I Treat You as My Sister, But You Want to be My Wife?!
Chapter 448: Laying Down the Challenge_1

Chapter 448: Chapter 448: Laying Down the Challenge_1

"At this point, people’s hearts are scattered, and even if you manage to win them over, it might not amount to anything. Your profit margins are just too low!"

The words sounded beautiful. Had I not guessed ahead, I surely would’ve been overwhelmed with gratitude.

Kang Yue knew how to play her part, starting with a long sigh and speaking in a helpless tone, "What can we do? You know, Mr. Zhao has clawed his way up. He always feels that as long as everyone’s fed, he’s the shit. Thinks someday, he’ll be able to call the shots with a beckon of his hand.

It’s...forget it, I’m just here to convey leadership’s thoughts. I never intended to actually integrate the capital. Heh, don’t report me."

"Haha, given your innocence, tell me, how much money does Mr. Zhao need?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Dong gave a thumbs up right away. Women are truly poisonous.

With a proud toss of her head, Kang Yue continued to set the trap for Yang Guicheng, "You might not know, but in Binhai we still have a patch of wasteland. To fill the funding gap, we need at least five hundred million."

Shen Dong was, of course, taken aback by the sum and held up three fingers, waving them at Kang Yue.

Unexpectedly, Kang Yue suddenly cooed, "Well, eight hundred million would be even better; then I could build a three-story house back in my hometown. Sigh, Mr. Yang, are your folks from the countryside?"

"Big Bro," Shen Dong reached out to Zhou Wenbin for two cigarettes and handed one to Zhou Chengyu, "What do you think, can we tolerate someone holding a knife to our necks?"

"Definitely not," Zhou Chengyu replied without hesitation, though his eyes were filled with worry, "but for now, they’re still backing us up."

Sometimes Zhou Chengyu was really like Kang Yue described, too righteous for someone who’s clawed his way up.

Shen Dong smiled and lit Zhou Chengyu’s cigarette, "The knives in the business world, the moment you see them clearly, you’re already dead. Big Bro, no businessman is a philanthropist, the pursuit of profit is the fundamental goal."

Zhou Chengyu didn’t retort with ’do you need to educate me’ like he used to, but instead heaved a long sigh, "I know, all these truths and lies, they’re all damn tricksters."

"Don’t say that," Shen Dong rubbed his nose, trying to cheer him up, "Think of it this way, we’re all eating from the same trough. If someone else takes a bite, it’s one less for us. We won’t talk about what happens if they eat more, but if we eat more, there will be even more people who will want to follow us and get a bigger share."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chengyu arched an eyebrow then lowered his head again. He took a harsh drag on his cigarette, crushing the stub into tiny pieces. After a while, he spoke slowly, "We are wolves that came out of a flock of sheep; we can’t forget our roots."

"Thanks for the lesson, Big Bro," Shen Dong said with a laugh, patting Zhou Chengyu on the back.

Having money changes the quality of life and alters the bond between people.

Shen Dong did not want it to be so, which is why he never meddled in the specifics of the projects. Yet he felt Zhou Chengyu growing distant.

Glancing around, Shen Dong purposefully brought up the past, "It’s been such a long time, Big Bro. Remember when we were in the Imperial City? There was this grass lawn where we got fined by the lady with the red armband."

"How could I forget, you even let that woman curse at me." Zhou Chengyu said, squatting on the ground.

He clasped his hands together, rubbing his palms, "It has been a long time. We got to know each other, all because of a broken game. It’s quite interesting."

"Broken game?" Shen Dong felt like he had opened a can of worms, sidling up to Zhou Chengyu and nudging him on the shoulder, "You’re not even playing your beloved Legend anymore? Have you given up on the gaming studio?"

"Who has the time," Zhou Chengyu said, lighting another cigarette, his eyes dimmed with melancholy amidst the smoke, "Second Bro, sometimes I’m so tired. I don’t even know why I bother with all these messes, so fake. Sometimes, I don’t even recognize myself."

Everyone has their own aspirations—this is an old saying.

Shen Dong had thought it was a rift caused by interest and was even planning to offer Zhou Chengyu more. But after hearing this, he was dumbfounded, "Big Bro, you don’t want to do this anymore?"

Zhou Chengyu shifted to one side, his gaze complex as he looked at Shen Dong, "Honestly, I don’t feel relieved at all. Every night when I go home, I lock myself in my room and have to think very carefully about who I saw that day, what I said, and whether there were any slip-ups."

"And whether the things other people said to me were setting me up."

While saying this, Zhou Chengyu numbly shook his head, "Really, it’s especially exhausting."

"Then let Zhou Wenbin take over for you," Shen Dong suggested in a half-joking tone, one hand resting on Zhou Chengyu’s shoulder. "You order him around, let him worry on your behalf."

Zhou Wenbin would have loved to hear that, and upon hearing those words, he sprang to his feet, his eyes brimming with anticipation.

Doubt flickered in Zhou Chengyu’s eyes, but there was no reluctance.

Without considering Zhou Wenbin’s feelings, he said straight out, "If you think Wang Xiaocong is trustworthy, hand it over to Wang Xiaocong. Zhou Wenbin still lacks the necessary experience, but you can let him follow and learn more."

"Sure, I promise to follow Mr. Kang seriously," Zhou Wenbin asserted confidently, as if making a military vow.

Shen Dong’s expression stiffened a bit; he really hadn’t expected Zhou Chengyu to let go so easily—that was 300 large acres of land, which was already valued at no less than 500 million.

Not to mention, there were also those 900 hectares in Binhai.

Whew.

Shen Dong took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose, "Big Brother, you’ve really given me a tough problem, so what’re your plans? Taking my sister-in-law to travel and have fun?"

Such a large project, and having the person in charge step back is problematic indeed.

Not to mention cooperating with various parties, just on the staffing side, how could a new leader command the loyalty of the former leader’s trusted lieutenants?

Though Zhou Chengyu was no longer young, realizing the emotions in Shen Dong’s eyes, his eyes twinkled before revealing a smile, "I think I’m not cut out for real estate. Sigh, I’m more into the entertainment industry. Like Volcanic Stone Bathhouse, KTVs, internet cafes, Hai City has to have these, right?"

"I’m telling you, just in the bathhouse there are..."

Bang! "Done!"

Zhou Chengyu was in mid sentence when Kang Yue got out of the car, her face full of excitement.

She, this little vixen, felt that something was off when she got to Shen Dong’s side and sized him up suspiciously, "What’s up, you guys had a fight?"

"No, I was discussing some matters with Big Brother," Shen Dong would never tarnish Zhou Chengyu’s face, casually changing the subject, "How did it go with Yang Guicheng, any surprises?"

"More than a surprise." Kang Yue struck an odd pose, nodding slightly with a respectful demeanor, yet spoke with a tone of triumph, "He’s coming to meet me, I told him I was with you guys, he should be here soon, with money in hand."

At that point, Shen Dong turned to look at Zhou Chengyu, "Big Brother, what do you think?"

"What can I say." Zhou Chengyu truly disliked beating around the bush, but he would not pull Shen Dong back at a critical moment.

With just a cough, Zhou Chengyu seemed like a different person, his presence elevated by several degrees, his lips slightly curling up, revealing an air of understated royal authority.

"Rip him off!"

Shen Dong grinned broadly, lightly rubbing the tip of his nose, "These kinds of things, we’re not suitable to be present for, shall we leave first?"

"Tonight, I’ll come for a drink with you," Zhou Chengyu said like a true leader, a wave in midair and then he turned around, stylishly buttoning his jacket as he slipped back into the car.

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