Li Yundong's laughter stung Zhao Yougen’s pride.

His face darkening, he asked, "What, is the money not enough?" Li Yundong waved his hand with a smile. "It’s plenty, plenty.

Truthfully, if I were just an undergraduate student about to graduate, only helping you drink, this amount wouldn't be too little for a month." Zhao Yougen turned his anger into delight. "Exactly! What kind of future is there following a woman around? You might as well come with me!" Li Yundong chuckled and refused. "Following a woman doesn't guarantee a dead end, and following a man doesn't guarantee a bright future either.

But I prefer making my own way, alone.

It suits me just fine.

Mr.

Zhao, I appreciate your kind offer, but I must decline!" Zhao Yougen’s face fell again. "What do you mean? Following me isn't good enough? Hmph.

Young people nowadays are all so full of themselves, thinking they’re something special.

I say they're all looks and no substance!" Li Yundong smiled without speaking.

The two beauties beside him chimed in, "That's right! Following our Mr.

Zhao is such a great opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime chance!" The other beauty added persuasively, "Handsome, don't be mistaken.

How much does a fresh graduate make these days? Barely enough for rent! Where else can you find such a good deal?" Zhao Yougen laughed and scolded them, "You two little vixens! Seeing someone handsome, are you trying to make me look like a cuckold?" Hearing this, the two beauties immediately acted coy and sweet. "Mr.

Zhao, we are completely devoted to you!" Zhao Yougen roared with unrestrained laughter, "You are devoted to my money, that's what’s true!" Li Yundong watched Zhao Yougen's crude display with a faint smile.

Just as he was about to speak, a voice cut through the air: "Li Yundong, who is this man?" Li Yundong turned his head to see Ruan Hongling looking at Zhao Yougen, who sat at the table with an air of dominance, with a strange expression.

Ziyuan stood behind her, her gaze somewhat distant, as if preoccupied.

Li Yundong suddenly recalled that the first time he met Ruan Hongling was around the same time he got to know Cao Kefei and subsequently fell out with Zhao Yougen.

Back then, he was a complete novice, muddled about having consumed the Human Essence Golden Elixir and stumbling through cultivation alongside Su Chan.

But now, he had transformed into a renowned young master in the cultivation world, even becoming the Sect Master of the Fox Charm Sect.

Though he was the same person, the transformation was utterly incomparable.

Li Yundong felt a wave of emotion.

His desire to tease or ridicule Zhao Yougen vanished.

He smiled at Ruan Hongling and said, "No one important.

Just someone I knew previously who came over to say hello and invite me to work for him." The moment Zhao Yougen saw Ruan Hongling, he was utterly stunned.

He thought to himself: How could this girl be so beautiful? Even more rare was her extraordinary aura.

The two beauties he kept by his side were certainly good, but compared to her, they were like common chickens next to a phoenix—simply no comparison! But when his gaze followed Ruan Hongling to Ziyuan, a thunderous boom echoed in his mind, almost exploding his skull.

His mouth hung open, desperate to shout: Is there truly a woman in this world so beautiful she seems divine? Does a celestial fairy truly exist? What kind of man could possess such a fairy? Ruan Hongling's proud beauty and Ziyuan's ethereal, transcendent presence stunned Zhao Yougen and his two companions into silence; for a moment, they simply froze.

Ruan Hongling looked at Zhao Yougen impatiently, slapping the table. "Hey, you’re occupying our spot.

Please move along!" Zhao Yougen jumped, rising stiffly.

Seeing Ruan Hongling and Ziyuan take seats opposite Li Yundong, he pointed at Ziyuan and Ruan Hongling in disbelief, stammering, "You, you all..." Ruan Hongling, already displeased by his earlier lecherous stare, snapped back angrily, "What 'you, you'? Hey, don't you have a place to sit? This restaurant is huge; can't you find somewhere else?" Zhao Yougen was a successful entrepreneur; normally, everyone treated him with deference.

Even Cao Kefei, despite her disgust, had to speak politely, fearing she might offend him.

He had never been treated so rudely! Zhao Yougen was momentarily stunned speechless by the scolding.

He instinctively found a nearby table and sat down, but once seated, he couldn't take his eyes off Li Yundong, Ziyuan, and Ruan Hongling.

Seeing them interact intimately, laughing and chatting, filled his heart with a confusing mix of emotions.

His two female companions, despite their self-proclaimed beauty, paled in comparison to Ruan Hongling, let alone Ziyuan.

They dared not look at Ziyuan too long, fearing that one more glance might lead to such debilitating self-contempt that they would wither away.

The sharp-faced beauty noticed Zhao Yougen’s envious gaze flickering toward the trio and added fuel to the fire. "Hmph, so pretty, yet she’s still someone’s kept woman!" But the round-faced beauty saw Zhao Yougen's expression darken further at this comment, so she quickly corrected, "What are you talking about? Clearly, this handsome guy is the one being kept!" With that, Zhao Yougen’s complexion noticeably improved.

However, not long after, a large group flooded through the restaurant entrance—every single one an unparalleled beauty, causing the jaws of the other patrons to nearly drop.

Leading them was Su Chan.

Su Chan, dressed in a flowing snow-white gown, bounced over to Li Yundong, twirled around, and asked with a grin, "Do I look good?" Li Yundong smiled, pinched the little girl’s nose. "Good, good! Sit down!" He patted the seat beside him.

Su Chan linked arms with Li Yundong and sat down smilingly, looking eager to please. "I didn't spend too much of your money, I promise! I was very good!" Li Yundong chuckled and nodded. "You’ll have to ask your Martial Aunt about that." Su Chan immediately turned and pulled Cao Yi’s arm. "Martial Aunt, hurry up and tell him! Was I good?" Cao Yi had also changed her outfit; she looked mature and sensual.

She laughed sweetly, "Chan’er was very good.

She didn't buy any of the expensive clothes; she was thinking of saving money for you." Li Yundong laughed warmly. "Everyone, please sit down.

Sit down.

The food is ready; it should be out soon." Cao Yi turned to the little foxes behind her and said, "Aren't you going to thank the Sect Master quickly?" The little foxes chimed in cheerfully, "Long live the Sect Master! May the Sect Master live for ten thousand years!" Li Yundong waved his hand with a smile. "Stop shouting.

You make me sound like some gang leader.

Settle down, quickly." It was then that the entire Fox Charm Sect turned toward the adjacent table, but upon spotting Zhao Yougen and his two companions occupying their space, they immediately turned back to Li Yundong and asked, "Sect Master, who are these people?" Li Yundong glanced dismissively at Zhao Yougen and asked, "Mr.

Zhao, would you like to join us for dinner?" Zhao Yougen instantly flushed crimson.

No matter how dense, stubborn, or unwilling he was, he now clearly understood that all these dazzling beauties present followed Li Yundong's lead.

The notion that he was the 'kept man' supported by this bevy of beauties was utterly impossible.

His two companions had been severely provoked today.

First, they were shocked by the transcendent aura of Ruan Hongling and Ziyuan.

Then, this massive wave of beauties arrived, not one of whom was subpar.

Just looking made their eyes swim; trying to find one even slightly inferior was impossible.

Seeing the little foxes approaching to clear the table, the two women looked pleadingly at Zhao Yougen.

Zhao Yougen had initially intended to show off to Li Yundong and regain some lost face, but he hadn't anticipated that Li Yundong was no longer the unassuming boy he once knew.

He had firmly run into a wall.

His face cycled through shades of red and blue.

Gritting his teeth, he said, "Let’s go!" With that, the three stood up and fled the restaurant as if running for their lives.

Only after putting significant distance between themselves and the restaurant did they slow down.

Once they felt far enough from Su Chan and the others, the two women slowly regained their composure.

They felt utterly inferior standing next to so many stunning women, to the point where they nearly forgot how to walk.

But now that the beauties were out of sight, the women’s opportunism surfaced.

After all, their livelihood still depended on Zhao Yougen.

The sharp-faced beauty, seeing Zhao Yougen’s face as dark as a pot bottom, cautiously tried to soothe him. "Mr.

Zhao, where shall we eat?" Zhao Yougen suddenly exploded, delivering a resounding slap across her face. "Eat, eat, eat? Eat your mother! Get lost! Both of you, get out of my sight!" The sharp-faced beauty was stunned senseless by the blow, covering her face.

The round-faced beauty quickly pulled her aside.

The struck woman shot Zhao Yougen a look filled with hatred, bit her lip, stomped her foot, and left the building with her friend, leaving Zhao Yougen standing alone, panting heavily.

The more Zhao Yougen thought about it, the more suffocated and resentful he became: Damn it! Half a year ago, this kid was just mooching off women, so how did he suddenly become so impressive in just six months? Damn it, where did he find so many beauties? Even picking one at random would outshine all my women! This cannot stand! He was inherently petty, and his success had made him incredibly arrogant.

Anything he desired, he had to acquire; any woman he fancied, he had to possess.

This was why he relentlessly pursued Cao Kefei before, leading to his feud with Li Yundong.

Zhao Yougen stood at the entrance of the building with his hands on his hips, muttering to himself: Damn it, in all these years, I’ve never been humiliated twice by the same person! No, I must have my revenge! But how to get it? Hire someone to teach him a lesson? Forget it.

For a businessman like him, getting involved in that sort of thing could easily trap him.

If discovered, he’d be heavily extorted by those officials.

Zhao Yougen thought and thought but couldn't come up with a good plan.

He stood beneath the building, lost in thought for an unknown period.

Suddenly, he heard the familiar voices of Li Yundong and the others.

Startled, he snapped back to reality, sidestepped, and began following them, driven by some inexplicable impulse.

Zhao Yougen watched as Li Yundong arrived at a bustling section of the commercial street and stopped behind a storefront currently up for lease.

His heart suddenly stirred: Could this guy be planning to rent a shop? Seeing Li Yundong and his group surveying the premises up and down, his suspicion solidified.

Zhao Yougen knew very well that to rent a commercial space on such a pedestrian street, one had to deal with the local Bureau of Commerce, and coincidentally, he knew the director of that bureau! Zhao Yougen pulled out his phone and dialed the director's number. "Director Wang? Hello! It’s Zhao Yougen! Oh, no, no, I won't disturb your meal.

I have a small favor I wanted to ask you." Zhao Yougen explained to Director Wang that Li Yundong’s group wanted to rent a shop, then added with venom, "I have a little history with this guy, Director Wang.

Perhaps you could..." The Director Wang on the other end asked casually upon hearing the name, "What's the background of this Li Yundong?" Zhao Yougen chuckled smoothly, "Just an ordinary college student, trying to start some venture.

He’s young and incredibly arrogant." Director Wang drew out his words. "The state highly encourages college student entrepreneurship now, Mr.

Zhao.

Wouldn't interfering be inappropriate?" Zhao Yougen inwardly seethed and was about to speak when Director Wang suddenly stretched his tone again. "...However, college students these days are indeed quite impetuous.

Giving them a small setback can promote their growth!" Zhao Yougen was overjoyed.

He laughed heartily, "Director Wang, you are right! Your perspective is much higher! I’ll treat you to a sauna soon, Director Wang! Yes, consider it settled!" Zhao Yougen hung up the phone, cast a smug glance at the shop across the way, and thought: Let you be arrogant, let you be pleased with yourself! Offend me, and I’ll make sure you achieve nothing! Happy New Year to all book friends, here is an extra update today, making it three in total! H