C10 Just You Alone?

The best-laid plans start with the spring, and the day's success begins with the morning. Before the clock struck six, Faang Yu had already climbed out of bed as the sky was just beginning to brighten.

He changed into his running gear and hit the pavement downstairs for his morning jog—a ritual he'd maintained since childhood, regardless of the season's chill.

Only insurmountable forces could break his routine, like rain or snow.

Otherwise, come heat or cold, Faang Yu's dedication never wavered, keeping him in excellent health. He could easily knock out a hundred push-ups in one go.

After a ten-kilometer run, a sweat-soaked Faang Yu returned to his rental, showered, and slipped into a silver leisure suit he'd purchased for ten thousand Void Spirit Coins from the System Shop. With the convenience of the System Shop, mall trips became obsolete; after all, no earthly attire could hold a candle to its offerings.

Faang Yu had even resolved to start sourcing a range of clothing for 18 to 40-year-olds from the System Shop to sell. Once his finances were more robust, he planned to buy out the two adjacent shops, break through the walls, and expand his Myriad Spirit General Store.

With his laundry washed and hung to dry, Faang Yu grabbed the purple-gold invitation from Old Master Su and headed to the address inscribed upon it.

...

Dragon Tiger Town, Clear Incense Garden.

The destination on the purple-gold invitation was not a villa complex or commercial housing as Faang Yu had first guessed. Although Dragon Tiger Town fell under East Wind City's domain, he had never visited and was unfamiliar with the area. Upon arriving at Clear Incense Garden, he was taken aback.

The so-called Clear Incense Garden was, in fact, a sprawling manor, spanning 4,000 square meters—roughly six acres. While modest in the grand scheme of estates, in the top-tier East Wind City of East Province, land was a premium commodity. The real estate here might not rival the famed Shanghai Bund, but it wasn't far off. Here, housing prices soared beyond 10,000 yuan per square meter, and while land costs were slightly less, they still exceeded 10,000 yuan per square meter.

In other words, Clear Incense Garden is worth a cool 40 million yuan even without any construction. Throw in development costs, and you're looking at a figure that won't dip below 100 million yuan to secure it. It's clear that Old Master Su doesn't do things by halves.

In all of East Wind City, you'd be hard-pressed to find many tycoons carrying the Su name.

Faang Yu had his suspicions.

Though it was just past ten in the morning, a sizable crowd had already formed outside Clear Incense Garden. Security was tight at the gates; on this particular day, an invitation was the only ticket inside.

The crowd was predominantly middle-aged men and women in their forties and fifties, all smartly dressed in suits and leather shoes, exuding an air of distinction. Among them milled a number of attractive young men and women, likely either their dates or relatives.

Faang Yu was the exception, arriving solo.

Yet, in such a throng, his solitary presence didn't stand out.

"Faang Yu, what brings you here?" As Faang Yu's gaze swept the surroundings, a melodious voice caught his attention. Turning, he saw a young woman in a striking red dress, her attire revealing a generous glimpse of cleavage, approaching him. Her features were refined, her eyebrows arched in surprise—clearly, she hadn't expected to see Faang Yu here. At her side was a young man sporting Fann Sizhe, his demeanor haughty.

Gu Huishi, a star student from East Wind University's computer science department, was once the talk of the campus and had shared a past with Faang Yu.

But their story followed the path of a well-known curse.

Post-graduation, they went their separate ways!

Many couples scoff at such superstitions, with a few making it to the end. Yet, most can't seem to dodge the so-called curse.

Faang Yu and Gu Huishi were one such pair that fate had not favored.

The breakup had been initiated by Gu Huishi, citing career choices as the reason.

Faang Yu was set on building his future in East Wind City, a premier urban hub of East Province that could hold its own against the likes of Beijing and Shanghai. Gu Huishi, however, had plans to return to her hometown. This had been a point of contention between them.

Later, Faang Yu opted to compromise, but Gu Huishi declared they were no longer a match and ended their relationship.

Despite Faang Yu's attempts to win her back, his efforts were in vain as Gu Huishi remained resolute in her decision to leave.

For the last two years, Faang Yu had been out of touch with Gu Huishi. She was absent from class reunions, and he certainly didn't expect to encounter her here. The stylish young man at her side was likely her new beau.

Once a couple parts ways, they often become strangers.

While some manage to stay friends post-breakup, that wasn't the case for Faang Yu and Gu Huishi.

Yet, to call them complete strangers wouldn't be accurate either.

"It's been a while!" Faang Yu greeted Gu Huishi with a nod, his tone neither warm nor deliberately aloof, akin to classmates bumping into each other.

"What brings you here?" Gu Huishi appraised Faang Yu, noting the significant changes in him over the past two years. His youthful face had matured, and the silver casual suit he wore accentuated his stature, giving him the air of a successful individual. He seemed to have fared well recently, though he still didn't quite measure up to the man by her side.

Gu Huishi was increasingly convinced that her decision to leave Faang Yu for the man now with her was the right one.

Indeed, during her senior internship, she had met her current boyfriend. Her favorable attributes caught his attention, and he began to court her. At the time, her relationship with Faang Yu and his considerate nature made it difficult for her to reciprocate the new suitor's advances, though they continued to keep in touch.

Post-graduation, employment issues became a point of contention between Faang Yu and Gu Huishi. While the matter could have been easily resolved, Gu Huishi used it as a pretext to break things off with Faang Yu and soon after, started a relationship with her current partner.

Perhaps harboring a tinge of guilt towards Faang Yu, she had avoided the annual class reunions for over two years. Running into Faang Yu now was entirely unexpected.

She had assumed that after more than two years apart, Faang Yu would show some emotional reaction upon seeing her. However, his composure took her by surprise. He treated her sighting as though she were just another classmate, which left Gu Huishi feeling somewhat unsettled.

Some people are just peculiar. Even after a breakup, they yearn for their exes to harbor a lingering affection, a craving that feeds their indefinable vanity.

"I've come to celebrate Old Master Su's housewarming joy!" Faang Yu responded.

Gu Huishi's mouth twisted slightly, her skepticism clear. She suspected that Faang Yu was simply putting on a show for her benefit.

The young man at her side, however, appeared far more nonchalant, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Really, just you?" he challenged.