After swallowing the shrimp dumpling, Ye Chen, now feeling about seventy percent full, set down his chopsticks.

He picked up his tea cup and finished the premium Longjing tea in one gulp.

Only then did he take a wet napkin to wipe his mouth.

"Uncle Zhao, don't tell me you called me out just for tea and dim sum?"

Seeing that Zhao Qian hadn't spoken yet, Ye Chen, satisfied from the meal, went straight to the point.

"Ah, Ye, no need for pleasantries. Even if there was nothing going on, I should still find time to have tea and chat with you. But that kid Jiwei kept stopping me, as if he was afraid I'd embarrass myself!" Zhao Qian chuckled awkwardly.

"There's no such thing as embarrassment, Uncle Zhao. I actually appreciate how straightforward you are. Life is short, and it's exhausting enough as it is. Being true to oneself is the freest way to live. No need to keep up appearances. Different people see things differently. Some might think you're showing off, but I just see you as someone who lives with passion. On the other hand, if you tried too hard to act modest, others would say you're pretending. You can't please everyone—there will always be people nitpicking. So, living boldly and authentically is a good thing."

Ye Chen shook his head with a faint smile, sighing.

At that moment, his state of mind seemed to return to the twilight of his previous life.

By comparison, Zhao Qian seemed more like the younger one.

Likewise, Zhang Xingguo and Zhao Qian were momentarily stunned.

From Ye Chen's tone, demeanor, and words—how did any of it match someone in their twenties?

It felt as though Ye Chen had experienced the vicissitudes of life and seen through the world's illusions.

Zhao Qian, however, didn't dwell on it.

He glanced at Zhao Jiwei and said, "Listen, this is what perspective means! If you had even a tenth of what Ye has, I wouldn't be so frustrated with you all the time!"

Zhao Jiwei could only smile helplessly.

"Brother Ye was just casually speaking. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?"

"Alright, Uncle Zhao, let's not get sidetracked. What's the real reason you called me out today?" Ye Chen laughed.

"Ahem, here's the thing, Ye—word is, you're knowledgeable about feng shui and fortune telling. I wanted to trouble you about something."

Clearing his throat, Zhao Qian finally got to the point.

This left Ye Chen momentarily speechless.

Because it was nonsense—he didn't know the first thing about it.

But outwardly, he remained calm and composed.

"Go on, Uncle Zhao," Ye Chen said.

"I'm planning to spend two to three hundred million to build a mansion in my hometown village. I heard you know feng shui, so I wanted to ask if you could take a look."

"Have you consulted other feng shui masters?" Ye Chen asked.

"I have. They all say the site's excellent, but I'd still like you to reassure me!" Zhao Qian replied.

Normally, Zhao Qian wouldn't go through such trouble.

But after hearing about Ye Chen's incident at the Hongyan Restaurant, Zhao Qian decided to reach out.

"Uncle Zhao, if other masters have already confirmed the feng shui is excellent, there's no need for me to check again," Ye Chen said with a smile.

"Huh?" Zhao Qian paused.

"Uncle Zhao, do you know He Wan'an from Hongyan Restaurant?" Ye Chen asked, as if he had thought of something.

"Yes, we met years ago at a charity event. Most people looked down on me as a nouveau riche, but he was willing to chat. Over time, we became close."

Understanding Ye Chen's implication, Zhao Qian responded directly.

Ye Chen nodded seriously.

"Uncle Zhao, there's really no need. As the saying goes, fate and fortune outweigh feng shui. From your appearance, I can tell that both your fate and fortune are on the rise. Plus, with other masters' confirmation, you can proceed confidently. Good fortune means good feng shui."

Was he bluffing?

Yes and no.

In his past life, Zhao Qian had prospered continuously, becoming a wealthy tycoon.

Clearly, his path after rising to prominence was smooth.

So Ye Chen dared to say it with confidence.

"You can tell by looking at me?" Zhao Qian asked in surprise.

"Yes, Uncle Zhao. Your face shows prosperity," Ye Chen smiled.

"Is that so?" Zhao Qian pressed.

"It is!" Ye Chen affirmed.

"Well, that's reassuring. Haha!" Zhao Qian laughed heartily.

It seemed he had already forgotten about inviting Ye Chen to inspect the feng shui.

"Uncle Zhao, this couldn't have been the only reason you called me out, right?" Ye Chen teased.

Before Zhao Qian could answer, Zhao Jiwei cut in awkwardly.

"Brother Ye, I told him not to make a fuss, but he insisted. I had no choice but to let him call you."

Ye Chen nodded with a smile.

"Uncle Zhao, if that's all, you could have just called me directly. No need for all this effort."

"Ye, feng shui is only part of it. There's something else!" Zhao Qian said earnestly.

"Go ahead, Uncle Zhao."

"Ye, can Jiwei invest in your company, Yi Ren Ru Xue? No matter how small the share, we're interested. As for the investment amount—"

Before Zhao Qian could finish, Zhao Jiwei quickly interrupted.

He never expected his father to bring this up.

Even Zhang Jingshan and Li Changfeng couldn't get involved in Yi Ren Ru Xue—let alone him.

"Dad—"

Before Zhao Jiwei could finish, Ye Chen intervened to spare him the embarrassment.

"Uncle Zhao, it's not about money. Yi Ren Ru Xue will remain solely owned. Let's skip the investment talk."

Zhao Qian wasn't surprised by the response.

He was just trying his luck.

"Alright, I won't push. But if you ever expand into new industries, I hope you can bring Jiwei along. I'll be direct—I'm confident in Jiwei's abilities, but I want him to follow you. That way, I'll feel at ease."

For a moment, Zhao Jiwei felt emotional.

His father had always been paving the way for him, and he knew it.

Ye Chen's influence was undeniable—something even Zhang Jingshan and Li Changfeng acknowledged.

"Uncle Zhao, you trust me that much?" Ye Chen asked, surprised.

"Few people appreciate me, but those I admire are even fewer. I trust my instincts. You've already won me over. It's not about money—I just want Jiwei to have a brighter future. And I believe your ship will sail far."

For once, Zhao Qian's demeanor turned serious.