After securing the land in the auction, Qin Ran didn't feel particularly excited, as she had expected the outcome. In the real world, money buys everything, and with her vast wealth, she knew no one could outbid her—unless someone had a super-powered, ultra-wealthy system.
Still, the joy she felt from seeing Pei Qi's frustration was undeniable.
Despite being in the industry for almost two years now, Pei Qi still acted like an immature kid. Losing a bid wasn't a big deal, but even from his back, it was clear how anxious and restless he had become as the auction progressed. When the auctioneer's gavel hit the table, Pei Qi leaned forward in frustration, standing out in the crowd.
Qin Ran couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of Pei Qi going home, crying about his failure, with no way to face the Ling family or the richest man.
After enjoying this little victory, Qin Ran buried herself back in her work. With Yu Shuman away, Qin Ran spent more time at the office. Not only had her coursework lightened in her third year, but she preferred the bustling atmosphere of the office over the emptiness of home without Yu Shuman's presence. At least at the company, Wu Assistant frequently came in to report, providing some life and noise.
Some time later, after Sun Zhiyan had been arrested and the police issued an official report, his money laundering scheme was confirmed. Along with him, several accomplices were also implicated, including the man who had deceived the whistleblower. He was arrested as well. Wu Assistant had played a key role in the investigation, spending her entire Mid-Autumn and National Day holidays collaborating with the hackers Qin Ran had hired to ensure the case progressed smoothly. Occasionally, she would also hand over helpful leads to the authorities.
Additionally, 99 Entertainment made a generous donation to support the police for their tireless efforts. Wu Assistant carefully ensured that the donation, which included police drones and emergency equipment, adhered to regulations and avoided conflicts of interest.
In the end, everyone except Sun Zhiyan and his cronies was pleased with the outcome. The whistleblower and her child moved to a better home, thanks to the settlement money.
With the public announcement of the case, most people considered it a closed chapter, with only a few netizens idly commenting, "Never expected Sun Zhiyan to be that kind of person."
Behind the scenes, however, more investigations were underway, particularly into the richest man's involvement in bribing Sun Zhiyan to target Yu Shuman. Wu Assistant had some inside knowledge and relayed to Qin Ran that the richest man had been summoned for questioning, though the police couldn't link the money laundering case to him. The shell company's ties to him remained untraceable, and the investigation ultimately led nowhere.
As Wu Assistant reported the update, Qin Ran calmly sipped her tea. After setting the cup down, she remarked, "Cunning old fox."
Unlike the inexperienced Pei Qi, the richest man, despite being influenced by the heroine's plot armor, was still a shrewd player. There was no way he would leave an obvious trail for Qin Ran to exploit.
But that didn't bother Qin Ran. She didn't need ironclad evidence like the police. As long as she knew he was the one causing trouble for her and Yu Shuman, that was enough.
Setting her cup down, Qin Ran asked, "I heard the richest man is trying to partner with the Southeast Asian government to develop some land?"
"Yes, that's correct," Wu Assistant replied.
Qin Ran had been keeping a close eye on the richest man, so Wu Assistant had gathered plenty of information. The news wasn't particularly secret, and it was easy to verify. Staring into her tea, Qin Ran recalled a similar situation in her past life. Back then, the richest man had gone even further, attempting to compete directly with the government over a project.
Capitalists care little about national interests—they only care about profit. If there's enough money to be made, they'll even go against their own government. And if they're ambitious enough, they'll aim for the global market, not content to remain the richest in one country.
Greed is a natural part of being a businessman, but unchecked greed needs to be kept in check. It seemed like the richest man's ambitions were starting to spiral out of control, and Qin Ran was more than willing to help fuel his downfall.
Qin Ran pondered for a moment. Because of Yu Shuman's career in entertainment, Qin Ran had purchased several related companies, including shares in companies that held rights to well-known intellectual properties. Even though she wasn't the majority owner, her influence was strong enough to sway corporate decisions.
"What's the plan for the land they want to develop?" she asked.
"They're planning to build a commercial complex."
Qin Ran chuckled. "Then let's go over there and raise the stakes. I think it would be better suited for a theme park instead of a commercial complex."
She said it so casually, but Wu Assistant, who had been by her side long enough, recognized the underlying strategy. Qin Ran didn't actually plan to acquire the land and build a theme park; she merely wanted to drive up the cost for the richest man.
If they could push the richest man to overpay for the land overseas while his domestic operations were hampered by competition, even he would feel the strain. Large corporations could withstand a lot, but only with government support. The shell company scandal had already tarnished his reputation with the government, reducing the likelihood of any future assistance.
Wu Assistant once again found herself questioning whether Qin Ran was really just a twenty-something university student. Wasn't she more like a monster in disguise?
After agreeing to Qin Ran's latest plan, Wu Assistant moved on to another update, this one regarding Yu Shuman.
"Regarding the account you set up to anonymously fund Yu Shuman's education, as of 5:30 p.m. yesterday, Miss Yu has repaid more than what you originally donated. She included a note saying she hopes the extra money can be used for more charitable efforts."
Qin Ran's heart swelled with pride. Her beloved Yu Shuman was truly a kind soul. Feeling so elated, Qin Ran instructed Wu Assistant to make another donation to the Hope Schools project, this time under Yu Shuman's name. It would be anonymous, like before, but Qin Ran intentionally left enough clues for anyone curious enough to trace the donation back to Yu Shuman.
With her instructions noted, Wu Assistant left the office. Qin Ran then called in a junior assistant to help her research private beaches and islands for sale. Buying an island or a private beach was something she couldn't tell Yu Shuman about—otherwise, she'd get an earful about reckless spending.
Later, she'd just claim she was renting the property.
For the next few days, Qin Ran and her assistant pored over countless listings, but none seemed to meet her exacting standards. It wasn't that they were all great options; Qin Ran just had a talent for finding faults. One beach was too sunny, which might tan Yu Shuman's skin. Another wasn't warm enough, making it unsuitable for a winter getaway. Even when the location seemed perfect, Qin Ran would complain about the size of the oceanfront or the potential lack of privacy.
The junior assistant, who had been excited at first, quickly became numb to the process. In her eyes, every option was perfect. After all, she could never dream of buying a private beach or island worth tens of billions. But after listening to Qin Ran's nitpicking, the assistant grudgingly admitted that her points were valid.
At first, she would try to reason with Qin Ran, saying things like, "This private beach is smaller, but the scenery and amenities are top-notch."
But Qin Ran would always have a retort. "The enclosed waters are too small. If we want to go sailing, we'll run into other yachts. Where's the privacy in that?"
The assistant could only think, Does it really matter? The ocean is huge. Just steer clear of the other boats! But arguing with Qin Ran was futile, so she eventually gave up and settled for agreeing, "You're right, boss."
Left to her own devices, Qin Ran's indecision worsened. By the end, she had narrowed it down to three choices but couldn't pick one. In a moment of desperation, she even asked Li Jie for help.
Li Jie was confused. "Are you selling 99 Entertainment or something?"
Qin Ran sighed. "No, it's for a friend. Just tell me which one you'd pick."
"This is out of my league. If you'd asked me to pick the latest designer bags, I could definitely help."
Realizing she wouldn't get any useful advice, Qin Ran decided to stop choosing altogether. She was a mature adult, after all, and they couldn't vacation at just one beach for the rest of their lives, right? So why not buy them all?
The junior assistant nearly choked when Qin Ran made her decision. "All of them?" she asked, incredulous.
"Yes, and while you're at it, start working on purchasing a private jet and getting the flight routes approved. It can't be that hard to fly internationally, can it?"
Numb, the assistant nodded and immediately began making the necessary arrangements. After all, Qin Ran's objective was clear: to whisk Yu Shuman away on a seaside vacation as soon as winter set in. With October already underway, there wasn't much time left before winter's end. The assistant knew she had to act fast to secure the properties and begin any necessary renovations. Even the most well-maintained beaches or islands would need some sprucing up to meet Qin Ran and Yu Shuman's tastes.
With one major task checked off her list, Qin Ran was in high spirits. When she called Yu Shuman that night, she almost let the secret slip, but she caught herself just in time.
Qin Ran: I'm all set for our seaside vacation! I've bought so many things for it!
Yu Shuman: Oh? What did you buy?
Qin Ran: Uh…seafood.
Yu Shuman: ???