Chapter 128: A Huge Surprise

After finishing the tour of the office building, Zhang Yang headed straight to the forty-thousand-square-meter commercial area attached to Prosperity Plaza.

The commercial space sat right next to the office building and consisted of above-ground stores plus a sunken plaza. Compared with Starlight Plaza back in Yinghai, the quality of the tenants here was on an entirely different level.

From Starbucks to Dicos, from Chinese fast-food restaurants to Subway, along with numerous milk tea shops and dessert stores-wherever there was demand, there was a market.

With so many office buildings nearby, the consumer base consisted mainly of white-collar workers, so business in these stores was fairly good.

Of course, some spaces were still vacant-for example, shops that were too large or located in relatively remote corners-but overall it was not a major problem.

“This location would actually be perfect for a bookstore café, selling coffee and drinks at the same time.”

Standing in front of a vacant two-floor storefront in the commercial area and looking through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, Zhang Yang muttered to himself.

The popularity of roast duck barbecue restaurants might still be strong now, but sooner or later that trend would fade. When that day came, he would definitely need to arrange something else for Bei Wei.

He had long thought about opening a bookstore café for her-a place where people could read books and drink coffee.

Whether it made money did not matter. The goal was simply a peaceful and pleasant life.

Every day she could leisurely drive her Panamera, arrive unhurriedly at the bookstore café that belonged to her, choose a seat by the window, have the staff make her a cup of coffee, read a book, sip her coffee, watch the clouds drift by, and quietly enjoy the passing of time.

If she became bored, she could go traveling, explore the world, or even find a random job in one of the companies in the office tower under his name just to pass the time.

Working in her boyfriend’s office building, owning a two-floor bookstore café downstairs, driving a Panamera to and from work every day, and returning home to a luxury apartment worth tens of millions in Cuihu Tiandi.

For a girl living in Shanghai, that kind of life would already be a dream.

This was the life Zhang Yang had planned and arranged for Bei Wei.

As for whether Bei Wei would like such a life, based on his understanding of her, she probably would.

“I’ll leave it as a surprise for her,” Zhang Yang thought. “Consider it a housewarming gift.”

Thinking of that, he immediately checked the calendar.

Coincidentally, tomorrow happened to be an auspicious day for moving into a new place. Since it was such a good day, he might as well arrange it for tomorrow.

With 130 million in cash on hand, he felt unprecedentedly wealthy.

Just as he was thinking, the phone beside him began to ring.

Zhang Yang answered it. It turned out to be the sweet-voiced bank representative responsible for high-end private banking services. She did not talk much about business and instead repeatedly hinted at meeting offline.

“Mr. Zhang, are you free in the next couple of days? This is Xiaofei, we spoke before.”

“We’ll talk about it later. I’m not sure yet,” Zhang Yang replied casually and brushed it off for now.

He had received calls like this before. When the total funds in his account had first exceeded ten million, private banking representatives had already begun calling him occasionally.

What did they want?

Naturally, to invite him to open various private banking services.

In fact, he had long been eligible to apply for several of the prestigious domestic private-bank black cards, but he had been too lazy to handle it. Even if he was not in a hurry, plenty of people were.

Now that the funds in his account had reached an unprecedented level, the calls were coming again.

“Forget it. I’ll find time to get an ICBC American Express card,” Zhang Yang said with a shake of his head.

The ICBC-American Express co-branded black card came with numerous benefits-VIP channels, exclusive privileges, one-on-one services, customized travel arrangements, and many conveniences that touched every aspect of daily life.

Take the simplest example: if he went to Disneyland, with this card he could skip the lines entirely.

Or consider Michelin restaurants. If he made a reservation at the last minute, he might not get a table. But as a black-card user, a single phone call could handle it.

Even wealthy people were still people. As long as his wealth had not yet reached the level of owning a private jet and traveling with an entourage everywhere, these seemingly small privileges actually made his daily life much more convenient.

He truly needed them.

Lowering his head, Zhang Yang sent a message to Bei Wei.

“Let’s do the housewarming tomorrow. I’ll reserve a table for noon tomorrow. Ask Bei Jiajia to come.”

There was no need for a big event. Just a small meal with a sense of ceremony would be enough.

As for whether Bei Jiajia wanted to bring someone or whether Bei Wei wanted to invite her friends, that would be up to them.

A moment later, Bei Wei replied.

“Sure. I told Bei Jiajia already. By the way, should we invite Gu Jiani?”

“Of course. Up to you,” Zhang Yang agreed readily.

That evening, Zhang Yang made the reservation and booked Rongfu Banquet for noon the next day.

He had eaten there before. It was located in the Bei Xuan Mansion, which was actually the former residence of I. M. Pei’s family. Zhang Yang quite liked the dishes there.

Late at night, in the penthouse at COFCO Haijing No. 1.

Zhang Yang was alone at home that night.

The lights of the spacious apartment were fully lit, and the huge balcony stretched wide.

He brought out a lounge chair, lay down comfortably, looked at the century-old Bund outside the balcony, felt the breeze blowing from the Huangpu River, and listened to the faint sound of distant ship horns.

The feeling was indescribably pleasant.

Standing at a point that countless people might struggle their entire lives to approach, Zhang Yang felt that how his future life would unfold now depended entirely on his own choices.

Of course, he could not become too arrogant.

After all, he was only at the finishing line of ordinary people. Among true tycoons, he was still just an unknown figure.

“Right, the borrowed money needs to be returned. And this house doesn’t need to be sold anymore either.” Zhang Yang took out his phone, thought for a moment, then put it back.

Better wait a bit.

Borrowing and repaying on the same day would look far too fake.

As for how he would repay them, Zhang Yang had never been someone who treated others unfairly. Anyone who chose to trust him and lent him money without hesitation would naturally receive his gratitude in return.

After all, the cashback he received from the system multiplied money by hundreds of times.

“And there’s also Pei Xiaoru.” Zhang Yang sighed softly while standing on the balcony.

Someone willing to hand over several hundred thousand without hesitation carried a rather heavy weight of goodwill.

After all, those several hundred thousand had turned into tens of millions for him through the system’s cashback. In truth, there was not much else he could offer in return. Promises were unrealistic; the only thing he could give was money.

“Right, didn’t she say she was preparing to buy a house? I might as well buy one for her back in her hometown.”

Lighting a cigarette, Zhang Yang made his decision.

Early the next morning, Bei Jiajia had only been halfway through her shopping trip when she began preparing a housewarming gift for Bei Wei.

“Wait, your sister is moving into her new place today?” Xue Fei followed beside her like sticky glue.

“Yes. You can head back later. I’m going to lunch,” Bei Jiajia replied flatly after glancing at him.

Xue Fei blinked, clearly interested.

“Can you bring me along to show up for a bit?”

“Bring you along?” Bei Jiajia laughed in disbelief. “Xue Fei, are you serious? We don’t have any relationship right now. Why would I bring you there? And what identity would you go with?”

“As a friend, obviously. I’ll just go congratulate them. Isn’t that fine?” Xue Fei said shamelessly.

“No, absolutely not.” Bei Jiajia refused immediately.

Xue Fei frowned, feeling a headache coming on. Suddenly he looked toward a jewelry shop nearby, got an idea, and ran inside.

A moment later, he came back holding a small golden money tree ornament.

“Jiajia, look-I even bought a housewarming gift. Just give me a chance to show up. Just say I’m a friend. I’m not asking for anything else.”

His plan was clear.

As long as he could appear in front of Bei Jiajia’s family openly, over time it would naturally shorten the distance and make their relationship seem more natural.

“Just as a friend?” Bei Jiajia said suspiciously.

“Yes. Just a friend. I swear I won’t say anything extra. I just want to show my congratulations since your sister is moving into a new place,” Xue Fei swore solemnly.

“Fine, whatever.” Bei Jiajia muttered and let him come along.

After all, this guy was simply like that.

She also knew that someone like her brother-in-law Zhang Yang was impossible to find even with a lantern. If she insisted on using him as the standard, she might remain single forever. Since this guy was willing to pursue her, he could pursue her. Whether she accepted him or not was her own choice.

Near noon, the two left the mall together.

“Come on, Jiajia, please get in.” Xue Fei walked toward his BMW M2 and smiled confidently.

The car had cost about seven hundred thousand after purchase. It was a work vehicle his father had bought for him.

Even in Shanghai, someone his age driving a seventy-thousand-dollar car-especially one bought by family-was still quite respectable.

Bei Jiajia rolled her eyes and sat in the passenger seat.

“Stop showing off. I really don’t want to hurt your confidence.”

“What do you mean?” Xue Fei laughed. “Oh, you mean your brother-in-law. Do you think I lack self-awareness? After all, in your eyes your brother-in-law is the most outstanding man in the world. Of course I can’t compare with him.”

“That tone sounds a bit unconvinced,” Bei Jiajia said with a laugh.

“No, no. If your brother-in-law is that impressive, I’ve long admired him. Today I can finally meet him,” Xue Fei replied calmly.

Whether he was real or fake would become obvious soon enough.

Before, hearing Bei Jiajia praise him so much, Xue Fei had felt a little unconvinced and somewhat intimidated.

But after seeing yesterday that the so-called perfect brother-in-law had actually borrowed money from Bei Jiajia, the flawless image she had described collapsed instantly.

What was there left to argue about? He simply chose not to say it.

Soon afterward, the car headed directly toward Rongfu Banquet.

“Rongfu Banquet is quite high-end,” Xue Fei commented casually while driving.

“What’s so surprising? With my brother-in-law’s financial strength, isn’t this completely normal?” Bei Jiajia said without hesitation.

Xue Fei smiled without speaking, his mind calm.

Ever since he thought he had seen the truth, the image of that so-called perfect brother-in-law had already fallen apart in his eyes.

No matter how much Bei Jiajia praised him to the skies, he simply smiled it off.

Outside Rongfu Banquet, Xue Fei parked the car and took out the golden money tree ornament.

Giving such a gift as a housewarming present to the sister of a girl he had not even confirmed a relationship with was enough to show both his sincerity and his financial strength.

“Just follow me,” Bei Jiajia said hurriedly while looking down at her phone.

Xue Fei smiled and followed behind her.

After entering Rongfu Banquet and walking only a short distance, Xue Fei saw Bei Jiajia walk toward a girl.

The girl was very pretty and sweet-looking. She must be Bei Jiajia’s sister.

“If someone managed to pursue a girl like this, that brother-in-law Bei Jiajia keeps talking about must really have some ability,” Xue Fei thought while looking at her from afar, admiration in his eyes mixed with a bit of envy.

From a man’s perspective, he had to admit he envied that unseen brother-in-law.

No matter how you looked at it, the guy clearly had some skills.

Suppressing the strange feeling in his heart, he walked forward with a smile.

“Jiajia, this must be your sister, right?”

“Call me by my full name!” Bei Jiajia emphasized, then turned to Bei Wei. “Sis, this is Xue Fei.”

“Congratulations on your housewarming, Sister!” Xue Fei presented the golden money tree. “A small token of my goodwill. Please accept it.”

“This…” Bei Wei looked at the money tree, then at Bei Jiajia, a questioning look flashing in her eyes.

“Hey, don’t look at me. He insisted on giving it. I couldn’t stop him,” Bei Jiajia said with a helpless shrug.

“Yes, yes. I insisted on it,” Xue Fei added with a smile. “There’s no other meaning. Just a sincere blessing from a friend.”

“You’re welcome to come, but the gift is too expensive. I can’t accept it,” Bei Wei said gently, waving her hand.

“Sister, please accept it,” Xue Fei stepped forward, still trying to insist.

“Bei Jiajia, come here.” Bei Wei pulled Bei Jiajia aside and asked quietly, “Have you two confirmed your relationship?”

“No,” Bei Jiajia blinked.

“You really are something. If your relationship isn’t confirmed, is it appropriate to bring him here? After all, he can’t come empty-handed if he comes along. What am I supposed to do now-accept it?” Bei Wei said with a hint of complaint.

“Who cares, just accept it,” Bei Jiajia said casually, completely unconcerned.

“You really…” Bei Wei sighed helplessly.

While they were speaking, a tall figure approached from not far away.

“Why are you all standing here? Aren’t you going into the private room?”

Bei Jiajia looked up and immediately smiled brightly. She walked over and hooked her arm around the man’s arm.

“Brother-in-law, you’re here.”

Nearby, Xue Fei stared closely at the man in front of him and took a quiet breath.

This was Bei Jiajia’s brother-in-law?

The tall figure, sharp features with a straight nose and thin lips, and the natural aura radiating from him.

Setting everything else aside, just in terms of appearance and presence alone, the man completely outclassed him.

“I’ve been waiting in the private room for a while. Let’s go in. Why are you still standing out here?” Zhang Yang said with a smile, glancing at Bei Jiajia and pointing toward the private room not far away.

“And this gentleman is?”

Zhang Yang looked toward the young man standing nearby.

“Oh, I forgot to introduce him. This is Xue Fei, the one I mentioned to you,” Bei Jiajia said, blinking quietly.

Zhang Yang immediately understood.

“Hello. Since you’re here, you’re our guest. Please come in,” he stepped forward and nodded with a friendly smile.

“Brother-in-law… hello,” Xue Fei said with a slightly stiff smile. The confidence he had before arriving was now completely suppressed by the overwhelming presence of the man in front of him.

Doubt rose in his heart once again.