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"At first, I wasn't fixated on the position of the president either. But then I realized that they were all placeholders who did nothing but hoard resources. The funds for charitable projects would always be cut by two-thirds before being distributed."

"There are so many people waiting for aid. Yet, some rotten apples in the charity organization exploit the donations for their own benefit. I can't stand idly by anymore. Today, there will be journalists outside conducting interviews. I want to use the good deeds I've done in the past to generate more buzz and garner support for myself."

Lei Ziwei revealed the torn lining beneath his suit jacket as he finished speaking.

Chu Yuening raised an eyebrow.

Seemingly realizing his attire was inappropriate, he took out a check and handed it to Chu Yuening apologetically. "My apologies for the indiscretion. Suits are too expensive, so I saved up the money for charity instead."

"This is one million dollars. If Master is willing to help, the amount on the check is yours."

"If you're not willing to," Lei Ziwei smiled wryly, "it's alright too. I'll just continue my battle with those old foxes."

"Then, thank you for your generosity, Mr. Lei." Chu Yuening smiled slightly, took the check, and left the kitchen.

Lei Ziwei secretly sighed in relief.

The two of them sat down at the fortune-telling table.

Lei Zi‌ had long since researched the fortune-telling process. He brushed his hand over the hole in his sleeve as he recited his birthdate and time.

Listening to the birth information, Chu Yuening didn't rush to calculate but instead asked, "Mr. Lei, you must have given me the wrong time, right? You're off by an hour."

Lei Zi‌ pretended to realize his mistake, patting his knee lightly. "Ah, so I was indeed mistaken about the time. I was born at three in the afternoon, not three in the morning. I didn't expect Master Chu to be able to detect it."

"Of course, Master Chu can," Wei Yanlin interjected, spreading his fingers apart to represent eyes, then pointing up to the sky and down to the earth. "Looking up to the heavens, down to the earth. Without even needing your birthdate, just by observing your face, one can read your entire life. If the birthdate doesn't match the facial features, Ning Ning would naturally notice right away."

"I see," Lei Zi‌ tapped his knee softly, deep in thought.

He chuckled lightly. "The rumors about you are true. Master Chu, you possess incredible foresight."

"As per tradition, let's first look into your past and future." After Chu Yuening received the birth information, she calculated, "You have many siblings, but you're the youngest, with three older sisters."

"From ten to sixteen years old, you were doted on by your parents and sisters, so your luck was quite good during that period."

"From sixteen to twenty-five, things were still manageable, but after that..."

Chu Yuening shook her head. "There was a major calamity. You were deceived by a friend and almost died abroad. You barely survived and managed to escape to Hong Kong, where you were fortunate enough to receive help from a benefactor."

"All the Master's predictions were accurate," Lei Zi‌ming chuckled, his eyes filled with nostalgia. "Back then, I was penniless and had fled to Hong Kong, wandering around and often scavenging for food in trash cans at night. It was a couple who ran a small eatery that treated me to a dinner."

"This hardship left an indelible mark on my life, and from then on, I was inspired by them to dedicate myself to charitable work."

Chu Yuening calculated on her fingers and raised an eyebrow. "That couple, weren't they running a wonton shop?"

Upon her words, Lei Zi‌ming's smile froze.

Chapter 154

"A wonton shop?"

After a moment of silence.

Lei Zi‌ming lightly patted his knee, pretending to have just come back to his senses. "It was so long ago that I've forgotten what kind of store my elder brother and sister-in-law operated. I only vaguely recall having a bowl of wontons late at night."

Lei Ziming replied with ease and poise.

He couldn't afford to say that Chu Yuening had made a mistake, nor could he outright confirm it.

He was more aware than anyone that once he questioned Chu Yuening, the subsequent charitable events she mentioned would lose their potential to ignite public interest.

From the start, he had aimed to counter Chu Yuening's impeccable planning.

As long as she was willing to cooperate, Chu Yuening would be his best card to secure the position of charity president.

Indeed.

He was exploiting Chu Yuening.

The neighbors, having heard Lei Ziming's earlier remarks, were deeply moved.

"It's said that when one receives a favor, one should repay it in kind. Wouldn't you and Elder Brother be considered Mr. Lei's mentors?"

"Lei Sheng really does excel in this aspect."

"Brother and Sister-in-law must feel a sense of warmth seeing Mr. Lei in his current state, right?"

"Mr. Lei, do you still have contact with Brother and Sister-in-law?"

"There's still contact," Lei Ziming chuckled softly. "I'm afraid I can't divulge their specific identities. Both Brother and Sister-in-law prefer tranquility, so we don't want to disturb them."

Chu Yuening gave him a fleeting glance; Lei Ziming's thoughts were already transparent to her. She retracted her gaze and continued counting, "After that, you had a period of about four years of silence. Four years later, you entered the charity sector and did quite a number of charitable deeds."

"I'll take a look." Chu Yuening placed the note on the table for all to see and began counting aloud.

Seeing the note displayed openly, Lei Ziming narrowed his eyes. His refined smile froze, "M-Master, how can the note be put out like this?"

He broke into a sweat, his palms dampening.

With so many neighbors from Temple Street watching, not to mention the two reporters present, he couldn't afford to act rashly.

"Why?" Chu Yuening glanced at him sidelong, responding with a question of her own, "Is it not allowed to showcase good deeds?"

Lei Ziming's smile froze. "Sure."

Chu Yuening glanced at the timeline and said, "Alright, first item: In 1983, you privately supported a deaf girl financially. Her family was biased towards boys and didn't allow her to attend school. Mr. Lei generously funded her education."

As soon as Chu Yuening finished speaking, a neighbor in the crowd raised their hand.

"I know about this! It was even reported back then, and many people praised Mr. Lei for his kindness."

"In 1983, Mr. Lei hadn't joined the charity organization yet, I believe. Rumor has it that the money he used for the sponsorship was all his savings."