Chapter 1106: Coming with Malice?

Today was quite rare; the five women from the 22nd floor were all waiting together for the elevator to go to work.

They called the elevator, and everyone chatted and laughed while watching it ascend, but it didn't stop at the 22nd floor, going straight to the 23rd instead.

He Minhong said, "Oh, Brother Yan is finally back at work, how rare. Sister Zhu, you can hitch a ride again."

"Time to envy Sister Zhu again," Yu Chuhui said, hugging Zhu Zhe's arm and laughing.

Zhu Zhe smiled but said nothing.

"Sigh, the life of a scumbag is truly enviable," Ye Zhenzhen sighed, "It's hard enough that he still bothers to go to work."

The elevator doors opened, revealing Wang Yan leaning against the wall, standing with one leg supporting his weight, the other bent backward with his toes touching the ground, and his arms crossed over his chest.

"Who is this, badmouthing me behind my back first thing in the morning?"

"I'd say it to your face too, how about that?" Ye Zhenzhen rolled her eyes, walked into the elevator, and held the door-open button to let the other four women enter.

Lucy wasn't very close to everyone; she nodded to Wang Yan and then stood beside him. Zhu Zhe stood with Yu Chuhui on one side, and Ye Zhenzhen with He Minhong on the other.

Ye Zhenzhen said, "I just remembered something; someone invited me to spend two days on Chongming Island this week for running, cycling, and barbecue. It sounds pretty nice; do you guys want to go?"

"Work is already exhausting enough; I don't want to go looking for suffering," Zhu Zhe said, shaking her head repeatedly.

"I still have to work a part-time job, so I can't go."

He Minhong chimed in, "I struggle to run even a hundred meters, plus I'm following Brother Yan's advice and planning to visit the hospital wards this week."

Wang Yan nodded with a smile, "Remember to observe more and speak less; with that mouth of yours, one slip-up and you'll get beaten up."

He Minhong was indeed incapable, but her willingness to do it was commendable.

Ye Zhenzhen looked at Wang Yan and Lucy, asking, "Are you two going?"

Lucy turned to look at Wang Yan, who said, "It was a man who invited you, right?"

"Who else?" Ye Zhenzhen raised an eyebrow.

"Is this guy reliable? Don't be like that Lihu Qixing, wanting to pursue a woman but stepping on others to show off; that's just too terrible. If any conflict arises, I don't care, but I'm afraid you'll be put in a difficult position."

"You're such a big shot now; shouldn't you just laugh off such trivial matters?"

"That depends on the person and the situation; saying something like that will get you struck by lightning."

Ye Zhenzhen felt not an ounce of embarrassment: "Anyway, that's roughly the idea, and my friend should be decent enough. So, are you going or not?"

"If you're not afraid of trouble, then go. Lucy is going too, and since you have nothing else going on, I can't just be the third wheel by myself."

Lucy pondered briefly, then nodded: "Okay."

At the mention of being a third wheel, Ye Zhenzhen shot Wang Yan a dirty look, then said, "Then it's settled; barring any surprises, it'll be this Saturday. I'll notify you then."

"Good, that's it then. I'm leaving first; see you."

"Lucy, I'll go with you."

The elevator doors opened, and Yu Chuhui and Lucy departed together...

Wang Yan and the others arrived at the underground garage, each getting into their cars to drive to work.

Driving the car at a moderate pace along with the traffic flow, Wang Yan asked, "How have things been lately?"

Zhu Zhe turned her head to glance at him, smiling as she asked, "Which aspect are you asking about?"

"All aspects."

"Overall, it's still okay, as plain and uneventful as ever, no waves. It's just that our hotel has started fighting internally again. Because I discovered a problem with the hotel's water, I traced it to the plumbing hardware. Since the hotel was newly renovated and opened, needless to say, those responsible for the renovation must have embezzled funds. My leader wants to use this incident to advance his position, but I don't want those young girls to take the blame..."

Zhu Zhe shared the chaotic affairs of the hotel with Wang Yan, speaking whatever came to mind.

Wang Yan smiled and said, "You have a conscience."

"I can't help it; I can't bring myself to do it. Moreover, this matter isn't really significant; it's hardly enough to bring down the vice-presidents above. It's just that I might offend my leader."

"What is there to offend? Just think about how many stages are involved in renovation. If they tampered with the plumbing hardware, how clean could the rest be? Substituting inferior materials for quality ones, inflating prices with fake invoices, and lining their own pockets are just basic operations."

"Then there are all the various bosses below, being negligent during execution, cutting corners, and so on. Without the plumbing hardware issue, there would surely be other problems. The hotel is so large; they definitely only did superficial work. If you investigate carefully in the unseen places, you should be able to find flaws."

"You're right; I overlooked that. I'll take a good look these few days, find the problems, and make up for my faults through merit. Even if they don't promote me, they should at least give me a raise and additional subsidies, right?"

"Zhu Ni Cheng Gong."

"I borrow your auspicious words."

After covering her mouth and laughing for a while, Zhu Zhe continued, "By the way, Chen Zufa came to see me again yesterday. Oh, don't overthink it; he was truly scared by you."

"Then how did he still have the guts to come find you?"

"He brought his girlfriend and treated me to a meal. I really didn't expect that in such a short time, he would find someone to marry, and that woman seemed particularly willing and happy, even saying they planned to buy a house together. I really don't know what bewitching soup Chen Zufa fed her, but even if he did, this is too fast, isn't it?"

"Oh, right, everything you said after sending him away on the day you drove me to work and met Chen Zufa came true. Previously, he wanted to marry me; yesterday, he wanted to borrow money from me, which I refused. Then he asked me to act as a guarantor for him and a loan company. The amount wasn't large, just thirty thousand yuan."

"At the time, I didn't think much of it, but Lucy was more cautious. She said not to sign a guarantee contract casually, because if the person runs away, the guarantor has to repay the debt. Lucy went back and checked, telling me to ask Chen Zufa for the loan contract, but Chen Zufa acted evasively and wouldn't show me the contract. Then he simply said he wouldn't borrow money from me anymore and wouldn't need my guarantee either. I have a vague feeling that Chen Zufa might have bad intentions."

This was also a plot point from the original drama, revolving around which quite a few episodes were filmed.

Wang Yan smiled and said, "It's just a scam to swindle money—cheating each person out of thirty thousand, plus the woman's money, plus the wedding gift money; add it all up, they're clearly aiming for a million. That's no small amount. As long as people aren't dipping into their own pockets, and since there's still some friendship involved, people aren't really that sensitive about acting as guarantors."

"Do you mean Chen Zufa borrowed money from all his fellow villagers?"

"I estimate so; you can ask around indirectly."

"Okay, I'll ask when I get to work. Hearing you talk like this makes me a bit scared. Does Chen Zufa not plan to stay in this circle anymore?"

"He probably never looked up to these fellow villagers in the first place, and most likely he's in debt. If he doesn't repay, his outcome won't be good. With no way out, he naturally developed these bad ideas."

Zhu Zhe let out a long sigh: "You're making things difficult for me. If Chen Zufa has already borrowed money from them and got them all to sign guarantee contracts, should I speak up or not?"

"It's useless even if you speak. The money is already in his hands, and since he hasn't run away, who would believe you? Thirty thousand yuan is neither a large nor a small amount; losing it hurts, but it won't have a hugely significant impact, and the level of concern varies. Furthermore, your popularity isn't very good right now. Didn't you say earlier that Chen Zufa ruined your reputation, and many people even borrowed money from you? I estimate that after they hang up the phone, they'll ruin your reputation too. Whatever you say is useless."

"Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease; at least I've convinced myself."

"It's not about convincing yourself; the actual situation is just like this. You can rest assured and feel no guilt whatsoever."

"That's easier said than done; watching them get cheated still gives me some sense of guilt."

"You have a conscience," Wang Yan said, nodding with a smile.

"Would it be easier if I had no conscience?"

"Calling me heartless, why are you looking at me? As if I truly bullied you, like some irresponsible scoundrel who abandons his lovers."

"I'm just looking, seeing what you have to say."

The boundaries of their interaction were gradually relaxed; this was because they had come into contact bit by bit, grown familiar, and established a certain degree of trust...

In the blink of an eye, it was another Saturday. David bought breakfast early, picked up his luggage, and arrived at Ode to Joy. After eating breakfast together, Ye Zhenzhen sent messages to Wang Yan and Lucy to gather.

"Wang Zong, hello, I am David. I've heard Zhenzhen mention you long ago; I am Zhenzhen's good friend. Thank you so much for taking care of Zhenzhen."

As soon as these words were spoken, Lucy, watching from the side, laughed first. She winked at Ye Zhenzhen, who was left speechless and choked up.

Wang Yan smiled warmly as he shook David's hand: "We are all friends, looking out for each other. Let's go now."

"Alright." David responded, voluntarily taking Ye Zhenzhen's suitcase. "Wang Zong is only carrying a backpack?"

"It's only for two days either way; I find it troublesome, so a backpack is enough. Come, Lucy, let me carry that for you."

Under the gaze of the three women in room 2202, Wang Yan and the others entered the elevator to go downstairs. The four of them split into two cars, drove out of the Ode to Joy underground garage, and headed toward Chongming Island.

"Those who come are not kind," Lucy remarked as soon as she got into the car.

"Are you reciting lines with me? Should I reply, 'You are the one who has come'?"

"I'm talking about that David; he laid his cards on the table right from the start. Don't you feel any sense of crisis?"

"Look at what you're saying, as if I were pursuing Ye Zhenzhen. Didn't I tell you before? Wasn't that clear enough? Men and women should be mutually attracted and draw closer to each other; isn't the fact that you, such a great beauty, are sitting right beside me proof enough?"

Lucy hesitated for a moment: "We're talking about Ye Zhenzhen."

"I admit, she is very beautiful; if something were to happen, I would be very willing. That's what you want to hear, right? Actually, I feel the same about you. But although I am no paragon of virtue, neither am I a criminal. If you hadn't tried to be too clever, the two of us wouldn't be chatting so explicitly right now."

"Cleverness outwits itself..." Lucy laughed self-mockingly. "Actually, you're not a bad person; you give people a sense of security and lack aggressiveness. I subconsciously overlooked that, which is why I dared to have the audacity to scheme against you, this financial tycoon."

"It seems, then, that you've figured it out. Missteps and coincidences are all fate; in this way, we've achieved the best of both worlds."

"Let's hope so."

"Rest assured, I never give up halfway on anything I do; Li Xun is as good as dead."

Lucy perked up: "Have you uncovered new information?"

While the two of them continued discussing Li Xun's affairs, Ye Zhenzhen and David in the other car were also chatting.

"Before meeting him, I thought this Wang Zong would be so imposing; I even spent quite a while building up my psychological defenses. But after meeting him today, he's just ordinary. Didn't I say before that he's not as handsome as me? Seeing him today confirms that I still have a slight edge. However, I do admit he truly has an impressive aura."

Ye Zhenzhen laughed: "You are truly narcissistic."

"No, why are you laughing? Isn't it true? Moreover, my physique is better than his too."

"What exactly are you referring to?"

"Sturdiness! Look at my shoulders, look at this chest, and then look at these biceps; I'm a whole size bigger than him!"

"If you put it that way, then yes, indeed. But he practices martial arts and does high-intensity aerobic exercise every day; the directions are completely different, so what is there to compare? Indeed, no matter their age, men's competitive spirit is always strong."

"Can't be helped; we're all peers, yet he's so awesome while I'm still staying at home as an otaku. Of course, I have to find some areas where I surpass him to comfort my wounded little heart."

"Hearing you say that makes me look at you in a new light."

"I'm just speaking the truth; I'm not so narcissistic as to deceive myself. What, in your eyes, am I someone who deceives himself?"

"Definitely not; I was just afraid your self-awareness wasn't clear. Now I feel relieved."

David was somewhat confused: "What do you mean?"

"I'm afraid you might arrogantly offend him and unnecessarily invite a heap of trouble."

"So there's a story behind this? Tell me about it?"

"It's not really a story; calling it an incident would be more accurate. You've seen Lucy; when we first met, one day she went to a boxing gym for training, and just at that time..."

Ye Zhenzhen recounted Lihu Qixing's miserable experience. "The result is that Lihu Qixing has never shown up in the residential compound again; even when coming to see Lucy, he waits far away at the compound entrance. I've seen him a few times on my way to work—he seemed to be in terrible shape. I still have the video of him getting beaten; it was truly a brutal beating."

"Wasn't Wang Yan going a bit too far? Just over such a small matter, beating someone up and even insulting their family members? Moreover, he caused himself trouble and unnecessarily gained an enemy; why do that? It's too irrational."

"He said he just can't stand those people who bully others by relying on their power, who bully the weak and fear the strong. If they cross his path, he will fight them to the end. He'll smash all their supports to see if they're still so arrogant."

"I still feel it's a bit extreme. When people go out into the world, shouldn't everything be harmonious and peaceful?"

"He also said that if he were truly an ordinary person going to meet Lucy, he would most likely be unable to save face and refuse, unable to withstand Lihu Qixing's provocation, thus stepping into the octagon and getting beaten like a punching bag by Lihu Qixing. At that time, Lihu Qixing would casually toss him ten thousand or so yuan, and probably no one would think Lihu Qixing was in the wrong; he would deserve the beating. What do you think?"

"I think if that had really happened, Lihu Qixing would have exercised restraint in his actions; after all, he wouldn't want to leave a bad impression in front of Lucy."

Ye Zhenzhen laughed: "Who knows? After all, it never actually happened. What I want to tell you is that you need to pay attention to maintaining proper boundaries."

"We're all just out here to have fun; how could I go looking for trouble with him? You make it sound like I don't understand anything." David smiled as if unconcerned, then changed the subject. "But you just mentioned that Lihu Qixing's father is named Li Xun, right? He works in finance? And has state-owned capital backing?"

"Yes, what about it?"

"I might know him; when I was studying abroad, he visited our institution for an exchange visit. I even discussed the economic situation with him..."