Everyone in their hearts speculated about Chen Wei's identity, forming one conjecture after another, heir to a noble family in the Imperial Capital, some major financial tycoon… all these possibilities came to mind.
Little did they know that they were still far from the truth of Chen Wei's real identity, not even close to scratching the surface.
Qin Binglan, finding the clamor of discussion annoying but not wanting Chen Wei to see her bad-tempered side, could only stride out of the meeting room.
"Wang, do you know how long I've waited for this call? Three years, three long years. Are you finally coming back? Where are you now, do you need me to come see you immediately?" Qin Binglan still couldn't hide her excitement as she spoke.
Three years ago, Chen Wei had hastily left a message saying that he would be in seclusion for three years, and within that time, Qin Binglan should not contact him or attempt to find him.
Qin Binglan longed for Chen Wei day and night, but she dared not disobey his order.
That moment had suddenly turned into three years, and how could she not be excited, not be thrilled, upon their reunion after such a long time?
Chen Wei was her king, Qin Binglan's only king, the only man in the world who could make Qin Binglan willingly surrender her heart and be conquered.
"No need, I will come to you when the time is right. Now, I need you to find someone for me," said Chen Wei.
"Who? Just say the word, and I'll start the search immediately," Qin Binglan replied with a serious tone.
"You don't need to be so tense, it's just an annoying dog. His name is Jiang Chengyi, CEO of the River City Green Forest Group. I want you to take care of him for me," Chen Wei said. By take care of, he didn't mean to permanently remove Jiang Chengyi from the world; he knew Qin Binglan would understand his meaning.
River City, huh?
Though she thought this, her words came out assertive, "Understood! I'll get right on it."
After speaking, the call was disconnected.
"You dare to mess with my man, Jiang Chengyi, huh? You really have some nerve!" Qin Binglan clenched her fist, swearing to make him pay.
"Take care of me? With what? You're speaking big words without fear of biting your tongue!" Jiang Chengyi felt there was no need for Chen Wei to play a drama with him here; it would be better for everyone if he just left straightforwardly.
Lifting his hand, he raised three fingers, "I'm counting to three, and within those three seconds, you better disappear from my sight. If you do, I can let bygones be bygones."
This was not a negotiation with Chen Wei, but telling him what he ought to do!
Chen Wei simply treated Jiang Chengyi as air, with no response.
Jiang Chengyi began to bend his fingers, "One!"
"Two…"
"Three!"
After counting down from three, Chen Wei still didn't move a muscle.
"Fine, you're done for! Let me tell you, you're finished! You won't be able to mix in River City ever again!" Jiang Chengyi had just blurted out his harsh words when, the next second, the phone rang.
"Hmm? President Zhao?" Jiang Chengyi was puzzled, President Zhao is usually so busy, why would he call me personally? Could it be...
"I'm getting promoted!" A flash of excitement crossed his eyes.
Not wanting to delay, he quickly answered the phone, only to find that the voice on the other end was not bringing good news of a promotion, but a torrential scolding!
Then he said, "From now on, Jiang Chengyi, you are fired! You have nothing to do with the Forest Green Group anymore. Do you have any idea, because of you, our Forest Green Group almost offended a big shot from the Imperial Capital!"
"What! A big shot from the Imperial Capital!" Jiang Chengyi's gaze shifted to Chen Wei, and then he added, "President Zhao, may I ask who this important figure is? Could you trouble her to give me a call? There's no need for the company to lose a talent like me over a pretty boy!"
"I know quite a few handsome guys in the entertainment industry. If she's interested, I can act as a middleman and introduce them to her," Jiang Chengyi said, his words tinged with pleading.
"You bastard! Do you have a death wish? What pretty boy, that's her king! You're not even qualified to speak with President Qin! Get your act together! From now on, you will find no place to stand in Great Xia!" After that, without giving Jiang Chengyi the chance to spout more nonsense, he hung up the phone directly.
What! That's her king!
A woman, surnamed Qin, in the Imperial Capital, the only person in President Zhao's mind who could invoke such fear... Jiang Chengyi could only think of one, Qin Binglan! That business she-devil!
This guy, he's not a pretty boy!
Jiang Chengyi suddenly remembered how Lin Yibai had been addressing Chen Wei with honorifics and calling him Mr. Chen.
It suddenly dawned on him just what sort of ruthless figure he had offended.
And he had the nerve to claim that he'd make it so difficult for him to stay in River City when a single phone call could ensure he had no place in all of Great Xia!
With Qin Binglan's influence, it wouldn't matter if he fled abroad, he would only be able to work as an undocumented dishwasher...
With this thought, Jiang Chengyi grew scared, and immediately bent his knees, kneeling before Chen Wei, "President Chen, earlier I was ignorant of your esteemed status, but now that I know, I beg you, give me a way out. Please ask President Qin not to shut me out. I have an eighty-year-old mother and a three-year-old child waiting to be fed at home. I implore you."
"Get lost, my patience has limits!" In Chen Wei's gaze, Jiang Chengyi could momentarily see a vision of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, which terrified him so much that the words that reached his lips were forcefully swallowed back down.
He was well aware that if he spoke further, it would not just be a global banishment, he could just as easily vanish from the face of the Earth!
These bigshots could crush him without a difference from crushing an ant.
"Alright, I'll get lost! I'm going!" Staying alive was more important than anything, so Jiang Chengyi didn't linger, scrambling and crawling away, vanishing from everyone's line of sight.
Following this, Chen Wei shone even more brightly in the store.
They initially thought Chen Wei was a pretty boy kept by Lin Yibai, but now it was clear he was indeed a person of high status! Even people with annual salaries of several million yuan had to grovel before him and beg for mercy!
Alas, they knew in their hearts, on the scale of looks, they weren't even fit to carry Lin Yibai's shoes, let alone dare to strike up a conversation.
"How I envy that woman, why couldn't I have been born that beautiful?"
"Pack all these up for me and send them to this address, charge it to the card." After trying on the clothes picked out by Lin Yibai, Chen Wei felt they fit rather well. He simply decided to purchase all the items she had selected, as they were the right size.
"Of course, sir!" the sales clerk said respectfully as he took the bank card from Chen Wei's hand. How could he not show respect to a customer who was spending hundreds of thousands in one go?
After paying, Chen Wei retrieved his card and asked Lin Yibai, "Is there anything you want?"
"Oh, how could I..." Lin Yibai stammered nervously when she realized that Chen Wei wanted to buy her something.
"It's nothing. You've accompanied me for so long, consider it a token of appreciation for your hardship," Chen Wei said, his smile full of charm, making it impossible for Lin Yibai to resist.
She knew she had to pick something or Chen Wei would not let it go.
So, she looked around and soon her eyes settled on a side-slit cheongsam displayed in the window.