise and then hurriedly pulled Zhu Chen aside, asking, "Cousin, what''s your relationship with this guy? You didn''t just favor him and say something inappropriate to Mr. Feng, did you?"

    "Feng what young master? Huh, are you talking about your friend? He has quite the background!" Zhu Chen heard this and was initially puzzled, followed by a sudden jolt in his heart, accompanied by a very ominous feeling.

    His female cousin''s family also had a slight background, and she was always proud, so anyone who could be called ''Young Master Feng'' by her was certainly no ordinary person.

    "The eldest grandson of the Feng Family," Li Hui whispered into Zhu Chen''s ear.

    "Which Feng... you mean... Feng, Feng..." Zhu Chen was first stunned, then his whole body began to tremble, and his speech became less articulate.

    It couldn''t be helped, he, as the deputy chief of the police station, was considered a figure of authority in the eyes of ordinary folks, but compared to the Feng Family, that was like comparing an ant to an elephant.

    Li Hui nodded, then asked, "Did you just not..."

    With that question from Li Hui, Zhu Chen remembered his attitude just now, trembled all over again, and hurriedly walked up to Feng Chenqing, bowing deeply as he apologized, "I''m sorry, Young Master Feng, I have been offensive in my words just now, please forgive any offenses. Rest assured, I will get to the bottom of this matter right away and will absolutely not..."

    Zhu Chen''s drastic change in attitude, and addressing Feng Chenqing as ''Young Master'', left Cui Mingshuo dumbfounded and his face turned pale.

    The administrative level in the capital is high, and even the deputy chief of a local police station holds a rank several levels above that of a deputy chief in a typical rural township police station, equivalent to a deputy director in a county public security bureau.

    Just think, a deputy director of a county public security bureau addressing a young man as ''Young Master'' and also bowing to apologize, Zhu Chen could guess, even without thinking too hard, that this Young Master Feng, whom he had not taken seriously just a while ago, must have a significant background.

    The other people in the private room were also stunned.

    Clearly, they had not expected such a sudden and drastic turn in events! Especially Zhou Xialiu and those two executives, their complexions also turned pale instantly.

    They were on the same side as Cui Mingshuo just moments earlier.

    "Dongxu, what do you think?" Feng Chenqing didn''t pay attention to Zhu Chen but turned to look at Ge Dongxu, respectfully asking for his opinion.

    With Feng Chenqing asking for guidance, Cui Mingshuo and the others were naturally even more frightened, while Li Hui and Feng Chenqing''s girlfriend, along with Zhu Chen, were staring wide-eyed.

    They all knew of Feng Chenqing''s identity.

    They simply could not imagine who in the world could command such respect from Feng Chenqing at a local level.

    Especially Zhu Chen, who was staring wide-eyed; while cold sweat poured down his forehead, he wished he could rush forward and kick Cui Mingshuo to the ground, beating him until even his own mother wouldn''t recognize him.

    This was a total set-up! It was utterly outrageous!

    ps: The book is now live, please support the official release by subscribing. If you have any monthly tickets, please cast one. This month will see an intense competition for monthly tickets, and I''m relying on you all. There will be five consecutive updates today. Additionally, I wish all readers a Happy New Year and non-stop good fortune!

 Chapter 188 I Have an Aunt Named Feng Jiahuiã€2nd Updateã€‘

    "This is easy to handle; I''ll cooperate with this officer''s investigation, and we will proceed as necessary. It''s fine to ask here, or at the police station," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.Those who knew Ge Dongxu''s temperament should be aware that his words were genuine, without any hidden implications.

    However, those present were used to navigating social and governmental circles, always keen to speculate on their leaders'' thoughts. Ge Dongxu''s words, to their ears, took on added meaning, and they thought he was displeased with Zhu Chen''s attempt to take him to the police station earlier.

    Zhu Chen''s face instantly turned even paler, as he hurriedly stepped forward and said, "No need to go to the police station, no need to go there. We can clarify things right here."

    Feng Chenqing didn''t say anything but gave Zhu Chen a cold look. Yet, even this simple glance made Zhu Chen''s heart sink into the bottomless abyss.

    This was the eldest grandchild of the Feng Family, after all!

    "That''s fine too; I really don''t want to go to the police station. So, ask your questions, and I''ll answer," Ge Dongxu said, not giving it much thought. Seeing that Zhu Chen said there was no need to go to the station, he was pleased to avoid the trip and nodded in agreement.

    "Yes, yes," Zhu Chen eagerly nodded, then took out a notebook and pen and started to ask Ge Dongxu about the incident that had just occurred.

    The fact was that Cui Mingshuo had been the first to resort to violence, and Ge Dongxu had merely refused to let it slide with a few gestures of defiance. There was nothing incorrect or shameful about his actions. If there was anything to criticize, it was perhaps that Ge Dongxu''s retaliation seemed a bit too forceful. But under those circumstances, especially with someone like Cui Mingshuo, a heavier hand was quite normal, and Ge Dongxu had taken that into account; though he didn''t hold back, there were no visible marks of injury.

    As such, there wasn''t anything to hide, and Ge Dongxu recounted the events from beginning to end in detail.

    Those present had already realized the extent of Feng Chenqing''s influence. When Zhu Chen asked them, they all confirmed the truth of Ge Dongxu''s account, including Zhou Xialiu and the two company executives, who all turned their backs on Cui Mingshuo, corroborating the authenticity of Ge Dongxu''s testimony.

    After hearing these statements, Feng Chenqing''s face turned stormy, his gaze chillingly cold.

    This was the dear woman of his grandfather''s close fellow disciple! Not only had Cui Mingshuo insulted her, but he had also struck her! This was utterly outrageous!

    "Cui Mingshuo, from the Supervision Department, right? You''ve done well! Very well! And you''re the Ouzhou City branch manager of the Industrial and Commercial Bank, aren''t you? You''ve done very well too!" Feng Chenqing said coldly, his gaze ice-cold and lofty as he swept over Cui Mingshuo and Manager Liu.

    "What, what do you want to do?" Cui Mingshuo felt his skin crawl under Feng Chenqing''s stare, and Manager Liu was not much better off. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I don''t want to do anything. Didn''t you say you wanted to remove Sister Li from her position? Very well! You sure are capable, with great power! Alright, then I''ll just see if you''re still sitting in those positions tomorrow," Feng Chenqing said with a frigid voice.

    At that moment, Feng Chenqing''s demeanor showcased the domineering presence and pride fitting of the eldest grandchild of the Feng Family!

    "Who do you think you''re intimidating? Don''t think that just because Zhu Chen fears you, I will too!" Cui Mingshuo, seeing how things had developed and feeling quite fearful inside, believed that due to the particular nature of the central bank, not just anyone could meddle with their personnel appointments, especially not at his level. Even if there were to be any dismissals, his director would have to give approval. Feng Chenqing might have had a significant background, yet he was still young. Cui Mingshuo didn''t believe that he could affect his position, so he pointed at Feng Chenqing, speaking in a tone fierce on the outside but hollow inside.

    "Slap!" Who was Feng Chenqing? Besides his father, who else in Huaxia Country had the right to call themselves ''old man'' in front of him? Not to mention Cui Mingshuo. Seeing Cui Mingshuo dare to refer to himself as ''old man'' in front of him, Feng Chenqing grabbed his collar and slapped him across the face.

    "You''re hitting people! Zhu Chen, and all you police officers, are you blind? Didn''t you see him hit me?" Cui Mingshuo, already humiliated by being hit by Ge Dongxu, was now slapped by another young man without any courtesy. He immediately became furious and started shouting.

    Zhu Chen was just coldly looking at Cui Mingshuo, like he was looking at a dead man.

    How dare someone call himself "father" in front of one of the few Crown Princes of the capital. He was literally asking for a beating!

    The other police officers weren''t aware of Feng Chenqing''s identity. But since their leader hadn''t spoken up, and based on the statements given just now, they were also quite disgusted with this piece of shit, Officer Cui, so none of them responded to his words. Instead, they just watched him.

    "Oh right, I forgot to tell you something. I have an aunt by blood whose name is Feng Jiahui. I think you must have heard of her, and this Mr. Ge Dongxu here is a distinguished guest of our Feng Family!" said Feng Chenqing as he released Cui Mingshuo''s collar.

    The majority of the people in the private room were from the banking system. How could they possibly not know the name of one of the banking magnates? Not to mention, she also has an exceedingly prominent father.

    "Feng, Feng Jiahui!" Several screams erupted in the room followed by an abrupt silence as they clamped their hands over their mouths.

    Though Branch Manager Liu had been afraid just now, given his position, he had some connections and wasn''t completely intimidated by Feng Chenqing''s stance earlier. But now it was different¡ªthis was about the Feng Family! And Feng Chenqing also said that Ge Dongxu was their distinguished guest, which meant that this matter wasn''t just personal to Feng Chenqing, but related to the entire Feng Family.

    The Feng Family, huh! Let alone him being just a mere Level 2 branch manager, even the head of the head office wouldn''t dare to offend the Feng Family!

    "Young Master Feng, Feng Shao, I really didn''t know that Yuan Li was your friend. It''s all this Cui Mingshuo''s fault. He...he..." Branch Manager Liu was so terrified that he wet himself, his obese body tumbling and crawling to Feng Chenqing''s feet, stammering as he begged for mercy.

    Meanwhile, Cui Mingshuo was utterly dumbfounded, collapsing onto the floor.

    If Branch Manager Liu still harbored a sliver of hope, Cui Mingshuo had none left. Unless Ge Dongxu was willing to let him off the hook.

    Remembering Ge Dongxu, Cui Mingshuo hurriedly stood up from the ground, bowing repeatedly to Ge Dongxu, "Mr. Ge, Mr. Ge, you are a generous man. It was all because I had too much to drink earlier, I didn''t know..."

    "Officer Cui, who''s the fool here, you or me? With the way you were swaggering earlier, could it just be because you drank too much? It''s because you have a lousy character!" Ge Dongxu lightly patted Cui Mingshuo''s shoulder.

    With this light pat from Ge Dongxu, tears streamed down from Cui Mingshuo''s eyes.

    "Yes, it''s my character that''s flawed. I will definitely mend my ways, mend them!" stammered Cui Mingshuo, sobbing and sniffling.

    "I already gave you a chance just now!" Ge Dongxu said indifferently, then turned to Zhu Chen and asked, "Officer, may we leave now?"

    "Yes, of course you can," Zhu Chen promptly nodded.

    "Dongxu, where are you going? I''ll drive you," said Feng Chenqing urgently, his heart filled with trepidation.

    Today, he had been ordered by his grandfather to keep Ge Dongxu company, yet this incident had occurred. If Ge Dongxu took offense because of it, not even Feng Chenqing would be able to avoid criticism.

    ps: Begging for subscriptions and monthly tickets, thank you very much!

 Chapter 189 Ill Wander with You Everywhere [3rd Update]

    By now, everyone in the private room was aware of Feng Chenqing''s identity. Seeing Ge Dongxu state his intention to leave, Feng Chenqing immediately stepped forward, offering to drive him, his astonishment profoundly different from before.This was the eldest grandson of the Feng Family, the entire Huaxia Capital; which young person had the privilege to have him eagerly offer to be their chauffeur?

    But now?

    A young man from a small place had managed to earn such respect from the Feng Family''s eldest grandson. If one did not see it with their own eyes, who would believe it?

    "You keep having fun. Besides, you should sort things out here a bit. I''ll take Sister Li for a walk," replied Ge Dongxu nonchalantly.

    Feng Chenqing nearly felt like crying upon hearing Ge Dongxu''s words. Just earlier, because he was with his girlfriend instead of accompanying Dongxu, Dongxu almost got taken to the police station. Fortunately, he had arrived in time; otherwise, had Dongxu really been taken away to the police station, wouldn''t his grandfather have been furious?

    If he continued to play and something else happened, how would he explain it to his grandfather?

    "You don''t need to worry. I''m just going to take Sister Li out to clear her mind. I''ll call you if there''s any trouble," said Ge Dongxu with a smile, patting Feng Chenqing on the shoulder, knowing that the latter was worried because of his own status.

    Upon hearing Ge Dongxu mention taking Yuan Li out to clear her mind, Feng Chenqing bowed slightly to Yuan Li, apologizing, "I''m sorry, Sister Li, for the trouble this incident has caused you. Rest assured, I will definitely report this matter upwards and ensure that it''s dealt with seriously."

    "No, no, thank you!" With Cui Mingshuo already taught a lesson, Yuan Li''s heart harbored no grievances, and she replied hastily.

    Feng Chenqing smiled, then turned to Ge Dongxu and said, "If you have any trouble, call me anytime."

    There was no helping it; with Ge Dongxu deciding to take Yuan Li out to clear her mind, Feng Chenqing couldn''t possibly tag along like a third wheel. Of course, he also couldn''t say no. In the end, he could only ask Dongxu to call if anything came up, his heart filled with anxiety. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Alright," Dongxu nodded, then took Yuan Li''s hand and said softly, "Let''s walk around a bit."

    Watching Ge Dongxu''s tender concern for Yuan Li, and his handsome, youthful appearance, all the ladies in the private room showed unfettered envy, despite some of them previously feeling a schadenfreude about Yuan Li''s divorce. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

    Now, they wished they were in Yuan Li''s place!

    Su Qi too was brimming with envy!

    "Okay," Yuan Li nodded, then turned to say something to Su Qi and gave a small nod to a few classmates who had somewhat helped her. She then gently took Ge Dongxu''s arm.

    As for the other classmates, especially people like Zhou Xialiu and the two company executives, their friendship with her effectively ended tonight.

    Times had changed; before, if Yuan Li had cut ties, most of these classmates likely wouldn''t have felt much regret. But now, seeing Yuan Li''s connection to the mysterious young Ge Dongxu and anticipating a bright future ahead for her, they deeply regretted their earlier opportunistic behavior. However, it was too late for regrets now that the damage was done and barriers formed.

    Before leaving, besides purposely greeting Su Qi, Ge Dongxu also made sure to acknowledge Feng Chenqing''s girlfriend, yet since the girl didn''t seem to have much in common with Feng, and considering the recent upset involving Yuan Li, he didn''t linger in pleasantries. After exchanging greetings, he left the private room with Yuan Li.

    After Ge Dongxu and Yuan Li had left, Feng Chenqing scanned the room and said indifferently, "I hope everyone can keep today''s matters to themselves."

    After finishing his speech, Feng Chenqing turned to his girlfriend and Li Hui and said, "Let''s go."

    Seeing Feng Chenqing getting ready to leave, Zhu Chen''s heart began to beat furiously, and he repeatedly gave his cousin significant looks.

    There was no choice, after all, Ge Dongxu had just left with the instruction for Feng Chenqing to handle the situation. To Zhu Chen, that "handling" naturally included him.

    Because just now, his butt was somewhat crooked.

    Zhu Chen''s cousin was indeed smart and quickly nudged her best friend with her elbow before whispering something into her ear.

    Her best friend hesitated for a moment but still approached Feng Chenqing and whispered, "Chenqing, Director Zhu didn''t know about this beforehand, and he''s also Li Hui''s cousin. Do you think we can overlook this and not report him as well?"

    "Don''t worry about this matter," Feng Chenqing said with a slight frown.

    "Chenqing, Director Zhu is also a good friend of my cousin. You wouldn''t deny him this bit of face, would you?" Feng Chenqing''s girlfriend pouted, somewhat displeased.

    "This isn''t a matter of face!" Feng Chenqing saw not only his girlfriend interfering in the matter but also showing displeasure because he didn''t agree. His expression darkened slightly, and he headed straight for the door of the private room.

    The person involved was his grandfather''s junior brother. Even if he had to report tonight''s events in full detail, how could it be something his girlfriend could casually interfere with?

    Seeing Feng Chenqing walk away without looking back, his girlfriend panicked and hurriedly followed him out. With this, Zhu Chen felt his heart sink even further and, overwhelmed with frustration, stepped forward and kicked Cui Mingshuo hard, cursing, "Fuck your mother!"

    Cui Mingshuo was kicked to the ground by Zhu Chen, and no one helped him up or spoke for him.

    This kind of person, in fact, his classmates all looked down on him, calling him no good. When he had power and influence, they would suppress their true feelings and fawn over him, curry favor with him. But once he lost his power, who would care about him? Not spitting on him or kicking him was already considering the old classmate relationship.

    "Chenqing, I''m so sorry! I was wrong, please don''t be mad," the woman outside the private room chased after Feng Chenqing, hugging his arm and shaking it.

    Feng Chenqing, seeing his girlfriend''s pitiful look, softened inside and sighed, "Don''t think this is a small matter; this could even mean trouble for me!"

    "It can''t be that serious, can it? Who exactly is that young man?" Feng Chenqing''s girlfriend''s eyes widened in disbelief, her face showing a shocked expression.

    You should know that in Huaxia Country, among the younger generation, there seem to be very few with a higher status than Feng Chenqing!

    "You don''t need to know about this for now. As for Li Hui''s cousin, although there were some problems with how he handled the situation, fortunately, I arrived in time and he didn''t commit any disciplinary or illegal actions. It''s not bad enough to warrant severe punishment. Otherwise, it wouldn''t matter if he were Li Hui''s cousin or even your own brother; I couldn''t protect him," Feng Chenqing explained.

    Having heard Feng Chenqing say this, his girlfriend dared not say another word.

    "I need to make a phone call," Feng Chenqing added quickly, then took out his phone to call his aunt Feng Jiahui.

    Since the incident involved Ge Dongxu and people from her department, Feng Chenqing naturally needed to report it to her immediately.

 Chapter 190 Because There Are No Ifs [4th Update, Seeking Monthly Pass]

    Feng Chenqing''s girlfriend, seeing that someone with his status was reporting to her over the phone at the very first moment and did so with such a grave expression, became increasingly shocked by Ge Dongxu''s identity.Although Feng Jiahui had been unwilling to call Ge Dongxu "Uncle Master" before and had even been rude to him due to distrust in his medical skills, she completely accepted him as her uncle after he truly cured her father''s illness. Her father had even lashed out at her several times for Ge Dongxu''s sake, to the point of threatening to break her legs, so Feng Jiahui had completely accepted Ge Dongxu as "Uncle Master" in her heart.

    Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire

    One can imagine how angry Feng Jiahui felt after hearing Feng Chenqing''s report!

    That was her father''s junior brother, who also had done a favor for her father. Even Feng Jiahui had to be respectful in front of him, and now a subordinate of hers had openly insulted and struck his friend, even boasting about getting Ge Dongxu imprisoned!

    How could this be tolerated? Wasn''t this a direct slap in Feng Jiahui''s face?

    After listening to Feng Chenqing''s report and asking again for details, Feng Jiahui hung up the phone with an icy face and immediately called the leaders of the Human Resources Department and the Internal Audit Department, demanding a halt to Cui Mingshuo''s work and an immediate investigation into his years of service.

    When Feng Jiahui got angry, it was no small matter. Cui Mingshuo soon received the notification to suspend his duties and stay within the capital in the coming days, and he was completely dumbfounded by this development.

    For someone like him, how could he possibly be innocent? Once an investigation began, prison was inevitable!

    In fact, Cui Mingshuo didn''t know that, even if he wasn''t going to prison, he wouldn''t have the chance to do any more bad deeds. Because Ge Dongxu loathed his despicable behavior, he had secretly taken steps to ensure that not only would Cui Mingshuo never be able to have sexual relations again, but his kidneys would also slowly atrophy and fail.

    Of course, at the time, Ge Dongxu did not know that Cui Mingshuo was facing jail, otherwise, he would not have acted so covertly.

    ...

    No matter the outcome for Cui Mingshuo, Ge Dongxu was no longer concerned or cared¡ªit was all in the past. The only thing he cared about now was the woman by his side who had been humiliated before.

    "Does it still hurt?" Walking by the lake at Shichahai, Ge Dongxu asked softly.

    After leaving the Jin Yi Entertainment Club, the two of them took a taxi to Shichahai.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. If it weren''t for you tonight, I really..." Yuan Li shook her head and then looked up at Ge Dongxu, speaking softly.

    "Didn''t we agree there''d be no thanks between us? Besides, it was my responsibility as a ''knight in shining armor'' that I failed tonight, you should be criticizing me," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Criticize you?" Yuan Li''s body trembled slightly, and her eyes showed a hint of infatuation. It was a while before she gently leaned on Ge Dongxu''s shoulder and whispered, "How good it would have been to have met you ten years earlier!"

    "Ten years earlier?" Ge Dongxu was taken aback and then laughed, "At that time I was just a snotty little brat."

    "Pfft!" Yuan Li could not help but laugh, saying, "I had forgotten that you were a little brat back then!"

    "That''s right, if it had been ten years ago, a beauty like you wouldn''t even spare me a glance," said Ge Dongxu, relieved to hear Yuan Li laugh.

    "You''re already so capable, and your words are so sweet. I wonder how many girls will be charmed by you in the future," Yuan Li tightened her grip on Ge Dongxu''s arm a bit, looking at him with delight and a playful scold in her eyes as she whispered.

    "I''m not being sweet-talked, I''m speaking the absolute truth," Ge Dongxu said with a serious face.

    "You really know how to make someone happy!" Yuan Li glanced at Ge Dongxu, her face filled with joy.

    "It''s getting a bit windy. Where are you staying tonight? I''ll take you back," Ge Dongxu said with a look of concern, for it was winter and they had walked by the lake for a while.

    "Can you walk with me a little longer, please?" Yuan Li pleaded, looking at Ge Dongxu.

    "Of course, it''s good, I''m just worried about you catching a cold," Ge Dongxu said.

    "No worries, don''t I have you to help keep me warm?" Yuan Li said with a laugh, hugging Ge Dongxu''s arm tighter.

    "All right then, let''s walk a bit more, but if you feel cold, just tell me," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Mm!" Seeing that Ge Dongxu didn''t object, Yuan Li nodded happily.

    Perhaps because Yuan Li was hugging too tightly, Ge Dongxu felt somewhat constrained, so he suddenly fell silent.

    Yuan Li seemed to really enjoy holding Ge Dongxu''s arm and walking quietly, so she didn''t say anything either.

    The two of them walked in tacit silence for a while. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Dongxu!" Suddenly Yuan Li called out softly.

    "Hmm," Ge Dongxu responded.

    "If I were also a high school senior right now, would you be attracted to me?" Yuan Li asked after a moment''s silence.

    When she asked this question, Ge Dongxu could clearly feel Yuan Li''s body tense up slightly.

    Ge Dongxu suddenly remembered the song they had sung earlier in the private room and recalled how his heartbeat had quickened as he watched Yuan Li while they sang. He was somewhat taken aback.

    "Sorry! I shouldn''t have asked that," Yuan Li said, noticing that Ge Dongxu had not answered for a long time. A glint of tears appeared in her eyes, then she took a deep breath and whispered. She slowly loosened her tight hug around Ge Dongxu''s arms.

    "I wouldn''t!" Ge Dongxu seemed not to notice Yuan Li''s emotional change, nor did he hear what she had just said, as he replied confidently.

    Yuan Li''s delicate body shook violently, and her hands suddenly let go. Although she knew that a man as outstanding as Ge Dongxu was out of her league, she still harbored a faint hope, a ''what if''! Even if it was just that ''what if'', and not reality.

    Because she had truly taken a liking to this young man who had just turned eighteen! It was an affection she had never felt before in her life!

    If there truly was such a thing as unwavering love in this world, she believed that her feelings now represented just that!

    "Because there are no ''what ifs''! Because I am a little attracted to the current you, but I..." Ge Dongxu''s eyes showed a conflicted look.

    His thoughts turned to Liu Jiayao, and for an instant, even the image of Jiang Lili flashed across his mind. If he was attracted to Yuan Li, what about Liu Jiayao? What about the first kiss they had, the passionate kisses from before?

    At that moment, the eighteen-year-old Ge Dongxu felt a profound understanding of the contradictions and conflicts in romantic relationships.

    "Don''t say it!" Yuan Li turned around suddenly at his words, pressing her delicate finger against Ge Dongxu''s lips, while the tears she had been holding back finally overflowed and slid down her smooth, fair cheeks.

    A sense of joy and sweet happiness that she had never experienced before filled her heart completely in that moment.

    "Thank you, that''s enough for me! It really is enough!" Yuan Li suddenly threw herself into his embrace, hugging his waist tightly, looking up at him, and murmured.

    Gazing down at Yuan Li''s tear-streaked enchanting face and those lush lips under the dim yellow light, Ge Dongxu was moved and couldn''t help but lower his head.

 Chapter 191 Classmates Apology [5th Update]

    After a long moment, their lips parted, and Yuan Li nearly collapsed into Ge Dongxu''s embrace, her alluring eyes like silk, her pretty face flushed with a captivating allure under the light.Such beauty almost made Ge Dongxu give in to leaning down for another kiss, but in the end, he held back.

    Because he remembered Liu Jiayao, and the words she had said.

    Yuan Li, too, wanted to tiptoe up and initiate a kiss, for Ge Dongxu''s kiss, though clumsy and green, had left her completely intoxicated. But it was for that very reason that Yuan Li refrained from taking further action.

    She simply placed her finger on Ge Dongxu''s lips and said softly, "Thank you, Dongxu, I really had a great time tonight. I won''t marry again in this lifetime. If a few years from now, you still find me attractive, I''ll spend some time with you before I truly grow old. But not now, because you don''t really understand what it means to be moved. Maybe in a few more years, you will. Right now, you should seek out those women who truly deserve your emotions, not me."

    Ge Dongxu knew why Yuan Li said this; her age and a failed marriage left her with an indelible sense of inferiority when facing him now.

    If they were to enter into a real man-woman relationship now, he might bring her happiness and sweetness, but more likely, a heavy sense of guilt.

    In fact, wasn''t he the same? After all, he was just a high school student, and he still had another woman in his heart.

    Thinking of this, Ge Dongxu wrapped his arms around Yuan Li''s waist, both heartbroken and self-reproaching. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire

    Yuan Li''s waist was slender but felt soothingly soft and fleshy when embraced.

    Yuan Li felt the genuine affection from Ge Dongxu and couldn''t help but press her face tightly against his chest.

    Soon, Yuan Li felt a change in Ge Dongxu''s body and her face blushed slightly as she gently pushed him away, "You rascal!"

    Ge Dongxu scratched his head in slight embarrassment. A man, especially one of his age, holding such a sexy and beautiful woman, might know it''s wrong in his mind, but his body betrayed his brain.

    "You fool, it''s okay for me, but you''re not ready yet." Seeing Ge Dongxu a bit embarrassed, Yuan Li felt a twinge of pity, gently took his arm, tapped his forehead lightly with her fingertip, and said, "Go home. Otherwise, I might also... " Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yuan Li didn''t finish her sentence, but her face was quite red.

    Since it was a class reunion, aside from the classmates from the capital who had their own boxes and would each go home afterward, the others were staying at the same hotel to facilitate visiting and catching up.

    After tonight''s events, Yuan Li had already let go of the sentimentality associated with these classmates and even didn''t want to see some of them again. However, she had already booked the room and decided not to make any last-minute changes.

    When Ge Dongxu accompanied Yuan Li back to her hotel and they entered the lobby, they were both taken aback.

    They saw a number of classmates sitting by the lobby bar, including the portly Liu Branch Manager. As these people saw the two of them coming in, they all stood up and walked over, surprising the hotel staff, who thought Ge Dongxu and Yuan Li must be some important figures.

    "Yuan Li, I''m really sorry about earlier. We didn''t have a choice, so we had to..." Some classmates came forward, apologetically addressing Yuan Li.

    "I understand. Let bygones be bygones." After all, they were classmates, and there were indeed some practical reasons at the time, so seeing them waiting for her in the lobby bar, Yuan Li had no choice but to forgive them, and she quickly replied with a smile.

    "That''s good, that''s good." Those classmates were just waiting for Yuan Li to say these words. Seeing that she didn''t seem to bear any grudges, the heavy stone hanging in their hearts finally fell to the ground.

    However, Zhou Xialiu and the two company presidents still felt a heavy weight in their hearts because Yuan Li had not even glanced at them properly just now.

    "Yuan Li, we were all bastards. For the incident before, we had our difficult circumstances, please look..." Upon seeing that Yuan Li was ignoring them, Zhou Xialiu and the others had no choice but to approach with long faces and fervently apologize and explain once again.

    "What does your difficult circumstance have to do with me? There''s no need for you to apologize to me; from now on, we''ll just go our separate ways," Yuan Li said coldly.

    Previously, not only did these three not show the slightest consideration for their classmates'' friendship, they actually added insult to injury. Naturally, Yuan Li wouldn''t show them a good face, let alone continue to treat them as classmates.

    Upon hearing Yuan Li''s words, the three nearly burst into tears.

    How could it possibly not concern her? Just because of a single phrase her foster brother said before he left, Cui Mingshuo, who used to be the most impressive among their group of classmates, was suspended that very night and also warned not to leave the capital, undergoing an internal investigation.

    One could imagine just how significant her foster brother''s influence was within the Feng Family!

    Otherwise, solely based on Feng Chenqing''s influence, even if he were the eldest grandson of the Feng Family, it wouldn''t be possible to suspend a deputy director-level official just like that, let alone conduct an internal investigation!

    After all, every circle has its own rules. Otherwise, if any young master could just make a phone call to take down a deputy director, the world would be in total chaos!

    It was precisely because of this that Zhou Xialiu and the others were waiting here so eagerly.

    The matter clearly wasn''t just about Ge Dongxu''s personal relationship with Feng Chenqing, but involved the clan-level issues of the Feng Family.

    The Feng Family''s influence in Huaxia Country was enormous. When the matter escalated to the clan level, who would dare not to take it with the utmost seriousness?

    Lucky for Zhou Xialiu and the others that they didn''t know Ge Dongxu was Elder Feng''s junior brother, otherwise, they might have been scared enough to wet themselves!

    "Yuan Li, the chief culprit is Cui Mingshuo. He has been suspended and also has to face an internal investigation. But Cui Mingshuo has indeed become extremely arrogant over the past few years and has secretly done many bad things; he is getting what he deserves. However, we are just minor figures who, at most, flatter him and mindlessly stir the pot. Taking into account the many years of our classmate relationship, please spare us this time," said the three, noticing Yuan Li''s attitude towards them and glancing at Ge Dongxu standing by her side, growing more frightened, they actually started to cry.

    Although Yuan Li also knew that Feng Chenqing would certainly teach Cui Mingshuo a lesson, she had never imagined that Cui Mingshuo would be suspended that very night and also undergo an internal investigation. Upon hearing this, she was completely stunned.

    She had also studied in the capital and now, albeit minor, was a bank official. She knew that a deputy director-level official like Cui Mingshuo, holding an important position, couldn''t be handled by the eldest grandson of the Feng Family, who had not yet truly grown into a representative figure. The only explanation for Cui Mingshuo''s rapid handling was that the upper ranks of the Feng Family were angered and had spoken!

    But Ge Dongxu was only how old? Knowing Feng Chenqing was already incredible, utterly unimaginable, and now to think he could incite anger from the upper ranks of the Feng Family over her matter...

    Suddenly, even Yuan Li couldn''t see through her foster brother anymore, finding Ge Dongxu even more mysterious. At the same time, the more mysterious Ge Dongxu became, the more she cherished the emotional connection they shared when she recalled his tender and clumsy kiss.

    PS: Five consecutive releases, asking for monthly tickets and subscriptions to support; to take this book further, I am very thankful.

 Chapter 192 Thank You, Mr. Ge [1st Update, Request for Monthly Pass]

    After a long while, Yuan Li gradually recovered her composure and turned her head slightly to look at Ge Dongxu beside her, her eyes carrying a hint of inquiry.By now, Yuan Li was well aware that this matter was beyond her control.

    Zhou Xialiu and the others knew that Yuan Li didn''t have the final say in this matter, and their pleas for forgiveness were essentially for Ge Dongxu''s benefit. Seeing Yuan Li turn her gaze towards Ge Dongxu, they too looked at him with eyes filled with a pleading look. Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire

    Ge Dongxu naturally disliked Zhou Xialiu and the other two, but he didn''t feel the need to take revenge over such a trivial matter.

    "Didn''t Sister Li say that from now on, we would go our separate ways? Let''s do just that. However, since you are Sister Li''s classmates, let me offer you a piece of advice: don''t be so opportunistic in the future. Sister Li is a person who values relationships and won''t hold a grudge against you. If it were someone else, it probably wouldn''t be so easy. Take care of yourselves," Ge Dongxu said after Yuan Li and her three classmates turned their expectant eyes toward him, realizing he needed to say something.

    "Thank you, Mr. Ge, thank you, Yuan Li. We''ll definitely not do it again, definitely not," Zhou Xialiu and the others were just waiting for this sentence from Ge Dongxu. Hearing his words, the heavy stone in their hearts finally fell, and they hurriedly thanked Ge Dongxu and Yuan Li.

    Ge Dongxu and Yuan Li were too lazy to bother with such people. They gave them a noncommittal glance, then called Su Qi and prepared to leave.

    Although Su Qi was from the capital, she had a good relationship with Yuan Li. They had agreed that Su Qi would not go home tonight and would instead spend the night with Yuan Li at the hotel. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu and Yuan Li about to leave, the branch manager Liu hurried forward and begged them desperately.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Yuan Li. He wasn''t familiar with the character of branch manager Liu, but felt that what Liu had done in the private room earlier was somewhat inappropriate for someone in his leadership position.

    However, when he calmly considered it from another perspective, Liu''s actions seemed to be a strategy to protect both himself and Yuan Li. Nonetheless, the words he spoke and his attitude had been exceptionally infuriating and frustrating.

    "Dongxu, branch manager Liu has always thought highly of me. It was with his approval that I was finally promoted to the position of sub-branch manager. What do you think..." Yuan Li looked at her superior pleading in front of her, and remembered that he had indeed valued her before. In the private room, given his status at that time, it seemed that he could only force her to apologize; nonetheless, the words he said and his attitude had caused her extreme humiliation and anger.

    "The Feng Family has its principles when dealing with matters. Someone like Cui Mingshuo, a degenerate, definitely needs to be dealt with. As for branch manager Liu, I think what truly decides his career is his performance at work," Ge Dongxu said, appreciating Yuan Li''s forgiving and forbearing attitude, as he was a person who also believed in giving people a chance. With that, he turned to look at branch manager Liu.

    "Yes, yes, I will definitely work hard in the future, I will work hard," manager Liu almost cried with joy upon hearing this, bowing continuously and nodding his head.

    Seeing manager Liu almost cry with joy, Ge Dongxu suddenly felt a bit of pity for him, and his heart also filled with a sudden sternness.

    If someone vengeful, upon gaining power and capabilities, were in his place, what would become of manager Liu?

    Power and capabilities are a double-edged sword. Using them to deal with someone like Cui Mingshuo benefits the public, but using them to indiscriminately deal with the innocent or those who have merely slighted you is a catastrophe!

    This sudden thought reminded the eighteen-year-old Ge Dongxu once again to warn himself to be a disciplined and good person.

    Because he was a person with a superpower!

    "Alright, you may go," Ge Dongxu''s attitude towards manager Liu softened a bit due to this sudden thought, not as indifferent as before.

    Ge Dongxu''s change of attitude finally put Branch Manager Liu''s mind at ease. After repeatedly bowing in gratitude, he left the hotel.

    After Branch Manager Liu left, it wasn''t long before Ge Dongxu left as well.

    The reason was that he couldn''t quite bear the shift in how Su Qi and others treated him¡ªbefore and after his change of demeanor. Seeing him was like seeing a leader, everyone spoke tremblingly in his presence. It was less comfortable than the earlier time spent in the private room.

    Upon leaving the hotel, Ge Dongxu took a car back to the courtyard house. He also made a point to tell Feng Chenqing not to mention the incident in the private room to Elder Feng, and that the matter should only be pursued as far as Cui Mingshuo, without further escalation.

    Ge Dongxu''s thoughts exactly aligned with those of Feng Chenqing and Feng Jiahui, which also secretly relieved them both.

    ...

    On Sunday morning, in the first-class cabin of a plane flying to Linzhou City, Yuan Li stretched her long, beautiful legs contentedly and said with a smile, "Although I''m a branch manager, I only got to enjoy first-class thanks to you. By the way, how much was the ticket? I''ll transfer the money to your account later."

    "Come on, Sister Li, why are you talking about money with me? Besides, they didn''t charge me for it," Ge Dongxu responded to Yuan Li, amused.

    "Hehe, I almost forgot you''re a young tycoon, with a net worth of several tens of millions, right?" Yuan Li whispered, leaning close to Ge Dongxu''s ear with a laugh.

    The tight wool sweater outlined her prominent curves, and the closeness increased the pressure, causing Ge Dongxu''s heartbeat to inadvertently speed up a bit. Still, he simply smiled a little without denying it.

    Last month, Qinghe Herbal Tea''s sales had reached 42 million. If calculated by the solar calendar, by New Year''s Day, the total annual sales might well reach 200 million. Meanwhile, Donglinyue Apparel had developed 300 direct stores and franchised specialty stores across various provinces and cities. Without any unexpected events, given this rate of development, the annual profit might not compare to Qinghe Herbal Tea, but it should be close to ten million.

    These figures weren''t the key point; what mattered was both Qinghe Herbal Tea and Donglinyue Apparel were growing at a frightening speed at this time.

    Only the Kunting chain of franchise hotels was still in the investment phase and hadn''t generated profit yet. However, given the development momentum, it was only a matter of time.

    So, a few tens of millions was understating it; by next year, it wouldn''t be a surprise if Ge Dongxu, a third-year high school student, had several hundred million.

    Actually, given the brand value of Qinghe Herbal Tea and the Donglinyue brand, where Ge Dongxu independently owned the Qinghe Herbal Tea formula and brand, if he decided to cash out now, he could have hundreds of millions in cash in an instant.

    Yuan Li wasn''t aware that Ge Dongxu was also the big boss of Donglinyue Apparel now popular across Huaxia Country, nor did she know about his ongoing development of a chain of budget franchise hotels. What she knew was limited to Qinghe Herbal Tea, and even then, as a non-shareholder, she was clueless about its exact sales figures. She just saw that Qinghe Herbal Tea was selling so well and assumed Ge Dongxu''s net worth must be at least ten million, which was why she made such a casual remark.

    But knowing was one thing; seeing Ge Dongxu''s noncommittal expression, Yuan Li opened her seductive, cherry-red lips and found herself at a loss for words for quite a while.

    After a long time, even a strong woman like Yuan Li couldn''t help but let her curiosity take over, leaning into Ge Dongxu''s ear to whisper again, "Ten million is still several tens of millions, ninety million is also several tens of millions. I''m really curious now, just how many tens of millions do you have in net worth? Twenty million? No, no, maybe more, do you have fifty million?"

    ps: Today will continue with five more consecutive updates. I strongly appeal for monthly votes and genuine subscriptions. The more support you give, the more motivated I am. Thank you.

 Chapter 193 The Big Boss Behind the Scenes [Second Update, Asking for Monthly Pass]

    Perhaps out of concern that the other passengers in first class would overhear and be shocked, Yuan Li leaned even closer this time.The soft pressure, the fragrant breath, the brush of hair across Ge Dongxu''s cheek, it was ticklish, just like his mood at the moment.

    "If you''re talking about cash on hand, I definitely don''t have that much, but if we''re talking about assets, I do have them," Ge Dongxu suppressed the fanciful thoughts in his mind, thought for a while, and replied.

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    His answer was quite modest, because if we were really to discuss assets, he had absolutely reached a billion by now!

    Upon hearing this, Yuan Li''s eyes bulged out on the spot, and she placed her hand over her sexy lips as if she was terrified of letting out a scream.

    Yuan Li was just driven by curiosity a moment ago when she asked the question; in fact, she didn''t believe Ge Dongxu had assets worth fifty million. At this time, a fortune above fifty million could directly put one on the list of Huaxia Country''s wealthy, even though this list couldn''t truly reflect the actual number and circumstances of the country''s wealthy. But at least it showed that fifty million was the threshold for entering the list and being worthy of the title "wealthy" in Huaxia Country.

    Yet Ge Dongxu was just a senior high school student, and Yuan Li somehow knew about his history of rise to wealth. She could believe that he might have a fortune of ten or twenty million, but the idea that he had already joined the club of Huaxia''s rich? Yuan Li simply couldn''t accept it at the moment.

    You must remember, Ge Dongxu was still a high school student! And how much time had passed since his rise?

    Thankfully, Ge Dongxu didn''t reveal that he was also the major owner of Donglin Yue Clothing Company and that his assets were at least a billion, or else Yuan Li would have truly screamed out loud.

    "You, you just love to scare people!" It took a while before Yuan Li could calm down her chest, which had heaved violently from shock, then she raised her fist and gently poked Ge Dongxu.

    "Actually, it''s not that much!" Ge Dongxu modestly said without thinking.

    "Not much? Do you have any idea how much I make in a year?" Yuan Li said with a roll of her eyes.

    "Hehe!" Ge Dongxu chuckled and couldn''t continue to be modest anymore.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu laughing, Yuan Li couldn''t help wanting to hit him again, but before she could raise her fist, a voice full of surprise came from beside her, "Oh, President Yuan, what a coincidence."

    "President Cao, you''re here too." Upon hearing this, Yuan Li quickly turned her head and saw the face of a middle-aged man. She hesitated for a moment, then quickly revealed a smile and actively stood up to shake hands and greet him.

    "Yes, I happened to have some business in the capital these past few days. I didn''t expect President Yuan to be here as well. If I''d known earlier, I would have contacted you," the middle-aged man called President Cao said with a smile, holding Yuan Li''s hand for quite a while and not willing to let go until Yuan Li pulled back, making him reluctantly release her.

    After letting go, President Cao looked at Ge Dongxu with a puzzled expression and asked, "Who is this young man? Is he your relative? He looks like a student."

    In fact, Ge Dongxu always considered himself a student and wasn''t used to flaunting branded clothes in the streets, so he had switched back to his ordinary attire. Only the IWC watch looked relatively understated, which wasn''t conspicuous when covered by the sleeve, so he continued wearing it.

    This time, his ordinary attire made him appear somewhat green and inexperienced, lacking the preceding brilliance and sharpness of a young talent.

    Of course, this also had to do with Ge Dongxu''s current mindset. Since he now saw himself as a student, he naturally reined in his aura.

    "President Cao, hello, my name is Ge Dongxu. I call President Yuan ''sister,'' so you could say we''re relatives. I am indeed still a student," Ge Dongxu saw Yuan Li actively standing up to greet President Cao, and noticing President Cao asking, he also stood up and extended his hand towards him, so as not to seem arrogant and put Yuan Li in an awkward position.

    Yuan Li glanced at Ge Dongxu, her eyes brimming with joy when she saw him treating her like family.

    "Haha, so you''re really just a student, may I ask where you study?" Mr. Cao, noticing that Ge Dongxu was indeed just a student and seeing his simple attire, began to speak in a somewhat boastful and superior tone, acting the part of an elder.

    "Changxi No.1 Middle School," Ge Dongxu replied, not finding anything wrong with Mr. Cao''s attitude. After all, the man was older than him and also carried the title of ''President'', signifying a person of career success. It was normal for him to react this way upon learning he was a student.

    "That''s the top institution in Changxi County for producing college students. You''ll have to work hard so that you can become successful in the future," said Mr. Cao with an encouraging smile upon hearing this.

    "Hehe, I will," Ge Dongxu was slightly taken aback before he replied with a smile and sat back down.

    Yuan Li, sitting beside them, found it hard to suppress a laugh when she saw Mr. Cao taking on the air of an elder to encourage Ge Dongxu, especially as Ge Dongxu was nodding and agreeing.

    He was a wealthy student, after all!

    Seeing this, Mr. Cao nodded with satisfaction and then found his seat according to his boarding pass.

    Since the flight from the capital to Linzhou was only two hours and there weren''t many people in first class, it was only about one-third full.

    After the plane had taken off, Mr. Cao noticed that the seat across the aisle from Yuan Li was empty and moved there to chat with her intermittently, his eyes occasionally drifting towards Yuan Li''s ample peaks, accentuated by her snug wool sweater.

    "Dongxu, why don''t you switch seats with me? I have some loan matters to discuss with President Yuan," Mr. Cao said to Ge Dongxu, after chatting for a while and apparently finding it inconvenient to talk across the aisle.

    Ge Dongxu noticed that Mr. Cao''s glances at Yuan Li were somewhat lecherous. Initially, he didn''t want to switch seats, but when he mentioned official business with Yuan Li, Ge Dongxu found it difficult to refuse, so he got up and swapped seats with him.

    After all, it was hard for a woman as beautiful and composed as Yuan Li not to attract male attention. Mr. Cao''s behavior was only natural, and Ge Dongxu couldn''t brand him a philanderer simply because of it.

    "President Yuan, the sales of Qinghe Herbal Tea have unexpectedly exploded, and my factory can no longer keep up with their packaging demands. It is imperative that we quickly add a production line. My trip to the capital was to procure equipment, but the cost is quite high, and I will need a substantial loan," said Mr. Cao once he took his seat, indeed starting a discussion about loans with Yuan Li. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu''s face betrayed a hint of surprise when Mr. Cao mentioned Qinghe Beverage. He usually only dealt with the high-level decision-making, not involving himself in the day-to-day operations or emerging publicly, his name not even listed in company registry or documents.

    He was more like the proverbial invisible big boss.

    So although Ge Dongxu knew that the packaging for Qinghe Herbal Tea was done by a company called Dapeng Packaging Factory, he had no idea who the owner was, and it now turned out to be Mr. Cao, sitting right before him.

    Since Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory wasn''t a public company and didn''t need to disclose shareholder information, and with Ge Dongxu barely participating in the management and operations, not to mention still being a high school student, even someone with an imagination as wild as Mr. Cao''s couldn''t possibly guess that the high school student before him was his biggest client.

    Otherwise, he wouldn''t have the guts to ask Ge Dongxu to give up his seat for him.

    PS: The book is currently fourth in the rankings for new books'' monthly tickets. Please, dear readers, continue to help push it higher. During the New Year''s seven-day double ticket period, each vote counts as two. Missing these days would make catching up difficult, so thank you in advance.

 Chapter 194 Keep Your Mouth Clean [3rd Update, Request for Monthly Pass]

    Yuan Li''s eyes lit up slightly at these words, and she said, "Oh, then I must congratulate President Cao. We at the branch bank certainly trust in the strength of your factory. If you are willing to take out a loan with our branch, I will try to offer you the most favorable terms possible."Banks engage in the business of borrowing at low rates and lending at high rates to earn profit margins. The amount a branch bank attracts in deposits and issues in quality loans is directly tied to the branch manager''s performance and income¡ªand even to their promotion prospects.

    As the branch manager of Changxi County, Yuan Li had managed to secure Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory¡ªa major client with monthly sales of tens of millions¡ªbecause of Ge Dongxu when she had just taken office. This had made her branch''s deposit-gathering capacity one of the top in the region among all the county-level cities under Ouzhou City. However, acquiring quality loan customers had always been a headache for her.

    President Cao''s Dapeng Packaging Factory was a packaging factory in Changxi County with some strength and, having climbed aboard the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory bandwagon last year, its profitability was on the rise.

    With the current growth trend of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, as long as Dapeng Packaging Factory could closely follow Qinghe Herbal Tea, its future profits could be expected to be even more substantial.

    Therefore, Dapeng Packaging Factory was considered by Yuan Li to be a prime loan customer. Naturally, she was quite intrigued when she heard that President Cao wanted to take out a loan.

    "Hehe, sure, sure. As long as President Yuan is willing to offer enough preferential policies, I definitely plan to borrow from your branch. In fact, if President Yuan has any need, I can even use my connections to introduce some friends to you. Like Cheng Yazhou, the owner of Qinghe Herbal Tea, I''ve had business dealings with him a long time ago. Our factory managed to secure the Qinghe Herbal Tea packaging mainly because of my relationship with Cheng Yazhou. You know how hot the sales of Qinghe Herbal Tea are, but I bet you have no idea how hot they''ve really become." President Cao, a shrewd businessman, noticed Yuan Li''s interest and squinted his eyes, his gaze falling on her ample chest. He then deftly changed the subject and stopped discussing the specifics of the loan.

    "Oh, how hot has it become?" Yuan Li glanced at Ge Dongxu and then asked curiously.

    She really did not know the extent of Qinghe Herbal Tea''s sales, just as President Cao had said, despite being aware of its hot market performance.

    "I heard that last month, Qinghe Herbal Tea''s sales volume exceeded forty million! And looking at their ordering pattern this month, it should continue to climb! Forty million a month, and that''s in the winter. Just think about it, what would that be next summer? And what about the annual sales volume?" President Cao said, his eyes showing both amazement and envy.

    Although President Cao bragged about his good relationship with Cheng Yazhou, Cheng used to be just a person handling print and packaging business, nowhere near his status as a big boss. But now? Cheng had transformed into one of the renowned herbal tea business owners in the entire Huaxia Country, and Cao Dapeng even depended on him for business. Naturally, he felt unsettled and harbored strong envy.

    "Forty million a month?" Yuan Li already had an idea of the enormous sales volume from Ge Dongxu''s earlier response, but she didn''t expect it to be this substantial. She couldn''t help exclaiming in surprise, yet her gaze turned toward Ge Dongxu, indescribably complex.

    In the past, she used to have a share in that factory, which could only generate a few tens of thousands in profit each year, just a few times better than a salary. But now? Even by conservatively calculating based on last month''s sales volume, next year''s sales could approach half a billion.

    Half a billion¡ªYuan Li couldn''t even begin to fathom that concept.

    "So if I introduce Cheng Yazhou to you, President Yuan, would you still need to worry about deposits?" Seeing Yuan Li''s expression of astonishment, almost bordering on stupefaction, President Cao started to laugh proudly, casually patted Yuan Li''s shapely thigh.

    "What are you doing?" Yuan Li immediately glared at President Cao and said.

    "Hehe, why do you have to be so serious, President Yuan? I''ve heard from the bank staff that you''ve been divorced for over a year now. I just got divorced at the beginning of the year as well. We could say we sympathize with each other..." President Cao showed no signs of embarrassment, guilt, or panic. Instead, he leaned closer to whisper in Yuan Li''s ear, smiling and moving his hand toward her thigh once again.

    "Slap!" President Cao''s hand hadn''t even touched Yuan Li''s thigh when his face was fiercely slapped.

    "Get lost!" A cold voice followed right next to President Cao''s ear, and a young face entered his vision.

    "Fuck, how dare you, a high school student, hit me!" President Cao had not expected Ge Dongxu to suddenly stand up and slap him. He was momentarily stunned, then, overtaken by rage, swung his fist at Ge Dongxu''s face.

    He was, after all, a distinguished entrepreneur from Changxi County, when had he ever been slapped by a high school student?

    "Slap!" President Cao had barely swung his fist when Ge Dongxu caught it with one hand, and President Cao felt as if his fist was about to be crushed, bending over in pain, he shrieked, "You, you fucking let go of me, it''s killing me! I think my fingers are going to break!"

    President Cao''s screaming naturally caught the attention of the other first-class passengers, who all turned their heads to look. Seeing what looked like a student holding a grown man''s fist with just one hand, causing him to scream as if he had lost his parents, left them dumbfounded.

    They then shook their heads, displaying a look of disdain.

    This was too fake, it''s not like they were in a movie. How could he be in so much pain from just a pinch? This man is too pathetic!

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    "Watch your language, or you can just deal with this," Ge Dongxu said indifferently, still holding onto President Cao''s fist.

    "Fuck! You little¡­" President Cao had never suffered such humiliation, especially given the contemptuous looks from the first-class passengers, which made him feel deeply shamed.

    However, as soon as President Cao started to speak, his palm felt as if it was on fire.

    "It seems you didn''t understand what I said," Ge Dongxu continued calmly.

    "I, okay, okay, I won''t curse, you¡­" President Cao opened his mouth to curse again but was forced to stop by the pain.

    "Sir, please let go of his hand, and you, sir, please stop shouting. You''re disturbing the other passengers," a beautiful flight attendant with a particularly shapely figure, dressed in uniform, hurried over and pleaded.

    While speaking, the flight attendant also took a special look at Ge Dongxu''s hand. Seeing that it was clean and white, like a scholar''s hand, she glanced at President Cao with a mix of bewilderment and disdain.

    Naturally, the flight attendant thought that even if Ge Dongxu''s hand was strong, such a clean and white hand couldn''t possibly cause a grown man''s fist to hurt to the extent that he needed to scream so loudly!

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 Chapter 195 I Changed My Mind [4th Update, Request for Monthly Pass]

    Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire"Okay, I''m sorry for the disturbance," Ge Dongxu was not an unreasonable person, but just now Cao Dapeng dared to speak to Yuan Li like that, even reaching out to touch her thigh, which made him lose control and smack him. Now, seeing the flight attendant stepping in to mediate, he let go and even bowed his hands to everyone.

    The passengers in first class looked curiously at Ge Dongxu when he apologized with a clasped fist, but they couldn''t make out anything specific.

    However, Cao Dapeng couldn''t stand the indignation from just before. Seeing Ge Dongxu let go and hearing the flight attendant say his loud complaints disturbed others, he became furiously embarrassed and pointed at the flight attendant, berating, "What are you talking about? Didn''t you see I was hit? Can''t I even shout a bit after being hit?"

    "Get real, your groping hand was trying to molest that lady, and her slapping you is very normal!" a male passenger said disdainfully as he couldn''t stand Cao Dapeng taking his anger out on the flight attendant.

    A woman like Yuan Li, with a beautiful face and figure, and full of mature charm, naturally draws the attention of men.

    Therefore, although the male passengers in first class couldn''t clearly hear what Cao Dapeng whispered to Yuan Li, they did see Cao casually hit Yuan Li''s thigh before and later, while leaning in to whisper, his groping hand secretly trying to touch her thigh. The male passenger sitting diagonally behind, who had been paying attention to Yuan Li, could see this.

    "What the fuck are you talking about? Who was molesting whom? Which eye of yours saw that?" Cao Dapeng naturally refused to admit his indecent actions and immediately turned his hostility towards the male passenger who had spoken.

    "What, you want to challenge me? Fine, give me your name, let''s see if I can afford to offend you. If I can''t, I''ll apologize to you. But if, heh heh, you''re just a nobody, then shut your fucking mouth. Think sitting in first class because you have some money is impressive? Everyone here can afford first class!" The man, seeing Cao Dapeng being arrogant and pointing and cursing at him, didn''t stand up to argue back, he just crossed his legs and looked at him disdainfully.

    The male passenger''s calm and arrogant demeanor and his words doused Cao Dapeng like a bucket of cold water from head to toe, making him suddenly remember that those qualified to sit in first class were all either rich or prestigious.

    Though he, the owner of Changxi County Dapeng Packaging Factory, could be considered some figure in Changxi and even dared to have some designs on the divorced bank manager Yuan Li because of his money, here he was merely an ordinary person. It was possible there were truly influential and elite people in the first-class cabin, and if he angered them, even his wealth couldn''t save him.

    With that thought, Cao Dapeng immediately lost his earlier bluster, just glared at the man, and then coldly smirked at Yuan Li, "President Yuan, your brother sure is imposing! Well, since President Yuan you look down on my little money, I''ll just find another bank."

    Saying this, Cao Dapeng turned and walked towards his seat. Just before sitting down, he muttered, "Damn, the bitch still acts pure! Fuck!"

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu''s expression instantly turned cold, and he stood and walked towards Cao Dapeng, Yuan Li thought Ge Dongxu was going to hit him again and quickly held him back, saying, "Let it be, Dongxu, he''s not worth getting angry over."

    As she said this, a touch of indescribable self-pity and sadness could be seen in Yuan Li''s beautiful eyes.

    The feelings men and women have about divorce are always different.

    The majority of men will emerge from the shadows of divorce as if nothing had ever happened. But for women, a single divorce often leaves a permanent scar on the heart, and causes others to look at her with strange and even demeaning eyes.

    The reason for Cao Dapeng''s behavior, beyond having money and feeling good about himself and finding Yuan Li sexy and attractive enough to provoke him, was his underlying belief that as a woman who had been divorced, she would be easy to exploit!

    Seeing the self-pity and sadness deep in Yuan Li''s eyes, Ge Dongxu felt both pain and anger, but he didn''t show it; he just gently patted her hand, gave her a reassuring smile, and said softly, "Don''t worry, I''m just going to have a word or two with him."

    Yuan Li hesitated upon hearing this but ultimately let go of her grip.

    "Sir..." While Yuan Li was holding Ge Dongxu''s hand, the air hostess from earlier had already stepped in front of Dongxu. Seeing Yuan Li release her grip, the air hostess quickly showed a troubled expression and tried to dissuade her.

    Actually, seeing the nouveau riche look on President Cao''s face, the air hostess also wished Dongxu could slap him again, but due to her duty, she could only stop him.

    "Don''t worry, I really just want to talk to that man," Ge Dongxu smiled to the air hostess and said, his expression hardly seemed that of someone about to fight, rather it appeared as if he wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk.

    The air hostess stared at Ge Dongxu for a long time, seeing his constant smile, she finally whispered, "Then just talk to him, don''t get physical."

    "Of course, I wouldn''t want to cause you trouble," Dongxu smiled and nodded.

    The air hostess was briefly dazzled by Dongxu''s sunny, boy-next-door smile, thinking it would be nice if a guy stood up for her like that.

    Ultimately, the air hostess stepped aside, but she closely followed Dongxu, afraid that he might start another dispute with President Cao. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    President Cao''s hand, which Dongxu had grabbed earlier, still throbbed with pain. Seeing Dongxu approaching him, he was indeed a bit scared, quickly shrinking back, but when he realized that Dongxu was just a high school student, he felt his reaction had been too cowardly and quickly sat up straight, glaring at him, "Kid, what do you want? Remember, we''re on a plane!"

    "Don''t worry, I won''t hit you this time," Dongxu said casually.

    "Haha!" The passengers in first class, hearing a high school student respond to President Cao in such a manner, couldn''t help but laugh out loud, their laughter filled with undisguised ridicule.

    "You, you, don''t get cocky, you''ll see what''s waiting for you back in Changxi County!" President Cao pointed at Ge Dongxu and said.

    "What, planning to have someone beat me up in Changxi County?" Ge Dongxu asked with a cold laugh, casually adding, "I was initially lenient after teaching you a lesson just now, and I wasn''t planning on pursuing it further. But because of what you said when you sat down earlier, I''ve changed my mind; you''ll definitely regret those words in the future!"

    After speaking, Ge Dongxu turned around and went back to his seat.

    When Ge Dongxu turned around to go back to his seat, the entire first class cabin was silent; apart from Yuan Li and President Cao, everyone else looked at him in daze for a while before shaking their heads dismissively with a laugh.

    Of course, they didn''t believe that a young man who looked like a student could make President Cao regret anything; he was merely a young man uttering brave words.

    President Cao naturally didn''t believe it either, and Dongxu''s words infuriated him to almost stand up and charge at him. Fortunately, he remembered the slight pinch''s power from Dongxu earlier and that his own actions had already caused dissatisfaction among the first-class passengers, so he ended up sitting back down with his face turning red and white.

    PS: Fourth update, calling for subscriptions and monthly tickets, thank you.

 Chapter 196 New Investment Idea [5th Update, Asking for Monthly Tickets]

    "Dongxu!" As Ge Dongxu sat back beside her, Yuan Li looked at him, her eyes slightly moist.Nobody in first class believed what Ge Dongxu had said, even thinking it was the naive words of a high school student, but Yuan Li knew that Ge Dongxu''s words were anything but naive; they were the kind that could truly make President Cao regret.

    And it was all because of her.

    A woman who didn''t deserve his cherished protection!

    "It''s okay, nothing''s wrong." Ge Dongxu reached out and grabbed Yuan Li''s hand, their fingers interlocking, while his other hand gently patted the back of her hand.

    "Mm!" Yuan Li nodded, then smiled at Ge Dongxu as tears silently rolled down her cheeks.

    ...

    The plane arrived on time at Linzhou City Airport.

    "Kid, you just wait and see!" After getting off the plane, President Cao pointed at Ge Dongxu and spat out the words hatefully, then hurried off with a grim face. Whether it was urgent business or fear that Ge Dongxu might catch up to hit him was unknown.

    Ge Dongxu watched President Cao''s retreating figure and shook his head, his eyes cold.

    "Dongxu, are you planning to change packaging manufacturers? Actually, it''s okay. After all, President Cao had Uncle Cheng''s support. Don''t let this affect your relationship with them. And if you change manufacturers hastily, and something goes wrong, that would be bad," Yuan Li said, worried, watching President Cao''s hasty departure.

    What she didn''t realize was that the factory wasn''t just Ge Dongxu''s; there were other shareholders as well. But what she didn''t know was that Ge Dongxu was not only the largest owner of Qinghe Herbal Tea but also its true leader, whose words nobody would dare to oppose.

    "Don''t worry, I''m the largest shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, so I do have the right to make decisions. Besides, someone like Cao Dapeng, it''s better for Cheng Yezhou to clear things up with him sooner. As for changing the manufacturer, you don''t need to worry. I won''t act rashly. Everything will be done step by step," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, patting Yuan Li''s hand.

    "You mean you''re not going to tell Cao Dapeng right away?" Yuan Li, being smart, couldn''t help but gasp at this revelation.

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    "At first, I planned to talk to Uncle Cheng as soon as I got back and have him tell Cao Dapeng directly to terminate our cooperation. But then I changed my mind. Some people have to pay the price for their actions and words," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "Dongxu, you don''t have to get so angry for my sake, really!" Yuan Li clearly understood the difference between telling Cao Dapeng directly and postponing it. If Cao Dapeng took out loans to add new production lines and then his biggest client suddenly cut off cooperation, it would be a fatal blow to Dapeng Packaging Factory. Upon hearing this, she hugged Ge Dongxu''s arm tighter, saying emotionally.

    "How could I not be angry? You are my sister! Besides, people like him don''t learn their lesson unless they are taught a profound one," Ge Dongxu said as he looked at Yuan Li.

    "Mm!" Yuan Li had no more words upon hearing this, simply nodding her head, then leaning against Ge Dongxu.

    Upon leaving the airport, Ge Dongxu didn''t head to the train station but instead chartered a car to take him and Yuan Li directly back to Changxi County.

    For the driver, this long-distance charter trip was naturally a big deal. He hurriedly opened the car door for the two of them, inviting them to take their seats before he sat down in the driver''s seat and drove along the highway toward Changxi County.

    Throughout the journey, Yuan Li snuggled up to Ge Dongxu like a tender bird leaning on a person. Her voluptuous body was like a ball of fire, making Ge Dongxu feel a burning heat throughout his body, yet he had to suppress it forcefully, without showing any signs.

    Because it was clear that Yuan Li didn''t have that sort of thing in mind at all; her actions were very innocent and pure.

    Yuan Li''s actions made the driver sneak peeks at her through the rearview mirror all the way, his heart filled with envy and admiration for Ge Dongxu. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At such a young age, he''d managed to charm such a delicate beauty; at his age, he hadn''t even touched a woman''s hand, let alone someone so delicate, clearly a white-collar beauty working in an office.

    By evening, they had arrived in Changxi County.

    After having dinner at an outside restaurant, Ge Dongxu dropped Yuan Li home and left without entering her house.

    Having kissed her that time in Shichahai, Ge Dongxu found his resistance towards Yuan Li gradually weakening. He no longer dared to be alone with her like last time, for fear of making a mistake that shouldn''t be made.

    Yuan Li clearly understood Ge Dongxu''s thoughts. Watching his hasty departure, she blushed and spat, "This guy!"

    But afterward, recalling the past couple of days'' experiences, she leaned against the door, lost in a daze.

    After a long while, a deep sigh echoed in the room.

    ...

    Coming down from the upstairs, Ge Dongxu walked the streets of Changxi County alone, thinking about what had happened on the plane.

    Since he had decided to terminate the cooperation with Dapeng Packaging Factory, he definitely needed to find another packaging factory and also explain Cao Dapeng''s character to Cheng Yazhou. Although he was the major shareholder with decision-making power and Cheng Yazhou would certainly respect his opinion as long as he spoke up, respect was built on mutual understanding. So even though Ge Dongxu had decided to terminate the cooperation with Dapeng Packaging Factory, he still needed to clarify the situation to Cheng Yazhou. It wasn''t as easy as he''d made it sound in front of Yuan Li.

    Thinking about the packaging factory matter and how to explain it to Cheng Yazhou, Ge Dongxu unconsciously arrived at the Ge Family Village street.

    The county government''s plan had been released over a year ago. Now, Ge Family Village street was dotted with construction sites and rising buildings, showing signs of prosperity in the new urban area.

    The Yaxu Trademark Factory, where Cheng Yazhou used to work, had already relocated elsewhere, replaced by a high-rise under construction.

    This high-rise was naturally the new hotel funded and built by Lin Jinnuo, which for some reason seemed to be in a semi-suspended state of construction.

    Passing the high-rise under construction, Ge Dongxu remembered the Yaxu Trademark Factory. He slapped his forehead and smiled.

    "Lately, I''ve been focused on cultivation and learning, forgetting about investment affairs. Uncle Cheng used to run a package printing business, and Yaxu Trademark Factory''s labels are also part of packaging. Now that Qinghe Herbal Tea is selling so well, by next year, we''ll probably sell at least a hundred million bottles. That''s a huge business opportunity. Why not invest in our own packaging printing factory? Even if we don''t do business for other companies, Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory alone could sustain the factory and save a lot of costs."

    The sudden inspiration gave Ge Dongxu another direction for investment. With the booming sales of Qinghe Herbal Tea, there was ample capital, a waste if left unused.

    But every investment comes with risks. Moreover, the rapid growth of Qinghe Herbal Tea caught Cheng Yazhou and others off guard; they hadn''t had time to fully enjoy and digest this sudden "happiness." How could they think of investing in another project?

    Ge Dongxu, on the other hand, already had three companies in his hands, and was also in the middle of exam preparation. If it weren''t for the incident on the plane pushing him to think of the best solution, he wouldn''t have thought about venturing into the packaging industry.

    Now that he had this guaranteed profitable investment idea, Ge Dongxu took out his phone and called Cheng Yazhou and Tang Yiyuan, asking them to find time to return to Changxi County this week.

    When Ge Dongxu called to discuss an important matter, Cheng Yazhou and Tang Yiyuan, no matter how busy, did not dare to delay and immediately said they would rush back to Changxi County tomorrow.

 Chapter 197 Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation [1st Release, Requesting Monthly Votes]

    ```Late at night, at the hour of Zi.

    Clouds veiled the sky, hiding the moonlight.

    As usual, Ge Dongxu sat cross-legged on the balcony connected to the training room on the second floor of the villa, cultivating with his eyes closed. Seven Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades were placed around him following specific directions.

    Streams of moon essence, invisible to the naked eye, penetrated the clouds and converged toward Ge Dongxu, swirling around him.

    True Qi began at the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian and circulated successively through the Twelve Regular Meridians, becoming not only stronger but also purer with each circuit.

    The purpose of daily cultivation was not only to enhance the True Qi within the body but also to continuously refine it, making it increasingly concentrated and purified.

    In this repeated process, part of the True Qi nourished the twelve organs, making them more robust and vigorous, while another part entered the five organs that had already formed Air Cyclones, causing the cyclones to grow even larger.

    As the hour of Zi neared its end, Ge Dongxu felt the True Qi within his body surge mightily, like thousands of horses galloping. It seemed as if the Twelve Regular Meridians and the five organ cyclones could no longer contain so much True Qi. With a thought, he boldly directed a portion of the True Qi into the small intestine while it flowed through the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian.

    Immediately, familiar, intense pain flooded his body like a deluge, causing him to tremble all over as cold sweat poured down like rain.

    This process continued until the hour of Zi was over; suddenly, the Talisman Jades crumbled into dust, and a look of comfortable relief appeared on Ge Dongxu''s face.

    An Air Cyclone formed in the small intestine, slowly rotating, growing larger and stronger.

    Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation!

    In less than a year''s time, Ge Dongxu once again wrought a miracle in this Age of Dharma Decline, becoming a Cultivator at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation.

    The True Qi flowed gently through the Meridians in his body, also spinning in a cyclone-like manner in the lungs, large intestine, stomach, spleen, heart, and small intestine.

    A breeze blew by, and Ge Dongxu felt as if he could ride the wind away.

    "Eh! What''s happening?" Ge Dongxu was undoubtedly a Cultivation prodigy; he immediately sensed that this was not a mere result of a breakthrough in Cultivation altering his mental state, but a genuine feeling of nearly being carried away by the wind with each gust.

    Of course, this sensation was very subtle, imperceptible without close attention.

    Ge Dongxu immediately stopped circulating his True Qi; the feeling disappeared as soon as he did so. Yet, when he circulated it again, the sensation of almost being carried away by the wind faintly returned.

    After several more attempts with the same results, Ge Dongxu ceased his cultivation and went downstairs to find a digital scale.

    This scale was purchased by Cheng Pudgy - he claimed it was for monitoring his weight loss, insisting he needed to weigh himself daily. However, the only changes ever seen were increases, never decreases.

    Nonetheless, Cheng Pudgy argued that this was normal since he was still growing in height. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Taking the digital scale, Ge Dongxu went back upstairs to his training room.

    Standing on the scale, Ge Dongxu maintained his usual composure, noted down his weight, and then circulated his True Qi again, only to discover the numbers on the scale had changed.

    The change was minimal, roughly two kilograms less. It''s likely that there had been changes before, but they were so small that Ge Dongxu hadn''t noticed them.

    "Why is this happening? Logically, it''s just a breath circulating within my body, and the Earth should still treat me as a whole, subject to the same gravitational force. So why has my weight decreased?" Ge Dongxu stepped off the digital scale, feeling puzzled and at the same time indescribably excited.

    ```

    Ge Dongxu still remembered Liu Jiayao asking him about Qinggong, at that time he had no answer. Now he had an intuition, if he could crack this secret, then Qinggong would no longer be just a legend to him.

    With that thought in mind, Ge Dongxu almost did not sleep at all that night, constantly pondering over the issue, but without any clue.

    When the next morning came, because he had to go to school, Ge Dongxu no longer thought about the matter.

    In the afternoon there was a physics class. At this point in the senior year, they had already entered the review stage, and today the physics teacher was revising mechanics. When the teacher mentioned gravity, describing it as one of the four fundamental interactions in nature, along with electromagnetic, weak, and strong interactions, it was as if a bolt of lightning had struck Ge Dongxu''s mind.

    If he considered his body to be a type of matter, then it would be more appropriate to regard the True Qi within him as a form of energy. When it circulated, if it generated a special magnetic field, and if the force of this magnetic field happened to repel the Earth''s magnetic field, then his previous confusion would be easy to explain.

    What a pity that it was only two kilograms, he probably needed to exceed his master''s cultivation, or even reach the Dragon Tiger Realm, to operate True Qi before he could achieve the lightness of a swallow!

    Although resolving his confusion was certainly gratifying for Ge Dongxu, there was also a hint of disappointment, because reducing his weight by two kilograms was obviously not enough to allow him to scale walls and leap over rooftops.

    However, Ge Dongxu quickly put aside this disappointment and felt only joy. Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire

    Previously, he had always felt that natural science and Daoist teachings actually viewed the world from two different perspectives. Now he was more convinced than ever that studying natural science would serve as an analogy to his own path of Daoist cultivation and help to broaden his thinking.

    With this clear understanding, Ge Dongxu''s state of mind suddenly brightened. For some time, he had actually started to feel a bit confused, why continue spending time on exam preparation when he already had abilities and so much money?

    After his state of mind brightened, Ge Dongxu''s thoughts seemed to suddenly become exceptionally clear, and he fortuitously thought of airplanes.

    Why can airplanes take off? Since airplanes can fly, and I have surging True Qi in my body that I can control freely, even if I can''t fly like an airplane, I should at least be able to walk on walls and scale rooftops.

    Yes, I should look it up tonight, maybe that will give me some ideas, Ge Dongxu began to feel hopeful again.

    Scaling walls and leaping over rooftops is the dream of many, and Ge Dongxu was no exception!

    On this day, Ge Dongxu himself might not have realized it, but he had taken a monumental step on his path of cultivation.

    ...

    That evening, just as Ge Dongxu finished his self-study session and was returning to his villa with Du Yifan and Cheng Pudgy, he saw two sedans parked at the entrance of the villa. Wu Qianjin, Cheng Yazhou, and Tang Yiyuan were already waiting for him at the door.

    Seeing his own father and uncle, and a university professor eagerly waiting at the doorstep for Ge Dongxu, Cheng Pudgy felt an urge to bash his head against the wall when, before getting close, they all went up to him for handshakes and greetings, while barely nodding to him and Du Yifan, and Cheng Yazhou even glared at him, asking if he had listened to Ge Dongxu''s words.

    How come the difference between people can be so great!

    But he did not feel the slightest bit of jealousy towards Ge Dongxu, just ever-increasing admiration; Du Yifan felt the same way.

    To reach such a level as a high school student was something only their boss could achieve!

    "You''ve arrived, let''s talk inside," Ge Dongxu said after shaking hands with the three of them, opening the door to invite them in.

    Once inside, to avoid disturbing Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao''s studies, Ge Dongxu invited the three guests to his study to talk.

    ps: There will still be five updates today, and we are in the period of double monthly ticket votes. I would greatly appreciate the help of my readers in casting their votes, thank you very much.

 Chapter 198 Undermining the Enemys Foundations [2nd Update, Request for Monthly Tickets]

    "I''m really sorry for making you all come over here so late at night because of my classes," Ge Dongxu said with a bit of apology as everyone took their seats in the study."Haha, Dongxu, you shouldn''t say that to us. Without you, Wu Qianjin wouldn''t be where he is today. Just say the word, as long as it''s not about murder or arson, we will certainly not refuse," Wu Qianjin immediately said with a laugh.

    "Uncle Wu, you''re exaggerating a bit!" Ge Dongxu said with a smile, waving his hand dismissively.

    "Qianjin is really not exaggerating. We owe our success today to you," Cheng Yazhou said with a slight seriousness on his face.

    "It''s not just me; our Qinghe Herbal Tea wouldn''t be so popular without everyone''s effort. You''re all giving me too much credit. I''m young, and compliments like these could easily inflate my confidence," Ge Dongxu said earnestly.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu, at his young age, knew to self-reflect and not be arrogant, a look of admiration appeared in the eyes of the three people in the study.

    "Since you put it that way, we won''t be modest either. Tell us, what is the matter that you called us here for?" Cheng Yazhou said with a smile.

    "It''s about investing in packaging production," Ge Dongxu said, turning to look at Cheng Yazhou, who seemed to have something to say but hesitated due to the fact that it was Ge Dongxu who made the suggestion, making it awkward to voice any objections.

    However, Wu Qianjin and Tang Yiyuan both brightened up at the news, but they too looked towards Cheng Yazhou afterwards.

    Clearly, they thought Ge Dongxu''s suggestion was promising, but they also knew that Cheng Yazhou might find it a bit troubling.

    "I know that in the past, Cao Dapeng from Dapeng Packaging Factory had some business dealings with Uncle Cheng. If we invest in packaging production ourselves, Uncle Cheng might feel a bit guilty towards his friend," Ge Dongxu said, ready to have an open and honest conversation with Cheng Yazhou, and so he didn''t hold back his words upon noticing the latter''s hesitation.

    "In business, as long as it''s not a matter of integrity, there''s no real issue of owing or not owing someone, but a while ago Cao Dapeng mentioned he was planning to buy new equipment to expand production capacity and came to ask for my opinion. At that time, I hadn''t thought about getting into packaging production myself so I said it was fine. If he has purchased the equipment and we suddenly start our own venture, that would seem like we''re betraying him," Cheng Yazhou said after some thought, surprised that Ge Dongxu, who usually didn''t involve himself in specific business operations, knew about his relationship with Cao Dapeng.

    "Oh, Cao Dapeng asked for your opinion?" Ge Dongxu frowned slightly upon hearing this. He had planned to teach Cao Dapeng a harsh lesson because of something he had said on an airplane, but now it seemed from Cheng Yazhou''s perspective that doing so right after Cao Dapeng upgraded his equipment would indeed make Cheng appear dishonorable. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Even if one couldn''t expect noble actions from someone like Cao Dapeng, others might act without principles, but one couldn''t be unjust oneself.

    "Yes, although I didn''t promise him that we would keep giving him the business after he added the new equipment, nor did we sign any long-term cooperation contract, there was still that implication. Of course, you are the major shareholder. If you decide to invest in packaging production, I will definitely comply with your decision. As for Cao Dapeng, we have a reason to justify it, so it''s not really betraying him," Cheng Yazhou nodded and said.

    "Let''s put this on hold for now. Let me tell you about something that happened yesterday. If you, Uncle Cheng, still feel uneasy about this, I can let Dapeng Packaging Factory handle our business until the end of the year. But after the year-end, no matter what, I will not give any business to Dapeng Packaging Factory," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment and then said.

    He didn''t want to force Cheng Yazhou because of his personal grievances, but there would definitely be a bottom line.

    "Has Cao Dapeng offended you in some way?" Cheng Yazhou was a clever man, and upon hearing this, a thought struck him, and he blurted out the question.

    "If it were just offending me, it would be easy to talk about. I could let it go for the sake of Uncle Cheng, but the problem is Cao Dapeng''s character is unacceptable. Let me explain the details first." Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Then speak!" Cheng Yazhou and the two others'' expressions suddenly turned serious.

    Cao Dapeng could praise himself to the sky, but that was nothing compared to the business interactions and the gradual friendship he had built with Cheng Yazhou. How could this bit of friendship compare to the relationship between Ge Dongxu and them?

    "A few days ago, I went to the capital for some business and on my way back to Linzhou City, I happened to share a flight with President Yuan Li."

    When Ge Dongxu mentioned his recent trip to the capital, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin both showed a hint of surprise on their faces, while Tang Yiyuan''s expression became even more solemn and serious.

    He was naturally aware of whom Ge Dongxu had met in the capital. However, since this matter concerned Elder Feng, Tang Yiyuan wouldn''t inquire about it lightly, let alone mention it, even in the absence of Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin.

    "It was only then that I realized that Cao Dapeng was actually the owner of Dapeng Packaging Factory. Normally, meeting a fellow townsman on a plane would be a joyful experience. However, Cao Dapeng, under the pretext of discussing a loan with Sister Li, not only made inappropriate physical advances but also used frivolous language towards her. After I intervened, he even attacked Sister Li with insulting language. So, no matter the quality of Dapeng Packaging Factory''s products, with Dapeng''s character, I am absolutely against continuing¡­" Ge Dongxu said.

    "Damn that Dapeng! Dongxu, enough said, you handle it however you see fit. I don''t think we even need to tell him that we are severing our cooperation. Wait until he has bought new equipment and then pull the rug from under him! What crap, earning our money and still daring to offend your woman¡­ cough cough, President Yuan." Wu Qianjin couldn''t wait for Ge Dongxu to finish as he slammed the table, his face full of anger.

    It was a joke. How could others not know the relationship between Yuan Li and Ge Dongxu when Wu Qianjin and company were well aware? Back then, Ge Dongxu was willing to spend extra money to buy that factory for Yuan Li, and he always referred to her as Sister Li. If not for Ge Dongxu''s youth and distinguished status, Wu Qianjin would have teased him about Yuan Li long ago.

    Even though he didn''t voice the joke, in his heart, Wu Qianjin had already recognized Yuan Li as Ge Dongxu''s woman. Although Ge Dongxu was still young, just a high school student, this recognition seemed absurd and unbelievable.

    But the thing is, Ge Dongxu was a billionaire! Could one really measure him by his age and identity as a high school student?

    It goes without saying that if Cao Dapeng dared to covet Ge Dongxu''s woman, could Wu Qianjin not be angry? Could he not slam the table?

    "I think Qianjin is right, such a person should indeed be cut off at the knees so he regrets it for the rest of his life!" Tang Yiyuan said, also full of anger.

    Joking aside, he regarded Ge Dongxu as a mentor in his heart, and there was Cao Dapeng, making money from their Qinghe Herbal Tea, yet he dared to make advances on Yuan Li and insult her with his words; that was utterly intolerable.

 Chapter 199 Qinggong [3rd Update, Asking for Monthly Votes]

    Among the three, Cheng Yazhou actually felt the most anger and had the most complex feelings.Not only had Ge Dongxu saved his life, but his son''s progress and the brilliant heights his career had reached today were also all thanks to Ge Dongxu. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    If anyone among the three was most grateful to Ge Dongxu, it would definitely be Cheng Yazhou.

    But it just so happened that Cao Dapeng was someone he had introduced!

    One could imagine the anger and complexity in Cheng Yazhou''s heart at that moment.

    "I think that''s it, damn Cao Dapeng, I really was blind!" Cheng Yazhou said with a face ashen.

    After speaking, he stood up again, his face filled with guilt, and said to Ge Dongxu, "I''m sorry, Dongxu, it was my poor judgment of character that caused¡­"

    "Uncle Cheng, don''t say that. Business is business, and what happened on the plane is another matter altogether. You shouldn''t confuse the two. But luckily, the incident on the plane not only showed us Cao Dapeng''s true character but also revealed another way to make money," Ge Dongxu quickly interrupted.

    "Right, right, Dongxu''s brain is just sharp. Although we saw a huge amount of packaging before, we never thought about investing in a packaging factory ourselves. With our own Qinghe Herbal Tea as a major client, this factory is guaranteed to be profitable!" Wu Qianjin, knowing Cheng Yazhou''s complex feelings, immediately followed with a laugh.

    "What do Uncle Cheng and Professor Tang think? Do you agree with investing in a packaging factory? If you agree, I think we should also set up a new company," Ge Dongxu seized the opportunity to shift the topic to investing in the factory.

    As for the matter of Cao Dapeng, there was actually no need to discuss it further at this point. Cheng Yazhou and the others naturally knew how to handle it. Talking more about it would only irritate Cheng Yazhou and embarrass him.

    After all, Cao Dapeng was his introduction.

    "I think it''s a good idea to move Yaxu Trademark Factory over and establish Yaxu Printing and Packaging Company," Wu Qianjin agreed.

    "In that case, on the matter of printing and packaging, Uncle Cheng and Uncle Wu, you are familiar with it, so you two prepare. As for the factory location, I think we still choose Changxi County. After all, Changxi County''s printing and packaging are well known nationwide. You have the final say on the exact location, then negotiate with the local government. If they offer a discount, that''s fine; if not, let''s not force it. After all, it''s right for our profits to contribute back to society," Ge Dongxu immediately decided.

    "Okay, let''s distribute the shares like Qinghe Herbal Tea. You sixty percent, Yazhou twenty percent, and Qianjin and I each ten percent," Tang Yiyuan nodded.

    Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin also nodded in agreement.

    After finalizing the establishment of Yaxu Printing and Packaging Company, the four chatted in the study for a while. Considering that Ge Dongxu had to go to school the next day, around ten-thirty, Tang Yiyuan and the others stood up to say goodbye and left.

    After Tang Yiyuan and the others had left, Ge Dongxu washed up and it was almost the hour of the rat.

    Ge Dongxu went to the balcony connected to his cultivation room and took out pieces of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade.

    Now that Ge Dongxu was not short of money and had a high level of cultivation, he purchased many Jade Tokens through Tang Yahui and took advantage of his spare time to carve a number of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades for future use.

    However, these Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade had not been activated, or as generally called "consecrated," so there was no loss.

    Ge Dongxu infused True Qi and activated a piece of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade one by one, totaling seven pieces.

    He then arranged them in specific positions, sat down with closed eyes to feel the effects, and discovered, indeed, after his breakthrough to the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, the seven pieces of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade could no longer meet his cultivation needs.

    Thus, Ge Dongxu activated one more piece and then closed his eyes to feel again.

    "Huh, why is there no change? That shouldn''t be!" Ge Dongxu felt it for a while and found that the spiritual energy had not changed, feeling quite astonished, he then consecutively activated two more pieces. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire

    This brought the total of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade to ten pieces, but he still did not notice any change in spiritual energy.

    "What''s going on?" Ge Dongxu could not understand this phenomenon, as previously each additional piece of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade would enhance the gathering effect, but now there was no change at all.

    However, since midnight was the best time for cultivation, Ge Dongxu, unable to figure it out momentarily, did not continue to ponder deeply but instead sat cross-legged to circulate his True Qi and solidify his cultivation.

    Midnight soon passed, Ge Dongxu concluded his practice, picked up the Talisman Jade and saw very obvious cracks on it, knowing that with the advancement of his cultivation, these Talisman Jades were operating at full capacity and wearing out especially fast.

    Although Ge Dongxu was not short of money and therefore did not mind the wear of these Talisman Jades, what troubled him now was that beyond seven pieces, the concentration of gathered spiritual energy no longer changed, which would affect the progress of his cultivation.

    "Why does the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade stop changing after seven pieces?" Ge Dongxu packed up the Talisman Jade while walking back to his cultivation room, pondering over this.

    "Could it be that the concentration of spiritual energy in the Spirit Gathering Formation also has a saturation solubility like substances in a chemical solution? Yes, that must be it. I need to buy higher-quality Jade and carve higher-level Spirit Gathering Formations to further increase the ''solubility'' of spiritual energy." As he thought, Ge Dongxu started to consider physical and chemical knowledge, then suddenly slapped his forehead and burst into a happy laughter.

    He increasingly realized that the path of cultivation was also a science, and it shared many commonalities with natural sciences. After all, the path of cultivation originally involves the natural order of heaven and earth, which is what natural science studies as well.

    With this realization, Ge Dongxu was not in a hurry to sleep. He first reviewed his chemistry textbook about solubility, confirming his conjecture, then began searching online for the principles of airplane take-off.

    Upon reading, Ge Dongxu was struck as if by lightning, stunned for a while, then suddenly burst into loud laughter, stood up, lightly tapped his foot on the ground, and his entire body lifted off the ground, gliding directly about four or five meters through the air.

    This type of gliding wasn''t like that of a running long jump, but a genuine hovering flight, extremely graceful, just like watching martial arts experts lightly tap and soar into the air in movies.

    "Haha, indeed, according to Bernoulli''s Theorem, just by releasing True Qi outside the body, splitting it in two, keeping it flat below and convex above, and suddenly accelerating it, a pressure difference will occur due to different air flow speeds above and below, thereby generating an ascending force." Ge Dongxu, seeing he indeed mastered qinggong, felt extremely elated.

    Next, Ge Dongxu continued to "fly on the walls" in the room, but eventually, the limited space of the room made it somewhat unsatisfying.

    So, he simply left the room, walked to the balcony, then lightly tapped with the tip of his foot, and like a large bird slicing through the sky, he slowly landed in the yard.

    Luckily, it was already past one in the morning, pitch dark and in the middle of winter, so no one witnessed this scene which otherwise would surely have frightened someone sick.

 Chapter 200 Demand Enhancement [4th Update, Request for Monthly Pass]

    The courtyard provided much more space than the room, and after several attempts, Ge Dongxu found that due to his still low cultivation realm, the True Qi he could release was ultimately limited, and so was the amount by which it could lighten his weight when circulating inside his body.Each time he took to the air, the farthest distance he reached was roughly twelve meters, and the highest he soared was about five meters.

    Nevertheless, Ge Dongxu felt very satisfied with himself.

    After "flying" in the yard for a while, Ge Dongxu gently tapped his toes and flew up to the second-floor balcony like a large bird.

    Gently landing, he stood on the balcony, looking out at the scattered lights of Changxi County, with a surge of pride swelling in his heart.

    "Master, I haven''t let you down, have I? I''ve learned Qinggong!"

    Back then, Ren Yao had reached the eighth layer of Qi cultivation but didn''t know Qinggong; he could only forcefully leap six or seven meters by stomping his feet.

    To ordinary people, such a distance might seem like Qinggong, but Ge Dongxu knew it wasn''t, which is why he hadn''t been able to answer Liu Jiayao when she asked him about it.

    "This is only the beginning! One day, I''ll be able to fly and escape through the earth just like the immortals in the legends!" Ge Dongxu clenched his fists, his eyes shining with determination and confidence.

    Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire

    Because he now possessed not only Ge Hong''s legacy, he had found another way to peek into the mysteries of the universe.

    Standing on the balcony for a long time, Ge Dongxu eventually returned to his room to rest.

    That night, Ge Dongxu slept particularly soundly.

    In his dreams, he saw himself soaring with Liu Jiayao, and then while flying, she suddenly turned into Yuan Li, and later unexpectedly became Jiang Lili, bare-chested, her ample, snowy bosom swaying before his eyes. As he couldn''t help but reach out to grab them, Liu Jiayao appeared, and Ge Dongxu abruptly awoke from his sleep.

    "This dream..." Ge Dongxu sat on the bed in a daze for quite some time before he smiled wryly, got up to wash, and then continued with his Mao Hour cultivation practice.

    Since the seven Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades were no longer sufficient for his current realm, the cultivation practice at Mao Hour didn''t yield much effect, providing only consolidation and a slight improvement, and the cracks in the talisman jades became more apparent after his practice.

    "Looks like I need to make a trip to the provincial capital this weekend to inquire Tang Yahui about higher-grade jade, or I may have to visit the Myanmar border if it comes to that," Ge Dongxu pondered after he finished meditating.

    ...

    "A grade above icy nephrite is ice type jadeite. Ice type jadeite is much more expensive. Some good-colored ice type bracelets and pendants can go for several hundred thousand or even a million, which isn''t unusual," said Tang Yahui, on a Saturday morning in the manager''s office of Jiang Region Jewelry Mall, with an expression of wry amusement on her face as she looked at Ge Dongxu.

    Being Tang Yiyuan''s daughter, she was aware of the substantial earnings from Qinghe Herbal Tea, but she was still taken aback when she heard Ge Dongxu wanted to buy ice type jadeite since Ge Dongxu''s way of buying was different from others¡ªhe would buy dozens or hundreds at a time.

    If it was really tens of thousands per piece, the amount would be astronomical, and even with Ge Dongxu''s wealth, it was something he wouldn''t be able to sustain.

    "That expensive? Then I really can''t afford it," Ge Dongxu said, frowning slightly upon hearing this. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You can certainly afford it if you want to buy, but the problem is the staggering sum if you plan to buy regularly," Tang Yahui said, looking at Ge Dongxu with a hint of awe in her eyes.

    Others might not know, but Tang Yahui was aware that the young man before her, only eighteen years old, had a net worth of over a hundred million.

    ```

    "Yes, I can''t afford to buy jade long-term either, and in the future, I definitely won''t stop at just the ice type," Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile.

    Tang Yahui''s mouth fell open when she heard Ge Dongxu wouldn''t stop at ice type, and it took her quite a while to close it again. Above the ice type is the glass type jadeite. These days, if it''s a well-colored, exquisitely carved piece of glass type jadeite, selling it for tens of millions is entirely possible.

    The thought of buying dozens or hundreds of pieces made Tang Yahui feel breathless just thinking about it.

    "Actually, the price of jadeite is determined by ''type,'' ''water,'' ''color,'' and ''work.'' ''Work'' refers to the processing and carving design aspect, which you don''t have a requirement for. ''Type'' and ''water'' refer to the specific quality and luster of the jade you need this time for the ice type, which can''t be changed. The only variable is the color. The price of jadeite can vary greatly depending on the color. For example, an ice type pure white jadeite and an ice type green jadeite, the prices can differ by a hundred times, and it''s quite common. If you have no specific requirements for the color of the ice type jadeite and are fine with slightly inferior colors, it could just be a few thousand or tens of thousands, then the price, you would certainly still be able to afford it," Tang Yahui finally suppressed the shock in her heart and suggested after some thought.

    "Color shouldn''t really affect me. But I need to check something, have someone send up a few pieces of ice type jadeite, I want to feel them," Ge Dongxu said, raising an eyebrow with a hint of excitement at the suggestion.

    If it was just a price of a few thousand to tens of thousands, then for the present Ge Dongxu, it really wasn''t much.

    "Okay," Tang Yahui nodded, then made a phone call to have someone bring over a few pieces of ice type jadeite.

    Ge Dongxu examined them and found that although there were some differences with green being the best and gray and black being the worst, the differences weren''t big¡ªcertainly not as big as the differences in their prices.

    "I basically have no requirements regarding the color, as long as it''s ice type, it can meet my current needs," Ge Dongxu said to Tang Yahui after examining the jadeite.

    "If that''s the case, then it''s easy to deal with. The price would probably just be a few times more than what you paid for the ice glutinous type, but I''m not sure how much you intend to purchase; I don''t have many unprocessed ice type jadeite pieces readily available," Tang Yahui responded.

    When he heard that the price would only be a few times more than the ice glutinous type, Ge Dongxu completely relaxed. Previously, he had purchased two hundred pieces at once for just four to five hundred thousand. Paying a few times more would only be in the million range, which to the now billionaire Ge Dongxu, really wasn''t much.

    "Let''s get a bit more, about five hundred pieces this time," Ge Dongxu replied after thinking it over.

    This time he planned to carve a higher level Spirit Gathering Array. Even though his cultivation had improved quite a bit, the success rate was surely lower than for the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation, and since money was no object now, he simply wanted five hundred pieces all at once.

    Tang Yahui''s mouth opened again upon hearing this, and it took her a long time to respond with a wry smile, "That many, even suppliers wouldn''t have that many low-price ice type jade pieces on hand all at once; I''ll have to visit several to find them. And I''ll need to negotiate the price for each piece of jadeite one by one. I don''t have the same financial resources as you; buying jadeite for you is like buying stones, so it might take some time."

    "No problem, you can deliver them to me in batches," Ge Dongxu replied with a somewhat sheepish smile.

    "Alright, I''ll get a hundred pieces for you first," Tang Yahui replied with a nod.

    "That''s settled then. You''re busy, so I''ll leave you to it," Ge Dongxu said, as there was no stock available this time, and he didn''t linger any further at Jiang Region Jewelry but got up and left.

    Liu Jiayao was not in Linzhou City these days. After leaving Jiang Region Jewelry, Ge Dongxu directly called a car to return to Changxi County.

    ...

    Time flew by to December.

    On this day, it was rainy and windy, and the weather was very cold, but Cao Dapeng''s heart was ablaze with excitement and boundless enthusiasm.

    It was because today, Dapeng Packaging Factory had a new production line up and running, boosting its manufacturing capacity to a new level!

    Thinking about how Dapeng Packaging Factory would keep pace with Qinghe Beverage Factory, as fiery and prosperous as the red cans, Cao Dapeng couldn''t help but get excited. He glanced at his watch and, seeing Cheng Yazhou hadn''t arrived yet, took out his phone and called him.

    ```

 Chapter 201 He is the Big Boss of Qinghe Herbal Teaã€Fifth Updateã€‘

    "President Cheng, where are you? Why haven''t you arrived yet? We are waiting for you to inaugurate our new production line and give us a good start." After getting through on the phone, although only through the receiver, Cao Dapeng''s face was still filled with a flattering smile."What new production line?" came Cheng Yazhou''s puzzled voice over the phone.

    "President Cheng really forgets things easily. I mentioned it to you yesterday that the new production line would be ready today and asked you to attend the event," said Cao Dapeng, slightly startled, then he quickly said with a forced laugh.

    "Ha, that matter. That''s your Dapeng Packaging Factory''s event; I, an outsider, should not join the bustling crowd," Cheng Yazhou said as if he had just remembered this matter, chuckling.

    Cheng Yazhou was still running his business when Cao Dapeng had already become a somewhat well-known boss in Changxi County. Naturally, he had his merits. Hearing these words, Cao Dapeng suddenly felt a chill, even though it was deep in winter, and cold sweat broke out all at once as he hurriedly said, "President Cheng, what do you mean by that? You are our factory''s benefactor; how could you be an outsider!"

    This time, even Cao Dapeng''s form of address changed to a more respectful "you," no longer being casual as before.

    On the other end of the phone, Cheng Yazhou suddenly fell silent upon hearing this.

    Although he was very angry that Cao Dapeng dared to lay hands on Yuan Li and insulted her verbally, after all, they had shared some past interactions. Now, sensing Cao Dapeng''s anxious trepidation over the phone, he ultimately felt a twinge of pity.

    Seeing the sudden silence on the other end, Cao Dapeng''s unease grew even stronger.

    "To tell you the truth, Dapeng, starting next month, our Qinghe Herbal Tea will discontinue our cooperation with your factory." Just as Cao Dapeng''s anxiety was mounting, Cheng Yazhou''s voice came through once again.

    "President Cheng, please don''t joke about this. This is about my entire livelihood!" Cao Dapeng''s hand trembled as he held his phone, nearly dropping it on the ground before quickly steadying it. He then squeezed out a smile uglier than crying and spoke in a tearful voice.

    If only I had known this would happen... Cheng Yazhou sighed deeply upon hearing this, then spoke again after a long pause, "I''m not joking with you, we really will discontinue our cooperation."

    "Why? Is it because our product quality has issues? Are our prices too high? Even if there are these issues, we can discuss them! How can you just discontinue like this!" Cao Dapeng was so anxious this time that tears nearly fell. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    To keep up with the development of Qinghe Herbal Tea Factory, he had taken out a considerable loan to install the new production line.

    If Qinghe Herbal Tea Factory discontinued cooperation with him, then this newly installed production line would be left idle while the bank loan''s interest still had to be paid every month, enough to drag down his factory.

    The only solution was to immediately sell off the newly installed production line. But once machinery is in place, just like cars, as soon as ownership changes, it becomes second-hand and its price nosedives.

    And while cars are easier to sell due to high demand, machinery is not, as there are few buyers.

    Even if there happens to be a buyer in need, they would certainly push the price down.

    "It''s not about that; it''s about your character, which is why all our shareholders have decided to discontinue working with you," Cheng Yazhou said.

    "My character has issues? My character has issues? President Cheng, after all these years of doing business, don''t you already know what kind of person I am?" This response from Cheng Yazhou really stunned Cao Dapeng, who couldn''t recover his wits for a while, only after some time did he hurriedly respond.

    "I really didn''t know before, but now I do. Do you remember what happened on the flight from Heavenly Capital to Linzhou last month?" Cheng Yazhou thought about it and decided to clarify things.

    "Last month from Heavenly Capital to Linzhou, what does that have to do with this?" Cao Dapeng was baffled again and took a long time to recall what had happened on the plane, hearing the warning from the high school student in his ears, but he quickly shook his head and dismissed the high school student.

    It was just a high school student, after all. How could he possibly affect his partnership with Qinghe Herbal Tea?

    "Do you remember the young man who was sitting with President Yuan? He is the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea!" Cheng Yazhou said.

    "He is the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea! You''re saying that high school student is the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea! Mr. Cheng, are you joking with me? How is that possible!" Cao Dapeng was stunned for a good while, then burst out in disbelief.

    But deep down, he already knew it was true!

    "Do you think I would joke about something like this? So it''s not that your factory isn''t up to par, it''s that your character isn''t! You''ve offended someone you shouldn''t have. Take care of yourself, Dapeng." Cheng Yazhou said before hanging up the phone.

    "He is the big boss! He actually is the big boss!" Cao Dapeng heard the hanging up sound from the phone, and he just sat down on the ground.

    He remembered calling Ge Dongxu to give up his seat like he would to a junior, remembering how he had behaved inappropriately towards Yuan Li in front of him, remembering Ge Dongxu''s final warning, Cao Dapeng raised his hand and "slap slap" gave himself two slaps across the face.

    This is really a self-inflicted disaster!

    But who could have imagined a high school student being the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea Factory!

    "Mr. Cao, Mr. Cao, what happened to you?" The people in the factory, seeing their boss who was radiant just a moment ago suddenly sitting on the ground and slapping himself, hurriedly went up to stop and support him.

    When the people stopped and supported him, Mr. Cao came to his senses. Now wasn''t the time for repentance, but for remedial action; otherwise, if Qinghe Herbal Tea really abandoned Dapeng Packaging Factory, his new production line would just sit there rusting.

    Rising up, Cao Dapeng hurriedly called Cheng Yazhou again.

    "Mr. Cao, calling me is useless. I can''t help you with this matter, and I don''t wish to help you." Cheng Yazhou picked up the phone and said bluntly.

    "It''s all my fault, all my fault for being foolish and lustful. But Mr. Cheng, after all our years of friendship, could you really watch me jump off a building? You know that I put all my money into this new production line, took out loans, and even consulted you initially. You can''t be so heartless, please, for the sake of our many years of friendship, help me out." Mr. Cao, a grown man and a boss, sobbed pleadingly amid tears and snot.

    "How can I help you? Do you not know Dongxu calls Yuan Li ''sister''? You actually dared to make advances on her right in front of him, how do you expect me to help you?" Cheng Yazhou, seeing that Mr. Cao''s voice was choked up on the phone, felt a bit of pity but also scolded him for not meeting his expectations.

    "I know, I know it was all my fault. Please, look at our years of friendship and help me this once. Let me meet him and beg for his forgiveness face to face." Mr. Cao continued to plead.

    ps: The fifth update is complete, calling for subscriptions and monthly tickets, thank you very much.

 Chapter 202 Figure It Out Yourself [1 update, request for monthly pass]

    "If you had offended someone else, I would have conveyed the message on your behalf, but you''ve offended him, and I''m not going to help," Cheng Yazhou ultimately refused coldly and then hung up the phone.Ge Dongxu had shown him great kindness, and he knew that Ge Dongxu was a man of loyalty. Once he asked for a favor, Ge Dongxu would certainly oblige to save face, but it was precisely for this reason that he couldn''t afford to ask casually.

    Especially not for someone like Cao Dapeng. He wasn''t worth it.

    "Fuck! Cheng Yazhou, you''re fucking inhuman!" Seeing Cheng Yazhou hang up on him, Cao Dapeng swore furiously, stomping his feet in anger.

    After cursing for a while, however, Cao Dapeng completely lost his temper. What replaced it was indescribable panic.

    Because if Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory decided to terminate their cooperation with him, his factory might very well go under!

    "No, I can''t just sit here and wait for doom. I must think of a solution. Right, try finding Zuo Le. He''s a county committee leader and the head of the Public Security Bureau. If he''s willing to mediate and pull some strings, perhaps there could be a turnaround." After panicking for a while, Cao Dapeng eventually calmed down and remembered that he had some distant kinship with Zuo Le, which resulted in some personal connections, so he hurriedly made a call to Zuo Le.

    "Director Zuo, hello," Cao Dapeng greeted respectfully as soon as the call connected.

    "You... are President Cao," Zuo Le sounded slightly surprised at first, but quickly realized who was calling.

    "Yes, yes, it''s me, Cao Dapeng," Cao Dapeng hurriedly confirmed.

    "What brings a big boss like you to call me?" Zuo Le asked with a chuckle.

    "I do have a favor to ask of you," Cao Dapeng said.

    "What is it? Just tell me. As long as it''s within the rules, I''ll certainly help if I can," Zuo Le stated.

    "You know I''ve been doing business with Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory for over a year. Not too long ago, you, Cheng Yazhou, Wu Qianjin from Qinghe Herbal Tea, and I even had dinner together. At that time, I specially mentioned adding a production line, and both Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin nodded and agreed. Do you remember that?" Cao Dapeng asked.

    "I have an impression. I think that''s a good thing!" Zuo Le responded.

    "Yes, I also thought it was a good thing. So, I went ahead and added a production line. But now Cheng Yazhou says he wants to discontinue our cooperation, so I want to ask you to say a word or two on my behalf. What he''s doing is pushing me towards a dead end!" Cao Dapeng said.

    "Really? Don''t panic now. As far as I know, President Cheng isn''t the type to do that without good reason. Did something happen between you two?" Zuo Le frowned upon hearing this and then inquired.

    "There was a small misunderstanding. On the way back to Linzhou from Beijing by plane a while ago, I had a bit of a conflict with the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory on the plane. I didn''t know he was the major shareholder at the time, so I might have been a bit rude. But ''not knowing is not a crime,'' right? You should give me¡­" Cao Dapeng hesitated and then said.

    "The major shareholder? Are you talking about Ge Dongxu?" Zuo Le''s voice suddenly rose upon hearing this.

    "Correct, correct. I didn''t expect you to know Ge Dongxu, Director Zuo. That makes things much easier," Cao Dapeng, surprised to learn that Zuo Le knew Ge Dongxu, said with delight.

    "Easier my ass? You offended Ge Dongxu and now you want me to stick my neck out for you? I''m already being nice by not cussing you out. Go figure it out yourself!" As soon as Zuo Le confirmed it was Ge Dongxu, he immediately cursed. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Having said that, Zuo Le hung up the phone directly.

    It was a joke. Ge Dongxu was his lifesaver, having cured his infertility, allowing him to have descendants in the future. With Cao Dapeng having offended Ge Dongxu, how could he possibly act as a mediator on his behalf?

    Zuo Le had just hung up the phone when Cao Dapeng''s face froze in shock, his heart rapidly filling with panic.

    This time, he had come to fully understand that this high school student, Ge Dongxu, was not only wealthy but also had significant influence!

    Swept by fear, Cao Dapeng thought of someone¡ªYuan Li.

    So Cao Dapeng instantly rushed to the Industrial and Commercial Bank in a frenzied hurry.

    ...

    "President Yuan, I apologize to you, a sincere apology! Please, be magnanimous and let me off this once. If you don''t show mercy, I really might jump off a building!" In the branch president''s office, Cao Dapeng, a grown man, was bowing and wiping away tears in front of Yuan Li, without any of the arrogance and flippancy he had shown on the plane.

    Watching Cao Dapeng grovel before her like a fawning dog, Yuan Li felt incredibly conflicted.

    Without Ge Dongxu, this scene would never have happened; even on the plane, she would merely have suffered Cao Dapeng''s advances and his demeaning disrespect in vain.

    But now! All because of Ge Dongxu, Cao Dapeng, this wealthy boss, was pathetically coming to her to bow and apologize, begging her to show leniency.

    "I will not interfere with Dongxu''s decisions; pleading with me is useless," Yuan Li said coolly, though her feelings were complex, she wasn''t about to play the good Samaritan right away.

    Having reached her current position, she had seen her fair share of characters and understood very well the mentality of people like Cao Dapeng. Pressured by circumstances, he might be humble and even subservient now, but as soon as he regained his footing and accumulated some capital, he would likely become haughty and domineering again.

    "So you mean there''s no problem on your end, and as long as Ge Dongxu is willing to let it go, then it''s okay, right? Thank you! Thank you so much!" Cao Dapeng, ever the sly one, misconstrued her words deliberately and kept bowing his thanks.

    Yuan Li watched Cao Dapeng repeatedly bow in thanks. Her lips parted as if to speak, but in the end, she couldn''t bring herself to say anything too cold-hearted.

    Seeing her reaction, Cao Dapeng secretly rejoiced and bowed several more times before hastily leaving Yuan Li''s office, giving her no chance to change her mind.

    After leaving Yuan Li''s office, Cao Dapeng drove straight to Changxi No. 1 Middle School.

    Upon reaching Changxi No. 1 Middle School, Cao Dapeng did not dare to barge in and find Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu, as the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, was doubtlessly the richest man in Changxi County. However, he kept a low profile there; even Cao Dapeng, who worked with Qinghe Herbal Tea as a packaging factory owner, had been unaware of his true status, which made it clear that Ge Dongxu did not want his identity as the big boss to be public knowledge.

    Cao Dapeng was aware of this much.

    After evening self-study was over, Ge Dongxu, along with Du Yifan and Cheng Yazhou, were laughing and pushing their bikes out of the school gate, about to mount them when they saw Cao Dapeng standing near the gate, wringing his hands.

    When Ge Dongxu saw Cao Dapeng, Cao Dapeng also spotted him and quickly walked over to him, smiling and slightly bowing.

    He had no choice, for this high school student, once insignificant in his eyes, now held the key to his financial future. If this student didn''t relent, his life''s struggles could all go down the drain.

    ps: Continuing with five updates today. The competition for monthly tickets is fierce; many authors on Qidian have issued red packet monthly tickets, forcing me to do the same. Luckily, it''s the Qidian readers who benefit, so the giving feels joyful, like a New Year''s gift. Still, I humbly ask my readers to please help by casting your monthly votes for me. Monthly ticket rankings are very important for a new book. I haven''t fought hard for rankings with my previous books, but I truly want to compete this time, so please grant me this favor.

 Chapter 203 Are you trying to push me to my death? [Second Update]

    "You guys go ahead, I''ve got something else to deal with," Ge Dongxu said as he saw Cao Dapeng approaching him with a slight frown, then he spoke to Du Yifan and chubby Cheng.Du Yifan and chubby Cheng glanced at Cao Dapeng, who was coming their way with a smile and a slight bow, puzzlement flashing in their eyes, but they quickly nodded and said, "Alright then, we''ll head back first."

    After they spoke, the two of them mounted their bicycles, while Ge Dongxu quickly pushed his bike to meet Cao Dapeng. Without waiting for Cao Dapeng to speak, he already said, "Let''s meet at the Changxi Grand Hotel."

    Without paying any more attention to Cao Dapeng, Ge Dongxu mounted his bike and sped off.

    If it had been before, Cao Dapeng would have cursed out loud at a high school student talking to him like this, but this time, it sounded to him like music from heaven. He hurried back to his car and then drove quickly to the Changxi Grand Hotel. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cao Dapeng arrived at the Changxi Grand Hotel first and made arrangements for a private room, then he especially went to the lobby entrance to wait.

    "Eh, President Cao, what brings you here tonight?" In the lobby, Lin Jinnuo''s portly figure appeared, and he was somewhat surprised to see Cao Dapeng.

    Because Cao Dapeng, in Changxi County, was a boss with some reputation, especially with the rapid growth of Qinghe Herbal Tea over the past year, he too had benefitted, and his performance had also skyrocketed. If this trend continued, he could very well become the leading enterprise in Changxi County''s printing and packaging industry.

    So Lin Jinnuo was quite surprised to see not only that Cao Dapeng was at their hotel at this hour but also waiting for someone at the entrance.

    "What wind? I''m just hustling for a living. Not like you, Lin boss, building one hotel after another, not to mention having such an accomplished son. In just over a year, you''ve created a fashion brand that''s popular all over the country, impressive!" Cao Dapeng said enviously.

    "My son is indeed doing well, but let''s not talk about me. Haven''t you seen the hotel construction stopped over there?" Lin Jinnuo said, shaking his head. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire

    "Is there a problem with the cash flow?" Cao Dapeng asked.

    Lin Jinnuo just laughed without answering. He wasn''t that close with Cao Dapeng, so naturally, there were things he didn''t want to reveal.

    Right then, Cao Dapeng was in a difficult situation himself and the last thing he wanted was to see others doing better. He was hoping for someone to share the blame. Seeing Lin Jinnuo didn''t answer, Cao Dapeng was about to ask again when he saw Ge Dongxu appear at the hotel entrance.

    Just as Cao Dapeng was about to leave Lin Jinnuo and greet him, Lin Jinnuo''s portly figure proved to be unexpectedly agile, and he reached Ge Dongxu first.

    "What brings you here tonight, you busy man? I was actually thinking of looking for you these days," Lin Jinnuo said as he quickly reached out to shake hands with Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu was about to ask Lin Jinnuo what he wanted to see him about when Cao Dapeng walked up with a beaming smile and a bow, "Mr. Ge, good evening, good evening to you."

    After speaking to Ge Dongxu, Cao Dapeng looked at Lin Jinnuo and said, "So Lin boss knows Mr. Ge, I must be blind not to have recognized Mount Tai before my eyes!"

    "My son was brought up by Dongxu, how could I not know him? As for you, well, it looks like you have something to discuss with Dongxu. I''ll arrange a private room for you," Lin Jinnuo, being a smart man, could tell by Cao Dapeng''s demeanor that Cao Dapeng must have offended Ge Dongxu somehow. He pointed at Cao Dapeng and said.

    Cao Dapeng, upon hearing Lin Jinnuo mention that Ge Dongxu had brought his son into the business, remembered the name of the clothing brand "Donglin Yue"¡ª"Lin" referring to Lin Kun and "Yue" to Yue Ting. But what about "Dong"?

    At this thought, Cao Dapeng shivered uncontrollably and looked at Ge Dongxu with deep reverence.

    Is this still a high school student?

    In just over a year, he had become the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea, a brand that had become famous throughout the country, and now it seemed that in the same short period, he was also the big boss of Donglin Yue, which had also gained nationwide fame!

    "No need, no need, I have already arranged for a small private room. Mr. Ge, please." Putting aside his shock, Cao Dapeng bowed respectfully to Ge Dongxu.

    Naturally, Ge Dongxu would not stand on ceremony with Cao Dapeng, nor pay him any mind, and simply said to Lin Jinnuo, "Since you have something to discuss with me, I''ll deal with him first, and then we can talk later."

    Having said that, he walked towards the elevator led by Cao Dapeng.

    It was an elegantly appointed small private room. As the door opened, a variety of delicate pastries and tea had already been prepared.

    "Mr. Ge, please take a seat, please take a seat." Once inside the room, Cao Dapeng hurriedly pulled out the chair at the head of the table, inviting Ge Dongxu to sit.

    You don''t kick a man when he''s down. Poor people have their hateful aspects, but it was deep winter, and Cao Dapeng had first waited for him at the school gates and was now groveling. Regardless, Ge Dongxu could not carry on with a stern face, so he gestured to the chair beside him and said, "You sit, too."

    "Mr. Ge, about the incident on the airplane last time, I was wrong, I let my desires cloud my judgment, and I sincerely apologize to you," Cao Dapeng said, without sitting down, bowing deeply to Ge Dongxu.

    "Desires clouding judgment!" Ge Dongxu mulled over this phrase and found Cao Dapeng''s words rather honest. A woman like Yuan Li could easily cloud a man''s judgment, leading to mistakes.

    Thinking this, Ge Dongxu''s expression softened somewhat and said, "You should be apologizing to President Yuan."

    "I have already specifically visited President Yuan to apologize during the day, and she said that everything depends on your attitude. Mr. Ge, it''s all my fault, please spare me this time. The new production line I''ve just introduced is currently the most advanced in the country, all for meeting the needs of your Qinghe Herbal Tea and to provide the best quality. For this, I''ve taken out a massive loan of eight million. If you cut off our cooperation now, I''ll have to jump off a building," Cao Dapeng said, tears welling up.

    "After what happened on the plane, letting you handle our business is absolutely impossible. Don''t even entertain that thought. I can be agreeable on some things, but once you violate my principles, there''s no room for negotiation," Ge Dongxu said, frowning slightly as he saw Cao Dapeng, a grown man, shedding tears.

    Even if they didn''t invest in the printing and packaging industry themselves, there were countless businesses eager to take on their printing and packaging deal. Why should they let someone who had humiliated Yuan Li continue to make money off them?

    Just because of a few tears? Cao Dapeng''s tears simply weren''t that valuable!

    "Mr. Ge, are you trying to drive me to my grave?" Seeing Ge Dongxu dismiss the matter in one sentence, Cao Dapeng''s face paled dramatically, his eyes showing a hint of desperation and madness.

    "If that''s how you want to put it, then there''s nothing to discuss," Ge Dongxu said, getting up to leave.

 Chapter 204 Selling the Factory [3rd Update, Request for Official Subscription]

    "No, no, let''s keep talking, keep talking. But the problem is, for this new production line, I''ve really put everything I own on the line," Cao Dapeng hurriedly stopped Ge Dongxu from leaving. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality."It''s not that exaggerated. Over the past year, especially since May, you must have made quite a bit of money from us. Just one production line, it''s too much to say you''ve wagered everything on it. Here''s the thing, let me be honest with you, we''re planning to invest in the printing and packaging industry ourselves. We''ve been looking for factory facilities and equipment recently. Since you think the new line will go to waste without our Qinghe Herbal Tea business, if you''re willing to sell it to us at seventy percent of the cost, I might consider buying it," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    This time, Cao Dapeng didn''t panic or respond immediately; instead, he sat back down, took out a cigarette, lit it, and started smoking heavily.

    Now he fully understood that this high school student was easy to talk to when he wasn''t angry, just like that day on the airplane when he asked him to give up his seat, and he did so immediately, without any pretense. But once he managed to anger him, then there was no way a simple bout of crying would suffice to fool him. And once he started to retaliate, it would be one thing after another, absolutely cunning and ruthless.

    Indeed, just because of that incident on the airplane, not only did he take harsh revenge on Cao Dapeng, but he also managed to benefit by acquiring new equipment at a low price.

    But Cao Dapeng had no choice but to respond because if he missed this opportunity, it would be hard to find another one!

    "Is Qinghe Herbal Tea really planning to invest in the printing and packaging industry?" After a long time, Cao Dapeng pressed his cigarette fiercely into the ashtray, looked up with somewhat reddened eyes, and asked Ge Dongxu.

    "Yes," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Then can I package the entire factory, sell it at a low price, and convert it into shares?" Cao Dapeng asked, his reddened eyes filled with a hint of hope.

    He had thought a lot just now. Thinking of the rise of Qinghe Herbal Tea and Donglin Yue, he was very certain that this young man in front of him was definitely a business genius. As long as he followed him, even if he sold the factory cheaply to buy into the shares, he would definitely make a fortune in the future.

    "No," Ge Dongxu shook his head firmly in response.

    Cao Dapeng had confidence in him, but Ge Dongxu also had confidence in himself. He wouldn''t leave a money-making opportunity to someone who had insulted Yuan Li and had questionable character.

    The look of hope in Cao Dapeng''s eyes dimmed immediately; it took him a while to say, "Buying the factory, installing machines, and hiring technical staff will undoubtedly consume a lot of time, effort, and, of course, money. How about this, I''ll sell you the entire factory, but you have to buy the new production line at the original price."

    "You want to sell the entire factory?" Ge Dongxu''s eyes slightly lit up at the mention.

    "To be honest, ever since the financial crisis in Asia, the printing and packaging business hasn''t been good. If it weren''t for your Qinghe Herbal Tea business supporting it, I might have already been at a loss. Now that you''re planning to stop cooperating with me, I''m really considering pulling out of this industry," Cao Dapeng lamented as he relit a cigarette.

    "Since that''s the case, I''ll let Uncle Cheng discuss the details and the price with you. Let''s close the chapter on the incident on the airplane, but let me advise you, Mr. Cao, don''t ever act like that again, or sooner or later disaster will strike. That''s all I have to say, goodbye," Ge Dongxu nodded, then stood up and left the seat.

    This time, Cao Dapeng didn''t stop Ge Dongxu; he just watched him leave and sat back down slowly after a long while.

    Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire

    Once he was out of the private room, Lin Jinnuo was already waiting for him in the lobby. Seeing him come out, she quickly stood up to greet him.

    "I''ve booked a private room, shall we..." Lin Jinnuo said.

    "We''re not eating dinner this late at night, so let''s just sit by the window there and talk," Ge Dongxu pointed to an elegant seat by the window in the hall and smiled.

    "Sounds good." At this point, there were hardly any people dining in the hotel lobby, which was quite peaceful, so Lin Jinnuo didn''t object.

    "About the new hotel?" Ge Dongxu asked bluntly after sitting down.

    Every day on his way home, he would pass by the hotel Lin Jinnuo was building, which had been partially halted for some time.

    "Yes, there''s a budget issue, plus an investor pulled out, leading to financial chain problems. So, I was hoping to borrow some funds from you, you can set the interest," Lin Jinnuo said, embarrassedly touching his belly.

    "Why wouldn''t the bank lend to you?" Ge Dongxu asked, frowning slightly.

    "They refused to lend anymore. Don''t be fooled by my appearance; I actually owe a lot of debt to the bank. The Jinhui Hotel we''re currently constructing had already borrowed from the bank, and now there''s a significant shortfall. Lin Kun can''t pull much money from his side, and the banks are too scared to take this risk. I should have listened to your advice and not invested in building a hotel. Now I''m stuck between a rock and a hard place," Lin Jinnuo said with a bitter smile.

    "It''s not that bad. I just felt that you were over-constructing and the investment was too large with a slow cost recovery. I didn''t have much cash on hand at the time, so I didn''t want to invest. However, hotels have their benefits. Once it''s built, money will just come in. But regarding the loan, I''m not a banker, and I don''t deal with loans. I''ll accompany you to see President Yuan, and I''ll vouch for you," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "That''s very kind of you. With your guarantee, borrowing a hundred million wouldn''t be a problem," Lin Jinnuo said with a great joy.

    "Old Lin, don''t tell me you want to borrow a hundred million; I wouldn''t be up for that," Ge Dongxu joked.

    "Of course not, of course not, just around ten million," Lin Jinnuo said hurriedly.

    "Haha, then there''s no problem. If you can''t pay it back, I''ll just deduct it from Lin Kun''s money. By next year, his net worth will definitely be over ten million," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "If you count the brand value, this young fellow is already worth over ten million now. These days, he hasn''t stopped showing off in front of me. Luckily, you''re there to keep him in check, otherwise, his tail would be up in the sky," Lin Jinnuo said as Ge Dongxu mentioned Lin Kun, his words filled with helplessness. However, from his tone and expression, it was obvious that he was actually very pleased and proud, and he felt deeply grateful to Ge Dongxu.

    "Haha, Lin Kun does have real skills. Right now, he''s mainly handling our Kunting chain of budget franchise hotels. I estimate that by the second half of next year, once we have more chain stores and achieve scale, this sector should really start to perform," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Haha, all thanks to your excellent guidance, Dongxu!" Lin Jinnuo said happily.

    "Then tomorrow noon, I''ll make some time and meet in President Yuan''s office," Ge Dongxu said, slightly stunned upon hearing this, then he chuckled and touched his nose, finding the comment a bit awkward.

    He was not Lin Kun''s father after all; he was just a high school student!

    "Alright, I won''t say more thanks, I''ll keep everything in mind," Lin Jinnuo said appreciatively, not sensing anything off about his previous remark.

 Chapter 205 Bring Some Wine [Fourth Update, Requesting Monthly Tickets]

    The next day at noon, when Ge Dongxu arrived at Yuan Li''s office, Lin Jinnuo was already waiting for him. Upon seeing him enter, she hurriedly stood up to shake his hand and greet him, while Yuan Li gave Dongxu a gratefully affectionate look and stood up to pour him a cup of tea.From the incident with Cao Dapeng yesterday and the guaranteed loan for Lin Jinnuo today, Yuan Li saw the meticulous care and protection that Dongxu offered her.

    With Dongxu''s guarantee, things were quickly settled, and the next step was to submit it for approval.

    Whether the upper department would approve or not, Lin Jinnuo might not have been entirely confident, but Yuan Li was sure that the application would definitely be approved one hundred percent.

    Because Dongxu was not only the major boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea but also the Liu branch manager in Ouzhou City knew him too!

    Other people''s guarantees could be disregarded by the Liu branch manager who might decline them, but with Dongxu''s guarantee, he wouldn''t dare not to approve it no matter how brave he was. Moreover, Dongxu also had such a strong financial power.

    "It''s the weekend today; come to Sister''s house for dinner tonight!" After settling the matter, Yuan Li walked them out the door, then gently pulled Dongxu aside and whispered softly.

    Dongxu was quite concerned about being alone with Yuan Li and wanted to find an excuse to escape, but Yuan Li seemed to have guessed his thoughts and quickly added in a low voice, "No refusals, you have helped me a great deal, and I must be given a chance to express my gratitude."

    As Yuan Li looked at Dongxu tenderly, the words he had at the tip of his tongue were swallowed back. He nodded his head and agreed. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After school in the afternoon, he first went home to drop off his backpack, read for a while, saw that it was about time, greeted Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao, and then rode his bicycle out the door.

    Familiar with the route, he arrived at Yuan Li''s doorstep and just as he was about to knock, his mind inexplicably drifted to the scene he had witnessed the last time the door opened.

    The door suddenly opened during Dongxu''s reverie, giving him a fright.

    The house was very warm with the heating turned up, and Yuan Li was only wearing leggings and a tight white wool sweater.

    "What are you staring at? You! Hurry up and come inside; I need to go take care of the stove," seeing Dongxu somewhat distracted, Yuan Li first froze, then when she noticed where Dongxu''s gaze had fallen, her cheeks instantly turned a shade of red, she shot him a glare, then with a twist of her waist, quickly turned and walked to the kitchen.

    Dongxu gave a slightly awkward smile and then took off his shoes to enter the house.

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    "Let me help you take off your coat," Yuan Li quickly came out of the kitchen, seemingly having forgotten Dongxu''s earlier impertinent gaze, walked up to him, naturally helped him off with his coat, and went to hang it up.

    Watching Yuan Li''s natural actions, Dongxu couldn''t help but suddenly think of Liu Jiayao.

    He involuntarily made a comparison in his mind.

    If Liu Jiayao was a shade of green that made him feel relaxed, warm, and natural all the time, then Yuan Li, a woman full of mature charm, seemed more like a shade of red, giving him a fiery feeling.

    Perhaps because of this, Dongxu always subconsciously had a desire to avoid being alone with her; he feared he couldn''t control himself.

    Dongxu was well aware that it wasn''t because he was lecherous, but because he was at an age when his needs were strong.

    "What are you daydreaming about? Go sit down; I''ll be ready shortly," Yuan Li hung up the clothes, turned around to see Dongxu staring at her, lightly tapped his forehead with her finger, then swayed her slim waist and went back to the kitchen.

    Dongxu watched Yuan Li enter the kitchen, then followed her advice and sat down in the living room. But just after sitting down, he heard a "bang" from the kitchen as dishes hit the floor.

    Dongxu immediately stood up and headed toward the kitchen.

    "Don''t come over; the floor is covered in shards," Yuan Li saw Dongxu approaching, quickly told him, then crouched down to start picking up the pieces.

    "Be careful of the sharp edges, I''ll handle it, I''ll handle it," Ge Dongxu hurriedly said.

    "Ah!" Unfortunately, Ge Dongxu was too late, and Yuan Li still accidentally cut her finger, blood immediately flowed, contrasting sharply against her pale, delicate fingers, it was particularly glaring and especially heartbreaking.

    Without a second thought, Ge Dongxu grabbed Yuan Li''s finger and sucked on it.

    "Didn''t I tell you not to move, let me handle it?" After sucking a couple of times, Ge Dongxu finally let go and pressed on her wound, scolding her.

    "Who knows which woman will be lucky enough to marry you!" Yet Yuan Li, as if she hadn''t heard Ge Dongxu''s scolding, just gazed at him dreamily.

    "Sister Li, what are you talking about? I''m still just a high school student! Alright, you go out, I''ll take care of this," Ge Dongxu said, his face blushing slightly.

    "How can I let you men do this sort of task? I''ll handle it," Yuan Li smiled at the sight of Ge Dongxu blushing, then pushed him a bit and said.

    "I said I''ll handle it, I have thick skin, and good eyesight too," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Alright, I''ll go get the broom, that should be fine, right?" Yuan Li pushed Ge Dongxu once again.

    "Haha, I forgot about the broom; Sister Li, you sure are sharp," Ge Dongxu was slightly startled and then laughed.

    "I think you''re making fun of me for being slow," Yuan Li extended her injured finger and wiggled it at Ge Dongxu, rolling her eyes.

    She didn''t realize that though the cut on her finger was a bit deep, the fact that it wasn''t bleeding was actually not normal.

    "How could anyone with a slow mind ever become a branch manager?" Ge Dongxu hurriedly said with a complimenting smile.

    "Always knowing the right things to say to please people!" Yuan Li rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu, then pushed him again: "Now go out, don''t block the way!"

    Ge Dongxu smiled, then left the kitchen.

    After cleaning the kitchen, Yuan Li soon brought out the last dish, sweet and sour ribs, and called Ge Dongxu to the dining room for dinner.

    "How about some wine?" Yuan Li said.

    "Maybe we shouldn''t," Ge Dongxu remembered the last time he drank and his heart involuntarily thumped hard, he hurriedly said.

    "It''s not lively without wine. Don''t worry, we''ll just drink a little," spotting Ge Dongxu hastily waving his hand and also recalling the last occasion, Yuan Li''s pretty face blushed slightly as she said.

    "Then just a little," Ge Dongxu said.

    "What, afraid I''ll drink too much and devour you?" Seeing Ge Dongxu emphasizing drinking just a little, Yuan Li couldn''t help but glare at him.

    "Of course not, I''m more worried about myself," Ge Dongxu hurriedly said.

    Upon hearing this, Yuan Li''s face turned crimson, she thought for a moment, then said, "Then we shouldn''t drink at all, putting up with it is bad for your health."

    As Yuan Li mentioned that drinking was bad for Ge Dongxu''s health, her cheeks became even more flushed, while Ge Dongxu listened, somewhat puzzled, not understanding why it would be bad for his health.

    Although Ge Dongxu was still a na?ve young man, his instincts told him not to pursue the matter further, instead he simply smiled and said, "A little won''t hurt."

 Chapter 206 Youve Grown Taller Again [Fifth Release, Request for Monthly Pass]

    "Are you really okay? You don''t feel uncomfortable?" Yuan Li asked with a flushed face."My alcohol tolerance is great. I can drink two or three jin of liquor with no problem," Ge Dongxu replied, not understanding why she asked, and straightened his back with a somewhat proud tone. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This time, Yuan Li was almost embarrassed enough to want to hide in a hole, but at the same time, for some reason, her gaze filled uncontrollably with an indescribable tenderness toward Ge Dongxu. She wished she could hold him tight and shower him with love.

    "What? Is there something on my face?" Ge Dongxu felt bewildered by Yuan Li''s stare.

    "You''re handsome, can''t a sister appreciate that?" Yuan Li suddenly came to her senses and rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu felt a bit bashful as he scratched his head, but he was inwardly pleased by Yuan Li''s compliment about his good looks.

    "Since you can hold your liquor so well, let''s drink a little," Yuan Li suggested with a smile, seeing Ge Dongxu''s bashfulness.

    "Then just a little," Ge Dongxu nodded in agreement.

    In the end, they still ended up drinking, but this time it was Huadiao Wine; Yuan Li somehow found out that Ge Dongxu liked Huadiao Wine.

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    Huadiao Wine was smooth at first sip, but packed a punch later on.

    Unconsciously, Yuan Li ended up drinking a bit too much. When Ge Dongxu noticed her flush with the influence of alcohol, under the lamplight she appeared exceptionally charming and radiant. He couldn''t help but bitterly smile to himself, having forgotten the potent aftereffect of Huadiao Wine.

    "Sister Li, that''s enough. Let''s not drink anymore," Ge Dongxu urged urgently.

    At this moment, the full effect of the wine hadn''t hit yet, and Yuan Li''s mind was still fairly clear. She nodded, "Hmm, we can''t drink any more."

    But without drinking, a man and a woman sitting together without talking about love or romance felt somewhat lacking in atmosphere. Soon enough, seeing that it was about time, Ge Dongxu stood up and said, "It''s getting late, I should go."

    "Hmm," Yuan Li actually worried she might not be able to control herself because she found Ge Dongxu''s allure growing increasingly stronger, especially after drinking. Looking at Ge Dongxu, she didn''t know why but she felt an impulsive yearning stirring within her, a feeling she''d never had for any other man before.

    As she walked Ge Dongxu to the door, and he put on his shoes to leave, perhaps the alcohol took hold of her mind or maybe it was a surge of emotion, but she ultimately couldn''t resist hugging him from behind, resting her face against his back, and murmuring, "Dongxu, I''m sorry, just let me hug you, just a hug is all I need!"

    Ge Dongxu''s body tensed up instantly and took a while to relax before he turned around to face and embrace her, a body that was warm and voluptuous like a bundle of fire.

    Four lips met once again, just like the last time by the Shichahai lakeside, and this time, Ge Dongxu''s hand moved down the exquisite curve of her waist to rest on Yuan Li''s shapely hips.

    "Dongxu, I''m sorry!" As Ge Dongxu''s hand began to wander further, Yuan Li suddenly snapped out of it and pushed him away.

    The push from Yuan Li brought Ge Dongxu back to reality, and he stood there stunned.

    "I''m sorry, Dongxu. If you''re feeling uncomfortable, I can help you, but we cannot..." Yuan Li said, looking at the bewildered Ge Dongxu, hating herself for the first time.

    Why couldn''t she be ten years younger? Why wasn''t the first man she met him!

    Now, how could her body be worthy of his purity?

    "Ah, it''s okay, it''s okay. Sister, you don''t have to say that, it''s actually my fault too," Ge Dongxu hurriedly waved his hand.

    "You always make excuses for me," Yuan Li gave Ge Dongxu a glance, really wanting to hug him again, but in the end, she didn''t dare to make a move.

    "Okay, I have to go now. Call me if you need anything, good night!" It was Ge Dongxu who stepped forward and gently hugged her, kissed her forehead lightly, then opened the door and left.

    Watching Ge Dongxu''s retreating figure and feeling the warmth on her forehead, Yuan Li was completely entranced under the light.

    ...

    Perhaps Cao Dapeng feared that delays could lead to trouble, Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory quickly acquired Dapeng Printing and Packaging Factory for a favorable price of fifteen million. Considering future development needs, Cheng Yazhou and his team also spent an additional million to purchase the fifty acres of land surrounding Dapeng Printing and Packaging Factory.

    The loan Lin Jinnuo had applied for was approved at an unprecedented speed, leaving Lin Jinnuo so shocked that she hardly dared to believe it was real. She secretly marveled at how useful the Qinghe Herbal Tea major shareholder signboard was, unaware that it was Liu Branch Manager himself who, upon seeing Ge Dongxu''s name, had personally expedited the matter with great urgency. Otherwise, just the major shareholder signboard of Qinghe Herbal Tea wouldn''t have made Liu Branch Manager so eager to personally take charge of the process.

    After all, he was the Branch Manager of a Level Two branch, which is equivalent to a full departmental position. In Ouzhou City, countless business owners beseech him for loans every day. Although the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea was influential, Liu Branch Manager might not necessarily feel obliged to show deference given their current strength.

    The time soon arrived at mid-December, and that day, Ge Dongxu received a call from Tang Yahui saying that a batch of Jade had arrived and wanted him to find some time to go to the Provincial Capital to make a selection in person.

    These days, Ge Dongxu''s cultivation progress had been slow, and he was quite anxious. Hearing that a batch of Jade had arrived, he was naturally overjoyed and decided to take the train to the Provincial Capital on the Friday of that week.

    The train arrived on time at eight o''clock in the morning, bringing Ge Dongxu to the Linzhou train station.

    As soon as he came out of the train station, Ge Dongxu saw Liu Jiayao waving at him, dressed in a tender yellow trench coat and white high-heeled boots, looking exceptionally tall. A sense of warmth couldn''t help but fill his heart.

    "Annoying, you''ve grown taller again after a while!" She naturally and affectionately hooked her arm in Ge Dongxu''s, only to realize that even with her high heels, she was still a bit shorter than Ge Dongxu''s shoulder. Liu Jiayao pursed her lips, lightly hit Ge Dongxu, and chided him.

    "Haha, since Sister doesn''t like me getting taller, I''ll just shrink back down," Ge Dongxu said, laughing as he crouched down slightly.

    "Of course I like it when you grow tall and handsome, I just don''t like it when you change so fast. But once you come to Linzhou for school next year and I can see you often, I won''t think you''re changing too quickly," Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a glance, pulled him up, and spoke.

    "Then I''ll come to the Provincial Capital whenever I have time," Ge Dongxu said, his heart warming upon hearing her words.

    "That would be great!" Liu Jiayao nodded happily but then shook her head and said, "But that still won''t do, you''re at a critical moment with your exam preparations, you can''t come to the Provincial Capital often and neglect your studies."

    "No problem, I''m a top student!" Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Still, you can''t! Be good, listen to your sister," Liu Jiayao immediately countered him, then followed with a softer tone as she hurriedly touched Ge Dongxu''s arm.

    Seeing Liu Jiayao calling him "good" and to "listen to your sister," Ge Dongxu couldn''t help feeling amused, yet for some reason, his heart felt sweet.

    PS: Five chapters completed, continue to ask for monthly tickets and subscription support. Also, I''ve seen some readers complaining about slow updates; five chapters a day, ten thousand words, is really the limit for me already and is something unprecedented. Moreover, I''m practically typing the whole day and then posting all at once, without any reserved chapters. If someday I do have reserved chapters, I certainly will have a burst of releases, but recently this is truly all I can manage.

 Chapter 207 Study Hard, Make Progress Every Day [1st Update, Requesting Monthly Pass]

    Driving back to Liu Jiayao''s apartment in Yadu Garden, Liu Jiayao urged Ge Dongxu to wash up, then went to prepare breakfast herself.When Ge Dongxu pushed open the bathroom door, he found that all the toiletries and clothes for changing were neatly arranged there, filling his heart with warmth.

    "You little rascal, why didn''t you blow-dry your hair again? I''ve told you so many times, it''s easy to catch a cold!" Just as Ge Dongxu finished washing up and changed his clothes, stepping out of the bathroom, he was pushed back in by Liu Jiayao, who had a frown on her face. Then, without any discussion, she picked up the hairdryer to blow his hair.

    Looking in the mirror, seeing Liu Jiayao holding the hairdryer and blow-drying his hair, with her cute face all flushed, Ge Dongxu felt an indescribable sense of warmth.

    This feeling was different from when he was with Yuan Li. Although it was also cozy with her, there was always a restlessness stirring inside him. But with Liu Jiayao, his thoughts tended to be purer.

    "Sister Liu!" Overcome with emotion, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but turn around and embrace Liu Jiayao''s slender waist.

    "Hey, what are you doing? How can I blow-dry your hair like this! Be good, stop fidgeting!" Liu Jiayao''s cheeks grew even redder, her eyes showed a hint of drunkenness, but she quickly raised her fist and gave Ge Dongxu a playful punch, exclaiming.

    "Alright then!" Ge Dongxu very "reluctantly" let go and turned back around.

    "Pfft!" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s "reluctant" expression, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but giggle. Then, noticing that the hair was almost dry, she simply put down the hairdryer, wrapped her arms around Ge Dongxu''s waist from behind, and rested her small face against his back.

    When Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but want to turn around, Liu Jiayao let go of her hands and said, "Don''t get any funny ideas, let''s go eat."

    "What ideas could I possibly have? My thoughts are very pure," Ge Dongxu protested his innocence.

    "Pure my foot! Do you think I don''t know what you''re thinking?" Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a glare.

    Ge Dongxu''s face turned red instantly.

    No matter how pure his thoughts were, being tightly hugged from behind by a beautiful woman would still "taint" his thoughts.

    "Hehe, feeling a bit embarrassed now, aren''t you? You are a student now; you should be focusing on your studies, striving for improvement every day, got it?" Seeing Ge Dongxu embarrassed, Liu Jiayao giggled and tapped his forehead with her finger, instructing him, but her beautiful eyes were clearly filled with teasing and triumph.

    "Got it." Ge Dongxu found it comically ironic that he, Ge Dongxu, a dignified practitioner, a billionaire, and Elder Feng''s disciple, ended up being chided by a young girl to study hard and aim high. Life... ah, it''s simply wonderful!

    "Giggle!" Seeing Ge Dongxu nod his head helplessly in acceptance of the guidance, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but cover her mouth and laugh.

    Her laughter was crisp and melodious, laced with unabashed triumph.

    After a while, Liu Jiayao managed to hold back her laughter, wiped the corner of her eyes, pushed Ge Dongxu a bit, and said, "What are you standing there for? Let''s go eat."

    Without waiting for a response from Ge Dongxu, she reached out, grabbed his hand, and walked toward the dining room. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire

    Ge Dongxu was pulled along a step behind, watching her pleasing silhouette, feeling even her movements exuded a sense of joy and triumph. He couldn''t help but smile.

    He enjoyed being together with Liu Jiayao like this.

    Relaxed, cozy, innocent, with a sense of home.

    The breakfast was simple, consisting of congee, buns, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and a dish of shredded pork.

    Although simple, the thought of Liu Jiayao, the boss of Qinglan Cosmetics, going out of her way to cook for him herself filled Ge Dongxu''s heart with warmth.

    After breakfast, considering that Ge Dongxu had been on a train all night, Liu Jiayao urged him to rest a while. When Dongxu claimed he wasn''t tired, Jiayao pulled him to the sofa, had him lie down, and placed his head on her lap, proceeding to massage and knead gently.

    Ge Dongxu was truly not sleepy, but Jiayao insisted that he close his eyes. Under her tender massaging, he somehow dozed off for a bit without noticing.

    When he woke up, Dongxu saw it was about time and left Yadu Garden.

    Knowing that Ge Dongxu had his own things to do, Liu Jiayao didn''t press him for details, and only asked if he wanted to come back for lunch.

    Checking the time and realizing it was already ten o''clock, and that he had jade selection and shaping to do, Dongxu knew he would definitely not make it back by noon. After a moment''s thought, he said, "I can''t make it back for lunch, but I will join you for dinner tonight."

    "You''re not going back to Changxi tonight?" Liu Jiayao''s eyes immediately lit up with surprise.

    In the past, Ge Dongxu would usually take the train back the same night, rarely staying overnight.

    "Yeah, I have money now. If it comes down to it, I''ll just hire a car to take me back tomorrow direct, no need to spend the night on the train," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "Look at you showing off! At the rate you''re spending, the money you make from selling medicine will run out sooner or later! But, heehee, it''s okay, Sister will take care of you. Just let me know when you''re running low on cash!" Liu Jiayao first gave Ge Dongxu a glance, then quickly burst into giggles, speaking in a very good mood.

    "Don''t look down on people. I probably have more money than you now," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Keep dreaming! When it comes to medicine, I couldn''t catch up to you even if I were riding a horse, but if you''re talking about having more money than me, let''s wait until you decide to make money with your medical skills or after you''ve been working ten years post-graduation," Liu Jiayao said with a smirk and a face of disbelief.

    Liu Jiayao didn''t believe him, for her current extensive enterprise was the result of her forebearers'' hard struggle. And the more she fought in the business world, the more she realized how hard it is to make money.

    Ge Dongxu was still just a high school student who, just over two years ago, had been eagerly selling millennium-old wild Polygonum multiflorum at Yongchun Hall to make money. How could Jiayao possibly believe that he now had more money than her?

    Unless Dongxu used his medical skills to make money, but Jiayao knew that if Dongxu said he didn''t charge for treating people, he truly wouldn''t.

    "Haha, then just wait and see!" Seeing that Liu Jiayao didn''t believe him, Ge Dongxu didn''t clarify further, thinking it would be interesting to see her expression when she found out one day that he was a big boss.

    "Giggle, then I''ll just wait and see," Liu Jiayao said, pursing her lips with a smile and casting a glance at Ge Dongxu.

    "You''ll be in for a shock," Ge Dongxu said, then he stepped out. Just after taking a few steps, Dongxu suddenly turned around and said to Jiayao, "Sister, don''t you want me to study hard, striving for progress every day? If I decide to stay over tonight, then..."

    Upon hearing this, Liu Jiayao was momentarily stunned, and then, seeing the mischievous smile on Ge Dongxu''s face, she realized he was teasing her about her excitement upon hearing he might stay. Flushing, she chased after him, fists raised, and began to pummel him at the elevator door, only stopping when Dongxu pleaded for mercy. She then proudly wagged her fist in front of his face and said, "Hmph, ever heard of work-life balance? I''m doing this for your own good!"

    "I know, I know!" Ge Dongxu nodded his head like a pecking chicken.

    "Giggle!" Liu Jiayao, seeing Dongxu nod his head like a pecking chicken, couldn''t help but laugh happily and triumphantly. Then, with a gentle push and a roll of her eyes, she said, "The elevator''s here, go on now. I''ll be waiting for you at home." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ps: There are still five updates for today, but the fifth one hasn''t been rushed out. It will probably be very late, so dear readers might as well save it for tomorrow.

 Chapter 208 Not Just [2nd Update]

    Ice Type Jadeite is considered a medium to high-end jade, even if the color is a bit off, but just a single piece can be worth the hard-earned annual income of the average working-class individual.If it hadn''t been for the wealthy buyer Ge Dongxu requesting the goods, Tang Yahui would never have dared to purchase over a hundred pieces at once.

    Sitting on the sofa and watching Ge Dongxu picking and choosing, each piece he considered was at least five thousand or more, and some with slightly better color needed thirty to fifty thousand a piece. Even though Tang Yahui knew that the person before her was definitely among the ranks of Huaxia Country''s wealthy, her heart still skipped a beat.

    "That''s enough, calculate how much money I need," after roughly half an hour, Ge Dongxu had picked out a total of one hundred and twelve pieces of jade that met his requirements.

    Essentially all of them were either purely white or black or gray Ice Type Jadeite.

    Each piece of jade had a number on it, and Tang Yahui checked each number one by one, and then picked up the calculator and calculated, "One million and eight hundred thousand." Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire

    "That''s quite a good deal," Ge Dongxu, seeing that the price was much cheaper than he had expected, couldn''t help but look at Tang Yahui with gratitude and said with a smile.

    "Only you could say that, anyone else would throw a fit over one million and eight hundred thousand!" Tang Yahui couldn''t help but roll her eyes at Ge Dongxu and said.

    "Process them all according to the previous specifications, and you keep the offcuts for yourself, they''d be good for making a small pendant or something," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Now that he was more familiar with jade, he also knew that at the level of Ice Type Jadeite, even a small piece the size of a peanut was valuable, yet such a small piece of jadeite was completely useless to him. The jade tokens he required had to be at least half the size of a finger in length and width.

    "Then I won''t be polite with you, these offcuts are also worth quite a bit of money," Tang Yahui said, eyes lighting up and her face showing delight upon hearing this.

    "What''s there to be polite about with me? You''ve helped me so much, and the prices you''ve given me have always been very favorable, it''s only right," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Tang Yahui gave a smile, knowing that Ge Dongxu was wealthy and had a good temperament, so she no longer said much and called the master craftsman to have it processed just like before.

    At noon, Ge Dongxu had a simple meal nearby with Tang Yiyuan and Tang Yahui accompanying him. Meanwhile, Ge Dongxu also discussed some traditional Chinese medicine topics with Tang Yiyuan. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Around three o''clock, Ge Dongxu received the one hundred and twelve jade tokens.

    Ge Dongxu casually packed them into his backpack and then left Jiang Region Jewelry.

    "Dad, what on earth do you think Dongxu wants all this jade for?" After seeing Ge Dongxu off, Tang Yahui couldn''t suppress her curiosity and asked.

    "Dongxu is an extraordinary person; how could we mere mortals understand his affairs? You should just focus on being a good manager," Tang Yiyuan replied.

    "Now that Qinghe Herbal Tea is so popular, if it weren''t for my studies being focused on jewelry jade, I''d almost want to go and help you out," Tang Yahui nodded and then put away her curiosity with a smile.

    "You, my dear, have a nerve. You didn''t want to learn traditional Chinese medicine from me before because you thought the profession didn''t make enough money, did you! Now that you see the herbal tea is profitable, you''re thinking about carrying on the family business," Tang Yiyuan pointed at Tang Yahui and said with a chuckle.

    ```

    "Hehe, Dad, I''m really a bit curious, how much money can you earn in a month with your shares now?" Tang Yahui asked with an embarrassed smile yet couldn''t resist her curiosity.

    "You, just focus on being my manager, then find me a satisfactory son-in-law as soon as possible and have a grandchild for me. After all, I only have one daughter like you, this money will eventually be yours, so why ask so much about it?" Tang Yiyuan deliberately avoided the question.

    "I know, I know, I already told you, I''d rather lack than be indiscriminate! I''d rather stay single than randomly find someone to spend my life with," Tang Yahui said impatiently.

    "Never mind, I can''t be bothered to lecture you, let''s go." Tang Yiyuan knew his daughter''s temper, gave up on speaking further, waved his hand, and turned to leave.

    "Dad, do you make five hundred thousand a month now?" Tang Yahui asked persistently from behind.

    "More than that!" Tang Yiyuan replied without turning back.

    "One million?" Tang Yahui''s delicate body shook slightly, and her voice trembled slightly as she asked.

    "More than that!" Tang Yiyuan repeated, then turned a corner and his silhouette disappeared from Tang Yahui''s sight, leaving her completely stunned.

    Her father, with only ten percent of the shares, made more than a million a month. So what about Ge Dongxu? Wouldn''t he make at least six million a month, and with the current momentum, how much would that be in a year? And he was just a high school student.

    Tang Yahui dared not continue thinking about it any more.

    She knew Qinghe Herbal Tea was very popular and profitable, but she had not expected it to this extent!

    While Tang Yahui was still dumbfounded, a woman dressed in a purple windbreaker, with a well-proportioned and plump figure, very fair skin, and short hair cut to her ears, showing a beautiful face, appeared before Tang Yahui. She waved her hand in front of her eyes and said, "Hey, Manager Tang, what are you daydreaming about? You''re not lovesick, are you?"

    If Ge Dongxu were here, he would definitely recognize this beautiful woman; she was the one he encountered on Baiyun Mountain who had been bitten on the buttocks by a viper and whom he had seen and kissed there.

    "Look at you, Professor Wu, even saying such a word like ''lovesick'', aren''t you afraid of ruining your elegant and beautiful image in front of your students overnight?" Tang Yahui suddenly snapped out of her daze, saw it was her close friend Wu Yili, and could not help but tease her with a smile while pointing at her.

    "Rest assured, my image in the students'' minds is not so easily tarnished by others. Tell me, what were you really daydreaming about just now, or did you find your true love?" Wu Yili smoothed her hair and asked.

    "True love, what true love? At this age, the good ones have all been picked over, and I''m not interested in the leftovers. Looks like I''m destined to be alone for life. But what about you, Professor Wu? I''ve heard pursuers from students to professors have lined up all the way from the gates of Jiangnan University to your office door. How about it, seen anyone you like? You should pick someone while you''re still young, don''t end up like me, old and only able to pick from others'' leftovers, no fun at all, might as well stay like this," Tang Yahui said with a roll of her eyes to Wu Yili while pouring her a cup of tea.

    "Even with a myriad of suitors, I would only take one sip from the ladle. Fate will come if it''s meant to be, and we shouldn''t force it if it''s not. What''s the use of having so many pursuers? Weren''t there plenty of people pursuing you back in school? What about you?" Wu Yili laughed as she sat down on the sofa, a young boy''s face with still a hint of childishness came to her mind unintentionally.

    That boy was the man she had had the most intimate contact with in her life, having seen and kissed one of the most important parts of a woman. Those dark, pure, innocent eyes sometimes still appeared in her dreams. It''s a pity he was just a boy!

    ps: Calling for your support with your votes, thank you very much.

    ```

 Chapter 209 President Li [3rd update, asking for monthly votes]

    "Speaking so poetically, did I remember wrong? You''re not a professor of environmental chemistry but a literary professor? Oh, why has your face suddenly turned red? You haven''t found ''that one ladle'' already, have you?" Tang Yahui teased Wu Yili, suddenly noticing that her fair face had flushed unexpectedly. Her gaze was clearly distracted, and she couldn''t help expressing her astonishment as if she had discovered a new continent."Enough, enough, stop talking nonsense! Let''s talk business. An elder is celebrating their birthday, and I need to buy a piece of jade. Help me choose one," Tang Yahui''s voice suddenly woke Wu Yili, who quickly tapped her lightly and said.

    "No, your face is even redder now. You definitely have something going on. Don''t worry, I''m older than you and prioritize friendship over love, so I definitely won''t compete with you. Come on, tell me, which high-ranking official''s son or academic powerhouse has managed to capture our beautiful professor''s heart?" Tang Yahui saw Wu Yili''s face grow even more brilliantly red, and her gossiping nature flared up uncontrollably.

    "Hey, Tang Yahui, if you keep joking around, I''m really going to buy jade from someone else," Wu Yili said in exasperation when Tang Yahui pressed on with her questions.

    She couldn''t possibly tell Tang Yahui that she, a dignified university professor, had just thought of a teenage boy!

    "Ah, what a false alarm. Alright then, can we please talk business?" Seeing Wu Yili almost furious from embarrassment, Tang Yahui sighed in disappointment and said.

    As her best friend, she still hoped that Wu Yili would find her other half sooner rather than later, to avoid dragging it out to her thirties like she had, wastefully letting her best years slip away, making it harder to find someone now.

    It wasn''t that she wasn''t a catch, but finding an outstanding man of a similar age was challenging because such men typically didn''t wait until this age; they were generally picked early and settled down with families.

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    Ge Dongxu naturally did not know that Tang Yahui and the Wu Yili he had met on Baiyun Mountain were good friends. He had already returned to Yadu Garden and was then dragged out shopping by Liu Jiayao.

    Liu Jiayao was a natural clothes horse; she looked good in anything, so soon Ge Dongxu''s hands were filled with bags, while Liu Jiayao blissfully held his arm.

    This scene made the men in the mall look on with envy, jealousy, and resentment! They couldn''t fathom how a woman like Liu Jiayao, who had the figure, the presence, and the looks, could fall for a plainly dressed young man like Ge Dongxu.

    Whenever they were shopping for clothes, each time Ge Dongxu attempted to pay, Liu Jiayao would shoot him a look and stop him from doing so.

    During these moments, salespeople tended to give Ge Dongxu strange glances.

    This left Ge Dongxu both amused and frustrated, and he really wanted to tell Liu Jiayao and the salespeople that he truly was rich, that he was genuinely wealthy! There were at least several million lying in his account.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu wouldn''t do that. Seeing that Liu Jiayao wouldn''t let him pay, he let it be, thinking to himself that her care was quite nice, and maybe one day he would give her a big surprise.

    Following tradition, after Liu Jiayao had finished buying clothes for herself, she would definitely continue to shop for clothes for him. This time was no exception.

    After visiting the department store, Liu Jiayao pulled Ge Dongxu to Yanming Road.

    "I recently discovered a boutique on Yanming Road that I think would really suit you," Liu Jiayao said once they arrived at Yanming Road.

    Thereafter, Liu Jiayao took Ge Dongxu to the Donglin Yue exclusive store.

    Seeing the name Donglin Yue, Ge Dongxu could only laugh and cry but still had to patiently try on several suits at Liu Jiayao''s insistence. He ended up taking two suits back with him.

    "I''m tired and hungry, let''s go to the revolving restaurant at Mingyue Lake." Having placed each bag back in the trunk of the car, Liu Jiayao said with satisfaction.

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    On a cold winter day, sitting in a warm revolving restaurant surrounded by large floor-to-ceiling windows and viewing the myriad lights by the lakeside was quite another level of enjoyment.

    "Oh, what a coincidence! President Liu, you are here too!" While Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao were dining, four people, two men and two women, approached them.

    The two men, both around thirty, were dressed in foreign designer clothes and wore wristwatches. One of them was about six feet tall, with handsome and striking features, dressed head to toe in designer brands, truly the prince charming every woman dreams of. The other man was slightly less striking in build and features but had an artistic flair to his outfit, exuding a different kind of masculine charm.

    The speaker was the tall, handsome man.

    The two women were both very beautiful and sexy. One of them wore a tight skirt and stockings despite the winter cold, her slender waist and curvy hips sketching out breathtaking curves that were particularly sexy and explosive. The other woman wore a Korean-style casual trench coat and had long black hair, giving her a more demure and sweet look.

    "Oh, it''s President Li!" Liu Jiayao stood up and greeted the handsome man lightly, then turned to the artistic man with a slight smile. "Director Wu is here too!"

    Director Wu, the director of the Provincial Entertainment Channel, was fully named Wu Longcai. His name, which carried a heavy scent of money, matched his official title quite comically, and it was often the butt of jokes among people.

    "Yes, it''s rare for President Li to treat us, so he brought two newcomers out for a big meal. Unexpectedly, President Li is such a miser, inviting us to a buffet," joked Wu Longcai, referred to as Director Wu.

    "Wu Longcai! This is the buffet at Mingyue Lake, you know!" President Li laughed and pointed at Wu Longcai as he spoke.

    "President Liu, hello!" While the two men joked, the two women behind them smiled sweetly at Liu Jiayao, their expressions a mix of flattery and admiration, clearly recognizing Liu Jiayao, the beautiful president.

    "Hello!" Liu Jiayao smiled back at them.

    "President Liu, this young man looks unfamiliar. I know President Liu is a philanthropist who has sponsored many poor students. Could this young man be one of them, now that he''s made it to the provincial capital?" While it was just a casual meeting during a meal among acquaintances, President Li scrutinized Ge Dongxu with a puzzled look that concealed a hint of disdain and then asked.

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu noticed that the conservatively dressed, pretty woman looked at him with a trace of disdain and scorn. In contrast, the woman wearing somewhat revealing clothes looked at him with a hint of encouragement and even nodded and smiled faintly, acknowledging him.

    "President Li, you are thinking too much," Liu Jiayao responded indifferently, clearly not eager to entangle too much with the current President Li.

    "Is that so? Actually, I really admire President Liu! I would also like to join hands with President Liu in doing some charitable work. I wonder if President Liu would give me the opportunity?" President Li glanced at Ge Dongxu with a hint of doubt, though the contempt remained evident.

    "That would be great news! If you two cosmetic giants of Jiangnan Province join hands in charitable work, that would definitely make sensational news. Our TV station will certainly cover it well," Director Wu immediately chimed in with a laugh.

 Chapter 210 Jealous? [4th update, asking for monthly votes]

    "If it really comes to that, Director Wu, you must plan this well for us," Mr. Li said."Of course," Director Wu replied with a smile.

    "Thank you, Director Wu. However, when it comes to charity, I still prefer to keep a low profile. You just focus on planning well for Mr. Li," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Sister Liu, that mindset isn''t right. It''s not about being high-profile or low-profile; it''s that an individual''s power is ultimately limited. Through Director Wu''s planning and strong promotion, we aim to draw more people''s attention and importance to charitable causes, thus attracting more people to participate," Mr. Li said earnestly.

    Mr. Li has a good heart indeed. Society lacks entrepreneurs like him," said the woman, who looked innocent and sweet, her eyes openly admiring as she looked at Mr. Li and spoke in a tender voice.

    "I do agree with Mr. Li on this, but it''s just my nature; I apologize," Liu Jiayao''s expression grew serious upon hearing this, and her gaze towards Mr. Li changed slightly.

    "Well, that''s true, personalities are hard to define clearly. However, I really admire you, Sister Liu. Let''s find a time to have tea together, talk about charity, and discuss cooperation on cosmetics," Mr. Li said.

    "Yes, if Mr. Li and Sister Liu get together, there will definitely be a lot of common topics. How about this young man, let''s give Mr. Li and Sister Liu a chance today? You come with me; I have two beauties with me," Director Wu, obviously a very shrewd person, knew of Mr. Li''s interest in Sister Liu and jokingly proposed.

    "Director Wu, there''s a hint of making up in quantity what you lack in quality with those words. Be careful, those beauties might not pay attention to their leader in the future," Mr. Li laughed.

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    "How could that be? We can''t compare with Sister Liu. Sister Liu is beautiful, has a great temperament, and is also a company president," spoke the sweet-looking woman again. Her voice was pleasant and flattering, comforting to hear, yet her eyes briefly flashed with envy and disappointment.

    The woman dressed in a revealing, fiery manner seemed somewhat silent, not as wild as she appeared.

    "Qianqian is being modest, but I really would like to find an opportunity to talk to Sister Liu. They say there''s no time like the present, I wonder if this young man could give me that opportunity?" Mr. Li said with a smile.

    It must be said that Mr. Li''s actions and demeanor were very appropriate. Moreover, being handsome and tall, it was very difficult for anyone to feel rejection or disgust towards him.

    At least women definitely found it difficult to refuse or feel aversion towards such a man.

    "I''m sorry, but Sister Liu and I happen to have matters to discuss. Why don''t you schedule another time with her?" Ge Dongxu found it hard to feel any goodwill towards Mr. Li, especially seeing the ulterior motives towards Liu Jiayao hidden under his hypocritical smile. Ge Dongxu didn''t wait for Liu Jiayao to speak and took the initiative.

    Liu Jiayao was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, then her beautiful eyebrows bent down, and her lips curled into a happy smile.

    Mr. Li hadn''t taken Ge Dongxu seriously, thinking he wouldn''t dare to interrupt. However, he unexpectedly helped Liu Jiayao decline, repeatedly calling her "Sister Liu," which annoyed Mr. Li.

    But being a cunning man, he didn''t show it, instead, he gave Ge Dongxu a fierce warning look behind Liu Jiayao''s back, then quickly returned to smiling at her.

    Clearly, he didn''t think Ge Dongxu had the authority to decide this matter! Everything still depended on Liu Jiayao.

    Indeed, neither in attire nor age did Ge Dongxu seem qualified to make decisions for Liu Jiayao.

    Although Liu Jiayao did not see the fierce glare Mr. Li secretly gave Ge Dongxu, Mr. Li''s arrogant demeanor, which completely disrespected and disregarded Ge Dongxu, still greatly annoyed Liu Jiayao.

    However, since Mr. Li hadn''t been rude, she couldn''t justly show her displeasure visibly; she only frowned slightly and said indifferently, "I apologize Mr. Li, but as you see, Dongxu and I rarely get to share a meal together. If you really have something you wish to discuss, please visit our company another day."

    Upon hearing this, a glint of sinister intent flashed in Mr. Li''s eyes, but his face bore a genteel smile as he replied, "Very well, I''ll visit another time then and won''t disturb you two any further."

    After he spoke, Mr. Li cast a sharp glance at Ge Dongxu without a word.

    Seeing Liu Jiayao''s clear disapproval of his suggestion, Wu Longcai felt somewhat embarrassed. He chuckled and greeted Liu Jiayao, then nodded at Ge Dongxu before following Mr. Li and the others to his reserved spot.

    However, as he nodded at Ge Dongxu, confusion flicked through Wu Longcai''s eyes; he just couldn''t see anything special about Ge Dongxu. He was also sure that Ge Dongxu was definitely not one of the wealthy or official second generations from the Provincial Capital''s upper class.

    Being a part of that circle himself, and working at a television station with extensive social connections, there were hardly any people in the Provincial Capital''s elite circles that Wu Longcai did not know.

    "Director Wu, you have a wide network. Have you ever seen that young man before?" Once they found their seats, Mr. Li inquired.

    "He seems unfamiliar. Since he''s not one of the students previously sponsored by Liu Jiayao and he calls her sister, nine out of ten, he must be a relative from her hometown, or someone from the same village. I heard that Liu Jiayao''s father came from an impoverished mountain area. These days, no one pays attention to poor relatives and they hardly ever visit, but rich relatives, no matter how far away, always have people thinking of and visiting them," Wu Longcai pondered and responded.

    "I think so too, absolutely no tact. Mr. Li was talking to Ms. Liu, and he had no business butting in," remarked Qianqian, who appeared pure and sweet, her face showing disdain.

    "After all, he hasn''t seen much of the world! It''s understandable. Alright, let''s grab some food," Mr. Li dismissively sneered and then stared at Qianqian''s chest with a smile.

    Qianqian, albeit dressed conservatively and looking pure and sweet, did have a rather prominent chest.

    When Qianqian noticed Mr. Li staring at her chest, a gleam of secret delight flashed in her eyes, but she modestly pulled her clothes a bit closer together.

    She was smart, aware that for a man like Mr. Li, surrounded by women, throwing herself at him would certainly not make him value her. Rather, acting demure might pique his interest more.

    Indeed, when Qianqian slightly adjusted her clothes, Mr. Li''s smiling gaze turned intensely warm. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ...

    "Sister Liu, that Mr. Li from earlier, he''s not a good man, don''t be fooled by his facade or his so-called philanthropy. Keep your distance from him in the future," Ge Dongxu sternly advised after Mr. Li and others had left.

    "Hehe, what''s the matter, are you jealous? Worried about someone stealing your sister? Seeing how eager you were to answer just now, were you afraid I''d agree to it on the spot?" Liu Jiayao, looking at the stern-faced Ge Dongxu, laughed, her eyes curving into crescents.

    ps: The fifth update is not yet complete; I''m still working on it, and it might be quite late, so dear readers, please wait and read it tomorrow during the day. I continue to ask for your monthly votes, thank you.

 Chapter 211 Do I Have Pride? [5th Update]

    "That Mr. Li is really not a good person!" Ge Dongxu, watching Liu Jiayao gleaming with happiness, said with a mix of laughter and tears.Women''s points of interest always differ from men''s, and strong women like Liu Jiayao are no exception. However, seeing her so proud and happy, Ge Dongxu felt a surge of joy in his heart.

    Although he was still somewhat naive about matters of love, at least he understood a bit now.

    "Why can''t you just admit you were jealous?" Liu Jiayao pouted unhappily.

    "Fine, fine, I was jealous! Just keep your distance from that Mr. Li," Ge Dongxu said helplessly.

    "Hehe, I knew you were jealous! This is your reward!" Liu Jiayao happily forked a strawberry into Ge Dongxu''s mouth.

    Fortunately, Mr. Li''s table was quite far from theirs; otherwise, if they saw Liu Jiayao feeding Ge Dongxu a strawberry, they would have probably been utterly shocked.

    The strawberry was a bit sour, but seeing Liu Jiayao''s happy face upon hearing that he was jealous, Ge Dongxu felt a sweetness that reached deep into his heart.

    "Don''t worry, silly! Even if that Li Bisheng looks a hundred times more handsome to others, in my heart, you''re always the most handsome, incomparable to anyone else!" After feeding Ge Dongxu a strawberry, Liu Jiayao suddenly put away her smile, reached across the table to grab his hand, gazed at him deeply with love in her eyes, and whispered.

    Ge Dongxu''s heart trembled suddenly, and for some reason, he felt an indescribable sense of guilt.

    In Liu Jiayao''s eyes, he was the most handsome and incomparable. But what about in his heart? Was she the only one there?

    Ge Dongxu couldn''t answer that question.

    "Sis! I really don''t deserve..." Ge Dongxu grasped Liu Jiayao''s hand back.

    "You don''t need to say anything, I understand. You were only sixteen when we met, so what did you know then? Your exciting world was just beginning, you still have many people to meet, many choices to make¡ªdon''t feel pressured, burdened, or guilty because of me. It wouldn''t be fair to you. Didn''t you say we were close, right? Very close! No matter what the future holds, as long as you still feel we''re close, that''s enough for me!" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s conflicted and guilty look, Liu Jiayao''s heart trembled fiercely, but she grasped his hand even tighter, interrupting him before he could continue.

    She knew very well, it was her insistence that Ge Dongxu treat her ailment, her insistence on presenting herself physically to him when he was merely sixteen. She had imprinted herself deeply in his mind before he had a mature and correct understanding of gender matters. But she couldn''t, because of this, deprive Ge Dongxu of his future choices in love.

    "I will always feel that way," Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao interlaced their fingers, he looked at her, his gaze firm.

    No matter what the future holds, he knew, Liu Jiayao would always be a dearly close woman in his life.

    "That''s good then! Why worry about what ifs? Let things be as they are. For a man as outstanding as you, if there aren''t a few exceptional girls around you, I''d be embarrassed for you," Liu Jiayao''s heart trembled again at his words, then she burst into a joyful laugh.

    "By the way, what does that Li Bisheng do?" Ge Dongxu didn''t catch on but instead asked about Li Bisheng.

    "Still jealous of him? Didn''t I tell you, you''re the handsomest in someone''s eyes, what''s there to worry about?" Liu Jiayao said with a smile and rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu, but she then explained, "Heard of Li Fang Cosmetics? He''s the CEO of Li Fang Cosmetics. Qinglan Cosmetics caters to the low-end market, while Li Fang targets the mid-range market; as for the high-end market, it''s basically monopolized by foreign brands. Li Bisheng is a very capable person. He started from scratch; when I first took over Qinglan Cosmetics, Li Fang Cosmetics had just begun to emerge for a year or two, but now their sales may not outdo Qinglan yet, but their profits have definitely surpassed us."

    "He really is a capable person." Ge Dongxu thought about how this guy had faced Liu Jiayao with one demeanor and secretly showed another to him, and couldn''t help nodding in agreement.

    "Don''t worry, you still can''t compare to you," Liu Jiayao thought Ge Dongxu was feeling a bit jealous again and rolled her eyes at him once more.

    "Of course!" Ge Dongxu said boldly as he nodded his head.

    To him, owning a cosmetics company from scratch was nothing. He, Ge Dongxu, had also started from scratch and now had four companies including Yaxu Printing and Packaging, while still only a high school student, not to mention that he was secretly a cultivator.

    "Giggle, so proud, this isn''t like you, you must be jealous!" Liu Jiayao pointed at Ge Dongxu''s unabashed demeanor and burst into laughter again. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Am I proud? It''s a fact!" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Yes, yes, it''s a fact, you are impressive!" Liu Jiayao rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu and then pursed her lips, giggling softly.

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    After dinner, the two sat idle in the revolving restaurant for a while before they stood up to go home.

    ...

    "Please have a seat, President Li." On Monday morning, in the office of the chairman of Qinglan Cosmetics Company, Liu Jiayao smiled as she greeted Li Bisheng, although a flash of surprise darted through her beautiful eyes.

    Liu Jiayao had not expected Li Bisheng to actually come to visit her.

    "I apologize for the sudden meeting, President Liu, you don''t mind, do you?" Li Bisheng said with a smile he believed could charm any woman.

    "Hehe, the presence of President Li graces us, why would I mind?" Liu Jiayao said with a polite smile.

    "Haha, what great presence, what grace, I don''t deserve such words from you, President Liu. It should be said, it''s my honor that you, a great beauty, agreed to see me," Li Bisheng said, his eyes subtly sweeping over the prominent curves under Liu Jiayao''s office lady uniform.

    "President Li, you''re a busy man, you surely didn''t come just to chat with me, right?" Liu Jiayao laughed, then her expression became serious.

    "If President Liu, a great beauty, is willing to chat with me, I''d certainly be over the moon," Li Bisheng laughed.

    "Then, President Li, I''m afraid you''ll be disappointed, I have a company meeting soon," Liu Jiayao''s expression turned cold, and a hint of displeasure flickered in her eyes.

    Because Li Bisheng''s words had just been slightly provocative.

    "That''s really too bad. Then let''s get to the point," Seeing Liu Jiayao''s expression turn cold and spotting a flash of disappointment and annoyance in her eyes, Li Bisheng showed a hint of regret and said.

    "Go ahead," Liu Jiayao said indifferently.

    "I came here to discuss a cooperation with you, President Liu. This is something I''ve been thinking about recently. The night before last at Mingyue Lake Revolving Restaurant when I unexpectedly met you, it strengthened this idea in my mind, so I decided to pay a visit today. Your Qinglan Cosmetics targets the low-end market, my Li Fang Cosmetics targets the mid-end market. If our two companies join forces and complement each other, sharing sales channels, we will inevitably take over half the realms of the mid to low-end market in the near future. Once we accumulate enough strength, invest more in R&D and advertising, breaking into the high-end market and disrupting the foreign brands'' monopoly might not be impossible," Li Bisheng said seriously.

 Chapter 212 Refusal [Additional Chapter for Alliance Hierarch Red Dusts Bonds]

    Liu Jiayao watched Li Bisheng speak eloquently, painting a beautiful picture of the future, and she couldn''t help but be moved.Qinglan Cosmetics was constrained by its initial brand positioning and had always hovered in the low-end market. Sales were there, but profits had always been relatively low. Liu Jiayao had always wanted to lead Qinglan Cosmetics into the mid-end market, but was limited by sales channels, as well as the initial positioning image that had already formed in consumers'' minds. Of course, a critical issue was also financial strength¡ªLiu Jiayao''s idea had not been realized because of these constraints.

    If she really were to cooperate with Li Bisheng, joining forces with Li Fang Cosmetics'' sales channel platform, and leveraging the financial and research strengths of both companies, it was very possible for Qinglan Cosmetics to successfully break into the mid-end market.

    As for the high-end market, Liu Jiayao wasn''t considering it for the time being. The difficulty was still too great for domestic cosmetics brands at present.

    This was certainly related to some of the countrymen''s preference for foreign goods, but there were indeed factors such as quality involved as well.

    However, the moment she remembered Ge Dongxu saying that Li Bisheng was not a good man, and that if she really cooperated with him, Ge Dongxu would definitely not be happy, the temptation Liu Jiayao felt in her heart quickly dissipated.

    "Mr. Li, I am not considering a partnership for the time being," Liu Jiayao said.

    Li Bisheng, who had seen an obvious look of interest on Liu Jiayao''s face, was slightly surprised when she suddenly spoke words of rejection but quickly and presumptuously realized that this was Liu Jiayao''s negotiation tactic.

    "Ms. Liu, why do you have to answer so bluntly? You know well that a union would definitely be beneficial for both sides. If you''re worried about the issue of controlling stakes, we can sit down and have a proper discussion," Li Bisheng said.

    Li Bisheng''s words reminded Liu Jiayao of another matter. She asked, "Can you let me have absolute control?"

    "Ms. Liu, you''re making too big a joke. Li Fang Cosmetics Company is already a bit stronger than your Qinglan, and I am the sole shareholder of Li Fang. As far as I know, you own roughly 38% of Qinglan Cosmetics Company. It would be impossible for you to have absolute control after a merger of the two companies, no matter how the equity is negotiated or converted," Li Bisheng replied with a slight shock and then smiled bitterly.

    "Then there''s no way to talk. Qinglan Cosmetics embodies my parents'' hard work; I cannot hand it over to someone else to manage and operate, to let others decide its fate," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Ms. Liu, what do you think of me as a person?" Li Bisheng saw that Liu Jiayao disagreed and frowned slightly, then seemed to suddenly think of something, his gaze burning as he looked at Liu Jiayao and asked.

    "What do you mean by that?" Liu Jiayao''s eyebrows furrowed at once, a flash of disgust in her beautiful eyes.

    She disliked Li Bisheng staring at her with such a burning gaze.

    "To tell you the truth, I''ve always admired you. Since both of us are single, maybe we could try dating, have a romance. That way, our two families would be one, and there would be no issue with someone else managing..." Li Bisheng didn''t notice the flash of disgust in Liu Jiayao''s beautiful eyes. He continued to stare at her with a burning and affectionate gaze, speaking slowly with a very magnetic voice.

    Li Bisheng had always had great confidence in his own charm.

    He believed that expressing his admiration to a woman with his charm value, even if he couldn''t succeed, would definitely not provoke her disgust. Instead, even if she rejected him, it would fulfill her vanity to a certain degree, making her develop a subtle fondness and trust in him.

    "Thank you for your admiration, but you may leave now!" However, this time Li Bisheng miscalculated. Liu Jiayao did not give him a chance to finish speaking. She stood up, her pretty face cold as frost, pointing to the door and speaking coldly. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire

    "Jiayao, listen to me, I really am¡­" Li Bisheng hesitated slightly as he stood up, still somewhat unwilling to admit defeat as he spoke.

    "Get out! And from now on please call me President Liu, I''m not that close with you!" Liu Jiayao cut him off once more, her tone cold and unforgiving.

    "Alright then, regarding the matter of our cooperation, take some time to think it over. I believe you are a smart person and will change your mind." Observing Liu Jiayao''s icy demeanor, Li Bisheng finally accepted the reality of his defeat. However, he didn''t lose his temper; instead, he elegantly bid her goodbye and then left Liu Jiayao''s office.

    Even as he moved through the Qinglan Company building, a charming smile remained on his face, causing a number of female employees to gaze at him with dreamy expressions.

    It wasn''t until he sat down in his Toyota sedan that Li Bisheng''s handsome face twisted into a sinister sneer, almost verging on the ferocious. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Damn it, you wretched bitch, seeing me is an honor! And yet you dare to scorn me! Alright, since you want to play it that way, just wait and see how I deal with you. One day, you will be kneeling between my legs!" Li Bisheng laughed malevolently, then started the car.

    As he drove out of the gate, he saw a middle-aged man who was balding, sporting a beer belly, and muttering curses.

    Li Bisheng felt a surge of inspiration, stopped the car beside the man, rolled down the window, and greeted him, "Manager Zhang, long time no see!"

    This Manager Zhang was none other than Zhang Huowang, the former purchasing manager of Qinglan Cosmetics Company.

    Because he had made excessive demands during a trademark purchasing negotiation with Cheng Yazhou, and had the misfortune of encountering both Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao, he was stripped of his managerial position by Liu Jiayao. He was allowed to remain in the purchasing department as an ordinary staff member only because a deputy director who was his relative pleaded on his behalf, combined with his long service to the company.

    "Ah, if it isn''t President Li. What Manager Zhang? You know very well that I was dismissed from that position. I even applied for a job at your company recently," said Zhang Huowang, hurriedly greeting him as he turned his head and saw it was Li Bisheng, the boss of Li Fang Cosmetics.

    Unwilling to settle for his demotion from the position of purchasing manager, Zhang Huowang noticed that the purchasing manager at Li Fang Cosmetics happened to be in trouble, leaving the position vacant.

    Since both Qinglan and Li Fang were cosmetics companies and both located in the Provincial Capital, Zhang Huowang was acquainted with the manager and had taken the initiative to apply for the job when he learned of the incident.

    Being an important division in the company, the purchasing department required its manager to be a mid-level executive. Naturally, Li Bisheng, as the president, conducted the interview himself. At the time, Li Bisheng did not like him and chose not to hire him. So Zhang Huowang had no choice but to continue at Qinglan Cosmetics.

    "I actually forgot about that. Come on, get in the car, let''s find a place to talk. We at Li Fang are still very interested in a talent like Manager Zhang," said Li Bisheng with a smile.

    Zhang Huowang looked skeptically at Li Bisheng, but soon cracked a smile and scurried to open the passenger door and got in.

    No matter what Li Bisheng''s reasons were for inviting him into the car, this was certainly an opportunity for him, Zhang Huowang.

    PS: Thanks to the book friend ºì³¾¤¤î¿°í for the reward, becoming the second Alliance Hierarch of this book on QQ Reading, celebrating with an extra chapter. Also, thank you to the other book friends for their rewards.

 Chapter 213 213 [First update, asking for monthly votes]

    The car carried Zhang Huowang to a coffee shop in the city center.The two entered the coffee shop together, but they did not leave at the same time. Li Bisheng left first. Zhang Huowang was still sitting by the window, his pudgy face changing from sunny to cloudy intermittently, his eyes looking out the window, but without focus.

    After a while, Zhang Huowang''s chubby face gradually darkened, and his gaze towards the window became increasingly fierce.

    His expression appeared sinister and frightening, startling the servers passing by him so much that they dared not give him another glance.

    "Damn it, Liu Jiayao, you dismissed me from my position for that pretty boy; if you are unkind, you cannot blame me for being unrighteous!" After a while, Zhang Huowang''s face twisted into a vicious smile, he muttered through clenched teeth, and then abruptly stood up and left the coffee shop.

    Liu Jiayao was unaware of Zhang Huowang and Li Bisheng''s meeting, and so was Ge Dongxu even more so.

    Since returning from the weekend, aside from continuing with his studies and cultivation, in the last couple of days, he had started to be busy with crafting Jade Talismans again.

    This time, the Spirit Gathering Formation he was engraving was called the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation, which is a level higher than the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation.

    Seven Stars refers to the Big Dipper that we are familiar with¡ªTian Shu, Tian Xuan, Tian Ji, Tian Quan, Yu Heng, Kai Yang, and Yao Guang.

    Like the sun, the essence they radiate is extremely yang and forceful. However, due to the great distance from Earth, after traveling through vast space, by the time it reaches Earth, it becomes like the essence of the moon¡ªgentle in force and balanced in Yin and Yang, suitable for Cultivators to directly absorb into their bodies. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire

    But because they are so distant, even though their essence becomes mild, it is also extremely sparse. Only by using a Spirit Gathering Formation to gather it can it truly be absorbed and refined by Cultivators in large amounts.

    Holding the Ice Type Jadeite, Ge Dongxu closed his eyes to concentrate, his fingers lightly tracing on the jade, threads of True Qi entering from his fingertips into the jade, outlining ancient and mysterious lines imbued with the Laws of Heaven and Earth within it.

    Soon, Ge Dongxu''s forehead was covered with sweat, and before long, the Ice Type Jadeite began to crack, and in a blink of an eye turned into fragments smaller than rice grains.

    "Phew!" Ge Dongxu exhaled deeply, his face showing a frustrated and wry smile.

    He had thought that now, being at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, whether in terms of his control over True Qi or the thickness of his True Qi, he was much stronger than before and should be able to successfully engrave the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation. Ge Dongxu had not expected the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation to be so difficult to engrave, that it would start to collapse halfway through.

    "It seems with my current Realm, it is absolutely impossible to successfully craft the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation!" Ge Dongxu was sitting cross-legged in the cultivation room, at a complete loss. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Although the success rate of crafting the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman was very low in the past, it would only fail at the final juncture. But now, starting to collapse halfway indicates that with his current realm, it is impossible to craft the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation.

    Normally this would not be an issue, but the problem is that the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation was already operating at full capacity in absorbing Spirit Energy, which was no longer enough to satisfy his current realm.

    "Should I start concocting and refining pills prematurely to enhance my cultivation power through medicinal means?" Ge Dongxu pinched the bridge of his nose as he pondered with difficulty.

    Ge Hong is a legendary figure in Alchemy, and the legacy he passed down naturally includes the miraculous path of Alchemy.

    However, Elixirs are external forces. Currently, Ge Dongxu is still in the Qi Refinement, also known as the Foundation Establishment stage, which is about laying a solid foundation. The more solid the foundation, the higher the accomplishments in the future. If he relies on Elixirs too early, while they can rapidly enhance his Cultivation Power, it would be akin to forcing the shoots to grow faster; in the later stages, he would encounter obstacles due to an unstable foundation.

    If Ge Dongxu did not know about the Spirit Gathering Array, or if he were not some cultivation prodigy, then let it be. After all, with limited future cultivation, it would naturally be a good thing to quickly improve one''s cultivation. But now, having nearly advanced one realm in less than a year, and even having hopes of reaching the legendary Dragon Tiger Realm, Ge Dongxu naturally set higher standards for himself and was unwilling to use elixirs prematurely. He had decided that if he were to take them, it would only be after reaching the Eighth Layer Realm.

    The kidneys store the Innate Essence and are the foundation of the Innate. Upon cultivating to the Eighth Layer, True Qi enters the kidneys, forming an endless and nourishing air cyclone, gradually transitioning from Acquired to Innate, transcending the ordinary and achieving the foundation of cultivation.

    At this point, the cultivator is like a child that has grown up and is now capable of consuming nourishing substances.

    "The path of cultivation is inherently difficult. How can I allow myself to waver and seek shortcuts at the first sign of difficulty!" Soon, the hesitation in Ge Dongxu''s eyes gave way to determination, and he began to focus on solving the Spirit Gathering Array issue with all his mind and heart.

    But even after thinking for a long time, he still had no clue. After all, the gap between his current realm and the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation was vast, and he couldn''t simply overcome it through effort alone.

    Finally, with his head aching from all the thinking and still no solution in sight, Ge Dongxu left the training room and entered the study, aiming to switch his thoughts and give his mind a rest.

    Back in the study, Ge Dongxu picked up a chemistry textbook and began to read.

    By senior year, nearly all students bury themselves in piles of practice papers, waging a war against a sea of questions. But Ge Dongxu always opposed that approach.

    Aside from completing the papers given by his teachers, he never wasted a minute on other practice papers. Whenever he had time, he would choose to read textbooks and understand the fundamental principles; he even picked up college chemistry textbooks to read. He believed that as long as one thoroughly understood the content of the books and grasped the essentials of chemical changes, no matter how the exam questions varied, they would always remain derivative of the same core concepts.

    As he casually flipped through the table of contents, looking for anything that might still require his contemplation, Ge Dongxu''s gaze suddenly got caught on the section about solubility.

    Then he slapped his forehead hard, muttering to himself, "I''m really dumb. Since I thought of the spiritual energy gathered by the seven Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans reaching saturation like a solution''s concentration, why did I only think about buying better jade to carve higher-level Spirit Gathering Formations, rather than continuing to carve the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation on better jade? Factors affecting solubility include temperature, solute, solvent and so on. By switching to better jade, I naturally changed one of the conditions; therefore, surely the saturation level of the spiritual energy gathered by the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation would change too."

    After smacking his forehead, Ge Dongxu hurriedly took out a piece of Ice Type Jadeite to carve the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation.

    To his surprise, he managed to successfully carve the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation in one go.

    Looking at the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade in his hand, Ge Dongxu was momentarily stunned.

    In the past, he would have had to waste many pieces of jade before he could successfully carve a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation. He had not expected to succeed in one attempt today.

    However, Ge Dongxu soon came to terms with it¡ªhe was now at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation. Each layer''s breakthrough brought a surge in cultivation power, and the Ice Type Jadeite he was using now was a grade higher than ice glutinous jade, offering less interference as True Qi flowed through it. Moreover, over the years, he had persistently practiced carving the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation. With all these factors converging, it seemed not so strange that he succeeded in one attempt.

    After coming to terms with his success, Ge Dongxu immediately activated the formation and carefully felt the spiritual energy gathered by the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation, finding the effect indeed better than before.

    "Ha ha, just as I thought!" Seeing the results matched his expectations, Ge Dongxu could not help but laugh proudly, his self-confidence soaring within him.

    He believed that with Ge Hong''s legacy and modern scientific knowledge, even if nature''s spiritual energy was scarce, he could still reach the heights of his predecessors.

    Because while his predecessors might have had richer nature''s spiritual energy, they could not have possibly accessed modern scientific knowledge.

    PS: Continuing with five consecutive updates today, earnestly seeking monthly tickets and subscription support, thank you very much.

 Chapter 214 Problem Arises [Second Update]

    Soon, Ge Dongxu had consecutively inscribed ten Taiyin Spirit Gathering Jade Talismans, except for two that had issues, all others were successfully completed in one go.The "zi" hour soon arrived, and Ge Dongxu arranged the Jade Talismans one by one. When the number reached nine, the spiritual energy stopped changing.

    However, within the Formation, the rich and pure Taiyin essence was already making Ge Dongxu feel as comfortable as if he were bathing in the sunlight. His realm was still at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, and such a density of spiritual energy was already sufficient to meet his cultivation needs.

    An hour later, when the cultivation had ended, Ge Dongxu felt the True Qi surge within his body, filling him with strength.

    Because of this sensation, Ge Dongxu did not immediately go back to sleep, but instead took out a piece of jade and started to inscribe it with the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation.

    Although the final result was sure to be a failure, trying to inscribe the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation pushed him to his limits, not only helping to condense and refine his spiritual power and True Qi but also serving as advanced practice for the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation.

    After all, the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation was too low-level, and even if he continued to change the jade, it would likely be hard to support his cultivation at the next layer.

    After spoiling four pieces of jade, Ge Dongxu felt physically and mentally tired, so he stopped and stood up to go back to his room to rest.

    In the following days, Ge Dongxu''s cultivation resumed its regular pace, progressing each day, and sometimes at night when it was quiet, Ge Dongxu would also practice his Qinggong.

    Due to frequent practice, his body coordination and True Qi operation had become increasingly proficient, allowing him to "fly" thirteenth or fourteenth meters effortlessly, even more fluently and naturally than those depicted in movies.

    ...

    Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What exactly is going on?" In the conference room of Qinglan Cosmetics Company, Liu Jiayao''s pretty face was frosty as her severe gaze slowly swept over the two men and one woman standing before her.

    These two men and one woman were the managers of the production, procurement, and quality control departments of Qinglan Cosmetics Company, respectively.

    "We don''t know either." The three managers dared not meet Liu Jiayao''s eyes, only looking down at the Qinglan cosmetics laid out on the conference table, stammering with faces showing confusion.

    At this moment, these classic Qinglan cosmetics were emitting a faintly unpleasant odor, though they should have had a pleasant fragrance.

    "Don''t forget you are the managers of the production, procurement, and quality control departments! With the product quality in this kind of situation, someone must be responsible. Fortunately, it was discovered early; this batch has yet to hit the market. Otherwise, can you imagine what the outcome would be?" Liu Jiayao''s face turned ashen, as waves of fright washed over her from within.

    If such products were to reach the market, Liu Jiayao was absolutely certain that the Qinglan brand, painstakingly built by her parents, would be destroyed overnight.

    "Director Liu, please calm down. After this incident occurred, our production department immediately started a traceability investigation and did not find any signs of irregularities. And as you know, even if there is a problem, it''s unlikely to happen to several different types all at once," said the production department manager.

    "Are you implying that there were issues with the procurement and quality control departments?" Liu Jiayao asked.

    "That''s what I initially thought, but right after the problem occurred, I immediately reached out to Manager Yang and Manager Che. They promptly initiated an investigation and found that there were no issues with the raw materials," the production department manager said with a puzzled sigh.

    The Manager Che he mentioned was Che Yingying. After the kickback incident at Mingyue Lake''s revolving restaurant, Liu Jiayao, loving the house and its crow, focused on nurturing Che Yingying and soon found she indeed had some capabilities, which led to her recent promotion as the procurement department manager.

    "President Liu, the surplus of this batch of raw materials can be easily checked, and there really is no problem," Che Yingying replied confidently.

    "Perhaps it was just an accident! We must certainly investigate this, but now the key is to immediately allocate materials for production, otherwise we will run into supply issues." In the meeting room, a man about fifty years old said somberly, his face showing a trace of pain.

    Qinglan Cosmetics targets the low-end market and relies on volume to win, with very limited product profit margins. The scrapping of this batch would absolutely be a huge loss for them.

    "Uncle Hua''s right. You must hurry and proceed with the next batch of production, but this time you must be careful and thorough to avoid any mistakes whatsoever," Liu Jiayao understood that investigating was one thing and continuing production was another, she nodded upon hearing this and then spoke seriously.

    "Rest assured, President Liu, this time we will definitely be fully alert and ensure that no mistakes occur at any stage," all three managers solemnly replied and then left the meeting room.

    "Jiayao, I heard that Li Bisheng from Li Fang had approached you to discuss cooperating with our Qinglan Cosmetics, and you refused?" After the managers left, a lean man in his early fifties with slightly graying hair pushed up his glasses and asked Liu Jiayao.

    "Uncle Ren, how did you know that? Did Li Bisheng talk to you?" Liu Jiayao''s heart skipped a beat as she asked composedly.

    The matter had been discussed between her and Li Bisheng alone on the day, and Liu Jiayao had not mentioned it to anyone else afterwards.

    "Whether or not Li Bisheng talked to me is not important. What''s important is that with such a big matter, you should have consulted us. Although you are the majority shareholder, we, the minority shareholders, also have the right to know," the man known as Uncle Ren said, his expression slightly stern.

    Uncle Ren''s full name is Ren Chenle, and he''s one of the shareholders of Qinglan Cosmetics. Zhang Huowang''s relative that Che Yingying previously mentioned referred to him.

    "Old Ren, that''s enough. Qinglan Cosmetics has been built over the years with great effort from Brother Liu, his wife, and all of us. If we were to cooperate with Li Bisheng, he would definitely want to be the major shareholder, and personally, I don''t agree with handing over Qinglan to him to manage," the man earlier referred to by Liu Jiayao as Uncle Hua saw that Ren Chenle''s attitude was somewhat unfavorable and frowned slightly as he spoke.

    Seeing Uncle Hua speak up, Ren Chenle opened his mouth, but ultimately remained silent.

    Uncle Hua is the second largest shareholder of Qinglan Cosmetics. Together with Liu Jiayao, they owned sixty-three percent of the shares. He also disagreed, so it was meaningless for Ren Chenle to continue.

    The meeting ended quickly.

    "Uncle Hua, thank you," Liu Jiayao called out to Uncle Hua after the meeting.

    "There''s nothing to thank me for. I''ve dealt with Li Bisheng before. He seems gentle and refined on the surface, but he is very ambitious and not simple. If Qinglan were to merge with him, we might benefit in the short term, but eventually, he would devour us completely. Your choice was correct. In this way, although we can''t make a fortune, we are steadily progressing, and I''m very satisfied," Uncle Hua said.

    "Do you also think that Li Bisheng is not a good person?" Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but recall Ge Dongxu''s words when she heard this.

    "Heh, the business world is full of trickery, what''s there to talk about good or bad people? That the products had quality issues this time, I guess I''m thinking too much," Uncle Hua said. It seemed he suddenly remembered something, then laughed and shook his head as he walked out of the meeting room.

    Liu Jiayao watched Uncle Hua''s departing figure, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, feeling an inexplicable unease, yet unable to pinpoint the source.

    ps: Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets.

 Chapter 215 Gigantic Crisis [Third update, request for monthly pass]

    In the Procurement Department, Zhang Huowang looked at Che Yingying with a heavy heart, his eyes betraying a sense of schadenfreude and satisfaction, as he deliberately approached and asked, "Manager Che, I heard there was a big problem with the product this time. Didn''t President Liu scold you?"Che Yingying glanced at Zhang Huowang with his gloating expression, frowned, a flicker of annoyance crossing her eyes. However, she had no way to deal with him and hummed an acknowledgment before turning to another man in the office and saying, "Old Li, call President Wang and have him send over the raw materials today."

    "Yes, Manager," Old Li replied, then hurriedly picked up the phone to make the call.

    Zhang Huowang''s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and a sinister gleam flashed in his eyes.

    The next day, the Qinglan Cosmetics warehouse was bustling with activity as forklifts unloaded production materials from trucks and transported them to the storage area.

    "Everybody, be careful with that!" Zhang Huowang, the former head of the Procurement Department, had shed his previous air of dejection and complaints and was now briskly advising and checking inventory with vigor, prompting Che Yingying to involuntarily reveal a trace of doubt in her gaze.

    Could this man have changed his ways?

    Unnoticed by anyone, once all the raw materials were stored, Zhang Huowang had an extra small gourd bottle in his hand, with a yellowed piece of paper attached that bore strange characters.

    Gently peeling off the yellowed paper, Zhang Huowang suddenly felt a chill envelop his body, sending a shiver through him.

    Yet, the corners of his mouth curled up into a cold, cunning smile.

    The first time he did this, he was unaware of what Li Bisheng was up to, thinking it was just some superstitious nonsense. The second time, he realized that the little gourd bottle had profound effects.

    Thinking this, Zhang Huowang shuddered again and hastily threw the little gourd bottle away as though it were a poisonous snake.

    "Liu Jiayao, you wretch! You demoted me just for a pretty boy. I''ll make sure you lose everything!" After discarding the gourd bottle, Zhang Huowang returned to the Procurement Department, laughing smugly to himself.

    ...

    Time flew past New Year''s Day, and the year 1999 began, quickly proceeding to the coldest time of the lunar calendar, the Great Cold.

    The Great Cold is the last of the twenty-four solar terms in Huaxia Country, a time when the sun reaches 300 degrees of celestial longitude. It''s the coldest period of the lunar year, hence the name Great Cold, signifying that the weather has reached its extreme in coldness. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire

    On this day, sitting in the conference room, although the heating was fully on, Liu Jiayao''s heart felt as cold as the Great Cold weather outside.

    Ever since the first instance of product quality issues, after working overtime to expedite two more batches, the situation was identical to the first.

    There was no problem with the raw materials, no issue with quality control, and the production process was error-free as well.

    No one knew where the problem was.

    As the year drew to a close, it was the season for major malls to hold sales promotions, but Qinglan Cosmetics'' distributors around the country had begun to run out of stock one after the other. Not to mention promotions, even normal sales were problematic.

    Yet this wasn''t the main issue. The main concern was the consecutive appearances of product quality issues three times, with no identifiable cause, leading to significant losses not to mention, Qinglan Cosmetics Company didn''t dare resume production before the problem was found.

    But where was the issue? No one knew. Even the third time around, all shareholders, including CEO Liu Jiayao, personally oversaw the first production line.

    However, the third batch of products still had issues.

    That faintly present stench was nauseating at first whiff!

    "We can''t go on like this, our cash flow is now problematic. If the next batch fails again, what do we do? Li Fang''s Li Bisheng wants to partner with us, right? Let''s work with him. It''s the only way out for our Qinglan Cosmetics now," Ren Chenle broke the oppressive silence of the meeting room.

    "Perhaps this is indeed our only way out at the moment," most shareholders sighed upon hearing this and then nodded in agreement, except for Liu Jiayao and Uncle Hua.

    Even Uncle Hua showed a wavering expression at this time, but after looking at Liu Jiayao and seeing her stern face, he refrained from nodding.

    "Hmph, I said it earlier, when Li Bisheng came to discuss the partnership last time, Jiayao should have consulted us. We had the upper hand back then, and since he took the initiative, negotiations would have been very favorable for us. But now, after this incident, negotiations will definitely be at a disadvantage for us," seeing that everyone but Liu Jiayao and Uncle Hua agreed, a hint of smugness appeared on Ren Chenle''s gaunt face as he spoke with a tone of reproach and dissatisfaction.

    "I''d rather halt production to find the cause than agree to partner with Li Bisheng," Liu Jiayao''s gaze swept over the shareholders in the meeting room and finally rested on Uncle Hua''s face, speaking with firm conviction.

    Uncle Hua looked at Liu Jiayao, a bitter smile crossing his face, and hesitated for a long while before saying, "I support Jiayao''s decision."

    "Old Li, Jiayao is young and impulsive¡ªdon''t you think you should think twice about following her lead?" Ren Chenle furrowed his brows and spoke. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ren Chenle had never really respected the young woman Liu Jiayao for taking over her father''s business. Furthermore, after Liu Jiayao ruthlessly dismissed his cousin''s husband, Zhang Huowang, from his position last year, he felt that Liu Jiayao was deliberately trying to embarrass him, harboring resentment against her ever since.

    Originally, Liu Jiayao had absolute control of the stock, and overall, Qinglan Cosmetics thrived under her leadership, with most shareholders supporting her; thus, he dared not speak out. However, now that Qinglan Cosmetics faced an unprecedented crisis, Ren Chenle no longer suppressed his dissatisfaction and contempt and assumed the stance of an elder.

    "Vice President Ren, I respect you as an elder, thus I''ve always spoken to you courteously. But please mind your language!" Liu Jiayao''s pretty face turned cold when Ren Chenle publicly accused her of being young and impulsive, displaying the assertiveness and dominance befitting a chairman.

    "Am I wrong? The situation is clear. With cooperation, our Qinglan Cosmetics might still have a chance. But if we continue to be stubborn, Qinglan Cosmetics will ultimately be ruined by your hands," Ren Chenle adjusted his glasses and said coldly to Liu Jiayao.

    "Old Ren, let''s say less, we can discuss this matter further," Uncle Hua intervened to mediate as the atmosphere became tense.

    "Hmph!" Ren Chenle snorted coldly, about to add more, when a knock on the meeting room door was heard, and then the tall and handsome Li Bisheng walked in.

    "Sorry for the interruption, hope your meeting is going well," Li Bisheng said with a smile as he entered.

    "Who let you in? Get out!" Liu Jiayao didn''t know why, but now, seeing that smile on Li Bisheng''s face, she found it especially detestable. On his arrival, her pretty face suddenly turned as cold as frost.

 Chapter 216 Suspicion [Fourth Update]

    "Hehe, Director Liu, don''t be mad at this girl. It was I who asked her to let me in. Actually, I come with good intentions, so why must you keep me at such a distance?" Li Bisheng responded to Liu Jiayao''s icy demeanor without getting angry. Instead, he smiled warmly as he spoke up for the secretary who had let him in, then gently told her, "You can go out now; it''s all right."The female secretary, charmed by Li Bisheng''s handsome and enchanting smile along with his magnetic voice, was almost bewitched and actually did leave, leaving Liu Jiayao fuming with a face ashen with rage.

    "Haha, so it''s Director Li! What wind has blown you here? Please, have a seat, have a seat." What infuriated Liu Jiayao even more was that Ren Chenle ignored what she had just said and got up with a smile, eagerly inviting Li Bisheng to sit down.

    "Vice President Ren, this is an internal meeting of our company. Irrelevant persons should not participate!" Liu Jiayao said coldly.

    "How could Director Li be irrelevant?" Ren Chenle retorted unconcernedly.

    "Thank you, President Ren. My visit is indeed related to your Qinglan Cosmetics. I''ve heard that Qinglan Cosmetics''s products have had a series of quality issues and that your cash flow is about to break. Is that true?" Li Bisheng said with a smile.

    "This is our internal news, how do you know about it?" Liu Jiayao''s expression changed yet again as her gaze swept over the shareholders present, paused briefly on Ren Chenle''s face, and finally rested on Li Bisheng''s face.

    "Hehe, there''s no wall in the world that is completely airtight. Besides, we''re in the same industry. When Qinglan Cosmetics has continuous issues in production, even if I''m the last to know, I should have heard the rumors by now. Now seeing this situation, it seems to be true. How about it? Has Director Liu changed her mind?" Li Bisheng said with a smile, and even with his composure, a gleam of cunning success flickered in his eyes as he looked at Liu Jiayao.

    "Director Li just talked about cooperating with me, and soon after, our Qinglan Cosmetics faced issues. Does this have anything to do with you?" Sensing the cunning success in Li Bisheng''s eyes, Liu Jiayao''s heart stirred. She stared at Li Bisheng and asked coldly.

    Upon hearing this, Li Bisheng first appeared completely astonished, then immediately followed by a sense of wrongful indignation.

    "Director Liu, if you speak like this, I can sue you for defamation! The production department, materials, quality control¡ªall are under your supervision. Can you tell me how I could have possibly sabotaged them?" Li Bisheng asked with a dark expression. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Liu Jiayao, looking at Li Bisheng''s brooding face, became even more convinced it was him. But just as he said, she had no proof of his tampering, and to continue would only be to humiliate herself, giving off the impression of being unreasonable.

    "Fine, I misspoke! But, Director Li, I will not agree to cooperate with your Li Fang. Don''t bother wasting your efforts." Liu Jiayao quickly calmed down and addressed Li Bisheng.

    "They say women act on emotion, and it''s really true. Given Qinglan''s current situation, frankly, you should be the one coming to me. Now that I''ve taken the initiative to come here and you still turn me away, tsk tsk, well, I won''t force you. To all present, if you are willing to sell your shares and the price is right, I might consider it." Li Bisheng glanced at Liu Jiayao with a look that suggested she was being foolish and then spoke.

    "Even if they are willing to sell shares, I have the right of first refusal under the same conditions! So, Director Li, you might as well give up on that idea!" Liu Jiayao said coldly.

    "That would still require Director Liu to have enough money though!" Li Bisheng said lightly, then turned to Ren Chenle and the others, cupping his hands in greeting, "Sorry for the disturbance, everyone. I''ll treat you to tea another day."

    "Hehe, where is this coming from, Director Li? We should be the ones to treat you next time." Ren Chenle and most of the shareholders got up and returned Li Bisheng''s gesture. Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire

    Watching this scene, Liu Jiayao''s face looked extremely troubled.

    She was well aware of what this scene implied, and once these shareholders really decided to sell their shares, although she had the right of first refusal, she would still need the funds to do so.

    Qinglan Cosmetics was operating in the low-end market, and part of the profits each year had to continue being invested, leaving not much for each shareholder to receive. If Jiayao could purchase back all the other shareholders'' shares when the price was low, she might be able to afford it. However, if the price exceeded her expectations, she would likely need a loan.

    But under the current circumstances, it was uncertain whether a bank would be willing to give her a loan.

    The meeting ended in disharmony.

    "Uncle Hua, would you also sell your shares?" Jiayao called out to Li Hua. Li Hua had been her father''s best friend and best business partner, always acting together.

    "Uncle has gotten old," Li Hua said. However, seeing the words made Jiayao''s face turn pale, he felt pity and, with a deep sigh, added, "I''ll try my best. Unless it''s absolutely necessary, I will always support you."

    "Thank you, Uncle Hua." Jiayao tightly held Li Hua''s hand.

    "This is your parents'' hard work; I don''t wish to hand it over to someone else either," Li Hua sighed.

    Jiayao''s eyes teared up when she heard this.

    Her parents had been gone for six years already, but as long as Qinglan was still there, she felt as if her parents were still by her side. Managing Qinglan well was also a way for her to honor her parents'' memory, and she would never allow Qinglan to be handed over to someone else, especially to people like Li Bisheng.

    Her woman''s intuition told her that this time Qinglan''s issues were definitely related to Li Bisheng.

    ...

    "President Ren, the money should have been received by now, right?" In a coffee shop, Li Bisheng lounged with his legs crossed, holding a coffee cup in one hand, took a sip, and asked Ren Chenle with a smile.

    "President Li is a man of integrity, here is the information you requested," Ren Chenle pushed an envelope to Li Bisheng.

    Li Bisheng pulled out the documents from the envelope and reviewed them. It detailed Jiayao''s earnings over the years, the funds she currently had available, and the psychological price point for the transfer of the shares of various shareholders, among other data.

    "Why isn''t there anything about Li Hua?" Li Bisheng frowned slightly.

    Li Hua held twenty-five percent of Qinglan Cosmetics shares and Jiayao held thirty-eight percent. If Li Hua refused to give up his shares, even if Li Bisheng purchased all the other shareholders'' shares, he would still not be able to control Qinglan Cosmetics Company absolutely.

    "Li Hua had a very good relationship with Jiayao''s deceased parents. I approached him, but he''s not willing to ease up just yet. However, don''t worry, my daughter is currently dating his son. He might not listen to me, but his son does listen to my daughter and me. Moreover, while feelings may fade over time, the love for money only grows deeper, so President Li, as long as..." Ren Chenle said with a smile.

    ps: Please vote for the monthly ticket, thank you.

 Chapter 217 Forceful Acquisition [Fifth Update, Request for Monthly Pass]

    "President Ren, the way you handled this matter wasn''t very proper, but it''s fine, collaborating with someone like you is what makes it interesting. Today, I will have someone transfer another sum of money to you, as compensation for your future son-in-law''s losses," Li Bisheng''s eyebrows slightly furrowed again, a trace of cold annoyance flickering in the depths of his eyes, yet his face wore a slight smile."Then thank you, President Li. Now, I''ll take my leave," Ren Chenle stood up and said.

    "Take care, President Ren," Li Bisheng stood up, smiling as he shook his hand. When Ren Chenle turned around, Li Bisheng''s face immediately darkened.

    This time with the acquisition of Qinglan Cosmetics, he was determined to succeed. The situation had reached a point where, with just a little more effort, Qinglan Cosmetics would not be able to withstand the pressure, and Liu Jiayao would be no exception.

    Unfortunately, he had run out of Yin Demonic Corpse Qi, and moreover, he did not want a completely ruined Qinglan Cosmetics, so he had to seize the opportunity to acquire it quickly. Otherwise, once Liu Jiayao, despite opposition from the shareholders, dug into her own pockets and desperately funded the next batch of production, Qinglan Cosmetics might recover. If that happened, even though he could still successfully acquire it, the cost would undoubtedly be great.

    So he preferred to give Ren Chenle some extra benefits to expedite his acquisition plans through this insider.

    ...

    "Zhang Huowang! Do you even care about company discipline? Coming to work at noon?" Che Yingying, from the purchasing department, glared angrily at Zhang Huowang, who only arrived at work around noon, burping.

    "What are you pulling, Che Yingying? Just because Liu Jiayao has your back? Listen here! Soon, Qinglan Cosmetics won''t be named Liu anymore. Without Liu Jiayao, who are you, Che Yingying, to act high and mighty? Be nice to me now, make me comfortable, and maybe when I become the manager, I might still throw you a bone to chew on, otherwise, I will kick you out!" Zhang Huowang picked his teeth with a toothpick, his chin tilted up arrogantly.

    "Zhang Huowang, you... you..." Che Yingying, still young and a woman unaccustomed to dealing with such shamelessness, was so angry she was on the verge of tears.

    "Zhang Huowang, even if Qinglan Company is currently in a difficult situation and might possibly be acquired by Li Fang, Che Yingying is still the manager, and Director Liu has always been good to us. It''s too much for you to speak like this," the others in the purchasing department couldn''t help but criticize Zhang Huowang upon seeing this.

    "Pfft! Good to you, maybe. When has she ever been good to me?" Zhang Huowang spat the toothpick out of his mouth and said.

    "You''ve been taking kickbacks harshly, and Director Liu still keeps you around, and that''s not being good to you? What would be, then?" Che Yingying, seeing that Zhang Huowang kept referring to himself in such a manner and disrespected Liu Jiayao so greatly, couldn''t help but expose his misconduct publicly in her anger.

    "I don''t give a damn!" Zhang Huowang shamelessly declared.

    "You..." Che Yingying was so infuriated she trembled all over.

    "Forget it, Manager Che, there''s no point in talking to someone like him," the others tried to pacify her, looking at Zhang Huowang with disdain.

    "Hmph, don''t look at me like that. In a few days, you''ll all be begging me," Zhang Huowang scoffed.

    "What do you mean by that? Did you sabotage our recent batches of products?" Che Yingying, alarmed by his words and recalling Zhang Huowang''s unusual diligence in recent days, had her face change and pointed at Zhang Huowang.

    Deep down, Zhang Huowang was guilty and got a scare from Che Yingying''s accusation. However, he quickly remembered that this kind of thing didn''t have any evidence and also seemed peculiar. Unless experienced firsthand, even if told, no one would believe it. So why should he be afraid?

    So, Zhang Huowang immediately jumped up, pointing back at Che Yingying, "Are you sick? Isn''t it you who personally checks every time materials are delivered? How could I sabotage anything?"

    Caught off guard by the question, Che Yingying was rendered speechless, although she remained suspicious.

    After this incident in the purchasing department, the news that Li Fang Cosmetics Company was going to acquire Qinglan Cosmetics quickly spread throughout the entire company.

    Even Cheng Chenle and several shareholders had already offered a price, the news that Liu Jiayao had recently been running to various major banks trying to secure a loan, only to be rejected, was also well known.

    That day, the weather was clear, a rare warm day in winter.

    Che Yingying sat by the office window and saw a Toyota slowly drive into the company gate and then stop in front of the building. A tall and handsome man emerged, dressed in a black woolen coat, black trousers, and black leather shoes, exuding an air of elegance.

    The warm sensation from the sun streaming through the window instantly disappeared, and Che Yingying felt as if she had plunged into an ice cellar.

    Yesterday, she had heard that today was the final deadline for Liu Jiayao by the shareholders.

    After today, if Liu Jiayao still hadn''t exercised her preemptive rights, their shares would be transferred to Li Fang Company.

    That morning, Zhang Huowang had swaggered into her office to boast. He said that today a shareholders'' meeting was to be held, and after today, Qinglan Cosmetics would belong to the Li family, and her position as manager would also come to an end.

    Che Yingying had a good impression of Qinglan Company, and of Liu Jiayao who had recognized her abilities. She never wanted to believe this was true. Yet, seeing that Toyota today, the man who stepped out, and the shareholders who specially came out to greet him,

    Che Yingying knew that it all seemed to be true. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire

    Liu must be feeling terrible right now, right? S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Zhang Huowang''s smug expression and the confidence on his face, it seemed that once Li Bisheng achieved absolute control, her position as manager was indeed likely to be at its end.

    Thinking about this, Che Yingying felt increasingly cold, and her heart was also uncomfortably blocked.

    She had just married her boyfriend of two years at the beginning of the year. Since she had become a manager and her income was high, they had jointly mortgaged a large house; if she suddenly lost her job, the mortgage money would have nowhere to go.

    That''s not acceptable, I need to call Uncle Cheng and see; he is now running the Qinghe Herbal Tea Factory, and business is booming. Why not ask him if they need people there?

    With that thought, Che Yingying''s spirit slightly improved. She quickly picked up the phone and dialed Cheng Yazhou.

    Cheng Yazhou was at work in the factory in the Provincial Capital at that time. Seeing that it was Che Yingying''s call, he picked up and joked, "Manager Che, how is someone as busy as you finding the time to call me?"

    "Uncle Cheng, stop joking with me. Where am I busy? I''m about to lose my job! I''m calling to see if you need to hire anyone over there," Che Yingying, seeing that Cheng Yazhou hadn''t changed his attitude despite becoming a big boss, laughed as she spoke, greatly relieved.

    "Really? I just heard from your father a while ago that you are now the manager of Qinglan''s procurement department, earning several times more than him! Did you do something wrong, and Liu fired you?" Cheng Yazhou said, feeling surprised.

    "I wish it were that simple. Our Qinglan Cosmetics is about to be forcibly acquired by Li Fang Cosmetics Company!" Che Yingying said.

    "Qinglan Cosmetics is about to be forcibly acquired? You mean, Liu doesn''t have the capacity to exercise the shareholder''s preemptive rights and has to reluctantly relinquish them?" Cheng Yazhou frowned upon hearing this.

    Che Yingying didn''t know that the true major owner of the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was Ge Dongxu, but Cheng Yazhou did.

    Considering the relationship that Ge Dongxu had shown with Liu Jiayao that day, it made no sense that Ge Dongxu would watch Liu Jiayao''s Qinglan Cosmetics Company be forcefully acquired and do nothing, unless Ge Dongxu was unaware.

 Chapter 218 Do you know about CEO Lius matter? [1st update, asking for monthly votes]

    [Due to consistently pushing for five updates every day for the past few days, some negligences in planning and details have arisen. The shareholdings of Liu Jiayao and Li Hua in earlier chapters have been slightly modified, which should now be more reasonable.]"Yes, today is the shareholders'' meeting. The CEO of Li Fang just arrived, and it''s basically a done deal now. Sister Liu is really pitiful, this was her late parents'' lifetime effort, and she has cared for it immensely. It''s sad that in the end...," Che Yingying sighed.

    "That''s not necessarily true! Don''t worry about your job situation for now. If it really comes to that, I''ll definitely find a spot for you. However, as long as Sister Liu isn''t willing to let go, that Li Fang CEO won''t be able to take it away easily," Cheng Yazhou said, having realized Ge Dongxu likely wasn''t aware of this and spoke with a grave tone.

    "Thank you, Uncle. But it''s definite that Sister Liu will..." Hearing that Cheng Yazhou could secure her a position, Che Yingying was naturally delighted, but thinking of Liu Jiayao, her mood plummeted again.

    "There''s nothing definite in this world. I have something urgent now and can''t talk further, we''ll discuss this later," Cheng Yazhou interrupted Che Yingying, then hastily hung up and immediately dialed Ge Dongxu.

    Yongqing Road, one of the busiest commercial streets at the heart of the provincial capital.

    Ge Dongxu was standing in front of a seventeen-story building that was nearly completed but clearly at a standstill, along with Lin Kun and Yue Ting.

    "Dongxu, what do you think of this location? If we take over this unfinished building and continue investing in it, turning it into our Kunting Hotel''s headquarters and flagship store, how does that sound?" Lin Kun asked with hopeful eyes.

    As the year-end approached, schools had already started their winter break.

    On the first day of the vacation, before Ge Dongxu had a chance to head back to his hometown, Lin Kun and Yue Ting, who heard that school was out, dragged him to the provincial capital.

    "You really have a big appetite. Taking over this building would cost a fair amount of money!" Ge Dongxu looked up at the unfinished building, surveyed the surroundings, and generally assessed the Feng Shui. He was quite satisfied with it, though the future investment, not to mention the initial acquisition, would likely be costly.

    After all, this was the provincial capital, not Changxi County, and it was in a central bustling area.

    "The developer of this building, impacted by the Asian financial crisis, faced a major liquidity problem and now urgently needs funds for cash flow. Therefore, the building''s price is genuinely cheap, just twenty million to seal the deal, practically giving away the land. Donglinyue has been selling very well these past few months, especially near the year-end, it''s tremendously popular. The company''s available funds have already surpassed twenty million, so purchasing it won''t be an issue. As long as Donglinyue Apparel remains stable, subsequent investments won''t be a problem. Moreover, Kunting chain hotels should start turning a profit next year," Lin Kun explained, his eyes burning with fervor.

    "Oh! Last month, it wasn''t nearly this much, and suddenly there''s so much more this month." Ge Dongxu was genuinely surprised.

    "It''s the end of the year after all, our country''s people buy a new set of clothes for the New Year, and nowadays, many young people choose Donglinyue," Yue Ting said, her face showing a hint of pride. She was mainly in charge of Donglinyue Apparel, while Lin Kun was focusing on the Kunting Hotel.

    "If that''s the case, then there''s no problem. Go ahead and handle the specifics. If unsure, you can consult your dads, considering the size of the project," Ge Dongxu said, reassured by hearing that there were sufficient funds at Donglinyue Apparel, and also feeling that the building was a bargain with good Feng Shui, he nodded in agreement.

    "Haha, working with Dongxu is awesome. It hasn''t been long, and soon, we will have our towering buildings and hotels in the provincial capital," Yue Ting and Lin Kun breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Ge Dongxu nodding, then laughed joyously.

    The twenty million was just the initial investment; the interior and exterior decorations would surely cost a lot more. Yue Ting and Lin Kun were actually quite unsure and hesitant to decide, but once Ge Dongxu nodded, they were completely relieved.

    They had an almost blind faith in Ge Dongxu, especially given the successive successes of Qinghe Herbal Tea, Donglinyue Apparel, and Kunting, they revered and trusted him to the core. As long as Ge Dongxu nodded, they would boldly charge ahead; even if the sky fell, he would support it.

    Ge Dongxu smiled, just about to remind them not to be too complacent, when his phone rang.

    Few knew Ge Dongxu''s phone number, and usually, besides his parents who would call to chat, others wouldn''t contact him, so it rarely rang.

    Now, hearing it suddenly ring, Ge Dongxu immediately took it out, saw it was from Cheng Yazhou, and quickly answered, laughing, "Uncle Cheng, what''s the matter?"

    "Do you know about Sister Liu''s situation?" Cheng Yazhou asked directly.

    "Sister Liu, are you talking about Sister Liu? What happened to her?" Ge Dongxu asked with a look of surprise upon hearing this.

    "It seems you don''t know yet. I just got a call from Che Yingying¡ªthat friend''s daughter you met last year at the revolving restaurant in Mingyue Lake. She told me that Li Fang Cosmetics Company is planning to forcefully take over the shares of Qinglan Cosmetics Company," Cheng Yazhou said, realizing that Ge Dongxu was unaware of the situation and quickly responded.

    "When did this happen?" Ge Dongxu''s face immediately darkened.

    Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire

    If there was one thing that could trigger Ge Dongxu, it was definitely Liu Jiayao.

    No one could touch her, harm her!

    "Today, you need to act fast, or it might be too late," Cheng Yazhou said solemnly.

    "Okay, is there any problem with the finance company?" Ge Dongxu asked in a heavy voice.

    "No problem, we will definitely support you all the way," Cheng Yazhou replied without hesitation.

    "Okay, thanks, Uncle Cheng." After saying this, Ge Dongxu hung up Cheng Yazhou''s phone and immediately called Liu Jiayao.

    But no one answered the phone.

    "Damn it!" Ge Dongxu cursed under his breath and then said to Lin Kun, "Drive me to Qinglan... never mind, you don''t know the way, it would only delay us. Help me hail a taxi right now."

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu looked upset, Lin Kun and Yue Ting didn''t dare to ask what was wrong and hurried to the roadside to help hail a car. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Fortunately, there were many taxis in the Provincial Capital. By the time Ge Dongxu got through to Li Min''s phone, Lin Kun had already flagged down a taxi for him.

    "Keep your phone on at all times, let''s put the matter of this building aside for now, do not touch the money in the account, I might need it," Ge Dongxu hastily instructed Lin Kun and Yue Ting as he bent down to get into the taxi.

    "Do you need us to follow you..." Lin Kun and Yue Ting were quick to nod and then asked.

    "No need!" Ge Dongxu closed the car door, then told the taxi driver to head to Qinglan Cosmetics Company, before finally saying to Li Min on the phone who had already said hello several times, "Sister Li, it''s me, Ge Dongxu. Where is Sister Liu now? Give her my phone."

    "She''s in a shareholders'' meeting, she definitely doesn''t have time to take your call," Li Min said, her voice somewhat dejected.

    "I know she''s in a shareholders'' meeting, but she must take my call now, because I can help her," Ge Dongxu said in a firm voice.

    "You help her? How can you help her? The gap in Sister Liu''s finances is probably ten million!" Li Min''s voice became a bit sharp, quite dissatisfied with Ge Dongxu making such an out-of-place remark at this time.

    PS: It hasn''t been easy, already the seventh day and five continuous chapters. It''s a record-breaking event in my many years of writing. I ask for monthly tickets, subscriptions, and recommendation tickets, thank you very much.

 Chapter 219 What are you here for? [2nd Update]

    "What''s ten million anyway? Hand the phone to Sister Liu and tell her I''m the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea. As long as the other shareholders are willing to sell their shares, no matter the cost, I''ll buy them," Ge Dongxu said with overwhelming assertiveness."Stop kidding around, Dongxu, this matter¡­" Li Min started.

    "Do I look like the kind of person who jokes about this sort of thing?" Ge Dongxu said coldly, cutting him off.

    "But you''re just a high school¡­" Li Min couldn''t help but hesitate.

    "Even Sister Liu''s illness was cured by me. Have you ever seen a high school student with such superb medical skills?" Ge Dongxu countered.

    "No. So, you really are the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea?" Li Min finally began to believe Ge Dongxu''s words.

    Because Ge Dongxu truly couldn''t be viewed through the eyes of an ordinary person.

    "Nonsense, just hurry up and give the phone to Sister Liu. Don''t wait until the transfer contract is signed. By then it''ll be too late. I''m on my way to your company right now and will be there soon," Ge Dongxu said impatiently, as Li Min was still beating around the bush.

    "Okay, okay, I''m taking it to President Liu right now. Haha, I can''t wait to see the looks on those bastards'' faces!" Originally wandering around the company due to a troubled mood, Li Min happily grabbed the phone and ran towards the company.

    Just as Li Min entered the building and headed to the upstairs conference room, a taxi also arrived at the company''s doorstep.

    Ge Dongxu gave the taxi driver a hundred bucks and got out of the cab, leaving the driver grinning from ear to ear.

    "Ge Dongxu!" From the office window of the purchasing department, Che Yingying spotted Ge Dongxu walking briskly toward the company building and couldn''t help but show a look of surprise. She hurried out of the office.

    "Dongxu, what brings you to our company today? President Liu is in a meeting," Che Yingying called out as she came out of the company building.

    "I know she''s holding a shareholders'' meeting. Where''s the conference room? Take me there now," Ge Dongxu said as he had reached Qinglan Company and simply put away his phone.

    "Tsk tsk, I didn''t expect even you to know. Thinking of going to back up President Liu? Too bad, though, you''re just a small-time trademark factory shareholder. Your little bit of money is not even enough to be considered pocket change for buying shares. I suggest you save yourself the trouble," Zhang Huowang said mockingly and with schadenfreude as he popped up from somewhere while Ge Dongxu was talking to Che Yingying.

    "Get lost!" Ge Dongxu said unapologetically to Zhang Huowang.

    "Who the fuck are you telling to get lost? Who do you think you are? You think you can still get Liu Jiayao to fire me?" Zhang Huowang, seeing Ge Dongxu''s arrogance even at this time, cursed while reaching out to grab Ge Dongxu''s collar.

    "Get lost!" Ge Dongxu''s face darkened and he kicked straight toward Zhang Huowang''s belly.

    Suddenly, Zhang Huowang was sent sprawling to the ground by a kick and couldn''t get up for a long time, while Che Yingying was stunned by the sight.

    She never dreamed that this boy who looked like the wholesome boy next door could be so ferocious, toppling Zhang Huowang with just one kick.

    "Take me to the conference room," Ge Dongxu said, ignoring Zhang Huowang and grabbing Che Yingying''s arm to head towards the building.

    Che Yingying involuntarily followed Ge Dongxu into the building. As they ascended the stairs, she said, "The conference room is on the fifth floor."

    As soon as Che Yingying''s words fell, she heard a whooshing sound and Ge Dongxu had already disappeared from sight.

    "No way, that fast!" Che Yingying was dumbfounded and then hurriedly followed up the stairs.

    "Uncle Hua, you really want to sell too?" Inside the conference room, Liu Jiayao looked at Li Hua with eyes filled with sadness and despair.

    "Uncle is old now, can''t take the risk anymore. Besides, Li Feng has grown up, and I need to think about him too. I''m sorry, Jiayao, if you can''t purchase my shares at this price, Uncle has no choice but to transfer them to President Li," Li Hua said with a guilty expression.

    "Uncle Hua, please wait a little longer. If we can get through this period, I should be able to free up some funds," Liu Jiayao pleaded.

    "But what if problems continue to arise?" Li Hua asked.

    Liu Jiayao was completely stunned.

    Indeed, what if there were more problems? It wasn''t just about freeing up funds to buy shares anymore; there wouldn''t even be funds to purchase raw materials.

    "Forget it, Jiayao, President Li has shown his sincerity. If you can''t bear to give up on your parents'' hard work, continue to stay and work hard with President Li. Otherwise, you can transfer your shares to him and start anew or find a good family to marry into," Li Hua said.

    "Speaking of a good family, actually, I have long admired President Liu and really hoped to partner with her in a husband-and-wife team. I just don''t know if President Liu is willing?" Li Bisheng said with a smile.

    "You''re shameless!" Liu Jiayao bit her teeth, trying hard to keep her tears from falling.

    "How can you say that! A fair maiden is a good match for a gentleman. Besides, with President Li''s excellent conditions, uncle here thinks you should seriously consider it," Ren Chenle said with a smile that wasn''t really a smile.

    "You don''t deserve to call yourself ''uncle'' in front of me!" Liu Jiayao said coldly.

    "Hmph! So disrespectful!" Ren Chenle''s face darkened as he said.

    "Alright, enough. Let''s stop the nonsense and make the final vote," Li Hua interrupted.

    Although he hadn''t taken a firm stance at the last moment, he still had a soft spot for Liu Jiayao and couldn''t bear to see her ridiculed by others.

    "Yes, yes, let''s proceed to the final vote." Apart from Ren Chenle, the other shareholders echoed in agreement.

    After speaking, everyone''s gaze fell on Liu Jiayao''s face.

    The conference room suddenly fell silent.

    Now, as long as Liu Jiayao expressed her intention to abstain, Li Bisheng would be able to officially acquire their shares.

    At that moment, the door to the conference room was pushed open, and Li Min rushed in excitedly with her phone, saying to Liu Jiayao, "President Liu, it''s a call from Ge Dongxu."

    "What Dongxu or not, this is a shareholders'' meeting. Who let you in? Get out!" Ren Chenle immediately put on a stern face and scolded her upon seeing this.

    "You go out first, tell Dongxu I''ll call him back later," Liu Jiayao said to Li Min with a cold glance at Ren Chenle, then waved her hand.

    Her mood really wasn''t suitable for speaking with Ge Dongxu right now.

    "No, President Liu, Ge Dongxu said¡­" Li Min hurriedly started to say.

    "Are you deaf? Didn''t you hear President Liu tell you to get out?" Ren Chenle shouted again.

    "Sister Li isn''t deaf, it''s just that what she has to say is related to this shareholders'' meeting, that''s why she''s not leaving." Just then, a young voice rang out from the doorway, followed by a young man dressed in Donglin Yue casual wear walking in.

    "You? What are you doing here? Is this a place you can come?" Li Bisheng, seeing that it was Ge Dongxu, instantly saw his smile fade into a sullen frown as he questioned him condescendingly.

    "If you can come, why can''t I?" Ge Dongxu retorted.

    "Dongxu!" Liu Jiayao gently pulled on Ge Dongxu, giving him a look; she didn''t want Ge Dongxu to be humiliated here.

    "Don''t worry, Sister Liu, I know what I''m doing," Ge Dongxu reassured her with a gentle pat on her hand, then continued to look coldly at Li Bisheng.

    A sharp aura faintly emanated from him. Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire

    "I''m the chairman of Li Fang Cosmetics Company. I''m here to acquire Qinglan Cosmetics Company. Who do you think you are?" Li Bisheng looked at Ge Dongxu with a face of disdain.

    sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 220 Im Just the Major Shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea [3rd Update]

    "I''m not anything special, I''m just the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea, and I''m also a friend of President Liu," Ge Dongxu said with an equally mocking look at Li Bisheng. "Given that, do I have the right to stand here?"The meeting room fell silent all at once, everyone looking at Ge Dongxu with disbelief, except for Liu Jiayao, who was not disbelieving, but shocked.

    Che Yingying, who had just made it to the door of the meeting room, happened to hear Ge Dongxu''s words and was so shocked that her mouth fell open, then she quickly covered it with her hand.

    Those present might not know who the current legal representative of Qinghe Herbal Tea was, but Che Yingying did, and she also knew the relationship between Cheng Yazhou and Ge Dongxu, so while others might not believe Ge Dongxu''s words, Che Yingying believed them immediately.

    And it was precisely because she believed Ge Dongxu that Che Yingying was almost about to cry out in shock.

    After all, how old was Ge Dongxu?

    "What a joke, if you''re the president of Qinghe Herbal Tea, then I am the President of the country! Get lost, stay where it''s cool, this is not a place for you to cause a scene!" Li Bisheng quickly regained his senses, his face full of mocking disdain as he impatiently waved Ge Dongxu away.

    Li Bisheng couldn''t believe that a young man, who still looked like a student, could be the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea, which was now popular throughout the whole of Huaxia Country.

    If that were true, then all the years he, Li Bisheng, prided himself on being a business genius, not managing to shape a cosmetics company into something decent until he was thirty-one, would have been for nothing?

    "President Li, it''s you who should stop causing a scene. With that little money of yours, you think you can come to my sister''s company and attempt a hostile takeover?" Ge Dongxu glanced disdainfully at Li Bisheng, then turned his head to Liu Jiayao, who was beside him with her mouth agape in shock, and asked, "Sister, are these people all transferring their shares? How much more do you need? I''ll have someone transfer it to you right now."

    At Ge Dongxu''s words, the tears that Liu Jiayao had been holding back suddenly fell, then she suddenly broke into laughter, wiped away her tears with her hand, and playfully slapped Ge Dongxu, saying, "You jerk, being the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea, why didn''t you tell me sooner? You''ve made me unable to eat and sleep well these past few days."

    "Actually, I did mention it to you a while back, that I have more money than you," Ge Dongxu said with a bitter smile.

    "You never told me you were the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea. I thought you were just joking and boasting," Liu Jiayao rolled her eyes. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The weight of Liu Jiayao''s words was naturally different from that of Ge Dongxu, this young man who had suddenly appeared.

    When Ge Dongxu had claimed to be the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea, it was indeed hard to convince people because of his age.

    But Liu Jiayao''s words made others, even if they didn''t fully believe them, start to harbor doubts.

    Because they didn''t know Ge Dongxu, but Liu Jiayao did, and with her status, if Ge Dongxu was not truly capable of something, she wouldn''t be likely to say such unreliable things.

    Watching Liu Jiayao switch from sobbing to laughing, her face full of happy smiles, entirely free of her previous sadness and despair, Li Bisheng''s handsome face darkened as if it were about to drip water.

    Now he, too, began to harbor some doubts.

    "Heh heh," Ge Dongxu chuckled at Liu Jiayao, then asked, "How much do you actually need?"

    "If we''re only talking about achieving absolute control, we''re short by eight million three hundred thousand, but to own one hundred percent, that''s a lot more. We would need sixty-one million two hundred thousand," Liu Jiayao blurted out.

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    These numbers had been spinning in her head these past few days, and she had them memorized firmly.

    "Then let''s go for a total acquisition," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment and said.

    "Aren''t you afraid of bursting your big bubble? Sixty-one million two hundred thousand for a total acquisition? Even if you are the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, can you mobilize that much capital at once?" Li Bisheng sneered, his gloomy face breaking into a mocking smile.

    He had managed to secure the funds by pulling strings to get a loan from the bank and converted some of Li Fang''s share equity to Ren Chenle and others. Only then was he able to mobilize enough capital to acquire the shares of Qinglan Cosmetics from their hands. Although Ge Dongxu claimed to be the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, Qinghe Herbal Tea had only truly taken off this year. How much could it really be earning? Outsiders didn''t know. Moreover, being a major shareholder didn''t necessarily mean holding a hundred percent control like Li Bisheng did. Perhaps it''s twenty percent, maybe thirty percent, or even higher, but one could be called a major shareholder with such a stake.

    So if Ge Dongxu really was the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea Factory, Li Bisheng could believe he could mobilize a million or maybe eight hundred thousand, but he absolutely did not believe Ge Dongxu''s boast about fronting Liu Jiayao with sixty-one million two hundred thousand.

    "Oh, I forgot to tell you, I am also the major shareholder of Donglinyue Apparel!" Ge Dongxu flicked his clothes and said to Li Bisheng with a smile.

    "You''re also the major shareholder of Donglinyue Apparel? No wonder that day you made such a strange expression when I took you to the Donglinyue store to buy clothes!" Liu Jiayao heard this and opened her sexy little mouth in shock, then she couldn''t help but raise her fist and thump him.

    From despair to a series of surprises¡ªeven for someone with Liu Jiayao''s status¡ªshe couldn''t help but reveal her true feminine side at this moment.

    Very womanly!

    Liu Jiayao''s very womanly behavior seemed to confirm, from another perspective, that Ge Dongxu''s words held some credibility.

    "Just because you claim to be the major shareholder of Donglinyue means you are? Don''t try to stall for time, it''s no use," Li Bisheng''s face grew uglier, but he was decidedly unwilling to accept that a young man who looked like a student could actually be the major shareholder of two companies that were currently popular throughout the country.

    "My word is of course worthless; in the end, we have to put up real gold and silver. You can''t fake this kind of thing. If you can''t let it go, you can wait here while I call the legal representatives of Qinghe Herbal Tea and Donglinyue. If any shareholder wishes to sell their shares, I''ll have them instruct the finance department to transfer the money," Ge Dongxu said to Li Bisheng, looking at him with a very disdainful gaze.

    "Don''t you think what you''re saying is childish? You''re just a major shareholder; what power do you have to decide to move the company''s money? Besides, if you move the money like that, who counts as acquiring shares from the present shareholders here? Your so-called controlled companies don''t have priority purchase rights like President Liu," Li Bisheng relaxed and sneered when he heard Ge Dongxu''s naive statement.

    This time, he saw clearly that the young man was just full of hot air.

    The expressions on the faces of the other shareholders gradually darkened, especially Ren Chenle, who was already pointing at Ge Dongxu and demanding, "Get out; don''t cause trouble here!"

    Even Che Yingying and Li Min''s faces changed, looking at Ge Dongxu with some disappointment.

    Private matters were supposed to be separate; Ge Dongxu made it sound as if Qinghe Herbal Tea and Donglinyue were his own family businesses, thinking he could take as much money as he wanted, especially such a large sum, making his claim seem unbelievable.

    Poor them, they had no idea that Ge Dongxu, the shareholder, held a whopping sixty percent of the shares¡ªthe absolute control¡ªand in the eyes of the other shareholders, he was the undeniable leader. They wouldn''t utter a word until he spoke, but once he did, they would support him with all their might. Besides, with the current growth momentum and considerable profits of Qinghe Herbal Tea and Donglinyue, the sixty-plus million was indeed a large sum, but it was a limited impact on the operation of the combined companies if they were to take it out.

    It was this confidence that allowed Ge Dongxu to speak with such audacity!

 Chapter 221 Shut Up [4th Update, Requesting Monthly Pass]

    In the meeting room, only Liu Jiayao looked at Ge Dongxu with interest in her eyes, her lips curled into a sweet, contented smile, as if Ge Dongxu was the only person left in the office.She knew very well that although Ge Dongxu was young, he would definitely not create a fuss in this matter.

    "What''s your hurry? Do you really want to sell Qinglan to this Mr. Li that badly? Oh, right, you have a pointed forehead and narrow brows, prominent cheekbones¡ªthe very image of a petty person seeking glory through selling out. Don''t tell me you''ve secretly colluded with Mr. Li and received some benefits?" Ge Dongxu, seeing Liu Jiayao''s trust in him, gave her a smile before suddenly turning to Ren Chenle and pointing at him, mocking him without any politeness.

    "You¡ªyou can''t just slander people like that! Where did I show any desire to sell Qinglan to Mr. Li? It''s just a last resort!" Ren Chenle, with something to hide, was caught off guard by Ge Dongxu''s sudden accusation and jumped in fright, hastily denying it. He seemed rather infuriated and embarrassed.

    Shareholders like Li Hua were veterans of the business world and naturally perceptive. They also understood Ren Chenle''s character. Seeing his outraged and embarrassed demeanor and recalling his recent behavior, they began to look at him with a shade of suspicion.

    Could it be that he was really in collusion with Mr. Li?

    Seeing Ren Chenle, an old man, get frightened by a young man''s casual remark and giving himself away, Mr. Li slightly frowned.

    Fortunately, the things Mr. Li had actually done were unknown to Ren Chenle, and without any evidence, he wasn''t worried.

    "Since you don''t want to sell Qinglan to Mr. Li, then shut your mouth! Even if I''m young and not credible, can''t you wait even half an hour? And if I find out you really did collude with Mr. Li, I''ll show you no mercy!" Ge Dongxu was no fool; seeing Ren Chenle''s reaction, how could he not know that Ren Chenle was indeed hiding something? His gaze suddenly became cold and piercing.

    Share transfer is a personal right; even if Ren Chenle truly wished to sell his shares to Li Bisheng, Ge Dongxu had nothing to say about it. However, if he conspired with Mr. Li to frame Liu Jiayao, that was something Ge Dongxu couldn''t tolerate!

    "You¡ªyou..." Ren Chenle had never been scolded and threatened by a young person like this before, and he was trembling with rage.

    "You what? Shut your mouth! You better pray you haven''t done anything against Sister Liu!" Ge Dongxu cut him off without politeness. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Don''t say that I have a clear conscience regarding Ren¡ªeven if there is something, who do you think you are? What right do you have to say that?" Li Bisheng, seeing Ge Dongxu''s domineering presence, even more brazen than his own, and not being taken seriously at all, was also enraged, his face turning an iron shade of blue.

    "If I don''t have the right, then you have even less of a right, Mr. Li. At least I am as close to Ms. Liu as a brother, we''re family. And what are you? Yelling and shouting here? Also, you better hope you haven''t done anything bad to Qinglan, otherwise, I will also hold you accountable!" Ge Dongxu said coldly, his domineering aura finally bursting forth from this young man, leaving no trace of amiability or warmth.

    "Fine, fine, such arrogance! You better go ahead and make the phone call to finalize the share purchase. If you''re just causing trouble on purpose, I''ll hold you accountable too!" Li Bisheng, who had always had a strong presence, had not expected to be preempted and overwhelmed by Ge Dongxu today, and was completely out of his usual composure, his face an iron blue and his lips quivering as he spoke.

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    "Then just watch," Ge Dongxu said coldly, then took out his cell phone and directly called Cheng Yazhou.

    "How is it going, Dongxu?" The call was picked up immediately after it rang, and Cheng Yazhou''s inquiry came from the other end.

    "Thank you Uncle Cheng. I''m young and don''t have any proof on me, so it''s hard to win over others. I need you to come to Qinglan Cosmetics Company, and it would be best to bring Manager Zhao from finance along," Ge Dongxu replied, feeling a small warmth in his heart.

    "Alright, I''m on my way right now," Cheng Yazhou agreed without hesitation, then hung up the phone and hurriedly called Manager Zhao from finance, also taking the company seal and some other documents.

    After calling Cheng Yazhou, Ge Dongxu made a call to Yue Ting.

    The legal representative of Donglin Yue was Yue Ting.

    "You and Lin Kun come to Qinglan Cosmetics immediately," said Ge Dongxu to Yue Ting, keeping it simple with just one direct sentence.

    "Alright,Dongxu, we''re actually already outside the Qinglan Cosmetics Company," Yue Ting replied.

    It turned out that when they saw Ge Dongxu rushing to Qinglan Cosmetics, without knowing what had happened, they had also inquired about the way and hurried over to Qinglan Cosmetics Company, so that in case anything arose, they could be at his beck and call.

    Ge Dongxu was slightly startled, then immediately felt a surge of warmth in his heart and said, "Then come up now, we''re in the conference room on the fifth floor."

    "Got it, we''ll come up right away," Yue Ting responded, then hung up and turned to Lin Kun in the driver''s seat, "Dongxu asked us to go to the fifth-floor conference room."

    "I''ve heard that the president of Qinglan is a great beauty. It seems Dongxu has quite a deep relationship with her!" Lin Kun smirked suggestively at Yue Ting while opening the car door and stepping out.

    "Mind your own business and don''t make wild guesses about Dongxu''s affairs," Yue Ting glared at Lin Kun as she spoke.

    "Aren''t I just worried for you?" Lin Kun said with a laugh.

    "Worried my foot! Let''s hurry up," Yue Ting gave Lin Kun a kick, her pretty face turning slightly red.

    "Haha, you''re blushing, Miss Yue is blushing," Lin Kun laughed, and before Yue Ting could react, he hurried upstairs.

    In the conference room on the fifth floor, it was silent. Shareholders like Li Hua looked at each other, a mix of disbelief and wry amusement on their faces, while Li Bisheng and Ren Chenle wore sullen and unsightly expressions.

    No one had expected that Ge Dongxu would actually make the call, and now he sat next to Liu Jiayao, seemingly heartlessly whispering to her without paying attention to anyone else.

    This attitude made both Li Bisheng and Ren Chenle grind their teeth with hatred while also feeling an unsettling anxiety.

    Could this youngster really be the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea and Donglin Yue, with the ability to mobilize over sixty million in funds just like that?

    "That Ge Dongxu, you little bastard, get the hell out here?" Just as Li Bisheng and Ren Chenle were seething with hatred and feeling an unsettling anxiety, Zhang Huowang burst in, fuming with rage.

    Indeed, what man wouldn''t be furious after being kicked to the ground by a young upstart?

    Seeing Zhang Huowang storm in, Li Bisheng and Ren Chenle were first shocked, then their faces twisted into cold smirks of schadenfreude, not making any move to stop him. On the other hand, the other shareholders all stood up and scolded Zhang Huowang, "Zhang Huowang, what are you doing? Get out now!"

 Chapter 22 You Dare Yell at Me? [5th Update, Asking for Monthly Votes]

    However, Zhang Huowang was at this moment blinded by rage, and furthermore, believing that Qinglan Cosmetics was certain to change hands, and that he would have the backing of the new boss Li Bisheng in the future, he fearlessly ignored the scolding voices of the shareholders. He broke through their obstruction and in two steps, he was right in front of Ge Dongxu.Then, Zhang Huowang clenched his fist and swung it toward Ge Dongxu, prompting angry shouts from the people in the conference room.

    "Zhang Huowang!" Liu Jiayao''s voice shrieked out as she suddenly stood up.

    Only Li Bisheng and Ren Chenle remained loungingly seated with their legs crossed, faces wearing cold smirks as if watching a play.

    They naturally wanted to see Ge Dongxu make a fool of himself.

    But Zhang Huowang''s fist had only swung halfway when his neck was abruptly seized by a strong hand. Following that, the hand slowly lifted; Zhang Huowang''s feet left the ground, and his face instantly turned red, almost purplish from lack of air.

    Struggling to breathe, Zhang Huowang desperately clawed at his neck.

    However, Ge Dongxu''s hand was like a pair of iron tongs firmly gripping his neck, making all of his clawing futile.

    Watching Ge Dongxu''s hand grabbing Zhang Huowang''s neck and lifting the man, who weighed at least 160 or 170 pounds, the conference room became so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

    Who could have imagined that this young man, who looked barely twenty years old, could possess such strength!

    Of course, the aura he now exuded was even more terrifying.

    Li Bisheng''s pupils shrank violently as he watched Ge Dongxu''s hand holding Zhang Huowang, his face showing a grave expression.

    If he could sabotage Qinglan Cosmetics'' production through strange means, he naturally had some unknown skills up his sleeve. He had some fighting ability and strength, but to say he could lift a grown man by the neck with just one hand was beyond his capability.

    Yet Ge Dongxu had done it!

    Liu Jiayao had previously doubted whether Ge Dongxu was a martial arts master, even asking him if he knew Qinggong, but aside from treating her illness, she had never seen him take action. Now, having just witnessed with her own eyes how he casually extended a hand to lift a grown man, her beautiful eyes widened with astonishment.

    "You think you''re fit to yell at me? Get lost!" Ge Dongxu flung his hand, tossing Zhang Huowang three or four meters away; he then thudded heavily to the ground at the doorway.

    The thud of the impact landed like a hammer on Ren Chenle''s heart, causing his face to involuntarily turn pale and cold sweat to bead on his forehead.

    Regardless of the harsh words Ge Dongxu had said before, Ren Chenle, an old hand who had been through decades in the business world, wouldn''t genuinely be frightened by him, since Ge Dongxu was still too young.

    But now? Watching Ge Dongxu lift Zhang Huowang as easily as one would a chick, and then toss him aside like a dead dog, that action, so domineering, so cold-hearted, and so undisguised!

    Who would dare to underestimate him because of his age now? Who would think that the words he had just said were empty boasts?

    Moreover, Ren Chenle had a guilty conscience!

    Zhang Huowang wailed on the ground for a while before managing to get up, and with a facade of ferocity masking his fear, he pointed at Ge Dongxu and cursed, "Ge Dongxu, you little punk, just you wait..."

    "Fuck, who are you calling ''old man''?" Before Zhang Huowang could finish speaking, a young man and woman burst into the corridor.

    The man started throwing punches at Zhang Huowang without a word, while the woman, who looked quite glamorous in her tailor-made designer clothes, her curvaceous figure and fine demeanor making her appear like a high-level company executive, unexpectedly lifted her high heels and began to ferociously kick Zhang Huowang with the sharp points and heels.

    "Damn it, daring to challenge Brother Dongxu and calling me ''old man'' in front of him, are you fucking sick of living!" the woman who looked like a company executive cursed dirty words as she kept kicking.

    A complete spitfire, she was nothing like any corporate executive!

    All at once, aside from Zhang Huowang, who was curled up on the ground getting beat up by the two sudden attackers, wailing continuously, everyone in the conference room seemed petrified, dumbfounded by the incredible scene unfolding before them.

    It was beyond anyone''s comprehension how people dressed in Versace and Chanel, these high-end luxury brands, could curse and fight like street thugs and spitfires!

    Poor Li Bisheng and the rest had no idea that these two, before they followed Ge Dongxu, were rebellious folks who loved watching ''Young and Dangerous'' movies.

    Although they had since reformed, their unbridled nature at heart emerged as soon as they encountered this kind of situation.

    "Enough, I didn''t ask you to come here to beat people up." Ge Dongxu, moved yet somewhat amused, saw his two companions revert to their old ways after finally having become civilized. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Yes, Brother Dongxu! What do you need us for?" As soon as Ge Dongxu spoke, Lin Kun and Yue Ting immediately stopped and rushed over to Ge Dongxu like underlings, their attitude extremely respectful.

    Besides being slightly rebellious in the past, these two were absolutely smart. Seeing the situation in the conference room and Liu Jiayao by Ge Dongxu''s side, they knew they had to make a big deal out of Brother Dongxu''s impressive presence, so they picked up the honorific "you" that they hadn''t used for a while, assuming the stance of obedient lackeys.

    Seeing those two having given Zhang Huowang a beatdown and then scurrying over to Ge Dongxu like bootlickers, everyone''s mind was thrown into absolute chaos, including the self-proclaimed badass Li Bisheng, who also felt utterly puzzled at that moment.

    He now completely failed to understand what sort of person Ge Dongxu was.

    Naturally, Liu Jiayao also widened her eyes with curiosity, sizing up Lin Kun and Yue Ting. She thought she knew Ge Dongxu well enough, but today she suddenly discovered that she actually knew very little about him.

    "This is Liu Jiayao, the President of Qinglan Cosmetics." Ge Dongxu didn''t answer the two directly but first introduced them with a smile: "Sister Liu, these two are the President Yue Ting and General Manager Lin Kun of Donglinyue Apparel."

    "Nice to meet you, Sister Liu!" Seeing Ge Dongxu address Liu Jiayao as Sister Liu and remembering his tense expression on the phone after inspecting the unfinished building, they didn''t dare to be negligent and swiftly bowed slightly to Liu Jiayao as if they were greeting a boss lady. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yue Ting, Lin Kun, hello. I''m about the same age as you, just call me by my name!" Liu Jiayao smiled and reached out to them.

    "How could we do that, even Brother Dongxu calls you sister, we naturally have to call you sister too. It''s the rule," Yue Ting and Lin Kun quickly said.

    "Rule?" Liu Jiayao was slightly stunned upon hearing this, and then she secretly shot Ge Dongxu a glare, while he just sheepishly smiled, thinking to himself, these two!

    Everyone else, upon hearing this, was once again completely dumbfounded. What kind of rule is this? They aren''t even members of the underworld, and still, there are these rules!

    Of course, what surprised them the most was Ge Dongxu''s introduction of Lin Kun and Yue Ting!

    Those two who fought like gangsters just a while ago were actually the President and General Manager of Donglinyue Apparel! How could that be?

    But to say they weren''t, have you ever seen thugs wearing Versace and Chanel? Have you ever seen thugs sporting Rolex gold watches and Cartier wristwatches?

    ps: It''s another five-chapter update, brothers and sisters, I''m really trying hard, getting up early and staying up late, but you also have to help with the votes! The new book is currently fourth in the monthly ticket rankings, and others are about to catch up soon, so please support and top it up. Today is the last day the monthly tickets count double, thank you.

 Chapter 223 Do You Know Them?

    Just when everyone was completely dumbfounded, finding it hard to link the two individuals who had just fought like thugs on the street with the chairman and general manager of Donglinyue Apparel, a shareholder suddenly seemed to discover a new continent and pointed at Lin Kun and Yue Ting, exclaiming exaggeratedly, "You, you are the chairman and general manager of Donglinyue Apparel!"Yue Ting and Lin Kun looked at the shareholder who was pointing at them in shock and awe as if they were looking at an idiot.

    What was there to be so shocked and awe-struck about, Dongxu had already mentioned it, hadn''t he? Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But the others did not think so because they were skeptical about the identities of Ge Dongxu, Lin Kun, and Yue Ting, so upon hearing this, they all looked towards the screaming shareholder, especially Ren Chenle who could no longer contain himself and asked with a sullen face, "Old Lin, you know them?"

    "I don''t know them, but my nephew opened a Donglinyue Apparel specialty store in Beisheng District at the beginning of the year. I saw a photograph of my nephew with them when I visited his house a few days ago. I thought they looked familiar when I saw them just now, but I couldn''t recall where I had seen them. Just now, when Mr. Ge said they were the chairman and general manager of Donglinyue, that''s when I suddenly remembered," the shareholder with surname Lin replied.

    "So you are Uncle Lin Ziming," Yue Ting said, looking at the shareholder surnamed Lin, finally understanding why he had been shouting and pointing at them earlier.

    Yue Ting had a good memory; she had interacted with most of the franchisees in the early phase and remembered their names.

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    "Yes, yes, I''m Lin Ziming''s uncle. Hello, Chairman Yue, I didn''t expect to meet you and General Manager Lin here," the shareholder surnamed Lin hurried forward to shake hands with Yue Ting and Lin Kun.

    Watching the shareholder surnamed Lin hurriedly coming forward to shake hands with Yue Ting and Lin Kun, the expressions of the other shareholders were very subtle and elaborate because they all remembered the subservient demeanor Yue Ting and Lin Kun had shown in front of Ge Dongxu.

    It''d be one thing if Yue Ting and Lin Kun were just ordinary people, but the problem was that these two were the nationally famous chairman and general manager of Donglinyue Apparel!

    What did this imply?

    Now they finally understood why Ge Dongxu spoke so casually and confidently about reallocating the funds of Donglinyue Apparel as if the company was his alone.

    Wasn''t it so? As shareholders, the chairman and the general manager were supposed to be wealthy and prestigious individuals, but just now, for Zhang Huowang''s sake, they both rolled up their sleeves and rushed in to fight like thugs!

    Furthermore, they were clearly older than Ge Dongxu but had to address him as "Brother." It was clear to see what status Ge Dongxu, the major shareholder, held in their hearts. To move the company''s money, he really just needed to say the word, without needing to consult with them.

    Thinking of this, many people also thought of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, wondering if it was the same there.

    By this time, Li Bisheng''s face had turned from pale to flush, looking extremely displeased, then suddenly snorted coldly, stood up, and walked out without saying a word.

    Considering the developments so far, unless Li Bisheng was a fool, he should realize that even if Ge Dongxu couldn''t help Liu Jiayao acquire all the shares, securing a substantial percentage to grant her absolute controlling power was absolutely no problem. Under these circumstances, staying any longer would only bring him humiliation.

    Seeing Mr. Li rise to leave, Ren Chenle also stood up with a gloomy face, ready to go.

    "Dear shareholder, I advise you to transfer your shares before leaving. Otherwise, I can hardly guarantee that Mr. Liu will still be in the mood to acquire your shares after today. By then, your shares may be gradually diluted, leaving you no say in the board of directors. Don''t say I didn''t warn you today." Ge Dongxu had neither particular fondness nor dislike for the other shareholders, but he genuinely despised Ren Chenle and was determined to kick him out of Qinglan Cosmetics Company. Thus, seeing him also standing to leave, he threatened unabashedly.

    Upon hearing this, Ren Chenle''s foot, which had already stepped forward, slowly retracted, and then he sat back down with a dark expression.

    "Sister Li, please discuss the stock transfer with them," Ge Dongxu said.

    Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a deep look and then hummed, her gaze slowly sweeping over the shareholders in the meeting room, "For you, Qinglan Cosmetics might just be an industry to make money, but for me, aside from earning money, it also embodies a special emotional attachment. Therefore, when the company faces a crisis, you choose to transfer shares, while I choose to stand firm. I don''t blame you, really. However, I hope you can stick to the original plan and transfer the shares to me, so that similar crises in the future won''t involve you and won''t hurt our feelings. When we meet again, I''ll still address you respectfully as uncles."

    As Liu Jiayao''s voice faded, the room fell silent, and all shareholders except Ren Chenle showed expressions of embarrassment.

    "I''m sorry, Jiayao, I''m relieved that Mr. Ge stepped in to help you. Since you wish to hold 100% ownership, let''s transfer it to you as discussed before. A brand is difficult to build but easy to destroy, so you must quickly identify the problem; otherwise, even with Mr. Ge''s financial support, if the issue isn''t resolved promptly, the Qinglan brand might still fall," Uncle Hua eventually broke the silence first.

    "Thank you, Uncle Hua. I understand your feelings, and I will always remember your help and care over the years. Rest assured, I won''t let the Qinglan brand be destroyed on my watch." Liu Jiayao stepped forward and tightly grasped Uncle Hua''s hand, her eyes moistening.

    Uncle Hua nodded and then pulled out the share transfer agreement.

    Being the second largest shareholder of Qinglan Cosmetics Company, holding twenty-five percent of the shares, the amount involved in the transfer agreement was substantial, totaling twenty-three million.

    Liu Jiayao glanced at the agreement and then looked towards Ge Dongxu.

    "Don''t worry about the money, just sign," Ge Dongxu, knowing what Liu Jiayao meant, nodded affirmatively.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu had nodded, Cheng Yazhou and the Finance Manager Zhao hurriedly arrived at the meeting room.

    As the company''s finance manager, Manager Zhao naturally recognized Ge Dongxu, the major boss, and knew his status in the eyes of the company''s other shareholders, so upon seeing him, he promptly stepped forward and respectfully greeted him as boss.

    "How much funds are available in our company right now?" Ge Dongxu greeted Cheng Yazhou and Manager Zhao and then asked directly.

    "As long as the funds you use do not exceed sixty million, it will not impact the company''s normal operations. Of course, if you need more, we can also find a way to solve it." Cheng Yazhou had anticipated that Ge Dongxu would definitely need to use funds to help Liu Jiayao overcome this difficulty, so he had already inquired about the financial situation from Manager Zhao on the way here, and thus he immediately responded when Ge Dongxu asked.

    ps: Being older, I can''t continue to update over ten thousand words every day. I spent the weekend with my family and today is a triple update.

 Chapter 224 The Time Has Not Yet Come

    "Sixty million!" When Cheng Yazhou said this, not only did the shareholders in the meeting room gasp, but even Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but inhale sharply.The capital that was used did not exceed sixty million, which wouldn''t affect the normal operations of the company, indicating how enormous the funds in the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory''s account must be!

    It was at this moment that they truly understood just how explosively popular the sales of Qinghe Herbal Tea were and how extremely profitable it was!

    Just over a year, and the company''s account could casually handle up to sixty million in funds!

    In fact, it wasn''t only people like Liu Jiayao who were shocked, even Lin Kun and Yue Ting felt startled, the only one unshocked being Ge Dongxu.

    He was well aware of just how terrifying the sales of Qinghe Herbal Tea had been since last summer, even breaking fifty-five million in sales last month.

    If it weren''t for the money taken out recently to invest in a printing and packaging factory, the available liquid assets of the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory would be even more frightening.

    "Since that''s the case, you guys go ahead and purchase that building, there''s no need to use Donglin Yue''s money," Ge Dongxu nodded at Cheng Yazhou, then turned his head to instruct Lin Kun and Yue Ting.

    Only then did Lin Kun and Yue Ting fully realize that Ge Dongxu had called them over because he was worried about insufficient funds.

    Because of the financial heavyweight Ge Dongxu present, the acquisition of shares went very smoothly.

    After it ended, apart from Ren Chenle who left with a gloomy face, the others sat down for a meal to celebrate the deal.

    At the table, Ge Dongxu smilingly asked the shareholders to try not to talk about his affairs; as for Ren Chenle and Li Bisheng, having lost so much face, they certainly wouldn''t go around bragging about slapping their own faces.

    "Don''t worry, Mr. Ge, even if we went around saying it, there would have to be someone who''d believe it," said Li Hua, laughing heartily. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Although selling his shares inevitably made him feel somewhat disappointed, seeing that they didn''t end up in Li Bisheng''s hands, he was overall quite pleased.

    "Yes! Mr. Ge, you''re so young, even if we spilled everything, as long as Mr. Cheng, Ms. Yue, and Mr. Lin don''t come forward to confirm it, no one would believe it," the others also nodded in agreement.

    Ge Dongxu just casually mentioned it; in fact, whether or not these people would talk about him, after all, there were only a few of them, and if they did, it would be like throwing a few stones into the ocean¡ªit wouldn''t stir up much of a splash. So, seeing how they responded, he just laughed and raised his glass to toast the shareholders.

    ...

    "Alright, the acquisition is finally over, now it''s time to talk about our matter," in the living room of Yadu Garden, Liu Jiayao sat on the sofa, her expression serious, looking at Ge Dongxu.

    "Our? What matter of ours?" Ge Dongxu asked, looking bewildered.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s bewildered expression, Liu Jiayao''s eyes suddenly reddened, and after a long while, she took a deep breath and said, "Of course it''s about the shares, that''s 6,120,000, not just some ten or hundred thousand matter, I definitely need to settle this with you clearly."

    "Do I really need to calculate this with you¡­" Ge Dongxu blurted out without thinking.

    Before Ge Dongxu could finish his sentence, Liu Jiayao could no longer hold back and threw herself into his arms, then her sensual lips sealed his lips, and they began to kiss passionately.

    The two quickly tumbled onto the sofa.

    When Ge Dongxu''s hand touched that burning hot body, both seemed to suddenly realize something, then all of a sudden everything stopped, and they looked at each other.

    Eye to eye, almost within reach.

    Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

    Time seemed to have stopped in that moment.

    "Is it okay, Jiayao?" Ge Dongxu''s voice trembled as he asked after a long while.

    "I... I can, but will my loss of virginity affect your cultivation? I, I read in novels that..." At this point, Liu Jiayao''s cheeks were already flushed pink.

    Ge Dongxu felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him from head to toe, freezing him in place, and his passion receded completely.

    A phrase echoed in his mind, "In fire, recognize the True Dragon; in water, discerne the True Tiger. When the Dragon and Tiger intersect, they turn into Yellow Sprouts, and connecting these sprouts forms the Great Medicine, known as the Golden Core."

    The True Dragon is True Yang, and the True Tiger is True Yin. This refers both to the True Yin and True Yang energies that are cultivated in the Eight Extraordinary Meridians postnatally, and also to the innate bit of True Yin and True Yang every person carries from birth.

    If Ge Dongxu had no hopes for the Dragon Tiger Realm, then it would not matter when the Yin and Yang intersected or when he lost his virginity. But since he aspired to the Dragon Tiger Realm and even beyond to the Golden Core Realm, maintaining his virginity became crucial.

    While losing his virginity prematurely and the early intersection of Yin and Yang could, in a sense, also be considered "recognizing the True Dragon in fire and the True Tiger in water," which could help boost his cultivation power, it was akin to pulling up seedlings to help them grow, detrimental to long-term development.

    Only by breaking through to the Dragon Tiger Realm and truly understanding through his own cultivation what it meant to recognize the True Dragon in fire and the True Tiger in water, and continuously laying a solid foundation, should he then lose his virginity. Engaging physically with a woman, balancing Yin and Yang, would not only not delay his cultivation but could actually enhance his cultivation speed dramatically.

    "It really does affect you!" In her emotionally confused state, Liu Jiayao quickly noticed the change in Ge Dongxu''s emotions and couldn''t help but feel a bit dumbfounded.

    Influenced by novels and television, she suddenly remembered to ask, then found herself already muddled by desire, twisting her body, wanting to give herself to Ge Dongxu that very night.

    After all, Ge Dongxu was already considered an adult!

    But Liu Jiayao never imagined that Ge Dongxu really couldn''t lose his virginity.

    "I''m sorry, sis." Ge Dongxu, looking at her still-flushed beautiful face mixed with a bit of surprise and a hint of disappointment, couldn''t help feeling guilty.

    "You fool, what are you talking about!" Liu Jiayao, having heard this, quickly sat up and gave Ge Dongxu a reproving look.

    Then, Liu Jiayao seemed to remember something else, her face blushing slightly as she asked, "Then, when can you do ''that''? Surely you won''t need to wait until... I''d really be old by then."

    "No need, no need, it should only be a few years." Ge Dongxu replied hurriedly.

    "Pfft!" Liu Jiayao, seeing how flustered Ge Dongxu was, couldn''t help but laugh out loud and gave him a look, saying, "What are you so panicked about? Are you afraid I can''t wait and will run off with someone else?"

    Ge Dongxu chuckled sheepishly.

    "Then, will you...?" Liu Jiayao, seeing Ge Dongxu glance at her bosom, blushed slightly, leaned over, and asked softly.

    "It''s okay." Ge Dongxu smiled sheepishly.

    Liu Jiayao, seeing Ge Dongxu''s sheepish expression, knew all too well that he was saying the opposite of what he felt. She thought for a moment, blushed, and whispered something into Ge Dongxu''s ear.

    "This... Thanks, sis, but let''s not, I''m okay." Ge Dongxu''s face showed a complex expression of temptation, conflict, and deep emotion.

    "What do you mean, ''it''s okay''? Come with me, otherwise I might not care about you anymore in the future." Liu Jiayao, seeing that Ge Dongxu was clearly tempted yet still chose to refuse, stood up and pulled his hand towards her bedroom.

 Chapter 225 Confusion

    ```It was a sunny winter day.

    Warm sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting dappled patterns on the pink bed.

    On the bed, a young man and woman lay in each other''s arms, asleep.

    Liu Jiayao felt the light entering the room and slowly opened her eyes, only to find one of her legs draped over Ge Dongxu''s waist. Remembering what they had done on the bed last night, where they had done almost everything a man and a woman could do except for the last step, a blush suddenly crept onto her pretty face, and her body became hot.

    Seemingly sensing the change in Liu Jiayao''s body, Ge Dongxu shifted slightly.

    Liu Jiayao quickly closed her eyes. What they had done in the heat of passion last night hadn''t seemed like a big deal, but now that she was sober, she found herself unsure of how to face this younger man.

    Ge Dongxu turned and saw that Liu Jiayao''s eyes were closed, but her eyelashes trembled slightly. He smiled knowingly, kissed her forehead gently, and then got out of bed and left the bedroom, taking care not to make a sound.

    The moment Ge Dongxu left the bedroom, Liu Jiayao opened her eyes. She touched her forehead where he had kissed her, and looked curiously at the bedroom door, wondering what Ge Dongxu was up to so early in the morning.

    After lying in bed for a while and seeing that Ge Dongxu still hadn''t returned, Liu Jiayao couldn''t resist her curiosity. She got up, opened the bedroom door, and saw that the living room was empty. Just as she was wondering, she noticed someone busy in the kitchen, which was separated from the living room by sliding glass doors.

    Instantly, Liu Jiayao felt her entire being filled with sweetness and happiness.

    She walked over, hugged Ge Dongxu from behind, and rested her face on his back. In a soft voice, she said, "Thank you, it''s so nice to have you."

    "Why are you up? Go back to sleep for a while. I''ll call you when it''s ready," Ge Dongxu said as he turned around and held Liu Jiayao, his eyes showing a hint of concern.

    "Look who''s talking! After what you did to me last night, I''m exhausted," Liu Jiayao said with a mix of shyness and annoyance. She pinched Ge Dongxu''s waist hard.

    Ge Dongxu laughed shyly in response.

    "Still laughing!" Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but pinch him again.

    "Ouch, the food is going to burn," Ge Dongxu hastily turned back to the stove.

    Liu Jiayao gave a snort of laughter, knowing that Ge Dongxu was deliberately changing the subject. She rolled her eyes at him playfully, then sashayed out of the kitchen to the bathroom to freshen up.

    ...

    "Do you really have to make such a clear distinction between us?" After breakfast, Ge Dongxu asked with a bitter smile, looking at Liu Jiayao helplessly.

    "Dongxu, you''re still young, and there are things you can''t see clearly right now. Besides, if you insist on doing this, it puts a lot of pressure on me. So, you have two options: either I sign a share transfer agreement with Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory or with you personally. Actually, even if we do this, if the previous product issue still isn''t resolved, I''d still be holding you back," said Liu Jiayao with a determined expression.

    Seeing the determination in Liu Jiayao''s eyes, Ge Dongxu could only reply with a wry smile, "In that case, let it be a personal investment in Qinglan Cosmetics."

    "There you go with that bitter face again. Yours is mine, isn''t it all the same! It''s just one more contract," Liu Jiayao said as she wrapped her arms around Ge Dongxu''s and rocked against him.

    "If it''s all the same, then why do you insist on signing a contract with me?" Ge Dongxu teased, gently rubbing Liu Jiayao''s nose.

    ```

    "I''m just considering that if something happens to me in the future, you could rightfully take over Qinglan Cosmetics. Moreover, you''ll have your own family, your kids¡­" Liu Jiayao replied.

    "What on earth are you talking about!" Ge Dongxu''s heart trembled, and he suddenly held Liu Jiayao in his arms, forbidding her to continue.

    He suddenly understood that the death of Liu Jiayao''s parents still cast an unshakeable shadow in her heart, and he also understood Liu Jiayao''s persistent concerns about her age.

    "Look how nervous you are, I''ll stop talking about it. As long as you''re aware, that''s fine," Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a look and then curled up in his arms like a contented cat.

    "Right, I haven''t asked you yet what exactly happened to the company? And what about the product issue you mentioned?" After holding Liu Jiayao tenderly for a moment, Ge Dongxu remembered what she had said earlier and asked.

    "I don''t know where the problem lies; we''ve been following the regular production process, but the last three batches of products have had problems," Liu Jiayao said as she sat up, her face clouded with worry.

    "Oh, there have been such problems? Tell me more about it," Ge Dongxu said with a hint of a frown.

    So, Liu Jiayao recounted the entire situation from beginning to end. After hearing it, Ge Dongxu also felt it was incredible and suspected, "Could it be that Li Bisheng is behind this?"

    "I have my suspicions too, but Li Bisheng is an outsider; he couldn''t possibly do this. Moreover, during the subsequent two productions, Uncle Hua and I were monitoring the entire process and didn''t notice anything abnormal," Liu Jiayao said with a wry smile.

    "Oh, do you have any of the problematic products on hand? Let me have a look," Ge Dongxu said, although he also had his doubts, he still agreed with Liu Jiayao''s point of view, after all, they couldn''t make wild guesses about Li Bisheng just because he wanted to buy Qinglan Cosmetics.

    "Yes, there are some," Liu Jiayao nodded, stood up, and brought Ge Dongxu a bottle of the contaminated cosmetics.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu opened the cosmetic product, he immediately detected a faint stench.

    Ge Dongxu had never come into contact with Yin Demonic Corpse Qi, and besides, the Corpse Qi had gone through several production steps and had been distributed into so many bottles of cosmetics that it was extremely weak. Even if he had experienced Yin Demonic Corpse Qi before, it wasn''t certain that he would be able to recognize it.

    However, even though he couldn''t identify it, Ge Dongxu, a practitioner of the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, could vaguely sense that this faint stench was somehow different from ordinary stench, but exactly how it was different, he couldn''t articulate. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Strange!" Ge Dongxu frowned slightly, thought for a long time, but couldn''t figure out what was different about the stench, and then said, "Arrange for another batch of production before the end of the year, and I''ll help you keep an eye on it. If there is still a problem, then we truly can only stop production temporarily until we figure out the issue."

    "Yes, that''s what I was thinking. But the company has run out of money, and if we want to resume production, you''ll need to invest some money," Liu Jiayao nodded and then said with a bitter smile.

    "No problem," Ge Dongxu agreed without hesitation.

    ¡­

    "Director Li, I heard that Qinglan Cosmetics is going to resume production. Give me another bottle of that stuff, I want to bring down Qinglan Cosmetics!" In the CEO''s office of Li Fang Cosmetics, Zhang Huowang said with his facial muscles twisted with hatred, making him look particularly ferocious and frightening.

    After the shareholders'' meeting, Zhang Huowang was fired by Qinglan Cosmetics Company, and he didn''t even receive a cent of his year-end bonus.

    "Forget it," Li Bisheng said, a flash of unwillingness in his eyes.

    He was unwilling to fail so close to his goal, and even more unwilling to admit that he no longer had any Yin Demonic Corpse Qi to use; otherwise, without Zhang Huowang coming to him, he would have taken the initiative to find a way to act again.

 Chapter 226 Zhuang [Update 1]

    "Mr. Li, are we really going to let this slide? At the shareholders'' meeting that day, you were thoroughly humiliated by a high school student! How can you rest easy without reclaiming your dignity?" Zhang Huowang provoked resentfully."You step out first and keep your cell phone on. I need to think this over," Li Bisheng was indeed stimulated, and whenever he thought of that day''s loss of face, his handsome features contorted into a hideous expression. After a long while, his eyes glinted with a venomous look as he waved Zhang Huowang away.

    "Then take your time! Call me when you need me," Zhang Huowang, seeing Li Bisheng react like this, knew there was hope and a malicious smile appeared on his face as he bowed slightly and then left.

    After Zhang Huowang left, the expression on Li Bisheng''s face grew darker and darker until eventually he picked up the cell phone on his desk and said coldly, "Book me a ticket to the Capital for today, then come to my office."

    Soon after, a woman in uniform with a voluptuous figure entered Li Bisheng''s office.

    "Mr. Li, your flight is booked, it''s at two o''clock this afternoon," the woman reported as she came in, swaying her tightly skirt-clad hips as she approached Li Bisheng.

    "Come here!" Li Bisheng gestured to her with a wave.

    A flicker of fear flashed in the woman''s eyes, but she quickly approached with a charming smile.

    When the woman got close, Li Bisheng grabbed her hair and pushed her down to his crotch, his eyes revealing a cold glare.

    Liu Jiayao, you bitch, one day, I will have you under me just like this!

    ...

    "We actually succeeded this time!" In Qinglan Cosmetics Company, as she opened the cosmetics and inhaled the familiar fragrant scent, Liu Jiayao expressed her surprise to Ge Dongxu with a bright face.

    "As long as it worked. Now you and everyone at Qinglan Company can rest easy over the New Year," Ge Dongxu smiled and said, but he always had an uneasy feeling that something wasn''t quite right.

    Why did it not work the previous times, but now it suddenly did? What exactly was the problem with that faint bad smell?

    "New Year''s?" Liu Jiayao''s delicate body shivered slightly, her eyes filling with a touch of melancholy and reminiscence.

    "Why don''t you come to my home for New Year''s? My parents are really nice," Ge Dongxu, feeling a pang of pain in his heart, stepped forward and embraced her fragrant shoulders, asking softly.

    Liu Jiayao''s body trembled slightly again at his words, her beautiful eyes suddenly lighting up, but then they dimmed again, and she shook her head, saying, "My grandparents are still there; they just refuse to come to the big city. I will go to be with them for the holidays."

    "If that''s the case, then arrange your company affairs tomorrow and go to your grandmother''s home for the New Year earlier. I have to return home tomorrow too; my parents have already called several times urging me," Ge Dongxu said after hearing that Liu Jiayao would be spending the New Year with her grandparents, feeling slightly relieved, and after a pause, he added.

    Because the winter vacation had just started, Ge Dongxu had been dragged to the Provincial Capital by Lin Kun and Yue Ting, and then he happened to run into Liu Jiayao''s issue, keeping him busy up until now, with the New Year''s Eve just four days away.

    ...

    Li Bisheng had just left the airport when a plump woman was waiting for him at the exit.

    This was the regional manager of Li Fang Cosmetics Company in the Capital.

    "Mr. Li, you must be exhausted. The car has been prepared for you; it''s parked in the parking lot," the voluptuous woman hurried forward as she saw Mr. Li appear.

    "Hmm, very good." Li Bisheng nodded, then followed the regional manager of the capital to the parking lot. After he got into the car and started it, he stepped on the gas and sped away, while the voluptuous woman seemed to let out a sigh of relief rather than showing any trace of regret or resentment.

    In the past, she had been charmed by Li Bisheng''s tall and handsome appearance, his gentlemanly demeanor, but only after getting into bed with him did she realize under that handsome face was a heart so cruel and cold.

    In bed, his dominance was unbridled, never considering her feelings, and afterward, the toll on her was not only physical pain but also an indescribable weakness, as if some vitality had been drained from her body. After a few such encounters, Li Bisheng''s handsome face no longer seemed attractive to her; it was as terrifying as a demon''s.

    The black Toyota sedan raced out of the airport and soon arrived at a villa complex on the outskirts of the capital.

    From the outside, the villa complex looked very ordinary. From the front entrance, one could only see a small three-story building and nothing else.

    But as the black Toyota drove into the villa complex, not only were there stern-faced armed guards to stop him and check his credentials, but also, as he drove past the three-story building, the scene that unfolded before Li Bisheng suddenly opened up.

    There were mountains and water, as picturesque as a poem.

    The mountains, a ring of verdant mountain ridges with pine and cypress forests, and the water, a lake of about half a square kilometer.

    The lake reflected the green of the pines and cypresses, a lush emerald green.

    Around the lake scattered one hundred and eight different-style independent villas. Each villa was connected by pebble pathways, flanked by green bamboo groves, and each also had a separate exit.

    Behind each villa stretched clear lake waters, and willow trees were planted on the shores. It was winter now, and the willows were bare, offering little to the scenery, but come spring, they would surely sway gracefully, with gentle breezes and rippling waves, presenting a breathtakingly beautiful and heartening scene.

    The sedan did not drive into the lakeside villa community but stopped just short of it.

    For the area around the lake was off-limits to vehicles.

    Li Bisheng got out of the car, and looking towards the villa community that resembled a paradise on earth, a solemn expression crossed his face. He straightened his clothes before carefully stepping towards the villas. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After walking a while, Li Bisheng stopped in front of a villa.

    The villa had a natural wall made of unknown vegetation, and looking through the gate, one could see a pastoral landscape inside.

    The yard was planted with various flowers, herbs, and fruits and vegetables. At that moment, a young man wielding a small hoe was carefully loosening the soil around some herbs. Feeling someone approach, he looked up, saw it was Li Bisheng, and stood up straight, saying, "So it''s the senior brother! Why aren''t you enjoying yourself in Jiangnan Province? What brings you here today?"

    "I was thinking of the New Year, came to see how Master and my junior brother were doing," Li Bisheng said with a smile as he walked in, then pulled a card from the bag he carried and gave it to the young man, "The PIN is six eights, and I''ll trouble my junior brother to put in a good word for me with Master. Don''t forget my share of any benefits."

    "You''re too polite, senior brother, but of course," the junior brother happily accepted the card, his face lighting up with a smile. Then, pointing inside, he added, "Master is doing his exercises, they should end in about half an hour."

    ps: Today is a five-update day. It''s Monday, so don''t forget to cast your recommendation votes. Thank you very much.

 Chapter 227 Master [Second Update]

    "Hmm, then I''ll wait outside." Li Bisheng nodded and glanced around the yard. "You''ve taken good care of these herbs, Junior Brother.""Of course, these are all precious herbs Master collected from various places. How dare I neglect them! I don''t know when I will be able to, like you, Senior Brother, live freely and enjoy life to the fullest." The Junior Brother said enviously as he looked at Li Bisheng.

    "Haha, you get to listen to Master''s teachings every day by his side. I, your Senior Brother, can''t even ask for that. You don''t know how good you have it!" Li Bisheng laughed, but a hint of smugness was evident in his eyes despite his words.

    The path of cultivation was tedious and tough, with no clear end in sight. Like their master, who was quite old and had a fair level of cultivation, the idea of achieving immortality was nothing more than a pipe dream. At best, they could live maybe a decade or two longer than the average person.

    Li Bisheng did not want such a monotonous life for a nebulous goal. Once released by his master, he was like a bird escaping its cage, not just free, but also thriving with a few tricks up his sleeve and some special powers unknown to ordinary people. He was living a carefree and joyful life.

    "Bisheng''s here, come in," an old and slightly chilling voice came from the villa, just as Li Bisheng reveled in his self-satisfaction.

    The Junior Brother''s face changed when he heard the voice, recalling what he had just said. He hurriedly bent down to his work, whereas a cold, triumphant smirk formed on the corner of Li Bisheng''s mouth.

    This Junior Brother was only allowed to go out a few days each month, just like a university student confined to the ivory tower, how could he compare with someone like Li Bisheng who had been through the wringer in the business world for over a decade?

    With just that remark he made earlier, Li Bisheng''s Junior Brother was likely to suffer for a good while.

    Thinking this, Li Bisheng quickly hid the smug smirk at the corner of his mouth and tiptoed into the villa. He approached an elderly man in a grey robe sitting on a sandalwood Taishi Chair in the living room and reverently kowtowed, "Disciple pays respects to Master."

    "Mm, rise. I heard your plan to acquire Qinglan Cosmetics failed?" The old man had a goatee and wore a long robe. From a distance, he exuded a somewhat immortal aura, but up close, one could see his face was pockmarked, and a faintly chilling aura emanated from him, making people feel uneasy.

    "Master, it was all set to go through, but unexpectedly, a ''Cheng Yaojin'' interfered. He invested and helped Liu Jiayao, causing your disciple''s efforts to fall short." Li Bisheng respectfully responded.

    "Humph! Didn''t you say it was a sure thing?" The old man snorted coldly, a flash of displeasure on his face.

    Just like Ge Dongxu needed to earn money for his own cultivation and expenses, the elderly cultivator likewise needed resources. Although as a member of a special national department, he had been provided with a Feng Shui treasure land and an elegant environment for living and cultivation, and received substantial supplies and funds annually, it was not enough for him.

    This was similar to many of today''s officials who, despite already having high incomes, were never satisfied and always reaching out for more.

    Of course, being in a special department the old man held great power, but it wasn''t easy to reveal himself publicly, nor was it appropriate for him to intervene in mundane affairs at will. Embezzling, obviously, was out of the question, so instead, the old man trained several disciples before sending them out to accumulate wealth for him.

    But the business world is like a battlefield, and standing out in the commercial arena to become a business tycoon actually requires talent; just having a few Techniques is not enough. Besides, these Techniques should not be used carelessly, since there are special governmental departments monitoring them. Being a member of one such department, the old man would face sanctions if he recklessly used Techniques to harm people and amass wealth.

    Of course, this also had to do with the current era of decline in Daoist magic. Even with their Techniques, they were only slightly more powerful than ordinary people, and it was difficult for them to cause any significant disturbance. If pushed to the brink, ordinary people wielding knives could still kill them.

    In the end, among the disciples the old man sent out, only Li Bisheng was the most successful. At his young age, he was already the owner of a cosmetics company with annual sales surpassing a hundred million and profits close to twenty million. Although the other disciples had also achieved some success, they were far behind Li Bisheng.

    Initially, the old man had hoped that Li Bisheng''s business would reach new heights, eventually providing him with more material assistance. Therefore, he did not hesitate to give him several bottles of painstakingly collected Yin Demonic Corpse Qi and even pulled some strings to allocate some funds to him. Unfortunately, all his efforts ended in vain, which left the old man quite dissatisfied with Li Bisheng this time.

    "Disciple never expected things to turn out this way. Please calm your anger, Master, and give your disciple a few more bottles of Yin Demonic Corpse Qi. This time, I will surely bring Qinglan Cosmetics to its knees," Li Bisheng hurriedly said.

    "Do you think Yin Demonic Corpse Qi is so easily collected?" the old man said coldly.

    "I am aware, Master, but I just cannot accept this defeat! Moreover, Li Fang Cosmetics has now reached a bottleneck in its growth. The best and quickest way to take it to the next level would be to acquire Qinglan Cosmetics. When that happens, I will be able to provide Master with even more wild herbs and find more suitable partners for Dual Cultivation, helping Master break through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation," Li Bisheng said.

    As Li Bisheng mentioned the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, the moles on the old man''s face seemed to suddenly emit a shining light.

    The old man was currently at the Third Layer of Qi Cultivation, and the Fourth Layer seemed to be just a step away. But, despite ten years of arduous cultivation, he could not make that single step forward.

    Once he could step into the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, he would become one of the true powerhouses within this special department. At the moment, he was only considered a high-ranking figure but not yet a true powerhouse.

    A couple of years ago, he had discovered an incomplete Dual Cultivation Technique. With this Technique and the help of medicinal supplements, his progress had noticeably accelerated.

    That''s why, in order to grant Li Bisheng greater financial power to help him gather more medicinal herbs and Dual Cultivation partners for himself, he had spared no effort in giving Li Bisheng Yin Demonic Corpse Qi, enabling him to use underhanded tactics to forcibly attempt a takeover of Qinglan Cosmetics Company. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Hmph, even if you manage to bring down Qinglan Cosmetics, what use is it to you after acquiring it? And what about that unexpected newcomer? Have you looked into him yet?" Although the old man''s voice was still chilly, his expression had softened somewhat.

    "He''s just a local from the small area of Changxi County in Jiangnan Province, the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea," replied Li Bisheng, his eyes revealing a hint of joy. Since the old man had started asking questions, it meant the matter was not yet concluded.

 Chapter 228 A Plan to Gain Both People and Wealth

    "No one of any significance has ever come from that place!" the old man pondered and said, his expression gradually softening as he spoke, "I''ve heard that the CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics is a very young and beautiful woman?""Yes," Li Bisheng''s heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly replied.

    "Then you should find a way to take her over and achieve both wealth and the woman," the old man said, a sinister look flashing across his face.

    "Master, I have indeed thought about using my charms to win her over, but she''s not taking the bait. I need your guidance," Li Bisheng feigned ignorance of the sinister expression on the old man''s face and said with a wry smile.

    "These days, a pretty face is nowhere near as useful as techniques. I''ve recently folded a paper doll out of boredom. If you can obtain that female CEO''s birth time and date, as well as her blood, use the blood to write her birth time and date on the paper doll, and I''ll teach you a set of spells to cast¡ªshe will be at your mercy," the old man spoke, revealing a paper doll folded from yellow paper that had appeared in his hands, marked with bizarre talismans and emitting a faintly eerie and sinister aura.

    Upon seeing this, Li Bisheng''s eyes lit up sharply, but they quickly dimmed as he bitterly smiled and said, "Getting her birth time and date is not difficult, but her blood¡ªthat will be tough. I certainly can''t kidnap her. After all, she is a well-known corporate CEO in Jiangnan Province, and I definitely can''t take overt action."

    "That''s your business. I can only help you to this extent!" the old man''s expression darkened slightly as he spoke.

    "Yes," Li Bisheng no longer dared to speak further upon seeing this and respectfully took the paper doll, then learned the spells from the old man.

    ...

    It was once again the Xu Family reunion day, on the third day of the first lunar month every year.

    Because of the incident from two years prior, Ge Shengming and Xu Suya''s status within the Xu Family had completely changed from before. Especially Auntie Liang Zhen, who always scrambled to sit with Xu Suya and chat about family matters.

    Therefore, the atmosphere during the New Year was exceptionally harmonious and lively, filled with joy and unity.

    Watching the Xu Family enjoying themselves together in such a merry and joyous scene, Ge Dongxu felt somewhat relieved that he hadn''t invited his uncles and others to invest in his factory. Otherwise, family gatherings would inevitably involve discussions about the interests of business, lacking the warmth of family reunion. Moreover, modest wealth is itself a form of happiness, just like his father and mother. Despite having a multimillionaire son, one insisted on running a farmhouse, driving a small truck, and taking joy in it, while the other continued to teach at school every day, also finding joy in the everyday.

    Since this was the case, Ge Dongxu thought it best to maintain the status quo. After all, the economic situations of these uncles and aunts were quite good, and they were living happily. Should they ever face financial difficulties, he could lend a helping hand. As for his maternal grandparents, his parents gave them ten to twenty thousand every year to use. Any more, and the grandparents would probably worry about how to spend the money instead.

    "Dongxu, have you had any contact with Director Zuo recently?" Just as Ge Dongxu was absorbed in the sight of his mother and aunts laughing and chatting merrily, his elder cousin Xu Jirong broke into his thoughts.

    "Heh, Director Zuo is quite busy, and I have been preoccupied with preparing for my college entrance exams as well, so we haven''t had much contact. Why do you ask?" Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    "It''s nothing much. I''ve heard that after the New Year, Director Zuo might be transferred to the city bureau as deputy director, so I wanted to see if you knew anything about it," Xu Jirong said.

    "Oh, I didn''t know about that. Why, do you want to follow Director Zuo to the city bureau?" Ge Dongxu was slightly taken aback and then asked Xu Jirong with a smile.

    In the past couple of years, Ge Dongxu had interacted with many people and situations, and his social experience had far surpassed that of an ordinary high school student. When his cousin asked him this question, he immediately guessed his intentions.

    "There tend to be more opportunities by Director Zuo''s side, so..." Xu Jirong, having his thoughts exposed by his cousin, was somewhat embarrassed and his face turned slightly red as he spoke.

    "Director Zuo is the leader, so he definitely has his considerations. I''m not one to interfere too much with personnel arrangements," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Ge Dongxu was very clear about his status in the eyes of Zuo Le, so when it came to matters of principle, he didn''t want to interfere to avoid causing him difficulty.

    "That''s true, I was just asking. Actually, I''m quite satisfied with the way things are now," Xu Jirong said with a slight hint of disappointment, but he could understand Ge Dongxu''s decision and laughed it off.

    "Hehe, don''t worry, cousin. There are some things I shouldn''t interfere with. But if anyone in the department deliberately makes things difficult for you or tries to hold you back, you can tell me, and I will definitely stand up for you. So what you need to do now is to work hard. With your ability, there will definitely be opportunities for promotion," Ge Dongxu said, patting his cousin''s shoulder.

    And Ge Dongxu''s words were no boast. Even putting aside the relationship with Zuo Le and Elder Feng, based solely on his status as the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, even the County Party Secretary would not dare to bother his cousin lightly. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It can''t be helped, in these times, economic work overrides everything else. Economic performance is the most important metric to evaluate local leaders. Hence, when investors come around, sometimes even the top one or two officials in the county would come out to greet and entertain them.

    Given the current development trend of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, not to mention the county leaders, even the city leaders pay special attention to it, fearing that this rising star company might move elsewhere. And from this, one can imagine that if Ge Dongxu revealed his identity, even the County Party Secretary would have to treat him cordially.

    "Don''t worry, I will definitely work hard," Xu Jirong said cheerfully, no longer feeling any disappointment.

    After the third day of the lunar new year, Ge Dongxu stayed at home for a few more days until the tenth. Then he left for the Provincial Capital, preparing to take a flight to the Capital from there.

    The cold energy in Elder Feng''s body, because of his old age, Ge Dongxu did not dare to act rashly and had to split the process into three sessions. He had agreed to visit the Capital on the eleventh day of the first lunar month.

    "No more, Dongxu, if you don''t stop now, I''m going to kick you out to the next room," Liu Jiayao, on the pink bed in an apartment in Yadu Garden, was nearly stripped bare by Ge Dongxu, gasping and desperately holding onto Ge Dongxu''s hand to prevent any further actions.

    "Alright, how about I just hold you to sleep, I promise I won''t move," Ge Dongxu, seeing Liu Jiayao threatening to send him to sleep in the next room, said reluctantly.

    Although the two had not yet taken the final step in their relationship, this situation was enough to satisfy Ge Dongxu, a young man in the prime of his youth.

    Ge Dongxu, being an energy-rich cultivator, additionally understood Meridian Points, and every time he teased her, it was just right, and Liu Jiayao couldn''t take it anymore.

    "You promised, if you move again, I really will kick you out," Liu Jiayao said, both loving and hating, her pretty face flushed.

    "I won''t move, I promise," Ge Dongxu said, and indeed he just held Liu Jiayao from behind without moving anymore.

    "Ge Dongxu, you big pervert, get to the next room!" However, it wasn''t long before Liu Jiayao''s scream echoed through the room.

    Afterward, Ge Dongxu left the master bedroom with a pillow in his arms, looking downcast, and went to the secondary bedroom.

    As Ge Dongxu lay alone in the secondary bedroom, staring at the ceiling and thinking about his interactions with Liu Jiayao, he heard the door being pushed open. Then, turning his head towards the door, he saw Liu Jiayao, fully dressed, standing there with a pillow in her arms.

    "Don''t get the wrong idea, I just can''t sleep alone, but I warn you, this time, you''re not allowed to take off my clothes... Ah!" Liu Jiayao said to Ge Dongxu, but before she could finish, Ge Dongxu scooped her up in his arms. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 229 Return to the Capitalã€Fourth Updateã€‘

    "Zhang Huowang, do you have a way to get Liu Jiayao''s birth time in Chinese Hour and her blood?" Li Bisheng asked Zhang Huowang in the chairman''s office of Li Fang Cosmetics Company."The Chinese Hour isn''t hard to find out. Back then, my cousin''s husband, Ren Chenle, started a business with Liu Jiayao''s father, Li Hua, and others. Their relationship was like brothers. Liu Jiayao''s father was the first among them to get married, and naturally, she was the first child born, so I heard from my cousin''s husband that when Liu Jiayao was born, he and the rest of them were so excited that they all waited outside the maternity ward. It seems likely he would remember the time of Liu Jiayao''s birth. As for the blood?" Zhang Huowang said this, his face showing a pensive expression. It took a while before he continued, "It''s not impossible to get it, but it will take some trouble and thought."

    "Oh, do tell," Li Bisheng said, confident about obtaining Liu Jiayao''s birth time in Chinese Hour. Only her blood had been beyond his means, which he had thought was difficult, but seeing Zhang Huowang''s expression, it seemed there might be a way to get it, which greatly pleased him.

    "Unless you kidnap Liu Jiayao and draw her blood, there''s absolutely no way to get it," Zhang Huowang said, pausing deliberately before looking up at Li Bisheng.

    "Don''t worry, as long as you tell me the method, I''ll make sure you''re well-compensated," Li Bisheng said.

    Zhang Huowang knew that Li Bisheng was not only the boss but also had very special abilities. Seeing that Li Bisheng already understood his implication, he didn''t dare to beat around the bush any longer, his face revealing a sly expression as he said, "Liu Jiayao''s blood type is RH-negative blood, commonly known as ''Panda blood type.''"

    "So you''re saying that Liu Jiayao has left her contact information in the Provincial Capital''s blood bank?" Li Bisheng''s eyes sparkled at the information, a sinister smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

    "President Li is indeed smart. You get it with just a hint," Zhang Huowang, seeing that Li Bisheng had immediately guessed his idea just from mentioning that Liu Jiayao had a rare blood type, was inwardly startled and hurriedly flattered with a smile.

    "Haha! Would I be able to build such a big business from scratch if I weren''t smart? Alright, you can continue being the procurement manager at Qinglan Cosmetics Company. But remember, you must not reveal a word about our conversation today, or else..." Li Bisheng let out a round of proud laughter, but his last words came out particularly chilling.

    "Of course, of course," Zhang Huowang shuddered inwardly and quickly replied.

    "That''s settled then. You may leave," Li Bisheng waved him off.

    ...

    In Yadu Garden, Liu Jiayao hung up the phone and with a slight frown, said to Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, it looks like I won''t be able to take you to the airport."

    "What happened?" Ge Dongxu asked curiously.

    "The hospital called. They said a patient with RH-negative blood urgently needs a transfusion. People with our rare blood type usually leave contact information at the blood center in case our blood is needed and can''t be found elsewhere. The hospital said they tried several contacts but couldn''t reach them, and then they got hold of me, asking me to go as soon as possible," Liu Jiayao explained.

    "I see. Then you should hurry, don''t delay the patient. I''ll be fine here, I can just take a cab," Ge Dongxu replied, his fondness for the compassionate Liu Jiayao growing.

    "Alright, but be careful! The Capital is different from here," Liu Jiayao gently hugged Ge Dongxu, kissing him on the forehead as she cautioned.

    "Don''t worry, I''ve got it," Ge Dongxu responded with a smile. He hadn''t told Liu Jiayao that his trip to the Capital was to see Elder Feng; on one hand, because Liu Jiayao hadn''t asked ¨C if she had, Ge Dongxu certainly wouldn''t have kept it a secret from her, and on the other hand, because Ge Dongxu felt Elder Feng''s identity was too unique, he preferred not to mention him to others.

    So after they left the building, Liu Jiayao drove straight to the hospital, while Ge Dongxu hailed a taxi to the airport.

    The flight ticket was booked for Ge Dongxu by Yue Ting, who naturally secured him a first-class seat.

    Perhaps it was because many people travel to the capital in January for business, or perhaps because the economy of Huaxia Country was growing at a high speed, leading to an increase in wealthy individuals.

    Today, there were quite a few people in first class.

    When Ge Dongxu boarded the plane, there were already some people seated. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire

    "Hey, you''re the young man who had dinner with President Liu that night," Ge Dongxu had just settled down in his seat for a short while when he saw a group of five people entering the first-class cabin.

    Leading the group was none other than the director of the Provincial Entertainment Station, Wu Longcai, followed by a young couple¡ªa handsome man and a beautiful woman¡ªwho looked familiar, as they were the station''s leading celebrities, but Ge Dongxu couldn''t recall their names at the moment. The two women behind them were those he had met that day.

    The one called Qianqian was wearing a Korean-style pink cashmere coat, a white inner layer, and white leggings. Her hair was casually tied behind her back, still looking as sweet and innocent as ever.

    The other woman was dressed just as sexy and explosive as before, but this time instead of a body-hugging skirt, she wore red leather pants. Her upper body was clad in a black leather jacket and a black high-necked tight wool sweater, matched with shiny and exaggerated accessories.

    The tight leather pants outlined curves that would make any man''s blood surge. The zipper of the leather jacket was undone, revealing the ample assets that the tight wool sweater hugged tightly.

    "Oh, it''s Director Wu, what a coincidence," Ge Dongxu, not one for putting on airs, saw that Wu Longcai not only remembered him but also took the initiative to greet him with a smile, so he too smiled and returned the greeting.

    The two leading celebrities, upon seeing Director Wu greet Ge Dongxu, flashed a hint of curiosity in their eyes, but considering his youth and ordinary attire, they didn''t pay much attention and merely nodded slightly at Ge Dongxu as a form of greeting before finding their seats and sitting down.

    At that moment, someone in first class recognized them, called out their names with a smile, and greeted them. It was then that Ge Dongxu remembered their names: the man was Liu Manman, and the woman Shangguan Yunfeng.

    The two women following behind also saw Ge Dongxu, with the sexy and explosive-looking young woman nodding and smiling at him, revealing two rows of snow-white, neatly aligned teeth as a way of greeting.

    The one called Qianqian merely glanced at Ge Dongxu, then looked down at her plane ticket, and said to the woman behind her, "Shiyi, I just remembered I have something to discuss with Director Wu; let''s switch seats." sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Having said that, the woman called Qianqian didn''t wait for the one called Shiyi to respond; she quickly took two steps and sat down beside Director Wu.

    The woman called Shiyi frowned slightly but eventually walked toward Ge Dongxu. She then sweetly smiled at him and said, "Here we meet again. Let me formally introduce myself, my name is Wu Shiyi. You don''t mind if I sit next to you, do you?"

    "Of course I don''t mind. My name is Ge Dongxu, you can just call me Dongxu. If you want to sit by the window, I can switch with you," Ge Dongxu said as he got up with a smile, and naturally took her suitcase from her hand, stowing it in the overhead compartment.

 Chapter 230 Gossip [5th update, ask for recommendation tickets]

    "Thank you, I didn''t realize you were such a gentleman. I''ll take the window seat then," Wu Shiyi said with a smile to Ge Dongxu.Ge Dongxu hurriedly moved aside to let Wu Shiyi through.

    As Wu Shiyi squeezed past, perhaps due to the limited space or perhaps because her hips were indeed quite perky, she unintentionally brushed against Ge Dongxu. The contact was quite firm and bouncy, startling Ge Dongxu enough to make him hastily retreat backward.

    Seeing this, Ye Qianqian across the aisle gave a look of disdain, then turned to Wu Longcai and whispered in his ear, intermittently letting out a few crisp, pleasant laughs.

    As the head of the entertainment station, Wu Longcai was certainly no Liuxia Hui who could resist temptation. Used to such scenes, seeing that Ye Qianqian was clearly trying to curry favor with him, he didn''t play coy. He intentionally leaned a bit closer to her, occasionally making physical contact, and his hand would sometimes caress her thigh. At those times, Ye Qianqian would pinch Wu Longcai coquettishly and seductively, completely shedding any image of innocence, appearing instead as a thoroughly enticing vixen.

    "Dongxu, you''re probably not even twenty years old, right? Why are you flying alone to Beijing? Could it be that you''re studying there?" After the plane took off, perhaps out of boredom, Wu Shiyi curiously asked Ge Dongxu.

    "You''re not an entertainment gossip journalist, are you? I''m certainly no star," Ge Dongxu replied with a laugh.

    Wu Shiyi was momentarily stunned, then she pursed her lips and giggled, lightly hitting Ge Dongxu as she said, "You seem so serious, but I didn''t expect you to be witty! I''m not some entertainment gossip journalist; I actually graduated in broadcasting."

    "Although I rarely watch TV, I do glance at it occasionally. How come I''ve never seen you?" Ge Dongxu asked curiously.

    "There are only so many programs on TV, and it''s not easy for a newcomer like me to get on. Even if I do, it would be during the least desirable times. You hardly watch TV, so naturally, you wouldn''t notice," she whispered into Ge Dongxu''s ear, perhaps worried that Director Wu overheard her.

    "Director, this Wu Shiyi really doesn''t know restraint, even stooping to such levels," Ye Qianqian said with thick contempt and disdain, whispering into the director''s ear.

    Ye Qianqian didn''t see Ge Dongxu''s expression turn cold as she spoke. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Don''t think too much," Wu Longcai said to Ye Qianqian after giving a glance towards Wu Shiyi.

    "As if I would think too much. Just look at how she dresses all flashy at the TV station every day; who is she trying to seduce?" Ye Qianqian whispered.

    "Heh heh, I don''t know about her, but you dress so conservatively every day, causing quite a regret among many at the station! You should really try to emulate Wu Shiyi; that would be a treat for us men," Wu Longcai said naughtily.

    "Director, you''re so bad, I''m not talking to you anymore!" hearing this, Ye Qianqian pouted and playfully hit and pinched Wu Longcai, making all the surrounding men go weak at the knees, wishing they could trade places with him. Only Ge Dongxu slightly frowned, his eyes flashing with a hint of disgust.

    For a woman like Ye Qianqian, no matter how beautiful or coquettish, Ge Dongxu had nothing but disdain.

    "I see, but in any field, as long as you work hard, there will always be opportunities," Ge Dongxu said smilingly to Wu Shiyi.

    "Hehe, maybe you''re right," Wu Shiyi laughed, her smile tinged with reluctance and resignation.

    Ge Dongxu was still just a high school student after all, and there were many social phenomena and rules he didn''t understand yet. Naturally, he couldn''t comprehend the helplessness in Wu Shiyi''s smile, nor did he know that for newcomers like her to rise in rank, it took more than just hard work¡ªthere were many other prices to pay. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire

    Even after paying those prices, many newcomers still might not get the chance to advance.

    "By the way, you still haven''t told me what you were doing in Beijing. I can''t help it, women are naturally curious, and women in our industry are even more so," Wu Shiyi quickly set aside the complex emotions in her heart and asked Ge Dongxu with a smile.

    She really was somewhat curious about Ge Dongxu. After all, no matter how ordinary Ge Dongxu''s clothes were, the fact that he dined with Liu Jiayao and flew first class to Beijing already suggested something out of the ordinary.

    After all, in their industry, they saw plenty of officials and wealthy people, but even though Ge Dongxu seemed a bit unusual, he couldn''t compare to people like Li Bisheng last time. Hence, Ye Qianqian, who was a bit mercenary, didn''t take Ge Dongxu very seriously.

    Perhaps it was because Ge Dongxu indeed had something unusual about him that when Wu Shiyi asked again, Ye Qianqian and Wu Longcai across the aisle also looked over at Ge Dongxu, their eyes filled with a hint of curiosity.

    "Okay, I''ll satisfy your curiosity. I haven''t attended university yet, and I won''t be going to study in Beijing in the future either. This trip to Beijing is to visit a friend," Ge Dongxu said.

    "A girl?" Wu Shiyi immediately asked again, her curiosity rekindled.

    "A guy," Ge Dongxu replied crisply.

    "Who are you kidding? All the way from Linzhou to Beijing just to see a guy?" Wu Shiyi expressed her disbelief.

    "Don''t believe it then," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "I mean, Ge Dongxu, what exactly is your relationship with Director Liu? How come you were eating with her last time? And how did you end up in first class?" Suddenly, Ye Qianqian also became curious and asked.

    But when she asked this question, it clearly carried a hint of disdain for Ge Dongxu.

    "Right, now it''s my turn to ask you. What are you doing in Beijing this time?" Ge Dongxu ignored Ye Qianqian and instead asked Wu Shiyi with a smile.

    "Hey, what''s the meaning of this, Ge Dongxu? I''m asking you!" Ye Qianqian, who usually had numerous men after her because of her good looks and figure, was surprised to find that Ge Dongxu paid no attention to her question. Annoyed, her pretty face tightened as she aggressively demanded an answer.

    "When you learn to respect others, then come and ask me what I mean," Ge Dongxu responded indifferently.

    "When have I ever disrespected you? Is there something wrong with my question? Don''t think that just because you don''t answer, I don''t know¡ªit''s all thanks to Director Liu that you can sit here," Ye Qianqian''s attitude made her even more furious out of embarrassed anger.

    "Since you already know, then why ask?" Ge Dongxu replied, still calm and unruffled.

    "I knew it! People like you can''t afford first class anyway. What are you showing off for? It''s all because you rely on..." Seeing Ge Dongxu respond in this way, Ye Qianqian thought she had hit the nail on the head, her face grew more mocking, and her words became sharper and more sarcastic.

 Chapter 231 Im Serious [1 update, asking for monthly pass]

    "Enough, Qianqian, hold back a little," Wu Longcai interrupted Ye Qianqian before she could finish her complaint."Director Wu, didn''t you see how his tone was when speaking to others? It''s so infuriating that she just couldn''t help it!" Ye Qianqian, clutching Wu Longcai''s arm, shook it with a look of grievance on her face.

    "Enough, the way you asked earlier was indeed problematic," Wu Longcai, being reasonable and smart, knew that while it was fine to criticize Ye Qianqian, an underling and a newcomer, Ge Dongxu was a different story. After all, his relationship with Liu Jiayao seemed not too bad, and Liu Jiayao invested a good amount of advertising in their TV station every year. It was better not to offend if possible.

    Seeing Director Wu not speaking up for her, Ye Qianqian pouted unhappily, but since Director Wu had spoken, she dared not pick on Ge Dongxu anymore.

    However, just because Ye Qianqian kept quiet didn''t mean that Shangguan Yunfeng, sitting in front of her and Director Wu, was pleased. He turned his head to ask Director Wu, "Director, who is he? He''s not old, but seems rather arrogant. And who is this President Liu you mentioned?"

    "Yunfeng bro, of course, he''s got the capital to be arrogant¡ªdon''t look at him being young; he''s acquainted with Liu Jiayao from Qinglan Cosmetics Company!" Ye Qianqian saw the Entertainment Channel''s top star, Shangguan Yunfeng, chime in and immediately felt emboldened again. She gave Ge Dongxu a sidelong glance and spoke with a mocking tone.

    "Oh, it''s Liu Jiayao! I''m pretty familiar with her. I just wasn''t aware she knew someone like him. Alright, don''t get upset over him. I''ll mention this to Liu Jiayao another day and have her teach him a lesson or two," Shangguan Yunfeng boasted arrogantly, casting a disdainful glance at Ge Dongxu.

    "Then thank you, Yunfeng bro. Make sure to remember to talk to her next time, OK?" Ye Qianqian said coquettishly, intentionally giving Ge Dongxu a provoking look as she spoke.

    "No problem," Shangguan Yunfeng replied and then turned away, looking supremely self-satisfied.

    Wu Longcai shook his head at the scene but said nothing more.

    After all, Shangguan Yunfeng was the Entertainment Channel''s leading lady and had some connections. Unlike the newcomer Ye Qianqian, giving him face was necessary.

    Moreover, Shangguan Yunfeng was indeed somewhat acquainted with Liu Jiayao.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t say anything either; he couldn''t possibly argue with these people or flamboyantly reveal his own status. He simply looked at them indifferently and remained silent.

    Because of the unpleasantness and seeing Shangguan Yunfeng''s apparent dissatisfaction with Ge Dongxu, Wu Shiyi didn''t dare to idle chat with Ge Dongxu anymore; otherwise, it would seem like she was deliberately offending Shangguan Yunfeng.

    Two and a half hours is neither long nor short.

    About an hour later, Wu Shiyi, perhaps feeling bored or still a bit concerned about Ge Dongxu''s pride being hurt, saw that Shangguan Yunfeng and the others were all engaged in their own conversations, gave Ge Dongxu a nudge with her elbow, and whispered, "Hey, don''t take it to heart, all right? Many people in our circle are like this."

    "Heh, don''t worry, I won''t take such banal comments to heart. It''s you, though¡ªyou still owe me an answer," Ge Dongxu responded with a smile, seeming unaffected. Wu Shiyi''s gesture nevertheless warmed his heart.

    "What can a newcomer like me do in the capital? I would just be there for show, to help toast and smile. The key figures are Director Wu and Shangguan Yunfeng, Liu Manman, and the others. Their main purpose for going to the capital this time is to get a new program approved by the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television, and also to meet with the head of a company interested in sponsoring the program to discuss it. In fact, the sponsorship deal that Director Wu discussed with President Li at the rotating restaurant at Mingyue Lake last time was very appealing to him, but I don''t know why he suddenly changed his mind before the new year," Wu Shiyi whispered.

    Of course, Wu Shiyi didn''t know that Li Bisheng''s change of mind was due to his failed acquisition plan. He initially intended to increase his investment in advertising and create a big buzz.

    "If the program is good, and you''re the host, then I might consider sponsoring it." Ge Dongxu replied thoughtfully, his expression dead serious.

    Upon hearing this, Wu Shiyi looked at Ge Dongxu''s earnest demeanor, paused in surprise, then suddenly "pfft" couldn''t help but laugh out loud. She quickly covered her mouth, peeked over at Shangguan Yunfeng to see if he had noticed, and when she saw he hadn''t, she sneakily pinched Ge Dongxu and gave him a white-eyed look, saying, "You''ve got some nerve, using a newbie like me for your jokes, huh? I am from the provincial station after all."

    "I''m being serious," Ge Dongxu said, touching the arm Wu Shiyi had pinched, a wry smile on his face.

    "Serious my foot! Do you have any idea how much it costs to sponsor a show? Several million at least!" Wu Shiyi pinched Ge Dongxu again, her expression becoming greatly exaggerated when she mentioned the sum of several million.

    In Huaxia Country, the year 1999 could not compare with the present, where we easily throw around tens or even hundreds of millions for variety show sponsorships. Back then, several million was actually a lot of money.

    "Alright, then pretend I never said anything. Do you have a business card? If I really decide to go through with it, I''ll have someone give you a call," Ge Dongxu said, seeing that Wu Shiyi didn''t believe him and not wanting to explain any further. He thought it would be simpler to have Cheng Yazhou contact her directly. That way, she would believe it.

    "What''s the matter? Trying to hit on me?" said Wu Shiyi, rolling her eyes at Ge Dongxu as he asked her for a business card again.

    Ge Dongxu silently slapped his forehead, finding it speechless. He just thought Wu Shiyi was a nice person and wanted to help her if there was a chance. So, he asked for her business card instead of contacting the supervisor Wu Longcai directly, not expecting her to take it the wrong way.

    "However, you do have good taste!" Wu Shiyi did not notice Ge Dongxu''s speechless moment. After rolling her eyes at him, she immediately looked proud, jutting out her chin and intentionally puffing out her chest.

    And boy, was it really prominent and big, enticing Ge Dongxu''s gaze involuntarily.

    "Men are all the same!" Perhaps because of her profession, having seen such gazes often, Wu Shiyi was not the least bit intimidated by Ge Dongxu''s stare. Instead, she rolled her eyes at him again and said, "However, considering you''re fairly handsome and seem mostly honest overall, I''ll give you my business card. Just do not keep calling me for no reason; I''m very busy studying."

    After saying that, Wu Shiyi handed Ge Dongxu her business card. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire

    The card carried a faint scent which was quite pleasant, and it was delicately made. It bore Wu Shiyi''s name and cellphone number, stating she was a show host for the provincial entertainment television station, but there was no mention of which program.

    "I don''t have a business card, so I''ll just leave you my number instead. Whether it''s something important while we''re in the capital or back in Jiangnan, feel free to call me. Of course, if it''s not important, don''t call me just to bother me, I''m very busy studying," Ge Dongxu said as he took Wu Shiyi''s business card and pulled out paper and pen from his bag, wrote down his mobile number, and handed it to Wu Shiyi. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Please, like I''d harass you with calls. Keep dreaming!" Wu Shiyi said with a look of disdain, rolling her eyes at him again, though she still took the number and put it away.

    Because she was so engaged in the conversation with Ge Dongxu, Wu Shiyi didn''t realize that the commotion had caught the attention of Wu Longcai and others.

    Ye Qianqian wore a look of disdain on her face, while a fleeting expression of displeasure crossed Shangguan Yunfeng''s face. As for Wu Longcai and Liu Manman, they didn''t seem to have any reaction, obviously not caring about the private exchange between the two.

    ps: Today is still five updates, but I can only post two chapters at midnight; the rest are not finished yet as they require some thought and typing, which will be updated around 11 a.m. tomorrow. Also, a big thanks to all the readers for your tips and to Alliance Hierarch "Red Dust Bonds" for your generous support once again.

 Chapter 232 Youre Not Some Big Shot [2nd Update]

    "It seems like you TV hosts all have a pretty high opinion of yourselves," Ge Dongxu noted, having seen Ye Qianqian and others glance their way. He didn''t take it to heart, though; instead, he smiled at Wu Shiyi and teased her. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire"Of course, becoming a host isn''t easy; we''ve come out on top from a massive crowd. I won''t speak for the men¡ªsince talent seems more crucial for them¡ªbut look at the women, each one curvy, sexy, and beautiful as flowers. Just look at me!" Wu Shiyi said with proud confidence, puffing up her chest once more.

    Now Ge Dongxu understood. Female TV hosts were different from other women; not only could they speak and engage well, but they also enjoyed showing off in front of others. So, he smiled as he appraised Wu Shiyi up and down, then nodded seriously, "Hmm, indeed not bad, definitely something to be proud of."

    Speaking of which, perhaps because he''d gotten used to being intimate with Liu Jiayao these days, or maybe because Wu Shiyi''s chest was thrust out so prominently that Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but notice¡ªhe even took a few extra glances.

    "You, Ge Dongxu, just how old are you this year to be flirting with your elder sister like this?" Wu Shiyi saw Ge Dongxu evaluating her and noticed his roving eyes, so she reached out to pinch him, her face forming a fierce expression.

    "I was just stating the truth; well, if I stop talking, that should be fine, right?" Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile, then indeed sat up straight.

    "Look at you all serious; alright, I was just joking. I''m a host; it''s my fate to be scrutinized on stage, so I don''t mind your comments!" Seeing Ge Dongxu sitting properly, Wu Shiyi felt a bit unaccustomed and nudged him gently with her elbow as she spoke.

    "From your expression, you seem rather helpless," Ge Dongxu had really wanted to enjoy some quiet, but since Wu Shiyi addressed him, he had to speak up again.

    "Helpless? I''m just sour grapes. The day a lot of people scrutinize me will mean I''ve made it famous. But you know, making it in our line of work is really tough," Wu Shiyi sighed softly, her eyes revealing a hint of confusion.

    "Not at all, with your figure, face, eloquence, and kind heart, a beauty like you will definitely become famous someday," Ge Dongxu responded, comforting her with a smile.

    "Thanks! You do have good insight," Wu Shiyi nodded in agreement.

    "Can''t you be a bit more modest? Modesty helps one to progress," Ge Dongxu watched as Wu Shiyi took it all in without any humility and couldn''t help but feel exasperated.

    "In our line of work, we need to fight and show confidence; if we''re modest, then we''re left with nothing," Wu Shiyi explained.

    "Then why didn''t you compete with Ye Qianqian when she switched positions with you? That was a great chance to build a good relationship with the director," Ge Dongxu asked, hearing her explanation.

    "Being with you isn''t so bad either! I can speak freely," a trace of sadness flickered through Wu Shiyi''s eyes, but she quickly smiled again.

    "Haha, in the end, you''re still quite a humble woman¡ªnot as wild as your outfit would suggest," Ge Dongxu remarked, his gaze filled with admiration.

    He preferred women like that!

    Wu Shiyi, who had been jovial all along, suddenly fell silent, no longer talking to Ge Dongxu, just staring out the window in a daze.

    After a while, Wu Shiyi suddenly turned to look at Ge Dongxu and asked, "Do you think I''m a bit foolish? Am I not cut out for this industry?"

    "You were just telling me about the importance of confidently showing yourself, right? When you were with me just now, you seemed very confident. I think it''s good to keep it up; you''ll certainly become an outstanding host," Ge Dongxu said seriously.

    "Stop it, I''m being serious here," Wu Shiyi said, raising her hand and lightly hitting Ge Dongxu.

    "I am being serious," Ge Dongxu said, looking puzzled, for he had spoken earnestly.

    "Stop it! You''re not some big shot, so of course, I feel confident with you!" Wu Shiyi lightly hit him again and rolled her eyes.

    "That''s where your mindset is wrong. You need to treat everyone as equals! How can you look at people through colored glasses? Besides, even though I''m not a big shot, I''m definitely better than that Mr. Li!" Ge Dongxu said sternly.

    "Annoying! When I''m serious, you just start messing around. Never mind, it''s no use talking to you." Wu Shiyi rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu, then propped her chin in her hands and gazed out the window, lost in thought.

    Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel a mix of amusement and frustration at the sight of Wu Shiyi pondering out the window.

    Indeed, this woman also saw herself as someone who got the chance to fly first class only because of Liu Jiayao.

    The plane soon began its descent, and Wu Shiyi finally snapped back to reality.

    "Right, the capital is huge, and you''re unfamiliar with it, so be careful," Wu Shiyi said in a low voice to Ge Dongxu as they returned to reality.

    "Thanks, I will, and you be careful too. Call me if you need anything," Ge Dongxu said warmly, smiling. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You wish, having a beautiful woman like me call you. You should call, but I might not answer," Wu Shiyi retorted, lifting her chin proudly.

    Just then, the plane safely landed, and Ge Dongxu just smiled without replying.

    At the airport, a large Cherokee with a military plate was parked containing two people; one was the eldest grandson of Elder Feng, Feng Chenqing, and the other was a middle-aged man around fifty, sitting in the passenger seat.

    Despite his age, the middle-aged man was sturdy and robust, with bright, spirited eyes. He sat rigidly beside the driver, resembling a crouching tiger, exuding a fierce aura.

    This man was none other than Elder Feng''s younger son, Feng Guozhen, a division commander of a certain military group.

    "Get off." Seeing the plane''s staircase extend, Feng Guozhen said sternly, then pushed open the passenger door, got out of the car and stood straight as a rod in front of the vehicle. Meanwhile, Feng Chenqing, the younger one, involuntarily shrank his head due to the chilly wind.

    One great advantage of first class was having the priority to board and disembark from the plane without having to squeeze through crowds.

    Ge Dongxu helped Wu Shiyi collect her luggage, then asked her to walk ahead with Wu Longcai and others while he followed behind.

    Wu Shiyi, out of respect for Shangguan Yunfeng, didn''t talk much to Ge Dongxu anymore. She just took her luggage, whispered thanks, and urged him to be careful before hurrying after Wu Longcai and his group.

    "Shiyi, I saw you exchanging contact information with that Dongxu. You''re not thinking of hooking him, are you? That''s really tasteless," Ye Qianqian whispered teasingly to Wu Shiyi as they walked along the corridor.

    "Hm, Shiyi, you''re one of us at the station too. You should be mindful of the influence your friends have," Shangguan Yunfeng looked back at Wu Shiyi, expressing some dissatisfaction.

    Shangguan Yunfeng preferred curvaceous and voluptuous women, and he was somewhat interested in Wu Shiyi, the newcomer. Although she dressed in a modern and open manner, her actions were rather conservative. Shangguan Yunfeng''s several hints hadn''t prompted Wu Shiyi to throw herself into his arms, so recently he had started to purposely make things difficult for her, letting her understand the severity of her situation.

    ps: I recommend the new author Long Lou''s book "Eternal Chronicles." I''ve read the beginning, and it seems decent. Writing as a newcomer isn''t easy, and those who like fantasy might want to check it out. If you like it, please support it.

 Chapter 233 Hes so awesome! [3rd update, ask for monthly pass]

    Wu Shiyi, after all, was a newcomer and naturally didn''t dare to confront Shangguan Yunfeng, the established leading lady who had a bit of a background at the station, so she hung her head and remained silent.As for Ge Dongxu himself, it didn''t bother him, but he couldn''t stand to see someone else being wronged because of him, so his expression darkened slightly as he contemplated speaking up for Wu Shiyi. By this time, however, those ahead had already deplaned.

    The wind outside howled, and everyone raised their collars. Seeing this, Ge Dongxu could only smile and shake his head, as it certainly wasn''t appropriate for him to shout in defense of Wu Shiyi.

    Although he hadn''t spoken up for Wu Shiyi, Ge Dongxu had taken note of the situation in his heart and thought about discussing the title sponsorship advertisement with Cheng Yazhou and Lin Kun once back in Jiangnan Province, trying his best to help Wu Shiyi.

    Where the plane had stopped, besides the Cherokee with the military license plate, there was also an airport shuttle waiting to pick up the head-class passengers.

    In comparison to the airport shuttle, the Cherokee with the military license plate was clearly much more conspicuous.

    As everyone disembarked from the plane, they couldn''t help but look towards the Cherokee with the military license plate. Most of them didn''t dare to stare blatantly, stealing only a few glances and feeling secretly astonished, wondering what VIP was aboard their flight to warrant a military vehicle being directly dispatched for pick-up at the airport.

    Wu Longcai and others were equally astonished. Being knowledgeable, they understood what it meant for a military vehicle to directly enter the airport to wait for someone.

    Only Ge Dongxu, upon seeing that military vehicle and the two individuals in front of it, couldn''t help but smirk bitter-sweetly, thinking that if he had known, he wouldn''t have informed Martial Brother Feng in advance and would have simply contacted him upon arriving in Beijing.

    People came off the plane one after another, and then they walked towards the shuttle. As they headed for the shuttle, they inevitably glanced once more toward the Cherokee.

    At that moment, Feng Chenqing had already spotted Ge Dongxu, so he whispered something to Feng Guozhen, who then strode powerfully over to the side of the boarding stairs.

    Seeing Feng Chenqing approaching, an imposing aura hit them directly, and that commanding presence, which was evidently that of a superior, even made seasoned figures like Wu Longcai''s hearts jump uncontrollably, not daring to glance sideways as they hurried toward the shuttle.

    After walking a few steps, Wu Longcai and the others dared to look back stealthily.

    They wanted to see who it was that had brought the military vehicle directly to the airport to pick someone up.

    When they looked back, Wu Longcai and the others'' eyes bulged in astonishment.

    Because they saw that authoritative middle-aged man, who obviously looked like a major figure, was actually holding Ge Dongxu''s hand tightly, and judging by Ge Dongxu''s demeanor, he seemed quite at ease and not nervous in the least.

    "There''s no need for such trouble in this cold weather. I could have just taken a cab," Ge Dongxu said to Feng Guozhen after shaking hands, and then he shook hands with Feng Chenqing, expressing his apologies.

    "This is what we should do, after all, you are an elder and moreover, you have come this time for my father''s health," Feng Guozhen humbly said, his eyes as sharp as swords, as if trying to see clearly the young man in front of him who looked unreasonably young, yet he couldn''t discern anything special.

    "Let''s talk in the car," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile, no longer standing on ceremony.

    Upon hearing this, Feng Chenqing hurriedly ran to open the rear door of the vehicle. Ge Dongxu then got in, and Feng Guozhen still took his place in the front passenger seat.

    Watching Feng Chenqing open the door for Ge Dongxu and seeing Ge Dongxu getting into the back of the car without hesitation, Wu Longcai and the others shuddered and came back to their senses.

    At this moment, Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian''s faces had turned ashen, cold sweat beading on their foreheads despite the winter chill. Wu Longcai''s face was clouded with a particularly ugly gloom, his eyes filled with concern, while Liu Manman''s face showed a hint of regret. Only Wu Shiyi still wore a look of shock on her face, her sexy mouth slightly open in disbelief, finding it hard to accept that the man she had been chatting and laughing with all the way had the clout to be greeted by a military vehicle driving directly into the airport.

    After that, Wu Shiyi remembered how she had been constantly pinching Ge Dongxu and rolling her eyes at him, incessantly nagging him along the way, and she couldn''t help but feel waves of apprehension, wanting to cry but having no tears.

    Oh heavens, oh earth, if only I had known how awesome this guy was, I would have used all my seventy-two Martial Skills to please him no matter what, even if, even if... pah, pah, Wu Shiyi, where is your mind going?

    Thus, the group of five, with their varied emotions, entered the shuttle bus in a daze.

    By then, the Grand Cherokee with the military plates had already sped away, for it was waiting for only one person, unlike the shuttle bus, which was waiting for many.

    "Mr. Wu, Mr. President," Ye Qianqian called out cautiously to Wu Longcai on the shuttle bus.

    "Hmph! Look at the fine mess you''ve made!" Wu Longcai glared at Ye Qianqian with such intensity he looked like he wished he could slap her.

    Such a person should have been someone to curry favor with at all costs, but now, because of Ye Qianqian, he was thoroughly offended. Fortunately, Wu Longcai himself wasn''t influenced by Ye Qianqian just now and hadn''t done anything outrageous, or else he would definitely have raised his hand to slap her by now. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire

    "Wuu wuu, Mr. Wu, how, how could I know he was so awesome!" Ye Qianqian said pitifully, her eyes brimming with tears.

    "Hmph!" Wu Longcai''s face remained unsympathetic to Ye Qianqian''s pitiful look.

    "Actually, it''s no big deal. There are plenty of people who use military plates to throw their weight around these days. The central government even said they would deal with this issue seriously at the beginning of the year, so I think this guy is just the type who loves to show off. He probably doesn''t have much of a background. Besides, we''re under the jurisdiction of the Propaganda Department, not the military, so what''s there to be afraid of!" Shangguan Yunfeng remarked, seeing the situation.

    In truth, he was still rather fearful and regretful in his heart, but since things had already happened, he could only try to think positively.

    "Hmph, wait until you''re also qualified to have a car drive directly into the airport to pick you up, then you can say that," Wu Longcai retorted without giving Shangguan Yunfeng any face, chastising him directly.

    Shangguan Yunfeng didn''t dare make another sound after seeing Wu Longcai lose his temper.

    The shuttle bus soon arrived at the airport terminal. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Ah, Mr. Wu, I can manage myself, I can manage," Wu Shiyi hurriedly said when Wu Longcai specifically wanted to help her with her luggage as they got off the bus, making her flustered.

    "It''s only right for a gentleman to carry luggage for a lady," Wu Longcai said warmly to Wu Shiyi, taking the luggage from her regardless.

    "But, you are..." Wu Shiyi said, feeling very unaccustomed to Wu Longcai''s attitude toward her, her voice trembling.

    "There are no buts," Wu Longcai said curtly, cutting her off. Then he smiled and asked, "By the way, you seemed to have a pleasant chat with Dongxu on the plane, and even exchanged contact numbers, right?"

    "Yes, but it was just a casual chat, not serious..." It dawned on Wu Shiyi why the director had made such a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn in his attitude towards her, and her heart couldn''t help but skip a beat.

    ps: Two more chapters will be updated consecutively.

 Chapter 234 Reunion with Senior Apprentice Brother [4th Update]

    "Hehe, that''s also pretty good. Now that you know each other and have his contact number, in the future, whenever you''re free, keep in touch more often," Wu Longcai chuckled, interjecting.

    "I wouldn''t dare, I mean, he was even driving a military vehicle..." Wu Shiyi shrank her head, fully lacking confidence as she spoke.

    "Hehe, some things must be fought for by oneself. For someone like him to give you his contact information, it means he must appreciate you to some extent. Moreover, you''re quite an attractive prospect, and, well, what man doesn''t like a beautiful woman?" Wu Longcai said.

    Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire

    "Mhm!" Wu Shiyi''s face turned red at his words, recalling how Ge Dongxu had seriously critiqued her on the plane earlier.

    "You''re not bad, keep working hard," Wu Longcai said with a smile upon seeing Wu Shiyi''s blush.

    Ye Qianqian watched Wu Longcai''s friendly and kind attitude towards Wu Shiyi, her eyes filled with jealousy and an indescribable sense of regret.

    The place by Ge Dongxu''s side should have been hers! She could have had the chance to meet an influential person!

    But what was the result? Because of her opportunism, she not only lost this great opportunity but also offended him, and consequently, even Wu Longcai formed a bad impression of her, which was fatal for a newcomer like her.

    ...

    "Commander Feng, is Elder Feng''s health still good?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile from inside the car.

    "Very good. In this kind of weather, he usually wouldn''t even dream of walking on the ground, not to mention the severe coughing. But now, he''s moving freely, coughs much less, and is even starting to think about what flowers and vegetables to plant in the backyard come springtime. Speaking of which, we really need to thank you," Feng Guozhen turned around, expressing his gratitude earnestly.

    "Hehe, I''m glad to hear that. Your father is my senior brother; it was my duty," Ge Dongxu said happily.

    "If you say my dad is your senior brother, then stop calling me Commander Feng. Call me by my name. In fact, if we''re serious about the formalities, I should be calling you ''Uncle Master''," Feng Guozhen said.

    "Hehe, then I will call you by your name. However, I''m younger, and it''s friendlier for you to call me by my name. If we add the familial titles, it would be awkward for both of us," Ge Dongxu replied with a laugh.

    "Haha, that''s true," Feng Guozhen burst into laughter, really liking Ge Dongxu''s forthright and honest personality.

    The car soon arrived at the courtyard house. After entering the main gate, Elder Feng had already been waiting inside. Seeing Ge Dongxu''s arrival, the one who hardly furrowed his brow even in the face of bullets and guns suddenly became a bit stirred up, hurriedly stepping forward and gripping Ge Dongxu''s hand tightly, and saying, "Dongxu, you''re here, was the journey here exhausting for you?"

    "I''m young, and I was in first class; why would it be exhausting?" Ge Dongxu, too, gripping the old man''s hand, was quite moved.

    This was a genuine elder who had a relationship with his master. Seeing him, Ge Dongxu felt as though he was seeing his master again.

    "Hehe, it''s good to be young!" Elder Feng nodded with a smile.

    "Hello Dongxu, I''m Feng Guoqiang, thank you for coming to visit my father. He has been talking about you since this morning," said a man who resembled Elder Feng in his facial features but taller and exuding a quiet dignity and vast righteous qi, extending his hand with a smile after Ge Dongxu released Elder Feng''s hand.

    "Hello, Secretary Feng," Ge Dongxu said, knowing that the man before him was Elder Feng''s eldest son, holding the top office in a certain province. He then solemnly shook his hand. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You are my father''s recognized junior brother, you can just call me by my name, otherwise my father will be unhappy," Feng Guoqiang hurriedly said.

    "Right, Dongxu, don''t be polite with them. Just call them by their names," Elder Feng said.

    Ge Dongxu could only nod stiffly.

    Feng Guoqiang was now in charge of the Feng Family and held a rank equivalent to a high official in border areas. Not to mention an eighteen-year-old young man, but in the whole Huaxia Country, there were not many people who could call him by his name so casually.

    "It''s getting late. Now that Dongxu has arrived, let''s have the kitchen prepare. Today we''ll have a reunion dinner," Elder Feng said to his youngest daughter Feng Jiahui after having a brief chat with Ge Dongxu.

    Feng Jiahui smiled in response and personally went to instruct the kitchen staff, behaving completely like an ordinary housewife without any airs of being a leader at the central bank.

    Ge Dongxu watched Feng Jiahui leave with a beaming smile, his face involuntarily showing a hint of puzzlement.

    "Our family is different from ordinary people''s families. While others can sit together and have a reunion dinner on New Year''s Eve, our family is scattered far and wide, especially me and Guozhen, one in the military and the other in local governance. On New Year''s Eve, it''s not good for us to leave our posts in case something unexpected happens. Therefore, only Jiahui and her family can come to have a reunion dinner with our father on New Year''s Eve. The two of us brothers usually visit our father in the capital based on our work schedules. This year, our father said he met the disciple of his benefactor and even recognized a fellow apprentice brother, so he arranged to have a reunion dinner during the first month of the lunar year, which is why all of us children hurried back," Feng Guoqiang, who had vast experience in governance, saw the puzzlement on Ge Dongxu''s face and immediately understood his thoughts, explaining with a smile.

    "Senior Brother!" Ge Dongxu, moved by these words, grasped Elder Feng''s hand tightly. He knew Elder Feng truly regarded him as family.

    "After that special period was over, I was fortunate enough to make a comeback and re-engage in the state''s work, full of vigor and vitality. However, behind that, there has always been one regret in my heart, which was not being able to see the old man again. I wanted to provide him with peace and comfort in his final years, so he could enjoy his days. Fortunately, though I did not get to see him, meeting you has left me with no regrets," Elder Feng said, patting Ge Dongxu''s hand emotionally.

    "Dongxu, you not only cured my father''s physical ailments but also healed his heart!" Feng Guozhen, watching the old and the young holding hands, could not help but feel incredibly touched.

    "The kitchen may not be ready so soon. Let me give senior brother another acupuncture treatment first," Ge Dongxu quickly said, reminded by what Feng Guozhen had said.

    "No rush, no rush, you just got off the plane and need to rest. Let''s wait until after dinner to discuss this further," Elder Feng waved his hand.

    "My body can handle several days and nights without sleep, so that''s not an issue. What''s important is your health. Let''s dispel some of the cold qi first, so you''re in good shape, feeling spirited, and the dinner will taste even better," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Exactly, exactly, Dad, Dongxu is now your doctor. You should listen to what Dongxu says," Feng Guoqiang and Feng Guozhen, as his sons, naturally prioritized Elder Feng''s health first, echoing each other in agreement and looking at Ge Dongxu with extra gratitude.

    "Hehe, well in that case, I''ll listen to you, Dongxu. But do not overexert yourself; don''t get tired," Elder Feng said.

    "Don''t worry, Senior Brother, I wasn''t experienced last time. This time, I have more experience, and it should go more smoothly and easily," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Feng Guoqiang and Feng Guozhen exchanged glances and couldn''t help but give a wry smile. These days, probably only Ge Dongxu would have the nerve to practice on their father, and even say it so openly.

 Chapter 235 Growing Stronger with Age [5th Update]

    The purification of chemicals always faces the greatest challenge in removing the last bit of impurity, and expelling the cold energy from Elder Feng''s body was no different.

    The remnant of the cold energy had truly seeped into Elder Feng''s bone marrow; removing it without harming the old man''s body required extreme caution and was actually more difficult than the previous attempt, testing Ge Dongxu''s control over True Qi. If Ge Dongxu were still at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, he would have ended up exhausted just like last time, treading on thin ice with the utmost care.

    But this time, Ge Dongxu had reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, which made the expulsion of the cold somewhat easier.

    Nevertheless, as the cold had penetrated the marrow, Ge Dongxu needed to extract the threads of cold energy as carefully as unraveling silk from cocoons, to prevent any harm to Elder Feng. The endeavor left him sweating profusely, and after finishing, he could not help but move Elder Feng deeply.

    "Just the last bit of cold energy remains. I''ll come and rid you of it during the summer holidays, and your chronic ailment will definitely not recur. And thanks to your consistent practice of the Breath Regulation method taught by master, your vitality remains robust in spite of your age. I see no problem with you reaching a full century," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

    "Really? My father can truly live to be a hundred without any issues?" Feng Guoqiang and his brother both exclaimed with excitement upon hearing this.

    Though Elder Feng was now retired and no longer dealt with national affairs, he was a flagship figure of the Feng Family. As long as he lived, the Feng Family would be as stable as rock, and the longer he remained healthy, the more advantageous it was for the Feng Family''s steady development.

    The brothers had never dared to hope their father could live to be a hundred; they would have been content if he could just reach the grand old age of ninety. They hadn''t expected Ge Dongxu to be so confident in pronouncing that their father could live to a hundred.

    "Of course. Elder Feng has been practicing Breath Control for over seventy years. If it weren''t for the harm caused by this cold energy, his body might be in no worse condition than yours now," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Is the method of Breath Control and Qi Cultivation really that powerful?" Feng Guoqiang and his brother couldn''t help but ask skeptically.

    When they were younger, Elder Feng taught them the methods of Breath Control and Qi Cultivation. However, it was a practice that required sitting for two hours at a time, day after day, year after year, with exceedingly slow and subtle progress. The brothers had not persisted for long before they began to practice sporadically, and as they grew older, with more distractions and a sense of skepticism regarding its usefulness, they completely abandoned the practice.

    "Hehe, certainly. The cold energy within Elder Feng is currently being suppressed by his cultivated breath to prevent its resurgence; therefore, it is not advisable to use it recklessly. Once I remove the last of it this summer, if Elder Feng exerts the force of that breath, Guozhen, you, a general, may well find you''re no match for the strength of just one of Elder Feng''s hands," Ge Dongxu said with a chuckle.

    What Ge Dongxu''s master had passed on to Elder Feng was only the most basic entry-level method of Breath Control and Qi Cultivation from the Ge Hong Ancestor, but it still had its unique aspects. Having persisted for over seventy years, Elder Feng''s strength was not to be underestimated.

    "Dongxu, if you insist that my dad can live to be a hundred, given his current spirit, I''m inclined to believe that. But to say that he could knock me down with one hand, I simply can''t buy it," Guozhen shook his head immediately upon hearing this, his face full of disbelief.

    Although he was getting on in years, he had once been a fierce figure in the military; even now, it would be no problem for him to overpower three to five strong men if he really exerted himself. How could he possibly believe that his father, who was going to be eighty-nine after the New Year, could knock him down with one hand?

    "I find it hard to believe as well," Feng Guoqiang also shook his head. He definitely wished for his father to remain strong in his old age, but he believed in respecting objective reality.

    An eighty-nine-year-old, who could walk briskly was already quite impressive; how could he possibly knock down the vigorous Guozhen with just one hand?

    "Hehe, it has nothing to do with age. My master, until his passing, was well over a hundred yet still moved with vitality, and could effortlessly knock down over a dozen people without a problem. However, eventually the organs in his body reached their natural limit, and the breath could no longer nourish and sustain the organs at a rate fast enough to keep up with their aging, leading him to pass away peacefully," Ge Dongxu explained.

    Ge Dongxu''s words seemed like an enigma to Guozhen and Guoqiang, rendering them with expressions of sheer disbelief.

    "Dongxu, speaking to them about this is futile; they cannot comprehend. Do you have a way to temporarily suppress that cold energy, so I can give these two an eye-opening demonstration?" Seeing his sons doubting Ge Dongxu''s words, Elder Feng couldn''t help displaying some irritation and addressed Ge Dongxu.

    "No, no, Dad, we believe you, we believe you," the Feng brothers, Feng Guoqiang and his brother, were startled and hurriedly said. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Making jokes, he is already eighty-nine, how could he afford to be reckless!

    "Dongxu, do you have a way? Never mind them¡ªif you do, you do; if you don''t, you don''t," Elder Feng ignored the two and looked at Ge Dongxu, asking.

    Hearing this, Feng Guoqiang and his brother had no choice but to gaze at Ge Dongxu with a bitter face.

    Seeing Elder Feng looking at him with eyes that were somewhat cloudy but still as sharp as a sword, Ge Dongxu knew he could not lie under such a gaze and had to say, "It''s all my fault for talking too much. Brother, please stop making things difficult for them."

    "Right, right, Dad, please don''t make it hard on yourself," the Feng brothers said with a mournful face, hastily agreeing.

    "What do you mean right? It''s one thing for you to doubt your father, but to doubt your father''s benefactor as well!" Elder Feng glared at them, then said to Ge Dongxu, "Since there''s a way, then go ahead and use it."

    Knowing the elder was angry, Ge Dongxu didn''t dare to persuade otherwise. Besides, he was quite confident in the elder''s strength, so he replied, "Okay. I''ll use the Silver Needle Qi Transmission to seal off the cold energy, temporarily preventing it from moving."

    With that said, Ge Dongxu took out the silver needles and inserted them into several acupoints on Elder Feng.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu actually performing acupuncture on their father, Feng Guoqiang and his brother unavoidably resented him, but out of respect for their father, they didn''t voice their blame.

    "Come on, Guozhen, throw a punch at me with all your might," Elder Feng felt the strand of cold energy cease moving and circulated his True Qi with full force, and commanded his youngest son with a spirit that seemed boundless.

    Feng Guozhen, who was almost moved to tears by the splendid vigor of his father¡ªa major general¡ªsaid.

    "Dad, what are you doing? Isn''t it enough that I believe?" Feng Guozhen begged.

    "Enough of your nonsense. You''re afraid to hit me, aren''t you? Fine, then I''ll hit you!" Saying so, Elder Feng reached out and pushed a palm toward Feng Guozhen.

    The bones of the elderly are fragile and easily broken; knowing this, Feng Guozhen dared not catch the blow and quickly retreated. To his astonishment, his father was swift and spry; in an instant, Elder Feng was upon him, placing a palm on Feng Guozhen''s chest. Immediately, Feng Guozhen felt an immense force pressing against him like a landslide.

    "Thump, thump, thump!" Feng Guozhen stumbled back seven or eight steps, and if Ge Dongxu had not quickly intervened to support him from behind, the major general would have ended up on the ground.

    The room instantly fell silent, and both Feng Guozhen and Feng Guoqiang looked at their father with eyes full of shock, as if they no longer recognized him.

    Is this the same eighty-nine-year-old man? Is this the same man who could only spend winters in a wheelchair before?

    PS: Starting tomorrow, the update schedule will change to two chapters at seven in the morning and one chapter at eleven noon. For now, I will settle with three chapters a day; maintaining five chapters every day over the long term is too exhausting, and rushing to come up with ideas each day can lead to problems. Therefore, temporarily there will be three updates per day. If I''m in a good state and have a backlog, I aim to occasionally have a burst of updates.

 Chapter 235 Elder Fengs Son-in-Law

    "Haha, how about now? Do you two believe it now?" After nearly pushing Feng Guozhen to the ground with a single palm, Elder Feng couldn''t help but burst into laughter, his voice booming like a bell, brimming with Vital Energy. Just by hearing that voice and not seeing the man, one would think it belonged to a man in his prime, not a nearly ninety-year-old man.

    "We believe, we believe." Feng Guoqiang and Feng Guozhen finally snapped out of their astonishment. The two imposing figures nodded their heads like pecking chickens and their gaze towards Ge Dongxu completely transformed. Not only was there no longer a trace of the earlier dissatisfaction, but it was also filled with gratitude and a hint of awe.

    Previously, regarding Ge Dongxu''s statement that their father could live to be a hundred, they harbored doubts in their hearts. But now, they had no doubts whatsoever.

    Indeed, if an eighty-nine-year-old man could almost push a strong man to the ground with a single palm, and yet not live to a hundred, then who could? S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Believe? Believe what?" Just then, Feng Jiahui''s voice rang out from the doorway, accompanied by a middle-aged man dressed quite properly. The middle-aged man appeared slightly restrained, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes when he saw Ge Dongxu.

    "Fang Fei, you''re here. You definitely won''t believe it, but just now Dad almost pushed Guozhen to the ground with a palm." Feng Guoqiang nodded slightly at the man, then said with a smile.

    Fang Fei was Feng Jiahui''s husband, a director at the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television. In the eyes of ordinary people, that was a very important official, and in the eyes of many stars and entertainers, he was a figure who could decide their fate. But in the Feng Family, he wasn''t considered a big deal. However, as he was family, that was another matter altogether, so Feng Guoqiang immediately nodded and smiled at him.

    "It''s not ''almost,'' if Dongxu hadn''t supported me in time, I would have already been sitting on the ground." Feng Guozhen added with a mix of happiness and a sense of embarrassment.

    "What? How is that possible?" Feng Jiahui and Fang Fei both widened their eyes in disbelief, their faces incredulous, even Fang Fei lost the restraint he had when he first entered.

    "You don''t believe it, right? Come on, Guozhen, let''s demonstrate again!" Sometimes, the older people get, the more they act like children. Hearing their disbelief, Elder Feng immediately waved Feng Guozhen over.

    "No, no, Dad, my chest still hurts a bit! I really can''t." Feng Guozhen hastily waved his hands.

    There was nothing to be done, sparring with one''s father, even if one was stronger, would still result in getting hit, not to mention that now he wasn''t even as strong as his father, so he was even more likely to be on the receiving end.

    Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

    As the commander of a certain group army, Feng Guozhen wouldn''t want to go through that again.

    Fang Fei and Feng Jiahui, being family, naturally understood his temperament. Seeing his flustered reaction, they began to believe what Feng Guoqiang had told them earlier.

    "Hehe, alright, Senior Brother, the needles should be removed now." Ge Dongxu saw Elder Feng getting hooked on the thrill and couldn''t help but feel a bit of a laugh, quickly speaking up.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu speak, Elder Feng reluctantly nodded his head, then allowed Ge Dongxu to remove the needles.

    After Silver Needle was removed, Elder Feng''s Essence Qi was somewhat diminished, but he was still much stronger than before.

    "Junior Brother, when you come during the summer vacation to help me dispel the last bit of residual coldness, I should be able to make the long journey to pay my respects to our elders, right?" Elder Feng felt a wave of weakness come over him, slightly furrowed his brows, and then asked.

    "Of course, by then you''ll truly have the strength to push Guozhen over with a palm. If you refrain from constant long journeys and exhaust yourself less, there shouldn''t be a problem." Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Even if I, your Senior Brother, wished to travel frequently, my status doesn''t really allow for that, does it!" Hearing this, Elder Feng was thoroughly reassured and said with a smile.

    "Fang Fei, let me introduce you, this is Father''s Junior Brother, Ge Dongxu. Dongxu, this is my husband, Fang Fei." Once Ge Dongxu finished speaking with Elder Feng, Feng Jiahui hurriedly brought her husband Fang Fei over to Ge Dongxu.

    "Hello, it''s a pleasure to meet you." Seeing Ge Dongxu chatting casually and jovially with Elder Feng, Fang Fei certainly didn''t dare to neglect him and quickly stepped forward to shake Ge Dongxu''s hand enthusiastically with both hands.

    "I''m also glad to meet you, huh..." Ge Dongxu''s face showed a hint of surprise, then he stared intently at Fang Fei for a few moments and glanced at Feng Jiahui beside him before saying, "Has your sexual desire suddenly increased recently?"

    Obviously, no one expected Ge Dongxu to ask such a question, especially Fang Fei, who was immediately dumbfounded, his face turning bright red as if he''d been caught stealing, while Feng Jiahui''s face also flushed with embarrassment and annoyance, she even pinched Fang Fei''s waist fiercely.

    "Dongxu, is there something wrong with Fang Fei''s health?" Elder Feng immediately turned grave, his expression serious.

    It was only after Elder Feng''s question that Fang Fei and the others were jolted back to their senses, especially Fang Fei and Feng Jiahui, who both showed a hint of alarm.

    It was at this moment they suddenly remembered that matters of the bed were private between husband and wife, impossible for others to know, yet Ge Dongxu had merely shaken hands with Fang Fei and discerned this detail, which showed the incredible extent of his medical expertise.

    However, following that realization, both of their faces showed a trace of panic and worry, as they naturally understood that Ge Dongxu wasn''t speaking without basis.

    "It''s not a big issue, just a small problem with Fang Fei''s thyroid. Coupled with his excessive mental stress lately, his heart yin has been consumed, leading to an inability to control his ministerial fire, hence his heightened sexual activity. Later, I will give him acupuncture, then prescribe some medicine for regulation, and he should be fine," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. He has indeed had quite a lot of work to do at his unit lately, and seeing him so worn out made me feel quite uneasy... He even said it was because he was in good health, I didn''t expect it was actually a health issue," Feng Jiahui hurriedly said with gratitude.

    "Haha, at Fang Fei''s age, it''s normal to be working hard, but he also needs to take care of his health!" Elder Feng said with a laugh, patting Fang Fei heavily on the shoulder, eyes showing a look of appreciation.

    Feeling the pat from Elder Feng, Fang Fei almost floated on air, and also experienced waves of relief, thinking how fortunate he was not to have strayed outside, otherwise his outcome today would have been very miserable.

    But a blessing in disguise it was, as Elder Feng''s attitude seemed to appreciate the subtlety of the situation, now looking at this son-in-law, who hadn''t achieved much, with a new perspective.

    Considering Fang Fei''s position, and that he was in charge of the entertainment industry, had he been so inclined, who knows how many women would have willingly thrown themselves at him?

    "Hehe, since we still haven''t started eating yet, let me give Fang Fei a couple of acupuncture needles," Ge Dongxu said with a chuckle, having already considered this issue, which was why he had made a point of scrutinizing Feng Jiahui earlier, noticing that she too showed signs of excessive fatigue. This assured him in bringing up the subsequent issue, while also finding Fang Fei quite likable.

    Of course, Fang Fei''s honesty had a lot to do with Elder Feng, no doubt.

    But no matter how you look at it, this was already quite remarkable!

    "We really can''t thank you enough, Dongxu. I did just ask the kitchen, and it''ll be about another fifteen minutes before we can start. What do you think?" Feng Jiahui quickly said, with Fang Fei promptly joining in with his own thanks, looking at Ge Dongxu with involuntary respect in their eyes.

    Helpless as they were, recalling the words Ge Dongxu had just spoken, as well as the times they had almost failed to control their own desires lately, Fang Fei felt waves of fear.

    Today, he had truly learned what it meant when they said a doctor could save lives but also take them!

    ps: Three updates today, with two in the morning and another around 11 a.m.

 Chapter 236 Six Meridians Divine Sword

    "That''s enough." Ge Dongxu smiled, then gave Fang Fei a few needles, and soon Fang Fei felt his somewhat groggy and fatigued mind clear up a lot, his gaze towards Ge Dongxu filled with increased reverence.

    After giving Fang Fei acupuncture, Ge Dongxu wrote a prescription for Feng Jiahui.

    After all these tasks were completed, Feng Chenqing came in to announce that the kitchen was ready, and they could start the meal.

    The Feng Family was relatively prosperous, totaling over twenty people with sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, the security chief, and nursing staff, so they split into two tables.

    The grandchildren and staff sat at one table, while young Ge Dongxu was pulled by Elder Feng to sit beside him, with other dignitaries sitting below him, making Ge Dongxu feel somewhat uncomfortable, almost wishing to join Feng Chenqing''s table and mingle with the younger crowd.

    The meal lasted from afternoon till evening, quite lively and joyful. During this time, Feng Chenqing and others all came up to toast Elder Feng, and after toasting Elder Feng, they toasted Ge Dongxu.

    Feng Chenqing was okay, having spent time with Ge Dongxu, but the other young people had not, and when they toasted, they couldn''t help but use curious looks to size him up, like Feng Jiahui''s daughter, a peculiar and sprightly girl, who even encouraged her cousins to take turns toasting Ge Dongxu.

    There was no help for it, young people always feel somewhat unreconciled that someone as young as Ge Dongxu would sit with their grandfather, while their own parents had to sit at the lower seats.

    However, after a few rounds, the third generation of the Feng Family grew somewhat convinced, as this young man from the South, Ge Dongxu, was not only generous in drinking, without any airs, but also drank as if it were water, many drinks later and still without any issue, not even visiting the restroom once, whereas they, drunk, had visited the restroom multiple times.

    "Haha, these kids, thinking they could outdrink you when you can even drive out the cold from inside me; now they see how capable you are," Elder Feng said with a hearty laugh as he watched his grandchildren making frequent trips to the restroom.

    "Dongxu, how much can you actually drink?" Feng Guozhen, as a military man, was a strong drinker, after seeing Ge Dongxu drink so much without a problem, he couldn''t help but ask curiously.

    "It depends on how I drink it. If it''s a normal drinking session, I''m actually about at my limit now, any more and I''d be drunk. But if I use some tricks, then I could really drink without ever getting drunk," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Eh, you mean you didn''t use any tricks earlier?" Elder Feng, hearing this, couldn''t help but express surprise. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "My master loved his drink in his old age, and I''ve been soaking in wine since I was very young, so I didn''t need to use any tricks to drink with them," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Dongxu, you''re not saying your tricks are like that Six Meridians Divine Sword, directly forcing the wine out, are you?" Feng Guozhen asked with a face full of surprised curiosity.

    "Pretty much," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Really? Really? Let''s see a demonstration!" Fang Wanyue, Feng Jiahui''s daughter, just returned from the restroom, heard this and suddenly brightened up, excitedly asking Ge Dongxu to show them.

    She had heard from her mother and her cousin Feng Chenqing that Ge Dongxu was a remarkable person with incredible skills. However, after meeting him and seeing he looked no different from an ordinary young man, not dressed in long robes with flying hair like the characters in TV and movies, she naturally was a bit skeptical.

    Of course, she was very impressed by his drinking skills now.

    "Watch your manners, do you think this is a circus act?" Elder Feng, hearing this, immediately put on a stern face and scolded her.

    Elder Feng''s face darkened, and Fang Wanyue''s complexion turned pale in an instant.

    Elder Feng had always been strict in family education. Not only Fang Wanyue, but even her parents and uncles deeply revered the elder.

    "Hehe, Elder Brother Feng, it''s natural for Wanyue to be curious, and besides, this is just a minor trick. Since everyone is in high spirits today, I''ll demonstrate a little," Ge Dongxu said, seeing Fang Wanyue''s pale face and feeling somewhat uneasy; he laughed and smoothed things over.

    "These young people have no idea what impressive means, Dongxu, you shouldn''t..." Elder Feng softened his expression upon hearing this and gave Ge Dongxu a bitter smile.

    "Hehe, it''s all right, Elder Brother. For me, this is really just a minor trick. Just don''t spread it outside," Ge Dongxu laughed, then asked someone to bring over an empty bowl and set it on the table.

    At this point, not to mention the youngsters who had already forgotten Elder Feng''s earlier scorn, everyone looked curiously and expectantly at Ge Dongxu and the empty bowl on the table, even Elder Feng''s face revealed a hint of curiosity and anticipation.

    Although he had persisted in Breath Control for over seventy years, it was after all only the most basic introductory Kung Fu. He could manage to use his energy to sweat out some alcohol, but as for forcing alcohol through his fingertips like the "Six Meridians Divine Sword" described in novels, that was far beyond his reach.

    Under everyone''s gaze, Ge Dongxu gave a faint smile, brought his middle and index fingers together, and a stream of alcohol shot out from his fingertips, continuously falling into the bowl.

    This scene, typically only seen in novels and television, was something those present had never imagined witnessing in reality; they stared transfixed. The younger ones, in particular, couldn''t help but show looks of awe and admiration towards Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu briefly demonstrated, then promptly stopped.

    There was a moment of silence, then after a while, the youngsters began to clap, and Fang Wanyue even exclaimed, "Wow, the Six Meridians Divine Sword, Dongxu, you''re amazing!" Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Dongxu, today I''ve truly seen something spectacular. It''s unfortunate that my father said you have no interest in politics; otherwise, I would definitely try to recruit you to the military," Feng Guozhen said with a look of regret.

    Feng Guozhen was a commander in a certain military group, and while the military had its share of experts trained in internal Cultivation Techniques and Hard Qigong, none could perform like Ge Dongxu, forcing alcohol out through their fingers.

    The young people were completely stunned by Ge Dongxu''s performance and were intensely curious. Feng Chenqing, the eldest grandchild of the Feng Family, couldn''t help but ask, "Dongxu, you''re so impressive, can you perform the legendary Qinggong?"

    Qinggong was the dream of countless young people in Huaxia Country, including Feng Chenqing, the eldest grandchild of the Feng Family.

    Regarding this question, Liu Jiayao had asked Ge Dongxu before, and at that time, Ge Dongxu couldn''t answer. This time, he didn''t respond but merely gave a noncommittal smile.

    However, this noncommittal smile brought silence to the entire room, everyone looking at Ge Dongxu with incredulous and reverent eyes, even Elder Feng was greatly moved.

    He was very aware of a special department in the country, which had recruited many extraordinary individuals, but as far as he knew, none could actually perform acts like scaling walls and rooftop-running; they merely jumped higher or further than ordinary people.

    ps: Another chapter at eleven.

 Chapter 237 Arent You Going to Call Mr. Ge to Arrange a Meeting?

    After a brief silence, Fang Wanyue wanted to ask Ge Dongxu to showcase something impressive to everyone, but before she could speak, her mother grabbed her and glared at her fiercely.

    This time was different from the last because Ge Dongxu chose to smile without saying a word, which meant that the question should be asked and left at that, and not pursued further. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The family reunion dinner ended in the evening.

    Since Feng Guoqiang, Feng Guozhen, and others were important and busy figures, they stayed a little while after dinner to chat with Elder Feng and Ge Dongxu before taking their leave, leaving behind a group of three generations of the Feng Family to continue keeping Elder Feng company in the courtyard house.

    "I''m old, and you young people should have your own lives. Dongxu, it''s rare for you to visit Jiangnan, so let Chenqing and the others take you around. No need to specifically stay here just to keep this old man company," said Elder Feng with a smile after Feng Guoqiang and the others had departed.

    Given the significant age difference between them, Ge Dongxu indeed did not have much to talk about with Elder Feng for an extended period. Hearing this, he responded without fuss, "Alright then, Senior Brother should also rest early. I''ll give you a slight massage tomorrow morning."

    "Good, go on," Elder Feng said with a smile as he patted Ge Dongxu''s hand.

    After saying this, Elder Feng specifically instructed Feng Chenqing and the others.

    "In this bitter cold and late night, there isn''t much else to do. How about we find a club, get a place to have a drink, and sing some songs?" After leaving Elder Feng''s room, Feng Chenming hunched his shoulders and then looked at Ge Dongxu as if asking for his opinion.

    Feng Chenming, the son of Feng Guozhen, had the peculiar fact that his father was a military man, yet he had no interest in the military. Instead, he had an interest in business, had established a foreign trade company that dealt with wine from France and was doing quite well.

    Because of this, he frequented clubs and similar venues more often than his older brother, Feng Chenqing, who worked in government, and he was well-connected.

    "Yeah, sure, let''s go to Di Jin. I''ve got a New Year charity fundraising event there tomorrow, so it would be great to see how the preparations are going," Feng Chenming had hardly finished speaking when Fang Wanyue immediately clapped her hands in approval.

    "You girl, why are you jumping in? We have to see what Dongxu thinks," Feng Chenqing, the eldest, said with a joking glare at Fang Wanyue and then also turned his gaze to Ge Dongxu.

    "Ah, that''s right, Dongxu, I heard from my mom that you''re also a big boss, and Qinghe Herbal Tea is your company''s product," said Feng Chenqing, prompting Fang Wanyue to look at Ge Dongxu with shining eyes as she seemed to remember something.

    "Wanyue, don''t cause trouble, okay? You and your group..." Feng Chenqing and the others exclaimed in frustration upon hearing this and, without waiting for Fang Wanyue to finish, hastily interrupted her.

    "Hey, what do you mean, dear cousins? I''m doing charity work here¡ªI''m trying to help poor children in the mountains who can''t afford to go to school. How is that causing trouble?" Fang Wanyue immediately retorted with a sense of indignation.

    "Doing charity work to help poor children in the mountains is indeed a good thing." Hearing Fang Wanyue, Ge Dongxu was reminded of Liu Jiayao''s support for children in the mountains and couldn''t help but feel more fondness and goodwill towards Fang Wanyue, interjecting with a smile.

    "See, see, even Dongxu says so!" Fang Wanyue said triumphantly, puffing up her chest proudly upon Ge Dongxu taking her side.

    Ge Dongxu had a status that was anything but ordinary. Once his "elder" spoke up, people like Feng Chenqing had no choice but to exchange glances and show a wry smile, not daring to make any more jokes about Fang Wanyue.

    Seeing that Feng Chenqing and the others did not dare to make fun of her anymore, Fang Wanyue looked at them triumphantly. Then, her eyes filled with anticipation, she turned to Ge Dongxu and said, "Dongxu, just now you mentioned that helping children in poor mountainous areas was a good thing. Shouldn''t you, as the boss, also make a gesture?"

    "Of course!" Ge Dongxu replied as if it were a matter of course, although he faintly felt that something might be amiss.

    "That''s great! I knew you were a good person since you became martial brothers with Grandpa. Now, as one of the initiators of the New Year''s charity donation event of the Jingcheng Red Detachment of Women, I formally invite you to attend our New Year''s charity event tomorrow night." Fang Wanyue immediately jumped up with joy upon hearing this. Then, as if performing a magic trick, she quickly took out an invitation from her handbag and handed it to Ge Dongxu with both hands, quite seriously.

    Ge Dongxu was momentarily stunned, but he still accepted the invitation and smiled, "Then I''ll definitely be there to show my support tomorrow."

    By now, he had begun to understand that this charity event might be a bit special, but it was definitely inappropriate to back out since he had already given his word. Besides, Ge Dongxu also believed that, regardless of what was special about the evening, the intention was always good, and he shouldn''t dampen Fang Wanyue''s enthusiasm.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu accept the invitation and clearly state that he would definitely support the event tomorrow, Fang Wanyue immediately gave Ge Dongxu a sweet smile. She even made a special bow, then triumphantly said to Feng Chenqing and the others, "My dear cousins, do you think you have the choice not to come now?"

    Feng Chenqing looked at Fang Wanyue''s triumphant expression, his face a mix of chagrin and a wry smile. Since Ge Dongxu had clearly stated he would attend, how could they possibly not go?

    "Since I''m going to the Empire Club anyway tomorrow, I won''t go tonight. I''ll rest early; after all, it''s bitterly cold outside. Just go about your business, don''t worry about me," Ge Dongxu said, naturally not the type to enjoy crowded, opulent places. After accepting Fang Wanyue''s invitation, he thought about it and then spoke.

    ...

    At a hotel in Jingcheng, at the coffee bar.

    "Shiyi, since Director Wu doesn''t have any arrangements for tonight, why don''t you call Mr. Ge and invite him out?" Liu Manman, the leading actress of the Jiangnan Province Entertainment Station, said to Wu Shiyi.

    "Maybe I shouldn''t. He obviously comes from an influential background; I better not bother him with a call," Wu Shiyi said, tempted, but she quickly shook her head.

    "You''re still too young, there are some things you don''t understand! Precisely because he''s an influential man, that''s all the more reason to call him. In our line of work, if you want to climb the ladder and fend off the advances and ill intentions of some powerful and wealthy men, you always need somebody in your corner. Since Mr. Ge left you his phone number, it''s clear he''s somewhat interested in you, and I think he''s a decent person, not like those sleazy veterans you find in those circles. Besides, he''s still young. If you don''t take action now, before too long, a man like him won''t lack for women around him and he''ll have forgotten all about you," Liu Manman stirred her coffee gently, her movements graceful, speaking unhurriedly, with a hint of melancholy in her eyes.

    Wu Shiyi looked at Liu Manman and felt her melancholy gaze, her heart stirring mildly, reminded of the rumors within the station alleging that Liu Manman''s rise was linked to a leader from the province. But recently that leader had been taken down, and now there were rumors in the station that she might be replaced in the new program.

    Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire

    At first, Wu Shiyi did not believe it, because Liu Manman had always seemed to her a dignified and cultured woman with literary talent. Now, having heard her say this and sensing the melancholy in her eyes, for some reason, she started to believe those rumors.

    "But, but, I, I don''t have the confidence! What if he ignores me?" After a while, Wu Shiyi looked at Liu Manman and said with a wry smile.

 Chapter 238 This guy doesnt play by the rules at all!

    "Men are never not attracted to beautiful women. You''re young, beautiful, and your figure is so sexy, trust me, no man could resist that. Besides, even if he rejected you this time, there''s no harm in calling to nurture some feelings; after all, you have nothing to lose. And if you don''t mind, I can come with you later, so you won''t have to worry about awkward silences," said Liu Manman.

    "Then I''ll give it a try," Wu Shiyi bit her rosy lips and said, but in her heart, she remembered how she had joked with Ge Dongxu on the plane about not calling her with harassing calls, and how Ge Dongxu had responded with the same remark. At the time, she had taken his words as a joke, but now she found herself actually about to make such a call. Thinking of this, Wu Shiyi couldn''t help but feel a bit self-mocking.

    However, Wu Shiyi also knew that what Liu Manman had said earlier was the complete truth. If she truly wanted to make a name for herself in this industry, to rise to the top and protect herself from some people''s unspoken rules, she would need someone backing her.

    Just like before, when Shangguan Yunfeng had designs on her, she could pretend to be oblivious for a short while, but could she keep it up forever? This thought led Wu Shiyi to recall the shift in Director Wu''s attitude towards her after they had exited the shuttle bus.

    With these thoughts, Wu Shiyi no longer hesitated. She took out her phone and dialed the number Ge Dongxu had left her.

    ...

    Over at the siheyuan, just after Ge Dongxu had told Feng Chenqing and the others not to schedule any activities for the evening and that they would go to the Di Jin club the next night, his phone began to ring.

    Picking it up and seeing an unfamiliar number, Ge Dongxu felt somewhat surprised but still answered the call.

    "Hello, who is this?" Ge Dongxu asked after picking up the call.

    "Mr. Ge, you can''t possibly be that forgetful. We were on the same flight earlier today." No sooner had Ge Dongxu finished speaking than Wu Shiyi''s voice, now coquettishly sultry, came through the phone.

    Despite Ge Dongxu''s typical imperviousness to the elements, Wu Shiyi''s voice made him shiver in surprise as he hurriedly said, "Hold on, hold on, look here, Wu Shiyi, it hasn''t even been that long, how has your voice changed so dramatically? And what''s this ''Mr. Ge'' business? Can''t you speak normally?"

    "I... I..." On the other end of the line, Wu Shiyi had prepared to throw caution to the wind and deploy her "seventy-two martial skills" to seduce Ge Dongxu, hoping to make him her patron and protector in the entertainment world. But she was dumbfounded by Ge Dongxu''s plainly unromantic response just as she was getting started.

    The guy was not playing by the rules at all!

    Shouldn''t he have laughed wickedly a few times or made a few frivolous comments?

    "So, what is it? You called me for a reason, right?" Seeing that Wu Shiyi had suddenly become hesitant again, Ge Dongxu thought she had something she needed help with but was too embarrassed to say, so he took the initiative to ask.

    "Actually, there''s nothing much, just that I''m free tonight and was wondering if you are too. I wanted to invite you out for a coffee," Wu Shiyi, thrown off by Ge Dongxu''s unexpected tactics, finally resorted to an earnest reply.

    All thoughts of flirting, teasing, and banter just couldn''t be voiced anymore.

    Ge Dongxu, observing Feng Chenqing and the others'' troubled expressions, was already feeling a headache. Evidently, after he announced he didn''t want activities planned, Feng Chenqing and the rest felt they hadn''t fulfilled their duties as hosts, letting down his grandfather''s trust. But if he really went, he was actually not interested in those clubs, and there was an inherent generational gap between him and Feng Chenqing''s group, making their interactions less casual. Now, Wu Shiyi''s call came at just the right time, so Ge Dongxu almost immediately replied, "Oh, it''s just that? I don''t have any pressing matters either. Just tell me where, and I''ll head over."

    Wu Shiyi hurriedly reported the location, and Ge Dongxu noted it down, then hung up the phone and turned to Feng Chenqing and the others with a smile, "You don''t have to trouble yourselves to make time for me tonight, I have plans. Chenqing, if you''re free, could you drive me there?"

    "Of course, I''m free," Feng Chenqing hurriedly responded with a smile. Although he addressed Ge Dongxu by name, Ge Dongxu was after all known to his grandfather as a fellow apprentice, so taking him to tourist attractions was one thing, but to specifically accompany him to drink and chat, Feng Chenqing actually felt somewhat restrained and uneasy. Since Ge Dongxu had already made plans, he was relieved. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    So, Feng Chenqing drove Ge Dongxu to the location Wu Shiyi had arranged. Now that he knew Ge Dongxu was a martial arts expert, even capable of the "Six Meridians Divine Sword," there really was nothing to worry about. However, before leaving, he couldn''t help but ask Ge Dongxu to call him anytime if he needed anything.

    "Hehe, go about your business, you don''t need to worry about me anymore. If there''s really something, I''ll give you a call," Ge Dongxu said with a smile as he got out of the car, patted Feng Chenqing on the shoulder, and then turned to walk towards the caf¨¦ by the street. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire

    As soon as he pushed the door open, he was greeted by the strong aroma of coffee. The waiter was about to ask Ge Dongxu how many people were in his party when Ge Dongxu had already spotted Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman waving at him from a window seat.

    Liu Manman was probably worried about being recognized, so she deliberately wore a pair of large black-framed glasses tonight, concealing some of her charm and adding a touch of a female intellectual. Because variety entertainment shows at that time were nowhere near as popular as they are in our current real society, and it was a local station''s show, hardly anyone recognized her at night, especially with the large black-framed glasses. Even if someone felt she looked familiar, since this was the capital city, they wouldn''t dare to be sure.

    But Liu Manman, having become the leading lady of the Jiangnan Provincial Entertainment Channel, naturally need not speak of her figure or attractiveness. Dressed in a high-necked white wool sweater, her chest''s prominence was immediately accentuated as she waved her hand.

    As for Wu Shiyi, despite being a newcomer and perhaps slightly lacking in poise compared to Liu Manman, she did not fall short in other aspects, especially in terms of figure ¨C Wu Shiyi was more youthful and spirited. Her wave caused such a surge that many of the nearby men turned to look at her.

    Ge Dongxu had a slight fondness for Liu Manman, the TV hostess. Although she hadn''t been overly enthusiastic towards him on the plane, she also hadn''t looked at him with arrogant eyes.

    Details reveal character.

    For a hostess as well-known as her, this was indeed rare and commendable.

    So, seeing that Liu Manman was also there, Ge Dongxu actually breathed a sigh of relief. When a single man and a single woman are together, and they are not boyfriend and girlfriend, sitting together for coffee always risks some awkward silences. With three people, that definitely would not be the case.

    "I already have friends over there," Ge Dongxu pointed towards where Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi were and said to the waiter.

    The waiter''s mouth gaped open in surprise, clearly not expecting that these two young women, both beautiful, sexy, and full of poise, and dressed so fashionably, would arrange to have coffee with a young man dressed so plainly late at night.

    In her view, women like Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi would arrange to meet with, if not a wealthy scion decked out in name brands, then at least a successful professional or someone wealthy.

    "Sir, please!" However, the waiter quickly recovered from her surprise, made a welcoming gesture, and cleared the way.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and nodded at her, then walked over to where Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi were sitting.

    ps: Still going with two consecutive updates, the third update will be at eleven noon. Begging for your ticket support, thank you.

 Chapter 239 Stop Calling Me Young Master

    Lin Manman was clearly more experienced than Wu Shiyi in social interactions. As soon as she saw Ge Dongxu approaching, she quickly stood up to pull out a chair for him and then apologetically smiled, "Mr. Ge, I heard Shiyi invited you for coffee, and I took the liberty of joining you without asking. You don''t mind, do you?"

    The gentlemen nearby, who were paying attention to Lin Manman, almost popped their eyes out when they saw her stand to pull out a chair for Ge Dongxu.

    They couldn''t figure out why a plainly dressed young man like Ge Dongxu deserved such attention from such a beauty.

    "The fine lady yet again goes to the boor!" many men inwardly lamented with regret. Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

    "Not at all. You''re a beautiful celebrity after all. If my classmates knew I was having coffee with you, they''d be green with envy," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh as he took his seat.

    "Mr. Ge, you have quite the sense of humor. In front of you, how can I be worthy of being called a beautiful celebrity?" Lin Manman flirtatiously rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu and playfully scolded.

    It must be said that everything about Lin Manman, from her laughter to her expressions, not only stirred men''s hearts but also made everyone feel comfortable and at ease.

    "Haha, stop calling me ''mister,'' it gives me goosebumps. Let''s just use names instead," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh as he settled into his seat.

    "Isn''t calling you by name too casual? If you don''t mind, we''ll call you Brother Xu," Wu Shiyi, who was also a host, was quick to react. She had been a bit nervous when she saw Ge Dongxu at first and let Lin Manman take the lead. Now seeing that Ge Dongxu was as down-to-earth as he was on the plane, her mind raced as she gave Ge Dongxu a sweet smile.

    "You''re probably older than me, it wouldn''t be right to call me brother," Ge Dongxu said slightly startled, smiling.

    "No, not at all. Women always hope to stay eighteen forever," Wu Shiyi said with a laugh, winking playfully at Ge Dongxu.

    "And most girls hope to have an older brother to cherish and take care of them," Lin Manman added, giving Ge Dongxu an alluring wink with deep meaning.

    "Well, if you insist. But I''m really not cut out to be that kind of brother who knows how to pamper and take care of others, as they do in Korean dramas." Since Lin Kun, Yue Ting, and Jiang Lili were all older than him and still called him Brother Xu, Ge Dongxu was accustomed to being called ''brother'' by older girls. Seeing them blinking and flirting, he found it hard to refuse. After all, which man wouldn''t like to be called brother by beautiful women? So, Ge Dongxu nodded smilingly.

    "Wow, Brother Xu, you watch Korean dramas too!" Lin Manman looked at Ge Dongxu in surprise.

    Korean dramas were just beginning to catch on in Huaxia Country at that time; many people still preferred watching Hong Kong and Taiwanese dramas.

    "A friend likes them, so I watch along with her," Ge Dongxu chuckled, referring naturally to Liu Jiayao.

    "Brother Xu, you''re lying!" Wu Shiyi suddenly pouted.

    "How am I lying?" Ge Dongxu asked, puzzled.

    "If a guy like you is willing to watch Korean dramas with a friend, how can you possibly not know how to pamper and take care of girls?" Wu Shiyi exclaimed.

    Stunned by her words, Ge Dongxu then laughed, "Alright then, I didn''t realize the expectations were so low." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You might be surprised, but actually our demands as women are so low, it''s just that men don''t understand," Lin Manman said with a smile, then asked Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, what coffee would you like to drink?"

    "I prefer tea, and I''m not particular about coffee, you can order for me," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    In recent years, coffee had become wildly popular among the younger generation in Huaxia Country, as if drinking coffee was the only way to show a little bourgeois taste. Consequently, coffee shops had sprung up like mushrooms after the rain. The young nobles in higher circles were even more particular about their coffee; they not only cared about brands, such as Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee or Indonesian Kopi Luwak, but also insisted on freshly ground and brewed coffee, as if only that would reflect their taste.

    This was the first time Lin Manman had heard a ''young noble'' like Ge Dongxu who was not particular about coffee, preferring tea instead. She was slightly taken aback, then immediately smiled broadly and said, "Next time I''ll know, to invite Dongxu out, it should be for tea. But for this time, Dongxu, please indulge us girls, I will order the same for you as us."

    "Hehe, no problem," Ge Dongxu replied with a laugh.

    So Lin Manman ordered the same coffee for Ge Dongxu as they were having.

    Wu Shiyi and Lin Manman were both very sexy and beautiful women, and both being hosts, were naturally very articulate. Intent on pleasing Ge Dongxu, they managed to make this young man feel very comfortable, making him more talkative than usual.

    Of course, this was also because Ge Dongxu found Wu Shiyi and Lin Manman to be decent people, unlike Ye Qianqian, who he wouldn''t bother to give a second glance, even if she stripped naked to impress him.

    "Dongxu, we''ve almost finished our coffee, and if we drink more, we might have insomnia tonight. How about we go to KTV to sing?" around nine o''clock, Lin Manman suggested.

    "It''s a bit late, let''s skip it," Ge Dongxu glanced at his watch and hesitated before responding.

    "It''s not late, the nightlife is just getting started! And Dongxu, let me tell you, Manman sings really well," Wu Shiyi said.

    "Hehe, Dongxu, Shiyi is also great. It''s rare for others to hear us sing live," Lin Manman added.

    Since they were all familiar with each other and Wu Shiyi and Lin Manman affectionately addressed him as ''Dongxu brother'', after their words reached this point, Ge Dongxu felt it would be rude to decline as it might appear that he wasn''t interested in hearing their singing.

    "Alright, since I have nothing else to do, let''s go sing. But I must state beforehand that I''m mainly going to listen since I''m not really good at singing myself," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    So the three of them left the coffee bar and took a cab to KTV.

    At KTV, they reserved a small private room, then ordered some alcoholic drinks, beverages, and snacks.

    Lin Manman and Wu Shiyi, as expected of hosts, sang extremely well. Not only that, but their singing also diverged from ordinary women; they moved their bodies freely and naturally with the rhythm of the music.

    Both of them had fantastic figures, with all the right curves in all the right places, and their body movements provided Ge Dongxu not only a visual treat but also a sort of physical and emotional torment.

    Fortunately, Ge Dongxu had been quite intimate with Liu Jiayao in bed recently and had seen quite a few "big scenes," which considerably strengthened his resistance. Thus, he could still comfortably sit on the couch and enjoy, otherwise he might have ended up with a racing heart, flushed cheeks, and a dilemma of wanting to look but feeling scared to.

 Chapter 240 Are you looking down on me?

    The two took turns singing, and would drink alcohol to soothe their throats after singing as casually as if it were water, to Ge Dongxu''s surprise.

    As a high school student with not much exposure to society, Ge Dongxu had no idea that women like Liu Manman often appeared glamorous on the surface but were compelled to attend many social gatherings behind the scenes.

    In such settings, the tables were mostly filled with wealthy people or officials, and women like them were expected to drink and smile. Newcomers like Wu Shiyi had even less say¡ªthey simply had to drink whenever asked. Liu Manman, however, had endured long enough to gain some status and could sometimes assert herself, managing to have some choice in the social interactions.

    Of course, this depended on who she was dealing with. For someone like Ge Dongxu, who had military license plates on his car that could directly enter the airport in the capital, she definitely couldn''t afford to put on airs.

    However, after her influential backer fell from power some time ago, her position had become quite precarious. People who used to be courteous to her, both within and outside the television station, had started to dare to tease and harass her, and some even overtly or covertly indicated their desire to sleep with her.

    "Dongxu Brother, don''t just listen to us sing; come on and have a go!" After singing for a while, the two came down to pull Ge Dongxu up to sing.

    Perhaps it was the alcohol, or maybe the intimacy of the small private room lit with dim, ambiguous lighting that made the two of them lose their reservations. When they approached Ge Dongxu to sing, they came very close to him.

    Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire

    "I really can''t sing. Just keep singing yourselves; I''ll be the audience and clap for you," Ge Dongxu quickly stood up to dodge the two, saying.

    "Hehe, that won''t do. Shiyi, go and drink more with Dongxu Brother. I''ll sing to liven things up. If he drinks more, he won''t say he can''t sing anymore," Liu Manman exchanged a knowing look with Wu Shiyi and then, smiling, gave Ge Dongxu a teasing glance, picked up the microphone, and went back to singing, while Wu Shiyi wrapped herself around Ge Dongxu, insisting he drink with her.

    "Shiyi, it''s your turn now," Liu Manman said after singing two songs, stepping down for Wu Shiyi to take over, and then she herself began urging Ge Dongxu to drink.

    Liu Manman, with far more experience compared to Wu Shiyi, was very bold and had a knack for persuading people to drink.

    After taking turns, Ge Dongxu found himself coaxed into drinking quite a bit.

    Ge Dongxu had already consumed a fair amount of alcohol at the quad yard and hadn''t tried to "Cultivate" to expel the alcohol; and now he continued drinking, indeed feeling slightly tipsy. Of course, he was far from drunk, but under the stimulation of the alcohol, his mind did become slightly excited.

    "Dongxu Brother, come on and sing a song? I just want to hear your voice," Wu Shiyi urged Ge Dongxu while in high spirits from the drinking.

    "I really can''t!" Ge Dongxu shook his head.

    "Then let''s dance," Wu Shiyi suggested.

    "I''m even worse at dancing," Ge Dongxu shook his head again.

    "I''ll lead you. Besides, we''re not dancing any formal dance. Just move and sway with the rhythm of the music. Come on, come on. It''s no fun just sitting there!" Wu Shiyi insisted on pulling Ge Dongxu up, while Liu Manman had started playing some high-energy music and also came over to tug at Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu, ultimately being a somewhat shy person, couldn''t withstand the fervent invitations of the two women and was eventually pulled up to join them, swaying to the rhythm of the song.

    Finally, having endured until the end of the song, Ge Dongxu quickly said, "It''s about time, let''s head back."

    "Dongxu Brother, do you look down on us? Do you think we are very...?" Liu Manman''s delicate body trembled slightly, and she looked at him intently.

    "Not at all, you and Shiyi are both great. I knew you both were great when I saw you on the plane, or else I wouldn''t have shown up here tonight," Ge Dongxu, seeing the self-mockery in Liu Manman''s eyes, couldn''t help but remember Wu Shiyi''s words on the plane about how difficult it was to become famous in their line of work. Thinking about how Liu Manman had reached her current status and the hardships she must have endured, he felt a surge of sympathy for the woman in front of him.

    Of course, the reason why a wave of sympathy emerged in his heart was that Liu Manman was a decent person. If she had been like those women who acted like proud peacocks once they gained a little bit of fame, then, just like Ge Dongxu himself said, he would definitely not have appeared here.

    S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 241 Drank Too Much

    "Thanks, Dongxu. You''re different from other men. Other men always look at us with lustful eyes, but you, you see a different side," Liu Manman said as she loosened her arms from around Ge Dongxu''s neck and looked at him seriously.

    "Heh, you think too highly of me. If you keep going like this, I''m afraid I might be rude, so let''s just leave it at that!" Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile.

    He certainly wasn''t Liuxia Hui!

    "Hehe, so Dongxu does have feelings after all! I thought that Shiyi and I were too vulgar and lowbrow to catch your eye," said Liu Manman, her beautiful eyes lighting up as she skillfully hooked her arms around Ge Dongxu''s neck again and whispered seductively into his ear, "A young, handsome, and nice man like you, Dongxu, I like it when you''re rude!"

    As she spoke, Liu Manman''s little tongue reached out and licked Ge Dongxu''s ear.

    Ge Dongxu immediately felt a tingling sensation and, with a wry smile, quickly pushed Liu Manman away, saying, "Manman, that''s enough for today."

    Liu Manman felt a momentary stiffness in her delicate body and a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes. If before she truly had a motive to please and flatter Ge Dongxu, at that moment, she was without any ulterior motives; she simply wanted something pure to happen with Ge Dongxu.

    Because he was a very different man!

    "Dongxu, it''s still early, and I''m not done having fun yet! If you really don''t like dancing, then keep sitting, drink, and watch us sing and dance, okay?" Wu Shiyi came over, took Ge Dongxu by the arm, and shook it, a pleading look in her eyes.

    She too was increasingly feeling that Ge Dongxu was different from other men. If one needed to climb the ranks in this industry by finding a powerful man to push her up, she truly hoped it would be the man before her, so she really didn''t want to let him go just like that.

    Seeing Wu Shiyi''s pleading eyes softened Ge Dongxu''s heart, and he could only nod with a smile, "Since you''re not done having fun, I can''t spoil your mood, right? Go ahead and continue, but don''t pull me into the dancing."

    When it came to dancing, Ge Dongxu was inwardly frightened; as a normal man, how could he stand the temptation of hot and sultry bodies?

    "Thanks, Dongxu. You really are a special man. If I hadn''t felt your reaction when I hugged you earlier, I would have doubted if you were... Hehe, I''m off to sing now," Wu Shiyi, seeing Ge Dongxu nod, happily stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek, then cheerfully went off to sing.

    Ge Dongxu touched his cheek, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

    After that, the two really didn''t continue to bother him, only occasionally coming off the stage to clink glasses with him.

    Perhaps because they felt secure with Ge Dongxu, a man they could trust, they both totally let loose, singing heartily and drinking with enthusiasm.

    As they drank more, both of them got a bit drunk and began dancing a spicy, intimate dance right in front of Ge Dongxu, their movements bold and seductive, with Liu Manman even reaching out to touch Wu Shiyi''s tightly clad and shapely behind.

    Seeing this scene, Ge Dongxu''s head felt like it was going to explode, and he quickly stood up to pull them apart, saying, "That''s enough. You''re drunk. Let''s go home."

    "We''re not drunk. We were having fun dancing! Don''t you like watching? Let me tell you, Shiyi''s got big boobs; I''ll lift her top up for you," Liu Manman slurred, her eyes blurry with inebriation, and actually started to lift Wu Shiyi''s top.

    Ge Dongxu was flustered and quickly grabbed Liu Manman''s hand, saying, "You''ve really had too much to drink. Let''s go home."

    "Lift it if you want, it''s not like Dongxu is just any man. I like showing off to a man like him!" But as Ge Dongxu grabbed Liu Manman, he forgot about Wu Shiyi.

    Intoxicated, Wu Shiyi began lifting her own top. Fortunately, she was still wearing a bra, or else she would have been totally exposed.

    "Hey, will you ever stop? Keep this up, and I won''t take care of you anymore!" Ge Dongxu urgently pulled down Wu Shiyi''s top and his face darkened with annoyance.

    The outburst from Ge Dongxu surprisingly sobered up the alcohol-fueled pair a bit, and they looked at him as if they were children who had done something wrong, tongues tied, saying, "Are you angry, Dongxu? Don''t be mad! We won''t, won''t drink so much next time!"

    Watching the two of them, Ge Dongxu had the feeling of having fire but no place to vent, and he said with a wry smile, "We agreed that we''re leaving now. Don''t make trouble on the way, or I''ll really get angry."

    "No more trouble, no more trouble!" Although they were drunk, they still understood not to anger Ge Dongxu, hurriedly shaking their heads. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "That''s good, let''s go," Ge Dongxu said, ready to lead the way.

    But after only a few steps, Ge Dongxu furrowed his brows, as he realized that although the two behind him were following, they were staggering as if they could fall at any moment.

    "Next time, I definitely can''t drink with these two women," Ge Dongxu said as he turned around with a helpless smile, wrapping his arm around the waist of each woman.

    "Dongxu, you''re so nice!" As Ge Dongxu put his arms around them, the two women seemed to find their support and almost completely leaned onto Ge Dongxu''s shoulders. This way, with Ge Dongxu holding both, he truly ended up with one on each side.

    With one on each arm, Ge Dongxu left the private room, and along the way, he didn''t know how many men''s eyes he blinded.

    Damn! Such hot chicks, and two at once, it''s maddening how some guys have all the luck!

    When they went to settle the bill, Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi suddenly seemed to have a moment of clarity, as though their senses had returned, and they fought to pay, leaving the cashier dumbfounded.

    Damn, I''m not less handsome than this guy, so why does he get to mooch off women and still look so cool? With such hot chicks, I wouldn''t mind paying them!

    Of course, in the end, it was still Ge Dongxu who paid. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire

    With one on each arm, Ge Dongxu walked out of the karaoke bar, standing at the intersection, and looked at the blushing faces of the two women in his arms with a wry smile on his face.

    Great, now I have to take them back to the hotel.

    "Dongxu, I want to sit with you!"

    "I want to sit with you too!"

    They hailed a taxi, and just as Ge Dongxu managed to stuff Liu Manman into the car, she grabbed his hand, insisting on pulling him in as well, while Wu Shiyi tried to push him inside from the other side.

    This scene instantly made the taxi driver give Ge Dongxu a thumbs-up, saying, "Buddy, you''re the real deal!"

    Ge Dongxu, seeing the admiration in the driver''s eyes, felt as though jumping into the Yellow River wouldn''t cleanse him.

    Squeezed into the backseat, one on his left and another on his right, Ge Dongxu felt so breathless that he suddenly missed Liu Jiayao.

    If it were Liu Jiayao, he wouldn''t have to hold back like this! Even with Yuan Li, he would dare to make a move now. But with these two women beside him, Ge Dongxu still wouldn''t act recklessly.

    After all, Ge Dongxu was a good man, a special man.

    He wouldn''t just follow the desires of his body; he valued the emotions between men and women as well.

    There was no need to mention Liu Jiayao; theirs was a relationship that came naturally, very intimate. With Yuan Li, it seemed like lust played a bigger part, but the feelings were real, just constrained by concerns, not as deep and natural as with Liu Jiayao.

    ps: Looking for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, thank you for your support.

 Chapter 242 Misunderstanding

    Tormented all the way, the taxi finally arrived at the hotel where Liu Manman and her companions were staying.

    Walking into the lobby and the elevator arm in arm, he naturally dazzled quite a few of the hotel front desk staff.

    As the elevator doors opened, Ge Dongxu, embracing two people, was just stepping out when he saw Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian standing at the elevator door, and he couldn''t help but pause slightly.

    Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian obviously had not expected to encounter Ge Dongxu here, let alone find him with his arms around Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi. Seeing the trio in the elevator, they too paused slightly. However, a hint of jealousy quickly flashed through Shangguan Yunfeng''s eyes, and Ye Qianqian was no exception.

    Of course, the objects of their jealousy were different, Shangguan Yunfeng was jealous of Ge Dongxu, while Ye Qianqian was jealous of Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi.

    Since Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian had mocked and ridiculed Ge Dongxu on the plane, Ge Dongxu naturally did not make an effort to greet them. After a brief pause, he took Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi out of the elevator, as if he hadn''t seen them, and just as they were about to actively greet Ge Dongxu, seeing his disregard, they swallowed their words and then entered the elevator, brushing past Ge Dongxu and the others.

    "Bitch! Just as Xu Feng fell from power, she''s hooked up with Ge Dongxu, what trash?" Through the crack of the elevator door not yet fully closed, Shangguan Yunfeng watched Ge Dongxu''s hands embrace the two''s slender waists and their perky buttocks swinging, his eyes filled with deep jealousy.

    Both Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi were Shangguan Yunfeng''s type, yet he had no opportunity to get them into bed until now.

    "Spit, Wu Shiyi, this shameless woman, hasn''t known Ge Dongxu for long, and she''s already hooked up with him!" Ye Qianqian also displayed thick jealousy, with a sense of regret in her heart.

    This opportunity was supposed to be hers.

    Since the two women had room cards in their bags, it was easy for Ge Dongxu to find their rooms, though there were two rooms.

    Ge Dongxu, of course, was not in the mood to deliver them separately; thinking that Liu Manman as the leading TV starlet, probably had the better room, he used her room card to find the room, then opened the door, intending to stuff both women into one room and be done with it.

    Just as Ge Dongxu was about to open the door with the card, the neighboring door opened, and Wu Longcai, the director, came out.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu arm in arm with two people, Wu Longcai was initially stunned, but quickly regained his composure and said, "Oh, it''s Young Master Ge, good night, good night!"

    As he said that, Wu Longcai hurried back into his room, his gaze lingering regretfully on Liu Manman''s graceful figure.

    Long before, Wu Longcai had taken a liking to Liu Manman, but since she hadn''t been at the station long and he hadn''t made a move, she was picked by a provincial leader, and then there was no chance for him.

    This time, with Director Xu deposed, Wu Longcai thought that this business trip to Beijing might present an opportunity to win over Liu Manman, of course, he would not force her.

    Wu Longcai was a leader with principles and self-respect; if a woman threw herself at him and he was interested, he wouldn''t hypocritically reject her. But if the woman had no feelings for him, he wouldn''t force any unspoken rules.

    Just now, he had heard footsteps outside and thought Liu Manman had come back, hoping to chat with her and probe her intentions, to see if there was a chance for a closer encounter. Unexpectedly, when he opened the door, he saw Ge Dongxu embracing Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi.

    No matter whether it was Liu Manman or Wu Shiyi, he knew he should stay away from them from now on.

    Watching Wu Longcai retreat anxiously into his room as if afraid of ruining his good luck, this time Ge Dongxu truly felt as if jumping into the Yellow River wouldn''t cleanse him.

    Of course, since Mr. Wu had already closed the door, Ge Dongxu, with his identity and character, was not about to knock on his door to explain.

    "What is this all about?" Ge Dongxu shook his head, bemused, then pushed open the door and dragged two nearly drunken women into the room.

    Liu Manman''s accommodations were indeed different, featuring a suite that even included a guest bedroom.

    Ge Dongxu scanned the room, and looking at the two women who seemed to hang onto him instinctively, he helped them take off their coats and shoes with a wry smile, then put them to bed in the master and guest bedrooms respectively.

    "Xu bro, stay with us!" When Ge Dongxu was placing Wu Shiyi on the bed, she reached out to pull him, startling him before he quickly said, "Alright, sleep now. Don''t drink like this next time."

    Ge Dongxu tucked her hand under the covers, then fled the room as if escaping.

    No other way about it, the intentions of the two beauties were clear, and if it had been someone other than Ge Dongxu, any man might have pounced without a second thought.

    After leaving the hotel, standing at the street corner, the cold breeze sobered him up completely, making him shake his head as he recalled the events, thinking that he should avoid women like Liu Manman in the future, lest he someday fail to hold back.

    ...

    The next morning, Ge Dongxu got up early, gave Elder Feng a massage, accompanied him for breakfast, and chatted. Around nine o''clock, Feng Chenqing and Feng Chenming, the two brothers, came running, and Ge Dongxu went with them to climb Fragrant Hills. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In a hotel room, Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi sat facing each other, exchanging looks as they remembered the events of the previous night.

    As for what happened after they left Qianqian''s room, because they had drunk quite a bit, they couldn''t remember much, just vaguely remembering Ge Dongxu taking them back to the hotel, and then he probably left.

    Looking at their current attire confirmed that much. Other than not having their outer clothing and shoes on, everything else was intact.

    Remembering someone of Ge Dongxu''s status not only helped them take off their outerwear and shoes, but also left the hotel without doing anything else left them feeling incredibly complex, and somewhat lost.

    Actually, last night, they really had wanted something to happen with Ge Dongxu, even if it wasn''t for anything particular.

    After a while, a wistful smile appeared on their faces. Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire

    "Man sis, what do we do now?" Wu Shiyi asked.

    "What can we do? We just weren''t destined for it. Let''s not think about it anymore, take a shower, wash up, and go eat," Liu Manman sighed deeply, her face a portrait of resignation.

    "Actually, I feel that even though nothing happened, seeing what kind of person Xu bro is, if we really need help in the future, he probably wouldn''t refuse," Wu Shiyi reflected aloud.

    "Silly girl, it''s not the same! But, no matter what, it''s not so bad this way. Now that I think about it, I should thank you for allowing me to meet such a special man," Liu Manman paused for a moment, then looked at Wu Shiyi and spoke.

 Chapter 243 Party

    "It looks like Manman is genuinely smitten this time!" Wu Shiyi said seriously as she sized up Liu Manman with a chuckle.

    "You little brat, you''ve gotten bold, daring to tease a senior!" Liu Manman''s pretty face flushed slightly upon hearing this, a fleeting look of distraction passing through her eyes before she quickly raised her fists to hit Wu Shiyi.

    "Giggle, won''t do it again!" Wu Shiyi hurriedly dodged, then seized the opportunity to dash out the door, planning to head to her room for a shower and a freshen up.

    As soon as Wu Shiyi stepped out, she saw Director Wu, Shangguan Yunfeng, and Ye Qianqian walking towards her, apparently just after breakfast.

    "Shiyi, you''re up early!" Director Wu immediately wore a warm smile upon seeing Wu Shiyi, while Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian both showed a touch of disdain on their faces.

    "It''s not that early, it''s already past eight." Wu Shiyi laughed, having no recollection of last night''s events.

    "Of course it''s early, considering how late you were up last night, you should have slept till noon at least," Ye Qianqian said sourly.

    "Qianqian, don''t talk nonsense!" Director Wu glared at Ye Qianqian, then gently asked Wu Shiyi with a smile, "Is Mr. Ge awake yet?"

    "What Mr. Ge, ah, you mean Dongxu? How would I know if he''s awake?" Wu Shiyi said, puzzled.

    "Oh, so Mr. Ge isn''t inside?" Director Wu looked surprised.

    "Director Wu, what are you talking about? We just went out with Dongxu last night to sing and drink, and after we got a bit drunk, Dongxu dropped us off and left!" Wu Shiyi paused slightly, then hurriedly clarified after realizing Director Wu''s misunderstanding.

    "I see, I thought... haha, never mind, never mind," Director Wu was also slightly startled but laughed it off.

    "This is getting interesting, delivered to the door and he didn''t want it!" Ye Qianqian immediately sneered schadenfreudely upon hearing this.

    "Ye Qianqian, what are you saying? Is that something you should say?" Before Wu Shiyi could respond, Liu Manman emerged from her room, her face taut as she scolded Ye Qianqian.

    "I, I..." Liu Manman, after all, was the top celebrity of the entertainment channel, and her anger carried a certain force, making the newbie Ye Qianqian falter and start to stammer.

    "Enough, Liu Manman. Even if Qianqian spoke rather bluntly, the point she made wasn''t entirely baseless. We all know the real story," Shangguan Yunfeng, now on the same side as Ye Qianqian and also harboring some jealousy, couldn''t help but speak up in her defense.

    Liu Manman''s pretty face immediately turned icy upon hearing this, and just as she was about to speak, Wu Longcai interjected, "Enough, what is all this mess? Let''s drop it. Also, you all have free time during the day, but there''s a dinner in the evening, and none of you should make other plans." Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire

    "Director Wu, can I not attend?" Liu Manman asked.

    "You cannot." Wu Longcai replied without hesitation.

    Upon hearing this, the corners of Shangguan Yunfeng''s and Ye Qianqian''s mouths both curved into a schadenfreude smirk.

    As she felt a pang of sadness, Liu Manman said, "Then I understand."

    She knew that her status was not what it once was.

    "Tonight''s dinner involves some very important guests, crucial for whether our show can launch on schedule and for securing advertising revenues, so Manman, you really need to put your heart into it," Wu Longcai added, likely realizing that his previous response seemed a bit too harsh, and slightly hesitated before he offered an explanation.

    ...

    The Imperial Brocade Club in the capital was a venue several notches above the Jin Yi Entertainment Club where Yuan Li had held the class reunion before.

    This place was a gathering point for high society ladies and wealthy magnates, as well as elites from various fields¡ªthe annual membership fee alone equated to the hard labor of an ordinary family for several years.

    Just from the lineup of luxury and imported cars in the club''s parking lot, one could tell this was not a place for ordinary people. Even the black Audi driven by Feng Chenqing seemed somewhat out of place here.

    At the entrance of the club stood a handsome, young man dressed in a black suit, tie, and wearing an earpiece to greet guests.

    Once inside, there were internal shuttle vehicles specifically designed to transport guests between different venues and villas.

    Accompanying Ge Dongxu were the brothers, Feng Chenqing and Feng Chenming. As for Fang Wanyue, being one of the organizers, she was already busy inside with arrangements and reception.

    The charity gala was held in a standalone villa within the club.

    Upon boarding the shuttle, it maneuvered through a small path surrounded by lush greenery. Soft lamplights along the way cast a gentle glow, winding their way around, occasionally revealing buildings where lights twinkled in the dark night, giving the area a serene yet bustling atmosphere.

    Eventually, the vehicle stopped in front of a villa.

    Although it was winter, the landscape lighting clearly revealed flowers in bloom and a forest of green trees around the villa.

    A long red carpet extended from the entrance hall of the villa, across the garden, all the way to the road.

    Fang Wanyue stood at the entrance in a tightly fitted pink evening gown, radiating more femininity and an elegant, noble aura than the day before. Next to her was a short-haired young woman in an evening gown¡ªbut far more revealing than Fang Wanyue''s, featuring a hollow nude color with a closed high collar, yet the chest area was open, displaying her lofty, fair bosom, hard to ignore.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu and the Feng brothers approaching, the woman in the revealing gown''s eyes immediately lit up, her gaze intense as if a wolf spotting a sheep. She then sauntered over with her waist, accentuated by her gown like a snake''s, and reached Feng Chenqing in no time, her face filled with surprise as she exclaimed, "Wanyue told me Feng Dashao would come tonight, I thought she was kidding¡ªdidn''t expect you really came!"

    As she spoke, the woman extended her hand to take Feng Chenqing''s.

    "I am Wanyue''s cousin, so consider me one of the family. No need for your attention; you better take care of the others," Feng Chenqing smoothly dodged to the side with a smile.

    Seeing this, a hint of disappointment flashed in the woman''s eyes, but she quickly smiled and greeted Feng Chenming, and finally, her eyes settled on Ge Dongxu with a puzzled look.

    Clearly, Fang Wanyue knew the importance of discretion, aware that Ge Dongxu disliked high-profile events, so although she had invited him, she didn''t make a big fuss about it.

    "This is my friend Ge Dongxu, Dongxu, this is Miss Lin Jingwen from Yuanbo Group, a true beauty with both wealth and good looks," Feng Chenqing helped with the introductions upon seeing the situation.

    Lin Jingwen''s expression grew even more puzzled upon hearing this as she could not recall any significant figure with the surname Ge in the capital. However, she quickly put on a sweet smile and extended her fair, delicate hand to Ge Dongxu, saying, "Good evening, Mr. Ge. Welcome to tonight''s charity gala¡ªhope you offer plenty of love later on!"

    "Thank you, indeed I will," Ge Dongxu responded with a smile as he gently shook Lin Jingwen''s hand.

    After greeting Lin Jingwen and casually acknowledging Fang Wanyue, the three entered the villa.

    S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 244 Auction

    The villa''s hall was vast, with smooth marble floors and a gigantic crystal chandelier, just like the lobby of a hotel.

    By the time the three of them arrived, the place had already gathered quite a crowd, all young people. The women were uniformly in evening gowns, most dressed rather provocatively with glittering beads, as if they were movie stars about to walk the red carpet at a film festival. Interestingly, there were actually several domestically famous actresses among them.

    The men were all in branded or even tailor-made suits, which, despite some lacking in looks or physique, made them appear particularly charismatic.

    Tonight, Ge Dongxu was dressed in a Zegna suit he''d bought previously. Except for his watch, which seemed somewhat modest, everything else was fine, and he didn''t stand out too much. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Master Feng, you''re here tonight too!"

    "Young Master Feng, long time no see!"

    "Good evening, Master Feng!"

    "..."

    As people swarmed towards Feng Chenqing and quickly surrounded him, particularly the women whose eyes shone brightly upon seeing him, Ge Dongxu finally understood why Feng Chenqing was reluctant to attend the charity evening here.

    Clearly, with his status, his presence among these youngsters was bound to become the center of attention.

    Even Feng Chenming, the Feng family''s Second Young Master, was no exception. Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

    Ge Dongxu, the instigator who got the Feng brothers surrounded, was quick-witted. Seeing the unfavorable situation, he took a glass of red wine from a waiter''s tray and slipped alone into a corner, quietly admiring a woman in a pristine white evening gown playing the piano by the stairs.

    "Tell me, Wanyue, who exactly is Ge Dongxu? He doesn''t seem to be from the capital," Lin Jingwen couldn''t help but ask Fang Wanyue curiously at the entrance of the hall.

    "He''s from the provinces. As for what exactly he is, you don''t need to ask too much; just know that he''s a man with money. Why? Interested? If you''re interested, I can introduce you. But whether he takes a fancy to you, I really wouldn''t know," Fang Wanyue said.

    "The man is quite handsome, and he has a good physique. But my family isn''t short of money now, and all the old man wants is for me to find a second-generation official. It would be fine to play around with him, but if it got serious, my old man would definitely disagree," Lin Jingwen said seriously after thinking it over.

    "Wow, your old man would definitely disagree? Let me tell you, Lin Jingwen, if you could hook up with Ge Dongxu, it would be incredibly lucky for your ancestors. Your father would not disagree; he''d beg for such an opportunity," Fang Wanyue immediately said upon hearing this.

    Others might not know Ge Dongxu''s identity, but Fang Wanyue was well aware!

    He was her grandfather''s fellow disciple!

    "Is it really that exaggerated?" Lin Jingwen naturally didn''t believe it and rolled her eyes at Fang Wanyue.

    "Don''t believe it then. I''m just giving you a tip as a good friend," Fang Wanyue rolled her eyes back and shrugged.

    ...

    The charity evening officially began not long after.

    The event proceeded in the form of an auction, where the items on auction were mostly donated by the women attending the evening, and then the men bid on them.

    The items donated by the women were interesting: earrings, necklaces, cheongsams they had worn... and even one daring woman who donated her lingerie, immediately causing a lot of screams and fierce bidding among the men.

    Seeing this scene, Ge Dongxu finally understood why the Feng brothers were reluctant to come.

    Especially Feng Chenqing, the eldest grandson of the Feng Family, for him, this event resembled more of a farce.

    However, Ge Dongxu didn''t see anything wrong with it. No matter the method, at least they had raised funds for charity.

    Halfway through the auction, the auctioneer presented a pair of turquoise earrings once worn by Fang Wanyue, her favorite pair.

    It could be said that many of the young men and women who came tonight did so because of Fang Wanyue, so when the earrings were introduced, they immediately sparked a climax at the party.

    The bidding quickly escalated from five thousand to fifty thousand, then slowly to a hundred thousand.

    After it reached a hundred thousand, not many dared to make frivolous bids, considering that real estate prices in the capital were only around three to five thousand per square meter; a hundred thousand was indeed a substantial amount for these young men and women.

    Seeing no one willing to bid higher, Ge Dongxu, who had been silent and low-key, directly shouted out five hundred thousand, after which the room fell quiet, and many turned to look at Ge Dongxu with astonishment.

    However, it didn''t take long for the astonished looks to turn into ridicule. Many whispered, "This guy looks unfamiliar, must be new around here. What a fool, shelling out five hundred thousand just like that in hopes of gaining Fang Wanyue''s favor. Does he even consider her social status? Is he even worthy?"

    "Five hundred thousand! I bet this guy will have to live on porridge and bran for a while after this!"

    "Living on porridge and bran is the least of his concerns. Did you see the frowns on the faces of Young Master Zheng, Young Master Lin, and a few others? Who here doesn''t know they are interested in Fang Wanyue? Initially, everyone was just joining in for the fun, but in the end, it''s known that it''s these few who are competing. And this fool just had to interfere, I bet he''s going to have a hard time mingling in the capital after this."

    "Heh, definitely. But, wow, I do have to admire the guy for being able to bid five hundred thousand without even a frown, not sure what his family does."

    "True, my monthly allowance is only twenty thousand. Five hundred thousand? I''d have to save up for two years!"

    "However, I think I saw him come in with Feng Chenqing and the Second Young Master."

    "Give me a break, that must be a coincidence! With the social status of Feng Chenqing and the Second Young Master? If this guy was really close to them, wouldn''t we know?"

    "¡­"

    Amid the buzzing discussions, the auctioneer had already brought down the gavel, and then a hostess brought the pair of turquoise earrings over to Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu seemed not to have heard the comments about him, nor seen the looks he was getting, and didn''t reach for the earrings. Instead, he whispered something to the hostess.

    The hostess looked slightly startled for a moment, and then, still carrying the tray with the earrings, walked towards Fang Wanyue.

    "Damn! That guy really did it for Fang Wanyue, but this is way too blatant!" Seeing the hostess walk towards Fang Wanyue with the tray, everyone in the hall understood that Ge Dongxu had bought the earrings to give to Fang Wanyue, and started whispering amongst themselves again.

    "Lucky you, Fang Wanyue, persuading me to hook up with this Ge Dongxu earlier. Turns out you wanted me to test him out!" Nearby, Lin Jingwen, seeing the hostess approach her and Fang Wanyue, gave Fang Wanyue a contemptuous look.

    "Lin Jingwen, you shouldn''t talk nonsense like that, he and I are impossible," Fang Wanyue replied to Lin Jingwen, startled by her words.

    After all, he was her grandfather''s fellow Taoist disciple.

    ps: Please don''t forget to vote with your recommendation tickets, which are generated daily and expire if not used.

 Chapter 245 She is a Newcomer

    "Poor Ge Dongxu, it looks like he wasted 500,000 yuan. Half a million! I wonder how long he has to save up his pocket money!" Seeing that Fang Wanyue clearly wasn''t interested in Ge Dongxu, Lin Jingwen exaggeratedly exclaimed with sympathy.

    "I''m warning you, Lin Jingwen, some jokes can be made, but not about him. Moreover, 500,000 might be a large sum for you and me, but for him, it''s really nothing," Fang Wanyue said, her patience finally wearing thin as Lin Jingwen''s jokes became too much. She spoke sternly, her pretty face tensing up with seriousness.

    There was no way around it; after all, Ge Dongxu was her grandfather''s apprentice. How could such jokes be spread around?

    "Is it really that serious? He looks only about twenty-something. Does he really have that much money? Who exactly is his dad?" Lin Jingwen straightened her expression and dared not joke further, but her curiosity grew even stronger.

    "He''s not like us. We still need to ask our parents for money, but he doesn''t need to because he has started making money like my second cousin, and his business is much bigger than my second cousin''s," Fang Wanyue explained, admiration glinting in her eyes.

    Since last night, when she saw Ge Dongxu''s "Six Meridians Divine Sword," Fang Wanyue had grown intensely curious about him. She had pestered her mother to tell her a lot about Ge Dongxu, eventually learning that he had started his business in his first year of high school and that his net worth was already in the billions, far surpassing their youthful peers.

    Lin Jingwen''s mouth dropped open upon hearing this. Though still somewhat skeptical, seeing the admiration in Fang Wanyue''s eyes convinced her mostly.

    These days, there weren''t many young people in the entire capital who could speak about someone in such a serious and admiring tone as Fang Wanyue did.

    Because of the 500,000 yuan, Ge Dongxu found himself unintentionally becoming one of the focal points of the gathering. Many were whispering about him, and some even began approaching him to strike up a conversation, a few casting him not-so-kind glances. This made Ge Dongxu uncomfortable, prompting him to quietly leave the hall to get some fresh air and walk around.

    After all, he had done the charity work he came for.

    ...

    "I''ve booked this villa for tonight, Qianqian. Stay here this evening," a man around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old said, wrapping his arm around Ye Qianqian''s shoulders at a table in the Ti Jin Club, his breath thick with alcohol.

    "Since Young Master Yang has asked, of course I will comply. But you must not have any naughty ideas!" Ye Qianqian took the opportunity to lean closer, almost lying entirely in Young Master Yang''s embrace.

    "Hehe, what do you mean by ''naughty ideas''? Like this?" Young Master Yang smirked and reached to touch Ye Qianqian''s chest right in front of everyone.

    "Stop it, you''re so bad, Young Master Yang! You''re pretending to be innocent?" Ye Qianqian slapped away Young Master Yang''s hand, her voice coquettish.

    "Hehe, Shiyi, you see Qianqian has agreed to stay, so you should stay too," a somewhat chubby man said with a lascivous grin as he too reached out to hold Wu Shiyi''s shoulder.

    "President Dong, you''re no good either, trying to take advantage of someone. Unfortunately, I''m not available today," Wu Shiyi said, gently batting away President Dong''s hand with a playful tone.

    "Not available?" President Dong obviously knew what a woman meant when she said she was not available. He withdrew his hand, slightly disheartened.

    "Hey, Shiyi, has your period started? I remember yours starts several days after mine," Just as President Dong was retracting his hand somewhat disappointingly, Ye Qianqian suddenly blurted out in surprise.

    But once the words were out, she seemed to realize she had said something she shouldn''t have, and quickly covered her mouth.

    The room abruptly fell silent.

    Wu Longcai and Liu Manman glared fiercely at Ye Qianqian. Who were they if not people who could instantly tell that Ye Qianqian was doing this on purpose?

    Shangguan Yunfeng''s lips curled into a schadenfreude-laden sneer, while the elaborately made-up face of Wu Shiyi suddenly showed a look of panic.

    She had never dreamed that Ye Qianqian would expose her in this matter!

    "Slap!" In her panic, the boss suddenly stood up and slapped her across the face. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Damn it, you bitch! What, you think you''re too good for me? If you don''t want to sleep with me, just say so. What''s this ''inconvenient'' bullshit? You think you''re so high and mighty? Damn it! You''re not inconvenienced. Fine, let me feel for myself to see if you really are ''inconvenient''. If you really are, then I''ll let you off."

    After slapping Wu Shiyi, the boss immediately reached toward her legs.

    Wu Shiyi quickly stood up and dodged, pressing her legs tightly together.

    Seeing this, both Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian revealed a hint of schadenfreude and satisfaction, while Wu Longcai quickly got up and blocked the boss, who was preparing to continue, saying, "Boss, Boss, I''m sorry, I''m sorry, she''s a newcomer, she doesn''t know the rules. Please be generous and don''t stoop to her level."

    Then Wu Longcai quickly turned to Wu Shiyi and shouted, "Are you not going to apologize to the boss right now?"

    "I''m sorry, Boss, I''m sorry, Boss, I don''t know the rules. Please..." Wu Shiyi, with tears in her eyes, hurriedly bowed repeatedly.

    "Not knowing the rules is simple; you can start learning them tonight. I''m giving you a chance now. Go wait for me in my room, or take off your pants right now and let everyone understand clearly," the boss said.

    "That''s a good idea. Since it''s inconvenient, taking it off should be convenient enough," said Young Master Yang, clapping his hands, seeming to thrive in the chaos.

    Wu Shiyi bowed her head, tears of humiliation welled up in her eyes, while Wu Longcai kept apologizing to the boss and Young Master Yang.

    But neither the boss nor Young Master Yang gave any face to Wu Longcai, and seeing the situation turning bad, Liu Manman pretended someone had called her and took out her phone to leave the villa.

    When Liu Manman called Ge Dongxu, he was walking alone on the road of the club.

    Last night, during coffee, they had exchanged numbers, and seeing it was Liu Manman''s call, Ge Dongxu frowned slightly. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He was still "haunted" by the events of last night.

    However, since they had embraced and held each other last night, forming a subtly intimate relationship, with Ge Dongxu''s character of valuing loyalty, it was only right for him to answer her call.

    "Is that Dongxu?" As soon as Ge Dongxu picked up the phone, he heard Liu Manman''s somewhat urgent voice from the other end.

    "What happened?" Ge Dongxu immediately asked with concern.

    "I know it''s presumptuous to make this call, but Shiyi is in trouble now. Since Shiyi and I don''t really know anyone in the capital, I had no choice but to call you..." Liu Manman said nervously.

 Chapter 246 Is He the Man Behind Wu Shiyi?

    "We''re friends, all you need to do is tell me what trouble Shiyi has run into?" Ge Dongxu didn''t wait for Liu Manman to finish speaking when he interrupted her.

    "Someone wants Shiyi to sleep with them, but Shiyi doesn''t want to, and now they''re at a standoff. That person has some background in the capital, they are ..." Liu Manman felt a warmth in her heart and quickly said.

    "Where are you right now?" a cold glint flashed through Ge Dongxu''s eyes as he interrupted again.

    "We''re in the Emperor Jin Club." Liu Manman replied.

    "I also happen to be at the Emperor Jin Club, tell me where you are, and I''ll come over right now," said Ge Dongxu, his voice cold.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. We''re currently in Building 15," Liu Manman, upon hearing that Ge Dongxu was also at the Emperor Jin Club and would come over immediately, couldn''t help but feel deeply touched and relieved, and spoke hurriedly.

    "Good, I''m coming over right now. Don''t be afraid, I''m here for you. If that guy dares to lay a finger on Shiyi, you just slap him across the face," Ge Dongxu said and then hung up the phone. He then casually hailed one of the electric carts that shuttle between the club''s buildings and said, "To Building 15."

    "Yes, sir," the driver replied courteously, and then began shuttling down the tree-lined path.

    On the way, Ge Dongxu thought for a moment and then called Feng Chenqing, "Chenqing, come to Building 15. A friend of mine is in some trouble, and it might be better if you handle it."

    "Okay, I''ll be right there." Feng Chenqing certainly didn''t dare to delay upon receiving a call from Ge Dongxu, so he hurried out of the villa with Feng Chenming and called for a car to rush to Building 15. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After Liu Manman made the call, she returned to the villa to find the situation still at a standoff. She hesitated and then stepped forward to say, "Director Dong, the girl is young, she''s bound to be inexperienced at times. Why must you take it so personally? Can''t we just let it go this time?"

    Although she had already made the call, Liu Manman hoped the situation wouldn''t escalate because, after all, Young Master Yang and Director Dong were influential people. Moreover, as to Ge Dongxu, Liu Manman still didn''t really know the extent of his background or whether he could control the situation; she really had no idea.

    "I''ll let her go this time. Why don''t you stay then!" Director Dong glanced at Liu Manman and said.

    Liu Manman was immediately left speechless.

    "What, now that you''re a bit famous, you can''t let down your pride? But don''t pretend to be so high and mighty, wasn''t it Xu Feng who used to take care of you? Sure, Xu Feng is somebody in your place, but in the capital, he''s nothing! Even before my dad, he has to behave properly. Moreover, Xu Feng has already been arrested by now. So, what do you think, why not consider it? If you agree to stay, not only will Wu''s negotiation go through without a hitch, but I''ll also let this young girl off the hook," Director Dong''s eyes narrowed lasciviously as he scoped Liu Manman''s body, obviously aware of her past dealings.

    "Why must you force someone against their will, Director Dong? In our circle, everyone has some connections behind them. Consensual is one thing, but causing a scene when it''s against someone''s will, that benefits no one ¨C don''t you agree?" Liu Manman saw that Director Dong was unwilling to budge and her face gradually turned cold.

    "Liu Manman, shut up. If Shiyi doesn''t understand the rules, do you not either?" Wu Longcai saw Liu Manman''s stubborn attitude and knew things would turn out bad, so he quickly scolded her.

    These days, rich and powerful young masters like Director Dong and Young Master Yang didn''t care about money; what they couldn''t stand was being threatened or losing face!

    Of course, if your background is more powerful than theirs, that''s a different story.

    ```

    "Wow, the headlining actress of Jiangnan Province Entertainment sure has a different air about her! According to you, Wu Shiyi has got backing too, huh? Fine, call them up, let''s see if I can afford to offend them or not." Indeed, as soon as Liu Manman said this, Director Dong''s face grew even uglier.

    "Director Dong..." Wu Longcai quickly tried to smooth things over with an apologetic smile.

    "Director Wu, these kinds of issues, if Wu Shiyi had brought it up earlier, we could''ve talked it out amicably. We''re all out here to have fun; there''s no need to spoil the mood. But to bring this up now, and you expect us to let it go? If this gets out, people will think Director Dong and I are cowards!" Young Master Yang also spoke up with a cold expression.

    "Director Wu, it''s not that I don''t want to give you face today, but these two underlings of yours keep disrespecting me. You tell me, if not earlier or later, why mention having backup now? What are you implying? Trying to threaten me?" Director Dong scoffed coldly as well.

    Seeing the situation escalate to this point, Wu Longcai knew that sweet-talking was futile, so he finally played his trump card: "I don''t know if the two of you are familiar with Ge Dongxu? Wu Shiyi indeed has a quite good relationship with Ge Dongxu, so please both of you..."

    Wu Longcai, being a local, didn''t have many connections in the capital and certainly none with any VIPs. Even people like Young Master Yang and Director Dong were big shots to him, otherwise, he wouldn''t have to ingratiate himself with them like this. Now that things had escalated to this point, all he could do was try his luck by mentioning Ge Dongxu''s name.

    "Ge Dongxu? Who''s that? Never heard of him! Yang Tian, have you heard of him?" Director Dong frowned in thought then turned to ask Yang Tian.

    "Why bother thinking about it? There''s nobody prominent in the capital with the surname Ge!" Yang Tian said disdainfully with a sneer.

    Wu Longcai''s face showed a trace of confusion, and just as he was about to further explain, Director Dong already waved his hand impatiently, "Alright, Wu Longcai, Ge Dongxu or whoever, let her call him." Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire

    "No need to call, he''s already here." Just at that moment, the door was pushed open, and Ge Dongxu walked in.

    "Brother Xu!" Wu Shiyi suddenly looked up in disbelief at Ge Dongxu, her face bearing both a handprint and tears.

    "Ge Dongxu?" Wu Longcai''s face revealed a look of surprise; he hadn''t expected Cao Cao to literally arrive as soon as mentioned.

    Both Ye Qianqian and Shangguan Yunfeng were slightly startled when Ge Dongxu arrived, but they quickly remembered the backgrounds of Young Master Yang and Director Dong, as well as their earlier remarks, and their faces soon showed a schadenfreude expression.

    "He''s the one backing Wu Shiyi? Ge Dongxu? More like Ge nothing!" Young Master Yang and Director Dong, upon seeing Ge Dongxu barge in, were first taken aback, then their expressions darkened as they scornfully cursed.

    With their status, they knew almost everyone with any significance in the circles of the capital''s young elite. They were well aware of whom they could offend and who was untouchable to them.

    But Ge Dongxu''s face was definitely unfamiliar to them, so there was nothing to fear!

    Ge Dongxu ignored Young Master Yang and Director Dong and walked over to Wu Shiyi, looking at the handprint on her face and demanded coldly, "Shiyi, tell me, who slapped you?"

    "Damn! Are you dumb or what? In a place like this, you dare to cause a scene! Let me tell you, it was me who slapped her! What are you gonna do about it?" Director Dong, seeing an unremarkable youngster behaving so arrogantly, was taken aback for a moment before speaking up with evident disdain.

    ```

 Chapter 247 It Doesnt Matter Who You Are

    "Very well!" Ge Dongxu nodded coldly, then suddenly strode towards Dong Hu. Before anyone in the villa could understand what Ge Dongxu intended to do, he had already reached out, grasped Dong Hu''s neck, and, regardless of his corpulent body''s struggles, directly hoisted him by his neck in front of Wu Shiyi.

    "Shiyi, since he was the one who hit you, you hit him back!" Ge Dongxu said coldly.

    As his words fell, the entire villa became dead silent, and everyone looked at Ge Dongxu as if they had seen a ghost, Wu Shiyi included.

    She had never dreamt that the brother Xu, who had joked and laughed with her on the plane, who had been teased and entangled by her and Liu Manman just last night, occasionally showing a big boy''s bashful expression, could have such a fierce, cold, and overbearing side.

    Without saying much, not even asking about the other party''s background, he directly grabbed and lifted the man by his neck.

    "Damn!" After a while, Wu Shiyi hadn''t raised her hand to slap him, but Young Master Yang pushed Ye Qianqian aside and rushed forward, lifting his foot aiming a kick at Ge Dongxu.

    "If you think you can beat me, just try kicking," Ge Dongxu said coldly, holding Dong Hu by the neck with one hand towards Young Master Yang.

    Seeing how Ge Dongxu held Dong Hu by the neck with one hand as easily as lifting a chicken or duck, Young Master Yang shivered all over. He then realized the young man before him was very strong; how could his almost hollowed-out body by women possibly beat him?

    "Do you know who you are holding? Do you know who I am?" Although Young Master Yang didn''t dare to kick, his presence did not show any fear as he pointed at Ge Dongxu and spoke in a very arrogant manner.

    "Who you are doesn''t matter, what matters is that he hit my friend!" Ge Dongxu said coldly, then turned to Wu Shiyi again, "However he hit you just now, hit him back the same way!"

    "If you dare to hit me, you can forget about mixing in the entertainment industry ever again!" Dong Hu struggled and said.

    Originally, Wu Shiyi truly dared not hit him, but as Dong Hu threatened and insulted her, she didn''t know where she found the courage, suddenly raised her hand, and gave him a hard slap, her fingers trembling as she pointed at him and said, "Don''t think I wouldn''t dare hit you, I could just give up the entertainment industry!"

    Seeing Wu Shiyi slap him back, Ge Dongxu then released his hand, patted her¡ªmore appropriate to say from excitement or perhaps fright¡ªlightly and said indifferently, "Don''t worry, whether you can stay in the entertainment industry is not for him to decide."

    "I can''t decide? Wu Longcai, tell him, who am I? Can I decide a¡­" Dong Hu hadn''t expected to actually receive a slap and could not help speaking in frustration.

    "No need, I''ll say it. Even your father couldn''t decide about this matter, let alone you, Dong Hu," as Dong Hu spoke, a voice suddenly interrupted. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Feng, Feng Chenqing!" Dong Hu, hearing this voice, turned his head wanting to curse, but as soon as he saw the speaker and the people standing beside him, he couldn''t help but shiver.

    "First Young Master of the Feng Family, Second Young Master, what wind has brought you here?" As Dong Hu involuntarily shivered, the previously very arrogant Young Master Yang had already run up to Feng Chenqing and his brother, repeatedly bowing and wearing a smile, his eyes especially when looking at Feng Chenqing, filled with a thick sense of reverence.

    It couldn''t be helped, these two brothers, especially Feng Chenqing as the Feng family''s eldest grandson, were absolutely top-tier figures in their circle. He and Dong Hu could only be considered second or third rate in front of Feng Chenqing, not in the same league at all.

    "What''s going on, Dongxu?" However, Feng Chenqing and his brother didn''t bother with Young Master Yang and Dong Hu, they went straight to Ge Dongxu and asked with concern.

    "I''m not exactly sure, but it seems this guy wanted my friend to sleep with him, and then a conflict arose!" Ge Dongxu said.

    Hearing that Dong Hu had actually tried to force Ge Dongxu''s friend to sleep with him, Feng Chenqing and his brother instantly turned cold, and their eyes on that Mr. Dong and Young Master Yang became as sharp as knives, as if they wished they could kill them right there.

    "Mr. Feng, please listen to me, it''s a misunderstanding, a huge misunderstanding." Dong Hu, frightened by the words, almost lost his soul and hurriedly bowed repeatedly to Feng Chenqing, sweating profusely.

    "Who are these two?" Feng Chenqing slightly frowned and turned to ask Feng Chenming.

    Feng Chenqing was a top figure in this circle who normally kept a low profile, so naturally he didn''t mingle with these types of people, and thus he only felt they looked somewhat familiar but didn''t actually know who they were. Previously, it hadn''t been him who spoke but Feng Chenming.

    Since Feng Chenming wasn''t keen on a career in politics but instead dealt with imported wines and had a wide network, he knew these young masters.

    "Nothing significant, just that their old man holds a minor position at the State Administration of Radio and Television. Depending on what Dongxu and his friend decide, if they don''t want to pursue it further, then my uncle could intervene by talking to their old man. If they do want to pursue it, hehe, just looking at their conduct, I suspect that investigating all the messy things they''ve been up to over the years would certainly land them in jail," said Feng Chenming, his gaze coldly sweeping over Mr. Dong and Young Master Yang.

    At these words from Feng Chenming, Dong Hu and Young Master Yang were so scared they almost fell to the ground. Only then did they realize that Ge Dongxu, whom they had mocked as "worthless Ge," actually had a much bigger background than they had imagined.

    Listening to Feng Chenming, it seemed that even as grandsons of the Feng Family, this matter was entirely up to Ge Dongxu, and from what he indicated, they could directly involve their elders. This was enough to show that Ge Dongxu was far more powerful than they had initially thought!

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    "Dongxu, what do you think?" Feng Chenqing nodded, then turned to Ge Dongxu and asked.

    "Let''s first clarify what exactly happened," Ge Dongxu replied and then turned toward Wu Shiyi, who was already staring in shock, and said, "Shiyi, can you tell us exactly what happened just now?"

    "Mr. Feng? Mr. Feng? Ah! The Feng family from the capital! Then that person who went to the airport to pick someone up that day..." However, Wu Shiyi, seemingly not hearing Ge Dongxu''s words, murmured and then suddenly exclaimed, her eyes filled with immense fear.

    Those who also showed eyes filled with fear included Wu Longcai, Liu Manman, and others.

    Because if this Feng Chenqing was indeed a young master of the Feng family from the capital, then the identity of the people who went with him to the airport that day became very clear.

    Considering that even a second-generation member of the Feng family had personally come to the airport for pickup, how could Wu Longcai and others not be frightened?

    What kind of status must someone have to necessitate the Feng family''s second-generation members to personally come to the airport to receive them? Even the top leaders of Jiangnan Province didn''t have that kind of clout!

    Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian''s faces had turned as pale as white paper, and especially Ye Qianqian, recalling her actions on the plane and what had occurred just now, felt waves of darkness before her eyes.

 Chapter 248 You must have seen it wrong!

    "Director Wu, you''d better speak," said Ge Dongxu, seeing that Wu Shiyi was completely stunned, and could only smile bitterly as he turned to Wu Longcai.

    "Yes, yes!" Wu Longcai, upon being asked by Ge Dongxu, immediately felt unexpectedly flattered and nodded in rapid succession.

    He then recounted the incident in full detail, without omitting a single point, naturally not forgetting to mention how he had tried his best to stop it earlier.

    After Wu Longcai finished speaking, there was no need for Ge Dongxu to say anything; Feng Chenqing and his brothers had already made a decision.

    Such scum, what''s the use of letting their father give them a light scolding that doesn''t really hurt? They needed to taste real hardship!

    "You really think you''re something, don''t you!" Feng Chenqing coldly glanced at Dong Hu and Yang Shao before turning to Ge Dongxu and saying, "Dongxu, handle this matter strictly."

    "Alright, let''s go," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "Young Master Feng¡­"

    "Young Master Ge¡­"

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu and the others were about to leave, Dong Hu and Yang Shao panicked and tried to stop Feng Chenqing and his brothers, wanting to say a few more good words, while Ye Qianqian and Shangguan Yunfeng hurried after Ge Dongxu, begging him with terrified faces.

    Dong Hu and Yang Shao still had no idea just how significant Ge Dongxu''s background was. In their eyes, the root of the problem always lay with the Feng brothers. In contrast, Ye Qianqian and Shangguan Yunfeng were acutely aware that this Young Master Ge was a frightening figure whom even the second generation of the Feng Family would personally come out to meet!

    But how could Ge Dongxu and the others possibly care about them?

    In the end, Ge Dongxu and the rest left in an electric cart, speeding away.

    "Damn it! What''s there to be scared of! I refuse to believe that for such a trivial young guy, for such a trifling matter, they would actually stir up the higher-ups. At most, I''d be scolded by the old man and grounded for a while!" Watching the electric cart carrying Ge Dongxu and the others disappear into the night, Dong Hu finally couldn''t restrain his curse.

    "Exactly, what''s there to be afraid of! They wouldn''t care about all this trivial mess we have here!" Yang Shao cursed as well.

    Watching Dong Hu and Yang Shao cursing away, Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian looked at them as if they were fools.

    Even now, they actually thought this was a minor issue, that Ge Dongxu was just some youngster, that he couldn''t possibly alarm the second generation of the Feng family!

    "Damn, what''s with those looks?" The two turned around inadvertently and saw the idiotic stares from the other two, which infuriated them and they immediately started cursing.

    "We''re finished!" Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian didn''t care about their fiery outburst at all, and just sat down on the ground, utterly dejected.

    "Look at yourselves, what cowards! What''s there to fear! Even if Feng Chenqing is the eldest grandchild of the Feng family, so what? It''s not like he''s the one calling the shots at the Feng family. Can he bring me down just because he wants to?" Dong Hu said upon seeing this.

    "We''re cowards? Do you have any idea who came to meet Ge Dongxu when we landed at the airport on the same flight yesterday? It was Feng Guozhen! It was Feng Guozhen!" Shangguan Yunfeng said tearfully.

    "Feng Guozhen? That''s impossible, how could that be? You must have seen it wrong!" Dong Hu and Yang Shao were completely dumbstruck upon hearing this, unable to believe what they had heard.

    "To pick up the airport with Feng Family''s young master, a man around fifty years old, all suffused with military bearing, and resembling the young master himself, and yet it''s the young master who''s driving¡ªtell me, who else but Feng Guozhen could precipitate such a scenario that requires the young master himself to drive?" Shangguan Yunfeng said with a vacant look in his eyes.

    "Thud!" With that, Dong Hu and Yang the Lesser finally collapsed onto the ground as well.

    Feng Guozhen personally picking someone up from the airport¡ªwhat level does that imply?

    ...

    "Brother Xu, what a coincidence, you''re returning to Linzhou today too?" Seated in first class, Ge Dongxu looked outside, thinking that in a couple more hours he''d see Liu Jiayao, imagining the "foolish frolicking" in bed with her tonight, feeling waves of heat inside him, when he noticed Wu Longcai and his entourage of five.

    Leading the pack was still Wu Longcai, but right behind him were Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi, chatting and laughing. When they spotted Ge Dongxu, their pretty eyes lit up.

    Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian trailed listlessly behind, especially Ye Qianqian with dark circles under her eyes and a haggard expression, clearly having not slept well the night before.

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    "Yeah, it is quite a coincidence." Ge Dongxu nodded to the trio with a smile.

    "Qianqian, switch seats with Shiyi." Wu Longcai looked up at Ge Dongxu''s seat and then turned to speak to Ye Qianqian.

    It turns out that after the incident that night, and given that Ye Qianqian had offended Ge Dongxu, Wu Longcai had become quite cold towards her. Last time was purely by chance, as she found herself alone; this time, when issuing the tickets, Wu Longcai decided to give her a seat by herself, to sit with whoever she wished, keeping clear any ambiguous ties with the newcomer¡ªeven if she threw herself at him, he''d dodge her far and wide.

    But coincidentally, Ye Qianqian''s seat ended up being next to Ge Dongxu''s once again.

    Initially, Ye Qianqian''s eyes brightened at the sight of Ge Dongxu''s seat, considering perhaps an act of mercy from above, granting her an opportunity. What she hadn''t expected was that last time, she had looked down on Ge Dongxu, bluntly switching seats with Wu Shiyi, whereas this time, she wanted to sit next to Ge Dongxu, but Wu Longcai directly stripped her of that possibility, arranging for Wu Shiyi to continue sitting with Ge Dongxu.

    It was truly ironic.

    Ye Qianqian pouted, her eyes turned red, and her tears were about to fall, yet she dared not utter a single word of protest.

    "Director Wu, you''re biased, why is it Shiyi who exchanges seats with Qianqian and not me? I also want to sit next to Brother Xu!" Ye Qianqian dared not protest, but Liu Manman was not so inhibited, her eyes gleaming with mirth as she spoke.

    At Liu Manman''s words, everyone in the first-class cabin couldn''t help but turn to look at Ge Dongxu, thinking to themselves, who is this young man to be so popular with the ladies, to have even Liu Manman vying to sit next to him?

    This was a flight heading to Linzhou, so naturally, there were quite a few people from Jiangnan Province on board, and many recognized Liu Manman. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Brother Xu, you really have charm, now two big beauties from our station want to sit with you, what do you think we should do?" Director Wu asked Ge Dongxu with a smile.

    At his words, Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi looked at Ge Dongxu with a mix of schadenfreude and anticipation, waiting to see how he would respond.

    Ge Dongxu was no fool, naturally aware that choosing either of them would not end well, and indeed, he had begun to genuinely fear their clinging to him.

    There was no way out, holding it in was painful enough!

    "Director Wu, are you complimenting me, or causing me trouble?" Ge Dongxu said to Director Wu with a lack of good humor, then turned to Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman with an apologetic smile, "Shiyi, Manman, I''m sorry, but when we get back to Linzhou, we can find time to have tea together. Today, I have some business regarding an advertisement I want to discuss with Director Wu."

 Chapter 249 Qinghe Herbal Tea, have you heard of it?

    Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman were momentarily stunned by the words, then they pursed their lips and giggled softly. Standing behind Wu Longcai, Liu Manman even gently nudged him, saying, "Director Wu, since Dongxu pointed at you, just go along with it!"

    "You, Liu Manman, how can you be so casual and jest like this in front of Dongxu?" Wu Longcai was startled by her words and quickly turned around to glare at Liu Manman, then nervously said to Ge Dongxu with a forced smile, "Dongxu, don''t mind her. The host is just used to bantering."

    Upon hearing this, Liu Manman realized that maybe she went too far with that joke for Ge Dongxu and quickly stuck out her tongue slightly at him, saying, "Dongxu bro, it just slipped out."

    "Do I look like someone who can''t take a joke?" Ge Dongxu said with a smile, then patted the space beside him, "Director Wu, if you keep standing, you''ll block the way for the people behind."

    Only then did Wu Longcai hastily take a seat.

    "Has the program been approved yet?" Ge Dongxu asked once Wu Longcai had sat down.

    "It''s approved, and I have to thank you for that, Dongxu," Wu Longcai sat up straight and replied.

    Seeing Wu Longcai sitting so stiffly, as if he were talking to a superior, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but laugh and said, "Director Wu, relax a bit, just like before. Otherwise, you''ll tire yourself out, and I''ll feel awkward too."

    Could it really be the same as before? Even a member from the second generation of the Feng Family had to come out to receive people at the airport! Wu Longcai thought to himself, but since Ge Dongxu put it that way, he finally relaxed quite a bit.

    "Now that the program''s been approved, have we settled on the sponsors for the ads?" Ge Dongxu asked, seeing that Wu Longcai was visibly more relaxed.

    "There are quite a few interested parties, but we haven''t agreed on a price yet. Dongxu, do you have any friends who might want to advertise at the station? If they''re your friends, I can definitely offer them the best discount," Wu Longcai said, taken aback that Ge Dongxu was indeed inquiring about the advertising business, and a hint of helplessness flashed in his eyes.

    At this point, apart from a couple of well-done programs on Central Television, only HN TV Station was slightly more outstanding among other local stations. That was why, although Wu Longcai had planned a very promising program, he had great expectations for it, but in terms of naming rights for the ads, he never found a company willing to meet his desired price. Originally, Mr. Dong from the capital had shown interest and offered a good price, but after the incident the day before, it was completely off.

    The amount invested in a program is naturally closely related to how much advertising revenue it pulls in. The more advertising revenue it pulls in, the more money naturally goes into producing the program, and the more money put into the program production, as long as there isn''t an inherent problem with the program itself, the better the quality and effect of the program which naturally improves the ratings. Higher ratings naturally mean there wouldn''t be worries about attracting ads.

    This can be said to be a cycle!

    Now that the program has been approved, but the advertisers have yet to be secured, this was naturally a matter of disappointment and helplessness for Wu Longcai, who held high hopes for this entertainment program.

    "It''s my friend''s and my own company, Qinghe Herbal Tea. You''ve heard of it, right?" Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Qinghe Herbal Tea is yours? Then Cheng Yazhou..." Wu Longcai''s eyes widened, looking incredulously at Ge Dongxu.

    Everyone in Jiangnan Province knew how popular Qinghe Herbal Tea had been this past year! Especially since Qinghe Herbal Tea was also a major advertiser on the provincial station, investing six million in advertising there just last year! It was said to be even more on Central Television, while the provincial station''s total annual advertising revenue was only about one or two hundred million.

    Wu Longcai had previously approached Li Fang Cosmetics'' Li Bisheng, as well as Cheng Yazhou and Donglin Yue''s Yue Ting, because the latter also was a major advertiser for the provincial station.

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    Unfortunately, they thought the current advertising investment was already sufficient and weren''t very optimistic about his program, hence they were reluctant to pay a high price for the naming rights.

    However, Wu Longcai quickly accepted this fact, realizing that a person who could make the Feng family dispatch second-generation figures to pick up at the airport likely owning a company shouldn''t come as a surprise.

    "Indeed he is one of the shareholders, but I am the major shareholder. I''m also the major shareholder of Donglin Yue." Ge Dongxu nodded, then added another sentence.

    Since Wu Longcai already knew about the ties with the Feng family, it didn''t matter letting him know a bit more. Moreover, Ge Dongxu wanted to discuss advertising with him, he couldn''t keep hiding things, not even revealing what company they were talking about.

    Having heard this, Wu Longcai opened his mouth but eventually ended up with a bitter smile, "Compared to you, I feel like I''ve wasted my entire life."

    "Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, we just excel in different areas. If you asked me to run a program, I definitely couldn''t," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Thank you, Dongxu." Wu Longcai looked gratefully at Ge Dongxu and said. That such a significant figure could offer comfort so wholeheartedly was extremely rare these days. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Of course, for a major figure like him to stand up for a newcomer that night was even rarer, so in addition to the deep-seated fear in his heart, Wu Longcai felt profound respect for Ge Dongxu.

    He knew this young man in front of him was not only a major figure but also a great person.

    "Let''s talk about your program. Shiyi mentioned it to me on the plane that day, and I told her if the program was good and she hosted it, I might consider the naming rights. But she didn''t seem interested in discussing it with a ''poor student'' like me," Ge Dongxu said half-jokingly.

    "Dongxu, stop teasing me. How was I supposed to know that you weren''t just a poor student but a big boss!" Across the aisle, Wu Shiyi said with a blushing face, but her eyes were full of gratitude as she looked at Ge Dongxu.

    Previously when Ge Dongxu was talking to Wu Longcai, Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman across the aisle were naturally all ears, stunned by what Ge Dongxu had just said, and couldn''t fathom how a young man like Ge Dongxu could not only have such extensive connections but also be the major shareholder of two companies.

    At this point, they didn''t yet know that, apart from those two, Ge Dongxu was also the major shareholder of Kunting Chain Hotels, Yazhou Printing and Packaging Company, and Qinglan Cosmetics.

    "Shiyi is really good, and her style of hosting suits the program well. The only drawback is her lack of experience, but Manman is seasoned, and having her as a partner will definitely work. I will discuss this with the leadership at the station when we get back," Wu Longcai naturally understood Ge Dongxu''s intent, glanced at Wu Shiyi, and then continued with a smile.

    The five seats occupied by Wu Longcai were next to each other, with Wu Shiyi and her group across the aisle from Ge Dongxu, and Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian sitting behind them. The conversations of the two in front were naturally overheard by the two behind.

    The moment Wu Longcai voiced this, Ye Qianqian, needless to say, regretted it so much that she wished she could open the plane''s emergency exit and jump out. This was the entertainment channel''s major program planned for the year, and originally, it had nothing to do with newcomers like them. But now? Newcomer Wu Shiyi was guaranteed a spot. This opportunity, if not for her opportunism, should have typically been hers.

    Shangguan Yunfeng''s face changed drastically. He opened his mouth, but when his gaze fell on the back of Ge Dongxu''s head, he eventually shut it quietly.

    In the program''s design, there were supposed to be two hosts, and he was a guaranteed choice. However, Liu Manman was likely not going to participate due to issues with her backing. Unexpectedly, from Wu Longcai''s words, it seemed he was about to be replaced.

    But recalling the day of the airport pickup and the Second Young Master of the Feng family''s attitude toward Ge Dongxu, Shangguan Yunfeng just didn''t dare voice any opposition, otherwise even if Wu Longcai was the director, Shangguan Yunfeng would have protested at this moment.

 Chapter 250 Are you serious? [First Update]

    Ge Dongxu smiled and didn''t express any opinion.

    He had intended to help Wu Shiyi all along, and since Wu Longcai had this idea, that was even better.

    After declaring his stance, seeing that Ge Dongxu kept silent, Wu Longcai didn''t continue discussing the choice of host but started to introduce Ge Dongxu to the new shows that the entertainment channel was planning to launch this year.

    Ge Dongxu indeed didn''t understand entertainment programs, but perhaps due to his cultivation practices, he possessed exceptional judgment when it came to the developmental direction of many issues. Therefore, up to this point, his few business investment decisions had been very successful.

    The show that Wu Longcai wanted to launch was a singing competition, not much different from the well-known "Super Girl" in our real society, except that it used the name "Happy Girl," which "Super Girl" adopted later on.

    As soon as Wu Longcai introduced this new program, Ge Dongxu felt assured that the show would be a hit if managed properly. Moreover, he gave Wu Longcai an extra few looks and noticed that Wu had a well-rounded forehead and a radiant face, indicating that he was someone with good fortune, at least for the coming years.

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    So, after Wu Longcai had roughly introduced the new program, Ge Dongxu made up his mind and asked, "Director Wu, what''s your expected price for the naming rights of this program?"

    "Seven million!" Wu Longcai hesitated before replying, a self-mocking expression on his face, not sure whether he was scoffing at his own na?ve expectations.

    Because in 1999, seven million for a new program on a provincial entertainment channel was definitely a high number. To put things in perspective, the "Super Girl" was extremely popular in 2005, and its naming rights were only fourteen million. Of course, by 2006, the price had surpassed sixty million.

    "Seven million? No wonder you haven''t secured the sponsorship rights for the program. The price is indeed rather high," Ge Dongxu said with a chuckle upon hearing this. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Deciding to invest heavily in advertising was originally a decision made by Ge Dongxu, so he knew a bit about the costs of advertising.

    "There''s no choice, my plan is grand, involving national auditions. To achieve the impact I want requires a huge investment. If I sell the naming rights too cheaply, the budget allocation from the channel for investment will surely be drastically reduced. But now that you''ve also said so, it seems my idea is unfeasible..." Wu Longcai replied with a wry smile.

    "Haha, that''s not what I meant. I mean, your price is indeed high for others. How about this, ten million, and you give the naming rights of this program to Qinghe Herbal Tea. At the same time, Donglin Yue will invest a large amount of advertising funds into this program," Ge Dongxu said, cutting Wu Longcai off before he could finish, with a smile.

    "What? Are you serious?" Wu Longcai, upon hearing this, almost jumped out of his seat, his breathing growing hurried and difficult.

    The two who also found their breaths growing hurried and difficult were Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman. As for Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian, they were in so much agony they felt like smashing their heads against a door.

    "Do I look like someone who enjoys joking about matters like this?" Ge Dongxu asked Wu Longcai with a smile.

    "No, not at all, I didn''t mean that, I''m just... just too happy. I didn''t expect, you, you would..." Even being the director of a provincial entertainment channel, Wu Longcai was so excited that he stumbled over his words.

    "Haha, don''t get too happy just yet. I still have conditions," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Please tell me, tell me. As long as you are willing to invest like this, any condition is fine," Wu Longcai replied eagerly. Jokes aside, Ge Dongxu offering to invest at such a premium was essentially saving his program; it was the greatest support. Unless Ge Dongxu''s condition was to remove him as the director, anything could be discussed. Given Ge Dongxu''s formidable background alone, even if Ge Dongxu wanted to replace him as director, Wu Longcai had no choice but to accept his fate.

    "First, you must ensure the investment in this program is upheld and strive to make the program the best it can be," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Thank you, Dongxu, that''s a given," Wu Longcai hurriedly nodded.

    "Second, Qinghe Herbal Tea and Donglin Yue have the right of first refusal for the sponsorship of the second season, and the price can only be up to twenty million. What I mean is that even if other companies offer more than twenty million, they would still have to give the sponsorship to me at twenty million. Of course, if no other company bids that high, then we will pay the same price," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "No problem!" Wu Longcai responded without hesitation.

    Without Ge Dongxu, securing even the first season would have been a problem, let alone a second one.

    Moreover, twenty million was an amount that, unless another company was insane, Wu Longcai found no reason to refuse the offer, out of gratitude or considering the price.

    Naturally, if Ge Dongxu''s influence in the capital was also factored in, Wu Longcai wasn''t really in a position to refuse at all.

    "If there''s no problem with these two conditions, I''ll have Cheng Yazhou discuss the specifics of the contract with you when you get back, and I''ll ask Yue Ting to talk to you on Donglin Yue''s behalf," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "That''s it?" Wu Longcai blurted out in shock, wondering what kind of conditions these were.

    The first condition wouldn''t even need mentioning by Ge Dongxu, as Wu Longcai would have done so anyway because it concerned his earnings and future! As for the second condition, since Ge Dongxu had already overpaid for their sponsorship rights, having the right of first refusal at the same price was practically a given, even without mention. Of course, as for the twenty-million price tag, Wu Longcai hadn''t bothered considering it.

    Nowadays, which company would be crazy enough to spend twenty million on a provincial station''s entertainment program sponsorship? Even CCTV programs would require careful consideration.

    "Just these," Ge Dongxu confirmed with a smile and a nod.

    Upon hearing this, Wu Longcai was stunned for a good while before digesting the news. Then, looking at Ge Dongxu puzzled, he asked, "Dongxu, why do you have so much faith in my program?"

    "Don''t you have confidence in your own program?" Ge Dongxu countered. Of course, he wouldn''t tell Wu Longcai that his faith was not only in the program but also in the man''s destiny.

    "I naturally have confidence in my own program, but to be honest, not as much as you do! I''m worried about what if..." Wu Longcai said with a wry smile.

    What should have been a very celebratory and joyous occasion suddenly became a weighty pressure for Wu Longcai once he had a moment to cool his head.

    This pressure came not only from the tremendous advertising fee but also from Ge Dongxu''s trust in him, which made Wu Longcai feel that he would deeply betray this trust if he failed.

    "Don''t worry, no need to feel pressured, just do your best, and leave the rest to the market. After all, no one can guarantee one hundred percent success, but as long as you try your best, you will have nothing to regret," Ge Dongxu reassured with a smile, patting Wu Longcai''s shoulder.

    "Dongxu, rest assured, I will do my utmost," Wu Longcai, who hadn''t felt such emotion in many years, felt a sudden surge of warmth in his nose from Ge Dongxu''s reassuring pat on the shoulder.

    ps: Four chapters today, and I humbly ask for a recommendation vote on Monday. Thank you very much.

 Chapter 251 Casting Spells [2nd Update]

    The plane landed on time at Linzhou Airport.

    After getting off the plane, Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman clung to Ge Dongxu from either side.

    However, considering Liu Jiayao was waiting for him outside, and since Liu Manman was quite a celebrity in Jiangnan Province, Ge Dongxu dared not get too intimate with them here. He quickly avoided the two women and struck up a sporadic conversation with Wu Longcai. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman, being intelligent women, naturally understood Ge Dongxu''s intentions and did not push themselves on him anymore. However, their gazes towards him couldn''t help revealing some disappointment and wistfulness.

    As soon as he exited the main hall, Ge Dongxu saw Liu Jiayao waiting for him at the exit.

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    Liu Jiayao was wearing a long blue wool coat and white high-heeled long boots, standing out like a crane amongst chickens, exceptionally tall and elegant. Ge Dongxu noticed her the moment he saw her.

    "Dongxu!" Liu Jiayao happily approached and took his hand as she saw Ge Dongxu come out.

    Wu Longcai and others, seeing Liu Jiayao with Ge Dongxu again, felt quite different than last time. Previously, they thought Ge Dongxu was punching above his weight with Liu Jiayao, but now they realized that wasn''t the case at all.

    "Ms. Liu, hello!" Wu Longcai and the others hurried forward to greet her.

    "Oh, Director Wu, you''re also on this flight?" Liu Jiayao only then noticed Director Wu and the others, expressing her surprise.

    "Yes, just happened to be on the same flight, and just happened to sit next to Brother Xu." Wu Longcai replied.

    "Brother Xu?" Liu Jiayao heard this and felt a jolt, casting a puzzled glance at Ge Dongxu, but she didn''t specifically ask and instead said with a smile, "That''s nice. I was worried Dongxu would be bored flying alone."

    "Ms. Liu is really good to Brother Xu. No wonder Brother Xu is so indifferent to beautiful women; it turns out he has Ms. Liu on his mind!" Liu Manman commented with a laugh.

    "He wouldn''t think so!" Liu Jiayao''s face turned red upon hearing this, but her eyes were filled with joy.

    Ge Dongxu secretly gave Liu Manman a thumbs up, thinking that this woman deserved to be the leading star at the entertainment station, having quite a knack for understanding social cues. Her skill in flattering was indeed admirable.

    While walking out of the exit and exchanging pleasantries, Wu Longcai and the others wisely sped up and headed towards the parking lot first, while Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao walked slowly behind.

    "You look a bit unwell; have you been too tired these days?" Wu Longcai having left, Ge Dongxu looked at Liu Jiayao with concern.

    Although Liu Jiayao had made an extra effort with her makeup and attire that day, it couldn''t hide the fatigue on her face or the redness in her eyes.

    "It should be. Because there were production issues before the year''s end, I''ve been rushing things lately. Moreover, Uncle Hua and other shareholders have pulled out, leaving a gap in the management, so there has been a lot to oversee, making it quite tiring lately. But we''re already interviewing candidates, and with a sufficient supply secured for production, things have gradually stabilized. Should be easier after a while," Liu Jiayao hesitated, then nodded as she replied.

    "Since you''re so tired, why don''t you just stay home and rest instead of coming out especially to pick me up?" Ge Dongxu didn''t think too much about it, because this really was a temporary and objective difficulty facing Liu Jiayao, which could easily lead to biased judgments. However, upon hearing this, he was deeply touched and moved.

    Actually, Liu Jiayao felt the same way. These past few days, she often felt like she couldn''t catch her breath, especially when sleeping. It felt like a stone was pressing on her heart, and nightmares occurred repeatedly. Several times, she woke up from these nightmares drenched in sweat.

    However, since she had indeed been very busy during this period, she didn''t think there was a problem with her health, so she didn''t bring up her condition in detail.

    "I just wanted to see you earlier!" Liu Jiayao said tenderly.

    ...

    In the northern suburbs of Linzhou City, halfway up Xiaoyuan Mountain in a villa, Li Bisheng was performing the Stepping on the Big Dipper ritual, muttering words. In front of him was an incense table, on which stood a thin stick with a small paper figure tied to it. The paper figure was not only painted with strange talismans, but also had Liu Jiayao''s name and birthdate written on it in fresh blood.

    After performing the Stepping on the Big Dipper for a while, Li Bisheng seemed to run out of strength, panting heavily and sitting on the ground with a thud. It took him a while to stand up again, and he dipped a brush in fresh blood, tracing over Liu Jiayao''s name and birthdate, which gave the already dried letters a chilling and bloody aura.

    "Seventy-seven times makes forty-nine, this is already the forty-eighth time. Just one more time, hehe, Liu Jiayao, you will know how powerful I am!" After finishing the tracing, Li Bisheng''s face revealed a sinister grin.

    After the sinister grin, Li Bisheng left the room and made a phone call. Soon, a young woman arrived at the villa.

    Li Bisheng didn''t waste words with the young woman; he immediately had her undress, then he whipped and ravaged her, only climbing off contentedly after sating his desires.

    After getting up, Li Bisheng looked rejuvenated, while the woman appeared very worn out.

    "You can go now." Li Bisheng handed the woman a stack of money, speaking coldly.

    The woman was weak at first, but upon seeing the money, her spirits lifted. She sweetly thanked Li Bisheng, quickly dressed, and left the villa.

    "This Art of Yin Harvesting and Yang Replenishing is really not bad. Otherwise, I might have truly exhausted myself to death with these spell castings," said Li Bisheng, after the young woman left. He got up, took a shower, and felt completely revitalized.

    Li Bisheng was only at the first level of Qi Cultivation, which made him somewhat stronger than an ordinary man; his mana was pitifully weak. The paper figure technique taught by his master was a low-level technique, nowhere near the level of the techniques passed down by Ge Dongxu. Thus, Li Bisheng''s rituals were not only reliant on Liu Jiayao''s birthdate and blood but also needed to be performed seventy-seven times to be effective, a far cry from the ease with which Ge Dongxu had tormented Lin Kun and Yue Ting in the past.

    Of course, Li Bisheng didn''t know this at the time; otherwise, even if he had the guts of a bear or a leopard, he wouldn''t dare to cast spells on Liu Jiayao.

    After revitalizing himself, Li Bisheng returned to the room and began the Stepping on the Big Dipper once more. After performing the rituals and regulating his breath for a while, he confidently walked to the incense table, looked at the paper figure fastened on the stick, and sneered, "Liu Jiayao, the real show is just beginning. I will make you kneel before me and beg for mercy!"

    Then Li Bisheng muttered some words, and tapped a finger on the chest of the paper figure.

 Chapter 252 Murderous Intent [3rd Update]

    "Snap!" In Yadu Garden, Liu Jiayao, who had just pulled out her house keys, suddenly felt a piercing pain in her heart. Her hand trembled, dropping the keys to the ground, while cold sweat poured from her forehead like rain, her face instantly turning as pale as paper.

    "What''s wrong with you?" Ge Dongxu, seeing this, his face changed drastically, and he hurriedly stepped forward to support Liu Jiayao.

    "My chest hurts, hurts badly!" Liu Jiayao said with a pained expression.

    "Chest pain, how can that be?" Ge Dongxu''s face changed again, and he quickly picked her up and placed her on the sofa, then placed one hand on her wrist.

    A thread of True Qi rapidly traveled along her meridians towards her heart.

    Before the thread of True Qi even reached the heart, Ge Dongxu "saw" through the True Qi strands of dark, bloody aura coiling around Liu Jiayao''s heart.

    "Ah!" While Ge Dongxu was still investigating, those strands of dark, bloody aura suddenly converged, forming a "poisonous snake" that lunged towards Liu Jiayao''s heart. Liu Jiayao''s entire body curled up in excruciating pain.

    "Dammit, asking for death!" Ge Dongxu initially wanted to thoroughly investigate who had inflicted this dark, bloody aura onto Liu Jiayao, but seeing her in unbearable pain, he momentarily set aside his careful investigation. His face turned grim, a murderous look in his eyes; he released Liu Jiayao''s wrist and formed a Dharma Seal with his hand, pressing down on her chest.

    Ge Dongxu had now reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, only two layers behind his master, and because he had cultivated a complete and superior mental method, his mana wasn''t as robust as his master''s but as for concentration and purity, it was comparable to his master''s back in the day. This was the first time he had harbored killing intent since he had truly become proficient in cultivation, so how could the power of his strike be ordinary?

    "Boom!" Ge Dongxu''s hand pressed down on Liu Jiayao''s ample chest. Liu Jiayao seemed to hear a muffled explosion within her body. The "poisonous snake" within was instantly killed, and immediately after, the pain in her chest ceased.

    Almost at the same time, in the villa at Little Yuan Mountain, a paper effigy fixed on a stick suddenly exploded into flames, turning into ash.

    At that moment, Li Bisheng, with a malicious smile on his face and murmuring words while pressing his fingers on the paper effigy''s chest, felt as if his own heart had been struck heavily.

    "Ahh!" With a cry, he fell back heavily, blood pouring from his mouth, nose, ears, and even his eyes, quickly reddening his face and the floor.

    After a long while, the blood finally ceased to flow, and by this time, Li Bisheng was like a blood-drenched figure, his once smooth skin now showing clear wrinkles, with much of his hair turned white.

    In just a few minutes, Li Bisheng seemed to have suddenly aged into a man of sixty or seventy years old.

    "Impossible? How could this happen?" Li Bisheng stared in terror at the ceiling, disbelieving that his spell-casting could have suddenly backfired, and now his entire body was weak and powerless, with the True Qi that he had painstakingly cultivated and augmented with yin supplements now chaotically surging inside him, clogging his acupoints and meridians. From Li Bisheng''s experience, if he didn''t quickly clear these blocked points, he might not die immediately, but he would likely be bedridden for the rest of his life.

    "She must have a master by her side! It must have been that person who broke my technique!" Li Bisheng was a smart man and quickly realized it wasn''t an issue with his own spell-casting. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The fear in Li Bisheng''s eyes deepened at this thought.

    Every circle has its own rules that must be followed. In their circle, there was an absolute rule that must not be broken: using techniques to seek wealth or take lives.

    Here, "seeking wealth" refers to illicit gains, such as what Zhang Huowang had been instructed to do by Li Bisheng previously. As for taking lives, that of course refers to what he was currently doing.

    Once discovered, not only would the people from that special national department pursue him, but he would also become a public enemy among his own circle.

    The fact that the other party could break his techniques and even cause him to suffer a backlash indicated that they were not merely from his circle, but were also of higher cultivation than him.

    If this matter were pursued further, it wouldn''t matter that Li Bisheng was no match for him; even if he were, he would likely be in deep trouble.

    At this thought, Li Bisheng, enduring the pain that felt like his body had fallen apart, along with overwhelming weakness, trembled as he took out his cellphone and dialed his master.

    ...

    In a remote mountainous area in Jiangnan Province, a crescent moon hung in the sky, casting cold moonlight.

    Under the moonlight, five men in different attires surrounded a zombie. The zombie, under the moon''s glow, sparkled with a metallic black sheen, its eyes red as cinnabar, its nails long and hooked like scythes, its canine teeth exposed like sharp swords, emitting a strong stench and the smell of blood.

    Among the five men, a middle-aged man held a mirror towards the zombie. A faint white light shot out from the mirror, falling on the zombie''s body, causing it to emit a "sizzling" sound. Black liquid seeped and dripped from its body like fat being rendered, spreading a disgusting odor.

    A man who appeared to be in his seventies, with a goatee, wielded a Peach Wood Sword, locked in combat with the zombie.

    Despite his age, the man moved with agility surpassing that of the younger, dodging the zombie''s sharp claws or blocking them in time with the Peach Wood Sword.

    The zombie''s claws were as sharp as swords, but rather than cutting through the Peach Wood Sword, they sparked upon contact, as if it were not a wooden sword but an iron sword instead.

    The remaining three were one older man and two younger ones. The two younger men held an ink bucket and an Ink Bucket Line respectively, while the older man stood in the middle of the Ink Bucket Line, flicking the line with his fingers like a six-fingered piano demon, continuously snapping the line.

    The older man, face full of pockmarks, was indeed Li Bisheng''s master, and among the two younger ones, one was Li Bisheng''s junior brother whom he had encountered at the villa by the lake.

    "Bang! Bang! Bang!" Each flick of the Ink Bucket Line struck the zombie.

    Every black line that hit the zombie made it as though sliced by a sharp sword, leaving deep gashes that split its skin and flesh wide open.

    Soon, the zombie''s body was crisscrossed with wounds like a chessboard, all left by the Ink Bucket Line.

    The zombie, clearly aware that if the Ink Bucket Line kept snapping like this, it would soon be dismembered, roared and charged towards the septuagenarian, trying to break through the encirclement.

    With the zombie''s fierce attack, the septuagenarian became flustered, his forehead drenched in sweat, and on several occasions, he almost got slashed by the zombie''s claws.

    "Old Cui, if not now, when will you take action?" Seeing that the zombie was only charging at him and he was almost unable to hold out any longer, the old man shouted loudly. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 253 A Counter Bite [4th Update]

    Li Bisheng''s master, upon hearing the words, fiercely snapped the Ink Bucket Line.

    The line harshly struck the leg of the zombie, which staggered and almost couldn''t stay upright.

    In the blink of an eye, Li Bisheng''s master forcefully tapped his toes on the ground and leaped over the horizontally drawn Ink Bucket Line toward the zombie, his hand mysteriously producing a piece of Talisman Paper.

    "Smack!" Li Bisheng''s master, taking advantage of the zombie being staggered by a heavy hit and entangled in front by the elder''s Peach Wood Sword, placed the Talisman Paper on the zombie''s forehead.

    The moment the Talisman Paper touched the zombie''s forehead, the creature fiercely struggled for a moment, then obediently froze in place.

    "Good heavens, if we had let this black zombie feed on fresh blood a bit longer and evolve into a high-level black zombie, we would probably have had to ask several directors to handle it." Seeing the green zombie immobilized by the Talisman Paper, the elder with the Peach Wood Sword heaved a long sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

    "You''re being modest, Lin," said Li Bisheng''s master, wiping the sweat from his own forehead and laughing. "With your cultivation, if you really pulled out all the stops, a high-level black zombie wouldn''t stand a chance against you."

    "Enough, Old Cui. When it comes to suppressing evil spirits and such, I might do alright, but you''re better against zombies. Especially these past two years, Old Cui, your cultivation power has grown deeper, and the zombie-suppressing talismans you draw are much more powerful than before. I think it won''t be long before you break through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, and then I probably won''t be a match for you," said the elder, known as Group Leader Lin, pointing at Li Bisheng''s master and laughing.

    "Haha, breaking through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation is not that easy! It''s still early, very early," Old Cui said, waving his hands modestly, but his eyes subtly revealed a hint of pride.

    Group Leader Lin and the middle-aged man who initially held the mirror were taken aback by the pride in Old Cui''s eyes.

    In their department, once someone broke through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, they became a true high-level decision-maker in the department, with power beyond what many outsiders could imagine.

    "I''m still only at the Second Level of Qi Cultivation now, and I don''t know if I''ll have a chance to break through to the Qi Cultivation Third Layer in this lifetime. I''ll need a lot of guidance from both of you, group leaders," said the middle-aged man, his face full of humble pleasantry.

    In this group, the elder with the Peach Wood Sword was the main group leader, and Li Bisheng''s master was the deputy group leader.

    "Haha, sure, sure, we all learn from each other," both group leaders responded nonchalantly.

    In this era, Daoist teachings were severely lost, and although cultivators recognized the importance of increasing exchanges, because of selfish motives, they held their techniques even more closely than during times when Daoist practices were thriving. True Daoist techniques, except for those passed down to direct disciples, were strictly kept secret for fear of others learning and using them.

    It was precisely because of this that in the modern era, Daoist arts had declined further and gradually turned into legends and feudal superstitions among ordinary people.

    The middle-aged man quickly expressed his humility upon hearing this, stating he wasn''t qualified to learn with them and still had much to learn from them.

    "Old Cui, I''m afraid we''ll have to trouble you to handle this zombie," Group Leader Lin said to Deputy Group Leader Cui after the exchange of courtesies.

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    "No problem," Deputy Group Leader Cui said with a smile, nodding.

    "You''ve worked hard; Lu Yuan and I will wait over there," Team Leader Lin nodded to Deputy Team Leader Cui and then led the middle-aged man to a pine tree a few dozen meters away.

    Seeing that Team Leader Lin and Lu Yuan had walked away, Deputy Team Leader Cui let the two disciples continue, one holding the Ink Bucket and the other the line, then he himself lifted the Ink Bucket Line and started to flick it at the zombie.

    The zombie, restrained by the Suppression Talisman, couldn''t move and was soon dismembered into pieces by the Ink Bucket Line, emitting bursts of foul smell, turning the faces of the two young men pale with disgust. However, Deputy Team Leader Cui remained unfazed, glanced briefly towards the distant pine tree, and seeing that they weren''t looking in his direction, he stealthily took out a small bottle from his pocket, pinched several Dharma Seals secretly, and invisible corpse qi began to enter the bottle. Soon, the foul smell in the air weakened significantly. Seeing the foul smell dissipate, Deputy Team Leader Cui sealed the bottle with a Talisman Paper and put it away, then instructed the young men, "Bury it."

    After giving the orders, Deputy Team Leader Cui turned and walked towards Team Leader Lin and Lu Yuan. However, after only a few steps, his cellphone vibrated in his pocket.

    A hint of surprise flashed across Deputy Team Leader Cui''s face as he stopped in his tracks.

    For someone like him, it was rare for anyone to call him.

    He took out his cellphone and saw it was a call from his disciple Li Bisheng, his face showing relief and a hint of excitement, thinking that Li Bisheng had successfully accomplished a great feat.

    "Is everything settled?" he asked directly as he answered the call.

    "Master, master, that, that woman has, has a master with her. I suffered a backlash while casting a spell, and now I am seriously injured, my True Qi is chaotic, and my meridians are blocked. You might need to come to Linzhou soon. Otherwise, once the person becomes suspicious of me and locates me, it would be troublesome," Li Bisheng spoke with difficulty over the phone.

    Being the astute person he was, Deputy Team Leader Cui naturally understood the troubles Li Bisheng referred to, not only concerning himself but also his master, because if Li Bisheng was controlled by the adversary, it was very likely they would trace back to him.

    "You didn''t suffer a spell backlash; it was that woman who brought in a master with nefarious techniques to hurt you," Deputy Team Leader Cui said sternly.

    "Yes, yes, it was that despicable woman who, out of spite for my attempt to acquire her company, hired a master who used nefarious techniques to harm me," Li Bisheng was initially stunned by the words and then quickly understood.

    "Alright, I understand. I''m currently with Team Leader Lin and others in Jiangnan Province, handling affairs, and I will head to Linzhou right away," Seeing Li Bisheng grasping his intention, Deputy Team Leader Cui, while walking towards Team Leader Lin and Lu Yuan, deliberately raised his voice as he spoke.

    After speaking, Deputy Team Leader Cui hung up the call. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Could there be another situation?" Deputy Team Leader Cui deliberately spoke loudly, which naturally did not escape Team Leader Lin''s ears. Seeing him approaching, he asked.

    "I have a disciple in Jiangnan Province, Team Leader Lin should remember him, right?" Deputy Team Leader Cui didn''t immediately reply.

    "Of course, I remember, the CEO of Li Fang Cosmetics, truly a business talent. Sadly, none of my disciples have the knack for business," Team Leader Lin replied, his face revealing a tinge of envy.

    "The corporate world is as perilous as a battlefield! A few days ago, he offended a woman during a business acquisition. Harboring resentment, she, from who knows where, hired a master who severely injured him using vile techniques. It was he who just called, saying he was seriously injured and that I must rush over quickly, or his life could be in danger," Deputy Team Leader Cui''s face was grim, a chilling light in his eyes.

 Chapter 254 You Know Techniques!

    ```

    "Hmph, it seems that our policies have been too lenient and gentle in recent years, so much so that some people are starting to take us lightly, becoming more and more brazen!" Group Leader Lin''s face turned cold in an instant, menace gleaming in his eyes.

    Group Leader Lin was naturally combative, and having been in a high position for years, he had gradually forgotten that he was once a member of that circle, and now saw himself as a leader above them, even capable of manipulating and controlling their destinies.

    "I also think that the top brass has been too lenient and gentle with these people in recent years, resulting in their growing lawlessness. If my disciple hadn''t been injured this time, we might not even have known about it! Imagine how many others are engaged in using techniques for profit and murder without our knowledge," said Deputy Group Leader Cui, seeing the murderous intent in Group Leader Lin''s eyes and a hint of schadenfreude flashing in the depths of his own.

    "Hmph, when I return this time, I will definitely report to the higher-ups and insist on strengthening the control over the Mysterious sect. It''s essential to execute a few as an example at the appropriate time, otherwise these unruly people might think our department is just for show!" Group Leader Lin nodded, the murderous intent in his eyes intensifying.

    Lu Yuan''s lips moved when he heard this, but seeing the grim faces of both group leaders, with the threat of death in their eyes, he ultimately closed his mouth.

    "Exactly, there''s no time for hesitation! We must rush to Linzhou now, otherwise I fear that it might be too late for changes to occur," said Deputy Group Leader Cui in a grave voice.

    "Good, it''s just the right time to kill the chicken to scare the monkey!" Group Leader Lin nodded in agreement.

    As the two group leaders finalized their plans, the two young people also finished dealing with the dismembered zombie. Then, the party of five descended the mountain, got into a vehicle with special military plates, and quickly disappeared into the night.

    ...

    "Dongxu, what just happened? Could it be my old illness acting up again?" In Yadu Garden, Liu Jiayao looked at Ge Dongxu with lingering fear, her eyes filled with persistent concern and reluctance.

    She was worried that she would faint suddenly as before and might never wake up again, never getting to see the man before her ever again.

    "No! Someone used a spell to frame you!" Ge Dongxu said with a serious expression, murderous intent shining in his eyes.

    "Someone used a spell to frame me? How is that possible? Are the legendary techniques real?" Liu Jiayao''s eyes widened in disbelief as she asked repeatedly.

    "Techniques are real!" Ge Dongxu looked gravely at Liu Jiayao''s incredulous expression and nodded, then took a paper talisman out from his close-fitting armor, saying, "Look."

    No sooner had Ge Dongxu''s words fallen than the paper talisman ignited without flame, and it was not just a small piece of paper burning, but an entire volley-ball-sized fireball.

    The fireball burned in Ge Dongxu''s hand, causing Liu Jiayao''s eyes to grow wider and wider.

    In the blink of an eye, the fireball suddenly extinguished, but Liu Jiayao''s eyes were still wide open, her ample chest heaving dramatically.

    "You, you, you know techniques!" It took a while for Liu Jiayao to finally manage to swallow and speak in a somewhat hoarse voice.

    "That''s right, I know a few," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "Even if it''s true, I''m just a businesswoman, how could I possibly have offended them? Besides, I never even had any contact with them, so how could they use a spell to harm me? If it''s so easy to harm people with spells, wouldn''t they be able to kill whoever they want, whenever they want?" Liu Jiayao, the strong businesswoman, quickly regained her composure and analyzed.

    ``` Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ```

    "You''re right, casting spells to harm people isn''t that easy, and they certainly can''t do as they please, killing whoever they want to. It''s not just because the country has a special department monitoring these people, but also because casting spells to harm requires all sorts of stringent conditions and the depletion of one''s cultivation power; it''s not something you can just do whenever you want to harm someone. Moreover, with today''s advanced technology, those people might be somewhat stronger than the average person and have more devious methods, but their flesh and blood still can''t withstand bullets, so the idea of killing at will is just the fantasy of a fool," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "If that''s the case, then how could someone cast a spell on me out of thin air without having any contact with me?" Liu Jiayao looked puzzled.

    "Unless the other person''s mana has reached a level far beyond my imagination, in today''s society no one can cast spells on you out of thin air without any contact," Ge Dongxu said with a puzzled and contemplative look on his face upon hearing this.

    When he had broken the other person''s techniques just now, Ge Dongxu had already confirmed that the other person''s cultivation was certainly much weaker than his own.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu in deep thought, Liu Jiayao watched him quietly, not daring to speak up and disturb him.

    "Remember a few days ago when I went to Beijing and the hospital called you to ask you to donate blood? Nine times out of ten, the other party has used your fresh blood to cast the spell," Ge Dongxu said, his face showing a trace of realization, after a while.

    "Now that you mention it, I do recall feeling uneasy the night after I gave blood, as if something was weighing on my heart, causing me to have nightmares one after another." Ge Dongxu''s words made Liu Jiayao''s delicate body tremble slightly as she remembered the events of the past few days.

    "Hmph, to take a bag of blood and cast spells for so many days before they could actually harm you, that fellow''s cultivation is lousy enough," Ge Dongxu said coldly, now one hundred percent certain that the other party had used Liu Jiayao''s fresh blood to cast spells.

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    "So, you''re saying your cultivation is superior to that person''s?" Liu Jiayao exclaimed in surprise.

    "Of course, if I''m not mistaken, the person who cast the spell to harm you is now hanging on by a thread!" Ge Dongxu nodded, radiating strong confidence.

    Liu Jiayao was completely stunned by his words; just a touch on her chest by him, and the spell-caster was supposedly left with only half a life. Had she not just experienced this eerie event and had it been anyone other than Ge Dongxu speaking, Liu Jiayao wouldn''t have believed such a tall tale.

    "Right, besides yourself, who else knows your birth date and time?" Ge Dongxu gently touched Liu Jiayao''s hair and asked softly.

    He knew that today''s events had been more than Liu Jiayao could bear and had frightened her. The best way to calm her nerves was to temporarily avoid talking about spell-casting. However, with the enemy in the dark and Liu Jiayao in the open, Ge Dongxu couldn''t guarantee the other party wouldn''t attempt something else, so he had to find out who was behind this as soon as possible.

    "My birth date and time... Uncle Hua and the other former shareholders of Qinglan Cosmetics all knew about it," Liu Jiayao replied after thinking for a moment, leaning softly into Ge Dongxu''s arms, which calmed her down considerably.

    Hearing that Uncle Hua and the other former shareholders of Qinglan Cosmetics knew about it, Ge Dongxu instinctively thought of Ren Chenle.

    Ge Dongxu had met with several shareholders, and the only one who seemed to hold a grudge against Liu Jiayao was Ren Chenle. The others cared for Liu Jiayao and were only tempted by profit to sell their shares; it didn''t seem like they had intentionally targeted or had any issues with her.

    After all, everyone has a family to consider, and even if they don''t think for themselves, they have to think for their family members.

    From Ren Chenle, Ge Dongxu''s thoughts shifted to Zhang Huowang and Li Bisheng.

    In recent times, including himself, Liu Jiayao seemed to have truly upset only these three men.

    ```

 Chapter 255 Investigation

    "How about this, you call Uncle Hua and the others one by one and ask if anyone has recently inquired about your birthdate. Don''t call Ren Chenle just yet," Ge Dongxu pondered for a moment before he spoke.

    "You suspect Uncle Ren? That shouldn''t be the case. Even if Uncle Ren has issues with me, he still had some feelings for my dad back in the day, and it''s unlikely that he would go so far as to have someone cast spells to harm me. Besides, there''s no benefit for him to do so," Liu Jiayao immediately shook her head in denial upon hearing this.

    The acquisition storm had passed, and Liu Jiayao did not want to dwell on the past unpleasantness with Ren Chenle, still calling him Uncle Ren.

    "Sometimes people do bad things without needing a benefit. And I''m not suspecting that Ren Chenle had someone cast spells to harm you, but that someone obtained your information through him. Your blood type is not common knowledge, right? Only, since your relationship with him is not good now, if it truly was him who leaked the information and you called to ask him, he certainly wouldn''t admit it and might even become alert to our suspicion," Ge Dongxu replied.

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    Liu Jiayao was an intelligent woman; she nodded upon hearing this and then picked up the phone to call Uncle Hua and others one after the other.

    Although Uncle Hua and the others were quite puzzled as to why Liu Jiayao was suddenly inquiring about the specific time of her birth, they did not consider it a big deal. They asked out of curiosity, but when Liu Jiayao did not give any specific explanation, they did not press the matter further but simply told her that apart from discussing her birth in the early days, it had been a long time since any of them had talked about her birth, let alone the specific time.

    "It seems very likely that this information was leaked from Ren Chenle," Ge Dongxu was right beside Liu Jiayao and could clearly hear Uncle Hua''s and others'' conversations. After Liu Jiayao hung up the last call, he said gravely.

    "So, what do we do now? Should we call the police?" Liu Jiayao asked, though she immediately felt there was a problem with her question as soon as she asked it.

    How could they possibly call the police about such bizarre matters?

    "There''s no rush. If we really can''t track down the person behind the casting spells, I will think of a solution. For now, you call Ren Chenle and arrange a meeting, saying you have something to discuss with him," Ge Dongxu said after some thought.

    By ''think of a solution,'' he naturally meant asking Elder Feng for help and having him involve the special department for an investigation.

    But Ge Dongxu did not wish to bother Elder Feng with personal matters, nor did he want to be involved with the affairs of the special department, revealing his existence or owing them favors. He would only take this step as a last resort.

    "Let''s just leave this matter as it is. You''ve already taught the other party a lesson, and they probably know better than to trouble me further. Besides, you said casting spells is not so easy. I''ll just avoid donating blood in the future, and they won''t be able to do anything to me," Liu Jiayao did not make the call but spoke with a hint of worry in her eyes.

    After all, Ge Dongxu was young, and those in that mysterious circle were all enigmatic. How could Liu Jiayao rest assured letting Ge Dongxu continue pursuing this investigation? If they really got to the bottom of it, what then? Was he supposed to engage them in a spell battle?

    "Don''t worry. If the people in that circle were ranked, I would definitely be considered a top-tier master. The one who cast the spells is no match for me," Ge Dongxu, knowing what Liu Jiayao was worried about, held her shoulders tight and reassured her.

    "Really? But you are still so young! Isn''t it said that the longer one cultivates, the deeper the cultivation power?" Liu Jiayao said, somewhat incredulously.

    "Your statement isn''t wrong, but it''s a general trend and there are exceptions. Just like I''m still in high school, and yet, I already own several companies," Ge Dongxu spoke with immense confidence emanating from him. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You''re not lying to me?" Although Liu Jiayao believed what Ge Dongxu said, she was still somewhat apprehensive.

    Because she was completely in the dark about that circle.

    "Rest assured! If I wanted to harm someone, I wouldn''t need to trouble myself so much. With just some physical contact, I could make the person seriously ill, or with something like one or two strands of hair, I could cast spells that make them wish for death. Why would I need to go through the hassle of getting your fresh blood through a hospital?" Ge Dongxu explained.

    Liu Jiayao''s eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Ge Dongxu, "Didn''t you just say that casting spells requires very strict conditions and consumes a lot of cultivation power? If it''s like what you said, then wouldn''t one truly be able to do whatever they want?"

    "In the entire Huaxia Country, with over a billion people, how many truly possess Mysterious Arts? And among those with Mysterious Arts, how many have cultivation like mine? They are indeed as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. Besides, most of these people live in seclusion, exclusively pursuing the greater path. Those like me, still mingling in the mundane world, are probably unique. How could ordinary people ever encounter such individuals?" Ge Dongxu explained with a mix of laughter and helplessness.

    After all this talk, it turned out that Liu Jiayao still couldn''t believe that he was one of the top masters in that circle.

    "So, will you also one day sever all worldly ties, live in seclusion, and exclusively pursue the greater path?" Liu Jiayao''s delicate body trembled slightly as she asked softly.

    Ge Dongxu, thinking that Liu Jiayao would look at him with shock and admiration, was surprised by her sudden question about severing worldly ties, but he quickly hugged her tight and replied, "Don''t worry, how could I bear to leave you? If cultivating truly required me to abandon my family, I would rather not cultivate at all!"

    "I never said I''d marry you and have your kids, you know!" Liu Jiayao let out a sigh of relief, but her face flushed red when she remembered Ge Dongxu''s reference to abandoning his wife and children.

    "Heh, we''re like this already, if you don''t plan to marry me and have my kids, then who do you plan to marry and have kids for?" Ge Dongxu was surprised by her words, then grinned naughtily and laid his hands on Liu Jiayao''s lofty peaks, kneading them.

    "Hey! What are you doing, you scoundrel? Can''t a girl choose not to marry anyone? I don''t want others to make fun of me for marrying a younger man," Liu Jiayao exclaimed, struggling to free herself from Ge Dongxu''s ''devilish'' hands.

    "Anyone who laughs at you, I''ll beat them up!" Ge Dongxu declared.

    "Okay, okay. I know you''re good to me and affectionate, but even if you''re capable now, you''re still young and have experienced very little emotionally. Can we not talk about these topics right now?" Liu Jiayao said gently touching Ge Dongxu''s cheek with her hand.

    Ge Dongxu understood what Liu Jiayao was worried about, and knowing it was not the right time for such discussions, he nodded and said, "Then go ahead and call Ren Chenle to see if you can arrange a meeting with him right now."

    Liu Jiayao nodded and picked up the phone once more to dial Ren Chenle''s number.

 Chapter 256 Can We Talk Now?

    ```

    "Why is he here too?" In an elegantly decorated teahouse, as Ren Chenle was sitting by the window pondering over the reason Liu Jiayao had called him so late at night, he suddenly saw Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao walk in arm in arm. His face changed instantly, and he stood up abruptly.

    At the shareholders'' meeting at the end of last year, Ge Dongxu humiliated him in front of many people. Naturally, Ren Chenle harbored a deep hatred for him. However, Ge Dongxu was a billionaire, and since he had helped Liu Jiayao acquire all shares of Qinglan Cosmetics, Ren Chenle, despite his resentment, was helpless.

    "Since Mr. Ren is here, why the rush to leave? Unless, has he done something guilty?" Ge Dongxu stepped forward with a brisk stride, placing a hand on Ren Chenle''s shoulder.

    Ren Chenle''s face turned beet red, and then he reluctantly sat back down, glaring at Ge Dongxu and said, "What do you want?"

    "I don''t want anything, just have some questions for Mr. Ren," replied Ge Dongxu with a faint smile. He casually pulled out a chair for Liu Jiayao, letting her sit down before he took a seat himself.

    "Jiayao, I''m your elder, after all. Are you just going to stand by and watch your friend treat me like this?" Ren Chenle, knowing that Ge Dongxu was a ruthless man, turned his resentful gaze toward Liu Jiayao.

    "I''m sorry Uncle Ren, Dongxu actually has no ill intent. He just has some things he wants to ask you," said Liu Jiayao with a trace of shame, and after speaking, she glanced at Ge Dongxu somewhat reproachfully.

    "I have nothing to do with him, and I don''t want to answer any of his questions!" Ren Chenle said while trying to get up again, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes.

    During the acquisition of the shares that time, he had taken advantages from Li Bisheng and recalling the warning Ge Dongxu had given him at the shareholders'' meeting, he naturally felt guilty.

    "Why must Mr. Ren be so resistant? Could it be that Mr. Ren has a guilty conscience?" Seeing Ren Chenle''s evasive and panicky gaze, Ge Dongxu''s expression darkened slightly, and his voice became colder.

    "What could I possibly be guilty of? I just don''t want to¡­" Ren Chenle retorted immediately.

    "If your conscience is clear, then please sit down and have a proper talk," said Ge Dongxu as he stood up and pressed Ren Chenle back into his seat. Seeing Ren Chenle open his mouth as if to shout, Ge Dongxu reached out and touched the back of his head. In an instant, Ren Chenle found he could no longer make a sound and looked at Ge Dongxu with a face full of terror.

    At this moment, Liu Jiayao also noticed that Ren Chenle was trying to speak but no sound came out. A shiver ran through her, and she suddenly recalled what Ge Dongxu had said to her before at home, claiming he only needed minimal physical contact to make someone seriously ill, or with just one or two strands of hair, he could cast spells that make people unable to live or die. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At that time, Liu Jiayao had still been somewhat incredulous, but now she realized that Ge Dongxu indeed possessed such mysterious powers.

    "Dongxu!" Liu Jiayao tugged at Ge Dongxu''s hand, her eyes filled with a look of pity.

    No matter what, Ren Chenle had a history with her father and was an elder who had watched her grow up.

    "Don''t worry, nothing will happen," Ge Dongxu whispered in her ear, and then he looked at Ren Chenle indifferently and said, "Rest assured, Mr. Ren, you are Sister Liu''s elder after all. About the last share acquisition, since Li Bisheng didn''t succeed, I don''t wish to pursue it further. I just want to ask about a recent matter. If you still refuse to have a proper conversation with me, you are free to go now."

    Even if Ren Chenle were a fool, he would understand at this point that Ge Dongxu was no ordinary person, and so how dared he get up and leave? Anxiously pointing to his mouth, he opened and closed his mouth incessantly, but unfortunately, no sound could come out of his throat.

    "Heh, it seems Mr. Ren does want to have a proper discussion, right?" Ge Dongxu asked indifferently.

    ```

    Ren Chenle hurriedly nodded his head like a pecking chicken.

    "I always say President Ren is a sensible man. Right, Sister Liu?" Ge Dongxu turned to Liu Jiayao and said.

    Liu Jiayao glared at Ge Dongxu annoyed and gave him a kick under the table.

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    Seeing that Liu Jiayao was not cooperating with his cool act, Ge Dongxu could only give a sheepish smile, stand up, and gently patted Ren Chenle''s head.

    "President Ren, can we talk now?" Ge Dongxu looked at Ren Chenle and asked faintly.

    "Yes, of course, ah, I can speak now!" Ren Chenle hurriedly responded, then suddenly realized he could speak again.

    This time Ren Chenle''s look at Ge Dongxu had completely changed, and he quickly said, "Mr. Ge, I was blind before and failed to recognize your greatness. You... "

    "Let bygones be bygones. In the end, it was Li Bisheng who suffered," Ge Dongxu waved his hand and said.

    "So Mr. Ge, you called me here this time..." Seeing that Ge Dongxu indeed didn''t pursue the matter of the share acquisition, Ren Chenle heaved a big sigh of relief and asked cautiously.

    "These last few days, have you mentioned Sister Liu''s birthdate to anyone else?" Ge Dongxu interrupted.

    "Jiayao''s birthdate?" Ren Chenle was taken aback at the question. He would never have dreamed that Ge Dongxu had called him here just to ask about this. If he''d known it was just this question, why had he even bothered to hide earlier, suffering for no reason?

    "Yes, my birthdate. Uncle Ren, have you mentioned it to anyone recently?" Liu Jiayao interjected.

    "Let me think, that''s right, I was dining with Zhang Huowang a while ago, and he seemed to have asked about it. What''s the matter?" Ren Chenle thought for a moment and replied.

    "Zhang Huowang! It was him?" Ge Dongxu frowned. Zhang Huowang is just a nobody, and Ge Dongxu didn''t believe that someone like him would know any ''Magician'', and even if he did, with his character, he couldn''t have convinced the ''Magician'' to take action.

    In Ge Dongxu''s estimation, Li Bisheng was the most likely suspect. But Li Bisheng was, after all, the head of a company; he couldn''t just assume it was him because he had once wanted to acquire Qinglan Cosmetics and then confront him without any evidence.

    "By the way, how come you dine with Zhang Huowang? Are you two close?" Ge Dongxu put away his suspicions. He knew that to get to the bottom of this, he had to bring Zhang Huowang in for questioning.

    "Uncle Ren is Zhang Huowang''s cousin-in-law," Liu Jiayao helped explain.

    "I see, that makes things easier," Ge Dongxu said, relieved. He nodded, looked at Ren Chenle, and continued, "I would trouble President Ren to please invite Zhang Huowang here as well, but of course, don''t mention that Sister Liu and I are here."

    Ren Chenle looked at Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao with a puzzled face and ultimately picked up his mobile phone obediently and called Zhang Huowang.

 Chapter 257 You Really Think Im a Good Person

    Ren Chenle was a wealthy relative whom Zhang Huowang always tried his best to curry favor with, and upon hearing that Ren Chenle wanted to invite him for tea, Zhang Huowang naturally hurried over immediately, almost tripping over his own feet.

    However, as soon as he saw Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao were also present, his smile instantly stiffened on his face.

    Yet he was confident that the things he had done would never be discovered by Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao, and with Li Bisheng backing him up, he didn''t get as guilty and skittish as Ren Chenle and leave. Instead, he quickly darkened his countenance and sat down beside Ren Chenle. He looked at Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao and said coldly, "It seems it''s not my cousin-in-law who wants to see me, but you two."

    "That''s right, we have some questions for you," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    "Questions for me? I''m not an employee at Qinglan Cosmetics anymore. If you want to ask me anything, that depends on my mood," Zhang Huowang said, crossing his legs in an indifferent manner.

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    "Sit properly. Mr. Ge and Director Liu are asking you questions because they respect you. What are you putting on airs for?" Ren Chenle was very aware of the terrifying aspects of the young man, Ge Dongxu. Seeing Zhang Huowang acting so ungrateful, he slapped his thigh sharply and said sternly.

    "Cousin-in-law, what do you mean by this? Have you forgotten how they treated us?" Zhang Huowang''s face changed slightly, looking at Ren Chenle in puzzlement.

    "It was we who were at fault first, how can we blame Mr. Ge and Director Liu?" Ren Chenle gave Zhang Huowang a stern look. Without waiting for him to retort, he immediately followed up with a question, "I''m asking you, what were you doing asking about Director Liu''s birth hour during dinner that day?"

    "I didn''t do anything, it was just idle curiosity," Zhang Huowang''s face turned pale upon hearing this, but then he tried to respond very casually.

    "Idle curiosity? Are you full and have nothing better to do? Asking about Director Liu''s birth hour for no reason? You don''t have to speak the truth if you don''t want to¡ªI naturally have ways to make you talk," Ge Dongxu said with a cold voice.

    "Heh heh, since when is it a crime to ask about Director Liu''s birth hour? But I''m curious why you''re so nervous about this question. Could it be that Director Liu has been feeling unwell recently?" This was a public place, and since Zhang Huowang hadn''t really done anything to Liu Jiayao, even if there were a big fuss, it wouldn''t be his problem. So, with Ge Dongxu speaking so forcefully, Zhang Huowang felt indignant and sneered mockingly.

    "So it''s really you who did it. That being the case, are you also the one who revealed that Director Liu has RH-negative blood?" Ge Dongxu''s face turned icy as a cold light shot from his eyes.

    "What are you saying? I don''t understand a word!" Zhang Huowang still didn''t realize the great trouble that was looming over him and thought he had guessed correctly. A smug expression of schadenfreude couldn''t help but appear on his face.

    In any case, these kinds of matters could not be investigated and were none of his business.

    "It seems we really need to find a private room to have a good chat," Ge Dongxu said.

    "I''m sorry, I''m busy!" Zhang Huowang stood up and said.

    "That''s not up to you anymore," Ge Dongxu stood up and placed his hand on Zhang Huowang''s shoulder.

    As Zhang Huowang tried to struggle, he realized half of his body had gone numb.

    "You..." Zhang Huowang''s heart skipped a beat. Just as he was about to confront Ge Dongxu, Ge Dongxu had already touched the back of his neck, and the words that were to follow turned into silence.

    Having witnessed Zhang Huowang suddenly lose his voice, and recalling what he had just experienced himself, Ren Chenle couldn''t stop shivering. He couldn''t help but look at Ge Dongxu with an unrestrainable hint of awe.

    "Waiter, please arrange a private room for us," Ge Dongxu called a waiter and said.

    "Of course, sir. Please wait a moment," the waiter gave Ge Dongxu a sweet smile and then went to arrange the private room.

    Watching the waiter turn to leave, Zhang Huowang''s eyes emitted an unparalleled sense of horror. That''s because just moments before, he had desperately tried to struggle, to speak, but found that his body was not under his control at all.

    It wasn''t until this moment that Zhang Huowang realized that the young man before him also possessed uncanny abilities, and he couldn''t help but feel extreme panic.

    The waiter quickly arranged a private room and came over to lead them there.

    Ge Dongxu gave Zhang Huowang a smile and then, wrapping an arm around his shoulder, followed the waiter, appearing on the surface to be very friendly with each other.

    Once they entered the private room, Ge Dongxu let go of his hand.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu released his grasp, Zhang Huowang lost his balance, "Thud!" He crashed heavily onto the floor, causing Ren Chenle''s heart to skip a beat in fright.

    "I think, by now, you should know that I have ways to make you speak," Ge Dongxu crouched down and touched the back of Zhang Huowang''s head, speaking indifferently.

    "What did you just do to me? Why can''t I move my body? Why can''t I speak?" Zhang Huowang looked at Ge Dongxu with a face filled with terror.

    "Your cousin-in-law is much smarter than you; he wouldn''t ask so many questions," Ge Dongxu said coldly, then continued, "Now can you tell me, who asked you about Manager Liu''s birth time?"

    "Haha! Is it because Manager Liu is having issues with her health? Are you guys getting anxious? Go on, kneel down and beg me! Perhaps if I''m in a good mood, I might tell you," Zhang Huowang, seeing that Ge Dongxu was anxious about this question, calmed down instead, and arrogantly retorted with confidence.

    "It seems that without a lesson, you really think I''m a good person," Ge Dongxu said as he pressed on more than ten spots on Zhang Huowang''s body and then touched the back of his head again before standing up and saying to Liu Jiayao, "Turn around, don''t watch."

    Liu Jiayao initially felt confused upon hearing his words, but when her gaze fell on Zhang Huowang''s suddenly agonized expression, with even the muscles on his face distorted from pain, she quickly understood and turned around urgently.

    After Liu Jiayao turned away, it didn''t take long for Ren Chenle to also turn his head away with a pale face, no longer daring to look at Zhang Huowang''s twisted and ferocious face.

    About two minutes later, Ge Dongxu crouched down again and patted Zhang Huowang several times on the body.

    When Ge Dongxu stood up, Zhang Huowang was gasping for air, soaked with sweat, looking as if he had just been pulled out of water, his eyes filled with endless terror towards Ge Dongxu, as if he were a demon from Hell.

    "I forgot to mention something to you, Manager Liu''s health is just fine because I''m by her side. As for the person casting the spells, because their spellcasting was disrupted, the techniques backfired, and now they''re probably left with half a life. I''m asking about this matter now merely to find out who is trying to harm Manager Liu. It''s laughable that you would even think of using this to threaten me," Ge Dongxu said, sitting in a chair, looking at Zhang Huowang with contempt, speaking leisurely.

    "This, this is not possible!" Zhang Huowang said with a hoarse voice.

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 Chapter 258 The Truth Comes to Light

    "Whether it''s possible or not, I think that''s not for you to consider. What you should be thinking about now is whether to speak or not, of course, you can choose not to." Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    "I''ll talk, I''ll talk, it was Li Bisheng! He wanted Liu''s blood and her birth details." Seeing Ge Dongxu''s nonchalant expression, Zhang Huowang shivered all over and hurriedly said.

    The pain that was so severe he had wished for death was something he never wanted to endure again.

    "It is him after all!" A murderous intent suddenly flashed in Ge Dongxu''s eyes, "So the product quality issues before the new year, those were definitely his doing as well."

    Upon hearing this, Zhang Huowang trembled with guilt.

    "It seems the product quality issues were the result of your tampering at his behest." Ge Dongxu''s face darkened as he observed this.

    "Not me! It wasn''t me!" Zhang Huowang hastily waved his hands.

    The financial loss from these few batches of problematic products was a staggeringly large sum; if the blame were pinned on him, even selling all his assets would only pay for a fraction of the damages.

    "Don''t want to talk, is that it? No problem." Ge Dongxu gave a cold laugh, then slowly stood up. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire

    "I''ll talk, I''ll talk, Li Bisheng gave me a bottle. I don''t know what was in it, just that it had a bad smell, was silent and invisible, just like air. He told me to open the bottle in the warehouse, and after that, the products turned out like that." Seeing Ge Dongxu slowly standing up, Zhang Huowang, frightened, hurriedly said.

    Seeing that it was indeed Li Bisheng who had instructed Zhang Huowang to do it, the murderous intent in Ge Dongxu''s eyes intensified, while Ren Chenle, upon hearing it, became so furious that he stood up and started furiously stomping on Zhang Huowang, who was still lying on the ground.

    "It was you! You scoundrel! You ungrateful dog! After all the trust I placed in you, I even quarreled with Jiayao for your sake. Damn it! I''ll beat you to death!"

    In those days, Ren Chenle was also one of the shareholders of Qinglan Cosmetics. Naturally, the product issues had caused him significant financial losses as well.

    But that was secondary. The key point was that he would never have sold his shares in Qinglan Cosmetics if it weren''t for the continuous product problems.

    Now, because of Zhang Huowang, not only had he lost a lot of money, but he had also sold his shares of Qinglan Cosmetics at a low price. How could he not loathe Zhang Huowang?

    "Dongxu, what do we do now?" Liu Jiayao didn''t try to stop Ren Chenle, instead, she turned to ask Ge Dongxu.

    To someone like Zhang Huowang, even if he were beaten to death, Liu Jiayao wouldn''t feel a shred of pity.

    "Now that we know Li Bisheng did this, naturally, we are going to settle accounts with him!" Ge Dongxu said coldly.

    "How will we settle accounts with him? Just go to his door and confront him? He''s not like Zhang Huowang." Liu Jiayao said. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "To me, they are all the same." Ge Dongxu said, with a domineering aura faintly emanating from him.

    After speaking, Ge Dongxu turned to Ren Chenle and said, "That''s enough, Boss Ren. If you keep hitting him, you are going to cause serious problems."

    Ren Chenle then reluctantly, but resentfully, kicked Zhang Huowang one more time, saying, "For a two-faced rat like him, getting serious problems from a beating serves him right!"

    "I''m two-faced? Aren''t you the same? Don''t think I don''t know you sold shareholder information to Li Bisheng!" Zhang Huowang, when accused by Ren Chenle of being two-faced, couldn''t help but bite back.

    "Me, me, Mr. Ge, President Liu." Ren Chenle''s face turned pale in an instant, and his eyes were filled with terror as he looked at Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao.

    Liu Jiayao''s gaze toward Ren Chenle was filled with disappointment and sadness. After a long time, she finally said, "This is the last time I''ll call you Uncle Ren. Take care from now on."

    "I''ve said before that I won''t pursue past matters. You are free to leave, but regarding what happened tonight, I expect you to keep silent. Otherwise, don''t blame me for being heartless and ruthless!" Ge Dongxu said coldly.

    "Jiayao, I''ve wronged you!" Ren Chenle bowed deeply to Liu Jiayao and then turned to Ge Dongxu saying, "Mr. Ge, don''t worry, I won''t speak of tonight''s affairs."

    Having said this, Ren Chenle cast a vicious glance at Zhang Huowang, then hunched over and left.

    Although Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu had not held him accountable for his past actions, Ren Chenle knew with the financial power displayed by Ge Dongxu and the terrifying abilities shown tonight, with his help, Qinglan Cosmetics would certainly prosper more and more, and Liu Jiayao would definitely become wealthier.

    Originally, if he had maintained the previous uncle-niece relationship with Liu Jiayao, he would have benefited from her rising fortunes, but now all of this had nothing to do with him anymore.

    "What should we do with this person?" After Ren Chenle left, Liu Jiayao pointed at Zhang Huowang on the ground, her face showing disgust but also a sense of helplessness.

    For the things Zhang Huowang had done, forcing him to pay back everything he had and then sending him to prison would have been more than sufficient, but the problem was that the deeds he committed were beyond belief and could not possibly serve as evidence to convict him.

    Yet to simply let go of Zhang Huowang, who had not only cost her money but even nearly taken her life, Liu Jiayao really felt somewhat reluctant.

    "People like him will not have a good end," Ge Dongxu said, then waved dismissively at Zhang Huowang, "You can get lost."

    Upon hearing this, Zhang Huowang looked incredulously at Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao, not daring to leave.

    "What, you need me to show you out?" Ge Dongxu looked at Zhang Huowang with a corner of his mouth curling into a cold sneer.

    Zhang Huowang then realized Ge Dongxu was serious. Remembering what he had done, and knowing Ge Dongxu truly had no way to report him to the authorities, he inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, hastily got up from the ground, and dashed out of the private room.

    Just as Ge Dongxu had no means to lodge a complaint against him, if Ge Dongxu decided to make him suffer unbearably, Zhang Huowang likewise had no way to report it.

    Because such methods were too bizarre, beyond the understanding of ordinary people.

    "We''re really just letting him go like that?" After Zhang Huowang scrambled out of the private room like a rolling smoke, Liu Jiayao looked doubtfully at Ge Dongxu.

    "Of course not. He will have to face some consequences," Ge Dongxu replied.

    Liu Jiayao fell silent for a moment upon hearing this, then suddenly said, "Oh no, if you''ve let Zhang Huowang go just like that, what if he tells Li Bisheng about it?"

    "I can guess that Li Bisheng is the prime suspect in this affair. If I can guess that, Li Bisheng can certainly surmise that I disrupted his spell. Whether Zhang Huowang tells him or not, it doesn''t make much difference now," Ge Dongxu said solemnly.

    "That''s true. You are just a high school student but already the major shareholder of two companies, easily able to mobilize tens of millions in funds, and just happen to be with me. If I were Li Bisheng, the first person I would suspect would definitely be you," Liu Jiayao responded, taken aback, and then nodded.

    "So, now Li Bisheng has either fled or is hiding. But considering how hard he worked for his business empire, he probably wouldn''t abandon it so easily; I guess the latter possibility is more likely. After all, regardless of anything else, he is a company CEO with quite an influence in Jiangnan Province. It would be easy for him to hire some bodyguards. In his opinion, even if I know he''s behind this, he likely thinks I can''t touch him," Ge Dongxu continued his analysis after seeing Liu Jiayao nod.

    Liu Jiayao nodded again, just about to speak, when her phone rang.

    "It''s Li Bisheng," Liu Jiayao picked up her phone, glanced at it, and her expression shifted slightly.

    Having exchanged business cards and experienced conflicts over stock acquisitions, they both had the other''s contact information.

 Chapter 259 Such a Vicious Trick

    "Give it to me," Ge Dongxu reached out and said.

    "Maybe we should just let it be, since according to you, he''s the one at a loss," Liu Jiayao hesitated before speaking.

    In her heart, she was still somewhat worried, preferring to take the loss herself rather than have Ge Dongxu take risks for her.

    "This man dared to make a move on you; this cannot just be left at that. Besides, if such scum isn''t dealt with, who knows how many more people he will harm in the future! Don''t worry, I know what I''m doing," Ge Dongxu said with a stern voice.

    Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a deep look and finally handed him the phone.

    "President Li, it must be hard for you now," Ge Dongxu said coldly as soon as he picked up the call.

    "It really was you!" Li Bisheng gritted his teeth on the other end of the phone, his face twisted in fury. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    "I knew President Li was a smart man; you''ve already guessed it was me! Tell me, what did you call for? If it''s to beg for mercy, then save it, this matter won''t end so easily," Ge Dongxu said with a cold voice.

    "Beg for mercy? Haha, Ge Dongxu, you really think too highly of yourself," Li Bisheng''s brash laughter came through the receiver.

    Liu Jiayao''s face turned a bit pale as she heard Li Bisheng''s brash laughter from the receiver, her eyes showing concern.

    "So, President Li still wants to have it out with me?" Ge Dongxu said with a cold voice, a murderous intent suddenly rising in his eyes.

    "That''s right. If you have the guts, come to the southern side of Xiao Yuan Mountain at mid-slope. The place is quiet and undisturbed; we can settle our accounts properly there," Li Bisheng said.

    "President Li, don''t flatter yourself. Your little tricks hardly qualify you to settle accounts with me; I suspect you''ve sought help," Ge Dongxu said with a disdainful sneer.

    "Are you scared? If you''re scared, then obediently hand over your shares of Qinglan Cosmetics and beg me for mercy," Li Bisheng said with a cold laugh.

    "You really won''t cry until you see the coffin. The southern slope of Xiao Yuan Mountain, right? Fine, I''ll be there now," Ge Dongxu said and hung up the phone abruptly.

    "Dongxu!" Liu Jiayao grasped Ge Dongxu''s hand, her eyes filled with worry.

    "Don''t worry, nothing will happen. And as you''ve heard, things have come to such a point that it''s not something I can just let go of," Ge Dongxu patted Liu Jiayao''s hand, trying to reassure her.

    After saying that, Ge Dongxu took out his phone and dialed Liu Jiayao''s bodyguard and driver Li Min, asking her to come over and stay with Liu Jiayao for the time being, just in case.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu was determined, and the situation was indeed as he said, beyond what could be resolved by his willingness to let go, Liu Jiayao did not try to persuade him further, nor did she say she would accompany him.

    Liu Jiayao knew very well that her presence would only distract Ge Dongxu.

    As Ge Dongxu was calling Li Min, Zhang Huowang was also calling Li Bisheng.

    "I already know about the situation," replied Li Bisheng with an icy voice.

    "How are you feeling now? I''ve heard..." Zhang Huowang asked timidly.

    "He can''t do anything to me!" Li Bisheng replied coldly and then hung up the call.

    Hearing this, Zhang Huowang couldn''t help but heave a sigh of relief, a malicious smirk of schadenfreude appearing on his face. Naturally, he hoped that Li Bisheng was all right, so that Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao would suffer.

    Zhang Huowang did not know that after hanging up his call, Li Bisheng was panting heavily, his gaze fixed intently on the villa''s gate.

    What he was waiting for was certainly not Ge Dongxu, because in his current condition, even if Ge Dongxu stood in front of him, he had no way of standing up.

    He was waiting for his master, Deputy Group Leader Cui, and others.

    Just one minute before he called Ge Dongxu, he had received a call from his master, who said they had already arrived in Xiaoyuan Mountain Town.

    It was after this call from his master that Li Bisheng called Liu Jiayao.

    This matter could not withstand scrutiny, so Li Bisheng needed to resolve it quickly. Once Ge Dongxu was executed, Li Bisheng would have the power to paint the situation as black or white as he pleased.

    Suddenly, Li Bisheng saw car lights turn on outside the courtyard through the window. His eyes suddenly brightened, and the corners of his mouth curled into a sinister cold smile.

    However, when the villa door was pushed open with force, what Group Leader Lin and the others saw was Li Bisheng with a pale, grief-stricken expression.

    "Master!" Li Bisheng''s mournful voice filled the villa.

    "Bisheng, what''s happened to you?" Deputy Group Leader Cui took a quick step forward, then hurriedly crouched down and pressed his hand against Li Bisheng''s wrist.

    "My meridians are blocked, and my True Qi is in chaos. I am having great difficulty even moving my body," said Li Bisheng, tears flowing.

    "Such a formidable Curse Spell! Such a venomous tactic!" After taking Li Bisheng''s pulse, Deputy Group Leader Cui''s face turned completely grim, killing intent flashing in his eyes, yet inwardly he felt a silent alarm.

    Spell backlash is actually common for cultivators, but this time the backlash was clearly beyond Li Bisheng''s limit. Not only were his meridians blocked and his True Qi in chaos, but his vitality had also been severely damaged. Even if he and Group Leader Lin helped to clear Li Bisheng''s meridians, the waning vitality in his body could never be replenished.

    From this, it was not hard to deduce that the opponent''s cultivation might not be inferior to his own. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Let me take a look," said Group Leader Lin, his face stern, as he stepped forward.

    "I have seen Senior Lin," Deputy Group Leader Cui stood up and made way for Group Leader Lin. Li Bisheng struggled to rise to greet him, but was pressed down by Group Leader Lin. Then, Lin placed his hand on Li Bisheng''s wrist. After taking his pulse, Lin''s face also turned completely grim.

    "What happened here?" Group Leader Lin asked.

    "It''s also because I was too ambitious, intending to acquire Qinglan Cosmetics Company. Unexpectedly, the female CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics had even greater ambitions than me, attempting to seduce me with beauty and proposing a marriage alliance, where she would hold absolute shares. I naturally rejected her temptation and refused to marry her. As a result, she became resentful from love and actually hired an expert to cast a Curse Spell to harm me, to force me to submit. When I sensed someone casting spells against me, I managed to break free, leading to my current condition," Li Bisheng said, mixing truth and falsehood, inverting black and white.

    "Indeed, a woman''s heart is most venomous!" Group Leader Lin said coldly, hardly doubting Li Bisheng''s words.

    Part of the reason was naturally because Li Bisheng was Deputy Group Leader Cui''s disciple, and Group Leader Lin was predisposed to see him as the victim. Another reason was that Group Leader Lin had seen Li Bisheng before and knew him to be a very handsome and attractive man, making the idea of a woman wanting to marry him seem plausible. The last reason was that Li Bisheng''s current description matched his terrible internal condition very well.

    "Please, Senior Lin, make a just decision for me," Li Bisheng said with a grieved face.

    "Don''t worry. There are family rules and state laws; no matter who the other party is, since they have violated national regulations by harming people with spells, they will certainly be punished!" Group Leader Lin said, gently patting Li Bisheng''s shoulder, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes.

    Group Leader Lin''s cultivation was even more profound than Deputy Group Leader Cui''s, and he could see that even if Li Bisheng''s meridians were cleared, the years he would live would likely be no more than those of these elderly gentlemen, or even less.

    Because Li Bisheng''s cultivation was far inferior to theirs.

    "Thank you, Senior Lin, for upholding justice! The other party knew I had escaped her Curse Spell and was searching everywhere for me. However, I dared not reveal my whereabouts until just now, when I knew Senior Lin and master were coming. I then deliberately called that woman, saying I was willing to submit. I believe they are now on their way here," Li Bisheng said as he struggled to clasp his fists.

 Chapter 260 Ambush

    "Good, no wonder you could establish such a large company at a young age, truly a smart person. This spares us some trouble," Group Leader Lin said with a severe voice, not having expected Li Bisheng to dare deceive him.

    "You flatter me, Senior Lin. It''s just unfortunate that my meridians are blocked, and my True Qi is in chaos so I can''t be of much help," Li Bisheng said, his eyes revealing a hint of longing. Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Although your cultivation is lower, being a practitioner, it shows that the person who could hurt you with a Curse Spell must be a master. Your master and I must preserve our strength, so currently, we can''t help you clear your meridians," Group Leader Lin said gravely.

    "Is that person really that formidable?" Li Bisheng exclaimed in surprise upon hearing this.

    In Li Bisheng''s eyes, his master and Group Leader Lin were absolutely top-notch masters within Qimen. He believed Ge Dongxu couldn''t possibly match his master and Group Leader Lin, yet Group Leader Lin, such a formidable figure, appeared so cautious.

    "That person is definitely formidable; his cultivation might not be less than mine. Fortunately, with Group Leader Lin, Lu Yuan, and your two junior brothers, our combined forces of five, aware versus unaware, will ensure even a highly capable person can''t escape," Deputy Group Leader Cui said somberly.

    "But as far as I know, that person is just a youngster!" Li Bisheng, hearing his master speak thus, was completely shocked.

    "Such viciousness at such a young age means we need to suppress him early. Otherwise, if he grows stronger, it would be a major disaster," Deputy Group Leader Cui said, his eyes flashing with shock, but he quickly added fiercely.

    "Being so capable at such a young age, the sect behind him must be no ordinary one; perhaps we should be more cautious," Lu Yuan hesitated and then said.

    "Hmph, Lu Yuan, you are gravely mistaken with that statement. The more it''s like this, the less we should tolerate them! Don''t forget, what is our duty? Our duty is to suppress those in Qimen who think they''re formidable and refuse to comply with discipline," Group Leader Lin''s countenance darkened abruptly as he spoke coldly.

    "Group Leader Lin, that''s not what I meant, I meant¡­," Lu Yuan tried to explain.

    "No matter what you mean! First, let''s capture this person, otherwise, if he gets away, it will leave behind a great menace," Group Leader Lin interrupted forcefully.

    "Yes!" Lu Yuan, being just a regular team member in their group, naturally did not have the power to contradict the group leader and had to nod his acknowledgment.

    Li Bisheng and Deputy Group Leader Cui exchanged a cold, cunning sneer at this sight.

    They were the clearest about what was really going on.

    "Let''s not delay. Let''s get things set up," Group Leader Lin said in a calmed tone after seeing Lu Yuan nod, then took the lead in exiting the villa.

    Seeing this, Lu Yuan hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed out of the villa.

    "Tao Jun, if that person shows any signs of escaping, you just¡­," Deputy Group Leader Cui began speaking to the disciple Li Bisheng had encountered at the lakeside villa previously. He halted briefly, miming the action of a handgun.

    Tao Jun''s eyes widened in panic. While their department was always equipped with firearms for every mission, they were only to be used when their lives were threatened, and definitely not lightly used against members of Qimen.

    For everyone in Qimen, this was a huge taboo.

    This was not hard to understand. In the past, they, the practitioners, were so transcendental and esteemed that even the most formidable characters among them were courted and flattered by royalty and nobility, none daring to offend them. But now? Even an ordinary person could claim their lives with a bullet.

    Thus, the emergence of firearms was an immense hatred in the hearts of all in Qimen, and also their greatest indignity.

    This was why, in duels among the practitioners of Qimen, the use of firearms, no matter the reasons, would be seen as an insult to Qimen Techniques, and was sure to incite public outrage.

    The personnel in this special department, despite being government officials, were also members of Qimen and often had to abide by the rules of their circle.

    "Hmph!" Deputy Group Leader Cui, seeing Tao Jun''s panicked expression, immediately turned colder.

    "Master, I understand," Tao Jun, startled by the reaction, quickly said.

    Vice Leader Cui nodded his head only when he heard this and stepped out of the villa.

    "Two junior brothers, help me to the door. I want to see how that kid dies!" Li Bisheng called out ferociously to two junior brothers who were also preparing to go out.

    ...

    "Master, let''s stop here."

    A taxi stopped at the southern entrance to Xiao Yuan Mountain, and a young man got out of the car.

    This young man was naturally Ge Dongxu.

    "Young man, there aren''t many people walking around in the mountains at night, so be careful," the taxi driver said, sticking his head out of the window to the Ge Dongxu who was getting ready to head up. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Thank you, master. I will be careful," Ge Dongxu said with a slight smile to the taxi driver.

    "Climbing Xiao Yuan Mountain on a cold late night is really an oddity," the taxi driver muttered to himself as he withdrew his head back into the car, shaking his head alone with a curious expression, then turned the car around and quickly disappeared into the night.

    As he watched the taxi disappear into the night, the smile on Ge Dongxu''s face slowly faded, and a layer of frost covered his face; in the dark night, his eyes flashed with a cold light.

    Climbing the mountain path unhurriedly, Ge Dongxu soon saw the villa halfway up the mountain still lit with lights.

    However, not a single light shone outside the villa; it was pitch black.

    Outside the villa courtyard.

    Team Leader Lin, Vice Leader Cui, and Lu Yuan, using the cover of darkness and positioning themselves as heaven, earth, and man, hid in the forest, while Vice Leader Cui''s two disciples each concealed themselves atop nearby pine trees.

    With their cultivation, they could not intervene in a battle of this level. However, being in the prime of their youth,they had powerful muscles and strength; should the techniques fail, it may require their involvement in close combat.

    Of course, in the eyes of Team Leader Lin and the others, it was unlikely to occur.

    With their combined strength, and having prepared against an unprepared enemy, even a famous expert from Qimen would hardly escape their fate, let alone an unknown youngster.

    "He''s here!" In the dark night, all five saw Ge Dongxu approaching the villa along the mountain path at an unhurried pace, and their expressions all subtly changed, revealing a solemn look.

    Simultaneously, Team Leader Lin, Vice Leader Cui, and Lu Yuan each held a jade token in their left hands and churned a spell with the right, gently tracing on the ground with their toes, and softly chanting a spell formula under their breath.

    As the three of them manipulated the spell, a sudden wind arose in the mountains.

    Nature''s spiritual energy gathered at the road in front of the villa, accumulating more and more until it reached a density terrifying to the average cultivator.

    Such density, though sought after by cultivators in its stable form, would resemble the center of a storm if chaotic and disorderly, potentially tearing and bursting the meridians of any cultivator who stepped into it instantly.

    However, because the area''s nature''s spiritual energy was suppressed by the three using jade talismans and mana, it appeared "calm and usual," indistinguishable from any other place.

    As Ge Dongxu came within about five meters of the "eye of the storm," Team Leader Lin and Vice Leader Cui still appeared composed, but Lu Yuan''s left hand, clutching the jade token, began to tremble slightly, and beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on his forehead.

    Clearly, controlling this "eye of the storm" was a challenging task for Lu Yuan.

 Chapter 261 Gunfire

    In the dark night, no one noticed how Ge Dongxu''s gaze had grown increasingly cold, a sneer of disdain curling at the corner of his lips.

    Such a setup would be a deadly trap for a practitioner at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer, and even those at the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation would suffer heavy damage upon entering the "eye of the storm." But for Ge Dongxu, who had advanced to the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, this arrangement was nothing but child''s play.

    He had sensed the abnormality of the area from a hundred meters away, still outside its reach.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu apparently oblivious to the anomaly, step by step entering the "eye of the storm," the three men''s expressions turned cold, and they suddenly stomped their feet against the ground, their jade tokens abruptly glowing bright green.

    "Explode," the three men uttered an icy word between their lips and teeth. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Vermin!" Almost simultaneously, Ge Dongxu''s eyes burst with a lethal glint as his hands formed a spell, and he violently stomped the ground.

    In that instant, a formidable mana surged from Ge Dongxu''s body, rushing outward in all directions.

    Suddenly, the nature''s spiritual energy, which had been suppressed, exploded like a lit powder keg, centering around Ge Dongxu and blasting outward in all directions.

    "Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!" In the dark night, fierce winds arose abruptly outside the villa.

    The chaotic turmoil of nature''s spiritual energy, in the form of shockwaves, howled towards Team Leader Lin and his two companions.

    When Team Leader Lin and the others felt the terrifying shockwave and the piercing cold wind coming at them, their eyes were filled with fright and terror, and their body hair stood on end.

    They could never have imagined that, even though they had laid the ambush and struck first, it would be the young man who seized the initiative¡ªthe dreadful nature''s spiritual energy was now gushing out from him in all directions.

    Could it be that this young man''s cultivation and mastery of techniques were much higher than theirs?

    But how could that be possible? Even if the young man had started cultivating from the womb, his cultivation couldn''t possibly be much higher than theirs, could it?

    However, the situation at hand gave them no time to ponder such thoughts.

    Without any hesitation, the three men turned and ran.

    This was a storm formed by nature''s spiritual energy gathering! With their cultivation level, how could they dare to withstand it?

    "Crack! Crack!" As the spiritual energy storm passed, several small trees as thick as a grown man''s arm were forcibly snapped in half.

    "Ah! Ah! Ah!"

    "Thud! Thud! Thud!"

    The three cries of agony and the sounds of bodies falling echoed almost simultaneously in the night, reverberating through the mountain forest, accompanied by the howling winds, making for an especially mournful and frightening scene.

    Seeing the three men knocked to the ground by the storm, coughing up blood, Ge Dongxu''s lips curled into a disdainful sneer. Just as he was about to move forward to capture them, he suddenly felt a surge of alarm¡ªan intense and chilling sensation crept over him from behind a large tree.

    Without a second thought, Ge Dongxu stomped the ground hard and, like a large bird taking flight, he soared into the air.

    Almost at the same moment Ge Dongxu took off into the air.

    "Pfft!" The sound of a silenced gunshot suddenly rang out in the night.

    A bullet landed where Ge Dongxu had just been standing, hitting a piece of broken stone and sparking flashes of fire.

    The three people, severely wounded and slumped on the ground, quickly looked towards the direction of the gunshot upon hearing it.

    To their shock, their eyes widened in immense horror, and they no longer felt the pain racking their battered bodies.

    In midair, the young man they had just seen now turned in the air as freely as a large bird, then dove like an eagle swooping on its prey towards Tao Jun, who was hiding in a pine tree.

    By then, Tao Jun was already petrified. As he realized that Ge Dongxu was descending upon him from the sky, he scrambled to aim his gun, but Ge Dongxu was already upon him, snatching the gun with one hand and grabbing his neck with the other.

    Once he had wrenched the gun from Tao Jun''s grip, Ge Dongxu hurled it towards another pine tree.

    "Bang!"

    "Ah!"

    A disciple of deputy group leader Cui, who was hiding in another pine tree, immediately fell to the ground.

    "Thump!" The young man landed heavily, spitting out blood, unable to get up for quite a while.

    After eliminating the other threats, Ge Dongxu didn''t immediately jump down from the pine tree but swept his Divine Sense and his sharp gaze around the area once more. Only after confirming there were no more ambushes did he leap down from the tree with a cold face, grabbing Tao Jun by the neck.

    Burned by this experience, the young Ge Dongxu realized tonight that the real world was far more perilous than he had imagined.

    He had thought that Li Bisheng, despite his boldness, would only employ people from the Qimen to confront him with spells, but he had not anticipated the use of guns.

    After jumping down, Ge Dongxu picked up the severely injured group leader Lin and his two colleagues, who found it extremely difficult to even move, as well as the young man who had fallen from the tree. He didn''t care that they were ''wounded men,'' and threw them directly in front of Li Bisheng, who was shivering with fear and eyes filled with terror.

    "Very well! You''ve even resorted to guns! Smack! Smack!" Ge Dongxu, recalling the recent dangers and feeling a surge of fear, couldn''t help but slap Li Bisheng twice, then stomped ruthlessly on each of the injured men on the ground.

    "You, you dare to step on me, do you know who I am?" Although group leader Lin was terrified of Ge Dongxu''s horrifying skills, he was, after all, from a special department, an official of the Qimen, and Ge Dongxu was an ordinary citizen within the Qimen. Having been severely beaten by Ge Dongxu and now being stepped on by him was considered an immense humiliation. His face ashen with rage, he yelled.

    Deputy group leader Cui, on the other hand, remained silent, his mind racing.

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    He had intended to swiftly eliminate Ge Dongxu and then deal with the aftermath, but he had never expected Ge Dongxu''s abilities to far exceed his imagination, to the point where he could even "fly."

    It was now obviously a pipe dream to kill him, but letting him go would mean that once an investigation was instigated from above, his own deeds would likely be uncovered.

    Seeing group leader Lin still daring to yell at him at this point, Ge Dongxu was so incensed that he stomped on him once more and said coldly, "You were already trying to kill me; I don''t care who you are! You should be very clear in your mind that killing you would be as simple as squashing an ant right now. If I haven''t acted, it''s because I still have respect for the nation''s laws. But don''t think for a moment that this ends here today. Because you fired a gun, I believe that should be enough to send you to prison."

    "Prison? You might want to look at this first." After being stepped on by Ge Dongxu, group leader Lin had already stopped daring to make a sound, but when he heard what Ge Dongxu said afterward, he regained his courage. He struggled to reach into his pocket and pull out an ID, showing it to Ge Dongxu with an arrogant look on his face.

 Chapter 262 Sacrifice the Car to Save the Bishop

    Ge Dongxu had never seen the credentials of that department before, but he noticed the words "National Security" and the badge on them, so he realized that this man was indeed a staff member of the special department Elder Feng had mentioned.

    This department was not one to be exposed to the light of day; they presented themselves with the National Security Department''s credentials to the outside world.

    "You are actually people from that department!" Ge Dongxu''s face suddenly turned very unsightly.

    If it were team leader Lin and the others whom Li Bisheng had asked to help, Ge Dongxu could understand their actions; but the fact that they were from that department and had attacked him without discrimination, even using firearms, made Ge Dongxu extremely angry.

    "Indeed, we are from the Special Ability Management Bureau! If you surrender now, you might be given a lighter sentence; otherwise..." Team leader Lin saw Ge Dongxu''s face turn gloomy all of a sudden and thought he was scared, A look of pride crossed his face as he let out a sigh of relief and said.

    "Otherwise your mom''s head!" Ge Dongxu was already on top of his anger. Seeing team leader Lin trying to intimidate him with his officialdom, he smacked him with a slap and rebuked with an iron face, "What law have I broken that you set up an ambush for me? What unforgivable capital crime have I committed that you even used firearms? Tell me! Do you just disregard human life like that? Is this how you just kill people as you wish?"

    "Still trying to argue? You have injured Li Bisheng with a Curse Spell; you sought wealth and caused harm with a spell!" Team leader Lin looked at the enraged Ge Dongxu and began to sense that something was amiss. But as an official of the Qimen in the government, accustomed to a high position, how could he bow his head? He immediately retorted. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire

    "I figure you must also be about seventy years old, right? A person of such a venerable age, how can your brain function like this? With my capability, if I truly wanted to use a Curse Spell, could Li Bisheng, with his meager Kung Fu skills, escape it?" Ge Dongxu retorted angrily.

    Team leader Lin, after all, was not brainless. It was just that earlier, because of Deputy team leader Cui''s involvement and considering Li Bisheng as one of their own, he had initially been biased and rushed to judge Ge Dongxu, unable to change his mindset. But upon hearing Ge Dongxu''s words, he immediately remembered how Ge Dongxu had just broken their three-man arrangement with a mere gesture and could rise into the air. With such skills, perhaps even the directors of their bureau would not be his match.

    If he truly wanted to use Techniques against Li Bisheng, how could Li Bisheng have escaped?

    Of course, team leader Lin did not know that Ge Dongxu had held back when breaking the arrangement earlier, or else the three of them would already be three dead bodies at this moment.

    If team leader Lin knew this, he would not have at all considered whether the few directors in their bureau were a match for Ge Dongxu.

    Because they were not on the same level at all, there was nothing to compare.

    "Kid, you deceived me?" Upon realizing the truth, team leader Lin glared at Li Bisheng angrily.

    "I didn''t! It was he who used the Curse Spell trying to seek wealth and harm lives!" Li Bisheng''s eyes flickered with panic, but he soon calmed down and insisted.

    "Li Bisheng, what exactly is going on? Answer honestly, and maybe your master can still save your life. Otherwise, once we investigate clearly, there will be no chance of leniency," Deputy team leader Cui, who had been silent all this while, suddenly spoke up, staring coldly at Li Bisheng.

    Li Bisheng shivered uncontrollably as he faced his master''s chilling gaze.

    He knew that his master had seen the situation turn unfavorable and was ready to sacrifice the car to save the general.

    But did he have a choice?

    By admitting his fault now, perhaps his master would somehow save his life, but if he implicated his master and dragged him down with him, he would''ve completely severed all paths of retreat.

    "Master I..." Li Bisheng, who had been vehemently denying the accusations, finally showed a look of shame on his face.

    "You..." Deputy Chief Cui, pointing at Li Bisheng with disappointed anger, then let out a long sigh, tears streaming down his face.

    "Esteemed Daoist, it is my lack of proper guidance, my credulity to his one-sided story, that almost brought harm to an innocent person." Deputy Chief Cui allowed the tears to roll down his pockmarked face as he spoke to Ge Dongxu with a look of self-reproach and shame.

    "It''s not entirely your fault, Elder Cui. Who would have thought this youngster would dare deceive us? I too have been negligent in my oversight, and I ask for understanding from this esteemed Daoist. We will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly and will not tolerate any leniency." Group Leader Lin, his complexion changing repeatedly, finally let go of his official pride and gave a formal bow to Ge Dongxu.

    "You think a mere apology suffices? You opened fire on me before even conducting an investigation, how can I trust that you won''t pull some stunt later on?" Ge Dongxu said disdainfully.

    "You, what sort of attitude is that? Don''t forget who I am..." Group Leader Lin, having lowered himself to apologize to Ge Dongxu, was shocked to see Ge Dongxu unappeased. The arrogance that lay deep in his bones resurfaced as he glared at Ge Dongxu.

    "Shut your mouth! Just because you''re from that department, your actions are all the more inexcusable! Isn''t this a case of knowing the law and breaking it? Have you ever considered what would have happened if I were not strong enough and had been killed by that bullet?" Ge Dongxu coldly rebuked Lin Group Leader, seeing that he was still trying to assert his authority despite knowing he was in the wrong.

    "Esteemed Daoist, it is all my fault, Group Leader Lin was just..." Deputy Chief Cui said with a face full of shame and self-reproach.

    "Elder Cui, there''s no need to be so humble. So what if we were wrong? It is we who are injured! Even if there has to be an investigation, that''s a matter for those higher up, and it''s not for an outsider like him to point fingers." Group Leader Lin said coldly. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Group Leader Lin''s defiant attitude, Ge Dongxu''s expression grew colder.

    He had not originally intended to interact with people from that department, but now he had, and with the situation having escalated to this point, if he didn''t thoroughly resolve the matter, who knew what trouble these people might stir up once they returned.

    After all, he had not only severely injured them, but also stepped on them and cursed them. Who could guarantee they wouldn''t seek personal revenge? And there was Li Bisheng; Ge Dongxu was not inclined to let him off either. Li Bisheng''s master was from the Special Department, and although they spoke nicely now, who knew if the matter would be dropped once he left.

    That gunshot had deepened Ge Dongxu''s understanding and wariness of human malice.

    "Quite the sentiment, ''so what if we were wrong!'' No wonder you dared to attack me viciously without discerning right from wrong, you dared to shoot at me! Since that''s the case, let the higher-ups investigate. I''m curious to see if they share the same sentiment." Ge Dongxu said coldly, and then took out his phone to give Elder Feng a call.

    It was only nine-thirty in the evening, and Elder Feng usually didn''t go to bed until ten o''clock.

 Chapter 263 Furious Rage

    Elder Feng''s room had two telephones.

    One was a hotline, which, when it rang, often signified that something significant was about to occur.

    The other was a private line. Given his status, aside from family, only a few people in the entire Huaxia Country knew this number¡ªindeed, besides his family, only those few were authorized to call it directly.

    Now, Ge Dongxu had also become one of those few.

    Seeing the private phone ring suddenly at this hour, a flicker of surprise crossed Elder Feng''s face.

    His private phone hardly ever rang in a year, let alone late at night. Its sudden ringing now indeed made Elder Feng somewhat unaccustomed.

    The staff responsible for Elder Feng''s meals and accommodations was startled by the abrupt ringing, fearing something significant had occurred, and hurriedly handed the phone to Elder Feng.

    "Is that my Senior Brother? This is Ge Dongxu." No sooner had Elder Feng taken the phone than he heard Ge Dongxu''s voice.

    "So it''s you, Dongxu. I was just wondering who would be calling me at this hour," replied Elder Feng with a relieved expression, breaking into a smile.

    These days, it seemed only this junior fellow of his could view him in such a pure light, unlike others who would first see his other identity. Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Have I disturbed your rest?" Ge Dongxu then realized the lateness of the hour and asked somewhat embarrassedly.

    "Ha, since your miraculous rejuvenation, your Senior Brother here has been feeling more vigorous with age. It''s still early for me to sleep. Tell me, what brings you to call me at this hour?" laughed Elder Feng.

    "Do you still remember the matter you mentioned last time about the Special Department?" Ge Dongxu said, his face turning from embarrassment to seriousness.

    "Did you encounter their people? Was there a conflict?" Elder Feng''s smile gradually tightened, as he asked in a serious tone.

    The fact that Ge Dongxu was calling specifically about the Special Department at this hour could hardly be just for a simple inquiry.

    "Yes," replied Ge Dongxu.

    "Are you alright?" Elder Feng asked with concern.

    "I''m fine," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "That''s good. Tell me, what exactly happened?" Elder Feng breathed a sigh of relief, then asked with a stern expression.

    Ge Dongxu recounted the events from start to finish.

    "Alright, your Senior Brother understands now. But this is just your side of the story, and although I trust you, proper procedures still have to be followed before reaching a final conclusion. However, rest assured, once the matter is thoroughly investigated, they will certainly give you an explanation. For now, keep those people in custody and do not leave the spot," Elder Feng said, his facial wrinkles deepening and an aura of dignified authority emanating from him, which seemed to make the atmosphere in the entire room coalesce.

    Even though the old man spoke in a calm tone to Ge Dongxu¡ªintending not to make him feel like he was taking sides¡ªthe truth was, the old man had not easily acknowledged a junior in his later years, and now this brother of his had almost lost his life to a Special Department operative''s gun. How could the old man not be furious?

    "Success is built on a mountain of bones!" Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The elderly man had walked through a life filled with gunfire and bloodshed, his hands stained with the blood of countless enemies.

    How could his anger be ordinary? Ordinary people aside, even those with Cultivation would likely lose their composure if they directly faced the Evil Qi he emitted in his rage.

    "Okay, thank you, brother," Ge Dongxu said.

    Ge Dongxu, who always acted uprightly, didn''t need the elderly man''s partiality. Seeing the elderly man''s response, he answered with even more respect, "Okay, I''ll wait right here."

    Ge Dongxu then repeated the address and hung up the phone.

    After ending the call with Elder Feng, Ge Dongxu worried that Liu Jiayao might be anxious and specifically called her to report his safety and advised her to rest early.

    While Ge Dongxu was calling Liu Jiayao, Elder Feng was also making calls. His first call was to Du Suiping, a former subordinate at the National Security Department.

    The second call went directly to the head of the Special Ability Management Bureau. The person in charge of this department was called Director rather than Chief.

    During the call, Elder Feng''s tone remained very calm, as if he were discussing a very ordinary matter. However, Director Fan on the other end of the line felt all his hairs stand on end, covered in a cold sweat despite the winter chill.

    His own people had almost shot to death the disciple of Elder Feng! Fortunately, Elder Feng''s disciple had a strong Cultivation. If he had been killed, it would have truly created a massive problem. Not only would he, the Director, have to step down immediately, but the entire Special Ability Management Bureau might have to be thoroughly reorganized from top to bottom.

    Of course, this was not the most crucial point. The most crucial point was that the fault lay most likely on his side.

    Even a simpleton, after giving it a little thought, would understand that as Elder Feng''s disciple, Ge Dongxu would not need to resort to such sinister methods to acquire Li Fang Cosmetics. Not to mention that Ge Dongxu was currently holding Group Leader Lin, Deputy Group Leader Cui, Lu Yuan, and six others hostage alone. Even the Director found his strength frightening. If he wanted to take action against Li Bisheng, why would he need to go through such great trouble?

    Killing Elder Feng''s disciple was already an enormous issue, let alone a wrongful killing! Just thinking about it made Director Fan feel a chill all around him.

    "Please rest assured, Chief. I will take people to Linzhou City myself and thoroughly investigate this matter," Director Fan said solemnly.

    "Good, I''ve already instructed Du Suiping to assist your investigation. You go together," Elder Feng said gravely.

    "Yes!" Director Fan answered solemnly, then he hung up the phone, his face gradually revealing a bitter smile.

    Even with the Director personally involved, Elder Feng still sent Du Suiping to assist the investigation, clearly showing his message.

    Elder Feng was very dissatisfied, even distrustful of the Special Ability Management Bureau, and this also showed how much he valued this case, or rather his disciple, not allowing the slightest grievance against him.

    But his own people nearly killing Ge Dongxu with a gun left Director Fan utterly without grounds for objection, especially since Du Suiping was initially from the National Security Department, and the Special Ability Management Bureau was technically under the National Security Department, which authorized Du Suiping''s involvement.

    After making this call, Elder Feng still felt somewhat angry and paced several rounds in the room before he gradually calmed down.

    It couldn''t be helped; to have such a disciple in his later years¡ªa disciple whose own master had greatly favored him¡ªnow nearly killed by a gunshot, was distressing. If it had been according to the old man''s wartime temperament, he would have slammed the phone and cursed out loud.

    ps: Recently, many readers have been urging for faster updates, complaining that the writing is slow. In fact, I''m more anxious than you are, as writing more means earning more. However, for now, I really can''t speed up. Both the plot and the wording require careful thought, and meticulous work takes time. Without drafts on hand and experiencing some blockages in thought, I can only maintain this pace to avoid ruining the story. Please forgive me.

 Chapter 264 Revealing True Strength

    In the courtyard house, the old man paced back and forth in the room until his anger gradually subsided. Meanwhile, the staff from the Special Ability Management Bureau had already been urgently mobilized.

    A dedicated military aircraft was also on standby at the airport, ready to depart for Linzhou City at any moment.

    This emergency mobilization, which even utilized a military aircraft, was not solely because this matter involved Elder Feng, but also because Director Fan Hong had learned from Elder Feng that Ge Dongxu''s power was extraordinarily formidable.

    Such a person, once truly provoked to turn to evil ways, could bring about an absolutely immense disaster, so this case could not be delayed even for a moment.

    In fact, when the emergency mobilization was initiated in the capital, personnel from the National Security Bureau and Special Ability Management Office in Jiangnan Province had already begun to investigate the acquisition storm involving Li Fang Cosmetics and Qinglan Cosmetics from the year before.

    The National Security Bureau, a department that usually keeps a low profile as if it has no relation to the daily lives of ordinary people, is in fact a national anti-espionage and political security agency. Once activated, its efficiency, the forces it can mobilize, and the temporary powers it can exercise are absolutely terrifying.

    They quickly investigated all the dealings of Li Bisheng over the past two years, including his suspicious activities, his close relationship with the former purchasing manager of Qinglan Cosmetics Company, Zhang Huowang, and all his recent phone and entry records.

    Of course, they also investigated Ge Dongxu, but their focus was on Li Bisheng. Regarding Ge Dongxu''s information, due to Elder Feng''s involvement, they only briefly checked his superficial data, but even so, they were taken aback by what they found.

    He started investing in businesses as early as his freshman year of high school and became the major shareholder of five companies by his senior year. Furthermore, the data suggested that he developed everything step by step on his own without any external help.

    Because the focus was on investigating Li Bisheng, Zhang Huowang, who was still dreaming about dealing with Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao, was taken away for interrogation by the National Security Bureau in the middle of the night, nearly scaring him to death.

    As an ordinary citizen, he had never had any contact with this department before.

    As soon as the staff questioned him about his relationship and transactions with Li Bisheng, Zhang Huowang was so frightened that he spilled everything. By this moment, Zhang Huowang had fully realized that not only did Ge Dongxu have miraculous abilities, but the power behind him was also incredibly formidable.

    He had just called Li Bisheng not long ago, and it wasn''t much later that the National Security Bureau came knocking. If he dared to resist or not confess truthfully, wouldn''t that be simply courting death?

    At one thirty in the morning, Fan Hong and Du Suiping led a team of people to Linzhou City.

    As soon as they arrived in Linzhou City, someone immediately handed them a detailed investigation report.

    Both of them looked very grim after reading it, especially Fan Hong. In the dead of winter, as someone with cultivation abilities, a few beads of cold sweat involuntarily broke out on his forehead again.

    If before, he had held onto a fantasy that Ge Dongxu might be in the wrong, then he could have had an excuse. But now, that fantasy had completely turned into an illusion.

    "Director Fan, do you think we need to verify this again?" Du Suiping asked Fan Hong expressionlessly.

    Du Suiping was around fifty years old, and by rank, he was lower than Fan Hong. But because he was representing Elder Feng this time, his status appeared very special.

    "No need, let''s go straight to Xiao Yuan Mountain," Fan Hong said, waving his hand.

    "Alright." Du Suiping asked the question out of respect for Fan Hong. In reality, the information in their hands was already crystal clear.

    ...

    For Ge Dongxu, he recognized none of the individuals Du Suiping brought including Fan Hong. So when several cars suddenly appeared outside the villa and people carrying guns exited these vehicles, and a few of the elderly within the group exuded an aura even more powerful than the team leader, Lin, and the vice team leader, Cui, it was clear these were formidable practitioners from Qimen.

    Having just experienced a shooting incident, Ge Dongxu, unclear of the newcomers'' intentions, naturally did not let his guard down.

    Almost instantly, a powerful momentum emanated from Ge Dongxu''s body, his whole figure piercing the starry night like a sharp lance.

    In his right hand, he held the little peach wood sword pendant that had hung around his neck without anyone noticing when he had taken it. Traces of pure True Qi were infused into it, emitting a chilling sensation, while his left hand flipped and formed a spell sign, positioning it three inches in front of his chest. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    His toes sketched a Tai Chi Diagram on the ground repeatedly and slowly.

    Suddenly, gusts of wind sprang up around the previously tranquil Xiaoyuan Mountain, forming visible shapes resembling sharp swords looming over everyone''s head, ready to strike.

    Moreover, as soon as Fan Hong and the others stepped into the yard, the lawn seemed to be stimulated by some force, twisting in the night as if it could launch an attack like snakes the moment Fan Hong and his group made a suspicious move.

    Of course, all of these were quite covert, hardly noticeable by the naked eye of an ordinary person.

    However, among those who came here, none besides Du Suiping was an ordinary person. So, as soon as they set foot inside the yard, a tremendous sense of crisis enveloped them instantly, causing their hair to stand on end.

    This was minor though; each one of them had their own level of Cultivation, especially since Fan Hong himself was involved this time, followed at the very least by experts of Vice Team Leader Cui''s rank. Considering a crisis, they were confident in their ability to escape.

    Yet, as they began to activate their True Qi, they were terrified to discover that a mysterious force around them was suppressing them, making the operation of their True Qi extremely difficult and slow.

    Even Fan Hong, the director, had his face turn pale instantly.

    Two of them, who reacted quickly, stopped mobilizing their internal energy and reached for their guns.

    But before their hands could touch the guns, the green grass under their feet suddenly grew rapidly, entangling their hands.

    The two were startled and just as they were about to struggle, a chilling voice suddenly echoed, "It''s best not to struggle, otherwise I can''t guarantee that your heads will remain intact."

    In fact, even if they hadn''t heard these words, they wouldn''t dare move by now.

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    They had already sensed a sharp nature''s spiritual energy targeting their Baihui acupuncture point, exuding a thick aura of killing intent.

    Inside the villa, when Ge Dongxu opened the door, Lin, the team leader, and the others had already seen and recognized Director Fan Hong and the others. They were utterly shocked, especially the guilty Vice Team Leader Cui and Li Bisheng, who were terrified and pale. They had no idea who Ge Dongxu had called, but within merely four hours, Director Fan Hong was summoned from the distant capital through the night.

    It seemed this night was destined to be harrowing for them; they were just startled by the arrival of Director Fan Hong when they witnessed that terrifying scene.

    Ge Dongxu, the young man, merely stood at the entrance, yet Director Fan Hong and the others were completely trapped in the yard, even devoid of the chance to draw their guns.

    What an horrific spell ¨C Lin, the team leader and others dared not even think about it. At this moment, Lin, the team leader, realized just how naive and ludicrous his earlier ambush on him was, and understood how foolish and ignorant he had been to pose authorities before him.

    Such a figure, was someone they could never ambush, nor someone before whom he could pose as an official.

 Chapter 265 Interrogation

    If there''s someone full of terror and stuck in a dangerous situation, it''s Fan Hong, the director of the situation, who might feel even more astonished than Team Leader Lin and the others.

    From what Elder Feng had said, Director Fan Hong had already guessed that Ge Dongxu was very powerful, and he might even be on par with him. But he never dreamed that Ge Dongxu could be so terrifying!

    He could casually summon nature''s spiritual energy and even use techniques to command the vegetation to serve him, instantly subduing all of them.

    If this kind of strength were shown by several old predecessors who remained hidden from the world, Director Fan Hong could have accepted it. But for Ge Dongxu, an 18-year-old high school student, to display such power, it was enough to send chills down his spine.

    If such a person were given more years to grow, once he brought calamity upon the world, it would probably only be possible to eliminate him by deploying the military.

    "Mr. Ge, please don''t misunderstand, I am Fan Hong, director of the Special Ability Management Bureau, and this is Du Suiping from the National Security Department, who Elder Feng personally selected to work with us on the investigation." Of course, at this moment, the spirit energy had transformed into a sword pointing at his Baihui acupoint, and if it pierced through, the consequences would be unimaginable. Director Fan Hong, already pale with fear, hastened to reveal his identity.

    "So it''s Director Fan and Mr. Du, my apologies for any offense." Ge Dongxu, hearing this, retracted the small Peach Wood Sword and the aura emanating from his body. He cupped his hands towards the people in the courtyard and apologized.

    As Ge Dongxu withdrew his imposing presence, the spiritual energy dissipated, and the lawn on the ground also returned to its peaceful state. The people in the courtyard immediately felt a sense of lightness and couldn''t help but take a deep breath of relief.

    Upon exhaling, they realized that their backs were completely soaked through.

    At this point, even without the information previously gathered by the Jiangnan Provincial National Security Bureau, Director Fan Hong and the others already knew that the issue definitely lay with Li Bisheng.

    It was laughable; with the strength Ge Dongxu had just shown, even without Elder Feng''s background, he wouldn''t bother provoking Li Bisheng, let alone resorting to any sly tactics.

    "Mr. Ge exaggerates, exaggerates indeed. It was my people who offended you earlier. It''s only natural for Mr. Ge to be cautious now," Fan Hong said hurriedly, with a very polite and respectful manner.

    Whether it was due to the terrifying power Ge Dongxu had just displayed, or his relationship with Elder Feng, Fan Hong couldn''t afford to put on airs, not to mention that he needed Ge Dongxu to show mercy in this matter.

    Ge Dongxu accepted Fan Hong''s words without objection and nodded indifferently. Then he made a special effort to give a fist and palm salute to Du Suiping: "I truly appreciate you coming all this way from the capital late at night. I''m sorry for the trouble."

    "Heh, it''s only right," Du Suiping said with a smile.

    "Elder Feng must have briefly mentioned the situation to you. Now that you are here, I will go over it in detail one more time," Ge Dongxu nodded and, after welcoming the group into the villa''s living room and everyone was seated, his expression turned serious before he began to speak.

    "There''s no need for that kind of trouble, it must be their fault!" Fan Hong said.

    "No matter whose fault it is, you and Mr. Du are here to handle the case, so let''s follow the procedure. I''ll recount what I know for you to take down, and then you can continue with taking their statements as necessary. I don''t need any special treatment from you because of Elder Feng; I just want a fair outcome based on the investigation results," Ge Dongxu waved his hand, rejecting Fan Hong''s offer of consideration.

    Fan Hong, looking at Ge Dongxu with great respect, couldn''t help but inwardly smile wryly, thinking it was no wonder he was on brotherly terms with Elder Feng. This man was truly something! It seemed that he wouldn''t be able to back off from this matter without a thorough investigation.

    "Alright, I respect Mr. Ge''s wishes. I, myself, will ask the questions, and Suiping, you take notes," Fan Hong said.

    "Alright," Du Suiping nodded, his eyes showing a hint of admiration towards Ge Dongxu.

    This person is extraordinary!

    By then, Team Leader Lin and the others were thoroughly terrified.

    At this point, they had naturally understood to whom Ge Dongxu had made the call, and finally realized why Fan Hong and the others had managed to arrive here from the capital in such a short time.

    The young man before them was actually one of Huaxia Country''s remaining few generals, the younger fellow disciple of Elder Feng! And they had almost shot him with a gun!

    ...

    As Ge Dongxu spoke, his account was naturally much more detailed and comprehensive, matching perfectly with the evidence the Jiangnan Province National Security Bureau had gathered.

    As for what happened at Xiao Yuan Mountain, Ge Dongxu didn''t go into detail, only mentioning that Team Leader Lin and his men had ambushed and attacked him and that Tao Jun had used a gun.

    But just those simple few sentences were enough to make Fan Hong and his colleagues break out in a cold sweat once again.

    This late at night, a gunman''s ambush, and the result was Ge Dongxu emerging completely unscathed¡ªthis indicated how terrifying his power was! Of course, it was also fortunate that Ge Dongxu wasn''t hit; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

    "Smack!" Just as Ge Dongxu finished speaking, Fan Hong slammed his palm down onto the coffee table, abruptly standing up with a face ashen with rage, pointing at Team Leader Lin and the others, he angrily said, "You really did me proud! You dared to set a trap and ambush someone without clarifying anything, and you even used firearms! Tell me, who gave you the authority to do that?"

    "Director Fan, I also didn''t expect that Li Bisheng, as Cui He''s disciple, would dare to break the law knowing the law, using techniques to frame the president of Qinglan Cosmetics Company and thus..." Team Leader Lin replied with a pale face.

    "What a ''didn''t expect''! Can you decide someone''s life with just a ''didn''t expect''? Who gave you the audacity? Who gave you the power?" Team Leader Lin''s attempt to deflect and make excuses only served to infuriate Fan Hong even more.

    "I... I didn''t intend to take Mr. Ge''s life, I... I just wanted to injure him and then capture him, but I didn''t expect Tao Jun to use his gun without authorization," said Team Leader Lin with a trembling voice.

    Fan Hong and the others immediately turned their gazes towards Tao Jun, and Ge Dongxu did the same.

    Team Leader Lin''s response had slightly altered Ge Dongxu''s opinion of him. Otherwise, if he had ordered his men to shoot from the beginning, Ge Dongxu would have held him accountable, no matter what.

    Because that would have definitely amounted to reckless disregard for human life!

    "It was the elder brother that told me to shoot," Tao Jun said with a shiver as everyone''s eyes turned towards him. He glanced at Master Cui He, then hurriedly turned to Li Bisheng.

    "Jun Sheng, interrogate him," said Fan Hong, not so easily deceived as the head of a department. His face darkened abruptly, and he commanded a man with a stern look behind him. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This man was in charge of discipline in the special department!

    Each member of the special department had cultivation within them, dealing with either people from Qimen, zombies, evil spirits, and other non-human creatures. Naturally, they couldn''t interrogate suspects in conventional ways. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire

    Known for his impartiality and ruthlessness, Jun Sheng''s stern expression and the harsh aura he emitted caused Tao Jun''s entire body to tremble uncontrollably, his eyes continuously seeking Cui He.

    If Cui He had harbored any chances of luck before, from the moment he knew that Ge Dongxu was Elder Feng''s younger fellow disciple and that Du Suiping was a leader in the National Security Department personally appointed by Elder Feng, he knew that he couldn''t hide this incident, and that he couldn''t escape his fate tonight.

    "There''s no need to trouble you, Team Leader Jun. I was the one who ordered Tao Jun to shoot," Cui He finally spoke, his old face aging drastically as if he had become an old man on the brink of death.

 Chapter 266 Concerns

    "The things Li Bisheng used to sabotage Qinglan Cosmetics'' production and the Curse Spell were also given to him by me when he came to the capital last time," Cui He continued, taking out the bottle of Yin Demonic Corpse Qi previously collected from the zombie.

    At this point, the truth had seemingly come to light, but Fan Hong didn''t feel the slightest relief; on the contrary, his expression turned extremely ugly.

    In the past two years, Cui He had made rapid progress in his strength, and it was very likely that he would break through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation soon. Once he made the breakthrough, it was possible for him to join the leadership of the Special Ability Management Bureau, so Fan Hong had high hopes for Cui He.

    Yet now, this person he had placed such hopes on, who might even join the ranks of the Special Ability Management Bureau''s leadership in the near future, turned out to be so sinister and cruel at heart.

    "I think there is nothing left for me here," Ge Dongxu said, seeing the truth revealed and not wanting to stay and interfere with their case. He stood up and spoke.

    Fan Hong and Du Suiping showed surprised and unexpected looks upon hearing this, as they had thought Ge Dongxu would be furious after the truth was unveiled and would demand that Fan Hong deal harshly with Cui He, Li Bisheng, and even Team Leader Lin. They did not expect him to simply stand up and take his leave.

    However, after their surprise and astonishment, Du Suiping looked at Ge Dongxu with solemn respect.

    A young man with such terrifying abilities and with Elder Feng''s background was able to control his desire for revenge at this moment and leave the decision to the Special Ability Management Bureau. This demonstrated great magnanimity and wisdom.

    After his surprise and astonishment, in addition to a respectful look, Fan Hong''s gaze towards Ge Dongxu also contained a complex sense of deep gratitude that was difficult to put into words.

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    Because Fan Hong knew that with Ge Dongxu''s abilities and background, as well as being the victim, if he really wanted to intervene forcefully, even Fan Hong would not be in a position to comment. But Ge Dongxu did not do so, showing trust and respect for the Special Ability Management Bureau and for Fan Hong himself.

    This also showed his attitude.

    He abides by the national laws and will not change due to his abilities or Elder Feng''s background.

    "Suiping, you continue the interrogation with the others; I''ll see Mr. Ge out," Fan Hong said as he got up, speaking to Du Suiping.

    Being from the National Security Department and so highly regarded by Elder Feng, Du Suiping was naturally an extremely astute person. Upon hearing this, he immediately understood that Fan Hong had something to say to Ge Dongxu. He stood up and nodded, then turned to Ge Dongxu and said with a gesture of respect, "Then, Mr. Ge, I shall not see you out."

    "Don''t mention it, you''re busy," Ge Dongxu replied politely and with haste, and then left the villa with Fan Hong accompanying him.

    "Mr. Ge, with such profound cultivation, have you ever considered joining our Special Ability Management Bureau to serve the country¡­" As he escorted Ge Dongxu to the door, Fan Hong looked at him with hopeful eyes and asked.

    "Thank you for the invitation, Director Fan, but I have no interest in officialdom. I bid you farewell; please stay." Before Fan Hong could finish speaking, Ge Dongxu interrupted, then with a gesture of respect, he strode away.

    Watching Ge Dongxu''s figure quickly disappear into the night, Fan Hong''s expression was complicated.

    With such a young age and terrifying cultivation, not being used by the nation and leaving him to his own devices outside posed an enormous variable to national security.

    Yet Fan Hong couldn''t possibly force Ge Dongxu, partly because of his terrifying cultivation but more importantly because of Elder Feng''s connection¡ªthe latter being the key factor.

    Otherwise, even if Ge Dongxu''s cultivation were to grow even stronger, in the face of the power of the state he would ultimately still be inconsequential, unable to resist.

    Under the night sky, Ge Dongxu walked down the mountain path, his steps not becoming any lighter for having discovered the truth, but rather carrying a hint of heaviness.

    This was not just because of the dangers he had faced this evening, but also because of the complex look in Director Fan Hong''s eyes when they parted.

    If it''s said that ''a hero who uses martial skills breaks the law,'' then it has always been the case that the state never lets down its guard against martial artists. For someone like Ge Dongxu, who possesses terrifying superpowers, the implications were probably far more significant than simply ''a hero who uses martial skills breaks the law.''

    Fan Hong, as the director of the Special Ability Management Bureau, how could he ever feel at ease about his existence?

    In the past, Ge Dongxu was unwilling to interact with individuals from special departments due to these considerations, and his master had warned him about such matters before he passed away. Hence, he was not allowed to display his techniques easily.

    But it seemed as if destiny had its own arrangements. Ge Dongxu didn''t want to get involved with these people, yet somehow he ended up entangled with them, making it impossible to avoid.

    Even if he moved away proactively and made his stance clear, it still wasn''t enough to dispel Director Fan Hong''s concerns.

    I must become a more powerful being! Powerful enough to instill fear and trepidation in their hearts. Only then, even if they are uneasy, they would have no choice but to feel at ease!

    When Ge Dongxu reached the foot of the mountain, the heaviness on his face was replaced by determination.

    By the time he returned to Yadu Garden, it was already 3 am.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu opened the door to the apartment, a faint fragrance assailed his nostrils, followed closely by Liu Jiayao holding him tightly, as if fearing that the man before her would vanish the moment she let go.

    "Didn''t I tell you everything was okay? Why haven''t you gone to sleep?" Ge Dongxu tenderly kissed Liu Jiayao''s head and whispered.

    "But I was still worried without seeing you," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Now that I''m back, you can be at ease, right?" Ge Dongxu said with a smile as he lifted Liu Jiayao up in his arms.

    "Mm!" Liu Jiayao wrapped her arms around Ge Dongxu''s neck, nodded, and then broke into a happy smile.

    "Has Li Min already gone back?" Ge Dongxu asked casually as he carried Liu Jiayao into the master bedroom.

    "After your call, I asked her to go back," Liu Jiayao replied.

    "You''re quite considerate of others, yet you don''t know how to take care of yourself," Ge Dongxu put Liu Jiayao down on the bed, then lightly touched her nose and said in exasperation.

    "Aren''t you the same?" Liu Jiayao retorted with an unyielding roll of her eyes at Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu was momentarily taken aback, then he let out a laugh and said, "Alright then, now I''ll take care of you. You go to sleep first. I''ll take a quick shower and then join you."

    "No, I want to wait for you in bed," Liu Jiayao pouted her alluring lips like a mischievous child, shaking her head.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Liu Jiayao, who returned his gaze. Finally, Ge Dongxu could only say, "Then I''ll make it quick."

    With that, he hurried to the bathroom. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In the bathroom, all the toiletries and a change of sleepwear had already been laid out, clearly prepared by Liu Jiayao while she was home alone with nothing to do.

    He took a quick shower and got into bed.

    Usually, Liu Jiayao would guard against him, this big lecher, trying her best to prevent him from getting frisky; but now, well past 3 am, she was the one wrapping herself around Ge Dongxu.

    Though he had experienced much and expended a considerable amount of True Qi that evening, Ge Dongxu was still brimming with energy compared to the average person, a veritable picture of vigor. How could he withstand Liu Jiayao''s active seduction? It didn''t take long before the room was filled with the colors of spring.

 Chapter 267 You Understand Cosmetics Formulas Too?

    The next day was sunny.

    The sun had climbed up high, and through the gauze curtains, sunlight dappled the pink bed where Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao still lay without getting up.

    "Do you really know Elder Feng, and even have a mentor-student relationship with him?" Liu Jiayao curled up in Ge Dongxu''s arms, asking incredulously.

    In the wee hours, the couple had a moment of intimacy; naturally, they didn''t talk about what happened at Xiao Yuan Mountain. After a long sleep and upon waking, Liu Jiayao inevitably asked about the progress of last night''s events.

    Since Liu Jiayao brought it up, Ge Dongxu had no choice but to stop deliberately avoiding the topic of his relationship with Elder Feng. He laid it all out, although he didn''t mention Tao Jun pulling a gun, to avoid worrying Liu Jiayao.

    "I wouldn''t dare to talk nonsense about such matters, of course it''s true, but you must never tell anyone," Ge Dongxu said.

    "That''s a given," Liu Jiayao said. Although she was convinced it was true, she was still stunned for a long time before nodding.

    "So Li Bisheng is definitely doomed?" After a while, Liu Jiayao shifted her thoughts from the relationship between Ge Dongxu and Elder Feng and inquired.

    "That''s for sure," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "If Li Bisheng is going down, then his Li Fang Cosmetics Company will definitely be dealt with. How about we buy it? With that, our Qinglan Cosmetics will surely ascend to a new level," Liu Jiayao''s eyes shone brightly after getting a definite answer.

    "I don''t want the day when Qinglan Cosmetics makes a name for itself worldwide for someone to gossip about Li Fang Cosmetics. So, I don''t agree with buying Li Fang Cosmetics," Ge Dongxu replied without hesitation. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He didn''t want people to say that they brought down Li Fang Cosmetics and then used it to become titans in the cosmetics industry.

    "If you disagree, then we''ll drop it," Liu Jiayao said immediately upon hearing this, though a trace of disappointment flickered in her eyes.

    She had always harbored the ambition to grow Qinglan Cosmetics to a point where it could compete with international brands, but with Qinglan''s current foundation, further breakthroughs were extremely challenging. Acquiring Li Fang Cosmetics and integrating both companies'' sales channels and research and development capabilities seemed like a fast track approach to a breakthrough.

    However, since Ge Dongxu was not keen on the idea, Liu Jiayao naturally followed his opinion.

    "Don''t worry. If I could make Qinghe Herbal Tea popular across Jiangnan, I can find a way to take Qinglan Cosmetics global," Ge Dongxu reassured Liu Jiayao about her aspirations, hugging her tightly with confidence in his voice.

    "Really?" Liu Jiayao''s delicate body trembled slightly, looking at Ge Dongxu with anticipation.

    If Ge Dongxu had said this before, Liu Jiayao would have accused him of boasting. But now, knowing that he had started from scratch and created Qinghe Herbal Tea and Donglin Qi¡ªtwo brands that had swept through Huaxia Country¡ªshe was full of confidence in this eighteen-year-old business prodigy.

    "Of course, it''s true. For a brand to become popular, not only do you need good advertising, investment, and sales channels, but I believe the key is the quality of the product. Qinglan Cosmetics already has some reputation, with sizable annual advertising and numerous sales channels. What''s really missing now is a product that can genuinely impress people," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "Don''t tell me you also understand cosmetics formulations?" Liu Jiayao said half in jest, half in disbelief.

    Liu Jiayao naturally knew that for Qinglan Cosmetics to reach the next level, product innovation was key. Without an impressive high-end product, no matter how much she invested in advertising or how much she expanded the sales channels, it would only result in increased sales, not a qualitative leap in development for Qinglan.

    Previously, Liu Jiayao had considered acquiring Li Fang Cosmetics precisely to take over its mature products, allowing Qinglan Cosmetics Company to directly enter the mid-range cosmetics market.

    "Of course. Don''t forget, I''m a doctor ¨C and not just any doctor, but a highly skilled one," Ge Dongxu said with a smile. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

    "What does being a doctor have to do with cosmetics?" Liu Jiayao couldn''t make the connection and looked at him puzzled.

    "You can be smart one moment and confused the next. Skin is a very important part of the body. As a highly skilled traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, not only should I know how to treat skin diseases, but I should also know how to slow down skin aging and maintain its youth and vitality. There are methods that work from the inside out and others that protect from the outside in. The medicinal wine I gave you actually contains an effect to slow down skin aging from the inside out and maintain its youth," Ge Dongxu said with a light chuckle, playfully scraping Liu Jiayao''s nose.

    "Ah! So you''re saying you also have a topical formula!" Liu Jiayao suddenly realized, excitedly sitting up from the bed.

    As Liu Jiayao sat up, Ge Dongxu''s eyes couldn''t help but go wide.

    ...

    Eventually, the two of them got out of bed around two o''clock in the afternoon.

    Sitting in Mingyue Lake''s revolving restaurant, seeing the smug and slightly mischievous smile occasionally appearing on Ge Dongxu''s face across the table, Liu Jiayao gnashed her teeth and couldn''t help but stomp on his feet several times under the table.

    "Let me tell you, Ge Dongxu, if you don''t come up with a formula that satisfies me, we''ll see if I''ll let you do that again!" Liu Jiayao gritted her teeth, but recalling the embarrassing and ludicrous things she had done with Ge Dongxu during the day, her delicate and porcelain-like skin couldn''t help but blush like the evening sky.

    "Relax, I''ll definitely come up with a suitable formula, and it will be all-natural. The key issue will be industrial production. That''s not my area, so I can''t help with that," Ge Dongxu said, beaming with pride while Liu Jiayao, infuriated, kicked him again.

 Chapter 268 You Should Just Hold a Title

    "The issue of industrial production will be resolved by me, so you don''t need to worry about that. After all, over these years, Qinglan Cosmetics has invested quite a sum in product research and development, and we do have a group of decent scientific researchers," Liu Jiayao said with a satisfied expression after kicking Ge Dongxu under the table and seeing his feigned expression of pain.

    "Then there will be no problem. I will think it over in the next few days and then give you the formula," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "Since it''s purely natural and personally made by you, I''m quite looking forward to and confident about the results. However, since cosmetics are applied on the skin, you still need to think about the scent. You cannot just consider it from a medical skincare perspective; the scent also needs consideration," Liu Jiayao reminded him after a moment''s thought.

    "Had you not mentioned it, I would have indeed overlooked the issue of scent," Ge Dongxu frowned slightly upon hearing this, his face showing deep contemplation.

    He indeed had several skincare formulas in mind, but many were considered from a medical perspective with little attention paid to scent. This was similar to the original recipe of Qinghe Herbal Tea, which prioritized reducing internal heat and replenishing vital energy, and was less palatable, but had later been improved to make it both efficacious and refreshing.

    "Scent? Scent?" Ge Dongxu echoed the words in his mind, then suddenly, a bright idea struck him.

    He remembered that several batches of products produced by Qinglan Cosmetics had an offputting scent due to the Yin Demonic Corpse Qi.

    "If I collect some Essence of Wood from fragrant flowers and plants and add a drop during each production cycle, the products should emit a subtle natural floral fragrance. Moreover, if this method indeed works, others would hardly be able to replicate it," Ge Dongxu thought more and more that this method was feasible.

    "What? Have you thought of a solution?" Liu Jiayao, seeing Ge Dongxu''s furrowed brows relax, asked with a touch of surprise.

    "It''s not a big problem, and that fragrance should be very natural and unique. Moreover, if it really works, you could even launch a perfume line," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "Really? Perfumes are really lucrative!" Liu Jiayao''s eyes lit up instantly.

    "I''ve just realized that Sister Liu is actually a money enthusiast!" Ge Dongxu laughed as he saw Liu Jiayao''s excited and expectant expression.

    Liu Jiayao, however, was not embarrassed by Ge Dongxu''s teasing, but rather gave him a glance, then with a nostalgic look, she softly said, "Do you know? Gabrielle Coco Chanel founded the Chanel brand that deals with fashion, jewelry, leather goods, perfumes, and cosmetics among many fashion products and is known worldwide. When I was very young, I admired her greatly and dreamed that one day, I would also establish a globally renowned fashion brand. But as I grew older, I realized how unrealistically ambitious that dream was. To speak nothing of so many fashion products, even getting Qinglan Cosmetics internationally recognized has been challenging."

    "I''m sorry!" Ge Dongxu reached out and took Liu Jiayao''s hand with a hint of apology upon hearing her words.

    "Silly, why say sorry? I should be the one thanking you. It''s because of you that I see hope again. Perhaps I may no longer envisage involving in so many fashion brands like Madam Chanel, but now I see the hope that Qinglan Cosmetics will be globally known," Liu Jiayao gripped Ge Dongxu''s hand in return, gazing at him tenderly as she spoke softly.

    "Don''t worry, sister, Qinglan will surely become an even more famous brand than Chanel, and it will definitely span across many fashion products. Since this is your dream, then let''s not give up and work on it together," Ge Dongxu affirmed as he looked at Liu Jiayao resolutely.

    "Yes, for your words, I won''t give up!" Liu Jiayao nodded emphatically.

    ...

    School had resumed after January 15th.

    This was Ge Dongxu''s last semester in high school.

    From the first day of school, the entire senior class had entered a tense phase of study and exam preparation, and naturally, Ge Dongxu''s class, Senior Three Class Six, was no exception.

    However, Ge Dongxu seemed to be an exception.

    He still spent a great deal of time on cultivation as usual and occasionally needed to deal with business matters. Especially with Qinglan Cosmetics, on weekends, he even had to rush to the Provincial Capital to check the progress of new product development. He also had to help Liu Jiayao find a suitable location near Linzhou City to plant flowers.

    These flowers required meticulous care, and even Ge Dongxu was preparing to secretly set up a formation in the garden during the summer vacation to allow the flowers to absorb more Essence of Wood. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Fortunately, since Ge Dongxu had cultivation, he had more energy and a better memory than ordinary people, and being naturally intelligent, he consistently ranked in the top ten of his class. Although there might be some uncertainty in getting admitted to Yanjing or Huaqing Universities, there was absolutely no problem with Jiangnan University, which had always been Ge Dongxu''s target. Thus, for many people, the college entrance examination was a great pressure and burden, but for Ge Dongxu, it was no different from the usual mid-terms or final exams.

    He didn''t feel any pressure or burden at all.

    In the second week after school started, Ge Dongxu received a call from Elder Feng.

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    "Fan Hong just came to see me. Besides reporting the handling of that matter and seeking my opinion, he also asked me for a favor," Elder Feng said, his voice somewhat heavy.

    "Is it about me joining the Special Ability Management Bureau?" Ge Dongxu''s expression turned a bit ugly upon hearing this. When he had left that day, he had already seen from Fan Hong''s complicated expression that he wouldn''t give up; indeed, he had not given up and had approached Elder Feng.

    However, Ge Dongxu wouldn''t blame Fan Hong. In his position, he had his responsibilities and considerations.

    It''s just that Ge Dongxu really didn''t like the idea of being deemed unsafe and to be constrained forcibly just because he was powerful.

    "You are an intelligent person, and Brother doesn''t need to explain any further. If you really want to refuse outright, Brother can hold it off while alive. But according to Brother, you should at least take a nominal position, just an advisor, at the same level as Fan Hong, with the same benefits, though it''s only a nominal role. Whether you accept tasks or not will be entirely up to you, and Fan Hong can only discuss them with you, without directing you," Elder Feng said on the other hand of the phone, pausing before speaking again.

    Having spoken to this extent, Ge Dongxu knew that continuing to refuse would make things difficult for Elder Feng, and he also knew that this was already the best Elder Feng could do for him.

    "Then I will follow Brother''s advice and take the position of an advisor," Ge Dongxu said, a bitter smile appearing on his lips.

 Chapter 274 Expanding Production Again

    Inside the villa on the second floor, Ge Dongxu watched the black Cherokee disappear into the night, then returned to his room, read for a while, and, when it reached midnight, he sat cross-legged in the training room and practiced as usual.
    Bits of Essence of the Moon were gathered by the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation and wrapped around Ge Dongxu, who absorbed them into his body. Like trickling water, they flowed through the Twelve Regular Meridians, nourishing his internal organs.
    The True Qi became stronger and more refined during practice.
    Soon midnight passed, and Ge Dongxu opened his eyes, his face showing a delighted expression.
    The battle at Xiao Yuan Mountain, although it had brought Ge Dongxu to the attention of the Special Ability Management Bureau and he had reluctantly joined, also put him through a life-and-death test under the threat of guns for the first time, and let him see for the first time the complexity and malevolence of human nature.
    Such an experience served as a spiritual baptism for eighteen-year-old Ge Dongxu, making his spiritual thoughts more refined and his Dao heart more perceptive.
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    After that, Ge Dongxu had found that the results of his practice had improved significantly. Only about three months had passed since the last time, and Ge Dongxu already faintly sensed that his next breakthrough was not far away.
    ...
    Several days later, a sensational news story emerged from Jiangnan Province.
    Li Bisheng, chairman of Qinglan Cosmetics Company, was arrested on charges including rape and bribery.
    Afterward, banks reclaimed debts, and all assets under the Qinglan Cosmetics Company and Li Bisheng's ownership were auctioned off. Of course, before the auction, Fan Hong had already transferred the twenty million yuan Qinglan Cosmetics was owed to their account through a series of operations.
    For the outside world, Li Bisheng's clangorous imprisonment was a bit unexpected, but that was about it. However, for the original shareholders of Qinglan Cosmetics, it was not only unexpected but also shocking. Especially those who knew more about the insider information such as Ren Chenle were scared nearly half to death by Li Bisheng's imprisonment, waking up from nightmares repeatedly for several days.
    For someone worth several tens of millions and possessing special abilities to be imprisoned unexpectedly, Ren Chenle, unless foolish, would have realized that Ge Dongxu's power was far more terrifying than he had imagined.
    As for others who did not have as much information as Ren Chenle, they were merely suspicious and dared not confirm that the matter was related to Ge Dongxu. However, when Liu Jiayao returned the compensation to them based on their former shares, these shareholders finally confirmed that the issue was related to Ge Dongxu, and they deeply regretted not having stood firm earlier, having missed a great opportunity.
    Of course, as Ren Chenle had once wronged the shareholders of Qinglan Cosmetics, Liu Jiayao did not return his share of the compensation to him. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Beyond the shock and even fear of the original shareholders of Qinglan Cosmetics, several people from the provincial entertainment station were also quite frightened. They had all heard rumors of Li Bisheng's intentions to acquire Qinglan Cosmetics and could vaguely guess that the matter was related to Ge Dongxu.
    Beyond the commotion caused by Li Bisheng, these days brought another piece of gradually sensational news. The provincial entertainment television station's first season of "Happy Female Voice" officially started selecting female singers nationwide, as well as the news of Qinghe Herbal Tea sponsoring "Happy Female Voice" with a huge amount.
    ...
    Time flew by, and before long, it was already mid-April.
    Spring was in full bloom, the sunshine was bright, and the temperature was mild; it was the best time of the year in Jiangnan Province, as well as a great time for excursions to enjoy the spring.
    However, high school seniors could only bury their heads in their books every day. Forget about excursions, they scarcely had time to spend outside, practically studying either in the classroom or in their rooms all the time.
    Ge Dongxu was an exception.
    It was a weekend, the sunlight was pleasant, and while many high school seniors were cooped up at home rigorously studying, Ge Dongxu was far away in a tea house on Longxi Mountain in Linzhou City, chatting over tea with Tang Yiyuan and three other shareholders of Qinghe Herbal Tea, accompanied by Liu Jiayao.
    "Given the current trend, I see that it's very likely the monthly sales will break through one hundred million by summer. If we exceed one hundred million, then our production will be overloaded," Cheng Yazhou said after taking a sip of tea, his face radiant with excitement.
    Liu Jiayao's delicate body trembled slightly, and her look towards Ge Dongxu conveyed an indescribable complexity.
    Qinglan Cosmetics had been developing for many years, and its annual sales had barely exceeded one hundred million; yet Qinghe Herbal Tea? It had been less than two years since its establishment, and its monthly sales could possibly break one hundred million in a few more months.
    And all this was due to the young man in front of her, only eighteen years old, who shared an extraordinary friendship with her.
    Unless one truly understood the man beside her, who would believe? A high school student had established a beverage company in just two short years that was set to achieve annual sales of over one billion.
    From Qinghe Beverage, Liu Jiayao's thoughts once again turned to the "Flower Spirit" cosmetic series currently being developed by Qinglan Cosmetics Company according to Ge Dongxu's formula.
    Originally, she had high hopes for this developmental "Flower Spirit", but she had always lacked some confidence. Now, however, she suddenly felt fully confident.
    Since a herb tea formula could help a herb tea company grow to achieve annual sales of over one billion within two years, there was no reason his cosmetic formula couldn't make Qinglan Cosmetics renowned worldwide.
    "If we add more production lines, do you think the staff and management can keep up with the growth? If they can't keep up, then let's slow down the pace of development. Haste makes waste; we would rather be stable than take risks just to make more money," Ge Dongxu pondered and said solemnly.
    "No big issue. We have invested a lot in staff training over these two years, and Professor Tang has also helped us identify numerous technical and managerial talents," Cheng Yazhou replied.
    "Then there's nothing to hesitate about, let's continue adding production lines. We can consider setting up branch factories in other cities, which could save quite a bit on transportation costs," Ge Dongxu said.
    "We were thinking along the same lines, but for choosing locations, it's best if you oversee that," Cheng Yazhou nodded and said.
    After more than two years of collaboration, Cheng Yazhou naturally understood that Ge Dongxu had some expertise in Feng Shui.
    "No problem, you can start with adding production lines, and we will still place this one in Linzhou. Building branch factories will be a matter for later. For now, you can start scouting various places and pick some suitable ones. By then, I will have finished my college entrance examinations and should have plenty of time to make the final decisions," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

 Chapter 270 Credentials

    "Mr. Ge, this is Xu Lei, the head of the Special Ability Management Bureau in Jiangnan Province and the Deputy Director of the Jiangnan Province National Security Bureau. If you have any issues in the future, you can directly contact him." After shaking hands and exchanging greetings with Ge Dongxu, Fan Hong specifically introduced Xu Lei to Ge Dongxu.

    "Hello, Director Xu, we''ve met before on Xiaoyuan Mountain." Now that he had become a consultant for this department, Ge Dongxu naturally "accepted his fate" and showed no signs of reluctance or dissatisfaction, smiling and extending his hand to Xu Lei.

    During the Xiaoyuan Mountain operation, Xu Lei, as the head of the Special Ability Management Bureau in Jiangnan Province, naturally participated in the operation.

    "Director Ge, hello. If there''s anything you need, feel free to contact me any time." Xu Lei, not expecting Ge Dongxu to remember him, was pleasantly surprised and quickly stretched out both hands to firmly shake Ge Dongxu''s hand.

    Ge Dongxu held the position of a director-level consultant, so Xu Lei addressed him as director.

    "Thank you in advance," Ge Dongxu said with a smile and a nod of his head.

    "You''re welcome, it''s my duty and my honor," Xu Lei replied, standing erect, his expression solemn, and his gaze toward Ge Dongxu filled with a hint of reverence.

    What happened at Xiaoyuan Mountain in the early hours of that day was still fresh in Xu Lei''s memory, and the recollection of it couldn''t help but leave him with lingering fear.

    One could say that Ge Dongxu''s terrifying level of cultivation made him a legendary figure within Qimen, beyond the regular reach of local heads like Xu Lei.

    "Alright, you all may leave now, Mr. Ge and I have some matters to discuss," Fan Hong said after Xu Lei had exchanged greetings with Ge Dongxu. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yes!" Xu Lei and the others responded, then exited the private room and carefully closed the door behind them.

    "I think it would now be more appropriate to address you as Director Ge, here are your identification documents. Since our department is even more special than any other bureau within the National Security Department, the identity is mainly to be revealed within Qimen, so there are two sets of documents, one for the National Security Department and the other for the Special Ability Management Bureau. The former is to facilitate your actions, whereas the latter will be needed when dealing with our internal personnel or people from Qimen." After Xu Lei and others left, Fan Hong took out the documents and solemnly handed them to Ge Dongxu.

    "Alright." Ge Dongxu looked them over briefly before putting them away.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu just flipped through the documents before putting them away, Fan Hong couldn''t help but smile wryly. This small booklet represented very special and powerful authority; in emergency situations, it could even directly mobilize local military forces, and the rank it represented was that of a deputy ministerial level. For anyone else receiving such documents, excitement would be an understatement, but only someone like Ge Dongxu could handle it so casually.

    "In times of need, you may present this document, it should help you avoid a lot of trouble, and even in emergency situations, it allows for the mobilization of local military forces to coordinate with your actions. Of course, if there really is any problem, just call Xu Lei; as the head of Jiangnan Province, he will ensure that everything is properly resolved. Our department, although only at the deputy ministerial level, cannot be measured by the usual standards of such a rank in many respects," Fan Hong felt compelled to explain.

    "Alright, I understand," Ge Dongxu''s expression finally turned a bit more serious as he nodded in agreement.

    Afterward, Fan Hong briefly explained the regulations of the Special Ability Management Bureau. Of course, most of these regulations were only applicable to actual staff within the bureau. As a nominal consultant like Ge Dongxu, the vast majority of the rules were irrelevant to him. The only rule closely related to him was that he still needed to lend a hand in the event of extreme and egregious incidents involving national security.

    Although Ge Dongxu was reluctant to join the Special Ability Management Bureau, it didn''t mean he wasn''t patriotic. He simply didn''t want to be constrained. Therefore, even without the last rule, he was bound to act if national security was threatened. Hence, after listening to Fan Hong''s explanation, Ge Dongxu wasn''t against joining the bureau anymore.

    Of course, this was a choice made out of necessity.

    "Here''s your salary card, your company car keys, and the keys to your residence in Linzhou City. I didn''t provide you with firearms. Given your abilities, firearms are superfluous," Fan Hong said as he finished discussing the regulations and then took out a bank card, a car key, and a bunch of keys of various sizes from his briefcase.

    "You can keep these things; I''m just holding the title, and besides, you know I don''t lack any of that," Ge Dongxu said, looking at the bank card, car keys, and house keys laid before him, feeling slightly surprised before smiling and pushing them back to Fan Hong.

    "Your acceptance of our invitation is already the greatest support for our work. These are items you, as an advisor of your level, are entitled to. If you refuse them, I''m the one who would be in an awkward position. It would be difficult for me to ask for your help when it''s truly needed," Fan Hong said earnestly.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Fan Hong, gave it some thought, and felt that he made sense. His role as an advisor wasn''t just a nominal one; if ever needed, it would certainly be for a grave matter. Besides, if he didn''t accept these items, who knew who would end up benefitting from them? It''d be better to keep them in hand and donate them to children in impoverished mountainous areas.

    Of course, if he didn''t accept them, Fan Hong probably wouldn''t be at ease either. Read chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Alright then, but let the department use the car for now. I don''t have a driver''s license, nor do I know how to drive. As for the house, just leave it be for the moment. I need to wait until after the college entrance exam and the summer holidays before I can move to Linzhou City," Ge Dongxu took the salary card and said.

    "Hehe, not knowing how to drive is not a problem. Whenever you''re free, Xu Lei can arrange for someone to accompany you for a few practice sessions, and you''ll learn quickly. In a few days, Xu Lei will bring you your driver''s license. As for your car, since it is your dedicated car and quite special, others in the department are not qualified to drive it without permission. If you don''t live in the house right now, someone will take care of it, and you can move in whenever you like. In short, the car and the house are in Linzhou, and whenever you have time, let Xu Lei take you to see them. If they don''t meet your satisfaction, tell him, and he''ll change them for you," Fan Hong said as he pocketed the car keys and house keys on the table.

    "There''s no need for such trouble. I can go to a driving school during the summer holidays to learn," Ge Dongxu said, still not accustomed to the privileges that came with his change in status, and waved his hand.

    "Please don''t be modest with me. As the bureau''s director-level consultant, if you still need to get a driver''s license from a driving school, that would be a joke if it got out," Fan Hong asserted, looking at Ge Dongxu with a hint of something different in his gaze.

    If previously his feelings for Ge Dongxu were complex, with awe and gratitude for his release on Xiaoyuan Mountain, as well as deep wariness of his terrifying power¡ªwith the latter occupying a greater part of his mixed emotions¡ªit was why he approached Elder Feng to persuade Ge Dongxu to join the Special Ability Management Bureau. But now, observing Ge Dongxu''s every word and action, the wariness was gradually diminishing, and he finally understood why Elder Feng said that Ge Dongxu had a simple and sincere heart.

    With such strength and such a status and power, yet still being able to maintain such a modest heart, that was indeed very rare.

 Chapter 271 Seeking Advice

    Ge Dongxu was not an old-fashioned person. He knew that with his skills, learning to drive would be child''s play for him. Seeing Fan Hong say so, he no longer insisted and nodded, "If that''s the case, to avoid making a laughingstock out of our bureau, I''ll take the trouble."

    Fan Hong was briefly taken aback at these words, but then he suddenly realized that this young master, who had always seemed so nonchalant, was joking with him. He couldn''t help but burst out laughing.

    Only, the laughter came a beat too late, and it seemed somewhat strange.

    After a few laughs, Fan Hong stopped and steered the conversation towards the matter of Xiaoyuan Mountain.

    "Because of the incident at Xiaoyuan Mountain, we conducted a deeper investigation into the affairs of both Cui He and Li Bisheng over the past few years. We found that Cui He had committed many wrongs in these years, and Li Bisheng was similarly guilty, even harming numerous women. Speaking of which, we really owe you our thanks. If it hadn''t been for you, we wouldn''t have known how many more bad deeds Cui He could have done under the name of the Special Ability Management Bureau."

    "In light of the crimes Cui He has committed over the years, we''ve crippled his cultivation and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The same goes for Li Bisheng. However, since Li Bisheng is a public figure, he needs to undergo legal proceedings. But since all the evidence of his crimes has been collected, he will certainly not escape a life sentence. As for the damages caused to Qinglan Cosmetics products due to his use of techniques earlier this year, since it''s not appropriate to publicize, we''ll compensate Qinglan through other means by extracting it from his assets. Also, Li Fang Cosmetics will likely be auctioned off. If you are interested, you could..."

    "I don''t want to touch his stuff, to avoid idle gossip," Ge Dongxu firmly said as he waved his hand to decline. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Old Lin is not a bad person; it''s just that in recent years, his sense of self-importance has inflated a bit too much, leading to some extremities and flamboyance in his actions. For this reason, we have dismissed him from his public office. He will no longer hold any position in the Special Ability Management Bureau. The other two, who are disciples of Cui He, have been discharged from their public offices since they were only following orders. I don''t know what Director Ge thinks of this kind of..." Fan Hong, seeing that Ge Dongxu was not interested in Li Fang, continued to relay the outcomes for the people involved in the case.

    "I respect the bureau''s decision," Ge Dongxu interrupted Fan Hong before he could finish speaking.

    "Good, thank you, Director Ge," Fan Hong breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn''t worried that Ge Dongxu would be dissatisfied with the handling of Cui He and Li Bisheng; he was more concerned about the decision regarding Team Leader Lin.

    After all, Team Leader Lin was a veteran employee of the Special Ability Management Bureau, and Fan Hong couldn''t bear the thought of him actually going to jail. Fortunately, Ge Dongxu had no intention of pursuing the matter.

    "It is I who should thank you," Ge Dongxu said as he stood up, extending his hand with a smile.

    Fan Hong hurriedly stood up as well and shook hands with Ge Dongxu. By this time, he should have excused himself, as all that needed saying had been said, and Ge Dongxu''s gesture of standing and reaching out was clear enough.

    That should be it for tonight!

    But after shaking hands, Fan Hong seemed to miss the implicit message in Ge Dongxu''s words. An awkward expression appeared on his face, and after a moment, he sheepishly blurted out, "Um, Director Ge, may I ask you for some advice on certain matters?"

    "Regarding cultivation?" Ge Dongxu raised his eyebrows slightly and asked.

    "Yes, yes, I know this request is somewhat presumptuous, but I''ve recently encountered some difficulties, so I must seek your advice with a thick face. Of course, if Director Ge finds it inconvenient, I won''t insist," said Fan Hong, taken aback as Ge Dongxu pinpointed his thoughts, before hastily adding.

    "There''s no inconvenience. Is it that when your breath cycles to the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian, it becomes sluggish and you feel a pain in your chest?" Ge Dongxu waved his hand dismissively and then sat back down.

    "Yes, yes, Director Ge is truly a divine being to have discerned this," said Fan Hong, nodding eagerly, his eyes filled with admiration and expectation as he looked at Ge Dongxu.

    "I''m not that skilled. However, I shook hands with you twice, and the first time I detected a subtle abnormality in your pulse. I didn''t pay it much mind before, but when we shook hands again just now, I felt it again, and you mentioned having difficulties, so it must certainly be an issue with your heart. As a cultivator, if there''s a problem with the heart, it undoubtedly lies in the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian during cultivation," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Director Ge''s diagnosis is correct. Now when my breath cycles to the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian, the True Qi is somewhat sluggish and I feel a faint pain in my chest, which I never had before," Fan Hong said.

    "Circulate your True Qi, and then let me feel your pulse and make a judgment. Right now, I can''t give you a definitive answer," Ge Dongxu said.

    Fan Hong was slightly stunned at these words.

    Each school, each sect, even every cultivator''s family that passes down their techniques, keeps them secret from all but their own disciples or direct family members.

    Fan Hong came from a cultivator family, and this technique was their unique family technique, not to be shared outside the direct family lineage. But if Fan Hong circulated his True Qi and let Ge Dongxu take his pulse, the way his True Qi circulated would likely be exposed to Ge Dongxu, who could then discern and learn the Fan Family''s secret mental method with a bit of effort.

    However, Fan Hong only paused momentarily before immediately extending his hand towards Ge Dongxu.

    At Ge Dongxu''s level, why would he covet his cultivation techniques?

    Seeing Fan Hong stretch his hand out, Ge Dongxu looked him in the eye, smiled, and then placed his hand on his wrist. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire

    Fan Hong, despite his age and his role as the director of the Special Ability Management Bureau, is not only a highly-placed official in government, but is also a notable figure in the world of Qimen. He attends and sits at the main table of every Qimen conference as an official representative. Yet today, with just a casual glance from the younger Ge Dongxu, he felt as if his thoughts were being read, and his face involuntarily flushed with some embarrassment before he began to circulate the True Qi within his body.

    After Fan Hong circulated his breath through a Circulation Cycle, Ge Dongxu withdrew his hand and after a moment of contemplation said, "Your current condition isn''t unprecedented, but because your cultivation hadn''t reached that layer, the symptoms were mild, so you overlooked them. Now you''re at the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, and one more step would take you to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer. At this layer, cultivating the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian is crucial. Clearly, there is a flaw in the way your technique operates at this juncture, so this issue has begun to surface at this stage of your practice. If you were content with your cultivation halting here, the problem would remain as is without worsening. But if you wish to advance further, then you must resolve this flaw in your technique. Otherwise, if you try to force a breakthrough to the Fourth Layer, at best your cultivation power will be damaged, and at worst, your heart will be severely harmed, and you may even risk losing your life."

    ps: There''s one more chapter, but it will probably be in the evening.

 Chapter 272 A Grandmaster of the Generation

    After Ge Dongxu finished speaking, Fan Hong''s entire face had turned pale, and cold sweat continuously seeped out from his forehead.

    Since his great-grandfather''s generation, no one in the Fan family had broken through the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation. Even his great-grandfather and grandfather had failed at this stage of breakthrough, suffering heart damage. Although they had not faced life-threatening dangers as Ge Dongxu had mentioned, their lifespans were significantly shortened due to their heart injuries.

    Of course, compared to ordinary people, it was still considered acceptable.

    Fan Hong''s father, who had less talent in cultivation than Fan Hong, had only reached the Second Level of Qi Cultivation and thus had not encountered this issue. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

    Since cultivating always carries risks during critical breakthroughs, the Fan family had never thought there was a problem with their Cultivation Method at this stage. They assumed it was due to shallow fortune and insufficient talent that they failed to break through. Now that Ge Dongxu had pointed this out, Fan Hong realized the problem with the Fan family''s Cultivation Method at this stage, and he would face the same fate as his great-grandfather and grandfather if he tried to advance¡ªmaybe even worse.

    "Thank you, Director Ge, for revealing this, saving me from a terrible fate. It seems that in this lifetime, I can only stop at the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation." After a long time, Fan Hong stood up and bowed deeply to Ge Dongxu with a tone mixed with relief and a despondent sense of heroism falling short, as if he had suddenly lost all his fighting spirit, seeing no future ahead.

    Seeing the despair and confusion in Fan Hong''s eyes, Ge Dongxu ultimately felt pity for him. Hesitating a bit, he said, "If Director Fan trusts me, I could try to refine your Cultivation Method."

    Upon hearing this, Fan Hong was shaken to the core, looking at Ge Dongxu with disbelief in his eyes.

    Being able to refine a Cultivation Method in an age when Daoist arts had declined was certainly a feat reserved for someone who could establish a new sect and be called a grandmaster.

    Yet Ge Dongxu was only eighteen years old! Fan Hong could barely accept his current level of cultivation, considering the world of cultivation was always filled with tales of fortuitous encounters that, although shocking, were acceptable. Hence, Fan Hong had always thought Ge Dongxu had some fortuitous encounter.

    But to say that there was a grandmaster level person, capable of founding a new sect at the age of eighteen, that was something entirely different.

    Fan Hong''s guess was not wrong; Ge Dongxu indeed had experienced a serendipitous encounter. But what he did not realize was that Ge Dongxu was a natural-born genius who had pioneered the integration of modern technology and the practice of Dao. From this point of view, Ge Dongxu could indeed be considered a grandmaster of founding a new sect.

    Considering this, Ge Dongxu did have the potential to become a grandmaster, but becoming one would usually take decades. However, Ge Hong''s legacy had endowed Ge Dongxu with comprehensive Daoist knowledge, accelerating his growth into a grandmaster level figure. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "If Director Fan is not reassured, then consider that I have never said anything," Ge Dongxu said, noticing Fan Hong staring at him in shock. Only then did he realize proposing such an astounding capability was even more shocking than the strengths he had demonstrated at Xiaoyuan Mountain, and he regretted mentioning it a bit.

    Ge Dongxu''s belated realization wasn''t unusual, as he had encountered too few practitioners from the Qimen and knew too little about the current state of Qimen. He wasn''t aware that in this era, no one could establish or refine any Daoist cultivation methods anymore¡ªthose were practices of ancient times.

    "Of course I believe. Please, Director Ge, enlighten me!" Upon hearing this, Fan Hong trembled vigorously and then, with a solemn face, he adjusted his clothes and knelt respectfully on the ground, bowing to Ge Dongxu.

    "Director Fan, what are you doing?" Ge Dongxu, startled, hastily reached out to help Fan Hong and explained, "In our Qimen, that is equivalent to acknowledging a teaching mentor, and such a gesture is befitting."

    Only then did Fan Hong stand up, with a solemn expression.

    "It''s not that exaggerated. We are all colleagues in the same path; it''s only right that we help each other," Ge Dongxu, already regretting somewhat, had to do his best after Fan Hong''s gesture and said with a wave of his hand.

    "That might be the case for Director Ge, but for me and my Fan Family, your action is a great favor that spares our juniors from Cultivation calamities and allows further advancement." Fan Hong still said solemnly.

    "Director Fan, don''t speak too soon. I''m only giving it a try and am not completely sure of success." Fan Hong''s gesture and words made Ge Dongxu feel a bit of a psychological burden.

    "Even if there''s only a ten percent chance, Fan Hong will hold this favor from Director Ge in high regard," Fan Hong said with deep respect.

    In these times, every faction and sect is so protective of its teachings, it''s nearly impossible to find someone as selfless as Ge Dongxu.

    "Since that''s the case, Director Fan, why not move to my home? It''s not suitable here with people coming and going." Since Fan Hong had said so, Ge Dongxu no longer modestly declined and thought for a moment before saying in a serious tone.

    "Okay." Having received such a great favor, Fan Hong no longer bothered with trivial courtesies with Ge Dongxu.

    So, the two of them left the private room.

    No sooner had they left the room than Lin Jinnuo, having heard the news, came and saw Ge Dongxu from afar and smiled, saying, "Look at you, Dongxu, coming to my place and not even telling me."

    "Haha, you''re such a busy man every day, how could I dare to disturb you?" Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Right, in front of you, how could I dare claim to be a big boss? Besides, if Ge Dongxu is here, even Old Lin has to come over and offer you a drink," Lin Jinnuo said with a laugh, then his gaze shifted to Fan Hong and others, smiling and extending his hand, "Hello, I am Lin Jinnuo, the owner of this hotel and a friend of Ge Dongxu. Please forgive any lapses in hospitality."

    "It''s quite alright. This is my business card, you can call me if there is anything in the Capital," Fan Hong, having researched Ge Dongxu''s background during the small incidents at Mount Xiao Yuan, naturally investigated his partner Lin Kun''s background as well, and recognized Lin Jinnuo even before he had introduced himself; and because of Lin Jinnuo''s relationship with Ge Dongxu, Fan Hong, a man of great authority, made a point of giving Lin Jinnuo a business card, clearly indicating a desire to befriend him.

    Of course, the business card didn''t list anything like the National Security Department or the Special Ability Management Bureau, but a trading company, along with Fan Hong''s name and contact number.

    "Thank you, thank you. So you are friends from the Capital. If I''m ever there, I''ll surely visit," Lin Jinnuo said with a smile while handing over his business card in return.

    Seeing Lin Jinnuo getting cozy with Fan Hong, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel a mix of amusement and dismay, thinking that if this guy knew he was standing before the head of a national special department, even the leaders of Ouzhou City would tremble at the sight of him¡ªI wonder if he would still dare to be so casual.

    Next, Lin Jinnuo shook hands with Xu Lei and others, exchanged business cards, and personally escorted them out of the hotel.

    ps: Finally managed to rush out the third update, so you won''t have to wait for the evening.

 Chapter 273 Improving the Cultivation Technique

    After more than a year of development, buildings sprouted one after another in Jiang Family Village, and the county government building at the center had also topped out.

    On the streets, people came and went, a constant flow of cars, bright lights shining, already showing the vitality and prosperity of a new urban area, with not a trace of the backwardness and barrenness of the past.

    Ge Dongxu''s villa was by the river, with wooden fences in front and on both sides, as well as walls formed by the evergreen camphor trees and citrus trees, while a small path at the back led to a gently flowing stream.

    It had the feel of a peaceful retreat amidst the hustle and bustle, like a haven detached from the world.

    As soon as Fan Hong and the others entered the yard, they felt as though they had arrived in a different little world.

    There were no noisy crowds or traffic, nor was there the dusty air that floated around construction sites.

    Everything here was so natural, the air so fresh, that even a light breath made them feel a slight fluctuation in their True Qi.

    The concentration of nature''s spiritual energy here was actually far beyond that outside.

    "What a great place! What excellent Feng Shui! What a wonderful layout!" Fan Hong couldn''t help but exclaim three times in admiration.

    "Hehe, this small place is nothing grand, just a little spot I found myself, then I took some time to organize and arrange it during my leisure, it''s quite modest," Ge Dongxu said with a light smile.

    "Director Ge is being too modest. Honestly, even with all the great Feng Shui sites in the capital and our great efforts in arranging them, they still don''t compare to your place here," Fan Hong quickly responded.

    "Please, come inside," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, without further modesty.

    Although the place was small, he had put quite a bit of effort into it over the past two years. Not only had he used a large amount of white jade when laying the foundation of the house, but he had also buried many spirit-gathering Talisman Jades around the perimeter. Each tree and plant, the species chosen, and the location of planting were all meticulously considered.

    Though the concentration of spiritual energy couldn''t compare with some Blessed Lands and Cave Heavens in the mountains and forests, in a bustling city, this was already very rare.

    Inside the villa, Cheng Le Hao and Du Yifan were studying and cultivating in a downstairs room, and they found it strange to see Ge Dongxu leading a few people inside.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t want to distract Cheng Le Hao and Du Yifan, so he briefly introduced Fan Hong and the rest, then led Fan Hong upstairs, while Xu Lei and the others waited in the living room downstairs.

    Once upstairs, Ge Dongxu led Fan Hong into the cultivation room, then had him sit cross-legged, start his Cultivation Technique, while he placed his hand on top of Fan Hong''s Baihui acupoint and intently felt the circulation of True Qi within Fan Hong''s Meridians.

    After some time, Ge Dongxu lifted his hand and then closed his eyes in contemplation.

    Fan Hong saw that Ge Dongxu was deep in thought and didn''t dare to disturb him; he waited tensely and anxiously at the side.

    The matter was not only related to whether he could advance further, but also to the cultivation of his descendants.

    About an hour later, Ge Dongxu opened his eyes and said, "I now have a method for improvement, but I need you to confirm something. I will now channel True Qi into your body, using the new cultivation method to guide your True Qi through the Meridians. If you don''t feel any stagnation or pain in the chest, then it means it''s successful."

    "Okay," Fan Hong said, his face lighting up with surprise as he quickly closed his eyes.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu continued to place his hand on Fan Hong''s Baihui acupoint, then channelled True Qi, leading Fan Hong''s True Qi from the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian to the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian to the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming, and so on through the Twelve Regular Meridians and back to the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, circulating round and round.

    After several Circulation Cycles, Ge Dongxu said, "I''m now going to remove my hand, but don''t stop, continue according to the way we just practised, and feel it carefully."

    After finishing, Ge Dongxu withdrew his hand and quietly watched Fan Hong.

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    Soon after, Fan Hong opened his eyes.

    His eyes were filled with indescribable ecstasy as well as gratitude and awe.

    Just moments ago, as he had cycled through several Circulation Cycles, not only did he no longer feel the pain in his chest, but his True Qi also flowed exceedingly smoothly. There were faint signs that the Realm, which had been stagnant for over a decade, was beginning to loosen.

    Clearly, after Ge Dongxu''s improvement, the Fan Family''s Cultivation Technique had undergone some qualitative changes.

    "Many thanks to Teacher for showing me the way, Fan Hong will never forget this kindness!" After a while, Fan Hong suppressed the overwhelming joy in his heart, stood up solemnly, and once again intended to perform a kowtow of respect to Ge Dongxu, this time addressing him as Teacher instead of Director Ge.

    Within Qimen, Ge Dongxu''s actions definitely qualified him as a benevolent mentor.

    "No, no, Director Fan, I really cannot accept being addressed as your Teacher," Ge Dongxu hastily supported Fan Hong, preventing him from kneeling and bowing.

    "It''s not that you''re not worthy, but rather that I, Fan Hong, am of dull aptitude and lack the fortune," Fan Hong said with a flash of disappointment in his eyes.

    The incident just now was sufficient to prove that Ge Dongxu was a Grandmaster Level figure. Such an individual could not be casually taken as a master by just anyone.

    "I didn''t mean that, I''m too young, it''s not appropriate to be your Teacher," Ge Dongxu quickly said. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Fan Hong, who already regarded Ge Dongxu as a Grandmaster Level figure, naturally did not realize these were sincere words from Ge Dongxu and assumed they were merely polite refusals. Knowing he still lacked the fortune, he sighed quietly in his heart and then bowed his hands, saying, "Regardless, I shall eternally remember the great teaching kindness of Mr. Ge in my heart."

    Qimen, after all, is an ancient succession, and even though Fan Hong had taken a position in government, deep down he was still a practitioner of Qimen, and he had not dared to forget the tradition of respecting teachers and valuing doctrines. Since Ge Dongxu had granted him the favor of instruction, and yet Ge Dongxu was not willing to formally take him as a disciple, Fan Hong reverted to addressing him as Mr. once more.

    In ancient times, Mr. inherently implied the meaning of a teacher.

    "You''re too serious, Director Fan; it was merely a small effort on my part. If you have any doubts regarding cultivation in the future, we can continue to discuss and exchange insights," said Ge Dongxu. Seeing Fan Hong''s nature of remembering and seeking to repay kindness despite holding a high position in the public sector, Ge Dongxu''s esteem for him increased and he did not mind giving some guidance.

    Upon hearing these words, Fan Hong''s whole body shuddered, then he thanked Ge Dongxu profusely with a face full of ecstasy.

    After expressing his gratitude, Fan Hong didn''t dare to bother Ge Dongxu any further and bid him farewell.

    Xu Lei and the others were discerning individuals and noticed a subtle shift in Fan Hong''s attitude towards Ge Dongxu as he came downstairs. They felt a hint of the respect due to a junior, causing great surprise among them.

    "Mr. Ge, please return, please return," Fan Hong said, stopping Ge Dongxu before he could leave the villa.

    "Well then, I won''t see you out," replied Ge Dongxu, not accustomed to exchanging pleasantries, he shook hands with Fan Hong and the others one by one.

    "Xu Lei, cancel all surveillance on Mr. Ge and the people around him. Also, in the future, whenever Mr. Ge needs assistance, you must cooperate fully," Fan Hong said in a grave voice as he got into the car.

    "Yes!" A trace of surprise flitted across Xu Lei''s face, but he promptly accepted the order with due solemnity.

    ps: It''s Monday, I''m asking for a recommendation ticket, thank you very much.

 Chapter 274 Expanding Production Again

    Inside the villa on the second floor, Ge Dongxu watched the black Cherokee disappear into the night, then returned to his room, read for a while, and, when it reached midnight, he sat cross-legged in the training room and practiced as usual.

    Bits of Essence of the Moon were gathered by the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation and wrapped around Ge Dongxu, who absorbed them into his body. Like trickling water, they flowed through the Twelve Regular Meridians, nourishing his internal organs.

    The True Qi became stronger and more refined during practice.

    Soon midnight passed, and Ge Dongxu opened his eyes, his face showing a delighted expression.

    The battle at Xiao Yuan Mountain, although it had brought Ge Dongxu to the attention of the Special Ability Management Bureau and he had reluctantly joined, also put him through a life-and-death test under the threat of guns for the first time, and let him see for the first time the complexity and malevolence of human nature.

    Such an experience served as a spiritual baptism for eighteen-year-old Ge Dongxu, making his spiritual thoughts more refined and his Dao heart more perceptive.

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    After that, Ge Dongxu had found that the results of his practice had improved significantly. Only about three months had passed since the last time, and Ge Dongxu already faintly sensed that his next breakthrough was not far away.

    ...

    Several days later, a sensational news story emerged from Jiangnan Province.

    Li Bisheng, chairman of Qinglan Cosmetics Company, was arrested on charges including rape and bribery.

    Afterward, banks reclaimed debts, and all assets under the Qinglan Cosmetics Company and Li Bisheng''s ownership were auctioned off. Of course, before the auction, Fan Hong had already transferred the twenty million yuan Qinglan Cosmetics was owed to their account through a series of operations.

    For the outside world, Li Bisheng''s clangorous imprisonment was a bit unexpected, but that was about it. However, for the original shareholders of Qinglan Cosmetics, it was not only unexpected but also shocking. Especially those who knew more about the insider information such as Ren Chenle were scared nearly half to death by Li Bisheng''s imprisonment, waking up from nightmares repeatedly for several days.

    For someone worth several tens of millions and possessing special abilities to be imprisoned unexpectedly, Ren Chenle, unless foolish, would have realized that Ge Dongxu''s power was far more terrifying than he had imagined.

    As for others who did not have as much information as Ren Chenle, they were merely suspicious and dared not confirm that the matter was related to Ge Dongxu. However, when Liu Jiayao returned the compensation to them based on their former shares, these shareholders finally confirmed that the issue was related to Ge Dongxu, and they deeply regretted not having stood firm earlier, having missed a great opportunity.

    Of course, as Ren Chenle had once wronged the shareholders of Qinglan Cosmetics, Liu Jiayao did not return his share of the compensation to him. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Beyond the shock and even fear of the original shareholders of Qinglan Cosmetics, several people from the provincial entertainment station were also quite frightened. They had all heard rumors of Li Bisheng''s intentions to acquire Qinglan Cosmetics and could vaguely guess that the matter was related to Ge Dongxu.

    Beyond the commotion caused by Li Bisheng, these days brought another piece of gradually sensational news. The provincial entertainment television station''s first season of "Happy Female Voice" officially started selecting female singers nationwide, as well as the news of Qinghe Herbal Tea sponsoring "Happy Female Voice" with a huge amount.

    ...

    Time flew by, and before long, it was already mid-April.

    Spring was in full bloom, the sunshine was bright, and the temperature was mild; it was the best time of the year in Jiangnan Province, as well as a great time for excursions to enjoy the spring.

    However, high school seniors could only bury their heads in their books every day. Forget about excursions, they scarcely had time to spend outside, practically studying either in the classroom or in their rooms all the time.

    Ge Dongxu was an exception.

    It was a weekend, the sunlight was pleasant, and while many high school seniors were cooped up at home rigorously studying, Ge Dongxu was far away in a tea house on Longxi Mountain in Linzhou City, chatting over tea with Tang Yiyuan and three other shareholders of Qinghe Herbal Tea, accompanied by Liu Jiayao.

    "Given the current trend, I see that it''s very likely the monthly sales will break through one hundred million by summer. If we exceed one hundred million, then our production will be overloaded," Cheng Yazhou said after taking a sip of tea, his face radiant with excitement.

    Liu Jiayao''s delicate body trembled slightly, and her look towards Ge Dongxu conveyed an indescribable complexity.

    Qinglan Cosmetics had been developing for many years, and its annual sales had barely exceeded one hundred million; yet Qinghe Herbal Tea? It had been less than two years since its establishment, and its monthly sales could possibly break one hundred million in a few more months.

    And all this was due to the young man in front of her, only eighteen years old, who shared an extraordinary friendship with her.

    Unless one truly understood the man beside her, who would believe? A high school student had established a beverage company in just two short years that was set to achieve annual sales of over one billion.

    From Qinghe Beverage, Liu Jiayao''s thoughts once again turned to the "Flower Spirit" cosmetic series currently being developed by Qinglan Cosmetics Company according to Ge Dongxu''s formula.

    Originally, she had high hopes for this developmental "Flower Spirit", but she had always lacked some confidence. Now, however, she suddenly felt fully confident.

    Since a herb tea formula could help a herb tea company grow to achieve annual sales of over one billion within two years, there was no reason his cosmetic formula couldn''t make Qinglan Cosmetics renowned worldwide.

    "If we add more production lines, do you think the staff and management can keep up with the growth? If they can''t keep up, then let''s slow down the pace of development. Haste makes waste; we would rather be stable than take risks just to make more money," Ge Dongxu pondered and said solemnly.

    "No big issue. We have invested a lot in staff training over these two years, and Professor Tang has also helped us identify numerous technical and managerial talents," Cheng Yazhou replied.

    "Then there''s nothing to hesitate about, let''s continue adding production lines. We can consider setting up branch factories in other cities, which could save quite a bit on transportation costs," Ge Dongxu said.

    "We were thinking along the same lines, but for choosing locations, it''s best if you oversee that," Cheng Yazhou nodded and said.

    After more than two years of collaboration, Cheng Yazhou naturally understood that Ge Dongxu had some expertise in Feng Shui.

    "No problem, you can start with adding production lines, and we will still place this one in Linzhou. Building branch factories will be a matter for later. For now, you can start scouting various places and pick some suitable ones. By then, I will have finished my college entrance examinations and should have plenty of time to make the final decisions," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

 Chapter 275 Liu Jiayaos Suggestion

    "Going to university is essentially for finding a good job in the future, and for someone as capable as you, there''s no need to sit for any college entrance exams or attend any university, right?" Wu Qianjin said with a smile.

    "If we''re talking about proficiency, setting aside making money, just for medical skills alone, Ge Dongxu could directly become a professor at our Traditional Chinese Medicine University." Tang Yiyuan said empathetically, clearly agreeing that someone as able as Ge Dongxu didn''t need to attend university.

    "Learning is endless. It''s true that I could indeed become a university professor in the field of Chinese medicine, but in other areas of knowledge, I still have much to learn. University can indeed teach me a lot. Besides, I am still young, and if I were to immerse myself in the business world early on, life would lose a lot of its pleasures, and I''d miss out on experiences that people my age should have. That wouldn''t really be beneficial for the maturation of my temperament," Ge Dongxu replied. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "That makes sense, I had actually forgotten how young you still are. As for knowledge, you''re already a genius. If you continue to learn, wouldn''t that make you an all-round know-it-all?" Wu Qianjin said with a chuckle.

    "Actually, I have an idea. Medical skills can benefit the people, and Dongxu, your medical skills are so good, it would be a huge loss to humanity if they were to be buried. If you could, during your free time while studying at Jiangnan University, take up a part-time teaching position at the Traditional Chinese Medicine University and spread your medical knowledge, that would be excellent," Liu Jiayao said after sipping her tea.

    She had once suffered greatly from illness and thus felt deeply about the importance of medical skills. Moreover, Liu Jiayao was a woman with a compassionate heart.

    "Jiayao''s suggestion is really great. If Dongxu is willing to come to our Traditional Chinese Medicine University, I will definitely find a way to make the school promote you to professor out of turn and grant you the greatest degree of freedom," Tang Yiyuan said, his eyes lighting up immediately, his face full of excitement.

    Tang Yiyuan came from a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and had dedicated most of his life to the field. Although Qinghe Herbal Tea was making a considerable amount of money, for Tang Yiyuan, money had become just a number once it reached a certain amount. Instead, his enthusiasm for traditional Chinese medicine grew with age, always feeling that there was never enough time.

    "Sister Liu''s proposal is quite good, but being a professor at the age of eighteen... it would be hard not to become famous. How about this? When I come to Linzhou for university, I will see how things are at the time and consider being your teaching assistant," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Ge Dongxu had always been kind-hearted from a young age, and it was because of that kind heart that Ren Yao chose him as a closed-door disciple when he was very young. Liu Jiayao''s suggestion was very much in line with his thoughts, but being a professor and teaching at Jiangnan Traditional Chinese Medicine University was not in keeping with Ge Dongxu''s low-profile nature.

    "As long as you are willing to come to our Traditional Chinese Medicine University, you can set whatever conditions you want. But if you become my assistant, then I''d really be walking on thin ice," Tang Yiyuan said, his face beaming with excitement when he saw Ge Dongxu agree with Liu Jiayao''s suggestion.

    "Isn''t that an exaggeration?" Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    "That''s no exaggeration. We''re all friends here, so there''s no need to hide anything. I mainly learned medical skills from my father during the first half of my life, and for the past two years, I''ve basically been learning from you. You could say you''re my teacher. If you were to be my teaching assistant, wouldn''t I have to be extremely cautious?" Tang Yiyuan said earnestly.

    Upon hearing Tang Yiyuan''s words, Wu Qianjin and Cheng Yazhou finally understood the relationship between Tang Yiyuan, the professor at Jiangnan Province''s Traditional Chinese Medicine University, and Ge Dongxu, and they fully grasped why Tang Yiyuan always maintained a respectful attitude towards Ge Dongxu, much like a student before a teacher.

    "Hehe, you''re overstating it, we''re just learning from each other," Ge Dongxu responded humbly.

    "What more could you possibly learn from me in medicine? Maybe in terms of life experience, but that''s about it," Tang Yiyuan said.

    Seeing Tang Yiyuan put it that way, Ge Dongxu felt it wouldn''t be right to keep playing down his role and was about to change the subject when Tang Yiyuan''s cellphone rang.

    Professor Tang Yiyuan glanced at the phone, his face changing subtly, then he apologized to Ge Dongxu and others before standing up to take the call aside.

    "How could this happen? Wasn''t Governor Sang just fine a few days ago? How did he suddenly suffer a heart attack?" Professor Tang Yiyuan''s face turned pale shortly after he answered the call.

    "Isn''t it all because of the mine disaster in Sanyu County? These past days, Governor Sang has been personally overseeing Sanyu County, concerned for the miners trapped underground, and he hasn''t closed his eyes for several nights in a row. Now that the miners have been rescued, he is the one who has fallen ill. Professor Tang, you better come over quickly," an anxious voice of a middle-aged man came from the other end of the line.

    "Alright, I''m on my way," said Professor Tang Yiyuan in a deep voice, then hung up the call.

    After hanging up, Professor Tang Yiyuan hurried to the tea table, his expression grave as he addressed Ge Dongxu and others, "Executive Vice Governor Sang Yunlong has suffered a heart attack, and I must rush to the expert consultation immediately. I have to leave now."

    "Then you should go quickly," Ge Dongxu and the others hurriedly nodded in agreement.

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    Tang Yiyuan nodded, turned, and was about to leave, but he had just lifted his foot when he set it down again and turned to look at Ge Dongxu. Hesitating, he said, "Dongxu, could you please come with me? Governor Sang has a military background, having participated in the counterattack against Vietnam in his early years. His heart condition also originated from that time. Governor Sang has numerous health issues stemming from old injuries, and his health is among the poorer within the provincial leaders, hence he often needs traditional Chinese medicine treatment. I interact with him quite a bit and understand his character; he is a good leader. I''m worried that the situation might be quite serious this time, so if it''s possible, please¡­"

    "Let''s go together," Ge Dongxu got up and interrupted before Professor Tang Yiyuan could finish.

    "That''s great, with you joining, Governor Sang will definitely have no ques..." Tang Yiyuan said excitedly.

    "Heart problems are no small issue, let''s wait and see after the examination," Ge Dongxu interrupted Tang Yiyuan again.

    Although he now had an Air Cyclone formed in his heart and his understanding of the heart far exceeded when he was treating Liu Jiayao''s heart condition, the heart is still considered one of the most vital organs in vertebrates, providing the pressure for blood circulation to every part of the body in modern medicine. If the heart stops beating, it often means the end of life, and even Ge Dongxu did not dare to make guarantees about it.

    "Yes, yes," Tang Yiyuan quickly nodded in agreement, realizing the heart''s special importance.

    ...

    Jiangnan University''s First Affiliated Hospital in Jiangnan Province is also the best hospital in the entire province.

    In the Cardiology conference room, experts were gathering.

    At the front of the meeting room, on a small panel, several angiographic images were hung, displaying the heart condition of Jiangnan Province''s Executive Vice Governor Sang Yunlong.

 Chapter 276 Let him go out first

    "The patient''s left and right ventricles have already shown varying degrees of failure, especially the right ventricle, which had been injured in earlier years and now shows more severe signs of failure. This episode was primarily caused by the right ventricle. My recommendation is to perform a heart transplant surgery as soon as possible," a middle-aged doctor in a white coat said, pointing to the image above with a rod, his expression grave.

    As the middle-aged doctor in the white coat finished speaking, the entire conference room fell silent, punctuated only by intermittent gasps.

    Because the patient he was referring to was not an ordinary one, but the Executive Vice Governor of Jiangnan Province, a member of the Provincial Party Committee.

    The risks of heart transplant surgery are enormous. If something goes wrong, who will take the responsibility?

    However, from the images, the situation of Executive Vice Governor Sang Yunlong was indeed very dangerous, making heart transplant surgery the best and most reluctant choice.

    At least, that was what all the doctors present believed.

    "Fang Ting, has Professor Tang not arrived yet?" a dignified middle-aged woman with a hint of authority scanned the conference room, saw everyone waiting for her decision, sighed inwardly, and turned to ask a man standing behind her, who appeared to be in his early thirties.

    This middle-aged woman was none other than Feng Yaping, the wife of Executive Vice Governor Sang Yunlong and the President of Jiangnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

    As the President of Jiangnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Feng Yaping was naturally well-versed in medicine and aware of her husband''s condition, just as the chief doctor had analyzed.

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    But the risks of heart transplant surgery were simply too great. Even if there was a glimmer of hope, Feng Yaping did not want to take that route.

    And Feng Yaping''s glimmer of hope lay with Tang Yiyuan.

    As the President of Jiangnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, she was quite familiar with Tang Yiyuan, knowing his high level of expertise in cardiothoracic diseases. Especially in the last year or two, his medical skills had improved dramatically, and many patients with complex and rare diseases who came to the affiliated hospital of Jiangnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were well treated by him. Feng Yaping even believed that Tang Yiyuan''s medical skills were now on par with those National Medical Masters in the capital.

    However, the other experts in the conference room clearly did not think that a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner could be of any help in this situation, especially the chief expert doctor who had suggested that the heart transplant surgery for Vice Governor Sang Yunlong be carried out as soon as possible. He frowned slightly and opened his mouth, but ultimately, considering Feng Yaping''s position, he shut his mouth again.

    "I''ve already made the call. He should be here soon," replied the man known as Fang Ting, who was Sang Yunlong''s secretary.

    Just as Fang Ting finished speaking, there was a knock at the door, which was then pushed open.

    "Professor Tang, you''re here, we''ve been waiting for you," Feng Yaping brightened up when she saw Tang Yiyuan enter the room. As for Ge Dongxu, who entered with him, she completely ignored him.

    Others, especially the expert doctor who had presented the situation, watched Tang Yiyuan enter with a hint of disdain in their eyes.

    This expert doctor was the chief director of the cardiothoracic department at the First Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University and a member of the Jiangnan Province expert medical team.

    Because of his strong preference for Western medicine, he had always somewhat looked down upon Tang Yiyuan, this practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, considering him a slow, old-school doctor. He believed that for maintaining or regulating one''s health, Tang could still be useful, but in situations like the one today, a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine was utterly useless.

    "How is the situation?" Tang Yiyuan apologized and then immediately asked about Sang Yunlong''s condition.

    Since Ge Dongxu was always low-key and did not like to show off his skills in public, he had agreed on the way there that Tang Yiyuan would take the lead, and he would just follow by his side, stepping in only if truly necessary.

    Therefore, Tang Yiyuan did not specifically introduce Ge Dongxu to Feng Yaping and the others in the conference room.

    "The situation is very bad." Though the expert did not have a high opinion of Tang Yiyuan, Tang was still a member of the medical expert team and was specifically requested by Feng Yaping, so out of respect, he stood up, answered, then picked up a pointer to explain the images further. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Of course, he did not forget to remind Tang Yiyuan at the end that performing a heart transplant immediately was the best treatment method, implying that traditional Chinese medical treatments would definitely not be adequate.

    Tang Yiyuan indeed had a considerable depth of knowledge in cardiac diseases, so when Liu Jiayao had heart issues years ago, he was eventually able to alleviate some of them. With guidance from Ge Dongxu over the past two years, his expertise in cardiac diseases naturally became even more profound.

    After the cardiac specialist explained this, Tang Yiyuan understood that with his medical skills, there was absolutely no way to provide conservative treatment for Executive Vice Governor Sang Yunlong.

    "Professor Tang, looking at Governor Sang''s condition, is there a way to manage it using traditional Chinese medicine?" Feng Yaping asked with hopeful eyes.

    "This¡­" Facing Feng Yaping''s expectant gaze, Tang Yiyuan looked troubled and finally turned helplessly to Ge Dongxu.

    He definitely couldn''t handle it; it was all up to Ge Dongxu now.

    "From the angiographic images, I can''t be certain. I need to take Governor Sang''s pulse to determine if traditional Chinese medicine can be used¡­" Ge Dongxu, seeing Tang Yiyuan looking towards him and knowing the difficulty of the situation, found it unavoidable and began to speak.

    "Do you young man know any manners? Is this a place where you can just speak up? Get out of here!" Before Ge Dongxu could finish, experts in the conference room had already frowned. The chief director of cardiology at Jiangnan University''s First Affiliated Hospital was already displeased and scolded Ge Dongxu without any politeness.

    "Professor Tang, is this your new student? He is very disrespectful. Let him step out; do not let him disturb us here," Feng Yaping, whose husband was critically ill, was naturally in a bad mood. Upon hearing Ge Dongxu, a young person, making bold statements, her suppressed emotions suddenly burst forth, her face darkened, and she even began to reproach Tang Yiyuan.

    "President Feng, you are mistaken. This is Ge Dongxu, not my student. He is also a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine and is highly skilled," Upon hearing this, Tang Yiyuan immediately felt terrible, his face changed drastically, and he hurriedly explained.

    "Professor Tang, I respect you as a pillar of traditional Chinese medicine in our province. That''s why so many are waiting for you to come for the consultation to make the final conclusion. But now, not only have you brought a young man who is barely in his twenties to such a meeting, but you also claim that he is highly skilled. Do you really plan to let such a young, inexperienced boy take part in Governor Sang''s consultation?" The chief cardiac specialist, already biased against traditional Chinese medicine, now felt greatly insulted seeing Tang Yiyuan intending to let such a young person join the consultation for Executive Vice Governor Sang Yunlong, his facial expression turned ugly, and he asked sharply without any politeness.

    ps: Recommendation for a new book "The Ghost-Catching Counterfeit Taoist" by the new author Chuishui Jing, which now has over five hundred thousand words. Having read the beginning, both the writing and the plot are quite good. Fans of this genre, please support the book. Thank you.

 Chapter 277 Show Your ID

    "Professor Tang, could it really be that this is what you mean?" Feng Yaping''s expression grew increasingly ugly.

    As the president of Jiangnan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine University, she naturally understood that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was not like Western medicine, particularly in surgical disciplines which are generally dominated by mid-career professionals, as performance tends to decline with age. However, TCM is a discipline of experience, where older age typically implies greater expertise. Therefore, when seeking treatment from TCM practitioners, people generally prefer someone older, while younger practitioners, even if trained by famous teachers, often lack public confidence.

    Especially someone like Ge Dongxu, who looked merely like a student still in school, it was even harder to believe he had exceptional medical skills.

    The doctors in the meeting room all turned their eyes to Tang Yiyuan, their expressions equally grim.

    "Yes, but please let me explain¡­" Tang Yiyuan nodded in response.

    "Since Professor Tang insists on promoting this young man''s involvement in the consultation, may I ask if he has a medical practice license? What is his professional title?" Before Tang Yiyuan could finish, the chief thoracic surgeon, with a hint of sarcasm, asked.

    Upon hearing this, Tang Yiyuan''s face showed signs of difficulty, since Ge Dongxu not only lacked a professional title, but even a medical practice license.

    "I do not have a medical practice license, nor have I ever obtained any professional title," Ge Dongxu, seeing Tang Yiyuan repeatedly challenged, naturally felt somewhat displeased and finally, with a slightly stern expression, stepped forward and responded firmly.

    "What a joke! What an enormous joke! Do you know who is currently suffering a heart attack? It''s our province''s Executive Vice Governor! You come to participate in a consultation without even having a medical practice license; do you think this is a game? What will you do if there''s a problem, can you afford to take responsibility?" As soon as Ge Dongxu spoke these words, the whole conference room erupted.

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    "Get out! Get out right now!" Many people directly lashed out at Ge Dongxu in anger.

    Feng Yaping didn''t berate Ge Dongxu, but looked at Tang Yiyuan with an ugly expression and coldly said, "Professor Tang, you must give me an explanation immediately."

    A bitter smile appeared on Tang Yiyuan''s face.

    How could he explain? He had already explained everything that there was to explain, which was that Ge Dongxu was highly skilled in medicine, but they simply did not believe it. What could he do?

    Was he supposed to randomly pull a patient from the hospital and demonstrate his medical skills?

    Forget about their current attitudes and Governor Sang''s critical condition, which certainly wouldn''t provide Ge Dongxu with the time or opportunity; even if it did, how could Ge Dongxu, a miraculous doctor, not have his own pride? Was he really going to perform like an acrobat just to show them?

    It was only now that Tang Yiyuan realized that he had underestimated the complexity of the situation.

    What status did Executive Vice Governor Sang have, and how could he possibly allow someone like Ge Dongxu, a ridiculously young man without even a medical practice license, to be involved in the consultation?

    "Let me explain," Ge Dongxu, knowing Tang Yiyuan''s difficult position, waved him off and spoke again: "Indeed, I do not have a medical practice license because I did not take the test, which doesn''t mean my medical skills are inadequate. Just as my age doesn''t reflect my medical skills either. In fact, today, if Professor Tang hadn''t spoken highly of Governor Sang as a good leader and a good governor, I wouldn''t have been here. Similarly, if it weren''t for Professor Tang''s previous compliments about Governor Sang being a good leader and a good governor, given your and their current attitudes, I would definitely have been too lazy to explain and would have left immediately, regardless of your requests. But I trust Professor Tang because I trust his judgment and character."

    "I don''t want a good leader to depart this way, so I''ll stay and give you an explanation. This document is not a medical license, but I think it should be enough to show that my medical skills are not necessarily connected to my age. Of course, if you still firmly disbelieve, then I can only apologize to Governor Sang," Ge Dongxu concluded, then took out a document from his shoulder bag and handed it to Feng Yaping.

    This document was exactly the National Security Department credential that Fan Hong had given him.

    At this moment, Feng Yaping was already somewhat stunned by the calm displayed by this young man, Ge Dongxu, as well as the confidence and pride that emanated from his very bones. When she saw him hand over a document, she instinctively reached out to take it.

    She trembled involuntarily the moment she opened it, her face showing an expression of utter shock.

    As the wife of the Executive Vice Governor of Jiangnan Province, and herself the President of Jiangnan Province''s University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, she naturally understood the significance of this document.

    If this document was real, it was very likely that this young man held a rank equal to her husband!

    An eighteen-year-old at the deputy ministerial level!

    If the document did not have the words "National Security" on it, Feng Yaping would have probably thrown it away immediately. But with those two words, everything had to be reconsidered.

    Besides, this department was very special. Other than the minister, the identities of the other leaders were not disclosed to the public, and even the headquarters of the department were kept secret. Therefore, even though it was shocking and unprecedented for someone with Ge Dongxu''s identity to possess such a credential, it was still possible in this department.

    "I''m sorry, it''s not that I don''t believe you, but this document is truly astonishing. I need to make a call to verify this, so please¡­" Feng Yaping managed to suppress the shock in her heart after a while and said.

    However, her tone had become very polite by this point, using the respectful "you," and she had already believed it to a certain extent.

    From any angle, unless Ge Dongxu indeed had the skills to cure her husband, there was nothing in it for him.

    However, Sang Yunlong was her husband and also the Executive Vice Governor of Jiangnan Province. Even she had to consider standard procedures, especially since Ge Dongxu did not even have a medical practice license. If she allowed Ge Dongxu to participate in her husband''s treatment without clarifying everything first, she and everyone else present, including herself, might be held accountable should any issues arise.

    The people in the conference room saw Feng Yaping suddenly change her attitude towards this young man, Ge Dongxu, all displaying looks of confusion and shock. They did not know what kind of document Ge Dongxu had given to Feng Yaping, but it had caused her, the President of Jiangnan Province''s University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the wife of the Executive Vice Governor, to drastically alter her attitude towards him.

    "No problem, but please make it quick. Otherwise, if something really happens to Governor Sang, it will be too late for regrets," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Okay, okay," Feng Yaping nodded eagerly, then turned her head to Governor Sang''s secretary, Fang Ting, and said, "Call Director Zheng right away."

    The Director Zheng Feng Yaping mentioned was Zheng Zijie, the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department of Jiangnan Province, not a leader from the National Security Bureau.

    Since the National Security Department was very special, implementing vertical leadership, even as the wife of the Vice Governor, Feng Yaping was not familiar with the Director of the National Security Bureau.

    However, since the Public Security Department sometimes intersected and cooperated with the National Security Bureau, the Director of the Public Security Department was somewhat familiar with the National Security Bureau, which is why Feng Yaping''s first thought was to call the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department of Jiangnan Province. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 278 Hello Director Ge

    ```

    Fang Ting, as the secretary of Vice Governor Sang, naturally had the contact numbers of some major leaders in the province, and upon hearing this, he immediately dialed Director Zheng''s number.

    Fang Ting''s call hadn''t gone through when Feng Yaping had already reached out for his phone.

    "Secretary Fang, how is Vice Governor Sang doing now?" A man''s voice came over as soon as the call connected.

    "Director Zheng, it''s me, Feng Yaping," said Feng Yaping.

    "Oh, it''s President Feng. How is Vice Governor Sang doing now?" The man was slightly taken aback, then quickly inquired again.

    "The situation isn''t very good," Feng Yaping answered, then immediately lowered her voice and asked, "You should be quite familiar with the National Security Bureau, shouldn''t you, Director Zheng? I have a matter I''d like to consult you about."

    "National Security Bureau?" Director Zheng obviously hadn''t expected Feng Yaping to bring up the National Security Bureau at such a time, and he was taken aback before replying seriously, "I''m fairly familiar, but if it''s about their affairs, I''m unable to tell you."

    "No, no, that''s not it, I need your help to get a leader from the National Security Bureau to verify a document for me," Feng Yaping hastened to explain.

    "If it''s about a document, then I can help. I''m already at the hospital, where are you right now?" said Director Zheng.

    As the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department, Zheng Zijie was naturally fully involved in the mine rescue efforts, and since Executive Vice Governor Sang Yunlong was also in charge of public security, it was logical and appropriate for Director Zheng to come to the hospital to visit as soon as possible.

    "That works out well," Feng Yaping quickly informed Director Zheng of her current location after hearing his response.

    "I''m sorry, because of the special nature of Elder Sang''s position, and since you do not have a medical practice license, we needed to confirm before making an exception to allow you to participate in the consultation. Regardless, I am very grateful for your kindness, and I would like to apologize for my impertinent behavior earlier!" After hanging up with Director Zheng, Feng Yaping bowed deeply to Ge Dongxu and apologized.

    As the president of Jiangnan Provincial University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, she naturally had insight and ability, but Ge Dongxu was simply too young; on top of that, she had been anxious about her husband''s safety, her emotions and mind were already in chaos, which led her to lose the usual calmness and judgment she should have had.

    Later, Ge Dongxu''s confident and proud discourse, along with the presentation of his document, had immediately awakened Feng Yaping; she had basically believed in Ge Dongxu''s identity and that he was highly skilled in medicine.

    Of course, being highly skilled in medicine is one thing, but whether he could treat her husband''s heart disease was another.

    After all, her husband''s heart condition had deteriorated to the point where a transplant was necessary. She sought Tang Yiyuan as a last resort, hoping to get a definitive answer from him so she could let go. In reality, she had no hope for Traditional Chinese Medicine''s conservative treatment.

    So although she believed in Ge Dongxu''s medical expertise, Feng Yaping didn''t have any confidence that he could treat her husband''s heart disease; otherwise, if she really had confidence, why would she care about Ge Dongxu''s identity and not just let him treat her husband first?

    "President Feng, don''t worry about it. I''m actually quite easy to talk to, and since you''ve already apologized, I certainly hold no grudges," Ge Dongxu said hastily, seeing Feng Yaping taking the initiative to apologize. Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    Watching Feng Yaping proactively apologize to Ge Dongxu, the experts in the conference room were dumbfounded.

    They couldn''t understand what Feng Yaping was playing at. Were they really going to let this young man, who looked nothing the part and didn''t even have a medical practice license, participate in Governor Sang''s consultation?

    As the cardiothoracic experts in the conference room were bewildered, a square-faced man with an authoritative air about him pushed open the door and strode in.

    This man was none other than Zheng Zijie, the Director of Jiangnan Provincial Public Security Department.

    The Public Security Department is indeed a real power department within the government, and as the Director of the Jiangnan Provincial Public Security Department, Zheng Zijie naturally carried significant weight in the political arena of Jiangnan Province.

    ```

    The experts in the meeting room, seeing that it was Director Zheng who had entered, could no longer afford to ponder the change in Feng Yaping''s demeanor before and after and went forward to greet Director Zheng with utmost respect, including the chest surgeon who had acted so arrogantly earlier, a chief physician who seemed above everyone else.

    However, Director Zheng merely nodded slightly to acknowledge their greetings and then looked at Feng Yaping with a puzzled expression, asking, "President Feng, you just said..."

    "This is it." Not waiting for Director Zheng to finish his sentence, Feng Yaping handed over the credentials to him.

    As the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department in Jiangnan Province, Zheng Zijie had dealings with the National Security Bureau of Jiangnan Province for more than just a day or two, and his familiarity with credentials naturally surpassed that of university head Feng Yaping.

    When Feng Yaping passed the credentials to him, he just had to flip through them when suddenly his whole body shook, his eyes widened in an instant, and then he hastily looked over at Ge Dongxu.

    Because Ge Dongxu''s photo was on the credentials. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu in person who seemed even younger than the photo on the credentials, Zheng Zijie felt an even greater shock, along with an indescribable trepidation.

    Zheng Zijie knew very well that the younger the holder of such credentials, the more terrifying it signified! This was the exact opposite of Chinese medicine practice.

    And it was a deputy ministerial level!

    Amidst his shock and trepidation, Zheng Zijie instinctively stood at attention and saluted, and after saluting, he hastily lowered his hand and then extended both hands towards Ge Dongxu saying, "Director Ge, hello, I am Zheng Zijie, the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department of Jiangnan Province. If there is anything I can assist you with, please don''t hesitate to tell me."

    Who was Zheng Zijie? He was the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department of Jiangnan Province. Although he held a full department-level position and had not entered the Provincial Party Committee''s standing committee, in terms of real power, he was actually more influential than an ordinary executive vice governor who wasn''t part of the standing committee of the Provincial Party Committee.

    But now? Zheng Zijie was standing at attention and saluting to this young man Ge Dongxu, and his behavior and demeanor were just like that of a subordinate meeting a superior.

    Instantly, the entire meeting room fell silent.

    All the experts, especially the chief chest surgeon who had repeatedly scolded Ge Dongxu just now, couldn''t help but break out a cold sweat on their foreheads.

    If even Zheng Zijie had to stand at attention and salute, to offer a handshake, what kind of identity must that person hold? Surely he was not someone a physician could chastise with such casualness?

    In fact, not to mention these doctors, even Feng Yaping, though she was the president of Jiangnan Province University of Chinese Medicine and the wife of the executive vice governor of Jiangnan Province, also felt a bit guilty at this moment.

    "Thank you, Director Zheng, there''s nothing major that I need your assistance with. I just heard that Vice Governor Sang had a heart issue, I happened to have some knowledge of Chinese medicine, so I followed Professor Tang to take a look. However, due to my age and the lack of a medical practice license, they all wouldn''t believe me, so I had to take out this credential for President Feng to check," Ge Dongxu said lightly.

    Ge Dongxu wasn''t at all surprised or uncomfortable with Director Zheng''s attitude.

    After all, even Fan Hong now performed a disciple''s courtesy before him, and others like Elder Feng''s children, who were significant figures in their own right, he addressed them by their names directly.

    To others, Director Zheng might be a powerful figure in the political arena of Jiangnan Province, very impressive, but in Ge Dongxu''s eyes, he was just so-so.

    Moreover, if we were to talk about rank, Ge Dongxu was at the deputy ministerial level, one level higher than Director Zheng.

    Seeing a young man face Director Zheng''s salute and warm handshake with composure, the experts in the meeting room couldn''t help but feel their hearts race again. They recalled that from the moment this young man entered the room, he had been very calm, showing none of the restraint or nervousness typical of young people.

    Before, they had all taken his composure for the naivety and ignorance of youth, for not knowing the rules! They glared at him in anger and even scolded him. Now, it seemed that the truly naive and ignorant ones, who didn''t know the rules, were them.

 Chapter 279 I Accept Your Invitation

    "Rules are dead, but people are alive; a medical license sometimes can''t prove anything. Especially in an emergency situation, we should not rigidly adhere to protocols but handle things on a case-by-case basis. Besides, Director Ge is acting with good intentions¡ªhow can you doubt him? Is he really going to deceive you? Could he possibly have come here with the deliberate intention of harming Governor Sang?" Upon hearing this, Director Zheng''s face darkened slightly, showing a trace of dissatisfaction as he glanced at the experts in the meeting room.

    Director Zheng''s other remarks were dismissed by the people in the conference room.

    That was Deputy Governor Sang, after all. Who would dare to make an exception and let a Chinese medicine practitioner without a medical license meddle in his treatment? Only if they were out of their mind!

    However, Director Zheng''s last statement struck them like a thunderclap, jolting them awake.

    Indeed, that was Deputy Governor Sang. Who would dare to come here to harm him? If Director Ge wasn''t really capable, how would he dare to intervene in Deputy Governor Sang''s treatment?

    Of course, this was only hindsight. If Director Zheng hadn''t treated Ge Dongxu with the deference due from a subordinate to a superior, even if they clearly understood this, they would never have taken Ge Dongxu seriously.

    "Yes, Director Zheng is right. We were stuck in a rigid thought pattern and failed to appreciate Director Ge''s good intentions. We ask Mr. Ge not to take offense," the experts quickly apologized to Ge Dongxu.

    However, it was not difficult to detect from their words that these Western medicine experts still harbored doubts about Ge Dongxu''s medical skills, hence referring to his actions as good intentions rather than acknowledging any excellence in his medical expertise.

    "Director Ge, please don''t be upset by my attitude just now. I now formally invite you to join the consultation for my husband and ask that you accept this invitation," Feng Yaping said to Ge Dongxu, bowing sincerely and earnestly.

    "No blame attaches to the ignorant. I accept your invitation. But as a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, I still need to take Governor Sang''s pulse myself to reach a conclusion," Ge Dongxu stated.

    When Ge Dongxu said this, a look of skepticism flickered across the faces of the experts in the meeting room.

    The testing equipment and methods of Western medicine are universally acknowledged as the most advanced and accurate. Even in Chinese medicine hospitals, many practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine, after taking a patient''s pulse, would still recommend an ultrasound or similar diagnostic test.

    After all, machines are not prone to error, but the diagnosis can be mistaken due to the doctor''s abilities or the patient''s varying physical condition. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    However, this time, even though the experts were skeptical at heart, none dared to admonish Ge Dongxu outright; some even nodded hurriedly and agreed, "Right, right, for Deputy Governor Sang''s condition, we indeed need Director Ge to take his pulse before we can conclude."

    "Director Ge, the angiographic images are already quite clear; Elder Sang''s condition is indeed as Director Li stated. If you were to take his pulse, the diagnosis would be the same. What I want to know now is whether you think, with your traditional Chinese medicine skills, conservative treatment is an option for Elder Sang''s condition? If you also say there is no way, then I don''t want to delay any longer. Because every minute we waste, Elder Sang is at greater risk," Feng Yaping said, involving her husband in this matter, not hiding her doubts due to Ge Dongxu''s change in status and giving voice to her thoughts after a moment''s deliberation.

    "President Feng, I heard from Professor Tang on the way here that you are the president of the University of Chinese Medicine and also trained in traditional Chinese medicine. You must know that traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes looking at the whole. The current angiographic images only show Deputy Governor Sang''s heart condition; they can''t show what''s really going on with him as a whole. And these images can only provide a rough outline of the heart; the true minute changes within must be determined through traditional Chinese methods of inspection, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking," Ge Dongxu countered with a wave of his hand.

    "President Feng, I can say that Director Ge''s medical skills are the most impressive I''ve ever seen. I once had a patient with a severe heart condition, who had been seen by countless doctors, both Chinese and Western, and even had a National Medical Master from the capital try to help, all to no avail, but after Director Ge''s intervention, the patient has now completely recovered. It''s precisely for this reason that I took the liberty of inviting Director Ge. So whatever Mr. Ge says, please do as he suggests. Should there be any problem, I will take full responsibility," Tang Yiyuan interjected with a serious face, preempting Feng Yaping as her lips seemed to move, as if she were about to raise another doubt.

    "Thank you, Director Ge, and thank you, Professor Tang. My lack of proficiency prompted my earlier doubts. From now on, I will fully trust Director Ge. Should there be any issue, I will take responsibility; it has nothing to do with Director Ge and Professor Tang," Feng Yaping said decisively, a woman with considerable resolve who immediately responded with a firm tone after hearing Tang Yiyuan speak to such an extent. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire

    "Let''s wait until I have had a look; perhaps I too will be powerless, as the heart is not like other organs," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    ```

    The Western medical experts secretly sneered upon hearing this, convinced that Ge Dongxu had begun to look for a way out.

    They simply did not believe that such a severe heart problem could be cured by Traditional Chinese Medicine.

    At this moment, Governor Sang was in the intensive care unit, connected to numerous devices and inhaling oxygen, though his consciousness was still clear.

    Seeing a crowd escort a young man into the room, which even included his wife and the head of the Public Security Department, Zheng, Governor Sang''s eyes revealed a hint of confusion.

    Feng Yaping knew the cause of Governor Sang''s confusion and went up to the bedside to whisper an explanation in his ear.

    When Governor Sang heard that even Director Zheng addressed Ge Dongxu as "Director," a look of shock appeared on his face, and his gaze turned toward Director Zheng, seemingly seeking confirmation from him.

    Director Zheng evidently understood what Governor Sang was implying and nodded slightly at him, giving an affirmative answer.

    After receiving the confirmation, Governor Sang turned his gaze towards Ge Dongxu and struggled to sit up.

    "Professor Tang and President Feng stay behind; the rest of you, please step outside," Ge Dongxu said, stepping forward to pat Governor Sang, signaling him not to move.

    Since Director Zheng addressed Ge Dongxu as "Director," who else would dare to not follow his instruction? So, they all withdrew from the room.

    Once everyone had left, Ge Dongxu placed his hand on Governor Sang''s wrist pulse.

    A wisp of True Qi quietly entered Governor Sang''s meridians through his fingers, moving along the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian towards Governor Sang''s heart.

    At this point, Ge Dongxu''s expression became quite serious as he carefully directed the wisp of True Qi to check on Governor Sang''s heart condition.

    Governor Sang''s heart condition, as the Western medical expert had said, was very bleak.

    Of course, that was in the eyes of the Western medical experts. For Ge Dongxu, even a year or two ago, he would have been able to treat such a condition conservatively with Traditional Chinese Medicine, although the treatment period would have been quite lengthy, possibly taking several years. But now, with an Air Cyclone developed in the heart and True Qi moving in and out of it, Ge Dongxu''s understanding of the heart had far surpassed his past knowledge. Moreover, with the inherited medical skills from Ge Hong, what seemed to Western medical experts as a very bleak heart condition was, in Ge Dongxu''s eyes, much easier to treat than Elder Feng''s condition.

    Elder Feng''s condition was deep-rooted and intricately complex, while Governor Sang''s was relatively simple, being only a heart problem.

    After assessing Governor Sang''s condition, Ge Dongxu quietly breathed a sigh of relief and then released Governor Sang''s wrist.

    "Director Ge, how is Elder Sang''s condition? Is conservative treatment possible?" Feng Yaping asked urgently as soon as Ge Dongxu let go.

    ```

 Chapter 286 This Senior of Yours is Quite Boring

    Watching Liu Jiayao, such a great beauty, feed Ge Dongxu mutton skewers and hand him drinks, jealousy burned within Luo Cheng, who regretted giving Ge Dongxu such a good gig. Even the men at the neighboring tables watched with a mix of envy and resentment.
    "Damn it, why can't I meet a woman who has the looks, the figure, and is also so gentle and considerate!"
    Su Qian watched in confusion, unsure of the exact relationship between Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao.
    At first, she thought Liu Jiayao might be Ge Dongxu's cousin or something, but now she seemed more like a girlfriend.
    But while others didn't know Ge Dongxu's background, Su Qian knew all too well. Just the fact that a high school student from a mountainous area could suddenly appear in the Provincial Capital was surprising and unexpected enough, let alone him having such a girlfriend that made even her feel ashamed; how could that be possible?
    "Sister Liu, that's enough. Please take care of yourself, and don't worry about me for now," Ge Dongxu said to Liu Jiayao with a smile after he had eaten two skewers of lamb and drank a beer with her "attentive" service.
    "Sure, I want to eat too." Liu Jiayao nodded, sat back in her seat, and started eating the mutton skewers.
    "Dongxu, aren't you a senior in high school this year? How come you've come to the Provincial Capital?" Su Qian couldn't contain her curiosity any longer and asked once Liu Jiayao had returned to her seat.
    The others also looked at Ge Dongxu curiously upon hearing this.
    In 1999, transportation was not especially convenient or fast, and it was indeed intriguing for a high school student to travel from a small place to the Provincial Capital.
    "I just had some things to take care of, so I took the opportunity to come over for the weekend," Ge Dongxu replied casually without even lifting his head.
    "Now that's where you're wrong, Dongxu. Senior year is crucial, and you shouldn't be distracted," Luo Cheng said with a "heartfelt" criticism.
    "I know what I'm doing with my own affairs. There's no need for you to worry," Ge Dongxu finally lifted his head, glanced at Luo Cheng, and then continued to focus on his grilling.
    "I'm just looking out for you," Luo Cheng said.
    "You're overstepping, Luo Cheng," Liu Jiayao finally frowned slightly and spoke sharply to Luo Cheng.
    Luo Cheng had wanted to take the opportunity of lecturing Ge Dongxu to show off his maturity and stability in front of Liu Jiayao, to highlight that his identity was more than just a student and to remind her of Ge Dongxu's high school status, hoping Liu Jiayao would look at him and Ge Dongxu differently. He didn't expect Liu Jiayao to bluntly rebuke him, completely overturning her previous elegance and gentleness.
    Luo Cheng's face turned red at once, and the atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward.
    "Come on, senior, eat some mutton skewers." Seeing that the mood was off, the round-faced girl cleverly grabbed a few skewers and offered them to Luo Cheng.
    Luo Cheng's expression lightened a bit as he took the skewers and began to eat silently, unable to comprehend how a woman like Liu Jiayao could take a liking to a high school student like Ge Dongxu.
    "Oh, by the way, Dongxu, did you know about Yuxin going to the United States?" Su Qian felt the need to change the subject due to the awkward atmosphere.
    "Dong Yuxin went to the United States? When did this happen?" Ge Dongxu asked, lifting his head upon hearing the news.
    "Last year's news. After finishing her freshman year, she went to the United States with her family. Didn't she mention it to you? You two were quite close before," Su Qian said, glancing at Liu Jiayao as she spoke.
    "No, we lost contact after you all graduated," Ge Dongxu shook his head, feeling a slight sense of loss in his heart.
    The United States is such a distant place¡ªsome people seem destined to merely pass through our lives.
    "Oh, I thought she would have mentioned it to you," Su Qian said, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes. It was hard to tell if she was laughing at Ge Dongxu's past foolish attempt to 'aim for the swan as a toad,' but when her gaze swept over Liu Jiayao, it was tinged with confusion.
    Su Qian always had a serene demeanor. Back in those days when everyone hung out together, she seldom joined Jiang Lili in teasing Ge Dongxu. In fact, deep down, Su Qian always looked down upon Ge Dongxu, the junior who came from the mountainous region.
    However, the current closeness between Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu was completely beyond her understanding.
    Ge Dongxu smiled and was about to continue turning the skewers, but he eventually asked, "Is she doing well in the United States?"
    Regardless of anything, they used to be close, and since she had gone to a distant place, it was only right to be concerned. Not that Ge Dongxu had any special feelings for Dong Yuxin. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire
    "I don't know. We contacted each other a couple times just after she left, but then we lost touch," Su Qian shook her head, revealing a trace of disappointment.
    "Who is Dong Yuxin you guys are talking about?" Lin Minru asked, unable to curb her curiosity.
    "She's my best friend from high school, the school beauty!" Su Qian replied.
    "Wow! So, is that school beauty Dongxu's secret crush?" The two girls immediately brightened up, speaking with gossip-hungry anticipation.
    "That's quite normal, isn't it? Which guy hasn't had a crush on the school beauty? Right, Dongxu?" Luo Cheng interjected matter-of-factly, glancing intentionally at Liu Jiayao.
    Ge Dongxu smiled noncommittally and continued to turn the skewers.
    Of course, he couldn't be bothered to explain to people like Luo Cheng, and as for Liu Jiayao, there was no need for explanations between them.
    "Haha, Dongxu is too embarrassed to say," Luo Cheng pointed at Ge Dongxu and laughed.
    "But at your age, and still in senior year of high school, you really can only harbor a crush. But it won't be long now; once you get into university, you'll be free. By the way, Dongxu, how are your grades?" Luo Cheng, seeing that Ge Dongxu was ignoring him, continued to talk, always carrying a tone that Ge Dongxu found annoyingly condescending.
    "Sister Liu, how's the food going for you?" Ge Dongxu didn't respond to Luo Cheng, instead raising his head to ask Liu Jiayao.
    "It's about enough," Liu Jiayao smiled.
    "Since it's almost done, then Su Qian, fellow classmates, we'll take our leave first," Ge Dongxu said.
    He really couldn't be bothered listening to Luo Cheng, who was so full of himself, go on showing off and lecturing. Besides, this barbecue wasn't what he and Liu Jiayao wanted. It was better just to leave.
    "What's the meaning of this, Classmate Dongxu? Do you look down on me, Luo Cheng?" Luo Cheng, who had been enjoying himself, was caught off guard by Ge Dongxu's casual mention of leaving. He was stunned for a moment before his face turned red and he abruptly stood up.
    "Su Qian, your senior here is rather dull. I think you should stay away from him in the future." Ge Dongxu ignored Luo Cheng and turned to Su Qian instead, then pulled out a large red note and placed it on the table. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Since he didn't want to deal with Luo Cheng, Ge Dongxu naturally didn't want to owe him any favors.

 Chapter 281 Private Car [Blocked]

    "Director Ge, this is my business card; it has my personal contact number. If there''s anything you need in Jiangnan Province, please call me anytime," Minister Zheng personally escorted Ge Dongxu to the parking lot.

    One does not strike a smiling face, and Minister Zheng seemed to possess an air of integrity. Ge Dongxu, feeling somewhat embarrassed by the personal escort to the parking lot and the offering of a business card, said, "I don''t have a business card, so I will call you, and you can just save the number. If there really is something important, you can also call me."

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu took out his mobile phone and dialed Minister Zheng''s number from the business card.

    "Thank you, Director Ge, I''ve got it," said Minister Zheng, holding his phone and seeing it vibrate, he quickly responded.

    "Then, goodbye, Minister Zheng." Seeing this, Ge Dongxu took the initiative to reach out for a handshake, then got into Tang Yiyuan''s car and drove out of the hospital gates.

    Minister Zheng watched as Tang Yiyuan''s car entered the main road before he turned and went back to the hospital.

    By the time he turned back to the hospital, Governor Sang had already left the ICU. After asking the nurse, he found out that Governor Sang had insisted on being discharged, claiming he was fine. The hospital had no choice but to persuade Governor Sang to undergo checks before being discharged, so he was currently undergoing tests.

    "What, Governor Sang is preparing to leave the hospital?" Although Minister Zheng had seen Governor Sang already able to leave his sickbed, looking completely fine just moments ago, hearing now that Governor Sang was undergoing tests to be discharged still startled him.

    After all, just a short while ago, Governor Sang was a patient scheduled for a heart transplant surgery! That he could now get out of bed and walk was frightening enough, and now he was even planning to be discharged outright.

    Could it be that these days, severe heart failure is as common and trivial as a cold or a fever?

    "Yes, Governor Sang looks just fine," the nurse, still confused and not understanding what had happened, marveled. Just moments before, Governor Sang had been needing oxygen masks even for breathing, and now he seemed well enough to be discharged?

    Minister Zheng, of course, could not answer the nurse''s question but secretly left the ICU in shock. He instructed his secretary to call Fang Ting to inquire about their location and then made his way there specifically.

    Minister Zheng arrived just as Governor Sang and Feng Yaping had just finished their examination.

    Upon questioning, Minister Zheng heard that Governor Sang''s heart indicators were now essentially normal, and he could perfectly be discharged and even return to regular work. Even though he had been somewhat prepared, it still took him quite a while to recover from his astonishment. Then he remembered he still had Director Ge''s phone number in his phone, felt a mix of gratitude and excitement, and also sternly reminded himself that this number must not be called lightly, only in truly critical moments.

    ...

    As the delay at the hospital was brief, the shareholders of Qinghe Herbal Tea met again after leaving the hospital, discussing adding new production lines and setting up branch factories in other provinces and cities a bit further, then dispersed.

    After the meeting, Ge Dongxu accompanied Liu Jiayao for a tour around Longxi Mountain and even made a specific visit to Jiangnan University, which was built adjacent to Longxi Mountain.

    Liu Jiayao''s beauty and perfect figure naturally attracted the attention of many male students throughout the campus.

    "Where would you like to have dinner tonight? The revolving restaurant at Mingyue Lake again?" After touring Jiangnan University, it was starting to get dark. Ge Dongxu, taking the driver''s seat, started the car and asked.

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    A few days after meeting with Fan Hong, Xu Lei, the head of Jiangnan Province''s Supernatural Management Office, had specially delivered a driving license to Ge Dongxu.

    He now had both a Huaxia Country driver''s license and an international one.

    Ge Dongxu had a driver''s license by then, so he simply asked Wu Qianjin to arrange a car for him and spent half a day practicing in the factory area of Wangzhou Township on the weekend.

    As a cultivator, Ge Dongxu''s physical coordination and reaction abilities were much stronger than those of an ordinary person. After practicing for half a day, he drove even smoother than Wu Qianjin, an experienced driver. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Now that he had a driver''s license and knew how to drive, when he was in the Provincial Capital with Liu Jiayao, he naturally took over the driving.

    However, the car was still Liu Jiayao''s Audi, and his official car, which Ge Dongxu had checked out last time he was in the Provincial Capital. He figured, since he had a license, he might as well see if it was suitable and then drive it over to keep at Liu Jiayao''s place for convenience in the future.

    The car was indeed a luxury vehicle, a Grand Cherokee with a V8 engine, sharply defined contours, and a powerful appearance. Not only that, but the interior was also very luxurious and even the materials used for the car body were different from an ordinary Grand Cherokee¡ªthey were bulletproof.

    This kind of car is generally loved by men and feels great to drive.

    Ge Dongxu liked the car as well, but he felt it was a bit too flashy, especially with the distinctive military license plate, which really stood out and didn''t match his personality.

    When he drove the Grand Cherokee on the road and felt its presence, the traffic police at the posts all saluted him, thinking some high-ranking leader was inside the vehicle.

    So after driving around the city in this official car for a while, Ge Dongxu decided there was no real need to use this car unless necessary.

    When checking the car, Ge Dongxu also looked at a house.

    The house was located in the suburbs of Linzhou City, with mountains and water nearby, similar to the Mount Lake Villa Li Bisheng visited last time in the capital, but on a much smaller scale with not many villas.

    However, just like the outside, it was guarded by armed police, making it impossible for ordinary people to get in.

    The place had good air and a decent amount of spiritual energy, which would definitely make living there comfortable and beneficial for cultivation. Clearly, a lot of thought had been put into choosing the location, but the cultural atmosphere was not to Ge Dongxu''s liking.

    As soon as he entered and especially saw the armed police guarding the entrance, Ge Dongxu felt somewhat oppressed. So, similar to the car, he was unlikely to stay there unless necessary.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu could ask Fan Hong to arrange another apartment for him in the city center, but as a major business owner, that was naturally unnecessary.

    "Mingyue Lake Revolving Restaurant again? I''ve gotten a bit tired of it recently; let''s go somewhere else," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Then you tell me, wherever you say, I''ll follow," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Giggle, such a spineless man!" Liu Jiayao rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu teasingly, then her eyes suddenly brightened, and she said, "How about we go to the riverside for some open-air barbecue?"

    "Come on, you''re the female CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics and a beauty at that. Do you really think going to the riverside for open-air barbecue is appropriate?" Ge Dongxu asked with a slight surprise and then laughed.

    ps: The Chinese New Year is approaching, and I''m stuck with my writing, almost to the point of despair. I''ll update one chapter this morning; the other two will depend on how the ideas flow. If I can get them written by 10 PM, I''ll definitely upload them; if not uploaded by 10 PM, I''m probably still stuck in despair. Please forgive me.

 Chapter 282 Director Ge is Being Polite

    "Who says a beautiful CEO can''t go riverside for some outdoor barbecue? Besides, I''ll have you with me, right? If some gangster comes to harass us, you can play the hero just like in the TV shows, hee hee, won''t that be fun!" Liu Jiayao, the beautiful CEO who normally lived a high-society life, grew more excited as she spoke of such common street-side occurrences, her beautiful eyes gleaming with thick anticipation.

    "No way, sis, that''s just TV, only TV. Besides, you''re a beautiful CEO worth tens of millions, can''t you be a bit more ambitious?" Ge Dongxu found it hard to contain his laughter when Liu Jiayao wanted to enact a damsel-in-distress rescue. He genuinely doubted if the person sitting beside him was really Liu Jiayao.

    "Anyway, I want to go to the riverside for barbecue, just once is fine, right? Worst case scenario, I can play along with you a little bit at night," Liu Jiayao begged, grabbing Ge Dongxu''s arm.

    "Really?" Ge Dongxu''s eyes gleamed with excitement.

    "You big pervert! It''s not true? Don''t tell me you''ll let me off the hook tonight?" Liu Jiayao''s pretty face blushed slightly as she gave Ge Dongxu a stern look.

    "Heh heh!" Ge Dongxu grinned mischievously.

    He was at an age when his physical desires were at their peak, and because of his studies and training, he couldn''t visit the Provincial Capital every day; it was usually once every couple of weeks. Each visit naturally meant making the most of it with Liu Jiayao.

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    Because of his training, Ge Dongxu couldn''t take the final step, and with his good physical stamina, it usually meant that Liu Jiayao ended up completely exhausted after their encounters.

    "You big pervert!" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s wicked grin, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but pinch him hard, her body warming and weakening as she remembered those vibrant, lively scenes.

    The barbecue place was located by the banks of Qian River. The river flowed strong and continuous; on this side, there were lights from thousands of homes, while the opposite side, still undeveloped, appeared rural with only a few scattered lights, vast and empty.

    One side bustling and lively, the other desolate and empty, with the strong river in between, altogether creating a starkly contrasting and uniquely appealing scenery.

    It seemed the people of Linzhou had been stifled by the cold weather, and with the weather warming up to over twenty degrees, as if heralding the arrival of summer, combined with it being a weekend night, the famous Ah Fang''s Barbecue, situated on a scenic riverside platform, was unexpectedly crowded.

    "No way, there are no free seats!" Liu Jiayao arrived full of anticipation only to find the place overwhelmed with people, showing a tinge of disappointment in her eyes.

    "How about we take a walk around and check back later? Perhaps there will be a spot available then," Ge Dongxu suggested, trying to console her.

    "Never mind, it''s getting late. I don''t think we''ll snag a spot even if one opens up; it''ll just get taken by someone else. Let''s just find any place for now, and leave this place for another time," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Since we''re here, why not wait a bit, it''s not like we have anything else to do," Ge Dongxu said.

    "It''s so nice to have you by my side!" Knowing Ge Dongxu hated to see her disappointed, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but cling tighter to his arm, tilting her head back to look at him, whispering contentedly.

    "Is that so? Then why do you always threaten to send me to a different room every now and then?" Ge Dongxu teased. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You... you big jerk, who let you be so troublesome!" Liu Jiayao hadn''t expected that while she was exchanging sweet nothings with Ge Dongxu, his thoughts had darted off to that sort of thing. She was slightly startled, then both embarrassed and annoyed, she started pinching him frantically.

    Just as Ge Dongxu was about to raise his hands in surrender from being pinched, he suddenly saw a man stand up from a table near the river and walk briskly towards him¡ªit was none other than Xu Lei.

    "A familiar face is coming over." Although Ge Dongxu held a nominal position, Xu Lei, being the national special department''s head in Jiangnan Province, was technically his subordinate. Hence, feeling a little embarrassed to see him approaching, he quickly warned Liu Jiayao.

    "Hmph, quit making excuses. Who do you know here in Linzhou? I would like to see if you still dare to think nonsense..." Liu Jiayao naturally didn''t believe him and continued to "torture" Ge Dongxu.

    "Director Ge!" Just as Liu Jiayao was about to continue "torturing" Ge Dongxu, she suddenly heard a voice ahead. Looking up, indeed, there was a man walking towards them, who quickly reached their front. Her cheeks flamed red in an instant, and her hands hastily released Ge Dongxu''s arm, but her eyes fiercely shot him a glance.

    "Xu Lei, you''re here too!" Ge Dongxu gave Liu Jiayao a teasing and triumphant wink. Embarrassed and irritated, Liu Jiayao almost felt like biting the man, but, of course, with a stranger present, she tried her best to maintain the elegance and poise of a beautiful CEO.

    "Yes, Director Ge, are you here for a barbecue with friends? We have some space over there, and we were just about to finish." Xu Lei spoke respectfully.

    Ge Dongxu looked up, and indeed, the two men and a woman who had been sitting at Xu Lei''s table were already standing up, calling the waiter to clean up the table, and were beginning to help with the cleanup themselves.

    Ge Dongxu''s keen eyes, despite some distance, could see that there was still plenty left uneaten and even uncooked on their table, clearly because Xu Lei had seen him and Liu Jiayao without a spot and hurriedly got up to offer them his place.

    "Xu Lei, thanks a lot. I''ll treat you guys when I''m free next time." Since Liu Jiayao wanted to eat here and the other party was already cleaning up, Ge Dongxu felt it was only right to accept Xu Lei''s kindness with a smile and clapped him on the shoulder.

    "Director Ge, you''re too kind, too kind." Xu Lei''s shoulder was patted by Ge Dongxu, making him almost melt with admiration.

    After all, the man before him was a top-notch expert. Even their boss had to be highly respectful towards him. Accepting this favor from him was truly an incredible opportunity!

    ...

    "Who was that person just now? And why did he call you ''Director''?" Once they had a spot, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help her curiosity.

    These days, she and Ge Dongxu often had frank and direct interactions, putting on a real fight, so there really weren''t any secrets between them. Anything on her mind, she didn''t feel the need to hide or hold back.

    Of course, if Ge Dongxu chose not to answer, Liu Jiayao wouldn''t press further. She still had that much tact.

    Ge Dongxu had only been appointed as the consulting director of the Special Ability Management Bureau after the incident at Xiaoyuan Mountain. Since he was not very keen on this consulting role, he didn''t particularly mention it to Liu Jiayao. Now that she asked, he naturally had nothing to hide and smiled, "Do you remember after the Xiaoyuan Mountain incident when I told you a special department handled it? Due to that event, some of my abilities were revealed, and they hired me as a consultant. It''s just like a corporate consultant, no real power but the rank is quite high. That person just now is the head of this special department in Jiangnan Province, so that''s why he calls me ''Director''."

    PS: Managed to rush this out, thanks for the support.

 Chapter 283 Who exactly was that young man just now?

    "So you''re saying you''re now an official?" Liu Jiayao looked Ge Dongxu up and down as if he was an alien.

    High school student, billionaire, doctor, cultivator, and now an official as well.

    If someone else had told her instead of seeing this man in front of her, she probably would never have believed them.

    "Why are you looking at me like that? Don''t tell me you don''t recognize me?" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "So what level is this advisor position of yours?" Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a look and then couldn''t help but ask again.

    "Vice-ministerial level, I guess!" Ge Dongxu casually replied. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Vice-ministerial¡­" Liu Jiayao''s mouth dropped open, then she quickly exaggeratedly covered her mouth.

    Vice-ministerial is equivalent to the level of a vice governor.

    A vice-ministerial official at eighteen!

    Her man was a vice-ministerial official!

    It took Liu Jiayao a good while to completely digest this string of news.

    "You this fellow, can you remove the word ''guess''?" after a while, Liu Jiayao looked at Ge Dongxu, who appeared calm and casual as if what he was saying was completely ordinary, and couldn''t help but give Ge Dongxu a stern look as she spoke.

    "Is there a problem?" Ge Dongxu asked, puzzled.

    "Vice-ministerial level! And you''re still so nonchalant, even stating ''guess''? You, do you realize how provoking you look?" Liu Jiayao almost gritted her teeth.

    "Alright, actually, to tell the truth, I don''t really want this nominal position," Ge Dongxu finally understood why Liu Jiayao was saying all this, and couldn''t help but laugh and cry.

    Liu Jiayao looked at Ge Dongxu speechlessly.

    Should he be called pretentious, or acting cute after getting a bargain? Neither! This guy genuinely didn''t want this vice-ministerial nominal position.

    "Alright, let''s pretend I didn''t say anything. Let''s just order some stuff and start barbecuing," Liu Jiayao was completely defeated by Ge Dongxu.

    Now she fully understood that nothing that happened to this man of hers was surprising.

    "Exactly, let''s just order some food; that''s the main thing," Ge Dongxu laughed and then called the waiter over, ordering lamb skewers, lamb ribs, chicken wings, some corn, and other barbecue items and drinks.

    All these items were ready right away, and it wasn''t long before the waiter brought them over.

    Ge Dongxu took a few lamb skewers and chicken wings, placing them on the stove and skillfully flipping them.

    "Don''t tell me you used to sell lamb skewers before?" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s skilled movements, Liu Jiayao finally shifted her focus from the vice-ministerial level to the skewers.

    "Heh, not really. But back when I was with my master, I often cooked for him, and my family does run a farmhouse restaurant, so I really do have a knack for cooking," Ge Dongxu laughed and replied.

    "Ah, then I''ve never seen you cook for me!" Liu Jiayao was surprised, and then she gave Ge Dongxu a look.

    "You never give me a chance! You always drag me out to eat at restaurants," Ge Dongxu replied with an aggrieved face.

    "Alright, next time you come over, we''ll cook ourselves," Liu Jiayao said, her eyes shining with anticipation.

    "No problem at all. Just tell me what you want to eat, and I''ll cook it for you," Ge Dongxu said.

    "You''re so kind!" Liu Jiayao''s gaze softened involuntarily as she heard his words.

    ...

    "Boss, who was that young guy just now? We even had to give up our seats for him, and I had just started eating!" A young man who was eating barbecue with Xu Lei in a Cherokee not far from the scenic platform asked with a reluctant face.

    "Didn''t you see me calling him ''Director'' just now?" Xu Lei turned his head and glanced at the young man.

    "No way, you mean he''s a leader in our bureau? How old is he?" Two men and a woman in the car all widened their eyes and said in disbelief.

    Because of Ge Dongxu''s special identity, Fan Hong later specifically instructed Xu Lei not to monitor him and his family. Therefore, only a few key leaders in the Special Ability Management Bureau of Jiangnan Province knew about Ge Dongxu''s existence; the lower-ranked staff did not.

    "Well, since you''ve encountered him today, I''ll mention this to you. The man just now was Ge Dongxu, our bureau''s newly appointed Director-level consultant. Whenever you see him in the future, you''d better be on your best behavior, no funny faces," Xu Lei nodded and then said seriously.

    Most employees of the Special Ability Management Bureau, except a few clerical staff, were Magicians with cultivated abilities. These individuals, inherently proud because of their Mysterious Arts, were free to do what they wanted outside of missions, not bound by strict norms.

    Like the three young people dining with Xu Lei today, the young man who had asked the question even had a few strands of yellow-green dyed hair, looking like someone who mixed with society. People unaware of his situation wouldn''t guess that he was a government employee with Mysterious Arts. Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    The other two were similarly casual. The sole young woman among them wore jeans with several rips.

    "No way? A Director-level consultant, aren''t they usually all old men and women?" The young man with dyed hair said in disbelief.

    "What old men and women? They are seniors from Qimen!" Xu Lei couldn''t help but turn around and knock on the young man''s head.

    "Yes, yes, seniors from Qimen! But that young man just now didn''t seem to have any connection with seniors at all!" The young man ducked his head and then rubbed the spot where he had been hit, saying.

    "That''s because you haven''t seen his formidable skills. If you had, you wouldn''t think so. Anyway, when you see him in the future, you must show the utmost respect. If there''s any disrespect, don''t blame me for putting you in solitary confinement immediately!" Xu Lei said sternly.

    "Yes!" The three of them shivered slightly when Xu Lei mentioned solitary confinement, and all responded solemnly, though their eyes still showed hints of disbelief.

    No wonder, they were all young and competitive. They could accept Ge Dongxu being very old, but it was hard to convince them about someone younger than themselves without seeing first-hand.

    "Boss, since you say Director Ge is so powerful, why are we still sitting here?" another well-dressed young man asked.

    "You really are clueless!" The other two, a man and a woman, immediately scoffed.

    "Did I say something wrong?" the well-dressed young man asked defiantly.

    "Nonsense! What kind of place is this, with all sorts from the Nine Streams. The woman Director Ge brought..."

    "Slap!" The young man hadn''t finished speaking when Xu Lei raised his hand and slapped him on the head, "What kind of language is that?"

    "Boss, I''m sorry! I''ve been hanging out with those guys too much and picked up their habits!" the young man who looked like a delinquent hurriedly apologized.

    "If there''s another disrespectful word, it''s straight to confinement! And you''re not allowed to go near those messy places anymore," Xu Lei said with a grim face.

    Joking aside, even their bureau''s top boss, Director Fan, was extremely respectful toward Director Ge, treating him as a junior. Could his woman be referred to so disparagingly?

    "Yes!" The young man couldn''t help but shiver, and then continued, "The friend Director Ge brought is so stunning... ah... Boss, I mean no disrespect; I just meant to say that Director Ge''s girlfriend is beautiful."

 Chapter 284 Meeting Senior Sister

    Xu Lei snorted coldly but said nothing.

    The young man quietly sighed with relief and then continued, "Director Ge''s girlfriend is so beautiful. In such a place, if a few drunkards or some blind guys come to harass and make trouble. With Director Ge''s capabilities, a few ordinary folk are naturally not worth worrying about, but if they were to spoil his good mood, that would be regrettable. That''s why I specifically stayed, not because I''m worried about Director Ge''s personal safety, but to prevent those blind fools from ruining his good mood."

    "You, although you hang out in bright and bustling places every day, still have a quick-witted mind." Xu Lei nodded in approval upon hearing this.

    "Boss, our Cherishing Flowers Sect''s mental method is all about moving through a sea of flowers without a leaf sticking to the body. I frequent those places to train through worldly experiences and temper my determination," the young man clarified.

    "Pfft! Cherishing Flowers? I think ''plucking flowers'' is more like it." The other male and female immediately gave him a scornful look.

    "Ma Xiaoshuai, when they call you fat, you really do take it to heart!" Xu Lei said with a laugh as he pointed at the young man. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire

    "Why don''t you guys believe me? I really am cultivating!" Ma Xiaoshuai cried out with an aggrieved face.

    "Alright, we believe you, is that good enough? But honestly, Ma Xiaoshuai, your sect''s mental method is really messed up. Navigating through a sea of flowers and not letting a leaf stick to you¡ª if it was an old man in his seventies or eighties, fine, but for a young guy like you, isn''t this just torture to your body and mind? Can you really withstand a beauty stripping in front of you?" the well-dressed young man said sympathetically as he looked at Ma Xiaoshuai.

    "This is a profound mental method; you wouldn''t understand," Ma Xiaoshuai said with an inscrutable look.

    "Enough with being profound or not. I won''t concern myself with how you train through worldly experiences or temper your determination, but remember one thing¡ªyou mustn''t harm good girls, otherwise I won''t be able to protect you," Xu Lei said earnestly, clearly quite aware of Ma Xiaoshuai''s cultivation matters.

    "Understood, Boss," Ma Xiaoshuai said, his mood visibly deflated upon hearing Xu Lei speak in this manner.

    The male and female were left confused, not quite understanding the underlying meaning of the conversation between Xu Lei and Ma Xiaoshuai.

    ...

    While Xu Lei and others were talking from afar in the car, people occasionally arrived at the barbecue restaurant.

    Seeing the place packed, some left with a disappointed and disheartened expression, while others lingered, relentlessly scanning the filled landscape platform of tables and barbecues to see if anyone would leave their seat.

    However, it was not long after dark, the prime time for barbecue had just begun, and no one was leaving their seats.

    "It really is a letdown. There''s no more seating. Forget it, I''ll take you ladies to another place for a big meal," a young man said to his three female companions upon seeing the crowd.

    "Let''s wait a bit longer; maybe a spot will open up," a woman with particularly long legs in jeans suggested.

    "Oh, what is he doing here?" the woman had barely finished her sentence when a quiet-looking girl expressed surprise as she spotted Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao at a table.

    "Oh, Su Qian!" Ge Dongxu''s sixth sense was very sharp. As soon as the quiet girl fixed her gaze on him, he immediately sensed it and hurriedly looked up. On seeing her, his face also inadvertently showed surprise.

    "What''s wrong? Do you know that girl?" Liu Jiayao asked curiously, following Ge Dongxu''s gaze to Su Qian.

    "A senior from high school, I haven''t seen her for over a year, I didn''t expect her to have moved to the Provincial Capital," Ge Dongxu replied, originally planning to keep his head down and continue grilling, but he eventually raised his hand and waved at Su Qian as a greeting. He just didn''t bother to stand up specifically.

    He still harbored some grudges about that day when he had specifically prepared three Heart-Cleansing Talismans for Jiang Lili, Dong Yuxin, and Su Qian, and Su Qian had just crumpled hers up and tossed it away.

    "Since you''ve run into your senior, why not go and say hello? Is it because it''s awkward with me here?" Liu Jiayao asked.

    "No, it''s just that we''re not that close," Ge Dongxu said with a faint smile, a trace of loss fleeting through his eyes.

    Although that incident was over a year ago, and he hadn''t thought about Dong Yuxin during this past year, Dong Yuxin had been the first girl he had met in high school, and also one he had been quite close to, so seeing Su Qian still inevitably stirred up some memories of the past.

    Women''s intuition is always particularly sharp, and although the loss in Ge Dongxu''s eyes was fleeting, Liu Jiayao still noticed it and couldn''t help but feel very curious.

    Although Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu were close to taking the final step, she actually knew very little about his life, especially his romantic life, very little indeed.

    ...

    "What''s wrong? Do you know that woman?" The young man followed Su Qian''s gaze, and his eyes were instantly captivated by Liu Jiayao, he blurted out.

    "No, it''s that guy, he was a junior in my high school. But it''s strange, he''s only supposed to be in his final year of high school in Changxi County this year, what is he doing in the Provincial Capital? And he''s with a woman too," Su Qian replied, her eyes filled with surprise and confusion.

    It was only because the young man beside her said so that she noticed the woman with Ge Dongxu seemed stunning even from a distance, making her feel somewhat inferior, even Dong Yuxin seemed a bit less in comparison.

    It wasn''t that Dong Yuxin was less attractive or well-built than Liu Jiayao, but Liu Jiayao possessed a mature and elegant demeanor that Dong Yuxin did not.

    This kind of demeanor requires time and life''s sedimentation.

    "Maybe he has relatives in the Provincial Capital," said one of the round-faced girls.

    "There are only the two of them, and with us, that makes six people. Suzhen, since you know him, why don''t we join them at their table?" the long-legged girl suggested.

    "That''s a great idea! It''s more fun with more people," the young man immediately agreed.

    Having said that, without waiting for Su Qian''s reply, he was already eagerly walking towards Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing this, Su Qian and her friends quickly followed.

    Although Ge Dongxu still had some lingering grudges against Su Qian, since they were schoolmates and had shared some friendship back then, seeing Su Qian approaching with her friends, he stood up and smiled, "Su Qian, hello, I didn''t expect to run into you here."

    "Yeah, I didn''t expect it either. They are my classmates and seniors, we originally came here to have a barbecue, but it''s overcrowded. You have quite a few seats empty here, you won''t mind us joining you, right?" Su Qian said with a smile, her gaze inadvertently drifting towards Liu Jiayao, full of astonishment.

    As they got closer, that stunning feeling grew even stronger.

 Chapter 285 His Family is Very Rich

    "Eating barbecue is fun with a lot of people. I''ll treat everyone tonight!" Su Qian said, as the young man had already nonchalantly pulled out a chair and taken a seat.

    "Yeah, yeah, the more the merrier." The other two girls, after all still students, also sat down laughing, seemingly without much scheming.

    "Hehe, true, barbecue is indeed more fun with more people. But since you''re still students, we should be the ones treating you." Liu Jiayao actually wanted to learn more about Ge Dongxu''s love life and since Su Qian had spoken up and her classmate had already made himself at home, she didn''t wait for Dongxu to say anything. She smiled and took over the conversation not wanting Dongxu to feel awkward because of her presence.

    "Hehe, I am a student, but I''ve already started a small company outside, so I can treat you to dinner, no problem," the young man said, his face clearly showing a smug look of pride.

    "Yeah, Senior Luo Cheng is amazing. We plan to go work and intern at his company this coming summer vacation," Su Qian said as she took her seat, seeing that the senior and the other two classmates had already sat down and Liu Jiayao had spoken as well.

    Liu Jiayao looked at Ge Dongxu with a smile in her eyes when she heard this.

    "Then let''s go Dutch," Ge Dongxu said naturally not wanting to drive them away, but also not willing to accept Luo Cheng''s offer.

    "Dongxu, don''t argue with Senior Luo Cheng, his family is really rich," Su Qian said.

    "Dongxu, and this beautiful lady, don''t listen to Su Qian''s nonsense. It''s just a small hotel my dad owns, worth only four or five million. That''s hardly considered wealthy in the Provincial Capital! But anyway, treating you at a place like this is no problem," Luo Cheng said with a laugh, waving his hand with "humility," though his eyes kept darting towards Liu Jiayao.

    Too bad Liu Jiayao just smiled and looked at Ge Dongxu sitting opposite her, paying him no attention, let alone dazzling like the three girls when they heard about the hotel and the four or five million.

    Seeing Liu Jiayao''s look, which clearly carried a hint of schadenfreude, Ge Dongxu could tell she was probably laughing at him, "You''re being looked down upon," and couldn''t help but give her a wry look, then said, "Since that''s the case, I won''t be polite with you."

    There was no helping it, Luo Cheng had "humbly" gone that far, and Ge Dongxu, as a multimillionaire, had to give him some face and let him treat this time.

    "Of course, there''s no need for politeness. You are Su Qian''s junior, and I am Su Qian''s senior, which makes us all classmates!" Luo Cheng said, patting Ge Dongxu on the shoulder in a very familiar manner.

    After that, Luo Cheng called over the waiter and ordered a lot of barbecue ingredients, seemingly trying to flaunt his wealth. Ge Dongxu just gave a noncommittal smile and continued grilling the chicken wings and lamb skewers he had put on the grill earlier.

    Watching Ge Dongxu''s skilled movements, Su Qian and the other two girls all revealed a look of surprise, while Luo Cheng chatted with Liu Jiayao half-heartedly, trying to draw her attention with subtle boasting.

    Unfortunately, what Luo Cheng didn''t know was that a woman like Liu Jiayao could hardly be drawn to a shallow man like him¡ªit was simply futile.

    "The chicken wings are ready. Ladies first, so Luo Cheng, you''ll just have to wait," Ge Dongxu said, not considering a man of Luo Cheng''s level as a rival. He didn''t pay attention to Luo Cheng''s attempts to chat up Liu Jiayao, and seeing the chicken wings were ready, he handed one to Liu Jiayao first, then to Su Qian and the other two girls. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire

    As soon as Liu Jiayao and the others took the chicken wings, a delicious aroma assailed their nostrils, and they looked down at the glistening wings in their hands, which were perfectly cooked without a trace of charring. The enticing color and tempting fragrance were irresistible, and without caring about the scalding heat or feminine restraint, they bit into them.

    With that first bite, the girls'' eyes immediately brightened. Although they initially took delicate bites, showing only the pearly white of their teeth and maintaining ladylike elegance, they soon abandoned any pretense of delicacy and started tearing in, reminiscent of hearty drinking and feasting.

    Of course, even when a beauty like Liu Jiayao tore into her food, there remained a captivating charm.

    "How is it?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile upon seeing their reactions.

    He started doing this kind of thing at a very young age, and now with his cultivation progressing rapidly, he had become exceptionally skilled at controlling the cooking process.

    "It''s amazing! Dongxu, your family wouldn''t happen to run a barbecue restaurant, would they?" It wasn''t Liu Jiayao who responded to Ge Dongxu, but the long-legged beauty.

    "Yeah, yeah, it''s really delicious. Your family really doesn''t run a barbecue restaurant?" Another girl with a round face nodded eagerly in agreement.

    "Giggle, Minru, you might have guessed a bit right. But Dongxu''s family doesn''t run a barbecue restaurant, they run a rural resort," said Su Qian with a smirk.

    She used to walk home from school with Jiang Lili, Dong Yuxin, and Ge Dongxu quite often and thus knew a bit about his family background.

    "No wonder the barbecue tastes so good, it turns out that your family runs a rural leisure home." When Luo Cheng saw that the girls were all praising Ge Dongxu''s grilling skills, he couldn''t help feeling a bit envious. Now that Su Qian mentioned it, a slight look of scorn appeared on his face.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled, as if he didn''t pick up on the belittling tone in Luo Cheng''s words. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    His family did indeed run a rural leisure home, and he felt there was nothing wrong with that¡ªit didn''t seem inferior to running a hotel to him.

    At this moment, a waiter brought over what Luo Cheng had ordered.

    Luo Cheng then grabbed a handful of lamb skewers and chicken wings and handed them to Ge Dongxu, saying with a smile, "Dongxu, the capable should do more. The grilling task is all yours; we''re responsible for eating and drinking."

    There wasn''t anything wrong with that in itself, but Luo Cheng''s tone sounded condescending, which caused Liu Jiayao''s brows to furrow slightly, showing a bit of displeasure.

    "No problem." Ge Dongxu didn''t seem to find anything wrong with it, and smiled as he collected the lamb skewers that were just ready, placed them on a plate, then took the skewers and chicken wings from Luo Cheng and said, "The lamb skewers are ready too. You guys eat; I''ll keep grilling over here."

    Seeing Ge Dongxu busily enjoying himself, a hint of disdain flashed in Luo Cheng''s eyes. He then picked up two skewers of lamb and, smiling, offered them to Liu Jiayao, "Sister Liu, try Dongxu''s cooking."

    "Hey, senior Luo, you''re biased, aren''t you? You see Sister Liu, a great beauty, and forget about us juniors," Lin Minru, the long-legged beauty, immediately pouted.

    "Yeah, exactly!" The round-faced girl and Su Qian also joined in protest.

    Luo Cheng, flattered by the protests of the three girls, hurriedly grabbed a handful of lamb skewers and passed them to each of them, then deliberately turned to Liu Jiayao and said, "Sister Liu, they just love making a fuss; don''t take it to heart."

    Liu Jiayao just smiled noncommittally and then offered her skewer of lamb to Ge Dongxu.

    "I''m busy, you eat first." Although Ge Dongxu didn''t take Luo Cheng seriously, he felt a slight warmth in his heart seeing Liu Jiayao ignoring him and deliberately offering the skewer to him. His hands kept turning the meat on the grill while he smiled back at her.

    "Your hands might be busy, but is your mouth too? Come on, open your mouth," Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a look with her charming eyes, pretending to be annoyed. Her cheeks were flushed a lovely shade of red from the firelight, making her look particularly enticing.

    Ge Dongxu, charmed by Liu Jiayao''s coquettish demeanor, swayed a bit and moved his mouth towards the skewer, biting off a piece.

    "The taste is quite good," Ge Dongxu said while chewing on the skewer of lamb.

    "You really have no shame, who compliments their own cooking?" Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a look.

    "I''m just being honest," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Eat your skewer!" Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu another look and held the skewer up to his mouth.

    Ge Dongxu laughed, then bit off the rest of the lamb skewer.

    "Beer or orange juice?" Liu Jiayao put down the stick and asked.

    "Beer, it''s more invigorating," Ge Dongxu replied.

    So Liu Jiayao poured a cup of beer for Ge Dongxu and then held it up to his mouth for him to drink.

 Chapter 286 This Senior of Yours is Quite Boring

    Watching Liu Jiayao, such a great beauty, feed Ge Dongxu mutton skewers and hand him drinks, jealousy burned within Luo Cheng, who regretted giving Ge Dongxu such a good gig. Even the men at the neighboring tables watched with a mix of envy and resentment.

    "Damn it, why can''t I meet a woman who has the looks, the figure, and is also so gentle and considerate!"

    Su Qian watched in confusion, unsure of the exact relationship between Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao.

    At first, she thought Liu Jiayao might be Ge Dongxu''s cousin or something, but now she seemed more like a girlfriend.

    But while others didn''t know Ge Dongxu''s background, Su Qian knew all too well. Just the fact that a high school student from a mountainous area could suddenly appear in the Provincial Capital was surprising and unexpected enough, let alone him having such a girlfriend that made even her feel ashamed; how could that be possible?

    "Sister Liu, that''s enough. Please take care of yourself, and don''t worry about me for now," Ge Dongxu said to Liu Jiayao with a smile after he had eaten two skewers of lamb and drank a beer with her "attentive" service.

    "Sure, I want to eat too." Liu Jiayao nodded, sat back in her seat, and started eating the mutton skewers.

    "Dongxu, aren''t you a senior in high school this year? How come you''ve come to the Provincial Capital?" Su Qian couldn''t contain her curiosity any longer and asked once Liu Jiayao had returned to her seat.

    The others also looked at Ge Dongxu curiously upon hearing this.

    In 1999, transportation was not especially convenient or fast, and it was indeed intriguing for a high school student to travel from a small place to the Provincial Capital.

    "I just had some things to take care of, so I took the opportunity to come over for the weekend," Ge Dongxu replied casually without even lifting his head.

    "Now that''s where you''re wrong, Dongxu. Senior year is crucial, and you shouldn''t be distracted," Luo Cheng said with a "heartfelt" criticism.

    "I know what I''m doing with my own affairs. There''s no need for you to worry," Ge Dongxu finally lifted his head, glanced at Luo Cheng, and then continued to focus on his grilling.

    "I''m just looking out for you," Luo Cheng said.

    "You''re overstepping, Luo Cheng," Liu Jiayao finally frowned slightly and spoke sharply to Luo Cheng.

    Luo Cheng had wanted to take the opportunity of lecturing Ge Dongxu to show off his maturity and stability in front of Liu Jiayao, to highlight that his identity was more than just a student and to remind her of Ge Dongxu''s high school status, hoping Liu Jiayao would look at him and Ge Dongxu differently. He didn''t expect Liu Jiayao to bluntly rebuke him, completely overturning her previous elegance and gentleness.

    Luo Cheng''s face turned red at once, and the atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward.

    "Come on, senior, eat some mutton skewers." Seeing that the mood was off, the round-faced girl cleverly grabbed a few skewers and offered them to Luo Cheng.

    Luo Cheng''s expression lightened a bit as he took the skewers and began to eat silently, unable to comprehend how a woman like Liu Jiayao could take a liking to a high school student like Ge Dongxu.

    "Oh, by the way, Dongxu, did you know about Yuxin going to the United States?" Su Qian felt the need to change the subject due to the awkward atmosphere.

    "Dong Yuxin went to the United States? When did this happen?" Ge Dongxu asked, lifting his head upon hearing the news.

    "Last year''s news. After finishing her freshman year, she went to the United States with her family. Didn''t she mention it to you? You two were quite close before," Su Qian said, glancing at Liu Jiayao as she spoke.

    "No, we lost contact after you all graduated," Ge Dongxu shook his head, feeling a slight sense of loss in his heart.

    The United States is such a distant place¡ªsome people seem destined to merely pass through our lives.

    "Oh, I thought she would have mentioned it to you," Su Qian said, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes. It was hard to tell if she was laughing at Ge Dongxu''s past foolish attempt to ''aim for the swan as a toad,'' but when her gaze swept over Liu Jiayao, it was tinged with confusion.

    Su Qian always had a serene demeanor. Back in those days when everyone hung out together, she seldom joined Jiang Lili in teasing Ge Dongxu. In fact, deep down, Su Qian always looked down upon Ge Dongxu, the junior who came from the mountainous region.

    However, the current closeness between Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu was completely beyond her understanding.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and was about to continue turning the skewers, but he eventually asked, "Is she doing well in the United States?"

    Regardless of anything, they used to be close, and since she had gone to a distant place, it was only right to be concerned. Not that Ge Dongxu had any special feelings for Dong Yuxin. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire

    "I don''t know. We contacted each other a couple times just after she left, but then we lost touch," Su Qian shook her head, revealing a trace of disappointment.

    "Who is Dong Yuxin you guys are talking about?" Lin Minru asked, unable to curb her curiosity.

    "She''s my best friend from high school, the school beauty!" Su Qian replied.

    "Wow! So, is that school beauty Dongxu''s secret crush?" The two girls immediately brightened up, speaking with gossip-hungry anticipation.

    "That''s quite normal, isn''t it? Which guy hasn''t had a crush on the school beauty? Right, Dongxu?" Luo Cheng interjected matter-of-factly, glancing intentionally at Liu Jiayao.

    Ge Dongxu smiled noncommittally and continued to turn the skewers.

    Of course, he couldn''t be bothered to explain to people like Luo Cheng, and as for Liu Jiayao, there was no need for explanations between them.

    "Haha, Dongxu is too embarrassed to say," Luo Cheng pointed at Ge Dongxu and laughed.

    "But at your age, and still in senior year of high school, you really can only harbor a crush. But it won''t be long now; once you get into university, you''ll be free. By the way, Dongxu, how are your grades?" Luo Cheng, seeing that Ge Dongxu was ignoring him, continued to talk, always carrying a tone that Ge Dongxu found annoyingly condescending.

    "Sister Liu, how''s the food going for you?" Ge Dongxu didn''t respond to Luo Cheng, instead raising his head to ask Liu Jiayao.

    "It''s about enough," Liu Jiayao smiled.

    "Since it''s almost done, then Su Qian, fellow classmates, we''ll take our leave first," Ge Dongxu said.

    He really couldn''t be bothered listening to Luo Cheng, who was so full of himself, go on showing off and lecturing. Besides, this barbecue wasn''t what he and Liu Jiayao wanted. It was better just to leave.

    "What''s the meaning of this, Classmate Dongxu? Do you look down on me, Luo Cheng?" Luo Cheng, who had been enjoying himself, was caught off guard by Ge Dongxu''s casual mention of leaving. He was stunned for a moment before his face turned red and he abruptly stood up.

    "Su Qian, your senior here is rather dull. I think you should stay away from him in the future." Ge Dongxu ignored Luo Cheng and turned to Su Qian instead, then pulled out a large red note and placed it on the table. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Since he didn''t want to deal with Luo Cheng, Ge Dongxu naturally didn''t want to owe him any favors.

 Chapter 287 Its all his fault!

    "Dongxu, how can you act like this? Senior Luo Cheng is just concerned about you!" Su Qian, upon seeing this, not only failed to heed Ge Dongxu''s words but also stood up, looking at Ge Dongxu angrily, reproaching him.

    "Concerned about me?" Ge Dongxu laughed, his gaze upon Su Qian no longer warm as before but filled with estrangement, as if the two of them were complete strangers.

    Luo Cheng belittled Ge Dongxu and elevated himself, aiming to catch Liu Jiayao''s attention. To put it crudely, he was trying to steal Ge Dongxu''s thunder. This attitude was too blatant; anyone could see it clearly. Ge Dongxu did not believe for a second that Su Qian and the other two girls couldn''t see it either.

    However, since everyone was alumni, Ge Dongxu still gave Su Qian face. He made a point of greeting them when he stood up, aiming for a cordial parting without causing any awkwardness.

    What Ge Dongxu hadn''t expected was that Luo Cheng truly thought he was someone significant, getting up with a face full of rage to accuse him, and even more unexpectedly, Su Qian stood on his side to blame him.

    Su Qian''s contempt and her opportunist nature were laid bare at that moment.

    And it was at this moment that the friendship between Su Qian and Ge Dongxu finally dissipated into nothing.

    She was her, and Ge Dongxu was Ge Dongxu; there was no connection between them any longer.

    "Let''s go." Ge Dongxu pulled Liu Jiayao, who was about to speak out of anger, and smiled faintly.

    Liu Jiayao was momentarily taken aback, then flashed Ge Dongxu a sweet smile, intimately looping her arm through his.

    "Stop right there!" Seeing the goddess he had been courting so eagerly now intimately holding Ge Dongxu''s hand, Luo Cheng felt he had suffered an immense humiliation. With his dignity lost, anger mixed with alcohol rushed to his brain, and he shouted furiously at Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao.

    Naturally, Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao paid no mind to someone like him; stooping to his level would only lower their own status.

    The pair acted as if they hadn''t heard Luo Cheng''s yelling and simply walked away.

    Watching this, Luo Cheng was so infuriated he wanted to rush forward, but Lin Minru and another girl with a round face finally came to their senses. They hurriedly stepped forward to pull him back, saying, "Let it go, senior. Just let it go."

    "Forget it; don''t get mad, senior. He is just like that, coming from the mountains with little real skill, always trying to act tough in front of others. He was the same back at school," Su Qian also quickly stepped up to restrain Luo Cheng. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Hearing this, Ge Dongxu wasn''t bothered; he knew Su Qian was referring to the incident with Chen Zihao from the past. However, Liu Jiayao did get truly angry, and her expression chilled instantly. She stopped walking, wanting to turn around and scold Su Qian, but Ge Dongxu gently patted her hand on his arm and whispered, "Let it go, it''s meaningless."

    "Only you could be so forgiving," Liu Jiayao looked at Ge Dongxu, her face previously cold as frost now melting into tenderness, and she playfully scolded him with a glance.

    "Hey, beauty, have a drink with me!" Just as Liu Jiayao was reproaching Ge Dongxu, a man with his chest half-exposed, showcasing a howling wolf tattoo, approached unsteadily with a glass in hand, reaching out to flirt with Liu Jiayao.

    "Sorry, my sister is not available," Ge Dongxu said, gently blocking the man''s hand.

    "Look, kiddo, when your brother-in-law wants to drink with your sister, you shouldn''t get in the way. Off you go, off you go," the man insisted as he reached out again to try to flirt with Liu Jiayao.

    "Haha!" A group of men and women sitting at two tables nearby all started laughing upon seeing this.

    "Get lost!" This time Ge Dongxu was a bit angry and directly pushed the man.

    The man probably had a bit too much to drink, or he didn''t expect Ge Dongxu to actually dare to push him. He lost his balance, stumbled a few steps backward, and then plopped down on the ground.

    At this moment, the laughter from the group of men and women that had filled the room stopped abruptly. They all stood up, and some even grabbed wine bottles from the table, moving in to surround Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao.

    Because Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao hadn''t taken two steps away, and since they probably noticed that Luo Cheng and his group were with Ge Dongxu, they ended up encircling them as well.

    "Fuck! There are really some who don''t know their place!" From the parking lot in the distance, Xu Lei and others inside the Cherokee saw what was happening, hurriedly got out of the car, eyes flashing coldly. When Xu Lei got out, he also made a point of making a phone call.

    "Brother Wolf, let''s talk this out, talk this out," Luo Cheng said, moving quickly up to the man with the wolf head tattoo on his chest who was already standing up.

    "Eh, fuck, aren''t you the son of the fat Luo from the Romantic Hotel!" Brother Wolf, red-eyed, glanced up at Luo Cheng, seemed slightly taken aback, and then suddenly recognized him. He clapped him heavily on the shoulder and said.

    "Right, right. Look, we''re all friends here. Give me some face today. Tonight''s bill is on me. How about we call it even?" Seeing that Brother Wolf recognized him and clapped his shoulder, Luo Cheng felt like he was saving face. While speaking, he even glanced over at Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu with a somewhat proud and smug look.

    "Fuck! Do I look like someone who can''t afford barbecue, Brother Wolf? Face, your mother''s face, how much is that worth? Fuck off a bit further, and leave your three chicks behind to have a few drinks with Brother Wolf. Fuck, what the hell, bringing three chicks out for barbecue, are you trying to show off?" Brother Wolf slapped Luo Cheng on the head and cursed.

    Su Qian and the other two girls, still students, had never seen such a scene. Seeing Brother Wolf wanted them to stay, their faces paled instantly. They hurriedly hid behind Luo Cheng, even clutching his clothes.

    "Brother Wolf, they''re just students, this isn''t right..." Luo Cheng, suppressing the fear inside him, said.

    "Fuck, what are you babbling about? Didn''t you hear Brother Wolf''s words? If it wasn''t for the fat Luo''s sake, I would have sorted you out too," a guy with a meaty face said, swinging a wine bottle from the table at Luo Cheng.

    As the guy swung the wine bottle, Luo Cheng immediately covered his head with his hands and ducked to the side.

    Seeing this, Su Qian and the other two girls tried to follow, but were already blocked by a few guys with dyed hair, laughing and joking. The girls screamed and instinctively ducked over to Ge Dongxu''s side.

    No matter what, Ge Dongxu was a man.

    "Brother Wolf, right? Considering that you are drunk, I''ll give you some face now. Get lost! I can let this slide. Otherwise..." Ge Dongxu said lightly after seeing Brother Wolf scare away Luo Cheng and then turn towards himself.

    "Haha! Fuck! You''re even more arrogant than me, kid!" Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Haha!"

    The others also laughed along, as if they had seen the funniest joke in the world, while Su Qian and the other two girls were shaking in fear, looking at Ge Dongxu with tearless eyes, even feeling the impulse to rush up and bite or kick him.

    It was all his fault, yet there he was acting nonchalant and overconfident. Wasn''t this harming everyone?

 Chapter 288 Director Ge, are you alright?

    "Liu Heng, growing bolder by the minute, huh? Broad daylight, in front of a crowd, you dare to harass women!" As the people around erupted into laughter, and women like Su Qian trembled, an authoritative voice suddenly rang out.

    Liu Heng, naturally, was Brother Wolf. Hearing his name called out, he froze for a moment, and just as he was about to see who it was, his head was violently struck by the butt of a gun, followed immediately by the cold barrel pressed against his head.

    "Put your hands on your head, squat down! And tell your people to squat down as well!" The commanding, icy voice sounded again in Liu Heng''s ear.

    Liu Heng was so frightened that his body hair stood on end. Without thinking, he squatted down, and did not forget to shout, "Everyone squat down for me, squat down!"

    But in fact, Liu Heng didn''t need to yell; his henchmen had already squatted down because as soon as Xu Lei pressed the gun to his forehead, Ma Xiaoshuai and the others had already been shouting, "Police action, everyone squat down."

    They also had their guns trained on the henchmen. A couple of them tried to slip away but were promptly brought down to the ground by Ma Xiaoshuai and a well-dressed young man with a kick, then beat their heads with the gun butts until blood flowed down.

    Xu Lei and his colleagues were very special police officers, having actually killed people, seen blood, and were even more elite than special forces. So when handling cases, they naturally could not be as "gentle" as ordinary station police officers. Moreover, these scum dared to harass Director Ge''s woman in broad daylight and wanted to harm Ge; not breaking their hands and feet on the spot was already considerate given the public setting.

    Liu Heng, a small-time leader on the streets, had seen his share of scenes and knew some rules. He knew that ordinary police officers handling cases seldom carried guns, especially for public order incidents where having a baton was already impressive. But now, Xu Lei and his team arrived, each with a gun, and they were vicious, using their gun butts to strike heads, and their bodies radiated a bone-chilling cold that could only come from those who had really taken lives and had blood on their hands.

    At that moment, Liu Heng was utterly terrified.

    He typically was involved in some gray business, collecting protection fees, and even if the police were to take action against them, they wouldn''t go as far as to use knives and guns, would they?

    Moreover, people like them usually had some interactions with the local station officers. As long as they did not go too far, the officers would generally not be too hard on them! Like tonight, they were just forcing some ladies to drink a few extra drinks, which, if the police happened to catch them, would most likely just result in a few words of reprimand.

    But today was different; these police officers said nothing before pointing their guns at them and hitting their heads. Such brutal and cold enforcement did not seem like dealing with a public order incident but rather treating them like violent murderers!

    "Officers, let''s talk this over, please, let''s talk it over. We were just joking with a few ladies, just joking!" Thinking this way, Liu Heng couldn''t help but sweat profusely, his face turning pale as he hastily pleaded.

    "Just a joke! Do you find this joke funny?" Xu Lei hit Liu Heng''s head with the gun butt again, causing fresh blood to flow down Liu Heng''s forehead.

    "Not funny, not at all funny! Officer, I was wrong, I was wrong!" With that hit, Liu Heng was even more frightened, tears nearly streaming out, feeling a strong urge to urinate.

    This guy, he really treated him like a murderer!

    The people enjoying the barbecue naturally witnessed this scene, but none of them felt that Xu Lei and his colleagues'' enforcement was problematic.

    It was because Liu Heng and his people had been so arrogant just now, openly forcing girls to drink in front of everyone. If it wasn''t for seeing how many of them there were, a few men would have been tempted to come forward to teach them a lesson earlier.

    Now the police had done them the favor of harshly disciplining these scumbags.

    "Humph! Keep it down!" Xu Lei saw that Liu Heng had been subdued and then approached Ge Dongxu, speaking in a low voice, "Director Ge, are you alright?" S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Ha, you do care. I''ll leave this place to you, Sister Liu and I will be going first." Ge Dongxu patted Xu Lei on the shoulder quietly, then nodded slightly to the tall, leggy beauty Lin Minru and the round-faced girl before leaving with Liu Jiayao.

    Speaking of which, the two girls actually acted more like his senior high school sisters just now.

    Meanwhile, Su Qian and the other two girls were completely flabbergasted, and Luo Cheng was no exception.

    They had thought it a coincidence that the police had arrived just then, but now they realized that these officers had appeared because of Ge Dongxu.

    Once he understood, Luo Cheng''s cheeks burned with pain, as if he had just been slapped several times, while Su Qian''s face turned even paler.

    In that moment, she remembered many things, including the day in senior year when Chen Zihao came to class limping with a bruised and swollen face, and also when she threw away the Heart-Cleansing Talisman Ge Dongxu had given her right in front of him.

    Liu Heng also came to the realization at this moment that these police officers, who treated him like a murderer, were here because of Ge Dongxu and that woman. He trembled uncontrollably and knew he had crossed someone he shouldn''t have.

    No sooner had Ge Dongxu left the barbecue restaurant on the viewing platform than sirens wailed down Qianjiang Avenue. Several police cars then pulled up on the road close to the barbecue restaurant, and more than a dozen officers rushed out. They didn''t waste any words and rounded up all the thugs squatting on the ground. A police officer with the rank of second-level police supervisor had already approached Xu Lei, looking at the gun in his hand with a mix of doubt and reverence.

    Xu Lei had deliberately called the municipal Public Security Bureau director when he got out of the car, asking him to send some officers from the nearby station for assistance.

    The director of the Public Security Bureau immediately made a call to mobilize police from the nearby station to head to the barbecue restaurant at the viewing platform.

    Xu Lei, knowing that the officer before him didn''t recognize him, took out his identification and handed it to him.

    The second-level police supervisor, who was also the head of the local police station, trembled as soon as he saw the ID passed by Xu Lei. He quickly stood at attention to salute, cursing Liu Heng and his gang internally. Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

    Damn, even the Provincial National Security Bureau''s been alerted, tarnishing the reputation of the station that I manage. This could even lead to a demerit on my own record, affecting my career advancement.

    To Liu Heng, who was well-known in the area, the arriving station head was a familiar face. Seeing him rush over, there was a secret sigh of relief in Liu''s heart.

    Being an acquaintance, as long as he was taken into the station, it would always be better than facing these gun-toting guys!

    But as Liu Heng saw even the station head saluting Xu Lei with such a serious expression, his vision nearly blacked out, and he nearly passed out.

    Damn, if someone more important than the station head is here, could it be that they''re from the district or the municipal Public Security Bureau leadership? What on earth is the background of that young couple that I just provoked? Damn this trick, having such high-powered people come eat barbecue here, isn''t that just setting people up?

    Poor Liu Heng still didn''t know that Xu Lei wasn''t some Public Security Bureau leader but a leader from the National Security Bureau, an agency that under certain circumstances, has the national authority to apprehend people directly. Otherwise, Liu Heng would have indeed blacked out and fainted on the spot.

 Chapter 289 Take Them All Back

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    Liu Heng almost blacked out as he watched the chief of the police station salute Xu Lei. Luo Cheng, standing beside, recalled that he had just tried to hit on Ge Dongxu''s girlfriend in front of him and had nearly grabbed Ge''s collar in a fit of anger, which also scared him into a cold sweat.

    Goodness, could he, a mere son of a small hotel owner and a university student, dare to mess with someone even the chief of the police station saluted? S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As for Su Qian, who seemed gentle but was actually quite mercenary, was naturally filled with regret at this moment.

    "Take them all back, interrogate each one of them thoroughly," Xu Lei said coldly as he took his ID back.

    "Yes!" the chief of the police station replied, standing at attention, unable to stop the cold sweat from breaking out on his forehead.

    This was the Deputy Director of the Provincial National Security Bureau; the people in his department even excelled at counter-espionage. These ordinary police officers were mere rookies compared to them!

    If he demanded a thorough investigation, then these gangsters might as well have every detail of their underwear scrutinized.

    "Take them all back!" the chief of the police station said forcefully, wiping his forehead, then shouted at the officers.

    Thus, all the gangsters, including Liu Heng, were escorted onto the police car.

    "Clap, clap, clap!" the people at the scenic platform all started applauding.

    "Wait!" Ma Xiaoshuai called out, then took a wallet from Liu Heng''s pocket, pulled out a stack of money, and placed it on the table.

    "Clap, clap, clap!" The applause grew louder.

    Only Luo Cheng and a few others stood still, feeling like their emotions were in turmoil.

    ...

    "Director Zhang, it was just a bit of over-drinking and making a scene, is there really a need for such a big fuss?" Late at night, a bald man, sitting in the office of the chief of the Qianjiang Boulevard police station, rubbed his shiny head and spoke discontentedly.

    The bald man was named Wang Qiang, also known as Bald Strong, a notable figure in the gray area of Linzhou City, primarily running entertainment venues.

    Liu Heng was one of his men. Because of a word from Xu Lei, the Qianjiang Boulevard police station had not even notified anyone and directly dispatched police to raid the entertainment venues around Qianjiang Boulevard, taking away people related to Liu Heng and some other troublemakers.

    "Boss Wang, I had no choice, this was an order from above," Director Zhang, the same one who had responded to the call earlier, told Wang Qiang.

    "From above? Director Zhang, that''s not very friendly. I called Director Zhao of your district before coming here, and he didn''t mention any such notice," Wang Qiang said as he passed a Chunghwa cigarette to Director Zhang.

    "It was an emergency, directly ordered by the city bureau leadership," Director Zhang said with a bitter smile, putting down the cigarette Wang Qiang had handed him.

    Wang Qiang, who navigated the gray areas, wasn''t exactly a criminal, but he couldn''t be called a good man either. People like him often had extensive connections and were influential in both the lawful and the underworld.

    Wang Qiang was such a person and because his business was significant, he was considered a prominent businessman and wealthy entrepreneur in the city, he even held a title in the city''s political consultative conference. If not for Xu Lei''s insistence, Director Zhang really wouldn''t have wanted to make such a big fuss about this incident.

    "City bureau leadership? Which leader, Director Zhang? Just give me some insight. After all, you''ve already conducted the investigation and made the arrests. It''s only fair to let me understand so I can apologize in person and prevent that leader from holding a grudge against me," Wang Qiang said, realizing that Liu Heng and the others must have offended some city bureau leader or a leader''s relative or friend.

    This kind of thing could be big or small, but since the leader was angry, if Wang Qiang acted as if nothing had happened and showed no reaction, then a small issue was likely to escalate.

    For people like them, who earned money by bending the rules, if the higher departments really took things seriously, they couldn''t withstand scrutiny.

    Director Zhang looked at Wang Qiang, hesitated for quite a while, and only under Wang Qiang''s request, he reluctantly said, "Actually, the real trouble Liu Heng and his group faced was with the people from the National Security Bureau, so I think it''s best for you to pretend you don''t know about this. Liu Heng and his group have indeed been too audacious recently. Letting them suffer a bit might actually be a good thing."

    "National Security Bureau? Damn, these kids really know how to cause trouble!" Wang Qiang gasped in shock and cursed, then thought for a moment and said, "I''m not a good person, but when my guys are in trouble, I must do something about it. I''ll make a call and see what I can do. If it really doesn''t work out, then Director Zhang, you do what you must and I''ll cooperate however necessary."

    Upon hearing this, Director Zhang looked at Wang Qiang somewhat surprised. He clearly had not expected Wang Qiang to be so influential, to even know people in the National Security Bureau.

    Seeing Director Zhang''s surprised look, a hint of pride and satisfaction flashed in Wang Qiang''s eyes.

    This was exactly the effect he wanted.

    This is called leveraging!

    "I say Baldy Qiang, are you out of your mind calling me in the middle of the night, disturbing my sweet dreams?" Wang Qiang''s phone was quickly answered, and an unhappy voice came from the other side, it was Ma Xiaoshuai speaking.

    "Come on, you were lying in bed dreaming at this hour?" Wang Qiang scoffed.

    "What''s wrong with me lying in bed and dreaming at this hour?" Ma Xiaoshuai replied.

    "Stop beating around the bush. What exactly is going on with Liu Heng? Don''t tell me people in your line of work don''t know Liu Heng is my guy?" Wang Qiang said.

    At that, Ma Xiaoshuai on the other end of the phone fell silent for a while before finally speaking, "I had no choice, your subordinate was really clueless."

    "Given our relationship, was it necessary to make it this serious? Not even a warning for a brother?" Wang Qiang said discontentedly.

    "It''s not that I didn''t warn you, but this matter had to be handled this way. Do you know who was pointing a gun at Liu Heng''s head because of this?" Ma Xiaoshuai said with a bitter laugh.

    "Who? It wasn''t you, was it?" Wang Qiang asked.

    "If it were me, it would have been easier; it was our boss," Ma Xiaoshuai replied.

    "Xu Lei! Damn! What exactly did Liu Heng do to offend someone? This happened so suddenly, I hadn''t even thoroughly investigated yet. I only heard he got drunk at a barbecue and forced several female students to drink," Wang Qiang gasped sharply and then couldn''t help but curse loudly.

    "Come on, Baldy Qiang, you know our boss''s influence. Do you think our boss would personally aim a gun at Liu Heng''s head just because a few thugs forced a few female students to drink?" Ma Xiaoshuai asked, curling his lip.

    Naturally, Wang Qiang knew about Xu Lei''s influence because he, too, was a Magician mingling in ordinary society. Hearing this, cold sweat just kept beading on his forehead.

    "Damn! You mean that bastard offended someone even bigger than Xu Lei?" Wang Qiang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and cursed.

    "Good that you know, so let it be, and let your thugs take a good hard taste of jail. Damn, what are these guys doing, daring to harass women in public. And you, Baldy Qiang, keep an eye on your men for the sake of our friendship. Things are not like before. If our boss gets angry one day, we won''t be inviting you to the police station but directly here," Ma Xiaoshuai said.

    PS: At the request of a book friend for a cameo, Baldy Qiang makes a grand re-entry, this time his surname is Wang! Also, I went to celebrate the New Year''s Eve, wishing all book friends a happy new year, may your year be as awesome as Brother Xu''s.

 Chapter 290 I Dont Want You to Grow Old with Me

    "Okay, I got it. Thank you, this time I''ll give those little bastards a good lesson!" Wang Qiang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his face serious as he replied.

    He was joking, right? At the police station, all they''d get was administrative detention for a while, but if they ended up in Ma Xiaoshuai''s hands, who knew if they''d ever get out in this lifetime.

    "Thanks, but instead of thanking me, just do not call me in the middle of the night anymore," Ma Xiaoshuai said before hanging up the phone.

    After hanging up with Ma Xiaoshuai, the dissatisfaction on Wang Qiang''s face disappeared, replaced with a bitter smile as he said to Director Zhang, "Director Zhang, thank you. You handle the situation, and if you need my cooperation, just let me know, and I''ll fully cooperate."

    Thinking about someone even more badass than Xu Lei was enough to send shivers down Wang Qiang''s spine.

    ...

    In an apartment at Yadu Garden.

    "Dongxu, I really can''t do this anymore, I''m dead tired."

    "Then we''ll just stop."

    Silence...

    "Are you uncomfortable?"

    "Yeah."

    "How about I try harder?"

    After a long while...

    "Whew!" A long exhale echoed through the room, followed by two nude bodies getting up from the bed, walking into the bathroom, and then the sound of splashing water.

    "You big bad guy, you have to think of something, otherwise, I''ll be afraid to let you come to the Provincial Capital," Liu Jiayao said weakly, nestled against Ge Dongxu''s chest, biting his chest gently after they returned to the bed.

    "There''s nothing I can do about it! But if I don''t come to the Provincial Capital, what should I do when I miss you?" Ge Dongxu said with a pained expression.

    "Then teach me cultivation," Liu Jiayao said with a hint of distress, touching the spot on his chest where she had bitten after seeing Ge Dongxu''s pained look, then she suggested after thinking for a moment.

    "You''re already past the age for starting cultivation, so your progress would be very slow if you start now, and it wouldn''t be much help in that department. You''d be better off going to the gym more often," Ge Dongxu explained. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You! For your sake, I''ve already been going to the gym more frequently. Do you want me to develop a body full of muscles? That would just look hideous!" Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but bite Ge Dongxu again upon hearing this.

    "Then there''s nothing we can do about it, I''ll just have to try my best to hold back," Ge Dongxu said, frustrated.

    He was at the prime of his life in that aspect, and it was really tough for him to hold back when he was with Liu Jiayao. But if they got too intense, it would be very hard on Liu Jiayao.

    What a dilemma!

    "Will I never have the chance to cultivate in my lifetime?" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s frustration, Liu Jiayao asked with a wry smile.

    "That''s not necessarily true. I have a mental method that I can use to cultivate with you, to make up for your age delay. But I need to reach another realm where I can truly be intimate with you for it to work," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "Then when exactly will you reach this other realm?" Liu Jiayao''s eyes brightened at his words, then she asked with a flushed face.

    "I''m not sure about that, it could be three to five years, or maybe even a dozen years," Ge Dongxu replied with a wry smile.

    ```

    He needed to enter the Dragon Tiger Realm and truly understand the essence of discerning the True Dragon in the fire and recognizing the True Tiger in the water before he could merge with Liu Jiayao, but he was currently only at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, several minor realms away from the Dragon Tiger Realm. Even if he were to advance at his current steady and rapid pace, it would still take at least three to five years. As cultivation often became more difficult later on, even if he reached the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation, Ge Dongxu could enhance his speed by refining elixirs, yet a period of three to five years or even more than a decade would be considered normal.

    Of course, if a person from the Qimen were present now and heard Ge Dongxu mentioning three to five years, possibly even a decade, to reach the Dragon Tiger Realm, they would all be absolutely frightened to the point of collapsing.

    It was the twilight era of cultivation now, and the Dragon Tiger Realm had become a legend within the current Qimen circle. Whether such beings still existed was a complete mystery to everyone. Ge Dongxu was only eighteen years old now. To say nothing of a decade, even if it took him another eighty years to enter the Dragon Tiger Realm, it would shock the entire community of cultivators in Qimen.

    "Three to five years isn''t bad, but if it''s about a decade, I''ll already be a middle-aged auntie," Liu Jiayao said with a wry smile.

    "How could that be? With my beauty-preserving medicinal wine and the Flower Spirit that our company is about to succeed in developing soon, along with your natural beauty, I guarantee you will still look like a young girl in her twenties," Ge Dongxu hurriedly reassured her.

    "I don''t have the same confidence as you do," Liu Jiayao said, her fingers unconsciously drawing circles on Ge Dongxu''s chest. After a while, she bit her lip and said softly, "Actually, you don''t have to take it so to heart. I know there are other women in your life; it''s just that you worry about me, so there''s a hurdle in your heart."

    "What nonsense are you talking about?" Ge Dongxu caught Liu Jiayao''s hand, slightly unhappy, but images of Yuan Li and Jiang Lili uncontrollably flashed across his mind.

    "Do you dare say there are no other women in your heart?" Liu Jiayao asked.

    Ge Dongxu was immediately at a loss for words. Whether it was Yuan Li or Jiang Lili, both women had been intimately close to him, especially after exchanging passionate kisses with Yuan Li. To claim there were no traces of them in his heart would be a lie.

    "It''s different, that''s more of a man''s nature and doesn''t mean I have them in my heart, just..." After a long hesitation, Ge Dongxu finally spoke with a conflicted feeling.

    "You fool! Have you forgotten what I told you before? When you met me, you were too young, that wasn''t fair to you. Plus, you said you feel very close to me, that''s really enough. Besides, you are destined not to be ordinary, and yet I am just a mortal woman. How long can my youth last, and how far can I accompany you?" Liu Jiayao didn''t let Ge Dongxu finish, placing her finger on his lips to stop him, her eyes filled with deep affection and contentment.

    Liu Jiayao was truly content. If she hadn''t met Ge Dongxu, perhaps she would be in eternal slumber by now, vanished from this world, unable to be nestled by his side like this moment, enjoying his care and love!

    "Jiayao, it won''t happen, you will definitely be with me, to explore that mysterious path together. If not, I would rather grow old with you," Ge Dongxu looked at Liu Jiayao and said with deep emotion.

    "You fool! You fool! I don''t want you to grow old with me! I don''t!" As Liu Jiayao spoke, she was already in tears.

    ...

    The next day at noon, Ge Dongxu took a ride back to Changxi County with Wu Qianjin''s car.

    Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire

    Changxi County was home not only to the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory''s old factory and raw material production base but also to the Yaxu Printing and Packaging Factory. Thus, Wu Qianjin usually needed to be based in Changxi County.

    The car didn''t arrive in Changxi County until the evening.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu got out of the car and returned to his room in the villa to practice Talisman Drawing, his phone rang.

    The call was from Lin Jinnuo.

    "What''s the matter, Old Lin?" Ge Dongxu asked directly after picking up the phone.

    "This, this Dongxu, your friend from the capital, the one we met last time at my hotel, Mr. Fan, just who is he really?" Lin Jinnuo was obviously quite agitated and nervous, his voice stuttering and trembling.

    This was unprecedented for a big boss like him.

    "What happened? Did he come to Changxi County and you ran into him again?" Ge Dongxu asked, puzzled.

    "Yes, no, it''s actually that I am now in the capital," Lin Jinnuo was somewhat incoherent.

    ps: Updating on the first day of the lunar new year, that''s as diligent as it gets, let''s not talk about a burst of updates.

    ```

 Chapter 291 Actually, I Am Also a Big Shot

    ```

    "Oh, so you encountered him in the capital." Ge Dongxu smiled.

    "It wasn''t that I encountered him, but that I ran into trouble in the capital. Thinking I had no friends there, I tried giving him a call to see if he could help. And then..." Lin Jinnuo said excitedly.

    Even now, Lin Jinnuo could not keep his composure when he remembered the scene he had experienced in an entertainment venue in the capital.

    This time, his trip to the capital was actually to help Kontin Chain Hotels scout for a direct-sale store in the capital.

    After the new year, the development prospects of Kontin Chain Hotels became increasingly bright, naturally speeding up its expansion. Lin Kun, who was mainly responsible for the chain hotels, was busy with the affairs of the headquarters in the Provincial Capital, as well as managing other company matters and was naturally overwhelmed. Since the capital was one of the most critical cities in the development of Kontin Chain Hotels, when preparing to open the first chain store as a direct-sale store, sending staff to check it out was something Lin Kun could not feel at ease about. As he could not leave the headquarters, he simply asked his father Lin Jinnuo, the seasoned veteran, to step in.

    After all, the matters in Changxi County were being handled by the old team, so he didn''t need to watch over them every day.

    Lin Jinnuo, a widower in middle age who had not remarried, was in the hotel and catering industry himself. Upon arriving in the capital, he naturally wanted to visit entertainment venues to have some fun when he was free. Accompanying him was the owner of a medium-sized hotel he fancied and was preparing to take over and convert into a Kontin Chain Hotel.

    There should have been no issues, but unexpectedly, that owner had somehow offended a local black society influence, and his eagerness to sell the hotel was due to this reason. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    While they were having fun at the entertainment venue, they just happened to run into the owner''s adversary.

    Although Lin Jinnuo was stout, he was someone who valued brotherhood, and in a moment of passion, he spoke up and even got physical to defend the man. As a result, he was beaten up, and knowing that he was a local tycoon from a small place, they said he had injured their people and demanded money, threatening not to let him go otherwise.

    Lin Jinnuo was handling affairs for his son and felt he couldn''t lose face. Moreover, the sum demanded by the other party was too large, and he had put all his money into the new hotel. He had even taken out a loan from the bank last year, guaranteed by Ge Dongxu, so where could he produce such an amount of money at once? Even if he could, it would hurt.

    Having no other choice, Lin Jinnuo remembered Fan Hong, whom he had met at the hotel last time, thinking that as a local resident of the capital, he might have some connections and could mediate the situation with a little financial ''bleeding.'' So, Lin Jinnuo made a call to Fan Hong and recounted the situation to him.

    Fan Hong said he wasn''t currently in the capital, so he couldn''t deal with the matter personally, but he would send someone to handle it immediately.

    At first, Lin Jinnuo thought Fan Hong was looking for an excuse not to help, but to his surprise, within minutes, several police cars arrived and arrested all those people.

    The gang leader who had been extorting Lin Jinnuo clearly had some connections in the capital and even recognized the leading police officer. At first, he was calm and attempted to cozy up to the officer, but without saying much, the officer beat him up.

    ```

    After that, the owner of the entertainment venue personally came forward to plead on behalf of the assailant, but the police officer gave him no face, merely whispering something in the owner''s ear, which caused the owner''s face to completely change, not daring to let out a peep. Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire

    In the capital, no less, where one has to have deep connections to operate such a large entertainment venue¡ªyet, after the police officer whispered in his ear, he didn''t dare to let out a peep.

    That wasn''t the end of it. After the incident, the owner of the entertainment venue made a point of apologizing to Lin Jinnuo. Later, another person came, not only to apologize, but also to deliver a bank card to cover Lin Jinnuo''s medical expenses. The owner of the hotel that was preparing to hand over its management to the Kunting Chain Hotel Company told Lin Jinnuo that this man was the behind-the-scenes owner of the person who had assaulted him, and was very capable in the capital.

    When the hotel owner spoke these words, his gaze towards Lin Jinnuo was filled with reverence.

    Although Lin Jinnuo was only from a small place, he was still one of the influential figures of Changxi County. By now he understood that Fan Hong was not simply the head of a trading company; his influence in the capital was substantial. So when Fan Hong specially called to say he had returned to the capital and was planning to visit, Lin Jinnuo hurriedly called Ge Dongxu to probe for some information from him.

    After all, this was the capital! Even the rank of a police station chief here was comparable to that of a county public security bureau chief.

    And now, someone casually called over the police station chief in mere moments; how formidable must Fan Hong be?

    Lin Jinnuo, coming from a small place and suddenly meeting someone so influential, knew nothing about his background; how could he not be nervous?

    "Are you all right?" Ge Dongxu didn''t wait for Lin Jinnuo to finish, guessing that Lin Jinnuo must have witnessed some of Fan Hong''s influence. He interrupted Lin Jinnuo and asked with concern.

    "Just got hit a few times, but I''m thick-skinned, no harm done. On the contrary, I made a fortune thanks to your friend," Lin Jinnuo replied.

    "Money is an extraneous possession, no matter how much you have, you can''t take it with you when you''re born or when you die¡ªyour health matters more. You should go to the hospital for a check-up, and if there''s any problem, come back quickly. I''ll help you look into it," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Thanks, Dongxu, I know. But can you still tell me about your friend? You have no idea¡ªwhen a bunch of cops rushed in and started grabbing people, not only that, but several big bosses apologized to me afterward. Now that your friend said he wants to visit me, I don''t understand anything about him. Moreover, since he has done me such a big favor, what kind of gift should I prepare to show my gratitude? Also, the Kunting Chain Hotel is about to open up a branch here in the capital, do you think it would be appropriate to let him say a word to the local police station when the time comes, just to look out for us a bit?" Lin Jinnuo, moved by Ge Dongxu''s concern for his health, thanked him and then urgently inquired about Fan Hong.

    "You don''t need to prepare any gift; he won''t care for those things. As for the hotel, there''s no need to bring it up especially. He will know what he needs to know even if you don''t mention it. Just maintain a normal attitude," Ge Dongxu said casually.

    "You say that with such ease, Ge Dongxu, or should I say, Brother Xu, but this is the capital! With his level of influence, he''s clearly an important figure, and I owe him a huge favor¡ªis this really okay?" Lin Jinnuo, seeing Ge Dongxu''s casual tone, couldn''t help but express his mixed feelings of amusement and disbelief.

    "Don''t worry, you were attacked in the capital because of my company''s business; if anything, I owe you a favor. And the favor he owes me¡ªif we really start comparing, would turn out to be much bigger than what he''s done for you. Besides, we are all friends, so there''s nothing special you need to be thankful for. It''s true that he''s an important figure, but you know what, I am too, and I see that Old Lin, you''ve never been nervous in my presence," Ge Dongxu said with a touch of humor towards the end.

 Chapter 292 College Entrance Examination [Happy Chinese New Year!]

    "You''re a big shot?" However, the playful remark that followed from Ge Dongxu sent shivers down Lin Jinnuo''s spine, making him suddenly realize something. If Fan Hong was a big shot and he specifically came to Changxi County to meet Ge Dongxu, what did that imply?

    Could it mean that Ge Dongxu''s status might even surpass Fan Hong''s?

    Could it also mean that, had there been an issue earlier, if he had called Ge Dongxu, he could have had the police in the capital arrest someone just the same?

    Lin Jinnuo''s mind buzzed, struggling to keep up with such leaps in logic.

    He knew Ge Dongxu was incredibly capable and wealthy!

    However, Lin Jinnuo''s thoughts were still fixed on Changxi County, at most extending to the provincial capital. He had never considered that an eighteen-year-old high school student could wield influence in the capital.

    "Haha!" Seeing Lin Jinnuo, the typically nonchalant boss, shaken, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but laugh and said, "Look, whether I''m a big shot isn''t important. What''s important is that we are friends, so don''t overthink it. Just treat Fang Hong normally when you interact with him."

    Fan Hong had a special identity, and Ge Dongxu was still keeping it confidential, not revealing his true identity to Lin Jinnuo and continuing to refer to him as President Fan.

    "Yes, yes." Lin Jinnuo nodded repeatedly, then hung up the phone somewhat dazed. It took him quite a while to regain composure, understanding that with a son following such a person, he would definitely be left far behind.

    After hanging up with Lin Jinnuo, Ge Dongxu still specifically called Fan Hong. After all, Fan Hong was the head of a special department. If it weren''t for him, he would never have personally inquired about Lin Jinnuo''s matter.

    Fan Hong, upon receiving the call from Ge Dongxu, was naturally a bit excited, repeatedly saying it was his duty, and then the two exchanged a few pleasantries. One characteristic of Ge Dongxu was evident: if someone owed him a favor, he didn''t concern himself too much, but if he owed someone else, he always felt the need to show gratitude, and so he specifically asked about his recent cultivation progress during the call. Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    This inquiry caused Fan Hong to feel quite exhilarated. Since Ge Dongxu had improved his cultivation method, his chest felt better than ever, and he made progress daily. According to Fan Hong''s estimate, if everything went smoothly, he might break through to the Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivation within three to four years.

    The Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivation, while nothing significant for Ge Dongxu who was almost advancing to the Seventh Layer, meant the world to Fan Hong who had been stuck on the Fourth Layer for over ten years. Thus, when discussing cultivation, Fan Hong''s tone became even more respectful.

    Of course, seizing the rare opportunity, Fan Hong also specially sought advice on several cultivational issues, to which Ge Dongxu responded one by one.

    As the saying goes, a word from the wise is worth ten years of study. Whether it was his cultivation level, talent, or inherited Dao lineage, Ge Dongxu surpassed Fan Hong. His simple words profoundly benefited Fan Hong, who, after expressing his gratitude, ended the call. His excitement took a good while to settle.

    After hanging up with Fan Hong, Ge Dongxu began to calmly draw talismans.

    Talismans are ranked into Dharma, Spirit, Treasure, and Immortal grades, each consisting of top, middle, and low grades. Previously, Ge Dongxu could only barely draw middle-grade Dharma talismans, but now he was able to draw top-grade ones. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yet to achieve the realm of ''talisman follows the heart, landing strokes into talismans'', he still had a gap to bridge. His master, Ren Yao, told him that achieving that realm required the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation. However, Ge Dongxu had an intuition that as long as he broke through to the Eighth Layer, he might be able to barely achieve it.

    Of course, this referred to the lower-grade talismans he could draw!

    If he reached that realm, Ge Dongxu could substitute his hand for a brush, crafting talismans in the void, each talisman capable of controlling or killing instantly!

    That would truly be ''killing invisibly''.

    After drawing talismans for a while, Ge Dongxu began carving the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation on jade stones, again inevitably failing. However, compared to before, there was much improvement.

    Previously, when Ge Dongxu had just started using Ice Type Jadeite to carve the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation, he had barely started carving before he lost control of his mana and it quickly collapsed. Now, Ge Dongxu was able to continuously carve half of the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation before collapsing.

    According to Ge Dongxu''s estimation, once he broke through to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, he should have a certain success rate, and even if using Ice Type Jadeite didn''t work, using higher-grade glass should help him succeed once or twice, though the cost would be incredibly high.

    After continuously ruining five jade tokens made of Ice Type Jadeite, Ge Dongxu felt mentally exhausted and his head ached tremendously.

    Ge Dongxu knew he had reached his limit and didn''t dare to continue. He meditated in silence for a while and started his cultivation exactly at the midnight Chinese Hour.

    An hour quickly passed, and Ge Dongxu felt his True Qi was purer and more robust than before.

    By the time of my high school graduation, I should be able to break through to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer. By then, Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation definitely wouldn''t meet my cultivation needs. It seems that it''s truly necessary to take advantage of the summer vacation to visit the jade market on the border.

    Lying on the bed, Ge Dongxu looked at the ceiling, thinking about the jade needed for his subsequent cultivation, and finally decided to make a trip to the jade market on the border during the summer vacation.

    ¡­

    Time quickly moved to June, the days of the college entrance exams.

    On the day of the college entrance exams, Ge Dongxu gave Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao each a Heart-Cleansing Talisman. As for his classmates, after the incident two years ago when Su Qian directly crumpled and threw them away, Ge Dongxu would no longer easily commit such kindhearted "foolish acts".

    Ge Dongxu was a role model and leader for Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao. Not to mention asking them to keep the Heart-Cleansing Talisman close, even if Ge Dongxu told them to paste the talisman on their face, as long as the invigilators didn''t oppose it, they would do just that.

    For many, the college entrance exams were a life-determining test, and almost everyone was walking on thin ice, extremely nervous.

    However, for Ge Dongxu, it was similar to any regular mock test, just in a different place and a bit more formal. What made his parents exceptionally nervous, though, was that they put aside their family business two days before the exams and specifically came to the villa in the county town to cook for the three of them.

    It was a very strange psychology.

    Even though Ge Dongxu had already proven during his three years in high school that even if he didn''t attend college, he had already achieved things far beyond the reach of college students, a college admission notice from a prestigious university still held heavy significance in the hearts of his parents, as if no amount of money he earned could compare to that admission notice.

    This may be the deep-rooted concept ingrained in the hearts of the people of Huaxia Country over thousands of years.

    Scholar, farmer, worker, merchant!

    All are inferior; only reading is superior!

    Perhaps it was also because this had been the wish his parents had been hoping for more than a decade, ingrained so deeply that without seeing the final result, this wish always lingered unfulfilled.

    Perhaps Ge Dongxu''s brilliant achievements were too dazzling for ordinary folks like his parents; indeed, not as real or as praiseworthy as a prestigious college admission notice, which could also be shown off to relatives and neighbors.

    Ultimately, this college entrance exam seemed more like an ordeal for Ge Dongxu''s parents rather than for Ge Dongxu himself.

    ps: The first day of the New Year, wishing all readers a happy new year and a prosperous wealth! In the new year, I''m not asking for red envelopes, only for support through genuine subscriptions!

 Chapter 293 What are your plans?

    "How did it go?" When Ge Dongxu finished the last exam and walked out of the examination room, Ge Shengming and Xu Suya were already waiting outside, and they immediately asked with a face full of nervous anticipation.

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    They had been holding onto that question for two days, and today they could finally ask with ease.

    Seeing the look of anxious expectation on his parents'' faces, Ge Dongxu suddenly felt an inexplicable sting in his nose.

    Their expectations for their son were actually very simple and earnest: get into a university, then find a stable job, marry and have children, and live a peaceful life.

    To carry a child for ten months and then to raise them painstakingly for over a decade, were their expectations too high?

    "It''s been tough on you, Mom and Dad, but don''t worry, there''s definitely no problem with getting into Jiangnan University," Ge Dongxu walked over, put one arm around his father''s neck and the other around his mother, and said emotionally.

    "Really?" The couple, Ge Shengming, immediately showed surprise on their faces.

    Jiangnan University is not only the top institution in Jiangnan Province but is also definitely ranked within the top ten universities nationwide; the couple was absolutely satisfied with such a result.

    Of course, it would be even better to get into Yanjing or Huaqing University.

    The couple did not know that their son was fully capable of getting into Yanjing and Huaqing University, but he chose Jiangnan University.

    "Of course, it''s true," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Okay, okay. Later on, your dad will prepare a big feast for you. You must be exhausted after these past few days, right?" Seeing his son so relaxed and confident, Ge Shengming was both excited and distressed.

    "Big Brother Ge, you don''t need to go through all the trouble today. I''ve already booked a private room at the Changxi Grand Hotel. Today, all three of our families will go to the hotel to eat together," Cheng Yazhou said with a smile, shaking his head inwardly. Some time ago, Ge Dongxu was still looking sharp when he went to visit Liu Jiayao in the Provincial Capital; he wouldn''t be worn out, right?

    To wait for their son''s college entrance exam results, the Cheng Family and the Du family also specially waited at the door.

    "It''s always you, old Cheng, who thinks things through. This arrangement is good, just right for our three families to get together and have a lively time," Ge Shengming said with a laugh.

    While Ge Shengming was joking, Du Yifan came out.

    The Du family naturally came forward to ask how he had done on the exam.

    Du Yifan said he should be able to get into Huaqing University, and upon hearing this, the Du family burst into tears on the spot.

    Without having gone through the torment of illness on a sickbed or the pressure of debts demanded by one''s own brothers, few could truly comprehend the complexity of emotions that the Du family felt at that moment.

    "Yifan, remember this, no matter how successful you are in the future, you must never forget the kindness Dongxu has shown our family," Du Haichen said seriously, wiping his tears and holding his son''s hand tightly.

    "Dad, Mom, don''t worry, I understand," Du Yifan said, his eyes red.

    Having gone through that incident, he had matured and become sensible long ago.

    "Uncle and Auntie, I consider Yifan like a brother to me; let''s not talk about these things," Ge Dongxu stepped forward and gave Du Yifan a hug, saying.

    "Yes!" Du Haichen and his wife nodded, then turned their heads and wiped the tears from the corners of their eyes.

    "Lehao, how did you do?" Right at that moment, Cheng Le Hao came out of the examination hall.

    His chubby cheeks jiggled with each step he took, and for some reason, despite the arduous exam preparations, he still couldn''t manage to lose weight.

    "I did exceptionally well, getting into Yuezhou University is a sure thing," Cheng Lehao replied with a face full of pride.

    "Look at Dongxu and Yifan, one says Jiangnan University, the other says Huaqing University, and neither bragged about doing ''exceptionally well.'' It''s only you, my boy, who''s hopeful about Yuezhou University and acts so cocky," Cheng Yazhou couldn''t help but gently slap his son on the head when he saw him looking so smug.

    "Dad, how can you compare them? I had to pay my way in! Now I''ve been admitted to university, and not just any, but a key university!" Cheng Lehao protested with dissatisfaction.

    Seeing this, everyone couldn''t help but laugh, even Cheng Yazhou, as a father, pointed at Cheng Lehao with a resigned smile and said, "That''s all the ambition you''ve got, my boy."

    "Oh please, are you any better? Lehao is going to be the first university student in the Cheng family!" Wu Xiaojuan rolled her eyes at Cheng Yazhou and said.

    "Exactly!" Cheng Lehao said, puffing up with pride.

    "Stop showing off, kid. The results aren''t out yet! Don''t get all high and mighty now and in the end not even make it into Yuezhou University," Cheng Yazhou said with a laugh, giving Cheng Lehao a stern look.

    In reality, Cheng Yazhou was over the moon his son did so well, but he just couldn''t stand seeing his son act so full of himself.

    "As for this, I can vouch for Lehao, he shouldn''t have a problem getting into Yuezhou University," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "See, see! Now that Dongxu has said this, you have to believe it, right?" Seeing Ge Dongxu speak on his behalf, Cheng Lehao grew even more triumphant.

    "Of course, I believe what Dongxu says," Cheng Yazhou didn''t retort to his son this time, but instead said with a smile.

    "Damn, who''s the one concerned here?" Cheng Lehao''s face dramatically dropped, feeling deeply struck.

    "Dongxu, I won''t say thank you too much," Cheng Yazhou ignored his own son and instead firmly grasped Ge Dongxu''s hand, expressing his gratitude. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Whether it was for himself or his son, having reached this day could be said to owe much to Ge Dongxu''s blessing.

    Seeing how both Du Yifan''s family and Cheng Yazhou''s family were so grateful to his son, the parents of Ge Shengming felt a genuine sense of pride.

    During the meal, Lin Jinnuo, the owner of Changxi Grand Hotel, also made a special trip to the private room to offer his congratulations and a toast.

    Seeing Lin Jinnuo''s tremendous respect for him, his wife, and Ge Dongxu, with every toast downed in one gulp, Ge Shengming couldn''t help but feel a whirlwind of emotions as he remembered the year when his son caused trouble at his own farmhouse and scared him to death.

    Now that his son''s affairs were more or less settled, Ge Shengming started to think about the farmhouse business again, while Xu Suya began to think about teaching, as the village school hadn''t yet started summer vacation. As for the farmhouse business, it had already entered the busy season.

    Therefore, early the next morning, Ge Shengming and his wife drove back to Ge Family Village. Ge Dongxu did not go back with them as the school had things like score estimation, graduation photos, and class reunions that still required the presence of the students.

    "Summer vacation is here, do you guys have any plans?" Ge Dongxu asked Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao on the way to school.

    "Me? Of course, it''s gaming, reading novels, and sleeping in! These past six months have been stifling," Cheng Lehao blurted out without a second thought.

    "Careful, you might put on even more weight!" Ge Dongxu said, glaring at Cheng Lehao in annoyance, before turning towards Du Yifan.

    "I plan to keep working on the game development I didn''t finish last time, see if I can make some money, and continue focusing on computer science, especially the internet. I think it''s going to be a major trend in the future," Du Yifan said, his eyes shining with fervor.

 Chapter 294 The Three Musketeers

    "Why sell for money when the boss can just invest and we can start our own company for fun? When we play games, we''ll have whatever equipment we want. How awesome would that be?" Cheng Le Hao said.

    "If it was really like that, there would be no fun in playing games. But your idea is pretty good, and I also agree with Yifan''s view from earlier. Computers and the internet are definitely the direction of technological development. If you two are really interested in starting a company in this field for fun, I''d be very willing to invest," Ge Dongxu said, first gently kicking Cheng Le Hao''s plump butt, then after thinking it over, he continued.

    "Really?" Du Yifan''s eyes immediately lit up, full of anticipation as he looked at Ge Dongxu.

    "Hehe, just investing money isn''t a big deal for me. The key is you. You have a talent in computers. Can you handle running a company? I have no problem investing money, but I definitely won''t have time to take part in the management and operations," Ge Dongxu said.

    "That''s easy, what about me? Don''t forget I study humanities. I''m planning to move toward economics and management in the future. So, the boss invests money and plays the big boss, I handle management and operations as the general manager, CEO, or something like that, and Yifan focuses on the technical side. Wow, think about it, the three of us starting a company and embarking on entrepreneurship, it''s so cool just thinking about it. I''ve even thought of a name, we''ll be called The Three Musketeers!" Cheng Le Hao was actually just mentioning it casually at first. He was well aware that Ge Dongxu was meant for bigger things, not like them. He didn''t expect Ge Dongxu to actually agree with his idea, and he couldn''t help but get excited.

    "You are more like a Cheap Guest!" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Not Cheap Guest, but Musketeer, the ''Sword'' from ''Precious Sword''," Cheng Le Hao corrected with all seriousness: "But, boss, is this really possible? I''m not joking with you. My dad always compares me to you. I know I''m leagues behind you, but he can''t keep looking down on me like this! Hehe, if I became the general manager of a company in college, darn it, just throwing a business card at him will be so awesome, he''d be totally stunned."

    "I think it''s not mainly about flinging a business card at your dad, it''s about flinging it at the campus belle when you get to Guangdong University, right?" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Hehe! Boss, you''re experienced. How come I didn''t think of that just now?" Upon hearing this, Cheng Le Hao immediately said with a lecherous face.

    "Roll! Would I be as silly as you?" Seeing Cheng Le Hao''s lecherous look, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but lift his foot and kick his butt again.

    Cheng Le Hao exaggeratedly stumbled, then turned around, patted his butt, and ran to Ge Dongxu in a very subservient manner, saying, "Boss, I really want to do something serious. Do you really have the heart to watch me continue in this degenerate way?"

    "Le Hao, let me tell you, if we really start a company, it certainly won''t be for you to play games or to deceive girls. If that were the case, you''d be better off playing your games, reading your novels, and sleeping in. After all, your dad''s rich now; he can support you without a care for the rest of your life," Ge Dongxu suddenly said seriously.

    "Darn it, boss, you really look down on me too much. Don''t judge me by my weight or think that I only want to play games, read novels, and sleep in. That''s because I haven''t been given a stage or an opportunity to showcase my talent. In fact, I am also an ambitious and idealistic person. But think about it, our family had so little money before, I wouldn''t have even dared to dream of starting a business. Now that we have money, do you think my dad would agree to give me money to start a company now? So, as long as you''re willing to invest, I, Cheng Le Hao, will definitely be serious about it!" Cheng Le Hao immediately jumped up and said.

    "Alright, these are your own words. Yifan, what do you think? If you think it''s feasible, we''ll set up a company. Le Hao and I will invest money for shares, and you will join with your technical skills, each owning one-third," Ge Dongxu first said to Cheng Le Hao, then turned to Du Yifan, speaking with a serious face.

    "Of course, I think it''s a great idea, but I''m worried my technical abilities won''t be good enough..." Du Yifan, seeing Ge Dongxu was serious about investing in a company, immediately became anxious again.

    "I believe in your abilities, even if they aren''t quite there yet, but in the future you''re definitely going to be a top figure in the computer industry. Plus, once the company is established, you''ll certainly need to gradually recruit people in this field. You can''t rely on yourself forever; your role is as both the technical director and the spirit of the company. Moreover, my business focus isn''t on the computer company right now. The investment here is minor, and even if it loses money, it won''t affect me at all. You don''t need to feel any psychological pressure," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, waving his hand to stop Du Yifan before he could finish speaking.

    "Thank you, Boss. I will definitely do my best! I don''t want shares; if we really make money later, just pay me a higher salary," Du Yifan said, deeply touched by Ge Dongxu''s way of nurturing him to go further in the field of computers.

    "Hehe, what''s yours is yours, and you don''t need to argue with me about that," Ge Dongxu said, patting Du Yifan on the shoulder.

    "Right, we''re all brothers; it doesn''t make sense for us to be bosses while you just work for us," Cheng Le Hao chimed in. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After speaking, Cheng Le Hao looked at Ge Dongxu with a flattering smile and asked, "Boss, how much are you planning to invest? If it''s just tens of thousands, I could manage to come up with that now, but if it''s hundreds of thousands, that would be beyond me. Either lend it to me first or talk to my dad. If you speak up, he''ll agree without a second thought."

    "Opening an internet caf¨¦ costs at least several hundred thousand now, and since Yifan is studying in Beijing, the company will have to be based there; just the office building''s rent for a year will be a lot, not to mention the salaries of the staff. Since it''s high-tech, the salaries will definitely be high. A few hundred thousand won''t be enough! Moreover, companies in this high-tech industry, as far as I understand, tend to burn through cash at the beginning, so we need to prepare at least seven or eight million initially, then adjust according to the specific development situation. I plan to set aside about one billion for the next two years as subsequent funding for the company," Ge Dongxu replied.

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    On hearing this, Cheng Le Hao truly stumbled, nearly crashing down onto the road, and Du Yifan wasn''t much better off.

    Neither of them could snap back to reality for quite a while.

    It couldn''t be helped; they were just high school graduates. There was no need to talk about Du Yifan, who came from an average family and was using a computer bought for him by Ge Dongxu. The computer he used before was one he had gotten by working in an internet caf¨¦ during summer break, persuading the owner to give it to him instead of a salary, a broken-down desktop which he then fixed and made do with.

    A few tens of thousands was already a substantial amount for him, and hundreds of thousands, let alone millions, were astronomical figures in his mind.

    Yet Ge Dongxu casually mentioned that he planned to set aside about one billion for additional funding in the next two years, which scared Du Yifan so much that his heart nearly stopped beating.

    Cheng Le Hao''s family was certainly many times better off than Du Yifan''s, but the problem was he was still a student, and Cheng Yazhou kept a tight rein on his spending. Coming up with tens of thousands might be feasible, but hundreds of thousands were out of the question.

    As for seven or eight million, that was beyond what Cheng Le Hao could even consider.

    And when it came to one billion, the figure made Cheng Le Hao''s brain go completely blank.

    ps: In the holiday mood, so that''s it for today. Please forgive me.

 Chapter 295 You Are a Tycoon

    "Boss, we''re still students; you''re gonna scare someone to death like this!" After a long while, Cheng Lehao and Du Yifan finally came back to their senses, with Cheng Lehao dramatically patting his "plump" chest as he spoke.

    "Yeah, Boss, if you were investing a few tens of thousands, or even a hundred thousand for us to start a company, I wouldn''t feel too much pressure. But you''re talking about casually dropping seven or eight million, and then adding another hundred million on top, you''re really gonna give me a heart attack. Besides, with just Fatty and my abilities, if you inject so much money all at once, we wouldn''t know the first thing about managing it!" Du Yifan said with a wry smile.

    "I actually overlooked the fact that you guys lack experience in this area. But, it''s fine because we''re currently setting up a branch factory in another province and city, and right now it''s Lehao''s dad who is in charge of that. You two can get fully involved during this summer vacation, partly to learn about company preparation and management, and also to get out there and see the world. As for the funds, I was just making sure you had seven to eight million at your disposal from the start, but I didn''t expect you to spend it all at once. You can take it slow; once you gradually become familiar with everything and the company staff and all other aspects begin to take shape, then you can increase the investment. This seven to eight million is entirely up to you to control. Even if you lose it, consider it a learning experience. But if it exceeds this amount, I''ll start to get involved in the review process and won''t just throw money in it anymore. If you develop well, I might invest more heavily later on," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment and said.

    "That''s better, but if you invest so much money, I definitely can''t hold on to that many shares," Du Yifan said.

    "As for the shares, it''s easy to talk since we''re all brothers. The key point is, Boss, where am I supposed to get the money from? Either you lend it to me or ask my dad for it," Cheng Lehao said gloomily.

    "You want to make a killing without investing anything yourself? That''s too good to be true. Of course, you should ask your dad," Ge Dongxu laughed and said.

    "With such a huge amount of money, only you can talk to my dad about it. If I did, and told him ''Dad, give me a few million to start a company,'' he''d probably break my legs on the spot," Cheng Lehao said with a wry smile.

    "It wouldn''t go that far. People''s perspectives change with the heights they stand on. Don''t believe me? When you go home this afternoon, try calling and asking your dad yourself," Ge Dongxu said.

    "No, don''t! Are you trying to get me killed?" Cheng Lehao immediately exclaimed.

    "Damn, if anyone''s going to get you, it''d be your dad, not me," Ge Dongxu quipped as he kicked Cheng Lehao.

    Cheng Lehao dusted off his butt and, as if nothing had happened, sidled up again and said, "The investment money for my share, I think it should be less. Don''t be like you. If I lose it, at least my dad won''t go too hard on me."

    "So, if I lose it, it''s okay, is that what you''re saying?" Ge Dongxu said, none too pleased. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire

    "You''re rich; losing a bit won''t hurt," Cheng Lehao said heartlessly.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Cheng Lehao, only able to lament the misfortune of his choice in friends. However, he knew what Cheng Lehao said was true. In the late stage, if it comes to adding another hundred million or so, it wouldn''t affect him whether it''s Qinghe Herbal Tea, Yaxu Packaging, Donglin Yue, or even Qinglan Cosmetics; he was the major shareholder in all of them, and it wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say he was making a fortune every day. If he let Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao test the waters with that money, after all, the computer networking sector represents a growing trend, he would still allocate some funds to it even without the two of them. If it ended up lost, it wouldn''t hurt his foundations. But Cheng Yazhou was just a minor shareholder. If he really had to invest so much money and it all went down the drain, it would hurt him badly. Blaming Ge Dongxu after the fact wouldn''t happen, but he''d definitely give Cheng Lehao a terrible scolding.

    "To be friends with you, that''s just my bad luck," Ge Dongxu exclaimed in exasperation.

    "Hehe, to have a brother for life, don''t say things that hurt like that," Cheng Lehao chuckled, reaching out with his chubby hand to sling over Ge Dongxu''s shoulder.

    "Get lost!" Ge Dongxu promptly knocked his hand away. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    During their conversation, the three of them arrived at school and temporarily ceased discussing the matter of investing and starting a company.

    The trio estimated their grades, and all were very pleased with their scores.

    On the way home, they picked up the conversation about investing in a computer company again.

    "My investment will be just half of yours, boss, and for this great cause, I''ve decided to give up my life aspiration of admiring bikini-clad beauties on the beach every day and instead apply to a university in the capital. Otherwise, it wouldn''t be suitable for me and Yifan to live apart," Cheng Lehao said.

    "Get lost, who''s living apart from you!" Du Yifan retorted, immediately kicking Cheng Lehao away upon hearing his words.

    "Damn, Yifan, you''re so heartless and ungrateful. Haven''t we been living together for over half a year now?" Cheng Lehao exaggeratedly said, utterly disgusting both Ge Dongxu and Du Yifan.

    Du Yifan had already found the distribution of shares to be problematic since he was just a student and it was only Ge Dongxu who was willing to spend so much money to give him a chance to practice and develop his skills. Had it been someone else, he might not even have landed a job, so seeing Cheng Lehao''s investment halved, he also requested a reduction in shares, asking for just five percent.

    Five percent was still tens of thousands; Du Yifan felt it was too much and that he was greatly advantaged by it.

    However, Ge Dongxu firmly disagreed, and in the end, it was Cheng Lehao who spoke up. He suggested that since they were all like family, there was no need to argue. He proposed that Du Yifan''s shares should match his own at twenty-five percent each, while Ge Dongxu, as the eldest and the wealthiest, with the responsibility of dealing with any issues that arose, would hold the majority stake of fifty percent.

    Once the shares were settled, the three eighteen-year-olds, having just graduated from high school, started to discuss the name of the company.

    Cheng Lehao still insisted on his ''Three Musketeers'', but Ge Dongxu didn''t like the name. In the end, they decided on ''Yile'', which took characters from both Cheng Lehao and Du Yifan''s names and also had a nice meaning.

    Originally, Cheng Lehao and Du Yifan adamantly wanted to include Ge Dongxu''s name, but Ge Dongxu was concerned that if the company became famous, it would be easy for people to associate it with him, especially since he had been classmates with Cheng Lehao and Du Yifan. Moreover, adding his name would disrupt the intended meaning. After much persuasion, they agreed on the name ''Yile''.

    Because they had the idea of starting a company, and Cheng Yazhou hadn''t yet left for the Provincial Capital due to his son''s college entrance exams, Ge Dongxu simply called Cheng Yazhou over to the villa after returning home.

    Cheng Yazhou wasn''t particularly interested in investing in computers, especially since two of the major shareholders and the ones handling the business were his plump son and Du Yifan. If anyone but Ge Dongxu had proposed this idea, Cheng Yazhou would have immediately dismissed it.

    What an international joke, even if you have a lot of money, you can''t just waste it like that.

    But since the suggestion came from Ge Dongxu, Cheng Yazhou had to consider it carefully.

    PS: Two chapters today. I apologize, the updates have been a bit irregular these past days. They should return to normal starting tomorrow.

 Chapter 296 Qi Cultivation Level 7

    "Dongxu, do you think they can make it?" After considering it for half the day, Cheng Yazhou always felt this matter was unreliable.

    Neither of them were Ge Dongxu. If it had been after college graduation, perhaps he would consider investing some money in them, but right now they had just graduated from high school and had no damn social experience at all. Giving them seven or eight million to start a company out of the blue, and even possibly adding over a hundred million in the following two years, Cheng Yazhou always felt it was extremely unreliable.

    "Whether they make it or not, we have to try to find out. I''m quite optimistic about the future of computers, as well as Yifan''s technical potential. As for Lehao, I think he has a lucky face, and he''s actually smart too. The only shortcoming is that he''s a bit lazy. If you don''t put pressure on him, his laziness might get worse, but if you do give him some pressure, perhaps it''ll be a whole different story," Ge Dongxu said.

    "So, you''re using money to cultivate Yifan and my kid." Cheng Yazhou was astute, and his body shook slightly upon hearing this, looking at Ge Dongxu gratefully.

    "It''s not all about that, as I said, I''m quite optimistic about the future of computers and both of them. If my funds were limited, of course, I would be cautious, but right now I''m not short on money, so why not invest and see? The initial outlay is just a few million anyway, it''s just a loss if it fails, but at least we can try out this industry''s depth and let them gain some experience. It''s like killing two birds with one stone," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Now that you''ve put it that way, I have to support them no matter what, as their father," Cheng Yazhou said.

    "Heh heh, then it''s settled. This summer vacation, they''ll both follow you to learn. Let them have a go at it as much as possible and try to make decisions on their own," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Mhm, I understand. Actually, when I was their age, Lehao''s grandfather had already let me fly solo and run businesses. It''s simply that now everyone''s an only child, living conditions have improved, and we''ve ended up spoiling them," Cheng Yazhou said.

    Following that, the four of them discussed the specifics of setting up the company.

    When it came to the details, it became apparent how much effort and expertise Du Yifan had put into computing and the internet field.

    He talked about the search engines that had just appeared in the last two years, about email, about games, and he even talked about enterprise management software, about overseas...

    In short, if they were really going to start a computer company, there were many directions they could develop in.

    To Cheng Yazhou, an outsider to the field, all of this was an entirely new domain, and he listened in a daze. Ge Dongxu and Cheng Le Hao, however, had been under the same roof as Du Yifan for nearly a year, had been influenced by him, and being young, were more receptive to new things than Cheng Yazhou. Even Ge Dongxu had learned a bit of programming in his spare time, so after listening, he felt even more that this field had potential for development. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I didn''t expect this, kiddo, you already had so many ideas in your head. It seems I need to catch up on my studies quickly; otherwise, even the CEO position might get snatched by you, the tech guy," Cheng Le Hao said after listening, patting Du Yifan heavily on the shoulder. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire

    "Ha ha, if you have that kind of thinking, I''m relieved," Cheng Yazhou said, laughing happily when he saw this.

    "Tsk, I''ve always had ideas, okay? It''s you who keeps shooting me down! Look at Dongxu, he has great vision; you should learn from him, you hear!" Cheng Le Hao gave his dad a white look, leaving Cheng Yazhou frustrated and so vexed he gave him a roasted chestnut knock on the head.

    ...

    After estimating their scores, they filled out their university preferences, had a class reunion, and a feast to thank their teachers.

    At the class reunion and the farewell banquet for the teachers, everyone felt inevitably sentimental, and Ge Dongxu was no exception.

    Next came the waiting for college admission notices. Regardless of how well or poorly one has done, all was set in stone, and a weight had been lifted off everyone''s shoulders. With everything settled, they let loose and had fun.

    Since attending high school in the county seat, Ge Dongxu had felt he hadn''t spent much time with his parents, so he had returned to his hometown, hoping to spend quality time with them. Meanwhile, Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao, who should have been enjoying their leisure time, were more diligent than ever.

    Not only did they start helping Cheng Yazhou with the preparatory work for setting up a branch factory, but also they used every spare moment to study.

    Of course, before leaving Changxi County to travel with Cheng Yazhou, Du Yifan had to inform his parents about the company''s establishment.

    When Du Haichen and his wife heard that Ge Dongxu and Cheng Yazhou planned to invest seven to eight million in a company and that their son would own twenty-five percent of the shares simply through his technical expertise, amounting to nearly two million in assets, they were almost shocked speechless. Then they insisted that this was not acceptable, saying that their family already owed Ge Dongxu much gratitude and could not take such a big advantage of him. In the end, it took much persuasion from Ge Dongxu and Cheng Yazhou for the couple to reluctantly agree. Nonetheless, they instructed Du Yifan in private to remember his roots: no matter how the company developed, he must always heed Ge Dongxu''s advice.

    Interestingly, when Ge Dongxu returned home intending to spend more time with his parents, he found they were so busy with the farm-stay business at its peak season that they had no time to pay attention to him. They were quite happy in their busyness, often leaving him to run around like a jack-of-all-trades at their beck and call.

    Though the multimillionaire Ge Dongxu was tasked with the servile work by his parents, he found joy in it. Every evening, when the family sat down for dinner after a day''s work, sipping wine and observing his parents'' content expressions, Ge Dongxu felt life was indeed very good.

    Deep into the night, at the foot of Baiyun Mountain, all was silent except for the intermittent croaking of frogs and chirping of insects.

    In the courtyard, Ge Dongxu sat cross-legged.

    Nine Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades were placed around him according to their directions.

    Strands of moonlight swirled around him, diffusing speckles of rosy light under the moon that cast Ge Dongxu in a particularly solemn and dignified air.

    True Qi flowed inside the meridians and the organs where the Qi wheels had been established, circulating in a specific sequence over and over again, constantly growing stronger and purer.

    When True Qi swelled like a raging river, with both the meridians and the Qi wheel-bearing organs struggling to contain it, Ge Dongxu resolutely guided the True Qi through the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian, eventually directing it gently into the bladder.

    Familiar severe pain caused Ge Dongxu''s body to tremble slightly. However, his Sea of Consciousness was clearer than before, like an immaculate mirror reflecting every change occurring inside the bladder, allowing him to adjust the True Qi according to the transformations within at any moment.

    Gradually, a Qi wheel began to form in the bladder, infusing it with a vital essence that nourished and strengthened the organ.

    At last, Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer had been reached!

    In the depths of the night, Ge Dongxu opened his eyes, filled with joy.

 Chapter 297 Overlooking All the Small Mountains

    Indeed!

    After the excitement, Ge Dongxu glanced around and discovered that all nine Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades had shattered into pieces.

    However, now that Ge Dongxu was a billionaire, he did not mind the loss. Seeing that Mao Hour had not yet passed, he got up, retrieved another nine Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades, activated them, and arranged them in their original positions before closing his eyes to cultivate and consolidate his realm.

    Once Ge Dongxu began his meditation, wisps of moonlight "whooshed" over. By the time Mao Hour was over, Ge Dongxu noticed noticeable cracks on the nine Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades, estimating they could at most endure one more session of his cultivation before being completely spent.

    Clearly, after Ge Dongxu''s breakthrough to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, his ability to absorb the moonlight had greatly increased, causing the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades to operate well beyond their capacity.

    Going through nine pieces of slightly inferior Ice Type Jadeite for one or two cultivation sessions¡ªtens of thousands of yuan each time, amounting to tens of millions within a year¡ªwould have made the former Ge Dongxu''s heart bleed. But now, he didn''t mind the expense; this level of expenditure was nothing compared to his current income. The biggest issue was that, even with the overtaxed operation of the nine Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades, they still couldn''t meet his current cultivation needs.

    It seemed that to meet his current state of cultivation, he needed to inscribe the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation or use glass-type material to depict the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation. The latter might last a little longer, but to break through to the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer, he certainly needed the spiritual energy gathered by the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation. Ge Dongxu put away the cracked Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades and pondered to himself.

    Back in his room, feeling energized from the breakthrough in cultivation, Ge Dongxu took the Ice Type Jade Token to inscribe the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation.

    After the breakthrough in his realm, Ge Dongxu clearly felt that inscribing the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation had become much more fluent. Previously he could only inscribe a little over half before it would collapse, but now it was close to success before starting to fall apart.

    This meant that there was a chance of success for Ge Dongxu to inscribe the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation using the Ice Type Jade Token, unlike before, where success was virtually impossible.

    However, inscribing the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation was still very draining on his vital energy, especially since each attempt was close to success, meaning the energy consumption was definitely much higher than before.

    Thus, after inscribing about five tokens in an evening, Ge Dongxu was exhausted and could no longer continue.

    It seemed he needed to make a trip to the border to purchase jade stones soon, but before that, he would first visit the capital to get rid of the last trace of cold in Elder Feng''s body and then take him to pay respects at their master''s grave to resolve this lingering concern.

    After packing up the jade stones, Ge Dongxu lay in bed, deciding to make a trip to the capital in the next few days and then to the border to purchase jade stones.

    The next morning at Mao Hour, after cultivating, Ge Dongxu made a special trip up the mountain to pay homage to his master and inform his master about Elder Feng''s situation. Then, taking advantage of the early morning when no one was around, he executed his Qinggong to see how much it had improved after the breakthrough in his realm.

    The attempt startled Ge Dongxu¡ªhe leapt lightly and soared about twenty-seven or twenty-eight meters away in an instant, reaching a height of thirteen or fourteen meters, equivalent to the fourth or fifth floor of a building.

    Seeing such an improvement in his Qinggong, Ge Dongxu, on a whim, soared into the air, stepping on tree canopies, and quickly reached the mountaintop from mid-mountain.

    Standing on the crown of a pine tree at the mountaintop and looking down, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel a surge of pride as if all the mountains were small beneath him.

    Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ...

    "When you come to the Provincial Capital to study, you absolutely can''t live with me, and you can only stay at my place for one night each month at most!" Two nights later, in a pink bed at an apartment in Yadu Garden, Liu Jiayao lay weakly on Ge Dongxu, breathless but speaking with firm determination.

    "You can''t be serious. I''ve been looking forward to coming to the Provincial Capital for studies, and now you''re saying I can''t stay with you often?" Ge Dongxu replied with a wry smile.

    "Dear, it''s not that I don''t want you to live with me, it''s just that neither of us can handle it and I''m worried that if we''re together every day, one day, we''ll both lose control," Liu Jiayao said as she kissed Ge Dongxu gently.

    Hearing this and recalling how they nearly went too far just now, Ge Dongxu knew Liu Jiayao was right; if he really wanted to wait until he reached the Dragon Tiger Realm before losing his virginity, it was best not to be with her all the time before then.

    If they were together every day, their willpower would weaken progressively, making it hard to guarantee they wouldn''t indulge in the forbidden fruit prematurely.

    "Alright," Ge Dongxu replied, frustrated.

    "Come on, didn''t the ancients say it? ''If love lasts a long time, does it matter whether we are together every second?'' Besides, if we really want to see each other, we can do so anytime, it''s just that you can''t stay over," Liu Jiayao said, trying to comfort him as she saw Ge Dongxu''s dejection.

    "I understand. I had another breakthrough the other day. I''m now more confident than ever that I can reach the Dragon Tiger Realm in three to five years and then unite with you," Ge Dongxu said as he kissed Liu Jiayao.

    "Really? That''s great! When that time comes, I promise you can do whatever you want, but you need to behave and stay in school these next few years," Liu Jiayao''s eyes sparkled as she replied.

    "Heh, whatever I want?" Ge Dongxu said with a mischievous laugh.

    "Ge Dongxu! Get to the next room now!"

    Soon after, shrieks from Liu Jiayao filled the room.

    ...

    "Sister Liu, I''m heading to the capital now. Aren''t you going to get up and see me off?" The next day, when the sun was already high, Ge Dongxu looked at Liu Jiayao on the big bed and smiled.

    "You bad guy, just go¡ªgo wherever you want. I still want to sleep a bit longer," Liu Jiayao slightly opened her beautiful eyes, shot Ge Dongxu a glance, then rolled over lazily, turning her back to him, ignoring him further.

    "I love you! I''m off," Ge Dongxu climbed onto the bed, kissed Liu Jiayao''s forehead gently, and spoke tenderly.

    "You bad guy, are you purposely not letting me sleep?" Just as Ge Dongxu kissed Liu Jiayao and was about to leave quietly, Liu Jiayao suddenly reached out with her jade arm, hooked it around his neck, and looked at him with eyes that had become brightly shining.

 Chapter 298 The Eastern Wizard

    "Not at all! I''m leaving now, you can sleep a bit longer," Ge Dongxu said softly.

    "You''re so sweet and loving, how can I sleep now! Wait for me, I''ll see you off," Liu Jiayao said as she got up.

    ... Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire

    It was still first class and a window seat.

    Ge Dongxu sat calmly by the window, his thoughts already flying to the capital. Considering his previous two trips to the capital had been in the harsh winter, he hadn''t really experienced its scenery; this time he looked forward to walking around and also checking out the newly opened chain hotel owned by Kun Ting.

    Lost in his thoughts, Ge Dongxu smelled a pleasant, heart-stirring perfume, prompting him to look up.

    What he saw made his eyes light up.

    A blonde Western girl with a suitcase had stopped right by his seat.

    She wore a white tank dress with a Huaxia Country landscape print, which alone, with her sensual figure, was enough to captivate countless men, not to mention her alluring face and deep blue, exotic soul-catching eyes.

    In almost an instant, Ge Dongxu noticed that all male passengers in first class had their eyes on the blonde, even two old men with graying hair were no exception.

    You''re only as old as you feel!

    However, Ge Dongx caught only a glimpse before turning away and naturally standing up, saying, "Let me help you with that."

    "Thank you!" the blonde replied in Chinese, her pronunciation quite accurate.

    "Your Chinese is quite good," Ge Dongxu complimented with a smile.

    "Only, only a little, so-so," the blonde replied in not-so-fluent Chinese, giving Ge Dongxu a flirtatious smile as she extended her hand, "Nico, nice to meet you."

    "Ge Dongxu, nice to meet you too," Ge Dongxu replied, slightly startled, then he also extended his hand and gently shook hers.

    This was his first encounter with a foreigner, and a beautiful, sexy foreign woman at that.

    "Ge, are you from the capital?" Nico asked, settling into her seat.

    "No, I''m from Jiangnan Province," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Then, too bad, I could have asked you for recommendations on fun places in the capital," Nico said.

    "So you''re planning to visit the capital on this trip?" Ge Dongxu noted, finding it amusing when Nico mixed up ''originally'' with ''could have,'' but didn''t point it out. For a Western girl, her level of Chinese was impressive enough.

    "What did you say?" Nico asked, clearly having difficulty understanding Mandarin.

    Seeing that Nico didn''t understand, Ge Dongxu tried to speak in English.

    His English grades were average, fitting somewhere above the middle level, but that was in terms of academic ability. His listening and speaking skills were actually quite good, even better than the top English students in his class.

    "Yeah, your English is good!" Nico said, surprisingly glancing at Ge Dongxu.

    "It''s passable," Ge Dongxu replied modestly with a smile.

    The two then conversed a bit more, sometimes in English and sometimes in Chinese, and soon developed a mutual understanding, politely exchanging smiles. Nico picked up a fashion magazine to read, while Ge Dongxu turned to look outside the window, continuing with his thoughts.

    While he was thinking, a middle-aged woman with graying hair and a suitcase came in. To Ge Dongxu''s surprise, no men offered her help, but Nico, sitting by the aisle, immediately stood up and helped the woman put her suitcase in the overhead compartment.

    This small incident didn''t seem like much, but it made Ge Dongxu think more highly of the Western girl next to him.

    The flight from Linzhou to the capital took about three hours, during which they chatted some more.

    When they talked, they developed an interesting understanding: Ge Dongxu spoke English, while Nico spoke Chinese.

    This way, they both had the opportunity to practice speaking.

    "I really like Huaxia Country. It has a long history, hard-working and kind people, and an astonishing variety of food," Nico said.

    "Then you need to be careful, as delicious food is the natural enemy of beautiful women," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Thank you for the compliment, don''t worry, next time we meet, I''m sure I''ll still be beautiful¡ªI have a secret for keeping in shape," Nico said, unashamedly immodest.

    They talked intermittently throughout the flight and it was quite pleasant.

    Nico found herself liking Ge Dongxu, this Huaxia man, not just because he was good-looking and radiated an attractive charisma, but also because his demeanor around her was always calmly indifferent and not like other men who occasionally revealed lecherous expressions.

    However, as the plane neared the capital, Ge Dongxu''s brow furrowed slightly.

    For he noticed that Nico, who had previously looked radiant, suddenly seemed a bit gloomy, and a tiny blood vessel on her nose became more visible.

    "Nico, do you know that in Huaxia Country there is a ''spell'' called fortune telling by face reading?" Ge Dongxu hesitated, then said.

    "I know, it''s like our Western astrology or tarot," Nico''s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she examined Ge Dongxu.

    "A bit. I see from your face that you might encounter some troubles during this trip to the capital, so I suggest you leave the capital as soon as possible, ideally right after disembarking," Ge Dongxu said seriously.

    Nico stared blankly at Ge Dongxu for a while, then suddenly covered her mouth and giggled.

    Seeing Nico''s reaction, Ge Dongxu knew she definitely didn''t believe him. Since the plane was already landing, it wasn''t convenient to persuade her further. Hesitating briefly, he took out a piece of paper, wrote down his phone number, and said, "This is my phone number. If something really happens, you can call me."

    "Are you trying to woo me, Eastern wizard?" Nico took the paper from Ge Dongxu, smiling playfully at him.

    PS: There will be another chapter today, but it''s not typed up yet¡ªI expect it to be ready by the evening.

    S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 299 Just arrange a car casually.

    "Me?" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but look astonished.

    Did this foreign girl think too highly of herself? Or was it that all foreigners were like this?

    In the first-class cabin, quite a few men quietly gave Ge Dongxu a thumbs up, thinking that this young man was good, having the courage to shine for the country.

    Of course, there were also men who secretly sneered at Ge Dongxu for being despicable and clich¨¦, believing that this pretty and sexy blonde would certainly throw away the piece of paper Ge Dongxu gave her into the trash can the moment she turned around.

    "You''re a nice Eastern man; if I''m bored in the capital alone, I might consider giving you a call," Nico said as she put away the piece of paper.

    Seeing that Nico misunderstood his intention, Ge Dongxu didn''t know how to explain and could only shake his head secretly. He stood up to help Nico with her luggage, then grabbed his own suitcase, and then walked away.

    "Huh, how strange, this guy didn''t ask for my contact number? It seems that men from Huaxia Country are more reserved and shy," Nico said to herself, puzzled as she saw Ge Dongxu leave the plane without trying to chat with her again, just greeted her, waved goodbye, and strode away.

    This time, the person who came to pick up Ge Dongxu was still the Feng Family''s eldest young master, Feng Chenqing.

    Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire

    Once they arrived at the courtyard house, Elder Feng had been eagerly waiting and was very happy to see him. After a few words, he pulled Ge Dongxu towards the backyard.

    In the backyard, Elder Feng had turned it into a vegetable garden, with lush green vegetables and various fruits and melons.

    "Dongxu, take a look, these are all the fruits and vegetables I''ve grown these days, not bad, right?" Elder Feng said with a face full of accomplishment.

    "It looks like Elder Brother hasn''t spared any effort, huh? This is enough even for your own home." Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Yes, it''s all thanks to you! Otherwise, in the past, I wouldn''t have been able to do any of this. But this year, if I don''t plant something, I feel like I have no place to expend my energy," Elder Feng laughed.

    "Yeah, Dongxu, you don''t know, Grandpa now has the energy of a young man," Feng Chenqing chimed in.

    "Heh, after I expel the last bit of cold energy from your grandfather today, after that, even you, this young man, won''t be able to compare to him," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "I really hope so, then Grandpa could live a long and healthy life," Feng Chenqing laughed.

    "Haha, you little rascal, you''re not ambitious at all!" Elder Feng pointed at Feng Chenqing and laughed joyfully.

    Seeing Grandpa''s face crinkle with layers of laughter, Feng Chenqing felt an unprecedented warmth from the old man, his nose suddenly felt sour, but his face couldn''t help but smile.

    Elder Feng had a keen interest and pulled Ge Dongxu around the garden for a long time, sharing lots of insights on gardening. If it weren''t for knowing the old man''s true identity, it would be really hard to associate the small and somewhat hunched elderly man with the founding general who once stood at the peak of Huaxia Country''s power.

    Having come from the countryside, Ge Dongxu naturally knew about gardening. As Elder Feng spoke, he occasionally added a word or two, sometimes even giving suggestions.

    Elder Feng''s interest in the conversation grew even stronger with Ge Dongxu''s participation.

    Thus, they talked a great deal in the garden until Elder Feng felt his mouth was dry. Only then did they go back into the house, and then he started preparing to expel the last thread of cold energy.

    Because Ge Dongxu was now at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, not only had he risen in realm of cultivation, but he had also gained a deeper understanding of the medical knowledge inherited from his ancestors. Therefore, although the last wisp of cold air was the hardest to expel, this time, he found it the easiest to do so.

    After dispelling the final wisp of cold air, Elder Feng stepped out of the room, tried to jump, and astonishingly leaped two to three meters away, nearly causing Feng Chenqing to fall to the ground in fright.

    "Now I truly feel a surge of energy despite my age," Elder Feng stood in place, his murky old eyes becoming slightly moist, filled with myriad emotions.

    "Grandfather, you are not just energetic for your age, you''re even more robust than us young people! Now I really believe what Dongxu said just now," Feng Chenqing couldn''t help but express his feelings.

    "Haha!" Elder Feng laughed out loud.

    After the laughter subsided, Elder Feng took Ge Dongxu''s hand and said, "Dongxu, it''s the summer break now. In the next few days, let Chenqing show you around the capital. As for me, I need to arrange the visit to pay respects to our ancestors. Unlike you, I can''t just go wherever I want immediately, as there is work that has to be done beforehand."

    "I understand. The last two times I visited, it was winter, and I had classes, so I didn''t get to properly enjoy the capital. This time, I can actually have a good look around. However, there''s no need for Chenqing to accompany me; just arranging a car will suffice. I''ll wander around on my own, which is more convenient, and it won''t interfere with Chenqing''s work," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "That works too. Given your abilities and that particular status, you won''t get into trouble in the capital," Elder Feng thought for a moment before saying.

    Ge Dongxu smiled, whereas Feng Chenqing was somewhat confused, not knowing what his grandfather meant by "that particular status."

    Feng Chenqing naturally didn''t know about Ge Dongxu being appointed as a consultant at the director level to a special department. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu merely smiling without commenting, Elder Feng also smiled, then called the Head of Security and said, "Arrange a Beijing V license plate car for my fellow apprentice."

    Previously, Ge Dongxu did not understand the significance of the Beijing V license plate, however, the official car arranged for him by Fan Hong bore a Beijing V designation, so he later realized that it represented the Military Commission''s authority.

    "Mentor Feng, isn''t that a bit excessive? Any regular vehicle would suffice," Ge Dongxu commented.

    "The capital is a complex place; this will save you a lot of trouble. Moreover, given your current status and level, you ought to be provided with such a vehicle," Elder Feng said.

    Speaking of status and level, Director Fan also arranged a vehicle for me, which I''ve left in the Provincial Capital without using it," Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile upon hearing this.

    "The Provincial Capital is where you live, and it would indeed be too ostentatious for someone as young as you to be seen driving that car every day; it would not be convenient for your future life. However, the capital is different from other places, and since you don''t live there, being somewhat ostentatious at times can prevent unnecessary vexation. Still, the vehicle that Fan Hong arranged for you could be very convenient in case of emergencies," Elder Feng said.

    "You''re right, mentor. For me, these are just external possessions. Whether high-profile or low-key, I just go with my heart. If I were to fuss over them, it would indeed be missing the point," Ge Dongxu responded with a nod and a smile.

    "Dongxu, looking at you now, your whole demeanor seems to possess an indescribable quality that wasn''t present before," Elder Feng said, his eyes lighting up as he looked intently at Ge Dongxu.

    "Having experienced more, my perspective has broadened and naturally, so has my presence," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "It seems that the incident at Little Yuan Mountain made quite an impression on you. You don''t blame me, do you?" Elder Feng, being very perceptive, immediately understood what Ge Dongxu was referring to.

    ps: In six more hours, it will be February. I will try to update a chapter at midnight, so please remember to vote with your monthly ticket at that time.

 Chapter 300 Special License Plate [Request for Guaranteed Monthly Votes]

    "How could that be? Speaking of which, I still have to thank senior brother. Having had these experiences, my mentality has matured even more, and I have gained a deeper understanding of the Heavenly Dao," Ge Dongxu said earnestly.

    "That''s good," Elder Feng nodded with relief upon hearing this.

    Ge Dongxu was, after all, young and full of vigor. Elder Feng was still somewhat worried that Fan Hong''s oppression might cause him to develop a rebellious mindset. Now it seemed that, through this incident, Ge Dongxu had instead become more mature and open-minded, unlike some who are always troubled and never learn to let go.

    Listening to the conversation between his grandfather and Ge Dongxu, Feng Chenqing was secretly terrified.

    As the eldest young master of the Feng Family, he naturally understood what being assigned a dedicated car, especially a Yanjing V car, meant. Although he could also put a Yanjing V license plate on his own car, it wasn''t considered a dedicated car but merely a family car.

    Of course, even so, driving a car with a leader''s family license plate was extremely prestigious in Yanjing, essentially allowing unimpeded passage everywhere.

    And Ge Dongxu was just an eighteen-year-old youth, yet he was assigned a dedicated car with a Yanjing V license plate¡ªhow prestigious must that be?

    Of course, being the eldest son of the Feng Family, Feng Chenqing knew there were questions he could ask and others he shouldn''t. So, although he was extremely curious and terrified, he did not dare to ask carelessly.

    That day, Ge Dongxu did not go out. Instead, he had dinner in the courtyard house, chatted with Elder Feng, then returned to his room to practice engraving the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation.

    Both the affairs at Little Fate Mountain and not being able to consummate his relationship with Liu Jiayao continued to fuel Ge Dongxu''s strong will to become more powerful.

    And to become powerful, cultivation was definitely essential.

    After engraving five Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formations and failing without exception, Ge Dongxu was utterly exhausted. Then, after cultivating at the time of Zi, he went to bed to rest.

    The path of cultivation is all about balance¡ªalthough Ge Dongxu had a strong desire for power, he was very aware that the practice of cultivation is about letting things take their natural course, maintaining equanimity and specifically avoiding any excesses or deficiencies.

    The next day, Ge Dongxu finished his morning cultivation, had breakfast, then drove the black Audi with the Yanjing V license plate.

    ... S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At Yanjing Broadcasting Academy, a Honda car stopped by the gate, waiting to join the main road.

    A black Audi drove past on the main road, its red "Yanjing V" characters especially glaring under the summer sunlight.

    "Did you see that black Audi? Did you see that license plate? The red Yanjing V, it means unimpeded driving in our Yanjing, and those who can ride in this car are all incredible figures. Especially that Yanjing V we just saw, those amazing numbers on it mean that if you can latch onto the person inside, becoming famous is just a matter of moments," the man in the driver''s seat, dressed in casual designer clothes and looking quite handsome, pointed to the Audi that had just passed by, his eyes filled with awe and envy.

    "Is it really that impressive?" Sitting in the backseat were three young women, each stunning in appearance and physique, one of them with peach blossom eyes particularly enchanting and dressed provocatively, asked as her gaze followed the rapidly departing Audi, her eyes filled with intense heat and aspiration.

    "Hehe, is Yushan interested? But reality is harsh. People like him, at least until you become famous, you might have a chance to latch onto him. For now, be more pragmatic and stick with our Brother Liang," the chubby man in the passenger seat, also in casual designer wear but not nearly as good-looking, turned his head and looked at the speaking woman with a sly grin.

    "Sadly, Brother Liang only has eyes for Lili, I want to stick by him, but I just can''t!" the woman known as Yushan said with a face of "woe."

    "Yushan, what are you babbling about, can''t you stop joking around?" Sitting above Yushan, Jiang Lili immediately pinched her, her voice tinged with annoyance.

    "Hehe, I''m not joking, Brother Liang just likes your type of girl, there''s nothing I can do. Otherwise, I would''ve made my move long ago," Yushan said with a giggle.

    "Yushan, besides Brother Liang, isn''t there Brother Hui? Actually, Brother Hui has always liked you a lot, why don''t you just settle for Brother Hui?" the chubby guy in the passenger seat immediately drooled, his gaze lasciviously fixed on the faint glimpse of fair cleavage at Yushan''s neckline.

    "Brother Hui, reality is quite cruel! You should be more realistic," Jin Yushan glanced at the chubby guy, her voice coy and sassy.

    "Giggle!" The three girls in the back seat, including Jiang Lili, couldn''t help but laugh.

    "Haha!" The man known as Brother Liang in the driver''s seat also burst out laughing.

    Only Brother Hui turned into "Gray Brother," pointing at Jin Yushan and said, "Yushan, you dare look down on Brother Hui? Wait till the day Brother Hui becomes a world-famous director, then you''ll see how I''ll handle you!"

    "Pfft! Handle me? Are you up to it, Brother Hui?" Jin Yushan gave Wang Hui a disdainful roll of her eyes, her voice deliberately coy.

    "Right, Brother Hui, are you up to it?" Another woman also rolled her eyes at Wang Hui, following along in a teasing tone.

    "This is unbearable! Wait until we get to Xiangshan, we''ll find a secluded, lush spot for a battle of the spirits, and you''ll see if I''m up to it!" Wang Hui, as if his tail had been stepped on, his chubby face suddenly turned bright red.

    It turned out that Wang Hui had once had a girlfriend back in school, but after she cheated on him, she even told others that Wang Hui was no good in bed.

    This had become a sore point for Wang Hui.

    "Giggle, keep dreaming!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie burst into laughter.

    "Enough, stop these jokes, they''re not funny," Jiang Lili pushed Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, giving them a meaningful look.

    Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie exchanged glances, then held back their laughter, and said, "Alright, alright, it''s just that our Lili is so pure and considerate, no wonder none of the beauties in college catch Brother Liang''s eye, only you do."

    "Can you guys stop joking around? Like I said, I already have a boyfriend. If you keep this up, I''m getting out of the car," Jiang Lili said, visibly flushed with annoyance.

    "Alright, stop teasing Lili," Chen Liang, sitting in the driver''s seat, a flash of annoyance appeared in his eyes, but his face remained smiling as he spoke.

    "Hehe, Brother Liang cares about Lili!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie laughed teasingly, but seeing Jiang Lili genuinely getting angry, they quickly added, "Alright, alright, we''ll stop joking, happy now?" Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire

    PS: A new month has started, asking for a guaranteed monthly ticket. This month I will continue to strive and hope the readers continue to support me, let Dongxu''s path of showing off go even further.

 Chapter 301 Thank You

    "Actually, Lili, even though the joke Yushan and Sijie made was somewhat inappropriate, you''re both going to be in the entertainment industry, where you''ll encounter jokes like this, or even jokes a hundred times cruder. So, if you want to make a name for yourself in this industry, you definitely have to face them with equanimity; otherwise, you can forget about making it big. As a newcomer, you simply don''t have the privilege of putting on airs or showing attitude," said Chen Liang as he stepped on the gas and got onto the main road, speaking in a solemn tone.

    "There was this senior when I was in school, academically brilliant, talented, and beautiful. She had the potential to be the leading lady in a drama, but because she couldn''t take a joke at a dinner table, she never really got any good roles. Just the other day, some alumni and I met up for dinner and talked about her. I heard she''s now shacked up with some county chief back in her hometown, and working as a host at a local TV station. Why settle for being a small-time chief''s mistress? Had she just loosened up a bit back then, becoming famous overnight would''ve been easy, and snagging a rich guy or a high-ranking official would''ve been a piece of cake!"

    "Lili, Brother Liang''s words are actually very realistic. If you want to climb the ladder, you''ve got to let go of what you need to; it''s not like you lose a chunk of flesh by just talking. And that boyfriend of yours, during the two years we''ve been classmates, not once have I seen a call or a letter from him, let alone flowers during the holidays. If he were my boyfriend, I''d have kicked him to the curb a long time ago," Lin Sijie said.

    "Exactly, Lili, what''s the deal with your boyfriend? I think you should just dump him. Why waste your time with him when there are so many good men out there?" said Jin Yushan.

    "Like me, for example!" Wang Hui said, gesturing towards himself.

    "Get lost! You call yourself a good man? Brother Liang is more like it," retorted Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie dismissively.

    "What terrible taste," Wang Hui said with disdain.

    "Okay, enough with the chatter. We''re talking about something serious with Lili here," Lin Sijie and Jin Yushan said, giving Wang Hui a stern look.

    "But I was talking about something serious too!" Wang Hui mumbled, then turned away.

    "Lili, go ahead and tell us. Brother Liang is here today, let him give you some insight from a man''s perspective," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said to Jiang Lili, as Wang Hui turned away.

    "There''s not much to say, he''s just the best man in my eyes," Jiang Lili said, her cheeks turning slightly red.

    "Oh, come on! That''s it? Don''t tell me you''re in a one-sided love!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie slapped their foreheads, displaying speechless expressions, while a shadow flitted across Chen Liang''s eyes once again.

    "Enough, let''s not talk about this anymore," Jiang Lili said, her face becoming even more flushed.

    Her relationship with Ge Dongxu wasn''t exactly one-sided love, but it certainly had a hint of it.

    "Alright, if you don''t want to talk about it, we won''t. But what Sijie said earlier is true. In our line of work, if you want to get ahead, you''ve got to let go when you need to. Just make sure to hold on to the last barrier and don''t give away too much to men too easily. Other than that, if those men want a little grease, just let them take a little. Men love that sort of thing, don''t they, Brother Liang?" Jin Yushan said, casting a flirtatious glance at Chen Liang.

    "Heh heh," Chen Liang laughed ambiguously, while Wang Hui turned to the side with a sly smile and stretched out his hand, saying, "That''s right, that''s right. Yushan, you couldn''t be more correct. A little grease doesn''t hurt; it''s not like it''ll cost you flesh. Here, grease me up a little."

    "Tsk, you think just anyone is worthy of touching me?" Jin Yushan swiftly slapped away Wang Hui''s outstretched hand.

    "Dear me, why is it so hard to find a pure, unmaterialistic woman these days?" Wang Hui said, rubbing his hand and putting on a woeful face.

    "You want pure and unmaterialistic? Isn''t that easy? Brother Hui, won''t you have a chance when school starts later this year?" Jin Yushan said with a roll of her eyes. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Tsk, do I look like that kind of person?" Wang Hui replied, suddenly adopting a righteous expression.

    "You''re just that kind of person!" the three women in the back seat said in unison.

    Seeing the women''s unanimous attitude, Wang Hui could only sheepishly turn around, while Jiang Lili and her two friends burst into laughter upon seeing this.

    Through the rear-view mirror, Chen Liang secretly swallowed as he saw the waves crashing at Jiang Lili''s chest when she laughed.

    ... Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire

    Located in the western outskirts of the capital, the terrain of Xiangshan is perilous, the verdure continuous. Although the best time to visit Xiangshan is autumn, when the mountain is covered in flame-like red leaves of the smoke trees, splendid and beautiful, summer in Xiangshan, away from the city with its forests green and mountain streams trickling, is also not a bad place to escape the heat.

    As a cultivator, Ge Dongxu naturally preferred natural scenery over the bustling and hustling metropolis, hence he drove to Xiangshan for his first stop.

    Another reason he chose Xiangshan was because the earliest records of the mountain trace back to Ge Hong of the Jin Dynasty. It is said that Ge Hong set up an alchemy well and furnace on Xiangshan to refine pills.

    For Ge Dongxu, visiting Xiangshan was akin to searching for and retracing the footsteps of his ancestor.

    Perhaps due to the summer holidays, there were quite a number of visitors from other places as well locals in Xiangshan, and the traffic was heavy.

    However, it seemed that drivers in the capital were all aware of the prestigious Jing V license plate; no one dared to compete for the road with him. When Ge Dongxu''s car reached the parking lot, the parking attendant, upon seeing his plate, immediately smiled broadly, greeting him with great respect and leading him to a spacious parking spot.

    Another car, seeing the empty spot next to Ge Dongxu''s, initially wanted to park there too, but was immediately stopped by the parking attendant with a wave of his hand, forbidding the car from parking next to Ge Dongxu''s, in order to avoid making the space too tight for leaders getting on and off their cars and for other cars to move in and out conveniently.

    This scene left even Ge Dongxu, who had prepared himself mentally, utterly dumbfounded.

    He had driven a Jing V license plated car during a test drive in the Provincial Capital Linzhou before, and while that plate number wasn''t as exaggerated as this one, it was definitely regarded as exceedingly boastful locally, but only some traffic police recognized it. Ordinary people simply did not understand, knowing only that it was a car from the capital. Unlike here, where even the parking attendants knew.

    Clearly, many people in the capital, especially the old Beijingers, probably knew what the Jing V plate number represented.

    When Ge Dongxu got out of the car, the parking attendant, seeing just an ordinarily dressed young man, was nearly stunned.

    A license plate like this, a car like this, yet the person who came out was only an ordinarily dressed young man.

    If the attendant didn''t know for certain that no one would dare to fake a license number like that of Ge Dongxu''s car, he might have suspected it was a car with a fake plate.

    "Thank you," Ge Dongxu said, smiling kindly at the parking attendant.

    Startled back to reality, the attendant quickly waved his hands and said, "It''s what I should do, it''s what I should do."

    Ge Dongxu smiled, then nodded his head at him again as a gesture before leaving the parking lot and entering Xiangshan through the East Palace Gate, turning left and heading up the road.

 Chapter 302 Sang Yunlongs Phone Call

    Ge Dongxu entered the East Palace gate and, after turning left and traveling not far, a Toyota car also entered the parking lot.

    The car door opened, and out came five young men and women, led by Jiang Lili and the others.

    "Liang bro, look, it''s the same car we saw at the school gate earlier!" As soon as the group got out of the car, Jin Yushan pointed at the Jing V Audi with an exaggerated expression and shouted.

    "It really is," Chen Liang followed Jin Yushan''s pointing direction, his eyes brightened, and he nodded in agreement.

    "If only we had arrived a bit earlier, then we could have seen who was sitting inside this car?" Jin Yushan said with a face full of regret.

    On the way here, Chen Liang, a native son of the capital, had taken the opportunity to boastfully explain the different number sequences of the Jing V license plate and what levels of high-ranking officials they represented to them. So now, Jin Yushan and the others were even clearer about the significance this car represented.

    "Enough already, even if you did see, what use would it be? It''s not someone you could climb up to anyway," Jiang Lili saw Jin Yushan''s lovestruck expression and couldn''t help but pull her away with a blush, saying.

    In the past, Jiang Lili was also somewhat opportunistic, but after experiencing that setback, her mentality had changed a lot all at once.

    "Even if I can''t climb up to that level, can''t I still take a look? Who knows, maybe they will like my type?" Jin Yushan said as she placed her hands on her willowy waist, striking an "S" pose.

    "Heehee, Yushan, I''ve noticed that the parking lot attendant seems to really like your type, he''s been staring at you the whole time!" Lin Sijie said with a giggly laugh.

    "You little devil, am I that LOW? Hmph!" Jin Yushan pinched Lin Sijie, then swayed her hips with much allure, taking a few seductive cat steps.

    With her naturally enchanting looks and voluptuous figure, Jin Yushan was dressed very coolly for the hot summer days. As she began to walk with her catwalk sway, not just Wang Hui the fatty, but even Chen Liang who had his sights on Jiang Lili and had been pretending to show only superficial interest in Jin Yushan, couldn''t help but reveal a lustful glare, ogling at those long, smooth, fair legs.

    A small sedan that had just entered the parking area, seeing this, almost collided head-on with a car parked ahead, but managed to screech to a stop at the last moment, thus avoiding a car accident. The instigator Jin Yushan, far from feeling any guilt, instead laughed triumphantly, her laughter causing her to quiver with delight, dazzling onlookers.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu was not aware that his car and he, as a significant figure, were the subjects of discussion, including by his fellow schoolmate.

    At that moment, he was walking up the stairs alone, a feeling both strange and familiar washing over him, as though he had been to this place before but everything was completely different now.

    "Could the legend be true, that the Ge Hong Ancestor really set up a pill furnace here to refine ''Pills''?" Ge Dongxu''s heart stirred slightly, just as he was about to follow that subtle sensation, his cellphone suddenly rang.

    The strange, yet familiar feeling vanished in an instant.

    How inopportune! Ge Dongxu shook his head, then took out his phone.

    The call was from Sang Yunlong, the Executive Vice Governor of Jiangnan Province.

    This made Ge Dongxu somewhat surprised; ever since he had healed Sang Yunlong''s illness a few months back and Sang Yunlong knew that a person like him did not like to be disturbed, besides inviting him to his home once to express his gratitude in person, he hadn''t called again, and now unexpectedly, he was calling him today.

    After exchanging a few polite phrases, Sang Yunlong hesitantly asked, "May I know if Director Ge has any time in the next few days?"

    "I do have some things to attend to these days, is there something Executive Vice Governor Sang needs?" Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Well, I have an old superior coming to Jiangnan Province, and he has some chronic health issues. Considering Director Ge happens to be in Jiangnan, I thought it would be presumptuous, but I wanted to ask Director Ge for help to take a look," Sang Yunlong''s heart skipped a beat, thinking Ge Dongxu might refuse to help, but still put forth his request.

    "Your old superior?" Ge Dongxu''s expression became enigmatic all of a sudden.

    To someone in Sang Yunlong''s position, to be able to refer to someone as an old superior and also to set aside one''s status to personally call and ask Ge Dongxu for help, this old superior''s identity was bound to be extraordinary.

    "Yes, my old superior. It''s been two years since I last saw him. I suddenly received a call saying he was coming to Jiangnan Province and it reminded me of you," Sang Yunlong replied.

    "You''re not talking about Elder Feng, are you?" Ge Dongxu''s expression became even more subtle.

    "Uh, how did you know?" Sang Yunlong said in surprise.

    "Haha, how could I not know! But let me keep you in suspense for a bit, you''ll find out when your old leader arrives in Jiangnan Province," said Ge Dongxu, laughing as he had guessed correctly, and then he hung up the phone.

    After Ge Dongxu hung up, Sang Yunlong still felt like a monk who was baffled, scratching his head in confusion.

    "Old Sang, what did Director Ge say? Did he agree?" Seeing her husband''s perplexed face after the call, Feng Yaping asked with concern.

    "He didn''t agree," Sang Yunlong replied subconsciously.

    "Ah! He didn''t agree," Feng Yaping''s face showed a touch of disappointment.

    At Sang Yunlong''s current position, to advance further involved many factors, and without the intervention of upper-level figures, relying solely on his own efforts would be very difficult, indeed.

    Sang Yunlong used to be a soldier under Elder Feng and considered a member of the Feng Family.

    But the resources of the Feng Family were limited; they definitely had to consider the overall situation and make selective choices.

    Previously, as Sang Yunlong''s health wasn''t good, Feng Yaping had thought it best to let him finish his term and retire from the front line, to avoid further fatigue and not to waste the Feng Family''s resources. However, when Sang Yunlong''s heart disease struck recently, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, and now he was full of energy. Since he wasn''t of retiring age just yet, Feng Yaping naturally started to have ideas again. Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

    Sang Yunlong himself harbored the same thoughts.

    Just as the couple were contemplating this, a phone call came from the Feng Family in the capital, saying that Elder Feng would be visiting Jiangnan Province in a few days.

    With Elder Feng coming, Sang Yunlong naturally thought of Elder Feng''s health and Ge Dongxu''s visit.

    In fact, since the day Ge Dongxu cured Sang Yunlong''s heart disease, he had contemplated asking Ge Dongxu to help treat Elder Feng''s health. However, considering Elder Feng''s extraordinary status and being uncertain of Ge Dongxu''s temperament, he had been weighing his options, looking for an opportunity to get in touch again, and then find a chance to discuss this matter.

    Unexpectedly, Elder Feng suddenly decided to come to Jiangnan Province, and Sang Yunlong felt this was a good opportunity, hence the phone call.

    What he hadn''t anticipated was that Ge Dongxu already knew Elder Feng and even started playing coy.

    "You misunderstood, that''s not what I meant." Seeing his wife''s disappointed expression, Sang Yunlong realized his phrasing had caused a misunderstanding and quickly explained. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "If not that, then what do you mean?" Feng Yaping asked, puzzled.

    "Director Ge knows the old leader, but he didn''t specify how they know each other or what their relationship is. He said that I would find out once the old leader arrives in Jiangnan Province," Sang Yunlong explained.

    "So that''s how it is. Then, Director Ge must have treated the old leader before?" Feng Yaping speculated.

    "That should be the case. Otherwise, with the old leader''s health condition, he wouldn''t be allowed to travel such a long distance," Sang Yunlong said, his face showing signs of relief.

    "In that case, there''s not much for you to do," Feng Yaping said, her emotions slightly mixed.

    "That kind of thinking won''t do. If the old leader is in good health, isn''t it better that I have nothing to worry about? As for what happens next, I''m sure the old leader has his plans for me. You shouldn''t overthink it," Sang Yunlong said, knowing what his wife was thinking, as he softly patted her hand.

    "That''s true, the human heart is never satisfied," Feng Yaping said with a laugh.

 Chapter 303 Is This the Boyfriend You Mentioned? [Vote for Monthly Ticket]

    "I never expected Vice Governor Sang to be Brother Feng''s soldier, this is quite a coincidence," Ge Dongxu smiled, shaking his head as he put away his phone and continued walking through the fragrant hills.

    However, that subtle feeling he had before was gone, which left him slightly disappointed.

    But Ge Dongxu was a broad-minded person, so he wouldn''t insist on it.

    Since that subtle feeling was gone, he walked while focusing his attention on enjoying the scenery of Fragrant Hills.

    After a brief look at the Qinzhen Hall, he soon arrived at Jingcui Lake.

    In summer, places with water always have an additional hint of coolness. Although Ge Dongxu was nearly impervious to the heat and cold, he still liked this rare coolness in summer, so he slowed down his steps that had been hurried while browsing Qinzhen Hall.

    "Brother Xu!" While walking, Ge Dongxu suddenly heard a surprised and uncertain cry coming from behind him, causing him to pause and turn around with a look of surprise, only to see, not far away, a woman in a floral dress standing beside a willow tree, looking at him.

    Her lustrous black hair shined; her body, which used to be somewhat plump, was now a bit thinner, but it appeared all the more curvaceous and tall. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Especially those legs¡ªhe remembered they weren''t that long before. Unbelievably, in just two years they seemed to have grown several centimeters. Even though she was wearing flats today due to the climb, those legs still looked exceptionally long. He could hardly imagine the pressure they would put on men around her if she were to wear high heels.

    "Brother Xu, is it really you!" Just as Ge Dongxu was surprised to encounter Jiang Lili here and by her transformation, Jiang Lili already rushed toward him with her arms wide open, her face filled with joy.

    Yet when she got within a meter or two of him, Jiang Lili suddenly realized Ge Dongxu''s personality, thinking that her actions might displease him, so she abruptly halted, pulling back her arms and nervously clutching her dress. But her now somewhat thinned face was filled with excitement, her eyes fixed on Ge Dongxu without blinking, as if fearing he would disappear the moment she blinked.

    Seeing Jiang Lili first rush towards him, then restrain herself from moving closer, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help recalling their past together, including the request she made with courage before they parted ways after the college entrance examination.

    "Thank you, Brother Xu, before we part, may I hug you? Just for a moment!"

    With this memory in mind, looking at Jiang Lili nervously clutching her dress in front of him, it was as if a chord had been struck within Ge Dongxu''s heart, and he couldn''t help but open his arms, smiling warmly, "Haven''t seen you in over two years, don''t I get a hug?"

    Upon hearing this, Jiang Lili''s delicate body trembled slightly, hardly believing her ears. It wasn''t until she clearly saw Ge Dongxu standing under the sunlight with open arms that she finally threw herself into them, clinging tightly to his waist as if she wanted to merge her entire being into his body.

    Just like the last time they said goodbye after graduation.

    Ten meters away, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie stood with their mouths agape, surprised at seeing Jiang Lili, who usually seemed so reserved at the academy, embracing a young man so fervently, finding it hard to believe what they were seeing.

    Chen Liang''s expression darkened, his gaze towards Ge Dongxu full of jealousy.

    That voluptuous body, so alluring as to make one''s blood surge, he had always dreamed of holding it in his arms, but now it was embraced by another man.

    "Crap! This guy can''t be Lili''s boyfriend, right?" Wang Hui scratched his head, saying without a hint of jealousy in his eyes, only envy.

    Because he knew very well that he and Jiang Lili were hopeless.

    "You seem to have grown taller since two years ago, and you''ve become more beautiful," Ge Dongxu quickly let go of Jiang Lili. Because the now-slimmer Jiang Lili still had her voluptuous figure, even more prominent than before, holding her tightly made Ge Dongxu feel as if a flame had ignited in his lower abdomen.

    "Not really! But Dongxu, you''ve grown so much taller than before. Back then, you were only slightly taller than me, but now you tower half a head above me," Jiang Lili said with a flushed face and joy in her heart.

    "Lili, is this the boyfriend you mentioned? Why don''t you introduce him to our classmates?" Right then, Chen Liang walked up and asked with a somewhat sour tone.

    "Yeah, Lili, you''ve been talking about him for two years, and today we finally meet the ''True Master.'' You should give us a detailed introduction!" Jin Yushan immediately followed, her peach blossom eyes sizing up Ge Dongxu from top to bottom.

    At these words, Jiang Lili glanced timidly at Ge Dongxu, her face''s blush seeming to suddenly vanish, leaving her somewhat pale.

    Back then, she was always adamant about becoming Ge Dongxu''s woman. So whenever a classmate pursued her, she would claim to already have a boyfriend.

    But only she knew clearly that it was her own wishful thinking; Ge Dongxu had never formally agreed to her claim.

    Now that Chen Liang and the others suddenly brought up the boyfriend thing, Jiang Lili worried that Ge Dongxu would deny it outright, and she was even more concerned that he would be unhappy with her for imposing the title upon him without his consent.

    The former would make her lose all face in front of her classmates, unable to hold her head up, while the latter might cause Ge Dongxu to dislike her and ultimately lead to her losing him completely.

    And the latter was what she truly feared.

    Jiang Lili couldn''t describe why she had such an almost sick obsession, but ever since the day Ge Dongxu saved her and saw her body, she found herself unable to forget him. Even the memory of his eyes as he looked at her body that night excited her.

    "You all must be Lili''s classmates, right?" Upon seeing Jiang Lili''s suddenly colorless face, Ge Dongxu felt an inexplicable pang in his heart. He took her hand, then smiled at Chen Liang and the others as he asked.

    "Isn''t that obvious? Introduce yourself first! You''ve piqued our curiosity for a full two years, and today we finally see your true face," Jin Yushan said.

    "Ge Dongxu, Jiang Lili''s boyfriend," Ge Dongxu smiled and said.

    Jiang Lili''s eyes immediately widened, her heart almost missing a beat in surprise and joy.

    "Not good enough, we need more details," Jin Yushan immediately said.

    "What, you want me to report my measurements too?" Ge Dongxu, looking at Jin Yushan, couldn''t help but think of Jiangnan Province''s entertainment personas, Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman, and took the rare opportunity to crack a joke.

    "As if! With your skinny figure, there''s no way you have any ''measurements'' to talk about. Tell us your job, whether you have a car, a house, how much savings you have, and so on," Jin Yushan glanced at Ge Dongxu and then bombarded him with questions like a machine gun.

    ps: There are four updates today, shamelessly asking for a bottom-line monthly pass to help Dongxu go further on the path of showing off. Thank you very much. Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 304 Can you bluff any more ridiculously?

    "Yushan, what nonsense are you spouting?" Jiang Lili quickly glared at Jin Yushan, then with a hint of worry in her face, she said to Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, pay her no mind, that''s just how she is, never serious."

    "Look at you, Jiang Lili, that''s just too heartless, ditching friends at the sight of a man!" Jin Yushan protested with a face full of disdain and hurt.

    "Exactly, we''ve been talking about this boyfriend of yours for two years and now that we''ve finally caught him, you''re saying we can''t gossip about it?" Lin Sijie joined in. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    "But you can''t just ask whatever nonsense comes to mind either," said Jiang Lili.

    "What do you mean nonsense? These are practical questions. How can someone take care of a beautiful woman like you without a car, a house, or savings?" Jin Yushan asked.

    Jiang Lili saw Jin Yushan''s "true colors" showing and became so anxious she was nearly in tears.

    She knew that Ge Dongxu hated this kind of opportunistic woman.

    Seeing Jiang Lili on the verge of tears, Chen Liang''s eyes darkened even more, and a scornful, cold smile curled up at the corner of his mouth.

    This guy must be broke! Otherwise, Lili wouldn''t be so anxious.

    Seeing Jiang Lili about to cry, Ge Dongxu grasped her little hand tightly and chuckled, "Actually, your classmate here isn''t entirely wrong."

    When he first left the mountain area, Ge Dongxu was simple-hearted, thinking everyone else should be like him, disliking opportunism, disliking flamboyance...

    After more experiences, he realized society is realistic, He could continue to be simple and kind, but he couldn''t expect others to be the same.

    Everyone has their own way of living, as long as they don''t hurt others, that''s fine.

    With Jin Yushan, laying out the realistic side so plainly, she actually wasn''t off-putting.

    What Ge Dongxu truly despised was people like Ye Qianqian from the Jiangnan Province Entertainment Channel, who on the surface dressed like a lady and spoke with insincerity, but deep down were full of realism and opportunism.

    At least the former didn''t deliberately hide her character, her demands, so if men pursued her, it was a case of mutual consent, no one to blame.

    When Ge Dongxu was initially with Dong Yuxin and the other three senior sisters, Jiang Lili always belittled him, prodding at him, while Su Qian did it less, but at that time, relatively speaking, Ge Dongxu felt a stronger affinity for Jiang Lili for this reason.

    Because Jiang Lili was more genuine!

    "Not bad, from this perspective, your boyfriend does have his merits. Come on, spill the beans already," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie''s eyes lit up, urging immediately.

    "Actually, there''s not much to confess. My main job is being a student, and in my free time, I''ve invested with a few friends and started a few companies. I''ve got cars, houses, too. Just recently, I started another company, so my savings aren''t that much at the moment, just seven or eight million," Ge Dongxu replied casually with a smile.

    Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie were momentarily stunned, and after Ge Dongxu finished speaking, they looked at his calm and collected demeanor, as if these things were nothing to him, they were stunned for a while longer before they finally giggled.

    "Haha!" Once they started laughing, they seemed unable to stop themselves, eventually bursting into loud laughter.

    They were laughing so hard they shook, drawing the attention of many passing male tourists who covertly swallowed hard.

    "Can you blow things even more out of proportion?" It took a while for Jin Yushan to stop laughing; then she rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu and asked.

    "I''m telling the truth!" Ge Dongxu retorted, without a trace of the "shame" of boasting.

    "Lili, I''m impressed with your boyfriend. Blowing his own trumpet with such an earnest air, as if he''s dead serious," Seeing Ge Dongxu''s nonchalant attitude, as if he really was that impressive, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie couldn''t help wanting to laugh again, but ultimately, seeing that Chen Liang''s expression seemed a bit ugly, they just rolled their eyes at Ge Dongxu, then gently tapped Jiang Lili and said.

    "I..." Jiang Lili opened her mouth, not sure how to respond.

    Because she also found it somewhat hard to believe Ge Dongxu''s words, even though she knew he was no ordinary person.

    But the problem was, investing in several companies, owning houses and cars, and having savings of seven or eight hundred thousand yuan, this really exceeded her understanding of Ge Dongxu. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Jiang Lili with such an expression, the others naturally became even more convinced that Ge Dongxu was bragging.

    Still, the fact that Ge Dongxu could brag with such a straight face left Jin Yushan and the rest grudgingly impressed.

    Of course, Chen Liang saw Ge Dongxu smoothly sidestep the gossip question without showing any sign of stress, which made him feel somewhat upset, unlike the others.

    "Alright, we''re all adults here, so let''s not boast without cause. Let''s properly introduce ourselves. My name is Chen Liang, and I''m Jiang Lili''s senior," said Chen Liang, who, despite feeling somewhat upset, still managed to squeeze out a smile and extended his hand to Ge Dongxu.

    "Although Brother Liang hasn''t graduated yet, he''s already been involved in several TV series and movies, and he even earned enough money to buy his own car. He''s really quite impressive, unlike you, who only knows how to brag," Jin Yushan interjected from the side.

    "Jin Yushan!" Jiang Lili stamped her foot.

    "Okay, okay, I''ll stop taking digs at your boyfriend, happy now? Jeez, look how precious you think he is," Jin Yushan glanced at Jiang Lili with a playful eye roll.

    Seeing this, Chen Liang naturally felt a bit sour inside, and the smile on his face turned somewhat ugly, yet he pretended to be modest and said, "Don''t listen to Yushan''s nonsense. I just played some minor roles, nothing to be proud of."

    "That''s still pretty good, after all, we''re still students," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, shaking hands with Chen Liang.

    Hearing this and observing Ge Dongxu''s demeanor, Jin Yushan and the other two girls couldn''t help feeling that Chen Liang, despite his brand-name casual attire, was completely overshadowed by Ge Dongxu, who was also dressed in Donglin Yue casual wear. They found it oddly unsettling.

    The corner of Chen Liang''s mouth twitched because no matter how he heard it, the praise didn''t sit right with him, but he couldn''t find a way to object.

    After all, he was being complimented!

    "Wang Hui here, also a senior of Jiang Lili''s, but from the directing department. You''ve invested in several companies, right? If there''s any advertising work or something, I can take that on too," Wang Hui also extended his hand to Ge Dongxu.

    Looking at Wang Hui''s somewhat chubby and sleazy appearance, Ge Dongxu actually felt a sense of kinship and shook his hand with a smile, saying, "Our company often needs to shoot commercials; as long as your skills are up to par, we can consider it."

    "Giggle!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie couldn''t help but laugh again as they watched Wang Hui and Ge Dongxu shaking hands with such serious expressions.

    "Haha! Lili, your boyfriend is kind of interesting," Wang Hui, who had been serious a moment ago, couldn''t help but laugh and pointed at Ge Dongxu while speaking to Jiang Lili.

    Ge Dongxu just chuckled at the scene, without bothering to explain anything.

    Next, Ge Dongxu formally introduced himself to Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, both of whom were Jiang Lili''s roommates.

    Both women were clearly bold and skilled at teasing others, and during the handshake with Ge Dongxu, they deliberately ran their fingers across his palm and threw him a meaningful wink.

    However, they were doomed to be disappointed, for although Ge Dongxu was still a virgin, he could definitely be considered battle-hardened and well-tested. Like last year in the capital city, Wu Shiyi and Liu Shishi''s flirtations were much more intense than these two, and Ge Dongxu had managed to resist them, so their little moves were nothing to him.

    Following this, Ge Dongxu easily mingled with the five of them, visiting Xiangshan.

    Jiang Lili held Ge Dongxu''s arm with a happy expression on her face.

    ps: Continuing with four more chapters today, seeking monthly votes for the minimum guarantee, thank you.

 Chapter 305 Your Innate Conditions Are Lacking

    "Dongxu, your accent doesn''t sound like you''re from the capital, huh?" Seeing the girl he had long coveted linking arms so intimately with Ge Dongxu, Chen Liang, who originally wanted to maintain some gentlemanly decorum and avoid starting a fuss, couldn''t help but burn with jealousy. He stepped forward, walked beside Ge Dongxu, and asked.

    "Lili and I are high school classmates, of course, I''m not from the capital." Ge Dongxu casually replied.

    "Oh man, so you two are childhood sweethearts! Who''s older? It looks like Lili is a bit older, so that means you''re still a junior, huh?" Upon hearing this, Chen Liang felt a sting in his chest, and Jin Yushan suddenly perked up.

    "Graduated from high school this year!" Ge Dongxu declared.

    "Damn, Dongxu, you''re really something, snagging our school beauty in your freshman year! How about teaching Brother Hui a few moves?" Chen Liang felt an even greater pang, and Wang Hui looked at Ge Dongxu, his gaze filled with a touch of reverence.

    Bagging a senior girl while in freshman year of high school is much more difficult than a college freshman getting with a junior or senior!

    "Get lost, what makes you ''brother'' material?" Jiang Lili scornfully glared at Wang Hui.

    "I''m several years older than Dongxu, how does that not make me a brother? Hey, wait a minute, isn''t Dongxu younger than you? Why are you calling him ''bro''?" Wang Hui said, his face full of bewilderment.

    "I''m willing, and what''s wrong with me admiring Brother Xu?" Jiang Lili hugged Ge Dongxu''s arm tighter and proudly lifted her chin with a blissful and triumphant look.

    "Crap, comparing oneself to another can really kill you! Dongxu, how about I call you ''bro'', and you teach me how to get a girl like Lili?" Wang Hui said, looking hurt.

    "Your innate conditions just aren''t up to par, my teaching would be useless!" Ge Dongxu mercilessly teased.

    After all, everyone was classmates, so of course, Ge Dongxu wouldn''t wear a serious face.

    "Haha! Dongxu, that was a killer response!" Jiang Lili and the other two girls couldn''t contain their laughter upon hearing this.

    "Focus on the inside! The inside! But, never mind, it''s pointless talking about this with a kid who''s just graduated from high school and has never been through the wringer of society," Wang Hui said.

    "Pfft, your inside is even filthier than your outside!" Jin Yushan didn''t hesitate in rubbing salt in the wound. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Chen Liang, bro, aren''t you going to say something? You just gonna watch your buddy get trampled on like this?" Wang Hui, seeing the three girls joining Ge Dongxu in ribbing him, turned to Chen Liang for help.

    "Don''t you like being trampled by beauties?" Chen Liang retorted, causing Wang Hui to nearly choke on his own blood right then and there.

    "Alright, let''s not talk about that." Wang Hui said.

    "Exactly, with your standards, you might as well erase the words ''picking up girls'' from the dictionary." Jin Yushan continued to taunt.

    Wang Hui looked at Jin Yushan helplessly and then simply shut his mouth.

    "So, you''re from Changxi County too. Why did you come to the capital alone? And after arriving, why didn''t you look for Lili? If we hadn''t bumped into you today, I don''t think Lili would have even known you were in the capital," Chen Liang continued pressing Ge Dongxu after Wang Hui fell silent.

    "Li¨¤ng''s question is a good one! I mean, Dongxu, you could''ve used the excuse that you were too busy with high school to date, but now you''ve graduated. Having come to the capital, why didn''t you let Lili know, instead of going to Xiangshan alone? What does that mean? Where do you place Lili in your heart? Lili has been faithfully waiting for you for years!" At these words, Jin Yushan''s charming face suddenly darkened, her hands on her hips, ready to fiercely demand an explanation.

    "Yeah, Dongxu, you owe us an explanation for this. Without a good one, we''re going to feel really sorry for Lili," Lin Sijie said. Though she didn''t strike Jin Yushan''s exaggerated pose, her beautiful eyes were also fixed on Ge Dongxu with an intense stare.

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    "If Li¨¤ng hadn''t mentioned it, it wouldn''t even have crossed my mind. But Dongxu, what you did really wasn''t cool," Wang Hui chimed in with his judgment.

    Chen Liang, seeing that he had successfully stirred the pot, felt a secret sense of triumph and inwardly cursed Ge Dongxu for being useless.

    Having such a pretty girlfriend in the capital and not even looking her up upon arriving? He must be sick!

    "Yushan, Sijie, it''s not what you think..." Jiang Lili, clearly understanding the real nature of her relationship with Ge Dongxu, became frantic as everyone turned their accusations on him, almost bursting into tears.

    It had not been easy for Dongxu to finally agree to be so close with her; if their probing and judging upset him enough to leave in a huff, whom would she turn to?

    "I was indeed in the wrong about this matter, and if I come to the capital again, I''ll be sure to inform Lili right away," Ge Dongxu gently patted the hand that clutched his arm, seeing how close Jiang Lili was to crying, and spoke with a hint of guilt.

    This wasn''t his first trip to the capital; on the previous two occasions, he had considered looking up Jiang Lili but ultimately decided against it.

    Truth be told, given their relationship, him not visiting or even greeting her upon arrival in the capital was admittedly cold-hearted.

    Of course, the reason Ge Dongxu hadn''t visited or greeted her was related to her words from before; he wanted to give their relationship the cold shoulder.

    "Dongxu!" Jiang Lili never dreamed that Ge Dongxu would apologize because of her. At his words, her delicate body trembled violently, she looked up at him in disbelief, her eyes brimming red with glistening tears rolling inside.

    Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie opened their mouths at the sight but eventually closed them.

    Although they still felt it was unfair to Jiang Lili, Ge Dongxu had already apologized sincerely, and Jiang Lili was clearly defending him, treating him as if he were a treasure she could barely hold on to, as if he were candy she feared might melt in her mouth. What could they, mere outsiders, say in such a situation?

    They could only wait to counsel and enlighten her in private, to help her understand that a man like that simply wasn''t worth her devoted vigil.

    Chen Liang hadn''t expected his crushing "killing move" to be diffused by Ge Dongxu with a simple apology, and it left him speechless from the heartache.

    It took Chen Liang a while to recover.

    Once he had, he couldn''t be bothered to dig further into Ge Dongxu''s business and instead started to boast and brag.

    Since Jiang Lili wasn''t an option at the moment, Chen Liang naturally didn''t want to make a fool of himself any longer, instead shifting his target to Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, drawing their attention and also indirectly showing off in front of Ge Dongxu to make him feel inferior.

    Chen Liang was a skilled actor, a native of the capital, boasting was his forte. By the end of the excursion, not only did he have Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie laughing non-stop, occasionally punching him lightly, even Ge Dongxu had to admire Chen Liang''s gift of the gab.

    "By the way, why didn''t you come back to Changxi County for the summer holidays?" Ge Dongxu asked, trailing a few steps behind with Jiang Lili.

 Chapter 306 Theres Not Enough Room in the Car

    "A while ago, my parents came to the capital for a visit, and we already met up, so I thought there wasn''t much to do if I went back home during the summer break. I stayed and found a tutoring job, and thought I''d see if there were any opportunities to appear on camera," Jiang Lili said.

    "Won''t that be quite tough? I know some people at our provincial station, if it really comes to it, I can arrange some on-camera opportunities for you during the summer break. You don''t have to go back to the province; I can find someone here in the capital as well," Ge Dongxu said, sounding rather sympathetic.

    "Giggle, Dongxu, give us a break! Can''t you pretend not to be so serious when you''re boasting?" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, who were walking ahead, couldn''t help but laugh again at Ge Dongxu''s words.

    "I''m serious, if you guys are interested, I can still try to ask around for roles other than the lead or second lead," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Giggle! I can''t take this! You even brag thicker than Brother Hui," Jin Yushan laughed.

    "Am I being dragged into this?" Wang Hui asked feeling quite innocent.

    "What do you mean, dragged into this? You''re exactly that," Lin Sijie responded with a roll of her eyes.

    By this point, Ge Dongxu knew there was no point in continuing this topic. Further discussion would not make Jin Yushan and others believe him. He decided to wait for another opportunity to ask Jiang Lili alone.

    "Speaking of on-camera opportunities, I had dinner last month with Xu Yunxiang and some other senior students who graduated from our academy, and it did come up that a new show is about to start filming," Chen Liang added, taking over the conversation as, in truth, Ge Dongxu also didn''t have a chance to continue boasting on this topic.

    "Wow! Brother Liang, that''s so cool! You actually had dinner with Xu Yunxiang," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie suddenly looked at Chen Liang with sparkling eyes and a bit of exaggerated admiration.

    Seeing the admiring look from Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, Chen Liang, even though partly putting on an act, couldn''t help but feel quite pleased and proud.

    "It''s really no big deal, just a meal together," Chen Liang said "modestly," yet his gaze deliberately passed over Ge Dongxu and Jiang Lili.

    Unfortunately, Ge Dongxu seemed to have no idea who Xu Yunxiang was, and Jiang Lili''s thoughts were entirely on Ge Dongxu at that moment, which hurt Chen Liang''s feelings.

    Thankfully, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie were quite cooperative, immediately raising their voices in protest, "That''s no big deal? Xu Yunxiang, the big star who graduated from our academy. No, next time you dine with him, Brother Liang, you must get an autograph for us."

    "That''s a small matter," Chen Liang responded coolly, feeling somewhat comforted by the continuing support from these beauties, and then resumed the earlier topic, "This show, mainly shot in our capital, is looking for several pure and pretty female supporting characters. If you''re interested, I could try to secure those roles for you."

    "Thank you so much, Brother Liang! You''re such a good guy. Here, one for you!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie immediately blew a kiss to Chen Liang upon hearing his words.

    "Don''t thank me too soon. I only have a minor reputation in the industry; my word doesn''t carry much weight, so don''t get your hopes up too high," Chen Liang cautioned, merely flaunting but, in reality, having little say over those supporting roles. Seeing Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie''s excited reactions, he quickly tempered their expectations.

    "We understand, even a small hope is still hope, definitely better than the empty promises from Dongxu and Brother Hui!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, always sharp, dimmed slightly in their eyes but still smiled sweetly at Chen Liang, not forgetting to roll their eyes at Ge Dongxu and Wang Hui.

    "I''m being dragged into it again, I knew I shouldn''t have come hiking at Fragrant Hills today!" Wang Hui lamented.

    "Cut it out, are we wrong though? Talking about ''when Brother Hui becomes a big director, then this, then that.'' Do you think that''s reliable? And we don''t even need to start on Dongxu," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie rolled their eyes in agreement.

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    Jiang Lili saw her two roommates dissing Ge Dongxu and couldn''t help feeling somewhat embarrassed. She stamped her foot and was about to scold them, but Ge Dongxu just smiled, patted her hand, and whispered in her ear, "It''s okay, let them say whatever they want."

    Jiang Lili''s ears were warmed by Ge Dongxu''s breath and she felt like she was about to float away. Her feet felt like they were stepping on cotton, and her cheeks flushed red, making Chen Liang''s heart ache again while Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie shook their heads secretly.

    As for Wang Hui, he grew even more admiring of Ge Dongxu.

    A man, still a high school student, had mesmerized their campus belle to this extent; it would be a total waste of talent if he didn''t pursue a career living off women in the future.

    They passed by Jingcui Lake, Cuiwei Pavilion, Shuangqing Villa, Xuanqiu Forest, Langfeng Pavilion, Heshun Gate, and Yutai Sect to reach Xianglu Peak. By the time they headed down the mountain, it was already noon and everyone was tired.

    Chen Liang suggested eating at Xiangshan Restaurant.

    The cost at Xiangshan Restaurant was naturally not low. At the end, Ge Dongxu wanted to pay, but Chen Liang stubbornly insisted on splurging and wouldn''t allow it. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You''ve just graduated high school; it''s already not easy for your parents to give you money to come to the capital for a trip. If you treat us to a meal as well, you''d probably have to walk home," Chen Liang said.

    "Exactly, acting as if you own several companies, with savings of seven or eight hundred thousand!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie rolled their eyes and said.

    "Alright, Dongxu, don''t argue with Brother Liang anymore. He''s rich. Look, I don''t compete with him," Wang Hui said.

    "Puh-lease! You''re just shameless!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie scornfully said without holding back.

    Wang Hui immediately shut up.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled and decided not to argue with Chen Liang anymore.

    Since it was summer, the weather became increasingly hotter after noon. Furthermore, they had just been hiking in the morning, so after lunch, nobody felt like sightseeing anymore and prepared to head back to school.

    "Dongxu, do you have any plans for the afternoon? If not, why don''t you come visit our school? It has pretty nice scenery," Jiang Lili said, a hint of anticipation shining in her eyes.

    Seeing Jiang Lili''s attitude with her boyfriend, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie felt their roommate was utterly hopeless.

    "There are lots of beautiful girls," Wang Hui blurted out, thinking it was impressive that a girlfriend would beg like this and intentionally added a remark.

    "Big brother Hui, are you asking for a beating? Lili is inviting her boyfriend to visit the campus, and you''re telling him there are lots of beauties?" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie glared at him irritably.

    "Sure, these next few days I''m just here to have fun," Ge Dongxu naturally didn''t pay attention to Wang Hui and others and smiled while speaking to Jiang Lili.

    "Dongxu is also coming to our school? Then what should we do? One car won''t fit everyone. How about you take the bus, and I''ll take them back first?" Chen Liang said with a slight frown upon hearing this.

 Chapter 307 I Also Drove Here [Seeking Guaranteed Monthly Tickets]

    "I''ll go with Brother Dongxu, so I won''t take your car, Brother Liang," Jiang Lili clung to Ge Dongxu''s arm without a second thought. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire

    Jiang Lili had finally caught Ge Dongxu in the capital; how could she bear to be apart from him?

    "Are you out of your mind? It''s so hot, and you''d let Dongxu go squeeze into a bus alone, when you could ride in a car? Why suffer with him? It''s not like you won''t see him later," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said with an annoyed glare.

    Taking a taxi to Xiangshan, the suburb where the school was located, was not a small expense, and as students, Jin Yushan and the others did not have money like Chen Liang, who had wealth at home and had also started acting and making money. He could afford to be extravagant, so their first thought was to take the crowded bus.

    As for the claims Ge Dongxu had previously made, they didn''t take him seriously at all and considered them a joke.

    Indeed, a high school graduate investing in several companies and having savings of several million was none other than a joke, wasn''t it?

    Seeing Jin Yushan and the others going back and forth with their remarks and ignoring him completely, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel a mix of laughter and tears. Just as Jiang Lili was about to insist on squeezing onto the bus with him, he quickly said, "It''s okay, I came here by car too."

    When Ge Dongxu said this, the atmosphere suddenly turned chilly.

    Everyone, including Jiang Lili, looked at Ge Dongxu as if he were a monster.

    It was strange enough that this eighteen-year-old came to the capital alone, and now he claimed he had driven here as well, wasn''t that the ultimate joke?

    Of course, Jiang Lili didn''t find it strange that Ge Dongxu had come to the capital alone at such a young age. After all, back in Changxi County, even when he was very young, he knew the owner of the Changxi Grand Hotel and the head of the county''s Public Security Bureau. What puzzled her was how Ge Dongxu could have a car in the capital?

    Because this was the capital, after all, thousands of miles away from the small place of Changxi County.

    "Dongxu, it''s okay to make a joke now then, but if you overdo it, it becomes meaningless and childish," after a while, Chen Liang''s expression darkened a bit as he spoke.

    "Exactly, you just graduated from high school. Don''t keep making these kinds of jokes!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie also felt Ge Dongxu was overdoing the jokes, and they gave him a cool look, their previous curiosity waning.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Chen Liang and the others and couldn''t help but feel a mix of laughter and tears as he pulled out his car keys.

    "I''m not joking," Ge Dongxu said.

    Looking at the fancy remote car key in Ge Dongxu''s hand, with four rings on it, the atmosphere chilled once more.

    "Holy crap! It really is a car key, and it''s Audi!" Finally, Wang Hui was the first to snap out of it, snatching the car key from Ge Dongxu''s hand, making a fuss.

    "Let me see, let me see," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie lost their composure as well, immediately reaching out to grab it.

    "It really is!" Holding the car key and examining it for a while as if there were counterfeit products of car keys, the two beauties then stared at Ge Dongxu with suddenly heated gazes.

    Chen Liang suddenly felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

    That slap to the face truly hurt!

    But isn''t this guy just Jiang Lili''s high school junior? Didn''t he come from a small place in Changxi County? How did he end up with a car in the capital, and an Audi at that?

    For fuck''s sake! That''s not how it works!

    Jiang Lili also looked up at Ge Dongxu, her eyes filled with stars. She found that she was increasingly unable to see through the once mountainous, dark-skinned school junior beside her.

    But she didn''t need to see through him anyway. Ever since the incident at the Changxi Grand Hotel, she had decided to be his woman.

    Good or bad, rich or poor.

    "What are you guys looking at me like that for?" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help feeling uncomfortable as the three beauties, including Wang Hui, stared at him with shining eyes.

    "What? You''re kidding, right, Brother Dongxu? You really went under the radar with us, didn''t you? You have a car and didn''t even tell us, and it''s an Audi at that! How much did it cost?" Jin Yushan moved closer to him, almost as if she was about to embrace his arm like Jiang Lili.

    "Did I? Didn''t I tell you before that I have a house and a car?" said Ge Dongxu, quite speechlessly.

    "Don''t tell us you really own several companies and actually have savings of seven or eight hundred thousand?" Jin Yushan''s heart leaped as she spoke.

    "Of course it''s true. I rarely joke," Ge Dongxu replied.

    Once again, the atmosphere went cold.

    Jin Yushan and the others stared blankly at Ge Dongxu, as if trying to read something on his face, but Ge Dongxu was far too calm and composed to reveal any hint of pretense.

    "Giggle! Dongxu, with your performance just now, if you went into acting, you''d definitely win an Oscar!" After a while, Jin Yushan laughed lightly, playfully tapping Ge Dongxu, throwing him a coquettish glance.

    She had seen the car key, but she still couldn''t believe Ge Dongxu was a shareholder in several companies and had savings of seven to eight million.

    These days, with seven to eight million casually sitting in one''s bank account, just how much must one''s net worth be?

    And just how old was Ge Dongxu?

    "Seriously, Dongxu, it''s such a waste that you don''t act!" Lin Sijie also coquettishly rolled her eyes as she said to Ge Dongxu.

    Ultimately, she too found it hard to believe that Ge Dongxu was a shareholder in several companies and had savings of seven to eight million.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and reached out his hand to Jin Yushan.

    Jin Yushan placed the car key back in Ge Dongxu''s hand, her finger once again lightly hooking in his palm, and with a flirtatious look she said, "Handsome, shall we go for a drive tonight?"

    "For such a beautiful woman to say this in front of my girlfriend, is that really okay?" Ge Dongxu joked.

    "I''m very generous, as long as you, Brother Dongxu, like it," Jiang Lili said with a smile.

    "Heehee, true sisters indeed, then I won''t stand on ceremony," Jin Yushan said, pretending to cuddle Ge Dongxu''s arm just like Jiang Lili.

    Ge Dongxu quickly dodged, while Chen Liang felt like his whole world was falling apart.

    Walking and joking towards the parking lot, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie''s attitude towards Ge Dongxu had noticeably changed, occasionally making physical contact with him, and casting him a few sultry glances.

    This fit their personalities, and Ge Dongxu didn''t feel uncomfortable about it, and of course, he wasn''t likely to develop feelings for them.

    "Hey, Dongxu, where is your car?" Upon entering the parking lot, Jin Yushan began scanning around with her peach blossom eyes.

    In the afternoon, many people had left, so there weren''t many cars in the parking lot, which made it easy to scan at a glance.

    Apart from that car with the exaggerated Beijing V license plate, Jin Yushan did not see any vehicles bearing the four-ring logo.

    "Yeah, where is the car?" Lin Sijie also joined in.

    "Damn, Dongxu, you played us again!" Wang Hui suddenly realized what was happening, and gritted his teeth as he exclaimed. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Indeed, there were only a few sedans in the parking lot; Ge Dongxu couldn''t possibly be driving that car with the Beijing V license plate, right?

    A guy from a small place who was just a high school graduate, driving such a cool car with a Beijing V license plate in the capital¡ªand it was one of the cooler types at that!

    Even if they were beaten to death, that''s not where their thoughts would go.

    "Damn, Dongxu, that''s really not..." Chen Liang couldn''t help but spout off some foul language.

    Just now, he had indeed almost been shocked into submission by this young upstart from a small place.

    But before Chen Liang could finish his sentence, the lights of the Audi with the Beijing V license plate suddenly flashed.

    Then Chen Liang and the others turned to stone, looking at Ge Dongxu with horror-stricken eyes, as well as the car key in his hand.

    Even Jiang Lili, who had been hugging Ge Dongxu''s arm and refused to let go, was so frightened that she suddenly let go, her eyes equally filled with terror as she stared at the key in Ge Dongxu''s hand.

    Could he be any cooler?

    This was a car that could directly enter and exit one of the most prestigious places in Huaxia Country!

    For a long time, Chen Liang and the others shivered all over, especially Chen Liang, who, recalling his past actions and behavior and his previous attempts to hit on Jiang Lili, suddenly felt an urge to urinate.

    His face turned as pale as rice paper, and sweat poured from his forehead like rain.

    Was the woman of a man who could drive such a cool car something he could covet?

    Was he tired of living?

    Recalling their previous teasing towards Ge Dongxu, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie also felt a bit like they needed to pee, but as soon as they remembered what Chen Liang had said pointing at that car, their blood began to boil again, and they felt a fiery heat throughout their bodies. They looked at Ge Dongxu with not only admiration but as if they were about to unleash a voltage of a hundred thousand volts.

    ps: In order to write this exhilarating moment in one go, I stayed up until after eleven o''clock during the great New Year''s period. It''s not easy for an old man either. So if you''re enjoying this, please help out by casting a monthly ticket and recommendation vote, to help this book go further and achieve better results, giving me more motivation to write! Thank you.

 Chapter 308 He Wants to Cling to a Thigh Too! [Vote for Monthly Ticket]

    "What''s wrong?" Ge Dongxu looked at everyone''s strange expressions and asked in confusion.

    He simply didn''t have the heart to show off or act pretentious, and for a moment his mind couldn''t make the leap.

    However, after asking the question, Ge Dongxu also realized what was happening and couldn''t help but chuckle to himself.

    All these people were students in the capital, especially Chen Liang, who was born and raised there¡ªhow could they not recognize such an impressive Beijing V license plate?

    Ge Dongxu had just asked casually, but it scared Chen Liang so much that he shivered all over, his knees went weak, and he almost knelt down.

    There was no way around it; he had just been thinking about picking up Ge Dongxu''s woman and stealing his thunder.

    Such an act would irritate any man! And even more so from someone who drove such an impressive car.

    He didn''t proactively provoke you, which was already giving you face, yet you wanted to steal his thunder? That was utterly unforgivable!

    "This, Brother Xu, no, no, Mr. Ge, just now, on the way here, I, I..." Chen Liang, sweating profusely, stammered.

    "Alright, no need to be so nervous, you didn''t really do anything," Ge Dongxu saw Chen Liang''s sweaty face and said with a carefree smile.

    "Thank you, Mr. Ge, thank you, Mr. Ge," Chen Liang bowed repeatedly, his heart finally settling down.

    He was well aware that for someone like Ge Dongxu, if he really decided to make things difficult for him, he could forget about making a name for himself in the entertainment industry ever again.

    Because all it would take was for Ge Dongxu to ask someone to say a word, and banning someone like him, who wasn''t even famous yet, would be a matter of mere seconds...

    "Mr. Ge, we''re sorry, just now we..." Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said with trembling voices. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Mr. Ge? Haha, you all are Lili''s roommates, so isn''t it a bit too formal to address me like that?" Seeing the anxious look on Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie''s faces as they called him Mr. Ge, he smiled, waved his hand, and spoke in an easy-going manner.

    "Really? Then, then can we call you Brother Xu like Lili does?" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie asked tentatively.

    "As long as you don''t feel I''m too young and calling me Brother Xu is a disadvantage to me, suit yourself," Ge Dongxu replied indifferently with a smile.

    "Ah, no, not at all. How could it be? Calling you Brother Xu is an honor for us!" The two were excited and their blood boiled as Ge Dongxu didn''t mind being called Brother Xu.

    "Haha, no need to exaggerate. You didn''t hold back in criticizing me just now!" Ge Dongxu teased as he saw their reaction.

    "Ah! Just now, we, we were short-sighted, please don''t take it to heart," the two said, going pale as Ge Dongxu brought up past events.

    "Hehe, how could I? Actually, I liked the way things were just now, since I''m still just a student. Alright, let''s head back to school," Ge Dongxu said, reflecting on the power of influence as his casual words made them turn pale.

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu took the still dazed and unresponsive Jiang Lili by the hand and headed toward the car.

    Indeed, the once familiar school junior had suddenly become this incredible figure in Chen Liang''s tales; it wasn''t something anyone could easily come to terms with.

    "Brother Xu, can I ride in your car?" Ge Dongxu hadn''t walked far when Jin Yushan''s trembling voice came from behind.

    "Of course, you can!" Ge Dongxu looked back and replied.

    "Really?" At his words, Jin Yushan suddenly started jumping for joy.

    "Of course! I rarely joke around," Ge Dongxu teased. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Brother Xu, you''re so mean, making fun of others again!" Now Jin Yushan could see that Ge Dongxu was truly easy to talk to and approachable, unlike those other impressive figures, so her courage grew and she quickly caught up, raising her small fist and lightly punching Ge Dongxu.

    It''s funny how a simple punch can feel so different; now that the status had changed, Jin Yushan felt a strange excitement when her fist touched Ge Dongxu''s shoulder, and she couldn''t help but tighten her legs a little.

    "Brother Xu, I want to ride in your car, too," Lin Sijie didn''t want to miss the opportunity and quickly followed suit.

    This is someone who could make them famous in just minutes, if he so desired!

    "Hehe, sit if you want, there''s still space," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Bro Dongxu, I want to sit too!" Wang Hui scurried over, grinning obsequiously.

    Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but shiver, while Jiang Lili and the other two women almost reflexively glared at him and said, "Scram to the side, what are you doing joining in with us three ladies?"

    "But, but there''s Bro Dongxu, right?" Wang Hui continued with a sycophantic smile.

    He didn''t want to miss out on this golden opportunity either!

    He wanted to cozy up to power too!

    "Can you compare yourself to Bro Dongxu?" Jin Yushan and the others glared at him again.

    "Ah! Yes, yes, we''ll meet at the academy then, meet again then." After being glared at by Jin Yushan and the others again, Wang Hui''s plump head finally cleared.

    With that, Wang Hui didn''t wait for Ge Dongxu to speak and had already turned and run off in a flash.

    Three beauties accompanying Bro Dongxu, how enjoyable that would be, and here he was, a chubby third wheel. With such a lack of awareness, he feared Bro Dongxu might never look his way again!

    Seeing chubby Wang Hui run off as fast as a rabbit, Ge Dongxu opened his mouth but then walked to the car with a speechless expression, bringing Jiang Lili along.

    It''s like a performance with three women, actually he wouldn''t have minded Wang Hui taking some of the heat off him.

    "Do you want to sit in the front passenger seat or with Yushan and the others in the back?" Ge Dongxu asked Jiang Lili as they neared the car.

    "I''ll sit by your side," Jiang Lili replied.

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu smiled and then quickly moved forward to open the car door for Jiang Lili.

    Watching such an impressive guy open the car door for Jiang Lili, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie''s eyes were filled with envy and daydreams.

    If only one day, they could have such an impressive and gentlemanly guy to open the car door for them...

    "Thank you, Bro Dongxu!" Jiang Lili said softly, her face glowing with happiness and gratitude.

    "Are you feeling like an outsider now? Senior Lili!" Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Jiang Lili shivered slightly at his words.

    Such a familiar yet strange title!

    "I''m not familiar with the capital, so you''ll have to guide me later," said Ge Dongxu after getting in and starting the car.

    "Okay," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie volunteered eagerly, their eyes revealing a deep confusion.

    Because Ge Dongxu''s words reminded them that he and Jiang Lili were from the same place.

    But how could someone from their place have such an impressive car in the capital? This was something they couldn''t figure out no matter how much they racked their brains.

    Of course, both beauties were shrewd and wouldn''t be so foolish to ask such a question.

    It wasn''t their place to ask.

    ps: There will be three chapters today, but I haven''t straightened out the ideas for the next two chapters. I had a headache wrestling with it last night, so I''ll write it during the day today, and I expect to upload the other two chapters around evening, please forgive me. This month I will continue to ensure at least three updates a day, and if I''m feeling good I might occasionally burst out, still asking for your monthly and recommendation tickets, thank you.

 Chapter 309 Happiness Comes Too Suddenly

    The car slowly pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main road, heading towards Yanjing Media College.

    Along the way, many traffic police officers, upon seeing the Audi with a Jing V license plate, saluted one after another.

    At several intersections, some traffic officers even specifically stopped other lanes to let Ge Dongxu pass first.

    Sitting in the car, watching the standing traffic police smartly salute her vehicle, watching the car move unimpeded on the endlessly flowing lanes, Jiang Lili, Jin Yushan, and Lin Sijie, these three university students who hadn''t truly entered society yet, truly witnessed the power of that awesome license plate number and really felt the allure of that legendary privilege.

    Jiang Lili occasionally glanced at Ge Dongxu holding the steering wheel, her eyes no longer held the excitement from before, instead, there was an indescribable sense of loss and inferiority.

    Jiang Lili had always been confident in her figure and appearance, so once she had made up her mind, she always felt that as long as she didn''t want a title, just being Ge Dongxu''s secret woman, there might still be hope.

    After all, no man dislikes a beautiful woman, especially one like her who has no demands.

    Even so, Jiang Lili was still unsure, so when she said goodbye to Ge Dongxu, she told him she would strive to become an outstanding woman!

    But now, watching those traffic policemen on the road, raising their hands to their foreheads with a serious expression, Jiang Lili lost all her confidence, and the feeling of inferiority hidden deep in her heart intensified.

    Such an outstanding man, what kind of woman couldn''t he have?

    Even now, Jiang Lili was absolutely sure that if Ge Dongxu showed the slightest interest, her two roommates in the backseat would definitely be willing to strip naked and wait for him on the bed, even if both together, they wouldn''t hesitate at all.

    Because he''s someone who could make them famous in no time!

    Would he still remember what she had said to him originally? Would he still care about her, a woman who nearly lost her virtue?

    Definitely not, he definitely wouldn''t care!

    Jiang Lili guessed correctly; at that moment, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie in the backseat watching Ge Dongxu''s silhouette and the standing traffic police outside couldn''t help but fantasize and felt a thrill rushing through them, their sexy snow-white legs quietly pressed together.

    Such a young, handsome, and incredible man! If only they could¡­

    But Jiang Lili was wrong about one thing; Ge Dongxu had never forgotten what she had told him, and it was precisely because he remembered that the car had passed by the college gate without entering the previous two times.

    "What are you thinking about?" Ge Dongxu felt Jiang Lili''s occasional glances, filled with complex emotions, couldn''t help but turn his head to look at her and smiled as he asked.

    "It''s nothing," Jiang Lili replied, smiling at Ge Dongxu, her smile somewhat forced, somewhat poignant.

    The loss of confidence made her feel as if she had suddenly lost all her goals in life.

    Bewildered and helpless!

    A woman''s thoughts, Ge Dongxu, a young man who had not yet experienced much emotional turmoil, could hardly understand immediately, only faintly perceiving that Jiang Lili''s mood had suddenly turned somewhat gloomy. He thought she wasn''t having a good time at university and asked with concern, "How have these two years been?"

    "Pretty good," Jiang Lili replied.

    "Your family is doing okay too?" asked Ge Dongxu again.

    "Yeah, everything''s pretty good," Jiang Lili''s heart trembled slightly, she couldn''t help but recall the major changes that had occurred at home, the events that had happened at Changxi Grand Hotel, standing in front of Ge Dongxu wearing only underwear, her gaze gradually grew more complex and ultimately resolute.

    I must become his woman, even knowing it''s like a moth to a flame, bound to be burned to nothing!

    "That''s good," Ge Dongxu nodded, then he didn''t know what to ask next.

    "Dongxu, how many days will you stay in Yanjing this time?" Just as Ge Dongxu fell silent, Jiang Lili took the initiative to ask, a trace of nervousness in her heart.

    "It''s hard to say, maybe I''ll leave tomorrow, or maybe I''ll stay for another two or three days," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment and replied, then he immediately asked, "Are you busy these days?"

    "Not at all!" Jiang Lili blurted out without thinking, her heart suddenly leaping to her throat, her eyes full of anticipation.

    "Then can you show me around Yanjing these next few days?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile.

    "Of course!" Jiang Lili''s voice trembled slightly. Although she had guessed that Ge Dongxu would say this, she still couldn''t quite believe her ears.

    "Dongxu, we also have nothing to do these days, do you need us to accompany you too?" From the back seat, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie spoke in a half-joking tone, a hint of anticipation in their eyes.

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    In their eyes, a man like Ge Dongxu was not someone a single woman could tie down. Jiang Lili was at most one of his many lady friends; perhaps after a while, once the novelty wore off, he would forget about her. Thus, when Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie interjected, they didn''t have much psychological barrier.

    Fortune doesn''t come to those who don''t reach out!

    Share the blessings!

    Opportunities won''t come around again!

    ... S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    These were various reasons and excuses they could think of to interject.

    Of course, they didn''t dare to insist or cling on, nor did they have the confidence, so they finally broached the topic in a half-joking tone.

    "Parading through the city with three beauties, do you want me to attract the hatred of all the men in Yanjing?" Ge Dongxu joked.

    "Hee hee, that would be so striking!" Seeing that Ge Dongxu seemed not to oppose the idea, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie were overjoyed and quickly responded.

    "Being striking is not my style," Ge Dongxu said.

    "It seems that Dongxu, having Lili is enough for you," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said softly.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled and didn''t reply, his attitude couldn''t be clearer.

    Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie saw that he didn''t reply and couldn''t help feeling a bit disappointed, but again felt that this was to be expected. A person like Ge Dongxu, how could he fancy small-time girls like them.

    Being able to ride in his car today, to get to know him was already incredibly lucky!

    To expect to have a closer relationship with him was simply wishing for too much.

    Jiang Lili looked at Ge Dongxu somewhat foolishly; if she still didn''t understand at this moment that she was different from other women in Ge Dongxu''s heart, that she mattered, she might as well smash her head with tofu and be done with it.

    It''s just that happiness seemed to come so suddenly, that she found it somewhat hard to accept.

    Previously, when Ge Dongxu was still just a student from the mountain area, just a person from a small place, she had thrown herself at him, he chose to push her away and keep his distance.

    Now, suddenly, he shook and transformed into a formidable figure who could drive a car with a special Yanjing license, drawing a line between them that she feared she could never cross even if she tried her whole life, making her begin to feel desperate. Suddenly, she found that she had quietly taken up a bit of space in his heart.

 Chapter 310 Brother Xu, introduce someone to me, will you?

    "What''s up? Why are you looking at me like that!" Ge Dongxu tilted his head to glance at Jiang Lili and asked.

    "Nothing much, I just suddenly realized that you''ve gotten a lot fairer and way more handsome than before." Jiang Lili trembled slightly, then gave Ge Dongxu a sweet smile.

    "Could it be that Dongxu was very dark before?" Jin Yushan asked curiously.

    "He was before?" Jiang Lili''s eyes brimmed with love as she looked at Ge Dongxu, her mind flashing back to his dark and unrefined appearance from the past, her face involuntarily breaking into a smile, "Not just dark, but also very unsophisticated!"

    "It wasn''t that exaggerated, was it? I still had quite a few girls who liked me back at school," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Tch, who?" Jiang Lili became lively and feisty as she remembered the past. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You," Ge Dongxu laughed. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire

    "Stop it!" Jiang Lili playfully hit Ge Dongxu with a shy swat.

    "Haha!" Ge Dongxu laughed triumphantly.

    "Hey, is it really okay for you guys to flirt like this? There are two single girls sitting behind you," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie protested.

    "Tch, it''s easy to get rid of being single, isn''t it? If you''re willing, there''d be a line from our dormitory building all the way to the main road," Jiang Lili said.

    "Tch, I''m after quality, not quantity. If you can find someone even one percent as good as Dongxu, I''ll sell myself without a second thought," Jin Yushan declared.

    "Right, Dongxu, do you have any friends? Introduce someone to us, they don''t have to be as outstanding as you, we''re not asking for much," Lin Sijie brightened up and inquired.

    "Yeah, yeah, Dongxu, introduce someone to us!" Jin Yushan''s eyes followed suit, lighting up with anticipation.

    "You really don''t need someone as outstanding as me?" Ge Dongxu asked, the corner of his mouth curling in a teasing manner.

    "Someone as outstanding as Dongxu is only suited for our Lili. We couldn''t possibly be that lucky. Anything goes, as long as it''s your friend, Dongxu. Just, no old men, please," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said.

    "No problem, once we get to the school, I''ll introduce Wang Hui to you," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Wang Hui?" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie paused, racking their brains as to why that name sounded so familiar.

    Then, they suddenly realized, let out a gasp, and immediately their fists rained down like droplets on Ge Dongxu''s shoulders.

    "Dongxu, you''re too bad! You''re too bad!"

    "Haha! Isn''t this what you asked for? You said you didn''t need someone as outstanding as me, right? After thinking about it, Wang Hui was the only one who fell short," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "You still talking? You still talking?" Another flurry of playful fists descended.

    "Alright, alright, I''m driving here, and isn''t that your school up ahead?" Ge Dongxu, although indifferent to Jin Yushan and the others'' coquettish voices and flirtatious beating, hastily said.

    "Hmph, go ask your Lili!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said, feigning anger.

    "Haha." Ge Dongxu laughed again.

    The car entered the school gates. The security guard quickly straightened up, filling Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie with complex emotions and an uneasy heat within.

    If only they could be with him...

    Yanjing Media College wasn''t big, but the campus was beautiful and clean.

    However, Ge Dongxu''s gaze was not captured by the scenery of the college, but rather by a girl holding books, about to turn a corner some meters away.

    The girl''s back was very familiar; it was none other than Elder Feng''s granddaughter, Fang Wanyue.

    "Look, look, it''s Fang Wanyue!" Jin Yushan too recognized Fang Wanyue and suddenly pointed at her, causing a commotion.

    "It really is her!" Lin Sijie and Jiang Lili also exclaimed as if they had discovered a new continent.

    "Do you know her?" Ge Dongxu slightly startled, asked somewhat surprisingly.

    "Of course, we do. She''s a celebrity of our college. Not only is she beautiful, but most importantly, she has a very powerful background. We didn''t know this at first, until one time, a big shot in our college coveted her beauty and tried to force her to be his girlfriend. When the matter blew up, that big shot was directly expelled from the college. Later, a rumor came out, saying that she''s the daughter of the Director of the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television, her mother is a leader in the central bank, and her grandfather is Elder Feng." Jin Yushan replied, her eyes involuntarily showing a hint of envy and awe as she spoke.

    To them, such a legendary figure was something they could only look up to.

    "Oh, right, Dongxu, you should know her, right?" After answering, Jin Yushan suddenly remembered Ge Dongxu''s prestigious status and asked curiously.

    "Then, does she have a boyfriend now?" Ge Dongxu smiled, answering her question with one of his own.

    Ge Dongxu, who had a rather positive impression of the cheerful and charity-loving Fang Wanyue, was suddenly curious to find out that she was Jiang Lili''s schoolmate, especially since Jin Yushan had just mentioned someone trying to pressure her into being his girlfriend. Unexpectedly, a rare gossip curiosity was sparked within him.

    "Dongxu, you don''t have designs on her, do you?" Jin Yushan blurted out reflexively.

    Jiang Lili''s beautiful eyes dimmed a notch.

    Indeed, only such favored daughters of heaven would be worthy of Dongxu.

    However, Jiang Lili''s beautiful eyes quickly brightened again. She had never thought about wanting any status; she just wanted to be his woman.

    "Don''t forget you guys are still students. What''s on your minds all the time?" Ge Dongxu was slightly taken aback by her words and then said, slightly annoyed.

    He and Elder Feng were fellow disciples; how could he possibly entertain thoughts about Fang Wanyue? The question he''d just asked offhandedly was less about gossip and more like the care a senior would show toward a junior.

    "Hehe!" Jin Yushan shrank her head back a little and replied, "Rumor has it that Fang Wanyue quite admires Xu Yunxiang and seems to be in a good relationship with him, as to whether they''re boyfriend and girlfriend, that''s not something we can know."

    "Xu Yunxiang, is that the celebrity from your college that Chen Liang mentioned before?" asked Ge Dongxu.

    "Yes, he was a senior to Fang Wanyue." Jin Yushan nodded, then pointed ahead and said, "Dongxu, right there is our dorm building."

    In fact, Jin Yushan didn''t need to point it out, as Ge Dongxu already knew that was their dorm since Chen Liang and Wang Hui were currently standing there with anxious expressions.

    Ge Dongxu parked the car in front of the dorm building.

    As soon as the car stopped, Chen Liang hurried forward a couple of steps to open the car door for Ge Dongxu, while Wang Hui naturally went to open the door for Jiang Lili.

    "Thank you," Ge Dongxu nodded and smiled at Chen Liang.

    This smile finally set Chen Liang''s mind at ease.

    "Mr. Ge, since Lili and the others are here with you, I won''t intrude. Here''s my business card, if there''s anything you need, please give me a call," Chen Liang said as he handed over his business card with both hands.

    "Okay, thank you," Ge Dongxu received the business card and glanced at it before tucking it away.

    "Mr. Ge, here''s my card," Wang Hui also hurried over and presented his card with both hands upon seeing this.

    "I''ll give your contact information to my company''s executives someday. Should there be a need for any advertising production, I''ll ask them to prioritize you, of course, provided your work is better than the others. If you really have the talent for directing, it''s not a problem for our company to invest a little money for you to make a short film or something in the future," Ge Dongxu responded to Wang Hui, whose impression he found favorable, as he smiled and accepted the business card.

    "Thank you, Mr. Ge, thank you so much. I''ll definitely work hard!" Wang Hui''s face trembled with excitement.

    Coming from a small place with no family background, it would be incredibly difficult for him to make a name for himself without someone recognizing his talent and giving him a boost.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu remember what he said to Wang Hui during their outing at Xiangshan (Fragrant Hills), Chen Liang felt a surge of envy and regret.

    If he hadn''t coveted Jiang Lili before, if he had been more modest during their time at Xiangshan, maybe he would have had this opportunity too.

    Of course, it''s too late to speak of ''ifs'' now, everything has already happened. With someone like Ge Dongxu, not taking issue with him, he should already be grateful; harboring other thoughts would indeed be delusional!

    Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie''s eyes suddenly lit up. They naturally also remembered what Ge Dongxu had said before: if they had any aspirations and as long as it wasn''t for a leading or supporting role, he could help them ask around.

    They had taken his words as a joke before, but now they knew it was not.

    ps: I recommend my friend Huo Lao San''s book "The Little Security Guard in Flower City." Readers who like romantic and impressive stories can check it out. Please give your support, thank you.

 Chapter 311 Welcome! Welcome!

    "Xu Ge, the sun is scorching right now. Why not sit in our dorm for a bit? I''ll take a quick shower, and then we can tour the campus," said Jiang Lili as she pulled Ge Dongxu''s hand, when Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie were deep in thought.

    Having climbed Fragrant Hills, they naturally sweated quite a bit.

    "Yes, yes, Xu Ge, come sit in our dorm; hehe, it''s a girls'' dorm, and it''s summer!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie immediately used voices meant to tempt someone into committing a crime to lure Ge Dongxu.

    They, of course, hoped to have closer contact with Ge Dongxu.

    A student dormitory was clearly a great place for that.

    The still-present Chen Liang and Wang Hui lit up upon hearing this, their faces full of longing.

    The girls'' dormitory at the university had "always" been a mystical forbidden land that boys yearned for.

    Chen Liang and Wang Hui would be seniors after the summer vacation, yet in three years, apart from the day they welcomed new students, when they could enter the girls'' dorm building openly, they had never been allowed in at any other time, especially not during this season that filled one''s mind with wild thoughts about the girls'' dormitory; the dormitory auntie guarded against them like against thieves, never giving them the slightest chance.

    "No need, no need, you guys go ahead; I''ll just sit in the car for a while," Ge Dongxu said hurriedly, his face unwittingly reddening slightly, his mind still retaining the honest nature of a mountain villager.

    "Come on, Xu Ge, it''s fine, we won''t bite!" Seeing Ge Dongxu actually blush, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, as if they had discovered a new world, immediately moved forward to pull Ge Dongxu along.

    Witnessing this, Chen Liang and Wang Hui almost knelt down in envy and jealousy.

    This was the girls'' dormitory!

    When had it become like the brothels of ancient times, with beauties soliciting openly on the street?

    "Forget it, it''s not appropriate for a guy to go into the girls'' dormitory." Being pulled by two beauties out in the open, plus the deliberate physical contact with their soft and bouncy bodies, even the battle-hardened Ge Dongxu found his face becoming even redder.

    "What''s inappropriate about it, it''s summer vacation!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie insisted without taking no for an answer.

    "Forget it, if Xu Ge feels it''s not convenient, then I won''t go up either," Jiang Lili said.

    "You can''t be serious, how can you accompany Xu Ge all sweaty like that?" Jin Yushan said.

    Jiang Lili frowned slightly upon hearing this, then looked at Ge Dongxu with pleading eyes.

    She really couldn''t bring herself to have Ge Dongxu wait for her in his car downstairs, but what Jin Yushan said did make a lot of sense; feeling uncomfortable herself was one thing, but it wouldn''t be good if Xu Ge felt disgusted.

    "Okay then, but I wonder if the dorm auntie will agree?" Seeing Jiang Lili''s pleading eyes, Ge Dongxu found it hard to refuse, and of course, as a guy, he did feel a bit curious about the girls'' dormitory.

    It''s just that Ge Dongxu was a bit thin-skinned and felt slightly embarrassed about it.

    "No, no, it''s vacation time now!" Before Jin Yushan and the others could answer, a voice came from inside the dormitory building; it was the dorm auntie.

    The dorm auntie was also from Yanjing and was knowledgeable.

    The moment Ge Dongxu''s car parked at the door, she had noticed it.

    Seeing the dazzling red Beijing V license plate in the sunlight, followed by the numbers, her hairs almost stood up on end.

    My goodness, a big shot was visiting today! She wondered which of the three beauties had caught his eye, or maybe all of them?

    Seeing the plump, flirtatious dorm auntie with a smirk on her face, Ge Dongxu had a very familiar sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.

    In front of a brothel, a madam dressed in flashy clothes, heavily made-up, held a handkerchief in her hand...

    "Then, thank you very much." Ge Dongxu didn''t dare to continue imagining the scene, hastily expressing his thanks with goosebumps all over his body.

    "You''re welcome! You''re welcome! Welcome! Welcome!" The dormitory supervisor continued to smile flirtatiously.

    However, when Ge Dongxu was ushered into the dormitory building by Jiang Lili and the other two girls, climbing up the stairs, a male student saw the opportunity and tried to slip in as well, the dormitory supervisor immediately turned into a strict landlady, hands on hips, thrusting out her ample chest and looking down high and mighty at the male student on the steps below.

    "What are you doing? Can''t you see this is the girls'' dormitory? Do you think you can just walk in?"

    "But... that guy in front just went in," the male student pointed to Ge Dongxu''s quickly disappearing figure at the stairway entrance. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Did you see that car over there?" the dormitory supervisor pointed at the Audi.

    "I see it, it''s just an Audi, isn''t it? My family has one too," the male student said with pride.

    "Did you see the license plate?" the dormitory supervisor looked at the male student as if he was an idiot.

    "I saw it, it''s a Yanjing license. If my family lived in Yanjing, I could also drive to school every day," the male student continued, still looking proud.

    "Buddy, come here, let''s step aside for a chat." Wang Hui, who was still quite kind-hearted and couldn''t stand it any longer, stepped forward, fat hand reaching out to drape an arm around the male student''s shoulder, then pointed to Chen Liang''s car still parked in front of the dormitory building, saying, "See that car over there? It''s also got a Yanjing license, but did you notice the font color on the front is different?"

    "What does that have to do with anything?" the male student asked, confused.

    "Does anyone in your family hold a government position?" Wang Hui asked.

    "Yes, my uncle is a local government officer, a vice director," the male student said, his expression turning proud again at the mention.

    "Vice directors are a dime a dozen in Yanjing, but it''s pretty impressive in other places. You should call your uncle and describe the license plate to him, and then you will understand why the dormitory supervisor wouldn''t let you in but did let that guy before you go in," Wang Hui patted the male student''s shoulder before getting into Chen Liang''s car.

    Those capable of getting into Yanjing Media University invariably had some brains, especially those from wealthy families with government officials, tended to have a keener sense of certain matters than the average common folk. Watching Chen Liang speed off, disappearing from sight, the male student finally realized something was off and, unable to resist his curiosity, indeed called his uncle, the vice director.

    His uncle, who did have some insight, mistakenly thought his nephew had offended someone in Yanjing who drove that kind of car and was so frightened his hair stood on end, frantically asking whether he had angered the car''s owner.

    Only when he heard that he hadn''t, did his uncle let out a huge sigh of relief before explaining the significance of the license plate to him.

    Fuck! After hearing his uncle''s explanation, the male student finally understood why the dormitory supervisor had looked at him like he was an idiot.

    It turned out that even if he had been driving a Rolls-Royce, it couldn''t compare at all with that car. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    ¡­

    Jiang Lili and her roommates lived on the third floor.

    It was Ge Dongxu''s first time entering a girls'' dormitory building. Even as a formidable expert from Qimen and a chief-level consultant, he still felt a bit nervous, though it was okay when climbing the stairs.

    Since it was the summer vacation, most of the girls had gone home, and it was rare to encounter any girls on the staircase.

    But upon reaching the third floor and turning into the corridor, Ge Dongxu suddenly felt as if he had entered the realm of women, and not just any realm, but one of an open lifestyle with high beauty standards at that.

    The doors of the dorm rooms were wide open, and several attractive girls in bikinis were gathered around a table snacking and playing cards, similar to a group of men wearing only boxer shorts while smoking and playing cards.

    Faced with a glaring expanse of flesh, undulating like hills, Ge Dongxu got such a fright that he quickly averted his gaze, following Jin Yushan with eyes fixed forward.

    Fortunately, Ge Dongxu made it to Jiang Lili''s dorm safely in the end, without meeting any women wandering around the corridors in bikinis, or it really would have been embarrassing for him.

 Chapter 313 312 Chapter Lets talk about this later.

    After entering Jiang Lili''s dormitory and seeing the colorful bedding on the beds, Ge Dongxu was taken aback when he saw Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie exclaiming, "It''s so hot, I need to take a shower right away," and then began undressing in front of him. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Fortunately, Jiang Lili knew Ge Dongxu''s temperament. Before Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie could take off their outer clothes, she quickly rushed over and gently hit them, saying, "Hey, don''t you see Dongxu is in the room? Really."

    "Hehe, Dongxu is not an outsider. If he sees, he sees. It''s a good chance for him to help us judge if our figures are good or not!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said nonchalantly.

    Ge Dongxu broke into sweat, thinking that women in the entertainment circle are indeed formidable!

    Still, Jiang Lili understood Ge Dongxu well. She glared at Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, who were about to continue undressing, and whispered, "Dongxu doesn''t like this."

    At her words, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie''s faces turned slightly red, and they shyly stole a glance at Ge Dongxu, who wasn''t looking at them but was gazing out the window instead.

    Just as expected! For someone as awesome as him, we could only be considered mundane and not worthy of his Dharma Eye!

    The two of them felt ashamed and sighed internally, then put down their hands that were about to undress.

    The dormitory building was an old-style dorm building, and the rooms did not have private bathrooms or showers, so they had to shower in a communal area.

    Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie went to take their showers first, leaving Jiang Lili and Ge Dongxu alone in the room.

    The room, meant for four people, wasn''t large, and the atmosphere suddenly felt somewhat ambiguous.

    "Dongxu!" Jiang Lili moved closer, her breathing a bit rapid.

    But when Jiang Lili made a further move, Ge Dongxu suddenly stood up.

    "Dongxu!" Jiang Lili saw Ge Dongxu suddenly stand up, and the flush on her face immediately faded, leaving only paleness.

    "I still feel we need to calm down. You still need to seriously consider our relationship," Ge Dongxu said.

    "I have thought it through very clearly. Unless Dongxu thinks I''m just not acceptable and have no feelings for me at all, I won''t change my initial decision," said Jiang Lili, biting her lip and staring palely at Ge Dongxu.

    "You should know that I have feelings for you, but romantic matters..." Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile.

    "That''s already enough for me!" Jiang Lili rushed forward and hugged Ge Dongxu''s waist tightly, as if she were saying goodbye at graduation.

    Ge Dongxu couldn''t help his heart race faster.

    "Dongxu, why don''t I give myself to you tonight?" Feeling Ge Dongxu''s heartbeat, Jiang Lili said in a low voice, blushing and moving her red lips close to his ear.

    "You should know I''m not an ordinary person. These recent years, I haven''t been suitable for breaking my body¡ªthat''s a matter for later," Ge Dongxu gently pushed Jiang Lili away and said.

    Having seen Ge Dongxu''s skills at the Changxi Grand Hotel and remembering the Heart-Cleansing Talisman he had given her during their college entrance exams, Jiang Lili wasn''t surprised when he said he wasn''t an ordinary person, but it merely confirmed her suspicions from those days. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire

    However, hearing Ge Dongxu say he wasn''t suitable for losing his virginity was quite a shock to Jiang Lili, who blurted out, "You''re still a virgin?"

    "Is that so strange?" Ge Dongxu, seeing the surprised look on Jiang Lili''s face, said with a laugh.

    "No, I just thought given your capabilities, you would have already..." Jiang Lili stuttered, her face red.

    At this, Ge Dongxu started to feel a bit embarrassed.

    Indeed, if it weren''t for the needs of his cultivation, he would have lost his virginity by now.

    At eighteen, in a Western developed country, claiming to still be a virgin might be mocked, but in Huaxia Country, it was indeed a bit early.

    "Alright, stop daydreaming. When you''re with me in the future, try to minimize the intimate gestures. I''m worried I won''t be able to control myself," Ge Dongxu interrupted.

    Jiang Lili''s figure was very much like that of Western women, very voluptuous and quite a distraction.

    "Ah!" At his words, Jiang Lili''s sexy mouth opened wide, and she looked at Ge Dongxu as tears began to stream uncontrollably from her eyes.

    "What''s wrong?" Ge Dongxu, seeing Jiang Lili''s tears flowing incessantly, was taken aback.

    "No, nothing, I''m just happy! I didn''t realize I had such a strong attraction to you, Dongxu! Hehe!" Saying this, Jiang Lili wiped her tears and began to laugh.

    Seeing Jiang Lili suddenly laugh, Ge Dongxu gently embraced her, kissed her forehead, and said affectionately, "Of course you''re attractive, always have been."

    "Can I come in?" Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

 Chapter 313 Yes, Its Him [Requesting Monthly Votes]

    "Come in," Ge Dongxu replied.

    As Ge Dongxu''s voice trailed off, the door was pushed open, and Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie walked in.

    The two who had just taken showers emitted a faint scent of shower gel and shampoo, plus a few droplets of water still hanging on their hair tips, which fell onto their chests, outlining an enticing silhouette that was particularly seductive.

    "Lili, you can go take a shower now. We''ll keep Dongxu company," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said with a smile.

    "Dongxu, I''ll go take a shower then," Jiang Lili told Ge Dongxu. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Go ahead," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    ...

    Once Jiang Lili left, the atmosphere in the room became somewhat ambiguous, as Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie still somewhat stubbornly surrounded Ge Dongxu from left and right.

    The light fragrance from the showers kept drilling into Ge Dongxu''s nostrils, and given that Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie were both quite curvaceous and good-looking, their unintentional seductive gestures and coquettish voices made it hard to believe that Ge Dongxu could remain indifferent and desireless. If not, there would either be something wrong with his body, or perhaps his orientation.

    Fortunately, Jiang Lili cared deeply for Ge Dongxu, hurried back after a quick shower to the dormitory, which greatly relieved Ge Dongxu. He stood up and suggested, "Let''s go for a walk around the campus."

    "Yes, let''s do that!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie exclaimed eagerly.

    Thus, Ge Dongxu left the girls'' dormitory accompanied by Jiang Lili and the two others. He looked back at the mysterious place that countless male students yearned for, feeling as if he was back in the daylight once more.

    Thankfully, only he knew this feeling, or else he would''ve been mobbed by the male students of the Media Studies department!

    The campus wasn''t large, but it was shaded with green trees and featured a small, ripple-filled lake, making it a beautiful campus.

    Being surrounded by three girls, Ge Dongxu inevitably attracted envious, jealous, and resentful gazes from the male students.

    Luckily, there weren''t many students on campus during the summer break, so the number of such gazes was limited.

    "I do know some people over in Beijing, but you are still students after all. Your main focus should still be on studying. Even if you want to enter the entertainment circle early, it should be done step by step. It would be too much to ask him to step in. I''m thinking of bringing up your situation with Wu Longcai from the Jiangnan Province Entertainment TV Station when I get back to Jiangnan. Maybe he can check if there are any suitable roles for you and give you a recommendation," as they walked and stopped around the campus, Ge Dongxu said.

    "Wu Longcai? Are you referring to the Director Wu Longcai of the Jiangnan Province Entertainment TV Station, who recently became famous across Huaxia Country for ''The Happy Female Voice''?" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, naturally hoping that Ge Dongxu could introduce them to some insiders in Beijing, felt a bit disappointed initially seeing that Ge Dongxu didn''t plan to do so. However, their excitement skyrocketed upon hearing the name Wu Longcai.

    With ''The Happy Female Voice,'' a singing competition, becoming hugely successful, Wu Longcai, the director of this local entertainment TV station, also rose to prominence, becoming a hotshot in the entertainment industry.

    For students like Jin Yushan, a director of his caliber was an unattainable figure they could only look up to, hardly someone they could normally come into contact with. Recommending a supporting female role for them would be effortless for him.

    "Yes, that''s him. I''m quite familiar with him, so it''s convenient to talk," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    He was indeed close to Wu Longcai, whose achievements today could be attributed to his keen eye when he boldly overpaid to sponsor ''The Happy Female Voice,'' enabling Wu Longcai to showcase his talent and make the show a major success.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu''s returns were very rich as well. Not only did Qinghe Herbal Tea''s sales skyrocket with the huge success of ''The Happy Female Voice'' to the point of selling out, but he also held the priority rights for sponsoring the next season of ''The Happy Female Voice.'' No matter how high others bid next year, if Ge Dongxu offered twenty million, the station would have to give him the sponsorship rights.

    A few days ago, Cheng Yazhou had specifically called Ge Dongxu to mention that Wu Longcai had told him privately that several businesses had approached him to negotiate the sponsorship for next year''s ''The Happy Female Voice,'' with very high bids, including one from a major state-owned company offering thirty million.

    When the topic of thirty million came up, Cheng Yazhou was all smiles, saying that Ge Dongxu had a keen eye, earning the naming rights was like making ten million.

    "Thank you, Brother Dongxu, thank you, Brother Dongxu. Rest assured, we definitely won''t let you down. We will try our best." Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, after receiving a definite answer, excitedly bowed repeatedly to Ge Dongxu, revealing a swath of fair skin at their chests.

    "You don''t need to thank me. I just hope that when you become famous, you will remember that you were once just students and not put on airs like big stars," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Yes, we will definitely remember Brother Dongxu''s words today," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said seriously for once.

    Ge Dongxu smiled, then turned to Jiang Lili and asked, "What are your plans?"

    His relationship with Jiang Lili was special; naturally, he wouldn''t treat her the same as he did Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu ask Jiang Lili, envy appeared in the eyes of Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie.

    They clearly understood that Ge Dongxu had merely given them a chance. Whether they could seize this opportunity still depended on their own efforts, just like they had been trying to please Ge Dongxu all along.

    But it was different for Jiang Lili¡ªwith Ge Dongxu''s strong support, even if she didn''t try hard, she was guaranteed to make a name for herself in this lifetime!

    "I want to try on my own," Jiang Lili said calmly as she looked at Ge Dongxu.

    "Lili, are you out of your mind? Don''t you know how difficult it is to become famous in our circle?" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said, looking at Jiang Lili in shock.

    Jiang Lili didn''t respond to her roommates; she only looked at Ge Dongxu.

    On the night of their graduation farewell, Jiang Lili had already told Ge Dongxu that she would try hard to become an outstanding woman.

    She hadn''t changed her mind.

    Because she knew she was just an ordinary woman, at least in comparison to Ge Dongxu. If she didn''t try hard, she really didn''t know how she could face him or what right she would have to be his woman.

    She wanted to prove herself through her efforts!

    "If you insist, then alright. But remember to tell me if anything happens. Don''t suffer in silence," Ge Dongxu said as he gazed into Jiang Lili''s eyes and finally nodded after a long while.

    He could see the ingrained insecurity that Jiang Lili held deep in her heart whenever she faced him. If he didn''t let her try on her own, that insecurity might never fade.

    He would just have to see how things went and, if necessary, secretly create some opportunities for her.

    "I know, I''m not stupid," Jiang Lili retorted coquettishly as she held onto Ge Dongxu''s arm, rolling her eyes at him while feeling overjoyed inside.

    "And they say I''m not stupid. With Brother Dongxu, the great enabler here, if it were me, I''d have long since... Ah... my foot!" Jin Yushan scoffed back at Jiang Lili, but before she could finish her sentence, a sedan raced rapidly toward her, causing her to shriek in alarm and quickly dodge to the side. In her haste, she twisted her ankle and fell to the ground, landing squarely on her bottom.

    The car, however, zoomed past her and then screeched to a halt with a "squeal," stopping about twenty or thirty meters away in front of a library.

    A young man wearing sunglasses and clad in designer clothes stepped out of the car, not even glancing at Jin Yushan, who was sitting on the ground due to his reckless driving, looked up at the library building, and quickly walked towards the library.

    ps: That''s all for the triple updates today. Please recommend and support with your monthly votes. Thanks a lot.

 Chapter 314 Say That Again?

    "Sir, don''t you owe that beautiful girl an apology?" Just as Xu Yunxiang was quickly heading toward the library, a young man stopped him, with a trace of displeasure on his face.

    The young man was naturally Ge Dongxu.

    "Are you mistaken, classmate? It was her who fell by herself, why should I apologize? Now, move aside, I''m in a rush!" Xu Yunxiang couldn''t believe that there were still students who dared to obstruct him in the School of Media, demanding an apology to a girl, which made him frown, glance disdainfully at him through his sunglasses, and then said impatiently.

    "Don''t you think it''s your fault for driving so fast on campus?" Ge Dongxu''s brows were also slightly furrowed, and his face was growing angrier. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He had thought this young man hadn''t seen Jin Yushan fall because he was driving too fast, but it turned out he knew, which made it even more detestable.

    "What a joke, it was her walking too much in the middle, what does that have to do with me? And who are you, which department and class do you belong to?" Xu Yunxiang wouldn''t bow down and admit his mistake to a student, especially since Ge Dongxiang had such an accusatory demeanor, which made him feel offended and angrily took off his sunglasses, pointing at Ge Dongxu and asked.

    The last sentence already had a threatening and intimidating tone.

    "Xu Yunxiang!" Just as Ge Dongxu''s irritation was intensifying at seeing this guy''s arrogant attitude after doing something wrong, exclamations from Jin Yushan and the others came from behind him.

    "So it''s Xu Yunxiang, no wonder he looked somewhat familiar!" Ge Dongxu said, frowning.

    In the last two years, Xu Yunxiang had acted in two relatively popular TV shows and a movie, and was seen in many advertisements, but Ge Dongxu wasn''t interested in those things, so he only felt that the person in front of him looked familiar, but it didn''t occur to him that this was the Xu Yunxiang Chen Liang had mentioned before.

    "Hmph! And here I thought you juniors didn''t recognize me anymore. Walk closer to the side in the future, and you, keep your eyes peeled next time. I''ll let it slide this time!" Xu Yunxiang saw the three girls who arrived later shouting out his name and became even more arrogant.

    After all, not only was he a senior to these juniors, but he was also currently a popular idol in the entertainment industry.

    How dare you, a student with no fame at all, stop him and demand an apology, do you even want to survive in the entertainment industry in the future?

    "Hey, what kind of attitude is that? Speeding in the campus and scaring someone into twisting their ankle, and you''re the one in the right, aren''t you?" Jiang Lili, who naturally had a fiery temperament, seeing Xu Yunxiang''s arrogance, stepped in front of Ge Dongxu and scolded him with a tense face.

    "Lili, let it be, it''s just a slight twist of the ankle." Jin Yushan was still somewhat intimidated by Xu Yunxiang, a popular celebrity, and quickly pulled Jiang Lili back upon seeing this.

    Lin Sijie also hurriedly tugged at Jiang Lili.

    The two of them didn''t have a backer like Ge Dongxu, and while Jiang Lili could afford to offend Xu Yunxiang, they certainly couldn''t. Moreover, there were rumors in the school that Xu Yunxiang had a good relationship with Fang Wanyue.

    Although Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie would strip naked without hesitation to sleep with Ge Dongxu, just to cling to him, they truly didn''t believe that he could compare to Fang Wanyue in terms of status.

    For Fang Wanyue not only had a father who was a leader at the Broadcasting and Television Administration, overseeing the very people like them who aspired to make a mark in the entertainment industry, but she also possessed a grandfather by the surname of Feng.

    The latter was once one of the peak figures who commanded great influence in the political scene of Huaxia Country. Even though he had already retired, a mere stomp from him would still reverberate throughout the entire political landscape of Huaxia Country.

    Even if Ge Dongxu was impressive, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie would never believe he could surpass Fang Wanyue, who had such a distinguished grandfather.

    After all, in Huaxia Country, there were only a few families that could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Feng Family, and their surnames were renowned nationwide. Although Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie were still university students, they were nonetheless involved in the entertainment circle and interacted with different people. Living in a city that loved discussing politics and high-level gossip, they had heard about those notable families and the prominent names of their younger generations. Definitely, there was no such surname as Ge, nor the name Ge Dongxu.

    Of course, even if Ge Dongxu''s name wasn''t on that list, being able to drive a car with a Beijing V license plate at a young age, he was certainly an impressive figure to them, who were still at the bottom of the entertainment industry.

    He just couldn''t be compared to the likes of Fang Wanyue, who was born into the very top of elite aristocracy.

    When Xu Yunxiang saw Jiang Lili recognize him yet dared to point at him and berate him, he was initially taken aback, but noticing the wary looks of Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie as they pulled Jiang Lili back, and recalling his increasingly cordial relationship with Fang Wanyue, he felt no more reservations and arrogantly pointed back at Jiang Lili, "Which eye of yours saw me speeding? Which department are you from? What''s your name? Who''s your class advisor?"

    Xu Yunxiang had not become so infatuated with his sudden fame that he lost all sense. He knew to protect his own reputation. Thus, while he spoke, he not only left room for himself, denying the speeding allegation, but he also began to probe for Jiang Lili''s information, clearly with a threatening intention.

    "Not even the basic principles of being a person, I don''t know how someone like you became famous," Ge Dongxu said, his face darkening completely as he saw that Xu Yunxiang, instead of admitting fault and apologizing, was instead threatening Jiang Lili.

    "What did you say? Have the guts to repeat that?" Xu Yunxiang more furious than ever when faced with Ge Dongxu''s direct ridicule and belittlement.

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    "Bro Yunxiang! Bro Yunxiang! What are you doing?" Just as Xu Yunxiang was enraged, someone hastily ran over and grabbed hold of him.

    "Bro Dongxu, I''m sorry, I''m really sorry, Bro Yunxiang might have some misunderstandings," Chen Liang hurriedly apologized to Ge Dongxu after grabbing Xu Yunxiang.

    "There are no misunderstandings, what he needs to do is quite simple: apologize to Jin Yushan for his behavior just now," Ge Dongxu said coldly.

    "Chen Liang, what the hell are you doing?" Xu Yunxiang, of course, recognized his junior Chen Liang, and noticing that he was holding him back and apologizing to Ge Dongxu, felt a sudden unease. However, he had risen to stardom over the past two years, having met many influential people and growing increasingly close to Fang Wanyue, even showing signs of a budding romantic relationship. His arrogance had inflated tremendously. Although he realized something was off, he did not yield.

    Seeing Xu Yunxiang''s tone was still confrontational, Chen Liang quickly whispered a few words in his ear.

 Chapter 315 Wanyue, Youre Here

    Xu Yunxiang''s expression changed slightly upon hearing this.

    He was aware that those who could drive such license plate cars were not ordinary people.

    Of course, he was not a small figure like Chen Liang, and he took pride in having made connections with many children of wealthy and influential families over the past two years, especially as his relationship with Fang Wanyue had grown increasingly close. He was not like Chen Liang, who would start sweating profusely upon seeing that license plate.

    Of course, this also had to do with the fact that he had never heard the name Ge Dongxu before.

    Still, no matter what, a tinge of wariness rose in Xu Yunxiang''s heart.

    "So it''s Young Master Ge. There might have been a little misunderstanding just now. Let''s forget about this matter, and I''ll treat you to tea another day," Xu Yunxiang said, indirectly apologizing to Ge Dongxu.

    "No need, I only need you to apologize to Jin Yushan in person," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    Xu Yunxiang''s behavior had already caused Ge Dongxu to feel extremely disgusted, and he naturally had no intention of having tea with him.

    By this time, the commotion here had drawn the attention of some students, with many looking over and pointing at them, with Xu Yunxiang being the one pointed at the most.

    Because he was a famous celebrity who had emerged from the School of Communication, many people recognized him.

    Xu Yunxiang saw that he had already lowered his stance, but Ge Dongxu was still unwilling to let it go, insisting that he apologize to Jin Yushan face to face, which immediately made him feel that he was losing face, especially with many people watching the situation here.

    Xu Yunxiang''s expression became very unsightly as he looked at Ge Dongxu without responding.

    The atmosphere became a bit tense.

    "Let it go, Dongxu. My ankle actually isn''t twisted that badly," Jin Yushan said gently, tugging at Ge Dongxu and speaking cautiously.

    She was fearful of Xu Yunxiang and didn''t want Ge Dongxu to become enemies with Xu Yunxiang over such a trifling matter for her sake.

    In Jin Yushan''s view, she was just a minor character, and not worth these important figures quarrelling and harboring resentment for her.

    Of course, her heart was already filled with gratitude toward Ge Dongxu!

    Seeing that Jin Yushan clearly didn''t dare to blow the matter up, Xu Yunxiang''s mind stirred, a slight smirk of satisfaction curling up on his lips, as he thought he understood something.

    Just then, Xu Yunxiang''s phone rang again. He picked it up and saw that it was a call from Fang Wanyue, and his smirk grew thicker.

    "What''s happening, you haven''t arrived yet?" Fang Wanyue''s slightly dissatisfied voice came through as he answered the phone.

    "I''m here, Wanyue, right in front of the library. But there''s someone who''s relying on a bit of family background, and is currently being difficult with me," Xu Yunxiang said, deliberately glancing at Ge Dongxu while saying ''Wanyue'' with a purposely clear enunciation.

    "Really? Who is it? I''ll come over right away," Fang Wanyue said immediately upon hearing this.

    "It would be best if you could come. Otherwise, I''m just an actor, and they don''t take me seriously," Xu Yunxiang said, his face showing an even bolder look of self-satisfaction.

    "Alright, I''m coming out to have a look," Fang Wanyue said and hung up the phone, then hurriedly left the library.

    Xu Yunxiang calmly tucked his phone away. Jin Yushan, Lin Sijie, and Jiang Lili''s faces had all turned a bit pale, while Chen Liang''s eyes shone with a glint of anticipation and schadenfreude.

    Although Xu Yunxiang did not mention a surname just now, it did not prevent them from associating the name Wanyue with Fang Wanyue, the girl from the top-tier family at the academy.

    And Xu Yunxiang''s phone call¡ªthat intimate form of address¡ªalso amounted to a certain level of verification for some rumors about his relationship with Fang Wanyue at the academy.

    "Young Master Ge, it''s the same as what I said before, let''s just let this matter go, I''ll treat you to tea another day," Xu Yunxiang said as he looked at Ge Dongxu.

    This time, he was no longer nervous but carried a hint of pride, as if he was already giving Ge Dongxu a lot of face.

    Indeed, with Elder Feng''s granddaughter stepping in, how many young people in the capital wouldn''t show respect?

    Not to mention the young man in front of him whose name wasn''t widely known!

    A Ge surname, were there any standout figures with this surname in the capital?

    Maybe as soon as he saw Fang Wanyue, he would have to kneel immediately!

    "Brother Dongxu, let it go, please let it go," Jin Yushan was on the verge of tears.

    "Brother Dongxu!" Jiang Lili also gently tugged at Ge Dongxu''s clothes and said worriedly.

    Seeing the three women''s faces turn pale with fear, Xu Yunxiang knew they had guessed who was on the phone; his look towards Ge Dongxu became even more smug, even carrying a hint of condescension.

    "I''ll say it again, apologize to this student, Jin Yushan." Ge Dongxu lightly patted Jiang Lili''s hand that was holding his own and said coldly to Xu Yunxiang, his eyes filled with disdain.

    "Young Master Ge, don''t go too far. I don''t know your true background, but let me remind you, the waters in the capital run deep, and there are far more than just you who can drive a car with a Beijing V license plate. Besides, this car of yours was arranged for you by your family, or maybe you''re just borrowing it from an elder in your family, so why put on such an air of importance? Is it worth creating such a stir over a young girl?" Xu Yunxiang, seeing that Ge Dongxu was uncooperative, simply dropped all pretense of civility and confronted him directly.

    Seeing Xu Yunxiang speak like this, the faces of Jin Yushan and the other two girls paled even further, while Chen Liang''s eyes brimmed with more schadenfreude.

    "Yunxiang, what''s going on?" Just as Xu Yunxiang finished speaking, a voice rang out.

    "Wanyue, you''re here! Look at this, what''s happening here? I was on time, just about to head to the library when this person..." Xu Yunxiang, hearing the voice behind him, felt a surge of joy and hastily turned around to speak.

    "Dongxu, what are you doing here?" before Xu Yunxiang could finish his sentence, Fang Wanyue interrupted with a voice full of surprise and delight.

    "Ah, Wanyue, you know him?" Xu Yunxiang exclaimed in shock.

    "Of course," Fang Wanyue replied.

    "Haha, it turns out it''s a case of ''a flood washing over the Dragon King Temple¡ªone family member failing to recognize another.'' I misunderstood, Young Master Ge, I apologize for earlier," Xu Yunxiang, true to his nature as an actor, changed his attitude and expression with a rapid 180-degree turn when he saw Fang Wanyue knew Ge Dongxu.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu knew Fang Wanyue, Jiang Lili and the other two girls secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and their looks towards Ge Dongxu became noticeably different, while Chen Liang was naturally somewhat disappointed¡ªand also secretly relieved that he hadn''t spoken out of turn.

    "Yes, yes, we''re all family here. Since it''s all a misunderstanding, let''s just let it go, don''t you agree, Dongxu?" Fang Wanyue said as she looked at Ge Dongxu. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As soon as Fang Wanyue spoke these words, everyone present, except for Ge Dongxu, was shocked.

    Because Fang Wanyue''s tone clearly contained a hint of negotiation and request, but the problem is, she''s Elder Feng''s granddaughter!

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    For such a trivial matter, for a person of her level to step in and speak was already giving face, so why would she need to use such a tone of negotiation and request?

 Chapter 316 Your Friend Has Character Issues [Vote for Monthly Ticket]

    Especially Xu Yunxiang, whose face changed instantly, and his forehead started to break out in a cold sweat.

    In the entertainment industry, there has always been a complicated and extensive connection with the privileged elite. As a popular idol these past two years, Xu Yunxiang had also come into contact with some of the young elites in the higher societal circles. He knew very well that among these young people born into wealthy and powerful families, although their interactions seemed casual on the surface, there was actually a very distinct hierarchy of social status.

    Language like negotiating and requesting, as Fang Wanyue had used, generally only appeared when the parties were of equal standing, or even when the other party was of a higher status.

    This was quite normal. For a top-ranking third-generation elite like Feng Chenqing, it was impossible to speak with a requesting tone to the offspring of anyone lower than a provincial or ministerial level. Feng Chenqing would only speak in a tone of negotiation or request if they were dealing with someone whose background was comparable to that of the Feng Family.

    Though Fang Wanyue could not be compared with the Feng Family''s eldest grandson, she was nonetheless Elder Feng''s granddaughter, and her status among the third generation was still exceptionally distinguished.

    For her to use a requesting tone with Ge Dongxu, what did that imply?

    As long as Xu Yunxiang had not lost his mind, he would understand that Ge Dongxu was certainly not someone he, a mere actor, could afford to offend or contend with.

    Fortunately, judging by Fang Wanyue''s attitude, she seemed to be on his side and was relatively close to him. Having her as a card to play, Xu Yunxiang managed to avoid having to immediately kneel.

    "Yes, yes, it was all a misunderstanding. I sincerely apologize to Jin Yushan," Xu Yunxiang hurriedly followed up on Fang Wanyue''s words, though he didn''t literally kneel, he wouldn''t dare to behave arrogantly in front of Ge Dongxu now, even if he had the courage of a lion.

    With that said, he actually walked up to Jin Yushan, respectfully bowed, and said, "I''m sorry, Jin Yushan."

    "Dongxu, Yunxiang is my friend. Look, he has apologized. Can we just let this matter go, please?" Fang Wanyue saw Xu Yunxiang seize the opportunity quickly and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. She then stepped forward, grabbed Ge Dongxu''s arm, and started to sway it as she spoke.

    She had no other choice. This was her grandfather''s junior brother, after all!

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    Not to mention her friend. Even if someone was a friend of her parents, if they offended him, they would have no option but to yield.

    Of course, Fang Wanyue was not yet aware of another identity of Ge Dongxu''s. Her mother was somewhat better positioned, matching Ge Dongxu''s status, but her father was of a lower status than him. If they managed to offend him, even without the connection to Elder Feng, they would still have no choice but to yield.

    Witnessing Fang Wanyue holding onto Ge Dongxu''s arm and swaying it, with a strong air of coquettishness emanating from her, Jiang Lili and the others almost had their hearts stop beating, their eyes fixated on Fang Wanyue''s hand holding Ge Dongxu''s arm.

    Is this really the young miss of the Fang Family? Is her grandfather truly Elder Feng?

    At this point, Xu Yunxiang''s knees almost buckled, and he nearly knelt down!

    Oh heavens! To this day, I''ve not even touched this lady''s hand, and yet she''s holding onto his arm and won''t stop shaking it!

    Who have I actually offended?

    Xu Yunxiang''s heart pounded tumultuously, yet his complexion was turning a ghastly shade of pale green.

    Of course, at this point, everyone assumed that the matter should simply be let go.

    Indeed, with the young miss of the Fang Family deploying her womanly weapon of coquetry, even if Ge Dongxu was among the topmost elites of the capital, he would have to give face and let bygones be bygones at this juncture.

    In fact, when Ge Dongxu saw Fang Wanyue making such a request, he really felt it wouldn''t be right to embarrass her over such a small issue. Patting her little hand, he smiled and said, "Alright, alright. It was only a minor issue to begin with, if he had had a better attitude from the start, I wouldn''t have even bothered with him. Since you''ve stepped in and he has apologized, let''s put this matter to rest."

    "Thank you," Fang Wanyue let go of his hand and smiled sweetly at Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu smiled back and cast a glance at Xu Yunxiang, a flash of disgust in his eyes, and said, "However, this friend of yours has questionable character, which I don''t like. It''s best if you don''t associate with him. Alright, let''s continue touring the campus, you can go about your business."

    Having said that, Ge Dongxu didn''t wait to see whether Fang Wanyue was listening or not, and took Jiang Lili and the others toward the lake.

    Watching the backs of Ge Dongxu and Jiang Lili with her three companions slowly moving away, the smile on Fang Wanyue''s face gradually faded. She turned to Xu Yunxiang and asked, "Can you tell me what just happened?"

    "It''s really nothing much, just that Dongxu''s friend was walking too close to the middle of the road. When I drove by, she accidentally twisted her ankle, and then Dongxu insisted that I apologize to her. I wasn''t convinced and said a few words, and he wouldn''t let it go. Luckily you were here, otherwise, I would''ve been at a disadvantage today. By the way, who exactly is he? Why do even you..." Xu Yunxiang explained with a wry smile on his face.

    Of course, he was going to defend his own side and wouldn''t disclose the full truth.

    "It seems he was right; your character really is lacking. Alright, you can go now, from now on I have nothing to do with you," Fang Wanyue cut Xu Yunxiang off coldly before he could finish speaking.

    "Wanyue, what do you mean by that? The facts are as I''ve said! How can you judge my character based on a single word from that person just now? Isn''t that a bit too arbitrary?" Upon hearing this, Xu Yunxiang''s face changed drastically, and he felt an indescribable sense of indignation.

    He was confident in the veracity and performance of his own words; there should have been no slip-ups.

    Unfortunately, Xu Yunxiang, even with a wild imagination, could never have guessed that Ge Dongxu was actually Elder Feng''s junior brother, had a net worth of hundreds of millions, and possessed special Techniques. Xu Yunxiang''s words subtly depicted him as a domineering, bullying young master of a wealthy family, which, when heard by Fang Wanyue, essentially felt like an insult to her intelligence.

    If Ge Dongxu were such a person, would her grandfather have acknowledged him as his junior brother?

    If Ge Dongxu were such a person, could he have earned a fortune of several hundreds of millions at a young age?

    Moreover, in Fang Wanyue''s eyes, Ge Dongxu was also a remarkable person who knew the "Six Meridians Divine Sword." If he really were a domineering bully, would he need to talk so much nonsense with Xu Yunxiang? A single finger would have been enough to pin him to the ground begging for mercy! Would he really need to politely ask for an apology?

    "Enough! Who do you think you are? He would bully you just because he has power over you? You really think too highly of yourself! Let me tell you the truth, it''s not just your friend who is beneath me, even if it were my oldest cousin, if he wanted to hit you, all you could do is take the beating! Bullying because of power? Are you insulting me?" Fang Wanyue interrupted coldly, with a scornful curl of her lip, before turning and walking away.

    Watching Fang Wanyue walk away, Xu Yunxiang stood there feeling as if he had plunged into an ice pit, the words she had said before she left echoing in his ears.

    He certainly understood who Fang Wanyue''s oldest cousin was!

    But the implication in Fang Wanyue''s words couldn''t be clearer: even if her oldest cousin were involved today, he would be in no position to do anything but negotiate and make requests!

    Chen Liang, who had not yet left, was completely petrified by shock!

    He couldn''t even dare to imagine what kind of status Ge Dongxu held!

    ps: Continuing to ask for monthly votes and recommendation votes, there will be an update at midnight on Monday, thank you very much.

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 Chapter 317 Your Role is Canceled [Request for Recommendation Tickets]

    When Xu Yunxiang felt like he had plunged into an ice cellar, Fang Wanyue was on her way back to the library, dialing the phone number of her best friend, Lin Jingwen, the heiress of the Yuanbo Group.

    She was the same girl who had stood at the villa entrance to greet guests with Fang Wanyue during the charity gala that Ge Dongxu had attended last time.

    "Oh, isn''t our Miss Fang supposed to personally deliver the good news to Brother Xu today? Why do you have time to call me?" As soon as the call connected, Lin Jingwen''s teasing voice came through.

    "Enough, don''t make me sick. That drama your family invested in, change the lead actor," said Fang Wanyue, her brows slightly furrowed.

    "What''s wrong, my Miss Fang? Wasn''t it you who insisted on recommending Xu Yunxiang to me? Now that negotiations with him are nearly complete, I specifically wanted you to give him a heads-up today, to make him owe you a favor. Why have you suddenly changed your mind? Did he make you angry?" Lin Jingwen asked, puzzled.

    "Forget it. I misread him; his character is no good," Fang Wanyue said.

    "Really? Did he get fresh with you? That''s understandable, you know, men... when they can''t control themselves," Lin Jingwen continued to tease, thinking it was just a lovers'' quarrel, not taking it to heart.

    "Lin Jingwen, what on earth are you thinking? I''m not in any kind of boyfriend-girlfriend relationship with him. I simply appreciated him for his worth, but his behavior today was so disappointing, I don''t want my connection to be the reason he gets ahead for nothing," Fang Wanyue said.

    "What exactly did he do to change your opinion of him so suddenly?" Lin Jingwen asked, now realizing that the situation wasn''t so simple and her tone became serious.

    "He wouldn''t dare do anything to me, but he offended Ge Dongxu without knowing it, and that made me see his true character. So from now on, he and I have nothing to do with each other," Fang Wanyue declared.

    "No way, that''s so ruthless! Wait, Ge Dongxu? You mean the guy who came with your cousin to the charity gala last time and directly bid 500,000 for your turquoise earrings, then returned them to you and vanished without a trace?" Lin Jingwen exclaimed in surprise.

    "''That guy,'' ''that guy,'' it''s Ge Dongxu!" Fang Wanyue corrected irritably.

    That was her grandfather''s junior brother, after all!

    "Okay, okay, so the true love of Miss Fang is still Ge Dongxu. Xu Yunxiang really doesn''t know what''s good for him, offending anyone but him! I got it; I''ll find someone else. These days, it''s hard to find a truly skilled and suitable movie star, but it''s easy to find an idol-type pretty boy," Lin Jingwen laughed.

    "Lin Jingwen, I''m warning you seriously once again, you can joke about anyone you want, but you''re not allowed to joke about me and him, or else we can no longer be friends," Fang Wanyue warned angrily as Lin Jingwen took up teasing her about Ge Dongxu again.

    "Fine, fine, I won''t joke about you two, but can you at least tell me what kind of background Ge Dongxu has?" Seeing that Fang Wanyue wasn''t joking, Lin Jingwen didn''t dare to continue, but her curiosity was piqued even more.

    At the charity gala last time, she had seen Ge Dongxu casually spend 500,000 to bid for the turquoise earrings and return them to Fang Wanyue. Similar jests had been made, but Fang Wanyue had seemed a bit angry, so she didn''t continue to press the issue afterwards. Now, seeing Fang Wanyue change her high regard for Xu Yunxiang so drastically for Ge Dongxu, she couldn''t help but bring up the subject again.

    "Don''t ask so many questions. If I could tell you, I would have already told you," Fang Wanyue said.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu''s true identity couldn''t be casually revealed, or it would cause an immediate sensation. What Lin Jingwen wanted to know was clearly Ge Dongxu''s real identity.

    "Alright, I wonder how long you plan to keep it a secret!" Lin Jingwen said, sounding resigned.

    The two best friends chatted for a bit more before hanging up.

    After hanging up, Lin Jingwen thought for a moment and called the director of the movie that Yuanbo Group was planning to invest in.

    The movie''s production cost wasn''t very high; it could only be considered a medium investment and wasn''t some kind of blockbuster New Year''s film. It was mainly overseen by Lin Jingwen.

    In terms of casting, besides a few big-name directors, the real decision-making power often lies with the investors. Of course, under normal circumstances, the investors tend to respect the director''s professional judgment. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Xu Yunxiang was recommended to the director by Lin Jingwen because of Fang Wanyue, and now, for the same reason, Lin Jingwen had to kick him out. When Lin Jingwen made the call, she couldn''t help but picture Ge Dongxu in her mind.

    She was really curious about what kind of person Ge Dongxu was to have such a big influence on Fang Wanyue!

    Xu Yunxiang wasn''t the male lead, he was more of a secondary male character, plus with the investors speaking up, there was naturally no problem on the director''s end. In fact, the director had even more power to choose his cast.

    However, the director knew Xu Yunxiang''s inclusion in the cast had something to do with Miss Fang of the Fang Family, so he still had some reservations and deliberately warned, "If we replace Xu Yunxiang, won''t that upset Miss Fang?"

    "It looks like Xu Yunxiang hasn''t stopped mentioning his relationship with Fang Wanyue! Don''t worry, this is Fang Wanyue''s idea," replied Lin Jingwen.

    The director was a smart man; upon hearing this, he understood that Xu Yunxiang must have offended Fang Wanyue. Not only would he not be able to use this guy for his current movie, but he also wouldn''t be able to work with him in any future projects.

    Fang Wanyue''s father was a leader at the Broadcasting Authority, who just happened to be in charge of the film and television sector! Not to mention her maternal grandfather''s family was one of the most influential families in the capital city.

    So, after hanging up with Lin Jingwen, the director immediately dialed Xu Yunxiang''s number.

    At the time the director called, Xu Yunxiang was asking Chen Liang about Ge Dongxu''s background.

    "Director Wang, hello." Seeing it was the director''s call, Xu Yunxiang gestured for Chen Liang to keep quiet and hurriedly greeted the director with caution.

    "Xu, the reason I''m calling is to inform you that we''re canceling your role in the film," Director Wang said.

    "Why, Director Wang? Didn''t you tell me this morning that the role of the second male lead was set for me?" Xu Yunxiang''s face changed drastically at the news.

    Although he was quite popular now, his foundation was still weak, nowhere near some established stars. Without a few films to accumulate and establish a solid reputation, it was easy to be forgotten, so he valued this film very much.

    "That''s something you need to ask yourself. What did you do?" Director Wang sneered before he hung up the phone outright.

    "Ask myself?" Xu Yunxiang was completely confused, and then he quickly thought of the incident that had just occurred, his face turning pale.

    ¡­

    The lakeside path on the campus was shaded by green trees, offering a cool retreat.

    Ge Dongxu was taking a walk by the lake with Jiang Lili and three other girls, yet the atmosphere was a bit tense.

    Among the three girls, besides Jiang Lili who was slightly better off, the other two kept casting awe-filled glances at Ge Dongxu, not daring to speak, and even Jin Yushan, with her feet hurting so badly she was sweating cold sweat on her forehead, didn''t dare to utter a word, enduring the pain silently.

    The scene that had just unfolded had truly frightened them.

    They could never have imagined that Ge Dongxu was so powerful that even Miss Fang would cling to his arm and negotiate and plead with him in an almost coquettish manner.

    If they hadn''t seen it with their own eyes, they would never have believed it!

    "Jin Yushan, what''s wrong with you? You look a bit pale," Ge Dongxu quickly noticed something was off with Jin Yushan and asked with concern.

    ps: A new week has started, and I ask my dear readers not to find it troublesome to cast a recommendation vote; the higher the ranking, the further the book will go. Recommendation tickets are generated daily, they can''t be accumulated, and if not used, they''ll be wasted. Thank you in advance. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 318 Why am I not the one who got hurt?

    "My leg twisted just now; it hurts a bit," Jin Yushan said with a forced smile.

    "Why didn''t you say so earlier? Let''s find a place for you to sit down, and I''ll take a look," Ge Dongxu reprimanded.

    "It''s okay, it''s just a slight pain, it doesn''t matter," Jin Yushan hurriedly said.

    "What do you mean it doesn''t matter when you''re sweating on your forehead? Sit down honestly," Ge Dongxu glared at Jin Yushan with displeasure, then insisted that she sit down on a bench by the lake, before crouching down and taking her injured foot in his hands.

    "Ah, what are you going to do, Brother Xu?" Jin Yushan exclaimed in shock when she saw Ge Dongxu crouch down to look at her foot injury.

    "Of course, I''m going to check on the injury on your foot," Ge Dongxu said.

    "It''s fine, it''s fine, just a bit of a sprain," Jin Yushan said, her eyes welling up with tears from the surprise and admiration.

    She had never imagined someone of Ge Dongxu''s status would care about her so much, or crouch before her to tend to her foot injury.

    And she was one hundred percent certain that this man had no ulterior motives towards her!

    "It''s swollen and seems to be quite a bad twist. Let me rub it for you; otherwise, you definitely won''t be able to get out of bed tomorrow," Ge Dongxu said with a slight frown, regretting that he hadn''t dealt with that fellow more harshly just now.

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu gently started massaging Jin Yushan''s swollen ankle.

    Jin Yushan felt goosebumps all over as she saw such a dignified personage as Ge Dongxu crouching on the ground, gently kneading her ankle, yet tears uncontrollably rolled down from her peach blossom eyes.

    She was a practical woman, who usually weighed things in terms of benefits and losses, and it was rare for her to be moved. But today, she was thoroughly touched by Ge Dongxu.

    She truly hadn''t expected someone like Ge Dongxu to be so good to her.

    Lin Sijie''s eyes were wide with amazement at this moment; how she wished the injured person were her!

    Jiang Lili watched Ge Dongxu crouch down to rub Jin Yushan''s foot without any jealousy or much surprise.

    Ever since Jiang Lili had met Ge Dongxu, she knew he was a man with a pure heart and kind spirit, who never judged people based on their status.

    In his eyes, there were only friends and non-friends, without any distinction between high and low, noble and humble.

    "There, you should get up and walk now, it definitely doesn''t hurt anymore," Ge Dongxu said with a smile as Jin Yushan was moved to tears.

    "Is it already better?" Jin Yushan asked in astonishment, her face still wet with tears.

    Although she knew that someone like Ge Dongxu couldn''t possibly spend a long time crouching and massaging her foot, and she certainly wouldn''t let him continue, it still seemed to have ended too quickly.

    It was only a few moments! She had been too emotional just now to fully relish the feeling of Ge Dongxu''s elite status as he crouched down to rub her foot, and it was over just like that? S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Of course it''s better, or do you plan to have me keep crouching and rubbing?" Ge Dongxu said, almost laughing and crying at the same time.

    He was, after all, a divine healer. Even for Sang Yunlong''s serious heart condition, he had only massaged for a little while; for a twisted leg like this, just a few rubs were actually overkill, like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut!

    "No, of course not!" Jin Yushan said, frightened, and she quickly shook her head repeatedly.

    Joking aside, even the young mistress of the Fang Family had to tread carefully around him, not to mention him crouching down to massage her foot¡ªgetting her to crouch down to massage his foot would be giving her face!

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    "Don''t worry, I know medical skills. Stand up and take a walk, and you''ll see," Ge Dongxu said, seeing Jin Yushan shaking her head like a rattle-drum, and he chuckled.

    Jin Yushan looked at Ge Dongxu with suspicion and disbelief. It was really hard for her to associate such a noble young master like Ge Dongxu with being a doctor, let alone believe that a gentle kneading of her twisted ankle would lead to an instant recovery.

    However, since Ge Dongxu said so, she definitely had to stand up and try.

    So Jin Yushan''s foot touched the ground once more, and then she stood up. After that, she let out an "Ah" in surprise.

    "What''s wrong? Does it hurt a lot?" Lin Sijie hurriedly asked.

    "No, it''s fine, completely fine! It''s unbelievable. Just a moment ago it was as painful as being pierced by needles," Jin Yushan said, looking at Ge Dongxu with a face full of disbelief.

    "Really?" Lin Sijie asked incredulously after hearing this.

    Jin Yushan, lagging a few steps behind just a little while ago, did not dare tell Ge Dongxu her foot hurt. She was in so much pain that her eyebrows were furrowed, her forehead breaking out in sweat, and Lin Sijie saw it all.

    Moreover, when Jin Yushan sat on the bench with Ge Dongxu holding her foot, her swollen foot was clearly seen by Lin Sijie.

    Anyone with normal thinking would believe that such a sprain could not possibly heal immediately.

    "Of course, it''s true! You don''t believe me? Look!" Seeing Lin Sijie''s incredulous expression and fearing she wouldn''t believe her, Jin Yushan even started lightly hopping on the spot.

    "Can you not jump? If you twist it again, I am not going to be responsible for massaging it again!" Ge Dongxu saw Jin Yushan hopping joyfully and couldn''t help laughing and urging her with a mix of amusement and concern.

    Please, although Jin Yushan was not wearing those exaggerated high heels, they were at least mid-heeled sandals!

    "Hehe!" Jin Yushan stopped at his words, blushing as she playfully stuck out her tongue at Ge Dongxu.

    After what had happened just now, she realized that as long as she did not annoy him, this young master Ge Dongxu was as approachable as a boy-next-door.

    Seeing Jin Yushan stick out her tongue at him, Ge Dongxu was momentarily stunned, and then he couldn''t help but smile wryly to himself.

    She really thought he was an unflappable Liuxia Hui, making such tempting gestures in front of him so casually.

    Afterward, the four of them strolled around the campus for a while longer until the sun began to set gradually.

    The campus was only so big; after a few rounds, there wasn''t much else to see. Jiang Lili, worried that Ge Dongxu might be bored, suggested going for a walk around Shichahai.

    In the summer night, Shichahai was always a popular spot in the capital.

    Ge Dongxu naturally had no objection, and of course, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie wanted to go along too. However, being clever women, they knew that being a third wheel occasionally was fine, but to always be in the middle was annoying, so they excused themselves, saying that they had things to do in the evening.

    Ge Dongxu hadn''t seen Jiang Lili for two years and did indeed want some time alone with her to chat about private matters. Seeing that the other two said they had things to do in the evening, he did not insist. After sending Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie back to the girls'' dormitory, he drove off in the Audi with Jiang Lili, leaving the dormitory behind.

    Watching the Audi disappear from view, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie reluctantly retracted their gaze.

    "Yushan, hurry and tell me, how did it feel when Dongxu Brother was squatting in front of you, massaging your foot? Was it a tingling, numbing sensation like floating in the clouds?" As soon as they got back to the dormitory, a gossip-filled Lin Sijie asked.

    "Are you crazy? That was just a foot massage. What do you think it was?" Jin Yushan was alright at first, but hearing the last sentence, she felt something was off and, blushing, reached out to pinch Lin Sijie.

    "I obviously know it was a foot massage, but that was the young master Ge, don''t you feel something special? Do you know how excited I got watching from the side? Why couldn''t it have been me who got injured?" Lin Sijie said longingly.

    Maybe it was Lin Sijie''s yearning look that influenced Jin Yushan, as she couldn''t help but recall Ge Dongxu kneeling down to massage her foot with such focused concern by the lakeside.

    Then her face involuntarily flushed a shade of pink¡­

 Chapter 319 Nicos Phone Call

    The summer night at Shichahai was exceptionally beautiful.

    The lights twinkled, and the small boats in the lake drifted along.

    Gazing at the picturesque scene before her and holding hands with the man she thought of day and night, the man of her dreams, Jiang Lili walked quietly by the lakeside. Recalling the events of more than two years ago, she felt as though it were a lifetime away.

    Without the man beside her, she might now be standing in some dimly lit alley, wearing revealing clothes and flirting with the men passing by.

    Or perhaps she would be in a private room, in some glitzy place, wrapped in the arms of some man, being forcefully fed drink after drink.

    Just thinking about these things gave Jiang Lili the chills, and she couldn''t help but snuggle closer to Ge Dongxu, resting her head on his shoulder.

    "Thank you, Dongxu! Without you, I really don''t know what I would have become," Jiang Lili murmured.

    "It''s all in the past, let''s not dwell on it," Ge Dongxu''s heart trembled slightly as he wrapped his arm around her slim yet surprisingly plump waist and spoke softly.

    "Do you know? The first time I came to Shichahai, I thought how wonderful it would be if one day I could lean on your shoulder and walk with you like this. I''d be willing to live ten years less for that," Jiang Lili continued to murmur.

    "You fool, don''t talk such nonsense. It''s just a walk by the Shichahai, simple as that!" Ge Dongxu''s heart trembled again as he spoke.

    "Dongxu, would it be okay to kiss me?" Suddenly, Jiang Lili stopped in her tracks and looked up at Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu was suddenly taken aback.

    Yuan Li involuntarily came to his mind.

    Last time, it was here that he had kissed Yuan Li, but that had been in winter.

    Thinking of Yuan Li brought Liu Jiayao to his mind.

    His first kiss with Liu Jiayao had also been by a lakeside, but not at Shichahai; it was at Mingyue Lake.

    What kind of man am I? Am I really a good man?

    For the first time in his life, Ge Dongxu was filled with confusion and doubt about his feelings.

    "Dongxu, would it be okay to kiss me?" Jiang Lili''s voice rang out by his ear once again.

    But Ge Dongxu did not kiss her; instead, he looked at her and said, "Lili, before you, I have kissed other women, and there''s one I will never give up on in this life."

    "Is that why you didn''t tell me when you came to the capital or visit me, Dongxu?" Jiang Lili asked, looking at Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Dongxu, you really are a simple and good man. I don''t mind, so why should you? Kiss me!" Jiang Lili''s personality was still as fiery and direct as ever.

    "I don''t mind, so why should you?" Looking at Jiang Lili, who was tilting her head back, eyes closed and looking utterly beguiling, his ears echoing with the words she had said, Ge Dongxu suddenly smiled, then bent down to kiss her.

    Indeed, whether it was Jiang Lili or Liu Jiayao, in this respect, neither had any expectations or cared much. So why tie himself in knots, brooding over it?

    Would pushing Jiang Lili away harshly now be the right thing to do?

    What is right? What is wrong? His true feelings had already told him, otherwise he wouldn''t have admitted he was Jiang Lili''s boyfriend back in Xiangshan!

    Following the heart''s direction is the essence of self-cultivation. If the heart felt so, then so be it!

    With the inner conflict resolved, the repressed feelings for Jiang Lili were completely released.

    Ge Dongxu soon lost himself in Jiang Lili''s clumsy yet passionate kisses, delighting in the moment, his hands sliding down her smooth waist to rest on her round buttocks, a match for those of Western women.

    Jiang Lili''s desire in that aspect was much stronger than Liu Jiayao''s. Using the cover of trees and the night, she kept seeking Ge Dongxu''s kisses, her voluptuous body pressing tightly against him, moving in sync, as if she wished to melt into him.

    Even amidst her gasps, Jiang Lili suggested going to a hotel, and Ge Dongxu almost nodded in agreement. Fortunately, he maintained that last bit of clarity, and with a clenched jaw, pushed Jiang Lili away, looking at her with an apologetic expression, "Let''s just hold hands and take a slow walk by the lake."

    Jiang Lili let out an "Ah," her already flushed cheeks turning even redder.

    ...

    Around ten o''clock, Ge Dongxu drove Jiang Lili back to her school and arranged to pick her up early the next day for a trip to the Great Wall.

    Visiting the capital city, one must always make a trip to the Great Wall, even though it tends to be hot in the summer.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu dropping Jiang Lili off at her dormitory, the dormitory supervisor could hardly believe her eyes, blinking several times in astonishment.

    In this day and age, a girl from the School of Media and Communications getting into such a car, shouldn''t she be expected to not return all night?

    That''s right, it must be because her period arrived, how inconvenient!

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    What a pity!

    ...

    The road conditions were very good late at night, and Ge Dongxu drove swiftly, reaching the vicinity of the siheyuan before long.

    At that moment, his phone suddenly rang.

    The caller ID displayed an unfamiliar phone number.

    Ge Dongxu hesitated for a moment before answering the call.

    "Is this Ge? I... I''m Nico," came the voice of a woman, hard with accent and weak with breath, from the phone.

    "Nico? Are you hurt?" Ge Dongxu was slightly startled and then quickly asked with a change in his expression.

    "Yes, I... I''m hurt. I should have heeded your advice and left Beijing right away," Nico said.

    "Okay, don''t talk too much, where are you?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    Ge Dongxu had a soft spot for this blonde, and given that a woman had thought to call him when injured, he felt both emotionally and morally obliged to not ignore her plight.

    "Are you really a wizard from the East... Do you know more than just fortune-telling? Can you heal as well?" Instead of answering Ge Dongxu''s question, Nico asked him in return.

    "I can," Ge Dongxu replied.

    On the other end of the line, Nico let out a sigh of relief and then, intermittently, informed Ge Dongxu that she was at a Kuntin chain hotel.

    "Kuntin chain hotel?" When Ge Dongxu heard the address Nico provided in bits and pieces, a look of surprise crossed his face as he blurted out the question, almost as if confirming that it wasn''t just a coincidence. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But there was no longer any sound of Nico on the phone.

    Ge Dongxu''s expression changed once more, signifying that Nico''s situation was indeed dire.

    Luckily, the Kuntin chain hotel company had only recently opened its first direct-operated hotel in Beijing. Ge Dongxu intended to visit it if he had the time since Beijing would undoubtedly be one of the major cities for Kuntin''s expansion. Hence, he was aware of the specific address of the Kuntin chain hotel and had even looked it up on the map, knowing it wasn''t far from his current location.

    So Ge Dongxu quickly figured out the direction and road signs, recalled the map, then sharply turned around and drove toward the Kuntin chain hotel.

 Chapter 320 Treatment

    While driving on the road, Ge Dongxu called Lin Kun and asked him to notify the person in charge at the hotel that he was about to arrive at Kunting Hotel and needed some assistance from the front desk staff.

    Although Ge Dongxu was a major shareholder of Kunting Hotel chain, besides Lin Kun and Yue Ting, very few people in the company knew him, so he still needed Lin Kun''s help to communicate with his own hotel.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu could have directly shown his National Security credentials, but those credentials were ultimately too sophisticated; ordinary people might not be able to discern their authenticity. A young man rushing in and presenting such a document could easily cause suspicion or even panic at the front desk, so it was simpler and more convenient for Lin Kun to make the call.

    After all, he was a major shareholder of the Kunting Hotel chain!

    When Ge Dongxu''s car arrived at the Kunting Hotel, the person in charge, a seemingly steady middle-aged man, had already been waiting at the entrance.

    Being appointed as the person in charge of the directly-managed store in the capital also meant he was a key employee of the Kunting company; thus, Lin Kun hadn''t concealed Ge Dongxu''s identity when making the call earlier.

    Hearing that the real boss was coming, the person in charge naturally came out to greet him personally.

    Because he was in a hurry, Ge Dongxu drove his car directly to the front of the lobby. The hotel manager obviously recognized the license plate, his legs involuntarily trembled when he saw it, utterly surprised and confused.

    He couldn''t understand why such a car would appear at his business-focused hotel, as in his mind, such vehicles should belong at high-end clubs or luxury hotels in the capital.

    Before the manager could recover, the car had already stopped abruptly at the entrance. Before he could come forward to assist, the driver''s door was already opened, and a young man stepped out.

    "You must be Manager Li, right? I am Ge Dongxu, Lin Kun should have mentioned me," Ge Dongxu said directly after glancing at the badge on the manager''s shirt.

    "Ah, hello Mr. Ge, yes, that''s me, that''s me." Manager Li, who had just been astonished to see such a car at their hotel, was even more shocked to find out that the driver was their real boss. He was so startled that he almost had a heart attack as he hurried forward and shook Ge Dongxu''s hand eagerly, his face full of excitement.

    The biggest fear for those running hotels is the occasional inspections from various departments. One slight mishap in handling these departments could lead to mandatory changes and corrections. Now, with such an influential boss, facing some of the more demanding and troublesome individuals could be a bit easier.

    "Have someone park the car for me; I need to know a foreign lady''s room number," Ge Dongxu said as he handed over his car keys to Li.

    Li''s hands trembled as he took the keys, then he handed them to someone nearby, instructing carefully to handle the vehicle with care. Then he quickly accompanied Ge Dongxu into the hotel.

    Foreign guests were rare at Kunting Hotel chain, especially blonde single women like Nico. Since the hotel opened, she had been the only one, so the reception staff remembered her quite well. Ge Dongxu only had to ask briefly, and she immediately located Nico''s room number.

    "That will be all, you don''t need to do anything else now. Just leave the car keys at the front desk later," Ge Dongxu said with a smile to Li, having acquired the room number.

    "Sure, Mr. Ge, here''s my business card. Please call me anytime you need anything," Manager Li said respectfully, offering his card. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Okay," Ge Dongxu took the card, nodded, and then proceeded directly into the already open elevator.

    Nico''s room was on the fifth floor, number 503.

    Ge Dongxu knocked on the door, and when there was no response, he hesitated for a moment, then placed his hand on the lock and released a strand of True Qi, directly unlocking the door through the door panel.

    As soon as the door was pushed open, Ge Dongxu caught a strong smell of blood.

    His face immediately darkened, and his body swiftly moved past the front hall like a ghost, and in a blink, he appeared at the bathroom door.

    In the bathroom, Nico lay leaning against the tiled wall, the floor covered in blood, along with a blood-soaked dress and gauze.

    Nico''s stomach, devoid of any extra fat, and her long thighs both bore shocking wounds, resembling the claws of a fierce beast or perhaps knife cuts. The wound on her abdomen was still slowly bleeding, while the one on her thigh had already clotted.

    Ge Dongxu took a quick step forward and touched her repeatedly on the location of the bleeding, which soon stopped. He then grabbed her hand to check her pulse and finally heaved a quiet sigh of relief.

    She was unconscious due to excessive blood loss, and there was a slight rupture in her spleen.

    Of course, for other doctors, this condition would already be very severe, but for Ge Dongxu, it was hardly anything serious.

    Just as Ge Dongxu was about to relax after checking on her, Nico let out a groan, her long eyelashes trembling slightly as if she was about to wake up.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu hesitated, then lightly rubbed the hollows behind her neck, causing Nico''s struggles to open her eyes to stop, and her eyelids closed again.

    Seeing Nico fall back into unconsciousness, Ge Dongxu no longer hesitated and carefully divided a strand of water wood Spirit Qi from his True Qi. He channeled it into Nico''s body, carefully mending and nourishing her wounds.

    If someone could see through this, they would observe that the Spirit Qi was like stitches from a doctor, sewing the wounds together, with effects far surpassing those of surgical suturing.

    Almost as soon as it began, the wounds visibly started to heal at a speed discernible to the naked eye.

    These were the unique, miraculous medical techniques inherited from Ge Hong, not something that anyone with Cultivation could perform. It''s like everyone can use a knife or mend things, but not everyone can be a surgeon.

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    "Phew!" After finishing the process, Ge Dongxu greatly sighed in relief. Seeing Nico covered in blood, he then grabbed a towel and helped clean her up.

    This task was even more exhausting than mending the wounds inside Nico''s body.

    As he gradually washed off the blood, Nico''s body was slowly revealing its unique exotic charm right in front of Ge Dongxu.

    "Phew!" At last, after cleaning her up, Ge Dongxu heaved a long sigh of relief and then lifted Nico onto the bed.

    After completing these tasks, Ge Dongxu took out his phone and made a call to Director Fan Hong.

    An international girl experiencing such critical injuries in the capital city, opting not to go to a hospital but instead calling him for help, certainly couldn''t be simple.

    Although Ge Dongxu did not want to get involved, he still had to confirm whether this girl was a foreign spy. If she turned out to be a spy, wouldn''t he be aiding the enemy?

 Chapter 321 Seeing Fan Hong Again

    "Mr. Ge, this is Fan Hong. May I ask what is the matter?" The phone was quickly answered, and Fan Hong''s voice came through, respectful with a hint of excitement.

    "There''s something I might need your help with," Ge Dongxu explained the matter briefly.

    "Okay, I will head to the Kunting Hotel right away," Fan Hong said immediately after hearing the details.

    "Hmm, bring some white-back notoginseng, octagonal maple leaves, and kadsura leaves..." Ge Dongxu intended to hang up the phone, but as his gaze swept over the perfect body of the blonde woman on the bed and noticed her wounds, he hesitated and then listed a series of herbs.

    Although Ge Dongxu had already treated the wounds with his True Qi, there would probably still be some slight scars after healing.

    Though the scars would certainly be faint, looking at such a flawless body as if it were a masterpiece from heaven, Ge Dongxu felt that even a slight scar was regrettable, so he decided to do a good deed thoroughly.

    "Alright," Fan Hong noted the names of the herbs and then hung up the phone.

    After hanging up with Fan Hong, Ge Dongxu covered Nico with a blanket and then took a special look at her features.

    Seeing that there was no longer the dark shade on her forehead that he had noticed on the plane, and that the very obvious capillaries on her nose were now hidden under her fair skin, barely noticeable, Ge Dongxu roughly surmised that Nico''s crisis in the capital was now over.

    Knowing that Nico''s crisis had passed, Ge Dongxu began to carefully examine the blonde beauty on the bed.

    At that moment, Nico resembled a sleeping beauty from the legends, tranquil and beautiful, her golden hair reflecting a soft luster under the light, making it hard for anyone to associate her with the blood-soaked woman she had been earlier.

    But at this moment, Ge Dongxu knew that the woman before him was far more complex than she appeared on the surface. As for who she really was or her background, as long as she wasn''t here to harm Huaxia Country, he wasn''t concerned and didn''t wish to inquire further.

    It was merely a chance meeting, and he had initially helped her because he saw that she had a heart for helping others and had enjoyed their conversation. Beyond that, Ge Dongxu did not want to become involved further.

    Ge Dongxu quickly averted his gaze, then stood up and washed off the bloodstains on the floor and walls of the bathroom, also secretly feeling fortunate that he had come in time. Otherwise, Nico would certainly have died from splenic rupture and excessive blood loss, and this new branch of the Kunting Hotel in the capital might have encountered serious trouble, casting a shadow over it. Continue your story on My Virtual Library Empire S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Fan Hong soon arrived at the hotel. By then, Ge Dongxu had cleaned the bathroom and disposed of some blood-stained clothes and bandages in the trash can, so when Fan Hong entered, he couldn''t see any signs of the incident, only Nico still sweetly asleep on the bed.

    "It''s this woman right here. Investigate her discreetly. If she''s not a spy or anything, just let her be, don''t manage her affairs or tell me about them. She and I are merely passing acquaintances, and I do not want to get involved in this matter," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Understood," Fan Hong nodded and replied, "These are the herbs you wanted. If there''s nothing else, I''ll go arrange for people to investigate."

    "How''s your cultivation going recently?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile.

    "Very well, I should be able to break through in a few years." Fan Hong respectfully replied, his eyes showing reverence and gratitude.

    If it were not for Ge Dongxu, not only would he not be talking about breaking through, but continuing cultivation might have endangered his life.

    "Give me your hand, I''ll take a look," Ge Dongxu said upon hearing this.

    Fan Hong quickly extended his hand, and Ge Dongxu checked his pulse, saying gravely, "Not bad, but your True Qi is too mixed. If you continue at this pace, even if you do break through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, you''ll probably be stuck at that level for the rest of your life."

    "Please enlighten me, Mr. Ge," Fan Hong said, his heart pounding fiercely as he hastily asked for guidance with respect.

    It''s the Dharma Ending Age now; breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer is already a significant achievement.

    For the former Fan Hong, reaching the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer was a mere wishful thinking; now having hope to break through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, he was actually very satisfied and dared not hope for more.

    Because the path of cultivation is like climbing a mountain, the higher you go, the harder it becomes. Fan Hong was no longer young, and the chances of breaking through beyond the Fifth Layer were very slim, so he had already given up on such extravagant hopes.

    However, Fan Hong never expected Ge Dongxu to say these words, suddenly stirring the contentment in his heart, as if a calm lake had been hit by a sudden storm.

    "From now on, during your daily cultivation, do not merely focus on absorbing nature''s spiritual energy, but temper your internal True Qi and keep the essence while discarding the dross," Ge Dongxu instructed.

    "If that''s the case, when can I expect to reach the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer?" Fan Hong asked with a bitter smile upon hearing this.

    Human life is limited, and cultivation itself is a race against time.

    Nowadays, nature''s spiritual energy is scarce, so modern cultivators usually don''t care about the quality of spiritual energy, focusing only on quantity to advance their cultivation realms as quickly as possible before the end of their lives.

    It''s like when people are starving; they simply eat whatever fills the stomach first without caring about its nutritional value or taste.

    And now Ge Dongxu is telling him to temper the internal True Qi and keep the essence while discarding the dross. Doing this not only means Fan Hong''s cultivation would stall, but also that some of his previously acquired mana, because of this refinement process, might be depleted. It''s like having to pluck rotten leaves off a plant, inevitably discarding some good parts in the process to clean it thoroughly.

    In doing so, Fan Hong''s painstakingly cultivated mana might even regress.

    "As a leader, you should understand the principle that in war, the quality of troops is more important than quantity. The same applies to nature''s spiritual energy. If you don''t want to stop at the Fifth Layer, you must take this step. If your goal is only to reach the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, then pretend I never mentioned anything," Ge Dongxu said solemnly.

    "Thank you for your guidance! From today, I will temper my internal True Qi and keep the essence while discarding the dross," Fan Hong, being astute and decisive, immediately bowed solemnly upon hearing these words.

    "When you feel you have tempered it to its limit, come find me, and I will lend you a helping hand," Ge Dongxu said, noting Fan Hong''s resolute heart and lack of hesitation after his explanation, and he nodded approvingly.

    If Fan Hong had shown any hesitation, perhaps Ge Dongxu would not guide him anymore.

    Because his heart would have settled for reaching only the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer!

    "Thank you, sir, Fan Hong takes leave!" Fan Hong''s eyes flashed with excitement, he bowed again, and then left.

    After Fan Hong left, Ge Dongxu took out some herbs, forcing them with mana, and soon obtained a few drops of greenish liquid.

    Ge Dongxu applied it to Nico''s wounds, covered her back with a blanket, left her a note directing her not to look for him or call him, declaring that their affair was over, and then he drifted away.

 Chapter 322 The Train Heading to Linzhou

    The next day, Nico sat on the bed topless, lost in thought.

    If it were not for the lingering soreness in the area that had been injured yesterday, if it were not for the note on the bedside table, Nico would really wonder if everything that happened yesterday was just a dream.

    Because now, on the surface, she looked no different from a healthy person, even the horrifying wound from yesterday had faded to the point of being barely noticeable.

    "The miraculous Eastern Wizard, will we have the chance to meet again?" Nico murmured as she looked at the note written in English, her eyes reflecting a mix of loss, longing, and anticipation.

    When Nico held the note Ge Dongxu had given her, Fan Hong also had a document in his hand. On the document was a photo, unmistakably of Nico, along with a middle-aged woman with blonde hair, dressed in black, exuding a sense of nobility, sensuality, and a cool, professional demeanor.

    "It''s her daughter!" Fan Hong''s face showed a trace of surprise.

    "Director, do we need to continue the investigation and surveillance?" A man with a stern expression asked carefully, seeing Fan Hong silent for a long time as he studied the information in his hands.

    "No need, let her be," said Fan Hong, stroking his chin, then after a while waved his hand dismissively.

    ...

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    Haven''t received a call from Fan Hong and with Jiang Lili, a close female confidant by his side, made Ge Dongxu maintain a very good mood all day. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After all, he definitely did not hope that the woman he saved would turn out to be a spy from another country.

    It was ten o''clock at night when Ge Dongxu finally sent Jiang Lili back to her dormitory.

    The dormitory supervisor was surprised to see Ge Dongxu punctually returning Jiang Lili to the girls'' dormitory.

    Even though Aunt Flo had visited, the car owner was still so attentive to this girl¡ªcould it be true love?

    Isn''t that ridiculous? Nowadays, would people like them truly be sincere to a girl?

    After taking Jiang Lili back to her dormitory, Ge Dongxu did not return to the siheyuan but instead took a solitary trip to Fragrant Hills late into the night.

    That day, walking alone on Fragrant Hills, the familiar yet strange feeling that had stirred imaginations in his heart was the reason he intentionally took another solitary trip there in the peace of the late night.

    Walking alone in Fragrant Hills, he did enjoy the rare serenity in the bustling summer city, but that familiar yet strange feeling did not emerge again.

    It seems he was overthinking! Ge Dongxu smiled, shook his head, and headed back home.

    ...

    It was Linzhou City train station.

    It was as always bustling with people, a constant stream.

    But the observant ones would notice that the station''s security seemed to have been heightened several levels compared to before, and one could even see armed police officers, creating a distinctly tense atmosphere in the air.

    Outside the train station, there were also more traffic police than usual, conducting traffic control.

    The direct train from the capital to Linzhou slowly pulled into the station.

    Although it was a personal matter, Elder Feng had repeatedly insisted on keeping things simple before coming, he even refrained from taking a special train, opting only for a reserved private compartment. But, given Elder Feng''s extraordinary status, how could the local leaders take his words about simplicity at face value?

    The necessary level of security and the protocol for receiving an official of his stature could not be neglected.

    Inside the private compartment, Ge Dongxu watched the slowly arriving train, while armed security personnel had already taken their places on the platform.

    The provincial leaders, often seen on television and in newspapers, were now standing on the platform, waiting for the train to arrive.

    Sang Yunlong and Zheng Zijie, the Director of Provincial Public Security Department, were also conspicuously present.

    The train slowly came to a halt, and the door to the private carriage opened first, with Elder Feng alighting, accompanied by his personal bodyguards and Ge Dongxu.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu following Elder Feng off the train, the other leaders didn''t pay much attention to him, assuming he was just one of Elder Feng''s bodyguards. However, Sang Yunlong and Zheng Zijie were visibly taken aback¡ªthey had never expected to see Ge Dongxu with Elder Feng.

    This trip of Elder Feng''s was strictly for personal matters. He didn''t want to draw too much public attention or newspaper coverage, so as to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. Therefore, upon alighting from the train, he only briefly shook hands with the welcoming provincial leaders. He didn''t say anything particular, nor did he formally introduce Ge Dongxu; instead, he simply said, "Let''s get on the car first."

    The province had already prepared a Coaster in advance.

    Who could ride in this car was, of course, unquestionable for those around Elder Feng¡ªthey had their own arrangements. But for those from Jiangnan Province, it was a different story.

    After all, there were limited seats, and it was not possible to pack the vehicle full to brimming.

    Despite all of those present on the platform to welcome Elder Feng being titans within Jiangnan Province, the only ones actually qualified to ride in the same car as Elder Feng were the top one or two provincial leaders, as well as the Provincial Party Committee''s Secretary-General, the steward in charge of coordinating activities along the way. As for the others, it was all up to Elder Feng''s preference.

    "Yunlong, you come up too," Elder Feng said before getting into the car, signaling out Sang Yunlong by name.

    "Yes, sir," Sang Yunlong replied, standing at attention.

    The people on the platform immediately cast envious glances towards Sang Yunlong, while their minds began to whirl with thoughts.

    Did Elder Feng specifically invite Sang Yunlong to accompany him in the car just because Sang Yunlong was his soldier back in the day, or was there a deeper meaning?

    This was worthy of consideration, for at Elder Feng''s level, every word and action could hold significant implications.

    Once inside the car, Ge Dongxu naturally took his seat beside Elder Feng, and it was only at that moment that the top leaders of Jiangnan Province and the Secretary-General realized the young man''s extraordinary status. Sang Yunlong had guessed from the moment he saw Ge Dongxu that he was not just Elder Feng''s bodyguard, though the exact nature of their relationship was still unknown to him.

    In the car, Elder Feng took the initiative to introduce each party, mentioning only Ge Dongxu''s name while not revealing his particular status as his disciple''s teacher.

    Even so, the gazes of the few leaders in the car shifted entirely when they looked at Ge Dongxu.

    Because Elder Feng had taken the time to introduce him, a young man who looked to be barely in his twenties!

    Even a fool could guess the significance of that!

    After shaking hands and exchanging greetings with the leaders including Sang Yunlong, Ge Dongxu had no further role to play; the conversation that followed was mostly between Elder Feng and them.

    Though it was a private matter, since he had come, engaging with these local leaders was rightfully expected.

    Yet, as a "commoner" who was out of his depth in national affairs, Ge Dongxu naturally could not get involved nor speak up. He casually listened while gazing out the car window.

    Outside the window, police cars led the way in front of them and served as escorts behind, with every intersection already controlled.

    Elder Feng was staying at the State Guesthouse by Mingyue Lake.

    After spending a night at the State Guesthouse, Elder Feng boarded the Coaster the next morning and headed to Changxi County.

    This time, accompanying him were only Sang Yunlong, the Executive Vice Governor, and Zheng Zijie.

    As the Director of Provincial Public Security Department, Zheng Zijie was responsible for coordinating the local security and escort work necessitated by Elder Feng''s visit.

    ps: I see that many readers are eagerly awaiting updates. I, too, wish I could write more, as this means more earnings, but at present, this is as much as I can produce. Once things go smoother and I have a stockpile, I''ll definitely try to update more frequently. Please vote for me, thank you.

 Chapter 323 Worship Ceremony

    "Yunlong, you were in poor health before, so I never dared to burden you. This time I wanted to take advantage of my trip to Jiangnan Province to introduce Dongxu to you and have him take a look at you, but it seems we had the same idea," with no outsiders present, Elder Feng spoke candidly to his former beloved subordinate, Sang Yunlong, on the way to Changxi County, smiling as he spoke.

    Ge Dongxu had already told Elder Feng about Sang Yunlong''s situation on the way there.

    "Thank you, Chief, for your concern!" Sang Yunlong''s eyes reddened slightly.

    "You need to be mentally prepared to take on heavy responsibilities," Elder Feng said with sincere gravity.

    "Yes!" Upon hearing this, Sang Yunlong immediately straightened up to stand at attention.

    "Sit down, sit down, this is a car you''re in!" Elder Feng laughed. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sang Yunlong then scratched his head and sat back down.

    The police car led the way, and soon their vehicle exited the highway at Ouzhou City.

    At the exit, Ouzhou City''s leaders were waiting, but Elder Feng, seeing them, not only showed no sign of happiness but rather frowned slightly and did not signal to stop the car.

    As a result, under the escort of the police car, they drove straight on.

    "Tell them not to bother coming to Changxi County. I won''t meet with them even if they do," Elder Feng told Sang Yunlong.

    Sang Yunlong knew Elder Feng''s temperament well and nodded. Then he personally made a phone call to the Ouzhou City Party Committee Secretary and conveyed Elder Feng''s message to him.

    ...

    Although Ge Dongxu always went to worship Ren Yao through the mountain road that passes Ge Family Village, in fact, taking the path from another village called Yunyang Village at the foot of Baiyun Mountain was closer and the road was better.

    Hence, Ge Dongxu chose the route through Yunyang Village.

    Of course, the main reason Ge Dongxu chose the route through Yunyang Village was that he didn''t want to cause a stir in Ge Family Village and disturb his parents'' peaceful and happy lives.

    Elder Feng''s route had been set before departure, so when he arrived at Yunyang Village, security measures were already well in place, and Changxi County''s two top leaders had been anxiously waiting there for some time.

    The news that Elder Feng had declined to meet with Ouzhou City leaders had already reached the ears of Changxi County''s top two officials, Secretary Jia Kai and Mayor Peng Jin.

    The provincial government''s stance was also clear: Elder Feng was truly on a private visit this time, and they should avoid disturbing him as much as possible.

    But the problem was, Changxi County was their jurisdiction after all, and how could local officials like Peng Jin and Jia Kai honestly ignore his presence and calmly work in their offices?

    In the end, with some trepidation, they still came up to Baiyun Mountain, deciding that other county leaders were not permitted to join.

    Elder Feng could understand the feelings of Peng Jin and Jia Kai. At the foot of the mountain, he still met them, shook their hands, offered a few words of encouragement, and then told them to return to their work and not to waste time there.

    The anxious hearts of Peng Jin and Jia Kai finally settled, but as they retreated, they saw Elder Feng walking up Baiyun Mountain, chatting leisurely with a young man. Sang Yunlong and Zheng Zijie were trailing behind, their minds filled with shock, unable to fathom the young man''s identity.

    If the young man was one of Elder Feng''s grandsons, in such a situation Sang Yunlong, as a local senior official and landlord, should have been the one accompanying Elder Feng, with the young man following at the side.

    But if he wasn''t Elder Feng''s grandson, then who was he? So young, yet able to walk alongside Elder Feng, casually talking with him?

    Peng Jin and Jia Kai couldn''t figure it out, and of course, someone of Elder Feng''s level was far too out of their league. Since they couldn''t make sense of it, they didn''t ponder further and certainly never thought of inquiring or investigating the young man''s identity.

    Joking aside, how could they even consider probing into the affairs of someone close to Elder Feng?

    Elder Feng''s true purpose this time, apart from those by his side, was probably only known to Ge Dongxu and Sang Yunlong in the entire Jiangnan Province, because Elder Feng and Ge Dongxu both harbored the same intention: not wanting anyone to disturb Ren Yao''s peace.

    As they neared the small Taoist temple and graveyard where Ren Yao once lived, everyone stopped in their tracks, and the security detail dispersed, leaving only Elder Feng and Ge Dongxu to continue forward.

    This was because Elder Feng''s head of security had seen Ge Dongxu''s capabilities during a reunion dinner last time and knew he was very skilled; otherwise, they definitely wouldn''t have allowed only Ge Dongxu to accompany Elder Feng forward.

    "Actually, with you here, there''s no need for all this trouble. Sometimes, being in a high position also means you have no control over your life! Your way of living is better," Elder Feng said, glancing back at the guards who were looking around vigilantly, and then spoke to Ge Dongxu.

    "No matter how capable I am, I''m just an individual, whereas you are involved with the state itself; that''s different," Ge Dongxu said.

    "If you said that to Yunlong and the others, they would certainly agree because they don''t understand you. But I know that sooner or later your abilities, even your wealth, will be sufficient to influence the state. It''s fortunate that you''re a simple and kind child, so your senior brother is very reassured," Elder Feng said.

    "That''s still limited, after all," Ge Dongxu said modestly.

    "Really?" Elder Feng looked at Ge Dongxu, his cloudy old eyes shining with penetrating insight and wisdom.

    Facing Elder Feng''s gaze, Ge Dongxu awkwardly smiled and didn''t answer.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t know how powerful a cultivator of the Dragon Tiger Realm was, but based on his current strength, he deduced that once he stepped into the Dragon Tiger Realm, it would probably take a powerful army to eliminate him.

    Yet, the Dragon Tiger Realm was legend for the current Qimen; no one believed that in this world, there were still cultivators existing in the Dragon Tiger Realm, nor that anyone in this Dharma Ending Age could step into it.

    But Ge Dongxu was certain that he would definitely be able to step into the Dragon Tiger Realm.

    This wasn''t blind confidence, but born from Ge Hong''s heritage, his re-understanding of natural sciences, his innate talent in cultivation, and his practice progress over these three years, all of which provided Ge Dongxu with immense confidence in reaching the Dragon Tiger Realm!

    The only uncertainty for Ge Dongxu was how long it would take to step into the Dragon Tiger Realm¡ªwhether it would be three to five years, more than a decade, or even longer.

    Once he stepped into the Dragon Tiger Realm, the next stage would be the Golden Core Stage.

    That was the legendary land immortal; once someone reached the Golden Core Stage, it might require nuclear weapons just to eliminate them.

    But the Golden Core Stage was still too far off for the current Ge Dongxu; however, it wasn''t intangible.

    So, even though Ge Dongxu had no hopes for the Golden Core Stage, what Elder Feng had said wasn''t wrong at all.

    In the not-too-distant future, he was destined to be a figure capable of influencing the safety and security of the state!

    Seeing Ge Dongxu not answering him, Elder Feng''s slightly hunched thin body shook a little, and after a long silence, he said, "You should have continued to firmly disagree."

    "I am a law-abiding good citizen! I am also a patriotic good citizen!" Ge Dongxu said, seemingly off-topic but with a candid look in his eyes. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Regarding what was said just now, it''s enough that I, your senior brother, know it," Elder Feng said after looking at Ge Dongxu for a long time and then smiling.

    "I know," Ge Dongxu replied.

    Apart from himself, no one could truly know that he was close to and definitely able to step into the Dragon Tiger Realm, even Elder Feng could only guess that Ge Dongxu might grow into a very powerful figure in the future, but as to how powerful, it''s probable that even Elder Feng wouldn''t envisage it to be the Dragon Tiger Realm, and likely within these next few years.

    "Is this the place where the old man rests?" As soon as Ge Dongxu''s words fell, the scenery ahead suddenly changed; the path was gone, replaced by a small Taoist temple, and there was a grave. Elder Feng''s body shook violently, and he spoke with a trembling voice.

    PS: Three updates today; the next two chapters are likely coming in the evening.

 Chapter 324 Take a seat first

    "This is the place," Ge Dongxu nodded in response.

    "This location is quite nice, with beautiful mountains and clear waters, tranquil and with a broad view. The elder must have liked it here," Elder Feng remarked with a sigh, then took the Huadiao Wine Ge Dongxu handed to him, poured it in front of Ren Yao''s grave, and recounted to him the events of the past years.

    After paying respects to Ren Yao, Elder Feng took a walk around the Daoist temple. When he saw the portrait of Ren Yao enshrined in the temple, he couldn''t help but remember the past, tears streaming down his face.

    Having offered incense to Ren Yao''s portrait and personally cleaned the Daoist temple, Elder Feng finally left the temple.

    "Let''s head back; I''ll have to rely on you from now on. It''s inconvenient for me to move around due to my master''s identity," Elder Feng said, reluctantly taking one last look around before speaking to Ge Dongxu outside the temple.

    "It''s my duty. Don''t worry, big brother; I have some money now. I''ve already paid to lease this mountain and hired someone to clean and watch over it regularly. Each time I return home, I''ll come to visit master and chat with him," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Good. Where is your home?" Elder Feng nodded and then asked.

    Ge Dongxu pointed eastward and said, "Over there, not too far from here."

    "It''s a pity I can''t visit due to my identity, otherwise I should have met your parents," Elder Feng said.

    "Thank you, big brother. My parents are just ordinary folks. It''s quite fine this way; I don''t want too much change unless they have such thoughts themselves," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "That''s true. Circumstances dictate heroes. In these chaotic times, I had no choice but to follow this path. If the world were peaceful, with no wars and everyone living safely and happily, I would prefer to be an ordinary person," Elder Feng said, nodding with a sense of resignation.

    "Yes! How nice it would be if everyone could live and work in peace!" Ge Dongxu echoed with a sigh.

    "Difficult, where there are people, there are selfish desires, greed, and conflicts!" Elder Feng said, shaking his head with a sigh.

    After descending the mountain, Ge Dongxu accompanied Elder Feng into the car, and together they returned to the Provincial Capital.

    That evening, Elder Feng took the train directly from the Provincial Capital back to the capital, while Ge Dongxu naturally didn''t follow him to the capital but went to Qinglan Cosmetics Company instead.

    Although Ge Dongxu kept his identity as the major owner of Qinglan Cosmetics Company a secret, he occasionally visited Qinglan Cosmetics Company after the share acquisition incident, always with Liu Jiayao by his side. Therefore, no one stopped him when he entered the company. He went straight to the CEO''s office and then knocked on the door.

    "Come in!" Liu Jiayao''s voice came from the office, authoritative yet pleasant to the ear.

    Hearing the invitation, Ge Dongxu pushed the door and entered.

    "Have a seat for a moment!" Liu Jiayao said without looking up from the papers she was reviewing as she heard the door open.

    "Alright, Chairman," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile. Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Ah! Dongxu!" Liu Jiayao looked up suddenly upon hearing the familiar voice, her face lighting up with surprise.

    "You go ahead and keep busy, Chairman," Ge Dongxu said as he made himself comfortable on the genuine leather sofa.

    "Stop it! How can I concentrate on work when you''re here!" Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a playful glare, then stood up and walked towards him.

    In the summer heat, Liu Jiayao dressed in a cool professional suit.

    A white blouse, a black pencil skirt exposing two slender legs, and as she walked towards Ge Dongxu in high heels, he couldn''t help but be dazzled by her appearance. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Liu Jiayao usually dressed casually when with him, so seeing her like this was quite rare.

    "It''s almost time to get off work anyway. Wait here for a moment, I''ll go change my clothes, and then we can go for dinner," she said.

    Soon, Liu Jiayao emerged from a side door of the office in casual attire and took Ge Dongxu''s arm, saying, "Let''s go, I''ll treat you to a big meal."

    "What big meal? Didn''t you say you wanted to try my cooking? Let''s go to the supermarket and buy some ingredients; I''ll cook you dinner tonight," Ge Dongxu suggested with a smile.

    "No, we have to go out to eat today; you can cook for me another time," Liu Jiayao replied with a laugh.

    "Oh? Is there some sort of good news?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile as he looked at Liu Jiayao.

    "Guess!" Liu Jiayao said playfully, tilting her head at Ge Dongxu.

    ps: Sorry for the delay, the next two chapters are now uploaded.

 Chapter 325 Preparing to Go to the Frontier

    "Could it be that the ''Flower Spirit'' series of products have been successfully developed?" Ge Dongxu looked at Liu Jiayao''s joyous expression, his heart stirred slightly as he asked.

    "The key technical issues have been resolved; the rest are minor problems. If things go smoothly, we should be able to launch by this time next year," Liu Jiayao nodded and said.

    "Since the key technology has been tackled, why do we still need to wait a year?" Ge Dongxu asked, puzzled.

    "How do you manage to be the boss of several companies without understanding this?" Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a look, then explained: "You see, not to mention that the production side still needs to continue refining¡ª even once that''s perfected, we need to send the products through various departments for approval. Plus, to guarantee that our products are pure and pollution-free, we must use raw materials produced from our own base. But we''ve just started investing in the production base by the Qian River, and the output in the short term is going to be an issue. Hence, launching next year at this time would be a reasonable schedule."

    "Hehe, I''m just a hands-off manager; if we''re talking about business management, I''m definitely not as good as you," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh after understanding.

    "You always know the right things to say!" Liu Jiayao chided sweetly.

    "Of course, otherwise I might have to sleep in the next room tonight," Ge Dongxu joked.

    "You big pervert!" Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but pinch Ge Dongxu when she heard that. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu just chuckled, then said, "Speaking of raw material output, the problem shouldn''t be too big. We are aiming for the high-end market, which inherently requires controlled production. Besides, once I buy the jade stones during my trip to Yunnan, I''ll take some time to set things up. If you increase the input of horticultural workers, our output should improve somewhat."

    Having made a breakthrough to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer not long ago, Ge Dongxu already had plans to visit Yunnan. Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    "Are you going to Yunnan?" Liu Jiayao asked.

    "Yes, I''ll visit Professor Tang''s daughter tomorrow to get some information, and then I''ll make some preparations before setting off," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Are you heading towards the Myanmar border? I heard that there are frequent battles there; could it be dangerous for you¡­?" Liu Jiayao said, worried.

    "Don''t worry, there''s no need for me to go to Myanmar itself. Besides, those ragtag troops in Myanmar, no matter how many, I won''t even consider them a threat," Ge Dongxu reassured her, patting her hand confidently.

    "Don''t talk nonsense, even if the Myanmar military is subpar, they each have a gun. Don''t do anything rash, okay!" Liu Jiayao was afraid that Ge Dongxu was being overconfident and quickly warned him.

    "Relax! The troops there usually number in the dozens or hundreds, a thousand would mean larger warlord forces. With my current strength, their disorganized rabble, even with guns, wouldn''t stand a chance against me," Ge Dongxu said.

    In front of Elder Feng, he never promised too much, even leaving some things unsaid, but with Liu Jiayao, he had fewer reservations. Of course, being clear about things was also to ease her mind.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu speak so confidently, Liu Jiayao naturally understood it to be the truth, and her eyes widened in astonishment.

    Although she knew Ge Dongxu was powerful, she had never dared to imagine that a single person could contend against an entire fully armed troop.

    Yet now, the man beside her was telling her that he could sweep through even an entire troop. Even if it were the Myanmar border rebels, for Liu Jiayao, that was already completely beyond her imagination.

    Is that even human?

    "Then, what if you reached that Dragon Tiger Realm you mentioned?" After a while, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but ask out of curiosity.

    Since the Dragon Tiger Realm was related to when they could have a real marital relationship, Liu Jiayao always remembered it very clearly.

    "I can''t say for sure without reaching that realm. But one thing is sure¡ª even if all of Myanmar''s military forces combined, it would be pointless," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment and replied.

    "How is that possible?" Liu Jiayao was completely shocked by his words.

    To resist an entire country with the power of one person, and from the tone of Ge Dongxu, this is still a very conservative estimate. What if it''s not a conservative estimate?

    "Cultivation is itself an act against the heavens; once one achieves some success, it''s beyond what ordinary people can imagine. But that''s something you should know, the extent of my power is also unclear even to Elder Feng and the others," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Got it, you monster!" Liu Jiayao''s delicate body trembled for a moment before she snapped back to reality and hugged Ge Dongxu''s arm tightly.

    She didn''t care how powerful Ge Dongxu was; all she knew was that he was her man.

    Although she thought this way, in reality, which woman could maintain indifference after knowing her man was so formidable?

    At least, it was definitely impossible to remain indifferent in the short term, and Liu Jiayao was no exception.

    That night, in an apartment at Yadu Garden, thinking about how amazing the man currently teasing her was, and how much he loved her, Liu Jiayao''s body was exceptionally excited.

    Then, it didn''t take long for Liu Jiayao to be unable to handle it!

    "This..." Ge Dongxu looked at Liu Jiayao, who lay on the pink bed with a flushed face, limp and not wanting to move, and felt like crying without tears.

    Had it just begun?

    "I''m sorry, Dongxu! I really can''t do it today!" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s look of wanting to cry without tears, Liu Jiayao felt the urge to find a hole to crawl into.

    She hadn''t expected to be so useless today.

    "No problem, I''ll go sleep in the next room!" Ge Dongxu, seeing the ashamed expression on Liu Jiayao''s face, could only smile and say. He kissed her forehead, then climbed down from the bed.

    There was no other choice, to continue staying in the room would only make it more uncomfortable.

    Watching Ge Dongxu leave her room with a pillow in his arms, Liu Jiayao picked up her own pillow to cover her face.

    It was just too embarrassing!

    ...

    The next day, in the guest room, Liu Jiayao lay on Ge Dongxu''s chest, with faint snoring sounds coming from her dainty nostrils.

    Ultimately, she still felt sorry for Ge Dongxu. Last night, after regaining some of her strength, she had run over to Ge Dongxu''s room. Of course, the result was that the sun was already shining on her bottom, and she was still sleeping soundly.

    Seeing how soundly Liu Jiayao was sleeping, Ge Dongxu didn''t dare to disturb her. He gently moved her off him and then got up to wash up. He also prepared breakfast in the kitchen, left a note, and then left Yadu Garden to go to Jiang Region Jewelry.

    "Are you really planning to go to the border to buy jade?" asked Tang Yahui in the office of the manager of Jiang Region Jewelry.

    "Yes, since you can''t provide a large amount of glass-type jade, I have to go find it myself," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Glass-type is the best among jadeite varieties; if it''s even slightly better in color, the price is astronomical. How could I afford to supply you with it in large quantities?" Tang Yahui said with a wry smile.

    "Yes, so I need to go check out the jade market at the border. Didn''t you say there would be a lot of rough stone markets there? Maybe with some luck, I can get hold of one or two big pieces of glass-type jade, and then I can process them into many Jade Tokens at once," Ge Dongxu nodded.

 Chapter 326 Flat Tire

    "What you''re talking about is jade gambling, and I''d advise you to drop the idea. At most, spend a little money to experience what jade gambling is, but you absolutely can''t put a large sum of money into it. If they say that gambling in casinos results in losses nine out of ten times, then jade gambling is basically all losses, no wins. An expert once told me that the chances of winning are slightly higher when gambling near jade mines, but if you gamble far from the mines, the tricks involved are very deep, and the probability of winning is only one in ten thousand. Don''t think that, just because I specialize in jewelry and have seen a lot of raw materials, I would dare to gamble on stone. This thing really depends largely on luck, and skill is only a small part. As for getting Glass Type Jadeite, you''d have to be extremely lucky," Tang Yahui said seriously when she heard that Ge Dongxu wanted to obtain Glass Type Jadeite through jade gambling.

    She knew Ge Dongxu was wealthy, but if he truly harbored such a gambling mentality, no amount of money could withstand such wear and tear. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Thank you for the warning, I''m aware of the risks, and I won''t engage in anything I''m not sure about," Ge Dongxu said, nodding as his smile faded.

    "That''s good to hear," Tang Yahui sighed in relief, thinking that Ge Dongxu had given up on jade gambling.

    "However, the market over there is still very complex. For those who are knowledgeable, because the material comes directly from Myanmar, there are fewer middlemen, and the prices are definitely cheaper than buying here in markets like ours. But for those who are inexperienced, the prices may not necessarily be cheaper than in stores, and there''s even a high chance of being swindled. Since you are looking to buy high-quality jadeite and are unfamiliar with the area, it''s really best to have someone who understands the local market go with you," Tang Yahui added.

    "They might not fool me, but since I''m unfamiliar with the place, and I''m buying high-quality goods, I would indeed be at a loss if I went there unprepared," Ge Dongxu said, nodding.

    "I do have a friend in my circle who frequently sources goods from there, who is also a local. You should know him; he''s Zhang Yaku, the boss who you first met when you came to my place and I didn''t have enough stock and took you to him to make up for it. Do you remember?" Tang Yahui said.

    "Yes, I remember," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "I''m not sure if he''s planning to go to the Yunnan border market soon, but if he is, you could possibly join him," Tang Yahui said.

    "Ask him, having someone familiar with the area would definitely make it much more convenient. If not, have him introduce a local friend who could guide us," Ge Dongxu nodded and suggested.

    Tang Yahui nodded, then picked up the phone and called Zhang Yaku.

    It was indeed a coincidence that Zhang Yaku was planning to visit Yunnan''s Ruili the day after tomorrow; he had already purchased his plane ticket.

    When Tang Yahui mentioned Ge Dongxu''s situation to Zhang Yaku, he clearly remembered Ge Dongxu, the young man proficient in selecting jade. Upon hearing his name, he thought of him and, out of respect for Tang Yahui, he agreed almost immediately.

    Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire

    "It looks like it really is a coincidence," Ge Dongxu said with a smile after Tang Yahui hung up the phone.

    "Yes, having someone familiar makes things much easier," Tang Yahui replied.

    ...

    Zhang Yaku was a very talkative person. The journey from Linzhou to Ruili required a stopover in Kunming, then a switch to Mangshi, and from there, either taking a bus or driving oneself to Ruili.

    From the moment he boarded the plane, Zhang Yaku hardly stopped speaking.

    As a jade merchant, he primarily talked about jade and jadeite, with most of his conversation revolving around jade gambling.

    He talked about how "even an Immortal can''t predict a tiny piece of jade," and phrases like "one cut can lead to poverty or to wealth," even sharing several widely known stories from the border area about people who got rich or went broke overnight from jade gambling.

    Aside from jade gambling, Zhang Yaku talked extensively about the annual Jade Raw Material Public Sale held in Myanmar''s capital, Yangon.

    This was a measure enforced by the Myanmar government to prevent tax revenue loss, mandating that all mined jadeite must be transacted through the annual Public Sale before it could be exported, classifying all other transactions as smuggling.

    Needless to say, Zhang Yaku also discussed other matters related to the Myanmar border, such as casinos, Myanmar women, and the internal conflict within Myanmar.

    As a jade merchant sometimes dealing in tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, Zhang Yaku was indeed wealthy, so after arriving in Mangshi, he chose to rent a car, suggesting it was more convenient and freeing than taking a bus.

    Ge Dongxu naturally had no objections, so they rented a car.

    At that time, the car rental market had gradually started to develop in big cities, while it was just beginning in smaller second and third-tier cities, where it was definitely not possible to rent any good cars.

    The two of them had rented a Santana.

    Initially, Ge Dongxu was worried that Zhang Yakun would be too tired from the travel and wanted to drive himself, but it turned out that Zhang Yakun had just obtained his driving license six months ago and was still excited about driving. He insisted on driving as he was familiar with the roads in this area.

    Seeing that Zhang Yakun wanted to drive, Ge Dongxu naturally let him do so.

    Along the way, the road conditions were mediocre, but the scenery was quite beautiful, with continuous mountains and a crystal-clear blue sky, and the air was filled with a hint of freshness.

    As Ge Dongxu was enjoying the scenery along the way, the car suddenly began to bump.

    Zhang Yakun quickly pulled over. Upon inspecting the vehicle, they discovered that the front right tire had burst.

    "Damn, no spare tire, now we''re really in trouble," Zhang Yakun cursed as he opened the trunk and found it void of a spare tire.

    Ge Dongxu also frowned upon seeing this since it had already started to get dark. Back in ''99, calling for a tow truck and such wasn''t nearly as convenient as it is now.

    "No worries, we can just flag down a passing car later and buy a spare tire directly from the driver," Ge Dongxu said with a slight sigh of frustration but tried to console Zhang Yakun, who was still cursing the car rental company.

    "That''s the only option we have," Zhang Yakun said, feeling a bit embarrassed to be comforted by the younger man, Ge Dongxu, and muttered awkwardly.

    Cars were sporadic, and it was a struggle to see any pass by.

    One car saw two men by the roadside in a place neither near a village nor near a shop, and as the sky was darkening, the driver didn''t dare to stop, instead speeding past without a second thought.

    "Damn, I''m not a highway robber!" Zhang Yakun pointed at the fleeing car and cursed in frustration.

    After a few more cars passed by, one finally stopped, but, unfortunately, it did not have a spare tire.

    "I remember there''s a repair shop about ten miles from here. If worst comes to worst, I''ll hitch a ride there and bring back some help. You''ll be okay staying here alone, right?" Zhang Yakun said with a concerned frown as the sky was nearly completely dark.

    Ge Dongxu had no problem with that; in fact, with his connections, he could have just made a phone call, and the local security bureau would have immediately sent a vehicle, but Ge Dongxu preferred not to use his influence for personal matters.

    Ge Dongxu was just about to respond that it was no problem when three cars approached from a distance.

    The first and last were Audis, while the one in the middle was a big Mercedes.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu quickly waved his arms to signal.

    The first Audi completely ignored him and sped past.

    "Axiong, stop for a moment. Let''s see if he needs any help?" A man in his sixties with a composed and dignified demeanor, who was sitting in the back seat of the second car, the big Mercedes, said lightly upon seeing Ge Dongxu waving by the roadside next to the stopped car.

    Beside him, sat a younger woman exuding unmatched elegance and beauty.

    The lady held a three or four-year-old boy in her arms. The boy looked thin, his eyes closed, and his face bore a hint of paleness.

    ps: Because I updated late last night, it disrupted the schedule, and I still haven''t managed to finish the next two chapters, so the next two chapters will also be slightly delayed today. I''ll strive to get back on a normal schedule by tomorrow.

 Chapter 327 Newbie?

    "Okay, Master Gu," Ah Xiong responded and brought the Mercedes to a smooth stop.

    After the Mercedes stopped, the following Audi stopped as well, and the Audi that had originally zoomed past also came to a halt.

    Ah Xiong rolled down the window, glanced at the car, and then turned to Zhang Yakun to ask, "Did you have a tire burst?"

    Zhang Yakun, thirty-eight years old and a veteran on the business battlegrounds, radiated a certain steadiness. Seeing that Ge Dongxu was young, Ah Xiong naturally addressed Zhang Yakun.

    At that time, a big Benz was still quite an imposing sight, and the sight of the Audi cars escorting it from front and back undoubtedly indicated that someone wealthy or noble was inside, certainly not someone a smalltime jade merchant like Zhang Yakun could compare with. Thus, when the big Benz suddenly stopped, Zhang Yakun became somewhat restrained, forgetting to answer for a moment.

    "That''s right, we don''t have a spare tyre. Do you have one to spare? Could we buy it from you if you do?" Ge Dongxu said when he saw Zhang Yakun didn''t answer, taking over the conversation.

    Ah Xiong heard this but did not respond immediately; instead, he turned to look at Master Gu behind him.

    "Let Ah Yong give them the spare tyre from the car. We''ll go ahead and have Ah Yong catch up later," Master Gu said indifferently.

    "The car behind will give you the spare tyre," Ah Xiong told Ge Dongxu, then closed the window. After speaking to the car behind via the intercom, he pressed on the accelerator and drove off in the Mercedes.

    No sooner had the Mercedes left than a burly man got out of the following vehicle, opened the trunk, and with one hand pulled out the spare tyre and set it on the ground.

    "Thank you!" Ge Dongxu stepped forward, expressed his thanks, and then tried to offer money to the man, but the man already waved his hand dismissively, got into the car, and with that, the vehicle started and sped away.

    "Who would have thought that there are still such kind-hearted rich people these days!" Zhang Yakun watched the car drive away and could not help but feel moved.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and grabbed the spare tyre with one hand as he walked toward their car.

    "No way, I wouldn''t have guessed you were so strong," said Zhang Yakun, clearly surprised to see Ge Dongxu effortlessly holding the spare tyre with one hand.

    "I''ve practiced a little bit," Ge Dongxu casually replied, then squatted down to change the tyre.

    After all these delays, by the time Ge Dongxu and his company arrived in Ruili, it was already late at night.

    The two found a hotel, booked two rooms, had something to eat, and then each retired to their own room to rest.

    In the middle of the night, after several nuisance calls, Ge Dongxu simply unplugged the phone line.

    The next day, Zhang Yakun took Ge Dongxu around several jade markets in Ruili.

    When Ge Dongxu saw the variety of jade, both raw stones and finished products, and even cut open raw stones casually displayed on the stalls, much like items in a vegetable market, yet with prices that easily ran into the thousands or tens of thousands, he couldn''t help feeling deeply impressed¡ªit truly was like traveling ten thousand miles and reading ten thousand books.

    If this were at Jiang Region Jewelry, each bracelet or pendant here would be neatly displayed in the showcase, then lit up to look incredibly upscale. Who would''ve thought that here, they''d just be laid out so casually.

    "We''re actually one of the better ones. If you go to the jade market in Mandalay, Myanmar, you''ll understand. Over there, the jade is just casually laid out on the ground, much like our domestic vegetable markets. It''s a pity that the government troops and local armies have started fighting again; it''s somewhat dangerous. Otherwise, I would have taken you to Mandalay for a visit. It''s not that far from here." Seeing the look of surprise on Ge Dongxu''s face, Zhang Yaku said with a smile.

    "Heh, there will be other opportunities in the future," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    "That''s true," Zhang Yaku nodded, and then began to look around.

    Zhang Yaku was clearly a regular here, and most of the stall owners recognized him, occasionally greeting him.

    Zhang Yaku strolled about, stopping here and there, with Ge Dongxu following behind. Dongxu noticed that Zhang Yaku''s focus was primarily on the raw stones that had already been cut open.

    "We call these cut-open raw stones ''windows''. Buying this type of material is called a ''half-gamble''; relatively speaking, the risk is much smaller. Of course, the probability of a price surge is also smaller. These stones with windows have usually passed through the hands of many experts, and their real value has been mostly assessed. If you really want to gamble, I could recommend this type of material to you. I can help you take a look. At least you won''t be cheated. But with raw stones, I wouldn''t dare to help you look. That thing, I have no confidence in it at all," Zhang Yaku explained to Ge Dongxu, picking up a stone with a window.

    Through the window, a hint of green was visible.

    "What, interested in this stone, Boss Zhang? It''s from Damakan. An old Burmese brought it in last night. Take it away for fifteen thousand," the stall owner said to Zhang Yaku with a smile.

    Upon hearing this, Zhang Yaku chuckled, examined the stone''s skin and patterning, and then took out a flashlight to closely inspect the window; the green hue rippled through, becoming more obvious, though the transparency was lacking and the color was a bit muddled.

    "Damn, Boss Wang, you trying to scam me? You want fifteen thousand for this?" Zhang Yaku put away the flashlight and laughed as he playfully scolded the stall owner.

    "Saying I''m scamming is a bit hurtful, isn''t it? How about you make an offer?" The stall owner wasn''t embarrassed in the slightest, responding with a chuckle.

    "Dongxu, take a look," said Zhang Yaku, ignoring the stall owner and handing the stone with the window to Ge Dongxu, along with the flashlight.

    Ge Dongxu took the stone and flashlight but didn''t use the flashlight. He just started to touch the stone with his hand at random, with no particular method.

    Seeing this, a look of disdain clearly crossed the stall owner''s face as he spoke to Zhang Yaku, "Newbie?"

    "Never gambled on stones, but when it comes to finished products, he''s definitely an expert," explained Zhang Yaku. He didn''t want the stall owner to look down on the person he had brought.

    And in fact, Zhang Yaku meant what he said. He had seen Ge Dongxu pick jade before, and it was always spot-on, impossible to fool.

    The stall owner laughed, dismissing the comment. He didn''t believe a young man in his twenties could be a jade expert¡ªit was just Zhang Yaku trying not to lose face, and pretending to add glory to his own. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu touched the stone for a while and found that through the window, he could easily judge the size and quality of the jade inside. However, where there was no window, the feel through the skin was slightly blurred. He needed to concentrate to probe further slowly. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire

    Indeed, as I had imagined, although ''mana'' lets me sense the jade inside the raw stone, it''s not an easy thing. This stone weighs only about two kilograms. For materials weighing tens or hundreds of kilograms, it would probably take even more energy to investigate. Fortunately, my ''cultivation power'' has increased a lot recently. Had this been a year or two ago, this method wouldn''t have been easy to use. After touching the stone for a while, Ge Dongxu became too lazy to pretend with the flashlight and handed both the stone and flashlight back to Zhang Yaku.

 Chapter 328 You Really Guessed Right

    "Aren''t you going to give it a look?" Zhang Yaku asked with a smile.

    "The quality isn''t good; there''s nothing worth looking at," Ge Dongxu responded offhandedly.

    "Not good quality? It''s already quite decent, it reaches the level of waxy ice type, and the color is nice too. If it''s well polished, it can still fetch a good price," the stall owner said with a smile, but there was a hint of ridicule in his eyes as he looked at Ge Dongxu. People like him were the ones whose money was easiest to swindle, especially those like Ge Dongxu who pretended to know what they were talking about while being complete amateurs. At the same time, he had little respect for such people.

    Always with talk of ice type, old pit glass type, and even some customers thinking they can strike it rich with jadeite of ice or glass type after buying a stone for merely tens or hundreds of yuan.

    Isn''t that nonsensical? Stones that make it here have already passed through many hands. Would such high-quality stones be priced at just tens or hundreds of yuan for your taking?

    And that''s not even the worst of it. Some people, having spent just a few hundred yuan on a bracelet, insist on inquiring whether it''s of glass type, as if glass type jade were something so easily obtainable.

    "This time, I''m looking for some glass type pieces," Ge Dongxu said to the stall owner with a smile, then casually started feeling the stones.

    Just as I thought! The stall owner thought to himself, already labeling Ge Dongxu as one of those that pretend to be savvy without having a clue.

    Seeing this, Zhang Yaku couldn''t help but give a wry smile, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

    Ge Dongxu felt all around the stone but didn''t find any good material and didn''t make a move, whereas Zhang Yaku took an interest in one piece.

    It was the very first one he had picked up.

    For Ge Dongxu, now that ice type jadeite naturally seemed to be of much lower quality, but for Zhang Yaku, it was already quite nice. After all, these days, those who can afford high-end goods are few and far between, whereas goods of this level were easier to sell.

    "That piece is average, this one''s better," Ge Dongxu said casually, picking up another piece of stone he had touched earlier and speaking to Zhang Yaku.

    From the part that was exposed, this piece also showed a hint of green, but the color was worse than the first piece.

    But Ge Dongxu knew that if this piece was opened, it would contain at least twice the material of the other one. Not only that, the other piece, although it looked quite pretty, had a crack inside, so its price would have to be discounted.

    That''s the thing with ''windows'' in the stone; oftentimes, sellers choose the best part to open for the buyers to see. Sometimes, it looks marvelous, but if you were to actually cut into it, there might be a crack, or it might just be a shallow layer of green, barely any material at all.

    In such cases, you could only chalk it up to bad luck.

    "Young man, Mr. Zhang is an expert. You, an amateur, shouldn''t be giving advice to a professional," the stall owner said, somewhat unable to stand the situation any longer.

    "Dongxu, let me have a look," Zhang Yaku said with a laugh, not wanting Ge Dongxu, a young man, to lose face.

    Ge Dongxu then passed the stone he was holding to Zhang Yaku.

    Zhang Yaku took it and looked it over carefully. He still felt the color was off and decided to buy the first piece instead. Of course, the price was much lower than initially¡ªit was only five thousand yuan.

    Seeing Zhang Yaku ignore his advice, Ge Dongxu couldn''t do anything about it.

    Next, the two continued to wander around the market.

    After an entire day, Ge Dongxu was greatly exhausted but did not pick out any suitable stones. Zhang Yakun, on the other hand, made more purchases, buying both finished products and stones that had been ''windowed''.

    Zhang Yakun, being in the business, still had a good eye for a finished product, which obviously didn''t require Ge Dongxu''s seal of approval. However, Ge Dongxu still discreetly helped him check the stones, to prevent him from suffering a significant loss. After all, the man had kindly shown him the way; it was only right that he returned the favor.

    Therefore, during this time, Ge Dongxu offered a reminder once again, but Zhang Yakun did not listen.

    Ge Dongxu would not insist, of course; it wasn''t a lot of money, after all. If push came to shove, he could simply pick out a better stone for him before they parted ways. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Zhang Yakun had friends in Ruili who dealt in jade, and after dinner in the evening, he took Ge Dongxu to one of these friends'' places to get the stones cut.

    "No way, you were right!" After cutting a few stones open, Zhang Yakun saw that two of them were obvious losses, which coincidentally were the ones Ge Dongxu had pointed out. He couldn''t help but be dumbfounded.

    "I don''t think the stones here are up to par. Is there a market that sells larger, higher-grade raw stones?" Ge Dongxu said with a smile before changing the subject.

    He naturally couldn''t tell Zhang Yakun that he could sense the quality of jade using mana.

    And since the raw stones here were scattered and had already changed many hands, everything displayed outwardly was just ordinary goods. Ge Dongxu had picked through them all day and indeed had not found the stones he wanted.

    Because this method of selecting jade was incredibly energy-consuming, Ge Dongxu did not wish to waste his strength again tomorrow on a fruitless effort.

    "No wonder you didn''t make a purchase all day; you truly are an expert. It is puzzling though; if you''re an expert, how come you''re not familiar with this area? Typically, merchants would hide the better-looking material, and they won''t open it easily because even experts who have been in this business for decades can''t guarantee that it will increase in value once cut. Often, a piece of material that looks promising turns out to be disappointing once cut open¡ªa single crack can destroy half or even its entire value. Just like the stone you warned me about today¡ªit looked good, and I thought I could make a couple of bracelets out of it, but a crack ruined it. I definitely took a loss on this one. So from this perspective, many pieces of material are better off unopened. Unopened, they can still fetch a high price, but once they are, it''s too late. That''s why, in this trade, the good-quality materials keep circulating among jade merchants. By the time they reach the final buyer, the price naturally won''t be low. It''s difficult to stumble upon good material so casually. Hence, good material is very expensive, and it''s almost impossible to get the high-grade jadeite you want for just a few thousand or tens of thousands." Zhang Yakun looked at Ge Dongxu and said.

    "So that''s how it is; no wonder I didn''t find any good stones today." Ge Dongxu had an epiphany and then said smilingly, "Money is not the issue; the key is to find some reliable stones, or else it''s just a waste of time and effort."

    "It seems you are really set on gambling on stones, but I still have to warn you: the risks are tremendous. It really can make you poor or rich in a single cut. You need to think this through," Zhang Yakun said with a somewhat serious expression upon hearing this.

    "Don''t worry, Brother Zhang, I know what I''m doing," Ge Dongxu assured him with a nod.

    Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    "In that case, I''ll take you to my hometown, Yingjiang, tomorrow. It is the largest distribution center for raw materials in our country and a necessary passageway for importing jadeite raw materials. The goods change hands less frequently there. Most importantly, I am familiar with Yingjiang and have a few friends who specialize in this business. They are sitting on some good material. However, I only offer introductions; I won''t get involved. I want to make this clear. Otherwise, if you lose your bet and come after me, accusing me of leading you into a trap, even jumping into the Yellow River won''t wash away the blame," Zhang Yakun said thoughtfully after seeing that Ge Dongxu was determined.

    "Thank you, Brother Zhang; I trust your character," Ge Dongxu said.

    Zhang Yakun merely smiled noncommittally, then packed up the cut jadeite, thanked his friend, and returned to the hotel with Ge Dongxu.

    The next day, after breakfast, Zhang Yakun didn''t immediately drive to Yingjiang, but instead made another trip to the jade market.

    Once at the jade market, Zhang Yakun headed straight for Boss Wang''s stall.

    ps: I''m not very knowledgeable about jade, so writing this part is quite slow and strenuous for me. However, I''ll do my best to make it seem authentic. If there are mistakes, I ask professionals to kindly overlook them and thank you.

 Chapter 329 Expert

    "Boss Zhang, was that piece of stone solved yesterday? How did it go, did it increase in value?" Seeing Zhang Yakun approaching, the stall owner asked with a smile.

    "Increase? It plummeted. Look, this is what was opened yesterday, just this little bit of material, and there''s a crack. I''m lucky it was only five thousand. If I had bought it for fifteen thousand yesterday, that would have been a huge loss!" Zhang Yakun took out the jade from his bag and said grumpily.

    "Hehe, gambling on stones, ups and downs are normal, totally normal. How about you look again, I''ll definitely give you the cost price," the stall owner glanced at the jade in Zhang Yakun''s hand and said with an embarrassed smile.

    Gambling on stones was such a thing; once bought, it was no longer any concern of the seller, a rule that Zhang Yakun of course understood. Seeing the stall owner talk like this, he naturally wouldn''t mention the stone from last night again. Instead, he picked up the stone that Ge Dongxu had recommended yesterday and said, "This is what you said, give me a price for this one."

    "Isn''t this the very piece that the young man took a liking to last night?" The stall owner had a good memory and immediately recognized that Zhang Yakun was holding the stone that Ge Dongxu had recommended to him the previous day, and he couldn''t help but gulp, blurting out.

    "Exactly, the color at this open window isn''t as good as my piece from yesterday. You agree with my view. The one yesterday was five thousand; this one for three thousand should be fine, right?" Zhang Yakun said.

    The stall owner indeed didn''t think highly of this stone and certainly didn''t believe that Ge Dongxu really had that skill. Moreover, having said what he had before, he didn''t ask Zhang Yakun to raise the price and nodded, "Alright, since Boss Zhang has spoken, I have to give this face."

    Zhang Yakun paid the money and then said, "I''ll use your place to open this stone."

    Though the stall owner didn''t believe Ge Dongxu truly had such keen eyes for jade, he was curious. Of course, he also wanted Ge Dongxu to realize in person that the previous stone''s success was purely a fluke.

    So when Zhang Yakun said he wanted to open the stone there, the stall owner naturally couldn''t wait and nodded without a second thought, "No problem, I want to see too."

    So, Zhang Yakun and the stall owner came together, drew the lines, studied it for a while, and then started to solve the stone.

    As soon as the stone was opened, both of their eyes popped out.

    The jade inside this stone was more than double that of the previous one, and most importantly, except for the color being slightly inferior, there were no cracks at all. With this volume and appearance, it could easily fetch around ten thousand, no problem.

    That is to say, in just this short time, Zhang Yakun had made at least seven thousand yuan.

    Seven thousand yuan was not a small amount at the time!

    "No way, can it be this coincidental?" It took a while for the stall owner to come back to his senses, but he still found it hard to believe it was true, thinking it was more likely just a coincidence.

    But Zhang Yakun didn''t think so. Besides these two pieces, there was another one yesterday that Ge Dongxu had accurately predicted. As the saying goes, ''once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is a pattern.'' One or two might be coincidence, but all three being correct as Ge Dongxu said, how could it be explained by mere coincidence?

    Thus, once he came back to his senses, Zhang Yakun''s view of Ge Dongxu had completely changed, even showing a hint of reverence.

    This is a true expert!

    My own experience is only half as good compared to his!

    "Let''s go, Brother Zhang," Ge Dongxu didn''t bother to explain or prove anything specifically to the stall owner and said with a smile, then said to Zhang Yakun.

    "Hehe, Dongxu, hold on, I was undecided about a few stones yesterday, could you help me evaluate them?" Hearing this, Zhang Yakun''s face carried a flattering smile.

    "You don''t say, Boss Zhang. You really think this young man..." The stall owner said in surprise upon seeing this.

    "An expert, a true expert! Just yesterday, he reminded me about a piece, but I didn''t listen to him, and as a result, I took a bad fall," Zhang Yakun said.

    "My apologies, such an oversight!" Upon hearing this, the stall owner suddenly showed great respect, bowing to Ge Dongxu.

    "Brother Zhang, Mr. Wang is overpraising me, I just took a casual look," Ge Dongxu humbly said, and then continued walking forward with Zhang Yakun.

    After a stroll around the market, Ge Dongxu helped Zhang Yakun review the materials that he had hesitated to buy yesterday, gave some advice, and also recommended a few pieces that he thought were decent from his viewing the day before.

    As for himself, he never thought of making money from this.

    It''s always good to leave some room; he wasn''t short of money and preferred to leave opportunities for others rather than monopolizing all the advantages for himself.

    After Zhang Yakun bought the materials, they were all cut on the spot.

    Each cut increased in value, and after a few such instances, Zhang Yakun was utterly admiring of Ge Dongxu.

    "Little brother, take these three pieces of jade," Zhang Yakun said, handing over three pieces of jade that had just been cut as they sat in the car after leaving the market. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire

    "What are you doing?" Ge Dongxu did not accept them.

    "I owe my recent earnings to your help, so you must take these three pieces of jade, otherwise, I''ll feel uneasy," Zhang Yakun said. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Ha, to be honest, Brother Zhang, I''m not lacking these few pieces of jade, so you don''t need to be polite with me," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh and a wave of his hand.

    On hearing this, Zhang Yakun paused, then took back the jade and chuckled, "It seems you''re not only an expert but also a real wealthy person, so I won''t be polite then."

    "We''re all friends here, no need for formalities," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "By the way, Dongxu, if it''s not too much to ask, what business do you do? Of course, if it''s inconvenient to answer, then don''t worry about it. I''m just curious how someone as young as you can be so rich. And from the looks of it, it doesn''t seem like it''s from family wealth, but that you''re genuinely capable," Zhang Yakun asked curiously, taking back the jade and driving in the direction of Yingjiang.

    Ge Dongxu was too young, after all. The jade he had nonchalantly declined was worth tens of thousands, at least. How could Zhang Yakun not be curious?!

    "There''s nothing inconvenient about it," Ge Dongxu smiled and said, "You must know about Qinghe Herbal Tea, right? I''m one of the major shareholders, having founded it with Tang Yahui''s father and two other friends."

    "Qinghe Herbal Tea! You''re actually a major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea!" After hearing this, Zhang Yakun''s hand trembled on the steering wheel, almost hitting a pedestrian crossing the road in front of him.

    Zhang Yakun certainly knew about Qinghe Herbal Tea; it was the leading herbal tea beverage company in Huaxia Country. It was a staple drink at his home during the summer, and he had even had a can last night at dinner. He was sitting next to the company''s major shareholder! He knew Tang Yahui''s father was a shareholder due to his relationship with Tang Yahui.

    Good heavens, that means his worth must be over a billion!

    Oh my God, I''m actually sitting next to a millionaire!

    "It''s better if you keep this to yourself; I''m still young and don''t want too much attention," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    ps: I stayed up all night and finally rushed out the manuscript. Time has been readjusted, and today I''ll return to posting three updates. Please support by casting your votes. Additionally, while I will mention jade gambling briefly, I won''t go into detail, since such plots are too common and I''m not particularly skilled in that area. I''ll try to write more about Brother Xu showing off his style.

 Chapter 330 The Raw Material Tycoon

    "Of course, of course!" Zhang Yaku hurriedly nodded when he heard this.

    "Then thank you, Brother Zhang," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "No, no, don''t call me Brother Zhang. That makes me nervous. You can just call me by name, or call me Old Zhang. After all, you are a billionaire!" Zhang Yaku said hastily.

    "Haha! Is it really that big of a deal?" Ge Dongxu laughed and said.

    "Of course, it''s a big deal, a billionaire! How many are there in Huaxia Country now? Let alone someone as young as you. If I go back and tell my wife, she certainly won''t believe me! And another thing, Qinghe Herbal Tea is truly a great product. In summer, our family mostly drinks Qinghe Herbal Tea, and we rarely let the children drink other beverages," Zhang Yaku said earnestly.

    "Still, herbal tea is herbal tea, and it can''t replace water. So in the summer, when the kids are thirsty, they should still drink more water; that''s the healthiest way," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Boss Ge, aren''t you damaging your own brand there!" Zhang Yaku was slightly surprised upon hearing this, then laughed and said.

    "Don''t, don''t call me Boss Ge, that makes me nervous, too," Ge Dongxu said hastily.

    "Haha, then I''ll take the liberty of continuing to call you by your name," Zhang Yaku said.

    "That''s how it should be," Ge Dongxu laughed and said.

    They chatted and laughed all the way until the car reached Yingjiang.

    Zhang Yaku''s hometown was in Yingjiang, and his parents and several brothers were still there.

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    Before returning to Yingjiang, he had already called his eldest brother, who he was closest with, so upon arriving at Yingjiang, Zhang Yaku booked a hotel for Ge Dongxu, and then took him to his elder brother''s house.

    They had an authentic local home-cooked meal at his elder brother''s house at noon.

    After the meal, with Zhang Yaku''s introduction, Ge Dongxu visited a few of his close friends'' shops and took a look around. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    They indeed had some good items on hand, and by the afternoon, Ge Dongxu had spent a total of one hundred thousand and managed to find a stone with Glass Type Jadeite inside it.

    Then, Ge Dongxu requested to open the stone in private. The jadeite extracted from the stone was not big, enough to make only three Jade Tokens.

    Even with Ice Type Jade, Ge Dongxu could now complete a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation in one breath, but the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation was much more difficult. Even using Glass Type Jadeite, Ge Dongxu was not sure he could successfully carve one out of ten pieces, so three was definitely not enough.

    According to Ge Dongxu''s thinking, he needed to gather at least a hundred pieces of jadeite at this level.

    Firstly, there was the issue of success rate; secondly, the trip was time-consuming; and thirdly, he needed to reserve some supply for the future.

    He couldn''t possibly run to the border every few days.

    Luckily, Ge Dongxu didn''t tell Zhang Yaku his plan, otherwise it would probably scare Zhang Yaku silly.

    A hundred pieces of Glass Type Jadeite, even if those Jade Tokens aren''t particular about shape or color, it''s still Glass Type!

    They really think it''s as common as mung bean jade, found everywhere on the streets!

    "Your friends have decent stock, but it''s too little. Do they know anyone who has more?" After half a day of looking around, Ge Dongxu said to Zhang Yaku.

    "You really are a big boss, dissolving a hundred-thousand-dollar stone so easily, and still not satisfied," Zhang Yaku said.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Zhang Yaku with a smile.

    "We do have a boss in the rough jade business here, who has at least this amount of goods on hand," Zhang Yaku said, making a gesture for the number eight.

    "Eight million?" Ge Dongxu''s eyes lit up slightly.

    "No, it''s eighty million!" Zhang Yaku shook his head, his eyes filled with longing.

    "Eighty million!" Ge Dongxu was also startled by the words.

    Eighty million, even for the current Ge Dongxu, was no small sum, and for the average person, it was a astronomical figure.

    "That''s right, eighty million. Many of the raw stones from the Myanmar public auctions pass through his hands. Not only that, but it''s said that many raw stones are directly transferred from the mines to him under the table. Every year, many jade businessmen go there to get goods, including those from the mainland as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan. However, they are basically all big bosses, because the stones there are very expensive," Zhang Yaku explained.

    "That''s great, take me there tomorrow to have a look," Ge Dongxu said, his eyes revealing a hint of anticipation.

    "His place isn''t open every day, it opens only once a quarter. You''re lucky in timing; the day after tomorrow they will open for business, just for one day. Tomorrow, I''ll take you around other places in Yingjiang first," Zhang Yaku said.

    "Okay, I''m free anyway, might as well take a look around," Ge Dongxu nodded his agreement.

    The next day, accompanied by Zhang Yaku, Ge Dongxu made another round of the Yingjiang rough jade market. He picked up a few pieces of nearly glass-type stones, which professionals call high ice type jadeite.

    For the raw material production base of Qinglan Cosmetics, Ge Dongxu needed to set up a formation that also required jade stones for stabilization.

    The jade stones for stabilizing the formation needed to be operative and present throughout the year, covering a large area. Not only did they need to be of good quality, but their overall volume also had to be large, unlike the small pieces of jade tokens used for the Spirit Gathering Array.

    So when Ge Dongxu found suitable ones, he naturally bought them. Of course, the price was not cheap; he spent one and a half to one and six million yuan on a few pieces, which made the nearby Zhang Yaku secretly impressed by the rich''s capriciousness.

    Fortunately, Ge Dongxu, not wishing to frighten Zhang Yaku, processed the stones alone, and directly bagged the jade that resulted. Otherwise, Zhang Yaku''s impression wouldn''t have been of a rich man''s capriciousness but that Ge Dongxu was not really buying rough stones but rather purchasing high-grade jadeite.

    ...

    The place Zhang Yaku spoke of was not in the county town but located in a village by the mountains and water.

    The site was in a large courtyard at the foot of the mountain, with a temporary warehouse constructed inside. A significant portion of the stones was placed inside the warehouse, and some were laid out in the yard.

    There weren''t many cars parked at the entrance of the courtyard, nor many people inside, incomparable to the bustling market of Yingjiang. But the cars that were there were all imports, and Zhang Yaku''s rented Santana seemed particularly shabby in comparison. Everyone in the yard, donned in designer clothes and wristwatches, was obviously wealthy.

    Zhang Yaku was clearly a bit nervous, and even his walk seemed uneasy as he entered the courtyard.

    It was evident that for a small jade businessman like him, the psychological pressure from rough stones worth tens or even hundreds of thousands of yuan was significant, undermining his usual confidence.

    As for Ge Dongxu, he looked relaxed and even comfortable.

    At this moment, Ge Dongxu indeed felt quite content, as he discovered that the village was a place with good Feng Shui, featuring clean mountains, beautiful waters, and air filled with more abundant spirit energy than other places.

    It was an ideal place for cultivation. Ge Dongxu mentally praised the location and looked up, casting a meaningful glance toward the mountainside behind the courtyard.

    There, half up the mountain, a quaint villa was hidden among the trees.

    In Ge Dongxu''s view, that was the best Feng Shui spot in the area and where the spirit energy was most concentrated.

 Chapter 331 Blood Curse

    Ge Dongxu glanced at the villa and then withdrew his gaze, following the slightly nervous Zhang Yaku into the courtyard.

    The atmosphere in the hillside villa was somewhat somber.

    A silver-haired old man sitting in a wheelchair was currently placing his hand on a little boy lying flat on the bed.

    The boy''s face was tinged with blue, his breathing barely perceptible, the very child that had been cradled in the arms of the beautiful young woman in the Mercedes.

    At this moment, that beautiful young woman and the dignified and authoritative man known as Master Gu were also present, both looking extremely anxious and nervous.

    The old man''s one hand was searching back and forth over the boy''s body, while the other held a jade token.

    The jade was so green that it was refreshing to the heart and pleasing to the nose, even tinting the old man''s fingers green as he held it.

    If there were someone knowledgeable about jade here, they would recognize that the old man''s jade token was not only genuine old-pit glass-type jade but also the extremely rare Imperial Green.

    They say it''s hard for a person to be perfect in every way, just as it''s hard for things to be completely flawless. The same can be said about describing jade.

    Glass-type is the best among jade types, but the irony of nature is that it often grants the crystal but not the color, or the color but not the crystal, never allowing perfection. In other words, glass-type jade is generally colorless, while types like bean green or glutinous are usually colored.

    However, once the glass-type is coupled with color, and it ripples through the clear material, it appears exceptionally vibrant, dazzling, and vividly spiritual.

    The jade token in the old man''s hand was precisely that kind of glass-based jade, a royal green, which together would be referred to as Imperial Green jade, the cr¨¨me de la cr¨¨me of jades, with a price that is incredibly difficult to estimate.

    The old man''s fingers gently rubbed the jade token, murmuring incantations.

    Threads of green qi rose from the boy''s body, taking the shape of various poisonous creatures in the air, including snakes, scorpions, centipedes, spiders, and toads, constantly shifting forms, looking fierce and emitting a slight foul scent.

    The boy''s eyebrows furrowed.

    Seeing this, the man and the beautiful woman''s eyes showed a glint of shock and nervousness, their fingers tightly interlocked.

    Green light drifted out from the jade token, falling onto the virulent creatures formed by the green qi floating above the boy and gradually causing those poisonous creatures to disappear.

    A look of joy appeared on the old man''s face as he searched more vigorously over the boy''s body, rubbing the jade token even faster.

    It seemed as if he was trying desperately to drive the bluish tinge from the boy''s face all at once. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Just as the old man''s face showed joy and he attempted to make one big push, suddenly, what rose from the boy''s body was no longer just threads of blue qi, but also strands tinged with blood.

    The boy''s complexion turned pale and agonized, and his skin even seemed to wrinkle slightly, barely noticeable but still perceivable by the old man and the two adults.

    It felt as though years were slipping by on the child''s body.

    "Blood Curse! It''s the damned Blood Curse!" the old man''s face drastically changed, and like being bitten by a snake, he quickly withdrew his hand from the boy.

    "Master Yang!" Seeing this, Master Gu''s face also went pale, hastily letting go of the young woman''s hand and stepping forward to call out in a low voice.

    "I had thought that Yiran was only afflicted by the Five Poisons Descent, but the caster didn''t even hesitate to exhaust their Essence Blood, using it as a guide to cast the Spell with a Blood Curse," the silver-haired elder said with a solemn expression.

    "Is there any way to break it?" Master Gu''s face changed again upon hearing this, and he asked urgently.

    "The Spell of Blood Curse requires Essence Blood as a guide; it not only depletes the caster''s Elemental Force, but should it be broken, the caster, at the very least, would lose all their Cultivation Power, and at worst, their life. Therefore, unless there is deep-seated hatred and blood vendetta, a Magician would not cast such a spell. However, once cast, unless the opponent''s Cultivation Power is far superior, or they are individuals of unparalleled mastery in Spells, it is almost impossible to break. Even if it is forcefully broken, Yiran would lose his life. I''m afraid you will have to seek someone more capable," the silver-haired elder explained.

    Upon hearing this, Master Gu''s demeanor seemed to collapse.

    Others might not know how formidable the old man was, but Master Gu did know something; if even he was unable to help, then there would be very few in Qimen who could.

    Moreover, Qimen is so called because it is different from the mundane world; truly hermit-like, exceptional individuals are not people whom one can simply seek out at will.

    Master Gu knew of the silver-haired elder''s existence and sought his help because the elder had some past gang connections with his deceased father during turbulent times.

    "Master Yang, please, think of another way. If you really can''t do anything, then it would be useless for me to seek others," after a long while, Master Gu revived his spirits and, with reddened eyes, implored the elder.

    "Master Yang, you must save Yiran; he''s still just a child! You must save him. As long as you save him, no matter the cost..." No sooner had Master Gu spoken than the beautiful young woman seemed to suddenly come to her senses, rushing forward to kneel in front of the elder''s wheelchair, grasping his hand as tears fell like pearls.

    "It''s not about money!" the elder interrupted the beautiful young woman, but seeing her with tears streaming down her face like rain through pear blossoms, he ultimately let out a deep sigh and said, "I''ll try again, but the hope is slim."

    "Thank you, Master Yang, thank you, Master Yang!" Master Gu and the beautiful young woman quickly expressed their gratitude.

    The elder didn''t say much, just silently sighed again, then placed his hand on the child''s chest. This time, he didn''t search back and forth but just kept it steady, slowly closing his eyes as if sensing something.

    ...

    "The raw stones here are ultimately sold through an auction to the highest bidder. Each piece has a number, the morning is for viewing the stones, you note the ones that catch your eye, and the afternoon is for bidding. But you be careful, don''t just call out prices recklessly. Even if you have hundred millions in assets, casually throwing away tens and hundreds of millions can''t be sustained. After all, the risk in gambling on stone is still too great," Zhang Yaku, walking beside Ge Dongxu, watched him handle the stones and said in a low voice.

    "Thank you, Old Zhang, I understand," Ge Dongxu nodded, his face showing gratitude.

    Although Zhang Yaku''s reminder was completely unnecessary for him, Ge Dongxu still sincerely appreciated the sentiment.

    "Ha, well, you are an expert and wealthy too, you don''t need my reminders," seeing Ge Dongxu''s grateful expression, Zhang Yaku felt somewhat embarrassed.

    After all, the man before him, whether in terms of expertise or wealth, could leave him miles behind!

    "Still, a reminder is quite necessary. Young people tend to be arrogant," Ge Dongxu said.

    Hearing Ge Dongxu say this, Zhang Yaku laughed heartily and felt quite comfortable.

    Since many of the stones here were quite large, it was strenuous and slow for Ge Dongxu to explore them; sometimes it took a long time to feel just one stone.

    Zhang Yaku started by following Ge Dongxu, but gradually became impatient and walked away to look at other places on his own.

    After all, he was a Jade merchant himself, and being in this place, how could he idle away with his mind free of thoughts?

    PS: I recommend my own previous book, "The Record of a Cultivation Teacher''s Life." Personally, I believe it to be the most maturely and naturally written urban tale among my four "Life Records" series. The only drawback is that, due to some personal reasons, it ended a bit hastily. For those who haven''t read this old book, take a look; it shouldn''t disappoint you. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 332 Ouyang Murong

    As time passed, more and more people arrived, but it was still far less crowded compared to the Yingjiang Market.

    The newcomers were all well-dressed, some even accompanied by personal bodyguards, making those like Ge Dongxu and Zhang Yakun seem rather shabby in comparison.

    Their car was shabby, and so were their clothes.

    After touching around a dozen stones, Ge Dongxu realized that although the items here were expensive, there was a reason why so many big bosses eagerly came; the quality here was indeed much higher than that of the market''s, probably because the sellers had carefully selected them. All the rocks contained jade, the only differences being the quantity and quality of the jade. This tested the buyers'' eye for quality and luck.

    Unlike the general market, where many of the stones laid out by the sellers contained nothing at all, it was uncertain where they had even sourced these from. It was likely that most were just filler, meant to scam tourists or newcomers to the field.

    "Dongxu, my family called me, said there is an urgent matter and asked me to rush back, you can keep looking, I need to go back for a while. Anyway, the materials here are too expensive for me; it''s useless even if I look, and it''d be troublesome if I impulsively bought something," said Zhang Yakun, who rushed over to Ge Dongxu''s side and spoke in a low voice, about an hour and a half later while Ge Dongxu was examining a massive stone weighing at least three to four hundred kilograms.

    "Okay, you take care of your things, don''t worry about me. If anything comes up, just give me a call," Ge Dongxu, whose mind was mainly on the stone, replied without thinking much, slightly looked up to say this to Zhang Yakun, then bent down again to continue examining the stone.

    This stone was large and examining it was tiring; breaking off in the middle wasn''t something even someone as skilled as Ge Dongxu wanted to start over.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu was focused on the stone, Zhang Yakun didn''t dare to disturb him further. After saying they could contact by phone if needed, he quickly left the courtyard.

    After Zhang Yakun left, Ge Dongxu continued examining stones. Naturally, there were some experts who looked at him with disdain and mockery, but no one went out of their way to bother or mock him close up.

    Whether it was out of good upbringing or a self-assured identity that they disdained speaking with Ge Dongxu, only they knew.

    At noon, some people drove off to eat while others casually managed a meal within the village.

    Seeing that Zhang Yakun hadn''t come over, Ge Dongxu couldn''t be bothered to go out and find a place to eat, so he continued to stay in the courtyard and examine stones alone. After all, with his current cultivation level, although he hadn''t reached the mythical realm of not needing earthly food, he could go hungry for ten days or half a month without any trouble.

    Around one in the afternoon, a middle-aged man with a lean face and scholarly demeanor, looking around fifty years old, walked in accompanied by two young men with stern expressions.

    "Mr. Ouyang has arrived!"

    "Good day, Mr. Ouyang!"

    "¡­"

    As soon as this middle-aged man entered, everyone in the place came forward to greet him, and he, with a beaming smile, reciprocated with a bow to the crowd.

    At that moment, Ge Dongxu was in the warehouse, intently feeling the last piece of jade, which was also the largest one in the venue, paying no attention to that Mr. Ouyang.

    "Is he the owner of this sales venue, Ouyang Murong? He looks just like a schoolteacher, very amiable and approachable," a man said softly to his companion, eying Ouyang Murong, who was smiling and greeting others with cupped hands.

    The companion by his side was a man in his sixties who had gone completely pot-bellied, his facial muscles totally relaxed.

    "A schoolteacher? Amiable and approachable?" Hearing this, the companion''s face showed a smile mixed with disbelief, then quickly turned serious, saying, "If you really think that, then you''re greatly mistaken. With the tense situation of the civil war in Myanmar, aside from the annual Yangon public offering, jade traders have found it very difficult to get good raw stones from other channels, but here there are still so many raw stones, do you think an ordinary person can manage that?" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Could the rumors be true, that even the kings of the Golden Triangle and Northern Myanmar, like Dare¹ûÍõ and the Mong Tai Army leaders, have to show him respect?" The curiosity in the man''s eyes turned into reverence upon hearing this.

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    "Whether it''s true or not is something that businessmen of our level can''t know. However, one thing you should clearly understand is that a man who can control so much merchandise in a border area is definitely not someone we can afford to provoke. Haven''t you noticed, the person representing Zhou Dafu of the Zheng Family from Hong Kong is utterly respectful towards Mr. Ouyang? Just this fact should tell you that the rumors, even if exaggerated, are certainly not groundless," the companion responded in a low voice.

    Upon hearing this, the man looked at Ouyang Murong and sure enough, a middle-aged man was talking to Ouyang, his demeanor very respectful, utterly lacking the pride and arrogance he had displayed in his earlier interactions with them.

    "Master Yang has been in good health recently, hasn''t he? The old gentleman asked me to send his regards," the man who represented Zhou Dafu said in a low voice to Ouyang Murong.

    "Please tell Brother Zheng, Master Yang is in good health, he still takes a daily stroll in the village, but today he had business and could not receive guests," Ouyang Murong replied.

    "That''s good to hear. The old man will certainly be pleased to hear this news," the man replied with a smile, secretly astonished as he knew Master Yang was not mobile in his legs. Typically, once an elderly man becomes immobile, his health deteriorates progressively. Considering that Master Yang was now over ninety years old, logically, he would be at the stage of clinging precariously to life, confined to his bed year-round; unexpectedly, he was still capable of daily walks in the village.

    Could the rumors be true, saying that Master Yang possessed strange arts, had been a renowned figure of Qing Gang in his earlier years, and withdrew from the underworld later?

    Of course, the man just thought about it, he certainly wouldn''t ask such a question.

    Soon, other people came over to greet Ouyang Murong, and the man simply smiled and continued examining the jade.

    At about half-past one, the auction officially began, and by then Ge Dongxu had also finished feeling the last piece of jade.

    Unfortunately, although the stone was large, there wasn''t much jade inside, and it was only of ice grade, which didn''t meet Ge Dongxu''s current requirements.

    The auctioneer was Ouyang Murong.

    When Ouyang Murong stepped onto the auction stage, Ge Dongxu casually chose a seat towards the back, and suddenly noticed that the burly man who had single-handedly moved a spare tire on the road for him and the driver who had asked if he needed help were also at the auction. However, they stood on the outer edge, seemingly just watching and not planning to participate in the bidding.

    Owing them a favor and seeing that they were there, Ge Dongxu naturally went to greet them.

    As Ge Dongxu walked towards them, the two men, known as Ayong and Axiong, also saw Ge Dongxu, their faces showing expressions of surprise.

 Chapter 333 Auction

    "How come you''re here too? You''re not here for the auction, are you?" AYong and AXiong approached him and asked curiously.

    Although they were there because Master Gu was at the mid-mountain villa and they had nothing to do, just idly there to watch the excitement, they were aware that each piece of material here was quite valuable.

    Ge Dongxu''s car was a beaten-up Santana, so naturally they didn''t think Ge Dongxu had the financial means to participate in the auction.

    "Yes, otherwise I wouldn''t be here," Ge Dongxu said with a smile and a nod, then added, "Thanks for the other day. If it hadn''t been for you guys, we might have had to spend the night on the road."

    "It was nothing, and if you''re going to thank anyone, it should be our Master Gu," AYong said, waving his hand dismissively.

    "Is Master Gu here today? I''d like to thank him in person later," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Master Gu isn''t interested in these matters. He''s busy with other things, so you don''t need to worry about it," AYong said, his expression showing a hint of disdain.

    A young guy like Ge Dongxu, how could he be qualified to see Master Gu!

    Of course, AYong wouldn''t say that out loud.

    "Look, young man, the prices for the raw materials here are pretty steep, and gambling on stones is even riskier than gambling itself. Are you sure you want to get involved? I think you better take it easy, don''t end up gambling away your family''s savings," AXiong interjected.

    Although AXiong''s words were a bit harsh, his intentions were good. Hearing this, Ge Dongxu just smiled at him and said, "Thanks, but I can afford to gamble on these stones."

    Hearing this, AYong and AXiong looked at Ge Dongxu with some disbelief.

    Driving a broken-down Santana, and yet claiming he could afford to gamble on these stones? That was a bit too boastful!

    But since Ge Dongxu had said so, they naturally would not urge him further.

    They were just acquaintances who had met by chance, so saying this much was already enough. Besides, Ouyang Murong had begun his opening remarks by then, and it wasn''t appropriate for them to continue speaking.

    Ouyang Murong said some words of welcome and also introduced the recent civil war situation in Myanmar, a clever hint from him that these rough stones were not easy to come by, naturally suggesting that their prices would be higher than in past years.

    But no one said anything.

    The Myanmar goods fair occurs in March every year, and it was already the end of June, well past the date of the fair. With the current situations in Myanmar, getting more good raw stones was only feasible here.

    "Alright, enough talk, let''s start with the first rough stone, number 001. The starting bid is one hundred thousand, highest bidder wins." Ouyang Murong spoke quite differently from how leaders usually do; he kept it brief and moved straight into the auction phase.

    Throughout the day, Ge Dongxu had touched and inspected every stone in the place and had already made a rough judgment on each. He knew that the first ten stones weren''t of good quality, so he wasn''t concerned about the auction for these stones at all.

    However, other people didn''t know this, and the bidding was somewhat fierce, with several stones selling for ten times their starting bid. One of them went for a million, which made Ge Dongxu, who knew the details of these stones, couldn''t help but inwardly remark. He truly understood now what was meant by "a cut poor, a cut rich."

    Like the merchant who had spent a million to buy a rough stone, according to Ge Dongxu''s estimate, it would be quite good if he could recover a hundred and fifty thousand in cost. Thus, while that man might not be bankrupt, he was likely severely diminished in terms of his ''Vital Energy''.

    After all, in this era, a million was a sizable amount. Even in the capital city, that was enough to buy a luxury home of more than two hundred square meters.

    "The auction for lot number 011, an uncut stone, starts at eighty thousand. Interested friends may start bidding now." Soon, it was the turn of the eleventh uncut stone.

    "I have examined the stone we are now auctioning, it''s quite good. Buying it for under three hundred thousand should yield a profit. If you two have some spare cash, consider bidding." Ge Dongxu, knowing that there was a significant piece of Ice Type Jadeite in this stone, thought for a moment and spoke to Ah Yong and Ah Xiong by his side.

    Ah Yong and Ah Xiong glanced at Ge Dongxu incredulously upon hearing this, then shook their heads and ignored him, clearly not believing Dongxi''s words.

    Seeing their reaction, Ge Dongxu touched his nose and a wry smile appeared on his lips.

    It seems that a young man''s words carry little weight!

    However, he merely intended to express his gratitude and remind them on a whim. If they did not believe him, he certainly wouldn''t go out of his way to explain.

    Cultivators value fate.

    Ah Yong and Ah Xiong gave him a spare tire on the way here. That was fate. The fact that they met here was fate as well.

    If Ah Yong and Ah Xiong had believed Ge Dongxu just now, that would have been a stroke of good fortune brought by fate. But since they didn''t believe him, it can only be said that they were fated not to in this matter.

    Fate comes and goes, and for Ge Dongxu, it''s not good to force things!

    Since it was Ice Type Jadeite, Ge Dongxu did not participate in the bidding. In the end, the stone was acquired for two hundred thirty thousand by that man who earlier said Ouyang Murong looked like a teacher.

    Seeing the stone sold for two hundred thirty thousand, while Ge Dongxu himself did not participate in the bidding at all, Ah Yong and Ah Xiong felt somewhat uneasy, viewing him with a somewhat hostile gaze. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He knew it was a good deal, profitable, yet he did not bid himself but encouraged them to. Wasn''t that blatantly setting them up? Wasn''t that repaying kindness with enmity?

    Ge Dongxu, however, had not realized this. At that moment, his attention was captured by the next block of stone.

    This stone was not esteemed by experts, and presumably not even the seller had high hopes for it, hence the low starting price of fifty thousand. There were few bidders, but Ge Dongxu knew that there was a piece of Glass Type Jadeite within, small but definitely worth more than this price.

    As a result, Ge Dongxu managed to acquire the stone for just a hundred thousand.

    Although Ge Dongxu got the stone for just a hundred thousand, which was considered a bargain here, his youth and new face still drew many sidelong glances from those present.

    Many people seeing a young person nodded skeptically, their eyes revealing a trace of scorn and mockery, clearly thinking that Ge Dongxu, the young man, lacked discernment.

    Ah Xiong and Ah Yong, seeing this, looked at Ge Dongxu with a bit friendlier gaze, thinking that perhaps they had misunderstood him earlier. This guy didn''t avoid bidding; he just didn''t have enough money in his pocket!

    Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire

    "One million five hundred thousand!" However, Ah Xiong and Ah Yong soon realized they were wrong about this thought, because when the bidding for the thirtieth stone climbed to one million four hundred thousand, that same young man they secretly thought lacked funds suddenly bid one million five hundred thousand.

    The scene fell briefly silent, all eyes, including those of Ah Xiong and Ah Yong, turned sharply towards Ge Dongxu.

    Clearly, no one expected a young man in his twenties to place a bid of one million five hundred thousand!

 Chapter 334 Who is your dad?

    ```

    "$1.55 million!" People quickly shifted their gaze away from Ge Dongxu and continued to bid.

    "$1.6 million!" Ge Dongxu followed with a bid.

    "$1.65 million!" The scene fell briefly silent again before someone hesitantly raised the bid.

    "$1.7 million." Ge Dongxu increased the bid without any hesitation.

    This rough stone was the second one that Ge Dongxu had his eyes on, and he was naturally determined to win it.

    "Damn, who is this guy? Raising the bid like it''s nothing!"

    "Exactly, whose kid is this? Does he even know what he''s doing, just throwing out prices willy-nilly." sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "He isn''t just spouting random numbers, is he?"

    "That seems unlikely, given that he looks about eighteen or nineteen, maybe in his twenties. Doesn''t he know you can''t just mess around in a place like this?"

    "That''s not necessarily the case. $1.7 million! Who has that kind of money these days, letting someone so young play around like this! This is gambling on stones we''re talking about!"

    "$1.72 million." Amidst the murmuring, someone gritted their teeth and placed a bid.

    "$1.8 million." Ge Dongxu continued to raise the bid without any hesitation.

    This time, the venue almost exploded, and Ouyang Murong on the stage also looked at Ge Dongxu with an intriguing gaze.

    However, he still followed the procedure to ask if there was a higher bid from the floor. Seeing none, he eventually sold it to Ge Dongxu.

    "Kid, you better not be causing trouble here! Otherwise, no one can save you!" This time, the looks that Ayong and Axiong gave Ge Dongxu were not merely unfriendly, but also carried a hint of threat and menace. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire

    They were Master Gu''s men and naturally knew why Master Gu had come here. They also knew that even Master Gu had to show respect to the true master of this place as a junior.

    Yet, this guy who only drove a beat-up Santana dared to bid up to $1.8 million. If they hadn''t seen a lot in their time and experienced many things to maintain their composure, they probably would have already laid hands on Ge Dongxu.

    They believed it was not permissible for anyone to cause trouble here.

    Even so, they couldn''t help but issue a warning!

    Ge Dongxu was slightly taken aback but didn''t get angry. He whispered, "I am of age, after all. I know what I can do and what I can''t."

    Ayong and Axiong were stunned upon hearing this, but their looks still carried a hint of threat towards Ge Dongxu.

    It was really hard to reconcile the idea of someone casually bidding $1.8 million with someone who drives a Santana.

    The auction continued, and Ge Dongxu fell silent again, not making a bid until the hundredth rough stone. This made some people uncomfortable, and they began to glance at him.

    However, at lots one hundred and one and one hundred and fifteen, Ge Dongxu made two more bids, but they were not high; both were only in the tens of thousands.

    After his $1.8 million bid earlier, these two bids didn''t seem strange to people.

    But when lot number one hundred and thirty came up, Ge Dongxu once again became the focus of the entire room.

    Because this rock was favored by many experts, the starting bid was already $3 million.

    Then the price climbed all the way to $5 million, and at this point, the bidding slowed down considerably. Every time the price went up, the bidders sweat on their foreheads, their voices a bit hoarse.

    ```

    There was no way around it, five million¡ªeven though the people who came here were wealthy, that was still a large sum. If the jade collapsed in value, they''d have made money for so many years for nothing, returning to square one overnight.

    "Five million five hundred thousand," Ge Dongxu saw the pace of the bidding slow and directly added five hundred thousand.

    The room suddenly went quiet, and Ouyang Murong''s face changed too.

    With a bid of five million five hundred thousand, adding to the previous four auctions, Ge Dongxu''s utilized funds had neared eight million.

    Such a large amount wasn''t something that most of the jade merchants present could produce, let alone Ouyang Murong himself. It wasn''t something he could just take out on a whim.

    "Young man, do you even have that much money? Don''t just blabber!" Finally, someone couldn''t hold back and directly called out to Ge Dongxu.

    An unfamiliar face, and so young it was almost unbelievable, the casualness of his bidding made everyone suspicious!

    Didn''t they see that even the representative of Zhou Dafu, when bidding four million five hundred thousand, was already wiping his sweat with a handkerchief from time to time?

    A youngster, casually bidding five million five hundred thousand, did he really think this was just a numbers game?

    This was gambling on jade, where one had to produce Real Gold and Silver, a single cut could ruin someone financially!

    "Exactly, who is your father? Name drop a little," someone jeered at Ge Dongxu.

    "Do you even know where you are?"

    However, Ouyang Murong, seeing Ge Dongxu''s composure in the face of public interrogation, was secretly shocked. He waved his hand to quiet the crowd, then walked down from the auction stage, approached Ge Dongxu, and said, "Sir, may I have a word with you in private?"

    Ge Dongxu understood the doubts others had about him, and also understood why Ouyang Murong was doing this. He nodded and followed him to a secluded area in the warehouse.

    Before Ouyang Murong could speak, Ge Dongxu had already opened his bag, taking out his acquisitions from the past few days, and said, "I know what Mr. Ouyang wants to ask, and I think this should be sufficient to prove my financial ability."

    In the past few days, Ge Dongxu had purchased several stones from Zhang Yaku''s friend, and from the market, spending nearly one million seven hundred thousand in total.

    With Ge Dongxu''s surefire judgment, the stones he bought for one million seven hundred thousand, once cut, naturally yielded jade worth more than that amount. If he were to sell them on the market, they''d be worth at least five or six million.

    Ouyang Murong, capable of running such a big event, was naturally an expert among experts. As soon as Ge Dongxu took out the contents of his bag, Ouyang''s eyes lit up.

    "I apologize, since this is our first interaction and the amount is substantial, that''s why I needed to confirm," Ouyang Murong quickly suppressed the surprise in his heart and expressed his regret to Ge Dongxu.

    "It''s okay, I understand," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Then the two returned to the auction scene.

    "The gentleman just now bid five million five hundred thousand, is there anyone else who would like to raise the bid?" Ouyang Murong returned to the auction stage and asked.

    Everyone was sharp and naturally understood that Ouyang Murong had confirmed Ge Dongxu''s qualifications!

    Suddenly, the whole room went deadly silent, and those who just couldn''t resist confronting Ge Dongxu sheepishly wiped the sweat from their foreheads.

    A youngster casually tossing out a bid of nearly eight million, just how formidable must his family background be!

    The looks Ah Xiong and Ah Yong gave Ge Dongxu had completely changed; their expressions were very uncomfortable.

    Because not long ago, they had threatened and warned Ge Dongxu!