Chapter 133: Bitterness

"So, you're saying she won't charge into battle for the Xia Kingdom? Won't serve as the Xia Kingdom's executioner?" A political official immediately grasped the deeper meaning in Professor Xinbawei's words.

"I didn't say that." Professor Xinbawei remained calm, "But charging into battle and serving as an executioner do not align with the personality traits and behavioral logic she has currently demonstrated."

The political official muttered a few curses under his breath, "These damn psychology experts, always speculating, maybe, perhaps... never giving a definite answer..." But he couldn't say that openly, or he would offend a large crowd of experts from all fields.

"So, for now, we should not provoke her. Her high moral sense and principle of non-killing are beneficial to us, correct?" the host asked.

Professor Xinbawei nodded, "Personally, I think so. No one wants an opponent with no bottom line, no principles, and no scruples, especially one so powerful and uncontrollable. Without her self-imposed limits, the entire Earth, the entire human race, might become her plaything."

"She respects rules; this is the best outcome, not only for us but for the entire human race. Our best course of action is to follow the rules, utilize the rules, rather than break them. Once the rules are broken, the result benefits only the other party; for us, it would be unbearable..."

Everyone fell silent for a moment.

The Aka Kingdom has always been accustomed to dominating in international competition; if it does not dominate, it feels threatened.

Moreover, they have grown used to relying on their strong national power to set the rules, forcing other nations to be constrained everywhere within the rules they created, thereby maintaining the Aka Kingdom's prestige.

When necessary, they are also accustomed to breaking the rules at any time. Now, being placed in a restricted position and having to follow other people's game rules is something most people present could not accept immediately.

The meeting continued; it was foreseeable that this meeting would last a very long time...

—

Within a few hours after Yang Yi appeared, a rumor spread from somewhere among the upper echelons of Jingcheng, claiming that the west of Jingcheng would launch a massive construction project to build an unprecedented manor.

It was also heard that this manor was for non-commercial use, with funds to be allocated from the national treasury, followed by a public tender for the engineering work.

Regardless of where this rumor originated, from the moment it spread, it instantly attracted the attention of major corporate groups.

What is this manor for? Why not tender it publicly? Why allocate funds from the national treasury? Why did this rumor suddenly explode into a frenzy just a few hours after Yang Yi returned?

A hypothesis took root in the minds of the business tycoons.

Major corporate groups in Jingcheng rushed in like sharks smelling blood; even general managers of real estate companies from outside Jingcheng, upon hearing the news, headed straight for Jingcheng immediately.

In a conference room of a five-star hotel under the Tengfei Group.

General managers across the country with any connection to real estate moved at the news and gathered together; for a moment, the faces in the conference room were all familiar ones seen in newspapers, magazines, and business journals. Those ranked after 30 on the domestic rich list did not even qualify to appear in this conference room.

"Where exactly did this rumor come from? Is it confirmed?" asked Wang Wang Zhengqing, the general manager of Baoli Company.

He happened to be in Jingcheng; upon hearing the rumor, he came to Wei Wei Xiaobo of the Tengfei Group immediately, intending to probe the truth, but unexpectedly, within a short while, a large crowd of competing peers arrived.

"I don't know. Could it not have come from your side?" Yang Gaofei asked suspiciously.

He was the general manager of the Bilinyuan Group. Its businesses included property development, construction and installation, decoration, property management, investment, and hotel development and management, but its main business was still real estate, ranking among the top in the Xia Kingdom's real estate industry.

"Old Yang? You've arrived fast. It hasn't even been four hours since the news broke, and you flew over from Guangdong Province?" Zhu Zhu Yongwang, the general manager of Qianke Real Estate, rushed into the conference room and, seeing an old friend and rival among the peers, couldn't help but joke.

Qianke Real Estate is one of the largest professional residential development enterprises in the Xia Kingdom, ranking 252nd in the Fortune Global 500 brand list, with businesses spanning both domestic and international markets.

"Didn't you also fly over quickly from your headquarters?" Yang Gaofei said.

"Is this news true or not?" Wang Wang Zhengqing, the general manager of the Baoli Group, asked anxiously, "Don't let it be a false rumor, leaving us with a one-sided enthusiasm!"

Wei Wei Xiaobo of the Tengfei Group, in his forties and elegant in demeanor, spoke calmly, "Even if it is a rumor, now that we have gathered together, it is not impossible to make it happen! I think, even if it really is a rumor, seeing how proactive we are, the authorities above would likely be pleased..."

"Exactly. I heard our 'God of Humanity' is still living in the Awakening Bureau?" Yang Gaofei of the Bilinyuan Group said curiously.

"Heh, property prices near the Awakening Bureau have been speculated up to sky-high levels; Zhao Zhao Yuanzhong of Fuli Real Estate is probably going crazy with joy," Zhu Zhu Yongwang, the general manager of Qianke Real Estate, said enviously. "If we talk about the safest place within the Xia Kingdom, it's probably the Jingcheng Awakening Bureau. Not to mention all the top Awakened ones living there, now Yang Yi has returned too. Isn't that the safest place in the world? Tsk tsk!"

Speak of the devil, and the devil appears. Zhao Zhao Yuanzhong, the general manager of Fuli Real Estate, rushed in and shouted to the old friends and rivals upon entering, "Is the news true?"

"As General Manager Wei said, even if it's not true, we can make it true... Thanking Ms. Yang for her contributions to the motherland and her merits for all mankind, a mere manor is just a small token of our little entrepreneurs' hearts—doesn't that make a ready-made reason..." Zhu Zhu Yongwang, the general manager of Qianke Real Estate, continued.

It wasn't that he was willing to share such a great opportunity to get closer to the "God of Humanity" with others for nothing. With all these old rivals gathered, he probably couldn't monopolize it anyway, so he might as well appear generous.

"More importantly, the surrounding villa complexes can be constructed simultaneously with the manor. This will be our future place of residence. In the future, we will probably have to stay in Jingcheng permanently... Hahaha!" Yang Gaofei, the general manager of Bilinyuan, said bluntly.

Everyone laughed.

The safest place in the world is, of course, next to the God of Humanity.

Building a manor for Yang Yi would not only establish a connection with this "God of Humanity," but the land near the manor would surely skyrocket in value at that time. It could then be developed into a villa complex, gathering high officials and dignitaries, truly killing three birds with one stone.

This was also the reason they were so proactive upon hearing the rumor.

Therefore, the general managers of the major groups were willing to accept no return at all, just to be so proactive in undertaking the construction of this manor that was still just a rumor.

Just as the top few general managers were discussing, while other general managers were eager to step forward and get a share, suddenly someone outside shouted, "General Manager Chen of Lihao Group has arrived!"

Everyone immediately stopped talking and looked toward the door. They saw Chen Jiahao of the Lihao Group walking in with his son, Chen Chen Huanyue.

Originally, the Chen Group was ranked just outside the top 30 on the domestic rich list, but who could fault him for having a good son? This Chen Chen Huanyue was Yang Yi's ex-boyfriend during her university days. Although it was unknown why the two broke up, previously during the Wuming City crisis, this Chen Chen Huanyue had specially led the Lihao Hotel to host Yang Yi—it was heard that the two got along quite well...

This made it impossible not to take them seriously.

For top business tycoons like them, information and connections were the most important. Having learned of this relationship, how could they not take the Chen Jiahao father and son seriously?

"General Manager Chen, you're here too!" Wei Wei Xiaobo of the Tengfei Group, as the host, immediately fulfilled his duties as a host, standing up to welcome Chen Jiahao and his son, "This must be your Young Master, indeed a fine specimen!"

Everyone also stepped forward to greet them. Chen Chen Huanyue was neither humble nor arrogant, elegant and very steady.

"Everyone is here!" Chen Jiahao said with a smile, "In that case, the news about the Jingcheng West Manor must be true? I, Chen, am also willing to contribute a humble effort!"

"Whether the news is true or not doesn't matter. As long as your Young Master calls and asks Ms. Yang, even if it's not true, it will become true! Hahaha!" Wang Wang Zhengqing, the general manager of the Baoli Group, winked at Chen Chen Huanyue and laughed heartily.

Everyone present also laughed knowingly together.

Although this was a joke, it was also a probe, testing exactly how the relationship between Chen Chen Huanyue and Yang Yi was. Had the two long since fallen out and grown to loathe each other? Had old flames rekindled? Or was their relationship good?

Chen Chen Huanyue gave a slight bitter smile, a trace of worry appearing in his eyes. "Since the nuclear explosion in Britain, her phone has been unreachable. I'm afraid her mobile phone was destroyed in the nuclear explosion long ago..."

His words revealed several pieces of information: he had Yang Yi's phone number, indicating that their relationship was not like that of a couple who broke up in a state of mutual hostility; instead, they communicated frequently, and perhaps old flames might rekindle...

After silently speculating in their hearts, everyone immediately comforted him, "But Ms. Yang has returned..."

"Exactly. Perhaps after dealing with this wave of Void-Devouring Beasts, she will return to Jingcheng immediately. At that time, we hope Chen Huanyue can introduce us to her, us elders..."

"Oh, oh, everyone, don't put too much pressure on my son. Let the young people develop on their own; we elders will just watch from the sidelines..." Chen Jiahao quickly defused the situation for his son and changed the topic of "introduction."

Chen Chen Huanyue felt bitter in his heart, but he still maintained a polite smile on his face.

The crowd welcomed the Chen father and son inside...