A life of success begins with being a landlord.

Squeak—!

Lan Xin was so frightened that she lost her grip on the steering wheel, and the car swayed precariously. She then slammed on the brakes and brought the car to a stop on the side of the road.

The person who answered my call was Aunt Lan: "Yaozu, what's up?"

"Oh, something's wrong, Aunt Lan..." I stammered, looking at Lan Xin.

Lan Xin shook her head and waved her hand, signaling me to hang up the phone.

This demon is actually more frightening than I am!

"Yaozu, what's wrong? Just tell me," Aunt Lan urged me on the phone.

"Auntie, it's still that plot of land on Peninsula Slope. The developer, Boss Huo, said he wants me to invite Master Zhongyun down the mountain to assess the feng shui of the project and choose an auspicious day for the groundbreaking ceremony..."

I spoke slowly and deliberately, enunciating each word clearly: "I don't understand these things, and I don't know if I can do it. I would like to ask for your opinions, Auntie and Director Song."

This matter should have nothing to do with Director Song.

But the call has already gone through, and I need to find a topic to talk about.

So, I pretended to be very cautious and asked Aunt Lan for permission.

"This is something that can be done... it's not illegal."

Aunt Lan was actually quite happy and said with a smile, "You can ask me anything you're unsure about in the future. By the way, if you can really get Master Zhongyun to come over, let me know then."

"I understand, thank you, Auntie."

I hung up the phone and smiled at Lanxin.

It seems I've won this duel.

Of course, I was just making things up; I didn't have the guts to tell Aunt Lan about the love-hate relationship between me and Lan Xin.

"You bastard, I was just joking with you, are you trying to kill me? Are you trying to scare me with my sister?" Lan Xin glared at me, pointing to the car window.

"Get out of here, just pretend I never knew you!"

I laughed and grabbed Lanxin's hand: "Sister Xin, I was just joking. If anyone's trying to scare someone, it was you who scared me first."

"Who's your sister Xin? Who's been joking around with you like that?" Lan Xin pulled her hand away and rolled her eyes. "Get out of here."

"Okay then, drive carefully." I nodded and prepared to get out of the car.

If it ends here, that would be fine too.

I don't want to play with fire with Lan Xin.

"Come back!" Lan Xin called out to me again, chuckling, "Where are you staying? I'll take you. It's free."

"Thank you, Sister Xin, for developing Hongxing Village in the new district." I sat back in the passenger seat.

Lan Xin drove off again, shaking her head and sighing, "I thought you were an innocent young man, but I never expected you to be such a seasoned veteran, a shrew."

An old duck?

I gave a wry smile and remained silent.

Three words, and they hurt me twice. Am I a duck? Am I that old?

The light ahead was red. Lan Xin sighed and said, "You probably think I'm promiscuous and bad, so you're afraid of me. Actually, I just think you're funny and want to chat with you, find an opportunity to collaborate and make some money."

"No, I know you're not a bad person. I'm just embarrassed because of the misunderstanding last time, and I don't want to see you." I said, half-truthfully.

Sister Lü told me personally that Lan Xin's essence can be summed up in one word: flamboyant and seductive.

At the Qingshan Club, I witnessed and experienced Lanxin's abilities firsthand.

So I don't believe her now that she's trying to clear her name.

"It's good that you know. You saved Amei, and you're someone my sister and brother-in-law value. From now on, I'll naturally take care of you and help you make money..."

The light ahead turned green, and Lan Xin continued driving: "What are you doing right now?"

"I do a small business, mainly collecting scrap and waste from printing factories..." I said timidly.

"Collecting scrap? How much can you earn each year?"

"I just started, so I don't know yet. My partner said that if the business grows bigger, I'll get 30,000 to 40,000 yuan a year."

"Pfft... Thirty or forty thousand, is that enough to eat?"

Lan Xin couldn't help but laugh, then glared at me fiercely: "You little brat, you're lying to me again, aren't you? You can make a million a year just by clinging to my brother-in-law's coattails and doing some business."

I shook my head: "Sister Xin, making money isn't that easy. Director Song doesn't run a business, so what can he do to help me?"

"Is your head made of wood? I'll open your eyes someday." Lan Xin sighed, "I'm here to find a way, let's go into business together."

Help me understand? I'd be the one helping you understand!

I think Lan Xin is bragging; she may not actually have the connections.

Moreover, her words to Director Song might not be effective.

The last time Aunt Lan mentioned her, she shook her head repeatedly.

I suspect that Lan Xin is a rebellious girl at heart, only interested in eating, drinking, having fun, and chasing men. If she could run a proper business, Aunt Lan wouldn't look down on her.

Along the way, Lanxin talked most, and I listened most.

Upon arriving at the entrance of Hongxing Village, Lan Xin stopped the car: "Shall we stop here?"

"This is it, thank you, Sister Xin." I prepared to get out of the car.

"Wait." Lan Xin grabbed my hand and took off her glasses. "Close your eyes, I'm going to show you something."

I was taken aback: "How can I see...your things with my eyes closed?"

That's what I said, but I still closed my eyes.

A subtle fragrance wafted over me, and two warm lips pressed against mine...

"Ugh..." I tried to struggle, but I was pinned down in the seat.

I must say, Lanxin's skills are excellent and she knows her stuff.

She pried open my tightly clenched jaw little by little.

I don't know how much time passed before Lan Xin finally released me, slightly out of breath: "Is this my sincerity in cooperating enough?"

"Not enough. It's all just for show, not sincere enough." I reluctantly withdrew my hand and wiped my lips.

"You little rascal, I knew you were naughty enough." Lan Xin smiled sweetly, "How about we find a place where I can show you my deeper sincerity?"

"It's too late, Sister Xin. Let's do it another day. There are plenty of days." I opened the car door and got out.

"Remember to call me, or I'll come looking for you!" Lan Xin waved at me.

I raised my hand in salute to indicate that I had received the greeting.

Lan Xin drove away, and I also headed towards Hongxing Village.

I have to attend Sister Li's father-recognition party tomorrow. Sigh, I'm so busy.

Neither Sister Li nor Erxia were asleep.

Bobo, Aping, and Liu Haomei were also in the office.

I was a little surprised: "No one's asleep? What's Hao Mei doing here too?"

"We were discussing doing business, the kind of business that Teacher Qian was talking about."

Liu Haomei was very happy, glanced at me, and suddenly froze, her expression one of astonishment, disappointment, and grievance: "Brother Zu, you..."

I asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

Erxia and Bobo glanced at me and both smiled—mischievous smiles.

Sister Li was also looking me over, frowning and sighing: "Little brother, you've fallen from grace. Look at your face... there's still a lipstick mark!"

Oh my god, there's a lip print?

Lan Xin, that vixen, has ruined me.

Fortunately, I've been through a lot and developed a thick skin, so I didn't take it seriously at all and sat down casually.

"Don't even mention it. I was having dinner with Dao Zai Xiong tonight. You all know what kind of person he is. He arranged two shameless women for me, one on my left and one on my right. I wasn't paying attention for a moment, and they harassed me!"

Bobo rolled his eyes: "Just sleep with women, why pretend to be innocent?"

"Bobo, shut up."

I glared at him: "If I were that kind of womanizer, I wouldn't be back now. Dao Zai Xiong arranged a dinner party with plenty of beautiful women, and it was free. But I didn't like it, so I made an excuse to escape back here."

These words were half true and half false, but they could barely make sense.

Sister Li looked at Liu Haomei: "Haomei, don't just stand there, get a towel and wipe Yaozu's face."

My sister seemed to have forgiven me, and she smiled as she brought me a towel.

I wiped my mouth and asked Sister Li, "Has the ceremony for recognizing our father tomorrow been arranged? How many tables are there?"