Rebirth 2004: A lone figure in the literary world

Chapter 185: Helpless and cunning
Of course Zhang Chao would not accept it - in exchange for spending a few days with Xing Youtian's daughter, Xing Youtian gave him a courtyard house.

Did they treat Zhang Chao like a duck? However, it seemed to be worth it after all the calculations - now a good courtyard house in Yanjing starts at tens of millions...

Besides, I was just playing with him, I didn't say anything else, so this is selling my art but not my body? ... Bah, bah, bah, I am Zhang Chao, a good young man, how can I bow down for a courtyard house!

Zhang Chao said, "Boss Xing is joking... Miss Xing, please don't mind. First, I already have a girlfriend. Second, I'm only 21 years old, so it's too early to get married. I appreciate your kindness, but I can't accept it."

In his heart, he actually knew very well that it was understandable that Xing Siyuan, a college student of the same age as him, was obsessed with idols, but was it normal that Xing Youtian, an old hand, would accompany his daughter in going crazy and offer her cars and even houses to bribe him?

Even if he really wanted Zhang Chao to be his son-in-law, he could have used a more normal approach. After all, Zhang Chao and Xing Siyuan were both young, and it was normal these days to date for three to five years, or even longer before getting married.

Even Xing Siyuan, the fangirl, didn't come up and shout "I'm going to marry Giegie, I'm going to marry Giegie right away" - but Xing Youtian's attitude seemed like he couldn't wait to drag the two of them to register tomorrow.

There must be something fishy in it!

What's more, I was very cold to Xing Youtian today, but this rude and arrogant businessman didn't care at all and was even more polite to me. This cannot be explained by the reason of "spoiling his daughter".

As the saying goes, "If you want something big, you must endure it." Xing Youtian was able to "endure" to this extent. God knows how terrible his purpose is. Zhang Chao has made up his mind that no matter what temptation Xing Youtian throws out, he will "resist corruption and never touch it."

The biggest misunderstanding of all the "old hands" who suffered losses at the hands of Zhang Chao is that they really regarded him as a 20-year-old boy, thinking that they could make Zhang Chao submit by using money, sex, authority and public opinion to lure and oppress him.

It seems that Xing Youtian will be no exception.

Hearing Zhang Chao's polite but firm refusal, the smiles on Xing Youtian's and his daughter's faces froze, especially Xing Siyuan. When she heard that Zhang Chao had a girlfriend, tears welled up in her eyes. She finally adjusted her mood and asked, "Is it the actress Song Jia?"

Zhang Chao was stunned. His relationship with Song Jia was no secret within the circle, but it was something few people outside the circle knew about. On the one hand, he did not hang out with people from the entertainment circle on a daily basis, so there were not many paparazzi following him; on the other hand, many news media were afraid of his methods and would not tease him for no reason.

Xing Siyuan glanced at Zhang Chao and snorted, "Someone in our book club has already said that at last year's Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Awards ceremony, the way you looked at her was not right..."

Zhang Chao really wanted to ask if this book friend’s QQ name was “花开富贵”…

Xing Youtian slapped his thigh and said, "This is not easy. No one knows actresses better than me! As long as I give her some money..."

Before he could finish his words, he was stopped by the murderous looks given to him by Zhang Chao and Xing Siyuan.

Xing Youtian said awkwardly: "I was just joking, just joking...you guys continue chatting."

Zhang Chao hesitated for a moment and said, "Miss Xing, no matter what, I am very happy to meet you today. When you come to Yanjing in the future, you may as well come to visit me. I am not the only writer in our "Midnight Tide". We have many young talents..."

Xing Siyuan naturally heard Zhang Chao's euphemistic refusal, her eyes turned red again, and she said in a tearful voice: "Do you know how much I like you? I have been a fan of your book since "Your Name"..."

He talked a lot, even mentioning that he had gone to Yenching University and Yenching Normal University to look for him several times, but Zhang Chao was too busy and was nowhere to be seen, so he never succeeded in "encountering him by chance".

Last year, when she heard that Zhang Chao was participating in the IWP program at the University of Iowa, she flew from Los Angeles to Iowa. However, when she arrived, Zhang Chao had just finished his trip and left the United States, so the two missed each other by one day.

Zhang Chao listened to her patiently. Although he comforted her gently from time to time, he was still firm in his attitude of refusing to develop a romantic relationship. He also repeatedly hinted to Xing Youtian who was supporting him - I have no shortage of money, but I don't want people.

It was not until after 10 o'clock in the evening that Zhang Chao could no longer bear it and said, "It's too late. What happened today really took me by surprise - but I also hope that Boss Xing and Miss Xing can understand me. I have to go back to Yanjing tomorrow.

I still say that when Miss Xing comes to Yanjing, I will definitely treat her as a good friend. But there are some principles that I will not change! "

Xing Youtian sighed helplessly.

Xing Siyuan stopped crying and looked at Zhang Chao with her big, sparkling eyes and said, "I didn't expect you to be so determined, persistent, and principled!" Her expression and tone seemed to be pulling a thread. Zhang Chao shuddered: "...I'll go back to the hotel first."

Xing Youtian said, "Why don't you stay here for one night? There are plenty of rooms here. I'll have someone bring your luggage over."

Zhang Chao shook his head firmly. Xing Youtian had no choice but to send someone to drive Zhang Chao back to the hotel.

Watching the lights of the Rolls-Royce going away, Xing Youtian restrained the expression of a gentle, doting old father and became serious, even a little gloomy.

He had never expected Zhang Chao's stubborn and unyielding attitude, who would use the most polite words to keep people at a distance, so he made a mistake.

After standing at the door of the villa for a long time, he returned to the hall, patted his daughter on the back, and said gently: "Zhang Chao is a good young man, talented, smart, innocent, independent, and cautious... But this kind of man is also the most difficult to 'take down'."

Only then did Xing Siyuan show her stubborn side that she had endured for a long time. She stomped her feet and said, "Dad, it's all your fault!" Then she went upstairs angrily.

Xing Youtian didn't take it seriously. He stood in the living room and pondered for a while, then took out his cell phone and dialed a number: "...Hello, Secretary Liu? This is Old Xing. I'm sorry to bother you so late! I want to report something to you. A great writer has come to Yangquan..."

Zhang Chao returned to the hotel, washed up simply, and lay down on the bed. He reviewed his words and actions of the day in his mind. Although it was sudden and absurd, there should be no flaws overall. Only then did he feel at ease and fall asleep.

Silent all night.

The next morning, Zhang Chao packed his luggage, went to the restaurant for breakfast, and prepared to leave Yangquan. As soon as he arrived at the lobby, he saw the greasy-haired man waiting for him. When he saw him coming down, he immediately greeted him warmly and said, "Boss Xing is waiting for you outside. He said he will personally take you to Taiyuan today."

Zhang Chao asked, "Is it Mr. Xing?"

The greasy-haired man said, "It's Mr. Xing - oh, of course, and a driver."

Zhang Chao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and then said, "I have another car, which is a rental car, and I have to return it."

The greasy-haired man said, "Give me the keys and tell me which rental company the car belongs to. I'll ask the driver to drive it back for you."

Zhang Chao hesitated for a moment, nodded, took out the keys and gave them to the greasy-haired man, told him the name of the car rental company, and left the lobby.

What was parked in the porch outside the lobby was not a Rolls-Royce, but an ordinary, semi-new Toyota Crown. The driver still opened the back door for him respectfully.

Xing Youtian was already sitting in the car. When Zhang Chao got in, he was surprised to find that Xing Youtian was not wearing the neat high-end suit he wore yesterday, but a shabby gray jacket with an even shabbier old-fashioned sweater underneath, the collar of which was frayed.

What’s even more exaggerated is that Xing Youtian had a bulging waist bag around his waist, and he looked exactly like the vendor Zhang Chao saw in the southern vegetable market.

Zhang Chao was stunned for a moment and asked, "Boss Xing, what are you doing?"

Xing Youtian smiled bitterly and said, "Some clothes cannot be worn in certain places. People like us may look glamorous, but sometimes we are nothing, not even worth a fart. As an old father, I just want my daughter Yuanyuan not to be like me..."

Zhang Chao listened silently, trying to figure out what Xing Youtian meant by his words, so he didn't respond.

The car started, and Xing Youtian approached Zhang Chao and whispered, “I know you are afraid of my money, which is the same color as my coal and is not safe.

I tell you, I have a clean sum of money in Hong Kong Island, 1 million. As long as you are willing to marry Yuanyuan, this 1 million will be yours!"

(End of this chapter)