Chapter Ninety-Seven - On the Eve of Departure

Five days had passed since the incident with Teng Tian. As expected, Zhengyi Teng had been frightened out of his wits and was now actively cooperating with the investment plan. For the past few days he had scarcely dared step outside; apart from trips to the government offices and the hotel, he had not gone anywhere else. This left Li Dabiao complaining endlessly that I had handed him such a miserable assignment, making him keep watch over the man.

To be honest, I did not really think someone like Teng Tian would dare to act up again. What worried me most was the man at his side, Huang Qi. After I had dealt with him twice, he would certainly not have accepted it quietly. He might well have been whispering poison into Teng Tian’s ear. I did not care all that much about such people, but one always had to keep a guard up. So, whether Li Dabiao liked it or not, I sent others to keep a close eye on every move the two of them made, unwilling to allow even the smallest mistake.

During these five days, the Imperial Group had been fully brought under the banner of the Sunshine Group, operating as its principal subsidiary in digital technology products. I had also signed a contract with Zhengsheng Chu, gaining complete control of the company with a seventy percent shareholding. Of course, the three advanced technologies I had mentioned, all ahead of current science and industry, had likewise been handed over to him.

In this way, the largest digital conglomerate in the whole city and the second-largest real estate group were both in my hands. Add to that the more than a dozen companies I had acquired in various industries, and the Sunshine Group had already firmly established itself in City C. Once Xiawang Construction and Engineering was eliminated, the business world of City C could be said to be mine.

Of course, as someone who possessed both the knowledge of Earth and alien technology, I would never stop here. I had deeply felt the pain of the global financial crisis in my previous life, and I also understood the helplessness of China, constrained on every side at that time. So in this life, I would use my own hands to create a legend, to make China strong, to make China prosperous, and to lift myself to the summit of the world.

Over these past few days, that little girl Qi Tong seemed to have finally given up after what happened at the police station. She no longer came looking for me, and naturally I did not want to get entangled with her again, so I did not go looking for her either. Yet for some reason, sometimes when I thought of that beautiful little demon and the countless scenes from when we used to be together, a certain melancholy would linger in my mind.

As for Jing Zhang, she was truly swamped now. Although the Celestial Sound Group had not won the bid for that golden patch of land, its development still advanced with astonishing speed. If Xiawang Construction and Engineering had not thrown in everything they had, and if the municipal government had not lent them money so they could barely scrape together nine billion yuan to begin development of the lakeside old district, Celestial Sound might already have become number one in City C. It was plain to see that Xia Fuguui had been driven into a corner. He had placed all his hopes on that golden stretch of land by the lake.

Looking at Xu Xin beside me, listening intently in class, my heart was filled with sweetness and happiness. Su Guohui had agreed to my request and given me three months. Xu Xin, as if she had finally flown free from a cage like a golden songbird, was no longer restrained in any way. Almost every day, that pretty face of hers wore a blissful smile. She was truly beautiful like this, so beautiful it made one’s heart tremble.

After returning from the police station, I told her everything, except for the fact that I had been reborn. I even confessed that I had bought Jing Zhang’s house and was now living with her. Xu Xin was not a petty woman, and after hearing of Jing Zhang’s miserable circumstances, she became even more sympathetic toward her. In fact, she often kept in contact with Jing Zhang, and the two of them grew so close that even I was a little envious.

“Dummy, why are you staring at me instead of the blackboard? Don’t you want to sleep anymore?” Xu Xin had noticed me watching her the whole time and blushed, pouting in mild reproach.

“Heh, I can still get first even while looking at you, so why bother with the blackboard?” I teased. “Our Xu Xin seems to be getting prettier and prettier lately. Mm, love really does nourish a woman.”

“Annoying. What are you saying?” Xu Xin shyly pinched my waist and glanced at me coquettishly. “Xiao Qiang, the day after tomorrow you’ll be going to the capital to take part in the computer competition. I heard that the top three can even receive an audience with the President. You must remember to get a photo with him and bring it back for me to see.”

“Oh? Who told you that? The top three get to meet the President?” I asked in surprise.

Xu Xin looked at me a little astonished. “Xiao Qiang, sometimes I really feel like you’re so dumb, but other times you’re unbelievably clever... This computer competition has always been like that ever since it began. Last year, a genius from our province won third place and took a photo with the President. He was so excited he couldn’t sleep all night, and then he got hit by a car on the road and died. How could you not know about something this big?”

“Pfft...” I could not help laughing softly when I heard that. “Haha, no way. What kind of person gets that worked up over such a thing... It’s only the President, after all. Was there any need to be so excited?” But halfway through my words, I suddenly stopped laughing. “Wait. The President? You mean I can really meet the President?”

“Yes, you’re so strange. Just now you were laughing at other people, and now you’re the one getting excited.” Xu Xin smiled, then suddenly lowered her head in embarrassment. “Xiao Qiang, you really must work hard. We only have three months...”

The President. The national President.

At that moment, I could hardly hear anything else Xu Xin was saying. My mind was entirely filled with those two words.

Taking part in the computer competition meant I could meet the President. Meeting the President meant... My eyes lit up all at once.

“Good. Fate is clearly on my side,” I said joyfully. “Xu Xin, just wait and see. I’ll show you how I make your father obediently hand you over to me!”

“What nonsense are you talking about? Who’s going to be handed over to you...” Xu Xin’s cheeks turned red again, and she pinched me once more. “Xiao Qiang, you really have to do your best. For our future, you absolutely must succeed.”

“Mm, I know. Leave it to me.”

In truth, the three-month deadline had been something I blurted out in haste, based on the power I currently had. My original plan had been to go to the capital, settle the Xia family’s influence once and for all, and then devote myself fully to expanding in business. I believed that once my commercial power grew to a certain scale, the government would naturally take notice, and then I could use my means to gain power as well.

That would have been steady and sound, but to achieve such a level within three months really was difficult.

Yet now everything was different. I had nearly missed this golden opportunity to go to the capital. Xu Xin was right after all: I really was quite stupid. Opportunity was not far away at all, but right before my eyes.

The capital was, by nature, the place where the nation’s highest officials were most concentrated. And as long as I could place in the top three of the computer competition, I would get to meet the President of the country. Which meant I would be meeting the highest official in China in this lifetime. What in the world could possibly outrank the President’s authority?

At that moment, Zhang Li in the front row, having overheard us talking, turned around with a grin. “Boss, since you’re going to the capital the day after tomorrow, don’t forget to bring back some local specialties to treat me.”

Looking at this good friend from my previous life, and glancing at Wang Lili beside him, I could not help scolding him with a smile. “You’re always thinking about eating and playing. Hurry up and study. Be careful you don’t get into university and have Wang Lili dump you.”

“Hey, don’t worry. I’m working hard,” Zhang Li said with a sly grin. “Besides, I’ve got to stay with the boss when I get to university somehow. How could I not study hard? All right, you and sister-in-law carry on. I’ll just pretend I saw and heard nothing.”

After two more wicked laughs, he immediately turned back around and fixed his eyes on the blackboard.

This friend of my previous life—I would certainly help him properly in the future. The old Xiao Qiang had not had the ability, but now I had more than enough.

“Xiao Qiang, Sister Jing Zhang said that since you’re going to the capital the day after tomorrow, and she lives alone in such a big house, she isn’t used to it, so she wants me to keep her company. Is that okay?” Seeing that I seemed confident, Xu Xin finally relaxed.

She truly was the type of girl who leaned on others like a little bird; as long as I said something, she generally believed it without question. That, too, gave me a great sense of accomplishment.

“Hm? Jing Zhang wants you to live with her?” I found this rather odd. What was that girl up to?

Of course I knew her claim that she was not used to living alone was just an excuse. Nonsense—before I had moved in with her, hadn’t she lived alone for half a year? How could she possibly not be used to it? But I really could not guess what was in her mind. Since I was going to the capital and Xu Xin would have no one to look after her, letting her keep Xu Xin company was not a bad thing.

So I nodded. “Sure. As long as you like it, just stay there. Heh, if you like it, you can stay for life and I won’t object.”

“Go to hell. I’m keeping Sister Jing Zhang company, not you.” Xu Xin blushed and shot me a glare. “Sister Jing Zhang is so pitiful. I should really help find her a boyfriend. With love to nourish her, she’ll definitely be happy. Xiao Qiang, what if I introduce her to my cousin?”

“Uh... the cousin who studies in the capital, the one I saw last time?” For some reason, I felt a faint irritation in my chest.

“Yes, him. You’ve met him too. He’s very handsome, isn’t he? I’m sure Sister Jing Zhang will like him.” Not noticing anything strange in my expression, Xu Xin went on excitedly. “All right, it’s settled then. When my cousin comes back next week, I’ll introduce him to Sister Jing Zhang. Xiao Qiang, what do you think?”

“Ah? Oh, yes, yes...” I forced myself to hide the strange bitterness rising in my heart and nodded repeatedly, while silently rebuking myself. What was wrong with me? I should be happy if Jing Zhang found a boyfriend. Why... Could it be, could it be that I liked Jing Zhang?

No. Absolutely impossible.

How could I possibly like Jing Zhang? The one I loved was Xu Xin!

“Xiao Qiang? What’s wrong?” Even Xu Xin noticed something off in my struggle with myself. I gave a strained smile and shook my head. “I’m fine. Then you can stay at my place tonight. I’m going back home to sleep these next two nights anyway, so my parents won’t worry.”

“Mm, okay. I’ll find a chance to tell Sister Jing Zhang about it. She’ll definitely be happy too.” Xu Xin murmured to herself for a while, then turned back and continued listening to the lesson.

Looking at her beautiful profile, a wave of inexplicable panic suddenly swept through my heart.

Could I really be becoming fickle? Why, after having Xu Xin, did I still feel jealous over Jing Zhang?

Why...