Chapter 139

Chapter 139

Yu Chuang watched the car disappear into the distance, and it was only then that Lin Shuo finally caught up. Seeing his boss deep in thought, he hesitated on how to begin the conversation.

Lin Shuo couldn’t help but wonder, guessing that the exceptionally good-looking man from earlier was an acquaintance of his boss, and it seemed there was a complicated history between them.

What surprised him most was that his boss hadn’t visited Ningcheng in years, and it was nighttime with little light on either side of the road.

His car was moving at a considerable speed, meaning Yu Chuang had recognized someone just by their silhouette on the roadside.

From the way they spoke earlier, with all the veiled and cutting remarks, they didn’t seem like friends. Rivals, perhaps?

What kind of deep-seated resentment could make someone recognize another’s silhouette so instantly?

But fearing they might miss the flight, Lin Shuo finally spoke up, "Boss Yu, we need to head to the airport."

Yu Chuang responded with a vague "Hmm" and got into the car with him.

As he sat in the car, his mind kept replaying the scene from the little porridge and pancake shop.

The image of the golden-haired figure had stayed with him for seven years, almost etched in his memory. Now, seeing him again, even his hair had been dyed black.

His demeanor had also softened considerably, not as fierce as before. In the past, if he had tailed Ji Mian like that, Ji Mian would have surely lashed out at him.

A curse he had muttered years ago had somehow come true...

Yu Chuang gazed out the window, his knuckles tightening unconsciously on his knee. He knew it well; Ji Mian had never crossed any lines with him back then. It was he who had developed feelings unilaterally, and out of jealousy and bitterness, he had projected that resentment onto Ji Mian.

How could he not resent Ji Mian for his initial obliviousness and eventual cold detachment?

Yu Chuang took a moment to collect himself, then rolled down the window, letting the cool spring breeze brush his face.

Logic told him it would be prudent to avoid any further entanglement with Ji Mian. He had finally put the past behind him and shouldn’t reopen old wounds.

Before arriving in Ningcheng, he had vowed to ignore any news about the Ji or Pei families, focusing solely on business.

But now, reflecting on it, his deliberate avoidance of Ningcheng and news about the Ji family was proof that he hadn’t fully moved on.

Yu Chuang was reluctant to admit that after all these years, he hadn’t grown at all. In front of Ji Mian, he was still being manipulated.

After a long pause, he made up his mind. "Lin Shuo."

"Boss Yu?"

"Book a ticket to Ningcheng for next weekend."

After saying this, Yu Chuang felt for the first time that traveling back and forth by plane was such a hassle, and he considered whether to buy a private jet.

Lin Shuo was somewhat surprised, "Boss Yu, are you planning to settle in Ningcheng?"

"No."

Lin Shuo didn’t dare to ask more, so he suppressed his questions.

He had a reason for asking Yu Chuang if he planned to settle in Ningcheng.

A couple of days ago, Yu Chuang had asked him to schedule a viewing time for a property at Li Shui New Garden. After seeing one of the houses, without comparing it with others, he decided to book it. However, the contract hadn’t been signed yet.

Lin Shuo had looked into it; the property prices there were the most expensive in Ningcheng, and the one Yu Chuang had set his eyes on was unusually large. It was said that the original owner had sold it to the developer at a low price. The property would cost at least a hundred million, which is why it had been sitting on the market for a year without being sold.

Having worked with Yu Chuang for several years, Lin Shuo knew that he rarely indulged in extravagance. No matter how much he earned, he did not favor a luxurious lifestyle.

This time, upon arriving in Ningcheng, Yu Chuang quietly decided on such a large property. Combined with the fact that Mingsheng planned to set up a branch in Ningcheng in the coming years, Lin Shuo naturally assumed that Yu Chuang intended to settle down in Ningcheng.

But if that wasn't the case, then what was the purpose of all this?

*

Two weeks later, Ji Mian finally managed to free up a day and contacted the property manager of Lishui Xinyuan, planning to buy back the property he had once sold.

"It's already been taken?" Ji Mian exclaimed in surprise, "Last month when I asked, no one had shown interest yet."

Ji Hai had thought about mortgaging the property; if the situation with the Ji Group hadn't been so dire at the time, they wouldn't have sold it.

The manager looked a bit awkward, "I'm truly sorry, Master Ji."

He knew Ji Mian had always wanted to buy it back, especially since the property originally belonged to the Ji Family... But the client was too quick and decisive, deciding on the spot after viewing the property and completing the down payment and signing the contract the following week.

"He's already signed the contract?"

"It was signed last week, and he'll be coming this afternoon to handle some formalities."

Ji Mian paused for a moment. He didn't have high demands for his residence, but having something he had been longing for suddenly bought by someone else inevitably left him feeling somewhat disappointed. Yet, there was nothing he could do. He took a wistful sip of his tea and decided to let it go.

At that moment, the manager received a message and said to Ji Mian, "My client is here. I'm sorry, Master Ji, I'll have someone else attend to you."

"No need," Ji Mian set down his teacup and stood up, "I should be going too."

"Let me walk you out," the manager opened the door for him.

He walked Ji Mian downstairs and kindly asked if he needed a ride back. Ji Mian was a potential client, so the manager was very attentive.

Ji Mian declined; he had driven himself there.

The manager then accompanied him to the elevator leading to the underground parking lot and entered with him.

As it happened, he also needed to go down to meet someone.

In the confined space, Ji Mian wondered, unable to figure out how the property had been suddenly bought.

In all of Ningcheng, only a few families could drop a hundred million on a property.

The Pei Family had long since collapsed, and if the Zhou or Xue Families had such intentions, Zhou Ji and Xue Zongguang would have definitely mentioned it to him.

Who else could have such capability...

Ding dong.

Ji Mian, looking down, absentmindedly stepped out of the elevator. At the elevator door stood a person, tall and long-legged, blocking his path. Ji Mian, deep in thought, didn't look up and stepped aside to go around.

But the person in front of him stood still.

Behind him, the manager's voice was eager, "Mr. Yu is here..."

Ji Mian stopped in his tracks, as if he had misheard.

There are so many people with the same last name... it might not be him.

Besides, even if it was him, he shouldn't look up now.

He feigned ignorance and kept walking.

"How many times are you going to ignore me, Master Ji?" A deep, cold voice came from behind.

Ji Mian remained silent.

He finally turned around, glancing up slightly.

His eyes locked with Yu Chuang's cold gaze, and his heart raced.

Yu Chuang's lips curved, but his eyes remained cold. When would Ji Mian finally notice him?

The manager in the elevator looked at them, puzzled, realizing they knew each other.

Yu Chuang told the manager, "I need to talk to Master Ji."

Ji Mian didn’t hold back: "I have nothing to say to you."

Yu Chuang silently stared at him.

The manager, sensing it was best not to get involved, said, "I'll wait for you in the lobby."

He then wisely closed the elevator door.

Silence fell around them.

Yu Chuang broke the silence: "What a coincidence." In the sprawling city of Ning, they'd bumped into each other twice in just a month.

Ji Mian looked away, frowning. "What do you want? Spit it out."

Yu Chuang chuckled. "I just got to Ning City and heard Pei Qing got engaged?"

Ji Mian's expression shifted instantly.

"Affection Points +200, courtesy of Yu Chuang."

"Why hasn't Master Ji found another look-alike to keep around?"

Ji Mian's eyes reddened, but he kept his voice steady. "You stopped me just for this?"

"Mocking me?" he sneered. "If you've got more to say, get it all out now. Save us both the trouble next time."

Yu Chuang's throat tightened, but no words came out. He got the message: Ji Mian wanted nothing more to do with him.

Ji Mian waited, but when Yu Chuang stayed silent, he turned to leave.

As he moved to leave, Yu Chuang grabbed him.

Ji Mian tried to pull away, but realizing Yu Chuang's strength, he gave up. "What's this? No words, but you won't let me go?"

Yu Chuang paused, then asked, "What are you doing here?"

"...What does it have to do with you?"

"If you tell me, I won't bother you next time we meet."

Really? Ji Mian looked at him.

Fake. Yu Chuang thought.

"House hunting," Ji Mian said briefly, not specifying what kind of house.

Master Ji had too much pride; how could he admit he was here to see the house the Ji Family had sold, and that someone else had already bought it?

Though he didn't spell it out, Yu Chuang caught on quickly.

But Yu Chuang didn't expect that Ji Mian had come with the intention of buying the house, just figured he was nostalgic and had come back to see his former residence.

"And what are you here for?" Ji Mian asked with a frown.

Yu Chuang paused slightly, hearing Ji Mian inquire about his affairs, as if showing concern, and couldn't help but answer: "To take care of some paperwork... for the down payment."

"You bought a place here?" Ji Mian suddenly remembered that the agent had mentioned earlier that the person who bought the Ji Family's house would come to handle some formalities this afternoon.

His mind went blank, and he looked at the person in front of him in astonishment: "Don't tell me you're buying my family's house."

"..."

His silence said it all.

Ji Mian couldn't believe it. He knew Yu Chuang didn't buy the house just because he liked it.

When they went their separate ways, it wasn't exactly amicable, but it wasn't bad enough for him to spend a fortune on a house just to rub it in his face, was it?

Yu Chuang spoke again: "If you want it, I can give the house back to you."

"Isn't the deal done? Can you still back out?"

"I mean, I'll buy it and return it to you."

Ji Mian: "..."

His head was spinning, momentarily unsure whether he had misunderstood or if Yu Chuang's words were ambiguous.

Buy it and return it to him...

Wasn't he basically giving it to him?