It was the height of rush hour, the roads gridlocked, and the taxi driver, with masterful skill, managed to edge the cab right up to the entrance of the Commercial Building, earning a genuine admiration from Zhong Yun. This kind of driving, honed in the metropolitan sprawl, was like the finest grappling technique—subtle, precise, and brought to the peak of its art. It was a world away from the broad, sweeping maneuvers of a race track.

Though dressed casually, Zhong Yun carried an unmistakable air of distinction. The security guard didn't stop him; upon hearing his inquiry about where the Jinghui Company was located, the guard even pointed him enthusiastically toward the elevators.

With less than fifteen minutes until the start of work, the area by the elevators was crammed with people. Zhong Yun naturally positioned himself at the very back of the line.

Suddenly, Zhong Yun felt a gaze fixed upon him from nearby. He turned his head to see a middle-aged man, fleshy-faced and radiating prosperity, staring intently at him. There was something strangely familiar in the man's eyes.

The middle-aged man gave a sharp start, his corpulent face breaking into a wide expression as he pointed a finger at Zhong Yun and shouted, "Third Brother! You are Third Brother!"

A vague shadow from the deepest recess of Zhong Yun’s memory began to surface, yet it was veiled, its features impossible to discern. He managed a halting reply, "You, you…"

The middle-aged man hopped with excitement, beating his own chest as he stammered, "It's me! Second Brother, Dormitory 702…"

These few crucial words struck him like lightning cleaving through fog. Zhong Yun’s eyes widened further; the indistinct figure in his memory snapped into clarity, gradually aligning with the man before him. He asked in disbelief, "Second Brother? Is that really you?"

"Who else would it be?" The middle-aged man slapped Zhong Yun heartily on the shoulder. "You wicked boy, where the hell have you been all these years?"

Reuniting with an old friend here filled Zhong Yun with uncontrollable emotion, yet he retained a sliver of composure. Noticing that everyone around them was staring, he quickly pulled his friend, "Come on, let's find somewhere to catch up."

"Great," the middle-aged man agreed instantly.

This man was a college classmate. They had shared the same dormitory; this man slept on the bunk directly below him. His name was Cai Xiaoping, and they were the same age.

At a Starbucks near the Commercial Building, they settled in, and Cai Xiaoping immediately asked, "Third Brother, how have things been these past years?"

"So-so," Zhong Yun smiled faintly.

Just then, the server approached, and they each ordered a cup of coffee.

"How did you get so fat?" Zhong Yun stirred his coffee, studying Second Brother's build. "If your voice hadn't been the same, I never would have recognized you. I remember you used to be skinnier than me."

"The curse of middle age," Cai Xiaoping patted his prominent beer belly with a sigh. "Too much business socializing, no time for exercise—that’s how it ends up. It’s not just me; all the others have ballooned into perfect spheres."

He then looked at Zhong Yun’s trim figure with envy. "But you haven't changed at all over the years. Still handsome enough to charm high school girls."

"Sounds like you've been doing well for yourself," Zhong Yun noted, glancing at the suit he wore.

"After all these years, I've clawed my way up to just a junior manager. What about you? Where have you been making your fortune lately?" Though he spoke lightly, there was no trace of disappointment in Cai Xiaoping's eyes.

Zhong Yun shrugged. "Currently unattached to society, heading over to rely on my brother-in-law for a while."

Cai Xiaoping was about to reply when his phone suddenly buzzed. He pulled it out, stood up, and said, "I need to take this." He walked toward the entrance.

One minute later, Cai Xiaoping returned with an apologetic look. "Sorry, our General Manager needs me urgently for something. How about we connect after work?"

"No problem, go take care of it. Just give me your number so I can reach you. I just got back, I don't have one yet," Zhong Yun said.

Cai Xiaoping fished a business card out of his bag and said while walking away, "Old One and the others are coming over this Saturday. We should all get together—you absolutely have to be there."

"I'll definitely contact you then," Zhong Yun waved. He picked up the card: Vice Manager, Jinghui Media Co., Ltd.

What a coincidence. Zhong Yun tucked the card into his pocket and stood up to pay.

Meeting an acquaintance on his very first day back put Zhong Yun in excellent spirits. The thought of gathering with Old One and Fourth Brother again in a few days made him genuinely excited.

Returning to the Commercial Building, the morning rush had passed. There weren't many people in the elevator, only a few women who were clearly secretaries, and one youthful maiden. Seeing her, Zhong Yun paused slightly.

Zhong Yun’s memory was excellent, essentially photographic. This girl in the long dress was one of the students he’d encountered on the hill behind his old high school the previous night. Running into her again here, just the next day, was uncanny.

The girl clearly recognized him too; she covered her mouth with a small hand, her eyes wide, the surprise clear in her gaze.

Zhong Yun inclined his head in greeting, and the girl returned a frank smile.

The elevator stopped on the thirty-eighth floor, and the girl stepped out with him. "You work at Jinghui too? I've never seen you before," she asked curiously.

"I'm here to see someone."

Saying that, he walked toward the reception desk. "Excuse me, is your Chairman in?"

The receptionist smiled politely. "Do you have an appointment, sir?"

Zhong Yun raised an eyebrow. "I have something very important to discuss."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Chen is currently in a meeting," the receptionist’s smile was perfectly standard, utterly professional.

Zhong Yun grew slightly impatient. "Just notify him; my name is Chen—"

Just then, a group of people walked in from outside. The two receptionists seized the opportunity to slip away from Zhong Yun and address the man leading the group: "Manager Wang, Mr. Chen is looking for you."

"Got it," the middle-aged man waved a hand, glancing over Zhong Yun without asking further questions before proceeding inside.

"Sir, I apologize, but Mr. Chen is very busy and likely doesn't have time to see you," the receptionist's smile thinned.

In the Chairman's office, Chen Xiang was reviewing documents when the door was suddenly pushed open and a head poked in. Seeing Chen Xiang seated at the desk, a sweet smile bloomed on the face, and she called out, "Dad." Like a brightly colored butterfly, she fluttered over to him.

Chen Xiang removed his glasses, his face softened with affection. "What brings you here?"

"Mom told me to come watch over you so you don't get into trouble." The girl was the same one who had shared the elevator with Zhong Yun.

"My little supervisor," Chen Xiang dotingly pinched his daughter's small nose.

The girl made a face, her eyes darting around. Suddenly, she said, "Dad, there's someone outside who wants to see you. The receptionists stopped him, but he absolutely refuses to leave, saying it's very, very important."

"Oh, my little supervisor is turning into an advocate for strangers now?" Chen Xiang chuckled.

"Dad—" The girl affectionately tugged at her father's hand, shaking it gently.

"Alright, alright, stop shaking me, you'll shake my old bones apart," Chen Xiang hurried to say. "Just for your sake, I'll see him."

"You're the best, Dad," the girl leaned over and planted a kiss on his cheek.

He picked up the phone, about to call his secretary to have the visitor admitted, when the door was knocked upon. His secretary opened it. "Mr. Chen, Manager Wang is here."

Chen Xiang put down the phone. "Send him in."

Knowing her father needed privacy for business, the girl slipped into the inner room. There was another room in the office where Chen Xiang sometimes slept when working late.

Outside, the receptionist was adamant about not letting Zhong Yun pass. "Mr. Chen really doesn't have time. Why don't you wait here?"

Zhong Yun certainly didn't have that much time to spare. Without another word, he started walking inside.

Seeing Zhong Yun force his way in, the receptionists panicked. One hurried after him, "Hey, what kind of person are you—" The other snatched up the phone to call security.

There was no way Zhong Yun was going to be stopped. His gaze swept around the large office. Just then, a young man walked by carrying a tray of water, and Zhong Yun grabbed him instantly. "Where is the Chairman's office?"

The young man instinctively pointed in one direction. Zhong Yun released him and walked that way.

At that moment, the receptionists appeared. "Sir, you can't go in there… Quickly, stop him…"

The frantic appearance of the receptionists gave the Jinghui Company employees pause, leading to unfavorable speculation. A few quick-thinking employees reacted with the speed of monkeys startled by a sting, blocking Zhong Yun’s path. With a shove, they went down in a chorus of "Ouch!"

The commotion outside quickly alerted those in the Chairman's office. Chen Xiang called his secretary to ask what was happening. The sweet-voiced secretary was momentarily terrified by the menacing appearance of Zhong Yun and stammered out, "Someone is causing trouble—Ah…"

The female secretary's high-pitched scream nearly ruptured Chen Xiang's eardrums, causing him to drop the phone and clutch his injured ears in pain.

At that very instant, the door was brutally slammed open.

Everyone in the room instantly stood up, watching as a tall young man strode in, closing the door firmly behind him.

"What do you think you're doing?" That Manager Wang barked, trying to sound fierce but lacking conviction.

The newcomer's gaze swept right past him, landing on Chen Xiang behind him. His eyes grew distant, momentarily dazed.

Seeing the face of the man who entered, Chen Xiang felt a shock run through him; the resemblance was uncanny. "You…"

With a sharp crack, the door was brutally opened a second time, and several burly security guards stormed in, batons raised, their focus locked on Zhong Yun like hounds on prey.

"What are you security guards good for, letting someone like this barge in?" Manager Wang straightened his spine when he saw the guards arrive. His voice regained its bluster. "What are you waiting for? Throw this guy out!"

"Wait." Chen Xiang finally regained his composure and stopped the guards. He stared intently at the young man, the likeness growing stronger the longer he looked. He asked softly, "Young man, what is your name? What business do you have with me?"

A smile appeared on the young man's face. "Brother-in-law, you don't recognize me?"

Chen Xiang's expression shifted dramatically.