“Old Li, who the hell is that bastard putting on airs?”
Cui’s father took the teacup that Chairman Li handed him and downed it in one gulp. His expression still carried a trace of shock as he asked, “That mysterious and elusive AI big shot, President A, who appeared out of nowhere and the big shot who also invested in the emerging internet industry?”
Chairman Li glanced at his friend, who was desperately waiting for an answer. He calmly poured more tea and handed the cup to Cui Leilei.
There was even a hint of hope in his eyes as he patiently offered guidance.
“Good boy, take your time and savor it. This is the Wuyi Da Hong Pao that your uncle has treasured for a long time. It’s the legendary tribute grade tea. You need to taste it carefully, appreciate its ‘rock like’ characteristics and experience the lingering fragrance left between your teeth and cheeks.”
Cui Leilei looked at Chairman Li, who was patiently teaching him and obediently nodded.
He carefully accepted the legendary tribute grade tea with both hands. Slowly, he blew away the tea stems floating on the surface.
Then he slowly took one gulp.
After finishing the tea, Cui Leilei closed his eyes and carefully savored the taste again and again.
Although he felt a faint sweetness lingering in his mouth, he honestly had to admit that it still wasn’t as delicious as milk tea.
There was nothing he could do about it.
He had been the son of a nouveau riche in both of his lives. He truly couldn’t learn to appreciate this kind of refined tea drinking hobby.
But the Uncle Li standing before him was a member of an established aristocratic family. As he had grown older, he had become increasingly fond of music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine and tea.
He carried the elegant bearing that could only be cultivated through centuries of cultural heritage.
As these thoughts passed through his mind, Cui Leilei secretly opened one eye a crack.
He happened to catch the hopeful look in Uncle Li’s eyes.
His heart immediately gave a nervous jolt.
He hurriedly searched through all the flattering phrases he had learned, thinking them over one after another.
Once he had gathered enough knowledge to make his words sound cultured, Cui Leilei slowly opened both eyes.
With an expression of absolute seriousness, he began explaining his impressions after drinking the tea.
“As expected of the finest Da Hong Pao. What excellent tea! Compared with Assam black tea, which carries a faint caramel flavor, this tea has a subtle osmanthus fragrance. It also lacks the strong astringency of Ceylon black tea.”
Chairman Li: “…………”
Meanwhile, Cui’s father had heard the words tribute grade tea. He carefully savored the taste for a moment and felt that there really was a faint fragrance.
Unable to suppress his curiosity any longer, he immediately put on a flattering smile.
“Chairman Li, pour me another cup.”
Chairman Li glanced at the rough, straightforward Cui’s father. Then he looked at Cui Leilei, whose eyes were shining brightly as though he had genuinely been praising the tea from the bottom of his heart.
He remained silent for a long moment before finally conceding.
With a sigh, he said, “Old Cui, having a good face really does matter. Even if Leilei downs the tea in one gulp, he still looks elegant enough to be pleasing to the eye.”
Although Cui Leilei had been talking complete nonsense and his response had barely matched the topic, he had genuinely answered the question with absolute seriousness.
Especially with those sparkling eyes of his, silently conveying how earnest and sincere he was.
It was difficult not to soften toward him, even if only a little.
For example, at this very moment, Chairman Li’s mind contained not a single thought about tea ceremony.
There was only one sentence running through his head.
Make Leilei a cup of the milk tea young people like.
After sighing with emotion, Chairman Li once again looked toward the rough man with the square shaped face and reservedly rolled his eyes.
Even now, he still couldn’t understand how the couple’s genes had produced such an attractive little face on Cui Leilei.
“Of course. My son is ridiculously handsome.”
Cui’s father looked extremely proud, basking in the honor of having such a son.
He wasn’t this casual with everyone else but Chairman Li was different.
Although Chairman Li had been born into an established aristocratic and wealthy family, with one set of rules after another, he didn’t possess that lofty, superior attitude. Instead, he was quite approachable and open minded, with a straightforward and generous personality.
The two of them were compatible in temperament. They had also benefited one another for decades.
Their friendship was exceptionally solid.
“I really don’t know what kind of luck you stumbled into.”
Chairman Li didn’t bother with any polite formalities. He immediately began complaining.
“Your son is filial, too. He’s nothing like mine. Now that I’ve grown old, I finally managed to find a hospital room I liked for recuperation yet I still have to give it up to a younger generation for the sake of the company’s interests.”
“Don’t get angry, don’t get angry. Isn’t that detached courtyard pretty good, too? If that kid really is as capable as everyone says, then let him have it.”
As he spoke, Cui’s father reached out to take the teacup and comforted him.
“Old Li, I think this is where you’re going wrong. People who are born into families that are too privileged tend to be arrogant. You’re not like me at all. I know how to bend and stretch.”
“You’re simply a bully who picks on the weak and fears the strong.”
Chairman Li expressionlessly brushed Cui’s father’s hand away.
Then, without the slightest sense that he was wasting something precious, he handed the entire teapot to his assistant.
“Turn all of it into milk tea. Make Leilei an extra large cup.”
Faced with his friend’s blatant double standard, Cui’s father sighed.
He simply continued with the topic he had been discussing earlier, speaking from the heart as he explained his thoughts.
“People who work in this kind of high tech internet industry are, in my eyes, people with genuinely good brains. Talent is more important than family background. If you can’t compete with someone, there’s nothing you can do about it, right? Xiao Li is already one of the outstanding figures among the younger generation. There’s no need for you to compare him with other people’s children.”
Chairman Li laughed, covering his chest. “Talent. That really is a sharp observation but, Old Cui, do you know what else that kid has besides talent?”
As he spoke, Chairman Li waved his hand motioning for the father and son to move closer. Then, lowering his voice mysteriously, he said, “He’s from the Shen family of Haicheng.”
“The Shen family?” Father Cui looked bewildered. “What do they do?”
The moment Cui Leilei heard the word Shen, his heart began beating faster, entirely of its own accord. Even though he knew that Shen Qian was definitely unrelated to the four words Haicheng Shen family, hearing that name at this particular moment still made him inexplicably guilty. He felt as though he were a thief who had been caught red handed.
Cui Leilei was confident that he wasn’t someone who coveted wealth. However, the connections and resources that the Cui family had unknowingly bestowed upon him were themselves a form of invisible wealth. Take the cup of Da Hong Pao milk tea that Uncle Li had just ordered someone to prepare for him, for instance.
The more he thought about it, the more restless and uncomfortable Cui Leilei became. The embarrassment and shame washed over him so intensely that he almost wished a crack would open in the floor and swallow him whole.
On the other side, however, Father Cui’s attention was entirely focused on the Shen family. He hadn’t noticed Cui Leilei’s expression at all.
Chairman Li wasn’t paying particular attention to Cui Leilei either, so he failed to notice the subtle change in his expression. Before launching into his explanation, he couldn’t help voicing a little grievance of his own.
“I knew only this much. I’d already made arrangements with Baocheng, too. Remember to compensate me for losing the opportunity to bring them together later.”
Upon hearing that, Father Cui immediately broke into a delighted smile. “I brought Leilei here precisely to discuss with you how we can help the younger generation get acquainted.”
“Good.” Chairman Li’s eyes narrowed into cheerful crescents as he smiled.
Although it was his daughter who had taken the initiative to pursue the young man, the Cui family’s proactive attitude was proof that they genuinely valued Lili. That alone was enough to make him satisfied.
After enjoying his moment of happiness, Chairman Li’s expression grew a little more solemn. He began explaining the situation carefully.
“Judging from his current plans, it seems he’ll be developing his career in Yancheng from now on. If the younger members of the Baocheng family get the opportunity, they should interact with President A a little more. Leilei, if you happen to meet him, make sure you behave yourself. From what I’ve heard, President A enjoys peace and quiet and hates noisy, rowdy people more than anything. So when you encounter him, just be obedient and keep yourself in check.”
Hearing his own name, Cui Leilei finally snapped back to reality. He immediately nodded so vigorously that he looked like a chick pecking at grains.
“That’s right. Just like that. Be obedient. Everyone likes a pretty child.” Chairman Li offered this assessment before continuing his explanation in a lowered voice. “The Shen family of Haicheng moved overseas to Nanyang during the Ming Dynasty. They’ve spent hundreds of years developing their family and business. At the height of their prosperity, they were even known as the ‘Sea Kings.’ They were a force capable of commanding the winds and clouds, with absolute authority in their domain. When China fell into turmoil, the knowledgeable and capable members of the Shen family returned to serve their homeland. They achieved remarkable military accomplishments.”
He placed particular emphasis on the final four words. Then, with a meaningful look, Chairman Li continued, “After developing for so many years, their foundations are unfathomably deep. So don’t bother looking at what industry their family primarily operates in. There are certain things that simply cannot be uncovered through investigation.”
That single statement caused the warm, cozy atmosphere inside the room to change abruptly. A chill seemed to pass through the air, drawing an invisible line between people and making them acutely aware that the hierarchy of society still existed, with distinctions between the powerful and the ordinary remaining very real.
Father Cui’s expression turned extremely solemn. He nodded seriously.
He had already reached a point in his life where he was satisfied with what he had accomplished in his career. As for whether the next generation wanted to challenge the established aristocratic families, he might want to manage the situation but he certainly didn’t possess the ability to climb out of his own urn after death and do anything about it.
Chairman Li noticed that Father Cui had taken his warning to heart and wouldn’t recklessly investigate the Shen family. He quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Then, changing the subject, he began describing President A’s capabilities.
“The Shen family also suffers from some of the shortcomings common to large, established clans. President A isn’t the current head of the Shen family, either but if I were to put it in simple terms, you could say that President A is practically a regent. A few years ago, when the main branch’s younger generation was still inexperienced, the collateral branches attempted to seize the position of heir. Their actions even affected the development of the maritime trade business.”
Knowing that the father and son were straightforward people, Chairman Li didn’t bother concealing his meaning behind vague language. Instead, he explained the situation in a vivid and direct manner.
“It was President A who turned the situation around. He supported Shen Jun and helped him firmly establish himself as the family head. He even carried out sweeping reforms. That’s why the term ‘regent’ is such an accurate description of his position, his abilities and his circumstances.”
He placed particular emphasis on the last word before lowering his voice even further.
“Now, he’s returning the authority of the Shen family to Shen Jun. He’s deliberately keeping his distance to avoid any suspicion, coming to Yancheng to establish himself and build a new foundation from scratch. Of course, he’ll still maintain mutual support with the Haicheng Shen family. You only need to understand these details. Keep your mouths shut and don’t spread them carelessly.”
The father and son nodded in unison.
“His investments include the small home appliance industry and the smart home sector has some connections with your family. When dealing with him, you must be particularly careful to keep things quiet.” Chairman Li knew the personalities of the father and son well. After thinking it over, he once again emphasized the most important information his family had managed to uncover. “You must be quiet. Absolutely quiet. He seems to have a bit of a genius’s illness. He gets headaches from time to time, so he especially enjoys peace and quiet.”
Father Cui responded with remarkable enthusiasm. “Don’t worry. I’ve already retired. Even if I happen to run into him, I’ll definitely keep my mouth shut and leave the conversation to the eldest.”
Upon hearing this, Cui Leilei became even more eager to express his agreement.
“Uncle Li, you can rest assured. People like us from the useless student, spoiled rich kid faction definitely won’t cross paths with President A and if we do happen to meet, I’ll obediently keep my mouth shut and pretend to be mute.”
“There’s no need to go that far. At the very least, our family still carries some weight in Yancheng’s business circles.” Chairman Li laughed. “Come on, let’s enjoy our milk tea and chat a little more about the possibility of running into him.”
“Mm.”
In an instant, the room was once again filled with laughter and cheerful conversation.
But Cui Leilei felt as though a thin membrane had formed around his ears, cutting him off from the laughter. The only sound that remained was the heavy thump, thump of his own heartbeat, echoing incessantly in his ears.
He thought of the plot of the novel.
In the novel, the Li family had been mentioned only in passing. Their fate had been handled with an extremely detached method of sending characters off to their deaths: The entire family had gone abroad to visit relatives when their plane crashed.
The Li family’s subsequent turmoil existed solely to create an opportunity for the Cui family to pursue their own interests, serving as a setup for the Cui family’s marriage alliance with another prominent family in Yancheng, the Gu family.
That was all.
But Uncle Li was clearly so full of life at this very moment. Every laugh, every teasing remark, every expression of anger or amusement was vivid and alive.
The Li family consisted of three generations, nine people in total. How could they end up reduced to nothing more than a simple line of black ink on white paper?
“The plane crashed. All perished.”
There wasn’t even a description of the assistant who stood beside Uncle Li.
Those employees must have been on the plane, too.
Cui Leilei’s fingers tightened and curled together nervously. He was wondering whether he should simply lose his mind and blurt out the entire plot, relying on nothing but a reckless burst of courage, when he suddenly heard several gentle calls.
He raised his eyes.
Chairman Li’s assistant had arrived, carrying an enormous cup of milk tea.
To be more precise, it was a bucket of milk tea.
The assistant noticed Cui Leilei staring at him with his large, dark eyes opened wide. He looked just like a startled kitten, its fur standing on end, with a mixture of vigilance and curiosity in its gaze.
The assistant’s lips curved slightly. He then offered a serious explanation.
“Young Master, I’m sorry. The largest container we could find was this KFC style family bucket.”
Cui Leilei let out an “Oh.” He reached out to hug the milk tea bucket, then obediently thanked him.
“Thank you.”
Chairman Li, who had been chatting nearby, immediately pulled out his phone and began taking a video with great enthusiasm.
Cui Leilei’s expression at that moment was the absolute embodiment of adorable but with not a single thought in his head!
He even resembled the ragdoll cat Chairman Li kept at home. Those watery eyes, that innocent and adorable expression… He was practically the ideal companion for an elderly person seeking a little comfort and company in their later years.
Father Cui: “…………”
The double standard was obvious. He understood it perfectly!
Still, his own little brat really was good looking. With his red lips and pearly white teeth, combined with that foolish, somewhat airheaded demeanor, he looked just like a husky. When he got worked up, he could cause enough trouble to tear the entire house apart but the moment he started acting cute, people couldn’t bring themselves to punish him.
Cui Leilei keenly sensed the camera pointed in his direction. He cast a deep look at the two old men recording him with their phones and a wave of apprehension immediately began to rise within him.
These two old men practiced their Photoshop skills using pictures of him, Cui Leilei.
The photos edited according to elderly aesthetics were truly devastatingly handsome. They were perfectly suited to being turned into guardian door portraits to ward off evil spirits.
But he didn’t dare do anything about it.
After all, they were the people who provided him with food and clothing and more importantly, Cui Leilei was currently carrying the burden of his original sin.
He was afraid that this warm, quiet atmosphere, these casual moments of playful teasing, these scenes that carried the faint feeling of elderly grandparents enjoying the company of their grandchildren, would all come to an abrupt end as the days passed and the novel’s plot finally began.
=====
After returning from the hospital, Cui Leilei was terrified that another inexplicable, almost ghostly idea might pop into his head. Without the slightest hesitation, he contacted Xu Congcong and asked him for the contact information of a professional private investigator.
“What do you need a private investigator for?” Xu Congcong asked, bewildered. Then, in a cautious voice, he added, “Are you planning to investigate Bai Chuan?”
“That scumbag is already in the past. Since I’ve reported him to the police, I won’t be carrying out any private revenge.” Cui Leilei’s expression turned solemn. He almost felt like raising his hand and swearing an oath. “You know that better than anyone. Wasn’t it you who reported to my brother that I wanted to keep a canary for fun?”
Hearing this, Xu Congcong gave an awkward, foolish chuckle, trying to brush aside his own disloyal behavior.
Seeing his reaction, Cui Leilei lowered his head, concealing the sharp glint in his eyes.
In reality, he also wanted to use Xu Congcong’s big mouth to draw his elder brother’s attention to the matter. Perhaps, before he could obtain the results of his own investigation, his brother would already have uncovered everything.
He gritted his teeth and forced himself to look toward a brighter future, refusing to dwell on any sinister thoughts. Then he spoke concisely.
“I want a private investigator to find someone.”
“Who?”
“Let’s discuss it in person.”
Hearing the gravity in Cui Leilei’s voice, Xu Congcong could only respond helplessly, “Fine. We’ll talk when we meet.”
After they agreed on a time and place, Cui Leilei carefully glanced at the strands of hair he had wrapped in a disposable plastic bag. A determined light burst into his eyes.
He was far too clever.
He would pursue two approaches simultaneously.
He would send a private investigator to find the person, while he himself traveled to a neighboring city to undergo a paternity test.
The following day, Cui Leilei arrived at a private room in the Yanyun Clubhouse, a place he frequented, with his head held high and his chest puffed out.
He carefully examined the private investigator Xu Congcong had brought along. The man looked thoroughly ordinary and there was even something slightly shifty about his appearance.
Cui Leilei frowned.
“King of the Paparazzi?”
The King of the Paparazzi smiled and nodded.
“With me on the case, I guarantee I’ll uncover everything about the target. I’ll dig up information on their ancestors going back eighteen generations!”
“Don’t worry. My womanizing father has him handle investigations into illegitimate children, too.” Xu Congcong spoke without the slightest intention of concealing his family’s embarrassing affairs. His tone was completely matter of fact.
Thinking about Xu Congcong’s father’s illustrious history, Cui Leilei nodded sincerely in agreement.
Then, with a solemn expression, he said, “Help me find someone. This is the information I have.”
As he spoke, Cui Leilei carefully took out a sheet of information he had painstakingly reconstructed from memory.
As a student who had always struggled academically, only heaven knew how many pen barrels he had bitten through while trying to recall the detailed information from a single chapter.
It had been far too difficult!
Xu Congcong curiously glanced at the A4 sheet. The contents printed on it read:
Name: Shen Qian
Age: 21 [Approximately]
Gender: Male
Appearance: He should have the “knife carved face” described in online novels. The specific wording would probably be something like deep set, striking features, a cold and stern expression and an outstanding temperament. In short, look for someone in the handsome category.
Education: Very intelligent. Apparently skipped grades. He should currently be preparing for the doctoral entrance examination and is considering applying to Yancheng University for computer science.
Family Background: His family is poor. Apparently, both of his parents have passed away from illness and the family is burdened with debt. As a result, he holds several jobs at once.
After reading through the information at an astonishing speed, Xu Congcong’s brows drew tightly together.
“What are you looking for this guy for?”
Cui Leilei’s expression remained unchanged. He recited the explanation he had carefully considered beforehand practically backward from memory.
“I met him while playing a game. He seemed like a pretty decent person, so I went to great lengths to dig up his detailed information from my circle of friends and relatives. I want to help him out. After all, my parents are planning to find me a professional manager. Since ancient times, offering help to someone in their time of need has always been easier than adding flowers to brocade.”
“You weren’t tricked, were you? Remember what happened when we were in our third year? The entire university town was covered in banners.” Xu Congcong looked worried. “It said, ‘A student from our community was scammed out of three hundred thousand by a tea picking girl.’ If they hadn’t been worried about the negative publicity and revealed that the person had actually been scammed out of ten million, you would’ve become famous across the entire country.”
“Even my three hundred thousand got me onto the trending searches and the headlines.” Cui Leilei let out a deep sigh. “That’s why I’ve become smarter this time. Before sponsoring an outstanding student, I want to have an investigator look into them first.”
Xu Congcong was rendered speechless.
The private investigator, who had been entrusted with such high expectations, read through the information again and again. Then he asked, “Are you certain that he has the educational qualifications you mentioned?”
Cui Leilei nodded with absolute conviction.
The novel had described Shen Qian’s academic background clearly enough. After all, highly educated people were rare in the entertainment industry nowadays. Shen Qian was the kind of person who would show off his skills on talent shows, performing classical dance and playing the pipa. On variety programs, he would identify and appreciate ancient paintings. In serious historical dramas, he would discuss history with actual historians…
He was practically capable of everything!
At first, even some of Shen Qian’s antis thought he was putting on airs and deliberately building a certain public persona. Unfortunately for them, the universities and various research institutes would eventually come forward one after another, slapping them in the face with undeniable proof.
Seeing Cui Leilei’s confidence, the King of the Paparazzi felt equally certain.
“If you’re sure the name is correct, then I’ll find a way to get in touch with the National Student Enrollment and Academic Records Network. I can get the relevant information for you in under four hours.”
Upon hearing this, Cui Leilei clapped his hands.
“Impressive! How did I not think of the academic records network?”
As its name suggested, it was the national center responsible for managing students’ academic enrollment records. According to the relevant policies, companies seeking to hire employees could investigate their academic enrollment information.
With that settled, Cui Leilei simply decided not to return home. Instead, he stayed at the clubhouse, eating, drinking and playing ball while waiting for the results.
Four hours passed in the blink of an eye.
As soon as the agreed upon time approached, Cui Leilei couldn’t help staring impatiently at the door, waiting for the King of the Paparazzi to return.
Xu Congcong found his behavior rather curious.
“Are you really that eager to hear about Shen Qian?”
“Of course.” Cui Leilei avoided Xu Congcong’s questioning gaze and continued spouting nonsense with an utterly serious expression. “If we were living in ancient times, what I’m doing would be called recruiting soldiers and purchasing horses! I can’t possibly rely on the personal assistant my parents arrange for me for the rest of my life, can I? Even if I don’t personally manage the family business, I still need to find suitable people to manage my own personal assets.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Congcong rested his chin on his hand and fell into a thoughtful pose.
The private room suddenly grew quiet.
Cui Leilei felt his heartbeat unconsciously quicken, thump, thump, thump, as he faced the unexpected silence. His gaze remained fixed on the slowly opening door and his long, narrow phoenix shaped eyes widened along with it.
The King of the Paparazzi stepped through the doorway. As was his habit, he immediately locked the door behind him to ensure their privacy.
But the moment he encountered the direct, heated gazes fixed upon him, his entire body stiffened involuntarily. His complexion even turned slightly ashen.
Breathing heavily, he said, “Young Master Xu, Young Master Cui… There isn’t a single person on the academic enrollment network who meets the requirements.”
Cui Leilei felt as though he had been struck by lightning.
