Xie Sheng and his group of friends had decided to rent an apartment on the 14th floor, settling on unit 1406, which had been vacant for some time.
However, Jun Yan had other ideas. He wasn't content with simply renting an apartment on the 14th floor. No, Jun Yan wanted more.
He wanted to live on the 15th floor, where the air was crisper, the views were better, and the apartments were owned by the most prestigious residents of the building. It was a matter of status for him, and Jun Yan was nothing if not obsessed with status.
So, without consulting Xie Sheng or the others, Jun Yan made his way to the 15th floor, his mind set on securing a better apartment. As he arrived, he looked around with an appraising eye, as if judging whether the floor was worthy of his presence. It wasn't long before he spotted Zhang Wei, who was just stepping out of his apartment in 1502.
Zhang Wei was a straightforward man, known for his calm demeanor and strong sense of justice. But when he saw Jun Yan standing there, his brows furrowed in confusion. Jun Yan's demeanor was unmistakably entitled, and Zhang Wei's instincts told him trouble.
"Can I help you?"
Zhang Wei asked, his tone polite.
Jun Yan glanced at him with a cool, detached expression.
"I want to live here. I'll buy one of the apartments."
Zhang Wei blinked, taken aback by the bluntness of the statement.
"You can't just buy an apartment here," he replied. "The flats on this floor are owned, not rented. They've been bought by the residents."
Jun Yan's lips curled into a slight sneer.
"Then I'll buy it from them. Everyone has a price."
Zhang Wei's expression darkened. He didn't like the arrogance in Jun Yan's voice, nor the implication that the residents of the 15th floor could be easily swayed by money. Before he could respond, however, the door to 1501 swung open, and out stepped Shen Zhiwei.
Shen Zhiwei had the look of someone who had just been woken up from a deep sleep, his hair tousled and his eyes half-lidded. He wore a lazy smirk as he leaned against the doorframe, clearly amused by the situation unfolding before him.
"Well, well," Shen Zhiwei drawled, his voice tinged with mockery.
"What do we have here? A little bird trying to fly too high?"
Jun Yan bristled at the insult, but before he could retort, Xie Sheng stepped forward, placing himself between Jun Yan and Shen Zhiwei.
"There's no need to be rude," Xie Sheng said, his tone firm but controlled. "Jun Yan just wants to live in a nicer place. That's not a crime."
Shen Zhiwei raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening.
"Oh, defending your lover, are you? How noble. But you see, this isn't about what you want. It's about what you can actually have. And I'm afraid you're out of your league here, kid."
Xie Sheng's jaw tightened. He wasn't used to being talked down to, especially not by someone as smug as Shen Zhiwei.
"You don't know anything about me or what I can do," Xie Sheng shot back, his voice steady."
Shen Zhiwei's smile didn't falter. If anything, it grew more amused.
"Oh, I think I know enough. You're just another spoiled brat who thinks money can buy anything. Let me tell you something—money's not going to get you what you want here."
Xie Sheng opened his mouth to respond, but the door to 1501 opened again, and this time, Shen Zhiling stepped out, followed closely by Lu Ningfei. The sight of them instantly silenced the argument.
Lu Ningfei had been reluctant to leave the apartment. The burns on his hands and neck, left by the acid rain, were still fresh, the pain only dulled by the bandages that Shen Zhiling had carefully applied. The memory of Shen Zhiling's gentle touch, the way he had meticulously wrapped each wound, was still vivid in Lu Ningfei's mind.
He had blushed furiously as Shen Zhiling worked, his heart racing for reasons he couldn't fully comprehend. The man's proximity, his focused expression, and the way he had handled his injuries with such care—it was all too much for Lu Ningfei, who was unaccustomed to being cared for in such a way.
When Shen Zhiling had looked up at him, their eyes meeting, Lu Ningfei had quickly looked away, the heat in his cheeks betraying his flustered state.
Now, as they stepped out onto the 15th floor, Lu Ningfei's thoughts were still muddled, but the sight of the confrontation unfolding before them quickly brought him back to reality.
Shen Zhiling, too, seemed to recognize the situation for what it was. His sharp eyes immediately zeroed in on Jun Yan, who was standing with a sneer on his face as if he were entitled to whatever he wanted. It was a look that made Shen Zhiling's lips curl in disdain.
After hearing the matter from Shen Zhiwei,
"This floor isn't available to just anyone," Shen Zhiling said coldly, his voice cold. "Only people with status live here. It's not a place you can simply buy your way into."
Jun Yan's sneer deepened. He was not used to being spoken to in such a manner, especially not by someone he didn't recognize.
"Status? You think I don't have status? My father is one of the richest men in A City. If I want something, I'll have it."
Shen Zhiwei, who had been watching with barely contained amusement, decided to step in. He pushed off the doorframe and walked over to stand beside his brother, his expression now one of mocking disbelief.
"Oh, your father's rich, is he?" Shen Zhiwei said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"That's cute. But let me introduce you to someone with real status." He gestured to Shen Zhiling.
"This is Shen Zhiling, the eldest son of the Shen family. You know, the family that controls nearly half of the country's economy? The family that's so far out of your league, you can't even see them from where you're standing."
Jun Yan's confident facade faltered for the first time. He had heard of the Shen family, of course—who hadn't? They were a powerhouse, the kind of family that could make or break entire industries with a single decision.
Jun Yan snapped, though his voice lacked the conviction it had moments earlier.
"Money is money. It doesn't matter where it comes from."
It was then that Lu Ningfei decided to step forward, his eyes cold and his expression unreadable.
"Money isn't everything, Jun Yan. You should be careful who you try to challenge. You're not as important as you think you are."
"And who are you?"
Jun Yan asked, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
"Lu Ningfei," Lu Ningfei replied coolly.
"Of the Lu family. The third largest and richest family in the country."
The effect was immediate. Jun Yan's bravado crumbled as he realized just how out of his depth he was. The Lu family was not just wealthy—they were influential, powerful in ways that money alone couldn't explain. And now, standing in front of him, was a member of that family, looking at him with eyes that seemed to see right through him.
Before Jun Yan could even attempt to salvage the situation, Zhang Wei, who had been silent until now, decided to add the final nail in the coffin. He stepped forward, his demeanor calm with authority.
"I think you've misunderstood something, young man," Zhang Wei said, his voice steady.
"This isn't just about money or status. You're standing in a building where the Zhang family—the military marshal's family—also resides. My name is Zhang Wei, the youngest son of the Zhang family. Perhaps you've heard of us?"
With the Shen family, the Lu family, and the Zhang family standing united before him, Jun Yan finally realized just how badly he had misjudged the situation. He was just a student, a privileged, spoiled child compared to the titans standing before him.
"That's enough, Jun Yan," Xie Sheng said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Let's go."
Jun Yan, his face twisted in anger and humiliation, didn't resist as Xie Sheng began to lead him away.