Chapter 121: Incalculable Financial Power

“Quite the shameless rascal,” Zhang Yang muttered to himself.

Getting emotional with a rogue boss like this would only lower his own standing, so he didn’t say anything. While scanning the code to pay, he also called Manager Chen and asked him to come over.

His purpose was simply to understand the lease situation of this shop in person.

“Zhang Yang, we’re never coming to a place like this again!” Lin Jingmin pulled his arm, still fuming.

“Indeed, we won’t.” Zhang Yang smiled.

Not only would he never come again, he would also make this shop get out. As for where the shop owner would find a new location afterward, that was the owner’s problem. What did it have to do with him?

While talking on the phone, he walked out of the shop with Lin Jingmin and stood at the entrance.

The shop owner naturally noticed and immediately started shouting.

“What, calling someone? You think I’m easy to scare? I’ve been running a shop for so many years-what haven’t I seen? I’m telling you, it’s useless.”

Zhang Yang said a couple of words into the phone and hung up.

“Boss, the way you’re jumping around like this-do you have some kind of performance personality?” he asked with interest, smiling at the blustering shop owner.

“Kid, stop putting on that old, arrogant tone,” the shirtless shop owner sneered. “Go flirt with your girl instead of showing off here.”

Zhang Yang didn’t respond. He quietly went to a nearby convenience store, bought some water, handed Lin Jingmin a bottle, and took a couple of sips.

“Zhang Yang, who are we waiting for?” Lin Jingmin asked softly.

“Waiting for one of my subordinates to come,” Zhang Yang replied casually.

“Subordinate? You have a company? Didn’t you just say you collect rent?” Lin Jingmin hooked her arm around his and asked with a smile.

“You could say my company exists to collect rent,” Zhang Yang explained.

Hearing that, Lin Jingmin blinked in confusion.

He opened a company just to collect rent?

What kind of situation was that?

Before long, Zhang Yang spotted Manager Chen running over from a distance.

The property management company wasn’t far away. When Zhang Yang called earlier, Manager Chen happened to still be at the office, so he arrived within a few minutes.

Zhang Yang saw him but hadn’t spoken yet.

The owner of Fengyun Barbecue had already noticed him from afar and quickly went up to greet him.

“Manager Chen, perfect timing. I was planning to talk to you about renewing my lease in the next couple of days. This time I’m thinking of renting for several more years at once-maybe there are some discount policies?”

Manager Chen looked impatient. While walking straight toward Zhang Yang, he replied perfunctorily, “We’ll talk about that later. I have something to do right now.”

Moments later, he stood in front of Zhang Yang, looking nervous.

“Mr. Zhang…”

“It’s nothing. I just called you over to ask about something,” Zhang Yang said casually. “When does the lease for this Fengyun Barbecue shop expire?”

Manager Chen was stunned for a moment, then immediately poured out everything he knew.

“Mr. Zhang, the lease expires at the end of this month. The boss was just preparing to discuss renewal with us recently.”

As Zhang Yang listened, the owner of Fengyun Barbecue in the distance looked over with uncertainty.

Soon he walked over and offered a cigarette.

“Manager Chen, and this gentleman is?”

“You really can’t recognize Mount Tai,” Manager Chen said. “This is Mr. Zhang, the owner of Starlight Plaza.”

The shop owner stood there with his mouth open, staring at Zhang Yang speechlessly.

Lin Jingmin’s heart was also pounding.

What?

Zhang Yang was actually the owner of the entire Starlight Plaza?

She had known that Mr. Zhang’s financial strength was unfathomable, but owning an entire commercial street was beyond anything she had imagined.

“M-Mr. Zhang…” the shop owner stammered, his face turning purple as he tried to say something.

“Oh, no need to say more. I don’t accept after-the-fact apologies,” Zhang Yang said lightly. He didn’t mention what had just happened at all. Instead, he looked at Manager Chen.

“Manager Chen, raise the rent for the Fengyun Barbecue shop. Double it.”

“Double it?” Manager Chen froze, then quickly nodded. “Yes, Mr. Zhang. Understood.”

The shop owner beside them instantly turned pale and wanted to say something.

But Zhang Yang wouldn’t give him the chance.

To say something arrogant-he owned more than two hundred shops. How could he personally handle rent collection? Even negotiating rent wasn’t something he did himself.

You’re just a tenant. You think you can talk to me face-to-face?

“Let’s go.” Zhang Yang glanced at Lin Jingmin and pulled her along.

Lin Jingmin snapped back to reality and hurried after him as they quickly left.

On the road, she finally couldn’t hold it in.

“So the Starlight Plaza is actually yours? No wonder you said you live off rent. Goodness-more than two hundred shops… so just now you were doing an inspection.”

Zhang Yang looked at her slightly open mouth and found it amusing.

“Not really. How would I know you’d bring me here to eat?”

“I won’t bring you here next time. By the way, you probably didn’t eat well tonight, right?” Lin Jingmin said, as if she had done something wrong.

“It’s fine. I’ll just eat something casual,” Zhang Yang said indifferently.

“Wait here. Come on, follow me.” Lin Jingmin grabbed his hand and ran.

Zhang Yang sighed helplessly and let her lead him.

A moment later, at a roadside food stall, the two of them each had a bowl of wontons and ate with great appetite.

“If I’d known earlier, I would’ve just brought you to a street stall,” Lin Jingmin muttered.

“I’m not picky. If you treat me to a big meal, that’s fine. If you treat me to a street stall, that’s fine too. You don’t think I eat delicacies every day, do you?” Zhang Yang said with a smile.

“Doesn’t that Xiao Wang always take girls to street stalls?”

“Anyway, for rich guys like you, even if you take a girl to a street stall, she’ll probably still be delighted,” Lin Jingmin said with a laugh.

“Alright, it’s getting late.” Zhang Yang glanced at his watch and decided to take Lin Jingmin home.

Lin Jingmin was reluctant, but she clearly understood her place.

From beginning to end, her identity was just a designer, while Mr. Zhang was her major client.

Everything else existed only because of that professional relationship.

Under the night sky, Lin Jingmin held her handbag with both hands in front of her abdomen and followed obediently behind Zhang Yang before getting into the car.

“After you finish this job, aren’t you planning to change your car?”

While driving her home, Zhang Yang chatted casually.

“A new car?” Lin Jingmin’s eyes lit up.

That’s right. Why think about all those messy things? At this age, making money and improving her quality of life was the best choice.

“Of course I will,” she said firmly.

“What car are you thinking of?” Zhang Yang continued with a smile.

Once the topic started, Lin Jingmin couldn’t stop. From BMW to Mercedes-Benz, the conversation drifted further and further.

“Oh right, President Zhang, surely this Cayenne isn’t your only car?” Lin Jingmin asked with a smile.

“My cars?” Zhang Yang chuckled. “Of course not.”

While waiting at a red light, he casually opened his photo album and showed Lin Jingmin photos of his Cullinan and Bentley interiors that he had taken earlier.

Seeing the Rolls-Royce double-R steering wheel and the Bentley wing emblem in the photos, Lin Jingmin was speechless.

“Huh? The long legs in the passenger seat of these photos… why do they all look different?”

“Yeah. So?” Zhang Yang said casually.

Lin Jingmin carefully studied the handsome profile of the man in the driver’s seat beside her and recalled the evening she had spent with Mr. Zhang. Suddenly, she smiled.

“What are you smiling about?” Zhang Yang glanced at the suddenly charming little designer beside him.

“I was wondering when I’ll get the chance to sit in the passenger seat of your Cullinan or Bentley. By the way, the girls who’ve ridden in those two cars of yours must all be top-tier beauties, right?” Lin Jingmin’s cheeks flushed pink, and her eyes were slightly watery.

“How do I compare to them?”

“The fact that you dared to ask that question means you already know the answer,” Zhang Yang said with a smile, not answering directly.

Today he finally understood what it meant when girls competed with each other.

Look-even people who had never met could compare themselves across the air.

Late at night, the Cayenne stayed parked downstairs at Lin Jingmin’s home for a long time.

After who knew how long, Lin Jingmin got out of the car and tilted her head back, rinsing her mouth with bottled water.

“I’ll be returning to Shanghai soon. I’ll leave the villa here to you. If anything comes up, communicate with me. I trust you with the renovation,” Zhang Yang said from the half-open window, a cigarette already half-burned between his fingers.

“Don’t worry.” Lin Jingmin wiped her mouth with a tissue. Suddenly she bent down, her eyes flowing with charm, as if she wanted to give him a kiss.

“Hey, hey. I’m disgusted,” Zhang Yang said, blocking her with a finger.

“You’re disgusted with yourself,” Lin Jingmin laughed. “Then Mr. Zhang, have a safe trip.”

Zhang Yang nodded, waved his hand, rolled up the window, and drove away from downstairs.

“That little designer Lin is quite interesting.”

On the way back, Zhang Yang suddenly muttered to himself and shook his head with a smile.

That night, he returned home.

At that moment, Zhang Zhaohai and Song Wenqin had just finished a day of work. The couple was sitting at home drinking tea and reviewing the day’s business.

“Oh? A rare guest. Son, you finally remembered to come home,” Song Wenqin said in surprise as she looked up.

Zhang Yang smiled awkwardly.

After all, he had hardly been home these past few days, busy enjoying himself outside.

When he was outside, he was President Zhang, Mr. Zhang. But once he returned home, overnight he became again the same good son in his parents’ eyes.

“I’ve been a bit busy. Oh right, I even attended a class reunion yesterday,” Zhang Yang said.

“High school?” Zhang Zhaohai asked while hanging up his coat.

Zhang Yang nodded.

“Hey, I remember there was a very pretty girl in your class back then. You seemed quite taken with her at the time. Did you run into her at the reunion?” Zhang Zhaohai asked casually.

“Taken with her? Dad, you must be remembering wrong,” Zhang Yang paused for a moment and immediately denied it.

“Look at you, I didn’t even say who it was,” Zhang Zhaohai said with a triumphant smile. “I’m guessing at this reunion you must have finally held your head high. That former class beauty must have looked at you in a completely different light.”

“It’s just a reunion. Why make it sound like such a cliché plot?” Zhang Yang felt his father’s imagination was ridiculously melodramatic.

What era was this?

A class reunion didn’t necessarily equal a face-slapping moment. Everyone was busy these days.

Coincidentally, the phone he had placed on the table suddenly lit up.

Zhang Zhaohai had sharp eyes. He glanced at it and read aloud, “Meng Baihan? Right, that seems to be the name. And here you are denying it while already interacting with her behind the scenes.”

Beside them, Song Wenqin coughed lightly and looked at Zhang Yang.

“Son, you mustn’t become the kind of person who flits from one affection to another.”

Zhang Yang helplessly picked up his phone and went back to his room.

On the phone, Meng Baihan had just sent him a message.

“I’m finally starting to experience the benefits of being a teacher.”

“How so?” Zhang Yang replied.

“Because summer vacation is coming. When I was a student I was always jealous of teachers having winter and summer breaks. Now it’s finally my turn.” Meng Baihan sounded as if she were chatting with an old friend, her tone light and cheerful.

Zhang Yang read the message and blinked.

Since when had they become this familiar? Familiar enough for her to message him late at night to chat and share her mood?

After thinking about it, he simply replied that he envied her.

“Come on, Boss Zhang. You’re a big boss and you envy a small teacher like me?” This time, Meng Baihan sent a voice message.

Her soft laughter could be heard mixed in the recording.

There was a light knock on the door.

Zhang Zhaohai stuck his head in. “Go take a shower and get some rest early.”

“Okay, I know.” Zhang Yang answered hurriedly. Looking down at Meng Baihan, who seemed to be enjoying the conversation, he could only reply that he was going to take a shower.

“Alright, go ahead. We’ll chat later then,” Meng Baihan replied understandingly.

Zhang Yang put down his phone and went to the bathroom for a shower.

After drying his hair and returning to his room, more than half an hour had passed.

He picked up his phone and looked at the chat window with Meng Baihan. After thinking for a moment, he exited without sending another message.

It was already the middle of the night. She probably wasn’t still waiting for his message, right?

He didn’t think much of it. He casually placed the phone beside his pillow, turned off the light, and prepared to sleep.

Strangely enough, as soon as the lights went out and he rested his head on his own pillow, drowsiness quickly overwhelmed him, and Zhang Yang soon fell into a deep sleep.

The phone beside his pillow suddenly lit up.

“Are you asleep? I’m planning to travel during the summer vacation. Do you have any plans?”

A while later-

“Alright, I guess you’re already asleep. Good night then.”

Zhang Yang slept very soundly that night.

Early the next morning, sunlight filtered through the curtains.

Zhang Yang stretched lazily, still a little dazed, as if it were a school morning from many years ago.

Then he touched his top-of-the-line iPhone and saw the messages the former high school class beauty had sent him in the middle of the night. Instantly, he woke up completely.

“Right, that sleep really messed up my sense of time.” Zhang Yang looked at the handsome face reflected in the black screen of his phone and shook his head with a smile.

Opening WeChat, he casually replied to Meng Baihan.

He wrote things like he had gone to sleep early last night and hadn’t seen her messages.