330 Bearing Grudges (2/2)

”Ah San, Ah Si.”

”Yes, Young Master, what are your instructions?”

With a nasty scowl on his face, Yang Hongzhi said, ”Find an opportunity to teach him a lesson, but remember this— do not leave any evidence that will point back to me.”

”Understood.”

The two bodyguards nodded respectfully.

As she watched them walking off, Shen Qingyan shook her head, then turned to told Xiao Luo and said, ”You better be careful for now, that young master Yang is not a forgiving person. You've made him lose face, and he is bound to take revenge on you.”

”Thank you for the warning,” Xiao Luo said, nodding his head slightly and giving her an appreciative smile.

”You seem to be a pretty calm fellow…”

Shen Qingyan responded as she gazed at him with fascination. She had earlier seen him as just an ordinary guy, but that all changed after the one-on-one game with Yang Hongzhi—he played rings around his opponent and delivered a resounding 10 to 0 thrashing, but the crowning moment was, without doubt, the tomahawk dunk that sealed the match.

From what Shen Qingyan had observed, this man had some decent skills, in terms of basketball, at least. He was neither humble nor arrogant in his speech and came across as a person with strong abilities and innate confidence. He seemed to have gone through a lot in life, someone familiar with magnificence at the very top, and grueling hardship at the very bottom. But it didn't matter who he was, she now found herself becoming interested in Xiao Luo, even if it was just for a fleeting moment.

”I'm hungry, let's go and eat.”

Shen Qingyan snapped out of her lingering thoughts and responded, ”Hahaha, this is the first time I've heard the goddess Su say to me that she's hungry!”

...

Lunch at Shen Qingyan's was a sumptuous meal, which was expected as all wealthy families employed their own professional house chefs. There was a spread of delicious dishes, and the main dish was presented on a large platter with magnificently carved vegetables, making for an inviting and heavenly gastronomical experience. Château Lafite was served with the meal, and for those that did not indulge in wine, Plum Garden's orange juice was offered. Even the water they drank was a premium spring mineral water sourced from deep underground, a bottle costing 300 dollars.

Here, dining in Shen Qingyan's home, Xiao Luo finally understood what luxury really meant!

Xiao Luo's current net wealth could not compare to Shen Qingyan's, but it did not mean that he was unable to afford such a luxurious lifestyle—it just wasn't his way, as the diligent and frugal mindset that had been inculcated from a young age was profoundly ingrained and had an impact on his character.

That night, Xiao Luo received a call from Li Zimeng, who informed him that several of Luo Workshop's key personnel had arrived at Xiahai and had started working on developing the branch office there. Xiao Luo did not have to personally manage the planning and sourcing of equipment and talents for the new branch, it was delegated to Li Zimeng and his other core managers. He played an oversight role, and only when significant issues arose with the company's expansion effort would he step in to resolve them.

On the second day, Xiao Luo decided to visit his alma mater, Xisheng Aeronautical University.

He was a nostalgic person by nature, and since he was back, he wouldn't miss the chance to do so. He certainly missed the bouncy noodles from the third canteen located on the second floor. The noodles were soft and chewy and were a perfect match to the dollops of minced meat sauce that was generously slopped over it. Back in his university days, the bouncy noodles stall was always packed with crowds, and unless he went early, he wouldn't be able to get it. This ensured that the place was perpetually swarming with customers, and perhaps the perfect marketing strategy for the humble food stall.

The Arterial Road was still the same, the English Corner still existed, and even the Star Anise pond remained unchanged. Yet, the mood, as he walked through the campus, was different. Passing the old dormitory, he stopped and gazed up at the balcony on the seventh floor. One of the glass panes still had a hole with a web of cracks around it.

Xiao Luo vividly remembered that day when he was fooling around with Zhang Dashan and had accidentally broken the pane with the end of a broomstick. It had been five to six years since, and he did not expect that it had not been replaced. Looking at it now, he couldn't help but have mixed feelings.

...