End of World’s Businessman
Translator: Spring Flowers BL
It was early evening, and Mother Wu was in the kitchen preparing dinner. After taking the physical enhancement pills, Ah Li had been in excellent health over the past few weeks. He had spent the entire day reading business management books to the point that his eyes grew tired. He decided to head into the kitchen to help his mother, but since he was even clumsier than Wu Ye with housework, she kicked him out.
With nothing else to do, he slumped down on the living room sofa, a bit dejected, helping his father package goods.
Lately, Mother Wu had been working almost full-time from home, unpacking and repackaging products. Father Wu, on the other hand, spent his days out handling matters related to the food factory, and at night he would return home to help his wife and youngest son with the goods. Ever since they started taking the physical enhancement pills, both parents’ health had significantly improved—no more sleepless nights, back pain, shoulder issues, high blood pressure, or hypoglycemia. They now slept deeply at night and kept busy during the day. Although they still worried about Wu Ye’s safety in the other world, they were visibly more energized than before.
Without a housekeeper or maid, Mother Wu took on all the household chores herself, in addition to repackaging products, and she rarely left the house. Father Wu claimed he had bought a factory in the old industrial zone and spent his days networking. Through this process, he seemed to have rediscovered the passion and excitement of his early entrepreneurial days. His renewed energy was clear to everyone, radiating vitality from the inside out. Many who had once believed he would never recover from the blow he suffered thought it would be a miracle if he didn’t end up taking his own life or being consumed by bitterness. But now, seeing him like this, it was as if he had completely overcome adversity and entered a new phase of life. This left those around him both amazed and curious.
Many speculated in secret: Is old man Wu just pretending to be okay?
With his years of experience in the business world, even after his downfall, Father Wu still maintained some valuable connections. Through those contacts, he gradually managed to sell the jewelry and gemstones that Wu Ye had brought back. Since the Wu family had once been extremely wealthy, outsiders assumed they were simply liquidating luxury assets in an attempt to rebuild. When it comes to jewelry and gemstones, prices can vary widely, and just one top-grade white jade pendant fetched over 3 million yuan. In addition, other jewelry pieces made from high-quality jadeite with good translucency and flawless craftsmanship also sold for considerable sums.
Adding in the money from the apartment sale and the profits from the gold and jewelry, Father Wu had amassed nearly 30 million yuan in capital.
With cash in hand, things became simpler. Armed with this capital and his accumulated connections, in just over ten days, Father Wu had almost completed the acquisition of a food factory.
The factory he selected was a local company that initially produced cakes and sweets, later expanding into mooncake production. Their products were sold mostly within the province, and while they weren’t a large company, they had some commission-based distribution. However, when the factory's founder handed over management to his son, things began to fall apart. The son, irresponsible and addicted to gambling, started cutting costs on ingredients when money got tight and even mortgaged the factory to get bank loans. Those loans were lost to gambling, and the mooncakes sold began showing signs of mold and spoiled fillings. The factory quickly went bankrupt. The manager was arrested, and the bank, in executing the loan default, requested the court to seize the mortgaged assets.
The factory was located in an old industrial zone, an area unattractive to legitimate investors. With no clear redevelopment or relocation plans, no one wanted to invest in a failed factory. In recent years, with rapidly increasing real estate prices, the factory's 28 acres of land had been valued at more than 27 million yuan. With nearly 10,000 square meters of built area and outdated industrial equipment, the court initially set the auction price at 40 million, but there were no takers.
Two years passed, and the industrial zone still hadn’t received any redevelopment proposals. No real estate developers showed interest in the area, and industrial land prices there remained significantly higher than in other regions. Apart from a few fraudulent companies renting facilities, few legitimate entrepreneurs dared venture into the zone. The food factory sat abandoned, poorly maintained, which accelerated the deterioration of its facilities and equipment, making it less and less attractive to potential buyers.
Father Wu spent quite a bit of time exploring the old industrial zone and, albeit reluctantly, decided that a small food factory was still the best available option. After talking with those responsible, he learned that they also wanted to get rid of the property and weren’t firm on the auction’s initial asking price. Still, the final price would only be determined after following formal procedures. Father Wu estimated he could acquire the factory for around 35 million yuan, and if all went well, the process could be finalized within a month.
However, the biggest issue was the capital shortfall. Just to purchase the factory, he still needed about 7 million yuan. Moreover, the building’s poor condition demanded urgent repairs, as the facilities and equipment were entirely outdated and would need to be replaced. Hiring workers, acquiring raw materials, and covering other operational costs would also be necessary. Without at least 10 to 20 million more, it would be impossible to get the factory up and running. Doing the math, more than 50 million yuan would be needed, and it would take a long time to recoup that investment by selling only cookies and sweets.
That’s why fewer and fewer people were willing to invest in traditional industries.
While Father Wu was still worrying about the funding gap, Wu Ye suddenly appeared in the living room.
The living room was already small, and with the piles of merchandise stacked haphazardly, it looked even more cramped and chaotic. Wu Ye stood in the middle of the room, dazed and with his heart racing. Wu Li had to call out to him several times before he finally snapped out of it.
“Brother, are you okay?” Wu Li hurried over. He knew Wu Ye well enough to tell something was off.
Wu Ye pushed aside the concerns troubling him and, smiling, ruffled Wu Li’s hair. “I’m fine—why wouldn’t I be? Hey, wait a second... Wu Li, did you grow taller?”
Wu Ye’s 1.77-meter (5'10") height had always been a sensitive topic for him. Since childhood, he’d never had shorter friends, and the only person he could compare himself to and feel tall around was his younger brother. Wu Li, who had been frail since birth, was always smaller and shorter than Wu Ye—by nearly a head. But in just two weeks, Wu Li had grown enough to reach Wu Ye’s chin, gaining at least 4 or 5 centimeters.
Wu Li, proud, gestured with his hands. “I’ve grown five centimeters! It won’t be long before I’m taller than you!” In addition to growing taller, his once pale and sickly skin now had a healthy glow. His lips, which used to be bluish, were pinker, and he was clearly more energetic. He looked much healthier and more lively than before.
Wu Ye raised his hand and smacked the back of his younger brother’s head, activating his big-brother teasing mode. “Still dreaming about being taller than me? Keep dreaming, shorty.”
Hearing the noise, Mother Wu came quickly out of the kitchen. Wu Li, wearing a pained expression, complained, “Mom, second brother’s bullying me! Look, he hit me and called me short!”
In the past, Mother Wu would have immediately defended her youngest, but this time, she didn’t scold Wu Ye. Instead, she rushed to him, held his hand, and, seeing that her slender son wasn’t injured, finally relaxed. Smiling, she tapped Wu Li’s forehead and said playfully, “You’re already a big boy and still acting like a baby. Your brother would never bully you. You’ve always been the shortest in this house, and if you keep being picky with food, you’ll spend your whole life shorter than your brother.”
Wu Ye chuckled several times, making Wu Li huff in frustration.
Wu Li complained. “Dad, aren’t you going to do something? Mom and second brother are bullying me together!”
Father Wu, relieved to see that his son was safe, was overjoyed. After listening to Wu Li’s complaint, he put down the candies he was wrapping and said with a sarcastic smile, “Didn’t you notice your mother is siding with your brother? I wouldn’t dare mess with the matriarch of this house.”
Wu Li mumbled under his breath, “Men who are afraid of their wives are useless. Brother, you can’t be like Dad! You have to marry a wife who respects and obeys you.”
Wu Ye spaced out a little, Qin Wuhua’s face cold yet gentle flashing through his mind. A wife who respects and obeys… It kind of feels like Wuhua always listens to me… Wait, what nonsense am I thinking? That must’ve just been a hallucination! The Second Young Master’s heart, which had just calmed down, started racing again.
“You little brat, shameless! You never learn anything good—only copy your brother’s bad habits.” Father Wu tossed a candy at Wu Li, who, now that his health had improved, seemed much livelier than before. At times, it even felt like there was a new Wu Ye in the house.
“Brother, brother, brother!” Wu Li called out several times until Wu Ye snapped out of it and asked. “What is it?”
“Dad’s scolding you.” Wu Li replied seriously.
“That rascal’s learned how to dodge criticism already, huh? He was scolding me and praising me all in the same breath.” Wu Ye said, clearly proud of his words.
“Brother…” Wu Li said as he poked Wu Ye’s face with his finger. His big eyes were unusually serious: “Your skin’s definitely gotten thicker.”
“You brat, I’ll teach you a lesson!” This time, Wu Ye was much stronger than before. He easily grabbed the skinnier Wu Li and gave him a playful thrashing. Only after Wu Li apologized again and again did he finally let go. Now that Wu Li was healthier, Wu Ye could roughhouse a bit more with him. When his brother fully recovered, he’d have to train hard to make up for everything he missed.
“Dad, clear the table. I’ve got something cool to show you guys.” Wu Ye said, putting on a mysterious air as he began tidying the table.
The table was cluttered with unwrapped candies, colorful wrappers, and other random objects. Everyone quickly helped clean up. Under the curious and puzzled gazes of the family, Wu Ye began his “magic show,” pulling out a series of items seemingly from nowhere: a temperature-controlled metal box with medicine, physical enhancement pills, antique porcelain, classic paintings, questionable-looking relics, dazzling jewels and ornaments, and finally, gleaming gold bricks.
Feeling tired and not wanting to strain his mental energy, Wu Ye stopped retrieving items from his spatial ring.
Mother Wu widened her eyes in disbelief. “Where did all of this come from?!”
Wu Li, ever observant, noticed the subtle ring on Wu Ye’s middle finger. Knowing his brother usually avoided “delicate” accessories like earrings or rings, he immediately made the connection. Remembering the fantasy novels he secretly read, he exclaimed. “It’s a spatial ring!”
Wu Ye took off the ring and, with a smug grin, held it up in his palm for everyone to see. “Ah, my little brother Wu Li really is sharp! You guys always say I waste time reading useless books, but now look at you, realizing the value of reading, huh? Wu Li, explain to Mom and Dad what a spatial ring is!”
With a wide smile, Wu Li took full advantage of this rare moment of parental awe and explained the concept of a spatial ring and how it worked. He even made up wild stories, citing various protagonists from his fantasy novels who used spatial transportation, leaving Father and Mother Wu completely speechless.
Meanwhile, there was an invisible listener—the system. It couldn’t help but scoff silently. “What a joke! This host and his brother are just making stuff up. Spatial rules are one of the universe’s fundamental laws—they’re not that easy to master. And all these ridiculous explanations about how space works? Not a shred of sense in any of them. Bunch of ignoramuses.”
After A-Li finished talking, Wu Ye came up with a half-true, half-made-up explanation about the origin of the spatial ring. However, when A-Li found out the ring had only 27 cubic meters of storage space and no other extraordinary functions besides basic storage, his contempt eased a little. On the other hand, Father and Mother Wu felt more at ease. With their age and experience, they understood the saying, ‘an innocent man gets into trouble for carrying a precious gem.’ Just a spatial ring with 27 cubic meters of capacity was already beyond their imagination. If it had been as powerful as A-Li initially feared, they probably wouldn’t sleep at night.
After showing off the precious spatial ring, Wu Ye opened the metal thermal case. Inside, shrouded in a cold mist, were five metallic syringes, each containing a generous amount of shimmering blue-green liquid.
Father Wu was stunned for a moment, then quickly reacted with emotion: “This is… this is…”
“Yes,” Wu Ye confirmed firmly. “These are the genetic component solutions. Ah Li needs to receive one injection every three days. After completing the cycle with these five doses, his illness will be completely cured.”
Ever since Ah Li was born with a congenital heart defect, Father Wu and Mother Wu had been overwhelmed with worry — their hair had practically turned white from the stress. Doctors had given grim prognoses over the years: first saying he wouldn’t live past six, then ten, twelve, and finally fifteen. They devoted everything to their youngest son's treatment, always dreaming of the day he could be healthy and live a normal life.
But they had never imagined the cure would come in the form of these tiny doses of medication.
Father Wu and Mother Wu’s eyes filled with tears, while Ah Li clenched his fists silently. He would never forget that these precious medicines were obtained by his brother — at great personal risk.
“Ah’Li, taking these injections can be extremely painful. Do you think you can handle it?” Wu Ye had already asked the system about the side effects of the genetic component solution. The pain caused by the first injection would be intense — much like what he himself had felt when activating the first level of his genetic chain. The first dose would be the most painful, but over time, the discomfort would gradually fade. That was one of the reasons Wu Ye planned to stay close for a while — he needed to see Ah Li recover with his own eyes to feel at ease.
Ah’Li nodded with determination.
“I can take it. I’m not afraid. Can we start right now?”
“What’s the rush? Now that we have the injections, take a good rest today. We can start in two days no problem.” Wu Ye planned to carefully acquire a medical bed to make sure Ah Li wouldn’t get hurt during the process. He knew Hua Peng, and with his connections, getting the equipment quickly wouldn’t be a problem.
Mother Wu, still emotional, quickly chimed in. “Yes, your brother’s right. Wait a few more days. Let’s get your body stronger first.”
“My body’s already fine. I’ve never felt better than I do right now.” Ah Li insisted.
Ah Li’s rebuttal made Wu Ye and the others feel a deep ache in their hearts. Ah Li was born into a family that could have provided him a life of luxury, yet in reality, his life had always been about survival. He couldn’t eat certain foods, couldn’t run, jump, get upset or laugh too hard. Even his most natural emotions, like joy and sadness, had to be controlled.
Wu Ye still remembered when Ah Li was four or five years old, so tiny he looked like a three-year-old. Thin like a kitten, he would sit quietly on the steps, his big round eyes watching the other kids run and play down below. The sight was so touching that even as a child, Wu Ye had felt his heart tighten and his eyes fill with tears. Since then, he rarely brought friends home, preferring to spend more time with his younger brother, who always seemed to be walking a fine line between life and death.
No matter how troublesome the system was, if it could save Ah Li’s life, Wu Ye was willing to accept anything.
Just like he had done when they were younger, Wu Ye gently embraced his brother’s head, rubbing his forehead affectionately against Ah Li’s. “Hang in there. Everything’s going to get better.”
“Zumbir.” Ah’Li’s voice had a slight tremble in it, as if he were holding back tears.
Wu Ye sniffled, suddenly lifted his head and said. “Mom…”
“What is it?” Mother Wu replied, still caught up in her emotions.
“Something smells burnt.”
Mother Wu gasped in panic, completely losing her composure: “Oh no! My soup!”
The pork soup Mother Wu had been cooking had turned to charcoal, and the smell of burning filled the kitchen.
"How about I take a walk and buy something tasty to eat?" Wu Ye suggested. After spending so long in an apocalyptic world, he had almost forgotten what it was like to live in a normal society. Besides, knowing his mom’s cooking skills weren’t exactly top-notch, he wanted to take this opportunity to enjoy some good food.
"You can go, but come back quickly." Said Father Wu, handing him his wallet, already aware that his son didn’t have any money.
At the ceremony, Wu Ye took the wallet, opened it, and started rummaging through it: "ID card, bank cards, credit cards… Dad, aren’t you afraid I’ll spend all your money?"
"That’s okay. After all, you’re the one who earned that money. If you spend it all, just earn more." Father Wu replied with a calm smile.
Speechless, Wu Ye grabbed the car keys and left the house.
Outside, the city lights were starting to shine, cars moved like an endless river, and the streets were filled with people.
As he walked down the stairs, he saw an old man limping toward him. In the dim light, the man looked eerily similar to a level-one zombie. For a moment, Wu Ye nearly reached for a weapon hidden in his spatial ring.
"Are you new around here, young man? I don’t think I’ve seen you before." Asked the old man, who was the new doorman. He had just started the job and was taking it very seriously, closely watching all the residents coming and going.
"I live in apartment 8, on the fourth floor of building 3. Are you new here?" Wu Ye realized he was feeling tense but instinctively stayed alert to his surroundings.
"Yes, I just started a few days ago."
"I arrived today, so that’s probably why we haven’t met. Any other questions?" Wu Ye asked as he opened the car door.
"No, everything’s fine." The doorman was puzzled—he had been on duty all day and couldn’t recall seeing Wu Ye.
Wu Ye pulled out of the driveway, and as the car merged into traffic, he finally began to feel a flicker of the familiar life he once knew.
After driving around the city for a while, a strange feeling washed over him. The place where he had lived for over twenty years now felt oddly unfamiliar. Every time he passed a dark alley, a noisy crowd, or saw someone suddenly running, Wu Ye’s body would instinctively go on high alert.
Buying food had been more exhausting than spending an hour hunting in the wilderness.
The side effects of living in a zombie world were more severe than he had imagined.
Wu Ye bought all his favorite cooked dishes, carrying several bags of various sizes back home. Under his family’s surprised stares, he devoured most of the food on the table by himself.
"Hey, bro, how long has it been since you’ve had meat?" Ah Li asked, frowning—not in a teasing tone, but seriously.
"What kind of question is that? I’m the boss over there, how could I go without meat? I just haven’t had the stuff I really like in a long time. And besides, I’m a special ability user now—do you think the appetite of someone with powers is the same as a regular person’s?" Now that he was back safely, Wu Ye sprawled lazily on the couch. In the past, seeing him like this would’ve annoyed Father and Mother Wu, but now it brought them joy. They wished he would stay home relaxing like this all the time—he looked perfect.
Ah’Li’s eyes widened: "Bro, you’re a special ability user?! What kind of powers do you have?"
Wu Ye suddenly remembered that he had never told his family about his abilities. He gestured for Ah Li to stay quiet and, glancing toward their parents in the kitchen, noticed they probably hadn’t caught on. Lowering his voice, he said, "Keep your voice down. If our parents find out, they’ll start worrying all over again. I’ll explain everything to you later."
After dinner, Father and Mother Wu took the strengthening pills Wu Ye had traded for them and soon started to feel drowsy. They chatted a bit with him before heading to bed.
Wu Ye then went to Ah Li’s room and showed off his abilities. Seeing the admiration and amazement in his younger brother’s eyes made him feel amazing.
"Bro, tell me what it’s like over there—what’s it like being the boss?"
Wu Ye, omitting some of the dangers and exaggerating parts of the story, made sure to brag. Ah Li knew his brother liked to boast, so he didn’t believe everything, but still expressed deep admiration, which made Wu Ye even more pleased.
“Brother, that place is too dangerous. I already got the medicine to heal myself. Now that you’re back, can’t you just stay home, please?” Ah Li said, cuddling up to his brother’s arm.
Wu Ye quickly thought of Qin Wuhua’s face, and his good mood was replaced by a mix of emotions. He replied indifferently, “I still haven’t gotten the smart brain data, so I can’t just stop going. Once I have the data, then we can talk.” But how was he going to tell Qin Wuhua when he returned?
Ah’Li clearly noticed Wu Ye’s attitude toward the other world had changed, and his sense of alertness kicked in. He knew that once Wu Ye set his mind on something, it was hard to make him change course.
“Can’t you go without the smart brain?”
Wu Ye looked at him firmly. “No, it’s directly tied to my future standard of living. And while I’m not around, have you been keeping up with your training?” Wu Ye knew he didn’t have the same abilities as his father, who built an empire from scratch. Times had changed. The golden era had passed, and while Father Wu had succeeded thanks to his vision and seizing the moment, things were tougher now. The social pyramid was solidified, and without a real opportunity, rising up was very difficult.
Besides, Wu Ye still held onto some grudges and hoped to achieve great things in the future mainly to teach Wu Sen, that traitor, a lesson.
Ah Li didn’t like it. “I just skimmed through a little.” In truth, he had already read most of the two big books Wu Ye gave him in just half a month. Father Wu kept praising him for his talent in business.
“Once you’re fully recovered, you can’t keep going like this, studying only once in a while. I’ll talk to Dad and ask him to supervise you properly. Don’t forget, I’m counting on you to support me in the future.” Wu Ye finally revealed his selfish motives.
Ah Li grumbled under his breath and stopped paying attention to his silly brother. Knowing that his second brother was still the same as always gave him peace of mind.
After Ah Li fell asleep, Wu Ye let out a silent sigh and went back to his own room.
In the quiet and dark night, lying in bed, Wu Ye couldn’t help but recall a scene that kept echoing in his mind: “Ah Ye, I like you.”
Wu Ye hated it when people of the same sex showed interest in him. If anyone else had said something like that, he probably would’ve beaten them up—or even shot them.
But the one who said it was Qin Wuhua.
Wu Ye, already experienced in life, wasn’t a stranger to love confessions from both men and women. But never had one felt as confusing as this.
He remembered the day he first arrived in the zombie world and was almost bitten. It was Qin Wuhua who, without hesitation, reached out to block the bite.
When Wang He cornered him, it was Qin Wuhua who appeared just in time to save him.
On the road to Lan City, it was Qin Wuhua who killed the zombie dog that attacked him.
There were so many moments where they had relied on each other to watch their backs...
Qin Wuhua personally taught him how to shoot, treated him like a true leader, and without his presence to keep things in order, Wu Ye would never have established himself in Lan City so quickly, much less acquired a duty-free shop. Qin Wuhua always put him first, played old video games with him, and even shared the same bed.
Wait a minute the same bed?!
"System, has Qin Wuhua ever done anything to me?"
The system responded, confused. “What do you mean by ‘done anything’?”
Wu Ye’s ears turned red. “I mean… something intimate.”
The system, clearly operating on a different wavelength, replied bluntly, “He’s never engaged in any of the same-sex sexual activities that appear in your dreams.” Secretly, the system withheld the fact that Qin Wuhua had stolen a kiss and shown some affection. In truth, the system hoped Qin Wuhua would genuinely win Wu Ye over, as that would mean he could stay in the other world permanently.
Wu Ye was shocked, his face flushing a deep red, and he exploded: “You’re disgusting! How dare you spy on my dreams?! That’s a violation of privacy—PRIVACY, do you get it?!” He felt utterly humiliated. To him, the system was much more than just an advanced AI.
The system’s cold, mechanical voice took on a hint of confusion and slight regret: “I don’t understand. But if there’s something you don’t want the system to know, you can activate standby mode.” In standby mode, the system would go into a security state, not receiving any external information. Though useful, the system hated being forced into inactivity, as it cut off all perception.
“Please don’t activate standby mode. I promise I won’t access your dreams again.”
For the first time, the system used a pleading tone. Wu Ye sensed the vulnerability behind it but decided to hold firm: “Hmm, that depends on how you behave from now on.”
The system got the message and went silent, playing dead.
The system’s interruption helped ease Wu Ye’s emotional confusion or maybe he simply chose to ignore it. Hugging his blanket, he soon fell asleep. When he woke up, most of the dreams had faded, and he felt lighter, as though he’d gotten real rest.
After eating the stuffed buns lovingly bought by his father, Wu Ye was dragged along to handle matters related to the food factory.
It was a busy day. They visited several important departments and, through a series of connections, managed to arrange a dinner that night with the key decision-maker at Zui Xiang Ge Restaurant.
Zui Xiang Ge was a famous private-cuisine restaurant in the region, known for its exquisite dishes, serene atmosphere, and high level of privacy. Operating on a membership basis, they served only ten tables a day, and reservations had to be made in advance. It was extremely popular among the local elite.
Aside from being a frequent customer, Wu’s father was friends with the restaurant’s owner. After a quick heads-up, the owner kindly reserved a table for them.
Wu Ye originally didn’t want to accompany the old man to social events, but he couldn’t resist the thought of the dishes at Zui Xiang Ge. He especially loved the steamed sturgeon prepared by Uncle Jin, the owner. The flavor was so fresh and delicious it was simply irresistible. After months stuck in the apocalypse without even a bite of fish, the moment he heard Uncle Jin was preparing his signature dish that evening, Wu Ye’s mouth watered and he immediately decided to tag along.
As hosts of the dinner, Wu Ye and his father arrived about an hour early. Impatient with staying in the private room, Wu Ye wandered through the courtyard. But after only a few rounds, he ran into someone who immediately ruined his mood: Lian Yu.
She didn’t look well. Despite her flawless makeup, the exhaustion on her face was unmistakable. She was in the arms of a small-time playboy that Wu Ye wouldn’t have given a second glance in the past. When Lian Yu’s and Wu Ye’s eyes met, she showed a faint expression of resentment that quickly morphed into a melancholic, soft gaze, her eyes slightly shimmering as if about to cry. Her demeanor was as delicate and pure as a work of art.
“Oh, if it isn’t Young Master Wu. Where have you been making your fortune lately?” Said Yang Cheng, the playboy now clinging to Lian Yu. He used to try (and fail) to curry favor with Wu Ye. Now, with the Wu family’s decline, he was eager to seize the chance to humiliate Wu Ye especially since he was dating the woman Wu Ye had once pursued in vain. After his words, the group behind him burst into mocking laughter.
Wu Ye looked at them with disdain, still exuding an air of wealth and superiority: “Who are you again? Do we know each other? Uncle Jin, looks like the quality of your clientele is dropping.”
Uncle Jin, a burly man in his white chef’s uniform, let out a hearty laugh: “What can I do? Times are tough. I was just about to find your father for a drink. Come on, let’s go together.”
Uncle Jin was a businessman, but also straightforward and fiercely loyal. He had a long friendship with Wu Ye’s father, who helped him start the restaurant and bring in its first wave of customers. Even with the Wu family’s fall from grace, Uncle Jin never allowed his old friend’s son to be humiliated in his presence.
Yang Cheng was livid, his face alternating between green and white with rage, but he didn’t dare argue with Uncle Jin. Although just a chef, Uncle Jin’s fortune had already surpassed the million mark, and his culinary skills made him beloved in both business and political circles. Crossing him would be a huge mistake.
Fuming, Yang Cheng left with his group, dragging Lian Yu with him. On the way, one of his friends asked. “Yang Shao, does that punk really think he’s still the same Young Master? He’s just a stray dog now. Want us to teach him a lesson?”
Yang Cheng, noticing Lian Yu’s lack of attention, snapped back angrily. “What do you think?”
Lian Yu regained her composure and gently said, “Whatever Yang Shao decides, I agree.”
“Great,” Yang Cheng smirked mischievously. “Get a few guys to scare him a little. That pretty face of his is even better than the boys at Mido. Snap some good pictures of him in an embarrassing situation. I want to see how he dares to show off in front of me after that!”
One of the men hesitated. “But his brother, Wu Sen, is married into the Ouyang family. What if he…”
“Don’t worry,” Yang Cheng replied confidently. “Wu Sen won’t do anything.”
Meanwhile, Lian Yu lowered her gaze, filled with hatred.
Wu Ye, Wu Sen... Those two brothers had ruined her life. If not for them, with her beauty and intelligence, she wouldn’t have to lower herself to flatter someone as useless as Yang Cheng. She had always dreamed of marrying a rich and powerful man, but all her talents had been wasted.
And then there was Ouyang Xin — that cold, heartless woman — a thorn in her side.
Lian Yu publicly claimed her parents were divorced, but in truth, she was Ouyang Xin’s half-sister, the illegitimate daughter of the Ouyang patriarch. Her mother, one of several mistresses, had always dreamed that Lian Yu would marry into wealth and bring honor to the family. Outwardly, Lian Yu pretended to be pure and delicate, but inside, her ambition was boundless.
When Wu Ye used to chase after her relentlessly, she looked down on him. She thought he was lazy, unambitious, and far below her standards. When Wu Sen "accidentally" entered her life, she believed she had found her real Prince Charming.
She began falling for Wu Sen during her second year of high school. At that time, Wu Sen was the caring older brother, always worried about Wu Ye, and their occasional meetings revolved around conversations about Wu Ye. She even felt jealous of the way Wu Sen looked after his brother. Later, on her own initiative, their meetings became more frequent, the topics expanded, and just when she realized she was developing feelings — maybe even love — for Wu Sen, he rejected her using Wu Ye as an excuse and asked her to stop seeing him.
Back then, she was so naive, giving her whole heart to Wu Sen, unaware of the cold and calculating man hidden behind his polished demeanor.
Once, after getting him drunk, she took the opportunity to sleep with Wu Sen. From that point on, everything changed. Under Wu Sen’s guidance, she became his secret lover, while still — intentionally or not — feeding Wu Ye’s hopes.
By the time she saw Wu Sen’s true colors, it was already too late.
Before she agreed to help him poison Wu Ye, Wu Sen promised that once he secured everything from the Wu family, he would marry her.
She knew Wu Sen well. The moment he made that promise, it was clear she wouldn’t be given another choice.
In the end, she followed Wu Sen’s orders. However, Wu Ye mysteriously disappeared, and Wu Sen quickly announced his engagement to Ouyang Xin.
Wu Sen had always been extremely cautious, keeping their affair a complete secret. Very few people knew about their relationship. Still, the secret got out — directly to Ouyang Xin.
Ouyang Xin was ruthless, someone who didn’t tolerate betrayal. Upon learning the truth, she had Lian Yu drugged with hallucinogens and took compromising photos of her. The threat was clear: if Lian Yu dared to keep any connection with Wu Sen, those pictures would be released online one by one, destroying her reputation entirely.
Ruining someone wasn't hard not for someone with power and money.
Ouyang, the patriarch of the family and Lian Yu’s biological father, had never officially acknowledged her as his daughter, not even granting her the family name. So, he would never go against his legitimate and favorite daughter for her. As for Wu Sen, the moment things blew up with Ouyang Xin, he fled abroad under the pretense of business. It had already been over fifteen days, and she hadn’t been able to reach him at all.
Used to a life of luxury, Lian Yu watched her world crumble. The financial support from Ouyang wasn’t even enough to cover her mother’s expenses. After being kicked out of the apartment by Wu Ye and abandoned by Wu Sen, she was forced to move into her mother’s old apartment. Fresh out of college, her mediocre job couldn’t sustain the refined and sophisticated lifestyle she once had.
Desperate, she ended up accepting Yang Cheng’s advances. At that moment, Lian Yu had no idea her misfortune was only just beginning.
Wu Ye's Favorite Fish Dish: Steamed Sturgeon
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