Chapter 206 - 148: Zhang Liang: Huh? What Are Those Two Called!?

Li Jianye was stunned.

Staring at the familiar face before him, he felt a moment of dazed confusion. It was quickly replaced by a sense of alienation, as if he were completely cut off from the world.

In that moment, he felt like he was dreaming.

Of course, he would rather be dreaming.

A voice pulled him back to reality.

"Captain Li, did you miss me that much!?"

Wang Chao froze, a little touched by the tone in the other man’s voice.

"It’s only been two or three days since we last saw each other."

"No, you brat, don’t give me that. You tell me, what are you doing here?!"

Li Jianye was getting heated.

"Going to the Capital City. Isn’t this the plane to the Capital City?"

Wang Chao looked confused.

"I’m going to the Capital City to make a fortune!"

Li Jianye didn’t hesitate for a second. "Get off. I want to get off the plane!"

"Sir, please fasten your seatbelt."

"Please refrain from shouting on the plane, as it may disturb other passengers."

A flight attendant stood nearby, watching Li Jianye in silence with a professional smile.

Li Jianye: ...

Staring at the tightly shut cabin door, Li Jianye felt a dawning emotion: despair.

"Captain Li, excuse me. My seat is next to yours."

Wang Chao said in a low voice.

With a blank expression, Li Jianye moved aside, then looked at Xu Huo.

"You’d better give me a good explanation."

"Aw, we’re just going on a trip, having a little fun. Don’t overthink it, Captain Li," Xu Huo said, laughing it off.

With that, he gently shook the adult and child beside him awake.

"Xiao Xi, Niuniu, tell him, isn’t that right?"

Chu Xi tilted her head, nodded, then shook her head. "I... guess so?"

Niuniu looked at Li Jianye. "Aba aba..."

Li Jianye fell silent.

After a long moment, a helpless smile appeared on his face.

He gave in.

’Screw it...’

Li Jianye turned to the window, a detached smile on his face, as if the worries of the world no longer concerned him.

’It’s not a big deal.’

It was just the Capital City. If there was one thing it didn’t lack, it was people within the system.

’If nothing happens, then I’m just here for a vacation.’

’If something does happen...’

’If the sky falls, someone taller will be there to hold it up!’

The plane slowly ascended, soon plunging into a sea of clouds.

Gazing at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window and the ant-sized city below, Li Jianye discreetly wiped the cold sweat from his palms.

’It’s not a big deal.’

...

...

December 8th.

3:30 in the afternoon.

A plane slowly landed at the Capital City airport.

Countless passengers grabbed their bags, big and small, deplaned, and then boarded a shuttle bus to the airport exit.

"Captain Li, why have you been grinning from ear to ear since we got off the plane?"

Once they were in a taxi, Wang Chao asked cheerfully, raising an eyebrow at Li Jianye.

"It’s nothing. I’m just happy."

Li Jianye smiled but said no more.

Five people wouldn’t fit in one taxi, so Xu Huo hailed a second. They were both headed to the same destination.

A hotel.

Li Jianye and Chu Xi, who was holding Niuniu, went up to the hotel first to check into their rooms.

After putting away their clothes, Xu Huo and Wang Chao went somewhere else.

"The big boss is named Zhang Niu. I call him Boss Niu, or President Niu is fine too."

Wang Chao chatted with Xu Huo in the car.

"He’s in the internet business. I could tell right away that he’s desperate for a few brick-and-mortar businesses to anchor his capital!"

’The internet business?’

’How many people are even doing that these days?’

Xu Huo furrowed his brow.

In this day and age, most people had no idea what the "internet" even was. The average person would probably mistake it for a fishing net.

’In other words, this guy is one of the pioneers.’

’One of the first, and in the Capital City, no less... He must have received a significant amount of support from the government.’

’It’s even possible this person holds some kind of official position himself.’

Xu Huo’s mind was occupied with thoughts completely different from Wang Chao’s.

But they didn’t need to figure it all out.

A short while later.

Xu Huo came face-to-face with this Boss Zhang Niu.

At four in the afternoon.

Xu Huo stood before a magnificent, glittering skyscraper. For a moment, the interior made him feel as if he had returned to his previous life.

"You two must be President Wang and President Xu from Linlan City, correct? President Zhang has been waiting for you. He said that when you two arrived, you could go directly to his office without making an appointment."

A female executive, who seemed to have been waiting for them, led Xu Huo and Wang Chao inside with a pleasant smile.

Hearing this, Xu Huo was inwardly astonished.

’So this is the art of language.’

’The owner of a bakery being addressed as ’President’ by a corporate executive...’

’Of course, it could also be because of Zhang Niu himself. After all, anyone whose name he bothers to remember is bound to be anything but simple.’

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

On the twelfth floor, the executive knocked on the door before them.

And as the door slowly opened... Xu Huo saw him—the Boss Niu that Wang Chao had spoken of.

He was a square-faced man with a buzz cut and a sturdy build, standing about five-foot-eleven and weighing around two hundred pounds.

He wore a dark shirt and a discreet, unbranded watch.

The man had an approachable face, and his smile gave off a feeling of warmth.

"Xiao Wang? You finally made it."

"And this must be Xu Huo, Mr. Xu?"

Zhang Niu rose with a cheerful laugh, leaning forward slightly to shake Xu Huo’s hand.

"It’s an honor. Chao Zi was singing your praises the entire time."

Xu Huo smiled and exchanged pleasantries.

"Sit, sit, let’s all sit down and talk."

"Xiao Xuan, go pour three cups of tea. Use that special packet of tea leaves I have."

Zhang Niu was clearly making an effort to show his respect as he led the two of them to a nearby sofa.

Xu Huo raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.

’Logically, based on the half-truths Chao Zi must have told him, they shouldn’t be receiving this kind of treatment.’

But it wasn’t long before he found out why.

"Mr. Xu, Xiao Wang, I’m very interested in your food delivery business and that franchise model of yours. If everything looks good, we can proceed according to the draft of the contract. The initial investment will be a tentative one hundred thousand, with an additional three hundred thousand upon signing, and as for what comes next..."