He patted Chen Yuan’s shoulder.

Chen Yuan opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but then fell silent again.

‘Dad saw right through me after all…’

Ever since meeting Jiangg Ruxue and confirming just how well-off Jiangg’s family was, a hint of inferiority had taken root in his heart. If he counted the resources Jiang Zhengfeng provided him, few people would be better off than Chen Yuan. But the key was that this was a convenient, rich father who had appeared out of nowhere.

If it weren’t for this father.

Jiangg Ning would probably be a girl completely out of his league.

‘Should I be proud of having a rich dad?’ Chen Yuan thought, his mind wandering. He had always been a person with a great deal of pride. For all these years, he had never spent a cent of the living expenses Jiang Zhengfeng sent over. He gave it all to his adoptive mother to keep, still bothered by it deep down.

Although this pride was rather ridiculous.

But when it came time to get married, should he cast aside these strange thoughts and comfortably enjoy everything Jiang Zhengfeng provided?

Even if it meant being a good-for-nothing rich kid just coasting through life?

‘And spend a happy life with Jiangg… Is that okay?’

Chen Yuan unconsciously picked at the lint on the dirty towel, his brow furrowed.

But Jiangg Ning was so outstanding… A university professor at such a young age, highly educated, earned a lot of money, and possessed knowledge, looks, and wealth.

Every time he sat in the passenger seat of that Porsche, he couldn’t shake the strange feeling of being a kept man.

After a long moment of thought, Chen Yuan suddenly seemed to think of something. He dropped the towel, walked into his bedroom, and started rummaging through his things.

He finally found a small card. After a moment’s hesitation, he dialed the number on it.

…

That evening, after dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Chen went out for a stroll at the public sports field. Chen Yuan, contrary to his usual habits, wasn’t glued to his computer playing games.

Nor was he reading a book.

Instead, he was browsing information on topics that had never interested him before.

The screen’s faint glow reflected off his handsome face.

Suddenly,

RING RING RING—

The phone rang.

Seeing the contact name on his phone, Chen Yuan had a bad feeling, but he answered the call anyway.

“Hello…”

“You’re going to intern at Pei’s company?”

Hearing Jiang Zhengfeng’s voice, Chen Yuan slapped his forehead.

He had told him several times not to tell Jiang Zhengfeng, but it hadn’t even been half an hour, and the news had already reached him.

‘Pei Youwen, didn’t you just swear you wouldn’t tell? You really can’t trust the words of an adult,’ Chen Yuan cursed inwardly.

“Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t think something so minor was worth mentioning.”

“No, I don’t agree. You should be focusing on your studies. Once you’ve finished your degree, you can intern at any company you want. There’s no need to do these meaningless things right now. I just don’t get it, you were doing just fine at university…”

Chen Yuan listened to half of Jiang Zhengfeng’s long, stern lecture before pulling the phone away from his ear.

He was starting to get impatient.

“I wasn’t asking for your permission. As long as Pei agrees, it’s fine. He’s the chairman, after all.”

“But he’s my employee. He knows what I want.”

“Fine, I’ll find a different company.”

“Why? You have to at least tell me the reason.”

“Because I want to work. I want to adapt to the professional world early and get more work experience. Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Utterly ridiculous,” Jiang Zhengfeng’s cold laugh came through the phone. “You’re that ambitious? Weren’t you the one who just wanted to stay in school and study quietly before?”

“That was then, this is now,” Chen Yuan retorted.

“I’m your father. And on top of that, you’re coming to intern at one of my companies. You couldn’t even be bothered to call and tell me?”

“You’re so busy, I didn’t think it was necessary. What if I called right when you were in a meeting?”

“What a good son. So considerate of me.”

“…”

Chen Yuan was just making an excuse.

Of course, Jiang Zhengfeng knew he was full of it.

Chen Yuan clearly never intended for him to find out.

…

The two had a huge argument and parted on bad terms.

「Far away, inside a landmark building in Kyoto.」

Jiang Zhengfeng threw down his phone and rubbed his face in frustration. It took him a long while to calm the tempest raging in his chest.

It was hard to imagine that this man, who was normally so stern and unsmiling, could experience such a huge emotional swing.

Everyone has a weakness.

For Jiang Zhengfeng, the one person who could stir his emotions the most was Chen Yuan.

“The documents. Bring them here, I’ll deal with them.”

Jiang Zhengfeng loosened his shirt collar and beckoned to his assistant, who had been waiting for a long time.

The documents were placed on the desk.

He was reviewing them, trying to calm his emotions.

The assistant, who had overheard the entire conversation, had been standing silently to the side. He suddenly spoke up cautiously, “Yuan wants to go to work?”

“The work isn’t the issue. The issue is that he doesn’t discuss anything with me…” Jiang Zhengfeng said without looking up.

“Young people’s minds are fickle. It might just be a fleeting idea.”

“I hope so.”

“So, President Jiang, you don’t approve?”

“Of course I don’t approve. What good would it do for him to be an intern? To experience the bitterness and hardships of the lower ranks? Or, he’ll go, Pei Youwen will know he’s my son, and won’t dare say a harsh word or give him any real responsibility. Wouldn’t that just be a waste of time? He’ll just lose interest and slink back to school in the end—Forget it. I’m not talking about it anymore.”

Jiang Zhengfeng picked up a pen and signed his name with a flourish, then took a seal out of his drawer.

“You see… it’s no wonder Yuan doesn’t communicate with you.”

“What do you mean?” Jiang Zhengfeng’s head shot up.

“I… I won’t say any more!” The assistant quickly covered his mouth, taking a frightened step back.

“Keep talking.”

“Well, it’s just that you always make decisions for him without his input.”

“Of course I have to for him…”

Jiang Zhengfeng had just started to speak when he suddenly realized.

The assistant wasn’t wrong at all. He had indeed been using an adult’s mindset to counter the supposed naivety of someone Chen Yuan’s age.

It had always been this way.

…

The debaucherous nightlife thrived on a charming street that could dazzle anyone who set foot on it. Even in winter, women in heavy makeup and high boots showing off their pale white thighs could be seen strolling down the street, bags slung over their shoulders.

The night was still young.

By the early morning hours, even the benches on the main street would be occupied by drunks who had had too much to drink.

And the beautiful, wild girls would climb into expensive sports cars and speed away.

「In a hotel on this street.」

A woman sat on a swing attached to the bed, swinging idly as she stared out the window, bored.

Meanwhile, a man was in the bathroom, talking to someone on the phone.

WHOOSH—

After the sound of running water, Pei Youwen walked out without even wiping off the water droplets. His eyes were wide, as if he still hadn’t recovered from his shock.

“Youwen, what took you so long? I’ve been waiting forever! As a reward, let’s not use one today, okay?”

The heavily made-up woman jumped off the swing. Her towel fell off with the movement, revealing a decent figure.

She grabbed for Pei Youwen’s arm, her voice cloyingly sweet.

However, in the next second…

“AH—”

The woman was shoved directly onto the carpet, landing in a daze. She rubbed her bottom and wailed.

“Get lost!” Pei Youwen sat down stiffly on the bed, his hand gripping his phone tightly.

“Are you crazy?! Why did you push me?!”

“What the hell do you know? Get out now and go cool off somewhere. I’m not in the mood.”

Then, a stack of red bills was thrown at her with a THWAP, scattering across her face.

As for Pei Youwen, he scratched frantically at his hair. After a long moment, he lifted his face, the corners of his mouth twitching uncontrollably, his cheeks flushed with irrepressible ecstasy.

“I… I’m going to make it big! I’m going to reach the pinnacle of my life!”

Pei Youwen clasped his hands together in prayer.

“Oh, heavens above! Saint Emperor Guan! My daily prayers and incense offerings weren’t in vain! My chance has finally come!”

「Just a moment ago.」

His great benefactor, Jiang Zhengfeng, had called and told him some things about his son. Pei Youwen had listened for a long time without daring to breathe.

After hanging up, he pinched his thigh hard for a long time.

Only then did he confirm it wasn’t a dream.

He, the chairman of a small company, was actually fated to one day mentor the crown prince!

Young Master Jiang is the Crown Prince Jiang of the Jiang Corporation!

If he, Pei Youwen, could seize this opportunity, wouldn’t he have a chance to enter the long-coveted Jiang Corporation in the future… And Young Master Jiang was so young. One day, after Jiang Zhengfeng retired, as a trusted confidant, wouldn’t he be second to only one person and above ten thousand in the corporation!

At this thought, Pei Youwen’s breathing hitched.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep