Chapter 427: Who

Li Ye's remark, "Are you deaf?" turned Zhang Rui's face bright red.

He considered himself somewhat "connected" to Li Ye, especially since his father, Director Zhang, had initially held a favorable opinion of Li Ye and even praised him to his face.

Director Zhang rarely praised anyone; those who earned his approval deeply valued his recognition and eagerly sought to build ties with the Zhang family.

But why was Li Ye so oblivious to the situation?

Still, Zhang Rui had spent years abroad among blunt-speaking foreigners and had learned to quickly regulate his emotions—he burst into laughter within seconds.

"Brother, why take it so personally? Hahaha, listen to me—don't dwell on past regrets; focus on the money."

"In fact, during my years in Britain, my greatest gain wasn't knowledge or a master's degree from the University of Britain—it was realizing one truth: all your regrets can be bought back with money."

"Look at this suit I'm wearing—68 pounds. Look at these shoes—99 pounds. I'm not teaching you 'brothers are flesh and blood, women are clothes,' but—"

Zhang Rui paused, lowered his voice, and whispered to Li Ye: "Lu Jingyao isn't worth a thing. If you have money, a whole squad of beautiful girls will line up to chase you."

Li Ye stared at Zhang Rui coldly and said calmly: "I don't have money, but a whole squad of girls still line up to chase me."

"."

"Hahahahahaha, brother, you're hilarious! Hahahahahaha~"

Zhang Rui had expected his "overseas insights" to shake Li Ye's composure and skillfully manipulate him—but Li Ye had silenced him with just one sentence.

The guy's just good-looking. Doesn't even need money.

"Alright, alright, brother, I won't waste time on nonsense. Let me get to the point."

After laughing for a while, Zhang Rui sobered up and spoke seriously to Li Ye: "Brother, I won't hide it—these past two years abroad taught me that opportunity equals money. Now there's a great chance, and I want to talk to you about it."

Li Ye wanted to say, "I don't want to talk to you—you're not qualified," but after thinking it over, he decided to see what Zhang Rui was up to, so he gave a slight nod: "Go on."

Zhang Rui forced down his irritation and said: "Brother, I remember your pen name is Seven-Inch Blade, right?"

Li Ye nodded: "Yes."

"Then I've found the right person," Zhang Rui said. "That Joanna I just mentioned—she made millions of pounds in just over a year. Do you know where she got that money?"

Li Ye replied flatly: "A Song of Ice and Fire. You already said that."

"Correct. But do you know who holds the copyright for A Song of Ice and Fire?"

Watching Zhang Rui's smug expression—like he held a great secret and was waiting for Li Ye to beg for it—Li Ye stayed silent. He thought: The copyright for A Song of Ice and Fire is in my hands. Do you think I don't know who holds it?

Zhang Rui waited a long time, but Li Ye gave no reaction. He sighed and continued: "The copyright for A Song of Ice and Fire belongs to Tawang Literature Publishing in Hong Kong—the same publisher as your Wind Soaring North."

Li Ye looked at Zhang Rui's clearly impatient eyes and said coolly: "And then? What does this have to do with me?"

"Come on, brother, haven't you figured it out yet? This is an opportunity—a chance to make big money!"

Zhang Rui groaned in frustration: "I asked around at Peking University—aren't you acquainted with Mr. Pei Wencong at Tawang Literature? Just knowing him is enough."

"Mr. Pei can buy the overseas rights to Wind Soaring North. So why can't we approach him for the mainland rights to A Song of Ice and Fire?"

【What's the point of talking to Pei Wencong? You've gone to the wrong temple!】

But Zhang Rui kept going with his get-rich scheme: "I can translate A Song of Ice and Fire into Chinese and find a publisher. It's a bestseller overseas—why wouldn't it sell like crazy on the mainland?"

"Then we get our first bucket of gold. You know what 'first bucket of gold' means, right?"

"With startup capital, and now that the state has lifted restrictions on private enterprises, brother, what do you think this is? It's heaven's timing, earth's advantage, human harmony—a golden chance to make money even if you don't try."

"I have friends who can get planned-supply goods. I'll bring you in, brother. And I'll tell you a secret—these past two years in Britain, Lu Jingyao turned down countless suitors. When you're successful, then—"

"."

Watching Zhang Rui spew saliva everywhere, Li Ye couldn't help but sigh. The era of nine hundred million people chasing get-rich-quick schemes had truly arrived.

Since 1984, countless "empty-handed wealth" ideas had been embraced as gospel by people with empty pockets but bloodshot eyes.

Even the concept of "idea companies" had been turned into a sketch for the Spring Festival Gala. All these so-called geniuses believed their half-baked "brilliant ideas" were golden keys to unlocking fortune.

Whenever a few friends got together, if one said, "I've got an idea," the others would empty their pockets to treat him to a meal—otherwise they'd feel ashamed.

Zhang Rui's idea was more grounded than those wild fantasies—he'd at least used Lu Jingyao as a foothold and genuinely knew Pei Wencong.

Too bad A Song of Ice and Fire was originally translated from Chinese into English. Do I really need you to "reverse-engineer" it?

I've had my own private company running for three years. Do I really need you to "take me along"?

So Li Ye cut him off coldly before he finished: "I studied economics—I understand this better than you."

"."

Zhang Rui couldn't go on. He felt if he kept talking, Li Ye would drive him into a state of shock so severe he'd pass out.

Li Ye looked like a spirited young man—why was he so cold-hearted and impervious to reason?

Zhang Rui believed his strategy was flawless: first, he dropped the news that Lu Jingyao had changed—stirring Li Ye's sense of shame and ambition—then he slipped in his money-making plan. Li Ye would surely bite.

Who, after a breakup, wouldn't want to outdo their ex when they hear the ex is doing well?

Lu Jingyao now earns thousands of pounds a month—by black-market rates, that's over ten thousand yuan a month. Doesn't Li Ye feel even a spark of urgency? Doesn't he want to win her back?

No matter what Li Ye thought or felt, Zhang Rui assumed he was dependent on him—that he could lead Li Ye by the nose.

You want to get back with Lu Jingyao? I'll be your matchmaker. You want to make money? I'll fly you to success. Then this house and furniture—you'll gladly return them as thanks, won't you?

But what did Li Ye actually say?

Are you deaf?

I don't have money, but a whole squad of girls still chase me.

I studied economics—don't teach me your lessons.

Pfft, you country bumpkin, do you even know the 88 uses of money? The 99 ways capital works?

I've returned from the Western Heavens with sacred wisdom. I'm giving you free teachings—and you're acting all high and mighty? If I told this to anyone else, they'd pay me consultation fees, you know?

"Brother, you've never seen the outside world—you're a frog in a well and don't even realize it!"

"Clang~"

As Zhang Rui finished his angry remark, the door to the eastern room opened.

Li Yue stepped out, her voice icy: "Comrade, it's late. My brother Li Ye needs to return to school. You'd better go home too. Otherwise, if you fall into a well in the dark, you won't be able to swim like a frog."

You should head back too! Otherwise, when it gets dark and the road is slippery, you might accidentally fall into a well—and you won't be able to swim like a frog.

Zhang Rui's face flushed and paled alternately, his head pounding as if he'd been punched in the temple.

Before he could retort, Li Dayong, who had remained silent until now, rumbled in a deep voice: "Let's go, comrade. We're closing up."

Seeing the bear-like Li Dayong step closer, Zhang Rui suddenly shuddered—he remembered some unpleasant incidents in Britain.

Street violence existed everywhere. In Britain, thugs who targeted Chinese at night were built just like this.

"No need to see me off. Consider me never here."

Zhang Rui, seething with rage, turned and stormed out.

Behind him, Li Yue scolded her brother sharply: "How do you know someone like this?"

Li Ye replied calmly: "He wasn't like this before. He went overseas, came back, and got bloated."

Zhang Rui nearly tripped on the steps.

【Who's bloated? It's you two who've bloated!】

【I came here with good intentions—did you say one kind word all night?】

Zhang Rui truly didn't understand. According to He Xue's information, Li Ye was hopelessly in love with Lu Jingyao. Choosing her as the entry point was perfect.

Think about it—a beautiful, wealthy ex-girlfriend. Which guy wouldn't be tempted?

How did it end up like this?

When Zhang Rui reached the courtyard gate and fumbled for his motorcycle keys, his hands trembled so badly he couldn't insert them into the lock. Then his fingers slipped—the key fell to the ground.

As he groped blindly in the dark for the key, Li Ye and the others came out and locked the sihe courtyard door.

【They clearly don't live here. If they don't live here, why keep the house?】

But the next moment, Zhang Rui saw Li Ye and the others each climb into two cars in the alley.

One was a small BMW. The other was a Santana.

Both cars' headlights turned on, illuminating the key on the ground—and blinding Zhang Rui.

Zhang Rui finally understood where he'd gone wrong.

The Santana was understandable—it was already produced domestically, common in government and corporate fleets. Probably a public vehicle.

But that little BMW? Definitely not a public vehicle. No official would buy a short-wheelbase performance car with cramped rear seating.

Zhang Rui had seen this model in Britain—it started at tens of thousands of pounds. Transported to China, it cost at least hundreds of thousands.

So while he'd been gaining "worldly experience" in Britain, Li Ye hadn't been idle either.

Even if Lu Jingyao earned ten thousand yuan a month, how long would it take to save hundreds of thousands?

He'd come to provoke Li Ye, hoping to spur him into joining his scheme. But Li Ye clearly didn't lack opportunities or help.

He came to find Li Ye himself to stir him up, to get him to join in and get rich together, but it seemed Li Ye didn't lack opportunities or help to get rich.

(End of Chapter)

(End of chapter)