Zhong Pingjiang scrutinized the document twice, then pinched his thigh sharply, finally confirming he wasn't hallucinating. This was real.

A surge of blood rushed to his head; his mind buzzed, and his excitement felt ready to explode, stirring an urge to let out a long, wild cry toward the heavens.

Luckily, the sliver of remaining reason reminded him this was absolutely not the time for exuberance. He handed the contract in his hand to the lawyer beside him for review.

This lawyer was a classmate from university, the deeply bonded kind, and currently served as his company’s legal counsel.

The lawyer accepted it somewhat cautiously. Before arriving, he had assumed it was just an ordinary contract and hadn't prepared much. Upon seeing that Chen Musong was on the other side, the astonishment he felt was indescribable. When had his old classmate gotten involved with the Colossus Machinery Group?

He was slightly annoyed that Zhong Pingjiang hadn't given him a heads-up, leaving him scrambling. At the same time, he was profoundly thrilled; contracts from a company of Colossus Machinery Group's caliber were entirely beyond his reach before—that was territory reserved for top-tier barristers. This opportunity would add significant weight to his professional record.

He held his breath, reading every clause in the contract meticulously, almost word for word. In no time, his eyes widened. The more he read downwards, the more astonished he became. After finishing, he took a deep breath, his face a mask of utter disbelief.

Zhong Pingjiang had been watching his friend closely. Seeing the look on his face, a sudden pang hit him. He leaned in and whispered, "Is there a problem with the contract?"

More than a problem! The lawyer shot Zhong Pingjiang a look laced with complexity.

After reviewing the agreement, immense suspicion arose in his mind. These terms made no sense. Colossus Machinery Group had no reason to hand over such a massive prize to the obscure Zhong Corporation.

His first instinct was that the terms were flawed, so he reread it several times, yet he could find no loopholes or traps. Every clause was stated clearly, entirely without issue.

The contract was fine. Instead, it spawned a much larger question: Why? Why was Colossus Machinery Group elevating the Zhong family like this?

Even if the Zhong family had invented a truly epoch-making machine, Colossus Machinery Group didn't need to offer such overwhelmingly favorable conditions. They held the absolute dominant position; even if they demanded harsher terms, could the Zhong Corporation truly refuse?

When things are too abnormal, there must be a trick. Having been a lawyer for so many years, he knew that behind unusual events, there were often hidden machinations. Smart as he was, he naturally wouldn't dig too deep; his duty was simply to act as a proper lawyer.

It was just that he found it slightly difficult to accept that his familiar friend had suddenly become so inscrutable.

These thoughts flashed through his mind. He replied softly, "The contract is fine." Unbeknownst to him, his tone had shifted from its usual casualness to one of deference.

Zhong Pingjiang finally let out a formal sigh of relief. Since the contract had no issues, all that remained was the signing.

Signing wasn't a simple matter; Chen Musong had already made preparations. They had brought notary personnel. First, they would sign their respective names and affix their company seals onto paper designed for permanent preservation, followed by the notary office's stamp. Then, they would sign the electronic contract using their identification cards. Only then would it be complete. The entire process was recorded by someone using a panoramic video camera.

After the signing came the press conference. Colossus Machinery Group had a fixed protocol for handling such affairs. With their influence, they managed to invite all major national news outlets within half a day.

The next day, the little-known company, Zhong Corp Machinery, became instantly famous through its partnership with Colossus Machinery Group. Anyone watching the news would notice those key phrases: Zhong Corp Machinery, Colossus Machinery Group, Stabilizer, Seven Billion Joint Venture…

Colossus Machinery Group was clearly determined to promote the "Zhong Family Stabilizer." The following day, nearly every media outlet featured the news as the headline: "The 'Zhong Family Stabilizer,' an epoch-making invention. From now on, the entire mechanical industry will undergo earth-shattering change."

Zhong Corp Machinery was the biggest beneficiary. Under the relentless bombardment of national media, Zhong Corp Machinery became almost a household name, despite its pitifully small scale.

From that day on, Zhong Pingjiang was once again frantically busy, lacking even the time to confront his son, Zhong Yun. There were simply too many matters requiring his attention.

In stark contrast, his son Zhong Yun’s life was far more leisurely: school, home, and occasionally fooling around with Tianhai and the others. Of course, he hadn't slackened for a single day in the two disciplines of "Practical Combat Training" and "Chest Opening."

His skill in utilizing Yuan was also steadily improving. Zhong Yun felt he gained something new every day, and life was fulfilling and joyful.

He skipped the Physical Arts Association’s combat skill test because that day happened to be when Xiao Qing's exam results were posted. Missing the initial posting meant he absolutely had to accompany her afterward—it would be unforgivable not to. For this reason, Zhong Yun specifically took a day off from school.

That day, Xiao Qing was as cheerful as a soaring lark, her clear, melodious laughter surrounding Zhong Yun constantly; she had been accepted. The two of them celebrated all day until darkness fell completely, and only then did Zhong Yun escort the reluctant Xiao Qing home.

A few days later, things concerning the joint venture were mostly settled. Just as Zhong Pingjiang thought he could finally breathe a little easier, his son sought him out again.

Seeing his son peeking in tentatively after pushing the door open, Zhong Pingjiang’s anger flared. "Come in. What are you skulking about for at the doorway?"

Zhong Yun walked in with a sheepish grin. "I didn't want to disturb you, sir." He then closed the door casually and sat down on the sofa against the wall.

Zhong Pingjiang felt helpless; he couldn't exactly give his son a spanking. He set down the work in his hands and sat on the sofa opposite his son, looking at him steadily for a long moment before finally speaking, "Tell me. How much more are you keeping from me?"

Zhong Yun had just finished preparing a pot of tea. He poured a cup for his father first, then one for himself. "Are you referring to the Colossus Machinery Group matter?" He took a small sip of his tea and shook his head. "Dad, this tea isn't suitable for your current status anymore. You need to upgrade it, or guests will think you're being cheap."

"Don't change the subject." Zhong Pingjiang tapped the table and took a sip of the tea; indeed, the quality was a bit low. "If you don't give me an explanation today, you can forget about your allowance from now on."

Zhong Yun made a face. "Dad, you can't be that cruel. How am I supposed to live without an allowance? I have two girlfriends to support, you know."

"You lack that kind of money?" Zhong Pingjiang said irritably, automatically filtering out the mention of girlfriends.

"Dad is indeed wise and perceptive, seeing everything clearly." Zhong Yun offered a flattering remark before continuing, "Actually, it's very simple. I happen to know someone from the Yang family, and we're quite close."

"That's it? That simple?" Zhong Pingjiang absolutely did not believe that the decision-makers of the Yang family would yield such immense profit just because of some member of their lineage. He wouldn't believe it even if beaten to death. After deeply understanding the "Zhong Family Stabilizer," he realized what enormous profit this small device could generate. The term "epoch-making invention" was no exaggeration.

"How complex can it be?" Zhong Yun spread his hands, speaking half-truthfully, half-falsely, "One of my girlfriends is Yang Bingchang's daughter."

"What?"

P: Still asking for votes. Finally, recommending a friend's book, "The Little Security Guard in the Metropolis," Book ID 1177257.