While they were busy buying ebony, Xu Zhengyang and Li Bingjie, along with their group of five, had already boarded a plane to Zhonghai City. Upon learning that Xu Zhengyang and Li Bingjie were going to continue their travels, both sets of parents were both amused and exasperated, but helpless. "Let them have their fun," they thought. Indeed, they had already mentally labeled Xu Zhengyang as "indulging in the pleasures of love," but what could they do?
Volume 5, Spirit Official, Chapter 270: Suddenly Up, Suddenly Down
In this world, many people stubbornly struggle on the path of destiny, sweating profusely as they climb the pyramid of wealth, status, and fame. Therefore, the vast majority of those standing at the top of the pyramid possess far more experience, knowledge, and the blood, sweat, and tears they have shed than the average person, giving them the capital to command respect and admiration.
Only when they stand at a high place and feel the chill of loneliness do they suddenly realize some profound truths. They understand that in their struggle to climb, they shed and discarded many things to lighten their burden. These many things, however, are ultimately invaluable life lessons.
How many people can truly return to simplicity? It's like how many people are willing to fight their way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood to finally reach the top of the pyramid, only to then gracefully step down and rediscover some precious things they've discarded?
On the banks of the Huangpu River, Xu Zhengyang stood with Li Bingjie by the railing. Gazing at the towering Oriental Pearl Tower reaching into the clouds in the distance, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease, a feeling that even he found perplexing. He grinned and muttered, "I'm not some philosopher, what's with all the airs?"
"What?" Li Bingjie leaned against Xu Zhengyang's chest, tilted her delicate face up, and blinked her beautiful eyes.
“There…” Xu Zhengyang pointed to the tall tower in the distance and said, “Let’s go up and take a look in a bit.”
"Hmm." Li Bingjie nodded, then suddenly asked, "Won't people with a fear of heights get dizzy going up there?"
Do you have it?
"It seems not." Li Bingjie said in confusion, then a hint of regret flashed in her big eyes. She seemed quite willing to have a telepathic connection with Xu Zhengyang, and said softly, "It seems like I've been at a high place since I was little. If I climb a little higher, I won't feel that high anymore."
Xu Zhengyang chuckled and said, "I have even less... Otherwise, how would I dare to jump up there?"
On the bridge, some pedestrians inevitably cast complex glances at the young couple. Admittedly, Xu Zhengyang wasn't ugly, nor was he dressed poorly, but standing next to this ethereal, fairy-like girl, whose beauty inspired awe, it was a bit like "cow dung is nutritious, but flowers are in great need."
Just like when she was traveling in the South China Sea and western Tibet, there were no clueless people who approached her to chat or cause trouble; even passersby who glanced at her would quickly look away. The reason was simple: the moment they couldn't help but look at the beautiful girl, one or three pairs of cold, piercing eyes would immediately be fixed on them, a silent warning.
Noticing this, Xu Zhengyang couldn't help but smile. He leaned close to Li Bingjie's ear and whispered teasingly, "Wife, look, so many people are trying to kill me with their eyes."
"What?" The innocent Li Bingjie had never had such occasionally lewd thoughts as Xu Zhengyang.
Following Xu Zhengyang's mischievous gaze, Li Bingjie saw the sidelong glances from passersby and the slightly fearful and embarrassed expressions of those who received the wary looks from Qingling, Chen Hanzhe, and Zhu Jun.
"Let's go." Li Bingjie said with a smile, tugging at Xu Zhengyang's clothes.
The luxurious high-speed elevator in the ticket hall smoothly transported Xu Zhengyang and Li Bingjie's group to the 263-meter observation deck at a speed of seven meters per second. The feeling of speeding through the elevator for forty seconds gave Xu Zhengyang the same exhilarating sensation as when his divine sense was soaring through the underworld and the heavens.
Ascend the bright and elegant curved staircase to the 267-meter-high platform, and look down through the bright floor-to-ceiling glass windows to enjoy a panoramic view of the beautiful Huangpu River.
Xu Zhengyang felt refreshed and wanted to express his feelings, but he was at a loss for words.
Fortunately, Li Bingjie seemed to understand him perfectly, and gently said, "When you reach the summit, you will see all the mountains below."
"Wow, my wife is amazing, she has presence and spirit!"
"I said it on your behalf."
"Hmm?" Xu Zhengyang asked, puzzled.
Li Bingjie smiled and said, "I know, you had that feeling in your heart just now, but you couldn't remember how to express it."
Xu Zhengyang was slightly taken aback, raised an eyebrow, and felt a surge of violent energy rise in his heart for no reason. He suppressed and dispersed it in an instant, tightened his grip on Li Bingjie's right arm, and laughed, "My wife is still the most considerate..." He leaned down and whispered in Li Bingjie's ear, "Next time you encounter this situation, tell me quietly and let me say it myself... That would be really cool."
"Mmm." Li Bingjie nodded obediently, her cheeks slightly flushed, and she smiled broadly.
Xu Zhengyang wondered what kind of anger and dissatisfaction he would have received if his wife had been so understanding and intelligent as the current acting judge of the City God's Palace, Li Haidong.
How did Yang Xiu die?
Damn it... I'm not a tyrant! Xu Zhengyang secretly berated himself, wondering when he had become so suspicious.
Countless tourists came and went, but Xu Zhengyang and Li Bingjie were seemingly intentionally or unintentionally separated from other tourists by three bodyguards.
The ones under the most pressure are Qingling, Chen Hanzhe, and Zhu Jun.
When traveling, I don't carry any guns or even daggers, because firearms and knives are strictly inspected, whether on a plane or at major tourist attractions, which is really inconvenient.
For the guards, all they can do now is to use their bodies to block the danger in the most perilous situations.
The phone vibrated, emitting a faint singing voice. Xu Zhengyang took out his phone, answered it, and calmly said:
"I am Xu Zhengyang."
"I, I am Zheng Ronghua. Well, it's like this... I lost a lot of ebony roots."
"Um?"
"Please don't be angry, please don't be angry. I've already asked someone to buy more ebony roots, and they'll be delivered tomorrow, tomorrow." Zheng Ronghua's voice was extremely tense and trembling.
Xu Zhengyang frowned slightly, then understood, and smiled apologetically, "It's alright, I used the ebony roots that were lost. As for the ones you bought, you bought them, just put them on my tab."
"Oh, okay." Although Zheng Ronghua was puzzled, he breathed a sigh of relief after hearing Xu Zhengyang's words and said, "Wait a moment, Master Gu has something to say to you."
Xu Zhengyang smiled. He thought to himself that he had indeed been a bit careless in handling this matter. He should have informed Zheng Ronghua beforehand, so the old man wouldn't have to worry so much. At his age, he couldn't handle the pressure. Good heavens, such a big thing had happened, and he still had to hurry to Gu Xiangxuan hoping Yao Chushun would say a few good words for him. But unfortunately, Yao Chushun wouldn't speak for him; he would definitely make him call and explain himself.
"Zhengyang, you son of a bitch! Where are you?" Yao Chushun asked as soon as he picked up the phone.
"Having fun in Zhonghai. Haha, Mr. Gu, you should come out more often when you have time. Staying cooped up in Gu Xiang Xuan all the time will only make you feel stifled."
"I'm busy, but you're having a good time. Damn it, you're living the life of a hands-off boss!"
"I'll treat you to a drink when we get back..."
"You need to come back quickly and take those precious things away. They're always at Mr. Zheng's place, and they're making him so scared that he can't sleep at night."
Xu Zhengyang smiled and said, "Okay, I'll go back in a few days."
After hanging up, Xu Zhengyang thought to himself, "Isn't this ridiculous? Where else can I put all these precious things besides Zheng Ronghua's place? Am I supposed to carry a backpack full of stuff worth hundreds of millions of yuan while I'm traveling?"
As Xu Zhengyang descended from the Pearl Tower, he still felt that sense of flight; at the same time, he was filled with emotion. So, as he stepped outside the lighthouse, he put his arm around Li Bingjie and asked with a childlike curiosity, "Bingjie, guess what I'm thinking right now?"
“Sometimes up, sometimes down.” Li Bingjie spoke the truth.
Xu Zhengyang wholeheartedly agreed, but he wondered if Li Bingjie's words contained any of his deepest thoughts, or perhaps she wouldn't even understand them.
Xu Zhengyang thought to himself, "I haven't experienced too many hardships and setbacks since I went from the bottom to the top, so I'm willing to go from the top to the bottom again without any worries."
Although I didn't have many valuable experiences in between, I didn't lose my most precious things—my roots and foundation.
I had planned to cruise the Huangpu River at night and then go up the Oriental Pearl Tower. It's said that admiring the dazzling lights and neon signs of the entire city from the tower would be a unique experience, a truly unparalleled view.
However, while I was strolling along Jiangjing Road in the afternoon, I unexpectedly received a call from Ding Changri.
I didn't mean anything by it. I just heard that Xu Zhengyang and his wife had been traveling and sightseeing on their honeymoon for more than a month. I figured they must have had enough of their trip, so I invited Xu Zhengyang to visit Haixia City.
When Ding Changri learned from Xu Zhengyang's polite words that Xu Zhengyang was currently in Zhonghai City, he was quite pleasantly surprised and said, "What a coincidence! I'm also in Zhonghai City now. I wonder if we have time to have a meal together?"
As the saying goes, "He who eats another's food is bound to him; he who takes another's money is bound to him."
Furthermore, Xu Zhengyang was not an arrogant or aloof person, so he naturally would not refuse the invitation from this generous and extravagant tycoon. He smiled and said, "Of course, no problem. However, I must treat you to this meal. I only found out how generous your gift was after you left last time, and I am still a little flattered."
At this moment, Xu Zhengyang was still wondering, what a coincidence...
During this trip, Xu Zhengyang and his group would go to a car rental company in each place they visited, pay a deposit, and rent two mid-range cars. Wasn't it just for convenience?
Having arranged a time and place with Ding Changri, Xu Zhengyang and his group drove to Youfu Club on Henggui Road, a relatively remote area in Zhonghai City, in the evening.
Before this, Xu Zhengyang, this country bumpkin who had jumped to great heights and then calmly jumped back down, living a carefree life between the upper and lower classes for only a few years, had no idea what a "club" was. Although he had made countless resolutions to enjoy life to the fullest in the mundane world, how could he possibly understand these things?
The so-called social interactions of the upper class; the so-called noble temperament and refinement;
The so-called taste of the elite, high-end, top-tier...
Xu Zhengyang felt somewhat helpless; he didn't have any...
Volume 5, Spirit Official, Chapter 271: Which deity is this?
As Xu Zhengyang arrived at the entrance of the Youfu Society, he felt as if he had returned to a certain historical world.
The courtyard walls and gatehouse, not particularly tall or wide, were dimly lit and barely wide enough for a car to pass through. There was no ostentatious display of wealth; instead, an atmosphere of quiet desolation permeated the air.
If it weren't for the fact that the backs of all kinds of top-of-the-line luxury cars were parked on both sides of the street, Xu Zhengyang would have really wondered if he had come to the wrong place.
I checked the time; it was 6:50.
Stepping out of the rather shabby car in comparison, Xu Zhengyang could finally see more clearly that the so-called Youfu Club was actually an elegant and quiet courtyard with a strong sense of antiquity. Some pine and cypress branches peeked out from the low walls of the courtyard, and through the dense branches, he could see a two-story red brick and green tile building in the courtyard, with red lanterns hanging under the eaves, emitting a faint red glow in the evening light.
Wearing a suit, Ding Changri glanced at his watch as he stepped out through the rusty green iron gate, accompanied by an elegantly dressed young woman. Upon seeing Xu Zhengyang and Li Bingjie, Ding Changri whispered something to the woman, then smiled happily and hurried over, saying, "It's an honor, an honor..."
The young woman also came over, smiling as she shook hands with the two of them.
The two introduced themselves briefly. It turned out that the young woman was Ding Changri's wife, Yan Yujiao.
"Please, please..."
"Mr. Ding, you're too kind." Xu Zhengyang nodded with a smile, and followed Li Bingjie inside.
Because they had been instructed beforehand, only Qingling accompanied them inside, while Chen Hanzhe and Zhu Jun stayed outside.
Entering the courtyard of Youfu Club, one walks through paths lined with pines and holly bushes on both sides until reaching the club's two-story main building. A huge cedar tree stands proudly to the side of the entrance. The main building is a simple, somewhat European-style structure. The entrance is small and understated, not ostentatious, yet it doesn't give the impression of being deliberately understated, reminiscent of the mansions of wealthy and noble families in Zhonghai City throughout history.
At this moment, Xu Zhengyang had already sensed the unparalleled wealth and power hidden beneath the ancient simplicity of Youfu Club.
Sure enough, once inside the building, the furnishings, layout, and decorative paintings on the walls were all filled with a rich classical beauty.
What surprised Xu Zhengyang even more was that among the guests sitting at the small tables in the open restaurants, there were many movie stars that ordinary people would never see on a normal day. As for the others, it was clear from their clothing and demeanor that they were either rich or noble.
Entering a private room partially obscured by a carved mahogany screen, one finds a small round mahogany table with only five antique mahogany chairs, a sofa, and a small wooden table on the side—all in a classic style.
The private room was brightly lit yet softly lit, which blended harmoniously with the classical atmosphere of the room, making it appear elegant and luxurious.
Under Ding Changri's polite invitation, Xu Zhengyang and Li Bingjie took their seats.
Qingling stood aloof behind the screen.
A tall, beautiful waitress in a cheongsam approached and humbly handed over the menu, asking everyone to place their orders.
Xu Zhengyang smiled and whispered for Li Bingjie to order, while he calmly watched Ding Changri with a smile... making Ding Changri feel a little uncomfortable. He chuckled awkwardly and ordered two dishes on his own initiative.
Although Xu Zhengyang had never been to such a top-tier club, nor had he had much normal social interaction with any wealthy people, he knew one thing: no one gets up early without a reason, and no one accepts a reward without merit. If they were friends, that would be understandable, but he would never consider Ding Changri, whom he had only met once, as a friend.
If it comes to business cooperation, there's no point in talking to Xu Zhengyang about anything.
Whether it was Jinghui Logistics or Guxiangxuan, both well-known businesses belonging to Xu Zhengyang, or Huatong Company or Ronghua Group, which were not known to the public, he did not interfere in their operation and management.
If it weren't for the fact that the nominal Zhonghai City God Temple had just been established, which had consumed a lot of divine power, Xu Zhengyang really wanted to immediately extend his divine sense and dig out all the scheming and intrigue in Ding Changri's mind to see through it all.
So after the waiter left, Xu Zhengyang said with a smile, "Mr. Ding, I can't accept such a grand gesture!"
"Oh, I can handle it." Ding Changri put aside his previous discomfort and regained the composure of a seasoned business elite. He smiled and said, "President Xu is young and promising, and his wife is a daughter of a prominent family. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to entertain him properly, haha."
Xu Zhengyang smiled and shook his head slightly, but didn't say anything more.
Li Bingjie handed over the order. Xu Zhengyang glanced at it casually, his expression seemingly calm and unchanged, but inwardly he was cursing, "Damn, this is burning money..."
The menu was packed with dishes, none costing less than three digits, with many costing eight or nine hundred, a thousand, or even several thousand yuan. The alcohol was even more outrageous, ranging from a minimum of 1,200 yuan to tens or even hundreds of thousands. For someone from a humble background, this wasn't a matter of psychological endurance, but rather a source of annoyance. What was going on? Wasn't it just a meal and a few drinks?
However, he didn't say anything, but calmly said, "I'm treating today, so I can't let President Ding spend money." It can't be denied that Xu Zhengyang's laugh was really showing off.