Chapter 168: Too Popular

“Right, I should go buy myself a new outfit,” Zhang Zhaohai suddenly muttered.

“No need, Dad.” Zhang Yang shook his head with a smile. “As long as you’re neatly dressed. It’s not like you have to wear big brands.”

Without Zhang Yang saying more, Zhang Zhaohai immediately understood.

That’s right.

People pile on what they lack.

Do truly wealthy people rely on external things to prove themselves? Being comfortable is enough.

Besides, a Maybach S680 already explained everything.

“But you can’t have nothing either.” Zhang Yang thought for a moment and took out the Vacheron Constantin watch he no longer wore.

Although it couldn’t compare to the multi-million Patek Philippe he wore now, it was still a world-famous watch worth seven hundred thousand. Letting his father wear it out would naturally be respectable enough.

“A watch?” Zhang Zhaohai took it suspiciously.

He knew a bit about watches and recognized it immediately as a Vacheron Constantin.

“You even prepared a Vacheron Constantin for your old man. Let me try it on!”

Zhang Zhaohai happily extended his wrist and put on the watch worth seven hundred thousand. Although he didn’t know the exact price, he knew it definitely wasn’t cheap.

After putting it on, Zhang Zhaohai stood in front of the mirror and looked at himself.

In an instant, the image of a middle-aged boss wearing a seven-hundred-thousand watch, driving a Maybach, and owning his own restaurant appeared.

It had to be said-when wealth supports you, the change in aura is immediate.

Zhang Zhaohai nodded with satisfaction.

Around noon, the family of three headed out.

Downstairs, the Maybach and Cullinan parked together were extremely eye-catching, especially in such an ordinary residential complex.

When Zhang Yang came downstairs, he even saw a few passersby standing there taking pictures.

“A Maybach worth four million! And the one next to it is even crazier-a Cullinan?” Several young people shouted excitedly, their eyes filled with admiration and fanaticism.

Zhang Yang said nothing.

Zhang Zhaohai suddenly stopped walking and looked back at the building behind them, saying thoughtfully,

“We’ve lived in this place for many years.”

As soon as he heard that, Zhang Yang knew his father had something on his mind.

After all, who wouldn’t? Driving luxury cars and wearing a luxury watch while living in an old residential building-it was too out of place.

Luxury houses and luxury cars went together.

At least in a luxury residential area, driving a Maybach wouldn’t attract people staring.

“Dad, don’t worry. Everything will come,” Zhang Yang said meaningfully.

Everything that needed to be done had already been quietly arranged.

A villa worth tens of millions, decoration worth tens of millions. As long as his parents stayed in Yinghai, their familiar city and hometown, they would be able to live comfortably and enjoy a superior life.

Once his parents were settled, Zhang Yang himself-whether in Shanghai or anywhere else-would feel even more relaxed and free.

Zhang Zhaohai glanced suspiciously at his son but didn’t say anything or ask.

Soon afterward, the headlights of the two cars flashed.

The young people watching scattered aside, though they didn’t go far and continued staring with longing.

Zhang Yang got into his Cullinan, planning to follow his father’s Maybach later.

Their destination was a banquet hotel in Yinghai. The hotel was quite large, and the owner happened to be one of his father’s former fellow apprentices.

“In previous years, I never heard Dad mention such a fellow apprentice,” Zhang Yang muttered to himself as he started the car.

After eleven o’clock, the two cars slowed down and arrived at the entrance of Shengshi International Banquet Center.

In front of the first-floor lobby, people were coming and going.

Several well-dressed middle-aged men who had been chatting warmly suddenly turned their heads in shock.

After all, the presence of a Maybach and a Cullinan was too strong-impossible to ignore.

“My goodness, a Maybach S680? And a Cullinan too? Boss Wang, your hotel actually has guests like this?” one of them exclaimed.

“Wait, I think I just saw…” Boss Wang of Shengshi International Banquet Center stared in disbelief at the middle-aged man getting out of the Maybach. He quickly stopped chatting and hurried over.

“Dahai, it really is you!”

“Brother Wang, long time no see.” Zhang Zhaohai stepped out of the car with a smile.

The man opening his arms toward him was his former fellow apprentice, now the owner of the hotel. It had been many years since the two had any contact.

Unexpectedly, today they seemed… like affectionate brothers again?

In the blink of an eye, they gave each other a strong embrace. Someone unfamiliar might think they were extremely close brothers.

“This must be sister-in-law?” Boss Wang greeted Song Wenqin warmly.

Song Wenqin nodded politely.

Although she had never met this Boss Wang, she had heard of him-a self-made man who had built such a large business from nothing.

“Dad.” Zhang Yang arrived a bit later, holding the Cullinan key in his hand.

“Th-this…” Boss Wang stuttered slightly. He looked at Zhang Yang, who had just stepped out of the Cullinan, and seemed momentarily speechless.

“Oh, let me introduce him. This is my son.” Zhang Zhaohai smiled and pulled Zhang Yang over. “Zhang Yang, call him Uncle Wang.”

“Hello, Uncle Wang.” Zhang Yang nodded in greeting.

“Good, good-truly a fine young man.” Boss Wang immediately praised him enthusiastically, almost excessively. “Please come upstairs, please. The old man is in the Four Seasons Hall. I’ll take you there.”

Soon, Zhang Yang’s family of three followed Boss Wang upstairs.

They chatted casually along the way.

Zhang Yang and his mother walked behind, watching Boss Wang chatting warmly with Zhang Zhaohai as if they were real brothers, and couldn’t help finding it amusing.

“Dahai, after all these years, we fellow apprentices should have gotten closer long ago.”

“By the way, has my nephew married yet? Does he have a girlfriend? My daughter just returned from abroad. How about introducing the two young people?”

Zhang Yang listened to the words that inevitably reached his ears and felt the almost burning gaze Boss Wang occasionally cast toward him. He felt somewhat helpless.

Being too popular wasn’t always a good thing.

For example, himself. Wherever he went, people had their eyes on him. It wasn’t enough that women noticed him-many people eager to become someone’s father-in-law or mother-in-law also targeted him.

It was exhausting.

Inside the Four Seasons Hall, Zhang Zhaohai and Boss Wang entered together.

Facing the white-haired master who had once taught him the skills to earn a living, Zhang Zhaohai solemnly took out a large red envelope and presented it.

“Good, good. Dahai, it’s been so many years. How have you been?” the energetic birthday celebrant asked with a smile.

Zhang Zhaohai naturally stepped forward for a round of greetings.

Some people present were strangers, others were fellow apprentices from the past. At their age, everyone was perceptive. Seeing how respectfully Boss Wang treated Zhang Zhaohai, they immediately came forward to greet him.

Everyone was extremely polite.

Combined with the bits of information Boss Wang casually revealed, their enthusiasm increased even more.

From behind, Zhang Yang could clearly see that in no time his father had received many business cards and exchanged plenty of WeChat contacts. The gains were considerable.

“Nephew, come look at my daughter.”

Zhang Yang had been sitting idly, watching Zhang Zhaohai talking animatedly in the distance, when suddenly Boss Wang sat down beside him.

“Uncle Wang, that wouldn’t be appropriate, would it?”

“What’s inappropriate?” Boss Wang grinned and pushed his phone in front of Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang glanced at it quickly. It showed a girl with a bright smile.

“Uncle Wang, I have a girlfriend,” Zhang Yang said seriously.

“It’s fine. Just consider getting to know a friend. Your uncle here is very open-minded.” Boss Wang wasn’t surprised at all and kept promoting his daughter.

He praised her as a graduate of a prestigious university, pure-hearted, gentle and virtuous, and so on.

“Uncle… I need to use the restroom.” Seeing that Boss Wang showed no sign of stopping, Zhang Yang quickly interrupted and used it as an excuse to leave.

Outside the Four Seasons Hall, the neighboring halls were all full.

Zhang Yang walked slowly past, observing the scale of the banquet hotel.

Such a large hotel probably wasn’t owned solely by Boss Wang. Even if it was a partnership, it was still impressive.

He silently evaluated it while passing a couple.

He didn’t notice that behind him, a girl suddenly stopped and stared at him without blinking.

“Pei Xue, what are you looking at?” The tall man beside her followed her gaze and only saw an extremely handsome back, immediately asking with jealousy.

“Luo Hui, it’s him!” Pei Xue held out her wrist.

Luo Hui immediately understood. “So he’s the guy you mentioned yesterday. What a coincidence. Wait here-I’ll go get justice for you.”

Without hesitation, Luo Hui went off to confront him.

Pei Xue didn’t stop him. She simply watched her boyfriend walk toward the distance.

Inside the restroom, there was no one else.

Zhang Yang walked out and stood at the sink washing his hands.

“Hey, bro, it’s you, right?” Suddenly a sturdy young man appeared beside him.

Zhang Yang stopped and looked around.

There was no one else here.

“Are you… talking to me?”

“Yeah, you. You’re the one who laid hands on my girlfriend yesterday, right?” Luo Hui said coldly. “What’s the meaning of that? A grown man hitting a woman-makes you look capable, does it? Try doing that to me.”

Zhang Yang immediately understood.

Realizing the other man’s intention, he didn’t care at all and didn’t take it seriously. He simply glanced at the young man in front of him and walked straight past.

“Hey, hey… who said you could leave?” Luo Hui stepped in front of him, glanced at the empty restroom, and his eyes began flashing with a certain malicious intent.

“Move aside.” Zhang Yang glanced behind him along the direction of Luo Hui’s gaze.

“Move your-” Luo Hui had just opened his mouth when he reached out to grab Zhang Yang’s collar, intending to shove him into the restroom.

Zhang Yang looked at the hand and casually grabbed it.

“Let’s just shake hands then.”

Their hands clasped.

Without hesitation, Zhang Yang began applying pressure.

Creak… creak!

“Ah-pain… it hurts!” Luo Hui’s face instantly changed color. It felt as if his hand was being crushed by some kind of machine. A huge sense of panic surged in his heart.

It felt as if, if this didn’t stop, his hand might really be crushed into a lump.

“What’s wrong with you? Are you made of glass? I didn’t even use any strength.”

Zhang Yang released his hand and looked at the other man’s now limp, reddened palm with slight confusion.

Honestly, he had only applied a little pressure.

Luo Hui didn’t reply. He simply clutched his hand and squatted down immediately, his back heaving as he howled in pain.

Zhang Yang shook his head and left directly.

In the restroom, guests came and went.

Seeing such a big guy squatting there with watery eyes, they had no idea what had happened.

Even when asked, he said nothing and only kept shaking his head.

After a long while, the figure slowly stood up, trembling as he took out his phone and struggled to make a call.

“Bro, are you free at noon? Help me call a few guys from the fighting gym. Yeah, someone messed with me. Come help me get some revenge.”

After a while, he hung up and went to the sink, splashing water on his tearful eyes.

Until… nothing unusual could be seen.

At noon, the banquet began. Zhang Yang sat with his parents and casually glanced at the Maybach key his father had placed on the table.

“Come, come. We fellow apprentices, together with our families, will toast the old master. May your blessings be as vast as the sea and your life as long as the southern mountains.”

Everyone at the table stood up, raised their glasses, and toasted the old man.

The old man smiled cheerfully, his eyes full of satisfaction.

Not long after sitting down, the fellow apprentices began drinking and bragging.

Although they hadn’t seen each other for many years, Zhang Zhaohai blended in surprisingly quickly. For a moment, even Zhang Yang couldn’t tell whether it was genuine brotherhood or something else.

“Come, Dahai, let me toast you. We should keep in touch more in the future.”

“Dahai, I was wondering why you’ve been so quiet and low-key all these years. Turns out you’ve been making a fortune, huh? You’re even driving a Maybach now. Let me see-your Vacheron Constantin must be worth seven or eight hundred thousand, right?”

“Uh… ha?” Zhang Zhaohai immediately shot Zhang Yang a shocked and questioning look.

Zhang Yang nodded lightly.

Zhang Zhaohai’s wrist trembled slightly, but then he straightened his back even more and looked increasingly confident.

“Yeah, about that.”

“I’m ashamed. The watch I’m wearing now can’t even be compared,” Boss Wang sighed dramatically, while noticing the watch on Zhang Yang’s wrist from afar.

“Oh? Nephew, your watch looks pretty good too. Let Uncle Wang take a look.”

“Sure, take a look.” Zhang Yang casually removed the Patek Philippe from his wrist and handed it over without concern.

“Wow, a Patek Philippe?” Boss Wang didn’t know the exact model, but he recognized the brand. He praised it repeatedly while flipping it around and recording a short video.

Earlier, he had mentioned it to his daughter on WeChat, but she didn’t quite believe him.

Now was the perfect chance to record the watch and let his daughter identify it.

After all, she had studied abroad, so her knowledge was definitely broader than theirs.