C17 I Am the Owner of the Property

Liu Xiao was taken aback. What was this good-for-nothing doing here?

Hold on, was that Zhang Luo? The same guy who was notorious for mooching off others at home?

Zhang Luo, however, wasn't surprised. He had already known Liu Xiao was at the bar from their earlier phone conversation. If he had realized he was rescuing Liu Xiao, he might have just walked away.

"Why are you here?" Liu Xiao broke the silence.

"I'm looking for Yang Yuan!"

"Thank you!"

Regardless of everything, Zhang Luo had just saved her. Liu Xiao looked at him and smiled gratefully.

Right after Liu Xiao had hung up with Zhang Luo, Mr. Hai had trapped her in the private room, demanding she strip in front of everyone or stay put!

Liu Xiao refused, seizing the opportunity to escape when Mr. Hai was sufficiently inebriated. To her dismay, Mr. Hai's men were posted at the entrance of the Salty Dog bar.

Without a word, Zhang Luo assisted Liu Xiao into a taxi and continued his search for Yang Yuan.

Mr. Hai, the chairman of WiseBuild Supplies in Zruhpus, had monopolized the city's construction projects in recent years, driving several long-standing companies into bankruptcy.

Lee Hai was ambitious and clever, albeit known for his vices. His ability to elevate WiseBuild Supplies into a cornerstone of Zruhpus's industry overnight was a testament to his cunning, always saying the right thing at the right time.

The Heart of Zruhpus project had been a key target for Lee Hai, who was set on acquiring it. However, when he was ready to confront Gaoyuan, Exbought unexpectedly secured the project. Lee Hai had staked out Gaoyuan's office for two days to no avail.

Zhang Luo scoured Zruhpus for any sign of Yang Yuan, to no success. Where could she be at such a late hour?

Anxiety and fear crept into his heart as their wedding anniversary loomed just two days away. Yang Ming and Lin Kai had callously toyed with Yang Yuan's emotions, leaving Zhang Luo feeling utterly helpless.

"My love is like the tide, pushing me toward you..."

In the still of the night, the ringing of Zhang Luo's cell phone jolted him.

"Don't bother telling me when you get home!"

Zhang Luo glanced at the caller ID—it was Liu Xiao.

"No, Yang Yuan is at home. She's locked herself in her bedroom!"

It was Liu Xiao who had called. The memory of Zhang Luo rescuing her earlier that evening kept replaying in his mind. He had ended up calling Yang Yuan, only to learn she was at home.

Zhang Luo picked up a stone and hurled it into the sea, berating himself for his foolishness.

Why hadn't he thought to go home to his wife?

Wang Yan stood in the living room, unable to open her daughter's bedroom door, and berated Yang Jianchuan, "I can't fathom what your father was thinking, letting our daughter marry that good-for-nothing."

"Did you see how Yang Miao stole the show when Lin Kai came to propose today?"

"Bang!"

Just then, the door swung open. Having heard that Yang Yuan was home, Zhang Luo had run all the way back, too late to catch a taxi and arriving out of breath.

"You finally decide to show up?"

Yang Ming had left the Yang family gathering early to look for Yang Yuan, leaving Wang Yan and Yang Jianchuan to endure the family's disdain.

"Do you even understand why Lin Kai married Yang Miao?"

"Don't you dare bring up Lin Kai in front of me again!"

Zhang Luo was well aware of why Lin Kai had married Yang Miao. He was practically a matchmaker himself!

Previously, Wang Yan had made a bet with Zhang Luo—if Yang Ming apologized, she would stop mentioning Lin Kai to Zhang Luo.

"This is madness!"

Wang Yan, witnessing Zhang Luo's agitation, remembered the bet and realized she had lost. She held back any further reprimands.

Zhang Luo slipped on a different pair of shoes and approached the bedroom door, which Yang Yuan had locked from the inside. "I'll accompany you the day after tomorrow," he said, standing outside.

Suddenly, Yang Yuan opened the door. Inside, everything seemed unchanged except for the slightly wrinkled bedsheets, evidence of where Yang Yuan had been sitting.

"What difference does it make if you accompany me?"

Yang Yuan was painfully aware that it was a scar she could never bring herself to touch, a lifelong hurt she wished to avoid at all costs.

The next morning, Yang Yuan sought out Liu Xiao. Three years earlier, Liu Xiao had been the only one by her side at her wedding.

Upon waking and not finding Yang Yuan, Zhang Luo surmised she had gone to see Liu Xiao. He had covertly observed Yang Yuan and Liu Xiao deep in conversation the previous night, chatting away until the wee hours before finally retiring to bed. Zhang Luo rose, got ready, and hailed a taxi to Skytop Estates.

At the entrance to Skytop Estates, Zhang Luo stepped out of the cab, ready to inspect the house Lin Handong had renovated.

"Hello, who are you here to see?"

He was promptly intercepted by a security guard.

"I'm one of the homeowners!"

Zhang Luo was slightly annoyed, having been stopped at the gate so early in the morning.

The security guard nearly burst into laughter. In his time working here, he'd only seen Skytop Estates' residents arrive in luxury cars or dressed in sharp suits.

Someone like Zhang Luo, clad in a sports outfit worth less than two hundred yuan, claiming to be a homeowner was unheard of. There were plenty who tried to sneak into Skytop Estates to get a taste of the wealthy lifestyle.

While the guard was still doubting Lin Kai, a Ferrari 458 pulled up. Noticing the gate remained closed, Chen Hang stepped out of the Ferrari.

"Why isn't the gate open?"

"Mr. Chen, my apologies, there's someone here trying to force their way into Skytop Estates. I'll open the gate for you immediately!"

Chen Hang glanced at Zhang Luo and sneered, "You think you belong in Skytop Estates?"

"I am the owner here!" Zhang Luo reiterated to Chen Hang.

"You're quite tenacious. This place is a hub for Zruhpus' wealthy, inhabited by either the city's moguls or top officials."

Watching Zhang Luo continue to stand his ground against Mr. Chen, the security guard hurried over to mediate.

"So, common folk can't live here?"

Zhang Luo's heart sank a bit at Chen Hang's words.

"Common folk? Who among them could afford a place like this? You're far too naive."

Chen Hang had truly provoked Zhang Luo's wrath. In a swift motion, Zhang Luo threw a punch, landing it squarely on Chen Hang's face.

"Spit! You dare to hit me? Do you have any idea who my grandfather is?"

"How dare you strike the grandson of Chen Yu!"

The security guard began to taunt as well. Chen Yu was among the top ten wealthiest individuals in the entire Hua Zhong region, several notches above Lin Handong. His influence was so extensive that he could sway the economy of Zruhpus; people usually steered clear of such a high-profile figure.

"Hit me, I dare you!" Chen Hang yelled at the security guard.

Accustomed to giving orders, the security guard didn't respond. He typically showed Chen Hang respect only because of Chen Yu's influence.

"Show some respect to others from now on!"

Zhang Luo threw another punch, and blood gushed from Chen Hang's nose.

The security guard was shocked. Who was this man? He was well aware that Chen Hang was Chen Yu's grandson, yet he didn't hold back his punches!

Enraged, Chen Hang tightened his fists and lunged at Zhang Luo, but how could he hope to best Zhang Luo?

It wasn't a matter of being outmatched; he couldn't land a single blow.

Chen Hang swung and missed, and Zhang Luo, quick to retaliate, delivered a stinging slap to his face.

Once Zhang Luo had dealt with Chen Hang, he observed Chen Hang's lack of any capacity to retaliate before entering through the door.

The security guard had already opened the door for Chen Hang, but Zhang Luo paid him no mind and confidently strode into Skytop Estates.

"You're done for!"

Chen Hang pointed at Zhang Luo's retreating figure, seething with anger.