C9 The Crown Prince Appeared in a Flash

Caught between the ideals of being a good person and fulfilling the role of a man, Chiang Le chose the former.

Lin Yu's beauty had not gone unnoticed by Chiang Le, who had secretly admired her. The thought of sharing a beautiful story with Lin Yu filled him with joy.

Yet, he knew that such a story shouldn't start in a ridiculous manner.

Chiang Le would never forget how the warm yellow glow and the aroma of delicious food from Lin Yu's room comforted him each time he returned home, weary to the bone.

With a determined bite to his tongue, Chiang Le fought to his feet and gently pushed Lin Yu away.

"Sis, this isn't right."

A drunken haze clouded Lin Yu's eyes as she gazed at Chiang Le. "Little Le, do you like me?"

"I do," Chiang Le admitted with a nod. "But..."

"All my life, whether in studies, work, dating, or marriage, I've followed the crowd, striving to please others, never making choices for myself. Just this once, I want to be selfish." Lin Yu's voice wavered between laughter and tears as she stumbled toward the bathroom. "I'm going to take a shower."

As Lin Yu disappeared into the bathroom, Chiang Le was plunged into a profound inner turmoil.

Memories of Lin Yu's tenderness and Little Guoer's adorable laughter filled him with a sudden, overwhelming fear of tarnishing such innocent joy.

Chiang Le lit a cigarette, his mind replaying every smile and frown of his girlfriend, Zhang Miaomiao. Ultimately, he made the tough choice.

Like a man fleeing a scene, Chiang Le left Lin Yu's house and retreated to his own rental next door.

The door slammed shut behind him, and he gasped for air, the rush of cold water from the faucet bringing some semblance of calm.

Lin Yu was wonderful, and Chiang Le's affection for her ran deep, but he couldn't make her any promises.

He couldn't stand the thought of hurting anyone—Lin Yu, Little Guoer, or his girlfriend, Zhang Miaomiao.

Would he feel a sense of loss for passing up such a beautiful opportunity? Undoubtedly.

But would he regret it? No.

Chiang Le lay in bed, staring into the darkness above, the restlessness in his heart refusing to subside.

In that moment, his thoughts were consumed by the lovely image of Lin Yu.

Time had passed unnoticed when the cool moonlight filtered through the window, bathing the small cabin in its serene glow. The chill of the moon's light brought a measure of peace to Chiang Le.

As he lay on the narrow bed, a glance at the moonlight prompted a sigh from him before he softly closed his eyes.

Suddenly, the distant creak of a door opening jolted Chiang Le awake, his body instantly on edge.

Footsteps rustled closer, stopping just outside Chiang Le's door.

With a gentle push, the door swung open, revealing a figure as elegant as a lotus rising from the water, now standing in Chiang Le's cramped quarters.

The moon shone brightly outside, the midsummer night air thick with heat. Crickets chirped in the distance, their song mingling with the hum of unseen insects and the distant echo of a car horn. As Chiang Le listened to the cacophony of the world beyond, he felt an overwhelming sense of its beauty for the very first time.

Gradually, the sounds from outside faded into silence, leaving no trace of their existence. The world around him stilled, and Chiang Le drifted into a sweet slumber.

Dawn broke, and Chiang Le's eyes fluttered open.

Lin Yu had slipped away at some unknown hour.

Still in bed, Chiang Le savored the memory of the night's beauty, sighing contentedly. He stretched, checked the time on his phone, and a subtle smile graced his lips.

It was like a fleeting dream.

He had experienced such a wondrous dream that upon waking, it had vanished without a trace. Yet the memories, deeply etched and unforgettable, remained vivid in Chiang Le's mind.

For the first time, the world had shown him kindness.

Chiang Le had felt the world's tenderness, and the beauty of the experience filled him with hope for what lay ahead.

He envisioned a future brimming with joy and aspiration, bright with promise. He was determined to savor life's pleasures, and just as importantly, to remain a person of integrity—kind, loving, and a positive force in society, unlike those corrupted by power.

In three days, school would resume, and Zhang Miaomiao would return.

Their long-standing relationship beckoned him to be bold and take the next step forward.

Chiang Le rose to his feet, beginning his morning routine of washing up and tidying his space when the phone rang.

It was Elena on the line.

"Boss, where are you?"

"In my rental," Chiang Le replied nonchalantly.

"Okay, I'm on my way to get you," Elena said. "Following your instructions, I've set up a meeting with the top brass of Jiang City. Once that's done, you'll join the leaders for a tour of Phoenix Real Estate's headquarters. And then... the Economic Investigation Bureau will immediately take over Phoenix Real Estate to probe into the financial dealings of siblings Yang Aoxue and Yang Aomin."

"Great!" Chiang Le's spirits lifted, and he nodded emphatically.

Now was the moment to unleash his true prowess!

The world has looked down on me, deceived me, slandered me, bullied me, and insulted me! How should I respond?

I won't endure it, accommodate it, ignore it, or sidestep it.

I'll seize the moment and give them a slap they'll never forget!

Refusing to pay me my hard-earned money, huh? Framing me for theft and robbery, huh? Indifferently driving me to the edge of despair, huh?

I'm eager to see the looks on your faces when you see me!

While Chiang Le was lost in thought, Elena had hurried over.

A spread of sumptuous breakfast dishes was laid out before him.

As Chiang Le ate, Elena presented a variety of clothing options for him to select from.

With utmost care, Elena assisted Chiang Le in dressing sharply. As he stepped outside, the door to the Mercedes-Benz S500 was already ajar.

Without a moment's delay, Chiang Le climbed into the Benz, and together with Elena, they sped towards the Phoenix Building.

"This car's pretty comfy," Chiang Le remarked.

"This is one of the more modest models under your name," Elena commented coolly. "It's not too pricey, rather basic, but it's the best choice for today's needs. So, it'll do for now."

An imported luxury car deemed basic... Chiang Le was taken aback by Elena's words once more.

Indeed, I'm now a man at the apex of the food chain!

Cars that once seemed unattainable were now mere child's play to him.

As Chiang Le rode along, a wave of solitude washed over him, the loneliness of a man without peers.

Last night, a bombshell announcement sent shockwaves through Phoenix Real Estate.

The enigmatic Crown Prince had emerged from the shadows, making a powerful comeback.

The entire senior management of Phoenix Real Estate was on edge.

The most anxious of all was the Jiang City branch of Phoenix Real Estate.

Yang Aoxue, the branch's executive director, had spent a sleepless night. She and the company's top brass had worked tirelessly to prepare because... the Crown Prince was coming to personally inspect the Jiang City branch of Phoenix Real Estate tomorrow, and he was planning to increase his investment!

In the grand scheme of Phoenix Real Estate's formidable business empire, the Jiang City branch was merely a blip on the radar.

Yet, the mysterious Crown Prince held the destiny of the entire Phoenix Real Estate in his hands, as well as the fates of nearly a thousand employees at the branch!

If the Crown Prince was pleased, Yang Aoxue could expect a meteoric rise, ascending to the pinnacle of the business elite, gazing down upon the masses.

But if the Crown Prince was dissatisfied with her, a single word from him could send her crashing down! That was a scenario she could not allow to unfold!

She had to impress the Crown Prince, striving for perfection in every detail!

In anticipation of this momentous occasion, Yang Aoxue had stayed up all night, brainstorming countless strategies with her team, until at last, they settled on what she believed to be the perfect welcome plan.

The Phoenix Building was festooned with decorations by a professional celebration company.

A long red carpet unfurled from the Phoenix Building all the way to the plaza entrance.

Flanked by the carpet was a corridor of vibrant, blooming flowers, creating a stunning display.

At the plaza's entrance stood a magnificent archway, its splendor complementing the massive banner that read, "Welcome, Crown Prince, to the inspection!"

Yang Aoxue, along with the company's high-ranking officials, waited anxiously in front of the Phoenix Building, their eyes constantly scanning the horizon.

A few obsequious security guards, dressed in crisp uniforms, kept order.

The celebration company's staff stood by with an array of surprise fireworks, poised for the signal.

Today, Yang Aoxue wore subtle makeup, enhancing her natural beauty.

Her outfit was meticulously chosen.

The elegant yet playful suit accentuated her flawless figure, making her stand out. Paired with her carefully selected black stockings, she was the epitome of allure.

Yang Aoxue had left two buttons deliberately undone at her chest, creating a tantalizing view that would be fully revealed with just a slight lean forward. She intended to seize the perfect moment to dazzle the Crown Prince with her beauty.

The Crown Prince was shrouded in mystery; his personality and preferences were unknown to all. Yet, Yang Aoxue was confident that her striking figure and looks would capture his favor.

Despite his lofty status, the Crown Prince was, after all, a young man. And as such, he was not immune to the allure of a beautiful woman.

The prospect of catching the Crown Prince's eye and weaving a wondrous, fantastical romance was a delightful thought. Such fanciful dreams began to dance in Yang Aoxue's imagination.

At 9:45 AM, as everyone waited with bated breath, a formidable motorcade made its way into view at the end of the road.

They've arrived!

The crowd buzzed with excitement.

The convoy came to a halt, and Yang Aoxue's gaze sharpened. These were the familiar faces she'd only seen in the news—many of Jiang City's leaders had arrived.

The senior officials stepped out with poise and elegance, commanding the scene. The Crown Prince's ability to have these dignitaries waiting on him was a testament to his formidable presence.

Even before laying eyes on him, the Crown Prince's power and enigma had already made an indelible impression.

Following the leaders' arrival, a fleet of Toyota Land Cruisers cleared the way, and a Mercedes-Benz glided smoothly into the square. The license plate matched the number provided by headquarters exactly.

Yang Aoxue's heart raced. She took a deep breath, straightened her attire, and led the company's middle management toward the unfolding event.

Amidst a chorus of eager anticipation, the enigmatic Crown Prince had finally arrived.