As Jiang City's best high school as well as one of the famous high schools in Jiangnan province, there wasn't any need to emphasize the study atmosphere of Second High. The spring winds of April brushed past the trees, causing the willows to murmur. There was only a month left for the college entrance exam in June. All the students were doing their best to study and complete this final sprint of their arduous 12-year journey of strenuous studies.

However, there were some people. They had a higher standing, were incredibly talented, or they belonged to an elite family. They had no worries at all. The core of the student council comprised of such members.

Appreciating others efforts while they stand on higher ground like gods, feeling pleased. Ye Wenchen sipped the cup of tea, enjoying this feeling of superiority while listening to Ouyang Qian talk. "Young Master Ye, I heard you ranked 3rd in the city and 5th in the province for the mock college entrance exam."

"You're really great!"

Ye Wenchen smiled coolly as if it was nothing.

Lin Shu butted into the conversation, "That's nothing. Young Master Ye didn't go all out, or else he'd have easily scored the 1st rank."

Everyone present there looked at Ye Wenchen with admiration.

He really was the man of the moment in the school. Setting his handsomeness aside, he also had a good family background and had excellent grades. They felt vexed because they couldn't figure out how Ye Wenchen achieved such grades. He was a real genius top student.

"Right, how were that Jiang Xiu's grades?"

Ye Wenchen sneered, "I don't care. That mob character isn't qualified to be my rival."

"He naturally isn't qualified."

"That sh*thead. I heard he didn't even participate in the mock exam. His grades are zero."

All of them laughed, while a few shook their heads helplessly to express their disdain.

"It seems like Susu invited him to her birthday."

"Why though?"

They couldn't understand the reason.

"According to Susu, it seems like it was Aunt's intentions."

Everyone recalled now that Sun Xiaohong had seen Jiang Xiu during the party at Belden. Jiang Xiu was together with Tang Wenchong then. In Jiang City, no one would miss such an opportunity to associate with the Tang family, so they felt that this was the reason they invited him.

"Looks like Jiang Xiu has been under the limelight lately. I heard someone say that the love letter Ye Bing wrote to him got found out by the teacher."

Ye Wenchen grunted with disdain, "He's wrong if he thinks everything will go well if he relies on Tang Wenchong."

"He's just a frog at the bottom of the well, with such low worldview."

Ye Wenchen's hands were inside his pockets. He wore a light blue cotton shirt matching with his black casual jeans. The school uniform indeed brought out a lordly temperament when worn by him.

He mocked in his mind. Tang Zhenshan's already old and won't live much longer. After that, the ties between the military and the Tang family would also come to an end. They'd keep declining, and Tang Wenchong wouldn't be able to do anything at that time. Jiang Xiu, it's hilarious if you believe you got acquainted with some big shot.

This Young Master will surpass Tang Wenchong in 10 years and surpass even the Tang family in 20.

As for Jiang Xiu, Ye Wenchen didn't place him on the same level.

"Everyone, what present have you chosen for Susu?"

…

After Ye Bing got called to the office by the teacher and came out that day, no one knew what the teacher had said to her. But her behavior turned ice-cold all of a sudden towards everyone. If she had something to tell to Jiang Xiu, she'd send Liu Xiaoyun to convey the message, not willing to speak to him directly even though they were in the same class. A barrier had taken root between them. So much that she assumed an attitude as if she would rather die than talk to him.

Meanwhile, Jiang Xiu spent his time in leisure and invested his efforts into cultivating and researching the Godhood Halo.

In a blink, the weekend had arrived.

The birthday party was held at Cheng Lingsu's home. A 50-year-old maid called as Nanny Wu opened the door when Jiang Xiu arrived there. Though they lived in the same city, Jiang Xiu had rarely visited the Cheng family's residence, and Nanny Wu would welcome him each time.

He walked in calmly.

There was a lawn inside the villa and birthday decorations were placed there right now, a balloon floated in the sky with 'Happy Birthday' written over it in calligraphy. A few of the students had come over, including Ouyang Qian, Li Dan, Ye Wenchen and Lin Shu.

"You've come!" Chen Lingsu's voice was quite apathetic, wearing a smile similar to those clerks in shopping malls.

"Mhm!"

Jiang Xiu replied to her and said elegantly, "Happy birthday."

And then…

Cheng Lingsu raised her brows while the students to the side giggled while covering their mouths.

"He couldn't have come to the birthday party without a present, right?"

"I guess he didn't have the money to buy it."

"I was expecting him to bring a fruit basket, after all, his home runs a fruit stall."

Jiang Xiu's face didn't show any embarrassment. He hadn't come over this time to wish her happy birthday, and Sun Xiaohong hadn't invited him with sincere intentions too.

"Come in…"

After pausing for a while, Cheng Lingsu replied to him indifferently, feeling somewhat baffled. Before, Jiang Xiu would prepare a birthday present for each of her birthdays. Although they weren't something exotic, his intentions could be felt from it. However, this year, he had forgotten her birthday and didn't bring a birthday present too.

Although them getting together was an impossibility, she felt quite uneasy about Jiang Xiu's change.

After entering inside, Jiang Xiu's gaze cruised past the villa, but he couldn't spot the person he wanted to see. Cheng Lingsu's voice came over at this moment, "Are you trying to look for Sis?"

Jiang Xiu's heart started to beat rapidly.

He didn't reply to her question.

"Sis didn't return. My dad is also still at abroad. Therefore, this time's birthday party was arranged by my mom and me."

She wasn't fond of explaining things to people and especially to Jiang Xiu, but she also didn't know why she was saying all this to him as he was just a nobody.

Sun Xiaohong sat in the master seat and nodded towards Jiang Xiu as a greeting.

She didn't even cover up the contempt and loathe in her gaze.

The birthday party began and turned merry. Sun Xiaohong revealed a rare smile on her face after seeing her daughter happy. Cheng Lingsu was already 17 years old and would enter university next year. Just like her older daughter, she would leave her side and live her own life.

After having such thoughts, she felt pity for her younger daughter for being engaged to a fruit seller by her useless father. She really couldn't imagine how her daughter would live if she married such a person.

Therefore, she couldn't allow this matter to happen.

"Qianqian, I heard your family has opened a holiday resort."

Ouyang Qian felt proud, "Yes. Though the grade of the holiday resort is still undecided, my father is planning to invest another 50 million into decorating it. The expected revenue is around 100 million/year."

"It seems like the project isn't small."

It was really something to be able to make the hostess of the Cheng family make such a comment.

"Tourism industry is booming these days. It's worth setting up a holiday resort."

"We still need to do proper advertising."

Sun Xiaohong smiled. She felt that that the Ouyang family had planned it quite perfectly and that they'd definitely succeed.

"I also heard that Little Dan's family is planning to open up their 3rd branch store in the provincial capital for their jewellery line?"

"We've invited a French designer to do a new series. We have other plans too and have recently opened up a flagship store in Shanghai. The turnover for the first day alone is around 5 million."

"Your family's chosen a good business to do. The luxury goods market is getting bigger each day."

"Little Chen, I heard your father got promoted?"

Ye Wenchen nudged his spectacles, "He'll become promoted to the Deputy Mayor in charge of the land and development. The talks are already finalized, and it'll become official in 1-2 days."

Sun Xiaohong was startled, "Deputy Mayor? Wasn't he a District Chief?"

"Isn't this a direct promotion?"

"Yes. Even my father wasn't expecting it. This is a really happy occasion, but my father said that with power comes higher responsibility."

Sun Xiaohong nodded in agreement.

She conversed with the other students and gazed towards Jiang Xiu, the latter was utterly silent. She sneered in her mind. You must be weeping in your heart, right? Just take a look at Susu's classmates. Each one of them has a strong family background and are talented, often helping each other. These children shall all achieve high heights in the future, and you, you're just a fruit seller. Do you comprehend your position now?

Though Jiang Yi and Lin Yueling are unwilling to remove the engagement, do you think you're suitable for Susu?

"Right. Aunt Sun, have you heard about Mr. Jiang?"

"I heard my father say that this person has the final say over Jiang City's underworld powers from now on."

Sun Xiaohong laughed, "Would Aunt's Cheng Conglomerate still be able to mix around in Jiang City if I didn't know about such a huge matter?"

"Only, this Mr. Jiang is quite mysterious. It's tough for even the bigwigs to see him in person."

TL NOTE: Hope you all enjoyed the chapters! As I've already mentioned before, advanced chapters will be available on Patreon now. It would support me a lot as I'm currently investing quite the time into translating each day since I graduated last month. The Patreon is finally going live!!!

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