Chapter 1

"Are you really not planning to continue with your postgraduate studies or take the civil service exam?" Wang Anran asked Shen Zhenghui with a somewhat regretful expression. "With your qualifications, even without a master's degree, it's still possible to get into a government ministry!" He winked knowingly at this point. "I can ask my father for help."

"Really, there's no need to trouble you," Shen Zhenghui spread his hands. "My parents have been urging me to go back. The old man has long wanted to hand over the business to me and retire."

Wang Anran smiled. "Actually, you're doing pretty well in Beijing. Why are your parents so insistent on having you return to Pengcheng?"

Shen Zhenghui spread his hands, indicating that he had no answer to this question.

"Actually, I'm not trying to persuade you to stay in Beijing," Wang Anran said as he walked with Shen Zhenghui along the tree-lined avenue on campus, putting an arm around his shoulder and speaking in a low voice. "Aren't you going to see Jingfang?"

"What about her?" Shen Zhenghui's lips twitched. "Isn't she already confirmed to stay at the university and join the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League?"

"You really are heartless," Wang Anran sighed.

"Your accusation is baseless," Shen Zhenghui pursed his lips. "It was me who was threatened at gunpoint to stay away from her!"

"But it seems you didn't take it to heart," Wang Anran continued.

Shen Zhenghui pulled Wang Anran to the side of the road and said seriously, "Anran, look at me carefully. Do I look like someone who would go crazy for love?"

Wang Anran pursed his lips. "What do you mean?"

"Do I look like Ma Jingtao?"

"Of course not."

"Exactly. Besides, I never 'fell in love' with Sun Jingfang. The reason I didn't keep my distance from her is that I didn't think it was necessary." Shen Zhenghui stared at Wang Anran seriously. "Also, I don't like being threatened, but I don't need to deliberately defy someone's threats just because I don't like them."

Wang Anran showed a hint of regret. "Actually, the two families have already canceled the engagement."

"That's good," Shen Zhenghui continued. "Of course, it has nothing to do with me. I just think that if Sun Jingfang were to live with someone so lacking in manners, she would probably be very unhappy."

Wang Anran wanted to say more but hesitated, then asked, "When are you leaving?"

"Within a few days. I've already booked my flight. Before I leave, I need to rent out my apartment."

"I don't understand why you bought so many properties in Beijing," Wang Anran shook his head.

"Hey, if you don't buy now," Shen Zhenghui said with a heavy heart, "you won't be able to afford it in ten years."

Shen Zhenghui walked out of the school gate and took a taxi to the real estate agency to sign a contract with the tenant. Wang Anran saw him off at the school gate, watching him get into the car and drive away. He then walked to a public phone booth and called Sun Jingfang with an IC card. As he hesitated about how to gently tell her the news, the woman on the other end seemed to have already sensed the outcome.

"His thoughts are still the same as before?" The woman's voice on the other end sounded bitter.

"Many things can't be changed," Wang Anran wasn't being overly profound. "But he still considers you a friend."

"Ha ha," the woman's voice on the phone sounded somewhat hysterical. "I'm really pitiful. With my status, I'm begging someone to still consider me a friend."

Wang Anran felt that the woman on the other end seemed dangerous, so he cautiously asked, "Jingfang, are you okay? Do you want me to come over and see you?"

The laughter stopped abruptly, and Sun Jingfang's voice suddenly sounded exhausted. "No, I'm fine. Okay, I understand. When is he leaving? I'll go see him off."

"I still have some things to do these few days," Wang Anran replied. "I'll let you know when the day comes."

Wang Anran hung up the phone and sighed deeply. He idly recalled his college days, finding it hard to understand why he had become so entangled with Shen Zhenghui, a guy from an ordinary family, and even harder to understand why his cousin Sun Jingfang had been attracted to Shen Zhenghui. But from his own experience, Shen Zhenghui was truly a unique individual. Even the school's Communist Youth League Secretary, Mr. Wang, believed that this guy would achieve great things in the future, regardless of his career. So when Shen Zhenghui, before graduation, refused the offer of a guaranteed postgraduate spot, didn't pursue further studies, and didn't look for a job, but instead chose to return home, everyone was taken aback.

But Wang Anran thought that this might be the right choice. Previously, due to Sun Jingfang's fiancé, Li Xiang, impulsively causing trouble for Shen Zhenghui, the incident had caused a stir in the Beijing elite circles. Shen Zhenghui's decision not to stay in Beijing might be the wisest choice. Li Xiang was like a firecracker; even if the Sun family protected him, it wouldn't be good for his reputation. Li Xiang was a very proud person, and even though the Sun and Li families had canceled the engagement, it was hard to guarantee that he wouldn't do something rash. Wang Anran's head ached from thinking about it, so he called for a driver to pick him up. His future had already been arranged by his parents, and he would be given a position in the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television.

...

When Shen Zhenghui signed the contract, he took a deep breath and felt a wave of relief from deep within. The real estate agent across from him blinked and asked casually, "Mr. Shen, do you want to sell these commercial properties and houses? We can handle that too."

"Not at the moment," Shen Zhenghui smiled in response.

"You can consider it if you need money urgently," the high-end real estate agent smiled.

"I will consider selling them," Shen Zhenghui nodded, "but not until after the Beijing Olympics."

"The Olympics?" The other party was taken aback and forced a smile. "Didn't we fail to secure the bid?"

"Maybe next time," Shen Zhenghui shrugged.

The other party began to calculate seriously. "If we continue to bid, it can only be the 2008 Olympics. So you plan to keep these properties for ten years?"

Shen Zhenghui squinted his eyes. "I believe that with your help, I should be able to recoup my investment in ten years."

"A 7% to 8% return rate is enough for a ten-year payback," the other party smiled professionally. "We will definitely exceed that. The contract is signed every three years. Mr. Shen, please keep our contact information. If you have any issues, feel free to contact us."

Shen Zhenghui nodded. In just one afternoon, he had transferred the three-year usage rights of his properties, currently worth ten million yuan, to these people. Seeing their smiles, he suspected they were pleased with the deal. With current loan interest rates around 10%, a 7% to 8% return rate was not as good as putting the money in the bank. Shen Zhenghui bid farewell to the real estate agency and walked out of their office. As he looked back, he marveled at how cheap Beijing's current housing prices were, and felt a sense of attachment to leaving such a large asset in Beijing.

Thinking about this, Shen Zhenghui couldn't help but laugh to himself. He raised his hand, wanting to imitate the line "Farewell, Amsterdam!" and say "Farewell, Beijing!" but it felt too awkward. In the end, he just smiled and put his hand down. His flight was booked, and his departure from Beijing was imminent. The four years of his youth spent