Very quickly.

In just a few minutes.

A middle-aged man in his forties, wearing a sharp suit and a flattering smile, appeared in front of Zhang Jingshan.

"Oh my, Young Master Zhang! Why didn't you just call me directly so I could personally attend to you?"

The moment he saw Zhang Jingshan, the sales department's general manager immediately rushed forward, his face filled with enthusiasm, extending his hand warmly.

After the handshake, the general manager continued, "Young Master Zhang, are you here to buy another property?"

"Why would I buy so many? Just to collect dust?" Zhang Jingshan chuckled indifferently.

"Then, are you here for..."

"My Brother Ye is buying!"

"Brother Ye?"

For someone whom Zhang Jingshan would call "brother," there could be no one else but Ye Chen in the room.

The general manager instantly extended his hand toward Ye Chen. "Young Master Ye, nice to meet you!"

Uh...

This was the first time Ye Chen had ever been addressed as "Young Master Ye" in both his lives. The awkwardness was palpable.

"Don't mention it."

"Alright, enough with the small talk. Brother Ye has his eyes on Unit 2102 in Building 6. Give him a discount!" Zhang Jingshan ordered.

"Huh? What's the current unit price and total cost for 2102 in Building 6?"

The general manager immediately turned to Lin Mengxi for an answer.

Caught off guard, Lin Mengxi—who had already memorized the figures—blurted them out, "General Manager, the unit price is 82,000 yuan per square meter, with a total price of 21,525,000 yuan!"

The general manager nodded and looked back at Ye Chen and Zhang Jingshan. "Young Master Zhang, Young Master Ye, I can personally approve a small discount. Let's round it down to 20 million, how about that?"

He then gave Zhang Jingshan a wry smile. "Young Master Zhang, this is the best deal I can offer under the chairman's authorization. Only family gets this price. If you call the chairman, I'm sure it could go lower."

"No need for all that hassle. Twenty million is already a generous discount. Let's go with this price," Ye Chen said before Zhang Jingshan could reply.

The general manager glanced at Zhang Jingshan.

"Since Brother Ye has spoken, let's stick to that," Zhang Jingshan agreed.

"Alright, will it be a full payment or..." The general manager hesitated.

"Full payment," Ye Chen answered decisively.

That single phrase, "full payment," sent another shockwave through Lin Mengxi, leaving her completely shaken.

Her gaze at Ye Chen changed yet again.

Was this really the drunkard who lived in a rundown rental in the slums?

The gambler hounded by high-interest debt collectors?

She recalled the class group chat, where everyone was urged to delete Ye Chen's WeChat and block his number.

Those classmates had treated Ye Chen like a joke.

Now, Lin Mengxi suddenly realized they were the real joke.

Regret surged through her heart.

Had she overlooked a golden opportunity years ago?

"Alright, Young Master Ye, could you please provide your ID? I'll get the contract prepared immediately," the general manager said, still smiling brightly.

Ye Chen handed over his ID without hesitation.

The general manager turned to Lin Mengxi. "Xiao Lin, keep Young Master Ye company in the meantime."

On the VIP lounge sofa, Lin Mengxi sat uneasily.

Finally, she forced a smile. "Old classmate, what's your line of work now?"

"Nothing much. Just caught a few lucky breaks, that's all," Ye Chen replied casually, waving the question off.

"Luck alone can't take you this far. Looking at our old classmates, you're definitely the most successful," Lin Mengxi said admiringly.

"Success is a matter of perspective. I've just gotten a head start, that's all. In times like these, opportunities are everywhere. I'm sure there are many who are lying low, biding their time, just waiting to rise," Ye Chen said calmly.

"You're still as humble as ever, just like back in school," Lin Mengxi said with a charming smile, her expression captivating.

Even Zhang Jingshan couldn't help but be momentarily mesmerized.

Ye Chen, however, simply chuckled.

"Humble?"

In his past life, he'd held 400 billion yuan in pure cash assets.

Reborn sixty years earlier, wasn't he just getting started?

Seeing Ye Chen fall silent, Lin Mengxi tried to continue the conversation, but Ye Chen mostly answered passively, never taking the initiative to ask anything.

When Lin Mengxi suggested exchanging numbers and adding each other on WeChat, Ye Chen agreed out of courtesy for their shared school days.

As they made small talk, the general manager returned with the contract.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Young Master Ye! Here's the purchase contract. Please have a look."

"No worries."

Smiling, Ye Chen accepted the contract, skimmed through it, and promptly signed and fingerprinted it.

The 20 million yuan payment was instantly transferred to the company's account.

After completing all the formalities, Ye Chen left coolly.

Outside the sales office, Lin Mengxi watched Ye Chen drive away in a G-Class Mercedes.

A car she once considered a life goal now seemed unattainable.

"General Manager Shen, who exactly is that Young Master Zhang?"

One of the salesgirls, her eyes sparkling, couldn't help but ask as Lin Mengxi remained dazed.

"Who is he?"

Catching the glimmer in their eyes, the general manager smirked knowingly.

"He's the CEO of Yuntian Networks, the heir to Yong'an Construction, and the grandson of Zhang Weimin, Jiangzhou's former top official. Forget about it, ladies. He's a diamond bachelor, but not someone you can catch."

With that, General Manager Shen walked off.

As soon as he left, the salesgirls swarmed Lin Mengxi.

"Mengxi, that Young Master Ye is your classmate, right? What's his background?"

"Mengxi, you're really something, keeping such a connection hidden!"

"Mengxi, can you give me his WeChat?"

"Mengxi..."

The flurry of questions snapped Lin Mengxi out of her trance, but all she could feel was bitterness.

Despite earning a handsome commission, she wasn't happy.

Instead, regret weighed heavily on her heart.

"What nonsense are you talking about? Stop fangirling. He's just an old classmate, and we haven't seen or spoken in ten years. Now go back to work!"

With that, Lin Mengxi hurried back inside.

She opened her phone, navigated to her high school group chat, and selected two photos she'd secretly taken: one of Ye Chen signing the contract, and another of him stepping into the G-Class.

But in the end, she didn't hit "send."

Instead, she closed the chat window.

Staring at the photos in her album—particularly Ye Chen's confident stride as he boarded the G-Class—she felt a turmoil of emotions.

Her eyes reflected a mix of regret and resolve.

On a busy city road, a Porsche Panamera idled behind Ye Chen's G-Class at a red light.

Inside, Zhang Jingshan gripped the steering wheel with one hand while glancing at his ringing phone in the other.

The unmarked number on the screen was one he had memorized as a child.

His expression was conflicted.

As the ringtone neared its end, he finally answered.

"Say it quickly. Don't waste my time!" Zhang Jingshan said coldly.

In the past, Zhang Xingguo might have blown up at such disrespect.

But this time, he spoke calmly.

"Jingshan, I need a favor. Could you arrange a meeting with Ye Chen? A dinner, perhaps?"

"He doesn't have time for you!" Zhang Jingshan replied icily, ready to hang up.

Sensing his son's temperament, Zhang Xingguo quickly added, "It's with Secretary Yan. Secretary Yan also wants to meet him!"