I feel right at home in the world of the courtyard house.

Xu Damao came out of the house early in the morning, looked up, and saw that the sun was already high in the sky. He stretched first, then hung his briefcase on the handlebars of his bicycle and pushed it out. Going to the movie theater at this hour wasn't anything important; he was just going through the motions.

Just as he reached the middle courtyard, he heard the voices of several middle-aged women. He went over to take a look and saw Jia Zhangshi there, talking animatedly and fluently.

"Hey! Auntie, let me tell you, I'm not exaggerating! Yesterday I drank that little bottle of oral liquid that Li Jing'an gave me, just one small bottle from that blister pack. You don't know, I didn't even need to take painkillers yesterday, and I felt so relaxed! It's so effective, it's a miracle drug!" Jia Zhangshi stared wide-eyed, describing vividly, her tone resolute.

"Really? I didn't dare drink it after I took it home yesterday, I didn't drink it." The third aunt looked surprised. "If you put it that way, I really have to try it."

"Hey, it seems Li Jing'an was right after all, this medicine really works." The second aunt chimed in, "No wonder the Americans were willing to pay a fortune to buy it from him, and he wouldn't sell it. If I had this miracle drug, I wouldn't sell it either."

"Hey, are the aunties chatting here?" Qin Huairu came out of Sha Zhu's house in the main room carrying a basin and saw several aunties chatting happily in front of the Jia family's house to the west.

"Hey, Huairu, do you know? Your mom drank that oral liquid yesterday, and she said it works instantly and is very effective!" the third aunt said to Qin Huairu.

"Hey, Auntie, I knew about this even before you did. My mom asked me for painkillers yesterday, which surprised me quite a bit. I was really puzzled at the time. But you know what? The medicine really works. I gave all the medicine Li Jing'an gave me to my mom yesterday, so she can take it properly and hopefully break her painkiller addiction. That would be even better," Qin Huairu said with a smile.

When everyone heard Qin Huairu confirm Jia Zhangshi's words, they became even more convinced that the medicine was indeed effective.

Xu Damao witnessed this entire scene. Suddenly remembering something, he quickly rummaged through his shirt pocket, pulled out a business card, and looked at it.

On the east bank of Shichahai Lake, in Li Jing'an's detached old villa.

In the living room, Li Jing'an sat on the sofa, leisurely smoking a cigarette. He planned to use this courtyard as a temporary place to stay. After all, it had a garden and parking, and the three-story building was four or five hundred square meters, which should be enough to support the initial office space. Later, he thought that if things went well, he would acquire a plot of land and build his own place, then transform it into a clubhouse for business meetings and leisure for various connections.

Just as they were lost in thought, Ivy started complaining, "Boss, that hotel yesterday was awful! Doesn't this huge capital city have a decent hotel? The room was so run-down and old, I didn't even dare take a bath, afraid of getting dirty, I just took a shower. And the room wasn't soundproof at all; everyone could hear us yesterday. When we left today, that waiter gave me that look, it was so annoying."

Ivy kept complaining as she applied makeup, drew her eyebrows, and touched up her makeup.

Li Jing'an was lost in thought when he was suddenly interrupted. He frowned and said, "Do you have something to say? If you have something to say, say it; if not, get out of here. Don't you know your own limitations?"

He sneered, "You're complaining about the Jianguo Hotel? Don't forget your background. You've only been in Hong Kong for a year, and you think you're all that after one swim? If it weren't for your decent looks, you'd already be working in that building. And you still have the nerve to complain?"

Li Jing'an's words were like a thorn, deeply embedded in Ivy's heart. Just moments ago she had been so arrogant, but now she softened.

Well, she actually only came to Hong Kong from the mainland a little over a year ago. Since she didn't have Hong Kong residency, Li Jing'an arranged a work visa for her, which allowed her to stay. She can only obtain permanent residency after working for a certain number of years. Therefore, she has to obey Li Jing'an completely—if she angers him and is left stranded on the mainland, she really has no choice.

She didn't want to go back to that kind of life—the crowded tenement building, the constant bickering with her neighbors.

After returning from the countryside, she failed her university entrance exams, and her family kept pushing her to take over the factory job, trying to find her a partner, get married, and have children. The thought of her father, who had spent his entire life working in a farm machinery factory and reeking of engine oil, made her want to vomit. She felt that God had given her such a beautiful face, and she shouldn't waste it; she wanted to live a life of privilege. That's why she risked everything to smuggle herself to Hong Kong, and it was thanks to her looks that she was taken in by Li Jing'an.

"Boss, there's a man named Xu Damao outside who wants to see you." A middle-aged woman walked in from outside—this was a service worker that Li Jing'an had specially hired to clean and serve tea and water.

Li Jing'an raised an eyebrow: "Let him in."

He knew Xu Damao would definitely come looking for him. Yesterday, the boy had been so attentive, showing him around the courtyard house and serving him just like before. He knew the boy's heart was with him again. But he still decided to take him in—for the sake of the man, he had two children to care for.

"Brother Li, did I disturb you?" It was still Xu Damao's signature smile, especially now that he's older, his face is more wrinkled, and his features are all crooked together.

"Come, come, Da Mao, don't be shy, have a seat." Li Jing'an greeted him warmly as always, without even moving his seat. He then instructed someone to pour tea and asked, "Da Mao, tea or coffee?"

"Tea is fine, tea is fine," Xu Damao quickly replied.

Li Jing'an then had tea poured. Xu Damao carefully sat down to the side.

"Brother Li, this place is really impressive! Is it rented?" When Xu Damao first arrived at the address, he circled around the door several times, unable to believe that this place belonged to Li Jing'an—such a large garden and this three-story building.

"Haha, Da Mao, why would you need to rent a place like this? I bought it. As for how much it cost, you don't need to ask," Li Jing'an said casually.

He paused, then looked at Xu Damao with a smile: "By the way, Damao, did you come here today just to catch up, or is there something else?"