Now that the house belonged to him, changes were inevitable. He would keep the original layout for aspects he liked, but modify those he didn't. The renovation would cost money, but Zhang Yang was certainly not short of it.

As this was his first property, and such a large one at that, Zhang Yang felt it was necessary to ensure his complete satisfaction.

He relayed all these suggestions to Nan Cheng, then immediately drove off.

Having a capable butler was indeed a great advantage. Nan Cheng not only offered many excellent proposals but also took complete charge of implementing all the required work.

Often, Zhang Yang would suggest one thing, and Nan Cheng would immediately grasp his underlying intent.

According to Zhang Yang’s requirements, the new house needed two swimming pools—one indoor and one outdoor. The layout of the garden also needed alteration; he particularly liked the small pavilion at Su Shaohua's residence and wanted one added here.

Furthermore, there were adjustments to be made to the living room, the master bedroom, and several other rooms.

Zhang Yang proposed quite a few changes. This place had previously been a temporary residence for Elder Wu, whose tastes differed from Zhang Yang’s, making it unsuitable for him.

These modifications were estimated to cost around two million. Zhang Yang left a check for three million. This was from a personal checking account he had opened after returning from Mi Xue’s hometown, designed for handling larger individual expenditures conveniently.

With this sum, the villa renovation was perfectly manageable, leaving a substantial amount left over for maintenance expenses.

Upon returning to the hotel, Zhang Yang did not go out again; instead, he prepared a new batch of pills using the medicinal ingredients he had previously acquired.

These pills were intended for Elder Wu. His illness required a period of conditioning first, so immediate acupuncture wasn't necessary.

These pills would last him for a month, after which acupuncture treatment would yield better results.

This was the safest approach. His body was currently suppressed by medication, and both the acupuncture and the medicine would have a similar effect; naturally, Zhang Yang chose the simpler option of oral medication.

This way, he wouldn't need to visit Elder Wu daily to administer needles.

In the evening, Long Cheng and Huang Hai returned first, driving the cars they had purchased at the auto show.

The two of them had spent the entire day test-driving, even taking the vehicles to the new circuit to familiarize themselves with the new cars’ performance while getting acquainted with the roads—a double benefit.

Both were very pleased with their new vehicles. Wang Laowu’s craftsmanship was truly superior; the modified cars were completely different from their stock versions.

Dinner was shared among the three of them; Wang Chen and Li Ya had still not returned.

Speaking of those two, even Long Cheng shook his head. Wang Chen’s self-control was simply too poor; among everyone, Wang Chen was actually the one Long Cheng worried about the most.

Despite Zhang Yang being the youngest, Long Cheng found him to be the most composed person after comparing them.

The auto show had only two days left, and Zhang Yang kept a low profile for those two days.

The process of helping Wu Yan absorb the poison had drained a considerable amount of his energy, even damaging a portion of his vital essence.

Although he had the thousand-year ginseng to supplement him, damage to vital essence was no minor matter. Zhang Yang spent these two days recuperating internally and finally returned to his normal state.

On the final day of the auto show, Su Zhantao and Yang Ling also returned. When they arrived, Zhang Yang, Long Cheng, and Huang Hai were just finishing lunch. Su Zhantao, showing no hesitation, brought Yang Ling straight over to join them.

Seeing Yang Ling affectionately linking arms with Su Zhantao as they entered, Zhang Yang understood that Su Zhantao’s trip to Hangzhou had been successful; at the very least, he had gained the approval of Yang Ling’s maternal family.

The two were now officially together, advancing even faster than Zhang Yang had anticipated.

“I called ahead, why are you already eating?” Su Zhantao complained slightly after sitting down.

“You did call, but you only said you were about to leave. When I asked when you’d arrive, you hung up without saying a word. And now you blame me?”

Zhang Yang shook his head, both amused and frustrated. Su Zhantao had indeed called, but the entire conversation lasted less than thirty seconds. After a brief, “I’m almost back,” the rest was just murmurs of “Mm-hmm” and “Uh-huh,” clearly indicating he was talking to someone else. By the time Zhang Yang tried to get more information, he had already disconnected.

“I was right next to Zhang Yang when he took the call. You can’t really blame him for this; you only have yourself to blame!” Long Cheng remarked with a smile. He was indeed with Zhang Yang at that time.

Not just him, but Huang Hai was there too. The three of them hadn't gone out that day, spending time playing computer games in Zhang Yang’s room.

During his downtime these past two days, Zhang Yang had gone out and bought a laptop.

Although the computers of this era were simple, they had quite a few games, including classics like Xian Jian and Red Alert, perfect for passing time when bored.

When he was playing, Long Cheng and Huang Hai came to find him. They had seen computers before; their companies had them, but they rarely used them for gaming. Seeing the enjoyable games Zhang Yang was playing, they quickly picked it up, and soon they were engrossed.

“Exactly! I can also confirm that your call didn’t give us any clue when to expect you!” Huang Hai chimed in. Su Zhantao was already stuffing his mouth, having skipped breakfast that morning. However, Yang Ling’s family had been reluctant to let them leave, and her mother particularly didn't want them to go, which caused the delay. Consequently, they had only just returned to Shanghai now.

Zhang Yang and the others were eating a bit late because they had been engrossed in games, and Su Zhantao, having been traveling, was starving.

“Fine, I didn't explain clearly. How come I never realized the food at this hotel is so delicious!” Su Zhantao spoke indistinctly around a mouthful of food. Zhang Yang and the other two exchanged glances and smiled together.

He was just hungry; everything tasted good when starved. If his stomach were full, he would probably be complaining about how poorly the dishes were cooked.

“Slow down, look at you!” Yang Ling said, feeling a little embarrassed, and patted the elder Mr. Su. Mr. Su turned his head, his mouth greasy, nodding vigorously while still chewing and swallowing.

“Okay, I’ll eat slower!” As soon as he spoke, however, he choked slightly and hastily grabbed his water cup, downing a large gulp. His reaction made everyone laugh again.

Su Zhantao was, in fact, a genuinely sincere person. Despite his favorable family background, he never relied on it as a crutch, nor did he treat his family connections as a source of pride. Yang Ling was precisely attracted to this quality, which is why she was willing to be with him.

In the afternoon, the group went out shopping together, and everyone bought a laptop.

This was all thanks to Zhang Yang; after buying the computers, they all asked him to help install the games. In reality, Su Zhantao already owned two computers at home—a desktop and a laptop—since he ran an internet company where computers were indispensable. He was purely joining in for the fun, but since his company could use it, the purchase wasn't a complete waste.

After dinner, Wang Chen and Li Ya finally returned, just the two of them this time. Wang Chen had dark circles under his eyes, which looked somewhat sunken. Zhang Yang glanced at him and shook his head repeatedly. This kid wouldn’t heed advice; if he continued like this, it would ruin him sooner or later.

Unfortunately, Zhang Yang’s words had no effect. Wang Chen appeared to listen on the surface, but he was incapable of changing his ways; he was the type who simply couldn't pull himself away from an attractive woman.

The next day, the auto show concluded entirely. The show had been quite successful; many luxury cars were sold, primarily to these young masters and their circle.

All their modified cars were ready. Zhang Yang’s Mercedes sports car had also been delivered. This car was even more exhilarating than the sedan, boasting faster acceleration from zero to one hundred kilometers per hour, giving an instant sensation of flying.

Zhang Yang was very satisfied with the car but had no intention of participating in the races. Ultimately, he had lost interest in the competition itself, retaining only an interest in the cars. He was happy to accompany everyone and cheer from the sidelines, but he wouldn't personally enter the races.

At five in the afternoon, the group started dinner. Long Cheng seemed slightly excited. He was the one who loved racing the most, attending every year, and his skill level was quite high. He had often told others that racing was the greatest passion and the only real interest in his life.

Wang Chen and Li Ya, seeking thrills, had each invited a fashionably dressed beauty—it was obvious they weren't from respectable backgrounds—who knew where they had managed to hook up with them.

After eating, well before five o'clock, the group hopped into their new cars and headed toward the outskirts.

Underground racing: the term itself implied activities best kept out of sight. Typically, they chose locations that were remote and had minimal traffic, the only places where they could fully unleash their vehicles.

Shanghai’s main circuit for this occasion was a newly constructed section of the expressway in the western suburbs. This road featured a circular loop, had excellent road conditions, low traffic, and was the perfect distance—making it the most suitable venue for racing.

The location was slightly secluded. By the time the seven of them arrived in their six vehicles, the sky was already darkening. In a yet-to-be-opened service area on the expressway, a crowd of cars had already gathered. Some people had brought several large searchlights, making the area as bright as day. Looking at the setup, one wouldn't guess this was an illegal race; an outsider might think some sort of event was taking place.

Long Cheng’s Land Rover took the lead, its powerful engine roaring as it pulled to a stop nearby.

The other cars parked in sequence behind them. The arrival of their contingent of vehicles immediately drew many gazes. Their cars were either large SUVs or sports cars, clearly marking them as participants. Many people tried to guess who these newcomers were and whether they were known in the circuit. Here, having more connections meant greater prestige; many were confidently greeting acquaintances nearby to showcase their social reach.

“Old Long, why are you so late this time? I thought the guys from Changjing weren’t coming!” As soon as Long Cheng and the others got out of their cars, a man in his mid-thirties hurried over, waving and greeting Long Cheng, his tone suggesting a close relationship.

Zhang Yang also surveyed the surroundings, noting with surprise that several police cars were parked in the distance, with a few officers standing nearby, smoking. These officers were not approaching the main group, nor were they leaving.

Zhang Yang was initially slightly surprised, but then he quickly understood. For such large-scale underground racing, it was impossible for official channels to be completely unaware, especially since this event had been anticipated for a long time, known by many.

They knew, but they couldn't effectively intervene; dealing with so many powerful young masters was troublesome. Since they couldn't stop it entirely, they could at least dispatch some personnel to keep an eye on things, ensuring quick response capabilities if an incident occurred—that explained the presence of the police.

Zhang Yang’s assumption wasn't entirely accurate, but the general sentiment was correct.

The segment of the expressway used as the track had actually been rented out for a high price. The organizers had arranged with the expressway management that it would be closed off to the public tonight. Since it was a public road, granting access wasn't an issue as long as outsiders remained unaware. This race covered just over twenty kilometers of the expressway, combined with a few other road segments, totaling less than fifty kilometers for the entire circuit. This distance would allow them to truly demonstrate their skill levels.

Even though the road had been granted to them, the authorities overseeing the setup weren't completely at ease. These young men often had powerful backing, and problems could arise quickly. Yet, they dared not refuse the arrangement, so they could only station officers nearby to respond instantly if trouble erupted. These police officers, in essence, were unwilling laborers; they could only watch, not interfere, and dared not step forward, knowing they would have no recourse even if these young masters acted unreasonably toward them.

“How could we not come? Everyone who came from Changjing bought a car this time, you know that!” Long Cheng laughed heartily, talking with the man who had approached him. They had never cared about the total number of cars sold at the auto show, but they knew precisely which young masters from which area had purchased luxury vehicles. These young masters were the primary consumers of luxury vehicles this time around. The news that everyone from Changjing who came had bought good cars had already spread widely.

“I know, Old Long. Aren't you going to introduce me to the new friends you brought?” the man asked with a gentle smile, surveying the group gathered around Long Cheng, his gaze finally settling on Zhang Yang and Su Zhantao. He recognized the others but had no impression of these two.

“Can you blame me? You’re the one asking all the questions; I haven't even had a chance to introduce them yet!” Long Cheng laughed loudly, pulled Zhang Yang forward, and said quietly, “Old Cai, this is the youngest brother in our group this time. Don’t let his youth fool you; he’s even more capable than I am, and he possesses miraculous medical skills!”

“So, you must be Brother Zhang. I’ve long heard the name!” The man’s eyes lit up, and he walked forward, proactively shaking Zhang Yang’s hand with a beaming smile. Zhang Yang felt a slight confusion; he was certain he had never met this man before, yet the man seemed so familiar with him.

“Brother Zhang, we all heard about how you fought six people by yourself and disciplined that kid Shi Feng. I’ve long found that Shi Feng annoying, and I was planning to teach him a lesson myself this time, but you beat me to it! And you made him run back with his tail between his legs—truly satisfying!” Seeing Zhang Yang’s puzzled expression, the man added, finishing with a hearty laugh. Long Cheng and the others suddenly understood. When the man said he’d ‘long heard the name,’ they had been slightly perplexed, but now they realized it was because of that incident. The matter of Zhang Yang disciplining Shi Feng and those Jinling people had indeed spread, though those directly involved knew fewer details.