This is the second update for today; I’m counting on your recommendation votes for support. Thank you all for your continued encouragement! ........................ After grabbing lunch with Ding Ren, Wang Zhuo spent the afternoon setting up three bank accounts.
Each card had a different PIN, and each held two million yuan—these were the red envelopes Wang Zhuo had prepared for the other three.
The bank manager enthusiastically pitched a stack of wealth management projects, but every word Wang Zhuo heard sounded like some grandiose scam, like building the Three Gorges Dam or launching a massive national tree-planting scheme. He told the manager he’d think about it, politely brushing him off.
On his way home from the bank, he actually received a call. The caller, in a tone of lofty condescension, asked if he would sell that Imperial Green jade for one million, acting as if Wang Zhuo stood to gain some immense advantage by dealing with him. Wang Zhuo immediately hung up and ignored the idiot.
It seemed the oddly persistent calls had noticeably increased in the last few days. There were offers from wealthy bosses looking for bodyguards, rich women wanting to keep young men, people asking to become his apprentices, and challengers seeking sparring matches—all stemming from that recent fight video.
One caller claimed to be a property developer, offering a high salary of eighteen thousand a month for Wang Zhuo, with a single requirement: to rush to the front lines and strike hard whenever needed. Wang Zhuo replied, “Thank you for your appreciation, but my father is the head of the Construction Committee,” and the caller promptly fell silent.
The wealthy woman’s offer was far more generous than the developer’s; she started at three hundred thousand a year plus a brand-new BMW, adding a high-rise apartment in a prime Shanghai location if he committed to three full years. Wang Zhuo declined, saying, “I’m sorry, big sister. Actually, Director Kai Ge has already taken an interest in me and plans to promote me as a Ge Nan Lang (Singer Boy). I’m set to star in his next hundred-million-yuan blockbuster, so I must apologize.”
The apprenticeship seekers were a motley crew—ranging from poor boys to rich second-generation heirs, and even the children of officials. One offered a thousand a day just to hire him for fights, promising an extra five hundred for every person subdued, with arrangements made by an expert to handle any fatalities or serious injuries. Wang Zhuo replied, “Apologies, I just had surgery. You can’t live in the martial world without getting cut; I had the ligament in my right leg removed. Starting today, I’m retiring from the martial arts scene to pursue literature. Forget the apprenticeship; perhaps we can meet at the Writers’ Association from now on.”
The most bothersome were those begging for sparring matches. Their transparent scheme was to use Wang Zhuo’s notoriety to rise up. Defeating him meant developers would rush to hire them and rich women would clamor to support them—a bright future was just a knockout away. Wang Zhuo countered by requiring them first to generate one million clicks online with a challenge video before daring to confront him; otherwise, it was a non-starter.
Wang Zhuo’s condition wasn't exactly demanding; in this age of sensationalism, if someone truly posted a challenge video daring the action choreographer to a fight, countless netizens would help them rack up the views, fulfilling their wish. Yet, every potential challenger wilted before this barrier. Clearly, their confidence was lacking; they didn't want to achieve fame only to suffer a public beating and humiliation afterward.
The quiet life was now utterly shattered.
Although the doxxing only revealed Wang Zhuo’s landline number, which hadn't been active for years, obtaining his mobile number wouldn't be difficult for someone determined enough. While the peak heat surrounding the video had cooled, its wide dissemination would have a long-term effect on Wang Zhuo’s life. …… He wanted to hand out money, but inconveniently, everyone was away. Guan Yingying and her father were attending some trade fair in Europe; Qiu Lu had gone off alone to Yunnan; and Qi Fei was out in the countryside with friends, seeking pastoral life experiences.
Frustrated, Wang Zhuo tried inviting Gan Lin to a movie, only to receive an even bigger blow: her entire family was embarking on a ten-day joyous trip to Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, and they had already packed and were ready to leave!
“No one is around, huh? Fine, I’ll keep myself busy then!”
From that day forward, Wang Zhuo swam with Sun Donghao at the pool every afternoon and took driving lessons in the mornings. Ding Ren had arranged a Toyota pickup truck and a driving instructor for him, and Cheng Tiankun often joined them when he was free.
Besides that, Wang Zhuo visited his paternal aunt in the hospital, depositing another one hundred thousand yuan as a hospitalization retainer, and gave the attending doctor and head nurse substantial red envelopes of five thousand and two thousand yuan, respectively.
Perhaps the money made a difference; his aunt’s condition stabilized, and her complexion had slightly improved recently. Wang Zhuo then gave his uncle fifty thousand yuan, telling him not to be shy and to spend it freely if anything was needed.
“Wang Zhuo, did you win some kind of lottery?” His uncle was completely stunned.
Wang Zhuo smiled. “Don’t worry. Even the spare change left after taxes is more than enough to cover your aunt’s medical bills.”
After seeing his aunt, Wang Zhuo took a day off from his driving practice and games. He hired a taxi and instructed the driver to take him around looking at properties.
“I want high-end ones, completed units, preferably move-in ready without needing renovations. The location must be downtown—money is no object!” Wang Zhuo told the driver, adopting the tone of a nouveau riche individual.
The driver pondered for a moment. “Then let’s go to Hongkang Shengshi first.”
The largest unit at Hongkang Shengshi was 216 square meters, priced at 4,800 per square meter, but it was only available as a bare shell. Wang Zhuo told the saleswoman that while he liked the apartment, he didn't have time to manage renovations, so he couldn't buy it.
“You could arrange for someone else to handle it, perhaps subordinates of your parents, or relatives and friends,” the saleswoman assumed Wang Zhuo was the son of an official or a wealthy family.
Wang Zhuo shook his head. “How about you just sell me the model home? It’s a bit pricey, but the decoration is quite nice, suits my taste.”
The saleswoman looked troubled; selling the model home would affect subsequent sales, and she couldn't authorize it.
“I’ll pay in cash, rign, right now!” Wang Zhuo stated matter-of-factly. “If it works, it’s a deal. If not, I’ll leave and head to Sunshine Waterside.”
Rign was a phrase Wang Zhuo had learned just before the college entrance exams. Sunshine Waterside was one of Hongkang Shengshi’s competitors and another top-tier complex in the city center.
A sure catch couldn't be let slip away. The saleswoman quickly said, “I’ll call the manager!”
Soon, the transaction was finalized. The base price of the unit was 1.0368 million. Adding fees and miscellaneous charges brought the total to just over 1.06 million. Including the cost of the model home’s interior finishing and appliances, the real estate company rounded down the number. Wang Zhuo ultimately spent 1.25 million, and after a brief flurry of activity, the keys were in his hand.
This apartment was Wang Zhuo’s gift to Wang Zhengdao, a present prepared by the son for his father upon his release from prison.
Summer life proceeded leisurely, and in the blink of an eye, over ten days had passed since the college entrance exams. The results announcement was fast approaching.
“If you don’t get back soon, I might end up with someone else,” Wang Zhuo murmured into the phone while lounging lazily on a deck chair at the swimming pool.
“Disneyland is amazing! Can you bring me next time?” Gan Lin’s voice held a trace of mischief.
“Take a picture with Mickey Mouse and send it to me via MMS,” Wang Zhuo requested.
Gan Lin asked, “Didn’t your phone not have MMS capability? Did you finally upgrade?”
“I did, yesterday. I got a knock-off iPhone 4,” Wang Zhuo lied with practiced ease. It was true he got a new phone yesterday, but it was the genuine article, costing over six thousand yuan.
“Okay, wait a moment, I’ll hang up now.”
A short while later, Gan Lin’s MMS arrived. She was wearing a very revealing sky-blue slip dress and a wide-brimmed sun hat, making a funny face at the camera with a wrinkled nose. Behind her was a souvenir booth, its counter lined with all sorts of Disney dolls.
The photo was a selfie, taken with the phone held slightly above her face. From this angle, the alluring cleavage visible inside the slip dress neckline was clearly captured, stirring a sudden impulse in Wang Zhuo, causing a gradual swelling in his swimming trunks.
“Hey, who’s this? Let me see!”
A lecherous voice suddenly came from beside him, followed by the distinct swoosh of his phone being snatched away.
A fat man, pale and doughy, sat down directly on the ground beside Wang Zhuo’s deck chair. It was none other than Fatty Long, Jin Chengyou, who had joined Wang Zhuo and Sun Donghao’s swimming routine in recent days. However, while Wang Zhuo and Sun Donghao spent most of their time swimming, Fatty Long spent most of his time watching attractive women.
“Isn't that Gan Lin? Where is she?” Fatty Long exclaimed. “She’s wearing a little slip dress, so sexy!”
Wang Zhuo smiled. “She’s in Hong Kong, at Disneyland.”
“Let me see too,” Sun Donghao surfaced from the water.
“Hold on a second,” Fatty Long held the phone up to Wang Zhuo and said, “She said you should take one too and send it to her via MMS. Hurry up and strike a pose.”
Wang Zhuo maintained his relaxed posture. “Just take it like this.”
“Alright, I’m snapping it now.” Fatty Long’s eyes darted slyly; he zoomed the focus in a few degrees and took a close-up shot right at Wang Zhuo’s burgeoning swim trunks.
“Got it. Sending it to her now!”
Saying that, Fatty Long rapidly compressed and sent the photo. By the time Wang Zhuo tried to check the picture quality, he was already finished.
“Wow, here comes a 120-point sister, an E-cup! I’m going to check her out!” Dropping the phone, Fatty Long shook his rolls of fat and quickly scurried away.
The 120-point sister also piqued the curiosity of Wang Zhuo and Sun Donghao. They both looked toward the entrance to the women's changing area. Even the usually less-interested Sun Donghao exclaimed sincerely, “She must be today’s centerpiece!”
Wang Zhuo grinned, chuckling silently, because this ‘centerpiece sister’ was actually an acquaintance—it was Qi Fei, whom he hadn't seen in many days.