The findings from Su Zhantao had an impact on Zhang Yang, though not a particularly significant one. He had intended to uncover some leads before departing, ensuring he had a direction for his search upon arrival rather than setting out completely blind; now, however, the threads he thought he had were severed, and everything needed to begin anew.

The newspaper articles yielded nothing useful, so Zhang Yang let those thoughts drop. Before noon break ended, Mi Xue returned from school, accompanied by Xiao Dai, Nannan, Gu Cheng, Hu Xin, and Xiao Bin.

The six of them took two cars; the three girls rode with Mi Xue, while the three boys were in Hu Xin’s Santana. This Santana was a used vehicle Hu Xin and his partners had purchased; their logistics business was booming, requiring them both to travel constantly, making a single vehicle highly inconvenient.

Zhang Yang hadn't been present when they bought the car, and Hu Xin and the others had celebrated the acquisition heartily. At that time, Gu Cheng had remarked that he never imagined they would become car owners so quickly.

“Why are you all here together?” Seeing the group enter one by one while he was in the living room, Zhang Yang couldn't hide his surprise. Mi Xue hadn't given him any warning or mentioned that the others would be coming over.

“Boss, you’re being unfair. You move to a new place this big and don’t even tell us?

If Mi Xue hadn't mentioned it, we wouldn't have known a thing!” Gu Cheng was the first to voice his ‘dissatisfaction.’ Zhang Yang had indeed failed to notify them about this move. “Exactly, you don't mention something as huge as moving house.

Do you even consider us brothers? But Zhang Yang, this house of yours is truly massive.

I wish I could buy a place like this someday!” Hu Xin also complained, quickly becoming captivated by Zhang Yang’s new residence. Although he and Gu Cheng were now considered successful university students—a rare few among entrepreneurs—they rarely saw villas on the scale of Zhang Yang’s.

Even now, the place they shared was a rented two-bedroom apartment, a setup that already felt vastly superior to their dorm rooms. “If you work hard, I believe you’ll buy one soon enough!” Zhang Yang said with a smile, immediately instructing Qu Meilan to pour tea.

Xiao Dai and Nannan were also taking in their new home, their eyes alight with envy. “I believe that too; we will definitely work hard.

When we buy our houses, we’ll be your neighbors, Boss!” Gu Cheng nodded emphatically. Their logistics company was thriving, and both men were full of drive, convinced the future would only get better.

This was the peak of economic development, and Gu Cheng and Hu Xin had entered the market at just the right time, not too late. They had caught the right wave; their current monthly profit was substantial—in terms of pure profit, it even surpassed the dividends Xiao Dai received from their restaurant.

With the business running so smoothly, they were confident they could pay off Zhang Yang’s initial loan and expand even further. “Enough about that.

Zhang Yang, we’re here to light the hearth for you—you have to acknowledge this, right?” Hu Xin called out. With that, he pulled Gu Cheng and Xiao Bin out, retrieving the gifts they had brought for Zhang Yang from the cars.

Lighting the hearth is a custom in many regions; moving into a new home usually requires a celebration, a tradition also held in Changjing, which is why Gu Cheng and Hu Xin had been complaining earlier. The three men brought in a large pile of items, which they arranged in the living room.

These were all high-quality goods. Combined, they were worth nearly twenty to thirty thousand yuan—a collective gesture from all five of them.

After setting everything down, Xiao Bin became noticeably reserved. Most of these items were paid for by Hu Xin and the others.

Twenty to thirty thousand yuan was an astronomical figure for typical students, but for Hu Xin and his partners, who were already running a business, it was manageable. They usually lived frugally, but when it came to Zhang Yang’s affairs, they were never hesitant, knowing well that without him, none of them would be where they were now.

Witnessing the transformation in Hu Xin and Gu Cheng, Xiao Bin felt a pang of regret. He regretted getting lost in the allure of power, chasing the superficial glory of being the student union president.

If he had stayed behind to work hard like Gu Cheng, foregoing these external validations, perhaps he too could be running a small business now, a minor boss in his own right. But regretting it now was useless.

Gu Cheng and Hu Xin had risen through their own efforts. If he were forced to start a business on his own now, even with capital, he wouldn't know where to begin.

Furthermore, he truly couldn't bear to give up his position as the student union president. “You came, which is enough; why bring gifts?

Fine, I’ll cook today and properly reward your appetites!” Looking at the items they brought in, Zhang Yang simply shook his head and smiled. He didn't refuse; he understood this was the sincerity of his classmates.

“Yay! That’s fantastic, Boss!

We want a fusion of Chinese and Western food—we want the steak you make!” Gu Cheng shouted excitedly, and Nannan and the others smiled too. “Steak it is, I’ll cook until you burst!” Zhang Yang laughed in reply.

The new villa had everything needed for cooking, though they still needed to buy the ingredients. Luckily, it wasn't lunchtime yet, so there was time to buy things and start cooking.

Zhang Yang drafted a shopping list and asked Qu Meilan to go out for groceries. It was then Zhang Yang realized the benefit of bringing Qu Meilan along.

At least someone was there to handle the trivial matters, so he didn't have to do everything himself as he had before. While Qu Meilan shopped, Zhang Yang and Mi Xue gave the others a tour of the new home.

The villa wasn't exceptionally large—two and a half stories, with the half-story being an attic for miscellaneous storage. The two main floors combined were under 400 square meters, plus a small courtyard and an independent garage.

What displeased Zhang Yang most was the garage; it was too small, fitting at most two cars, preferably sports cars or sedans. Other vehicles had to park in the courtyard, where Long Feng’s Hummer was currently situated.

Zhang Yang was already contemplating whether he should buy the adjacent properties, leaving them unoccupied just to utilize their garages. It seemed extravagant, but it wouldn't lose money; these properties were guaranteed to appreciate significantly in the future.

“I’ve decided. Within five years, I will definitely buy a house like this, Boss!” After the tour, Gu Cheng suddenly stated this seriously, glancing toward Nannan as he spoke.

This was both a promise and a resolution on his part. “Cheng Zi, have some ambition!

Why wait five years to buy a house? I say three years is enough.

Three years from now, we’ll each buy one!” Hu Xin chimed in. Their logistics business was doing exceptionally well.

Zhang Yang’s villa hadn't cost that much, only a little over a million including renovation and furniture; housing prices were cheaper then, which is why Zhang Yang considered buying several. A million yuan was substantial, but Hu Xin and Gu Cheng’s logistics firm was indeed highly successful, yielding at least several hundred thousand in profit annually.

With dedicated effort and expanded scale, it was entirely possible for each of them to acquire such a house within three years. Watching Hu Xin and Gu Cheng, Xiao Bin’s eyes once again filled with envy and melancholy.

Whether five years or three, buying a house like this was never something he considered. The sheer size of the place intimidated him; in his view, such a residence would be forever out of his reach.

“It’s good to have ambition; I believe you can all achieve it!” Zhang Yang smiled faintly, having observed the demeanor of everyone present. Hu Xin and Gu Cheng were firmly on the right track.

In Zhang Yang’s estimation, they wouldn't even need three years; two years of focused effort should suffice to buy such a place. Future development would be rapid.

As long as Hu Xin and Gu Cheng maintained their current excellent pace, things would only improve; future achievements could not be measured by today’s standards. However, there were no absolutes in the business world; intrigue and manipulation were always present.

If a business became too successful, it was bound to attract attention, especially in the murky waters of logistics. Zhang Yang had thought all this through.

As long as his friends and brothers conducted their business quietly and didn't actively seek trouble, no one should dare move against them. On this point, he planned to have people spread rumors later, ensuring that everyone knew Hu Xin and Gu Cheng were not without backing.

“I’m back!” Qu Meilan called from outside; she had returned with a large haul of groceries. Fortunately, she possessed internal energy, giving her great strength; an ordinary young girl couldn't have carried loads weighing dozens of pounds.

“Hu Xin, let’s go wash vegetables. Now that we’re here, we can’t let Zhang Yang and the others do all the work!” Xiao Dai pulled Hu Xin, dragging him straight toward the kitchen, while Nannan took Gu Cheng along as well.

Zhang Yang watched them, shaking his head again with a smile. Though these friends had made their fortunes, their fundamental natures hadn't changed.

This outcome was precisely what Zhang Yang desired. The kitchen buzzed with activity, fortunately large enough for several people to prepare various dishes while chatting and laughing.

Hu Xin and Gu Cheng were very busy now, and Xiao Dai and Nannan also had to frequently oversee the restaurant operations; they met far less often now than when they were in school. Had Zhang Yang not moved, they probably wouldn't have gathered like this again.

Because of this, each of them cherished this time together. Zhang Yang and Mi Xue also went to the kitchen; Zhang Yang was the head chef today, and everyone else was his assistant.

An hour later, a table laden with a lavish midday feast was set. Thankfully, the dining table Mi Xue had purchased was large enough, intended precisely for hosting gatherings with classmates at home.

Seeing the table piled high with delicious dishes, Hu Xin’s mouth hung open, and he kept swallowing involuntarily. His reaction drew another round of laughter from the group, making Hu Xin himself embarrassed.

In a daze, everyone felt as if they had traveled back in time, to the days when they would happily play together after school. Back then, they would gather occasionally for a meal, usually at Sister Zhou’s noodle shop, whose chicken feet and stir-fries had become their favorite delicacies...

Woke up a bit late, first update! (To be continued)RQ