Chapter 35

June 30, 2002 was a special day for football fans. The World Cup final between Brazil and Germany would be held that day to decide the champion.

After China's national team was eliminated in the group stage, domestic fans' interest in the World Cup waned considerably. But as the tournament progressed to the semifinals and finals, interest rose again.

At dawn that day, Liu Qingqing knocked on Chen Yang's door and dragged him to the Nike store to buy a Brazil national team jersey.

Having inspected Liu Qingqing's bedroom, Chen Yang found no Brazil merchandise, not even any soccer-themed items. It was obvious she was just a fair‑weather fan joining the fun.

To Chen Yang's surprise, there were many such fair‑weather fans like Liu Qingqing. When they arrived, a long queue already formed outside the store, all waiting to buy Brazil jerseys.

Chen Yang didn't want to wait and suggested Liu Qingqing buy a knockoff from a generic shop to wear for the day. She objected, saying it would be disrespectful to the Brazil team. So they waited three full hours before getting the jerseys.

When choosing numbers, Chen Yang picked his idol Ronaldo's number 9. Liu Qingqing chose 10 for herself and 11 for her cousin Liu Shijie.

"Qingqing, if I wear this jersey to dinner with your brother, will it be rude?"

"No way, my brother is a die‑hard Brazil fan!"

"Oh, does your brother also like Xiao Luo?"

"Who's Xiao Luo?"

"Ronaldinho, the owner of the number 11 jersey."

"Oh, he seems to prefer Ronaldo."

"That's number 9; you should have picked 9 for him!"

It's fine, he has more number 9s, lacks number 11s. The three numbers 9, 10, 11 together look pleasing.

Chen Yang was speechless. The logic of a fake football fan is indeed beyond ordinary comprehension.

After leaving the specialty store, Chen Yang checked his phone—it was only noon, still early for the appointed gathering, and he thought of strolling around the Sunshine Garden residential area. Liu Qingqing, however, drove straight to the Wuyouju estate in the suburbs of Xingcheng.

Chen Yang had thought Wuyouju was merely an upscale private restaurant, but it turned out to be a private estate in the style of Hui architecture.

The entire estate was surrounded by a picket fence; inside, green trees provided shade, flora flourished, and from time to time one could hear a few clear, pleasant bird calls.

Chen Yang followed Liu Qingqing out of the car, walked along the courtyard corridor, turned twice more, and stopped at the entrance bearing the 'Fuyuan' sign.

At the door stood a beautiful attendant in Wuyouju's work uniform. She seemed to know Liu Qingqing, smiled, opened the door and ushered the two inside, then gently closed it.

Inside sat two people: the woman, whom Chen Yang knew, was Zhao Xiaoli, the sales manager of the Sunshine Garden residential area; the man wore a Brazil national team number 9 jersey—needless to say, it was Liu Shijie.

Seeing Chen Yang and Liu Qingqing enter, both rose to their feet. Liu Shijie smiled and extended his hand to shake Chen Yang's.

"You must be Chen Yang? Qingqing has always spoken of you; seeing you today, you truly are a remarkable talent!"

"President Liu, you flatter me! Before a business magnate like you, I am merely a greenhorn. I still have much to learn from you!" Chen Yang carefully sized up Liu Shijie: around thirty, 1.75 meters tall, sturdy build, strong grip. In appearance, he was also handsome and suave, debonair.

Such a wealthy and handsome man is always the most popular with women in any era—no wonder his wife feels uneasy.

"Cut the formalities; hearing you address me like that makes me feel like an old man. I'm only a few years older than you—just call me Brother like Qingqing does!"

"Alright, then I'll call you Brother Jie from now on."

Liu Shijie then nodded in satisfaction, invited Chen Yang and Liu Qingqing to the table, and told the attendant outside to serve the dishes.

At that moment, Liu Qingqing handed the purchased jersey to Liu Shijie: "Brother, this is the jersey I bought for you."

Liu Shijie took the package, opened it, and saw it was number 11; his expression instantly turned unnatural.

"Qingqing, you must have mistaken it—I like number 9."

"Chen Yang took number 9, I took number 10, so number 11 can only go to you."

"You could also choose two number 9s..."

"Didn't you say numbers 9, 10, 11 form an invincible combo? If we get two number 9s, wouldn't that break the invincible combo?"

Seeing Liu Qingqing's earnest expression, Liu Shijie could only accept it.

Not wanting to dampen his spirits, Chen Yang proposed: "Brother Jie, how about we swap? You keep the number 9, and I'll take number 11."

"Our heights and builds differ, so swapping wouldn't fit," Liu Shijie declined Chen Yang's kindness and handed the jersey to Zhao Xiaoli for safekeeping.

Liu Qingqing still felt wary of Zhao Xiaoli: "Brother, this is a private gathering—why did you bring a subordinate?"

Liu Shijie explained: "She's here to deliver Chen Yang's property deed. It's already mealtime—I can't let her go back to the company on an empty stomach."

Liu Qingqing pursed her lips and said nothing more. Liu Shijie then had Zhao Xiaoli produce Chen Yang's property deed.

A large cardboard box filled with red-covered books. Besides the property deed, there were also titles for the shopfront and the underground parking space.

Chen Yang merely glanced at it and felt especially refreshed. In his previous life, after toiling away with overtime, he could only afford a mortgaged apartment burdened with millions in loans. Now he effortlessly owns dozens of fully paid high-end commercial properties. This feeling is beyond words.

"Chen Yang, what is your relationship with Zhong Lin?" Liu Shijie wondered, curious, since Chen Yang was dating his sister, yet he was giving another woman a house.

He had someone investigate Zhong Lin and found she had close ties to a policeman. Moreover, that policeman's background was such that even the Liu family feared him threefold.

"He is the husband of my wife's childhood friend."

"Your wife? You're married?"

Liu Shijie's mind nearly short-circuited; his eyes darted between Liu Qingqing and Chen Yang, his expression turning grim. "Then what's going on between you and Qingqing?"

Chen Yang explained: "We are merely friends and alumni."

Liu Shijie didn't believe him, eyeing Liu Qingqing skeptically: "I recall you didn't tell me that before."

Liu Qingqing pursed her lips, displeased, and said: "We could have had a more intimate relationship, but a sly vixen got there first." After saying that, she revealed how Lin Wei had tricked Chen Yang into getting a marriage certificate, and how Su Mingyue had coaxed her to stay away from Chen Yang.

Liu Shijie listened, alternating between laughter and tears. His cousin, overly protected by his second uncle, knew nothing of society's wickedness. Fortunately, aside from the romantic entanglement, matters had not reached an irreparable state.

Chen Yang, since you're already married, you'd better keep your distance from my sister from now on. My uncle's biggest taboo is Qingqing; if he gets angry, I can't protect you.