Wang Haoran, busy with work at the company, glanced at Liu Yunshuang's message and simply replied, "No time," then dismissed it.
At the moment, he was promoting his trusted allies to manage the group, allowing him to focus more on handling the protagonist in the future. Besides, he needed to be ready for the next plot twist.
The weekend arrived quickly.
Recalling the approximate timeline from the plot, Wang Haoran took a car along with two bodyguards to a stone betting shop located in the northern part of the city.
As the wealthiest person in S City, Wang Haoran received a personal greeting from He Mingcheng, the owner of the stone gambling den, as soon as he arrived. The Wang Group had heavily supported the establishment of this gambling center, so Wang Haoran's arrival had been specially announced.
In the bustling stone gambling arena—hundreds of thousands of square meters large—the sound of excited cheers and desperate shouts filled the air. The mingled smells of stone dust and machinery noise gave the entire place an intense energy.
Accompanied by He Mingcheng, Wang Haoran wandered around. Though dressed casually, his attire's fine fabric, tailored fit, and fashionable yet understated style marked him as someone important, even to strangers. For those who knew him, they respectfully greeted him with, "Hello, Mr. Wang!"
Wang Haoran knew some people looked down on him for his youth, assuming his accomplishments were due solely to the fortune of his birth. Yet, no matter their private grievances, they treated him with respect in person, as if admiring him.
People are pragmatic after all; everyone has to make a living, and it's wiser to make friends than enemies. Of course, this doesn't apply to certain foolish protagonists and their equally foolish allies.
After wandering for a while, Wang Haoran asked nonchalantly, "Boss He, where do you source your rough stones from?"
Momentarily surprised, He Mingcheng answered honestly, "Mainly from Patui Town, near the border."
"Have you considered expanding your business?" Wang Haoran inquired, a glint in his eye.
"What do you mean, Mr. Wang?" He Mingcheng asked, curious.
With a chuckle, Wang Haoran replied, "I think your business has great potential, Boss He. I'd like to invest. Are you open to collaborating with the Wang Group for a win-win partnership?"
He Mingcheng, initially thinking it a jest, met Wang Haoran's serious gaze and quickly realized he was not joking.
"Are you serious, Mr. Wang?"
"Absolutely! In fact, I instructed my secretary to prepare a cooperation proposal in advance. You'll receive a call from my assistant soon," Wang Haoran replied.
And sure enough, moments later, He Mingcheng's phone rang. After answering, he was overjoyed. He had long wished to expand his business but lacked sufficient funds. With the Wang Group—a billion-dollar entity—backing him, financial and logistical concerns were solved. With the Wang family's connections, policies would also become more favorable.
Though he'd have to share profits with the Wang Group, in the long run, he would earn far more than he would alone.
He guessed that Wang Haoran wanted to start a new venture to prove his worth, tired of people saying he relied on family fortune. But regardless of the reason, it worked to He Mingcheng's advantage.
Seizing the moment, Wang Haoran continued, "I'll just take a look around here myself, Boss He. Feel free to check over the proposal. The sooner we finalize things, the better."
"Then... Mr. Wang, if you'll excuse me," He Mingcheng said, hastily excusing himself.
With that, He Mingcheng left in a hurry, but Wang Haoran, now alone, felt relieved. Finally, he'd sent away Lin Ming's "benefactor" character. The investment was indeed real, as the Wang Group wouldn't even notice the expense.
After estimating the plot timing, Wang Haoran made his way to the stone gambling den's entrance, setting the stage for a confrontation.
Meanwhile, at the entrance, Lin Ming was growing increasingly frustrated as he argued with the security guards.
"Why won't you let me in? Are you looking down on me? I know your boss, Mr. He! He invited me here!" Lin Ming protested, wearing a whitewashed shirt, jeans, and a pair of slippers, looking defiant.
Although the gambling center had no strict admission rules, under the influence of Lin Ming's reduced "charm," the guards felt compelled to hassle him.
Normally, a person's charm is around 50, but Lin Ming's reduced charm of 25 made him appear to them as no more than a street beggar.
The guards didn't believe Lin Ming's claims and taunted him with phrases like, "Big talker, aren't you afraid of breaking your ego?" and "Just another bum trying to sneak in for handouts."
After enduring their insults for over ten minutes, Lin Ming finally pulled out his phone to call He Mingcheng. By chance, he had the number from a previous encounter.
Seeing Lin Ming about to make the call, Wang Haoran stepped forward. Without even glancing at Lin Ming, he gave orders to the guards, "Let him in. I know this man—he's a student from a struggling family. It's a rare opportunity, so let him come in and expand his horizons."
The guards, having seen Wang Haoran's authoritative demeanor and how even the top manager treated him respectfully, immediately complied without question.
Lin Ming, stunned by Wang Haoran's sudden appearance, hesitated with his phone in hand, uncertain whether to proceed with the call.