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“Thank you, Brother Wenxu. Haha, I… I didn’t expect to perform so well unexpectedly. The questions this year were within the range of my review. Brother Wenxu, please don’t praise me too much. I’m not that great. It was just a coincidence…”

“How can it be a coincidence? It’s your ability, Xiao Tong. Don’t be modest.”

Xie Wenxu thought he was being modest, and his laughter sounded pleasant. He continued, “Xiao Tong, you should have more confidence. You did so well this time. My grandmother won’t have anything to say now. I’ll go talk to her about our engagement later. I compared your score with students from other provinces, and you’re this year’s top scorer. She will definitely agree!”

“My adorable top scorer, we can get engaged soon. Are you happy?”

Adorable top scorer Yan Tong: …

Adorable top scorer Yan Tong forced a smile. “H-Happy.”

Meanwhile, in the office, Fang Yandong, who was reviewing documents, also received a phone call.

Fang Yandong answered his phone and heard the laughter of a close friend from the business world.

“Hey, old Fang, did you know that the college entrance exam results are out? Haha, your Yan Tong, oh no, he should be called Liu Jia now. He actually scored the top score in the college entrance exam. Did you know?”

To make Yan Tong’s name change not appear so abrupt, Fang Yandong had put some thought into it.

The reason was readily available too. He directly said that he found out that Yan Tong was not his son, so he couldn’t be considered part of the Fang family. Before Yan Tong was abducted, he ‘seemed’ to have the surname Liu, and in order to start a new life and leave behind his past sorrows, he simply changed his name completely.

For this reason, Fang Yandong held another banquet to introduce Yan Tong’s new name.

Although it was sudden, no one in their circle doubted it. After all, if Yan Tong wasn’t a member of the Fang family, he couldn’t remain on the household registration of the Fang family.

Even if Yan Tong didn’t have the Fang family bloodline, as long as he remained on the Fang family’s household registration, he would be considered an adopted son, entitled to inherit the family property. If it was Fang Yandong in their place, he wouldn’t be willing to keep Yan Tong either.

So Yan Tong’s name change went smoothly without causing any major waves. Now, everyone in Jiang City’s circle knew that Yan Tong was now called ‘Liu Jia’.

Boss Wu had a good relationship with Fang Yandong, and he also had a high school graduate in his family this year. Therefore, he paid attention to the college entrance exam results. When he saw that Yan Tong turned out to be the top scorer, he immediately called to congratulate him.

“Hahaha, Old Fang, your insight is truly extraordinary. You casually took in a child, and he turned out to be such a talent. I truly admire you. You have to teach me your ability to judge people in the future…”

Boss Wu genuinely admired him from the bottom of his heart.

Fang Yandong wasn’t just capable in the business world; he also had exceptional judgment when it came to people. When the Lu family wanted to arrange a marriage, there were others who were more suitable than Fang Yandong, but in the end, only Fang Yandong agreed.

And the result? That young lady from the Lu family gave birth to two intelligent children for Fang Yandong! Now Fang Yandong casually took in an orphan, my goodness, and he turned out to be the top scorer in the college entrance exam!

This couldn’t be attributed to luck anymore; Fang Yandong’s judgment was truly remarkable!

Boss Wu laughed heartily to offer his congratulations.

Little did he know that when Fang Yandong heard his words, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

“What? You said Yan Tong is the top scorer in the college entrance exam?”

“Yes, and the top scorer nationwide! The college entrance exam questions were difficult this year, and the scores were generally low. But your kid scored 744 points! It’s trending now; you can check it out if you don’t believe me.”

Boss Wu chuckled.

Fang Yandong almost fainted.

Not only the top scorer but also the top scorer nationwide, and… and it’s trending?

This was going to drive him crazy!

How did it end up like this? Did Sun Zhi make a mistake? How could his son possibly score such a high mark?

Fang Yandong couldn’t believe it.

But then he received a series of congratulatory phone calls, and he could no longer deceive himself into thinking it was just a dream.

“My goodness, Mr. Fang, you’ve really hit the jackpot. I never expected that Yan Tong from your family would turn out to be the top scorer in the college entrance exam. Truly unexpected.”

“Mr. Fang, you… You really deserve to be called ‘brother’. Your judgment in people is truly amazing. No wonder you knew that Yan Tong wasn’t your son and yet you still took care of him. You truly have a discerning eye…”

“Haha, Mr. Fang, your family has produced a top scorer in the college entrance exam. I suppose there will be a grand celebration, right? Don’t forget to give me a call then.”

“Congratulations, Mr. Fang.”

“…”

A series of phone calls came in, along with numerous congratulatory messages on WeChat.

It drove Fang Yandong insane.

These were not congratulations; they were clearly urging him to his death!

He directly turned off his still ringing phone and immediately called Sun Zhi using the company’s landline.

Once the call connected, he couldn’t help but roar in anger, “Sun Zhi! What the hell are you doing? The top scorer in the college entrance exam, the top scorer nationwide! Are you trying to kill me? Did you make another mistake?”

In reality, Sun Zhi’s situation wasn’t much better than his.

Sun Zhi was also at home, holding his head in despair.

Fang Yandong asked him what he was doing? He wanted to ask Fang Yandong the same thing! How could Fang Yandong not even know the true ability of his own son? How could he dare to say that Fang Ziyang’s and Yan Tong’s scores were similar?

Damn it.

A score of 523 and 744, and Fang Yandong called that similar?

Sun Zhi was burning with anger.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

“Fang Yandong, what the hell are you doing? I’m the one who’s really being driven to death by you. You don’t even know your own son’s true ability? Your son wasn’t a genius; he was definitely pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger.”

“How… How is that possible…”

Fang Yandong couldn’t believe it.

On the other end of the phone, Sun Zhi sneered at his words.

“How is it not possible? Do you know what Fang Ziyang’s real score is? 748 points! Except for a two-point deduction in the language comprehension section, he got full marks in all other subjects, even the essay! Yan Tong’s current score is the result of me worrying that Fang Ziyang’s full marks essay would be exposed, so I switched it with Liu Jia’s paper!”

“To cover up this matter, I not only switched Liu Jia’s paper but also manipulated the papers of several other examinees. Now, Fang Ziyang’s score is also high, with 712 points. He shouldn’t notice…”

“But Fang Yandong, the 30 million you gave me before wasn’t enough. Now you have to give me another 50 million. I’ve been screwed over by you this time!”

Sun Zhi’s eyes were bloodshot.

He was on the verge of madness. If he had known it would turn out like this, he might as well have helped those wealthy second-generation individuals who approached him initially!

That bastard Fang Yandong seemed flawless and perfect. But now it was getting worse and worse, and he had manipulated the papers of four or five examinees. The risk was many times higher than leaking the test questions.

He took such a huge risk, and the previous 30 million wasn’t enough. He had to add another 50 million.

Although Sun Zhi’s last-minute price increase broke the rules, Fang Yandong had nothing to say. He had to reluctantly accept it as things had already turned out this way. After all, Sun Zhi’s risk was indeed much greater than they had anticipated. If they didn’t appease Sun Zhi, he would be even more afraid and might turn himself in directly.

However, Fang Yandong was still very worried. With consecutive problems arising, he couldn’t stay as stable as Mount Tai anymore.

“Are you sure the papers have been switched properly? No issues?”

“What else can I do? 712 points; there shouldn’t be any problems.”

Sun Zhi didn’t give any guarantees; he just countered with a question. Besides, he had no other options left.

Now that he had manipulated the papers of several examinees and even boosted Fang Ziyang’s score, if Fang Ziyang still found out, he would have to accept his fate.

Both of them felt uneasy in their hearts.

But since things had come to this point, there was nothing else they could do.

…

In the following days, Fang Yandong and the others lived in a state of anxiety, like startled birds. If it weren’t for the constraints of reality, Sun Zhi would have wanted to pack up and run away. The things they had done this time were incredibly tormenting for him.

Fortunately, after waiting for a week without any disturbances from the outside, they finally relaxed. It seemed that their final remedial measure had been effective. Fang Ziyang didn’t harbor any suspicions about his score of 712.

Fang Yandong and Sun Zhi breathed a sigh of relief.

Yan Tong also let out a sigh of relief.

He had no idea that his score was actually Fang Ziyang’s. Since a week had passed without any issues, it meant that the examinee named Liu Jia, who had received his “abnormal performance,” had accepted the reality without any doubts.

But when you think about it, Liu Jia was carefully selected by the Fang family.

A common family background, average appearance, introverted personality…

People like him who were afraid to make a fuss and had relatively simple thinking, how could they imagine that their scores had been swapped?

Besides, Yan Tong had even asked Fang Qianhao to investigate Liu Jia’s score and found out that he had scored 674!

Yan Tong was in a panic when he heard the news.

Could it be that he had performed exceptionally well this time? If he had known he would do so well, why would he have cheated in the first place?

He went through such a convoluted process, was blackmailed by Fang Yandong for several sets of information, and put in so much effort, only to end up with nothing? He had been acting in a solo tragicomedy for half the time!

Yan Tong felt like he was about to have internal bleeding.

But fortunately, it was also a good thing. Since Liu Jia’s performance was also good, it wouldn’t expose anything. Moreover, Fang Yandong had given him the title of the top scorer in the college entrance exam. Considering the effort he had put in, it wasn’t a complete loss. Having the title of the top scorer in the college entrance exam would give him more appeal when he debuted in the entertainment industry…

With this thought, Yan Tong felt slightly better.

However, soon after, he couldn’t smile anymore.

The principal of the No. 1 High School called excitedly, “Yan Tong, as the top scorer nationwide in this year’s college entrance exam, the school has decided to hold a speech event for you. Prepare well. Professor Meng from Tsinghua University and Professor Xu from Nanjing University will be there.”

“It seems that there were some very interesting problem-solving techniques in your math paper. They want to personally come and listen to your speech on mathematics. Yan Tong, you have truly brought glory to our No. 1 High School. You are simply the pride of our school…”

After being the adorable top scorer in the college entrance exam.

Now being hailed as the pride of the school, Yan Tong: … I beg you, please stop praising me. Thank you!

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Unfortunately, Fang Group’s main businesses had always been in pharmaceuticals and real estate. The technology industry required a lot of money and carried great risks. More than half of the shareholders were not supportive, fearing that they would lose money. They were only interested in living comfortably and waiting for death, lacking any ambition.

Those people only thought about the potential losses, but they didn’t consider the potential gains. The development of the technology industry was the trend of the times!

Fortunately, this misfortune turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Although he lost a large sum of money and was expelled from the group, it made him determined to start from scratch and establish Nova Tech.

The hype around the Dreamscape software was successful, and it had already started to gain popularity on the internet, entering the phase of recouping the investment. It was estimated that it wouldn’t take long for him to recover all the capital he invested and make a significant profit.

So far, several heads of major tech companies had already called expressing their interest in collaborating.

Fang Yandong was truly delighted. The days of depression had vanished, and he appeared full of vigor and radiance.

When he saw Yan Tong, his disgust towards him had diminished.

Although he didn’t know where Yan Tong obtained those valuable technological materials, it didn’t matter now that they were in his hands.

However, Fang Yandong was still very resentful about the trouble Yan Tong had caused him.

Especially with the hiccup during the college entrance exam, Fang Yandong appeared calm, but he was just as anxious as Sun Zhi. If the bribery operation to manipulate the exam scores was exposed, both he and Sun Zhi would be in trouble. He was genuinely afraid.

But it was better if fewer people knew the secret, so he hadn’t informed Yan Tong about the unexpected situation with the exam number switch.

After all, he had already obtained a lot of information from Yan Tong. The unexpected incident during the college entrance exam couldn’t be blamed on him. He had put in the effort, but Yan Tong just had bad luck…

Fang Yandong had decided that he would rather die a poor Taoist than reveal his secret. He didn’t think it was necessary to inform Yan Tong about the situation with the exam results.

In his view, did Yan Tong have the right to make trouble with him?

After all, he was just a foolish person who was greedy and lacked intelligence.

…

Yan Tong had no idea that there was an issue with the college entrance exam.

After learning that Fang Yandong would personally help him resolve the exam score problem, he felt relieved about the matter.

If it was Fang Qianhao handling the matter, he would still feel somewhat uneasy.

After all, although Fang Qianhao was excellent, he was still too young at the moment. He was hot-headed and prone to making mistakes, despite being good at controlling situations. The truly outstanding Fang Qianhao would need a few more years of experience.

But Fang Yandong was different.

As the villainous boss in the book, Fang Yandong’s abilities were unquestionable. Although he seemed less imposing now compared to the book, that was only because he clashed with the protagonist, Fang Ziyang. As long as he didn’t get involved with Fang Ziyang, Fang Yandong would have no problem handling things.

So Yan Tong never considered the possibility of an issue with the college entrance exam. It was a given that he would enter a prestigious university.

The thought of having the opportunity to experience a prestigious university made him extremely excited.

When the time came, not only could he keep an eye on Fang Ziyang’s actions, but he could also establish various connections within the university. His protagonist aura would finally shine and become prominent!

Due to his excitement and the lack of opportunities to do anything to Fang Ziyang recently, Yan Tong decided to take a break. After the college entrance exam, he would utilize Fang Qianhao and Xie Wenxu’s network to enter the upper-class social circle and participate in gatherings with young people from various circles.

Although his reputation had suffered a bit lately, and his previously maintained good image had vanished, Yan Tong was skilled at socializing and acting. With Fang Qianhao and Xie Wenxu escorting him, no matter what people thought in their hearts, on the surface, Yan Tong quickly integrated into their circles.

Furthermore, when they “accidentally” found out that Yan Tong might have performed exceptionally well in the college entrance exam, people became even more friendly towards him.

That was how the upper-class social circle worked. Interests always ranked higher than personal relationships. When it came to individuals with potential, everyone was willing to “befriend” them.

Yan Tong was very proud of this.

After about twenty days, the highly anticipated college entrance exam results were finally released.

…

On the day the college entrance exam results were announced in H Province, most of the candidates anxiously sat in front of their computers, waiting.

Even Yan Tong, who had mentally prepared himself, was no exception.

Accompanied by Fang Qianhao, he stayed at home and did nothing but sit in front of the computer. As soon as the querying time arrived, they immediately entered the exam number to check the results.

744 points!

When the score appeared on the computer screen, both Yan Tong and Fang Qianhao widened their eyes.

“700… 744 points! Except for Chinese and Politics, full marks in all other subjects… How could it be so high?”

Although they were mentally prepared for high scores, they didn’t expect it to reach 745 points!

The total score for the college entrance exam was only 750 points, and 744 points meant that not only would Yan Tong be the top scorer in H Province, but there was a 90% chance he would rank in the top three nationwide!

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Yan Tong’s face turned pale.

“Brother Qianhao, Brother Qianhao, what should we do? Isn’t this score too high? Even if I’m not the top scorer, I might still rank in the top three. Will our situation be exposed? This is too high…”

He really didn’t want to become the college entrance exam’s top scorer! He knew his own abilities very well. If he truly became the top scorer, even if he chose an art major, it would attract too much attention.

The more attention he received, the easier it would be for his cheating during the exam to be exposed.

Didn’t they say that Liu Jia’s score was just enough to meet the cutoff for admission to a prestigious university? Even if he performed exceptionally well, it shouldn’t be to this extent! Could it be that Liu Jia suddenly acquired incredible skills? It was too terrifying!

Fang Qianhao also felt extremely uneasy.

But as a man, a very self-confident and face-conscious man, he absolutely couldn’t show any fear in front of the person he loved.

Swallowing nervously, he could only feign calmness, unsure whether he was comforting Yan Tong or himself.

“It should be fine. Although the score is higher than expected, it’s purely an extraordinary performance from this Liu Jia. He probably didn’t expect to do so well either… Besides, your level isn’t too bad either. Didn’t you say you expected to score over 600 points? There shouldn’t be any problems.”

Liu Jia’s level was around 680 points, so when they checked the results, they would probably think he didn’t perform well.

That’s what Fang Qianhao thought.

However, when Yan Tong heard that, his expression stiffened slightly, and a guilty look flashed in his eyes.

Over 600 points? If he could score over 600 points, would he be so anxious and worried about getting into a prestigious university? If he could score over 600 points, he would rather work harder himself instead of taking such a huge risk and having someone take the exam for him!

He would only come up with such ideas because he couldn’t achieve that high of a score.

Based on his usual performance, reaching over 500 points was already the limit. This time, he hadn’t even studied much, so getting 550 would be considered an extraordinary performance!

He couldn’t even imagine the expression on Liu Jia’s face when he saw the score…

Yan Tong looked at the high score of 744 on the computer screen and couldn’t force a smile. His face turned pale, almost green.

Just then, Xie Wenxu’s phone call came in as well.

When Yan Tong saw Xie Wenxu’s name on the phone, his gaze flickered.

He hung up first, managed to send Fang Qianhao away, and then dialed again, speaking with a gentle and warm voice, “Hello, Brother Wenxu, I couldn’t answer the call earlier. Is there something you need?”

Xie Wenxu liked this gentle side of Yan Tong.

Although the previous Fang Ziyang was also gentle towards him, it only happened occasionally when Fang Ziyang was being playful. Fang Ziyang had a lively and outgoing personality and was generally generous in his interactions. His proud nature prevented him from being dependent on someone for an extended period. He had a strong and independent personality.

But being reliant on someone was a man’s nature. Xie Wenxu felt a greater sense of accomplishment and preferred Yan Tong’s gentleness.

So when he heard Yan Tong’s gentle voice, Xie Wenxu quickly forgot about the annoyance of being hung up on. He was immediately replaced with excitement and joy.

Xie Wenxu was genuinely delighted on the other end of the phone.

“Xiaotong, do you know that you’re this year’s college entrance exam top scorer? The questions were difficult this year, and most students performed average, but you scored 744 points! Xiao Tong, you’ve pleasantly surprised me!”

Although he really liked Yan Tong, there were certain aspects where Yan Tong was average, and Xie Wenxu had to admit it. Yan Tong’s academic performance was mediocre, which disappointed him a little. After all, he was a man, the heir of the Xie family, and he cared about his reputation.

But he never expected Yan Tong to give him such a big surprise in the college entrance exam. The top scorer! Now his grandmother would have nothing to say!

Although the Xie family also needed a marriage alliance, if the person he liked had strong abilities, even if their background was lacking, there would still be an opportunity for marriage.

After all, marrying a partner with strong work abilities and high intelligence would be highly advantageous for the family’s business and future generations, especially the latter. Only parents with excellent genes could give birth to outstanding successors.

Xie Wenxu was gratified. “Xiao Tong, no wonder you ignored me before the exam. It turns out you were studying hard. You’re always like this, silently doing everything…”

If it was Fang Ziyang, he would definitely demand his company during studying and bother him with even trivial matters. It was fine at first, but after a while, it became truly annoying. Unlike Xiao Tong, who was understanding and gentle.

Xie Wenxu compared them in his mind.

However, he overlooked the fact that true lovers should be clingy and share everything with each other. What’s the point of being in a relationship if you don’t share anything?

Yan Tong’s expression with the phone in his hand became stiff.

Xie Wenxu’s praise didn’t make him happy at all. He was extremely anxious and fearful right now, and Xie Wenxu’s praise sounded like the voice of a demon demanding his life, piercing and painful.

He had reduced contact with Xie Wenxu before because he had to appease the Fang family and have them help him cheat in the college entrance exam. Naturally, he didn’t have time to pay attention to Xie Wenxu.

Yan Tong felt incredibly uncomfortable. However, he couldn’t deny Xie Wenxu’s congratulations and could only force a smile.

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After the college entrance examination, the students ushered in the summer vacation.

Before the release of the results, this was the final celebration for the high school seniors, especially for those who had expectations for their scores. They seized this time to let themselves loose.

However, this did not include Fang Ziyang. His time was too tight, and there was no room for waste.

After the exams, he devoted all his energy to the company, Dongsheng Pharmaceutical.

The acquisition had been handled by Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu’s families. Their main focus now was restructuring the company, eliminating all the problems within the company, stabilizing the employees, and consolidating the research department.

Only by cleaning up all these aspects could the subsequent operation of the company proceed smoothly. Otherwise, the prescription formulas he took to the company would eventually become someone else’s asset.

Fang Ziyang was very familiar with these aspects.

Although he didn’t have his own company in his previous life, he had worked so hard to seek revenge. He had managed companies, traded stocks, and even entered research departments… and more.

Therefore, consolidating a medium-sized company like Dongsheng Pharmaceutical was not difficult for him.

The only thing he needed to worry about was how to guide Zhao Jingyu and Zhou Jun. Unlike him, his two friends didn’t have the advantage of rebirth. They were genuine high school seniors, and even though they had accumulated some experience in managing a company at home, it would still be challenging for them to start on their own.

Fang Ziyang knew that his two friends were under a lot of pressure, but as the saying goes, pressure is the driving force, and a comfortable environment won’t foster outstanding abilities.

With the talent of Zhao Jingyu and Zhou Jun, he believed that they could persevere.

Teenagers who started their own businesses at the age of a few years old were not uncommon in their circle. If others could do it, why couldn’t they?

Moreover, they had the help and guidance of him, their fellow companion with a golden finger. If even with their assistance, the two of them couldn’t grow, then he wouldn’t dare involve them in his other plans in the future.

Although Zhao Jingyu and Zhou Jun were young and seemed unruly on the surface, their families were supportive.

With the guidance and support from their families, and seeing how hard Fang Ziyang was working, the two of them gritted their teeth and managed to withstand the pressure.

However, the two of them also keenly noticed something.

That was, Fang Ziyang’s diligent appearance didn’t seem like he was starting a business. He didn’t have the excitement and anticipation for a future career that they had.

In fact, they had noticed their friend change a couple of months ago. While he appeared lively and cheerful, there seemed to be a secret that he didn’t want anyone to touch deep inside his heart.

They were somewhat worried, but they didn’t dare to ask directly. They could only offer words of encouragement in their daily conversations and make sure that the tasks assigned by Fang Ziyang were done perfectly.

They could see that Fang Ziyang attached great importance to Dongsheng Pharmaceutical.

With the three of them working hard together, the company’s restructuring went smoothly, except for a minor issue with the appointment of a manager.

When Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu entered university, their main focus would be on studying. Their knowledge and experience were not enough to independently run a company.

On the other hand, Fang Ziyang was able to balance between school and the company.

However, he had a problem. He didn’t want Yan Tong to discover anything unusual about him at the moment. Although Yan Tong didn’t know about the prescription formulas in the golden finger, he was aware of the plot. If he showed any unusual behavior, it would attract attention and jeopardize his future plans.

He briefly explained the situation to Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu, omitting the part about the transmigration plot.

“So, Yan Tong and your father have been hounding you because of these secret formulas left by your grandfather? That guy is despicable! They should know their own weight and not bite off more than they can chew!”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jingyu slammed the table in anger.

Zhou Jun’s expression wasn’t good either.

Although it was common for wealthy individuals in their circle to seize ancestral secret formulas for business, if the target was their own friend, no one could remain calm.

Fang Ziyang patted the frustrated Zhao Jingyu and smiled.

“It’s alright. They covet what belongs to me, so they have to bear the consequences of my revenge. That’s why I can’t let Yan Tong know for now that I’m using these secret formulas. Let’s think of a solution together.”

Zhao Jingyu nodded, but he had a straightforward personality, and his mind wasn’t very cunning.

Zhou Jun held a cup of water and pondered for a moment before saying, “Ziyang, how about we have your brother invest in the company?”

“What do you mean?” Fang Ziyang actually had some ideas, but he wanted his two friends to be involved in the decision-making process. Otherwise, if he did everything and came up with all the ideas, what would his friends gain from it?

Zhou Jun, who was always scheming, smiled and said, “Brother Tang is a big shot in scientific research. If we have your brother’s involvement in our company, not only can it cover up the secret formulas you bring out, but you can also openly manage the company. Furthermore, the funding for our acquisition of Dongsheng Pharmaceutical will have a clear explanation…”

In simple terms, they would use Tang Xun’s identity as a cover. They would openly play the role of a pig to eat a tiger.

After all, everyone knew that Tang Xun had just reunited with his brother, and the elder brother doted on the younger one. It was perfectly reasonable for the elder brother to invest heavily and provide technology to establish a company for his younger brother. What’s so strange about that? Tang Xun was not lacking in money or technology. He was just a good brother who loved his younger sibling.

Zhao Jingyu’s eyes lit up, “That’s a great idea!”

“Okay, I’ll go talk to my brother.”

Fang Ziyang nodded in satisfaction. Zhou Jun’s suggestion resonated with him.

When Tang Xun came out of the laboratory, Fang Ziyang told him about using his identity for the company.

Tang Xun had no problem with this. He was supportive of his brother’s entrepreneurial endeavors, and his brother also took his feelings into consideration. Using his identity as a cover was not a big deal; it didn’t require much effort.

Although Fang Ziyang mentioned giving him a share, Tang Xun didn’t refuse but didn’t insist on it either. He just took out 1 billion yuan as an investment.

While Tang Xun cared about Fang Ziyang, it didn’t mean he would spoil him without limits. Indulging someone unconditionally would only ruin them. He still needed to hold Fang Ziyang accountable; otherwise, he would follow in their father’s footsteps of indulgence.

As for whether Fang Ziyang would suffer losses, Tang Xun wasn’t worried at all.

If he incurred losses, he could make money again, considering it as accumulating experience. If the venture succeeded, it would be the same. As his blood brother, Fang Ziyang wasn’t lacking in intelligence.

Xie Zheng and Rick also wanted to get involved in this matter.

Rick followed the principle of doing whatever Tang Tang did because he liked to join in the fun.

As for Xie Zheng, Fang Ziyang didn’t know what he was thinking. Recently, Fang Ziyang felt that Xie Zheng had been acting strangely. Xie Zheng wanted to meddle in everything Fang Ziyang did, even more so than his own brother.

Kind-hearted Xie Zheng was rejected again…

As a result, the employees of Xie Corporation once again welcomed a period of hellish workdays, facing the inexplicably low morale of their CEO.

…

Meanwhile, during the time when the high school students were waiting for their college entrance exam results, a frenzy erupted on the internet.

This time, the frenzy was not about rumors and gossip, but about a software called “Dreamscape.”

This software was released by a newly registered internet company.

Normally, it was difficult for newly registered internet companies to achieve much in a short period of time, especially in the field of technology. To produce good results in this field, one typically needed the research team of a large company.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Especially in the software industry, although people often said that the internet was constantly evolving, many so-called new software were just old wine in new bottles. It was difficult for small companies to have true innovations.

However, this time, the newly established Nova Tech Network Company released “Dreamscape,” leaving everyone astonished.

As soon as Dreamscape was launched, it was heavily advertised with grandiose claims. It was touted as a technological breakthrough of the era, the pinnacle of 22nd-century internet technology, and so on, making audacious statements that could offend people.

Initially, netizens were astounded by the shamelessness and exaggerated advertising. Even though everyone knew the ads were exaggerations, no small software company had ever dared to make such claims. How could a small software claim to be a technological breakthrough of the era or the pinnacle of 22nd-century internet technology? It was a slap in the face to those big tech companies.

As a result, netizens immediately started criticizing the software in the comments section of the download page.

But…

Several days later, when netizens were curious and had experienced this so-called revolutionary technology software for themselves, their attitudes made a complete 180-degree turn. They were amazed!

Originally, everyone thought the advertisements were exaggerated, but after using it, they realized why they dared to make such grand claims.

Dreamscape.

Just like its name, it was a lifestyle software that helped people sleep.

However, its greatest advantage was not just its effectiveness in improving sleep quality but its ability to weave dreams through soundwave stimulation!

Dreams had always been a mysterious existence that couldn’t be controlled. Even though some hypnotists and technological methods could influence the content of dreams through psychological suggestions, nobody dared to claim that they could directly weave dreams for people. It was simply unimaginable.

But Dreamscape accomplished it.

As long as you had enough money to recharge in the app, you could choose the dream scenes you wanted to experience in the dream section of the software. In the realm of spiritual dreams during sleep, you could experience all kinds of longed-for daydreams.

Undeniably, this incredible and magical software truly lived up to its claims of being a technological breakthrough of the era and the pinnacle of 22nd-century internet technology!

With such a mesmerizing and magical software, it quickly became popular across the internet in a short period of time. Its influence continued to spread, and Nova Tech Network Company became the new hot topic on the internet…

Without a doubt, the boss behind Nova Tech Network Company was none other than the previously silent Fang Yandong.

Fang Yandong had been in a great mood these past few days. The frustrations and setbacks he had faced were finally dissipating, and he no longer looked old and defeated. He had regained his youthful spirit.

In fact, Fang Yandong had long wanted to enter the technology industry.

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However, his lack of talent didn’t hinder Zhou Jiang’s love for mathematics. He had always been diligently studying mathematics-related knowledge.

He also frequently paid attention to and valued students with mathematical talents around him.

This time, he thought it would be the same as previous examinations, but Zhou Jiang didn’t expect that he would be so lucky to personally encounter a mathematical genius!

The college entrance examination finally came to an end.

Zhou Jiang could no longer contain his joy and excitement. He couldn’t help but share it in the WeChat group for invigilators.

Jiang City Invigilators WeChat group.

“Ah, finally, we can discuss now! Come on, everyone, come out quickly. I want to share a genius talent with you all!”

“What genius talent? Zhou, don’t be so dramatic all the time.”

“I’m interested. Zhou, hurry up and tell us. I’m sitting on the edge of my seat…”

“I’m here too, curious…”

Although the teachers in the group teased Zhou Jiang for his eccentric personality, gossiping is human nature, and everyone was curious about what could make Zhou Jiang so excited and lose his composure.

Within a few minutes, the group became lively.

Zhou Jiang didn’t beat around the bush and immediately shared the details of what happened during the invigilation.

“This is how it happened… That student was looking around, fidgeting in their seat. I thought something was wrong, so I went over with anger. But when I saw it, I was shocked!”

“Not only did that student finish the questions half an hour ahead of time, but their accuracy was also very high! At least among the questions I saw, I didn’t find a single wrong answer.”

“Oh, by the way, I was invigilating the mathematics exam. As you all know, although I’m not that talented in mathematics, I still have a hobby of studying it. I found that this student’s process of answering the mathematics questions was completely beyond the high school level.”

“And some of their approaches, I even had to write them down and consult experts to understand. They were extremely unconventional solving methods that even most ordinary university students might not come up with!”

“And according to the professor I consulted, one of the solving methods I showed him actually helped him make progress on a problem he was researching. The professor is now delighted and said that after the college entrance examination results are out, he wants to find this student specifically for a visit!”

“I want to make it clear: the professor I consulted is currently working at Tsinghua University…”

“You guys, isn’t this amazing? Isn’t this a genius?”

Zhou Jiang sent several messages in a row, each one catching everyone’s attention.

As teachers, they generally liked students with good academic performance. The word “genius” was just a term for the ordinary public, but in the eyes of teachers, it carried significant meaning.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Unfortunately, Zhou Jiang didn’t like browsing the internet for gossip. Although he had heard about the Fang family’s situation, he didn’t recognize Fang Ziyang in person. Otherwise, he would have mentioned his name directly.

Upon hearing Zhou Jiang’s words, everyone was full of curiosity.

To have gained the attention of a professor at Tsinghua University due to a solving method was indeed extraordinary, and it was not an exaggeration to describe the student as a genius.

But now they didn’t know the student’s name, so they only chatted for a while, except for Zhou Jiang, who was still enthusiastic.

Some invigilators couldn’t stand Zhou Jiang’s enthusiasm, so they started sharing their own observations.

“What’s so special about an exceptional student? It’s not like we haven’t encountered them before!”

“Alright, Zhou Jiang, you’ve said it enough times. Don’t be so excited as if we’ve never seen an outstanding student before. I also had one in my exam, for the Chinese language. They finished the paper half an hour ahead of time, and as far as I could tell, all their answers were correct. The paper was exceptionally well-presented, except for the essay which I can’t be certain of, but the other questions, this student must have gotten a perfect score! You know, it’s Chinese language…”

“Oh, hey, I also encountered one. I invigilated the physics exam. This student is also a promising talent. This year’s physics questions were extremely difficult, but the student in my exam room was quite impressive. Looks like they’re heading for a perfect score.”

“I don’t even need to mention English; getting a perfect score is easy. But the student I encountered used grammar so impeccably.”

“Ah, hearing all of you, it seems like we have quite a few exceptional students this year…”

“…”

The invigilators in the group started sharing their experiences, making the conversation lively.

Unbeknownst to them, a string of chat records was being created, with almost every subject having an estimated perfect score student…

Meanwhile.

Inside a duplex apartment in the city center of Jiang City.

Sun Zhi, in a state of collapse, held his head in despair and tremblingly dialed a phone number.

“Hello, Mr. Fang, it’s wrong, I made a mistake. What do we do now? The examination numbers got mixed up…”

Sun Zhi’s voice was filled with extreme panic, and his expression was on the verge of tears.

He never expected that what was supposed to be a flawless plan would end up like this due to a slight oversight.

Sun Zhi was the director of the H Province Education Bureau and had been in his position for many years. Normally, retiring and enjoying his old age would be enviable to most people. But for Sun Zhi, retirement was not a good thing.

After retiring, he would indeed have a more relaxed life, but it also meant losing his former authority. Even if he still had some face in the future, who would pay attention to an old retired man when it came to important matters?

Moreover, he had a mistress and an illegitimate child to support. After retirement, his financial situation would be tight!

A few days ago, several wealthy second-generation individuals had caught hold of his weakness and tried to threaten and bribe him for leaking exam questions.

Although he was angry and scared, the temptation of a large sum of money made him consider it. But he hesitated, afraid of getting into trouble.

Until Fang Yandong approached him. Not only did Fang Yandong help him deal with those wealthy second-generation individuals who were threatening him, but he also gave him a large sum of money. And all Sun Zhi had to do was help with switching the examination number of another student.

Although it was still risky, as Fang Yandong said, switching examination numbers was much less dangerous than leaking exam questions to those wealthy individuals.

Leaking exam questions would definitely be exposed, but with the examination number switch, he could easily deflect any suspicion by claiming that the numbers were mistakenly assigned. Even if the issue was discovered now, the ultimate consequences wouldn’t be significant.

Sun Zhi needed money and thought that since he would retire soon and wouldn’t have another opportunity, he agreed to do it…

But who knew?

He had made the switch with no problem at that time, but now, when he checked, he realized that he had made a mistake!

He was supposed to switch the examination number of a student named Liu Jia, but somehow it ended up being switched with Fang Ziyang!

Sun Zhi was on the verge of tears.

“Mr. Fang, what do we do now? I was very careful at that time, but somehow, the numbers got mixed up. I didn’t switch it with Liu Jia; it got switched with Fang Ziyang, your own son.”

To switch with a stranger would be manageable, but to switch with Fang Ziyang… it was a disaster.

Upon hearing this phone call, Fang Yandong felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his voice raising in intensity.

“How could this happen? How did it end up being Fang Ziyang? What exactly happened?”

Sun Zhi had no idea what had happened.

When he operated the computer, he clearly switched it with Liu Jia. How could it have ended up as Fang Ziyang? Did his eyes play tricks on him? Or was he under some sort of spell?

At this point, Sun Zhi was in complete disarray, panicking.

“I don’t know what happened. All I know is that it got mixed up. Mr. Fang, now is not the time to dwell on this; please think of a solution quickly. I don’t want to go to jail…”

“It’s not like before; now the results are directly posted online, and they can be checked using the admission ticket. Fang Ziyang’s name is completely different from Liu Jia’s. They will discover it on the spot! “

If the names were the same, someone who was a bit careless might not notice and simply take the result and leave without thinking.

But with it being switched to Fang Ziyang, it was different! When the results were out, they would check with their examination numbers, and upon seeing the name, it would be obvious that it wasn’t their own. They would be exposed on the spot!

Sun Zhi was becoming incoherent. “Mr. Fang, should… should I switch the examination numbers back now?”

As a result, Fang Yandong almost coughed up blood upon hearing this.

“What good would it do to switch it back now? The examination numbers have already been released and the exams are over. If you switch it back now, it would be blatantly suspicious! Even if it’s discovered now, you can still claim that the numbers were mixed up. Switching them back now would only raise more suspicion…”

“Am I supposed to just wait for the incident to happen and then explain that the examination number was mistaken? How can I explain the huge difference in names?”

Sun Zhi was truly panicking.

“Mr. Fang, it’s not about whether we can explain it now; it’s about ensuring that this matter doesn’t come to light. Don’t forget, your son has a grudge with Yan Tong, and ‘Liu Jia’ is Yan Tong. How can your son not become suspicious when the time comes?”

On the other end of the phone, Fang Yandong’s face also turned pale.

Sun Zhi was right. Regardless of whether they could explain the issue with the switched examination numbers, this matter couldn’t be known by his son.

If they wanted to keep this incident hidden, there was only one path they could choose now.

… Then let’s just directly change the name associated with the examination number in the system!

Fang Yandong wiped his face and took a deep breath.

“Mr. Sun, calm down and listen to me. If we want to keep this matter hidden, the only option we have is to cover up the mistake. You go directly into the system and change the name associated with the examination number. Then, when entering the scores for the exam papers, manipulate the process… Although it’s quite difficult and risky, it’s the only way.”

“The difference between Fang Ziyang and Yan Tong’s scores isn’t significant. When Fang Ziyang checks his results, as long as the name is correct, he won’t suspect anything.”

“As long as they don’t discover the problem on their end, who would bother to take out two ordinary papers and examine them again after the college entrance examination is over? Then, be careful to remove any traces, and even if they investigate in the future, they won’t find anything…”

“Can this really work?” Sun Zhi felt worried and thought it was too unreliable. The level of danger was similar to leaking exam questions.

“What else can we do if it doesn’t work? Do you have any better solutions in such a short amount of time?”

Fang Yandong rubbed his temples.

He knew that this method had its risks, but there was no other way at the moment.

Sun Zhi also realized this and reluctantly hung up the phone.

After all, who would pay attention to two ordinary scores? As long as there are no issues when Fang Ziyang checks his results, it should be fine.

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In the tense and passionate atmosphere, this year’s college entrance examination finally arrived.

Every year, the college entrance examination is a crucial turning point in the lives of high school seniors across the country. It carries the earnest expectations of countless families. In order to ensure a smooth and successful examination for the students, the country actively mobilizes various resources and provides convenience. Parents spare no effort to take time off from work to accompany their children during this important moment.

Fang Ziyang also became one of the students eagerly anticipated in this regard.

Tang Xun specifically set aside his work in the laboratory and took time off to accompany Fang Ziyang during the examination. Of course, where Tang Xun goes, Rick, the follower, cannot be far behind.

And then… there was Xie Zheng!

This busy man, Xie Zheng, actually came along, claiming that he wanted to experience the atmosphere of the college entrance examination in China.

Fang Ziyang didn’t know what to say.

If we say he was touched, then naturally he was deeply moved. In his previous life, he went through the college entrance examination alone, feeling lost and hiding away. After all, the aftermath of the viral video was still lingering, and he was in a situation where everyone was insulting him.

Now that someone cares and accompanies him, although he feels a bit embarrassed, he also enjoys it.

But if we say he was speechless, that’s also true. It’s fine that Tang Xun came, even Rick, the follower, showing up can be accepted, but why did Xie Zheng have to join in the fun?

Although Xie Zheng’s reason seems reasonable, as he indeed directly entered the university due to certain special circumstances without participating in the formal college entrance examination, it seems plausible to want to experience the atmosphere. However, there’s still a feeling that something is off.

When did Xie Zheng, who is occupied with numerous responsibilities and has an imposing presence, have such leisure?

However, regardless of what Fang Ziyang thinks, the fact remains that the three “father figures” are determined to accompany him during the examination. In the eyes of Tang Xun and the others, he is a child who needs to be taken care of…

Fortunately, Tang Xun and Xie Zheng’s identities were too eye-catching.

To avoid causing any sensational impact, the three of them could only drive the car to the intersection and watch Fang Ziyang leave.

The school where Fang Ziyang’s examination center was located was very good, with an excellent environment.

Although Fang Ziyang had been very low-key in his actions, when he appeared in front of everyone, it still attracted attention.

There was no way around it. In just over two months, he had caused so many incidents, and each one was more shocking than the last. Now that Tang Xun’s identity as his biological brother had been revealed, it made him even more conspicuous.

Frankly speaking, his recent online popularity was even better than that of most B-list celebrities.

During this period, celebrities and internet celebrities were anxious about buying hot searches, fearing that they would collide with rumors about the Fang family and waste their money. Once the rumors about the Fang family came out, it was a complete “scene-stealer.”

However, ordinary people’s attitudes towards him were still very friendly.

Setting aside the fact that he was Tang Xun’s biological brother, just the things he had experienced in the Fang family were enough to arouse sympathy and regret. Especially for the older aunties and grandpas, they felt the most pity. If this had happened to their own grandchildren, they would have been so angry that they would have crawled out of their coffins.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Because Fang Ziyang was now receiving attention, but it was all goodwill.

Even in the examination room, some bold students came up to talk to him out of curiosity.

Qian Xiaoxiao was one of the people who struck up a conversation.

Qian Xiaoxiao had a very outgoing and generous personality. She was also a girl who frequently appeared online and was addicted to the internet. Her biggest hobby was reading all kinds of celebrity gossip and scandals. She was like fresh blood and a promising successor to be an entertainment journalist.

So when it came to online gossip, she knew them all. She had been following the news about Fang Ziyang from beginning to end. She started by joining everyone in hating him, then she was shocked and guilty, and later sympathetic and concerned. Now, she was even a fan.

Qian Xiaoxiao felt that Fang Ziyang’s incredibly confident and powerful response when faced with difficulties was simply awesome!

And isn’t Fang Ziyang good-looking? Why didn’t anyone notice before? It’s really strange.

So when Qian Xiaoxiao discovered that Fang Ziyang was in the same examination room as her, she couldn’t be more excited. She was the first one to come up and talk to him, kindly reminding him to double-check his pencils, ballpoint pens, and admission ticket.

Furthermore, knowing that Fang Ziyang seemed to have some trouble with his grades in school, she comforted him sincerely, “I heard that this year’s college entrance examination questions are a bit difficult. If you encounter something you don’t know, don’t worry, the mindset is very important in the college entrance examination. Write what you can first and take your time to think about what you don’t know. Just do your best and don’t put too much pressure on yourself…”

Fang Ziyang had made remarkable progress in his school’s mock exams recently, but that information hadn’t spread yet, so in most people’s minds, he was still an underachiever.

Other students also nodded and agreed,

“That’s right, I heard this year’s questions are really tough. I’ve even prepared to repeat the year, haha. But no matter how difficult it is, we should still give it a try. It’s a test of our mentality. Even if we have to repeat the year, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

“But that’s for us ordinary students. Fang Ziyang, you look so handsome. I think you should go into the entertainment industry as a star! I’ll definitely become your fan. Or you can become a pianist in the future. I’ve seen your resume, and I heard you’re really good at playing the piano…”

Indeed, he played the piano very well. Fang Yandong didn’t like that he was good at studying, but he was very supportive of cultivating his talents.

Well, it doesn’t matter if he excels in playing the piano or dancing.

Facing these friendly students, Fang Ziyang politely accepted their comments one by one, but he didn’t necessarily agree with them.

“Thank you. When I left home, my brother also told me to maintain a good mindset. Actually, my mindset is very good, and I am very confident. Maybe I will be the dark horse of this year’s college entrance examination.”

Fang Ziyang spoke with great confidence.

But the others thought he was joking and didn’t want to discourage him, so they laughed and said, “Haha, as long as you have confidence.”

Fang Ziyang was very proud, “Of course. In the past, my grades were not good, but that was just because I was lazy and didn’t want to do well. In reality, I am a top student. My mother’s family often produces highly intelligent talents, and my brother is amazing. In fact, I’m not bad either…”

“Really?”

Seeing his confident and boastful tone, everyone was a little curious.

“Really, I made a deal with my brother. If I can rank in the top ten in the province in this college entrance examination, my brother will take me to visit his laboratory during the summer vacation.”

Fang Ziyang appeared very confident.

Previously, everyone thought he was being flamboyant, arrogant, and showing off.

But now, everyone felt that this was confidence.

With Fang Ziyang’s family background, he should indeed be proud and radiate brilliance.

What’s wrong with showing off? With Fang Ziyang’s family background, shouldn’t he show off? This is a normal expression for an eighteen-year-old, a young person who is somewhat proud and vain.

If they had Fang Ziyang’s family background, they would probably be even more flamboyant and proud than Fang Ziyang.

So, what were people online criticizing before? It’s simply inexplicable.

Although they didn’t take Fang Ziyang’s words about entering the top ten seriously, his confidence and approachability left a deep impression on the students in the same examination room. They felt that rumors were indeed unreliable, and Fang Ziyang was actually a very friendly and cheerful person to get along with.

After a brief rest and conversation with each other.

As the exam time approached, everyone quickly returned to their seats. When the bell rang, they prepared for the exam, and the invigilators distributed the exam papers.

The first subject to be tested was Chinese language.

When Fang Ziyang received the test paper, he quickly glanced through the questions.

Although he couldn’t remember many of the questions from his previous life’s examination, he had a general idea. However, when he looked at the essay topic in Chinese, it was indeed the same as the topic from his previous life, without any changes. His direction of review during this period was also correct.

After quickly browsing through the test paper, Fang Ziyang mentally prepared himself before starting to answer the questions.

Originally, he didn’t plan to attract too much attention in this college entrance examination. He only wanted to score above the admission cutoff of the school he wanted to attend. After all, having experienced rebirth, he still remembered the admission scores of several top universities from his previous life, so answering the questions within the limits was not a problem.

He didn’t want to be too high-profile in the short term.

But he didn’t expect Fang Yandong and his cronies to be so malicious, coming up with the plan to switch examination numbers. If he didn’t seize this opportunity to take action, he would be letting himself down and letting down the targeted examinee.

Since Yan Tong wanted high scores so badly, he would fulfill his wish.

Fang Ziyang pursed his lips and brought out all his abilities to answer the questions quickly and accurately.

It was not easy to get a perfect score in the Chinese language exam, but with his current abilities, getting a high score was more than enough.

The two and a half hours of exam time were very relaxed for him. After confirming that his paper had no issues, he deliberately showed some actions at his seat to attract the attention of the invigilators.

Initially, the invigilators were unhappy with his actions, thinking that he was an unruly student.

But after coming over to check his answers on the test paper, they were astonished. Fang Ziyang had not only completed all the questions while other students were still struggling, but his paper was neat and his accuracy was very high!

At least among the questions the invigilator had looked at, he hadn’t found a single wrong answer.

Immediately, the invigilator’s expression changed when looking at Fang Ziyang. The invigilator remembered him vividly and planned to share this exceptional talent with the other invigilators later…

In the afternoon, it was the mathematics exam.

Fang Ziyang felt even more relaxed. High school mathematics was now as easy as doing elementary school exercises for him. Getting a perfect score in mathematics was something he anticipated.

However, in order to make Yan Tong more “famous,” he used some creative approaches while answering the questions. The methods and processes he used were quite uncommon and something that ordinary students wouldn’t be able to come up with.

He also added some “little surprises” to his mathematics paper, believing that it would definitely attract widespread attention.

Likewise, after finishing the paper, he made some movements to attract the invigilators again.

And once again, he left a deep impression on them…

For the remaining subjects over the next two days, Fang Ziyang followed the same pattern.

By the time the college entrance examination finally ended, the invigilators in Jiang City were already buzzing about the commotion caused by him.

Zhou Jiang was a teacher at Jiang City No. 3 High School.

Although he taught Chinese, he was also very good at mathematics and occasionally substituted for the mathematics teachers. If it weren’t for his limited talent, he would definitely have become a mathematics teacher instead of a Chinese teacher.

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In the original storyline, Fang Yandong’s initial interest in Yan Tong was based on not knowing about his capabilities.

From the initial acquaintance to familiarity, in the original plot, Yan Tong was portrayed as a positive and beautiful character in Fang Yandong’s eyes, and there was no “recognized kinship” twist. So it was normal for Fang Yandong to develop a liking for a kind, beautiful, and talented young man like Yan Tong before he knew the “true identity.”

But now, Fang Yandong already saw Yan Tong as his “son” from the beginning, and Yan Tong left a very different impression on him.

Therefore, as shrewd as Fang Yandong, it was impossible for him to develop any liking for Yan Tong, not even a favorable impression.

Even if Yan Tong provided him with information that could help him turn the tables, it couldn’t change his impression and thoughts.

In his view, his son having such foolish thoughts was most likely instigated by Yan Tong! After all, Yan Tong was the one who stood to benefit, right?

But Fang Qianhao was completely infatuated.

“No, Dad, this is my own idea…” Fang Qianhao couldn’t allow his father to misunderstand his feelings for the person he liked and quickly explained.

“Xiao Tong wants to enter the entertainment industry as an actor, and you know how complicated that circle is. Even with talent and connections, it’s not easy to make a breakthrough. But if Xiao Tong can go to a prestigious university, that educational background will definitely attract fans.”

“Dad, I know it’s risky, but Xiao Tong wants to study art. We just need to make sure he achieves the admission score for the prestigious university.”

“And besides, Wang Zuyao and the others have something on the director of the Education Bureau, so it’s safe…”

For the sake of the person he liked, Fang Qianhao was willing to endure. In the past, if his father had slapped him, he would have argued back, but now he remained silent.

Although he had some grievances against his father these days, he still understood that he relied on his father, especially now that he had lost all his shares and inheritance. If he completely lost his father’s favor, he would be nothing.

But his explanation didn’t help.

After hearing Fang Qianhao’s explanation, Fang Yandong became even more furious. He almost wanted to crack open his son’s head and see if he had a brain or a pig’s brain.

Wasn’t it instigated by Yan Tong? Or was it his own idea? It was obvious that Fang Qianhao didn’t even realize that he was being used!

Even though he had been deceived by Zheng Yaxue in the past, he didn’t have the same level of infatuation as his eldest son. Even though he made some mistakes because of Zheng Yaxue, he always kept his hands clean and didn’t leave any fatal evidence.

But his eldest son was simply too foolish.

Fang Yandong no longer wanted to lecture his eldest son; it would be pointless. He had seen through his eldest son. He was nothing but a useless thing, or else he wouldn’t have repeatedly messed things up despite his careful teachings over the years.

“Enough, I understand this matter. I’ll handle it, and you’re not allowed to intervene!”

Fang Yandong believed it would be safer for him to personally take action. He had no confidence in his eldest son’s abilities.

Fang Qianhao showed a look of joy. “Dad, does that mean you agree to help Xiao Tong?”

“Help? Why wouldn’t I help?”

Fang Yandong smiled with a meaningful look.

Although he had no good impression of Yan Tong, since Yan Tong could provide him with information to turn the tide, didn’t that mean there were still good things in his possession?

He could tell that when Yan Tong gave him the information, he didn’t show any hesitation or reluctance.

Based on this behavior, Yan Tong wasn’t the former type.

Since Yan Tong wanted to go to a prestigious university, Fang Yandong would help him as long as he paid a sufficient price. Thinking of using his foolish son as a pawn for nothing but gain was wishful thinking.

Fang Yandong had a plan in mind.

But Fang Qianhao was still worried without clear confirmation.

“Dad, how do you plan to do it? Are you going to use connections or continue with Sun Ju’s approach?”

As a result, Fang Yandong slapped him again. “Foolish! Fang Qianhao, are you trying to kill me? If you want to die, don’t involve me!”

“Use connections? Do you really think our Fang family is that capable? If we could use connections, why would I need to get you into Tsinghua University and Nanda University? You dare to get involved in Wang jiaojiao’s brainless business, don’t you value your life?”

Another slap followed.

Fang Qianhao felt intense hatred in his heart. “But if we don’t use Sun Ju’s approach, how can this be done? It won’t work if we try to change the scores by cheating.”

“Why cheat and change scores? Let Yan Tong take the exam honestly.”

“What?” Fang Qianhao didn’t understand.

Fang Yandong was annoyed by his son’s foolish expression but had to explain to prevent his son from impulsively doing something bad.

“Do you think the government is a pushover? Leaking exam questions, cheating, and changing scores—no matter which one is exposed, it won’t end well, and the risks are enormous! If it’s discovered, our family will pay the price for it.”

“Find someone with a similar name and good grades as Yan Tong, and exchange exam numbers. If it’s not discovered, Yan Tong will have ‘high scores.’ If it’s discovered, at most, Sun Ju can say it was an error in issuing exam numbers, and the scores can be changed back. There won’t be any major problems.”

“Find someone suitable if you can, and if you can’t, let Yan Tong change his name. After all, he’s not aiming for the top scorer; he’s just an ordinary student who meets the admission score. He won’t attract too much attention.”

A gleam of light flashed in Fang Yandong’s eyes.

No matter what they did, having clean hands in everything was the way to survive in the long run.

Fang Qianhao showed a pleased expression.

Finally, he could set his mind at ease.

…

That night, Fang Yandong went alone to Yan Tong’s room and stayed for half an hour, aggressively extorting him before leaving.

As for Yan Tong, he was left in the room with an unpleasant expression, smashing things around, feeling angry and hurt.

…

Because he had made preparations and kept an eye on things.

Although Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang had returned to their hometown, Fang Ziyang still quickly received information about the Fang family’s villa.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

When he learned about Fang Qianhao and Fang Yandong’s actions.

It was within Fang Ziyang’s expectations, but also beyond his expectations.

As expected, it was true that he had suspected Yan Tong of cheating in his past life. His intuition was indeed correct. How could Yan Tong possibly get into a prestigious university like Tsinghua University? It was simply a joke.

But what he didn’t expect was…

He didn’t expect Fang Yandong to come up with such a sinister plan. It was even more excessive than when Fang Qianhao leaked the exam questions to Yan Tong!

At least leaking exam questions was unfair to other candidates.

But changing exam numbers… that was pure destruction of another student’s future!

The college entrance examination was almost a turning point in everyone’s life, especially for students from ordinary families.

These people…

They always exceeded his imagination.

Fang Ziyang looked expressionless as he looked at the messages coming from the Fang family. He hadn’t slept the whole night.

That night, he thought a lot.

The next morning, he put down his review notes, opened his computer again, and personally monitored Fang Yandong and Fang Qianhao’s online activities without rest.

At the same time, he contacted a reliable private detective to monitor their real-life activities.

It wasn’t until Fang Yandong’s plan regarding the exam numbers was finalized, a candidate was chosen, and the swap was successfully completed that Fang Ziyang changed his clothes and left the house.

…

Liu Jia was an ordinary student at Jiangshi Experimental High School.

He had an average appearance, came from an ordinary family, and was even from a rural area.

However, unlike his average appearance and family background, his academic performance was very good.

Although he couldn’t reach the top of his grade, he could always enter the top ten in the school’s mock exams. For a student from a resource-poor rural area to achieve such results in a decently ranked urban high school was already impressive.

According to the teachers’ assessment, as long as Liu Jia maintained a stable mindset during the college entrance examination and put in a little more effort when it mattered, he would surely meet the admission score for prestigious universities like Tsinghua University and Nanda University.

Liu Jia was delighted with this assessment and was full of confidence.

He was one of the few people in his village who excelled in academics. His parents worked tirelessly on construction sites year-round to support his education. He was determined to get into a good university to make his family happy and to prove wrong those who always said that studying was pointless and advised him to go work outside. They needed a reality check.

Today, the school distributed the admission tickets.

Liu Jia received his ticket and happily examined it for a while before putting it in his bag. He was ready to go home, rest well, and prepare for the exam.

But as soon as he walked out of the school gate, he was very unlucky and had a bottle of unfinished beverage splashed all over him by a passing sports car.

Liu Jia felt quite unlucky.

However, the owner of the sports car didn’t seem like the arrogant rich second generation from TV dramas.

As soon as he noticed the situation, the sports car immediately stopped, and a boy around Liu Jia’s age came out of the car. Seeing Liu Jia’s sorry state, the boy immediately showed a worried expression and apologized.

“Ah, your clothes are all wet? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. Are you okay, little brother? It’s really my fault for not paying attention while driving…”

Liu Jia had a gentle personality, the kind of person who was always kind-hearted.

Although he felt unlucky to have his clothes soaked, seeing that the owner of the car was a boy similar to his age, good-looking, and polite, he didn’t feel like getting angry.

He quickly shook his head, “It’s okay, I’ll go home and wash up.”

But the good-looking boy seemed quite embarrassed.

“Why is it okay? Your clothes are all dirty. How about you come with me to my house and clean up? I’ll compensate you for a new set of clothes. Otherwise, I won’t be able to get over it. I’m really sorry.”

“Come, let’s go. My house is nearby, it won’t take up too much of your time. It’s all my fault, I apologize…”

The good-looking boy was too enthusiastic.

Liu Jia was somewhat introverted and shy, and before he could think of how to refuse, he was pulled into the car and ended up going to the boy’s house, taking a shower, and having dinner before returning home in a daze.

At the same time.

Yan Tong, who had just received his admission ticket from school, also encountered a similar situation.

…

That night, Fang Ziyang smiled lightly as he looked at the three admission tickets in his hand.

Since Yan Tong wanted to get into a prestigious university so badly, then he would give him a starring role.

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He would replace Fang Ziyang and become the new protagonist of this world, the most dazzling figure of the century…

But now, with Fang Ziyang’s sudden improvement in grades right before the college entrance examination, what did it mean?

It meant that even after wasting three years, Fang Ziyang hadn’t become someone who would ultimately meet a tragic fate!

It meant that Fang Ziyang might shine in the college entrance examination, just like in the book, and enter one of the top universities in Huaguo!

It meant that Fang Ziyang would soar high from this point on!

In Yan Tong’s memory, Fang Ziyang had achieved good results in this year’s college entrance examination, successfully entering a prestigious university and becoming a talented and diligent student admired by the professors. He would engage in various research and gradually become more brilliant…

Although Yan Tong now possessed the golden finger, he still worried.

After all, he could strip Fang Ziyang of all his external advantages, but there was one thing he couldn’t take away—the innate intelligence and research talent of Fang Ziyang.

That’s why he spent three years calculating against Fang Ziyang, preventing him from having friends to comfort and encourage him and sabotaging his studies at school.

However, in the end, he underestimated Fang Ziyang. Everything he had done was in vain.

“No, I need to think of a solution!”

Yan Tong felt anxious and resentful.

He had completely offended Fang Ziyang, so he absolutely couldn’t let Fang Ziyang make a comeback. Even if Fang Ziyang didn’t retaliate against him, he couldn’t bear to see Fang Ziyang standing taller and shining brighter than him.

But he couldn’t stop Fang Ziyang from performing well in the college entrance examination or encountering any accidents with Tang Xun’s protection. He could only watch helplessly.

Therefore, the only solution left was for him to enter the same university as Fang Ziyang and find a way to deal with him once they were in college.

Otherwise, once Fang Ziyang was out of his sight, everything he wanted to do would become more challenging. Just like now, with Fang Ziyang leaving the Fang family, no matter how much he wanted to exert his influence, he couldn’t. It was frustrating.

But Fang Ziyang had such strong abilities, and the university he would enter would definitely not be ordinary—it would be one of the top universities.

And with his own grades, it was a pipe dream to enter a prestigious university. It was already challenging enough to get into a decent university. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken the risk and come to the Fang family, hoping that they would provide him with some backdoor opportunities.

However, the Fang family did have the ability to send him to a good university, but they didn’t have the ability to send him to a prestigious one. The backdoor to prestigious universities wasn’t so easy to open!

Yan Tong felt suffocated.

In the end, he had no power of his own, and he couldn’t possibly seek help from Xie Wenxu. Using Xie Wenxu’s influence for such a trivial matter would be a waste of his capabilities. After thinking it over, he could only turn to Fang Yandong and Fang Qianhao for help.

Although he was no longer the son of the Fang family, he had just given Fang Yandong the information that could help him turn the tables. Fang Yandong wouldn’t use him up and discard him, right?

Even if Fang Yandong was heartless, Fang Qianhao wouldn’t stand idly by while he was feeling “heartbroken.”

…

With this mindset, Yan Tong eventually discussed his desire to attend a prestigious university with Fang Qianhao.

But Yan Tong didn’t speak completely without considering the practicality and made random suggestions.

Naturally, he couldn’t directly tell Fang Qianhao that he wanted to cheat and take the backdoor to a prestigious university—it would be too foolish. Even if Fang Qianhao was foolishly in love, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to be a stepping stone for Yan Tong.

So, Fang Qianhao successfully “accidentally” overheard Yan Tong, who was heartbroken and wanted to attend a prestigious university but didn’t have the grades to do so…

Faced with Yan Tong’s dilemma, Fang Qianhao didn’t know what to do.

Although he liked Yan Tong very much, he had to admit that his beloved person’s grades were average. It was a fact that with Yan Tong’s grades, attending a prestigious university was a far-fetched idea. It would be enough if he could attend a good university with the help of the Fang family.

But he couldn’t say something like that and hurt Yan Tong’s pride. So, after thinking it over, he chose to comfort him.

Fang Qianhao gently persuaded him, “Xiao Tong, it doesn’t matter whether you go to a prestigious university or not if you plan to study art. In fact, prestigious universities focus more on practical disciplines, and arts and music programs like the one you’re interested in are better outside… So instead of going to Qingda or Nanda and the like, it’s better to go to a university that specializes in arts. With my father’s help, you can choose any domestic art school you want, and we can even find a way for you to study abroad.”

Although he didn’t want to undermine the person he liked, Fang Qianhao truly felt that Yan Tong was aiming too high.

Yan Tong actually wanted to go to top-tier universities like Qingda and Nanda. It seemed like he was overthinking it.

Yan Tong knew it would be difficult to achieve his goal, but he couldn’t just sit back and watch Fang Ziyang shine beyond his reach! He was well aware of Fang Ziyang’s capabilities. Once Fang Ziyang had time to grow, he would be finished!

So even though he could see the unspoken words in Fang Qianhao’s eyes, Yan Tong had to pluck up the courage to speak.

“Brother Qianhao, I-I don’t really want to go to Qingda. I just want to attend a better-known university. I plan to enter the entertainment industry as an actor, and having a good educational background and resume would attract more fans…”

“But don’t worry, Brother Qianhao, I know my own grades. It’s just a thought, a way to motivate myself. It would be even better if I could perform exceptionally well during the exams.”

Yan Tong raised his hand into a fist, making a gesture as if he would work hard and strive. He appeared strong and inspirational, but his smile seemed forced and disappointed, causing others to feel a pang of sympathy and a desire to protect him.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Fang Qianhao was a very proud person, and he couldn’t stand this kind of situation.

With hesitation in his tone, he asked, “You want to become an actor?”

Not just an actor, a celebrity! Who would want to work hard just acting in movies? The key was to become a highly anticipated idol star.

Yan Tong rolled his eyes internally but put on a shy, aspiring smile.

“Yes, I want to become an actor. It’s my dream. This profession allows me to experience different lives and is full of colorful experiences. But…”

At this point, Yan Tong’s expression turned gloomy.

“But the entertainment industry is tough these days, as you should know, Brother Qianhao. It’s not easy for a simple actor to make it big, even if they have talent and connections. So I thought that if I had a good educational background, I would definitely attract fans more easily. That would make my path smoother.”

This excuse seemed reasonable and logical.

However, it depended on the condition that Yan Tong didn’t have Xie Wenxu as a pursuit. With Xie Wenxu’s influence, Yan Tong’s “acting skills,” and his own background, why worry about struggling in the entertainment industry? He would have more advantages than most people!

But Fang Qianhao clearly overlooked these factors.

In his eyes, Yan Tong only liked him, and he couldn’t accept Xie Wenxu. Xie Wenxu was just a passerby and couldn’t even be considered a rival. Why would he think about Xie Wenxu?

So when he heard Yan Tong’s words, he hesitated.

Afterward, Fang Qianhao struggled with whether to help or not.

Rationally, he knew that he couldn’t assist Yan Tong. If he did, it meant helping him cheat because the Fang family didn’t have the capability to open backdoors to prestigious universities. If Yan Tong wanted to attend a prestigious university, he had to rely on his own exam results.

There were ways to cheat, though. Recently, there was a rich second generation in their circle discussing bribing the director of the H Province Education Bureau.

However, in doing so, Fang Qianhao felt like he would be personally tarnishing the halo around Yan Tong in his heart. Moreover, for someone with consistently excellent grades like himself, he looked down on cheaters.

But emotionally…

Seeing the person he liked feeling upset, he couldn’t help but feel distressed…

Fang Qianhao was in a state of great dilemma and wavering.

And how could Yan Tong just watch him hesitate?

So, within a few days, unable to stand by and watch his beloved person suffer, Fang Qianhao decided to help the person he liked.

After all, Xiao Tong only wanted to study art, and the prestigious university label was enough. Even if he got in, he wouldn’t expose any flaws, and art majors didn’t emphasize grades much. It should be fine, right?

At this moment, Fang Qianhao was still too young and naive in his thinking.

And all his actions were now under the watchful eye of Fang Yandong. How could he not notice?

Therefore, when Fang Yandong discovered Fang Qianhao’s absurd and audacious plan, he was almost infuriated.

He scolded his good son with a slap as soon as he came home.

“You idiot! You absolute idiot!”

Fang Yandong hadn’t been this angry for many days.

But today, he couldn’t control his temper, and his anger surged.

How could Fang Qianhao, this idiot, even think about bribing the director of the Education Bureau to help Yan Tong cheat?

Damn it, how could he have such a naive and foolish son!

Was it because Zheng Yaxue, that despicable woman, had tainted his genes? Otherwise, why was Tang Xun so outstanding? Why was Fang Ziyang deliberately raised as a waste but still intelligent? Why was Fang Qianhao repeatedly acting so foolish?

Didn’t this idiot realize how much importance the government placed on education? Didn’t he know what the college entrance examination meant in their country?

If this kind of thing was so easy to do, then there wouldn’t be countless people in their circle worrying about their children’s education. There wouldn’t be so many high achievers from top-tier universities in their circle.

…

“You brainless fool! Did Yan Tong instigate you to do this?”

After venting his anger, Fang Yandong began questioning with a dark expression.

He wasn’t like Fang Qianhao and the other hot-headed young people. He had passed the age of impulsiveness, had been through years of social experience, and had been the chairman of the Fang Group’s shareholders’ meeting. Naturally, he had a good judgment of people.

When he first noticed Yan Tong due to the viral video, he already had a negative impression of him. He knew that Yan Tong was definitely a calculating person.

Later, when Yan Tong volunteered to help him regain Fang Ziyang’s shares and inheritance from Fang Ziyang’s hands and even offered to marry into the Xie family on behalf of his younger son, it further proved his opinion.

Therefore, Yan Tong’s seemingly gentle and harmless exterior might deceive Fang Qianhao and Xie Wenxu, but it absolutely wouldn’t fool him.

Moreover…

That’s how Zheng Yaxue deceived him!

Seeing Yan Tong’s kind and vulnerable appearance made him think of that despicable woman!

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Xie Zheng is actually a person with high IQ but low EQ.

Moreover, due to the factor of being a lone star, Xie Zheng has grown up without any emotional experience. It’s not an exaggeration to say that even an elementary school student would probably be better at pursuing romantic relationships than him.

Therefore, Xie Zheng is completely unaware of the changes that have occurred in his so-called “youngster” mentality towards Fang Ziyang.

In his view, he now realizes that Fang Ziyang is different from what he imagined. He is actually a very “naive and straightforward” kid, so it’s normal for him to develop a fondness.

Besides, Fang Ziyang is Tang Xun’s younger brother, and since Tang Xun is currently busy with work at the laboratory, what’s wrong with Xie Zheng taking care of his younger brother?

Moreover, Fang Ziyang is also his secret admirer.

Although he hasn’t decided whether or not to develop a relationship with Fang Ziyang, how could he harden his heart towards someone who likes him so sincerely?

At the very least, it’s alright to treat him nicely. After all, the young man doesn’t know that Xie Zheng is the owner of the ring, so it won’t cause any misunderstandings.

So, to sum it up:

Xie Zheng doesn’t think there’s anything strange about his current behavior. He even experiences significant changes in his mood based on a single sentence from Fang Ziyang. He simply sees him as a likable “junior” and thinks it’s okay to treat Fang Ziyang well because he finds him appealing.

After posting on social media, he resumed his usual serious appearance in the car.

However, his action of taking out his phone and tapping on it completely betrayed his inner thoughts. When he saw the rapid appearance of likes, praises, and comments in his post, he felt very happy.

He used to not understand why so many people liked to post silly photos on social media, but now he finally understands.

The feeling of receiving likes and praise seems quite enjoyable.

Of course… it would be even better if the young man he specifically mentioned left a comment. Xie Zheng wondered when the young man would see it. He thought the selfie he took was pretty good.

Xie Zheng contemplated in his heart.

He had no idea what kind of shock this post of his had caused outside or how many jaws it dropped.

Although Xie Zheng also had WeChat, he usually only used it to receive various work-related files and messages from employees and business partners. His social media was entirely managed by his secretary, and all the posts were work-related with no trace of personal life.

As for chatting with people…

Well, Xie Zheng basically didn’t chat with anyone about things other than work. If there was something important, he would just make a phone call. Real conversations with friends only happened face to face.

After all, for someone like Xie Zheng, who was a workaholic, chatting on WeChat was purely a waste of time.

So it’s easy to imagine the impact of Xie Zheng’s subtly flirtatious selfie and the accompanying text “Had a meal with a little friend, very happy.”

Who was this “little friend” mentioned by Xie Zheng? Who could be so impressive to invite Xie Zheng out and make him show off?

And Xie Zheng said he was happy?

Heavens, this must be an illusion. Xie Zheng, who always had an expressionless face that revealed no emotions, saying he was happy?

And this social media post, no matter how you looked at it, it had the scent of a peacock showing off its feathers to attract a mate…

So, over on the other side, Secretary Li, who was sitting at the dai pai dong (open-air food stall), quickly received a barrage of WeChat messages.

Secretary Li opened his phone and checked the messages.

Then, he went to his boss’s social media account… and his expression made him question his life choices.

Secretary Li felt certain that his boss had been possessed!

He didn’t recognize this extremely flirtatious person at all!

As for Fang Ziyang, who was mentioned in the post…

Sorry, but with a soul age of twenty-eight and a focus on studying and seeking revenge, what is this thing called a social media post? Isn’t it more enjoyable to find ways to deal with his enemies rather than looking at others flaunting their cars, houses, and relationships?

Indeed, there was a special reminder feature for WeChat Moments, but you had to scroll through the posts to be reminded!

So Fang Ziyang not only didn’t scroll through the Moments but also didn’t even touch his phone. With a table full of spicy crayfish, saucy ribs, stir-fried pig intestines, and beer in front of him, how could he have the mood to check his phone? When it comes to eating, nothing is more important, regardless of how big the world is.

By the time they finished eating, slightly intoxicated, Fang Ziyang was sent home. After taking a casual shower, he immediately fell asleep.

And then, the next morning, Fang Ziyang continued to study intensively, working through practice questions while trying to resist the temptation of playing with his phone and slacking off. However, for a soul that was already twenty-eight years old and mature like Fang Ziyang, such distractions simply didn’t exist.

So…

Xie Zheng, who couldn’t stop poking at his phone day and night, causing his eyes to turn bloodshot, was surrounded by a gloomy atmosphere for a long time.

…

Fang Ziyang didn’t pay much attention to Xie Zheng’s changes.

To him, the rumors were clearly not reliable. He used to think that Xie Zheng was mighty and terrifying, but that was solely because he didn’t understand the unknown reasons behind it.

Now that he understood, he realized that Xie Zheng wasn’t that intimidating after all; in fact, he had a hint of innocence and naivety.

Yes, genuine naivety.

Of course, this description excludes Xie Zheng’s work abilities. Fang Ziyang was referring to his innocence in terms of worldly matters.

Xie Zheng was truly a straightforward and pure person, although some of his behaviors were so self-righteous that they were laughable. But it couldn’t be denied that this version of Xie Zheng seemed quite cute and innocent, despite it not matching his outward appearance.

Moreover, it was undeniable that Xie Zheng was very lenient!

Fang Ziyang wasn’t used to being treated like a child, being referred to as an “elder” by Xie Zheng and having him take care of him on behalf of his brother.

He wasn’t really eighteen years old, so being treated like a child made him feel a bit uncomfortable.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

But he couldn’t argue with Xie Zheng. Xie Zheng always found various self-righteous reasons to make him listen, and unfortunately, Fang Ziyang couldn’t refute them. He had just reached adulthood, and he didn’t possess the advantages of an adult yet.

So, in the end, Fang Ziyang could only agree to Xie Zheng’s request and send him a video before going to bed every night, pretending to be obedient and assuring him that he hadn’t gone out anywhere.

Only then did the eighty-year-old Grandfather Xie calm down!

…

After dealing with Xie Zheng, Fang Ziyang became even more focused on his studies.

With the college entrance examination drawing closer, he not only received tutoring at home from Li Xiao but also made occasional visits to school.

His purpose was to participate in the school’s regular assessments.

Fang Ziyang’s intention was not to show off how amazing he was but rather to dispel any doubts that might arise from his future exam results.

After all, due to the deliberate influence of Yan Tong and Fang Yandong, his academic performance in high school was not good. Not to mention scoring high, even passing the exams was rare for him. He was the typical rich second-generation slacker who didn’t like studying.

If he was to excel in the college entrance examination with such an image, others might not suspect that he had been reborn, but they would definitely question whether he had cheated!

Although the college entrance examination was heavily regulated, nothing is perfect. His identity as a rich second-generation was filled with speculation in the eyes of ordinary people. To them, someone with his background could do whatever they wanted, and cheating in the college entrance examination was not impossible.

Fang Ziyang wasn’t afraid of being investigated, but he didn’t like trouble and didn’t want someone to use these suspicions against him.

Therefore, it was necessary for him to regularly participate in the school’s assessments before the college entrance examination to showcase his true abilities. Although it would shock people, he could attribute his previous lack of motivation and poor performance to laziness rather than genuine incompetence. After all, the world wasn’t lacking in “talents” with such “personality.”

In fact, Fang Ziyang had concerns.

His concerns stemmed from the fact that in his previous life, there was a scandal where several rich second-generation individuals bribed and leaked exam questions with the help of the director of the H Province Education Bureau.

At that time, the matter caused a huge uproar. Those involved in the scandal faced the consequences, but many innocent rich second-generation individuals were also implicated and suspected. Those who had mediocre academic performance but performed exceptionally well in the college entrance examination became the primary targets of scrutiny and verbal abuse. Only after the police intervened and cleared their names did they manage to escape, but they still had an extremely tough time.

Fang Ziyang had performed poorly back then and luckily managed to avoid the situation; otherwise, he would have been subjected to even harsher criticism.

However, at that time, he did have doubts about Yan Tong’s performance…

It wasn’t because he subjectively disliked him and denied his achievements and abilities. It was because he genuinely found Yan Tong’s performance dubious!

From what he knew: Yan Tong had already been in this world for a long time and had forgotten most of the knowledge taught in school.

After transmigrating, Yan Tong constantly tried to snatch his golden finger, opposed him, and flirted with various men as potential backup plans. So, he didn’t have much energy to spare for studying. Yan Tong’s academic performance had been hovering around average during their three years of high school.

Therefore, when Yan Tong achieved high scores in the college entrance examination and was admitted to a prestigious university in Beijing, Fang Ziyang was genuinely surprised and suspicious.

After all, although Yan Tong wasn’t a rich second-generation, he had men around him who were capable of helping him. Yan Tong’s character wasn’t particularly trustworthy, and it wouldn’t be strange for him to do some shady things to achieve his goals.

Of course, this didn’t rule out the possibility of him genuinely performing exceptionally well.

So, Fang Ziyang wasn’t sure if Yan Tong had been involved in the bribery and cheating scandals with those rich second-generation individuals in his previous life.

He didn’t dare to directly confront Yan Tong because of this, but he could try to provoke him and stimulate a response.

Based on Yan Tong’s envy and disdain towards him, Yan Tong would definitely not allow himself to be outperformed. Since Yan Tong had spent three years trying to discourage him from studying, it meant that Yan Tong definitely didn’t want to see him get into a good university.

So…

When Yan Tong learned that Fang Ziyang had suddenly become motivated and showed remarkable improvement in his academic performance during recent mock exams at school, he panicked.

He didn’t understand how the situation had suddenly reversed, and all his efforts to undermine Fang Ziyang seemed to be in vain overnight. Not only did he fail to sever Tang Xun’s connection to Fang Ziyang, but he also ended up facilitating the reunion between the brothers!

This truly made Yan Tong feel depressed.

However, he wasn’t completely resigned to his fate. So what if Tang Xun recognized Fang Ziyang as his brother? The current Fang Ziyang was no longer the radiant protagonist from the book.

Without his golden finger and the aura of a top student, even with Tang Xun as his support, Fang Ziyang’s future achievements would be limited. He would be a useless side character.

Moreover, he had already snatched away several people who liked Fang Ziyang, which meant that the remaining supporting male characters who could have helped Fang Ziyang would definitely stand on his side.

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And he found that some seemingly inconspicuous stalls had food with flavors that were not inferior to those of fancy restaurants. The taste was exceptional.

Fat Brother’s street food stall was one of his favorites.

The owner was a chubby middle-aged man who served delicious food like sausages, spareribs in sauce, spicy crayfish, grilled kidneys, grilled garlic chives, and more. The taste was authentic. Paired with a bottle of beer, it was especially enjoyable in the summer.

Just thinking about it made Fang Ziyang’s mouth water.

When it came to street food and stir-fries in China, the real deal could only be found on the streets.

After his rebirth, he hadn’t had a chance to eat it yet. Now that he had left the Fang family, he could finally indulge himself.

However…

Half an hour later.

Xie Zheng sat expressionlessly on a dilapidated plastic stool, with an equally dilapidated and greasy table in front of him, surrounded by noisy voices.

People clinking glasses, boasting and bragging, playing drinking games.

Occasionally, food scraps and bone fragments would roll over to his feet from the adjacent table.

Xie Zheng tightly pursed his lips, almost forming a straight line.

Although he had mentally prepared himself, the reality was a bit beyond his expectations. It was even more terrifying than what was depicted in TV dramas. It seemed that he had overestimated his own tolerance.

This stern and cold expression made Li Secretary, who had seen the world and frequented various occasions, unable to hold back his suggestion, “Boss, actually there’s a meeting tonight. Maybe we should…” leave!

His poor boss, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, had come to such a place. He genuinely sympathized with him. If the boss retreated at this critical moment, he would never make fun of him, really.

However, when Xie Zheng’s gaze fell on Fang Ziyang, who was sitting there with a smile, skillfully ordering food from the stall owner, Xie Zheng hesitated to agree.

Seeing the young man so happy, would he think Xie Zheng was being melodramatic if he left? Would he think Xie Zheng wasn’t manly enough? Would he be sad and disappointed? He probably would, considering how much the young man liked him and how sensitive he was.

Completely forgetting that his status as the owner of the ring had not yet been revealed, Xie Zheng thought about it and then tightened his face, “No need, I’ll rest today.”

After saying that, Xie Zheng looked at Secretary Li with a profound gaze.

“Secretary Li, I know you’ve been my secretary for many years and have seen a lot of things. You’ve been to various places for work, and it’s understandable if you’re not used to this kind of environment at first. But as an employee of Xie Corporation, your professional conduct is not satisfactory. Excellent employees of Xie Corporation need to remain calm in any situation.”

“However, considering your years of diligent work, I’ll allow you to be a little unruly this time. You can clear this place now. I believe a quieter environment will make you more comfortable.”

Secretary Li’s mouth twitched. “Boss, I can endure it. I used to work in this kind of place when I was a student.”

Xie Zheng showed a disapproving look and said seriously, “Secretary Li, there’s no need to lie in front of me. I understand. I’ll reimburse you for the cost of clearing the place. As an employee benefit for someone with your capabilities, there’s no need to feel guilty.”

Can’t we do without this kind of employee benefit?

Secretary Li knew better than to argue and cried, “Boss, you’re truly a good person.”

“Well, it’s good that you know. Work hard, and the benefits will be even better in the future,” Xie Zheng accepted the praise with a righteous attitude.

So when Fang Ziyang and Li Xiao returned after placing their orders, they found that the customers in the entire street food stall were gradually leaving, while Secretary Li, wearing a miserable expression, was explaining something while transferring money through WeChat on his phone.

The owner of the street food stall even happily found a cardboard and placed it in front of the stall, with the words “Private Event Today, Closed for Business” written on it.

Fang Ziyang/Li Xiao:… They were the only ones at the table, so what’s the point of the street food stall?

Fang Ziyang looked at Xie Zheng and couldn’t help but say, “Brother Xie, isn’t this a bit exaggerated? If it gets blown out of proportion, it’s easy to make headlines.”

Not just easy, it’s definitely going to happen!

Xie Zheng remained calm and took out his phone to make a call, “Hello, Director Xiao? It’s me, Xie Zheng. There might be some news about me tonight, but I don’t want to see it tomorrow. Please handle it attentively…”

After hanging up the call, he said seriously, “My public relations team is capable of handling such matters.”

Li Xiao felt that his idol had completely collapsed.

Fang Ziyang was completely convinced. “Brother Xie, you’re really amazing.”

“Well, that’s what they all say,” Xie Zheng said, pleased by the praise, completely unaware of the sarcasm in it. The young man’s words were always so sweet, really likable.

The expressions of everyone present were a bit subtle.

Due to the sudden clearing of the customers, the speed of the stall owner serving the food increased instantly.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

In less than half an hour, all the dishes they ordered were served.

Large plates of spicy crayfish, saucy spare ribs, stir-fried pork intestines, braised platter in a small dish… plus a box of Snowflake brand beer, all of them were Fang Ziyang’s dishes.

Since his face had already been lost, there was no point in being conflicted anymore. Eating was the most important thing now.

“Wait, let me take a photo first!”

Li Xiao was a typical modern young person who had the habit of taking photos of delicious food and sharing them on social media before eating.

Fang Ziyang used to do that too. But now, although his body was eighteen, his soul was twenty-eight, and he couldn’t do such youthful and lively things anymore. But it was interesting to see Li Xiao taking photos.

Secretary Li had a smile on his face, finding it amusing but not surprising.

Only Xie Zheng furrowed his brows. “Why take photos of this?” He had never seen anyone taking photos of food before a meal. It was impossible in his circle of friends.

“To show my girlfriend on social media,” Li Xiao explained casually.

“My girlfriend is like a tiger. She always checks up on me. Every time she asks about my whereabouts, whom I’ve met, what I ate, what I wore, I have to remember everything. Otherwise, if I fail to meet her expectations during the check, I’m in big trouble!”

“But I can’t remember so many things, so now I’ve become smart. Every time I eat out, I take photos and share them on social media to keep her updated on my activities. Hehe, now she not only stopped checking up on me but also became extremely satisfied with me. She even begged me to marry her after graduation…”

Although Li Xiao’s tone was mocking,

 there was a proud smile on his face.

Li Secretary replied with exasperation, “You’re such a cowardly little brother.”

Fang Ziyang couldn’t help but laugh. “Brother, you’re really something!”

Li Xiao raised his chin proudly and said, “My girlfriend says this is the representation of a good man. Besides her parents, she loves only me the most. Every time I share on social media, she showers me with affectionate comments. My classmates envy our loving relationship. Don’t believe me? Just take a look at my social media!”

Secretary Li covered his face.

Fang Ziyang nodded in agreement, with a bright smile.

Xie Zheng’s ears twitched, and he wondered what was on his mind.

Then he extended his hand towards Li Xiao, with a serious expression as if reviewing employee reports, “I don’t believe it. Show me.”

The atmosphere at the scene turned strange again.

Li Xiao’s proud smile suddenly froze, and a few words appeared in his mind: showing off affection will lead to a quick death.

So, using his ‘authority,’ Xie Zheng successfully obtained a phone filled with affectionate photos and social media posts, satisfying his curiosity.

Li Xiao’s social media was quite simple. Apart from content related to exams and studying, most of it was various photos of meals and gatherings. And… lovey-dovey posts with his girlfriend.

Xie Zheng opened Li Xiao’s social media.

He carefully examined the photos of Li Xiao’s girlfriend, then compared them in his mind to Fang Ziyang. In the end, he reached a conclusion: although Li Xiao’s girlfriend wasn’t as good-looking as the young man, the way Li Xiao looked at her in the photos showed that he genuinely liked her. It shouldn’t be a situation where he would be swayed by beauty and change his mind easily.

Xie Zheng’s previous doubts about Li Xiao’s ‘abduction’ behavior were finally dispelled. Then he continued to patiently browse through the rest of the social media.

One post after another.

Xie Zheng was very interested, especially in the photos of Li Xiao and his girlfriend celebrating various anniversaries. He really liked them.

Especially when he was about to exit the social media, he accidentally saw the comment conversation between Li Xiao and his girlfriend.

Li Xiao had posted a photo of his bare upper body showing his abs, and his girlfriend had sent a starry-eyed expression, expressing her admiration for Li Xiao’s abs… This gave Xie Zheng some ideas.

Completely unaware that the atmosphere had been awkward for ten minutes.

After thoroughly browsing through Li Xiao’s social media, Xie Zheng handed the phone back to him and then looked at Fang Ziyang. “Give me your phone.”

Fang Ziyang:…

Feeling a bit bewildered, Fang Ziyang took out his phone and handed it over.

Xie Zheng, expressionless, opened Fang Ziyang’s phone and then took out his own phone. Right in front of Fang Ziyang, he added each other on WeChat.

With a serious tone, he explained, “I forgot about WeChat earlier. I’m often available on the phone, so if you have anything, you can directly message me on WeChat, which is more convenient. Before you go to bed every night, send me a video call. I want to ensure your safety while living alone.”

Xie Zheng had consistently disagreed with Fang Ziyang’s refusal to move into Tang Xun’s villa and insisted on living alone.

But if they added the daily video call on WeChat…

Well, he could reluctantly accept it.

Xie Zheng was very satisfied with his own behavior and considered it a great idea.

Then he patted Fang Ziyang’s dazed head and continued, “Alright, you guys continue eating. I’ll get some fresh air in the car.”

After saying that, without waiting for anyone to respond, Xie Zheng, with new ideas in his mind, got up and left. His movements appeared proper and steady, but he was actually quite fast.

Once he returned to his Maybach car parked at the street corner, Xie Zheng took out his own phone again. Under the subtly watchful gaze of his driver, he took a discreet and self-satisfied selfie.

Editing, he posted it on his social media.

Accompanying text: Had a meal with a little friend today, very happy.

Set a reminder for a certain someone to see.

Then, with a contented heart, Xie Zheng put away his phone.

Driver: Boss, you seem a bit flirtatious today.

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“So, let me get this straight. Just because Li Xiao stayed over at my place, you guys think he seduced me??” Fang Ziyang looked at the two imaginative minds in front of him in utter disbelief.

These two individuals, no matter how you looked at them, were clearly highly intelligent and talented. How could they do something so foolish and impulsive? Especially Xie Zheng. Wasn’t he the wise and composed Xie Zheng in Fang Ziyang’s impression?

“Do I really look like someone with no intelligence and no moral boundaries when it comes to love?” Fang Ziyang felt discriminated against in terms of his image.

Li Xiao, holding his stomach, felt even more miserable. He was the victim here.

Secretary Li felt embarrassed, covering his face:…

Initially, he didn’t think that way. It was his boss who led him astray. He truly believed in his brother’s character. He couldn’t be blamed for that!

Compared to Secretary Li’s embarrassment, Xie Zheng felt more justified.

He believed that although he made a mistake with his misunderstanding, the biggest mistake was still Li Xiao, that little brat.

If Li Xiao hadn’t been overly attentive to Fang Ziyang, coming to his house every day until it was dark, even cooking for Fang Ziyang to please him, such behavior that clearly had ulterior motives, anyone would find it suspicious.

In this situation, it was normal to have a misunderstanding after hearing the conversation just now.

Tang Xun was busy in the laboratory, and Xie Zheng had to take care of his younger brother. If he wasn’t careful, what if something happened? How would he explain it?

Even though the two of them were not what they thought, the fact that they were now “taking a shower” together was already quite problematic.

Fang Ziyang, being too innocent, didn’t notice anything, but who knew what Li Xiao’s intentions were?

Xie Zheng felt that even if he didn’t have a keen sense, he still had to be vigilant. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to justify it to his good brother and his good employee in the future.

So he felt perfectly justified in his thoughts.

However, he was now in the wrong for punching someone, and he couldn’t be too unreasonable.

Therefore, Xie Zheng could only apologize stiffly to Li Xiao, “I’m sorry, I misunderstood the situation. As compensation, I’ll arrange for you to go to the hospital for a thorough examination later. And if you need an internship during your four years of college, you can come directly to the Xie family to gain experience.”

Although he still felt that Li Xiao had ulterior motives, Xie Zheng didn’t hesitate to apologize and compensate. After all, he was the one in the wrong now.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Free medical examination and internship opportunities.

Although it was a bit unfortunate to get punched for nothing, for Li Xiao, being punched and getting such compensation was quite worthwhile. It was like a pie falling from the sky. If this news spread, there would probably be a long line of people wanting Xie Zheng to punch them!

Li Xiao, holding his stomach, suddenly felt the pain go away and nodded with joy, “Thank you, thank you, President Xie. It’s alright, it’s just a misunderstanding. It’s all my fault for being so careless.”

He said so.

Immediately making Xie Zheng satisfied, “Hmm, it’s good that you understand. Even though Fang Ziyang is also a boy, there should still be some boundaries to maintain.”

Doing things like cooking for him and showering and undressing in his house, it was simply outrageous!

Xie Zheng and Li Xiao reached a satisfactory conversation.

But Fang Ziyang felt uncomfortable listening to it.

Although he liked men and was the bottom, he still had the nature of a man. What did Xie Zheng’s attitude mean? It seemed like once he held hands with another man, he would have to abandon his innocence. He wasn’t a little girl, and he didn’t need to adhere to gender boundaries. Wasn’t Xie Zheng going a bit too far?

Fang Ziyang couldn’t help but interject, “Brother Xie, I’m also a man!”

So it was normal for him to have a crazy friend whom he had a close relationship with.

“I know.” Xie Zheng nodded in response.

Then, he seriously educated him, “But you’re good-looking. So, as a good-looking boy, you should understand that boys can also be dangerous nowadays. In the past, no one taught you this knowledge, but now I will teach you on behalf of your brother and take care of you.”

Fang Ziyang:… There seems to be something wrong.

“But Li Xiao likes women, not men!”

Xie Zheng didn’t answer immediately upon hearing that.

Instead, he looked at Fang Ziyang and then at Li Xiao.

Then, he asserted himself once again, “With your appearance, it’s normal for people to change their minds.”

Li Xiao, who had changed his mind:…

Secretary Li: It was the first time he felt that his boss was a completely unreasonable thought bandit.

Faced with Xie Zheng’s unwavering assertion, Fang Ziyang completely lost his temper. It seemed impossible to reason with him using normal logic.

So he could only helplessly say, “Brother Xie, rest assured, I’m not a child. I understand what you’re saying. And I’ve mentioned before that there’s someone I like, right? I’m a very loyal person, and I won’t mess around before confirming the other person’s feelings.”

Although he didn’t have any serious aversions in relationships, he was relatively conservative. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been engaged to Xie Wenxu for so long, and their relationship hadn’t progressed beyond holding hands.

After all, speaking realistically, not paying attention to one’s personal life could lead to trouble. He didn’t want to invite disaster.

Upon hearing this, Xie Zheng’s fingers moved imperceptibly. “So, you really like the owner of that ring?”

“Of course.” Fang Ziyang nodded without hesitation, making things up.

“He is the best person in the world. Even if he doesn’t like me, it won’t change my feelings for him. When I was younger, I didn’t understand emotions, but now I understand. He is the most special person in my heart.”

He was the future father of his baby. How could he not be special?

Fang Ziyang’s sincerity was evident, and there was no trace of falsehood in his words.

Xie Zheng was stunned.

And then…

Then, his ears slowly turned red again. He suddenly realized that this young man’s courage was even greater than he had imagined.

So, had Fang Ziyang already liked him to such an extent? That he could say such words in front of so many people.

Xie Zheng couldn’t control the corners of his mouth from curling up, looking at the young man who was trying his best to express his feelings, his mood inexplicably improved. Then he nodded.

“Alright, I believe you. But you still need to have some self-restraint. People’s hearts are unpredictable, and you can’t let down your guard. If something happens to you, I won’t be able to justify it to your brother.”

“Mhmm.” Fang Ziyang nodded in compliance. He really didn’t want to argue with Xie Zheng about this issue anymore.

Seeing how obedient he was, Xie Zheng was extremely satisfied.

Then he remembered something, “By the way, I heard that you guys are going out to eat tonight? I also have free time tonight.”

The underlying meaning of “I also want to go” was quite obvious.

Li Xiao didn’t mind.

Fang Ziyang was a bit hesitant, “Um, we’re going to eat out. But it’s a street stall, located near a certain old residential area’s market…”

Going to a street stall with Xie Zheng, who had extreme cleanliness, would probably give him a myocardial infarction. With Xie Zheng’s background, he probably hadn’t even drunk a bottle of cheap mineral water in his life.

Even Fang Ziyang himself had only experienced street stalls after he was kicked out of the Fang family in his previous life and was forced to experience it due to his downfall. And he still enjoyed their existence until now.

As expected.

Xie Zheng frowned upon hearing the explanation about the street stall. It wasn’t that he was being picky, but as someone with extreme cleanliness habits, he couldn’t imagine eating at a street stall near a certain old residential area’s market.

But then again, if a pampered young master like Fang Ziyang could do it, why couldn’t he?

Xie Zheng didn’t hesitate for too long and said firmly, “I have a special free time tonight.”

Silently looking at his busy schedule on his phone, Secretary Li wisely lowered his head and refrained from offering any advice.

The conversation had reached this point.

What could Fang Ziyang do?

He could only bring along a certain gloomy oil bottle.

With a bitter face, he said, “Since you have time tonight, why don’t we go together?”

“Okay.”

Xie Zheng immediately nodded, his serious expression showing a hint of excitement.

Fang Ziyang:…

Fang Ziyang felt that legends shouldn’t be believed. Xie Zheng’s image in his mind completely collapsed today.

Ten minutes later.

Fang Ziyang and Li Xiao, who had changed their clothes, covered their faces and sat in Xie Zheng’s million-dollar Maybach, swiftly heading towards… the street food stall near the market.

Although they unintentionally brought along a gloomy oil bottle, Fang Ziyang’s excitement about going to the street stall for a meal remained unaffected.

Eating at a street stall was one of the few things that made him happy in his previous life.

Back then, when he was expelled from the Fang family, he couldn’t bring anything with him. The only valuable things were the branded clothes and watches on his body.

In order to survive, he had to sell his clothes and watches. But second-hand items couldn’t fetch high prices, and after selling them, he only got a few tens of thousands of yuan.

This amount of money couldn’t sustain his extravagant lifestyle anymore. In the end, he had no choice but to live in the old city area, where the environment was cheap and mixed.

For a long period of time, he ate fast food, street food, instant noodles, and cooked his own gloomy dishes… things he had never touched before.

In the beginning, he couldn’t bear it, but after getting used to it, it wasn’t so bad. This was the life of most ordinary people. What was the point of being melodramatic? He didn’t have the right to be picky.

Eventually, he even started to enjoy going to street stalls and eating at them.

Sitting at a bustling small stall, listening to the laughter and banter of the customers around, engaging in casual conversations with the stall owners…

In that dark period of his life, these acts of kindness from strangers were a rare consolation for him.

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