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Chapter 1 — Rags to Riches Overnight

My name is Zhang Chao. I am 23 years old this year, working at an advertisement firm.
I have never received a university education. I enlisted in the army straight after graduating from high school due to my poor family conditions.
When I was seven years old, my father committed drank and drove. He was someone who never touched alcohol, but he did on that day and was drunk with my uncle. While they were driving on the way back, they met a large cargo truck running a Red Lantern. The driver tried to dodge and veered the steering wheel. The cargo truck swerved, flipping sideways which caused the steel materials weighing several dozen tonnes to fall. The impact crushed the Volkswagen sedan, levelling it to the ground. My mother, father and uncle, all three of them...
From that day onwards, my aunt became my guardian.
I had never worn a new piece of clothing since then. All I wore were my younger cousin’s hand-me-downs. I was taller than him, so his clothes looked shrunken on my body. No matter the seasons, my ankles were always exposed to the wind. And during winter, my knees were covered with chilblains.
My parents were businessmen and left me with a hefty amount of inheritance. However, I was too young at that time and did not know any better. Majority of the assets under my name were transferred gradually to my aunt except for a villa which could not be sold, so she moved the family there.
My aunt resented me deeply and frequently abused me physically. On my 10th birthday, she grabbed me and pressed my head into the toilet bowl in a drunken stupor. I almost drowned. That feeling of fear after having come so close to death remains deeply rooted in my mind till this day.
Afterwards, her son, who was my younger cousin spun lies about this incident. He spread fabricated stories about how I had mental problems and drank water from the toilet bowl throughout the school until all were aware. Everyone in school talked behind my back about how I was a nutcase and a retard. No one was willing to speak to me, and I did not have any friends until I graduated from high school.
In high school, there was a girl in my class named Lin Fang, who was very pretty. She had a pair of moist, bright eyes and a slender waist.
I often stole glances at her during class. I would think of her while daydreaming and, she would even appear in my dreams at night.
I only dared to have a crush on her secretly. At that time, I was quite innocent and did not harbour any indecent emotions towards her. She was like a goddess in my heart. It was preposterous to have other thoughts about her.
One night, Lin Fang and I happened to board the same public bus at a time when not many people were around. Two hooligans from the technical school were harassing her.
At that time, I was also scared. I did not know where my courage had come from, but I rushed forward and pushed the two hooligans away. The bus had arrived at the stop at that moment, so I took Lin Fang’s hands and ran away quickly.
I did not know far we ran, but I only stopped when I was out of breath. I turned behind to look at Lin Fang, who had glared at me with a flushed face.
She twisted my hands away in a hurry and said, "Let go of me."
I immediately let go of her wrist. Lin Fang rubbed her wrist and backed away from me.
"It's so late now. Let me walk you home."
"No need for that, I will go home by myself. Y-you... don't follow me... and do not speak about what happened today to others.”
She finished her piece and immediately turned around and ran away as if I was a more terrible existence than the two hooligans. She did not even say thank you. It was as though speaking to me was more humiliating than being bullied by the two hooligans.
A few days later, when I went to the toilet during class break, I was surrounded by a group of boys who started beating me up without saying a word.
At that time, I was both thin and short. I was simpyly no match for those people. I could only resort to protecting my head from the storm of fists raining on me.
It went on for a while before they grabbed my hair to drag me up. I was in a state of confusion before I heard someone say, "I heard you like to drink urine. I will let you drink to your fill today." Right after that, they pressed my head into the urinal.
I was scared out of my wits. If I was forced into the urinal to drink urine in front of so many people, I would not be able to live with it. I would be turned into a laughing-stock everywhere I go in the future, and I would never be able to lift my head for the rest of my life.
"Liu Hu, I-I have never offended you before. We are classmates. Why are you hitting me?" I pleaded with the person who grabbed my hair.
"Indeed, you didn't offend me because the one you fucking offended is my older brother. Don't you know who is interested in Lin Fang? How dare you harass her? Didn’t you insist on sending her home at night?! Don't try to deny. Some people have seen what happened!"
"No, she was being harassed by ruffians. I was only trying to save her. Go ahead and ask her if you don’t believe me."
”Haha, I have already asked her. Lin Fang is so kind. She was afraid that you would get beaten up, so she said she never saw you at all. Not only are you thick-skinned, but you are also really shameless! How dare you lie! Now, drink the urine!"
”I-I did not!"
I resisted with all of my might. I could not win, but when people are at the brinks of desperation, the strength they summon often exceeded imaginations. The five men could not hold me down, so they resorted to beating me up again.
I was rescued by the people from the Political Education Office afterwards. Two of my ribs fractured and I had a high fever for three days. My aunt had refused to pay the medical fees and abandoned me in the hospital to my own devices. Luckily, a kind doctor could not bear to see my sufferings. She chased after my aunt until her home and lectured her for several days before my aunt finally agreed to give me money for medical bills.
Rather than the physical pain, I felt as though my heart was being stabbed through by a knife, assaulted with waves of dull aches. I had especially wanted to question Lin Fang about her actions. I had saved her, but this was the treatment I had gotten in return.
I did not go back to school even after my injuries had healed.
My teacher came to persuade me several times to return to continue my studies as it was a pity for a student who ranked within the Top Ten to drop out of school. And that I would not have good career prospects if I did so. However, I really did not want to go back to that place. I had no idea what was in store for me if I returned. During that period, I often went on for days without speaking, and everything felt bleak to me. After I thought back about it, the emotions I had experienced at that time were akin to hell.
Coincidentally, I turned 18 years old when my injuries had recovered. My aunt declared that she no longer had any responsibility as my guardian and threw me out of the house. But that villa belonged to me, so the one who should leave was her. However, I alone had no chance of winning against her.
It happened that the military was recruiting, so I decided to join the army. My thoughts behind becoming a soldier were very simple. The first was to build up my body so that no one would be able to bully me in the future. The second was to be able to have meals to eat, a bed to sleep and to be far away from my aunt.
Life in the military was quite simple and organized, even the company leaders and comrades were nice. Slowly, I began to let go of my past. My personality became more cheerful and less boring, unlike before.
In my second year of serving as a soldier, the company commander suddenly came to look for me and said that someone wanted to meet me. That person was my parents' lawyer and also their most trusted friend, Han Kun.
Han Kun informed me that my father was the President of the Tong City Chamber of Commerce when he was alive. He had eight companies and twelve nightclubs, as well as real estates of various sizes and bond funds under his name. After his death, his assets were taken care of by the Property Management Committee. And according to his will, I was to inherit everything when I had turned 18 years old. Han Kun was supposed to come to me last year, but he had encountered some difficulties which caused the delay. His purpose here today was for me to inherit the legacy.
”Young man, sign the documents. I have delayed you in becoming the richest man in Tong City for a year. Please do forgive me."

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Chapter 2 — Rebirth

I stared at the mountain of contract and property certificates that filled the entire suitcase. It dawned on me that compared to these assets that my parents had left for me, those that my aunt took away were actually utterly worthless.
I had served as a soldier for five years and promoted to a non-commissioned officer after completing mandatory service. When I retired from the military, I took a look at myself in the mirror. It was hard for me to believe how much I have changed.
I did not return to the villa where my aunt lived. Instead, I rented an apartment outside. I did not want my aunt to know that I was back. It would be for the best if we never crossed paths again in this lifetime.
Han Kun wanted me to work at my family’s company, but I rejected his offer.
I would surely be the CEO if I worked at my family’s company. But to put it plainly, I have been in the military for so many years. How would I know how to run a company?
I found a job at a small-scale advertising firm that was hiring security guards. Companies like this had a fairly simple structure which would allow me to learn about a company's operations.
“You young fellow sure have your own ideas. That’s fine. Junran Group is also looking to expand into the advertising business and will be buying out a group of small-scale advertising companies soon. You can go and familiarize yourself with the business first.”
My father’s name was Zhang Jun, and my mother’s name was Ji Yanran. The name, Junran Group was derived from a combination of my parents’ names. Throughout the years, It had developed into Tong City’s largest business corporation. Thanks to that, I somehow became Tong City’s richest man.
However, outsiders were not aware of my relationship with the company. Even my aunt was unaware, much less the advertising firm that I had applied for.
The advertising firm saw that I had experience in the military and immediately hired me, so I rented a small apartment in a middle-class residential area near the company.
Little did I know that I would meet Lin Fang the next day after moving in.
I happened to arrive home when I saw the female neighbor standing at the corridor pick up a call.
“Hello, are you Manager Qu from Junran Group? We have spoken regarding that advertisement earlier.... Y-You are not interested anymore? Why? Can you please reconsider? We have still other plans available too. We can still make changes, hello? Hello?”
Initially, I only turned around after hearing the mention of Junran Group. But I saw that ever-familiar face- big, emotive eyes, and skin as pale as snow. She looked exactly the same as five years ago, except there was an air of maturity now. That person could only be Lin Fang.
I was in a turmoil of emotions and left speechless. After all, it was thanks to her that I ended up like this today. She had already entered her house when I regained my composure.
At night, I gave a call to Junran Group’s Manager Qu to inquire about the matter. Manager Qu was known for his bad temperament, so when he heard me asking about Lin Fang, he clicked his tongue, “That tiny advertisement firm’s proposal was utter garbage. That designer named Lin Fang graduated from a design faculty of some rubbish local university, and that trash design she came up with was just a joke. The color combination and design was like the countryside village’s platform stage. It can be summarized in one word, outdated. Two words, super outdated. Only that face of hers is passable. she is not much between the ears....”
I laughed while hanging up the phone. My feelings of fondness and hatred towards Lin Fang had long faded after so many years.
When I arrived at work on the second day, I immediately saw Lin Fang being called into the office by the fuming boss. Out of curiosity, I deliberately stood outside the door to listen in.
“Are you kidding me?! You lost Junran, our biggest client?! Fucking hell, aren’t you a good-for-nothing! That’s a two million deal! Get out right now! Scram!”
No wonder the boss was so angry. Two million was equivalent to a year worth of business expenses for this small advertisement firm.
“Mr. Lu, please don’t fire me. My younger brother injured someone and is waiting for me to pay the compensation. I really need this job,” Lin Fang sounded like she was on the verge of tears.
“Enough, enough. You are so annoying, always pulling this trick. This is the last chance I am giving you. I will invite Mr. Chen over for dinner tonight, and you will tag along with me. Be smarter at the table. Wear something sexier. We must clinch this deal with Mr. Chen at all costs!”
“But Mr. Lu, I am not in a relationship with Chen Yuzhou.”
“So what? I don’t care. What I want are business, deals, and cash! Let me make it clear to you. I will give you a 50,000 bonus if we close this deal. If not, don’t bother showing up for work tomorrow!”
I was about to leave after hearing the silence. But I was one step too late as I bumped into Lin Fang who walked out of the doors.
“You...”
I tensed and waited for Lin Fang to recognize me nervously. I was not sure if she would apologize for what had happened during high school.
Contrary to expectations, Lin Fang simply sized me up and said, “Are you new here? Don’t eavesdrop next time. If Mr. Lu catches you, he will fire you.”
Little did I know that she did not even remember me. It was laughable that I actually thought she would apologize to me.
I nodded before turning around and walking away. I almost heard Lin Fang muttering to herself from behind: “This person looks so familiar. Did I meet him somewhere before? Why didn’t he thank me?”
Wow, I actually owe her a word of thanks now? What a joke.
During the afternoon, all I needed to do was to sit beside the company’s reception desk and prevent unauthorized outsiders from entering the premises. Although work was very easy, I was disappointed by the fact that this position had nothing to do with management. If I knew earlier, I would have applied as a chauffeur instead.
When it was almost time to knock off work, Mr. Lu asked me to stay behind.
“Zhang, do you know how to drive?”
“Yes, Mr. Lu. I got my driving license in the military.”
While I was speaking, I saw Ling Fang walking out of the office. She had changed into a yellow low-cut tulle dress. Her chest was so pale that it reflected light. She had light make-up on, and she had let down her hair. After hearing our conversation, she lifted her head and glanced at me. My heart skipped a beat at that moment. She was still as beautiful as when she was in high school.
“That’s great. Accompany us to a dinner meeting tonight. I need to drink so you will drive for me.”
My attention was all focused on Lin Fang. Mr. Lu waved his hands back and forth in front of my eyes before I snapped out of my trance. It was obvious that both of them had noticed my loss of composure. Lin Fang blushed and shielded her chest. Mr. Lu sneered and said in a low voice, “Stop looking. Young lad, you will never have such good luck with women in this lifetime. How are your driving skills? Don’t wreck my newly-bought Land Rover.”
His statement was indeed true. Other women would be fine but I definitely cannot handle Lin Fang. I shook my head hard to discard those little thoughts I had about Lin Fang from my mind.
The place was Tong City’s renowned hotel with a long history, Spring Garden . When my mother was still around, she loved their bean curd with crab roe. It almost closed down due to poor management a few years ago, so I bought the business under my name. Han Kun recommended a hotel manager to help with the operations. It has become the most popular hotel in Tong City after a makeover.
Supposedly, Mr. Lu was the one treating Chen Yuzhou to dinner, but no matter how I looked at it, it seemed like Chen Yuzhou was treating Lin Fang to dinner instead. According to Mr. Lu, Chen Yuzhou had been wooing Lin Fang and almost succeeding in his pursuit.

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Chapter 3 — Lin Fang the Class Belle

I forgot to mention about this Chen Yuzhou. This name sounded very familiar to me. When I saw him in person, it confirmed my suspicions. This person was also my high school classmate, a wealthy second-generation, the boss in high school and, a tyrant in the class. He liked Lin Fang since high school and had been pursuing her ever since.
“Eh, isn’t this that person?” Chen Yuzhou wrapped his arms around Lin Fang’s waist before directing his gaze at me.
Lin Fang had a blank expression, “You know him?”
I thought to myself, how could it be so ironic. Chen Yuzhou was the one who remembered me instead of Lin Fang.
“Fang Fang, don’t you remember? He is that guy who stalked you home and took liberties with you on the road. Afterward, I ordered Liu Hu to surround him at the toilet and beat him up. You really don’t remember? Oh, he’s the one that likes to drink water from the toilet bowl. What is his name again?”
Lin Fang‘s pupils contracted vigorously as she stuttered, “You are Zhang Chao?!”
My fists that were hidden behind cracked soundly. So he was the one who instructed Liu Hu to do those things!
Mr. Lu could tell that something was wrong, so he quickly said, “So all of you know one another. That’s wonderful! Mr. Chen, fate has brought us together. Our cooperation this time will surely be smooth-sailing. Zhang, go and get some food to eat, and put it on my tab.”
Life in the military has not only changed my physique but, also my personality. I was no longer the cowardly, timid and, rash Zhang Chao from before.
Also, I didn't need to pick a fight with Chen Yuzhou. With my current status, getting involved with him would be stooping down to his level.
However, Chen Yuzhou did not allow me to leave. After glancing at Lin Fang, he walked over to me, “Hey, don’t go. How rare is it for us to gather after graduation.”
I suspected that this bastard had problems with his brain. We could even use blood feud to describe our relationship. It was good enough that I was not finding trouble with him, yet he provoked me again and again repeatedly.
“No need, I shall not intrude on your business negotiations.”
“Eh, Mr. Lu. Your driver is not giving me face. A mere driver is putting on such airs. Looks like our partnership this time…...”
I sniggered and said, “Chen Yuzhou, I didn’t think that while you like Lin Fang, you also fancy male drinking companions. Your taste is quite unique. Pardon me, I’m afraid I don’t share your taste. I am a strict heterosexual. I will leave first.”
The service staffs in the room could not help but laugh loudly. It was quite a sight as Chen Yuzhou’s face darkened instantly.
The one most at a loss was Mr. Lu. He could tell that Chen Yuzhou and I have grudges and did not want to let me stay. He also did not dare to let me leave after hearing Chen Yuzhou’s words.
Since everything was out in the open, Chen Yuzhou dropped his pretense before sitting down cross-legged and laughed coldly, “You are just a driver, what kind of attitude are you giving me? Today, if I tell you to sit then you have to sit. The same goes if I tell you to kneel, then you must kneel. You fucker don’t think too highly of yourself. I have seen you as an annoyance since high school. How dare you clamor after my woman. Let me tell you. If I put the words out, you will never find a job except begging in Tong City!”
After finishing his words, he forcefully rubbed one of his hands up and down on Lin Fang’s waist. Even the waitress standing at the side could not bear to watch and lowered her head. Lin Fang’s face turned extremely red but she did not dare push him away. She was caged by him and could only let him do as he pleased.
Mr. Lu immediately jumped in, “Mr. Chen, don’t be angry. I will fire him right now. He is no longer part of the company from now on,”
“Who asked you to fire him? Keep him and bring him around every time in the future. Zhang Chao, look carefully. Lin Fang is my woman. If you dared touch my possession, I will definitely let you recall how the incident played out in the high school toilet.”
I jumped up immediately. I wanted to smash the table and beat this bastard to a pulp.
However, Lin Fang was quicker than my movement. Her slap across Chen Yuzhou’s face landed with a crisp sound. Chen Yuzhou held his face, stunned while looking at Lin Fang. She was breathing heavily as she picked up a glass of wine on the table and poured it over Chen Yuzhou’s head.
“You need to wake up. You went too far.”
That slap rendered everyone present speechless. No one thought that Lin Fang would dare hit Chen Yuzhou when his bad temper was known to all.
Chen Yuzhou’s face darkened while Mr. Lu’s face immediately blanched.
Lin Fang tided her clothes before saying to us, “I am going to the washroom,”
Chen Yuzhou scrambled to chase after her, “Fang Fang, don’t get angry....”
The two of them consecutively left the private room. Mr. Lu and I who were left behind stared at each other. I was dumbstruck when I saw Lin Fang slapped him for my sake. Was that the same Lin Fang who did not dare to speak truthfully and, caused me to be maligned and beaten up wrongfully?
“Y-you still dare to laugh?! Oh no, oh no, we are all finished now. Of all people you could offend, you chose to offend Juen Group’s Young Master Chen. We are in deep trouble now!”
I really could not help but grin foolishly. After I managed to control my smile, I assured him, “Mr. Lu, don’t panic so much first. I will go out and have a look.”
I was worried that something would happen to Lin Fang, so I pushed open the door and followed after them. I seldom came to Spring Garden , so I had to ask the service staffs for directions to the washroom. When I reached the entrance, I saw Chen Yuzhou grabbing Lin Fang’s hands and pushing her.
“It has been so many years and you still can’t forget him? What is so good about that poor son of a bitch?!”
“I have already told you I lied to you at that time! The truth is he saved me on that night and wanted to send me home. Why do you not believe me?!”
“Of course not. If you don’t like him, why do you refuse to be my girlfriend?”
“Chen Yuzhou, you are really crazy! You are asking me why I refuse to be with you? Why don’t you ask yourself?! You have flings with so many women. How dare you approach me before clearing those matters up? What do you think I am?! Let go of me!”
Chen Yuzhou grabbed Lin Fang’s wrist and spoke maliciously, “Wretch, you are talking about these now? How come you didn’t mention them when I gave you money?”
“That money was a loan from you. I said I would return them to you! Chen Yuzhou, so this is actually how you see me. Do you think I am doing this for money? Let go of me! Don’t harass me again in the future.”
Chen Yuzhou became enraged as he called her a prostitute and raised his hand to slap her. Lin Fang squeezed her eyes shut in fear.
However, that slap never landed on her face. When she opened her eyes, she saw me holding Chen Yuzhou’s raised arm.
Our heights were similar, so our strength looked similar from appearances. However, people who had enlisted in the military before were robust with powerful arm strength, even if it was not apparent. It distinctly differed from Chen Yuzhou’s weak strength, and he was no match for me.
Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead when I squeezed his wrist. He was in awful pain but was too prideful to ask for mercy. The magnificent Young Master from Juen Group was being restrained by a mere security guard. It would be extremely humiliating for him if the news was to spread. Even more so, when it was in front of the woman he liked.
“Chen Yuzhou, we are all classmates. It’s not good to raise hands against one another.”
Chen Yuzhou wanted to scold me, but he could only grit his teeth in pain. If he opened his mouth, he would definitely wail in pain.

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