Chapter 763 - 337: I Don’t Know About Before, but You’re the First One Today

"Sure."

Xu Yun made himself at home, grabbing a cup of tomato and beef-flavored instant noodles and adding hot water. "You’re not the Lin Suiling I remember," he teased.

"You’re not the Xu Yun I know, either," she retorted. "I never figured you for an instant noodle guy."

Xu Yun asked, "Where’s that Yan Can kid? Let him keep an eye on things at the construction site."

"He doesn’t know anything about building a factory. It’s better if I supervise it myself."

After she spoke, Lin Suiling smiled. "But I have to admit, it was the right call to pull you into this. I never expected you to have so much influence in Jiangcheng."

"What’s that got to do with me? I just reported the situation. It’s the local officials who are so effective. They didn’t let us investors down."

Xu Yun peeled back the lid of his noodles and took a satisfying slurp.

Ah, that hit the spot.

’I haven’t had this stuff in ages, not since I got rich. But having it again now... it’s still delicious.’

Lin Suiling asked, "So, what brings you here all of a sudden?"

"Dinner tonight?"

Lin Suiling shot back, "Your other women aren’t around, so now you want to sleep with me?"

"Do you have to be so blunt?"

Xu Yun was at a loss for words. "I mean, there’s some truth to what you’re saying, but I really did just want to have dinner with you."

"Alright, I believe you."

Lin Suiling put down her cup of noodles and smiled. "Let’s go. Forget this, we’re leaving now."

"But... it’s so early."

"If I’m going on a date with you, don’t I need to buy a nice outfit and do my makeup first?"

Lin Suiling rolled her eyes. "You don’t expect me to go out with you looking like this, do you?"

"I guess you have a point."

Xu Yun said, "Let’s go. As a reward for all your hard work, buy whatever you want at the mall this afternoon. It’s on me."

"Really? You won’t regret it?"

"If I so much as furrow my brow, may I not be able to get it up tonight."

"Pah!"

Lin Suiling said, blushing with indignation, "You pig!"

The two of them drove to Jiangshang Mall, considered the best shopping center in Jiangcheng.

As soon as Xu Yun and Lin Suiling walked in, sharp-eyed sales associates in the stores they passed began to recognize Xu Yun.

They all eagerly greeted him, mentioning that new items were in stock and inviting him to come in and have a look.

It couldn’t be helped. In these malls, he was basically a walking wallet. He never left without spending at least a hundred or several hundred thousand.

Lin Suiling laughed. "I didn’t realize you were so famous here."

"What can I say? Shop here often enough and you become a regular."

"Be honest with me. Exactly how many women have you brought here shopping?"

Xu Yun pretended to count on his fingers. "I’d estimate... about seven or eight."

"And which number am I?"

Xu Yun answered, "I’m not sure about the past, but I can tell you that today, you’re number one!"

"Well, then let me tell you something."

Lin Suiling said, "I’ve seen Jiangshang’s financial statements for this year. Their expansion plans have been going very poorly. They’re in desperate need of a cash injection to survive and are looking for investors everywhere."

Xu Yun was puzzled. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Aren’t you going to seize such a great opportunity?"

Lin Suiling said, "You’ve got so much money. Why not become their majority shareholder?"

"Sorry, not interested."

"Alright, forget I said anything."

And so, Lin Suiling proceeded to browse the luxury boutiques as if they were a supermarket, buying anything that caught her eye without the slightest concern for Xu Yun’s wallet.

And Xu Yun paid for it all without question.

The final bill came to a little over 500,000—roughly two days’ worth of interest from his bank account.

’As someone with 30 billion in savings, he was earning nearly 300,000 a day in interest alone.’

That evening, dressed in an exquisite new outfit, Lin Suiling was once again the stunningly beautiful and wealthy woman he’d met for the first time.

The two enjoyed a rare candlelight dinner, complete with a little red wine.

Afterward, they returned to his mansion at Jiangcheng Heaven and Earth for a "romantic exchange."

Afterward, Lin Suiling asked, "Do you know why I like you?"

"Because I’m handsome and rich?"

"That’s not the main reason."

Lin Suiling smiled and answered, "Because you’re fast... you give me a special kind of thrill."

"Huh?"

Xu Yun was taken aback. "You call *that* fast? Now I’m offended!"

"That’s not what I meant."

Hearing his response, Lin Suiling blushed with indignation. "I was talking about a real car! A sports car! Like that time in Hang City when you took me racing on the track."

"Oh, so you meant my driving skills."

Xu Yun laughed. "Actually, I was taking it easy on you that time. I drove pretty conservatively. Otherwise, I could’ve gone much faster!"

"You should take me to the Nurburgring to race sometime."

"Sure."

Xu Yun agreed. "After the New Year, once spring arrives, we’ll find a time to go. I’ll show you what real speed and adrenaline feel like."

"Mm, it’s a deal, then."

Lin Suiling leaned in close and said with a smile, "In light of your excellent performance earlier, I’ve decided to give you a little advance on your reward."

"If you want more, just say so. No need to make up excuses."

Xu Yun roared with laughter. "I may drive a sports car fast, but when it comes to the ’rocking horse,’ I can go very, very slow!"

...

「In the days that followed.」

Xu Yun kept a close eye on the disaster situation out west. Sometimes, he would even catch glimpses of the three women on the news.

Thanks to their good looks and the wide reporting of their actions, the three were dubbed the "Most Beautiful Angels" by netizens.

At the same time, Jiang Peiyao’s charity organization gained even more influence, becoming known throughout the country.

Many people wanted to donate to the organization, but all offers were refused.

Jiang Peiyao announced that her charity does not accept donations from anyone; they have sufficient funds and capability to handle their work on their own.

In truth, the no-donations policy was Xu Yun’s idea.

’When you use your own money for charity,’ he reasoned, ’no government organization or agency can find fault with you or use their regulatory power to restrict you.’

’You don’t need to constantly account for how the funds are used, which prevents you from being smeared by others.’

’This way, the charity managed by Jiang Peiyao would be completely independent and autonomous. It would be free.’

’Other than him, Xu Yun, no one could tell them what to do.’

Of course, most charities wouldn’t dare operate like this. The cost, especially the financial pressure, is too immense for any single person to bear.

It was a bottomless pit.

But for Xu Yun, that wasn’t an issue, which was why he could be so confident.

Xu Yun’s philosophy was actually quite simple.

’Avoid dealing with government departments whenever possible. After all, how should I put it...?’

’There are just too many uncontrollable factors.’

’Take that guy who barged into Ning Qian’s office to threaten her. Of course, I know why he was so arrogant.’

’During a previous ’chat,’ Zhang Heping had casually mentioned that the man had a ’colorful’ background.’

’But was I afraid?’

’Not really.’

’Otherwise, I wouldn’t have challenged him so directly.’

’But ultimately, once your wealth reaches a certain level, your actions will inevitably provoke those in power and get in the way of other people’s money-making schemes.’

’In the adult world, there is no right or wrong, only interests.’

’Since I’m in someone else’s way, I’ve become the one they need to eliminate.’

Although Xu Yun would never do anything illegal, he was subconsciously cultivating his own power for self-preservation.

Zhang Heping was, in a way, the first person he was trying to invest in.

While there were no direct financial ties between them—it was a friendship of gentlemen, both working for the good of the people—their interests were aligned.

His two consecutive projects, however, both counted as political achievements for Zhang Heping.

Now, if Xu Yun’s enemies made a move on him, it would be no different from making a move on Zhang Heping.

’If Zhang Heping couldn’t handle this opponent on his own turf—if the ’local snake’ was crushed by an ’outsider dragon’—then I would have to cut my losses immediately. I’d just drop the projects in hand and pretend none of this ever happened.’

’A single failure isn’t scary. What matters is cutting your losses in time.’

’As long as I have money, I can always make a comeback!’