Qiao Wen was completely unaware that when Chen Jianan returned home, he brought along a stack of newspapers containing his photos, meticulously cutting each one out. Then despite Haozi vehemently objecting, Chen Jianan tore down all the scintillating images of hot female celebrities adorning the bedside, replacing them with the newspaper clippings of Qiao Wen.

All this while, he had a lingering disdain towards the grand portrait of a nameless model on the wall, which he harbored but never had the chance to act upon, finally, seizing the moment, he ruthlessly dismantled every shred of the poster. Now, as he stood back and admired the newly adorned wall, adorned with snapshots of Qiao Wen in a suit cutting ribbons at events, a surge of satisfaction and pride washed over him, renewing his spirit.

Alas, poor Haozi, who had found solace in the colorful images of his favorite female celebrities, now found his treasured source of entertainment callously discarded by Chen Jianan. Gazing forlornly at the array of Qiao Wen’s pictures that now occupied the once-sacred space on the wall, Haozi’s eyes welled up with a silent sorrow that words could not express, as if his very essence of spiritual nourishment had been callously stripped away. 

The thought of mischief that had previously lingered in his mind, fueled by the absence of his parents, now felt futile in the face of the overwhelming display of Qiao Wen’s ubiquitous presence that surrounded him. What else can he do? 

As the end of the year approached, signaling the onset of the bustling peak season in the retail industry, the Mengzhen brand made a grand entrance with its grand and successful opening ceremony that not only set the pace but also established a solid foundation for their rapid ascent to prominence in the competitive market of Hong Kong Island.

Earning widespread acclaim for its impeccable tailoring and remarkable price performance, the brand swiftly carved out a unique niche in the market, capturing the attention and admiration of both the newly-minted white-collar workers and the burgeoning middle-class businessmen, who sought a blend of sophistication and affordability in their sartorial choices.

The brand’s ability to cater to this specific demographic propelled it to the forefront of the fashion scene, capturing the hearts and minds of those who desired a polished look without breaking the bank.

For these fresh faces stepping into the fast-paced world of corporate life, Mengzhen emerged as not just one option among many, but rather a premier choice that representing the epitome of sharp professionalism and contemporary elegance synonymous with achieving success in the modern world.

Qiao Wen’s career in this world progressed seamlessly, but he attributed his success to Lin Zihui’s male protagonist halo. 

At the same time, Chen Jianan’s career as a gangster was in full swing. Yet an unexpected transformation occurred – influenced by Qiao Wen’s unmistakable style and refined taste, Chen Jianan developed a newfound appreciation for suits. Each day, he donned a crisp white shirt paired with a tailored black suit, exuding a sense of power and authority as he led his men to enforce their stronghold outside the city limits, managing debts and territories with a newfound sense of sophistication and confidence.

Wearing formal attire not only makes him look more stylish and handsome, surprisingly it also didn’t hinder the speed of his punches, he also gained the name as “suit thug” it gradually spread across.

The only thing he was thankful for was that Zhao Shanhai, for some reason, did not let him do anything shameful except collecting debts and grabbing territory. 

Qiao Wen only hoped that he would survive this way until the next year, and wait for the police to enter the city to sweep up the Zhao Shanhai gang, and then Chen Jianan would naturally be able to leave the Hexing Society. At that time, he should have enough ability to pave the way for him. 

At the close of the year, a significant event unfolded within the city as Lin Zhaoming’s Lin Group and his wife’s Zhong Group merged to establish the rebranded Lin Group, appointing Lin Zhaoming as the chairman and Zhong Kaiwen as the director. While outwardly appearing as a harmonious union, the abrupt departure of Director Zhong Kaiwen to the UK immediately following the merger raised eyebrows and speculation in business circles. 

While the public speculated about the sudden departure, Qiao Wen had an inkling that it was linked to the unresolved assassination plot. The intricacies of the family feud remained largely unknown to the outside world, but there was no denying that Lin Zhaoming emerged victorious in this family infighting. 

The seemingly peaceful Lin family, nestled in its own world of rights and wrongs, held a deep-seated complexity that Lin Zihui, being a part of it, naturally recognized. Under Qiao Wen’s suggestion, Lin Zihui took decisive action to completely separated the Mengzhen brand from Mingyue Factory and making it his own business, with plans to shift operations to a new factory after the upcoming New Year.

At the end of the year, in accordance with the contractual agreement, Qiao Wen was entitled to a significant dividend payout amounting to tens of thousands of yuan, calculated based on a 10% profit share. This financial windfall marked a significant milestone for Qiao Wen, representing his first real pot of gold in this world.

Despite acknowledging the promising future prospects of the garment industry, Qiao Wen found himself lacking genuine passion for it; thus, he could not always follow Lin Zihui. Determined to carve out his own unique path in this world, he recognized the imperative need to establish a career that resonated deeply with his personal aspirations and ambition.

Embarking on an entrepreneurial journey requires a robust financial foundation. While the combined sum of dividends and tens of millions from the stock market appeared substantial, it fell short of the substantial capital required to launch a successful business endeavor.

Fortunately, this was a great era in which the myth of wealth could be easily created. Even if the stock market crashes, there would still the Real Estate. Even if the Real Estate collapsed, there was still gold and crude oil. He was not an investment genius, he just got a little bit of luck to seize a little opportunity. 

Half a month before stock market closure for new year, he and Chen Jianan went to the stock exchange with all the stock certificates.

As the stock market continued its upward trend, consistently hitting an all-time high today. This upward trend had enticed numerous investors, igniting a frenzy of activity as people scrambled to take advantage of the soaring market trends. Some investors were even bold they not only willing to stake everything they had but also resorting to borrowing money to capitalize on what seemed like inevitable profits. The allure of quick wealth, the prospect of achieving overnight riches, proved too irresistible for many individuals. 

As the duo made their way through the crowded lobby of the stock exchange, Chen Jianan couldn’t help but be taken aback by the sight of the fervent stockholders desperately trying to buy stocks. He couldn’t help but turned to Qiao Wen: “Are we really going to sell all of these stocks? Are we not going to hold any?” 

Qiao Wen recollected the wise words of a renowned stock guru: “There is a famous investment saying by a stock guru: When others are greedy, I am fearful; when others are fearful, I am greedy. With so many people rushing into the stock market, it means it’s time to withdraw. Go and line up to clear them all.” 

Chen Jianan nodded as if understanding, took the stock and began the process of queuing up to sell their stocks. 

Qiao Wen, who was following behind him, looked around the swarming crowds, and sighed silently, pondering the devastating impact of a potential stock market crash that could spiral into bankruptcy and even loss of life for many individuals during the first half of the year. 

In the ruthless game of the capital, the common folk were mere pawns used by the wealthy and influential, while the true beneficiaries were always those with deep pockets and power.

Upon completing the transaction, the canvas bag in Chen Jianan’s hand was bulging with more than 2 million yuan garnered from stock sales. Recently, he quickly entered the peak of his earnings phase in 19 years because of debt collection and money lending, and his monthly income skyrocketed to several thousand yuan. 

Now carrying more than two million, he felt like dreaming, and kept pulling Qiao Wen: “Xiao Qiao, could it be that we’ve truly acquired this much money? Why do I feel so unreal?” While talking, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being in a dreamlike state, occasionally pulling the zipper a little to see if the money inside was still there. 

“It all feels so implausible to me.”

Qiao Wen said with a smile: “Of course the money is real, just as real as the bullet hole in your stomach. You traded half your life for the principal, how can it be cost-effective if you don’t make three or four times as much?”

Chen Jianan touched the scar left by the gunshot wound on his stomach and nodded: “It’s true.” Seeing Qiao Wen heading to other direction to the walled city, he asked, “Xiao Qiao, where are we going now? ?”

Qiao Wen: “Going to buy a house.”

Chen Jianan was surprised: “Buying a house?”