He didn't take the keys Zhang Yang offered, stating flatly, "Zhang Yang, things I give away never come back. You can ask Qiangzi; they all know this is my habit. If you don't want this car, just toss it somewhere. I certainly don't want it back!"

As Gu Fang spoke, he glanced at Shi Qiang, giving him a significant look. Shi Qiang sighed in resignation and had to step forward first. "Zhang Yang, Gu Fang isn't lying. He never takes back anything he gives away. If you really won't take it, he'll actually throw the car right out!" "Exactly! Since Qiangzi said so, you should keep the car!" Gu Fang immediately chimed in. He was giving this gift because he wanted to befriend Zhang Yang.

Before, he just thought Zhang Yang was a decent guy and had helped him once, so he was polite to him. Now, things were different. After Zhang Yang saved his maternal grandfather's life, he was a great benefactor to their entire family, and his relatives had all told him to maintain a good relationship with Zhang Yang. "Zhang Yang, it's better to take it than not. If you don't want it, you can give it to me!" Shao Yuping suddenly interjected. Zhang Yang glanced at her faintly, then gently shook his head. "Since you've put it that way, Gu Fang, I'll accept the car. I wouldn't just carelessly give away something you gifted me." His words startled Shao Yuping, whose expression quickly shifted to annoyance. Zhang Yang had subtly rejected her. She rarely asked others for things, and while the car was valuable, it wasn't something she desperately coveted. Zhang Yang's refusal made her feel she had lost face, and she became quite angry. "Zhang Yang is right. That’s something Gu Fang gave you; of course, you can't just hand it off to anyone!" Shi Qiang quickly stepped in to smooth things over. If he didn't intervene, his younger sister was about to throw a fit; her temperament had been a headache for him for a long time.

Gu Fang’s Bugatti was still at the hospital. Zhang Yang arrived with Long Feng in just one car, but when they left, there were two cars. The value of this car was not insignificant; it was far better than his own Mercedes. Gu Fang’s gift was substantial, and Zhang Yang resolved to return the favor with something significant when the chance arose.

After Zhang Yang left, Gu Fang and Shi Qiang returned to the ward. Shao Yuping was clearly in low spirits and soon made her excuses to leave. Shi Qiang could only bid Gu Fang a reluctant farewell; he felt like a minder at the moment. Not long after Shao Yuping and her group departed, Qiao Guanhai hurried to the ward. He was the second son of the Qiao family. The eldest brother was buried in academic pursuits and hadn't been around much, except for when Old Man Qiao was critically ill these past few days. Qiao Guanhai currently served as the public representative for the Qiao family.

"Dad, I found out who his father is. Guess whose son Zhang Yang is?" Qiao Guanhai sat by the hospital bed and spoke with a slight, eager tremor in his voice. "Whose?" Old Man Qiao asked softly, a smile playing on his lips. His articulation was slurred, but everyone understood him clearly. Qiao Guanhai nodded, smiling, and stated directly, "Zhang Yang is Keqin's son. Isn't that a surprise!" "Keqin?" Old Man Qiao paused slightly, a genuine flicker of surprise crossing his face. Old Man Qiao was certainly familiar with Zhang Yang’s father, Zhang Keqin; Zhang Keqin had even worked under him for a time back then. "Yes, but I heard Zhang Yang and Keqin seem to have some kind of misunderstanding. They haven't been in contact for years, and he holds a strong resentment toward Keqin," Qiao Guanhai added. Since Zhang Yang was Old Man Qiao's savior, Qiao Guanhai naturally needed to investigate the benefactor's background thoroughly. Upon learning that Zhang Yang's father was Zhang Keqin, Qiao Guanhai’s jaw had almost dropped. He then called Zhang Keqin to confirm the matter. Zhang Keqin was a good friend of his, and he was aware of the situation in Zhang Keqin's family. Viewed this way, Zhang Yang was practically family to them.

"I heard about that rift before. I never imagined Keqin's son would be this accomplished and so formidable. Listen, when you have a chance, invite Keqin over for a visit. It's been several years since I last saw him," Old Man Qiao mused softly, speaking slowly so Qiao Guanhai could catch every word. Qiao Guanhai nodded immediately after. Although Old Man Qiao was frail, his status and prestige meant that the people he invited were few and far between.

While they were talking, Zhang Yang had already arrived at Jinling Road. Jinling Road connects to The Bund and is Shanghai’s most famous pedestrian street, lined with countless shops—a shopper's paradise. When Zhang Yang arrived, Shi Yan and the others were already standing on The Bund, admiring the view of the Huangpu River. It wasn't their first time at The Bund. They all remembered the time they encountered a private cocktail party here. Wang Lu had a minor conflict with Guo Weiya from Jinda University and was provoked into barging into the private party venue. Later, Wang Lu was nearly thrown out by security. It was Zhang Yang's appearance that changed everything. Not only was Wang Lu unharmed, but he also organized a grand party for them—a party that many of their classmates would remember for the rest of their lives. This incident further elevated Zhang Yang's standing in their eyes. By now, they all knew Zhang Yang's background wasn't simple; he was at least far superior to them—a true young master. That such a young master treated them like equals only made them more grateful. Their hearts had genuinely accepted Zhang Yang, viewing him as someone they could trust. Zhang Yang's 'Third Level Task' had yielded not just data, but the loyalty of these classmates.

"Zhang Yang is here!" After parking, Zhang Yang walked onto The Bund to find them. Wang Lu, with the sharpest eyes, spotted him first. Seeing him, she happily ran over. Shi Yan and Yin Yong followed suit. Zhang Yang was their anchor; his arrival settled their minds considerably. "Sorry, I’m a bit late!" Zhang Yang waved his hand. Before coming here, he had stopped by the bank to transfer the funds from the check into his account. Carrying a check around was inconvenient, and twenty million wasn't a small sum for Zhang Yang now. He intended to use the money to buy a decent house in Changjing, or if he couldn't find one, buy land and build his own. "It's fine, you're not late. Let's head to the pedestrian street now!" Wang Lu giggled and ran to take Zhang Yang's arm. The others smiled seeing her actions. This wasn't the first time Wang Lu had grabbed Zhang Yang's arm. Gao Fei had once teased her, suggesting she was competing with Mi Xue for a boyfriend. However, Wang Lu was truly being wronged by that assumption. She was naturally bright and bubbly—the quintessential girl-next-door type, treating Zhang Yang purely as an older brother. Zhang Yang held no romantic intentions toward her either. Their interactions were as naturally brother-sisterly as possible.

Looking at Wang Lu, Shi Yan felt a twinge of envy. Wang Lu had such a good nature, able to do whatever she pleased without causing misunderstandings. Shi Yan felt constrained; she thought too much, unable to be as cheerful or act as spontaneously as Wang Lu.

Jinling Road Pedestrian Street was long, filled with numerous shops and malls. The seven of them gathered and headed towards Jinling Road. Six walked in front, while Long Feng lagged slightly behind, holding Lightning. Long Feng held Zhang Yang’s friends in high regard now, but he couldn't bring himself to mingle completely with these ordinary people the way Zhang Yang did; his ingrained personality from years past wasn't easy to change.

"This pearl necklace is so beautiful! How much is it?" Wang Lu suddenly gasped, pointing at a strand of pearls displayed behind the counter of a shop. Shi Yan and Yin Yong shook their heads helplessly. Wang Lu was too naive; shouting out her desire like that clearly signaled to the vendor that she liked the item—a guaranteed setup for being overcharged. Jinling Road had many small shops where prices weren't clearly marked; many items required haggling. "Miss, you have excellent taste. This is the finest necklace we have. It's only one hundred yuan!" The saleswoman smiled faintly and retrieved the pearl necklace for Wang Lu. "One hundred yuan? That’s so expensive!" Wang Lu stuck out her cute little tongue. It was 1998, and one hundred yuan held considerable purchasing power. The necklace was lovely, but the pearls were tiny, making one hundred yuan decidedly steep. "Miss, these are all pure natural pearls; they’re good for your health. One hundred yuan really isn't expensive!" The saleswoman smiled. Having dealt with countless customers daily, she possessed keen judgment and knew this transaction was about to close. "Fifty. If you sell it for fifty, we’ll buy it!" While Wang Lu hesitated, Zhang Yang suddenly spoke up. Shi Yan and Yin Yong turned, looking at Zhang Yang in astonishment. None of them expected Zhang Yang to start bargaining for Wang Lu; this wasn't the Zhang Yang they knew. "Yes, fifty! If it’s fifty, we’ll take it!" Hearing Zhang Yang, Wang Lu immediately nodded in agreement. She had felt one hundred yuan was a bit much just moments ago; fifty yuan felt just right. "Miss, every pearl in this necklace is purely natural. One hundred yuan truly is the lowest price," the saleswoman hastily protested. Zhang Yang didn't say another word; he simply took Wang Lu's hand and started to walk away. "Don't go! Fifty, we'll sell it to you for fifty!" Seeing them actually leave, the saleswoman quickly called out again. The cost of this pearl necklace wasn't high; the pearls were too small and quite ordinary. For them, making a profit was the goal; otherwise, Zhang Yang’s group would surely find a similar necklace elsewhere for fifty yuan.

Wang Lu paid and happily put on the necklace, showing it off to Shi Yan. She smiled with genuine delight, and seeing her happiness, Zhang Yang offered a gentle smile in return. He only bargained for Wang Lu to prevent her from being ripped off. He genuinely liked Wang Lu, but it was strictly the affection one holds for a younger sister, not romance.

After the purchase, the group moved on. Zhang Yang’s price negotiation had been a minor interlude, but everyone learned the value of haggling while they shopped. Soon, everyone held purchases in their hands, and even Zhang Yang bought a few small gifts for Mi Xue.