Boss Pang had lost count of how many times he had been stunned.
He had only just figured out Dong Runfang’s background.
Since Dong Runfang was from Sichuan province, and Lawyer Liao Shiyan was also from that area, Boss Pang suspected Dong Runfang had hired the lawyer.
But Dong Runfang worked in a film and television company. How had his wife Zhang Liqun met her?
They were not from the same circles at all.
Zhang Liqun spent her days revolving around household matters. In such a large villa without hiring a nanny, cleaning alone took up much of her energy. Unless Boss Pang wanted to take Zhang Liqun out to meet someone, she could not escape domestic chores.
With no time or energy for socialising outside, Zhang Liqun was not close to anyone. That was why Boss Pang dared to bully her so brazenly.
He had not yet clarified what was going on with Dong Runfang when an intermediary came to deliver a message to Boss Pang, truly leaving him bewildered.
Neither Boss Pang nor Zhang Liqun’s hometown was in Shanghai. They came from rural areas in a neighbouring province, about a two-hour drive away. He Zhinian and Boss Pang were fellow provincials. When people from the same province did business in Shanghai, they habitually banded together for warmth, often forming a certain hometown chamber of commerce.
Both Boss Pang and He Zhinian were members of this fellow provincials’ chamber.
Their businesses were sizable, but not the largest in the chamber.
Only with sufficiently large businesses and broad connections could one convince the crowd and be elected as chamber president.
Why was Boss Pang stunned? Because the intermediary delivering the message was none other than the chamber president!
Boss Pang was always the one bullying others. This was the first time someone had threatened him. Naturally, he refused to accept it. He pressed the president. “This woman is meddling in my family affairs. Am I not even allowed to ask who she is?”
The president smiled. “Old Pang, since when have you been so reasonable? When you eat at a restaurant and curse the waiter for being slow, do you listen to their explanation?”
Boss Pang was the type who would flare up if the waiter was even slightly slow in serving food.
He vented at waiters but never considered their feelings or reasoned with them.
By the same logic, Boss Pang investigated someone’s wife. When the husband found out, he directly issued a harsh warning. What was wrong with that?
Boss Pang looked down on waiters. Boss Peng looked down on Boss Pang.
The president’s analogy turned Boss Pang’s face green with anger.
Even if he were to die, Boss Pang wanted to die understanding. He immediately softened his stance, saying many flattering words to the president. Finally, he earned some guidance. “Handle your family affairs yourself. Do not drag outsiders into it. Believe me, if you drag this person in, you will regret having such an enemy for the rest of your life. Old Pang, money lost can be earned again. With your ability, even if you split half your fortune, you could earn it back in a few years. But with an enemy like this, watching you every day, always looking for a pit for you to jump into, the fortune you did not split in the divorce might not remain safe!”
So formidable?!
The president’s tone was grave. Boss Pang immediately felt a chill.
In Boss Pang’s mindset, there was no “respect” or “equality for all”. He could bully those less wealthy than him and feared those wealthier would bully him.
Bullying the weak and fearing the strong was Boss Pang’s principle. He… backed down.
Forget Dong Runfang. Zhu Xiao was indeed someone Boss Pang could not afford to provoke. He was furious.
He knew these two women were helping Zhang Liqun with the divorce case, yet Boss Pang dared not do anything.
Boss Pang truly could not understand. How exactly had Zhang Liqun met these two women?
This mystery would become a doubt accompanying Boss Pang for the rest of his life. Until the day he died, he would remain obsessed with it.
…
Boss Pang did not know why Dong Runfang and Zhu Xiao wanted to befriend Zhang Liqun. He never imagined the instigator was Wen Ying.
Boss Pang could not afford to provoke Boss Peng. Boss Peng dared not provoke his wife Zhu Xiao. Zhu Xiao wanted to please Wen Ying. In a circle, Wen Ying still stood at the top of the food chain.
Standing at the top of the food chain, Wen Ying became a freshman at Fudan University.
Wen Ying moved into the school dormitory.
At Fudan, freshmen of the same year had better accommodation conditions for girls than boys. Wen Ying was assigned to a four-person room.
Living life anew, Wen Ying had even changed universities. Naturally, she did not know her university roommates in this life.
She was a bit worried her roommates might be difficult to get along with.
Wen Ying did not want to waste too much time on trivial daily matters. If the roommates were hard to live with, she would at most endure one semester before applying to move out.
Actually, the three roommates were more nervous than Wen Ying.
After Professor Shen successfully recruited Wen Ying to Fudan, the media reported it. This year’s freshmen were mentally prepared to be classmates with “Fish Swimming Against the Current”.
As one of China’s earliest privately founded institutions of higher education, Fudan University had a century-long history.
In that century, Fudan had produced many famous alumni, far more impressive than Wen Ying.
But those alumni were separated by time and space. The freshmen had heard of them but could not touch or see them.
Wen Ying was different. Wen Ying would be their classmate!
With Wen Ying’s current fame, book signings required many security personnel… Would such a famous bestselling author be easy to get along with in daily life?
Wen Ying registered late. The three roommates arrived before her. Upon discovering they were assigned to the same dorm as “Fish Swimming Against the Current”, they gathered to discuss how to interact with Wen Ying.
Their final conclusion was that if Wen Ying was truly too difficult, they need not indulge her.
Outside school, Wen Ying was a bestselling author. Inside school, Wen Ying was the same as them!
That was what they said. The three girls whispered for a long time but still left the best bed in the dorm for Wen Ying.
If Wen Ying still picked faults, it would not be their problem.
Wen Ying, arriving last, saw the bed her roommates had left for her and felt somewhat surprised. “No one is sleeping in this bed?”
“No one.”
“You do not like it?”
“This bed is pretty good.”
The three roommates had not yet developed tacit understanding. They spoke over each other, all a bit nervous.
Wen Ying could not help laughing. “I quite like it. Thank you.”
Dorm beds were first-come, first-served. Wen Ying did not care which bed she slept in, but since her roommates left the good one for her, she felt touched.
It seemed her luck was good. These three roommates could get along.
In a great mood, Wen Ying made her bed and clapped her hands. “I arrived late today. Thank you all for taking care of me. Since I have a small part-time job besides studying, in special situations I may need your help holding seats or answering roll call in the future. Tonight, let me treat everyone to dinner.”
Ah?
Holding seats and answering roll call? What was that? Openly admitting plans to skip class on the first day of registration?!
The three roommates looked at each other. Not wanting to take advantage, one suggested splitting the bill.
Wen Ying quickly shook her head. “We Sichuan people do not have the habit of splitting bills. If you feel uncomfortable, you can treat me back another day.”
Treat back how?
Wen Ying made the writer rich list with her novels. The three roommates did not think their living expenses were higher than Wen Ying’s.
This was why they worried about getting along with Wen Ying. Different consumption levels would create barriers unless they could comfortably accept favours from her often.
They wanted to refuse, but Wen Ying was too enthusiastic. She gave them no chance.
With apprehensive hearts, the three roommates were led by Wen Ying to the school cafeteria.
Standing at the cafeteria entrance, the roommates had complicated feelings.
“You are treating us to dinner in the cafeteria?”
Wen Ying waved her meal card. “Yes. Tonight I treat. Do not be polite. Order meat dishes freely. I have topped up my card!”
Treating in the cafeteria somehow carried the grandeur of a five-star hotel banquet. It left everyone speechless.
But eating in the cafeteria truly had no pressure of favour. A meat dish cost at most a few yuan. The three roommates could all return the favour!
Only after sitting in the cafeteria with Wen Ying did the roommates’ hearts, suspended for half a day, relax slightly.
For now, Wen Ying seemed quite easy to get along with?
Wen Ying smiled warmly, urging everyone to eat.
Able to get into Fudan, these three girls were academic achievers. They were smart in studies but far less worldly than the cunning great writer Wen.
Wen Ying quickly assessed the three girls. For now, none seemed too extreme. True character would reveal itself in long-term interaction.
Except for the absence of Xie Qian, Wen Ying’s first day of freshman registration was perfect!
