Reborn in Russia as an Oligarch #1-353
Author: 琉璃湾
Date: 2025-12-27T01:42:29+00:00

Chapter 1: Eating Noodles in the Dark

“Dead pretty boy! Earn in Pengcheng, spend in Pengcheng—don’t even think about taking a single cent home!”

The landlady, Auntie Li, glanced down at her phone to check the payment notification, chuckling as she scolded him.

Wang Ye put away his phone, his face twisted in a bitter smile, but he didn’t say a word.

His freshly deposited salary, after paying Auntie Li four thousand five hundred yuan in rent, left him with less than ten thousand yuan in his bank account.

Don’t think that’s a lot. As the deputy general manager of a small company, his expenses were considerable.

This money had to cover this month’s socializing, meals, gas, parking fees, and he still needed to send five thousand yuan back home.

To live a little more decently, he hadn’t moved into a cheaper rural rental. Instead, he’d chosen a modest apartment in a decent neighborhood.

The complex was a bit old, and the buildings showed their age, but at least it was a proper community—gated, with decent greenery, a parking lot, and even a small kindergarten.

He had long wanted to bring his wife and daughter to Pengcheng. His daughter had just started kindergarten, and enrolling her in the community’s kindergarten would be convenient.

But after discussing it with his wife several times, he’d given up on the idea.

No other reason.

Just one word: poor.

He hadn’t bought a house in Pengcheng yet. What kind of home was that? Was he supposed to make his wife and daughter come live with him in a rental?

“Ahem, Xiao Wang, tonight I’m having dinner and karaoke with a few sisters. Come with us! I’ll introduce you to some friends. Don’t just hole up at home all the time. Men need to socialize, make connections—how else are you going to get ahead?” Auntie Li tilted her head up, looking at Wang Ye with a smile.

Auntie Li was a native of Pengcheng. Though only in her early fifties, she had long since retired from work. She lived off the rent from over a dozen properties, her days passing in dull monotony.

Wang Ye quickly waved his hands in refusal. “No, no, Sister Li. I still have a report to finish tonight—I need it for work tomorrow. Next time, definitely!”

“You little rascal, so handsome, if you’d just loosen up a bit, you wouldn’t be in this mess. Tsk, serves you right for being such a loser!” Auntie Li muttered, swaying her wide hips as she strode away, leaving Wang Ye behind, speechless and bitter.

……

The year was 2021. Wang Ye was thirty-eight, on the verge of turning forty—the age of no longer being confused.

He worked at a foreign trade company as the deputy general manager, overseeing several dozen subordinates.

Don’t be fooled by his current take-home pay of just over ten thousand yuan a month. This was due to the global pandemic’s impact, which had severely reduced the company’s export business.

There was nothing to be done. As the deputy general manager, he had to lead by example and “voluntarily” propose a pay cut, taking only the most basic salary.

In previous years, when foreign trade was booming, he could easily take home two to three hundred thousand yuan annually.

In his thirties, a man in his prime—experienced, mature, with a distinguished appearance and refined manners—he was quite popular among his female subordinates and clients.

Even Auntie Li had hinted at him more than once, urging him not to be so stubborn…

But Wang Ye was proud at heart. Every time, he pretended not to understand or found an excuse to decline Auntie Li’s invitations.

To outsiders, Wang Ye seemed to be doing well.

A company executive, earning tens of thousands a month, living in a community apartment, and driving a Lexus ES200—nicknamed the “suit-wearing brute,” “performance beast,” and “highway lightning” by car enthusiasts.

In Pengcheng, this was considered a fairly decent life.

But who knew the hardships behind it all?

Wang Ye’s wife lived in their hometown, a small fourth-tier city in the Central Plains, with his parents. Their house was quite spacious—a large four-bedroom, two-living-room apartment.

Her job wasn’t bad—she was an elementary school teacher.

Of course, a teacher’s salary in a small town couldn’t compare to that of a first-tier city. In Pengcheng, a public elementary school teacher might earn twenty to thirty thousand yuan a month, but in their small hometown, she only took home three to four thousand.

The upside was the two long vacations each year, and the work was relatively relaxed, making it easier to take care of their child.

Wang Ye had chosen to rent in this community partly to make it convenient for his wife and daughter to visit during summer breaks.

If that were all, it wouldn’t be so bad. Most people lived like this, didn’t they?

A few more years of hard work, and maybe there’d be a promotion, a raise, and then he could bring his wife and daughter over.

Wang Ye himself had already obtained residency in Pengcheng. Originally, he planned to buy a house first, then use the policy for direct family members to transfer his wife and daughter’s residency, making them all “new Pengcheng residents.”

Life’s trajectory was supposed to be ordinary but warm and happy.

But Wang Ye wasn’t satisfied!

Someone once said that in life, a person despairs three times.

First, when they realize their parents are just ordinary people.

Second, when they realize they themselves are just ordinary.

And finally, when they admit their children are also ordinary.

Wang Ye was now facing the second despair, but he refused to accept that he was just an ordinary, mediocre man. He wanted to struggle, to change his own fate and that of his family!

If he was going to play, he was going all in!

To that end, in 2015, he took out all his family’s savings—one million yuan!

This was the money originally meant for buying a house. He took it all out.

Then, through credit cards, JD Finance, and WeChat loans, he scraped together another million. With these two million, he plunged headfirst into the stock market…

At first, during the bull market, any stock he bought made money.

His two million quickly grew to two million four hundred thousand.

In less than a month, he’d made forty thousand!

During that time, Wang Ye felt like he was walking on air. Making money was so easy…

He even considered quitting his job to become a professional stock trader.

Forty thousand a month, five hundred thousand a year!

And that didn’t even account for compound interest. With a bit more luck, making millions in a year wasn’t a dream!

But just as he was about to submit his resignation, the stock market crashed…

At first, like countless other investors, Wang Ye thought it was just a “bull market correction.”

As the stock market saying went, a dip was just a springboard for a higher jump!

As long as he didn’t sell, the losses on paper were just numbers—they weren’t real losses.

So, another month passed, and his two million four hundred thousand turned into just over one million…

Wang Ye was truly frightened. Even ignoring the earlier profits, he was still down a million!

The remaining money was just enough to pay back his bank loans. The other million was gone!

This was the money for their house, their entire family savings.

Back when he was making money, he’d check his phone dozens of times a day. Every time he saw the bright red “Today’s Net Profit” number, he’d grin from ear to ear.

But over the past month, he’d been checking his stock app less and less.

Because he was afraid to see that vast green “prairie”!

But what had to come, came. With a heavy heart, he opened his phone and tapped the Galaxy Securities app.

He glanced at it, then closed his eyes in pain…

No luck at all. The stock he was fully invested in had hit the daily limit down again!

Another hundred thousand gone.

At this point, Wang Ye had long since become numb to the losses. Losing tens of thousands a day was just a number to him now.

He didn’t even think about how to pay back the loan.

Because thinking about it was useless!

He lay back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling with his eyes closed, lost in thought.

……

As evening fell, he mechanically got up and went to the kitchen to boil a pot of water, then tore open a packet of instant noodles.

A few minutes later, the noodles were ready. He carried the bowl back to the living room.

Opening the fridge, he took out two cans of chilled beer.

The apartment was small, with no dedicated dining room, and since he never had guests, there wasn’t even a dining table.

He sat on the sofa, hunched over the coffee table, eating his instant noodles.

The room was already quite dark, but Wang Ye was too lazy to get up and turn on the light.

Lately, stock market forums had been buzzing with the term “eating noodles in the dark”—which pretty much described his situation.

He felt the room was too oppressive, too gloomy, so he casually opened the Douyin app on his phone, hoping some short videos would lift his spirits.

As soon as he opened the app, a deep, magnetic voice began to speak.

“I thought at eighteen, I could carry my dreams and venture to places I’d never been, with the heart of a child, living out my youthful dreams.”

“I thought at twenty-five, I’d stand above others, seen as someone with a bright future, able to take control, making others step aside, bringing joy to my parents.”

“I thought at thirty, I’d join the ranks of the powerful, no longer losing sleep over a few coins, no longer suffering in silence, no longer retreating in disgrace.”

“But that once fearless spirit, I left behind forever, in my precious eighteenth year…”

Hearing this, Wang Ye’s tears fell.

He, too, had once had many opportunities. If he had seized just one, he wouldn’t be living like this now.

His eighteenth year—he, too, had once had such dreams!

……

After finishing the bowl of noodles and two cans of beer, Wang Ye, who usually had a good tolerance for alcohol, felt unusually tipsy today.

Maybe he’d drunk too quickly.

His head spun, and he felt awful.

Without even washing up, he staggered to his feet, pushed open the bedroom door, and collapsed onto the bed, falling into a deep sleep…

Chapter 2: Returning to Eighteen

“Ye Ge! Ye Ge! Wake up, wake up, we’re almost there!”

Wang Ye, who had been sleeping soundly, suddenly felt someone shaking his shoulder.

Opening his bleary eyes, he froze.

Where was this?

Wasn’t he asleep in bed?

How did he end up on a minibus?

The young man sitting next to him, shaking his shoulder, looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t remember who he was.

Wang Ye turned his head woodenly to look at the window beside him, only to find it covered in a layer of white mist.

Just as he raised his hand to wipe the window and see what was outside, he was surprised to find himself wearing a thick down jacket!

After all, he was in his thirties, and after years of experience in society, he could keep his composure.

Wang Ye casually reached out and wiped the window with his sleeve, finally able to see outside.

At first glance, he was stunned again.

Outside the window, everything was white…

It was nighttime, and the minibus was speeding down an empty road. Under the dim yellow streetlights, large snowflakes drifted through the air, slowly settling on the ground.

The snow piled up on the side of the road was already about a meter high!

When was the last time he had seen such heavy snow…

A thought suddenly popped into Wang Ye’s mind.

He had studied at Moscow University, and in that godforsaken place, it snowed for at least half the year.

Heavy snow like this was extremely common and nothing to be surprised about.

But after graduating and returning to China, he hadn’t seen such heavy snow again.

Just as he thought of this, the minibus passed by a large gate.

The gate was simple, even crude—just an open iron fence that could be seen clearly from the road.

Directly opposite the gate was a large gray-white building, not very tall but covering a vast area.

The square main building looked like a giant stone block, with several rows of striking black Russian letters: “Российскийуниверситетдружбынародов.”

Wang Ye recognized it at a glance—it was the “Russian People’s Friendship University!”

His alma mater…

In an instant, memories flooded back like a tide.

Wang Ye recalled that this scene should be from January 1, 2001, when he had just arrived in Moscow to begin his life as an international student.

Now, he was on a minibus from the airport to the school.

But the problem was, all of this had happened twenty years ago!

He had clearly returned to China long ago and had been living in Pengcheng for many years!

Could he be dreaming…

………………..

Turning his head again to look inside the minibus, seven or eight lively faces came into view.

They were all around seventeen or eighteen years old, some boys and some girls, each with a smile on their face, full of anticipation.

Some of them looked familiar to Wang Ye, but he couldn’t remember others.

At that moment, the boy sitting next to him—the one who had woken him up—smiled and said, “Ye Ge, we’ve arrived at the school. I heard that classes are on break now, so we’ll have to wait a few days before we can start.”

Wang Ye’s heart stirred, and he blurted out, “Liu Xiao Jie?”

The boy was taken aback and responded blankly, “Huh? What’s wrong, Ye Ge?”

Wang Ye’s mind was in turmoil—it really was Liu Xiao Jie!

But…

This was Liu Xiao Jie from over a decade ago!

He had been one of Wang Ye’s closest friends during university.

After graduation, Wang Ye returned to China, while Liu Xiao Jie stayed in Russia to develop his career.

They had been apart for over ten years, and gradually, they lost contact.

Don’t think it’s strange that Wang Ye couldn’t remember other classmates. If you study at a university in China, you usually get to know your classmates well, and even ten years after graduation, you might still remember many of their names.

But studying abroad is completely different.

The relationships between classmates are more distant. After all, everyone is just part of the same group of international students, and they might only be in the same class during preparatory courses.

Once they enter their respective majors, they might not be in the same class anymore.

Additionally, everyone is busy with their own things—some study hard, some stay in their dorms playing computer games all day, and some work part-time while studying, so you rarely see them.

In such circumstances, how could relationships be very close?

So, after studying here for a few years, you might only have a few close friends, and with most people, you’re just familiar enough to call them by name—you can’t really say you have a relationship with them.

Moreover, it’s been over ten years since graduation without much contact, so it’s normal not to remember names.

………………..

Wang Ye reached out and opened the window a crack. A biting cold wind rushed in, making him shiver, but his mind became clearer.

“Don’t open the window, Ye Ge, it’s freezing. I heard it can get down to minus twenty or thirty degrees Celsius at night here,” Liu Xiao Jie, sitting next to him, shivered and quickly said.

Wang Ye smiled and “slammed” the window shut.

Although he didn’t know what had happened, whether it was a dream or a rebirth, he had returned to being eighteen…

Every adult has fantasized at some point about what they would do if they could relive their life.

Now, the opportunity had come!

How many times had he, while reminiscing about his past life as an international student, realized how many opportunities he had missed!

Without exaggeration, if he had seized just one of those opportunities, his life wouldn’t have been as bleak as it later became…

But that’s life. When opportunities are right in front of you, most people don’t realize how rare they are.

Only a few seize the opportunity and become so-called successful people.

………………..

The old minibus rattled into the campus on the left side of the road and stopped in front of a low but long old building.

Wang Ye was familiar with this place—it was the preparatory dormitory of the Friendship University, commonly known as “Building Six.”

The dormitory area of the Friendship University had a total of thirteen dormitory buildings. Except for Building Thirteen, which was a high-rise, the others were all six-story old buildings.

It was said that these buildings were already forty years old, built when the university was first established.

The street outside the dormitory area was called “Miklukho-Maklaya Street.” On both sides of the street were the university’s campuses—one side was the teaching area, and the other was the dormitory area.

The teacher leading the group at the front of the minibus stood up and called out to everyone, “Everyone, bring your luggage and follow me off the bus. Make sure you don’t leave anything behind. The dormitories have already been arranged for you. I’ll help you check in, and then I’ll take each of you to your rooms one by one. You can wait and rest in the dormitory lobby.”

The students on the bus pulled their suitcases and got off one by one. Wang Ye deliberately waited until the last one to go to the back of the bus to get his luggage.

Because he couldn’t remember what his suitcase looked like, to avoid taking the wrong one, he decided to go last…

After dawdling until the end, when Wang Ye went to get his luggage, he found, besides a huge hard plastic suitcase, there was also a bulging red mesh bag. Through the mesh, he could see a blue plastic basin inside, with two large white plastic bags stuffed into it.

Pausing for a moment, Wang Ye reached out to pull the suitcase, but even with effort, he couldn’t move it—it was too heavy!

With great effort, he pulled the suitcase down and hung the red mesh bag on the suitcase handle before following the group to enter the dormitory building…

Chapter 3: Arrival at the Alma Mater

Due to the cold weather, the dormitory building here had a double-layered entrance. That is, outside the main gate, there was a glass-structured doorway. The outermost layer was a thick green canvas curtain, effectively blocking the cold air from outside.

Lifting the curtain and passing through the glass doorway, they arrived in front of the main entrance of the dormitory building. It was a typical Suzhou-style gate, with a wooden door frame, a large door handle, and double-layered strip glass embedded in it. The door handle and frame had a slightly oily sheen, a sign of long use and wear…

As soon as they entered the hall, they felt a wave of heat on their faces, a gust of warm air hitting them. Some students wearing glasses immediately had their lenses fog up, unable to see anything.

Due to the climate, Moscow had snow for seven or eight months a year. Usually, it started snowing in October and continued until April of the following year. And that wasn’t all—sometimes, even in May, June, or even July, snowflakes would occasionally drift down!

The climate was cold, with temperatures dropping to around minus thirty degrees, so heating was extremely important. Here, the indoors and outdoors were completely different worlds. When Wang Ye and his group had just gotten off the bus, even though they were bundled up in thick down jackets, thermal underwear, and thick pants, they were still instantly frozen to the bone, feeling the cold deep in their marrow.

Standing outside, they couldn’t help but shiver…

But when they reached the dormitory hall, it was like stepping into summer! They even saw some students passing through the hall in short sleeves and shorts…

The heating was strong, with indoor temperatures above twenty-five degrees, so wearing short sleeves and shorts was perfectly normal. Wang Ye also knew that once they got to their rooms, the temperature would be even higher, sometimes reaching around thirty degrees, making it impossible to cover up while sleeping…

“Wow, why is it so hot? I’m already sweating.” Liu Xiao Jie, standing next to him, unzipped his down jacket, took off his glasses, lifted the hem of his thermal shirt, wiped the lenses, and put his glasses back on.

Wang Ye smiled but didn’t say anything, though he also unzipped his down jacket. In just a short while, he was already slightly sweating.

The teacher leading them, Teacher Wu, went to the dormitory management office to handle the procedures, leaving them standing in the hall waiting.

Wang Ye looked around. Although many years had passed, he still had faint memories of the place—after all, he had lived here for more than half a year. This Building No. 6 housed all the preparatory students.

Domestic university students might not be familiar with the concept of “preparatory courses,” but foreign students coming to study here had to take a year of preparatory courses and pass the preparatory exams before they could formally enter university.

Wang Ye and his group had come straight from high school to study at the university, so they also had to take preparatory courses. They had come through an agency, which had started processing their applications in June or July of the previous year, but the agency had been quite slow.

As a result, they were supposed to have come to study preparatory courses in September of the previous year, but the delay had cost them nearly half a year. However, the agency had also communicated with the school, and they would be placed in an “accelerated class,” needing only half a year of preparatory courses before entering university.

Of course, this was only possible if they passed the preparatory graduation exam.

Before coming, Wang Ye and his group hadn’t been idle. The agency had arranged a Russian language training class for them, allowing them to start learning early. The preparatory courses mainly focused on Russian because, once they entered university, they would be studying with Russian students, and without language proficiency, they wouldn’t understand the lectures.

As for whether one year was enough to truly reach the required level, everyone knew the answer. In the first and second years, they could barely manage the professional courses, focusing mainly on language learning. Only those who truly worked hard would have their language skills basically up to par by the third and fourth years.

As for most students who didn’t study hard, they might not even be able to communicate with Russians in daily life by the time they graduated.

The group of students who went abroad after high school was a mixed bag—some were there to study, others to coast. It depended on their choices.

Compared to others, those who came to study in Russia were a bit better off. They were from families with some money but not enough to be wealthy. At most, they might not study seriously and just play on the computer all day, but they didn’t have the means to squander money…

Among the international student community, there was a consensus: if you wanted to talk about “trash students,” those in New Zealand were first, followed by those in Australia…

Generally, students who went to those two places weren’t there to study but to immigrate and get visas. Moreover, the cost of studying there was very high, and families without sufficient means wouldn’t dare send their children there.

The true “elite” among international students were those who went to the United States, whether they went after high school to study at university or after graduating to pursue a Ph.D. Because studying in the U.S. required either a very wealthy family or outstanding personal academic achievements…

The dormitory hall was quite spacious. In the inner corner, there was a small shop selling food, drinks, and daily necessities; the rest of the space was empty. The floor was covered with wooden planks, not the high-end “oak flooring” or “redwood flooring” popular in China. Since wood resources were abundant here, many buildings had wooden floors.

The wooden planks here were quite distinctive—all rectangular strips about the length of a palm, densely laid on the ground. Over the years, the floor had become loose, creaking with every step.

“Ye Ge, the environment here is pretty good. I wonder which dorm I’ll be assigned to. It would be great if we could be in the same one.” Liu Xiao Jie said again.

The two of them were from the same hometown and had trained in Russian together before coming. Liu Xiao Jie was the same age as Wang Ye, both eighteen, but he was half a head shorter. He was honest and straightforward, and his relationship with Wang Ye was quite good.

“Probably not. Didn’t the teacher say on the bus that to help us integrate faster, they would try to separate us?” Wang Ye smiled.

Indeed, to quickly integrate into a new environment, it was best not to stick with familiar people. If Chinese international students continued to live and study together, their language skills would improve slowly because they would communicate in Mandarin, leaving fewer opportunities to practice the language.

But if they lived with foreigners, even if not Russians, everyone would try to communicate in Russian. This would unconsciously push them to improve their language skills quickly.

In this regard, the agency was quite responsible, and their intentions were for the students’ benefit.

Chapter 4: The Enthusiastic Class Monitor

Just as Wang Ye was chatting with Liu Xiao Jie, two girls joined them.

One was tall and thin, the other short and plump.

Though Wang Ye couldn’t recall their names, he had a vague impression of them—they were his fellow townspeople.

But since the short, plump girl had dropped out of the preparatory courses early due to the harsh weather and returned home, while the tall, thin girl had transferred to another school after finishing her preparatory studies, Wang Ye wasn’t particularly close to either of them.

The tall, thin girl smiled and said, “I heard the dormitories here are co-ed, and we’ll all be staying in this building.”

Liu Xiao Jie’s face flushed slightly—whether from shyness or the heat, it was hard to tell. He took off his glasses again, but this time, instead of using his shirt to wipe them, he pulled out a pack of tissues from his pocket and cleaned the lenses.

He glanced at the tall girl and replied, “Actually, that’s not so bad. We can look out for each other.”

The short, plump girl scanned the group before suddenly saying, “Hey, is that shop still open? I want to buy something. Ye Ge, come with me, will you?”

Though they had all received the same language training, Wang Ye’s Russian was by far the best among them.

It was strange—back in high school, his English had been terrible, no matter how hard he tried. But when it came to Russian, it was as if something had clicked. The moment the teacher explained something, he understood it instantly.

After just a few months of training, Liu Xiao Jie and the others had only mastered the basics—Russian letters, simple grammar, and basic conversations.

Wang Ye, on the other hand, could already hold daily conversations with the training instructor.

Of course, this was before his “rebirth.” Now? He had spent nearly eight years studying and working in Moscow!

After returning to China, he had worked in Sino-Russian trade. While he wouldn’t claim his Russian was at the level of a simultaneous interpreter, his vocabulary and pronunciation were nearly indistinguishable from a native Russian speaker.

As for the short, plump girl—her Russian was so poor that she didn’t even dare go shopping alone, insisting on dragging Wang Ye along.

Wang Ye nodded. He was thirsty anyway and wanted to buy a bottle of water.

Liu Xiao Jie, seeing this, quickly chimed in, “Wang Dan, let’s all go together and get some snacks and drinks.”

He was speaking to the tall, thin girl, and Wang Ye learned that her name was Wang Dan.

Wang Dan gave a slight nod, ignoring Liu Xiao Jie, and instead turned to the short, plump girl. “Xiao Yun, what do you want to buy? No need for food—I’ve got several buckets of instant noodles in my luggage. If we get hungry later, we can eat those.”

But the short, plump girl shook her head with a smile. “We still need to buy something. Without hot water, are we supposed to eat the noodles dry? Let’s see if they have cake or something. Just grab whatever.”

Before they could even decide what to buy, a short, wiry Chinese guy walked straight toward them, greeting them with a smile from afar. “Welcome, welcome! Teacher Wu just told me you’d arrived. Oh, right, I’m Zhou Yuan. I came a few months earlier than you, through the same agency.”

Though they didn’t know this guy, they had all heard the name “Zhou Yuan.”

Teacher Wu, their group leader, had mentioned him before—they were the “class monitor” of this batch, having arrived earlier.

So if they needed anything after getting here, they could ask Zhou Yuan for help.

In a foreign land, fellow countrymen were like family, naturally closer.

And since Zhou Yuan was from the same province, had come through the same agency, and was studying abroad in the same year, he was practically one of their own.

After exchanging introductions, Wang Ye took the chance to memorize the other students’ names.

He already knew the tall, thin girl was Wang Dan.

The short, plump girl was Li Xiao Yun.

There were also four other male students, making a total of eight in this final group.

After a bit of small talk, Li Xiao Yun brought up the idea of going to the small shop again.

Zhou Yuan immediately volunteered to take them, patting his chest confidently.

He had been in Moscow for nearly half a year—buying things in Russian was a piece of cake for him!

The other guys, hearing their conversation, quickly joined in, saying they wanted to come too.

So, they piled their luggage in a corner by the wall, and under Zhou Yuan’s lead, the whole group marched into the small shop.

It was already quite late, and the shop was nearly empty.

Only a plump middle-aged saleswoman sat lazily behind the cash register, barely glancing up as they entered.

Wang Ye took a quick look around. This wasn’t like the supermarkets back home—it was an old-fashioned shop where everything was kept behind glass counters. If you wanted something, you had to tell the saleswoman, and she would get it for you.

“Take a look first and decide what you want to buy. Then tell me one by one, and I’ll get it for you. Oh, and you don’t have rubles on you, right? This shop doesn’t take dollars directly. Here, I’ll lend each of you two hundred rubles—that should be enough. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to exchange some rubles, and you can pay me back then.”

As he spoke, Zhou Yuan pulled out his wallet and started handing out money.

He really was a kind-hearted guy—no wonder they had chosen him as class monitor.

Wang Ye and the others had just arrived from China, and all the money they had was in dollars. In Russia, even though the local currency was the ruble, the real “hard currency” was the dollar.

Their tuition, insurance, and other fees—everything listed in the school’s notices was in dollars.

Of course, when actually buying things or paying fees, they still needed rubles.

But in Moscow, exchanging dollars for rubles was incredibly easy—exchange booths were everywhere.

These booths were hard to miss, just a small window with a large electronic display showing the day’s exchange rate.

You could walk up, hand over your dollars, and get rubles at the current rate—no paperwork or ID required.

In early 2001, one dollar could get you around twenty-five rubles.

Many people wouldn’t believe it, but just ten years ago, the ruble and the dollar had been nearly one-to-one.

After the so-called “shock therapy,” the ruble had plummeted, and the life savings of ordinary people had practically vanished into thin air.

Before coming, the agency had told them to bring dollars.

Even the school’s notices listed tuition and housing fees in dollars.

…

The saleswoman had probably seen countless foreign students in her time, so when Wang Ye and the others walked in, she didn’t even look up, just kept reading her book.

Reading was a common habit in Russia.

On buses, in the subway, even in lines outside museums—you’d always see people with their noses in books.

It was said that over ninety percent of Russians had college degrees, and the general population was highly educated, far surpassing many other countries.

The shop’s selection was simple—mostly bread, milk, drinks, and snacks.

“Their kholodets is pretty good, but remember to buy white bread—don’t get the black bread. That stuff is sour and hard; we’re not used to it!” Zhou Yuan advised.

Back in China, Russian bread was often called dalieba, especially the Harbin-style dalieba, which was actually different from the Russian version—it had been localized.

Chapter 5: The Black Roommate

After hearing Zhou Yuan’s introduction, Wang Ye and the other boys decided to each buy a “big loaf of bread”…

No, the proper Russian term should be “khleb.”

They also bought a large carton of milk. Not only did they have a midnight snack, but they also had enough for breakfast the next morning!

Things in Russia were known for being “big and chunky.”

The bread was as large as a brick. A girl probably couldn’t finish even a third of it in one sitting.

Even for the boys, half a loaf would be enough to fill them up.

As for the milk, it was basically sold in one-liter cartons.

In addition to bread and milk, the girls also bought some extra snacks like potato chips.

Next, it was Zhou Yuan’s turn to shine. He called over the saleswoman and pointed at the items on the shelf, saying, “Eta, eta, eta…”

Finally, he casually asked, “Skol’ko stoit?”

Which meant, “How much is it?”

Wang Ye listened in silence. After half a year, was this the level of Zhou Yuan’s Russian?

But he didn’t say anything. He just followed along and bought some food and drinks.

Unlike the others, who bought white bread, Wang Ye picked up a dark, rectangular loaf wrapped in clear plastic. This was his favorite kind of bread.

It was a type of black bread, but this one had nuts and raisins inside, with a layer of sugar frosting on top. It was quite delicious.

Of course, the price was also much higher than ordinary bread.

A loaf of white bread cost only eight rubles, while this one cost twenty-one rubles.

For ordinary students, it was quite expensive.

As for drinks, everyone bought large cartons of milk.

A one-liter carton of milk cost only sixteen rubles, which was still cheaper than back home.

…

After buying their things, the group leader had already returned to the hall.

“Alright, I’ve taken care of all the formalities, and the dormitories have been assigned. You’re all on the second floor. Wang Ye, you’re in 202, Liu Xiao Jie in 203, Wang Dan and Li Xiao Yun in 217…”

As he spoke, the group leader handed out the keys.

The dormitories here were triple rooms, with shared bathrooms, toilets, and kitchens on each floor.

The group dragged their luggage up to the second floor of the dormitory, each finding their own room.

It was already quite late, and most of the dormitory doors were closed. Clearly, many students had already gone to sleep.

Wang Ye didn’t immediately take out his key to open the door. Instead, he knocked a few times.

From inside, a voice immediately responded, “Who is it?”

It wasn’t in Russian but in Chinese. Clearly, the person inside was a Chinese exchange student.

“Just arrived. Assigned to this dormitory,” Wang Ye replied calmly.

The door opened quickly, revealing a tall and burly figure in front of Wang Ye.

Wang Ye was already quite tall at one meter eighty-five, but this person was half a head taller than him, probably around one meter ninety.

“Haha, you must be Wang Ye! I got a notice this afternoon saying your group would arrive tonight, and you were assigned to my dormitory. Come in! Oh, I’m Song Xiao Gang,” the burly man at the door said with a smile.

Wang Ye looked at Song Xiao Gang and smiled.

He had a deep impression of this old classmate.

Song Xiao Gang was tall and burly, with a square face, thick eyebrows, and big eyes. He looked a bit fierce.

But Wang Ye knew that he was actually very kind and easy to get along with.

There were three people in one dormitory. Besides Song Xiao Gang and Wang Ye in 202, there was also a young black man.

Seeing Wang Ye pulling his suitcase in, the young black man, who had been lying on his bed reading, also stood up and smiled in welcome.

This young black man wasn’t as burly as the typical stereotype. Instead, he was thin and small, looking only a little over one meter seventy, with short, curly hair close to his scalp.

But his bright white teeth were proof of his race…

Wang Ye nodded at the young black man. Beside him, Song Xiao Gang said with a smile, “This black guy is called Uluwa, from some African country… I can’t remember which one.”

The University of Friendship was the Russian university with the most international students. From its founding, the purpose of this school was cultural exchange with other countries.

Originally named the Lumumba People’s Friendship University, it was established to train young communist party members from third-world countries. It was a symbol of the struggle for independence and liberation of the oppressed people of the third world!

Don’t underestimate this school. It was quite famous globally, having once ranked in the top thirty universities worldwide. It was known as the “cradle of world politicians,” with over a dozen national leaders and several dozen minister-level officials among its graduates.

Of course, this had nothing to do with Wang Ye. He only knew that this school had a large number of international students from all over the world…

…

While unpacking his luggage, Wang Ye chatted with Song Xiao Gang.

The extremely heavy suitcase was mostly filled with clothes, daily necessities, and even pots, pans, and some unopened seasonings, including a small bottle of sesame oil…

These were all prepared by his mother. The agency had mentioned that students here mostly cooked for themselves.

Each floor of the dormitory had a kitchen, and everyone cooked their own meals.

Of course, if you ate out every meal, that was also possible, but the cost would be quite high!

To be honest, those who chose to study here weren’t exactly wealthy. At the very least, they weren’t wealthy enough to eat out every meal…

So Wang Ye and his classmates had all prepared their own cooking utensils, with pots, pans, and everything else they needed.

Whether they could cook or not was another matter, but having these things prepared in advance was necessary. Even if they couldn’t stir-fry, they could at least boil some noodles.

Wang Ye had never cooked before coming here, but he had seen his mother cook. He figured he could handle simple dishes.

After unpacking, he went to the bathroom to wash up and prepare for bed. Sitting on a plane all day had been quite tiring.

…

Lying in bed, the lights were off, and the room was pitch black.

Beside him, Song Xiao Gang and the young black man seemed to have already fallen asleep, their faint snores audible.

But Wang Ye couldn’t sleep. He lay there with his eyes open, his mind in turmoil.

Today…

No, the events of the past two hours had been too sudden.

He, a man nearing forty, had suddenly returned to twenty years ago?

The fact that he had managed to keep his composure until now was a testament to his ability to stay calm. Now, in the quiet of the night, he could finally think carefully about what he should do next!

Clearly, this wasn’t a dream. Wang Ye had already secretly verified it in several ways.

For example, he had pinched his thigh hard…

There was still a green bruise on the inside of his thigh!

Since he had truly returned to twenty years ago, Wang Ye felt a surge of excitement.

This era wasn’t just a time of rapid development and opportunities in China.

Russia was also in the early stages of rapid development, with plenty of opportunities…

Chapter 6: Midnight Turmoil

Just as he was lying in bed, lost in thought, pondering what to do next, he suddenly heard a loud bang bang bang—someone was pounding on the door, startling Wang Ye.

This wasn’t knocking—it was outright smashing the door.

He furrowed his brow, as if recalling something.

It seemed that what had happened before was about to repeat itself, only this time, it wasn’t happening to him but to Song Xiao Gang.

The pounding also woke up Xiao Hei and Song Xiao Gang.

“Who is it?” Song Xiao Gang called out loudly.

“Open the door. We need to talk to Song Xiao Gang,” came the reply in Chinese from outside.

Hearing that it was for him and that it was a Chinese exchange student, Song Xiao Gang quickly got out of bed, slipped on his slippers, turned on the room light, and went to open the door.

Wang Ye had wanted to warn him not to open it, but he couldn’t think of a good excuse in time.

Song Xiao Gang opened the door and saw three young men standing outside—one tall and burly, one of average build, and one short and skinny.

“Old Gao, Big Liu, you looking for me? Who’s this…?” Song Xiao Gang asked.

He seemed to recognize the two taller ones, but the short, skinny one was unfamiliar.

What happened next was exactly as Wang Ye remembered…

The short, skinny man looked up at Song Xiao Gang, drawing out his words as he asked, “You’re Song Xiao Gang?”

His voice sounded like he’d been drinking.

Song Xiao Gang nodded. “Yeah, that’s me.”

He was still puzzled—what were these guys doing here in the middle of the night?

Before he could finish the thought, the short man suddenly jumped up and kicked him in the stomach.

It happened so fast that Song Xiao Gang had no time to react or prepare.

The kick landed solidly in his gut.

Even for someone as big and strong as him, the blow was hard to take.

Thud thud thud—he clutched his stomach and stumbled back several steps.

Wang Ye sat up, clearly seeing Song Xiao Gang’s face turn pale. That kick had really hurt!

“Damn you! You’re the one who insulted me yesterday! I’ll teach you a lesson, you—” The short man cursed as he lunged forward, raising his leg to kick Song Xiao Gang again.

But this time, Song Xiao Gang was ready. He sidestepped and dodged.

Given his build, he should have been able to handle the scrawny man easily. Wang Ye knew that Song Xiao Gang wasn’t just some dumb brute—he had trained at the Tagou Martial Arts School for over a decade!

With his skills and size, taking on ten of these skinny guys wouldn’t have been an exaggeration.

But for some reason, Song Xiao Gang didn’t fight back. He just held his stomach with one hand and pushed the short man away with the other, hastily explaining, “You’ve got the wrong guy! When did I insult you? I don’t even know you!”

The short man flicked his long hair and continued cursing. “Bullshit! It was you! Yesterday at dinner, you called me a good-for-nothing! Damn it, I am a thug, and I’m here to beat you up!”

Hearing this, Song Xiao Gang remembered.

Yesterday was New Year’s Day. The owner of the Chinese restaurant downstairs had invited all the Chinese exchange students in the preparatory building to a meal.

The restaurant was in the annex of the preparatory building, quite nicely decorated in a classical style.

The owner was also an exchange student, currently pursuing a PhD. He was doing well here and was already an “old hand” in Moscow.

During the meal, the short man had been sitting at the table next to Song Xiao Gang. From start to finish, he had been bragging about how tough he was back home, how no one in his small town dared to mess with him.

He had come abroad because he had hurt someone and needed to lie low for a while.

When Song Xiao Gang heard this, he couldn’t help but laugh and joked with his friends that the guy was just a good-for-nothing. What was there to brag about?

Apparently, the short man had overheard and had come to settle the score tonight.

Sigh, he really should have kept his mouth shut. Talking carelessly abroad could really cause trouble.

While Song Xiao Gang was distracted, the short man landed several more blows on him.

It was clear that the short man had plenty of fighting experience. Though he was small, his strikes were heavy.

Because of the height difference, he had to jump to land his punches.

Song Xiao Gang kept defending passively, not striking back. The two men who had come with the short man were subtly taking sides.

They stood on either side of Song Xiao Gang, holding his arms and muttering.

“That’s enough, that’s enough. Just let off some steam. We’re all classmates here. Peace is best.”

“Stop hitting him, stop hitting him. That’s enough. Don’t really hurt him…”

They were pretending to mediate, but they were actually restraining Song Xiao Gang, leaving him unable to move and forced to take the beating.

As soon as the fight started, Xiao Hei, their roommate, had widened his eyes, quickly gotten out of bed, and slipped out of the room.

Now, only Wang Ye, Song Xiao Gang, and the three intruders remained in the room.

“Fuck you! I’ll kill you for insulting me!” The short man cursed as he grabbed a bottle of Lao Gan Ma chili sauce from the nearby table and swung it at Song Xiao Gang’s head.

Wang Ye couldn’t stand by any longer. He had been silent up until now, but now he stepped forward, lifting his leg and delivering a flying kick that landed solidly on the short man’s shoulder.

Wang Ye was strong too, even if he hadn’t trained in martial arts like Song Xiao Gang. His size alone made him formidable.

The kick sent the short man flying sideways, crashing into the tall man who had been holding Song Xiao Gang back.

“Enough! Bullying people, huh? Trying to make this a big deal? Let me tell you, you all might want to find out what it’s like to sit in a Moscow jail cell! Breaking into someone’s dorm in the middle of the night to beat them up—should I call the dorm supervisor over?” Wang Ye said sternly.

The short man, kicked flying by Wang Ye, nearly fell. His head was spinning—partly from the alcohol, partly from the blow. He didn’t even know what had happened.

Wasn’t he the one beating someone up? How had someone started hitting him?

His two friends saw Wang Ye step in—or rather, kick in—and panicked. Before they could say anything, Wang Ye’s sharp rebuke left them speechless.

Because what Wang Ye had said was exactly what they were afraid of!

This was Moscow, a foreign land.

Honestly, who wouldn’t be worried about causing trouble?

They had only come over because they’d had a few drinks—liquor courage—and because the short man had boasted about his “street smarts,” certain that Song Xiao Gang wouldn’t fight back.

Besides, they had only come to teach Song Xiao Gang a lesson. As long as he didn’t make a fuss, nothing would come of it.

He had read Song Xiao Gang’s personality correctly, but he hadn’t expected to run into someone like Wang Ye, who didn’t play by the usual rules.

Chapter 7: Bullying the Weak, Fearing the Strong

The lanky, short-haired boy finally steadied himself and realized what had happened. His face flushed with anger as he reached into his pocket, seemingly about to pull something out. But Wang Ye’s words made him pause.

“You… why did you hit me? We don’t have any grudges, do we?” the short boy glared at Wang Ye, his voice trembling with indignation.

The words were almost laughable. He had been beating Song Xiao Gang without any reason, but now that Wang Ye had kicked him, he was suddenly talking about reason…

Song Xiao Gang glanced at Wang Ye with gratitude. He had been humiliated, beaten without being able to fight back. It wasn’t that he was afraid, nor that he couldn’t take on the three of them—he had his own concerns!

If Wang Ye hadn’t stepped in, today would have been a disaster for him.

The tall, chubby boy who had come with them spoke up, “Hey, hey, you’re new here, right? I haven’t seen you before. This is between the two of them, why are you meddling? Don’t cause trouble for yourself when you’re out.”

Wang Ye smiled calmly. “So now you want to talk reason? Then let me ask you—when you barged in and started beating someone, were you being reasonable? Am I meddling? I just couldn’t stand by and watch! You two…”

He pointed at the two boys who had come with the short one. “You actually dared to get involved in this? Did you think I was joking earlier?

If the dormitory manager finds out about this, you could be expelled and sent back to China. And if I hadn’t stepped in, things could have gotten even worse. Then you’d get to experience what it’s like to sit in a foreign jail cell.

Do you think just because you’re minors, no one will care if you fight? This isn’t China, and it’s certainly not your home! Your parents might spoil you there, but here, no one will!”

His words clearly intimidated the three boys. The tall, short, and chubby ones exchanged glances, their earlier arrogance gone.

They were all seventeen or eighteen, fresh out of high school. In a moment of impulsiveness, they had barged in and started a fight. They hadn’t realized the severity of the consequences, nor had they expected to run into someone so tough…

Wang Ye’s words were reasonable and easy to understand. Now that their drunkenness had worn off, their minds cleared, and fear set in.

The main issue was that they couldn’t win in a fight, nor could they win in an argument…

Physically, Wang Ye and Song Xiao Gang were both tall and sturdy—one over 1.8 meters, the other nearly 1.9 meters! Earlier, Song Xiao Gang hadn’t fought back, so the short boy had been able to punch and kick him so easily…

But now, the situation was completely different. With Wang Ye stepping in, it was two against three.

As for the three of them, the other two could only help by pulling someone aside or giving covert assistance. If it came to an all-out fight, they wouldn’t stand a chance.

The short boy assessed the situation and realized how unfavorable it was for him! If he continued, he would be facing two “giants”—this was “man on top of man”!

With his small, chicken-like frame, he couldn’t take it!

Thinking this, he immediately softened, forcing a smile. “Yeah, yeah, I had a few drinks tonight and acted on impulse. Let’s just call it even. And… let’s forget about Song Xiao Gang cursing at me. We’re all compatriots; we shouldn’t fight among ourselves and let the Russians laugh at us.”

At this point, Wang Ye had become the main focus in the room, while Song Xiao Gang, the original victim, had become a spectator.

Standing to the side, watching Wang Ye, Song Xiao Gang felt a mix of emotions.

He was grateful to Wang Ye. Without him, today would have been a huge humiliation!

A grown man, beaten by a scrawny kid without being able to fight back…

The physical pain was nothing compared to the emotional trauma!

But he really couldn’t fight back…

………………..

After saying a few face-saving words, knowing he couldn’t get away with it today, the long-haired short boy tried to slip away.

He signaled his two accomplices, who understood and, with awkward smiles, tried to leave.

Song Xiao Gang’s lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he remained silent.

Just as the three were about to leave the room, Wang Ye spoke up.

“Stop right there. This isn’t over yet.”

The long-haired short boy stumbled, stopping in his tracks, and turned to look at Wang Ye, his face twisting into a bitter smile. After hesitating, he asked, “What now?”

Wang Ye took two steps forward, reaching the doorway, and grabbed the long-haired boy by the collar, lifting him up as if he were a small chicken.

This kid was probably no taller than 1.6 meters and was very skinny. With a little effort, Wang Ye could lift him with one hand.

Yet, he had dared to come and beat someone as burly as Song Xiao Gang. Wang Ye couldn’t help but admire his courage.

Perhaps this was what they called “liquor giving a coward courage…”

After a few drinks, he had forgotten his own weight, and luckily for him, he had run into Song Xiao Gang, who hadn’t fought back.

Wang Ye’s action made the long-haired boy furious with humiliation. He struggled to pry Wang Ye’s hand off his collar, shouting, “This is too much, man! We’re all classmates; we’ll see each other again. You shouldn’t make enemies!”

Wang Ye grinned. “Too much? You didn’t think it was too much when you barged in and started beating someone!”

The two accomplices seemed about to step in to help, but Wang Ye pointed at them, glaring. “Stay where you are! This has nothing to do with you!”

The two immediately froze at the doorway, not daring to move.

They were just kids fresh out of high school. Maybe they were used to bullying timid classmates, but facing someone as tough as Wang Ye—tall, burly, and unafraid—they didn’t know what to do…

Wang Ye turned to Song Xiao Gang. “Come on, do to him what he did to you. Pay him back!”

Wang Ye didn’t actually want to make a big deal out of this tonight.

Honestly, if this got to the dormitory manager or even the police, it would be embarrassing!

It would just give the Russians something to laugh about—Chinese students fighting among themselves as soon as they arrived…

He had only stepped in to stop the fight and let Song Xiao Gang get some revenge. An eye for an eye, and the matter would be settled.

Song Xiao Gang hesitated, looking at Wang Ye.

Wang Ye smiled slightly and nodded at him, signaling that he didn’t need to worry and should just go ahead and hit him!

Just then, the two boys standing by the door suddenly changed expression and said hurriedly, “The manager is coming!”

Chapter 8: If You’re Going to Hit Someone, Hit Their Face

The “manager” they spoke of was, of course, the dormitory administrator.

Each dormitory building here had a head manager responsible for all matters in the building—collecting housing fees, arranging room changes, handling any issues that arose. Their authority was quite substantial.

Additionally, each floor had a smaller manager in charge of floor maintenance, including cleaning and changing bedsheets.

The head manager of Building No. 6 was an elderly woman who appeared kind but was actually quite strict and not easy to deal with.

Hearing the male student at the door “tipping them off,” Wang Ye hesitated for a moment before decisively saying, “Come on, give him two slaps, and this will be over. Don’t say anything later—I’ll handle the manager.”

With that, he grabbed the long-haired, short man by the neck and pushed him toward Song Xiao Gang.

At this point, Song Xiao Gang no longer hesitated. Gritting his teeth, he reached out and slap, slap—gave the short man two sharp strikes across the face.

The long-haired man’s face visibly reddened.

In truth, Song Xiao Gang hadn’t used much force. Otherwise, the man’s face wouldn’t just be red—it would be bruised.

A slap wasn’t particularly painful, but the humiliation was severe.

The long-haired man tried to jump up, but Wang Ye held him down by the shoulders.

At that moment, the manager arrived at the door.

The gray-haired elderly woman peered inside, her face stern as she asked, “What are you doing?”

Naturally, she spoke in Russian, but it was simple enough for everyone to understand. Wang Ye, of course, had no trouble.

The others remained silent, as Wang Ye had already instructed them not to speak—he would handle everything.

Wang Ye calmly stepped forward, approaching the elderly woman with a smile. “Hello, I’m a new student who just arrived tonight. These are all my friends. They came to welcome me when they heard I was here. We got a little carried away chatting, so it’s gotten late. Sorry about that—we’ll go to sleep right away.”

He spoke entirely in Russian.

Honestly, his proficiency far exceeded what was expected of preparatory course students.

The elderly woman was taken aback. She looked at Wang Ye in surprise.

She knew a new group of exchange students had arrived tonight—she had even processed their check-in herself.

But she hadn’t expected this newly arrived student to have such a high level of Russian. His pronunciation and word choice were impeccable.

If she closed her eyes, she might have thought she was speaking to a native Russian student.

“Your Russian is excellent. Have you studied it before? With your level, you shouldn’t need preparatory courses—you could take the graduation exam directly,” she said, her expression softening with curiosity.

“Haha, yes, I’ve studied Russian for many years. My grandfather also studied in Moscow—at the Aerospace University. He taught me Russian from a young age,” Wang Ye replied without batting an eye.

Of course, none of this was true. His grandfather had never studied in Moscow, and Wang Ye himself had never learned Russian as a child.

But none of that mattered.

His words, however, instantly made the elderly woman warm up to him.

This was a “comrade,” one of their own!

Her face broke into a smile as she kindly said, “Your family has studied in Russia across two generations—that’s quite a story. It seems your family has a special connection with Russia. Welcome to Moscow. I hope you enjoy your studies here and return to contribute to your homeland after graduation. China is also a great nation, just like Russia…”

As the two chatted pleasantly, the others stood by in stunned silence.

They couldn’t understand what Wang Ye and the elderly woman were saying.

After all, Russian was one of the most difficult languages in the world, nearly as complex as Chinese.

It was far harder than English. These students had all studied English before, and even after half a year of Russian, their proficiency was far from advanced.

To understand Wang Ye and the elderly woman’s conversation, they would need at least another year or two of study.

But looking at Wang Ye, they couldn’t help but admire him.

In a foreign land, language ability was the most crucial skill.

Without it, even simple communication became difficult.

This was Moscow—Russian was spoken everywhere. Few people here studied English, including university students. Even among those who did, fluency was rare.

Whether in daily life, school, or part-time work, Russian was essential.

Thus, students with strong Russian skills were highly valued. When others struggled with language barriers, they often turned to these proficient students for help.

Just like now—if Wang Ye hadn’t been so fluent in Russian, smoothly handling the elderly woman with just a few words, the situation could have escalated.

If she had discovered they were fighting, the consequences could have been severe—school disciplinary action, expulsion, or even deportation, just as Wang Ye had warned.

After a pleasant exchange, the elderly woman waddled out with her water bucket, reminding them to go to sleep soon and not disturb the other students.

Wang Ye nodded in agreement, seeing her to the door and waving goodbye.

Only after her footsteps faded around the corner did Wang Ye turn back into the room. Song Xiao Gang and the three other men were still standing frozen in place.

“Alright, it’s late—no more trouble. What are you still standing around for? Do you want me to see you out too?” Wang Ye looked at the three men and smiled.

The three men quickly left. How could they dare cause more trouble?

Even combined, their strength was no match for Wang Ye and Song Xiao Gang.

Plus, they had just witnessed Wang Ye’s impressive Russian skills. If things escalated, he could easily communicate with the school authorities, leaving them at a loss for words.

So without another thought, they fled as quickly as possible.

After the three left, Xiao Hei, who had been hiding outside the door, returned. He looked at Song Xiao Gang, muttering something incomprehensible. Neither Wang Ye nor Song Xiao Gang understood what language he was speaking.

But from his gestures, it seemed he was pointing out that Song Xiao Gang’s face was injured.

Then Xiao Hei looked at Wang Ye and gave him a thumbs-up without saying anything.

Wang Ye waved it off with a smile, then turned to Song Xiao Gang. “Go wash your face in the bathroom. It’s a little swollen. Use a hot towel to compress it—I’ll be back in a bit.”

With that, he grabbed his wallet, slipped on his sandals, and headed downstairs.

Chapter 9: Unspoken Hardships

In his past life, Wang Ye had encountered the same situation. Back then, however, he hadn’t dared to intervene. Like Xiao Hei, he had only hidden in the hallway, watching. It was only after Song Xiao Gang had been beaten and the three short high schoolers had left triumphantly that he returned to the room to offer some comfort.

Because of this incident, Song Xiao Gang had become withdrawn for a long time, rarely showing any smiles.

Of course, one couldn’t blame Wang Ye for not stepping in. He had just graduated from high school, inexperienced and unsure of how to handle such matters. On top of that, he had only just arrived in Moscow, unfamiliar with the place and still disoriented—how could he have dared to meddle in others’ affairs?

Now, with nearly twenty years of life experience under his belt, dealing with such a “minor incident” was effortless.

…

Arriving at the first-floor convenience store, though it was late at night, the shop remained open—it operated twenty-four hours a day.

Skillfully grabbing two large cans of beer and a jar of pickled cucumbers, Wang Ye carried them back to the dormitory.

As soon as he entered, Song Xiao Gang returned from the bathroom, pressing a hot towel to his face.

The dormitory had a hot water supply—after all, in this wretched weather, washing one’s face or brushing teeth with cold water was sheer torture.

Closing the door, Wang Ye took a can of beer, pulled the tab with a pop, and handed it to Song Xiao Gang. Smiling, he said, “Here, have a drink and let’s chat. I also got some pickled cucumbers.”

Startled, Song Xiao Gang took the beer. Clearly, he wasn’t sleepy either, his mind brimming with words he needed to share.

Xiao Hei was already lying down, wearing headphones and listening to music—whether he was asleep or not was unclear.

Wang Ye paid him no mind. Opening the jar of pickled cucumbers, the two of them each took a can of ice-cold beer and began drinking, accompanied by the tangy crunch of the cucumbers.

Taking a bite of half a cucumber and chugging a large mouthful of beer, Song Xiao Gang let out a long sigh. Bitterly smiling, he said, “You probably think I’m a coward, not fighting back even after being beaten like that.”

Wang Ye shook his head with a smile. “You must have your reasons. I can tell you’re not someone who’s easily scared—otherwise, you wouldn’t have slapped him those two times at the end.”

Indeed, if Song Xiao Gang had truly been a coward, he wouldn’t have dared to strike the long-haired short guy when Wang Ye told him to. After all, everyone understood that those two slaps meant making an enemy.

Even with Wang Ye’s intimidation that night, the long-haired guy wouldn’t dare say anything, but he would certainly hold a grudge. Who knew what might happen in the future?

Yet Song Xiao Gang had struck without hesitation!

This proved he had let go of his fears and was no longer cowering.

Hearing Wang Ye’s words, Song Xiao Gang felt as if he had found a kindred spirit—someone who understood him.

After a moment of hesitation, he began to share his story.

“My mother passed away from illness when I was very young. My father raised me alone.”

“I know he’s had it tough. He’s only in his early forties, but his hair has turned completely white—he looks like he’s in his sixties or seventies.”

“Sigh, and I’ve been no good either. My studies were poor, and I didn’t get into a good university this year.”

“For my future, my father took out all our family’s savings and even borrowed money from others to send me abroad to study.”

“Before I left, I swore that if I didn’t make something of myself, I wouldn’t return to see him!”

“So, when they hit me just now, I couldn’t fight back…”

“A few punches don’t matter, but if things escalated and the school expelled me, how could I face my father back home?”

Sure enough, Song Xiao Gang’s refusal to fight back had its unspoken reasons.

Sometimes, you only see the surface, unaware of the story behind it. Everyone has their own struggles.

Wang Ye nodded, patting Song Xiao Gang’s broad shoulder. “I understand. But you should know that when you’re abroad, you can’t just endure and retreat in the face of trouble. That only makes others think you’re easy to bully, and they’ll take advantage. Whether you’re dealing with your own people or foreigners, the principle is the same.”

Song Xiao Gang nodded repeatedly. “Mhm, I get it now. You’re amazing, Wang Ye—your Russian is so good, and the way you handle things is so… so skillful. I need to learn a lot from you in the future.”

Now, the way he looked at Wang Ye was filled with admiration—clearly, he was convinced.

Wang Ye smiled but didn’t say much. Instead, he raised his beer can. “Come on, drink up! Finish this and go to sleep. When you wake up, it’ll all be in the past.”

Just arriving in Moscow, and already running into such trouble.

By helping Song Xiao Gang, he had offended the long-haired short guy, effectively making an enemy. Wang Ye felt a bit helpless about it.

But it wasn’t without its benefits. At the very least, Song Xiao Gang now respected and appreciated him greatly.

If there was anything in the future that required Song Xiao Gang’s help, he would undoubtedly agree without hesitation.

This also meant he had gained a capable ally…

…

After finishing the beer, the two went to bed. Wang Ye didn’t overthink things—after a full day of flying, his body was exhausted, and he quickly fell asleep.

The next morning, he woke up at half past ten.

After getting dressed and washing up, the class monitor, Zhou Yuan, walked in with a smile. “Did you rest well last night? By the way, there’s a lunch gathering today—the teacher’s treating us at the Chinese restaurant downstairs. It’s a welcome meal for you, and since it’s the holidays, there are no classes.”

Today was still within the New Year’s holiday period, so Zhou Yuan and the others didn’t have classes either.

This was Russia’s “New Year,” their most important holiday, with holidays lasting from the first to the tenth.

Wang Ye and the others wouldn’t start classes until after the tenth.

However, they couldn’t just idle away these ten days. They had to complete enrollment procedures, pay tuition, medical insurance, and accommodation fees, as well as familiarize themselves with the surroundings.

For the next four and a half years—or even longer—they would be living here.

Wang Ye had come to study abroad through an agency specializing in Russian education, a well-known name in the industry.

This year, over thirty students had come to study at the University of Friendship—just one of the schools the agency handled. Others included Moscow State University and Saint Petersburg University.

Zhou Yuan, Song Xiao Gang, and the others were part of the first batch, having arrived several months ago. Wang Ye’s group was the second and final batch.

Thus, Zhou Yuan and Song Xiao Gang’s group had to take a full year of preparatory courses, while Wang Ye’s group only needed half a year.

Of course, during the preparatory graduation exams, there would be no leniency for Wang Ye’s group just because of this. The exams would be just as challenging as ever.

Chapter 10: Qi Gege

The Chinese restaurant where the gathering was held was called Long Feng Lou, located right below Building No. 6. There was even a door in the dormitory lobby on the first floor that led directly into the restaurant.

The restaurant was decorated in an antique style, exuding a strong Chinese aesthetic.

Even in all of Moscow, it was considered a somewhat famous Chinese restaurant.

When Wang Ye, Song Xiao Gang, and Liu Xiao Jie entered, the restaurant hall was already filled with many people—all exchange students from their batch. Many of them Wang Ye was seeing for the first time.

As soon as they stepped inside, a crisp female voice rang out, “You’re Wang Ye?”

The question was somewhat impolite, but when you saw the person speaking, you usually wouldn’t mind.

The girl wasn’t very tall, probably just over one meter sixty, but her figure was excellent—long, straight legs, likely the perfect nine-head proportion.

She was also very beautiful, with fair skin that glowed slightly, as delicate as porcelain.

Her long hair was slightly curled, her large, watery eyes framed by long lashes that fluttered in a way that made people’s hearts race.

Seeing the girl who had spoken, Wang Ye paused slightly—he recognized her…

Of course, from his “previous life.”

He had once had a dispute with this girl—don’t misunderstand, it wasn’t a romantic one, but something else…

“Hello, my name is Nalan Yaqi. Friends call me Qi Gege,” the girl introduced herself openly.

Her name was quite special, a compound surname—“Nalan” was a rare surname.

Liu Xiao Jie asked in surprise, “Nalan? Like Nalan Mingzhu? Oh, and what does Qi Gege mean?”

“Oh, Nalan Mingzhu is an ancestor of mine. I’m from the Plain Yellow Banner. Gege… well, it just means Gege,” Nalan Yaqi replied with a smile.

Wow, even the Plain Yellow Banner was mentioned, leaving Liu Xiao Jie stunned.

After a while, he blurted out, “Gege, the Qing Dynasty is gone!”

After saying it, he laughed at his own joke, clearly thinking he was quite funny.

But to Nalan Yaqi, this was obviously not amusing. She shot Liu Xiao Jie a cold glance and ignored him.

Instead, she turned to Wang Ye and asked curiously, “I heard you got into a fight with someone yesterday, right after you arrived? You beat up that little punk? Good job! I’ve never liked that guy—just a street rat who does nothing but brag. So annoying!”

Wang Ye knew exactly who Nalan Yaqi was referring to as the “little punk”—it had to be the long-haired short guy from last night.

As for the guy’s name, he really didn’t know…

Wang Ye sighed inwardly. Truly, good news never leaves the house, but bad news travels a thousand miles.

What had happened in the middle of the night was already known by many people. He had no idea how the news had spread.

He neither confirmed nor denied it, but instead smiled and said, “Just a small disagreement between classmates. It’s already been resolved. Alright, everyone’s here. Let’s go sit over there.”

With that, Wang Ye gestured to Song Xiao Gang and Liu Xiao Jie, preparing to walk inside.

Nalan Yaqi was taken aback and looked at Wang Ye again. This guy gave her such a different impression!

Whether back in China or here, Nalan Yaqi had never lacked suitors.

Many boys her age couldn’t even speak coherently in front of her, let alone meet her gaze. They would only try petty tricks to get her attention.

In Nalan Yaqi’s eyes, these boys were just too immature!

But Wang Ye, when facing her, showed no sign of trying to please her or attract her attention. It was as if she was just an ordinary girl to him, someone who didn’t interest him at all…

Even when she took the initiative to talk to him, he seemed impatient, not wanting to say more than a few words to her?

If it were any other guy, they’d probably be thrilled to chat with her all day!

This made Nalan Yaqi a little indignant!

From childhood until now, she had never been so disregarded…

Alright, man, you’ve caught this Gege’s attention!

“Hey, what’s your phone number and QQ? Let’s add each other,” she said, slightly lifting her fair chin as she spoke to Wang Ye.

Wang Ye stopped in his tracks, paused for a moment, then turned and smiled, “I haven’t bought a phone yet, so I don’t have a number. As for QQ… without a computer or internet, adding it wouldn’t be useful.”

He wasn’t lying. Maybe twenty years later, a university student without a phone would be unthinkable.

But don’t forget, this was 2001…

For many people, a phone was still a luxury!

This wasn’t just true for Chinese people—even in Russia, many university students didn’t have phones.

Even the more common low-end Nokia 3310 cost over two hundred US dollars, around two thousand yuan.

But among these exchange students, phones weren’t that rare. After being here for a while, most of them had bought one.

This wasn’t about keeping up with the Joneses.

First, it was convenient for calling home.

Second, if everyone else had one and you didn’t, that would be awkward.

Nalan Yaqi was at a loss for words and said somewhat angrily, “Fine, I know which dorm you’re in anyway!”

With that, she turned and walked away.

Watching her departing graceful figure, Liu Xiao Jie swallowed and said enviously to Wang Ye, “Ye Ge, that Gege seems to have a thing for you. Sigh, being handsome really has its perks!”

This wasn’t him flattering Wang Ye—he was just stating the facts.

Wang Ye was naturally handsome. Back in high school, he was the white knight in the hearts of all the girls, earning the nickname “Little Lu Yi”!

Tall and straight, with big eyes, a high nose bridge, and fair skin—no wonder even at nearly forty, Auntie Li still “remembered” him…

Wang Ye gave him a hard pat on the shoulder and laughed, “Alright, stop talking nonsense. Let’s go eat.”

…

At today’s gathering, there were two focal points in the entire hall.

One was Nalan Yaqi. There was no denying that this girl was not only beautiful but also very sociable, seeming familiar with almost everyone.

A large crowd surrounded her, all eager to talk to her.

The other focal point was Wang Ye.

This wasn’t because he was handsome…

It seemed that what had happened last night had already spread among the students.

Song Xiao Gang was from the same batch as everyone else, while the long-haired punk wasn’t, so naturally, everyone felt closer to Song Xiao Gang.

Their classmate had been bullied, and they all felt it deeply!

Fortunately, Wang Ye had stepped in and handled the matter properly, making everyone feel a sense of vindication.

Having such a classmate from the same batch made everyone happy, so almost everyone came over to say a few words to Wang Ye and get to know him.

Away from home, who wouldn’t want to make a friend like this?

Chapter 11: All His Savings

Over the next two days, Wang Ye and the others busied themselves with various procedures.

They went to the bank to pay tuition fees, medical insurance, and accommodation fees, and familiarized themselves with the area around the school.

Actually, he didn’t need to do this—he was already far too familiar with the place!

Leaving the dormitory area, walking north along the main street for about five hundred meters, there was a large supermarket. If they needed to buy anything, they could come here.

Of course, the prices in such large supermarkets were relatively high. If they wanted something cheaper, they would need to take the bus two stops south along the main street to the area near the subway station, where there was a fairly large market.

Just like the domestic trade markets, it was full of small vendors, and the prices there were lower.

New to the country, everyone was curious about everything. A group of them, led by the enthusiastic class monitor Zhou Yuan, ran around exploring the surroundings.

Wang Ye followed along without showing anything unusual.

But on the afternoon of January 4th, he took some time to leave the dormitory alone, planning to go to the supermarket to buy something.

This was where his advantage in Russian came into play. None of the other students who came with him dared to go out alone to buy things.

Because of the language barrier, if they encountered any problems, they would be helpless, unable to communicate with others.

…

He walked north along Miklukho-Maklaya Street.

It was snowing again today—or rather, the heavy snow hadn’t stopped for days!

Goose-feather-like snowflakes drifted lazily from the gray sky. The snow piled up on the side of the road had already reached Wang Ye’s waist.

The snow on the sidewalk had been trodden solid, making it a bit slippery to walk on.

Wang Ye tightened his down jacket, wrapped his ears and face in a wool scarf, wore a thick, fluffy cotton hat on his head, and put on a pair of fur-lined leather gloves—he was fully armed!

This kind of attire was the standard “equipment” for going out here…

After all, with temperatures below minus twenty degrees Celsius, not dressing like this could literally freeze a person to death—no joke.

There weren’t many pedestrians on the road. Occasionally, he would meet someone, mostly students, probably from the University of Friendship.

Cars sped down the main street. From time to time, he would see someone standing on the side of the road, sticking out a hand with their thumb raised.

This was how people hailed a taxi here.

In Moscow, taxis were extremely rare. You could only find official taxis at the airport or in front of high-end hotels.

Normally, when people needed a ride, they would stand on the side of the road, stick out a hand with their thumb raised, indicating they needed a ride.

Soon, a passing car would stop, the driver would roll down the window and ask where they wanted to go. If it was on their way, they would give them a ride.

Of course, it usually wasn’t free. As for how much it would cost, they would just negotiate directly…

…

Arriving at the entrance of the supermarket, he rubbed the snow off the soles of his shoes on the snow-removal mat at the entrance, pulled open the cotton curtain, and walked in.

The supermarket was quite large, with everything available inside, though the prices were a bit on the high side.

This time, Wang Ye had come to buy a phone.

Strictly speaking, he didn’t need a phone right now, and the price of a phone wasn’t cheap—it wasn’t something he could afford.

But Wang Ye had to spend this money because his “money-making plan” was about to start, and a phone was a necessary work tool!

Other students might buy a phone to show off or to stay in touch with their families.

But Wang Ye was buying a phone as an investment—to make money!

Across from the supermarket checkout counter, there was a row of shops, one of which was a phone store.

Not only did they sell various phones, but they also handled phone numbers.

Wang Ye, familiar with the place, walked straight into the store.

A middle-aged saleswoman inside looked up at him but didn’t say anything.

Speaking of which, foreigners really didn’t know how to do business. At the very least, their service attitude was completely inadequate. Wang Ye, who had lived here for many years, felt this deeply.

Whether you were buying vegetables, going to a high-end restaurant, or a luxury store, the salespeople always had that attitude—take it or leave it.

This wasn’t just for Wang Ye and the other foreigners; they treated their own people the same way…

Wang Ye didn’t pay much attention to it. He walked up to the glass counter and started picking out a phone.

His criteria for buying a phone were simple: it had to be sturdy and durable!

As for the price, the cheaper, the better. Those phones that cost seven or eight hundred or even over a thousand dollars—he wanted to buy them, but his wallet couldn’t afford it.

After just a few glances, Wang Ye had made his choice: the Nokia 3310!

This model was quite classic—cheap, not ugly, without the short antenna of other phones, and with a small, round body.

This was still Nokia’s golden age, so the quality of the phone was naturally beyond doubt.

All those jokes about “smashing walnuts” and “dropping phones from the tenth floor”—they were all about Nokia phones!

“Trouble you to get me a phone, this one. Also, I’d like a phone number, MEGAFON is fine.” Wang Ye smiled at the saleswoman.

The saleswoman lazily got up, came over, took a look, opened the counter, and took out an unopened Nokia 3310 from below.

Clearly, this model was quite popular.

She also took out a small envelope-like SIM card and said, “Fill out the form. Passport.”

Here, getting a phone number required registering your identity.

Wang Ye skillfully filled out the registration form, then took out his passport and handed it to the saleswoman.

…

The Nokia 3310 was a fairly cheap phone.

Buying the phone and getting the card cost him a little over three hundred dollars.

This time, Wang Ye had brought a total of seven thousand dollars with him. Since he had arrived late, he was taking accelerated preparatory courses, so he didn’t plan to go back during this summer vacation.

Of course, this was also related to the high cost of round-trip tickets…

He wouldn’t be going back to China until next summer, which was a year and a half away.

So, his family had given him all the money at once: this year’s preparatory course fees, next year’s tuition, and a year and a half of living expenses.

These days, transferring money from China to here was quite troublesome.

With foreign exchange controls in China and the cumbersome international transfer procedures, everyone preferred to bring cash.

A small portion of this money was exchanged at the bank using Wang Ye’s visa, at the official exchange rate of about one to eight point seven.

But he could only exchange two thousand dollars a year, which still wasn’t enough.

So, the remaining five thousand dollars were exchanged on the “black market” through his father’s connections, at a rate of one to ten!

The preparatory course fee was about eighteen hundred dollars, and the first year of university tuition was about two thousand two hundred dollars, totaling four thousand dollars.

The remaining three thousand dollars were Wang Ye’s living expenses for the next year and a half, and he still had to deduct the cost of next year’s round-trip ticket to China…

Chapter 12: The First Step of the Plan

Just the round-trip ticket between Moscow and the capital alone, even with a student discount, cost around five hundred and fifty dollars.

That meant, from now until the end of June next year—a total of eighteen months—Wang Ye only had two thousand five hundred dollars for living expenses!

About one hundred and forty dollars a month…

Honestly, it was a bit tight.

But Wang Ye knew this was already his family’s best effort, and he had no complaints.

In truth, his family’s financial situation wasn’t much better than Song Xiao Gang’s.

Both families pinned their hopes on their sons, gritting their teeth to scrape together money to send their children abroad for a better future.

After buying a phone today, his living expenses were further squeezed, leaving him with only two thousand two hundred dollars…

With this amount, living comfortably was out of the question. Moscow’s cost of living was high—even buying groceries required hunting for bargains.

Of course, Wang Ye wasn’t about to sit around and do nothing. After all, he was a reborn individual with over twenty years of life experience. Just sitting in school studying would be a waste of this “rebirth”!

Over the past few days, Wang Ye had already come up with a money-making plan, and buying the phone was the first step.

………………..

Carrying the phone, he quickly returned to the dormitory. As soon as he entered the lobby, he ran into Nalan Yaqi.

Wang Ye was bundled up tightly because he had gone out to buy something. Inside the dormitory, the temperature was quite high, so Nalan Yaqi was dressed much more lightly!

She wore a light pink sleeveless dress, her long neck and slender shoulders exposed. If Liu Xiao Jie saw her, he would definitely blush…

Nalan Yaqi had just come out of the small convenience store, holding a large bag of potato chips. When she saw Wang Ye, her eyes lit up.

She looked him up and down and said with a smile, “Hey, Wang Ye, is this big cotton-padded jacket a family heirloom? It looks like it’s been around for years.”

Although the down jacket Wang Ye was wearing was indeed a bit worn, Nalan Yaqi’s words were a bit exaggerated.

Clearly, she was still holding a grudge from a few days ago when Wang Ye had ignored her, so she was deliberately picking on him.

But Wang Ye didn’t get angry at all. He tugged at his down jacket and replied with a smile, “This is a brand-name item, Duck Duck brand. My dad gave it to me as a reward when I got into the best high school in the county.”

Nalan Yaqi looked confused, obviously never having heard of “Duck Duck.”

But she did understand that this shabby coat had been bought three years ago…

This small detail alone showed that Wang Ye’s family wasn’t very well-off.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t still be wearing clothes that were several years old.

But Wang Ye’s candid attitude about his family’s situation, without any attempt to hide it, was something she admired.

Being poor wasn’t a big deal—every family had its struggles, except hers, of course…

As long as someone worked hard, they could still achieve great things.

She didn’t dwell on the brand of the clothes anymore. Noticing the small transparent bag Wang Ye was holding, with the Nokia phone box clearly visible inside, she asked, “Did you buy a phone?”

Wang Ye nodded.

“Tell me your phone number,” Nalan Yaqi said without hesitation.

She pulled out a small, delicate, milky-white phone from her pocket.

It was a Samsung A288, one of the most popular phones of 2001!

It had a flip design, dual screens, and the outer small screen was blue!

This phone wasn’t cheap—it could buy at least two of Wang Ye’s phones.

Facing this girl, Wang Ye certainly wasn’t going to be a “lickspittle,” but he didn’t dislike her either.

After all, she was a young and beautiful girl who hadn’t done anything bad. If someone disliked her, there was probably something wrong with them…

After thinking for a moment, Wang Ye realized he hadn’t memorized his new phone number.

He apologetically smiled, took out his phone, and said, “I just got the number and don’t remember it. What’s your number? I’ll call you.”

“Okay, my number is 796…” Nalan Yaqi recited a string of numbers, and Wang Ye dialed as he listened.

Soon, the pleasant chord ringtone of the Samsung A288 sounded. Nalan Yaqi hung up, quickly added Wang Ye’s number to her contacts, and said, “Alright, bye. I’ll come find you when I have time…”

She waved at Wang Ye, picked up her potato chips, and left.

Wang Ye shook his head and went upstairs to his dormitory.

Song Xiao Gang was busy preparing to cook. When he saw Wang Ye, he smiled and said, “Ye Ge, let’s eat together at noon. I’ll make a couple of dishes, and the rice is already steaming.”

When it came to cooking, Song Xiao Gang was much better than Wang Ye.

His father was busy with work, so from a young age, he had to cook for himself.

Rumor had it that his uncle was a chef, and Song Xiao Gang had even learned from him for a while.

Wang Ye didn’t stand on ceremony. He nodded in agreement and then asked, “Hey, Xiao Gang, where’s that Chinese newspaper? Let me take a look.”

Here, there were Chinese newspapers and periodicals, the most famous being the Moscow Chinese News!

This newspaper was published daily, but unlike domestic newspapers, it was bound like a magazine, not in the large broadsheet format.

Also, the printing quality was much lower, giving it a somewhat crude feel…

But in a foreign land, one couldn’t be too picky. This publication was still very popular among the Chinese community.

It carried important news from both China and Moscow, as well as many advertisements—selling goods, job listings, and more.

Many exchange students found part-time jobs through this newspaper.

In Moscow, there was a massive wholesale market. Because it was near the “Izmailovo” subway station, many Chinese called it the “One Ant Market.”

This was the largest international trade wholesale market in all of Eastern Europe.

Many Chinese manufacturers had stalls there, shipping clothes, shoes, bags, accessories, and more from China. Through this large market, they wholesale to customers in Russia and even many Eastern European countries.

This single market was said to have a hundred thousand Chinese merchants!

Perhaps a hundred thousand was an exaggeration, but there were indeed many Chinese merchants there—more than half of the entire market was Chinese!

Many Chinese exchange students who wanted to work part-time basically came here to work as translators for these wholesalers.

…………….

Wang Ye asked Song Xiao Gang for this newspaper, but of course, he wasn’t planning to apply to be a translator.

Although his Russian was excellent and he could easily work as a translator, he had already set his sights higher than a translator’s salary.

Wang Ye had another big plan—a plan that could make him a lot of money!

However, he couldn’t remember the phone number of a key person in that plan, so he needed to find it through this newspaper…

Chapter 13: Searching for an Old Friend

Song Xiao Gang rummaged through the cabinet and pulled out a slightly worn Chinese newspaper, handing it to Wang Ye.

First, he glanced at the date on the front page. The newspaper was from last month, not the latest issue.

It seemed to have been handled by too many people, as the entire paper was tattered and worn.

But that didn’t matter. Wang Ye wasn’t interested in reading the news; he just wanted to use the paper to find an old acquaintance’s phone number!

He flipped directly to the last few pages of advertisements, carefully scanning each one.

Placing an ad in this newspaper wasn’t expensive—only five hundred rubles, about twenty US dollars, for a week-long listing.

A real bargain, with great value for money.

Of course, the ads themselves were quite simple—just a small block of text, a single line of words.

Whether you wanted to sell something, hire a translator, or apply for a job, you just had to state it concisely.

Wang Ye was looking for someone who sold phone cards—a man named Liu Jun!

In Moscow, the phone cards used by exchange students and Chinese merchants were similar to the IP phone cards commonly used back in China.

Since they needed to stay in touch with family back home, they couldn’t afford to make direct international calls—the fees would be too high!

So, someone had come up with these IP phone cards, specifically for calling China at a lower cost. They were quite popular among students and merchants.

These phone cards came in denominations of twenty, fifty, and one hundred US dollars.

There were higher-value cards too, but those were mostly bought by businessmen. Students didn’t need to make that many calls.

…

There were plenty of people advertising phone cards, but unfortunately, Wang Ye searched for a long time without finding Liu Jun.

In his past life, it wasn’t until he had been at school for a while that he realized he and his classmates always had to rely on friends working at the market to bring them phone cards. On a whim, he had picked up a Chinese newspaper and contacted one of the phone card sellers listed—who happened to be Liu Jun.

Normally, these sellers would deliver, but only if you bought enough!

If you only bought a twenty or fifty-dollar card, they wouldn’t bother making the trip. Moscow was huge, and a single delivery could take a long time.

Unless you bought a few hundred dollars’ worth, they wouldn’t come to you.

Most students only bought twenty or fifty-dollar cards at a time, so they didn’t get delivery service.

But Wang Ye was different. Back then, he had taken the plunge and spent two thousand dollars to wholesale over a hundred phone cards, becoming a “middleman” to make a profit…

Wholesale prices were, of course, different from retail. He had spent two thousand dollars and gotten cards worth two thousand five hundred dollars from Liu Jun.

It took him two or three months to sell them all, earning him over three hundred dollars in profit.

He had given discounts to sell them faster.

That had been the first money Wang Ye had ever earned in his life…

But this time, Wang Ye had bigger ambitions. He wasn’t going to play small like he had in his past life!

Unfortunately, after flipping through the newspaper several times, he still couldn’t find Liu Jun’s ad…

That made sense. He remembered that Liu Jun had only been selling phone cards as a side job to earn some extra cash. He wouldn’t have advertised every day.

The money he made probably wouldn’t even cover the ad fees.

He set the matter aside for now. He could keep an eye out in the coming days—there was no rush.

…

News of Wang Ye buying a phone quickly spread among his fellow exchange students.

Some of them had already planned to buy phones but hadn’t gotten around to it yet.

Now, Wang Ye had gone and bought one without saying a word, which upset a few of the girls.

“Hey, Ye Ge, how could you just go buy a phone without telling us? I was planning to buy one too. I don’t care—you’re taking me with you tomorrow to buy a phone!”

“That’s right! Wang Ye, that’s not fair. We’re all classmates who came here together; we should do things as a group. We know your Russian is good, but you should consider those of us who aren’t as fluent. Take us all with you tomorrow to buy phones.”

“Ye Ge, you can get a phone for just three hundred dollars? That’s not expensive at all. I was going to wait a while, but since it’s affordable, I’ll go with you all tomorrow to get one too…”

A group of students crowded into Wang Ye’s dormitory, chattering away.

Wang Ye looked helpless. He hadn’t intentionally left his classmates out when he bought his phone.

He had needed it for business—to make money—and figured his classmates didn’t urgently need phones, so he hadn’t invited them along.

Now, it seemed like he was the one in the wrong…

He waved his hands, chuckling bitterly. “Alright, alright, my bad. I forgot to tell you all. Here’s what we’ll do—tomorrow at ten in the morning, come to my dorm. I’ll take everyone to buy phones. It’s at that big supermarket, not far. Just bring your money. Oh, and the phones there range from cheap to expensive. The cheapest is around three hundred dollars, but the expensive ones can cost over a thousand. Spend within your means. Personally, I don’t think you need to buy the expensive ones. A phone is just for making calls…”

Wang Ye was looking out for them.

Though he was only eighteen, the same age as his classmates, he had over twenty years of life experience from his past life.

He knew that their parents worked hard for their money, so there was no need to spend extravagantly just to keep up appearances.

There was no point—back then, phones were simple, just for calls and texts.

Honestly, they were all pretty much the same.

It wasn’t like twenty years later, when the difference between high-end and low-end smartphones would be obvious.

But clearly, not everyone took his advice to heart—especially the girls.

The next day, when Wang Ye led a large group to the supermarket to buy phones, the difference between the boys and girls became obvious.

The boys mostly went for value, choosing cheaper phones, with the Nokia 3310 being the top pick.

The girls, without exception, turned their noses up at the Nokia 3310, opting instead for more expensive, prettier models—most costing over five hundred dollars…

Chapter 14: Someone’s Looking for Trouble

Everyone had bought cell phones, so the first thing they wanted to do was call their families.

After all, they hadn’t contacted home since arriving.

But having a phone didn’t mean they could just dial directly. International calls were expensive, and direct dialing required special approval.

The only option was to use the IP phone cards mentioned earlier.

When in doubt, ask the class monitor!

That was what Class Monitor Zhou Yuan had told them himself…

So, everyone went to Zhou Yuan, hoping he could help them get some phone cards.

Wang Ye actually had a better solution, but he kept quiet.

When Zhou Yuan arrived, he laughed in surprise, “You guys are quick—already using phones after just two days? Our batch took two or three months before people started buying them, and even now, plenty of students still don’t have one. Come on, everyone add my number.”

He pulled out his phone—a Motorola V60!

This model was all the rage in 2001, just like the Samsung A288, with a flip design and dual screens. The outer screen was even bigger than the Samsung’s!

Of course, it was also much more expensive.

Rumor had it that Zhou Yuan’s family owned a mine—not just any mine, but a gold mine!

Not a big one, though, probably just a small local operation with low output. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be studying in Moscow…

But clearly, his family was doing quite well.

While the other guys had only splurged on Nokia 3310s, Zhou Yuan was already using a Motorola V60. That was the difference.

After exchanging numbers, Zhou Yuan got down to business.

“Here’s what we’ll do—I’ve got one phone card left. You can use it to call home and let them know you’re safe. Don’t talk too long, though; there’s only about an hour left on it, and there are eight of you. As for more cards, the student I know who sells them is on break and hasn’t been at the market. How about I take you all there tomorrow? You’ve got to see the big market at least once. If you want to work, buy Chinese goods, or even get a haircut, that’s the place to go…”

Zhou Yuan was genuinely helpful and generous.

A card with an hour of talk time was worth over twenty dollars, and he just handed it over without mentioning money.

Plus, getting to the big market from school wasn’t exactly close. The subway alone took about an hour one way.

Add in the walk to the station, and the whole trip took nearly two hours.

Round trip, plus some browsing, and the whole day would be gone.

But honestly, the Ant Market was worth the trip. It was good for everyone to get familiar with the place.

The market wasn’t just for wholesale—there were plenty of retail shops too.

Whatever you needed, you could find it there, especially Chinese goods.

Lao Gan Ma chili sauce, Master Kong braised beef noodles, cooking oil, vinegar—if you could think of it, they had it.

Zhou Yuan even made a point of mentioning haircuts, which was a real issue.

Getting a haircut in Moscow wasn’t easy. Not only were barbershops rare, but even if you found one, the prices were outrageous—dozens, even hundreds of dollars. Most people couldn’t afford that.

In Western TV shows, you often see parents cutting their kids’ hair—not because they’re handy, but because they can’t afford a salon.

But at the Ant Market, there were Chinese-run barbershops with much cheaper prices—just seventy or eighty rubles. That’s why so many Chinese students went there for haircuts.

Foreign students, on the other hand, often just cut their own hair. A pair of clippers and some scissors did the trick.

In the dormitory bathrooms, you’d often see foreigners pulling up a chair and having a friend give them a quick trim.

………………

With the card Zhou Yuan had “contributed,” everyone took turns making their calls.

Wang Ye didn’t rush to join them. Instead, he chatted with Zhou Yuan.

The class monitor was a good guy—worth getting to know.

Seeing that no one else was around, Zhou Yuan lowered his voice and said mysteriously, “Be careful lately. I heard Zhang Ke is planning to cause trouble for you.”

Wang Ye blinked. “Zhang Ke? Who’s that? I don’t even know him.”

“That short guy with long hair. Didn’t he come to your dorm a couple days ago and cause a scene? You beat him up, remember?”

So that long-haired runt was named Zhang Ke. Now it made sense.

But Wang Ye wasn’t worried. He just laughed. “What’s he going to do? Come smash my door in the middle of the night and beat me up? Ha.”

Back in China, maybe he’d have been a little concerned. Zhang Ke might have brought reinforcements, and Wang Ye wasn’t like Song Xiao Gang, trained at Tagou Martial Arts School. If they ganged up on him, he wouldn’t stand a chance.

But this was Moscow!

Wang Ye didn’t believe Zhang Ke could find anyone willing to help him. They were all exchange students—no one was that stupid.

Like the two guys who had come with Zhang Ke the other day—they could cheer from the sidelines, but no way would they actually throw punches.

And Zhang Ke alone? Wang Ye could take him with one hand tied behind his back.

No need to worry.

Besides, if things got serious, Song Xiao Gang would definitely step in. Now that their issues were resolved, Song Xiao Gang’s fighting skills were off the charts!

………………

After everyone had made their calls, Wang Ye followed the card’s instructions and dialed home.

The process was a hassle—you had to enter a long string of numbers, then a password, then the domestic number. Even if you were quick, it took two or three minutes just to get the call through.

Because of the time difference, morning here was already evening back home.

Fortunately, his parents were still awake. They were thrilled to hear from him.

“Why are you calling? The agency already called to say you arrived safely. Is it cold there? Did you bring enough clothes? How are you eating? Can you cook? Can you buy groceries…?”

His mom fired off question after question, not giving him a chance to answer.

But Wang Ye didn’t mind. He just felt warm inside.

Chapter 15: Trouble Encountered

January 6th. Everyone got up early because they had all agreed the day before to go to the big market today.

No one made breakfast—it was too much trouble. Everyone just ate some bread and drank some milk to get by.

There was only one day left before school started, so this outing was the last collective activity before classes resumed.

Around nine o’clock, Zhou Yuan arrived to gather everyone and prepare to set out.

Taking a taxi was an option, but the fare would be too high. Besides, there were nine of them, so they would need three cars.

Even someone as generous as Zhou Yuan didn’t dare suggest taking taxis.

Fortunately, there was a bus stop right at the entrance of the dormitory area. Almost any bus could take them to the nearest subway station, which was quite convenient.

Everyone was bundled up like bears, wrapping themselves tightly. Even the girls who loved beauty were no exception…

Soon, the bus arrived. Everyone boarded one after another. The buses here were newer and larger, so sitting was comfortable. Student tickets were especially cheap—only five rubles to the subway station.

There was also a type of minibus similar to an Iveco, but the fare was more expensive—twenty rubles to the subway station.

Here, bus fares were calculated by the number of stops.

Compared to buses, the subway was even cheaper!

Student tickets cost only five rubles and allowed unlimited rides. Even if you stayed in the subway station all day and rode every line, it was allowed.

The subway stations here were quite old, mostly built during the Soviet era. However, each had its own unique style. Some resembled European palaces, others art galleries, all looking quite beautiful.

To be honest, Wang Ye had never taken the subway before coming to Moscow…

He came from a small county in the Central Plains region of China and hadn’t had many opportunities to ride the subway.

Even taking a plane to Moscow was his first time…

Wang Ye still remembered that in his “previous life,” when he first came to Moscow, everything seemed fresh and exciting.

From a small county in China to a foreign metropolis, he was like a country bumpkin entering the city…

But now, he was no longer as inexperienced as he had been in his previous life.

After living and working in Pengcheng for so many years and visiting most of the world’s major cities, he had seen it all.

Now, looking at Moscow in 2001, it didn’t impress him much…

…

As soon as they entered the subway station, Zhou Yuan began reminding everyone.

“Once we’re on the subway, if it’s crowded, try not to sit. Here, you must give up your seat to the elderly, children, pregnant women, and disabled people on public transport. Otherwise, those old ladies will point at your nose and scold you. They love to meddle. Plus, there are a lot of elderly people here, so we usually don’t bother sitting because we’ll have to give up our seats soon anyway…”

Everyone nodded in agreement. People tend to be more polite and well-mannered in unfamiliar places…

The subway station wasn’t as crowded as those in China, and the car was quite spacious. There were even empty seats.

Because of Zhou Yuan’s warning, everyone consciously avoided taking seats. Instead, they gathered at the connection between the cars, chatting and laughing, not feeling tired at all.

Young people could stand for an hour or so without any problem.

Before they knew it, they arrived at their destination, Izmailovo subway station. After exiting, they had to walk a bit to reach the big market!

This area was clearly much livelier than the area around their school.

As soon as they exited the subway station, they were surrounded by crowds, and the road was filled with cars.

“Let’s go. Walk along this road for about ten minutes, and we’ll reach the market,” Zhou Yuan said, clearly familiar with the route, having been there more than once.

Everyone followed closely behind him, heading toward the market.

They hadn’t walked far when Zhou Yuan suddenly lowered his voice and said, “Everyone, don’t talk. There are ‘gray dogs’ ahead! They might check our passports. If they do, don’t say anything else. Just say you’re students from the University of Friendship!”

The so-called “gray dogs” referred to the police…

They wore gray-green uniforms and were quite annoying, especially to Chinese businesspeople, who despised them.

These “gray dogs” always got excited when they saw Asian faces and would inevitably stop you to check your passport.

If there was any issue with your passport or visa, you were in big trouble!

Even if your passport and visa were fine, that didn’t mean you were safe. They always found a way to cause trouble, as there were always more solutions than problems. They could always find a reason to bother you…

In the end, they were just taking advantage of your language barrier and unfamiliarity with the place, wanting to “extort” some money.

Almost every Chinese person who had spent some time in Moscow had encountered this. No one was spared.

Of course, if your documents were in order and your Russian was good, you probably wouldn’t have much trouble.

After all, they were just poor students. The “gray dogs” weren’t completely unreasonable and usually wouldn’t make things difficult for you.

But if you were on a business visa and doing business, then sorry, you wouldn’t be able to leave without paying some “blood.”

…

Sure enough, as soon as they feared it, two tall and burly “gray dogs” spotted Wang Ye and his group, and their eyes lit up.

After a quick exchange in Russian, they walked straight toward them.

As they approached, one of them said, “Stop! Passports out!”

Seeing that there was no way to avoid it, Zhou Yuan had to step forward and, in his still somewhat awkward Russian, said, “Hello, we are university students, from the University of Friendship.”

But they completely ignored him and just repeated, “Passports!”

At the same time, their hands rested on their waists. They were on duty, armed and ready…

There was nothing to do but turn to everyone and say, “Everyone, take out your passports. Flip directly to the visa page and let them check. It should be fine.”

Fortunately, Wang Ye and the others always carried their passports with them when they went out. Before coming, the agency had repeatedly emphasized that in Moscow, you must carry your passport whenever you go out!

Otherwise, you might really be taken to the station. This was no joke!

Liu Xiao Jie and the others didn’t dare breathe as they quickly took out their passports, flipped to the visa page, and lined up to be checked.

Zhou Yuan handed over his passport first. He had been here for a while, and his passport, visa, and student ID were all in order. One of the “gray dogs” carefully examined everything and found no issues. Plus, Zhou Yuan had his student ID, confirming he was indeed a university student.

His expression softened slightly. He closed the passport and handed it back to Zhou Yuan, saying, “You can go.”

But when they checked Wang Ye and the others, the man’s expression changed.

He picked up a piece of paper tucked in the passport and said, “This thing is useless!”

Because Wang Ye and the others had just arrived in Moscow and it was during the holiday, their landing visas hadn’t been stamped yet. What they had now was only a temporary visa issued by the school.

Clearly, this gave the “gray dogs” an excuse to cause trouble…

Chapter 16: Knowing the Rules

Zhou Yuan immediately panicked, wanting to argue that the temporary visas were issued by the police station near the school. These students had just arrived in Moscow and were still processing various documents—it was impossible for them to have obtained official visas so quickly. How could he say the temporary visas were useless?

But he couldn’t express any of this in Russian—it was too complicated. Sweat beading on his forehead, he could only repeat, “They’re new students in Moscow. Their visas aren’t ready yet.”

Clearly, his words held no weight. Or perhaps the officer knew exactly what was going on but was just looking for trouble. The officer closed the passports in his hand without returning them to Wang Ye and his group. Instead, he waved them over, saying, “You lot, come with me.”

Then he turned and walked toward a small police van with flashing lights.

This meant they were about to be taken to the station.

Zhou Yuan was at a loss. He had never dealt with something like this before and didn’t know what to do. Flustered, he said, “You… I… I’ll contact someone… Oh, right! Do any of you know the phone number of the teacher who brought you here? Did they leave already?”

In situations like this, Zhou Yuan didn’t even know who to call.

Contact the embassy? Don’t be ridiculous—this was 2001. Overseas Chinese back then knew better…

The proper course of action was to contact the university’s international affairs office and have the school communicate with the police. Normally, the police would give the school some face—after all, they were university students, and there were certain privileges.

Besides, if things escalated, the police would be the ones in the wrong. It wouldn’t look good for them.

The reason they were giving Wang Ye and the others a hard time was because they had just arrived in Moscow and didn’t speak the language!

After all, to get in touch with the school, you needed enough language skills to explain the situation clearly.

…

The girls, including Xiao Yun and Wang Dan, were even more terrified, nearly in tears. Being locked up in a foreign country was something they couldn’t even bear to imagine.

Even the boys, like Liu Xiao Jie, had turned pale. They were just students, completely unprepared for something like this.

Only Wang Ye remained calm.

He sighed. In his past life, he had studied and lived in Moscow for several years and had encountered similar situations many times. He never expected to run into this again.

As for how to handle it, Wang Ye had plenty of experience…

Seeing everyone in a panic, he waved his hand and said, “Don’t worry. It’s nothing serious. This is easy to resolve.”

Everyone turned to look at him. Zhou Yuan asked skeptically, “Wang Ye, don’t joke around! This is urgent!”

Of course, he didn’t believe Wang Ye. He had been here for half a year and still didn’t know how to handle something like this.

Wang Ye had only been here for a few days—how could he possibly know what to do?

Wang Ye calmly replied, “I’ll talk to him. It might cost a little money—two thousand rubles for all eight of us. Does everyone agree to chip in?”

Based on his experience and Russian proficiency, Wang Ye estimated that two thousand rubles would be enough to settle the matter.

If they were taken to the station, the police would contact the school, and the school would intervene to get them released—probably without cost. But spending half a day or even overnight in a cell wasn’t worth it.

So, the simplest solution was to pay them off.

Though it felt like extortion, what choice did they have? This was someone else’s turf!

Unless you were more powerful than them, you had to accept reality.

Hearing that it would only cost two hundred and fifty rubles each to avoid being taken to the station, everyone nodded in agreement.

It wasn’t much—just about ten dollars. Though it stung a little, it was nothing compared to being locked up.

Wang Ye, seeing everyone agree, quickly caught up with the officer leading the way. He spoke seriously:

“Comrade, I don’t think taking us students to the station is the right decision. According to visa regulations, temporary visas issued by a national university’s affiliated police station are legally valid. If you don’t recognize this temporary visa, I will immediately contact the number on it and have your colleagues communicate with you. I will also contact the university’s international affairs office to speak with your superior. By the way, which station are you from? May I see your work ID? Oh, and you dropped something earlier—right here…”

As he spoke, Wang Ye held out his hand, revealing a corner of something white.

The officer paused, turning to look at Wang Ye, his expression darkening.

He knew exactly what Wang Ye was saying, but he hadn’t expected this Chinese student to be so well-informed.

Of course, knowing all that didn’t change anything!

If he really wanted to cause trouble, he had plenty of excuses—like suspecting the temporary visas were fake.

That would still get them taken to the station, locked up for half a day, while they slowly verified everything.

It would be a hassle for him, and he wouldn’t gain anything.

Just as he was about to say something, he noticed the grayish-white corner of what Wang Ye was holding—something he recognized all too well.

His expression shifted, and he smiled, immediately reaching out to take it. “Oh? That must be mine.”

He took it and quickly glanced down—four bills with alternating white and brown, featuring Peter the Great smiling back at him.

Five-hundred-ruble notes!

Four of them made two thousand rubles—a reasonable “price,” not too much, but not cheap either.

He nodded, giving Wang Ye an appreciative look. This Chinese exchange student was impressive—not only was his Russian good, but he also “understood the rules.”

He pulled out their passports from his pocket and said seriously, “Keep your temporary visas on you and don’t wander around, especially near the big market—it’s chaotic there. Alright, you can go. Here’s a card—if you run into any of my colleagues today, show them this, and they’ll understand. But only for today!”

He took out a small white card from his jacket pocket, stamped with a large blue seal—likely from their police station. He signed it with a ballpoint pen, added the date, and handed it to Wang Ye.

This was their two-thousand-ruble “pass”—after all, they had their “professional integrity” to uphold.

Chapter 17: Sun Market

Wang Ye held a stack of passports and turned back to the group, saying, “Alright, let’s go.”

Everyone stared at him in disbelief. Was it really that simple?

Zhou Yuan couldn’t believe it and cautiously asked the two gray dogs, “Are we really allowed to leave? They won’t cause us any more trouble?”

Wang Ye waved the small card in his hand and smiled, “Look, at least for today, we won’t have any problems near the market. If we encounter something similar again, we can just show this card. It’s like buying a pass for two thousand rubles.”

Everyone let out a sigh of relief, finally putting their hearts at ease.

After regaining their composure, they were clearly a bit angry.

Liu Xiao Jie didn’t dare to speak loudly and complained in a low voice, “Why is it like this here? Back home, when we see police uncles, we only feel safe and don’t have to worry about anything else. But here, we have to avoid them!”

The girls also complained, and their good impression of Moscow was greatly reduced.

Losing two hundred and fifty rubles was a small matter, but the main issue was that this incident really affected their mood!

Zhou Yuan was fine. He comforted everyone, “There’s no way around it. It’s like this here. Their salaries are very low, and the cost of living is high. They can only obtain some gray income through such means, otherwise it’s hard to support their families. Oh, you should also be mentally prepared. I heard from seniors that some teachers at school are like this too. During exams every year, it’s basically impossible to pass without greasing their palms.”

Everyone understood what he meant by “greasing their palms.”

The exams here were different from those back home.

In China, all students sit in a classroom, take the exam, and then the teacher grades the papers.

But here, it’s basically a one-on-one oral exam with the teacher!

As for your grades, they completely depend on the teacher’s mood…

After the one-on-one exam, the teacher will write the exam results in your grade book. The highest is five points, and three points is a passing grade.

Of course, if you score below three points, the teacher won’t write it down but will give you a chance to retake the exam.

With this exam mode, if the teacher wants to fail you, it’s naturally very easy.

Given the Russian language level of most Chinese exchange students, if the teacher asks a slightly more complex question, you might not even understand the question!

So, failing the exam would be very normal.

If you know how to handle things and give the teacher a small gift or even directly hand over a large sum of money, then the teacher, in a good mood, will give you two very simple questions. Then, getting a high score would be very reasonable…

…

It had to be said that coming here to study, regardless of how much you could learn.

But the ability to handle human relationships and affairs could be honed…

After complaining for a while, everyone adjusted their moods and continued walking towards the market.

Since they had come all this way and spent the money, they naturally couldn’t give up!

Moreover, Wang Ye had said that with that small card, they wouldn’t be checked again today in the market, so there was no need to worry.

The rest of the journey went smoothly. In less than ten minutes, they arrived in front of the large market.

The first thing that caught their eye was a huge construction site surrounded by fences, with machines roaring inside, not knowing what they were doing.

Zhou Yuan introduced, “I heard that this area is going to build a new market. The original large market is too old. But I heard that this new market and the old market are not run by the same boss. I don’t know if it can be built. Let’s go around this way. On the other side of this construction site is the large market we want to go to.”

Looking at the fenced construction site, Wang Ye seemed to be thinking about something.

If he hadn’t come to the market today, he wouldn’t have remembered this.

Perhaps, when the large market is built, he could do something…

But first, by that time, he needed to have enough funds in his hands. Otherwise, this game wouldn’t be something he could participate in!

…

The commonly mentioned One Ant Market was originally called “Sun Market.”

As soon as they walked in, a wave of heat hit their faces. The entire market was bustling with people, seemingly as if all the people in Moscow had come here!

The shops here were not made of bricks but were rows of containers. Each container was a shop.

Inside the containers were large cardboard boxes or unopened goods, stacked high.

At the entrance were various samples on display, with a wide variety of items.

This market was indeed quite old. The aisles were relatively narrow, and with the shops on both sides displaying their samples, the space for people to walk through was even smaller.

From time to time, you could see a Russian uncle or aunt walking ahead with their heads held high, followed by one or two young black-haired people pulling carts loaded with goods. Clearly, they were here to purchase goods.

Doing business here had one advantage: cash on delivery, no credit!

Don’t underestimate these seemingly shabby container shops. Basically, each container shop had a fairly large factory in China behind it!

Many wholesalers only did business for three to five months a year. Before coming, they would contact a freight company to send a large batch of goods over, then rent a shop to sell. Once the goods were sold, they would return home.

Additionally, in front of each container shop, besides the boss-like person, there would definitely be a young person, around twenty years old, looking like a refined university student.

No need to doubt, these were exchange students working part-time as translators.

This job was quite tough. Basically, you had to leave home at five in the morning and arrive at the market around six.

You would work until around two or three in the afternoon before you could go back.

You could earn between six hundred to one thousand US dollars a month, mainly depending on your Russian language level.

In his previous life, Wang Ye had also worked here for a period, doing this for two or three months a year. Basically, he could earn his living expenses for the year, which was pretty good.

…

Just as everyone was feeling dizzy from looking around, Zhou Yuan suddenly reminded them, “Hey, right, aren’t you going to buy phone cards? That person sells cards. I’ll call him over, and you can buy them.”

He pointed to a thin middle-aged man.

He was also Chinese, wearing a thick down jacket, with a single-shoulder bag slung over him, stuffed with many magazine-like things.

But Wang Ye knew that this was someone who sold newspapers and phone cards. The newspapers were naturally the “Moscow Chinese News,” and the phone cards were IP cards for making international calls.

There were many such people in the market.

Everyone bought newspapers and phone cards from these people.

After stopping the middle-aged newspaper seller, everyone bought a phone card. The boys mostly bought twenty-dollar ones, while the girls basically started from fifty dollars, and some even bought one hundred-dollar ones.

Besides the phone card, Wang Ye also bought a copy of the day’s “Moscow Chinese News.” It was very cheap, only ten rubles.

Chapter 18: The Chinese Big Shot

After buying the phone cards, Zhou Yuan led everyone through winding paths to a three-story red brick building tucked away in a corner of the market. The building was quite dilapidated, clearly showing its age.

“From now on, if you need a haircut or want to buy some daily necessities, come here. There are a few barbershops and a small supermarket specializing in Chinese goods,” Zhou Yuan explained.

Stepping into a larger shop on the first floor, it felt just like a small supermarket back home. The shelves were stocked with familiar products—Master Kong beef noodles, various snacks, Lao Gan Ma chili sauce, dried noodles…

Clearly, the prices here were much higher than back home. A bag of Master Kong beef noodles cost twenty-five rubles, while a bottle of Lao Gan Ma chili sauce went for eighty rubles. The prices were basically two to three times higher than in China, which wasn’t surprising—after all, shipping these goods from China wasn’t cheap.

Everyone picked out some items. Since they had come all this way, it would be a waste not to buy something to take back. Wang Ye bought a bottle of Lao Gan Ma chili sauce, two bags of egg noodles, and a few packs of instant noodles. These were things he couldn’t find in the supermarket near the school.

The Russians did have their own instant noodles, but after trying them once, Wang Ye had sworn them off…

…

After finishing their shopping, Zhou Yuan excitedly said, “Come on, it’s almost noon. Let’s go to the Chinese restaurant for lunch. The food there isn’t expensive—there’s all kinds of noodle dishes, braised noodles, beef noodles, and small stir-fry combos. A meal costs between one hundred to one hundred fifty rubles per person.”

They had been here for almost a week now. Apart from the welcome banquet where they had a decent meal, they had mostly been surviving on bread and milk. Cooking was still something they were figuring out, so the food they made wasn’t exactly delicious.

Plus, fresh vegetables here were too expensive. The only affordable ones were the “greenhouse four greats”—potatoes, cabbage, onions, and radishes.

Hearing that the Chinese restaurant was affordable, they naturally wanted to go and have a proper meal!

The group followed Zhou Yuan to another part of the market. As they neared a road close to a large construction site, they suddenly saw a group of burly men approaching. People on the street quickly made way for them.

Wang Ye and the others did the same, hurriedly stepping aside. It wasn’t just because these men were all over six feet tall—more importantly, each of them, dressed in camouflage, was carrying a black, menacing object…

Liu Xiao Jie’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Is that… an Uzi submachine gun?”

Zhou Yuan quickly lowered his voice. “That must be some big boss. These Russian bodyguards aren’t military—they’re private security.”

As the group passed by, everyone saw that the man at the center, surrounded by the burly Russians, was actually a short, plump Chinese man.

The man looked to be in his thirties or forties, with fair skin and gold-rimmed glasses. He wore a crisp suit and a shiny black fur coat, exuding an air of authority.

Zhou Yuan seemed to recognize him. He whispered in surprise, “That’s Boss Kong!”

“Who’s Boss Kong? Kong the Second’s brother?” Liu Xiao Jie asked curiously.

“He’s a major figure, known as the richest Chinese person in Russia, with a fortune in the hundreds of millions. He’s got connections in both the underworld and legitimate business! That new market being built over there—rumor has it he’s invested in it. No wonder he’s got such a big entourage,” Zhou Yuan said admiringly.

Wang Ye silently watched Boss Kong, surrounded by his Russian bodyguards, without saying a word. But inside, his thoughts were churning.

He remembered seeing Boss Kong’s grandeur in his past life. Back then, he had envied it, dreaming that one day he too could be as impressive as Boss Kong—just like how Liu Bang, upon seeing the Emperor’s procession, had sighed, “A true man should live like this!”

But even after finishing his studies and returning home, even after working for over a decade, he had never come close to matching Boss Kong’s status…

Now, seeing Boss Kong’s grandeur again, Wang Ye’s mindset was different. He thought, “I can take his place!”

As a “reincarnated individual,” if he couldn’t even surpass a so-called “richest Chinese in Russia,” he would lose all respect for himself…

Boss Kong walked with his head held high, surrounded by his bodyguards. Today, he had come to check on the construction progress and then take a stroll through the old market. After all, to get the new market up and running, he would need to draw customers from the old one.

The grand display wasn’t just for show. For one, it was necessary—over the years, he had made many enemies, some of them from the underworld. If he went out without bodyguards, he might really get shot.

Secondly, it was a deliberate show of strength for the Chinese merchants in the old market to see. Fully armed bodyguards weren’t something just any rich person could have. The fact that he had a gun license proved he had connections in high places!

He enjoyed the gazes of the pedestrians as he walked by with his head held high and chest out. As he passed Wang Ye and the others, Boss Kong didn’t pay them any mind. A group of young students—of course they would look at him with envy and jealousy. He was used to it…

Right now, his mind was entirely focused on the new market. He had bet his entire fortune on this investment!

If it succeeded, it would be a goldmine, bringing in wealth every day and elevating his status and fortune to a whole new level!

If it failed…

It would mean that all his nearly twenty years of hard work in Russia had been for nothing!

Building a market on this scale wasn’t as simple as buying a plot of land, constructing it, and then recruiting businesses. The amount of behind-the-scenes work required was far greater than what was visible on the surface.

Merchants who had done business in the large market knew that the wholesale business here was all “gray”—not quite black, not quite white. None of the goods were imported through proper customs clearance; strictly speaking, they were all “smuggled goods.”

But that was just how things worked here. If you tried to go through proper customs, you wouldn’t be able to do business at all. The financial group behind the large market also provided tax-inclusive customs clearance and logistics services. As long as you paid enough, you didn’t have to worry about transportation, customs, or taxes—they handled everything in one go, and efficiently too.

The interests behind this were enormous! Even after the new emperor took the throne and cracked down countless times, they still couldn’t completely eradicate it. That just showed how powerful the forces at play were…

…

After Boss Kong and his entourage had passed, everyone turned back and continued toward the Chinese restaurant under Zhou Yuan’s lead.

Wang Ye also collected his thoughts. Boss Kong was still far beyond his current reach. What he needed to do was start small, earn his first pot of gold, and then think about the rest…

Chapter 19: She Looks Like an Angel

On the seventh day, everyone stayed in the dormitory to rest, as classes were starting the next day.

The preparatory courses were divided by major. Wang Ye planned to study management, while Liu Xiao Jie was in computer science, so they weren’t in the same preparatory class.

Speaking of the management major, it was chosen rather blindly…

Business management—it sounded prestigious. After graduation, one could surely become a high-ranking executive in a big company…

That was the thought process Wang Ye and his family had when choosing this major.

Of course, with his past life’s experience, Wang Ye now understood that this major was all hype!

Whether domestically or abroad, undergraduate management majors didn’t become corporate executives after graduation. In fact, they often struggled to find jobs.

Unless you were an MBA from an Ivy League school, there was no comparison.

However, Wang Ye didn’t bother applying to change his major. With his language skills, switching would be easy—just a simple application to the school’s international office.

The reason was simple: for him now, the major didn’t matter!

He didn’t need professional knowledge to find work. Studying business management was actually better because it had less specialized content, was simpler, and the department was more lenient, making exams easier.

This way, he would have more personal time to do other things.

Wang Ye was still looking forward to tomorrow’s classes.

Not for the academic content, of course—the preparatory courses were too basic for him.

With his current Russian proficiency, he could easily skip straight to first-year professional courses.

What Wang Ye was looking forward to was the Russian teacher…

…

January 8th, the first day of school.

After an early breakfast, everyone headed toward the teaching building.

The preparatory building was in the dormitory area, actually a repurposed Building No. 4, very close to their Building No. 6.

A short walk through a small forest in the dormitory area brought them there.

The preparatory building was lively, filled with exchange students from various countries, mostly Asian and Black students.

If one had to say which country had the most exchange students, it was definitely China…

As soon as they entered the first-floor lobby, a wave of warm air mixed with noise hit them.

Various languages blended together, creating a dizzying cacophony—many of which they had never heard before.

Following Zhou Yuan’s advice, they lined up and went to one side of the lobby, where coats were stored.

In Moscow, almost every building had a coat storage area on the first floor.

With the freezing temperatures outside, everyone wore thick down jackets, but once inside, the heating made it too warm to keep them on. Carrying them around would be inconvenient.

Thus, coat storage became a necessity.

They took off their heavy down jackets and placed them on the wooden counter. The elderly woman behind it handed them a small numbered metal tag before storing their coats in a small compartment.

When leaving, they would return the tag to retrieve their coats.

After storing their coats, they followed the signs on the first floor to find their respective classrooms.

Wang Ye and Liu Xiao Jie weren’t in the same class. His classroom was 304 on the third floor.

When he entered, several students were already seated. They nodded at him, and he smiled in return.

The preparatory classes were small—only six students in his, all exchange students from different countries except him.

There were two Vietnamese boys, a Korean girl, three Black students from the African savanna—two girls and one boy—and a handsome Latino.

Clearly, their Russian wasn’t great, so conversations were a mix of gestures and broken words.

Honestly, Black exchange students were usually of decent quality, and these three spoke French.

The Korean girl seemed interested in Wang Ye and awkwardly greeted him in Chinese.

“You… hello… I’m Han Enlin. What’s your name?”

Wang Ye nodded. “Wang Ye.”

She didn’t look like the typical Korean celebrities—more “natural,” probably without plastic surgery—so he wasn’t particularly interested.

In comparison, one of the Black girls was quite striking.

She had delicate features, fitting Eastern beauty standards, and wasn’t too dark—likely mixed race. Her figure was… breathtaking.

Long, straight legs, a well-proportioned body, full of vitality.

But that wasn’t the main point. Wang Ye wasn’t in the mood to flirt with her.

What he was really looking forward to was their teacher…

…

At around 9:20, just before class, the classroom door opened, and a girl walked in.

Everyone looked up in unison, and the room fell silent.

Especially the boys—their eyes were fixed on her, unblinking.

Wang Ye was no exception…

She was tall, around 1.75 meters.

Slender and straight, her gray miniskirt revealed silk-stocking-clad calves, making her appear even taller.

Her figure might not have been as “explosive” as the Black girl’s, but her face was flawless!

Fair, delicate skin glowed softly under the light.

Her small, delicate mouth had a hint of innocence, with lips slightly upturned. The pale pink lipstick made them shimmer.

Her bright blue eyes were clear and pure, as if lighting up the entire room.

Long, wavy blonde hair cascaded down her back.

Perhaps this was what people imagined an “angel” to look like!

She seemed around the same age as them, no more than twenty.

Everyone assumed she was a new student, but only Wang Ye knew—she was their Russian teacher…

…

The Latino boy swallowed hard, stood up, and greeted her with a warm smile. “Hello, new student? Welcome.”

He wanted to say more to get closer, but his Russian wasn’t good enough.

At that moment, he probably wished he could learn Russian quickly.

The girl smiled and walked in, speaking softly to everyone. “Welcome, everyone. I’m Alyona, your Russian teacher.”

She spoke slowly, ensuring everyone understood.

They all caught her words and finally realized—she wasn’t a student but their teacher!

Chapter 20: Closing the Distance

They say there are many beautiful women in Russia, and Wang Ye had seen quite a few during his years in Moscow in his past life. But someone as stunning as Alyona—he had only ever seen one like her.

Perhaps it was because his social standing wasn’t high enough, so he never had the chance to mingle in higher circles and thus never met other top-tier beauties. Of course, this was based on his own taste. Maybe in the eyes of Russian men, Alyona was just average, not a top beauty—after all, her figure wasn’t “explosive” enough.

Alyona was the first girl who had ever made Wang Ye’s heart flutter since he arrived in Moscow. But in his past life, how could he have dared to pursue her? He was always strapped for cash, buried under the weight of studies and part-time jobs, with no time or energy to spare for such things.

From what he knew, that handsome Latin guy had tried to pursue Alyona. On Valentine’s Day, the guy had dressed up all slick, carrying a huge bouquet of flowers to her office. But when he came back, his expression wasn’t too pleasant—probably didn’t get anywhere.

Wang Ye didn’t know much about Alyona. In his past life, they had only been ordinary teacher and student, interacting mostly about academic matters, never touching on personal topics. In this life, maybe he’d have a chance to get closer to her… but that was for later. Before solving his basic needs, his wallet couldn’t support the idea of pursuing a girl. Whether at home or abroad, dating was expensive.

Don’t blame Wang Ye for being fickle, forgetting his “past” wife and child. After reincarnation, he was destined to walk a completely different path from his past life! His life trajectory had already diverged entirely, so the people he would meet and the experiences he would have would inevitably be different. If he tried to repeat everything from his past life, his reincarnation would be meaningless.

…

From Alyona’s self-introduction, Wang Ye learned that she was only twenty years old this year, having just graduated from the Russian Department of the University of Friendship. Now, she stayed on as a preparatory course teacher. Graduating at this age and being able to stay on as a teacher—even if just for preparatory courses—showed that Alyona must have been an excellent student.

But from what Wang Ye knew, the pay for preparatory teachers wasn’t high—only about three to four hundred dollars a month. In a high-cost city like Moscow, this was enough to support one person, but not with much to spare. The only saving grace was that the school provided teacher dormitories. If she had to rent on her own, this salary wouldn’t even cover a decent place.

The morning passed uneventfully. Their preparatory courses were simple, focusing mainly on Russian language. Classes started at 9:30 AM and ended around 2:00 PM, with only three main periods. There was no lunch break, so during the short break around noon, students could grab something quick to eat—no one had a proper lunch.

Of course, once they reached their first year, with more afternoon classes, the school had various small cafeterias where they could eat. Unlike Chinese universities, there was no large dining hall here. Instead, each teaching building had a few small cafeterias, usually not very big, seating only about a hundred students at most.

…

During the noon break, Wang Ye went to the only small shop on the first floor and bought a fried meat pie. This was one of the few foods that suited his taste—thin pastry filled with meat, fried to a golden crisp, and quite flavorful. He also bought an ice-cold Coke, and that was his lunch. Many students did the same.

After his simple meal, Wang Ye returned to the third floor but didn’t go into the classroom. Instead, he headed to the end of the hallway and pushed open a door—this was the emergency exit, also known as the “smoking area.” Many Russians smoked here, especially the girls, with a higher smoking rate than the boys.

Sure enough, as soon as he opened the door, he saw several people gathered there, puffing away. Among them was his teacher, Alyona.

Wang Ye had smoked in his past life, though he wasn’t a heavy smoker. In fact, he had only picked up the habit while studying in Moscow. By the time he reincarnated, he had been smoking for nearly twenty years, but his addiction was mild—just a pack every two or three days. He had never suffered any smoking-related illnesses.

A few days ago, when he went to the supermarket, he couldn’t resist buying a carton of his favorite cigarettes—Century’s “Black Russian.” This brand cost eight hundred and fifty rubles per carton, quite expensive. Other brands like Marlboro were only one hundred and fifty or sixty rubles, and Parliament was just over two hundred. The Black Russian had a distinctive look—a flat, hard black box with a golden double-headed eagle emblem on top. The cigarettes themselves were entirely black with golden filters, each also stamped with the black double-headed eagle.

Anyone seeing this emblem would assume it was Russia’s “national cigarette,” but in reality, it was produced by the British Gallaher Group. No one knew why Russia allowed them to use the national emblem. In Russia, smoking this brand was like smoking a “Hua Zi” back home—it gave you face.

…

Like many Russian girls, Alyona smoked, though she preferred slender, light cigarettes. After finishing one, she seemed unsatisfied and reached for another, only to find her pack empty. She tossed the empty box into the trash and was about to head back to her office when a hand reached out beside her, holding a black cigarette box.

“I’ve got some,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Alyona looked up in surprise, recognizing her student. After a moment’s hesitation, she opened the box Wang Ye offered and took a cigarette.

Click. Wang Ye lit his lighter.

She leaned in, lit her cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled a stream of blue smoke before saying, “Thanks.”

She didn’t think there was anything wrong with Wang Ye smoking, nor did she criticize him. The university here was quite liberal. Many students even got married and had children during their studies. You could take your marriage certificate to the dormitory manager and request a single room for you and your spouse—they wouldn’t refuse.

…

Smokers of the world unite—Alyona and Wang Ye’s relationship warmed up a little. As they smoked, they started chatting. At first, Alyona thought Wang Ye’s Russian wasn’t very good and that they wouldn’t have much to talk about. But after just a few exchanges, she was surprised to find that his Russian was far better than she had expected.

Chapter 21: The Iron Straight Man

“You’re all exchange students in preparatory courses, right? Didn’t you say you haven’t studied Russian before? How come your Russian is so good? And why didn’t you just apply for the first year? With your level, there’s no need to continue with preparatory courses.”

Alyona asked in surprise.

Although they had only spoken a few sentences, Wang Ye’s Russian was exceptionally fluent, with standard pronunciation and no grammatical or vocabulary errors.

His level was clearly very high!

It was not the level one would expect from a preparatory exchange student, which was why Alyona was so surprised.

With Wang Ye’s level, he could have directly entered the first year.

“I was delayed by the procedures for going abroad, so it’s too late to start the first year now. I’m just taking half a year of preparatory courses to transition and get familiar with life here. My Russian is good because…”

Wang Ye repeated the story he had told the dormitory manager.

Besides this, he didn’t have a more reasonable explanation.

Sure enough, the effect was still good, and Alyona also smilingly called him “Davarishi”!

As the cigarette was about to be finished, Wang Ye seemed to suddenly remember something and asked, “Can you tell me your phone number?”

Alyona seemed a bit hesitant, and Wang Ye quickly explained, “Oh, it’s like this. You also know that my Russian level is enough to pass the preparatory graduation exam. So I might not come to class every day. I want to take this time to explore Moscow properly. The museums here are quite famous, and I want to see them. If there’s anything from the school, we can communicate by phone.”

If this were in China, telling the teacher you want to skip class would be like asking for trouble…

But here, and since it was preparatory courses, Alyona didn’t think there was any problem.

However, she still seemed a bit troubled. After hesitating for a moment, she said to Wang Ye, “I just started working and haven’t bought a phone yet. I’ll give you the office and dormitory phone numbers. If it’s during class time, call the office to find me. In the evenings and on weekends, call my dormitory.”

It was clear that Alyona’s financial situation wasn’t very good.

As teachers, their salaries probably weren’t high. The University of Friendship was already one of the best universities in Russia in terms of economic conditions, and the treatment of teachers was relatively better.

But even so, Alyona, a newly employed preparatory teacher, probably didn’t earn more than three hundred dollars.

This was because the University of Friendship had many exchange students and was relatively wealthy!

It was said that some schools with less reputation couldn’t attract many exchange students, and the salaries of preparatory teachers there were only about one thousand five hundred rubles, which was about fifty dollars…

It could be said that since the country’s disintegration, ten years had passed, but Russia had not yet recovered, and the whole country was in a state of ruin.

The lives of many ordinary people were really hard, including university teachers, scientific researchers, and public servants, whose treatment was quite low.

In the preparatory building of the University of Friendship, there was a male teacher who came to work every day with a large sports backpack, stuffed to the brim.

It wasn’t that this teacher loved sports or that the bag was full of sports equipment.

After work, he went to the subway station to set up a stall to sell shoes!

That sports backpack was full of shoes bought wholesale from the big market…

So, it was normal that Alyona didn’t have a phone. For her, maybe a phone wasn’t a necessity, nor was it something she could afford now.

Wang Ye nodded in understanding and took out his phone to record Alyona’s office and dormitory numbers.

Alyona was a single teacher, and her family didn’t seem to be in Moscow. She lived in the dormitory assigned by the school, which was actually the 13th building in the dormitory area, that high-rise dormitory building.

…

Wang Ye’s study abroad life officially began.

He quickly adapted to life here. Of course, he couldn’t help but adapt—he had lived here for seven or eight years in his previous life…

Life at school was actually quite boring, especially since it was January, the coldest time of the year in Russia.

Although school ended around two o’clock every day, there wasn’t really time to go out and play.

First, it wasn’t very safe, and second, it got dark very early here. Basically, it started to get dark around four o’clock, and by five or six, it was completely dark.

Plus, the weather outside could freeze a person to death, so everyone was too lazy to go out.

Every day was just the dormitory and the preparatory building, a two-point line.

On the first weekend after school started, Wang Ye was sleeping in when he suddenly received a phone call.

He groggily picked up the phone next to his pillow and saw that it was Nalan Yaqi.

What did she want with him?

Wang Ye frowned, but still answered the call.

“Hey, Wang Ye, do you have anything to do today?” Nalan Yaqi’s voice came through the phone.

“No, what could there be on the weekend?” Wang Ye said lazily.

“Then do you want to go see Red Square? And the famous Kremlin?” Nalan Yaqi’s voice was full of temptation.

For others, they would definitely want to go see it.

But honestly, Wang Ye had been to Red Square countless times and was already tired of it!

It was freezing cold, and spending half a day to see that small square was not as good as staying in the dormitory and sleeping in!

So Wang Ye flatly refused, “No!”

Nalan Yaqi seemed stunned. She hadn’t expected Wang Ye to refuse so decisively.

After coming to her senses, she said a bit angrily, “You’re a lazy pig! A big guy like you, staying in the dormitory all day without going out, what kind of future can you have? Let me put it this way, my roommate and I made plans to go to Red Square together. There’s a huge underground mall there. Do you want to come with us?”

The underground mall she mentioned, Wang Ye of course knew about it.

This mall was built right next to Red Square, and it was entirely underground!

It was the most high-end mall in Moscow at the time, without a doubt. Even the nearby “Europe’s largest mall,” the State Department Store, couldn’t compare to this underground mall.

High-end meant high consumption, and the place basically sold luxury brand items. With the little money Wang Ye had, he couldn’t afford anything there…

So he shook his head repeatedly and directly said he didn’t want to go. Then, without waiting for Nalan Yaqi to say anything, he hung up the phone.

…

In the same dormitory building, on the other side of the fifth floor, in a room, Nalan Yaqi looked at her phone in astonishment. The screen showed that the call had ended.

She never would have thought that she would be hung up on by Wang Ye!

She had even taken the initiative to invite him to go out and play, but Wang Ye’s brain must be made of elm wood…

This iron straight man!

So clueless!

Angrily putting on her coat, she went out with her roommate and immediately ran into Zhang Ke, the long-haired, short guy who had been beaten up by Wang Ye.

Seeing Nalan Yaqi, Zhang Ke’s eyes lit up, and he quickly came over and asked, “Oh, Qi Gege, are you going out? Where to? I have nothing to do, let’s go together.”

Nalan Yaqi looked at him with disgust and said irritably, “We girls are going out to play, what does that have to do with you? Stay away!”

After saying that, she pulled her roommate and walked away.

Watching Nalan Yaqi’s graceful figure as she left, Zhang Ke’s face looked a bit ugly…

Chapter 22: The Rich Second Generation

After declining Nalan Yaqi’s invitation, Wang Ye fell back into a deep sleep.

When he woke up, it was almost noon, and he received a call from Zhou Yuan inviting him over for a meal.

Since arriving in Moscow, Wang Ye had been thriving in the preparatory courses building.

Fluent in Russian, warm-hearted, emotionally intelligent, and articulate—these were the impressions many of his classmates had of him.

Of course, in the eyes of Nalan Yaqi and Zhang Ke, Wang Ye might not have been all that impressive…

After the incident at the large market where they encountered the police, Zhou Yuan had developed a great deal of respect for Wang Ye, and their relationship had grown quite close.

Upon receiving Zhou Yuan’s call, Wang Ye didn’t hesitate. After a quick wash, he headed straight over.

Having someone invite him for a meal was a good thing. Although he could cook, it was too much trouble.

Zhou Yuan lived on the other side of the dormitory building, the same side as Nalan Yaqi, though he was on the third floor.

When Wang Ye arrived at Zhou Yuan’s dormitory, he met Zhou Yuan’s roommate for the first time.

The room currently housed only two people. Zhou Yuan mentioned that a Vietnamese student had lived there before but had already moved out.

Zhou Yuan’s roommate was also a Chinese student, likewise in preparatory courses, though he had come through a different agency than Wang Ye and the others.

The young man was tall and thin, seeming a bit shy.

“Come on in, it’s just been prepared. We were waiting for you to start eating. Today, Xiao Hu is the chef, and I’m the assistant. Xiao Hu’s cooking skills are excellent,” Zhou Yuan greeted warmly.

The “Xiao Hu” he mentioned was clearly his roommate.

The meal was quite lavish, with five or six substantial dishes prepared, and several bottles of beer placed on the table.

Wang Ye was somewhat surprised. Here, everyone prioritized convenience when it came to meals, and usually, no one went through the trouble of making so many dishes.

Normally, one dish was enough. If there were more people, they would simply increase the portion size…

For Zhou Yuan and his roommate to go to such lengths today, making so many dishes and going through all that trouble, just to invite him for a meal?

He couldn’t possibly have that much face…

So, this meal wasn’t simple. These two must have something to ask of him. The question was whether it was Zhou Yuan or Xiao Hu who needed the favor.

However, Wang Ye didn’t expose their intentions. He simply sat down with a smile and said, “Wow, this spread looks even more lavish than the dishes at Long Feng Lou downstairs. It must be delicious.”

Xiao Hu eagerly opened a bottle of beer and handed it to him. “Ye Ge, have a drink.”

Each of them took a bottle of beer, clinked them together, took a big gulp, and then started eating.

Sure enough, after a few bites, Zhou Yuan spoke up.

“Wang Ye, actually, Xiao Hu wants to ask you for a favor today.”

Wang Ye smiled, swallowed the food in his mouth, put down his chopsticks, and readily agreed, “What is it? Just say it. As long as it’s within my power, I’ll definitely help.”

At home, one relies on their parents; abroad, one relies on friends.

As long as it wasn’t something too troublesome, Wang Ye was quite willing to lend a hand.

Among these classmates, there were hidden talents!

From what Wang Ye knew, many of their families had businesses in Moscow’s large market, and some were quite substantial!

They had come to study abroad to learn the language and then take over their family businesses.

Those who did wholesale trade in the large market—while he couldn’t say they were all wealthy, there were definitely many with assets worth millions!

Zhou Yuan’s roommate, Xiao Hu, wasn’t someone Wang Ye was very familiar with from his previous life, but he had heard that his family was also in business, though he wasn’t sure what exactly they did.

Hearing Wang Ye agree so readily, Xiao Hu’s face lit up with joy, and he quickly said:

“It’s like this, Ye Ge.

My family runs a factory that makes sports shoes.

Now, we want to set up a branch company here in Moscow, which is why I came early to learn Russian and also to survey the market.

I’ve been here for half a year and have a general understanding of the situation. After discussing it with my family, we plan to open the company soon.

But opening a company is different from simply setting up a stall for wholesale. The procedures are quite complicated—registering the company, finding office space, setting up a showroom or stall, hiring employees, and so on. I definitely can’t handle all of this alone and need someone who is very good at Russian to help me.

I’ve heard everyone say that your Russian is excellent, better than those who have been here for several years. So, I was wondering if you could help me with all of this.”

Hearing this, Wang Ye looked at Xiao Hu with newfound respect.

He really hadn’t expected it—this guy was actually a rich second generation!

Running a shoe factory, especially one that made sports shoes, meant the scale wasn’t small.

Moreover, Xiao Hu’s family had a grand vision. They weren’t like the typical Chinese business owners who came to rent a storefront and start wholesaling goods. Instead, they wanted to register a company and do business properly!

This required a much larger investment.

After listening to Xiao Hu, Wang Ye furrowed his brows and remained silent.

This wasn’t a simple matter, nor something that could be done in a day or two.

Even if many things could be handled by professional companies, it was still very cumbersome. To truly get a company up and running would take at least a month or two of hard work.

Inviting him for a meal and then expecting him to work for so long—wasn’t Xiao Hu being a bit unreasonable?

Xiao Hu clearly noticed Wang Ye’s furrowed brows. He quickly smiled again and said, “I understand. This isn’t an easy task and will take a long time. Ye Ge, don’t worry. I’ve discussed it with my family. If you’re willing, you can be the first employee of this branch company! As for the salary, we can set it at one thousand US dollars per month. What do you think?”

Zhou Yuan, sitting beside them, said enviously, “Wow, being good at Russian is really something. Wang Ye, you’ve just arrived in Moscow and already found a job paying one thousand US dollars a month. That’s amazing!”

One thousand US dollars a month wasn’t a low salary. Many exchange students working as translators didn’t earn that much; most made between five hundred and eight hundred US dollars.

Additionally, this job wasn’t as tough as working as a translator in the large market. He wouldn’t have to wake up at five every morning, and it wasn’t as busy. During the company’s preparation period, he wouldn’t have to go to work every day.

But given Wang Ye’s Russian proficiency, this salary wasn’t particularly high…

So, he was still a bit hesitant because he had his own plans for making money, even though those plans hadn’t taken shape yet…

Seeing Wang Ye remain silent, Xiao Hu gritted his teeth and raised the offer again.

“Ye Ge, do you think the salary is too low? Then we can negotiate further. As long as your language skills are as good as they say, the company can offer you… one thousand five hundred US dollars! How about that?”

This was already the limit of what he could offer.

It wasn’t that their family company couldn’t afford a higher price, but that was the market rate.

There were some Chinese companies in Moscow with many Chinese employees, and the starting salaries were around eight hundred or one thousand US dollars, with two thousand being the cap.

Anything higher would require a mid-to-high-level management position, which ordinary employees wouldn’t get.

Additionally, regarding Wang Ye’s Russian proficiency, Xiao Hu had only heard that it was excellent, but he wasn’t sure exactly how good it was or whether it was worth his family company paying more to hire him. He would have to observe a bit more to find out…

Chapter 23: An Old Friend

If this had been his past life, when he had just arrived in Moscow, someone offering him fifteen hundred dollars a month would have made Wang Ye jump for joy!

But back then, his Russian was nowhere near as good as it was now.

Now, though, things were different.

His Russian skills were excellent, and with nearly twenty years of work experience under his belt, he had seen his fair share of the world.

Fifteen hundred dollars a month wasn’t enough to tempt him.

Of course, before he got too busy, earning a little extra money wouldn’t hurt.

Besides, from what Xiao Hu had said, his family’s company seemed to have some real strength. Making another friend meant expanding his network, and that was never a bad thing.

Wang Ye thought for a moment before calmly speaking up.

“Here’s what we’ll do, Xiao Hu. I can help you set up the company, but I can only spare about ten days a month to take you around and handle things. The schedule will have to work around me, but I’ll do my best to keep things moving. As for pay, let’s make it a thousand dollars a month. Once the company is up and running, I won’t be working there anymore—I still need to focus on my studies.”

He had taken the initiative to lower his own wage, but in return, the schedule would have to accommodate him.

That way, even if his own money-making plans took off, it wouldn’t interfere.

As for classes…

With his language skills, he really didn’t need them.

A quick chat with the teachers would be enough. The teachers here were usually quite “reasonable.”

All the things Xiao Hu had mentioned would probably take one to two months to sort out. If he spent around twenty days on it, he could earn a couple thousand dollars on the side.

That wasn’t bad.

…

Xiao Hu thought for a moment before agreeing readily. “Alright! We’ll do it your way, Ye Ge. Oh, have you bought a phone yet? Let me add your number. Call me when you’re free, and we’ll get started right away.”

In truth, Wang Ye’s proposal was even better for Xiao Hu.

It was like paying two thousand dollars to hire a high-level translator to guide him through setting up the company.

Once everything was in place, they wouldn’t be short on translators anyway, so whether Wang Ye stayed or not didn’t matter.

If he didn’t want to work at the company, that just meant the company would save a lot of money!

After finishing their business, the three of them chatted and laughed as they ate.

Once they were done, Zhou Yuan and Xiao Hu busied themselves with cleaning up. Wang Ye noticed a few copies of the Moscow Chinese News on the table beside him and picked up the most recent one to flip through.

Out of habit, he went straight to the classifieds section at the back.

He hadn’t been expecting much—just browsing, hoping to get lucky.

But to his delight, on the second page of ads, he spotted a familiar name: Liu Jun!

It was a small, unassuming ad: “Wholesale and retail phone cards. Competitive prices. Clear and stable calls. Interested parties, please contact Liu Jun. Phone: XXXXX…”

This was the old friend he had been trying to find!

Wang Ye quickly pulled out his phone and saved Liu Jun’s number, but he didn’t call right away.

There was no rush. He would contact him once he got back.

…

Around two or three in the afternoon, Wang Ye returned to his dormitory.

The place was quiet. Song Xiao Gang and Xiao Hei were nowhere to be found—no one was around.

He closed the door, poured himself a glass of water, and sipped it as he thought.

After a long while, once he had everything sorted out in his mind, Wang Ye dialed Liu Jun’s number.

The phone rang, and the other end picked up quickly.

“Hello, who is this?” a deep baritone voice answered.

“Is this Liu Jun? I’d like to buy some phone cards,” Wang Ye replied.

“How many do you want? Orders under two hundred dollars require pickup. Over two hundred, and we deliver within Moscow city limits,” Liu Jun said smoothly.

Wang Ye chuckled. “I want to buy five thousand dollars’ worth of cards.”

There was a pause on the other end. Clearly, Liu Jun was taken aback by the amount.

After all, these were just phone cards, not some large-scale wholesale business!

Even businesspeople who made calls every day usually only bought around two hundred dollars’ worth at a time.

Who on earth would buy five thousand dollars’ worth in one go?

After a moment, Liu Jun recovered and asked suspiciously, “Are you a phone card seller? Do you sell them at the market?”

That was the only possibility. Only those street vendors who sold cards and newspapers would buy in such large quantities.

But even that didn’t make much sense. Those vendors never bought that much stock at once.

“No, I’m a student at the University of Friendship. I want to sell them on campus. Buying in bulk is to get a better price—surely there’s a discount for large orders?” Wang Ye said with a light laugh.

After some hesitation, Liu Jun responded, “Are you at the university now? How about I come over, and we can talk in person?”

Five thousand dollars was no small deal for him. It was worth making a special trip.

Wang Ye had no objections and agreed readily. “Sure, come on over. I’m at Building No. 6 at the University of Friendship. Call me when you get here.”

“I know the area. I’ll be there in about half an hour,” Liu Jun said decisively.

…

After hanging up, Wang Ye paced around his room, thinking about how to approach the meeting with Liu Jun.

This five-thousand-dollar purchase was essentially his entire savings…

If something went wrong, not only would he lose his living expenses for the next year and a half, but his tuition would be gone too!

But this was just the beginning…

Time passed quickly. About half an hour later, Wang Ye’s phone rang.

Liu Jun had arrived.

Wang Ye put on his coat, grabbed his phone and wallet, and headed downstairs.

Outside, he saw a black, older-model Audi 100 parked by the road, its engine still humming.

Without hesitation, he raised his phone and waved at the old Audi.

The window rolled down, and a man in his early thirties looked over at him. “Wang Ye?”

Wang Ye nodded and walked over. “Liu Ge, right? I’m Wang Ye. Come on, drive up a bit. Let’s go to the café under Building No. 7. The dorm’s too messy for a proper talk.”

Right next to Building No. 7 was a small café—or bar, depending on how you looked at it.

It wasn’t very big, but it served draft beer, grilled meat, coffee, and the like.

Wealthier students often went there to eat or drink, and it got quite lively in the evenings.

At this hour, though, it should be empty.

Perfect for a private conversation.

Liu Jun gave Wang Ye a once-over, a smile spreading across his face. “Alright, I’ll buy you a coffee.”

Before coming, Liu Jun had been a little worried.

Could a student just starting his preparatory courses really have five thousand dollars to spend on phone cards?

Was this some kind of scam?

But after meeting Wang Ye, he didn’t sense any of the immaturity he would expect from a teenager.

Wang Ye gave off an air of maturity and steadiness. The way he spoke and carried himself was reassuring, like a breath of fresh air.

Chapter 24: Big Business

The coffee shop was indeed quiet, with only a few scattered people in the spacious hall.

Wang Ye and Liu Jun sat by the window at a table, each with a steaming cup of coffee in front of them.

Liu Jun took a sip of his coffee before setting the cup down. He spoke sincerely, “Wang Ye, you’re a preparatory student? You’ve only been here half a year, right? Actually, I suggest you don’t take too many cards at once. There are quite a few Chinese exchange students at the University of Friendship, but five thousand dollars’ worth of phone cards won’t be easy to sell.”

From this statement alone, it was clear that Liu Jun was a decent man.

After all, as someone selling phone cards, the more a customer bought, the happier he should be. He should even encourage them to buy more.

Whether Wang Ye could successfully sell the cards after purchasing them was none of his concern.

In this business, there was no such thing as unconditional returns or exchanges!

Yet he still took the time to advise Wang Ye, warning him to be cautious with his investment and not to wholesale too many phone cards at once, considering the sales aspect.

This was partly because he saw that Wang Ye was young, just starting his preparatory courses, and likely had no prior business experience.

He didn’t want Wang Ye to act impulsively, taking the living expenses and tuition money his family had given him and recklessly trying his hand at business.

He was half right.

Wang Ye had indeed taken out almost all his money to make this deal.

But he wasn’t acting on impulse—he had thought it through carefully!

So Wang Ye smiled slightly and replied, “I am a preparatory student, but I haven’t been in Moscow for half a year. I only arrived on January 1st.”

Liu Jun’s eyes widened. January 1st?

Today was only mid-January—Wang Ye hadn’t even been here a month!

And he was already daring to invest five thousand dollars in business?!

He didn’t know whether to admire the young man’s boldness or laugh at his ignorance…

Today, he had run into Wang Ye and could offer some well-meaning advice.

If it had been another phone card seller, they would probably have been eager to take Wang Ye’s money, even trying to persuade him to spend more.

Abroad, you couldn’t blindly trust “fellow countrymen” or “compatriots”!

Often, the ones who would cheat or take advantage of you were precisely these people…

…

Liu Jun furrowed his brow.

He wasn’t that old himself—thirty-five or thirty-six—and had been in Moscow for over a decade.

Now, he worked at the Moscow branch of a state-owned enterprise, a true “old hand in Moscow.”

In his spare time, he earned extra money through various means.

Selling phone cards was something he had only recently gotten into, and his advertisements had just gone out.

Wang Ye was his first “big client”!

But he was worried about Wang Ye—what if he couldn’t sell all these cards at once?

Of course, this wasn’t really his problem…

After hesitating, he still advised, “Since you’ve only been in Moscow for less than a month, I suggest you take fewer cards first. Try selling them, and if they sell well, you can take more next time. How about this—for our first transaction, I’ll give you a discount. If you take over a thousand dollars’ worth of cards, I’ll give you the wholesale price—eight percent off! Normally, you’d need to take two thousand dollars’ worth to get that.”

Wang Ye smiled. Liu Jun was just as he remembered from his past life—sharp and flexible, but not a bad person!

He shook his head. “I’ll still take five thousand dollars’ worth of cards. Too few wouldn’t be worth the effort. Don’t worry about me not being able to sell them—just keep the price low.”

Wang Ye wasn’t worried at all!

He had already calculated that there were five or six hundred Chinese exchange students at the University of Friendship alone.

Moscow State University had even more!

And then there were other universities—Moscow had so many, and almost all of them had some Chinese exchange students.

Initially, he wouldn’t even need to contact too many people. If he could just open up the markets at Moscow State University and the University of Friendship, he could easily sell five thousand dollars’ worth of cards in less than a week.

As for how to open up these two markets, Wang Ye already had his own ideas—he wasn’t just daydreaming.

…

Seeing how determined Wang Ye was, Liu Jun didn’t press the issue further.

He could only smile and say, “Alright, since you’re confident, I won’t nag. Since you’re taking so many cards at once and this is our first transaction, I’ll make sure you’re satisfied with the price. How about this… seven thousand dollars’ worth of cards!”

Five thousand dollars for seven thousand dollars’ worth of cards—almost a thirty percent discount. This was a good price.

From what Wang Ye knew, even the card dealers didn’t usually get such a low discount!

Clearly, Liu Jun wasn’t trying to take advantage of him as a young, inexperienced buyer. Instead, he was offering a fair price.

So Wang Ye nodded readily. “Alright, then thanks, Brother Liu. I’ll take eighty fifty-dollar cards and thirty hundred-dollar cards.”

The phone cards came in different denominations—twenty, fifty, one hundred, and two hundred dollars.

Wang Ye didn’t choose the highest or lowest denominations but focused on fifty-dollar cards, with the rest being hundred-dollar ones.

This came to a total of one hundred and ten cards. He might not even need to sell them at Moscow State University—just the University of Friendship alone could absorb them all.

After speaking, Wang Ye took out his bulging wallet from his pocket and began counting the money.

As it happened, he hadn’t deposited any of his money in the bank. Apart from the preparatory course tuition and the cost of his phone, the rest was on him.

The preparatory course tuition was eighteen hundred dollars, which already included half a year’s accommodation. The phone cost a little over three hundred, and miscellaneous expenses added up to another hundred or so. In truth, Wang Ye didn’t have five thousand dollars left.

He had borrowed five hundred from Song Xiao Gang…

Liu Jun also took out a small black backpack he carried with him, rummaged inside, and pulled out two large boxes of cards.

Following Wang Ye’s request, he counted out eighty fifty-dollar cards and thirty hundred-dollar cards.

Money and goods exchanged hands, and both men counted again to confirm the amounts were correct.

A smile appeared on Liu Jun’s face—today, he had made a big sale!

He added, “These cards work just like the common phone cards on the market. The dialing instructions are on the back—it’s straightforward. Also, this line has just been opened, so the call quality is definitely better than other IP cards—easier to connect and clearer.”

Wang Ye nodded to show he understood.

After finishing their coffee, Liu Jun stood up to leave.

Before departing, he made a promise to Wang Ye:

“These cards should last you a while. When you’ve sold them all, give me a call, and I’ll send another batch over.

Also, since you’re planning to do business across the universities, I won’t wholesale cards to other universities for the time being. I’ll give you a three-month protection period.

If you manage to open up sales channels in all these universities, then the entire market is yours.

If you can’t, I might look for a few agents at Moscow State University and other schools.”

Chapter 25: Making a Friend

Liu Jun’s words were exactly what Wang Ye had just requested.

It wouldn’t do for Wang Ye to be preparing to open up the markets at the University of Friendship, Moscow State University, and other universities with a large batch of phone cards, only for Liu Jun to be selling cards at those same schools—or even finding other agents to do so.

That would leave Wang Ye in a real bind…

So, he specifically brought up this matter, demanding that Liu Jun stop wholesaling phone cards at those schools. Better yet, he shouldn’t sell them at all!

Liu Jun thought it over and readily agreed to Wang Ye’s request.

But he added a deadline.

Three months!

As long as Wang Ye could secure those schools and sell the phone cards there within three months, Liu Jun would hand over those markets to him. It would count as Wang Ye being the agent for those areas.

Now it was up to Wang Ye’s ability. If he couldn’t sell the cards within three months, Liu Jun couldn’t just leave those markets empty forever.

Though the phone card market at universities wasn’t large—it could even be called small—every little bit counted!

The sales volume in the larger markets was astonishing, but breaking into those markets had a high barrier to entry. Liu Jun hadn’t managed to get in yet…

Watching Liu Jun’s old Audi drive away, Wang Ye clutched the box of phone cards tightly and hurried back to the dormitory.

The money had been spent, and the phone cards were in his hands!

Now it was time for Wang Ye’s “performance”…

…

Back in the dormitory, Wang Ye found a few blank A4 sheets and a thick marker.

On the sheets, he began to write.

It was simple—he was making a few promotional posters to put up on the bulletin boards in the lobbies of all the dormitory buildings!

This way, the Chinese exchange students at the University of Friendship would know that Wang Ye had phone cards for sale. If anyone wanted to buy a card, they wouldn’t need to ask someone from the larger market to bring one. They could just call the number on the poster, and Wang Ye would deliver the card directly!

Whether they bought fifty or a hundred, he would deliver it right to their door!

This kind of service was something they had never enjoyed before!

As for the price, a fifty-dollar card would only cost forty-five dollars!

A hundred-dollar card would only cost ninety!

Wang Ye hadn’t taken any twenty-dollar cards, only fifty and hundred-dollar ones, to increase the “average order value.”

For many students, buying a twenty-dollar card was the same as buying a fifty-dollar one.

When there was a twenty-dollar option, they might choose that, but without it, they would have to buy the fifty-dollar one.

But for Wang Ye, this made a difference.

Selling one fifty-dollar card was like selling two and a half twenty-dollar cards!

It also meant fewer trips for him…

There was another reason: higher-value cards could subtly encourage people to make more calls!

Think about it—if your phone card only lasted an hour, you would be mindful of the time and keep conversations short.

But if your card could last three to five hours?

You might not even think about the duration, and calls would naturally last longer.

This way, Wang Ye’s phone card sales would naturally increase!

…

With a stack of homemade posters in hand, Wang Ye set out to visit each dormitory building.

Just as he stepped out of the dormitory, he ran into Xiao Yun and Wang Dan, two girls who seemed to have gone to the big supermarket. Each carried a large bag of groceries.

They smiled and greeted him.

“Ye Ge, you didn’t go out today?”

“Ye Ge, we bought a lot of snacks and fruit. We’ll bring some to you later.”

Though they were all around the same age, Wang Ye had over twenty years of social experience from his past life, so he was quite popular among his classmates.

Plus, his Russian was excellent, he was warm-hearted, and always willing to help others. Everyone needed his assistance from time to time.

Naturally, Wang Ye was well-liked.

Wang Ye waved the papers in his hand and replied with a smile, “Let me tell you, if you want to buy phone cards in the future, you don’t need to ask the older students to bring them from the larger market. Just come to me. I sell phone cards, and the prices are cheap!”

Asking older students to bring phone cards from the larger market or going there themselves was not only inconvenient but also expensive.

The face value of the card was exactly what you had to pay—no one had ever heard of phone cards being sold at a discount…

Xiao Yun and Wang Dan were immediately interested.

Wang Dan quickly asked, “Really? That’s great! I’ve been making a lot of calls these past few days, and the card I just bought is already used up. I was thinking of asking someone to bring me another one, but now it’s simple—I can just buy it from you, Ye Ge. By the way, how much do you sell a hundred-dollar card for?”

Girls generally talked on the phone more than boys, especially new students like Xiao Yun and Wang Dan who had just arrived in Moscow.

Wang Ye often saw these two girls holding their phones all day, chattering away with people back home. He had no idea how they had so much to say…

“Only ninety dollars, wholesale price. I got the cards from a friend, not to make money, just for convenience. I’m selling them at wholesale price to make friends,” Wang Ye replied with a smile.

This was half true and half false.

A ten percent discount was indeed a very good price, something most people couldn’t get. It was practically a wholesale price.

But saying it wasn’t for profit, just to make friends, was unrealistic…

For Xiao Yun and Wang Dan, this was an unexpected surprise!

They were definitely heavy phone card users. Having just arrived in Moscow and not yet fully adjusted, they called home or friends back in China almost every day, so they used up phone cards quickly.

Last time at the larger market, each of them had bought two hundred dollars’ worth of phone cards. It had only been a week, and they were almost out!

Even if they didn’t call as frequently in the future, they would still need a hundred or two hundred dollars’ worth of cards each month.

This was no small expense.

Now, buying from Wang Ye at a ten percent discount would save them some money. Why not?

So Xiao Yun immediately asked, “That cheap? Ye Ge, are these cards reliable? Are they the same as the ones we used before?”

“Not exactly the same. These cards are of even better quality than the ones you used before. The calls are clearer, and the connection is more stable,” Wang Ye said confidently.

Hearing this, Xiao Yun and Wang Dan had no more doubts.

“That’s great! Give me a hundred-dollar card first. I still need to call my friends back home later. This place is awful—there isn’t even a cybercafé. The only way to contact friends back home is by phone!”

“I want a hundred-dollar card too. When I run out, I’ll come to you again, Ye Ge. Hehe, buying cards will be so convenient from now on.”

…

Wang Ye’s business had a great start. Before he even began promoting, he had already sold two hundred-dollar cards.

Chapter 26: Business is Booming

In the lobby of every dormitory building, there was a wall covered in various posters—lost items, secondhand goods, and all kinds of products for sale. Wang Ye had made those promotional posters specifically to put up here. That way, he wouldn’t have to go around telling everyone he was selling phone cards. People would see the posters on their way back to their dorms and know about it. Those who needed one would call him to buy a card.

It took Wang Ye quite some time to put up posters in over a dozen dormitory buildings, from Building No. 1 all the way to Building No. 13. By the time he finished and returned to his dorm, he found several people waiting for him inside. They were all familiar faces—some from his own group, others from Zhou Yuan’s batch. They had all come through the same agency.

Zhou Yuan was among them, and everyone was chatting and laughing. As soon as they saw Wang Ye return, they swarmed around him, bombarding him with questions.

“Ye Ge, I heard from Wang Dan that you’re selling phone cards? And at a great price?”

“Nice one, Wang Ye! You’ve already got connections for cheap phone cards right after arriving in Moscow? You’ve got a sharp mind—I’ve got to hand it to you!”

“Ye Ge, Ye Ge, give me a card! I’m out, and a fifty-dollar one will do.”

“I’ll take a hundred-dollar one. Xiao Yun said you’re selling them for ninety, right?”

Clearly, everyone had heard from Xiao Yun and Wang Dan that Wang Ye was selling phone cards at a discount. It was practically a necessity—everyone needed one to some extent. And since it was their good friend Wang Ye selling them, everyone had come to support him.

Wang Ye felt a warmth in his heart and smiled. They had only been in Moscow for a short time, and their bonds were still strong. After all, in a foreign place, people tended to stick together. But as time passed and they grew more familiar with their surroundings, their relationships might not remain as close. Everyone would eventually go their separate ways.

He waved his hand and calmly replied, “No need to rush. I do have phone cards for sale—nine percent off the face value. But I only have fifty and one hundred-dollar cards.”

Some of the guys had wanted to buy a twenty-dollar card since they didn’t make many calls and didn’t need much. But since Wang Ye’s minimum was fifty, they went ahead and bought the fifty-dollar card. After all, phone cards didn’t expire—they could use them slowly over time.

In no time, Wang Ye sold six fifty-dollar cards and three hundred-dollar cards. Adding the two hundred-dollar cards he had sold to Xiao Yun and Wang Dan earlier, that made a total of six fifty-dollar and five hundred-dollar cards—eight hundred dollars’ worth. At nine percent off, he successfully collected seven hundred and twenty dollars!

With this, he could immediately pay back the money he had borrowed from Song Xiao Gang for the bulk purchase of phone cards. The first step of his business was off to a great start!

Of course, things might not go as smoothly in the future. After all, no one bought phone cards every day. The students who bought cards today would likely use them for at least a week or even a month before needing another. But fortunately, there were plenty of Chinese students at the University of Friendship. The promotional posters Wang Ye had put up would take some time to spread the word. Once everyone knew he was selling cheap phone cards, his business should see another small boom!

That afternoon, Wang Ye’s dorm saw a steady stream of students, mostly from Building No. 6’s preparatory courses. They had all come to buy phone cards. Many were also curious about how Wang Ye had managed to get such cheap cards.

If Wang Ye had claimed he was selling them at cost or even at a loss just to make friends, no one would have believed him. But since everyone had bought phone cards before and knew the prices, they understood that Wang Ye wasn’t making much profit at this price. Unless, of course, his wholesale price was extremely low!

Wang Ye naturally wasn’t about to reveal his wholesale price—that was a “trade secret,” after all. He simply smiled and told them it was from a friend he had known for a long time, and that these cards were limited. The next batch might not be as cheap.

He wasn’t lying—after all, he had known Liu Jun in his “previous life.”

This also subtly urged everyone to take advantage of the deal while they could. Miss this chance, and there might not be another!

But business wasn’t always smooth sailing.

After dinner, around seven or eight o’clock, Wang Ye’s phone rang. He casually pulled it out and answered. He had already taken a few calls that day, all from people wanting to buy phone cards, so this one was probably no different. He couldn’t think of anyone else who would call him.

Sure enough, as soon as he answered, a male voice came through. “Hello, is this Wang Ye? I’d like to buy a phone card. Can you bring it over?”

Wang Ye replied promptly, “Sure, which dorm building and room number?”

“I’m in Building No. 6, on the east side, Room 506. Just come over. Do you have a twenty-dollar one? I’ll take that.”

“Sorry, the minimum is fifty. No twenties,” Wang Ye responded.

The guy didn’t hesitate. “Then I’ll take the fifty.”

Wang Ye hung up, grabbed his wallet, and headed out without even putting on a jacket. He went downstairs, crossed the lobby, and made his way to the east building, climbing the stairs to the fifth floor. He found Room 506, where the door was slightly ajar. He knocked twice, and when he heard someone say “Come in,” he pushed the door open.

But as soon as he stepped inside, Wang Ye froze.

There were three guys in the room, all Chinese students, and he recognized them. Weren’t these the same three who had barged into his dorm that first night in Moscow and beaten up Song Xiao Gang?

The short one with long hair was Zhang Ke—Nalan Yaqi had told Wang Ye his name. The other two, a tall, heavyset guy and a medium-height man, Wang Ye still didn’t know their names. So, these three shared a dorm?

But that didn’t matter. Wang Ye didn’t believe they would actually dare to lay a hand on him. If they were reckless enough to try and gang up on him, then Wang Ye…

Would just have to run for it.

After all, a wise man doesn’t fight when the odds are against him. He wasn’t some brute like Song Xiao Gang who could take on ten men at once!

He calmly asked, “Who called me to buy a card?”

Zhang Ke was sitting at the desk, playing on his laptop. He glanced at Wang Ye when he entered but quickly turned back to his screen. Hearing Wang Ye’s question, he replied without looking up, “It was me. Hand over the card.”

Chapter 27: Envy and Jealousy

The other two boys just smirked at Wang Ye without saying a word.

Wang Ye took two steps forward, pulled out a fifty-dollar phone card from his wallet, and said, “Here, forty-five dollars.”

Zhang Ke took the phone card, turning it over in his hands for a long time, but didn’t pay. Instead, he asked, “This card is so cheap—it’s not fake, is it?”

That was clearly picking a fight.

But Wang Ye didn’t get angry. He calmly replied, “Guaranteed genuine. I’ve sold this card to more than just one or two people. You can ask around about how it works.”

Zhang Ke was at a loss for words, but he asked again, “Others sell cards at full price. How can yours be so much cheaper? Sigh, we’re all here to study abroad, but selling phone cards—how much can you even make? A dollar or two per card? Not even enough to buy a beer. How pathetic!”

Wang Ye could see right through him.

This guy was unhappy with him but didn’t dare to actually do anything. First, he couldn’t beat him, and second, he was afraid of causing trouble.

Today, he must have seen Wang Ye’s promotional posters or heard from others about him selling cards, so he was deliberately trying to annoy him, getting some verbal satisfaction.

It was a bit childish…

But then again, they were all just teenagers. Their tactics couldn’t be that sophisticated.

Maybe this idea was the best Zhang Ke could come up with, and he was probably quite pleased with himself, thinking he had finally “gotten back” at Wang Ye.

Wang Ye smiled calmly and replied, “No matter how much you earn, it’s money you made yourself. Even if it’s just a penny, it’s nothing to be ashamed of!”

Zhang Ke shook his head repeatedly. “Shameful! Way too shameful! Sigh, your family must have had a hard time sending you here. Why don’t you just focus on your studies? Why do these little businesses, making a little money, wasting your time studying—what’s the point? Is your family really that poor that they can’t even afford your studies abroad, so you have to earn money yourself?”

His words sounded like he was concerned for Wang Ye, advising him to study hard.

But everyone could hear the real meaning—he was mocking Wang Ye.

Wang Ye was getting impatient. He frowned and asked, “Are you going to buy the card or not? If not, I’m leaving. Why so much nonsense?”

Zhang Ke’s smile froze. He hadn’t expected Wang Ye to be so blunt.

He was the “customer,” paying for the card, so what was Wang Ye’s attitude?

Just as he was about to retort, Wang Ye’s phone rang again.

Wang Ye ignored him and answered the call.

No one knew what was said on the other end, but Wang Ye responded with a couple of “mm-hmms” and said he would be right over.

After hanging up, he snatched the phone card from Zhang Ke’s hand and said, “If you’re buying, pay up. If not, forget it. Why are you dragging this out like a woman? Alright, someone else wants the card. I have to go deliver it. I don’t have time to waste here.”

With that, he turned to leave. Zhang Ke quickly stood up. “Hey, hey, don’t go! I want it, of course I want it.”

Even though Wang Ye had snapped at him, Zhang Ke didn’t feel like he had lost. After all, he had been the one to mock Wang Ye first.

And the fact that he could call Wang Ye over with just a phone call gave him an indescribable sense of superiority…

He even thought about buying phone cards more often in the future, just to call Wang Ye over more.

You think you’re so cool? One call from me, and you still come running for a dollar or two. Ha!

As he handed the money to Wang Ye, he curiously asked, “Business is good, huh? Someone else is asking you to buy a card?”

Wang Ye took the money and casually replied, “Yeah, some girl named Qi Gege wants to buy a card. She lives on this floor, so it’s on the way. Hehe.”

Zhang Ke was taken aback and quickly said, “It’s so late, and you’re still going to a girl’s room? That’s not good!”

Wang Ye looked at him in surprise and asked, “She doesn’t mind, so why are you in such a hurry? What’s it to you?”

Zhang Ke’s face showed an awkward smile as he explained, “It’s none of my business. I’m just giving you a friendly reminder.”

Wang Ye put the money in his wallet, turned, and left without another word.

Seeing Wang Ye leave the dormitory, Zhang Ke quickly walked to the door. He didn’t go out but instead pressed himself against the door frame, peeking outside.

He saw Wang Ye walk to the other end of the hallway, knock on a door, and go inside.

That was Nalan Yaqi’s room!

Even though they lived on the same floor, Zhang Ke had never been inside Nalan Yaqi’s dormitory. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to—she just wouldn’t let him…

But now Wang Ye had just walked right in, which made Zhang Ke feel a mix of envy and jealousy!

…

In Nalan Yaqi’s room, Wang Ye saw Nalan Yaqi and her roommate squeezed together on a bed, hugging a portable DVD player and watching a show.

There were only the two of them in the room; the third roommate wasn’t there.

When Nalan Yaqi saw Wang Ye come in, she put down the DVD, stood up, and smiled. “You’re doing well now, starting your own business. Impressive!”

The same words, if spoken by Zhang Ke, would have been annoying, feeling like mockery.

But coming from Nalan Yaqi, they didn’t feel unpleasant at all.

Wang Ye smiled in response. “A friend of mine does this, and since I have nothing better to do, I thought I’d give it a try. It’s good practice, helps everyone out, and I get to meet new people.”

Nalan Yaqi gave Wang Ye an approving look and nodded. “That’s really good. Just burying your head in books here isn’t enough. Even if you study well, what’s the point? You need to meet more people, make more friends, and seize opportunities when they come. There are plenty of chances here. If you’re willing, who knows—maybe you’ll become a tycoon someday!”

Nalan Yaqi’s feelings toward Wang Ye were subtly changing day by day.

When they first met, Wang Ye had shown no interest in her, which had annoyed Nalan Yaqi.

At the time, she had wanted to find an opportunity to embarrass Wang Ye, to get back at him.

In fact, that morning when she had invited Wang Ye to go shopping with her, she had planned to tease him—like taking him to a lingerie store…

But Wang Ye hadn’t taken the bait.

Then, that evening, as soon as she returned to the dormitory, she saw Wang Ye’s promotional posters in the lobby. She was surprised to find that this guy was really something—he had only been in Moscow for half a month and was already doing business!

Even if it was just selling phone cards, a small venture that probably didn’t make much money.

But it represented an attitude!

An attitude of not being content with mediocrity, of striving to improve!

That was rare…

Chapter 28: Kid, I Admire You

Many Chinese exchange students here come from different backgrounds, with all sorts of personalities.

Some are diligent students, burying themselves in their studies every day, hoping to earn their diplomas smoothly.

Others spend their days goofing off, skipping classes, and hiding in their dormitories playing games.

Then there are those who never intended to study in the first place. After finishing their preparatory courses, they head straight to the big market to work as translators and earn money.

In Nalan Yaqi’s eyes, all these types of people are rather unpromising.

Of course, there are also those like Wang Ye—quick-witted, knowing how to find opportunities to start their own businesses!

Perhaps most people never become big bosses, just making small profits here and there.

But there are always a few who stand out, becoming figures others envy or even look up to!

As for Wang Ye…

It’s still too early to say!

Nalan Yaqi thought this way partly because of her mother’s influence.

She came from a single-parent family, raised by her mother. As for her father…

Well, her mother never mentioned him. Whenever she asked, her mother would snap, “He’s dead!”

Her mother was a strong, independent woman who ran her own company. It wasn’t a massive enterprise, but in the capital, it was doing better than many others.

Given their financial situation, her mother could have sent her to study in England or America, but for some reason, she chose Russia instead…

Nalan Yaqi didn’t dare question her mother’s decision. Besides, she was just a teenager—what did she know about the differences between studying in Russia and studying in England or America?

So she obediently came.

However, although her mother was a formidable woman—decisive and efficient—Nalan Yaqi’s personality wasn’t quite like hers…

Having grown up in comfortable circumstances, she had never experienced hardship. Since coming to Russia, she had never considered working to earn money.

She just needed to study a little, get her diploma, and go home to give her mother an account of her time abroad. That would be enough.

Earning money?

That was her mother’s job—or her future boyfriend’s. She just needed to be beautiful, like a flower…

…

Nalan Yaqi genuinely admired hardworking and ambitious young men like Wang Ye.

So when she heard that Wang Ye was selling phone cards, she called him, wanting to support his business.

After all, she used phone cards frequently—they were practically a necessity.

Hearing Nalan Yaqi’s encouragement, Wang Ye couldn’t help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation.

This little girl was actually trying to encourage him?

Given his “actual” age, he could probably be her father!

If he had married early…

“Alright, how much do you want to spend on the card? I’ve been running around all day, exhausted. I’m going back to shower and sleep,” Wang Ye said bluntly, not bothering to engage further with Nalan Yaqi.

When did it become this yellow-haired girl’s place to teach him how to do things…

Nalan Yaqi rolled her eyes at Wang Ye. The good impression she had just started to form of him was quickly fading.

This stinky brat—was he blind?

Facing a beauty like her, he couldn’t even be bothered to say a few more words. And she was only trying to help him!

“Give me a one hundred dollar card… no, two cards. Xiao Hua wants one too.” As she spoke, Nalan Yaqi pointed at her female roommate.

This roommate, Xiao Hua, seemed a bit shy. She hadn’t said a word since Wang Ye entered, only stealing glances at him.

Wang Ye took out two one hundred dollar phone cards from his wallet and handed them to Nalan Yaqi, saying casually, “Ninety-one dollars each, one hundred and eighty total.”

As Nalan Yaqi took out her money, she asked, “Why are your cards so cheap? You barely make any profit on each one. Hey, don’t lower your prices just to sell them quickly. You need to ensure a reasonable profit, otherwise, you’re just busy for nothing…”

This girl seemed to have taken on the role of “life coach” and couldn’t resist lecturing Wang Ye whenever she got the chance.

Wang Ye was helpless. After all, she meant well. He couldn’t just snap at her…

So he patiently explained, “Well… I get my goods at a low discount, and since I’m just starting out, I need something to attract customers. So I’m selling at a low profit margin.”

Wang Ye wasn’t recklessly selling at low prices. He had considered multiple factors before deciding on this pricing.

First, as he said, he was just starting his business. To make a strong debut, he needed something to attract buyers!

The lowest price on the market was clearly the most direct and appealing factor.

Second, he wasn’t the only one selling phone cards. Besides the card vendors, there were a few senior students at the university who also sold cards. When Wang Ye was putting up his promotional posters, he saw others’ posters as well.

Of course, these people weren’t professional card sellers. They worked at the big market and bought extra cards from the vendors—partly for their own use and partly to resell at school for a small profit.

Their prices were even higher than the vendors’. A one hundred dollar card would sell for one hundred and ten dollars, and a fifty dollar card for fifty-five dollars. They made their profit from this markup!

But people still bought from them because it was convenient.

Most students wouldn’t go all the way to the big market just to save five dollars…

Wang Ye decided to undercut them completely, setting his prices at the lowest possible. This way, he could deliver a crushing blow to these “middlemen”!

A one hundred dollar card sold by Wang Ye for ninety dollars, while the middlemen sold it for one hundred and ten—a twenty dollar difference!

With the same convenience and door-to-door delivery, which option would students choose? The answer was obvious…

…

After a few words, Wang Ye managed to extricate himself from Nalan Yaqi’s nagging. He took the money and quickly left, returning to his own dormitory.

First, he returned the five hundred dollars to Song Xiao Gang, then he finally had time to count the remaining phone cards and the money he had earned from selling them.

It was almost ten o’clock at night. Wang Ye simply turned off his phone. Even if someone wanted to buy a card at this hour, he wasn’t going to deliver it.

Originally, he had bought eighty fifty-dollar cards and thirty one hundred-dollar cards in bulk.

After an afternoon of sales, he had sixty-five fifty-dollar cards and twenty one hundred-dollar cards left.

He had sold a total of twenty-five cards, bringing in one thousand five hundred and seventy-five dollars!

He had bought the cards at just over seventy percent of their face value and sold them at ninety percent, making a small profit of three hundred dollars…

Wang Ye smacked his lips, feeling unimpressed.

This business was indeed small-scale. It was enough to cover living expenses, but expecting to make big money from it was just a dream…

After all, today was the first day, and business was booming. He couldn’t expect to sell this much every day.

Relying solely on the University of Friendship market, he might not even make three hundred dollars a week…

He needed to find a way to break into the Moscow State University market!

After all, Moscow State University was the most famous and largest school in Russia, and it had the most Chinese exchange students!

Chapter 29: The Convenient Cousin

Just as Wang Ye had expected.

The next day, Sunday, the number of people coming to buy phone cards had dropped significantly.

By the end of the day, he had only sold four fifty-dollar cards and one hundred-dollar card…

He estimated that from now on, the sales of phone cards would remain at this level, or even worse.

It seemed he needed to contact Moscow State University as soon as possible.

In fact, Wang Ye did have “connections” at Moscow State University, and even a distant familial relationship.

He had a “cousin” who was currently studying there, already in her third year, having arrived in Moscow three years ago.

The reason Wang Ye hadn’t contacted this “cousin” after arriving was because their familial relationship was rather tenuous.

This cousin was named Ruan Xiaozhu. She was the goddaughter of his mother’s cousin’s sister…

Calling her “cousin” wasn’t incorrect, but in reality, the two had never met before.

In his “previous life,” Wang Ye had met this cousin on a flight back to China. They had chatted and discovered that not only were they from the same hometown, but they were also distantly related!

From then on, Ruan Xiaozhu had jokingly told Wang Ye to call her “cousin.”

This cousin of his was quite the character, thriving at Moscow State University.

In his “previous life,” when Wang Ye was studying in Moscow, she had taken care of him and helped him out a lot.

However, contacting her wasn’t going to be easy. Wang Ye couldn’t remember her phone number.

But that was fine. He could call home and have his mother ask his aunt’s cousin for the number…

…

On Monday, Wang Ye went to school early in the morning.

Given his Russian proficiency, he didn’t really need to attend classes. He only needed to show up for exams.

But recently, he hadn’t been skipping classes.

After all, there wasn’t much to do in the dormitory. Besides, it was the start of the semester, and he needed to get to know the teachers.

Also, the beautiful teacher Alyona had classes every day, and Wang Ye wanted to get closer to her.

Hmm, his intentions were pure. He just wanted to practice his spoken Russian…

During class, Wang Ye was the only one in the entire class who could freely communicate with the teachers. His Russian was almost as good as theirs.

This made his classmates envious. The handsome Latin American guy even asked Wang Ye why he still came to class with such good Russian skills!

Clearly, Wang Ye’s laughter and conversation with Alyona had made the guy a little jealous.

Around two in the afternoon, after class, Wang Ye returned to his dormitory.

On the way, he called home.

It was around seven or eight in the evening in China, so someone should be home.

His mother was a little surprised to receive his call. Wang Ye had called just a few days ago, so why was he calling again?

This was an international call, which was expensive!

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” his mother asked hurriedly.

“Nothing, I just remembered that before I left the country, my aunt mentioned that her sister’s goddaughter was also in Moscow. I was thinking of visiting Moscow State University soon and contacting this… should I call her cousin? After all, we are distantly related. It would be good to have someone to look out for me here,” Wang Ye replied with a smile.

This took his mother by surprise. She hadn’t thought of this. How had her son become so resourceful?

Perhaps boys really needed to go out and experience the world!

She said happily, “Yes, yes! You should contact her. I’ll call your aunt and ask her to find out the girl’s phone number. She’s been in Moscow for a few years, and her family is well-off, so she should have a phone.”

“Okay, call this number later. It’s my roommate’s phone number,” Wang Ye gave his mother the number.

He hadn’t dared to tell his family that he had bought a phone…

After all, his mother didn’t even have a phone. If he bought one right after arriving abroad, his family would definitely not understand.

In their minds, Wang Ye should focus on his studies!

Even if he had other ideas, he should wait until he had been there for two or three years and was familiar with the situation before considering anything else.

Ruan Xiaozhu’s family was indeed well-off. Her father was the head of a township in Wang Ye’s hometown.

Don’t underestimate such a small official. They had a lot of real power!

Especially in the early nineties, those who knew, knew…

…

When Wang Ye returned to his dormitory, he was preparing something to eat when he received a call from his mother.

He heard his mother say hurriedly, “I got the phone number. Quick, find a pen and paper to write it down!”

Wang Ye was a little confused. “Ah? Okay… I’ll find them. Why the rush?”

“You silly child, international calls are expensive! Hurry up, don’t waste time,” his mother urged.

Fortunately, there was paper and a pen on the desk. Wang Ye wrote down his cousin’s phone number. Before he could say anything else to his mother, the call was hung up…

Well, his mother had called him without using an IP card. She had used the home phone and dialed directly!

Looking at the phone number on the paper, Wang Ye hesitated for a moment and didn’t dial it immediately.

He was a preparatory student, and school ended at two in the afternoon, but his cousin might still be in class.

So, calling now wasn’t appropriate.

He decided to wait until six or seven in the evening to call.

…

After dinner, he went out to deliver two more phone cards.

Around eight o’clock, Wang Ye dialed the phone number.

The phone rang twice before it was answered. A clear female voice came through.

“Hello, this is Alya.”

It was in Russian, but Wang Ye could tell that the pronunciation wasn’t very standard. It had a hint of Chinese-accented Russian.

This “Alya” was probably Ruan Xiaozhu’s Russian name.

He replied in Chinese, “Is this Ruan Xiaozhu?”

There was a pause on the other end before a response in Chinese, “Yes, who is this?”

Wang Ye explained, “Hello, Sister Ruan, I’m Wang Ye.”

Afraid that Ruan Xiaozhu wouldn’t know who “Wang Ye” was, he quickly added, “Your godmother is my aunt’s cousin. I just arrived in Moscow at the beginning of this month. I heard you were here, so I thought I’d contact you.”

Ruan Xiaozhu laughed on the other end, “Hehe, I know you. Last summer when I went back to China, I heard from my dad that you were coming too. Why did it take you until this year?”

Wang Ye explained again, blaming the intermediary!

Ruan Xiaozhu thought for a moment and said, “Are you free now? If you are, come over and let’s meet.”

Wang Ye looked at the time. It was just past eight. Without hesitation, he said, “Okay, should I come directly to your dormitory at Moscow State University? By the way, Sister Ruan, do you live in the main building or somewhere else?”

“I live in the main building, but I’m at the Little Eagle Hotel now. Just take a taxi and tell the driver the name. He’ll know. Call me when you get here,” Ruan Xiaozhu replied.

The Little Eagle Hotel?

That was an interesting place…

Chapter 30: Little Eagle Hotel

The Little Eagle Hotel was a place that was quite famous among a certain group of Chinese exchange students.

But for most Chinese exchange students, it was relatively unknown—many had never even heard of it.

In name, it was a “hotel,” and in reality, it was indeed a hotel…

But it was also a massive entertainment complex!

Here, you could find everything for eating, drinking, and having fun—bowling alleys, nightclubs, bars, and even a casino!

Among the Chinese students studying in Moscow, there was actually a significant wealth gap.

Those at Moscow State University tended to be wealthier. After all, in 2001, Moscow State University was still ranked among the top twenty universities in the world, making it a world-class institution.

With great prestige came high tuition fees, so the Chinese exchange students there generally came from well-off families.

As a result, many Chinese students from Moscow State University frequently visited the Little Eagle Hotel, while those from the University of Friendship rarely went.

In his past life, Wang Ye had first gone there to play, and it was Ruan Xiaozhu who had taken him.

He was naturally familiar with the place.

So, without hesitation, he agreed, put on his coat, and prepared to leave.

It was eight o’clock in the evening in Moscow, still January, and the sky had long since darkened.

Seeing Wang Ye about to leave, Song Xiao Gang said with some concern, “Ye Ge, it’s so late, be careful. I heard that at night, there are a lot of drunks and skinheads in the subway stations.”

Wang Ye waved his hand dismissively. “It’s fine, I’m going to meet a fellow townsman. I’ll take a taxi directly, no subway.”

The Little Eagle Hotel wasn’t far from their place. By taxi, it was less than a twenty-minute ride, not too expensive, and much more convenient than taking the bus or subway.

…

After leaving the dormitory, Wang Ye tightened his down jacket, wrapped his face and ears with a wool scarf, and quickly made his way to the main road.

Standing under a streetlamp by the road, he stuck out his right hand with his thumb raised whenever a car passed by.

Soon, a battered Lada stopped, and the window rolled down, revealing a round, chubby face.

“Where to?” the chubby driver asked.

“Little Eagle Hotel,” Wang Ye replied, stepping forward.

The chubby driver thought for a moment, then raised two fingers. “Two hundred rubles.”

This was a bit of a rip-off. Maybe because he saw that Wang Ye was a foreigner, he deliberately quoted a high price.

Wang Ye smiled. “From here to the Little Eagle Hotel, it’s less than twenty minutes, about ten kilometers. I’ve been there many times, and it’s always been a hundred rubles.”

Seeing that he couldn’t fool Wang Ye, the chubby driver didn’t mind. He laughed heartily. “Alright! Get in. I’m going that way anyway, a hundred it is.”

Here, there were many “unlicensed taxis,” and everyone negotiated prices verbally.

But there was one good thing: once the price was agreed upon, the driver wouldn’t try to cheat you out of it. What was said was what you paid.

Unlike those “unlicensed taxis” back home, which had no professional ethics at all…

…

Sitting in this drafty, battered Lada, by the time they arrived at the entrance of the Little Eagle Hotel, Wang Ye’s nose was almost frozen…

Shivering, he took out his wallet, paid the fare, and turned to walk toward the hotel entrance.

As soon as he stepped into the lobby, a wave of warmth hit him.

Taking off his down jacket and storing it at the nearby service counter, Wang Ye called Ruan Xiaozhu.

“Ruan Jie, I’m here, right in front of the coat check counter in the lobby.”

It was quite noisy on Ruan Xiaozhu’s end, with several girls chattering away.

“Okay, wait for me, I’ll be right there.”

Less than two minutes after hanging up, a petite girl hurriedly walked out from inside.

In reality, this should have been Wang Ye’s first time meeting Ruan Xiaozhu.

But in his “past life,” Wang Ye was all too familiar with her…

He raised his hand and waved to signal her.

Ruan Xiaozhu walked straight toward him. Since there was no one else at the counter, it was obvious that this tall man was her “bargain cousin…”

…

Ruan Xiaozhu was twenty years old this year, two years older than Wang Ye.

By age, Wang Ye should call her “sister.”

But if you looked at their heights, the contrast was quite striking…

Wang Ye was over 1.8 meters tall, which was considered tall even among the Russians.

Ruan Xiaozhu, on the other hand, was only about 1.6 meters tall.

Fortunately, she had good proportions and was quite pretty, with clear eyebrows and bright eyes.

As she approached Wang Ye, Ruan Xiaozhu looked him up and down, then stood on her tiptoes and patted his shoulder.

Smiling, she said, “Wow! You’re so tall! Don’t walk next to me later, or my friends will think you’re my brother!”

Of course, she was joking.

As for Wang Ye, this “bargain cousin,” although Ruan Xiaozhu had never met him before, she had heard about him from her parents.

They had graduated from the same high school, just at different times.

When Ruan Xiaozhu was in her third year of high school, Wang Ye had just been admitted to high school and hadn’t even started yet.

“Hello, Xiaozhu Jie,” Wang Ye greeted with a smile.

Ruan Xiaozhu frowned and rolled her eyes upon hearing this. “What’s with the ‘Xiaozhu’? Just call me ‘sister’!”

Although she was short, she carried herself with the air of an older sister…

Wang Ye had no choice but to obediently call her “sister.”

Only then did Ruan Xiaozhu smile brightly, take Wang Ye’s hand, and lead him inside, saying as they walked:

“Today, I’m here with a few classmates. Come on, I’ll introduce you. You just got here, so you’re not familiar with the place yet, right? Your Russian probably isn’t great either. If you ever need anything, just call me. Big sister’s got your back!”

Being led by the hand by Ruan Xiaozhu, Wang Ye felt a bit awkward.

His mental age was already pushing forty…

Now, being led by the hand by a little girl like a child felt a bit strange.

But he didn’t say anything.

The Little Eagle Hotel was quite high-end, and business was booming.

The lobby and the side hall were filled with people. Naturally, there were no poor people in such a place.

Everyone was dressed stylishly, with plenty of handsome men and beautiful women.

Of course, there were also no shortage of pot-bellied men who looked like bosses.

Ruan Xiaozhu and her friends were playing in the bowling alley. She led Wang Ye to a booth in the lounge area, where three girls were sitting, chatting and drinking cold beverages.

When they saw Wang Ye and Ruan Xiaozhu approaching, the three girls turned their heads in unison.

“Come on, let me introduce you. This is my brother, Wang Ye!” Ruan Xiaozhu said with a smile.

The three girls immediately chattered away:

“Wow! Such a handsome guy! Xiaozhu, why didn’t you tell us you had such a brother before?”

“Hehe, little brother, do you have a girlfriend yet? Want me to introduce you to someone? Someone who looks just like me, how about it?”

“Xiaozhu, you’re so mean! Keeping such a handsome guy hidden, why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

These girls were a bit too outgoing, and Wang Ye could barely keep up…

Chapter 31: I’m Quite Gifted

Ruan Xiaozhu introduced the three female students to Wang Ye once more.

However, Wang Ye didn’t bother remembering who was who—none of them were worth remembering…

“Alright, you girls go play bowling. I’ll chat with my younger brother here. He just arrived yesterday and isn’t familiar with the place yet.” With a wave of her hand, Ruan Xiaozhu shooed the three girls away to the bowling alley.

The large booth was now left with just the two of them.

“What do you want to drink? I’ll order for you. Forget it, let’s get beer. Here in Moscow—or Russia in general—guys drinking soda will get laughed at.” Ruan Xiaozhu said matter-of-factly.

What could Wang Ye say? He could only nod with a wry smile and agree.

But Ruan Xiaozhu wasn’t wrong. In Moscow—in all of Russia—beer was just another drink!

Whether on the streets or in schools, you’d often see people of all ages and genders walking around, taking a swig from a beer bottle every few steps…

Of course, there were also those carrying bottles of vodka.

But decent people wouldn’t drink vodka during work hours. Those who did were looked down upon by Russians as nothing more than drunks!

The waiter soon brought over two small bottles of Corona, their pale green bodies looking refreshing.

Without using a glass, Wang Ye picked up the beer bottle and took a big gulp.

Ruan Xiaozhu nodded approvingly beside him. “Not bad. Here, a man’s got to act like a man! By the way, why did you go to the University of Friendship? Why not come to Moscow State University? Moscow State is way better in every aspect—no comparison!”

Wang Ye sighed. “But Moscow State’s tuition is way more expensive than the University of Friendship…”

Ruan Xiaozhu seemed to understand and dropped the subject.

She wasn’t entirely sure about Wang Ye’s family background, but it was probably not as well-off as hers.

For a family from a small county, sending a child abroad to study was already a huge feat. There was no room to be picky.

Changing the subject, Ruan Xiaozhu began talking about other things.

“Here, you can skip classes, you can work part-time, but there’s one thing you must pay attention to—learn Russian as quickly as possible! After all, everyone here speaks Russian. If your Russian isn’t good, you’ll struggle to get by. Even when working part-time, those with better Russian get paid much more than those who don’t…”

She spoke from the heart.

Perhaps for domestic university students, obtaining a diploma was the most important thing—their sole purpose for attending university.

But for exchange students, it might not be as crucial…

Of course, honest students like Song Xiao Gang and Liu Xiao Jie would study hard, aiming to graduate smoothly and earn their diplomas.

But what about rich kids like Xiao Hu? What use would a diploma be to them?

Many students like Xiao Hu didn’t come here to study.

Some were here to pave the way for their family businesses, others to find opportunities to start their own ventures!

As for those who stayed in their dorms playing games all day and skipping classes—well, they weren’t worth discussing.

Ruan Xiaozhu was right. Whether you came here for a diploma or to start a business, Russian was a prerequisite!

…

Wang Ye nodded in agreement. Clearly, Ruan Xiaozhu had no idea about his current Russian proficiency…

He didn’t point it out, merely saying earnestly, “You’re right, sister. But I seem to have a knack for Russian. Last year, the agency set up a language class for us, and I did pretty well. I can basically communicate freely with Russians now.”

Wang Ye was being modest—his language skills were clearly much better than that.

Even so, Ruan Xiaozhu was already astonished.

She widened her eyes in surprise. “You can communicate freely in just half a year? I’ve been here for three years, and I’m considered pretty good at the language, but I still wouldn’t say I can chat casually with Russians. Do you have some misunderstanding about what ‘free communication’ means?”

Wang Ye was helpless but didn’t dare mention the story of his grandfather studying in Russia to Ruan Xiaozhu…

He could fool the Russians, but Ruan Xiaozhu was his fellow townsman. Their parents knew each other—he couldn’t just make things up in front of her.

He could only vaguely say, “Maybe I have a talent for Russian. I don’t know either. I couldn’t learn English no matter how hard I tried, but Russian just clicked for me…”

He spread his hands, looking helpless.

Ruan Xiaozhu was so exasperated she laughed. She pointed at Wang Ye. “You! You’re just showing off after getting an advantage! Russian is notoriously difficult to learn, and you just ‘click’ with it? Is that even fair?”

She was joking, of course.

After chatting for a while, Wang Ye casually mentioned, “Sister, after I got here, I made a friend who has a way to get cheaper phone cards. So now I’m doing wholesale phone card business. I wanted to ask—how do students at Moscow State usually buy phone cards?”

Ruan Xiaozhu’s eyes widened again. She looked Wang Ye up and down several times, making him feel a little uneasy.

Wang Ye waved his hand. “Hey? What’s wrong?”

Ruan Xiaozhu finally clicked her tongue. “I didn’t expect this! You’re quite the clever one. You just got to Moscow and you’re already doing business? Our school does have a few students selling phone cards, but they’re just small-time. You’re jumping straight into wholesale?”

Clearly, there was a big difference between retail and wholesale.

Take phone cards, for example. Any Chinese exchange student could bulk-buy a bunch and sell them slowly if they wanted.

It wasn’t difficult.

But in reality, even if it wasn’t difficult, very few people were willing to do it.

First, they might not think of it. Second, small-scale operations didn’t make much money—it wasn’t worth the effort.

As for someone like Wang Ye, starting with an investment of several thousand dollars in wholesale—that wasn’t something an average student would think of or dare to do…

“We usually get phone cards from the big market. There are students selling them, both in the main dormitory and the separate dormitory areas, but their prices are a bit higher than the market…”

Ruan Xiaozhu explained the situation at her school.

It was similar to the University of Friendship.

Wang Ye had a clear idea now. He nodded. “Could you help me find two students to act as agents? Preferably one in the main dormitory and one in the separate dormitory area. It would be best if they’re from poorer families—someone like you probably wouldn’t bother with this, hehe.”

Ruan Xiaozhu shot Wang Ye a displeased look, refusing to back down. “What’s wrong with someone like me? Fine, I’ll handle the main dormitory. I’ll find someone for the separate dormitory area. As long as the phone cards are cheap, selling them is easy!”

Chapter 32: First Victory

Wang Ye asked in surprise, “Aren’t you worried that selling phone cards will interfere with your studies? Someone calls, and you have to deliver the cards. It’s just earning a bit of hard-earned money.”

He had thought that given Ruan Xiaozhu’s family background and being a girl, she wouldn’t be interested in earning this kind of money…

Unexpectedly, Ruan Xiaozhu volunteered to be the distributor for the main dormitory.

Moscow State University had two major dormitory areas: the main building and the branch area. Ruan Xiaozhu lived in the main building.

“Hehe, how much time can this take? At most ten or so trips a day. Anyway, the dormitories in the main building are all connected, so you don’t even need to go outside. It’s like exercising while running. If it really gets to the point of interfering with studies, that means business is booming, and you can earn a lot of money. Oh, how do you sell these phone cards?” Ruan Xiaozhu said with a smile.

Clearly, she found this matter quite “fun”…

She wasn’t really doing it for the money.

Wang Ye helplessly explained, “These cards come in two denominations: fifty and one hundred US dollars. The retail price is uniformly ninety percent of the face value. As for the wholesale price for you distributors… let’s say eighty percent of the face value.”

Since he was looking for distributors across schools, he naturally had to give more room for profit.

Wang Ye got the cards from Liu Jun at about seventy percent of the face value. Selling them at eighty percent to distributors still left him with a ten percent profit.

Similarly, the distributors could also make a ten percent profit.

Although the profit per card wasn’t much, it was a high-volume, low-margin business. As long as they sold a lot, the accumulated earnings wouldn’t be too shabby.

Moreover, there were many Chinese exchange students at Moscow State University, and they were relatively well-off. Sales shouldn’t be bad.

Sure enough, after a moment’s thought, Ruan Xiaozhu’s eyes lit up, and she asked, “So cheap?! What’s the quality of these cards? If the calls don’t go through, no matter how cheap they are, they won’t sell.”

Wang Ye had to explain again about guaranteeing quality, high-volume low-margin sales, and not doing it for money but to make friends…

After listening, Ruan Xiaozhu said enthusiastically, “As long as the quality is reliable, that’s good. Selling a one hundred US dollar card can earn ten US dollars. If you sell ten a day, that’s one hundred, and fifty cards would be…”

She went further and further, even calculating how much money she could make by selling one hundred cards a day…

Wang Ye quickly interrupted her, “Selling cards isn’t that simple. People can use one card for a month or even two months, so you can’t calculate it that way.”

Ruan Xiaozhu thought it made sense. Even for a girl like her who liked to talk on the phone, she basically controlled herself not to exceed one hundred US dollars a month…

Many boys talked on the phone less, so they probably wouldn’t even use up fifty US dollars a month.

But thinking about the many Chinese students at Moscow State University, she was still full of confidence!

“Do you have the phone cards with you? Give me… fifty cards, all one hundred US dollar denominations. Hmph, fifty US dollars and you want me to run to deliver? That’s impossible!” Ruan Xiaozhu said.

Wang Ye was taken aback and shook his head, “I do have the cards, but not that many…”

Ruan Xiaozhu was surprised and asked, “Aren’t you doing wholesale? How can you not even have fifty cards!”

Wang Ye smiled bitterly, “Sis, you have to pay for the cards! I don’t have that much money to take so many cards at once. How about this, I have sixty-two fifty US dollar cards and twenty one hundred US dollar cards left. See how many you want. Also, it’s better to take some fifty US dollar cards. Many boys like to buy these because they don’t use too much.”

“That makes sense. I don’t have that much cash on me either… How about this, give me ten one hundred US dollar cards and twenty fifty US dollar cards first. I’ll try it out. If they sell well, I’ll call you later, and you can bring more. By the way, you haven’t been to my dormitory yet. You can familiarize yourself with the place.”

Ruan Xiaozhu finally returned to rationality. She just realized that Wang Ye had to pay for the cards, and she had to pay for them too…

If she were to take fifty one hundred US dollar cards at once, that would be four thousand US dollars!

She couldn’t come up with that much money at the moment. After all, it was the end of January, and she was planning to go back to China during the summer vacation, so she only had a little over half a year’s living expenses left…

Wang Ye took out his bulging wallet and counted thirty cards, handing them to Ruan Xiaozhu. He smiled and said, “The total face value is two thousand US dollars. You can give me sixteen hundred US dollars.”

He gave an eight percent discount to distributors, and Ruan Xiaozhu was no exception.

Even though she was his “cousin,” business was business.

Ruan Xiaozhu nodded, counted the cards, and then took out her wallet, counting sixteen “Franklins” for Wang Ye.

Wang Ye’s trip was not in vain. He successfully found a distributor and sold a lot of phone cards. First victory!

………………..

After finishing the main business, Ruan Xiaozhu remembered something and said with a smile, “There are slot machines next door. Want to play a few rounds? But I have to warn you, it’s okay to play with small money, but don’t expect to get rich from it.”

The Little Eagle Hotel had quite a few slot machines and was one of the few places in Moscow where gambling was legally operated.

Many people came here specifically for this.

Wang Ye shook his head and smiled, “I’m not interested. Even if you win, you can’t win much, and if you lose, it’s heartbreaking.”

Wang Ye had no interest in “gambling, drugs, and prostitution” and had never touched them.

Ruan Xiaozhu nodded approvingly, “Right, it’s best not to touch those things. Once you’re hooked, the consequences are really serious. There are a few students at our school who play these slot machines and can lose all their tuition and living expenses!”

While they were chatting, the three girls who went bowling returned, all panting. It seemed the exercise was quite intense.

Looking at the time, it was already past nine o’clock. Wang Ye stood up to say goodbye, “It’s getting late. I have class tomorrow, so I’ll go back first. Cousin, we’ll keep in touch by phone.”

Ruan Xiaozhu also stood up, “Then I’ll walk you out. Next time you come to our dormitory, I’ll cook for you.”

A girl next to her teased, “Cook?”

She pinched the girl and scolded, “Nonsense! This is my brother!”

The girl dodged and cried out in pain, but still retorted, “Pfft, you two aren’t even related…”

Wang Ye standing next to them couldn’t handle it.

These girls…

Maybe the environment abroad made people mature faster. Anyway, the college girls Wang Ye met abroad were more… OPEN!

When it came to jokes, they could be even more unrestrained than boys…

Chapter 33: The First Subordinate

Ruan Xiaozhu accompanied Wang Ye to the hotel lobby where they stored their clothes.

Wang Ye took out his down jacket, scarf, hat, and gloves, and began putting them on.

After he finished dressing, Ruan Xiaozhu laughed and said, “You’re a boss now, you should really get a better down jacket. The one you’re wearing is… well, it’s just too ugly. You’re such a handsome guy, but in that jacket, you look like a… like a ragpicker, haha.”

This was the second girl who had criticized Wang Ye’s shabby down jacket.

And indeed, the jacket had no style to speak of. Wearing it made him look unusually bulky…

Originally, Wang Ye hadn’t paid much attention to it. If only one person had said something, he might have ignored it, but now that more than one person had pointed it out, it clearly was a problem.

As the saying goes, “Clothes make the man, and saddles make the horse.” There was some truth to that.

If Wang Ye were truly a billionaire boss, going out in shabby clothes might make people think he was carefree and unique!

But the problem was, he wasn’t…

Now that he was in Moscow, and thinking about doing something for himself, it was necessary to “package” himself properly.

Don’t think that foreigners don’t care about their appearance. That’s not true, at least not in Russia.

Even in school, you could tell a person’s position and income by their clothes.

The principal, for example, was rarely seen, but when he did appear, it was with a grand entourage, cars picking him up and dropping him off, full of pomp.

The vice principals also had their own grandeur.

Wang Ye had been to a vice principal’s office once. He had to make an appointment in advance with the vice principal’s beautiful female secretary. The office was a large suite, at least one or two hundred square meters!

As for the vice principal himself, he was refined and elegant, clearly a highly educated intellectual…

Figures with real power, like department heads and foreign affairs directors, were always in sharp suits, with fur coats as a must.

Professors also paid attention to their image, wearing suits and ties, trying to look presentable. Even if their suits were outdated, they were still crisp!

Ordinary teachers dressed much more modestly, as their income was barely enough to get by, leaving no extra money for fancy clothes…

…

Nodding, Wang Ye smiled and said, “Yeah, this jacket is a bit old. I’ll go buy a new one in a couple of days.”

Ruan Xiaozhu nodded in satisfaction and added, “No need for big brands, that’s too wasteful. How about I take you shopping this weekend? I know a few good malls with reasonable prices and decent styles and quality.”

Wang Ye didn’t refuse her kindness and agreed readily.

It was too cold outside, so Ruan Xiaozhu saw Wang Ye off at the hotel entrance, and the two waved goodbye.

After spending another hundred rubles on a taxi back to the school dormitory, it was already around ten in the evening.

In the dormitory, Xiao Hei and Song Xiao Gang were still awake, each at their own desk, buried in their studies.

For these preparatory students, the workload was quite heavy.

After all, the preparatory course was only one year long. It was unrealistic to expect their Russian language skills to reach the level of Russian university students in just one year.

But at the very least, by the time they entered their first year, they should be able to understand the lectures…

In comparison, Wang Ye had it much easier. He was like someone who had “cheated” the system—his Russian was far beyond everyone else’s!

After all, he had studied and worked with Russian for over twenty years in his past life. If his skills weren’t high, that would be the real abnormality!

When Wang Ye pushed open the door and entered, Song Xiao Gang quickly stood up and said with a smile, “Ye Ge is back! I thought you weren’t coming back tonight.”

Wang Ye took off his down jacket and hung it in the closet, smiling as he replied, “Sleep on the street? I don’t want to end up like those drunken bums, freezing to death on the sidewalk.”

This was no joke. In Russia, every winter, many people froze to death on the streets after drinking too much!

Such incidents were so common that they weren’t even considered news anymore…

…

After drinking a cup of hot water and warming up, Wang Ye took out his wallet and began counting his earnings from the past few days.

Since it was just small-scale business, he hadn’t kept detailed accounts. He simply delivered cards when someone wanted them and put the money in his wallet.

As long as he didn’t lose his wallet, the money would be fine.

But now that most of the cards were sold, he needed to count them and prepare to contact Liu Jun for the second batch.

Wang Ye was certain that the cards Ruan Xiaozhu had would sell out quickly. After all, there were far more Chinese students at Moscow State University than at the University of Friendship.

Plus, Ruan Xiaozhu was a local there, knew a lot of people, and the cards Wang Ye provided were of good quality and low price—there was no reason they wouldn’t sell.

So the few remaining cards Wang Ye had might not even be enough for Ruan Xiaozhu’s next order…

First, he counted the phone cards. There were forty-two fifty-dollar cards and ten hundred-dollar cards left.

When he had taken the goods from Liu Jun, there had been eighty fifty-dollar cards and thirty hundred-dollar cards.

That meant he had sold thirty-eight fifty-dollar cards and twenty hundred-dollar cards.

The cards given to Ruan Xiaozhu were sold at an eighty percent discount, bringing in sixteen hundred dollars.

The rest were sold at a ninety percent discount, bringing in seventeen hundred and ten dollars.

Added together, that was three thousand three hundred and ten dollars. After subtracting the five hundred dollars he had returned to Song Xiao Gang, he had two thousand eight hundred left.

This still wasn’t enough…

If he sold the remaining cards, he might get another two thousand five or six hundred dollars, depending on whether he sold them retail or in bulk to his cousin Ruan Xiaozhu.

Looking at it this way, after his first business deal, with an initial investment of four thousand five hundred dollars (five hundred of which was borrowed), he would make a net profit of about one thousand dollars.

Not bad…

But for Wang Ye, who had “reincarnated,” this amount of money was still not enough to catch his eye.

However, Wang Ye also understood a principle: all beginnings are difficult.

His career was just starting, and he couldn’t be in a hurry. He had to take it one step at a time…

…

Song Xiao Gang sat at the edge of the table, his mind no longer on the books in front of him.

Wang Ye was counting cards and money beside him, which was quite stimulating.

As for Wang Ye, Song Xiao Gang couldn’t say he was envious or jealous—he was simply in awe!

Even though they were the same age, and Song Xiao Gang was even a few months older than Wang Ye, he now called Wang Ye “Ye Ge.”

Not only Song Xiao Gang, but all the students who had come over at the same time now called him “Ye Ge.”

In northern Chinese dialect, “ge” or “jie” didn’t always refer to age—it was often just a term of respect!

They were all the same age, but since coming to Moscow, Wang Ye had shown himself to be far beyond the rest…

Chapter 34: Not That Simple

Wang Ye’s Russian was excellent, but that alone wasn’t what impressed Song Xiao Gang and the others. After all, some of the “old hands in Moscow” who had been there for years also spoke Russian fluently. Like the owner of that Chinese restaurant downstairs—his Russian was just as smooth as Wang Ye’s.

What truly earned Wang Ye their admiration was his high emotional intelligence and his skill in handling interpersonal relationships. Perhaps with the exception of Zhang Ke and a few others, most of the Chinese exchange students in the preparatory courses building had a favorable impression of Wang Ye…

After a moment of hesitation, Song Xiao Gang asked, “Ye Ge, do you think with my level of Russian, I could find some part-time work?”

Wang Ye looked up in surprise and countered, “Haven’t you only been here for about half a year? You haven’t even graduated from the preparatory courses yet. Why are you in such a rush to work?”

While many exchange students took on part-time jobs, they usually waited until after graduating from the preparatory courses, or even until their first or second year of university. Since Song Xiao Gang hadn’t even graduated from the preparatory courses, it was clear his Russian wasn’t up to par, making it difficult to find work.

Song Xiao Gang set down his pen and sighed, “I know it’s a bit early to talk about this, but I don’t plan on going back to China this summer. I heard the preparatory graduation exams are at the end of May, and the first year doesn’t start until September. That’s over three months of summer vacation. I was thinking of working during those three months to earn some money and ease the burden on my family.”

He had arrived last September, so obviously, he couldn’t go back for the Spring Festival since the Russians didn’t observe that holiday. But not going back during the summer was less common.

Considering Song Xiao Gang’s family situation, it made sense. After all, plane tickets back to China weren’t cheap.

Moreover, after graduating from the preparatory courses, he could manage a part-time job as a translator at the large market. Even if he only earned five or six hundred dollars a month, over three months, that would be nearly two thousand dollars.

For Song Xiao Gang, that was no small sum!

After a moment of thought, Wang Ye said, “Xiao Gang, don’t rush. Right now, your most important task is to learn Russian well. I’m not going back this summer either, so we’ll see how things go. Maybe you won’t need to work as a translator at the large market. I can find something for you to do, and you’ll definitely earn no less than you would at the large market!”

There were still five months until summer vacation, and Wang Ye was confident that by then, his own business would be up and running. Then Song Xiao Gang could work for him.

After all, he knew Song Xiao Gang well and could trust him!

Hearing this, Song Xiao Gang’s face lit up. With Wang Ye’s words, it meant he would have something to do over the summer!

And Wang Ye had just said that working for him would earn no less than being a translator at the large market!

A part-time translator at the large market, depending on their Russian level and work experience, could earn at least five hundred dollars a month!

With Song Xiao Gang’s level of Russian, he would probably only get the starting rate, which was five hundred dollars a month.

He wasn’t greedy. As long as Wang Ye gave him five hundred dollars a month, he would be more than happy to work for him.

Not to mention, working at the large market was exhausting. You had to wake up at four or five in the morning to catch the bus or subway, and then stand all day…

The main issue was that working as a translator there was just about earning money and wouldn’t improve any of his skills.

But working for Wang Ye would clearly be more beneficial for his growth, even though he didn’t know what Wang Ye planned to do…

Song Xiao Gang didn’t ask Wang Ye what he planned to do. Instead, he patted his chest and said firmly, “Ye Ge, don’t worry! I’ll definitely improve my Russian and won’t let you down when the time comes.”

Wang Ye nodded in satisfaction. This was the first member of his “team” he had recruited.

Song Xiao Gang was a good man—capable in both academics and physical strength!

He was diligent in his studies, and his Russian was improving quickly. Plus, he was tall and strong, a formidable fighter!

In the future, when his business grew, he would definitely need to cultivate some trusted aides, and Song Xiao Gang was worth cultivating.

…

On Tuesday, Wang Ye still went to class as usual.

To be honest, there wasn’t much he needed to learn in class. The teachers only covered basic material.

If Alyona wasn’t their Russian teacher, Wang Ye would have already dragged Xiao Hu away to work on company matters…

It wasn’t some “adolescent restlessness,” nor was it that Wang Ye had never seen a beautiful woman before.

It was simply that Alyona was the first girl he had feelings for after arriving in Moscow in his past life.

But in his past life, his Russian wasn’t good, and he didn’t have any money, so he never dared to entertain such thoughts.

After graduating from the preparatory courses, he never had any further interaction with Alyona.

Now that he had been given a second chance at life, he had to fulfill some of his “dreams”!

Of course, in this life, Wang Ye had quite a few “dreams” to fulfill…

After school, Wang Ye didn’t rush back. Instead, he stood in the smoking area outside the main gate and lit a cigarette.

As groups of students poured out of the preparatory courses building, some who recognized Wang Ye greeted him.

Some even called out to him to return to the dormitory together, but Wang Ye waved them off, saying he had something to do.

After about ten minutes, as Wang Ye was smoking his third cigarette, his eyes lit up. He saw Alyona walking out of the building.

However, he didn’t go up to greet her. Instead, he pretended not to see her and continued smoking with his head down.

Alyona must have seen Wang Ye standing alone by the roadside smoking. She asked warmly, “Wang, why haven’t you gone back yet?”

When she said “Wang,” she wasn’t referring to “Prince” or “King.” She was calling him by his surname, as foreigners often did. They preferred to call people by their surnames rather than their given names.

There was a reason for this.

Foreign surnames were more varied, while given names were more limited…

And they weren’t very imaginative when it came to naming, often sticking to the same names.

…

Wang Ye looked up, threw the cigarette butt into the large ashtray, and smiled.

“I just made a phone call. Alyona, are you heading back to the dormitory?”

Although Alyona was a teacher, she wasn’t much older than Wang Ye. She had just graduated.

She had also said not to treat her as a teacher but as a friend.

So Wang Ye called her by her first name.

Alyona nodded. The wind blew her golden hair slightly out of place, and she smoothed it back with her hand. “Of course, I’m going back. What else would I do?”

Wang Ye said naturally, “Then let’s go together. It’s on the way.”

Indeed, Wang Ye lived in Building No. 6, and Alyona lived in Building No. 13. Both were in the north.

The two walked side by side toward the dormitories.

Wang Ye had waited all this time, not just to walk with Alyona for a while…

Chapter 35: Getting to Know Her

Since Wang Ye wanted to get closer to Alyona, he needed to find opportunities to interact with her more often.

Wang Ye wasn’t handsome enough to make girls fall for him at first sight…

So today, he took the chance to walk back to the dormitory together and chat with Alyona, hoping to get to know her better.

…

Alyona was quite tall, around 1.75 meters, and with her heeled knee-high boots, she didn’t look much shorter than Wang Ye when walking beside him.

All girls love beauty, and Alyona was no exception.

Perhaps because she wasn’t well-off, her clothes didn’t look expensive—probably not from any luxury brands.

Moscow was somewhat similar to northeast China in this regard; the truly wealthy wore sable fur…

Those slightly less well-off wore ordinary fur coats or down jackets.

Alyona certainly couldn’t afford sable, so she wore a white down jacket.

Unlike Wang Ye’s bulky one, hers was fitted, making her appear even slimmer.

A red wool scarf wrapped around her neck, her fair skin glowing against the vibrant red.

The phrase “graceful and elegant” might have been coined just for girls like Alyona…

Wang Ye glanced at her and asked curiously, “Alyona, aren’t you cold dressed like this? It’s below -10°C out here.”

Indeed, while both wore down jackets, the thickness differed, and so did the warmth.

Wang Ye’s jacket might have been ugly, but it was certainly warm!

Alyona’s, on the other hand, was stylish and fitted, but clearly not thick enough—its warmth was questionable.

Hearing Wang Ye’s question, Alyona narrowed her eyes slightly and replied jokingly, “Wang, you should know that for girls, looking good is far more important than staying warm! Besides, even if it’s cold, it’s only for the ten minutes or so on the way.”

True, people here didn’t spend much time outdoors.

Inside buildings, the heating was so strong that one could wear shorts and a T-shirt, so no one cared how cold it was outside.

No wonder he often saw girls taking off their coats to reveal super short skirts!

…

The sun rarely showed its face, but today it did, shining brightly on the snow along the path, making it somewhat dazzling.

Walking north from the preparatory courses building, they passed through a small forest. To the west of the forest was a large lake.

On the other side of the lake stood several high-rise residential buildings, partially hidden among the dense trees.

The area around the University of Friendship was said to be Moscow’s wealthy district.

As Alyona passed the lake, she turned her head to gaze at the high-rises for a while, sighed, and said, “I wonder when I’ll be able to buy a place here and bring my family over.”

It seemed Russian young people, like their Chinese counterparts, dreamed of settling down in big cities.

Wang Ye asked curiously, “Is housing expensive here? I thought in Russia, housing was free, allocated by the state.”

Back then, many domestic newspapers and magazines praised foreign countries, including Russia…

Housing was free, allocated by the state.

Hospital visits and medications were free, with universal healthcare.

University?

Of course, no tuition or living expenses—everything was covered by the state!

Alyona chuckled and said, “That was in the past. How could it be like that now? Besides, even back then, housing was provided by work units, but those places were small and shabby. Who would want to live in such conditions? The houses across the lake are what everyone aspires to.”

Wang Ye followed her gaze. The houses across the lake did look nice.

Their architectural style was different from Moscow’s old buildings, appearing more modern and stylish.

“How much per square meter are those houses?” he asked.

“You mean the ones by the lake? They’re expensive! I saw an ad in the newspaper—over two thousand US dollars per square meter. Those are luxury homes; only the super-rich can afford to live there,” Alyona said enviously.

Two thousand dollars per square meter—at the exchange rate then, that was about twenty thousand yuan per square meter.

This was the price in 2001…

Even in China’s first-tier cities, that would be considered a luxury home.

“Someday, you’ll have your own place there too. Believe in yourself,” Wang Ye said, half-joking, half-serious.

Alyona scrunched her nose and made a silly face, looking rather cute.

“I only make three hundred dollars a month. After necessary expenses, I might save enough to buy one square meter a year. If I work healthily for a hundred years, I might afford a small place there—but I don’t think they have units under a hundred square meters. Also, the price would have to stay the same for a hundred years,” she joked.

Wang Ye had thought about saying that with her looks, she could just find a rich boyfriend…

But he didn’t know Alyona’s personality well enough. Saying something like that, even as a joke, might offend her.

So he changed the subject: “By the way, your family isn’t in Moscow?”

Alyona shook her head. “No, my family is in Crimea. Have you heard of Yalta? It’s a city by the Black Sea, a very beautiful place!”

So Alyona was from Crimea!

In 2001, this place wasn’t as well-known, but over a decade later, the referendum and its return to Russia caused a global uproar, making it famous worldwide!

As for Yalta, Wang Ye had vacationed there in his “previous life”—it was indeed beautiful.

The city was surrounded by mountains on three sides and faced the sea on the other. White clouds drifted over churches, castles, and palaces, while the distant sound of waves added to the city’s tranquility. The outskirts were dotted with vineyards, like emeralds set against the blue sea and sky.

One could even say it was the most beautiful city in Russia—without question!

At this time, Alyona’s nationality should still be Ukrainian, so why was she working in Moscow?

But thinking about it, it made sense. Most residents of Crimea were ethnically Russian, and Russia had always considered the peninsula part of its territory. It was only because someone had drunk too much that Crimea was given to a brotherly nation.

After the split in the nineties, Crimea naturally returned to Russia…

So, for people from Crimea, Russia treated them as their own.

…

In just a short walk, Wang Ye had learned quite a bit about Alyona.

Her family was in Crimea, with four members, including a younger sister in high school who would come to Moscow for university next year.

Most importantly…

Alyona didn’t have a boyfriend!

Chapter 36: Find a Girlfriend

In Russia, the gender ratio was a bit skewed—there were more women than men!

And before university, they weren’t as open as Americans. Maybe the harsh winters made it hard for people to get “restless”…

Even in university, Wang Ye knew from his “past life” that many Russian students hadn’t dated. So Alyona saying she’d never had a boyfriend wasn’t surprising.

From Wang Ye’s perspective, Alyona was a stunning beauty. But in the eyes of Russian men, that was debatable—she wasn’t exactly a bombshell…

Russian guys seemed to prefer fiery, voluptuous women!

But for Wang Ye, this was good news…

…

Wang Ye didn’t dwell on it. They had just started getting to know each other, and being too obvious would only push her away.

When they reached Building No. 6, Wang Ye waved goodbye to Alyona but casually asked, “If I want to keep improving my Russian, what should I focus on?”

Alyona paused, thinking seriously. She knew Wang Ye’s Russian was already quite good—probably at the level of a native high schooler.

At this stage, further improvement wasn’t easy.

“The best way is to talk more with Russians and use Russian in daily life. Actually, the simplest method is to find a Russian girlfriend,” she said with a laugh.

This wasn’t the first time someone had suggested that. Several teachers had mentioned that the fastest way to improve Russian was to find a Russian “boyfriend” or “girlfriend.”

And indeed, many exchange students had done just that…

Wang Ye smiled at her, spreading his hands in mock helplessness. “But I don’t know any Russian girls. Where would I find a girlfriend? Hmm… Wait, isn’t there one right in front of me?”

Alyona blinked, realizing what he meant. But she didn’t take it seriously. Instead, she replied frankly, “That won’t work. I’m your teacher. Besides, I’m older than you—I’m almost twenty-one, and you’re only eighteen, right?”

Wang Ye shrugged. “Who cares? There’s a Chinese saying: ‘A woman three years older is like holding a gold brick.’ It means it’s better if the woman is a little older in a relationship.”

If this conversation had happened in a Chinese school, Wang Ye would’ve been in big trouble.

Harassing a female teacher? That’d be a major offense!

But here, no one cared. Even the handsome Latin American guy in class had been eyeing Alyona…

Alyona actually considered it for a moment before shaking her head. She looked at Wang Ye sincerely and said, “We don’t know each other well enough. It’s too soon for that. But I have a few friends—some studying or working in Moscow. If you’d like, I can arrange a gathering. Maybe you’ll hit it off with one of them.”

She wouldn’t have said this to just any student. But Wang Ye was different.

Not only was he mature and composed, but his Russian was already good enough for normal conversation. Plus, even though he came from a “poor” country like China, the fact that he could study abroad meant his family wasn’t struggling.

A high-quality guy like him was in demand in Moscow—after all, there were more “wolves” than “meat” here…

So Alyona was willing to introduce Wang Ye to her friends. Maybe a match could be made.

Wang Ye didn’t respond directly. Instead, he asked, “Alyona, are you free this weekend? I’d like to invite you over to discuss something—about choosing a major after preparatory courses. And I’ll treat you to a meal.”

If he had just asked her to come over for dinner, she might have refused. A girl wouldn’t just go to a guy’s dormitory unless they were close.

But Wang Ye gave her a reason—asking for advice on choosing a major. That made it hard for her to say no, since it was part of her job as a teacher.

Though, instead of asking during office hours, he had chosen the weekend at his dormitory.

Sure enough, Alyona hesitated. “Can’t we just talk after class in my office?”

Wang Ye shook his head with a smile. “There’s something else. Starting tomorrow—Wednesday to Friday—I’ll be taking leave to handle some things. A friend is opening a company in Moscow, and I’m helping out. So I’m only free on the weekend. If it’s inconvenient for you to come here, I can come to your dormitory instead?”

Alyona quickly shook her head, looking embarrassed. “I’m not a good cook, especially compared to Chinese students. I’d be too ashamed to show off. Alright, I’ll come to your place this weekend.”

Maybe this was a stereotype foreigners had about Chinese people—all knowing martial arts and being great cooks…

In reality, Wang Ye wasn’t planning to cook himself. Their dormitory had a chef—Song Xiao Gang’s cooking was far better than his!

…

So they agreed—Alyona would come to Wang Ye’s dormitory for dinner on Saturday afternoon.

Back in his dorm, Wang Ye called Xiao Hu, telling him he was free for the next few days and could start preparing for Xiao Hu’s family business.

Xiao Hu was delighted.

They discussed over the phone and decided to first find an office space, then hire a company to handle the registration process. They also needed to recruit a few Russian salespeople.

This way, the company’s framework would be set up.

Xiao Hu’s family didn’t want the office in the big market—that would make the company seem low-end. They were building a brand!

But they couldn’t be too far from the market either. Out-of-town clients coming to Moscow were used to going to the big market to see and pick up goods.

Even if they were doing high-end products, being close to the market was still convenient…

Finding the right office space wasn’t going to be easy!

Chapter 37: Starting the Company

If Wang Ye had truly just arrived in Moscow and was unfamiliar with the place, he might have found himself in a tough spot.

A monthly salary of one thousand US dollars wasn’t easy to come by—it required handling a lot of things…

But now, though he appeared to be new to Moscow, in reality, he had “already” lived there for seven or eight years!

He was extremely familiar with Moscow.

So, when Xiao Hu mentioned the requirements for the company’s location, Wang Ye didn’t hesitate for a moment and immediately recommended the Alpha Grand Hotel!

This hotel was located right at the exit of the Izmailovo subway station, which was the main route from the subway to the large market.

It was also the tallest building near the market and the most upscale hotel in the area.

The building was about thirty stories high, with the first five floors housing various high-end restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

From the second to the fifth floors, most of the space was occupied by various companies’ offices.

There were currency exchange companies, logistics and customs clearance companies, and branches of foreign companies stationed in Moscow.

Only those with considerable strength could afford to set up offices here, as the rent was not cheap…

Since Xiao Hu’s family had the means and was determined to make a big splash in Moscow, they weren’t stingy about the rent. Wang Ye, without hesitation, recommended this hotel to Xiao Hu.

Sure enough, after hearing Wang Ye’s description, Xiao Hu was immediately interested.

Close to the large market, right at the subway exit, high-end, and surrounded by various customs clearance, logistics, and currency exchange companies…

This was perfect!

If they set up the company here, it would be like telling all potential customers that their company was powerful!

Don’t underestimate this point—it was extremely important for a company building its brand.

Not only did products need packaging, but people and companies did too…

…

The next day, Wednesday, Wang Ye got up early.

After breakfast, instead of going to class with Song Xiao Gang and the others, he waited in his room for Xiao Hu to arrive.

The two had agreed the day before to go check out the Alpha Hotel today. If it was suitable, they would inquire about the rent.

Wang Ye was a bit puzzled—Xiao Hu’s family was really generous, entrusting such a big decision entirely to Xiao Hu.

Didn’t they need to come and check it out themselves?

But this was someone else’s family matter. Maybe Xiao Hu’s parents trusted him a lot, or perhaps they wanted to give him some experience.

So, he didn’t bother with these thoughts. He just needed to do his job well and earn his two thousand US dollars with a clear conscience…

Not long after, Xiao Hu arrived.

“Let’s go, Ye Ge. We’ll take a taxi directly to the hotel—it’s safer. Oh, you mentioned there are companies that can handle the registration procedures there, so we can register the company while we’re at it.”

As soon as he entered, Xiao Hu said excitedly.

Xiao Hu was short, slightly chubby, with curly hair, looking like a harmless little fatty.

If you didn’t know him, you’d never guess he was a genuine rich second-generation heir.

Wang Ye nodded, put on his coat, grabbed his phone and wallet, closed the door, and went downstairs with Xiao Hu.

They hailed a taxi on the street and headed straight for the Alpha Hotel near the large market.

Taking a taxi from the school to there wasn’t cheap—the dark-haired driver charged five hundred rubles without bargaining.

But the price was reasonable, as the drive took over an hour—it wasn’t close at all.

An hour’s drive in Moscow was completely different from an hour’s drive in a first-tier city in China!

As everyone knew, Russia was absurdly vast, and Moscow was no exception—it was absolutely spacious with few people.

Even in the capital city of Moscow, the streets were almost empty, with few cars, and you wouldn’t encounter a traffic light every few steps.

Cars on the road drove extremely fast…

This broken Lada could reach sixty miles per hour, and Wang Ye was a bit worried the car might fall apart while driving…

The term “black-haired” was a local nickname for people with black hair from various “Stan” countries.

Moscow was the largest city in all of Eastern Europe, so there were many black-haired people coming here to make a living.

However, they usually could only do dirty or tough jobs, or jobs that local Russians didn’t want to do.

For example, hauling goods at the large market, construction work, or driving unlicensed taxis.

Although they were all “Moscowites,” genuine Russians like Alyona actually looked down on the black-haired people from the bottom of their hearts…

After all, most black-haired people weren’t very educated, spoke and acted coarsely, and often did shady things.

The police here were especially “attentive” to the black-haired people—basically, if they saw you, they would stop and question you.

…

“Oh, Xiao Hu, how big is your family planning to make this branch? When we talk about office space later, how much area will we need?”

Sitting in the car with nothing to do, Wang Ye started chatting with Xiao Hu.

It was better to clarify some things in advance so he could be prepared when negotiating with others later.

Xiao Hu thought for a moment and replied, “The area should be as large as possible. Not only do we need office space, but we also need a showroom—about three hundred square meters. Oh, and we need to rent a warehouse. It can’t be at the large market; it’s not safe there. Since we’re running a legitimate company, all our goods will go through proper customs clearance. We don’t want to mix with the gray-market goods at the large market—it’s easy to get into trouble.”

Wang Ye looked at Xiao Hu in surprise. He hadn’t expected that this young man, who had only been in Moscow for half a year, already understood these ins and outs so well.

He was quite observant…

Moreover, an office space plus a showroom of three hundred square meters wasn’t a small company!

Renting such a large area at the Alpha Grand Hotel would cost about twenty-five thousand US dollars a month, which was about eighty US dollars per square meter per month!

Wang Ye was familiar with the rent there. In his past life, when he was a sophomore, he had worked at a Chinese company that rented office space in the Alpha Hotel.

The company manager had once discussed these things with him.

“So, a place this big might cost twenty to thirty thousand US dollars a month in rent. You should be mentally prepared,” Wang Ye reminded him.

But Xiao Hu didn’t care at all. He just smiled and nodded, saying, “Mm, since we’re planning to open a company, we’ve already considered these expenses. It’s no problem.”

As they chatted, the black-haired driver interjected, “We’re here!”

Looking up through the car window, the towering Alpha Grand Hotel stood before them.

Xiao Hu paid the fare, and the two got out of the car.

Standing in front of the hotel, Xiao Hu looked up at the magnificent tall building and felt that Wang Ye had really chosen the perfect place!

This was ideal for opening a company!

Chapter 38: Perfectly Suited

Russia was a country that spanned both Europe and Asia.

Moscow, located in Europe, was much like other European cities—high-rise buildings were rare, and most structures were old, traditional European-style buildings.

So, if you wanted to find skyscrapers in Moscow, you’d have a hard time.

The Alpha Hotel in front of them stood over thirty stories tall. In a first-tier Chinese city, it might not be impressive, but here, it was a landmark building for the entire area!

The hotel entrance bustled with people coming and going, cars streaming in and out—quite lively.

The two walked straight into the lobby and looked around.

Unlike most hotels, the lobby here was unusually large and completely open.

The first floor mainly housed restaurants and bars, but since it was still morning, everything was closed, and there weren’t many people around.

The crowds passing through were likely employees from the upper floors, hurrying to take the escalators upstairs.

“Let’s go up and take a look. Floors two to five are office spaces with quite a few companies,” Wang Ye said to Xiao Hu.

So, the two followed the crowd and took the escalator upstairs.

On the second floor, the layout was completely different from the first—it looked like a traditional office building.

A long corridor divided the floor into two large sections. Wang Ye and Xiao Hu strolled around, seeing many doors with company nameplates.

Clearly, these were various companies.

From the second to the fifth floor, they took a full tour. The building’s podium had a large footprint, but it wasn’t fully occupied—especially the fourth and fifth floors, which had many empty spaces.

After a general look, Xiao Hu expressed satisfaction with the place.

Wang Ye then took him to the building’s leasing office to inquire about renting space.

They settled on a large office on the fifth floor, about four hundred square meters, with a monthly rent of thirty thousand US dollars. Additionally, the Alpha Hotel could provide warehouse space and handle company registration—no need to look elsewhere!

Everything went too smoothly.

As they left the building, Xiao Hu’s face was all smiles.

“Done. It went even smoother than I expected. They said all the procedures can be completed in a month. You can notify the people back home to start preparing,” Wang Ye said, turning to Xiao Hu.

Though the timeline had shortened, Wang Ye didn’t mind the reduced compensation.

If it weren’t for making a friend, he might not have even taken the job.

“Thank you, Ye Ge. Without you, I’d probably still be struggling. My family might come over in a few days. I’ll treat you to dinner then—you must come,” Xiao Hu said gratefully.

Clearly, he wanted to introduce Wang Ye to his parents.

Wang Ye nodded, not thinking much of it.

It was still early, and since they were already out, they shouldn’t waste time.

Wang Ye took Xiao Hu to the Large Market for a survey.

Many Chinese shoe factories had set up stalls there, and shoes were a major category.

Of course, Xiao Hu’s family business was much larger than these stalls—they weren’t competitors.

The main reason for coming here was to poach a few salespeople for his family’s company…

Since they were setting up a company, the best salespeople would be Russians, preferably with relevant experience.

Where would you find such people?

The Large Market, of course!

Xiao Hu’s family company needed employees, and Wang Ye’s idea was to “poach” from the Large Market…

Larger stalls in the market preferred hiring Russians for sales.

Chinese translators only needed to handle communication between the boss and the Russian salespeople.

These Russian salespeople came in all types—blondes, brunettes—but without a doubt, they were all native Russian speakers.

Their Russian skills were unquestionable, and with rich sales experience, some even had client networks…

For Xiao Hu’s family company, they were the perfect fit!

Of course, Wang Ye and Xiao Hu walked around the shoe section several times and spotted a few good Russian saleswomen, but they didn’t dare approach them.

The bosses were watching like hawks from their stalls…

“Ye Ge, we can’t just go up and ask for contact info. We’re both Chinese—it’s obvious we’re not customers. As soon as we get near a stall, the bosses glare at us…” After circling around, Xiao Hu said in frustration.

Wang Ye bought two bottles of beer from a nearby shop, handed one to Xiao Hu, and smiled. “No rush. We can’t do the poaching ourselves, but there’s someone perfect for the job!”

Xiao Hu’s eyes lit up. He took the beer but didn’t drink, hurriedly asking, “Who? Oh… I know! The senior students from school who work as translators here! They’re here every day. If we treat them to a meal, they might help us out.”

Xiao Hu was quick-witted—he had thought of this idea fast.

But…

This still wasn’t the best choice!

Wang Ye shook his head with a smile. “No, they’re not suitable either. Forget whether their Russian is good enough to handle this—during work hours, they can’t leave their posts. They don’t have a good reason to chat with people from other stalls.”

Xiao Hu realized he was right…

Translators at the Large Market were extremely busy. Except for a short break at lunch, they couldn’t leave their stalls at all!

“So… who should we look for?” Xiao Hu was stumped.

Wang Ye calmly said, “You’ve been in preparatory courses for half a year now. You must have seen a teacher who always carries a big sports backpack.”

This teacher, who moonlighted by selling shoes at the subway station, was already well-known among the students…

Xiao Hu knew exactly who he meant. His eyes widened in realization. “Oh! How could I forget that teacher? He already sells shoes and comes to the Large Market often. He must know those Russian salespeople, and since he’s a native Russian, he can definitely communicate with them for me!”

This teacher was exactly who Wang Ye had in mind.

In fact, Wang Ye even wanted to recruit this teacher to work for Xiao Hu’s family company!

With him on board, poaching other salespeople would be much easier.

Plus, the teacher already had plenty of “shoe-selling” experience—he was the perfect fit…

Chapter 39: Alexander? Pressure-sander!

Wednesday afternoon, around two o’clock, as students swarmed out, the preparatory building gradually quieted down.

Alexander drank a cup of hot water, rested for a moment, and began packing up to leave work.

He struggled to lift the large backpack from under his desk, stuffed full of various plastic and cotton slippers, all wholesale from the Large Market.

He still had to rush to the subway station to sell shoes—hopefully, he could sell a few more pairs today…

Just like his name, “Pressure-sander”!

Middle-aged, with elderly parents above and children below, though he didn’t need to support his parents—they were still in good health and had pensions—his wife and children still needed his care…

Currently, his household relied solely on his monthly income of around three hundred dollars. His wife was a homemaker, and they had two children, one in middle school and one in elementary school.

The family lived in a cramped, forty-square-meter apartment.

It wasn’t easy to establish a stable life in Moscow…

Just as he was about to leave, two students appeared at the office door.

“Teacher, do you have a moment? There’s something we’d like to discuss with you.”

One of the tall male students asked with a smile.

Alexander taught mathematics in several classes, including Wang Ye’s. He assumed these two students had some academic questions to consult him about.

So he replied, “Sure, come in. But I don’t have much time—I need to leave soon.”

Wang Ye and Xiao Hu entered and closed the door behind them. The office was empty except for the three of them.

“Having trouble with your studies? By the way, Wang, your Russian is excellent. How could the preparatory courses’ simple questions be difficult for you?” Alexander asked curiously.

He had a strong impression of Wang Ye because this student’s Russian was outstanding!

In all his years teaching preparatory classes, he had never encountered a student who spoke Russian so well!

Wang Ye smiled and said, “It’s not about studies—it’s something else. Let me introduce you. This is Xiao Hu. His family plans to open a company in Moscow.”

Alexander was confused—what did this have to do with him?

Opening a company was their business; there was no need to report it to him…

He knew that many of his students, especially the exchange students from China, might not be there to study. Some might drop out of preparatory courses or even before graduating to start businesses…

So, he wasn’t surprised by this.

But he was puzzled—why would this student’s family opening a company concern him?

Wang Ye got straight to the point and asked, “So, teacher, would you be interested in working for his family’s company? It’s a legitimate company, not some market stall.”

He emphasized this point to prevent any misunderstanding.

Russians, especially intellectuals like Alexander, had a certain pride. Even if the salary were several times higher, he might not be willing to sell goods at a market stall!

But if it were a proper company with some scale, that would be a different matter.

Sure enough, Alexander hesitated for a moment before asking, “A legitimate company? What kind of business? Where is the office located?”

“Doing branded sports shoes. The company is in the process of registration and has rented office space at the Alpha Hotel,” Wang Ye said calmly.

Alexander frequently visited the Large Market, so he was familiar with the Alpha Hotel.

Hearing that the company was based there, he became interested. After all, only companies with some financial backing could afford to rent space there—it was indeed a legitimate business.

He hesitated, wanting to ask about the salary but feeling too embarrassed to bring it up.

After all, he was a teacher—discussing this in front of students seemed inappropriate…

Wang Ye understood his thoughts, so without waiting for him to ask, he directly said, “If you join, your position would be sales manager, with a base salary of fifteen hundred dollars a month, plus commission! Normally, you’d earn at least two thousand dollars a month.”

“Two thousand dollars!”

This figure stunned Alexander!

He earned just over three hundred dollars a month teaching preparatory courses at the University of Friendship—far from enough to support his family. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have to set up a stall at the subway station after work…

If it weren’t for financial pressure, as an intellectual, he would never do such a thing.

Now, hearing that he could earn two thousand dollars a month at Xiao Hu’s company, his mind raced.

That much money would be more than enough for his family to live comfortably!

In Moscow, that was considered a high salary.

Even the department heads at the University of Friendship didn’t earn that much.

Two thousand dollars could almost buy a nearly new Lada car…

In a less central area, it could buy two square meters in a high-end residential complex!

Wang Ye continued, “This company, apart from the boss being Chinese, will hire Russians for all other positions. Moreover, it will continue to invest, aiming to establish the brand across the entire Eastern European market!”

This was painting a big picture for Alexander—after all, an ambitious company would be more attractive.

Sure enough, Alexander no longer hesitated. He eagerly asked, “So, will the company sign a formal employment contract?”

Wang Ye looked at Xiao Hu—after all, this wasn’t his company but Xiao Hu’s.

Xiao Hu nodded decisively and replied directly, “Yes!”

With that settled, Alexander no longer cared about selling his slippers. He immediately pulled Wang Ye and Xiao Hu to sit down and seriously discussed the company’s affairs.

Wang Ye took this opportunity to brief him on the company’s matters, including office rentals, company registration, and, of course, poaching salespeople from the Large Market…

Alexander laughed when he heard this. He took out an old phone and skillfully opened his contacts.

Pointing to a list of names, he said:

“This won’t be a problem at all! I have the numbers of many Russian salespeople working at the Large Market. Some of them are quite skilled and have been doing this for years. Once the company’s office is rented, I’ll arrange to meet them after work. As long as the pay isn’t lower than what they’re getting at the Large Market, they’ll definitely be willing to work for the company…”

This was normal. After all, the working conditions at the Large Market were far from ideal.

Apart from the leg pain from standing all day, the constant noise alone was enough to make one’s head buzz…

Who wouldn’t prefer to work in a bright, clean office for the same or even higher pay?

Alexander also had a plan. He would wait until his employment contract was signed and the company’s office was secured before helping them recruit…

Chapter 40: Recruiting Another Agent

The serious discussion lasted until around four or five in the afternoon before finally wrapping up.

Wang Ye had effectively handed over all matters to Alexander. From now on, Xiao Hu’s company affairs would be handled by Alexander.

As for himself, he would temporarily serve as a translator since Xiao Hu’s Russian was poor. Many matters required Alexander to communicate with Wang Ye first, who would then relay the information to Xiao Hu.

Xiao Hu was delighted. Wang Ye had managed to settle everything in just one day—what efficiency!

With a broad smile, he said, “Let’s go to the cafeteria in Building Seven. My treat!”

During the meal, Wang Ye and Xiao Hu witnessed the Russians’ drinking prowess firsthand.

Perhaps because he was in high spirits, Alexander downed an entire liter of draft beer in one gulp, leaving Wang Ye and Xiao Hu stunned.

The two of them only managed one cup each throughout the meal, while Alexander polished off three on his own. And according to him, he was holding back.

After all, to them, beer was just another beverage…

…

After settling Xiao Hu’s matters, Wang Ye returned to his dormitory around seven or eight in the evening.

He had received two or three calls about phone cards but hadn’t had time to deliver them.

It seemed that once he got busy, he would need someone to take over the phone card deliveries.

Song Xiao Gang would be a good candidate…

Just as Wang Ye was about to discuss this with Song Xiao Gang, Class Monitor Zhou Yuan burst in excitedly.

“Ye Ge, I’ve got great news for you!”

“What is it?” Wang Ye asked curiously.

“Spring Festival is coming up soon. The embassy is hosting a gathering for prominent figures in the Chinese community here in Moscow. Our university has a few spots, and I signed you up!” Zhou Yuan grinned so widely it seemed his face might split.

Wang Ye found it hard to believe. The embassy?!

Spring Festival gatherings were normal, but as Zhou Yuan had said, they usually invited only the most influential figures in the Chinese community.

How could it possibly be their turn—newly arrived exchange students?

“They’re inviting us to eat? Do we have invitations?” Wang Ye asked in surprise.

“No invitations, but they won’t let us go hungry, don’t worry! It’s a large-scale banquet, and the embassy is short-staffed, so they’re asking students from Moscow State University and the University of Friendship to help out as servers. There aren’t many spots, and I had to pull strings to get you in,” Zhou Yuan boasted.

Wang Ye was speechless. So they weren’t actually invited to the banquet—they were going as unpaid “servers”…

This wasn’t uncommon.

Whenever the embassy hosted major events and needed extra hands, they often recruited exchange students for “volunteer labor.”

They’d serve as waitstaff or even as part of the “atmosphere team”…

Wang Ye was about to refuse, but seeing Zhou Yuan’s proud expression, as if he had accomplished something monumental, he couldn’t bring himself to say no.

On second thought, visiting the embassy wasn’t a bad idea. Even if he was just a server, the embassy treated exchange students well.

The food was free, and the requirements weren’t strict.

After being here for so long, getting a chance to eat well was a rare treat…

After all, in all of Moscow, if you wanted authentic, delicious Chinese cuisine, the embassy was the top choice!

In his past life, Wang Ye had been a “server” at the embassy several times. The food there—especially the braised pork ribs—was unforgettable.

Of course, Wang Ye had another reason for going.

In the short term, this banquet might be his only chance to mingle with the upper echelons of the Chinese community in Moscow…

Who knew? He might even meet a “benefactor.” Since he planned to make a life here, getting to know influential people early would be crucial.

After twenty years of societal “beatings” in his past life, Wang Ye had learned a harsh truth.

In modern society, trying to succeed alone was nearly impossible.

To thrive, one needed connections—networks!

Those with broad networks had far more opportunities than ordinary people…

“Alright, then thank you, Class Monitor. When is it, and are there any requirements?” Wang Ye asked with a smile.

“It’s in a few days. I’ll come get you then—the embassy will send a car. Oh, and remember to wear a suit. Dress yourself up as handsomely as possible! Who knows? Maybe some wealthy Chinese businesswoman will take a liking to you, and you’ll skip thirty years of hard work, haha…” Zhou Yuan joked.

Well, he wasn’t entirely joking—such things had actually happened before…

“Got it, I understand. Thanks,” Wang Ye replied casually.

…

After Zhou Yuan left, Wang Ye finally had the chance to talk to Song Xiao Gang about the phone card deliveries.

“Xiao Gang, I’ve got a job opportunity for you—are you interested?”

Song Xiao Gang immediately slapped his chest. “Ye Ge, just say the word! I’m in!”

He wasn’t foolish. If Wang Ye was offering him work, it meant he wouldn’t be taken advantage of.

Since he was still in preparatory courses and couldn’t find other work, this might be his only chance to earn money…

“Here’s the thing. As you’ve seen, I get several calls a day for phone cards. I can handle it for now, but soon I’ll need to focus on expanding to other schools, so I won’t have time for this. How about you take over the University of Friendship side? You’d be the distributor there,” Wang Ye said seriously.

This was essentially handing over the University of Friendship market to Song Xiao Gang—just like his cousin Ruan Xiaozhu’s arrangement!

Song Xiao Gang agreed without hesitation. “If you trust me, Ye Ge, then I’m definitely in. It’s just… how much capital do I need to start?”

“I’ll supply you at an 80% discount. Just make sure each order is at least one thousand dollars. Since we’re in the same dorm, you can just come to me for restocking—it’s convenient,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

“That’s perfect! Leave the University of Friendship to me. I’ve been watching how you do business, so I should be fine,” Song Xiao Gang said, beaming.

If it were anyone else asking him to invest a thousand dollars, he might hesitate for a long time—or even refuse.

But Wang Ye was different!

Not only had Wang Ye “saved” him once, but he had also seen Wang Ye’s phone card sales with his own eyes.

He knew this was a real money-making opportunity!

If he didn’t seize it, he’d be a fool…

Chapter 41: Not Enough Funds

Wang Ye had taken the first batch of cards from Liu Jun, and now he had thirty-eight fifty-dollar cards and eight hundred-dollar cards left.

Song Xiao Gang thought for a long time before deciding to take them all!

At an eighty percent discount, these cards were worth just over seventeen hundred dollars—not much.

He also didn’t want to appear too stingy, as that might make Wang Ye look down on him…

Wang Ye naturally had no objections and handed over the remaining cards from his wallet. Adding the retail sales from the past few days and the bulk purchase from his cousin Ruan Xiaozhu, he now had over five thousand five hundred dollars in his wallet.

The first batch of business had sold out all the cards.

Net profit—just over a thousand dollars!

How much time had it taken?

At most, five or six days—less than a week…

So it wasn’t unreasonable for Wang Ye to look down on the fifteen hundred dollars a month salary offered by Xiao Hu’s company.

Of course, the reason they sold so quickly was because they were in the initial market expansion phase. Just two distributors had taken most of the cards.

If they had relied solely on retail, selling all these cards would have taken about a month.

…

On Thursday afternoon, Wang Ye called Liu Jun again.

“What?! You’ve sold all your cards? Are you serious? It’s only been a few days, and you’ve sold that many?” Liu Jun was stunned when he heard that Wang Ye had sold out the last batch and wanted to discuss the next cooperation.

Wang Ye had taken cards worth seven thousand dollars!

If he had sold them at the Large Market, maybe he could have gotten lucky with a few big customers.

But Wang Ye was selling them at school—how could students afford that much?

According to Liu Jun’s original estimate, even if Wang Ye was very capable, selling all these cards would have taken at least a month!

He never expected that before a week had even passed, Wang Ye would have sold them all…

Wang Ye didn’t go into detail over the phone; he just asked Liu Jun to come over when he had time to discuss things in person.

After hanging up, Liu Jun couldn’t focus on work. He wanted to know immediately what was happening on Wang Ye’s end!

He was an upstream supplier, yet in the past few days, the cards he had distributed—excluding Wang Ye’s—hadn’t sold as much as Wang Ye’s…

Who could he complain to about this?

Liu Jun even began to doubt his own abilities.

After so many years in Moscow, had he been wasting his time? He wasn’t even as good as a student who had just arrived less than a month ago…

…

Originally, they had agreed to meet around five o’clock, but Liu Jun arrived before four.

It was still that old Audi. But being able to drive an Audi in Moscow was already pretty good.

After all, there were still plenty of beat-up Ladas on the streets!

“Let’s go have a drink,” Liu Jun greeted warmly as soon as they met.

Naturally, it was still the Seventh Building Bar—there weren’t any other places to eat around here.

As for the Chinese restaurant downstairs from Wang Ye’s dormitory, the two of them didn’t need to go there…

Wang Ye actually quite liked the Seventh Building Bar. The grilled meat was delicious, and the craft beer was authentic.

This craft beer was completely different from bottled light beer and cheap draft beer!

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to describe it as fragrant…

It was the same bar as before. Two large plates were set in front of them, filled with grilled meat, fries, pickled cucumber slices, and sour cream…

The sour cream was particularly noteworthy—it was a unique Russian condiment.

Its status in Russian cuisine was comparable to soy sauce in China…

Beet soup, grilled meat, pork chops, beef steaks—everything could be paired with a bit of sour cream. It was very appetizing.

Wang Ye also enjoyed it.

So when ordering, he specifically instructed the waiter to add more sour cream!

“Cheers! Congratulations on your thriving business and a great start!” Liu Jun raised his beer glass, his face flushed with excitement.

Of course he was happy—if Wang Ye’s cards sold well, it meant he could make more money!

Originally, this was just a side job, and he hadn’t expected to make much from it. But now, things were different…

Perhaps Wang Ye could bring him some surprises!

“Just lucky. It’s only the beginning, and a lot of classmates and friends are giving me face. It might not sell as fast in the future,” Wang Ye said modestly.

After downing a large gulp of beer, Liu Jun sighed in admiration, “You’re something else, kid. You’ve got quite the network. How long have you been in Moscow, and you already have so many friends? I should learn from you, haha.”

As a “man of the world,” Liu Jun naturally understood the benefits of having many friends, so he genuinely admired Wang Ye for being able to make so many connections in such a short time.

He couldn’t do that himself!

“Let’s talk business. Brother Liu, I’m actually quite interested in how these phone cards work. Do you cooperate with a telecom company and lease a dedicated line?” Wang Ye asked curiously.

After thinking for a moment, Liu Jun felt this wasn’t much of a trade secret, so he spoke frankly:

“This isn’t hard to set up. Just go to one of the major telecom companies, lease a dedicated line, then find a factory to print the phone cards, and get people to sell them.

Of course, it’s easier said than done.

First, leasing a dedicated line isn’t cheap!

Mine isn’t exactly a dedicated line. I actually cooperate with Sino-Russian Communication Cards—they’re a major distributor…”

After listening to Liu Jun’s explanation, Wang Ye understood how the phone cards operated.

So Liu Jun wasn’t a “first-hand card” supplier either—he was just renting part of someone else’s dedicated line. It seemed he was sharing a line with those “Sino-Russian Communication” cards.

“Why don’t you lease your own dedicated line? That way, you cut out the middleman and make more profit,” Wang Ye pressed.

Liu Jun shook his head with a bitter smile:

“Business isn’t that easy!

Leasing a dedicated line would lower costs, but you need enough sales to make it worthwhile!

I’ve looked into it—leasing a dedicated line costs at least a hundred thousand dollars a month!

How many cards would you have to sell to make that back?

And having a dedicated line doesn’t mean you can sell unlimited cards. If too many people are on the line at the same time, call quality drops, and you might even get disconnections.

The biggest player right now, Sino-Russian Communication Cards, leases several dedicated lines. Their monthly line fees alone are three to four hundred thousand dollars!”

Wang Ye nodded thoughtfully. He understood now—if he wanted to truly get into this business, he’d need at least a hundred thousand dollars in startup capital…

Of course, like Liu Jun, he could rent someone else’s dedicated line, but the profit margins wouldn’t be as high…

Chapter 42: Serving as a Shield

Wang Ye was certainly not content with just being a card seller. What he truly wanted was to establish his own dedicated line and create his own phone card brand!

Just like the “Sino-Russian Communication Cards” that Liu Jun had mentioned.

This card was probably the most well-known phone card among the Chinese in Russia. The first time Wang Ye bought a phone card, it was this one.

The ones sold at the Large Market were basically all this phone card.

Just relying on the Large Market, this company was able to thrive. It seemed that to expand the phone card business, just messing around at school was not enough; he had to develop towards the Large Market.

But with the few thousand dollars in Wang Ye’s pocket, considering this was not practical. This should be something he would think about in the future.

After eating, Wang Ye took another five thousand dollars worth of cards.

Just like last time, eighty cards with a face value of fifty dollars, and thirty cards with a face value of one hundred dollars.

Before leaving, Liu Jun said with a smile, “You can sell the cards with peace of mind. Whenever you sell out, feel free to call me! I will definitely deliver them to you as soon as possible.”

Without a doubt, Wang Ye had become his “number one customer,” so the treatment he received was naturally different.

Wang Ye nodded and waved to him.

………………..

The five thousand five hundred dollars in Wang Ye’s wallet had not even warmed up yet, and he had already “spent” it…

Now there was only five hundred dollars left in his wallet.

He still had to go shopping with his cousin on the weekend, so he had to save some money to “protect himself.”

Even though they were relatives, he couldn’t let his cousin spend money to buy clothes for him, could he? That would be like “eating soft rice”…

Wang Ye’s face was not that thick!

Besides, Ruan Xiaozhu would not just send things to this “cheap cousin” after meeting him once.

Back in the dormitory, Song Xiao Gang was not there. After school at noon, he didn’t even have time to eat and ran around delivering phone cards.

On the bulletin boards posted by Wang Ye at the bottom of each dormitory building, the phone number had also been changed to Song Xiao Gang’s.

This was the first time Song Xiao Gang had “done business,” and he was still a little excited, full of enthusiasm!

Every card sold could earn him five or ten dollars!

………………..

After handing over the business at the University of Friendship to Song Xiao Gang, Wang Ye was finally free.

On Friday, he did not go to class but stayed in the dormitory and slept in.

After waking up and washing up, preparing to eat something, the other students had already returned from school…

His roommate Xiao Hei even enthusiastically invited Wang Ye to eat together, but Wang Ye shook his head repeatedly, politely saying he had something to do and needed to go out.

Actually, he didn’t have anything to do; he just didn’t have any appetite looking at what Xiao Hei was eating.

Song Xiao Gang was probably out delivering phone cards again and hadn’t been seen.

Slipping out of the room, he originally wanted to go to Zhou Yuan’s place to mooch a meal, but he ran into Wang Dan and Li Xiao Yun.

Both of them were carrying two plates of food each, walking from the kitchen to their room.

Seeing Wang Ye’s figure, Wang Dan quickly called out to him, “Ye Ge, Ye Ge, are you going out?”

Wang Ye stopped and replied, “No, I was planning to go to Old Zhou’s place to see if he’s cooked yet. I’m too lazy to cook myself, going to mooch a meal, haha.”

Mooching meals was quite common here.

Everyone basically cooked for themselves, and having an extra person eat wasn’t a big deal—just adding an extra pair of chopsticks and an extra bowl of rice.

No one would deliberately make a few extra dishes…

But when Wang Dan heard this, her face lit up with joy, and she said, “Then come eat with us, don’t go to Brother Zhou’s place. We just finished cooking and are about to eat.”

Wang Ye was a bit surprised. Although he and these two girls were from the same batch and got along well, they weren’t close enough for them to actively invite him to mooch a meal…

“Ah? What’s the occasion? Why are you suddenly inviting me to eat?” Wang Ye asked in surprise.

Because the dishes the two girls were carrying didn’t look like their usual simple meals.

After all, they were all students, and even when cooking for themselves, they basically went for the simplest options.

Even Song Xiao Gang, the “chef,” usually just made noodles or tomato scrambled eggs.

Who had the time to fuss over making several dishes?

Of course, the price of vegetables here was very high, and they couldn’t afford such “luxury”!

Wang Dan looked around the corridor to make sure no one was there, then whispered to Wang Ye, “Zhang Ke is coming over to eat today. He’s mentioned it several times, and with all the running around he’s done these past few days, helping me and Xiao Yun quite a bit, we really couldn’t refuse. So today we made some dishes to treat him. But we didn’t want to invite just him, so…”

Beside her, Xiao Yun smiled and said, “Zhang Ke has a thing for Dan Dan. He probably wants to pursue her, hehe.”

Wang Dan’s face turned red, and she glared at Li Xiao Yun, “What nonsense are you talking about? I don’t even know him well, and besides, I have a boyfriend back home!”

Wang Ye finally understood what was going on.

It seemed that Zhang Ke, after failing to pursue Nalan Yaqi, had shifted his target and was now trying to pursue Wang Dan.

Wang Dan, being a shy girl, couldn’t bring herself to refuse outright, so she was pulling him in to serve as a “shield.”

After all, everyone knew that on the first day Wang Ye arrived in Moscow, he had given Zhang Ke a beating.

Inviting Zhang Ke to eat and bringing him along—Wang Dan’s intentions were quite clear…

Wang Ye frowned, hesitating whether to go.

Although Zhang Ke was indeed quite annoying, he and Zhang Ke didn’t have any deep grudges. He couldn’t just go and ruin someone else’s pursuit of a girl, could he?

That would probably make them real enemies…

He was just about to refuse when he saw Wang Dan looking up at him pitifully, her face full of pleading, and he couldn’t bear to refuse.

Girls like Wang Dan and Li Xiao Yun, who had come to a foreign country at the age of seventeen or eighteen, were honestly quite vulnerable to being taken advantage of…

If they met someone who truly liked them, that would be fine, but if they met someone with ill intentions, the consequences could be quite tragic.

If it were Song Xiao Gang, Liu Xiao Jie, or Zhou Yuan pursuing Wang Dan, Wang Ye would only offer his blessings and would never interfere.

But Zhang Ke…

“Alright, then I’ll come mooch a meal with you. These dishes look pretty good. Whose cooking is this?” Wang Ye said with a smile.

“Xiao Yun made them. I just helped a little,” Wang Dan quickly replied.

Hearing Wang Ye agree to come, a smile appeared on her face.

…………….

Inside Wang Dan and Li Xiao Yun’s dormitory.

Zhang Ke was sitting at the dining table, pretending to read a copy of the “Moscow Chinese News,” but his mind was not on the newspaper at all.

He was thinking about how to “get” Wang Dan.

After some time, he had set his sights on Wang Dan.

Wang Dan wasn’t exactly a beauty; in terms of looks, she couldn’t compare to Nalan Yaqi.

Zhang Ke wasn’t interested in anything else; he had just discovered that this girl’s family background was not ordinary!

Chapter 43: You’re Comfortable Now

Based on Zhang Ke’s observations over the past few days, among the new batch of students, Wang Ye was the most detestable!

Wang Dan’s family, however, seemed to be the most well-off. She was the only new student with a laptop—a black, unassuming IBM ThinkPad T20. Don’t let its plain appearance fool you; it cost over thirty thousand yuan! In 2001, thirty thousand was no small sum. Only someone from a well-off family could afford such a device…

Over the past few days, Zhang Ke had casually tried to get closer to Wang Dan. The girl was quite naive, and before long, he had pried out details about her family. Turns out, Wang Dan’s father was a high-ranking official in a prefecture-level city—someone with real power!

Her family wasn’t necessarily rich, or at least, they didn’t flaunt their wealth. But if he could get on their good side, it would save him thirty years of struggle!

Zhang Ke wasn’t much older than Wang Ye and the others—just a year or two, making him around twenty. But he had been exposed to society early and understood things far better than these sheltered students.

Plus, he had been pursuing Nalan Yaqi for half a year without so much as a kind word in return. He was starting to lose hope.

Now, a “new target” had appeared!

And if he could win her over, it would be far more beneficial for his future than Nalan Yaqi ever could be. Nalan Yaqi’s family was just in business—her mother ran a small company, not particularly wealthy, and certainly not connected to any power. She was just… pretty.

From a future development perspective, Wang Dan was clearly the better choice!

So, Zhang Ke began scheming about Wang Dan…

He knew that girls like Wang Dan, fresh out of high school at seventeen or eighteen, had no real-world experience. If he put in enough effort, relentlessly pursuing her, he was bound to succeed…

Over the past few days, he had found every excuse to get closer to Wang Dan. After all, he had arrived half a year earlier and had a slight edge in Russian.

When Wang Dan and Li Xiao Yun went to the supermarket, Zhang Ke eagerly volunteered to carry their things. When they wanted to visit Red Square, he “selflessly” offered to be their guide!

In short, he made sure Wang Dan felt his enthusiasm and sincerity!

Heaven rewards those who work hard. After days of effort, Wang Dan finally agreed to treat him to a meal. This was clearly a huge step forward in their relationship!

…

Lost in thought, Zhang Ke heard the door creak open. Someone had entered.

He quickly put down the newspaper and stood up, smiling. “All done? I—”

His words caught in his throat. The person who walked in wasn’t Wang Dan or Li Xiao Yun. It was the one person he despised the most…

Wang Ye!

Wang Ye walked in with a smile, carrying two plates of food. He placed them on the table, then turned to see Zhang Ke standing awkwardly nearby. “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and set the table, bring the chairs over. You’re not going to just sit there and wait to be fed, are you?”

Zhang Ke usually carried himself with confidence, like some big shot from the streets. But around Wang Ye, he always felt small, unable to stand tall…

Hesitantly, he asked, “What… what are you doing here?”

Wang Ye spread his hands in mock helplessness. “What do you think? I’m here to eat, of course.”

…

Zhang Ke’s expression darkened, but when it came time to eat, the two girls kept serving Wang Ye.

“Ye Ge, try this—it’s sautéed chicken!”

“This one’s good too—my specialty, tomato and egg stir-fry.”

Zhang Ke, sitting to the side, might as well have been invisible. None of them even glanced his way…

If it had been anyone else, Zhang Ke would have lost his temper by now. But the lesson from that night was still fresh in his mind. Just thinking about it made his face burn…

Song Xiao Gang really had a grip!

Since he couldn’t afford to flip out, he had no choice but to endure. This meal was pure torture for Zhang Ke.

When he could barely take it anymore, he forced a smile and stood up. “Well, this food was amazing. I’m stuffed. You all keep eating—I’ve got somewhere to be. I made plans with someone else.”

Wang Dan and Li Xiao Yun barely acknowledged him, waving him off without a word.

…

After Zhang Ke left, Wang Dan quickly shut the dormitory door. She let out a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness he’s gone! If Ye Ge hadn’t been here today, I don’t know how awkward it would’ve been!”

Li Xiao Yun chimed in, “Much better now! He helped us out, and we treated him to a meal. Now we’re even. Let’s just avoid him in the future—he doesn’t seem like a decent person at all.”

Indeed, Zhang Ke didn’t have the best “appearance.” Skinny and short, with long, unkempt hair, he always spoke with a sneer. In the local dialect of the Central Plains, he was what they called a “good-for-nothing.”

And with his ongoing feud with Wang Ye and Song Xiao Gang, everyone knew about it. Compared to the two, Wang Ye was clearly the more popular one.

Wang Ye set down his chopsticks and laughed. “You two are comfortable now, but what about me? I’ve turned into a third wheel?”

He knew that after this meal, Zhang Ke would only hate him more—“adding frost to snow,” as they say.

But so what?

Right now, Wang Ye had only just arrived in Moscow. Given time, the gap between them would grow so wide that Zhang Ke wouldn’t even be worthy of hating him!

Had anyone ever heard of an ant hating an elephant?

After a moment’s thought, Wang Ye decided to subtly warn Wang Dan. He had memories of his “past life.”

In that life, Zhang Ke had indeed managed to win Wang Dan over, and things had taken a very unpleasant turn. Their old classmates all thought Wang Dan had been foolish to end up with such a loser.

But what was done was done. There was no changing it.

Now, however, things were different. With Wang Ye’s involvement, perhaps Wang Dan could avoid that tragic fate…

…

Unbeknownst to Wang Ye, back in his own dormitory, Zhang Ke was cursing up a storm.

“I’m so pissed! Wang Ye ruined everything! Doesn’t he have any sense? Can’t he tell I’m trying to woo a girl? He just had to crash the meal like some freeloading parasite! Like he’d starve without it! I want to kill him!”

His two roommates exchanged glances, completely clueless about what had happened.

But Zhang Ke’s tough talk was just that—talk. He didn’t dare do anything more…

Chapter 44: Quite the Bold Move

Saturday, everyone was off.

But Wang Ye had made plans with his cousin, Ruan Xiaozhu, to first visit the main dormitory at Moscow State University to get acquainted with the place. Then, they would go shopping together to buy some decent clothes.

Last night, Ruan Xiaozhu had called him, saying she had already found another distributor for Wang Ye—a girl living in the Moscow State University dormitory district. She was also a fellow townswoman.

Ruan Xiaozhu told Wang Ye to bring more phone cards, as not only did the girl want a batch, but Ruan Xiaozhu herself had almost sold out and needed to restock.

This was no problem. Wang Ye had just gotten a batch from Liu Jun, still sitting in his wallet.

Early Saturday morning, Wang Ye got up.

After washing up and fixing himself something to eat, he put on his coat and headed out.

He took a taxi again. The distance from the University of Friendship to the main building of Moscow State University wasn’t far—just two hundred rubles by taxi.

Wang Ye had been more or less influenced by his “past life.” As a poor student, he didn’t have much money, and his family wasn’t well-off. He should have been taking the bus or subway, not splurging on taxis.

But Wang Ye now believed his time was more valuable. He preferred spending a little extra on taxis rather than dealing with the hassle of public transport.

Another point was that as a “foreigner,” taking public transport here wasn’t very safe…

Not to mention the notorious skinheads—even encountering gray dogs was troublesome.

Taxis were much more convenient!

…

Today was a rare sunny day.

The sun hung in the sky, reflecting blinding light off the snow, but the temperature was even colder than on snowy days…

Soon, he arrived at Sparrow Hill, the main building of Moscow State University.

Moscow State University’s status in Russia might even surpass that of Tsinghua and Peking University in China!

After all, Tsinghua and Peking University were competitors in China.

But in Russia, no school could rival Moscow State University!

Especially in 2001 or earlier, Moscow State University was a genuine world-renowned institution.

In various authoritative rankings of world universities, Moscow State University was consistently in the top twenty or even top ten, while Tsinghua and Peking University were still struggling to break into the top hundred…

Unlike the unremarkable main building of the University of Friendship, the main campus of Moscow State University was itself a famous Russian landmark!

The main building was a grand, European palace-style structure!

Standing at 240 meters tall with 37 floors, it had over 6,000 rooms.

Built entirely of stone, it had withstood a century of wind and rain, remaining as sturdy as a mountain, though the weathered exterior revealed its age.

The main building of Moscow State University had quite the history.

This was a project personally overseen by Comrade Stalin. The stone was specially selected, and the cement contained mysterious materials.

Rumor had it that conventional methods couldn’t destroy this building!

Wang Ye had visited many times in his past life, so he was no stranger to the place.

He instructed the brunette driver to take him to the east gate, paid, and got out.

At the security booth by the entrance, he handed over his student ID and explained he was visiting a friend, which allowed him entry.

The security here was strict. Student IDs had to be left at the booth and retrieved upon leaving. No overnight stays were permitted—everyone had to be out by eleven at night.

As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, his phone rang, and he heard someone calling his name nearby.

Looking up, he saw his cousin Ruan Xiaozhu standing at the dormitory entrance, waving at him.

…

The dormitories at Moscow State University were different from those at the University of Friendship—they were much better.

Here, everything was in suites, each with two bedrooms and a bathroom, each bedroom housing one person—essentially single rooms!

Similar to Building 13 at the University of Friendship.

Of course, the rooms here were quite small, given that the buildings were from the fifties or sixties.

But for one person, it was very comfortable.

Ruan Xiaozhu lived on the eighteenth floor. She led Wang Ye to the elevator, intending to take it up.

The elevators here were different from those in China—they were decorated with wooden panels, and there was a Russian woman specifically operating the elevator.

“Eighteenth floor, thank you,” Ruan Xiaozhu said politely.

The woman “clacked” the button for the eighteenth floor but didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she waited a few minutes until there were about seven or eight people in the elevator before starting it up.

Arriving on the eighteenth floor, Wang Ye looked around after getting off the elevator.

The style here was similar to the University of Friendship dormitories, though the corridors were much longer.

Someone unfamiliar with Moscow State University would definitely get lost in these dormitories—they were just too big…

Ruan Xiaozhu led Wang Ye to her dormitory, saying as she opened the door, “Yanzi is our fellow townswoman and my classmate. She lives in the district dormitories. A couple of days ago, I talked to her about the phone cards, and she’s very interested in becoming a distributor too. She’s here today, in the room. You two can talk later.”

Opening the door, Ruan Xiaozhu called out, “Yanzi, my cousin is here.”

A girl was lying diagonally on the bed reading a book. Hearing Ruan Xiaozhu, she quickly stood up—she must be Yanzi.

“You two talk quickly. We still have to go shopping later. Oh, Wang Ye, give me some more cards—same amount as last time. I’ll probably need you to bring more next week, or maybe I should take more this time. I don’t have that much cash on hand right now; it’s all in the bank, and I’m too lazy to withdraw it,” Ruan Xiaozhu said.

She had almost sold out of her cards, and it had taken less than a week. She had made a net profit of over a hundred US dollars.

Though it wasn’t much compared to working at the Large Market, it was still decent. After all, it wasn’t tiring, and she didn’t have to get up at four or five in the morning to rush to the Large Market and stand all day in the freezing cold!

Wang Ye nodded, took out his wallet, and counted ten one-hundred-dollar cards and twenty fifty-dollar cards, handing them to Ruan Xiaozhu before receiving sixteen hundred US dollars in return.

After dealing with Ruan Xiaozhu, Wang Ye sat down and looked at Yanzi.

Yanzi seemed introverted and a little reserved in front of Wang Ye.

She sat on the edge of the bed, sneaking a glance at Wang Ye. When she noticed him looking back, she quickly lowered her head.

Wang Ye smiled. “So you’re Sister Yanzi? My cousin must have already talked to you about the phone cards?”

Yanzi nodded and softly replied, “She told me. Actually, more Chinese exchange students live in the district dormitories since the rent there is cheaper. So… so I want to take more cards back to sell.”

This was good news, and Wang Ye certainly didn’t object. He asked, “How many do you want for your first batch?”

“Uh… twice what Xiaozhu took,” Yanzi replied quickly, clearly having already thought about the amount.

Wang Ye was a little surprised. He hadn’t expected this seemingly shy girl to be so bold.

Taking over three thousand US dollars’ worth of phone cards in one go?

Wasn’t she afraid of getting stuck with them?

Chapter 45: The Shady Agency

After hesitating for a moment, Wang Ye still tactfully reminded her, “It’s your first time doing business selling phone cards. Maybe you should be a little more cautious. Taking so many might leave you stuck with them for a long time. There’s no need for that. Just take enough to sell for two weeks or a month. It’s convenient for me to come over anyway.”

Yanzi smiled slightly, pressing her lips together. “I know, but you might not realize how many Chinese students are in my dormitory area. I think this many cards will only last me a week or two.”

Wang Ye was taken aback.

He really hadn’t been to the other dormitory area at Moscow State University much before. He usually just came to the main building to hang out.

The main building was mostly home to science majors, while humanities majors mostly lived in the other dormitory area.

Originally, his cousin Ruan Xiaozhu’s major was in the humanities, but somehow she managed to get a dorm in the main building.

Yanzi was in the same class as Ruan Xiaozhu and lived in that other dormitory area.

Wang Ye had overlooked one thing: the majority of Chinese exchange students here were humanities majors…

Russian itself was one of the hardest foreign languages, and science was also difficult to study. Coming to Russia to study science was like adding difficulty on top of difficulty!

Most students didn’t have the courage to take on that challenge.

So, the real “headquarters” for Chinese exchange students at Moscow State University was in the separate dormitory area…

There was a major at Moscow State University where about half the students were Chinese exchange students: the sociology department.

Among exchange students in Russia, there was a joke: “Once you enter Moscow State University’s sociology department, you become a social person!”

It wasn’t that the major was particularly good; it was just easy to get by and easy to graduate…

The real top majors at Moscow State University, like mathematics and computer science, had almost no Chinese exchange students daring to study them.

According to the upperclassmen, there used to be Chinese students who didn’t believe in the difficulty and studied mathematics or computer science.

But reality was cruel. Over the years, the number of Chinese exchange students who graduated from the mathematics or computer science departments could be counted on one hand!

The universities here had a “easy to get in, hard to get out” policy. Every year, the doors of each department would have a list posted—those were the names of students who had been expelled…

All these factors combined meant that most Chinese exchange students here only chose humanities majors.

So, there weren’t many Chinese students in the main building of Moscow State University; most lived in the dormitory area where Yanzi was.

No wonder Yanzi was so confident, taking so many phone cards on her first try!

What more could Wang Ye say? He immediately pulled out his wallet and started counting the phone cards.

Twice as many as Ruan Xiaozhu’s…

That was twenty cards worth one hundred dollars each and forty cards worth fifty dollars each, totaling four thousand dollars in face value!

With an eighty percent wholesale discount, he collected three thousand two hundred dollars.

This trip today was really worth it. The phone cards he had just gotten from Liu Jun were almost all sold.

He successfully recovered four thousand eight hundred dollars in payment!

Later, he would ask Song Xiao Gang how his sales were going. The remaining cards could probably be taken care of by Song Xiao Gang…

Being a wholesaler was indeed much more comfortable than being a retailer. He didn’t have to run around delivering cards every day; he just needed to contact a few distributors and deliver cards to them once every week or two.

Now that Moscow State University and the University of Friendship were taken care of, he needed to quickly figure out the remaining schools.

…

Ruan Xiaozhu was in the bathroom, getting ready. Wang Ye turned his head and saw a computer on the table.

It was a desktop computer with a bulky monitor—a Sony Trinitron flat-screen display.

At that time, it was a high-end product!

An idea struck him, and he called out to the bathroom, “Sis, can your computer access the internet? Can I use it for a bit?”

Ruan Xiaozhu replied straightforwardly, “It can. Just turn it on; there’s no password.”

The internet in the main building of Moscow State University was very cheap. It was said that a monthly package was only twenty-five dollars, with unlimited data!

Of course, the internet speed wasn’t very fast, but back then, there wasn’t much to do online anyway.

It was just for chatting on QQ or browsing news and forums.

Fast internet speed wasn’t necessary.

Wang Ye wasn’t just messing around online; he wanted to contact Chinese exchange students from other schools in Moscow.

The number of Chinese exchange students at other schools couldn’t compare to Moscow State University or the University of Friendship—maybe only a hundred or so, or even just twenty…

It wasn’t worth Wang Ye’s time to visit each school individually.

But Wang Ye knew of a forum. At that time, the Xici Hutong forum was very famous in China, and it had a sub-forum for studying in Eastern Europe.

There were many Chinese students studying in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and other countries.

There were also some people preparing to study in these countries who came to ask questions.

Wang Ye planned to post there, leave his phone number, and wait for Chinese exchange students from other schools in Moscow to contact him.

This would be more efficient and save time.

…

After turning on the computer, Wang Ye skillfully opened the IE browser, entered the Xici Hutong forum, logged in, and found the Eastern Europe study abroad discussion area.

The internet wasn’t very developed back then, and forums were the most popular places online.

Places like Tianya Community, Mop Forum, Xici Hutong…

As soon as he opened the forum, he saw many posts asking about studying abroad.

“Asking seniors, are the schools in Ukraine legitimate? Is it easy to graduate?”

“Planning to go to Russia this year. With my grades, I definitely can’t get into a good university. Can any seniors introduce a university that’s cheap and legitimate? Also, which agency in China is more reliable?”

“Taking advantage of the Spring Festival break, I’ve already paid and signed up at an agency. Moscow State University, here I come, haha…”

Looking at these posts, Wang Ye smiled.

Before coming to Moscow, he often asked questions on the forum.

They were all trivial matters, like how many clothes to bring, whether the food in Moscow was to his taste, and so on.

After all, he was going to a foreign land; it was natural to feel uneasy before going.

He casually clicked on the post about someone coming to Moscow State University.

The poster detailed the fees and procedures for studying abroad through an agency, which was something people on the forum were quite concerned about.

The poster was from Northeast China and had gone through a study abroad agency in the capital. The agency fee was forty-five thousand yuan, not including tuition, accommodation, airfare, and so on…

Seeing this, Wang Ye couldn’t help but say, “That’s a rip-off!”

He was, of course, complaining about the study abroad agency that had charged so much.

Wang Ye himself had gone through an agency in the capital of the Central Plains province and only paid thirty-two thousand yuan…

He thought to himself, this guy was taken for so much money and was still posting to celebrate. It was ridiculous…

Just as he thought this, Wang Ye suddenly froze.

Chapter 46: A Lucrative Industry

Wang Ye had discovered a massive business opportunity!

That opportunity was study abroad agencies…

Around 2001, a wave of study abroad fever had begun sweeping through China.

Naturally, European and American countries were the top choices, being developed nations and all.

Among them, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand were the most popular destinations.

But the cost of studying in developed countries was naturally quite expensive.

Wang Ye’s parents had once inquired about studying in the UK, but they didn’t dare ask about the United States, because they knew without asking that the expenses would be beyond what their family could afford…

It was said that without a scholarship, the tuition for a year at a prestigious American university would cost tens of thousands of dollars…

The cost of studying in the UK was also very high.

According to the agencies, to study there, one first had to provide a bank statement showing one million yuan in savings, deposited for three years.

This sum was the financial guarantee for studying in the UK…

In fact, if one were to study for several years, this one million would likely not be enough…

Even for the relatively cheaper Japan and Germany, the first year of study would cost between one hundred fifty thousand and two hundred thousand yuan. If one could work part-time later, the expenses would be relatively less.

If one didn’t work and relied entirely on family “support,” the total cost would be several hundred thousand yuan!

Such high costs became a barrier, deterring many students and parents.

At that time, Russia was not a popular study abroad destination, and many students and parents had no opportunity to learn about it.

Moreover, the fees charged by major agencies were very high, truly heartless!

In reality, how much did the study abroad procedures actually cost?

Wang Ye knew very well. In his “previous life,” he had helped several netizens with their study abroad procedures.

He couldn’t speak for other countries, as he hadn’t handled them, but studying in Russia was incredibly simple…

All that was needed was for the applicant to have a high school diploma and a transcript, then have a translation agency translate the materials into Russian.

With these two documents, one could directly apply for an invitation letter from the foreign affairs office of the target school.

The fee for an invitation letter was generally fifty US dollars per copy.

Moreover, as long as you applied, there was no chance of the school not issuing an invitation letter.

Because each additional international student meant a substantial income for the school.

In those days, Russian universities were not well-funded, and they all relied on recruiting more international students to generate revenue. How could they refuse?

After obtaining the invitation letter, one could go to the Russian embassy in the capital for an interview, and there was no chance of being rejected.

After getting the visa, one could buy a plane ticket and fly over to enroll…

It was that simple!

And throughout the entire process, the expenses incurred, not counting tuition and airfare, did not exceed one thousand yuan…

But those agencies charged thirty to forty thousand yuan!

………………..

Wang Ye hadn’t thought of this before. He had been considering making his first fortune through phone cards and then expanding into the Large Market.

After all, the Large Market was truly a land of gold!

Now, seeing this post, a light bulb went off in his mind—he could also start a study abroad agency!

This business made money much faster than selling phone cards.

Of course, operating it would be much more troublesome than selling phone cards.

But to make money, especially big money, one shouldn’t shy away from trouble but should find ways to overcome difficulties.

If making big money were easy, it wouldn’t be his turn; the industry would already be packed…

His mind was filled with thoughts about starting a study abroad agency, and he couldn’t be bothered to post about recruiting phone card distributors.

He was thinking about what difficulties he would need to solve to do this.

…………

Sitting in the car, Ruan Xiaozhu instructed the driver to head straight to the area near Red Square. She leaned over to look at Wang Ye, who was sitting in the passenger seat, staring blankly, lost in thought.

She felt something was off about Wang Ye.

Ever since he opened his laptop and went online, he had changed.

Previously, Wang Ye had been outgoing and cheerful, but now he was silent and withdrawn…

Could this guy be heartbroken?

Did his girlfriend back home leave him a QQ message or email breaking up with him?

She thought gossipy thoughts.

After a while, seeing that Wang Ye was still like that, Ruan Xiaozhu couldn’t hold back anymore. After all, he was her “bargain cousin,” and as his older sister, she should show some concern.

She asked, “Hey! What’s wrong with you, little brother? You look like you’re heartbroken. Don’t take it too seriously. With your looks, finding a girlfriend is a piece of cake. How about I introduce Yanzi to you? She doesn’t have a boyfriend yet.”

Yanzi next to her let out an “ah” and blushed, spitting out, “Pfft! How could you… How could you… You don’t have a boyfriend either, why don’t you introduce yourself to Wang Ye?”

Ruan Xiaozhu said boldly, “I’m his older sister, even though we’re not blood-related, it still feels weird. If word gets out, people will think we’re in some kind of messed-up relationship!”

Wang Ye couldn’t take it anymore. If he let them keep talking, who knew what they would say next.

He forced a smile and explained, “What heartbreak? I’ve never even been in a relationship. What heartbreak could I have?”

This wasn’t a lie.

Wang Ye had just graduated from high school, and the school he attended was a provincial key school known for its strict discipline!

If you dared to date early, the school would definitely hold a “struggle session” against you!

How could he dare?

Back then, he was busy playing basketball, table tennis, and reading martial arts novels every day. His life was so fulfilling, he never even thought about finding a girlfriend.

“Oh right, Sister Zhu, how did you come to study abroad? Did you use an agency?” Wang Ye suddenly asked.

“Yeah, I used an agency in the capital. The agencies in our Zhongyuan Province don’t handle Moscow State University applications,” Ruan Xiaozhu replied boldly.

“How much did you pay in agency fees?” Wang Ye asked again.

Mentioning this, Ruan Xiaozhu was also a bit angry. She said indignantly, “The agency charged fifty thousand! After coming here, I realized that studying abroad is actually very simple, and there aren’t many complicated procedures to handle. But what can you do? I’m already here.”

Yanzi next to her chimed in, “I’m the same as Xiaozhu. I used the same agency, and it also cost fifty thousand.”

Wang Ye nodded. In those days, information was still quite closed off.

After spending some time in Moscow and being exposed to these things, one would realize they had been taken advantage of.

But before coming, everyone was completely unaware and thought that handling study abroad procedures was an extremely complex and “sacred” matter…

This was the information gap!

…………

After thinking all the way, as they neared the mall, Wang Ye had a rough new plan in mind!

His new idea for making his first fortune!

He would naturally continue with the phone cards, even though they didn’t make enough money or make it fast enough. But this was a steady, long-term business.

Besides phone cards, he planned to try his hand at the study abroad industry…

To experience what it was like to make a freaking fortune!

Chapter 47: The Three Major Challenges

Wang Ye was no longer the reckless eighteen-year-old he once was, even if his biological age was still eighteen…

He wouldn’t impulsively rush into the study abroad agency business.

Wang Ye understood that the industry had a relatively high barrier to entry. Operating as a personal agent, helping a few acquaintances with study abroad procedures, was manageable.

But if he wanted to expand into large-scale recruitment, that would be extremely difficult!

First, there was the issue of company qualifications—legally recruiting students domestically.

Though he hadn’t yet researched the relevant regulations, he assumed not just anyone or any company could handle study abroad agency services.

From what he knew, most domestic study abroad agencies were affiliated with universities.

Even the agency that had helped him with his own study abroad process was actually a school-run institution under a provincial university…

After resolving the qualification issue, recruitment itself was another major hurdle!

How would he reach potential students and their parents to make them aware of his agency?

This was 2001, after all. The internet wasn’t widespread, and older people rarely used it. Younger students didn’t have much access to the web either.

Online promotion was out of the question—it would be ineffective.

Traditional advertising channels—television, newspapers, magazines—were the only options.

But advertising costs through these channels were astronomical!

Did he have that kind of money?

Or, even if he did, would he be willing to spend so much on advertising?

And after spending all that money, would he even recover the costs?

Moreover, while many in China admired the West, their admiration was directed toward North America and Western Europe. Russia wasn’t included in that admiration…

How could he make students and their parents see the benefits of studying in Russia and convince them to open their wallets?

This was another huge problem!

…

Company qualifications, promotion, recruitment—these were the three major challenges of running a study abroad agency, now standing before Wang Ye.

An ordinary person would likely be discouraged by these obstacles.

But Wang Ye wasn’t. Instead, he grew more excited.

Perhaps he was born with a “gambler’s spirit.” Otherwise, in his past life, he wouldn’t have taken all his savings—and even borrowed a large sum—to dive headfirst into the stock market…

Wang Ye believed in one principle: high risk brought high reward!

The more difficult the industry, the greater the potential profits!

Given his current situation, with limited capital, starting a study abroad agency might be the best choice!

Low investment, high return…

He could think of many profitable industries, but they all required substantial capital.

However, even a proper study abroad agency would require at least two to three hundred thousand yuan in investment.

That would be around thirty thousand US dollars?

Where would he get that kind of money…

…

Lost in thought, he heard Ruan Xiaozhu calling him.

“Hey, what are you thinking about? You almost bumped into someone. Let’s check out this store. For guys like you, sportswear is more suitable.”

She pointed to a nearby Reebok store, signaling for Wang Ye to follow her inside.

Today’s shopping trip was mainly to buy clothes for Wang Ye.

Wang Ye looked around. This was the famous “Underground Mall.” He didn’t know its official name, but everyone called it that.

The mall was entirely located underground near Red Square, hence the name.

It was currently Moscow’s most upscale mall, filled with luxury brands.

A few sports brands like Nike, Adidas, Reebok, and Puma were probably the most affordable brands in the mall…

Though these sports brands weren’t expensive, they were popular and sold well, so high-end malls were happy to carry them.

Given Wang Ye’s financial situation, he didn’t need to look at other luxury brands. Buying a sports brand down jacket would suffice.

No longer thinking about the study abroad agency, Wang Ye smiled and said, “Let’s take a look. Just buy one casually. I’m not at the stage where I need to worry about my image yet.”

Indeed, even if clothes made the man, one needed a thick wallet to “dress up.”

Wang Ye couldn’t even afford to “dress up” right now!

Inside the bright and spacious store, racks displayed a dazzling array of clothing styles.

Reebok was an old brand. Compared to Adidas and Nike, its clothes leaned more toward fashion and less toward sports.

Naturally, Wang Ye and Ruan Xiaozhu headed straight to the down jacket section. After browsing through the options, Ruan Xiaozhu casually picked up a dark blue down jacket and said, “This one looks good. The style is slim-fitting, and with your fair skin, you’d look great in dark colors.”

After trying it on, it indeed looked much better than what Wang Ye was currently wearing.

The price wasn’t too high—less than two hundred dollars—and Wang Ye could afford it.

He asked the salesperson to find the right size, paid, and his task was complete.

He thought they would head back, but Ruan Xiaozhu and Yanzi had no intention of leaving. They enthusiastically began browsing through each store.

Wang Ye had no choice but to follow behind, carrying the bag and accompanying them.

Girls’ love for shopping was simply innate!

Though they didn’t buy much, just browsing, looking, and touching made them happy.

They had lunch at a McDonald’s inside the mall.

In Moscow, McDonald’s was still very popular.

In 1990, when the first McDonald’s opened in Moscow, the scene…

It was said to be even more exaggerated than when the first McDonald’s opened in China. Back then, waiting seven or eight hours in line to get a hamburger was considered normal…

By 2001, things had calmed down.

After lunch, Wang Ye hurriedly suggested they return, as he had things to do in the afternoon.

Coincidentally, someone called Ruan Xiaozhu to buy phone cards.

Though reluctant, Ruan Xiaozhu had to head back…

…

Back at the University of Friendship dormitory, it was already past three in the afternoon.

Song Xiao Gang was in the dorm.

Seeing Wang Ye return, he smiled and said, “Ye Ge, do you have any phone cards left? I’ve sold most of mine and want to get more.”

Wang Ye checked his wallet and found only a one-thousand-dollar card left. Ruan Xiaozhu and Yanzi had taken too many.

The two of them had taken six thousand dollars’ worth of cards…

“There’s only this much left. Take it and sell it.” Wang Ye took out all the cards and handed them to Song Xiao Gang.

Curiously, he asked, “Are phone cards selling that well? You took a lot last time, and you sold out in less than a week?”

Song Xiao Gang’s business was doing better than Wang Ye had expected…

Chapter 48: A Prodigy

After Wang Ye started dealing with phone cards, he had sold them for a few days himself, which consumed a portion of the customers. Then, Song Xiao Gang took over, and in just a few days, he had sold almost all the remaining cards?

“Yeah, I’ve been going to every dormitory these past few days. Besides the posters I put up in the lobby, whenever I see a Chinese student, whether I know them or not, I tell them I have phone cards for sale at a cheap price,” Song Xiao Gang said, a little embarrassed.

This made Wang Ye look at him in a new light.

Doing business, especially small-scale business, really required Song Xiao Gang’s kind of spirit! Not afraid of hard work, not bothered by inconvenience, and not concerned about face. This was something Wang Ye himself hadn’t done as well…

When Wang Ye had sold phone cards before, he had just put up a promotional poster in each dormitory building and waited for customers to come to him. But Song Xiao Gang had gone the extra mile by going door-to-door to sell!

No wonder the sales were better.

He patted Song Xiao Gang on the shoulder and praised him, “You’re something else! You’ve got talent. You’ll definitely make big money in business in the future.”

“Hehe, making big money is too much to hope for. Selling these phone cards to earn some living expenses and ease the burden on my family is enough for me,” Song Xiao Gang said with a smile.

He was indeed satisfied.

In these few days, by selling phone cards, he had earned almost two hundred dollars! It hadn’t even been a week, and he had earned so much money, enough for two months of living expenses!

If this trend continued, even if business wasn’t as good in the future, he could still earn two or three thousand dollars a year. His living expenses, and even his tuition, could be earned by himself!

His father worked hard in China, earning only two or three thousand yuan a month. But he, just by using his free time after school, could earn almost as much as his father.

How could Song Xiao Gang not be satisfied with such a good thing?

Of course, he was also very grateful to Wang Ye. Wang Ye could have done this business himself, and it wouldn’t have taken much time. But Wang Ye had given it to him without hesitation, allowing him to earn this money.

Although Wang Ye had said he was too busy, Song Xiao Gang had always believed that Wang Ye was looking out for him. Wang Ye knew that his family’s financial situation wasn’t great, so he gave him the opportunity to earn money, while also considering his self-respect and not saying it outright…

As he handed the cards to Song Xiao Gang, Wang Ye said, “By the way, Xiao Gang, tomorrow afternoon I’m inviting my Russian teacher to dinner. Could you be the chef and make a few good dishes? Russians can’t handle spicy food, so try not to make the dishes too spicy.”

Song Xiao Gang listened with interest and asked, “The Russian teacher, isn’t it Alyona? I remember she’s your teacher.”

Wang Ye nodded, “Yes, who else could it be?”

Song Xiao Gang’s eyes widened, and after a moment of stunned silence, he gave a thumbs-up.

He shook his head in admiration and said, “Ye Ge is Ye Ge, you can’t help but admire him! Alyona is famous among us Chinese exchange students. She’s universally recognized as the most beautiful girl at the University of Friendship! Everyone who has seen her says she looks exactly like the Chinese ideal of beauty. The Russian students think she’s only pretty but not a top-tier beauty. That’s the difference between Eastern and Western aesthetics. Ye Ge, have you won her over?”

Wang Ye laughed, “What do you mean by ‘won her over’? We’re just pure teacher and student. I’m just inviting her to dinner and a chat on the weekend.”

Song Xiao Gang sighed again. This was the advantage of being good at Russian. Other Chinese boys might have the “guts” to pursue Alyona, but they couldn’t act on it because of the language barrier…

He patted his chest and said, “Leave it to me! Tomorrow morning I’ll go to the supermarket to buy ingredients. I’ll show you my skills and won’t let you lose face, Ye Ge.”

…

After giving the remaining cards to Song Xiao Gang, Wang Ye’s hands were empty again…

Seeing that it was still early, he called Liu Jun.

Liu Jun answered the phone and immediately said with a smile, “You’re not going to tell me the cards are sold out again, are you? What’s up? Just say it.”

This second batch of cards, Wang Ye had only had them for three or four days? It was absolutely impossible to sell them all so quickly!

Liu Jun thought Wang Ye was calling about something else.

“Ah? It’s true, the cards are sold out. I found two distributors at Moscow State University, and the students at the University of Friendship took them all. So I need to trouble you again, Liu Ge, to send some more cards. Also, I have something else I want to ask your opinion about. Let’s talk in person,” Wang Ye replied with a smile.

After hearing this, Liu Jun was silent for a long time.

“Hello? Liu Ge, are you still there?” Wang Ye thought there was a problem with the phone and asked.

“I’m here! Alright, I’ll come over right away. I’ll call you when I get there. Let’s talk in person!” Liu Jun said very decisively.

Wang Ye had given him too many surprises!

The first time they met to discuss the phone card agency, Wang Ye had impressed Liu Jun, who thought he was outstanding among his peers. But the next two times, each time was more shocking than the last.

Not to mention Wang Ye’s peers, even those “old hands in Moscow” who had been there for over ten years couldn’t compare to Wang Ye…

This boy…

No, he should be called a man, because Liu Jun could no longer think of Wang Ye as an eighteen-year-old boy. He had to ignore his age.

This was simply a “prodigy”!

…

Same old place, the bar under Building Seven.

It was still early, so they didn’t eat anything, just ordered two glasses of draft beer and a plate of dried fruit.

Liu Jun looked at Wang Ye as if he didn’t recognize him, staring at him for a long time without saying a word.

Wang Ye felt a little uneasy and waved his hand in front of Liu Jun, smiling, “Liu Ge, what’s wrong with you? Do I have something dirty on my face?”

Liu Jun sighed and shook his head, saying, “Ah! I finally understand that saying, ‘The waves behind drive on those before, and the waves before are dashed on the sand.’ I’ve been in Moscow for over ten years, but compared to you, these years have been wasted! You say you’re selling phone cards, but I, the general distributor, haven’t sold as many as you, the distributor. It’s too damaging to my self-esteem!”

Of course, Liu Jun was joking.

Even if Wang Ye sold more, Liu Jun would only be happy because it meant he could earn more money too. After all, Wang Ye’s cards all came from him…

After finishing, Liu Jun picked up his draft beer and took a big gulp.

Before he could swallow, he heard Wang Ye say, “Liu Ge, I want to start a proper study abroad agency!”

“Pfft! Cough cough…” Liu Jun almost choked to death, his face turning red.

He hastily grabbed a napkin to wipe his mouth, took a breath, and asked incredulously, “What? What do you want to do?”

Chapter 49: I Can Handle Every Step

“Study abroad agencies—they’re the organizations that recruit students from China to study in Russia,” Wang Ye explained again.

Liu Jun, of course, knew what study abroad agencies did!

He just couldn’t believe what Wang Ye had just said. Wang Ye had told him before that he had come to study abroad through an agency himself.

It had been less than a month since he arrived, and now he wanted to start his own study abroad agency?!

Even just selling phone cards had left Liu Jun in awe of Wang Ye’s abilities, but running a study abroad agency was far more complicated than selling phone cards!

Could Wang Ye really pull it off?

Or was he underestimating how difficult it would be to run a study abroad agency…

“You need to understand that handling one or two students coming to study abroad is simple, and the relevant domestic departments won’t interfere. But if you want to recruit students on a large scale, you need the proper qualifications. It’s very complicated to set up!” Liu Jun warned.

He was afraid Wang Ye was confusing the concepts!

After so many years in Moscow, Liu Jun naturally knew that coming to study abroad was actually quite simple in terms of procedures and costs. There was no need to go through an agency.

He had even helped relatives and friends’ children with the process a few times, and it wasn’t much trouble.

But he had never considered starting his own study abroad agency. Did that mean he didn’t know how profitable the industry was?

No!

It was just that he knew he couldn’t handle the qualifications, recruitment, and other aspects required by domestic agencies. That kind of money wasn’t easy to earn!

“I know all that. I’m talking about a legitimate study abroad agency that can openly recruit students. Don’t worry, Liu Ge, let’s talk it through slowly,” Wang Ye explained with a smile. He had expected Liu Jun to react this way.

“You know? And you still dare to set up a legitimate study abroad agency! Let me tell you, to register a study abroad agency in China, you must have a proper university backing you—meaning you have to rely on a university recognized by the Ministry of Education. How are you going to solve that?” Liu Jun was so frustrated he almost laughed.

Had Wang Ye gotten too confident?

Did he really think setting up a study abroad agency was as simple as selling phone cards…

Wang Ye smiled slightly, full of confidence. “There’s a college in our city that was just upgraded to a university last year. It’s only a second-tier university, but it’s a legitimate one. Coincidentally, my uncle is the director of admissions there. With that connection, I should be able to affiliate the agency with that school.”

No guts, no glory!

Wang Ye wasn’t recklessly jumping into the study abroad agency business just because he saw the potential for huge profits.

He had considered his own situation and believed he had a chance to make it work!

In addition to his uncle, Wang Ye’s family had other connections that could help him establish relationships with a university in the provincial capital.

At the end of the day, families who could send their children abroad to study, even if it was just to Russia, weren’t exactly struggling financially…

Perhaps Wang Ye’s family wasn’t particularly wealthy, but his extended family had a complex network of relationships. In their small hometown, they had connections in various industries.

Liu Jun’s expression froze. He hadn’t expected Wang Ye to actually solve the first major hurdle.

But he still wasn’t convinced. “Even if you can affiliate your agency with a proper university, where will the startup capital come from? To set up a legitimate agency, you need an office, registration fees, staff—let alone advertising costs later. The initial preparation alone will cost several hundred thousand, right?”

At the end of the day, business required capital. There weren’t many opportunities to make something out of nothing.

Several hundred thousand yuan in 2001 was a fortune for most people!

Liu Jun didn’t believe Wang Ye could come up with that much money.

He had only been selling phone cards for a short time and had earned at most one or two thousand US dollars. That was nowhere near enough.

Wang Ye remained calm. “I’ve done some rough calculations. Setting up a study abroad agency here in Moscow is quite simple. A friend helped me with the process a few days ago, and the whole thing cost only one or two thousand US dollars.

As for the office space and staff, I can find a way to handle that without spending money!

Then, using this Moscow-based study abroad agency, we can partner with the university back home. They can handle the recruitment, and we can give them a commission for each student.

That way, we can avoid most of the domestic expenses, and we won’t even need to advertise or recruit students ourselves.

Of course, even then, some necessary expenses can’t be avoided.

I estimate that with thirty thousand US dollars, we can get this up and running!”

Liu Jun was completely stunned.

Because he realized that, according to Wang Ye’s explanation, this didn’t seem that difficult…

Wang Ye had already figured out every step!

After thinking for a long time, Liu Jun found he had no more objections. He asked dejectedly, “Since you’ve thought it all through and can solve all the problems, why are you asking me?”

At that moment, he was filled with frustration.

He thought he was doing pretty well for himself—having lived in Moscow for over a decade, fluent in Russian, with a wide network of connections.

But no matter what he did, it was always small-scale, and he hadn’t made much money!

Now look at Wang Ye. He had only been in Moscow for a month and was already planning to start a big business!

If this study abroad agency succeeded, honestly, Liu Jun wouldn’t be able to compare to Wang Ye at all…

Could he not feel discouraged…

“Haha, since I’m discussing this with you, Liu Ge, I actually want you to join me. Once this gets going, there will be a lot of details to handle—someone needs to run back and forth and coordinate with people back home. Also, I want to organize some teachers from Moscow State University and the University of Friendship to go back to China and give lectures. This will require manpower, and I can’t handle it all alone. What do you say? Let’s do this together!” Wang Ye said with a smile.

His purpose in talking to Liu Jun about this wasn’t to ask for his opinion but to bring Liu Jun on board.

As he said, once the study abroad agency was up and running, there would be a lot of details to manage.

A business worth millions, even tens of millions, wasn’t simple…

They would need someone experienced, familiar with both Moscow and China, to handle the specifics. Liu Jun was the perfect candidate!

Liu Jun was immediately tempted.

Because he understood that if this study abroad agency really took off, it would be far more profitable than selling phone cards!

After hesitating for a moment, he asked, “So what are the conditions for me to join? How much do I need to invest? What kind of share can I get?”

This was a very practical and important question.

If Wang Ye didn’t let him invest but just wanted him to help out.

Or if he only offered him a job with a low salary, then what was the point?

But if he could invest, then it involved contributions and shares, which needed to be discussed in advance.

Even brothers settled accounts clearly, and he and Wang Ye had only known each other for a short time—they weren’t that close…

Chapter 50: Only Ten Percent?

Wang Ye replied calmly, “Ten thousand dollars for the position of company general manager, with a salary of two thousand dollars. If the company performs well later, we can raise it. As for shares… ten percent!”

The conditions Wang Ye offered were quite favorable.

Ten thousand dollars was something Liu Jun could manage without too much difficulty.

The position was high—general manager, no less!

But the shares seemed a bit low…

So Liu Jun pressed further, “How much total investment is the company planning? Ten thousand dollars? That seems a bit much.”

He reasoned that if he invested ten thousand dollars and only got ten percent, the total investment must be a hundred thousand dollars.

That was no small sum!

Wang Ye shook his head and smiled. “I already said, the initial investment only needs to be thirty thousand dollars. The study abroad agency isn’t a capital-heavy industry; it doesn’t require that much investment.”

Liu Jun didn’t understand. He grumbled, “If the total investment is thirty thousand dollars and I’m putting in a third, shouldn’t I get thirty-three percent? Why only ten percent?”

When personal interests were involved, no one was careless. The accounts had to be clear.

Faced with Liu Jun’s questioning, Wang Ye remained composed.

He explained leisurely, “In terms of monetary investment, you’re putting in a third, but intangible contributions also count toward the shares. Running this business isn’t just about money! For example, I’ll be handling the office space, connections with domestic universities, and implementing recruitment and promotion—things that thirty thousand dollars can’t cover. So, these intangible assets naturally factor into the shares.”

After hearing this, Liu Jun was left speechless again.

He had long stopped underestimating Wang Ye, but the more he interacted with him, the more he felt he had still underestimated him…

This wasn’t some eighteen-year-old who hadn’t even graduated yet—this was a seasoned businessman!

Of course, he didn’t know that Wang Ye had indeed spent many years in the business world… in his past life.

Frowning, Liu Jun pondered seriously for a long time, weighing the pros and cons.

His current job was stable, with decent pay—around fifteen hundred to sixteen hundred dollars a month.

There wasn’t much room for advancement in the short term, which was why he had resorted to selling phone cards for extra income.

But the job was stable…

The “general manager” position Wang Ye offered came with a base salary of two thousand dollars, which was better than his current job, but whether it would actually work out was uncertain. There was risk involved.

As for the ten thousand dollar investment, that wasn’t a big deal. Whether he joined Wang Ye’s new company or not, he was willing to put in the money.

After much deliberation, he hesitantly said, “How about this… I’ll invest the money first, then see how things go with your company. Once you’ve secured the office space and those so-called free employees, I’ll come over. After all, I need to handle the transition at my current job before I can leave.”

He was leaving himself an out, wanting to observe the situation first!

If Wang Ye could deliver on what he promised, even just part of it, then it would be worth taking the risk!

What he wanted to see was Wang Ye setting up the company’s framework first. Then he could resign and join with much less risk.

He couldn’t just quit his job before anything was even set up…

Wang Ye clearly understood his thoughts and nodded with a smile. “Alright, I’ll get things moving. It should take about a week or two. Then I’ll invite you to visit our new company! There might even be a new shareholder by then—I’ll introduce you.”

…

This time, Wang Ye took another seven thousand dollars’ worth of phone cards, meaning Liu Jun received another five thousand dollars in payment.

Normally, this would be good news, but as he left, there wasn’t much of a smile on his face. Instead, he was deep in thought.

All he could think about was the study abroad agency Wang Ye had mentioned…

On one hand, he really hoped Wang Ye could make it happen. If he did, Liu Jun would definitely jump ship. After all, he would be a shareholder in the company.

Working for someone else could never compare to working for yourself.

But on the other hand, he subconsciously didn’t want to see Wang Ye succeed…

It was contradictory, but that’s how he felt.

Jealousy?

Maybe a little.

After all, when he first met Wang Ye, he was just an ordinary young man who had come to Moscow looking to buy phone cards from him to make some pocket money.

But now, in the blink of an eye, Wang Ye was about to become his boss?

No one could accept that so quickly.

…

After meeting with Liu Jun, Wang Ye strolled back to his dormitory and made another call.

“Xiao Hu, are you in the dorm?”

He was contacting the rich second-generation Xiao Hu, Zhou Yuan’s roommate.

“Yeah, Ye Ge, what’s up?” Xiao Hu replied cheerfully.

“Mm, make a bit more for dinner. I’m coming over to mooch off you. We can eat and talk,” Wang Ye said without hesitation.

Mooching off someone so boldly was rare…

“Got it! Come by around six, Ye Ge. I’ll whip up a couple of dishes,” Xiao Hu agreed straightforwardly.

Wang Ye had done him a huge favor!

It wasn’t just about one meal—even if he came every day to eat, as long as Xiao Hu had time, he wouldn’t refuse.

…

By around six o’clock, Wang Ye, dressed in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt, grabbed his wallet and phone and left the dormitory.

Since he wasn’t going outside, there was no need to worry about the cold.

Passing by the small shop in the lobby, Wang Ye went in and bought a few cans of beer, putting them in a plastic bag before heading to Zhou Yuan and Xiao Hu’s dormitory.

Old Zhou was also in the room, busy setting the table and moving chairs. Clearly, upon hearing that Wang Ye was coming over for dinner, he had joined in.

Seeing Wang Ye enter, Zhou Yuan looked up and smiled. “You’re doing well for yourself—free meals everywhere. I heard Wang Dan and Li Xiao Yun took you out to eat the other day, but then you ended up offending Zhang Ke again. Haha…”

Wang Ye shrugged it off with a smile. “They were kind enough to invite me. I couldn’t refuse. As for offending Zhang Ke, that just shows he’s too petty! A grown man acting like an old woman—what a joke.”

As they chatted, Xiao Hu burst in with two plates of food.

“Ye Ge’s here? Let’s eat! Today, you’ll get to try some of Hu Jian’s specialties!”

The three of them sat down.

Wang Ye took a look—the dishes did look good. Xiao Hu had prepared them with color, aroma, and flavor.

But today’s focus wasn’t on the food. He had something important to discuss with Xiao Hu…

Chapter 51: The Third Shareholder

After a few bites, Wang Ye put down his chopsticks and asked Xiao Hu, “How’s the setup for your family’s company going?”

“Pretty smoothly,” Xiao Hu replied cheerfully. “The office space is already rented. Alexander said he’ll quit his job and join us as soon as the company paperwork is done.”

“Is it that big office on the fifth floor? Isn’t that a bit too large?” Wang Ye asked.

“Yeah, four hundred square meters—it is a bit big,” Xiao Hu admitted casually. “But it’s fine. We can set up a hundred-square-meter showroom and use the remaining three hundred as office space.”

“When’s the grand opening? I’ll send a flower basket to join the fun,” Wang Ye joked.

Xiao Hu thought for a moment. “The bulk shipments probably won’t arrive until May or June. Customs clearance takes forever, but we can get the company up and running earlier.”

His family was going the legitimate route with customs, which meant slower processing. A single shipment from China to Russia, including clearance, took at least three months. That was why most vendors at the Large Market avoided official channels—they couldn’t afford the delay.

But Xiao Hu’s family was building a brand, so they had no choice but to follow proper procedures. Time lost was time lost; there was no way around it.

“That means your office will be sitting empty for months. I’ve got a business idea that could make use of that time. Interested?” Wang Ye finally got to the point.

At the mention of business, Xiao Hu perked up. Maybe it was the local environment, but the people of Hu Jian had a knack for trade—it was in their blood.

“Business? Tell me more, Ye Ge!” Xiao Hu said eagerly.

“Here’s the idea: I want to start a study abroad agency. We’d recruit students from China to study here. It’d be a legitimate operation, partnering with universities back home…” Wang Ye repeated what he had just discussed with Liu Jun.

Xiao Hu and Zhou Yuan were stunned.

A study abroad agency? Partnering with Chinese universities? That sounded huge…

“Whoa, Ye Ge, you’re thinking big! That must take a lot of money!” Xiao Hu exclaimed.

Wang Ye smiled calmly. “Not as much as you think. I’ve done the math—about thirty thousand U.S. dollars should get it off the ground. After all, a study abroad agency isn’t a capital-heavy industry.”

“But how do you get Chinese universities on board? Why would they work with you instead of doing it themselves?” Xiao Hu cut to the chase.

Indeed, why wouldn’t universities just set up their own agencies?

“Ah, you don’t know how it works,” Wang Ye said meaningfully. “Some Chinese universities don’t have the guts or the connections abroad. They might not even know how to handle the paperwork. But if a foreign agency approaches them with proper authorization, they’d jump at the chance. It’s good for business, good for their reputation—win-win!”

It was 2001, after all. China had only recently opened up to the world. Many universities had no idea how to navigate international education. Take Wang Ye’s uncle’s second-tier university, for example—stuck in a poor city with no exchange students and no foreign partnerships. Could they run a study abroad agency? They wouldn’t dare.

But if a legitimate foreign agency came knocking with authorization from prestigious schools abroad? That would be a dream come true—profitable and prestigious. Who wouldn’t want in?

Of course, Wang Ye kept these thoughts to himself. He simply said he’d handle everything in China—partnerships, recruitment, the works. The key was establishing a proper agency in Moscow.

Xiao Hu was hooked. He might not know the industry, but he knew this was a goldmine. A few thousand dollars per student? Hundreds of students? The numbers were staggering.

He stopped eating, eyes fixed on Wang Ye. “So thirty thousand dollars gets it started? And you’re telling me this because…?”

Xiao Hu wasn’t naive. If Wang Ye was bringing this up, he clearly wanted him in.

Sure enough, Wang Ye replied, “I’ve already got one shareholder—a guy who’s been in Moscow for over a decade with plenty of connections. He can handle day-to-day operations. But we still need startup capital. And your family’s new office? Perfect for our front. We don’t even need to renovate—just slap another sign outside.”

That was the real reason Wang Ye wanted Xiao Hu involved. Not just for the money, but for the office space. It was sitting empty anyway. One building, two companies—why not?

Renting a decent office in Moscow wasn’t cheap. But without one, dealing with Chinese universities or hosting their officials would be tough.

Xiao Hu stared at Wang Ye, speechless. Zhou Yuan chuckled, “I’m impressed, Wang Ye. Are you sure you’re not from a business family? You’ve got this all figured out—even saving on office space by using Xiao Hu’s. Got to admit, that’s smart!”

“Ha, just avoiding waste,” Wang Ye laughed. “When you’re starting out, every penny counts.”

Xiao Hu nodded firmly. “I’m in. Your plan’s solid. But I’ve got to be upfront—I don’t have any connections in China’s education sector. Can’t help there. As for the Moscow office, no problem. Early on, my family’s staff can even pitch in with the agency work. How much do you need from me, and what’s the share?”

Chapter 52: I’ll Cover the Risk

Seeing Xiao Hu agree so readily, Wang Ye smiled.

This was naturally within his expectations.

Since Xiao Hu’s family was in business, how could they not be tempted by a venture that required little investment but promised high returns?

So, it was only natural for Xiao Hu to get involved.

Wang Ye raised one finger, thought for a moment, then raised another.

He said, “If you invest another ten to twenty thousand US dollars, including the office space, you can get ten to twenty percent of the agency’s shares!”

This condition was similar to what Wang Ye had discussed with Liu Jun.

The difference was that Liu Jun had to provide “manpower,” while Xiao Hu was providing the venue.

Xiao Hu hesitated for a moment, not agreeing immediately. Instead, he checked the time and said to Wang Ye, “Ye Ge, I can’t decide this on my own. I need to discuss it with my family. It’s not too late yet, so I’ll call them right away. Wait for me a moment.”

Wang Ye nodded and casually said, “The study abroad business is mainly concentrated in the first half of the year. Basically, by April or May, we should see profits. I estimate that this year we can recruit at least a hundred exchange students, with a gross profit of over two million yuan!”

He was helping Xiao Hu firm up his confidence.

Of course, these figures weren’t just empty talk from Wang Ye.

Honestly, recruiting a hundred students wouldn’t even require nationwide recruitment. Just his hometown region alone could handle it!

These days, there were already many wealthy families. Just in the high school he attended, there were many children from affluent families!

Plus, the cost of studying in Russia wasn’t high, so even more families could afford it.

Hearing Wang Ye’s words, Xiao Hu’s eyes lit up, and he nodded heavily. “I understand. I’ll call my family right away.”

…

Xiao Hu took his phone and went out to the corridor to make the call. Only Wang Ye and Zhou Yuan remained in the room.

Zhou Yuan looked at Wang Ye, shaking his head with a complex expression.

“What’s wrong, Class Monitor? Why are you looking at me like that?” Wang Ye asked with a smile.

“I feel like you’re not a high school graduate at all! Wang Ye, are you twenty-eight… no, thirty-eight, but just look young? Haha…” As he spoke, Zhou Yuan laughed at his own words.

Because even he felt it was absurd…

“Well, poor kids have to grow up fast. I just want to earn some living expenses. After all, my family doesn’t have a gold mine.” Wang Ye joked.

The news about Zhou Yuan’s family having a gold mine had long been circulating among their classmates.

“Don’t mention it. That broken mine doesn’t earn much in a year. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here. By the way, can I invest in your company…” Zhou Yuan was also getting a little restless.

He couldn’t come up with a lot of money, but five thousand US dollars or so wasn’t a problem.

After listening to Wang Ye’s description, Zhou Yuan also felt that this business was a sure win!

Since he had encountered such a good opportunity, how could he not try to get involved?

What if he made a fortune…

Wang Ye frowned slightly and shook his head apologetically. “The company already has three shareholders, and we also need to cooperate with domestic universities. There might not be enough shares to go around. Also, to invest in the company, just having money isn’t enough. Each of us shareholders brings resources.”

Wang Ye didn’t hesitate to reject Zhou Yuan, just as he had said.

To invest in his study abroad agency, just contributing money wasn’t enough. One had to bring resources!

Wang Ye himself didn’t need to be mentioned. He was orchestrating the entire plan, and the later recruitment and promotional work couldn’t do without him. He also had resources in the domestic education industry.

This was the most crucial thing for running a study abroad agency!

Liu Jun was an “old hand in Moscow,” with many connections in Moscow. His Russian was excellent, and he had rich work experience.

Xiao Hu could provide a spacious and beautiful office space, helping the company maintain its image. He could even have his family’s company employees “pose” as study abroad agency staff…

So, Wang Ye, Liu Jun, and Xiao Hu were the best partners. Zhou Yuan joining in would just be redundant.

Rejected by Wang Ye, Zhou Yuan didn’t get angry. He understood that he couldn’t really help much, just contribute some money.

Clearly, Wang Ye’s side probably didn’t have much of a funding problem and wasn’t short on money.

…

Xiao Hu’s phone call took a while. Wang Ye and Zhou Yuan each finished two cans of beer, and their stomachs were full before Xiao Hu pushed the door and came back in.

With a joyful expression, he put down his phone and, without even eating, directly told Wang Ye, “It’s done! My family said they can invest twenty thousand US dollars, and the office space is no problem. They can allocate a hundred square meters specifically for the study abroad agency. In that case, how much of the shares can my family get?”

Obviously, the share issue was what Xiao Hu’s family cared about the most.

Wang Ye didn’t hesitate and straightforwardly said, “Your family can get twenty percent of the shares!”

Xiao Hu frowned and muttered to himself, “Twenty percent… plus that ten percent… that leaves…”

He glanced at Wang Ye and asked with a half-smile, “My family invests twenty thousand dollars, and the other shareholder invests ten thousand dollars. That’s enough for the startup capital. Does that mean you, Ye Ge, don’t need to invest any money? But you still get seventy percent of the shares?”

This way, Wang Ye was indeed getting the biggest advantage!

It was like not investing a single cent but taking the largest share!

Xiao Hu’s words clearly showed some dissatisfaction.

Facing Xiao Hu’s challenge, Wang Ye didn’t mind at all. He smiled.

He replied, “Without me, this wouldn’t be possible!

You should think of it this way: with just an investment of twenty thousand US dollars and a little extra office space, in less than half a year, you can get a minimum profit of four hundred thousand yuan!

And twenty percent of the shares in a mature, large-scale, formal study abroad agency!

Is that a good deal?”

“That’s a great deal!” Zhou Yuan next to him blurted out.

“But, can it really go that smoothly? What if it doesn’t work out!” Xiao Hu wasn’t swayed by Wang Ye’s words and instead asked a sharp question.

Yes, even if Wang Ye described the prospects as bright, what if it didn’t work out…

If it really went as Wang Ye said, then Wang Ye did deserve to not invest a single cent and take the majority of the shares because he had the ability to lead everyone to make big money!

If it didn’t work out, then Wang Ye wouldn’t have any losses. The losses would be borne by Xiao Hu’s family and the other shareholder…

This question had to be clarified first.

“Doesn’t work out? If the study abroad agency doesn’t go smoothly or the profits don’t meet expectations, you can all withdraw your shares. Whatever money you invested, you can take back!” Wang Ye replied very straightforwardly.

Not investing money but taking the most shares, Wang Ye also had to make promises to the other shareholders.

That was, he would cover the biggest risk…

Chapter 53: Even a Secretary Would Do

Hearing Wang Ye say this, Xiao Hu was completely reassured.

He didn’t ask whether Wang Ye could actually afford the twenty thousand US dollars, because Wang Ye was still in the phone card business, and it was said to be doing quite well.

He might not be making a fortune, but twenty thousand US dollars should still be manageable.

After all, the study abroad agency business didn’t require a huge amount of capital.

Twenty thousand US dollars was just a drop in the bucket for Xiao Hu’s family…

“Alright! Then I’ll follow you, Ye Ge. This investment will be under my name. I’ll have my family wire the money over in the next two or three days. Once it arrives, we’ll get started!” Xiao Hu said readily.

Back then, international wire transfers were quite troublesome.

They usually used “Western Union,” a service only available at the Agricultural Bank of China.

With Liu Jun and Xiao Hu settled, the study abroad agency was basically a done deal.

They had the money, the people, and the location—now they just needed to push forward quickly.

After dinner, Wang Ye chatted idly for a bit before returning to his dormitory.

………………

It was a little past eight in the evening.

The dormitory building was still lively. The hallway bustled with people—some on the phone, others chatting or smoking—all kinds of noises rising and falling.

Wang Ye lay diagonally on his bed, propped up by his bedding, engrossed in a book.

Xiao Hei sat at the desk, diligently studying Russian, while Song Xiao Gang had run off again to deliver phone cards.

Just as Wang Ye was deeply absorbed in his book, someone suddenly burst in.

“Wang Ye!”

Wang Ye turned his head and saw it was Nalan Yaqi. What was this girl doing here?

He furrowed his brow, set down his book, and stood up with a smile. “What’s up? Need something?”

Nalan Yaqi approached Wang Ye, tilting her head up to ask, “I heard you’re starting a company to run a study abroad agency?”

Wang Ye rubbed his forehead, utterly exasperated. How had this news spread so quickly?

He asked, annoyed, “Who told you that?”

“Old Zhou, of course. I just ran into him in the hallway, and he told me you’re starting a company, setting up a study abroad agency, and that it’s going to be big!” Nalan Yaqi said eagerly.

Of course, it was that guy Old Zhou!

But this wasn’t exactly a secret, so Wang Ye answered frankly, “It’s true, but we’ve only just gotten started. Nothing’s officially launched yet.”

Nalan Yaqi pouted, giving Wang Ye a disdainful look. “Don’t play dumb. I heard you’ve already secured two investors and even settled on a location. How about this—let me join too. I don’t have much, but I can pull together five or six thousand US dollars.”

So, she had rushed over in a hurry just to invest in the study abroad agency.

Wang Ye chuckled. “Did Zhou Yuan tell you that he wanted to invest too, but I turned him down?”

This was his way of subtly discouraging Nalan Yaqi…

After all, this was clearly a lucrative business. Why would Wang Ye want so many investors?

Was he planning to split the profits?

The only reason he had brought in Liu Jun and Xiao Hu was because they both had resources that could help the study abroad agency.

Others didn’t need to get involved just yet.

He hadn’t even told his cousin, Ruan Xiaozhu, about it, let alone Zhou Yuan or Nalan Yaqi.

So, he had no intention of letting Nalan Yaqi in.

But Nalan Yaqi wasn’t about to give up. She stubbornly retorted, “If you’re starting a company, you’ll need employees, right? I can help out without taking a salary. Besides, you’re going to be the boss—don’t you need a secretary or an assistant? I’m offering both money and labor. Isn’t that enough?”

Hearing this, Wang Ye teased, “Oh? So you want to be my little secretary?”

He was just joking. The term “little secretary” often carried implications beyond its literal meaning…

But he hadn’t expected Nalan Yaqi to turn the tables on him!

“If you dare, why wouldn’t I? I’ll be your little secretary, but only if you let me invest!” Nalan Yaqi said with a grin.

Wang Ye paused, then quickly understood.

It seemed Nalan Yaqi had him figured out—she assumed he would only take verbal advantage and wouldn’t actually do anything substantial.

After all, since they had met, Wang Ye had never shown any real interest in her…

So whether she became his secretary or assistant didn’t matter. Either way, she wouldn’t lose out. As long as she could invest in the study abroad agency, her goal would be achieved!

Though Nalan Yaqi couldn’t handle these matters herself, she had keenly judged that Wang Ye’s company had real potential!

If she could seize the opportunity to invest, it would likely bring her rich returns!

That’s why, after getting the details from Zhou Yuan, she had hurried over to find Wang Ye, refusing to back down despite his evasions and objections.

Wang Ye narrowed his eyes slightly, studying Nalan Yaqi carefully for a long moment.

He had to admit, though she wasn’t tall and didn’t have a particularly curvaceous figure, she was actually quite delicate-looking—clear brows, bright eyes, and perfect proportions.

She had a pure yet alluring charm.

In the language of later internet trends, she was the kind of girl you’d call “pure desire.”

You know what? Wang Ye was actually starting to feel a little interested in Nalan Yaqi…

Nalan Yaqi felt a little uneasy under Wang Ye’s gaze, as if she were prey being sized up by a hunter.

After a moment’s thought, Wang Ye smiled. “You do have a point. The company will need some help. Why don’t you come work with us?”

Nalan Yaqi’s heart leaped with joy. She didn’t care about anything else—she grabbed Wang Ye’s arm and asked eagerly, “So how much do I need to invest? What’s my share?”

Perhaps a little too excited, Nalan Yaqi held on tightly…

Just then, Song Xiao Gang returned. Before he even stepped inside, he saw the scene and froze at the dormitory door, unsure whether he should enter.

Wang Ye kept his composure, gently pulling his arm free. “Five thousand US dollars for a five percent stake. But you should be prepared—there might be a lot of work later, and you might even have to travel back to China with me.”

Nalan Yaqi patted her small chest with a thump thump, assuring him, “No problem! Whatever you need, boss, just say the word!”

After making her declaration, Nalan Yaqi pulled out her large wallet and started counting her money.

Wang Ye was stunned. He really hadn’t expected Nalan Yaqi to be this “eager.”

She had brought the money with her?

If he hadn’t let her invest, she probably would have kept pestering him…

Chapter 54: A New Customer Comes Knocking

“Here! This is five thousand US dollars, take it.”

Nalan Yaqi stuffed a thick stack of bills into Wang Ye’s hand.

Wang Ye took it without counting and tucked it into his pocket.

Smiling, he said, “Alright then, the day after tomorrow—no, wait, the day after tomorrow at around one in the afternoon, come find me, and we’ll handle things.”

Nalan Yaqi beamed, readily agreeing.

Clearly, when Wang Ye said “handle things,” he meant business matters.

She really hadn’t misjudged him. Wang Ye was different from other guys—so decisive in everything he did!

This investment of hers was definitely a sure thing!

………………..

After Nalan Yaqi left, Song Xiao Gang finally dared to come in.

His face was full of disbelief, unable to hold back as he asked, “Ye Ge, which one is your girlfriend?”

Wang Ye was taken aback and countered, “What girlfriend? What do you mean which one?”

“Is it Qi Gege or Alyona?” Song Xiao Gang pressed.

Wang Ye burst out laughing, waving his hand. “What nonsense are you talking about? Neither of them is my girlfriend!”

Song Xiao Gang looked unconvinced, grumbling, “Let’s not talk about Alyona, but Qi Gege was just hugging you and giving you money. You still say you’re not involved?”

Ah, so that was why Song Xiao Gang had misunderstood.

Wang Ye didn’t bother explaining. Even if he and Nalan Yaqi or Alyona were involved, so what?

They were both unmarried, and in the more open-minded Russia, no one would care about such things.

He turned and lounged diagonally on the bed to read, leaving Song Xiao Gang behind, green with envy…

………………..

On Sunday morning, Wang Ye received an unexpected surprise.

His cousin, Ruan Xiaozhu, called.

“Hey, little brother, where are you now?”

Wang Ye replied, “Where else would I be? Of course, I’m in the dormitory. What’s up, Xiaozhu?”

“My friend is from the Pedagogical University. There are quite a few Chinese exchange students there too. She heard you have cheap wholesale phone cards and wants to buy some to sell. If you’re in the dormitory, I’ll have her come directly to you.”

Wang Ye had no objections—this was great news!

“Sure! Have her come over. I live in Building No. 6. When she arrives, she can call me, and I’ll go down to meet her.”

“Got it. She should be there in about an hour. I’ve given her your number too.”

After hanging up, Wang Ye chuckled to himself. Fortunately, he had taken the initiative to contact Ruan Xiaozhu, his “bargain cousin.”

This had opened up the market at Moscow State University and even helped him expand into the Pedagogical University.

This saved him so much trouble…

Ruan Xiaozhu was indeed a good person, always enthusiastic about helping her classmates and friends, let alone her “little brother”!

Sure enough, about an hour later, Wang Ye received a call from a girl—Ruan Xiaozhu’s friend from the Pedagogical University had arrived.

Wang Ye put on his coat and went downstairs to meet her.

The girl was tall and slender, wearing a fuzzy hat that revealed her short, ear-length hair.

She told Wang Ye to call her “Lena,” which clearly sounded like a Russian name.

It wasn’t strange. After staying here for a while, everyone would give themselves a Russian name. After all, it felt odd when the Russians called you by your Chinese name.

Wang Ye hadn’t given himself a Russian name yet, but once he dealt with more Russians, he planned to pick one for convenience.

Lena was quite outgoing. As soon as they met, she chatted and laughed with Wang Ye as if they were old friends.

Wang Ye brought her back to the dormitory, had her sit down to rest, and asked with a smile, “Lena, are there many Chinese students at your university?”

He wasn’t very familiar with the Pedagogical University. Even in his past life, he didn’t think he had ever been there.

“Quite a few, though not as many as at Moscow State University or the University of Friendship. Probably around a hundred or so, not quite two hundred.”

Wang Ye nodded. “That’s good. By the way, is your dormitory far from here?”

“Not close. Our dormitory is near the Vykhino metro station. It takes about an hour to get here.”

The full name of the Pedagogical University was actually “Moscow Pedagogical University.” It was also one of the schools with a relatively high number of Chinese exchange students. Rumor had it that the female student population there was quite high…

But a higher proportion of girls was good news for Wang Ye. After all, girls loved to talk on the phone more than boys!

His phone cards should sell well there…

Sure enough, Lena immediately asked for three thousand US dollars’ worth of cards!

“Since it’s not easy to come here, I might as well take more. Also, not many people from our university go to the Large Market to work, so phone cards should sell well.”

Wang Ye nodded in understanding and pulled out his bulging wallet to start counting the phone cards for Lena.

This wallet of his was quite “valuable” now.

Besides the seven thousand US dollars’ worth of cards he had just taken, there was also the five thousand US dollars Nalan Yaqi had given him last night, plus some of his own money!

In short, the money and cards inside added up to over ten thousand US dollars!

Lena glanced at it and was secretly amazed—she saw a thick stack of “Franklins”!

This cousin of Ruan Xiaozhu was no ordinary person. He was quite capable…

She thought to herself.

Wang Ye, of course, didn’t notice any of this. He counted out fifteen one-hundred-dollar and thirty fifty-dollar phone cards and handed them to Lena, saying, “Count them.”

Lena took them and carefully counted them again before nodding. “That’s right. I should give you… two thousand four hundred dollars?”

As usual, distributors got an eighty percent discount.

Wang Ye received two thousand four hundred dollars in return, and the stack of “Franklins” in his wallet grew even thicker…

………………..

After seeing Lena off, Wang Ye and Song Xiao Gang went to the large supermarket.

They needed to prepare for dinner with Alyona that evening…

Having money in his pocket made all the difference—he could buy whatever he wanted!

When he had first arrived, every time he came to this supermarket, he had to check the price before buying anything.

The tags were in rubles, and he had to mentally convert them to US dollars and then to Chinese yuan…

Only then could he decide whether to buy it.

There was no choice. The cost of living here was too high, especially for fresh food. One wrong move, and you’d fall into a “pit.”

Once, a classmate had just arrived in Moscow and bought a box of kiwis at this supermarket. Whether he hadn’t seen the price or what, when he checked out, that box of kiwis cost nearly one hundred US dollars…

At the time, there were quite a few people waiting in line behind him. The young man couldn’t lose face, so he gritted his teeth and paid.

Rumor had it that later, when he ate those kiwis, he swallowed them with tears in his eyes…

Chapter 55: Underestimating Her Strength

After a major shopping spree, Wang Ye had spent nearly one hundred US dollars.

Meat wasn’t too expensive, but fresh vegetables were pricey, and he had also bought some fruit.

When inviting a girl for dinner, he couldn’t just serve meat dishes…

“Ye Ge, you really go all out when wooing girls. No wonder they like you so much,” Song Xiao Gang joked on the way back to the dormitory. He was carrying two large bags of food and drinks in his hands.

But given his tall and sturdy build, carrying that much wasn’t a problem at all.

Wang Ye, of course, was no exception. He was also carrying two large bags. Hearing Song Xiao Gang’s remark, he laughed and replied, “Then you should learn from me! You’re always so quiet and reserved. How are girls supposed to notice you?”

True enough, Song Xiao Gang was too tall and had a somewhat fierce appearance. Plus, he lacked confidence when talking to girls, so he didn’t have much luck with women.

Song Xiao Gang chuckled foolishly, “No rush. I’m not in a hurry to find a girlfriend. At least not until after graduation. My goal right now is to get my degree smoothly, and if I can make some money along the way, that would be even better.”

Wang Ye shook his head and didn’t pursue the topic further.

Back at the dormitory, Song Xiao Gang went straight to the kitchen to start cooking. Wang Ye had intended to help, but he was “chased” back.

According to Song Xiao Gang, Wang Ye was more of a hindrance than a help in the kitchen.

…

Around five in the afternoon, Song Xiao Gang was still busy in the kitchen while Wang Ye sat at the table reading. The dormitory door was knocked, and Alyona arrived.

It was clear that Alyona had made an effort with her appearance today. She had put on some light makeup, making her look even more radiant and charming.

Wang Ye quickly stood up to greet her, taking her coat and hanging it on the rack.

Underneath the coat, Alyona was wearing a cream-colored, high-necked, fitted wool sweater and slightly faded blue jeans, which accentuated her perfect figure.

She was also carrying a small paper bag, which she handed to Wang Ye, saying, “I brought a bottle of red wine. I hope you like it.”

It was customary for Russians to bring a small gift when invited for dinner, usually alcohol—vodka or wine.

Wang Ye took the bottle with a smile, examining it. “Nice choice. How’s your alcohol tolerance? Go easy on me later; I can’t hold my liquor very well.”

Most Russians, including women, could drink quite a bit.

Wang Ye’s tolerance was decent, but it depended on who he was drinking with…

“I’m average, I guess. I occasionally drink beer or wine, but I’ve never had vodka,” Alyona replied with a smile.

Wang Ye was relieved.

True “alcoholics” drank vodka; beer and wine were just beverages to them.

Just as Wang Ye had seated Alyona, Song Xiao Gang walked in, carrying a plate in each hand. He seemed a bit awkward when he saw Alyona and politely greeted her, “Teacher.”

Wang Ye also stood up to help Song Xiao Gang with the dishes, quickly setting the table.

Song Xiao Gang had indeed put in a lot of effort today, preparing four dishes and a soup.

There was fish and meat, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, all looking and smelling delicious, making one’s mouth water.

Wang Ye opened the bottle of red wine Alyona had brought, pouring a glass for each of them. After a toast, they began to eat.

…

Following Wang Ye’s instructions, Song Xiao Gang had prepared dishes that suited Russian tastes. Alyona praised them non-stop, saying they were the best Chinese dishes she had ever tasted!

Of course, maybe she had never had the chance to try Chinese food before…

At the table, Wang Ye and Alyona were the ones chatting.

Song Xiao Gang, who didn’t speak the language, couldn’t join in. He had nothing to say, so he just focused on his food.

As they talked, the conversation turned to Alyona’s hometown.

“You should visit sometime. It’s a beautiful small city. Unfortunately, the economy there isn’t developed, and conditions are poor. Even basic utilities like water and electricity have to be supplied from elsewhere. In recent years, Ukraine hasn’t been doing well either, so many young people from there hope to come to Moscow for opportunities. After all, this is the center of Eastern Europe, with far more opportunities than back home…”

Talking about her hometown, Alyona’s expression darkened slightly.

In 2001, Crimea was still part of Ukraine. Although most of its residents were ethnically Russian, surveys showed that many wanted to “return” to Russia.

But it wasn’t that simple. As long as Ukraine didn’t agree, Crimea remained Ukrainian territory.

Moreover, due to its geographical location, Crimea’s water, electricity, and gas infrastructure were controlled by Ukraine. If they caused trouble, Ukraine could simply cut off their water and electricity!

Wang Ye expressed his understanding, saying, “It’s the same in China. Many young people from small cities hope to work in first-tier cities. Big cities offer more job opportunities and better living conditions, but very few can actually stay…”

In China, many such young people were called “Beijing drifters” or “Southern migrants.”

Alyona could be considered a “Moscow drifter”?

Raising her glass of red wine, she gestured to Wang Ye, who clinked his glass against hers.

Alyona downed half her glass in one gulp, letting out a soft breath, her cheeks flushed.

“I’m actually quite conflicted. On one hand, I want to stay in Moscow, settle down here, and have my children grow up as Muscovites—it’s what many people dream of. But on the other hand, I want to go back and help develop my hometown. I don’t want to see it decline day by day…”

Perhaps because she had drunk a little too much, Alyona began to open up about her feelings.

This topic was a bit “beyond” Wang Ye’s scope. He wasn’t an “emperor” who could do anything about it…

All he could do was offer some superficial comfort and encourage her to drink more!

Besides the bottle Alyona had brought, Wang Ye had also bought two bottles of red wine. Before they knew it, all three bottles were empty.

Song Xiao Gang hadn’t drunk much. He had poured himself a large glass at the beginning but hadn’t finished it yet.

Most of the wine had been consumed by Wang Ye and Alyona. Wang Ye was already feeling dizzy, though his mind was still clear. When he stood up, he swayed slightly.

He was clearly on the verge of getting drunk…

Alyona had drunk even more but seemed unaffected, still chatting and laughing as if nothing was wrong.

Originally, Wang Ye had planned to get Alyona drunk so he could “play the hero” and escort her home, perhaps even getting a peek at her room…

But now, he was the one who couldn’t hold his liquor.

He had underestimated Alyona’s drinking capacity!

Chapter 56: Do You Know What Her Father Does?

After escorting Alyona out of the dormitory, the cold wind outside made Wang Ye feel dizzy and slightly nauseous.

He had indeed drunk a bit too much today…

Watching Alyona’s figure disappear around the corner, Wang Ye quickly turned and returned to the dormitory lobby.

Just as he was about to go back to his room to lie down, he ran into Zhou Yuan.

Wang Ye suddenly remembered something and pointed at Zhou Yuan, laughing and scolding, “You’re such a busybody! How did you end up telling Nalan Yaqi about my study abroad agency?”

Yesterday, Nalan Yaqi had pestered him relentlessly until he finally agreed to let her invest in the study abroad agency.

He had given her a five percent stake.

This whole thing was Zhou Yuan’s fault. If he hadn’t gone around blabbing, Nalan Yaqi wouldn’t have known about it.

So today, when he saw Zhou Yuan, Wang Ye confronted him about it.

Zhou Yuan grinned from ear to ear and explained, “I just slipped up and let it out. Besides, it’s not like it’s a bad thing, right? Did you let Qi Gege invest?”

Wang Ye waved his hand, “Yeah, I did. Otherwise, she wouldn’t leave me alone. She was so persistent!”

Actually, Wang Ye didn’t really care about this. The study abroad agency was just the beginning of his career, a way to make quick money.

In the future, his business focus definitely wouldn’t be on this company. Even if he gave Nalan Yaqi, or even Zhou Yuan, a small stake, he wouldn’t mind.

The reason he let Nalan Yaqi invest was to have a “backup plan” for himself.

Later on, he wouldn’t be putting much effort into this study abroad agency, but he wouldn’t close it down either since it could still make money.

So he needed someone “trustworthy” to stay in the company and keep an eye on things for him.

And for now, that person was Nalan Yaqi!

As for whether Nalan Yaqi could really be considered trustworthy, Wang Ye wasn’t worried. It was only a matter of time…

Hearing Wang Ye say this, Zhou Yuan became even more confident.

“Then I helped you find a new shareholder. You should be thanking me, right?”

Wang Ye was a bit speechless. Was his study abroad agency lacking shareholders?

If he really opened it up for investment, he could easily find ten or more shareholders without even trying!

“Alright, thank you! See you later…” Wang Ye waved his hand, intending to go back to his dorm to sleep.

But Zhou Yuan grabbed him and wouldn’t let him go, speaking mysteriously, “Actually, I have someone else I want to introduce to you. She would be a great help to your study abroad agency!”

Wang Ye quickly refused, “No! One Nalan Yaqi is enough. The company hasn’t even been established yet. What’s the point of having a bunch of idle people involved?”

“Hehe, just hear me out. If you really don’t think it’s suitable, then forget it.” Zhou Yuan said confidently.

Wang Ye was now a bit curious and asked, “So who is it? What’s their background?”

“Wang Dan! You must know her, but you probably don’t know what her father does.” Zhou Yuan lowered his voice and said proudly.

Wang Ye really didn’t know. He hadn’t had much interaction with Wang Dan. Although they lived on the same floor, Wang Ye had been busy with many things lately.

Apart from the time he went to Wang Dan’s place to mooch a meal and helped her fend off Zhang Ke, he hadn’t really talked to her much in the past few days.

“What does her father do? He’s not the head of the provincial education department, is he?” Wang Ye asked with a smile.

They were all from the same province, Zhongyuan Province, just from different cities.

“That’s not it, but Wang Dan’s father is the head of the He Luo City Education Bureau!” Zhou Yuan said in a low voice.

Wang Ye was taken aback. He really hadn’t expected this.

He instinctively asked, “Then why is Wang Dan here in this godforsaken place?”

Zhou Yuan glared at him and said indignantly, “What’s wrong with this place? It’s still studying abroad! Besides, after she finishes her preparatory courses here, Wang Dan plans to go to Moscow State University. Moscow State University is a world-renowned school, isn’t it better than Tsinghua or Peking University in China? After graduation, with her family’s connections and the halo of being a graduate from a prestigious foreign university, she can get any job she wants!”

Wang Ye suddenly understood. He had to admit, Zhou Yuan made a lot of sense.

At that time, students who returned from studying abroad still had a certain prestige. Moscow State University was indeed a world-renowned school.

In China, getting into Tsinghua or Peking University might not be easy even with Wang Dan’s father’s influence.

But sending his daughter abroad to study at a prestigious university and get a degree, and then arranging a job for her later, would definitely not be worse than graduating from Tsinghua or Peking University!

This was also a kind of “shortcut”…

Of course, the premise was that your family had the right connections!

…

After listening to Zhou Yuan’s introduction, Wang Ye’s mind started to work.

Indeed, if he could get Wang Dan involved, using her father’s connections would be extremely beneficial to the study abroad agency’s business!

This was different from Nalan Yaqi, who had pestered him to invest. With Wang Dan, he would have to take the initiative to approach her…

“Slap!” Wang Ye forcefully patted Zhou Yuan on the shoulder, making him stumble and wince in pain.

“Not bad, not bad! Old Zhou, you’ve done a great job this time! After I get Wang Dan… no, after I deal with her! I’ll treat you to barbecue.” Wang Ye said with a bright smile.

Then he turned and walked somewhat unsteadily towards the second floor…

When he reached the second floor, Wang Ye didn’t go back to his own dorm but went to the door of Wang Dan and Li Xiao Yun’s dorm.

It was only about seven or eight in the evening, so obviously, everyone was still awake. The dorm door was slightly ajar.

He knocked on the door, and after hearing a response from inside, Wang Ye poked his head in.

He saw that the room was quite lively. Besides Wang Dan and Li Xiao Yun, there were a few other girls gathered around, watching a movie on Wang Dan’s laptop.

Oh, they were watching it on Wang Dan’s laptop.

Wang Ye scratched his head. Clearly, this wasn’t a good place to talk about business. So he straightforwardly said, “Wang Dan, come out for a bit. I have something to discuss with you.”

The girls in the room were naturally familiar with Wang Ye.

Not to mention his good social skills, his handsome face alone had left a deep impression on many girls…

The girls in the room immediately started teasing.

“Ooooh, Xiao Dan, go quickly! Your prince charming is about to confess to you!”

“Hehe, Xiao Dan has been talking about Ye Ge non-stop. Now he’s come to you!”

“Don’t come back tonight. Just make it official, be straightforward!”

“Take precautions, don’t come back with a big belly during summer break…”

Wang Dan’s face turned red from embarrassment. “Pfft! You bunch of perverts, just watch your movie!”

After saying that, she quickly got up and left the room.

When she came outside, she saw Wang Ye leaning against the wall, looking up at the sky, in some kind of pose…

Chapter 57: Want to Work with Me?

This really wasn’t Wang Ye trying to show off!

Mostly, he was feeling dizzy right now, so unsteady on his feet that he had to lean against the wall to steady himself.

After Wang Dan came out, she glanced at Wang Ye and cautiously asked, “Ye Ge, did you need something from me?”

Just as those girls had said earlier, Wang Dan did indeed have some feelings for Wang Ye.

It wasn’t just because he was handsome, but also because since arriving in Moscow, he had shown himself to be completely different from the other students!

In less than a month, while others were still fumbling to adapt to the environment and couldn’t even manage basic Russian conversations, Wang Ye had already made a name for himself!

He was selling phone cards, getting chummy with teachers, dorm managers, even security guards.

And he was always eager to help. If any student in the dorm needed assistance and he had the time, he would definitely lend a hand.

What girl wouldn’t like a guy like that?

Wang Dan had been calling her boyfriend back home less and less lately. She was hesitating about whether to break up with him…

…

Hearing Wang Dan’s question, Wang Ye finally looked down and abruptly asked, “Want to work with me?”

“Ah! What… work… you… me…”

Wang Dan’s eyes widened in shock, her face flushing bright red.

She seemed completely flustered, her words coming out in a jumble.

Wang Ye was a bit surprised by her strong reaction, but he didn’t think much of it. He simply explained, “Work with me on the study abroad agency. I’m planning to start a company handling business for students coming to Russia.”

After hearing this, Wang Dan let out a long sigh and gently patted her chest to calm herself down.

So it wasn’t what she had thought…

That made more sense. Normally, Wang Ye spoke and acted so refined—how could he suddenly bring up something so crude?

“A study abroad agency? Ye Ge, you’re starting a company?” Wang Dan asked in surprise.

She really hadn’t known about this. But in her mind, starting a company was serious business!

Wasn’t Wang Ye just selling phone cards? How did he suddenly decide to start a company?

And where would he get that kind of money?

“Yeah, I looked into it, and the study abroad agency business is pretty profitable. Plus, I have the resources to make it work. I’ve already pulled in a few friends, and we’ve got the startup funds, office space, even employees lined up. Want to invest a little and make some pocket money?”

Wang Ye shook his head, trying to clear his mind.

Damn red wine. At first, it had tasted like juice, no effect at all. Who knew it would hit him so hard now?

This was worse than drinking baijiu.

Wang Dan frowned slightly, hesitating before asking, “But… I don’t have that much money. Starting a company requires a lot of money, right?”

“You just need to show up. The money is just a formality! Alright, it’s settled—you get one share. Nalan Yaqi put in five thousand dollars for five percent, so you do the same.”

Wang Ye didn’t give Wang Dan a chance to respond, deciding for her on the spot.

He was a bit tipsy and wanted to wrap things up quickly so he could go to sleep.

When Wang Dan heard that Nalan Yaqi had also invested, her eyebrows shot up.

Originally, she hadn’t been very interested in this study abroad agency, but now things were different…

Girls, after all, liked to compete…

Or rather, they engaged in subtle rivalry…

Well, something like that!

Nalan Yaqi was quite well-known among the Chinese exchange students in the preparatory building and was very popular with the male students.

Naturally, the other girls had some resentment toward her, and Wang Dan was no exception.

Especially since she had heard that Nalan Yaqi had been getting closer to Wang Ye lately!

Although Wang Dan wasn’t particularly interested in the study abroad agency or making money, if Nalan Yaqi was involved, she definitely had to get in on it too!

So without further hesitation, she replied firmly, “Alright! I’ll invest too.”

“Hah, then it’s settled. We’ll talk more tomorrow. I can’t hold on any longer—I need to go sleep…”

With that, Wang Ye waved his hand and, leaning against the wall, staggered back to his dormitory.

Fortunately, his dorm was on the same floor as Wang Dan’s and quite close. Otherwise, he wasn’t sure if he could have made it.

Back in his room, he collapsed onto the bed…

…

He slept like the dead. When he finally woke up, it was already noon the next day…

Wang Ye sat up, rubbing his face. His head still hurt a little, but he was much clearer now.

He was still wearing just a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, having slept the whole night without any covers.

Luckily, the room was warm enough; otherwise, he might have caught a cold.

The dormitory was quiet—everyone had gone to class. Wang Ye had planned to show his face in class today, but seeing the time, school was almost over. Might as well skip it.

Besides, he had things to do in the afternoon.

After washing up and grabbing something to eat, before he could even finish, the door was pushed open, and Nalan Yaqi burst in.

“Ye Ge, what are we doing today?”

Wang Ye blinked in confusion. “What do you mean, what are we doing?”

“Didn’t you tell me the night before last to come find you at one o’clock today? You said we were going to handle company matters.”

Wang Ye slapped his forehead, remembering.

He had indeed arranged to meet Nalan Yaqi today to handle the company registration. They needed to find an agent to process the paperwork.

Of course, this was simple. They just needed to go to the Alpha Hotel and find the same agent who had helped Xiao Hu’s family register their company.

Originally, this didn’t require bringing Nalan Yaqi along—Wang Ye could have handled it himself.

But since Nalan Yaqi was so insistent on “forcing her way” into the company, he might as well use this free labor. Even if it was just to keep him company on the way, it wasn’t a bad idea…

“Alright, wait a few minutes. I’ll finish eating, and then we can go. Oh, right, we’re about to register the company. What do you think would be a good name?”

Wang Ye said as he ate.

To be honest, this study abroad agency was just something Wang Ye was doing to make quick money.

Expecting to get rich from it was unrealistic…

Wang Ye already had other plans to make big money. Compared to the study abroad agency, those were the real gold mines!

So he wasn’t particularly invested in this agency. He hadn’t even thought of a name for the company yet.

Nalan Yaqi, however, took it very seriously. Hearing Wang Ye’s question, she furrowed her brows and thought carefully.

As she pondered, she muttered to herself, “It should be an auspicious name, something with good prospects… No, that’s too cliché! ‘Smooth Sailing’… Not good either. ‘Green Cloud’… That’s nice! ‘Rising Through the Ranks’!”

She turned to Wang Ye and said, “Let’s call it Green Cloud Company! It means that any student who comes to study abroad through our company will rise through the ranks and become winners in life!”

Green Cloud Company?

Wang Ye thought it sounded decent and nodded in agreement.

Chapter 58: Being the Silent Partner

Wang Ye buried his head in his food, while Nalan Yaqi sat across from him, grinning as she watched him.

“What are you staring at? Did I grow a flower on my face?” Wang Ye asked without looking up.

“Hehe, actually, if you look closely, you’re quite handsome. You kind of look like that actor… what’s his name?” Nalan Yaqi couldn’t remember the celebrity’s name for a moment.

“Lu Yi, right? Back in high school, the girls all called me Little Lu Yi,” Wang Ye boasted shamelessly.

He wasn’t lying, though. Some girls had indeed called him that behind his back.

“That’s it! Exactly him,” Nalan Yaqi quickly agreed.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

“Come in, it’s not locked,” Nalan Yaqi called out casually.

The door opened, and a small head peeked in—it was Wang Dan.

“Huh? Already out of school?” Wang Ye asked in surprise.

Wang Dan walked in lightly. “No, I skipped the third class. It wasn’t a core subject anyway. Oh, Ye Ge, didn’t you say last night that you wanted to talk to me in detail about the study abroad agency today?”

“Did I? Oh, right, last night I didn’t do… anything else, did I?” Wang Ye couldn’t quite remember what had happened the night before.

“Ah… no, no, you just mentioned letting me invest in the company,” Wang Dan waved her hands, looking a little unnatural.

Nalan Yaqi glanced at Wang Ye, then at Wang Dan, silently grinding her teeth.

These two!

Wang Ye wasn’t exactly a good guy either!

When she had wanted to invest in his company, he had kept dodging her. It was only because she had persisted that she had managed to get in.

So why was Wang Dan just sitting in the dormitory, and Wang Ye was actively seeking her out, begging her to invest?

This girl wasn’t even that pretty…

Wang Ye motioned for Wang Dan to sit down, then thought for a moment and said, “Well, since you’re here, let’s go out together. We’ll get the company registration done today.”

Wang Dan didn’t sit down right away. Instead, she pulled out her wallet and took out a thick stack of “Franklins.”

She handed them to Wang Ye and said, “Here, this is my investment. Five thousand in total.”

Wang Ye took it casually and counted it in front of her.

He nodded and said, “It’s five thousand, no mistake.”

His wallet was almost full—there were too many bills and cards inside!

Just the U.S. dollars alone were over ten thousand, and with the rubles and phone cards, his wallet was about to burst.

He struggled to stuff it into the chest pocket of his down jacket, which bulged out…

Wang Ye looked down and laughed. He joked with Nalan Yaqi, “Look, isn’t this big?”

Nalan Yaqi took a look and “pfft” laughed out loud.

“Wow, this is definitely D-cup size! Too bad it’s only on one side. If you stuffed a wallet on the other side too, you’d get stared at on the street.”

The two of them chatted without any restraint, but Wang Dan beside them felt a little awkward, her face turning red again…

…

The three of them went out together and headed straight to the roadside, where they hailed a cab to Alpha Hotel, the same place where Xiao Hu’s family company rented office space.

Wang Ye could have handled this matter entirely on his own, but he had brought Nalan Yaqi and Wang Dan along to let them see the progress of the company’s preparations and strengthen the shareholders’ confidence in the company.

He still had these little tricks up his sleeve. After all, he had been a company executive for many years.

As for Liu Jun and Xiao Hu, there was no need to notify them. The two of them were familiar with Wang Ye and knew he was trustworthy in such matters.

When they arrived at the hotel, they went to the same company as before and smoothly paid to have them handle the company registration procedures.

The price wasn’t cheap—two thousand U.S. dollars!

As for the company’s registered address, they directly used the address of Xiao Hu’s family company.

The whole process took less than an hour, and then they just had to wait for the notification.

During the process, Nalan Yaqi and Wang Dan just stood there grinning, not saying a word…

They wanted to say something, but they couldn’t find a chance to interject because Wang Ye was communicating entirely in Russian, very fluently.

As for the two of them, the little Russian they had just learned was only enough to buy things at the supermarket. In a setting like this, it was practically as if they hadn’t learned any at all.

After leaving the hotel, Nalan Yaqi sighed and said to Wang Ye, “I used to hear people say you were good at Russian, and I thought you were just like the seniors. But today, I really saw it for myself. You must have been learning Russian since you were little! You speak it so fluently!”

“Haha, I guess I have a bit of a talent for Russian. I learned it pretty quickly. Anyway, in about two weeks to a month, the company should be registered. You’ve seen the office space, right? What do you think?” Wang Ye changed the subject.

At the mention of this, the two girls became interested.

Originally, they had thought that Wang Ye’s study abroad agency didn’t have much starting capital, so the company would probably be quite shabby.

But today, when they came to see it, it was completely different!

Buildings as tall as Alpha Hotel weren’t common in Moscow, and the interior of the building was also lavishly decorated, truly high-end!

It seemed Wang Ye wasn’t joking this time—he really intended to seriously run a study abroad agency.

“Will the company give me my own office? My dream is to be a high-ranking executive in a big company, working in the best office building with my own private office!” Nalan Yaqi said excitedly.

“You’re thinking too much. Our company is only about a hundred square meters in total. Apart from the general manager having a private office, no one else does, including me!” Wang Ye replied with a smile.

In the early stages of starting a business, conditions were tough.

They had only managed to get a hundred square meters of office space from Xiao Hu’s family company, which really wasn’t enough to go around.

The general manager would be working in the office every day, so they definitely needed a private office, as well as a meeting room and a reception room.

After all these deductions, there probably wouldn’t be much left…

Hearing Wang Ye say this, Nalan Yaqi seemed to realize something. She asked in surprise, “Aren’t you the general manager?”

“I’m not. I let another shareholder be the general manager. After all, I can’t devote all my time and energy to the agency,” Wang Ye shook his head.

For this study abroad agency, Wang Ye only planned to be the “silent partner.” The public-facing work would definitely have to be done by Liu Jun.

After all, at his age, it wouldn’t be appropriate…

Especially when negotiating with domestic universities or educational departments, an eighteen-year-old boy sitting there wouldn’t seem right.

Of course, Wang Ye would still have to do the behind-the-scenes work.

…

Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company—that was the full name of the company Wang Ye registered.

The registered capital was forty thousand U.S. dollars!

The share distribution was as follows: Wang Ye was undoubtedly the largest shareholder, with a 60% stake.

Xiao Hu was the second-largest shareholder, with a 20% stake.

Liu Jun was the third-largest shareholder and the company’s general manager, with a 10% stake.

Nalan Yaqi and Wang Dan each had a 5% stake, making them minor shareholders…

Chapter 59: At Eighteen, Standing Like a Lackey

The study abroad agency wouldn’t be officially established for some time yet.

It was already the end of January, and the agency was expected to begin operations in mid-to-late February.

This year’s Spring Festival fell in early February.

Of course, for Russians, there was no concept of celebrating the New Year.

But for the Chinese in Moscow, the New Year was still a must. The Chinese students in the preparatory building had planned to celebrate New Year’s Eve together at the Chinese restaurant downstairs.

However, Wang Ye wouldn’t be able to participate. On New Year’s Eve, he had to go to the embassy.

Yes, as a waiter…

During the day, Wang Ye called home.

As usual, his parents repeatedly reminded him to take care of himself, study hard, and strive to obtain his diploma and return home to find a good job…

Wang Ye could only nod repeatedly, not telling his parents about what he had been doing lately.

After all, nothing had come of it yet, and his parents would find it hard to understand.

In their eyes, the whole point of sending Wang Ye abroad was for that diploma!

Selling phone cards, doing business—those were all distractions!

…

Around four in the afternoon, Zhou Yuan, Wang Ye, Nalan Yaqi, and two other girls Wang Ye didn’t know—apparently senior students from the second and third years—all boarded the van sent by the embassy.

“I heard that an important figure will be making an appearance tonight to celebrate the New Year with everyone,” Zhou Yuan whispered to the group.

This was certainly an important figure…

But Wang Ye didn’t feel much about it. After all, such a high-ranking person had nothing to do with him; the distance between them was too great!

He was more interested in meeting some big bosses doing business in Moscow tonight!

“Whoever comes doesn’t matter to me. I’m more interested in what food will be served tonight,” Nalan Yaqi said bluntly.

“Haha, all you think about is eating. In a few years, you’ll be like a Russian babushka with a barrel waist,” Wang Ye joked.

“Hmph, impossible. I was born with a metabolism that never gains weight,” Nalan Yaqi proudly declared, puffing out her chest.

They chatted idly along the way and soon arrived at their destination.

The embassy wasn’t very large—a main building in a creamy white, with a few smaller red buildings beside it.

Security was strict; everyone had their IDs checked upon entering.

Wang Ye and his group entered through a side door of the main building, arriving directly at the work waiting area—a small hall.

The banquet hadn’t started yet, and they weren’t allowed into the main hall.

So, they rested here, waiting.

Besides Wang Ye’s group, there were other students from different schools, about twenty or so.

Wang Ye asked around, hoping to find students from schools other than Moscow State University or the University of Friendship. That way, he could discuss the phone card business…

But to his disappointment, apart from the five from the University of Friendship, everyone else was from Moscow State University. There were no students from other schools.

It made sense. After all, these two schools had the most Chinese exchange students, so the embassy took the easy route.

As required, all the boys wore suits and ties, while the girls wore dark-colored skirt suits.

The deep blue suit Wang Ye was wearing was one he had bought just before going abroad—a YaGeEr, a big brand!

The agency had informed them in advance to prepare one or two formal outfits for certain occasions.

And now, it had come in handy…

…

The embassy wasn’t too stingy. The lounge was filled with fruits, snacks, and drinks.

Everyone ate and chatted, waiting for the banquet to begin.

Around six o’clock, a staff member hurried over, clapped his hands, and announced loudly:

“Everyone, the banquet is about to begin. Please straighten your clothes and enter the hall early.

You should all know the rules, but I’ll remind you again. There are many important guests tonight, so please mind your manners.

Until the guests leave, you must stay at your posts. Do not move around or eat anything…”

After finishing, he led everyone into the main banquet hall.

Wang Ye and his group were in charge of the drinks area. They each held a tray filled with glasses of red wine, champagne, and white wine.

If a guest wanted a drink, they would wave, and Wang Ye would have to scurry over with a smile, asking what they needed…

The embassy’s grand banquet hall was quite large, with a massive crystal chandelier and ornate, gilded columns. It looked quite impressive.

The banquet was a buffet. Long tables were already set up, covered with pristine white tablecloths.

On the tables were stainless steel buffet warmers filled with fragrant dishes…

Wang Ye and the others stood stiffly against the wall, holding their trays, looking quite the part.

Within minutes, the doors opened, and the guests entered.

Amid the noise and enthusiastic applause, that figure waved and walked in, surrounded by a large crowd.

Zhou Yuan, standing next to Wang Ye, whispered, “What a shame. If we weren’t waiters, maybe we could take a photo with him! This might be the only chance in our lives to meet someone like this in person…”

He wasn’t wrong.

Most people probably wouldn’t get the chance to meet such a person face-to-face in reality…

Wang Ye smiled. “After the banquet, if he hasn’t left yet, you can go take a photo.”

Zhou Yuan’s eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly. “Right, right! He probably won’t leave early. You can help me take the photo. I brought my digital camera.”

In those days, digital cameras were still quite high-tech and expensive.

Only students like Zhou Yuan, who came from wealthier families, could afford them.

Compared to traditional film cameras, they were much more convenient.

…

After the guests entered, many more arrived. The embassy had invited not only Chinese representatives but also many Russians and people from other countries.

Those who could attend such a banquet were naturally not ordinary people.

Among them were likely many wealthy Chinese businessmen. Wang Ye recognized one—Boss Kong, whom he had seen at the Large Market last time…

As the richest Chinese person in Moscow and a prominent figure, he naturally wouldn’t miss this event.

As for the others, Wang Ye didn’t recognize them, but he overheard a senior student say that a few of them were big in business, with fortunes in the hundreds of millions.

Inside the banquet hall, glasses clinked, laughter filled the air, and the atmosphere was lively.

The guests, dressed in fine clothes, held plates and enjoyed the delicious food.

From time to time, small groups would gather, whispering to each other.

Wang Ye, too, held a tray, but his was filled with glasses of red wine.

When someone waved and called, “Waiter,” he had to walk over with a smile, asking what they needed…

Zhou Yuan and the others were quite enthusiastic about their work, but Wang Ye didn’t feel as good about it.

He understood that, with his current status, he could only be a “waiter” here. He wasn’t qualified to receive an invitation and attend the banquet as a guest.

But what about the future?

Wang Ye didn’t want to be in this position again!

…

The Spring Festival of 2001 left a deep impression on Wang Ye.

At eighteen, at the embassy banquet, standing like a lackey…

Chapter 60: Great Potential

After the banquet ended, the guests departed, and it was already quite late.

A staff member called out to everyone, “You must all be hungry. Hurry up and eat something. There’s still plenty of food, all kept warm.”

Indeed, the buffet still had a lot of dishes. With its built-in heating function, the food remained steaming hot and fragrant.

Everyone let out a sigh of relief, setting down their trays, stretching their arms and legs. Standing for so long had been quite tiring.

“Wang Ye, these ribs are the best. Come over quickly, I’ll get you a plate! I’ve already checked them out—they’re the tastiest here. But those foreigners and bosses don’t know what’s good; hardly anyone’s eating them. Perfect for us!” Zhou Yuan called out from nearby, his face full of delight.

He held a large plate piled high with braised ribs.

Perhaps it wasn’t that the foreigners and Chinese bosses didn’t recognize quality—they simply found eating ribs at such an occasion a bit uncouth…

Wang Ye smiled without refusing Zhou Yuan’s kindness. He took a plate and helped himself to some ribs, adding a little of other dishes.

Then he found a chair and sat down to eat slowly.

Zhou Yuan and Nalan Yaqi, after selecting their food, also came over with their plates.

“You’re only eating this much? That’s not enough! Don’t be polite—we’re all friends now, eat as much as you want,” Zhou Yuan exclaimed, looking at Wang Ye’s plate.

“Alright, eat your own food. Don’t eat too much at night—it’s not good for your health,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Honestly, the food here was quite good!

Much better than the Chinese restaurant downstairs in the preparatory building, and better than any restaurant Wang Ye had eaten at back home.

Of course, Wang Ye hadn’t eaten at any decent restaurants back home—his small county town didn’t have any…

Zhou Yuan and Nalan Yaqi ate with relish, praising the food as they went.

“Mmm, the embassy’s chef is amazing. Back home, this would probably be five-star restaurant quality.”

“That restaurant downstairs should hire this chef. Their food is just passable—good enough to fool the Russians!”

Wang Ye ate slowly, somewhat silent.

…

After eating their fill, the embassy sent vans to take everyone back.

On the ride, Zhou Yuan mysteriously hugged his backpack and whispered to Wang Ye, “I got some good stuff! Let’s have dinner together sometime and drink it.”

With that, he unzipped his backpack, revealing two red and white boxes inside.

Wang Ye recognized them immediately—Moutai!

Surprised, he asked, “Where did you get these?”

“Hehe, I was in charge of the liquor section, so I kept two bottles unopened. Letting those foreigners drink it would be a waste! Better to bring it back for us,” Zhou Yuan said proudly.

Wang Ye didn’t know what to say…

He could only give a thumbs-up and praise, “The class monitor is still the best!”

Zhou Yuan and the others were very happy tonight. Right after the banquet ended, he and Nalan Yaqi had seized the opportunity to take a photo with Deputy General Manager Li.

The photo was now in his digital camera. Old Zhou said he would find a way to send it back to China, print it out, and hang it in his living room!

Wang Ye hadn’t joined in for the photo…

…

Back at the dormitory, it was already past eleven at night.

Song Xiao Gang was still awake—probably their side had just ended not long ago.

Seeing Wang Ye return, Song Xiao Gang asked enviously, “Ye Ge, was the embassy lively tonight? The food must have been high-end.”

Wang Ye took off his clothes as he casually replied, “It was alright. How about you guys?”

“The boss from the restaurant downstairs organized a gathering. Each person paid three hundred rubles to join. The food was decent, and there was alcohol—it was quite lively. Not just students from our preparatory building, but many senior students joined too. I didn’t expect there to be so many Chinese exchange students at the University of Friendship. I even took the chance to sell some phone cards—sold quite a few, hehe.”

Song Xiao Gang grinned foolishly.

Wang Ye was speechless. This guy was persistent—even at a New Year’s Eve gathering, he didn’t forget to sell his phone cards…

…

After the New Year, time entered February.

Wang Ye wasn’t very busy during this period. He went to class every day and, apart from delivering phone cards to Ruan Xiaozhu, Yanzi, and Lena, rarely left school.

As for distributors at other schools, he wasn’t in a hurry to find them.

After all, there weren’t many Chinese exchange students at those schools. Even if he found a distributor, they wouldn’t sell many phone cards.

As long as he could secure Moscow State University and the University of Friendship as his “core markets,” that would be enough.

As for the Large Market, he didn’t have the strength to break into it in the short term—he would have to plan for the long run…

On the fifteenth, Wang Ye received a call from Xiao Hu.

“Ye Ge, it’s done! The registration for both companies is complete. When do you have time? Let’s go check out the company and see what needs to be set up.”

On the phone, Xiao Hu sounded excited.

People said Russians were inefficient, dragging their feet on everything.

But that wasn’t entirely true.

Perhaps in schools, hospitals, and government departments, that was the case.

A trivial matter could drag on for a month or two.

But if you paid them to handle something for you, their efficiency would be surprisingly high!

The money spent on hiring someone to register the company wasn’t wasted—it was done in less than a month.

“Good, let’s go tomorrow. We’ll all go to the company—the shareholders from the study abroad agency. Everyone can meet,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

…

On February 16th, early in the morning, Nalan Yaqi, Wang Dan, and Xiao Hu arrived at Wang Ye’s dormitory.

They had agreed to go to Alpha Hotel together.

It wasn’t exactly a company opening—after all, only the paperwork was done; the office wasn’t set up yet, and the staff wasn’t in place.

But with these documents, Wang Ye could now officially start his business!

The four of them took a taxi straight to Alpha Hotel. As soon as they arrived at the hotel entrance, Wang Ye saw Liu Jun already waiting there, leaning against his beat-up Audi and smoking.

“Liu Ge, have you been here long?” Wang Ye greeted with a smile.

Liu Jun flicked his cigarette butt and walked over.

He had indeed arrived early—he was too eager!

After talking with Wang Ye that day, Liu Jun had agreed to invest ten thousand U.S. dollars, but he hadn’t fully committed to leaving his job to work with Wang Ye.

After all, nothing was set in stone yet—he didn’t dare to be too reckless.

But a few days later, Wang Ye called him again, saying he had found a few new shareholders, increasing the startup capital to forty thousand U.S. dollars!

Moreover, the company’s office space was secured—Alpha Hotel had provided a hundred square meters, and they could even “borrow” some employees from the new shareholder’s company to fill the space…

Additionally, Wang Ye had casually mentioned the family background of the new shareholder, Wang Dan…

That old fox Liu Jun immediately understood.

This was a sure thing!

There was definitely great potential here…

Chapter 61: The Company Begins Operations

Wang Ye introduced everyone to each other, specifically mentioning that Liu Jun would serve as the general manager of the Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company in the future.

For any public-facing occasions, Liu Jun would be the one to step forward.

As for himself, he would stay behind the scenes, strategizing and quietly making a fortune…

After the pleasantries, everyone headed to the fifth-floor office space. The nearly five hundred square meters of office space was already under renovation.

According to Wang Ye and Xiao Hu’s discussions, the entire office was divided into two sections, each with its own entrance.

Four hundred square meters belonged to Xiao Hu’s family’s sports shoe brand company, while the remaining one hundred square meters was for the Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company.

Internally, the two spaces were connected.

Unless someone paid close attention, entering through the Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company’s door, they would assume the entire five hundred square meters belonged to this company!

This was all for appearances. Once business took off, they would inevitably host guests from domestic education departments coming for inspections…

At that time, leading them on a tour of the company—four to five hundred square meters—would make the study abroad agency seem like a major enterprise!

“Here, we’ll partition three separate rooms—two around ten square meters each and one around twenty square meters. Use frosted glass for the dividers, and keep the decor simple but elegant, giving it a high-end feel,” Wang Ye instructed as he surveyed the space.

As for the renovation costs, they would be covered by Xiao Hu’s side.

This kind of simple renovation wouldn’t cost much, and since Xiao Hu’s family was also in the renovation business, it made sense to handle it together.

Moreover, the basic structure of the office space was already in place; they only needed to adjust the layout slightly and add some office facilities. It was straightforward.

Judging by the current progress, the entire renovation would be completed in about half a month.

The three partitioned rooms included two smaller ones—a general manager’s office and a VIP reception room—and the larger one would serve as the conference room.

“Will we need to come here to work?” Nalan Yaqi asked curiously.

“During busy periods or when hosting visitors, yes, you’ll need to be here to maintain appearances. Otherwise, it won’t be necessary. We’ll hire a few Russian employees to handle communication with the schools here, as well as tasks like airport pickups and settling in,” Wang Ye replied with a smile.

Running a study abroad agency didn’t require many employees, especially in Moscow, where the work was relatively simple.

It mostly involved receiving student application materials, applying for invitation letters from the university’s foreign affairs office, and then sending those letters back to China.

Once the exchange students arrived in Moscow, they would be picked up from the airport, taken to the university, and helped with dormitory arrangements and enrollment procedures…

It was that simple!

Two employees per school would suffice. Wang Ye didn’t plan to handle many schools—there was no need.

He intended to focus on Moscow State University and the University of Friendship.

Moscow State University had higher fees but a strong reputation, making it ideal for students from wealthier families who couldn’t afford to study in the U.S., UK, Australia, or Canada.

The University of Friendship was more affordable and had some reputation, especially with its international appeal. It was perfect for families with limited funds who still wanted their children to study abroad for a degree…

Focusing on just these two schools had another advantage—they could become “major clients” of these universities!

By building strong relationships with the foreign affairs offices, they could even negotiate for a monopoly once the business scaled up…

…

After touring the office, everyone gathered in the nearly completed conference room of Xiao Hu’s family company for a meeting.

Wang Ye outlined his general plan, and everyone nodded in agreement, expressing no objections.

They truly had no objections to raise. Wang Ye’s plan was thorough, covering all necessary aspects.

Moreover, aside from Liu Jun, the others were still students—what did they know about business?

Xiao Hu’s family had a sizable business, but he himself had limited experience and was still learning.

Nalan Yaqi and Wang Dan were even less involved; they had invested in the study abroad agency because of Wang Ye. Without him, they probably wouldn’t have even considered it…

Liu Jun furrowed his brow. Wang Ye had said a lot, but he hadn’t addressed the key issue—how to actually run the business and recruit students!

For a study abroad agency, recruitment was the core challenge. Without students, all the grand plans were meaningless.

He asked, “Wang Ye, you mentioned before that you would handle domestic recruitment, right?”

This old fox had just placed the biggest “burden” squarely on Wang Ye’s shoulders.

But it made sense. After all, Wang Ye hadn’t invested a single penny—relying solely on his resources and abilities, he had secured the largest share of the company!

Naturally, he had to take on the greatest responsibility: domestic recruitment.

Wang Ye smiled and replied decisively, “I already have a plan for recruitment. Since the company is just starting this year, we don’t have enough personnel or experience to handle a large scale. So, I plan to focus on two cities in Zhongyuan Province first. If we can secure these two areas, we should have a decent number of students. It’s better to do a few things well than to spread ourselves too thin.”

“One of the two cities is definitely your hometown, Wang Ye. What’s the other city? Do you have connections there?” Liu Jun asked immediately.

He already knew the answer—the other city was Wang Dan’s hometown.

But he couldn’t say it outright, and neither could Wang Ye…

“My hometown is a given—I have resources there. The other city is He Luo City. The only problem is that I’m not familiar with He Luo, and I don’t have any connections in the education department. It’s a bit tricky,” Wang Ye said with a troubled expression.

“Hmm, I remember Wang Dan is from He Luo City,” Nalan Yaqi chimed in.

“Is that so?” Wang Ye exclaimed in surprise.

“Yes, I’m from He Luo City. If the company plans to operate there, I can help,” Wang Dan said proudly.

With that, everything was settled!

Wang Ye and Liu Jun exchanged a glance, their eyes gleaming with amusement.

The reason they had brought Wang Dan on board was precisely for this!

But they couldn’t say it too openly—that would make it seem too “calculating…”

Of course, Wang Ye knew that Wang Dan might not understand, but her father certainly would. He would see right through Wang Ye’s intentions in bringing Wang Dan into the company.

But that was another matter entirely. Wang Ye wasn’t worried about Wang Dan’s father refusing.

After all, this was a good thing. Not only would it earn Wang Dan some “pocket money,” but it would also bring political achievements to her father!

In those days, anything related to foreign investment, international cooperation, or studying abroad was worth boasting about…

So Wang Ye was confident that Wang Dan’s father wouldn’t object.

“Alright! Then it’s settled. This year, we’ll focus on Yangnan City and He Luo City in Zhongyuan Province. I’ll first contact a university in Yangnan and establish a cooperation agreement with them. Then, we’ll work together to start recruiting students.”

Wang Ye made the final decision.

Chapter 62: Strategic Partnership

The New Year had just passed, and school was already back in session.

Yangnan Normal College was bustling with activity. Young students filled the campus, brimming with vitality.

Li Changyun had just finished a meeting and was about to return to his office.

But there was no smile on his face. He seemed burdened with worries.

Originally, this school was called Yangnan Normal College, a vocational institution. But two years ago, with the national education reform, it had been upgraded to a full-fledged undergraduate institution.

But changing the name hadn’t helped. Located in a poor prefecture-level city and being a normal school, enrollment was difficult every year.

Unfortunately, Li Changyun was the director of the admissions office, responsible for recruitment.

During the meeting, the president and vice-presidents had taken turns reprimanding him, hoping he could improve enrollment this year and not leave spots unfilled like previous years.

Facing his superiors, Li Changyun didn’t dare to argue. He could only nod obediently.

But inside, he was seething with resentment.

The school was trash—students didn’t want to come. What did that have to do with him, the admissions director?

Still, he had to do his job. Li Changyun planned to dig up some “potential” in the local area.

Out-of-town students probably wouldn’t even consider this school, but local students might have some hope. After all, students willing to attend a second-tier university—wherever they went, it was the same.

Out-of-town second-tier universities were also garbage schools. Attending a local one was more convenient, at least closer to home…

He would visit every high school in the region to give presentations, letting students know there was a proper undergraduate institution right here. When filling out their college preferences, maybe quite a few would choose this place.

As he was thinking, his phone rang.

He pulled it out and saw a long string of numbers on the screen.

He paused, then answered.

“Hello, this is Li Changyun. Who is this?”

“Uncle, it’s me, Wang Ye!” A familiar voice came through the phone.

Li Changyun’s face lit up with a smile. It was Wang Ye, that little brat!

This ungrateful kid—he had doted on him for nothing. He had been abroad for over a month and this was the first time he called!

Li Changyun knew Wang Ye had gone abroad. He had even “sponsored” ten thousand yuan.

He had even suggested Wang Ye attend his school, and he could arrange for a guaranteed graduate program later. But Wang Ye didn’t even look at this school—it was a normal school, after all.

From this, you could see how bad this school was…

“You finally remembered to call your uncle? How are you doing over there? Found a girlfriend yet? Haha.” Li Changyun laughed heartily.

“Hehe, I’ve been busy studying and getting used to the environment. I haven’t called home much either. By the way, Uncle, I have something important to discuss with you today.” Wang Ye said.

Boys weren’t that meticulous. After arriving in Moscow, he had been busy with all sorts of things—who had time to call home every day?

“Oh, important business? Let’s hear it. What’s this important matter?” Li Changyun teased.

He didn’t think Wang Ye would have any real business. After all, he was just an eighteen-year-old boy who hadn’t even started university yet!

“I’ve made a friend here who is the general manager of a Russian study abroad agency. He wants to partner with Chinese universities for student recruitment. In short, it’s like what I did—helping Chinese high school graduates study in Moscow!” Wang Ye explained straightforwardly.

Li Changyun’s expression turned serious.

As the admissions director, he naturally understood what this so-called cooperation entailed!

In all of Zhongyuan Province, very few universities were involved in this.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to, but they didn’t have the channels!

In 2001, China had only opened its doors for a few years. Most universities didn’t have channels for international exchange.

Only the old, prestigious schools had the ability to handle study abroad services!

This was a very lucrative business…

The cooperation Wang Ye mentioned was clearly a sweet deal!

“Partnering with Chinese universities? What are the requirements?” Li Changyun asked hurriedly.

He didn’t dare to ask directly if his school qualified—he lacked that confidence.

Actually, he thought Wang Ye was calling to ask him to introduce a good university in the provincial capital for cooperation. He never imagined it would be with his own school.

“There aren’t many requirements. As long as it’s a legitimate undergraduate institution with the qualifications to register a study abroad agency in China. By the way, Uncle, do you know of any universities that want to get into this business? Help me introduce them.” Wang Ye played dumb.

“Slap!”

Li Changyun smacked his thigh, wincing in pain.

But he didn’t care about that now. He quickly responded, “That’s easy! Our school can do it! The question is, how do we cooperate?”

Clearly, if this could be arranged, the so-called study abroad agency would fall under the jurisdiction of his admissions office!

It would mean his power had invisibly increased…

“Your school… Well, it’s not impossible. The cooperation is simple. Your school needs to register a study abroad agency, then sign an agreement with my friend’s company. Your side will handle domestic recruitment, and my friend’s company will handle all overseas matters. They will also send experts from Moscow State University and the University of Friendship to assist with domestic promotion and recruitment. For every student recruited, your school gets a commission of five thousand yuan.” Wang Ye explained in detail.

Wang Ye didn’t take the initiative to say he wanted to cooperate with his uncle’s school. Instead, he waited for his uncle to bring it up!

This involved negotiation tactics.

If you took the initiative to seek cooperation, the other party might not care or impose harsh conditions.

But if the other party took the initiative to seek cooperation, the dynamic would reverse.

Li Changyun pondered for a moment, weighing the pros and cons.

The conditions Wang Ye mentioned were quite good. Registering a study abroad agency at his school was simple—just a matter of procedure.

As for investment, there was almost none!

They already had office space, staff (they could pull a few from the admissions office), and recruitment channels!

They didn’t need to handle overseas matters—just domestic recruitment—and then wait to collect money!

He almost blurted out his agreement, but out of caution, Li Changyun continued, “Is your friend’s company reliable? This is a big deal. We can’t treat it lightly. Parents spend so much money to send their children abroad. We must ensure their safety and stability. If something goes wrong, we’ll be held responsible.”

Wang Ye had only contacted him now because everything was prepared.

So he responded decisively, “It’s a very legitimate company. They’ve already formed a strategic partnership with Moscow State University and the University of Friendship and obtained authorization from both universities. If you need it, Uncle, I can have them send you the relevant documents!”

Chapter 63: The Plan Takes Shape

The “strategic partnership agreement” Wang Ye mentioned was essentially having Liu Jun go to the international offices of Moscow State University and the University of Friendship to sign a contract, granting the Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company the authority to recruit students in mainland China on their behalf.

This was something any study abroad agency could obtain…

Because for the international offices of Moscow State University and the University of Friendship, the more exchange students, the better!

They would be thrilled to have more agencies helping them recruit students.

Especially the University of Friendship—this school was established with the purpose of educating foreign exchange students!

But this authorization document, stamped with a blue seal, was still quite impressive in China.

So when Wang Ye mentioned that the study abroad service company had authorization from Moscow State University and the University of Friendship, Li Changyun felt much more at ease.

This was reliable!

He hurriedly said, “Alright, alright. Then have that company scan the documents and send them to my email. I need to bring them when I report to the school leaders; otherwise, it’s just empty talk, and I won’t be able to explain clearly. Oh, and… Wang Ye, could you ask your friend to let our school send someone over to visit and inspect? You know, hearing is believing, but seeing is believing. We have to see it for ourselves to feel at ease.”

Uncle Li’s words were tactful, but Wang Ye immediately understood.

Talking about inspections was just an excuse—they just wanted to use this opportunity to give the school leaders a chance to go abroad…

These days, going abroad for inspections was something many people dreamed of!

For a school like Yangnan Normal School, it was likely that none of the leaders had ever had the chance to go abroad for inspections before.

Now that they finally had the opportunity, they couldn’t let it slip away.

Wang Ye pondered for a moment before replying, “My friend mentioned this to me before. He said they could invite two or three school leaders to come for an inspection. Of course, their company will also send people to your school to inspect in person. Once the cooperation is truly established, there will be plenty of opportunities for exchange.”

Li Changyun was overjoyed and immediately said, “Perfect! Let’s go with three spots. Once the documents arrive, I’ll report to the leaders right away!”

Finally, Wang Ye didn’t forget to remind his uncle not to mention this to his family…

…

With Uncle Li’s connection, reaching a cooperation agreement with Yangnan Normal College was clearly not a problem.

Wang Ye had long been mentally prepared. The reason he had specifically set up a decent office space and prepared forty thousand US dollars in startup funds was to receive guests from China…

Not only the leaders from Uncle Li’s school but possibly also some leaders from the He Luo City Education Department.

Of course, they couldn’t invite too many people—probably just five or six in total.

Otherwise, the expenses would be too high, and Wang Ye didn’t have that much money…

Including round-trip airfare and local expenses, each person would cost about two thousand US dollars!

And that was without going to high-end places; otherwise, the costs would be uncontrollable.

But this money had to be spent—it was an investment. In the study abroad agency business, relationships were crucial.

…

After making the call, Wang Ye instructed Liu Jun to send an official business letter to Yangnan Normal College on behalf of the company.

It formally expressed the intention to establish a study abroad agency and sent over the company’s qualifications along with the authorization documents from Moscow State University and the University of Friendship.

Naturally, it also invited Yangnan Normal College to send three staff members to Moscow for an on-site inspection, with the Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company covering all travel and accommodation expenses.

When Li Changyun received the business letter and documents, he was overjoyed and immediately went to the principal’s office.

After reporting everything in detail, Li Changyun didn’t forget to take credit:

“Principal, I put in a lot of effort to contact this foreign-funded institution through my nephew. To be honest, they originally wanted to cooperate with Zhongyuan University, but they didn’t think much of our school. However, after I persuaded them, we managed to secure the deal! Also, the three spots for the overseas inspection—our side covers the expenses. Since our admissions office will be responsible for the follow-up cooperation, I will be going. The other two spots can be allocated by you, Principal.”

The Zhongyuan University he mentioned was the only key university in Zhongyuan Province, with a reputation and strength far surpassing Yangnan Normal College!

The principal was also delighted and gave Li Changyun a hearty pat on the shoulder, praising him:

“Well done, Old Li! It’s all about adapting to change. Your thinking is quite flexible—coming up with the idea to cooperate with a foreign study abroad service agency to handle overseas studies. This isn’t common in our province. By the way, is the other company reliable? We’ll be taking on a lot of responsibility if we cooperate with them on study abroad matters.”

Li Changyun immediately handed over the Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company’s qualifications and the authorization documents from Moscow State University and the University of Friendship, guaranteeing with a thump on his chest:

“Absolutely no problem! Here are the company’s registration documents—completely legitimate, with strong capabilities. They’ve obtained authorization from Moscow State University and the University of Friendship, which can’t be faked. Plus, we’re going to inspect in person.”

“Not bad, not bad. Since this is a major matter, I’ll go myself. As for the other spot… let’s give it to Vice Principal Hu. He’s about to retire, and it’s rare for him to have the chance to go abroad and broaden his horizons before retiring. We can’t forget about him,” the principal said.

Li Changyun had no objections and, upon returning, sent an email to the Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company according to the principal’s instructions, expressing the school’s strong interest in cooperation and hoping that the other party would send an invitation letter as soon as possible to facilitate their visit and face-to-face discussions…

The school leadership even held a special meeting to discuss this matter.

No one had any objections to the cooperation—everyone was in full agreement.

After all, it was a matter of generating revenue for the school and involved foreign exchange, which was reasonable and had no reason to be opposed.

However, there was some disagreement over the allocation of the overseas inspection spots.

The other vice principals expressed that they were also very concerned about this matter and wanted to go abroad to inspect in person…

In the end, the principal had to spend a long time appeasing everyone.

He assured them that once the cooperation was underway, there would be plenty of opportunities for overseas inspections in the future. This time, it was for work, so there was no need to fight over it.

…

The domestic cooperative school was basically settled. Wang Ye wasn’t worried that Uncle Li and the others would back out after coming over.

Because he hadn’t lied about anything—he genuinely intended to run a study abroad agency. This was a mutually beneficial business, and Yangnan Normal College had no reason to refuse.

What he needed to settle now was Wang Dan’s father’s side!

So he went to find Wang Dan and carefully instructed her to call home and tell them about this matter.

He specifically mentioned that Wang Dan didn’t need to hide anything and should tell her father the entire truth.

Chapter 64: The Lone Commander

“Dad, are you off work? I have something to tell you. These past few days, a friend of mine started a study abroad agency in Moscow. They plan to handle business for Chinese students coming to Russia to study. I thought it was pretty reliable, so I invested five thousand dollars. You…”

“What? You invested in a company to run a study abroad agency? Nonsense! We sent you abroad to study properly. All you need to do is focus on your studies, graduate smoothly, and come back home. We don’t expect you to earn money, and we’re not short on money either. What’s the point of all this?”

The call had barely begun before her father cut her off, launching into a tirade.

Wang Dan’s face flushed red. With Wang Ye right beside her, this was way too embarrassing!

She was about to retort when she saw Wang Ye gently pressing his hands down, signaling her to stay calm.

Fine, for Ye Ge’s sake, she wouldn’t argue with her dad.

Wang Dan swallowed her frustration. After her father finished, she spoke up, “Don’t get upset yet. Hear me out, okay?”

“Alright, go on. I’d like to hear just how far this nonsense has gone!” Wang Dan’s father was clearly still angry.

He wasn’t upset about the five thousand dollars. He was furious that his daughter hadn’t listened to him and focused on her studies!

“Our study abroad agency has official authorization from Moscow State University and the University of Friendship to recruit students in China on their behalf. Also, we just finalized a deal with a domestic university to collaborate on study abroad programs. The domestic university will handle recruitment, and our company will manage the procedures here in Moscow. All the processes are already in place. We just need to find students.”

Wang Dan gave a brief overview of the company’s situation.

On the other end of the line, Wang Dan’s father fell silent.

After calming down, he realized this might not be as reckless as he thought…

If what his daughter said was true—if they already had authorization from Moscow State University and the University of Friendship, and it was a legitimate company that had even secured a domestic partner university—what did that mean?

He was a seasoned professional in the education sector. Though he didn’t have much experience with study abroad agencies, he knew a thing or two.

This meant the deal was practically done!

Just as his daughter said, all they needed was a source of students, and they could keep sending them abroad.

This was a lucrative industry. The processing fees alone would be substantial.

Thinking this over, he asked, “Why would they let you invest in their company? And which domestic university is their partner?”

This was the key question.

Following Wang Ye’s instructions, Wang Dan answered honestly, “They just started this year, so they’re only operating in two regions: Yangnan City and He Luo City. Their partner is the Yangnan Normal College. For He Luo, they want to work with your education department for recruitment and promotion.”

Everything matched up with what Wang Dan’s father had suspected!

They let his daughter invest because of him…

But this wasn’t anything unseemly.

If the company were in China, he might have objected—after all, he had to avoid conflicts of interest.

But the company was abroad, and his daughter was abroad too!

So there wasn’t really a problem…

Still, he couldn’t say this directly to his daughter. After some thought, he said, “Have the company’s manager contact me directly. I’ll talk to them.”

“Dad, are you agreeing or not? Giving students in our region a way to study abroad is a good thing. As the head of the Education Bureau, you should welcome it,” Wang Dan said coyly.

“Mmm, I understand. If there are no issues, it should be fine,” Wang Dan’s father replied vaguely.

That was how leaders spoke…

…

After hanging up, Wang Dan looked at Wang Ye in confusion. “Did you hear that? Did my dad agree?”

She didn’t understand, but Wang Ye clearly did.

He nodded with a smile. “Your uncle’s side is fine. Tomorrow, I’ll have Liu Jun contact him and invite them over for an inspection.”

Wang Dan perked up. “Invite my dad over? Does that mean I’ll get to see him?”

“He probably won’t come himself. It depends on him,” Wang Ye said, shaking his head.

Just as Wang Ye predicted, when Liu Jun contacted Wang Dan’s father and extended the invitation, he also offered three spots for the He Luo City Education Bureau to send people for an overseas inspection.

Wang Dan’s father didn’t come himself. Instead, he sent other staff members from the bureau…

…

By the time everything was arranged in China, it was already March.

Liu Jun had officially resigned from his previous company and taken up the position of general manager at Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company.

His ten thousand dollars and Xiao Hu’s twenty thousand had already been deposited into the company account.

Wang Dan and Nalan Yaqi’s ten thousand each—Wang Ye hadn’t kept any for himself—had also gone to the company.

That meant the company now had a total of forty thousand dollars in its account!

This was all the money the company had…

Next, the biggest expense would be hosting the domestic clients coming to Moscow for an on-site inspection.

Yangnan Normal College and the He Luo City Education Bureau were sending a total of six people.

Following Wang Ye’s suggestion, the budget per person was set at twenty-five hundred dollars, which should be enough.

Round-trip airfare cost eight hundred dollars per person. Accommodation, meals, and transportation in Moscow would add up to seventeen hundred dollars.

If they spent carefully, it would be sufficient.

Besides, this kind of inspection didn’t need to be extravagant. That would actually be bad.

Otherwise, the people coming from China might suspect Qingyun Study Abroad had some hidden agenda. Why else would they spend so much on them?

The company’s renovations were also complete. Wang Ye had checked it out once—it looked pretty good, simple and elegant.

If there was anything missing, it was that the company still had no employees…

Just Liu Jun, the lone commander!

But he was already working on hiring. He planned to recruit four Russians to handle the backend work.

Meanwhile, next door at Xiao Hu’s company, things were much livelier.

Alexander had already jumped ship and was now the business manager. Xiao Hu was paying him a handsome salary.

When Wang Ye saw him at the company, he noticed Alexander was a far cry from his former self.

Dressed in a sharp suit, his face glowing with health, his hair neatly combed and slicked back with gel—he was nothing like the disheveled middle-aged man with the worn-out gym bag he used to be.

Xiao Hu’s company wasn’t small. They had over a dozen business staff, and with finance and administration, the total headcount was around twenty or thirty.

Wang Ye had discussed with Xiao Hu that when the domestic group came for their inspection, they would have Xiao Hu’s employees help Qingyun put on a good show.

After all, the two companies were connected internally, with no partitions between them. From the outside, they looked like one big company.

Otherwise, with just Liu Jun as the lone commander, it would look too shabby. People would definitely question the company’s capabilities…

Chapter 65: If You Want It, You Can Have It

Monday morning, Alyona arrived at the classroom on time, ready to start the lesson.

As soon as she walked in, she was surprised to find Wang Ye sitting there.

Over the past period, Wang Ye hadn’t attended any classes. The last time they spoke on the phone, he mentioned having things to handle and requested leave for a while.

After all, this was just preparatory courses—attending classes wasn’t crucial. As long as you could pass the exams, it was fine.

With Wang Ye’s Russian proficiency, passing the exams was absolutely no problem.

So, Alyona didn’t mind Wang Ye skipping classes.

“Misha, why are you here for class today?” she asked with a smile.

“Misha” was the nickname for “Mikhail,” the Russian name Wang Ye had recently adopted. After all, he would be dealing with Russians more often in the future, so having a Russian name was quite necessary.

When choosing the name, he had even called Alyona to ask for her opinion. This was the name she had recommended.

The name had quite a background—Mikhail was one of the seven great archangels in Christianity.

In Europe, Mikhail, Michel, and Michael all meant the same thing and were very common.

Actually, Wang Ye’s proper Russian name should be “Mikhail.” Only those close to him would call him “Misha.”

Alyona had shared meals and drinks with Wang Ye, so compared to other students in the class, their relationship was much closer. Thus, she directly called him Misha.

“Well, things at the company are mostly wrapped up, and I don’t have much to do these days, so I came to class. Oh, Alyona, let me treat you to a meal at Building Seven Cafeteria. Thanks for helping me pick a name. Also, there’s something else I’d like to discuss with you.”

Wang Ye spoke in fluent Russian, his pace quick, so the other students in the class didn’t understand a word.

Alyona smiled and nodded, not refusing.

To her, Wang Ye was purely a friend.

…

After school, Wang Ye waited for Alyona to pack her things, and they went to Building Seven Cafeteria together.

Alyona had eaten here before, but not often, because her salary wasn’t enough to support…

The food here was simple, as usual—grilled meat with mashed potatoes, some fries and pickled cucumbers, and a large glass of draft beer each.

“How are things at the company? Last time I heard you mention starting a study abroad agency to bring Chinese students here to study?” Alyona asked curiously.

Wang Ye had mentioned this to her before, but not in detail.

Wang Ye nodded. “Things are going well. In a while, I might need to go back to China to do some recruitment promotions.”

Alyona said somewhat enviously, “That sounds nice, being able to fly around. Don’t laugh at me, but I’ve never been on a plane before.”

It was clear that Alyona’s family wasn’t very well-off.

In fact, during those years, many Russian families were struggling!

You could say the entire country, except for a few oligarchs, was having a hard time…

“If you want it, you can have it,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

“Huh?” Alyona didn’t quite understand what Wang Ye meant.

“Do you want to come work at my company? In the future, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to fly, even to the point of getting tired of it. As for the pay, you don’t need to worry at all. You know Alexander, right? He’s also a preparatory course teacher, that middle-aged man who often comes to work with a big sports bag.”

Wang Ye made it clear why he had invited Alyona to dinner.

He wanted to poach her for his company!

Honestly, such a beautiful girl, stuck in a school as a preparatory teacher, was a complete waste of talent…

Wang Ye planned to give her a bigger “stage.”

Of course, he had his own motives…

…

Alyona was taken aback, blinking her big eyes, not knowing how to react.

Wang Ye wanted to poach her for his company?

This was something Alyona had truly never considered.

She hadn’t really thought about changing jobs. Although the pay at the school was low, making it hard to support herself, being a university teacher was still somewhat respected.

If it were a big company, that would be fine, but job opportunities in Russia these years were actually quite scarce. Apart from those energy, telecom, and banking giants, there weren’t many other companies.

As for foreign investment, did the Large Market count…

She hesitated for a moment and asked, “I don’t know much about your company. Also, what would I do there? What about Alexander? He resigned a few days ago, but I’m not close to him, so I don’t know what he’s up to. Did he go to your company?”

Alyona didn’t outright refuse, but she didn’t agree either, which meant she was still undecided.

Wang Ye smiled and explained:

“Alexander didn’t go to my company, but he went to a friend’s company, a proper sports shoe brand company.

My study abroad service company and that sports shoe company…

Well, you could say they’re sister companies.

My friend is also a shareholder in my company, and both companies share the same office space.

I was the one who introduced Alexander there. Now, his monthly salary is fifteen hundred US dollars, as the sales department manager.

Plus sales commissions, he makes at least two thousand US dollars a month!”

Alyona’s eyes widened in disbelief, exclaiming, “Two thousand US dollars? That’s a lot!”

This amount was indeed substantial, several times higher than her salary as a preparatory teacher!

“Well, he’s in sales, and he had sales experience before, so his salary is quite high. Back when he was still a teacher, Alexander used to set up a stall to sell shoes every day, hehe.”

Wang Ye chuckled, not mocking him.

No one’s efforts go to waste. You never know when accumulated experience might come in handy!

Alexander was a perfect example. If he hadn’t set up a stall to sell shoes every day, he wouldn’t have frequently gone to the Large Market to restock, and he wouldn’t have known so many Russian salespeople.

Then, when Xiao Hu’s company needed to hire a sales department manager, Wang Ye wouldn’t have recommended him.

And he wouldn’t have gotten such a high salary…

This was cause and effect—every cause has its effect.

Alyona was tempted. After all, that salary was much higher than what she was making now!

If she could earn two thousand US dollars a month, she could stay in Moscow. After a few years, she could even buy a big house and bring her whole family over.

But…

Would Wang Ye’s company really be successful…

Alexander went to a sports shoe brand company, which was involved in real industry and foreign trade. Such companies usually had strong capabilities, with stable and enduring business.

But Wang Ye’s company was supposedly a study abroad agency. Alyona had no idea how good that business was.

Also, what could she even do there…

Chapter 66: A Toast to Our Future

“So what exactly do you want me to do over there? I don’t know anything about sales, and I’ve never worked for any company before. Oh, I did work part-time at a fast food restaurant as a server during university,” Alyona said, somewhat embarrassed.

“Be my assistant, of course. After all, I’m the biggest shareholder in the company. When the company grows, I’ll be the chairman, and you’ll be the company secretary,” Wang Ye joked.

Before Alyona could respond, Wang Ye’s smile faded, and he spoke seriously:

“I’m not joking. The reason I want you to come is because my company is a study abroad agency. You’re actually perfect for this—you’re a preparatory course teacher, and you interact with exchange students from all over the world. When we hold promotional events, you can speak about the situation of exchange students here. As a teacher, you’ll be very persuasive.”

Wang Ye wasn’t just bringing Alyona on board because she was beautiful. As he said, when they held study abroad promotional events back in China, Alyona would take the stage as a “former preparatory teacher from the University of Friendship” to introduce the study abroad situation to parents and students.

Not only Alyona, but they would also invite a teacher from Moscow State University or a staff member from the foreign affairs office. If they were going to do this, they had to do it properly and make it stand out!

These days, study abroad agencies’ so-called promotional efforts were nothing more than placing ads in newspapers and magazines. But how many high school students and their parents actually had the chance to see those newspapers and magazines?

So, many potential students had no idea that with their family’s financial situation, they could easily study abroad!

Wang Ye had chosen only two cities to develop the market because he wanted to refine the market and dig up all possible potential students. So, he wouldn’t waste money on newspaper and magazine ads. Instead, he would bring in “education experts” from Moscow State University, the University of Friendship, and relevant domestic departments to hold on-site promotional events for high school students!

This way, students and parents could come together to understand what studying abroad was really like and learn that they didn’t need to spend a lot of money to attend world-renowned universities!

…

Wang Ye’s explanation was quite convincing, and Alyona felt it made sense. She hesitated for a long time, holding her beer mug and taking small sips, her mind racing as she considered whether to go or not. After all, this was a big decision.

It wasn’t easy to stay employed at the University of Friendship. Although the salary wasn’t high, the job was stable…

If she went to Wang Ye’s company, what if the company didn’t do well in the future? What if they couldn’t recruit any students? What if…

In short, the future was full of uncertainties! But there was also a possibility that the company would grow bigger and bigger, and her income would rise accordingly!

The key was how to judge…

Alyona understood that the future of a company depended mainly on the boss’s ability. That is, it depended on Wang Ye himself!

If he was capable enough, the company would develop well. If Wang Ye wasn’t up to the task, then there would be no future…

Should she believe in Wang Ye or not?

Alyona lifted her head and stared intently into Wang Ye’s eyes, as if trying to see something. Wang Ye smiled and met her gaze calmly.

What Wang Ye liked most about Alyona was her eyes—pure, sapphire blue, almost magical, drawing people in…

After more than ten seconds, Alyona’s lips curled slightly, and a smile appeared in her eyes.

“Alright, I agree.”

She agreed!

Wang Ye’s face lit up with a smile, and he raised his beer mug. “A toast to our future!”

His words carried multiple meanings, but to Alyona, it naturally referred to the company’s development. She happily raised her glass and clinked it with Wang Ye’s.

Clink…

Both of them drank it all in one go!

After finishing the toast, Alyona suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked, “Oh, I forgot to ask about the salary and benefits before agreeing. Is it too late to ask now?”

Earlier, Wang Ye had said he wanted her to be his assistant, but he hadn’t mentioned how much he would pay her…

Capitalists were all heartless! Now that she had agreed, what if Wang Ye gave her a low salary? Although it wasn’t very likely, it was better to ask in advance.

“Haha, let’s start with fifteen hundred US dollars a month. Later, when the company grows, it will increase,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

In reality, in Russia’s current situation, offering eight hundred to a thousand US dollars would have many fresh graduates clamoring for the job. Giving Alyona fifteen hundred was a “friendship price,” a few hundred more.

But it was fine. As long as the study abroad agency developed smoothly, it wouldn’t be long before Wang Ye had plenty of money. A few hundred more wasn’t a big deal!

Besides, would the female employees he hired be as beautiful as Alyona…

…

After deciding to work at Wang Ye’s company, their relationship naturally took a step closer. Alyona became more talkative.

“Where is our company located? After I quit, I don’t even know where I’ll live.”

She currently lived in the free dormitory provided by the school. If she quit, she naturally wouldn’t have a place to live. Moscow was an expensive place—low income but high living costs.

If she rented a place, an old-style apartment with one bedroom, one living room, and basic furniture would cost four to five hundred US dollars a month!

Although Wang Ye was giving her fifteen hundred US dollars a month, she still wanted to save money to buy a house in Moscow in the future. She couldn’t afford to spend too much on rent.

“The company is near the Izmailovo metro station, right by the Alpha Hotel. As for where you’ll live… I was just planning to rent a place to make it easier to go to work. The dormitory isn’t very convenient. How about you move in with me? I’ll rent a bigger place,” Wang Ye said casually.

It seemed he didn’t realize that this would mean they were “living together”…

Alyona, however, realized this. Her fair face turned slightly red, but seeing Wang Ye’s open and honest expression, she didn’t know what to say.

Perhaps Wang Ye was simply trying to help her solve her housing problem. If she overthought it, wouldn’t that make her seem too…?

After hesitating, she said, “Then it has to be a two-bedroom apartment.”

If it was a two-bedroom apartment, then living together wouldn’t be a problem.

“Haha, of course it will be two bedrooms. After all, you’re not my girlfriend yet. After we finish with the company’s business, do you want to try dating? After all, you don’t have a boyfriend, and I don’t have a girlfriend. It’s perfect,” Wang Ye laughed.

This time, Alyona’s face truly turned red with embarrassment…

Chapter 67: Luxury Apartment

After convincing Alyona, she not only agreed to work at his company but also to “live together” with him!

So Wang Ye sprang into action.

His business was just getting off the ground, and his wallet wasn’t thick enough to buy a house, so he could only rent for now.

For something like this, he naturally had to consult Liu Jun, the “old hand in Moscow,” who knew the city inside out.

“What? You want to rent a place? Isn’t the dormitory good enough? Why do you want to move out?” Liu Jun was quite surprised to hear Wang Ye wanted to rent an apartment.

“I’ve recruited a Russian girl to work at the company. She’s currently a Russian teacher at the University of Friendship and lives in the school dormitory. But after switching to our company, she won’t have a place to stay, so she needs to rent. I’ve been thinking of moving out too—the dormitory is too crowded and chaotic, not convenient,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Liu Jun immediately understood and teased, “Boss Wang, you’re something else! You’ve only been in Moscow for two months, and not only have you started a company, but you’ve also snagged a girlfriend.”

Wang Ye modestly replied, “Not yet, she hasn’t agreed to be my girlfriend yet. So I need a two-bedroom place. Can you help me ask around? Somewhere near the Alpha Hotel would be convenient.”

He was thinking that living near the Alpha Hotel would make it easier to get to the company.

But Liu Jun shook his head repeatedly. “No, don’t live there. The area near the Alpha Hotel is close to the Large Market, and the security isn’t great. Plus, there aren’t any decent new residential complexes there. The best choice is actually to rent near your school—that area is a wealthy neighborhood with excellent security!”

Hearing Liu Jun say this, Wang Ye remembered that Moscow’s security wasn’t actually that good…

Indeed, if he had to choose between safety and convenience, he would definitely choose safety!

But if he rented near the school, he wouldn’t need Liu Jun’s help—he already had a target in mind.

………………..

Tuesday morning, while the other students went to class, Wang Ye didn’t go again.

After getting up, washing up, and eating breakfast, he put on his coat, grabbed his phone and wallet, and headed out.

He walked through the small forest in the dormitory area, along the small lake, and arrived at the residential area on the opposite side.

It was the same complex he and Alyona had discussed last time!

The residential complexes here were different from those back home—they were relatively small in scale but had much more greenery…

Two high-rise apartment buildings, each with around thirty floors, were nestled in a small forest. There was no gate, just a straight, wide tree-lined path connecting directly to the main road.

Wang Ye took the lakeside path, which led him directly to the apartment building.

In front of the building was a flat lawn and a small plaza, though at this time of year, there was no grass to be seen—just snow…

The small plaza was very clean, with no snow accumulation.

Wang Ye stood in the plaza, looking up. It was quite tall.

The exterior of the building was clad in cream-colored stone, and although it was a new construction, it still retained some European architectural style.

Compared to the old buildings, the large glass windows added a touch of modernity.

The entrance security was quite strict—several burly men in uniforms patrolled back and forth, and non-residents were not allowed inside.

As Wang Ye approached, someone already looked at him warily.

This didn’t faze Wang Ye. Before the security guard could approach, he took the initiative and called out to him with a smile, “Hello, I’d like to rent an apartment here. Where should I go to inquire?”

As he spoke, he took out a cigarette and offered one to the guard.

The guard’s stern expression softened as he took the cigarette. “You’re… Chinese? Your Russian is pretty good.”

“Yeah, my name is Mikhail. I’m a student at the nearby University of Friendship,” Wang Ye introduced himself.

Hearing that he was a student from the University of Friendship, the guard’s attitude changed again, and a smile appeared on his face.

“Hello, I’m Yuri. If you want to rent, you can go to the management office and ask. The apartments here can be bought or rented. As far as I know, there are still quite a few vacant floors. After all, the prices here are way too high—over two thousand dollars per square meter. Who can afford that?” Yuri shrugged, clearly not approving of the price.

Indeed, his salary as a security guard probably wasn’t very high—at most three or four hundred dollars a month.

The housing prices here were way out of his reach!

“Thanks. In a few days, I’ll be a resident here. I’ll treat you to a drink then.”

Following security guard Yuri’s directions, Wang Ye entered the building and went to the management office on the side of the lobby.

The management office door was open, and inside, an elderly woman wearing glasses sat behind a desk, looking down at something.

Russia’s aging population was already quite noticeable. On the streets, subways, buses, and many other places, the proportion of elderly people was much higher than that of young people.

In China, jobs like apartment management would definitely be done by middle-aged or young people.

But in Russia, it was mostly elderly people.

Wang Ye knocked and entered, explaining his purpose.

As the security guard had said, this apartment complex probably wasn’t selling well due to its high prices, so the developer had renovated one of the buildings for rentals.

There were still many vacant units, so Wang Ye easily rented a two-bedroom apartment. It wasn’t very large—just over a hundred square meters.

The furniture and appliances were all included, ready for immediate move-in!

Of course, the price wasn’t cheap—sixteen hundred dollars a month!

The elderly woman enthusiastically took Wang Ye to see the apartment.

The unit Wang Ye chose was on the twenty-seventh floor. Standing by the living room’s floor-to-ceiling windows, he could overlook the small lake between the complex and the University of Friendship, as well as the entire university campus.

The view was quite nice, with forests and a lake…

The interior decoration wasn’t overly luxurious—it followed a simple style, bright and clean, and should be quite comfortable to live in.

He also looked at the bedrooms. One was slightly larger than the other. The larger bedroom had its own bathroom and a small walk-in closet, totaling over thirty square meters.

The smaller bedroom was a bit modest, only about ten square meters, and didn’t have its own bathroom.

After looking around, Wang Ye expressed satisfaction and followed the elderly woman back to the management office, where he signed the lease.

There was no deposit required, but he had to prepay the rent monthly. At the end of each month, he would go to the management office to pay the next month’s rent.

This was good—if it were like in China, with a three-month deposit and one month’s rent upfront, Wang Ye might not have enough money…

………………..

After signing the contract, paying the money, and receiving the keys, he could move in at any time.

Wang Ye hadn’t told Alyona about this yet.

He planned to give her a little surprise…

After all, this was the kind of place Alyona had always dreamed of.

The only downside was that it was just a rental, not a purchase.

But Wang Ye believed that it wouldn’t be long before he could afford to buy a place here.

He wasn’t interested in buying property for investment—no one in Moscow was speculating on real estate anyway. He just wanted to help Alyona fulfill her dream…

Chapter 68: Our Home

Alyona had just finished class and was preparing to pack up and return to her dormitory when she received a call from Wang Ye.

He had called her office landline, since Alyona still hadn’t bought a mobile phone.

“I’m waiting for you downstairs at Building No. 6. Come find me when you pass by.”

Alyona didn’t ask what it was about; she simply agreed without hesitation.

Professionally, Wang Ye was now her boss.

Personally, they were in that stage where they were more than friends but not quite lovers…

So, whether it was for a meal or something else, Alyona had no reason to refuse.

She stuffed her books into a slightly worn bag, slung it over her shoulder, and headed downstairs.

Building No. 6 was where the preparatory students lived, and Alyona would pass by it on her way back to her own dormitory.

Before she even reached Building No. 6, she spotted Wang Ye standing at the entrance, smoking. When he saw her, he waved from afar.

A smile spread across Alyona’s face as she quickened her pace and walked over.

Wang Ye took out his cigarette case, lit one for himself, and then handed it to Alyona.

The entire process was natural and fluid, as if it were meant to be, without any awkwardness.

Alyona only realized what had happened after she had already taken two puffs…

If it had been anyone else, she might have been disgusted and thrown the cigarette away.

But with Wang Ye, she didn’t feel any discomfort. Instead, she felt a strange sweetness in her heart…

“Let’s go. I’ll take you somewhere,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

“Okay, where to?” Alyona asked curiously.

“Give me your bag; I’ll carry it for you. Yesterday, we talked about renting a place outside, right? I’ve already found one this morning. Let me show it to you,” Wang Ye said.

After a moment’s hesitation, Alyona handed over the bag slung over her arm. It was still a little heavy.

“So fast! Where is the place? Near Izmailovo Metro Station?” Alyona asked in surprise.

They had only discussed it yesterday, and she hadn’t even gone to the school to resign yet. Wang Ye had already found a place.

This efficiency was too high…

“I asked a friend, and he said the security around the Large Market isn’t very good. He suggested we live near the school. This area is a wealthy neighborhood with better security. So, I went to a nearby community this morning and rented a place,” Wang Ye explained with a smile.

Alyona nodded vaguely. She didn’t know much about these things, so she just went along with whatever Wang Ye said.

After walking a few steps with Wang Ye, she realized the direction was a bit off.

“This is… going to the apartment across the lake?” Alyona asked, wide-eyed.

There were many residential areas near the University of Friendship, but the most upscale one was definitely the high-rise apartment across the lake.

Alyona sometimes took walks by the lake and had often dreamed of living there one day.

Now, it was actually happening?

“Yes, there’s a fully furnished place for rent over there. It comes with basic furniture and appliances, so it’s very convenient to live in,” Wang Ye replied.

“But… but the rent must be very high!” Alyona said hesitantly.

Wang Ye had mentioned yesterday that he would rent the place and let Alyona live there for free.

Alyona had accepted it, thinking of it as a benefit from her company boss…

If it were an ordinary residence, she wouldn’t have minded. But this place…

She felt guilty about living there without paying, at least that’s how she felt.

“It’s not that high, less than two thousand dollars a month. I rented a two-bedroom place. As you requested, each of us gets our own bedroom,” Wang Ye said.

The price left Alyona speechless.

With her current salary as a teacher, she would have to work half a year to afford one month’s rent…

Even if she switched to Wang Ye’s company, her monthly salary still wouldn’t cover the rent!

After a moment’s hesitation, she tactfully said, “Maybe we should find a regular residential building to rent. The apartment by the lake is too expensive.”

Wang Ye waved his hand and smiled. “This is just temporary. In a few months, you might not think the rent here is expensive.”

In Wang Ye’s eyes, the rent wasn’t high at all.

In a few months, once the study abroad agency business took off, they would be making a fortune!

Renting a place was nothing; even buying one wouldn’t be a problem.

…

Seeing that Wang Ye had made up his mind, Alyona didn’t say anything more.

She wasn’t the kind of girl who would hesitate over such things. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have dared to quit her university job and follow Wang Ye to start a company.

After spending some time with him, perhaps relying on a woman’s intuition, she believed that Wang Ye was someone who could achieve great things!

So, following him shouldn’t be a mistake…

After a short walk, they arrived at the apartment building by the lake.

It was the same young man named Yuri. When he saw Wang Ye and Alyona approaching, and the pass Wang Ye showed him, he understood that Wang Ye had already rented a place here. The beautiful girl beside him must be Wang Ye’s girlfriend…

He greeted them warmly and, when Alyona wasn’t looking, gave Wang Ye a thumbs-up.

The meaning was clear: he was praising Wang Ye for his abilities…

Wang Ye smiled but didn’t say anything. He just waved back and led Alyona into the lobby.

The elevator here finally had a modern feel—spacious and bright, and most importantly, there wasn’t a large woman sitting inside…

From the moment she entered the lobby, Alyona felt overwhelmed.

Everything here was so different from what she was used to.

So this was how rich people lived!

The floor was made of marble, polished to a shine where you could see your reflection.

Unlike the dormitory floors made of small wooden planks that creaked with every step.

The elevator’s interior walls were made of stainless steel, and the overhead lights were bright.

When they reached the room on the twenty-seventh floor, Wang Ye spread his arms and said with a smile, “This will be our… home from now on! What do you think? Is it okay?”

Alyona wanted to say it was more than okay—it was amazing!

In Moscow, this was already considered a high-end residence.

Apart from the mansions and villas of the ultra-rich, which were much more luxurious, this was about as good as it got for ordinary people!

If this was just “okay,” then the school dormitory she and Wang Ye lived in was worse than a garbage dump…

…

As Wang Ye showed Alyona the bedrooms, he said, “You can take the larger bedroom. It has its own bathroom, which is more convenient.”

The two bedrooms were clearly different in size.

Wang Ye didn’t mind; he could live in either one.

To show his gentlemanly side, he naturally let Alyona have the larger room.

Is anyone there? Did I set the fan value too high for comments? It feels like no one is talking.

Chapter 69: Give Yourself a Chance

Alyona immediately waved her hands in refusal. “No, no, that won’t do. I’ll just take the smaller room. After all… you’re the one renting this place.”

She couldn’t bring herself to accept the larger bedroom without contributing a single ruble. It just didn’t feel right.

Wang Ye tried to persuade her a bit more, but seeing her firm refusal, he dropped the subject. It was only temporary anyway. Once their relationship progressed further…

Wouldn’t they just end up sharing a bedroom? At that point, it wouldn’t matter anymore.

…

It was clear that Alyona loved the place. While the university dormitory was also a single room, it was still a dormitory—crowded, noisy, and nothing compared to this. Here, for the first time, she felt like she had a “home.”

Even if it was just a rented apartment…

After looking around, she started muttering about what else the place needed. The basic appliances and furniture were already there; all that was left were daily essentials. If she were to cook, she’d need pots, pans, and everything else.

There was no food delivery here, so cooking for herself was necessary.

…

After checking out the apartment, the two prepared to head back to the university. On the way, Alyona sighed, “I’ll submit my resignation tomorrow. I never thought I’d leave the University of Friendship. I always imagined I’d work there for life, just like the old professors…”

Her emotions were indeed complicated. On one hand, she was excited about the new life awaiting her at Wang Ye’s company—a completely different world from what she knew.

But on the other hand, leaving the university meant stepping into an uncertain future!

Even though she and Wang Ye had discussed it yesterday, and she had agreed to resign, she had spent the entire night hesitating. She hadn’t gone through with it immediately. It was only after school, when Wang Ye brought her to see the new apartment, that she finally made up her mind.

After all, she was still young. Why not take a chance?

Besides, she had a soft spot for Wang Ye…

Standing at over 1.8 meters tall, he was considered quite tall even in Russia. His features were sharp and well-defined, with fair skin—likely appealing to Western tastes. In Alyona’s eyes, he was quite the handsome man.

Of course, that wasn’t the main reason. What truly mattered was that, after spending time with him, she found Wang Ye to be very “mature.” Whether in speech or action, he gave off a refreshing, comforting vibe.

Even when he did something slightly “inappropriate,” like offering her a cigarette just now, it was hard to feel annoyed…

Alyona could tell that Wang Ye had feelings for her. His actions made it clear—he was pursuing her.

After careful consideration, Alyona decided to give Wang Ye a chance.

And in doing so, she was also giving herself a chance…

…

Wang Ye noticed Alyona’s reluctance and smiled. “The best views are always beyond the horizon. You’re only in your twenties. If you stay at the university, you can already see what your life will be like thirty years from now. Don’t you think that’s a shame? Do you really want to end up like the elevator lady in Dormitory 13?”

The elevator lady in Dormitory 13 was the stereotypical Russian grandmother—wide hips, a massive rear, and a sharp tongue…

Wang Ye was joking, of course, and Alyona couldn’t help but giggle. She couldn’t imagine herself turning into that elevator lady—how awful would that be?

But his words did lighten her mood. He was right. Staying at the university forever would be far too dull.

Following the same routine, finding an ordinary partner, getting married, having kids, becoming a senior teacher in a few years, getting a small raise that still wouldn’t be enough… If she was lucky, she might get transferred to teach at the main campus, spend another decade or two to become a lecturer, and if she was really lucky, she might make associate professor before retirement, earning five or six hundred dollars a month…

That kind of life really was boring. She could already see how it would end.

“Alright then, I’ll be counting on you, boss,” she said playfully, her steps becoming lighter, almost skipping like a little girl.

“Haha, of course I’ll take care of you. Don’t worry about a thing,” Wang Ye laughed.

Alyona was one of the people who had left the deepest impression on Wang Ye during his seven or eight years of studying and living in Moscow in his “previous life.” Now that he had the chance to “fulfill his dream,” he certainly wouldn’t let her down.

…

On their way back, they decided that since the apartment was already rented, they should move in as soon as possible. Otherwise, they’d just be wasting money—it cost several dozen dollars a day!

Once they returned to the dormitory, they would each pack their things. Wang Ye’s belongings were simple—just one large suitcase, which he could carry over himself. Alyona had a bit more, so Wang Ye would need to help her move.

After a moment’s thought, Wang Ye instructed, “I’ll call a couple of guys to help. That way, we can get everything done in one trip. Once you’re packed, give me a call, and I’ll bring people to your building. Oh right, not having a phone is really inconvenient. After we finish moving, we’ll need to go shopping anyway, so we can get you a phone then.”

Alyona naturally had no objections and nodded in agreement.

…

Back at the dormitory, Wang Ye began packing his things. Just then, Song Xiao Gang returned with the phone cards. Seeing Wang Ye’s actions, he asked in surprise, “Ye Ge, what are you doing? Changing dorms?”

“I rented a place outside. I’m moving out,” Wang Ye replied with a smile.

“Ah? Then… it’ll be hard to see you from now on. Oh, where did you rent? Is it far from the university?” Song Xiao Gang asked, clearly disappointed.

He was genuinely reluctant to see Wang Ye leave. Even though he was taller and a few months older, deep down, Song Xiao Gang truly respected Wang Ye.

Plus, with the recent success in selling phone cards, he had actually made some money…

He had hoped to stick with Wang Ye, but now, after only two months in the dormitory, Wang Ye was already moving out.

“It’s not far. You know that apartment across from the small lake, right? Come over for meals and drinks sometime. Oh, are you free later? Help me move my stuff and get familiar with the place,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

“Over there? That’s great, really close. What else would I be doing? Of course I’ll help you move, Ye Ge,” Song Xiao Gang said, his face lighting up.

He knew that apartment—it really was nearby. If that was the case, then Wang Ye moving there wasn’t such a big deal. He could drop by whenever he had the chance…

Besides Song Xiao Gang, Wang Ye also called Liu Xiao Jie. With these two helping, they should have enough hands. After all, Alyona was a recent graduate; she couldn’t have that much stuff…

Chapter 70: How to Sleep at Night

As soon as Wang Ye called, Liu Xiao Jie came over immediately.

The moment he stepped in, he blurted out, “Ye Ge, you’re moving out? Man, this dormitory really isn’t great. I might move out too. By the way, how much is the rent for your place? If it’s not too expensive, I’ll come be your neighbor.”

“Not expensive, less than two thousand dollars a month. It’s that apartment across the lake. The conditions are pretty good—fully furnished, ready to move in,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Liu Xiao Jie deflated upon hearing this. Two thousand dollars a month just for rent?

That was way out of his budget!

His family was slightly better off, but after tuition, they only gave him two thousand dollars a year for living expenses.

That was just enough for one month’s rent…

So where would he live for the remaining eleven months?

What would he eat…

He didn’t know much about Moscow yet, so he had no idea how high the rents were here!

Once he learned more, he probably wouldn’t bring up renting a place again.

Giving up on the idea of renting, Liu Xiao Jie looked around and spotted a large suitcase standing there.

Curious, he asked, “Ye Ge, is this all you have? Just this one suitcase? The three of us can carry it—no need to go through all that trouble. I can handle it myself!”

This guy talked a lot, but he was enthusiastic and kind-hearted…

Wang Ye shook his head and laughed. “Don’t rush. I only have one suitcase, but we also need to help someone else move. She’s renting the place with me.”

At this, both Song Xiao Gang and Liu Xiao Jie perked up with interest.

If Wang Ye hadn’t mentioned it, they wouldn’t have thought he was sharing a place with someone!

They had a good relationship with Wang Ye, but neither of them knew he was moving out, let alone with someone. Could it be Zhou Yuan?

“Is it Old Zhou?” Song Xiao Gang asked hurriedly.

They couldn’t think of anyone else.

As for girls?

They didn’t dare think about that—they were just fresh out of high school, after all…

“No, it’s Alyona. You know her,” Wang Ye said frankly, not hiding anything.

After all, they were about to help Alyona move, so there was no point in hiding it!

Song Xiao Gang and Liu Xiao Jie both widened their eyes in disbelief, speechless.

This was beyond their imagination…

Not only was Wang Ye moving out to live with a girl, but that girl was Russian.

And if that wasn’t wild enough, she was also his Russian teacher…

Their minds went blank, unsure how to even react.

After a long pause, Song Xiao Gang finally spoke. “Wow, Ye Ge, you’re something else! Last time Alyona came over for dinner, I thought something was up between you two, but I never expected things to move this fast! You haven’t even done anything yet, and you’re already moving in together?”

His words echoed Liu Xiao Jie’s thoughts.

Liu Xiao Jie was even more direct, giving a thumbs-up. “Ye Ge, you’re really making us Chinese guys look good! You just got here and already landed such a beautiful Russian girl. Teach me a few tricks later, huh? I want a Russian girlfriend too. It’ll help with my Russian, hehe.”

Maybe it was a personality thing, but even though their preparatory course teachers often encouraged the guys to date Russian girls to improve their language skills, not many Chinese exchange students actually did it. Instead, it was the guys from Latin America or even Africa who usually ended up with Russian girlfriends.

In this batch of preparatory students, Wang Ye was definitely the first to get a Russian girlfriend. The other guys hadn’t even dared to think about it…

“Stop talking nonsense. Alyona and I are just friends, not what you’re thinking,” Wang Ye explained helplessly.

“Living together and still just friends? Oh, I get it—boyfriend and girlfriend,” Liu Xiao Jie said, not believing a word.

Honestly, in their eyes, Wang Ye and Alyona were already “living together.”

Seeing they didn’t believe him, Wang Ye gave up explaining. It was only a matter of time anyway—let them think what they wanted.

…

Wang Ye had Liu Xiao Jie wait downstairs with the large suitcase while he and Song Xiao Gang went to Building No. 13 to help Alyona move.

Alyona had more things than Wang Ye—two suitcases and a huge sports backpack, all stuffed full.

“There are some loose items, but I’ll come back for them later,” Alyona said.

Song Xiao Gang didn’t say anything. He immediately slung the massive backpack over his shoulder and picked up the heavier suitcase.

What a solid guy…

But he was strong, so the weight wasn’t an issue for him.

Wang Ye took the remaining suitcase, and Alyona didn’t stand idle either—she carried two handbags filled with things.

Back at Building No. 6, they met up with Liu Xiao Jie and headed across the small forest toward the lake.

Once inside the apartment, Song Xiao Gang and Liu Xiao Jie were impressed.

“Wow, this is a two-thousand-dollar-a-month place? It’s really luxurious! Ye Ge, you’re loaded, renting a place like this,” Liu Xiao Jie said enviously.

Song Xiao Gang just silently looked around, not saying much.

“Haha, you guys will get there too,” Wang Ye laughed.

Liu Xiao Jie shook his head—no way. The rent here was way beyond what he could afford.

They set the things down in the living room and sat down to rest for a bit.

Alyona naturally took on the role of “hostess,” pulling out a few bottles of cola from somewhere for everyone to drink.

Even though the tap water in Moscow was drinkable, no one actually drank it…

After finishing the cola, Song Xiao Gang and Liu Xiao Jie tactfully got up to leave.

Wang Ye walked them out, watching as they headed back across the lake before returning home.

Alyona was busy unpacking.

She dragged her suitcase into the master bedroom, opened it, and started tossing clothes onto the bed, about to hang them in the closet.

Then Wang Ye noticed a problem.

The apartment had beds, but no bedding…

What was he supposed to sleep under tonight?!

He turned and went to Alyona’s bedroom, standing at the door. “Alyona, did you bring any blankets? We don’t seem to have anything to sleep under tonight.”

Alyona, who was unpacking, paused and laughed. “Oh no, I forgot about that.”

True, they had both been living in dormitories where bedding was provided and changed weekly.

They hadn’t even thought about it.

But now, in a rented apartment, they had to provide their own.

Chapter 71: Objection Overruled

“I have a blanket here, one I bought myself. The heating here is quite good, so it should be enough. But even that isn’t sufficient…” Alyona pondered for a moment before speaking.

“Or… we could make do with sharing one blanket to sleep,” Wang Ye suggested with a smile.

He had a pleasant thought, but unfortunately, Alyona didn’t agree…

After all, their relationship wasn’t close enough for that yet.

“We still need to go to the supermarket to buy things, so we can just get them while we’re there,” Alyona replied as she walked closer to Wang Ye.

Wang Ye lightly tapped his head, as if just remembering, “Oh right! Then let’s hurry, it’s almost dark.”

The large supermarket they were heading to was north of the dormitory. It was quite close from the dormitory, but the distance was a bit farther from their current location.

But taking a taxi would be even more troublesome!

To walk along the tree-lined path to the main road would take some distance, and then they’d have to wait by the roadside to hail a cab.

The key issue was that the road outside wasn’t a main thoroughfare, so there weren’t many cars coming and going, and they might not even be able to get a taxi…

They might as well just walk there. After buying what they needed, they could take a taxi back. The supermarket area was livelier, so it would be easier to get a cab.

Wang Ye began to miss his Lexus. Although people online joked that it was an “old man’s happy car,” it was quite good for getting around the city.

If he had a car now, he wouldn’t have to go through all this trouble…

But cars in Russia weren’t that expensive either. Once he earned some money, he’d get a car first. That would make things much more convenient.

…

The two walked to the large supermarket without feeling tired.

After all, they were in their early twenties, with good stamina. Plus, they had just moved into a new place and started a new life, so they were a bit excited…

Now, their conversation was more casual. Alyona was curious about the company and asked Wang Ye, “Is it easy to run a study abroad agency? I’ve heard that most places in China are still quite poor. Are there really that many families who can send their children abroad to study? By the way, someone like you who can come here to study must be from a very wealthy family, right?”

Alyona knew that all the exchange students like Wang Ye were self-funded.

Although the University of Friendship’s fees weren’t high, for one student, the tuition, living expenses, airfare, and other miscellaneous costs would add up to at least three or four thousand US dollars a year.

In 2001, in her mind—or in the minds of most foreigners—China was still a poor and backward place…

Wang Ye smiled and patiently explained:

“It might be different from what you imagine. China has been reforming and opening up for over a decade, and it’s developed very rapidly. A family like mine, even in a small city, is only slightly above average, not really wealthy. The truly wealthy families send their children to study in places like the UK, US, Canada, or Australia, where the annual expenses can be tens of thousands of US dollars…”

After hearing Wang Ye’s introduction, Alyona was astonished.

But she was also relieved about the company’s prospects.

Since many Chinese families were quite well-off and willing to send their children abroad, the company’s business should develop smoothly.

After all, she would be relying entirely on the company in the future…

…

At the supermarket, the two headed straight to the household goods section.

Other things could wait, but blankets and bedding had to be bought first!

Fortunately, although Moscow’s winters were extremely cold, the heating supply was very sufficient. At night, only a thin blanket was needed.

Each of them picked out a set of blankets and bedding, placing them in the shopping cart.

After selecting these, they pushed the cart to buy some food and drinks. There were no restaurants or eateries downstairs in their apartment building, so they had to cook for themselves.

“Do you like fish, Misha? Or do you prefer beef? We can buy some, and I’ll cook it for you when we get back. I’m pretty good at frying steak and fish fillets; you should like it,” Alyona said, already in “housewife” mode, affectionately asking Wang Ye as she picked out items.

To an outsider, they looked like a newlywed couple…

Speaking of which, the two of them were quite well-matched. Wang Ye was over 1.8 meters tall, and Alyona wasn’t short either, standing at a full 1.75 meters, with a slender figure. She didn’t look much shorter than Wang Ye.

Calling them a golden boy and jade girl wasn’t an exaggeration at all…

As they discussed and bought groceries, Wang Ye heard someone calling his name.

He turned his head and saw Nalan Yaqi, Wang Dan, Li Xiao Yun, and several other girls not far away.

They were also pushing a shopping cart, probably there to buy things.

This was normal; everyone frequently visited this supermarket.

But now, running into them was a bit awkward…

Wang Ye told Alyona, “I’ve run into some classmates. I’ll go over for a moment; you keep shopping. Buy whatever you like; I’ll love anything you cook!”

He turned and walked over to Nalan Yaqi and the others, smiling as he asked, “You’re here to buy things too?”

No one answered his question. The girls were all staring intently at Alyona…

“Hey, what are you looking at?” Wang Ye asked, amused.

“That girl… isn’t she the beautiful teacher from our preparatory courses?” Nalan Yaqi seemed to recognize her.

After all, Alyona was quite famous among the Chinese exchange students, universally acknowledged as a great beauty!

“Yes, so what?” Wang Ye replied straightforwardly.

“How… how did you two end up together? Are you planning to buy things and eat together?” Li Xiao Yun asked curiously.

“That doesn’t seem right. I see a lot of blankets and bedding in that shopping cart, even pots, pans, and everything else! What’s going on?” Nalan Yaqi had sharp eyes and immediately noticed that many items in the shopping cart weren’t everyday necessities.

…

After hesitating for a moment, Wang Ye told them.

“I’ve moved out and am renting with Alyona. We just moved in today, so we’re buying some daily necessities.”

Instantly, the girls’ mouths dropped open, and they looked at Wang Ye with shocked expressions, as if they couldn’t believe what he was saying.

Renting together?

That’s practically living together!

But how did Wang Ye move so fast!

They all came to Moscow together, and Wang Dan and Li Xiao Yun still struggled with daily Russian, yet Wang Ye had already won over the beautiful teacher?!

This was too outrageous!

“You… you’re living together!” Nalan Yaqi pointed at Wang Ye, her face showing an indescribably complex expression.

“Don’t misunderstand, it’s just renting together, not living together! Oh, and Alyona has quit her teaching job. She’ll be working at our company from now on,” Wang Ye corrected.

This “our company” clearly referred to the Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company. Nalan Yaqi and Wang Dan were also shareholders, so telling them wasn’t a problem.

Nalan Yaqi frowned slightly, looking a bit displeased as she said, “She’s joining the company without even asking for our opinions, me and Wang Dan. Can I object?”

“Objection overruled!” Wang Ye smiled.

Chapter 72: This Shameless Couple

Letting Nalan Yaqi invest in the company was already more than fair to her. If it weren’t for their past-life connection, Wang Ye probably wouldn’t have even bothered with her. This time, he was just giving her a chance to make some money on the side—helping with odd jobs around the company. But when it came to major decisions, she had no say.

Blocked by Wang Ye’s words, Nalan Yaqi rolled her eyes in frustration, but she was smart enough not to dwell on the topic. Instead, she changed the subject. “Hmph! You men are all the same—can’t resist a pretty face! Your company just opened, and you’re already broke, yet you’re out here flirting. Once you’re rich, you’ll be partying every night!”

Wang Ye shrugged helplessly. He had already explained that he and Alyona were just roommates, not living together… So why did Nalan Yaqi insist there was something between them? And even if there was, what business was it of hers?

But he wisely chose not to argue. Arguing with a woman was just asking for trouble.

Wang Dan had been silent the whole time. Lately, she had been thinking about breaking up with her boyfriend back home. She had started to develop feelings for Wang Ye… Not that she was being unfaithful—her high school relationship had always been more of a joke. Now, they weren’t just in a long-distance relationship; they were in an international one!

Time changes everything, and distance does too. After months apart, Wang Dan felt like she barely knew her boyfriend anymore. She hardly even thought about him. That had to mean her feelings were fading…

But before she could even sort things out with her boyfriend, Wang Ye was already in some kind of “more than friends” relationship with their beautiful teacher—and even living with her!

Wang Ye kept insisting they were just roommates, not a couple. But who would believe that? Two young people, just friends? No way! Everyone was convinced they were living together, whether Wang Ye admitted it or not.

After a few more words, Wang Ye waved his hand. “Alright, you guys keep shopping. I’ve got things to do—just moved in, so there’s a lot to set up. I’ll have you all over for dinner sometime.”

Before anyone could respond, Nalan Yaqi chimed in sourly, “Oh, so you want us to taste the lady of the house’s cooking? But what’s so great about Russian food? Can it compare to China’s eight great cuisines?”

Wang Ye teased her, “We do have eight great cuisines, but which one can you cook? I heard you can only make tomato and egg stir-fry. Ha!”

He had heard that from Zhou Yuan, who lived on the same floor as Nalan Yaqi. Apparently, that was the only dish she ever made.

As Wang Ye and Alyona chatted and laughed while pushing their shopping cart away, Nalan Yaqi muttered under her breath, “This shameless couple!”

Then she laughed at herself. She knew she was being unreasonable. What did Wang Ye have to do with her? If he wanted to pursue Alyona, that was his business. The fact that he had won her over just proved how charming he was. Who was she to judge?

Li Xiao Yun, on the other hand, didn’t have any feelings for Wang Ye, so she saw things more clearly. She smiled and said, “Honestly, Wang Ye and Alyona make a good pair. Ye Ge is so handsome—only a stunning beauty like Alyona could match him. Too bad, though… all that talent going to waste on a foreigner.”

“Ugh, let’s go. They’re already out there living their lovey-dovey life in their own place, and we’re still stuck in the dorms. It’s infuriating! Once I have money, I’m moving out too—and I’ll rent the place right across from them!” Nalan Yaqi huffed.

After finishing their shopping, they lined up at the checkout. Wang Ye naturally reached for his wallet. “You go ahead and pack the bags. I’ll pay.”

But Alyona shook her head. “No, I’ll do it. Misha, don’t argue with me this time. You know why.”

Wang Ye understood. He had already paid for the rent, so if he kept paying for everything, Alyona might feel like she was being “kept.” Paying for the groceries was her way of preserving her pride.

“Alright, you go ahead,” Wang Ye said, not pushing it further. It wasn’t worth arguing over such a small amount.

After paying, they each carried a large plastic bag filled with daily necessities. Just as they were about to leave, Wang Ye remembered something. “Oh, right! We still need to buy a phone!”

Alyona hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Mm, I think there’s a phone shop nearby. Let’s go take a look.”

Wang Ye had bought his phone from that same shop, so he led the way. “What kind do you want? I’ll get it for you. You didn’t let me pay last time, so don’t argue with me now.”

Alyona looked conflicted, about to refuse, but Wang Ye added with a smile, “Think of it as a small gift from the company boss to a new employee.”

Hearing that, Alyona couldn’t refuse anymore. She smiled sweetly. “Alright, then I’ll get the same model as yours.”

Wang Ye’s phone was a basic, affordable Nokia—nothing fancy. He wasn’t about to splurge on an expensive one for her. After using high-end smartphones in his past life, these simple feature phones all felt the same to him.

They quickly picked out a phone, choosing an orange case since Alyona liked pretty things. It was clear that the first contact in her new phone was Wang Ye…

Back at the apartment, Alyona went straight to the kitchen, insisting on cooking Wang Ye a proper meal to show off her skills. When he offered to help, she shooed him out, telling him to just relax in the living room and wait.

“Russian men don’t go into the kitchen,” she had said.

No sooner had Wang Ye turned on the TV than his phone rang. It was Liu Jun. “The inspection team from Yangnan Normal University and the He Luo City Education Bureau will be here the day after tomorrow. Let’s meet at the company tomorrow to discuss how to receive them.”

Chapter 73: The Feeling of Home

Wang Ye was a little surprised. The invitation had only been sent out a few days ago, and the guests were already arriving?

Their efficiency was impressive!

But then again, this was only natural. In this day and age, going abroad for an inspection was a big deal. Once they got the opportunity, they would naturally do their best to come as soon as possible.

The process was simple. After receiving the invitation, they just needed to go to the Russian embassy in the capital for a visa, then buy a plane ticket and fly over.

As for passports, they must have already been prepared long ago.

This was a good thing. The sooner they came for the inspection, the sooner they could finalize everything and start recruitment promotions back home.

It was already March, and time was running out…

“Alright, I’ll go to the company tomorrow and notify everyone. We should hold a mobilization meeting,” Wang Ye replied.

The company had already hired a few employees, so Liu Jun was no longer a lone commander. With the addition of several shareholders, there were now seven or eight people, making it look like a proper operation.

…

Alyona’s cooking was decent. The main dish was fried fish fillets, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with an enticing aroma. There was also Wang Ye’s favorite borscht, drizzled with a bit of sour cream, which was very appetizing.

As they ate, Wang Ye said, “I’ll go to the company tomorrow. There’s a meeting, and we need to start expanding the business. You should hurry up with your resignation. The company will be busy soon.”

Alyona couldn’t go yet since she hadn’t resigned.

“Okay, I’ll go to the school tomorrow to resign. The process for a preparatory course teacher is pretty simple, so it should be quick,” Alyona replied readily.

She had made up her mind to follow Wang Ye and venture out into the world.

After dinner, the two sat side by side on the sofa watching the news.

With Wang Ye’s level of Russian, he could mostly understand it. If there were any sentences he didn’t catch, he would ask Alyona to explain them to him.

The teachers were right—having a Russian girlfriend really did improve his Russian…

On the news, a lean man was speaking about Russia’s future development plans.

Who else could be discussing such a topic…

Wang Ye turned to Alyona and asked, “Do you think this man can really save Russia?”

Alyona thought for a moment before replying, “Actually, we don’t have any other choice. For now, he seems to be the most suitable. Everyone is pinning their hopes on him, hoping he can lead Russia back to glory.”

Her words probably represented the views of most Russians.

In just a short span of twenty years, they had fallen from the peak into the abyss. The glory was gone.

Everyone who had experienced the former Soviet Union’s glory was unwilling to accept this and hoped that Russia, inheriting the Soviet tradition, could once again rise to the top of the world.

Wang Ye smiled and didn’t continue the discussion.

As someone who had experienced the “previous life,” he naturally understood Russia’s development over the next twenty years.

All the way up to 2008…

That year, the global financial crisis that swept the world truly changed everything.

Many countries began to decline, and Russia was one of them.

Of course, there was also a country that emerged, stepping onto the center of the world stage, developing at an unstoppable pace, challenging America’s hegemony…

But that was getting off track.

…

Since both of them would be busy the next day—Wang Ye going to the company and Alyona to the school—they went to bed early.

Of course, they slept separately…

The night passed uneventfully. The next morning, around seven o’clock, Wang Ye was woken up by Alyona.

“Misha, wake up. Breakfast is ready,” she called.

Wang Ye rubbed his sleepy eyes, got up, washed up, and came to the living room. The dining table was already set with breakfast.

This was much more comfortable than living in the dormitory. Back then, he had to figure out his own breakfast in the morning…

Breakfast was simple: fried eggs, bacon, toast, sliced fruit, and a glass of milk.

“Wow, I suddenly feel so happy. It feels like home,” Wang Ye said with a smile as he sat down.

Since it was warm at home, Alyona wasn’t dressed much. She wore only a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, her perfect figure on full display. Her golden hair was tied up casually, revealing her fair, slender neck and delicate collarbone.

“This is our home, though it’s still missing a lot of things. I can only make simple dishes for now. As long as you like it, I’ll make it for you every day,” Alyona said with a smile.

It was a girl’s nature to enjoy this warm atmosphere.

After breakfast, around eight o’clock, the two put on their coats and left together.

But they didn’t go the same way. Wang Ye walked along the tree-lined path to the main road to hail a taxi, while Alyona took the lakeside path directly to the preparatory building.

“I’m off to the company. Call me if anything comes up,” Wang Ye naturally put his arm around Alyona’s waist, and the two pressed their cheeks together lightly.

This was the European “cheek kiss.”

It was usually only done between close acquaintances.

Of course, if they were truly lovers, it would go further…

But Wang Ye wasn’t in a hurry. There was plenty of time. When pursuing a girl, it was best not to rush. Taking it step by step made the process beautiful.

“If you’re coming back late, call me so I can time dinner,” Alyona’s gaze was gentle.

…

Wang Ye walked along the quiet tree-lined path toward the main road.

The path wasn’t short—almost a kilometer—and both sides were lined with trees.

Moscow was known as the “capital in the forest,” with nearly fifty percent green coverage.

As he walked along the tree-lined path, he heard the roar of an engine behind him.

Before he could turn around, a sports car zoomed past him.

It was a silver Porsche, looking somewhat like a 911.

It seemed that the people living in this apartment complex were indeed wealthy—except for Wang Ye and Alyona…

When he reached the main road, he stood by the side and waited for over ten minutes before finally hailing a taxi.

There really weren’t many cars passing by on this road.

In Moscow, not having a car was extremely inconvenient. Once he had the money, he needed to get a car as soon as possible…

Chapter 74: Time is Tight

By the time they arrived at the company, everyone was already there.

Actually, there weren’t many people—just Liu Jun, Wang Ye, Xiao Hu, Wang Dan, and Nalan Yaqi.

Plus the four newly hired Russian employees, two men and two women, all fresh university graduates.

And, of course, Alyona, who hadn’t started work yet.

Ten people in total—that was the entire staff of the Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company.

Five of them were shareholders, and only five were employees. It was a case of more bosses than workers…

In the newly renovated conference room, everyone took their seats.

Liu Jun, the general manager, presided over the meeting.

He spoke entirely in Russian, but Wang Ye could understand it all.

As for Wang Dan and Nalan Yaqi, it didn’t matter if they couldn’t understand—this meeting didn’t concern them anyway.

Nalan Yaqi wasn’t paying attention to the meeting. She sat close to Wang Ye, twisting her head to roll her eyes at him repeatedly, seemingly in some kind of mood. Wang Ye didn’t bother acknowledging her.

After giving a rough overview, Liu Jun turned to Wang Ye and asked, “Director Wang, do you have any arrangements for this inspection and reception?”

Wang Ye cleared his throat and replied in Russian, “This inspection may just be a formality, but we must take it seriously. It will affect the terms of our cooperation with the relevant domestic departments! The standard budget has already been set. Let me go over a few points to note during the inspection…”

In reality, the domestic inspection team wasn’t just going through the motions. Their main purpose wasn’t to inspect the universities but to inspect the Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company.

They wanted to see firsthand whether the company was legitimate and whether it truly had a cooperative relationship with Moscow State University and the University of Friendship.

Once these two points were confirmed, cooperation would naturally proceed without issue.

The preparations Wang Ye and his team had made were all about ensuring the domestic visitors “saw” or “felt” that Qingyun was a proper, large-scale company!

This way, they could overwhelm the visitors with their presence and gain the upper hand when negotiating cooperation terms!

…

Accommodations were arranged at the Little Eagle Hotel, which was a higher grade than the Alpha Hotel.

The Little Eagle Hotel had excellent entertainment facilities, giving the domestic visitors a chance to “criticize” the decadent capitalist lifestyle.

As for transportation, they certainly couldn’t have everyone hailing cabs on the street.

So Wang Ye specifically instructed Liu Jun to rent two luxury cars—BMW 7 Series!

They also arranged a visit to Moscow State University and the University of Friendship. Liu Jun had already coordinated with the foreign affairs offices of both universities.

At the time, the universities would send a vice-chancellor-level official to meet everyone and take a symbolic photo…

The goal was to make the domestic visitors feel the company’s prestige and the full ceremonial experience!

…

After the meeting, the Russian employees left to work, leaving only the Chinese shareholders in the conference room. Naturally, they all spoke Chinese.

Liu Jun smiled and asked Wang Ye, “Where’s your beautiful teacher? Why isn’t she here today?”

Everyone present knew that Wang Ye had “lured” Alyona to the company.

Liu Jun had expected Wang Ye to bring her to the company today. He was curious to see just how beautiful she was to have captivated Wang Ye.

Unfortunately, she wasn’t there…

“She went to the school today to handle her resignation. It won’t be that quick—probably a few more days before she can start work,” Wang Ye replied casually.

“So what position should we assign her?” Liu Jun asked.

He was good at handling people. Since Alyona was someone Wang Ye had arranged to join, it was only natural to consult Wang Ye about her role.

After all, Wang Ye was still the boss of this company!

“It’s simple—study abroad consultation advisor. Running an agency like this, we definitely need consultation advisors. It’s not just Alyona; even Alexander from next door, when we go back to China for promotions, we’ll borrow him for a bit. Give him the title of ‘Senior Education Expert’ to add some prestige back home. That alright with you, Xiao Hu?”

Wang Ye looked at Xiao Hu, seeking his opinion.

Xiao Hu nodded without hesitation. “No problem! Whenever you need him, just say the word. Their company isn’t busy right now, and a business trip won’t take much time.”

The company next door was, of course, Xiao Hu’s family’s sports shoe brand company, which was already up and running.

They had far more employees—twenty or thirty people.

When the domestic inspection team visited the company, employees from next door would also come over to help set the mood.

Nalan Yaqi couldn’t hold back anymore. “So what about me and Wang Dan? What do we do?”

Wang Ye smiled at her. “You two… don’t have much to do for now. Just focus on your studies. At least wait until your Russian improves before you can be of any use.”

It wasn’t that they were completely useless. Wang Dan, for one, played a significant role.

Whether they could develop the market in He Luo City depended on Wang Dan’s father!

As for Nalan Yaqi…

Well, she was just an “extra”!

…

“The company is officially open for business. We need to recruit students quickly, or the money in our accounts won’t last long,” Liu Jun reminded Wang Ye.

They had pooled together forty thousand US dollars to start the company.

The office space and renovations were free, which saved a lot of money.

But as Liu Jun said, the money wouldn’t last long. The salaries alone were a significant expense.

The company had ten people, but only six were full-time employees who needed to be paid.

Wang Ye, Xiao Hu, Wang Dan, and Nalan Yaqi didn’t come to work regularly and thus didn’t receive salaries.

The six full-time employees: Liu Jun earned two thousand US dollars a month, Alyona one thousand five hundred, and the four staff members six hundred fifty each.

That added up to six thousand one hundred US dollars!

In other words, just paying salaries would only sustain the company for half a year.

But in reality, there were many other expenses.

For example, this reception for the domestic inspection team would cost another fifteen thousand US dollars.

Then there was the upcoming business trip to China for promotions and recruitment, which would cost at least ten to twenty thousand US dollars!

Calculating it this way, the company could only hold out until the second month’s payroll…

If recruitment didn’t go well, they wouldn’t even have money to pay the second month’s salaries. The situation was dire, and time was tight!

Wang Ye had, of course, considered all this. He nodded and said:

“After we finish receiving the domestic inspection team and finalize the cooperation, we’ll head back to China immediately.

The timing is about right—it’s already March, and there are only three months left until the college entrance exams.

Those from wealthier families but with poor academic performance should start considering their future paths.

So this is the perfect time for recruitment!”

Hearing this, Nalan Yaqi quickly raised her hand. “Me, me… take me with you on the business trip back to China!”

Wang Ye shot her a sideways glance and said irritably, “Why would I take you? This trip is for work, not a vacation. Plane tickets are expensive, you know, Miss High-and-Mighty!”

Chapter 75: The Two of Us Going Solo

Don’t say Wang Ye is stingy—truthfully, the company’s funds were tight, and they needed to spend carefully.

Once the company really started making money, it wouldn’t just be a matter of sending a few more people back to China on business trips. Even chartering a private jet for a vacation would be no problem!

“By the way, when we receive guests from back home, I won’t be showing up. My uncle is coming too, and he doesn’t know I’m a shareholder in this company,” Wang Ye said to Liu Jun.

Liu Jun nodded knowingly. “Haha, you don’t need to hide it. We’re running a legitimate business, nothing to be ashamed of.”

“Let’s talk about that later. After all, at my age, if those old leaders back home see the company boss is only eighteen, they probably won’t feel at ease. Everything must prioritize the company’s interests!” Wang Ye laughed.

His concern wasn’t entirely unfounded.

There was an old saying back home: “No beard on the face, no reliability in business.”

Wang Ye’s face wasn’t completely “beardless,” but it wasn’t much either…

He had only just started shaving.

Hearing Wang Ye say this, Wang Dan quickly chimed in, “Then I won’t show up either. Who knows if someone among the guests might recognize me? If word gets back home, that would be bad.”

Indeed, Wang Dan had to avoid any appearance of impropriety.

After all, her father was the head of the He Luo City Education Bureau, and this matter had been pushed forward through his connections.

If word got out that Wang Dan had a stake in the company, it could easily be exploited by those with ulterior motives…

“If you’re not coming, then I won’t either. I wouldn’t even know what to do if I went,” Nalan Yaqi muttered.

With that settled, Liu Jun would handle the reception this time. As the company’s general manager, it was his job anyway.

After the meeting and the serious discussions, Wang Dan and Nalan Yaqi prepared to return to school.

Before leaving, they asked Wang Ye if he wanted to go with them.

Wang Ye waved them off. “You go ahead first. Liu Ge and I still have some things to discuss.”

Once they left, Xiao Hu also took his leave to go to the neighboring company, leaving only Liu Jun and Wang Ye.

Wang Ye then spoke seriously, “Liu Ge, I remember you mentioned you know someone at the local telecommunications company.”

“Yeah, just a casual acquaintance. My phone card was arranged through that connection, otherwise the price wouldn’t be so low,” Liu Jun replied.

“Then talk to that friend again and see if we can get a dedicated line. Later, you and I can start a phone card company!” Wang Ye said earnestly.

Liu Jun was stunned. He hadn’t expected Wang Ye to take such a big step!

The study abroad service company had just been set up and hadn’t even started making money yet. How could he already be thinking about phone cards?

He knew that the investment required for that wasn’t any less than for a study abroad agency. The monthly rent for a dedicated line could be tens of thousands of US dollars!

That was money they absolutely couldn’t avoid paying.

Moreover, with Wang Ye’s current channels, even if they sold phone cards worth a hundred thousand US dollars a month, that would still be a thousand cards at a hundred dollars each!

And even with wholesale discounts, the cost of printing the cards, company employee expenses, and so on, they might need to sell cards worth around a hundred and fifty thousand US dollars just to break even!

This kind of business was a classic high-risk industry with high investment but not necessarily high returns.

That was why so few people were willing to do it. Over the years, only one or two companies had been involved.

“Are you serious? This will require a lot of money,” Liu Jun asked cautiously.

Wang Ye smiled. “Of course I’m serious, but we don’t have to do it right away. First, you can reach out to them and discuss the terms.

I estimate that our study abroad business will start generating revenue within two months. By then, we’ll have enough money to start the phone card company.

There are over a hundred thousand Chinese people in Moscow, and that number will only grow.

I’ve always believed that the market demand for phone cards hasn’t been fully tapped.

Many people don’t call not because they don’t need to, but because they might not have a phone, find it inconvenient to call, or find it troublesome to buy a card, so they just don’t bother.

But as you know, phones are getting cheaper. Soon, everyone will have one. When that happens, the phone card business will explode!

So we need to get ahead of the curve and take a bite of that pie for ourselves!”

After listening to Wang Ye, Liu Jun fell silent.

Because he felt…

It actually made a lot of sense!

After a while, he sighed, “I guess there really is a gap between people! I’ve been in Moscow for so many years and know quite a few big bosses, but someone like you… this is the first time I’ve ever met!”

“Haha, Liu Ge, don’t joke around. This is just small-time stuff, nothing serious,” Wang Ye waved his hand and laughed.

He wasn’t being modest—he was telling the truth.

In Wang Ye’s eyes, the study abroad agency and phone cards were indeed small-time.

They could make money, but not big money!

“Alright, I’ll keep this in mind and ask my friend later. But let’s be clear—if you start a phone card company, you have to include me,” Liu Jun said with a smile.

“Of course. When the time comes, it’ll just be the two of us going solo,” Wang Ye replied decisively.

For the phone card company, aside from Liu Jun, he didn’t plan to bring anyone else in. There was no need!

Wang Ye wasn’t a “money-giving child.” Even if he looked out for his friends, he wouldn’t share everything. His own interests still came first.

………………..

After finishing their business, they had lunch at a Western restaurant on the first floor of the hotel.

Xiao Hu insisted on treating, and Wang Ye couldn’t refuse, so he didn’t stand on ceremony.

The place wasn’t cheap—over a hundred US dollars per person, and that was without alcohol.

After eating, Wang Ye was about to leave.

But Liu Jun said, “Xiao Hu, lend me your car for a bit. I need to go to Moscow State University, and I can drop Wang Ye off on the way.”

“You have your own car, don’t you?” Xiao Hu laughed.

“Hehe, my junk car would be an insult to Wang Ye. Yours is better!” Liu Jun joked.

Wang Ye asked in surprise, “Xiao Hu bought a car?”

He really didn’t know about this.

“Yeah, but it’s just a used piece of junk, nothing special,” Xiao Hu quickly said.

“A BMW 530i, only two years old. That’s already pretty good. It must have cost forty or fifty thousand dollars,” Liu Jun mercilessly “exposed” Xiao Hu’s “lie.”

Sure enough, a rich second generation—right off the bat, a BMW 5 Series.

Even though it was used, it wouldn’t be cheap. After all, it was an imported luxury car with a 3.0L engine!

In fact, many Chinese bosses in Moscow liked buying used cars, mainly for convenience.

After driving for a few years, when they returned to China, they could just sell it back to a used car dealer without losing much money, and the process was simple.

Also, getting a driver’s license here was easy. Just translate and notarize your Chinese license, and you could apply for one directly.

Wang Ye had gotten his license before coming abroad, just for something to do. He was planning to get one here too.

Back in school, it hadn’t seemed like much, but now that he had started a company, he really felt it—without a car, things were just too inconvenient!

Chapter 76: Visitors from Home

The visiting delegation from home consisted of six people in total.

From Yangnan Normal College, it was the president, the vice president, and Wang Ye’s maternal uncle, who was also the admissions director.

From the He Luo City Education Bureau, it was a deputy director leading the group, along with the office director and the head of the publicity department.

The lineup was nothing short of impressive.

They had gathered for the first time and then taken a flight to Moscow together.

Since the two cities were adjacent and both groups were in education, they had known each other before.

On the plane, they chatted enthusiastically the whole way.

Everyone was quite optimistic about this collaboration.

As the person in charge, Li Changyun had naturally received multiple commendations from the leaders. Throughout the journey, his face was flushed with excitement, and he couldn’t stop smiling.

By the time they arrived in Moscow, it was already evening.

After picking up their luggage and walking to the international arrivals exit, they saw someone holding a large sign at the entrance.

It read “Li Changyun” in big letters.

Clearly, this was someone from the Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company coming to pick them up.

Liu Jun, accompanied by two young Russian men who were also company employees, came over to greet them.

Naturally, they exchanged pleasantries upon meeting.

Liu Jun had been in frequent contact with these people from home recently, so they weren’t strangers.

“Let’s go. It’s quite late today, so I’ll take everyone directly to the hotel to rest,” Liu Jun said with a smile as he ushered them along.

Upon arriving at the entrance of the lobby, two black BMW 7 Series cars were parked there one after the other. These were the cars Liu Jun had rented.

Indeed, Li Changyun and the others were very satisfied when they saw them.

Back home, they had never ridden in such luxurious cars!

Yangnan Normal College didn’t have much money. After all, it was located in a relatively poor city, and the school’s enrollment situation wasn’t good.

Even the president’s car was just a Santana 2000.

The He Luo City Education Bureau was slightly better, but given their level, they naturally didn’t dare to buy expensive cars. Wang Dan’s father only drove cars like the Accord or Camry.

So Li Changyun sighed to the president, “Capitalist countries are truly decadent! How can such a small company afford such good cars?”

The president was more knowledgeable and smiled, “This might not be Qingyun Company’s car. It could be rented for our reception. But from this detail, we can see that the other party is quite sincere.”

Li Changyun quickly said, “That’s right! If they weren’t sincere, they wouldn’t have gone to such great lengths, sending invitation letters and buying plane tickets to invite us for an inspection. I feel this is a sure thing; there shouldn’t be any problems.”

This collaboration was led by him, so naturally, he didn’t want anything to go wrong.

Thus, he spoke in a way that always defended the Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company.

But he was overthinking it. The president also hoped the collaboration would succeed. After all, this matter could bring a considerable income to the school!

It could also bring him prestige, both in substance and appearance. Why wouldn’t he want that?

…

The two cars drove one after the other on the wide ring road.

After about an hour, they arrived at the hotel Liu Jun had arranged for everyone, the Little Eagle Hotel!

As soon as they entered the lobby, Li Changyun and the others felt dazzled. Everything they saw was so new.

Several Russian girls walked past them, laughing. Looking at their miniskirts and long, pale legs, Li Changyun and the others quickly turned their faces away, but their eyes secretly glanced a few times.

The president shook his head and sighed, “Decadent! These girls don’t know how to take care of their bodies. In this weather of minus ten degrees, how… how can they wear so little?”

The vice president beside him reminded him, “Aren’t you hot? I feel like I’m starting to sweat.”

Indeed, they were still wrapped in thick down jackets. It had been just right outside, but now they were in the hotel lobby, where the heating was quite strong!

Only then did the president feel the sweat starting to form on his forehead.

He laughed awkwardly, “Haha, this is too much. It’s freezing outside, and it’s hot enough to sweat inside. This hot and cold is easy to make you sick!”

The people from the He Luo City Education Bureau didn’t dare to look around.

Before coming, the bureau had held a meeting to emphasize discipline.

Going abroad for an inspection meant representing the country’s image and the image of all the people of He Luo City. They were not allowed to cause any embarrassment!

Don’t think it’s funny. At that time, public officials going abroad were indeed subject to such disciplinary requirements.

Liu Jun had already helped them check in and took them to the rooms upstairs.

They were all twin rooms, three in total, all adjacent.

“Alright, everyone must be tired. Let’s rest early today. Tomorrow, sleep in, and I’ll come before noon to take everyone out for a meal to welcome you. Oh, there are places to play downstairs in the hotel, like a bowling alley and slot machines. You can go play if you want,” Liu Jun said with a smile.

It was already midnight, so it wasn’t suitable to invite everyone for a meal, so it was arranged for the next day at noon.

The president of Yangnan Normal College quickly said, “The meal can be simple. Work is the most important; we should hurry and go for the inspection.”

“It’s all arranged. Tomorrow after the meal, we’ll visit the company. The day after tomorrow, we’ll visit Moscow State University in the morning and the University of Friendship in the afternoon. The day after that, I’ll take everyone to see Red Square and the Kremlin,” Liu Jun said calmly.

This arrangement was good, and Li Changyun and the others nodded in satisfaction.

Work was important, but they also needed to balance work and rest.

After all, it wasn’t easy to go abroad. Coming to Moscow, there was absolutely no reason not to visit Red Square.

After all, that place was a famous scenic spot…

No, it was a place with revolutionary educational significance!

…

Just as Liu Jun was about to leave, Li Changyun called out to him.

“Uh, President Liu, I wanted to ask, do you know Wang Ye? I heard from Wang Ye that you are his friend.”

Wang Ye had said this when he called Li Changyun.

Although Li Changyun felt it was a bit unreliable—after all, Liu Jun was in his thirties, how could he be friends with an eighteen-year-old Wang Ye…

“Of course, I’m very familiar with Wang Ye. What’s up, Director Li? Do you need to see Wang Ye for something?” Liu Jun responded with a smile.

“Hehe, my cousin, Wang Ye’s mother, asked me to bring some things for Wang Ye. I was thinking, when we visit the University of Friendship, could we meet Wang Ye and give him the things?” Li Changyun said a bit embarrassedly, as if his request was a bit excessive.

After all, this trip abroad was official business, but he was asking to handle personal matters. It was indeed a bit inappropriate…

But for Liu Jun, this was no problem at all.

Not to mention that Wang Ye was actually the real boss of the company, even if he were just an ordinary friend, it wouldn’t matter.

Chapter 77: People Are Greedy

“Of course, no problem. How about this—tomorrow, when we visit the company, I’ll have Wang Ye come by so you can meet and chat. The day after, visiting the University of Friendship won’t be as convenient since we’ll be meeting with the school leadership, and time will be tight,” Liu Jun said readily.

“Good, that’s perfect. Thank you, Director Liu,” Li Changyun thanked him repeatedly.

This trip was both official and personal—he needed to see Wang Ye, given their family ties. Now that they were in Moscow, it would be unthinkable not to visit him. Besides, Wang Ye had helped arrange this collaboration, something Li Changyun had already mentioned to the school leadership.

After Liu Jun left, Li Changyun and the others didn’t go to sleep immediately. Though it was late and they were exhausted from the long flight, everyone was too excited to sleep.

Li Changyun shared a room with the principal, and the two of them chatted idly.

“Old Li, once we sign the cooperation agreement, how should we go about recruiting students? I’ve been thinking about this, and I’m not too optimistic. How many families in our region can afford to send their kids abroad?” the principal asked seriously.

Li Changyun was the expert in this area—he was in charge of admissions, after all. After a moment’s thought, he replied confidently:

“Principal, don’t worry. I’m quite optimistic about recruitment prospects. Let’s not even talk about other places—just Yangnan City alone has nine counties and one city, with a population of over ten million! Even though our region’s economic development is average, and we’re relatively poor, that’s just the overall level. But with such a large population, there are still plenty of wealthy families.

“Especially since this collaboration involves sending students to Russia, where the costs aren’t exorbitant. A few years of study abroad would only require two or three hundred thousand yuan. Families with that kind of financial means—among our region’s high school seniors—should number at least a thousand. Even if only one-tenth of them sign up, that’s still a hundred or so students. He Luo City is in an even better position, so recruiting two to three hundred students shouldn’t be a problem…”

His analysis was logical and well-founded, and the principal nodded in agreement. Central China was a populous province, and Yangnan and He Luo City were major cities with large populations. The pool of potential students was vast.

In Yangnan City alone, there were thirty to forty thousand high school seniors each year. And it wasn’t as if everyone was poor—after over a decade of reform and opening up, many families had already become wealthy.

Take the high school Wang Ye attended, for example—a provincial key school that officially only admitted around two hundred “regular students” each year. But in reality, the freshman class had over two thousand students! The extra students had paid high fees to enroll, with the amount varying based on their middle school exam scores—anywhere from three to five thousand yuan to ten or twenty thousand!

If so many families were willing to spend that much on high school, then sending their kids abroad? With a bit of determination, many could afford it.

After a moment’s hesitation, the principal continued, “When we negotiate the terms with Qingyun Company, I think we should add some other conditions. The five thousand yuan per student we discussed earlier seems a bit low. Let’s do the math—even if we recruit two hundred students, the school would only get one million yuan… Oh, that’s actually not little. But I think we should ask for more!”

Though the cooperation terms hadn’t been finalized, they had been discussed in general. Following Wang Ye’s suggestion, Yangnan Normal University would receive five thousand yuan for each student recruited, while Qingyun Company would take twenty thousand. Essentially, the service fee per student was twenty-five thousand yuan, which wasn’t high at all.

Other domestic agencies charged thirty to fifty thousand yuan, and if the destination was a developed country, the fees would be even higher!

…

People were fickle. At first, the principal had thought five thousand yuan per student was already a lot. But now that they were in Moscow, experiencing a taste of capitalist decadence, he felt that when it came to money, the more, the better!

Though the school received annual funding from the provincial government, that money was strictly allocated—every penny accounted for. But the profits from the study abroad agency partnership with Qingyun Company would be the school’s own “small treasury,” free to use as they pleased…

So the principal wanted to earn more. Since the recruitment scale had an upper limit, the only way was to increase the commission.

Don’t blame him for being greedy—when doing business, who doesn’t want to earn more? It’s only human nature.

But Liu Changyun grew nervous at the thought. He didn’t want to complicate things. If they ended up in a stalemate over the commission, Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company could just walk away and partner with a university in the provincial capital instead. It would only cost them a little time.

But if Yangnan Normal University lost this opportunity, finding another study abroad agency to collaborate with would be as difficult as reaching the heavens!

“Principal, be careful! I think it’s better to stick to the original terms. Everyone agreed, and if we suddenly add conditions or change the commission ratio, I doubt Qingyun Company would be willing. Remember, they have many options, but we don’t have a second choice,” he hurriedly said.

That made sense. The principal pondered for a moment, considering if there was a better way to increase the school’s profits without offending Qingyun Company.

After all, he was a principal—experienced, with sharp thinking. Soon, he came up with a good idea.

“Hey, Old Li, what do you think of this? We won’t touch Qingyun’s profits. But we can find a way to earn more from the students themselves.”

Excited, he sat up and continued his analysis:

“Look, if we start recruiting in April, the students won’t arrive in Moscow until late August or early September. That leaves a gap of four to five months. We can make use of that time.

“Our school has plenty of classrooms and dormitories. We could organize a Russian language training program to give these students a head start. Four to five months of training is almost a full semester. Charging them five thousand yuan for the training wouldn’t be unreasonable!

“Plus, if we take responsibility for the training, we’d be relieving a lot of pressure from Qingyun Company. They wouldn’t need to provide Russian language training themselves.”

You had to admit, the principal’s plan was brilliant! It was a win-win-win situation.

For the students’ families—if they were willing to spend two to three hundred thousand yuan to send their kids abroad, they’d certainly be willing to pay an extra five thousand for advance training to give their children a head start.

Qingyun Company would benefit too—their partner was taking on more responsibility by handling the Russian training, saving them effort and leaving no room for complaint.

As for Yangnan Normal University, the empty classrooms and dormitories were just sitting there unused. Now they could put them to good use and earn a substantial sum…

This was a true multi-party win!

Chapter 78: A Win-Win for All

The president’s idea was practically cost-free for Yangnan Normal University!

Classrooms and dormitories were already in abundance at their school. In preparation for upgrading from a college to a university, they had even built a new campus with new teaching buildings and dormitories over the past two years. However, enrollment had been less than ideal each year, leaving many spaces vacant…

As the president had said, if they were just going to sit idle, why not put them to use and make some money?

As for Russian teachers, that was simple! Their school had a Russian language program…

After hearing this, Li Changyun clapped his hands in praise, flattering the president. “You truly have foresight, President. Your considerations are thorough. I think this is a great idea. When I negotiate with President Liu of Qingyun Company tomorrow, I’ll bring this up. They won’t have any reason to refuse.”

The president nodded with a smile. “Keep up the good work, Old Li! You’ve been the admissions director for quite some years now. Even if you haven’t made significant contributions, your efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. Next year, Vice President Liu will retire, and you’re a strong candidate. Making this study abroad agency a success will be your greatest asset in competing for the vice president position!”

Li Changyun immediately pounded his chest, vowing to do his utmost to make this a success and not let the president down…

…

The next day at noon, Liu Jun brought Li Changyun and the others to the Alpha Hotel. In the hotel’s first-floor Western restaurant, he hosted a welcome banquet for everyone. The atmosphere was lively and harmonious.

Eating was just a formality and didn’t take much time. The real business began after the meal. They took the elevator directly to the fifth floor. As they walked, Liu Jun introduced, “Our company is right here. We’re just starting out, so we don’t have many employees—only about twenty or thirty. But with everyone’s support, I believe Qingyun Company will grow bigger and better!”

“Haha, President Liu is being modest. I know a little about the study abroad agency industry. Having twenty or thirty employees makes you a big company!” the president said with a laugh.

As they chatted, they arrived at the company’s entrance. Everyone stopped to look around. It was indeed quite impressive.

The building itself was high-end, with thick carpets lining the corridors and patterned wallpaper on the walls. The entrance to Qingyun Company featured double frosted glass doors. Next to them hung a gilded copper plaque with a line of Russian text that no one could read…

It was probably the Russian name for Qingyun Company.

Pushing open the doors, they were greeted by a spacious office area. Covering over two hundred square meters, more than twenty employees were busy at their workstations—some on the phone, others typing on keyboards, and a few flipping through documents…

Most were blond-haired and blue-eyed Russians, though there were some with black hair who were clearly also foreigners.

This was definitely a company on the rise!

The president and Li Changyun exchanged a glance, both feeling pleased. Qingyun Company had not disappointed them!

This setup was far from a fly-by-night operation!

Perhaps the company was newly established, but the investment was substantial, and the ambitions were grand!

As partners, they naturally hoped Qingyun Company would grow as large as possible with even greater ambitions!

“Esteemed leaders, this is our Qingyun Company. Our employees are all top graduates from Moscow’s major universities, with at least a bachelor’s degree. Many come from prestigious institutions like Moscow State University. This gives us a significant advantage in the study abroad agency business. Additionally, we’ve hired current faculty from Moscow State University and the University of Friendship as consultants to better serve exchange students from China…”

As Liu Jun led them on a tour, he spoke enthusiastically. Everyone nodded in approval, clearly satisfied.

There wasn’t much to see in the company, but Li Changyun and the others just needed to confirm that Qingyun was a legitimate operation. After a quick look around, Liu Jun brought them to the conference room.

Two young Russian women served tea, and the formal negotiations began.

Based on prior discussions among the three parties, Yangnan Normal University would provide funding, facilities, and personnel in China to establish a legal study abroad agency. Qingyun Company would then sign an agreement with this agency to jointly handle study abroad services for Russia.

Yangnan Normal University would be responsible for domestic recruitment, with Qingyun Company providing assistance. The agency fee per student would be twenty-five thousand yuan, with five thousand going to Yangnan Normal University and twenty thousand to Qingyun Company…

At this point, Li Changyun spoke up. Smiling at Liu Jun, he said, “Our institute has a new idea that we’d like to propose. Let’s see if it works for you…”

Li Changyun then explained the plan the president had come up with the day before, emphasizing that Yangnan Normal University would handle all the training services without requiring any personnel from Qingyun Company.

As expected, after a moment’s thought, Liu Jun readily agreed.

The plan proposed by Yangnan Normal University was indeed excellent. The fees were reasonable, and it would genuinely improve the Russian language skills of the exchange students, helping them adapt more quickly once they arrived in Moscow. This was also beneficial for Qingyun Company.

Liu Jun had no reason to refuse!

…

After finalizing the terms, both parties signed a formal cooperation agreement, sealing the deal.

As soon as the contract was signed, Li Changyun excitedly said, “Once we return in a couple of days, we’ll immediately start promoting and recruiting! It just so happens that our institute is also doing recruitment promotions, so we can combine them. Oh, Director Zhang, your department can also lend a hand by helping us promote in He Luo City.”

He certainly knew how to seize an opportunity.

This inspection trip wasn’t just for Yangnan Normal University; there were also a few people from the He Luo City Education Bureau.

In Yangnan, they would include study abroad recruitment in their institute’s promotions. In He Luo City, they could promote Yangnan Normal University alongside the study abroad recruitment…

Li Changyun had his calculations well in hand.

Director Zhang smiled modestly and nodded slightly, stating, “That won’t be a problem. Before we came, Director Wang instructed us that this educational exchange would also promote He Luo City’s education sector. We will do our best to cooperate.”

Although they weren’t one of the main cooperating parties and it wasn’t appropriate for the Education Bureau to get involved in such business, He Luo City wasn’t going to stand idly by.

As Li Changyun had said, with the Education Bureau’s involvement in organizing the study abroad business promotions, it would be very effective.

After all, with the backing of both the Education Bureau and Yangnan Normal University, students and parents wouldn’t have many concerns. The only thing they might need to consider was whether their family could afford it…

Chapter 79: A Whole New Person

Alyona’s resignation went smoothly. After submitting her resignation application, the director only asked her a few casual questions. Upon learning that she had found a new job, he wished her good luck and approved her resignation.

After all, she was just a preparatory course teacher. Honestly, one more or one less didn’t make much difference.

After quitting her job, Alyona naturally had to move out of the dormitory. Now, she had no retreat left.

She could only hope that Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company would develop smoothly. Otherwise, she would face the predicament of having to find a new job.

On the day the domestic inspection team visited Qingyun Company, Wang Ye and Alyona also arrived at Alpha Hotel.

While Liu Jun and Li Changyun were in the meeting room discussing cooperation terms, Wang Ye and Alyona were in Liu Jun’s office drinking tea and chatting, waiting for the meeting to end.

Wang Ye had received a call from Liu Jun, saying that Li Changyun wanted to see him.

This went without saying. Even if Li Changyun hadn’t taken the initiative, Wang Ye would have come over anyway.

After all, it wasn’t easy for his uncle to come all the way from China. If he didn’t see him, it would be too impolite.

“Misha, why is the meeting still not over? Could there be a problem?” After waiting for a while, Alyona asked worriedly.

Wang Ye smiled slightly and calmly said, “Don’t worry, this matter is definitely settled. It’s just some minor details that might differ slightly. By the way, get ready. We might have to go to China in a few days.”

Wang Ye’s prediction was correct. During the meeting, Liu Jun took a break and came out to report the conditions discussed by both parties to him.

It was roughly the same as what they had discussed earlier, except that Yangnan Normal University had added a new training project.

Wang Ye could see at a glance that they just wanted to make more money, but it was also a good thing, as it didn’t harm Qingyun Company’s interests.

So, of course, he wouldn’t object…

…

After the meeting, the formalities were completed.

Liu Jun said to Li Changyun, “President Li, Wang Ye is here, in my office.”

This was something they had talked about yesterday.

Now that the formalities were done, Li Changyun could go see Wang Ye and give him the things his mother had asked him to bring.

Upon hearing this, he leaned over and whispered to the president beside him, “My nephew, that Wang Ye, is studying here. He also came to Qingyun Company today. I’ll go see him and give him the things I brought from China.”

The president also knew Wang Ye. After all, this cooperation wouldn’t have been possible without Wang Ye’s connections.

So he immediately smiled and replied, “Then go ahead. The young man is good. When he finishes his studies and returns to China, if there’s a chance, he can come work at our school. But by then, he might not look down on our school, haha…”

This was just a polite remark, and Li Changyun didn’t take it seriously.

Leaving the others to continue chatting in the meeting room, he went to Liu Jun’s office under the guidance of a Qingyun Company employee.

As soon as he entered, he was stunned because he saw Wang Ye chatting and laughing with a young and beautiful Russian girl.

Wang Ye looked up and saw Li Changyun. He quickly stood up and said with a smile, “Uncle, why are you standing there? Don’t you recognize me?”

Li Changyun came back to his senses and looked Wang Ye up and down. He clicked his tongue in admiration and said, “It seems that going abroad really can train a person. You’ve only been here for a few months, and you feel completely different from before!”

In Li Changyun’s memory, Wang Ye was a sunny and cheerful young man who was quite likable.

But back then, he was clearly just a teenager in his teens, full of youthful vigor but lacking in maturity…

But that was normal, given his age.

But now, looking at him again, Wang Ye was clearly much more mature than a few months ago.

Especially for those who didn’t know him, it was hard to see him as an ordinary boy when they first met him. He gave off the feeling of an adult.

…

Li Changyun handed Wang Ye a black backpack he was carrying and said with a smile, “This is what your mom asked me to bring you. She was afraid you wouldn’t eat or dress well here, so she brought a lot of things. It wasn’t easy for me to carry them all the way from China for you.”

It felt heavy in his hand, probably some food and clothes.

Wang Ye’s heart warmed. Although he didn’t lack these things now, this was his mother’s thoughtfulness, which meant something different.

Actually, Li Changyun and Wang Ye didn’t have much to talk about.

It was just some small talk, asking if Wang Ye had any difficulties adapting or getting used to things here, and then some encouragement, telling him to study hard…

After all, he was an elder and subconsciously still saw Wang Ye as a child. This wouldn’t change in a short time.

Unless Wang Ye could really do something to prove himself, then it might slowly change…

…

Li Changyun and the others were very satisfied with their inspection trip to Moscow.

Not only did they confirm that Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company was indeed a very capable and legitimate company, but they also visited world-renowned universities like Moscow State University and the University of Friendship, and met with the leaders of both schools to exchange educational experiences…

Of course, they also “inspected” famous attractions like Red Square and the Kremlin…

According to the agreement with Qingyun Company, after they returned, they would start preparing for recruitment and promotion work.

Qingyun Company would provide text and image materials to print a batch of promotional brochures, which would be uniformly distributed to all senior high school students through the education departments of Yangnan City and He Luo City!

These promotional brochures would, of course, promote the two famous schools, Moscow State University and the University of Friendship, introducing their strong faculty, long and glorious history, and not expensive study abroad fees…

In addition, the brochure confirmed that on April 15th, a live introduction session would be held in the grand hall of Yangnan Normal University.

At that time, relevant personnel from Moscow State University and the University of Friendship, as well as domestic senior education experts, and even representatives of students studying in Russia, would be invited to give speeches on-site and answer questions from students and parents present!

This was also Wang Ye’s idea.

He abandoned the traditional advertising methods like newspapers and television and instead adopted this method of on-site lectures.

First, using the channels of Yangnan Normal University and the support of the He Luo City Education Department, the promotional brochures would be directly delivered to the hands of senior high school students!

After arousing the interest of students and parents, those potential and interested parents and students would be gathered in the grand hall of Yangnan Normal University for a live promotion session!

At that time, he would bring in staff from the foreign affairs offices of Moscow State University and the University of Friendship, and find a few Russians to add to the atmosphere.

Back then, Chinese people still had some superstitions about foreigners…

Having a group of blue-eyed, blond-haired foreigners sitting there could really impress many people. At the very least, no parents would doubt their company’s strength!

Of course, to truly make those parents willing to spend money and send their children abroad to study, they would have to rely on Wang Ye’s personal “performance”…

Chapter 80: Found a Foreign Wife

In the study abroad agency business, Wang Ye was about to play a different game this time compared to the domestic agencies!

These strategies were experiences he had accumulated over a decade of battling in the business world in his “previous life.”

Perhaps these tactics wouldn’t be anything new twenty years later—everyone might even be tired of them.

But in 2001, they should still pack quite a punch!

Whether he could break into the market and make a fortune all depended on this…

…

Back to Wang Ye.

He didn’t interfere much with Liu Jun and the domestic inspection team’s discussions.

After chatting with his uncle Li Changyun for a while, Wang Ye stood up and said with a smile:

“Alright, I should head back to school. Uncle, since you’ve come all this way, take some time these next few days to look around besides work. Moscow might not be anything special, but it’s still a world-class metropolis, the largest city in Eastern Europe, and has its own style—worth exploring.”

Li Changyun also stood up to see him off. Watching Alyona walking ahead, he suddenly lowered his voice and asked Wang Ye, “What’s your relationship with this girl?”

He had wanted to ask this earlier but didn’t feel comfortable doing so in front of Alyona.

Though he knew the Russian girl probably couldn’t understand Chinese…

“Huh? Oh, her? Her name is Alyona. She’s my friend and an employee at Qingyun Company. Before joining Qingyun, she was a preparatory course teacher at the University of Friendship. Now she’s switched to being a study abroad consultant here,” Wang Ye explained with a smile.

“Hey, you’re not being honest with me, are you? When I came in just now, the way you two were talking and laughing didn’t look like just ordinary friends—seemed pretty intimate. Is she your girlfriend? It’s fine, no need to hide it from your uncle. I won’t tell your mom when I get back,” Li Changyun teased.

Wang Ye was actually a bit puzzled. Were he and Alyona really that obvious?

But they clearly hadn’t crossed that line yet…

Since his uncle said so, he didn’t bother arguing and just chuckled without saying more.

Seeing Wang Ye’s reaction, Li Changyun took it as confirmation.

Slap! Li Changyun gave Wang Ye’s shoulder a firm pat and said with a grin:

“You’re something else, kid! In a few years when you graduate and go back, you won’t just be bringing home a diploma—you’ll be bringing home a foreign wife too. Not bad, not bad. This girl is really pretty. You wouldn’t find someone like her back home.”

Bringing home a foreign wife would indeed be considered “bringing honor to the ancestors” in Wang Ye’s small hometown.

What could Wang Ye say? He could only grin foolishly in response…

…

On the way back in the car, Alyona suddenly asked, “Misha, what did your uncle say to you at the end when we were leaving? After he said it, you both looked at me and laughed, which made me feel a little uneasy.”

“Haha, my uncle told me to hurry up and make you my wife. He said a pretty girl like you is hard to come by, and my mom would definitely be happy if I brought you home,” Wang Ye said, half-joking.

Alyona let out a soft “ah,” and her fair, jade-like face flushed slightly.

She wasn’t the kind of girl who was very “open”…

Just as Wang Ye was about to “press his advantage” and tease her some more, his phone rang.

Back in those days, there were no spam calls. Basically, only relatives or friends with something important to discuss would call.

Looking at the screen, it was his adopted older sister, Ruan Xiaozhu.

“Hey, Sister Xiaozhu, what’s up?” Wang Ye answered.

“What have you been up to lately? I came to the University of Friendship today to visit a friend and thought I’d drop by your place while I was at it, but your roommate said you moved out?”

“Hehe, so you’re at the University of Friendship? Alright, wait for me. I’ll be there in about twenty minutes. Let’s talk when we meet. I’ll treat you to dinner tonight,” Wang Ye said decisively.

Since his cousin was here, he wasn’t in a hurry to go back to the apartment. He told the driver to change the destination to the University of Friendship dormitory area.

Turning to Alyona, he said, “My cousin is at the University of Friendship. I’ll introduce you two later. Oh, she’s a student at Moscow State University.”

Alyona hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded.

…

At Building No. 13 of the University of Friendship, Ruan Xiaozhu was chatting with her friend.

Han Yan was someone who had come to Moscow to study the same year as her, but while one went to the University of Friendship, the other went to Moscow State University.

Today, Ruan Xiaozhu had come to the University of Friendship to visit—partly to see Han Yan, and partly to check in on her cousin.

She hadn’t called ahead because she wanted to give him a “little surprise.”

“Wang Ye is your cousin? How come I’ve never heard of him before?” Han Yan looked surprised. She hadn’t expected Ruan Xiaozhu and Wang Ye to be related.

“Yeah, why do you look so surprised?” Ruan Xiaozhu laughed.

“Wang Ye is quite the figure at the University of Friendship—handsome, great at Russian, and he doesn’t have a girlfriend yet, right? Introduce me to him later at dinner. Maybe I’ll have a chance,” Han Yan joked.

Ruan Xiaozhu looked her up and down. “Tsk tsk, actually, it’s not impossible. You’re pretty tall, great figure, and… well-endowed! My little brother would probably like that, hehe.”

As they were joking around, Ruan Xiaozhu’s phone rang. Wang Ye had arrived downstairs.

“Alright, if you really want to be my little brother’s girlfriend, go make yourself look extra pretty. We’re about to go eat,” Ruan Xiaozhu said with a laugh.

Strangely enough, Han Yan actually took her seriously. She carefully touched up her makeup and put on her prettiest clothes.

But when Han Yan and Ruan Xiaozhu went downstairs and saw Wang Ye standing there hand in hand with a beautiful Russian girl, they both froze.

“Sister Xiaozhu.”

Seeing Ruan Xiaozhu and another girl come out, Wang Ye greeted them with a smile.

“Oh, this is my friend Han Yan. And this is…” Ruan Xiaozhu looked at Alyona.

“This is my girlfriend, Alyona. Alyona, this is my cousin Ruan Xiaozhu, and this is her friend Han Yan,” Wang Ye introduced them.

Ruan Xiaozhu blurted out, “You… you have a girlfriend?! How come I didn’t know?”

This kid was too fast!

He hadn’t even been in Moscow for three months, and he already had a girlfriend?

And a Russian one at that!

“It’s recent. I haven’t had the chance to tell you yet,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Suddenly remembering something, Ruan Xiaozhu widened her eyes and asked cautiously, “You moved out of the dorm… are you living with this girl?!”

She was thinking about what Wang Ye’s roommate had told her—that he had moved out.

He was still a preparatory student, so the only reason he would move out of the dorm was to rent a place.

And now that she knew he had a girlfriend, the truth was obvious…

Chapter 81: A New Understanding of Wang Ye

Almost everyone who heard that Wang Ye and Alyona were renting a place together assumed they were living together as a couple…

It was no wonder people jumped to conclusions. After all, when a young man and woman suddenly move in together, claiming they’re just friends is hard to believe.

So when Ruan Xiaozhu said this, Wang Ye could only smile helplessly and didn’t bother explaining further.

However, seeing that Wang Ye didn’t deny it, Ruan Xiaozhu didn’t mind. Her little brother had found such a beautiful girlfriend—she was happy for him as his older sister.

Han Yan, sitting beside them, felt a pang of jealousy. She had harbored some feelings for Wang Ye, but now all hope was lost…

“Let’s go, I’ll treat you to dinner,” Wang Ye said.

His older sister had come all the way to the University of Friendship—he had to show her a good time.

Naturally, they went to the Seventh Building Bar—there weren’t many other places to eat around here.

Once they were seated, Ruan Xiaozhu started chatting with Alyona.

Having been in Russia for a few years, her Russian was decent enough for basic conversation.

At first, she thought Alyona was a student at the University of Friendship, but when she found out Alyona was actually Wang Ye’s Russian teacher, her eyes widened in shock.

She turned to Wang Ye, her gaze filled with surprise and a hint of amusement.

“You really are something, huh? Even your teacher?” she said in Chinese.

Wang Ye had no response. He coughed and explained, “She’s not my teacher anymore. She’s an employee at my company.”

But this only piqued Ruan Xiaozhu’s interest further. She caught the word “company” and immediately asked, “What company? Where did you get a company from?”

There was no point in hiding it, so Wang Ye explained how he and his friends had started a study abroad agency.

Ruan Xiaozhu listened in silence for a long time. Her younger cousin had truly surprised her.

She took a big gulp of her beer, set the glass down, and said, “You really came here right after high school?”

Wang Ye didn’t understand her tone but nodded with a smile, not saying anything.

Ruan Xiaozhu leaned in, staring intently into his eyes, her voice heavy with emphasis:

“But none of the things you’ve done seem like something a recent high school graduate could pull off!

Selling phone cards? Fine, that just means you’re quick-witted and know how to seize an opportunity.

But dating your hot teacher? That…

Well, I guess that’s just in a man’s nature—can’t help but chase after beautiful women.

But starting a company? A real, legitimate company? That’s not something someone your age should be doing!

You know, there are plenty of older exchange students who’ve been in Moscow for years and wouldn’t dare try something like this. Yet you had the guts to invest so much into starting a company?

Oh, and where did you get the money? Did your family really give you that much?”

Wang Ye hadn’t mentioned the company’s funding details earlier, so Ruan Xiaozhu assumed he had put up most of the money himself.

Even if there were other investors, she figured Wang Ye must have contributed the majority—otherwise, he wouldn’t call it “my company”!

With anyone else, Wang Ye wouldn’t have bothered explaining.

What did it matter to others whether he started a company or where the money came from?

But this was Ruan Xiaozhu—his “cousin-sister.” In both this life and the last, she had been good to him, helping him out a lot. Their relationship was close, so he didn’t want to hide things from her.

He patiently explained, “You don’t know, but starting the company took forty thousand U.S. dollars. I didn’t put in a single cent. I don’t have that kind of money. You know my family’s situation—just getting me here to study was a stretch. Where would they get extra money for me to start a company?” he chuckled.

Ruan Xiaozhu nodded but then asked, confused, “If you didn’t put in any money, what does this company have to do with you?”

Hearing this, she thought Wang Ye might have been exaggerating or just talking big.

“I own sixty percent of the company. How is it not related to me?” Wang Ye spread his hands and smiled.

Ruan Xiaozhu and Han Yan beside her were stunned. They didn’t show too much shock but waited for Wang Ye to continue.

“To put it simply, I’m the one who initiated this company.

Running this kind of business involves a lot of different aspects. Connections and channels are more important than capital. I used those intangible assets as my investment, brought in a few investors, and that’s how the company got started.

Oh, and our company has already formed a strategic partnership with Yangnan Normal University back home. We’re planning to recruit students together.

Representatives from Yangnan Normal University and the Education Bureau of Heluo have already come to inspect. Tomorrow, they’ll be visiting the University of Friendship and Moscow State University.

Soon, our company will be going back to China to hold recruitment seminars. I’ll be going back too…”

After saying all this, Wang Ye felt a bit parched. Explaining all this was exhausting.

But it was Ruan Xiaozhu—he wouldn’t have bothered with anyone else.

It took Ruan Xiaozhu a while to process everything. Only then did she understand the full picture.

When she looked at Wang Ye again, her expression had changed.

Before, she had treated Wang Ye like a little brother, looking out for this newcomer to Moscow. She wouldn’t say she saw him as a child, but there was a bit of that sentiment.

But now, looking at him, her gaze held a hint of admiration—even a touch of reverence…

Studying abroad was completely different from attending university back home. The things exchange students encountered were far more diverse than what domestic students experienced.

Perhaps in Chinese universities, the most popular guys were the handsome ones, the academic high achievers, or the so-called “sports jocks.”

But here, exchange students were much more “practical.”

Those with broad networks, those who ran their own businesses and made money—those were the ones everyone truly admired!

Because everyone had come to understand the simplest, most straightforward truth: everything else was fleeting, but money was real!

Ruan Xiaozhu was fine—she was just impressed by her younger cousin. In less than three months in Moscow, he had accomplished so much.

It seemed she should keep in closer contact with this capable cousin of hers. From now on, it wouldn’t be her looking out for him—it would be the other way around…

Han Yan sat beside them, not saying much, but her eyes sparkled as she looked at Wang Ye.

What girl wouldn’t like a guy who was both handsome and capable?

Unfortunately, glancing at Alyona sitting close to Wang Ye, she sighed inwardly.

She silently cursed her own mother for not making her pretty enough. Compared to Alyona, she didn’t stand a chance…

…

After dinner, at Ruan Xiaozhu’s request, Wang Ye took her to “inspect” the apartment he had rented.

Seeing that both bedrooms had bedding laid out, Ruan Xiaozhu pondered.

It seemed Wang Ye hadn’t been lying to her—at the very least, the two of them weren’t actually living together yet…

Chapter 82: A Breakthrough in Their Relationship

Wang Ye and Alyona walked downstairs together, seeing Ruan Xiaozhu off before returning home.

Alyona suddenly asked, “Did you introduce me to your cousin as your girlfriend?”

“Yeah,” Wang Ye nodded frankly.

Their relationship needed to be clarified—keeping things vague wasn’t sustainable. Alyona had already prepared herself mentally. If she didn’t have feelings for Wang Ye, she wouldn’t have agreed to live with him in the first place.

Hearing his answer, she bit her lip and whispered, “Then… then I’ll tell others you’re my boyfriend too!”

As if she’d be at a disadvantage otherwise…

Wang Ye couldn’t help but laugh. Normally, Alyona was a smart and composed girl, but when it came to relationships, she acted like a child.

“No problem. You can even introduce me as your husband if you want,” Wang Ye teased.

Alyona’s face flushed red again…

She was no match for Wang Ye in banter.

…

After breaking through that “window paper,” their relationship changed once more.

Though they still hadn’t moved into the same bedroom, Alyona was less reserved around Wang Ye now.

That evening, Wang Ye was sitting on the sofa watching TV when Alyona came over after her shower, drying her hair as she walked.

Of course, she was dressed…

But her outfit was quite revealing—a loose red cotton short-sleeved shirt and matching shorts. Against the red fabric, her fair skin looked even more radiant, dazzling Wang Ye.

Before today, they had watched TV together, but they always sat side by side with some distance between them. Tonight, however, Alyona sat right next to Wang Ye, leaning comfortably against him.

Wang Ye naturally draped his arm around her shoulders.

Glancing down, he noticed something unusual about her red shirt…

Not inexperienced, Wang Ye immediately realized—she wasn’t wearing a bra!

With such a beautiful woman in his arms, Wang Ye couldn’t help but react. Yet, he maintained his composure, only tightening his grip slightly on her shoulder.

“When I go back… I mean, when I go to China, would you like to meet my family?” Wang Ye suddenly asked.

“Ah…” Alyona looked up in surprise, meeting his gaze.

Wang Ye smiled back at her.

“Okay…” Alyona lowered her eyes and whispered.

She understood what his words meant.

Meeting the parents, whether in China or Russia, carried the same significance.

“When things aren’t so busy, I’ll take you to Crimea to see my hometown,” Alyona added.

She snuggled closer to Wang Ye, adjusting her position for comfort, and propped her legs on a small stool in front of the sofa.

At nearly 1.7 meters tall and slender, her legs were long and perfectly shaped—exactly Wang Ye’s type.

“Good. I’d love to see the place that produced such a beautiful woman,” Wang Ye said, his voice slightly hoarse as he swallowed.

Alyona shifted slightly, trying to find a more comfortable position, and instinctively placed her hand on Wang Ye’s thigh for support.

“Ah?”

“Ah!”

They both gasped.

Alyona looked down and instantly understood.

This time, her face didn’t just flush—it turned crimson, as if all the blood in her body had rushed to her cheeks, her eyes growing hazy.

Wang Ye could no longer hold back. He pulled her tightly into his arms and kissed her trembling, luscious lips…

Details are best left undescribed, but they didn’t cross the final line.

It wasn’t that Wang Ye couldn’t, nor that Alyona was unwilling—it was just bad timing. Alyona’s period had arrived…

…

After their intimate moment, they calmed down.

Wang Ye had been a little rough, leaving Alyona’s ears red and her chest rising and falling.

She adjusted her nearly torn shirt collar and straightened her clothes.

Glancing shyly at Wang Ye, she scolded, “Hey, you were too rough just now. You almost ruined my clothes.”

Wang Ye chuckled, “It’s fine. If it gets ruined, I’ll buy you a new one.”

Young couples, newly official, were in their sweetest phase, wanting to stick together at every moment.

They were no different. The TV show playing had long been forgotten—they were too absorbed in each other’s embrace.

After a while of quiet cuddling, Alyona spoke, “I never thought I’d end up with a foreign boyfriend…”

In her eyes, Wang Ye was indeed a foreigner.

“Haha, I’m different. When I was a kid, I dreamed of finding a foreign girlfriend. Now my dream has come true,” Wang Ye laughed.

Many boys probably had similar thoughts when they saw blonde, blue-eyed foreign girls on TV as kids…

After some casual chat, Alyona hesitated before asking, “When we go to China… do I really have to meet your parents? I don’t feel ready for that yet.”

She was anxious—what if Wang Ye’s parents didn’t approve of her?

Wang Ye pondered. He hadn’t decided whether to tell his family about his recent activities—selling phone cards, starting a company, finding a girlfriend—all of which he had kept from them.

After a moment, he said, “Let’s play it by ear. I haven’t even told my family I’m coming back.”

Their schedule was tight, and they wouldn’t be visiting Wang Ye’s hometown—a small county far from Yangnan City, where the study abroad fair was being held at Yangnan Normal University.

If he didn’t tell his family, they probably wouldn’t know he was back.

Perhaps…

It was better not to tell them yet. He would wait until he had truly made something of himself, until his company was properly established, before coming clean.

For now, it was too soon. His parents would likely think he was neglecting his studies and causing trouble again…

Chapter 83: This Can’t Be Possible

After the domestic inspection team returned to China, Qingyun Company also became busy.

Liu Jun had already prepared the promotional recruitment materials and sent them to Li Changyun, urging them to print and distribute them to high school seniors in Yangnan City and He Luo City as soon as possible.

On the other hand, they also began preparing to return to China to hold recruitment seminars.

This time, Qingyun Company sent three people: Liu Jun, Wang Ye, and Alyona.

Additionally, they invited the director and secretary of the Foreign Affairs Office of the University of Friendship, as well as the director and secretary of the Foreign Affairs Office of Moscow State University.

A total of seven people!

Their departure was set for April 8th.

The recruitment seminar was scheduled for April 10th!

At the same time, domestic actions also began…

………………..

April 3rd, Chen County No. 1 Middle School in Yangnan City.

This was the largest high school in the Yangnan region, with only a senior high school department, but it had around six thousand students!

The senior year alone had fifteen classes, each with about one hundred and fifty students.

This school was quite famous in the Yangnan region and was the only national key high school in the area.

It was not only the dream school for junior high students in Chen County, but also attracted many students from other counties in the region who tried every means to study here.

Wang Ye had attended high school here…

At around four in the afternoon, the bell rang for class, and it was time for the weekly class meeting.

Class 1 of the senior year, with over one hundred and fifty students, filled every corner of the classroom.

With the college entrance exam approaching and having gone through numerous mock exams, each student had a clear understanding of their own abilities.

Those who had a chance to get into key or prestigious universities were naturally gearing up for a final push, hoping to achieve good results in the college entrance exam and thus complete the “leap over the dragon gate” of social class…

Of course, they didn’t yet understand what “social class leap” meant.

But everyone knew that whether they attended a good university or a subpar one would lead to completely different futures.

As for those with poorer grades, they had basically given up on “struggling.”

No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t cross the undergraduate line. Attending a college or failing the exam didn’t make much difference.

At worst, they could still take self-study exams or adult education.

Who knew, maybe in the future they could still be “alumni” with the top students in the class.

Of course, the top students would be attending Tsinghua University proper, while they would be taking Tsinghua’s self-study exams…

“Old Six, what are you planning to do after the college entrance exam? Following your family’s business? Then we’ll have to call you Boss Six in the future, haha.”

“Yeah, yeah, Old Six doesn’t care. Anyway, his family has money. What’s the big deal if he doesn’t get into college? Maybe in the future, those top students in our class will have to work for Old Six after they graduate.”

In the last two rows of the classroom, several boys were chatting excitedly, completely ignoring the bell that had rung for class.

Old Six, the one being teased, was a chubby boy with fair skin.

Hearing what they said, he actually felt a bit proud but still modestly waved his hand, “Don’t joke around, guys. My family just runs a small business. Those geniuses are going to Tsinghua and Peking University. Even after they graduate, they wouldn’t look down on my family’s small business.”

Old Six’s family owned a brick kiln factory. It couldn’t be called a big business, but it was indeed very profitable!

In those years, China was undergoing large-scale infrastructure construction, with houses, roads, bridges, and highways being built everywhere. Bricks were in high demand!

Absolutely a goldmine!

Unfortunately, Old Six was not cut out for studying.

He hadn’t even passed the high school entrance exam. His family had spent a lot of money to get him into Chen County No. 1 Middle School.

In the first year of high school, the officially admitted students only needed to pay a few hundred yuan in tuition and miscellaneous fees, but Old Six’s family had paid a full thirty thousand…

But even after his family got him into a key high school, Old Six still wasn’t the right material.

From the first year to the third year of high school, he firmly held the top position in the class!

Unfortunately, it was the bottom…

While they were laughing and joking, the homeroom teacher walked in, and everyone quieted down.

The teacher brought a stack of what looked like brochures.

He put down what he was holding, picked up the blackboard eraser, and tapped the desk, “Everyone, quiet down!”

After the classroom had completely quieted down, the teacher casually picked up a brochure, waved it in his hand, and said, “I’ll hand these out in a moment. Everyone who’s interested can take a look. Especially those whose families are well-off and don’t have much hope of getting into a good university, this might be a path for you. To be honest, this looks really good. If your family can afford it, I really hope you can sign up and give it a try…”

Hearing him say that, everyone became interested.

What on earth was it that made the teacher praise it so much?

Soon, the brochures were handed out, one per person, and everyone started reading them intently.

Old Six took one and looked at it, his eyes lighting up.

The brochure featured a majestic European-style building, with the words “World-Famous University - Moscow State University” printed next to it!

This school looked so beautiful, much better than domestic universities…

Opening the brochure, it was a fold-out page that could be spread out into a single large page.

The content inside introduced Moscow State University and the University of Friendship.

It emphasized how glorious the histories of these two universities were and how high their world rankings were. It also made a special comparison, stating that in the 2000 global university rankings, both universities were in the top one hundred.

Moscow State University was even ranked seventh!

The University of Friendship was fifty-sixth.

In the same year, the two best universities in China, Tsinghua and Peking University, were both ranked outside the top one hundred…

The implication was clear: these two universities were world-famous and better than Tsinghua and Peking University!

Seeing this, Old Six felt a bit discouraged.

Tsinghua and Peking University were already beyond his reach. How outstanding would a student have to be to apply to a university better than Tsinghua and Peking University?

But after the school introduction, the admission requirements followed.

There were only a few simple requirements. After reading them, Old Six was stunned.

Not because the requirements were too high, but because they were too low!

1: Current or past high school graduates with a high school diploma.

2: Passing grades in the comprehensive assessment.

Just these two requirements?

Old Six couldn’t believe it. He thought there must be more requirements, so he quickly flipped through the rest.

But after looking several times, he couldn’t find any other requirements…

Just this?!

Did that mean anyone could attend world-famous universities like Moscow State University and the University of Friendship?

At this moment, the classroom also became noisy, as everyone had finished reading the brochure.

At the same time, everyone had great doubts about those admission requirements…

This can’t be possible!

Just having a high school diploma and passing the comprehensive assessment is enough to attend a world-famous university like Moscow State University?

Chapter 84: There’s Still a Threshold

The homeroom teacher was clearly aware of everyone’s confusion.

When he first received the brochure, he had been just as puzzled and had even consulted the staff at Yangnan Normal University.

Now, seeing the students buzzing with discussion, he clapped his hands and said with a smile, “Everyone, quiet down. I know what you’re all thinking—these admission requirements seem too low. If we go by these standards, wouldn’t our entire class of over a hundred and fifty students qualify for Moscow State University? Wow, that would really make me look good! Sending an entire class abroad to study at a world-renowned university? I could brag about that for the rest of my life!”

The class erupted in laughter. Indeed, as he said, if they went strictly by the brochure’s requirements, every single student in the class would qualify.

A high school diploma? As long as you hadn’t been expelled, you’d have one.

And the comprehensive assessment? Anyone who had taken it knew—it was practically an open-book exam. Failing would be harder than passing!

After the laughter died down, the teacher continued, “Of course, getting into a world-class university like this isn’t that simple. There’s still a threshold.”

The room fell silent as everyone waited for the teacher to explain.

They were all high school seniors—who didn’t want to go to a good university? And this wasn’t just any university—it was a chance to study abroad at a world-renowned institution!

With an opportunity like this, naturally, everyone was interested in learning more. What if they could go too?

“The threshold is money,” the teacher said. “This recruitment drive doesn’t offer any scholarships—it’s entirely self-funded. So, all expenses for studying abroad will have to be covered by you or your family. While the cost of living in Russia isn’t as high as in Europe or America, it’s still a significant amount over several years. I looked into it—if you study at Moscow State University, the preparatory courses plus four years of undergraduate studies will cost around three hundred thousand yuan. The University of Friendship is a bit cheaper, around two hundred thousand yuan…”

The teacher briefly outlined what he had learned.

When the students heard “three hundred thousand” and “two hundred thousand,” most of them let out a long sigh.

As expected, such a prestigious university was still out of reach for them…

In 2001, how many families could afford that kind of money?

In their class alone, the number of families who could—and would—spend that much could probably be counted on one hand…

While others were discussing it, Liu Liu’s eyes widened, and his heart raced.

He knew his family could afford it!

With his grades, getting into a good university domestically was out of the question. Just a few days ago, when he went home, his father had talked to him about his future.

Either he could take the adult education exam or self-study, but those degrees wouldn’t be worth much.

Or he could just go back home and work at his father’s brick kiln.

Liu Liu wasn’t willing to give up. He was young—who didn’t have dreams and ambitions?

He wanted to go to a good university, to develop in a big city, to one day work in a high-end office building in a first-tier city!

What was the point of going back to work at a brick kiln? He’d be covered in dust all day, and people would look down on him.

Even if he made money, it would just be hard-earned money—nothing prestigious!

But now, all he needed was three hundred thousand yuan, and he could go study abroad at a world-class university like Moscow State University!

After graduating and returning to China, he’d be a sophisticated “returnee from overseas study”…

…

Out of the over a hundred and fifty students in the class, only a few were truly tempted.

After all, they were high school seniors, not children—they knew their family’s financial situation.

The homeroom teacher understood this too.

Finally, he said, “This is a big decision. On April 10th, there will be a recruitment fair at Yangnan Normal University. Any interested students can attend with their parents to ask questions in person.

I’ve heard this fair is going to be quite grand. The Education Bureau from our city and He Luo City will both be there, along with a few education experts from Russia!

It’s a rare opportunity to get your questions answered directly.

Oh, and if any of you need to discuss this with your family, let me know. You can take tomorrow off to go home.”

The students who could get into top domestic universities probably wouldn’t be interested, but those who weren’t doing well academically but had wealthy families would be.

For these students, taking a day off didn’t matter. At this point, whether they studied an extra day or not wouldn’t make a difference—they weren’t getting in anyway!

Liu Liu immediately raised his hand. “Teacher, teacher! I need to go home tomorrow to discuss this with my family.”

The teacher’s eyes lit up. “Oh? You’re interested in studying abroad? Which university are you thinking of?”

“Moscow State University, of course! If I’m going to study, I’m going to the best!” Liu Liu said, proudly scanning the room.

Everywhere his gaze landed, he was met with envious looks.

Before, everyone had looked at Liu Liu like he was a joke.

But today, he could feel their attitudes toward him had changed…

After all, out of all the students in the class, how many could get into Tsinghua or Peking University? One or two at most.

But he, Liu Liu, was about to go study at Moscow State University—a university even better than Tsinghua!

In a few years, he’d be a returnee from overseas study…

The teacher had no objections to Liu Liu’s request for leave. Instead, he patiently reminded him to discuss it thoroughly with his family, as this was a rare opportunity.

In previous years, there might have been one or two students who went abroad to study, but they had to arrange everything themselves. This year was different.

It was organized by the Education Bureaus of both Yangnan City and He Luo City—very official!

And Yangnan Normal University was handling all the procedures, so there would be no issues.

As the homeroom teacher of a graduating class, having students get into prestigious universities like Tsinghua or Peking University was, of course, a point of pride.

But having students study abroad was just as impressive!

And universities like Moscow State University and the University of Friendship were by no means inferior.

…

Besides Liu Liu, three or four other students in the class also asked for leave to go home and discuss this with their parents.

And this scene wasn’t unique to their class.

That day, in every high school senior class across Yangnan City and He Luo City, the same thing happened!

The brochures the students received were all provided by Yangnan Normal University.

The domestic promotional campaign had officially begun…

In Yangnan and He Luo, “studying abroad in Russia” suddenly became a hot topic.

It wasn’t just those with the means and interest who were talking about it.

Even those whose families weren’t as well-off were eagerly discussing it.

In those days, studying abroad was still a rare and impressive feat!

In many people’s minds, it was something far beyond their reach—only families with extraordinary means or exceptionally talented children could do it.

But now, they suddenly realized that studying abroad wasn’t as “sacred” as they thought. It seemed like if they just reached out a little, they could touch it…

Chapter 85: Taking the Money Directly

That same afternoon, Liu Liu eagerly took the bus home after school, not waiting until the next day.

His home wasn’t far from the county seat, and by the time he arrived, it was just past six o’clock—right at dinnertime.

His parents were already eating when he walked in.

Seeing him return unexpectedly on a weekday, they were both surprised. What’s going on? It’s not even the weekend.

“You little brat, did you skip class again?” his father scowled. “How many times have I told you? The college entrance exam is coming up. If you push yourself a little, you might even get into a decent university.”

Clearly, his father hadn’t given up on him entirely—he still clung to a sliver of hope.

“Enough, enough,” his mother interjected, rushing to defend her son. “Studying isn’t easy for him. If he can’t make it, he can’t make it. Liu Liu, haven’t you eaten yet? Sit down and have something.”

At school, his classmates called him “Liu Liu,” but at home, he was just “Little Liu.”

Unfazed by his father’s scolding, Liu Liu plopped down at the table. “This time, I really didn’t skip class. I came back because there’s something important I need to discuss with you—something that’ll affect the rest of my life!”

His parents’ eyes widened at his solemn tone.

But they both jumped to the wrong conclusion. His mother blurted out, “The rest of your life? Did you get some girl pregnant? Honestly, how could you be so irresponsible?”

“You little—” his father roared, “We spent all that money sending you to a top high school so you could study! And this is what you do?”

Liu Liu was torn between laughter and frustration. Where did they even get that idea?

Sure, his grades were terrible, but he’d never even been in a relationship. With his looks, no girl had ever shown the slightest interest in him…

He quickly waved his hands. “No, no, you’ve got it all wrong! This is about college. Today, our homeroom teacher announced that I have a chance to study abroad at a world-famous university—better than Tsinghua or Peking University!”

His parents stared at him in disbelief.

“You?” his father scoffed. “You can’t even get into a vocational college, and now you’re talking about studying abroad? Who’d believe that? Only top students from Tsinghua or Peking University get to study abroad after graduation. You’re still in high school with terrible grades—what kind of prestigious university would want you?”

His father’s skepticism reflected what most parents at the time thought about studying abroad. Many had no idea that self-funded overseas education was even an option.

“This sounds too good to be true,” his mother chimed in. “Did your homeroom teacher really say this?”

Liu Liu pulled the brochure from his pocket and handed it to them. “Take a look! It’s real—just costs a bit of money, heh.”

His parents took the brochure, flipping through it with a mix of doubt and awe.

“Wow, look at this university—built like a palace! So much nicer than the ones back home.”

“This is Moscow State University! It’s famous. Back when Russia was a world power, it was just as strong as America.”

But when they reached the admission requirements, their jaws dropped—just like Liu Liu’s had earlier.

A top university with requirements this simple? Just a high school diploma and decent grades on the comprehensive assessment?

“This can’t be right,” his father muttered, his business instincts flaring. “Is this some kind of scam?”

“Hah! This is organized by Yangnan Normal University, co-sponsored by the Education Bureau and the He Luo City Education Bureau. You think it’s fake?” Liu Liu said smugly.

His homeroom teacher had shared this information in class.

Sure enough, his father’s doubts vanished. Neither Yangnan Normal University nor the education bureaus would risk their reputations on a scam—they were government-affiliated, after all.

“If this were true, why would any high school senior bother with the college entrance exam? They’d all just go to Moscow State University instead,” his father grumbled, shaking the brochure.

“Let me finish,” Liu Liu said. “It’s not that simple. Our teacher explained—this is self-funded. You have to pay all the tuition and living expenses yourself. This time, two universities are recruiting together. Moscow State University costs about three hundred thousand yuan over five years, and the University of Friendship is around two hundred thousand.”

Now his father understood.

Two or three hundred thousand…

That wasn’t pocket change for most families. This requirement alone would eliminate at least ninety-nine percent of high school seniors.

But for their family, it wasn’t an impossible sum.

If this really meant sending their son to a world-class university like Moscow State University, spending three hundred thousand yuan was worth it.

“Not a bad deal…” his father mused, his voice tinged with excitement. “Even if you don’t learn much, just having a diploma from a prestigious university and being a returned exchange student—that reputation alone is worth three hundred thousand! Where do we sign up?”

“It’s all in the brochure,” Liu Liu said calmly. “There’s an on-campus presentation at Yangnan Normal University’s auditorium on the tenth of this month. Representatives from both universities will be there to answer questions and take applications. Spots are limited—first come, first served.”

His father thought for a moment before declaring, “Then we’ll all go to the city on the tenth. Oh, and wife, get the money ready. I bet they’ll want payment on the spot. We’ll bring three hundred thousand in cash—no way we won’t get a spot!”

Money talked.

His mother nodded in agreement. When it came to their son’s future, they could afford it—and of course they’d support him.

…

Back in Russia, Wang Ye and the others had no idea what was happening in China.

But Wang Ye was confident about the upcoming study abroad presentation. He’d been preparing for days, ready to—well, not exactly rake in the cash, but to encourage students who had no other options in China to broaden their horizons abroad.

After all, how could they develop a proper worldview if they never left their homeland?

Two days before his scheduled return to China, Wang Ye underwent another “transformation.”

In this life, he had finally completed his physical evolution from “boy” to “man.”

The last time he and Alyona had nearly taken things all the way, but circumstances had intervened.

But as they say, opportunity knocks more than once.

Chapter 86: You’re on Dish Duty Tonight

“That… I’m better now…”

During dinner, Alyona hesitated several times before finally making up her mind and whispering to Wang Ye. After she spoke, her fair face turned crimson.

This girl seemed quite shy, nothing like the boldness of the Russians…

Wang Ye was taken aback for a moment, not immediately understanding what she meant.

“What’s better? Are you full? That can’t be, we just started eating, you haven’t eaten anything yet.” He looked utterly confused.

“You! I mean… you idiot.” Alyona glared at him reproachfully and kicked him under the table.

Seeing her expression, Wang Ye suddenly realized what she was talking about. His heart raced, almost losing control…

After clearing his throat, he said seriously, “Perfect timing. You’re on dish duty tonight.”

A few days ago, since Alyona wasn’t feeling well, Wang Ye had taken over the chore of washing dishes after meals. Now that she was better, she couldn’t escape the duty…

Alyona was stunned, never expecting Wang Ye to think of that! For a moment, she couldn’t tell if he was joking or genuinely didn’t understand her.

She ate in silence, clearly upset.

Wang Ye wasn’t stupid. Seeing her like this, a smile crept across his face. He stood up, walked behind Alyona, and gently wrapped his arms around her waist.

Leaning in, he whispered in her ear, “Want to go to my room?”

Caught off guard by Wang Ye’s “ambush,” Alyona panicked, suddenly feeling timid.

She pretended to be confused, “Why go to your room? We haven’t even finished eating, and I still have to wash the dishes!”

Clearly, she was still upset about his earlier teasing.

“Hehe, though the food is delicious, I’m not in the mood for steak right now. I’d rather have you!” With that, Wang Ye playfully opened his mouth wide and “viciously” bit at Alyona’s slender neck.

“Ah… that tickles… let go… don’t…” Alyona gasped, breathless from his antics.

But his teasing had clearly stirred her emotions. Her face flushed, her chest heaving, her eyes growing hazy.

Seeing she was ready, Wang Ye didn’t hesitate. He scooped Alyona up in his arms and, despite her surprised cry, carried her straight to his bedroom…

What happened in the bedroom remained a mystery.

Two hours later, Wang Ye was “kicked out” by Alyona—because the dishes still weren’t washed…

…

After that night, Wang Ye and Alyona’s relationship had completely “broken through.”

The next day, Alyona, who usually woke up early, slept in for once. Last night had been quite exhausting.

The sun was high when she finally opened her sleepy eyes, instinctively reaching out beside her—only to find empty space. She sat up abruptly, feeling a chill.

Looking down, she gasped and quickly pulled the blanket back up.

Hearing her, Wang Ye pushed the door open and walked in, smiling. “You’re finally awake. It’s almost lunchtime.”

He leaned in and kissed her cheek.

Alyona instinctively tried to dodge but then remembered something and closed her eyes, staying still.

Wang Ye turned and pulled open the curtains. Sunlight streamed in, bathing Alyona as she leaned against the headboard. She looked breathtakingly beautiful, and Wang Ye nearly lost control again.

Fortunately, he had good self-control and knew Alyona needed time to recover…

“Get up. I’ve already made lunch. Let me show off my cooking skills today.”

His cooking was decent, at least when it came to steak.

Alyona hesitated before turning her head and whispering, “Then… go out. I need to get dressed.”

“Haha, like I haven’t seen it all before. What’s there to be shy about?” Wang Ye teased.

Alyona blushed furiously, grabbing a pillow and throwing it at him. “Get out!”

But her movement was too forceful, and the blanket covering her upper body slipped, revealing her figure in the sunlight. Wang Ye saw everything clearly.

At eighteen, his body was at its peak of energy. Not acting on his impulses earlier had already been a test of his self-control. Now, seeing this “sight,” he really struggled to hold back.

He turned abruptly and yanked the curtains shut.

Alyona was confused. “Why did you close the curtains again?”

True, the building across from them was all forest, with no other structures. There was no risk of being seen.

But Wang Ye’s next move made it clear why he had closed them.

Soon, a gasp echoed through the room, followed by heavy breathing…

…

When they finally got out of bed again, it was past noon. The steak Wang Ye had cooked was already cold.

“You… you’re terrible! I still have to go to the office today. Look at my neck—how am I supposed to face people?” Under the table, Alyona angrily kicked Wang Ye’s shin while turning her head to show him her neck.

Her fair, slender neck was marked with several red spots, shaped like little strawberries—quite noticeable.

“Hehe, I couldn’t control myself at the time. Just wear a high-necked sweater. I remember you have one.” Wang Ye could only laugh awkwardly, trying to smooth things over.

Alyona had no choice but to glare at him, still not satisfied. “And you’re washing the dishes!”

Wang Ye readily agreed, patting his chest and promising it was no trouble at all.

…

They took a taxi to the office together. Today, the company was holding a meeting to discuss the promotional event back in China.

This would be the last full company meeting before their return.

In a couple of days, Wang Ye and the others would board a plane bound for China.

This “battle” would determine the fate and future of the Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company!

Before the meeting started, Nalan Yaqi sat beside Wang Ye. She suddenly leaned over to look at Alyona on his other side, then asked curiously, “Why do I feel like you and Alyona are acting a little strange today?”

Wang Ye paused before asking, “What’s strange about it?”

Nalan Yaqi furrowed her brows slightly, thinking. “I can’t put my finger on it, but something’s different. You seem fine, but Alyona…”

“I think Alyona looks even more beautiful and womanly!” Wang Dan suddenly chimed in.

Nalan Yaqi’s eyes lit up. “Yes! That’s it—she’s suddenly more womanly. She was always pretty, but today… there’s something more alluring about her!”

Wang Ye knew exactly what had happened, but of course, he couldn’t say…

Chapter 87: I Bought a Car

Wang Ye and Nalan Yaqi were speaking in Chinese, so Alyona couldn’t understand what they were saying. However, she seemed to be in a good mood today, with a smile on her face the whole time.

She turned her head and saw a long hair on Wang Ye’s shoulder, probably her own, and quickly reached out to take it off.

This small action was noticed by the sharp-eyed Nalan Yaqi, who immediately felt a pang of jealousy.

Just as she was about to say something sarcastic, Liu Jun and a Russian employee walked in, talking as they entered.

Everyone was present, so the meeting began immediately. Nalan Yaqi knew better than to continue speaking, as business came first, and she wasn’t unreasonable.

Liu Jun, as the general manager, began to preside over the meeting. He first talked about the situation back home, then started arranging the itinerary for their return. These details had already been discussed with Wang Ye several times in private and had been finalized.

Now, he was just informing everyone so they could be aware.

“We will take the 8 AM flight on the 8th, flying directly to the capital, then transfer to a flight to the provincial capital of Zhongyuan. Yangnan Normal University will send a car to pick us up at the airport.

Due to the time difference, we are expected to arrive in Yangnan City on the morning of the 9th.

However, we don’t have extra time to rest. On the 9th, we still need to coordinate with Yangnan Normal University, including the promotion and recruitment processes.

On the 10th, the promotion will officially begin!

…”

Everyone in the meeting room was a little excited. They all understood that this promotion would determine the fate of the company!

If this didn’t work out, the company wouldn’t have much of a future.

After all, they might not even have the money to pay next month’s salaries. What kind of future could they have then?

Wang Dan and Nalan Yaqi, as shareholders of the company, also wanted to say something, but after thinking for a long time, they couldn’t come up with anything to add. After all, Wang Ye and Liu Jun had already arranged everything in detail.

In the end, they could only wish them all the best and a triumphant return…

After discussing all the important matters, Liu Jun handed the already purchased tickets to Wang Ye and said with a smile, “We’ll be leaving the day after tomorrow. Everyone, pack your things tomorrow, and we’ll meet directly at the airport the morning after tomorrow. I’ve already arranged for people and cars to pick up the students from the University of Friendship and Moscow State University.”

Wang Ye nodded, took the tickets, which were for him and Alyona, and stood up, saying, “Is that all? Then see you the day after tomorrow.”

Just as he was about to take Alyona home, Nalan Yaqi called out to him.

“Wang Ye, wait, let’s take a taxi back together. I have something I want you to take back to the country for me.”

Wang Ye stopped and asked curiously, “Take back to the country?”

“Mm, I bought a piece of clothing for my mother. Since you’ll be transferring flights in the capital, I’ll have my mother meet you at the airport to get it,” Nalan Yaqi said with a smile.

It turned out this girl was quite filial, even buying clothes for her mother.

Wang Ye naturally had no problem with this and readily agreed.

Since they were going the same way, Wang Ye, Nalan Yaqi, Wang Dan, and Alyona took a taxi back to the University of Friendship together.

Nalan Yaqi still lived in Building No. 6, a place Wang Ye was quite familiar with. His dormitory bed was still reserved there.

As soon as they got out of the car, they ran into an old acquaintance…

…

“Hey, isn’t that Qi Gege and Dan Dan? Where have you been?”

Zhang Ke flicked his long hair off his forehead and greeted them in what he thought was a very stylish manner.

He ignored Wang Ye beside them but secretly glanced at Alyona several times.

Nalan Yaqi didn’t give him any face and completely ignored him.

Wang Dan was softer in nature and couldn’t ignore him outright, so she softly replied, “We went out to take care of some things. Are you going out?”

“Hehe, yeah. Didn’t I just buy a car? A couple of classmates want to go to IKEA to buy some things, so I’m giving them a ride.”

“Ah? You bought a car?” Wang Dan was a bit surprised.

For students, buying a car was quite a distant dream, especially for those studying abroad in Russia, whose families weren’t particularly wealthy.

Among the many Chinese exchange students at the University of Friendship, apart from a few senior students who had already reached their doctorate studies and had part-time jobs outside of school, none of the undergraduates had bought a car yet.

Zhang Ke was the first!

“Haha, just bought it. I just feel that having a car is more convenient. The cars here aren’t expensive, so I just bought one casually. Look, that’s it over there.”

As he spoke, Zhang Ke pointed to a white sedan parked not far away. It looked quite new.

This kind of car was very common in Russia. It was a domestic Russian brand, Lada, and indeed quite cheap. A new one cost only about four to five thousand US dollars.

…

Speaking of buying a car, it actually had a little to do with Wang Ye…

Earlier, Zhang Ke had been repeatedly rejected in his pursuit of girls. First, he had failed with Nalan Yaqi, then he had hit a wall with Wang Dan.

He began to think about where he had gone wrong and why these two girls hadn’t taken a liking to him.

He thought he had quite a bit of experience in picking up girls and was willing to lower himself to persistently pursue them, even spending money on gifts. There was no reason for this.

On the other hand, Wang Ye, that poor guy, seemed to be more popular with girls!

After analyzing it over and over, Zhang Ke felt that it must be because of Wang Ye selling phone cards. After all, a hardworking and ambitious boy would be more popular with girls…

After all, once in university, they were considered adults, and everyone was more practical.

Just relying on being handsome wasn’t enough. They needed to show their strength and potential…

However, Zhang Ke looked down on the small business of selling phone cards. How much money could that make?

Plus, it was tiring. When someone called, he had to rush to deliver the card. It was too undignified!

If he were to do business, it had to be something more high-end!

After thinking it over, Zhang Ke actually found a business opportunity.

That was taxi services!

As everyone knew, taking a taxi in Moscow wasn’t very convenient, especially for those classmates who weren’t good at Russian. They were easily tricked by Russian taxi drivers and overcharged.

If he bought a car and specifically served the campus market?

They could all speak Mandarin, making communication simple. It would be convenient and safe for the students to take a taxi.

Most importantly, this job wasn’t tiring at all and was quite dignified. After all, being able to afford a car was a manifestation of his “economic strength”!

Without further ado, Zhang Ke gathered some money and bought a small Lada.

Today was his first business trip after buying the car, taking two classmates to IKEA to buy things. The round trip plus waiting time totaled five hundred rubles!

He could earn five hundred rubles in just one afternoon. In a day, that would be a thousand rubles. In a month, he could easily make ten to twenty thousand rubles…

This was much better than selling those damn phone cards!

Chapter 88: What Can You Compare With Me?

After showing off his new car, Zhang Ke fawned over Nalan Yaqi and Wang Dan, saying, “Next time you go out, just let me know, and I’ll drive you!”

With that, he shot Wang Ye a smug glance, thinking, You’ll never afford a car selling phone cards. What can you compare with me?

Nalan Yaqi curled her lip and said bluntly, “A beat-up Lada? I’d be embarrassed to ride in it!”

Zhang Ke’s smile froze on his face. After an awkward pause, he forced out, “Heh, it’s just a cheap car to practice with. Once I get used to driving, I’ll buy a better one.”

Wang Dan tried to smooth things over, “It’s still pretty good. It’s a car, after all. None of our classmates have one yet.”

Wang Ye was growing impatient. It was getting dark, and he still had to walk back after picking up the item. He had no time for this nonsense.

“Alright, Yaqi, go upstairs and get your things. I’ll wait here,” he urged, pulling out a cigarette pack. He took out two cigarettes, lit them both, and handed one to Alyona.

Nalan Yaqi and Wang Dan didn’t smoke, so Wang Ye didn’t offer them any. As for Zhang Ke—whether he smoked or not was none of his concern.

Alyona naturally took the cigarette from Wang Ye, lightly holding it between her lips as she took a drag. She smoked, but not heavily. Back when she was still teaching, she might have smoked a bit more, but since moving in with Wang Ye, she had cut back.

Wang Dan and Nalan Yaqi were used to seeing them like this. Nalan Yaqi just curled her lip again and went upstairs without a word.

Zhang Ke, however, was stunned. He knew Alyona, but he had no idea about her relationship with Wang Ye. Their social circles didn’t overlap, so all he knew was that Wang Ye had moved out—but not that he was “living with” Alyona!

Seeing how intimate they were, Zhang Ke was completely confused. He wanted to ask Wang Ye what exactly his relationship was with this beautiful teacher, but one look at Wang Ye’s expression told him he wouldn’t get an answer.

Reluctantly, he turned toward his little Lada, glancing back every few steps. His classmates were waiting and had already called to hurry him up…

…

Before Wang Ye could even finish his cigarette, Nalan Yaqi came back down carrying a large paper bag.

She handed it to him and said, “Here, take this back for me. You’ll be transferring in the capital, so I’ll have my mother meet you at the arrival hall entrance. Just give it to her directly.”

Since Wang Ye was traveling for work, he wouldn’t be bringing much luggage, so carrying back a piece of clothing for her wasn’t a problem.

He took the bag and glanced inside. “Wow, Burberry! Why buy it here? They should have this brand in China too.”

“It’s much cheaper here,” Nalan Yaqi explained. “Before I left, my mother saw this coat in a mall but thought it was too expensive. A few days ago, I saw a Burberry store in the Underground Mall and went in. Turns out this coat is a lot cheaper here than back home, so I bought it.”

“Alright, we’re off. See you when I get back from the business trip.”

Wang Ye waved goodbye to Nalan Yaqi and walked off with Alyona toward the small grove…

…

Nalan Yaqi buying clothes for her mother reminded Wang Ye of something. On the way home, he asked Alyona, “You don’t have anything planned tomorrow, right? Let’s go to the mall and buy you some clothes.”

“Huh? I have clothes. I don’t need any,” Alyona said, surprised.

Wang Ye shook his head. “No, you’ll be speaking at the presentation back in China. This represents the company’s image, so you need to look stunning. It’s settled—tomorrow we’re going to Red Square.”

That was the only decent mall he knew of around here.

Seeing Wang Ye so insistent, Alyona didn’t argue. Of course, she wasn’t unhappy—what young woman didn’t like pretty clothes?

Back at home, Alyona busied herself making dinner. Over the past few days, they had bought more things for the house, and it was finally starting to look presentable.

Wang Ye lay on the sofa with the TV on, though he wasn’t watching it. His mind was elsewhere.

He estimated that the presentation back home would at least meet the minimum target of two hundred students. More wasn’t out of the question…

Assuming two hundred students, Qingyun Company would earn four million yuan in agency fees. Sixty percent of that—two million four hundred thousand yuan—would go to him. After taxes and company expenses, he’d take home around two million yuan, or twenty-five thousand US dollars.

It wasn’t a fortune, but it wasn’t pocket change either…

He already had plans for the money. First, he’d take out five thousand dollars to partner with Liu Jun on the phone card business. It might not make him rich quickly, but it would be a steady income stream.

As for the remaining twenty thousand dollars, that was for something else entirely—his real moneymaker.

Sighing, Wang Ye thought, Making money really isn’t easy. After all this effort, mobilizing every resource and even “calculating” his friends and classmates, this was all he had to show for it…

Lost in thought, he didn’t notice Alyona coming out with two plates. “Misha, dinner’s ready! I made your favorite borscht today, hehe.”

Wang Ye perked up, got off the sofa, and walked over with a smile.

…

There wasn’t much to do in Moscow at night. Even though it was early April, it was still cold outside. After dinner, they didn’t go out, just exercised at home.

Don’t get the wrong idea—it wasn’t that kind of exercise.

Alyona did aerobics while Wang Ye lifted dumbbells… until they were both drenched in sweat.

“I’ll shower in the master bathroom. You use the one outside,” Alyona said, wiping her sweat.

Wang Ye grinned, wrapping his arms around her slender waist from behind. “Why go through all that trouble? It’s a waste of water. Water is precious, so we should conserve it. Let’s shower together!”

Alyona hesitated, unsure if Wang Ye was genuinely concerned about water conservation or up to something else…

Chapter 89: Take Me With You

Time had come to April 8th.

Early in the morning, Wang Ye and Alyona got up, washed up, ate, and then headed straight to the airport.

When they arrived at the airport, Liu Jun and the others were already there, along with the directors of the international offices from Moscow State University and the University of Friendship.

The director of the University of Friendship’s international office saw Alyona and came over with a smile. “Haha, Alyona, I didn’t expect you to end up working at Qingyun Company. Here we meet again.”

When Alyona was a teacher, although she taught preparatory courses, she wasn’t exactly under the international office.

So the director only knew she had resigned but didn’t know where she had gone.

The director from Moscow State University was a bit more reserved—a tall, middle-aged man with graying hair, dressed in a three-piece suit, looking quite the part.

This wasn’t surprising. After all, Moscow State University was a world-renowned institution, and the director of its international office was a figure of some authority. A little pride was understandable…

After a few brief pleasantries, they didn’t pay much attention to Wang Ye. Of course, they had no idea that Wang Ye was the real boss of Qingyun Company.

This suited Wang Ye just fine. He preferred to keep a low profile.

…

The flight took off smoothly.

Wang Ye and Alyona put on their eye masks and leaned against each other to sleep.

After all, it was economy class, and the seats were cramped. They had to make do.

The past two nights had been exhausting, and they were both quite tired…

When Wang Ye woke up, they were almost at the capital airport. He had slept for nearly seven or eight hours!

He got up and went to the back of the plane to smoke.

Back then, Russian airlines still allowed smoking on planes. There was a designated smoking area at the back where old smokers could indulge…

After finishing his cigarette, he washed his face and felt much more refreshed.

Before long, the plane landed, arriving at the capital airport.

They needed to transfer here and take a domestic flight to the capital of Zhongyuan Province.

At the exit of the international arrivals hall, Wang Ye saw Nalan Yaqi’s mother.

Yaqi’s mother was named Liu Mei. She looked quite young, not like a woman in her forties but more like a woman in her thirties. Her hair was neatly tied up, and she wore a gray suit with high heels and stockings, exuding the charm of a mature woman.

“You must be Wang Ye. I’ve heard Yaqi talk about you often.” Yaqi’s mother looked at Wang Ye with a somewhat peculiar gaze, sizing him up from head to toe.

Wang Ye smiled calmly and politely replied, “Hello, Auntie. I’ve heard Yaqi mention you often too. Here, Yaqi asked me to bring this for you.”

With that, he took the paper bag from his luggage and handed it to Yaqi’s mother.

“Thank you for your trouble. It’s a shame you have to transfer flights; otherwise, I could have shown you around the capital. By the way, I heard from Yaqi that your company is doing quite well and has received strong support from two regional education bureaus?” Liu Mei seemed quite interested in Qingyun Company.

As for the paper bag Wang Ye handed her, she didn’t pay much attention to it, casually taking it and setting it aside.

“It’s alright. We’re just messing around, trying things out. Don’t laugh at us, Auntie.” Wang Ye replied modestly.

He had heard that Liu Mei also ran a company, though he wasn’t sure what kind of business it was.

Liu Mei’s face lit up with a smile as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a gesture that was quite feminine.

“Even if you’re just messing around, you’ve managed to make it this big. It seems you have a real talent for business. I should learn from you. How about this—since you’re holding that promotional event on the 10th, I’ll come by to observe and learn.”

Wang Ye’s face showed hesitation. Time was tight, and the workload was heavy. He didn’t want to bring along another “burden”…

Seeming to sense Wang Ye’s thoughts, Liu Mei chuckled lightly. “I won’t be any trouble. I’ll drive myself there. Just let me be present during the meeting.”

The capital wasn’t too far from Zhongyuan—about seven or eight hundred kilometers—but driving there would still be tiring.

So when she said this, Wang Ye actually felt a bit guilty and decided to be straightforward. “Auntie, you’re being too polite. How about this—let’s see if we can still buy a ticket. If we can, you can just come with us.”

Liu Mei’s face lit up with joy, and she quickly said, “There should be some available. I’ll go buy a ticket now, and we can meet up in the departure lounge later.”

With that, she turned and walked away.

After she left, Alyona asked, “What were you talking about? Is this Nalan Yaqi’s mother? She looks quite young.”

Wang Ye nodded and said, “Yes, she wants to come with us to see our study abroad promotional event.”

To be honest, Wang Ye was a bit puzzled.

Liu Mei ran her own company and should be quite busy. Where did she find the time to come all the way to Yangnan to see a study abroad promotional event?

But then again, Nalan Yaqi was one of the company’s shareholders. Maybe her mother was a bit worried and wanted to see if the company could really make money.

…

When Liu Jun heard the news, he was a bit speechless.

But he didn’t object. After all, he must have thought about Nalan Yaqi’s status as a shareholder.

Besides, their group already had seven or eight people. Adding one more wouldn’t make much difference.

Liu Mei actually managed to buy a ticket for the same flight as Wang Ye and the others.

The flight from the capital to Zhongyuan was quite fast, taking a little over an hour.

When they arrived at the capital of Zhongyuan Province, it was already evening. Li Changyun, along with two staff members from Yangnan Normal University, was waiting there.

After another round of pleasantries, everyone got into the car Li Changyun had brought.

Yangnan Normal University wasn’t as well-off as Qingyun Company, so the car they brought was just a Toyota minibus, which could seat more than ten people.

This made things convenient.

The car sped along the national highway. The journey from the provincial capital to Yangnan would take about three hours since there were no expressways back then—only so-called national highways.

Li Changyun had originally suggested that they stay in the provincial capital for the night and head back early the next morning.

But Qingyun Company declined Li Changyun’s offer, preferring to reach Yangnan City as soon as possible so they would have more time to prepare for the promotional event the next day.

A little exhaustion was nothing compared to the importance of work…

…

Li Changyun was full of questions about Wang Ye’s return.

During the initial communications with Qingyun Company, they had mentioned that a Russian education expert would be speaking, but what did this have to do with Wang Ye? He didn’t look like an education expert at all!

He hadn’t had a chance to ask earlier, but once they were in the car, he finally found an opportunity to pull Wang Ye aside and ask in a low voice, “Why are you back too?”

“I’m here as a representative of the exchange students. I’ll be speaking at the promotional event. You could say Qingyun Company asked me to help out.” Wang Ye replied with a smile.

Li Changyun thought this made sense.

This study abroad promotional event was aimed at students and their parents. Having an actual exchange student come and share their personal experiences would add a lot of credibility…

Chapter 90: The Day Before the Presentation

The group in the car, especially Wang Ye and his companions, had spent an entire day on a plane, leaving them utterly exhausted.

After some idle chatter, everyone closed their eyes and leaned back in their seats to rest. The car fell silent.

Liu Mei sat behind Wang Ye. Unlike the others, she wasn’t the least bit tired. Her eyes were wide open as she silently observed Wang Ye.

Her daughter’s investment in Qingyun Company had already been discussed with her, and she had given her approval.

At first, Liu Mei hadn’t taken it too seriously. She thought five thousand dollars wasn’t much—just let her daughter try, even if she lost some money and learned a lesson.

After all, that would teach her that making money in business wasn’t so easy!

But then, Nalan Yaqi called her several more times, updating her on the company’s progress.

The more she listened, the more Liu Mei felt something was “off”…

Because this venture actually seemed quite promising!

Qingyun Company had reached a point where it could no longer be dismissed as a small operation. In fact, it could be said to be more professional than many legitimate study abroad agencies in China!

Most domestic study abroad agencies still operated in the old-fashioned way—relying on advertisements, passively waiting for students and parents to inquire, then using all sorts of tactics to deceive them into paying exorbitant fees.

The result? A scattered and limited pool of students, with no real scale to speak of.

But Qingyun Company had taken a different path—proactive, meticulous market operations, even securing endorsement from local education departments!

And now, they had brought personnel from Moscow State University and the University of Friendship to hold an on-site presentation in China!

The difference was clear as day.

Liu Mei asked herself: if she had another child who wanted to study abroad, and budget constraints meant they could only go to a country like Russia, which agency would she choose—the old one or Qingyun Company?

The answer was obvious.

Unlike Li Changyun and the others, Liu Mei had learned from her daughter that the “soul” of Qingyun Company was Wang Ye, an eighteen-year-old boy!

This fact astonished her even more.

Why, at the same age, was her own daughter still only interested in playing around, while Wang Ye could strategically manage an entire company—and do it so well?

Liu Mei was curious. She wanted to see if Wang Ye’s on-site presentation would achieve the expected results.

So, when Wang Ye and his team returned to China this time, Liu Mei expressed her desire to observe and learn from the event…

…

However, from their first meeting at the airport until now, she hadn’t noticed much.

What she had noticed was that Wang Ye and the Russian beauty seemed to have a rather unusual relationship…

As a mother, she was naturally attuned to her daughter’s feelings. Over the past few months, during their phone calls, the name “Wang Ye” had come up more and more frequently.

Although Nalan Yaqi insisted Wang Ye was just a friend, Liu Mei could tell her daughter had developed quite a fondness for him.

But now, seeing how close Wang Ye and Alyona were, Liu Mei sighed inwardly. Her daughter’s chances didn’t seem very good…

…

After several more hours of bumpy travel, the minibus finally arrived at its destination—Yangnan City.

Yangnan Normal University had already arranged accommodations for them at the best guesthouse in Yangnan City…

Yes, Yangnan didn’t have any luxury hotels—just a few government-run guesthouses.

But this one was decent enough. The rooms had all the necessary amenities: air conditioning, heating, a television, and a bathroom.

Wang Ye and the others weren’t picky. After spending over ten hours on a plane and several more in a car, they were just happy to have a bed.

With everyone watching, Wang Ye couldn’t exactly ask Li Changyun to arrange a single room for him and Alyona…

After all, Li Changyun was his uncle. How could he make such a request?

Fortunately, the guesthouse had plenty of space, and Li Changyun’s group was generous—everyone got their own room!

It was already late—past two in the morning—so there was no need for a welcome banquet.

After settling into their rooms, everyone washed up and collapsed into bed…

…

The next morning, around ten o’clock, the hallway gradually came to life as everyone woke up.

The only ones who actually had work to do were Liu Jun and the two other Qingyun Company employees. They needed to coordinate with Li Changyun and inspect the presentation venue.

Everyone else—Wang Ye, Liu Mei, and the foreign affairs directors from Moscow State University and the University of Friendship—had nothing much to do.

Around eleven in the morning, Liu Jun and Li Changyun returned to the hotel together, accompanied by several leaders from Yangnan Normal University.

This wasn’t really Wang Ye’s scene. The university leaders only gave him a cursory pat on the shoulder and a generic compliment like, “You’re a spirited young man,” when Li Changyun introduced him.

Clearly, Liu Jun and the two foreign affairs directors were the center of attention.

At the welcome banquet, the university leaders, Liu Jun, and the two directors sat together, toasting and laughing.

Wang Ye and Alyona sat in a corner, completely unnoticed.

Liu Mei was in the same boat—she was just an outsider.

“The presentation tomorrow will have two directors speaking, which will surely be well-received by students and parents. This recruitment drive is bound to go smoothly. Let me toast the two of you! Liu Jun, translate for me…” The president raised his glass with a broad smile.

The “two directors” he referred to were, of course, the foreign affairs directors from Moscow State University and the University of Friendship.

Liu Jun translated the president’s words for the two directors.

They were no strangers to such flattery. Though they had never even heard of Yangnan Normal University, they responded with smiles and praise of their own.

By the end of the meal, no one had gotten a clear sense of the two directors’ professional abilities.

But their drinking prowess had left Li Changyun and his companions thoroughly impressed.

Li Changyun, the admissions director, was no stranger to the “battlefield of alcohol.” Known as the “Wine Sage” of Yangnan Normal University, he could hold his liquor—about 1.5 liters—making him a formidable opponent.

But today, he was truly humbled. Those two Russians drank like water!

They downed cups of liquor in one gulp without so much as a change in expression…

…

The hosts and guests drank until the world spun around them.

But Wang Ye wasn’t particularly interested. After eating his fill, he found the atmosphere boring.

With a flicker of mischief in his eyes, he leaned over and whispered to Alyona, “Let’s go. I’ll show you around my hometown.”

Though this wasn’t the small county where he had grown up, it was close enough to be called his hometown…

Chapter 91: Is That a Foreigner?

Hearing Wang Ye say this, Alyona quickly nodded in agreement.

They had only arrived late last night and hadn’t seen anything yet. She was also curious to see what Wang Ye’s hometown looked like.

The two of them got up and quietly slipped out, without anyone paying much attention to them.

Once outside the hotel, they stood by the roadside.

This was already considered the city center, but Yangnan City wasn’t large. Especially in 2001, the entire city had almost no high-rise buildings.

The tallest building was the department store diagonally across the street.

The road wasn’t wide either. Occasionally, a car would pass by—mostly cheap models like the Fukang or Santana. There was no sign of luxury brands like Mercedes or BMW.

“See? This is my hometown. Just an ordinary small city. Besides having a lot of people, there’s nothing particularly special about it,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Alyona looked around. Indeed, it couldn’t compare to Moscow…

Of course, she had mentally prepared herself. She wasn’t particularly disappointed.

After all, Moscow was a world-class metropolis, while Yangnan was just a small inland city in China.

There was no comparison.

“Let’s go, we’ll just walk around,” Wang Ye invited.

Technically, he had only left for Moscow three months ago. Before that, he had spent the past eighteen years living in this city…

Well, not exactly. He had actually lived in a small county below the city. He had visited the city many times and was somewhat familiar with it.

But now, it felt as if he hadn’t been here for a very long time. Everything seemed unfamiliar…

The two walked side by side along the road, attracting the attention of many passersby.

To be precise, it was Alyona who drew most of the attention.

With her golden hair and blue eyes, and such a beautiful face, appearing on the streets of a small inland city in 2001, it was only natural that she would be stared at.

Noticing all the attention, Alyona felt a little embarrassed. She pulled Wang Ye’s hand and whispered, “Did I wear the wrong clothes? Or is something else wrong? Why is everyone looking at me?”

“Haha, it’s because you’re too beautiful. No one here has ever seen such a beauty before, so they can’t help but stare,” Wang Ye joked.

…

In April, Yangnan was already getting quite warm.

Alyona was wearing a pair of faded, slim-fit jeans and a hooded sweatshirt. Her golden hair was tied back with a hairband.

Coincidentally, Wang Ye was dressed similarly—jeans and a sweatshirt.

Both of them were quite tall—Wang Ye at 1.85 meters and Alyona at 1.76 meters.

Walking together, they really did look like a golden boy and jade girl…

As they walked along the road, Wang Ye couldn’t help but feel a pang of emotion. Yangnan City in this era was so poor!

Even twenty years later, Yangnan still wouldn’t be considered a wealthy city…

After all, it was just a small inland place with no mountains, no sea, no resources, and no major enterprises. It relied solely on agriculture—how could it ever become wealthy?

But the winds of reform and opening-up had already reached here.

Along the streets, many shops had sprung up—selling clothes, shoes, daily necessities, and everything else.

Perhaps the first people in Yangnan to get rich were these small business owners.

Before they knew it, the two of them arrived at a large gate. Wang Ye looked up and smiled at Alyona. “This is Yangnan City Middle School.”

This school was one of the better high schools in Yangnan City, though it couldn’t compare to Wang Ye’s alma mater.

It didn’t seem to have a closed campus management system. It was just past one in the afternoon, and many students could be seen coming and going through the school gate, creating a lively atmosphere.

Wang Ye had no connection to this school, but he stopped in his tracks. Standing on the side of the road opposite the school gate, he gazed at the entrance for a long time.

Alyona noticed his unusual behavior and asked, “Misha, what’s wrong? Do you have a friend who studies here?”

Wang Ye shook his head and smiled. “Nothing, let’s go.”

He was thinking about his “past life” wife…

She had studied at Yangnan City Middle School. But Wang Ye couldn’t remember—had she already started here this year, or would she only come next year?

After all, in his past life, his wife had been four years younger than him.

Just as he was about to pull Alyona’s hand and continue walking, a voice from behind struck him like lightning, leaving him frozen in place.

“Han Xiaodan, wait for me.”

A girl called out.

“Come on, Xiao Tong, walk faster. Class is about to start,” another girl replied brightly.

Han Xiaodan—that was the name of Wang Ye’s “past life” wife!

His neck felt stiff. After a long moment, he slowly turned his head to look.

Two girls were skipping along behind him, about to cross the street at the zebra crossing ahead.

One of the girls wasn’t very tall—just over 1.6 meters.

She had short hair that reached her ears, delicate features, and couldn’t be called a great beauty, but she was far from ugly.

Especially her eyes—they were clear and bright, full of spirit.

But because of her age, Han Xiaodan was still just a young girl with a childish face…

…

Wang Ye and Alyona stood out conspicuously.

The man was tall and handsome, the woman beautiful and exotic…

Well, she was exotic—with her golden hair and blue eyes, she was clearly a foreigner.

Han Xiaodan and her classmate Xiao Tong also noticed Wang Ye and Alyona. But children at that age were simple.

Though they were curious about Alyona, the foreigner, they didn’t dare to stare openly. They only sneaked a few glances.

Then, they noticed that the handsome man was staring intently at them. Han Xiaodan was startled. She shyly pursed her lips, lowered her head, and hurriedly pulled Xiao Tong toward the zebra crossing.

As they walked, Xiao Tong whispered, “Did you see that foreign woman? She’s so beautiful, and so tall. She must be a model. And that foreign man looks so much like a Chinese person. He’s probably an overseas Chinese or something. I wonder if he can speak Chinese, hehe.”

Since Wang Ye and Alyona were holding hands, it was obvious they were friends or a couple.

In Xiao Tong’s mind, the friends of foreigners must also be foreigners…

So she assumed Wang Ye was also a foreigner, or at least an overseas Chinese.

Han Xiaodan thought this made sense. She grew a little bolder—after all, foreigners couldn’t understand Chinese!

She turned her head to sneak another look and saw that Wang Ye was still staring at her. She quickly turned away again and whispered, “Why is that foreign man keeping looking at me? He’s not a bad person, is he?”

Xiao Tong immediately took a look and saw that it was true.

But it was broad daylight, and they were right in front of the school gate with people coming and going. There couldn’t be any problem.

She teased, “Maybe he’s taken a liking to you. I’ve heard foreigners are very open. Who knows, maybe he’ll come chasing after you to our classroom, confess his love, and send you flowers. What will you do then?”

Han Xiaodan blushed with a mix of embarrassment and anger. She pinched Xiao Tong and said, “Don’t talk nonsense! How could that be…”

Chapter 92: A Missed Encounter

The conversation between the two young girls had reached Wang Ye’s ears as well.

He felt helpless…

But what occupied his mind was whether he should go up and greet Han Xiaodan.

After all, the saying goes, “a day as husband and wife, a hundred days of affection.” Moreover, in his past life, he and Han Xiaodan had been married for several years and even had a child together.

This was no longer a matter of love—it was a bond of kinship between them!

Yet, after hesitating for a long time, Wang Ye still didn’t take a step forward.

Because he had no idea how to explain…

In this life, he and Han Xiaodan were meeting for the first time. They had never seen each other before and had no prior connection.

So how was he supposed to explain this?

Was he supposed to walk up and say, “Hello, wife, I’ve come to find you”?

That would probably make Han Xiaodan shout, “Catch the pervert!” immediately. And forget about attending the study abroad promotion event tomorrow—he’d be drinking tea with the police instead.

Even if he pretended not to know her, hitting on her would still be inappropriate.

Han Xiaodan was still just a high school student, probably in her first year. She was still so young.

He doubted she even had a phone number, let alone a QQ account!

Was he supposed to leave her an address so they could correspond by letter in the future?

That wasn’t realistic…

After thinking it over for a long time, Wang Ye still didn’t approach her.

He watched as Han Xiaodan’s figure disappeared through the school gates until she was out of sight.

In this life, their first meeting ended just like that—a missed encounter.

Wang Ye no longer felt like continuing his stroll. He let out a long sigh, forcing a smile as he turned to Alyona. “I’m a bit tired. Let’s head back to the hotel.”

Alyona looked at him with concern, cautiously asking, “What’s wrong, Misha? Did something… unpleasant happen?”

Wang Ye shook his head, unsure of how to explain this to her.

First, he couldn’t say anything, and second, even if he did, Alyona wouldn’t understand…

Seeing Wang Ye like this, Alyona didn’t press further. She simply tightened her grip on his hand…

…

As soon as they returned to the guesthouse, they ran into Li Changyun.

Wang Ye and Alyona quickly let go of each other’s hands, but the small gesture hadn’t gone unnoticed by Li Changyun.

He didn’t say anything, just smiled at Alyona before pulling Wang Ye aside. “Come on, I need to talk to you.”

After dragging Wang Ye to a secluded corner of the hallway, Li Changyun stared at him suspiciously for a long time, making Wang Ye feel uneasy.

“What’s up, Uncle? Why are you looking at me like that?”

Li Changyun glared at him. “You little rascal, don’t tell me you and that girl have some kind of… relationship! Let me tell you, your parents worked hard to send you abroad. You can’t go messing around outside and neglect your studies. I suppose this trip back home has already disrupted your studies, but since it’s somewhat related to you, I won’t say much.”

The older generation had their way of thinking—they believed that “puppy love” would only distract from studies.

What could Wang Ye say? He could only defend himself. “Nothing like that, Uncle. You’re overthinking it. Alyona and I are just good friends. It’s not what you’re imagining.”

Li Changyun didn’t dwell on the matter further, only warning him a couple of times to keep things in check and not to accidentally cause any trouble.

Otherwise, he might end up coming back with a diploma in one hand and a baby in the other…

He had sought out Wang Ye for another reason.

After finishing his lecture on “puppy love,” Li Changyun pulled a thick envelope from his pocket and stuffed it into Wang Ye’s hands.

With a proud smile, he said, “This collaboration with Qingyun Company was your doing, so when it comes to rewards, you can’t be left out! There’s ten thousand yuan in here. It’s a reward from the school, and I fought for it on your behalf in front of the president.”

You had to admit, Uncle was looking out for Wang Ye.

This money could have been optional—after all, it was a public matter.

But he had still secured this reward for Wang Ye. Ten thousand yuan was no small sum in those days!

Wang Ye hesitated. What kind of situation was this?

He was a major shareholder in Qingyun Company!

He couldn’t exactly “double-dip,” could he? That wouldn’t be right…

He pushed the envelope back. “I think I’ll pass on this. I was just helping out a friend, and of course, helping you, Uncle. I consider this a learning experience. How could I take money for that?”

Li Changyun’s eyes widened again. “Take it when it’s given! This is public money, not coming out of my pocket. Don’t turn down free money! Your family is already stretched thin sending you abroad. This money could ease their burden a little.”

Well, Wang Ye couldn’t argue with that. He had no choice but to tuck the envelope away.

Only then did Li Changyun’s face break into a smile. He gave Wang Ye a firm pat on the shoulder, encouraging him, “You’re giving a speech tomorrow, right? Don’t be nervous. Even if there are a lot of people in the audience, just pretend they’re not there and say what you need to say. You’re a promising young man. In the future, our whole extended family might depend on you. Set a good example for your younger cousins!”

The “younger cousins” he referred to weren’t Wang Ye’s actual siblings but the many cousins in the large family.

Wang Ye nodded, indicating that he was fine.

In truth, he really was fine.

In his past life, he had attended countless large-scale training sessions and company meetings. What kind of situations hadn’t he seen?

Giving a speech to students and parents now was nothing—he could handle it with ease.

…

After Li Changyun left, Wang Ye saw Alyona still waiting for him at the other end of the hallway.

He quickly walked over, looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then took Alyona’s hand and said, “We don’t have anything scheduled for the afternoon. How about… we take a little nap? In my room.”

Unfortunately, before Alyona could even respond, they were interrupted again.

Liu Mei walked over from the other end of the hallway. Spotting Wang Ye from afar, she called out, “Wang Ye, do you have time now? I’d like to talk to you.”

Well, Wang Ye was starting to regret bringing Liu Mei along!

But she was Nalan Yaqi’s mother, after all. He had to address her as Aunt—he couldn’t just ignore her.

So, with a forced smile, he asked, “What do you need, Aunt? Let’s talk in my room.”

…

Once inside the room, Wang Ye made sure to leave the door wide open.

After all, with a man and a woman alone in a room with the door closed, who knew what people might say if they saw…

As soon as they sat down, Liu Mei didn’t rush into conversation. Instead, she pulled out a pack of women’s cigarettes—judging by the logo, it looked like Seven Stars. Wang Ye wasn’t familiar with women’s cigarette brands.

“Mind if I smoke?” Liu Mei asked.

Not at all!

Wang Ye smiled and took out a pack of Black Russians from his pocket, countering, “Want to try this instead?”

Chapter 93: Who Outsmarts Whom

Liu Mei seemed surprised that Wang Ye also smoked. She hesitated for a moment before shaking her head with a smile. “I prefer lighter cigarettes.”

They each lit up and began puffing away.

After smoking half the cigarette, Liu Mei spoke again.

“I’ve been thinking about whether there’s potential in the Russian tourism business. I’ve actually been preparing for this for over a year. Sending Yaqi to study in Russia was part of that preparation. Now I’d like to hear your thoughts—can you give me some advice?”

Wang Ye finally understood why, given her family’s financial situation, she had sent Nalan Yaqi to Moscow instead of a country like Australia or New Zealand.

So Liu Mei wanted to get into the Russian tourism business.

Indeed, many families who sent their children abroad had more complex motivations.

Perhaps they were planning for future immigration, or perhaps it was for their family business…

But for something like this, Liu Mei could have consulted experts in the tourism industry. Why was she asking him?

Still, since she had asked, he could offer a few casual thoughts.

After a moment of contemplation, Wang Ye spoke.

“Honestly, in the few months I’ve been in Moscow, I’ve rarely seen any domestic tour groups visiting.

Of course, that might be because I don’t go out much.

Russia has a long history and plenty of ancient architecture—it should be a good tourist destination.

It has a European flair, but the costs are much lower than Western European countries. In theory, it’s suitable for tourism.

But there’s a big problem—it’s not well-known!

When people think of Russia, they’re more likely to think of the collapse of the Soviet Union than traveling there.

Although in recent years, there’s been a boom in studying and traveling abroad, most people are heading to developed Western countries. Russia isn’t on their radar…”

What he said was true.

Over the past couple of years, China had grown wealthier, and many affluent people had started studying and traveling abroad.

But most were going to developed Western countries. Few would consider Russia…

So the Russian tourism market was virtually untapped.

Huge potential, but not necessarily easy to break into…

Liu Mei listened and smiled slightly, calmly replying, “That’s one of the reasons I came with you to this study abroad presentation.”

Wang Ye didn’t quite understand and asked in surprise, “What does tourism have to do with this presentation?”

Liu Mei explained, “What if I opened a travel agency in Yangnan that specifically caters to families of exchange students?

Of course, there might also be families planning to send their children abroad who want to visit and see the situation firsthand.

I’ve heard that your goal this year is to start with two hundred exchange students. That means two hundred families.

Add in some potential families and the new exchange students each year, and the demand for Russian tourism in these two cities won’t be small.”

This made Wang Ye look at her in a new light!

He truly hadn’t expected that Liu Mei’s insistence on attending this study abroad presentation was for this reason!

You had to admit, this idea was actually feasible.

Two hundred—or more—exchange students meant two hundred or more families with sufficient spending power.

With the influence of these families and the study abroad presentation, it was easy to imagine that in a short time, Russia’s reputation in Yangnan and Heluo might surpass that of other Western countries!

Liu Mei could create a targeted travel route, including visits to prestigious schools like Moscow State University and the University of Friendship. She could organize tours for parents of exchange students and those considering sending their children abroad to visit and explore Russia, all at a reasonable cost.

It would likely be very popular!

And honestly, running a travel agency wasn’t much different from running a study abroad agency. The costs weren’t high, and the profit margins were substantial!

Had he been outsmarted by Liu Mei?

Even if he had been, Wang Ye couldn’t refuse. This venture would also benefit his study abroad agency!

Study abroad plus tourism—this was a complete, one-stop service!

Qingyun Company could send students abroad to study, and Liu Mei’s travel agency could arrange for parents to visit their children’s schools and cities.

Which parent with the financial means wouldn’t want to visit the city where their child was studying?

So this idea had real potential!

…

Wang Ye stubbed out his cigarette and said decisively, “It’s doable. Also, I want to invest in your company.”

Now it was Liu Mei’s turn to be surprised. Her mouth slightly open, she asked in astonishment, “Are you offering money or manpower? Why invest in my company?”

Wang Ye smiled and shook his head. “I won’t provide money or manpower, but your business relies on Qingyun Company to expand its market. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. We’ve done so much work to open up this market—you can’t just sit back and enjoy the benefits!”

His words made sense.

Without Wang Ye’s efforts and connections in the study abroad agency, Yangnan and Heluo would have had no connection to Russia.

Naturally, students and parents here wouldn’t have been interested in Russian tourism.

But now, Qingyun Company had partnered with Yangnan Normal University and had the support of the education departments in both regions to develop this market.

Liu Mei was following up with a tourism business—this was indeed “sitting back and enjoying the benefits.”

But even if Wang Ye’s argument was reasonable, Liu Mei wasn’t willing to give up a piece of her “cake” to him for nothing. She narrowed her eyes and said playfully, “What if I don’t agree?”

True, if she didn’t agree, could Wang Ye stop her from opening a travel agency?

A travel agency and a study abroad agency weren’t in direct competition—he had no right to interfere.

Hearing this, Wang Ye didn’t panic at all. He said one sentence that immediately made Liu Mei back down.

“If you don’t agree, then Qingyun Company will just add a tourism division. A one-stop service for study abroad and tourism. Students go to study, parents go to travel—we could even send them together. Do you think your company would still be competitive?”

Liu Mei’s mouth dropped open, and she couldn’t close it for a long time.

This move was ruthless. If Wang Ye really did that, her travel agency would be out of business…

Her once straight back now slumped, and she shook her head repeatedly. “You… you’re something else! I shouldn’t have discussed this with you!”

Wang Ye said, “If I invest, do you really think you’ll be at a disadvantage?”

Chapter 94: The Wager Agreement

“How is this not taking advantage? You just said you won’t invest money or people—you just want free shares!”

Liu Mei protested indignantly.

She thought she was being shameless enough, but Wang Ye was even more shameless! He wanted shares without spending a single penny…

“Haha, how much does it cost to start a travel agency? So, does it matter if I invest or not? More importantly, I can bring more customers to your travel agency and help you solve many problems in Moscow. You should know that international travel isn’t that simple,” Wang Ye said with a light smile.

Liu Mei’s expression turned serious. She hadn’t expected Wang Ye to be so knowledgeable about the travel industry.

Indeed, organizing international travel was quite complicated. Having customers wasn’t enough.

They needed local contacts in Moscow, as well as relationships with airlines, hotels, and even tourist attractions.

Of course, since she planned to enter this industry, she wasn’t entirely unprepared…

“Fine, I’ll give you five percent of the shares!” she said straightforwardly.

In a way, this was also a return for Wang Ye giving Nalan Yaqi five percent of Qingyun Company’s shares.

It was only fair.

Wang Ye had given Nalan Yaqi five percent of Qingyun Company, so she would give Wang Ye five percent of the travel agency.

And she didn’t need Wang Ye to invest a single penny—how generous!

But Wang Ye shook his head. “Not enough!”

This time, Liu Mei was furious. She stood up abruptly, her face stern. “Young man, don’t push your luck! The travel agency doesn’t need your help at all. I can solve all the problems myself. Giving you five percent is already more than fair. If you don’t agree, then fine, we’ll go our separate ways. I won’t start this company!”

Calling Wang Ye “young man” was also a reminder that she was his elder!

But she didn’t know that Wang Ye’s “real” age might not be much younger than hers…

So, her intimidation didn’t faze Wang Ye at all.

“Auntie Liu, don’t be angry. Why don’t we talk about your profit expectations for this travel agency?” Wang Ye said with a smile, taking out a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it.

Seeing that she hadn’t intimidated Wang Ye, Liu Mei’s expression changed several times in an instant. Finally, she squeezed out a smile and slowly sat back down.

Not to be outdone, she took out her own cigarette, lit it, and held it lightly between her lips.

She analyzed for Wang Ye:

“Travel agencies, of course, can’t compare to your study abroad agency in terms of profit. Even for international travel, the net profit per customer probably doesn’t exceed five thousand yuan. For a family of two, that’s about ten thousand yuan. How many exchange students can you recruit this year? Two hundred? Then, at most, half of the families might be willing to spend money on travel, and that’s an optimistic estimate. Let’s say one hundred families, so the net profit would be at most one million yuan. So, this is just small-scale business, not much money to be made.”

Wang Ye listened and nodded. After all, Liu Mei was targeting the specific market of exchange student families, so the market potential was naturally limited.

Making over a million yuan a year was pretty good…

A profit of over a million yuan wasn’t much to Wang Ye, but to others, it was a considerable sum!

After Liu Mei finished speaking, Wang Ye pondered for a moment, then looked up at her and said, “Since your expected profit is one million, let’s make a wager agreement.”

Clearly, Liu Mei didn’t understand what a “wager agreement” was, and she looked confused.

Wang Ye patiently explained, “It’s a bet on the company’s profits! Within three years, if the travel agency’s average annual profit reaches two million, I want ten percent of the shares. If it reaches three million, I want twenty-five percent. If it reaches five million, I want fifty percent! And if it somehow reaches ten million or more, what percentage of shares would be appropriate for me?”

By the end, he smiled slightly, looking at Liu Mei.

Liu Mei was stunned. She felt like Wang Ye was talking nonsense!

How could a small travel agency make two million, five million, or even more in profit?

This kid must be crazy!

If Wang Ye’s numbers could be achieved, Liu Mei wouldn’t have any objections to his share demands.

After all, she wasn’t stupid. She could clearly tell the difference between one hundred percent of one million and fifty percent of five million!

As for ten million…

She didn’t even dare to think about it!

“You… how do you plan to make the travel agency that big?” Liu Mei leaned forward, her eyes fixed on Wang Ye.

Clearly, to achieve the kind of profits Wang Ye was talking about, they couldn’t just rely on the exchange student market in Yangnan and Heluo. They would have to expand their scale and develop other channels.

But the domestic travel market was too competitive, and Liu Mei didn’t have the necessary resources.

Perhaps…

Wang Ye did!

“This isn’t urgent. Let’s talk about it later. After tomorrow’s study abroad promotion event, we can discuss it in detail in the capital.”

At the crucial moment, Wang Ye became evasive.

This made Liu Mei so anxious that she almost scratched her ears. She really wanted to grab Wang Ye by the collar and “interrogate” him to make him reveal all his plans.

But after comparing their heights, she ultimately gave up on the idea…

“Fine, we’ll talk about it when we get back to the capital. You better not be lying to me. Otherwise… otherwise…” Liu Mei stammered for a long time but couldn’t think of anything she could use to threaten Wang Ye.

………………..

On the morning of April 10th, Yangnan Normal University.

Two students were on their way to the teaching building for class when they passed by the grand auditorium. One of them suddenly exclaimed in surprise, “Does the school have some big event today? Why are there so many cars? It feels like all the cars in the city have come to our school!”

Indeed, Yangnan was a poor place, and there weren’t many cars on the streets.

Even standing by the roadside in the city center, you wouldn’t see many cars passing by.

And Yangnan Normal University was even worse. Apart from the two or three old cars belonging to the school leaders, you hardly saw any other cars.

As for the parking lot in front of the grand auditorium, it had long been abandoned, and no cars had ever been parked there.

But today, the two students suddenly noticed that the area in front of the grand auditorium was filled with a large number of cars!

There were Santanas, Jettas, Fukangs, and even Buicks and Audis!

It really felt like all the cars in the region had come to Yangnan Normal University…

“Look at those big banners. What’s this study abroad promotion event about?” the other student asked, craning his neck to take a look.

Indeed, the entrance to the grand auditorium was already adorned with colorful flags.

A huge banner displayed several prominent characters:

2001 Annual Russia Study Abroad Promotion Event

Chapter 95: Helping Them Make Up Their Minds

The grand auditorium, large enough to hold two thousand people, was already packed with a sea of faces, buzzing with noise. Some families had arrived late and couldn’t find seats, so they stood at the back or sat on the steps of the aisles. After all, they had come as families—parents with their children, three to a household.

Even so, according to the staff’s rough estimate, over six hundred families had shown up today! They were all students and parents from Yangnan City and He Luo City, who had learned about this presentation at Yangnan Normal University through the promotional brochures distributed by their schools.

“Wow! How did so many people come?” Alyona stared at the dense crowd, stunned.

“Hehe, China may not have much of some things, but it definitely has no shortage of people. This is just two regions. Once we expand to a whole province or even further, the scale will be much bigger! Of course, Moscow State University and the University of Friendship can only take so many exchange students, so we don’t need to expand endlessly,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

This was also why he hadn’t pinned all his hopes on the exchange student business—this industry had a ceiling. And a low one at that.

For now, Wang Ye’s connections only allowed him to handle exchange programs to Moscow. And Moscow only had so many good universities. Even if he secured partnerships with all of them, the number of exchange students they could accommodate was limited.

After all, Russian universities primarily existed to educate their own citizens. They couldn’t just hand out all their degrees to foreign students.

Many people didn’t know this, but Russian universities had a “quota” for how many foreign students they could admit each year, set by the Russian education authorities. For example, Moscow State University could only accept up to one thousand foreign students annually. Any excess wouldn’t receive diplomas from the education authorities.

It wasn’t just Russia—many European and American countries operated the same way. This was why people said Western universities were easy to get into but hard to graduate from, unlike domestic universities, where as long as you got in and didn’t make any major mistakes, you’d get your degree.

Western universities might admit five thousand freshmen, but they only had three thousand degree slots. So what happened when those five thousand students reached their senior year and were about to graduate? The simplest solution was to make the exams deliberately difficult and “weed out” two thousand students.

Of course, this was just an example. Most universities wouldn’t go that far.

…

As the host took the stage, the auditorium gradually quieted down. The host first welcomed the parents and students, then began introducing the people seated on the stage.

There were quite a few of them—several leaders from Yangnan Normal University, Liu Jun, the general manager of Qingyun Company, education experts from Moscow State University and the University of Friendship, and heads from the education departments of Yangnan and He Luo Cities. Even a leader from Yangnan City’s propaganda department had attended.

Clearly, this event was being treated with great importance. As soon as the host listed the titles of the officials, the doubts lingering in the minds of the students and parents in the audience vanished.

This was practically a government endorsement—it had to be legitimate.

Of course, Wang Ye had always been sincere about running the exchange student business. It wasn’t a joke. But now, with such a grand setup, Qingyun Company no longer had to repeatedly explain and reassure everyone.

Liu Liu and his parents had also arrived early and managed to snag seats in the front row. After the host finished introducing the officials and experts, Liu Liu’s father turned around with a grin and whispered, “This seems reliable! The city leaders wouldn’t show up if it wasn’t. And look at those foreign experts with big noses and blue eyes—they’ve really gone all out!”

Liu Liu wasn’t paying attention to the officials or experts. Instead, he was staring at a foreign girl sitting at the edge of the stage.

That girl was, of course, Alyona.

Alyona had taken great care with her appearance today. Her pale golden hair cascaded over her shoulders like waves. The new professional suit she wore made her look not just beautiful, but also sharp and capable.

Liu Liu stared at her for a long time, thinking how much prettier this foreign girl was compared to the underdeveloped girls at school. He’d heard that Russia had a lot of beauties, but he hadn’t believed it until now. This was the first Russian girl he’d seen in person, and she truly lived up to the reputation.

Just for this reason alone, he, Liu Liu, was determined to go to Russia!

…

Wang Ye wasn’t sitting on the stage. Given his “official” position, he wasn’t qualified to be there. He would only go up when it was time for him to speak as the “exchange student representative.” For now, he was waiting in the rest area behind the stage.

After the officials gave their speeches, the event moved to its main topic. The two “education experts” from the prestigious Moscow State University and the University of Friendship began introducing their schools.

Naturally, they highlighted the most glorious aspects—their formidable faculty, world-renowned scholars, and the countless talents they had cultivated. Finally, they welcomed Chinese students to study in Moscow.

Liu Jun provided live translation throughout.

Then, he took the stage himself to address the most crucial part of the event—the cost of studying abroad. This was what everyone was most concerned about.

Liu Jun spoke sincerely, analyzing the differences between Moscow State University and the University of Friendship, as well as the disparity in fees. He advised everyone not to chase after Moscow State University’s reputation alone but to choose a school that suited their family’s financial situation.

The University of Friendship was also an excellent choice—after all, it was a good university with lower fees.

For Qingyun Company, the service fees were the same whether students chose the University of Friendship or Moscow State University, so they didn’t care which one students picked.

The problem was that Moscow State University had limited spots for exchange students, while the University of Friendship had many more. After all, the University of Friendship was specifically established to educate foreign talent, making it fundamentally different from Moscow State University.

…

As Liu Jun spoke, the audience grew noisy. Parents discussed with their children which university would be the better choice, while some families felt the fees were still too high.

Twenty thousand yuan was no small sum for them. Was it worth spending that much?

Some parents, faced with the reality of the situation, hesitated to let their children study abroad alone. After all, their children had never left home before. Now, they were being sent to a foreign land.

What if they couldn’t adapt to life there? What if something happened and no family was around to help?

At that moment, it was Wang Ye’s turn to take the stage. He would speak as an exchange student, sharing his personal experiences to help the parents and students make up their minds.

Chapter 96: I Feel Your Pain

“Sigh, I still feel a bit reluctant. Just sending the child off to Russia like this? It’s ten thousand miles away from home, and they won’t be able to come back even once a year. What are we supposed to do?”

Liu Liu’s mother said reluctantly.

Although their family had come today with three hundred thousand yuan in cash, at the last moment, they hesitated again.

“Boys have nothing to fear! They should go out and make their way while they’re young, see the world. Staying at home all day won’t get them anywhere.” His father, however, was more open-minded.

But there were many parents who thought like Liu Liu’s mother.

Although they also wanted their children to study abroad, gain some experience, and see the world, on the other hand, they worried that their children might not adapt after going there, or get sick, or have some other problem. It would be very troublesome for the family to go and see them.

This was not like being in the country.

If it were in the country, even if they went to the capital or a big city to study, if something happened, the family could immediately buy a plane ticket and go to take care of them.

But this was Russia, a foreign land!

Going there was really not easy. Not to mention the expensive travel costs, just the visa and other things were a big hassle.

While the people below were discussing, Wang Ye had already gone up on stage.

Taking the microphone handed to him by the host, he waited a few seconds until everyone’s attention was focused on him. Then, Wang Ye smiled and began to speak.

“Good morning, uncles, aunts, and fellow students. My name is Wang Ye. I am a student who just went to study at the University of Friendship this year. At this time last year, I was just like you, sitting in a high school classroom, waiting for the college entrance exam.”

With just these two sentences, he had already closed the distance between himself and the audience.

Many parents now looked at Wang Ye as if they were looking at their own children.

And the boys and girls below were even more interested, as if they were looking at themselves, eager to learn about Wang Ye’s experience as an exchange student.

Pausing for a moment, Wang Ye put away the smile on his face and spoke in a heavy tone:

“At that time, although I seemed fine on the surface, laughing and joking with my classmates, as if I didn’t care about the upcoming college entrance exam.

But in reality, I was very lost inside.

Because I knew that in a few months, the students in the same class would go on different paths.

My grades were relatively poor, so I definitely couldn’t get into a good university.

So, what could I do after the college entrance exam? What should I do?

I had no idea what the answer to this question was.

Maybe I would go to a factory to work, or maybe I would do some small business, set up a stall, or open a shop.

And those students with good grades, they would go to a good university, or even a prestigious school like Tsinghua or Peking University.

One year later, three or five years later, ten years later…

When the classmates meet again, how should I face my former classmates?

They would be dressed neatly, driving luxury cars, talking about company mergers, traveling abroad, and their big houses in first-tier cities.

What should I say?

Talk about how my breakfast stall business is doing well, or how the lunch at the electronics factory is cheap and plentiful?…”

As Wang Ye described this, the boys and girls below couldn’t help but clench their fists.

Yes, what Wang Ye was saying now, wasn’t it exactly what they were thinking?

After all, they were all high school seniors, sixteen or seventeen years old, not little kids who didn’t understand anything.

Who didn’t have dreams for their future?

Probably no one would consider working in an electronics factory or setting up a street stall as their ideal future…

Wang Ye’s words had directly broken through many people’s defenses!

At this moment, Wang Ye suddenly raised his voice, raised his clenched fist, and almost shouted:

“I don’t want this!

I don’t want to live an ordinary life!

I also want to be like the best students, work and live in big cities, live a glamorous life, and be the object of others’ envy.”

Liu Liu was already feeling his scalp tingle and his body tremble slightly.

He felt that the words of this senior named Wang Ye on stage had really touched his heart!

Which young man doesn’t yearn for poetry and distant places? He doesn’t want to go down to the brick kiln to burn bricks every day!

Obviously, there were not only one or two students below who thought like him. Almost all the boys and girls held their breath, widened their eyes, and stared at Wang Ye on stage.

The sense of substitution was too strong…

At this moment, Wang Ye lowered his voice and showed a warm smile on his face.

He slowly said:

“I am lucky. Thank my parents. When I was almost desperate, they found a way for me to study abroad at my own expense.

Actually, my family’s economic conditions are not very good. Compared to the students here, there might still be a considerable gap.

But, for my ideals, and more for my future.

My parents unhesitatingly took out all the family’s savings, and even borrowed some from relatives and friends, and sent me to Russia…”

At this point, Wang Ye’s eyes were moist, obviously very grateful to his parents.

This moved the parents below.

Poor parents all over the world!

Every parent is great. For their children, they are really willing to give everything!

Wang Ye’s parents are like this, and the parents below are no different…

Originally, some parents who felt that the cost of studying abroad was a bit high and that the family would have a hard time bearing it now felt a bit ashamed, as if they had let their children down…

Look at Wang Ye’s parents, and then compare themselves!

If they didn’t grit their teeth and send their children abroad, their children wouldn’t have a good future, and they would probably hate themselves for the rest of their lives…

Even if the children were understanding and didn’t hate them, could they forgive themselves?

………………..

The emotions were already in place. Next, Wang Ye’s face showed a smile, and his tone became lighter.

“Because of the Russian language training in the country and the delay in procedures by the agency, I only arrived in Moscow in January this year and entered the preparatory courses at the University of Friendship.

Next, I will share with you some of my experiences and feelings in Moscow.

There, you can really experience the so-called internationalization and meet exchange students from all over the world.

Take my class, for example, there are students from Latin America, Africa, Korea, and Vietnam!

…”

As he spoke, Wang Ye showed some slides.

On a large white cloth above the stage, photos appeared one after another.

These were photos that Wang Ye had taken before returning to the country. He had specially borrowed Zhou’s digital camera to take them.

There were group photos of his classmates in the preparatory courses.

Of course, there were also the majestic main building of Moscow University.

And the school dormitory, the happy weekend gatherings of the students…

These things had a great impact on the parents and students below.

Life at foreign universities was obviously more colorful than life at domestic universities, and it really looked good…

Chapter 97: A Fiery Scene

After the slideshow ended, Wang Ye stood tall on the stage, sweeping his gaze across the parents and students below.

His voice rang out passionately:

“What are you waiting for?

While you’re young, give yourself a chance!

A chance to change your fate!”

Liu Liu had already been stirred by the speech, and now he couldn’t help but stand up, clapping his hands furiously.

He shouted loudly, “Russia, here I come! Senior Wang Ye, see you in Moscow!”

Wang Ye smiled slightly, waving back at him. “I’ll be waiting for you in Moscow.”

One after another, students stood up, all of them applauding.

Others might not have been as bold as Liu Liu, not daring to shout out, but from their wide eyes and heaving chests, it was clear they were all deeply moved.

The people seated on the stage were stunned.

Originally, everyone had thought Wang Ye would just go through the motions, giving a bland introduction to life as an exchange student, just to inform the parents and students at the presentation.

But…

How did it get so emotional…

Still, the effect seemed quite good. Even the old folks on stage were now thinking about sending their own children abroad to broaden their horizons.

…

Putting down the microphone, Wang Ye bowed to the audience. Amid the thunderous applause, he returned backstage.

Waiting for him was Liu Mei.

Looking at Wang Ye, Liu Mei’s expression was rather complex.

Wang Ye’s performance today had also taken her by surprise.

“This speech… was pretty good,” she said after a long pause, jokingly, as she handed him a bottle of water. “At least it should bring in a few dozen more students.”

Wang Ye took the water, twisted off the cap, and downed half the bottle in one go.

Letting out a long breath, he finally smiled and said, “Not bad, I guess? But it was all from the heart.”

At this, Liu Mei just scoffed.

Wang Ye was putting in so much effort because he was the largest shareholder of Qingyun Company!

And “from the heart”? She knew all too well what studying in Russia was really like—her own daughter, Nalan Yaqi, had been there for nearly a year.

It wasn’t nearly as good as Wang Ye had made it sound…

…

At this moment, the auditorium had already moved on to the on-site registration phase.

Liu Jun stood up and announced, “Next, parents who have made up their minds can register their children. After all, it’s already April, and time is running out. I must inform everyone that the spots are limited—Moscow State University only has one hundred spots this year, and the University of Friendship has two hundred. First come, first served…”

This was Qingyun Company’s recruitment target: three hundred students!

And they weren’t just trying to swindle students and parents—Moscow State University and the University of Friendship really did have limited spots; they couldn’t accept an unlimited number of students.

Hearing this, the audience below erupted into noise.

There were six to seven hundred families present today, meaning six to seven hundred students wanted to study abroad.

One parent stood up and asked loudly, “I want to register my child right now! Where do I register, and how much do I need to pay?”

This was the question on everyone’s mind.

Liu Jun calmly replied:

“For registration, the staff will handle it on-site. The fees are divided into two parts. The first part is the agency fee, which covers all expenses except for airfare, tuition, and living costs—this is twenty-five thousand yuan. The second part is the pre-departure Russian language training fee. The training will be held at Yangnan Normal University, starting on May 1st and lasting until August 15th, a total of three and a half months, requiring a payment of five thousand yuan, which includes accommodation…”

This was the arrangement they had made with Yangnan Normal University—a total of thirty thousand yuan.

Qingyun Study Abroad Company would take twenty thousand, and Yangnan Normal University would take ten thousand!

This fee wasn’t high. Other agencies usually charged thirty to forty thousand, or even more, and they didn’t provide as many services as Qingyun Company.

Many families had come prepared to pay, like Liu Liu’s family, who had brought three hundred thousand yuan in cash.

Now, they only needed to pay thirty thousand, which was a bit unexpected.

Too little!

…

The leaders and experts left the stage, leaving only the Qingyun Company staff and Li Changyun’s team.

Registration began!

Liu Jun had mentioned earlier that only those who intended to register needed to stay; families who still needed to think it over could leave.

They had also announced the contact number for the Yangnan Normal University Study Abroad Admissions Office—any questions could be directed there.

A special office had already been set up to handle study abroad admissions, and the staff was in place.

But to everyone’s surprise, out of the six to seven hundred families present, almost none left—almost all of them stayed!

Long lines formed on-site. Registration only required the student’s ID card, payment, and a receipt.

Later, with the receipt, they could go to the Study Abroad Admissions Office to complete the formalities.

The auditorium was buzzing with noise. Some eager parents had already rushed to the front of the line with their children, wanting to be the first to register.

Others hadn’t left or joined the line yet—they were still holding emergency family meetings.

After all, this was a major decision affecting their child’s future, and it required a large sum of money.

“To go or not to go” and “Which school to attend”—these were the questions families needed to discuss immediately.

Clearly, not a single student present said they didn’t want to go…

Not to mention Wang Ye’s passionate speech had already stirred their hearts. These students themselves—who didn’t hope for a better future?

Those who came today weren’t the top academic performers. Obviously, those who could get into key universities or prestigious schools wouldn’t be here.

So, those present were students with little hope of passing the college entrance exam.

On one side was studying abroad; on the other was failing the exam or attending a subpar university.

How to choose?

The answer was obvious!

So, even if some parents were hesitant, feeling the financial pressure was too great, fearing their family couldn’t afford it.

But they couldn’t resist their children’s pleas. Seeing their own children standing there pitifully, while other families’ children were excitedly preparing to attend world-renowned schools like Moscow State University and the University of Friendship—why couldn’t their own children go?

In the end, the vast majority of parents gritted their teeth and decided to register their children…

…

Liu Jun and Li Changyun stood to the side, watching the fiery registration scene. Both were a little shocked.

Before the meeting, they had already estimated that the results would be good.

The target of three hundred exchange students should be achievable.

But they never expected the results to be this good!

Looking at the current situation, three hundred spots were far from enough. It seemed like just the number of registrations today could reach four to five hundred!

Li Changyun’s face lit up with a smile.

Because every additional exchange student meant the school could earn another ten thousand yuan…

Chapter 98: Additional Quotas

Liu Jun had more to consider. With so many students signing up, things were getting a bit out of hand.

Moreover, could Moscow State University and the University of Friendship really accommodate so many exchange students?

What if everyone signed up, but the schools couldn’t issue the invitation letters? That would turn a good thing into a disaster…

Thinking this, he hurriedly said to Li Changyun, “Director Li, you stay here and keep an eye on things. I need to go find the foreign affairs directors of Moscow State University and the University of Friendship to discuss what to do if too many people sign up!”

Earlier, he had announced on the spot that Moscow State University only had one hundred spots, and the University of Friendship had two hundred.

This was one of the authorized conditions negotiated between Qingyun Company and the two universities.

If there were a few dozen more, it probably wouldn’t be a problem. At worst, they could just send more students to the University of Friendship, which had more exchange student spots.

But if there were suddenly two or three hundred more…

Liu Jun had no idea what to do.

………………..

Liu Jun’s concerns were not unfounded. Soon after he left, the scene descended into chaos.

To create an atmosphere, staff members were counting the number of people who had already signed up.

The purpose was obvious: to create a sense of urgency and emphasize the “preciousness” of the spots.

As more and more people signed up and paid, the staff continued to announce the numbers.

“Moscow State University has seventy-six sign-ups, and the University of Friendship has one hundred twenty-three.”

“Hurry up if you haven’t signed up yet! Moscow State University is at ninety-two, with only eight spots left. The University of Friendship is at one hundred fifty-six, with only forty-four spots remaining.”

“Moscow State University… one hundred spots are now full, no more sign-ups accepted. The University of Friendship still has sixteen spots…”

Some parents who had been quietly waiting in line suddenly panicked when they saw the spots filling up.

Those at the back started pushing forward.

It was like your child was about to receive an admission letter from Tsinghua or Peking University, but then someone cut in line—how could you not panic?

“This isn’t fair! We all came here today at the same time. I arrived early, so why should they get to sign up first just because they cut in line?”

“That’s right! It’s not fair! I must sign my child up for Moscow State University today!”

“My child is also going to Moscow State University. Someone cut in line earlier, so that doesn’t count!”

“You can all go to Moscow State University, but let me through! My child wants to go to the University of Friendship…”

The scene was in turmoil, and the parents at the back were desperate.

Clearly, they had finally made up their minds to sign their children up, only to find that the spots were gone…

Li Changyun was also sweating. He didn’t know how to handle the situation.

This was…

Yangnan Normal University had never encountered such a scene during recruitment!

No experience…

………………..

Just as Li Changyun was at a loss, Liu Jun rushed back.

Seeing the chaotic scene, he understood what had happened.

He quickly took the microphone and loudly announced, “Everyone, please quiet down! I have an announcement to make about the spots. I just finished negotiating with the foreign affairs directors of Moscow State University and the University of Friendship.”

He deliberately paused here.

Sure enough, the crowd below immediately quieted down.

“Given everyone’s enthusiastic sign-ups and the urgent desire of the children to attend a good university, the foreign affairs directors of both universities have decided to open up more spots for us. Only for today! Everyone who signs up and pays today will be accepted!” Liu Jun loudly announced.

All the parents and students below were thrilled, and thunderous applause erupted again.

Some parents who hadn’t brought money quickly started making phone calls, asking relatives and friends to bring money…

………………..

Wang Ye had finished his speech and gone back to rest, not staying at the scene.

It wasn’t until two or three in the afternoon, while he was chatting with Alyona, that Liu Jun excitedly knocked on his door.

“Haha, we’re going to strike it rich this time! Wang Ye, guess how many students signed up?”

Wang Ye smiled faintly and said, “Around five hundred fifty, I suppose.”

Liu Jun was taken aback and said in surprise, “How did you know? Did someone tell you? But what you know isn’t the final number. The final number of students who signed up and paid is five hundred sixty!”

Wang Ye, of course, hadn’t gone to ask around in advance. He had seen that there were over six hundred families present today!

Although not everyone present would sign up, he was confident that most of them would.

After all, Qingyun Company and Yangnan Normal University had done a lot of groundwork in advance, distributing brochures and inviting experts to give lectures.

So, the families who came today were truly potential customers.

At least these families could afford the study abroad fees.

Two or three hundred thousand was indeed a lot of money in this day and age!

But don’t forget, Yangnan City and Heluo City, although relatively poor, were two major cities with large populations.

The two regions combined had a population of over fifteen million…

Was it difficult to find a few hundred or thousand wealthy families?

Plus, this was the first time such a promotional event was held in Yangnan, and the reputation of Moscow State University as a world-renowned school was quite impressive, enough to sway many people.

So, he guessed that there would definitely be more than five hundred students signing up.

………………..

Wang Ye was mentally prepared, but Liu Jun was overjoyed.

Five hundred sixty students meant one million one hundred twenty thousand yuan in agency fees!

Although he only had a ten percent stake in Qingyun Company, that still meant he would get over one hundred thousand…

He had invested ten thousand US dollars, and in less than two months, he was making over one hundred thousand!

And this wasn’t a one-time deal!

The future of Qingyun Company was clearly very bright, and his salary as general manager would probably go up a bit…

They were speaking in Chinese, so Alyona next to them didn’t understand.

But she knew that Liu Jun was probably talking to Wang Ye about the sign-up situation, and from Liu Jun’s expression, the sign-ups seemed to be going very well.

This matter concerned her as well, so she was very interested and asked, “Misha, is the sign-up over? What’s the situation now?”

“Over five hundred students signed up, which is pretty good,” Wang Ye said casually.

Alyona’s eyes widened instantly. She, of course, understood what this number meant.

………………..

The overwhelming response to the sign-ups clearly delighted everyone.

That evening, the leaders of Yangnan Normal University specially held a “celebration banquet” to entertain the leaders and the “guests” from Moscow.

They had also made a lot of money—five hundred sixty students meant five million six hundred thousand yuan for them!

For a key university, this amount might not be much.

But for Yangnan Normal University, this amount was a bit excessive…

Moreover, it was important to note that this money was funds the college could “freely dispose of”!

At the celebration banquet, the president stood up with a smile, raising his glass, “Come, let’s celebrate the successful and fruitful promotional event!”

Chapter 99: Is Making Money This Easy?

The day after the promotional event, Wang Ye and his group did not act together but split into several teams.

Liu Jun stayed behind to handle the follow-up matters, including how to convert Qingyun Company’s share of the profits into US dollars and transfer them to Moscow—a rather troublesome process.

The two company employees accompanied the director of the foreign affairs office from Moscow State University and the University of Friendship, heading straight back home.

Wang Ye, Alyona, and Liu Mei, on the other hand, went to the capital.

Wang Ye planned to stay in the capital for a day to discuss the tourism company with Liu Mei…

This time, Wang Ye did not inform his family of his return. He even specifically instructed his uncle not to mention his visit to his parents.

Mainly, Wang Ye was worried his parents would not understand what he was doing now. He planned to tell them only after his business truly took off.

…

In the capital, inside a slightly run-down office building, Liu Mei’s company was located here.

She took Wang Ye and Alyona on a tour of her foreign trade company and briefly introduced the current business operations.

Only then did Wang Ye learn that Liu Mei’s so-called foreign trade company was essentially a “middleman.”

They obtained orders and quotes from foreign companies, then found domestic factories to produce the goods, earning a portion of the price difference.

Such companies were extremely common in those days!

Due to the lack of information, genuine demand and production sides rarely connected directly. Some so-called foreign trade companies took advantage of this information gap to do business.

It had to be said, this business was quite profitable.

But as China opened up, more and more foreign businesses entered the mainland to set up factories or establish subsidiaries to directly connect with manufacturers. Companies like Liu Mei’s foreign trade company began to decline, making business harder.

Liu Mei started considering a transformation!

This time, she planned to open a tourism company as an attempt.

Especially after witnessing the overwhelming response at the promotional event yesterday, coupled with the number of students signing up far exceeding expectations, Liu Mei became even more serious.

She believed Wang Ye was someone capable of great things, and cooperating with such a person would surely be beneficial.

“How about it, Aunt Liu? Have you considered my proposal from last time?” Wang Ye asked with a smile after sitting down.

His previous proposal, of course, was to sign a bet agreement with Liu Mei, distributing shares based on the company’s average annual profits three years after its establishment.

Within three years, if the tourism company’s average annual profit reached two million, Wang Ye would get ten percent of the shares. If it reached three million, he would get twenty-five percent. If it reached five million, he would get fifty percent!

And if the average annual profit exceeded ten million…

Hearing Wang Ye bring this up again, Liu Mei did not panic. Over the past two days, she had seriously considered this matter.

Because the recruitment results far exceeded expectations, Liu Mei was even more optimistic about the tourism company’s prospects.

When Wang Ye first discussed this with her the day before yesterday, Liu Mei did not believe the tourism company could make that much money.

But now, she was starting to believe it…

Frowning slightly, she thought for a moment before cautiously saying, “President Wang, how about this? You don’t need to invest a single cent. I’ll give you thirty percent of the company’s shares! Of course, as a shareholder, you’ll also need to contribute ideas and strategies for the company. After all, the company’s growth will benefit you as well.”

Wang Ye sighed inwardly.

Women are just women, their vision is too limited…

In the end, Liu Mei was still unwilling to give Wang Ye more company shares.

But at the same time, she must have seen Wang Ye’s abilities. With his involvement, the tourism company’s future would surely be much better than if Liu Mei ran it alone.

So she offered thirty percent of the shares to win Wang Ye over.

Of course, it was also because without giving these shares, her tourism company couldn’t even get started…

Her address to Wang Ye also changed from the original “Wang Ye” to the current “President Wang.”

This also showed Liu Mei’s respect for Wang Ye. She no longer spoke to him as an elder but treated him as an equal.

If the person in front of her wasn’t Nalan Yaqi’s mother, Wang Ye wouldn’t have bothered to continue the conversation.

But thinking of Nalan Yaqi, Wang Ye softened.

After all, in his previous life, the two of them had a complicated relationship.

Their “past” relationship was very complex. They couldn’t be called lovers because they never treated each other as such and never told their classmates or friends about their relationship.

But they had indeed…

Well, everyone understands.

It could only be said that under a stroke of luck, they each took what they needed.

Although it couldn’t be said who owed whom, men should be more magnanimous…

Moreover, the profits from this tourism company were not something Wang Ye truly cared about; they were small change.

“Then… alright! Let’s do it as you suggested, Aunt Liu.” Wang Ye agreed readily.

Liu Mei was overjoyed and quickly took Wang Ye’s hand, saying, “You agreed?”

Feeling her soft hand, Wang Ye was a bit embarrassed. He subtly withdrew his hand and smiled in response, “Yaqi and I are good friends. For her sake, I agreed!”

Liu Mei looked at Wang Ye, then at Alyona, who was sitting beside them sipping tea, and sighed inwardly.

What a good young man!

He’s smart, capable, and handsome.

If only he could become my son-in-law!

Unfortunately, it seemed he and this Russian girl had a special relationship.

They were always together, so it seemed her daughter didn’t stand much of a chance.

In Liu Mei’s company, the two of them signed a preliminary cooperation agreement.

The formal shareholding contract would have to wait until Liu Mei’s tourism company was established, which would take some time.

But there was no rush for now. After all, this matter couldn’t start until the second half of the year at the earliest.

After all, the exchange students hadn’t been sent out yet. They couldn’t go on a tour first…

After finishing these matters, it was already late. Wang Ye and Alyona had a flight back to Moscow the next day.

With time being tight, they didn’t arrange any sightseeing in the capital.

…

The night passed uneventfully. The next morning, Liu Mei drove Wang Ye and Alyona to the airport.

Another long day of travel, but due to the time difference, they arrived in Moscow in the afternoon.

Taking a taxi back to their apartment, both of them collapsed onto the sofa, not wanting to move.

Over the past few days, they had effectively “traveled” over twenty thousand kilometers. Although they were mostly sitting in planes and cars, they were truly exhausted.

Alyona snuggled into Wang Ye’s arms, lazily nuzzling to find the most comfortable position.

After a while, she asked leisurely, “Is making money this easy? This time, the company must have made a lot of money, right?”

This time, she was quite moved.

In just two or three days, with just one promotional event, the company had earned over ten million yuan!

Was money this easy to make…

Chapter 100: Dividing the Spoils

The scene of hundreds of parents waving cash, scrambling to enroll their children, lingered in Alyona’s mind for a long time, still vivid even now…

The shock was just too great!

Over five hundred people, more than ten million yuan!

For Alyona, who earned only three or four hundred dollars a month, this was an astronomical figure.

And all of this was achieved by Wang Ye in just over a month.

She couldn’t quite understand why Wang Ye could earn so much money so easily.

In Russia, even in Moscow, many university professors and elite experts struggled to make money, often taking home only five or six hundred dollars a month.

Wang Ye smiled, reaching out to gently stroke her soft, long hair.

In the eyes of many, he had indeed earned this money effortlessly, as if without any effort.

But no one knew how much effort he had put in behind the scenes, how many resources he had mobilized!

These invisible efforts were unseen by outsiders.

Wang Ye didn’t answer Alyona’s question, instead asking with a smile, “We’ll have money soon. Is there anything you want to buy? I’ll get it for you.”

He wasn’t stingy. Since Alyona was now with him, when he had no money, it was one thing, but now that he had money, he wouldn’t treat her poorly.

If Alyona asked for luxury brand bags, clothes, or jewelry, Wang Ye wouldn’t refuse.

But Alyona didn’t hesitate at all, replying straightforwardly, “I don’t need anything. The company is just starting, and you still have other businesses to run. Put all the money into the company.”

Wang Ye was touched. What a good girl.

Not materialistic at all!

After thinking for a moment, he said, “Then let’s buy a car. Otherwise, it’s too inconvenient. It’s so cold, and we have to wait a long time for a taxi every time.”

This wasn’t Wang Ye trying to show off. He genuinely felt the need for a car.

Russia was famously vast and sparsely populated!

Its area was twice that of China, but its population was only one-tenth of China’s…

Even in Moscow, where the population was relatively large, if you drove outside the city, you might not see any signs of human habitation for a hundred kilometers or more!

So buying a car was necessary, making life much more convenient.

Alyona didn’t object. She sat up excitedly, looking at Wang Ye and saying, “That’s a good idea. You’ll need to go out often for business, so you really need a car. What kind of car are you planning to buy?”

Cars in Russia weren’t particularly expensive, but they weren’t very cheap either.

To put it simply, they were cheaper than in China but more expensive than in the United States, somewhere in the middle.

The cheapest and most common were the domestic Lada cars. A new one could be bought for three to five thousand dollars, and they were everywhere on the streets.

But those were for ordinary families. Families with better financial conditions would buy imported cars.

The traditional German trio of BBA (BMW, Benz, Audi) were still considered good cars in Moscow.

Like the second-hand BMW 5 Series that Xiao Hu bought—it attracted attention when driven to school.

Among the truly wealthy in Moscow, several cars were particularly popular: the Hummer, the Lexus LX 570, and the Mercedes-Benz G-Class!

These were all high-performance, large SUVs with strong off-road capabilities, which was related to Russia’s weather. After all, it snowed for more than half the year, and four-wheel-drive SUVs were more convenient to drive.

Wang Ye could now afford cars like the G-Class or LX 570—just a hundred thousand dollars or so…

But there was no need. He had more important things to do with that money, so he didn’t plan to buy an expensive car this time.

…

After thinking for a moment, he replied, “Let’s buy an SUV, preferably a four-wheel drive, which is more suitable for driving here. In a couple of days, we can go to the store to look. Isn’t there a large car dealership under the Alpha Hotel? They have all kinds of cars.”

At that time, the 4S concept hadn’t become popular yet, and in Moscow, it was rare to see standalone car brand dealerships. Most were trade centers that sold all kinds of brands, both new and used cars.

There was such a trade center under their company building. Xiao Hu’s second-hand BMW was bought there, and the process was very simple. You just had to pay, and the store would handle everything else.

Wang Ye didn’t plan to buy a used car. He didn’t like second-hand things…

After the money from China arrived, Wang Ye should have a considerable amount of money. He could take out a portion to buy a car, but the budget wouldn’t be too high.

Because he still needed to save money for more important things.

For now, it was just about buying a car for daily use, nothing too expensive.

…

Three days later, Liu Jun flew back from China.

Without resting, he immediately notified all the company’s shareholders to come to the company for a meeting!

It was the same meeting room, the same people, all the shareholders gathered together.

As for the employees, they weren’t qualified to attend the meeting.

Clearly, besides Liu Jun and Wang Ye, who had returned to China to attend the presentation, the other shareholders had also learned about the results of the presentation. Everyone’s faces were beaming with smiles.

The theme of today’s meeting was “dividing the spoils”!

“…That’s the situation. With the help of Yangnan Normal University, our company’s money has been exchanged into US dollars and deposited into the company account. The total is just over one million three hundred thousand US dollars! Wang Ye and I have discussed it. We need to keep over a hundred thousand to maintain the company’s normal operations. The rest of the money will be distributed to all the shareholders! As for taxes, don’t worry. I’ll hire a professional financial company to handle it. You won’t need to pay much…”

Liu Jun sat there, full of joy, speaking eloquently!

Although he had been running around these past few days, exhausted, his spirit remained excited.

When good things happened, one’s spirits were high. With a large sum of money coming in, how could he not be excited?

As for the taxes he mentioned, in Russia at that time, this was normal. There were plenty of ways to “legally avoid taxes.”

Moreover, Russia had introduced many tax exemption policies to attract foreign investment, which could be taken advantage of.

According to Liu Jun and Wang Ye’s discussion, one million two hundred thousand US dollars would be distributed to everyone.

Qingyun Company’s shares were divided as follows: Liu Jun held ten percent, Xiao Hu twenty percent, Nalan Yaqi and Wang Dan each five percent, and Wang Ye held sixty percent alone!

So, out of one million two hundred thousand, Liu Jun would get one hundred twenty thousand US dollars, Xiao Hu two hundred forty thousand US dollars, Nalan Yaqi and Wang Dan each sixty thousand US dollars.

Wang Ye, seven hundred twenty thousand US dollars!

This amount of money was a significant sum for any of them.

Even for the rich second-generation Xiao Hu, it was no exception…

Chapter 101: The Money Arrived

“Wow! We’re getting this much money?” Wang Dan exclaimed in astonishment.

When she had first invested in Qingyun Company, she hadn’t been chasing profits. She had just wanted to compete with Nalan Yaqi.

But now, in less than two months, she had received sixty thousand US dollars! That was five hundred thousand yuan…

For an eighteen-year-old girl, even with her comfortable family background, this was an astronomical sum.

Back in those days, this amount of money could buy a decent apartment in the capital!

Nalan Yaqi’s eyes sparkled even brighter, her smile so wide it seemed her face might split. With this much money, she could buy so many things!

The designer bags she had hesitated over before—now she could buy them without a second thought. All the clothes she had been eyeing—she could bring them all home!

Oh, and there was one important thing: she would move into the apartment across from Wang Ye’s, just to annoy him!

As for Xiao Hu, he wasn’t thinking that far ahead, but he was still delighted.

Through his investment in Qingyun Company, he had proven his ability and foresight to his family!

When he had first invested, his family had trusted his assurance that Wang Ye was highly capable and wouldn’t let them down.

Plus, they were grateful for Wang Ye’s help in setting up their own company, and the investment hadn’t been large.

Now that the results were in, Xiao Hu believed his family would see him in a new light!

…

“That was fast. I was just planning to buy a car. Now that the money’s here, let’s go check some out. Xiao Hu, come with me. With you as a regular customer, maybe we can get a discount,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

“Ye Ge, you’re buying a car? Just get a big G. I’ve seen that in Moscow, people with status all drive big Gs. If you drive one, no one will dare mess with you—not even the police!” Xiao Hu said excitedly.

“Haha, Xiao Hu’s right. Around here, if you drive a big G or a Hummer, most people won’t dare bother you,” Liu Jun added.

Wang Ye shook his head. “Forget it. A big G costs over two hundred thousand dollars. I only have this much money, and I have other uses for it. I’ll just get a six or seven thousand dollar SUV. It’s just for getting around. I can upgrade later when I have more money.”

Talking about cars got the men excited.

Liu Jun said he would tag along to look too. If he found something suitable, he might buy one as well.

After all, his old Audi was getting on in years. It was time for a replacement.

Without further delay, they headed out. The business meeting was over anyway.

Wang Ye, Liu Jun, Xiao Hu, and Alyona made their way downstairs, ready to visit the car dealership.

Wang Dan and Nalan Yaqi, on the other hand, weren’t interested in cars. They decided to go back to school together.

They were still students, after all, and didn’t have Wang Ye’s level of Russian. Skipping class occasionally was fine, but they couldn’t overdo it.

…

The dealership where Xiao Hu had bought his car wasn’t far from Alpha Hotel—just a five or six-minute walk. They arrived quickly.

From the outside, the dealership looked quite large. It had its own big courtyard, with a simple two-story building that had high ceilings.

The courtyard was packed with cars of all brands, from the cheapest Ladas to luxury brands like Mercedes and BMW. Most of them were used, though.

Wang Ye and Liu Jun were looking for new cars, so they headed straight for the showroom.

At the entrance, a young Russian salesman greeted them warmly. “Welcome! Are you here to look at cars?”

Even though Wang Ye and his group were Asian, they weren’t treated with disdain.

The Russians knew that in Moscow, Asians—especially Chinese—might look “modest” on the outside, but they were often quite wealthy!

This area was near the Large Market, so they were used to seeing Chinese business owners with deep pockets.

“Yes, we’re here to look at cars. Do you have any large SUVs to recommend? One with a budget of seventy to eighty thousand dollars, and another for around fifty thousand,” Liu Jun replied fluently in Russian.

The salesman perked up at the mention of two cars with such budgets. Big spenders!

He eagerly led them into the showroom and began his pitch. “If you’re looking for an SUV in the sixty to seventy thousand range, I recommend the Toyota Land Cruiser. With that budget, you can get the top-of-the-line model. It has excellent off-road capabilities and is very reliable—it won’t break down easily. This is currently one of the best-selling mid-to-high-end SUVs…”

Wang Ye had always liked Toyota cars. In his past life, he wouldn’t have bought a Lexus otherwise.

Of course, Toyota cars weren’t known for their driving feel or handling—they were all about being “simple” and reliable!

If you wanted performance and driving pleasure, you had to go with German luxury cars…

But the Land Cruiser was a famous model, popular worldwide.

Abroad, it was considered a utility vehicle, seen in all kinds of harsh terrains—from deserts to snowfields, from the South Pole to the North Pole…

In China, though, it had been hyped up too much, with prices often reaching over a million yuan, making it seem like a luxury car.

But overseas, it wasn’t that expensive. In Russia, it was around sixty to seventy thousand dollars, and in Japan, it was even cheaper—just over three hundred thousand yuan.

Experienced drivers, especially those who often traveled long distances, knew that the worst thing was having car trouble in the middle of nowhere.

Being stranded with no help in sight was truly desperate!

That was why Toyota cars, despite their cheap materials, simple interiors, and inferior comfort compared to German and American cars, still sold so well.

Hearing the salesman’s introduction, Wang Ye nodded in approval.

This car fit his budget nicely.

It was reliable, and as a sixty to seventy thousand dollar vehicle, it wouldn’t be embarrassing to drive.

Even if he occasionally ventured outside Moscow, its strong off-road capabilities and reliability would keep him from getting stranded.

“Alright, get me a top-of-the-line Land Cruiser. Alyona, what color do you like?” Wang Ye turned to ask.

“White. It looks good and doesn’t show dirt easily,” Alyona replied.

Wang Ye turned back to the salesman. “Then we’ll take a white one!”

Chapter 102: Preparing to Go Home

Buying the car went smoothly. Wang Ye purchased a white, fully loaded Land Cruiser for just over seventy-six thousand dollars. Liu Jun’s budget wasn’t as large, so he settled for a basic Land Cruiser, costing just over sixty thousand dollars—slightly over his original budget. But that was normal; buying a car often ended up that way. He had initially planned to buy an Oto, but somehow ended up with an Audi instead…

The license plates and other paperwork would take some time, and since Wang Ye needed to apply for his driver’s license, they entrusted the entire process to the dealership. As the saying went, in Moscow, money could make the devil push the millstone. With such a large sum paid, the dealership’s efficiency was guaranteed.

The salesman told them they could pick up the car in three days, with all the paperwork and license plates ready by then.

…

After buying the car, Wang Ye planned to go home with Alyona. Before leaving, Liu Jun said to him, “About the phone card company we discussed last time, I’ve talked to my friends. Let me know when you’re free, and we can go over the details together.”

He was referring to their joint venture in the phone card business, which Wang Ye had asked him to research earlier. Now, Liu Jun had no doubts about Wang Ye’s judgment. If Wang Ye believed the phone card market would explode, then it absolutely would. The success of the study abroad agency had already proven Wang Ye’s insight and ability!

Moreover, the investment required for the phone card company, which had seemed substantial just days ago, now felt manageable. The money he had received from Qingyun Company alone was enough to invest in the phone card business and buy a car!

So, he was now full of confidence.

Wang Ye replied without hesitation, “You can go ahead and finalize the deal. We’ll be partners in this company, splitting the investment and shares equally. There’s no need to discuss the details. Oh, and rent a small office in Alfa. If we’re going to do this, we should do it properly.”

For the new phone card company, Wang Ye had no intention of taking advantage of Liu Jun. He didn’t want a larger share just because he had a comprehensive plan and distribution channels. After all, Liu Jun had his own resources, and they would need him to negotiate with the telecom companies.

Sure enough, Liu Jun’s face lit up with a smile, and he readily agreed, “Alright, I’ll go ahead and finalize the deal. Since the company isn’t too busy right now, I’ll get it done quickly.”

The recruitment for the study abroad program had concluded, and while Yangnan Normal University in China was busy guiding students through various procedures and Russian language training, Qingyun Company had some downtime. They would only need to do some work once the student information was sent from China, so it wasn’t a problem to say they were idle.

…

They took a taxi back to their apartment. Once home, Alyona poured Wang Ye a glass of water and then took out her phone with a smile, saying, “It’s been almost a month since I last called home. With everything that’s happened recently, I should call and give them an update.”

Wang Ye nodded in understanding. Alyona took the phone into the bedroom to make the call. Wang Ye sat alone on the living room sofa, sipping his water and thinking about what he should do next.

The study abroad service company was more or less settled—for him, at least. The company still had many things to handle, but with Liu Jun and the staff taking care of them, Wang Ye didn’t need to worry too much.

After accounting for the money spent on the car, about eighty thousand dollars, plus the earnings from selling phone cards and his original funds, Wang Ye had roughly six hundred and fifty thousand dollars at his disposal.

At least fifty thousand dollars would need to be set aside for the phone card company. That left six hundred thousand dollars for other ventures.

Six hundred thousand dollars… That should be enough…

Lost in thought, he heard Alyona’s footsteps approaching—she must have finished her call. Wang Ye looked up in surprise, noticing that Alyona’s eyes were red, as if she had been crying.

“What happened? Did you have a fight with your family?” he asked concernedly.

Alyona shook her head and softly replied, “No, I just miss my mom… and my dad and little sister. I didn’t go home after graduating last year, so it’s been almost two years since I’ve been back.”

She was just a young woman in her twenties, and it was only natural for her to miss her family after being away for so long.

Wang Ye opened his arms, and Alyona obediently sat down, nestling into his embrace.

“Want me to give you a few days off so you can go home? I don’t have much to do either, so I can go with you,” Wang Ye suddenly suggested.

Alyona looked up in delight, asking, “Really? You have time to go home with me?”

“Hehe, did you tell your mother about us just now?” Wang Ye teased.

Alyona’s face flushed again, her long eyelashes lowering as she softly admitted, “I did…”

This girl really had told them everything. Wang Ye was a little surprised. But then he thought, for Alyona, their relationship wasn’t a big deal. After all, she had already graduated and started working, so having a boyfriend was normal. It would be strange if she didn’t have one.

He just wondered how this Russian mother-in-law would view him, a foreign “son-in-law.” Not all families accepted international relationships. After all, there were significant differences in race, culture, and lifestyle habits.

“Since you told them, I definitely need to go and meet them. I’ve already taken their daughter, so it would be rude not to go and see them,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

After the initial joy, reality set in, and Alyona frowned, thinking of something. “But going home is such a hassle. It’s a thousand kilometers from Moscow. It doesn’t sound far, but the transportation is terrible. You have to take a train, then a ferry across the sea, then a bus. The whole trip takes two or three days.”

Russia’s transportation wasn’t very developed, especially outside of Moscow. And at that time, Crimea wasn’t connected to the Russian mainland by a bridge, so it was quite inconvenient.

“Then let’s drive back. It’ll be a good chance to break in the new car with a long trip,” Wang Ye said nonchalantly.

He didn’t want to endure the hassle of long-distance travel by train and bus, especially since many young Russians at that time were not very friendly toward foreigners. If they ran into trouble on the road, he wouldn’t be able to fight off four people with just his fists. And there would be no one to complain to if he got hurt!

It would be much better to drive themselves. At least that way, they could ensure their safety.

Alyona thought it made sense. Driving would indeed be faster and much more comfortable. So, they agreed to pick up the new car in three days and then drive home together!

Chapter 103: The Neighbor is a Big Star

Alyona’s hometown was in Yalta, on the Crimean Peninsula.

The city was small, with a permanent population of less than one hundred thousand, roughly equivalent to a small county town in China.

But the city’s reputation was far from small—it was a famous summer resort destination.

Thanks to its unique geographical location, Yalta enjoyed a Mediterranean climate.

The Black Sea to the south brought warmth, while the towering mountains to the north blocked the cold air from moving south, creating Yalta’s mild and humid climate.

Yalta was nothing like other parts of Russia. Winters were mild and rainy, with an average temperature of 4°C in January, while summers were hot and humid, with an average temperature of 24°C in July.

So, both the former Soviet elite and today’s wealthy Russians loved to vacation here.

Since he was preparing to go home with Alyona, Wang Ye had also taken the time to learn about her family situation.

Her father was a civil servant, working in the local tax department. His salary wasn’t high, just enough to support the family.

The upside was that he had “unit-assigned housing,” though it was one of those traditional “Soviet-era buildings,” quite old and not very spacious.

Alyona’s mother was an elementary school music teacher, earning even less.

Even university professors in Moscow didn’t make much, so one could imagine how little a small-town elementary school teacher in Crimea earned…

Alyona also had a younger sister, currently in her final year of high school, who apparently wanted to study in Moscow as well.

From what Alyona said, this sister was even prettier than her…

…

Three days later, Wang Ye received a call from Liu Jun—he could pick up the car!

He and Alyona took a taxi over, not even going to the company, but meeting Liu Jun directly at the auto dealership.

Liu Jun had arrived early, paid all the necessary fees, and completed all the paperwork.

The company would cover the cost of the cars first, then deduct it from their personal dividends.

You had to admit, the two large SUVs parked side by side looked quite impressive.

Wang Ye’s high-end model had a 4.7L naturally aspirated engine, while Liu Jun’s was cheaper, with a 4.0L engine. Naturally, there were quite a few differences in appearance and features.

Taking the keys Liu Jun handed over, along with a driver’s license—the dealership had handled the local Russian license for him.

Since he already had a license in China, he didn’t need to retake the test here.

“I’ll be heading to the Crimean Peninsula in the next few days to go home with Alyona. If anything comes up, just call me,” Wang Ye said to Liu Jun.

“Haha, so you’re going to meet the in-laws? Say hello to Uncle and Auntie for me. Oh, and even though the Russians don’t have any special requirements for new sons-in-law—you don’t even need to bring gifts—we’re Chinese, so we should uphold our traditions. You can bring plenty of vodka; her dad will definitely like that!” Liu Jun said with a laugh.

Wang Ye already had a plan in mind. He waved his hand, calling Alyona over to get in the car, then started the engine and slowly drove out of the dealership’s courtyard.

…

“We’ll go home first to grab our luggage, then head to the big supermarket to buy some things. After that, we’ll set off directly,” Wang Ye said to Alyona as he drove.

The new car was still unfamiliar, so he didn’t dare to drive too fast.

Yalta was about one thousand kilometers from Moscow. Though not all of it was highway, the roads were sparse and empty, so they could drive quite fast.

In the city, drivers often went over one hundred kilometers per hour, and on the open roads, they started at one hundred twenty, with no real speed limit!

So, if they left around noon, they could probably arrive in Yalta by tomorrow evening.

This was much faster than taking the train or bus.

Alyona thought Wang Ye meant buying some snacks for the road, so she nodded in agreement.

As for their luggage, she had already packed it ahead of time.

There wasn’t much to pack, anyway. They weren’t staying long—just two or three days—so each of them only needed a few changes of clothes and some toiletries.

They drove back to the apartment and parked in the spot by the entrance. As they got out, they ran into Yuri, the security guard on patrol. He and Wang Ye were quite familiar by now.

“Mikhail, is this your new car? It’s so cool!” Yuri said enviously, looking at the white Land Cruiser.

With his salary, he couldn’t even imagine how many years he’d have to save to afford this car…

Wang Ye smiled, pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and handed it to Yuri. “This car isn’t that expensive. You’ll be able to buy one someday too.”

Yuri took the cigarettes without hesitation, thanking him.

Cigarettes and alcohol went hand in hand—this was true all over the world, especially among the Russians!

But as for Wang Ye saying he could afford this car someday, Yuri absolutely didn’t believe it…

Alyona went upstairs to get the luggage, while Wang Ye stayed downstairs, chatting and smoking with Yuri.

As they were talking, a roar of an engine approached, and a Porsche 911 sped by.

It parked next to Wang Ye’s Land Cruiser, and the door opened. A blonde woman in sunglasses stepped out, not even glancing at Wang Ye and Yuri, and walked into the apartment with her head held high.

Yuri raised an eyebrow and whistled.

Of course, he only dared to do this after the girl had entered the lobby…

“This beauty lives in this building too? She looks like a big star,” Wang Ye asked with a smile.

“Ha, you got that right. She really is a singer, quite famous in Russia. You can often see her on TV. But the most important thing is, her dad is someone powerful!” Yuri said mysteriously.

Wang Ye was surprised. He really hadn’t expected that a star lived in the same building as him.

But then again, it made sense. This apartment complex was considered high-end in Moscow, so it wasn’t strange for a minor celebrity to live here.

But given Russia’s current situation, could a minor celebrity really afford such an expensive place and a Porsche?

After all, Russia’s entertainment industry wasn’t very developed, and the stars didn’t make that much money.

“Rumor has it her dad is a billionaire!” Yuri added in a low voice.

Clearly, this was just hearsay, and he had no idea who the girl’s father really was.

Wang Ye didn’t bother to ask about the singer. What did it matter to him?

Besides, even though the girl had a hot figure, fair skin, long legs, and a great body, in Wang Ye’s eyes, she still wasn’t as beautiful as Alyona!

…

Just then, Alyona came out, pulling two small suitcases.

Wang Ye waved goodbye to Yuri and helped Alyona load the suitcases into the trunk.

He started the car, made a wide turn, and headed toward the large supermarket north of the University of Friendship dormitory area.

This was Alyona’s return to her “maiden home,” and he, as the new son-in-law, was visiting for the first time. He couldn’t neglect the proper etiquette—he had to buy the right gifts…

Chapter 104: Buying Expensive Is Always Right

In the supermarket, Alyona was just about to push the shopping cart toward the food and beverage section when Wang Ye stopped her.

He lifted his chin, gesturing, “Let’s go over there first. I remember you saying your father likes to drink?”

Indeed, in Russia, it was rare to find a man who didn’t enjoy a drink…

Alyona nodded, “Yes, he has a little every night.”

“Then let’s buy him some alcohol,” Wang Ye said.

Alyona was a little surprised and was about to ask why Wang Ye wanted to buy alcohol for her father, but he had already explained.

“In our country, when a girl’s boyfriend visits her family for the first time, he must bring gifts for her family. It’s a matter of courtesy.”

He wasn’t lying. Back home, if you dared to visit your girlfriend’s family without a gift, the consequences were easy to imagine…

Never mind the rest—you’d definitely be labeled as “this child doesn’t know any better.”

The value of the gift depended on your financial situation. The girl’s parents wouldn’t necessarily demand anything expensive, but whether you brought a gift at all was a matter of attitude!

Alyona listened and nodded understandingly, not saying anything.

The two of them headed toward the alcohol section.

The supermarket’s alcohol section was quite large, with most of the better brands on the market available here.

When it came to vodka, many Chinese people’s first thought was “Absolut Vodka,” assuming it was a Russian brand.

But in reality, it wasn’t. Absolut Vodka was Swedish, later acquired by a French company.

However, Absolut Vodka was still very common in Russia and had high recognition.

Other popular vodka brands here included “Royal Crown,” “Morozha,” “Red Label,” and “Standard.”

To be honest, vodka wasn’t expensive, and the alcohol content wasn’t high—only 40%.

Compared to the domestic baijiu that often exceeded 50%, it was quite mild.

Standing in front of the shelves filled with various vodkas, Wang Ye felt a little overwhelmed. He didn’t like drinking baijiu or vodka, whether in this life or his past one.

So he didn’t know much about vodka.

He asked Alyona, “Which kind does your father like to drink?”

Alyona spread her hands and laughed, “He likes the cheap kind, the kind you can’t even buy in Moscow.”

She was clearly joking. Probably because of their financial situation, he couldn’t afford the expensive stuff and could only drink the cheap, lesser-known vodka.

But vodka all tasted more or less the same—distilled spirits, all 40%.

Since that was the case, Wang Ye knew how to choose.

Buy the expensive one—it was always right!

………………..

The alcohol on the shelves was arranged in a certain order—from bottom to top, the prices increased.

Wang Ye stood on his tiptoes and looked. The alcohol here was mostly around four to five hundred rubles, considered high-end vodka.

He directly took down a box of Royal Crown vodka and placed it in the shopping cart.

The box contained eight bottles, each one liter!

In Russia, many alcoholic beverages came in one-liter or one-and-a-half-liter bottles.

The box of alcohol Wang Ye took was over six hundred rubles per bottle, totaling five thousand rubles for the box.

This stunned Alyona. She stood there for a while before asking, “Have you gone mad? Why buy so much alcohol? We usually just buy one bottle.”

Here, the differences between China and Russia were evident again.

In China, gifts were usually given in even numbers, symbolizing “good things come in pairs.”

But in Russia, you could only give odd numbers!

However, Wang Ye buying a whole box could still be considered an odd number.

Wang Ye waved his hand and smiled, “Back home, if you only bring one bottle, you’ll get kicked out. It’s always by the box.”

Well, another cultural difference—Alyona had nothing to say…

Buying a gift for Alyona’s father was simple—since he liked to drink, alcohol was fine. But buying a gift for her mother was a bit more complicated.

Wang Ye had no idea what Russian elderly women liked…

So he asked Alyona for her opinion.

Alyona thought for a moment, “Just buy a box of chocolates. Here, if you don’t know what gift to bring to someone’s house, flowers and chocolates are always right.”

Wang Ye shook his head. Chocolates?

That wasn’t for kids, was it? That seemed too cheap!

He suddenly thought of something and asked, “Do your parents have phones?”

“Dad does, Mom doesn’t,” Alyona replied.

“That makes it easy. Let’s buy her a phone as a gift. That way, it’ll be easier for you to contact home in the future,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

“No, that’s too expensive! Don’t buy it,” Alyona quickly waved her hands.

But clearly, her objection was ineffective.

After buying some snacks and drinks for the journey, Wang Ye directly pulled her to the phone store where they had bought their phones before.

Even though he had money now, Wang Ye wasn’t extravagant. He didn’t choose an expensive phone, just had the store clerk bring two Nokia 3310s, the same as the ones he and Alyona used.

Wait…

Why two?

Alyona noticed another problem.

“One for your mom, one for your little sister,” Wang Ye explained matter-of-factly.

He thought this was a good idea. It wasn’t much money, and it solved the gift problem.

And they would definitely like it.

“Nova is still a child; she doesn’t need a phone!” Alyona objected.

“Nova” was, of course, Alyona’s little sister’s name.

She was only in her third year of high school, and in Alyona’s eyes, she was still a little kid.

Thinking back to when Alyona and Wang Ye had just met, she had already graduated from university and started working but still didn’t have a phone.

What did a high school student like Nova need a phone for?

Wang Ye shook his head, “She’s about to go to university and will come to Moscow to study. Having a phone will make things much more convenient. If she needs to contact us or her family, it’ll be simple.”

This reasoning left Alyona with no counterargument.

If money wasn’t an issue, then buying a phone really wasn’t a problem.

Back then, phones were purely communication tools and didn’t have any entertainment functions…

The problem was, she felt that Wang Ye was spending too much money, and she couldn’t accept it.

Alyona knew that Wang Ye was very wealthy now.

If he bought her some gifts or covered their living expenses, that was fine.

But spending too much money on her family made Alyona feel uncomfortable…

Perhaps this was the difference in mindset between Westerners and Chinese.

………………..

In the end, seeing Wang Ye directly pay for the phones, Alyona didn’t continue to object.

She only reminded him, “I know you’ll say this is Chinese etiquette. This time is fine because it’s your first time visiting my family. But in the future, you absolutely must not buy such expensive gifts for my family again. Not only will I mind, but my family might too.”

Wang Ye was speechless. Who wouldn’t like receiving gifts?

Chapter 105: He Doesn’t Deserve It

After shopping, the two drove to the Seventh Building, planning to eat something at the restaurant there before hitting the road.

By sheer coincidence, as soon as they parked the car in front of the Seventh Building Bar, they ran into an old acquaintance.

Zhang Ke!

…

Zhang Ke had been feeling rather pleased with himself lately.

He had bought a new car and started his “entrepreneurial journey”!

You wouldn’t believe it, but his business was actually quite popular. He had work almost every day.

After deducting fuel costs, he could still make four or five hundred rubles a day.

The money wasn’t much, but for a student, it was decent.

At the very least, he could spend more freely now than before!

Today was a school day, but Zhang Ke had skipped class. He was taking a girl out to lunch—not a preparatory student, but a senior from the third year.

After pursuing Nalan Yaqi and Wang Dan without success, he had decided to shift his focus.

His reputation among the preparatory students wasn’t great, and he didn’t think many of them were particularly attractive anyway. So, he had turned his attention elsewhere.

The University of Friendship had plenty of older students, and naturally, plenty of girls.

After some “reconnaissance,” Zhang Ke had found a new target!

Her name was Han Yan. She lived in Building No. 13 and was not only beautiful with a great figure, but her family seemed well-off too.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t be living in Building No. 13. All the students at the university knew that the dormitory fees there were much higher than in other buildings.

After a few interactions, and since Zhang Ke had given her a few rides in his car, the two had become somewhat familiar.

Today, Zhang Ke had invited Han Yan to lunch to make his intentions clear—perhaps they could start dating…

He wasn’t a naive young man anymore. He didn’t have the patience to play those vague, romantic games with girls!

Time was money, and efficiency was life!

This was a principle Zhang Ke had long understood…

To show respect—and perhaps a hint of showing off—even though Building No. 13 wasn’t far from the Seventh Building, Zhang Ke had still driven his little Lada to pick up Han Yan!

As expected, this had a good effect. Most girls fell for this sort of thing, and Han Yan’s face lit up with a smile. Her attitude toward Zhang Ke became much warmer.

The Lada pulled up in front of the Seventh Building Bar. Zhang Ke pulled the handbrake, not even bothering to turn off the engine, and hurriedly got out to open the door for Han Yan.

That was gentlemanly!

Just as Han Yan stepped out of the car and was about to say something to Zhang Ke, the two saw a large white SUV driving toward them.

After all, there weren’t many cars in the campus dormitory area—it was rare to see any at all.

The few that did exist were mostly cheap used cars. It was uncommon to see such a large SUV, which clearly wasn’t cheap.

Zhang Ke looked at it enviously and remarked, “Wow, a Land Cruiser! Nice car!”

Girls generally didn’t know much about cars, and Han Yan was no exception. But she could tell this car wasn’t cheap.

She asked, “This car must be expensive, right?”

Zhang Ke nodded. “Yeah, it looks brand new. It probably cost seventy or eighty thousand dollars. Only the wealthy in Moscow can afford something like this.”

No sooner had he spoken than the white SUV parked right next to the Lada, and a familiar figure stepped out.

“Wang… Wang Ye!” Zhang Ke was stunned.

What surprised him even more was that Han Yan blurted out, “Isn’t that Wang Ye?”

“You know him?” Zhang Ke asked in astonishment.

“Of course, his cousin is my good friend. I’ve eaten with him before,” Han Yan said, walking toward Wang Ye and leaving Zhang Ke behind.

Wang Ye and Alyona had just gotten out of the car and had also seen Zhang Ke and a girl standing in front of the bar.

He smiled but didn’t intend to acknowledge Zhang Ke.

However, the girl seemed somewhat familiar…

As soon as he locked the car, the girl walked over and greeted Wang Ye, “Wang Ye, are you here to eat too?”

Wang Ye paused for a moment, then looked at the girl more carefully, as if trying to recall something.

He smiled and said, “Uh… hello, senior. Yeah, I’m here to grab a bite.”

He had forgotten Han Yan’s name, but fortunately, he was quick-witted enough to call her “senior,” which wasn’t incorrect…

Han Yan gave Wang Ye a look and teased, “Why so formal? What’s with the ‘senior’? I’m your cousin’s good friend. You should call me sister.”

As she spoke, she glanced at the car parked beside them and asked, “Is this your new car?”

“Yeah, living here without a car is too inconvenient, so I bought one,” Wang Ye said matter-of-factly.

“Wow, this car looks so cool, big and wide. It’s a hundred times better than Zhang Ke’s little Lada!” Han Yan exclaimed.

As a girl, she naturally didn’t understand the technical specifications of cars. She could only judge them by their appearance.

Zhang Ke, on the other hand, felt like crying upon hearing this…

Sis, you can praise Wang Ye’s car all you want, but why compare it to my Lada?

Besides, a Land Cruiser might be worth ten Ladas, but it’s not a hundred times better!

…

Wang Ye didn’t take the opportunity to “humiliate” Zhang Ke.

After all, in his eyes, Zhang Ke was nothing.

Just as an elephant would never consider an ant its rival, Zhang Ke held no weight in Wang Ye’s mind.

He didn’t even deserve to be his opponent!

“So, are you eating with us, or do you have someone else to eat with?” Wang Ye asked casually.

He didn’t know why Han Yan and Zhang Ke were standing there.

Maybe Han Yan needed Zhang Ke’s car?

Since she was his cousin’s friend, he should at least be polite, so he asked.

“I don’t have anyone. I was planning to eat alone, but since I ran into you, I guess I’ll have to mooch off the big spender,” Han Yan said quickly.

Don’t blame her for being pragmatic.

After struggling alone in a foreign country for several years, it was only natural to be realistic.

She no longer had any other thoughts about Wang Ye. After all, he already had such a beautiful girlfriend who looked like an angel…

But Wang Ye’s abilities—or rather, his strength—had left a deep impression on her!

Among all the Chinese exchange students at the University of Friendship, there were several hundred. None of them could afford such a nice car—well, none except Wang Ye!

And he had done it in just three or four months since arriving in Moscow!

Even if nothing intimate could happen between them, it was absolutely worth maintaining a good relationship with him.

Who knew? Maybe one day she would run into trouble and need someone to lend a hand.

So, now that she had the chance to eat with Wang Ye, Han Yan had already forgotten all about Zhang Ke…

…

“That… I just ran into a friend, so I’ll eat with them. Next time I need a ride, I’ll call you,” Han Yan turned to Zhang Ke and said.

With that, she happily started chatting with Alyona.

Chapter 106: A Thousand Miles a Day

The three of them walked into the bar together, leaving Zhang Ke standing alone outside.

Honestly, when Han Yan had spoken to him like that earlier, Zhang Ke had been stunned.

Was there really someone even more shameless than him?

Was he just a piece of tissue paper?

To be used when needed and discarded when not!

But he didn’t rush over to confront Han Yan. After all, Han Yan wasn’t his anything.

Even if he did go over, it would only be asking for humiliation…

So, better to let it go. A wise man doesn’t court disaster!

But toward Wang Ye, Zhang Ke’s hatred grew even stronger.

How many times had this guy ruined his plans?

Maybe they were just incompatible. Whenever he ran into Wang Ye, nothing good ever happened!

………………

After having lunch with Alyona and Han Yan—without drinking, since he had to drive in the afternoon—Wang Ye learned that his cousin, Ruan Xiaozhu, had visited the University of Friendship again recently.

But since he hadn’t been there at the time, she hadn’t come to see him.

Wang Ye felt a pang of guilt. He realized he hadn’t been in touch with Ruan Xiaozhu for a while. She was family, after all. He should take better care of her.

Yes, their roles had reversed now.

It was no longer Ruan Xiaozhu looking after him, but Wang Ye feeling like he should be the one looking after her.

In his mind, Ruan Xiaozhu was just a young woman in her twenties who needed care…

After finishing their meal and saying goodbye to Han Yan, Wang Ye and Alyona got into the car and slowly drove out of the University of Friendship dormitory area.

………………

It was already mid-to-late April, and the weather was warming up.

The heavy snow hadn’t fallen for days, and the snow on the roadsides was beginning to melt. Moscow was entering its best season.

Used to the daily congestion of Pengcheng, driving in Moscow was a breath of fresh air for Wang Ye!

Especially once they left the city—wide, straight roads stretched endlessly, with barely a car in sight for long stretches.

He could drive however he pleased!

He pressed a button on the car’s DVD player, and soft music filled the cabin. An unknown female singer began to hum.

Warm sunlight streamed through the windows, shining on their faces, almost blinding.

Both Wang Ye and Alyona wore sunglasses.

This was standard for driving in Russia—not because of the sun, but because of the year-round snow, which could be dazzling.

Alyona hummed along softly to the music while Wang Ye focused on driving…

He kept the speed steady between 120 and 140 kilometers per hour, not daring to go too fast.

But every now and then, a car would zoom past them. Clearly, the Russians drove like they had a death wish—who knew if they were drinking vodka while driving…

From around 1 PM, they drove straight through until evening, around 6 PM, when the sky had darkened.

They had covered nearly five hundred kilometers, reaching the outskirts of Voronezh. After a quick discussion, Wang Ye and Alyona decided to stay nearby for the night.

It wasn’t safe to drive at night…

………………

Voronezh was a sizable city, a regional capital—similar to a provincial capital in China.

Of course, its population couldn’t compare to a Chinese provincial capital.

By evening, the city felt quiet and empty. Few cars were on the roads, and even fewer people were out.

Wang Ye didn’t drive into the city center but instead found a nearby hotel to stay in.

After a hot dinner in the hotel restaurant, the two returned to their room to rest.

The next morning, they woke up around seven or eight, had a quick breakfast, filled up the car with gas, and continued their journey…

The scenery along the way was beautiful. Though their bodies were tired, their spirits remained high.

After pushing through, they finally arrived in Yalta around four or five in the afternoon!

The city was well-known but not particularly large.

However, the scenery here was completely different from Moscow and the other cities they had passed through.

The temperature was a comfortable ten-plus degrees. Wang Ye and Alyona had taken off their jackets, wearing only light clothing.

The trees and flowers along the roads were lush and green.

A warm sea breeze blew against their faces, making it feel like a completely different season from Moscow!

Under Alyona’s guidance, Wang Ye drove to a modest residential complex near the city center.

Apparently, this was a housing complex for government employees, mostly home to workers from various Yalta municipal departments and their families.

Alyona’s family lived here.

The buildings were typical Russian red-brick apartment blocks—uniformly six stories tall, no elevators, and quite old, looking a bit run-down from the outside.

In truth, it wasn’t much different from the University of Friendship dormitory area, except that this place had more greenery. The complex was filled with large patches of grass.

The University of Friendship area, on the other hand, was much smaller—after all, it was in a wealthy district of Moscow where land was scarce.

Wang Ye parked the car in front of one of the residential buildings.

“This is it. Let’s go in,” Alyona said with a smile.

Stepping out of the car, Wang Ye looked around.

The complex was large, with row after row of identical red-brick buildings separated by grass and trees.

Most of the windows glowed with warm orange light, and the area was quiet.

Wang Ye carried a box of wine in one hand and pulled a suitcase with the other.

Alyona also carried bags in both hands as they walked toward the building.

This old residential building was nothing like their apartment in Moscow. There was no lobby—just a simple staircase.

Hmm, China had a lot of buildings like this in the early days, modeled after Soviet-style architecture.

………………

They arrived at a door on the third floor, and Alyona pressed the doorbell.

The door opened quickly, and a young girl peeked out.

She looked a bit like Alyona—same golden hair and blue eyes, fair skin, but younger, with her hair tied in a ponytail.

She must be Nova, Alyona’s younger sister.

Sure enough, the girl cried out in delight when she saw Alyona, “Sister! Why are you back?”

Then she turned and shouted into the house, “Dad, Mom, Sister’s back!”

Alyona hadn’t told her family she was coming home, saying she wanted to surprise them…

Following the girl’s shout, the sound of footsteps echoed from inside, and two more people appeared at the door.

A man and a woman, both in their forties—these must be Alyona’s parents.

Alyona quickly introduced Wang Ye to her family. “Dad, Mom, Nova, this is Misha, my boyfriend.”

All three pairs of eyes immediately turned to Wang Ye…

Chapter 107: This Gift is Too Much

Alyona had found a boyfriend, and he was Chinese!

Ever since she had told her family about this over the phone a few days ago, it had become the focal point of discussion for the three of them at home!

Alyona’s parents didn’t oppose the relationship, but they were still a little worried.

This was normal, though. In any country, in any family, if a child started dating a foreigner, parents would naturally worry…

After all, they were from different ethnicities and different countries, so there would inevitably be many differences in lifestyle and cultural values.

At the beginning of a relationship, love might cover up a lot of problems, but what about after they had been living together for a long time?

Problems were bound to arise!

During their discussions at home, both parents expressed their concerns.

Alyona’s father was mainly worried that, according to what Alyona had said, Wang Ye was still just an exchange student, which meant he wasn’t very old and didn’t have any source of income.

Would Alyona have to support him with her own job?

Wasn’t this just a “pretty boy”?

In the warrior nation, such people were usually looked down upon!

Alyona’s mother was worried about what would happen if the two of them got married in the future. Would they settle in Russia or go back to China?

If they settled in Russia, that would be best—it wasn’t too far from home, and they could still look after each other.

But if they went to China, the distance would be too great. They might only be able to come back once every few years…

Besides, China was a very poor and backward country. Wouldn’t their daughter suffer if she went there?

However, their younger daughter, Nova, didn’t share her parents’ concerns. She believed that as long as Alyona and Wang Ye were in love, that was enough.

Nationality, income, cultural differences—those were all problems that could be solved!

Of course, this was also because she was still young and didn’t yet understand the hardships of life…

…

Regardless of what they thought, Alyona was back now, and she had brought her boyfriend with her.

Upon their first meeting, Alyona’s family had a fairly good impression of Wang Ye.

He was tall and handsome, and aside from his black hair, he didn’t lose out to any Russian young man in other aspects.

Especially his facial features, which were quite three-dimensional, fitting the Russian aesthetic. He would be considered handsome even in Russia…

After introducing themselves, Alyona’s parents led the two of them into the living room.

The old-style Russian apartment had a rather small living room, and since the living room and dining room weren’t separated, it made the space feel even more cramped.

Naturally, there wasn’t much in the way of decoration.

The floor was still made of small wooden planks, and the walls were covered in dark yellow fabric-textured wallpaper. Though simple, it still looked quite cozy.

Wang Ye handed over the paper box he was holding and said to Alyona’s father with a smile, “Uncle, I heard you like to drink, so I bought some for you. I don’t know if you’ll like this brand.”

Alyona’s father hadn’t even noticed what Wang Ye was holding. He had assumed it was their own luggage.

He paused for a moment before taking the medium-sized paper box and glancing at it. His eyes widened in surprise.

This was Crown Vodka, basically the most expensive kind of vodka in Russia!

The feeling was like a small-town family in China having a “new son-in-law” bring a box of Flying Fairy Maotai on his first visit…

“You… why did you buy so much?” he finally managed to say after a long pause.

There were eight bottles in the box!

“You like to drink, so I bought a little extra. Alyona and I are usually far away, so it’s not often we get to come back,” Wang Ye replied with a smile.

Alyona’s father immediately felt much more at ease. This young man might not be much else, but he was certainly polite.

It wasn’t because he was generous, buying good and expensive alcohol, but because he had considered his preferences and catered to them!

Meanwhile, Alyona took out a small plastic bag and pulled out two paper boxes, handing them to Nova.

“Little sister, these are gifts from Misha for you and Mom.”

Their mother was busy pouring water and bringing out snacks.

“Wow! There’s a gift for me too? Thank you, Misha,” Nova said excitedly as she took them.

But after just one glance, her eyes went wide.

She stared at the box cover for a long time before hesitantly looking up and asking, “Is this…”

The box cover clearly showed an image of a phone, but Nova couldn’t believe that there was actually a phone inside!

At that time, phones were still a luxury item for most ordinary people.

“Yes, it’s a phone. With a phone, it’ll be much easier for us to stay in touch in the future,” Alyona nodded.

“Mom, Dad! Misha gave me a phone! Oh, and one for Mom too!” Nova suddenly shrieked.

This startled Wang Ye.

It was just a cheap Nokia, so why was she reacting like this…

Wang Ye was looking at this from the perspective of twenty years in the future.

But this was 2001, and for a small-town family like Alyona’s, giving two phones right off the bat was indeed a bit excessive.

Alyona’s parents were also shocked.

A whole box of Crown Vodka was worth five or six thousand rubles, which was already quite generous, but still within an acceptable range.

After all, in Russia, giving alcohol as a gift was normal. It was just that Wang Ye had given a bit too much.

But giving phones…

That was going too far!

“Misha, why did you buy them phones? They’re too expensive, and they don’t need them,” Alyona’s father asked in surprise.

“It’s just a communication tool, not expensive. It’ll be more convenient for Alyona to stay in touch with her family in the future. Nova is about to be a university student, so she needs a phone too,” Wang Ye replied.

Alyona’s father shook his head repeatedly, but Nova and her mother were already eagerly playing with their new phones.

“Thank you, brother-in-law! I love it!” Nova said excitedly, holding the phone.

It seemed the gift was well-received. Nova had even upgraded her address for Wang Ye from “Misha” to “brother-in-law”!

“Oh, right, Nova, how’s your university application going? Are you really going to study in Moscow?” Alyona remembered this and asked.

“Yes, I’m planning to apply to the University of Friendship too, so I can be schoolmates with you and brother-in-law, hehe,” Nova replied with a smile.

“With your grades, you’ll definitely get in. You could even go to Moscow State University,” Alyona nodded.

Wang Ye was a little confused and asked, “If Nova’s grades are that good, why not go to Moscow State University?”

“Brother-in-law, with my grades, I have a good chance of getting an education subsidy if I apply to the University of Friendship. But even though I could get into Moscow State University, it’s almost impossible to get an education subsidy there. The tuition and living expenses are too high,” Nova explained.

Chapter 108: I Lay My Cards on the Table

After being “educated” by Nova and Alyona, Wang Ye finally understood.

He had been misled by the public intellectuals again. Turns out, studying at a university in Russia wasn’t entirely free.

If you wanted free tuition, you had to be outstanding enough to receive subsidies from the education department—what they called scholarships.

But top universities, especially elite ones like Moscow State University, had far too many applicants, all of them the best of the best.

So securing a scholarship was extremely difficult, and the spots were limited…

With Nova’s grades, applying for a scholarship at the University of Friendship was still hopeful, but Moscow State University was out of the question.

Of course, if there was no scholarship, you could still pay your own way.

But for her family’s financial situation, that was completely unaffordable.

Tuition at Moscow State University was expensive, varying by major, but even the cheapest department cost over three thousand US dollars a month—and that didn’t include housing or living expenses.

In a year, even with frugal living, it would still be five or six thousand dollars.

That’s why Moscow State University had so many wealthy students.

“Do you want to go to Moscow State University?” Wang Ye asked with a smile.

“Of course I do! It’s Moscow State University—the best university in all of Russia… no, in all of Eastern Europe! Almost every student dreams of going there, and I’m no exception,” Nova said earnestly.

“Then go ahead. The tuition… your sister will cover it for you.” Wang Ye almost said he would pay for it himself.

But then he realized that might not be entirely appropriate, so he said Alyona would cover the tuition instead.

Alyona, who had been talking to her mother, heard this and turned in surprise, pointing at her own nose as if she didn’t understand how this “task” had suddenly fallen on her.

Nova shook her head repeatedly. “That’s not okay. My sister’s salary isn’t that high, and she has her own expenses. I can’t take her money.”

In China, it might be common for older siblings to support their younger ones’ education after starting work.

But abroad, this was almost unheard of…

They wouldn’t understand.

Alyona’s parents also shook their heads, saying this wasn’t right.

“Alyona just started working, and she’s in a big city like Moscow. Her income isn’t high either. I bet the two of you aren’t living very comfortably,” her mother hinted.

Even though Wang Ye had been quite generous with gifts—good wine and a phone on their first meeting—that didn’t necessarily mean he was well-off.

Giving gifts, if you grit your teeth, can make anyone seem generous.

But daily life was a long-term affair. Without steady, reliable income, it wouldn’t work.

Clearly, Wang Ye was just a student with no income yet. Even if his family was well-off and gave him a high allowance, how high could it really be…

Wang Ye looked at Alyona in surprise and asked, “You didn’t tell your parents about our situation?”

“Not yet,” Alyona shook her head.

Wang Ye was speechless. This girl was too innocent…

When introducing her boyfriend to her parents, she didn’t even mention the “most important” thing!

If she had told them earlier that he wasn’t just a student but also ran a company—and a very profitable one at that—would they still be overthinking things?

“Are you hiding something from us?” Alyona’s father asked upon hearing their conversation.

“Uh, it’s not that we’re hiding it, just that we haven’t had the chance to tell you yet. Mom, Dad, Misha isn’t just a student. He actually runs… no, two companies. Misha, is that company you talked about with Yaki’s mom in China open yet?”

Alyona wasn’t even sure how many companies Wang Ye had now…

“That one isn’t open yet, but the other one is already in preparation. It’s also in Moscow, dealing with phone card services,” Wang Ye admitted honestly.

“Oh, so Misha currently has two companies. One is a study abroad agency, already officially operating, and doing very well. Oh, and I work there too. The other is a phone card business, still in preparation, but it’ll open soon,” Alyona explained.

Her family was stunned.

According to Alyona’s introduction a few days ago, Wang Ye was even younger than her and had just come to Moscow to study!

How did he end up running companies?

And not just one, but two!

“This… are these your family’s companies?” her father asked tentatively.

It made sense. Unless his family was in business, how could a teenager in his late teens start a company?

“No, Misha’s family is quite ordinary. He built all this himself,” Alyona shook her head.

After some explanation, Alyona’s family felt they had a new understanding of Wang Ye!

This young man was far more remarkable than they thought!

He had only just arrived in Moscow, yet his Russian was already so good. And he had built everything from scratch, achieving so much in just a few months.

From what Alyona said, it seemed he had already made a lot of money.

Were all Chinese people this smart…

At the same time, they understood why Wang Ye had offered to pay Nova’s tuition. Even though he said Alyona would cover it, it was clear that the money would come from Wang Ye.

Probably, Moscow State University’s tuition wasn’t much to him…

But even so, Nova firmly shook her head. “Thank you, brother-in-law, but I’ll still go to the University of Friendship. First, I got in on my own, and second, aren’t you also studying there? Then we’ll be schoolmates.”

Wang Ye thought about it and realized that whether she went to Moscow State University or the University of Friendship wasn’t that important.

If he hadn’t had those twenty years of experience from his past life, maybe he would have wanted to go to Moscow State University too.

But for him now, those things didn’t matter.

It was good that Nova was going to the University of Friendship. He and Alyona lived nearby, so it would be easier to look after her.

He nodded and smiled. “That’s good. I’ll be starting my first year in September, so we’ll be classmates. By the way, what major are you planning to take?”

“Probably something like finance. Isn’t that major good for employment?” Nova said, frowning.

This was quite a coincidence. Wang Ye was also planning to major in finance…

They might actually end up in the same class!

To welcome their daughter’s boyfriend, the family prepared a lavish dinner.

There was smoked fish, red sausage, homemade pickled cucumbers, and more, filling the entire table.

Alyona’s family was quite curious about China, and during the meal, they asked many questions about it.

Especially Alyona’s father, who opened a bottle of vodka and started drinking with Wang Ye, one shot after another.

Wang Ye’s alcohol tolerance was average, but since his “father-in-law” was offering, he couldn’t refuse.

As a result, he ended up drinking too much…

In his daze, he seemed to be helped into a room by two girls.

Chapter 109: Is This Discrimination?

Wang Ye woke up to find it was already late morning the next day. He sat up from the soft bed and looked around—this seemed to be Alyona’s room. She must have slept here last night too, given the two pillows side by side. But Alyona wasn’t around; she had probably gotten up early.

After getting dressed and stepping out of the room, he ran into Nova.

“Brother-in-law, you’re awake?” Nova asked with a smile.

Wang Ye rubbed his temples, still a little dizzy from the hangover. “Yeah. Where’s your sister? And why aren’t you in school?”

Nova was still in high school, so she should have been at school during the day.

“Hehe, it’s the weekend. I didn’t know your alcohol tolerance was so low—you got drunk after just a little,” Nova teased.

Wang Ye shot her a glare. “A little? I drank half a jin last night!”

The glasses they used last night were probably around two liang each, and he had two of them…

“Hmm, just that much…” Nova seemed unimpressed by his drinking capacity.

Wang Ye didn’t bother arguing. Everyone knew Russians could drink. Whether their tolerance was high or low, they dared to drink. Their principle was simple: if you weren’t dead yet, keep drinking!

“Where’s your sister?” Wang Ye asked again.

“A friend of hers knew she was back, so they went out to meet up,” Nova replied.

Wang Ye barely had time to respond before Nova quickly added, “It’s her best friend, another girl. Don’t overthink it.”

Wang Ye couldn’t help but laugh. He hadn’t even started thinking, and she was already telling him not to overthink.

…

After freshening up, he went to the living room and had just sat down to chat with Nova and his mother-in-law when Nova’s phone rang.

She answered, glanced at the screen, and said with a smile, “Yeah, brother-in-law’s already up. Want to talk to him?”

She handed the phone to Wang Ye. “It’s my sister. She thought you were still asleep, so she didn’t call you directly.”

Wang Ye took the phone and heard Alyona’s cheerful voice: “Misha, come to a café by the beach later. My friend wants to treat us to lunch, and she wants to meet you. Oh, have Nova bring you—you don’t know the place.”

Wang Ye had no objections, so he handed the phone back to Nova, letting them chat a little longer.

After hanging up, Nova stood and told her mother, “Sister wants us to go out for lunch, so we won’t be eating at home.”

Her mother nodded in understanding but didn’t forget to remind Wang Ye, “Don’t drink at lunch.”

It seemed his poor drinking skills had left an impression on the entire family.

…

They got dressed and went downstairs. The weather was warm, so they only wore light clothing. Nova skipped ahead, saying, “It’s still a ways to the beach. If we take the bus…”

“Why take the bus? I drove back,” Wang Ye said, confused.

“Huh? You drove back? You didn’t mention it yesterday,” Nova said in surprise.

Wang Ye didn’t explain further. He just took the car keys from his pocket and pressed the button. With a beep-beep, the white Land Cruiser parked right across from the building entrance lit up its headlights.

“Wow… so big, such a nice car! Is this yours, brother-in-law?” Nova exclaimed.

In their area, a car like the Land Cruiser was considered a luxury vehicle.

“Yeah, get in. You can navigate,” Wang Ye said with a smile, gesturing for her to get in.

Once inside, Nova curiously looked around for a while. “This car is so cool! Way better than Dad’s beat-up Lada!”

This girl really hadn’t seen much. Even the Land Cruiser’s cheap interior had her in awe. If she saw a real luxury car like a Range Rover or a Mercedes, she’d probably be speechless.

But then again, compared to a Lada, the Land Cruiser did seem quite luxurious.

…

Wang Ye started the car, and with Nova’s directions, they drove toward the beach. The city wasn’t large, so they quickly arrived at the café Alyona had mentioned.

Yalta was indeed a tourist hotspot. The seaside scenery was beautiful, with various quaint buildings lining the area. However, since it wasn’t peak season, the beach was somewhat quiet.

They drove straight to the café’s entrance and saw Alyona and another girl sitting under a parasol, waving at them.

Wang Ye and Nova got out of the car and walked over. Alyona and the other girl stood up.

“Misha, let me introduce you. This is my best friend, Natalia. Natalia, this is my boyfriend, Misha,” Alyona said, introducing them.

Natalia looked Wang Ye up and down, her lips curling slightly in a half-smile. “Chinese? Are you one of those Chinese bosses selling cheap junk at the Izmailovo Market? Business must be good—you’ve even got a Land Cruiser.”

Wang Ye was taken aback. This girl seemed to have a bias against Chinese people. Was he being discriminated against?

It wasn’t surprising, though. Back in those days, most ordinary Russians had a poor impression of Chinese people, especially Chinese merchants. Most Chinese goods were known for being cheap and low-quality.

On one hand, Russians were poor, and their light industry wasn’t developed, so they had no choice but to buy these cheap, low-quality products. On the other hand, the poor quality of these goods led to a negative perception of Chinese merchants.

It was a vicious cycle, and it was hard to say who was really at fault.

But Natalia was Alyona’s best friend. Saying something like that in front of Alyona was inappropriate.

Alyona’s expression darkened. She shot Natalia a glare and defended Wang Ye: “Misha runs a proper company; he doesn’t sell at the market. And Natalia, keep your chauvinism to yourself. This is my boyfriend!”

Wow, so Natalia was a fervent nationalist. Who would’ve thought?

Wang Ye wasn’t sure if Yalta just had a lot of beautiful women or if it was a case of birds of a feather flocking together, but he noticed that Alyona and the girls around her were all exceptionally pretty.

Natalia was clearly of pure Russian descent—golden hair, blue eyes, delicate features, and fair skin. Unlike Alyona and Nova, she had a slight baby fat, making her look not just beautiful but also cute.

But looks could be deceiving. Such a pretty, cute girl turned out to be a nationalist…

Chapter 110: The Most Beautiful Prosecutor

Hearing Alyona say that, Natalia seemed a little displeased.

She sat down, muttering, “Aren’t there plenty of guys from our country chasing after you? Why go for a… a foreigner!”

“I just like him, what’s wrong with that?” Alyona retorted without hesitation.

Wang Ye looked Natalia up and down. She seemed vaguely familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere before…

But that shouldn’t be possible. Although he had spent many years in Russia in his “previous life,” after finishing his preparatory courses, he had never had much interaction with Alyona, nor had he ever been to Yalta. He shouldn’t know Natalia.

Unless…

This blonde girl was some kind of celebrity!

He suddenly asked, “Natalia, what do you do for work?”

Natalia looked up and gave him a sidelong glance, challenging him. “I’m a prosecutor. You’d better not do anything bad, or else…”

Before she could finish, Alyona cut her off.

“You’re just a prosecutor’s assistant, and you work in Yalta. You can’t reach Moscow from there!”

Exposed by Alyona, Natalia pouted, “Fine, you lovestruck fool. I hope he treats you well in the future. I don’t want to see you coming to me crying later.”

While the two of them bantered, Wang Ye sat beside them, eyes wide with disbelief as he stared at Natalia.

He remembered who this girl was!

In a few years, she would become the “Most Beautiful Prosecutor” who would take the internet by storm worldwide!

With her beauty, she would gain countless fans online, with followers in many countries.

She was also a fervent “royalist,” actively promoting the return of Crimea to Russia. Later, she would rise through the ranks, even entering the Russian State Duma!

He never expected that this most beautiful prosecutor would be Alyona’s close friend.

And he certainly never expected to meet her under these circumstances today…

Wang Ye shook his head. He didn’t want to get involved with such a political figure.

Having been reborn, he just wanted to make more money and live a carefree life. There were many “minefields” he didn’t want to, and couldn’t, touch!

…

It was clear that Alyona and Natalia had a very good relationship.

After being teased by Alyona a few times, Natalia didn’t get angry. She stopped giving Wang Ye a hard time, her attitude softening, no longer as fierce.

“Misha, Alyona just said you run a company. What kind of business is it?” she asked with interest.

“One company is a study abroad agency, recruiting students from China to send to the University of Friendship and Moscow State University. We just held a recruitment fair in China this month, and about six hundred students signed up. There’s also a tourism company and a telecommunications company about to open,” Wang Ye said casually.

In his “previous life,” he had dealt with many Russians and understood their nature.

When dealing with Russians, you must never play the “low-key” card. That would only make them look down on you, even bully you!

So, the higher profile you could be, the better!

And it wasn’t just Russians—all European and American countries were the same, bullying the weak and fearing the strong.

When you were stronger than them, they would be respectful and obedient.

But when you were weaker, they would be arrogant and disdainful!

Sure enough, as soon as Wang Ye said this, Natalia’s expression changed again.

She stared at him with her big, watery eyes, incredulous. “Six hundred students signed up at one recruitment fair? All coming to Moscow State University and the University of Friendship to study? When did China get so rich!”

Alyona couldn’t listen anymore and interrupted, “You’re underestimating China. Although it’s still relatively backward overall, it has a population of 1.4 billion! That’s ten times our country’s population! With such a large base, there are always some wealthy people. Besides, our recruitment fair was only held in two small cities, like Yalta. We didn’t recruit nationwide in China.”

Natalia dismissed it, “Maybe. I don’t know much about China. But Misha, isn’t this a bit exaggerated? Starting three companies at once! Aren’t you still a student?”

“So what if I’m a student? Who says students can’t start businesses? Many people have succeeded in entrepreneurship during college—Bill Gates, Dell, and others. Why can’t I be one of them?”

“Hmph, you’re just running a small study abroad agency. How can you compare to those who changed the world? They were in high-tech industries,” Natalia said, wrinkling her nose in disdain.

“There’s an old Chinese saying: ‘Many a little makes a mickle,’ and a European proverb: ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.’ Every great enterprise starts small, but you wouldn’t understand that,” Wang Ye teased her.

Sure enough, Natalia, like a fighting rooster, glared at Wang Ye again. “How would I not understand! What kind of agency is that? Just a shell company scamming people. And how much money can you make from that? A hundred thousand dollars a year? Unless you spent all your earnings on that car. Vanity! Hmph!”

“Sorry, the car was just pocket change from what I’ve earned. And in the future, I’ll make even more money. Then I’ll buy Alyona a luxury apartment in Moscow, the kind where the monthly property fees are higher than your salary,” Wang Ye replied bluntly.

The two of them went back and forth, neither willing to back down.

Wang Ye wasn’t really trying to pick a fight with her. He just wanted to tease her a little. After all, she was a future “celebrity” sitting right in front of him, still young and naive. If he missed this chance, once she became powerful, he might really have to lower his head in front of her…

…

Nova was still young, and the others were like her older siblings. Seeing Wang Ye and Natalia bickering, she didn’t dare to interrupt, just burying her head in her coffee.

Alyona watched them with amusement, unable to hold back any longer, and interrupted their argument.

“Alright, alright, both of you, stop talking. Natalia, weren’t you going to treat us? Hurry up and order. Misha just got up and hasn’t eaten breakfast yet. He must be hungry.”

“I’ll treat,” Wang Ye said, taking the menu and waving to call the waiter.

There were four people present, three girls and only one man. How could he let a girl pay?

“No need! Even though my salary isn’t high, treating you to a meal is no problem. The point is, I’m treating Alyona, and you’re just tagging along!”

Natalia said haughtily, snatching the menu away…

Chapter 111: Beach Tango

The food here wasn’t much different from what they had in Moscow.

Russian cuisine was limited to just a few basic dishes.

When it came to food, every country in the world paled in comparison to China!

This wasn’t just Wang Ye boasting about China—it was a conclusion he had drawn after traveling the world in his “previous life.”

“How about it? Isn’t the fried fish here tender and delicious? Misha, what did you eat in China? Could you even eat your fill? I heard you only ate sweet potatoes and corn there.” Natalia suddenly asked.

Wang Ye didn’t even bother explaining to her. He enjoyed seeing her naive side!

Alyona had just returned from a trip to China a few days ago, so she naturally knew more about China than Natalia.

Perhaps China wasn’t wealthy overall, but when it came to food, it was far “richer” than Russia…

Not to mention that ordinary Russians only had the “Four Great Vegetables”—potatoes, carrots, onions, and cabbage.

They mostly ate these four because they couldn’t afford anything else!

But in China, the variety of vegetables was so much greater!

In terms of ingredients and culinary diversity, Russia couldn’t compare to China at all.

So when Natalia said that, Alyona felt a little embarrassed.

Her best friend really was like a frog in a well, making her lose face in front of Wang Ye…

She quickly spoke up: “Shut up and eat your food. You’ve never even been to China, so don’t comment on things you don’t know. And don’t talk about China like that. When you get to Moscow, I’ll take you to a Chinese restaurant, and you’ll see how ridiculous your words are.”

Yalta was too small of a city, with almost no Chinese people, so naturally, there were no Chinese restaurants.

Natalia’s knife and fork paused slightly. She realized she had embarrassed herself again.

She stopped talking and focused on cutting her fish, the plate clinking loudly under her forceful movements…

…

Across from the café was a large beach.

Yalta had become a tourist destination in the former Soviet Union because of its seaside location and pleasant climate.

Those who hadn’t lived in Russia for long couldn’t understand their yearning for “sunlight,” “beaches,” and the “sea”…

Of course, people from Northeast China would probably understand this feeling!

Nova finished eating first. Seeing that Wang Ye had also finished quickly, she pulled him toward the beach to play.

Wang Ye didn’t want to stay and argue with Natalia either, so he stood up.

Although Nova was almost the same age as Wang Ye—just a year younger—her personality was still childlike, lively and cheerful.

Wang Ye, on the other hand, had taken on the demeanor of an “old man”…

Nova took off her shoes and walked barefoot on the sand.

She turned to Wang Ye and said, “Brother-in-law, take off your shoes too. It feels so good.”

Wang Ye smiled, bent down to take off his shoes, placed them together with Nova’s, and followed her onto the beach.

Music drifted from the café. Nova turned around, straightened her long legs, and took a tango step backward, smiling at Wang Ye as she said, “Brother-in-law, let’s dance.”

Sunlight, beach, beauty, music…

Wang Ye was in high spirits. Without hesitation, he joined in, dancing the same tango.

The two moved in sync, one stepping back, the other forward, their coordination seamless.

They were only about ten centimeters apart, but they didn’t touch at all.

Dancing wasn’t that difficult, especially since they weren’t doing anything complicated—just simple tango steps.

Nova wasn’t short either. Like Alyona, she was over 1.7 meters tall, with a slender figure.

She must have had some dance training because her movements were elegant and graceful.

The midday sun shone on Nova’s face, her fair skin glowing with a faint downy fuzz.

The sea breeze tousled her hair, golden strands brushing against Wang Ye’s face, tickling him.

Seeing her radiant smile up close, Wang Ye felt a little dizzy, even though he hadn’t had a drink…

This was the life he wanted!

No worries about money, no stress over unaffordable housing—just carefree days with beautiful company.

Wang Ye didn’t have grand ambitions. He just wanted to live as a leisurely rich man…

…

Alyona and Natalia sat under a parasol, sipping coffee as they watched the scene.

Seeing Wang Ye and Nova dancing happily on the beach, Alyona smiled. She and Wang Ye had grown very close over time.

This was the first time she had seen him like this.

Usually, Wang Ye seemed mature and steady, making people forget he was only eighteen…

Today, he had clearly let go of all restraints.

For once, Natalia didn’t make any snide remarks. She just sighed and said, “Our Crimea is so beautiful, so why is it so poor?”

The question was too complex for Alyona to answer.

Clearly, Natalia wasn’t expecting an answer from her.

She continued, “Over eighty percent of the people on this peninsula are pure Russians. Historically, we should belong to Russia, not be artificially divided into that monster born from ashes! I think Crimea must return to Russia as soon as possible. Only then will the people here have better lives. Right now, even fresh water is rationed!”

The “monster born from ashes” was clearly referring to Ukraine…

This girl was clearly unhappy with Crimea’s current situation and wanted it to return to Russia.

In fact, most of Crimea’s residents felt the same way, though they might not express it as strongly as she did.

Alyona, for example, had gone to Moscow for university. Even though life there was tough, she didn’t want to return to Crimea.

The scenery here was beautiful, but the living conditions were terrible. Almost all young people dreamed of moving to big cities like Moscow or St. Petersburg.

“Enough, you’re only twenty, just a junior assistant. You don’t need to worry about national affairs. Come on, let’s go dance on the beach too. It’s been a long time since I’ve walked barefoot on the sand.” Alyona stood up excitedly and pulled Natalia to her feet.

Natalia didn’t refuse. The two bent down to take off their shoes and ran barefoot toward the sea, laughing as they went…

Chapter 112: The Real Money-Making Plan

Wang Ye and Alyona didn’t stay in Yalta for long. After two days, they decided to return to Moscow. After all, that was where they worked and lived, and there were many things waiting for them to do.

As they were about to leave, their family members were reluctant to part.

“Moscow is very cold. You must take care of yourselves. I heard that there are often hooligans and drunks attacking foreigners there. Misha, don’t wander the streets alone at night. Be careful. And when you have free time, you can come back and stay with us for a while…”

The mother-in-law kept nagging, just like mothers all over the world. While she talked, she packed various local specialties into their luggage.

Pickled cucumbers, homemade jam, smoked fish, and sausages made at home—she slowly packed a large box.

Actually, these things were also readily available in Moscow. After all, it was a world-class metropolis. As long as you were willing to spend money, you could buy anything.

However, Wang Ye and Alyona didn’t say anything. They just smiled and helped their mother pack.

The father-in-law was more carefree. He patted Wang Ye on the shoulder and said, “You’re good in other aspects, but your alcohol tolerance is not good enough! In Russia, not being able to drink is not acceptable. You need to practice more. Have a bottle every night at dinner. Over time…”

But before he could finish, Alyona interrupted him.

“Dad! I don’t want Misha to become a drunkard! What’s good about drinking? A little to warm up is enough. Why drink so much? I think he’s fine now. Not drinking excessively is a good habit.”

Nova chimed in from the side, “That’s right. Young people nowadays don’t like to be drunkards. Dad, don’t look at young people with the eyes of the older generation. It’s too outdated!”

The father-in-law helplessly rubbed his half-bald head and muttered, “You kids don’t understand! Only men who can drink are real men. Real men!”

…

Downstairs, Alyona’s family stood by the car, ready to see them off.

A two-door Lada car puttered over. Judging by its condition, it was unclear how many owners it had had. It seemed like it could stall at any moment.

The window rolled down, and Natalia stuck her head out, waving at Alyona.

She had also come to see them off…

After getting out of the car, the two girls hugged tightly and whispered a few words.

After letting go of Alyona, Natalia approached Wang Ye. Her face still showed reluctance, but she opened her arms.

Wang Ye smiled and hugged her. Their faces pressed together.

Natalia whispered a “threat,” “If you dare to treat Alyona badly, I won’t let you off!”

“Don’t worry. She will definitely be happier than you… ten thousand times over!” Wang Ye whispered back.

Then, he felt Natalia’s arms tighten, and she pinched his waist.

This was not flirting; it really hurt…

Before Wang Ye could react, Natalia let go, a smug smile on her face.

“Alright, it’s getting late. You should go now. In a few months, I might have a chance to go to Moscow for further study. I’ll come to visit you then.”

“Ah? That’s great! I’ll take you around Moscow for a few days then.” Alyona said excitedly.

The two got into the car. Wang Ye started the engine and slowly drove out of the parking spot.

From the rearview mirror, they could see Alyona’s family and Natalia standing there, waving at the car…

…

The car drove on the quiet roads of Yalta. Looking at the vast stretches of flowers, trees, and the shimmering sea in the distance.

Wang Ye suddenly said, “This place is really suitable for a vacation. Why are there so few people? Is it because it’s not the vacation season yet?”

Alyona thought for a moment and replied with a bitter smile, “In July and August, there will be more tourists, but not too many. More importantly, the people who come here to play are basically from Russia. The economy has been bad these past few years. The income of ordinary people has sharply decreased. They can’t even afford their daily expenses, let alone go on vacation.”

Wang Ye fell silent. From the situation in Moscow, he could infer the situation across Russia.

Even the teachers at the university were living in such straits. Look at Alexander—after class, he had to carry a bag to the subway station to sell shoes…

So, it was only natural that Yalta, this tourist destination, had declined.

As for the truly wealthy, they went to places like Hawaii for vacations. Of course, they wouldn’t look down on Yalta.

After a while, he said, “Actually, there is a lot of potential here to be tapped. Natalia was right when she said that the people of Crimea should live better lives.”

Alyona looked at Wang Ye in surprise, not quite understanding his meaning.

“It’s the potential for tourism. How about this: after my domestic tourism company is set up, I’ll have them come to Yalta to see if it’s suitable for a tourism route.” Wang Ye explained.

During the two days in Yalta, Alyona had taken him around the entire city.

It had to be said that there was a reason this place became the most famous tourist destination during the Soviet era.

Not only was the environment good, but the various buildings were also very distinctive.

The former tsars had built several palaces here!

The Livadia Palace, the Vorontsov Palace, the Massandra Palace—all were magnificent buildings.

Additionally, Yalta was a gathering place for literary figures. Pushkin, Tolstoy, Gorky, Stanislavski, and other literary giants had visited here multiple times.

It could be said that whether in terms of environment, climate, architecture, or culture, this city had a rich heritage.

Wang Ye thought that since he had shares in Liu Mei’s tourism company, maybe he could develop Yalta and create a tourism route.

In recent years, the trend of outbound tourism in China had just begun. Many wealthy people liked to travel abroad.

So, Russia, with its relatively low consumption, had huge potential in the tourism market!

Of course, this matter needed to be considered carefully. There was no rush…

…

The car sped along the empty road. They had set off early that day, and the road conditions were good with few cars.

Wang Ye was more familiar with the Toyota Land Cruiser’s condition, so he drove more skillfully and faster.

It only took one day, about twelve or thirteen hours. By around nine in the evening, they had returned to Moscow.

After a simple meal and a hot shower to wash away the fatigue, the two embraced and fell asleep…

In the following days, Wang Ye would be very busy.

Because his real money-making plan was about to unfold…

Chapter 113: The New Market

The second day after returning to Moscow, April 18th.

When Wang Ye woke up in the morning, Alyona was still fast asleep, probably exhausted from yesterday…

Glancing at the time, it was already past ten in the morning.

Not wanting to disturb her, he quietly got out of bed and dressed.

After washing up, Wang Ye toasted two slices of bread, fried two eggs, and cooked a few strips of bacon.

He then opened the fridge, found a carton of yogurt, and poured it into a cup.

This was his breakfast.

While eating, Wang Ye made a phone call.

“Liu Ge, are you at the company?… Yeah, you should have the Chinese newspaper there. Can you check if there are any ads about the new Sun Market?”

It was already late April. Based on Wang Ye’s observations over the past few days, the new container market had been completed and should be in the recruitment phase.

He had long set his sights on this place. His next big money-making plan hinged on this market!

Whether it was selling phone cards or running a study abroad agency, those were just small ventures. To make real money, this was the opportunity…

“I’m here. Hold on, let me look…,” Liu Jun said.

After a moment of footsteps and rustling sounds, Liu Jun spoke again, “Found it. Wow, the first two pages are all ads for the new market. They’re really spending a lot. What do you need this for?”

Wang Ye chuckled without answering and asked instead, “There should be a contact number below. Can you find the manager’s phone number and tell me?”

After a few seconds, Liu Jun read out a string of numbers, which Wang Ye jotted down as he listened.

After giving the number, Liu Jun said with concern, “You’re not thinking of doing business in the new market, are you? Let me tell you, wholesale markets like that take at least a year or two to get going. If you go now, you’ll lose everything!”

Having been in Moscow for so many years, Liu Jun was familiar with the Large Market. He was afraid Wang Ye didn’t know the situation and would impulsively jump in and lose money, so he kindly advised him.

Wang Ye smiled and said calmly, “Of course not. I’m too lazy to do wholesale business. It’s tiring, troublesome, and hard to make money.”

Hearing this, Liu Jun felt relieved and added, “Are you coming to the company today? The phone card company is almost ready. The office is rented on the same floor, and I’m having it renovated.”

Wang Ye thought for a moment, “Maybe in the afternoon. I’ll probably stop by.”

…

After hanging up, Wang Ye put down his knife and fork and drank the yogurt in one gulp.

After a moment’s thought, he dialed the phone number.

“Hello, is this Boss Kong? I’d like to know how the shops in the new Sun Market are being sold…”

“Hello, are you interested in buying a shop? I’ll have a staff member give you a detailed introduction,” Boss Kong said politely over the phone.

“I might be buying quite a few. Can the staff make decisions?” Wang Ye asked calmly.

There was a pause on the phone, and Boss Kong’s tone became even warmer, “Haha, that’s great! If you’re considering buying several shops, you’re welcome to come to the market so we can discuss it in detail. I can also take you on a tour of the new market. I believe you’ll be satisfied with both the environment and the price!”

This Boss Kong was the so-called “richest Chinese in Moscow,” Boss Kong, whom Wang Ye had met on his first trip to the Large Market when he first arrived in Moscow!

Of course, Wang Ye knew who he was, but Boss Kong didn’t recognize Wang Ye…

“Okay, then I’ll… come see you after lunch, around one in the afternoon, at the red building of the market management office, right?” Wang Ye said.

“Yes, that’s right. When you arrive, just tell the security that you have an appointment with me, and they’ll bring you up. By the way, what’s your name?” Boss Kong asked warmly.

“Just call me Wang.”

“Haha, Mr. Wang, see you this afternoon!”

…

After hanging up, Alyona came out of the bedroom.

Still not fully awake, she rubbed her sleepy eyes and asked, “Ah, it’s almost noon. Why didn’t you wake me up when you got up?”

Wang Ye smiled, walked over, hugged her slender waist, and kissed her cheeks twice, saying, “You were sleeping so soundly, I didn’t want to wake you. You went to bed too late last night.”

Alyona glared at Wang Ye, “Whose fault is that?”

Why she went to bed late was something only the two of them knew…

“By the way, I’m not eating lunch. I have to go out later. You can eat by yourself. After eating, you can take a nap. There’s nothing to do in the afternoon anyway,” Wang Ye said casually.

“That won’t do. I should go to the company to work. I’ve been employed for so long but haven’t gone to work much,” Alyona replied.

Speaking of work, she felt a bit embarrassed.

Officially, she was already an employee of Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company, but in reality, she hadn’t gone to work.

Originally, she was supposed to start working after the study abroad promotion event in China, but then she went back home…

If Wang Ye wasn’t the boss of the company, an employee like her would have been fired long ago!

“That’s fine. I’ll be passing by the company in the afternoon while I’m out. I’ll drop you off there,” Wang Ye didn’t stop her.

…

Around twelve-thirty, the two of them set off.

First, they arrived at Alpha Hotel, where Wang Ye dropped Alyona off for work, then continued driving toward the Large Market.

Compared to three months ago when Wang Ye had last been here, this area of the Large Market had changed significantly.

The construction site’s surrounding walls had been dismantled, and rows of towering container markets stood there, with a large, flat, and wide parking lot beside them.

However, there weren’t many people around, making it seem desolate.

Across the street, the old market was much livelier, with a constant flow of people and cars.

Wang Ye first drove slowly around the new Sun Market, carefully observing it before getting a sense of the place.

Then he parked his car near the small red building of the market management office.

After getting out of the car, he didn’t rush to find Boss Kong but walked around for a while.

This new market was huge!

It was divided into thirty-five streets, with each street having two rows of one hundred shops on each side!

The entire market had a total of three thousand five hundred shops…

Unlike the old market, which was crowded and narrow, the central aisles here were very wide, with red cement bricks laid on the ground, smooth and flat.

Each shop was actually two large containers stacked on top of each other. The upper container could be used as a warehouse, and the lower one for selling goods—very practical and convenient.

Moreover, the central aisles were all covered with transparent reinforced glass canopies, so whether it was windy or rainy, it wouldn’t affect the businesses below.

In terms of environment and location, it was far superior to the old Sun Market!

Unfortunately, there were almost no shops open for business, making it seem desolate…

Chapter 114: Buying a Few

The market was so vast that Wang Ye naturally couldn’t cover it all. He mainly looked around the first few streets and the surrounding environment before heading toward the management office, the Little Red Building.

At the entrance of the Little Red Building, two tall and burly men stood guard, fully armed with guns. This was a common sight in Moscow. Many foreign exchange points and bank entrances had armed security like this.

Wang Ye walked up and greeted them, saying he had an appointment with Boss Kong. The guards politely asked him to wait and then contacted the inside via walkie-talkie.

Soon, Boss Kong’s short and stout figure appeared at the entrance. He personally came down to welcome Wang Ye! However, upon seeing Wang Ye clearly, Boss Kong hesitated for a moment. He hadn’t expected Wang Ye to be so young!

But being an old hand, Boss Kong’s expression didn’t change. He warmly welcomed Wang Ye. “President Wang, welcome, welcome!”

Wang Ye also stepped forward, and the two men shook hands firmly. After a few pleasantries, Boss Kong asked, “President Wang, you must have seen our market. Would you like me to show you around again?”

Wang Ye shook his head and smiled. “I’ve already taken two rounds.”

“Haha, I knew it! President Wang is truly young and promising. You look to be just over twenty, right?” Boss Kong probed.

“Mmm, I am quite young. I wonder if being young will get me a discount when buying a shop from Boss Kong?” Wang Ye joked.

Boss Kong laughed heartily again, repeatedly saying, “Of course, there must be!”

He led Wang Ye into the Little Red Building and to the largest room at the end of the second-floor corridor, which was Boss Kong’s office. He instructed his glamorous female secretary to bring two cups of coffee and invited Wang Ye to sit on the sofa.

“President Wang, what kind of business are you in? You must have a large investment, otherwise, you wouldn’t need several shops. I can assure you, President Wang, that our new market is absolutely safe, and the prospects are absolutely bright! Doing business here, President Wang, you can make a lot of money, haha.” Boss Kong boasted.

Of course, he had the confidence to say so.

Wang Ye smiled slightly and asked casually, “When I was walking around earlier, I noticed that there don’t seem to be many businesses here. The whole market doesn’t have many people.”

Boss Kong’s smile froze for a moment, looking a bit embarrassed. He quickly defended, “The market has just opened, and it’s still in the recruitment phase. I’m currently in talks with several business associations in the country. Once those associations are settled, the entire market will become lively!”

Actually, Wang Ye’s words had hit Boss Kong’s soft spot! The new market was indeed grand and impressive, but they had encountered major problems in attracting businesses!

The issue was that the old market’s owners were unwilling to move over… They would rather endure the overcrowding of the old market, the poor environment, and the high fees than come to this new, beautiful, clean, and cheap market…

What was the problem? The old market had already established its reputation. All the customers knew about it, and all the owners were concentrated there. Businesspeople were actually quite superstitious and clannish, believing in the power of aggregation. Everyone thought the old market was a treasure trove of good fortune, making business easier there, with customers coming in droves. Although the fees were high, compared to the large sums of money they made, those fees were negligible.

So even if the new market was cheaper and had a better environment, without the crowd, what was the point of moving? People who went abroad to do business weren’t afraid of hardship; they were just there to make money!

…

After listening to Boss Kong’s defense, Wang Ye didn’t pursue the matter further. He asked another question, “How much is a shop here now?”

From what Wang Ye knew, in the old market, a shop was already selling for over twenty thousand US dollars! And that was just the purchase price of the shop. If you actually wanted to open a business, you would also need to pay the market management a hefty monthly fee, probably around five or six hundred US dollars.

In fact, this fee was essentially a “protection fee.” After all, all the goods in the Large Market were brought in through “gray customs clearance,” which technically meant they were all “smuggled goods”! And the Large Market didn’t pocket all that money; a lot of it went to greasing the right palms in the right places.

Those in the know understood…

Boss Kong held up his hand and said straightforwardly, “Only five thousand US dollars! The shop will be yours permanently, and whether you use it yourself or rent or sell it, there won’t be any problems.”

Five thousand dollars didn’t sound expensive. Especially compared to the old market, which was just one street away, this was definitely cheap.

But Wang Ye didn’t comment and continued to ask, “What about the management fee?”

“It’s the same as the old market, only five hundred dollars a month. And the supporting services we provide are much better than the old market. President Wang, you saw our large parking lot, right? All goods can be directly transported to the entrance of the passage, just a few steps away from the shops. Very convenient!” Boss Kong said proudly.

He wasn’t exaggerating on this point. Wang Ye had seen it for himself earlier. The new market was indeed scientifically and conveniently designed, much better than the old market.

He nodded slightly in agreement.

Seeing this, Boss Kong quickly asked, “By the way, President Wang, how many shops do you want to buy?”

Recently, the difficulty in attracting businesses had put a lot of pressure on Boss Kong. He didn’t even dare to report to the financial group’s bosses behind him. To be honest, if this large market really failed, Boss Kong felt he wouldn’t be able to leave Russia alive…

Don’t doubt it; it was exactly as it sounded…

So, as the nominal boss, when he received Wang Ye’s inquiry call and learned that this customer wanted to buy several shops, he personally came to receive him. Wasn’t it just to sell more shops?

Wang Ye thought for a moment and asked with a smile, “If I buy more, the price can still be negotiated, right?”

Boss Kong, upon hearing this, put on a pretentious air. He picked up his coffee cup, blew on the steam, took a small sip, and then replied, “That depends on how many President Wang plans to buy. If you can reach five or more, I can give you a ten percent discount.”

Buying five shops at once meant you were a big customer with some clout. The main thing was that buying a shop wasn’t just about paying the money; the monthly management fee of five hundred US dollars per shop was also a considerable expense!

This management fee basically discouraged many people from speculating on shops… If the market didn’t pick up in two years, just the management fees would amount to over ten thousand US dollars per shop!

Chapter 115: I Want Three Streets

Wang Ye leisurely crossed his legs and smiled as he said, “I want three streets!”

Boss Kong, who had just been sipping his coffee, trembled, spilling the drink all over himself. But he paid no mind to the mess on his pants. Instead, his eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Wang Ye.

Three streets…

After a long pause, he finally spoke, “Do you know how many storefronts are on three streets?”

“Three hundred,” Wang Ye replied calmly.

Boss Kong leaned forward, his voice tense. “Mr. Wang, you’re not joking, are you? You really want three streets?”

“Absolutely!” Wang Ye said decisively.

Boss Kong suddenly stood up, pacing around the sofa several times before stopping abruptly. Gritting his teeth, he said, “If Mr. Wang really buys three streets, then I’ll go all out and give you a forty percent discount!”

One had to admit, Boss Kong was quite the character!

He really knew how to give a discount…

This meant each storefront would cost only three thousand dollars, a direct reduction of two thousand dollars. For three hundred storefronts, that was a discount of six hundred thousand dollars!

No matter how you looked at it, this was a massive discount!

Anyone else might have been too embarrassed to haggle further and would have bought them on the spot.

But Wang Ye was no ordinary man…

To Boss Kong’s surprise, Wang Ye simply shook his head without saying a word.

Boss Kong’s face was filled with disbelief. “Mr. Wang, you’re not satisfied with this price? This is absolutely a loss-making price! If I’m lying, I’ll be hit by a car as soon as I step out—”

Before he could finish his oath, Wang Ye cut him off.

“Don’t, Boss Kong, I believe this price is a loss for you. But… I still feel the discount isn’t big enough!”

Boss Kong plopped back down, his face flushed as he glared at Wang Ye. “Then explain it to me! It’s already a loss, so why isn’t the discount big enough? Young man, business is about mutual benefit. You can’t expect to swindle your partner and take all the profit for yourself. That’s not how you do business!”

Wang Ye remained unmoved, speaking slowly, “Then let me explain. First, your discount sounds pretty good, but if you do the math carefully, it’s not as great as it seems.”

Boss Kong was so angry he laughed, spreading his hands. “Come on, then, do the math for me. What’s really going on?”

Since Boss Kong was still playing dumb, Wang Ye wasn’t going to hold back.

He countered, “If I don’t buy them, you won’t be able to sell all these storefronts within half a year, right?”

This was a question Boss Kong couldn’t dodge. With so many storefronts in the new market, there was no way they could all be sold within half a year.

In fact, even selling them all within a year would be cause for celebration!

“More or less,” Boss Kong said vaguely. “You should know, young man, that with a big market like this, it’s just a bit tough in the beginning. Once it gets going, those storefronts will be in high demand.”

Wang Ye ignored him and continued, “Then let me ask you, if you sell the shops half a year early, how much will you save in management fees?”

Each storefront had a monthly management fee of five hundred dollars!

This was unavoidable. Half a year was six months, so just the management fees would amount to three thousand dollars!

With this calculation, Boss Kong’s discount of two thousand dollars per storefront didn’t seem so generous…

Having been “ruthlessly” exposed by Wang Ye, Boss Kong felt a bit embarrassed. He forced a smile. “Ah… right! I forgot about that! But you should also know, young man, that this management fee doesn’t go into our pockets! Keeping this market safe costs a lot of money! Those Russians, one more greedy than the next!”

Wang Ye didn’t argue with him on this point. Instead, he said, “Actually, if I buy three streets’ worth of storefronts, I can bring you an even bigger benefit!”

“What benefit?” Boss Kong asked, half-believing.

“I can quickly fill these three streets with tenants and build up the foot traffic! You know what that means for the entire Sun Market, right?” Wang Ye said with a smile.

This time, Boss Kong was truly excited.

To be honest, if he had to choose between selling the storefronts and building up the foot traffic, he would choose the latter without hesitation!

For a wholesale market like this, foot traffic meant everything!

Once the foot traffic was there, would he still worry about selling the storefronts?

At that point, the problem wouldn’t be about discounts but about how much to increase the prices…

“Really? Mr. Wang, are you that confident?” Boss Kong asked eagerly.

“Of course. Don’t forget, once I buy three streets, I’ll be just as eager as you to get this market up and running. Otherwise, with so many management fees, wouldn’t I be throwing money away?” Wang Ye replied frankly.

On this point, Boss Kong had no doubts.

Indeed, if Wang Ye bought three streets, that would be three hundred storefronts. The monthly management fees alone would be one hundred and fifty thousand dollars!

Whether his shops were open for business or not, those management fees had to be paid…

So at that point, Wang Ye and he would be in the same boat, sharing the same fate…

Thinking of this, a bright smile spread across his face. “Haha, since Mr. Wang puts it that way, I’d like to hear your thoughts. What kind of price would be acceptable to you?”

Wang Ye didn’t beat around the bush. He directly stated his desired price, holding up two fingers. “Two thousand dollars per storefront, and waive the management fees for two months. Then I’ll take all three streets—one, two, and three!”

Wow, that was a brutal cut!

This wasn’t just slashing the price in half; it was cutting it down to the bone!

The original price was five thousand dollars, and he was slashing three thousand off.

Add the two months of management fees, and that was another thousand dollars.

All in all, he was asking Boss Kong to give him a discount of four thousand dollars…

Beads of sweat immediately formed on Boss Kong’s forehead, and his eyes darted around. His mind raced as he considered whether he could accept the price Wang Ye had proposed.

On one hand, three streets with three hundred storefronts were incredibly tempting!

And of course, there was the promise Wang Ye had just made about quickly building up the foot traffic.

On the other hand, the price Wang Ye was asking for was practically giving them away. Even though he was one of the market’s investors, this was still beyond his authority!

Would the major shareholders agree?

This was also a problem!

…

After hesitating for a long time, Boss Kong finally said, “Mr. Wang, could I make a phone call to discuss this? This matter is too significant, and I can’t decide on my own. I need to consult with the shareholders.”

Wang Ye naturally had no objections and nodded in agreement.

Boss Kong grabbed his phone and hurriedly left the room…

Chapter 116: The Price is Practically Free

Wang Ye sat alone in the room, leisurely sipping his coffee. He even took out a cigarette and lit it, taking a slow drag.

After a good while, about ten minutes later, Boss Kong finally walked into the room. He sat across from Wang Ye, his expression somewhat serious. Wang Ye didn’t ask about the results; he just smiled at him.

After a moment of silence, Boss Kong’s face broke into a grin. He extended his right hand. “Congratulations, Director Wang! The big boss has agreed to sell you the shops on Streets One, Two, and Three at this price!”

Wang Ye also reached out his hand and shook it, replying with a smile, “No, the congratulations should go to you, Director Kong. Selling so many shops at once—Sun Market will be booming in no time.”

“But regarding the waiver of management fees, the big boss has a condition: he wants you to ensure that within one month, the occupancy rate of the shops on Streets One, Two, and Three reaches over eighty percent! If you can do that, then there’s no problem. This condition will be written into the contract!”

Wang Ye had driven a hard bargain, so Boss Kong and his team naturally weren’t going to surrender without a fight. Though they had agreed to Wang Ye’s demands, they still had their own conditions. As long as Wang Ye could meet their requirement—getting the occupancy rate of Streets One, Two, and Three above eighty percent within a month—they wouldn’t be at a loss!

Because this would effectively help Sun Market attract foot traffic and serve as free advertising! The value of this kind of publicity was immeasurable…

Once these streets became popular, would they still have to worry about selling the remaining shops? Once the shops were sold, the management fees, logistics, and customs clearance fees would keep rolling in every month…

Wang Ye nodded without hesitation. Even if Boss Kong hadn’t mentioned this, he himself wanted to rent out the shops as quickly as possible. Otherwise, even if the management fees were waived for two months, what about after that?

At that point, the management fees alone would cost fifteen thousand U.S. dollars a month! He had no way to come up with that kind of money…

But Wang Ye also added a condition: these three streets had to be designated as a shoe district! That meant that in Sun Market, aside from Streets One, Two, and Three, no other streets would be allowed to sell shoes. Of course, these three streets could only sell shoes—no other categories.

Large wholesale markets, especially newly built ones, were always planned out. They couldn’t be in turmoil with no distinction between categories, crammed together. Instead, they were divided into fixed zones based on product types—like shoe districts, bag districts, clothing districts, fur districts, accessory districts, and so on…

Shoes were a major category, so setting aside three streets for them was no problem. Boss Kong could decide on this matter himself, so after a moment’s thought, he agreed without hesitation.

He understood that Wang Ye probably had extensive connections in the shoe industry. That was normal, and it wouldn’t harm the market at all.

Seeing that Boss Kong had agreed to his condition, Wang Ye said without hesitation, “Then… pleasant cooperation. It’s settled!”

…

Seeing how readily Wang Ye agreed, Boss Kong was overjoyed. He immediately stood up and instructed his secretary to prepare the contract. Then he discussed the signing details with Wang Ye—this was a major project!

After all, there were three hundred shops involved, and the paperwork was quite cumbersome. Wang Ye and Boss Kong agreed that today, Wang Ye would pay a deposit of twenty thousand U.S. dollars. Then, Boss Kong’s side would prepare the necessary contract documents, and in three days, they would formally sign the agreement.

Boss Kong also specifically proposed that they would hold a grand signing ceremony at Sun Market! Wang Ye understood his intentions—it was all about creating momentum. They wanted the Chinese bosses at the old market who were reluctant to move to see that Sun Market wasn’t unsellable!

This would benefit both parties, so Wang Ye naturally had no objections. He took out the prepared money, paid the deposit, and under Boss Kong’s warm farewell, left the small red building.

Back in his car in the parking lot, Wang Ye didn’t start the engine right away. Instead, he rolled down the window, lit a cigarette, and spaced out for a while.

Even after cutting the price to the lowest, acquiring three streets with three hundred shops still cost him a full six hundred thousand U.S. dollars! That was almost all the money he had earned from the study abroad agency!

The remaining few thousand dollars still had to go toward the phone card company. Now, he was practically “broke” again…

And the shops at the Large Market couldn’t be liquidated in the short term. It seemed he would have to find another way to make some money…

Collecting his thoughts, Wang Ye started the car and drove toward Alpha Hotel.

…

Upon arriving at the company, Wang Ye first took a walk around and chatted idly with Alyona in the large office area. Then he went to Liu Jun’s office—he still had something to discuss with him.

“What! Have you lost your mind? You spent all the money buying shops at Sun Market?” Liu Jun exclaimed in disbelief from his office.

Wang Ye had just told him that he had spent six hundred thousand U.S. dollars to buy three streets’ worth of shops at Sun Market.

Liu Jun himself was absolutely pessimistic about Sun Market. The old market was doing just fine, and after so many years of operation, it had already established a reputation. Why would those Chinese bosses want to move to the new market? There was no need at all!

Business was like that—sometimes just one street or one road away, and the foot traffic could be worlds apart! You couldn’t assume that just because the old market was thriving, the new market would definitely succeed. It really wasn’t guaranteed!

“More or less. After haggling for half the day, I got each shop for two thousand U.S. dollars, totaling six hundred thousand,” Wang Ye replied casually.

“Tsk tsk! You’ve got some nerve. The price per shop isn’t expensive, but buying so many at once—have you thought about the management fees?” Liu Jun continued earnestly.

“Of course I have. As long as I rent out all the shops, it’ll be fine. The management fees are paid by the tenants—that’s standard practice,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

That was true. At the old market, not only did the tenants pay the management fees, but they also paid the shop owners a monthly rent. After all, the shops belonged to the owners—they couldn’t just let someone use them for free…

“So where are you going to find so many tenants?” Liu Jun still couldn’t wrap his head around it.

If there were really that many Chinese bosses who wanted to do business at the new market, why wouldn’t they just buy their own shops? And the shops at the new market were being sold at such low prices precisely because no one wanted to go there!

The logic was simple. Why hadn’t Wang Ye, such a shrewd person, thought of this? Liu Jun couldn’t figure it out.

“Hehe, that problem isn’t actually that hard. Oh, is Xiao Hu at the company next door? I’ll need his help to set up a connection,” Wang Ye said mysteriously.

Chapter 117: Free for the Taking?

Wang Ye certainly hadn’t impulsively bought so many storefronts!

In truth, he had been considering this ever since he first arrived in Moscow and visited the Large Market.

At first, he hadn’t expected it to become this big…

Originally, he had planned to rely on selling phone cards, maybe borrow some money, and buy one or two storefronts. Then, once the market took off and prices rose, he could sell them for a tidy profit.

But plans never survive first contact with reality.

After discovering the lucrative opportunity in the study abroad agency business, Wang Ye suddenly had a lot more money at his disposal—and his appetite grew accordingly!

In one fell swoop, he devoured three entire streets of storefronts!

But this move also forced him to rethink his original plan.

He was going to make a big splash in the Large Market!

He wanted the market to thrive even faster than it had in his “previous life.” This wouldn’t just help Boss Kong—it would help himself too.

After all, once the market boomed, whether it was rent or the resale price of storefronts, everything would skyrocket!

And for his next move, he would need Xiao Hu’s help again…

Xiao Hu was busy at the neighboring company when Wang Ye called. He arrived quickly at Liu Jun’s office—it was only a few steps away, after all.

“What’s up, Ye Ge? You need something?” Xiao Hu asked.

Wang Ye pulled Xiao Hu into a seat and asked with a smile, “Xiao Hu, I remember you mentioned before that your family’s company is a vice-chairman unit in some footwear association?”

Xiao Hu nodded, a hint of pride in his voice. “Yeah, among all the shoe factories in Hu Jian, my family’s company is one of the larger ones. We’re a vice-chairman in the provincial footwear association.”

Wang Ye nodded. Everyone knew there were many shoe companies in Hu Jian.

For Xiao Hu’s family to have risen to vice-chairman, their company must be quite substantial and influential. It seemed he had come to the right person for this.

“There must be a lot of shoe companies in Hu Jian looking to expand here, right?” Wang Ye asked.

“Yeah, my family just moved here this year. My dad says there are still a lot of shoe factories back home, though they might not be as big as ours. They’ve been asking about the situation here and want to come develop too,” Xiao Hu replied without hesitation.

After a pause, he continued, “But a lot of them are still hesitant. Doing business here isn’t cheap—you have to prepare a huge batch of goods, ship them all at once, find a good storefront, and then there’s the rent, transfer fees, management fees… They’re all pretty high. Plus, the old market is packed—storefronts are hard to come by. Without securing a spot first, they don’t dare come over.”

“What about Sun Market? Don’t they have a lot of storefronts?” Wang Ye asked casually.

Xiao Hu gave a bitter smile. “Who doesn’t know that? But everyone’s worried Sun Market won’t take off. No one wants to be the first to take the risk—they all prefer to cluster where it’s already busy. And even if they go to Sun Market now, they’d have to buy the storefronts themselves. The purchase price isn’t too bad, but what happens after? If they open right away, they’re afraid no customers will come because there’s no foot traffic. But whether they open or not, they still have to pay management fees. Everyone’s afraid their storefronts will just sit there empty! So they’d rather go to the old market and pay extra to rent a spot.”

Wang Ye laughed. “Hah! What if someone offered storefronts and waived the first two months of rent? Oh, and what if all the shoe vendors were concentrated in one area, instantly creating a bustling shoe district?”

Xiao Hu’s eyes lit up. “Really? That would be amazing! If that were the case, I bet a lot of small and medium-sized shoe factories would come over.”

At this point, Wang Ye knew he had it in the bag.

Beside him, Liu Jun listened in astonishment.

Was it really that simple?

Wang Ye hadn’t even secured the storefronts yet, and he already had tenants lined up?

…

This seemed straightforward—if anyone else dared to buy so many storefronts and offer them rent-free, they could probably pull it off too.

But that wasn’t the case…

The key was that no one had enough confidence in Sun Market right now!

Even the most optimistic people thought it would take at least a year or two for the market to take off.

No one was willing to tough it out in Sun Market for that long…

Only Wang Ye knew that something big was about to happen, and Sun Market would explode in popularity far sooner than anyone expected!

That was why he had dared to bet everything and snap up three entire streets in one go!

As for Xiao Hu’s family connections, that was just the icing on the cake…

“I just bought Streets One, Two, and Three in Sun Market. These three streets will be the new market’s dedicated shoe district. According to my negotiations with the market management, we can waive the first two months of management fees, and I can personally waive the first six months of rent! Xiao Hu, you can spread this news to your footwear association and see how many people want to come do business. But the storefronts are limited—first come, first served,” Wang Ye said.

Xiao Hu shot to his feet, staring at Wang Ye in shock. “You… Ye Ge, you… bought three streets of storefronts?!”

This was indeed shocking.

Xiao Hu knew exactly how many storefronts were on a single street in Sun Market.

A hundred!

Three streets meant three hundred storefronts…

It seemed Ye Ge had really gone all in this time!

Wang Ye nodded. “Yep, the deposit’s already paid. The paperwork should be done in a couple of days. So, Xiao Hu, get on this quickly. Have any interested shoe factories send people over to check it out, or they can just ship their goods directly.”

This was a huge opportunity for the members of the Hu Jian Footwear Association, so it wasn’t really a favor. Xiao Hu nodded repeatedly, saying he would call and notify them right away.

…

After Xiao Hu left, Liu Jun stared at Wang Ye for a long time.

Wang Ye was starting to feel uneasy under his gaze and finally asked with a laugh, “What’s wrong? Don’t you recognize me anymore?”

Liu Jun sighed. “In the few months I’ve known you, you’ve surprised me too many times! Every time I think I’ve got you figured out, a few days later, you’re like a completely different person again.”

This was his honest feeling!

Wang Ye didn’t explain further. He just smiled and advised, “Liu Ge, I suggest you buy a few storefronts to hold onto. They’ll probably be worth a lot in a couple of years.”

Liu Jun was tempted for a moment but then shook his head. “I can’t afford to buy a few streets, and if I just buy a few storefronts, I won’t get a good price. Plus, you’ve got an entire category to yourself, so you can recruit merchants on your own. My scattered storefronts aren’t worth the trouble. Forget it—I’ll just focus on running the company.”

Wang Ye didn’t press him further. Liu Jun had a point.

The two chatted a bit more about the phone card company. Liu Jun had already handled things with the telecom company, and the new company’s registration was underway. In about half a month, they should have their own phone cards ready.

Wang Ye checked the time—it was already past four in the afternoon—and waved his hand. “Alright, Alyona and I are heading out. Let’s catch up later.”

Chapter 118: Hot Shops, Free of Charge!

Free things naturally attract a lot of people.

The next day, Xiao Hu called, saying that many people had already signed up through the association to come and do business, renting Wang Ye’s shops.

Additionally, to help various manufacturers come to Russia to do business, the association had specially held a meeting to introduce the situation here.

In recent years, doing business in Russia was still quite profitable.

Without exaggeration, as long as you could transport the goods here and find a shop to sell them, you could make money!

Of course, doing business here also came with various uncertainties and risks.

But doing business, if you’re afraid of this and that, then why do business at all? You might as well stay at home.

So, even knowing the risks here, many Chinese bosses still came one after another.

Hu Jian’s shoe manufacturers were no exception; they had been itching to come for a long time. This time, someone was willing to provide shops free of rent and management fees, so naturally, everyone was eager to come!

It was only natural that Wang Ye’s shops were so popular.

According to Xiao Hu, the initial count was that about a hundred manufacturers planned to come and do business.

Even if the final number decreased, it would still be over a hundred!

This meant that a third of the shops had already been taken care of, leaving two hundred more shops to be rented out.

Wang Ye naturally didn’t put all his hopes on Xiao Hu’s side; he had another recruitment plan!

That was to place an advertisement in the Moscow Chinese News…

The target of the advertisement was, of course, the Chinese bosses at the Old Market!

Although Boss Kong’s advertisement to sell shops hadn’t been very effective, Wang Ye’s was different.

After all, buying a shop involved too many things, and more importantly, people were afraid of getting trapped after buying a shop…

Renting a shop was different, and it was free of rent and management fees!

Who wouldn’t want to try something that didn’t cost money!

More importantly, those bosses still left themselves a way out, meaning they opened shops at the new market but didn’t close their shops at the old market for the time being!

If the new market could succeed, that would be best; they could just return or sell their shops at the old market.

If the new market didn’t succeed…

Well, it didn’t cost any money, so it wasn’t a big deal.

………………..

April 20th.

Early in the morning, before dawn, One Ant Market was already bustling.

The Old Market was brightly lit, crowded with people.

The working hours here were not nine to five, but five to three…

That is, all shops opened for business at five in the morning, and many customers had already arrived.

There was a reason for such working hours.

Because the people who came here to buy goods, besides local small businesses in Moscow, also included many who came from out of town on night trains.

Local small businesses in Moscow came to buy goods at five or six in the morning, so it wouldn’t delay their daytime business.

Those who came from out of town slept on the night train and arrived, then bought their goods and could return home the same day, without delaying too much time.

Over time, this pattern had formed.

Here, from five or six in the morning, it would start getting busy, and it would stay busy until after twelve noon, when customers would gradually decrease.

By two or three in the afternoon, most shops would close and go off duty…

“Newspaper! Chinese newspaper! Phone cards!…”

A thin, middle-aged man squeezed through the crowd, shouting loudly.

This was someone who specialized in selling newspapers and phone cards in the market.

The newspaper cost fifteen rubles each, very cheap, about five yuan.

The Chinese bosses in the market all liked to read this; it might be their only source of information from the outside world.

After all, at that time, mobile phones could only make calls and couldn’t access the internet.

And when there were no customers in the Large Market, it was quite boring, so reading the newspaper became the best pastime.

“Give me a newspaper.” Old Wu, who had just arrived at his stall, called out when he saw him.

Taking out some change to buy a newspaper, Old Wu walked into his stall.

He sold leather shoes; his stall was quite large, consisting of two shops connected together.

Inside the stall, there were several employees: two Russian salespeople specializing in selling shoes, one full-time translator, and four young men brought from China, specializing in organizing and packing goods.

On the surface, it looked ordinary, but Old Wu was actually a millionaire!

The employees were all busy, and Old Wu walked around before pulling up a chair to sit down and open the newspaper to read.

The first and second pages were still advertisements for Sun Market. Old Wu smiled and skipped past them.

He had already gone to see that new market and inquired at the Sun Market management office.

The shop prices weren’t expensive, but according to Old Wu’s understanding, there weren’t many people who genuinely intended to move there to do business.

Everyone was in a wait-and-see state.

Old Wu’s two shops were also rented.

In addition to a management fee of five hundred dollars per shop per month, he also had to pay the shop owner a rent of one thousand dollars per shop!

Oh, when he first took over this shop, he also gave the previous tenant a five thousand dollar “tea fee.”

Don’t think it’s expensive; even so, it was still hard to get a shop!

Because doing business here was truly like making a fortune every day!

Foreigners were quite “straightforward”; when they came to buy goods, whatever price you said was the price, and they didn’t know how to bargain at all.

Plus, there was almost no light industry here, so the relatively cheap Chinese goods were considered good value for money for them.

Well, whether the goods were “good” or not was another matter, but they were definitely cheap!

Because the business was profitable, the cost of the shops wasn’t considered high, and everyone could afford it.

So, even though the shops at Sun Market were cheap, not many people went there.

To save a little on shop costs and lose the business?

Who would be that stupid!

…………..

Flipping past the Sun Market advertisements, when he got to the third page, Old Wu was stunned.

Another advertisement!

This Chinese newspaper was getting worse and worse; to earn a little advertising money, they didn’t care about their reputation!

He cursed a couple of times under his breath and was about to flip the page when he glanced at the advertisement and stopped.

On this page, a red headline was exceptionally eye-catching!

Hot Shops! Zero Rent! Free of Charge!

Business people were sensitive to such things, and Old Wu became interested, wanting to see what kind of shops didn’t require rent.

After reading carefully, it turned out that the neighboring new market had planned a shoe district, including streets one, two, and three.

Within these three streets, only shoes could be sold, no other categories.

And to celebrate the opening, they were offering half a year of free shop rent!

Two months of free management fees!

Additionally, the advertisement stated that they had already reached a cooperation with Hu Jian’s Footwear Association in China, and over a hundred Chinese shoe manufacturers would be moving in!

Chapter 119: The Oligarch Arrives

Old Wu’s eyes widened instantly.

He was from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and his family also owned a shoe factory, so he naturally understood the scale of Hu Jian’s shoe manufacturing.

It could be said that compared to Jiangsu and Zhejiang, Hu Jian’s operation was not only on par but even stronger!

However, in the past, most of Hu Jian’s shoe factories preferred to do OEM work, producing for many foreign brands, and rarely focused on their own brand.

Thus, in Russia, Hu Jian’s shoe factories did not engage much in wholesale.

Could it be that Hu Jian’s shoe factories were now planning to enter the Russian market in large quantities…

If that were truly the case, then the Sun Market might actually have a chance to thrive.

Thinking this, Old Wu felt a surge of excitement.

This was highly beneficial to him!

His business was quite large, and he already had two stalls in the Old Market. He had been looking to rent two more but had not yet found suitable ones.

Now, the new market seemed promising, especially with its dedicated shoe district, allowing shoe sellers to cluster together—a so-called aggregation effect.

If these three streets were fully occupied, the foot traffic would undoubtedly be impressive!

Moreover, the hardware conditions at the new market were far superior to those at the Old Market…

Old Wu carefully read the advertisement again. It stated that a grand signing ceremony would be held tomorrow morning at Sun Market Street One, and interested customers could register to rent stalls in the afternoon.

He made up his mind—he would definitely go and check it out tomorrow.

After all, the stalls came with half a year of free rent and two months of free management fees. No matter what, he would first “snatch” two stalls.

If it worked out, that would be great!

He could shift the focus of his business to the new market.

If it didn’t, the loss would be minimal. At worst, he could withdraw after half a year.

The advertisement also mentioned that the minimum lease was half a year.

The first half year was rent-free, and the second half would be adjusted based on market conditions.

Renting for half a year would, at most, cost him four months of management fees, which was not a big issue for a boss like Old Wu.

Don’t ask why he preferred renting stalls over buying them.

That was because renting allowed him to exit at any time, whereas buying a stall might not be so easy to offload…

Moreover, a single stall cost at least five thousand US dollars. Besides, scattered purchases did not come with any price or management fee discounts.

…

After making up his mind, Old Wu no longer felt like reading the newspaper.

He got up and strolled over to the neighboring stall.

The neighboring Old Liu was also in the shoe business, with two stalls combined, and his business was not small either.

Both he and Old Wu were from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, making them fellow townsmen, and their relationship was quite good.

Old Wu wanted to discuss with Old Liu, to see what he thought about the new market and whether he was interested in giving it a try.

As soon as he arrived at Old Liu’s stall, Old Liu excitedly asked him, “Old Wu, did you see today’s newspaper? The Sun Market has set up a shoe district and is recruiting businesses with very favorable conditions.”

“You know about it too? I just saw it in the newspaper and was about to ask if you wanted to give it a try,” Old Wu said with a smile.

“Of course! Free rent and free management fees—such good opportunities are rare. Besides, we have ready stock in our warehouse. We can move it there and start business immediately. Having an extra stall is always good, especially when it’s cost-free. Haha,” Old Liu laughed heartily.

Today, similar scenes could be seen everywhere in the Old Market.

The power of “free” was indeed not to be underestimated!

Even wealthy bosses wanted to take advantage of a good deal.

Wang Ye’s recruitment strategy of waiving management fees and rent had already shown initial success. By tomorrow afternoon, many people were expected to come and inquire.

…

Wang Ye did not go to the company again today. In the morning, he went to the Underground Mall at Red Square with Alyona.

Tomorrow was the signing ceremony, and he needed to prepare a decent outfit!

Boss Kong had already contacted him, saying that a big shot would be present tomorrow!

That was the financial group behind the Sun Market. As for who it was, Boss Kong kept it a mystery, only smiling as he told Wang Ye that it would definitely surprise him!

Actually, Wang Ye already knew who the real boss behind the Sun Market was…

So, upon hearing that this big shot would also be present, Wang Ye became serious.

If he could meet this big shot and establish some connection, he would truly rise to prominence in one step!

The Large Market now had two wholesale markets, separated by a single road, known as the “Old Market” and the “New Market.”

The Old Market was backed by the ACT Group, whose owner was a famous Russian billionaire, a Turkmen immigrant, and a Jew…

This guy had extremely close relationships with some of Russia’s high-ranking officials and enjoyed strong support from the current mayor of Moscow.

Thus, those who dared to compete for “territory” with such a person naturally had formidable backgrounds!

The person behind Boss Kong was one of Russia’s famous “Seven Oligarchs”…

Mikhail, Khodorkovsky!

The oligarch who controlled Yukos, Russia’s largest oil company!

Coincidentally, Wang Ye’s Russian name was the same as Khodorkovsky’s…

Both were called “Mikhail,” but compared to Khodorkovsky, his “Mikhail” was far inferior!

This was not surprising. In Russia, there were probably hundreds of thousands of people named “Mikhail,” making it a very common name.

Also, don’t think it’s strange for an oil oligarch to be involved in a wholesale market.

The owner of the ACT Group behind the Old Market had become a famous Russian billionaire in just over a decade, all thanks to that wholesale market!

Apart from management fees, services like logistics, customs clearance, and foreign exchange could earn a lot of money!

It could be said that this was a real money-making machine!

…

Wang Ye also seriously considered whether he should establish a connection with this oligarch, Khodorkovsky.

Because, as far as he knew, including Khodorkovsky, these major Russian oligarchs did not have many good years ahead. Later, they would be dealt with one by one by the great emperor.

Of course, some had tragic endings, ending up in prison with their reputations ruined and all their assets confiscated.

Others were smarter and managed to have better endings, even thriving, like Abramovich.

As for Khodorkovsky’s fate, Wang Ye had truly forgotten…

After all, in his “previous life,” he was just an insignificant small fry, far removed from these oligarchs, and had not paid much attention.

But one thing was certain—Khodorkovsky was definitely not the one with the worst fate!

Chapter 120: Got a Wife, Forgot the Sister

After some consideration, Wang Ye felt that there wasn’t much danger at the moment.

Besides, he couldn’t possibly have too close a relationship with Khovansky.

The gap in their status was just too vast!

One was a billionaire with assets worth hundreds of billions of dollars, a major oligarch ranked on the global rich list.

The other had a total net worth of only a few hundred thousand dollars…

Wang Ye didn’t have overly high expectations. He just wanted to take this opportunity to build a good relationship with Khovansky and see if he could secure more stalls in the Sun Market.

Ideally, he wouldn’t have to pay upfront—just pull off a classic “getting something for nothing” scheme…

Then, at the right moment—when the stall prices had been hyped up—he would sell them all off before Khovansky got into trouble.

He would pocket a large sum of cash and exit, then move on to other businesses with lower risk and greater potential!

…

The Underground Mall beneath Red Square. This was Wang Ye’s third time here.

The first time, he had come with his cousin Ruan Xiaozhu and bought a down jacket.

Back then, he had been strapped for cash and could only afford the cheapest options. He hadn’t dared to step into any of the slightly more expensive stores.

The second time, he had brought Alyona to buy some clothes for her because they were going to a promotional event in China.

His financial situation had improved somewhat by then, so he had chosen relatively better brands.

This time, Wang Ye was “flush with cash.” He went straight to a luxury brand store like Armani!

It was late April now, and the weather was gradually warming up.

Some young, strapping lads had already started wearing short sleeves, but some older people were still bundled up in winter coats.

So, it wasn’t uncommon to see a strange sight on the streets, in the subway, or on buses—some people still in winter coats while others were already in short sleeves.

This phenomenon wasn’t unusual in Moscow…

Wang Ye was attending a signing ceremony tomorrow, so he naturally needed to dress more formally. This time, he was here to buy a suit, dress shirts, leather shoes, and the like.

The YaGeEr suit he had brought from China wasn’t quite up to par for such an occasion.

He didn’t mean to look down on domestic brands, but when he had bought that suit, he had followed his mother’s advice and intentionally bought a size too large…

So, when he wore it, it looked a bit loose and sloppy—not sharp enough!

…

In luxury brand stores, the sales associates rarely had the “snobbish” attitude of looking down on customers.

As long as you dared to step inside, whether you bought anything or not, they would greet you warmly.

So, as soon as Wang Ye and Alyona entered the store, a tall and slender female sales associate immediately approached them.

“Welcome to Armani. How may I assist you today?”

Wang Ye casually replied, “I’d like to look at some suits that would suit me.”

“Right this way, sir. These are all our latest designs for this year.” The sales associate led them to another section where the suits were displayed.

Men shopped for clothes with efficiency. Wang Ye glanced at the displayed suits and immediately took a liking to a dark blue suit with a fine checkered pattern.

He picked it up and gave it a quick once-over. Armani’s designs were excellent, especially the tailored fit that accentuated the figure.

The fabric was made of 15-micron superfine wool!

How fine was it? For example, if you poured water on it, it wouldn’t seep through at all. Instead, it would just slide off the fabric.

The suit looked crisp and neat, yet it felt incredibly soft to the touch.

If it got wrinkled, all you had to do was hang it on a hanger overnight, and by the next day, it would be smooth as new.

That was the difference between good and bad fabric!

Of course, the price difference was also significant.

This three-piece suit cost a whopping four thousand two hundred dollars…

“Bring me a set in my size to try on. Oh, and also a dress shirt, tie, and leather shoes.” Wang Ye said decisively.

After that, he picked out two ties, two dress shirts, and a pair of leather shoes.

…

When Wang Ye came out of the fitting room after changing, both the sales associate and Alyona’s eyes lit up.

Wang Ye was 1.85 meters tall, with a lean yet muscular build. In the suit, he looked like a professional model.

If he styled his hair with some pomade, he could easily grace the cover of a fashion magazine!

Anyone who didn’t know him might mistake him for some handsome celebrity!

The sales associate exclaimed, “Sir, your figure is perfect for suits. Your entire aura has changed!”

As she spoke, she picked up a prepared red silk tie with a subtle pattern and carefully tied it for Wang Ye.

Alyona also said, “Misha, I just realized that you look best in a suit! Much more handsome than in sportswear.”

Wang Ye usually preferred wearing sportswear—it was comfortable, after all…

He looked at himself in the mirror and felt quite satisfied. This was what a “business elite” should look like!

He went back into the fitting room, took off the suit, changed back into his original clothes, and came out, saying straightforwardly, “Wrap it up for me.”

Good things naturally didn’t come cheap. The suit was four thousand two hundred dollars, the two dress shirts were six hundred dollars, the leather shoes were one thousand five hundred dollars, and the ties were complimentary. All together, it came to over six thousand dollars.

In the end, the sales associate also gave him a black belt as a gift, which would have cost over three hundred dollars if bought separately…

Just before leaving, the beautiful sales associate secretly slipped Wang Ye a note when Alyona wasn’t looking.

On it was her phone number, with a heart drawn next to it in red lipstick…

Wang Ye knew exactly what this meant.

But he just smiled, and after walking a short distance outside, he crumpled the note into a ball and threw it into the trash.

Being young, wealthy, and handsome truly made him “lethal” to women anywhere…

…

He took Alyona to buy a few more pieces of clothing, all from luxury brand stores like Gucci and Chanel.

While Alyona was picking out clothes, Wang Ye received a phone call. Seeing that it was from his cousin Ruan Xiaozhu, he answered it casually.

“Hey, little brother, what are you up to?” Ruan Xiaozhu asked in her usual bold manner.

“Out shopping with my girlfriend,” Wang Ye replied with a smile.

“Tsk, tsk, you’ve got a wife and forgotten… forgotten your sister! How long has it been since you called me? If I hadn’t called you today, you would have forgotten all about your sister!” Ruan Xiaozhu’s words carried a hint of sourness.

“Haha, how could that be? Here’s what we’ll do—after a while, Alyona and I will come to Moscow State University and take you out for dinner.”

“That’s a must! I heard you’ve struck it rich, even bought a Porsche? Come pick me up in your car later. We’ll go eat at the Little Eagle Hotel. There’s nothing good to eat around Moscow State University.” Ruan Xiaozhu didn’t stand on ceremony.

Wang Ye hadn’t even told her about buying a car. How did she know?

Clearly, her friend Han Yan must have “spilled the beans”…

Chapter 121: Building His Own Team

Outside the main building of Moscow State University, Ruan Xiaozhu and her good friend Yanzi stood at the entrance, looking around.

“This guy, what’s taking him so long? I’ll call and hurry him up,” Ruan Xiaozhu said impatiently, pulling out her phone.

“He should be here soon. He’s driving, so it’s not convenient for him to answer. Don’t rush him,” Yanzi said understandingly.

As they spoke, a white SUV came speeding toward them from the distance.

The two quickly looked over, feeling this must be Wang Ye’s car.

Sure enough, the car stopped in front of them, and the window rolled down, revealing Wang Ye’s smiling face.

“Sister Xiaozhu, Sister Yanzi, get in,” he called out warmly.

Ruan Xiaozhu and Yanzi walked over, opened the back door, and got in.

Wang Ye was driving, and in the passenger seat was Alyona, whom Ruan Xiaozhu knew—they had eaten and chatted together at the University of Friendship last time.

Yanzi, however, was meeting Alyona for the first time.

After getting in, they exchanged a few pleasantries, and Wang Ye introduced Yanzi to Alyona.

Wang Ye started the car and began driving toward the Little Eagle Hotel.

After looking around the car’s interior, Ruan Xiaozhu joked, “Little brother, you’re really something. Just a few days and you’ve already reached the peak of life. Driving a luxury car, living in a mansion, and even landing a beauty. Impressive!”

Her words were half-serious, half-joking. In her heart, she truly admired this cheap cousin of hers.

This guy was way too good at “scheming”!

Ruan Xiaozhu knew quite well what Wang Ye’s family background was like.

It was safe to say that he had reached his current status entirely on his own, with no help from his family at all!

That was truly remarkable. Many so-called “old hands in Moscow” who had been here for years couldn’t compare to him.

Of course, Ruan Xiaozhu herself couldn’t compare to him either…

Wang Ye pretended to be modest. “Oh, come on, I’m still far from that. I’ve only achieved a little success. It’s not worth calling it a peak.”

Ruan Xiaozhu scoffed. “Stop it. Being too modest is just another form of arrogance! By the way, what have you been busy with lately? Did you finish up with the study abroad agency?”

She knew he was involved in that.

“Yeah, that’s done. These past few days, I’ve been buying storefronts at Sun Market. You know that market, right?” Wang Ye didn’t hide anything from her.

Ruan Xiaozhu was surprised. “You’re messing around with storefronts at the Large Market again? How do you manage to do everything? Selling phone cards, running a study abroad agency, and now buying storefronts to do wholesale?”

“Haha, I just do whatever makes money. Also, I’m not buying them to do wholesale. I’m just buying some storefronts to rent out. When the prices go up later, I’ll sell them or earn rental income,” Wang Ye laughed.

“Flipping storefronts? How many did you buy? You won’t make much if you don’t have enough. Especially for someone like you,” Ruan Xiaozhu pressed.

She wasn’t wrong.

For an ordinary student, making ten or twenty thousand dollars from flipping a single storefront would be a huge sum.

But for Wang Ye now, ten or twenty thousand dollars clearly wasn’t worth his time.

Though she didn’t know how much he had made from the study abroad agency, just looking at the car he was driving now, it was clear he had made a lot!

“It’s alright. I bought three streets,” Wang Ye said casually.

“How many?” Ruan Xiaozhu and Yanzi asked in unison.

It wasn’t that they hadn’t heard him clearly, but they instinctively felt it was impossible!

They had both been to the Large Market and knew what a street there meant!

“Three streets. Yeah, that’s about three districts in the Old Market. From now on, all the storefronts on Streets One, Two, and Three of Sun Market are mine. If you go shopping there, mention my name, and you should get a discount. Haha,” Wang Ye laughed heartily.

The two women fell silent, needing time to process what Wang Ye had just said…

Three streets at the Large Market!

Though they didn’t know how much Wang Ye had spent to buy so many storefronts, there was no doubt it was an astronomical figure!

Suddenly, Ruan Xiaozhu felt like the Wang Ye driving in front of her was a stranger…

…

At the Little Eagle Hotel, they chose a high-end restaurant.

After ordering, they chatted casually.

“You’re doing such big business now. Are you still selling phone cards?” Ruan Xiaozhu asked.

Mentioning this, she felt a little embarrassed.

When she first arrived in Moscow a few years ago, she had boasted about her extensive connections and friends, promising to look out for him.

But how much time had passed? Wang Ye was already doing big business!

And her? She was still relying on her cousin’s cheap phone cards to make some pocket money…

This small business probably didn’t even register with Wang Ye anymore!

Yanzi also looked at Wang Ye nervously. To be honest, over this period, she had made quite a bit of money selling phone cards!

There were so many Chinese exchange students in her dormitory area.

Not only had she earned enough for her living expenses, but she had even covered her tuition. Yanzi didn’t want to lose this business.

“Why wouldn’t I? I’m still doing it! Oh, I’ve partnered with a friend to open a phone card company. In the future, the supply price for you will be even lower, but we’ll require higher minimum orders,” Wang Ye said lightly, shrugging.

Ruan Xiaozhu and Yanzi’s eyes widened again!

Wang Ye had brought them too many surprises…

Hadn’t he just bought three streets at the Large Market to flip storefronts? Now he was starting a phone card company!

Since he called it a company, it was clear this wasn’t some small operation.

“You… where do you get all that time and energy?” After a long pause, Ruan Xiaozhu sighed.

“Haha, I don’t have to do these things myself. I just need to set up the company framework and hire professionals to handle it,” Wang Ye laughed.

“Well… how about I help out at your phone card company? I’m almost in my fourth year, and my studies are much lighter now. My Russian is decent, so I can go out and work to gain some experience,” Ruan Xiaozhu said eagerly.

Wang Ye tilted his head and looked at her, pondering for a moment. This idea wasn’t bad at all!

His operations were expanding, but he didn’t actually have many people on his team. Apart from Alyona and Liu Jun, he didn’t have any other capable assistants.

And Liu Jun was currently just a business partner, not really part of his core team.

Since his cousin Ruan Xiaozhu was interested, it was worth a try.

So he nodded readily. “If you want to give it a shot, then of course there’s no problem. My phone card company will be opening in a few days. The office is at the Alpha Hotel near Izmailovo Metro Station. You can go work there for a while and see if you can adapt!”

Chapter 122: First Meeting with the Oligarch

Wang Ye had originally planned to have Alyona take charge of the phone card company. Now that his cousin, Ruan Xiaozhu, wanted to work at the phone card company, he could reassign Alyona elsewhere.

The Large Market was still short-staffed, and with three streets and three hundred storefronts, it was no small operation. For the first half-year after leasing them out, things would be manageable without collecting rent. But after six months, the workload would increase—rent collection and the like.

And since rent would be collected in cash, large sums of money would be coming in. This required someone trustworthy to handle it. Alyona fit the bill perfectly. Besides her, Wang Ye didn’t have anyone else he trusted more…

As business expanded, the need for more personnel would grow. It seemed he needed to start cultivating talent as soon as possible.

………………

After discussing the phone card company with Ruan Xiaozhu, Wang Ye decided that since they were establishing a company, they should go big—not just small-scale operations like now.

The potential in the school market was limited; a few distributors would suffice. The real opportunity lay in the Large Market!

Ruan Xiaozhu’s main focus would be on expanding distributors in the Large Market and competing with the existing phone card “giants.” The Old Market would likely be tricky, as others had already dominated the market for years. Breaking in wouldn’t be easy in the short term.

But Wang Ye had an advantage—the Sun Market.

Not to mention that he already owned three streets there. Given his current good relationship with Boss Kong, he could easily secure the phone card sales business in the Sun Market.

It was simple: just inform the security guards not to allow vendors from the Old Market to sell newspapers or phone cards there. Anyone wanting to sell in the Sun Market would have to sell Wang Ye’s company’s cards!

Of course, all of this depended on the Sun Market quickly gaining popularity. Without foot traffic, everything would be meaningless…

………………

After dinner, they played a round of bowling. Wang Ye drove Ruan Xiaozhu and Yanzi back to Moscow State University, waving goodbye before returning to the apartment with Alyona.

That night, as they were about to sleep, Wang Ye remembered something and asked Alyona, “In a few days, things will get busy at the Sun Market. Why don’t you go help out there? You don’t need to go to the study abroad agency anymore.”

It was a bit ironic. Alyona was technically an employee of Qingyun Company, but she had never actually worked there properly. Now, Wang Ye was reassigning her to the Sun Market.

Alyona didn’t seem to mind. She nodded readily and asked, “Sure, but is there an office at the Large Market? What will I need to do?”

That was a good question. They couldn’t just set up a shipping container for her to work in…

Wang Ye frowned in thought before saying, “Here’s what we’ll do. After signing the contract tomorrow, I’ll talk to Boss Kong and request an office in their management building. The conditions there are better, and it’s safer.”

Don’t be surprised that Wang Ye specifically mentioned “safety.” Back then, Moscow was quite chaotic, especially around the Large Market. Robberies happened from time to time.

Alyona’s job would involve handling large sums of cash, so safety was crucial. Losing money was one thing, but Wang Ye was more worried about her personal safety.

But if she worked in the management building, that wouldn’t be an issue. There was a team of armed security guards downstairs, and most people wouldn’t dare cause trouble there…

………………

The night passed uneventfully.

The next day, they woke up early. It was a big day—they were going to the Sun Market to sign the contract!

After washing up and eating, they dressed carefully before leaving. Wang Ye put on his newly bought Armani three-piece suit, a bright red tie, and polished black leather shoes. His hair was neatly combed, making him look much more mature than his eighteen years.

Alyona wore a beige Chanel suit dress, high heels, and a thin, short trench coat over it. Her golden hair and light makeup completed the look.

Once ready, they went downstairs, got in the car, and headed straight for the Large Market…

When they arrived, it was around 9:30 AM, half an hour before the 10:00 AM signing ceremony. Wang Ye parked in front of the management building’s small red house and noticed a line of cars already there.

Three black Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUVs parked side by side were particularly eye-catching. Wang Ye took a closer look at the rear of the three G-Class vehicles—they were all AMG G55s!

That was impressive. In those years, the total annual production of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, including the G500 and AMG G55, was only six to seven thousand units. Half of them were sold domestically in Germany, leaving only about three thousand for the global market.

Even in Moscow, an AMG G55 would probably cost two to three hundred thousand US dollars. Seeing three of them at once was rare…

These must be Khovansky’s cars. In this region, due to the weather, many influential people preferred large off-road vehicles. And the G-Class was naturally the top choice.

“Nice cars! In a year or two, I’ll get one too,” Wang Ye said with a smile after inspecting them.

Alyona glanced at them and had a different opinion. “These cars look like shoeboxes. I don’t know why you men like them. I think our neighbor’s Porsche 911 is much better-looking.”

The neighbor she referred to was the famous singer who drove a 911. Alyona had met him a few times. Clearly, men and women had different tastes in cars.

Wang Ye shrugged and didn’t argue. Instead, he took out his phone and called Boss Kong.

“Boss Kong, I’m downstairs.”

The security at the management building was tight, especially today. There were more guards than when Wang Ye had visited last time. Clearly, it was because important figures were expected.

“Alright, I’ll come down to get you right away. Our boss just arrived too. Since there’s still some time before the signing ceremony, you two can have a chat. Haha,” Boss Kong said with a hearty laugh.

A minute later, Boss Kong’s short, stout figure appeared at the entrance. After exchanging handshakes and pleasantries, Boss Kong looked at Alyona beside Wang Ye and asked with a smile, “And who is this…?”

“My girlfriend, Alyona,” Wang Ye introduced.

“Haha, a young talent like you, Wang Ye, naturally has a way with women. A perfect match—made in heaven! I’m envious. Look at me, at my age, still single…” Boss Kong joked.

Business flattery aside, Wang Ye didn’t take it seriously. With Boss Kong’s wealth, how could he possibly lack women?

After some small talk, Boss Kong led them to the second-floor office. There, Wang Ye finally met the legendary oligarch, Khovansky!

Chapter 123: Recruitment Invitation

Khovansky was likely just over forty years old, at the peak of a man’s strength and vitality.

He was tall, with short, slightly curly brown hair, fair and clean skin, and a refined appearance. His large eyes were clear and bright, and he wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, which, combined with his constant smile, made him appear even more scholarly and approachable.

Among the Russians, those who wore glasses were rare.

One thing worth noting was that he had Jewish ancestry…

A little-known fact: Among Russia’s seven oligarchs, six were Jewish!

This refined-looking man controlled Russia’s largest oil company and would soon become Russia’s richest man in just two years!

…

“Mr. Khovansky, Wang Ye is here. He’s the one who purchased three hundred storefronts.”

Upon entering the office, Boss Kong respectfully reported.

Khovansky, who had been sitting on the sofa, stood up with a smile and walked over to greet him.

“Haha, so this is Mr. Wang? Truly young and promising, with a sharp eye! Believe me, your investment will yield returns beyond your imagination!”

“Thank you for the compliment, Mr. Khovansky. I also believe the Sun Market has a bright future, which is why I was willing to invest heavily here,” Wang Ye replied with a smile.

The two men shook hands firmly.

After the guests were seated, two beautiful young women brought in steaming cups of coffee.

Khovansky’s sharp gaze rested on Wang Ye. In truth, he was also surprised by how young this man was!

Since signing the contract required relevant documents, he knew Wang Ye’s age.

Only eighteen years old!

At that age, he himself had just stepped into university…

Of course, he didn’t think Wang Ye would achieve his current success by the time he reached his age.

After all, his own success was nearly impossible to replicate!

It required too many factors and coincidences…

Because he himself was still young, he felt a natural affinity for someone like Wang Ye, especially after learning about his approach to attracting businesses.

He believed this young man had tremendous courage and foresight!

Khovansky had even ordered his subordinates to gather information on Wang Ye. After thoroughly understanding his situation, he couldn’t help but sigh repeatedly.

This young man’s future was limitless!

Not to mention that Wang Ye had amassed such wealth in just a few months since arriving in Moscow, his “all-in” investment in the Sun Market had deeply impressed Khovansky.

Wang Ye had spent so much money buying storefronts and dared to advertise a direct half-year rent exemption just to build popularity!

This was something many people couldn’t do.

Thus, Khovansky became interested in him and wanted to meet him for a chat.

After some casual conversation, Khovansky suddenly asked, “Do you think the Sun Market can compete with the Old Market? How long will it take?”

The two markets were in competition, and both were large in scale.

If anyone didn’t want the new market to succeed, it would undoubtedly be the ACT Group behind the Old Market!

After all, the Sun Market was essentially taking food from the ACT Group’s mouth…

No one knew what kind of behind-the-scenes struggles had taken place, but the Sun Market had opened, and the Old Market remained calm, seemingly unaffected.

The new market was struggling to attract businesses, especially since those from the Old Market were unwilling to move over. Whether the ACT Group was influencing this behind the scenes was unclear.

…

Wang Ye, of course, knew that the new market would definitely succeed.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to invest all his newly earned money here!

But Khovansky’s question required a careful response.

After a moment’s thought, Wang Ye calmly replied, “With Mr. Khovansky’s influence, since you’ve established this market, it can only succeed, not fail! As for how long it will take… that depends on when you make up your mind.”

Khovansky was slightly taken aback.

Wang Ye’s answer was vague, especially the last part. Even Boss Kong, sitting beside him, didn’t understand the meaning.

But Khovansky understood…

“Hahaha… Excellent! Very good! Mr. Wang, would you be interested in joining our group and working with Mr. Kong to manage and operate this large market? I can tell you in advance that I’ve also purchased a large plot of land across from the parking lot, planned as the Sun Market Phase Two! As soon as Phase One shows progress, construction will begin there. In the future, our market will be the largest wholesale distribution center in all of Eastern Europe… no, all of Europe!”

Khovansky laughed heartily as he extended the invitation.

This wasn’t just because of what Wang Ye had just said, but because, after considering everything he knew about Wang Ye, he believed this was indeed a rare talent!

Thus, he extended the offer.

Khovansky had never been stingy when it came to talent.

Like Boss Kong, who also held a ten percent stake in the Sun Market!

Although Wang Ye had bought three streets, seemingly owning nearly ten percent of the Phase One storefronts, this was completely different from Boss Kong’s ten percent stake!

Because Boss Kong’s share included not only the profits from selling storefronts but also all future business income from management fees, logistics clearance, currency exchange, and more!

That income was far higher than rent and was a continuous stream.

As long as the Sun Market existed, there would be income!

Calling it a money tree was no exaggeration…

…

Boss Kong felt a twinge of jealousy.

He had struggled in Russia for over a decade!

Only now had he reached his current position and earned Khovansky’s appreciation, gaining a stake in the Sun Market Group.

And Wang Ye? How old was he? Soon, he would be on equal footing with him?

However, he showed no sign of this on his face and only smiled as he reminded them, “I would also love to work with Mr. Wang! But there’s no time to discuss this now. The signing ceremony is about to begin. Mr. Khovansky, we should head down.”

It was indeed almost ten o’clock. Khovansky laughed and patted Wang Ye’s shoulder before standing up. “Alright, let’s go sign the contract first. We can discuss the details later!”

Wang Ye also stood up, preparing to go downstairs with them.

Khovansky’s sudden invitation had caught Wang Ye off guard. He needed some time to consider this.

Khovansky and Wang Ye walked at the front—they were the stars of today’s event!

Boss Kong walked beside Khovansky, half a step behind, while Alyona accompanied Wang Ye.

As soon as they stepped out of the small red building, several tall and burly armed security personnel approached, ready to escort them.

Chapter 124: A Bolt from the Blue

Wang Ye couldn’t help but click his tongue when he saw the towering security personnel armed to the teeth.

Was Moscow really this unsafe?

Why did these rich people always go out with so many bodyguards?

And they were all carrying real guns!

This was something completely unimaginable back in China.

From the Small Red Building to the signing ceremony in Zone One, it was actually quite close—only about a hundred meters. Was all this fuss really necessary?

…

This was the entrance to the management office, and since everyone here was on the same side, the security personnel weren’t particularly on guard. They were slightly relaxed.

Just as they were walking toward Wang Ye and the others, Wang Ye suddenly widened his eyes.

He saw someone emerge from the corner of the small building.

It was a dark-haired man, a common sight around the Large Market. He was dressed ordinarily, wearing a small black knit cap on his head.

Wang Ye had only glanced at him casually, but in that moment, he noticed something was off.

The dark-haired man was quickly pulling something black from his pocket.

That was…

Wang Ye felt his hair stand on end, and his scalp went numb.

In an instant, he realized from the direction of the man’s gaze that the target was Khovansky, standing right beside him!

Khovansky had no idea what was happening and was striding forward confidently.

There was no time for Wang Ye to react further. Without thinking, he threw himself at Khovansky with all his strength, shouting, “Gunman!”

At the same moment he lunged, two loud bangs rang out.

Khovansky was knocked to the ground by Wang Ye before he could even process what was happening.

Wang Ye’s heart was pounding violently. Though he had fallen heavily, he felt no pain. Sweat poured down his back, soaking his shirt.

The scene erupted into chaos!

Boss Kong panicked and sprinted toward the Small Red Building, while Alyona rushed forward, dropping to her knees beside Wang Ye. She grabbed his arm, her mouth moving as she shouted something.

The security personnel reacted even faster. The moment the gunshots rang out, they split into two teams.

Two of them rushed to shield Wang Ye and Khovansky, while the others turned and locked onto the target.

“Bang! Bang! Bang…”

A rapid burst of gunfire erupted.

Wang Ye lay on the ground, turning his head to see the dark-haired man in the knit cap standing frozen, his body trembling as if electrocuted.

In the blink of an eye, patches of blood began to spread across his clothes…

Wang Ye closed his eyes, unable to bear the sight. His mind went blank.

He had only wanted to earn a little more money and live a comfortable life.

Why had he been dragged into something like this?

Was this…

What life was like for an oligarch?

…

Alyona threw herself onto Wang Ye, tears streaming down her face.

She frantically patted him down, her hands trembling.

“Misha… Are you okay? Do you feel any pain? Oh… You’re bleeding from your head…”

Wang Ye didn’t have time to check his injuries. Two burly bodyguards pulled him and Khovansky to their feet, half-carrying, half-dragging them into the Small Red Building.

Once inside the hall, Wang Ye and Khovansky finally regained their composure.

Khovansky pressed his lips tightly together, his expression grave, but when he looked at Wang Ye, his gaze softened.

“Thank you, Wang Ye. If it weren’t for you today, I…”

He couldn’t help but shudder at the thought. If Wang Ye hadn’t tackled him, who knew what might have happened?

Perhaps he wouldn’t even be alive to feel this fear now.

He had narrowly escaped death, saved by Wang Ye.

But Wang Ye had truly brushed past the gates of hell.

A bullet had grazed the skin above his left ear!

If it had been just one centimeter lower or to the side, the consequences…

After the examination, Wang Ye broke out in a cold sweat, his body trembling slightly.

He didn’t know what had possessed him to risk his life to save Khovansky.

Perhaps it had been an instinctive reflex. After all, there hadn’t been time to think.

…

After such an incident, the signing ceremony was naturally canceled.

Khovansky sent Boss Kong and two staff members to go through the motions, while Wang Ye and Alyona didn’t attend at all.

As for the gunman outside, someone else would handle it. The proper procedures were followed, and the police were called.

“You and the lady should rest for a while. I need to make a call.”

In the second-floor office, Khovansky’s face was ashen as he spoke.

He had completely regained his composure. He had a rough idea of who might be behind this attempt on his life.

Now, the next step was clear—retaliation in kind!

These oligarchs might appear to be law-abiding entrepreneurs, billionaires with clean public images.

But behind the scenes, every one of them had connections in high places, operating in both the legal and illegal worlds.

Without sufficient “power,” none of them would have reached their current positions…

Khovansky left to make his call. Who knew what thunderous measures he would take against his enemies.

In the room, Alyona sat holding Wang Ye’s hand, her eyes brimming with tears. Her lips trembled, but she couldn’t speak.

“It’s alright. I’m fine, aren’t I? There’s an old saying in our country—those who survive great calamities are destined for good fortune! Haha…”

Wang Ye forced a smile, trying to comfort her.

But his words only made Alyona burst into tears. She threw herself into his arms, her small hands clutching his shirt tightly as she sobbed, “I… I was so scared… What would I do if something happened to you?”

Wang Ye could only gently pat her back. “It’s over now. Everything’s fine.”

…

In truth, Wang Ye was deeply troubled.

This unexpected incident made him feel as though he had been swept into a whirlpool.

Once entangled in such matters, there was no escaping.

Anyone bold enough to target an oligarch of Khovansky’s stature clearly had powerful backing.

And now, he had ruined their plans. It was easy to imagine that they might come after him next.

If they sent a gunman after him, he didn’t have Khovansky’s armed bodyguards to protect him…

Caught between two oligarchs, he was like a small ant in the middle. If they weren’t careful, he could be crushed without a second thought.

The thought made Wang Ye’s brow furrow in worry.

He wanted to cry out to the heavens, “Why are you messing with me?”

He had been given a second chance at life, dreaming of becoming a wealthy man and living freely.

His “starting point” had been great—he was about to become a millionaire. How had things suddenly spiraled into a situation where his life was at risk?

Chapter 125: The Choice

Wang Ye was still worrying about his future safety when Khovansky walked in.

He sat directly across from Wang Ye, his brow furrowed as if deep in thought.

Wang Ye remained silent.

The room fell into silence.

After a long while, Khovansky reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a wallet, taking out a blank check and pushing it toward Wang Ye.

He spoke sincerely:

“Wang Ye, I’m truly grateful you saved me today. I don’t know how to repay you. Also, I’m sorry for dragging you into this conflict. Now, you have two choices. Here’s a blank check—fill in any amount you want, take the money, and return to China. Or, you can take the position of CEO of Sun Market Group, and I’ll give you a twenty percent stake!”

Wang Ye looked at the blank check on the table, then lifted his gaze to Khovansky, his mind racing as he weighed the pros and cons of each option.

Perhaps choosing the check was the right move…

Wang Ye wasn’t greedy. He wouldn’t—he couldn’t—fill in some outrageous sum like tens or hundreds of billions of dollars…

At most, he’d write in one hundred million dollars.

He believed that was the absolute limit Khovansky could bear, the maximum he’d be willing to part with.

Any higher…

And he’d probably go from being Khovansky’s savior to his “enemy.”

With one hundred million dollars, he could return home and live in great wealth… right?

Of course, “great nobility” was unlikely, but “great wealth” was guaranteed.

But was he really willing to just take the money and “run”?

What about Alyona? What about Liu Jun, Ruan Xiaozhu, Wang Dan, Nalan Yaqi, Song Xiao Gang…

What about all of them?

Without realizing it, Wang Ye had become the core figure in this circle!

Here, he had many ventures just beginning to take shape, many ambitions and dreams yet to be fulfilled…

…

Choosing to become the CEO of Sun Market Group with a twenty percent stake might be worth more than one hundred million dollars in the long run.

Sun Market Group referred to this new market and its affiliated companies.

Of course, it didn’t include Yukos Oil Company…

From what Khovansky had said and what Wang Ye knew from his “past life,” this Sun Market would flourish in the coming years!

That twenty percent stake could bring him hundreds of millions—or even more—in annual income. This was no joke!

But this choice came with a problem.

It meant he would be completely entangled in the “oligarch struggle,” unable to extricate himself…

Wang Ye instinctively reached into his pocket for a cigarette but found none. He didn’t know if he’d left them in the car or dropped them in the chaos earlier.

He looked up and asked, “Got a cigarette?”

Khovansky smiled and called out to someone outside the door, “Bring in a pack of cigarettes!”

There were only three people in the room now—even Khovansky’s assistant was absent.

But as soon as Khovansky spoke, someone knocked and entered, bringing in a pack of cigarettes—exactly the Black Russian brand Wang Ye preferred.

He took one out, lit it, and took a deep drag, exhaling a slow stream of smoke.

His face was shrouded in the haze as he continued to ponder his choice.

Khovansky didn’t rush him. He understood this was a decision that would shape Wang Ye’s future.

Even if it were him, he’d have to think carefully…

…

The room was silent as Wang Ye smoked in contemplation.

Before he knew it, the cigarette was finished, and so was his deliberation.

He stubbed out the butt and reached for the check…

Khovansky felt a slight twinge of disappointment. He had actually hoped Wang Ye would choose to stay.

Taking the check might secure a comfortable, wealthy life for the rest of his days.

But…

This choice revealed that Wang Ye wasn’t willing to take risks!

And that meant the young man’s potential was limited…

Staying, however, came with much higher risks. But one must remember—opportunity and risk often go hand in hand!

Khovansky believed he could provide Wang Ye with a grand stage to spread his wings. That kind of future would be truly limitless…

Wang Ye’s hand hovered over the check for a moment before pushing it back toward Khovansky.

He said calmly, “I choose… to stay.”

Khovansky blinked, then broke into a smile. “Good! Welcome to Sun Market Group! Following your country’s customs, I suppose I should call you President Wang now, hahaha…”

Wang Ye smiled faintly. “Just call me Misha. It’s my Russian name—my friends all call me that.”

Khovansky stood up and placed his right hand on Wang Ye’s shoulder, leaning in to say, “You won’t regret today’s choice. Trust me.”

Then, he called in his assistant, gave a series of instructions, and turned back to Wang Ye. “I still have some matters to attend to and people to meet. Go rest for now. Tomorrow, I’ll send someone to pick you up, and we’ll discuss Sun Market Group.”

Wang Ye nodded, taking Alyona’s hand as he stood up. He hesitated for a moment before asking, “Uh… they won’t come after me, right?”

Though he had lived “two lives,” Wang Ye was still an ordinary man with no experience in such matters.

Right now, his greatest concern was his own safety…

Don’t call him cowardly. After nearly dying and witnessing someone being shot dead in front of him, fear was the natural response!

“Hahaha, don’t worry. I’m their target. As long as nothing happens to me, no one will touch you. And besides, they won’t have time to think about such things soon…”

As he finished, Khovansky’s expression turned cold.

Wang Ye thought about it and realized Khovansky was right.

He was just a small, insignificant figure. Going after him served no purpose.

And as long as Khovansky was safe, he would surely launch a fierce counterattack. The enemy would be too busy defending themselves to bother with him.

Wang Ye nodded, not pressing further.

From Khovansky’s tone, it seemed he already knew who the enemy was and was about to strike back.

Such matters were beyond his involvement…

…

On his way out, Wang Ye ran into Boss Kong.

Boss Kong approached enthusiastically, grabbing Wang Ye’s arm and sighing in relief.

The man had recovered quickly. Just moments ago, his chubby face had been pale, his legs trembling.

Now, he acted as if nothing had happened!

To reach this level, Boss Kong was no ordinary man…

“Oh, right, Boss Kong, from now on, we’re colleagues,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Boss Kong paused, then realized what he meant. His emotions were mixed, but he laughed heartily. “Excellent! It’s an honor for old Kong to work alongside a young talent like President Wang…”

Chapter 126: This Is Fate

Wang Ye had chosen to stay not just because of Khovansky’s offer, but also because of what he knew about Boss Kong’s past.

Boss Kong was a well-known figure in Moscow’s Chinese community. Though Wang Ye hadn’t paid much attention to Khovansky’s eventual fate in his past life, he did know that Boss Kong had always thrived. Even when the Large Market was finally shut down, Boss Kong had remained unscathed. Rumor had it he later emigrated to Canada, and only then did news of him fade away.

So, if Wang Ye stayed and worked with Khovansky to manage the Large Market, the oil company’s troubles shouldn’t drag him into anything dangerous… Right?

The risk didn’t seem all that high.

Besides, if he wanted to make real money and rise above the rest, how could he avoid taking risks? As the saying goes, fortune favors the bold.

After parting ways with Boss Kong, Wang Ye drove Alyona home. Though they passed by the Alpha Hotel, he wasn’t in the mood to stop by the company. Today had been far too intense. All he wanted was to return to his apartment and calm his nerves…

…

Wang Ye had left, but back at the Large Market, rumors about the “shooting incident” were already spreading like wildfire.

The management’s Small Red Building was in a secluded spot, and since the Sun Market hadn’t officially opened for business yet, there weren’t many people around when it happened. But the sound of “firecrackers” followed by several police cars arriving had been enough to get people talking.

And as the story spread, it grew more exaggerated.

“Did you hear? The boss of Sun Market got taken out!”

“Damn, I was just at the signing ceremony in Sun Market’s first district, and then I heard gunshots. At first, I thought someone was setting off fireworks, but no—it was actual gunfire! This place is getting out of control!”

“Don’t talk nonsense. The boss of Sun Market is fine. I just came from there and saw for myself—only one person died, and it was the shooter.”

“Looks like Sun Market stepped on someone’s toes. They came down hard! Do you think Sun Market can still pull this off?”

These were the whispers among the Chinese business owners.

It was clear that after Wang Ye’s advertisements, people had started to take an interest in Sun Market. But now, with a shooting incident, fear had set in, and doubts about Sun Market’s future were growing.

Someone was clearly targeting Sun Market—and they weren’t holding back.

If they went to do business there, would their safety even be guaranteed? What if they lost their lives before making a single penny?

Old Wu and his fellow townsman, Old Liu, had eagerly attended the “Sun Market Footwear District Signing Ceremony” that morning. But to their disappointment, neither the rumored big Chinese boss nor the mysterious backer of Sun Market had shown up. The entire ceremony had been hosted by the familiar Boss Kong, and the event had been cut short—he’d given a brief speech before wrapping things up abruptly.

Many were left confused, unsure of what was going on. But when they returned to the Old Market, the rumors started flying, and they finally understood what had happened.

“Old Wu… do you think we can still go to Sun Market? This is way too dangerous!” Old Liu said, still shaken.

Old Wu was also unsettled. The Russians here were getting out of hand! How could something like this even happen?

They’d heard stories before, of course, but since it hadn’t happened to them, they’d brushed it off. But this time, it was too close for comfort.

“Maybe… we should wait and see how Sun Market handles this. If they can’t even guarantee safety, who would dare do business there?” Old Wu said.

His words echoed the thoughts of many.

When you’re out making money, your life is more important than anything else. What’s the point of earning a fortune if you lose your life in the process?

…

As soon as Wang Ye got home, Liu Jun called.

“Wang Ye, where are you? Are you okay? I heard something happened at Sun Market!” His voice was urgent.

Clearly, the news had reached him.

Others might not know what had really happened at the signing ceremony or who the big Chinese boss behind Sun Market was, but Liu Jun knew.

So when he heard the news, his first thought was that Wang Ye had better be unharmed.

“Haha, I’m fine. Just a little unexpected trouble, but it’s over now,” Wang Ye said, forcing a light tone.

“What kind of trouble? I heard someone died! I told you the other day—the situation at the Large Market is complicated. You shouldn’t have gotten involved. And look, now something’s happened. Let me tell you, the ACT Group behind the Old Market won’t just sit back and watch Sun Market succeed. I bet today’s incident has something to do with them.”

Liu Jun’s analysis wasn’t far off.

Though Khovansky hadn’t gone into detail, Wang Ye could guess that today’s incident was likely connected to the ACT Group behind the Old Market. After all, Khovansky’s Sun Market was cutting into their profits—they had every reason to strike back.

After a moment’s thought, Wang Ye decided not to hide anything from Liu Jun and gave him a brief rundown of what had happened—how he’d saved Khovansky’s life, how Khovansky had offered him a position as president of the Sun Market Group with a twenty percent stake…

Liu Jun was silent for a long time, probably stunned speechless.

Even after all his years in Moscow, he’d never experienced anything this absurd.

What did they call it? A stroke of luck? A brush with death leading to great fortune?

Wang Ye’s day seemed to embody both.

He’d gone to sign a lease for a storefront, and somehow, he’d ended up as the president of the Sun Market Group!

And not just that—he’d been given a twenty percent stake, even more than Boss Kong!

After a long pause, Liu Jun finally spoke.

“You… I don’t even know what to say. You’ve just shot straight to the top!”

He was overwhelmed.

What was fate? This was fate.

How many people had spent half their lives in Moscow, working hard, chasing opportunities, trying to make a living—only to come up short?

And then there was Wang Ye…

Liu Jun didn’t even want to talk about it. He just wanted to cry.

…

Wang Ye wasn’t worried about the Large Market situation. He knew Khovansky was furious and would make a big move soon.

With his resources, the fallout wouldn’t be small.

But Wang Ye hadn’t expected Khovansky to act so quickly.

The very next morning, he struck back—hard.

And this time, his actions not only crippled his enemies but also did Wang Ye a huge favor…

Chapter 127: Launch Announcement

After two months of releasing this book, it’s finally time for the official launch…

I wanted to say something, but after thinking it over, I decided against it.

I write, and you read—it’s as simple as that.

I hope those who can afford it will support the official subscription.

Whether a book can continue or be written well truly depends on every single reader…

Every subscription is crucial to the author.

See you all tomorrow at noon—don’t miss it!

Chapter 128: Powerful Counterattack

The very next day.

Wang Ye was still fast asleep when a sudden, urgent phone call jolted him awake. Groggily opening his eyes, he had no idea what time it was—the curtains were drawn tight.

Grabbing his phone, he saw it was barely seven in the morning. The call was from Liu Jun.

“Hello… what’s going on so early, Liu Ge?” Wang Ye mumbled.

“The Large Market is in trouble!” Liu Jun blurted out in a rush.

Wang Ye shot upright. The Large Market? Had the other side started causing trouble again?

Alyona was still asleep beside him. Wang Ye carefully slipped out of bed and made his way to the living room.

“What happened? Is it the Sun Market?” he asked gravely.

“No, it’s the Old Market! My friend does business there—he said when he arrived this morning, the entire market was surrounded by armed forces. They’re only letting people out, not in! I just went to take a look—damn, they’re all over six feet tall, wearing black balaclavas and carrying assault rifles. No one dares go near them!” Liu Jun clicked his tongue repeatedly, clearly shaken by the scene.

…

In reality, the Old Market was already in chaos.

Around five in the morning, many Chinese business owners arrived at the market, ready to start their day, only to find the entrances cordoned off with police tape. Armed officers stood guard, refusing entry.

At first, they were told it was some kind of temporary inspection, so no one thought much of it. After all, “health inspections” and “fire safety checks” had happened before, and they were usually resolved quickly without causing too much delay.

Many simply gathered near the Sun Market, chatting in groups as they waited.

But around six-thirty, things took a sudden turn for the worse.

Green military trucks rolled in one after another. When they stopped, squads of soldiers in camouflage and black balaclavas, armed with assault rifles, disembarked and swiftly surrounded the entire Old Market.

Most of the Chinese business owners had never seen anything like this.

Of course, a few more experienced individuals recognized the new arrivals immediately.

“Damn! The Ministry of Internal Affairs is here? What the hell happened at the market?” one exclaimed.

When the Ministry of Internal Affairs got involved, it was never over something trivial…

A few Chinese business owners with decent Russian tried to approach the cordon to ask what was going on. But as soon as they neared the tape, the soldiers glared at them, their rifle barrels swinging in their direction.

One of the men instantly broke out in a cold sweat. He quickly raised his hands and forced a smile. “Davarishi, hello! I do business here—I just want to know what’s happening. Why won’t you let us in?”

The soldier didn’t answer his question. He only said, “Step back immediately! We’re just following orders. Someone will explain shortly.”

Sure enough, after another ten minutes or so, a man in a suit emerged and announced to the crowd gathered across the street that the Old Market (also known as the ACT Wholesale Distribution Market) was being shut down immediately due to serious health and fire safety violations. As for when it would reopen, that depended on the progress of the renovations…

The crowd erupted in outrage. So the Old Market was being closed indefinitely?!

“What about our goods? They’re all inside the market!”

“Yeah, even if they’re renovating, they should at least let us take our stock out!”

“How can they just shut us down without giving a reopening date?!”

“This is ridiculous! My shipment just arrived yesterday, and now they’re closing the market?!”

But their protests fell on deaf ears. The man in the suit had already turned and walked away after making his announcement, showing no interest in engaging with them.

Old Wu and Old Liu were also in the crowd—they were “victims” too!

“Old Wu, how long do you think the market will be closed? It’s peak season—every day it’s shut costs us a fortune! Why now? There haven’t been any issues here for the past two years, so why the sudden inspection?” Old Liu fretted.

Old Wu wore a thoughtful expression. He had a lot of goods inside the market, but fortunately, he also rented a warehouse outside, where most of his stock was stored. Even if the Old Market was in trouble, he wouldn’t lose too much.

“Old Liu, you heard about what happened at the Sun Market yesterday, right? And now the Old Market is in trouble today… there’s a connection here,” he suddenly said.

Old Liu’s eyes widened in realization. “You mean…”

“That’s right! I’m certain this is retaliation from the people behind the Sun Market! It looks like the backers of the Sun Market are really powerful—they even got the Ministry of Internal Affairs involved. That’s not something just anyone can pull off,” Old Wu declared.

He had been in Moscow for years and knew a thing or two about the undercurrents at play. Based on what had happened over the past couple of days, he could make an educated guess.

This was a power struggle between the forces backing the old and new markets!

Compared to the Sun Market, the Old Market’s backers were clearly at a disadvantage. Their methods were crude—they had sent gunmen to carry out an assassination, sticking to the old “black” ways.

The Sun Market, on the other hand, was playing by the rules of the “king’s way”!

They had brought in the full force of the state to suppress their opponents, leaving them with no room to fight back!

“So what do we do now…” Old Liu hesitated.

With the market shut down in such a dramatic fashion, it wouldn’t be resolved anytime soon. But business couldn’t afford to wait!

For those doing business abroad, the overhead was no joke. Every day, just opening their eyes meant hundreds of dollars in expenses. They couldn’t afford any delays…

“The Sun Market is still recruiting vendors, right? And they’re offering all kinds of incentives—no rent, no management fees. I was still on the fence yesterday, but now there’s no need to hesitate. I’ll go ask around right away and rent a couple of stalls!” Old Wu said without a moment’s hesitation.

He had plenty of stock in his external warehouse. As long as he could secure a spot in the Sun Market, it would be a seamless transition—he could start operating immediately.

Moreover, after today, Old Wu had a much clearer picture of the Sun Market’s strength. If he believed in its potential, he needed to act fast!

The Sun Market was organized by product category—the shoe district only had three streets with three hundred stalls. If he waited too long, he might miss his chance…

Old Wu wasn’t the only one thinking this way. Before today, many Chinese business owners had been hesitant, wanting to wait and see how things played out.

But after witnessing today’s events, the smarter ones had already come to the same conclusion.

The rise of the new market was unstoppable!

Because the forces behind the new market were simply too powerful…

Chapter 129: New Identity

Wang Ye did not rush to the Large Market to watch the excitement. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, but Khovansky had called him to the Yukos headquarters, saying there was something they needed to discuss.

Clearly, it was about fulfilling the promise he had made to Wang Ye the day before—the position of president of the Sun Market Group and the transfer of twenty percent of the shares!

This matter was naturally far more important than watching the excitement, so Wang Ye immediately put on his clothes, got into his car, and drove to the Yukos headquarters.

He did not bring Alyona. After all, he was going to discuss serious business—what was the point of bringing a woman along?

…

The Yukos headquarters was located in the center of Moscow, not far from Red Square.

Wang Ye drove from home and arrived at the Yukos headquarters in less than half an hour.

The building appeared to be newly constructed, unlike the older buildings around it. It was a completely modern structure.

It wasn’t particularly tall—only about twenty stories—square and solid, with gray-white granite walls on the outside, giving it a dignified yet unassuming appearance.

Just looking at the exterior, one might find it hard to believe that this was the headquarters of Russia’s largest oil company!

Wang Ye parked his car in the parking lot in front of the entrance and quickly made his way to the lobby.

Inside, one of Khovansky’s assistants was already waiting for him. As soon as he saw Wang Ye, he came forward to greet him.

“Mr. Wang, please follow me. Mr. Khovansky is already waiting for you,” the assistant, a man in his thirties, said kindly.

He must have known why Wang Ye was here, so he was very polite.

Wang Ye nodded and followed him into the building.

Although the exterior of the building looked modest, the interior was extremely luxurious!

The natural marble floors were polished to a mirror-like shine, the spacious and bright high-speed elevators, and the various art pieces displayed everywhere—this was completely different from the old buildings commonly seen in Moscow!

Khovansky’s office was on the top floor of the building, occupying the entire level…

The floor was covered with thick, soft wool carpets, and the dazzling crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. The walls were decorated with precious redwood and dark leather.

Compared to the ordinary Russian buildings Wang Ye had seen, such as the dormitories at the University of Friendship and the residential buildings in Alyona’s hometown, this was a completely different world!

In the large office, Khovansky was sitting behind his desk. When he saw the assistant bring Wang Ye in, he stood up, smiling, and gave Wang Ye a firm hug.

“Misha, come sit over here. Things happened so suddenly yesterday that we didn’t get a chance to talk properly. Today, I’ve cleared my schedule just to discuss the next steps with you.”

The two of them sat down on the sofas in the reception area. Two tall, beautiful women brought coffee, pastries, and a fruit platter.

The male assistant who had brought Wang Ye in sat to the side. There were only three people in the entire office: Wang Ye, Khovansky, and the male assistant.

Khovansky nodded at the assistant, who immediately understood and brought over a large leather envelope, handing it to Wang Ye.

Wang Ye took it and opened it. Inside were two small booklets with reddish-brown covers, each bearing a gold-embossed double-headed eagle emblem and two lines of Russian text.

These were Russian passports!

He didn’t quite understand, so he looked up at Khovansky.

Khovansky smiled and said, “Open it and take a look.”

Wang Ye flipped open the cover of one of the passports. As soon as he saw the first page, he froze.

The photo inside was unmistakably of himself!

The name field read: Mikhail Ivanovich Khodorkovsky!

Place of birth: Krasnoyarsk!

After staring at it for a while, Wang Ye was completely confused and didn’t know what this meant.

Just as he was about to look up and ask, Khovansky began to explain:

“Since we’re transferring shares of the Sun Market Group to you, and considering your long-term development in Russia, having a foreign identity might cause legal troubles or even hidden risks.

So, I took the liberty of arranging a Russian citizenship for you. These two booklets are your Russian passports—one for domestic use and one for international travel.

Rest assured, these are genuine identities, officially registered. No matter how anyone checks, there won’t be any issues.”

Wang Ye was speechless. He tentatively asked, “What about Boss Kong…?”

Boss Kong was also Chinese and held shares in the Sun Market Group.

Wang Ye didn’t want an extra nationality…

“Haha, you might not know this, but he became a Russian citizen long ago.

But yours is different from his. Now, you essentially have two identities.

Your Chinese identity remains intact—you’re still Wang Ye, an eighteen-year-old exchange student.

At the same time, in Russia, there’s a Russian citizen named Mikhail, who is my distant relative.

Because of this family connection, I plan to transfer twenty percent of the Sun Market Group’s shares to him and groom him to take on the role of president of the Sun Market Group.

Do you understand now?”

Khovansky said with a smile.

Wang Ye was a smart man. After hearing Khovansky’s explanation, he immediately understood!

This was equivalent to giving himself an additional Russian identity out of thin air!

Of course, with Khovansky’s influence, it was impossible for him to arrange a fake identity. If he said it was real, then it must be flawless.

As long as he presented this Russian passport, no matter where he went, people would believe he was a “genuine” Russian young man…

Additionally, his Chinese identity remained intact, and he was still just an ordinary exchange student.

On the surface, the identity of “Wang Ye” had no connection to the Sun Market Group or Khovansky.

The president of the Sun Market Group, Khovansky’s distant relative, was a Russian young man named “Mikhail”!

…

An ordinary person might not understand why Khovansky went through so much trouble to give Wang Ye a new identity.

But Wang Ye could roughly guess…

Without any hesitation, he smiled as he flipped through the two passports before putting them back into the leather envelope.

He looked up and said with a smile, “This is perfect. Now I’m also a Russian citizen, which will make many things much more convenient. Thank you, Mr. Khovansky.”

Khovansky shook his head and laughed heartily. “Haha, from now on, don’t call me Mr. Khovansky. According to your new identity, you should call me uncle.”

Wang Ye broke into a slight sweat. Did he just gain a “free uncle”?

But it didn’t seem so bad…

After a moment of hesitation, he obediently called him “uncle.” Khovansky let out another hearty laugh, clearly pleased.

Perhaps Khovansky had arranged a new Russian identity for Wang Ye and had plans to groom him.

After all, it was extremely difficult for a “foreigner” to achieve significant success in Russia!

Having a local identity, whether tangible or intangible, could save a lot of trouble.

Khovansky’s ambitions were not small—being just the richest man in Russia was not enough for him…

Chapter 130: Wang Ye’s “Background”

Beyond business development, Khovansky had even greater ambitions!

Wang Ye, with his outstanding performance and the deep bond they shared, had become a key figure in Khovansky’s plans. The Russian identity was a crucial threshold, one that would facilitate future arrangements…

Don’t be fooled by Wang Ye’s appearance—he didn’t look like a typical Russian. But in Russia, there were many dark-haired people, Mongols, and others. Wang Ye’s features were quite defined, and his Russian was flawless. As long as no one claimed he was ethnically Russian, there would be no issues.

Moreover, Russian passports didn’t even list ethnicity…

………………..

“By the way, do you know your background? Your Russian background?” Khovansky asked with a smile.

Wang Ye: “……”

He could only shake his head. He didn’t know his own background, which sounded absurd when he thought about it…

“I have a cousin who moved to Siberia with her family when she was very young.”

“Due to poor communication and the vast distance, we gradually lost contact.”

“Later, I heard she married a Russian of Chinese descent and had one child—that’s you! That’s why you look so Chinese…”

“You were born in a small town in Krasnoyarsk, which is in Siberia, over four thousand kilometers from Moscow. It’s one of Russia’s most remote regions.”

“The place is vast and sparsely populated. You can travel hundreds of kilometers without seeing a single person. Many villages and towns are slowly disappearing.”

“The town where you were born no longer exists—everyone either died or left for other places.”

“When I found out, I sent someone to bring you here, and that’s how we got Misha, haha…”

This so-called “background” was full of holes and didn’t hold up to scrutiny.

But so what…

In the decade since the Soviet Union’s collapse, Russia had seen all kinds of absurdities. No one cared.

So when Wang Ye pointed out that the story didn’t sound credible, Khovansky just shrugged.

Indifferently, he said, “Who cares? Who’s going to question your background? You’re not running for president! As long as the law recognizes you as a native Russian, that’s all that matters.”

Wang Ye had no response. Khovansky was right—no one would pay attention to him.

He could only say, “Fine… what was the place called again?”

Wang Ye couldn’t remember where he was supposed to be from…

“Krasnoyarsk,” Khovansky reminded him.

“Oh, right, Krasnoyarsk. That name is hard to remember. So now, you’re my only relative?”

Wang Ye asked, somewhat helplessly.

“Of course. That’s why I brought you here and took you under my wing,” Khovansky replied with a smile.

“What about my other identity, the exchange student Wang Ye? Should I get rid of it?”

Wang Ye asked.

“Not at all. Keep it as is—it doesn’t interfere. You can continue your studies if you want. But if it’s too much trouble, you can drop out and let that identity fade away,” Khovansky said indifferently.

………………..

After settling the “background” issue, the assistant brought over a thick folder and handed it to Khovansky.

“This is your appointment letter, employment contract, and share transfer agreement. Just sign them,” Khovansky said, pushing the folder toward Wang Ye.

A quick glance revealed that the Sun Market Group’s board of directors was appointing Mikhail (Wang Ye) as the group’s CEO.

The annual salary wasn’t high—only six hundred thousand US dollars.

But depending on market performance, if the board’s targets were met, he could receive a minimum of 2% and a maximum of 5% of the profits.

Additionally, the CEO position came with comprehensive benefits—housing subsidies of ten thousand US dollars per month, a company car, security personnel, and more.

This meant the group would spend at least one million US dollars on him annually, not including profit shares!

The board’s first-year target was to achieve at least an 80% occupancy rate for the Sun Market.

If the occupancy rate was between 80% and 90%, Wang Ye would receive 2% of the group’s profits as a bonus.

If it exceeded 90%, the bonus would be 5%!

For a wholesale market like this, as long as it operated normally, there was no risk of loss—only a question of how much profit it would make.

………………..

The share transfer agreement involved Khovansky selling a portion of his own shares to Wang Ye for the symbolic price of one US dollar.

Of course, the recipient’s name remained Wang Ye’s Russian identity…

Wang Ye didn’t hesitate. After a quick review, he took the pen from the assistant and signed all the documents in one swift motion.

He wasn’t worried about being “tricked” by Khovansky.

Honestly, given Khovansky’s wealth and status, he had no reason to scheme against him.

Besides, what did he even have to lose…

All the documents and certificates had already been stamped in advance. Once Wang Ye signed, they became official.

The assistant carefully checked the documents, divided them into two copies—one for the archives and one for Wang Ye.

After everything was settled, Khovansky stood up, satisfied, and patted the assistant on the shoulder.

He introduced him to Wang Ye:

“Misha, this is Ivan. He’s my right-hand man.”

“I’ll send him to assist you at the Sun Market Group. You’ll be in charge of the main business operations, and Ivan will help coordinate external relations.”

“As for Kong, he can handle the day-to-day market management.”

“With the three of you working together, the Sun Market Group is sure to thrive!”

The male assistant bowed slightly, extending his right hand to Wang Ye. “CEO Mikhail, if there’s anything you need, just let me know. I’ll do my best to assist you.”

Wang Ye stood up, smiling as he firmly shook Ivan’s hand. “Haha, that’s great. I was worried about not being familiar with the group’s operations. With Ivan’s help, there won’t be any problems.”

“Excellent. Ivan will arrange your security and car later. You should head to the Sun Market this afternoon—it’s probably in chaos by now, haha.”

Wang Ye understood what Khovansky meant by “chaos.”

It was clearly related to what Liu Jun had mentioned that morning—the closure of the Old Market!

This was obviously Khovansky’s retaliation against the ACT Group.

And Wang Ye could use this opportunity to get the Sun Market up and running as soon as possible…

Chapter 131: The New President Takes Office

In the Small Red Building of the Sun Market management office, Boss Kong’s expression was ever-changing.

Earlier that morning, he had received news that the Old Market had been shut down, which had filled him with joy.

He understood that this must have been a decisive move by Khovansky, signaling a complete break with the ACT Group and a heavy-handed approach!

The reason this hadn’t been done before was that Khovansky had been giving the ACT Group’s boss face, adhering to the principle of “live and let live,” each doing their own business.

But after yesterday’s incident, regardless of whether the ACT Group was truly responsible, they had been made the scapegoat!

Khovansky now had ample justification to take action against them!

With the Old Market shut down, whether for a few days or longer, it would undoubtedly shake the confidence of many merchants in the Old Market.

Since safety couldn’t be guaranteed there, no one would dare to put all their “eggs in one basket.” In that case, the Sun Market would become a much more attractive option!

He could foresee that starting today, the storefronts in the Sun Market would become highly sought after!

But not long after, Boss Kong received a call from the group’s headquarters—it was Ivan, Khovansky’s capable assistant.

On the call, Ivan informed Boss Kong of a group decision, which might not have been good news for him…

Because the group had parachuted in a new president!

His name was Mikhail…

Boss Kong had never heard of this person before. Of course, he wasn’t very familiar with the boss’s Yukos Group side of things—perhaps this was someone transferred over from Yukos.

Additionally, Boss Kong was a bit confused.

Because just yesterday, before the incident, hadn’t Khovansky invited Wang Ye to come work for the Sun Market Group?

At the time, he had even promised to make him president.

Later, because of the incident, they hadn’t discussed the matter further.

So why had Khovansky sent a Russian named “Mikhail” to be president today? What about Wang Ye?

Of course, Boss Kong thought that perhaps Khovansky had just been speaking casually yesterday and had forgotten about it afterward.

Recalling how Wang Ye had told him yesterday that they would be colleagues in the future, Boss Kong couldn’t help but find it amusing.

Did he really think becoming president of the Sun Market Group was that easy?

Too naive…

…

Originally, in the Sun Market, the nominal president was Khovansky himself.

Boss Kong served as the executive deputy general manager, overseeing the daily operations of the Large Market, wielding considerable power.

Everyone knew that Khovansky was just a figurehead, and Boss Kong was the true power behind the market.

But now, with the new president’s arrival, Boss Kong would have to relinquish a significant portion of his authority!

Naturally, he wasn’t too pleased about this.

However, Boss Kong didn’t dare say anything about it. After all, the Sun Market Group was something Khovansky had established by investing a lot of money and pulling many strings.

The reason Boss Kong had been made executive deputy general manager was because of his influence among the Chinese merchants.

At the end of the day, the Sun Market still relied on Chinese merchants to thrive…

…

“Boss Kong, the new president will be arriving soon. Would you like to go down and greet him?”

In the office, Boss Kong’s assistant reported to him.

Although Boss Kong wasn’t too happy about it, he was a smart man. Forcing a smile, he stood up and said readily, “Of course I should go greet him!”

He took his assistant and went straight downstairs, standing at the entrance to await the new president’s arrival.

Before long, two off-road vehicles, one black and one white, sped over, coming to a stop in the parking lot in front of the Small Red Building with the sound of brakes.

The black one was a Mercedes G55!

It was identical to the three Khovansky had arrived in yesterday, except this one was brand new!

The white one was a Land Cruiser, also a fine vehicle.

When Boss Kong saw the white car, he paused—it looked familiar…

The doors of the black G55 opened and closed with a “bang bang,” and two people got out. As soon as Boss Kong looked over, his mouth fell open in shock.

Because he recognized both of them!

One was Khovansky’s assistant, Ivan, who had just been there yesterday.

The other…

Was that guy named Wang Ye!

Where was Mikhail?

He glanced at the white car again, but the four burly men who got out were all armed, clearly security personnel. None of them looked like the new president…

While he was still stunned, Wang Ye and Ivan had already walked over.

“Boss Kong, this is the new president appointed by the group, Mr. Mikhail,” Ivan introduced solemnly.

“Call me Misha, Boss Kong. From now on, we’re colleagues. I hope we can work together to build up the Sun Market,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Only then did Boss Kong react.

Hurriedly extending both hands, he forced a smile and cautiously asked, “Mi…ha…il?”

Wang Ye nodded. “Yes, I’m Mikhail. Boss Kong, you can call me Misha from now on. Don’t get it wrong, haha…”

There was a deeper meaning in his words!

Boss Kong nodded in a daze.

The group entered the president’s office, the largest room in the Small Red Building, originally reserved for Khovansky.

Although he only came by occasionally, as the boss, he naturally had to have the best office.

Now that Wang Ye had taken over as president, this office was his to use.

However, the conditions in the market were rather modest, and in terms of luxury, it couldn’t compare to the Yukos Building.

Wang Ye didn’t mind this.

With no one else in the room, only Wang Ye, Boss Kong, and Ivan remained.

Boss Kong finally came to his senses and hesitantly asked, “What’s going on here? Wang… no, Misha, are you Russian? But that doesn’t make sense either. When we signed the lease for the storefront…”

He had interacted with Wang Ye several times before, and he had personally handled the contract for Wang Ye’s purchase of the storefront, so he was quite familiar with him.

Wang Ye shook his head and said meaningfully, “Wang Ye is Wang Ye, and Mikhail is Mikhail! Now, the group has appointed me—that is, Mikhail—as the president of the Sun Market Group, and I also hold a twenty percent stake in the Sun Market Group! Boss Kong is a smart man. You know what you should say and what you shouldn’t, right?”

Boss Kong was indeed a smart man, or he wouldn’t have made it this far.

Hearing Wang Ye say this, his eyebrows twitched several times.

Nodding like a pecking chicken, he quickly said, “I understand, I understand! President Mikhail, rest assured, I will fully cooperate with you in the future. Just give the word!”

…

A new broom sweeps clean, and as the new president, Wang Ye naturally had his own ideas for the Sun Market.

So he immediately called a meeting of the group’s mid-to-high-level management.

First, to introduce himself as the new president.

Second, to adjust the Sun Market’s business strategy…

Chapter 132: The First Three Moves

The Sun Market Group sounded impressive, but in reality, it didn’t have that many employees.

Besides the market management department, there was the customs clearance and logistics company, the finance department, the security department, and the warehousing department.

All the management staff combined only amounted to a little over ten people.

As for the total workforce, there were currently over three hundred employees, with plans to increase that number as needed.

In the large conference room, Boss Kong first introduced Wang Ye and Ivan to everyone.

Then, he introduced the heads of each department to the two of them.

Though some were puzzled by Wang Ye’s presence—he looked far too young, and his appearance didn’t suggest he was Russian at all—no one said anything. No one was foolish enough to question the identity of the new president appointed by headquarters, their direct superior.

After the applause of welcome, Wang Ye began to speak.

Seated at the head of the long conference table, he first smiled and looked around the room.

“Thank you to the board of directors and Mr. Khovansky for their trust in me, appointing me as the president of the Sun Market Group. I’m also very happy to be working with all of you,” he said.

Another round of applause followed.

After waiting a few seconds, Wang Ye raised his hand to signal for silence.

He continued, “Everyone knows that our group has very strong financial backing, and headquarters is extremely supportive of us! The board has authorized me to adjust our business strategy based on actual conditions. After careful consideration, I’ve decided to stop selling the remaining stalls. From now on, all remaining stalls will be for rent only, not for sale!”

This announcement had the effect of a thunderclap, and the conference room immediately buzzed with activity.

Even Boss Kong looked at Wang Ye in shock.

He hadn’t been informed about this, and Wang Ye hadn’t consulted him beforehand.

Wang Ye didn’t rush to explain. Instead, he waited with a smile for everyone to quiet down.

Boss Kong couldn’t hold back any longer and asked, “President Mikhail, given the current situation, we shouldn’t have any trouble selling the stalls. Why suddenly stop sales and switch to renting? That would be bad for our cash flow.”

Wang Ye smiled and asked him in return, “Even if all the stalls are sold, how much money would we actually recover?”

The stalls in the Sun Market were currently priced at five thousand dollars each.

There were thirty-five streets in total, with three thousand five hundred stalls.

Subtracting the three streets and three hundred stalls Wang Ye had already purchased, that left three thousand two hundred stalls.

Calculating at five thousand dollars each, the total value would be sixteen million dollars.

Boss Kong naturally did the math quickly and replied, “Around sixteen million dollars, though in reality, it might be a little less because of bulk purchase discounts.”

Wang Ye stated bluntly, “That amount of money is nothing to the group!

Now that the Old Market is in trouble, a large number of merchants will flood into our new market!

If we keep ownership of the stalls, then in the future, besides management fees, we can also collect rent!

Everyone should know how high the rent is in the Old Market.

Even if we don’t match their level, as long as our rent reaches that of the Old Market, each stall could bring in more than ten thousand dollars a year for the group!

And that’s every year!

Isn’t that better than selling the stalls?”

Everyone fell silent, suddenly realizing that the situation might indeed be as Wang Ye described.

Boss Kong still frowned and asked, “But there’s another problem. How long will it take for our rent to reach the level of the Old Market? If we set such high rent right from the start, will anyone even come?”

He wasn’t objecting to Wang Ye’s idea; he was genuinely concerned.

After all, Boss Kong had invested his entire fortune into the Sun Market Group. He also hoped the company would make big profits!

If Wang Ye messed things up and the company not only failed to make money but also lost money, Boss Kong would have nowhere to turn.

Wang Ye shook his head and asked with a smile, “Who said we have to charge such high rent right now?

Not only will we not charge high rent, but we will also waive rent and management fees!

First, we need to attract merchants and build up our reputation!

Only with a good reputation can we talk about the next steps!”

Boss Kong was speechless because, upon careful consideration, Wang Ye’s proposal seemed feasible.

Instead of selling the stalls, they would keep ownership.

By waiving rent and management fees, they could attract merchants to set up shop. Once the market gained popularity, they could start charging rent!

If they could truly achieve the same level of popularity as the Old Market, the rent alone would be a huge sum every year!

………………

“I support the president’s proposal. This is the best way to maximize the group’s interests. Besides, we now have the best opportunity!” Ivan spoke up from the side.

He was there to assist Wang Ye, so naturally, he wouldn’t oppose Wang Ye’s proposal unless Wang Ye’s actions seriously harmed the group’s interests.

Boss Kong also slowly nodded in agreement.

With the three core decision-makers in agreement, the other mid-to-high-level leaders naturally had no objections.

Everyone unanimously agreed!

With the first matter settled, Wang Ye moved on to the second.

He looked at Ivan and asked with a smile, “How is our group’s relationship with the local police station?”

Ivan replied straightforwardly, “Very good!”

“Then can we have them set up a fixed patrol route around our Sun Market to ensure safety? Of course, we must make it clear that within the market, they are not allowed to find any excuse to deliberately harass people,” Wang Ye said.

Ivan looked a little troubled. Setting up a patrol route wasn’t difficult, but ensuring that those corrupt officers didn’t take advantage of the situation to make extra money was tricky.

“We will cover part of the security costs. It’s a form of police-community cooperation,” Wang Ye said, noticing his hesitation.

This was a way of paying “protection money”!

By preventing those corrupt officers from harassing Chinese business owners, the group would directly give them a sum of money each month. Whether it was public or private, they could divide it however they wanted!

Ivan thought for a moment and nodded, saying, “I estimate that fifty thousand dollars a month should be enough. We can’t give too much, or their appetite will keep growing.”

“You can handle the negotiations. Also, we must ensure the safety of all people and property of those doing business in our market. If we can’t even guarantee basic safety, why would anyone come here to rent a stall? Moreover, comparison is the best way to highlight differences! The Old Market has been shut down, and many people have suffered huge losses. If we can promise our customers that if our market is ever shut down, we will cover all their losses, do you think those merchants will rush to rent stalls here?”

Wang Ye finally revealed his “trump card”!

If they could truly make such a promise, it would be extremely attractive to Chinese business owners!

Doing business in Russia was risky due to the gray area of customs clearance. Many were constantly on edge, fearing that one day they might be inspected, which would mean losing all their goods!

Just like this time, with the Large Market being shut down, many were expected to suffer huge losses…

At a time like this, if the Sun Market stepped forward and said, “Come do business here. We guarantee it won’t be shut down. And if it is, we’ll cover all your losses!”

Wouldn’t everyone be fighting to get a stall in the Sun Market?

Chapter 133: Can You Do It?

Wang Ye’s proposal left everyone in the conference room gasping in shock.

Too bold!

Honestly, everyone present knew that all wholesale markets in Russia, including Sun Market, were technically “illegal”!

If taken seriously, not a single one could escape scrutiny!

Since none of them had gone through proper customs clearance, they all relied on so-called “gray customs” channels.

Such a guarantee would naturally be a huge temptation for the merchants, as it addressed their greatest concern.

Just look at what happened to Old Market today.

But the question was—could Sun Market really deliver?

If they failed, how much would they have to compensate?

Boss Kong immediately jumped up in objection, glaring as he said, “This… this is insane! Mr. President, do you know how much we’d have to pay if something goes wrong? At Old Market, the total value of the goods is estimated to be hundreds of millions of dollars!”

Ivan didn’t voice his opposition, but his expression was grave.

Clearly, he wasn’t sure about Wang Ye’s proposal either.

The other managers didn’t dare to openly object, but they whispered among themselves.

Wang Ye remained calm. After all, the current decision-makers at Sun Market Group were just him, Boss Kong, and Ivan.

As long as one of them supported him, there would be no problem.

Once the room quieted down a bit, he began to explain, “Boss Kong, you should know more about Large Market than I do.”

Boss Kong nodded proudly without hesitation. “Of course! I’ve been involved in Old Market for many years. I can say I’m very familiar with all the major wholesale markets in Moscow! Otherwise, the group wouldn’t have appointed me to manage market operations.”

He deliberately pointed out that as the deputy general manager, he was primarily responsible for market operations!

So regarding market operations, his opinion had to be respected!

Wang Ye immediately followed up, “Then, Boss Kong, I’d like to ask—how many times has Old Market been shut down in the ten or so years it’s been operating? I’m not talking about temporary inspections, but complete closures where all goods are seized!”

Boss Kong was left speechless.

Because everyone knew the answer.

Not once!

Although there had been many temporary inspections, and rumors often circulated that Large Market would be shut down, Old Market had stood firm for over a decade without any serious issues.

Even now, with the situation so severe that even the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs had intervened, Boss Kong and Ivan knew that Old Market wouldn’t truly be completely shut down. This was just a way to intimidate ACT Group.

In the end, Old Market would continue to operate, and the goods inside wouldn’t all be confiscated.

Ivan suddenly realized what was going on. His eyes lit up as he exclaimed, “I get it! This is just an empty promise! On the surface, it’s a guarantee, but in reality, it’s no guarantee at all…”

Wang Ye smiled and nodded. “Yes, although it’s practically an empty promise, it will definitely boost the merchants’ confidence in Sun Market! It’s a kind of marketing strategy.”

With that, everyone fell silent and raised their hands in agreement.

…

Was there really no risk in making such a promise?

Actually, no!

Others might not know, but Wang Ye was well aware.

Whether it was Old Market or Sun Market, they would all eventually be completely shut down!

And a large batch of the merchants’ goods would indeed be confiscated!

Many would suffer heavy losses, losing everything!

But that would be many years later…

Wang Ye believed that by then, he would have already found a way to distance himself from Large Market and Sun Market Group.

At worst, he could subtly warn the merchants not to stock too much inventory in the market.

That way, they could avoid losses…

…

The meeting didn’t last long. After discussing a few adjustments to the group’s business direction, everyone dispersed to attend to their own tasks.

Especially Boss Kong and Ivan—they had a lot to do.

With Old Market under investigation, many Chinese business owners had already come to inquire about buying or renting stalls at Sun Market…

Back in his office, Wang Ye took off his suit jacket, removed his tie, and unbuttoned the collar of his white shirt.

Switching from a student to a business elite so suddenly was still a bit unfamiliar…

After some thought, he picked up his phone and called Alyona, telling her to take a taxi directly to the market. Things were about to get busy…

According to Wang Ye’s instructions, the remaining stalls at Sun Market Group were now only for rent, not for sale.

But don’t forget—Wang Ye had already bought three streets in advance!

Whether he sold or rented these stalls, it was his own business, unrelated to the group.

Moreover, his three streets were the only shoe district planned in the entire Sun Market!

Any Chinese business owners who wanted to sell shoes at Sun Market would have to rent stalls from Wang Ye’s three streets.

This wasn’t complicated, but it still required someone to handle it.

The only person Wang Ye could rely on at the moment was Alyona…

…

While Wang Ye was on the phone with Alyona, in another office, Ivan was also making a call.

After reporting Wang Ye’s decisions from the meeting to Khovansky, he expressed his concerns, “Sir, Mikhail’s decisions seem a bit too reckless, especially since he has no prior experience managing a large company…”

Although Ivan was Wang Ye’s assistant, sent to support him, it was clear that he was accountable to Khovansky.

One could even say that Ivan was the person Khovansky had sent to “monitor” Wang Ye and Boss Kong, his true confidant!

After all, Sun Market Group had invested a significant amount, and Khovansky couldn’t just hand it over to Wang Ye and Boss Kong to “mess around” without any oversight…

Before Ivan could finish, Khovansky interrupted him with a hearty laugh.

“Haha, Ivan, don’t worry about Misha’s age and experience. Let me ask you—when you were his age, could you start from scratch, without breaking any laws, in a foreign country, and earn a million dollars in just three months?”

Ivan was left speechless and honestly replied, “I couldn’t.”

“I couldn’t either! But Misha can! So what do we have to worry about…” Khovansky declared firmly.

Chapter 134: Shockwaves Through the Chinese Business Community

Khovansky had absolutely no doubts about Wang Ye’s abilities.

In less than ten years, he had risen to become the owner of Russia’s largest oil company and was on the verge of claiming the title of “Russia’s Richest Man”! His judgment was impeccable.

After learning about Wang Ye’s rags-to-riches story, Khovansky was certain—this young man was no ordinary person!

If only Wang Ye were Russian, the “Seven Oligarchs” might have become the “Eight Oligarchs”!

So, forget about just the Sun Market Group. In a few more years, if Wang Ye’s “loyalty” proved true, Khovansky might even groom him as his true successor!

He could entrust Wang Ye with managing his vast energy empire!

As for Khovansky himself, he had even greater ambitions…

…

Today, the entire Large Market was in chaos.

With the Old Market shut down, the Sun Market was buzzing with activity.

Especially outside the management office, where a large crowd of merchants had gathered to inquire. Old Wu and Old Liu were among them.

Strangely, only two junior staff members from the Sun Market management office had come out to placate the crowd, saying that the group’s leadership was in a meeting and that there might be changes to the investment policies.

Hearing this, the crowd had mixed reactions.

“What kind of meeting? You’ve already started recruiting merchants—five thousand dollars per stall, everyone knows that!”

“Exactly! You advertise in the Chinese newspapers every day. Who doesn’t know?”

“I bet the stall prices are going up! Why hold a meeting now, right when the Old Market is closed? What else could they be discussing if not how much to raise the prices?”

“I’ve figured it out—when doing business with the Russians, just focus on the money. Nothing else matters!”

Everyone was quite sharp…

Old Wu and Old Liu were discussing the matter with a few fellow townsfolk. Old Liu was certain that after the meeting, the stall prices would rise!

He regretted not buying a few stalls earlier to hoard.

Old Wu chuckled and said, “You’re being silly. We sell shoes—we can only open shops in Zones One, Two, or Three. Buying stalls in other zones would just be for resale or renting out. Not much use.”

Hearing this, everyone realized he was right. Old Liu quickly asked, “Then why are we waiting here? Why not just call the number from the ads?”

Old Wu shook his head. “No need to call. I already tried—no one answered. The boss who can buy entire streets in one go must have connections. He probably already knows what happened at the Old Market. I bet the previous discounts are gone. Just wait and see!”

The crowd sighed in agreement, though they understood. If they were the bosses of Zones One, Two, or Three, they would definitely take the opportunity to raise prices…

…

As the crowd outside the Small Red Building buzzed with discussion, Boss Kong strode out confidently with a few of his men.

He held a small megaphone, clearly intending to make an announcement.

Most of the Chinese business owners recognized Boss Kong—the short, stout man was one of the key figures in the Sun Market.

They immediately swarmed around him.

“Boss Kong, I want to buy two stalls!”

“Don’t push, don’t push! Boss Kong, I want to buy a stall too. The price hasn’t gone up, has it?”

“Boss Kong, I want to rent a stall in the shoe section. Who should I contact now?”

“Does the Sun Market have a dedicated jewelry section? I sell small accessories and want to move my business here.”

Hearing their questions, Boss Kong smiled.

This was the perfect storm—heaven’s timing, earth’s advantage, and human harmony!

Mr. Khovansky should have cracked down on the ACT Group long ago…

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had to go around begging for investments recently, only to be ignored by everyone!

Now, the tables had turned!

It was their turn to come begging to him!

But he didn’t show it. Instead, he gracefully raised his arm, signaling for silence. He had something to say.

Sure enough, the crowd quieted down quickly, giving him face.

Boss Kong turned on the portable megaphone, cleared his throat, and announced loudly:

“To better serve our merchants, after group discussions, we have decided to adjust the Sun Market’s business policies!”

“Now, I announce the following:

“First: All stalls in the Sun Market will now be available for rent only—no sales!”

As soon as he said this, the crowd erupted.

The Chinese merchants had mixed reactions—some were pleased, others frowned.

Those who were happy were mostly the smaller business owners. They felt that renting instead of buying lowered the barrier to entry.

Clearly, they wouldn’t have to fork over five thousand dollars upfront to buy a stall.

Plus, if the Sun Market didn’t work out and the Old Market reopened, they could just terminate their lease and return to the Old Market.

But if they had bought a stall, selling it later would be difficult!

Of course, where there were happy people, there were also unhappy ones. Old Wu frowned.

Similarly, many of the more established bosses also frowned.

They were thinking long-term!

Buying a stall was a one-time investment. Though the upfront cost was higher, five thousand dollars wasn’t much to them.

But now, Boss Kong had announced that stalls would no longer be sold—only rented!

Clearly, the Sun Market Group was more confident than ever. They were certain the Sun Market would succeed, even surpassing the Old Market!

But where did this confidence come from…

…

Boss Kong’s next announcement revealed the source of their confidence.

With a beaming smile, he loudly declared:

“Second: The group will work with the police to maintain security in the Sun Market, providing everyone with a safe business environment! Starting today, within the Sun Market, you no longer have to worry about… well, the kind of document checks and extortion that happened before!”

This was even more shocking than his first announcement.

After all, this concerned everyone’s personal safety—a problem they had suffered from for years!

Now, the Sun Market was solving it?

Before anyone could react, Boss Kong continued with the third announcement.

“Third: All merchants who set up shop here will receive a written guarantee from the Sun Market Group. That is, regardless of the reason, any goods lost within the market will be compensated by the Sun Market Group!”

His wording was vague, but everyone understood.

This was in response to what had happened at the Old Market today…

But…

Was the Sun Market Group really that powerful?

To make such a bold promise!

Chapter 135: A Path Never Imagined

The news had an even more explosive effect, instantly bolstering the confidence of everyone present.

The future of Sun Market was undoubtedly far brighter than that of the Old Market!

Otherwise, Boss Kong wouldn’t have dared to make such a promise—or even sign a written contract!

The Old Market had been shut down for days, leaving everyone with heavy losses. No one knew when—or even if—they would be able to retrieve their goods from their stalls.

This was the perfect moment for such a guarantee to strike a chord.

So what was there to hesitate about?

The only thing to do was to rush in and secure a stall—fast!

The scene erupted into chaos as countless people surged forward, desperate to claim the best spots.

After all, there were only so many stalls—first come, first served!

Boss Kong quickly raised his voice to restore order:

“Everyone, stay calm! Line up in order—there are plenty of stalls! Sun Market has a total of three thousand five hundred stalls! And I have more good news—to thank everyone for their support, the first batch of merchants will receive a six-month rent waiver and two months of management fees waived! Plus, you’ll have priority renewal rights!”

One piece of good news after another!

Even without any discounts, people would have been scrambling to move in.

The Sun Market Group was being far too generous!

A six-month rent waiver and two months of management fees—that added up to several thousand dollars!

After Boss Kong finished speaking, several staff members and security personnel stepped forward to maintain order.

They organized the Chinese merchants into lines based on their product categories—shoes, bags, cotton clothing, fur, toys—and began distributing numbered tickets. Those with earlier numbers could proceed to select their stalls and sign contracts, while those with later numbers could attend to other matters and return when it was their turn.

…

Alyona arrived at the Small Red Building by car, only to find the entrance packed with people!

She barely managed to squeeze through, and under the guidance of a tall, burly security guard, she made her way to an office on the far east side of the second floor—the same office where she and Wang Ye had met Khovansky the day before. Of course, now it belonged to Wang Ye…

She knocked and entered, and Wang Ye greeted her with a smile.

They embraced, their cheeks brushing lightly, before Wang Ye took her coat and hung it up for her.

Alyona looked around the office in surprise. “Misha, are you really going to work here now?”

She didn’t yet know how Wang Ye’s meeting with Khovansky had gone, but the situation made it clear enough.

Wang Ye must have joined the Sun Market Group!

“Haha, from now on, call me Mikhail…”

Wang Ye had just started to introduce his new name when he realized he only remembered the first part—“Mikhail”—and had forgotten the rest.

A little embarrassed, he quickly grabbed the new passport from his desk and read aloud: “Mikhail, Ivanovich, Khodorkovsky.”

“And don’t forget—I’m from Krasnoyarsk.”

Alyona blinked in confusion, her face filled with bewilderment.

Wang Ye simply handed her the passport.

When she took it and saw the photo, her expression mirrored his when he had first seen it.

“This… who is this? He looks just like you!” she exclaimed in shock.

Wang Ye chuckled. “Of course he looks like me—it is me! From now on, this is my Russian identity. Mr. Khovansky helped me arrange it. Oh, and I’m apparently his distant relative!”

With that explanation, Alyona finally understood what was going on.

But she still didn’t get it. “Why go through all this trouble for a new identity?”

Wang Ye’s smile faded, his tone turning slightly serious. “Because… in Russia, foreigners aren’t allowed to stand out too much. There are a lot of invisible ceilings for outsiders.”

He wasn’t exaggerating.

The Russians were still quite xenophobic…

Of course, Khovansky’s reasons for arranging this Russian identity for him went beyond that.

There were other factors at play—factors Wang Ye couldn’t speak of. After all, he had only caught hints of them and couldn’t be sure.

…

“You’ll be working here from now on, officially as my assistant. Also, I’ve purchased three hundred stalls. The leasing process will go through the group, but the finances need to be kept separate—keep an eye on that.”

Wang Ye stood behind his large desk, giving Alyona her instructions.

“No problem, I’ll handle it.”

Alyona’s life over the past few months had been nothing short of surreal.

Ever since meeting Wang Ye, she felt like she had stepped onto a path she had never imagined.

What did the future hold?

She couldn’t say.

But one thing was certain—this path was far more exciting than her old life as a teacher!

“Oh, and your salary’s been raised—five thousand dollars a month for now. After all, you’re the personal assistant to the group’s president. Even if you don’t have the merits, you’ve got the hard work to show for it. A lower salary just wouldn’t do.”

Wang Ye teased.

Alyona knew full well that, given her relationship with Wang Ye, she would never want for money.

But hearing that her salary had increased still made her happy.

After all, this money was earned through her own efforts!

It was different from what Wang Ye gave her…

And that made spending it feel more justified.

“Also, I remember you mentioned you have a driver’s license, though you’re not very good at driving. Practice more—I’ll get you a car soon.”

Wang Ye added.

“Thank you, Misha. Thank God for bringing you into my life.”

Alyona gazed at him with affection.

It wasn’t about the material things he provided—it was the care and protection he gave her that moved her so deeply.

…

As they were talking, someone knocked on the office door.

It was Anton, the head of the bodyguards assigned to Wang Ye by Yukos headquarters—a retired special forces veteran who had reportedly fought in the Chechen War.

“Mr. Mikhail, here’s your gun permit and a sidearm. Headquarters just sent them over. Take a look. If you’re not familiar with how to use it, we can arrange some practice time later—I can teach you.”

With that, Anton handed over a small black leather case.

Wang Ye’s hand trembled slightly.

What the—?

A gun permit?

A sidearm?!

Chapter 136: Men Love Playing with Guns

As an ordinary Chinese citizen, Wang Ye had never touched one of these things in either of his lives! And subconsciously, he didn’t think he would ever need to.

So when Anton suddenly handed him a gun and even helped him get a gun license, he was naturally shocked.

“This… do I really need this?” Wang Ye asked in surprise.

Anton nodded decisively and explained, “Even though we have several people protecting you, we can’t provide round-the-clock security. Once you’re off work and back home, we’re off duty too. The security at your apartment is decent, so there’s usually no danger. But we still have to be prepared for the unexpected. You need to have some self-defense skills.”

Men—who doesn’t love playing with guns?

Wang Ye took the small bag, unzipped it, and found a little booklet inside—probably the gun license. He ignored that and looked at the dark, menacing object instead.

The gun wasn’t particularly large. It had a sleek black body with a golden five-pointed star on the grip.

Anton introduced it beside him, “This is a Yarygin-Grach-6P35. In the military, we call it the Yarygin. It’s highly accurate, stable, and has a magazine capacity of seventeen rounds.”

Wang Ye drew the pistol from its holster. It felt heavy in his hand. He held it with one hand, supporting it with the other, and pretended to aim, laughing, “How’s this? Am I doing it right?”

Of course, he only dared to pose—he didn’t even touch the safety, afraid of an accidental discharge.

After Anton left, Wang Ye looked back into the bag and found a few extra magazines. Excited, he strapped the holster around his waist, looked down, and felt it looked ridiculous. With a sigh, he took it off and put it back in the bag.

While Wang Ye was playing with the gun, Alyona sat quietly on the sofa, watching him with a smile. Only after he was done did she speak, “The company assigned you bodyguards?”

Wang Ye nodded, replying casually, “It’s not really necessary, but just in case. They only protect me during work hours, so it won’t interfere with our normal life.”

Indeed, Wang Ye didn’t need 24/7 security. He didn’t have any enemies, and his business was legitimate. The Large Market was just a bit chaotic, and as the president of the Sun Market Group, he had to maintain appearances.

That’s why he had a few bodyguards assigned.

Just as they were talking, Boss Kong knocked and entered, his face beaming. “President, our new policy is a huge hit! There’s a massive line of people downstairs! I think all our storefronts will be rented out within two days!”

This was exactly what Wang Ye had expected, so he wasn’t surprised at all.

Come on—Old Market was shut down, and here they were offering free rent, free management fees, and the security that Chinese merchants desperately wanted! If they couldn’t rent out the spaces, Wang Ye might as well quit.

He might as well go to Khovansky and get that blank check, then hurry back to China to buy a few buildings and live comfortably as a landlord.

And the discounts they were offering were indeed substantial!

Six months of free rent, two months of free management fees, priority renewal rights, personal safety guarantees, property protection…

These conditions were unprecedented in Russia!

If the Chinese merchants didn’t come to Sun Market to rent, they’d have to be fools!

………………

“Oh, right, should I call you Wang… or Mikhail? Because what I’m about to say concerns President Wang—it’s about the storefronts in zones one, two, and three!” Boss Kong asked, looking helpless.

He knew about Wang Ye’s identity.

“Haha, just call me Misha from now on. We’re all on the same team, no need for formalities. What’s up with the storefronts?” Wang Ye laughed heartily.

“They’re being snatched up like crazy! Are you really going to waive six months of rent? I think even if you started charging a thousand dollars a month right now, they’d still be gone in an instant,” Boss Kong said enviously.

When Wang Ye had discussed this with him earlier, he had specifically requested that zones one, two, and three be designated as the shoe district—the only shoe district in the entire Sun Market.

Boss Kong had agreed after a moment’s thought.

After all, from what he saw at Old Market, shoes were a major category, but not particularly outstanding. They couldn’t compare to luggage, cotton clothing, or fur!

But to his surprise, when he took a quick look downstairs just now, the shoe district had the longest line of people waiting to rent!

Wang Ye just smiled without explaining.

He only said, “Don’t be blinded by short-term gains. Think long-term. Once the popularity and market thrive, will the rent be any less in the future?”

Boss Kong could only admire him.

A few hundred thousand dollars a month in rent, half a year straight—that was nearly two million dollars!

To just give it up…

If he were honest with himself, Boss Kong didn’t think he could do it. The storefronts weren’t hard to rent, so why not make more money?

And it wasn’t just a little money—it was a fortune!

But what he didn’t know was that Wang Ye was actually regretting it a little…

The free rent plan had been reasonable at the time because Sun Market wasn’t doing well, and almost no one wanted to do business there. He had so many empty storefronts that he had to use the “free rent” gimmick to attract people.

Otherwise, why wouldn’t they just go to Old Market?

But plans don’t always keep up with changes!

Now that Old Market was shut down, countless Chinese merchants were “homeless.” As Boss Kong said, even if they started charging rent now, the storefronts would still be snapped up!

But if he did that, it would be like slapping himself in the face…

In the end, Wang Ye decided to bear the loss.

Whether it was for his reputation or his integrity, both factors played a part.

Of course, more importantly, Wang Ye had reached a point where two million dollars didn’t mean much to him.

In business, sometimes losing money is gaining an advantage!

Right now, he was losing a lot, but who knew what would happen in a few years?

…………

Boss Kong and Alyona left to handle their tasks. For the next few days, they would be running around nonstop.

Ivan also got moving, driving to the police station to discuss security patrols for Sun Market.

Wang Ye was left alone in the office. After some thought, he called Liu Jun and asked him to come over to discuss something.

Liu Jun had been busy lately too. The study abroad agency was progressing steadily, the phone card company had quietly been established, and the first batch of their own phone cards was about to be released.

Now Wang Ye was also the president of the Sun Market Group!

He had called Liu Jun to arrange for their own phone cards to monopolize the Sun Market!

Chapter 137: Monopolizing the Market

Alpha Hotel was very close to Sun Market.

So in less than ten minutes, Liu Jun arrived.

After entering Wang Ye’s office, he still looked incredulous, scanning the room for a long time before asking, “You… really became the general manager of Sun Market Group?”

Honestly, Liu Jun felt like he was dreaming!

Even though Wang Ye had told him about it over the phone yesterday, he still couldn’t accept it…

Because it was too absurd!

“Take a seat, Liu Ge. It’s just a small company’s general manager, no need to be so surprised,” Wang Ye said with a smile, gesturing for Liu Jun to sit down.

Liu Jun shook his head and sighed, “This is Sun Market Group! It’s bigger than the Old Market, easily making hundreds of millions of dollars a year. How can you call it a small company?”

As an “old hand in Moscow,” Liu Jun naturally understood the potential of Sun Market.

Especially with what had happened at the Old Market today, it was practically a boost for Sun Market!

Wang Ye smiled and didn’t continue the topic, instead turning to business.

“Liu Ge, how’s the phone card business coming along?” he asked concernedly.

Originally, Wang Ye had planned to send Alyona to the phone card company, but now he couldn’t spare her, so he handed the task entirely to Liu Jun.

Liu Jun was reliable in his abilities. Even managing two companies, everything was in order.

“It’s done. From now on, when we wholesale phone cards, we’ll use ours. The price is lower, and the call quality is better. There’s no reason they won’t sell well,” Liu Jun said happily.

Wang Ye nodded. Actually, he wasn’t very interested in the phone card company anymore…

This was normal.

When he was setting up the phone card company, Wang Ye didn’t have much money. He had relied on the study abroad agency and the phone card company to provide enough cash flow.

Then he planned to make a fortune by flipping shops!

This was what he had planned to do in the first two years after his “rebirth”…

Don’t say he had small ambitions. After all, in his past life, he was just an ordinary person, so his ambitions in this life weren’t great either.

If he could manage the study abroad agency, the phone card company, and the shops well, Wang Ye could have a net worth of tens of millions of dollars!

Remember, this was 2001. That was already quite an achievement!

But who could have predicted that now, he had completely taken a different path.

He had stepped onto a bigger stage!

With greater benefits within reach…

Of course, along with greater risks!

………………..

Even though he wasn’t interested anymore, Wang Ye didn’t abandon it. Otherwise, he would be letting Liu Jun down…

To set up this phone card company, Liu Jun had invested all the money he got from the study abroad agency!

Without his help, relying only on the market from a few universities, Liu Jun could go bankrupt!

He smiled and said, “Later, I’ll notify the security team. Anyone who wants to sell newspapers or phone cards in Sun Market must register in advance with the management office. And they must wear uniform… let’s get them red vests, so they’re more noticeable. Of course, the phone cards they sell must be from our company. No other cards are allowed. If they violate this, they’ll be kicked out immediately and won’t be allowed back into Sun Market!”

Originally, Liu Jun had been thinking about how his phone cards could compete with the existing phone card companies.

After all, their distribution channels were already established, and many users were familiar with those cards.

A newly established company like his would have a hard time competing!

But now, Wang Ye had solved all the problems with just a few words.

It was easy to imagine that with the Old Market closed, Sun Market was booming.

The competitors couldn’t even enter to sell their cards. All the merchants who wanted to buy phone cards had no choice but to buy from his company!

This…

This wasn’t normal business competition.

This was a dimensional strike!

“This… isn’t this a bit unfair?” Liu Jun rubbed his hands, feeling a bit embarrassed.

He felt like this was bullying.

The entire Sun Market wouldn’t allow competitors in…

“Haha, it’s fine. This is our territory. Should we let them come and take a piece of the pie?” Wang Ye said nonchalantly.

Liu Jun didn’t say anything more, but he was filled with emotion.

Now, Wang Ye was almost at the point where “a word from him could decide life or death!”

With just a few words, several phone card companies might go bankrupt!

And those companies wouldn’t even have a chance to struggle…

………………..

This was the difference in perspective and problem-solving at different heights!

Previously, Wang Ye had considered how to get his company’s phone cards into the Large Market.

At that time, he had planned to bypass the newspaper sales channels and have the many exchange students working as part-time translators in the Large Market sell the cards!

If the profit margin was large enough, those exchange students working as part-time translators in the Large Market would be happy to earn some extra money!

This way, they could bypass the traditional phone card sales channels and pull off a “Trojan horse” strategy!

It had to be said, this plan had a high chance of success. At the very least, it could split the market with the existing phone card companies…

But now, Wang Ye didn’t consider doing that anymore!

Because he was the general manager of Sun Market Group. Sun Market was his territory!

Here, his word might not be the final say, but it was close enough.

Why go through all that trouble for something that could be solved with a single sentence…

Moreover, this way, it wasn’t about splitting the market with others. It was about monopolizing the market!

They didn’t need to give too much profit to the end retailers. The company could earn more profit!

…………….

Sitting on the sofa, the two men each had a cigarette, enveloped in swirling smoke.

“I might not go to Qingyun Company much in the future, so it’ll be entirely up to you. How about this, let’s sign a stock transfer agreement later, and I’ll transfer another ten percent of Qingyun Company’s shares to you,” Wang Ye suddenly said.

Hearing this, Liu Jun couldn’t be bothered with smoking anymore. He quickly put out his cigarette and waved his hands in a panic, “No, no, that won’t do! I’m still the general manager at Qingyun Company, earning a salary. That’s what I should be doing. Even though you don’t manage the company much, the company’s current situation is absolutely inseparable from you. So, I can’t take the shares!”

His attitude was very firm, with no ambiguity.

Wang Ye smiled and waved his hand, “Don’t be polite. This is what you deserve.”

What he had just said wasn’t to test Liu Jun or anything. He really wanted to give him more shares!

Chapter 138: Field Training

If Liu Jun were given another ten percent of the shares, then in Qingyun Company, Wang Ye would still hold fifty percent, remaining the largest shareholder!

Liu Jun and Xiao Hu would each hold twenty percent, while Wang Dan and Nalan Yaqi would each hold five percent.

Honestly, Qingyun Company was still a high-quality and profitable business. The domestic study abroad market was enormous! As long as they could secure a share of it, they could earn a substantial amount. So, Wang Ye had no intention of giving it up.

However, he truly didn’t have the time or energy to manage it anymore.

Wang Ye had a premonition that becoming the president of Sun Market Group would not only bring him higher social status and greater wealth but also various unpredictable troubles and risks…

In short, this position would be his stepping stone to truly entering Russia’s upper echelons!

He needed to devote all his energy here because, from now on, the people he would encounter would no longer be ordinary…

Oligarchs, underworld bosses, social elites, Duma members, high-ranking officials…

These people were not easy to deal with!

…

Wang Ye knew that if he wanted to achieve greater success in the future, he couldn’t do it alone. He needed to cultivate his own team, with enough talent and loyal followers!

Talent was easy to find—just offer enough money, and all kinds of skilled people could be recruited.

But loyal followers? That was much harder…

Given his special status as a “foreigner” here, even though he now had a Russian identity, he wasn’t a native Russian. Recruiting Russians as loyal followers would be difficult in the short term.

Someone like Liu Jun, whom he knew well, was rare.

Capable, familiar with Russia, Chinese, and on good terms with him!

Wang Ye naturally didn’t hesitate to give him more shares to win him over.

Neither Wang Ye nor Liu Jun realized that their interactions were no longer completely equal…

Facing Wang Ye, Liu Jun no longer spoke as casually as when they first met. Instead, he carefully considered his words before speaking.

…

Seeing Wang Ye’s firm attitude, Liu Jun stopped refusing and thanked him repeatedly.

After finishing their discussion, Liu Jun stood up to leave—there was still much to do at the company.

Wang Ye thought for a moment, put on his coat, picked up the small black bag, and walked out of the office.

Outside his office, in the corridor, a few long benches sat empty. A security guard was idly sitting there, but upon seeing Wang Ye emerge, he quickly stood up.

“Sir, are you going out?”

Clearly, he noticed Wang Ye wearing an outer coat and carrying a bag, which suggested he was heading out.

Wang Ye nodded and asked, “Where’s Anton? I have some free time this afternoon—let him take me to practice… this!”

He gestured with his thumb and index finger, and the guard immediately understood.

Smiling, he said, “Anton and two other colleagues are resting in the room next door. We take turns standing guard outside your office.”

With that, he called out, “Boss! Mr. Mikhail is going out!”

The door to a small office next door immediately opened, and Anton, along with two other burly men, walked out.

“Let’s go. Find a place and take me to practice with this thing,” Wang Ye said, lifting the small black bag in his hand.

Anton, of course, knew what was inside.

He nodded decisively and said, “Then let’s go straight to the wilderness in the suburbs. Shooting there is much more exciting—shooting in a range feels like child’s play!”

Moscow was vast, and the suburbs were covered in dense forests with few people around.

Anton was right—shooting there allowed for unrestrained practice, giving a real combat feel…

This was something indoor shooting ranges couldn’t compare to!

…

Without delay, Wang Ye went downstairs and told Alyona that he would return to pick her up later for the evening.

Then, accompanied by Anton and three other burly men, he left.

A black and a white SUV roared toward the suburbs.

The Large Market was already on the outskirts of the city, and after driving a short distance, the roads were flanked by dense forests, with fewer cars in sight.

Anton drove the large G-wagon, with Wang Ye in the passenger seat.

The man drove aggressively, overtaking every car in sight!

But the G-wagon had the power to back it up—with a 5.5L V8 engine, it was an absolute performance beast in this era…

The black G-wagon roared onto a secluded dirt road, followed by the white Land Cruiser.

The road was rough and uneven, with no signs of recent traffic.

After driving a stretch, they turned again, heading straight into the forest beside the road!

Finding a relatively flat spot, Anton parked the car.

With the sound of doors slamming, Wang Ye and the others got out.

“This place is good—no people around, so we won’t disturb anyone,” Anton said, looking around satisfactorily.

Wang Ye opened the bag, took out the heavy Yarygin pistol, and handed two magazines to Anton.

Anton took the gun and magazines, checked them skillfully, loaded a magazine, and with a “click,” released the safety. He demonstrated for Wang Ye, “You’ve never used one before, so you’ll need to get used to the recoil. It’s best to hold it with both hands to maintain stability and accuracy…”

After explaining the basics, Anton gripped the gun with one hand and supported the frame with the other, aiming at a large tree nearby and pulling the trigger.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

Several shots rang out, and the tree’s bark splintered.

Gun smoke curled from the barrel, and the sharp scent of gunpowder filled the air.

Wang Ye felt a surge of excitement, his adrenaline pumping as he eagerly waited his turn.

The other security guards, however, acted as if they hadn’t heard a thing. Leaning against the car, they smoked and chatted in low voices.

“Your turn. Try it,” Anton said, handing the Yarygin to Wang Ye with a smile.

Wang Ye mimicked Anton’s stance, gripping the handle tightly with his right hand and supporting the frame with his left. He aimed at another large tree and pulled the trigger.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

Another round of gunfire.

The first two shots hit the tree, but the third missed—he hadn’t controlled the recoil well.

“Not bad. This thing is simple—just needs practice,” Anton said, nodding in satisfaction.

…

In this wild forest, under Anton’s guidance, Wang Ye emptied ten full magazines!

Not only did he use up all the magazines in his bag, but he also borrowed the magazines from Anton and the others to practice…

Chapter 139: I Want to Move in With You

Wang Ye still had some talent. His physical fitness was already excellent, and now, under the guidance of a master, he quickly grasped the knack.

Claiming to hit a hundred out of a hundred was definitely an exaggeration, but at close range, he could basically achieve nine out of ten shots!

For self-defense, this was already sufficient…

In fact, there were still a few Uzis in the car!

However, Wang Ye didn’t go for those. Given his status, the probability of needing a pistol was extremely low.

After finishing all the magazines, Wang Ye shook his slightly sore arms and stretched his body. Smiling, he said, “It’s about time. Let’s head back to the company.”

It was already past four in the afternoon. By the time they returned to the company, it would be almost five, nearly time to get off work.

The group got into their cars and started driving toward the Sun Market.

The journey was smooth, and they soon arrived at the management office of the Small Red Building.

At this time, the entrance of the management office still had several long queues. Many people were anxiously waiting to rent stalls.

Wang Ye and his group arrived in two large off-road vehicles. The leading black Mercedes-Benz G-Class was particularly eye-catching.

When Wang Ye and his group got out of the cars, everyone looked over in unison.

Five people got out of the two cars. Four of them were Russian men over 1.9 meters tall, all armed, clearly security personnel.

Wang Ye stood out among them.

Dressed in a suit and polished shoes, he was obviously the leader…

Moreover, he looked like a Chinese man in his early twenties?

Going out in a large G-Class with several bodyguards, this seemed even more impressive than Boss Kong’s entourage!

Now, he appeared at the management office of the Sun Market.

Who exactly was he?

This question was quickly answered.

As Wang Ye walked into the Small Red Building with his bodyguards, the security personnel and staff maintaining order at the entrance all greeted him.

“Good afternoon, President…”

The merchants waiting in line naturally heard this. Although some didn’t understand the Russian word for “President,” there were those who did.

Soon, the news spread through the queue. The young man who looked Chinese was actually the President of the Sun Market Group!

Higher in rank than Boss Kong!

Wang Ye’s appearance had another hidden benefit.

With him and Boss Kong, there seemed to be two Chinese people in the upper echelons of the Sun Market Group!

This made many Chinese merchants feel a psychological closeness…

After Wang Ye entered with Anton and the others, many Chinese merchants in the queue started whispering.

“Hey, is that young man who just went in really the President of this new market?”

“I don’t think so, he’s so young…”

“Several of the older gentlemen who understand Russian said that the staff called him President and Boss Kong the Vice President. Clearly, this young man is of a higher rank!”

“Is he Chinese?”

“Hard to say. The Russians here also have brunettes, who don’t look much different from us Chinese…”

…

Entering the management office, Wang Ye didn’t return to his own office but went straight to Alyona’s.

Alyona’s office door was open. She was busy helping people with stall rental contracts.

Areas one, two, and three of the Sun Market belonged to Wang Ye personally.

So, merchants who wanted to rent stalls in the shoe area had to come to Alyona to handle the contracts.

The process was simple. To rent a stall in the shoe area, one first had to bring their ID to the finance office on the first floor and pay a deposit of two thousand US dollars for one stall!

Moreover, the two thousand US dollar deposit was for renting only one stall. If someone rented two stalls or more at once, the deposit would increase incrementally.

The deposit for the second stall was four thousand US dollars, and for the third stall, it was six thousand US dollars…

Although there was no rent or management fee, it didn’t mean that one could get a stall without spending a penny.

Otherwise, if someone wanted to rent an entire street at once and then sublet it, wouldn’t Wang Ye be taken advantage of!

He naturally had corresponding preventive measures.

Increasing the deposit based on the number of stalls rented was a good method.

As for those who originally wanted to rent several stalls but didn’t want to pay more deposit and tried to rent through multiple people’s names, Wang Ye could only say they were too naive…

The rental contract had corresponding clauses. All interpretation rights belonged to the market management!

“It’s about time to get off work. We should go,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Alyona was busy signing a contract. Hearing this, she looked up, stretched, and replied, “After I finish signing this one, there are two more people waiting at the door. Let’s sign them together.”

There were three hundred stalls in total. It was impossible to finish them all in one day, and there was no rush.

Today, Alyona had already signed nearly fifty contracts, renting out more than sixty stalls.

However, they had only started in the afternoon. Normally, they should be able to sign a hundred contracts a day, and it would take about two more days to finish everything.

As for the merchants who had rented stalls, they couldn’t start their businesses immediately.

Many people’s goods were still being held in the Old Market…

Even those who had rented warehouses outside the market needed two or three days to transport their goods and set up their stalls.

…

Wang Ye, Alyona, and Anton had just gotten into the car and were about to return to the apartment when they received a phone call from Nalan Yaqi…

“Hey, Ye Ge, do you have some time later? Can you drive over and help me move some things?”

“Move what things? Do you need to drive over? By the way, there are plenty of guys in the preparatory building. You can just ask two of them to help you,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

“Oh, I also rented a place outside. Coincidentally, it’s in the same building where you live. I’m moving in today, so I’m asking you, hehe…” Nalan Yaqi replied.

Wang Ye was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Nalan Yaqi to actually move into the same apartment building as him.

Although he had heard her mention it before, he thought she was joking at the time.

After all, the reason he lived there was because of Alyona. Living in the dormitory wasn’t very convenient.

But Nalan Yaqi had no such need!

However, since she had already rented the place, Wang Ye couldn’t say much. After all, Nalan Yaqi had received a considerable amount of money from Qingyun Company.

Paying the rent was obviously no pressure at all.

After a moment’s thought, he straightforwardly said, “Then wait for me a while, about half an hour. I’ll drive to the building and help you move things.”

After getting into the car, Wang Ye instructed Anton, “First, go to the dormitory area of Friendship University, then head home.”

Anton didn’t ask anything. He just nodded and started the car.

The black G-Class and the white Land Cruiser drove one after the other, leaving the Large Market and heading toward the city…

Chapter 140: The Best Time for Revenge

Nalan Yaqi was moving out!

The news quickly spread throughout the entire preparatory courses building.

Of course, it only circulated among the Chinese exchange students; students from other countries naturally didn’t care.

Whether you called it “standing out from the crowd” or “picking a general from a group of cripples,” among the dozens of Chinese female students living in the preparatory courses building, Nalan Yaqi was undeniably the most beautiful…

Thus, she was also the most famous one!

Well, except for Wang Ye…

When Wang Ye had moved out of the dormitory, many girls had been deeply disappointed.

Today, with Nalan Yaqi moving out of the dormitory, it was naturally heartbreaking for many boys!

Zhang Ke was probably the most heartbroken of them all!

Even though his pursuit of Nalan Yaqi had hit a wall and he had more or less given up, at least they lived in the same dormitory building, even on the same floor.

Occasionally seeing her, even if Nalan Yaqi didn’t give him a good look, still felt nice.

Now, Nalan Yaqi was moving out, making it difficult to see her in the future.

So, Zhang Ke felt quite upset.

He paced the hallway for a while, slowly approaching Nalan Yaqi’s dormitory door, peeking inside.

The dormitory door was open, and Nalan Yaqi was inside packing her things, with two large suitcases placed side by side on the floor.

Zhang Ke forced a smile and greeted her, “Hey, I heard you’re moving out?”

Nalan Yaqi looked up at him. After all, they were classmates. Even if she didn’t like him, she wouldn’t be rude.

She replied indifferently, “Yeah.”

“You’re moving where? Isn’t the dormitory good enough?” Zhang Ke quickly asked.

Nalan Yaqi had already finished packing, closing the suitcases and standing up to dust off her hands. She casually replied, “Living with Wang Ye.”

She originally meant that she was going to live in the apartment building Wang Ye had rented, but she just said it that way for simplicity.

But when Zhang Ke heard this, he felt as if he had been struck by lightning…

He stammered for a long time before shakily pointing at Nalan Yaqi, incredulously saying, “You… you’re also going to live with that guy! Are you crazy? He has a Russian girlfriend, and they live together. What are you getting involved for?”

Nalan Yaqi also realized she had misspoken.

But so what!

She raised an eyebrow, impatiently retorting, “None of your business! Are we close? When did it become your turn to manage me?”

Zhang Ke’s face turned red, and the veins in his neck bulged.

At this moment, he felt a sense of despair.

What was wrong with girls these days!

Were they so incapable of self-respect…

Wang Ye was just a bit more handsome, a bit taller, a bit better at Russian, and a bit richer than him…

How come the girls were all throwing themselves at him…

He was also a hardworking and ambitious boy!

Hadn’t he bought a car earlier than Wang Ye and even started a campus taxi business, which was convenient for his classmates and earned him living expenses?

How come no girl appreciated such a hardworking and smart boy?

What kind of world was this…

Zhang Ke couldn’t say a word for a long time.

Nalan Yaqi waved her hand, as if shooing away a fly, “Go away, go play somewhere else! Can’t you see I’m busy? Why are you causing trouble here?”

After saying that, she walked to the door and slammed it shut.

Fortunately, Zhang Ke reacted quickly, or his face would have had a “close encounter” with the door.

He stood there stupidly for a while, wanting to knock on the door but lacking the courage.

Besides, he didn’t know what to say after knocking.

He could only turn around and return to his dormitory in frustration…

…

Back in his dormitory, Zhang Ke became angrier the more he thought about it…

When he first arrived in Moscow, he had been doing quite well. Among the Chinese exchange students in the preparatory courses building, who didn’t know Zhang Ke?

But then, that night in Wang Ye’s dormitory, he had been scolded by Wang Ye.

From that day on, everything started going wrong, and the spotlight was completely stolen by Wang Ye.

He had been rejected by Nalan Yaqi, rejected by Wang Dan, and his pursuit of Han Yan had also been unsuccessful…

These past few months had been miserable for him!

After thinking it over, the root of his misfortune was Wang Ye!

In his frustration, Zhang Ke took out half a bottle of vodka and, with the remaining half bottle of pickled cucumbers on the dining table, started drinking.

Drinking alone was easy to get drunk.

His alcohol tolerance wasn’t great to begin with, and after a few gulps, he felt a bit dizzy.

As he drank, Zhang Ke started cursing, “You better not let me see you again! Otherwise, I… I’ll kill you, you bastard!”

There was only him in the room, and it was obvious who he was cursing…

Just as he was cursing the air, Zhang Ke heard a commotion of footsteps in the hallway, followed by someone knocking on a door and calling Nalan Yaqi’s name.

Zhang Ke’s ears perked up.

He grabbed the vodka bottle and quickly walked to the door, pressing his head against it.

From a distance, he heard a conversation, and the voices sounded familiar…

“Yaqi, have you finished packing… Just these two suitcases? The car is downstairs, so let’s go directly.”

“Done, done. Ah… Ye Ge, who are they…”

The rest was chaotic, with footsteps and the sound of moving things, so Zhang Ke didn’t hear clearly.

But one thing was certain: Wang Ye was outside!

Zhang Ke gritted his teeth, his expression dark and unpredictable.

He hadn’t seen Wang Ye for several days. After all, Wang Ye had moved out and didn’t seem to attend classes much.

It was hard to run into him.

Now, Nalan Yaqi was also moving in to “live with” him…

Zhang Ke thought today was the best opportunity for his “revenge”!

Where you fall is where you get back up. His misfortune had started with being beaten up by Wang Ye, so he had to get his revenge!

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to let it go…

He also knew that in a one-on-one fight, he definitely couldn’t beat Wang Ye.

Their physiques were clearly not on the same level…

Perhaps, if he rushed out, the result would be another beating.

But so what!

As long as he dared to go out and fight, even if he only managed to punch or kick Wang Ye once, he would have vented his anger…

Additionally, he wouldn’t be called a “coward” or “wimp” by others anymore!

However, if he could avoid getting beaten, that would be best…

Zhang Ke’s eyes rolled, and he reached out to grab a fruit knife from the shelf next to the door.

Don’t misunderstand; he wasn’t brave enough to stab someone…

He just wanted to use this to boost his courage!

Maybe it would even scare Wang Ye into not fighting back.

Zhang Ke had also thought it through. He wouldn’t go too far; he would just go up and punch Wang Ye a few times and kick him a few times.

Nalan Yaqi next to him would surely try to stop him, and he would know when to stop…

…

Everything was calculated. Zhang Ke tilted his head back and took another gulp of vodka, then reached out to open the door.

He roared angrily, “Wang Ye, I grass…”

Chapter 141: Sukabure

Wang Ye had brought Anton along with two other bodyguards.

He had expected Nalan Yaqi to have a lot of luggage, but when they arrived, there were only two large suitcases. So, he had the two bodyguards each pick one up and prepare to go downstairs.

Anton and the other two were relatively low-key. They had left the Uzis in the car and hadn’t brought them up, but their waists were bulging with weapons.

Earlier in the afternoon, Wang Ye had emptied the pistol magazines, but after returning to the management office, Anton had gotten some more from the security team. So now, they were fully armed!

The two bodyguards each carried a suitcase with one hand and went straight downstairs. Wang Ye, Nalan Yaqi, and Anton followed behind.

Just as they were about to reach the end of the corridor and go down the stairs, the door to a nearby room suddenly opened.

Someone roared, “Wang Ye, I—”

This startled both Wang Ye and Nalan Yaqi.

But Anton reacted much faster. As soon as the door opened, he turned to look.

He saw a thin, small Asian man holding a shiny knife, about to rush out.

Clearly, this was Zhang Ke.

Anton’s eye twitched. Before Zhang Ke could rush out, he quickly reached out with his left hand and grabbed his neck.

At the same time, his right hand drew a pistol, pressing the muzzle directly against Zhang Ke’s forehead.

With a slight exertion of force from his left hand, Zhang Ke’s feet left the ground, and Anton pinned him against the corridor wall.

With a low growl, “Sukabure!”

His right thumb moved, and with a “click,” the pistol’s safety was off.

This all happened too quickly. By the time Wang Ye and Nalan Yaqi came to their senses, they saw Anton holding Zhang Ke by the neck with one hand, “fixing” him against the wall, and pressing a pistol against Zhang Ke’s forehead.

Earlier, when Wang Ye had brought Anton and these burly men along, Nalan Yaqi had felt something was “off.”

But Wang Ye had only vaguely said they were his friends, so Nalan Yaqi hadn’t pursued the matter further.

Now, seeing the gun, even if she were foolish, she understood that these burly men were not ordinary.

Nalan Yaqi had never seen such a scene before. Her legs trembled, and she quickly grabbed Wang Ye’s arm, hiding behind him, only peeking out with her small head to “spy.”

Zhang Ke was in an even worse state.

Feeling the cold muzzle against his forehead, his whole body trembled!

The fruit knife in his hand had long fallen to the ground.

He was sweating profusely!

The little vodka he had just drunk had probably come out with the sweat, and his mind had become unusually clear.

Wang Ye looked down at the small fruit knife on the ground, then at Zhang Ke, and roughly understood what had happened.

This guy…

Was he trying to fight to the death with him?

Wang Ye frowned and scolded, “Zhang Ke! Are you crazy?”

Originally, they were all classmates, and Wang Ye knew that, including himself and Zhang Ke, their parents had sent them abroad with great difficulty.

So even though Zhang Ke had left a bad impression on him, Wang Ye had never thought of doing anything to him.

Everyone went their own way, and there was no need to interfere with each other.

But Zhang Ke’s actions today surprised Wang Ye. What grudge did they have that would make him pull a knife?

Hearing Wang Ye’s question, Zhang Ke finally came to his senses. His eyes reddened, and tears streamed down.

It wasn’t that he had a change of heart or regretted it!

He was just scared…

“Wang Ye, Ye Ge! I really didn’t mean any harm, I just…”

Before he could finish his explanation, Nalan Yaqi interrupted him. She glared at him and pointed at the fruit knife on the ground, saying, “No harm? What’s this!”

“That… I was just holding the fruit knife to give myself some courage. Ye Ge, believe me, I really wouldn’t dare. I just wanted to kick you a few times to vent my anger.” Zhang Ke sobbed.

Anton looked at his cowardly appearance with some disdain, turned his head, and asked Wang Ye, “Sir, should we take care of him?”

Wang Ye’s heart skipped a beat. Take care of him?!

He quickly waved his hand and said, “No, no, he’s just a student, and we have some disagreements. Let him go. There’s no need to waste time here.”

Anton hesitated for a moment but still let go. He looked at Zhang Ke threateningly and slowly put the gun away.

As soon as Zhang Ke’s feet touched the ground, he felt his legs go weak and sat down.

…

Wang Ye bent down and patted Zhang Ke’s cheek.

He warned, “This is the first and last time! If you dare to do this again, you know the consequences.”

Zhang Ke nodded frantically and said in a panic, “I… won’t dare again! Never again!”

He was really scared!

Even though he boasted every day about being a gangster in China, often fighting and even slashing people, he was just an ordinary person at best, a street thug.

When had he ever seen real weapons?

Just now, when Anton pressed the gun against his forehead, Zhang Ke could really feel that the other party was not afraid to pull the trigger!

They didn’t care about his life at all…

He didn’t know why Wang Ye could associate with such “desperadoes,” and he didn’t want to know!

Zhang Ke only had one thought now: he never wanted to meet Wang Ye again!

If he did…

He would immediately hide far away.

The farther, the better!

Watching Wang Ye, Nalan Yaqi, and the burly man go down the stairs, Zhang Ke was still sitting on the ground, unable to get up.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to get up; his legs were really weak, and he couldn’t stand.

…

Downstairs, seeing the two cars parked side by side in front of the dormitory, Nalan Yaqi paused.

She recognized the white Toyota Land Cruiser; it was the car Wang Ye had just bought, and she had seen it before.

But she hadn’t seen the black Mercedes G-Class before!

After all, they were from the capital, the Plain Yellow Banner!

They had seen the world…

Although Nalan Yaqi didn’t know the exact model of the car, she understood that it must be very expensive!

“Get in the car. Alyona is also in the car. You and her can sit in the back.” Wang Ye helped open the car door.

After getting in the car, Nalan Yaqi greeted Alyona and then secretly glanced at Anton sitting in the driver’s seat.

Earlier, Anton had lifted Zhang Ke with one hand and pulled out a gun, which had really scared her.

Although Zhang Ke was thin and short, being able to lift him with one hand showed that Anton was incredibly strong!

Even more outrageous was his identity. Why did he carry a gun with him?

Apart from Anton, there were several other burly men who didn’t seem like good people.

What was their relationship with Wang Ye?

…

Unable to hold back, Nalan Yaqi leaned over to the passenger seat and whispered in Chinese to Wang Ye, “Ye Ge, what do these people… do? Won’t the police be alarmed by what just happened?”

Wang Ye smiled and didn’t hide it from her.

He said, “They are all security personnel with gun licenses. Now they are my bodyguards.”

This left Nalan Yaqi completely confused.

She asked in a daze, “Our Qingyun Company does legitimate business… Why do we need bodyguards?”

Chapter 142: Let Me Show You My Real Stuff

Clearly, Nalan Yaqi had no idea what had been happening with Wang Ye these past few days.

In the car, Wang Ye didn’t bother explaining. He simply said, “Let’s talk about it when we get home. I’m inviting you over for dinner tonight.”

Nalan Yaqi had already told him that she had deliberately rented the apartment next to his. This time, they were truly neighbors!

…

The car quickly arrived at the apartment building. Two bodyguards helped Nalan Yaqi carry her suitcases upstairs.

Anton pulled two magazines from his pocket and handed them to Wang Ye. “Sir, take these for now. I’ll bring more tomorrow.”

Wang Ye took them. His gun was out of bullets.

Though he probably wouldn’t need them, it was better to be safe than sorry.

After putting down the luggage, Anton and the others drove off in the Coolruz, leaving the big G-Class behind for Wang Ye.

Anton had mentioned that in the next couple of days, they would also have headquarters rent an apartment in this building, making it even more convenient to protect Wang Ye…

Seeing those burly men leave, Nalan Yaqi didn’t bother unpacking her luggage. Instead, she immediately followed Wang Ye into his home.

They had already agreed in the car that she would come over to his place for dinner today.

So, Alyona went straight to the kitchen to prepare the meal, while Wang Ye sat on the sofa watching TV.

Nalan Yaqi sat right next to him, pulling on his arm as she asked, “You still haven’t told me why you need bodyguards. Did you offend some big shot? Are you in danger?”

She was genuinely worried.

She couldn’t imagine what kind of trouble Wang Ye had gotten into that required armed bodyguards!

If she had moved in next door, wouldn’t that put her in danger too…

Wang Ye chuckled and patted her hand. “What are you thinking? Having bodyguards doesn’t mean I’m in trouble. It’s just that headquarters thinks my current position requires this level of security. Oh, let me show you my real stuff!”

Nalan Yaqi’s face turned red. She glanced nervously toward the kitchen and whispered, “You… don’t mess around. Alyona is still here. What… what are you showing me…”

Wang Ye had just reached for the small bag on the coffee table when he heard her words. His hand paused, and he nearly burst out laughing.

He had only meant to show Nalan Yaqi his Yarygin pistol. Where had her mind gone…

He didn’t explain. Instead, he picked up the bag and pulled out the “real stuff”!

Nalan Yaqi’s eyes widened…

So it really was… the real thing!

“You… how do you have this? Does Russia allow private gun ownership? Isn’t this illegal?”

Her eyes were fixed on the Yarygin pistol. She wanted to touch it but hesitated…

“Haha, it’s fine. I have a gun license. It’s legal,” Wang Ye said, pressing the gun into Nalan Yaqi’s hands with a smile.

It felt heavy in her hands. Nalan Yaqi carefully held the gun with both hands, examining it for a long time.

This was the first time she had ever held a real gun…

“Oh, right, what did you mean by ‘headquarters’ earlier?” Nalan Yaqi suddenly remembered something and asked.

“You probably don’t know yet, but I’ve been appointed as the president of the Sun Market Group. You know, the new Large Market. It’s a long story, but in short, I’ve gotten involved with the hidden boss behind the Sun Market Group. He appreciates me, so he made me take on this position. Oh, you know that Russian-Chinese tycoon, Boss Kong? Well, now I’m his direct superior.” Wang Ye explained casually.

Nalan Yaqi listened as if she were hearing a story!

If it had been someone else, or if it had been before today, she would have thought the person was drunk and talking nonsense!

How could that be possible…

But now, with the armed bodyguards, the Mercedes G-Class, and the Yarygin pistol in her hands…

All of this forced her to believe what Wang Ye was saying!

After a long pause, she sighed, “Your life story could be made into a movie! No… even movies wouldn’t dare to be this unrealistic. Movies still need some logic, but in real life, maybe logic isn’t necessary…”

“Hahaha, you flatter me. It’s just fate, I guess. Sometimes, even I feel like I’m dreaming.” Wang Ye shook his head and laughed.

This wasn’t him being modest—it was how he truly felt!

…

After dinner together, Nalan Yaqi thanked them and left. She still had to go back and unpack her luggage.

Once she was gone, Alyona started clearing the table. Suddenly, she said, “She seems to have a thing for you.”

“Huh? Who?” Wang Ye didn’t react immediately.

“Nalan Yaqi, of course. I can tell from the way she looks at you. And now that she’s moved in next door, you’re not going to sneak over there at night, are you?” Alyona looked at Wang Ye with a half-smile.

“Ha, of course not. I’m not that kind of man.” Wang Ye said awkwardly.

He knew that Nalan Yaqi did have feelings for him.

But hearing Alyona say it out loud made him a little embarrassed.

After all, Alyona was his official girlfriend now!

“Sigh, are all men like that? But we’re not married yet. If you really… have something with another woman, I can’t stop you. But if we ever do get married, you have to promise me you won’t go out fooling around.” Alyona lowered her head and said with a hint of grievance.

Wang Ye felt a little ashamed. Alyona was being too understanding…

If he took her words literally, did that mean he could… do whatever he wanted before marriage?

In this regard, Russian girls did seem more open-minded. If this had been back in China, he probably would have been labeled a “scumbag” or a “player” by now.

He walked over and gently wrapped his arms around Alyona’s waist from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder.

He didn’t say anything. He just rubbed his cheek against hers.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to say anything—he just didn’t know what to say.

He was only eighteen, after all. Marriage still felt like a distant concept.

Besides, he couldn’t guarantee that he wouldn’t have other women besides Alyona…

Maybe not Nalan Yaqi, but someone else.

Given the path he was on now, he would probably have a lot of social engagements in the future, and women wouldn’t be in short supply…

Alyona probably understood this, which was why she had said what she did.

…

Meanwhile, in her bedroom just one wall away, Nalan Yaqi felt restless. She tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

She didn’t know how much time had passed…

Chapter 143: Sponsorship Fee

Wang Ye quickly realized that being the president of the Sun Market Group wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

First, he was clearly much busier than before…

The next day, as soon as he arrived at the company, Ivan knocked on the door and walked in.

“President, I’ve arranged a meeting with the local police chief, Inspector Novich. I spoke with him yesterday, and in principle, he agrees to add a new patrol route for Sun Market. As for the sponsorship fee, there’s still some disagreement. He wants to come and see you in person. What do you think?”

Wang Ye nodded and casually said, “Let him come.”

This was reasonable. After all, he was the head of the Sun Market Group, and his social status was not lower than that of the inspector!

Although the police station was considered a “local snake,” the Sun Market Group, backed by the Yukos Group, could be considered a “dragon crossing the river.”

Under normal circumstances, that local snake wouldn’t dare to provoke the Sun Market Group!

At most, they would just check IDs on the street, make some extra money, and annoy people a bit…

Even if Inspector Novich wanted to meet him for a chat, he would have to make an appointment!

It could be said that after taking this position, Wang Ye began to feel what it meant to have “power and influence”!

Of course, his current power was still relatively small, and his status was not high enough.

The allure of power and influence to men was deadly!

Before experiencing it, one might not think much of it, but once you’ve tasted the feeling of having power, it was hard to let go…

…

Before long, Ivan brought in a middle-aged man in uniform with a large belly.

“President, this is Inspector Novich. Inspector, this is our group’s president, Mr. Mikhail.”

Novich quickly stepped forward, extending both hands with a beaming smile. “Haha, Mr. Mikhail, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Wang Ye also smiled and extended his hand, exchanging pleasantries.

Don’t think that Novich’s attitude was too low.

In those days, these public officials lived a hard life and didn’t have much real power.

Moreover, large companies like the Sun Market Group and the ACT Group had powerful backers, which were not something a small inspector could afford to provoke…

If he really offended Wang Ye, it might just take one word, and Novich would be forced into early retirement…

“Inspector Novich, I hear you have some concerns about the cooperation?”

As soon as they sat down, Wang Ye got straight to the point.

When dealing with Russians, Wang Ye had some experience.

That was, don’t beat around the bush. If there was something to say, say it directly. If you had “power,” show it directly!

Foreigners were basically “straightforward.” If you spoke in riddles, they wouldn’t understand!

But if your fist was hard enough, they could feel it very intuitively…

As the Chinese saying goes, “They fear power, not virtue!”

Novich quickly waved his hands. “No, no, Mr. Mikhail, don’t misunderstand. I completely agree with your company’s proposal to add a patrol route to ensure the market’s safety. This is also our police station’s duty. It’s just… it’s just that our police station’s funds are limited. The young officers can’t even support their families. Sigh…”

In the end, it was about money.

Wang Ye turned to Ivan beside him and asked, “What sponsorship fee did you discuss with the inspector?”

“Sixty thousand US dollars a month, but the inspector thinks it’s not enough. He says eighty thousand is a more reasonable number.”

Novich chuckled foolishly. “We have over a hundred people in our station, and we can’t even guarantee patrol vehicles. Sigh, the funds we get from above are really too little!”

Wang Ye thought for a moment and decisively said, “Then let’s make it a hundred thousand a month! But I hope the inspector will do a good job after taking the money. I don’t want any unpleasant incidents to happen in the future!”

Hearing the number “a hundred thousand,” both Ivan and Novich were shocked, but their reactions were different.

Ivan’s lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he didn’t say anything.

After all, he was just a deputy general manager. The matters of the Sun Market Group were still decided by Wang Ye.

Novich, on the other hand, was overjoyed!

This was a hundred thousand US dollars!

Every month!

There were over a hundred people in his station. Even if they split it equally, each person would get a thousand US dollars…

You should know that, according to normal salaries, even his salary as an inspector wasn’t that high—only a little over five hundred US dollars a month.

As for ordinary officers, it was two or three hundred dollars…

Just this hundred thousand US dollars in sponsorship was already much higher than everyone’s salaries!

It could even be said that the Sun Market Group had become the “bread and butter” of their station…

He suddenly stood up, pounding his chest as he guaranteed, “Mr. Mikhail, rest assured! From now on, the security of Sun Market will be the top priority of our station! I will allocate at least half of our police force to this area to ensure everything is safe!”

Wang Ye nodded in satisfaction and added, “Also, remember, this money is also a donation from the merchants in the market. So, in the future, don’t deliberately cause trouble for them by checking their IDs.”

Novich’s face turned red. He couldn’t deny what Wang Ye said, as it was something everyone knew.

He quickly explained, “Hehe, it won’t happen again! I will remind and warn the young officers. If we receive any similar complaints in the future, I will definitely deal with them!”

As he was leaving, Novich earnestly invited Wang Ye to “inspect” their station, but Wang Ye politely declined, saying he would consider it when he had time in the future.

Now that he had just taken over the Sun Market Group, there were countless things to deal with. How could he have time for that?

…

After Novich left, Ivan closed the office door and said worriedly, “President, aren’t you giving them too much? A hundred thousand US dollars is not a small amount.”

Wang Ye waved his hand and smiled. “It’s not like we have to pay this money ourselves. What are you worried about?”

“Huh? We don’t have to pay? Then who does?”

Ivan was confused.

Clearly, this was what Wang Ye had just promised Novich—the sponsorship from the Sun Market Group to the police station.

How could it not be the Sun Market Group paying?

“Of course, the merchants will pay. This fee will be added to the management fee later! We provide such an excellent and safe business environment, which is much better than the ACT Market. The management fee can’t be the same as theirs, right? Hmm, from now on, the management fee for each stall will be increased to six hundred US dollars a month.”

Wang Ye said lightly.

The management fee at the old ACT Market was five hundred US dollars per stall per month. Now, Wang Ye had set it at six hundred US dollars for Sun Market.

With three thousand stalls, that was an additional three hundred thousand US dollars…

Chapter 144: Hua Star Communications

As for whether the merchants would object to the name, Wang Ye was absolutely confident—there was no way they would!

Just as he had said, compared to the old ACT Market, the Sun Market was absolutely superior in every aspect—it was a complete “blowout”!

On top of that, the Sun Market Group was offering free rent and management fees, and even guaranteeing personal and property safety!

Would it be excessive to charge an extra hundred dollars in management fees each month?

Not at all!

From the merchants’ perspective, Wang Ye believed it was completely acceptable.

Those in business didn’t mind paying an extra hundred dollars each month, as long as they could do business peacefully without so many worries.

After a moment of thought, Ivan understood Wang Ye’s meaning.

He couldn’t help but feel impressed.

It seemed his own vision still couldn’t compare to Mr. Khovansky’s!

No wonder Mr. Khovansky held this young man in such high regard, daring to entrust the Sun Market Group to him…

Over the past few days of interaction, Ivan had already sensed the significant gap between himself and Wang Ye.

Many things seemed to become simpler once they were in Wang Ye’s hands.

His ideas were novel, yet highly effective!

Was this what talent was?

It seemed Mr. Khovansky had chosen the right person this time!

………………

After finishing up the matters at the Sun Market in the morning, Wang Ye had Anton drive him to the Alpha Hotel in the afternoon.

Because the phone card company he and Liu Jun had set up was officially opening for business!

As the boss, he at least had to show his face and boost morale for everyone.

Besides, Ruan Xiaozhu was there too, and Wang Ye wanted to support her…

As they had discussed last time, Liu Jun would serve as the general manager of this phone card company, while Ruan Xiaozhu would be the deputy general manager.

However, Liu Jun’s focus would remain more on the study abroad agency. Once Ruan Xiaozhu got the hang of things, he would gradually delegate more responsibilities to her.

Honestly, the company’s operations were fairly straightforward.

It was just a matter of managing the sales channels and paying the telecom company’s contracted fees each month.

When they arrived at the Alpha Hotel, Wang Ye had Anton wait in the car and didn’t bring him up.

There was no need, and if Ruan Xiaozhu saw him, it would just lead to a lot of unnecessary explanations—what a hassle…

Anton didn’t insist, but he did make sure Wang Ye took his gun with him. That way, if anything unexpected happened, he would at least have a way to protect himself.

Today, Anton had brought Wang Ye a portable holster, making it easier to carry the gun. With his suit covering it, it wasn’t easily noticeable.

After loading the magazine, securing the holster, and checking everything was in order, Wang Ye got out of the car and entered the hotel.

You had to admit, having a real gun at your waist did give you a lot more confidence…

………………

The new phone card company was on the same floor as the Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company, not far away.

As soon as he pushed the door open, Wang Ye saw several familiar faces.

There was Liu Jun, Ruan Xiaozhu, and even Yanzi, Song Xiao Gang, Lena, and others!

There were also a few people Wang Ye didn’t recognize, but they all looked like Chinese exchange students, both men and women!

Since the company’s customers were all Chinese, there was no need to hire Russian staff.

Today, on the company’s opening day, Yanzi, Song Xiao Gang, and the other “distributors” had come to show their support.

When Ruan Xiaozhu saw Wang Ye walk in, her eyes lit up. She quickly walked over, casually wrapping her arm around his, and looked him up and down.

Wang Ye felt a little awkward under her gaze and joked, “What? Don’t recognize me anymore, old sister?”

“Hehe, I almost didn’t! I never thought you’d look so handsome in a suit! But I’ve got to say, even though today’s the company’s grand opening, you didn’t have to dress up like a groom!” Ruan Xiaozhu laughed.

Wang Ye used to wear sportswear, but ever since he started working at the Sun Market Group, he had no choice but to wear formal attire.

He was wearing a three-piece Armani suit, complete with a tie, and his leather shoes were polished to a shine!

His hair was meticulously styled, not a strand out of place!

No wonder Ruan Xiaozhu said he looked like a “groom”…

“Haha, don’t joke around. It’s for work, I don’t want to dress like this either—it’s so uncomfortable,” Wang Ye said with a bitter smile.

Dressed like this, he did look much more mature compared to the group of students around him.

He really did look like a boss…

Song Xiao Gang also came over warmly to greet him. It had been a while since he had seen Wang Ye.

It was Wang Ye who had given him the distribution rights for the University of Friendship, so over the past few months, Song Xiao Gang had indeed made some money and looked much more cheerful than before.

“Ye Ge, you’re looking more and more handsome! When are you coming back to the dormitory? The brothers want to drink with you,” Song Xiao Gang said with a smile.

The “brothers” he referred to were naturally the group of guys who had come over in the same batch this year—people like Liu Xiao Jie.

Wang Ye patted his shoulder. “I’ve been too busy these past few days. Once things settle down, I’ll definitely come back!”

………………

Some people were naturally born with an “aura of attraction.” No matter where they went, they instantly became the center of attention, with everyone gathering around them…

Clearly, Wang Ye was one of those people.

From the moment he walked in, everyone’s eyes were on him, with him at the center.

After some casual chitchat, they got down to business.

Since there were no outsiders present, Liu Jun didn’t beat around the bush and directly announced what everyone was most concerned about.

“First, I declare that Hua Star Communications is officially established!”

Everyone burst into applause. “Hua Star Communications” was the name of this new company.

The phone cards they were about to sell would also be called “Hua Star Cards.”

After the applause died down, Liu Jun continued:

“Everyone here has been working together for some time now. Before, we were using another company’s lines, so the costs were high. The wholesale prices we gave you were decent, but they weren’t very competitive.”

“Now, our company has contracted its own independent lines and is printing our own phone cards, so costs can be further reduced!”

“According to Chairman Wang’s instructions, since we’re all partners who have been through thick and thin together, the profits should naturally be shared!”

“So, the markets in each school will still be handled by all of you. We won’t be developing new distributors.”

“Additionally, your wholesale prices will be further reduced! Uniformly lowered to seventy percent of the face value!”

This time, the applause was even louder!

It was obvious—being able to get such a low wholesale price meant their profit margins had increased significantly!

Take, for example, selling phone cards with a face value of ten thousand dollars in a month. The gross profit would be as high as three thousand dollars!

Of course, in reality, everyone would also offer discounts when selling retail, so the actual take-home profit would be around two thousand dollars…

This amount might not seem like much.

But don’t forget, these people were all students!

The money they made in a month was almost enough to cover their living expenses for a whole year!

If they spent it carefully…

Chapter 145: Private Banquet

After Hua Star Communications was established, Wang Ye no longer acted as a “card dealer.”

Whether they were channel distributors or retailers, they now came directly to the company for goods. If needed, the company could even provide door-to-door delivery.

Of course, the campus market was still small, so Liu Jun focused more on expanding channels at Sun Market.

It wasn’t difficult—just place an ad in the Chinese newspaper and wait for those selling papers and cards to come for supplies…

All of this was naturally thanks to Wang Ye.

Without him as the president of Sun Market Group, Liu Jun would probably still be struggling to break into this market.

It truly was a case of “it’s good to have connections in high places…”

After finishing their business, Wang Ye glanced at the time—it was almost five o’clock.

With a wave of his hand, he smiled and said, “Don’t rush off after this, everyone. Let’s have dinner together—my treat! How about that restaurant on the first floor, Maxim’s? The food is quite good.”

The restaurant he mentioned was the most upscale one in the area.

The average cost per person was easily over one hundred and fifty dollars!

In the past, Wang Ye would have hesitated before going there…

But now, he didn’t care about the price at all!

………………..

Inside Maxim’s, Wang Ye sat with everyone around a long table, laughing and chatting.

Most of the guests were students, young people with common topics, so they quickly became acquainted.

Song Xiao Gang and Yanzi, in particular, hit it off, as if they had known each other for years…

Wang Ye didn’t stay until the end. After sitting for a while, with his steak barely touched, he stood up.

Smiling, he said, “Enjoy your meal and drinks. Order whatever you like—I’m covering the bill. But I have to leave first; I have something to take care of.”

He did have business to attend to. Otherwise, he would have called Alyona to join them for dinner.

At noon, Wang Ye had received a call from Khovansky.

He was invited to a private banquet that evening at seven o’clock to meet a friend.

No location was given—only that Anton would drive him there directly.

It was about time now. Wang Ye needed to take Alyona home first, then shower and change before heading to the banquet.

Since Khovansky was so serious about it, the person he was meeting tonight must be someone important!

Wang Ye had to take it seriously, presenting his best self, leaving no detail overlooked!

………………..

Seeing Wang Ye leave so soon after starting his meal, Ruan Xiaozhu pouted in displeasure.

“Hey, you’re such a spoilsport! Are you really that busy? You don’t even have time to eat?”

She didn’t know, but Liu Jun did!

So he quickly interjected, “Wang Ye has been really busy lately. Let him go. We’ll keep eating—after all, we have this big spender treating us! Let’s try to bankrupt him, haha…”

After saying his goodbyes, Wang Ye turned and left the restaurant.

Outside, Anton was leaning against the car, smoking as he waited.

Seeing Wang Ye come out, he flicked his cigarette and said, “Mr. President, Miss Alyona is on her way here. Should we meet her on the side of the road and then head straight back to the apartment?”

Wang Ye nodded and asked, “If I go back to shower and change, will I still have enough time?”

Anton checked his watch and smiled. “Plenty of time. We’ll meet up with Mr. Khovansky first. It’s at the Yukos Building, not too far from where you live. It’ll take about half an hour by car.”

………………..

Back at home, Wang Ye stripped off his clothes and headed straight to the bathroom. Alyona brought him a brand-new suit and carefully inspected his leather shoes.

Though the shoes were already spotless, she meticulously wiped them down again until she was satisfied there wasn’t a speck of dust left.

When Wang Ye finished showering, Alyona helped him dress while saying with concern, “You can’t hold your liquor, so don’t force yourself. Drink less.”

Since Khovansky hadn’t specifically mentioned bringing a “plus one,” Wang Ye couldn’t just bring someone along.

So he was going alone—Alyona wouldn’t be joining him.

Once dressed, Wang Ye turned and gently embraced Alyona, kissing her before saying with a smile, “Don’t worry. Do you think an oligarch like Khovansky would challenge me to a vodka contest? At most, it’ll just be some wine.”

Alyona laughed at that. True, Russia might have many alcoholics.

But an oligarch like Khovansky certainly wasn’t one. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have achieved his current success!

Wang Ye didn’t bring a gun. There was no way such an event would be dangerous, and they wouldn’t let him bring a weapon inside anyway.

Downstairs, Anton had already started the car and was waiting for him.

Only Anton was present; the other three bodyguards had gone to rest.

Wang Ye got into the Mercedes, and Anton drove toward the Yukos Building…

………………..

When they arrived at the Yukos Building, Wang Ye saw a line of cars parked in the small plaza out front.

Three familiar black Mercedes, and another of the same color—a Rolls-Royce Phantom!

Clearly, this was Khovansky’s ride for the evening.

Wang Ye made a call to say he had arrived.

Khovansky didn’t say much on the phone, just told him to wait a few minutes.

After two or three minutes, Khovansky appeared at the entrance of the lobby, surrounded by a group of people.

Wang Ye got out of the car and went to greet him.

“Haha, Misha, I hear you’ve been doing great at Sun Market Group these past few days,” Khovansky said, giving Wang Ye a warm embrace.

“That’s just what I should be doing,” Wang Ye replied modestly.

“Come, let’s take this car.” Khovansky led Wang Ye to the Rolls-Royce Phantom in front.

The two of them sat in the spacious back seat. Besides the driver, Khovansky’s assistant sat in the passenger seat.

The convoy started moving, with two Mercedes in front and two behind, protecting the Rolls-Royce in the middle.

To an outsider, it might have looked like some leader’s motorcade…

………………..

Wang Ye didn’t ask where they were going or who they were meeting.

Instead, he reported on the work at Sun Market Group—the complete shift from sales to leasing, the use of rent-free policies to attract customers, and the “police-civilian cooperation” initiative…

Khovansky listened attentively. Perhaps he already knew about these things.

But now, Wang Ye’s report was more detailed, including his reasoning behind each decision!

After listening, Khovansky nodded in satisfaction and said to Wang Ye, “Excellent! You’ve done even better than I expected! Keep up the good work. There will be bigger stages for you in the future, haha.”

………………..

The convoy was heading toward the outskirts of Moscow. After more than twenty minutes, they had left the city, and endless forests appeared along the road.

After another ten minutes, the convoy turned off the main road and sped down a wide but secluded road.

Not far ahead, a manor hidden in the forest came into view…

Chapter 146: Four Big Shots and One Newbie

The convoy came to a halt at the entrance of the estate. Several burly men, just as imposing as Anton and his crew, stood there holding Uzi, gesturing for the vehicles to stop.

A man stepped out of the lead SUV and exchanged a few words with the guards.

After a brief conversation over the walkie-talkie, the guards stepped aside and opened the gates.

The convoy proceeded slowly forward.

Beyond the grand iron gates of the estate, the view opened up dramatically.

The distance from the entrance to the main building was roughly a kilometer.

A straight road led directly from the gate to the main structure, flanked by flat lawns and distant gardens filled with various flowers and trees.

As night had already fallen, Wang Ye couldn’t see everything clearly.

But one thing was certain—the estate was astonishingly vast.

The main building was an imposing traditional Russian structure, not particularly tall—only about four or five stories—but brightly lit.

In front stood a fountain plaza, where the convoy came to a stop.

Having received word from the gate, the main doors opened, and several people stepped out.

Meanwhile, Khovansky’s attendants opened the car doors, and Khovansky and Wang Ye stepped out.

Standing side by side by the car, Khovansky looked at the approaching figures and said to Wang Ye:

“Misha, these are the people I want to introduce you to tonight. They’re influential figures close to the president—this is Aby!”

Wang Ye’s heart trembled slightly. This was indeed a major figure!

And a clever one at that…

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, in just over a decade, Russia had seen the rise of many oligarchs!

But how many of them had truly met a “good end”?

The one who had fared the best, achieved the most fame, and was known worldwide was none other than Aby!

…

Aby strode forward, a radiant smile on his face.

He and Khovansky simultaneously opened their arms for a warm embrace.

After a few quiet pleasantries, Khovansky turned and introduced, “This young man is my nephew, Misha.”

Then, beckoning to Wang Ye, he said, “Misha, come meet your Uncle Aby.”

Wang Ye obediently stepped forward and called out, “Uncle…”

To be honest, being able to call Aby “uncle” was probably something many people would kill for—there was nothing to feel wronged about.

Aby had fair skin, a short beard, and slightly curly hair. He looked kind, his smile never fading.

He gave Wang Ye a once-over but didn’t ask why Khovansky’s nephew looked so Asian…

Instead, he reached out and patted Wang Ye’s shoulder firmly, praising, “What a fine young man! Very handsome, haha.”

Wang Ye could only smile awkwardly…

…

Aby turned to Khovansky and said, “Everyone’s here. Let’s go inside.”

Khovansky nodded, and the two walked side by side into the hall, with Wang Ye following a step behind.

As for the others—assistants, bodyguards, and the like—they weren’t qualified to enter the main hall and were instead received in a side room.

Stepping through the doorway, Wang Ye felt his eyes light up—the lighting was dazzling.

This was an enormous living room, decorated in the most luxurious European palace style.

The ceiling was at least ten meters high!

A dazzling crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling.

Wool carpets, gold-plated furniture, sculptures, oil paintings…

Wang Ye, who hadn’t seen much of the world, felt a little dizzy from it all.

On the wide sofa sat two middle-aged men with large bellies, engaged in quiet conversation.

Seeing Aby and Khovansky enter, they stood up as well.

Khovansky paused, looking over, and Wang Ye glanced sideways, sensing that his expression wasn’t very pleasant.

Aby smiled and said, “No need for introductions, I’m sure you know these two.”

This was directed at Khovansky.

One of the men stepped forward, smiling as he opened his arms to Khovansky. “Haha, my old friend, it’s been a while.”

Khovansky’s expression softened, and he embraced the man, saying, “Director Gebrev, what brings you here? Aby didn’t mention you’d be coming.”

“Haha, I’m here at someone’s request. I heard there’s some tension between you and Mairov, so I came to mediate. We’re all friends—whatever issues you have, just talk them out face to face. No need to fight and ruin the harmony.” Gebrev laughed.

Wang Ye pondered just who this “Gebrev” was!

He knew who “Mairov” was—the boss of the ACT Group, Khovansky’s recent adversary.

To mediate between giants like Khovansky and Mairov, one needed both status and experience!

This Gebrev must be another major figure…

As he was thinking, he heard Aby say, “Director Gebrev is a very busy man. Every day, he has countless duties at the Kremlin and is an indispensable aide to the president. But when he heard about your conflict, he set aside his work to help mediate. Today, in my home, you and Mairov should lay everything out on the table. Whatever grievances or demands you have, just say them.”

Wang Ye immediately understood why Gebrev carried such weight—he was a favorite of the “great emperor”!

Earlier, when Khovansky had called him “Director,” he must have been referring to the head of the Kremlin office—a position of great importance indeed.

…

Even with Gebrev and Aby’s influence, Khovansky still didn’t give Mairov a warm reception, not even greeting him.

This was understandable. After all, Mairov had sent assassins to kill him!

Though the attempt had failed, this wasn’t something that could be easily forgiven.

Everyone took their seats on the sofas.

Wang Ye looked around. Including himself, there were five people gathered here.

Three oligarchs and one high-ranking official—only he was a small fry.

In such a setting, he had no place to speak, so Wang Ye simply sat quietly, listening to the “confrontation” between these powerful figures.

Mairov got straight to the point.

With a sincere expression, he looked at Khovansky and said, “I was in the wrong this time. But believe me, I didn’t arrange that incident—it was just one of my subordinates acting on their own. When I found out, I punished them severely.”

Khovansky only let out a cold snort, saying nothing.

As if! If Wang Ye hadn’t reacted quickly and pushed him aside, he would be dead!

How could he easily forgive the other party?

Besides, just because Mairov said he didn’t arrange it, did that mean he really didn’t?

There was no way to verify such a thing—it was all just empty words.

At this moment, Gebrev spoke up. “Regardless, Mairov did cross a line this time and broke the rules. He should indeed face some punishment!”

Chapter 147: The Kremlin’s Grand Steward’s Face

As for what “taboos” and “rules” there were, Wang Ye guessed they were likely the unspoken agreements among the oligarchs.

That meant everyone could use their own methods to make money, and even if they didn’t cooperate, they shouldn’t engage in vicious competition.

More importantly, they shouldn’t bring underworld tactics into business competition!

Because once that precedent was set, everyone’s personal safety would be at risk.

After all, Russia was chaotic these days—spending a little money could buy a life, and that wasn’t an exaggeration!

Otherwise, Khovansky wouldn’t have needed an armed security detail whenever he went out…

…

Mairov said somewhat reluctantly, “But Khovansky was the one who came to take my territory first. He opened a new market right next to my ACT Large Market. That’s clearly targeting me.”

At the end of the day, it was all about money.

The ACT Large Market was Mairov’s “core asset”!

He had built his fortune on that market, so it was no wonder he was desperate now that Khovansky was cutting into his profits.

Khovansky gave a cold smile. “What? Only you can run a wholesale market? I bought the land from the city government and built the market legally. This is a legitimate business! There’s more than just the ACT Large Market in all of Russia. They’re building a market in Lyublino too. Why don’t you go cause trouble there?”

Mairov was left speechless.

Indeed, even among the most famous seven oligarchs, they were all in banking and energy. Could they really accuse each other of stealing business?

If you couldn’t outcompete someone in business, that just meant you weren’t good enough!

Aby saw the tension and quickly stepped in to ease the atmosphere.

He waved his hand and called over a maid, instructing her, “Bring me the box of cigars from the top shelf of my humidor.”

Once the maid brought over the cigar box, he smiled at everyone and said, “I had someone get these for me. They have a great taste.”

With that, he personally opened the mahogany box, revealing a row of “thick and long” cigars!

Each person got one, Wang Ye included, and soon everyone was puffing away.

…

After a couple of puffs, Aby returned to the main topic. “You two didn’t know each other before, so there were some misunderstandings. Fortunately, Khovansky didn’t get hurt, and the ACT Market was shut down, so he got some satisfaction. Now that you’re all sitting together, let’s discuss how to resolve this conflict.”

“No, no, the ACT Market was shut down because it violated regulations. That has nothing to do with me. I don’t have that kind of influence over the Ministry of Internal Affairs,” Khovansky said, waving his hand.

Hearing this, Mairov was furious.

Because the Kremlin’s “Grand Steward,” Gebrev, was sitting right there!

Who had caused the ACT Market to be shut down? Others might not know, but Gebrev certainly did!

Besides, it was an open secret in their circles that the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was close to Khovansky!

…

At the critical moment, it was up to Gebrev to speak.

After watching the two trade verbal blows, he took the opportunity to say, “Alright, Khovansky, you tell us—what kind of compensation do you want from Mairov to settle this?”

Khovansky adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and smiled. “Have him give me the ACT Large Market!”

That was asking for the moon…

Mairov nearly jumped out of his seat. He glared and said angrily, “That’s impossible! Do you know how much the ACT Market is worth?”

“Heh, is it worth more than my life?” Khovansky retorted without backing down.

Seeing the negotiation about to stall again, Aby had to step in once more.

Originally, Mairov had asked him to mediate, but Aby was worried his influence alone wouldn’t be enough, so he had also brought Gebrev!

This also involved the issue of “seniority.”

Although Aby was currently favored by the great emperor, had ample wealth, and had been elected governor of Chukotka with an excellent reputation,
in front of Khovansky, he was still a step behind…

Don’t forget, Aby had risen to his current position thanks to Berezovsky’s support—he was essentially Berezovsky’s “little brother”!

Whereas Khovansky was one of the “seven oligarchs” on equal footing with Berezovsky!

So, in front of Khovansky, Aby’s influence might not be enough…

This could be seen in the small details when they first met.

Khovansky had stood by his car, waiting for Aby to approach and greet him first—that was the difference in status!

…

“You are both my seniors. The principle of harmony in business is something I don’t need to explain. Have you considered that if this conflict continues, it might draw a lot of attention? That wouldn’t be good for either of you. The president has said we should conduct business honestly and pay our taxes,” Aby said meaningfully.

They were all shrewd men and understood what Aby was implying.

Basically, if things got too out of hand and attracted the great emperor’s attention, none of them would have a good time.

Gebrev added, “Whether it’s the ACT Market or the Sun Market, I suggest you both keep a low profile. If you really push it, neither market will be able to stay open. I don’t think anyone wants to see that happen.”

This carried a hint of threat.

But he did have the authority to say it!

Khovansky and Mairov fell silent, the atmosphere growing tense.

Then Gebrev spoke again.

“The Little Eagle Hotel is also part of the ACT Group, right? Transferring that to Khovansky should be enough to express your apology.”

Wang Ye’s heart stirred. So the Little Eagle Hotel was part of the ACT Group!

That was no small compensation!

Just the building and the land alone were probably worth hundreds of millions of dollars…

Was Mairov really willing to give that up?

…

Sure enough, Mairov’s face twisted in pain. He looked agonized, lowering his head and taking fierce drags on his cigar.

Then he suddenly lifted his head, gritted his teeth, and said, “Fine! If it means getting Khovansky’s forgiveness, I’ll give him the hotel as a gift!”

Aby clapped his hands and laughed. “Good idea! That hotel is quite nice. This is a sincere apology.”

Khovansky silently took a few puffs of his cigar before suddenly turning to Wang Ye and asking, “Misha, what do you think?”

Wang Ye was quietly smoking his cigar and nearly choked when Khovansky asked him.

He really hadn’t expected Khovansky to ask for his opinion.

Honestly, in this setting, it wasn’t his place to say anything…

Chapter 148: A Lesson for the Big Shots

Wang Ye looked at Khovansky, hesitant. “This…”

Khovansky smiled and nodded at him. “It’s fine. Tell us your thoughts.”

The other three men all turned their attention to him at once. None of them had expected Khovansky to entrust this matter to a… child!

Khovansky had introduced Wang Ye’s identity when he first arrived—he was his nephew.

Though his Asian features made him stand out, no one said anything about it.

After all, not a single person present, Gebrev included, was of pure Russian descent…

Everyone assumed Khovansky had brought his nephew along to broaden his horizons, nothing more. So, they didn’t take Wang Ye seriously.

But now, Aby, Gebrev, and Mairov realized they had misjudged him!

It seemed Khovansky held his nephew in high regard…

…

After a moment’s hesitation, Wang Ye spoke. “In my opinion…”

Mairov watched Wang Ye nervously, afraid he might oppose the idea.

After his clash with Khovansky, he had reluctantly admitted defeat. That was why he had asked Aby to mediate, hoping to resolve their conflict.

Now, at this critical moment, if this black-haired “kid” said no, and Khovansky actually listened, things would get messy…

Every extra day the Large Market remained closed, the losses would pile up!

“You and Mr. Mairov should reconcile, Uncle!” Wang Ye declared firmly.

“Oh? Why? What’s in it for me?” Khovansky asked with interest.

In truth, he had already made up his mind. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have even attended this banquet!

But now, he was more curious to hear Wang Ye’s perspective—to see how this young man would analyze the situation.

Wang Ye took a deep breath, straightened his back, and spoke earnestly:

“Because the wholesale market may seem insignificant, but it’s actually vital to people’s livelihoods! So, the market must not be disrupted, and it certainly must not be shut down!”

“How so?” Aby asked, now intrigued.

“Over the past decade, the country has been in chaos. The ruble has plummeted, wiping out many people’s life savings. With wages so low, people can only afford the cheapest daily necessities.

The ACT Large Market and Sun Market provide affordable goods to the masses.

So, even if both markets have… questionable legal standing, no one has ever truly moved against them.

Don’t you find that strange?

The answer is simple: these markets, under current circumstances, do more good than harm!

They provide essential, affordable goods to the people!

So, whether it’s ACT or Sun Market, they must stop fighting each other.

Instead, they should join forces to bring even better, cheaper goods to our citizens, enriching the people!

They must uphold social stability and harmony!

This is also helping the nation and the government!

As law-abiding citizens who love Russia, it’s our duty!”

By the end, Wang Ye had clenched his fists, his voice rising with passion.

It was clear these words came from the heart…

There was no helping it—Wang Ye, raised on socialist ideals, had a strong sense of patriotism!

His speech left the four oligarchs deeply moved.

It was completely unexpected!

After a few seconds of stunned silence, Gebrev began clapping. “I never expected such insight from a young man like you… By the way, what’s your name?”

“Mikhail, sir. You can call me Misha,” Wang Ye replied with a smile.

Aby studied Wang Ye thoughtfully but said nothing.

Khovansky and Mairov, however, were even more affected.

They had built the wholesale market for a “simple” reason—to make money…

Never had they imagined the market held such significance!

“Maintaining social stability,” “building a harmonious society,” “enriching the people”…

Was their business really that noble?

Wang Ye’s explanation for why no one had ever truly targeted the markets also gave them food for thought.

Originally, they had assumed it was because of their extensive connections and willingness to “grease palms” that the markets remained untouched.

But now, after hearing Wang Ye, they realized the truth was far more complex.

After all, everyone knew that both the ACT Market and Sun Market engaged in “gray” customs clearance—clearly illegal!

Yet, even the great emperor, a man known for his uncompromising stance, had never raised the issue…

Perhaps the real reason was as Wang Ye had said.

The market, though seemingly insignificant, actually made a tremendous contribution to society!

That was why the great emperor turned a blind eye…

…

“Alright! Since Misha says we should reconcile, then I agree. I accept your apology and compensation,” Khovansky said decisively.

Mairov beamed with joy. He quickly pulled a document from his briefcase.

“Here’s the transfer agreement for the Little Eagle Hotel. Mr. Khovansky, just sign here, and after the lawyers handle the paperwork tomorrow, the hotel will be yours!”

Khovansky didn’t reach for the document. Instead, he turned to Wang Ye. “Misha, you sign it. The hotel is yours.”

Wang Ye was stunned. He pointed at himself. “Me…?”

“Yes! Consider it a small gift. Sign your name,” Khovansky said firmly.

A hotel worth over a hundred million dollars meant little to him.

Soon, Khovansky would complete the restructuring of Yukos Oil Company, and its market value would soar to an astonishing forty billion dollars!

His own wealth would skyrocket, making him Russia’s richest man!

So, the Little Eagle Hotel was insignificant to him.

These oligarchs preferred playing with finance and energy!

Finance was the tool, energy the cash cow.

Those were the truly lucrative industries, where they often “used the nation’s money to buy the nation’s assets,” turning billions into tens of billions in profit…

Traditional businesses like hotels? Khovansky probably found them too bothersome.

So, he simply gave the Little Eagle Hotel to Wang Ye…

…

Seeing Khovansky’s determination, Wang Ye didn’t refuse.

He took the pen and signed his full name on the document.

“Mikhail Ivanovich Khodorkovsky!”

After signing, Wang Ye felt like he was dreaming. But little did he know, even more “dreamlike” events awaited him that night…

Chapter 149: Life is Too Decadent

Khovansky directly gave the Little Eagle Hotel to his “nephew” Mikhail, which surprised Aby and the other two.

Although everyone present was a big shot, this was still an asset worth hundreds of millions of dollars!

No matter who it was, it wasn’t something that could be given away so casually.

It seemed that Khovansky truly had a special place in his heart for this “nephew”…

…

After signing the agreement, Khovansky and Mairov could be considered to have “shaken hands and made peace.”

Wang Ye smiled at Mairov and said, “Sir, in a couple of days, we can find time to sit down and discuss how the two markets can cooperate. I am currently managing the Sun Market.”

Mairov nodded without hesitation and said, “Anytime is fine. My office is located on the top floor of the Alpha Hotel near the Large Market. You can call me when you arrive.”

Wang Ye wasn’t just being polite; he genuinely had some ideas that required ACT’s cooperation.

The wholesale market in Russia had at least another seven or eight years of golden life!

If this period could be utilized well, it would also be possible to make a fortune.

“Let’s exchange phone numbers. Since you are in charge of managing the Sun Market, we can communicate more in the future,” Mairov said enthusiastically.

To be honest, given his status, he was still quite a distance away from Khovansky.

It was Wang Ye, who was deeply trusted by Khovansky, who was almost on an equal footing with him…

“Hmm, Mikhail, give me your phone number too. I am quite interested in the ideas of you young people. In the future, I might listen to your thoughts on some matters,” Gebrev suddenly said.

It was understandable that Mairov wanted Wang Ye’s phone number because both of them were managing large markets and had many things to discuss.

But Gebrev was the grand steward of the Kremlin, a favorite of the great emperor, and an absolute confidant!

It was quite unusual for him to ask Wang Ye for his phone number…

Clearly, it must have been the words Wang Ye spoke earlier that piqued his interest, especially since there were some fresh and unique ideas in Wang Ye’s speech.

For example, “harmonious society”…

This phrase was very much in line with the current pursuit of Russian society!

“Give me yours too. Misha is a great young man. We can communicate more in the future,” Aby also chimed in.

…

The three of them took out their phones to exchange numbers with Wang Ye.

Wang Ye hesitated for a moment and looked at Khovansky.

Khovansky smiled and nodded.

That settled it. Wang Ye smoothly recited his phone number, and Aby and the other two directly recorded it on their phones.

As they were recording the phone number, Wang Ye noticed something.

The three of them were using the same brand of phone—VERTU!

Russian tycoons and high-ranking officials seemed to have a preference for this brand of phone.

After all, at that time, the functions of phones were mostly the same, and among the many phone brands, VERTU was the only one that could highlight their wealth and status…

It was said that the cheapest phone from this brand cost tens of thousands of dollars.

In comparison, Wang Ye’s Nokia 3310 seemed a bit shabby…

However, Wang Ye didn’t feel embarrassed at all. He took out his 3310 and recorded Aby and the others’ phone numbers.

…

After exchanging phone numbers, Aby looked at the time and stood up with a smile, saying, “Alright, let’s go have dinner. We can discuss anything while we eat.”

The group stood up and went to the adjacent dining room.

This was nothing like an ordinary family’s small dining room; it was more like the most luxurious banquet hall in a top-tier restaurant!

The area was undoubtedly enormous, at least two to three hundred square meters.

In the center was a massive long oak dining table, adorned with blooming fresh flowers, snow-white tablecloths, and gleaming silverware…

As for the food, there was caviar, truffles, and foie gras—everything one could imagine.

This was still within Wang Ye’s expectations.

After all, this was a banquet hosted by Aby, so it was bound to be extremely luxurious.

They were eating, and there was a so-called pianist playing music live beside them, which was still normal…

But after the pianist finished a piece, a young girl quietly came out and sang a Russian love song in a sweet voice.

At first, Wang Ye didn’t pay much attention, but when he glanced at the girl, he was stunned.

After carefully looking her up and down, he confirmed that he hadn’t recognized the wrong person!

This girl was his “neighbor”!

The little singer who drove a Porsche 911…

Unlike the “spicy girl” he usually encountered, today she was wearing a white long dress, her golden hair flowing softly behind her, and she had light makeup on.

In Wang Ye’s eyes, she looked even more beautiful than usual!

As for what song she was singing, Wang Ye wasn’t familiar with it, but the girl’s voice was very sweet, and it sounded quite pleasant.

Since she was his “neighbor,” Wang Ye looked at her a few more times. The girl was singing seriously and didn’t seem to notice Wang Ye looking at her.

However, Aby, who was sitting across from Wang Ye, noticed.

He smiled slightly and beckoned the butler behind him, whispering a few words…

…

On the other side, Gebrev was chatting with Khovansky.

“I heard that your Yukos company is acquiring a Siberian oil company? As far as I know, Yukos’ oil production is almost half of Russia’s total. Do you still want to continue acquiring? Your appetite is too big!” he asked with a smile.

Khovansky put down his knife and fork and casually replied, “Making money, of course, the more the better! Actually, I want to merge with Aby’s oil company. At that time, Yukos will truly be an energy giant, and even in the world, it will be ranked!”

Aby’s business was quite diverse, involving finance, oil, natural gas, metals, and even accepting several news media groups left behind by Berezovsky after his exile!

He had indeed been considering streamlining his businesses recently and was negotiating with Khovansky to sell his oil business to Yukos.

However, such a large-scale merger couldn’t be finalized in a short time; it involved many complex procedures.

Hearing this, Gebrev also put down his utensils and seriously said, “As a friend, I want to remind you that doing business is fine, and wanting to expand your business is also fine, but you must abide by the law and regulations! Just as Misha said, maintain social stability and order, and build a harmonious society together!”

This was a veiled warning, and the clever Khovansky naturally understood.

He frowned slightly and responded with some displeasure, “I know what to do! Actually, I also want to remind you that the Russian people hope the country is free and democratic. Don’t try to interfere with our normal business activities with those authoritarian methods again!”

Chapter 150: A Little Too Naive

The conversation had reached a point where the atmosphere was starting to feel a bit off…

Wang Ye really wanted to advise Khovansky, but what was the point?

Khovansky was being a little too “naive.”

Khovansky and his associates still had complex entanglements with Western capital.

…

In the end, Wang Ye held back and didn’t say anything.

After all, his position was still quite “awkward.”

If Khovansky gave him face, then he had face. If not, he was nothing…

People should never forget their place.

On this point, Wang Ye handled himself quite well.

So, he kept his head down and ate, not interjecting.

Mairov beside him did the same, quietly eating. His status wasn’t high enough to participate in the conversation between Gebrev and Khovansky.

Besides, he was an old fox—why not just keep quiet and make money? Why meddle in such matters?

The two of them remained silent, but Aby couldn’t stay quiet.

This meeting was his initiative, and it was at his home.

Moreover, he was quite familiar with both Khovansky and Gebrev.

“Haha, I think Yukos wanting to expand further is completely reasonable. But oil is a strategic national resource—it can’t be entirely foreign-owned. Some state involvement might be better,” Aby said with a smile.

Gebrev nodded. “Aby has done well in this regard. Look at him now, serving as the governor of Chukotka, investing heavily in the region, greatly benefiting the locals. His reputation is excellent. President Vladimir has praised him multiple times in high-level meetings.”

Aby’s face lit up with a bright, slightly shy smile. “It’s my duty. After all, I was born in Chukotka—it’s my hometown. Who doesn’t want their hometown to prosper? And since the people there trust me enough to elect me governor, I must live up to their expectations.”

Wang Ye silently admired Aby—what a master of social maneuvering!

He was too good at this…

Aby’s rise to wealth wasn’t much different from the older oligarchs like Khovansky—if not worse!

Rumor had it that Aby’s first fortune came from “stealing diesel fuel…”

But the man knew how to play the game. First, he followed Berezovsky to Yeltsin’s side, earning the favor of Yeltsin’s eldest daughter, which got him into Russia’s true upper echelons!

After Yeltsin stepped down, Aby adapted quickly.

He even entered politics—but not in the usual way.

He ran for a seat in the Duma…

That was special, carrying high social status!

There was talk of “immunity,” but no real power…

And he deliberately distanced himself from Moscow’s political circles, returning to his remote hometown of Chukotka to become governor…

He even spent tens of millions of his own dollars improving Chukotka’s infrastructure and welfare.

Tens of millions was nothing to Aby!

But that investment made the people of Chukotka happy, pleased the higher-ups, and earned Aby a stellar reputation.

The man really knew how to spend money!

…

Khovansky curled his lip and casually remarked, “Chukotka is a good place—plenty of gold mines.”

Aby’s smile faltered slightly, and he awkwardly changed the subject. “Your nephew is quite impressive. It’s rare to see such an outstanding young man. You’ve raised him well! And entrusting the Sun Market Group to him shows how much you trust his abilities. How old is Misha now? Twenty-something?”

At the mention of Wang Ye, Khovansky’s face lit up with pride.

Wang Ye was a talent he had personally discovered!

And with their “life-and-death” bond, Khovansky trusted him completely.

Besides, no matter how capable Wang Ye was, he still had to rely on Khovansky—he couldn’t betray him!

Because Khovansky held Wang Ye’s “weakness”…

“He’s only eighteen. In a few months, I plan to send him to Moscow State University. Young people should always keep learning, even if he’s already more than capable of running the Sun Market Group,” Khovansky said with a smile.

Wang Ye smiled in gratitude for his “uncle’s” care.

But inwardly, he was a little helpless—when did he say he wanted to go to Moscow State University?

Everyone’s attention shifted to Wang Ye.

Gebrev also chimed in with interest, “Only eighteen? That’s truly a genius. More importantly, he has his own ideas and insights on social issues. Your nephew is well worth cultivating—he’ll be extraordinary in the future!”

Wang Ye modestly replied, “It’s all thanks to my uncles giving me the opportunity. My little cleverness is nothing compared to yours.”

“Haha, Misha, you’re too modest. But it’s a shame you were born ten years too late. Otherwise, your achievements might not be any less than your uncle’s,” Aby joked.

Everyone present understood what he meant and laughed heartily.

Indeed, the collapse of the Soviet Union had been a disaster for Russia and its people—falling from a powerful nation that could rival America to an ordinary country with a declining economy…

But for a few clever individuals, crisis brought opportunity—an opportunity that came once in a millennium!

…

As expected, they drank red wine with dinner.

After a few glasses, Wang Ye felt nothing—he was completely sober.

They ate, talked, and after dinner, moved to the living room to smoke cigars until past ten in the evening.

“Time to rest,” Gebrev said, checking his watch.

Everyone stood up, and Wang Ye did the same, thinking they were about to leave.

But things didn’t go as he expected…

Chapter 151: Surprise or Shock

Aby waved over the butler and instructed, “Take our guests to rest.”

Wang Ye was surprised. Were they staying the night and not going back?

Seeing that Gebrev, Khovansky, and Mairov didn’t say anything, as if they had known all along, Wang Ye didn’t think much of it. It was just sleeping for one night—what was the big deal?

A butler in a three-piece suit with graying hair led Wang Ye to a large room at the end of the second-floor hallway.

Pushing open the door and turning on the light, the butler bowed and said, “Good night, sir.”

Wang Ye stepped inside and looked around.

This wasn’t just a room—it was a suite…

There was a living room, a bathroom, a sitting room—everything was there!

None of that mattered much to Wang Ye. What he loved most was the European-style king-sized bed that looked incredibly comfortable!

The fluffy swan-down duvet, the thick and resilient mattress, the entire bedroom covered in plush wool carpeting.

Just as he had taken off his clothes and put on a bathrobe, preparing to take a hot bath, the doorbell rang.

Wang Ye didn’t think much of it. He assumed it was the butler or a maid coming to deliver fruit or a late-night snack.

He walked over and opened the door.

But the person standing before him was someone he never expected.

A young woman stood gracefully at the door. Wang Ye recognized her immediately—it was the beautiful singer from next door!

“You… what are you doing here?” Wang Ye asked in surprise.

The woman calmly looked at Wang Ye and said, “I’m here to keep you company.”

Before Wang Ye could react, she slipped past him into the room.

Wang Ye hesitated for a moment, then closed the door and followed her inside.

To his astonishment, the woman walked straight into the bedroom and began undressing…

Wang Ye quickly said, “Wait! I don’t even know your name yet.”

The woman turned around. “Katya, Volokova. You can just call me Katya.”

Russian women’s names usually ended with “ova,” “na,” or “ya,” and she was no exception.

With that, she reached behind her back and pulled the zipper of her white dress. The dress slid off, revealing her perfect figure.

She was now left in only her underwear…

Her snow-white skin, the black lingerie—Wang Ye couldn’t help but swallow hard.

He said helplessly, “Katya, can we talk first?”

Katya blinked her big eyes, hesitated for a moment, then replied, “Alright, what do you want to talk about?”

She sat down on the edge of the bed.

Wang Ye stood not far from her.

One was in nothing but underwear, the other in just a bathrobe—it looked a bit odd…

“You’re a star, right? You shouldn’t be short on money. Why would you… do this?” Wang Ye asked tactfully.

He really didn’t understand. Katya was a singer who lived in a mansion and drove a sports car. She didn’t seem like the kind of woman who would sell herself for money.

So what was she after?

Katya placed her hands on the bed behind her, leaning back in a pose full of temptation.

“Hehe, I’m just a small-time singer. How could I afford that house or the sports car on my own?

The fact that I could attend tonight’s banquet, and that Aby even took notice of you and specifically sent me to keep you company—you must be someone very important.

You should know that girls like me are groomed and packaged for one purpose: to satisfy men of your status.

I consider myself very lucky to have met a young and handsome master like you. If I had been given to some old man, that would have been tragic.

So I’m actually very happy. I don’t feel wronged at all…”

As Wang Ye listened to Katya, his eyes widened. This was completely beyond his imagination!

Master…

What the hell was this?

He wanted to condemn the decadent lifestyle of these oligarchs!

It was outrageous!

But deep down, as a normal young man, hearing a stunning beauty call him “master”…

The feeling…

It was indescribable!

Still, he cautiously asked, “So… you mean after tonight, you’ll be with me from now on?”

Katya nodded without hesitation. “Yes, unless you don’t need me anymore.”

Seeing how devoted she was, Wang Ye furrowed his brows.

He pressed further, “Are you really willing to do this? Or… have you taken some kind of drug?”

If she hadn’t taken anything, he couldn’t imagine why Katya would willingly call someone “master.”

But Katya just laughed. “It’s not as dramatic as you think. You could say I’m doing this willingly.”

“Huh? You’re doing this willingly? Why?” Wang Ye asked, confused.

“Why? I told you already—to become famous, to have a better life.

The company spends a lot of money grooming and packaging us. They don’t do it for free, so we all sign contracts.

Well, we call them ‘soul contracts.’

In return for the company’s investment, we give our bodies.

Of course, that’s all we have to give.

People like you live in paradise. You can’t even imagine what life is like for those at the bottom.

I’m one of the lucky ones. I’m pretty, so the company chose me. There are so many other girls…” Her expression darkened, and she trailed off.

Wang Ye fell silent. He had heard that in Eastern Europe, many girls from poor families had tragic fates.

Especially in these turbulent times.

In Moscow, an international metropolis, over a hundred thousand people went missing every year without a trace!

In the remote areas, the numbers were impossible to count…

It was unimaginable…

After a moment of silence, Wang Ye asked, “How old are you?”

“I just turned nineteen,” Katya replied.

Girls here matured early. Wang Ye was worried she might still be underage…

Hearing that Katya was already nineteen, he breathed a sigh of relief.

But he knew that in this country, girls could get married as young as fourteen.

It was just his own psychological barrier.

While he was still hesitating, Katya stood up and walked over to him.

She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed herself against him, wearing only a thin silk bathrobe.

“What are you waiting for? Don’t worry. Now that I’m with you, I’ll be obedient and listen to everything you say.” Katya pressed her face against his and whispered seductively in his ear.

Wang Ye stood there, frozen, unsure of what to do.

A beautiful woman was right in front of him. If he wanted her, she would be his in an instant.

Should he pounce on her…

Or…

This plot might be a bit dark. But this book is about an oligarch in the unstable Eastern Europe, so some things have to be written. After all, it’s not just a simple business story about reincarnation…

Chapter 152: Can He Really Do It?

In this moment, Wang Ye pondered deeply.

He understood that this wasn’t just about adding another woman to his life.

Taking this step meant he was fully accepting and integrating into the “decadent” lifestyle of the oligarchs.

It’s easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go back!

Once accustomed to this life, turning back would be difficult…

He wanted to push Katya away, to refuse.

But deep down, a voice seemed to tell him, You can’t turn back now!

From the moment he rejected Khovansky’s check and chose to become the president of Sun Market Group, he was destined to walk this path…

Since that was the case, why pretend to be a “saint”? Didn’t he enjoy this life?

Did he?

Wang Ye asked himself.

He wanted to say he didn’t, but he knew he was only deceiving himself!

If he truly wanted a quiet, stable life, he wouldn’t have gotten involved with Khovansky.

In terms of opportunities, China might have offered more, but he had chosen to stay!

This proved that, deep down, he still craved adventure and excitement…

In his past life, he had chosen a different path, and the results were disastrous.

Now, fate had given him a second chance. Wang Ye didn’t want to live a mediocre, unremarkable life again.

In his mind, he heard the words from the video he had seen the night he “reincarnated”:

“I thought at eighteen, I could carry my dreams and venture to places I’d never been, with a child’s heart to fulfill my youthful ambitions.”

“I thought at twenty-five, I would stand above others, becoming someone with boundless potential, able to control my own destiny, making others yield, and bringing joy to my parents.”

“I thought at thirty, I would finally join the elite, no longer losing sleep over a few coins, no longer suffering in obscurity, no longer retreating in disgrace…”

“Stand above others!”

“Join the elite!”

Perhaps this was why Wang Ye had chosen to stay.

Since he had chosen this path, he would walk it to the end without hesitation…

………………..

Seeing Wang Ye’s hesitation, Katya provoked him, “What are you still thinking about? Can’t you do it?”

This was unacceptable!

Wang Ye reached out and lifted her, tossing her onto the bed amid her startled cries.

With a tug, the silk nightgown slid off.

He had the kind of physique that looked slim in clothes but muscular when undressed. Though he hadn’t trained in a gym, his body was still perfect.

Katya’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

“Hmph, whether I can do it or not, you’ll find out soon enough!” With that, Wang Ye pounced…

…………

After an unknown amount of time, the two finally calmed down.

“Do you know who I am?” Wang Ye suddenly asked.

“I heard the butler introduce you. Your name is Mikhail, Mr. Khovansky’s nephew, highly trusted by him, and now the president of Sun Market Group,” Katya answered honestly.

“And?” Wang Ye pressed.

Katya looked puzzled, furrowing her brows in thought before shaking her head. “That’s all.”

Clearly, she hadn’t paid much attention to Wang Ye, her “neighbor,” before.

It wasn’t surprising. They hadn’t met many times, and when they did, Katya was usually driving past, making it hard to notice Wang Ye on the side of the road.

Wang Ye smiled. “We’re still neighbors, living in the same community. That’s why, when you came out to sing today, I looked at you a few times. Uncle Aby noticed and that led to what happened next.”

Katya clearly hadn’t expected this. After a long pause, she murmured, “Maybe this is God’s plan.”

Wang Ye didn’t care whether it was God’s plan or not. He was concerned about something else.

“Can I trust you?” he asked.

Katya turned to him, wrapping her arms tightly around him, her bright blue eyes fixed on his.

“Trust me. From this moment, my loyalty—and even myself—belongs only to you. Of course, earning my loyalty comes at a price. From now on, the company won’t pay me anything, so you’ll have to support me. Supporting a woman like me isn’t cheap, but for you, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

When it came to money, Wang Ye wasn’t worried. He had confidence in this area.

“Oh? How much does it cost to support you?”

“At least thirty thousand US dollars a month. Fifty thousand would be better.”

Wang Ye sighed inwardly. No wonder Katya was willing to “sell” herself. Her expenses were astronomical compared to the average Russian.

After all, even a university professor only earned five or six hundred dollars a month.

Katya’s monthly expenses alone could cover the salaries of a hundred professors!

So, unless she “attached” herself to a top-tier oligarch, she couldn’t maintain this lifestyle.

“From now on, I’ll give you fifty thousand a month. As long as you remain loyal to me, money won’t be an issue,” Wang Ye said generously.

“Really? That’s amazing! I love you so much!” Katya exclaimed in delight.

Her love was indeed “expensive.” Most people couldn’t afford it…

“By the way, tomorrow they should give you all the contracts and agreements I’ve signed. That means I’m officially cut off from the company, and all rights are transferred to you,” Katya added.

Wang Ye nodded. This was to be expected.

For an oligarch like Aby, a small star like Katya, cultivated by his company, wasn’t a big deal. She was just a tool for networking.

Once the “gift” was given, it wouldn’t make sense to hold onto any leverage that might make the recipient uncomfortable…

…………

After resting for a while, the two got up to freshen up.

Truthfully, Wang Ye hadn’t expected Katya to be a virgin.

But thinking about it, it made sense. She was a meticulously cultivated “canary”!

Naturally, everything had to be perfect…

In every way, Katya was a top-tier beauty, satisfying all of Wang Ye’s desires!

In that case, fifty thousand dollars a month didn’t seem too much…

But Wang Ye still had one problem to solve: how to face Alyona when he returned tomorrow.

He had real feelings for Alyona.

And she had been with him since he was a “poor boy,” all the way to now.

Alyona had been part of every step of his growth, knowing him inside and out.

Wang Ye didn’t want to hurt Alyona in any way. He hoped she could stay happy by his side.

But now, suddenly, he had another woman…

Any woman would find this hard to accept!

Chapter 153: Satisfied with the Gift?

After a comfortable hot bath, Wang Ye lay down to rest.

He had also sought Katya’s opinion on her future development and life. He asked if she still wanted to continue as a singer or if she had other plans.

Katya replied that she would follow his arrangements, as her artist contract would surely be transferred to him. Rumor had it that the contract was lifelong…

In truth, her minor fame wasn’t just due to her own talent—it also relied on the packaging and resources from her former company. After all, most of Russia’s media was privately owned. As long as one was willing to spend money, becoming famous wasn’t difficult, especially with her natural advantages.

But maintaining that level of exposure in the future would depend on whether Wang Ye was willing to keep investing. The problem was, he had no connections in the entertainment industry, which might make things tricky.

Still, this wasn’t an urgent matter. If push came to shove, he could just support her financially. There was no need for her to keep performing—if she really wanted to sing, she could do it at home for herself…

…

The next morning, the two were roused from their deep sleep by a knock on the door. The butler had come to call them for breakfast.

After washing up and getting dressed, they headed to the first-floor dining room. As they descended the stairs, Katya’s gait was still a little stiff, as if she hadn’t fully recovered. She clung tightly to Wang Ye’s arm, looking somewhat nervous.

Gebrev, Aby, Khovansky, and Mairov were already seated, chatting as they ate. When they saw Wang Ye and Katya, their faces broke into knowing smiles.

Once Wang Ye sat down, Aby winked at him. “Haha, Misha, satisfied with the gift?”

Clearly, in his eyes, Katya was nothing more than an object, utterly insignificant.

“Thank you, Uncle Aby. I’m very satisfied,” Wang Ye replied, forcing a smile.

Khovansky chimed in earnestly, “You’re still young. Don’t get lost in women—focus on your career. Once you’re worth billions, any girl you want will come and go at your command.”

Wang Ye nodded in understanding. “I know, Uncle. Don’t worry, I won’t let it interfere with work.”

After breakfast, Gebrev and Mairov were the first to take their leave. Khovansky and Aby discussed the oil company acquisition a little longer before preparing to depart as well.

Aby then beckoned, and the butler brought over a file folder. He handed it to Wang Ye with a smile. “Here’s Katya’s contract. Keep it safe.”

Wang Ye knew exactly what was inside. Sure enough, as Katya had said, all her contracts had been transferred to him.

…

Katya had driven herself, so she didn’t leave with Wang Ye. As they embraced to say goodbye, she whispered in his ear, “Are you coming to my place tonight, or should I come to yours?”

Wang Ye quickly shook his head. “Aren’t you injured? Rest for a couple of days first. We’ll talk when you’re better.”

Truthfully, he still hadn’t figured out how to explain this to Alyona…

“It’s fine, really. It doesn’t hurt much anymore. But I’ll listen to my master. Whenever you want me, just come over or call. I don’t have any work these next few days, so I’ll be home.”

With a hint of disappointment, Katya got into her silver Porsche and drove off.

Wang Ye and Khovansky climbed into the black Rolls-Royce Phantom. The convoy started up and slowly pulled away from Aby’s estate…

…

Sitting in the car, Wang Ye still felt a sense of unreality. He had only attended a private banquet, spent one night, and yet so much had happened!

If anyone had gained the most from this banquet—if anyone was the biggest winner—it was undoubtedly Wang Ye!

Setting aside Katya, the “canary,” the most important thing was that he had obtained full ownership of the Little Eagle Hotel!

The hotel was no small asset. Though there wasn’t an exact valuation, it was certainly worth no less than one hundred million dollars!

He glanced down at the two documents in his hand—one was the transfer agreement for the Little Eagle Hotel, the other was Katya’s contracts.

Khovansky noticed and chuckled. “You’ll have your hands full now. But don’t worry—both the Sun Market Group and the Little Eagle Hotel have mature management teams. You won’t need to do much; just steer the overall direction.”

Wang Ye frowned. “The Sun Market Group is fine—I’ve got a handle on that. But I don’t know the first thing about running the Little Eagle Hotel. Taking it over so suddenly… I have no idea what to do.”

“Haha, it’s probably under a professional hotel management company. Just keep control of the finances and personnel—don’t worry about the rest,” Khovansky replied casually.

Wang Ye considered this. The Little Eagle Hotel had been operating for years. Now that it was his, most of the staff would likely stay. He just needed to tighten his grip on the finances, send someone he trusted to oversee things.

If that didn’t work, he could always find another hotel management company to take over.

…

After hesitating for a long time, Wang Ye couldn’t hold back any longer. He tactfully reminded Khovansky, “Uncle, I don’t think Gebrev’s intentions were simple. He didn’t just come to plead Mairov’s case.”

Khovansky looked at Wang Ye in surprise, smiling as he asked, “Oh? What do you think he was here for?”

“He came to see you. Maybe some of your recent actions have upset the Kremlin. They want you to tone it down, to be more like Uncle Aby. He’s a smart man!”

“Haha, you’ve got a good head on your shoulders—you even saw through that. But do you think I don’t know? Of course I do! But why should I stop just because they’re unhappy? If I want to do something, no one can stop me!”

Wang Ye grew anxious. “But… they have power, and the security forces!”

Khovansky just smiled confidently. “You know what? They wouldn’t dare lay a finger on me! I’m not some ordinary person. If they arrested me without evidence, the international backlash would be terrible! How would Russia attract foreign investment then? Who would dare do business here? In fact, I’d welcome it if they locked me up for a year or two—it would only add to my reputation!”

Wang Ye was speechless.

Khovansky was indeed clever—he understood far more than most. But he was also incredibly self-assured, even arrogant!

Chapter 154: A Sleepless Night

Perhaps in Khovansky’s eyes, there was nothing in Russia he couldn’t accomplish now…

But it was understandable. These oligarchs had risen too quickly and too smoothly. In just over a decade, they had amassed fortunes and wielded immense influence in Russian politics—even the great emperor had come to power with their support!

There might have been some secret agreements behind the scenes, but that was unknown to outsiders…

Wang Ye couldn’t exactly say he could “see” the future, so it was hard to persuade Khovansky. He would have to wait until Khovansky faced some setbacks and learned his lesson before trying again…

Seeing how confident Khovansky was, Wang Ye decided not to press the matter and changed the subject instead.

With a smile, he asked, “Uncle Aby’s estate is really huge. Do you have a similar place, Uncle? When can I visit your home and meet Auntie and the kids?”

Wang Ye didn’t know much about Khovansky’s family, only that Boss Kong had mentioned Khovansky was married with a son and a daughter. Now that he was technically Khovansky’s “nephew,” and given how well Khovansky had treated him, it was only right to visit his family.

Khovansky let out a hearty laugh in response. “I don’t actually have an estate. I don’t like living in such remote places, so I just bought an apartment in the city center. But I mostly stay at the office and rarely go home. Also, your aunt and the kids are settled in London, so they won’t be back anytime soon. My son is only twelve, and my daughter is fifteen. I hope they can grow up to be as outstanding as you—then I’d have a lot less to worry about.”

Khovansky was only in his early forties, clearly a workaholic. Sending his family abroad was also a way to secure a backup plan for himself.

As they chatted, the convoy arrived at the Yukos Building. Wang Ye didn’t go upstairs; he bid Khovansky farewell and prepared to return to his apartment.

…

Compared to Khovansky’s convoy, Wang Ye’s was far less impressive—just the black G-Class and the white Land Cruiser…

The morning streets of Moscow were nearly empty, and the two cars sped along, reaching Wang Ye’s apartment building in just over ten minutes.

“Alright, you can go rest. Just come back at one in the afternoon to take me to the market,” Wang Ye instructed Anton before heading upstairs.

When he pushed open the door, he saw Alyona lying diagonally on the sofa, seemingly asleep.

He tiptoed in, but Alyona woke up as soon as he entered, sitting up in surprise.

Seeing Wang Ye return, she quickly stood up, her face lighting up with joy. “Misha, you’re back.”

Wang Ye looked at Alyona and frowned. She looked exhausted, with dark circles under her eyes, as if she hadn’t slept well.

“What’s wrong? You’ve got dark circles. What were you doing last night?” Wang Ye teased.

Alyona smoothed her slightly messy hair, looking embarrassed. “You didn’t come back last night, and you didn’t call… I was worried, so I didn’t sleep at all.”

Wang Ye froze.

He hadn’t considered this. So much had happened last night that he had forgotten to let Alyona know.

He never expected this silly girl to stay up all night waiting for his call!

Gently pulling Alyona into his arms, their cheeks pressed together as they shared a soft kiss. Normally, this would have been the end of it, but Wang Ye didn’t let go. Instead, he held her even tighter.

Alyona leaned comfortably against his shoulder, saying nothing.

After a moment of thought, Wang Ye decided not to hide anything from Alyona. She would find out eventually, so it was better to tell her now.

“Last night… I went with Khovansky to see Aby, along with Mairov from the ACT Group and a high-ranking official from the Kremlin,” Wang Ye said carefully, omitting Gebrev’s identity.

“Mmm…” Alyona hummed softly.

“The main reason was to mediate the conflict between Khovansky and Mairov. They more or less reached a reconciliation. Mairov even offered the Little Eagle Hotel as a peace offering. Do you know that hotel?” Wang Ye continued.

“I’ve heard of it. It’s quite famous, not far from the University of Friendship,” Alyona replied.

“It’s ours now,” Wang Ye stated bluntly.

This shocked Alyona. She lifted her head to look at Wang Ye, trying to see if he was joking. But his serious expression told her he wasn’t.

“This… what does this have to do with you? Why is the hotel yours?” she asked in surprise.

“It’s a long story, but to put it simply, Khovansky is my uncle, and he didn’t want the hotel, so he gave it to me,” Wang Ye explained helplessly.

This was beyond Alyona’s comprehension. She knew the truth about Wang Ye and Khovansky’s relationship!

Even if they were real relatives, no uncle would be this generous!

But then again, oligarchs were on a different level—far beyond ordinary people’s imagination!

After a long pause, Alyona finally asked, “That hotel… must be worth a lot, right?”

She hadn’t been there, but she had heard of the Little Eagle Hotel. It was clearly no ordinary establishment.

“At least over a hundred million dollars, and it’s not something you can just buy,” Wang Ye replied truthfully.

Now Alyona felt like she was dreaming. Her head spun…

She was starting to doubt Wang Ye’s true identity!

Could he really just be a Chinese exchange student? Maybe he was Khovansky’s biological son!

Otherwise, how could Khovansky treat him so well?

But she had known Wang Ye first. She had seen him start as a study abroad agent, buy a shop, and even save Khovansky’s life. She was certain that before saving Khovansky, Wang Ye had indeed been just a newly arrived exchange student in Moscow—albeit one who was a little… extremely clever!

…

But the surprises weren’t over yet.

Wang Ye added, “Uncle Aby also gave me a gift.”

“Don’t tell me it’s another hotel… or a company?” Alyona asked, eyes wide.

Wang Ye lowered his gaze, looking a little embarrassed to meet her eyes. He hesitated before saying, “No… it’s a woman.”

Chapter 155: Not Allowed Home

Silence…

Wang Ye lowered his head, staring at Alyona’s shoulder, waiting for her reaction.

He didn’t see how her eyes had suddenly widened upon hearing his words, then slowly closed. In that moment, her eyes were slightly moist…

Though she had mentally prepared herself for this, the moment had still come too soon.

Alyona was a rather conservative girl, which was why she hadn’t had a boyfriend at her age. What was rare was that her expectations for a boyfriend—Wang Ye—weren’t particularly harsh. In fact, she could be considered quite open-minded.

Especially after Wang Ye had met Khovansky and become the president of Sun Market Group, Alyona had steeled herself.

That meant Wang Ye might have other women in the future…

In the business world, indulgence in pleasure and playing along were inevitable.

Moreover, Wang Ye was still young, full of vigor, and they weren’t married yet. There was no talk of family or moral constraints.

Alyona had even told Wang Ye once that no matter how much he “fooled around” outside, as long as he still treated her well, she would pretend nothing had happened.

She only hoped that after they were married, he would settle down.

But the problem was, how long had it been since she said that…

Just a few days, and Wang Ye already had a woman!

And from the sound of it, Aby had “given” him a woman?

Was he going to bring her home!

Alyona felt she couldn’t accept this…

After waiting for a long time without hearing Alyona speak, Wang Ye quietly glanced at her.

He saw that her eyes were tightly shut, her face looking increasingly haggard.

With a determined bite of his lip, he bent down and picked her up, carrying her toward the bedroom.

This startled Alyona, and she quickly opened her eyes, asking, “Misha, what are you doing?”

Wang Ye didn’t say a word. After entering the bedroom, he kicked the door shut with his foot.

Then, a cry of surprise came from the room…

…

After who knows how long, Alyona lay on her back, not looking at Wang Ye beside her.

She said resentfully, “It’s obvious you didn’t rest well last night either!”

Wang Ye felt a pang of guilt, his face heating up…

He really wanted to prove his “abilities” again right away!

This was a matter of a man’s dignity!

Unfortunately, “Little Wang” wasn’t cooperating, its former vigor gone…

He could only change the subject. “You might not know, but that girl is actually quite pitiful.”

Alyona naturally knew who Wang Ye was referring to by “that girl”—it was the “gift” Aby had given Wang Ye.

She said irritably, “How is she pitiful? Can she be as pitiful as me?”

Wang Ye didn’t answer that question because no matter how he answered, it wouldn’t be good…

He continued on his own, “Do you know, Katya… oh, that’s the girl’s name, Katya Volokova. She’s that singer neighbor of ours; you’ve met her before.”

Sure enough, Alyona let out an “ah” and turned her head in surprise.

“How is that possible!” she exclaimed.

Wang Ye gave a faint smile. “Nothing’s impossible. Katya was cultivated and packaged by a company under Aby. The company spent a lot of money on her, and their goal certainly wasn’t to make her a singer. All those external things were just to increase her… how should I put it, her appeal to men. You understand?”

“I don’t understand you men’s dirty thoughts!” Alyona said irritably, clearly not ready to forgive Wang Ye yet.

“Katya owes the company a huge debt and can only repay it by selling herself. Fortunately, she met me instead of some fat old man. Also, her ownership has been transferred to me, so she can only survive by relying on me from now on. You could say she’s quite pitiful.” Wang Ye sighed.

Alyona fell silent.

Clearly, she hadn’t expected that a seemingly glamorous little singer had such a tragic background.

Women were compassionate by nature, so after hearing Wang Ye’s explanation, she began to feel sorry for Katya.

“If I don’t take care of her, who knows… I don’t even want to imagine what might happen to her.” Wang Ye emphasized.

Alyona hesitated for a moment before asking, “Can’t she live on her own?”

“Hmm, how should I put it? If she were truly willing to live in poverty, she wouldn’t have ended up in this situation. Girls like her are used to a high-quality life. Making her live in poverty again would be more painful than killing her.” Wang Ye chuckled lightly.

Indeed, this was the difference between Katya and Alyona.

Alyona could be content with poverty, spending only what she earned without feeling hardship.

But Katya wasn’t like that.

To put it bluntly, she was more vain, preferring a luxurious life, even at the cost of selling herself.

“Sigh, so pitiful and ridiculous!” Alyona sighed.

“So what should I do? Help her?” Wang Ye turned to face Alyona, asking tentatively.

Alyona just rolled her eyes at him, turned her back, and didn’t say a word.

Wang Ye wrapped his arms around her from behind and said to himself, “Actually, it’s not bad. Didn’t I just take over the Little Eagle Hotel? I don’t have anyone to manage it. Maybe I can send Katya over to help me keep an eye on the hotel. At least she’s someone I know.”

This wasn’t just talk; he really intended to do it.

Wang Ye had been experiencing the so-called “happy troubles” lately—his career was developing too quickly, and he didn’t have enough people.

There weren’t many people he truly trusted, but his business was expanding so rapidly that he felt stretched thin.

Alyona was being moved around—sometimes to Qingyun Company, sometimes to the phone card company, and sometimes to Sun Market Group…

Now there was the Little Eagle Hotel, and Wang Ye really didn’t know who to send to oversee it.

After thinking it over, Katya might be the only one who could try.

He didn’t need her to manage the hotel, just to keep an eye on things.

In terms of closeness, aside from Alyona, Katya, whom he had just met the night before, was second.

Of course, Wang Ye wouldn’t trust Katya unconditionally or let her get involved in core matters.

He would observe her for a while first.

…

After a long while, Alyona finally said softly, “She… can’t live with us…”

Wang Ye was overjoyed because Alyona saying this meant she had accepted Katya, or at least no longer opposed her.

“Of course, the mistress of this house will only ever be you!” he quickly assured her, patting his chest.

Chapter 156: Dividing the Territory

After a while of coaxing, Wang Ye finally managed to “pacify” Alyona.

He had to get up and attend to business. In the afternoon, he was scheduled to meet Mairov at the Sun Market Group to discuss their cooperation. Additionally, Mairov would begin transferring the ownership and various documents of the Little Eagle Hotel to Wang Ye, officially initiating the transfer process.

Truth be told, Wang Ye actually owed Mairov a debt of gratitude. If it weren’t for Mairov causing trouble, Wang Ye wouldn’t have had the opportunity to connect with Khovansky, and he certainly wouldn’t be where he was today…

Wang Ye had already given some thought to the cooperation between the two markets. As the two largest wholesale distribution markets in Moscow, there was no need for internal strife. The market was large enough, and there were plenty of merchants!

From what Wang Ye knew from his “previous life,” the next two years would be a period of intense “gold rush” for Chinese businessmen in Russia. At that time, there would be a situation of “more people than stalls!”

Whether it was the price of shops or the rent, both would be driven up to astronomical prices!

Thus, Mairov and he didn’t need to compete but should instead join forces to maximize their profits…

…

Since Alyona hadn’t slept the previous night, Wang Ye didn’t wake her up but let her continue sleeping. He got up and made some food, had a simple lunch, and then had Anton and the others come to pick him up and take him to the company.

Sure enough, on the way, Wang Ye received a call from Mairov asking if he was at the company. They agreed on a time and decided to meet in Wang Ye’s office at the Sun Market management office half an hour later.

Not long after arriving at the company, Mairov came over with his assistant…

Compared to new rich like Khovansky and Aby, Mairov was more “old-school.” This could be seen from his journey to success. He had started from small businesses.

Moreover, unlike those oligarchs who had amassed their fortunes in just a few years by seizing opportunities, Mairov had built his business step by step, slowly expanding without venturing into banking or energy sectors.

His current business was mainly focused on wholesale distribution markets, logistics and customs clearance, hotels, and construction.

…

As soon as he entered the office, Mairov laughed heartily and spread his arms wide, saying exaggeratedly, “Haha, Misha, my good friend.”

Actually, the two had only just met the previous night…

But Mairov was grateful to Wang Ye. After all, Wang Ye had helped him last night by convincing Khovansky to reconcile.

After hugging, they sat down on the sofa.

Mairov’s assistant took out a large stack of documents from his briefcase, all related to the transfer process of the Little Eagle Hotel. After all, transferring ownership of a large hotel wasn’t simple.

As the assistant explained, Wang Ye signed the documents, busying himself for nearly half an hour before finishing.

Mairov sat to the side, smoking and drinking coffee, not in a hurry.

Once the hotel matters were settled, he smiled and said, “Alright, let’s talk about the cooperation between our two markets. We didn’t get a chance to discuss it in detail last night. Do you have any good ideas?”

His ACT Market would probably take another two or three days to be unsealed. After all, with the Ministry of Internal Affairs involved, it wasn’t something that could be withdrawn immediately. At the very least, the surface procedures had to be completed.

But Mairov was quite anxious as he watched the merchants from his market line up to rent stalls at the Sun Market…

What if the market resumed normal operations, but all the merchants had already left? That wouldn’t do!

So he had come in a hurry today to discuss with Wang Ye and see if they could change this situation…

Hearing Mairov’s question, Wang Ye calmly replied, “Regarding cooperation, I do have some ideas. For example, we could divide the markets. The Sun Market would only allow Chinese merchants to do business, while your ACT could accept merchants from all countries except China. What do you think?”

Wang Ye was dividing the territory.

In 2001, Chinese goods had already begun to flood into Russia, so Chinese merchants made up about half of the ACT Market. The other half came from a variety of places, mainly Vietnam, as well as a mix of Turks and dark-haired people from various “Stan” countries.

Now, Wang Ye wanted to bring all Chinese merchants under the Sun Market, which seemed a bit unfair to ACT, so Mairov frowned.

He said somewhat displeased, “This doesn’t seem to benefit us much. Everyone knows there are a lot of Chinese merchants doing business here!”

Wang Ye smiled and replied, “If we don’t divide it this way, do you think it would be better for ACT? In terms of hardware, facilities, and environment, ACT is inferior to Sun Market. In terms of software, can you guarantee the personal safety and property security of your customers?”

This left Mairov speechless.

Because what Wang Ye said was all objective facts!

“You also know that as the wholesale distribution markets develop, more and more people see the business opportunities. In Moscow, besides my Sun Market, the Large Market in Lyublino is also under construction and is said to open in the next two years. Its scale is quite large, with over eight thousand stalls! Competition in business is inevitable. What we need to do is to win in this competition!” Wang Ye said unhurriedly.

Mairov nodded solemnly. How could he not know what Wang Ye was saying?

It was precisely because of this that he had “lost his mind” for a moment and sent gunmen to assassinate Khovansky. Whether he had truly intended to kill or just scare him, as he claimed, his actions were clearly unwise and had provoked a fierce counterattack from Khovansky!

Mairov had paid a heavy price, giving up the Little Eagle Hotel to Wang Ye just to settle the matter.

As for the Large Market in Lyublino, it was backed by a Jewish financial group with a rather complex background. Mairov didn’t even know how to deal with it.

“These days, making money is getting harder and harder…”

Mairov couldn’t help but sigh.

“As long as we find the right way, it’s not that hard. Once we join forces, we’ll have a monopoly on the entire Russian wholesale distribution market. Then, whether it’s rent or management fees, we’ll be the ones calling the shots! At that time, will making money still be difficult?” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Mairov asked somewhat puzzled, “But… the Large Market in Lyublino will open soon. If we raise the rent and management fees, won’t we drive the merchants there?”

He understood what Wang Ye meant. Essentially, the two of them would agree to simultaneously raise the rent or management fees. If the merchants had no choice, they would have to accept.

After all, doing business here was still very profitable!

But the problem was, there would soon be a third market to choose from…

Chapter 157: Playing Dirty?

If ACT and Sun Market went too far, raising rents and management fees too high, what if the customers refused to pay and collectively moved to the new market in Lyublino? That would be a disaster!

So Mairov didn’t dare take that risk.

Since Wang Ye had come up with this idea, he must have a corresponding plan.

He smiled and said, “That’s what I’m about to say. I’ll handle the Lyublino market. If it doesn’t open, won’t all the problems be solved?”

Mairov’s eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Wang Ye.

This kid…

His ambition was truly not small!

He didn’t dare to play any more tricks now, because he had suffered a big loss at Khovansky’s place!

Could Wang Ye have a better way to “bloodlessly” solve the problem in Lyublino?

Mairov felt it was unlikely, because he also understood the situation there and knew the power of the financial group behind Lyublino.

They had invested so much, and the market was almost built to make big money. How could they close it voluntarily?

“You plan to…” he probed.

If Wang Ye was really going to play “dirty,” he didn’t want to be involved, because the consequences would be endless.

Wang Ye smiled mysteriously and said, “I can’t say that now. Just wait and see. But I am a law-abiding good citizen and won’t use… um, irrational means. Besides, if we two markets want to raise prices, we have to wait for a while until the merchants stabilize.”

Mairov nodded, feeling that what Wang Ye said made sense.

After thinking for a moment, he finally nodded and said, “If you can really make Lyublino close, then I agree to cooperate with you and no longer allow Chinese merchants to enter ACT Market. But there’s another problem. What about the Chinese merchants who have already bought or rented stalls in ACT? I can’t just drive them away.”

Here, he played a little trick.

He couldn’t bear to give up the Chinese merchants who occupied nearly half of ACT Market!

Wang Ye didn’t mind and casually said, “Of course, there’s no need to drive them away. Let the existing merchants choose freely. If they want to stay in ACT, let them stay. If they want to come to Sun Market, don’t stop them.”

Mairov was overjoyed. According to Wang Ye, this would be beneficial to ACT Market!

Because from the moment the two sides reached a cooperation agreement, Sun Market could only accept Chinese merchants and couldn’t let merchants from other countries come to do business.

Of course, ACT couldn’t accept Chinese merchants either.

But the problem was, ACT Market was already full!

After the market reopened in a couple of days, some Chinese merchants might move to Sun Market, but that was fine. The Old Market was already in high demand, and new merchants would quickly fill the vacancies.

As for Sun Market, they could just slowly recruit tenants…

“Deal!” Mairov raised his hand.

“Mmm, deal!” Wang Ye also raised his hand.

The two shook hands, and the deal was set.

Before leaving, Mairov told Wang Ye, “When you go to take over the Little Eagle Hotel, let me know in advance. I’ll have my assistant go with you to handle the handover. I’ll have them expedite the procedures. It should be done in at most three days.”

The Little Eagle Hotel had a new owner, so the new boss would definitely have to show up and meet the hotel management staff.

Wang Ye nodded to show he understood. He wasn’t in a hurry to take over the hotel. After talking to Katya, if she was willing to go to the Little Eagle Hotel, he would take her with him.

…

As soon as Mairov left, Boss Kong came in, knocking on the door.

His chubby round face was slightly sweaty. Wang Ye looked at him and laughed, asking, “It’s not that hot today, is it? Did you just finish running? Why are you sweating?”

Early May in Moscow was probably the best weather of the year.

The grass turned green, flowers bloomed, and the weather was neither cold nor hot.

But to say it was hot enough to sweat was obviously impossible.

“Oh, don’t mention it. There are too many people lining up to rent stalls downstairs. Even with everyone in the company helping, it’s a bit overwhelming. I just went to help,” Boss Kong said, pulling out a tissue to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

His words sounded like a complaint, but from his tone, one could hear the joy.

It was obvious that Sun Market had gone from being ignored to suddenly becoming extremely popular.

Boss Kong was also one of the company’s shareholders, so he was naturally very happy!

Wang Ye remembered the cooperation terms he had just discussed with Mairov and asked him, “Are the people coming to rent stalls all Chinese merchants? Are there any from other countries?”

Boss Kong thought for a moment and replied uncertainly, “I don’t think so. After all, our early advertisements were all in Chinese newspapers, and we didn’t think about attracting those Vietnamese or dark-haired people. Ugh, those guys are poor and troublesome!”

Clearly, Boss Kong didn’t like those Vietnamese and dark-haired people either…

Wang Ye nodded and said, “Pay attention to this later. I just talked to Mairov from ACT. From now on, our two markets will cooperate. The basic condition is that we only allow Chinese merchants to enter, and they will have merchants from other countries. As for the existing Chinese merchants in ACT, let them choose freely.”

Boss Kong was stunned for a moment, tilted his head, and thought for a while, not immediately understanding whose side this condition benefited…

But since the president had already discussed these matters, he just needed to execute them. It wasn’t his place to question.

“Alright, I’ll instruct the staff to pay attention. If merchants from other countries come to rent stalls, reject them directly. Also, check the already signed contracts and void all those that aren’t with Chinese merchants,” Boss Kong said straightforwardly.

As for whether the merchants whose contracts were voided because they weren’t Chinese would protest, Boss Kong wasn’t worried.

This was Russia!

There wasn’t much reason to argue…

…

The recruitment of merchants at Sun Market these past two days had indeed been booming!

It was only the second day, and according to Boss Kong, over a thousand merchants had already signed contracts to enter Sun Market.

Of course, this was also because ACT Market was closed, and Sun Market was offering free rent and management fees.

Many people came just to take advantage. After all, it didn’t cost anything. Regardless of whether Sun Market could succeed in the future, they would first occupy a “spot”!

If it really didn’t work out, they could just run back to ACT.

If it did succeed, they would have hit the jackpot!

Wang Ye had, of course, considered this problem.

To be honest, Sun Market currently had the advantage of timing, location, and people, which led to the booming situation.

But whether they could keep these merchants later, or even make them give up their stalls in ACT, would require some more work…

Chapter 158: Winning Hearts

It was a little past three in the afternoon when Wang Ye was reviewing documents in his office. The door was knocked, and Anton walked in.

“Mr. Mikhail, I’d like to request two days off. There’s a matter at home I need to attend to. Of course, while I’m away, the company will temporarily assign other team members to protect you,” Anton reported, his expression somewhat grave as he stood before Wang Ye’s desk.

Wang Ye set down the documents in his hand and stood up, walking over to drape an arm around Anton’s shoulder.

Anton was even taller than him, a towering figure of nearly one meter ninety, so even with Wang Ye’s height, he had to stand slightly on his toes to reach Anton’s shoulder.

“Come, let’s sit and talk,” he said, guiding Anton toward the sofa.

“Are you part of Yukos Group, or do you belong to a separate security company?” Wang Ye asked with interest.

Anton and his team had been dispatched by Yukos headquarters, so Wang Ye wanted to understand the background of these bodyguards.

“We all belong to a state-owned security company, which has a security agreement with Yukos Group. However, the personal bodyguards around Mr. Khovansky are not from our company,” Anton replied truthfully.

“A state-owned security company? Really? How do you recruit people?” Wang Ye asked, somewhat surprised.

This was something he hadn’t expected.

So Russia still had state-owned security companies. No wonder Anton and his team could legally carry weapons and were clearly well-trained.

“Basically, all security personnel in the company are retired military. But not just any veterans—there’s a strict selection process. Height, physical fitness, and combat experience are all highly demanded. Like me and the other team members protecting you, we’ve all fought in the Chechen War,” Anton said proudly.

Wang Ye regarded him with deep respect. These were true warriors who had been on the battlefield, killed, and seen blood!

The brutality of the Chechen War was something most people couldn’t even imagine!

Those who had survived that war were undoubtedly the elite of the elite.

“Then your salary at the security company must be quite high?” Wang Ye asked curiously.

Anton shook his head, his face bitter. “Not really. Our base salary is only two hundred dollars. There’s a ten-dollar daily allowance when we’re on assignment. If we’re constantly on missions, we can make about five hundred dollars a month, which is decent. But if there are no missions, we only get the base salary.”

Given that, if they were constantly on assignments with the allowance, his salary wasn’t too low.

Five hundred dollars was almost as much as a university professor!

Of course, that was only if they were constantly on missions. If the company didn’t get enough security contracts, the two hundred dollar base salary would be quite meager.

Wang Ye nodded and asked, “Are security companies here only state-owned? Are there private ones?”

Anton thought for a moment and said, “There are! Some large energy companies have their own security firms. Yukos Group does too, but not in Moscow.”

Wang Ye now had a clearer picture. He was asking these questions because he was considering whether to establish his own security company in the future.

After all, both the Little Eagle Hotel and Sun Market had security needs.

Sun Market Group already had its own security team, but they were only for maintaining daily order and couldn’t carry real weapons.

The armed security at the management office, like Anton, all came from state-owned security companies.

After chatting for a while, Wang Ye stood up with a smile and said, “You must be in a hurry to get home. I won’t keep you. By the way, if there’s anything you need help with, just let me know.”

Although he hadn’t known Anton for long, Wang Ye had a good impression of him.

He was diligent in his work, always full of energy whenever he appeared, and even in safe places, he remained highly vigilant without any slack.

Moreover, he had taught Wang Ye how to “handle a gun”…

If Wang Ye ever started his own security company, he planned to recruit Anton.

Originally, this was just a polite gesture, but Anton hesitated, as if he had something to say.

Seeing his expression, Wang Ye guessed there must be some difficulty and encouraged him, “It’s fine, just say it.”

“My family called to say my father is sick and hospitalized. He needs surgery, but at a public hospital, the wait is very long. At a private hospital, he could have the surgery immediately, but the cost…” Anton said.

In Russia, medical treatment was indeed free.

But the problem was that Russia’s aging population was becoming more severe, leading to long queues at public hospitals.

Surgery was even worse—you could end up waiting until you died…

So, for serious illnesses, people still had to go to private hospitals.

Private hospitals had better conditions, but the fees were naturally high, and most people couldn’t afford them.

Anton probably hadn’t been working long, and young people couldn’t save much money. If his family wasn’t well-off, he might truly struggle to afford his father’s surgery.

“How much is needed?” Wang Ye asked without hesitation.

“It’s not a major surgery, probably a few thousand dollars should be enough,” Anton replied honestly.

Wang Ye took out his phone and called the finance department, instructing the finance manager to bring ten thousand dollars immediately.

The finance department was right next door…

So, just a minute after hanging up, the finance manager delivered the money.

Ten thousand dollars, placed in a large envelope. Wang Ye opened it, glanced inside, and handed it to Anton, saying, “Take it, go home.”

Anton seemed hesitant. He lowered his head and said, “Sir… this money… I don’t know when I can pay it back.”

Indeed, with his salary, he would have to go without food or drink for twenty months to save ten thousand dollars!

And that was only if he was constantly on missions…

Wang Ye directly stuffed the large envelope into his hand and said with a smile, “Take it. Your father’s health is what matters. As for repaying, there’s no rush. You can pay it back whenever you have the money.”

Only then did Anton take the envelope, gripping it tightly, and gratefully said to Wang Ye, “Thank you. I’ll go home now and be back in at most three days after settling things.”

Ten thousand dollars was nothing to Wang Ye.

Spending this money to earn Anton’s gratitude, or even his future loyalty, was more than worth it!

He was gradually building his own team, and all kinds of talents were needed—not just business talents like Liu Jun, but also true warriors like Anton who had been on the battlefield and killed…

Chapter 159: I Want to Be Like Her

In the afternoon, Wang Ye returned home a little early, arriving at the residential complex before five o’clock.

However, he didn’t rush home immediately. Instead, he made a phone call.

“Hello, are you home? I’ll be over soon. Mhm… I know, just open the door when I get there. I’ll be right up.”

After hanging up, Wang Ye waved off the security personnel and turned to enter the building.

He needed to visit Katya first and discuss some matters with her.

Katya and Wang Ye lived in the same building, just on different floors.

…

The door opened, and Katya threw herself into Wang Ye’s arms, closing her eyes and tilting her face up.

Wang Ye kissed her twice before smiling and saying, “Alright, alright, let’s go inside. I have something to discuss with you.”

This girl must have been born with natural charm. Now that Wang Ye had “developed” her, she had become even more stunningly beautiful.

Her apartment wasn’t very large—similar in layout to Wang Ye’s place, though she lived alone.

The room was clean, decorated with stuffed animals like teddy bears that girls tend to favor.

After closing the door, the two sat down on the sofa. Katya naturally clung to Wang Ye’s arm, pressing against him with an air of “take me as you please…”

But Wang Ye was in no mood for that.

He patted Katya’s hand and smiled. “Let’s talk business. Do you want to work? I mean a proper job where you have to go to an office?”

To be honest, the entertainment industry in Russia these days didn’t have much of a future.

Ordinary people could barely afford food—who had the leisure to care about entertainment?

In any country, the entertainment industry only thrived after people became wealthy.

Plus, Katya’s status as a singer was somewhat inflated. Without resources to prop her up, she’d likely fade into obscurity soon.

It would be better for her to help oversee the Little Eagle Hotel. At least that way, she’d be useful.

Wang Ye didn’t keep “idle people” around.

Katya perked up at the mention of work, sitting up straight. “A job? Sure! When I was little, I dreamed of being a career woman, working in a big company. Hehe. Oh, where do you want me to work? At the Sun Market Group?”

Wang Ye chuckled. “No, at the Little Eagle Hotel. It belongs to me now. You can help keep an eye on things for me. You won’t need to manage it yourself—there’s already a professional team in place.”

Katya nodded eagerly, like a chick pecking at rice. “Great! That hotel is really high-end and well-known in Moscow.”

Since Katya was willing, there was no issue.

Wang Ye nodded. “Alright, wait for my call over the next couple of days. We’ll go together to take over the hotel.”

After finishing their discussion, Wang Ye stood up to leave.

But Katya grabbed his hand, her large, watery eyes full of allure. “Stay with me tonight?”

Wang Ye’s heart fluttered, nearly blurting out “yes,” but he managed to restrain himself.

He smiled and asked, “Are you better now? This morning, you said you were still hurt.”

“I’m not in pain anymore,” Katya replied.

“That won’t do. Rest for a couple more days. I have things to do tonight.” Wang Ye feigned righteousness.

He knew that even though Alyona had accepted Katya’s presence, it didn’t mean she was completely unbothered.

At the very least, he couldn’t stay with Katya tonight. He needed to go home and spend time with Alyona.

“Fine…” Katya pouted, clearly unhappy.

But Wang Ye couldn’t afford to worry about her feelings. Compared to Katya, Alyona was far more important.

…

As he rode the elevator upstairs to go home, Wang Ye shook his head in resignation. Having too many women wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

Especially since he was rather soft-hearted.

If he could be more detached—reaching the level of “brothers are like limbs, women are like clothes”—he might not have so many troubles.

But he couldn’t do it.

He always felt that if a beautiful girl followed him, he had an obligation and responsibility to take care of her.

At the end of the day, he still thought like an ordinary person. He hadn’t reached a “higher state” yet.

…

When he got home, Alyona greeted him with a radiant smile, and Wang Ye’s mood instantly brightened.

After embracing, Alyona smiled and said, “Dinner’s ready. Try my cooking. It’s a new dish I learned—supposedly a Chinese favorite, stir-fried tomatoes and eggs!”

Alyona hadn’t known how to cook before, let alone stir-fry.

But since being with Wang Ye, she had been actively learning culinary skills, even studying Chinese cuisine.

Wang Ye’s heart warmed. Regardless of how her cooking turned out, her effort was enough.

As he took off his coat, he said, “By the way, shall we visit the car dealership tomorrow? The one where we bought the car last time. It’s time to get you a car.”

In the future, Wang Ye might need to travel between the Little Eagle Hotel, the Sun Market Group, and Yukos headquarters.

Alyona worked at the Sun Market Group.

They might often find themselves unable to commute together, so Alyona would need a car. He couldn’t have her taking taxis.

First, it wasn’t safe. Second, the “black taxis” were all beat-up Ladas.

Alyona didn’t refuse. She knew that with Wang Ye’s current wealth, buying her a car was no big deal.

Besides, given their relationship, being too polite would only create distance.

Her eyes sparkled as she smiled and said, “I want the same car as hers!”

Wang Ye paused, not immediately realizing whom Alyona was referring to with “her.”

“A Porsche sports car!” Alyona reminded him.

Wang Ye immediately understood—she meant Katya.

Before he and Katya knew each other, he had once mentioned her to Alyona, who had been quite envious of Katya’s Porsche.

Now that he and Katya were involved, Alyona, as the “elder sister,” naturally couldn’t drive a car inferior to Katya’s, the “younger sister.”

“Alright, we’ll get a Porsche 911. No problem.” Wang Ye responded decisively.

In Russia, a Porsche 911 wasn’t that expensive—probably around a hundred thousand dollars. For Wang Ye, it really was a small matter.

Of course, he didn’t have that much cash on hand right now.

But it didn’t matter. He could borrow from the company account and deduct it from his future dividends.

After all, the Sun Market Group had just collected a large sum from the merchants’ deposits.

And in a few days, once he took over the Little Eagle Hotel, this amount would be even less significant.

The Little Eagle Hotel was practically a money-making machine, raking in profits daily!

Chapter 160: Caught in a Dilemma

It was already May 6th. Wang Ye had arrived in Moscow on January 1st, so it had only been a little over four months.

But the Wang Ye of today was completely different from the one four months ago!

In terms of business, Wang Ye owned fifty percent of Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company and fifty percent of Hua Star Communications.

These were nothing compared to his stakes in Sun Market Group and the Little Eagle Hotel!

He held twenty percent of Sun Market Group, plus three streets with a total of three hundred storefronts!

And he owned the entire Little Eagle Hotel!

How much were all these worth?

It was truly hard to say. Whether it was the shares in Sun Market Group or the ownership of the Little Eagle Hotel, their exact value was difficult to determine.

Because behind these two ventures, there might be even more valuable hidden assets!

Sun Market Group was a given—being able to establish connections with high-ranking officials and successfully launch this market project would cost an unimaginable amount of money!

The Little Eagle Hotel was no simple matter either. It was the only hotel in all of Moscow, perhaps even in all of Russia, that held a “gambling license”!

Of course, this license wasn’t “full-powered”—it came with significant restrictions.

It only allowed for entertainment machines like slot machines, not face-to-face gambling like Texas Hold’em.

But even so, it was still a “gambling license”…

In Russia, gambling was legally prohibited.

How Mairov had managed to obtain this license for the Little Eagle Hotel was a mystery.

But it must have come with heavy restrictions, so the license itself wasn’t worth much. From Wang Ye’s observations during his visits to the hotel, there didn’t seem to be many customers playing the slot machines.

Yet Wang Ye believed this was a buried “diamond”!

Mairov hadn’t fully utilized the potential of this license. Once it was in his hands…

…

He had money, he had a career, and he even had two women…

By all accounts, this should qualify as success and fame, right?

But Wang Ye still hadn’t told his family about any of this. During recent calls home, he only mentioned attending classes, nothing else.

It wasn’t that he wanted to hide things from his family—he simply hadn’t figured out how to tell his parents…

Because even Wang Ye himself found the events of the past few months, especially recently, too… fantastical!

If he told his family, they’d probably think he’d gone mad!

And they might worry about him…

After much thought, Wang Ye felt torn.

His family wasn’t well-off. They weren’t struggling, but his parents’ salaries were modest, and they lived comfortably in their area.

But here he was, living so lavishly—gifting his girlfriend a Porsche!

Meanwhile, his family didn’t even own a car. His father had to drive a beat-up Santana from his company.

This made him seem unfilial…

With his current resources, he could easily provide his parents with a mansion and a luxury car, letting them live in comfort.

But he hadn’t figured out how to explain what had happened in Moscow or how to justify giving them money.

So that night, as they lay in bed, Wang Ye suddenly asked Alyona beside him, “If you were me, would you tell your parents everything?”

Alyona understood what Wang Ye meant. She knew his family wasn’t wealthy.

She also understood that if Wang Ye was asking this, it meant he hadn’t told his family about what was happening here.

After a moment of thoughtful silence, she replied hesitantly, “I really don’t know. Maybe not.”

“Why?” Wang Ye pressed.

“Sometimes, keeping secrets doesn’t mean you’re lying or being malicious. Maybe you just don’t want your family to worry. Plus, suddenly becoming so rich—it’s not just hard for your family to accept, even you might struggle with it!” Alyona answered.

This aligned with Wang Ye’s own thoughts…

“Well, I’ll take it one step at a time. I don’t have to go back this summer, and I don’t need my family to send more money for tuition. I’ll figure it out when I return next year,” Wang Ye sighed.

Before coming on January 1st, he had already discussed with his parents that he wouldn’t return this summer.

So he wouldn’t be going back until next summer.

First, time was tight. He had arrived late and could only take half a year of preparatory courses.

Second, of course, there was the issue of money. Back then, the cost of a round-trip flight was a significant expense for both him and his parents!

…

The next day, as usual, a large G-class Mercedes and a Land Cruiser arrived. Wang Ye and Alyona, accompanied by four bodyguards, headed to the car dealership where they had bought their previous vehicle.

They were going to buy a car for Alyona.

As soon as the cars entered the dealership’s courtyard and stopped at the entrance, a salesperson rushed over.

There was no helping it—this kind of entourage clearly signaled a big spender!

Wang Ye didn’t waste time. After getting out of the car, he immediately asked, “Do you have a Porsche 911 in stock?”

“Yes, yes, right this way,” the Russian salesperson said obsequiously.

Though Russians were said to be proud and look down on foreigners, that depended on the person and the situation.

Just the sight of the burly bodyguards behind Wang Ye was enough to make any ordinary Russian show “friendliness”…

Not to mention, Wang Ye was clearly here to spend money.

Led by the salesperson, Wang Ye and Alyona entered the showroom.

The exhibition hall could only be described as “massive.” Last time, Wang Ye had only seen the SUV section.

In another corner, there was a sports car section.

Here, Porsches, Ferraris, and Lamborghinis were all on display!

Considering that a university professor only earned five hundred dollars a month, seeing these luxury cars was truly surreal…

All one could say was that in Moscow, the rich were really rich!

And the poor were really poor…

“Do you want to buy something else? Ferraris and Lamborghinis are better than Porsches,” Wang Ye whispered to Alyona.

Indeed, Porsches were considered luxury cars, but they weren’t supercars. Compared to Ferraris and Lamborghinis, they were a tier below.

Since he was buying Alyona a car, Wang Ye wasn’t stingy—he wanted to go all out.

It was also a way to “compensate” her, so she wouldn’t give him a hard time later…

“No, no, a Porsche is fine. There’s no need for something more expensive. Besides, I’m not very skilled at driving yet. If the car is too powerful, it might be easier to get into an accident,” Alyona shook her head.

Wang Ye thought she had a point. He’d buy her a Porsche to practice with first.

Once she became a better driver, they could get a better car…

Chapter 161: Taking Over the Little Eagle Hotel

In the end, Alyona chose a white Porsche 911, which cost around one hundred and sixty thousand US dollars.

A deposit of twenty thousand was paid, and the car would be delivered in three days.

After buying the car, Wang Ye dropped Alyona off at the Sun Market management office for work, then went to chat with Boss Kong.

It had to be said, Boss Kong’s work ethic was far better than Wang Ye’s…

Basically, he was always the first to arrive and the last to leave!

Wang Ye, on the other hand, often just stopped by briefly before leaving.

But Boss Kong didn’t complain. He could only say that he didn’t have Wang Ye’s luck—after all, Wang Ye was now “nephew” Mikhail to Mr. Khovansky!

Even if the Sun Market didn’t succeed, Wang Ye might still go on to “inherit” the Yukos Group!

But Boss Kong didn’t have that luxury. If the Sun Market failed, he would be ruined, so of course he was putting in his all.

“How many stalls have been rented out?” Wang Ye asked.

“Almost two thousand. At this rate, I estimate all the stalls will be rented out by tomorrow or the day after,” Boss Kong said happily.

It seemed the free policies and various guarantees introduced by the Sun Market were quite attractive.

Most merchants had directly rented two stalls, even if it meant paying a lot more in deposits—they didn’t mind.

Additionally, Xiao Hu had helped contact the Footwear Association, which had sent representatives to inspect the market.

The result was, of course, satisfaction. They directly signed an agreement to reserve one hundred and fifty stalls. Many factories had already started shipping goods and were sending people over.

In short, the ninety percent occupancy rate set by headquarters should be no problem at all!

…

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, three days had passed.

Anton had returned. He had settled his family matters—his father had been admitted to a private hospital, and the surgery had gone smoothly.

Now, all that was left was for him to rest at home, so Anton felt at ease returning to work.

Anton was, of course, extremely grateful to Wang Ye. If it weren’t for the ten thousand US dollars Wang Ye had lent him, who knew what might have happened this time.

Meanwhile, the transfer procedures for the Little Eagle Hotel had been completed, and Wang Ye could now formally take over…

…

On the morning of May 12th, Wang Ye brought Katya, Anton, and Mairov’s assistant with him.

The group took a car to the Little Eagle Hotel.

The hotel’s general manager, along with several senior executives, had been waiting at the entrance. They had received the notice—the hotel had a new “owner”!

The Little Eagle Hotel occupied a considerable area. Although the main building was in the common European style, it looked relatively new, having been built and opened less than ten years ago.

It had only twenty-one floors, not very tall, but each floor had a large area.

Especially the first three floors, which had a total area of seven to eight thousand square meters!

From the fourth floor up, each floor had an area of about five thousand square meters.

The first three floors also housed the hotel’s amenities—slot machine halls, bowling alleys, bars, restaurants, swimming pools, gyms, and more—everything was there!

“Mr. Mikhail, this is the hotel’s general manager, Yuri. Yuri, this is the new owner of the Little Eagle Hotel, Mr. Mikhail!” Mairov’s assistant introduced.

Yuri, the general manager, was in his early fifties. He was well-dressed, and his small mustache was neatly trimmed, giving him the appearance of a meticulous man.

Yuri stepped forward, extending both hands with a smile. “Welcome, Mr. Mikhail. We in the management team are very pleased to hear of your arrival today. We hope the hotel will achieve even greater development under your support.”

In truth, Yuri was quite anxious.

The saying “a new broom sweeps clean” applied everywhere in the world.

Now that the hotel had a new owner, would he, the general manager, still be kept on?

No one could say for sure…

Clearly, Yuri didn’t want to lose this respectable job.

Life in Moscow wasn’t easy these days. The economy was sluggish, and wages across all industries were generally low.

His position came with a monthly salary of five thousand US dollars, which was absolutely high-paying in Moscow—a golden collar job!

It was because of his job that his entire family could live a decent life.

But if he lost this job, finding another one with such a high salary would be extremely difficult!

Wang Ye extended his right hand and shook Yuri’s hand, smiling as he said, “I’ve been here a few times before. The hotel is well-run, very lively, with many foreign exchange students and tourists.”

Indeed, most of the faces in the hotel were Asian.

Especially people from China, Japan, and Korea—there were quite a lot of them!

Although Moscow was an international metropolis, there weren’t many places to go at night.

The local bars were quite chaotic, so foreigners generally didn’t go there to have fun.

The Little Eagle Hotel, on the other hand, had a wide range of entertainment facilities, and its location was excellent—situated in a wealthy area, close to Moscow State University and the University of Friendship, with many Japanese and Korean companies nearby. Gradually, it had become the “headquarters” for exchange students and businesspeople from China, Japan, and Korea!

Hearing Wang Ye’s praise, Yuri’s face lit up with a smile.

The Little Eagle Hotel was indeed quite popular. Compared to other hotels of the same level in Moscow, business here was quite good.

After a few more words, Yuri introduced the senior executives behind him to Wang Ye, who nodded and greeted them with a smile.

As for their names, he didn’t remember a single one…

…

Under Yuri’s guidance, everyone entered the hotel lobby.

As they walked, Yuri continued to introduce the hotel’s situation to Wang Ye. When they reached the slot machine hall, Wang Ye showed particular interest.

He asked, “What percentage of the hotel’s profits does this hall account for?”

The hall wasn’t very large, about seven to eight hundred square meters. Inside, there were several rows of slot machines, not many in number—less than a hundred.

But it was morning, so there weren’t many people inside. Such places were usually lively at night.

Without hesitation, Yuri replied, “About six percent. Compared to its floor area, the return rate is quite high.”

Someone might ask, if the return rate was high, why not expand the hall’s size? Why not make it two or three thousand square meters or even larger?

Of course, Wang Ye didn’t ask such a “stupid” question…

Because for such projects, you first needed enough people to play. It wasn’t that the more machines and the larger the area, the more revenue you could generate.

Perhaps these few dozen machines were already enough for the people who came to the Little Eagle Hotel to play. Expanding further would just be a waste…

So Wang Ye just nodded and didn’t say anything, continuing to let Yuri show him around other areas.

Chapter 162: Personnel Arrangements

Compared to the slot machine hall, the bowling alley was much larger. It was also the most popular entertainment venue at the Little Eagle Hotel.

As Wang Ye knew, his cousin Ruan Xiaozhu enjoyed playing bowling.

Yuri introduced it proudly, “Our hotel’s bowling alley ranks among the top three in Moscow! We have the most advanced facilities, the most comprehensive services, and ample space, so many people come here specifically for it. This hall generates about twelve percent of the hotel’s total revenue!”

Wang Ye nodded in approval. “This place is indeed excellent. I’ve been here a couple of times before, and the prices are quite reasonable.”

Praise from the new boss made Yuri’s face flush with pride, and he stood even straighter.

After introducing the restaurant, bar, swimming pool, gym, and other facilities, they moved on to the guest rooms on the upper floors.

After all, the Little Eagle Hotel was a “hotel,” and its core business was still accommodation!

However, Yuri was less confident when introducing this part of the business.

“Our hotel currently has six hundred and fifty rooms, including standard rooms, deluxe rooms, business rooms, and suites. This year, the average daily occupancy rate has been around forty percent—not too high, but not too low either. It’s above the average for Moscow’s hotel industry. Currently, management is trying to expand this business, including but not limited to contacting large conferences, travel agencies, and so on…” Yuri explained in detail.

A forty percent occupancy rate meant that more than half of the rooms were empty every day…

This data wasn’t very impressive.

Wang Ye frowned slightly and asked, “What is the price range for our hotel’s rooms?”

“Without discounts, standard rooms are eight hundred rubles per night, deluxe rooms are one thousand rubles, business rooms are fifteen hundred, and suites are two thousand five hundred,” Yuri introduced.

These prices weren’t expensive. Converting to US dollars, standard rooms were thirty dollars, deluxe rooms forty, business rooms sixty, and suites one hundred…

In Moscow, and in this location, the prices were quite reasonable.

But there was no way around it—Moscow’s business wasn’t booming, which meant there weren’t many people needing accommodation.

…

After the tour, everyone arrived at the office area on the third floor of the hotel.

This floor served as the office level, and in addition to hotel staff, a large portion was rented out to several foreign enterprises.

In the large conference room, everyone sat down, and servers brought in steaming hot coffee.

Mairov’s assistant stood up and announced to the hotel’s management that, effective immediately, all ownership of the Little Eagle Hotel belonged to Mr. Mikhail.

This also meant that the hotel’s personnel and financial authority had been transferred to Mikhail—that is, Wang Ye!

After the announcement, Mairov’s assistant left. His task was complete; the rest was up to Wang Ye…

Wang Ye smiled as he scanned the conference room. Wherever his gaze landed, he was met with smiles.

Of course, everyone understood that with a new boss taking over the hotel, the new boss would surely bring in some trusted people.

Correspondingly, some of the existing management would have to “step down.”

No one wanted to be that “lucky one”…

Seated beside Wang Ye were two people, Katya and Anton, one on his left and one on his right.

Katya’s appearance today was different from her usual heavy makeup. Her golden wavy hair was tied into a bun, and she wore a plain professional suit, flesh-colored stockings, and black high heels.

She looked every bit the professional career woman.

Anton had also changed out of his usual camouflage attire, opting instead for a suit. Though the clothes were a bit tight, they wrapped snugly around his muscular frame.

His nearly shaved head and sharp features made him look exceptionally fierce.

“This is Miss Katya, my assistant, who will serve as my full representative at the Little Eagle Hotel. Additionally, the hotel will establish a board of directors, with me as the chairman and Katya as the chairman’s assistant. As for the board members, currently, it’s just me, but I will introduce a few capable shareholders in the future.”

As Wang Ye introduced her, Katya gracefully stood up and smiled at the crowd.

Naturally, everyone applauded, and many breathed a sigh of relief.

Katya’s position didn’t conflict with anyone present, so no one’s job was at risk!

“Earlier, I heard from Yuri that the hotel’s security is currently outsourced to a professional security company. Effective immediately, the hotel will establish its own security department, with Mr. Anton as the security manager,” Wang Ye announced.

Anton’s face showed a hint of excitement as he stiffly stood up and nodded to everyone.

Before coming, Wang Ye had already spoken with him, asking him to resign from the security company and come work for him.

The salary was generous—fifteen hundred US dollars, including meals and accommodation…

Since he would be working at the hotel, food and lodging were naturally taken care of.

As for Wang Ye’s personal security, it was still handled by the state-owned security company. However, since reconciling with Mairov, Wang Ye no longer had any “enemies” here, so there was no need to worry about anyone harming him.

Thus, the security personnel were more for show than anything else!

Now that the Little Eagle Hotel was Wang Ye’s private property, it would become the “headquarters” for cultivating his trusted team!

Bringing Anton over as the security manager was just the beginning. He would also contact his former comrades to come work here.

Once the hotel’s security department grew large enough, it could even spin off into its own security company…

At the end of the day, Wang Ye still felt uneasy in this place. Who knew when danger might strike?

It was better to have a team of his own that he could truly rely on—that was the only way to feel secure…

…

No one was foolish enough to oppose Wang Ye’s arrangements. Everyone applauded in agreement—what a wise boss!

Wang Ye didn’t fire anyone either. Since he had just taken over the hotel, stability was key.

He did plan to bring in a few more capable new shareholders, not because the hotel lacked funds, but for other considerations…

After settling the personnel matters, Wang Ye thought for a moment and turned to Yuri. “Reserve the largest suite on the top floor, redecorate it, and use it as my office and lounge. Oh, and when I’m not around, let Assistant Katya work there.”

The largest suite on the top floor was said to be five or six hundred square meters!

It was already at the presidential suite level!

Since no one usually booked such an expensive suite, it might as well be put to use. Wang Ye decided to claim it for himself.

Now, he could truly live the life of “if there’s work, the secretary does it; if there’s nothing to do… well, you know what the secretary does!”

Chapter 163: Trouble at the Door

The boss’s orders—who would dare disobey?

Yuri quickly nodded. “Understood. I’ll have the staff clean and prepare the largest suite on the top floor right away. If there’s anything else you need, just let me know.”

The meeting concluded, and it was already noon.

They had lunch together in the hotel’s own Western restaurant, joined by the management team.

Wang Ye, as usual, gave them a pep talk, promising that if the hotel’s profits remained strong, everyone would receive a generous bonus at year’s end!

In this regard, Wang Ye was far more generous than Mairov…

Yuri and the other former managers were delighted. This new boss was truly a rare find.

Not only had he not fired anyone, but he had also promised bonuses and planned to bring in new investors to expand the hotel. In these tough times, encountering such a boss was a stroke of luck…

…

After the meal, Wang Ye told everyone to return to their duties.

As for himself, he took Katya up to the top-floor suite.

He wanted to experience the room firsthand—whether the king-sized bed was comfortable enough, if the massage tub was powerful, and whether the soundproofing was adequate…

…

Two hours later, the “inspection” was complete, and both of them lay exhausted on the bed.

“I saw her today,” Katya suddenly said.

Wang Ye blinked, confused. “Who?”

“Probably your girlfriend,” Katya replied. “I saw you two coming down the stairs together. She… is quite pretty.”

But in truth, Katya was far from convinced. She didn’t think Alyona was prettier than herself!

Her figure wasn’t as fiery, nor was she as “fierce.” And when it came to fame, she was no match for Katya…

Wang Ye smiled faintly. “In my heart, she is the most beautiful. Of course, you’re beautiful too.”

Hearing that, Katya wisely dropped the subject. She changed the topic. “Are you really planning to expand the Little Eagle Hotel? The hotel industry in Moscow isn’t doing well. There’s a luxurious hotel near Red Square that’s on the verge of closing down.”

The Little Eagle Hotel wasn’t exactly high-end, but it wasn’t cheap either. In fact, it was doing quite well.

The truly top-tier luxury hotels were the ones struggling to survive.

Wang Ye shook his head, not bothering to explain further. What he planned to do was still uncertain—there was no point in discussing it now.

After resting a while, he got up and started dressing. “Get up. Later, find Yuri and have him prepare two guest bedrooms as offices. Leave the original office as it is.”

The suite already had a spacious office with high-end furniture and facilities, which Wang Ye found satisfactory.

He planned to use that office himself.

As for the guest bedrooms, since they wouldn’t be needed, they might as well be converted into offices.

One would be for Katya, and the other might be used for an assistant or secretary in the future. Better to set it up now.

Katya sat up and nodded, indicating she had taken note.

Once dressed, the two left the suite. Wang Ye headed straight out—he still had matters to attend to at the Sun Market.

Katya, of course, stayed behind and got to work.

…

As he neared the Sun Market, Wang Ye received a call.

Glancing at the screen, he saw it was from Song Xiao Gang. He answered casually.

“Hey, Xiao Gang, what’s up?”

“Uh… Ye Ge, are you free tomorrow night?” Song Xiao Gang asked hesitantly.

Wang Ye thought for a moment. He didn’t have any plans for tomorrow. “I’m free. What’s the matter?”

“Tomorrow is Yanzi’s birthday, and she wants to invite you,” Song Xiao Gang quickly explained.

Wang Ye was puzzled. “Yanzi’s birthday? Why didn’t she tell me herself? Why have you tell me?”

“Hehe, she’s not that close to you, but she still wants you to come, so she asked me to pass the message. But it’s fine if you’re busy—just pretend I didn’t say anything,” Song Xiao Gang said awkwardly.

Wang Ye found this odd.

Even if he and Yanzi weren’t that close, they had interacted a few times, and with his cousin Ruan Xiaozhu’s connection, he should be closer to Yanzi than Song Xiao Gang was.

Unless…

Had Song Xiao Gang and Yanzi’s relationship taken a turn?

He hadn’t expected Song Xiao Gang, who seemed so honest and simple, to actually know how to pursue a girl.

It seemed he had changed quite a bit under Wang Ye’s influence.

With a smile, he asked, “Be honest—are you and Yanzi dating now?”

There was no other possibility.

Sure enough, at Wang Ye’s words, Song Xiao Gang let out a foolish chuckle on the other end, neither confirming nor denying.

Wang Ye understood. Song Xiao Gang was his roommate, after all—he had to give him face.

“I’ll be there on time tomorrow,” he said. “By the way, where is Yanzi celebrating her birthday? At her dormitory?”

“No, no, we’re having dinner at the Little Eagle Hotel’s Western restaurant tomorrow night. Yanzi said she’s invited some friends, and the dorm room is too small to fit everyone,” Song Xiao Gang replied.

Clearly, after some time as a phone card distributor, Yanzi had more money to spend.

She was even celebrating her birthday at the Little Eagle Hotel!

“No problem. What time?” Wang Ye asked with a smile.

“Starting at seven in the evening. Don’t worry, Ye Ge, come whenever it’s convenient for you. We’ll wait for you,” Song Xiao Gang said happily.

It was clear that among Yanzi and his circle of friends, Wang Ye was likely the most “esteemed” guest…

Moreover, to be honest, they all relied on Wang Ye for their livelihood.

After all, their phone card distribution business depended on Wang Ye’s company. They could afford to offend anyone else, but they wouldn’t dare offend Wang Ye.

After hanging up, Wang Ye shook his head and chuckled.

He hadn’t expected Yanzi to celebrate her birthday at the Little Eagle Hotel—his territory now!

Of course, neither Song Xiao Gang nor Yanzi knew this.

Even Liu Jun and Nalan Yaqi were still in the dark.

And Wang Ye certainly wasn’t going to tell them…

…

As his car pulled up to the Small Red Building, Wang Ye saw a crowd gathered at the entrance before he even got out.

It seemed there was some kind of dispute.

Frowning, he didn’t step out immediately. Instead, he called Boss Kong.

“What’s going on at the company entrance? I see a big crowd gathered there.”

Boss Kong’s voice was tense. “President, we’ve got trouble. Someone’s here causing a scene!”

Wang Ye was taken aback, then displeased. “What are all those security guards doing—eating for free? How could they let someone block the company entrance and cause trouble!”

Chapter 164: Too Greedy

“Things aren’t that simple,” Boss Kong said helplessly. “The main issue is that the troublemakers are dark-haired!”

Wang Ye frowned upon hearing this. Dark-haired… This was indeed a thorny problem.

In Moscow, especially around the Large Market, the dark-haired were a unique presence, and there were many of them. Most of these people came from the former Soviet republics, the so-called “Stan” countries. Because their homelands were too poor, they came to Moscow to make a living.

The majority of dark-haired had low education and little culture, so they could only do the dirty, backbreaking jobs that the local Russians didn’t want to do. In the Large Market, all the porters and laborers were dark-haired.

Of course, some of the dark-haired were smarter and had started to do business. There were quite a few dark-haired shops in the old ACT Market. If it were just this, it wouldn’t be anything special—similar to the Chinese and Vietnamese merchants here.

But the dark-haired had one trait that was particularly troublesome: they stuck together fiercely, and they were ruthless and willing to fight to the death. Many of those involved in Moscow’s underworld were dark-haired.

Extortion, theft, kidnapping—there was nothing they wouldn’t do. Especially after the two Chechen wars, even though Russia had taken Chechnya, it had left behind many lingering problems. Many dark-haired from Chechnya harbored deep hatred for Russia. Though they didn’t dare show it openly in Moscow, behind the scenes, they were up to no good.

So, ordinary Russians would avoid the dark-haired whenever they saw them. Many dark-haired gave off the vibe of, “I’ve got nothing to lose. If you mess with me, I’ll fight you to the death.” Who in their right mind would take that risk?

…

“Why are they causing trouble? Didn’t we decide not to rent stalls to the dark-haired in our market?” Wang Ye asked.

Initially, when Wang Ye negotiated with Mairov, he had said that the Sun Market would only accept Chinese merchants. As for the dark-haired, Vietnamese, and others, they were all unwelcome. Besides the increasing number of Chinese merchants, there was also the factor of not wanting to deal with the dark-haired. They were poor, had many problems, and could easily turn the market into a chaotic mess.

Wang Ye truly didn’t want these people in his Sun Market. In comparison, the Chinese merchants were much better—they had money, were honest, followed the rules here, and were even submissive to a fault.

“The problem lies here,” Boss Kong explained. “At first, we didn’t have this rule. Later, when you said only Chinese merchants could rent stalls here, I started clearing out the previously signed contracts. I found a few rental agreements with Vietnamese and dark-haired. According to company regulations, we were preparing to refund their deposits and cancel the contracts. The Vietnamese took the money and left quietly, but the dark-haired refused…”

Wang Ye finally understood why the dark-haired were causing trouble. In this matter, the Sun Market Group was indeed somewhat in the wrong. They had signed contracts and paid deposits, and now the market was canceling the contracts with just a word. It was no wonder they were unhappy.

But the problem was that the contracts were one-sided, with all terms favoring the market management. It clearly stated that if the market’s business direction changed, the management could terminate the contracts unconditionally. Boss Kong was just following the contract terms, and the company’s business direction had indeed changed.

“I see. I’m already at the management building. I’ll go in now,” Wang Ye said before hanging up.

…

“Get out of the car. Let’s go in,” Wang Ye said, his face dark.

Seeing the chaos in front of the management building, the bodyguards from the rear car had already surrounded the big G. Four bodyguards, two in front and two behind, escorted Wang Ye into the Small Red Building.

But as they reached the door, two dark-haired men blocked their way.

“Brother, where are you going? We’re not open today, and no business is being conducted,” said a short, curly-haired dark-haired man.

There was no discriminatory intent, but the dark-haired in the Large Market were generally short, ugly, and dirty. Of course, this was related to their work—doing manual labor, hauling goods, and carrying packages made it impossible to stay clean.

Wang Ye was so angry he almost laughed. As the president of the Sun Market Group, he wasn’t even allowed into his own company? And whether the company was open or not—when did it become a dark-haired man’s place to tell him?

Before he could react, the bodyguards beside him had already drawn their weapons, shouting “Sukabure,” and pushed the dark-haired men aside.

The group of dark-haired men immediately became restless, all glaring with unfriendly expressions. However, seeing the real weapons on the bodyguards, they didn’t dare to act recklessly.

Under the bodyguards’ escort, Wang Ye finally managed to enter the Small Red Building.

In the first-floor lobby, several security personnel stood at the door to prevent the dark-haired from rushing in. But in reality, the dark-haired knew the rules—they didn’t step past the doorway but blocked the entrance to prevent others from entering.

Boss Kong was sweating profusely as he paced around the lobby. When he saw Wang Ye enter, he hurried over.

“President, what should we do about this? These dark-haired are really troublesome. I even said we could compensate them a little more, but they still refused.”

Clearly, Boss Kong was the type who bullied the weak and feared the strong. When dealing with the Vietnamese, he hadn’t mentioned any compensation.

Wang Ye calmly said, “Let’s talk in my office. Are these dark-haired blocking the door and not letting the Chinese merchants in to sign contracts?”

He had already observed that because of these dark-haired blocking the entrance, the Chinese merchants who had been lining up to sign contracts were keeping their distance, afraid of getting into trouble.

“Yes, yes, they’re doing it on purpose. They said they won’t allow the Chinese merchants to sign contracts until their issues are resolved,” Boss Kong said gloomily.

Just as the Sun Market was about to take off, this had to happen. How could Boss Kong not be upset?

…

The two went up to the second-floor office. Wang Ye sat on the sofa, lit a cigarette, and pushed the pack toward Boss Kong. He leisurely took a drag and asked, “So, what are their demands?”

Since they were causing trouble, they must have made some unreasonable demands—conditions that Boss Kong couldn’t agree to, which was why the issue remained unresolved. Wang Ye was curious to hear what the dark-haired actually wanted.

Boss Kong had no mind to smoke now. He replied, “These people are really greedy! They insisted that the contracts must remain in effect and that other dark-haired must be allowed to enter the Sun Market under the same conditions. According to them, why can Chinese merchants get these preferential terms to do business in the Sun Market, but they can’t? They said we’re discriminating against the dark-haired!”

These conditions were absolutely unacceptable. Wang Ye and Mairov had already reached an agreement. If they compromised now, it would be a slap in Wang Ye’s face!

Chapter 165: Open Threats

Wang Ye took a deep drag of his cigarette before asking, “The company has so many security personnel. Why not just drive them out?”

Boss Kong’s face scrunched up like an orange peel. He sighed helplessly, “I wish it were that simple. But you might not know, President, that here in the Large Market, we really can’t afford to offend these dark-haired men. They might not be much help, but they can certainly cause trouble! If we really anger them, our market will never know peace again.”

Wang Ye was taken aback. He knew the dark-haired men had a bad reputation, but he hadn’t realized their status was so high.

With the strength and backing of the Sun Market Group, they shouldn’t be at the mercy of these dark-haired men…

“What’s the worst that could happen? We don’t allow them to do business here, and we don’t deal with them. What can they do to us?” Wang Ye asked, puzzled.

“They’ll play dirty and cause trouble! Not to mention, if they really set their minds to it, one day they might pull something like a suicide bombing. Do you think our market could stay open after that? Don’t think it’s impossible. This kind of thing is hard to predict. You should know, many of them come from Chechnya!” Boss Kong said, his face ashen.

To be honest, hearing Boss Kong say this made Wang Ye’s scalp tingle.

Who had dealt with these people before…

But thinking back on the various malicious terrorist incidents that had occurred in Russia over the past few years, it seemed they were all caused by these dark-haired men. In places like subway stations, where crowds gathered, Russians were always on high alert when they saw them…

It seemed this matter required careful thought and proper resolution, or there might be big trouble.

After some thought, Wang Ye asked, “What if we compensate them more? How about ten thousand US dollars per stall?”

After all, there were only a few stalls. If a few tens of thousands of dollars could resolve the issue, everyone would be happy, and Wang Ye wouldn’t be stingy with that amount.

But Boss Kong shook his head. “Although we haven’t negotiated yet, I feel this isn’t that simple. They seem to have come organized this time, specifically to cause trouble!”

“What? What did you notice?” Wang Ye asked in surprise.

“These people aren’t ordinary businessmen. The leader, I’ve heard of him—he’s involved in the underworld.” Boss Kong gritted his teeth.

Wang Ye’s heart skipped a beat, and he fell into deep thought.

Boss Kong had been in the market for so many years. If he said the other party was involved in the underworld, he must be certain.

The question was, why had these people come to the Sun Market to cause trouble?

Wang Ye’s first thought was that Mairov had instigated it!

But on second thought, it didn’t seem likely. After all, Mairov had already caused trouble once and paid a heavy price to earn Khovansky’s forgiveness.

Moreover, both sides had reached a cooperation agreement and would work together to make big money in the future. There was no need for him to cause trouble again.

But… it couldn’t be completely ruled out.

Human nature was complex.

…

No matter what, they had to deal with the trouble at hand. When soldiers come, generals must block them; when water comes, earth must cover it.

After a moment of contemplation, Wang Ye said, “Go down and talk to them. Have them send two representatives up. We’ll resolve this face-to-face.”

Boss Kong nodded and immediately stood up to go downstairs.

A few minutes later, he returned with three dark-haired men.

Boss Kong introduced them, “These three are their representatives. Gentlemen, this is the president of our Sun Market Group, Mr. Mikhail.”

He didn’t even bother to mention the names of the three dark-haired men, probably annoyed with them.

The three dark-haired men didn’t mind. They looked at Wang Ye defiantly. One of them smiled and said, “So this is your president. He’s quite young. And Chinese?”

Boss Kong quickly interjected, “Don’t talk nonsense. Mr. Mikhail is a native Russian, with some Chinese ancestry.”

The dark-haired man didn’t care. After all, among Russians, some had Asian features, and some dark-haired men looked very Asian.

Perhaps seeing how young Wang Ye was, the three dark-haired men showed some disdain. They sat across from him, casually propping their feet up on the coffee table.

Wang Ye smiled faintly and said nothing.

The one in the middle, who seemed to be the leader, spoke up, “Let’s hear it. How do you plan to resolve this? I’ll tell you upfront, don’t try to fool us!”

In such negotiations, Wang Ye naturally wouldn’t take the lead unless absolutely necessary. It was best to let Boss Kong handle the initial talks.

Boss Kong understood this principle, so he spoke up, “Lokayev, we’ve already talked downstairs. You didn’t agree to my terms. Now, Mr. Mikhail and I want to hear your thoughts. What are your demands? But let me tell you upfront, don’t make unreasonable demands.”

The dark-haired man in the middle, named Lokayev, wasn’t very tall—just over 1.7 meters—but he was muscular, with a face full of scars and a fierce gaze. He didn’t look like a good person.

He grinned, “My demand remains the same. The contract takes effect, and the Sun Market opens up to us. Here’s what I’ll do—I won’t be greedy. Give us five zones, rent-free and management-fee-free for a year. These five zones will be designated as the Gokhso special area, allowing only Gokhso people to open shops and do business. To make it easier for you to manage, I’ll take over these five zones. I’ll be responsible for managing and renting them out.”

As Wang Ye listened, his eyes narrowed.

This was absolutely outrageous!

It seemed Lokayev’s appetite was quite large!

Boss Kong jumped up, his short, thick arms trembling as he pointed at Lokayev and angrily said, “You’re being too much! The Sun Market only has thirty-five zones in total. You want to take five right off the bat? And hand them over to you? On what grounds?”

Lokayev replied calmly, “On what grounds? On the grounds that we Gokhso people are not only united but also numerous! In this wholesale market, whether it’s ACT or your Sun Market, or even the future Lyublino, without us Gokhso people, none of you can operate normally!”

His tone was incredibly arrogant…

Boss Kong was furious. He swung his arm violently and shouted, “What? Are you threatening me? Lokayev, you better think carefully about who’s backing the Sun Market Group! If we really come to blows, do you think you’ll come out unscathed?”

Lokayev just sneered, not even glancing at Boss Kong.

The other two dark-haired men beside him also spoke up. One looked at Boss Kong and said, “Who’s backing the Sun Market doesn’t concern us. All we know is that without our say-so, no one will dare to come to the Sun Market to load or unload goods. Let’s see how you run your market then!”

This was an open threat…

Chapter 166: Let’s See How It Goes

The entire Large Market was monopolized by dark-haired workers—every single porter was one of them. If not a single one of them showed up to do the heavy lifting, the Sun Market Group would be in serious trouble. It wasn’t like the bosses could haul the goods themselves…

Another dark-haired man, slightly more reasonable, tried to mediate. “Everyone, let’s stay calm. We’re discussing this now, so let’s find a solution we can all accept.”

That was when Wang Ye spoke up.

He stubbed out his cigarette, locking eyes with Lokayev. “You want a solution? Fine, I’ll give you one.”

All three dark-haired men turned to look at him.

“Refund all deposits and pay an additional one hundred thousand U.S. dollars in compensation. That’s the final offer,” Wang Ye said calmly.

Lokayev seemed to take this as an insult. He shot to his feet, flailing his arms. “Are you mocking us? Do you think all of us from Gokhso are so greedy? I’ll tell you this—I came here for fairness! Fairness, do you understand?”

Watching his theatrics, Wang Ye was tempted to smash the ashtray in front of him into the man’s face.

Fairness? After demanding five districts just moments ago?

He had no patience left for these dark-haired men. It was clear they were here to cause trouble.

“If you don’t want it, then the contract is terminated. No compensation. Now, get out,” Wang Ye said, pointing at the three of them.

This time, Lokayev didn’t explode in anger. His face darkened, his sharp gaze fixed on Wang Ye. “Are you sure? Have you thought about the consequences?”

“Get out!” Wang Ye didn’t bother saying another word.

Boss Kong, standing nearby, looked uneasy.

Lokayev didn’t say anything else. He just let out a cold laugh, then stood and left with the other two dark-haired men.

…

Once the three were gone, Boss Kong hurriedly asked, “Why did you just chase them out? Weren’t we supposed to talk it out? Oh no, this is going to be a huge mess. Those dark-haired men…”

Wang Ye cut him off, annoyed. “What was there to talk about? You heard them—they weren’t here to negotiate.”

Boss Kong threw up his hands. “Then what do we do?”

“Call security! We’re not paying them to stand around. Now’s the time to use them!” Wang Ye said, emphasizing each word.

Boss Kong sighed. “Peace is good for business. Picking a fight with these men won’t do us any good—it’ll just bring trouble. But since you’ve decided, we’ll do it your way. Just be careful, though. These men aren’t the type to let things go.”

With that, Boss Kong left, leaving Wang Ye alone in the office.

He lit another cigarette and stood by the window, watching the scene outside.

A group of tall, burly security guards were forcing the dark-haired men away from the entrance of the Small Red Building, pushing and shoving them out. The men didn’t resist violently, but they shouted curses as they were driven off.

Once the area was cleared, about a dozen guards lined up in two rows at the entrance, allowing the Chinese merchants to enter and sign contracts inside.

But it was clear that the enthusiasm had waned. Only a few people actually went inside.

…

Wang Ye exhaled deeply, frustration building in his chest.

Running such a large wholesale market was never going to be easy. Problems and complications were bound to arise—he had known that from the start. But he hadn’t expected trouble this serious before the market had even opened.

It seemed that even with his incredible luck, making money wasn’t going to be smooth sailing. Obstacles would still come his way.

He watched for a while longer, then pulled out his phone and called Mairov.

After briefly explaining the situation, he asked, “Do you know these people? What’s their reputation with ACT?”

Mairov hesitated before answering sincerely, “Misha, I actually just heard about this myself. I was about to call you. First, let me make one thing clear—I had nothing to do with this. It wasn’t my doing!”

They were both smart men. When something like this happened, Wang Ye’s first suspicion was Mairov. And Mairov, when bringing it up, immediately distanced himself from the matter.

Wang Ye smiled. “I believe you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have called.”

Hearing that, Mairov finally relaxed, chuckling. “Good, good. Lokayev is quite the figure. Most of the dark-haired porters working for ACT are under his… well, it’s not exactly a gang, more like a group or a hometown association. But it’s definitely involved in shady business. The core members don’t work—they live off the fees they collect from the porters. They’ve also bought up a lot of stalls in ACT and rent them out for profit…”

Mairov gave Wang Ye a rundown of Lokayev’s background, then added earnestly, “Honestly, I don’t want to mess with them. We’re all businessmen, after all. They’ve got nothing to lose, so it’s not worth the trouble. If you can settle this peacefully, just pay them off. As long as you don’t make enemies with them, they usually know how to behave.”

Wang Ye took it all in, then replied with a smile, “Got it. Thanks. Our deal still stands—I won’t break it first.”

…

Since arriving in Moscow at the beginning of the year, Wang Ye had been involved in several ventures—selling phone cards, the Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company, Hua Star Communications. But these were all small-scale operations within the Chinese community, nothing significant.

Strictly speaking, taking over the Sun Market Group was Wang Ye’s first real debut in Moscow’s business circles. And his partnership with Mairov’s ACT Group was his first major move.

But things had gotten off to a rough start.

Wang Ye hadn’t asked Khovansky for help, nor had he even mentioned the issue to him.

He needed to handle this himself.

Running to a “parent” figure at the first sign of trouble was childish behavior—and Wang Ye refused to act like a child.

Perhaps many eyes were on him now, watching to see how he would resolve this.

Only by handling the problem swiftly and elegantly would the powerful figures in Moscow see him not as “Khovansky’s nephew,” but as the true president of the Sun Market Group—Mikhail, Ivanovsky, Khodorkovsky…

Chapter 167: Gathering Intelligence

The security team’s forceful expulsion had temporarily restored order outside the Small Red Building.

After arranging matters below, Boss Kong returned to Wang Ye’s office.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he sat on the sofa and sighed, “This situation… Sigh, I’m afraid the real trouble is still ahead. It’s not over yet.”

Wang Ye chuckled and asked, “You’ve been in Russia for so many years, known as the richest Chinese man with connections in both the underworld and legitimate circles. Why are you so afraid of trouble?”

Boss Kong looked miserable as he replied, “It’s not the same. Compared to these dark-haired guys, the Chinese gangs here are like kids playing house! I do know some Chinese involved in the underworld, but they can only help with debt collection or dealing with Chinese merchants. If you ask them to risk their lives, they’d probably book the next flight back to China…”

He wasn’t wrong.

In Russia, the Chinese community wasn’t particularly influential, and their numbers weren’t large either.

Even in Moscow, where Chinese were most concentrated, there were only about a hundred thousand, mostly gathered around the Large Market and various universities.

Most of them were honest businessmen or students. Very few were willing to immigrate…

There were some troublemakers who formed gangs, mostly Hu Qing people and northeasterners.

Their “business operations” were limited to helping Chinese merchants collect debts or bullying honest folks. Asking them to fight the dark-haired guys was way beyond their capabilities…

The so-called underworld friends Boss Kong knew were all like this, so when faced with the dark-haired men today, he was helpless.

………………..

Wang Ye waved his hand and smiled, “Alright, I won’t make things difficult for you. I’ll handle this matter. But there’s something I need you to do.”

“What is it? Just say the word, boss. As long as I can do it, I won’t hesitate,” Boss Kong immediately guaranteed, patting his chest.

“Help me find out about Lokayev’s gang. Weren’t there three people who came up earlier? They should all be leaders in the gang. I need to know their relationships and the composition of the gang—where their members come from,” Wang Ye instructed.

Knowing your enemy was the key to victory. Wang Ye naturally wanted to understand his opponent’s situation before making his final decision.

“No problem. I know a few dark-haired guys. I’ll find them later and pay for some information. It’s not a secret, so just wait for my news,” Boss Kong breathed a sigh of relief. This task wasn’t difficult.

Whether it was him or Lokayev’s people, they all operated in the Large Market.

Boss Kong hadn’t had much dealings with them before, so he only knew of their existence but not the details.

Finding out more wouldn’t be hard.

………………..

Around seven or eight in the evening, Boss Kong called Wang Ye to report what he had found out.

Lokayev’s gang was called the “Gokhso People,” and as the name suggested, all its members were dark-haired, coming from the Gokhso countries.

The organization was relatively loose. Originally, everyone had been laborers working in the ACT Large Market.

Later, Lokayev took the lead, rallying a group of core members to organize everyone, making it harder for them to be bullied.

There were three leaders: Lokayev was the boss, his cousin was second-in-command, and both were from Chechnya.

The third was named Elmar, from Azerbaijan.

The “Gokhso People” gang was mainly composed of Chechens and Azerbaijanis.

In terms of numbers, there were far more Azerbaijanis than Chechens in the Large Market, but the Chechens were fiercer and more willing to fight to the death, which was why Lokayev became the leader and Elmar was “demoted” to third.

The conflict with the Sun Market Group had been instigated by Lokayev. Rumor had it that Elmar hadn’t agreed.

But in the end, the boss’s word was law…

………………..

That was all Boss Kong had found out. Deeper information, like whether there was someone pulling the strings behind the scenes or whether Lokayev was after money or just causing trouble, naturally couldn’t be uncovered.

To find out, they’d have to ask Lokayev himself.

After hanging up with Boss Kong, Wang Ye pondered for a long time, standing by the window and smoking continuously.

Even Alyona noticed he was troubled. She walked over and hugged him from behind, asking with concern, “Misha, what’s wrong?”

Wang Ye let out a long breath, patting Alyona’s hand, and smiled, “Nothing, just thinking about work.”

“Is it about what happened today?” Alyona asked again.

She had been at the company when the incident occurred, so she naturally knew about it. Seeing Wang Ye so preoccupied in the evening, she could guess what was bothering him.

Wang Ye just smiled without saying anything.

Alyona sighed softly and said, “Sigh, being a big boss isn’t easy either, with so many worries every day. If it’s really too much, maybe we… should just quit? You’ve earned so much money that even if you retired now, it would be enough. Then we could travel the world together, spend a few months each year in China with your family, and then some time in my hometown. Wouldn’t that be more relaxed and enjoyable?”

She wasn’t wrong. If Wang Ye gave up all his businesses and liquidated everything, he’d probably have a hundred million or two in U.S. dollars!

With that much money, he could retire immediately…

Living a life of luxury without a care in the world.

But clearly, that was no longer Wang Ye’s ambition!

He wanted more…

Not just money, but also career and status!

Perhaps even influence…

So after hearing Alyona’s words, Wang Ye turned around, lowered his head, and pressed his forehead against hers, saying, “Alright, don’t worry. All problems can be solved. I’m still young; I don’t want to live like a retired old man.”

With that, he picked up Alyona and carried her toward the bedroom.

After a day of irritation, he needed to let off some steam…

………………..

More than an hour later, Wang Ye got out of bed and started getting dressed.

Alyona, still lying there, asked in confusion, “Why are you getting dressed again?”

“I just remembered there’s something I need to take care of. I have to go out for a bit. You go wash up and rest,” Wang Ye replied calmly.

After dressing, he went to the living room and took out the small bag containing his gun.

He put on the holster under his arm, opened the door, and left.

The bodyguards had gone to rest, and Wang Ye didn’t notify them. He got into his black G-class and drove out of the community.

It wasn’t too late yet, just past ten at night, but there were very few cars on the road.

He drove swiftly and arrived at the Little Eagle Hotel…

Chapter 168: Preparing to Strike Hard

The Little Eagle Hotel was brightly lit at night, bustling with activity.

Wang Ye parked his car in a secluded corner without going inside. Instead, he made a phone call.

The engine was still running, but he manually turned off the headlights.

The black G-Class SUV blended into the night like a hidden beast, its engine emitting a low rumble.

Within two minutes, a man hurried out of the hotel lobby, standing on the steps and looking around.

Wang Ye flashed his headlights, signaling the man, who immediately walked over.

The car door opened, and a tall figure climbed in—it was Anton, the security manager of the Little Eagle Hotel.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Anton asked in surprise, “Mr. Mikhail, is something urgent going on? Why did you come here?”

Indeed, Wang Ye’s behavior was unusual. If there was something important, he could have just called Anton to meet him at the apartment.

Wang Ye didn’t explain. Instead, he asked in a low voice, “Anton, can you find some reliable ex-military comrades who would be willing to take money… to kill?”

Such a request might be unthinkable in China, but in Russia, especially in 2001, it was commonplace.

Here, a life was rumored to be worth only five hundred dollars.

Anton hesitated slightly but didn’t react too strongly. After a moment of thought, he replied, “That shouldn’t be a problem. I have many comrades who, after leaving the military, couldn’t find suitable jobs and are living in poverty. However… if it’s about killing ordinary civilians, they might not be willing.”

This was understandable. After all, they weren’t professional assassins. Facing ordinary people, they would hesitate to pull the trigger.

Wang Ye understood his meaning and immediately said, “No, it’s the dark-haired ones from Chechnya.”

Upon hearing that the targets were Chechens, Anton immediately responded without hesitation, “Then there’s no problem! Even without payment, I could find people to handle this!”

Those unfamiliar with the two Chechen wars might not understand why the Russians hated the Chechens so much.

Especially for Anton and others who had personally experienced the Second Chechen War, the mention of Chechnya made them grind their teeth in anger.

Many of their comrades had likely perished there…

“By the way, how many targets need to be dealt with this time? How many people should I find?” Anton asked.

“Probably two or three. Five or six people should be enough. Having a few more wouldn’t hurt; there might be similar tasks in the future,” Wang Ye replied.

This time, he was truly determined to kill.

Perhaps inspired by the recent assassination attempt on Khovansky, when faced with trouble, physically eliminating the opponent had become Wang Ye’s choice!

Of course, for now, he was only having Anton gather the necessary personnel, preparing in advance. Whether he would ultimately take action depended on future developments…

If Lokayev suddenly changed his mind and stopped causing trouble, Wang Ye naturally wouldn’t continue with such drastic measures.

After all, he didn’t want to get blood on his hands…

Once you do it the first time, it’s hard to stop.

…

Anton nodded in understanding and said, “Alright, I’ll get on it right away. I might need to go back to my hometown. There are a few familiar comrades there. Although I have comrades elsewhere, it might take time to contact them.”

This was normal. Back then, cell phones weren’t widespread, and if someone didn’t have a landline at home, contacting them was difficult.

“Wait a moment and go see Katya. I’ll have her give you the money. Also, take one of the hotel’s cars and get it done as soon as possible,” Wang Ye instructed.

After Anton got out of the car, Wang Ye called Katya, telling her to withdraw fifty thousand dollars from the finance department and give it to Anton. Additionally, he provided Anton with one of the hotel’s official cars.

As for why Anton needed the money, Wang Ye didn’t say, nor did he need to.

Katya didn’t ask any questions and agreed readily.

However, before hanging up, she casually asked when Wang Ye would come to see her.

She was now working at the Little Eagle Hotel, and since her shifts ended late, and there was a large suite available, she had decided to stay there for convenience.

She hadn’t given up the apartment, though, and occasionally went back to stay.

Wang Ye was actually just downstairs, but considering he had just “paid his dues” with Alyona, he figured going up now wouldn’t accomplish much. Better to wait.

He told her he would have time to accompany her tomorrow and would stay at the Little Eagle Hotel tomorrow night.

Wang Ye remembered that tomorrow was Yanzi’s birthday, and the celebration was at the Little Eagle Hotel. After attending the birthday party, he could conveniently go upstairs to see Katya.

Returning to the apartment late at night, Wang Ye thought Alyona would already be asleep. However, as he tiptoed in, he found her holding a book, leaning against the headboard and reading.

Alyona didn’t ask where Wang Ye had been. Men, especially one as successful as Wang Ye, naturally had things they couldn’t share with her.

She was very understanding.

She gently helped Wang Ye take off his coat and brought him a cup of warm milk.

…

The next morning, when Wang Ye arrived at the Sun Market for work, the management office area was quiet, with no signs of trouble.

He was surprised. Had Lokayev and his men changed their minds and stopped causing trouble?

He asked Boss Kong, “Where are those dark-haired ones? They didn’t come to block the entrance today? And has anything strange happened?”

“No, I arranged for security to work the night shift, and nothing happened all night. Today has been quiet too,” Boss Kong replied, puzzled.

Although Boss Kong also found it strange, he didn’t dare to let his guard down. He still had security personnel patrolling outside during the day.

Better safe than sorry!

You never knew what those Chechens might do…

Time passed quickly, and soon it was afternoon. Nothing unusual had happened.

Wang Ye checked the time—it was almost five o’clock. He put on his coat.

He went downstairs to say goodbye to Alyona, telling her he wouldn’t be home that night because he was attending a friend’s birthday party. He asked her to go home early and rest.

Then, with a few bodyguards, he got into the car and left.

Tonight was Yanzi’s birthday party, and the guests were all Yanzi’s friends—all Chinese.

Alyona wouldn’t know anyone there and might feel out of place, so Wang Ye didn’t bring her along.

Of course, there was another reason.

Wang Ye had promised Katya last night that he would stay with her tonight. Bringing Alyona along would be inconvenient…

Chapter 169: You Annoy Me

The second-floor Western restaurant of the Little Eagle Hotel was already filled with Yanzi, Ruan Xiaozhu, Song Xiao Gang, and others.

Yanzi was the star of the evening, dressed beautifully, busy confirming the menu and drinks with the restaurant manager.

After finishing, she apologized, “Sorry, we have quite a few people tonight, so it might get a bit noisy. If any other guests have complaints…”

The restaurant manager smiled and interrupted, “No, it’s fine. No one should have any issues. Today is your birthday, right? Happy birthday.”

Yanzi thanked her repeatedly.

She found it strange that this restaurant usually had good business, but today, aside from their group, there were no other guests.

Of course, Yanzi didn’t know that a waiter stood outside the door, politely turning away any other customers who tried to enter…

This was all arranged by Wang Ye!

It was a birthday party, after all, so it was bound to get lively. Since the restaurant didn’t have private rooms, Wang Ye decided to book the entire place.

This way, they wouldn’t disturb other guests, and everyone could enjoy the birthday celebration—killing two birds with one stone!

Yanzi’s invited classmates and friends began arriving one after another. She had been here for a few years and was well-liked, so many people came—mostly Moscow State University students, though there were also some from other schools. No one knew how she had met them all.

“Happy birthday, Yanzi! Wishing you even more beauty!”

“Haha, long time no see! You’ve gained a little weight, but you’re even prettier now.”

“This restaurant is nice! Did you strike it rich, Yanzi? You booked the whole place?”

“Happy birthday! I hope you like this little gift…”

Amid the laughter and chatter, it was nearly seven o’clock.

Yanzi looked around and turned to Song Xiao Gang beside her. “Where’s Ye Ge? He’s not here yet?”

Song Xiao Gang took out his phone to call, but Yanzi stopped him.

“What’s wrong?” Song Xiao Gang asked, confused.

“Maybe Ye Ge is busy with something. It’s better not to rush him. Let’s wait a little longer—it’s not even seven yet.” Yanzi was clearly considerate.

…

In truth, Wang Ye had already arrived at the Little Eagle Hotel. He was just in his large suite on the top floor.

At the moment, he was still listening to Katya’s work report.

Well, they were “reporting” in bed…

“I need to go down. A friend’s birthday—I’ll come back later to keep you company.” Seeing the time, Wang Ye got up.

Katya was smart. She didn’t ask who the friend was. She understood that if Wang Ye wanted her to know, he would tell her. If he didn’t, it was best not to ask.

After getting dressed, he went to the bathroom to check his reflection in the mirror.

Not for any other reason—just to make sure there were no lipstick or strawberry marks on his face or neck…

Once he was satisfied, he picked up a small paper bag and took the elevator down.

As he reached the entrance of the second-floor Western restaurant, he ran into Song Xiao Gang.

“Ah! Ye Ge, you’re here! I was just about to call you.” Song Xiao Gang said, delighted.

“Haha, I was held up for a bit. Is everyone here?” Wang Ye asked with a smile.

“They’re all here. Now that you’re here, we can start.” Song Xiao Gang led Wang Ye into the restaurant.

In the center of the restaurant stood a long dining table covered with a white tablecloth, adorned with fresh flowers and silver candlesticks. Knives, forks, and other utensils were neatly arranged on either side.

Yanzi and Ruan Xiaozhu were chatting and laughing with everyone. When they saw Song Xiao Gang and Wang Ye approaching, Yanzi quickly stood up to greet them.

“Ye Ge, welcome! You’re finally here.”

Wang Ye handed her the small paper bag with a smile. “Happy birthday. I wasn’t sure what to get you, so I just picked something.”

Yanzi took it and gasped in delight. “Wow! Is this a Chanel bag? Thank you, Ye Ge, but isn’t this too expensive?”

A Chanel bag was even pricier than LV!

Wang Ye had spent nearly two thousand dollars on it. For him, it wasn’t expensive, and he hadn’t deliberately chosen an overly expensive one—but anything cheaper would have been too modest.

Ruan Xiaozhu leaned in, peering at the bag in Yanzi’s hands, and said mischievously, “Little brother! This won’t do.”

“Huh? What’s wrong?” Wang Ye asked, confused.

“You gave such an expensive gift—what if Yanzi falls for you? She already has a boyfriend! Plus, this will make her boyfriend feel awkward. There might be misunderstandings!” Ruan Xiaozhu laughed, glancing at Song Xiao Gang beside her.

Song Xiao Gang just scratched his head and smiled foolishly, unsure how to respond.

Wang Ye draped an arm over Ruan Xiaozhu’s shoulder and led her toward the table. “Alright, stop teasing, old sister. Xiao Gang and I have that kind of relationship—no misunderstandings.”

He truly saw Ruan Xiaozhu as an older sister. They were so close now that playful teasing was no big deal.

But to others, it looked different…

Like how Wang Ye had his arm around Ruan Xiaozhu’s shoulder. Neither of them thought much of it, but a male student sitting at the table watched with displeasure.

His name was Xiao Gao, a classmate of Ruan Xiaozhu and Yanzi, also from Moscow State University. He had been pursuing Ruan Xiaozhu for a while.

Of course, Ruan Xiaozhu had never agreed—apparently, she didn’t think much of him…

Seeing Wang Ye so casually affectionate with Ruan Xiaozhu, Xiao Gao’s heart twisted in agony. His gaze toward Wang Ye was far from friendly.

But from their conversation, it seemed this “pretty boy” and Ruan Xiaozhu were like siblings?

Yes, in Xiao Gao’s mind, Wang Ye was nothing but a “pretty boy”!

He didn’t look much older, probably another exchange student, dressed in a suit with slicked-back hair.

What was he trying to pull? Probably some kind of gigolo…

Xiao Gao thought to himself.

Of course, he didn’t know Wang Ye at all, had no idea what he did, and no one had told him.

Though he felt uncomfortable, Xiao Gao restrained himself.

Tonight was Yanzi’s birthday, and as her classmate, he couldn’t cause trouble here.

…

Everyone had arrived, especially Wang Ye…

The birthday banquet officially began!

The atmosphere was lively. Everyone was a student, and their relationships were simple. They enjoyed the food and laughed together.

Halfway through the meal, Wang Ye’s phone suddenly rang. It was Boss Kong calling.

Wang Ye frowned slightly and told Ruan Xiaozhu beside him before stepping aside to answer.

“President, there’s trouble in the market!”

On the phone, Boss Kong’s voice was panicked…

Chapter 1: About Refreshing

I’ve noticed that some readers don’t know how to refresh the content. Usually, I’ll modify the content within ten minutes after updating, at most no more than twenty minutes—everyone understands this.

If you still see the old content after ten or so minutes, you can return to the top of the table of contents, hold down the screen, and pull down to refresh. This way, you can see the latest content.

Chapter 170: The Market Was Set on Fire

Wang Ye’s heart skipped a beat. “Don’t rush, tell me slowly. What happened?”

“Our market’s Zone One—the one you bought—was set on fire! The fire department and police are here now. It’s total chaos!” Boss Kong said hurriedly.

Wang Ye was confused. “But our market is all shipping containers, right? They’re made of metal. How could they burn?”

His question wasn’t unreasonable. The stalls in the Large Market were all made of large shipping containers bolted together. Those things were all metal—there was no way they could burn…

“Ah, Zone One! Some of the tenants had already moved their goods in and were preparing to open. Someone pried open the rolling shutters, poured oil inside, and set the goods on fire!” Boss Kong explained helplessly.

Only then did Wang Ye understand what had happened. His expression darkened.

This had to be Lokayev’s doing!

No one else would take such a risk.

The day had been so calm that Wang Ye had felt something was off. He just hadn’t expected the attack to come here.

“Is the fire under control?” Wang Ye asked.

“It’s under control. It wasn’t that bad, actually. Most of the stalls were empty, so the fire couldn’t spread. But the impact is huge. A lot of people are watching, and I bet many of the merchants who signed contracts won’t dare to open now,” Boss Kong said anxiously.

Even though it was night, that didn’t mean the Large Market was empty.

There might not be customers at this hour, but it was peak time for deliveries and shipments. There were still plenty of people around.

The Sun Market side, however, was still unopened, so there weren’t many people there.

Boss Kong had stationed all the security guards near the management office, neglecting the market itself. After all, who would have thought those “metal boxes” could cause trouble?

And the culprits had chosen this exact time to strike. They must have known the fire wouldn’t spread, but their real goal wasn’t to burn down the Sun Market—it was to mess with Wang Ye’s head!

“I’ll be right there,” Wang Ye said decisively and hung up.

With something like this happening, he couldn’t stay at the birthday party any longer. He had to go to the scene immediately.

…

Back at the table, Wang Ye apologized to Yanzi. “There’s something at the company. I need to go handle it. Sorry. You all continue and have fun.”

“Ah? Then Ye Ge, you should go quickly. Work comes first,” Yanzi said hurriedly.

Wang Ye also greeted Ruan Xiaozhu and Song Xiao Gang, not having time to say much before rushing out of the restaurant.

Ruan Xiaozhu looked worried. “Wang Ye’s expression didn’t look right. What happened?”

“He’ll be fine. Ye Ge can handle anything,” Song Xiao Gang said confidently.

Xiao Gao, who had always disliked Wang Ye, spoke up.

He sneered, “What, that guy runs a company now? What kind of business? Not some service for rich ladies, right? With his looks and style, he fits the part. Rushing off like that—maybe some rich lady called him, haha.”

A few others who didn’t know Wang Ye well laughed.

But Song Xiao Gang, Yanzi, and Ruan Xiaozhu’s expressions turned ugly.

Xiao Gao wasn’t entirely wrong. In Moscow, there were indeed some good-looking young men in that line of work…

And the Large Market had plenty of single wealthy women. Where there was demand, there was a market.

Rumor had it that business was quite lucrative.

Perhaps Xiao Gao was just trying to be clever and put Wang Ye down.

But no one expected Song Xiao Gang to stand up abruptly, pointing at Xiao Gao and shouting, “What the hell are you talking about! You got the guts to step outside with me!”

Song Xiao Gang deeply respected Wang Ye and wouldn’t tolerate anyone saying a word against him.

Let alone Xiao Gao’s mockery.

If this weren’t Yanzi’s birthday party, Song Xiao Gang would have punched him right then and there.

Ruan Xiaozhu also said coldly, “Do you think you’re being funny? No, you just come off as low-class and boring! Does putting others down make you feel better? Can you stop being so childish?”

Xiao Gao’s face turned red with embarrassment and indignation.

He was just joking. Why were they reacting so strongly?

Yanzi finally spoke up. “Xiao Gao, are you drunk? If you are, go rest. Don’t cause trouble here.”

With that, Xiao Gao had no face left to stay. He stood up angrily. “I’m leaving! Is that what you want?”

As he passed Song Xiao Gang, he still felt wronged and wanted to save face after being scolded.

He deliberately bumped into Song Xiao Gang with his shoulder.

Xiao Gao wasn’t short—around 1.8 meters—and worked out regularly. He was quite strong.

But unfortunately, he was up against Song Xiao Gang, who was nearly 1.9 meters tall and had years of training.

When Xiao Gao bumped into him, Song Xiao Gang just snorted and gave a slight push with his shoulder, sending Xiao Gao flying…

Xiao Gao had been careless. He hadn’t thought it through, and now, not only had he failed to save face, but he had lost even more.

Furious and humiliated, he steadied himself and charged at Song Xiao Gang, swinging his fists and cursing.

“You’re crazy! Why the hell did you push me?”

Song Xiao Gang didn’t even bother to speak. He reached out, grabbed Xiao Gao’s wrist, and with a slight twist, made him yell in pain.

Then he pushed him again, and Xiao Gao stumbled backward several steps before crashing into a decorative pillar nearby.

The pillar was made of wood and pure copper. Xiao Gao’s head hit it with a dull thud—it sounded painful.

Seeing them fight, Yanzi and Ruan Xiaozhu quickly stood up to stop them.

Yanzi held Song Xiao Gang back, while Ruan Xiaozhu helped Xiao Gao up.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” she asked.

Xiao Gao stood up, rubbing the back of his head and shaking his slightly dizzy head. He forced a smile. “I’m fine. Too violent! What kind of people are they? I’m leaving. This is ridiculous.”

With that, he staggered out.

No one tried to stop him.

…

Meanwhile, Wang Ye had arrived at the Sun Market.

He parked his car on the empty lot next to Zone One. Before he even got out, he saw a large crowd gathered there.

On the outer edge were onlookers—Chinese merchants and many dark-haired workers.

Inside the first ring were Sun Market Group security and the Russian police who had arrived, cordoning off the area to keep out unauthorized personnel.

In the very center were the firefighters. By now, the fire had been extinguished…

Chapter 171: I Like Your Defiant Attitude

Wang Ye and his bodyguards had just gotten out of the car when they saw three men emerge from the crowd of onlookers. Leading them was Lokayev, followed by the second and third-in-command of his gang!

“Hah, Mr. Mikhail, what brings you to the market so late? Oh, right, if you don’t come now, the market might burn down! Seems like your Sun Market isn’t very peaceful, hahaha…” he laughed arrogantly.

Wang Ye gave him a cold glance and calmly replied, “I like your defiant attitude. I hope you keep it up.”

With that, he walked past Lokayev with his bodyguards.

Lokayev was taken aback. He hadn’t understood the word Wang Ye had used. Though he spoke Russian, his education wasn’t exactly top-notch…

Boss Kong was sweating profusely as he spoke with Chief Novich when he saw Wang Ye approaching with his bodyguards.

“Have you caught the arsonist?” Wang Ye asked in a deep voice.

“No, by the time the fire was discovered, there wasn’t a single person left here. Plus, with so many people coming and going in the market, it’s hard to pinpoint who did it,” Boss Kong said helplessly.

Wang Ye turned to Novich, who also shook his head, indicating the difficulty of the situation.

Back then, Moscow didn’t have surveillance cameras, and this was a large market with tens of thousands of people passing through daily! Unless someone was caught red-handed or witnessed, finding the culprit afterward was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Wang Ye didn’t dwell on it further. He knew who was behind this. There was no one else but Lokayev and his men…

…

“Chief Novich, this case is clear—it was arson. As for the culprit, I have my suspicions. Can you arrest them immediately?” Wang Ye asked with a frown.

Novich hesitated. “But… there’s no evidence…”

Wang Ye cut him off bluntly, “My suspicion is evidence enough! Detain the suspects first, then find the evidence later. You don’t have that kind of authority? If not, I might have to reconsider our cooperation.”

The ten thousand dollars in sponsorship every month wasn’t given for nothing. This was the moment for Novich to prove his worth. If he dared to shirk his duty, Wang Ye would cut off the sponsorship without hesitation.

Hearing this, Novich was startled and quickly replied, “If Mr. Mikhail has a suspect, then that person must be highly suspicious. Tell me who it is, and we’ll arrest them immediately!”

Whether or not evidence could be found later, detaining them for twenty-four hours was within Novich’s jurisdiction.

Wang Ye nodded in satisfaction. “There’s a Gokhso gang in this market. Have you heard of them, Chief Novich?”

Novich was in charge of security in this area, so of course he knew about the Gokhso gang. He might have even dealt with them before. Of course, their relationship probably wasn’t deep—after all, the Gokhso were poor and all dark-haired.

The police didn’t like dealing with poor people, and they especially disliked dark-haired foreigners…

“I know them. Do you think they’re behind this? That seems unlikely. They rely on the market to make a living and usually don’t cause trouble for you,” Novich said doubtfully.

“Lokayev is right outside watching the commotion. Arrest him first and hold him for a day. We’ll deal with the evidence later,” Wang Ye said calmly.

Since Wang Ye had given the order, Novich didn’t hesitate. With a wave of his hand, several junior officers followed him toward the direction Wang Ye had pointed.

…

Lokayev was still watching the chaos from the sidelines, laughing as he said to his cousin and Elmar, “Hah, look at these people scurrying around like ants in a hot pan. How ridiculous. I don’t believe they’d dare to stand up to us. We have all the time in the world to play with them. Burn down a stall every few days, and let’s see if anyone still dares to do business at Sun Market!”

His cousin quickly flattered him, “Brilliant move, big brother! We don’t have to fight them head-on. Just a little sabotage, and we’ll have them spinning in circles! I just did some digging—those Chinese bosses are all waiting to see what happens. They’re afraid their goods will get burned if they come in.”

Elmar, however, looked worried. “After all, the Sun Market Group is backed by Khovansky, one of Russia’s top oligarchs. If we make an enemy of him, what if he comes down hard on us?”

Lokayev shot him an annoyed glance and said arrogantly, “We’ve looked into Khovansky. He’s strict about business and doesn’t use underhanded tactics against competitors. Not long ago, he almost got taken out by Mairov! And what did he do? He didn’t even go after the ACT Group—just shut down the ACT Market for a couple of days. Now it’s already reopening. What’s there to fear? We’re barefoot; we don’t fear those who wear shoes! If he pushes us too far, I’ll hire a hitman to take him out! Besides, we have our own backers…”

Just as he was speaking, his cousin suddenly said, “Big brother, the police are coming! They seem to be heading straight for us!”

Lokayev glanced over indifferently. “So what if they are? Did we burn down the shop? Obviously not! We have alibis—we were at a restaurant, and plenty of people saw us. What can they do to us…”

At that moment, Novich and his men had already reached them. Wang Ye walked over unhurriedly.

Novich flashed his badge and said seriously, “Lokayev, right? You three are suspected of arson at Sun Market. Come with me to the station for questioning.”

With a wave of his hand, three officers stepped forward, handcuffs at the ready. The other officers had their hands on their gun holsters. If Lokayev and his men resisted violently, they would be met with ruthless “suppression.”

Lokayev was no fool. He raised his hands obediently and let the officers cuff him. But he glared at Wang Ye, his face twisted in a sinister grin. “Is this your revenge? Hah! Let me ask you—without any evidence, how long can you hold me? Twenty-four hours at most! You… just wait until I get out!”

Wang Ye smiled faintly. “Cooperating with the police is every citizen’s duty. How is this revenge?”

Chapter 172: Consequences Too Heavy to Bear

As Lokayev was being escorted into the police car by the officers, he still forced a smile, his face wearing a relaxed expression.

Passing by Wang Ye, Lokayev and his two companions heard Wang Ye say in a low voice, “Hope you can still smile tomorrow.”

At those words, Lokayev felt a sudden jolt in his heart.

He blustered, “Are you threatening me?”

Wang Ye didn’t respond. He lowered his head, lit a cigarette, and watched as the officers shoved Lokayev and his men into the police car.

Novich approached, looking somewhat awkward. “Mr. Mikhail, under the pretense of assisting with the investigation, I can only hold them for twenty-four hours at most. They’ll have to be released by this time tomorrow. If you want to teach them a lesson, I can arrange for someone to rough them up inside!”

Wang Ye shook his head slightly. “No need. Don’t give anyone a reason to talk. Just follow your procedures. But…” He leaned closer to Novich and whispered the rest.

Novich’s expression flickered with uncertainty, but after some thought, he gritted his teeth and nodded. “No problem! But you need to handle things cleanly on your end, and don’t do anything right outside our station…”

“Haha, Chief, don’t joke around. Did I say I was going to do anything? I don’t know anything, and I won’t do anything!” Wang Ye replied firmly.

Novich quickly apologized. “Yes, yes, I misunderstood. Then, Mr. Mikhail, let’s work together to find evidence and bring the arsonists to justice!”

At that moment, Boss Kong walked over.

“President, what should we do? If this kind of disruption happens every day, how can we keep the market running?”

Truthfully, Boss Kong had some complaints.

He felt that Wang Ye had handled this situation too harshly, leaving Lokayev and his men with no way out. That was practically forcing them into a corner!

If they had just talked it out, maybe things wouldn’t have escalated to this point.

Moreover, Boss Kong thought Wang Ye’s decision to have Novich arrest Lokayev was a bit “childish.”

Not only did it fail to solve the problem, but it also intensified the conflict between the two sides!

They couldn’t just kill Lokayev and his men in the police station…

And there was no evidence yet linking the arson to Lokayev’s group. They would have to release them in a day.

Who knew what they might do next?

…

“Don’t worry. You can contact the contracted merchants and tell them that our company’s promises still stand! Whether it’s personal safety or property, for the stalls that were burned, have them report the damages, and we’ll compensate them directly! Also, starting tomorrow, nothing like this will happen again at Sun Market. I guarantee it!” Wang Ye declared firmly.

Boss Kong was stunned.

He wanted to ask, What gives you the confidence to say that?

But he held back. After all, Wang Ye was the president and Khovansky’s nephew. He couldn’t afford to offend him.

After handling things here, Wang Ye turned and got into his car, instructing the driver, “Back to Little Eagle Hotel.”

The car sped down the empty road as Wang Ye leaned back in the rear seat, closing his eyes to rest.

But his mind didn’t stop. He was still thinking about how to proceed with his next steps.

And whether he should ultimately take that final step…

…

In the top-floor suite of Little Eagle Hotel.

Wang Ye lay on his back, his gaze somewhat vacant as he stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.

Katya lay on her side, looking at his face. Suddenly, she reached out and touched his forehead. “Have you been working too hard lately? You always seem to have a furrowed brow.”

Wang Ye silently smiled. “It’s alright. Work isn’t tiring, but some things… even after making up my mind to do them, I still feel a bit… how to describe it? Empty, unsettled.”

Tilting her head, Katya thought for a moment before saying, “In this country, there’s nothing you can’t do as long as it benefits you! Your uncle Khovansky, Aby, Mairov… they’re all successful people. When they face problems, they probably don’t overthink things. How will you know if it works if you don’t try?”

Wang Ye was a little surprised. He hadn’t expected Katya to try and comfort him.

Though her words didn’t quite align with his thoughts, the logic was sound.

Khovansky was another matter, but if Aby or Mairov were in his shoes, they might make the same choices.

And Katya was right about one thing.

In this country, there was nothing you couldn’t do…

The winner takes all.

…

While Wang Ye was enjoying his moment of peace, Lokayev and his two men were locked in iron cages at the police station near Large Market.

“Boss, what do you think that Mikhail meant by what he said when we got in the car?” Elmar asked nervously.

“Big brother, he wouldn’t arrange for someone to kill us in here, would he?” Lokayev’s cousin looked around anxiously. He was starting to get scared.

Lokayev’s face darkened as he slowly shook his head. “He doesn’t have the guts! Besides, Novich wouldn’t dare. We were arrested in broad daylight. If something happened to us before a day was up, he couldn’t wash his hands of it!”

The other two realized he was right. They weren’t “black households”; they had proper identification!

And their gang had backers. In critical moments, someone would step in to protect them.

“Alright, stop overthinking. I’m telling you, that kid is just trying to scare us. He’s a coward! Just like his uncle—gets pushed around and doesn’t fight back. Haha.”

Lokayev’s laughter drew the ire of the officer outside, who rapped the iron bars with his baton and barked, “Sukabure! Quiet!”

Lokayev didn’t back down. He glared and said, “Do you know who I am? I’m Lokayev, of the Gokhso People! Kid, if you dare mess with me, you’d better never show your face near Large Market again!”

To his credit, when faced with an ordinary officer, Lokayev didn’t flinch. And he had the means to make trouble for the man.

Sure enough, after dropping his name, the officer didn’t dare say another word.

“When we get out, I’ll make that Mikhail understand what happens when he pisses me off! The price of angering me is something he can’t afford to pay!” Lokayev gritted his teeth, enunciating each word.

Chapter 173: Cutting the Weeds by the Root

The fire at Sun Market last night had caused quite a stir.

The next day, many Chinese merchants came to the management office to inquire, and some even wanted to terminate their contracts!

Early in the morning, Boss Kong had just arrived at the management office when he was immediately surrounded by a large group of Chinese merchants.

“Boss Kong, you promised that Sun Market would be absolutely safe. But look what happened—the market was almost burned down! How can we trust your words now?”

“That’s right! ACT Market might be chaotic, but nothing this big has ever happened there. This is just ridiculous!”

“Maybe we should just terminate the contract. I don’t dare to open a shop here anymore. What if my goods get burned? I’d be devastated!”

“I want to terminate too. Isn’t it better to do business safely and make money? I don’t want to get involved in your mess.”…

Boss Kong was overwhelmed by the noise. He waved his arms and shouted, “Everyone, quiet down! Quiet down! Let me say a few words. If you still have concerns or want to terminate the contract after I’m done, it won’t be too late.”

The crowd gradually quieted down. Boss Kong had a staff member bring a small amplifier and began to explain:

“Last night’s incident was unexpected and unwanted by everyone.”

“But now that it has happened, what we need to do is resolve it and handle the aftermath.”

“As for how to resolve it, I can only say that you’ll see for yourselves. Our president has already stated that such incidents will never happen again!”

“Regarding the aftermath, only one shop’s goods were burned. We will compensate for all losses at market price! If something like this happens again in the future, we will handle it the same way. We will never let you suffer any losses. Now, are you all reassured?”

“Finally, let me emphasize once more: someone is causing trouble, and you all understand that. But our group is determined and capable of resolving this. Please rest assured!”

“Now, if anyone still wants to terminate their contract, they can consult the staff and get in line. But don’t say I didn’t warn you—Sun Market Phase One has a total of three thousand five hundred stalls, and almost all of them are rented out. There are still many people who want to rent stalls. If you terminate your lease today, and later regret it and want to rent again, I’m sorry, but there really won’t be any stalls available for you.”…

After Boss Kong said this, the scene fell silent. The noisy Chinese merchants also stopped talking.

Indeed, the stalls at Sun Market were in high demand!

Most importantly, they were free…

The Sun Market Group gave you a stall for free to do business, provided various guarantees, and even promised to compensate for any personal or property losses within the market!

This was something you couldn’t even dream of at ACT Market!

What more could you ask for?

Besides, the market had just opened, so there were bound to be some issues. Maybe it was just the competitors causing trouble. As long as the Sun Market Group could resolve it, there would be no problem.

Seeing that everyone was softening, Boss Kong spoke again: “In light of last night’s incident, our group will continue to expand the security team to ensure that there are security personnel patrolling the entire market twenty-four hours a day! Additionally, the group has reached an agreement with the police, who will send a team to patrol—only within Sun Market, not at ACT.”…

He even took the opportunity to “step on” ACT a little…

………………..

The surrounding Chinese merchants gradually dispersed. After all, everyone was busy and had many things to do.

Boss Kong wiped the sweat from his forehead and was about to return to his office when he saw another deputy general manager, Ivan, walking over. He quickly went to greet him.

“Mr. Ivan, you’re back. The market has had some incidents these past two days.”

Ivan hadn’t been to the market these past two days. He had been busy with customs clearance. The Sun Market Group had its own logistics and customs clearance company, which was a major source of income!

Some relationships still needed to be cultivated, so Ivan had been busy handling those matters.

“What happened?” Ivan asked in surprise.

“Come, let’s go to my office. I’ll tell you all about it.” Boss Kong pulled Ivan into his office and recounted the events of the past two days.

This included the conflict with the Gokhso gang and the retaliatory arson.

Finally, he sighed and said, “Mr. Ivan, please advise our president. I feel he’s too young and impulsive and doesn’t know how to compromise. Sometimes, compromise doesn’t mean weakness; it’s just for better progress! We’re running a market to do business. Why should we confront those desperadoes head-on?”

Before he could finish, Ivan interrupted.

“I think Mr. Mikhail did the right thing. When dealing with people like the Gokhso, you have to be even more ruthless than them! Otherwise, they’ll think you’re weak and take advantage. You have to hit them hard enough to make them afraid, so they never dare to provoke you again. That’s the right approach. However, involving the police isn’t a good idea. The police have too many restrictions.”

Boss Kong was stunned. He hadn’t expected Ivan to be just like Wang Ye—both of them liked to “stir up trouble.”

“Has the president arrived? I need to report to him.” Ivan asked again.

“Not yet. He usually doesn’t come in so early. Sometimes in the afternoon.” Boss Kong quickly replied.

…………….

Wang Ye indeed hadn’t come to work. He was still in the top-floor suite of the Little Eagle Hotel.

But he wasn’t handling the hotel’s business. Instead, he was talking with Anton.

Anton had just returned that morning, having driven through the night to get back.

“Mr. Mikhail, I’ve found the people. There are eight of them. Back home, I temporarily bought two used Lada cars for their transportation. Now they’re staying at a small hotel in the suburbs. As soon as you give the word, they’re ready to move.” Anton reported to Wang Ye.

“Do they have the tools?” Wang Ye gestured with his hand.

“Ha, of course they do. These guys have plenty of real gear. They don’t need to buy anything else. To be honest, they could handle more than just a few dark-haired guys. This team could even carry out missions behind enemy lines!” Anton joked.

Wang Ye believed this.

Because Anton had recruited elite soldiers who had experienced the Chechnya war!

“Good. Let them rest and recharge during the day. They’ll be working tonight!” Wang Ye said calmly.

He was no longer hesitating.

Since Lokayev considered him an enemy, he wouldn’t show any mercy. He would cut the weeds by the root!

He didn’t plan to let Lokayev see tomorrow’s sun…

Chapter 174: Something Feels Off

Wang Ye arrived at Sun Market at noon.

As soon as he entered the office, Ivan knocked and walked in.

“President, I heard a lot has happened these past two days. Is there anything I can do?” he asked with concern.

Wang Ye smiled and waved his hand. “No need. Just focus on your own work. This is a minor issue; it’ll be resolved soon.”

Wang Ye understood that if he let Ivan intervene, it would mean mobilizing Khovansky’s resources.

Whether it was high-level official connections or other means, it might solve the problem, but that wasn’t what he wanted.

Wang Ye wanted to handle it himself. A man should face storms alone!

Besides, this wasn’t even a “storm.” If he couldn’t handle such a small problem without Khovansky stepping in to “clean up his mess,” his own abilities would be called into question.

Seeing Wang Ye so resolute, Ivan dropped the subject and began reporting on his work.

After two days of running around, he had smoothed out all the processes. From now on, all merchants at Sun Market could directly entrust Sun Market Group’s logistics company with customs clearance and shipping.

Compared to rental and management fees, the profits from customs clearance and logistics were much higher!

This would become a major revenue stream for the group in the future.

Wang Ye listened with satisfaction and nodded. “You’ve worked hard. I wouldn’t even know where to start if I had to do this myself. Haha.”

This wasn’t just polite talk—everyone had their own expertise.

Tasks like running errands and maintaining relationships were truly only something Ivan could handle. Neither Wang Ye nor Boss Kong could do it.

But Khovansky had sent Ivan over precisely for this reason.

………………..

While Wang Ye was laughing and chatting, on the other side, in the police station’s iron cage, Lokayev and his companions were far from happy.

From last night until now, nearly a full day and night had passed, and the three of them had been locked in the cage the entire time.

What surprised Lokayev was that no one had come to “teach them a lesson.” He had mentally prepared himself, thinking they would be beaten up.

After all, since Mikhail had used his connections to get them locked up, wasn’t it just to vent his anger?

Otherwise, what was the point of locking them up for a day? Besides escalating the conflict, Lokayev couldn’t see any other purpose.

But nothing happened…

No Russian police came to interrogate them either. It was as if they had been “forgotten.”

This should have been fine, but the problem was, it had been almost twenty-four hours, and no one had brought them any food. Lokayev and the other two were starving!

In the morning, unable to bear it any longer, Lokayev had pounded on the iron bars and shouted for a long time before someone finally tossed in a few bottles of mineral water and a black bread…

Since they would be released in the evening, the three of them endured it.

The conditions were tough, but it was only one day. They hadn’t suffered any physical harm, which was already good enough!

Each of them broke off a piece of the dry, hard black bread and washed it down with mineral water.

“Big brother, when we get out tonight, I’m going to eat kebabs!” Lokayev’s cousin said, stretching his neck as he swallowed the black bread.

“Hehe, look at you. When we get out, I’ll treat you both to a big meal,” Lokayev laughed.

But Elmar remained silent, not saying a word, which struck Lokayev as odd.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked.

“Boss, don’t you think something’s strange? Mikhail had Novich arrest me. If he really wanted to take the opportunity to beat us up, I’d think that was normal. But nothing happened. I just feel uneasy,” Elmar said, frowning.

Lokayev dismissed it. “Maybe Novich doesn’t want to offend us. Mikhail might want to teach us a lesson, but the problem is, Novich and his men don’t dare! We all operate in the same area. If they really piss us off, they know the consequences!”

His cousin immediately boasted, “That must be it. These Russians are all cowards, bullying the weak and fearing the strong! We Chechens have a reputation. Ordinary Russians don’t dare mess with us. But locking us up for a day—this grudge is settled. When we get out, I’ll make sure Mikhail kneels in front of me and apologizes!”

Lokayev chuckled. “Stay humble! We and Novich’s people don’t interfere with each other; it’s not about who’s afraid of whom. But your idea of making Mikhail kneel and apologize is good, haha.”

Listening to the two of them spouting nonsense, Elmar shook his head and sighed inwardly.

He felt something was off about this whole situation…

But he couldn’t quite put his finger on what was wrong.

………………..

In the blink of an eye, it was evening.

Based on the time they were arrested yesterday, it had been about twenty-four hours—they should be released soon.

But no matter how long they waited, no one came to open the door.

Lokayev grew impatient. He banged on the iron bars for a long time, shouting, “Is anyone there? Are you all dead? Let me out!”

His voice was nearly hoarse before a Russian police officer finally sauntered over. “What are you shouting about? So eager to get out? Going to be reborn?”

With that, he took out the keys and unlocked the iron door. “Come out. Follow me to complete some procedures, get your things, and you can leave.”

Lokayev and the other two stepped out of the iron cage and followed the officer to handle the formalities.

But annoyingly, perhaps because it was late at night and the police station wasn’t busy, they couldn’t find the phones, wallets, keys, and other items that had been confiscated when they were locked up.

It was almost eleven at night now, and after not eating much all day, the three of them were so hungry their stomachs were sticking to their backs.

“Can you even find our stuff? How do you people work? Don’t you have someone specifically in charge of safeguarding items?” Lokayev asked weakly.

The officer rummaged around and suddenly said, “Found it, found it. Alright, sign here, get your things, and you can leave.”

After retrieving their belongings and signing one by one, the three of them, arms around each other’s shoulders, staggered out of the police station.

It wasn’t because they were particularly close; they were just so hungry their legs were weak, and they could barely walk…

As soon as they stepped out of the police station, they heard a “clang” behind them—the big iron door had been shut.

Lokayev cursed with a laugh, “This bastard is in a hurry to close the door. Is he afraid we’ll come back to cause trouble, or is he rushing back to the duty room to sleep?”

Chapter 175: Give Me a Quick End

It was nearly midnight now. The streetlamp at the police station entrance seemed to be broken, leaving the area pitch black. Only the faint glow from a distant streetlight cast a dim illumination.

A cold wind swept past, and the three men shivered involuntarily, pulling their coats tighter.

“This… where the hell are we supposed to find a taxi? There’s not even a ghost around here,” Lokayev grumbled.

“Call the brothers from the gang to come pick us up. Those idiots didn’t even think to drive over early and wait for us. They’ve got no brains!” his cousin complained.

Before he could even pull out his phone, two cars approached, one after the other.

Both were beat-up Ladas, the kind commonly seen on the streets, usually used for unlicensed taxi services.

Lokayev and the others quickly raised their arms, thumbs up, trying to flag them down.

Getting a ride back would be ideal—they didn’t want to wait any longer for their gang brothers to come pick them up.

The two cars seemed to notice them trying to hail a ride. With a screech of brakes, they stopped one after the other in front of them.

Lokayev chuckled, “Ha, doing business in the middle of the night? How come both stopped? The driver in the back doesn’t know the rules.”

Before his cousin and Elmar could respond, all three men’s eyes widened simultaneously. Something was wrong!

The doors of both cars opened at the same time, and several burly men jumped out.

Even more absurdly, each of them wore a black balaclava over their head!

Lokayev and the others were about to bolt when they saw the men raise what they were holding. They froze in place, raising their hands.

Because those men were holding real AK-74s!

The dark muzzles were pointed right at them…

Several of the burly men closed the distance in a few strides. Two men grabbed each of them, barking in low voices, “Get in the car!”

They shoved Lokayev and the others into the two beat-up Ladas.

As he was forced into the car, Lokayev turned his head to glance at the police station’s entrance. He still held onto a sliver of hope, wishing the police inside would notice something was wrong and come out to rescue them.

But to his despair, the police station’s iron gate was tightly shut, not a soul in sight…

…

From the moment Lokayev and the others left the police station to the two Ladas stopping, and then to them being forced into the cars at gunpoint—the entire process took no more than a minute!

There were no streetlights, no cameras, and no passersby…

The two Ladas started up, roaring as they sped away toward the outskirts of the city.

Inside the cars, Lokayev and the others had rags stuffed into their mouths, and their heads were covered with black cloths.

At this moment, they weren’t thinking about their hunger anymore. What worried them more was who these people were and what their purpose was!

Could it be…

They wanted to kill all three of them!

At the thought, Lokayev’s cousin and Elmar began to tremble.

But Lokayev wasn’t as frightened as the other two. He had been through many storms and had always come out unscathed.

He believed this time would be no different!

These people were probably sent by Mikhail to scare them. Lokayev didn’t believe Mikhail would dare to actually kill him!

…

No one spoke inside the car. Only heavy breathing and the roar of the engine filled the air.

With their eyes covered, Lokayev and the others had no idea where they were being taken. After about half an hour, they felt the car leave the road as it began to bounce around.

Another ten minutes passed before the cars stopped. Lokayev and the others were roughly kicked out.

Then someone pulled them up and tore off the black cloths covering their heads.

The blinding headlights made it difficult for them to see clearly for a while.

They seemed to be in a forest on the outskirts of the city. Not far ahead was a rapidly flowing, unnamed river. They were standing by the riverbank.

Besides the two Ladas, there was another dark SUV parked nearby. The lights were coming from there.

Two people stood in front of the car, but the glare made it impossible for Lokayev to see who they were.

He shook his head, trying to get a better look around, when a burly man behind him shoved him hard. He stumbled forward a few steps, closer to the black SUV.

Now that he was closer, Lokayev could finally make out the two people standing there. He exclaimed, “Mikhail!”

Standing there were none other than Wang Ye and Anton!

Wang Ye was smoking, the cigarette tip flickering in the darkness…

Seeing Lokayev and the others being escorted before him, Wang Ye clapped his hands lightly and said with a smile, “Well, well, if it isn’t our dear Lokayev. It’s only been a day, and look at the state you’re in.”

Lokayev gritted his teeth and straightened his back, sneering, “Hmph, trying to scare me? Let me tell you, I was playing this game before you were even in kindergarten, playing with mud! If you’ve got the guts, shoot me! But do you? I bet you haven’t even killed a chicken before, haha!”

His cousin and Elmar weren’t as tough as him. They didn’t know if it was hunger, cold, or fear, but their legs were shaking…

Wang Ye didn’t get angry. He slowly exhaled a wisp of smoke and said, “Tell me, who sent you to cause trouble at Sun Market? Mairov?”

“Haha, why should I tell you? If you get down on your knees and beg me, maybe I’ll tell you. Want to try?” Lokayev said arrogantly.

Wang Ye suddenly said, “It was someone from Lyublino!”

Lokayev paused for a moment before forcing himself to sound tough again, “Get down and beg me, or I won’t just refuse to tell you who sent me—I’ll keep burning down your market! Any vendor who dares to open there, I’ll burn them down too!”

Wang Ye already had a rough idea in his mind and didn’t feel like continuing to argue with this brainless fool.

He waved his hand, and Anton stepped forward, saying in a low voice, “Push them forward!”

Immediately, three of the masked men pushed Lokayev and the others forward. Just a few steps ahead was the riverbank, and below was the dark, rushing river…

…

Anton stepped forward, drawing a dagger from his waist as he walked.

Lokayev and the others stood there, with the river in front of them and Wang Ye and his men behind. Their hands were still tied.

Hearing the footsteps behind them, even the usually tough Lokayev felt a pang of fear. He blustered, “What? You’re serious? Then give me a quick end!”

Anton ignored him, walking straight up to Elmar. With a flick of his hand, he cut the rope binding Elmar’s hands.

Elmar turned around in surprise, about to ask what was going on, when a dark pistol was thrust in front of him…

Chapter 176: This Is Professional

Anton spoke expressionlessly, “Kill those two, and you’ll live. You can even go back to being the gang leader. Otherwise…”

The rest of the words didn’t need to be said. Elmar understood.

Elmar swallowed hard, looking somewhat lost. His body trembled as if he wanted to reach out and take the gun, but after several attempts, his hand still wouldn’t lift.

Lokayev and his cousin naturally heard Anton’s words. Lokayev flew into a rage, turning to glare at Elmar with a sinister look. “Do you really think they’ll spare you if you do this? They’re just playing you!”

His cousin had already started cursing, “Sukabure! If you’re going to do it, do it quickly! Don’t play these little tricks. Let me tell you, if anything happens to us three, you won’t have it easy either! Our brothers will avenge us. Not just you, but your families too—none of you will escape!”

Anton gave him a cold look, raising his left hand and slightly crooking his finger.

A burly man in a black balaclava stepped forward, swinging the butt of his AK-74 and smashing it into the cousin’s head with a dull thud. The cousin collapsed to the ground, no longer playing the tough guy, writhing in pain.

…

“You have three seconds to decide. 3… 2…”

Anton looked at Elmar, his voice icy.

When he reached “2,” Elmar gritted his teeth, reaching out to take the gun from Anton’s hand. Then, trembling, he turned to face Lokayev and his cousin.

Behind Anton, several men in black balaclavas raised their AK-74s, safeties off, all barrels pointed at Elmar. If he made any suspicious move, they would take him out in an instant.

Wang Ye leaned against the hood of the big G, still leisurely smoking, seemingly indifferent to what was happening.

“You won’t do this! Elmar, we’re brothers!” Lokayev’s forehead was covered in sweat, his lips trembling.

But the only response was bang! bang!—two loud gunshots.

Lokayev clutched his chest, disbelief written all over his face. He lowered his head to look at the blood seeping through his fingers. When he tried to lift his head again to question Elmar, he found he no longer had the strength.

His cousin, who had been lying on the ground, seemed to no longer feel the pain. He didn’t move, whether feigning death or actually unconscious…

Anton lifted his chin slightly, gesturing toward the cousin on the ground.

Elmar no longer seemed afraid. Since he had already killed the first one, the second wouldn’t make a difference.

He took two steps forward and fired two more shots—bang! bang!—into the cousin.

After firing, Elmar threw the gun to the ground, resigned yet hopeful. “I hope you keep your word…”

…

Wang Ye flicked away his cigarette, got into the car, and started the engine.

As the car passed Anton and the others, he rolled down the window and instructed, “Clean up the scene.”

Then, turning to Elmar with a smile, he said, “You’re a smart man. I hope you take control of the Gokhso People gang soon. If you need help, you can find him. Guns, men, money—whatever you need!”

He pointed at Anton.

With that, the black G roared away from the riverside, leaving behind Anton, Elmar, several men in black balaclavas, and the bodies of Lokayev and his cousin on the ground.

Anton waved his hand, and the men took out prepared sacks, ropes, and cast-iron dumbbells from the trunk of the broken Lada.

They bound the dumbbells to Lokayev and his cousin, stuffed them into the sacks, and tied them shut. Then, working in pairs, they dragged the sacks to the riverbank and hurled them into the water with a heavy splash. Everything fell silent.

The other men cleaned up the bloodstains and used a high-powered flashlight to scan the ground, picking up shell casings and even smoothing out the tire tracks left by Wang Ye’s Mercedes G.

This was professional.

For Anton and those who had survived the Chechnya war, what happened tonight was nothing.

Just like having a drink or a meal…

Elmar stood numbly to the side, silently watching it all.

…

“Let’s go. Get in the car. We’ll take you back to the Large Market,” Anton said to Elmar.

Once in the car, Elmar slowly came to his senses. He clasped his head in his hands, wondering how he would explain himself when he returned.

After thinking for a long time, he still couldn’t come up with a reasonable excuse for Lokayev and his cousin’s “disappearance.”

“I… how am I supposed to explain this to the brothers when I get back?” Elmar gathered his courage and asked Anton.

Anton shrugged and replied casually, “Just say you were kidnapped by a few dark-haired men with Chechnya accents after leaving the police station. Lokayev must have had enemies, right? Maybe someone wanted him dead. Who can say for sure?”

“Huh? What about me?” Elmar pointed at his own nose.

Right, even if they were kidnapped, why would they take Lokayev and his cousin but leave him alone?

“You? You’re not from Chechnya, and you’re not that close to Lokayev. They weren’t interested in you,” Anton said without hesitation.

Elmar felt this excuse was a bit too “rough.”

Who would believe that?

Just as he was about to say something else, Anton spoke meaningfully, “You’re in a gang! From what I know, there are more of your countrymen in your gang, right? So why is Lokayev, a Chechnya man, the leader when there aren’t many of them?”

Elmar felt a pang of shame and lowered his head without answering.

What else could it be? Because he wasn’t as ruthless as Lokayev!

Anton patted his shoulder and said, “Remember, being in a gang isn’t about academic research or debate. You don’t need to reason with anyone. It’s about who has the bigger, harder fist! If someone doesn’t believe you, beat them until they do. If they still don’t believe you, then kill them! If you can’t make everyone believe you, then eliminate those who don’t. The rest will believe you.”

After hearing this, Elmar felt as if a veil had been lifted from his eyes.

He understood…

…

When the car arrived at the market, it was already past two in the morning.

They stopped in a quiet corner. As Elmar was about to get out, Anton called him back, pulling out a gun and two magazines.

“Take these. You might need them.”

Elmar nodded and took them.

Truthfully, this was the first time he had ever killed someone with a gun…

Though he had been in fights before and even used knives, compared to what he had experienced tonight, Elmar suddenly felt like those past incidents were child’s play!

Chapter 177: One Wave After Another

The next day, the Sun Market was unusually quiet.

It was as if nothing had happened. The stalls that had been burned down the day before had already been cleaned up and repainted, looking almost as good as new.

The Chinese merchant who had suffered losses had also received compensation from the Sun Market Group.

The amount must have been satisfactory…

The dark-haired men who had been causing trouble around the Sun Market had vanished without a trace, obediently returning to the ACT Market to work.

Boss Kong arrived at the market in the morning and, after walking around with the security personnel, returned to the management office. He was surprised as he said to Ivan, “What’s going on today? Those dark-haired men aren’t causing trouble anymore? Oh, and that Lokayev should have been released by now, right? They wouldn’t be planning something else, would they?”

He remembered the day when Area One was burned down. It had been just as quiet during the day, but then trouble had broken out at night.

Would history repeat itself today?

Moreover, the Sun Market Group had really angered Lokayev and his men this time…

“I don’t know what’s going on either. Let’s wait for the president to arrive and ask him. If necessary, we’ll prepare in advance and have the security guards stay alert,” Ivan said, shaking his head.

As they were speaking, Wang Ye entered with his bodyguards. Seeing the two men in the hall, he greeted them with a smile.

Boss Kong hurried over and repeated what he had observed to Wang Ye.

“Everything should be fine. They called me this morning and said both sides had reached a settlement. The Gokhso gang won’t cause any more trouble in the future,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

This startled Boss Kong. He quickly asked, “What? A settlement?! Was it Lokayev who called? He wouldn’t be trying to trick us, making us let our guard down, would he? No, we can’t trust those dark-haired men.”

Wang Ye shook his head. “It wasn’t Lokayev. It was the third-in-command, Elmar. He said Lokayev and the second-in-command had rushed back to Chechnya overnight because of some trouble back home. Now Elmar is the new leader. I don’t know what’s really going on.”

Boss Kong felt dizzy.

Was this matter really over?

Had the other side suddenly backed down and reached a settlement, no longer causing trouble?

Ivan, standing beside him, seemed to have realized something. He glanced at Wang Ye but didn’t say anything.

The conflict with the dark-haired men had been resolved quietly.

Boss Kong couldn’t figure it out, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew Wang Ye must have done something!

As for what exactly, that wasn’t something he needed to worry about…

Ivan also reported the matter to Khovansky. After listening, Khovansky remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he only said one sentence, “Don’t interfere with him. Let him handle these problems in his own way. Unless he encounters a difficulty he can’t resolve, don’t get involved.”

…

After dealing with the dark-haired men, Wang Ye thought he could finally have some peace and enjoy life for a while.

But unfortunately, one wave had barely settled when another rose…

That afternoon, just as he was about to leave work and go home, he received a call from Yanzi.

As soon as he answered, before he could say anything, Yanzi spoke with a sobbing voice, “Ye Ge, Xiao Gang is in trouble!”

Wang Ye’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly asked, “What happened to Xiao Gang? Don’t panic, tell me slowly.”

“He… he killed someone, and now the police have taken him away. I don’t know who else to turn to, wuuu…”

Yanzi was already crying.

Wang Ye couldn’t help but doubt whether Yanzi was making this up.

It sounded too absurd!

Song Xiao Gang was just a student. Apart from attending classes, he spent his days running around the dormitory area selling phone cards.

Although he was tall and muscular and had some martial arts training, his personality was quite mild. Even when Zhang Ke had humiliated him, he hadn’t fought back. Wang Ye found it hard to imagine Song Xiao Gang getting into a fight with someone, let alone killing them…

He frowned and asked in a deep voice, “What exactly happened? Tell me in detail.”

Yanzi finally managed to calm herself down and told Wang Ye what had happened.

…

This incident had started the night before last, on Yanzi’s birthday.

At that time, the Large Market had been set on fire, and Wang Ye had left in a hurry. But after he left, a small conflict had broken out at the birthday party.

Yanzi’s classmate, Xiao Gao, had said some bad things about Wang Ye because he didn’t like him. This had upset Song Xiao Gang, Yanzi, and Ruan Xiaozhu.

The three of them had scolded Xiao Gao and were about to drive him away.

As Xiao Gao was leaving, he got into an argument with Song Xiao Gang because he was still angry.

Given the huge difference in their “combat power,” Song Xiao Gang hadn’t intended to do anything serious. He had just given Xiao Gao a light push.

But this push had caused a big problem!

Xiao Gao had stumbled backward and hit his head hard on a decorative pillar in the restaurant.

No one had paid much attention at the time. Xiao Gao himself hadn’t taken it seriously. He had just rubbed his head and left, cursing.

But no one could have imagined that the day after Yanzi’s birthday, Xiao Gao hadn’t gone to class.

He lived in the main building, in a two-bedroom suite shared with another student. When his roommate left for class in the morning, he saw that Xiao Gao’s bedroom door was closed but didn’t think much of it. After all, Xiao Gao often skipped class to sleep in.

But when he returned in the afternoon, Xiao Gao’s bedroom door was still closed. He noticed it but still didn’t think much of it.

Maybe Xiao Gao had gone out during the day and wasn’t back yet.

But on the third day, today, Xiao Gao’s bedroom door was still closed, with no sign of movement. His roommate started to worry.

He called Xiao Gao, but the phone rang inside the room with no one answering!

By this point, he was starting to panic. He called around to Xiao Gao’s classmates and friends, but no one had seen him in the past two days.

So, the roommate reported the situation to the dormitory manager.

The manager had a key. After listening, he found the key and opened Xiao Gao’s bedroom door.

The two of them were horrified to discover that Xiao Gao was lying on the bed, his face pale, with no sign of breath…

After the police investigation, they had zeroed in on Song Xiao Gang. In the afternoon, they had gone to the University of Friendship and taken Song Xiao Gang to the police station for questioning.

…

Actually, what Yanzi had said earlier wasn’t entirely accurate. After all, Song Xiao Gang was currently only a “major suspect” and hadn’t been convicted in court yet…

So it wasn’t accurate to say he had “killed someone.”

But she was just a student who hadn’t entered society yet. How could she have experienced something like this?

At that moment, she had no idea what to do. After thinking it over, among the people she and Song Xiao Gang knew, if there was anyone who could help at a time like this, it was probably only Wang Ye…

So she had called Wang Ye.

Chapter 178: The Power of Money

After listening to Yanzi’s account, Wang Ye was truly speechless.

What did they mean by “life is unpredictable”?

Song Xiao Gang’s experience perfectly illustrated that phrase…

This guy was just too unlucky!

Everyone had their share of conflicts and scuffles in life. How was it that when it came to him, just one push had taken someone’s life?

Apart from “unlucky,” there was no other explanation.

Moreover, Song Xiao Gang had clashed with Xiao Gao for his own sake. Morally and logically, Wang Ye couldn’t just stand by and do nothing!

Without hesitation, he said, “Yanzi, don’t worry. Let me find out what’s going on first. By the way, which police station took him? The one near your school?”

“Yes, the one not far from our main school building,” Yanzi replied.

“Got it. Wait for my news,” Wang Ye said decisively before hanging up.

…

After some thought, Wang Ye picked up his phone again and dialed Novich’s number.

Once the call connected, Wang Ye didn’t beat around the bush. He explained the situation and asked, “If I want to get my friend out, how should I handle this?”

Although Novich was surprised that someone of Mikhail’s status would be involved with an ordinary exchange student, he didn’t pry. It wasn’t his place to ask…

Novich replied without hesitation, “If handled properly, it shouldn’t be a big issue. After all, it’s hard to prove that the victim’s death was directly caused by your friend. Maybe the guy was drunk, went out, and fell—it’s not impossible! Of course, you have to find the right person. How about this? I’m quite familiar with the police chief over there. If needed, I can call him and arrange a meeting with Mikhail. You can talk it over?”

“Alright, set it up. Let’s meet at the Little Eagle Hotel. That hotel is mine, and someone will be there to take you up when you arrive,” Wang Ye said decisively.

Novich secretly marveled. Mikhail seemed to have earned Khovansky’s trust at such a young age—being the president of the Sun Market Group and owning a hotel as large as the Little Eagle Hotel!

But wait, wasn’t the Little Eagle Hotel originally Mairov’s? How did it become Mikhail’s…

…

After the call, Wang Ye couldn’t focus on work anymore.

He went straight to the finance office and instructed the finance manager, “How much cash is left in the company safe?”

Normally, the company shouldn’t keep large amounts of cash, but these past few days, many merchants had been lining up to sign contracts, requiring deposits and the like.

So, the money collected was usually sent to a nearby bank under armed guard after work. Since it wasn’t yet time to close, the cash hadn’t been deposited yet.

Hearing the president’s question, the finance manager quickly stood up and replied, “Mikhail, there’s still over one million two hundred thousand US dollars in the safe.”

“Withdraw five hundred thousand for me. Put it under my personal account,” Wang Ye instructed without hesitation.

The finance manager, of course, had no objections. He immediately opened the safe, counted out fifty stacks of US dollars, and placed them in a black briefcase.

Wang Ye nodded, picked up the briefcase, and left.

…

Around nine in the evening, Novich, dressed in plain clothes, entered the Little Eagle Hotel with a tall, middle-aged man of similar age.

Led by Anton, they went directly to a large suite on the top floor, where Wang Ye was already waiting for them.

“Mikhail, this is Flamir. Flamir, this is Mikhail, the president of the Sun Market Group and the owner of the Little Eagle Hotel!” Novich introduced them.

In truth, before coming up, Novich had already told Flamir about Wang Ye’s identity. Otherwise, Flamir wouldn’t have come.

“Mikhail, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you,” Flamir said with a smile, shaking Wang Ye’s hand.

Though one was an “official” and the other a “civilian,” Flamir didn’t feel any sense of superiority in front of Wang Ye. In fact, he seemed a bit eager to please…

Joking aside, in Moscow, these wealthy individuals were the true upper class!

Because their “reach” extended all the way to the Kremlin!

He was just a lowly police chief. If he offended someone like Wang Ye, it might take just one word for him to lose his job…

Wang Ye gestured for them to sit.

The room was empty except for Wang Ye, Anton, Novich, and Flamir. Even Katya wasn’t present.

Wang Ye didn’t beat around the bush. “You should know about the situation, right?”

Flamir nodded. “Novich has already briefed me, and I’ve looked into the case.”

“I only have one request: release my friend immediately and drop all charges!” Wang Ye said decisively.

Flamir’s expression turned uneasy. He hesitated, “From what we have so far, the student’s suspicion… is quite strong. Even if it’s not direct murder, it could still be considered manslaughter. Of course, this still needs to be—”

Before he could finish, Wang Ye beckoned.

Anton placed a small black briefcase on the coffee table in front of Flamir.

With a “click,” the lid opened.

Flamir’s eyes widened instantly!

Money!

US dollars!

Stacks and stacks of hundred-dollar bills!

He couldn’t help but swallow, his gaze lingering on the money. “Mikhail, this is…”

“Get this done, and all of this is yours. Plus, you’ll gain my friendship,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Flamir no longer hesitated. He reached out, closed the briefcase lid, and pressed his hand firmly on it.

Looking up at Wang Ye, his face broke into a smile. “Mikhail’s friendship is something I’ve been seeking! For that alone, I must handle this matter perfectly! At the latest, by tomorrow morning, your friend will be out!”

Honestly, Flamir had never expected Wang Ye to be so generous!

Five hundred thousand US dollars…

Even if Song Xiao Gang was just a “suspect,” and there was no concrete evidence linking Xiao Gao’s death to him, Flamir could have gotten him out for much less.

Even if he had killed someone in broad daylight, with five hundred thousand US dollars, Flamir could still get him out!

Because in Moscow, apart from the elite and the ultra-rich, no one’s life was worth that much money!

And for five hundred thousand US dollars, countless people would be willing to take risks…

This was the power of money!

…

Of course, Wang Ye wasn’t a fool. He knew that this matter didn’t actually require so much money.

But he had thrown out five hundred thousand US dollars so directly and forcefully that Flamir almost wanted to kneel and bow to him on the spot…

Chapter 179: Will He Be Executed?

Flamir glanced at the small box, his mouth watering in secret.

So much money…

Mr. Mikhail was truly generous!

Alas, it was a shame this case hadn’t happened in his own jurisdiction. Otherwise, all this money would have been his…

After taking the money, he had to get to work. So Flamir immediately said, “I’ll head straight back to the bureau and start handling this right away. The case has already been filed, and several teams are already working on it. I’ll need to coordinate with them. But don’t worry, Mr. Mikhail, I’ll smooth everything out.”

In truth, he had already calculated everything in his mind.

With five hundred thousand US dollars, he would only need to spend fifty thousand to “seal” some mouths. That would be enough!

He could also take the opportunity to win over some subordinates. After all, who didn’t like US dollars…

As for the remaining four hundred and fifty thousand, that would all belong to him!

Of course, he wouldn’t swallow all the remaining money himself.

Flamir was an ambitious man. He still wanted to climb higher in his career.

Previously, he had been held back by a lack of “funds,” so even after working in the bureau for many years, he hadn’t been promoted.

But now, with four hundred and fifty thousand US dollars, he could grease the palms of a few key figures. Flamir was confident he could secure a promotion to the city bureau!

Wang Ye rose with a smile and said, “Then I won’t keep you any longer. Go ahead and get to work.”

Flamir quickly stood up to take his leave, exiting with Novich.

…

Downstairs, the two got into the car. Flamir sat in the passenger seat, clutching the small box tightly, warily scanning his surroundings, afraid someone might rush out and rob him…

Novich started the car and said enviously, “Brother, you’re lucky! You happened to run into this and could help Mr. Mikhail.”

“Haha, I have to thank you for the introduction,” Flamir said.

He hesitated for a moment, then opened the box slightly, reached in, gritted his teeth, and took out two stacks of US dollars.

“Today, I have to thank you. Otherwise, I might not have even met Mr. Mikhail,” Flamir said as he handed the money to Novich.

Novich looked down and smiled broadly, though he still declined verbally, “This isn’t right. This money is Mr. Mikhail’s payment for your work. How could I take it?”

But his hands didn’t refuse. Instead, he quickly took it and stuffed it into his own pocket!

…

In the police station’s detention cell, commonly known as the iron cage, Song Xiao Gang sat with his head in his hands, crouched on the ground.

From the afternoon when he was arrested until now, Song Xiao Gang still hadn’t come to his senses.

His mind was blank…

Xiao Gao… was dead?!

And the cause of death was because of him!

He had killed someone?

He had become a murderer!

The first thing Song Xiao Gang thought of wasn’t what consequences he would face, whether he would be sentenced or even executed…

Instead, he thought about how this would surely be reported to his family. His father would be so worried when he found out!

He would probably have to come all the way from China. When they met, how would he explain himself?

His family had sold everything to send him abroad to study and earn a degree. They wanted him to find a good job after graduation.

But what happened?

He hadn’t even finished his preparatory courses, and now there was a death. Forget continuing his studies—whether he could even return home alive was now the question!

Regret, guilt, fear, worry…

All these emotions intertwined, leaving Song Xiao Gang completely at a loss for what to do.

He was in the detention cell. Maybe because he was still a student, the “treatment” was a bit better than Lokayev’s. At least someone brought him a dry piece of bread and a box of milk on time.

But Song Xiao Gang had no appetite. After being brought in, he had been huddled in a corner of the room, motionless.

He didn’t know how much time had passed when he dozed off.

In the middle of his deep sleep, he suddenly heard the iron door being slammed open, jolting him awake.

“You, come out,” a middle-aged, fat man shouted from the doorway.

Song Xiao Gang jumped up reflexively, but as soon as he stood, he felt dizzy and almost fell.

He reached out to steady himself against the wall and managed to ask in Russian, “Where am I going?”

He probably thought he was being taken to prison…

“The interrogation room,” the fat man said.

But Song Xiao Gang didn’t understand…

After all, he had only studied Russian for less than a year. He hadn’t learned such advanced vocabulary as “interrogation room.”

But no matter what, he had to go where he was told. There was no thought of resistance.

He numbly followed the fat man out, turning this way and that until they reached an empty room.

“Sign here, and you can leave,” the fat man said, pointing to a piece of paper on the table.

Song Xiao Gang thought he had misheard and looked at him in astonishment.

Perhaps seeing Song Xiao Gang’s surprise, the fat man’s expression turned serious as he said, “After our overnight investigation and verification, we have ultimately proven that Gao XX’s death has nothing to do with you. We have ruled out the possibility of homicide. Instead, it was…”

The rest of the long explanation about the cause of death, Song Xiao Gang didn’t understand. But the first half, he heard very clearly.

Xiao Gao’s death had nothing to do with him?

He…

Was going to be released!

He stammered, “Then… can I leave?”

“Yes, sign here, and you can go,” the fat man said with a smile.

…

Back at Moscow State University, Yanzi had been up all night.

She wasn’t in her own dormitory but had come to Ruan Xiaozhu’s place.

Women, when faced with such sudden events, were more prone to panic and confusion.

Neither of them had slept well that night.

Yanzi was worried, while Ruan Xiaozhu kept comforting her.

Moreover, they were both present at the scene of the incident. Especially Yanzi—it was her birthday that night!

They were both afraid they might be implicated. Who knew if the police would come for them soon…

Such things, even if they happened in their home country, would make ordinary people’s hair stand on end. Let alone in a foreign land.

“Xiaozhu, do you think Song Xiao Gang will be sentenced? Oh, does Russia still have the death penalty, or has it been abolished?”

“Xiaozhu, do you think the police will come to arrest me tomorrow? This happened at my birthday party. I can’t escape, can I?”

Yanzi’s endless questions made Ruan Xiaozhu’s heart race.

“It… shouldn’t be that bad. Even if Xiao Gao’s death is related to Song Xiao Gang, it wouldn’t be considered intentional murder. At most, it would be manslaughter. In that case, he might get… ten years or so? Also, this doesn’t have much to do with us. We didn’t even touch Xiao Gao…”

Chapter 180: Extraordinary Influence

“Should we do something tomorrow? Like go to the police station to see Song Xiao Gang and ask around about the situation?” Yanzi asked.

Ruan Xiaozhu quickly waved her hand. “No way! If we go there, aren’t we just walking into a trap? Maybe we can find another student to go and ask around. Oh, right, didn’t you call Wang Ye? Why hasn’t that guy given any news?”

Yanzi sighed bitterly. “I did tell Ye Ge about it. He said he would handle it and told me to wait for news. Ye Ge is really impressive among the exchange students, but with something like this, I don’t think he can do much.”

“Yeah, when it comes to business, Wang Ye is really good, but for something like this, he doesn’t know anyone either,” Ruan Xiaozhu sighed.

The two of them clearly didn’t know much about Wang Ye’s current situation.

In their eyes, Wang Ye was just someone who ran a study abroad service company and a phone card company. They had no idea about the Sun Market Group or the Little Eagle Hotel.

As for Khovansky’s nephew, that was something they couldn’t even dream of…

…

The two girls chatted back and forth like this for most of the night.

It wasn’t until just before dawn that they dozed off for a while.

Ding ling ling…

Suddenly, the sound of a phone ringing woke them both up.

After a flurry of activity, they each pulled out their phones.

“It’s mine, Ye Ge is calling,” Yanzi said, holding up her phone before quickly answering.

“Where are you?” Wang Ye asked directly.

“Ah, I’m at your cousin Xiaozhu’s place,” Yanzi replied, still half-asleep.

“Alright, I’ll be there in about ten minutes. You two come down, and we’ll go to the police station,” Wang Ye said before hanging up.

Yanzi and Ruan Xiaozhu looked at each other, confused. What were they going to the police station for? Wang Ye hadn’t said.

Could it be to turn themselves in…

“This… what does Ye Ge mean?” Yanzi asked, still confused.

Ruan Xiaozhu was a bit more awake. She pushed Yanzi and said, “Don’t worry about that for now. Wang Ye wouldn’t harm us. He’s probably taking us to see Song Xiao Gang. Hurry up, let’s wash up and go downstairs.”

About ten minutes later, the two of them finished washing up. They didn’t even have time to eat before putting on their clothes and going downstairs.

As soon as they reached the dormitory gate, they heard two beeps. Across the street, a car honked.

The window rolled down, and Wang Ye waved at them.

Ruan Xiaozhu and Yanzi quickly walked over and opened the car door to get in.

They noticed that Wang Ye was driving a Mercedes G-Class today, not the white Toyota Land Cruiser he had just bought.

Under normal circumstances, Ruan Xiaozhu would have probably pulled Wang Ye aside to ask where he got this car.

But today was different. Neither of them had the mind to pay attention to that.

As soon as they sat down, the car started moving.

Sitting in the back seat, Yanzi couldn’t help but lean forward and ask Wang Ye, “Ye Ge, what are we going to do?”

Wang Ye didn’t even turn his head as he replied, “Didn’t I say? We’re going to the police station.”

“Ah, I know, but what I mean is… why am I going to the police station? Did the police ask us to assist with the investigation?” Yanzi asked cautiously.

Ruan Xiaozhu also chimed in, “Did you find some connections to let us see Song Xiao Gang? But with such a serious case, it’s probably difficult.”

Wang Ye smiled and didn’t beat around the bush. He said directly, “We’re going to pick Xiao Gang up!”

“Ah…”

The two in the back seat exclaimed in unison, completely unable to believe Wang Ye’s words.

This was a murder case!

He was just arrested yesterday, and today he’s being released?

It seemed impossible no matter how they thought about it!

“You… don’t joke around,” Ruan Xiaozhu finally said in a reproachful tone after a while.

Wang Ye, while driving, responded helplessly, “What joke am I making? Right now, we’re taking you to pick up Xiao Gang. I got a call this morning saying he’s being released.”

Ruan Xiaozhu and Yanzi looked at each other, finding it hard to believe Wang Ye’s words, but seeing how serious he was, they couldn’t question him.

Before they could question him again, the car had already arrived at the police station. The police station wasn’t far from the main building of Moscow State University…

Wang Ye parked the car by the roadside, opened the window, lit a cigarette, and said, “Wait a moment. He should be out soon.”

“Really? Who told you that Song Xiao Gang is being released? Don’t let them fool you. Oh, right, did you spend money to find someone to save Song Xiao Gang? Let me tell you, there are a lot of old hands in Moscow who brag about their connections. You must not believe their nonsense; they’re all liars!” Ruan Xiaozhu asked in a flurry.

Wang Ye was a bit speechless. This wasn’t something he could explain in a short time.

As for his “secret” identity, he couldn’t talk about it now. Maybe when they were alone, he could tell Ruan Xiaozhu.

But with Yanzi here, Wang Ye didn’t want everyone to know…

So, he just leaned out to rest his arm on the car window and smoked, not answering Ruan Xiaozhu’s questions.

As a result, Ruan Xiaozhu thought Wang Ye had really spent money to find someone and now didn’t want to tell her, so she got a bit anxious and leaned forward to say something else.

The large iron gate of the police station next to them clanged open. The three people in the car turned their heads to look.

They saw Song Xiao Gang walking out of the large iron gate, with a middle-aged Russian man beside him.

“Isn’t he out?” Wang Ye said with a smile, throwing away the cigarette butt and pushing open the car door to get out.

After the shock, the two girls rubbed their eyes and looked again. It was indeed Song Xiao Gang who came out!

Although Song Xiao Gang looked a bit haggard, he seemed fine otherwise.

The two of them also quickly opened the car door and went to meet him.

…

Song Xiao Gang was a bit dazed at the moment. After signing the papers in the interrogation room, the police really took him out.

When he walked out of the police station gate, Song Xiao Gang realized it was probably the next morning. The sunlight was a bit dazzling…

Then he saw a figure getting out of a square, black Mercedes G-Class across the street and walking over. He knew this person very well—it was Wang Ye!

“It’s alright, let’s go. Everything’s fine,” Wang Ye said after coming over, looking Song Xiao Gang up and down and patting his shoulder with a smile.

The middle-aged man behind Song Xiao Gang had a face full of smiles and said enthusiastically, “Mr. Mikhail, I told you, I will definitely handle this matter properly. Now you can take the person away. All procedures are fine, and there will be no aftereffects.”

Song Xiao Gang suddenly felt a sourness in his nose, as if sand had been blown into his eyes by the wind…

He wasn’t stupid. Now, seeing Wang Ye and hearing what the man beside him said, he had already guessed it—Ye Ge had saved him again!

Although he didn’t know why Wang Ye had such extraordinary influence, even being able to get him out of such a serious case, Song Xiao Gang believed that there was truly nothing Wang Ye couldn’t do!

It had been like this ever since they first met…

There’s a lot happening today, so I’ll update two chapters.

Chapter 181: Why the Fake ID?

The scene unfolding before the police station was naturally witnessed by the two girls behind Wang Ye. Yanzi was too excited to think much of it, but Ruan Xiaozhu remained much calmer, her sharp instincts sensing something was off.

The middle-aged man who had emerged with Song Xiao Gang seemed to regard Wang Ye with… respect! Not just warmth, but genuine respect—even a hint of fawning!

To be honest, in all her years in Moscow, Ruan Xiaozhu had never seen a Russian treat a Chinese person like that, especially one who appeared to hold some status…

After exchanging greetings with Flamir, Wang Ye led Song Xiao Gang and the others into the car. Once inside, Song Xiao Gang finally calmed down and expressed his gratitude. “Ye Ge, I’ve troubled you again. It’s all my fault—I always end up dragging you into my messes…”

Wang Ye cut him off with a smile. “Don’t say that. Besides, this time you were standing up for me, and that’s how this happened. Forget it. Should I take you back to the dormitory?”

Relaxing at last, Song Xiao Gang felt the exhaustion wash over him. He nodded. “Yeah, let’s go back to the dormitory.”

Wang Ye started the car and drove toward the University of Friendship. Soon, they arrived at the dormitory. Song Xiao Gang got out, and Yanzi followed, still worried and planning to stay with him a while longer.

Wang Ye didn’t go up. Instead, he drove off to take Ruan Xiaozhu back to her dormitory. As Song Xiao Gang was about to leave, he hesitated before asking, “Ye Ge… was Xiao Wu’s death… related to me?”

Wang Ye shook his head, looking at him intently. “Remember this! Xiao Wu’s death was an accident. It has nothing to do with anyone. That’s what the police investigation concluded!”

Song Xiao Gang paused, then nodded. “I understand. Thanks, Ye Ge.”

Wang Ye didn’t say more. He just waved his hand, started the car, and drove away from the dormitory area.

…

With no outsiders in the car, Ruan Xiaozhu, who had been holding back, finally couldn’t contain herself. “Who was that middle-aged man who came out with Song Xiao Gang? You two seemed to know each other.”

Wang Ye answered casually as he drove. “Oh, him? His name is Flamir. He’s the chief of that police station.”

The answer stunned Ruan Xiaozhu.

Chief?

That was no small position!

How did Wang Ye know someone like that?

And more importantly, why had the chief been so obsequious toward him?

“You… how do you know him?” Ruan Xiaozhu stammered.

Wang Ye thought for a moment. He felt it was time to tell Ruan Xiaozhu a few things. After all, his business was growing, and he needed people he could trust. Ruan Xiaozhu was distantly related to him, and from his past life, he knew she was someone he could rely on.

Instead of answering her question directly, he pulled the car over to the side of the road and turned to face Ruan Xiaozhu in the passenger seat. “Do you know what I’ve been busy with lately?”

Ruan Xiaozhu looked confused. “Aren’t you just dealing with your storefronts? Oh, right, have all the shops been rented out? I heard Sun Market has been really popular lately.”

Wang Ye had told her about buying three streets’ worth of shops in Sun Market, but she didn’t know what had happened afterward. So, she still thought he was just busy leasing out the properties.

Wang Ye shook his head and smiled. “You probably don’t know this, but I’m the president of the Sun Market Group.”

Ruan Xiaozhu froze for several seconds before reacting. “You’re crazy! Isn’t Sun Market Group just Sun Market? You only bought three streets of shops there. Sure, that makes you a big boss, but it has nothing to do with the Sun Market Group!”

No one would believe this.

“Well, it was a stroke of luck. I got connected with the secret owner of the Sun Market Group. He took a liking to me and invited me to be the president. Oh, and I don’t just own three streets of shops in Sun Market—I also got a twenty percent stake in the Sun Market Group,” Wang Ye said lightly.

But to Ruan Xiaozhu, these words were like a thunderclap out of the blue.

She stared at Wang Ye, then suddenly reached out and grabbed his face, turning it this way and that.

Wang Ye, bewildered, quickly pulled her hands away. “What are you doing?”

“I’m checking if you’re possessed! I don’t believe a single word—no, not even a punctuation mark of what you just said! Even a five-year-old wouldn’t believe it. Is the secret owner of Sun Market an idiot, or does he have a daughter he wants to marry off to you? Why would he make you the group president and give you a twenty percent stake?” Ruan Xiaozhu huffed.

Wang Ye sighed. “Okay, I left out some details. Actually, I saved his life, and then he took me in as his nephew. He even got me a Russian identity. Here, this is my Russian passport.”

He pulled out his Russian passport from the glove compartment.

Ruan Xiaozhu took it skeptically, opened it, and gasped. “You… you got a fake ID?! Isn’t that illegal?”

Wang Ye laughed. “If you knew who the secret owner of the Sun Market Group was, you wouldn’t say that. His name is Khovansky!”

He had expected Ruan Xiaozhu to understand immediately, but instead, she looked at him as if he were a fool. “Khovansky? Is he famous?”

Wang Ye was speechless. He had forgotten one thing—Ruan Xiaozhu was a girl!

Girls usually didn’t pay attention to politics or social news, so even if Khovansky was famous, it wasn’t guaranteed that Ruan Xiaozhu or Yanzi would know him…

He had to explain. “Khovansky is one of the Seven Oligarchs, the owner of Yukos. Basically, he’s one of the richest men in Russia right now!”

“My goodness… really?”

Sure enough, once Wang Ye explained, Ruan Xiaozhu finally understood the significance of the name “Khovansky” and gasped in shock.

“Yeah, I saved his life, and he took a liking to me, so he helped me get this identity and made me call him uncle—the real kind, with family ties. Then he had me take over the Sun Market Group and gave me some shares,” Wang Ye added.

Ruan Xiaozhu clicked her tongue for a long time, unable to find the right words.

Honestly, what Wang Ye had just told her was far more shocking than Song Xiao Gang being arrested for “murder” the day before!

Chapter 182: Are You a Billionaire Now?

The words “oligarch” and “richest man” were far too distant from an ordinary person like her!

Yet her “cheap little brother” had suddenly told her that he had become the “nephew” of Russia’s richest man, a powerful oligarch!

How was Ruan Xiaozhu supposed to handle this?

After a long while, she tentatively asked, “So… does that mean you’re a billionaire now?”

After asking, she nervously swallowed.

Wang Ye answered without hesitation, “I suppose so!”

Ruan Xiaozhu wasn’t surprised. After all, Wang Ye was the president of the Sun Market Group, holding twenty percent of the company’s shares, and was now the “nephew” of Khovansky!

With all these accolades, no one would believe he wasn’t a billionaire…

Just as she was starting to calm down, Wang Ye dropped another bombshell that left her speechless.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you, the Little Eagle Hotel is mine now,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

“You… you… is there anything else I don’t know? Can you just tell me everything at once? You’re giving me a heart attack!” Ruan Xiaozhu’s fingers trembled as she spoke.

She knew about the Sun Market Group, but she wasn’t very familiar with it, so the shock wasn’t as great.

But the Little Eagle Hotel? She went there all the time!

This news hit her much harder!

“This isn’t important. You just happened to ask, so I told you,” Wang Ye said, spreading his hands in resignation.

“Wait! Does that mean I can get free stuff at the Little Eagle Hotel from now on?” Ruan Xiaozhu suddenly thought of something and asked excitedly.

“Haha, of course! I’ll introduce you to my assistant later. She manages the Little Eagle Hotel. She can get you a VIP card,” Wang Ye laughed.

Ruan Xiaozhu sighed for a long time before barely accepting Wang Ye’s new identity.

And by “barely,” she meant she still felt like she was dreaming.

But looking at Wang Ye’s passport and the Mercedes G-Class he was driving…

She felt he wasn’t lying. Everything he said was true.

…

With that out of the way, explaining Song Xiao Gang’s situation was easy.

“I got a call from Yanzi last night, so I asked a friend to contact the police chief, Flamir, and had him get Xiao Gang out. Heh, he was pretty efficient. He handled all the procedures in one night and called me this morning to say I could pick him up,” Wang Ye explained to Ruan Xiaozhu with a smile.

Ruan Xiaozhu suddenly realized, “No wonder! When we were at the police station, I saw Flamir being overly enthusiastic toward you, almost like he was trying to please you. Your ‘cheap uncle’ Khovansky must have a lot of influence.”

Wang Ye shook his head meaningfully. “No, it’s the influence of money. Khovansky has influence because he has enough money—so much that no one can ignore it!”

Ruan Xiaozhu nodded vaguely, not really caring why others gave him face.

What mattered now was that her “little brother” had become a billionaire, a big shot!

As his “sister,” she should be able to strut around Moscow now…

She wouldn’t have to worry about police harassment when she went out, and if she had any trouble, there would be someone to help her.

Thinking about this, she wanted to laugh out loud. This was too awesome!

Seeing Ruan Xiaozhu’s face turn pale and then red, Wang Ye was a little worried. He advised, “Don’t tell our families about this yet, including your family and mine.”

“Huh? Why? Isn’t this great news? Why not tell our families?” Ruan Xiaozhu asked, confused.

If Wang Ye hadn’t told her not to, she would have called her family to brag.

“It’s nothing. Let’s not say anything yet. I’m not mentally prepared to explain this to our families,” Wang Ye said with a bitter smile, not wanting to say more.

He knew the real reason wasn’t that he was afraid his parents wouldn’t accept his sudden wealth. It was because he had “reincarnated…”

Many things were still unclear to him, so he subconsciously avoided his family.

Perhaps he was also avoiding “her” from his past life…

After dropping Ruan Xiaozhu off at her dormitory, Wang Ye, at her request, gave her Katya’s phone number.

Wang Ye was helpless. His “cheap cousin” was either stupid or something!

He had told her so many things, yet all she cared about was getting free stuff at the Little Eagle Hotel…

Couldn’t she aim a little higher?

…

Meanwhile, Song Xiao Gang’s safe return shocked all the Chinese students in the preparatory courses dormitory!

Many had seen the two police cars with sirens take him away yesterday at noon.

The news quickly spread among the Chinese exchange students at the University of Friendship. Everyone knew Song Xiao Gang had “killed someone”!

Now he wasn’t just taken away by the police—he was going to be sentenced!

Some even said Russia had the death penalty, and Song Xiao Gang might be executed!

Those who were close to Song Xiao Gang, like Wang Dan and Liu Xiao Jie, were shocked and saddened. After all, Song Xiao Gang was usually very enthusiastic, and they had a good relationship.

But those who didn’t get along with Song Xiao Gang started gloating.

Oh… well, there was really only one person who didn’t get along with Song Xiao Gang, and that was Zhang Ke.

Rumor had it that when he heard about Song Xiao Gang’s trouble, he laughed out loud…

He even said that Song Xiao Gang didn’t look like a good person, with his “murderer’s face” and muscular body, and that he was obviously a “killer”…

Anyway, this guy was overjoyed at Song Xiao Gang’s misfortune.

But no matter what anyone thought or said, they all believed Song Xiao Gang was in big trouble this time!

But…

After just one night, Song Xiao Gang was back safe and sound?

Everyone who saw him was stunned…

…

“Did you hear? Song Xiao Gang is back!”

“Huh? Impossible! He was arrested yesterday for murder. How could they let him go?”

“They must have made a mistake. After investigating, they found Song Xiao Gang had nothing to do with the murder, so they let him go.”

“That must be it. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have let him go…”

Similar conversations took place among the Chinese exchange students.

Since they didn’t know the details, everyone assumed the murder had nothing to do with Song Xiao Gang, or the police wouldn’t have released him.

When friends like Wang Dan and Liu Xiao Jie, who were closer to Song Xiao Gang, asked him about it, he just smiled and said, “I was wrongly arrested. The police investigated and found the student’s death was an accident, unrelated to anyone else, so they let me go.”

Chapter 183: Complications

After dealing with Song Xiao Gang’s matters and sending Ruan Xiaozhu back to school, Wang Ye hurriedly drove back to the Sun Market.

The last time the dark-haired men caused trouble, he had already found out who was behind it—it was the boss behind the Lyublino Large Market!

This left Wang Ye speechless…

So, it was true that rivals in the same industry were indeed enemies!

He had even told Mairov that he had a way to prevent the Lyublino Large Market from opening.

But before he could make a move, the other side had struck first!

Fortunately, Wang Ye was decisive and ruthless. He had cut off the “black hand” reaching out to him and even taken the opportunity to bring Gokhso’s gang under his control!

Of course, he had no interest in the underworld. The reason he controlled Elmar and Gokhso’s gang was simply because this gang controlled most of the dark-haired laborers. Running a wholesale market couldn’t do without these seemingly insignificant workers…

And Wang Ye only hoped they wouldn’t cause any more trouble.

Perhaps, when needed, these dark-haired men could play an unexpected role.

…

Back in his office, Wang Ye called Boss Kong.

“Do you know the background of Lyublino?” Wang Ye asked.

Boss Kong immediately replied, “I know, I know! That large market is run by two brothers. They are originally from Kazakhstan and have been in Russia for over twenty years. They’ve always been in the hotel business and have hotels in big cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg. I don’t know why, but two years ago, they suddenly got a piece of land and decided to open a wholesale market. Probably because they saw how profitable the ACT Group is and got envious.”

More dark-haired men!

Wang Ye felt a bit of a headache. In Russia, dark-haired men were practically “everywhere”…

Moreover, most of these dark-haired men had Jewish ancestry, and Mairov was one of them.

“Do they… have any background?” Wang Ye asked again.

Boss Kong thought for a moment and shook his head. “I don’t know much about that. After all, I haven’t had any dealings with them. But being able to open hotels here and get approval to build a large market, they must have some background. Who exactly, that’s unknown.”

Indeed, Boss Kong’s connections weren’t that extensive. He only knew the basics.

Wang Ye couldn’t expect him to know everything.

He waved his hand and let Boss Kong leave.

…

But since the other side had played a trick on him, Wang Ye certainly wouldn’t let it go.

In this place, there was no such thing as “harmony brings wealth”!

Business competition was absolutely not limited to above-board methods. Behind the scenes, everyone was ruthless.

It could be said that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russian society was in such a state—a standard “law of the jungle,” where the winner takes all!

As for how you win, no one cared. Everyone only looked at the results…

Khovansky was already considered a very “civilized” businessman. But for Yukos to develop to its current scale, if it was said to be completely legal and compliant and had never dealt with competitors, probably no one would believe that.

Moreover, this time, Wang Ye still didn’t plan to seek help from Khovansky.

He didn’t even think about discussing it with Ivan or using Ivan’s resources.

So, how should he deal with the two brothers from Lyublino…

Wang Ye fell into deep thought.

He was calculating what resources he had at his disposal.

Friends in the Chinese community were out of the question; they wouldn’t be of any use.

So, among the Russians he knew now, who had some influence…

The first person Wang Ye thought of was Gebrev!

This man was the grand steward of the Kremlin, a favorite of the great emperor!

If he was willing to help, then what Lyublino, what dark-haired brothers, would be crushed like ants!

But the problem was, how could he get this big shot’s recognition and make him help deal with those dark-haired brothers…

…

Locking himself in his office, Wang Ye smoked half a pack of cigarettes and drank several cups of strong coffee before he had a rough plan in mind.

He looked at the time; it was already past five in the afternoon.

According to the work schedule in Russia, everyone had already gotten off work.

He took out his phone and dialed Gebrev’s number.

After a few rings, the call connected.

Wang Ye quickly greeted, “Hello, Mr. Gebrev, this is Mikhail. My uncle is Khovansky.”

He deliberately added the last part, afraid that Gebrev had forgotten who he was…

After all, the two hadn’t had much interaction; they had only met once at Aby’s estate.

Speaking of which, this time he was still “using” Khovansky’s influence; otherwise, he wouldn’t have any connection with Gebrev.

“Haha, Misha, hello, I know you, a great young man. What’s up, do you need something?” Gebrev’s hearty laughter came through the phone.

Wang Ye breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the other party still remembered him.

He replied, “It’s like this. I’ve been preparing a business project recently, and it might involve some regulatory issues. I wanted to consult your opinion since you’re the most knowledgeable about these things. I was wondering when you might be free so we could have dinner and discuss it.”

Gebrev paused for a moment on the other end, then readily agreed, “No problem. Coincidentally, I’m free tonight. I haven’t had dinner yet. Where should we meet?”

Things were going more smoothly than expected, which surprised Wang Ye a bit.

But now wasn’t the time to be surprised. He immediately replied, “How about Turandot Restaurant? I don’t know if you like it there.”

“Hehe, call me uncle, don’t be so formal with ‘Mr.’ It makes us seem distant. Turandot is good; let’s meet there. I’m still busy in the office, but I should be able to make it around seven,” Gebrev said warmly.

Wang Ye didn’t stand on ceremony then. “Alright, I’ll wait for you at Turandot, uncle. See you tonight.”

“See you tonight.”

…

Things were going smoothly!

But after hanging up, Wang Ye frowned instead.

Gebrev seemed too enthusiastic about him…

Wang Ye didn’t think his charm was great enough to make Gebrev, the grand steward of the Kremlin, take notice of him.

To be honest, someone like Gebrev had seen all kinds of people and experienced all sorts of things!

His level might not even catch their eye…

Could it be because of Khovansky’s influence again?

That didn’t seem right either. After all, Gebrev represented the interests of the great emperor!

And what Khovansky was doing now didn’t align with the interests of the great emperor’s faction. In fact, the great emperor’s side might already have some thoughts about Khovansky.

It was just that they couldn’t make a move yet.

This matter… seemed to be getting complicated.

Chapter 184: He Is the Successor

The Kremlin—the very heart of Russia’s political power!

After hanging up the phone, Gebrev rose from his desk and walked out of his office, crossing the hallway to a large office.

This was the president’s office.

Nodding to the guards at the door, he knocked and entered directly.

Gebrev’s position wasn’t high, and his official authority wasn’t great, but his status was too special.

He was undoubtedly the president’s most trusted confidant, deeply favored by the president…

Perhaps Gebrev was the only person in all of Russia who didn’t need an appointment to enter the president’s office at any time.

The spacious office wasn’t extravagantly decorated. The floor was covered with a simple, solid-colored wool carpet, and the furniture, though made of excellent materials, was stylish yet understated.

An L-shaped mahogany desk stood in the room, with the walls adorned in matching mahogany paneling.

The only thing that set this office apart was the two large national flags standing behind the desk and the massive, golden double-headed eagle emblem on the wall—instilling an immediate sense of solemnity and reverence.

Hearing Gebrev’s footsteps, the president, who had been buried in his work, looked up.

Newly in office, he was still young, in his early forties, at the peak of a man’s strength.

“Khovansky’s young man called me,” Gebrev said with a smile. “He invited me to dinner tonight, saying he had some business matters he wanted to discuss with me.”

The president didn’t immediately recall who this “young man” was. After a moment’s thought, he smiled and said, “Is it that Chinese young man named Mikhail?”

If Wang Ye had heard this, he probably would have broken out in a cold sweat…

But it was only natural. No matter how real the new identity Khovansky had arranged for him, no matter how meticulous the process, how could it possibly fool people like Gebrev?

If they didn’t pay special attention to Wang Ye, that was one thing. But if they did, there was no secret he could keep from them!

“Yes, it’s him,” Gebrev said with a smile. “Khovansky trusts him completely. Not only did he give him a twenty percent stake in Sun Market, but he also handed over the Little Eagle Hotel as compensation from Mairov. Someone who didn’t know better might actually think Mikhail was his nephew.”

“What has Khovansky been up to lately?” the president asked. “He seems to be keeping a low profile.”

“He’s pushing for Yukos to acquire Aby’s Tyumen Oil Company,” Gebrev replied. “Once the acquisition is successful, Yukos’s oil production will account for seventy to eighty percent of the national total.”

The president frowned, lightly tapping the desk. “Too greedy! These oligarchs are completely lawless! They promised me they would abide by the law, conduct business properly, and stay out of politics. But look at them—first Berezovsky and Gusinsky, monopolizing energy, banking, and finance wasn’t enough for them; they had to go and buy up media outlets, clearly trying to control public opinion! And now Khovansky—does he want to monopolize the entire oil industry himself? Not to mention, he has ties with a lot of Anglo-American capital.”

“I sometimes can’t understand what they’re thinking,” Gebrev sighed. “They already have Berezovsky and Gusinsky as examples, yet they’re still so bold. Do they really think the state won’t dare to touch them?”

“Hmph, they’re reckless because they think they’re untouchable!” the president said with a shake of his head. “They believe that with their connections to certain forces and my recent rise to power, my foundation isn’t stable enough to take action against them. But it’s a real thorn in my side. When we went after Berezovsky and Gusinsky, foreign media criticized us heavily, and it seriously damaged investor confidence in Russia.”

Gebrev clearly shared the same concerns and took the opportunity to suggest, “In the future, when dealing with these lawless oligarchs, we should use gentler methods and ensure everything is done legally and by the book to avoid too much public backlash.”

With the power the Kremlin wielded, they could easily fabricate a reason to drag oligarchs like Khovansky into court.

But he didn’t do so because, in his position, he couldn’t act recklessly. There were many factors to consider.

Unless absolutely necessary, he didn’t want to resort to “force.”

After all, at this time, Russia was still eager to align itself with “certain developed countries” and integrate into “civilized society.”

If the president kept arresting and executing wealthy businessmen, how would the “civilized people” of the West view him?

…

The conversation returned to Wang Ye. The president asked with interest, “Why are you so concerned about this young man? Do you think he can influence Khovansky?”

After Gebrev had seen Khovansky and Wang Ye at Aby’s estate, he had reported back and conducted a detailed background check on Wang Ye.

The results had surprised Gebrev—Khovansky’s so-called “nephew” was actually a foreign exchange student!

And he had only been in Moscow for a few months…

Gebrev nodded. “Yes. In my judgment, Khovansky wants to groom Mikhail as a capable assistant, even as his successor!

After all, Khovansky hasn’t been in power for very long, his foundation is shallow, and he doesn’t have many trusted aides around him.

But this Mikhail, because he saved Khovansky’s life, combined with his identity issues and his already apparent business talent, has become Khovansky’s best choice!

Perhaps Khovansky chose him because he’s easy to control.

After all, everything about Mikhail, including his identity, was given to him by Khovansky.

So if he ever wants to take it back, it would be simple…”

This was Gebrev’s assessment of the relationship between Khovansky and Wang Ye.

“Do you think Mikhail will enter the core leadership of Yukos?” the president pressed.

Gebrev nodded without hesitation. “Very likely! In my view, Khovansky is still testing and training Mikhail. As we know, Khovansky has political ambitions, so he will certainly need a successor in business. Mikhail might just be that successor!”

The president became more interested. After a moment’s thought, he instructed, “Then keep in contact with him and see if he has any value to us. Make him understand that what Khovansky has given him is all an illusion and can be taken away at any time! But what we can offer him is real and comes with no hidden dangers!”

Gebrev acknowledged the order, turned, and left the president’s office, preparing to meet Wang Ye at Turandot Restaurant.

Chapter 185: The Young Dare to Fight

Turandot Restaurant was undoubtedly the most luxurious restaurant in Moscow—without question.

This restaurant had only recently opened, but it was said that the renovations alone had taken six years!

Every detail inside was a masterpiece of exquisite handcrafted work—gold leaf decorations, rare antiques, opulent crystal chandeliers, and finely woven tapestries. Each piece of decor was a work of art in its own right.

The space was designed in the Baroque style, entirely hand-carved with ornate beams and painted rafters. The tableware and furnishings came from Italy and France, while the antique displays and classical mirror galleries with fireplaces were collected from all over Europe. Modeled after the concept of an 18th-century European palace, Turandot Restaurant had become the most extravagant and prestigious dining establishment in Moscow since its opening.

The restaurant spanned over twenty thousand square meters, featuring not only a grand hall of astonishing size but also twelve private dining rooms.

Wang Ye had reserved a small private room in advance and arrived early. This was his first time here, having only heard about the restaurant from Boss Kong.

The moment he stepped inside, he was stunned.

This wasn’t just a restaurant—it was a palace of unparalleled luxury!

The gold leaf on the walls gleamed so brightly under the lights that it was almost blinding. The arched ceiling was hand-painted in a deep azure, with golden “vines” stretching upward from the walls, reaching into the heavens.

Here, waiters weren’t called waiters—they were “maidens” and “attendants,” while the head waiter was referred to as the “steward.”

Every detail was designed to make guests feel like royalty—utterly distinguished, utterly noble…

…

Under the steward’s guidance, Wang Ye arrived at his reserved private room.

Though called a “small” private room, it was far from small—spanning forty to fifty square meters.

Normally, with just Wang Ye and Gebrev dining, the main hall would have been sufficient. There was no need for such a large private room.

But Wang Ye certainly wouldn’t choose the main hall. The person he was inviting was no ordinary figure, and the matters they needed to discuss weren’t suitable for public conversation.

Not long after he sat down, Gebrev entered the room, led by the steward.

“Hahaha, Misha, I hear you’ve been making quite a name for yourself lately. Young people should be bold and daring—full of vigor!” Gebrev’s opening words carried a hidden meaning.

Wang Ye felt a cold sweat break out on his back, but his face remained composed, his smile as bright as ever.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they took their seats. Several maidens entered in succession, beginning to serve the dishes.

In a place like this, dining was secondary—the real purpose was business.

Foreigners weren’t as silent during meals as rumors suggested—at least not the Russians.

“By the way, what’s this new business plan of yours? Let’s hear it. I may not be in business myself, but I’ve had my fair share of dealings—I might be able to offer some advice,” Gebrev asked.

Wang Ye had been waiting for this. He immediately replied, “Recently, I’ve had two new ideas. I’m not sure if they’ll work, but I’d like to hear your thoughts, Uncle Gebrev.”

Gebrev nodded, signaling for him to continue.

Wang Ye went on, “The first business plan is an attempt to develop the tourism industry. As you know, I’ve taken over the Little Eagle Hotel. After taking charge, I did some research and was surprised to find that the hotel industry in Moscow—even in all of Russia—isn’t doing well. Even a hotel like the Little Eagle, which isn’t too high-end and has a great location, has an occupancy rate below fifty percent. That’s shocking—this is Moscow we’re talking about!”

Gebrev’s expression turned bitter. The hotel industry was a clear reflection of a city’s economic prosperity.

No matter how much you boasted, if the hotels were empty, it meant the city’s economy wasn’t thriving.

Though Moscow was still seen as an international metropolis in many people’s eyes—a place envied by all of Eastern Europe—the years of social unrest had left the business environment in shambles.

This had led to the decline of Moscow’s hotel industry.

Seeing Gebrev’s reaction, Wang Ye continued, “But Moscow has many historical sites and is a city with unique charm. If we could develop tourism, it would be a perfect fit.”

Gebrev spoke up, “Tourism would be great, of course. But Moscow is covered in ice and snow all year round. The climate isn’t ideal—how many tourists would be willing to come?”

Tourism was a favored industry in every country—“green, eco-friendly, and pollution-free,” with rapid results.

Especially international tourism, where the average spending was extremely high, quickly boosting many industries in tourist cities—hotels, transportation, dining, retail, and more!

Gebrev naturally wanted Moscow’s tourism industry to flourish, but the question was—where would the tourists come from?

Could they rely on those “Stan” countries? Those brunettes were so poor they couldn’t even afford underwear—where would they get the money for tourism?

“We can attract Chinese tourists!” Wang Ye replied decisively.

Gebrev looked at Wang Ye with a strange expression, making him feel uneasy.

He quickly explained, “Well, I have Chinese heritage—my father is Chinese, so I’m quite interested in China.

From what I know, China has been developing rapidly in recent years!

To most of the world, it might still seem like a poor and backward place, but in reality, many Chinese people have already become wealthy.

With a population of over a billion, even if only a small percentage are affluent, that’s still a massive number.

In the future, the global tourism industry might very well depend on Chinese consumers.

If we can take the lead, promote Russia’s beautiful scenery to Chinese tourists, and leave a strong impression, we could see huge returns very soon.”

There was no denying that Wang Ye’s argument made sense. Gebrev listened carefully.

After a moment of thought, he asked, “But… do you really think there are enough wealthy Chinese who can afford expensive flights and travel costs?”

“Absolutely no problem!” Wang Ye replied firmly.

“So, what do you plan to do?” Gebrev pressed.

Wang Ye paused for a moment before laying out his ideas:

“I want to open a travel agency specializing in Chinese tour groups, creating several high-quality travel routes.

And to make it more appealing, I hope the Little Eagle Hotel’s gambling license can be upgraded.

In other words, allowing the Little Eagle Hotel to offer all gambling services, just like those famous international casinos…”

Chapter 186: Too Ambitious

This was Wang Ye’s first objective in meeting Gebrev today.

A full-service gambling license!

The gambling license currently held by the Little Eagle Hotel was, to be honest, not very useful. It only allowed for slot machines—hardly what one would call a proper “casino.” It was more like an amusement park!

To truly develop, they needed a full-service gambling license!

Only then could they compete with places like Las Vegas.

Or rather, only then would it be worth pursuing so-called international tourism.

Truthfully, Wang Ye wasn’t particularly interested in the tourism industry. It didn’t make much money and was too cumbersome.

In the current Russia, any random business venture was more profitable than tourism…

But with a full-service gambling license, the nature of the business would change entirely!

The profits would become staggering!

As everyone knew, the more something was prohibited by law, the more money it made…

…

This request caught Gebrev off guard.

He grinned, “You’ve got some nerve asking for that! Don’t you know it’s not legally permitted? The Little Eagle Hotel’s gambling license is already a special exception. Other hotels don’t even have that. A full-service license… that’s a comprehensive business permit. I’m not even sure I can pull that off.”

Hearing this, Wang Ye was secretly pleased. Since Gebrev hadn’t outright refused but only said he wasn’t sure, that meant there was room for negotiation!

He quickly replied, “What if we apply for a special operating license with restrictions? For example, we don’t allow Russian citizens to enter, only foreign tourists. That should bypass the legal restrictions, right?”

This idea surprised Gebrev. He looked Wang Ye up and down several times before laughing, “You really are quick-witted! With that condition… it would be much easier to arrange.”

Wang Ye’s reasoning was simple: his casino would only target “foreigners” and not harm his own people…

Strangely enough, this approach made it easier for Gebrev and the higher-ups to accept.

Clearly, once the casino was up and running, it would only take money from foreigners, while the tax revenue would go straight to the state. The local people would actually benefit!

Why not…

Flattered by Gebrev’s praise, Wang Ye modestly replied, “This still depends on your help, Uncle. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

Indeed, without knowing someone as high-ranking as Gebrev, Wang Ye wouldn’t have dared to think about obtaining a “gambling license.”

There was no place in the municipal departments to apply for such a thing…

“That’s fine. I’ll keep this in mind and help you when the time is right,” Gebrev agreed readily.

Though there was no explicit promise, since he had said this, the matter was as good as settled!

“Thank you, Uncle Gebrev. I appreciate your help,” Wang Ye thanked him.

“But I must warn you—even if you get the license, only foreigners are allowed to enter. You must not accept Russian citizens. Be careful about this, or you’ll cause trouble for me later,” Gebrev cautioned.

“Of course, of course. I won’t break the rules,” Wang Ye assured him.

…

The tourism business was just a front. Wang Ye’s real goal was to obtain this gambling license!

Honestly, attracting tourists would take time. How many Chinese tourists would come in the early stages?

Relying on that for profit was wishful thinking.

But with the gambling license, Wang Ye could openly expand the casino at the Little Eagle Hotel and attract businessmen from the Large Market.

Including Chinese merchants, Vietnamese merchants, and even the dark-haired traders from the ‘Stan’ countries.

These business owners were all wealthy!

Wang Ye had hesitated for a long time about this, feeling it was somewhat exploitative of his own people…

But then he thought, if he didn’t do it, countless domestic tourists would still go to Macau, Las Vegas, and Malaysia every year.

Since the money was going to be spent anyway, why not spend it with him?

After shedding this mental burden, Wang Ye had no more reservations. After all, his casino would be legal and above-board—no scams or tricks.

…

After discussing this matter, Wang Ye moved on to the second topic.

“Uncle Gebrev, as you know, the Sun Market I manage is where Chinese merchants do business. You could say that the ACT Market and the Sun Market supply many Eastern European countries with clothing, shoes, and various daily necessities. They play a huge role.”

Gebrev nodded. Things were indeed as Wang Ye described.

This was also why, despite the “gray customs clearance” at the Large Market being illegal, the government had never cracked down on it.

Seriously, if the Large Market were shut down, where would ordinary Russians buy affordable clothes and shoes?

For the wealthy, it wouldn’t matter—they bought luxury brands.

But for the average citizen, the impact would be enormous. With already low wages and high living costs, if they couldn’t buy cheap clothes, shoes, and daily goods, society might even descend into chaos!

“But because of the gray customs issue, the market’s growth has been stifled. The Chinese merchants don’t dare to invest heavily here because they fear government crackdowns. Everyone knows it’s not that they don’t want to pay taxes—it’s just that the original customs process is too slow and inefficient!” Wang Ye said without hesitation.

Gebrev was taken aback. After a moment, he pointed at Wang Ye and laughed, “You really say whatever’s on your mind! So, what do you think should be done?”

Since the topic had been broached, Wang Ye didn’t beat around the bush and directly revealed his “intentions.”

“I want a special customs clearance permit—to legalize the current gray customs process! Of course, all procedures will be subject to government oversight, and we’ll pay the required taxes. The government can also restrict the types of imported goods. Essential items that our country can’t supply, like clothing, shoes, bags, and accessories, should be on the approved list, while goods that we can produce domestically can be restricted from import.”

Wang Ye’s ambitions were vast!

If he obtained this so-called “special customs clearance permit,” then in the future, foreign light industrial products entering Russia would be at his discretion!

What ACT Market? What Lyublino? From then on, they would have to rely on his approval!

He wanted to try because, in this era, there were plenty of people with even greater ambitions and greed!

Some of them had even succeeded!

If you didn’t try, if you didn’t strive, how would you know what was possible?

Especially in the “magical” land of Russia…

Chapter 187: The Cost of Recruitment is Too High

Wang Ye’s second request was clearly much harder to fulfill than the first!

First, one had to understand what “gray customs clearance” was.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia lacked a light industry system, so it urgently needed to import a large number of light industrial products. Many Chinese businessmen saw this opportunity and began doing business there. These people were also known as “shuttle traders”!

However, Russian customs clearance procedures were cumbersome, and tariffs were chaotic. To encourage imports and simplify customs procedures, the Russian Customs Committee allowed “clearance” companies to handle import business on behalf of cargo owners.

These companies, in collusion with customs officials, cleared entire planes or trains of goods as parcel post, paying parcel post tariffs. This could also be called “charter tax inclusion” or “train tax inclusion.”

In this process, it was easy to imagine the emergence of collusion between officials and businesses, deceiving superiors and concealing the truth. Clearance companies only paid full tariffs for a small portion of an imported batch of goods, while the rest passed through customs by bribing customs officials.

Chinese businessmen who used this method for clearance could transport their goods to Moscow for sale quickly and smoothly. However, they also bore significant risks because these goods had no customs declaration forms or tax receipts!

Thus, if the tax authorities wanted to cause trouble, they could confiscate the goods at any time. Since there was no proof of the goods’ legality, in the eyes of others, these items were “smuggled”…

There were two major benefits to using the “gray customs clearance” route:

First, it was fast and efficient.

Second, the fees were cheap, about half the cost of normal clearance.

In fact, for most Chinese businessmen, the fees were not a major concern. After all, doing wholesale business in Russia was very profitable these days, with large profit margins!

Moreover, if tariffs and transportation costs were high, these costs could be added to the wholesale price of the goods. This way, the wholesale price remained very competitive and there was no worry about sales.

The key issue was the first point!

Time was truly of the essence…

Some Chinese businessmen had tried regular clearance. For example, Xiao Hu’s family’s shoes went through regular clearance, but the entire clearance process took at least two to three months, or even half a year!

For products like sports shoes, this was not a big deal. At most, they could be shipped half a year in advance, as there was no issue with styles becoming outdated.

But for clothing and bags, this was not feasible. The popular styles and even colors changed every year.

If you went through regular clearance, by the time the goods finally arrived, the colors and styles would already be outdated. Then, who would buy your products…

Wang Ye’s goal was to solve this pain point for Chinese businessmen!

While maintaining the high efficiency and speed of “gray customs clearance,” he wanted to make everything legal. This way, Chinese businessmen could stand tall and do business without constantly living in fear, and their goods would no longer be seized by various tax departments.

………………..

Gebrev stared intently at Wang Ye and said, “Do you know how many people you will offend by doing this? This is much harder to handle than the gambling issue. You probably don’t know how many people’s interests are involved.”

Wang Ye smiled and said indifferently, “But these things have to be done sooner or later. If that’s the case, it’s better to do them sooner rather than later! This is beneficial for the country, the people, and foreign businesses. The only ones who will be harmed are a few corrupt customs officials and clearance companies!”

Since he had already labeled them as such, what could Gebrev say? He couldn’t very well say he wanted to protect the interests of those “corrupt officials”…

Gebrev shook his head and sighed. He had come to meet Wang Ye with the intention of giving him some “sweetness” and recruiting him into the Great Emperor’s camp.

This was a move he had planned against Khovansky!

Just imagine, if in the future Khovansky made trouble for the Great Emperor in the political arena, wanting to participate in elections or something, and his most trusted “successor” Wang Ye was “turned” by the Great Emperor’s side…

That would be quite a scene!

But the problem was, Wang Ye’s appetite was too big…

This made Gebrev unable to decide whether to agree or not.

If he agreed to Wang Ye’s conditions, it would mean offending many people for this young man, and it would be very troublesome.

If he didn’t agree, then he had sworn to the Great Emperor that he would “take down” Wang Ye, and that he could deal with Khovansky with relatively mild measures. But if he couldn’t even reach an agreement with Wang Ye in their first private meeting, wouldn’t that make him lose face in front of the Great Emperor…

What Gebrev was considering now was not Wang Ye’s two conditions. Although they were difficult, they were not impossible for him to accomplish.

What he was considering was whether Wang Ye was worth the great cost of recruiting him!

This depended on whether Wang Ye could truly gain Khovansky’s absolute trust, enter the core decision-making layer of the Yukos Group, and even take over the Yukos Group in the future!

If he couldn’t achieve this, then recruiting him wouldn’t be very meaningful.

…………….

Wang Ye did not urge him but slowly ate his food, waiting for Gebrev to make a decision.

After several minutes, Gebrev seemed to have made up his mind. He smiled and said, “In theory, this is feasible, but as you know, it will be very troublesome and complicated to carry out, so it might not be done quickly.”

Wang Ye also smiled in response and said, “I understand. Then I’ll trouble you, Uncle. But the gambling issue should be simpler, right? It shouldn’t take too long?”

Gebrev quickly said, “This is simple. It should take no more than a week. Wait for my news.”

His plan was to verbally agree to Wang Ye’s request regarding customs clearance but not to act on it immediately. He wanted to observe for a while longer to see if Wang Ye was worth the great cost of recruiting him.

To keep Wang Ye at ease, the gambling issue had to be handled promptly.

Wang Ye had proposed two conditions. If neither was met, how could their relationship continue?

Wang Ye would probably also doubt his capabilities…

“That’s great. I can start preparing for the tourism and hotel renovation on my end. I’ll wait for your good news, Uncle.”

Wang Ye raised his wine glass and clinked it with Gebrev’s. Both were smiling…

After the meal, as Wang Ye was seeing Gebrev out of the restaurant, he casually mentioned, “I’m planning to bring in one or two new shareholders for my Little Eagle Hotel. I wonder if you have any suitable candidates to introduce, Uncle.”

Gebrev paused for a moment before smiling and replying, “Oh, I can’t help with that. After all, the business giants I know, like Aby and your uncle Khovansky, probably wouldn’t be interested in your hotel.”

This answer surprised Wang Ye quite a bit…

Chapter 188: Walking a Tightrope

Wang Ye had asked Gebrev to introduce new shareholders for a reason—he didn’t believe Gebrev didn’t understand!

This was clearly just handing money to Gebrev…

The full gambling license for the Little Eagle Hotel would be obtained soon, turning the hotel into a veritable “money tree.” Though limited by Russia’s overall environment, its scale and profits couldn’t compare to major foreign casinos, there was no doubt it would be profitable. The only question was whether it would make a lot of money… or a lot of money.

Gebrev had done him a huge favor this time, and Wang Ye wasn’t the kind of person to take advantage of others without giving something in return. That’s why he had deliberately mentioned bringing in new shareholders—essentially offering Gebrev a share of the profits!

Gebrev himself couldn’t openly invest in the Little Eagle Hotel, but he could have a family member or someone else put in a little money to become a shareholder and then just wait for the dividends.

But to Wang Ye’s surprise, Gebrev had refused!

Wang Ye couldn’t make sense of it. Could there really be such a good person in Russia today?

Someone who only gave and asked for nothing in return!

As he watched Gebrev’s car drive away, Wang Ye got into his own car. Instead of starting it immediately, he rolled down the window and lit a cigarette, deep in thought about Gebrev’s intentions…

Tonight’s gains had far exceeded Wang Ye’s expectations!

He had proposed those two conditions fully prepared to be rejected.

After all, strictly speaking, he and Gebrev weren’t close—they had only met once.

If Gebrev was willing to give him face, it was probably because of Khovansky. Wang Ye didn’t have much influence with Gebrev.

He was aware of this much…

But!

Wang Ye knew the “course of history.” He didn’t believe the faction represented by the great emperor had a particularly good relationship with Khovansky!

The two sides were likely just putting up a united front while secretly scheming against each other.

So the question was…

Why was Gebrev giving him so much face?

The only full gambling license in all of Russia, and Gebrev said he could get it for him in about a week!

Even the customs clearance privileges weren’t out of the question.

It might not sound like much, but those in the know understood the enormous interests at stake!

What was Gebrev really after…

“Oligarch,” “great emperor,” “energy,” “politics”… A string of keywords swirled in Wang Ye’s mind. As someone who knew the “history” of the coming years, he slowly pieced things together!

One: The conflict between Khovansky and the great emperor currently seemed irreconcilable, but it hadn’t yet escalated.

Two: The great emperor wasn’t ready to move against Khovansky—or at least not with force. Maybe he was wary of Western public opinion. After all, Russia’s situation was already difficult enough.

Three: He was Khovansky’s “nephew” and someone Khovansky valued. In Gebrev’s eyes, he might be Khovansky’s “weak spot”!

Four: His “Mikhail” identity had probably been seen through by Gebrev…

Five: He had become a target for recruitment by the great emperor’s faction, represented by Gebrev! The gambling license and customs privileges were “benefits” paid to win him over!…

…

Wang Ye thought through many things and came to understand his current predicament.

It seemed extremely dangerous, like walking a tightrope—one wrong step and he could be shattered to pieces!

But strangely, it also felt inexplicably safe…

Because both sides had designs on him!

In other words, for now, he held “value” for both Khovansky and the great emperor’s side!

As long as he had value, neither side would casually “abandon” him. Instead, they would offer him appropriate benefits.

This was his opportunity…

Though dangerous, it also came with tremendous opportunity!

It all depended on how well he could play both sides…

Realizing this, Wang Ye felt a surge of determination.

So what if they were oligarchs? He was the “chosen one”!

So what if it was the great emperor…

Well, even if he was the “chosen one,” going up against the great emperor would probably end badly…

…

Wang Ye didn’t return to the apartment. He just called Alyona to say he had business at the Little Eagle Hotel.

Alyona didn’t say much, only reminding him to be careful.

When he arrived at the Little Eagle Hotel, it was already past nine in the evening.

In the penthouse suite, Katya was lounging on the sofa watching TV. When she saw Wang Ye walk in, her face lit up with delight as she rushed over.

“Sir, you didn’t even tell me you were coming! I thought you were staying over there tonight.”

With that, she wrapped her arms around his neck and tilted her face up…

Wang Ye wasn’t in the mood for flirtation. He gave her a quick kiss, patted her firm backside, and said, “Call Yuri over. Put on some outer clothes. We’re having a meeting—there’s something important to discuss.”

Seeing that Wang Ye meant business, Katya immediately dropped her playful demeanor, stood up straight, and said seriously, “Alright, I’ll notify him right away.”

She then turned to put on her coat and called Yuri, telling him to come immediately.

Yuri had been inspecting the entertainment halls on the first floor. Upon receiving Katya’s message, he hurried over.

In the suite’s living room, Wang Ye held a brief meeting with the two of them.

He began by announcing, “The focus of the Little Eagle Hotel’s operations will shift! From now on, we will only serve foreign tourists—non-Russian citizens!”

Katya and Yuri were both stunned, wondering what had gotten into Wang Ye!

While there were quite a few foreigners in Moscow, relying solely on them wouldn’t bring in much business.

And why turn away domestic customers? Wasn’t Russian money still money?

But the two of them knew that if Wang Ye said this, he must have his reasons. They continued listening.

Sure enough, Wang Ye went on to announce, “Our gambling license will be upgraded soon. After that, we will have no restrictions at all!”

Katya didn’t immediately understand, but Yuri did. He jumped up in shock.

“This… is this true?! There’s no precedent for this in all of Russia! How could the government lift gambling restrictions? That’s illegal!”

Wang Ye calmly waved a hand, signaling him to stay calm, and explained, “That’s why I said we won’t do business with Russians anymore—only foreigners. That’s the price we pay for getting an unrestricted gambling license!”

Katya now understood what was happening. Excitedly, she said, “I don’t think anyone would refuse to pay that price! If we truly have no restrictions, we can attract foreign tourists to come and play. At that point, the revenue from a single guest might surpass what we make from ten, or even a hundred, customers now!”

Chapter 189: The Gambling King of Russia

Katya wasn’t exaggerating.

Gambling had no upper limit…

If a high roller came in and lost a million dollars in one night, that was perfectly normal!

Just think—what kind of revenue could such a guest bring to the Little Eagle Hotel!

Even if a thousand guests stayed or played bowling, they might not generate a million dollars in revenue…

With this gambling license, the Little Eagle Hotel would be raking in money hand over fist!

Yuri’s emotions calmed slightly as he began to consider the practical issues.

Frowning, he said, “We’ll need to renovate the hotel, and we’ll also need to recruit enough gambling staff. That won’t be easy—Russia doesn’t have that kind of talent…”

Wang Ye asked calmly, “If we renovate the hotel, using something like the average casinos in Las Vegas as a reference, how much would the renovation cost?”

He didn’t dare suggest top-tier casinos because the Little Eagle Hotel’s “hardware” couldn’t support it…

At most, it could only compare to ordinary casinos.

Yuri thought for a moment before replying, “The cost won’t be low. Hotel renovations, various props, furniture—probably at least fifty million dollars as a baseline! That shouldn’t be hard to solve because once we get the gambling license, there will be plenty of people wanting to invest. The key is the staff! Where are we going to find so many experienced people? Many gambling halls need skilled dealers.”

Fifty million dollars!

Wang Ye frowned slightly. He couldn’t come up with that kind of money.

Even if he waited until the end of the year for the Sun Market Group’s dividends, he probably wouldn’t get that much.

After all, the Sun Market had just started operating, and with the initial rent-free and management-fee-free period, there wasn’t much money to be made…

Did he really need to bring in shareholders?

Of course, he could also borrow money from Khovansky. At most, he’d pay some interest. Khovansky could probably come up with fifty million dollars easily.

As for the staff…

Wang Ye had a good idea!

…

He nodded and said to Yuri, “I’ll figure out the money and the staff. You make arrangements as soon as possible. The hotel might have to close for a while for renovations! Oh, and during the renovation, all current employees will be on paid leave! They can come back to work once the renovation is complete.”

It had to be said—Wang Ye was a very conscientious boss!

Yuri left excitedly, leaving only Wang Ye and Katya in the room.

Katya brought a bottle of red wine and two glasses.

Pop! She pulled out the cork, and the deep red wine flowed out.

“Congratulations, how should I address you now? The Gambling King of Russia?” Katya said playfully.

Wang Ye picked up the wine glass, gave a bitter smile, and clinked glasses with her, mocking himself, “Is there a gambling king in the world as miserable as me? Just a small hotel, and I might even have to borrow money for the renovation.”

“This is just the beginning. With this gambling license, do you think money will be a problem in the future?” Katya wasn’t stupid; she saw things clearly.

Indeed, in all of Russia, Wang Ye was the first to obtain a gambling license—and an unlimited, full-strength one at that!

This was completely different from the Little Eagle Hotel’s previous gambling license!

With this, it would be hard for Wang Ye not to get rich in the future…

So calling him the “Gambling King of Russia” wasn’t an exaggeration!

Wang Ye took a sip of red wine but didn’t taste much…

But at least it looked sophisticated!

After some thought, Wang Ye said, “The Little Eagle Hotel alone isn’t enough. We need to acquire at least two more hotels—one in St. Petersburg and another… in Crimea! That way, we can form a scale and create a golden tourism route to attract more foreign tourists.”

Honestly, in Russia, only Moscow and St. Petersburg were worth visiting.

With their many historical sites and unique city flavors, different from Asian cities, they should satisfy Asian tourists.

As for other cities, frankly, there wasn’t much point in going.

Crimea, strictly speaking, wasn’t yet Russian territory, but the scenery there was beautiful, making it a great place to visit.

If, as Wang Ye said, they acquired two more hotels in St. Petersburg and Crimea and transformed them into integrated “eat, stay, and play” establishments like the Little Eagle Hotel…

Then his tourism business could start promoting!

China-Moscow-St. Petersburg-Crimea—this would be a golden tourism route.

Besides scenery, historical sites, beautiful women, and culture, those with refined tastes could also try their luck in the hotel’s casino.

Not to mention making big money, but maybe you could even earn back your travel expenses!

“Huh? Acquire two more hotels?” Katya looked at Wang Ye in surprise. She felt this man’s ambition was too great!

Because according to Wang Ye’s requirements, the hotels they acquired couldn’t be small—they had to be at least as large as the Little Eagle Hotel.

Buying a similar hotel in St. Petersburg wouldn’t be much cheaper than in Moscow…

Crimea would be cheaper, but it still wouldn’t be a small amount.

Acquiring the hotels plus renovations would probably cost another hundred million dollars or so!

Wang Ye didn’t explain much to Katya. He picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one go.

Standing up, he said, “Alright, it’s getting late. Let’s go take a bath and rest.”

This suite had a huge massage bathtub, big enough for two people to bathe together. The last time he tried it with Katya, Wang Ye thought it was pretty good…

…

The next day, Wang Ye still went to work at the Sun Market.

These days, some shops had started opening, and more merchants were moving goods in, preparing to open.

Instead of going to the management office, Wang Ye first took a few bodyguards and walked around the market.

It was clear that the shoe and fur bosses were the most powerful!

Many bosses had taken two or even four or five storefronts at once—they were clearly wealthy!

As for those selling clothes and bags and accessories, they mostly had single storefronts—the difference was obvious.

After walking around, he returned to his office in the Small Red Building.

He had just sat down for a couple of minutes when Nalan Yaqi burst in, furious.

“Wang Ye, what’s going on between you and my mom!”

Wang Ye looked up in surprise and asked, “Why are you here? What do you mean by ‘your mom’? There’s nothing between me and your mom.”

“Hmph, Alyona brought me here. Where did you go last night? You didn’t even come home!” Nalan Yaqi said angrily.

Wang Ye smiled and said, “Whether I come home or not, what does that have to do with you? Why are you so nosy? Someone might think you’re my wife!”

Chapter 190: I Treated You Like a Brother, and You…

Nalan Yaqi’s expression froze for a moment, then her eyes widened, clearly wanting to throw a tantrum as the young mistress she was.

But after careful consideration, she held back her anger…

Because the man standing before her was no longer the “Wang Ye” who had just arrived in Moscow a few months ago, wearing that outdated down jacket.

He was Mikhail, the CEO of the Sun Market Group!

She had learned this from Alyona, though Alyona hadn’t told her much—just vaguely mentioned that Wang Ye had become the CEO of the Sun Market Group.

As for the name “Mikhail,” Nalan Yaqi didn’t think much of it since Wang Ye had given himself that Russian name before.

Huffing twice, Nalan Yaqi changed the subject. “My mother suddenly called me yesterday, saying she’s coming to check on business and wants to meet you. You haven’t told me yet—how did you two even get connected?”

Wang Ye raised an eyebrow, surprised. Liu Mei was coming to Moscow?

But thinking about it, it wasn’t that strange. After all, Liu Mei was starting a tourism company, so she naturally needed to come and inspect the place first. Otherwise, how would she introduce the situation to customers later?

Calculating the time, it had been over a month—her company preparations should be almost done by now.

But why hadn’t Liu Mei told Nalan Yaqi about this?

He chuckled. “Oh, your mother and I have a business partnership. She’s starting a Russian tourism company, and I invested in some shares.”

Nalan Yaqi felt something was off about Wang Ye’s words, as if he was subtly insulting her, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it…

“A tourism company? What’s there to see in this ghost town called Russia? It’s so far away—who would travel all the way from China just to visit? You’re rich now, so a small tourism company making money or not doesn’t matter to you, but don’t scam my mother!”

Nalan Yaqi said displeasedly, pressing her hands on the desk and leaning forward to glare at Wang Ye.

Wang Ye helplessly stood up, walked around from behind the desk, and put an arm around Nalan Yaqi’s shoulders.

“What are you doing? You have a girlfriend—don’t think about taking advantage of me!” Nalan Yaqi turned her head and said warily.

“Haha, I treat you like a brother. Who would want to take advantage of you? Besides, what’s there to take advantage of?” Wang Ye deliberately glanced at Nalan Yaqi’s rather flat chest…

This infuriated Nalan Yaqi, who flailed her arms, trying to “fight to the death” with Wang Ye, but he held her shoulders down, and she couldn’t jump up at all.

“Alright, alright, let’s go sit on the sofa and talk. Aren’t you curious about why your mother and I are doing business together?” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Only then did Nalan Yaqi realize why she always felt like Wang Ye was insulting her when he spoke…

Fuming, she said, “Stop calling her ‘your mother’ all the time! It feels like you’re deliberately insulting me! Call her Aunt Liu!”

“Haha, fine, Aunt Liu… This tourism company is actually something Aunt Liu wanted to do, and she’s the one who pulled me into it,” Wang Ye replied with a laugh.

Pulling Nalan Yaqi to sit on the sofa, he told her everything—how Liu Mei had discussed the tourism company with him during his last trip back to China for the exchange student promotion, and why she had wanted him to join the partnership.

After listening, Nalan Yaqi pouted slightly. “So you’re blackmailing my mother!”

Well…

He couldn’t exactly deny it. Back then, Wang Ye had indeed been a little “extortionate,” making Liu Mei give him quite a few shares.

There was no helping it—his business had just started, and he was desperate for money. Even a small amount was better than nothing, so he had taken so many shares.

If it were now, he probably wouldn’t even bother looking at shares from such a small company…

“Haha, you don’t understand. Without me, your mother—oh, Aunt Liu’s company would only make small profits. But with me involved, she can make big money!” Wang Ye said with a grin.

Hearing that big money was involved, Nalan Yaqi immediately perked up.

She grabbed Wang Ye’s arm and asked eagerly, “Why can she make big money? I heard my mother say it’s just a small travel agency, and it only serves the parents of exchange students in Russia. How many people could there be?”

Wang Ye shook his head and said calmly, “Things have changed. The tourism company in China is going to expand! I haven’t had the chance to discuss this with Aunt Liu yet. When is she coming?”

“She already got her visa, and yesterday she said she was booking her flight. If all goes well, she should be here in the next two or three days,” Nalan Yaqi replied.

Wang Ye nodded. “Alright, when Aunt Liu arrives, let me know. I’ll host a welcome dinner for her, take her out to eat, and we can talk about the tourism company then.”

…

After finishing that topic, Nalan Yaqi didn’t seem to want to leave.

She turned her head and looked around the office curiously. “I remember you bought a stall in the Sun Market. How did you suddenly become the boss here?”

Wang Ye corrected her. “I’m the CEO of the Sun Market Group, which means I’m just a high-level employee, not the boss!”

“That’s basically the same thing. CEO sounds so impressive!” Nalan Yaqi said dismissively.

Wang Ye thought for a moment but decided not to tell her the full story.

So far, very few people knew both that Wang Ye was a Chinese exchange student and that he was the Russian “Mikhail.”

Khovansky, Ivan, Boss Kong, Alyona, his cousin Ruan Xiaozhu.

Oh, maybe Gebrev knew too, but Wang Ye wasn’t sure…

Only these few people knew Wang Ye’s “background.”

Others either only knew his Chinese identity or only his Russian one.

It wasn’t that he was hiding anything—it just wasn’t necessary.

So he vaguely said, “It’s a long story. To put it simply, I’m so talented and handsome that I won over the Sun Market Group’s board of directors. They begged me to become CEO.”

This made Nalan Yaqi laugh so hard her mouth nearly twisted…

But at least he had managed to gloss over the topic, and Nalan Yaqi didn’t press further.

She just curiously asked him, “Your job must pay really well, right? Do you make ten thousand dollars a month? Oh, and I saw Alyona driving a Porsche 911 this morning. She said you bought it for her.”

Wang Ye couldn’t help but laugh and cry. “You really underestimate me! Ten thousand dollars? My annual salary plus bonuses is easily over a million dollars! And yes, I bought that car for her. What’s wrong with buying a car for my girlfriend? It’s not like I can’t afford it.”

Nalan Yaqi’s mouth twitched, and she said sourly, “A million dollars? Oh my god! No wonder you can afford to buy her such an expensive car. I really like it too. How about…”

Wang Ye quickly waved his hands. “No! I treat you like a brother, and you actually want to sleep with me?”

Chapter 191: Any Connections?

Nalan Yaqi was absolutely furious!

Were she and Wang Ye enemies in their past lives? Why did this guy look down on her so much?

She was a beautiful young woman, after all—how could he be so afraid of getting involved with her?

Pfft! She didn’t even want anything to do with him! He was the one with the dirty mind!

“I… I just wanted to say…” she stammered, flushed with embarrassment.

“Don’t say it!” Wang Ye clapped a hand over her mouth. “If we don’t talk about it, we can stay good friends. If you say it and I reject you, things will get awkward between us.”

Nalan Yaqi struggled to pry his hand away, panting and red-faced from the effort.

“You… you’re infuriating! I just wanted to borrow some money to buy a car! Where did your mind go?!”

Wang Ye finally realized his mistake and scratched his head sheepishly. “Heh, my bad. I misunderstood. You want a sports car too? Honestly, those aren’t great for Moscow, especially in winter. You’d be better off with a big SUV. How much do you need?”

“None of your business! How much did Alyona pay for her car?” Nalan Yaqi huffed.

“Uh… around one hundred and sixty or seventy thousand US dollars, I think. Not too expensive.”

“Whoa… that’s so expensive!” Nalan Yaqi gasped.

Wang Ye looked at her fair, delicate face and her glistening almond-shaped eyes. Remembering their relationship in his “past life,” his heart softened.

“Tell you what,” he said with a grin, “I’ll just give you one. We’re brothers, after all!”

Nalan Yaqi’s face lit up, but she quickly shook her head. “No, I can’t accept such an expensive gift. I’ll just buy a cheaper one. One hundred and sixty thousand dollars is way too much—I can’t afford it. Plus, if my mother finds out, she’ll skin me alive.”

Since she refused, Wang Ye didn’t press the issue. He shrugged. “Suit yourself. What kind of car do you want?”

“You’re right, actually. It snows a lot here, so an SUV would be safer. That Toyota you had before was great—so imposing! How much was that?”

Wang Ye thought back to his white Land Cruiser and smiled. “That one was around seventy thousand dollars. If you want it, I’ll sell you mine for twenty thousand.”

Twenty thousand? That was practically giving it away!

Wang Ye had only owned the car for about a month and driven it less than two thousand kilometers…

“What? Why so cheap? Is there something wrong with it?” Nalan Yaqi asked, surprised.

“You… you’re so ungrateful! Forget it, then.”

Wang Ye was speechless. He was just trying to help her out, but she had to question his generosity!

“Hehe, just kidding! Of course I’ll take it! The car’s mine now—I’ll bring the twenty thousand dollars to your place tonight.”

She knew full well that no one else would sell her a car for such a low price.

“Alright, alright. Go downstairs and drive it away. I’ll let the bodyguards know.”

…

After sending Nalan Yaqi off, Wang Ye called in his head of security, Seryosha.

Ever since Anton had taken over as the security manager at the Little Eagle Hotel, the security company had sent over a replacement. Wang Ye still had four bodyguards by his side.

Seryosha and Anton were old comrades, and since Anton had been one of the first assigned to Wang Ye’s security detail, Seryosha had taken over as team leader after his departure.

Like Anton, Seryosha was a towering figure, nearly two meters tall, with a perpetually stern expression that made him seem intimidating. Most people didn’t dare approach him.

“Boss, what are your orders?” Seryosha asked as he entered.

“Go to the Little Eagle Hotel and contact Anton. Get twenty thousand US dollars from finance, then head to a car dealership and see if they have a new Mercedes G-Class like ours. Get one in stock and bring it back directly.”

Wang Ye had sold his white Land Cruiser to Nalan Yaqi, leaving him with only his black Mercedes G-Class—which wasn’t enough.

With Wang Ye and his four bodyguards, that made five people. They could squeeze in, but that would be embarrassing.

Had anyone ever seen a big boss crammed into a car with his bodyguards?

So Wang Ye had Seryosha fetch another car. Naturally, it had to be another G-Class—there was no other option.

From now on, when they went out, it would be two black G-Classes in a row. Now that was style!

Seryosha nodded and left. It was still morning, so if everything went smoothly, the new car should arrive by the time Wang Ye finished work.

Truthfully, a G-Class in Moscow didn’t cost twenty thousand dollars, but Wang Ye had sent Seryosha with that much cash to ensure they could get a car immediately.

With enough money, anything was possible here…

…

After Seryosha left, Wang Ye called in Boss Kong.

Boss Kong quickly entered the office, and Wang Ye got straight to the point. “Have you ever been to a proper casino? Like Las Vegas or Macau?”

Boss Kong hesitated before replying with a smile, “Well… I have, actually. I’ve been to both Macau and Las Vegas, though I only gambled a little.”

Makes sense. If he had been a high roller, he wouldn’t have had the money to invest in the Sun Market…

“Do you know any of the casino owners?” Wang Ye pressed.

“Ah… no, not really. Even if people joke that I’m the richest Chinese person in Russia, my wealth is nothing compared to those casino bosses.”

That was understandable. If he didn’t gamble much and had no business dealings with them, it made sense that he wouldn’t know any casino owners.

Wang Ye nodded. It seemed Boss Kong wasn’t going to be much help. He’d have to find another way.

“By the way, President, why are you asking about this all of a sudden?” Boss Kong asked curiously.

“Because I’m turning that hotel into a comprehensive entertainment center, and it’s going to include a casino.”

Boss Kong was so shocked he stood up abruptly. “You… don’t do anything stupid! The Sun Market can make a lot of money legally—why risk going down that path? If something goes wrong, it’ll be a huge problem!”

He thought Wang Ye was planning to open an underground casino…

Chapter 192: Not Strong Enough Yet

“You’re talking nonsense! Who said anything about opening an underground casino? I have a gambling license—it’s legal!” Wang Ye explained, half-laughing, half-crying.

But this statement had an even greater impact on Boss Kong!

His face filled with astonishment, he asked in disbelief, “A gambling license? Issued by the government? Are you sure?”

“Absolutely! You should know that the Little Eagle Hotel already has a slot machine entertainment hall. I had someone reapply for a full gambling license. From now on, I’ll hold the only gambling license in all of Russia. I also plan to acquire two hotels in St. Petersburg and Crimea, renovating them along with the Little Eagle Hotel into large entertainment centers specifically for foreign tourists to develop the gambling industry. Well, this license does have restrictions—it can’t serve Russian citizens, only foreign tourists,” Wang Ye patiently explained.

The information Wang Ye provided was quite substantial, and Boss Kong took a while to process it.

After confirming that Wang Ye wasn’t joking, Boss Kong was filled with envy…

“Tsk, tsk, a gambling license! That’s a real money-making machine! I think there’s only one like it in all of Eastern Europe. If done right, it’s definitely a gold mine! If I had a gambling license, why would I bother with the Large Market? Sigh…” he said enviously.

“Let’s not talk about making money yet. The key is to get the casino up and running. Right now, I want to partner with veteran gambling kings from Las Vegas or Macau. They can provide skilled personnel to help me establish the operation. In return, I can offer them some shares. After all, acquiring and renovating hotels requires a lot of capital, and I don’t have that much money on hand,” Wang Ye frankly admitted.

This was his plan and the new shareholders and partners he intended to bring into the Little Eagle Hotel!

As long as he could cooperate with the veteran gambling kings from Macau or Las Vegas, with Wang Ye providing the license and venue, and the partners providing capital and skilled personnel, the casino could start operating normally right away.

Wang Ye wasn’t greedy and didn’t plan to go it alone.

Of course, given his current strength, going solo would indeed be quite difficult.

……….

After understanding the situation, Boss Kong started racking his brains, thinking about how he could help Wang Ye.

If he could help while also getting some shares, that would be even better…

After a few seconds, Boss Kong’s eyes suddenly lit up. He slapped his thigh excitedly and said, “I remember! I have an old buddy in Macau right now. He wasn’t doing too well before, but it’s been a few years since we last contacted. I don’t know how he’s doing now. Let me try to get in touch with him and see if he can connect us with the Ho family.”

The Ho family was an absolutely dominant force in Macau, and their family business was gambling…

If they could get in touch with them, then Wang Ye’s problems would clearly no longer be problems.

Wang Ye nodded and said, “Then I’ll trouble you to contact him first. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll try to get in touch with someone in Las Vegas.”

Actually, Wang Ye’s first choice was also the Ho family of Macau. After all, the main guests of his future “entertainment center” would be from Asia.

In this regard, the Ho family had more experience and understood the “preferences” of Asian guests better!

Moreover, many of the staff sent from Macau would speak Chinese, which was something Las Vegas couldn’t match.

“No problem, I’ll definitely handle this properly for you! Foreigners aren’t reliable. It’s better to use people from Macau. After all, most of the future guests will be Chinese tourists,” Boss Kong quickly replied.

……….

Boss Kong went to contact his old buddy, leaving Wang Ye alone in his office.

After some thought, Wang Ye dialed Khovansky’s number.

Wang Ye knew that everything he had now was built on the identity of “Mikhail,” and this identity was given to him by Khovansky!

So, he still needed to rely on Khovansky for now.

Thinking of going solo?

His “wings” weren’t strong enough yet…

The call was quickly answered, and Khovansky’s kind voice came through, “Misha, what’s up?”

“Yes, Uncle. I met with Gebrev last night and talked about some things. I want to discuss these things with you too. When are you available?” Wang Ye got straight to the point.

There was a pause on Khovansky’s end before he said, “Let’s have dinner together tonight at the internal restaurant in the Yukos Building. I’ve been very busy lately and have been staying here. Haha.”

“Alright, I’ll be there around six or seven,” Wang Ye readily agreed.

“Call me when you arrive. I’ll have my secretary come down to meet you.”

……….

In the top-floor office of the Yukos Building, Khovansky put down the phone and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the scenery outside as he fell into deep thought.

Wang Ye’s call had taken him by surprise.

Recently, he had been busy with mergers and acquisitions and hadn’t paid much attention to Wang Ye’s side.

What he knew came from the reports Ivan gave him.

He was very satisfied with Wang Ye’s recent actions, especially how he “handled” the Gokhso gang.

Ivan didn’t know the specifics, and Khovansky naturally didn’t either, but they had some guesses.

Through this matter, his evaluation of Wang Ye had risen another level!

In these “turbulent times,” some ruthless measures were necessary, especially for those who wanted to achieve great things!

It was clear that Wang Ye hadn’t disappointed him. Not only was he smart, but he was also decisive when he needed to be.

He could even say that Wang Ye was much stronger than he was when he first started…

As long as Wang Ye could grow quickly and his loyalty wasn’t an issue, Khovansky could start advancing many of his plans earlier.

But why had he gotten involved with that old fox Gebrev again?

Wang Ye…

What did he really want!

……….

Around five in the afternoon, as employees were getting off work, Alyona came to Wang Ye’s office to ask if he was going home.

Recently, Wang Ye had been busy with matters at the Little Eagle Hotel and hadn’t been going home much, staying at Katya’s place instead.

Alyona naturally understood this, and although she didn’t say anything, it was clear she was a little resentful.

Wang Ye, of course, understood her feelings and said without hesitation, “I have to go meet Uncle Khovansky later. We’re having dinner to discuss some things. I’ll come home right after.”

Hearing this, Alyona’s face lit up with a smile, and she gently said, “Then I’ll wait for you at home.”

The two went downstairs together. Alyona got into her Porsche and drove straight home.

Wang Ye, on the other hand, got into the large G-class Mercedes, preparing to head to the Yukos Building.

In the afternoon, a new black G-class Mercedes had been driven back.

Now, Wang Ye’s fleet consisted of two identical G-class Mercedes, which looked quite impressive…

Chapter 193: He Agreed to Everything

Upon arriving at the Yukos Building, Wang Ye, before getting out of the car, said to Seryosha, who was driving, “You can all clock out now. Just leave me a car. I’ll drive myself home after I’m done with my business.”

Seryosha nodded, turned off the engine, and handed the car keys to Wang Ye before walking toward the car behind them.

Wang Ye sat in the car and called Khovansky to let him know he had arrived.

Within minutes, Khovansky’s secretary appeared at the entrance of the building.

Spotting Wang Ye’s car, she waved toward him. Wang Ye got out and walked over.

Strangely enough, Khovansky’s secretary wasn’t some stunning beauty but rather a middle-aged “auntie” in her forties.

Of course, unlike the traditional Russian babushka, this “auntie” was quite elegant and well-preserved, with a good figure.

Upon seeing Wang Ye, the female secretary’s face lit up with a warm smile. She spread her arms and gave him an enthusiastic hug.

“Misha, Mr. Khovansky is waiting for you in the restaurant. Come with me.”

Following the secretary, they took the elevator to the fifth-floor restaurant.

Although it was an employee cafeteria, the interior was quite luxurious—after all, it was an energy giant, and employee benefits were not an issue.

Entering a private room, Khovansky was sitting alone, seemingly on a call with someone.

Seeing Wang Ye enter, he nodded, signaling for Wang Ye to find a seat.

The secretary left, closing the door behind her.

…

Bored, Wang Ye took a look around the small private room.

It seemed ordinary, not as luxurious as the Turandot Restaurant, and not very large—about twenty or thirty square meters.

Khovansky finished his call with a few more words, then hung up. Smiling at Wang Ye, he said, “What would you like to eat? The Turkish kebabs here are quite authentic. Would you like to try some?”

With that, he pressed the call button, summoning a waiter.

Wang Ye didn’t care much about what he ate—after all, eating was just a side note; the main purpose was to discuss business.

He casually replied, “Sure, I love kebabs. A beer to go with it would be even better.”

Kebabs with beer—this was Wang Ye’s favorite meal during his recent school days.

Khovansky gave the waiter a few instructions before waving him away, leaving only the two of them in the private room.

Seemingly offhandedly, he asked, “You mentioned on the phone that you met with Gebrev?”

Wang Ye nodded and candidly replied, “Yes, yesterday I took the initiative to meet with Mr. Gebrev. I invited him to dinner at Turandot because I needed his help with a couple of things.”

“Oh? What kind of things required his help?” Khovansky asked with interest.

“Two things, actually. First, upgrading the gambling license for the Little Eagle Hotel. From now on, the hotel will be able to offer all forms of gambling, shifting its main business from accommodation and dining to gambling and entertainment. Second, I wanted to apply for exclusive import clearance rights for certain categories of light industrial products—essentially legalizing the gray-market clearance currently happening at the Large Market.” Wang Ye said with a modest smile.

After listening, Khovansky’s face broke into a smile.

Shaking his head, he said, “You really have some nerve! How dare you make such requests? And to that old fox Gebrev, no less. I’m curious—what was his expression when he heard your demands? Haha…”

Khovansky assumed Gebrev had rejected Wang Ye’s requests, which was why Wang Ye had come to him, hoping he could help.

But…

These two requests were indeed quite bold. Even he wasn’t sure he could pull them off.

Wang Ye’s expression turned odd. After a pause, he said, “Gebrev agreed without hesitation.”

Khovansky’s smile froze instantly. He stared blankly at Wang Ye for a moment, as if he couldn’t believe his ears.

“So… I find it strange too. I don’t know why he agreed so readily. The more I thought about it after I got back, the more uneasy I felt. That’s why I called you today, Uncle, to ask for your opinion.” Wang Ye spread his hands helplessly.

In truth, he wasn’t entirely clueless about the reason!

But in front of Khovansky, Wang Ye couldn’t voice his suspicions, so he put on an innocent, confused expression…

Khovansky furrowed his brows, questioning, “He agreed to both of your requests? No conditions?”

“Not exactly. For the gambling license, there are restrictions—Russian citizens aren’t allowed in, only foreign tourists can gamble.” Wang Ye explained.

“Ah, that makes sense. With that restriction, things become much simpler. By the way, was that condition his idea?” Khovansky suddenly realized.

“No, I suggested it myself. If I hadn’t thought of that, I wouldn’t have dared to bring it up.” Wang Ye laughed.

Khovansky’s eyes lit up, and he praised repeatedly, “You even thought of that? You’ve got quite the clever mind, haha. But what about the exclusive rights? Did he really agree to that?”

Although Khovansky wasn’t very familiar with customs clearance, he understood how much “shady business” was involved. This concerned the customs department and a whole group of vested interests!

Would those people be happy if Wang Ye got the rights?

Was Gebrev really willing to offend so many people for Wang Ye’s sake?

Wang Ye also furrowed his brows, troubled, and said, “That’s the problem! I originally thought that if I proposed two conditions, Uncle Gebrev wouldn’t refuse both, right? Even for the sake of face, he’d help me out. Clearly, the gambling license was the easier one to obtain. So, my goal in meeting him yesterday was just to get the gambling license—that would have been a success. But I never expected him to agree to everything!”

This was half-truth, half-lie.

Since he had made these requests, and they were all things Wang Ye currently needed, of course he wanted to achieve them all.

But honestly, before meeting Gebrev yesterday, Wang Ye hadn’t really thought he could succeed in everything. He had indeed thought that getting the gambling license would be good enough…

Khovansky was also confused. He looked at Wang Ye, full of doubt, and asked, “After the villa incident, how many times have you met?”

He was suspecting whether there was some kind of “deal” between Wang Ye and Gebrev…

“After that day at the villa, yesterday was the first time we met. We haven’t even called each other!” Wang Ye hastily swore.

“Then why? Could it be that Gebrev really thinks highly of you and wants to give you a boost?” Khovansky muttered.

It wasn’t impossible. The reason Khovansky treated Wang Ye so well wasn’t just because of his “lifesaving grace” but also because Wang Ye’s business talent had left him quite impressed!

That was why he had given Wang Ye a big enough stage to see how far he could go.

He even considered grooming Wang Ye as his successor…

Chapter 194: The One Thing We Don’t Lack Is Money

Khovansky studied Wang Ye again, wondering if he had underestimated him.

Even Gebrev, that old fox, was deeply “interested” in Wang Ye. He was willing to expend enormous effort, even risking offense to many, just to help Wang Ye.

Clearly, Gebrev believed Wang Ye was worth such an “investment”!

Could Gebrev also be trying to snatch Wang Ye away, to pull him into the great emperor’s camp?

That would explain why he was going to such lengths to win Wang Ye over!

It wasn’t impossible…

…

“Uncle, what’s wrong?” Wang Ye asked awkwardly, feeling a little uneasy under Khovansky’s gaze.

“Oh, nothing,” Khovansky chuckled. “If Gebrev is willing to help you, that’s a good thing. Why worry? But let me remind you—don’t touch politics, at least not now! In this country, if you want to play in that arena, you need overwhelming strength first. Otherwise, you’ll be swallowed whole, bones and all!”

Wang Ye quickly replied, “Of course! Right now, I’m focused on managing the Sun Market Group and the Little Eagle Hotel. That’s already enough to keep me busy. Why would I get involved in politics?”

Khovansky nodded in satisfaction. “I’m not trying to hold you back,” he said kindly. “When the time is right, I’ll let you see what politics is really about. But not now. The timing isn’t ripe yet. Hah!”

Wang Ye’s heart stirred. Politics?

He had never even considered that path!

Keeping his composure, he said, “I’ll follow your lead, Uncle. If you think it’s necessary, I’ll do it. But right now, I’ve got enough problems to deal with. I don’t have time to think about anything else.”

“What kind of difficulties?” Khovansky asked. “Tell me. Maybe I can help.”

Just then, the door opened, and two servers in crisp white uniforms wheeled in a cart with their meals. The food was simple—traditional Russian fare.

Borscht, potato and meat salad, roasted meat with fries and pickles, slices of white bread, and craft beer.

The only expensive dish was the black caviar, one serving each—but Wang Ye didn’t even like the stuff.

Still, the food looked and smelled delicious.

…

After the servers left, the two ate and talked.

When the topic turned to his difficulties, Wang Ye explained the issues with the Little Eagle Hotel.

It all came down to manpower and money. Not only did he need to renovate the Little Eagle Hotel, but he also had to acquire two more large hotels in St. Petersburg and Crimea. All of that required funds!

Where was he supposed to get that kind of money?

His salary from the Sun Market Group had already been advanced—he had taken out five hundred thousand dollars just to deal with Song Xiao Gang’s situation.

As for dividends, it was too early, and the market hadn’t generated much profit yet.

The Little Eagle Hotel’s accounts had a million or two, but that wasn’t nearly enough—he still had to pay the staff!

He could bring in new investors to solve the financial problem, but Wang Ye had his concerns.

If he didn’t contribute a single cent, relying only on the gambling license and the existing Little Eagle Hotel, his share in the soon-to-be-formed gambling group would likely be minimal.

He couldn’t afford to let new investors take over!

That was the last thing he wanted.

So, the best solution was still to secure some of the funding himself. He couldn’t put all his hopes on new investors!

That way, he’d have more leverage in negotiations.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

After listening, Khovansky pondered for a moment before saying, “I can’t help much with manpower. I don’t know anyone in the gambling industry. But if you really have no other options, I can ask my friends in America to help make some connections.”

Wang Ye quickly replied, “No need to trouble you, Uncle. I already have some leads. I should be able to connect with Macau.”

Khovansky nodded. “Good. Macau’s gambling industry is well-developed, and they’d be a good fit for you. As for money, that’s simple. How much do you need?”

“Well, including the hotel acquisitions and renovations, I’d say around two hundred million dollars. But I don’t need to cover all of it myself—I plan to bring in new investors. So, fifty million as a base should be enough.”

Khovansky waved it off. “I’ll lend you two hundred million. No interest. Just pay it back within three years. Bringing in new investors is fine, but what matters is whether they can actually help your business, not just whether they have money. Because, my boy, the one thing we don’t lack is money!”

The statement was bold, but coming from Khovansky, it sounded perfectly natural. Wang Ye didn’t doubt it for a second.

This was the head of Yukos, after all—a company whose oil production accounted for over sixty percent of Russia’s total output!

The man’s wealth was beyond measure.

Wang Ye was stunned. Two hundred million dollars!

Yet to Khovansky, it seemed like nothing at all!

Even though it wasn’t a gift, a three-year, interest-free loan was an enormous favor.

Truly, this “generous uncle” treated his “nephew” well…

…

“Thank you, Uncle. I… I feel a little unworthy,” Wang Ye said gratefully.

Khovansky smiled and waved his hand. “You’ve earned my investment. Work hard. I won’t let you down. There’s a bigger future waiting for you. Don’t lose your way over petty gains.”

His words carried a deeper meaning—a reminder to Wang Ye not to forget who had given him everything he now had.

Wang Ye understood. He immediately pounded his chest and promised, “Don’t worry, Uncle. I know what I should and shouldn’t do. You’ll see—I won’t disappoint you!”

Satisfied, Khovansky nodded. “Eat up. Afterward, go rest. I’ve got a meeting tonight, so I can’t chat with you all day. Hah!”

Wang Ye devoured his meal, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and stood to leave.

Only after getting into the car downstairs did he finally let out a long breath.

Chapter 195: Have You and He…? (Happy New Year)

Wang Ye had carefully considered his decision to seek out Khovansky today.

It was clear that Gebrev had ulterior motives toward him. And those motives certainly weren’t his so-called “business talent.” No, they were aimed at his identity as Khovansky’s “nephew.”

In the eyes of someone at Gebrev’s level, Wang Ye was insignificant. His target could only be an oligarch like Khovansky!

Khovansky, on the other hand, also had some “use” for him.

But compared to Gebrev, his intentions were far “purer.” There was a genuine bond between them, after all—Wang Ye had saved Khovansky’s life!

Even if both were “using” him, there was a difference.

The difference was that Gebrev might “discard” him after using him!

Khovansky, however, wanted to cultivate him into a capable assistant, even a successor!

Provided, of course, that Khovansky continued to trust him and Wang Ye didn’t betray him…

With this comparison, Wang Ye’s choice was simple.

He should align himself with Khovansky and avoid offending Gebrev.

But there was a major problem—Wang Ye knew the “historical trends.” He was certain that Khovansky’s good days were numbered, and in the future, Russia would belong to the great emperor!

This left Wang Ye in a dilemma—no matter which side he chose, there would be issues…

The solution Wang Ye ultimately came up with was to “forge his own strength.” For now, he still needed to rely on Khovansky and seize the time to develop his own power!

Only with sufficient strength could he protect himself when facing any “storms” in the future.

If, within a few years, his strength could rival Khovansky’s, would it matter whether he took over or not?

If his status could match that of an oligarch like Khovansky, would Gebrev still look down on him?

Of course, achieving this would be extremely difficult!

But Wang Ye felt he still had a chance. Forget being a “chosen one” or a “reincarnated soul”—just his current identity and platform, if managed well, held infinite possibilities!

The delicate relationship between Khovansky and the great emperor gave Wang Ye the perfect opportunity to play both sides, each trying to win him over, which also gave him a chance to grow rapidly!

The past few days were proof of this!

From Gebrev, Wang Ye had obtained a full gambling license and the potential exclusive rights to import light industrial goods!

From Khovansky, he had secured a two-hundred-million-dollar interest-free loan and even deeper trust…

The next period—whether two to three years or just one to two—would be Wang Ye’s golden time to develop his strength!

Because once the conflict between Khovansky and the great emperor intensified or became public, Wang Ye would have to make a “choice”…

Before that moment arrived, Wang Ye needed to grow into a “chess player”!

Not just a “pawn,” or even a “sacrificial piece”…

…

Liu Mei arrived earlier than expected.

Just four days after she called Nalan Yaqi to say she was coming to Moscow—and three days after Wang Ye found out—she was here…

On the afternoon of May 28th, as Wang Ye was finishing work and preparing to leave, he received a call from Nalan Yaqi.

“Hey, Wang Ye, are you free tonight?”

“Not busy. What’s up?” Wang Ye replied.

“Then let’s have dinner together. My mom’s here—I’m at the airport picking her up. The plane should land soon.”

Wang Ye checked the time—it was just past five in the afternoon—and said, “I’ll arrange the place. You know Turandot Restaurant, right? We’ll eat there tonight. I’ll book a room first. Alyona and I will head over early. Once you pick up your mom, just go straight to the restaurant.”

“Got it. See you tonight,” Nalan Yaqi agreed readily.

After hanging up, Nalan Yaqi stood on her tiptoes, craning her neck to look around.

She was at the international arrivals exit. According to the sign, her mother’s flight should have already landed.

A few more minutes passed, and Nalan Yaqi’s eyes lit up. She spotted her mother pulling a small suitcase toward the exit.

Waving her arms, she called out, “Mom!”

Liu Mei heard her daughter’s voice and quickened her pace, the two embracing as they met.

“Let’s go. I drove here. We’ll go straight to dinner—Wang Ye’s treating. Time to eat like royalty, hehe,” Nalan Yaqi said with a laugh.

Liu Mei felt a little uneasy. “Oh, why bother him? Don’t you have a place? We could just eat something simple at your apartment.”

“It’s fine! You don’t know—he’s made a fortune lately! If I don’t let him treat us to a big meal, I won’t feel right,” Nalan Yaqi said, already taking her mother’s suitcase and heading out.

Her car was parked not far away on the side of the road. They reached it in just a few steps.

“You borrowed this car?” Liu Mei asked curiously, eyeing the white Land Cruiser.

“Hehe, I bought it!” Nalan Yaqi said proudly.

Her mother’s car wasn’t this nice, so of course she was proud…

“You… where did you get so much money? This car isn’t cheap. Even in Moscow, it’s got to be over a hundred thousand dollars,” Liu Mei said in surprise.

She knew Nalan Yaqi had invested in Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company and received a substantial dividend. Nalan Yaqi had told her about it at the time.

Liu Mei hadn’t made her “hand it over,” just told her to save the money and not waste it recklessly.

But that money shouldn’t have been enough to buy this car, and it looked brand new—not like a used one.

“This car was only twenty thousand dollars—used! Oh, I bought it from Wang Ye. It was half-sold, half-given. He’d only had it for a month, and it cost him seventy or eighty thousand when he bought it,” Nalan Yaqi replied with a grin.

She opened the car door and got into the driver’s seat, while Liu Mei sat in the passenger seat.

But as soon as Liu Mei sat down, she nervously grabbed Nalan Yaqi’s arm and asked, “You little… you and Wang Ye haven’t… you know, done that, have you?”

Nalan Yaqi looked at her strangely. “What do you mean by ‘that’? Just say it.”

“Oh! I mean, have you two slept together? Otherwise, why would he sell you the car so cheaply?” Liu Mei asked worriedly.

Chapter 196: That Deadbeat Dad (Happy New Year)

Nalan Yaqi’s face flushed slightly, clearly having understood what her mother was implying.

“Oh, you… that’s not it at all! Wang Ye and I are… we’re brothers! Isn’t it normal for brothers to help each other? That guy Wang Ye got rich and didn’t want this car anymore, so he sold it to me at a good price.”

She was recalling what Wang Ye had told her a couple of days ago, using it to fend off her mother’s questions.

Liu Mei looked at her suspiciously, as if trying to determine whether Nalan Yaqi was lying.

After staring at her for a while, she finally said, “You’re not lying to me, are you?”

“No!” Nalan Yaqi replied firmly.

She wasn’t lying to Liu Mei. In fact, she had wanted something to happen with Wang Ye, but the problem was that Wang Ye was pretending to be “reserved.” She had given him several chances, but he just wasn’t up to it!

Thinking about this, Nalan Yaqi gritted her teeth in frustration…

Hearing Nalan Yaqi’s firm denial, Liu Mei finally let out a sigh of relief, patting her chest. “Good, good, as long as there’s nothing going on!”

Nalan Yaqi found it a bit amusing and asked, “Mom, do you have a problem with Wang Ye? Why do you seem so afraid of me having any kind of relationship with him?”

Liu Mei sighed deeply and said earnestly, “I don’t have any problem with Wang Ye! On the contrary, after interacting with him, I feel that he’s the most outstanding young man I’ve ever seen in your age group!”

“Huh? Then why were you acting like that earlier?” Nalan Yaqi asked in surprise.

“Sigh!”

Liu Mei sighed heavily again, her voice bitter. “He is outstanding, but for girls, he might not be a good boyfriend, let alone a good husband or father! I don’t want you to end up like your mother…”

At this, both mother and daughter fell silent.

After a while, Nalan Yaqi finally spoke up. “I… where did Dad go? Why have you never told me?”

Liu Mei remained silent for a while before finally speaking.

“You’re grown up now, so it’s fine to tell you.

Your father was like Wang Ye when he was young—handsome and outstanding, and many girls liked him.

Unfortunately, men like that aren’t content with ordinary lives. When I was just pregnant with you, he got an opportunity to go abroad and left without a second thought.

That heartless man didn’t even consider how hard it would be for me to raise you alone!

What’s worse, his opportunity to go abroad was given by the country, but to stay overseas, he just disappeared…

No one could contact him again, and no one knows what he’s doing now.

Maybe…

He’s dead!”

Clearly, saying he was dead was just Liu Mei’s angry outburst.

But Liu Mei truly hated him…

Nalan Yaqi didn’t know how to evaluate such a father.

After a while, she finally said, “Wang Ye… is still better than him, right?”

Liu Mei looked at her with a half-smile and asked in return, “Wang Ye is even more handsome and outstanding than your deadbeat dad! And he has a relationship with that Russian girl… what’s her name… Alyona! They must be involved, right? Think about it—Wang Ye is only eighteen, and he’s already messing around! How could I possibly entrust my daughter to someone like him?”

Liu Mei had been through it all before. At the study abroad promotion event, she had already noticed that the relationship between Wang Ye and Alyona was “unusual.”

Nalan Yaqi had nothing to say. To be honest, she also found Wang Ye’s “playboy” ways quite distasteful…

She could only mutter, “Whether he’s messing around or not has nothing to do with me. After all, he and I are just… just friends.”

“I’m telling you, don’t get any closer to Wang Ye! He’s great as a friend, but as a partner, he’d be a disaster!” Liu Mei warned her.

“Got it, got it. You’re not even in menopause yet, so why are you nagging so much…”

Muttering under her breath, Nalan Yaqi started the car and drove toward the city.

…

At the Turandot Restaurant, Wang Ye and Alyona were already seated in a reserved private room, having ordered the food in advance. They were just waiting for Nalan Yaqi and her mother to arrive before they could start eating.

“Why did Aunt Liu suddenly come over?” Alyona asked curiously.

She knew Liu Mei as well. The last time she had accompanied Wang Ye back to China for the promotion event, she had interacted with Liu Mei.

“We’re partners in a travel company, remember? She came to check out the travel routes and also to see Nalan Yaqi,” Wang Ye replied casually.

“Oh, right, why did your Little Eagle Hotel close down? Business was good, wasn’t it?” Alyona suddenly remembered and asked.

Wang Ye hadn’t told Alyona about the gambling license in detail yet.

Since they were waiting for the others and had nothing to do, he decided to tell her everything.

“Moscow, St. Petersburg, Crimea—this is the golden travel route I want to create. Are there any hotels in your hometown that would be suitable for me to buy? They need to be large enough, not too tall, preferably with a podium building,” Wang Ye finally said.

Alyona was both shocked and delighted. She was shocked that Wang Ye’s business had taken another big step forward—he had quietly obtained a full gambling license!

She was delighted because Wang Ye’s words implied that he wanted to develop tourism in her hometown…

Alyona was very confident in the scenery of her hometown, Yalta. In the past, this city had been a tourist hotspot during the Soviet era!

But after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the political situation became unstable, and people’s savings were wiped out. They could barely maintain their daily lives, let alone go on vacations…

So Yalta had gradually declined.

If a large amount of capital were invested to redevelop Yalta’s tourism industry, it was obvious that the city would undergo a dramatic transformation!

She frowned and thought for a while before replying, “There used to be many sanatoriums and the like, but most of them were state-owned. Privately owned hotels have basically all gone out of business. There really aren’t any hotels as large as the Little Eagle Hotel anymore.”

This was understandable. After all, Yalta’s tourism industry had long been in decline, and there weren’t many tourists. The hotel industry wasn’t doing well, so there couldn’t be any large hotels.

Wang Ye frowned. He could buy land and build one himself, but that would take too much time. From purchasing the land to designing, planning, approvals, construction, and decoration, the whole process would take at least two or three years.

For him, time was of the essence!

Because who knew what the situation would be in two or three years? Maybe by then, he would already be forced to choose sides.

If he was unlucky, he might even have to start “exiling” himself overseas…

By then, what use would a newly built hotel be?

So he just wanted to quickly buy an existing large hotel, renovate it, and start operating. While the environment was still relatively relaxed, he wanted to make a fortune…

Chapter 197: We’re Going Big (Happy New Year)

“Oh, right, when I was there last time, wasn’t there some kind of palace by the sea? I saw it was closed, not open to the public, but the building was quite large,” Wang Ye suddenly remembered.

“Oh, you mean the building next to where we had coffee with Natalia? That’s Livadia Palace, the summer residence of the last Tsar, Nicholas II. It’s quite famous. The Yalta Conference was held there,” Alyona replied.

“That’s it! Livadia Palace. I think it would be great to buy this place and turn it into a hotel,” Wang Ye said excitedly.

“Ah? But… this belongs to the state,” Alyona was stunned.

Of course, the “state” she referred to was still “Ukraine,” since Crimea was still nominally part of Ukraine.

“That’s even better. Maybe we can get it at a better price,” Wang Ye said dismissively.

Alyona didn’t understand, but Wang Ye knew all too well!

These days, in these Eastern European countries, buying something from a private individual might not be cheap.

But buying from the state? As long as the right “connections” were “greased,” it was absolutely a matter of paying the money and getting the goods…

And the process was especially simple, the sale especially swift!

“That… if we could buy Livadia Palace, it would indeed be suitable for the kind of hotel you want. I played there many times as a child. The palace has four floors, with two lower floors including a mezzanine, covering a large area that could be turned into a casino and restaurant. The upper two floors are bedrooms that could be converted into guest rooms,” Alyona clearly thought it was quite suitable.

“Mmm, I’ll have someone look into it later. Oh, Crimea is autonomous, right? We just need to negotiate with the local management,” Wang Ye asked.

“No need to go through all that trouble. I’ll call Natalia and have her help ask around. She works there and is more familiar with it,” Alyona said.

Wang Ye was now developing Crimea’s tourism resources, which she naturally welcomed, as it would make her hometown better.

Speaking of Natalia, Wang Ye felt a bit of a headache…

That girl, he didn’t know what kind of education she had received, but her thinking was too “unique.”

In this day and age, she still dreamed of “restoring” the Tsarist era and was extremely xenophobic!

If she knew that he had now transformed into a “Russian,” what kind of expression would she have…

But since Alyona wanted her to help ask around, it didn’t matter. He would just have her inquire first; it wouldn’t take much time.

So Wang Ye nodded to indicate it was fine.

…

As they were chatting, the door to the private room was knocked, and a maid brought in Nalan Yaqi and Liu Mei.

Wang Ye and Alyona both stood up, smiling as they welcomed Liu Mei to Moscow.

Everyone sat down, and Alyona called the maid to start serving the dishes.

“The travel company in China has been registered. I came this time to take a look. When I go back, I can choose a location and start the company. Taking advantage of the Russian language training class at the Normal University, I can promote it to those parents and see how many tourists I can get,” Liu Mei said with a smile.

She had indeed been busy with the company registration in China recently. After all, it was cross-border tourism, and the procedures were quite cumbersome.

After finally getting the procedures done, she hurried over to conduct an on-site inspection and prepare to start the business.

Liu Mei was waiting for Wang Ye to praise her for her efficiency, but Wang Ye suddenly said, “Oh, there have been some changes. Don’t rush to establish the company in China.”

This made Liu Mei anxious.

She had gone through so much trouble to get it done, and now Wang Ye was saying there were changes?

Could it be that this kid wanted to monopolize the market and kick her out…

“You… that’s not what we agreed on,” she said urgently.

“Hehe, don’t worry, Aunt Liu. It’s a good change because I plan to expand the tourism business! The original plan was too small-scale and can’t keep up with the changes, so I’m telling you not to rush to establish the company,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Hearing that it was a good change, Liu Mei’s eyes lit up because this meant more revenue and bigger profits!

She couldn’t help but grab Wang Ye’s arm and ask hurriedly, “What changes? Tell me quickly.”

“A few days ago, I just got a gambling license! Do you know what a gambling license is, Aunt Liu?” Wang Ye asked with a smile.

Hearing this, Liu Mei’s hand trembled, and her body felt as if it had been electrified, tingling all over…

Gambling license…

Could it be like the gambling licenses in Macau or Las Vegas…

Before she could ask, Wang Ye nodded and continued:

“Yes, that’s exactly what you’re thinking.

At the same time, here in Moscow, I already have a large hotel that’s about to be renovated and turned into a high-end casino!

It might not be as grand as the famous casinos in Macau or Las Vegas, but it’s not far off.

Also, I plan to acquire large hotels in St. Petersburg and Crimea and turn them into casinos as well!

In the future, starting from China, landing in Moscow, then to St. Petersburg, and finally Crimea.

This will be a golden tourism route!

So, the original plan needs to be scrapped and redone. This time, we’re going big!”

Wang Ye’s words not only stunned Liu Mei but also left Nalan Yaqi dumbfounded.

Because neither of them knew Wang Ye very well…

Nalan Yaqi was a bit better off, knowing that Wang Ye was now the president of the Sun Market Group, with a net worth of hundreds of millions, a standard “tycoon”!

But she had never associated Wang Ye with “gambling licenses” or “big casinos.”

After all, in her impression, those who could open big casinos were true power players, underworld bosses who could take lives with a word…

Liu Mei was even more shocked. She thought Wang Ye was bragging, and bragging to the heavens!

To be honest, in the capital, she had seen many people who loved to brag, and Wang Ye wasn’t the most outrageous.

After all, the men in the capital all claimed to be descendants of the Plain Yellow Banner, eight-banner nobles, with family connections to various department leaders or even the “Elders’ Council”…

Compared to them, Wang Ye’s “brag” was quite moderate…

But this kid hadn’t even had a drink yet, and he was already talking “nonsense”?

“You… you’re joking, right? I don’t have such high aspirations. As long as I can run this small travel company well and make some money, I’m satisfied. What big casinos and such have nothing to do with us. Also, you’re abroad; it’s different from China. Don’t go down the wrong path,” Liu Mei earnestly advised.

A new year has arrived. Wishing everyone a smooth 2022!

Chapter 198: A Significant Mother-Daughter Divide

Wang Ye and Liu Mei spoke in Chinese, so Alyona naturally couldn’t understand. She simply smiled and watched him without interrupting.

Nalan Yaqi, however, understood perfectly.

Though she didn’t know how Wang Ye had obtained the gambling license, she had far more “confidence” in him than Liu Mei did.

She chimed in, “Mother, you don’t even know the full story yet. Don’t jump to conclusions. Wang Ye might have gotten the license through legitimate channels. With his current wealth, he wouldn’t need to mess around with underground gambling, would he?”

Liu Mei frowned, irritated. “What do you know? Russia doesn’t have any legitimate gambling licenses! I’ve never heard of any legal casinos here. Even the big Russian business tycoons and oligarchs can’t pull that off. Do you really think some Chinese guy like Wang Ye could manage it?”

That shut Nalan Yaqi up. Her mother’s logic was undeniable.

Russia had countless business magnates and oligarchs, yet no one had ever secured a legitimate gambling license. Clearly, the hurdles were enormous—perhaps even legally impossible.

Wang Ye smiled faintly, unhurried. “I… did it. The license is legal, and it’s the only one in Russia.”

Liu Mei fell silent.

She didn’t know what to say. She still didn’t believe him, but pressing the issue would just make her seem argumentative.

After all, they were business partners. Her travel agency relied on Wang Ye’s study abroad agency to expand its market, so she didn’t want to offend him.

If he liked to boast…

Then let him boast.

Wang Ye glanced at Liu Mei, sensing her lingering doubt. He sighed, “Believe it or not, it’s the truth. Everything we discuss next will be based on this fact.”

Liu Mei’s guard went up. “You’re not thinking of asking me to invest more, are you? I’ve already poured a lot into this little travel agency. I can’t afford any more.”

She scoffed inwardly.

Just as I thought. First, he brags, then he tries to get me to invest more.

At the end of the day, it was all about money.

By now, her opinion of Wang Ye had plummeted. Such a promising young man—if only he’d stuck to honest business, he could’ve made a fortune.

But no, he had to take shortcuts and go down the wrong path.

She was on high alert, but Nalan Yaqi perked up at the word “investment.”

“Ye Ge, your new business needs investors? That’s perfect! Count me in! I’ve got a few tens of thousands of dollars—I’ll put it all in!”

She had tasted success from her previous investment in Qingyun Service Company.

Now, at the prospect of another opportunity, she couldn’t contain her excitement. She wished she could hand over every penny in her account right then and there.

Last time, she’d invested a few thousand dollars and seen a tenfold return in just two or three months—and that was only the first dividend. Future payouts would only grow.

Such staggering returns meant that if she invested tens of thousands this time, she might never have to worry about money again. She could just sit back and collect profits.

Liu Mei’s heart sank. She shot Nalan Yaqi a furious glare. “Do you even know what kind of business this is? Stop meddling!”

“I don’t care what it is, as long as it makes money. Following Ye Ge is a sure bet—I’m confident about that,” Nalan Yaqi said carelessly, grinning.

Liu Mei was so furious she wanted to twist her daughter’s ear—but with Wang Ye and Alyona present, she restrained herself.

Clearly, mother and daughter had a massive divide in their trust for Wang Ye.

It made sense. Nalan Yaqi had spent more time with him. Though she didn’t know everything about him, she knew far more than Liu Mei did.

Plus, she had personally benefited from Wang Ye’s ventures, so she trusted him unconditionally.

Liu Mei, on the other hand, had barely interacted with him. She only knew what she’d heard from her daughter and the domestic promotion event. She hadn’t gained anything from him, so her trust was limited, and she remained cautious.

…

Seeing Liu Mei and Nalan Yaqi nearly at each other’s throats over him, Wang Ye rubbed his temples in frustration. “Alright, alright. Neither of you needs to invest. Not you, Aunt Liu, and not you, Yaqi.”

Nalan Yaqi pouted. “Why don’t you want my money?”

“Because this investment is too big! Neither of you can afford it,” Wang Ye said bluntly.

Nalan Yaqi fell silent. She realized that if Wang Ye considered the investment too large, the amount must be astronomical. Her measly tens of thousands wouldn’t make a dent.

But Liu Mei wasn’t convinced. She smirked. “Oh? How big are we talking? Let me hear it—enlighten me.”

“Two hundred million. US dollars,” Wang Ye said casually.

Liu Mei’s jaw dropped. She didn’t speak for a long time.

Nalan Yaqi gave up entirely. Two hundred million dollars was indeed a massive investment. Her few tens of thousands were nothing in comparison.

“You… you’ve got some nerve! Two hundred million dollars… do you even know how much that is? Where are you going to get that kind of money? You really think someone would invest that much in you?” Liu Mei shook her head in disbelief.

“I’m not raising funds. I already have the money. Next, I’ll acquire a suitable hotel and renovate it. The real challenge is finding skilled staff. Running a casino isn’t like running a hotel—it requires professionals. I’ve already asked a friend to reach out to the Ho family in Macau. If all goes well, we’ll start implementing soon,” Wang Ye explained seriously.

He wasn’t trying to deceive Liu Mei. Once the business was up and running, he planned to have her handle domestic operations.

She was sharp and capable, and as Nalan Yaqi’s mother, he could trust her.

That’s why he’d taken the opportunity during their meal to give her some insight.

Chapter 199: Hard to Believe

Hearing Wang Ye say that two hundred million dollars were already in place and no further investment was needed, Liu Mei and Nalan Yaqi wanted to be “shocked” again.

Unfortunately, perhaps they had been shocked too many times tonight—they were starting to feel numb.

They just couldn’t muster any more surprise…

“Money… two hundred million dollars already in the account? Where did you get so much money?” Nalan Yaqi asked, eyes wide.

She truly couldn’t imagine what two hundred million dollars meant…

If it were in a bank card, the number of zeros would be too many to count!

If she were to buy clothes and bags, wouldn’t she be able to “book the entire store” for all those luxury boutiques?

“Oh, an acquaintance supports me. Knowing I needed money for this, they gave me two hundred million dollars to use. Don’t misunderstand—it’s not a gift. I’ll have to pay it back later. Think of it as an interest-free loan,” Wang Ye replied casually, though he didn’t reveal Khovansky’s identity.

Liu Mei was astonished.

An “acquaintance”?

Even a biological father might not go this far!

This was two hundred million dollars!

And interest-free…

Just thinking about it made it clear how enormous this favor was. If two hundred million dollars were deposited in a bank, even at a modest five percent interest, that would be ten million dollars a year in interest alone!

Using this money for several years would be like receiving tens of millions of dollars for free…

…

But since Wang Ye didn’t specify who this “acquaintance” was, Liu Mei naturally wouldn’t pry and make things awkward.

She was more concerned with other questions and asked, “Are you really planning to invest this money in the gambling industry? If so, then the gambling license and acquiring hotels—all of that is real?”

Wang Ye spread his hands helplessly. “I’ve always been serious. It’s you, Aunt Liu, who thought I was joking.”

Liu Mei’s face reddened slightly. Indeed, as Wang Ye said, she had been the one doubting him all along.

“Then… what are you planning to do in China?” she quickly changed the subject.

Wang Ye thought for a moment and sincerely replied, “I’ll handle things here, but it will take some time. After all, the acquired hotels need renovations—they aren’t suitable for casinos as they are. In China, I’ll also invest heavily in nationwide advertising to build our reputation!”

Clearly, with Wang Ye involved in gambling licenses and hundreds of millions of dollars in investments, the small tourism company Liu Mei ran couldn’t possibly handle the “heavy responsibility” of attracting tourists.

It couldn’t be limited to just the parents of Russian students in those two regions…

They would have to promote nationwide, pulling in tourists from all over the country.

So, when Wang Ye said he wanted to “go all out,” there was absolutely no doubt about it!

Liu Mei grimaced. Nationwide advertising…

This was indeed playing on a large scale!

She truly didn’t have this capability. Was she about to be kicked out of the game?

She asked ingratiatingly, “Then… Wang Ye, what do you think I should do to cooperate with you?”

Since she didn’t need to spend her own money and could still participate in such a big business, Liu Mei certainly didn’t want to miss out!

“You can go back and talk to those large travel agencies, see if you can affiliate the company with them, and work together on this tourism route. Of course, we’re just using their channels and customer base. As for the domestic promotion costs, I can cover them,” Wang Ye said methodically.

Liu Mei nodded repeatedly, committing Wang Ye’s words to memory.

This was the feeling of having deep pockets!

“No problem! For tourism, China Travel Service is the biggest. I’ll go talk to them when I get back—I have friends working there, so it’s familiar!” Liu Mei quickly expressed her agreement.

…

They talked as they ate, and by the time they finished discussing, the meal was almost over.

After eating, Wang Ye smiled and said, “How about this—when we go back, we can stop by my hotel on the way. I’ll also give you some hotel materials to take back. Having something tangible will make it easier to talk; otherwise, if you just talk without anything to show, they might not believe you.”

He was referring to Liu Mei going back to China to discuss cooperation with China Travel Service.

Liu Mei nodded. “That’s right. After all, it’s a big deal. Without something substantial, they really won’t believe you.”

Actually, she herself wanted to see if what Wang Ye said was real. Even now, she was still half-believing!

You couldn’t blame her for being too suspicious—this was just too incredible.

A young man who was “ordinary” just over a month ago, flying around to organize study abroad agency meetings to earn some money.

And even to get a larger share, he had “threatened and bribed” her…

Now he suddenly told her he was going to start a business worth hundreds of millions of dollars!

It wasn’t just Liu Mei—no one would easily believe this.

Unless they saw it with their own eyes and witnessed Wang Ye’s true strength!

…

As they went downstairs and walked out, Liu Mei had just asked, “Did you drive here? If not, then take…”

Before she could finish, she saw two cars in front of the restaurant’s entrance, their engines rumbling deeply as their headlights turned on.

“I did drive. My car will lead the way; Yaqi, you follow behind,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

“…You two came in two separate cars?” Looking at the two black Mercedes G-Class SUVs, Liu Mei was speechless.

“My bodyguards are in the car,” Wang Ye replied briefly, then led Alyona toward the two cars.

Liu Mei saw a tall, burly Russian man get out of the car and open the door for Wang Ye.

This grandeur…

Honestly, she had rarely seen anything like this in China!

After getting into the Land Cruiser with Nalan Yaqi, Liu Mei muttered, “Is… is he still the same Wang Ye? I feel like he’s become a completely different person.”

Nalan Yaqi started the car, following the two black G-Class SUVs that had already driven off, and replied, “I feel the same way. After not seeing him for a few days, he seems like a different person. We can’t compare—we’re just ordinary people. Maybe Wang Ye is what they call a genius.”

Liu Mei wanted to scoff—anyone could be a genius!

But then she thought about it—Wang Ye really might qualify as a genius…

Perhaps “genius” wasn’t even enough to describe him!

Looking at the two black G-Class SUVs ahead, Liu Mei muttered to herself, “This kid is already putting on such a show? Just going out to eat, and he has several bodyguards with him, driving Mercedes G-Class SUVs!”

Nalan Yaqi remembered something and smiled as she said, “Don’t underestimate Ye Ge’s bodyguards—those people carry real guns!”

Clearly, she was recalling the scene when she moved, and Zhang Ke had a gun pressed to his head by a bodyguard…

Liu Mei was startled. “Has… has Wang Ye gotten involved in the underworld?”

Chapter 200: Worth Over One Hundred Million Dollars

“What are you talking about? Mother, you don’t know, but here there are legitimate security companies that can carry weapons,” Nalan Yaqi replied with a mix of laughter and exasperation.

Truthfully, this kind of security service was quite common in Moscow.

Those ubiquitous currency exchange points usually had one or two burly men standing at the door, each armed with an Uzi or an AK-74!

These men were clearly security personnel provided by security companies.

As for banks or large company headquarters, there were even more armed security guards…

Of course, this phenomenon would never appear in China, because China was too safe and tightly controlled. Even police officers on routine patrol might not carry firearms…

Liu Mei finally let out a sigh of relief but still doubted, “So what kind of business does Wang Ye do that requires so many bodyguards following him? A proper boss wouldn’t need this, right?”

“Sigh, Mother, you don’t understand! It’s chaotic and dangerous here, especially for wealthy bosses. Why not spend some money to ensure your own safety?” Nalan Yaqi explained.

“Tsk tsk, this place is so dangerous. Then, Yaqi, do you want to…” Liu Mei frowned, about to say that Nalan Yaqi should return to China.

Before she could finish, Nalan Yaqi interrupted her, “I’m not going back! Think about it, what would I do if I went back? In less than a year here, I’ve become a shareholder of a company, drive a Land Cruiser! Oh, and I’ve met a real billionaire!”

Liu Mei was speechless.

Honestly, comparing the two of them now, Nalan Yaqi was doing better than her own mother.

She drove a better car, and the people she knew were of a higher caliber than her mother’s social circle…

She really didn’t have the right to lecture her daughter on what she should or shouldn’t do anymore. After all, her daughter was an adult with her own ideas and life.

…

As they were talking, they arrived at their destination. The two black large G-class Mercedes in front came to a stop.

Nalan Yaqi followed closely behind, parking her car beside them.

Through the front windshield, Liu Mei looked up and was startled.

Although she had mentally prepared herself, the imposing high-rise building in front of her, especially knowing that it already belonged to Wang Ye, still left her in awe.

The Little Eagle Hotel was preparing to close for renovations, but it hadn’t actually shut down yet. There was no rush, as the partners hadn’t been finalized, and the renovation blueprints hadn’t even been designed. What was the point of closing in a hurry?

So, the Little Eagle Hotel at night, as usual, was brightly lit!

Before the group even entered the hotel, General Manager Yuri, Assistant to the Chairman Katya, and Security Manager Anton came out to greet them.

Wang Ye didn’t greet them; it seemed that when his car entered, the security personnel saw it and notified Anton.

Yuri led the way, walking up with a smile.

“Good evening, Mr. Mikhail.”

Wang Ye turned to Liu Mei beside him and introduced, “This is the hotel’s general manager, Yuri.”

Then he said to Yuri, “I brought a friend from China to take a look. In the future, when we do gambling business, this lady might be in charge of the Chinese tourist business.”

Yuri immediately greeted Liu Mei warmly. He was smart and didn’t speak Russian but tried to communicate in English.

Sure enough, Liu Mei didn’t understand Russian, but her English was quite good. After all, she was in foreign trade; it was impossible not to know English.

…

On the other side, this was the first time Alyona and Katya had met!

Oh, that wasn’t entirely accurate…

After all, they had bumped into each other a few times at the apartment, but back then, the two had no connection and didn’t know each other.

At that time, Katya was a small celebrity, proud and aloof, so she naturally wouldn’t give Alyona a second glance.

But Alyona had been a bit envious of Katya back then—she was a celebrity and drove a sports car…

But after Wang Ye and Katya got involved, this was their first meeting!

When Yuri, Anton, and Katya came forward, Alyona didn’t look at anyone else; she only looked at Katya.

Katya also immediately noticed Alyona standing beside Wang Ye.

Wang Ye and the others were exchanging pleasantries up front, while Alyona and Katya stood quietly in the back of the crowd, looking at each other.

After a long while, Alyona finally nodded at Katya, but her face remained expressionless.

Katya, on the other hand, seemed to let out a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on her face…

…

Under Yuri’s guidance, Liu Mei took a tour of the Little Eagle Hotel.

By now, she had no doubts about what Wang Ye had said during dinner…

Because everywhere they went, the hotel staff greeted Wang Ye respectfully.

Clearly, Wang Ye was indeed the owner of this hotel. Given the scale of the hotel, it was worth at least tens of millions, if not over a hundred million dollars!

When they reached the slot machine gambling hall, Liu Mei looked especially carefully and asked Yuri in detail about the hall’s profitability.

Obviously, the answer she received did not disappoint.

The entire hotel, based on Liu Mei’s experience, was at least a four-star level, as the facilities and decor didn’t quite reach five-star standards.

But this was Moscow!

In 2001, Moscow was still a highly influential international metropolis, much more famous than the capital of China, with much higher land prices.

So, this hotel was quite valuable…

Especially since the hotel would soon obtain a full gambling license!

Once they had that, ordinary five-star hotels wouldn’t even dare to “compete” with the Little Eagle Hotel!

The valuation would increase several times over…

…

After the tour, Wang Ye had Yuri give Liu Mei some promotional brochures, photos, and copies of the business license for the Little Eagle Hotel.

These were things Liu Mei would need when she returned to China to negotiate with China Travel Service.

Of course, this was only part of it. In a couple of days, when Wang Ye obtained the gambling license, he would also make a copy for Liu Mei.

But that thing, in China, Liu Mei might not even dare to take it out…

It was getting late. Wang Ye looked at the time and asked with a smile, “Aunt Liu, are you staying here tonight? There are plenty of rooms here, and it’s convenient.”

Before Liu Mei could say anything, Nalan Yaqi beside her spoke up, “Why stay here? I’ll take Mother back to the apartment. I have a two-bedroom place there. No matter how good the hotel is, it’s not as good as home.”

“You’re right, Yaqi. I’ll go back with her,” Liu Mei said with a smile.

Since that was the case, Wang Ye didn’t say anything else, just, “Alright, I live in the same apartment building as Yaqi. Let’s go back together.”

Just as they were about to leave the hotel and go home, Anton walked over, leaned close to Wang Ye, and said in a low voice, “Mr. Mikhail, do you have a moment? There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

Chapter 201: Wagner Security Company

Wang Ye gave a slight nod, calmly instructing Alyona, “You go back with Aunt Liu and the others first. I still have some work to handle here. I’ll drive back myself later. Tell Seryosha and the others to head home directly.”

Alyona, ever obedient, didn’t ask any questions. She simply nodded and left with Nalan Yaqi and Liu Mei.

Once everyone had left and only Wang Ye and Anton remained in the room, Wang Ye finally asked, “Take a seat and tell me, what’s the matter?”

Anton rubbed his hands together, looking a bit shy as he spoke. “It’s like this, Mr. Mikhail. I remember you mentioned once before about forming your own security team. Are you still considering that?”

Wang Ye was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Anton to bring this up. He had mentally prepared himself, thinking it might be about the “taking care of” the dark-haired men incident being exposed…

Relieved, he chuckled. “Of course. Soon, our big casino will be opening, and all the security personnel there must be replaced with our own people! So, what’s on your mind?”

Anton’s face lit up with joy. “Yes, about that last time… My few comrades have been idle lately, and they want me to find something for them to do. Being idle all day is quite boring. Also, recently, some old comrades somehow found out that I’m recruiting here and have been asking me if there’s any work available.”

Wang Ye pondered for a moment before decisively saying, “Alright, let’s establish a separate company for the security department. Will the paperwork be difficult?”

“Not difficult at all! I can handle this myself. I have many old superiors and comrades working in relevant departments,” Anton replied promptly.

Russia had been downsizing its military in recent years, leaving many veterans unemployed. As a result, security companies had been springing up like mushrooms after the rain.

Of course, the requirements for security companies were quite high, mainly focusing on imposing physiques that could intimidate people…

That’s why most security personnel seen in Moscow were towering figures around 1.9 meters tall. This didn’t mean all Russians were that tall; it was the result of strict selection!

Those who were shorter or didn’t look as imposing found it very difficult to get jobs.

But in reality, this didn’t mean their physical fitness or military training was inferior to the taller ones…

Hearing Anton’s words, Wang Ye didn’t hesitate and directly instructed, “Perfect. In a while, the Little Eagle Hotel will be closing for renovations. You can take some time to prepare for this. Register a security company and get all the necessary paperwork done as soon as possible. Remember, we want to establish an armed security company. Do you understand?”

Wang Ye didn’t want an ordinary security company; he wanted one where the security personnel could openly carry weapons, even heavy weapons!

Of course, “heavy weapons” here were limited to light machine guns. Anything beyond that, like rocket launchers or mortars, was out of the question…

Anton nodded. “I understand! Actually, we can register one in Moscow and another in a different location. Some places have very relaxed regulations for such companies and aren’t as strict with weaponry. For example, Chechnya.”

Wang Ye didn’t quite understand and asked, “What’s the difference? Chechnya is still part of Russia, isn’t it? Are there differences in the legal system?”

Anton grinned and explained, “Chechnya is a republic under federal management with extremely high autonomy. Moreover, the people there are very martial. Almost every man has handled a gun and fought in battles. If you spend some money there, there’s nothing you can’t get done. If needed, we can purchase any weapons we lack from there, and they’re very cheap. Also, our Moscow branch can handle regular security work, like at the Sun Market and various hotels. As for some… less convenient public activities, we can leave those to the Chechnya branch!”

They say Russians are a “warrior nation,” but compared to them, perhaps the Chechens are the true “warrior nation”!

This place has always been known for its fierce people and strong banditry!

Other countries develop through industry and agriculture, but Chechnya’s path to prosperity is through plundering!

And they plunder neighboring small countries…

This is something the surrounding countries like Dagestan know all too well!

If you ask an ordinary Russian what they fear the most, nine out of ten would probably say “Chechens” without hesitation!

………………..

“Alright, you handle it. If you need money, just withdraw it from Katya. But the company’s recruitment must have standards. We don’t need to focus on height, but physical fitness must be excellent,” Wang Ye instructed.

“No problem! But… what about the salary?” Anton asked, a bit embarrassed.

Wang Ye countered, “What was your salary at that state-run security company before?”

“Depending on seniority, the base salary was around two to three hundred US dollars. Plus mission allowances, which varied based on the danger level, from five to twenty US dollars per day. Of course, most missions only gave a five-dollar daily allowance; twenty dollars was extremely rare,” Anton admitted honestly.

“Then let’s set the base salary at five hundred US dollars. Recruit around a hundred people. First, gather them and train for a while. Then, send some to the Sun Market for security, and the rest can go to the hotels once they open,” Wang Ye ordered.

Anton immediately perked up, standing at attention and saluting with a loud, “Yes, sir!”

He was grateful to Wang Ye on behalf of his old comrades.

Such a salary was considered very good even in Moscow!

It was enough to support a family, and for those unemployed veterans, it was an almost unattainable high salary!

Wang Ye was willing to pay this much not only to take care of Anton and the veterans but also to win their loyalty.

“Oh, Mr. Mikhail, what should we name this company?” Anton suddenly remembered another question.

Wang Ye thought for a moment before decisively saying, “Call it Wagner! Wagner Security Company!”

“Wagner…” Anton repeated softly, nodding to show he had remembered.

…………….

Anton naturally didn’t know what the name “Wagner” signified, but Wang Ye was different.

He hadn’t chosen this name randomly.

If not for his “rebirth,” in another ten years or so, the name “Wagner” would become world-famous.

It was a mercenary company that, at its peak, overshadowed even Blackwater.

Its strength was such that it could wage a “nation-destroying” war…

Chapter 202: Natalia is Coming

After discussing with Anton, Wang Ye bid farewell to Katya and drove straight back to the apartment.

As soon as he stepped inside, Alyona greeted him with a smile. “Misha, I just told Natalia about the Livadia Palace. She agreed to look into it tomorrow. Apparently, they plan to renovate it into a museum, but the project has been delayed due to funding issues.”

Wang Ye nodded. “Did she ask why I want to buy the place?”

“Of course she did! That girl asked all sorts of questions and chatted with me for a long time. But I didn’t tell her everything. I just said you’re investing in the tourism industry and need to acquire a few decent hotels. She didn’t quite believe it, though—she thinks you shouldn’t have that much money,” Alyona replied with a chuckle.

That made sense. With Natalia’s “nosy” personality, there was no way she wouldn’t ask.

Wang Ye smiled. “If she knew my current situation, she’d probably be furious.”

Alyona apologized. “She doesn’t mean any harm… It’s just that, well, she’s been affected by the collapse of the Soviet Union and Russia’s decline. She thinks the whole world harbors ill will toward Russia—not just Asians, but especially Europeans and Americans.”

Wang Ye didn’t need her to explain. He knew exactly what kind of person Natalia was.

A classic “Tsarist loyalist,” dreaming of a “Romanov restoration”!

She even wanted to convince the great emperor to take the throne as Tsar…

While outsiders might find her ridiculous, you had to admit—she had a dream and was willing to give everything for it!

Rumors online even suggested that Natalia was distantly related to some grand duke from the Tsarist era, making her a “noble” in her own right…

“Oh, right! Natalia will be coming to Moscow in a few days for work and training,” Alyona suddenly remembered.

Technically, as an assistant prosecutor in Crimea, she was a Ukrainian civil servant. But back then, things were chaotic. Crimea was nominally part of Ukraine, but the people and local politics leaned toward Russia, and Russia didn’t treat them as outsiders.

“That’s great. Take her around and show her the sights. She shouldn’t just stay cooped up on that island,” Wang Ye shrugged, joking.

He hadn’t forgotten that during their meal together, he had promised to broaden Natalia’s horizons.

But lately, he had been too busy with work. He probably wouldn’t have time to personally show her around, so he’d have to leave that task to Alyona.

“By the way, how’s Nova’s university application going? Is she going to the University of Friendship or Moscow State University?” Wang Ye asked casually.

He hadn’t forgotten about his little sister-in-law…

“She applied to the University of Friendship herself. Shouldn’t be a problem. Oh, right! Your preparatory courses should be ending soon. What are you going to do?” Alyona replied.

Wang Ye slapped his forehead. He had completely forgotten he was still a student…

It was already late May, time for the preparatory exams and applying for first-year majors.

His “Mikhail” identity, according to Khovansky’s arrangements, was supposed to attend Moscow State University.

But as “Wang Ye,” he wanted to continue at the University of Friendship.

This way, the two identities wouldn’t overlap, which was safer.

“I’ll go to school tomorrow and take care of it. I don’t have time to sit for exams—it’s too much of a hassle. Oh, right, the admissions office director should be able to handle this, right?” Wang Ye frowned.

Alyona thought for a moment and nodded. “I’m not sure about other schools, but at the University of Friendship, the admissions director has a lot of power. If he agrees, your admission won’t be a problem. Plus, your Russian is excellent, so there’s no issue.”

Wang Ye was familiar with the admissions director. After all, they had gone to China together for the study abroad promotion event.

The director had been quite impressed with Wang Ye’s Russian, even praising it several times.

Of course, the director had no idea that Wang Ye was the real owner of the Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company…

…

The next morning, Nalan Yaqi came knocking early, bringing a pot of fragrant red date porridge and a plate of freshly made egg pancakes.

“This is from my mother. Try it. She said the conditions are simple, so she just made do,” she said with a smile.

Wang Ye’s nose twitched as he smelled the aroma. Delicious!

This was authentic Chinese breakfast!

He was tired of toast, bacon, and sausages every day.

“Thank your mother for me. By the way, what are your plans for today? Want to visit Qingyun Company and the Large Market?” Wang Ye asked as he took the porridge and pancakes.

“We’ll see. I’ll take her to Red Square later. Probably no time for the Large Market today—maybe tomorrow,” Nalan Yaqi replied.

Liu Mei would be staying for a few more days, so there was no rush.

…

Alyona was also curious about the breakfast Nalan Yaqi had brought.

After trying both dishes, she commented, “These egg pancakes are delicious! When Aunt Liu has time, I’ll ask her how to make them. But the porridge… I don’t think it’s as good as yogurt…”

Food preferences were just a matter of habit.

Like the Russians—during winter, they liked to wake up and drink a bottle of ice-cold water straight from the fridge!

If you did that in China, your parents would scold you to death…

After finishing two large bowls of porridge and several egg pancakes, Wang Ye patted his stomach, satisfied.

“You go to work. I’ll head to school and take care of the admission,” Wang Ye told Alyona.

Alyona nodded, a little worried. “Do you have the director’s number? Should you call and make an appointment first?”

Wang Ye chuckled. “Do I need an appointment to see him? It should be the other way around! Don’t worry, I’m on good terms with the director and his assistant. I can just drop by.”

Indeed, with Wang Ye’s—no, “Mikhail’s”—status, a mere admissions director couldn’t compare.

…

Downstairs, Seryosha and the others were already waiting, the cars running.

“Let’s go to the University of Friendship’s main building to take care of something,” Wang Ye instructed as he got into the car.

“Got it.”

Seryosha started the engine, and with a sound like a boiling kettle—“gurgle, gurgle”—the two large Mercedes set off toward the University of Friendship’s main building.

Chapter 203: Privileges Have Their Perks

The main building of the University of Friendship was located in the main campus, which was separated from the dormitory area and the preparatory courses building by a large road.

It was a massive structure with gray-white walls and a square shape, though it didn’t look as grand as the main building of Moscow State University…

The admissions office was on the third floor of the main building.

As Alyona had mentioned, the admissions office held a high position within the University of Friendship.

After all, nearly half of the school’s students were foreign exchange students, and the admissions office handled all matters related to them.

From accepting applications, reviewing documents, issuing invitation letters and admission notices, handling landing visas, preparatory language training exams, all the way to choosing a major after completing preparatory courses!

Even after exchange students entered their major studies, many things still required the admissions office’s assistance, such as transferring schools, failing exams, or not graduating…

It could be said that all matters concerning exchange students in the school fell under the admissions office’s jurisdiction, giving it immense power!

Thus, the admissions office was always bustling, with long lines of exchange students often waiting outside.

Now, with summer break approaching, the admissions office was even busier, with the queue in the hallway stretching all the way to the staircase…

People from all countries were in line!

…

Two large G-class Mercedes stopped at the entrance of the main building, drawing the attention of many passing students.

Such cars were rare anywhere, attracting attention even on the streets, let alone on campus.

Wang Ye didn’t bring his bodyguards inside with him, as that would be too ostentatious!

At school, it was best to keep a low profile…

He entered the main building alone, not bothering with the elevator, and took the stairs directly to the third floor.

He paused for a moment when he saw the crowd in the hallway—there were so many people!

His appearance immediately caused a stir in the hallway. Many Chinese students in the queue recognized him!

Especially the preparatory students, who greeted him enthusiastically.

“Ye Ge, haven’t seen you in a while. What have you been up to lately?”

“Wang Ye, I heard you’ve been making a fortune. When are you coming back to the preparatory building for a meal?”

“Ye Ge, Ye Ge, exams are coming up. Are you still studying at the University of Friendship, or are you going to Moscow State University?”

“Ye Ge, are you here to handle something too? Come stand in front of me; there are too many people today…”

Wang Ye smiled and greeted everyone as he slowly made his way forward.

He knew he should wait in line, but he didn’t have time to waste. There was a pile of work waiting for him at the company.

He had no choice but to use his “privilege”…

He walked straight to the front of the line. Under Xiao Hei’s surprised gaze, Wang Ye pushed open the door to the admissions director’s office.

The office was quite spacious and had an anteroom. The outer area was where the director’s secretary worked, while the inner room was the director’s office.

Hearing the door open, the Russian secretary, a middle-aged woman, was about to say something sternly, but her expression softened into a smile when she saw Wang Ye’s face.

She remembered this young Chinese man well.

“Misha, are you here to see the director?” she asked warmly.

“Yes, I’m about to finish preparatory courses, so I came to ask about choosing a major,” Wang Ye replied with a smile.

“With your Russian skills, you can choose any major you want. Wait a couple of minutes; there’s a student inside. You can go in once he’s done,” the secretary said eagerly.

As she spoke, the door to the inner office opened, and a South Asian man walked out.

“You can go in now,” the secretary said quickly.

Wang Ye nodded and entered the inner office.

The plump admissions director was bent over, fiddling with something—probably a gift from the previous student…

Hearing someone enter, the director calmly set the item aside and looked up.

When he saw Wang Ye, he stood up warmly, his face breaking into a smile.

“Haha, Misha, it’s you! Long time no see. How have you been? The invitation letters for the exchange students your friend’s company applied for were all sent out a couple of days ago. By September, our school will have even more Chinese exchange students.”

He didn’t know that Wang Ye was the real owner of Qingyun Company.

Wang Ye didn’t reveal this either, simply smiling in response. “The University of Friendship is indeed a great school, which is why so many exchange students choose to study here.”

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two sat down to discuss business.

“I might be quite busy soon, and I won’t have time to take the preparatory exams. What do you think…” Wang Ye began.

The admissions director pondered for a moment before replying readily, “No problem! I know your Russian skills are excellent; you don’t need to take any exams. I’ll sign off on your results myself—guaranteed to be outstanding!”

Wang Ye nodded in satisfaction. This was within the admissions director’s authority.

Whether an exchange student passed their preparatory courses was entirely up to him—it was that simple.

“Once I enter university, I’d like to study management. But I’ll have a lot to do, so I might not attend many classes. I’m not sure how difficult the annual exams will be,” Wang Ye continued.

This was the real reason he had come to see the admissions director.

He chose management because it was an easier major to coast through…

When studying abroad, remember one thing: humanities majors are the easiest to coast through, while science and engineering majors are much harder.

As for medical majors, they’re practically hellish in difficulty!

The admissions director’s face showed hesitation. After a moment, he said, “Once you’re in your first year, you’ll be under the department’s management. If you miss too many classes or fail exams, I probably won’t be able to help much.”

Most students would believe this.

But Wang Ye understood these things well.

The exam system here had many “loopholes” to exploit!

Whether you passed or failed was entirely up to the teacher.

If they said you passed, they would sign your transcript, record the corresponding grade, and the department would stamp and file it—that was all it took.

If they said you failed or deliberately made things difficult for you, no amount of studying would help…

As for the admissions director saying he couldn’t interfere with department matters, that wasn’t entirely true.

Given his connections and status in the school, which teacher wouldn’t give him face?

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that even if you didn’t show up to school for all four years, the admissions director could take your transcript, make a round to get signatures from all your professors, and it would be a piece of cake!

Of course, whether he was willing to do you this favor and make that round…

That depended on how much your “face” was worth to him…

Chapter 204: The Gambling License is Secured

This matter couldn’t really be blamed on the admissions director for not helping. It was just that Wang Ye, as an exchange student, wasn’t worth him selling such a big favor!

The preparatory courses’ graduation exam was one thing—it was a simple matter for the admissions director, so he had readily agreed.

But when it came to exams after entering the first year, though it wasn’t particularly difficult for him, it still required him to run around and find people.

If he happened to encounter some stubborn old professor who refused to give face, it could get quite tricky…

So he didn’t want to agree to this.

Wang Ye, of course, understood the issue. He smiled slightly, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a large brown envelope, placing it on the table and gently pushing it toward the admissions director.

The admissions director watched Wang Ye’s actions, somewhat confused, not knowing what he was doing.

“This matter will still trouble you. A small token of appreciation—please accept it,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Lowering his head to look at the large envelope on the table, the admissions director’s heart stirred. He reached out and took it.

Opening it, his gaze couldn’t move away…

Inside was a thick stack of hundred-dollar bills, estimated to be ten thousand dollars in total!

The crisp hundred-dollar bills still carried their unique scent—perhaps this was the so-called “smell of money.”

But he liked this smell!

“This… is just to smoothly get a graduation certificate?” The admissions director’s face showed a smile, though his eyes flickered slightly.

To be honest, though he had received many gifts, they were all from poor students, so they couldn’t possibly give anything expensive.

Mostly, it was red wine, vodka, and the like.

And not good wine either—some cost a hundred or two, even just a few dozen rubles…

Among them, Chinese exchange students were relatively generous, but he had never seen someone hand over ten thousand U.S. dollars in one go!

“Yes, just to get a graduation certificate,” Wang Ye said straightforwardly.

At this, the admissions director was reassured.

He quickly tucked the large envelope into his pocket and declared earnestly, “Then you can rest easy—this matter is on me! Later, when you enter the department and get your transcript, just leave it with me. You won’t even need to come for the exams—just wait for graduation. And your exam results must be all excellent!”

At that time, Russian universities were indeed this “magical,” especially for exchange students…

Most Chinese students who went to study abroad only learned a bit of Russian over the years—professional knowledge was out of the question.

Many, once their language skills improved, stopped attending classes, either taking on part-time jobs or finding ways to do business.

Of course, there were also many students from well-off families who didn’t bother going out to work and earn money. They just stayed in their dormitories playing games and using computers all day.

Was ten thousand dollars “buying” a graduation certificate worth it?

Definitely not.

At the University of Friendship, majors like economic management had relatively high tuition, but it was only about two thousand dollars a year.

Other science and engineering departments had even lower tuition—some majors only cost fourteen or fifteen hundred dollars a year.

Even at Moscow State University, Russia’s best school, the cheapest major, sociology, only cost two thousand seven hundred dollars a year!

The most expensive major’s tuition didn’t exceed four thousand dollars.

Of course, these were 2001 prices.

The major Wang Ye chose would cost less than ten thousand dollars in tuition over four years.

But he was willing to directly “hand over” ten thousand dollars to the admissions director just to smoothly obtain his graduation certificate and have more free time.

When he had free time and was in a good mood, he would go to class.

When he was busy, naturally, he wouldn’t go.

At graduation, he could still smoothly get his diploma—it was also a way to “account” to his parents back home.

For Wang Ye, this “price” wasn’t expensive…

………………..

When the admissions director’s office door opened again, the students waiting outside were shocked by the scene.

The Chinese student who had just gone in came out laughing and chatting with the admissions director. The usually stern admissions director was now smiling so widely his mouth was crooked…

Only after Wang Ye had walked far away, his figure disappearing around the corner, did the admissions director stop smiling and walk back to his office with light steps.

The students at the front of the line looked at each other in bewilderment. They weren’t Chinese exchange students, so naturally, they didn’t know Wang Ye.

They had no idea who this “mysterious figure” was, able to make the admissions director show such enthusiasm…

But the Chinese exchange students in the line, though somewhat surprised, weren’t shocked. After all, this was Wang Ye!

In just a few months in Moscow, he had already made a name for himself, excelling in both “romance” and “business.” Not only had he won over the most beautiful female teacher at the school, but he had also reportedly started a company outside of school and made a lot of money!

So, it wasn’t surprising that the admissions director would look at him with new eyes.

…………

After leaving the building and getting into his car, just as Wang Ye was about to head to the Sun Market, he received a phone call.

It was from Gebrev!

“Misha, come to my office sometime. The gambling license you wanted is ready.”

Wang Ye was overjoyed and quickly said, “I can come anytime. When is it convenient for you, Uncle?”

Gebrev was a very busy man, truly “handling thousands of affairs a day,” and his workplace was the Kremlin!

That wasn’t a place one could just walk into, so Wang Ye naturally had to follow his schedule.

Gebrev pondered for a moment and said, “I don’t have time this morning—I have a meeting soon. How about this: come at four in the afternoon. I’ll have my staff meet you at the Kremlin entrance.”

Wang Ye had no objections.

After hanging up, Wang Ye was still a little excited.

After all, Gebrev’s workplace was the true political center of Russia, the seat of the highest power!

Perhaps he might even catch a glimpse of the great emperor…

………………..

Meanwhile, after hanging up, Gebrev got up and went to the great emperor’s office.

There was indeed a small meeting to be held soon, right in the great emperor’s office.

It wasn’t time yet, and only the great emperor was in the office. Gebrev approached and reported, “I’ve arranged for Mikhail to come in the afternoon to pick up the gambling license. Would you like to meet him?”

The great emperor’s writing hand paused for a moment. Without lifting his head, he thought briefly and said, “No need. Continue observing him for a while to see if he can grow to the point of shouldering important responsibilities. He’s not yet qualified to meet me!”

That was a bit domineering…

But it suited the great emperor’s status.

After all, in Russia over the past two years, the great emperor’s prestige had been soaring!

After the second Chechen war, it could be said that the great emperor had “achieved godhood in one battle!”

Moreover, with Wang Ye’s current level, he truly wasn’t on the same level as the great emperor—the gap was too large…

Chapter 205: How Did He Get In?

The weather was pleasant today, with bright sunshine. It was the busiest time of day at Red Square, around three or four in the afternoon.

Nalan Yaqi had been wandering around the area with her mother for most of the day. They had visited the GUM department store, the Underground Mall, and even Lenin’s Mausoleum on Red Square.

In the afternoon, after waiting in a long line, they finally managed to enter the Kremlin for a tour.

Visiting Red Square without going into the Kremlin would definitely leave one with regrets.

As they followed the crowd, moving forward slowly, the two chatted.

“Hey, this place is so small and shabby, and the ground isn’t even flat. How did it get so famous? Compared to the Tiananmen Square in the capital, it’s not even close,” Liu Mei sighed.

She was, of course, referring to Red Square.

This square was world-renowned in terms of fame!

But when you actually come here to see it, it might disappoint many people…

Just as Liu Mei said, it was small and shabby, with an uneven ground. It felt completely unworthy of its reputation.

Nalan Yaqi didn’t understand this issue either. She could only shake her head and say, “Maybe it’s because of its historical significance. Actually, whenever we exchange students come here, no one really visits Red Square. Everyone goes to the Underground Mall outside.”

“Well, the Kremlin is quite beautiful. It’s a shame that many places are off-limits,” Liu Mei commented.

This was the core area where the power elite worked. Although many places were open to the public for tours, it was obvious that the office areas were not accessible to tourists.

The place they were walking through now was the so-called “Chamber of Secrets,” which could also be called the “Presidential Residence,” the place where the great emperor worked…

Inside the Kremlin, the office areas and tourist areas were clearly demarcated.

There were white warning lines on the ground, and the tour guides repeatedly told the tourists not to cross the white line even by a step!

As for what would happen if someone actually crossed it, it seemed no one dared to try…

…

The building where the great emperor worked didn’t look impressive. It was a traditional Russian-style building, long and wide but only three stories tall.

The exterior walls were a pale yellow, with white columns and domed tops, looking just like many other buildings on the streets outside.

But within fifty meters of this building, no one was allowed to approach!

Several teams of armed guards patrolled back and forth, and tourists could only look from a distance and take photos.

Nalan Yaqi was walking forward when Liu Mei suddenly stopped in front of her. Not paying attention, she bumped into her mother’s back.

“Ouch, Mom, why did you stop? I almost broke my nose,” Nalan Yaqi exclaimed.

Liu Mei didn’t respond, just turned her head to look into the distance.

“What are you looking at?” Nalan Yaqi asked curiously.

“Do you think that person is Wang Ye?” Liu Mei suddenly said.

Following Liu Mei’s gaze, Nalan Yaqi looked over.

Right in front of the building said to be the great emperor’s office, two people were about to enter.

You had to admit, the man walking behind did look a lot like Wang Ye from the side—tall, around 1.8 meters, wearing a sharp suit, with black hair…

“It’s probably not… How could Wang Ye be here? Even if he’s rich now, he can’t just come and go from the Kremlin,” Nalan Yaqi laughed.

But subconsciously, she took out her phone from her pocket and dialed Wang Ye’s number, wanting to ask where he was.

Liu Mei didn’t say anything, just watched her actions.

The call connected quickly, but to their shock, the young man they had just suspected of being “Wang Ye” was about to enter the building. He raised his hand, and in it was a phone!

“Hello, Wang Ye? Where are you?” Nalan Yaqi asked, watching the young man.

“Busy right now, can’t talk. I’ll call you back later.”

With that, Wang Ye hung up.

At the same time, under Nalan Yaqi and Liu Mei’s gaze, the young man who had reached the building’s entrance put away his phone…

“He… he is Wang Ye!” Nalan Yaqi murmured.

…

Indeed, when Nalan Yaqi called, Wang Ye was following a staff member to meet Gebrev.

After hanging up, he noticed the staff member looking back at him.

Wang Ye apologized with a smile and was about to explain, but the staff member extended his hand and said, “When entering the office area, phones must be turned off and handed over. I’ll keep it for you and return it when you leave.”

In fact, before entering the Kremlin, they had already undergone a strict “pat-down.” Several bodyguards hadn’t been allowed in.

Wang Ye’s gun had been left in the car; he hadn’t dared to bring it at all.

Now, even his phone had to be handed over…

But Wang Ye cooperated, turning off his phone and handing it to the staff member.

Entering the first-floor lobby, after another round of security checks, the staff member led him up to the third floor.

The entire building was quiet and solemn, making one tense up unconsciously.

Walking through the corridor, they arrived at an office door. The staff member knocked.

“Come in.”

A deep male voice came from inside—it was Gebrev.

Pushing the door open, the staff member didn’t enter but turned to Wang Ye and said, “I’ll wait for you here.”

Wang Ye nodded and went inside.

…

Gebrev’s office wasn’t large, about thirty or forty square meters, and the decor was simple. Besides the desk, there were a few chairs and a small coffee table.

Other than that, there were various file cabinets, archives, and bookshelves lining the walls.

Gebrev was sitting behind his desk. Seeing Wang Ye enter, he waved him over with a smile.

“Misha, come sit.”

Wang Ye walked over, greeted him, and sat in the chair in front of the desk.

Gebrev rummaged through a pile of documents on his desk for a while before pulling out an A4-sized leather file and handing it to Wang Ye.

“Here, this is the gambling license you wanted!”

The pure black leather cover had a gold-embossed double-headed eagle emblem. Wang Ye took it, feeling its weight.

This thing…

Was worth hundreds of millions of dollars!

His hand trembled slightly as he opened the cover…

Inside was a hard paper, with the words “Gambling Business Operation Authorization” prominently displayed at the top!

Below were several lines of Russian text detailing the scope of operations, restrictions, and the duration of the license.

The license duration was particularly important, and Wang Ye paid special attention to it.

It was valid for ten years starting from today!

After expiration, if there were no major policy changes, it could be renewed.

Of course, this depended on Wang Ye’s relationship with the Kremlin at that time…

At the very bottom were several large blue seals, distinctly Russian in style!

Chapter 206: Double Joy

After reading for a long time, Wang Ye finally closed the document and said gratefully, “Thank you, Uncle. You’ve really gone through a lot of trouble this time.”

“It’s nothing, not too much trouble,” Gebrev said seriously. “But I must remind you, now that you have this gambling license, you must pay taxes legally and not violate any regulations. Otherwise, it won’t look good for any of us.”

Wang Ye, of course, nodded repeatedly, indicating that he would definitely be a “law-abiding citizen.”

“That import monopoly right will probably take some more time. It’s not that easy to arrange,” Gebrev added casually.

Wang Ye hadn’t expected the monopoly right to be obtained smoothly anyway. Getting Gebrev’s agreement was already an unexpected joy.

He immediately responded, “I understand. There’s no rush. Actually, this matter isn’t that important to me personally, and it won’t make me more money. It’s mainly for the merchants at the Sun Market. After all, the current customs clearance is technically illegal, and they do business with constant worry, always afraid that their goods will be seized. In this situation, they naturally don’t dare to expand their investment scale. So, fundamentally solving these problems is beneficial for foreign investment. Don’t underestimate those wholesale merchants; in fact, they have quite large factories behind them.”

His words sounded noble and selfless, as if he had no personal motives. The reasoning also made sense, and Gebrev could see the benefits.

But the problem was, Russia had more important issues to resolve at the moment, so this wasn’t a priority. If Wang Ye hadn’t brought it up, Gebrev wouldn’t have even considered it!

What else could Gebrev say? He could only smile and nod. “It’s rare to have someone with such intentions. When the time is right, I will push this proposal forward.”

At this point, Wang Ye wasn’t worth Gebrev placing such a big “bet” on. In reality, if he really wanted to push it, as long as the great emperor gave the nod, obtaining this monopoly right wouldn’t be too difficult.

But the premise was that Wang Ye had to be worth it!

…

After finishing this topic, Gebrev changed the subject and asked, “I heard your uncle recently acquired several small and medium-sized oil companies. He’s almost bought up all the oil companies in Siberia. That’s quite ambitious, haha.”

Wang Ye actually didn’t know about these matters. But he didn’t say anything else, only vaguely responding, “Uncle’s Yukos Group’s core business is oil, so he’s trying to acquire those companies. It’s actually better this way. It’s better than some people who try to do everything. Focusing on big things is the way to go.”

Gebrev smiled faintly and asked meaningfully, “Do you also approve of what he’s doing?”

Wang Ye paused for a moment before answering, “Whether I approve or not doesn’t matter. Right now, I’m only responsible for the Sun Market Group and the Little Eagle Hotel. The oil business is under Uncle’s control.”

Gebrev looked at Wang Ye and laughed, “Don’t be in a hurry. You’re still young. I guess your uncle wants you to gain a few more years of experience before taking over the Yukos Group. You have a bright future ahead. It’s a shame my daughter is already married with children; otherwise, I’d want to recruit you as my son-in-law, haha.”

Wang Ye…

Lowering his head to look at his watch, Gebrev said with slight apology, “I have a meeting in a bit, so I can’t chat with you anymore.”

Wang Ye immediately stood up and said with a smile, “Then I won’t disturb you, Uncle. I was just about to say, if you have time, we could have dinner together tonight.”

“Next time, next time I’ll treat you to dinner.” With that, Gebrev stood up and saw Wang Ye out.

In the hallway, the staff member who had brought Wang Ye in was standing not far away. Seeing the office door open and Wang Ye and Gebrev coming out, he came forward.

“See Mr. Mikhail out,” Gebrev instructed.

…

Liu Mei and Nalan Yaqi had already finished touring the Kremlin and arrived at Red Square. The two found a café to sit down and rest.

“Do you think that person we saw earlier was really Wang Ye?” Liu Mei suddenly asked.

“Huh? Probably. Otherwise, it would be too much of a coincidence! But Wang Ye shouldn’t have been there. That’s where the great emperor works. Even if he’s quite wealthy now, he’s still a far cry from the great emperor…” Nalan Yaqi said doubtfully.

Even now, the two of them still couldn’t confirm whether that person was really Wang Ye.

“If it really was him, then this guy must be hiding something from us…” Liu Mei said thoughtfully.

As a resident of the capital, Liu Mei was more sensitive to these matters. She knew very well how difficult it was for an ordinary person to come into contact with those at the very top… the politicians. And once you had the opportunity to come into contact with those people, what kind of opportunities it would bring!

The more she thought about it, the more she believed that person was Wang Ye!

Because she thought of the gambling license…

This wasn’t something an ordinary businessman could obtain. Didn’t Wang Ye say that this gambling license was the first and only one in Russia? If Wang Ye didn’t have some high-level connections, he definitely wouldn’t have been able to get it.

As the two were lost in thought, Nalan Yaqi’s phone rang. She took out her phone and looked at it in surprise. “It’s Wang Ye calling!”

“Hurry up and answer! Ask if that was him earlier,” Liu Mei urged.

After answering the phone, Wang Ye’s voice came through. “Did you need something from me? I have time to talk now. Go ahead.”

“Just now, Mom and I were touring the Kremlin and saw someone who looked like you. That…” Nalan Yaqi had only said half when Wang Ye interrupted her.

“It was me. I went to see someone and take care of some business. Oh, tell Aunt Liu that I’ve already obtained the official gambling license. You can take a look at it when we get home tonight, haha.” Wang Ye seemed to be in a good mood.

Nalan Yaqi looked up at her mother and nodded slightly, saying softly, “It’s him!”

Liu Mei’s hand holding the coffee cup trembled slightly. Although she had expected it, the confirmation still shocked her.

She gave Nalan Yaqi a look, and Nalan Yaqi understood. She asked, “Ah? Isn’t that where the great emperor works? Could it be that you went to see…”

“How could that be! I went to see someone else, also a high-ranking official. This gambling license was obtained through his help.” Wang Ye laughed.

Nalan Yaqi subconsciously sighed in relief. Thank goodness…

If Wang Ye had really established some connection with the great emperor, then in the future, Nalan Yaqi would have to look up to him! The gap between them was already quite large…

“I’m used to not telling you everything. I have some calls coming in.” With that, Wang Ye hung up.

…

He wasn’t lying. There really was a call coming in. It was from Khovansky, telling him the good news that two hundred million dollars had been transferred into his account!

Today was truly a day of double joy for Wang Ye…

Chapter 207: Establishing the Group Company

Since Wang Ye last met Khovansky, who had promised to lend him two hundred million US dollars, only a few days had passed, and the money had already arrived!

This showed just how staggering Khovansky’s financial resources were…

Wang Ye excitedly exclaimed, “Thank you, Uncle! I just went to see Uncle Gebrev, and I’ve obtained the gambling license. Now that the money is here, I’ll move quickly to acquire hotels and set up the entertainment center!”

“Go ahead and do it boldly. Young people should try more things and not fear failure. Yukos Group will be your solid backing,” Khovansky said heartily.

After hanging up, Wang Ye was filled with emotion.

He had to admit, Khovansky was truly a man of great vision and courage.

And he had been nothing but good to Wang Ye. Sometimes, Wang Ye even felt a strange illusion—that he was truly becoming “Mikhail,” and Khovansky was indeed his uncle…

“To the Little Eagle Hotel!” Wang Ye instructed Seryosha.

Seryosha started the car and drove toward the Little Eagle Hotel.

Wang Ye made a call to Katya.

“Check the hotel’s account. There should be an extra sum of money,” Wang Ye said directly once the call connected.

“Alright, sir, I’ll check with the finance department right away,” Katya responded immediately.

The call remained open. After two or three minutes, Katya’s voice came through.

“Sir, there’s… a huge sum of money!” Her tone was filled with shock, clearly startled by the number.

“Two hundred million US dollars?” Wang Ye asked calmly.

“Yes! Exactly two hundred million US dollars. My goodness, so much money…” Katya still hadn’t calmed down, sighing in amazement.

“Have Yuri gather all the department heads in the large conference room. I’ll be there soon to hold a meeting,” Wang Ye said before hanging up.

Now that the gambling license was secured and the funds had arrived, there was no time to waste—it was time to make big moves!

………………..

In the large conference room of the Little Eagle Hotel, Yuri, Katya, Anton, and the heads of various departments had all gathered.

Everyone was waiting for Wang Ye to arrive.

Yuri, as the general manager, was well-informed. He had also heard about the sudden large sum of money in the hotel’s account, connecting it to what Wang Ye had said a few days ago.

He understood—this was the acquisition fund!

This new boss, Mikhail, might be young, but he was truly decisive and efficient!

The conference room door opened, and Wang Ye strode in. Everyone quickly stood up, greeting him.

Wang Ye nodded to everyone and walked straight to the head of the long conference table.

This seat was empty, of course reserved for him. As for Yuri and Katya, they sat at the first seats on either side of the long table—Wang Ye’s left and right hands!

As soon as he sat down, Wang Ye spoke, “The matter we discussed last time has been settled. This is the gambling license I just obtained—the only one in all of Russia!”

With that, he raised the black leather-bound document in his hand.

Everyone in the conference room looked over, their eyes fixed on the document. This was something none of them had ever seen before—quite a rarity…

Wang Ye handed it to Yuri and said, “Read it to everyone.”

Yuri took the document with slightly trembling hands, cleared his throat, and began reading it aloud.

The content was straightforward, taking less than two minutes to read.

After he finished, Wang Ye added, “Two hundred million US dollars have been transferred into the company’s account. This is a loan I took out in the company’s name to acquire hotels in St. Petersburg and Crimea.”

This sum had been wired by an obscure investment company, clearly one of Khovansky’s.

After Wang Ye said this, the conference room buzzed with excitement.

The gambling license was impressive, but since no one had a clear idea of its value, they only vaguely sensed it must be worth a lot.

But two hundred million US dollars in cash—that was far more tangible!

In Moscow in 2001, companies that could produce two hundred million US dollars in cash were few and far between.

No one had expected the Little Eagle Hotel to now be among them…

Clearly, Mr. Mikhail’s financial strength was overwhelming!

The future of the Little Eagle Hotel was limitless…

Katya sat to the side, her gaze filled with tenderness as she looked at Wang Ye.

She felt incredibly lucky!

To be able to follow a young and wealthy “master” like “Mikhail”—this was the best fate she could have, without a doubt!

Setting aside Wang Ye’s uncle, Khovansky, Mikhail himself was an outstanding boss with boundless potential. Perhaps his future achievements would rival those of Khovansky and Aby…

………………..

Next, Wang Ye began assigning tasks.

“Yuri, go to St. Petersburg as soon as possible. Conduct on-site inspections and select hotels or buildings suitable for conversion into entertainment centers. Don’t worry about whether the owners are willing to sell—I’ll handle that. You just need to find the right targets.”

Wang Ye looked at Yuri as he spoke.

Yuri quickly nodded and said, “I’ll arrange the hotel matters today and leave tonight!”

He understood that the next period would be the most critical transformation phase for the Little Eagle Hotel.

If he performed well during this time, his future position and income would naturally be secure, perhaps even skyrocketing!

After a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “Shouldn’t we also inspect Crimea? The hotels there aren’t very famous, and their scales are small.”

Wang Ye smiled and replied, “The target there has already been chosen—Livadia Palace!”

The conference room erupted in exclamations. Clearly, everyone present knew what “Livadia Palace” was…

“Now you understand what kind of target buildings we should be looking for, right?” Wang Ye looked at Yuri.

Yuri nodded firmly. He understood that Wang Ye was setting a standard—the acquisition targets in St. Petersburg must be of a caliber and scale no less than Livadia Palace!

“The current registered entity of the Little Eagle Hotel is no longer suitable. We need to establish a new group company called Little Eagle Group. Its main businesses will be hotel accommodation, gambling entertainment, tourism, and more. Also, Anton, you will be in charge of preparing the Wagner Security Company, which will also be registered under Little Eagle Group. All expenses will be covered by the group!” Wang Ye then turned to Anton.

Anton nodded decisively. Wang Ye had already discussed this with him yesterday.

The current registered entity of the Little Eagle Hotel was actually called “Little Eagle Company,” with only the Little Eagle Hotel as its operating entity.

Now, with the expansion of operations and diversification of businesses, the original “company” was no longer sufficient. It was time to establish a group company!

Chapter 208: The Difference Is Too Great

Wang Ye spent the entire day at the Little Eagle Hotel, arranging all his work. It wasn’t until after seven in the evening that he went downstairs, got into the car, and instructed Seryosha to drive him home.

On the way back, Seryosha, who was driving, suddenly spoke up, “Mr. Mikhail, I heard from Anton that you’re planning to start a professional security company. I… I was wondering if I could come work for you?”

Anton had mentioned this to Seryosha earlier that day when they met. The two were old comrades and good friends, so when a good job opportunity came up, Anton naturally didn’t keep it from him.

Seryosha was immediately interested.

Having worked with Wang Ye for some time, Seryosha had come to know him better. This young boss, though not old, was decisive and generous! And, more importantly, he was extremely wealthy…

Who wouldn’t want to work for such a boss?

Now, hearing that Wang Ye was starting his own security company, it was obvious that the security work around Wang Ye would be handled by his own company in the future. The security personnel dispatched from external companies, like himself, would probably have to return to their companies and wait for the next assignment.

Seryosha had the idea of switching jobs. The benefits of joining were numerous. First, the base salary was much higher, and with continuous business, the bonuses would naturally be substantial. Plus, he could work with his old comrades again. When there were no tasks, they could drink and have fun together—how comfortable would that be?

Wang Ye smiled slightly upon hearing Seryosha’s words. “Sure, if you want to come over, resign from your current company as soon as possible. Once Anton has the paperwork ready, you can come straight over and continue working with me.”

Seryosha was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly in agreement.

The Wagner Security Company was an important part of Wang Ye’s plans!

Perhaps feeling that the “path” he had chosen was too dangerous, Wang Ye wanted to create a “armed force” he could control to make himself feel more secure.

Although, in the event of real trouble, this security company probably wouldn’t be of much use, as they would be facing powerful state-level departments…

No matter how strong a security company was, facing a military powerhouse like Russia, coupled with the iron-fisted great emperor, they probably wouldn’t even dare to think of resisting!

But apart from dealing with the great emperor, this security company would be very useful against others.

Especially after the establishment of the three “entertainment centers,” if the security force wasn’t strong enough, it would inevitably attract all kinds of trouble.

Not only was Wang Ye planning to poach talent from state-owned security companies, but he also intended for Anton to recruit some truly “powerful enforcers”!

For example, retired members of units like Alpha or Signal Flag…

It wasn’t for any other reason, but when his several “entertainment centers” opened, having a row of fully armed, burly men standing at the entrance would definitely give the guests a strong sense of security!

Or, if there were troubles like the Gokhso gang again, he could directly use his own “blade” to solve the problem.

In this chaotic place called Russia, you might not actively look for trouble, but you couldn’t avoid trouble finding you.

You might not kill people, but you must have the ability to “kill”…

…

When he returned home and pushed open the door, Wang Ye was taken aback. Not only was Alyona inside, but Nalan Yaqi and Liu Mei were also there…

And they had prepared a lavish table of… Chinese food!

Dishes like braised pork, stir-fried beef, and chestnut chicken were spread out across the table!

Clearly, these dishes were made by Liu Mei, as Alyona and Nalan Yaqi couldn’t cook them…

“Misha, you’re back.”

Alyona happily came forward, considerately helping Wang Ye take off his suit jacket, then bringing him slippers and crouching down to help him change out of his leather shoes.

This series of actions made Nalan Yaqi purse her lips in disapproval…

She felt that Alyona was being too “submissive”!

Wang Ye was a big, healthy man with hands and feet—couldn’t he take off his own clothes and change his own shoes? Did he really need Alyona to “wait on him”? That was going too far!

If it were her…

Hmph!

“What’s the occasion? Did you make these dishes, Aunt Liu?” Wang Ye asked with a smile.

“There wasn’t much to do this afternoon, so I had Yaqi drive me to the supermarket to buy some things, and I made a few dishes for us to eat together,” Liu Mei said with a smile.

“Hurry up and wash your hands for dinner! We’ve been waiting for you for so long, I’m starving!” Nalan Yaqi said impatiently.

Indeed, Wang Ye had called to say he was coming home for dinner but hadn’t specified when. Alyona and the others had been waiting until now.

…

Everyone sat around the dining table. Wang Ye picked up his chopsticks and took a piece of braised pork, not immediately putting it in his mouth but holding it up to examine it.

It was clear that Liu Mei’s cooking skills were quite good.

The braised pork had a bright and appetizing color, and the aroma was enticing, making one’s mouth water just looking at it.

He took a bite, and it melted in his mouth, rich but not greasy—truly authentic.

“Your cooking is delicious, Aunt Liu. It’s not any worse than my classmate who’s a first-class chef! Haha.” Wang Ye laughed.

He thought of Song Xiao Gang, whose cooking skills were also quite impressive. The first time he had invited Alyona for a meal, it was Song Xiao Gang who had cooked.

“Many ingredients aren’t available here, so I just made do with what I could find. I hope it suits your taste.”

Liu Mei was unusually polite today, which made Wang Ye feel a bit uncomfortable.

After eating a few bites, Liu Mei seemingly casually asked, “Do you have connections in the upper echelons of the Russian government? It seems your friend holds a pretty high position, working in the Kremlin.”

Wang Ye, with his mouth full, mumbled, “It’s alright, I can talk to him, but we’re not very close.”

The less he explained, the more curious Liu Mei became!

She asked again, “Did your friend also help you get the funds to buy the hotel? It’s not a bank loan, is it?”

Wang Ye swallowed his food and laughed, “Don’t be silly. The state-owned banks here are so poor they can’t even afford underwear. How could they lend me so much money? This money was lent to me by another friend of mine who’s in the oil business.”

“Tsk, tsk, an oil oligarch! That’s a lot of money.” Liu Mei exclaimed.

After all this, Liu Mei knew that Wang Ye had two “powerful figures” backing him.

One was extremely wealthy, so much so that he could casually lend Wang Ye two hundred million dollars!

The other was extremely powerful, able to help Wang Ye obtain the only gambling license in all of Russia…

Honestly, Liu Mei was completely baffled. She couldn’t figure out how Wang Ye, who had only been studying abroad for less than half a year, could have risen so quickly!

Comparing this to her own daughter, Nalan Yaqi, Liu Mei could only sigh.

The difference between people was just too great…

Chapter 209: Full-Scale Advancement

Time had entered June, and Liu Mei had spent two or three days wandering around Moscow, confirming that Wang Ye’s capabilities were indeed astonishing.

She now held even greater hopes for this collaboration!

Of course, given her own strength, being able to participate at all was already a “victory.” As for shares and the like, she didn’t need to worry about those for now.

All matters of profit would have to wait until Wang Ye had established the framework and then negotiated with state-owned travel agencies or other large domestic travel companies. At most, Liu Mei was just Wang Ye’s “agent” in China.

After finishing her survey of Moscow, Liu Mei had Nalan Yaqi drive her to St. Petersburg and Crimea, planning to investigate those areas as well.

Perhaps her core business in the future would revolve around this tourism route, so she naturally needed to understand these three places better.

This way, when she returned to China and negotiated with those large travel agencies, she wouldn’t be caught off guard.

…

On Wang Ye’s side, several projects were progressing smoothly.

Qingyun Company had begun preparing for the enrollment of exchange students. Nearly six hundred students was no small number.

About one hundred sixty of them were going to Moscow State University, while the rest would attend the University of Friendship.

After all, the tuition and living expenses at Moscow State University were much higher than at the University of Friendship. The annual cost was roughly ten thousand US dollars, which over five years would amount to fifty thousand US dollars!

Back then, China still had foreign exchange controls. Even for exchange students, with their visas and admission notices, they could exchange at most two thousand US dollars per year at the bank, with an exchange rate of around 8.6.

But this amount was clearly insufficient, so they had no choice but to exchange money through black market dealers, where the exchange rate was one to ten…

Thus, attending Moscow State University—one year of preparatory courses plus four years of undergraduate studies—would cost at least five hundred thousand yuan!

This amount was quite difficult for most families.

Attending the University of Friendship, however, would reduce the five-year cost to around three hundred thousand yuan, significantly lessening the burden.

Therefore, most students and their parents chose to study at the University of Friendship.

With so many students arriving and concentrated at the end of August, the pressure on Qingyun Company was considerable.

There was a lot of work to coordinate with Moscow State University and the University of Friendship.

Thus, Liu Jun was extremely busy these days, working overtime every day with several Russian employees from the company.

Looking back, Wang Ye’s decision to make him a “partner” had been very wise. Otherwise, Wang Ye would have had to handle all these matters himself.

Although he could earn more money, he couldn’t afford to waste the time!

…

Hua Star Communications was now under the management of Ruan Xiaozhu.

You had to admit, Wang Ye’s cousin was quite the capable woman!

After taking over Hua Star for a while, she had gotten the work on track and managed the company efficiently.

Of course, the most difficult work for this company had already been resolved by Liu Jun and Wang Ye beforehand.

The telephone line leasing had been secured through Liu Jun’s connections, with relatively reasonable fees, and the card printing had been arranged.

As for the more important sales, Wang Ye had directly resolved that.

The existing exchange student market channels were very stable, and the Sun Market had a monopoly on sales—other phone cards had no chance to compete with the Hua Star Card!

Clearly, the demand for phone cards at the Sun Market far exceeded that of the exchange student market.

Although the Sun Market had only just begun operations and its popularity hadn’t yet peaked, the sales volume of phone cards was already astonishing.

Basically, every day, they sold phone cards worth at least fifty thousand US dollars in face value!

In comparison, the exchange student market was almost negligible…

With the market developed, this phone card company could be considered a “money tree.”

Roughly estimating, after deducting the costs of leasing lines, card printing, company operations, taxes, and other miscellaneous fees, the monthly net profit could exceed three hundred thousand US dollars!

This amount was naturally insignificant to Wang Ye.

But for Liu Jun, Ruan Xiaozhu, and the others, it was quite remarkable.

Thus, these days, Ruan Xiaozhu was also extremely busy and didn’t have time to “bother” Wang Ye…

…

As for Wang Ye himself, his energy was naturally focused on the Sun Market Group and the Little Eagle Group.

The Little Eagle Group didn’t need much explanation—it was still in its early stages, with many things still in preparation.

The Sun Market Group’s development had been quite impressive lately!

After reaching a reconciliation with Mairov and resolving the issue with Lokayev, the Sun Market had seen a surge in merchant openings.

All three thousand five hundred stalls had been rented out!

It had to be said that Wang Ye’s free strategy had been a great success. In Russia, no market had ever provided free stalls for merchants to do business, and the Sun Market was the first.

Combined with its superior location, excellent hardware and software facilities, and Wang Ye’s guarantee of personal and property safety, the Chinese merchants truly had no reason not to come and do business!

Thus, after drawing a wave of “blood” from the old ACT Market and with the promotion of the old Chinese merchants, a new batch of Chinese merchants “flew” over from China, directly boosting the Sun Market’s popularity.

For wholesale markets, as long as there were enough merchants and a wide variety of goods, there was no need to worry about popularity.

Because the customers who came to purchase would come on their own.

Thus, after just over a month of operation, the Sun Market’s popularity was already on par with the ACT Market!

This situation had left Mairov quite surprised. He had come to “observe” several times recently and even joked with Wang Ye that he had been tricked…

Of course, that was just a joke. After all, the old ACT Market hadn’t seen a large-scale wave of lease cancellations after being unsealed.

Mairov still collected the same amount of rent and management fees. Even if some popularity had been diverted, it didn’t have a significant impact.

Given the current state of the Sun Market, Wang Ye had already completed the task assigned by the board of directors half a year ahead of schedule!

As for profits, rent and management fees couldn’t be relied upon this year. They could only depend on the subsidiary companies like customs clearance and logistics.

But the profits of these companies depended on the business volume of all the merchants in the Sun Market!

If the Chinese merchants’ businesses thrived, they would naturally ship more goods over, and the Sun Market Group could earn more in logistics fees, customs clearance fees, and even exchange fees.

If business was poor and the shipped goods couldn’t be sold, they naturally wouldn’t continue shipping goods here, and the Sun Market Group wouldn’t earn much money.

In the end, the market operators and the merchants were a community of shared interests.

The reason Wang Ye wanted to resolve the “gray customs clearance” historical issue was ultimately to expand the scale of the Chinese merchants’ operations and attract them to increase their investments.

This way, not only would the Chinese merchants earn more money, but the Sun Market Group, including Wang Ye, would also earn more money…

Chapter 210: The Eldest Daughter of the Ho Family

However, the exclusive import clearance rights had not yet been secured, and the Chinese businessmen who had come to do business still had not changed their minds. They only wanted to make quick money and did not dare to ship in large quantities each time. After all, they were using gray-market clearance channels—if anything went wrong, they would lose everything!

Wang Ye was also helpless. Since Gebrev was not budging, he had no other options but to wait and see. As for why Gebrev was not eager to help him with this matter, Wang Ye had his suspicions—it was simply because he was not worth the effort.

Sigh, at the end of the day, it all came down to his own lack of strength. Others did not take him seriously…

Just as he was sitting in his office pondering these matters, Boss Kong burst in excitedly. “President, great news! My old friend in Macau just called me. He’s already made contact with the Ho family! The Ho family is very interested in cooperation and is willing to send someone over to discuss it with you.”

Wang Ye was delighted to hear this. If they could join forces with the Ho family to develop an “entertainment center,” then the Little Eagle Group would have no problems. With sufficient funds, a strong background, and the Ho family’s “technical” support, it would be hard not to make a fortune!

“Oh? That’s great! Did your friend say when the Ho family’s representative would be coming over?” Wang Ye asked.

“This hasn’t been confirmed yet. The Ho family wants your phone number so they can discuss things over the phone first. I haven’t given them your number yet—I came to ask for your opinion first,” Boss Kong said with a broad smile.

“Give it to them. What’s there to keep secret about my phone number?” Wang Ye waved his hand dismissively.

Boss Kong immediately nodded. “Alright, I’ll call my friend back later and give them your number so they can contact you.”

…

After Boss Kong left, Wang Ye pondered for a moment. He knew of the Ho family in Macau, though not in great detail. After all, in his “previous life,” he had no connections with them, and he had never even been to Macau for leisure. Besides the gambling industry, there really wasn’t much else to do there. And as it happened, Wang Ye did not enjoy gambling…

Still, he had seen news about the Macau gambling king, Ho, and his four wives and more than a dozen children. The later feuds among the Ho family over inheritance had been particularly sensational—it was hard not to pay attention.

Wang Ye did not want to comment on others’ family affairs, but he knew that the gambling king himself was truly remarkable. He could be considered the uncrowned king of Macau. After all, it was said that seven or eight out of ten people in that small place worked directly or indirectly for the Ho family. Even a large portion of Macau’s annual fiscal revenue came from taxes paid by the Ho family’s gambling enterprises…

So, Wang Ye held a certain respect for this legendary figure.

Lost in thought, his phone suddenly rang. Glancing at the caller ID, he saw it was an international call—probably someone from the Ho family. He answered the phone and spoke in Chinese: “Hello.”

“Hello, may I ask if this is Mr. Mikhail?” The voice on the other end hesitated before responding in Chinese. It sounded like a middle-aged woman.

“It’s me,” Wang Ye replied concisely.

“Ah? I didn’t expect Mr. Mikhail to speak Chinese so well. I even brought a Russian translator with me, but it seems we won’t need her.” The woman on the other end was clearly surprised that Wang Ye spoke Chinese so fluently.

“My father is Chinese, so I learned Chinese from a young age. May I ask who you are…” Wang Ye replied briefly.

In truth, it wasn’t just his father who was Chinese—his mother, grandparents, and maternal grandparents were all Chinese…

But now, he was dealing with the Ho family under the identity of “Mikhail,” so he was the “half-Chinese, half-Russian” “nephew of Khovansky” and “boss of the Little Eagle Group”!

“Haha, then we’re practically compatriots. It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Mikhail. My name is Ho Chiu-ying. I’m currently in charge of the business operations at the Macau Entertainment Group, and I’ll be the one handling this cooperation with you.”

Ho Chiu-ying? Wang Ye knew who this woman was!

She was the eldest daughter of the second branch of the Ho family and the biggest winner in the inheritance dispute among the more than a dozen children after the old patriarch’s retirement! In the end, the core assets of the Ho family—the controlling shares of the two main gambling groups—all fell into Ho Chiu-ying’s hands!

As for the first, third, and fourth branches, the assets they received were from other industries the old patriarch had invested in, such as real estate, oil shipping, finance, and so on. But none of those industries could compare to the gambling business!

This woman was no ordinary figure…

Wang Ye perked up and said with a smile, “Then how should I address you, President Ho or Miss Ho?”

“We’re both compatriots, and I hear you’re not that much younger than me. Calling me President Ho or Miss Ho would be too formal. Just call me Sister Ho,” Ho Chiu-ying said unexpectedly warmly.

Wang Ye smiled slightly and replied, “Alright, Sister Ho, then you don’t need to call me Mr. Mikhail either. Just call me Misha—all my friends do.”

After this round of pleasantries, the two finally got down to business. Ho Chiu-ying asked directly, “I heard that you’ve obtained a gambling license, and it’s the only one in Russia?”

“Yes, I already have it in hand. It should be no different from the one you have in Macau—it allows all types of gambling operations. However, there is one restriction: I cannot serve Russian customers,” Wang Ye admitted frankly.

Ho Chiu-ying pondered for a moment before laughing, “That’s not much of a problem. You can just do business with foreign tourists. We don’t rely on locals here either. By the way, what’s the tax rate on your gambling license?”

Wang Ye thought for a moment before answering, “It’s seven percent, the same as the hotel industry. The tax rate in Russia is quite low.”

“Seven percent?! Are you sure… Oh, sorry, I’m just a bit surprised. Here in Macau, our tax rate is much higher.” Ho Chiu-ying exclaimed.

The gambling industry was highly profitable, so countries that allowed it usually imposed heavy taxes! For example, Ho Chiu-ying’s Macau Entertainment Group had to pay a whopping thirty-two percent in taxes! So naturally, she was astonished to hear that Wang Ye only had to pay seven percent.

“Haha, it’s definitely seven percent. Sister Ho, let me briefly introduce the situation here…” Wang Ye gave Ho Chiu-ying a quick overview of his current circumstances and then sincerely said, “Right now, I have no shortage of funds or venues, but I lack skilled employees and management personnel. If you’re interested, you can come over to take a look.”

Chapter 211: A Display of Strength

Ho Chiu-ying was, of course, interested!

That was why, as soon as she received the message from Boss Kong’s friend, she immediately contacted Wang Ye.

After a quick phone call to confirm the details, Ho Chiu-ying decisively said, “I’ll arrange a flight right away. I should arrive by tomorrow local time. We can discuss things in person then.”

Wang Ye had no objections and agreed with a smile to pick her up at the airport.

…

After hanging up, Wang Ye thought for a moment before calling Katya.

“Tell Anton to get a few more large G-class Mercedes, the same as the two I have now. Buy them today, preferably ready stock.”

“Understood, sir. How many do you need in total?” Katya responded promptly.

Without hesitation, Wang Ye replied, “Ten would be ideal, though I’m not sure if Moscow has that many in stock…”

Indeed, these were large G-class Mercedes!

Although Moscow had a strong affinity for these vehicles, and Mercedes sold well here, finding so many large Gs in stock at once was no easy feat.

But with enough money, it shouldn’t be too difficult. Even if they couldn’t find ten, seven or eight should be manageable.

After all, this was Moscow, not far from Germany, and Mercedes had been operating here for years. German cars were quite popular, with high sales and ownership rates.

While ordinary Muscovites couldn’t afford such luxury cars, there were still plenty of wealthy individuals…

Wang Ye wasn’t buying these large Gs for himself.

Honestly, if his motorcade had a dozen large Gs, it would be far too conspicuous—not necessarily a good thing…

These vehicles were for the security company!

In addition to the large Gs, he would also purchase a batch of Land Cruisers.

When the security company went on missions, a fleet of large Gs and Land Cruisers would be quite impressive…

Especially since he planned to enter the casino business, appearances were crucial.

Though these cars were expensive, for Wang Ye now, it wasn’t much—ten large Gs were just over a million US dollars.

Moreover, Ho Chiu-ying would arrive tomorrow, and Wang Ye wanted to showcase his strength a little.

In terms of financial power, without relying on his uncle Khovansky, he couldn’t compare to the Ho family.

But in terms of “force,” if he brought out Anton, Seryosha, and the other burly men fully armed, even Ho Chiu-ying would have to reconsider…

…

In the afternoon, Yuri, who was in St. Petersburg, called to report that he had found a suitable acquisition target.

To be honest, when it came to tourism, St. Petersburg was far superior to Moscow!

From the seventeenth to the nineteenth century, St. Petersburg was the capital of Russia. Whether it was the Winter Palace or the Summer Palace, they were renowned royal palaces, no less grand than the Kremlin—perhaps even more magnificent and luxurious!

Of course, Yuri didn’t dare to consider the Summer or Winter Palaces.

Unlike Yalta, these were genuine imperial residences, holding immense historical significance for Russians.

Besides, even though Russia’s economy wasn’t thriving, a starving camel was still larger than a horse. There was no way they would sell these two places to Wang Ye for a casino…

Even if they dared to sell, Wang Ye wouldn’t dare to buy. What if the great emperor was in a bad mood one day and decided to “settle accounts”?

Before Yuri left, Wang Ye had told him to look for places with grand exteriors, a sense of history, preferably resembling palaces. If that wasn’t possible, a luxury hotel in operation would also be considered.

“Mr. Mikhail, over the past two days, I’ve surveyed the entire city of St. Petersburg, including the suburbs, and found two suitable targets. One is on Nevsky Prospect in the city center, currently a department store. It’s quite large, though only five stories tall. It would work for a gambling entertainment center, but not for a hotel. The other is an estate in the suburbs, a sanatorium built by a military factory during the Soviet era…”

Yuri described the two targets he had selected.

Wang Ye pondered for a moment before asking, “Isn’t there anything like the Little Eagle Hotel?”

Yuri gave a wry smile and replied, “Not really! Most new buildings here are office towers and high-end apartments. There aren’t many luxury hotels. After all, St. Petersburg’s economy is far behind Moscow’s.”

Indeed, St. Petersburg was beautiful and ancient…

Especially in 2001, Moscow still had some skyscrapers, but in St. Petersburg, no matter where you looked, all you saw was “history”…

Wang Ye thought for a moment and decisively said, “Let’s negotiate for the department store on Nevsky Prospect first. Our main business is gambling, not hotel accommodations! We need to get our priorities straight.”

That made sense. For a gambling center, an old department store had a beautiful exterior and spacious interior, making it easier to renovate.

Just look at the casinos in Macau and Las Vegas—their exteriors were all dazzling!

A place like a sanatorium might not be as suitable…

…

On the morning of June 3rd, a flight from Hong Kong landed at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow.

Ho Chiu-ying, accompanied by two assistants, stepped off the plane.

At forty years old, she had a sharp, short haircut, wore a pair of sunglasses, and a beige women’s suit. She carried an air of confidence as she walked…

Her two assistants, one male and one female, both in their twenties, each pulled a small suitcase, quickly following behind her.

As soon as she reached the international arrivals exit, Ho Chiu-ying spotted a burly Russian man holding a large sign with “Ms. Ho” written in Chinese.

Clearly, he was there to pick her up.

Ho Chiu-ying slowed her pace and took another look, noticing a young man and woman standing not far from the man with the sign.

The man was probably Mikhail, the one she had spoken to on the phone…

Actually, there were quite a few people in that area, but Ho Chiu-ying’s gaze immediately fell on Wang Ye because he was too “conspicuous.”

Wang Ye was already tall at over 1.8 meters, and he was quite handsome.

Adding to that, Katya beside him was a stunning beauty. Together, they were the center of attention in the entire hall!

Behind Wang Ye and Katya stood two burly men in camouflage uniforms.

Though they weren’t carrying any weapons, their imposing stature alone made it clear they weren’t to be trifled with…

Ho Chiu-ying walked straight toward Wang Ye, who also saw her and stepped forward to meet her.

When they were about a meter apart, both stopped, exchanged glances, smiled, and simultaneously extended their right hands…

Chapter 212: It’s Passable

“Misha, hello.”

“Welcome to Moscow, Sister Ho.”

Both spoke at the same time, shaking hands.

After the introductions, Wang Ye turned and led Ho Chiu-ying and her two assistants out.

As soon as they stepped out of the hall, Ho Chiu-ying saw a row of sleek black Mercedes G-Class SUVs parked by the road—about ten of them!

She wasn’t particularly impressed by the luxury cars themselves. After all, she had seen plenty of them before. Not just Mercedes G-Class, but even Rolls-Royces and Maybachs—her family’s conglomerate had plenty of those, even using them as shuttle vehicles to pick up VIP guests at their casinos.

What surprised Ho Chiu-ying was the sight of two towering, muscular men—each nearly two meters tall—standing beside every single one of those black G-Class SUVs!

Even more outrageous, these burly men were fully armed, each carrying an AK-74, their faces stern and unapproachable…

“Let’s get in the car. We’ll head straight to my hotel—that’s where Moscow’s only gambling and entertainment center will be,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Ho Chiu-ying’s eyelid twitched slightly. She smiled and said, “Misha, your security personnel… they look quite formidable!”

“Oh, them? My conglomerate owns a professional security company. These men are all members of my security team—they’re real warriors! If you ever run into any troublesome issues back home, Sister Ho, feel free to let me know. My security company might just be able to help,” Wang Ye replied calmly.

Looking at those hulking figures, Ho Chiu-ying couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. These Russians really were a fierce bunch by nature.

And this country was just too “free”!

A private security company could legally possess so many weapons and even show up at an airport like this…

Compared to the so-called “underworld” in places like Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, this was like child’s play—there was no comparison!

The Ho family ran casinos, and gambling and the underworld were inseparable.

Though they didn’t openly meddle in underworld affairs, how could they avoid it? Otherwise, how could their casinos operate safely?

Thus, the Ho family’s reputation in the underworld was extremely high—no one dared to provoke them!

But after seeing Mikhail’s grand display today, Ho Chiu-ying felt a little “inferior”…

Was this how they welcomed someone at the airport?

It felt more like they were preparing for war!

………………

Wang Ye and Ho Chiu-ying got into the middle car, sitting together in the back seat. Katya sat in the passenger seat, while Seryosha drove.

Ho Chiu-ying’s two assistants got into the car behind them.

The engines roared to life, and the ten G-Class SUVs pulled out of the airport, heading toward the city.

The spectacle was indeed striking, drawing the attention of passersby.

Sitting in the car, though the ride wasn’t particularly comfortable—the suspension was stiff, making it a bit bumpy—Ho Chiu-ying felt an indescribable sensation…

It was a feeling she had never experienced before, not even when riding in a Rolls-Royce or a private jet.

Gazing out the window at the passing scenery, Ho Chiu-ying felt a surge of emotion.

Being born into the Ho family might make many people envious, thinking she was a lucky child born with a silver spoon. But only those who had lived it understood the troubles of being part of a large family.

Though she had many siblings, Ho Chiu-ying was widely regarded as the most promising successor to the family patriarch.

A graduate of a prestigious university, she had entered the family business early, working in two core conglomerates for nearly twenty years and making significant contributions to their development.

These were her strengths.

But in recent years, things had started to take a turn for the worse.

Especially with the entry of Sands Corporation into Macau, this American gambling giant had begun fierce competition with the Ho family.

They built even more luxurious and high-end hotels, investing tens of billions—even hundreds of billions—of dollars, forcing the Ho family to follow suit or risk losing customers.

Ho Chiu-ying had always been passionate about the gambling industry—it was an industry where you could lie back and count money, making it hard to find interest in anything else…

Since business at home had become difficult, she began looking for other opportunities, hoping to expand into other countries—just like Sands had done.

Thus, her gaze turned to regions beyond Macau and mainland China—Southeast Asia, Europe, and elsewhere.

But this wasn’t easy. After all, there weren’t many places in the world where gambling was legal, and those that were had already been taken over by local powers. How could an outsider like her break in?

Just yesterday, Ho Chiu-ying received some exciting news—someone in Russia had obtained a legal gambling license and was looking for foreign partners!

How could she pass up such a golden opportunity?

And so, she found herself in Moscow today…

What made her even happier was that this potential partner had half “Chinese blood,” making him a fellow countryman of sorts. This made everything feel more familiar.

After landing, she had witnessed her partner’s “strength,” and her anticipation for their cooperation grew even stronger.

…………

The convoy arrived at the Little Eagle Hotel, pulling up one by one.

With the sound of doors opening and closing, Wang Ye, Ho Chiu-ying, and the others got out of the cars.

“This is the Little Eagle Hotel, one of my properties. It’s currently a hotel, but I plan to turn it into a gambling and entertainment center. What do you think, Sister Ho? Is it suitable?” Wang Ye introduced with a smile.

Ho Chiu-ying looked up at the height of the Little Eagle Hotel, then surveyed the surroundings before nodding in satisfaction.

It was a standalone compound, and the tallest building in the area.

The lower floors had enough space to be converted into various gambling and entertainment halls, while the upper floors could serve as accommodations. The only downside was that the building’s design wasn’t flashy enough—otherwise, it was perfect.

She turned to Wang Ye beside her and said, “This place is good! It might look a little plain, but the main structure is large enough. A renovation should make it work.”

She was well-traveled, having seen not only the casinos in Macau but also frequently visiting Las Vegas for research.

The Little Eagle Hotel was… passable. It would do, barely…

Wang Ye had already anticipated Ho Chiu-ying’s reaction. Of course, he knew that compared to super-casinos like Genting, Sands, or New Macau, the Little Eagle Hotel was nothing special.

But there was nothing he could do about it. Building a new hotel from scratch would take too long, so he had to make do with renovating the Little Eagle Hotel.

Fortunately, in Russia, he held the only gambling license—a monopoly with no competition…

Chapter 213: A Lesson for Wang Ye

Yuri had just returned from St. Petersburg today, too busy to rest before heading straight to work at the hotel.

By now, he had already led the hotel’s management team out to greet them.

After mutual introductions, Yuri escorted Ho Chiu-ying on another tour of the Little Eagle Hotel.

The current slot machine hall was hardly impressive to her.

With fewer than a hundred machines, it was practically a joke. In the major casinos under her control, even the smallest had over a thousand slot machines—some even two or three thousand!

As for other amenities, Macau had everything, while the Little Eagle Hotel had nothing.

But she understood—this was precisely why Mikhail wanted to partner with her. If everything were already in place, there would be no need to invite her over…

…

After the tour, they returned to Wang Ye’s top-floor office.

Only the core members remained: Wang Ye, Katya, Yuri, Ho Chiu-ying, and her two assistants.

They were about to begin the formal three-on-three negotiations.

The rest of the staff had dispersed to their duties.

“Misha, how exactly do you plan to cooperate?” Ho Chiu-ying asked, her posture bold as she lounged back in the sofa, legs crossed like a man.

Of course, this was only possible because she was wearing pants. If she had been in a skirt, she probably wouldn’t have dared…

Wang Ye replied, “I’ll provide the gambling license, the venue, and the necessary funds. The partner we bring in only needs to supply some skilled staff, along with training and management expertise. Naturally, the casino equipment will also need to be provided by you.”

Ho Chiu-ying frowned. If they followed Wang Ye’s proposal, she wouldn’t get much of a stake.

After all, Wang Ye’s side already had all the essentials prepared.

Providing just staff and training would leave her with a pitifully small share…

This was not the outcome she wanted!

“Mr. Mikhail, aside from this hotel, do you have other venues ready? Could you provide some documents for me to review? Also, if the venues require full renovations, how much funding have you prepared?” Ho Chiu-ying asked seriously.

Wang Ye responded, “Two other locations have been selected and are in the process of acquisition. One is a department store in St. Petersburg, and the other is Livadia Palace in Yalta on the Crimean Peninsula! Yuri, show Miss Ho the documents for the department store.”

Yuri quickly pulled several pages of documents and large photos from a folder and handed them to Ho Chiu-ying.

As for Livadia Palace, Wang Ye didn’t need to introduce it further. Ho Chiu-ying turned to her assistant and whispered a few words. The assistant took out a laptop from her briefcase, opened it, and began searching.

After scrutinizing the department store documents for a while, Ho Chiu-ying finally spoke, “This location… has a decent geographical position, and the building itself isn’t in bad shape. However, there doesn’t seem to be any lodging space. We’ll need to acquire a separate hotel nearby for accommodations.”

Then, she took the laptop and reviewed the information her assistant had found on Livadia Palace. This time, she nodded in satisfaction. “This place is excellent! Great location, beautiful scenery, and close to the beach—perfect for a gambling entertainment center.”

Wang Ye sighed, “St. Petersburg and Moscow are Russia’s economic and political hubs. It’s difficult to find ideal locations in such a short time. My suggestion is to start with these three venues. If needed, we can purchase land and build more later.”

Ho Chiu-ying nodded in understanding.

This was normal. Once they had the gambling license, they needed to open as soon as possible. This was a money-making machine—any delay meant lost profits!

And these three locations weren’t bad. Not top-tier, but acceptable.

“So, do you have the funds ready?” Ho Chiu-ying pressed.

Wang Ye smiled. “Two hundred million U.S. dollars are already in the group’s account. I estimate the acquisition of these two locations won’t exceed twenty million. That leaves one hundred and eighty million for renovations, promotions, and operations.”

He thought this should be more than enough. Surely Ho Chiu-ying wouldn’t have much to say.

But to his surprise, she shook her head repeatedly. “Not enough. Far from it.”

Wang Ye was stunned. “One hundred and eighty million isn’t enough? We don’t need overly luxurious renovations. After all, tourists don’t come for the hotel’s opulence—they come to gamble.”

Ho Chiu-ying smiled and explained, “Mr. Mikhail, you probably haven’t studied the gambling industry before. You should know that whether in Macau or Las Vegas, our casinos are built to be breathtakingly luxurious. Do you know why?”

Wang Ye truly didn’t know…

After all, in his “previous life,” he had never been to such places—only catching glimpses in news reports.

“That’s because we need to create an atmosphere for the guests! An atmosphere where money is no object! We want them to feel like they’re in the most luxurious place, where spending too little would be embarrassing! Those in the gambling business must cultivate that atmosphere. Only then will guests lose themselves and spend recklessly. This is the experience we’ve gained over decades in the industry…”

Ho Chiu-ying had just given Wang Ye a lesson, but her words made sense.

As the saying goes, every profession has its secrets. Wang Ye was new to the gambling industry and naturally didn’t understand many of its intricacies.

Fortunately, he had brought in Ho Chiu-ying, an “expert.” Otherwise, this gambling license might not have been put to good use…

Wang Ye had one virtue—he wasn’t overly arrogant. He believed in leaving professional matters to professionals.

After Ho Chiu-ying’s explanation, he humbly asked, “Then, Miss Ho, how much funding do you think we need to launch this project?”

Ho Chiu-ying thought for a moment before stating firmly, “After accounting for the acquisition costs, we’ll need at least three hundred million U.S. dollars. Starting three venues at once will indeed require a lot of capital.”

Wang Ye was taken aback. Three hundred million…

He hesitated. “Three hundred million just for renovations? Do we really need that much?”

Ho Chiu-ying smiled slightly and patiently explained, “Casino renovations are a bottomless pit! No matter how much you prepare, it can all be spent. If you want, you could even pave the entire casino floor with gold bricks…”

Wang Ye shook his head helplessly. “Let’s be a bit more frugal. That’s all the funds I can access right now.”

Ho Chiu-ying had been waiting for him to say that!

So she immediately replied, “No problem. I can cover the shortfall!”

Chapter 214: I’ll Cover the Shortfall

According to Ho Chiu-ying’s estimate, the funding gap for the three hundred million US dollars was around one hundred and twenty million US dollars.

Ho Chiu-ying was willing to cover this shortfall!

Because by contributing this amount, her share in the Little Eagle Group would reach a more ideal proportion!

Business was like this—where there was profit to be made, everyone would be eager to invest. If you didn’t let her contribute, she wouldn’t be happy…

The Little Eagle Group was clearly a “big pie,” and Ho Chiu-ying had the chance to take a slice. Naturally, she wouldn’t let it slip away.

Wang Ye pondered for a moment, feeling that he needed to consider this carefully. He couldn’t agree so readily.

With a smile, he said, “How about this, Miss Ho? Your group can prepare a proposal outlining the renovation specifications, budget, and future operational plans. I need some time to think it over.”

This was only reasonable. After all, Wang Ye still held the initiative.

He had the gambling license, the venue, and the funds.

In all of Russia, if someone wanted to enter the gambling business, they had no choice but to cooperate with him.

And he had more options than just the Ho family…

In terms of professionalism, gambling giants like the Sands Corporation in Las Vegas were no worse.

Ho Chiu-ying nodded in understanding. This was a deal worth hundreds of millions of US dollars—it couldn’t be decided after just a few words in a meeting.

If she wanted to secure her “ticket in,” she had to show sufficient sincerity and demonstrate her professionalism!

“Alright, Mr. Mikhail. We’ll prepare the proposal as soon as possible,” she replied with a nod.

…

After discussing these matters, Wang Ye had Katya bring over the gambling license for Ho Chiu-ying to review.

One of Ho Chiu-ying’s assistants, presumably fluent in Russian, sat beside her and translated the contents of the license.

The details matched what Wang Ye had mentioned over the phone.

After reading it, Ho Chiu-ying nodded in satisfaction.

If the cooperation could be finalized, then according to Ho Chiu-ying’s plan, these three casinos would attract tourists from both Asia and Europe!

Russia itself was a vast country spanning two continents, with an enormous land area!

Moreover, Moscow and St. Petersburg were relatively close to many European countries, making it convenient for tourists from there to visit.

As for whether it would take away some Chinese tourists, Ho Chiu-ying wasn’t concerned.

After all, Macau was still the closest to the mainland. If convenience was the priority, most gamblers would still choose Macau first.

For those who wanted to travel abroad and gamble along the way, they could do as they pleased—there was no stopping them.

And Russia would attract exactly these kinds of tourists…

Lunch was eaten in the hotel’s Western restaurant. Afterward, Ho Chiu-ying and her team checked into their arranged suites to prepare.

On one hand, they needed to report and discuss with their counterparts in Macau, and on the other, they had to organize a team to quickly draft the proposal.

Technically, all of this could be done after returning to Macau, but Ho Chiu-ying was in a hurry. She wanted to settle everything within these few days!

The longer it dragged on, the more uncertainties there would be…

What if she returned to Macau, and then Mikhail started negotiating with someone like the Sands Corporation? If they swooped in and stole the opportunity, the blow to her would be too great!

So, unless this deal was finalized, she wasn’t leaving…

…

With Ho Chiu-ying and her team busy, Wang Ye had nothing to do.

He returned to his large suite, embraced Katya, and took a nap…

When he woke up, it was already past three in the afternoon. Katya was nowhere to be seen—she had probably gotten up to work.

Feeling refreshed, he got dressed and went downstairs to call Seryosha, preparing to visit the Sun Market.

But as soon as he reached the lobby, he ran into Anton.

“Sir, the paperwork for the security company has been completed. Over the past two days, I’ve been recruiting, and we already have over seventy employees. As for weapons, we’ve procured a batch. However, the security company’s office is still temporarily located here at the Little Eagle Hotel, which isn’t very convenient for training.”

“Buy a large compound in the suburbs near the Sun Market. It needs to be big enough. In the future, the security company’s base will be set up there, making training more convenient,” Wang Ye said casually.

The Wagner Security Company was no ordinary company, and its employees were no ordinary people…

They required daily training, including live-fire exercises!

It wouldn’t be appropriate to have that in the city, so the suburbs were the only option. It would be much more convenient there.

In the suburbs of Moscow, there were plenty of such large compounds, and the prices weren’t expensive.

So buying one to serve as the security company’s base was the perfect solution. As long as money could solve the problem, it wasn’t a problem!

…

When heading to the company, Wang Ye didn’t make a big show of it. He still only had two large G-class Mercedes in his convoy, with just four bodyguards…

As soon as he arrived at the company, before even entering his office, Boss Kong came rushing down the hallway, his face beaming.

Originally, he was already a heavy man with small eyes, and now with his face scrunched up in a smile, his eyes were almost invisible…

“President, President…” Boss Kong panted.

Wang Ye stopped and asked with a smile, “What’s the matter, Boss Kong? Why are you in such a hurry?”

“Word is that Miss Ho from the Ho family is here today?” Boss Kong asked curiously.

Wang Ye nodded. “Yes, she’s been taken to the Little Eagle Hotel. Why, do you know her?”

Boss Kong quickly waved his hands. “How could I have the honor of knowing her? It’s just that… she’s acquainted with an old friend of mine. Now that she’s in Moscow, I was thinking, maybe I should invite her to dinner or something. I just don’t know if Miss Ho would give me the time of day.”

He beat around the bush, but Wang Ye saw right through his true intentions.

Wang Ye looked at Boss Kong and smiled, making Boss Kong feel a little uneasy…

“Let’s talk in my office,” Wang Ye said, turning and heading to his office, with Boss Kong hurriedly following.

…

After sitting down, Boss Kong looked at Wang Ye nervously, wondering what he wanted to discuss.

Wang Ye calmly lit a Black Russian cigarette and pushed the pack toward Boss Kong, who took one and lit it as well.

After a few puffs, Wang Ye suddenly asked, “Boss Kong, aren’t you interested in my gambling business?”

At the mention of this, Boss Kong immediately perked up.

He straightened his back and pounded his chest in loyalty:

“I, Kong, don’t mean anything else. I just heard that your business over there is just getting started and needs help.

Of course, it might also need some funding.

So I was thinking, maybe I could lend a hand?

Besides, any business you’re involved in, President, is bound to be a big earner.

I just want to hitch a ride, hehe.”

Chapter 215: A New Perspective

In the end, Boss Kong wanted to get involved.

This was the gambling industry!

Even a fool knew how profitable this business was, let alone the fact that this was the only gambling license in all of Russia!

Investing even a little would yield massive returns in the future!

Of course, that was only if Wang Ye allowed him to invest…

By now, Boss Kong had completely submitted to Wang Ye. He knew Wang Ye’s true identity.

At first, he had been a little resentful, thinking Wang Ye had just been lucky—saving Khovansky once and becoming the president of the Sun Market Group.

But everything that happened afterward made Boss Kong feel like he had “failed to recognize Mount Tai”…

Changing the rules, offering free services, dealing with the Russians, securing the gambling license—this series of moves left Boss Kong dazzled and full of admiration!

No matter how this young man had done it, it was clear that Wang Ye had become someone Boss Kong could never hope to match!

…

Hearing Boss Kong say this, Wang Ye took a deep drag of his cigarette, slowly exhaling a smoke ring. His face was shrouded in the curling smoke, making him seem a little hazy.

Boss Kong was on edge, afraid Wang Ye would reject him outright.

After about a minute, Wang Ye finally spoke: “You want to invest in the Little Eagle Group?”

Boss Kong quickly nodded, his face still wearing an ingratiating smile.

“Then what can you do for the Little Eagle Group? I can tell you, they don’t lack money or space. Once we reach a cooperation agreement with Miss Ho, they won’t lack people either. Are you expecting to just lie back and collect dividends?” Wang Ye said, half-smiling.

Truthfully, Wang Ye didn’t dislike Boss Kong, but that didn’t mean he was willing to just hand over a piece of his “cake”…

If someone wanted a share, they had to prove they could make the cake even bigger!

The Little Eagle Hotel didn’t keep idle hands!

Unless they were beautiful women…

Of course, Boss Kong was neither a woman nor anywhere close to “beautiful.”

So Wang Ye said this to make him back down.

Sure enough, Boss Kong grew anxious. Though the weather wasn’t hot, beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

Scratching his head, Boss Kong racked his brain, trying to think of what he could contribute…

Wang Ye, meanwhile, calmly smoked his cigarette, saying nothing.

After a moment, a light bulb went off in Boss Kong’s mind. His eyes lit up—he had an idea!

“President, the casino has both the hardware and software, and you definitely don’t lack money. But even if the casino is luxurious and professional, it still needs customers! Are you confident you can attract enough of them?” he asked with a smile.

Wang Ye was slightly taken aback. “The group has a promotional budget. We’ll advertise in many countries later,” he said offhandedly.

With such a large investment and no domestic advertising allowed, they naturally had to set aside enough funds to attract foreign customers…

This was something Wang Ye and Ho Chiu-ying had discussed during their negotiations.

“Hehe, but Moscow already has plenty of high-quality customers!” Boss Kong said cunningly.

Wang Ye chuckled. This guy wasn’t entirely dim—he had thought of the Chinese business owners at the Sun Market.

But Wang Ye had already considered this…

He nodded. “I know. There are tens of thousands of Chinese business owners between the Sun Market and ACT Market. We’ll just place ads in Chinese newspapers, and they’ll find out.”

Wang Ye felt a little reluctant to lure Chinese business owners into gambling.

Of course, once the casino was up and running, whether those business owners went or not was up to them—Wang Ye couldn’t control that…

Boss Kong shook his head, emphasizing his point. “President, you might not know, but these guys love gambling! They don’t have any other entertainment here, so they gather in the evenings to play cards and mahjong—big stakes! Most of them play, and it’s common for people to lose everything and mortgage their goods!”

This surprised Wang Ye. He really didn’t know much about these business owners.

But thinking about it, it made sense. The internet wasn’t developed yet, and phones were still basic.

These business owners had traveled thousands of miles to do business here, mostly alone, with piles of cash in hand.

They didn’t dare go to Russian bars or nightclubs for entertainment.

Stuck at home watching TV? The shows were all in Russian—they couldn’t understand a word…

So they could only gather to play cards and mahjong to pass the time.

But without stakes, the game wouldn’t be exciting.

And since they were all business owners who cared about face, small bets wouldn’t do…

If you ever saw these Chinese business tycoons playing cards, you’d be shocked.

Stacks of cash were piled on the table!

Rubles? Only five-hundred and one-thousand notes!

Dollars? Only Franklins!

…

“Heh, that’s interesting. So what’s your idea?” Wang Ye asked with a smile.

Boss Kong immediately launched into an enthusiastic explanation:

“Since these guys love excitement and have money, we can’t let all these high-quality customers slip away.

Here’s what I’m thinking—we rent or buy some luxury minibuses. In the late afternoon, right before they get off work, we park them in our market’s parking lot and take them straight to the Little Eagle Hotel.

Food, drinks, entertainment—all in one place!

It’s got everything, it’s safe, and it’s a hundred times better than them cramming into rental apartments to play on their own!

And if they run out of money while playing, we can lend it to them directly.

How much we lend depends on their business scale and repayment ability—we’ve got all that data, after all.”

Wang Ye was genuinely impressed with Boss Kong.

He hadn’t expected this guy to be so meticulous!

In this day and age, he already understood the essence of the “service industry”…

He had even come up with a “credit loan” scheme. Honestly, it was a waste to have him working at the Large Market!

After Boss Kong finished, he glanced at Wang Ye’s expression and cautiously asked, “President, what do you think of my idea?”

Wang Ye thought for a moment before replying, “Here’s the thing—the Little Eagle Group won’t let you invest.”

“Ah…” Boss Kong’s face immediately twisted in disappointment. All that effort for nothing.

“Haha, don’t rush. Even if you can’t invest, you can still take on part of the business—lending! Of course, this isn’t free. You’ll also be responsible for transporting customers from the market, just like you said—luxury minibuses and all.”

Since they were running a casino, they couldn’t avoid having loan sharks…

Wang Ye didn’t want to get involved in that, so he’d leave it to Boss Kong!

Chapter 216: One More Decisive Than the Other

No matter how many excuses he made, Wang Ye still had his own “bottom line.”

He wouldn’t stop his fellow countrymen from going to gamble, but he also didn’t want to, as Boss Kong had suggested, go out of his way to “lure” or “tempt” Chinese business owners into the casinos…

Doing such things too often would surely bring bad karma!

If someone had to do it, let Boss Kong be the villain!

So, Wang Ye directly “outsourced” the “wash code” business to Boss Kong.

This way, he killed two birds with one stone—not only did he win over Boss Kong, but he also helped his own casino increase its income. Why not?

…

Boss Kong left in high spirits, leaving Wang Ye alone in the office.

He replayed the negotiation with Ho Chiu-ying in his mind and vaguely felt like he had been led by her.

Indeed, running a casino was a highly specialized matter, and Ho Chiu-ying was undoubtedly far more professional than he was.

So, during the negotiation, she had taken the initiative, and he couldn’t even find a way to refute her points.

As for Ho Chiu-ying saying that his prepared funds were insufficient and that he actually needed three hundred million U.S. dollars, Wang Ye felt it wasn’t that simple.

Perhaps Ho Chiu-ying had her own motives for saying that.

And what motives?

Obviously, to increase her share of the equity!

Wang Ye could understand this—if he were in her position, he might do the same…

The key issue now was, if Ho Chiu-ying’s side provided the management team and an additional one hundred and twenty million U.S. dollars, how much equity should he give her?

Wang Ye wasn’t stingy, but he wasn’t a “philanthropist” either!

Control of the Little Eagle Hotel had to remain firmly in his hands…

…

The next day, Wang Ye received a call from Ho Chiu-ying, asking to meet again to discuss further, saying that the business plan had been prepared.

The efficiency was indeed astonishing, but upon reflection, it made sense.

The Ho family had been in the gambling industry for so many years, and the group had plenty of relevant talent. Putting together a casino business plan might even be beneath them.

Wang Ye readily agreed.

At three o’clock in the afternoon, once again in Wang Ye’s office at the Little Eagle Hotel, he and Ho Chiu-ying sat face-to-face to negotiate.

First, he reviewed the business plan Ho Chiu-ying had just prepared. The content was rigorous, covering everything from renovation planning to staff training to grand opening promotions—each with corresponding solutions.

Even though Wang Ye wasn’t very familiar with the industry, he could roughly tell that if they followed this plan, there probably wouldn’t be any major issues.

Of course, Wang Ye noticed that the renovation budget was set at two hundred million U.S. dollars, while the operating costs, including promotions, were one hundred million U.S. dollars!

Sure enough, Ho Chiu-ying had based the plan on a three hundred million U.S. dollar budget.

With this budget, Wang Ye’s three casinos would indeed be quite luxurious, on par with most five-star hotels.

Closing the business plan, Wang Ye smiled and said, “Not bad, very professional!”

Ho Chiu-ying immediately replied, “Then, Mr. Mikhail, do you agree with this plan? If so, we can proceed with the negotiations based on this.”

“No problem, let’s proceed with this,” Wang Ye agreed readily.

“Actually, the only thing left to discuss is the equity issue. Once that’s settled, I’ll immediately assemble a team and send them over to prepare. From then on, Mr. Mikhail, you won’t need to worry about anything—just watch. I guarantee everything will be ready for a smooth opening in the shortest time possible!” Ho Chiu-ying said confidently.

Wang Ye believed her.

Originally, he hadn’t planned to handle these matters himself—renovations, purchasing gambling equipment, training staff, and so on.

Otherwise, why bring in a partner?

“So, Miss Ho, what percentage of equity do you think you should have?” Wang Ye asked calmly.

He intended to hear Ho Chiu-ying’s thoughts first—this was also a way to test her.

If Ho Chiu-ying demanded an exorbitant amount, something Wang Ye couldn’t accept, he might reconsider whether to cooperate with her…

“We at the Macau Entertainment Group will invest one hundred and twenty million U.S. dollars and assemble a management and operations team for the three casinos, handling everything from renovations to post-opening operations. This is our contribution, so I believe a twenty percent stake would be appropriate,” Ho Chiu-ying said smoothly.

Wang Ye was taken aback—twenty percent?

This wasn’t too high; it was actually a bit low…

According to Ho Chiu-ying, what had Wang Ye contributed?

The gambling license, the Little Eagle Hotel, and two hundred million U.S. dollars—that was it…

But Ho Chiu-ying believed that what Wang Ye had contributed was worth eighty percent of the equity!

“Miss Ho, how did you arrive at this percentage?” Wang Ye asked curiously.

Ho Chiu-ying smiled slightly and explained:

“I value the gambling license at two hundred million U.S. dollars!

The Little Eagle Hotel is worth one hundred million U.S. dollars, plus your two hundred million in cash, totaling five hundred million U.S. dollars.

But you also have many intangible assets!

For example, your security team ensures the casino operates smoothly without external interference.

And your uncle, as well as his influence in the Russian business and political circles!

I value this part at three hundred million U.S. dollars!

So, in the entire gambling group, your side is effectively contributing eight hundred million U.S. dollars.

As for the Macau Entertainment Group, one hundred and twenty million U.S. dollars in cash, plus a management team and staff valued at eighty million U.S. dollars, totaling two hundred million U.S. dollars.

That’s why the Macau Entertainment Group should have a twenty percent stake.”

Wang Ye nodded with a smile and said without hesitation, “Very well! Then let’s proceed with that—you’ll have a twenty percent stake!”

Both of them were so decisive that the negotiation seemed to end before it even began…

Ho Chiu-ying was very shrewd. She had deliberately inflated the value of Wang Ye’s contributions, making it seem like he was getting a good deal.

But the truth was, she wasn’t losing out either!

Her primary goal was to successfully invest in the Little Eagle Group and expand her family’s gambling business.

As long as she achieved this goal, honestly, as long as this investment didn’t lose money, it would be her greatest victory!

This would enhance her influence within the family’s conglomerate, increase her prestige, and add weight to her future succession of the old man’s position!

Getting a twenty percent stake was already an unexpected bonus. Her psychological threshold was actually no lower than fifteen percent.

“Then… pleasant cooperation!” Ho Chiu-ying happily extended her right hand.

Clearly, Wang Ye’s quick agreement, without even negotiating, was somewhat surprising to her.

“Pleasant cooperation. The rest is up to you, Sister Ho!”

Wang Ye also extended his hand, and the two shook firmly together.

Chapter 217: Don’t Be Too Harsh

The cooperation was successfully negotiated, and everyone was pleased.

Ho Chiu-ying was decisive in her actions and did not waste any more time. That very evening, she flew back to Macau.

She had a lot of work to do there, such as raising funds, assembling a team, hiring a specialized design company to design the three properties based on Wang Ye’s side, and subsequent renovations and reconstructions.

After some time, a team from the Macau Entertainment Group would come to Moscow to take over the follow-up matters.

Of course, Wang Ye wasn’t completely idle either.

At the very least, he needed to quickly acquire the two properties in St. Petersburg and Crimea…

After Ho Chiu-ying left, Yuri also rushed to St. Petersburg to formally begin the acquisition of the department store on behalf of the Little Eagle Group.

Then, they would look for a suitable building near the department store that could be converted into a hotel and acquire it together.

…

On the morning of June 6th, Wang Ye did not go to the company. Instead, he went to the train station with Alyona because Natalia had arrived!

The Moscow train station was a massive building, but it was old. A row of huge Roman columns stood in front of the entrance. The number of people coming and going was not large, completely lacking the bustling crowds of domestic train stations.

Wang Ye and Alyona stood side by side outside the exit, waiting for Natalia’s arrival.

Not far from them, on the side of the road, Seryosha and three other bodyguards sat in two cars, vigilantly observing the surroundings.

Before long, people began to come out of the exit one after another, indicating that a train had arrived.

“Natalia should be coming out soon. The train she’s on is this one!” Alyona said happily, standing on her tiptoes to look inside.

“Taking the train is quite slow, isn’t it? Why didn’t she…” Wang Ye started to say but stopped himself halfway.

He had been about to suggest flying, but then he thought about it. There was no airport in Yalta…

As for driving, to be honest, with Natalia’s old car, it would probably break down before reaching Moscow.

So taking the train was quite a wise choice…

As they were speaking, Alyona suddenly raised her arm and waved it repeatedly.

Wang Ye followed her gaze and immediately saw Natalia, but his eyebrows furrowed…

…

“I’ve already told you, I have friends coming to pick me up, so I don’t need you to send me off. Also, I warn you, don’t pester me anymore, or I won’t be nice to you!” Natalia said impatiently to a young Russian man beside her.

This young man had been sitting across from Natalia on the train and had been pestering her the whole way.

Clearly, he had some ideas about Natalia…

But unfortunately, Natalia was not interested in him at all.

He was clearly one of those common young thugs in Russia these days, with a shaved head, a tattoo on his chest, and wearing Adidas…

In Russia, the two major sports giants, Adidas and Nike, Adidas was crushing Nike!

Here, if a young man wore a full set of Adidas, walking down the street, he would be the coolest kid!

Of course, this was only for ordinary people. Truly wealthy people would not wear Adidas anymore.

“Hey, don’t lie to me. You’re from Crimea, right? What friends could you have in Moscow? I’ve told you, I know this place very well. I’m a native Muscovite! Oh, and I have a car, a Toyota! If you want to go somewhere, I can drive you. It’s not easy to get a taxi here. Those dark-haired people love to rip off outsiders,” the young man said with a grin, his breath reeking of alcohol, which Natalia found disgusting.

It seemed that no matter which country, these young thugs were all the same.

At this moment, Wang Ye and Alyona had already come forward.

The two girls hugged each other tightly, while Wang Ye looked at the young man.

He smiled and said, “Hello, we are her friends. Do you have any other business? If not, you can leave.”

Natalia quickly said beside him, “I don’t know him. Tell him to leave quickly!”

The young man looked at Wang Ye with a smirk and squinted his eyes, asking, “Chinese? Vietnamese?”

In Moscow, among Asians, the most numerous were Chinese and Vietnamese, who came to do business. There were many Vietnamese bosses in the Large Market.

Wang Ye shook his head and replied with a smile, “I am Russian.”

The young man spat on the ground with a “ptui” sound and said disdainfully, “Dark-haired, get out of our country!”

Wang Ye took a step back in disgust, afraid that this guy’s spit would splash on him. How disgusting…

As a result, when he took a step back, the young man thought Wang Ye was afraid of him and became even more aggressive.

He took a step forward, stretching his head towards Wang Ye, and cursed, “Sukabure, you dark-haired people are disgusting! You should all be killed…”

Clearly, this was one of those legendary “skinheads”…

Wang Ye smelled a strong odor of alcohol and saw that the man’s face was flushed. It seemed he had drunk a lot of vodka.

Wang Ye really wanted to give him a slap to wake him up.

But what was his status now!

Fighting with such a person on the street would be too embarrassing…

Before Wang Ye could figure out how to teach this skinhead a lesson, he heard heavy footsteps behind him, accompanied by Seryosha’s deep voice.

“Boss, you go to the car first. Leave this to me.”

Obviously, the scene just now had been seen by Seryosha and the others in the car. Seryosha and two other bodyguards immediately rushed down, leaving one bodyguard by the car to watch it. The four of them had a clear division of labor.

The sudden appearance of these three burly men not only stunned the skinhead but also Natalia.

Because Seryosha and the others clearly didn’t look like good people. Each of them was over 1.9 meters tall, wearing tight camouflage uniforms, and their muscles were almost bursting out…

Alyona pulled Natalia forward without even glancing at the skinhead.

Wang Ye also took two steps back, nodded slightly, and said in a deep voice, “Teach him a lesson. Just don’t be too harsh.”

The last sentence was something he specifically said because Wang Ye was afraid that if he didn’t say it, Seryosha and the others might beat the skinhead to death…

…

The skinhead seemed to have drunk a bit too much and still didn’t understand the situation.

He looked up at Seryosha and said in a daze, “Who are you?”

Seeing that Wang Ye, Alyona, and Natalia had already walked away, Seryosha grinned and said, “Sukabure!”

He reached out and grabbed the skinhead’s neck, pressing him to the ground.

The two bodyguards behind him also came forward, and the three of them, wearing hard-soled leather boots, started stomping…

Chapter 218: Poor Manners Lead to a Beating

The young man was jolted awake by a flurry of kicks, clutching his head as he howled in pain. Through the gaps between Seryosha and the other two, he spotted two Russian police officers nearby and immediately saw them as his saviors.

He shouted at the top of his lungs, “Help! Someone’s beating me up!”

The two officers had already noticed the commotion from a distance and were heading over to investigate. But as they drew closer and got a good look at Seryosha and his companions, they hesitated. Then, spotting the two black Mercedes G-Class vehicles parked by the roadside, they decided it was best not to get involved.

Fights were a common sight on the streets of Moscow. Groups of young men often gathered to drink and socialize, and before they knew it, fists would start flying. It wasn’t unusual to see people with bruised faces and bloody noses, but the Russians had one redeeming quality—they usually settled their disputes with their fists alone, no weapons involved. And once the fight was over, that was the end of it; no one ever called the police.

Of course, this only applied to conflicts among their own people. It didn’t include the radical “skinheads” who targeted foreigners.

Hearing the young man’s cries for help, the two officers exchanged a glance, then turned away in unison, pretending they hadn’t heard a thing.

Seryosha and his companions didn’t go too far. After giving the young man a thorough kicking, leaving him bruised and battered, they stopped. Seryosha bent down and patted the young man’s face, warning him, “Kid, watch your mouth in public. Have some manners and don’t spit on the ground!”

With that, the three of them turned and walked away, leaving the young man sitting dumbfounded on the ground. So, he had just been beaten up for spitting in public…

In the car, Wang Ye sat in the passenger seat while Alyona and Natalia sat in the back. Natalia had been watching through the window as Seryosha and the others beat up the young man. Now, seeing them return, she quickly turned her head.

She asked Alyona in surprise, “Who are those three?”

“They’re Misha’s bodyguards,” Alyona replied matter-of-factly.

Natalia glanced at Wang Ye in disbelief. Just over a month ago, when Wang Ye and Alyona had returned to Yalta together, he hadn’t seemed like someone who could afford bodyguards. Back then, he had been a small businessman with a bit of money, driving a newly purchased Lexus that barely qualified as a luxury car. It was clear he had only recently come into some money.

But now, after just a little over a month, he had bodyguards? Remembering what Alyona had told her on the phone a couple of days ago, Natalia realized it made sense. After all, they were about to acquire Livadia Palace…

How could they not have money?

Seryosha opened the car door and got in, reporting to Wang Ye, “It’s done, boss!”

Wang Ye nodded in approval. Seryosha had handled things well. The young man had been given a good beating, but nothing too serious. This way, they had vented their frustration without causing any real trouble.

“Back to the apartment,” Wang Ye instructed.

If it had been an outsider, they would have gone to the Little Eagle Hotel, where there was plenty of food, lodging, and space. But Natalia was Alyona’s “best friend,” so when she came to Moscow, they had to welcome her into their home to show their closeness.

The two Mercedes G-Class vehicles, one after the other, sped away…

When they arrived at the apartment and stepped inside, Natalia curiously looked around the room. She smiled at Wang Ye and Alyona and said, “This place is nice, but it seems a bit too modest for Misha’s current status, don’t you think?”

It was true. A boss who drove two Mercedes G-Class vehicles and had four bodyguards shouldn’t be living in a small apartment of less than a hundred square meters. It seemed a bit out of place.

This made Natalia wonder if Wang Ye was putting on a front, spending all his money on appearances.

Wang Ye hadn’t actually given much thought to the apartment. It wasn’t that he couldn’t afford a better place—it just wasn’t necessary. The apartment was small, but it was comfortable enough for him and Alyona.

Did he really need to live like Aby, with a huge estate and dozens of servants? He was still under nineteen and wasn’t interested in living like some old aristocrat.

Of course, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t change his mind later and buy a mansion or a castle, but it certainly wasn’t happening now.

Alyona clearly shared Wang Ye’s sentiments. Hearing Natalia’s comment, she smiled and replied, “A smaller place feels more like home.”

Natalia shrugged and didn’t press the issue further.

After freshening up in the bathroom and changing into clean clothes, Natalia looked refreshed and energetic. She went to the living room, where she saw Wang Ye lounging on the sofa watching TV. She walked over, ready to discuss the acquisition of Livadia Palace with him.

Meanwhile, Alyona was busy in the kitchen preparing lunch. With her best friend visiting, she wanted to show off the cooking skills she had recently learned.

“Misha, I’ve already asked around about that matter. The person in charge said it’s possible to sell, but because Livadia Palace has significant historical value, the price won’t be cheap,” Natalia said.

“Oh? Did they say how much?” Wang Ye asked with interest.

“They didn’t specify, but it probably won’t be less than five million US dollars,” Alyona said, frowning.

Clearly, she thought the price was outrageous. Yalta was a small city with a population of less than a hundred thousand, and its tourism industry was in decline. The city’s population was shrinking year by year, and many buildings were falling into disrepair.

Although Livadia Palace was well-known, the local government had long been unwilling to spend money on its upkeep. Now that someone was interested in buying it, they were asking for an exorbitant price. It was just too greedy!

Wang Ye, on the other hand, thought the price was reasonable. After all, in this era, Crimea was still under Ukrainian control, which gave him the opportunity to acquire the place.

Ukraine was notorious for its mismanagement. The so-called “Second Hair,” which had inherited countless advanced military technologies from the former Soviet Union, including two aircraft carriers and a significant number of “nation-destroying eggs,” had a large territory and a sizable population. By all accounts, it should have been one of the world’s leading economic and military powers.

But who would have thought that in just over twenty years, the country would be nearly bankrupt? After 2010, Ukraine became the poorest country in Europe. Its per capita GDP had plummeted from 4,500 US dollars in 1991 to just over 2,000 US dollars, putting it on par with Kosovo and Moldova…

Chapter 219: Trouble Arrives

“If it’s five million, that would be acceptable. But can your city really decide to sell it on its own?” Wang Ye asked with a smile.

“Of course! Crimea is an autonomous republic, and many buildings on the island belong to the republic. Why wouldn’t we be able to decide? As long as the parliament agrees, there’s no problem,” Natalia said proudly.

If that was the case, then this matter would be easy to handle.

Wang Ye calculated that once Yuri had things settled in St. Petersburg, he would go directly to Crimea to buy Livadia Palace.

Yalta was so poor they couldn’t even afford underwear. If he sent them five million US dollars, he didn’t believe they wouldn’t be tempted!

He was too lazy to use his connections for this. After all, it wasn’t much money.

If money could solve the problem, then it was best not to use personal connections, to avoid giving others a handle on him in the future…

In fact, Wang Ye planned to go to Crimea himself later to meet with the powerful figures in charge.

Crimea was currently in an economic crisis. If he developed tourism and gambling there, it would be a major investment, bringing many job opportunities and significant tax revenue to the local area!

If the negotiations went well, he might even get Livadia Palace for free.

“In your place, who really has the final say—the president or the parliament?” Wang Ye asked curiously.

From what he knew, although Crimea was nominally under Ukrainian jurisdiction, it was actually in a “semi-independent” state, a republic with its own president and parliament!

However, it seemed that the president’s side and the parliament’s side were fighting fiercely, so it was really uncertain who had the final say.

Natalia frowned and thought for a long time before hesitantly saying, “I can’t say for sure. Both sides are evenly matched. Sometimes the president has the upper hand, sometimes the parliament…”

As the saying goes, “In shallow waters, there are many turtles.” Crimea had an area of twenty-six thousand square kilometers and a population of less than two million, but its politics were extremely complicated.

The president was pro-Russian but did not advocate for Crimea to be annexed by Russia. Instead, he hoped for independence.

This was understandable. After all, he was currently the head of state!

After independence, he would have even more power and become a true national leader.

If Crimea were annexed by Russia, wouldn’t he be “demoted”?

The parliament, on the other hand, was indecisive. Sometimes the pro-Russian faction had the upper hand, pushing for Crimea to be annexed by Russia.

At other times, the pro-Ukrainian faction had the upper hand, firmly opposing any connection with Russia.

But the parliament had one common goal: to suppress the president and make the parliament the highest authority in Crimea.

So, these two or three factions had fought many battles for power, even creating some ridiculous situations.

Even Natalia, a native of Crimea, found it difficult to explain the local political landscape, as she had not yet come into contact with the true upper echelons.

Wang Ye nodded slightly. It seemed that Crimea was quite chaotic.

But this was also a good thing…

…

After finishing the discussion about acquiring Livadia Palace, Wang Ye turned the topic to Natalia and asked with a smile, “How is your training going? You should be making progress, right? When you go back, you’ll probably get a promotion.”

Natalia proudly raised her head. “Hmph, in the future, please call me Prosecutor Natalia! Also, when you do business in Yalta, you must abide by the law, or don’t blame me for not showing mercy!”

This girl’s appearance and Alyona were of two different styles.

Although both were very beautiful, their styles were completely different.

Alyona had a small face with delicate and exquisite features, while Natalia had a slightly chubby, baby-like face.

Both had large, sapphire-blue eyes…

Wang Ye smiled and did not argue with Natalia.

To be honest, once he entered Crimea, the people he would come into contact with would likely be the top officials of the autonomous region. Natalia, a mere prosecutor, would not have the qualifications to speak with him if it weren’t for her connection with Alyona!

As if remembering something, Natalia suddenly asked, “By the way, is the security in Moscow very bad? Why do you need to hire so many bodyguards? It seems they all carry guns!”

She didn’t know what kind of business Wang Ye was doing and still thought he was running a legitimate hotel.

This question was a bit complicated to explain, so Wang Ye vaguely replied, “It’s just how things are here. Most companies hire security personnel, and there are many security companies, even state-owned ones. Alright, let’s go eat. Try Alyona’s cooking.”

It had to be said that Alyona’s cooking skills had improved significantly over the past few months.

At first, she could only make a few simple dishes, but now she could even make some simple Chinese dishes.

“Where are you training? Do you have a place to stay, or would you rather stay here?” Alyona asked during the meal.

Natalia quickly waved her hand. “That won’t do. We have arranged dormitories. It’s fine to come over on weekends to play, but I can’t stay here during the week. Besides, staying here would be too much of a disturbance to you.”

This wasn’t just politeness; Natalia really didn’t want to stay there.

Mainly, Wang Ye and Alyona were in a romantic relationship, and she, as a girl, didn’t want to be in the middle of that…

Alyona didn’t insist.

After lunch, Wang Ye went to the company to work, leaving Alyona and Natalia to go out and play on their own.

…

As soon as he arrived at the company, Ivan knocked on the door and walked in, looking a bit serious.

“What have you been busy with these past few days?” Wang Ye asked with a smile.

He hadn’t seen much of Ivan lately, but it was also possible that he hadn’t been coming to the company much, and they had just missed each other.

Sitting across from Wang Ye’s desk, Ivan let out a long sigh and shook his head. “I’ve been helping out with some things at the group recently. Mr. Khovansky has been having some trouble.”

The “group” he was referring to must be the Yukos Group, not the Sun Market Group.

Wang Ye frowned upon hearing this and asked, “Uncle is having trouble? What kind of trouble?”

“You know that Mr. Khovansky has always wanted to acquire Aby’s Siberian Oil Company, and both sides have been negotiating. But for some reason, Aby’s side has been hesitant and unable to make a final decision. This matter can’t be dragged on for too long, or there will be problems,” Ivan explained.

This matter still wasn’t settled?

Wang Ye was quite surprised.

Because last time at Aby’s estate, Khovansky, Aby, and Gebrev had discussed this matter.

And at that time, this acquisition had already been in progress for some time.

Now, so much time had passed, and it still hadn’t been finalized!

Wang Ye remembered that when he went to the Kremlin last time, Gebrev had casually brought up the acquisition with him. Combined with Aby’s attitude, it seemed that the Kremlin was involved in this matter…

Chapter 220: No Escape

Wang Ye suspected that the reason Khovansky couldn’t acquire the Siberian Oil Company was because Aby was concerned about the Kremlin’s reaction.

The reason he hadn’t outright refused was because Aby genuinely wanted to sell the Siberian Oil Company…

But there must be some hidden circumstances behind this, otherwise Aby wouldn’t be so hesitant. That wasn’t like him at all!

After a moment of contemplation, Wang Ye sincerely asked Ivan, “What’s Uncle’s stance on this matter?”

“Mr. Khovansky is determined to acquire the Siberian Oil Company! So… he’s been quite troubled lately,” Ivan said helplessly.

Wang Ye remained silent, not offering any opinion.

This wasn’t something he could interfere with yet…

At the very least, until Khovansky consulted him, it was best not to ask.

First, he couldn’t really help, and second, Wang Ye subconsciously wanted to avoid opposing the Kremlin…

After all, no one understood better than Wang Ye what kind of ruthless man the newly appointed great emperor was!

He was still young and didn’t want to “die young”…

…

The next few days passed in a blur of busyness for Wang Ye.

Between the Sun Market Group and the Little Eagle Group, work was endless and complicated.

Though he was someone who believed in delegation, with capable assistants in both companies, many important decisions still required his personal attention.

After two days of leisure with Natalia and Alyona, they went off for training.

Yuri’s progress was smooth. The department store in St. Petersburg had been acquired for eleven million dollars, which wasn’t too expensive.

The place had been struggling for a while, so having someone take it over was a welcome relief.

After securing the department store, Yuri received new orders from Wang Ye and immediately set off for Crimea to discuss the Livadia Palace.

Anton, meanwhile, had purchased a large estate in the suburbs not far from the Sun Market.

Wang Ye had visited once—it was quite nice, with two five-story buildings inside.

It would be more than enough for the security company’s offices and dormitories.

There was plenty of open space both inside and outside the estate, perfect for training security personnel.

Additionally, the Wagner Security Company had been officially registered, and recruitment had exceeded expectations, with one hundred and twenty employees now on board.

This was after Anton’s careful selection. Without control, they could have easily hired over a thousand people…

Of course, even if they could afford it, Wang Ye wouldn’t dare hire that many security personnel.

Having a thousand employees, all armed and with a “base” in the Moscow suburbs, would raise too many eyebrows.

He estimated that within days, the Ministry of Internal Affairs or special forces would come “kicking down the door”…

…

Everything seemed to be going smoothly.

But clearly, for someone destined to become a “great figure” like Wang Ye, the path to success was bound to be fraught with “stormy seas.”

And sure enough, trouble had arrived!

On the afternoon of June 12th, while Wang Ye was working at the Sun Market, he received a call from Khovansky.

Khovansky’s voice on the phone carried a hint of fatigue.

“Misha, are you free tonight?”

“Of course, Uncle, do you need something?” Wang Ye replied immediately.

“Come keep me company for dinner, and we can chat. It’s been a while since we last saw each other, heh.” Khovansky said warmly.

“Alright, I’ll be there around six.” Wang Ye agreed without hesitation.

After hanging up, Wang Ye began to ponder why Khovansky had suddenly asked him over.

It couldn’t just be for a simple dinner and chat.

Could it be…

He was about to pile more responsibilities onto him!

It wasn’t impossible. He had been performing exceptionally well at the Sun Market Group, and with him calling Khovansky “Uncle,” many saw him as the heir apparent.

Seeing how well he was doing, it wouldn’t be surprising if Khovansky gave him more work, perhaps putting him in charge of another company.

At the thought, Wang Ye felt a small thrill of excitement…

Because with Khovansky’s resources, any company he handed over would be no small matter!

…

Around six-thirty in the evening, Wang Ye arrived punctually at the Yukos Building.

The same secretary from last time came down to escort him upstairs.

It was the same private dining room where he had eaten with Khovansky before…

The last time he had seen Khovansky was about half a month ago.

This time, Wang Ye was taken aback. Khovansky looked much worse for wear—his once ruddy complexion was now pale, and dark circles were visible under his eyes.

“Uncle, you look exhausted. Haven’t you been resting well?” Wang Ye asked with concern.

“Heh, it’s nothing. Work’s been busy lately, so I haven’t been getting much rest.” Khovansky dismissed it lightly.

He was a workaholic, the kind who would forget to eat or sleep when immersed in work.

Given his wealth, one would expect him to live in a grand estate with dozens, if not hundreds, of servants attending to him!

But that wasn’t the case. Khovansky often stayed at the company, rarely returning to his apartment, and ate in the company cafeteria.

When it came to enjoying life, Khovansky was far behind Aby…

“Has the company been having any trouble lately?” Wang Ye asked.

He had a rough idea already. A few days ago, Ivan had mentioned it—the acquisition of the Siberian Oil Company was still stuck.

Khovansky must be frustrated.

Sure enough, when Wang Ye asked, Khovansky sighed deeply. “Ah, yes. The company’s most important goal right now is acquiring the Siberian Oil Company, but we haven’t been able to finalize the deal.”

“So what’s the holdup? Is Uncle’s offer not meeting Aby’s expectations? Has he said anything?” Wang Ye frowned.

If the acquisition wasn’t successful but the other party hadn’t refused to sell, the issue was usually the price.

Khovansky shook his head with a bitter smile and patiently explained, “It’s not that simple. If it were just about the price, things would be much easier. You see, the actual ownership of the Siberian Oil Company doesn’t belong to Aby—it belongs to Berezovsky! But the control is in Aby’s hands, so the situation is quite complicated.”

Wang Ye was stunned. He hadn’t known this.

As Khovansky continued to explain, Wang Ye gradually understood the intricacies of the situation.

Chapter 221: The Weight of Responsibility

Most of the assets currently under Aby’s control were not actually his own. They were entrusted to him by his “mentor” and close friend, Berezovsky!

As for why Berezovsky had entrusted them to him, it was naturally because of their strong relationship and Berezovsky’s trust in Aby. On the other hand, it was also out of necessity—Berezovsky had already fled the country…

“So, to acquire the Siberian Oil Company, I need the agreement of both Berezovsky and Aby. Berezovsky’s side is manageable; as long as the price is right, he’s willing to liquidate his assets within Russia. But Aby’s side is more troublesome—his appetite isn’t small either,” Khovansky said with a smile, seemingly displeased with Aby.

In terms of “seniority,” Khovansky and Berezovsky were peers, both once formidable oligarchs. Aby, on the other hand, had been nothing more than a lackey carrying Berezovsky’s bag. Without Berezovsky’s support, there would be no Aby as he was today.

However, Aby had a keen eye and had firmly attached himself to the great emperor’s coattails. Now, he had become the oligarch with the closest ties to the great emperor. Of course, this was also because Khovansky and the other old oligarchs refused to submit to the great emperor, unable to lower their pride.

…

Wang Ye pondered for a moment before cautiously asking, “So, Uncle, have you been negotiating the acquisition with Berezovsky’s side? Is it that Berezovsky’s side has agreed, but Uncle Aby’s side is stuck on some procedural issues, preventing the actual merger from moving forward?”

Khovansky nodded. “Yes, I sent a team to London earlier, and we’ve already reached an agreement with Berezovsky’s side. For sixty billion U.S. dollars, we’ll acquire seventy percent of the Siberian Oil Company’s shares. I even flew over personally to meet him. But since he can’t return to the country—you know why—the legal procedures in Russia are a bit complicated.”

What troubled Khovansky the most was that the acquisition process had hit a dead end. Berezovsky held seventy percent of the Siberian Oil Company’s shares, making him the undisputed largest shareholder. However, he was a “criminal” and had been placed on the national wanted list, so the Siberian Oil Company had been entrusted to Aby for management.

At the same time, Aby was also a shareholder in the company, though his stake was relatively small—only ten percent.

Wang Ye earnestly suggested, “Uncle, I think the key to this matter lies with Uncle Aby. There’s no point in continuing to negotiate with Berezovsky—it’s useless. Just get Uncle Aby on board, and the acquisition should proceed without any issues!”

Khovansky looked at Wang Ye with some surprise and asked with a smile, “Why do you think that? Aby only holds ten percent of the shares, and he doesn’t have decision-making power over Berezovsky’s shares—he’s just managing them.”

Wang Ye helplessly replied, “The key is that Berezovsky has already fled the country. The real person in control of the Siberian Oil Company now is Uncle Aby! If he agrees, there will always be a way to transfer the shares. If he doesn’t, even if Berezovsky says anything, it won’t matter.”

“You mean… bypassing Berezovsky and using certain procedures to take his shares directly? That won’t work. Although it’s possible, my business reputation would be ruined,” Khovansky shook his head repeatedly.

Both were intelligent men. Although Wang Ye’s words were vague, Khovansky understood their meaning immediately. Essentially, it was about taking advantage of Berezovsky’s exile and lack of control over the Siberian Oil Company to “collude” with Aby. All the acquisition funds would go to Aby, who would then cooperate to “forcefully seize” all of Berezovsky’s shares!

This method was feasible in the current Russian climate! But Khovansky didn’t want to do it…

Wang Ye had no choice. He had already told Khovansky the “best,” “most effective,” and perhaps the “only” solution, but Khovansky refused to use it. What else could he do?

“This country can’t continue like this—endless warmongering, rampant corruption! They can’t even solve basic livelihood issues, and business isn’t thriving. Look at these past few years—hardly any foreign investment has come in. This government is incompetent,” Khovansky shook his head again.

Wang Ye was startled. Was Khovansky dissatisfied with the great emperor? Did he want to take his place?! That thought was too dangerous—best not to even consider it!

He couldn’t worry about that now and quickly advised, “Uncle, we’re businessmen. We should focus on our own business. Politics has nothing to do with us. We should have faith in… the great emperor. Given time, everything will improve.”

But Khovansky didn’t agree. Instead, he sneered, “Hmph, you might not know, but it was us who helped him get to where he is! And what happened? Once he had power, he turned on us. I’d like to see how long he can stay in power if the economy doesn’t improve and public anger keeps growing!”

Wang Ye didn’t dare to respond to that topic. Who knew if there were “bugging devices” in this private room where they were chatting? After all, the great emperor had a certain background…

He hoped Khovansky was just venting. He better not actually be planning something, or else not only would Khovansky’s good days be numbered, but Wang Ye himself wouldn’t have the time or space to “develop discreetly” either!

…

The two fell silent for a while, each eating their meal. Perhaps Khovansky hadn’t invited Wang Ye to dinner expecting him to come up with solutions—he just wanted someone to confide in since things hadn’t been going well lately.

After eating, Khovansky set down his knife and fork, took out a napkin, and wiped his mouth. Looking at Wang Ye, he said, “I plan to take a few days off soon to visit my family abroad. But I can’t just drop the Siberian Oil Company acquisition. How about this—you take over for a while. Ivan will assist you; he’s quite familiar with the acquisition. Whether it succeeds or not, you’ll get to meet more people, expand your network, and let others know you exist, haha.”

Wang Ye’s hand froze in mid-air, momentarily stunned. What did Khovansky mean? Entrusting him with the Siberian Oil Company acquisition? The problem was, he hadn’t been involved in this matter at all. What could he possibly do by joining halfway?

Unless… it was truly as Khovansky said, just to help him meet more people…

Chapter 222: Polar Bear Investment Company

That night, after returning home, Wang Ye couldn’t stop thinking about how he had been “set up.”

Perhaps Khovansky had already known the obstacles to this acquisition all along.

But for some reason, he didn’t want to take any “shortcuts.” Not only would that damage his reputation, but it could also lead to endless trouble in the future.

After all, his rise to power was similar to Berezovsky’s—one a former oligarch, the other the current one.

And both men had significant political ambitions.

Berezovsky had once tried to enter politics but failed and was now in exile abroad.

Clearly, Khovansky wanted to give it a try too.

If he failed, he would likely end up like Berezovsky, fleeing overseas…

So, he didn’t want to set the precedent of “seizing” Berezovsky’s shares by force. He didn’t dare to.

He feared that others might do the same to him in the future, and he worried that if he ended up abroad, he might get entangled in legal battles with Berezovsky over this.

But acquiring the Siberian Oil Company was absolutely necessary!

Only by taking over this company could the Yukos Group truly monopolize Russia’s oil extraction and even its imports and exports.

The wealth it would bring was secondary. More importantly, his influence in Russia would skyrocket!

His words would carry far more weight.

This would also lay the foundation for him to challenge the current political landscape.

When the time came to negotiate with the great emperor, he would have enough leverage…

…

With all these considerations, what could he do?

Khovansky’s solution was to hand the matter over to Wang Ye!

Tonight’s dinner conversation was probably just to gauge Wang Ye’s thoughts. As it turned out, they were on the same wavelength—both had thought of this approach.

On the surface, Khovansky had firmly rejected the idea, but who knew what he was really thinking?

Maybe he was secretly delighted!

In the end, the task fell to Wang Ye, and he couldn’t refuse…

After all, Khovansky had said that it didn’t matter whether the deal succeeded or not—it was mainly to give Wang Ye some experience.

And since he was planning to go abroad to visit his family and take a break, who else but his “nephew” Wang Ye could step up?

For both sentimental and logical reasons, Wang Ye couldn’t say no…

…

His mind kept turning over the matter, and Wang Ye couldn’t fall asleep for a long time, tossing and turning until he woke Alyona.

“Misha, what’s wrong? Is something bothering you?” Alyona asked with concern.

Ever since Wang Ye had come home, she could tell he had something on his mind.

Even during their “intimate time,” he had been hasty, nothing like his usual self.

And now he was tossing and turning, unable to sleep. It must be something serious—otherwise, Wang Ye wouldn’t be acting this way.

Hearing Alyona’s question, Wang Ye lay on his back, staring at the ceiling.

Though the room was pitch black and he couldn’t see a thing…

After a long silence, he murmured, “Do you think that once a person makes a choice and sets foot on a certain path, there’s no turning back?”

On the surface, he was asking Alyona, but in reality, he didn’t expect an answer.

Alyona sensed this and turned to face him, propping her head up with her arm.

“Not necessarily. As long as it hasn’t caused any serious consequences, you can change your mind anytime.”

Wang Ye smiled silently. Alyona didn’t understand his worries, and there was no one he could confide in.

Even if he tried, no one would believe him!

From the moment he had turned down Khovansky’s blank check and chosen the shares of the Sun Market Group instead, he had set foot on a “path of no return.”

This path was fraught with danger, but it was also filled with endless possibilities.

The only advantage he had was his knowledge of future trends.

At first, he had tried to avoid getting involved with the Yukos Group, the power struggles among the oligarchs, and the political games at the highest levels.

But clearly, now that he had chosen this path, he couldn’t avoid them…

There was no helping it. He had simply performed too well, and Khovansky had grown increasingly fond of him, entrusting him with more and more important tasks.

This acquisition of the Siberian Oil Company was a massive deal worth tens of billions, even hundreds of billions of dollars!

If he had chosen to return to China, he might never have had the chance to be involved in an acquisition of this scale.

After lying in silence for a while, Wang Ye came to terms with it. When he had decided to stay, he had already prepared himself mentally. Many things were inevitable—it was only a matter of time. This was just happening a little sooner than expected. No big deal!

In the worst-case scenario, he could always follow Berezovsky’s example and “flee” back to China…

With a sigh, he said, “Let’s sleep. There’s a lot to do tomorrow.”

…

The next day, as soon as he arrived at the office, Ivan came to see him.

“Mr. Khovansky called me and said that you would be taking over the acquisition of the Siberian Oil Company?” Ivan’s face still showed surprise, as if he couldn’t quite believe it.

It was understandable. Entrusting such a major matter to Wang Ye, who wasn’t even twenty yet, seemed almost like a joke.

Wang Ye nodded. “Yes, my uncle plans to take a break and spend some time with his family. So, for now, I’ll be handling it. But there’s no pressure for specific progress—just keep negotiating with Uncle Aby’s side. By the way, you know more about this acquisition than I do. Give me a briefing.”

Ivan had come precisely for this purpose. He sat down, pulled out a thick stack of documents, and began explaining.

Initially, the acquisition had been launched under the name of the Yukos Group.

But later, for some unknown reason, Khovansky had set up a separate investment company, and the acquisition was now being handled by this new company.

This was the company Wang Ye was taking over!

And this investment company wasn’t even based in the Yukos Building. Instead, its offices were in a high-end building near Red Square, with a small staff—most of whom were lawyers.

This made sense, as the sole purpose of this investment company was to acquire the Siberian Oil Company.

Given the legal complexities involved, they needed lawyers to handle everything in advance.

After explaining all this, Ivan pulled out a folder and said with a smile, “This is your appointment letter. You’re being hired as the general manager of Polar Bear Investment Company. And it comes with a salary—quite a generous one, in fact.”

Wang Ye couldn’t help but laugh. It seemed his good “uncle” Khovansky was determined to hand this over to him. There was no escaping it…

Chapter 223: Overconfidence

Wang Ye carefully reviewed the documents for the Polar Bear Investment Company and his own appointment letter.

As expected, the Polar Bear Investment Company had no official ties to the Yukos Group on paper!

Though the investment company was registered in Moscow, its shares belonged to another offshore company registered in the British Virgin Islands…

As for who owned that offshore company, well, that was obvious.

This was how things often worked.

Everyone involved knew that this acquisition was being orchestrated by Khovansky’s Yukos Group, and everyone understood the situation. Yet, they still went through the motions of registering an offshore company to carry out the acquisition.

Even if it succeeded, the public would only see the news of a powerful foreign enterprise acquiring the Siberian Oil Company, with no connection to Yukos.

From the documents, it was clear that Polar Bear Investment had substantial financial backing—seven billion US dollars already in the company’s accounts!

This money was likely what Khovansky had prepared for the acquisition of the Siberian Oil Company.

It was a display of sheer financial might!

This was the power of a Russian energy oligarch—able to pull out billions in cash at a moment’s notice!

As for how Khovansky had managed to gather so much cash, Wang Ye wasn’t sure. Perhaps it wasn’t just his money…

Wang Ye quickly skimmed through his appointment letter.

It was clear that Khovansky had no intention of shortchanging him.

Given the heavy responsibility placed on his shoulders, the compensation was generous. The general manager’s annual salary was set at two million US dollars!

More importantly, he had been granted significant authority.

As long as it was for the purpose of ensuring the acquisition’s success, Wang Ye could freely allocate any funds under one hundred million US dollars.

And as long as the total acquisition cost did not exceed seven billion US dollars, Wang Ye could make decisions independently!

In other words, the money was there!

The power was there!

Now, it was up to him to deliver results…

…

After finishing the documents, Wang Ye sat in silence for a long time, smoking quietly.

Ivan kept him company, also smoking without saying a word.

After a while, Wang Ye finally spoke, “Have you made contact with Uncle Aby’s side? How far have the negotiations progressed?”

Ivan immediately replied, “We’ve had several meetings, but they’re usually with the people from the Siberian Oil Company. After all, their headquarters is also in Moscow, so it’s convenient to meet.

Aby is usually in Chukotka and only occasionally returns to Moscow.

Right now, the process is stuck in two areas.

First, from a legal standpoint, there’s no clear resolution regarding Berezovsky’s shares. It’s unclear whether they still belong to Berezovsky, have been frozen by the government, or have been fully entrusted to Aby.

There’s no definitive answer on this.

Second, Aby hasn’t clearly stated whether he’s willing to sell his ten percent stake.

Or perhaps he’s not satisfied with the price we’ve offered.”

Wang Ye nodded. This matched what Khovansky had told him last night and was exactly what he had anticipated.

He asked, “What’s the current offer for Aby’s shares?”

“Fifteen billion US dollars!” Ivan replied bluntly.

Given that Berezovsky’s seventy percent stake was being offered at sixty billion US dollars, Aby’s ten percent at fifteen billion was clearly a significant premium.

Of course, the situations weren’t directly comparable.

First, Berezovsky was in exile abroad and desperate to sell his assets in Russia, so the valuation of his shares would naturally be suppressed.

Aby, on the other hand, was riding high in Russia. Acquiring his shares would undoubtedly come at a higher cost.

Second, acquiring Berezovsky’s shares would incur substantial hidden costs!

These expenses also needed to be factored in.

After another moment of silence, Wang Ye said, “Alright, I understand the situation. Your acquisition team should continue working as usual—keep gathering information and the like. I’ll think about it. Once I have a solid plan, we’ll go to the Siberian Oil Company’s headquarters together and finalize this deal.”

Ivan nodded in understanding and left Wang Ye’s office.

But in his mind, he found Wang Ye’s words somewhat amusing.

Finalize the deal in one visit?

How was that possible!

Even Khovansky himself had been personally overseeing this for nearly half a year, and there had been no substantial progress.

This kid had just taken over and was already talking about finalizing the deal…

He was way too overconfident!

Ivan did respect Wang Ye’s abilities. Under his leadership, the Sun Market Group had grown rapidly, and everyone had seen it.

But managing the Sun Market and acquiring the Siberian Oil Company were on completely different levels.

And the opponents they faced were worlds apart.

At the Sun Market, the troubles with Mairov had been resolved by Khovansky. Wang Ye had only dealt with a dark-haired gang.

But acquiring the Siberian Oil Company?

They were up against old-school super-oligarchs like Berezovsky!

New rising oligarchs like Aby!

And behind them stood powerful figures like the great emperor!

What could Wang Ye possibly bring to the table against these people…

In truth, Ivan had already given up on the acquisition. He had seen Khovansky hand over the investment company to Wang Ye and drawn his own conclusions.

…

Wang Ye had no idea what Ivan was thinking, nor did he care to find out.

But he knew exactly what he needed to do.

After Ivan left, Wang Ye put on his coat and went downstairs. He instructed Seryosha, “Head to the Wagner Security Base.”

The security base wasn’t far from the Sun Market. Two large G-class Mercedes, one in front and one behind, sped toward the outskirts of the city.

After about twenty minutes, they had reached the suburbs of Moscow.

Moscow truly lived up to its nickname, “The City in the Forest.” Once in the suburbs, the road was lined with endless dense forests. A straight highway stretched toward the distant horizon, with barely any cars in sight.

It was June, the best season in Russia. The trees along the road were lush and green.

Following the highway for a short distance, the cars turned onto a side road.

This was still a paved road, but not a main one. It was much narrower, and the traffic was even sparser.

After a few more minutes, the cars left the road entirely, turning onto a dirt path.

A large sign stood by the road, prominently displaying in Russian: “Private Area, No Entry!”

Chapter 224: Secret Mission

Not far from the dirt road, they arrived at a large courtyard.

The black, rusted iron gate was unremarkable, but it was wide and tall enough for three large off-road vehicles to pass through side by side.

The courtyard was surrounded by walls over three meters high, topped with broken glass and barbed wire.

The car stopped at the gate. Seryosha took out his phone, made a call, spoke a few words, and hung up.

Soon, the iron gate creaked open, and two large G-class Mercedes drove in one after the other.

Inside the courtyard was a different world.

It was extremely spacious, covering at least one hundred thousand square meters—enough to race cars inside!

Apart from two old yellow-walled buildings standing in the center, the rest was open space.

In the distance, a group of burly men were running with weights, shouting slogans as they went, though it was too far to hear what they were saying.

The large G drove straight to the front building. Before Wang Ye could get out, Anton had already come out to greet him.

He was dressed in a camouflage round-neck shirt and pants, military boots on his feet, and a gun holster visible at his waist—exuding an aura of ruggedness.

This was a far cry from his appearance as the security manager at the Little Eagle Hotel.

Anton quickly approached, opened the car door for Wang Ye, and respectfully called out, “Boss!”

This was the base of the Wagner Security Company.

Though it looked crude, the area was vast. If needed, it could be expanded at any time.

Land in the Moscow suburbs wasn’t expensive, so acquiring such a large plot hadn’t cost much.

Wang Ye looked around, nodding in satisfaction. He patted Anton on the shoulder and said with a smile, “You’ve done a good job here. Keep it up. Soon, you’ll have a chance to put your skills to use.”

Anton led Wang Ye to the office upstairs. Seryosha and the others did not follow.

…

The office was quite large but looked rather plain. Apart from the necessary office furniture, one wall was covered with various rifles.

After sitting down on the sofa, Wang Ye smiled and said, “You look well. Have you been doing alright lately?”

Anton laughed heartily. “Haha, yes. It feels like I’m back in the military. We eat together, train together, and there’s no pressure or danger.”

Of course, he didn’t mention that the pay was also quite good.

Wang Ye nodded. A security company was indeed similar to a disciplined force—train a thousand soldiers for a day’s use.

When not needed, they trained at the base.

But when the time came, they could fulfill their purpose.

This time, Wang Ye intended to make use of them.

“Anton, there’s something I need an expert to handle. Your office… should be secure, right?” Wang Ye said seriously, looking around.

Anton immediately understood. He leaned in and whispered, “Boss, don’t worry! This place is absolutely secure! Before moving in, we checked every corner with professional equipment. Whatever it is, you can speak freely.”

He had done “black ops” for Wang Ye before, so his loyalty was unquestionable. Wang Ye trusted him.

“It’s like this…” Wang Ye also lowered his voice and explained what needed to be done.

After listening, Anton couldn’t help but furrow his brows. He hesitated and said, “This job is quite difficult. The average guy can’t handle it. I’ll need to contact some old comrades from the special forces, and we’ll have to pay well—probably around one to two hundred thousand US dollars.”

Wang Ye didn’t care about the cost. He only wanted results.

Hearing Anton’s words, he readily agreed, “Get this done as soon as possible, and make sure it doesn’t leak. Don’t worry about the cost!”

Since money wasn’t an issue, Anton had no problems either.

These days, in Russia, there was nothing money couldn’t solve.

If there was, it just meant you hadn’t spent enough…

…

After discussing the matter with Anton, Wang Ye had him take him to the shooting range for some practice.

In one corner of the courtyard, there was a fairly large shooting range, equipped with a variety of weapons.

Apart from the handguns Wang Ye usually used, there were also rifles like the AK-74.

Wang Ye wasn’t interested in rifles. He wouldn’t have any use for them, so he stuck to practicing with his handgun.

Now that he had his own facility and his own security company, he didn’t have to worry about ammunition.

After less than an hour of practice, he had emptied twenty or thirty magazines.

Putting down the gun and removing his goggles and ear protection, Anton, who had been watching nearby, clapped and said, “Boss, your aim is getting better and better. Now you can almost hit the bullseye every time within fifty meters. That’s impressive.”

Wang Ye smiled and said, “With enough practice, it’s hard not to get better. Alright, you get back to work. I need to head back—I have more work to do.”

He called Seryosha and a few bodyguards, and the two large G-class Mercedes drove out of the security base toward the Sun Market.

Now, the bodyguards around Wang Ye were all from his own security company.

Not everyone among the over a hundred security personnel at the base had the chance to work by Wang Ye’s side.

Only about ten, who had clean backgrounds and were trusted, were assigned to take turns guarding Wang Ye.

Of course, Seryosha was an exception. He was Wang Ye’s “dedicated” driver and “part-time” bodyguard.

…

On the way back to the Sun Market, Wang Ye received a call from Yuri, who was reporting on his work.

“Boss, after arriving in Crimea, through a friend’s introduction, I met with President Meshkov. He’s very interested in our investment plan, especially in you. He said he’d like to meet you in person. I was wondering when you might have time to come over.”

Wang Ye was a bit surprised and asked, “You met with who?”

“President Meshkov of the Crimean Republic,” Yuri replied.

Wang Ye then remembered that Crimea was a rather special place.

At first glance, it was just a peninsula, not very large in area or population, and it was a secondary administrative region.

But in reality, it was also a republic with a high degree of autonomy.

It even had its own president and parliament.

This Meshkov Yuri mentioned was the president of the Crimean Republic. He had come to power in 1994 and had been in office for seven years, making him a highly influential political figure in Crimea.

Of course, he wasn’t the final say in Crimea. The parliament often opposed him, frequently undermining his efforts.

Additionally, the Crimean Republic’s presidential term was four years, with the possibility of re-election. Meshkov was about to face another election soon…

Chapter 225: Receiving State Guest Treatment

Wang Ye’s understanding of the Crimean Peninsula came from the “science lesson” Natalia had given him a few days ago. Otherwise, who would care about the politics of this so-called “republic”…

Now, hearing Yuri mention it, Wang Ye found himself somewhat interested. After all, Meshkov was a man with the title of “President”! This was the head of a nation! Being able to meet such a person face-to-face was clearly a worthwhile experience.

“Alright, there’s an airport in Simferopol, right? I’ll just fly there directly tomorrow,” Wang Ye said decisively.

The capital of the Crimean Republic was Simferopol, a city much larger than Yalta, with a population of over three hundred thousand…

“There is, there is! And there are many flights to Moscow every day, several a day. The airport here mainly serves Moscow and Kiev; other routes haven’t been opened yet,” Yuri quickly replied.

Indeed, for a city with a population of just over three hundred thousand, having an airport was already impressive. What more could one ask for?

“Then it’s settled. I’ll go tomorrow,” Wang Ye responded.

…

After hanging up the phone, Wang Ye felt a bit amused. Had he now reached the level of being a state guest to the president? And it was the other party who had taken the initiative to request a meeting with him!

Actually, thinking about it, it made sense. Crimea had never been wealthy. Now, it was in a very awkward position, relying on Ukraine for material support but leaning towards Russia spiritually—caught between a rock and a hard place…

Moreover, both “Big Brother” and “Little Brother” were getting poorer by the day! They didn’t have much surplus to take care of their little brother Crimea. So, describing the people of the Crimean Peninsula as destitute wasn’t an exaggeration.

As for foreign investment? Please, who would come here to invest? The infrastructure wasn’t even complete; they had to rely on Ukraine to transport water by tanker trucks!

Now, someone was coming to develop tourism resources and build five-star hotels. No wonder even the president had been alerted.

Without exaggeration, if the tourism industry really took off, even if just a few hundred thousand tourists came each year, it could contribute half or even more of Crimea’s GDP!

As for creating jobs and stimulating various industries, the hidden benefits were even more numerous.

“Seryosha, get ready. We’re flying to Simferopol tomorrow to meet the president of Crimea. Oh, and we can’t bring weapons there, right?” Wang Ye said to Seryosha in the driver’s seat.

Seryosha nodded. “No problem, boss! We naturally can’t bring weapons there, especially since we’re flying. But meeting the president there—safety won’t be an issue.”

Indeed, Wang Ye didn’t have many enemies now. Honestly, there was almost no significant danger. Moreover, this time he was going to meet the president. If there were any safety issues, Crimea’s reputation would be completely ruined!

…

On the morning of June 15th, at Sheremetyevo Airport, Wang Ye, Katya, Seryosha, and three other bodyguards—a total of six people—boarded the flight to Simferopol.

Without a doubt, they were all in business class!

Why didn’t they buy first-class tickets? Because the plane on this route was too old and didn’t even have a first-class section…

The plane was the famous Ilyushin Il-86, a large passenger aircraft designed and produced by the former Soviet Union. Apart from being a bit noisy, it didn’t have any other flaws.

After boarding the plane, Wang Ye put on an eye mask and closed his eyes to rest. The roar of the aircraft engines was somewhat irritating, but it was still within a tolerable range.

However, Katya beside him seemed excited. She grabbed Wang Ye’s arm and asked nervously, “Are we really going to meet the president this time? Wow, I didn’t know there was a president in Crimea!”

Wang Ye helplessly replied, “That president’s title isn’t worth much. You can think of him as… Oh, like Uncle Aby, a governor. In fact, the area he manages isn’t as large as Uncle Aby’s, and the population is even smaller. If Crimea were to join Russia, his administrative level probably wouldn’t even match Uncle Aby’s.”

Indeed, the Crimean Peninsula wasn’t that large. The area of Chukotka alone was probably equivalent to at least ten Crimean Peninsulas…

But Katya didn’t care about that. She excitedly said, “But he’s a president! Just like the great emperor!”

Wang Ye didn’t bother explaining further.

Come on, the great emperor was the number one figure in Russia! The leader of a world power!

Although Russia was relatively poor now, its military strength and international influence were not to be underestimated. It was probably the only country that could stand up to the Americans…

How could Meshkov compare to the great emperor?

“Alright, let’s rest for a while. I’m exhausted from staying up so late last night,” Wang Ye mumbled with his eyes closed.

Katya’s cheeks turned slightly red, and she glanced at Wang Ye seductively. Unfortunately, Wang Ye was wearing an eye mask and didn’t see it at all…

…

After about two hours of flight, they had arrived at Simferopol Airport, the capital airport of the Crimean Republic!

As soon as the plane stopped, Wang Ye removed his eye mask, stretched his body, and prepared to disembark. A flight attendant came straight over, leaned in, and asked, “Excuse me, are you Mr. Mikhail from Moscow?”

“Ah? It’s me. What’s the matter?” Wang Ye asked in return.

“We received a notice saying that you are a distinguished guest of the Presidential Palace. Someone from the Presidential Palace will come to pick you up. Please follow me,” the flight attendant said with increasing respect.

Wang Ye didn’t expect Meshkov to be so courteous, even sending someone specifically to pick him up. He nodded and said, “Alright, let’s go.”

Following the flight attendant, he began to walk out. As for the other passengers on the plane, they would have to wait a little longer.

…

As soon as he stepped out of the cabin door and hadn’t even gone down the stairs, Wang Ye was taken aback. Below, a row of black Mercedes was parked, and several of the cars had flashing police lights on top!

More importantly, each of these Mercedes had two small national flags on the hood…

Clearly, this was the motorcade sent by the Presidential Palace. Was he receiving state guest treatment?!

Although Crimea was poor, the Presidential Palace still had some grandeur!

Wang Ye adjusted his suit, straightened his tie, and walked down the handrail stairs. Katya and Seryosha followed closely behind him.

As soon as he stepped off the stairs, several middle-aged men standing in front of the motorcade came forward. The leader was a tall, thin man in his thirties with a head full of golden hair.

He smiled and extended both hands to Wang Ye. “Hello, are you Mr. Mikhail? I am President Meshkov’s secretary. By the president’s order, I have come to welcome you.”

Wang Ye extended his right hand and shook hands with him, smiling as he replied, “President Meshkov is too kind.”

“Please get in the car. We will go directly to the Presidential Palace,” the secretary said, stepping aside to gesture.

Wang Ye and Katya got into the middle car of the motorcade, and the secretary also got in and sat in the front passenger seat. As for Seryosha and the other three, they got into other cars.

The motorcade started, the sirens blared, and they drove out of the airport in a grand procession…

…

The city of Simferopol wasn’t large. With a population of only about three hundred thousand, the scale of the city was imaginable. A straight road ran through the entire city, and important government departments and buildings were all located on this central axis.

Although Wang Ye was receiving state guest treatment, it hadn’t reached the “height” of closing down roads…

Of course, as the motorcade drove on the road with police cars leading the way, the cars on the road also knew the rules and automatically made way.

Through the car window, Wang Ye looked at both sides of the road. It was clear that Simferopol’s economy wasn’t good. This road was already the main thoroughfare of the entire city, and they were almost at the city center, but it was hard to find a decent building along the road.

Everywhere were low-rise buildings. Forget skyscrapers; even the old buildings were dilapidated.

Compared to Moscow and St. Petersburg, it was like heaven and earth!

Probably noticing that Wang Ye was looking at the situation outside, the secretary in the front passenger seat introduced, “This city, as well as the Crimean Peninsula, has gone through many wars, and with the incident ten years ago, development has been slow. However, with President Meshkov’s diligent efforts, the entire city is gradually improving. We warmly welcome entrepreneurs like Mr. Mikhail to come and invest. Moreover, we will certainly provide Mr. Mikhail with the most favorable policy conditions…”

Wang Ye felt a bit emotional. This was the fear of poverty! Seeing a decent “foreign investor,” they were desperate to keep even a slightly larger investment.

Of course, it wasn’t ruled out that Meshkov had other ideas…

Chapter 226: The Background is Too Impressive

Wang Ye was chatting with the presidential secretary, while Katya, sitting beside him, gazed out the window, her heart surging with emotion.

The inside and outside of the car were like two different worlds!

It wasn’t that the Mercedes was particularly luxurious—Katya had seen her fair share of the world. After all, she was a minor celebrity, and her usual mode of transport was a Porsche. So, the Mercedes didn’t impress her much.

But the key issue was that this Mercedes was a state reception car!

Especially with the police escort clearing the way, the sense of privilege and the envious stares from pedestrians on the side of the road—this was something she had never experienced while driving her own Porsche in Moscow…

To put it bluntly, this was the feeling of being above the rest!

This sensation had Katya utterly captivated. She had never experienced anything like it before!

Unfortunately, Simferopol was too small. It took less than ten minutes from the airport to reach the gates of the presidential palace.

The escort vehicles turned aside one by one, leaving only Wang Ye’s car parked at the entrance of the presidential palace.

As soon as the car stopped, several uniformed staff members quickly approached and opened the door.

Wang Ye stepped out and noticed a red carpet laid from the car door to the entrance of the presidential palace.

He sighed inwardly. No matter what kind of person Meshkov was, he at least knew how to put on a good show…

“Mr. Mikhail, please come in. The president is already waiting for you,” the secretary said politely.

Of course, Wang Ye was only here as an “investor.” No matter how highly Meshkov regarded him, it was impossible for the president to personally greet him at the door.

After all, he was still the “president.” Some decorum and dignity had to be maintained!

…

Wang Ye and Katya followed the secretary inside, while Seryosha and the others were led by other staff members to a resting area to wait.

Crimea was, after all, a small place. The so-called presidential palace wasn’t particularly grand, and its size wasn’t very large.

Passing through the gate, they could see the building inside—a quaint European-style villa with cream-colored stone decorations and a tall, pointed roof.

At the entrance of the building, several people were standing there, including Yuri, whom Wang Ye recognized.

The secretary led Wang Ye toward the building. As they approached, a man in his fifties with a beaming smile came forward to greet them.

“Mr. Mikhail, this is our President Meshkov! Mr. President, this is Mr. Mikhail,” the secretary hurriedly introduced.

Actually, there was no need for an introduction. Meshkov’s gaze had been fixed on Wang Ye from the moment he arrived.

“Welcome to Simferopol!” Meshkov extended his hand.

“Thank you for your warm hospitality, Mr. President.”

Wang Ye also extended his hand, and the two shook firmly.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the crowd escorted Meshkov and Wang Ye into the building.

This wasn’t an official meeting; it was more like a private gathering.

However, through Meshkov’s introduction, Wang Ye learned that among those present were several high-ranking officials of the Crimean Republic.

Clearly, these people were Meshkov’s confidants.

The group sat down in a large reception hall inside the building, and the staff served tea.

Meshkov smiled at Wang Ye and said, “I’ve already heard from Mr. Yuri about your plans to invest in building a luxury hotel in Yalta and develop cross-border tourism?”

Wang Ye nodded in response. “That’s the plan. I have a friend whose family is from Yalta. I once visited the place with her and saw its beautiful scenery and learned about its history. I felt that the climate, environment, and cultural history there are very suitable for tourism, so I decided to invest.”

“Haha, then I must thank Mr. Mikhail on behalf of the people of Yalta. Yalta has always been a tourist destination, but in recent years, the Eastern European economy hasn’t been doing well, so it has gradually declined. As long as someone is willing to invest, I believe the city can regain its former glory. By the way, I also heard that Mr. Mikhail has a close relationship with Mr. Khovansky from Yukos?” Meshkov probed.

Wang Ye’s relationship with Khovansky wasn’t a secret. Anyone who cared to inquire could find out.

So, Wang Ye replied candidly, “He’s my uncle.”

A flicker of delight flashed in Meshkov’s eyes, and his smile grew even brighter. He patted Wang Ye’s arm affectionately and said, “Mr. Khovansky is a very successful entrepreneur, an energy tycoon. You’re so young and already doing such big business. Your future achievements won’t be inferior to Mr. Khovansky’s.”

Wang Ye modestly replied, “You flatter me, Mr. President. My achievements are all thanks to Uncle Khovansky’s guidance. Of course, many other seniors have helped me as well, like Uncle Gebrev and Uncle Aby. They’ve all been of great assistance to me.”

Meshkov was taken aback and instinctively asked, “I know Aby—he’s a business magnate and currently the governor of Chukotka. Gebrev… is he the one from the Kremlin?”

“Yes, the reason I want to make the tourism and hotel industry so big is because of Uncle Gebrev’s support. He helped me obtain Russia’s only gambling license, which is why I thought of developing cross-border tourism. The first batch will only include three cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yalta!” Wang Ye said calmly.

Don’t think he was “showing off” his connections.

When dealing with a political old fox like Meshkov, you had to make him understand just how powerful your background was!

Powerful enough to make him not dare to entertain any “crooked ideas”!

Otherwise, this was his territory. If he wanted to control you, it would be as easy as pie.

Sure enough, after Wang Ye’s introduction, Meshkov was filled with reverence!

Especially the name Gebrev—it had a particularly strong impact on him!

After all, that was the chief administrator of the Kremlin, a trusted confidant of the great emperor!

As a pro-Russian figure, how could Meshkov not know this man…

“Hahaha, so you’re so close to Gebrev! That makes things easier. We’re all family. He and I are old friends,” Meshkov said, growing even more familiar.

In truth, Meshkov’s mind was racing.

He had never expected that this young man in front of him had such an impressive background!

Originally, he had already held Wang Ye—no, Mikhail—in high regard.

Being Khovansky’s nephew and planning to invest in the Crimean Peninsula—these two points alone were enough for Meshkov to treat Wang Ye with courtesy.

After all, everyone knew that Khovansky was currently the richest man in Russia!

And Crimea was desperately poor. They were eager to attract these tycoons to invest.

To put it bluntly, with a tycoon of Khovansky’s level, even a small fraction of his wealth could cause Crimea’s GDP to skyrocket!

Chapter 227: Someone Wants to Take Me Down

After exchanging a few words, Meshkov was shocked to realize he had still underestimated this young man!

It turned out this young man was actually connected to Gebrev, the Kremlin’s chief administrator, and even called Gebrev “uncle”…

Meshkov wasn’t worried that Wang Ye was lying to him, because he knew Gebrev himself, though not very well. A simple phone call could verify this, so it was impossible and unwise to lie.

Wealthy, powerful, wealthy enough to rival a nation, and powerful enough to speak with figures like the great emperor!

Meshkov instantly felt inferior in front of Wang Ye.

Never mind calling himself “president”—the problem was that Crimea wasn’t an independent country. In reality, it was just an autonomous region under Ukraine.

And not a very favored one at that, constantly under suspicion.

Facing Meshkov’s enthusiastic, almost fawning smile, Wang Ye gave a faint smile, not saying much, but got straight to the point: “Mr. President, there’s something I’d like to ask you about.”

Meshkov quickly replied, “Go ahead!”

“Everyone knows that relying solely on foreign tourists’ accommodation and sightseeing fees doesn’t bring in much money for the tourism industry.

After all, Yalta doesn’t have a strong commercial atmosphere—there aren’t even decent shopping malls. Even if tourists want to spend money, there’s nowhere to do it.

So I’m considering bringing the gambling industry here, just like my hotels in Moscow and St. Petersburg, transforming them into large hotels that combine gambling, entertainment, and accommodation!

This way, even if the number of tourists isn’t high, there’s no limit to their spending!

It would also create higher tax revenue and more jobs for the local area.

But this brings up a question—my gambling license is from Russia. Would it still be valid in Yalta, or would I need to apply for a new local or Ukrainian license?”

This was the main purpose of Wang Ye’s visit!

As he said, the gambling license he had obtained was valid throughout Russia, but not in Yalta.

After all, the Crimean Peninsula was still under Ukrainian jurisdiction…

“Little Bear” might be poor, but it was still an independent country and didn’t necessarily have to give “Big Bear” any face!

Wang Ye wanted to discuss this with Meshkov to see if he could resolve the issue here.

Hearing this, Meshkov furrowed his brow, pondered for a moment, then responded, “According to current laws, gambling isn’t allowed. However…”

“However, any problem can be solved—it just depends on whether we’re willing to put in the effort,” Wang Ye smiled and continued.

Meshkov glanced at Wang Ye in slight surprise. “Haha, it’s always a pleasure talking to someone as clever as Mr. Mikhail! You’re right—though current laws don’t permit it, this problem isn’t unsolvable. It just requires some effort in the parliament to pass a temporary decree. And your investment isn’t primarily in gambling—it’s in tourism. Gambling is just an additional feature.”

They exchanged knowing smiles.

“Then I’ll have to trouble you with this matter, Mr. Meshkov. Also, we’ve selected the Livadia Palace in Yalta and plan to purchase and renovate it into a landmark building—a large hotel combining accommodation, dining, and gambling entertainment!” Wang Ye said with a smile.

When dealing with foreigners, there was no need to beat around the bush. Just state your requirements and opinions directly.

Most foreigners were straightforward—if you went in circles, they genuinely wouldn’t understand…

Or rather, some foreigners could understand but would pretend not to, to confuse you.

Sure enough, Meshkov waved his hand, signaling the secretary behind him to take note of this and instructed, “Write this down for Mr. Mikhail. Schedule it for tomorrow’s government meeting agenda. I want to discuss this seriously with everyone.”

The secretary quickly nodded, opened his notebook, and scribbled it down.

This was clearly for Wang Ye’s benefit.

The message was clear: See how seriously I take your matter!

…

Next came Meshkov’s “performance” time.

He enthusiastically told Wang Ye about the history and current state of the Crimean Peninsula and shared his vision for the future…

“Under my leadership, the Crimean Peninsula will surely become more prosperous and powerful, becoming the pearl of the Black Sea! Of course, this process requires more visionary entrepreneurs like Mr. Mikhail to come and invest in Crimea. I assure you, here you will receive sufficient respect and courtesy and enjoy the fruits of Crimea’s rapid development…”

Wang Ye felt he had heard such words too many times in his “past life” and was no longer impressed.

But he still had to play along. So when Meshkov finished his “speech,” Wang Ye led the applause, and the others quickly followed, filling the meeting room with thunderous applause.

“Having a president like Mr. Meshkov is a fortune for all the people of Crimea! If I were a resident of the Crimean Peninsula, I would hope that Mr. Meshkov could continue to serve as president, leading everyone toward prosperity!” Wang Ye exclaimed.

Meshkov laughed heartily, satisfied.

But after laughing, his expression darkened, and he sighed, “Alas, I wish I could contribute more to the people here, but sometimes it’s not about whether you want to do something—there are always obstacles and difficulties.

Not to mention, the new presidential election is coming up soon. Over the years, because of certain tendencies and promoting various fair policies, I’ve offended many people.

Now, many hope to see me fail and plan to take me down in the election!”

Wang Ye’s heart skipped a beat. What was Meshkov up to?

Why was he suddenly bringing up such a sensitive topic?

He probed, “You’ve governed here for so many years, with high prestige. There shouldn’t be anyone who could threaten you in the election.”

Meshkov shook his head helplessly. “You don’t understand this place. In Crimea, the parliament holds significant power. Sometimes, even the decrees I sign might not be implemented—they could be blocked by the parliament.”

“Ah? Then will my investment plan and gambling license pass in the parliament?” Wang Ye frowned.

If Meshkov couldn’t even handle this, he might have to consider other channels. There was no need to waste time here…

Chapter 228: On the Same Boat

Meshkov smiled confidently. “This won’t be a problem. Your investment is the largest foreign investment Crimea has seen in years—it benefits all the people here. The parliament won’t dare interfere. But the issue is, once the election is over, if I don’t win and step down, there won’t be anyone to protect your interests afterward.”

After speaking, he gave Wang Ye a meaningful glance.

Wang Ye immediately understood—if he relied on Meshkov for this, he would be tying himself to the same boat as him.

Meshkov would ensure his business ran smoothly, granting him privileges and ample profits.

In return, Wang Ye would have to use his financial power to support Meshkov…

Wang Ye didn’t reject the idea. The rules here were simple: survival of the fittest, and the strong prevailed.

To do big business here, some things were unavoidable.

Since he had chosen this path, Wang Ye had mentally prepared himself. He was ready to “lock horns” with the influential figures of this era…

The key question now was whether the cost of supporting Meshkov’s re-election was worth it.

Crimea was a small place, with a total population of just over one million seven hundred thousand—comparable to a large county back home…

The election was a popular vote. Whoever got the most votes won.

And in such a system, there was plenty of room for maneuvering.

Moreover, the required funds weren’t exorbitant. Wang Ye could afford it.

After a moment of consideration, Wang Ye looked up and smiled. “Mr. President, you are of Russian descent and a good friend to the Russian people. Under your leadership, Crimea’s relationship with Russia has always been excellent—this is well-known. As a Russian myself, we are practically kin. Supporting your election is my duty!”

This was his declaration—he was taking a clear stance in support of Meshkov’s presidential campaign.

Crimea’s population was diverse, with over thirty ethnic groups.

But among them, ethnic Russians made up more than sixty percent, undeniably the largest group. People like Meshkov, Alyona, and Natalia were all of Russian descent, which explained their natural affinity for Russia.

Meshkov was overjoyed.

He had only been testing the waters, trying to gauge Wang Ye’s reaction.

After all, Wang Ye was the one seeking his help. Even if he didn’t want to fully support him, he would at least contribute some “political donations.”

A man of this caliber wouldn’t be stingy. Even a casual contribution would be a substantial sum.

This would greatly ease his campaign funding and increase his chances of winning.

Meshkov had some popularity in Crimea, but elections were always unpredictable.

Pre-election propaganda, speeches, rallies, and vote-gathering were essential. With ample funds, he could secure a greater advantage.

In developed Western countries, elections were often won by sheer financial power.

According to statistics from the United States, the two presidential candidates in the 2000 election spent a total of two hundred million U.S. dollars.

And as Wang Ye knew, this figure had been rapidly increasing. In one election, the two candidates burned through fourteen billion U.S. dollars to secure the position…

Crimea’s election model was similar to that of Western countries. To win, one relied on the candidate’s personal charisma and the financial backing of their campaign team.

But Crimea was poor. There were no significant enterprises, so no candidate could secure large political donations to crush their opponents.

In past elections, candidates mostly relied on their influence and personal charisma, making the process relatively fair.

However, this election might be different. Over the past two years, Meshkov’s relationship with parliament had soured, limiting his power. Many of his proposals had been blocked.

Now, with another election approaching, members of the opposition had emerged, aiming to “take down” Meshkov. They argued that he had been in power for too long and that Crimea’s political scene needed fresh blood.

Meshkov had been preparing for the election, but Crimea was simply too poor. There were hardly any decent enterprises—just small-scale food processing plants and breweries. How much “sponsorship” could they provide?

He had been worried, but then Wang Ye’s investment opportunity arose, giving Meshkov an idea…

…

“Haha, this is wonderful! Mr. Mikhail is truly generous. Come, I have some art pieces in my study upstairs. I’d like you to appraise them. Meanwhile, Yuri and the others can discuss the investment details,” Meshkov said with a smile.

Clearly, the art appraisal was just an excuse. He wanted to pull Wang Ye into the study to discuss the election in detail…

But such matters couldn’t be discussed openly in front of everyone. They needed to go upstairs for a private conversation.

Wang Ye nodded, stood up with a smile, and said, “That would be perfect. Yuri, you can continue discussing the investment details with everyone. Katya, come with me.”

Katya quickly stood up and followed Wang Ye, accompanying Meshkov upstairs.

Wang Ye had brought Katya along because he intended to assign this task to her.

A presidential election wasn’t something that could be resolved in a day or two. It required a significant amount of time, and he didn’t have the leisure or energy to oversee it personally.

Moreover, there was another massive business deal worth several billion U.S. dollars waiting for him!

So, he would leave this matter to Katya. She was someone Wang Ye trusted, and he was gradually grooming her.

Meshkov glanced at Katya in surprise but didn’t say anything. He just led Wang Ye and Katya upstairs with a smile.

Once they reached the second-floor study and closed the door, leaving only the three of them, Meshkov invited them to sit.

Finally, they could discuss something “direct.”

“Mr. Mikhail, as you know, elections require money…” Meshkov began cautiously, choosing his words carefully.

Wang Ye smiled and interrupted, “Don’t worry, I understand all of this! If I’m going to help you, I’ll make sure it’s foolproof. Not only will we secure your presidency, but we’ll also gain enough seats in parliament!”

Chapter 229: Placing Two of His Own People

Meshkov was both shocked and delighted. Wang Ye’s words had taken him completely by surprise!

He had originally thought that if Wang Ye supported his presidential bid, that would already be more than enough. He hadn’t dared to even dream about securing seats in the parliament!

But now, Wang Ye had gone a step further, saying he would support him in gaining more seats in the parliament!

Speaking of parliamentary seats, a brief explanation was necessary.

In the Crimean Republic, the parliament held considerable power. If the opposition party secured more seats, they could even sideline the president!

The presidential election and the parliamentary elections were held simultaneously.

There were seventy-five seats in total, with multiple parties competing for them. Meshkov’s party, of course, would also participate in the election.

However, since their primary goal was to secure Meshkov’s presidency, they would allocate fewer resources to the parliamentary election.

This meant they might not secure many seats—certainly not a majority.

The consequence? The opposition party could gain enough seats to constrain Meshkov on many issues!

While this was beneficial for Crimea, as it prevented any single faction from wielding too much power and maintained a delicate balance—where major decisions required collective discussion—it was far from ideal for Meshkov!

If Wang Ye could help him secure enough seats in the parliament, his upcoming term as president would be far more comfortable!

…

Despite his excitement, Meshkov was an old politician and knew how to keep his composure.

He understood a fundamental truth: when a partner offered unexpected benefits, it might not always be a good thing. What they demanded in return could exceed what you were willing to give!

Before celebrating, he needed to clarify one thing: what would Wang Ye require in exchange for such substantial support?

“Mr. Mikhail, securing more seats in the parliament would indeed be ideal! But you must understand that achieving this requires a significant financial investment!” Meshkov probed cautiously.

Wang Ye smiled faintly and replied calmly, “Of course, I understand. I’m prepared to invest at least five million US dollars to support this election. Do you think that will be enough, Mr. Meshkov? If not, we can always add more!”

Meshkov’s eyes widened in shock.

Five million US dollars!

In a major country like the United States, this sum might not be enough for an election. But this was Crimea!

With a population of less than two million and an extremely underdeveloped economy, when had an election here ever required such a massive amount of money?

With five million US dollars, Meshkov was confident he could not only secure his own election but also ensure his party gained more than half the seats in the parliament!

But such a large sum couldn’t possibly be just for tourism and gambling…

Honestly, even if Wang Ye didn’t contribute a single dollar, Meshkov and the parliament wouldn’t oppose the development of tourism and gambling.

After all, these industries would greatly benefit Crimea’s economy. The taxes alone would enrich the government.

No one would refuse money delivered to their doorstep…

But now, Wang Ye was offering five million US dollars to support his election. What did he really want?

“Mr. Mikhail, this amount is more than sufficient! But what kind of return do you expect?” Meshkov asked nervously.

Wang Ye took his time before responding, “Mr. Meshkov, which party do you belong to? And which parties currently hold the most power in the parliament?”

“We belong to the Crimean People’s Party, or simply the People’s Party. Out of the seventy-five seats in the parliament, we currently hold thirty, making us the second-largest party. The party with the most seats is the Liberal Party, holding thirty-five seats. They are also my strongest opponents in this election. The remaining ten seats are held by smaller parties, which aren’t much of a threat,” Meshkov replied.

Wang Ye nodded in understanding before continuing, “I want two positions: one as the Prosecutor General of Simferopol, and the other as a seat in the parliament!”

These two positions weren’t particularly high-ranking.

Simferopol, though the capital, had a population of only around three hundred thousand. The Prosecutor General was just one rank above a prosecutor and couldn’t be considered a high-level position.

And there were seventy-five seats in the parliament!

Wang Ye only wanted one. For Meshkov, this was an easy request.

“Just these two?” Meshkov asked incredulously.

Wang Ye smiled. “Yes, just these.”

“Then… do you already have suitable candidates for these positions?” Meshkov asked.

Though these positions weren’t difficult for him to secure, the candidates had to be somewhat competent. He couldn’t have Wang Ye sending two Russians!

After all, Crimea was still legally part of Ukraine. They couldn’t have Russians holding official positions in Crimea!

Wang Ye sensed his concern and smiled reassuringly.

“Don’t worry, the candidates are both native Crimeans. The one for Prosecutor General is currently an assistant prosecutor in Yalta and is due for a promotion. The other, who will enter the parliament, graduated from Friendship University in Moscow and has even worked as a lecturer there for a while. By the way, do your parliament members need to come to work every day?”

Clearly, Wang Ye’s two candidates were Alyona and Natalia…

He planned to have Alyona become a parliament member and Natalia the Prosecutor General of Simferopol!

Meshkov was relieved and quickly replied, “No, no, parliament members don’t need to come to work every day. They usually have a monthly meeting, and unless there’s something important, they don’t need to be present.”

Of course, not every parliament member had it so easy, just collecting a salary without doing much work. Many also served on various project committees, which kept them busy.

“That’s good. Then it’s settled. When you’re ready for the election, just contact… contact Katya. She’s the financial director of the Little Eagle Group. If you need money, you can get it from her,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Meshkov immediately reached out and firmly shook Wang Ye’s right hand.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Mikhail! Rest assured, I’ll handle the Livadia Palace and the gambling license for you right away. That place doesn’t cost anything—it’s just sitting there unused and will fall into disrepair if not maintained. Your investment in turning it into a hotel is solving a major problem for us, haha…”

Chapter 230: Congratulations to You

Livadia Palace—if one were to actually buy it, it would probably cost several million dollars. After all, its size and historical significance were undeniable!

But now, Wang Ye had given Meshkov a political donation of five million dollars, securing Livadia Palace for free, along with an additional gambling license!

This essentially meant that the money for purchasing Livadia Palace had been “transferred” to Meshkov.

Everyone got what they wanted, the deal was smoothly concluded, and both host and guest were delighted…

…

After finishing their discussion, it was already noon, time for lunch.

Meshkov hosted Wang Ye and his group at the Presidential Residence. Though Crimea was not wealthy, the presidential palace could not afford to look shabby.

Delicacies like black caviar were, of course, on the menu.

After the meal, Wang Ye checked the time and stood up, preparing to take his leave.

Since everything had been settled, there was no reason to stay any longer.

Outside the Presidential Residence, Meshkov once again tightly grasped Wang Ye’s hand, emotionally declaring, “Mr. Mikhail, thank you so much for being willing to invest in Crimea. You will always be a good friend to the people of Crimea!”

Wang Ye smiled slightly. “This is because Crimea, under President Meshkov’s leadership, is full of hope. I have great confidence in Crimea’s future, which is why I am willing to invest here.”

After a brief exchange of business pleasantries, Meshkov personally escorted Wang Ye to the car, the same motorcade as before.

Wang Ye rolled down the window and waved goodbye to Meshkov. The police lights flashed, and the motorcade roared forward…

…

It wasn’t until they were on the plane that Katya finally let out a sigh of relief, patting her chest. “Oh my goodness, I almost suffocated!”

Indeed, she had barely had a chance to speak all day, maintaining a smile as she sat beside Wang Ye, playing the role of a competent “ornament.”

Wang Ye put on his eye mask again, adjusted his seat to a comfortable angle, and chuckled, “You’ll get used to it. No one becomes an expert overnight. Once you attend more events like this, you’ll adapt.”

He wasn’t wrong. Wang Ye himself had been uncomfortable at first.

Fortunately, his mental resilience was strong, and he quickly slipped into his “role.”

In just a few months, he had transformed from a poor student into the nephew of an oligarch…

Of course, he was no longer relying solely on Khovansky to get things done. He had begun building his own network and influence.

Soon, when he went out, people might not just see him as “Khovansky’s nephew,” but simply as “Mikhail!”

By the time they returned to Moscow, it was already past seven in the evening.

Wang Ye had called Alyona earlier, asking her to notify Natalia to come over for dinner—he had something to discuss with them.

Seryosha drove Wang Ye directly from the airport back to the apartment.

As he pushed open the door, Alyona had already prepared dinner and was sitting on the sofa with Natalia, watching TV as they waited for him.

Hearing the door open, both women turned their heads.

“Haha, Natalia’s here. Come, let’s eat. We can talk while we eat,” Wang Ye said, taking off his suit jacket with a smile.

“Misha, why did you call me over? And why did it have to be in person? Couldn’t you have just told me over the phone?” Natalia asked, wrinkling her nose.

Wang Ye smiled mysteriously. “You’ll find out soon enough!”

…

The three of them sat around the dining table. Wang Ye was hungry—he hadn’t had an appetite for the food on the plane.

After drinking a small bowl of borscht, he set down his utensils and said to the two women, “Do you know where I went today and who I met?”

Alyona shook her head. “No.”

Natalia said, “Hmph, how would I know? Just tell us already, stop beating around the bush.”

“I went to Simferopol and met Meshkov!” Wang Ye stated bluntly.

“Ah?!” Both Alyona and Natalia froze.

They were, of course, familiar with both Simferopol and Meshkov!

“What were you doing there?”

“How do you even know President Meshkov?!”

They both exclaimed in shock.

“Haha, business. Didn’t I tell you before? I wanted to buy Livadia Palace and open a large entertainment center. This trip to see Meshkov was to discuss that,” Wang Ye said as he ate.

“Did the business talk go well?” Alyona asked concernedly.

Wang Ye nodded. “Mm, it went quite smoothly. It should be settled soon.”

“So what does this have to do with me? Are you planning to thank me? But I didn’t help you with this at all,” Natalia said, feeling puzzled.

Wang Ye looked her up and down, carefully examining her until Natalia felt uneasy.

She scolded, “Misha, what are you looking at me like that for! Alyona, aren’t you going to stop him?!”

“Hahaha, Prosecutor General Natalia, congratulations!” Wang Ye couldn’t help but laugh.

This left both women confused.

Natalia and Alyona exchanged glances, wondering if Wang Ye had drunk too much…

“Hey, even though I might become a prosecutor after my training, it’s still a long way from being Prosecutor General. Maybe in about five years, it would be appropriate to call me that,” Natalia said confidently.

Wang Ye shook his head, pointing at Natalia with his index finger. “No, congratulations, you’re about to become the Prosecutor General of Simferopol!”

Seeing how serious Wang Ye was, and hearing him repeat it twice, Natalia grew cautious, no longer thinking he was joking.

Moreover, considering that Wang Ye had just mentioned meeting Meshkov in Simferopol, this might actually be true…

She asked carefully, “Did you discuss with President Meshkov about me becoming the Prosecutor General of Simferopol?”

Wang Ye nodded without hesitation. “Yes, Meshkov and I are now strategic partners. As you know, the election is coming up, and Meshkov’s prospects aren’t looking good. But I promised to support his election campaign, and as part of the agreement, he will appoint you as the Prosecutor General of Simferopol!”

Natalia’s eyes widened in shock and delight.

Unable to contain herself, she reached out and grabbed Wang Ye’s arm, asking nervously, “Really? He agreed?”

“Of course. A mere Prosecutor General position is nothing to him.”

After responding to Natalia, Wang Ye turned to Alyona. “And congratulations to you as well, esteemed Parliament Member Alyona!”

Alyona was equally stunned. “Parliament member? What parliament member?”

“You’ll soon be entering Crimea’s parliament as a member. One Prosecutor General and one parliament member—shouldn’t I congratulate you both?” Wang Ye laughed.

Chapter 231: The Times Make the Hero

The news Wang Ye brought was truly shocking, leaving Alyona and Natalia speechless for a long time.

Both women began to question their lives…

That was the Prosecutor General of Simferopol!

That was a parliament member of Crimea!

These two positions were, for most people, lofty and unattainable.

But Wang Ye had only flown to Simferopol once, and upon returning, he told the two of them, “Get ready—one of you will be the Prosecutor General, and the other will be a parliament member.”

How could this not leave them stunned and at a loss?

Alyona knew more about Wang Ye’s situation and trusted him more, so she was only shocked but did not doubt his words.

Natalia, however, was different. She did not know Wang Ye well enough and was unaware of his true “trump cards.”

So at this moment, she was still half-believing, feeling that Wang Ye was trying to trick her—this was completely impossible!

“You… are you telling the truth? Why would Mr. Meshkov agree to these conditions? Even if you support him and provide financial aid, how much can you really offer? A hundred or two hundred thousand dollars?” Natalia asked.

Wang Ye smiled slightly and held up a hand. “Five million dollars to start!”

Alyona was fine, but Natalia gasped. “Five million! Are you crazy? Even these two positions combined aren’t worth that much. Misha, you’ve been tricked by that old fox! Money shouldn’t be wasted like this. Promise me, let’s not take these positions, and don’t give him that much money.”

This little girl still had a conscience. Even though it was Wang Ye’s money and she was the one benefiting, she still cared about him…

Alyona frowned and said, “Misha, if five million dollars only gets us these two positions, it’s not worth it. The cost is too high! To be honest, with that much money, even here in Russia, we could get two similar or even higher positions. Don’t forget, Crimea is just a small place.”

Wang Ye shook his head and looked at Alyona and Natalia. “I think it’s worth it! You’re both young. If you can start at such high positions, your future will be limitless!

I will have more investments in Crimea in the future. It will be a key area for my plans, so we must have our own people in the upper echelons.

Five million dollars may seem like a lot now, but this isn’t a one-time investment. The effects of this investment will be beneficial for a long time to come.”

Natalia and Alyona pondered this. Although they did not fully understand Wang Ye’s reasoning, they at least knew that he was not blindly investing or wasting money—he had his own calculations.

If that was the case, they did not need to worry anymore.

With their concerns set aside, smiles bloomed on their faces.

After exchanging a glance, Alyona said with a smile, “Congratulations, Prosecutor General Natalia!”

Natalia also smiled. “Parliament Member Alyona, please take care of me in the future!”

That night, Natalia stayed over at Wang Ye’s house.

Unfortunately, the two girls “occupied” the master bedroom, leaving Wang Ye to sleep alone in the guest room…

Through the wall, Wang Ye could hear the two girls whispering late into the night. After a day of flying, he quickly drifted off to sleep.

…

On June 20th, at Sheremetyevo Airport, Liu Mei was preparing to return home. Nalan Yaqi and Wang Ye had come to see her off.

“Wang Ye, after seeing all this, I think the travel route you’ve chosen is excellent! Tourists first come to Moscow to visit Red Square and the Kremlin, immersing themselves in history and culture. Then they go to St. Petersburg to experience the medieval European scenery. Finally, they visit Crimea to enjoy the beauty of the Black Sea coastal towns. And throughout the trip, they stay in luxury hotels with all kinds of facilities for eating, drinking, and entertainment. Those who feel like it can even try their luck at gambling. This is absolutely the top choice for high-end European tours.”

Liu Mei praised the Moscow-St. Petersburg-Crimea travel route.

Wang Ye smiled and said, “Then, when you go back, please talk to China Travel Service about cooperation. But be careful not to compromise too much on the conditions. If China Travel Service isn’t willing, then find another travel company. There are plenty of large travel companies in China.”

Liu Mei nodded. “I understand. Don’t worry, Wang Ye. I’ll handle this properly.”

The two of them had discussed it—Little Eagle Group would open a branch in China and hire Liu Mei as the general manager of the branch.

Of course, Wang Ye did not treat Liu Mei poorly. He gave her a twenty percent stake in the branch.

Liu Mei did not get these shares for nothing. Her previous travel company was directly merged into the new one, and she also contributed one million yuan to prepare for the establishment of the domestic branch, including office space and employee expenses.

To come up with this one million yuan, Liu Mei had gone all out, planning to sell off her original company as soon as she returned.

After all, she had seen clearly now—following Wang Ye and running this travel company was far better than struggling alone with a small business!

Joking aside, Wang Ye was investing hundreds of millions of dollars here, taking over three large hotels and transforming them all into gambling and entertainment centers.

If this travel route took off, how much money could it make in the future…

This time, when returning to China to discuss cooperation with China Travel Service, Wang Ye’s bottom line was to give the other party up to fifty percent of the “tour fees.”

For example, if the tour fee for this Russian trip was twenty thousand per person, then for every tourist recruited, China Travel Service could take ten thousand!

This ratio was already quite high, considering that most of the costs during the tour were borne by Wang Ye’s Little Eagle Group.

“Oh, so from now on, we mother and daughter will rely on Ye Ge to support us. That’s good,” Nalan Yaqi said thoughtlessly beside them.

Liu Mei’s face turned red. What was this foolish girl saying?

She poked Nalan Yaqi’s forehead and said, exasperated, “You! You’re the same age as him. Learn more from Wang Ye! If you could have even half… no, one-tenth of his ability, your mother wouldn’t have to run around everywhere!”

Nalan Yaqi covered her forehead and said aggrievedly, “How is that possible? Ye Ge is naturally talented. Not to mention me, none of the students at our school can compare to him.”

That was true. Not to mention the students at the University of Friendship.

Without exaggeration, among all the people of the same age in the world, there was probably no one who could compare to Wang Ye at this moment!

There was no way around it. Wang Ye had too many factors working in his favor. The times had created this “hero”—it was not something to be envied…

Chapter 232: Quite the Troublemaker

After seeing Liu Mei off and settling matters in Crimea, Wang Ye shifted his focus back to the Sun Market and Polar Bear Investment Company.

The Sun Market was thriving beyond words!

As Wang Ye’s earlier promises were fulfilled one by one, the Chinese merchants doing business there gradually discovered its advantages.

Safety, stability, a pleasant environment, and excellent service!

These might be commonplace in China, but in Moscow, they were rare indeed!

By now, the Sun Market was in such high demand that every stall was coveted.

Many newcomers or Chinese merchants planning to do business in Moscow were scrambling to find connections just to secure a spot in the Sun Market.

Of course, even if they settled for second best and tried to open a stall in the ACT Market, that was impossible too.

Wang Ye and Mairov had agreed in advance that no new Chinese merchants would be allowed to enter the ACT Market…

The Sun Market didn’t charge rent or management fees, but now people were secretly subletting stalls.

And of course, they weren’t doing it for free—they were charging a “tea fee”!

And not a small one at that…

With Boss Kong and his men keeping an eye on things, Wang Ye didn’t need to worry much.

Ivan hadn’t been around much lately. After all, with relationships smoothed out and logistics, customs clearance, and currency exchange all handled, the subsidiary companies were up and running smoothly.

So, he had shifted his focus to the acquisition of the Siberian Oil Company.

That morning, as soon as Wang Ye arrived at the office, Ivan came in to report on the acquisition.

“Mr. Mikhail, the situation remains the same—there’s still no progress on the acquisition. It’s proving very difficult,” Ivan said, frowning.

Wang Ye flipped through the documents Ivan had brought, smiling as he said, “Don’t rush. After all, it’s a multi-billion-dollar acquisition—it won’t happen overnight. Let’s put the acquisition on hold for now. Have the investment company staff take a break—paid leave, of course.”

Ivan opened his mouth as if to say something but ultimately held back.

After all, Wang Ye was the general manager of Polar Bear Investment Company, and Khovansky had given him full authority. Everything had to be done according to Wang Ye’s wishes.

He was just there to assist.

If Wang Ye didn’t mind, what else could he say?

…

After Ivan left, Wang Ye stood up and walked to the window, looking at the bustling crowd in the Sun Market not far away. He took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a drag.

Some things were already in motion, but he couldn’t tell Ivan yet.

Because those matters couldn’t be brought out into the open…

According to Anton’s report, the timing was just about right. He should find time to meet with his dear Uncle Gebrev soon…

After finishing his cigarette, Wang Ye stubbed it out, turned around, and walked back to his desk. He picked up his phone and dialed a number.

The call was answered quickly. Wang Ye smiled and said, “Uncle Gebrev, it’s Mikhail. Are you free tonight? I’d like to invite you to dinner at Turandot Restaurant. There are a few things I’d like to discuss with you.”

Gebrev hesitated for a moment before replying, “Alright, around seven in the evening. See you then.”

After hanging up, Gebrev furrowed his brow, wondering what Wang Ye wanted to discuss with him tonight.

He had been keeping an eye on Wang Ye’s movements and was well aware of recent events.

Including Wang Ye taking over Polar Bear Investment Company, and Wang Ye’s trip to Simferopol to meet Meshkov—Gebrev knew all about it.

He even knew what Wang Ye and Meshkov had discussed, because Meshkov had called him to verify Wang Ye’s relationship with him.

Gebrev had been gracious, telling Meshkov that Mikhail was a promising young man he held in high regard!

Could it be that Wang Ye wanted to discuss Crimea with him tonight?

To be honest, Gebrev had discussed this matter with the great emperor, whose stance was to stay out of it and let Wang Ye handle it.

After all, Crimea was still part of Ukraine, and the situation there was chaotic. Gebrev didn’t want to get involved and risk giving others ammunition.

Since Wang Ye was willing to wade into those “muddy waters,” let him do it. That connection might come in handy someday!

But Gebrev was a little surprised. This Wang Ye was quite the troublemaker!

Now he was even reaching into Crimea…

Ah, to be young!

…

At seven in the evening, inside Turandot Restaurant, in the same private room as last time, Wang Ye and Gebrev shared drinks and conversation.

“You’re quite the troublemaker, kid! Alright, what brings you to me this time?” Gebrev said with a smile.

Setting aside their respective positions, Gebrev genuinely admired Wang Ye.

Smart, capable, ambitious—young people like him were the hope of the nation!

Too bad Wang Ye wasn’t a real Russian…

Wang Ye asked seriously, “Uncle Gebrev, I’d like to discuss the Siberian Oil Company with you.”

Gebrev, who had been about to cut into his roasted meat, froze mid-motion. He hadn’t expected Wang Ye to bring this up.

Oh, well, it wasn’t entirely unexpected, but given how sharp Wang Ye was, he shouldn’t have failed to realize why Khovansky couldn’t take over the Siberian Oil Company!

So, he really shouldn’t be bringing this up in front of him!

Setting down his knife and fork, Gebrev wiped his mouth with a napkin and gave Wang Ye a stern look. “The Siberian Oil Company? What about it?”

Wang Ye wasn’t intimidated. He smiled and said, “Everyone knows that most of the Siberian Oil Company’s shares still belong to Berezovsky, and Uncle Aby is just managing them on his behalf. This situation can’t drag on forever—there has to be a resolution. Personally, I think either the shares should be nationalized, or Berezovsky should be made to sell them!”

At the last part, Gebrev’s expression softened slightly. He shook his head and said, “Easier said than done. Let’s talk about nationalization first—technically, that’s the right approach. But we also have to consider the international repercussions. Sigh, that’s the price of freedom—everything is restricted, and any move can be criticized by the international community.”

Wang Ye nodded in understanding and continued, “Then just have him sell them. Let my uncle Khovansky buy them.”

Gebrev grinned, looking at Wang Ye meaningfully. “And then what? If your uncle buys the Siberian Oil Company, he’ll practically have a monopoly on the entire country’s oil industry! What good would that do for the nation?”

Chapter 233: Time to Lay the Cards on the Table

“Why not?” Wang Ye countered. “If Uncle Khovansky pays his taxes and runs his business honestly, what does it matter if he monopolizes the oil industry?”

Gebrev shook his head, pointing a finger at Wang Ye. “You’re either naive or just plain stupid! Do you really think your uncle is the kind of man who would run his business honestly? If he had, do you think he would have gotten this far?”

Clearly, in Gebrev’s eyes—or rather, in the great emperor’s eyes—Khovansky was anything but an “honest man.”

Wang Ye spoke sincerely, “I am the general manager of Polar Bear Investment Company now, and the acquisition of Siberian Oil Company is my responsibility. I have a plan. Let me tell you about it. We can do this…”

As Wang Ye explained, Gebrev’s mouth fell open wider and wider.

“Uncle Gebrev, what do you think of my plan? Doesn’t it consider everyone’s interests without causing any international repercussions?” Wang Ye asked with a smile at the end.

Gebrev furrowed his brow in deep thought for a long time before hesitantly asking, “Are you really sure about this? This has to be executed flawlessly to achieve the effect you’re talking about. If any link in the chain fails, it could cause a huge mess!”

Wang Ye smiled faintly, confidently replying, “Whether it succeeds or not, the country won’t suffer any losses. If something goes wrong, I’ll take full responsibility! But if it does succeed, you know better than I do how beneficial it will be for the country. I’m solving several major problems for you!”

Gebrev’s sharp gaze locked onto Wang Ye, but Wang Ye remained calm and composed.

“You’ve decided to do this, so you must have considered the consequences. Do you think you can handle them?”

Wang Ye replied decisively, “I will bear all the consequences alone. But I believe this isn’t as complicated as it seems. Sometimes, the best solution is to cut through the mess with a swift stroke.”

Gebrev finally broke into a smile. “Good! You’ve got guts, kid! If it goes smoothly, it really is the best solution, benefiting all parties. But I have to warn you—don’t let anyone else know about this besides us. If it leaks, don’t blame me for turning on you!”

“Don’t worry, I’m the one directly handling this. I’m more worried about it failing than anyone else. But you need to move quickly on your end too. We have to work together to make this perfect,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

“Alright, I’ll head back to the Kremlin and discuss this with… him. You just wait for my call tonight.”

When Gebrev mentioned “him,” he gestured upward with his hand.

Wang Ye understood and nodded with a smile. “Here’s to our successful cooperation!”

With that, Wang Ye raised his glass of red wine, and Gebrev raised his as well…

…

That evening, back at home, Wang Ye was distracted. He sat on the sofa, watching TV while fiddling with his Nokia 3310.

After finishing the housework, Alyona washed her hands and walked over. Seeing Wang Ye playing with his phone, she laughed, “You’re still using this phone? Why don’t you get a new one? It doesn’t really suit your status now. I’ve seen Boss Kong and those rich people using that… what’s it called? A Volt phone.”

Indeed, if you really thought about it, Wang Ye was now a bona fide billionaire—counted in US dollars!

The Nokia 3310 was a cheap phone and didn’t really match his status.

But Wang Ye didn’t care. “This phone is great—durable, reliable, and has good reception. A phone is just a communication tool. When it comes to making calls, the Volt isn’t any better than my Nokia.”

You had to admit, in his “previous life,” Wang Ye had used all kinds of so-called flagship phones. Now that he was “back,” using the most basic feature phone actually felt pretty good.

No unnecessary features, no battery anxiety—this was what a phone should be.

…

While Wang Ye and Alyona chatted idly, inside the Kremlin, Gebrev was reporting to the great emperor.

“…This is what Mikhail told me tonight. It seems this kid has big ambitions,” Gebrev concluded with a sigh.

The great emperor listened in confusion, frowning as he tried to piece everything together. After a while, he finally understood and laughed, “Haha, interesting. This kid is to my liking—his ideas are wild but actually feasible. Too bad he’s not Russian. Otherwise, his future would be limitless.”

Gebrev’s eyes gleamed as he said, “If you say he’s Russian, then he is! He has all the proper identification, and his background is impressive—he’s the nephew of the oligarch Khovansky!”

The great emperor paused for a moment before realizing what Gebrev meant. “Oh! If we say he’s Russian, then he is, no matter what he was before!”

The two men exchanged a knowing smile.

Indeed, in Russia, no one would dare to doubt or contradict the great emperor’s words.

Since Mikhail—this young man—was practically becoming too big to control, the best solution was to bring him into their fold.

And because of his special identity, there was no need to worry about his loyalty.

Because Mikhail had a weakness—they held it in their hands!

It was hard to say whether Wang Ye’s “Mikhail” identity brought him more benefits or harm.

Because of this identity, Khovansky dared to entrust him with important tasks, believing he held Wang Ye’s “weakness” and could take back everything he had given at any time.

But he didn’t realize that the great emperor’s side now thought the same way!

And the great emperor was even more confident. With his backing, no one would dare to question “Mikhail’s” identity. If the great emperor said he was Russian, then Mikhail’s identity was as real as it could be!

Similarly, the great emperor and Gebrev were even more willing to pull Wang Ye into their faction because they thought the same way as Khovansky.

They weren’t worried about Wang Ye becoming too powerful or forming his own faction. After all, they knew his true identity inside and out!

Both Gebrev’s group and Khovansky believed they had Wang Ye firmly under their control, but was Wang Ye really at a disadvantage?

Not necessarily!

Because of this, he actually gained the trust of both Khovansky and Gebrev more easily.

As for betrayal?

Why would Wang Ye betray them?

These people were all “towering trees.” Others might not even get the chance to cling to their legs…

Chapter 234: Failed Cooperation

It was past nine in the evening when Wang Ye’s phone rang.

Picking it up, he saw it was Gebrev calling!

Wang Ye quickly answered, “Uncle Gebrev…”

“Do it according to your plan. I’ll cooperate from my end,” Gebrev said briefly.

A smile spread across Wang Ye’s face as he replied decisively, “Got it, I understand!”

After hanging up, Wang Ye let out a long sigh of relief. This matter was as good as settled!

With Gebrev—no, with the great emperor as his backer, the next steps in his plan were now within firm grasp.

Speaking of Wang Ye’s plan, it could only be described as “audacious.” This was the right time and place for it…

A few years later, or in any other location, Wang Ye wouldn’t even dare to think about it!

…

While Wang Ye was busy with the acquisition of the Siberian Oil Company, Liu Mei had already returned to China and begun formal discussions with China Travel Service.

Before making contact, Liu Mei had done considerable preparation.

She pulled some strings and directly reached out to a senior deputy general manager at China Travel Service, arranging a meeting in his office to discuss cooperation.

After all, it was a large state-owned enterprise with strict protocols.

Especially in those days, without connections, it was nearly impossible to get a foot in the door. This was one of the reasons Wang Ye had involved Liu Mei.

At least Liu Mei was an old Beijing native with extensive connections and acquaintances, which could be of some use.

On June 25th, Liu Mei arrived early at the China Travel Service building in her Jetta. After parking, she straightened her suit, grabbed her bag, and walked inside…

…

“Deputy General Manager Li, here are our Little Eagle Group’s credentials, along with some relevant documents. Oh, and some photos of scenic spots I took. Please take a look.”

In the deputy general manager’s office, Liu Mei was in conversation with him.

Taking the folder Liu Mei handed over, Deputy General Manager Li flipped through it while asking, “Russian tourism? We’ve actually been considering this, but haven’t finalized anything yet. After all, overseas tourism has only just started gaining traction in the past couple of years. We’re still in the exploratory phase.”

“I understand, most people have only recently become affluent enough to have extra money for travel. Deputy General Manager Li, you might consider cooperating with our group. The Little Eagle Group has its own large hotels in Russia and Crimea, and we have considerable strength…” Liu Mei quickly explained.

When Deputy General Manager Li saw the registration documents for the Little Eagle Group, he paused, seemingly unable to see clearly. He leaned in for a closer look.

Surprised, he asked Liu Mei, “What’s going on with this registered capital? Is it a typo or a translation error?”

The documents Liu Mei showed him were, of course, translated into Chinese. He couldn’t read Russian…

“Oh, that? It’s correct,” Liu Mei said with a smile.

“Over five hundred million US dollars! Tsk, tsk, truly a large conglomerate,” Deputy General Manager Li exclaimed.

After re-registering, the Little Eagle Group had received substantial investments from both Wang Ye and Ho Chiu-ying, bringing the registered capital to over five hundred million US dollars!

Hearing Deputy General Manager Li’s exclamation, Liu Mei felt a surge of joy. This meant there was hope!

Although China Travel Service was a large enterprise with branches nationwide, the Little Eagle Group was no slouch either!

“Your group is in the hotel industry? But according to these documents, you only operate one hotel, oh, and you’ve just acquired one… with another pending acquisition. That’s only three hotels total. Is that worth such a massive investment? Or are all your hotels five-star luxury establishments?” Deputy General Manager Li asked, puzzled.

“It’s like this, Deputy General Manager Li. Our group… actually holds Russia’s only gambling license!” Liu Mei lowered her voice as she explained.

Deputy General Manager Li looked up in astonishment, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. He tentatively asked, “Like Macau?”

“Yes, exactly the same!” Liu Mei affirmed.

Deputy General Manager Li hissed in surprise, “Wow… your group is incredibly well-connected! I’ve never heard of any gambling licenses in Russia before. Isn’t gambling illegal there?”

Liu Mei calmly smiled, unhurriedly replying, “Our group’s boss has powerful backers in the Kremlin!”

Indeed, without such strong connections, it would be impossible to explain how they obtained the only gambling license!

Deputy General Manager Li was taken aback, stretching his neck as he stared at Liu Mei, seemingly trying to determine if she was telling the truth or just pulling his leg.

After a long pause, he finally spoke, “The Kremlin? You mean… that one?”

“Yes, exactly what you’re thinking,” Liu Mei replied, feeling a little smug inside.

Hah! Now you know the strength of our group!

Deputy General Manager Li remained silent, pondering for a moment before closing the documents in his hand and gently pushing them back toward Liu Mei.

He then said, “I’m sorry, Director Liu, but this route is something China Travel Service cannot undertake.”

“Huh? Why? Deputy General Manager Li, you must have misunderstood. We don’t need China Travel Service to do anything. We just need you to use your channels to help us promote and attract customers,” Liu Mei said, somewhat stunned.

Deputy General Manager Li shook his head, speaking earnestly, “Director Liu, I understand what you mean! But there’s something I need to tell you. China Travel Service is a state-owned enterprise. We can’t just focus on making money; we also have to bear certain social responsibilities! If your group didn’t have a gambling license, this cooperation would likely be no problem. But since you do have one, you’ll definitely be entering the gambling industry, and that’s something we can’t be involved in.”

Liu Mei immediately understood. So that was the issue!

This was supposed to be the Little Eagle Group’s greatest advantage. Without the gambling license, who would be willing to invest so much money in Russian tourism…

But China Travel Service was indeed a state-owned enterprise, and they were very sensitive about this!

“Then… why can Macau have a gambling license and still promote tourism in China?” Liu Mei asked, somewhat indignant.

“First, China Travel Service doesn’t have any Macau tourism projects, at least not yet. Second, they don’t have any domestic partners; they do their own promotions. Moreover, in any media promotions, they are not allowed to advertise gambling projects. Your group should also be careful about this when promoting domestically,” Deputy General Manager Li said with a smile.

It was only because of their personal connection that he was willing to share this information and remind Liu Mei of what to be cautious about.

“So that means China Travel Service can’t cooperate with us, is there any other way?” Liu Mei made a final effort.

Deputy General Manager Li shook his head decisively, “Impossible! There’s no other way, unless you give up the gambling license, but that’s not realistic.”

The cooperation with China Travel Service was officially declared a failure!

Chapter 235: The Final Negotiation

After leaving the China Travel Service building, Liu Mei returned to her car but did not start it immediately. Instead, she sat there for a while, feeling utterly disheartened. The collaboration with China Travel Service had completely fallen through!

No matter how she tried to explain, Deputy General Manager Li remained resolute in his refusal to cooperate. Liu Mei even probed whether he might be seeking some personal benefit, but Deputy General Manager Li made it clear that it had nothing to do with that—it was simply a matter of policy.

While collaborating with the Little Eagle Hotel might bring China Travel Service some additional profit, the risks far outweighed the benefits. Especially when those risks threatened their official positions, no one was willing to take such a gamble…

After some time, Liu Mei picked up her phone, calculated the time, and dialed Wang Ye’s number. The call connected quickly, and she recounted the entire situation before asking Wang Ye what she should do next. Should she approach private travel companies for collaboration? However, from what Liu Mei knew, private travel companies in China were not particularly large in scale.

After listening to Liu Mei’s account, Wang Ye furrowed his brows. Gambling was indeed a sensitive issue in China, especially for state-owned enterprises. This was something he had not considered.

If that was the case, collaborating with companies like China Travel Service was out of the question. He needed to consider alternative approaches. Macau’s gambling industry was also prohibited from advertising in China, so how did they manage it? Perhaps he could take some cues from their methods.

He would discuss this matter with Ho Chiu-ying later. For now, Wang Ye instructed Liu Mei not to worry about collaboration for the time being. She could focus on registering the subsidiary, setting up the office space, and recruiting employees. As for marketing and attracting customers, she could wait for his further instructions.

After ending the call, Wang Ye felt a sense of helplessness. He had thought that with his “lead” of twenty years over this era, everything would come easily. But this incident had taught him a lesson. Many things were not within his control…

However, there was no rush. The renovation of the three hotels would take at least half a year, so there was still plenty of time. His most pressing task now was to finalize the acquisition of the Siberian Oil Company!

…

On June 30th, Wang Ye called Ivan and instructed him, under the name of Polar Bear Investment Company, to issue an acquisition offer to the headquarters of the Siberian Oil Company, setting a time for another high-level meeting. Wang Ye himself also dialed Aby’s number.

This was the first time Wang Ye had called Aby since visiting his estate. “Uncle Aby, it’s Mikhail. Are you in Moscow recently, or are you in Chukotka?” Wang Ye politely asked as soon as the call connected.

Aby paused for a moment, likely not immediately recognizing who “Mikhail” was. After a couple of seconds, he chuckled and said, “Misha, hello. I’m in Chukotka. What’s up? Do you need something?”

“My uncle has entrusted me with handling the acquisition of the Siberian Oil Company, so I wanted to meet with you to finalize this matter. It’s been dragging on for too long,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

“Hmm… Misha, you might not realize how complicated this matter is. Your uncle and I have been discussing it for so long without reaching an agreement,” Aby replied in a gentle tone, clearly thinking that Wang Ye was being a bit naive and oversimplifying the situation.

Wang Ye responded decisively, “No, this matter will soon no longer be complicated. Why don’t you give Gebrev a call to discuss it? He should be able to give you some advice.”

This remark clearly surprised Aby. He probed cautiously, “What does this have to do with Gebrev? Isn’t your uncle the one who has been in contact with Berezovsky?”

“This is a large-scale merger and acquisition that affects the development of the national oil industry. Naturally, it requires approval at the national level. You should understand that. As for Berezovsky, that’s no longer an issue,” Wang Ye stated calmly.

However, Aby did not fully grasp the meaning behind his words, especially the last sentence…

At this point, Aby could no longer refuse, so he agreed readily, “Alright, I’ll return to Moscow in a day or two. We can meet at the company headquarters then. I’ll give Gebrev a call shortly to see what’s going on.”

…

After hanging up with Wang Ye, Aby’s expression was uncertain. For a long time, the reason Khovansky had been unable to finalize the acquisition of the Siberian Oil Company was partly due to government-level issues, but also because Aby himself was hesitant.

The shares he managed on behalf of Berezovsky were a major problem! According to Khovansky’s plan, since Berezovsky had already agreed, Aby could simply hand over the company’s shares and find a way to transfer the money to Berezovsky’s account. But the question was, what benefit would Aby get from this?

Originally, with the shares he managed for Berezovsky combined with his own shares, he could completely control the Siberian Oil Company! This was the second-largest oil company in Russia, second only to Khovansky’s, and it brought him many implicit and explicit benefits.

But once sold, all of that would be gone. Not only would he lose those benefits, but he would also offend the faction led by the great emperor!

Deep down, he did not want this acquisition deal to go through. Now, hearing Wang Ye say that Gebrev had changed his mind and agreed to proceed with the acquisition, Aby was taken aback.

He knew that this was not something Gebrev could decide on his own—it had to be approved by the great emperor for anything to change!

Quickly, he dialed Gebrev’s number and repeated what Wang Ye had said, asking what was going on.

“Yes, after comprehensive consideration, we have decided to approve this merger. You can proceed with the normal negotiations,” Gebrev replied straightforwardly.

Aby asked in confusion, “But this would only benefit Berezovsky and Khovansky—one gets a large sum of money, and the other monopolizes the domestic oil resources. What do we get out of it?”

“You can decide for yourself whether to sell your own shares. If you do, I believe Misha will give you a good price. That’s all. When you meet, discuss it formally, and you’ll understand,” Gebrev said decisively.

At this point, if Aby continued to ask questions, it would seem like he did not trust Gebrev. So, he had no choice but to agree and prepare to meet with Wang Ye for formal discussions.

Chapter 236: The Dead Cannot Speak

After hanging up the phone, Aby still couldn’t make sense of it.

Indeed, no matter how he looked at it, the whole thing seemed odd.

Aby found it hard to believe that the great emperor had approved of this. Could it be that Mikhail and that old fox Gebrev had made some secret deal behind his back?

It wasn’t impossible!

But on the other hand, Aby felt that such a scenario was unlikely.

After all, Gebrev’s entire authority was built upon the great emperor’s trust in him.

If he dared to hide such matters from the great emperor, he would have to be incredibly reckless!

During the call, Gebrev had seemed to imply something without explicitly stating what had happened. He had only told Aby to discuss things with Mikhail.

It seemed there were some things Aby wasn’t supposed to know yet, which only made him more curious!

He was now eager to meet Mikhail and find out what the young man had done to make the great emperor change his mind and allow Khovansky to acquire the Siberian Oil Company.

But Aby had his own thoughts on the matter. Even if the great emperor had agreed, whether or not to sell the shares would depend on what kind of terms Mikhail could offer.

If the conditions didn’t satisfy him, Aby wouldn’t easily agree.

It wasn’t about not giving the great emperor face—he had to protect his own interests.

…

On the morning of July 2nd, many cars were parked outside the headquarters of the Siberian Oil Company.

Among them, over a dozen black BMW 7 Series cars were parked side by side—these were the company’s standard vehicles for its executives.

Many employees were surprised to see so many high-ranking officials arriving early. It seemed something big was about to happen.

The Siberian Oil Company’s headquarters looked quite modest—a long, narrow Small Red Building, not very tall, only about ten stories high.

It was nothing compared to the grand Yukos headquarters.

Yet, this unassuming building was the headquarters of the renowned Siberian Oil Company!

Just before ten o’clock, a small motorcade arrived.

Two black large G-class Mercedes stood out among them.

As soon as the cars stopped in front of the building, a group of people came out to greet them.

Amid the sounds of doors opening and closing, Wang Ye, accompanied by Ivan and several employees from Polar Bear Investment Company, stepped out of the car.

The group from inside the building was led by a deputy general manager of the Siberian Oil Company. Aby was not among them.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the deputy general manager smiled and said, “Mr. Aby is already waiting for you all in the large conference room. Please, follow me.”

The group entered the Small Red Building and followed the deputy general manager directly to the large conference room on the second floor.

Aby and his assistant were already seated at the conference table, waiting for Wang Ye’s arrival.

When Aby saw the deputy general manager bringing Wang Ye and the others in, he stood up, his face bearing his signature modest smile.

He warmly greeted them, “Misha, it seems your uncle really trusts you, entrusting you with such an important matter!”

Wang Ye quickly replied modestly, “My uncle wants to take some time off recently and has asked me to handle things temporarily. I’ll need the guidance of you seniors like Uncle Aby.”

After the polite exchanges, everyone took their seats.

Across the long conference table, the personnel from both companies sat on opposite sides.

“So, what new proposals do you have?” Aby asked with a smile.

Ivan and the other employees remained silent. They had no idea what Wang Ye was planning. Before coming, Wang Ye hadn’t told them anything about what would be discussed today.

He had only mysteriously told them to prepare themselves mentally, as they would be busy after today.

Wang Ye opened a folder he had brought with him, cleared his throat, and said:

“Regarding Polar Bear Investment Company’s acquisition of eighty percent of the Siberian Oil Company’s shares, for the ten percent of shares you hold, Uncle Aby, we are offering twenty billion US dollars in cash!”

The first point shocked everyone in the conference room.

The price was too high!

If they followed this price, the remaining seventy percent of shares held by Berezovsky and the others would require an offer of one hundred and forty billion US dollars!

Ivan almost couldn’t help but remind Wang Ye that this was absurd!

After all, how much money did Polar Bear Investment Company have in its account? Twenty billion for just ten percent of the shares—how would they afford the remaining seventy percent held by Berezovsky?

Ivan even suspected that Wang Ye might have some secret deal with Aby!

This kid wasn’t trying to waste Khovansky’s money, was he?

Aby also looked at Wang Ye in surprise and blurted out, “You’re not joking, are you? Twenty billion US dollars?”

Wang Ye nodded decisively and said, “Yes, as long as you, Uncle Aby, have no objections to this acquisition and are willing to sell your shares, the price is twenty billion US dollars!”

Aby frowned, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, “Then… what about the remaining seventy percent of the shares? How much are you planning to offer?”

Wang Ye smiled but didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he said to Aby, “Next, I would like to speak with you, Uncle Aby, alone.”

After saying this, he nodded to Ivan beside him.

Ivan immediately understood his meaning. Although he was curious about what Wang Ye wanted to discuss with Aby, he had no choice but to stand up, wave his hand, and lead the other Polar Bear Investment Company employees out of the conference room.

Aby hesitated for a moment before nodding.

His executives and assistants also stood up and left the conference room.

The door was closed, leaving only the two of them in the large conference room.

Aby looked at Wang Ye and slowly said, “Now that we’re alone, you can speak.”

Wang Ye smiled and said, “For Berezovsky’s seventy percent of the shares, I’m offering thirty billion US dollars!”

Aby’s expression remained calm, showing no surprise. He only asked, “Why? Do you think Berezovsky will agree to this price? As far as I know, your uncle has already negotiated with him and reached an agreement to acquire the seventy percent of shares for sixty billion US dollars. Now, you’re cutting the price in half!”

Wang Ye leaned back in his chair, looking relaxed and composed. He said, “Perhaps you don’t know, Uncle Aby, but Berezovsky can no longer participate in this acquisition. No matter what price I offer, he can’t object.”

Aby frowned, confused, and asked, “Has something happened that I don’t know about?”

“Because,” Wang Ye sat up straight, enunciating each word clearly, “the dead cannot speak.”

Chapter 237: Earth-Shattering News

Aby instantly felt a chill run down his spine. His hand, resting on the edge of the table, unconsciously tightened, and his pupils constricted.

His face filled with disbelief as he asked, “What did you say? Who died?”

“Just received the news—Berezovsky was found dead in his London apartment. As for who did it, we don’t know yet. The police are investigating, but his French chef and British bodyguard have mysteriously disappeared,” Wang Ye replied calmly.

Aby stared at Wang Ye for a long moment, realizing he wasn’t joking.

He stood up abruptly. “Wait for me. I need to verify this.”

With that, he hurried out of the conference room.

…

After leaving, Aby immediately contacted Berezovsky’s people and confirmed the news.

Wang Ye hadn’t lied. Just about an hour ago, Berezovsky had been discovered dead in his London apartment!

Though Berezovsky was in exile, he was still wealthy, living in a luxury apartment with a French professional chef, a British bodyguard, a butler, and servants.

According to reports, his butler had grown concerned when Berezovsky didn’t wake up in the morning. Upon checking, he found Berezovsky lying in bed, his face pale and lifeless…

The butler panicked and called the police.

Given Berezovsky’s fame, the police took the case seriously and arrived quickly. Their investigation found no signs of struggle—Berezovsky’s expression was peaceful, suggesting he had died quietly in his sleep.

Strangely, his French chef and British bodyguard had vanished without a trace!

The news hadn’t yet leaked to the media and was still under wraps, so Aby hadn’t heard about it.

As for how Wang Ye knew… that remained a mystery.

…

After hanging up, Aby’s expression darkened, his mind in turmoil.

The London police would struggle to solve this, but he already had his suspicions.

There were only two possibilities.

Either Mikhail had ordered the hit!

Because Mikhail had been the one to inform him, meaning that as soon as Berezovsky’s death occurred, Mikhail’s side had been the first to know.

Normally, Aby should have received the news faster—he and Berezovsky were closer, occasionally speaking on the phone.

But Mikhail didn’t even know Berezovsky!

So, it was highly likely that Mikhail was behind this. Only then would he have known about Berezovsky’s death before Aby.

Of course, there was another possibility.

The Kremlin had made its move…

And Mikhail had already aligned himself with the Kremlin, even becoming one of their trusted figures!

That was why Gebrev had informed Mikhail before telling Aby.

Either scenario filled Aby with dread.

If it was Mikhail, then this man was ruthless, with highly “professional” assassins at his disposal—possibly even former KGB operatives.

Whoever crossed Mikhail would never sleep soundly again!

But the second possibility was even more terrifying.

It meant the Kremlin was grooming a new generation of oligarchs, and Mikhail was their chosen one!

And they were now targeting the old guard…

Aby had always believed himself to be the rising star among the new oligarchs, favored by the Kremlin.

But now, it seemed that wasn’t the case.

What puzzled him was how Mikhail, Khovansky’s nephew and a man deeply trusted by Khovansky, could simultaneously earn the Kremlin’s trust when Khovansky himself was at odds with them.

What kind of magic did this man possess?

…

Wang Ye sat alone in the conference room, sipping water as he waited for Aby’s return.

He was certain that once Aby confirmed Berezovsky’s death, he would agree to the acquisition terms.

Aby was a smart man…

Wang Ye hadn’t just eliminated Berezovsky to acquire shares in the Siberian Oil Company—it was also a display of power and intent to all factions involved!

Most importantly, this operation had the Kremlin’s approval. Otherwise, Wang Ye wouldn’t have acted so boldly…

And he had given Aby an “out,” along with generous compensation!

Twenty billion dollars for ten percent of Aby’s shares—that was his show of goodwill!

Aby wouldn’t refuse such an offer.

Just as he was thinking, the conference room door opened, and Aby walked back in.

His expression was grim. As soon as he sat down, he fixed his gaze on Wang Ye and asked, “Who did this? Do you know? Berezovsky was my best friend, my mentor!”

Wang Ye was growing impatient. At this point, why was Aby still pretending?

Others might not know, might think Aby and Berezovsky were close, might even believe Berezovsky trusted Aby.

But Wang Ye knew exactly what kind of man Aby was!

If not for his “involvement,” Aby would have seized all the assets Berezovsky had entrusted to him within a few years!

Later, when Aby took over London, the two had nearly gone to court over it.

And now, this man was pretending to care about Berezovsky?

Wang Ye smirked. “You should ask the police. I don’t know. Let’s talk business. According to Berezovsky’s prior authorization, after his death, all his shares in the Siberian Oil Company are to be sold to Yukos Group—that is, Polar Bear Investment Company—for three billion dollars. Then, the proceeds are to be donated to the state.”

Aby’s mouth fell slightly open, blinking in confusion. “Authorization? What authorization?”

Wang Ye pulled another envelope from his folder, placing it on the table and sliding it toward Aby. “This contains the letter he wrote to you. It mentions this matter. Of course, it’s not a formal will, but given how sudden his death was, it should still hold legal weight.”

Chapter 238: Flawless

Aby instantly understood!

There was no need to read the letter. Its contents were undoubtedly exactly as Mikhail had described.

He swallowed hard, his back breaking out in a cold sweat.

What a brilliant scheme!

It was absolutely flawless!

If he hadn’t been caught up in it himself, Aby would have wanted to applaud…

Let’s break down this matter—or rather, this acquisition deal. It actually involved four major factions.

Berezovsky was naturally one of the key figures. He held seventy percent of the Siberian Oil Company’s shares, so to complete this acquisition, Berezovsky was someone they couldn’t avoid dealing with.

But he had offended the great emperor and fled to London.

Khovansky was another key figure because he was the buyer—the one putting up the money!

Although he was currently the richest oligarch in Russia—perhaps without the “currently”—Khovansky’s relationship with the great emperor was also quite tense…

The third faction was Aby himself.

Not only did he personally own ten percent of the Siberian Oil Company’s shares, but he was also Berezovsky’s close friend, managing Berezovsky’s seventy percent stake on his behalf.

He was another unavoidable key figure.

The fourth faction seemed unrelated to the acquisition on the surface, but no one dared ignore their opinion because it was the great emperor!

Aby also understood the great emperor’s and Gebrev’s intentions. They wanted to “sanction” Berezovsky but were wary of international repercussions and didn’t want Khovansky’s oil business to grow any larger, so they had been opposing this acquisition all along.

It was because of these four complex relationships that the acquisition had been dragging on without resolution for so long.

But now, because one person had emerged, everything had changed.

That person was Mikhail!

…

Aby’s hand rested on the letter, his fingers unconsciously tapping the envelope.

There was no need to read it. The contents were undoubtedly as Mikhail had said, and the handwriting was definitely Berezovsky’s.

He was considering what he should do.

Should he follow Mikhail’s proposed plan?

If he cooperated with the plan, selling Berezovsky’s shares to Yukos for three billion US dollars and then “donating” those three billion dollars to the state, the deal would be a success, and all parties would benefit.

Khovansky would gain control of the Siberian Oil Company for less money.

The Kremlin would not only resolve the Berezovsky problem but also receive three billion US dollars!

As for himself, he would sell his ten percent stake at a good price…

Of course, Berezovsky was the only “unfortunate one,” having all his core assets “confiscated” and even losing his life!

Aby suddenly looked up at Wang Ye and asked, “Was this plan your idea?”

The question came out of nowhere, but Wang Ye naturally understood what he was asking. He smiled and shook his head, neither confirming nor denying.

Instead, he said, “Uncle Aby, some things are better left unknown. Knowing too much only brings unnecessary trouble. You just need to know that once I got involved, the outcome was already set in stone! Sign it, don’t overthink it.”

With that, he pushed another document forward.

Inside was naturally the contract for Polar Bear Investment Company’s acquisition of eighty percent of the Siberian Oil Company’s shares!

Aby stared at Wang Ye for a long moment, his face suddenly breaking into his signature shy smile as he nodded. “No wonder Khovansky and Gebrev admire you so much, Misha. You really are impressive! I agree to this acquisition.”

After saying that, Aby opened the contract, gave it a quick read, and signed his name!

Wang Ye smiled and stood up, extending his right hand. “Uncle Aby, it’s been a pleasure doing business with you.”

Aby also stood up, shaking his head with a wry smile. “I never want to deal with you again.”

“Haha, was my offer not good enough?” Wang Ye asked with a laugh.

“No, the price was excellent. But this feeling of being led by the nose… it’s not pleasant!” Aby said helplessly.

Perhaps this acquisition was the most frustrating business deal he had ever experienced!

There was no room for negotiation. Whatever the other party said, he had to do, without even daring to think of resisting.

Because he knew exactly who stood behind the other party.

“Let everyone in. We’ll announce this,” Wang Ye said.

Aby nodded. “Alright, who will make the announcement, you or me?”

Wang Ye modestly replied, “Naturally, it should be you, Uncle. You can also tell everyone about Mr. Berezovsky’s patriotic act of donating his assets to the state.”

…

Several high-ranking executives of the Siberian Oil Company, along with Ivan and the others, received the notification and filed into the large conference room, taking their seats.

Everyone was wondering what Aby and Wang Ye had discussed behind closed doors.

Looking at their expressions now, Wang Ye was smiling, while Aby’s face looked a bit strange.

It seemed…

Sad?

Once everyone was seated, Aby stood up, his face solemn as he announced, “I just received news… Mr. Berezovsky… has passed away!”

The conference room erupted in noise, everyone looking at each other in shock, especially the executives of the Siberian Oil Company, who looked utterly disbelieving.

Before anyone could ask questions, Aby continued, “I just received the news myself, and the cause of death is still unclear.

However, Mr. Berezovsky had left a letter of testament in my possession, and I will briefly share its contents.

In the letter, Mr. Berezovsky told me that although he had left the country and settled in London for various reasons, his heart still deeply loved this nation!

After his passing, he intended to sell his shares in the Siberian Oil Company to his good friend, Mr. Khovansky, for three billion US dollars.

Because he believed that only under Mr. Khovansky’s leadership could the Siberian Oil Company achieve greater development.

And the proceeds from the sale of the shares, Mr. Berezovsky instructed me to donate entirely to the state, hoping to make his contribution to the nation and its people.

For these reasons, I have just reached an acquisition agreement with Mr. Mikhail and signed the contract.

Effective immediately, eighty percent of the Siberian Oil Company’s shares will belong to Polar Bear Investment Company…”

Aby’s words were like a thunderclap, shocking everyone in the conference room…

Chapter 239: Shockwaves

Berezovsky… dead?

The Siberian Oil Company… sold?

The proceeds… donated to the state?

Since when had Berezovsky been so patriotic…

Too many questions swirled in everyone’s minds, leaving them utterly bewildered.

Ivan stared at Wang Ye in stunned silence. Deep down, he felt that everything that had happened must be connected to Wang Ye somehow!

But this was too outrageous!

Had Wang Ye actually sent someone to take out Berezovsky just to acquire the Siberian Oil Company?!

Ivan could somewhat understand that possibility. After all, when Wang Ye had dealt with the Gokhso People gang last time, he had likely used “force.”

But why was Aby cooperating so smoothly with Wang Ye? Had the two of them really conspired in advance?

Wait, that didn’t seem right either. Ivan had done the math—Wang Ye had only spent five billion US dollars to secure eighty percent of the shares!

That was far more cost-effective than Khovansky’s acquisition plan…

The Polar Bear Investment Company had prepared a full seven billion US dollars for this!

Now, they had effectively saved two billion US dollars.

……….

“Ah, it’s truly regrettable that such an unfortunate incident has occurred,” Wang Ye said in a mournful tone. “Though I never had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Berezovsky, I deeply admire his patriotic actions. Please rest assured, Uncle Aby, that after acquiring the Siberian Oil Company, we will manage it well and not disappoint Mr. Berezovsky’s spirit in heaven.”

With both key figures speaking like this, no one else in the room dared to voice their doubts, no matter how many questions they had.

“Ivan, I’ll leave this matter to you to follow up on,” Wang Ye turned and instructed. “Uncle Aby has just signed the draft agreement. You’ll be responsible for handling the subsequent formal procedures.”

Ivan quickly nodded, indicating that he understood.

An acquisition of this magnitude, involving a major oil company, would undoubtedly involve extremely complex procedures.

Wang Ye didn’t have the time or energy to deal with all that.

His task was already complete—the investment company’s sole objective had been to acquire the Siberian Oil Company.

Later, he would call Khovansky and inform him of the situation.

He probably needed to end his “vacation” and return to take charge…

……….

While Wang Ye and Aby were still in the conference room, news of Berezovsky’s incident had already spread to many people.

Naturally, Gebrev was the first to know. Almost as soon as Berezovsky’s butler had called the police, he had received the news.

As for how he had obtained the information, that remained unknown.

But as the chief steward of the Kremlin, being well-informed was only natural.

After receiving the news, Gebrev sat silently in his office for a long while. Though he had mentally prepared for this, now that it had actually happened, he was filled with complex emotions.

This young man, Wang Ye, was…

Well, he didn’t know how to describe him.

After sitting alone in thought for a moment, Gebrev stood up and walked out into the corridor.

He approached the great emperor’s office, knocked on the door, and entered.

The great emperor was busy at his desk. Hearing Gebrev’s footsteps, he looked up.

“Misha has made his move. Everything went smoothly,” Gebrev said in a deep voice.

The great emperor raised an eyebrow, set down his pen, and said with interest, “He really did it? So Berezovsky is… gone?”

Gebrev nodded. “Yes. And from the current situation, the most suspicious individuals are Berezovsky’s French chef and British bodyguard. That kid is quite cunning!”

“Hahaha, well done!” the great emperor laughed heartily. “Let’s see how the media will report this. If they try to pin the blame on us, that would be too far-fetched.”

He was very impressed with how Wang Ye had handled this matter!

Clean and efficient—he was a promising one!

To be honest, he was now quite interested in Wang Ye and planned to meet him soon.

Wang Ye had earned the right to speak with him!

“At this moment, Misha should be negotiating with Aby,” Gebrev reported. “Aby is a smart man. Once he confirms Berezovsky’s incident, he’ll likely agree to all of Misha’s conditions and cooperate with his plan.”

The great emperor nodded slightly, pondered for a moment, then instructed, “Follow up on this matter later. We can appropriately publicize Berezovsky’s donation of his assets to the state. Since he’s gone, all those accusations against him should be withdrawn. After all, he was a patriotic businessman… Sigh…”

Gebrev nodded in understanding. “I understand! But… are we really handing over the Siberian Oil Company to Khovansky?”

The great emperor waved his hand dismissively. “Since we promised Misha, we must keep our word. Khovansky may harbor hostility toward us, but he is indeed talented in management. Let’s entrust the Siberian Oil Company to him for now. As for the future, that will depend on his performance.”

“Yes! Then I’ll get to work,” Gebrev said, preparing to return to his office.

But the great emperor stopped him and instructed, “Tomorrow evening at seven, have Misha come see me. I’ll treat him to dinner. This young man has effectively given the state three billion US dollars—no small contribution.”

Gebrev agreed readily on the surface, but inwardly, he sighed. There weren’t many people who could make the great emperor personally invite them to dinner!

And Mikhail was the youngest among them…

……….

Khovansky received the news a bit later.

When the call came, he was shopping with his family.

After hanging up, Khovansky apologized to his family, “There’s an urgent matter at the company. I need to return to Moscow immediately to handle it.”

Bidding farewell to his family, he hurriedly instructed his assistant to arrange a flight back to Moscow.

He understood that the acquisition of the Siberian Oil Company must have been finalized!

He needed to return immediately to take charge.

As for Wang Ye, Khovansky was now completely baffled.

He had been at a loss for how to proceed, yet Wang Ye had actually pulled it off!

What he didn’t know was that Wang Ye had only spent five billion US dollars, effectively saving him two billion US dollars!

If he had known, he would have been even more shocked, more stunned…

……….

Many people, many forces, had been set in motion by today’s events.

But Wang Ye, who should have been at the center of the “whirlpool,” seemed completely unaffected.

After leaving Ivan to continue coordinating with Aby, he took his leave early, heading downstairs with his bodyguards and departing without a care…

Chapter 240: Rewarding Merits

The next morning, Wang Ye had just finished breakfast and was about to head to the Sun Market for work when he received a call from Khovansky.

“Misha, what are you up to right now?”

Wang Ye replied with a smile, “Just getting ready for work. What’s up, Uncle?”

“I heard from Ivan that the acquisition was successful, so I rushed back last night. Come over, let’s talk.” Khovansky’s tone was light and cheerful, as if he was in a good mood.

Wang Ye didn’t refuse and responded promptly, “Alright, I’ll head over now.”

About twenty minutes later, two large G-class Mercedes stopped in front of the Yukos Building. Khovansky’s secretary was already waiting at the entrance.

Upon reaching Khovansky’s office on the top floor, the secretary brought in two steaming cups of coffee before leaving, leaving only Wang Ye and Khovansky in the room.

After resting for a while, Khovansky looked much better. His complexion had improved, and his face was flushed.

“Misha, I heard you only spent five billion US dollars to acquire eighty percent of the Siberian Oil Company’s shares. That’s amazing, even better than your uncle here. Haha.” Khovansky chuckled.

Wang Ye modestly replied, “This time, it was mostly luck. No one expected Berezovsky to get into trouble. Besides, Uncle Aby told me that Berezovsky had already instructed him to transfer all the shares to you for three billion US dollars. Berezovsky believed that only by entrusting the Siberian Oil Company to you could it be managed better. In the end, the success of this acquisition is still thanks to your influence, Uncle.”

Actually, Wang Ye was a bit surprised by Khovansky’s current demeanor. Khovansky must have already known about Berezovsky’s incident, but he didn’t show any unusual emotions. He didn’t even seem sad. It seemed that the “friendship” among these oligarchs wasn’t very strong.

“Ah, it’s a shame about Berezovsky. Such an unexpected accident. It’s rare that he still remembered our past friendship and was willing to transfer the shares to me at a low price. That’s something I didn’t expect.” Only now did Khovansky seem to remember Berezovsky’s incident.

“Yes, I was quite surprised at the time. And he even donated all the money to the country. That’s even more admirable.” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Khovansky looked at Wang Ye with a somewhat complex expression but didn’t continue the topic. He knew what had happened behind the scenes and how Berezovsky had really died. It must have been his “good nephew” who had sent someone to do it!

Previously, Wang Ye had discussed this matter with him, but Wang Ye hadn’t gone into detail about how it was done. Khovansky had played along and pretended not to know, not asking any further questions.

But from the fact that he had handed over the Polar Bear Investment Company to Wang Ye and gone abroad to rest, it was clear that he had tacitly approved of Wang Ye’s actions!

However, when the incident actually happened, Khovansky was shocked for a long time. He hadn’t expected Wang Ye to be so ruthless… He had directly taken out Berezovsky!

Fortunately, Wang Ye had handled the matter cleanly and efficiently, leaving no traces and even shifting the blame to the French and the British. He had even used Berezovsky’s assets to play the “good guy,” donating them directly to the country. This had also won over the great emperor’s side, and the government’s green light for this acquisition was probably due to this reason!

Spending the least amount of money to achieve the greatest results, and even pleasing everyone. Aby, the great emperor, and himself had all benefited greatly. The only one who suffered was Berezovsky.

But he had already been abandoned by everyone, and no one cared about the feelings of a dead man.

Honestly, Khovansky didn’t think he could have handled the matter as beautifully as Wang Ye had!

This kid had truly made everyone sit up and take notice!

……….

“Does the Polar Bear Investment Company still have twenty billion US dollars in its account?” Khovansky asked.

Wang Ye nodded, “Yes, after spending fifty billion, twenty billion is left. What do you plan to do with this money, Uncle? Do you need to withdraw it?”

Wang Ye didn’t have any particular thoughts about this money. It wasn’t because it was too little, but because it was too much… Way too much!

Twenty billion US dollars! Not to mention that it was 2001, even twenty years later, this would still be an astronomical figure!

If there were only one or two billion US dollars left, Wang Ye would probably directly ask Khovansky to “borrow” it. But with so much money, he didn’t have the nerve to open his mouth…

Khovansky shook his head and said, “Leave this money in the investment company. And this company will continue to be managed by you.”

Wang Ye asked in surprise, “The company’s mission has already been completed. Is there another target to acquire next?”

Indeed, the sole purpose of establishing the Polar Bear Investment Company was to acquire the Siberian Oil Company. Now that Wang Ye had accomplished this, there seemed to be no need for the company to continue existing.

“You forgot? Since this is an investment company, it’s meant for investments. You can freely dispose of the remaining twenty billion US dollars and choose suitable investment projects. I’d like to see if this company can bring me surprises under your management. Oh, the investment returns from this company will be split equally between the two of us.” Khovansky said with a smile.

This was like a huge pie falling onto his head, and Wang Ye couldn’t believe his ears. Twenty billion US dollars in capital!

If he invested it, with a little patience, in twenty years, Wang Ye could earn at least a hundred times that amount…

After all, it was 2001, right after the burst of the internet bubble in 2000! Many highly potential internet companies had seen their market values plummet to pitiful levels.

Companies like Amazon, Yahoo, and Apple had stock prices that were practically free for the taking!

As for the domestic BAT giants, they weren’t even considering going public yet, and they were still struggling to attract investments…

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube—none of them had even appeared yet.

For Wang Ye, who had experienced a “previous life,” having a large sum of money to invest was like having a cheat code! It was impossible to lose money…

From Khovansky’s words, this seemed to be a “reward for merits.” This time, he had saved Khovansky twenty billion US dollars, so it wouldn’t make sense not to give him some benefits.

It was a shame that Khovansky hadn’t directly given him the investment company. But Wang Ye was content. One shouldn’t be too greedy, right?

Slowly but surely, he wasn’t even nineteen yet, and his personal assets had already exceeded a hundred million US dollars. And once the three casinos opened, he would make money even faster!

Chapter 241: A Meeting of Kings

When it came to the casino business, after Wang Ye finished handling the acquisition of the Siberian Oil Company, he gave Ho Chiu-ying a call.

“Miss Ho, this is how things stand. We can’t find any capable partners in the mainland anymore.”

Wang Ye spoke with Ho Chiu-ying on the phone, recounting what had happened to Liu Mei’s side.

After a moment of silence on the phone, Ho Chiu-ying responded with a laugh, “It’s not a big problem. We can start our own travel company and handle our own promotions. Though there are restrictions, these things can be resolved over time. We have time, after all. Oh, by the way, have you secured the gambling license for Crimea?”

At this, Wang Ye smiled.

The Russian gambling license he had already obtained came with a restriction—no Russian citizens allowed.

But the Crimean license had no such restrictions…

The license Meshkov had promised to help him get was the true “full version,” with no limitations at all!

Even the residents of Crimea could go in and play.

That old fox Gebrev probably hadn’t thought of this. When the entertainment center in Crimea opened, Wang Ye wondered what kind of expression Gebrev would have…

But it was too late for that. Gebrev probably wouldn’t say anything. After all, they were now on the same boat, comrades in arms!

“It should be coming through soon. It’s going through the approval process. Also, Livadia Palace has been acquired for the symbolic price of one US dollar because I promised to invest at least fifty million US dollars locally in Yalta,” Wang Ye replied.

Fifty million US dollars was the largest foreign investment Crimea had seen in recent years. Using this as a reason to hand Livadia Palace over to Wang Ye was entirely reasonable!

Of course, Wang Ye wasn’t playing games. The fifty million US dollars in investment would only increase, not decrease.

After all, Yalta lacked many tourism infrastructure facilities that needed to be renovated and built.

Not to mention, the renovation of Livadia Palace alone would likely cost no less than fifty million US dollars!

After chatting for a while, Wang Ye learned that Ho Chiu-ying’s team was already assembled, and the renovation plans were being designed. The transformation of the three hotels would soon enter the substantive phase.

The construction period was estimated to take six to eight months, meaning the earliest they could open would be after the Spring Festival next year.

There was no way around it—these things couldn’t be rushed. They were major projects.

Wang Ye was already moving quickly. If they were to rebuild the hotels from scratch, it would take even longer—three to five years…

…

What Wang Ye hadn’t expected was that Gebrev would call him and tell him something surprising.

“The president wants to meet you. It’s set for tomorrow evening—he’s inviting you to dinner. Be at my office by six-thirty, and I’ll take you over,” Gebrev said over the phone.

Wang Ye was stunned for several seconds before reacting. The great emperor wanted to see him?!

It seemed his plan this time had been quite successful—it had even caught the great emperor’s attention!

Since the great emperor had invited him, he couldn’t possibly refuse.

Joking aside, he still had to make his way in Russia. If he offended the great emperor, he’d be finished.

Moreover, the reason he had taken such a huge risk to eliminate Berezovsky and then donated the money to the state was actually quite simple.

It was all to gain the great emperor’s favor…

Others might not know, but Wang Ye was well aware that this country would always be under the great emperor’s control. No one could threaten his position!

As long as he could earn the great emperor’s recognition and support, he could practically walk sideways through Russia in the future.

“Alright, I’ll be there on time tomorrow! Oh, Uncle Gebrev, do I need to prepare anything before I go tomorrow? I don’t know if I should bring a gift or something when meeting the president,” Wang Ye asked, a little uneasy.

Though he wasn’t exactly inexperienced—he had even met President Meshkov just the other day—the problem was, the two “presidents” were entirely different in nature, and the disparity in their power was like heaven and earth!

Besides, this time the great emperor had invited him personally.

Wang Ye truly had no experience in how to handle such a situation, including in his “previous life.” He had never encountered anything like this!

“Haha, you don’t need to prepare anything. Just come as you are. Oh, and don’t tell anyone about this,” Gebrev said with a hearty laugh.

Wang Ye thought about it and realized Gebrev was right. What hadn’t the great emperor seen before? Bringing a gift would be pointless.

What he should prepare wasn’t a gift but how to speak and what to talk about when he met the great emperor…

…

Wang Ye didn’t tell anyone about his meeting with the great emperor, not even Alyona. He only told her that he had a dinner engagement and wouldn’t be home for dinner.

Alyona was very understanding and never pried into Wang Ye’s business matters unless he brought them up himself.

The next afternoon, just after six o’clock, Wang Ye’s motorcade arrived at the gates of the Kremlin.

As before, Gebrev sent a staff member to escort Wang Ye into the office building, while Seryosha and the others could only wait outside.

There was no place for them at the great emperor’s dinner table…

As soon as he entered Gebrev’s office, Gebrev came forward with a smile.

“Haha, Misha, you’ve done a great job this time!”

Wang Ye put on an innocent expression and modestly replied with a smile, “It really had nothing to do with me. It was just luck and my uncle Khovansky’s influence—both were essential. I just happened to be there. Uncle, don’t praise me.”

He would never admit to anyone that Berezovsky’s death had anything to do with him!

Even though Gebrev probably knew the general plan—Wang Ye had discussed it with him beforehand—he still wouldn’t say it outright.

Such matters were absolutely not to be seen in the light of day. He couldn’t give anyone a handle to use against him!

Gebrev shook his head with a laugh, helplessly saying, “You little… Alright, let’s say it was luck. The president has heard about you for a while now. He happened to have some free time today, so he invited you over for dinner and a chat.”

Wang Ye hurriedly asked, “What does the president want to talk to me about?”

“I don’t know either. Don’t be nervous—just treat it as casual conversation. When he asks you something, just answer. It’s fine to chat about anything. You’re the junior among us, so even if you say something wrong, no one will hold it against you,” Gebrev said lightly.

Though Gebrev said that, how could Wang Ye not be nervous…

This time, it was truly a meeting of kings!

The only difference was, one was a king by surname.

The other was the true “king”!

Today was a bit busy, so there are only two chapters.

Chapter 242: Official Certification

In Gebrev’s office, the two men chatted idly for a while about nothing of substance.

As the time approached seven o’clock, Gebrev stood up and said, “Let’s go. I’ll take you there.”

They left the office, walked through the corridor, and arrived at the great emperor’s office door.

This office was clearly different from the others—two guards in impeccable uniforms stood outside the door!

“Is the president inside?” Gebrev asked the guard at the door.

“Yes, he’s waiting for you. He said to bring your guest in directly,” the guard replied.

Gebrev nodded and pushed the door open, walking straight in. Wang Ye hurried to follow.

The spacious office was empty. Wang Ye looked at the double-headed eagle emblem on the wall and the two white, blue, and red national flags behind the desk. An invisible pressure washed over him, making him feel somewhat constrained.

“Come on, let’s go in,” Gebrev turned his head and called with a smile.

Wang Ye was a little surprised. Weren’t they already inside the office? Where else was there to “go in”?

But he didn’t ask further questions. He simply followed Gebrev to the other side of the office.

They walked all the way to the wall before Gebrev stopped.

Wang Ye followed behind, completely bewildered, not knowing what Gebrev was up to.

The wall was entirely decorated with solid wood, with nothing placed beside it—empty and bare.

Gebrev pressed a spot on the wall, and what happened next left Wang Ye utterly astonished.

The solid wood paneling “split open,” revealing a passage…

“You probably don’t know this, but the president usually lives here. Behind this door is a suite of rooms—bedroom, meeting room, dining room, gym, and so on. Of course, his family doesn’t live here,” Gebrev explained with a smile.

This was practically a Kremlin secret. Naturally, Wang Ye had no idea.

After entering the “secret” suite, they were immediately greeted by staff members, who seemed to be waiting specifically to welcome the two of them.

In this setting, Gebrev couldn’t possibly take Wang Ye on a “tour.” Instead, he led him directly to the small dining room.

The dining room wasn’t large, and the decor was quite simple. A man in his forties sat inside, legs crossed, leisurely reading a newspaper.

“Sir, Mikhail has arrived,” Gebrev stepped forward and said respectfully.

Wang Ye stood behind him, feeling a slight surge of excitement.

This was the legendary man!

In his past life, he had seen him countless times on television and online, but in reality, across both lifetimes, this was the first time he had seen him in person.

The great emperor put down the newspaper and stood up with a smile.

He wasn’t very tall, and his build was somewhat slender, but his invisible aura was incredibly powerful!

This kind of person—whether you knew his identity or not—just one look at him would make you instinctively feel that he was extraordinary!

“Good evening, Mr. President. I am Mikhail,” Wang Ye quickly stepped forward and bowed in greeting.

Since his rebirth, Wang Ye had faced most people with ease, never feeling any pressure.

Even when he first met Khovansky, Aby, Gebrev, Meshkov, and the others, he was merely polite, not particularly reverent.

But today, facing the great emperor, Wang Ye was genuinely respectful!

There was no helping it. This was a man who stood at the pinnacle of power in the world. Standing before him, Wang Ye truly felt insignificant…

The great emperor nodded, smiling warmly at Wang Ye. “Misha, it’s good to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you from Gebrev. You’re quite remarkable—brave and resourceful. Young people like you are the future and hope of Russia.”

Wang Ye’s heart skipped a beat. The great emperor’s words carried deep meaning!

Because with this statement, the great emperor was acknowledging him as a true “Russian”!

To be honest, Wang Ye didn’t think his true identity was unknown to the great emperor and Gebrev.

After all, this was their territory, and the great emperor’s background…

If they didn’t know who he was, that would be one thing. But once they paid attention to him, a little investigation would surely expose his true identity.

Yet the great emperor was now saying he was the “future and hope of Russia.” That statement was practically a “definition” of his identity.

Was this an “official certification” of his identity?

But with the great emperor’s words, his Russian identity was now set in stone. Who would dare question the great emperor?

…

The three of them sat around the dining table, and the staff began bringing in various dishes.

The great emperor’s dinner was quite ordinary, far from luxurious.

It was the kind of common Russian meal—borscht was a must, along with a thick cup of homemade yogurt, mashed potatoes, fried sausage, meat pies, pickled cucumbers, and the like. There wasn’t even any caviar.

Wang Ye didn’t take this as a sign of disrespect or an attempt to serve him “cheap” food.

On the contrary, he felt the more ordinary the meal, the better it was for him!

Because this meant the great emperor’s attitude toward him was one of familiarity—he was treating him as “one of their own.”

“Misha, I hear you’re Khovansky’s nephew? Where did you live before? Did you just come to Moscow recently?” the great emperor asked casually.

Wang Ye quickly replied, “I was born in Krasnoyarsk in the Far East. My uncle Khovansky didn’t know he had a nephew like me until recently. Since I have no other family left, he brought me to Moscow to stay with him.”

What he said was clearly the “story” Khovansky had fabricated for him.

The great emperor and Gebrev both smiled but didn’t say anything.

“What has your uncle been busy with lately? After successfully acquiring the Siberian Oil Company, he should be satisfied, right?” the great emperor asked.

Wang Ye’s back broke out in a slight sweat. Talking to these people really took a toll on his mind!

After a moment’s thought, Wang Ye answered seriously:

“My uncle is something of a workaholic. He’s genuinely interested in the oil industry. Usually, he even lives at the company and rarely returns to his apartment.

After the acquisition of the Siberian Oil Company, I imagine he’ll be busy for a long time.

I’ve also talked to him about it. The Yukos Group is already large enough. People should know when to be content. Managing Yukos well is already quite challenging. There’s no need to expand into new fields.”

Subtly, Wang Ye made his stance clear.

He did not advise Khovansky to “mess around,” nor did he want to see him get involved in politics.

Honestly doing business and steadily making money—that was the best path forward!

Chapter 243: Turning Crisis into Opportunity

Gebrev chuckled beside them. “Misha is truly a clever man. He understands many things far better than those old fools like Khovansky and Berezovsky. Even Aby falls short in some areas compared to him. If he were to take the helm of Yukos, he’d be far more capable than that stubborn old man Khovansky.”

The great emperor nodded in agreement. “Indeed, the younger generation thinks more dynamically and keeps pace with the times. Khovansky, Berezovsky, and even Aby—most of their minds are still stuck in the Soviet era. They can’t see the shifting tides clearly.”

Hearing their conversation, Wang Ye felt sweat trickling down his back again…

This wasn’t a topic he dared to engage in. He could only stand by, forcing an awkward smile.

“Ah, Misha,” the great emperor suddenly asked, “I hear you’re acquainted with Meshkov and planning to invest in Crimea?”

Wang Ye quickly replied with a smile, “It’s not exactly an acquaintance—just met once. But yes, I am planning to invest in Crimea, specifically Yalta. My girlfriend is from there. I visited a few months ago—the coastal location, pleasant climate, and beautiful scenery make it perfect for tourism. And since I already have the Little Eagle Hotel under me, plus I’ve secured… well, a gambling license. So I’m thinking of opening a tourism route from Moscow to St. Petersburg and then to Yalta…”

He laid out his business strategy for the Little Eagle Group without holding back.

As for his “deal” with Meshkov, Wang Ye made no mention of it…

But clearly, the underhanded dealings wouldn’t escape the notice of seasoned foxes like the great emperor and Gebrev.

The great emperor remained silent, but Gebrev spoke up.

With a sly smile, he asked, “Meshkov is facing elections soon, isn’t he? At such a critical juncture, running into a wealthy benefactor like you—did he ask for any political donations?”

Wang Ye answered without hesitation, “He did. From what I understand, Meshkov is pro-Russia, so I agreed to support him in this election. But I didn’t do it for free—I got the Livadia Palace and a local gambling license in return!”

Normally, such matters shouldn’t be discussed in front of the great emperor.

After all, he despised such dealings…

But there was no helping it. Wang Ye was certain the great emperor and Gebrev already knew.

If he tried to hide it now, not only would it be pointless, but it might also make the great emperor distrust him. That would be a loss far greater than any gain.

So, he came clean about his deal with Meshkov.

The great emperor and Gebrev exchanged glances, seemingly surprised. They hadn’t expected Wang Ye to be so forthright.

Gebrev’s expression grew complex as he looked at Wang Ye and asked, “This means you’re getting involved in politics. For a businessman, that’s a major taboo!”

In truth, Wang Ye had thought long and hard about the Crimea situation before coming here.

He knew he couldn’t hide anything from the great emperor, who especially despised oligarchs meddling in politics.

If he couldn’t explain this properly, the consequences would likely be dire…

But a “crisis” wasn’t just dangerous—it also presented an opportunity!

If he could explain this in a way that made the great emperor see his actions as justified…

Wouldn’t that turn this into a point in his favor?

So, when Gebrev questioned him, Wang Ye responded calmly and confidently, “I did this not primarily for profit, but because it benefits our country!”

The great emperor and Gebrev almost didn’t catch which “country” Wang Ye was referring to…

“Oh? How so?” the great emperor asked with keen interest.

He was curious to hear how Wang Ye’s “collusion” with Meshkov and interference in the elections could possibly benefit Russia.

“The historical ties between Crimea and Russia—I don’t need to elaborate, you know them better than I do,” Wang Ye said solemnly.

Gebrev and the great emperor nodded simultaneously, their expressions turning grave.

“Meshkov is one of us. With him in power, he can maintain good relations with us and prevent things from drifting apart. So, for now, he must remain in office. Unless, of course, a better candidate emerges—someone even more aligned with us,” Wang Ye declared firmly.

This left Gebrev and the great emperor exchanging stunned glances. Neither had expected Wang Ye to see things from this angle!

This was thinking too far ahead…

The problem was, this wasn’t something Wang Ye should even be considering. It had nothing to do with him!

This was a matter for the Kremlin to handle.

But the Kremlin was currently busy untangling a mess and battling domestic factions. Who had time to worry about Crimea?

At this point, even Gebrev didn’t dare speak carelessly.

The great emperor’s expression darkened as he asked, “Why are you even thinking about these things?”

He was puzzled.

Khovansky hadn’t made any moves yet—he just disagreed on ideology. Could Mikhail be even more “radical”?

Planning years, even decades ahead!

Wang Ye smiled lightly and replied casually, “I’m Russian. If I want to invest and do business in Crimea, I naturally need a friendly environment. Meshkov is one of us, and with my support, he’ll look out for me to some extent. If someone hostile takes over, they might suppress me, and then what’s the point of doing business? Also, as a Russian citizen with a Crimean girlfriend, I want closer ties between the two regions. The Russian people in Crimea feel the same way!”

The great emperor didn’t pay much attention to the first part, but the last two sentences made his brow furrow.

His sharp gaze locked onto Wang Ye. “Is that really how you feel? And how do you know the people in Crimea think the same?”

Wang Ye raised his right hand, swearing earnestly, “Absolutely! That’s exactly how I feel. As I said, my girlfriend is a Russian from Crimea. Her family, her friends—they all share this sentiment!”

Gebrev chimed in from the side, lending support. “That’s actually possible. From what I know, this young man’s girlfriend studied in Moscow and stayed to work here after graduation. And her best friend—some kind of assistant prosecutor, I think—is also studying in Moscow now. The progressive type…”

Chapter 244: Too Fantastical

Hearing their words, the great emperor’s expression softened.

A smile appeared on his face as he glanced appreciatively at Wang Ye and said, “It seems you’re quite patriotic. That’s rare among young people these days.”

Due to the influence of the former Soviet Union’s collapse and the impact of Western culture, the young people of Russia in this era yearned for the West.

The group that admired foreign cultures was absolutely more extreme than Chinese youth!

Wang Ye chuckled, “It’s only right. Without a strong country, how can personal careers develop? They go hand in hand. So even for my own sake, I hope Russia can become strong.”

It had to be said, such “flattery” was exactly what the great emperor loved to hear…

For a moment, the great emperor felt that Wang Ye was exactly his type—he understood him!

The atmosphere at the dining table eased, and the great emperor and Gebrev no longer spoke to Wang Ye in an “interrogating” tone.

“Do you have any plans for your business development in the future? Just sticking with your wholesale market and casino?” Gebrev asked.

Wang Ye thought for a moment and seriously replied, “These two businesses can make money, but not big money! Actually, there are two industries I really want to get into. One is the energy industry, like oil and natural gas. The other is the internet and high-tech industry!”

The great emperor and Gebrev were not surprised by Wang Ye’s mention of the energy industry. After all, in this day and age, everyone knew that the energy business was a goldmine—you could make money just by lying down!

But when it came to the internet, the two were a bit confused.

Don’t forget, in 2000, the global internet bubble had burst!

Countless internet companies had gone bankrupt, and many countries began to reassess this emerging industry, considering it too illusory and almost impossible to profit from!

Looking back on this perspective ten or twenty years later, it would seem ridiculous.

But that was the limitation of the times.

At that time, the vast majority of people, including many so-called business and political elites, truly believed this.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t be the case that almost the entire Europe and half of Asia had hardly any notable internet companies…

Only two countries in the world truly recognized the importance of the internet industry, persisted from beginning to end, and reaped rich rewards!

And those two countries—well, there’s no need to say who they are…

Being in his position, the great emperor had naturally weighed the internet industry, but like most people, he had not recognized its importance.

So he didn’t quite understand Wang Ye’s desire to enter this industry.

“Everyone knows the energy industry can make money, and besides, your uncle is an oil tycoon. You’ll likely take over his business in the future. But what different ideas do you have about the internet industry?” Gebrev asked curiously.

Wang Ye smiled slightly and replied decisively, “I believe the internet industry will change the future world order! Just like the invention of the steam engine changed the world. The twenty-first century will undoubtedly be the era of the internet!”

The great emperor and Gebrev both widened their eyes, shocked by Wang Ye’s statement!

Gebrev shook his head repeatedly, his face full of disbelief as he retorted, “You’re exaggerating. Last year, the global internet industry nearly collapsed entirely. Now, no one dares to invest in the internet industry anymore. How can such an industry change the world?”

This also reflected the great emperor’s thoughts.

Wang Ye actually wanted to give them a lesson, but unfortunately, he himself only knew the general trend of the internet industry’s development. In his “previous life,” he wasn’t in the internet industry, so he couldn’t explain too much theory…

He could only follow his pre-prepared plan and mysteriously smiled, “Imagine, in the future world, people will only need a phone…”

As he spoke, he tried to take out his Nokia 3310 from his pocket, but it was empty.

Because before entering the building, his phone had been confiscated by security…

He awkwardly smiled and continued:

“Future phones will naturally be different from now, with performance surpassing today’s computers.

Then, everyone can watch TV, listen to music, read news, and chat with friends in real-time on their phones—even video chat.

You can also buy products from all over the world on your phone. Just click to purchase and pay, and in a day or a few days, products from every corner of the earth will be delivered to your home.

Or, you can freely post news about what’s happening around you, and instantly, people all over the world will know what’s happening in your area…

Can you imagine such a world?”

The great emperor and Gebrev both opened their mouths wide, their faces full of disbelief.

Because what Wang Ye described was too… fantastical!

And too absurd!

If that were true, everyone’s way of life would be completely overturned!

Looking at their expressions, Wang Ye continued, “All of this is naturally built on the development of the internet. If in the future, all these things I mentioned can be achieved, then do you think the twenty-first century can be called the era of the internet?”

The great emperor and Gebrev subconsciously nodded.

If it were truly as Wang Ye described, it would absolutely be the era of the internet!

But the key question was, could all that really happen…

Gebrev voiced his doubt, “What you’re saying is all speculation. Whether it can be done or not, no one can say for sure.”

Wang Ye shook his head, “No, actually, many of the things I mentioned already exist, though they’re still in their early stages. So, in the next few years, I plan to invest all the money I earn. And the target of my investment will naturally be global internet companies.”

He was right. In 2001, if Wang Ye had said those words to an internet industry elite, he would likely have gained greater recognition.

People like Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, or even Jack Ma and Pony Ma would probably have believed Wang Ye’s words without a doubt!

Because what they were doing was exactly working toward such a future…

The great emperor and Gebrev didn’t have such a deep understanding of the internet industry, so they doubted Wang Ye’s words.

The great emperor said half-believing, “Investing in the internet—does that mean investing in America? If you ask me, our country is just beginning to recover, and there should be more opportunities here.”

Sitting in his position, he naturally didn’t want Wang Ye to take money and invest in other countries.

Wasn’t that obvious?

Oh, you sell Russian oil to make money, and then take that money to support companies in other countries?

Chapter 245: Only Two Countries

Wang Ye patiently explained:

“When it comes to investment, you can’t limit yourself to just one country, especially with the internet—it’s a global industry. Our country does have some internet companies, but since the number of Russian speakers is limited, the future of the Russian internet won’t be very promising.

In my judgment, the countries with the most potential in the internet industry can only be English-speaking nations, followed by Chinese-speaking ones! Because these two languages have the most speakers!”

After hesitating for a moment, Gebrev asked, “The United States and China?”

Wang Ye nodded. “Yes, exactly those two.”

“Why do you think those two countries are promising? Well, the United States is obvious—everyone thinks highly of it. But China? Right now, China doesn’t seem all that impressive,” Gebrev pressed.

It was understandable. Even before the Soviet Union’s collapse, the United States had been the undisputed global superpower, leading in every aspect. The internet itself was invented in the U.S. and had gradually spread from there. So, it made sense that Wang Ye was optimistic about America—after all, almost all major internet companies were concentrated there, especially in Silicon Valley.

But why was he so optimistic about China?

Could it be because he was Chinese?

It wasn’t Gebrev’s fault for underestimating China. At that time, China had only recently begun its reform and opening-up, and its economy hadn’t yet taken off. The phrase “Made in China” was synonymous with “counterfeit and shoddy.”

Many people, both domestically and abroad, associated Chinese products with “cheap and poor quality.” Overseas, China was seen as a symbol of poverty and backwardness.

Russia’s economy wasn’t doing much better, but thanks to the Soviet Union’s legacy and revenue from energy exports, its per capita income far exceeded China’s. So, it was natural for Russians to look down on China.

Yet here was Wang Ye, claiming that China’s internet industry had a bright future.

Gebrev, being an elite, at least knew a little about China. If it had been an ordinary Russian, they might have asked whether China even had computers—or electricity, for that matter.

Hearing Gebrev’s question, Wang Ye sighed helplessly. He understood. Apart from himself, who had “returned” from twenty years in the future, no one in 2001 could have imagined that China would become so powerful in just over a decade—powerful enough to threaten America’s dominance and leave the U.S. in a state of panic.

But he couldn’t say any of that. Even if he did, no one would believe him.

Wang Ye could only explain, “China’s economy is already taking off. It has a massive young workforce, and what’s even more impressive is that many of these workers are educated with basic literacy. China is already being called the world’s factory, and as it continues to develop, it will surely become an industrial powerhouse.”

This explanation sounded reasonable.

Gebrev, however, wasn’t entirely convinced. He countered, “What about India? They have a huge population too, and their common language is English, which gives them an advantage in integrating with the West.”

Hearing the mention of India, Wang Ye scoffed. “They should focus on solving their basic food and clothing problems first. Development is still a long way off for them.”

Gebrev spoke earnestly to Wang Ye:

“Your ideas are excellent. If the future really unfolds as you say, then we should seize the opportunity early. Investing in American and Chinese internet companies is fine, but I hope you’ll also consider our domestic internet companies.

From what I know, these companies won’t be profitable in the early stages—they’ll need venture capital to keep them afloat. Right now, our economy is struggling, and the wealthy oligarchs aren’t willing to throw money into the bottomless pit of the internet industry.

So, I hope you can leave some sparks for our country’s internet sector.”

The implication was clear: don’t spend all the money abroad; leave some for Russia.

Even if Russian internet companies couldn’t compete in the English-speaking world, at least they shouldn’t lose their foothold in the Russian-language internet.

Wang Ye nodded readily. “I understand. Right now, I have two billion U.S. dollars available for venture capital. I’ll set aside at least three to five hundred million for domestic companies to support a few promising ones.”

In truth, Russia had no shortage of internet talent. It also had many experts in mathematics and physics, along with top-tier programmers.

Many might not know that St. Petersburg’s Saint Light Machine University had dominated the world’s most prestigious international collegiate programming competitions for years, outperforming elite institutions like Stanford and Caltech, and winning multiple team championships.

Then there was Moscow’s Institute of Physics and Technology, known as “Russia’s MIT.”

In terms of education, Russia was truly on par with developed Western nations.

The Soviet Union had left behind an impressive educational legacy. During the Cold War, education was elevated to a matter of national security, and significant resources were poured into creating an efficient talent cultivation system.

Culturally, outstanding scientists, physicists, and mathematicians were revered like rock stars in the West. The government heavily invested in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in schools. In the 1950s, China also adopted this educational model from the Soviet Union.

The infamous Olympic Mathematics Competition, which tormented countless Chinese students, was actually pioneered by the Soviet Union in 1934.

Russia also led the world in the proportion of citizens with higher education, consistently ranking first.

Unfortunately, due to the “aftermath” of the Soviet Union’s collapse and the economic stagnation during social upheaval, Russia missed the golden age of internet development.

This led to a brain drain, and no domestic internet giants emerged.

In the end, Russia lacked sufficient funding and the right environment at the time.

Chapter 246: The Great Emperor’s Reward

By this point, the conversation had already drawn to a close.

Through Wang Ye’s personal explanation, the great emperor had gained a deeper understanding of his actions and thoughts.

The great emperor’s admiration for this young man grew stronger.

Setting aside Wang Ye’s “identity,” if one simply considered him as “Mikhail,” he was undoubtedly one of the most outstanding figures among Russia’s younger generation!

Capable, visionary, and with a global perspective!

Most importantly, he was patriotic, and his political philosophy aligned well with the great emperor’s…

This was truly rare!

To be honest, the great emperor now understood why Khovansky was willing to take risks to acknowledge this “nephew.”

Talent like this was hard to come by!

But now that he had discovered him, the great emperor was confident he could bring Wang Ye into his own camp. It was obvious—Wang Ye and Khovansky weren’t truly related.

At the end of the day, Khovansky’s trust in Wang Ye and the responsibilities he had entrusted to him were all for the sake of mutual benefit.

Similarly, Wang Ye’s feelings toward Khovansky probably didn’t run very deep.

Their relationship was merely one of “mutual benefit,” a partnership of convenience.

The great emperor, however, could offer Wang Ye far more than Khovansky ever could…

…

Thinking this, the great emperor smiled and asked, “Misha, a young man like you should not only focus on business but also actively participate in politics. That way, you can contribute even more to the nation.”

This was something Wang Ye had never expected!

What was going on? The great emperor was actually inviting him to get involved in politics?

Other oligarchs who tried to enter politics were ruthlessly “crushed” by the great emperor!

Why was he making an exception for him…

Perhaps this was the “reward” being offered to him!

A reward for eliminating Berezovsky, solving a thorny problem for the great emperor, and donating three billion U.S. dollars to the country.

Truthfully, Wang Ye wasn’t particularly interested in politics.

The reason was simple—politics was far more complex and risky than the business world!

In business, even if you failed, you might just lose money, which wasn’t a big deal. You could always earn it back next time.

But in politics, failure could mean utter ruin, even death without a proper burial!

Yet Wang Ye didn’t want to refuse—or rather, he didn’t dare to.

He had worked so hard to earn the great emperor’s approval. If he rejected this offer of support now, how could they remain “friends”?

Besides, with the great emperor backing him, it was like being given an imperial robe of protection. As long as he didn’t do anything too outrageous, there shouldn’t be much risk…

So, without further hesitation, Wang Ye smiled modestly and said, “I grew up in a small town and only recently came to Moscow. I don’t know many people here, so I never really considered getting involved in politics. Plus, I didn’t have the means. But if the country needs me to contribute in any way, I certainly won’t refuse!”

This modest smile was something Wang Ye had learned from Aby…

You wouldn’t believe it, but people who often wore a smile were easily liked by others, and sometimes it could have unexpected effects.

After his “rebirth,” especially in the past few months, the people he had met were of such high caliber—top figures from both political and business circles had slowly begun to enter his life.

Wang Ye was learning from their strengths and virtues because only by doing so could he grow quickly and keep up with the pace of his career.

Hearing Wang Ye’s response, the great emperor smiled slightly and glanced at Gebrev.

Gebrev immediately understood and said with a smile, “Considering that your main focus should still be on business, there’s a position that would be perfect for you. It doesn’t require you to go to work every day, nor will it take up too much of your time and energy. Another advantage of this position is that it carries quite a bit of power—enough to influence national policy!”

This piqued Wang Ye’s interest, and he asked, “What position is that?”

“A Duma parliament member!” Gebrev replied straightforwardly.

Wang Ye suddenly realized what he meant. So that was it. As Gebrev had said, being a Duma parliament member didn’t require regular attendance, but the nominal power was considerable—enough to veto the president’s decisions or participate in legislation!

Of course, not all parliament members were the same.

In Russia, some business tycoons ran for the Duma simply for the prestige and the so-called “immunity,” but they didn’t actually perform the duties of a parliament member.

Some even lived abroad permanently and couldn’t be bothered to return for Duma meetings…

Only those with significant influence could be considered core political figures, driving and shaping national policy.

But becoming a Duma parliament member wasn’t easy. Even the great emperor didn’t have the authority to appoint one.

Wang Ye sighed and said, “Does that mean I’ll have to settle in some city for a while and then campaign for votes? Oh, and the term is four years, right? Is there an election coming up soon?”

“Haha, no need to campaign. You and Aby have a good relationship, don’t you? Just join Aby’s party, and they’ll handle the election for you. But you’ll have to discuss this with them yourself—I can’t help much with that,” Gebrev said meaningfully.

Wang Ye frowned slightly, pondering why this old fox, Gebrev, had arranged things this way.

In Russia, there were many “parties,” and of course, the great emperor’s party was the current ruling party and the most powerful.

So why weren’t they asking him to join the great emperor’s party? Instead, they wanted him to join Aby’s party…

Although he had his doubts, he obviously couldn’t ask outright. Wang Ye could only smile and respond, “Alright, I’ll ask Uncle Aby later. When I acquired a ten percent stake in the Siberian Oil Company from him, I gave him a very good price. He should give me this face.”

Indeed, just a few days ago, when Wang Ye had acquired ten percent of the Siberian Oil Company’s shares from Aby, he had offered a staggering twenty billion U.S. dollars!

To some extent, it was also a “facilitation fee” to ensure Aby’s cooperation.

But regardless, Wang Ye’s relationship with Aby had grown much closer, and Aby no longer saw him as just a junior.

…

After the meal, Gebrev stood up, preparing to leave with Wang Ye.

Being able to have a meal with the great emperor was truly a great honor!

Chapter 247: Just Move In

Before parting, he patted Wang Ye on the shoulder with a smile and praised him, “You’re doing great, especially with the acquisition of the Siberian Oil Company. Well done! Keep it up, and your future achievements won’t be any less than your uncle’s.”

This was the second time he had said this tonight!

Wang Ye felt a surge of emotion inside. He understood that someone like XXX wouldn’t speak carelessly. If he repeated something twice, it definitely carried deep meaning.

Wang Ye also understood that this might be a hint—if he were to “align” himself with this man, the rewards would be no less than what Khovansky could offer. In fact, it might even allow Wang Ye to replace Khovansky and “inherit” his legacy…

Understanding was one thing, but some matters couldn’t be spoken aloud. Wang Ye hadn’t yet made up his mind to “betray” Khovansky.

Truthfully, Wang Ye was grateful to Khovansky. For one, Khovansky had been genuinely good to him, generous with money and resources. And second, without him, Wang Ye wouldn’t have achieved his current success, and the great emperor wouldn’t have taken notice of him.

For now, Wang Ye’s plan was to balance all sides as much as possible. Ideally, Khovansky would stick to his business and stay out of politics. That way, the great emperor wouldn’t target him again, and Khovansky might even have a good “ending”…

As for the other oligarchs, including Aby, Wang Ye didn’t care. Their lives and deaths were none of his concern.

…

After leaving that solemn and imposing office, Gebrev pulled Wang Ye along with a smile and said, “Let’s chat some more in my office.”

Wang Ye certainly wouldn’t refuse. There were a few things he wanted to ask Gebrev anyway.

Back in the office, the door closed, and the two casually took seats.

Wang Ye frowned and asked, “Uncle Gebrev, help me analyze this—is it really suitable for me to run for a Duma parliament member right now? I… am I too young? Isn’t the Duma full of old men? If a young guy like me suddenly joins, won’t it be awkward?”

He didn’t even dare mention that he had just turned nineteen.

Oh, right, Wang Ye had recently celebrated his birthday, officially bidding farewell to eighteen…

Gebrev chuckled. Indeed, Wang Ye’s age was unique in the Duma.

He said, “It’s not all old men. There are quite a few in their thirties. Of course, compared to you, they might as well be old men, haha. But it’s fine. New era, new atmosphere. Our political scene needs fresh blood, and you can be the representative of the younger generation. The youngest Duma parliament member—this will also showcase our openness and democracy!”

Wang Ye had to admit, his age disadvantage, in Gebrev’s hands, wasn’t a problem at all—it had become a “highlight”!

So why be modest? Wang Ye straightforwardly said, “If that’s the case, then I’ll give it a try. I’ll discuss it with Uncle Aby later. By the way, why join Uncle Aby’s party? There must be other factions in the Duma, or… what party are you in, Uncle? You must be in the same party as the president, right? Your party should be the strongest, so why not let me join that one?”

He was deliberately playing dumb. Wang Ye wanted to probe whether the great emperor’s arrangement for him to join Aby’s party was intentional or just a casual suggestion.

If it was just casual, Gebrev wouldn’t stop him from joining another party. But if there was a deeper purpose, Gebrev would insist on him joining Aby’s party.

Gebrev pondered for a moment before answering Wang Ye’s question.

He sincerely said, “This matter isn’t that complicated. The reason we want you to join Aby’s party is because it’s the third-largest party, with a significant number of seats in the Duma. Also, the Kremlin doesn’t belong to any faction—we’re all non-partisan. The faction that supports the Kremlin is undoubtedly the strongest, but it’s also the most crowded, with fierce competition, making it hard to secure a parliament member spot for you. As for the second-largest party, they’re the opposition, so naturally, we can’t let you join them. You understand that, right? So Aby’s Free Russia Party is the most suitable for you.”

With that explanation, Wang Ye understood and dispelled his doubts.

Only one question remained—when would the election start? Wang Ye needed to be mentally prepared.

“Still early, probably around November for the campaign, with results in December. You’re lucky—you just caught this year’s election. If you miss this term, you’ll have to wait another four years.” Gebrev said with a smile.

Wang Ye could only smile wryly. Whether this was good or bad for him was still unclear.

…

When he stepped out of the building, the sky was already completely dark.

Seryosha and the others were waiting for him in the car, parked in the lot across from the building. Naturally, they didn’t dare wander around the Kremlin.

Seeing Wang Ye emerge, the two cars started up immediately.

“Let’s go home.” After getting in the car, Wang Ye instructed.

Then he closed his eyes, leaned back in the seat, and rested.

Though tonight’s meeting had been just casual conversation without any sensitive topics, Wang Ye had remained highly alert the entire time. Now, he felt utterly exhausted.

There was no helping it—this was the Kremlin, after all. One wrong word could mean disaster.

This wasn’t an exaggeration at all.

Fortunately, everything had gone smoothly. Wang Ye had prepared well, and reviewing the dinner conversation, he felt he hadn’t said anything wrong.

Otherwise, the Kremlin wouldn’t have offered him the “reward” of a Duma parliament member seat.

Though Gebrev had said on the surface that he wouldn’t help, telling Wang Ye to discuss it with Aby, Wang Ye didn’t believe that if he ran into trouble or failed to get elected, Gebrev wouldn’t step in to assist…

…

By the time he returned to the apartment, it was already past nine in the evening.

Alyona and Natalia were sitting on the sofa watching TV, waiting for Wang Ye.

Hearing the door open, the two women quickly stood up to greet him.

As Wang Ye took off his coat, he smiled and said, “Natalia, you might as well just move in. Or I can rent another place for you nearby.”

In the past few days—or rather, ever since Wang Ye had told her he’d secured her the position of Prosecutor General—Natalia had been coming over frequently to “mooch” meals and often stayed the night.

Her attitude toward Wang Ye had completely changed from how it was in Yalta!

Chapter 244: Unlocked

The chapter has been unlocked.

It’s out now…

Chapter 248: The Great Emperor Invites Me to Dinner

Natalia and Alyona were best friends, but their personalities were quite different.

Alyona was a very pure-hearted girl, kind and friendly, without any extreme or biased views. She didn’t yearn for the developed Western nations, nor did she look down on poorer countries. Her only—or perhaps greatest—dream was for her hometown to become more prosperous.

Natalia, however, was different. This girl harbored deep resentment toward countries outside Russia—including developed nations, and even her nominal “homeland,” Ukraine!

Her ambitions were far grander. She dreamed of restoring the glory of the Tsarist Empire!

Thus, she was obsessed with power and authority, idolizing those in high positions. The current great emperor was her ultimate idol, without question.

When she first met Wang Ye, she had looked down on him, dismissing him as just another “backwater businessman”—one of the countless Chinese merchants in One Ant Market who profited by selling cheap, shoddy goods to the Russian people.

But after coming to Moscow this time, she suddenly realized she had completely misunderstood Wang Ye!

Or rather, the speed of his progress was beyond her imagination…

This guy had met Meshkov once and already secured her the position of Prosecutor General! Before, she wouldn’t have dared to dream of such a thing!

And he even said he would get Alyona into the Duma as a parliament member!

Though she didn’t think Wang Ye would lie about something like this, Natalia still found it hard to believe. There was no way to verify it for now.

She would just have to wait until her training ended and she returned to Crimea to see if she really would become Prosecutor General.

Of course, she understood that even a position like Prosecutor General wasn’t something that could be decided with a single word. It would probably take some time.

The reason she had been coming over so often to freeload meals was actually to “improve” her relationship with Wang Ye.

After all, Wang Ye was no longer the same as before—he was someone who could associate with a figure as powerful as Meshkov!

……

“I could move in, and that small bedroom would be fine for me. Though it would be a bit troublesome for Alyona, having to drive me to class every morning,” Natalia said with a smile.

She wasn’t unreasonable—she wouldn’t suggest taking the master bedroom from Alyona and making Wang Ye sleep in the small one. That would just be asking for trouble…

But Alyona seemed a little embarrassed. After all, Natalia was her best friend. If she slept in the room next door, what if she heard… certain noises at night? How awkward would that be?

But she couldn’t think of a good reason to refuse. There was an empty bedroom in the house.

So she changed the subject, pretending to be curious as she asked Wang Ye, “Why are you back so late today? Were you busy with Little Eagle Group again? Didn’t you already finish those negotiations?”

Wang Ye casually replied, “Oh, I was at the Kremlin tonight. The great emperor invited me to dinner for a chat.”

As he said this, he was bending over to change his shoes. When he straightened up, he found both girls standing there, stunned.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you believe me?” Wang Ye asked, amused.

Alyona quickly nodded, then seemed to realize that wasn’t the right response and shook her head. “I believe you,” she said.

Natalia, as always, was blunt. She shook her head and said, “I can accept that you know Meshkov—after all, you’re investing in tourism in Crimea. But you’re saying the great emperor invited you to dinner? That’s hard to believe. He’s one of the most powerful people in the world! You’re not involved in politics; you’re just a businessman. Why would he know you, let alone invite you to dinner?”

For most people, this would indeed be unbelievable. It was no wonder Natalia was skeptical.

Wang Ye didn’t bother explaining further—what was the point? Whether she believed him or not didn’t matter.

He just smiled and said, “Do you think I wanted to go to that dinner? Feel my back—it’s drenched in sweat! Meeting someone that powerful is actually pretty stressful. I was worried I’d say the wrong thing.”

Natalia actually reached out and touched his back. The cotton shirt was indeed damp…

Her eyes widened in shock. “Wow! It’s true! You really met him?”

Wang Ye shrugged nonchalantly. “Why would I lie? Maybe next time there’s a major public event at the Kremlin, you’ll see me standing right next to the great emperor on TV. Hah!”

He wasn’t joking.

If things went as planned with the great emperor today, and he successfully entered the State Duma as a respected parliament member, then Wang Ye really would have opportunities to appear on television in the future…

But the two girls just assumed he was joking and didn’t take him seriously.

……

It was getting late, so after chatting for a while, Wang Ye went to wash up and get ready for bed.

Natalia, being considerate, went to the small bedroom without trying to “compete” for the master bedroom.

After all, Wang Ye and Alyona were a couple, and she was just the “third wheel.”

Occasionally pulling Alyona into her room for a sleepover chat was one thing, but doing it regularly would just be inconsiderate.

However, after lying down for a while, Natalia tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Because from time to time, noises from the next room would drift over, making her face flush and her heart race…

……

On the morning of July 8th, in a high-end office building near Red Square.

On the 18th floor, in a lavishly decorated conference room, Wang Ye was holding a meeting with the employees of Polar Bear Investment Company.

The company didn’t have many staff—it was an investment firm, after all, and had been established solely for the purpose of acquiring the Siberian Oil Company. Thus, its personnel were tailored specifically for that acquisition.

Currently, the company had only twelve employees, all Russians. Half were financial and investment professionals, while the other half were legal experts.

After completing the acquisition, Ivan no longer worked there, having returned to his position as deputy general manager of Sun Market Group.

“From now on, our company will only invest in internet companies!

You can start preparing. First, screen a batch of domestic Russian internet enterprises worth investing in.

Remember, our investment criteria focus on one thing: whether the company’s future prospects have imagination!

We don’t care about their current financial status, and we certainly don’t care if they’re profitable right now.

What I want are companies that could one day become monopolistic giants!”

Chapter 249: An Old Acquaintance’s Promotion

Wang Ye stood at the head of the conference table, speaking with great enthusiasm. The dozen or so employees below him nodded repeatedly, each holding a pen and paper, carefully recording their boss’s words.

One couldn’t say Wang Ye’s tone was too arrogant. After all, the Polar Bear Investment Company still had two billion US dollars sitting in its accounts! With that much money in hand, they certainly wouldn’t invest in “rotten fish and shrimp.” Their targets had to be companies with immense potential, even industry leaders!

But speaking of Russian internet companies, there really weren’t many, especially when narrowing it down to those with “monopoly potential”…

After Wang Ye finished speaking, an employee raised his hand and said, “Although I haven’t done detailed research yet, I often use the internet in my daily life. Before coming to Polar Bear Investment Company, I worked in the investment department of Mr. Khovansky’s bank, so I’m fairly familiar with Russian internet companies. In my personal opinion, there are only two companies in Russia’s internet industry that meet your criteria. One is Yandex, and the other is MAIL.RU. However, due to last year’s stock market crash, both companies are in a tough spot. Many employees have left, and they’re barely managing to stay afloat.”

The other employees nodded in agreement, supporting his statement.

Wang Ye wasn’t unfamiliar with these two companies. They were among the few strong internet companies left in Russia’s development. Yandex started as a search engine and had defeated Google in the Russian search market, saving some face for the Russian internet. As for MAIL.RU, it began as a portal website and email service provider.

Both companies were listed on NASDAQ, but last year, in 2000, the global internet bubble burst, and their stock prices plummeted. One company’s market value dropped by ninety percent, and the other by ninety-seven percent…

According to Yandex’s owner, he once thought his company was the most unfortunate internet company in the world that year, as its market value fell from over a hundred million US dollars to just three million…

But in reality, that wasn’t the case. From 2000 to 2004, nearly five years, was the darkest period for the internet industry. Countless internet companies went bankrupt during that time! Those that survived were doing quite well.

In other words, the market value of Yandex and MAIL.RU, the two “faces” of Russia’s internet industry, didn’t exceed five million US dollars!

From this perspective, it was understandable why the great emperor almost thought Wang Ye was an idiot when he said the internet industry would change the world. These days, very few people still had expectations for the internet industry, especially investment companies!

…

Hearing his employees mention these two companies, Wang Ye’s heart stirred. This was indeed the best time to buy internet companies at rock-bottom prices! It wouldn’t take much money to acquire industry leaders like Yandex and MAIL.RU.

Inspired by his employees’ words, Wang Ye thought of two other companies worth investing in: Tencent from China and Amazon from the United States!

In 2001, Tencent wasn’t listed yet. Pony Ma was probably scrambling to find investors everywhere. After all, it was the “winter” of the internet industry, and everyone was having a hard time.

As for Amazon, the biggest “star” in the internet industry, its stock price had also plummeted last year, and its market value had dropped significantly. It was the perfect time to buy low!

But Wang Ye didn’t need to discuss these with his employees for now. He simply instructed, “I’ve heard of these two companies. Gather some information first and make initial contact to see if they’re interested in receiving investments.”

Actually, for companies that were already listed, if they wanted to acquire them, there was no need for direct contact. They could just buy shares on the stock market. Due to the burst of the internet bubble, there was no need to worry about not being able to buy shares. Many stocks were urgently for sale, but no one was taking them.

…

After the meeting, Wang Ye didn’t return to his office. Instead, he went straight downstairs, planning to go to Sun Market Group to work. His daily schedule was quite tight these days.

He needed to check in on Little Eagle Group from time to time, and he had to set work tasks and goals for everyone at Polar Bear Investment Company. As for Sun Market Group, there was even more to do…

Sigh, these were the troubles of the rich! Especially for a young man like Wang Ye, whose career was rapidly rising, he couldn’t afford to be lazy. A large group of “old foxes” were watching him, both openly and secretly.

Whether for himself or others, Wang Ye had to work hard.

Just as he went downstairs and hadn’t gotten into his car yet, Wang Ye unexpectedly encountered an “old acquaintance”…

Actually, it wasn’t exactly an old acquaintance. They had only dealt with each other once or twice.

A police car with flashing lights was parked in front of the office building. Wang Ye didn’t pay much attention at first and was about to walk around the police car to the nearby parking lot where Seryosha and the others were waiting for him.

Then the police car door opened, and someone leaned out, calling, “Mr. Mikhail?”

Wang Ye stopped and turned around. He saw a middle-aged man in uniform leaning out from the back seat of the police car. The man looked somewhat familiar…

But for a moment, he couldn’t remember his name.

As Wang Ye frowned, trying to recall the man’s name, the middle-aged man in uniform got out of the car and walked over. With a smile, he said, “It really is you, Mr. Mikhail. I’m Flamir. A while back… I helped you with something.”

Wang Ye suddenly remembered. It was that police chief. When Song Xiao Gang got into trouble, Wang Ye had asked this man to help get him out.

He hadn’t expected to meet him here again.

With a smile, he said, “I remember you, Chief Flamir. Hello. I thought your jurisdiction wasn’t around here. Are you here on business?”

Indeed, Flamir was responsible for the security around Moscow State University, and this area was close to Red Square, so it definitely wasn’t under his jurisdiction.

Flamir said cheerfully, “Mr. Mikhail, you might not know, but I’ve had a change in my job recently. I’ve moved to the city bureau now, hehe.”

So he got a promotion! No wonder!

Wang Ye knew in his heart that the five hundred thousand US dollars he had given Flamir last time must have played a significant role in his promotion…

“Congratulations, congratulations. Chief Flamir is highly capable and at a prime age. I’m sure you’ll rise even higher and take on more important positions in the future,” Wang Ye said with a smile, congratulating him.

Wang Ye was genuinely happy about Flamir’s promotion. After all, they were acquaintances.

Chapter 250: School’s Out for Summer

Wang Ye exchanged a few pleasantries with Flamir before taking his leave.

Flamir stood in place, watching as Wang Ye’s two black Mercedes drove away. Even after they had disappeared into the distance, he continued waving his arm…

He was a clever man, and now that he had experienced the benefits of wealth, he respected Wang Ye even more.

There was no helping it—these days, in this place, money meant everything!

Of course, having enough power could also do the trick…

But for someone at Flamir’s level, power was something he had, though not much.

And money? He didn’t have much of that either, so his life wasn’t much better than that of an ordinary person.

That was until he met Wang Ye—then his fate changed!

So, he was truly grateful to Wang Ye.

………………..

On the way to the Sun Market Group, Wang Ye received a phone call.

Glancing at the screen, he was slightly surprised to see it was from Song Xiao Gang.

Ever since the last incident, Song Xiao Gang had been silent for a long time, and Wang Ye hadn’t heard from him in ages.

He answered the call. “Xiao Gang, what’s up?”

“Ye Ge, since school’s out, I was wondering if you’re free these next couple of days. Hehe, I want to treat you to a meal. Last time, you helped me out big time, and I still haven’t properly thanked you,” Song Xiao Gang said with a smile.

“Hey, no need to be so formal. It was nothing, just a small favor. But if you’re treating me to a meal, then I actually do have time. It’s been a while since I’ve tasted your cooking,” Wang Ye replied readily.

“That’s great! Ye Ge, just name a time, and I’ll prepare the dishes in advance. I’ll definitely show off my skills for you,” Song Xiao Gang said, overjoyed.

Wang Ye thought for a moment. “Why put it off? Let’s do it tonight. I’ll come straight after work, around six or so. By the way, is your girlfriend there too?”

Song Xiao Gang’s girlfriend, of course, was Yanzi.

Wang Ye asked this to consider whether he should bring Alyona along.

“Hehe, I didn’t tell her. It’s just us guys drinking and chatting—what’s the point of calling the girls over? Tonight, it’s just me. Xiao Hei went back to China,” Song Xiao Gang replied.

Since that was the case, Wang Ye decided not to bring Alyona. Just the two of them having a good drink would be nice.

“Alright, see you tonight,” Wang Ye said.

………………..

After hanging up, Song Xiao Gang’s face broke into a rare smile.

Truthfully, the last incident had put immense psychological pressure on him, even though he had only been locked up for a day. At the time, he had nearly fallen apart!

Sitting in that iron cage, Song Xiao Gang had truly despaired. He didn’t know how he would face his elderly father back home if he were actually sentenced…

To put it bluntly, if his old father found out he was in trouble, he probably wouldn’t last more than a few years…

Fortunately, Wang Ye had lent a hand and gotten him out.

This wasn’t just saving Song Xiao Gang—it was saving his entire family!

Afterward, Song Xiao Gang hadn’t formally thanked Wang Ye, not because he was ungrateful or forgot, but because he hadn’t figured out how to repay such a life-saving debt.

The weight of this favor was too heavy…

But now, he had finally thought it through and knew what he needed to do.

That was why he had invited Wang Ye over for a meal.

The meal was just an excuse—the real purpose was to properly express his gratitude.

………………..

Song Xiao Gang put on his shoes, grabbed his wallet, and headed out to the supermarket to buy ingredients.

It was still morning, and there was plenty of time before the agreed-upon dinner, but he wanted to prepare early.

Though the meal wasn’t the main point, he still had to show off his skills and make some impressive dishes for Ye Ge!

Summer break had arrived, and in Russia, the summer vacation was particularly long.

Their preparatory courses were among the later ones to finish. Once in the undergraduate program, many departments started exams in mid-to-late May, and once exams were over, vacation began.

Summer break often lasted over three months!

Because of the vacation, many exchange students had gone back to their home countries. The new preparatory students hadn’t arrived yet, so the entire preparatory building was quiet, with hardly anyone around.

But just as he reached the first-floor lobby, by sheer coincidence, he ran into his “old rival,” Zhang Ke.

This guy hadn’t gone back to China for the summer either.

You wouldn’t believe it—thanks to the little Lada he bought, this was the peak season for exchange students returning home, and Zhang Ke had been making a killing!

He made several airport runs every day!

But now, he no longer had that arrogant attitude. If this had been before, Zhang Ke would have probably gone out of his way to provoke Song Xiao Gang.

But after being taught a lesson by Wang Ye a few times, especially that time when Wang Ye’s bodyguard had pressed a real gun to his forehead, Zhang Ke had been thoroughly scared…

Since then, he had become much more obedient. He smiled at everyone before speaking.

He had gone from a street punk to a good kid…

You had to admit, Wang Ye had played the biggest role in this transformation.

If Zhang Ke’s parents knew, they would probably thank Wang Ye.

………………..

“Hehe, Xiao Gang, you’re not going back for the summer?” Zhang Ke asked with a smile.

The grudge between Song Xiao Gang and him was long gone. Plus, Zhang Ke hadn’t caused any trouble lately, so Song Xiao Gang didn’t give him a hard time.

He smiled in response. “Yeah, the round-trip tickets are too expensive. Gotta save money. Besides, I want to find a part-time job during the summer to earn some cash. In two months, I could make enough to cover a year’s tuition.”

“Don’t joke around. With just selling phone cards, you make at least two or three thousand dollars a month. Why work? I’m really jealous of you—you can make money just sitting in your dorm. I’m running around all day, my tires are practically smoking, and I still don’t make much,” Zhang Ke said enviously.

Though he was exaggerating a bit, it wasn’t far from the truth.

The phone card market at the University of Friendship had been “monopolized” by Song Xiao Gang!

After all, he got the cards directly from Hua Star Communications at wholesale prices, giving him a huge price advantage!

No one at the University of Friendship competed with him, so just by selling cards, Song Xiao Gang easily made at least two thousand dollars a month!

These days, tuition at Russian universities was still relatively low. The cheapest majors at the University of Friendship cost less than two thousand dollars a year, and even at Moscow State University, the most expensive were only three or four thousand dollars.

So, with Song Xiao Gang’s income, he was practically a “tycoon” at the University of Friendship!

Zhang Ke’s taxi business couldn’t compare to Song Xiao Gang’s earnings.

On a good day, he made less than three thousand rubles, which was just over a hundred dollars.

And that was before subtracting fuel costs, vehicle depreciation, maintenance, and insurance.

All in all, he made at most a thousand dollars a month—no match for Song Xiao Gang…

Chapter 251: Rivals in the Same Trade

Wang Ye’s presence had undeniably changed many people’s lives.

Those close to him—Song Xiao Gang, Nalan Yaqi, Ruan Xiaozhu, Liu Jun, and others—had their fates altered beyond recognition. Even those with only passing connections to him, like Zhang Ke and Wang Dan, had undergone noticeable changes.

Take Zhang Ke, for instance. Compared to how he was just a few months ago, he seemed like a completely different person. Though he still wasn’t particularly likable, at least he wasn’t as insufferable as before.

When Zhang Ke learned that Song Xiao Gang was heading to the Large Market to shop, he eagerly offered, “Perfect timing! I was planning to drop someone off at Moscow State University. I can give you a ride to the market on the way.”

In reality, the route from the University of Friendship to Moscow State University required a right turn out of the dormitory area, while the market was in the opposite direction—a left turn. They weren’t on the same path at all.

Song Xiao Gang quickly declined, “No need. You should go ahead and drop off your passenger. It’s only a ten-minute walk for me, not far at all.”

“It’s no trouble,” Zhang Ke insisted, grabbing Song Xiao Gang’s arm with a grin. “Driving there only takes two minutes, and I can take a detour. We’re both from the same preparatory class and will be classmates for years to come. Helping out like this is nothing.”

Unable to refuse such enthusiasm—and aware that two grown men tugging at each other in public wasn’t a good look—Song Xiao Gang reluctantly agreed.

Once inside the small Lada parked outside the dormitory, Zhang Ke started the engine and casually asked, “By the way, what major did you apply for?”

After completing the preparatory courses, students were free to choose their majors. However, most exchange students opted for liberal arts programs—economics, journalism, sociology, and the like. Hardly anyone chose science, engineering, or medicine.

The reason was simple: liberal arts majors were easier to “coast through,” and graduation was almost guaranteed. But science, engineering, and medicine? Graduating from those was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

There was once a “senior” who didn’t believe this and enrolled in medicine. By the third year, they couldn’t take it anymore and had to switch majors, starting over from the first year.

No one wanted to study abroad for years only to fail to graduate and be asked to leave.

“I applied for journalism,” Song Xiao Gang replied with a chuckle. “It’s the easiest major to graduate from.”

Zhang Ke slapped the steering wheel. “Ha! I’m in journalism too. Looks like we’ll be classmates after all.”

The University of Friendship’s journalism program and Moscow State University’s sociology program were infamous for being the top two “slacker” majors, attracting nearly all the exchange students who just wanted to get by.

Zhang Ke choosing this major wasn’t surprising, but Song Xiao Gang’s decision was unexpected. During the preparatory courses, Song Xiao Gang had been a diligent student, and his Russian was among the best in his class. No one knew why he would choose such an easy major.

In less than two minutes, they arrived at the market entrance. Zhang Ke pulled over, and Song Xiao Gang got out. They waved goodbye as the Lada drove off.

Watching the car disappear into the distance, Song Xiao Gang shook his head with a smile.

Everyone had changed so much in the past six months…

Meanwhile, as soon as Wang Ye arrived at the Small Red Building office in Sun Market, Boss Kong hurried in, practically bouncing with excitement.

“President, have you heard? The market in Lyublino is almost finished and is starting early recruitment!”

This wasn’t good news at all.

Wang Ye frowned. “Wasn’t it supposed to open at the end of the year? Why are they recruiting now? And what’s their policy?”

Originally, Wang Ye had planned to deal with the boss behind Lyublino, but other matters had kept him busy. Plus, he still hadn’t secured the exclusive import-export rights, so he hadn’t had time to address the issue. Now, it seemed Lyublino was thriving.

“Hehe, they’re pretty much copying our policies—waiving half a year of management fees and rent, and dividing the market by product categories,” Boss Kong said, shaking his head. “I snuck over there a couple of days ago. The planning is solid. It’s not just shipping containers; it’s a proper large-scale building, like a high-end mall. The quality is way better than ours.”

Truth be told, Lyublino had been in development longer than Sun Market—over two years.

Sun Market was a significant improvement over the old ACT Market in terms of environment and infrastructure, but it still followed the shipping container model, which allowed for rapid construction. The entire project had been completed in less than a year.

Lyublino, on the other hand, was a different beast. As Boss Kong described, it was a full-fledged large-scale building with a high-end mall layout.

Sun Market had three thousand five hundred stalls. Even with the upcoming second phase, it would only reach seven thousand. But Lyublino was planning for ten thousand stalls right from the start!

The investment was clearly substantial, and the ambition behind it was enormous. Now, they were even poaching business with these free policies. Weren’t they just trying to steal Sun Market’s customers?

Wang Ye asked, “How’s the response? Have they lured away any of our vendors?”

Sun Market was already at full capacity, with all stalls rented out and a thriving atmosphere. There were even Chinese merchants waiting in line for available stalls. Technically, losing a few vendors to Lyublino wouldn’t hurt Sun Market much.

But in business, rivals were rivals. If Lyublino managed to build up its own customer base with its larger capacity, Sun Market and ACT Market might struggle to survive.

Sun Market’s second phase was about to begin construction. If the market was built but all the vendors had left, Wang Ye would be left in tears.

He had to act early and completely “crush” Lyublino to ensure the success of both phases of Sun Market.

“Hehe, they might be offering great deals, but they’ve only just started recruiting. Whether they can build up a customer base is still up in the air,” Boss Kong said helplessly. “But because it’s free, I did some digging, and quite a few people have signed up for stalls. These small business owners are always looking for a bargain—clever little monkeys!”

Wang Ye nodded in understanding.

Lyublino’s scale was impressive. Once it gained traction, its potential was no less than Sun Market’s. Plus, with Sun Market’s success as an example, the early vendors had made a fortune.

When Lyublino copied Sun Market’s free policy, it was incredibly appealing. Since there was no cost, the vendors were happy to give it a try. If it took off, they’d save half a year’s rent and management fees while securing an early advantage. If it flopped, they wouldn’t lose much and could just focus back on Sun Market.

Chapter 252: Just Waiting for This

Wang Ye didn’t provide an answer on how to resolve the Lyublino issue. He only told Boss Kong that he needed to think about it, but not to worry—it would definitely be resolved.

After Boss Kong left, Wang Ye pondered for a long time. It wasn’t that he had no ideas. The simplest approach would be to instruct Elmar to have Gokhso stir up trouble in Lyublino behind the scenes. Maybe this wouldn’t stop Lyublino from opening, but at least it would cause some chaos and keep them busy.

But after some thought, Wang Ye dismissed this plan. It was just a temporary fix, not a permanent solution. He had promised Mairov that he would resolve the Lyublino issue once and for all, ensuring it wouldn’t affect Sun Market and ACT Market.

After much deliberation, Wang Ye felt the best approach was still to handle it “officially”—to urge Gebrev to expedite the exclusive import-export rights he had promised. Once that was done, all problems would be solved.

What good would it do if Lyublino Market became big and beautiful? If goods couldn’t clear customs there, how could they run a wholesale market without merchandise?

…

Around five in the afternoon, Wang Ye told Alyona that he would be having dinner and drinks with an old classmate that evening and not to wait for him to return.

“Are you coming home to sleep tonight?” Alyona asked.

Wang Ye thought for a moment. He would definitely be drinking tonight, and since he was going to his old dormitory, Song Xiao Gang had mentioned that his bed was still reserved, with fresh sheets and blankets changed every time.

A sudden whim struck him—he wanted to “experience” dormitory life again. Smiling, he said, “No, I won’t. After drinking, I won’t feel like driving back, and it wouldn’t be good to make Seryosha and the others wait for me. I’ll just sleep in the dormitory tonight. Have Natalia keep you company.”

Walking downstairs to the car, just as Seryosha was about to start the engine, Wang Ye waved his hand and said, “You all can head home. I’ll drive myself back today. I’m meeting old friends for dinner and drinks, so you don’t need to escort me.”

Honestly, Wang Ye hadn’t offended anyone lately. Having bodyguards around was just for show—there was almost no practical use for them since he never needed Seryosha and the others.

Hearing this, Seryosha nodded, got out of the car, and boarded another large G-class Mercedes, leaving this one for Wang Ye.

Opening the car door and sitting in the driver’s seat, Wang Ye leaned over to the passenger side and opened the glove compartment. His gun was inside. After a moment’s thought, he took it out and placed it in the center console. That way, if anything happened while he was driving, it would be easier to reach.

Starting the engine, the W12 engine let out a “gurgle gurgle” sound like a boiler heating water. Much of the large G’s charm came from this sound—those who knew, knew…

Rolling down the window, listening to the engine’s roar, the car left the parking lot and headed toward the University of Friendship.

There was no denying it—driving such a large G on the road was quite eye-catching…

…

Arriving at the familiar sixth dormitory building, Wang Ye parked the car casually by the roadside. Since it was the holiday period, there were few students around, and he didn’t encounter anyone.

Turning off the engine and getting out, Wang Ye made his way to the second-floor dormitory he used to live in. The door was slightly ajar, and no one was inside, but the table was covered with bottles of Heineken beer.

Song Xiao Gang was probably cooking in the communal kitchen. Wang Ye sat down, picked up a Chinese newspaper, and waited without calling Song Xiao Gang.

Just as Song Xiao Gang had said, his bed was still neatly preserved. The snow-white sheets, blanket, and pillow were stacked neatly, waiting for him.

After reading for a few minutes, the door opened, and Song Xiao Gang walked in with two plates of food. Seeing Wang Ye already there, he exclaimed happily, “Ye Ge, you’re here! Why didn’t you call me? I could have prepared faster.”

Wang Ye put down the newspaper and stood up with a smile. “It’s fine. I’m staying here tonight. We can take our time drinking and chatting—there’s plenty of time!”

Song Xiao Gang’s smile grew even brighter. “Then, Ye Ge, rest for a bit. I still have a few dishes to finish. There are washed fruits and chips here—help yourself.”

With that, he turned and went back to cooking.

Wang Ye couldn’t really help—his culinary skills were limited to “tomato and egg stir-fry,” “boiling dumplings,” and “instant noodles.”

He picked up an apple, which seemed to be washed, and took a bite without peeling it. After reading the newspaper for a while, Song Xiao Gang made several trips, and the table was soon filled with dishes.

Song Xiao Gang’s cooking was indeed excellent—every dish was a feast for the eyes and the palate! It was clear he had put in a lot of effort today, with chicken, fish, and meat all present.

Oh, no duck…

As they sat down, Wang Ye glanced at the table and smiled. “Xiao Gang, you could probably make a fortune opening a Chinese restaurant here. Your cooking is better than the chef at the Chinese restaurant downstairs!”

This wasn’t a joke. Wang Ye had eaten Song Xiao Gang’s cooking and the food from the Chinese restaurant downstairs. The restaurant’s dishes were truly indescribable…

“Hehe, actually, before I came to study abroad, I had thought about it. Once my language skills improved and my studies weren’t so demanding, I could find a Chinese restaurant to work part-time as a chef. The pay would probably be better than working at the Large Market.”

This plan wasn’t bad. Chefs earned a good income in any foreign country, certainly more than part-time translation work at the market.

But now, Song Xiao Gang clearly didn’t need to be a chef. Just selling phone cards earned him a decent income.

So Wang Ye smiled and said, “Part-time work won’t get you far. If you really want to be a chef, open your own restaurant. But you don’t need to think about that now. If you really want a job, I have plenty of positions available. Any job there would be better than opening a restaurant.”

He wasn’t boasting. Wang Ye was now the boss of three major companies—Sun Market Group, Little Eagle Group, and Polar Bear Investment Company. Each was worth hundreds of millions of dollars. If Song Xiao Gang wanted to work for him, Wang Ye wouldn’t let him down.

Even if he couldn’t be given an important position right away, a mid-level management or lighter role would still pay well. After a few years of training, once he was ready for bigger responsibilities, his future would be bright.

Song Xiao Gang’s eyes lit up. He had been waiting for Wang Ye to say this!

Chapter 253: The Choice Is Yours

Song Xiao Gang picked up the beer bottle and poured himself a full glass. Raising it, he spoke sincerely to Wang Ye, “Ye Ge, you’ve helped me so many times—especially with that last incident… the murder case. If it weren’t for you, I’d probably be in prison by now. I know it must have cost you a fortune to make that go away. I just don’t know how to thank you enough.”

He meant every word. Though Song Xiao Gang had no idea how much Wang Ye had actually spent to resolve the case, he could guess.

This was a foreign land, and the charges had been serious. Yet he’d only spent one night in jail before being released.

Wang Ye must have spent at least two or three hundred thousand dollars…

Of course, Song Xiao Gang still underestimated Wang Ye’s “spending power.” To settle the matter, Wang Ye had actually dropped half a million dollars.

But whether it was two hundred thousand or five hundred thousand, it was an amount Song Xiao Gang couldn’t afford.

Even if he wanted to repay the debt, he didn’t have that kind of money.

But Song Xiao Gang wasn’t ungrateful.

He couldn’t pay back the money right now, so he had to find another way to repay Wang Ye’s kindness.

That was why he had invited Wang Ye to dinner today.

…

Hearing this, Wang Ye waved his hand with a smile, dismissing the matter. “We’re fellow countrymen. Being classmates and roommates in a foreign land—that’s fate. When you got into trouble, I had the means to help, so of course I couldn’t just stand by. Let’s not talk about it anymore. It’s all in the past.”

Wang Ye might not care, but Song Xiao Gang couldn’t just let it go.

Shaking his head, he said, “Ye Ge, I know the money and favors you spent this time might be something I can never repay in my lifetime. But I have to do something within my power to help you. Otherwise, I won’t feel right.”

That was just his nature—always repaying debts.

Seeing how insistent he was, Wang Ye sighed. “You’re still in school. Don’t overthink it. Focus on learning Russian well. After graduation, there will be plenty of time to help me.”

Song Xiao Gang immediately switched to Russian. “My Russian is already decent. Basic daily conversations are no problem. Besides, once I’m out in the real world, interacting with more Russians will help me learn faster than sitting in a classroom. I’ve already enrolled in journalism, and this major doesn’t require daily classes, so I have enough time to work. Ye Ge, let me work for you.”

After hearing this, Wang Ye realized Song Xiao Gang’s Russian had indeed improved significantly. It seemed he had been studying hard over the past six months.

Since Song Xiao Gang wanted to work—and specifically for him—Wang Ye didn’t insist on him continuing his studies.

Honestly, in this place, as long as your language skills were good enough, attending classes didn’t matter much.

The point of studying abroad was to get a degree for a better job, wasn’t it?

After a moment’s thought, Wang Ye asked, “So, what kind of work do you want to do? What do you think your strengths are?”

“I’ve trained in martial arts for years. How about I work as your bodyguard?” Song Xiao Gang blurted out.

Wang Ye shook his head with a smile. “That’s not suitable for you. What kind of future does being a bodyguard have? Besides, I’m not really in danger. The reason I have a few bodyguards is more for appearances. Russian bodyguards are more appropriate for that role.”

In terms of loyalty, Song Xiao Gang was certainly more reliable than Seryosha and the others.

But in terms of combat ability, that was another story. This wasn’t to say Song Xiao Gang couldn’t beat Seryosha and the other bodyguards.

After all, Song Xiao Gang had trained in martial arts for years and was tall enough. In a fistfight, Seryosha and the others probably wouldn’t stand a chance against him.

The problem was, Seryosha and his men were battle-hardened veterans who had seen real bloodshed!

They were experts with all kinds of firearms and wouldn’t hesitate to kill when necessary.

Song Xiao Gang couldn’t match that. Plus, as a foreigner, he had restrictions on gun ownership, which limited him greatly.

…

Hearing Wang Ye’s refusal, Song Xiao Gang was disappointed but didn’t give up. “Then how about I work as your driver? I can drive. Or maybe as a chef…”

Wang Ye laughed and cut him off. “Alright, those jobs would be a waste of your talents. Here’s what I’ll do—I’m opening a few casinos soon. You can help me oversee one of them. Start as an assistant general manager. After you learn the ropes and can handle things on your own, I’ll put you in charge of a venue.”

He was referring to the entertainment center in St. Petersburg or the hotel in Yalta.

Though he had Yuri, Katya, and the management team from the Ho family helping him run the Little Eagle Group, having Song Xiao Gang oversee one of the venues would be beneficial.

A place like an entertainment center, with all sorts of people coming and going, was an excellent training ground.

If Song Xiao Gang had a knack for it, after a few years of experience, he would grow much faster than if he were just a bodyguard or driver.

And in the future, he could become another trusted aide…

Song Xiao Gang was startled. He had no idea Wang Ye was opening casinos!

Blinking, he cautiously asked, “Ye Ge, are you running… underground operations?”

Clearly, he thought Wang Ye was involved in the rumored illegal gambling dens. But those were illegal!

Still, if Wang Ye asked him to go, Song Xiao Gang would do it without hesitation.

Wang Ye chuckled. “What are you talking about? I’m a law-abiding citizen. How could I run an underground casino? Don’t worry, I’ve obtained a legal gambling license. I’m opening legitimate entertainment centers. I’ve secured three locations—Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yalta in Crimea. Renovations will start soon, and they should be operational in about six months. Which one do you want to go to—St. Petersburg or Yalta? The choice is yours.”

Song Xiao Gang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Though he couldn’t fathom how Wang Ye had obtained the legendary gambling license—it was unbelievable!

But he trusted Wang Ye completely. If Wang Ye said he had it, then he had it.

There was no reason for Wang Ye to lie about something like this.

After some thought, Song Xiao Gang said, “Then I’ll go to St. Petersburg. That way, it’ll be easier to come back to Moscow occasionally.”

“To visit your girlfriend, huh? Speaking of which, if you’re going to St. Petersburg, what about Yanzi?” Wang Ye teased.

He had already noticed the relationship between Song Xiao Gang and Yanzi last time.

Chapter 254: Arranged Together

Song Xiao Gang smiled shyly and explained, “Yanzi is already in her fourth year. If she were in China, she could skip classes and go for internships. Her most important task this final year is to write her thesis, and she doesn’t have many classes left. So it’s fine; she can often go to St. Petersburg.”

That made sense. Wang Ye suddenly remembered that Yanzi and Ruan Xiaozhu were in the same year—they were both graduating next year.

Speaking of Yanzi, she was quite the capable woman. If she ended up working with Song Xiao Gang and following him, that would be great.

He readily agreed, “Alright, then. Talk it over with Yanzi later. You two can go to St. Petersburg together and work at that casino. Don’t worry about the salary—you won’t be treated unfairly.”

Song Xiao Gang was overjoyed and quickly thanked him, “Thank you, Ye Ge! Yanzi has been saying for a while now that she doesn’t want to go back to China after graduation. She wants to stay here and develop her career.”

Most Chinese students who came to Russia for their studies ended up returning to China after graduation.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to stay and work in Russia—it was just that there weren’t many decent job opportunities here!

The locals were struggling to find work themselves, so how could they possibly give job opportunities to a “foreigner”?

Even if some exchange students stayed after graduation, they mostly ended up at the Large Market, becoming “traders” and running small businesses.

Someone like Yanzi, a top student from Moscow State University, naturally wouldn’t want to end up at the Large Market doing translation work after graduation.

And since she was in a relationship with Song Xiao Gang, it wasn’t convenient for her to return to China immediately.

So she only had two options: either continue her studies as a graduate student or find a way to start her own business.

Now that Wang Ye had directly arranged a job for her with good pay and benefits, it was definitely a good thing.

Wang Ye waved his hand and laughed, “What are you thanking me for? Yanzi is already very capable. Her monthly sales from selling phone cards are much higher than yours, haha.”

That was just a joke, of course. There were far more exchange students at Moscow State University than at the University of Friendship, and the students there were wealthier. Naturally, Yanzi’s sales would be higher than Song Xiao Gang’s at the University of Friendship.

Song Xiao Gang didn’t know how to express his gratitude, so he just refilled his cup and raised it in a toast to Wang Ye.

They ate, chatted, and drank.

Here, Wang Ye didn’t need to scheme or wear a mask. He could say what he wanted and laugh when he wanted.

…

Just as they were laughing and talking, there was a knock at the dormitory door.

Song Xiao Gang got up in surprise to open the door, and a girl’s voice came from outside.

“Is Ye Ge here?”

It was Nalan Yaqi’s voice.

Song Xiao Gang nodded and opened the door. Wang Ye saw Nalan Yaqi peeking in.

When she saw Wang Ye sitting there, her eyes lit up, and she grinned, “Hehe, I knew you’d be at Song Xiao Gang’s place.”

“How did you know I was back at the dormitory? Oh, right, what are you doing here?” Wang Ye asked with a smile.

“I came to visit a classmate today. Then I saw your large G-class Mercedes downstairs! I didn’t remember your license plate, but who else at the University of Friendship would drive a large G and park it outside the preparatory dormitory?” Nalan Yaqi said proudly.

Wang Ye couldn’t help but laugh. This girl was quite clever.

Indeed, his large G was quite eye-catching parked downstairs. Anyone who knew him well would immediately think of him upon seeing it.

Coming to the dining table, Nalan Yaqi looked down at the food and said with a greedy expression, “Oh, I was planning to skip dinner to lose weight, but seeing all this delicious food has made me hungry. Song Xiao Gang, can you get me a bowl and chopsticks?”

Song Xiao Gang looked helplessly at Wang Ye.

Wang Ye just smiled and said, “Let’s eat together. There’s so much food; the two of us can’t finish it all.”

After all, they were classmates, business “partners,” and even neighbors.

He and Nalan Yaqi got along well, so it was normal for her to join them for a meal.

…

After Nalan Yaqi sat down, the dining table became even livelier.

They didn’t talk about business or things outside of school—just school-related matters.

Nalan Yaqi looked at Wang Ye and laughed, “Hey, when I first met you, you were just a simple country boy wearing an old, oversized down jacket. I never thought that in just a few months, you’d be so different.”

Wang Ye also remembered their first meeting and smiled.

If he hadn’t “come back” from twenty years later, he probably wouldn’t be much better off than when he first arrived in Moscow.

He sighed, “Ah, it was actually quite nice to study at school without a care in the world. Too bad I can’t go back to that.”

Nalan Yaqi didn’t like hearing that and teased, “Come on, you’re the envy of so many people now—a billionaire! Isn’t that a million times better than being a poor student?”

Wang Ye just shook his head and laughed, not bothering to argue with her.

After all, from an outsider’s perspective, what he said did sound like he was being pretentious.

With a fortune of over a hundred million, living a glamorous life, controlling several large companies, driving luxury cars, and having bodyguards—this was the peak of life in the eyes of countless people.

Yet here he was, reminiscing about his days as a poor student…

“Let’s drink! Yaqi, I think this is the first time we’ve drunk together,” Wang Ye said, changing the subject with a smile.

Nalan Yaqi thought about it and realized he was right.

They had eaten together a few times, but they had never sat down to drink together.

“Come on, Ye Ge, I’ll toast you. Thank you for taking care of me all this time. I know that being able to invest in Qingyun Company and get such a large share of the profits is all thanks to you,” Nalan Yaqi said with a smile, taking two bottles of beer, opening them, keeping one for herself, and handing the other to Wang Ye.

She didn’t even pour it into a cup; she just wanted to “clink” bottles with Wang Ye.

Wang Ye’s alcohol tolerance wasn’t great, but faced with such a “challenge,” he naturally couldn’t back down.

He took the bottle and lightly clinked it against Nalan Yaqi’s.

They both tilted their heads back and started chugging…

Song Xiao Gang became a spectator, smiling as he watched Wang Ye and Nalan Yaqi compete in drinking.

Wang Ye, being a man, drank faster. He downed the entire bottle of beer in one go, burped, and felt a little dizzy.

He had already drunk quite a bit with Song Xiao Gang earlier—at least three or four bottles—but since they had been sipping slowly, he hadn’t felt much.

Now, chugging a whole bottle at once, he felt a bit lightheaded.

Nalan Yaqi had also finished her bottle of beer, and her cheeks were flushed…

Chapter 255: Trying to Outdo Me, Huh?

“You’re drinking too fast. Girls shouldn’t drink if they can’t handle it,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

His own tolerance wasn’t high, but that depended on who he was drinking with!

Compared to the Russians like Anton, Seryosha, Alyona, and Natalia, he was no match for them.

But against a little girl like Nalan Yaqi, he should still have the upper hand…

Yet Nalan Yaqi wasn’t convinced. She reached for two more bottles of beer, popped them open with a clink, placed one in front of Wang Ye, and kept the other for herself.

In a challenging tone, she said, “I just drink a little slower, but I still finish it all. I heard your tolerance isn’t great—you can’t even outdrink Alyona. So you probably can’t outdrink me either.”

Did Nalan Yaqi know about that embarrassing moment?

Wang Ye was getting a little “angry”…

He grabbed the beer bottle. “Trying to outdo me, huh? I’m just worried you’ll drink too much and won’t be able to get back to your apartment to sleep! I’ll be fine—I can just lie down and sleep. My bed is still here.”

“Hehe, no need for you to worry. You forgot Wang Dan lives next door, right? Even though she went back to China, I have the key to her room. If I drink too much, I’ll just sleep in her dorm,” Nalan Yaqi said calmly.

Song Xiao Gang quickly chimed in, “You two drink as much as you want. It’s fine, I’m here. If you drink too much, someone will take care of you.”

Since that was the case, Wang Ye didn’t plan on holding back!

Judging by how Nalan Yaqi struggled with the first bottle, he figured she’d be down after one or two more.

They clinked bottles again and each took a swig.

This time, it wasn’t as smooth as the first bottle. Wang Ye didn’t have the courage to chug it all at once—he had to pause twice to catch his breath before finishing.

But Nalan Yaqi was even worse. She had to stop and breathe after every big gulp, taking a long time to finish.

Her face was already flushed, and beads of sweat had formed on her nose.

Wang Ye couldn’t help but smirk. With that kind of tolerance, she still dared to challenge him?

She had no idea what she was getting into!

“How about it? Can you still drink? If not, let’s just eat,” Wang Ye said with a laugh.

Nalan Yaqi didn’t respond. She picked up her chopsticks and ate a few bites, seeming to recover a little. Then she turned her head and said defiantly, “I think you’re the one who can’t drink! We’ve barely even started. Let’s keep going.”

With that, she grabbed two more bottles of beer, opened them, and handed one to Wang Ye.

Wang Ye was a little surprised. This girl really wouldn’t back down until she hit a wall. Even in this state, she was still trying to outdo him?

But he didn’t think too much about it. The pressure had been building up lately, so he might as well drink his fill and relax.

This round was even more “struggling.”

Wang Ye burped as he drank, trying to suppress the effects of the alcohol. Including the few bottles he had with Song Xiao Gang earlier, he had downed about six or seven bottles now!

That was pretty much his limit…

Nalan Yaqi wasn’t doing much better. Her gaze toward Wang Ye had started to blur.

When they both put their bottles down, Song Xiao Gang quickly intervened, “Ye Ge, Yaqi, that’s enough. Eat something, don’t drink so fast. You’ll get drunk.”

“Mind your own business!”

“You don’t need to manage us!”

Wang Ye and Nalan Yaqi said in unison. They both reached out at the same time, each grabbing another bottle of beer.

Song Xiao Gang obediently shut his mouth. These two were both “bosses”—he couldn’t afford to offend either of them…

…

Two more bottles went down. Wang Ye propped his head up with his arm.

He still managed to mutter, “Xiao Gang, check if Yaqi has passed out yet.”

He didn’t even have the strength to lift his head and look…

Song Xiao Gang quickly said, “Ye Ge, Yaqi is done too. She’s slumped over the table resting. You won!”

If he hadn’t said “you won” at the end, it would have been fine, but as soon as he did, Nalan Yaqi retorted.

“Who’s done? Who’s done? I… I just feel a little bloated. I’m just resting to catch my breath. I can still drink at least three more bottles, haha. You’re the one who’s done, Ye Ge!”

A man couldn’t admit defeat!

Wang Ye didn’t even lift his head. He reached for a beer bottle, “Come… come, let’s keep going…”

But after groping around for a while, he only knocked over the empty bottles beside him and didn’t find any beer.

Song Xiao Gang saw that something was off. He quickly stood up, came over, and put his arm around Wang Ye’s shoulder, saying, “Ye Ge, Ye Ge, don’t take Yaqi so seriously. She really can’t drink anymore. If she drinks any more, she’ll pass out!”

“Hehe, I told you, a little girl like her can’t outdrink me,” Wang Ye said with a laugh.

But as he spoke, he too slumped over the table…

“Sigh, what are you two even trying to prove? Ye Ge, let me help you lie down and rest.” With that, Song Xiao Gang bent down, supported Wang Ye’s arm, and helped him to the bed to lie down.

He turned to look at Nalan Yaqi, who was slumped over the table, and felt a little worried.

He walked over and whispered, “Nalan Yaqi? Qi Gege? Where’s your key? I’ll take you back to your dorm.”

Seemingly hearing him, Nalan Yaqi slowly lifted her head.

When she turned to look at him, Song Xiao Gang was surprised to find that Nalan Yaqi didn’t seem drunk at all…

You could tell if someone was drunk by looking at their eyes.

Although Nalan Yaqi’s face was flushed and her nose was sweaty, her eyes were clear—she was obviously still sober.

“Ye Ge passed out?” Nalan Yaqi asked with a smile.

Song Xiao Gang nodded blankly.

Nalan Yaqi lightly stood up and walked to the bed in a few steps. She bent down to look at Wang Ye.

He was lying there with his eyes closed, muttering something incoherently…

Nalan Yaqi turned to Song Xiao Gang and said, “Alright, I’ll take care of things here. You can go.”

Song Xiao Gang blinked in confusion and asked, “Huh? Where am I supposed to go? This is my dorm…”

“Ye Ge is drunk. He’ll probably need someone to take care of him tonight. With your clumsy hands, do you think you can handle it? So I’ve decided to stay and take care of him. You can just find any dorm to sleep in for the night. Go on, go on. I need to wash up and rest too.” Nalan Yaqi waved her hand, speaking with confidence.

Song Xiao Gang felt that made sense…

“So… you’ll take care of Ye Ge? And I’ll leave?” he asked hesitantly.

“Go on, go on.” Nalan Yaqi waved her hand, urging him to leave quickly.

Song Xiao Gang quickly packed a few things, grabbed his toiletries and a change of clothes, and left.

Looking at the closed door, Nalan Yaqi’s eyes sparkled as she smiled.

She turned to look at Wang Ye, who was lying on his back on the bed. She bit her lip lightly, as if she had made up her mind about something…

Chapter 256: What Was Meant to Happen Couldn’t Be Avoided

Wang Ye didn’t know how long he had slept, but when he groggily opened his eyes, his head still ached.

Just as he was about to roll over and go back to sleep, he felt a leg pressing against his stomach, the contact soft and smooth.

A girl lay beside him, her breathing faint—she was still asleep.

He didn’t think much of it.

Alyona often did this…

With effort, he turned onto his side and pulled her close. Glancing down, he froze.

This wasn’t Alyona!

But it was someone familiar—Nalan Yaqi.

Asleep, Nalan Yaqi looked even more beautiful than usual, her slightly youthful face just inches away. Her hair was messy, and there seemed to be tear stains on her cheeks…

Wang Ye grimaced. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

He didn’t even need to lift the blanket to know—just from the feel of their bodies, he could tell neither of them was wearing anything.

So, what had happened last night? The answer was obvious.

Wang Ye sighed inwardly. This was fate.

What was meant to happen couldn’t be avoided.

In his “past life,” he and Nalan Yaqi had shared a “story,” though the ending hadn’t been pleasant.

This time, he had tried to avoid her, not wanting to repeat history. But in the end, he hadn’t escaped it…

…

Since it had already happened, Wang Ye didn’t panic.

With his current strength, he didn’t dwell on such matters.

What was one more woman to him? It wasn’t a problem.

Whether it had happened in confusion or not, Nalan Yaqi was now his woman.

He would just “take care of her.” How much money could that cost?

Besides, this life was completely different from the last. Their relationship wouldn’t end the same way, would it?

Lost in thought, he didn’t notice when Nalan Yaqi opened her eyes, staring blankly at him.

Their eyes met. Wang Ye didn’t know what to say. Nalan Yaqi was still half-asleep, her mind foggy.

After a few seconds, a shriek pierced the air.

Nalan Yaqi frantically patted herself, seeming to realize what had happened.

She glared at Wang Ye. “You… what did you do to me?!”

“I don’t know,” Wang Ye said innocently. “I was drunk last night. You should be asking yourself.”

He wasn’t pretending to be confused—he genuinely was.

Honestly, he still couldn’t remember any of last night’s “scenes.” It was almost a shame…

Nalan Yaqi was stumped. For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.

True, Wang Ye had been the first to pass out in this room last night. Song Xiao Gang could vouch for that…

What had really happened? Shouldn’t she be the one asking him?

After hesitating, she straightened up and argued, “I was drunk too! I don’t remember what happened. This kind of thing—you must have taken the initiative. No girl would do that!”

This wasn’t just unreasonable—it was a provocation!

Wang Ye decided to teach her a lesson. But as a man, he couldn’t argue with her. Actions, not words!

He pulled the blanket over them and pinned her down.

“You… what are you doing?!” Nalan Yaqi cried.

“Exactly what you think,” Wang Ye replied bluntly…

…

…

…

About thirty or forty minutes later, Wang Ye lay on his back, exhaling deeply.

Nalan Yaqi, beside him, was still pinching and scratching, but he didn’t mind. It didn’t hurt.

“You have to take responsibility!” Nalan Yaqi huffed.

“How?” Wang Ye asked lazily.

“Uh… be my boyfriend!” Nalan Yaqi thought for a moment before answering.

“But I already have a girlfriend,” Wang Ye said dismissively. “You know that.”

“So? You shouldn’t mind having one more!” Nalan Yaqi leaned in, glaring fiercely into his eyes.

Wang Ye chuckled.

“Fine, I don’t mind. But I’m warning you—don’t cause trouble for Alyona on purpose.”

Nalan Yaqi’s heart leaped with relief. She quickly nodded. “I won’t! I’ll try not to let her find out. But if she does, it’s not my fault.”

Wang Ye shook his head, feeling helpless.

He knew this secret might stay hidden for a while, but eventually, Alyona would find out. There were no walls that didn’t leak.

He would have to think about how to explain this to her…

…

So, Wang Ye and Nalan Yaqi had somehow ended up like this.

After lying there for a while, Wang Ye checked the time—it was past seven in the morning. “Get up,” he said. “Let’s clean up and leave before everyone wakes up.”

He didn’t want this to get out.

Though he rarely came to school, if people saw them, the news would spread quickly among the Chinese exchange students at the University of Friendship.

After all, both he and Nalan Yaqi were well-known figures there.

“What’s there to be afraid of?” Nalan Yaqi said, even more carefree than Wang Ye. “We’re just a normal couple. Who can say anything?”

Wang Ye was speechless. He had to come up with a reason. “I have to go to the company soon. I have a meeting today. My life is busy—unlike yours.”

Hearing this, Nalan Yaqi seemed to remember something. “You’re hiding a lot from me, aren’t you? Is Sun Market really that busy? And those casinos—though they won’t open for a while. Plus, you go everywhere with two large G-class Mercedes and a bunch of bodyguards. Isn’t that a bit much?”

Nalan Yaqi didn’t know much about Wang Ye’s affairs.

Wang Ye frowned. “Why so many questions? You won’t be short on money in the future. Don’t pry into other things.”

In this regard, Nalan Yaqi wasn’t like Alyona.

She was more curious, always asking questions.

Now that their relationship had deepened, she wanted to know everything about Wang Ye.

Alyona, on the other hand, never asked about his work unless he brought it up…

Hearing his tone, Nalan Yaqi huffed but didn’t press further.

She wasn’t stupid. Their relationship had just begun. It wouldn’t do to upset him.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t end well for her…

Chapter 257: A Bit Too Familiar

After chatting for a while, the two got up together.

Wang Ye was getting dressed while Nalan Yaqi busied herself with making the bed.

He happened to see Nalan Yaqi pulling out the snow-white sheets and folding them, so he curiously asked, “Why are you putting that away? It’s school property.”

Nalan Yaqi’s face flushed red, and she glared at Wang Ye, saying irritably, “You… why ask so many questions! How can I leave this here? What if someone sees it…”

Wang Ye seemed to understand something and chuckled, saying no more.

After tidying up, they left side by side.

As they were going down the stairs, Nalan Yaqi’s legs suddenly gave way, and she stumbled. She quickly grabbed Wang Ye’s arm.

“What’s wrong? Did you twist your… Oh, let me help you down the stairs.”

Wang Ye didn’t react at first, thinking she had twisted her ankle, but halfway through his sentence, he remembered something.

Supporting Nalan Yaqi out of the dormitory building, their cars were parked side by side on the road.

One was a black large G-class Mercedes, the other a white Land Cruiser, both imposing and large.

This made Zhang Ke’s small Lada parked not far away look rather pitiful…

“Are you going straight back to rest?” Wang Ye stopped and asked.

Nalan Yaqi nodded, “I still need to go back and sleep. Anyway, it’s the holidays, and there’s nothing to do.”

“Alright, can you drive? Do you want me to take you back?”

Wang Ye asked concernedly.

“You go ahead, I can drive.”

Nalan Yaqi felt a warmth in her heart, not expecting Wang Ye, this “steel straight man,” to actually care about her.

“Then I’ll go. Call me if you need anything.”

Wang Ye didn’t insist, waving his hand and turning to get into his car, starting the engine and driving away.

…

At the company, walking into his office, just sitting down to drink a cup of coffee, his phone rang.

Wang Ye looked at his phone; it was a call from Aby.

A smile appeared on his face as he answered the call, warmly saying, “Uncle Aby, why are you calling me now? Is something up?”

Aby’s cheerful voice came through the phone, “Misha, are you free tonight?”

“Of course.”

Wang Ye replied decisively.

“Then come to my estate tonight. I’ll treat you to dinner. I’ll be returning to Chukotka in a couple of days, and I want to chat with you before I leave.”

Aby said.

“No problem, I’ll definitely be there tonight.”

Wang Ye immediately said.

“Alright, see you tonight.”

After hanging up, Wang Ye frowned.

Aby inviting him to dinner tonight?

He didn’t think this was just about having dinner. Both he and Aby were very busy people; they didn’t have time for casual visits.

There must be something important he wanted to discuss!

But what exactly did Aby want to talk about…

Two days ago, after meeting the great emperor at the Kremlin, although they had agreed, Wang Ye was supposed to join Aby’s party.

But these past two days, he hadn’t had the chance to discuss this with Aby yet.

And now Aby had taken the initiative to contact him.

Well, tonight would be a good opportunity to discuss this matter with Aby.

Although he wasn’t particularly interested in politics, this was a “mission” assigned by the great emperor, and Wang Ye couldn’t refuse.

Moreover, being a Duma parliament member was quite appealing to him.

The position might not have much real power, but the status was genuinely high…

In all of Russia, those who dared to oppose a Duma parliament member could probably be counted on one hand.

The parliament members might not be able to help you much, but if they wanted to cause trouble for you, it would be too easy!

Oh, it’s worth mentioning that Duma parliament members had a real privilege: judicial immunity!

Just for this, Wang Ye also wanted to become a parliament member…

…

Just after six in the evening, Wang Ye had already arrived at Aby’s estate by car.

Apparently, he had already received Aby’s instructions, as the guards at the gate gave a cursory check and opened the gate, letting the two large G-class Mercedes drive in.

When the car reached the small plaza in front of the main building, Wang Ye was surprised to find Aby standing on the steps!

Clearly, he was there to welcome him.

Logically, Wang Ye was the junior, and Aby didn’t need to come out to greet him; sending a butler would have been sufficient.

But he had come out in person!

This showed that Aby no longer treated Wang Ye as a junior but as an equal…

…

Wang Ye opened the car door and got out, and Aby quickly walked down the steps.

Both had smiles on their faces and simultaneously extended their hands, shaking firmly.

After shaking hands, Aby affectionately put his arm around Wang Ye’s shoulder, “Come, Misha, this time I haven’t invited any outsiders; it’s just the two of us for dinner and a chat.”

Dinner probably wasn’t ready yet, so Aby led Wang Ye to the living room to sit down.

Two maids brought hot coffee and various pastries and sweets.

Aby took a sip of coffee and smiled, saying, “Misha, I heard you’ve been getting close to Gebrev lately?”

Wang Ye was slightly taken aback but quickly replied, “It’s not that we’re close; it’s more like Uncle Gebrev is looking out for me. Last time, at your place, Uncle Aby, I got a hotel, right? With the current market, it’s hard to make money in the hotel business, so I thought about getting a gambling license to open an entertainment center…”

He then gave Aby a brief overview of the situation at the Little Eagle Hotel.

Although Wang Ye hadn’t publicized these matters and not many people knew about them, they weren’t exactly business secrets. If Aby wanted to find out, a little inquiry would suffice.

After listening to Wang Ye’s account, Aby nodded, his face still bearing his signature smile.

He chose his words carefully and said, “Since there are no outsiders here, I’ll speak frankly. If you think it makes sense, that’s great; if not, just pretend I never said anything, alright?”

Wang Ye’s heart skipped a beat; it seemed Aby’s next words would be quite significant!

He nodded sincerely and said, “Uncle Aby, please go ahead.”

After some thought, Aby began, “I want to give you some advice: don’t get involved in politics, especially with Gebrev. He’s an old fox; you can’t outplay him.

Although we haven’t known each other for long, I can see that you have a great talent for business. Plus, you’re Khovansky’s nephew; in the future, you’ll surely achieve greater success than me or your uncle.

But if you get entangled in the political swamp, it will be hard to extricate yourself.

This government won’t tolerate the emergence of a new oligarch!”

Wang Ye remained silent, but his mind was racing.

He wasn’t surprised that Aby would say such things; Aby was a smart man. On the surface, he seemed close to the great emperor and his circle.

But in the end, he pulled a “golden cicada shedding its shell” and went straight to London, never to return…

This also showed that he wasn’t truly aligned with the great emperor.

But was it appropriate for him to say such things to him, given their limited acquaintance…

Chapter 255: Released

The chapter has been revised several times!

You can read it now. Also, a reminder—many readers have been asking why they can’t see the new content.

I’ve mentioned this before: wait ten minutes after the chapter is published before reading.

If the content still doesn’t update, go back to the top of the chapter list, press and hold your phone screen, then pull down to refresh. That should load the latest content.

Chapter 258: We Are Different

Wang Ye still had one concern—he wasn’t sure what Aby’s true intentions were in saying all this!

Was it out of goodwill, advising him to stay away from the political quagmire?

Or was there another motive, testing him…

Without clarity on this point, Wang Ye didn’t dare to be completely honest with him. His true thoughts naturally couldn’t be spoken freely!

Seeing Wang Ye remain silent, Aby seemed to understand his hesitation. He smiled and said:

“I understand. You must be wondering why I, who is close to Gebrev and the others, am now advising you to distance yourself from the great emperor and Gebrev. It’s hard to explain all the reasons, but there’s one thing I can tell you.

At first, I was just like you—hoping to become a core figure by the great emperor’s side to gain greater benefits.

But as I learned more about this administration, I realized how wrong that idea was!

Solving Russia’s current predicament is too difficult!

It’s no exaggeration to say we’re beset by troubles both at home and abroad, yet we still need the people’s support.

What to do?

External problems are nearly unsolvable, and we lack the ability to fix them, so we can only act internally.

The people resent the oligarchs who rose to power in the last decade, believing they plundered the wealth of the common folk, making everyone poorer.

Thus, the great emperor and his circle have no choice but to target these oligarchs!

It’s a win-win—easing domestic tensions, gaining public support, and seizing a massive fortune from the oligarchs!

After realizing this, I began deliberately distancing myself from the political core. I even gave up my seat in the Duma to become governor of Chukotka, all to build a good reputation and secure an exit strategy.

Perhaps it won’t be long before I leave this country.”

……

After hearing Aby’s words, Wang Ye was somewhat shocked.

He knew Aby was speaking the truth—and that he would indeed do as he said!

In a few years, Aby would flee to London, effectively exiling himself abroad.

Though he handled it skillfully, maintaining a cordial relationship with the great emperor on the surface, the truth was clear—once he left Russia, he never returned.

The words were sincere, but the key question remained: why was he telling him all this?

Was it truly out of appreciation for talent?

Or because he was Khovansky’s nephew, and they were both oligarchs, so Aby saw him as one of their own…

After half a day of deliberation, Wang Ye finally spoke: “Uncle Aby, I appreciate you telling me all this. Some of what you said, I actually agree with. But the reason I’m close to Gebrev and the others is because of my own considerations.”

Aby asked with interest, “Oh? What are your considerations? Care to share?”

Wang Ye gave a faint smile and continued: “My purpose in getting close to them is different from yours back then! You just said you wanted greater benefits, so you aligned yourself with the great emperor, right?”

Aby nodded—this was indeed what he had just said.

“But I’m different! If I want wealth or more money, I can earn it through my own business abilities. Even when dealing with the government, I won’t take advantage of the state. In this regard, I’m different from you and my uncle.”

Wang Ye’s words were somewhat cryptic, but he believed Aby would understand.

The older generation of oligarchs, including Aby, had followed similar paths to wealth.

They had exploited the chaos of the post-Soviet collapse, taking advantage of loopholes in national policy to amass fortunes with little cost!

In the end, the origins of their wealth couldn’t withstand scrutiny, and they naturally feared the great emperor would come after them.

Because they truly had skeletons in their closets…

But if Wang Ye had always conducted business lawfully—paying taxes, operating within legal bounds—then the nature of his wealth would be entirely different.

Perhaps the great emperor and his circle would even be grateful to Wang Ye, as he contributed massive tax revenues and created countless jobs!

Aby fell into deep thought, nodding unconsciously. He seemed to grasp Wang Ye’s meaning.

……

Wang Ye continued: “Because our goals differ, even if I get involved in politics, I don’t have to worry too much. Like with the Siberian Oil Company acquisition—do you think Gebrev would resent me?”

Aby chuckled in response: “Of course not! He’d be grateful to you! This time, you’ve contributed a huge sum to the state—enough to fund many projects.”

They were referring, of course, to Wang Ye’s donation of three billion dollars to the state under Berezovsky’s name.

This alone showed that Wang Ye’s methods and style were indeed different from Aby’s and Khovansky’s old guard of oligarchs.

Wang Ye wasn’t selflessly altruistic—he still sought personal gain.

But in the process of making money, he never harmed the state’s interests. Instead, he tried to keep Gebrev and the others satisfied!

In such a case, the great emperor and Gebrev would be more than happy with Wang Ye—they wouldn’t even think of targeting him…

……

Wang Ye nodded and concluded: “So, in the course of my career, I need to engage with political elites like Uncle Gebrev, but my goal isn’t to profit through politics or seek political advancement.”

With this explanation, he drew a clear line between himself and oligarchs like Aby, Berezovsky, and Khovansky!

Wang Ye’s political involvement brought money to the state, while theirs was about exploiting the state for personal gain and even seeking positions of power!

How could they be the same…

At this point, Aby had nothing left to say. He could only sigh: “Since you understand everything, I won’t say more. Maybe the path you’re taking is the right one. It’s a shame, though—your uncle and I can’t turn back now.”

And indeed, they couldn’t. The origins of their wealth were far from clean.

If the great emperor decided to settle accounts with them, none would escape!

In truth, the great emperor had initially left them a way out—so long as they didn’t overstep, they could coexist peacefully.

But the oligarchs were once powerful figures, and their wealth had come too easily. They weren’t willing to give up such lucrative methods.

Or perhaps… they thought the great emperor’s position was unstable and easy to exploit…

Chapter 259: Wang Ye’s New Plan

By now, Wang Ye had made his thoughts clear, and Aby naturally had nothing more to say.

But after Aby finished speaking, Wang Ye had more to add…

“Oh, Uncle Aby, I heard you’re the president of the Free Russia Party?” Wang Ye asked with a smile.

Aby nodded, laughing heartily. “Yes, but our party’s influence pales in comparison to the top two. Out of the four hundred and fifty seats in the State Duma, we only hold thirty-two. Gebrev’s party has over three hundred and twenty, and the second-largest has around seventy.”

The disparity in power between the parties was clearly vast.

Gebrev’s party was truly dominant!

But the Free Russia Party, where Aby was, wasn’t doing too badly either—thirty-two seats wasn’t a small number.

Wang Ye smiled shyly, a little embarrassed as he spoke. “I want to join your party, Uncle. Isn’t the Duma having elections this year? I’d like to try my hand at becoming a parliament member.”

Hearing this, Aby wasn’t surprised.

In Russia, once business tycoons reached a certain level of wealth, they all sought to secure a seat in the Duma.

The position didn’t carry much power, but the social status was high—very prestigious!

Aby replied straightforwardly, “No problem. I’ll arrange it for you later. Our party doesn’t have many people, so there are enough seats to go around.”

Truth be told, getting a seat through Aby was far easier than through Gebrev!

Aby now controlled Chukotka and had high prestige there!

Wang Ye could run for office there, and with Aby’s endorsement, winning votes would be a breeze.

Hearing Aby agree so readily, Wang Ye quickly thanked him. “Then I’ll trouble you, Uncle. If there’s anything I need to do, just let me know.”

“It’s no trouble. You might not know, but in a place like Chukotka, getting a Duma seat is simple. During the election, I’ll have someone buy a batch of vodka and distribute it in your name across the district. You’ll win by a landslide,” Aby said with a smile.

Wang Ye was stunned—could it really be that easy?

Regaining his composure, he quickly said, “How much will it cost? I’ll transfer the money to you later.”

Aby waved his hand. “It won’t cost much. Let’s not talk about money between us. Consider this seat my gift to you.”

Wang Ye didn’t stand on ceremony. “Then thank you, Uncle.”

Since he was calling him “Uncle,” accepting the gift shouldn’t be a problem…

…

After the meal, Wang Ye got up to leave and didn’t stay overnight.

He was afraid Aby might arrange another young starlet for him. After last night’s addition of Nalan Yaqi, plus the original Alyona and Katya, Wang Ye felt he had enough on his plate for now and wasn’t in the mood to pursue anyone new in the short term.

Two cars, one after the other, drove out of Aby’s grand estate and sped toward the city.

Wang Ye was definitely returning to his apartment today. Staying away from home every day wasn’t right, and after what happened last night, he felt a little guilty toward Alyona…

When he returned home, it was already past nine in the evening.

Natalia wasn’t there tonight. She had said she would move in, but she hadn’t yet.

Only Alyona sat alone on the sofa, watching TV and waiting for him.

Seeing Wang Ye return, Alyona happily stood up to greet him, helping him change his shoes as she asked, “Have you eaten? Would you like some juice or something?”

Wang Ye patted his stomach and laughed. “I just ate at Uncle Aby’s place. I’m full.”

Taking off his coat and changing his shoes, Wang Ye took Alyona’s hand and sat down on the sofa.

“Has work been tough lately? Do you want to take a break or go home for a visit?” he asked with concern.

Alyona had been working at Sun Market Group, but it wasn’t really necessary. After all, Wang Ye was now the president of Sun Market Group. Even without placing his own people there, no one would dare to deceive him.

Moreover, he now had a better arrangement for Alyona.

Alyona’s heart warmed, and she shook her head with a smile. “It’s fine. Work isn’t busy at all, and my colleagues are all very nice to me.”

That made sense. Although Wang Ye and Alyona’s relationship wasn’t publicly known in the company, anyone with a bit of perception could tell.

The boss’s girlfriend naturally received smiles wherever she went…

But Wang Ye did have a new plan for Alyona. He continued, “You know, I acquired Livadia Palace in Yalta and plan to renovate it into an entertainment center.”

Alyona nodded. She wasn’t the only one who knew about this—Natalia did too.

Wang Ye had asked Natalia to look into it some time ago, and Alyona had helped pass along the message.

“Also, starting in the second half of the year, you’ll be working in the Crimean Parliament. So I thought, why not have you work in Yalta? You can oversee Livadia Palace for me while also handling your parliamentary duties,” Wang Ye said seriously.

But to his surprise, Alyona shook her head as she listened, pouting. “I… I don’t want to go!”

In the past, whenever Wang Ye had a new arrangement for Alyona, she would agree without hesitation, never refusing. What was going on this time?

“What’s wrong?” Wang Ye asked in confusion.

Alyona lowered her eyelids, looking down, and said glumly, “Then… I won’t see you for a long time.”

Wang Ye instantly understood—so that’s what she was thinking.

He had been thoughtless.

They were still in the honeymoon phase of their relationship. Suddenly being separated, with one in Moscow and the other in Yalta, only seeing each other occasionally—no wonder Alyona didn’t want to go.

He thought for a moment and smiled. “Actually, you don’t need to worry. In the future, I’ll be spending a lot of time in Crimea! Hmm… If you go, I’ll split my time evenly between Moscow and Crimea.”

Alyona looked up in surprise, puzzled. “You only have a casino there. But you have so many businesses in Moscow—why spend so much time there?”

That was true—it didn’t make much sense.

Wang Ye’s businesses were mostly in Moscow, including Sun Market Group, Little Eagle Group, and Polar Bear Investment Company.

Oh, and Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company, Hua Star Communications…

In Crimea, there was only Livadia Palace—just a drop in the bucket compared to his Moscow enterprises!

Wang Ye wouldn’t spend so much time in Crimea just for himself, would he…?

Chapter 260: Starting to Make Moves

Wang Ye wasn’t just considering Alyona’s situation when he said this—he had his own plans as well.

So he explained, “In a little while, the focus of my business might shift toward Crimea, so naturally, I’ll need to spend more time there.”

Alyona asked in confusion, “Shift toward Crimea? But… but there’s nothing there. It can’t compare to Moscow at all.”

Indeed, Moscow was a world-class metropolis, the economic, political, and cultural center of Russia!

With a population of over ten million!

Meanwhile, the entire Crimean Peninsula had so few people—no money, no resources. Even for business, it wasn’t the right place to go.

Alyona could understand Wang Ye setting up a hotel in Yalta for tourism, but shifting the business focus there? That she couldn’t comprehend.

This time, however, Wang Ye didn’t give her a detailed explanation. He just smiled and said, “It’s part of my plan. You’ll understand when the time comes. So, would you be willing to return to Crimea for work?”

Alyona didn’t hesitate this time. She nodded in agreement.

Truthfully, she did want to live closer to her family, but since Wang Ye was in Moscow, she hadn’t been able to bring herself to leave.

Now that Wang Ye would also be living in Crimea frequently, there was no issue.

Moreover, she had deep feelings for her hometown and hoped to contribute to its development.

By now, Wang Ye had arranged the management of the three hotels under the Little Eagle Group.

Katya was in charge in Moscow, Song Xiao Gang in St. Petersburg, and Alyona in Yalta. Additionally, the experienced Yuri oversaw the entire operation.

Mid-to-low-level management personnel were provided by their partner, the Ho family.

Wang Ye himself could now focus his main efforts on the Sun Market Group and Polar Bear Investment Company.

Of course, by the end of the year, he would also be elected as a parliament member.

The workload was quite heavy…

…

The work at Polar Bear Investment Company progressed rapidly. Just three days after Wang Ye’s last meeting with the employees, good news arrived.

The staff had already made contact with Yandex and MAIL.RU. Without exaggeration, both companies were on the brink of collapse.

Especially MAIL.RU—this company had just gone public on NASDAQ last year and was once the undisputed leader in the Russian internet market, boasting the largest portal website and the highest number of users!

Its market value had once soared to hundreds of millions of dollars, making it the unquestioned top internet company in Russia.

With the funds raised from the stock market, MAIL.RU was full of ambition—buying land to build its headquarters, expanding on a large scale, and boldly declaring its intention to become the “Yahoo of Russia”!

Unfortunately, the good times didn’t last. Soon after going public, the global internet winter struck, causing stock prices to plummet and the company’s funding to dry up.

The foundation for the headquarters wasn’t even laid before the money ran out…

The company’s market value crashed from hundreds of millions of dollars to just a few million—it was absurd.

But there was nothing to be done. Over the past two years, global capital had become too afraid to invest in the internet industry. Everyone was terrified.

Yandex wasn’t doing much better—if anything, it might have been worse off.

This company’s core business was a Russian search engine. At the time, Google had only been around for two years and hadn’t yet entered Russia.

Actually, Yandex was founded over a year earlier than Google. Unfortunately, it focused on Russian search, which put it at a natural disadvantage in terms of language.

If it had developed an English search engine, who knows—maybe Google wouldn’t have become what it is today.

…

According to the staff’s report, both companies had expressed extreme enthusiasm for Polar Bear Investment Company.

Whether it was strategic investment or financing through equity expansion, they were willing to agree. As for the price, they were open to negotiation.

In short, the message was clear: as long as you’re willing to invest, everything is up for discussion…

Don’t think this is an exaggeration. In 2001, if you went to any internet company to discuss investment, you wouldn’t be turned away.

In the eyes of those internet entrepreneurs, you were their savior!

Wang Ye had chosen the perfect timing. Only someone like him, who knew the future, would dare to enter the internet industry with large sums of money at this moment.

It was easy to imagine that once he cast his “net,” even SoftBank’s momentum would be overshadowed!

Because at this time, SoftBank itself was struggling to survive…

“Arrange it so that we meet with Yandex first. Once that’s done, we’ll go talk to MAIL.RU,” Wang Ye instructed.

He had his reasons for this arrangement.

The staff didn’t question it and immediately agreed, going to make the arrangements.

…

On July 13th, in a business district not far from Moscow State University, a convoy consisting of two black large G-class Mercedes and a Toyota Coaster stopped in front of an office building.

The car door opened, and Wang Ye stepped out, looking up at the building.

It wasn’t very tall—probably around twenty stories—with a large sign hanging above it displaying the Russian letters for “Yandex.”

This was the headquarters of Yandex!

From the other side of the car, Katya also got out and walked over.

Today, she was dressed in a professional suit, her hair tied up in a bun, looking every bit the elegant career woman.

Wang Ye intended to groom her for the role of financial manager, so in addition to handling the finances for the Little Eagle Group, he also involved her in the affairs of Polar Bear Investment Company.

People needed to be cultivated, and Katya was someone he trusted. Whenever there was an opportunity, Wang Ye wouldn’t forget to nurture her.

Behind them, several staff members from Polar Bear Investment also got out of the Coaster.

As for Seryosha and the others, they remained in the car.

At that moment, several people hurried out of the office building.

The Russian leading the group wasn’t very old—around thirty, tall and thin, with slightly curly blond hair, looking quite refined.

Wang Ye walked forward with a smile.

“Mr. Volozh?”

“Hello, Mr. Volozh.”

Their hands shook—clearly, this thirty-something Russian was Arkady Volozh, the founder of Yandex.

Volozh briefly introduced the few company executives behind him, and Wang Ye introduced Katya and the others.

Then, everyone headed into the building. As they walked, Volozh introduced, “We bought this building last year, and now it’s our Yandex headquarters. All departments and employees work here. At our peak, we had over eight hundred employees, but… for reasons everyone knows, we’re down to about half that number now.”

You had to admit, this guy was pretty “honest.”

Normally, when an investment company comes to assess your business, you’re supposed to talk it up to get a higher valuation and more money.

But here he was, immediately telling the other party that his company had just undergone massive layoffs and lost half its employees…

Chapter 261: Privatization and Delisting

Wang Ye didn’t know much about Arkady Volozh. After all, in his “previous life,” Yandex wasn’t a very well-known company, and he didn’t even know the name of its founder.

It was only through the information gathered by the Polar Bear Investment Company’s employees that Wang Ye gained some understanding of Arkady Volozh.

This guy was absolutely a technical genius!

Arkady Volozh was one of the first people in Russia to have access to computers, back in 1984 during the Soviet era…

At that time, the entire Soviet Union only had a dozen or so computers!

And in the early 1990s, Arkady Volozh had already founded a company specializing in search engine technology.

In terms of technical expertise, he was absolutely world-leading!

In 1997, Arkady Volozh, together with two partners, founded Yandex and officially launched Russian language search services, a year earlier than Google’s establishment.

In 2001, Yandex was the largest Russian language search service provider in Russia!

Currently, Arkady Volozh was the largest individual shareholder and CEO of Yandex, holding a 15% stake.

The remaining 85% was owned by various investment institutions and individual investors. Due to a 97% drop in stock price, the company’s current market value was less than four million US dollars…

This was the current situation of Yandex.

………………..

Under Arkady Volozh’s leadership, they took a brief tour of the company before everyone entered the large conference room to begin negotiations.

There wasn’t much to see in an internet company.

Plus, the company had already laid off nearly half of its staff, making the entire building seem empty and quite desolate.

Arkady Volozh spoke first: “Welcome, Mr. Mikhail, and everyone from the Polar Bear Investment Company. We are also grateful for your trust in Yandex. In the current environment, you are still willing to invest in our company. Undeniably, since last year, the global internet industry has faced significant challenges, and Yandex is no exception. Currently, the company’s funds are very tight, and we really need new capital…”

He was very candid, openly discussing both the external environment and internal difficulties.

Of course, even if he wanted to hide these things, it wouldn’t be possible. After all, investment companies weren’t naive; they would have investigated everything before coming.

So, by taking the initiative to speak about it, he could at least gain some goodwill.

After listening to Arkady Volozh, Wang Ye smiled and nodded, saying: “Yes, the global internet is in a winter, but in the long run, I still firmly believe in the development of the internet industry. We established the Polar Bear Investment Company with the goal of investing in global internet companies, and Yandex is the first investment target we have chosen!”

Arkady Volozh’s face was full of gratitude, expressing his deep honor.

Both parties had had prior contact, so Arkady Volozh was naturally aware of the public background of the Polar Bear Investment Company.

This company was backed by the energy giant Yukos Group and had just spent five billion US dollars to acquire the Siberian Oil Company a few days ago!

Although this news hadn’t been widely publicized, it had already spread in certain circles.

It was evident that this investment company had substantial financial resources!

If Yandex, which was currently in trouble, could secure an investment from the Polar Bear Company, it would basically be able to rise from the dead.

“Mr. Mikhail, how much do you plan to invest, and what are your requirements regarding shares or board seats?” Arkady Volozh asked cautiously.

These were the core issues!

How much money to give, how many shares to take…

Wang Ye smiled and said directly: “Yandex’s market value is very low now, only a few million US dollars. We definitely want to acquire it entirely. How much money would it take to privatize and delist Yandex?”

Arkady Volozh was taken aback and shook his head repeatedly: “Mr. Mikhail, although Yandex’s market value is indeed only a few million US dollars, everyone knows that this is only due to the impact of the internet winter, and the company is severely undervalued! In fact, just our company’s headquarters building, if sold, would probably be worth more than a few million US dollars. Plus…”

Before he could finish, Wang Ye interrupted him.

“Mr. Volozh, please note one thing: Yandex still has no profits! The monthly expenses require a large amount of funds. In a few more months, your company will probably have to sell the headquarters building to pay the employees’ salaries.” Wang Ye said with a smile.

On the surface, Yandex’s market value of a few million US dollars was indeed low. The fixed assets alone were worth more than that. Adding the company’s websites, technical patents, etc., it should be worth twenty to thirty million US dollars.

But there was always a reason for a company’s low valuation; you couldn’t just look at the surface!

Because Yandex had no profits, although they were also doing advertising, the internet wasn’t very popular, so there wasn’t much advertising, and the revenue from this was far from covering the company’s monthly expenses.

So the company was still in a continuous loss.

When the internet industry was at its peak, these losses didn’t matter because everyone was looking at the company’s profits in ten years, with plenty of venture capital for internet companies to burn through to capture market share.

But when the internet winter came, no one dared to invest money, and the consequences of these losses began to show.

The company had no money left, but employees’ salaries still had to be paid every month, and various broadband fees and hardware purchases hadn’t decreased…

With the company eating into its reserves, the market value would only continue to fall!

The stock price reflected the inevitable future of the company, so it couldn’t really be called undervalued.

………………..

After Wang Ye exposed the truth with one sentence, Arkady Volozh had nothing more to say because he knew in his heart that this was indeed the company’s situation.

If no new funds came in, they really wouldn’t be able to hold on.

Even if they continued to lay off employees, they would still need to pay severance, which would require a lot of money.

Moreover, the salaries of employees in the internet industry were generally quite high. Take Yandex, for example; the average salary of employees had already exceeded two thousand US dollars!

One employee’s salary was equivalent to four university professors…

Of course, because it was Russia’s top internet company, the employees they recruited were indeed top programmers, worth the price!

Now, with the remaining few hundred employees, the monthly salary expenses alone amounted to one million US dollars!

“Alright, Mr. Mikhail, how much are you willing to pay to privatize and delist the company? Also, I would like to know your plans for the company’s future development.” Arkady Volozh said weakly.

If Yandex were really privatized, it might not necessarily be a bad thing.

Of course, this was from the company’s perspective.

But for Arkady Volozh and the other company founders, it was definitely not a good thing.

After all, they were currently executives of a listed company!

After the acquisition, they would have to follow the new boss’s orders…

Chapter 262: The Lion’s Share

Wang Ye had long been prepared for Yandex’s situation.

So when Arkady Volozh asked his question, he calmly replied, “After the company is privatized, I will invest a large amount of money to continue expanding the company’s scale.”

Hearing this, Volozh’s eyes lit up. He hurriedly asked, “Does that mean all employees can be retained? Actually, among the employees who were laid off earlier, there were some very talented ones. It was just that the company couldn’t bear the wage pressure, so we had to let them go.”

Wang Ye smiled and said, “If you think any of them are useful, you can bring them back. By the way, our next acquisition target is MAIL.RU. After we acquire it, we will merge the two companies into one. At that time, the company will be the undisputed leader in Russia’s internet industry!”

This made Volozh even more excited.

He slapped the conference table and excitedly said, “Yes! If we really merge the two companies, no other company in Russia will be able to challenge us.”

It was obvious. These two companies were already the top giants in the Russian internet industry and the only two Russian internet companies listed on NASDAQ.

If they merged, covering the two core internet businesses of portals and search engines, how could other companies compete?

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that after the merger, an internet oligarch company would be born…

Wang Ye continued, “And you will become the technical director of the merged company! You will also receive a certain amount of stock incentives. All employees of the company will receive corresponding stock incentives. In the future, when the internet industry recovers, we will go public again.”

This was Wang Ye’s plan for the two companies after the acquisition.

The reason for privatization and delisting was that the current stock market had lost its financing function for the internet industry. So, he might as well take advantage of the plummeting stock prices to buy back all the shares.

Then, he would use his own money to develop the company and make the new company a giant in the Russian internet field!

A few years later, when the internet industry recovered and they went public again, it wouldn’t be a matter of a few million dollars in market value. It might even reach tens of billions!

With his strong capital, he could also avoid stock dilution as much as possible. When they went public again, Polar Bear Investment Company would be able to reap the greatest benefits!

…

The negotiation process went very smoothly. Volozh almost didn’t “resist” and agreed to Wang Ye’s acquisition request.

He had no choice. If he couldn’t find a backer, the company would really have to sell buildings to pay salaries…

Yandex’s current market value was only four million dollars. Wang Ye planned to offer a premium of one and a half times, which was six million dollars, to privatize the company. Employees of Polar Bear Investment Company would assist Yandex in the delisting process.

Since it was listed on NASDAQ, the delisting process was also very simple, especially at this time.

Every day, there were a large number of internet companies delisting or even going bankrupt. No one would care about a Russian company.

Moreover, the premium Wang Ye offered was quite high, so there wouldn’t be any obstacles.

After full privatization, all of Yandex’s shares would belong to Polar Bear Investment Company.

However, Wang Ye was not stingy. He planned to take out fifteen percent of the shares to establish a stock incentive pool for the company’s executives and employees!

Outstanding executives and core employees would receive corresponding stock incentives. When the company went public again, they could cash out.

As for whether a large number of millionaires, multi-millionaires, or even billionaires would be born, it would depend on everyone’s efforts.

In addition, all existing managers and employees of Yandex would be retained, and even the employees who were laid off earlier would be recalled.

Once the privatization process was completed, Polar Bear Investment Company would inject another fifty million dollars into Yandex to develop and expand the company!

After both parties signed the contract, the matter was basically settled.

There was still a lot of work to be done later, but that was not something Wang Ye needed to worry about. The company paid high salaries to so many employees for this very reason.

…

Watching the convoy leave, Volozh turned around with a spring in his step, facing the other executives. He opened his arms and shouted, “We’re saved!”

“Hurray!”

“Hurray~”

Cheers erupted, and everyone excitedly hugged each other, tears welling up in their eyes…

This feeling was even more exciting than when they went public!

Don’t think it’s an exaggeration. Honestly, without Wang Ye’s acquisition this time, how much longer could Yandex have lasted?

Three months? Six months? No one knew…

Now, not only was the company saved, but no one had to take a pay cut.

Mr. Mikhail said that the company wouldn’t cut salaries and would even give appropriate raises!

With the stock incentives, everyone’s future was bright!

This was truly a lifesaver. Saying it saved everyone’s lives was not an overstatement!

…

After easily acquiring Yandex, the next step was to deal with MAIL.RU.

The very next day, Wang Ye and his group arrived at MAIL.RU.

But in this company, Wang Ye encountered a real “opponent”!

“Mr. Mikhail, I’m sorry, but our company can still hold on for a while, so we don’t want to delist, and we definitely don’t want to be fully acquired. Our board has discussed it, and we will only accept the option of equity financing. And the company’s valuation must be objective. Well, let’s go with the market value when the company first went public, three hundred million dollars. We can issue up to twenty percent of the shares, with a minimum of ten percent.”

MAIL.RU’s current helmsman, Milner, looked at Wang Ye with bright eyes.

Wang Ye frowned. The bald man in front of him was quite difficult to deal with. He didn’t even listen to his offer and rejected it outright.

Moreover, he was unyielding, turning the tables with an equity financing plan, and the company’s valuation was extremely ridiculous!

Was he seeing that he had money and opening his mouth wide like a lion?

He wasn’t afraid of biting off more than he could chew!

Since the other party “didn’t know what was good for him,” Wang Ye wasn’t polite either.

He smiled faintly, “Mr. Milner, are you still living in 2000? Do you have any idea what the global internet industry is like now?”

Milner didn’t back down. He immediately retorted, “The internet industry is indeed not doing well, but I firmly believe that it won’t be long before this industry recovers and becomes even more glorious than last year! Our company’s valuation, to be honest, I think three hundred million is too low! Because we have the largest Russian portal website, the most users, and the highest advertising revenue!”

If these words had been said last year, there wouldn’t have been any problem.

Because MAIL.RU was indeed the number one Russian internet company in terms of comprehensive strength.

Chapter 263: This Is a Threat

Seeing that Milner was still resisting stubbornly, Wang Ye decided not to hold back.

He leaned back in his chair and said with a smile, “Perhaps Mr. Milner doesn’t know yet, but we have already fully acquired Yandex!”

Milner was taken aback—he truly had no idea.

It wasn’t surprising, though. Wang Ye’s acquisition of Yandex had been lightning-fast, finalized in just one day.

The deal had happened yesterday, and the news hadn’t spread yet, so Milner naturally had no clue.

“Acquired Yandex? When did this happen? How come I don’t know?” Milner blurted out.

“Just yesterday. I’ve already reached an agreement with Mr. Arkady Volozh. Polar Bear Investment Company will fund the privatization and delisting of Yandex,” Wang Ye replied with a smile.

Milner’s brow furrowed as he pondered how much this would impact today’s negotiations.

Though he appeared tough on the surface, Milner wasn’t actually flush with cash, nor did he want to “scare off” Wang Ye.

Business was all about one side driving up the price and the other bargaining it down—everything was negotiable…

“So… why does Mr. Mikhail still want to acquire our MAIL.RU? After all, you already have Yandex,” he probed.

“Because I want to merge the two companies and create the true dominant force in the Russian internet!” Wang Ye stated bluntly.

He didn’t bother beating around the bush and laid out his intentions directly.

Milner’s lips twitched, his expression a mix of surprise and mockery…

After a moment’s thought, he said, “Hmm… an interesting idea. I don’t know how much you paid for Yandex, but our company is different from them. They’ve already started mass layoffs, clearly struggling financially. But MAIL.RU is different—we still have plenty of cash to last over a year.”

It had to be said—Milner was indeed better at running a company than Volozh, with healthier finances.

At the very least, they hadn’t started large-scale layoffs yet.

Though rumors had it that internal salary cuts had begun…

Seeing that the bald man was still unyielding, stubbornly refusing to budge, Wang Ye grew impatient.

He was swamped with work—how could he waste so much time and energy on such a minor acquisition?

Honestly, whether he could buy MAIL.RU didn’t matter much to him.

Don’t forget—this was only 2001!

The internet hadn’t been around for long, and with the recent burst of the dot-com bubble, there were still plenty of high-quality companies waiting to be acquired.

MAIL.RU was just one option—take it or leave it!

In fact, with his financial backing, Yandex would soon be able to crush MAIL.RU.

Before long, it would be Milner begging him to make an offer…

“Final offer: at the current market value, with a 1.5x premium, we’ll fully acquire MAIL.RU. After the acquisition, I’ll allocate 15% of the company’s shares to create an equity incentive pool. Current executives and key employees will have the chance to receive stock incentives. Additionally, I’ll inject no less than fifty million US dollars to help the company grow. Oh, and the two companies will merge.”

Wang Ye stated this outright.

Milner’s expression shifted between gloom and anger. After a long pause, he finally said, “What if we don’t accept?”

“That’s simple. Within a year, MAIL.RU will cease to exist. Whatever business you’re in, Yandex will do it too—and better. I’ll take the money meant for your company and invest it in Yandex to compete with you.”

Wang Ye’s words were practically a threat!

But he had every right to say them—because he had the money!

Just think about it: one side was strapped for cash, barely keeping the company afloat by cutting salaries, while the other had access to hundreds of millions—or even more—in funding, with strong capabilities and a powerful “weapon” like a search engine!

If Yandex really set its mind to becoming a portal site, it could genuinely rival MAIL.RU…

Under such internal and external pressures, MAIL.RU probably wouldn’t last a year!

“You… you’re threatening me?” Milner was furious.

“You can take it that way,” Wang Ye replied coolly.

Milner nearly choked.

But that was the reality of the power gap—even if Wang Ye was threatening him, he had no way to fight back.

“Can you give me some time? I need to discuss this with the rest of the board,” Milner softened his tone, saying with a bitter smile.

“You have three days! I want the final answer within three days,” Wang Ye said without hesitation.

Milner’s face was full of bitterness as he reluctantly nodded.

…

The “big stick” had been swung—now it was time to offer a “sweet date.”

Wang Ye changed the subject with a smile. “I’ve long heard that Mr. Milner is quite skilled at managing companies, especially in finance. Both your company and Yandex went public around the same time and raised similar amounts of funding, but their cash flow has already dried up, while you can still hold out for over a year without layoffs. That’s truly impressive.”

At this, Milner’s expression softened slightly.

He said modestly, “That’s my area of expertise. I don’t know much about internet technology—I’m better at financial management and investment.”

Since they were acquiring the company, they had naturally gathered information on the executives, so Wang Ye knew a bit about Milner’s background.

This bald man was indeed remarkable.

He had earned a PhD in mathematics from Moscow University, then went on to study for an MBA at the prestigious Wharton School!

After graduating, he worked at a major investment bank for a while before returning to Russia to become the deputy general manager of a bank.

Coincidentally, that bank was part of Khovansky’s empire…

But a couple of years ago, Milner had resigned from the bank, taking his years of savings to invest in MAIL.RU!

With his capital, impressive work history, and abilities, Milner had been elected CEO by the board as soon as he joined MAIL.RU, taking control of the internet company.

Under his leadership, the company had successfully gone public, basking in glory for a time!

He was quite the legendary figure.

Unfortunately, now he had run into Wang Ye…

…

“That being the case, Mr. Milner must know about our Polar Bear Investment Company,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Milner nodded. “Of course! Mr. Mikhail’s bold acquisition of the Siberian Oil Company a few days ago was brilliant!”

He said this, but deep down, Milner was somewhat skeptical.

From his experience, such acquisitions were all about behind-the-scenes “collusion” and power struggles.

They were definitely not pure business deals!

Chapter 264: Think Bigger

Milner was absolutely envious of Wang Ye and the Polar Bear Investment Company he controlled. The amount of capital this investment firm had at its disposal was staggering. Just acquiring the Siberian Oil Company had cost a whopping five billion US dollars! And rumor had it that the company still had tens of billions of dollars in cash sitting in its accounts…

In this day and age, with that much money, there were so many things one could do. If only that money were his…

Milner was a firm believer in the internet industry, which was why he had thrown all his assets into investing in MAIL.RU two years ago. In fact, he had almost achieved great success. When the company went public last year, its market value had soared to several hundred million US dollars at one point. With about ten percent of MAIL.RU’s shares in his hands, Milner’s net worth had also reached several tens of millions of US dollars.

Unfortunately, the overall environment had suddenly turned hostile, and the company’s market value had plummeted to just a few million US dollars. But Milner believed that the current market value was absurdly low and did not truly reflect the company’s worth.

Still, Milner persisted. He keenly sensed that this period was actually the perfect time for internet giants to develop rapidly! The harsh environment had caused many internet companies to collapse, reducing competition and lowering operating costs. It was the perfect opportunity to “expand territory” and quickly capture more market share!

But the problem was, you needed a lot of money to do that. While MAIL.RU was in a slightly better position than Yandex and didn’t have to resort to layoffs and downsizing to survive, it certainly didn’t have any extra funds for expansion.

So Milner was desperate for a large injection of capital into the company. However, he was also unwilling to “sell himself” and wanted to maintain control over the company!

…

Suddenly, Wang Ye asked, “Mr. Milner, would you be interested in working in investment banking?”

Milner was taken aback and didn’t react immediately. He countered, “Investment banking? Where is there investment banking?”

“The Polar Bear Investment Company. Would you be interested in working there? Our company has twenty billion US dollars in cash on hand, and we plan to invest all of it in the internet industry over the next year or two. You are very familiar with both investment and the internet, so this job should be a good fit for you,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

This was the “sweet date” Wang Ye had prepared for Milner!

Moreover, Wang Ye wasn’t just offering Milner a job at the Polar Bear Investment Company to smooth the acquisition of MAIL.RU. He genuinely valued Milner’s abilities and wanted him to come work at the investment company as his assistant, or even take charge of the company’s operations!

Before coming, after reviewing Milner’s background, Wang Ye had recalled who this man was… In his “previous life,” Milner had been a prominent figure in the global investment banking circle!

His two most famous investments were in Facebook and JD.com. He had invested two hundred million US dollars in Facebook, and in less than five years, that investment had skyrocketed to over ten billion US dollars! For JD.com, he had directly poured in eight hundred million US dollars, leaving Liu Qiangdong stunned. Liu had felt that Milner’s valuation was absurdly high, and even he didn’t believe JD.com was worth that much!

This investment had also earned Milner a tenfold profit in just a few years! Milner was well-known in investment circles because his investment style was different from others—sharp-eyed and aggressive. Once he set his sights on a project, he would throw money at it until the target company had no choice but to accept!

For example, during a funding round for a company, while other investment firms might value it at around one billion US dollars, Milner would offer double or even triple that valuation! At first, people might think he was a fool, but a few years later, they would have to admit that his vision was indeed sharp!

Such an investment expert was being wasted at MAIL.RU. So Wang Ye wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to acquire MAIL.RU and bring this talent over to assist him at the investment company.

After all, while Wang Ye’s “vision” was certainly stronger than Milner’s—he knew exactly which internet companies would rise to prominence in the next twenty years and even knew the market values of internet giants twenty years later—no one in the world could compare to him in this regard!

But investment work was also very professional and tedious. Wang Ye couldn’t devote all his time and energy to it; he needed a highly capable assistant to help him with a lot of the work. Milner was the best choice!

…

Sure enough, Milner was now very excited. He felt his scalp tingling and his heart racing. He asked incredulously, “Me… you want me to work at the Polar Bear Investment Company?”

Although he didn’t yet know what position Wang Ye intended to offer him, since he was being invited, it was clear that the position wouldn’t be low. After all, the Polar Bear Investment Company and MAIL.RU were not on the same level at all!

The Polar Bear Investment Company had tens of billions of US dollars in real cash, while MAIL.RU’s market value had never exceeded a few hundred million US dollars, and now it was worth only a few million…

“Yes, you can come as the executive deputy general manager and oversee the company’s daily operations,” Wang Ye replied with a smile.

Milner was so excited that he almost blurted out his acceptance. Fortunately, he still had some sense and managed to control himself. After calming down, he smiled and said, “Thank you, Mr. Mikhail, for your recognition. I will consider your invitation very seriously. How about this: regarding the acquisition of our company, I will discuss it with the board of directors again within two days and then give you a final answer. Of course, from the company’s development perspective, I personally also agree with Mr. Mikhail’s plan—to take MAIL.RU private and merge it with Yandex to become the true hegemon of the Russian internet!”

At this point, Milner’s tone had clearly softened. He no longer mentioned “strongly disagreeing” or “only raising funds and expanding shares.” Instead, he said he agreed but still needed to discuss it in a meeting…

In reality, saying this basically meant that the acquisition was a done deal; Milner and his team just needed a way to save face.

Wang Ye naturally understood what he meant and nodded with a smile, saying, “Don’t limit your vision too much. The internet industry needs to be global and forward-thinking! Even if you make MAIL.RU the number one internet company in Russia, what then? The companies that the Polar Bear Investment Company invests in will all be global internet giants in the future! With market values exceeding hundreds of billions or even trillions of US dollars, you’ll look back on today’s persistence and find it laughable.”

Chapter 265: All Comrades

Milner felt a flush of embarrassment—he had just been lectured by the young man across from him.

But Mikhail’s words made perfect sense. His vision was far grander than Milner’s own.

Milner had studied in America and seen the world. He understood the limitations of Russian internet companies all too well.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to expand into Silicon Valley or invest in Western internet giants like Amazon—he had high hopes for them. But the problem was, his personal wealth simply wasn’t enough to invest in those Silicon Valley titans.

After much effort, he had finally found an opportunity to invest in MAIL.RU back home. His plan was to take the company public, use it as a stepping stone to secure substantial funds, and then invest in the internet companies he truly believed in.

Unfortunately, the company had gone public just as the global internet market entered a winter.

Far from cashing out, Milner found himself trapped in quicksand, unable to pull his feet free.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Mikhail. I know what to do,” Milner said, his words carrying deeper meaning.

Clearly, Wang Ye’s words had struck a chord with him.

When the board met to discuss the matter, Milner would undoubtedly push for the sale of the company to Polar Bear Investment.

This wouldn’t just benefit MAIL.RU—it would be even more advantageous for him personally.

Controlling a well-funded investment company, able to “spread money” across the globe—this was Milner’s ultimate dream.

…

Just as Wang Ye had predicted, the very next afternoon after meeting Milner, he received a notification from Polar Bear Investment.

MAIL.RU had fully accepted the acquisition plan, agreeing to a 1.5x premium for privatization and delisting.

The terms of the acquisition were the same as those for Yandex—a matching premium, the same stock incentives, retention of all employees, and additional funding to encourage expansion.

Once both companies were delisted, they would merge.

Yandex’s headquarters building was spacious and empty, while MAIL.RU was still renting office space—perfect for relocation.

As for the land MAIL.RU had recently purchased, Wang Ye had other plans. There was no rush.

With these two acquisitions, Wang Ye had spent just over ten million US dollars—funds used for privatization.

According to the agreement, an additional one hundred million US dollars would be injected later to fuel rapid expansion.

In other words, for a total of one hundred and twenty million US dollars, he had secured the entire Russian-language internet market. There were no other Russian internet companies worth acquiring.

…

Throughout July, Wang Ye was swamped with work.

After acquiring the two internet companies, he transferred Milner to Polar Bear Investment to oversee daily operations.

Meanwhile, Little Eagle Group’s three hotels had begun renovations.

The Moscow hotel was the easiest to renovate—it had originally been a large hotel, requiring only interior and exterior remodeling. Progress would be swift, and it was expected to reopen by the end of the year.

The hotels in St. Petersburg and Yalta would be more complicated, requiring extensive renovations. Construction was expected to last until the first half of next year.

Two pieces of good news arrived in succession.

First, the full gambling license for Crimea had been secured. Meshkov’s efficiency was impressive—after finalizing the deal with Wang Ye, he had immediately set the process in motion.

Livadia Palace had been sold to Little Eagle Group for the symbolic price of one US dollar, though with conditions attached.

Little Eagle Group was required to invest no less than fifty million US dollars in Yalta and create no fewer than five hundred jobs.

The gambling license had no restrictions—anyone, including residents of Crimea, Ukraine, and Russia, could freely enter and gamble.

The second piece of good news came from Gebrev, who informed Wang Ye that the exclusive import-export rights had been approved.

In truth, this was merely a matter of the great emperor’s word. Previously, he had refused because Wang Ye wasn’t worth the favor. But now, Wang Ye’s importance had become undeniable. The great emperor’s faction wanted to pull him into their fold, so the rights were granted without issue.

…

Back in Gebrev’s familiar office, Wang Ye smiled warmly. “Thank you for your help, Uncle. Rest assured, with these rights, I will operate legally, expand the business, create more jobs, and import high-quality, affordable goods to satisfy the people.”

Flattery cost nothing, and Wang Ye was happy to indulge in it.

But his words weren’t entirely empty. At the very least, expanding operations and increasing imports were genuine goals.

Only then would Sun Market’s revenue continue to grow.

“Just remember who you can truly trust and rely on,” Gebrev said meaningfully. “I don’t need to say more. You’re a smart man, Misha. As long as you don’t make the wrong choices, you’ll have a bright future.”

By now, the great emperor’s faction had placed several bets on Wang Ye.

A full gambling license, exclusive import-export rights, even a seat in the Duma!

Their intentions were clear—they wanted to use Wang Ye to control Khovansky, the veteran oligarch.

Or perhaps they had even grander ambitions…

They wanted to replace the uncooperative Khovansky with the more obedient Wang Ye, all without stirring international controversy.

They didn’t oppose the existence of oligarchs—just those who defied them or sought to seize their power.

If an oligarch was loyal and aligned with them, there would be no issues at all.

…

Wang Ye, of course, understood Gebrev’s implications.

His smile never wavered as he sincerely replied, “I understand. Though you’ve given me much, Uncle, everything comes from this country. I know how to be grateful. Since I’ve gained so much from this nation, I will do my utmost to give back to the country and its people. After all, we’re all comrades…”

Gebrev nearly laughed out loud, cursing inwardly at how slippery this young man was.

His words seemed to say everything, yet upon closer thought, they said nothing at all.

And who exactly was his comrade?

Gebrev suppressed his amusement and said, “I hope you’ll live up to your words. By the way, have you discussed your Duma candidacy with Aby yet?”

Chapter 266: A Significant Discount

Wang Ye silently cursed the old fox in his mind.

He didn’t believe that Aby hadn’t told Gebrev about their meeting!

And now, Gebrev was putting on an act, pretending he didn’t know anything.

But that was just “politics”…

Everyone involved had to wear a mask, playing their roles like actors.

He would soon be part of it, gradually becoming just like Gebrev and the other old foxes…

…

Flipping through the authorization document in his hands, he saw the same luxurious lambskin cover, the same familiar blue double-headed eagle seal. The document outlined the authorized content and its corresponding restrictions.

The main content was exactly what Wang Ye needed.

Light industrial product import and export… exclusive rights?

Wang Ye’s Russian was already excellent, and over the past six months, his progress had been astonishing. This wasn’t just because he had a Russian girlfriend—it was because he was surrounded by Russians every day, speaking the language constantly.

So when he saw the bolded Russian text at the top of the document, he froze.

It read “exclusive rights,” not “monopoly rights”!

A single word made all the difference…

But Wang Ye didn’t rush to ask. He furrowed his brow and read on. After understanding the full content, his suspicions were confirmed.

This authorization had been heavily discounted!

According to the document, Wang Ye had indeed secured significant “privileges.” The customs clearance company under the Sun Market Group now had the authority to handle customs independently.

Any merchant operating in the Sun Market could now process customs clearance and transportation through the Sun Market Group, allowing goods to flow freely into the market for sale—all legally, with proper clearance documents.

But there was one crucial omission: the document did not grant Wang Ye a monopoly on the import of light industrial products!

This meant that goods from the ACT Market and Lyublino Market could still bypass him, continuing to use gray-market customs channels…

This severely weakened the impact of the “trump card” Wang Ye had prepared.

He had even planned to use it to pressure the Lyublino Market…

…

After finishing the document, Wang Ye closed it, his expression shifting between stormy and calm.

Across from him, Gebrev sat with a pleasant smile, whether genuine or feigned, it was hard to tell.

“This… Uncle Gebrev, this document seems different from what we originally discussed,” Wang Ye frowned.

“Hmm? How so? Didn’t we include everything you asked for?” Gebrev replied innocently.

“I wanted exclusive rights! Now it’s just privileges—doesn’t that mean the gray-market customs problem still isn’t solved?” Wang Ye said, irritation creeping into his voice.

Gebrev suddenly understood, his eyes crinkling as he explained with a smile:

“You don’t understand.

I’ve told you before—completely eliminating gray-market customs would offend too many people. It’s not feasible.

Of course, the president could force it through with an order, but is that necessary?

Not at all!

Look at it this way—you’ve gotten what you wanted. The merchants in your market can operate legally now. Goods can pass through customs smoothly, and everything is above board.

No more worrying about raids or confiscations.

And we haven’t made enemies or touched anyone’s core interests. It’s a win-win.

Learn from this—this is political wisdom!”

Wang Ye was left speechless. He couldn’t find a reasonable argument against it.

Gebrev was right—this approach was indeed the best of both worlds.

Minimizing offense while getting the job done.

Brilliant, really…

Now, Wang Ye couldn’t say much more. Otherwise, he’d just seem naive.

He forced a smile and nodded. “You’re right, Uncle. I was thinking too simply. This is actually better. But there’s one thing I’d like to ask—do you know who’s behind the Lyublino Market?”

Gebrev hesitated slightly before shaking his head. “I know of the market, but I don’t know its owner. Why do you ask?”

“Just checking, so I don’t accidentally target the wrong people,” Wang Ye said with a grin.

In truth, he was trying to figure out who really backed the Lyublino Market.

If it was someone connected to the great emperor’s faction, Gebrev would have hinted at it, and he’d have to reconsider his approach.

But if Gebrev claimed ignorance, then things would be easier…

Gebrev’s pupils contracted slightly as he stared at Wang Ye for a few seconds before speaking:

“Young people are impulsive, but you must learn to control yourself. Think carefully about the consequences before acting. But if you believe something must be done, then do it boldly—just make sure it’s done cleanly. Don’t leave any evidence, and don’t cause any negative social impact.”

Wang Ye understood. Gebrev was subtly telling him that as long as he could handle things smoothly, there would be no issues.

Also, the great emperor’s faction likely had no ties to Lyublino—or at least, they weren’t allies.

With that clarity, he knew what to do next.

…

Every meeting with Gebrev left Wang Ye exhausted.

Once they had finished discussing business, he gathered the documents and stood to leave.

As Gebrev walked him downstairs, he added, “I saw your uncle a couple of days ago. He looked quite worn out. As his nephew, you should check in on him more. Have you been in touch recently?”

Wang Ye sighed and shook his head. “I haven’t done well in that regard. I’ve been busy lately and haven’t contacted him much.”

Gebrev clapped him firmly on the shoulder, his voice heavy with sincerity. “That’s not right. Your uncle’s family is all abroad—he’s alone in Moscow. Here, you’re his only kin. You should visit more often.”

Wang Ye nodded. “I understand. I’ll make more of an effort.”

Once in the car, Wang Ye pondered why Gebrev had suddenly taken an interest in his “family ties” with Khovansky.

Gebrev was, after all, the grand steward of the Kremlin—a man of immense power!

Logically, he shouldn’t concern himself with such trivial personal matters…

But his words did make sense. At least on paper, Wang Ye was still Khovansky’s “nephew.”

And Khovansky had treated him well, giving him a vast stage to operate on and helping him in countless ways.

Both morally and practically, he owed him gratitude.

Chapter 267: Big Trouble

The next day, as soon as Wang Ye arrived at the company, he called Boss Kong to his office.

A few minutes later, Boss Kong hurried in. “President, I’m here.”

It was late July, the hottest time of the year in Moscow, though the temperature was only in the mid-teens.

Boss Kong was a man who paid great attention to his appearance. Whenever he came to the company, he was always dressed in a crisp suit, a neatly tied tie, polished shoes, and perfectly combed hair…

There was no helping it. His looks were a bit “challenging,” so he had to rely on post-birth “effort” to change his image.

The man was in his mid-thirties, and rumor had it he was still unmarried.

But he had gone through one girlfriend after another, living quite the carefree life—who could blame him for having money?

Wang Ye naturally didn’t interfere in his private life, as long as he didn’t bring any of that nonsense into the company.

Besides, he wasn’t much better than Boss Kong himself…

“Take a seat, Director Kong. I have good news for you. Our Sun Market Group has obtained government authorization to legally operate expedited customs clearance services. In other words, any goods cleared through our customs company can be sold first and have their paperwork completed later. Of course, tax officials will also be stationed in the market to assist us.”

As he spoke, Wang Ye handed the authorization document to Boss Kong.

Boss Kong took a while to process this. He had never heard of such a thing before…

Blinking his small eyes, he asked in confusion, “So… does that mean we have the authority of customs?”

“You could say that, but it’s limited to clients doing business in our market and goods sold within our market. We can’t help external merchants with clearance,” Wang Ye replied with a smile.

Boss Kong finally understood. He excitedly slapped his thigh with a loud smack.

“That’s incredible! This has always been the biggest headache for Chinese businesspeople here. President, how did you manage this? It’s… unbelievable!”

It truly was unbelievable.

After all, Mairov of the ACT Group had been operating in Moscow for years and was well-connected, yet he hadn’t achieved this.

Nor had the boss of Lyublino.

Because this was the authority of customs and tax departments!

Both were powerful agencies. Trying to take a bite out of their pie was practically asking for trouble…

Yet Wang Ye had quietly made it happen!

Of course, it was more likely that Khovansky had helped. That possibility was much higher.

Boss Kong knew a thing or two about this “Mikhail.”

But he was a smart man and had never breathed a word of it to anyone. In front of Wang Ye, he never even mentioned it, treating Wang Ye as “Mikhail.”

A thought nagged at him—could this “Mikhail” really be Khovansky’s nephew?

Otherwise, why would Khovansky go to such lengths to help him? First with shares, then a hotel, then a gambling license, and now this customs clearance privilege!

It was truly beyond belief!

Boss Kong absolutely refused to believe that Wang Ye had accomplished all this on his own. Just three or four months ago, Wang Ye had been nothing more than an ordinary exchange student.

Even if he had now latched onto Khovansky’s “coattails,” he couldn’t possibly have the ability to do so much…

But no matter who had actually made this happen, the benefits were real.

While gray-market clearance was common in Russia and everyone did it, it wasn’t exactly legal. Boss Kong had always been on edge.

If something really went wrong, Khovansky might be fine, but he would be the one to take the fall…

Now, he didn’t have to worry about any of that. Somehow, Wang Ye had turned gray-market clearance into a legitimate operation!

…

Sun Market, Zone 1—this was Wang Ye’s personally purchased shop, designated as the footwear district.

With the entire market booming, this prime-location street was especially bustling.

It was safe to say that anyone who could secure a shop here was a boss with serious clout!

Old Wu had originally done business at the ACT Market, but after seeing Sun Market’s recruitment ads, he had been tempted. Believing in the market’s potential, he had been one of the first to rent a shop.

Thus, he had secured three prime-location shops in Zone 1!

Recently, Old Wu had been all smiles. Business was so good he was practically swimming in money!

He had shifted his entire operation to Sun Market, even selling off his ACT shop.

With three shops, aside from himself and a dedicated translator, he had six Russian salespeople and six young men from back home who specialized in inventory and stock management.

This kind of team was considered quite “large” in the Large Market…

Old Wu had considered expanding further but ultimately hadn’t dared to take the plunge.

He had been doing business in Russia for seven or eight years, not just one or two.

He had experienced several market shutdowns, confiscations, and total losses.

So now he was smarter. He could make his operation look impressive, but he would never stockpile too much inventory!

He calculated the timing and sales volume, then shipped the goods in batches.

This way, as goods arrived, they were sold immediately. Even if the market was suddenly shut down, the losses wouldn’t be too severe.

This approach was common among the more established bosses in the market. Everyone had the same concerns.

These days, doing business in Russia was indeed profitable. Any goods sent over sold quickly at good prices.

But the risks were also high. Personal safety wasn’t guaranteed, and goods were even less secure.

With no other choice, everyone had adopted this method to mitigate risk.

There were pros and cons to this approach.

The advantage was clear: reduced risk. A single setback wouldn’t be enough to ruin them.

But there were downsides too. Shipping in multiple batches was not only troublesome but also costly, sometimes delaying sales and costing them a pretty penny.

…

Around two in the afternoon, Old Wu was preparing to pack up and head home for a rest.

At this hour, there weren’t many customers left—just a few stragglers. The shop staff could handle them, so he, the boss, didn’t bother.

But before he could leave, he heard a commotion outside. Something seemed to have happened.

Old Wu was about to go take a look when his dedicated translator, Xiao Zhang, rushed over.

“Boss, something big has happened!”

Chapter 268: Market Reaction is Huge

Old Wu’s heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly asked, “What happened? What’s going on?”

In the Large Market, when someone said “something happened,” it was rarely good news…

The last time he encountered “something happening,” it was the ACT Market being sealed by the tax authorities!

At that time, Old Wu felt like he was about to be “bled dry,” but luckily, the market was unsealed. Apart from a few days of lost business and a significant loss of income, the damage was still acceptable.

Now, hearing this word again, how could he not be alarmed…

Xiao Zhang, panting, replied, “The market management office announced that from now on, gray customs clearance is canceled. All goods entering the Sun Market for sale must go through formal customs clearance!”

Old Wu’s forehead immediately broke out in sweat. Having done business here for so many years, he knew all too well what this meant!

Formal customs clearance would mean higher taxes and fees, which was normal and somewhat bearable.

But the problem was the time cost—it was unbearable!

Shipping from China to Moscow, if using gray customs clearance, took about a month for goods to go from domestic factories to the Moscow market for sale.

But with formal customs clearance, this time would drag on to three months, or even longer…

What on earth was the Sun Market Group thinking? Why suddenly ban gray customs clearance?

Old Wu found it hard to believe because just a few days ago, he had cleared a batch of goods through the Sun Market Group’s customs clearance company, which was clearly using gray customs clearance channels.

Now, doing this, wasn’t the Sun Market Group cutting off its own source of income?

Even more seriously, this was almost equivalent to driving merchants out of the market!

…

“Where did you get this news? Is it confirmed?” Old Wu asked skeptically.

This was a major issue, and Old Wu needed to confirm the authenticity of the news.

“I saw it on the bulletin board at the Small Red Building. I just heard someone mention it and went to take a look. Now the whole market knows, and everyone is discussing it,” Xiao Zhang replied.

Old Wu didn’t ask him any more questions and decided to go see for himself.

This matter was extremely important, affecting future business adjustments. He had to make sure it was accurate!

Just as he stepped out of his stall, Old Wu ran into Old Liu from next door. They were quite familiar and on good terms.

“Old Wu, have you heard…” Old Liu began to ask.

Before he could finish, Old Wu interrupted with a bitter smile, “You’re asking about the customs clearance thing, right? I just heard about it and was about to go take a look.”

“You know too? Then let’s go together. I just heard someone mention it and was planning to go to the management office to see the notice and find out what’s going on,” Old Liu said hurriedly.

The two of them walked together toward the management office. Along the way, they met many familiar Chinese business owners. Clearly, everyone knew about this, and they were all discussing it.

Before they even reached the Small Red Building, they saw a large crowd gathered around the bulletin board…

“Ah? This… we can’t even get in,” Old Wu was taken aback.

There were too many people!

The scene was noisy, and they couldn’t make out what everyone was discussing, but there was no need to ask—they were definitely talking about the customs clearance issue…

While straining to see over the crowd, standing on tiptoes, a voice came from the entrance of the Small Red Building.

“Everyone, quiet down! Quiet down! I know everyone is concerned about this customs clearance issue. I’m here to explain in detail what’s going on and how it will affect your businesses!”

From afar, Old Wu recognized the chubby man speaking through the megaphone—it was Boss Kong, the deputy general manager of the Sun Market Group!

In fact, almost everyone doing business in the market knew Boss Kong.

After all, this guy had been around the Large Market for many years and basically made rounds with a few security guards every day.

Seeing the deputy general manager of the Sun Market Group come out to explain the shift from gray to formal customs clearance, everyone quieted down. This was an “official” explanation!

Boss Kong cleared his throat and said proudly, “This matter might not be fully understood by everyone, so many of you have various concerns.

But I can guarantee one thing: this is absolutely great news for everyone!”

As soon as he said this, someone from the crowd shouted out.

“Boss Kong, how can this be good news? After switching to formal customs clearance, not only will the fees be higher, but the time will be dragged out too long!”

“That’s right! We could have done formal customs clearance before, but why did everyone choose gray customs clearance? Because it’s cheaper and more efficient!”

“Hehe, formal customs clearance is said to take three months, but in reality, it can take half a year to complete! I’ve tried it before, and after trying once, I never dared to use formal customs clearance again.”…

The crowd became noisy, all seasoned businesspeople who understood the ins and outs. Boss Kong couldn’t fool them.

Boss Kong didn’t panic. He smiled and let everyone discuss for a while. When the noise died down a bit, he picked up the megaphone again and continued explaining, “You all didn’t let me finish speaking before getting anxious. Don’t worry, after I finish, you can analyze whether this is good or bad news.”

Taking a breath, he continued, “Starting today, the Sun Market Group’s customs clearance company will have the authority to handle customs clearance and taxation independently!”

After saying this, Boss Kong proudly scanned the crowd.

But the Chinese business owners present didn’t seem to react much. Everyone was confused, not understanding what Boss Kong was talking about.

Independent customs clearance and taxation?

What did this mean…

Seeing no reaction from the audience, Boss Kong became a bit anxious. Were these uneducated folks really that clueless?

He quickly explained further, “In simple terms, the previous… um, you all know, the customs clearance model, has become legal and formal! And the clearance efficiency is faster than before, with no increase in fees! From now on, all goods you sell will come with legal customs clearance documents!”

Gray customs clearance turning into formal customs clearance should, in theory, lead to higher fees.

Now, being able to keep them the same was thanks to Wang Ye’s efforts. He had requested that several major categories, including shoes, bags, clothing, and accessories—mainly what Chinese merchants dealt in—be designated as government-supported import categories, enjoying preferential import tax rates!

Originally, during gray customs clearance, the fees weren’t much cheaper because that money was taken by various customs clearance companies and related personnel…

Now, with formal clearance, merchants wouldn’t have to pay more, but their goods would transform from illegal “smuggled” items to legally cleared ones!

Chapter 269: Pointing at the Nose and Scolding

After Boss Kong’s explanation, all the Chinese merchants present understood.

The scene erupted in excitement!

Because if what he said was true, this was absolutely tremendous news!

From now on, they wouldn’t have to do business on tenterhooks. They could confidently expand their operations, consider importing more high-quality goods, and open up formal sales channels, such as major shopping malls and supermarkets.

Previously, their goods couldn’t be sold in formal shopping malls and supermarkets because they lacked customs clearance documents!

“Is this true? This is too good to be true!”

“Boss Kong, you’re not pulling our legs, are you? Will we really be able to get formal customs clearance documents from now on?”

“Damn! The Sun Market Group’s background is too powerful! They can even pull this off!”

“I see now. There must be big shots backing this market! The ACT Group couldn’t get this done in years, but they’ve sorted it out in half a year. Impressive!”…

Old Wu and Old Liu stood at the back of the crowd, exchanging glances, their faces filled with delight.

Since Boss Kong dared to announce this news in front of so many people, it must be true.

As everyone said, this was absolutely fantastic news!

It could even be said that it would change the fate and future of Chinese merchants in Russia!

Don’t think this is an exaggeration. At that time, Moscow was the core city of the entire Eastern Europe!

Whether in business, politics, or culture, it radiated throughout Eastern Europe, truly the largest city in Eastern Europe!

Moreover, the entire Eastern Europe’s light industry system wasn’t as robust as China’s.

From the prevalence of “shuttle traders” in the 1990s, it was clear that doing business in Eastern Europe was extremely profitable.

Over the years, everyone’s businesses were profitable, but strangely, none had grown large. The reason was that they were stuck on this “formal customs clearance”…

In the end, it was because Russia was too chaotic at the time. Even if you wanted to do business honestly, customs would block you, not allowing your goods to enter legally!

Because if they did, the relevant personnel wouldn’t be able to skim off the top…

Since the goods weren’t legal, they couldn’t enter formal sales channels. Large shopping malls and supermarkets wouldn’t sell your “smuggled goods.”

As a result, Chinese merchants were confined to wholesale distribution markets, their customers limited to small shop owners and street vendors.

It was no wonder their businesses couldn’t grow…

Although there were some examples, like Xiao Hu’s family, of substantial Chinese companies coming to do formal business, that required a huge investment, strong backing, and the ability to bear significant risks, so the number was still very small.

Now that the Sun Market Group had resolved the formal customs clearance issue, it was equivalent to opening up a vast “new market” for all Chinese merchants!

From now on, their goods wouldn’t just be sold to small private shop owners; they could directly supply large shopping malls and supermarkets!

And they wouldn’t have to worry about safety issues at all.

…

The news announced by the Sun Market Group instantly spread throughout the entire Sun Market, and even the Chinese merchants at ACT heard about it.

The Chinese merchants were naturally overjoyed, as if it were the New Year.

Even though most Chinese merchant bosses were limited by their capabilities and couldn’t expand their operations in the short term, they could still enjoy the corresponding benefits.

As for those powerful big bosses, they weren’t thinking about being happy. Instead, they immediately started considering how to expand their business scale next!

The Large Market was their “base,” and they couldn’t give it up.

Next, they could rely on the stalls in the Sun Market to directly establish companies and prepare to expand into shopping mall channels!

Of course, those formal shopping mall channels couldn’t rely on the people in the market. They would have to recruit high-quality talent and rent office space in external office buildings.

It could be predicted that Moscow would soon see a large number of Chinese companies…

When Wang Ye did this, he didn’t think much about it. He just wanted to make more money and sort out the Lyublino Market.

But now, this “butterfly” flapped its wings, truly causing a chain reaction…

Of course, what kind of reaction it would cause and what consequences it would lead to were not yet visible.

At least it would take three to five years to look back and clearly recognize what Wang Ye had changed!

…

This news naturally reached Mairov’s ears quickly.

Sitting in his office, he remained silent for a long time because he understood better than those merchants how difficult it was to obtain this so-called “license”!

So, upon hearing the news, Mairov’s first reaction was that Mikhail must have gotten close to the great emperor!

And he must be deeply trusted and favored by the great emperor; otherwise, it would be impossible to help him obtain such a license!

In fact, Mairov also knew that Wang Ye had obtained a full gambling license.

But that gambling license still had certain restrictions, such as not allowing Russian citizens to enter, so in Mairov’s view, it must be that Mikhail and Gebrev had some interest exchange or gave Gebrev a lot of shares, which is why they were able to get it.

He didn’t pay much attention to it.

But this customs clearance license was a completely different matter!

Because it involved many departments and regulations, it was quite tricky. To get it done, Gebrev alone certainly didn’t have that kind of power.

Only if the great emperor gave the word could it be done.

So now he was thinking about how to get along well with Wang Ye. This kid was going to be amazing in the future!

At such a young age, he was already appreciated by the great emperor. In the future, he would surely soar to great heights and have a bright future!

Mairov just couldn’t figure out why Mikhail, who was Khovansky’s nephew, and Khovansky, who didn’t get along well with the great emperor, could manage to please both sides…

No matter whether he could figure it out or not, that was the situation now.

Mairov didn’t dwell on this matter any longer. After thinking it through, the first thing he did was call Wang Ye.

“Mikhail, I heard that your Sun Market Group obtained some kind of exclusive license, directly taking over the power of customs and taxation. Impressive, impressive, I admire you,” he said with a laugh.

Wang Ye smiled slightly and responded calmly, “Hehe, it’s not a big deal. It’s just helping the merchants in the market solve some practical problems. You know, we run a wholesale market and make so much money from the merchants. We should do something for them, right? Taking money without doing anything would be a bit conscience-stricken.”

Hearing this, Mairov felt his face burn.

It was as if Wang Ye was pointing at his nose and scolding him…

Chapter 270: The Big Shot Behind the Scenes

Wang Ye was right—taking money without delivering results was indeed unacceptable.

But Mairov felt wronged too!

This gray customs clearance scheme was actually his doing…

It was just that his abilities were limited. Even after giving it his all, this was the best he could manage.

Of course, this approach also maximized his own interests…

Taking half of the money merchants paid for customs clearance and pocketing it, then distributing the remaining half among the relevant personnel.

This way, he not only raked in huge sums but also built his own network of connections—a win-win!

But the consequence was that countless merchants were left in constant jeopardy. Their goods lacked proper customs declarations, making them ineligible for supermarket distribution channels. Worse, they were frequently targeted by tax authorities, facing sudden shop closures and confiscations!

Without Wang Ye, everyone would have grown accustomed to it. After all, tax authorities didn’t raid them too often—maybe once every year or two. They just treated it as paying “protection money.”

That was why ACT Market had thrived for so many years.

But now, with Wang Ye’s intervention, ACT Market looked terrible in comparison.

Mairov didn’t know what to say, so he changed the subject: “By the way, Lyublino has been making a lot of moves lately. They’re copying your free rent and management fees, trying to poach Chinese clients everywhere. You’d better watch out.”

At this, Mairov couldn’t help but gloat a little.

Under his agreement with Wang Ye, ACT Market’s main merchants now came from Vietnam, Korea, Turkey, and various Central Asian countries.

Of course, some Chinese merchants remained.

But Sun Market? Exclusively Chinese merchants!

Lyublino was clearly eyeing the potential of Chinese merchants, so their main target was the Chinese bosses at Sun Market.

The Moscow Chinese News was bombarded with their ads every day!

Hearing about Lyublino Market, Wang Ye felt a headache coming on.

He had hoped to resolve the issue cleanly, but that old fox Gebrev had outmaneuvered him. The special permit he obtained wasn’t as useful as he’d hoped.

Well, it wasn’t entirely useless. After all, Sun Market was now the only legally recognized import wholesale market!

For more established Chinese merchants, that was a huge draw.

To some extent, it would give Lyublino a major headache—their offers would lose much of their appeal.

At the end of the day, Lyublino Market was no different from ACT Market. Both relied on “gray customs clearance” to survive, with no guarantee against tax authority crackdowns!

Perhaps the one feeling anxious right now was Lyublino’s boss…

…

“Let them try,” Wang Ye replied with a smile. “I’d like to see how many clients they can poach from Sun Market.”

“True. Lyublino used to have the upper hand—bigger scale, better facilities. If they offered the same terms as you, some merchants might have gone over. But now, your market is legally operating. That alone makes Lyublino look bad. Oh, do you know who’s backing Lyublino?” Mairov asked mysteriously.

“No,” Wang Ye admitted frankly.

He had asked Mairov before, but Mairov had dodged the question.

He had also asked Gebrev if Lyublino was connected to the great emperor’s faction, but the answer was no.

“Their backer is Luzhkov!” Mairov lowered his voice.

Wang Ye froze. The name sounded familiar, but he couldn’t place it right away…

Someone important enough to back Lyublino had to be a major figure.

So, he just needed to think of the top-tier players…

Soon, he remembered.

Wasn’t this the man in charge of Moscow?

And his credentials were impressive—founder of Russia’s second-largest political party, ruling Moscow for a full eighteen years!

Even the great emperor wouldn’t dare provoke him lightly…

Upon learning this, Wang Ye frowned. Resolving the Lyublino issue wouldn’t be easy.

No wonder Mairov preferred to go after Khovansky rather than Lyublino!

Khovansky was just an oligarch—rich, but with no real political clout. But Lyublino? That was deep water. Mairov couldn’t handle it!

Since this involved a major political figure, Wang Ye grew cautious. “Whoever’s backing them doesn’t matter to me,” he said with a smile. “I’m running a legal business. I don’t want trouble, but if someone comes looking for it, I won’t hold back. I trust this country still has laws!”

Mairov scoffed at this. They were all cut from the same cloth—dabbling in both light and dark. What was Wang Ye pretending to be so high and mighty for?

But he wasn’t about to offend Wang Ye. Instead, he put on a show of concern: “You do what you think is best. I’m just warning you—they’ve got big backers. They won’t go easy on you if they come after you.”

“Thanks for the warning. I’ll be careful,” Wang Ye replied politely.

…

After hanging up, Wang Ye’s expression turned serious.

If Mairov wasn’t lying, his situation was indeed dangerous!

That special permit must have infuriated Lyublino—it was practically cutting off their revenue stream!

While it wouldn’t directly shut Lyublino down, attracting new merchants would be much harder now.

Especially for the more established bosses, Lyublino held little appeal.

After all, the fees were similar, and the clearance efficiency was the same. But Sun Market was entirely legal, while Lyublino wasn’t. Anyone with half a brain would know which to choose!

Given their connections, they would surely try to “deal” with him.

As for whether they would offend his own backers…

Honestly, they probably didn’t think he had earned the great emperor’s trust so quickly. At most, they assumed he was close to Gebrev.

How they would come after him depended on how they assessed his “strength.”

If they thought targeting him would anger Gebrev or even the great emperor, leading to serious consequences, they wouldn’t dare act.

But if they saw him as an easy target, or if they believed Gebrev wouldn’t react strongly, they might come at him hard…

Chapter 271: The More Dangerous, The More Exciting

Wang Ye didn’t have time to worry about Lyublino for now.

He wasn’t sure if the other side would make a move, but if he became a frightened bird at the slightest hint of danger, he would easily be looked down upon.

In such matters, it was simply a matter of dealing with whatever came his way.

He would handle things as they arose…

But Mairov’s warning made sense. He needed to be more careful about his personal safety for the time being.

Four bodyguards didn’t seem enough, so he would add another large G-class Mercedes and four more bodyguards!

After all, he had his own security company. It wasn’t just eight bodyguards—even eighty could be mobilized if needed…

…

“Uncle, have you been very busy lately? It’s been a while since we last met and chatted. How about finding some time to have a meal together?” Wang Ye said with a smile over the phone.

A slight smile appeared on Khovansky’s face as he replied warmly, “I have been quite busy, trying to smoothly merge two large companies. There’s a lot of work to be done. But it’s going well so far. Having a meal together is simple—you can come over anytime.”

“Come on, Uncle, you’re one of Russia’s top tycoons. Can’t you stop eating at the company cafeteria all the time? How about this—I’ll treat you to dinner at Turandot Restaurant tonight,” Wang Ye joked.

Khovansky hesitated for a moment but agreed, “Alright, I’ll be there at six thirty, but I have to leave by eight thirty. I have an important meeting to attend in the evening.”

Now that was a true big shot, controlling an “energy empire”!

And being a workaholic, he had too much to handle every day. In comparison, Wang Ye seemed a bit “unprofessional.”

This meeting wasn’t just a whim for Wang Ye.

First, Gebrev had reminded him to maintain the “uncle-nephew relationship”!

Second, Wang Ye needed to report his work to Khovansky. After all, whether it was Polar Bear Investment Company or Sun Market Group, Khovansky was the real boss. Wang Ye was just a “high-level employee”…

…

Before six in the afternoon, Wang Ye went downstairs to prepare for his departure.

He needed to arrive at Turandot Restaurant a little early to treat Khovansky to dinner.

Downstairs, the two black large G-class Mercedes were already running.

Wang Ye had instructed Anton about getting a new car, but it hadn’t arrived yet.

However, two new bodyguards had been assigned, meaning Wang Ye would now have six bodyguards when he went out!

In the car he was in, Seryosha was in the passenger seat—two bodyguards.

Four bodyguards in the following car!

Once the new car arrived, two more bodyguards would be added, making a total of eight!

More importantly, each of these bodyguards had rich combat experience—they were true warriors who had seen blood!

Unless the boss of Lyublino wanted to start a “war,” this many bodyguards should be enough…

After all, this was Moscow, the capital of Russia!

No matter how bold they were, they shouldn’t dare to make too big a scene…

After getting into the car, Wang Ye took out the pistol from the glove compartment and put it into a prepared handbag, ready to carry it with him.

He was still young and didn’t want any “accidents”…

…

“Boss, is someone trying to harm you? Do you need us to do something?”

As soon as he got into the car, Seryosha turned his head and asked.

There was still an excited expression on his face, as if he had encountered something good, which left Wang Ye speechless…

It was understandable. Ever since these men retired from the military, they hadn’t had a chance to engage in real combat.

As for the last time they dealt with those two dark-haired men, Seryosha didn’t even get a chance to participate.

Even if he had, he probably wouldn’t have felt satisfied—it was too child’s play.

Working as Wang Ye’s bodyguard for this period had been quite boring because Wang Ye had never encountered any danger!

Today, Wang Ye suddenly ordered an increase in the number of bodyguards and purchased another large G-class Mercedes, planning to increase the number of bodyguards to eight. Seryosha keenly sensed something.

The boss must have sensed some danger…

Otherwise, there would be no need to do this!

Unable to contain his curiosity, as soon as he saw Wang Ye, he asked that question.

The young man in the passenger seat, although he didn’t turn his head, had his ears perked up, clearly also concerned about this matter.

Wang Ye smiled, “You’re eager for it, aren’t you? Just be careful for the time being. There might be danger, but there might not be. It’s better to be prepared.”

Seryosha nodded with a smile and patted his chest with a “thud thud,” “Boss, you can rest assured. With us brothers here, we won’t let you be in any danger!”

With that, he stepped on the gas, and the large G-class Mercedes roared out…

…

In the familiar Turandot Restaurant, in the familiar private room, Wang Ye sat alone.

It wasn’t yet six thirty, and Khovansky hadn’t arrived. He was a very punctual man—if he said he would be there at six thirty, he would arrive exactly at that time, neither early nor late…

Wang Ye held the delicate white porcelain cup and took a sip of black tea.

He was thinking about what to discuss with Khovansky later.

On the surface, they had an uncle-nephew relationship, but in reality, they weren’t. Wang Ye didn’t really consider himself Khovansky’s “nephew”—self-awareness was important.

In his view, a large part of their relationship was mutual utilization…

Well, it could also be called mutual achievement—that sounded better!

Of course, it wasn’t completely without sentiment. After all, Wang Ye had saved Khovansky’s life, and Khovansky had given Wang Ye plenty in return!

As he was lost in thought, the door to the private room was knocked, and the waitress brought Khovansky in.

Wang Ye quickly stood up and said with a smile, “Exactly six thirty, Uncle, you’re too punctual. What would you like to eat? I haven’t ordered yet.”

Khovansky waved his hand, had the waitress bring the menu, and casually ordered a few dishes.

Then he pushed the menu to Wang Ye, who didn’t even open it and just smiled at the waitress, saying, “The usual is fine.”

He had been here more than once or twice—he came often, and the waitresses knew what he liked to eat.

The waitress smiled and nodded, leaving the room, leaving only Wang Ye and Khovansky.

“How have things been on your end? I heard you acquired two Russian internet companies?” Khovansky asked casually.

Clearly, he was referring to Wang Ye’s acquisition of MAIL.RU and Yandex.

Wang Ye smiled and replied casually, “Yes, among all Russian internet companies, these two are the ones I’m most optimistic about. As for the others, to be honest, I don’t think much of them—they don’t have much potential.”

Chapter 272: Bringing Trouble Upon Oneself

Wang Ye’s tone was rather bold, but in his and Khovansky’s eyes, this was only natural.

After all, both men stood at the pinnacle of Russia’s business world. Naturally, they wouldn’t give small companies a second glance.

Even companies like MAIL.RU and Yandex were beneath their notice.

Khovansky had only asked casually. After hearing Wang Ye’s words, he smiled and said, “The internet industry might have great potential in the future, but don’t expect too much in the short term. In my view, energy is the most important thing in this era! It’s not just a commodity for making money; it’s a crucial strategic resource that can determine a nation’s rise and fall…”

From Khovansky’s words, Wang Ye could tell that he didn’t think much of the internet industry.

Or perhaps it wasn’t that he didn’t think much of it—he just valued the energy industry more!

In a way, Khovansky might not be wrong…

A country could survive without the internet, but it couldn’t survive without energy!

A certain superpower had waged war after war over the past few decades, and its true purpose had always been to control the world’s energy resources.

But Wang Ye also understood that this industry would eventually become a battleground between nations. As a “small fry,” he should avoid getting involved as much as possible.

Khovansky was ambitious, which was why he placed such importance on the oil industry. Should Wang Ye find an opportunity to advise him otherwise…

…

After some thought, Wang Ye said, “Uncle, in my opinion, the next two years are actually the best time to invest in the internet industry! Last year, the industry entered a winter, and many promising companies are on the verge of collapse. With just a little money, we can acquire their shares. In a couple of years, when the industry recovers, we’ll see returns hundreds of times over!”

He had said the same thing to the great emperor and Gebrev, and now he was saying it to Khovansky.

Khovansky didn’t seem convinced, but he didn’t argue. He just smiled and said, “So, Polar Bear Investment Company is planning to invest in the internet sector? That’s fine. Do as you see fit. If you lose money, just consider it tuition. Investments always come with risks.”

Before Wang Ye could respond, a phone rang. It clearly wasn’t his Nokia 3310.

Khovansky apologized, “I need to take this. It must be something urgent, or they wouldn’t be calling at this hour.”

“You go ahead, Uncle,” Wang Ye said quickly.

Khovansky pulled out his phone, glanced at it, and answered.

“What’s going on?”

The voice on the other end was hurried and unclear, but Khovansky’s expression grew serious.

“Alright, I understand. Pull back for now and stay safe.”

Khovansky ended the call with a stern face.

“What happened?” Wang Ye asked with concern.

Khovansky shook his head helplessly. “It’s an oil field owned by Siberian Oil Company. When I sent people to take it over, there was trouble. The former manager refused to let our people in and even injured some of my employees.”

Wang Ye was stunned. “Doesn’t the local police handle this?”

“Hah, it’s complicated. This oil field has deep local ties, and Siberian Oil Company doesn’t have full control. The local police won’t side with them, but they won’t side with us either. Don’t count on them.”

“That doesn’t make sense. Yukos Group already acquired Siberian Oil Company. If the oil field belongs to Siberian Oil Company, then control should now belong to Yukos Group. What reason does he have to stop our people from taking over?”

Khovansky frowned. “No reason. They’re just being difficult. They’re local bullies who gathered a bunch of thugs and drove my people out. Some employees were injured. What can we do? We’ll discuss it at tonight’s meeting.”

Wang Ye wasn’t happy. “This is outrageous! We paid good money for Siberian Oil Company, and now someone dares to refuse to honor the deal? Maybe I should handle this. I’ll take care of them!”

Since Wang Ye had been the one to acquire Siberian Oil Company, he felt obligated to step up as the “nephew.”

This was just a polite gesture. Wang Ye hadn’t actually intended to get involved.

But to his surprise, Khovansky’s eyes lit up. He smiled and said, “You’re willing to handle this? That’s perfect! I was planning to go myself, but since you’re offering, I’ll leave it to you. Young people need more experience.”

Wang Ye was speechless…

He wanted to slap himself. Why had he opened his mouth? This was just asking for trouble!

He had assumed this was an internal matter for Yukos Group. Since he didn’t hold any position there, Khovansky surely wouldn’t push this onto him.

But no—Khovansky had taken the opportunity to pass the buck.

“That… I can handle it, but isn’t it a bit… inappropriate? I don’t hold any position at Yukos.”

Khovansky chuckled. “That’s easy to fix. Tomorrow, I’ll issue you an appointment letter as the special assistant to the president of Yukos Group. In the future, when I… when I move on to other things, Yukos Group will need you to take over.”

Wang Ye swallowed hard. He wanted to refuse, but he couldn’t think of a good excuse…

This was getting out of hand! His titles were piling up!

His two small companies were one thing, but among the major groups, he was already the president of Sun Market Group, chairman of Little Eagle Group, and president of Polar Bear Investment Company. Now he was adding special assistant to the president of Yukos Group!

Did they even want him to rest?

Seeming to sense Wang Ye’s hesitation, Khovansky added, “This special assistant position won’t have any daily responsibilities. It’s just a title to make things easier for you. For example, with this oil field dispute, you can fully represent the group as the special assistant.”

Wang Ye thought about it. Maybe this wasn’t so bad.

Whether he liked it or not, he was already tied to Yukos Group!

The great emperor, Gebrev, and even Khovansky were all pushing him in this direction…

Chapter 273: I Have My Principles

“This matter isn’t too difficult to handle, but I’ll need to mobilize some people, so the cost might be a bit high,” Wang Ye said thoughtfully.

When it came to money, Khovansky was very straightforward. Without hesitation, he said, “No problem. As long as we can resolve the issue smoothly and let the group’s personnel take over that oil field, spend whatever is necessary—there’s no limit!”

Of course, when he said there was no limit, it was just to reassure Wang Ye to spend freely, not that there truly was no limit…

Wang Ye understood this and smiled. “Alright, have someone deliver the appointment letter and authorization documents to me tomorrow. I’ll set off immediately to handle it. Oh, and tell the group’s employees not to return to Moscow for now. Have them stay in a hotel where they are and wait for me.”

Since he was confident he could resolve the issue once he arrived, there was no need to withdraw the employees the group had sent.

After all, Wang Ye was only going to solve the takeover problem. Once that was done, he would return, and the actual takeover of the oil field would still be handled by the group’s professionals.

Khovansky understood and nodded in agreement.

This sudden matter was settled between the two of them in just a few words.

It could only be described as a stroke of luck. Originally, Wang Ye might have needed a considerable amount of time before he could truly get involved in Yukos Group’s affairs.

But now, because they needed him to resolve the trouble, and with Wang Ye’s own willingness, Khovansky took the opportunity to bring him into the Yukos Group, appointing him as his special assistant for the time being.

………………..

After discussing this matter, Khovansky seemed to remember something and asked with a smile, “I heard that the Sun Market Group is doing quite well now. You’ve obtained some kind of special license, and even the gray customs clearance has been legitimized?”

Wang Ye gave a faint smile and said seriously, “Activities that violate the law are doomed to be short-lived!

The Sun Market Group cannot exist solely for the sake of making money. The goods we sell in the market are related to people’s livelihoods, so we must have a corresponding sense of social responsibility!

We need to make businesses feel at ease and secure in their operations, reduce their business costs and risks, and provide them with a safe and long-term business environment. That is what we, as market operators, need to do.

Only in this way can businesses boldly expand their operations, import more and better-quality goods, and improve the living standards of the people…”

Having seen too many news reports in his past life, Wang Ye was well-versed in these “grand principles,” leaving Khovansky stunned.

After listening, Khovansky even began to doubt himself. The Sun Market Group was just a small business he had casually set up, initially only for making some money. Did it really have such significant social meaning?

But it was also clear that Misha, this young man, not only had a natural talent for business but also had a long-term vision and a grand ambition!

It seemed he had truly found an excellent “successor”!

Worthy of cultivation!

After Wang Ye’s grand speech, Khovansky even forgot what he had wanted to ask Wang Ye…

After thinking for a long time, he remembered and said, “Oh, right, who helped you obtain this special license?”

Wang Ye answered frankly, “Uncle Gebrev helped me with it. Actually, I took the initiative to ask for his help. I mentioned this when I obtained the gambling license last time, and it’s only been processed now.”

Khovansky looked intently at Wang Ye. “Are you two very close now? It’s not easy for him to help with such a big favor.”

Wang Ye calmly replied, “Haha, Uncle, have you forgotten what I just said?

Obtaining this special license doesn’t benefit me or the Sun Market Group the most.

It benefits the millions of merchants in the market and the vast majority of Russian people!

I just explained the pros and cons to Uncle Gebrev, so he was willing to help me.

You could also say that he wasn’t helping me but the Russian people, so that everyone can buy high-quality and inexpensive Chinese goods at the lowest prices!”

After listening, Khovansky felt something was off, but he had to admit that what Wang Ye said made sense…

Indeed, Gebrev was a high-ranking official, and such people were happy to see things that benefited the country and society.

Helping Wang Ye for this reason wasn’t strange…

But was Wang Ye really that noble?

In the end, Khovansky could only shake his head and sigh, “Alright, compared to you, it makes us old folks seem like we have no sense of social responsibility and only know how to make money. No wonder many ordinary people resent us so-called oligarchs.”

Clearly, Khovansky also read newspapers and understood the current public opinion…

Wang Ye felt this was a good opportunity. He had always wanted to find a chance to advise Khovansky not to be so stubborn!

He needed to see the current situation clearly. The great emperor’s position was already very stable, and there was absolutely no need to oppose him because there was no chance of winning at all…

What was the point of doing something doomed to fail?

So he hurriedly said, “Uncle, reputation can be changed. Look at Uncle Aby—hasn’t he been doing well these past two years? He’s been doing charity and public welfare, and he’s made Chukotka thrive. Both the government and the people praise him highly.”

Wang Ye personally thought highly of Aby. He was absolutely a smart man!

He also hoped that Khovansky could learn from Aby and follow the same path. That way, he could advance or retreat as needed, with no risk at all.

Unfortunately, Khovansky seemed to look down on Aby and scoffed at his way of doing things.

So, after listening to Wang Ye, Khovansky gave a wry smile and said indifferently, “He has his ideas and ways, and I have my principles. After I get the company’s affairs in order, I might go into politics. Then you’ll know my ambitions! I will never fawn over others and be someone’s dog! Moreover, I don’t think his methods can save Russia!”

This was the first time Khovansky had mentioned to Wang Ye that he wanted to go into politics…

Wang Ye panicked upon hearing this. Why bring up the one thing he feared the most?

What he feared most was Khovansky entering politics and then, due to differing ideologies, coming into conflict with the great emperor’s side.

If that happened and the conflict between the two sides escalated, he would have to choose a side!

But he couldn’t choose…

He wanted to take advantage of this brief “peaceful period” to play both sides and gain as many benefits as possible for himself, quickly growing stronger!

So, for Wang Ye, the longer this peaceful period lasted, the better.

Ideally, it would last forever…

But some things clearly didn’t depend on his will. Even if he didn’t want to see them happen, they would still occur!

Chapter 274: A Big Job

Wang Ye really wanted to have a deep conversation with Khovansky about the pros and cons of entering politics.

Of course, in Wang Ye’s view, Khovansky entering politics would absolutely have no benefits, only drawbacks!

But after much hesitation, he held back.

Because some things couldn’t be said too bluntly, otherwise it would easily provoke resentment!

He had over twenty years of experience from his “previous life” and clearly knew what would happen in the future.

But Khovansky didn’t know!

Not to mention Khovansky, even the current great emperor probably didn’t know how formidable he would become in the future…

It was clear that these old oligarchs like Khovansky still looked down on the great emperor from the bottom of their hearts, thinking he was just lucky, favored by the “old predecessors,” and only temporarily in power.

In the past two years, more than one oligarch had boasted publicly that if they wanted to, even a monkey could become “XX”…

To people twenty years later, such things might seem fantastical.

But at that time, that was the reality, and no one thought it was strange.

…

In the end, Wang Ye could only sigh and give up on persuading Khovansky.

Perhaps only by letting Khovansky try for himself, and after he hit a wall and suffered losses, would he understand what politics was all about!

Right now, talking to him about this would be pointless!

After the meal, as Khovansky was leaving, he said to Wang Ye, “Tomorrow, I’ll have someone send you the relevant documents, and also your appointment letter. As a special assistant, your authority will be very extensive. As long as it doesn’t involve major matters like changes in the group’s equity, you can make direct decisions on other affairs!”

The reason for adding “special” before the title of assistant was to distinguish it from ordinary assistants.

Generally, the authority of an assistant was very limited, dependent on the person they were assisting.

But with “special” added, it was different!

As the president’s special assistant, Wang Ye’s authority was even higher than that of an ordinary vice president, almost able to represent Khovansky in making many decisions.

This also showed that Khovansky trusted him greatly.

Wang Ye nodded, “Alright, then I’ll prepare and set off the day after tomorrow. This matter can’t be dragged on; we need to resolve it quickly!”

Khovansky didn’t even ask how he planned to solve this matter, directly giving him the authority to handle it.

Because Wang Ye had even handled the acquisition of the Siberian Oil Company so beautifully, this small matter would surely not be difficult for him.

Moreover, Khovansky wasn’t unaware of some methods, but he didn’t want to or dare to use them.

After all, he was going to enter politics in the future, so he had to cherish his “feathers” and not give any handles to future political enemies.

So he wouldn’t do anything that crossed the line.

But Wang Ye was different; this guy was ruthless and decisive, a master at handling such troublesome matters!

…

Khovansky was a man of his word. The morning after their meal, he sent someone to deliver the documents about the problematic oil field to Wang Ye, along with his new appointment letter!

Wang Ye first looked at his appointment letter.

The position was Special Assistant to the President of Yukos Group!

The salary was straightforward: an annual salary of two million US dollars, plus participation in the group’s year-end bonus.

The exact amount of the bonus would depend on the group’s board of directors’ evaluation of his work at the end of the year…

As for work authority, as mentioned last night, when Wang Ye was assigned or dispatched to handle a group matter, he would automatically have almost the same power as the group president!

Accordingly, he also had the authority to appoint and dismiss personnel, and control finances…

In these aspects, Khovansky was quite generous, very open-handed!

Wang Ye could even say that in Yukos Group, he was now “second only to one, above ten thousand”!

…

As for the documents about the problematic oil field, Wang Ye also read them carefully.

Actually, it was simple. The oil field was located in the Novosibirsk region, a large oil field with extremely high oil reserves, and one of the core assets of the Siberian Oil Company.

However, the current general manager of the oil field, Yekoryan, the one who had injured Yukos Group’s staff, was extremely arrogant and unruly.

Originally, under Berezovsky, Yekoryan was quite obedient, after all, Berezovsky was no ordinary person.

But after Berezovsky fled to Britain and the Siberian Oil Company was entrusted to Aby, Yekoryan’s mind became active.

In the past two years, he had been installing his cronies in the oil field, eliminating dissenters, wanting to take advantage of the chaos to “take the oil field for himself”…

Although it sounded fantastical, it wasn’t entirely impossible.

After all, many old oligarchs had risen to power through similar means…

Unfortunately, before Yekoryan could make a move to secure the oil field’s shares, the Siberian Oil Company was taken over by Yukos!

And they sent people to take over the oil field, taking control, which Yekoryan couldn’t tolerate.

He gathered a bunch of local thugs, found an excuse to clash with the people sent by Yukos headquarters, injured them, and even declared that this was his territory, not recognizing Yukos Group’s ownership of the oil field, and wanted to sue…

In short, Yekoryan wanted to make things difficult for Yukos Group, not allowing the group’s staff to enter the oil field.

This way, he wouldn’t suffer any losses. Even if he was forced to return the oil field to Yukos Group under pressure, he personally wouldn’t lose anything, and could even “rake in” a lot of money during this time.

If Yukos Group softened and made concessions to him, there was a possibility that they would offer some benefits or even shares of the oil field to “compensate” him!

In any case, as long as his attitude was tough enough, he could gain some benefits…

…

After reading the documents, Wang Ye shook his head and smiled.

Such things were not uncommon. Not to mention a chaotic place like Russia, even in China or developed countries in Europe and America, they were frequently seen.

To solve such matters was also simple.

If the country’s legal system was sound, then follow the legal procedures.

If, like in Russia, the legal system was not yet sound and society was still chaotic, then it depended on your strength!

As long as your strength could crush them and you dared to act, this problem wouldn’t be hard to solve.

Khovansky wasn’t without the ability or strength to solve this problem; it was just that the methods to solve it weren’t suitable for him.

So this task fell to Wang Ye…

Wang Ye didn’t hesitate, picked up his phone, and dialed a number.

“Anton, come over. There’s a big job!”

Chapter 275: Making a Grand Entrance (Happy New Year)

Less than twenty minutes after hanging up the phone, the door to Wang Ye’s office was pushed open, and Anton rushed in.

“Boss, what’s the big job?” he asked, his face brimming with excitement.

The Wagner Security Company had been around for a while, but aside from serving as Wang Ye’s bodyguards and handling security for the Sun Market Group’s management office, they hadn’t taken on any other work.

Lately, Anton and his men had been going stir-crazy.

Every day was spent drilling at the security base.

So when Wang Ye suddenly called today, saying there was a big job, how could Anton not be excited?

“Sit down and talk. By the way, how many people can we pull from the base?” Wang Ye waved his hand and said.

Anton sat in the chair in front of Wang Ye’s desk and reported, “The base recently recruited a few dozen more people. Now we’re up to almost one hundred fifty. Excluding your bodyguards and the security assigned to Sun Market, there are one hundred sixteen left at the base, including me.”

Wang Ye nodded and asked, “Did the vehicles I had you purchase earlier arrive?”

The Wagner Security Company was going to be put to great use in the future, so Wang Ye hadn’t been stingy with the initial investment.

Just for vehicles, the first batch had Anton purchase twenty Toyota Land Cruisers and ten Toyota Hilux pickups!

These vehicles were for missions.

The only reason they chose Toyotas was because they were sturdy, durable, and easy to repair.

As for things like handling, driving feel, or comfort—none of that mattered…

The security company was full of burly men—they didn’t need any of that!

“All accounted for! They’re all parked at the base. Oh, and the large G-class Mercedes you had me buy yesterday is ready too. I just brought it for you—it’s downstairs,” Anton replied.

“Good. This time, bring as many brothers as possible—around a hundred. Take all twenty Land Cruisers. That way, the scene will look more impressive,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Hearing that they needed to deploy over a hundred security personnel, Anton immediately got excited. This was definitely going to be a big scene!

These guys absolutely loved big trouble—they just didn’t want no trouble at all…

“Boss, who are we taking down? Just say the word—our brothers won’t let you down! Is someone picking a fight with you?” Anton hurriedly asked.

Wang Ye shook his head and said, “This time, we’re going on a long trip to Novosibirsk. One of Yukos Group’s oil fields is having problems—some people have taken it over and won’t let the company’s workers in. So I took the job for the Wagner Security Company. Your mission is to drive those thugs out and let Yukos’s workers take over the oil field smoothly. Then, leave some brothers there to handle security for a while. In the future, the Wagner Company can take on similar jobs.”

Wang Ye had already thought about the future of the Wagner Security Company.

Besides his own territories—like the three casinos and Sun Market, which needed security—he could also take on outside jobs.

Like this time with Yukos Group’s oil field trouble—this was the perfect place for a security company to show its strength…

And the pay for these jobs was definitely not small!

After this job, the Wagner Company’s scale could expand even further.

Hearing Wang Ye’s explanation, Anton felt even more at ease. He had been worried they might have to fight someone in Moscow, which would probably mean the brothers would have to “go on the run” afterward…

But this was completely legal!

The Wagner Company was in the security business, and now they had taken a job from Yukos Group to protect their workers as they entered their own oil field. If they ran into thugs blocking the way, even if something happened, it would be completely justified. Even if it went to court, the other side wouldn’t have much to say!

“I’ll go back and gather the men right away. Boss, when do we leave?” Anton immediately stood up and asked.

“No rush, we’re leaving tomorrow. I’ve already drafted a security contract on behalf of Yukos Group to hire the Wagner Company. You’ll sign on behalf of Wagner,” Wang Ye said, taking out a document.

“Can’t you just sign it yourself? You’re the real boss of the Wagner Company,” Anton asked, confused.

“We can’t have the same person signing for both parties, can we? I’ve already signed for Yukos Group,” Wang Ye joked.

Indeed, Wang Ye had drafted the document himself, and as the special assistant to the president of Yukos Group, he had the authority to sign such contracts directly. So he had already signed on behalf of Yukos Group—the “Party A,” or the employer.

Though Khovansky and the others probably knew that the Wagner Security Company belonged to Wang Ye and wouldn’t mind, having the same person sign for both parties on a contract just didn’t look right…

Anton chuckled at this, took the contract without even looking at it, and signed his name in the spot Wang Ye indicated.

…

After both had signed, the contract would take effect once the official seal was added. Anton would go back to organize the team and prepare for tomorrow’s departure.

Wang Ye told him that at exactly eight in the morning, the two convoys would meet at the gate of the security base and immediately set off for Novosibirsk!

Fortunately, this oil field was located on the western side of Novosibirsk, not too far from Moscow—only about two thousand kilometers…

If it had been on the eastern side, or even in the Far Eastern Federal District, Wang Ye probably wouldn’t have even considered driving there!

Everyone knew how vast Russia was.

But what many didn’t know was that Russia was divided into eight federal districts: Central, Northwestern, Southern, North Caucasian, Volga, Ural, Siberian, and Far Eastern!

Oh, and Aby’s Chukotka was actually in the farthest corner of the Far Eastern Federal District, known as the “end of the world,” over six thousand kilometers from Moscow!

All you could say was that the guy was ruthless—he had exiled himself to the most remote part of Russia, farthest from Moscow, to show he had no interest in politics…

Driving from Moscow, crossing the Volga and Ural Federal Districts, you’d enter the Siberian Federal District. The journey was over two thousand kilometers. Even if everyone took turns driving for over ten hours a day, it would still take two or three days.

This time, Wang Ye didn’t plan to bring any women—whether it was Alyona, Katya, or Nalan Yaqi, none of them were coming.

It was going to be tough and dangerous!

Chapter 276: The Big Shot Arrives (Happy New Year)

The oil field in dispute was part of the Tyumen Oil Field.

Speaking of the Tyumen Oil Field, its reputation was enormous. Also known as the “West Siberian Oil Field” or the “Third Baku,” it was Russia’s largest oil reservoir and production area!

The entire oil field spanned an astonishing one million seven hundred thousand square kilometers, with proven crude oil reserves exceeding forty billion tons. It included four major extraction zones and over one hundred fifty oil fields of varying sizes…

The Siberian Oil Company’s oil field belonged to the Tomsk extraction zone of the Tyumen Oil Field. Covering over ten thousand square kilometers, it was quite impressive and considered a core asset of the Siberian Oil Company.

This was why Khovansky was so invested—he was determined to secure it.

As Wang Ye mobilized his forces to head over, the oil field was not idle either.

…

Yekoryan sat in the office of the oil field headquarters, discussing with his trusted senior executives.

Naturally, the topic was analyzing Yukos Group’s next moves and how to respond.

“Have Yukos’ people left?” Yekoryan asked one of his confidants.

“I’ve checked. That group hasn’t returned to Moscow. They’ve booked a hotel in the city instead. Who knows what they’re up to,” the confidant replied. He was the head of security for the oil field and the one who had led his men in beating up and expelling the Yukos headquarters staff a few days prior.

Yekoryan frowned. These people clearly weren’t giving up!

But that was to be expected. The oil field was too valuable, and Yukos Group wouldn’t abandon it over a minor setback.

He turned to his deputy and asked, “How’s the contact with the regional government? Can we sue Yukos Group through the courts, arguing that their acquisition of the Siberian Oil Company was illegal and that this oil field doesn’t belong to them?”

Yekoryan had been pondering this for a while. After all, Russia was a country governed by law. He couldn’t just seize the oil field outright. The issue of equity would have to be resolved sooner or later.

“This won’t be easy,” his deputy replied. “I’ve spoken to those people. They all say Yukos’ acquisition of the Siberian Oil Company was done through proper channels, with no loopholes in the equity. Trying to resolve this through litigation would be troublesome and nearly impossible. Yukos Group isn’t a pushover, so our best bet is to negotiate with them and pressure them into conceding more shares to us.”

Yekoryan nodded. His appetite wasn’t that big, and he hadn’t dared to dream of outright “swallowing” the oil field.

He was afraid of being “overwhelmed”…

For now, causing trouble was just a way to give Yukos Group a warning!

He wanted them to know that taking this oil field wouldn’t be easy—they’d have to ask the “local snakes” for permission!

Besides, the future operation of the oil field would still depend on them, the old hands.

Thus, the best solution was for Yukos Group to “transfer” a portion of the oil field’s shares to them, the executives. That way, everyone could cooperate happily and make money peacefully.

…

As they were discussing, the deputy’s phone rang.

Glancing at the screen, he said to Yekoryan, “It’s from Yukos!”

Yekoryan didn’t hesitate. “Answer it. Let’s hear what they have to say.”

The deputy answered the call. After exchanging a few words, he covered the phone and said to Yekoryan, “They say Yukos headquarters has sent another special assistant to the president to come talk to us.”

Yekoryan frowned in displeasure. “An assistant? Ask them how much authority this assistant has. Can they speak for Yukos Group? If they don’t have much power, tell them not to bother coming. If they really want to talk, they should at least send a vice president.”

He didn’t dare suggest that Khovansky himself should come…

The deputy spoke a few more words, then reported, “They say this special assistant has a lot of power and can fully represent Khovansky himself!”

Yekoryan’s interest was piqued. His eyebrows rose. “Oh? That’s acceptable. Let them come. When will they arrive?”

“They’re on their way now. They’ll be here for negotiations at the oil field around ten in the morning, the day after tomorrow,” the deputy reported.

“Alright! Tell them we’ll be waiting for them here!” Yekoryan said magnanimously.

…

After hanging up, Yekoryan began making arrangements, preparing for the negotiations in two days.

Since Yukos Group had sent this so-called special assistant to the president, who could represent Khovansky himself, it showed that the group’s headquarters truly valued this issue.

Whether he would succeed depended on the outcome of this negotiation!

He looked at the head of security and instructed, “You heard that. There’s another round of talks the day after tomorrow. You need to be careful with your approach. Scare them, but don’t actually injure anyone. This time, the person coming isn’t some small fry—it’s a big shot!”

The head of security grinned, thumping his chest in assurance. “Don’t worry! I know what to do. These city folks are all soft and delicate. A few punches will have them pissing their pants, hahaha…”

The meeting room erupted in laughter. To these rough men, the people from Yukos Group’s headquarters were all refined and effeminate.

Yekoryan laughed too, but out of caution, he added, “Don’t get too careless. Who knows? After getting burned last time, they might bring bodyguards this time.”

The head of security’s eyes widened. He pulled out his gun from his waist and slammed it on the table with a bang, declaring, “Even if they bring bodyguards, so what? When the gun’s to their heads, I doubt they’ll have the guts to talk tough.”

Yekoryan quickly waved his hands. “Alright, alright, put that away! Follow my lead when the time comes. Avoid using guns if possible. Things could get messy if it escalates.”

They began making preparations, planning to show the new “special assistant to the president” sent by Yukos what they were made of…

…

Meanwhile, Wang Ye and his group were still on their way, making a long-distance dash.

The convoy was indeed impressive!

Three black large G-class Mercedes led the way, followed by a long line of white Land Cruisers—twenty in total!

Such a procession speeding down the road was quite a sight.

Other drivers on the road couldn’t help but stare, wondering what kind of big shot was inside those cars…

A new year, wishing all readers a happy family and all the best!

Chapter 277: Going Straight for the Kill

August 5th, morning.

A small city in the western part of the Novosibirsk Federal District.

The Yukos Group employees who had arrived a few days earlier set out for the oil field headquarters after breakfast.

The city was so small that even the slightly upscale hotel they stayed in downtown was only a ten-minute drive from the oil field headquarters on the outskirts.

As they arrived at the headquarters building, one of the employees nervously asked, “Should we go in now? Or… should we wait for the special assistant to arrive and meet up with him first?”

He was still shaken from their last encounter.

The other side had sent a group of burly men who had kicked and beaten them out. These were all high-level white-collar workers from Moscow—when had they ever seen such a scene?

Hearing this, the other employees quickly agreed. After all, they were just here to earn a living. There was no need to risk their lives.

Since headquarters had sent a big shot, they might as well let him handle the negotiations while they just followed along.

They didn’t know the full situation, but the manager leading them had already coordinated with Wang Ye’s side.

So, with a slight smile and full confidence, he said, “No! We’ll go in first and wait. The special assistant will be here soon. Don’t worry—today’s main event isn’t about us. They won’t make things difficult for us.”

Since the boss had spoken, the employees didn’t dare say anything else.

So, they steeled themselves, got out of the car, and entered the oil field headquarters.

It was called a headquarters building, but in reality, it was just an old red-brick office building with only six floors and no elevator.

However, the floor space was quite large.

Clearly, the oil field had been notified of their arrival, but no one had bothered to acknowledge them.

Now, as they stood downstairs, not even a single person came to greet them. They had no choice but to go in themselves and make their way to the large conference room on the second floor.

As soon as they entered, they saw Yekoryan and his men already seated, sipping red tea as they waited.

When Yekoryan saw the Yukos employees enter, he glanced at them with a fake smile and said, “Well, well, why are you here so early? Where’s your CEO’s assistant? Hasn’t arrived yet? Or maybe he got scared and ran back to Moscow? Ha ha…”

The conference room erupted in laughter.

Especially the head of security, who, after laughing for a bit, casually drew his pistol and slammed it on the table. With a sneer, he said, “What CEO’s assistant? Does he think he’s some big shot, making a grand entrance? I’d hate for my gun to slip and accidentally hurt him. That wouldn’t look good.”

The Yukos employees didn’t dare breathe, terrified that this brute might actually shoot them. Where would they even go to complain?

Yekoryan put on a false show of reasonableness. “Alright, alright, put the gun away. We’re reasonable people. We won’t resort to force unless absolutely necessary. Of course, if they don’t play nice, then we won’t be so polite!”

Just as they were boasting and acting like they owned the place inside the conference room, a caravan arrived outside the oil field headquarters…

…

“Boss, we’re here. The sign at the entrance says it’s that oil field,” Anton said from the passenger seat, turning to Wang Ye, who was resting in the back.

This long journey had taken a toll on Wang Ye.

Although they hadn’t traveled at night and had stayed in hotels to rest, sitting in a car for over two days and covering more than two thousand kilometers was exhausting.

Sigh, if he had known, he wouldn’t have bothered with the spectacle. It would have been better if everyone had just flown here—only three or four hours…

But that would have been troublesome too. It wasn’t their own plane, and if they took a commercial flight, they wouldn’t have been able to bring all those “real weapons.”

So, this time, bringing the caravan wasn’t just for show—it was a necessary choice!

“Go straight in. Send a few men to take control of the security room at the entrance,” Wang Ye ordered without even opening his eyes.

The caravan stopped at the entrance of the compound. The two guards at the gate were craning their necks to see what was going on.

Clearly, they were a little intimidated by the caravan but didn’t know what was happening. They wanted to come over and ask but didn’t dare…

Anton picked up the walkie-talkie. “First squad, go secure the gatehouse and open the gate!”

The doors of two Toyota Land Cruisers opened, and several burly men carrying AK-74s jumped out, heading toward the gate.

The two oil field guards stared in shock at these men and asked nervously, “W-what are you doing?”

The leader of the first squad raised his AK-74 with one hand, pointing the dark muzzle at the two guards. “SUGA! Get down!”

The two guards flinched and immediately crouched down, covering their heads.

With a wave of his hand, two more men came forward, each grabbing a guard by the collar and dragging them aside.

Then, the third squad took up positions at the gate, fully armed, and secured the entrance.

The gate was opened, and the caravan drove straight in.

The vehicles stopped in front of the office building. With the sound of doors slamming, groups of burly men jumped out.

Anton stood on the steps, calmly giving orders. “Second squad, secure the first floor. Third squad, secure the second floor… Seventh squad, secure the sixth floor! No one is allowed in or out of any office until I give the command!”

Squads of men began pouring into the office building.

“Eighth squad, stay with the vehicles. Ninth squad, come with me and the boss to the conference room!” Anton instructed.

Then, Wang Ye led the way, with Anton and a group of men following behind, heading toward the large conference room on the second floor.

…

Inside the conference room, Yekoryan was in high spirits, laughing and joking with his cronies, when he heard a commotion outside—footsteps and occasional shouts.

He frowned in displeasure and asked, “What’s going on out there? Algai, go check.”

Algai was the head of security. Hearing Yekoryan’s order, he immediately stood up and said with a smile, “Alright, I’ll go take a look. Probably just those punks I hired causing trouble, harassing some girls.”

To prepare for today’s situation, Yekoryan and his men had made thorough preparations.

Algai had even recruited about a dozen thugs from the streets and hidden them in a small conference room on the second floor.

If negotiations broke down, all Algai had to do was give the word, and those thugs would rush in and start a fight…

This was how they had handled things last time, and the tactic had worked quite well—never failed!

Chapter 278: Which Hand Was It?

Algai had just reached the meeting room door and was about to pull it open when—

BANG! The door was kicked open from the inside. Unfortunately, he was standing right behind it, and the heavy wooden door slammed directly into his face!

Algai felt a sharp sting in his nose, and a warm stream of blood began to flow. Tears welled up in his eyes as he cursed, “Sukabure! Do you have any manners at all? Is this how you—”

Before he could finish, he snapped his mouth shut. A cold, black gun barrel was inches from his lips.

The meeting room door swung wide open, and a group of men appeared in the doorway.

Leading them was a young man in his twenties, dressed in a sharply pressed suit with a snow-white shirt. He wore no tie, and the top button of his shirt was undone, giving him a slightly casual air.

Behind him stood over a dozen burly men, all wearing black knit caps and camouflage clothing. Even more striking was the fact that each of them carried an AK-74 rifle.

Yekoryan, his trusted aides, and the few staff members from Yukos headquarters all stood up in panic.

No one knew what was happening, and no one knew what these men were here for.

Yekoryan steeled himself and asked, “Who… who are you? What do you want?”

The group, of course, was Wang Ye, Anton, Seryosha, and the others.

Wang Ye stood at the door, scanning the room with a smile before asking, “Which of you are from Yukos headquarters?”

The few staff members quickly nodded and greeted him obsequiously, confirming their identities.

Wang Ye nodded and stepped into the meeting room. “I am Mikhail, Special Assistant to President Khovansky. I’m here on behalf of Yukos headquarters to handle the oil field issues.”

Yekoryan broke out in a cold sweat. Just my luck!

He had just been worrying that the intruders might be the special assistant from Yukos headquarters—and now here they were.

But he couldn’t afford to show weakness. If he did, there would be no negotiating later.

Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to speak up. “Mr. Mikhail, don’t you think this is a bit rude? Especially since…” He gestured toward Algai, who was still standing by the door, clutching his nose. “This is our security manager. Look what you’ve done to him.”

As he spoke, he shot Algai a meaningful glance, silently urging him to stand firm!

This negotiation was already looking bad. Whether they could secure a favorable outcome depended entirely on whether Algai could hold his ground.

Algai understood Yekoryan’s signal. Ignoring the blood still trickling from his nose, he wiped it away with the back of his hand and forced himself to speak.

“What do you think you’re doing? What do you want? Don’t think you can just barge in here with guns and get away with it! I’ll have you know I have connections at the city bureau! You’re illegally carrying firearms—you’ll all end up in jail!”

He was invoking the city bureau now because he knew his own thugs wouldn’t stand a chance.

Come on! Those guys were clearly professionals—just look at their build, their weapons! If they went head-to-head, it would be suicide.

Wang Ye frowned and turned to Seryosha, asking with interest, “You… you’re the security manager? Were you the one who attacked the headquarters staff last time?”

Seryosha’s heart lurched. He quickly defended himself, “Last time, I didn’t lay a hand on anyone! They were disrupting the oil field’s operations, so I asked them to leave. They refused, and I had no choice but to—”

Before he could finish, Wang Ye turned to the Yukos staff and asked, “Was it him?”

They nodded vigorously. “Yes! It was him! He beat us up!”

Wang Ye waved a hand dismissively.

Anton immediately understood. He nodded at Seryosha, and the two of them moved to either side of Algai, lifting him off the ground.

Both men were nearly two meters tall, while Algai was just under one meter eighty. Suspended between them, his feet dangled in the air.

Algai kicked wildly, demanding, “What are you doing? What do you want—”

No one answered. Anton and Seryosha carried him to the conference table and slammed him down onto it, pinning his hands to the surface.

…

“You… what is the meaning of this? I’m the general manager of this oil field—at least for now! If you lay a hand on me, I’ll report you!” Yekoryan summoned his courage and confronted Wang Ye.

He had no choice but to intervene. If he didn’t say or do something, the situation would spiral completely out of control.

From the moment the meeting room door was kicked open, Yekoryan had sensed something was wrong. The entire atmosphere, the momentum—it was all under Mikhail’s control.

His own people were terrified, completely at a disadvantage.

Wang Ye smiled faintly and announced, “As the special assistant to the president of the Yukos Group, I hereby declare that this security manager is fired! Effective immediately, he is no longer an employee of the oil field. Anton, take it from here.”

Anton nodded and turned to the Yukos staff. “Which hand did he use to hit you last time?”

The staff exchanged confused glances, unsure of the question’s intent. Some said the left, others the right.

Seryosha’s instincts screamed danger. He struggled desperately, trying to break free.

But Anton and Seryosha’s hands were like iron clamps on his shoulders and arms, immobilizing him.

Anton leaned in close, whispering near Seryosha’s ear, “One last chance. Which hand did you use last time?”

“Ah—what are you going to do? I’m warning you, don’t you dare—” Seryosha was drenched in sweat, beads of it forming on his forehead.

“Not talking, huh? Then it’s both hands.”

Anton smirked.

“No, no, no… I’ll talk! It was… it was my left hand!”

Seryosha blurted out, though he had no idea what would come next. But he already had a terrible feeling…

The moment he finished speaking, there was a thud.

A searing pain shot through his right hand. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a gleaming knife embedded in it.

“AAAARGH—” He screamed, his voice hoarse with agony.

The sound sent shivers down the spines of everyone else in the room.

Chapter 279: Unconventional Tactics

As Algai’s miserable screams echoed, Yekoryan felt his legs trembling and his scalp tingling.

With a trembling arm, he pointed at Algai, his lips quivering as he asked, “What you’re doing… is illegal!”

“Then go ahead and sue me,” Wang Ye replied with a smile.

He wasn’t afraid of legal action. After all, it was Algai who had led a group of people to assault the Yukos Group’s employees last time. They had even called the police, but the local station had done nothing—just sent two officers to pretend to investigate before dismissing it as an internal corporate matter.

Clearly, Yekoryan had connections with some higher-ups in the local police.

Now, Wang Ye was giving Algai a taste of his own medicine. If the local police dared to interfere, he wouldn’t mind playing along. Who didn’t have a few powerful backers these days?

Wang Ye didn’t believe that Gebrev or the great emperor would abandon him over something so trivial. Even a single call from Gebrev could settle things.

Honestly, in this day and age, the heads of small-city police departments were never clean. If things escalated, they’d have to consider their own strength. Anyone with half a brain wouldn’t get involved in this mess.

Stunned by Wang Ye’s retort, Yekoryan fell silent. He knew that if the other side was bold enough to act so ruthlessly, they must have confidence in their position.

But… hadn’t he heard that Khovansky was always mild-mannered and never resorted to violence? Why was this so-called “special assistant to the president” so ruthless?

“I… we are civilized people, Mr. Mikhail. Let’s sit down and talk properly. I actually want to cooperate with Yukos Group’s work, but some of my subordinates and workers don’t understand. They feel the oil field was sold under unclear circumstances and are worried about their future jobs and benefits. They want a clear explanation.”

Yekoryan forced a smile, trying to change the subject. He was ready to back down—after all, he couldn’t win in a hard fight.

Wang Ye stepped forward, taking his place at the head of the long conference table. Yekoryan quickly moved aside, yielding the position.

“I announce that, effective immediately, Yekoryan is relieved of his duties as general manager. You’re fired!” Wang Ye declared loudly.

Yekoryan was stunned.

This…

Unconventional tactics!

No handover, no listening to his thoughts, not even a discussion—just firing him on the spot?

He hurriedly protested, “This is unfair! It violates labor laws! I… I protest!”

“Protest denied. Throw him out,” Wang Ye said, waving his hand lightly.

Two burly men with AK-74s immediately stepped forward, grabbing Yekoryan by the arms and dragging him out.

“Throw this one out too,” Wang Ye said, glancing at Algai with disgust.

Algai was already too weak to scream, drenched in cold sweat, lying motionless by the conference table.

Anton pulled the knife from Algai’s left hand, causing another agonized cry. The two men then dragged Algai out as well.

…

After Yekoryan and Algai were removed, the conference room fell silent. The oil field’s executives didn’t dare breathe, fearing they might be next.

Wang Ye scanned the room. Wherever his gaze landed, the executives quickly lowered their heads, avoiding eye contact.

“Anyone else want to follow Yekoryan out?” Wang Ye asked.

Everyone hastily shook their heads.

Originally, they had followed Yekoryan just to secure more benefits. Yekoryan had promised that if they could carve out a piece of the “fat” from Yukos, they would all get a share.

But now, looking at the situation, forget about the “fat”—they were lucky not to be the ones getting carved up!

No one dared stand with Yekoryan anymore. Besides, he had already been fired by this special assistant.

“Good. Listen up. Within three days, anyone who wants to leave the oil field to seek other opportunities can submit their resignation to… well, these people here. Yukos Group won’t mistreat you. Everything will be handled according to labor laws—compensation will be given, not a cent less.”

Wang Ye pointed to the Yukos Group employees who had come to take over the oil field. They were the ones handling these matters, so naturally, they would deal with the paperwork. Wang Ye had no interest in such trivialities.

Then, Wang Ye continued, “If you don’t resign, then work hard. The group won’t mistreat you. After taking over the oil field, we will increase all employees’ base salaries by twenty-five percent and provide performance bonuses based on your work. You few should draft this policy as soon as possible.”

The employees from headquarters nodded eagerly.

Wang Ye was buying their loyalty. Before coming, he had reviewed the oil field’s records and found that the base salaries for lower-level employees were shockingly low—most workers took home less than two hundred dollars a month.

Though this wage wasn’t considered low locally, one had to remember that prices across Russia were extremely high at this time, especially for clothing, food, and daily necessities, most of which were imported. Naturally, prices weren’t cheap.

So, two hundred dollars a month wasn’t enough for a family.

Wang Ye wasn’t blindly raising wages out of charity—business was about making money, after all. But the oil industry was undeniably lucrative. Just look at Khovansky’s wealth.

A twenty-five percent raise for oil field employees was a drop in the bucket for the group’s profits. Khovansky wouldn’t object.

But once this news spread, it would significantly boost the employees’ goodwill toward the group and stabilize the oil field’s operations.

Removing Yekoryan and his cronies wouldn’t solve everything. Raising salaries to stabilize the employees’ morale—that was the key to solving the root problem!

Besides, it was Khovansky’s money, so Wang Ye didn’t mind spending it.

…

Sure enough, as soon as Wang Ye mentioned the raise, the oil field’s managers lit up with joy.

This raise applied to “all employees,” which naturally included them. Since their base salaries were higher than ordinary workers, the actual benefits they received would be even greater!

People would do anything for money. They had followed Yekoryan to cause trouble just to secure some benefits for themselves.

Though they hadn’t gotten the big rewards they wanted, a salary increase was still a good deal…

Chapter 280: Returning Home

After dealing with the troublemakers and stabilizing the situation, Wang Ye said, “I’ll be staying here for two more days. If there are any issues, come find me as soon as possible. Oh, and let me introduce everyone—these are people from the Wagner Security Company. From now on, the security work at our oil field headquarters will be handled by Wagner Security Company.”

Wagner could only leave two teams here, which meant twenty people at most. They couldn’t possibly protect the entire oil field, but guarding the headquarters office building would be good enough.

However, Wang Ye also believed that after today’s incident, no one would dare cause trouble again for a while.

Leaving two teams of Wagner security personnel behind held greater significance as a form of “deterrence”!

……….

While Wang Ye was still handling internal matters at the oil field, Yekoryan and Algai were dragged out of the headquarters building. The two huddled miserably outside the gate, plotting their next move.

“Damn it! Who does that young man think he is? This is outright robbery! Banditry!” Yekoryan shouted angrily.

Fortunately, they were hiding in Yekoryan’s car, far from the oil field headquarters, so even if he shouted loudly, no one would hear him.

Algai’s injured left hand had been hastily bandaged with some gauze. He looked miserable as he said, “This can’t be the end of it! We’ve suffered such a huge loss and been kicked out of the oil field. We’ve even lost our jobs.”

Yekoryan gritted his teeth and thought for a moment before saying fiercely, “This can’t be the end of it! I refuse to believe that these people from Moscow can outmaneuver us locals! The people who usually take our bribes should be useful now.”

“Right! Let’s find someone quickly. Plus, they deliberately injured people—we can report this to the police, right? I don’t believe they’ll still be so arrogant and rude when facing the police.” Algai quickly added.

Without hesitation, Yekoryan started the car and sped toward the city…

……….

Over the next three days, Wang Ye engaged in a battle of wits with various local official forces, maintaining a tough stance throughout and refusing to yield an inch!

With Gebrev also putting in a word, the “backers” Yekoryan had found all retreated in defeat, not daring to cause any more trouble…

(Note: This part was originally intended to be written, but it felt too sensitive. Writing it out might get the work banned, so for safety’s sake, it was omitted.)

……….

After handling the oil field matters, it was time to return home.

But Wang Ye was too lazy to take the car back. He didn’t want to spend another two days and two nights on the road.

He had someone take him to the Siberian capital airport, where he boarded a plane and flew directly back to Moscow. This took less than four hours, much faster than driving…

Only four bodyguards, including Seryosha, accompanied him. The rest, led by Anton, returned by car!

A few hours later, the plane landed at Moscow Airport.

Alyona picked up Wang Ye in her Porsche 911, while Seryosha and the others were picked up by someone from the security base.

As soon as he got home, before he could even spend some intimate time with Alyona, Wang Ye received a call from Khovansky.

“Word has it you’re back today. Are you in Moscow?”

“Just got home,” Wang Ye replied honestly.

“Then come to the headquarters tonight. I’ll treat you to dinner, and then you can attend a meeting to brief everyone on the situation over there. I heard you resolved the issues as soon as you arrived. Many people are very interested. Also, as my special assistant, it’s time everyone got to know you.” Khovansky laughed heartily.

Wang Ye didn’t hesitate and replied straightforwardly, “Alright, Uncle, I’ll be there later.”

Clearly, Khovansky wasn’t just inviting Wang Ye over for a meal.

More importantly, he wanted Wang Ye to attend a meeting with the group’s senior leadership!

This was also Wang Ye’s first appearance at a Yukos Group executive meeting, signifying that Khovansky was beginning to consciously involve Wang Ye in the group’s affairs…

After hanging up, Wang Ye apologized to Alyona, “Khovansky wants me to go to Yukos headquarters. There’s an important meeting tonight, so I can’t have dinner with you.”

Alyona smiled and said, “It’s fine. Work is more important. Go take a shower and change into clean clothes before you go.”

……….

Around six in the evening, Wang Ye drove Alyona’s Porsche sports car to the Yukos headquarters building.

Accustomed to driving large vehicles like the Mercedes G-Class, he found driving such a small sports car quite uncomfortable.

These small sports cars might look cool and stylish, but they really weren’t comfortable to drive…

As usual, Khovansky’s secretary was waiting at the entrance.

Upon seeing Wang Ye, the secretary led him to the restaurant, to the same small private room Khovansky always used.

As they entered, Khovansky was already sitting there, sipping tea.

“Haha, Misha, I heard you made quite a stir this time.” Khovansky stood up with a laugh and gave Wang Ye a warm hug.

Wang Ye smiled and said, “Those people went too far. If we didn’t teach them a lesson, they’d think Yukos is easy to bully.”

“Ah, these are things only young people like you can handle. Someone like me, an old man, thinks too much and ends up being too cautious, not daring to act.” Khovansky shook his head and sighed.

“You’re still young, Uncle. Where’s the old in you? It’s just that you have to consider the impact, so you can’t use certain methods. I don’t care about that. I’m not afraid of these things.” Wang Ye laughed.

This was the difference between him and Khovansky.

It wasn’t that only Wang Ye thought of these things or dared to do them.

It was that someone like Khovansky, before doing anything, would consider many aspects of the impact.

Especially since he planned to enter politics in the future, he needed to be careful with his words and actions to avoid giving future political enemies any leverage.

Wang Ye, on the other hand, was like a “fearless calf.” He didn’t plan to make a name for himself in politics, so he didn’t need to consider too much. As long as he didn’t bring big trouble upon himself, he dared to act!

Perhaps this was why Khovansky had been valuing him more and more lately. Their collaboration was complementary!

……….

After sitting down, the staff brought up the food, and the two chatted as they ate.

Wang Ye gave a detailed report on the situation there, including his decision to hire the Wagner Security Company and his on-the-spot decision to increase the salaries and benefits of local employees.

Khovansky listened and nodded, not blaming Wang Ye for acting on his own.

These were minor matters that didn’t cost much money. What he valued more was that Wang Ye had successfully taken over the oil field!

Chapter 281: Official Debut

“Excellent! You’ve done even better than I expected! It seems the training over the past few months has been quite effective—you’re already capable of handling things independently.”

After listening, Khovansky exclaimed in admiration.

Wang Ye hurriedly replied modestly, “It’s all thanks to Uncle and the other elders for their guidance and support. I couldn’t have accomplished anything on my own.”

Khovansky was quite satisfied with Wang Ye’s attitude.

This showed that Wang Ye hadn’t let success go to his head and still understood who had given him this “stage.” He also knew that the reason things had gone so smoothly for him was because of the support he had received from behind the scenes!

Indeed, without the backing of these powerful figures, Wang Ye would never have been able to achieve what he had with just his own abilities.

Not to mention the bureaucratic troubles—without Gebrev’s help, even a minor police chief could have made life difficult for Wang Ye!

As for Wang Ye’s acquisitions of internet companies and hotels, as well as his casino ventures, all the money he had used came from Khovansky.

…

After a simple dinner, Khovansky stood up and said, “Let’s go. First, we’ll have a cup of coffee in my office, then you’ll join me at the group meeting. I’ll introduce you to the senior executives—you’ll need to start interacting with them more.”

Wang Ye nodded and followed Khovansky out of the restaurant to the top-floor presidential office.

He was feeling a little excited.

This evening’s meeting marked his first official appearance in the Yukos Group!

And not just as “Khovansky’s nephew,” but as a senior executive…

What did this mean?

It clearly indicated that Khovansky was intentionally allowing him to get involved in the core affairs of the Yukos Group.

One could even say that from today onward, he would gradually take over Khovansky’s authority within the Yukos Group!

When they arrived at Khovansky’s office, the two chatted over coffee for a while before the secretary knocked and entered to report, “Mr. President, the meeting is about to begin. Everyone is already waiting for you in the conference room.”

Khovansky nodded and, together with Wang Ye, stood up and left the office.

…

The headquarters’ conference room was quite spacious, with luxurious and grand decor.

On either side of the massive conference table sat more than a dozen executives in suits.

The president hadn’t arrived yet, so everyone was chatting quietly among themselves.

“Have you heard? The president’s nephew is joining the group as the special assistant to the president!”

“Yeah, I heard he’s quite capable. A few days ago, he went to handle that oil field matter and resolved it on the spot—quite ruthless.”

“The young are formidable. If Khovansky admires him so much, he must be extraordinary.”

“I have a feeling this young man will take over as president. We should be careful with our attitude toward him later.”…

Clearly, the focus of everyone’s discussion was on “Mikhail.”

As everyone was whispering, the conference room door was pushed open, and Khovansky strode in.

Behind him followed a man and a woman.

The woman was familiar to everyone—she was Khovansky’s secretary.

The young man, however, was seen by most in the conference room for the first time, and all eyes were fixed on him.

There was no need to guess—this must be Khovansky’s nephew and special assistant, Mikhail!

Since this was a formal occasion, Wang Ye was dressed impeccably.

He wore a navy-blue fine wool suit from Ermenegildo Zegna, tailored to fit his physique perfectly.

A dark red tie with a subtle pattern was knotted at his snow-white collar.

His neatly combed hair, neither too long nor too short, revealed a smooth and full forehead.

With his high nose bridge and large eyes, Wang Ye was undeniably handsome!

Wang Ye’s skin was fair, and if it weren’t for his black hair, no one would have associated him with being Asian at first glance.

However, in Russia, many people had dark hair, and there were also Mongolians, so his appearance didn’t raise any suspicions.

Khovansky took his seat at the head of the conference table, and Wang Ye stood behind him.

Looking around, Khovansky smiled and said, “Before we begin today’s meeting, I’d like to introduce a newcomer. Mikhail, come over…”

Wang Ye stepped forward and stood beside Khovansky, smiling at everyone.

Khovansky affectionately placed his arm around Wang Ye’s shoulder and introduced him, “This young man is Mikhail, my newly appointed special assistant. The recent oil field incident was personally resolved by Misha. Many of you may not know this, but our successful acquisition of the Siberian Oil Company was also largely thanks to Misha’s efforts! So, there’s no doubt about Misha’s work capabilities.”

The conference room erupted in applause.

No one present was foolish—privately, they all knew about Mikhail’s “uncle-nephew” relationship with Khovansky.

And many speculated that the future leader of the Yukos Group would likely be this Mikhail!

So, in this setting, they had to show their respect.

After the applause died down, Khovansky gestured with his hands for everyone to quiet down.

He continued, “Misha’s work is somewhat special because he also manages other companies, so he won’t be working at headquarters. However, in the future, the group will assign some important or tricky matters to him. At those times, Misha will have full authority to represent me, and I hope everyone will cooperate with him.”

With Khovansky’s words, everyone understood that Mikhail was undoubtedly Khovansky’s most trusted confidant!

He could even fully represent Khovansky…

After briefly introducing Wang Ye, Khovansky began introducing the group’s senior executives to him.

“Misha, this is the executive deputy general manager, this is the senior deputy general manager in charge of oil field operations, this is the one in charge of oil sales…”.

As Khovansky introduced them, Wang Ye smiled and nodded continuously, greeting each executive.

As for whether these people were named “Driver” or “Coward,” Wang Ye didn’t bother remembering…

After all, it wouldn’t be his turn to take over Khovansky’s position anytime soon, so he wouldn’t have to deal with them.

When the time came for him to truly take over, he could get to know them then.

Wang Ye didn’t care, but the senior executives present had firmly etched Wang Ye into their memories!

Because everyone understood that this Mikhail was clearly the strongest contender for the next group president—without a doubt…

Chapter 282: Business is Too Good

The group headquarters’ debut had little impact on Wang Ye. His focus remained on the Sun Market Group, Little Eagle Group, and Arctic Bear Investments.

By late August, Wang Ye suddenly received a call from his cousin, Ruan Xiaozhu.

“Director Wang, what have you been busy with lately? I haven’t seen you in ages. Can you make time to visit the company? Has our Hua Star Communications fallen out of favor with you, the big boss? Though we’ve made quite a profit these past few months—shouldn’t we distribute some of it?”

Ruan Xiaozhu spoke half-jokingly, half-seriously over the phone.

She knew more about Wang Ye’s “background” than most. Among the people around him, only Alyona and Katya might know more than her. Even Liu Jun was unaware of many things.

This was normal, though. After all, Ruan Xiaozhu and Wang Ye were distant relatives, and in their past life, they had been very close—she had taken good care of him. In this life, it was Wang Ye’s turn to look after her.

Hearing her words, Wang Ye chuckled in response, “Well, I’m not that busy. Just occasionally dining at the Kremlin with the great emperor, or meeting my uncle Khovansky for coffee. And Uncle Aby keeps calling, wanting me to visit Chukotka to inspect some investments.”

He was deliberately teasing Ruan Xiaozhu, of course. She didn’t know any better and was genuinely impressed, left speechless for a moment.

“Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore. I haven’t been that busy lately—mostly just at the Sun Market every day. You must be the busy one, not coming to see me,” Wang Ye laughed again.

Ruan Xiaozhu finally let out a breath, realizing what was happening. “Hehe, maybe. Hua Star is small, but business is booming—so many people come for cards every day. I rarely leave the office. Hey, I’m serious! The company has a lot of money sitting around. I asked Liu Ge the other day, and he said we should ask for your opinion on whether to distribute the profits.”

Business at Hua Star Communications was indeed thriving. After all, the Sun Market only allowed the sale of Hua Star Cards—no other cards were permitted. Combined with the near-monopoly in universities, the profits had been steadily accumulating. After several months of operation, the company must have made a considerable sum.

Wang Ye responded decisively, “Alright, I’ll come by around three this afternoon. Let’s have a meeting and distribute the money.”

From the Sun Market to the Alpha Hotel was just a five-minute drive. He could easily stop by before the end of the workday.

…

Around two-thirty, nearing three o’clock, Wang Ye went downstairs and told Alyona that she could go home directly after work. Then he left the management office, got into his car, and headed to the Alpha Hotel.

Wang Ye’s current motorcade consisted of three black large G-class Mercedes, accompanied by eight bodyguards! Leading them, as always, was Seryosha.

This was to guard against any desperate moves from the Lyublino side—just in case they resorted to underhanded tactics!

Additionally, after returning from Novosibirsk, the Wagner Security Company had begun expanding again. The number of combat personnel had surpassed two hundred, and recruitment for logistics and non-combat staff had also started. The company was beginning to take shape.

With the business contracts from the oil fields, Wagner could finally sustain itself without continuous investment from Wang Ye. The annual security fees from that single contract alone amounted to two million US dollars!

That was enough to support around two hundred people…

High-risk security contracts like these were indeed lucrative. Routine security jobs, like guarding gates, wouldn’t pay nearly as much.

Of course, this also required clients who were wealthy enough—or even indifferent to money…

The Yukos Group was exactly that kind of client. As an energy oligarch, they made money hand over fist. Two million dollars a year was just a drop in the bucket for them.

…

After getting into the car, Wang Ye instructed, “Take me to the Alpha Hotel. Then you can all clock out. Just leave one car for me.”

Wang Ye figured that after the meeting and profit distribution, they would definitely go out for a meal together. After all, it had been a long time since he, Liu Jun, Ruan Xiaozhu, Xiao Hu, and the others had gathered. Now that they were finally meeting, they had to celebrate with a meal.

Seryosha nodded and started the car. The three black Mercedes roared to life, driving out in single file toward the nearby Alpha Hotel.

In less than five minutes, they arrived at the hotel. The place was as lively as ever, with various companies operating inside, making it more than just a conventional hotel. Business here was far better than at other major hotels in the city.

Moreover, thanks to its prime location—close to ACT and the Sun Market—and being the only high-end hotel near the Large Market, most business owners coming from China to inspect operations stayed here.

Thus, the hotel entrance was bustling with cars and people coming and going.

The three black Mercedes drove straight to the front, an imposing sight that naturally drew attention. Many people turned to look.

A tall, burly Russian young man stepped out of the passenger seat of the middle Mercedes, opened the rear door, and a young man bent down to exit.

To everyone’s surprise, the young man appeared to be Chinese! His black hair was striking!

Many small business owners who had just arrived from China were astonished and began guessing who this young man was and how he had become so successful in Moscow…

Some even asked their relatives and friends nearby.

“Wow, Old Liu, is this guy really Chinese? This is quite the spectacle!”

“Tsk, tsk, Director Li, this must be the Kong you mentioned—the richest Chinese person in the Sun Market. No other Chinese person could be doing this well.”

Among the passersby, most were doing business at the Large Market, so quite a few recognized Wang Ye.

Someone whispered in explanation, “Don’t joke around. This is Mikhail, the boss of the Sun Market. He’s Russian—or well, Chinese-Russian. He’s quite something. Rumor has it his uncle is the big oligarch Khovansky!”

…

Ignoring the stares and whispers directed at him, Wang Ye strode into the Alpha Hotel lobby. Seryosha and another bodyguard followed behind.

The two of them would only leave after safely escorting Wang Ye to Hua Star Communications.

Perhaps it was his aura, but wherever Wang Ye and his two guards went, people instinctively made way.

Chapter 283: Company Dividends

Of course, this had nothing to do with whether Wang Ye was handsome or not. It was mainly because of the two burly men behind him, who looked fierce and menacing, with their hands resting on the gun holsters at their waists, as if they might draw their pistols at any moment…

The three of them took the elevator to the fifth floor. Just a few steps from the elevator was the entrance to Hua Star Communications.

Wang Ye turned his head and smiled at Seryosha and the other man, saying, “Alright, you two can clock out now.”

Seryosha nodded. Before leaving, he didn’t forget to ask, “Boss, you have your gun with you, right? If anything happens, call us immediately. The company has rented an apartment in the same building as yours, with four security personnel stationed there at all times.”

This was one of the arrangements Seryosha had made after the conflict with Lyublino escalated.

In the same building where Wang Ye lived, they had rented an apartment and stationed four security personnel to stand guard at night.

Although Wang Ye didn’t think the other side would be so reckless as to send people to cause trouble at his apartment, it was better to be safe than sorry. When it came to personal safety, one could never be too careful…

If something happened, it would be too late for regrets.

Wang Ye smiled slightly and patted his… armpit!

Recently, he had commissioned a professional to make a custom gun holster. The design was quite clever; even if he wore a suit jacket, no one could tell from the outside that he was carrying a gun.

Rumor had it that only people like KGB agents used such holsters.

Seeing that Wang Ye was armed, Seryosha finally turned and left with peace of mind.

Wang Ye had also been frequently visiting the security base to practice his shooting skills lately. Coupled with his already excellent physical condition, it was safe to say that under normal circumstances, a few people wouldn’t pose any threat to him when he was armed.

…

Wang Ye pushed open the door to Hua Star Communications. Inside, it was relatively quiet. The young Russian receptionist at the front desk looked at him in surprise.

“Excuse me… who are you looking for?” the receptionist asked timidly.

Wang Ye had been to Hua Star Communications before, but it had been a while since his last visit. The last time he was here, the company didn’t have this receptionist yet.

Given his attire and demeanor, he didn’t look like someone who had come to buy a phone card…

So, the receptionist asked who he was looking for.

“I’m looking for Ruan Xiaozhu. I’m… her cousin,” Wang Ye said warmly.

After saying that, he walked straight toward Ruan Xiaozhu’s office.

The young receptionist behind him was still in a daze, her mind filled with thoughts like, “I didn’t expect Director Ruan to have such a handsome cousin. I wonder if he has a girlfriend…”

Ruan Xiaozhu’s office wasn’t large, only about twenty square meters. When Wang Ye pushed the door open, she was busy with something.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Ruan Xiaozhu looked up and smiled.

She stood up and walked over to Wang Ye, giving him a Russian-style cheek kiss…

Wang Ye was quite proper and only lightly touched cheeks with Ruan Xiaozhu, without any other thoughts.

After letting go of Wang Ye, Ruan Xiaozhu looked him up and down and said with a smile, “Tsk tsk, you’re getting more and more handsome now! I think you really suit formal wear. After all, men with good figures look very handsome in suits. Sigh, why are you my cousin? Otherwise… hehe.”

She was, of course, joking…

But one thing she said was true: the current Wang Ye was completely different from the one half a year ago!

Although he was the same person, his spirit and energy were entirely different.

Half a year ago, Wang Ye had just arrived in Moscow and was still a poor student. He was wearing a broken down jacket and was even mocked by Nalan Yaqi.

Even when Zhang Ke badmouthed Wang Ye behind his back, he called him a “poor ghost”…

But now, in terms of wealth, although Wang Ye hadn’t calculated it carefully, it was definitely in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

In terms of status and social circles, he could frequently enter the Kremlin and meet Gebrev or even the great emperor!

He could call oligarchs like Khovansky and Aby “uncle”…

So, the current Wang Ye truly had an intangible aura.

This was the subtle influence brought about by differences in wealth, status, and the people he interacted with daily.

…

Wang Ye smiled and said, “No matter what, I still have to call you sister, right?”

Ruan Xiaozhu immediately beamed with joy and affectionately took Wang Ye’s arm, saying, “You’re quite the sweet talker. You’re already a billionaire, and I thought you wouldn’t acknowledge me as your poor sister anymore.”

As the two were chatting and laughing, there was another knock on the office door, and Liu Jun arrived.

Seeing Wang Ye, he hurriedly greeted him, “Oh, Director Wang, you arrived first. Did I come late? Recently, the company has been busy. Batch after batch of students have started arriving, and there are all kinds of complicated matters to deal with.”

If someone were to ask who had been the busiest recently, it would definitely be Liu Jun.

He was in charge of the daily operations of Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company. Previously, things were quite relaxed, but now, he was incredibly busy!

Qingyun Company had collaborated with domestic partners and held a study abroad promotion event, which was a great success, enrolling several hundred students!

Now that it was late August, those students were arriving in Moscow one after another.

So, Liu Jun had been busy arranging for staff to pick up students, coordinate with schools, arrange dormitories, assist with tuition payments, and deal with all sorts of messy tasks. He was so busy that he barely had time to catch his breath, and that was no exaggeration.

“Speaking of which, I think I’ll be starting school soon too,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Indeed, he was about to start his first year of university. Although he had already spoken with the admissions director and didn’t need to take any exams in the future, he would still be able to obtain his diploma smoothly.

But during the start of the school year, Wang Ye planned to make an appearance and show his face. After all, this was a memorable and meaningful day!

Liu Jun and Ruan Xiaozhu also just remembered that Wang Ye was still a preparatory student and hadn’t entered university yet!

The two of them felt a bit sentimental because the contrast was too great.

Looking at Wang Ye and then at themselves, they felt like crying…

…

After some casual chat, Ruan Xiaozhu was the first to get to the point.

She said seriously, “Hua Star Communications has been in operation for some time now, and the business is doing quite well. After deducting various company expenses, we’ve generated a considerable amount of profit. In May…”

Ruan Xiaozhu began to talk incessantly, giving the two of them a detailed introduction to the company’s operations and financial situation over the past few months.

Wang Ye and Liu Jun listened and nodded.

It was clear that although Ruan Xiaozhu hadn’t graduated from university yet, she was managing the company quite well.

Everything was in order and proper.

Of course, this was also because Hua Star Communications’ business was indeed quite simple. They only had one product, which was phone cards, and the sales channels had all been established by Wang Ye in advance.

Ruan Xiaozhu only needed to oversee the company and manage the employees well. The work wasn’t very difficult…

Chapter 284: Take It When It’s Given

As the report drew to a close, Ruan Xiaozhu announced the current cash balance in the company’s accounts.

“After accounting for the company’s normal operating expenses, next month’s line fees, and payroll, the total amount available for dividends is eight hundred thousand US dollars!”

Upon hearing this figure, Wang Ye remained unfazed.

Only eight hundred thousand US dollars? And only half of that belonged to him. What could he even do with that much money?

Liu Jun, however, was thrilled!

He was about to receive four hundred thousand US dollars!

That was even more than what he had gotten from the Qingyun Company’s dividends last time.

With this money, he could buy a house in Moscow and truly settle down.

Of course, he would also return to China for the New Year, buy a large house in the provincial capital, and bring his parents from the countryside to live there.

“Well, you two bosses, should I have finance transfer the money to you later?” Ruan Xiaozhu asked with a smile.

Liu Jun quickly nodded in agreement. “No problem. Finance has my account details. Just transfer it directly to me.”

Wang Ye said, “I haven’t contributed much to this company. It’s mostly been you, Sister Xiaozhu, managing everything. How about this? I’ll give you half of my shares. Let’s split the dividends fifty-fifty this time.”

This phone card company could probably make two to three million US dollars a year. For ordinary people, that was quite impressive.

But for Wang Ye, it held no appeal!

So, he casually gave half of his shares to Ruan Xiaozhu. After all, she was his “elder sister” who had taken good care of him in his past life.

Now that he was successful, he couldn’t just leave his elder sister struggling to make ends meet. That would be unacceptable.

Ruan Xiaozhu couldn’t believe her ears. She stared at Wang Ye with wide eyes.

“Y-you… really want to split the shares fifty-fifty? That’s eight hundred thousand… four hundred thousand US dollars!” she exclaimed in surprise.

Clearly, Wang Ye’s decision was beyond Ruan Xiaozhu’s imagination.

Even the richest people wouldn’t treat hundreds of thousands of US dollars so casually!

Wang Ye nodded and joked, “What? Don’t you want it, Sister Xiaozhu? If you really don’t want it, then just pretend I never said anything.”

Ruan Xiaozhu panicked and quickly waved her hands. “I want it! Of course I want it! But… it feels like too much… How about I just take ten percent of the shares? Taking too much makes me feel uneasy.”

According to Wang Ye’s proposal, half of his fifty percent shares would be twenty-five percent for Ruan Xiaozhu.

But Ruan Xiaozhu wanted it, yet felt it was too much, so she suggested taking only ten percent of the shares.

She felt that this proportion was just right…

Ruan Xiaozhu had thought it through, but Wang Ye didn’t think much about it. He impatiently waved his hand and said domineeringly, “Take it when it’s given. Why all the fuss? It’s just a little money. Pushing it back and forth is just a hassle.”

Well, Ruan Xiaozhu and Liu Jun finally understood what it meant to be “filthy rich.”

Hundreds of thousands of US dollars, shares in a company that made millions of dollars a year, in Wang Ye’s eyes, were just “a little money,” not worth the trouble…

But thinking about the Sun Market Group and the Little Eagle Group that Wang Ye now controlled, he indeed had the right to say such things!

Although Wang Ye had “scolded” her, Ruan Xiaozhu clearly didn’t mind. She pretended to be aggrieved and said, “Why are you so fierce? Then I’ll take it.”

If being scolded could bring such good fortune, Ruan Xiaozhu probably wouldn’t mind being scolded every day…

…

After finishing the official business, Wang Ye asked with a smile, “Is Xiao Hu here today? Let’s call him over later. We can have a meal together. It’s been a long time since we all got together. Today… never mind, Sister Xiaozhu, you treat us to a big meal!”

Actually, it didn’t matter who treated. Among the three present, even the “poorest,” Ruan Xiaozhu, had just received a dividend of twenty thousand US dollars!

And she had acquired a twenty-five percent stake in Hua Star Communications. These shares would conservatively bring her an income of several hundred thousand US dollars each year in the future!

Wang Ye had her treat them, well, it could be said that he wanted Ruan Xiaozhu to “bleed a little,” so she would feel more at ease with the company shares…

“He’s here. That kid Xiao Hu has grown quickly. Now, his family’s company is basically managed by him. His family trusts him to handle such a large company. You know, that kid has really made the company thrive. I heard they’ve entered many supermarket channels. Their shoes are of excellent quality, and they’ve even done OEM for big brands like Nike and Adidas. The prices are reasonable, so they’re quite popular,” Liu Jun said with a smile.

Wang Ye was also a bit surprised. In his past life, he hadn’t had much interaction with Xiao Hu, so he wasn’t clear about his later development.

He really hadn’t expected that this kid was also talented.

Of course, he still couldn’t compare to himself…

“Then call him over. Let’s have a meal together at the Western restaurant on the second floor. I quite like that place,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Liu Jun nodded and stood up. “I’ll go call him. I’ll also arrange some company matters. I’ll be back in about twenty minutes. You two chat first.”

After he left, only Ruan Xiaozhu and Wang Ye remained in the office.

Ruan Xiaozhu gossiped, “Hey, do you know about Yanzi and Song Xiao Gang?”

Wang Ye nodded. “I know. Aren’t they dating? What’s up?”

“A few days ago, I ran into Yanzi at the dormitory. She said she and Song Xiao Gang are going to work together in St. Petersburg. They’ve officially defined their relationship! This Spring Festival, they’re even going back to China together to meet both sets of parents,” Ruan Xiaozhu said mysteriously.

Wang Ye smiled. How could he not know that Yanzi and Song Xiao Gang were going to work together in St. Petersburg?

Because their jobs were provided by Wang Ye…

But he hadn’t expected that the two of them would define their relationship and even go back to China to meet their parents.

They were both young, only in their early twenties. Why were they in such a hurry?

Wang Ye didn’t plan to get married so early in this life. Maybe he wouldn’t even consider it until he was in his thirties or forties.

But not getting married didn’t mean he didn’t have a girlfriend. Those were two different things…

“Speaking of this, what’s going on with you, Sister? You don’t even have a boyfriend yet. That shouldn’t be the case. You’re quite pretty, and you have some money now. There must be many boys chasing after you. None of them caught your eye?” Wang Ye teased.

Hearing this, Ruan Xiaozhu’s face turned red. She glared at Wang Ye and gritted her teeth. “None of your business! I just haven’t met the right one, okay?”

Chapter 285: Returning to Invest

Speaking of Ruan Xiaozhu’s “personal matters,” Wang Ye actually had his doubts about her orientation…

Even in his “previous life,” Wang Ye had never seen Ruan Xiaozhu particularly close to any boy.

Up until the accident, she had never had a boyfriend.

In this life, Ruan Xiaozhu was about to graduate from university, yet she still had no boyfriend, despite the many boys who pursued her.

But this was her personal privacy, and Wang Ye didn’t feel it was appropriate to pry too much.

The best he could do for Ruan Xiaozhu was to give her a career, allowing her to meet more and better people.

Wang Ye changed the subject: “By the way, Sister Zhu, after you graduate next year, will you continue with postgraduate studies or return to China to work?”

Ruan Xiaozhu shot him a glance and said, “Of course I’m staying. As for whether I’ll do postgraduate studies… I’ll decide when the time comes. Maybe I will, but even if I do, I’ll work while studying. Going back to China is so boring—I’m not going!”

Logically, Ruan Xiaozhu’s father had some influence. If she wanted to work in China, he could certainly arrange a good job for her.

But times had changed. Without Wang Ye’s “rebirth,” Ruan Xiaozhu wouldn’t have had the chance to take control of Hua Star Communications, and she would have definitely considered going back to work.

After all, staying in Moscow didn’t offer many good job opportunities.

But now it was different. She had become a shareholder and general manager of Hua Star Communications. Whether in terms of income or social status, she was no worse off than if she had returned!

Plus, Moscow was an international metropolis, far better than going back to her small hometown to be a civil servant.

So Ruan Xiaozhu didn’t want to go back.

“That’s good too. You’re my only family here. If you left, I’d be all alone and pitiful,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Wang Ye was also quite happy that Ruan Xiaozhu didn’t want to return to China.

“But I’m going back for the Spring Festival this year. It’s been a year and a half since I last went back. Are you going back for the Spring Festival?” Ruan Xiaozhu asked with concern.

Wang Ye thought for a moment and hesitated: “It’s hard to say right now. It depends on how busy I am at the time. I have a lot of things to do at the end of the year, so I might not be able to go back.”

In truth, he also wanted to go back during the New Year to see his parents and find a way to leave some money to improve their lives.

He was living a life of luxury in Moscow, driving expensive cars and mingling with the upper class, yet his parents were living frugally in a small county town in China. That was just unacceptable!

Wang Ye wanted to find an opportunity to “to a certain extent” tell his parents some things, at least to make them believe that he had earned a lot of money and they no longer needed to worry about his tuition and living expenses…

If his parents wanted to retire, that would be even better. Wang Ye could let them choose any city to settle down in and buy them a big house for their retirement!

Of course, this possibility was small. After all, his parents were not that old, and they might not want to retire so early.

Especially his father, who was a workaholic…

Talking about returning to China, Wang Ye suddenly remembered something. He smiled and said, “Although I’m not sure about the Spring Festival, I should be going back in a few days, but to Pengcheng, not back to the Central Plains.”

“Ah? What are you going to Pengcheng for?” Ruan Xiaozhu asked in surprise.

“There’s a business deal I need to discuss. It won’t take long. After the discussion, I’ll fly right back,” Wang Ye said without going into detail, as Ruan Xiaozhu wouldn’t understand anyway.

Going to Pengcheng was, of course, for Tencent!

As far as Wang Ye knew, Tencent had also encountered major problems this year and had not escaped the global internet winter.

This year, Tencent was almost on the verge of collapse…

But Tencent, or rather, Pony Ma’s luck was quite good. At the most difficult time, he met a “noble person”!

According to Pony Ma himself, in the most difficult year of 2001, he had once thought of selling Tencent as a package for just three million yuan!

He even shamelessly went to find the CEO of Sohu, Zhang, to sell his company, but the other party flatly refused.

Because Zhang said that Tencent’s software was just a copy of foreign chat software and had no technical content.

If he wanted to, he could have a few programmers create the same software in a month!

And it would have more functions and a better user experience than Tencent.

Three million?

This was just trying to swindle a fool!

Just when Pony Ma was on the verge of despair, the noble person in his life appeared—MIH Investment Company from South Africa.

This company not only invested nearly twenty million US dollars in Tencent but also gave it an extremely high valuation!

Originally, Pony Ma only wanted to sell the company for three million yuan, but the other party directly valued it at sixty million US dollars, making Pony Ma doubt whether they were playing a trick on him…

It was this investment that allowed Tencent to successfully weather the three-year global internet winter and become the giant that almost dominated the domestic internet!

But now that Wang Ye had “returned,” this noble person should no longer be MIH!

…

Just as they were chatting, Liu Jun and Xiao Hu walked in together.

As soon as Xiao Hu saw Wang Ye, he eagerly greeted him: “Ye Ge, long time no see. Have you been busy lately?”

Wang Ye patted Xiao Hu on the shoulder and smiled: “I’m fine, but I’ve heard you’ve been doing great lately, managing the company well and developing the business nicely.”

Xiao Hu quickly waved his hand: “This is just small stuff, nothing compared to Ye Ge. By the way, Ye Ge, I heard that your Sun Market can now do formal customs clearance?”

“That’s right, we just got it done. From now on, customers in the market can get customs clearance documents and no longer have to worry about the tax police seizing their goods,” Wang Ye nodded.

“That’s great! I want to have my family company’s goods cleared through your customs clearance company. The current formal customs clearance company we use has proper procedures, but the efficiency is too low and the speed is too slow,” Xiao Hu said with a frown.

Wang Ye casually replied: “No problem. You can find any stall in the market and use that stall’s name to ship and clear the goods. Shipping from China to here takes about twenty days, and all the procedures are complete, so you can enter any formal sales channel.”

Xiao Hu was overjoyed and quickly expressed his gratitude.

This was the power of the special permit Wang Ye had obtained. For bosses like Xiao Hu who did legitimate business, it was very attractive.

Everyone had arrived, and seeing that it was almost five in the afternoon, the four of them got up to go to the restaurant on the second floor for dinner.

The familiar Western restaurant, the familiar taste, and today’s dinner companions were all old friends. Wang Ye felt a rare sense of relaxation.

Although he often ate with Khovansky, Aby, Gebrev, and even the great emperor, those meals were always exhausting because his brain had to keep working at high speed, afraid of saying the wrong thing.

Today was different. He could joke and say whatever he wanted…

Chapter 286: A Competitor Emerges

By the time they finished eating, it was already past seven o’clock. Everyone was full, and Wang Ye had drunk a little, though not enough to get drunk.

As they all prepared to leave, Ruan Xiaozhu asked with concern, “Are you okay? Can you drive?”

Wang Ye replied nonchalantly, “I’m fine. I only had a little. It’s nothing.”

Indeed, he wasn’t drunk—just a slight flush on his face.

Stepping out of the Alpha Hotel, the black large G-class Mercedes that Seryosha and the others had left behind was parked right in front of the entrance.

Wang Ye paused and asked, “Sister Xiaozhu, are you heading back to the dormitory now? Want a ride? Though you really should buy a car. It’s not convenient to take taxis to and from work all the time.”

“Sure, I was just about to head back,” Ruan Xiaozhu replied with a smile. “Easier said than done. Buying a car isn’t that simple. I usually take taxis, and it’s pretty convenient. But now that I’ve just received a dividend, maybe I can start thinking about it. Hehe.”

She was referring to the dividend from Hua Star Communications.

Since Wang Ye had given her half of his shares, she was set to receive a dividend of two hundred thousand US dollars this time!

That was enough for her to buy a very decent car.

The two got into the car. Wang Ye rolled down the window and waved at Liu Jun and Xiao Hu before driving off toward Moscow State University.

He needed to drop Ruan Xiaozhu off at her dormitory first before heading back to his apartment.

Truthfully, with Wang Ye’s current wealth, renting an apartment was a bit beneath him…

But he was too lazy to change it for now. After all, it was just him and Alyona living there, so there was no need for a huge place.

When the right opportunity came along, he would just buy a top-tier luxury residence!

…

The car pulled up outside the main dormitory area of Moscow State University. Wang Ye stopped the car and said with a smile, “We’re here. Sister Xiaozhu, you seem to have had quite a bit to drink tonight. Go rest up quickly.”

Ruan Xiaozhu shook her head. She hadn’t felt anything at first, but after sitting in the car with the window open, the wind had made her feel a bit lightheaded.

She giggled foolishly, “Little brother, why don’t you come up for a bit? Keep me company, have a cup of coffee, and then leave.”

Wang Ye turned to look at Ruan Xiaozhu. Her fair face was flushed with a charming blush, and her eyes were slightly misty—she must have had a bit too much to drink.

He hesitated. He should probably help her upstairs and keep an eye on her for a while to make sure nothing happened.

But then he remembered what had happened the last time he got drunk with Nalan Yaqi…

He didn’t dare go up. What if something happened again?

Especially since Ruan Xiaozhu was his “cousin,” even if they weren’t blood-related, it still felt wrong!

After some thought, Wang Ye took out his phone and made a call. “Hey, Yanzi, where are you?… Oh, could you come to my cousin’s dormitory later? She’s had a bit too much to drink tonight and needs someone to look after her. I thought of you… Mhm, okay.”

After hanging up, Wang Ye smiled at Ruan Xiaozhu and said, “Alright, I’ve called Yanzi to keep you company. You two are good friends, so it’s more convenient. What would a big man like me be doing in a women’s dormitory? You go back. Yanzi will be here soon. I’m leaving.”

Ruan Xiaozhu stared at Wang Ye for a moment, then suddenly huffed and pushed open the car door.

As she closed it, she slammed it shut with extra force, making a loud “bang” that startled Wang Ye.

He had no idea what had gotten into Ruan Xiaozhu, but he didn’t bother asking. He waved at her, stepped on the gas, and the large G roared away.

Ruan Xiaozhu stood there, watching the black large G disappear into the distance, and spat out angrily, “Look at you, acting so stupid!”

Then she laughed. Now, looking at her, there was no trace of drunkenness…

…

Investing in Tencent in Pengcheng was no idle talk—Wang Ye had already taken action.

A few days earlier, he had sent Milner to Pengcheng as an advance party to make initial contact with Tencent and gather some information.

After Milner arrived, he quickly reported back that Tencent was indeed in dire straits—they couldn’t even pay their employees’ salaries.

Pony Ma was desperately looking for buyers to sell the company as a whole.

However, MIH had also begun reaching out to Tencent and had sent people to Pengcheng to negotiate with Pony Ma.

After hearing Milner’s report, Wang Ye furrowed his brow. He was a step too late.

If he had invested in Tencent before MIH made contact, he could have saved a fortune!

But now that MIH was involved, any investment would mean facing competition.

Wang Ye wasn’t too concerned, though. No matter the valuation, investing in Tencent would yield massive returns in the future—there was no risk of losing money.

And when it came to financial strength, what could MIH possibly compare to him?

North Polar Bear Company’s accounts still held over nineteen billion US dollars—more than the total assets of MIH’s parent company, the South African media conglomerate!

Without hesitation, he told Milner directly, “I’ll leave tomorrow. First, I’ll handle some business in the capital, then fly straight to Pengcheng. Set up a meeting with Tencent. I’ll visit their company in three days!”

The reason for going to the capital was to check on the branch office of Little Eagle Group.

This was something Liu Mei had set up herself, and it was supposedly doing well. Wang Ye decided to take a look while he was there.

After all, there were no direct flights from Moscow to Pengcheng—he had to transfer in the capital anyway.

This time, Wang Ye didn’t bring anyone with him—not even bodyguards like Seryosha.

After all, he was going to China. No one would dare harm him there…

Bringing a whole entourage of bodyguards would just be showing off, which wasn’t a good idea.

In Russia, Wang Ye could afford to be high-profile, but back in China, he needed to keep as low a profile as possible.

…

The direct flight from Moscow to the capital took about eight hours—a true long-haul journey.

Even though Wang Ye was in first class and had slept on the plane, by the time he landed at the capital’s airport, he still felt awful.

Due to the time difference, it was still afternoon in China. As soon as he stepped out of the international arrivals hall, he saw Liu Mei waving at him from a distance.

She had come to pick him up.

“You came back alone?” Liu Mei asked, surprised.

In Moscow, she had seen Wang Ye always surrounded by a group of people…

“The staff have already been sent ahead to Pengcheng,” Wang Ye replied with a smile. “Besides, I’m just here to take care of a few small things. No need to make a big fuss.”

“Alright, let’s go. First, we’ll rest at the hotel, then head to the company. I’ll host a welcome dinner for you tonight,” Liu Mei said warmly.

Chapter 287: Buying Out the Entire Floor

“No need, let’s go to the company first. Business comes first,” Wang Ye said.

Liu Mei didn’t insist. She led Wang Ye to the parking lot, preparing to drive him to the company.

Upon arriving at the parking lot, Wang Ye noticed that Liu Mei had changed her car. She used to drive a Jetta, but now she had a luxury car—the newly released Audi A6!

In those days, the Audi A6 was practically synonymous with “official car” in China!

This flat-headed, flat-brained A6 was probably the third generation. The first two generations were called Audi 100 or Audi 200, and they had just been renamed Audi A6.

In China, only officials at the division chief level or above could ride in this car!

And it was extremely popular. If you wanted to buy one, you had to pay a premium…

Wang Ye joked, “Not bad, Director Liu. Driving this car, people won’t be able to figure out your background. They’ll think you’re some high-ranking official!”

Liu Mei smiled embarrassedly and explained, “In the capital, you have to maintain appearances. Driving a good car can sometimes have unexpected benefits. Besides, I’m representing the image of Little Eagle Group now. It wouldn’t look good if I kept driving that old car.”

The initial expenses for the branch company were all paid out of Liu Mei’s own pocket, including buying the car and renting office space!

It was clear that she had gone all out, investing a lot of money.

But from this, it was also evident that Liu Mei was a smart woman. She had seen that Little Eagle Group would become a money-making machine in the future.

Even though she didn’t hold a large share, she would still make a lot of money.

So she sold her original company and poured all her assets into this branch.

…

Sitting in the car, Wang Ye looked around and felt that this little Audi wasn’t bad.

At least it was much better than the A6 from a decade later. Full leather interior, V6 engine—this was what a luxury car should be.

Of course, compared to his Mercedes large G-class, it was still lacking…

After all, the price was there. One large G-class could buy several A6s.

Liu Mei started the car and drove toward the city center.

“By the way, I forgot to ask you, where is the branch located?” Wang Ye asked.

Liu Mei smiled proudly and teased, “You’ll know when we get there. It will definitely satisfy you!”

Wang Ye raised an eyebrow. Liu Mei was quite confident. His standards were not low, and it wasn’t easy to satisfy him.

The car sped along the highway. At that time, the capital wasn’t as congested as it would be later. Although the roads were busy, they weren’t yet at the level of gridlock.

And there weren’t many good cars. Most were cheap cars like Santanas, Jettas, and Fukangs.

Occasionally, you could see an Audi 100, but Mercedes and BMWs were rare.

Wang Ye sighed inwardly. The country wasn’t wealthy enough at that time.

In another ten or twenty years, the streets of the capital would be like a luxury car exhibition. Mercedes, BMWs, and Audis wouldn’t even get a second glance. Only cars like Lamborghinis and Maseratis would be considered good.

But at that time, apart from Wang Ye, probably no one could imagine how much the country would change in a decade!

…

The car drove smoothly into the city.

Wang Ye wasn’t very familiar with the capital. In his previous life, he had only stayed here for half a year, and he had long since forgotten what it was like.

In this life, he hadn’t been to the capital much either.

Looking out the car window at the rows of low, dilapidated buildings, his heart swelled with emotion.

If he took the two billion US dollars invested by the polar bears and bought all the land and houses in the capital…

He estimated that in a decade, the return on investment wouldn’t be inferior to investing in internet companies!

But Wang Ye was just thinking. He would never do that.

Not to mention whether pouring so much money into the capital’s real estate market at once would attract attention or even malicious eyes.

The money earned from investing in the internet and the money earned from investing in real estate were completely different!

The former was a high-tech industry. Not only could you make a lot of money, but you could also gain prestige and reputation!

The latter might get you cursed as a “property speculator.” You might make money, but your reputation would stink…

Moreover, Wang Ye’s investment in those internet giants wasn’t just for money. Through those companies, he could also get in touch with more industries and get more opportunities!

For him, these invisible benefits were more important.

Before long, Liu Mei drove to a towering building and said with a smile, “We’re here. What do you think?”

Wang Ye looked up through the windshield. The building was very tall, about forty or fifty stories high. It looked like a giant cylinder, and the exterior walls were all tea-colored glass curtains.

He knew this place!

One of the landmarks of the capital—China World Trade Center!

He had to admit that Liu Mei had really gone all out. The branch was located here, and the rent wasn’t cheap.

Whether it was now or a decade later, the rent at China World Trade Center was almost the ceiling for office rents in the capital…

“Not bad, not bad. This place isn’t cheap, is it?” Wang Ye exclaimed.

“Hehe, I rented the smallest office, only two hundred square meters. The rent is sixty thousand a month. It’s okay,” Liu Mei said proudly.

With that, she drove the car into the underground parking lot. This should be China World Trade Center Phase II, which had just opened last year and wasn’t very busy yet.

The underground parking lot wasn’t full.

After getting out of the car, the two took the high-speed elevator to the thirty-sixth floor, where the company was located.

Top-tier office buildings were different. This place was much better than the office buildings in Moscow. Even the headquarters of Yukos couldn’t compare to this!

Not to mention Alpha Hotel…

The corridor had marble floors that shone like mirrors, the walls were decorated with natural stone panels, and every corner was spotless.

Liu Mei had rented 36-A, which was the smallest area.

According to her introduction, this floor only had her company, and the rest was empty.

But the branch hadn’t officially started operating yet because it was still in the soft decoration stage. The building provided hard decoration, so they only needed to do some soft decoration and buy some office furniture to move in and start working.

Liu Mei took Wang Ye on a tour of the empty company.

Wang Ye was quite satisfied with this place.

But he had a new idea. If he wanted to develop in China in the future, he would need a “headquarters.”

Obviously, China World Trade Center was a good choice.

In a few years, it would probably be difficult to rent office space here. While China World Trade Center Phase II had just opened, it was the perfect time to secure an entire floor.

So he said to Liu Mei, “You said earlier that this floor hasn’t been rented out yet?”

Liu Mei nodded, not knowing why he was asking.

“Later, go and rent out the entire floor… No, if possible, buy it outright!”

Chapter 288: Increasing Investment

Liu Mei looked at Wang Ye in surprise, hesitating before speaking, “Chairman Wang… do you know how big this floor is and how much it costs?”

Wang Ye shook his head and replied frankly, “No. Do you?”

“I asked when I was renting office space. This floor is about three thousand square meters! It can be purchased, but each square meter costs over thirty thousand yuan. Buying the entire floor would cost one hundred million yuan! Plus, there’s a hefty monthly management fee. I… I don’t have that kind of money.” Liu Mei said with a worried expression.

She thought Wang Ye was asking her to buy the floor herself.

One hundred million yuan!

Even if she were killed, she couldn’t come up with that much money. Liu Mei had been in business for many years, and her net worth was barely a few million yuan. Ten million was already a stretch.

Now, asking her to come up with one hundred million yuan all at once was like asking for her life…

Wang Ye smiled faintly, “Who said you have to pay for it? The company will pay, of course. Here’s what we’ll do: I’ll have the group inject one hundred million US dollars into the subsidiary here. First, we’ll take out one hundred million yuan to buy this floor. The rest of the money will be useful later.”

The group he referred to was, of course, the Little Eagle Group.

Currently, the Little Eagle Group’s company account still had several hundred million US dollars in cash, apart from Wang Ye’s own funds, which included the investment capital from the Ho family.

This money, apart from being used for hotel renovations, was also meant for promotions and other purposes.

At least one hundred million US dollars would be spent on domestic promotions!

Hearing Wang Ye say this, Liu Mei immediately brightened up. As long as she didn’t have to pay, everything was fine. Forget buying one floor; even buying the entire China World Trade Center Phase II wouldn’t be a problem!

She quickly nodded, “Of course, no problem! If the group wants to buy the building, just leave it to me. I’ll make sure it’s done beautifully. You can rest assured, Chairman Wang.”

Wang Ye felt differently about Liu Mei now.

After all, he and Nalan Yaqi had finally broken through that barrier…

Liu Mei could be considered half his “mother-in-law,” so she was family!

So, Wang Ye decided to increase the investment in the domestic subsidiary and give Liu Mei more authority. He couldn’t treat her too poorly.

…

There wasn’t much to see here since it was still under renovation.

Wang Ye left the company and took a look at the entire floor. As Liu Mei had said, apart from their subsidiary, the entire floor was empty.

Later, when they bought the entire floor, they could renovate it together.

Oh, and they could also set up an office for the Polar Bear Investment here. After all, the floor area was large enough, and the Little Eagle Group’s subsidiary wouldn’t need that much space.

The hotel Liu Mei arranged for him was right across from the China World Trade Center, very close.

In fact, the China World Trade Center area was one of the busiest in the capital, and whether it was office buildings, restaurants, hotels, or shopping malls, everything was high-end.

After putting his things down at the hotel and washing his face, Wang Ye sat down with Liu Mei to drink water and discuss the future work plans for the subsidiary.

When the time was right, the two went downstairs to eat together…

…

Wang Ye only stayed in the capital for one night, and nothing happened.

The next morning, he had Liu Mei drive him to the airport, and he took a direct flight to Pengcheng.

On the other side, Milner and the others were already waiting for him.

Another nearly four-hour flight, which was almost like flying from the northernmost part of the motherland to the southernmost…

Wang Ye finally arrived in Pengcheng.

He was too familiar with this city in his “previous life”!

After returning to the country, he came here and struggled for more than ten years.

It could barely be considered his “third hometown.”

His first hometown was, of course, his old home in the Central Plains, his second hometown was Moscow, and Pengcheng was third…

But the Pengcheng of 2001 still felt quite unfamiliar to Wang Ye. After all, when he came to Pengcheng in his previous life, it was almost 2010, and the Pengcheng of ten years ago had undergone earth-shaking changes!

Without exaggeration, Pengcheng was the city with the strongest “vitality” in the country, period.

It changed especially quickly, with a major transformation every two or three years. The real start of reform and opening up here should have been in the early 1990s, so by 2001, it had only been about ten years.

But in these ten years, Pengcheng had undergone a metamorphosis and was beginning to take shape.

The skyscrapers here were no fewer than those in the capital, and the entire city was like a huge construction site, with construction happening everywhere.

As soon as he left the airport, he saw a large banner hanging outside the arrival hall: “Time is money, efficiency is life!”

Such a slogan could probably only be seen in Pengcheng at that time…

Milner had specially rented a car to pick up Wang Ye at the airport.

After picking up Wang Ye, the two got into the car, and Milner quickly began to brief Wang Ye on the situation.

“I’ve been in continuous contact with Tencent over the past two days. They are very welcoming of our investment. However, at the same time, the MIH Investment Company from South Africa has also expressed strong investment interest. Now, it’s as if both our companies want to invest in Tencent. This has made Chairman Ma’s appetite grow, saying he needs to consider it and then look at both of our investment proposals before making a decision…”

Wang Ye listened and nodded. He was still a bit slow.

If he had seized the opportunity to invest in the first half of the year, Tencent wouldn’t have been worth much at all!

Of course, Tencent wasn’t worth much even now. Pony Ma’s initial expectation was only three million yuan.

But because of the simultaneous appearance of Polar Bear Investment and MIH Investment, Pony Ma’s appetite had suddenly grown!

This was normal. If it were Wang Ye, his appetite would probably be even bigger…

“It’s fine. Have you arranged a meeting with them? I want to meet the founders of Tencent this afternoon and finalize the deal as soon as possible.” Wang Ye said casually.

“Mmm, it’s already arranged. At two o’clock this afternoon, at Tencent’s headquarters.” Milner nodded.

…

The car drove to a five-star hotel in the FT Zone, where Milner and the others were staying. Wang Ye naturally stayed here as well.

At this time, Tencent’s office was still in Huaqiangbei, renting a rather shabby floor of an office building, not far from the hotel where Wang Ye and the others were staying.

After settling in, Wang Ye didn’t have time to rest and immediately called a meeting.

The staff of Polar Bear Investment each reported on their work. They each had their own duties, some doing due diligence, some doing evaluations, and their reports were all different.

Actually, Wang Ye didn’t need to listen to any of this.

Because he was determined to invest in Tencent!

No one could stop him!

MIH from South Africa was giving Tencent a valuation of tens of millions of US dollars, wasn’t it?

No problem. Wang Ye planned to give Pony Ma an even bigger surprise…

Chapter 289: A Choice Must Be Made

While Wang Ye was listening to his subordinates’ reports, not far from his hotel, in a nearby tech park, Pony Ma was also in a meeting with several of the company’s founders at Tencent.

The topic of discussion, naturally, was the investment offers from Polar Bear Investment and MIH Investment Company to acquire shares in Tencent!

Pony Ma sighed and said, “These past few days feel like a dream!

The first half of the year was so tough. I was begging everywhere for investment, but no company was willing to give us a single cent!

We even tried to sell the company, but we couldn’t even get three million for it, and we were humiliated!

Honestly, I thought our company wouldn’t survive the year.

But these past few days, it’s like our luck has turned. Two powerful companies are fighting to invest in us!

Now, the problem is deciding whose money to take—it’s a happy dilemma, haha…”

Zhang, the deputy general manager in charge of finance, also spoke with a smile, “Yes, a few days ago, MIH Investment Company directly offered us a valuation of sixty million US dollars. At first, I thought I misheard, or they misspoke, so I double-checked several times! I never imagined our company was worth so much? Even now, I’m still wondering—what exactly makes Tencent so valuable that we haven’t discovered yet?”

The meeting room filled with cheerful laughter. Indeed, Tencent being worth sixty million US dollars was something no one could have imagined just a few days ago!

However, some expressed doubts. Another deputy general manager hesitated before speaking, “A high valuation is good, but… is that MIH company really reliable? They’re from South Africa, and we’ve never heard of them before…”

Pony Ma had clearly considered this as well. He waved his hand and laughed, “Don’t worry about that. I already asked Little Superman to look into it. This company is indeed a subsidiary of the South African media conglomerate. Their financial strength might not be overwhelming, but coming up with one or two million US dollars shouldn’t be a problem.”

According to MIH Investment Company’s proposal, they would acquire thirty-five percent of Tencent’s shares for fourteen million US dollars in cash!

Then, based on the shareholding ratio, they would add an additional six million US dollars in investment to maintain the company’s normal operations and development.

This would require all shareholders to contribute; otherwise, their shares would be diluted.

The thirty-five percent of shares they intended to acquire included twenty-five percent held by Little Superman from Hong Kong!

It was known that in 2000, Little Superman from Hong Kong had invested over two million US dollars to acquire twenty-five percent of Tencent’s shares.

In just over a year, even as the global internet industry was still in a winter, the value of his shares had multiplied several times, and he had successfully cashed out ten million US dollars.

It could be said that Little Superman had played a significant role in MIH’s investment in Tencent, so his shares enjoyed the priority right to exit.

The remaining ten percent of shares would be used to acquire shares from Pony Ma and other founders.

This way, Pony Ma and the others would receive five million US dollars in cash!

Of course, they might not be able to keep all this money, as the company would need to raise funds through additional shares. If they didn’t invest, their shareholding ratio would be diluted.

But that was a matter for later. For now, they couldn’t worry about so much—they needed to secure the five million US dollars first!

…

“What’s the situation with Polar Bear Investment? Does anyone know their background?” Pony Ma asked.

This Polar Bear Investment had just emerged and had only started contacting Tencent in the past few days.

They hadn’t yet provided a clear investment plan or valuation, only telling Tencent not to rush into accepting MIH’s investment, as Polar Bear Investment would offer an amount they couldn’t refuse!

The tone was indeed bold, but it was also very attractive…

Pony Ma and his team hadn’t immediately agreed to MIH’s investment proposal—they were waiting for Polar Bear’s offer.

According to the bald Milner, their investment company’s boss was flying in today and would come to the company in the afternoon for final negotiations.

So, Pony Ma and his team took the opportunity to hold a meeting while they still had time, to unify their stance in preparation for the afternoon’s negotiations.

“I’ve been talking a lot with Milner these past few days. According to what he revealed, the parent company of Polar Bear Investment is actually the Yukos Group from Russia!” Zhang, the deputy general manager, said mysteriously.

Unfortunately, aside from him, everyone else in the meeting room looked confused.

Pony Ma asked blankly, “What does the Yukos Group do?”

This wasn’t surprising. Different industries were like different worlds. They were all in internet technology and had never even left the country. Their knowledge was limited to European and American internet companies; they had no understanding of traditional energy companies like Yukos.

Moreover, Yukos was a Russian company, so it was no wonder Pony Ma and his team were unfamiliar with it.

Zhang helplessly explained, “The Yukos Group is Russia’s largest oil giant. It’s said that this one company’s oil production accounts for nearly eighty percent of Russia’s total output! It’s an absolute monopoly. Yukos’s boss, Khovansky, is Russia’s richest person, with a net worth of over twenty billion US dollars!”

This statement caused a wave of astonishment in the meeting room.

Terms like “oil giant” and “monopoly” didn’t mean much to them, but when they heard “net worth of over twenty billion US dollars,” everyone was stunned…

Wow, that’s way too rich!

Pony Ma’s eyes lit up, and he quickly said, “Does that mean Polar Bear Investment’s financial strength is much greater than that of the South African MIH?”

“Yes, on paper, Polar Bear Investment is indeed much stronger than the South African MIH. It’s said that recently, this company spent fifty billion US dollars to acquire the Siberian Oil Company, causing a sensation in Russia. They’re really loaded,” Zhang said in amazement.

Don’t think Pony Ma was being snobbish—this was unavoidable.

Investment wasn’t a one-time thing; there might be a need for large amounts of continuous funding later. So, internet startups like Tencent hoped to find a financially strong investment company as a strategic investor in the early stages!

One that was generous with money, giving as much as needed, and wouldn’t interfere in the company’s internal affairs.

Such an investment company was the dream of all internet companies…

“Sigh, I hope Polar Bear offers a satisfactory price this afternoon. Our company can’t hold on much longer. We need to decide in the next few days whether to choose the South African MIH or Polar Bear. If we don’t get investment soon, we won’t even be able to pay next month’s salaries,” Pony Ma sighed.

Chapter 290: Wanting More

Pony Ma and his team were in high spirits after their good fortune, so caught up in discussing the afternoon’s affairs that they skipped lunch entirely.

In the end, they decided that if North Polar Bear Company could offer better terms than South Africa’s MIH Company, they would accept North Polar Bear’s proposal.

After all, between the two companies, North Polar Bear was clearly the stronger one.

This would also be highly beneficial for Tencent.

With North Polar Bear as a cornerstone investor, they would be less likely to cash out their shares, providing Tencent with stable, long-term financial support!

In the future, when Tencent needed funding for expansion, they might not have to scramble for investors—North Polar Bear could consistently provide substantial capital!

Of course, “better terms” came with specific demands.

First, Pony Ma wanted North Polar Bear to offer a higher valuation!

Although South Africa’s MIH had ostensibly valued Tencent at sixty million US dollars, their actual investment didn’t reflect this.

They were only willing to pay fourteen million US dollars for a thirty-five percent stake, prioritizing the purchase of twenty-five percent from Little Superman in Hong Kong.

Pony Ma and the other founders could only part with ten percent of their shares.

The remaining six million US dollars would be used for share expansion, meaning Pony Ma and his team would have to contribute proportionally…

This would leave them with little to no profit, and their shares would be significantly diluted.

According to MIH, the global internet was in a winter, making it impossible to invest at full valuation—some “discount” was necessary.

Without North Polar Bear’s involvement, MIH’s offer would have far exceeded Pony Ma’s expectations!

Even if they only received six million US dollars for fifty percent of the company, they would have accepted…

Second, Pony Ma hoped North Polar Bear would be more straightforward.

Unlike MIH, who played games, forcing them to give up shares without much cash in return.

After years of hard work, they had seen little financial gain—who wouldn’t want a million or more to improve their lives?

After the discussion, everyone agreed with Pony Ma’s points.

They decided to present these demands during the afternoon negotiations!

………………..

Time quickly passed, and it was soon two in the afternoon.

Deputy General Manager Zhang’s phone rang. He glanced at it, his face lighting up. “They’re here! It’s Milner calling.”

“Answer it quickly,” Pony Ma urged nervously.

After a few “mm-hmms” and “ahs,” Zhang hung up and announced, “North Polar Bear’s people are already downstairs. Their boss is here!”

“Let’s go, everyone! Let’s welcome our esteemed guests,” Pony Ma said hurriedly.

Everyone stood up and left the meeting room, heading to the office building’s entrance to greet the North Polar Bear team.

Late August in Pengcheng was scorching.

After just a few minutes outside, they were all drenched in sweat, but no one cared about that now.

Pony Ma’s eyes suddenly brightened. “They’re here! Everyone, stand up straight!”

Two old-fashioned black Mercedes pulled up one after the other.

Sure enough, the cars stopped in front of the building. With the sound of doors slamming shut, the bald Milner and several others stepped out.

Pony Ma immediately spotted the young man at the center of the group, surrounded like the moon among stars!

He was stunned.

Not only did the young man look surprisingly young, but he wasn’t the Russian Pony Ma had imagined.

Instead, he was a black-haired, black-eyed… Chinese?

Before he could recover, Milner quickly stepped forward and introduced, “Chairman Ma, CEO Zhang, this is our North Polar Bear Investment’s President, Mr. Mikhail. Oh, by the way, he’s a Chinese-Russian, so he speaks Chinese. Communication will be much easier in the future, haha.”

Wang Ye naturally noticed Pony Ma. Although this was the “younger” Pony Ma, with his fair skin, scholarly demeanor, and glasses, he didn’t look much different from his future self.

He greeted them in Mandarin with a smile, “Chairman Ma, pleased to meet you.”

Pony Ma snapped out of his daze, his face breaking into a wide grin. “Mr. Mikhail, welcome, welcome! I didn’t expect your Chinese to be so good.”

After a few pleasantries, the heat outside made further conversation uncomfortable.

Under Pony Ma’s lead, everyone entered the office building.

………………..

The building itself reflected Tencent’s current struggles.

The old, dilapidated office was a chaotic mix of delivery workers coming and going. There were no proper passenger elevators—only two massive freight elevators that groaned and creaked as they operated…

Pony Ma, slightly embarrassed, chuckled awkwardly, “We plan to relocate after securing funding. For now, we’re making do.”

Wang Ye didn’t mind, casually remarking, “Many great companies started in garages—Microsoft, Apple, for example. I believe that one day, Tencent will look back on these humble beginnings as a proud part of its history.”

Pony Ma’s heart swelled with joy!

Clearly, Mr. Mikhail had high hopes for Tencent, even comparing it to Microsoft and Apple!

Once they reached the large conference room, everyone took their seats.

The makeshift conference table, pieced together from several flat tables, was far from impressive.

Tencent’s founders sat on one side, while North Polar Bear’s representatives took the other.

Pony Ma began by welcoming everyone on behalf of Tencent before getting to the point.

He spoke earnestly, “Tencent’s current situation is no secret—we’re facing difficulties. However, we are the undisputed leader in mainland China’s instant messaging software, both in user numbers and market share!

It’s because of this that South Africa’s MIH has already presented a favorable investment proposal.

We were nearly finalizing the deal when North Polar Bear reached out to us.

I hope today’s discussion will be open and sincere, with both sides bringing their best offers to the table.

We aim to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement as soon as possible.

Otherwise, we may have to accept MIH’s offer.”

His words were reasonable yet firm—a subtle warning not to take advantage of their situation!

Though Tencent was struggling, its future was bright. Otherwise, why would North Polar Bear be so eager to invest?

What they valued was Tencent’s potential…

Chapter 291: Overwhelming with Cash

At Polar Bear Investment Company, everyone remained silent, leaving Wang Ye to take charge since he had arrived.

After listening to Pony Ma, Wang Ye gave a slight smile.

He understood Pony Ma’s feelings—after being poor for so long, they had finally encountered two “gods of wealth,” and now they were both shocked and delighted, yet anxious.

They didn’t want to ask for too little, as that would mean losing out.

But they also didn’t dare to demand too much, fearing they might scare away the gods of wealth!

So, they could only express their stance “within limits,” trying to strike a balance between humility and pride.

However, Wang Ye had no intention of making things difficult for them. After all, they were his fellow countrymen, and investing in Tencent would indeed bring him enormous returns in the future.

Spending a little more now to strengthen his emotional ties with Tencent’s founders was quite necessary.

He straightforwardly said, “I’ve heard about it. The other party values Tencent at sixty million US dollars? But will they actually give you two or three million in cash? Can you really get that money in hand?”

These questions stumped Pony Ma.

He didn’t know whether to answer truthfully, and he didn’t dare to lie.

Who knew if Polar Bear Investment already knew the details of South Africa’s MIH Company’s offer?

If they did, and he lied, that would be too embarrassing!

Deputy General Manager Zhang, who was more diplomatic, stepped in to smooth things over. “Well, we naturally can’t disclose the details of their offer. But what we can reveal is that their offer is indeed very generous and quite satisfactory. With MIH’s investment, Tencent can last at least another year and a half before needing the next round of funding.”

Wang Ye nodded. He didn’t know the exact details of MIH’s offer, but Milner and his team had only gathered a rough estimate.

But it didn’t matter. Wang Ye believed that once he made his offer, Pony Ma and the others would immediately forget about MIH…

Curling his fingers, he tapped the table lightly, producing a “bang bang” sound as he frowned in thought.

Everyone in the meeting room stared intently at this young man, for his next words would truly decide the future of Tencent!

…

“Valuation at one hundred million. We’ll pay fifty million to acquire fifty percent of the existing shareholders’ shares. Additionally, following the principle of parity, we’ll invest another twenty million in cash into the company. The remaining shareholders can choose to follow with additional investments or opt out,” Wang Ye declared decisively.

Pony Ma blurted out, “US dollars?”

“Of course,” Wang Ye replied with a smile.

This meant Wang Ye valued Tencent at one hundred million US dollars!

Far exceeding MIH’s sixty million valuation…

More importantly, Wang Ye’s investment plan was overwhelmingly superior!

Fifty million in cash to buy out the shareholders’ stakes—this meant that Pony Ma, Little Superman, and the others would each receive a massive sum!

Additionally, Polar Bear would inject another twenty million into the company as operating funds.

The remaining shareholders could also choose to invest proportionally, ensuring their stakes wouldn’t be diluted!

Wang Ye had come to settle this with a single blow—using money to stun Pony Ma and the others!

In this internet winter, his offer was the best possible deal. No other investment firm could outbid him…

…

Pony Ma and the others were too stunned to speak, lost in anxious contemplation.

If they accepted Polar Bear Investment’s offer, how much of their shares should they sell? And during the additional investment phase, should they follow or forgo their right to invest?

Tencent’s current shareholder structure was relatively simple. Last year, Little Superman had invested two million US dollars, securing a twenty-five percent stake.

Besides that, a state-owned enterprise in Pengcheng held fifteen percent.

The remaining sixty percent belonged to the founders, including Pony Ma.

Pony Ma personally held thirty-five percent, while Deputy General Manager Zhang and five others held twenty-five percent collectively.

In this round of funding, Little Superman had already announced his intention to exit, and he indeed had the priority right to cash out, as agreed in the previous round.

Thus, out of Polar Bear’s fifty million US dollars, Little Superman alone would take twenty-five million!

Thinking of this, Pony Ma felt a pang of envy.

Little Superman’s investment had paid off handsomely—last year, he had put in two million, and in just one year, he had made ten times his money!

But this was what he deserved.

After all, when Little Superman invested last year, Tencent’s situation wasn’t much better than it was now—it was on the brink of collapse…

Honestly, even now, no one, including Pony Ma, truly believed in Tencent’s software. While it was an important part of internet applications, with high user numbers and frequent usage—what professionals called “high monthly and daily active user rates”—every company ultimately needed to turn a profit.

No one had yet figured out how this thing could make money…

Just look at ICQ, the global leader in instant messaging software. It was far stronger than Tencent, sweeping the world!

But in the end, it never found a way to monetize and had to “sell out” to America Online. Fortunately, it fetched a good price, turning the founders into billionaires overnight!

The only reason Pony Ma and the others had held on this long wasn’t out of some grand vision.

Their ultimate dream was the same as ICQ’s—to build the company up and sell it for a good price…

…

“Uh… Mr. Mikhail, could you give us some time? We need to discuss this proposal,” Pony Ma said nervously.

Wang Ye naturally had no objections. He waved his hand and smiled. “Of course, but please be quick. I hope to settle this today. I have to return to Moscow tomorrow and don’t have much time to spare here.”

“Of course, of course. We’ll discuss it right away and won’t take up too much of your time,” Pony Ma hurriedly replied.

The Tencent founders all stood up and moved to the adjacent small meeting room to discuss.

Besides Little Superman’s twenty-five percent stake from Hong Kong, they needed to decide how much of their own shares to sell to Polar Bear Investment!

Clearly, no one would refuse to sell at this price—it was an opportunity that might never come again…

Chapter 292: Nova is Coming

In the adjacent small meeting room, Deputy General Manager Zhang spoke first: “For this twenty-five percent stake, I suggest dividing it into ten portions. Apart from Chairman Ma, the six of us each get one portion—no one gets the short end of the stick. The remaining four portions naturally go to Chairman Ma since he holds the most shares.”

Everyone listened and felt this plan was reasonable.

Dividing it into ten portions meant each portion was two and a half percent of the shares, worth two million five hundred thousand US dollars!

Based on everyone’s shareholdings, after selling this two and a half percent, each person would still retain between one to three percent of the shares.

Little Superman himself held thirty-five percent of the shares. Taking four portions would require him to give up ten percent of his shares, but the return was substantial—he could take away ten million US dollars!

Calculating it this way, everyone was making a fortune…

Little Superman immediately beamed and said, “Old Zhang’s idea is great! It considers everyone’s interests. I approve!”

Others also chimed in:

“I approve too!”

“Not bad, let’s do it this way.”

“Old Zhang really knows his finance; he’s good at calculations…”

Since everyone agreed, the matter was settled!

Deputy General Manager Zhang hesitated for a moment before asking, “Should we negotiate the price with Polar Bear Investment…”

Before he could finish, Little Superman interrupted him.

“No! They’ve already offered such a high price. If we’re still not satisfied, it would make us look too greedy! That’s not good!” Little Superman shook his head repeatedly.

“Yeah, this price is honestly too high; it feels unrealistic. If we’re still not satisfied, what if they think our startup team is too money-driven and not worth investing in? Then we’d be in trouble,” another deputy general manager disagreed.

Most of them were from technical backgrounds, not as calculating, and were easier to satisfy.

Moreover, the price Mr. Mikhail offered was indeed too high, so Little Superman and his team didn’t even consider negotiating further.

Hearing everyone’s opinions, Deputy General Manager Zhang could only spread his hands helplessly and say, “Then minority obeys the majority. I also think this price is acceptable.”

…

Their discussion was incredibly swift. In less than ten minutes, they returned to the large meeting room.

Wang Ye had just lit a cigarette and hadn’t even finished it when he saw Little Superman and the others entering one after another.

He smiled, extinguished the cigarette, and asked, “How did it go? Did you reach a decision?”

“We did! The company’s founders unanimously approved Mr. Mikhail’s proposal! As for the other two major shareholders, I’ll communicate with Little Superman from Hong Kong; there shouldn’t be any issues there. The other one, the state-owned enterprise from Pengcheng, had already decided not to transfer shares or participate in any company management, so we don’t need to consider them,” Little Superman said decisively.

“Do we need to communicate with South Africa’s MIH Company?” Milner interjected.

Little Superman looked at Deputy General Manager Zhang, who was in charge of finance and fundraising.

Deputy General Manager Zhang understood immediately and responded, “No need. I’ll notify them later. We’ve discussed with them before, and their offer is pretty much set with no room for negotiation.”

It was clear that the people from Tencent had already decided to choose Polar Bear Investment Company for this round of funding!

There was no comparison. South Africa’s MIH was also a good choice, but that was before Polar Bear Investment appeared…

Now, comparing the two investment proposals, even a fool would know which one to choose!

Wang Ye laughed heartily and said, “Alright! Since there are no objections within your company, this is settled! Let’s sign the preliminary investment agreement now. As long as the due diligence results are fine, the funds will be transferred immediately.”

He had come today to finalize this decision.

Of course, there was still a lot of detailed work to follow, but Wang Ye wouldn’t handle that; Milner and his team would take care of it.

Milner took out the investment proposal, which had been prepared in advance, from his briefcase.

Wang Ye, representing Polar Bear Investment Company, and Little Superman, representing Tencent, each signed and stamped the document, reaching a preliminary agreement.

After signing the contract, Little Superman excitedly extended both hands, firmly shaking Wang Ye’s hand, and said, “Thank you, Mr. Mikhail, and thank you, Polar Bear Investment Company. This money is truly a lifesaver! Please believe that with financial support, Tencent’s business will develop by leaps and bounds!”

Wang Ye smiled, patting his arm, and said, “I personally have high hopes for Tencent’s future. Don’t worry about the money; go ahead and be bold. When you need further funding, just contact our company directly. I can say this today: no matter how much Tencent needs to raise in the future, our company will follow through!”

Wang Ye was also very satisfied with today’s investment.

He had spent seventy million US dollars to acquire fifty percent of Tencent’s shares!

Even after several rounds of funding, especially the one before going public, his shareholding might be diluted somewhat.

But no matter what, his shareholding would not fall below forty percent!

This percentage made him the undisputed largest shareholder!

When Tencent went public, it would be a tech giant worth hundreds of billions of US dollars…

…

At this point in time, there was another company in China worth investing in—Alibaba!

But after careful consideration, Wang Ye decided to pass on this company.

Because Alibaba already had SoftBank’s support!

Investing at this stage would require a large amount of capital, and SoftBank might not be willing to let go.

So there was no need for that.

Moreover, Wang Ye’s impression of the Taobao platform wasn’t particularly good. In his previous life, he rarely bought anything on Taobao, preferring JD.com instead…

So he planned to support JD.com in the e-commerce sector!

But JD.com’s emergence would take a few more years; the current “East Brother” was probably still selling printing equipment in Zhongguancun…

After finalizing the investment in Tencent, Wang Ye didn’t stay long in Pengcheng. The next day, he crossed the border to Hong Kong and then flew back to Moscow.

…

Upon returning to Moscow, it was already late August.

Alyona told Wang Ye that her sister, Nova, was coming to Moscow!

The last time Wang Ye and Alyona went back to their hometown in Yalta, Nova had said she wanted to come to Moscow for university.

She also wanted to attend the same university as her sister and “brother-in-law,” which was the University of Friendship!

She had successfully applied for a place and scholarship at the University of Friendship and would be starting soon…

Chapter 293: A Different Brother-in-Law

Nova was coming to Moscow to study, so Wang Ye, as her “brother-in-law,” naturally had to go pick her up.

Unfortunately, Natalia had already returned home a few days earlier. Otherwise, the “three sisters of Yalta” could have reunited in Moscow.

At around three in the afternoon on August 25th, Wang Ye and Alyona set off directly from the Sun Market to the airport.

Nova’s flight was about to arrive.

She had taken a direct flight from Simferopol, the capital of Crimea, to Moscow. This was the fastest way, much better than enduring a day and night on a train.

Of course, the plane ticket was also much more expensive than a train ticket!

If it had been before, Nova might not have been able to afford a plane ticket, and her family’s financial situation wouldn’t have allowed it.

But now, Alyona must have been helping out at home. After all, her monthly salary was quite high.

Wang Ye had not treated Alyona poorly.

In addition to her monthly salary of five thousand US dollars from the Sun Market Group, Wang Ye had also given Alyona a nominal position as a “consultant” at the Little Eagle Group, with a monthly salary of another five thousand US dollars!

Of course, what exactly this consultant “consulted” on was known only to Wang Ye…

This arrangement was necessary.

Although Alyona and Wang Ye were very close, she never asked him for money. Even when Wang Ye had tried to give her some pocket money, she had politely refused.

At heart, she was quite independent and self-respecting, not wanting to be seen as a girl who coveted Wang Ye’s wealth.

So Wang Ye first found a reason to significantly increase Alyona’s salary at the Sun Market Group, then arranged for her to have a nominal position as a consultant at the Little Eagle Group.

All in all, Alyona’s monthly income had reached ten thousand US dollars, not even counting the year-end dividends.

After all, it wasn’t year-end yet…

This income was enough to make her a high-income earner even in Moscow!

However, Alyona seemed not to have told her family about Wang Ye’s true situation, only saying that his business was doing well and he had made some money…

…

Three black large G-class Mercedes were parked in a row outside the arrival hall of the airport.

Normally, this area wasn’t supposed to be used for long-term parking, but the Russians here didn’t care about that. Many “black taxis” were parked along the roadside. Only when airport security occasionally came to shoo them away did they pretend to start their cars and move forward a short distance.

Wang Ye’s caravan was quite conspicuous here, clearly not to be trifled with.

So those dark-haired drivers of the black taxis stayed far away, not daring to approach.

As soon as the car stopped, before anyone could get out, Alyona received a call from Nova—she had arrived!

That was perfect. Wang Ye and Alyona didn’t need to get out. They just told Nova to come out of the arrival hall to the roadside, where they would wait for her in the car.

“I’ll go sit in the front… Never mind, Seryosha, you go to the back car. I’ll drive. The back seat is for you and Nova.” Wang Ye said with a smile, then pushed open the car door and went to the front driver’s seat.

Although the back seat of the large G-class Mercedes wasn’t small, and three people could squeeze in, there was no need for that…

…

Nova dragged a huge suitcase, struggling as she walked out of the arrival hall.

She looked around but didn’t see her sister. Just as she was about to take out her phone to make a call, she heard her sister’s familiar voice calling her name from not far away.

Looking in the direction of the voice, Nova was stunned.

Because she saw three very “arrogant” black large G-class Mercedes parked by the roadside!

Her sister Alyona was sitting in the back seat of the middle car, waving at her with the window open.

Nova’s first thought was, “My sister has found a rich man!”

Otherwise, it was hard to explain why she was sitting in a Mercedes large G-class.

Nova clearly remembered that her “brother-in-law” Mikhail drove a white Toyota, which was far inferior to the Mercedes large G-class!

Oh, Alyona hadn’t told Nova that she was coming to pick her up with Wang Ye.

She quickened her pace and arrived at the car. Through the window, she blurted out, “Sister, did you break up with Misha?”

This girl still had a conscience, remembering to ask if her “brother-in-law” had been dumped by her older sister…

This question caught Alyona off guard.

But before she could react, Wang Ye’s voice came from the front seat, “What nonsense are you talking about? When did I break up with your sister?”

Nova heard Wang Ye’s voice and stood on her tiptoes, peering through the window. She saw Wang Ye turning his head and smiling at her.

She sighed in relief, patting her chest, “Thank goodness, I thought you two had broken up.”

Wang Ye and Alyona exchanged a glance, not understanding what was going on with this girl…

They got out of the car to help Nova load her luggage into the trunk. As Nova helped lift the suitcase, she curiously asked, “Brother-in-law, you changed your car? Is this… your car?”

Wang Ye nodded, casually saying, “Yeah, I changed it.”

Nova looked at the other two large G-class Mercedes in front and behind, originally wanting to ask what those two cars had to do with Wang Ye, but she didn’t ask.

Because she thought it must be a coincidence, just three identical cars happening to be parked here waiting for people…

After the luggage was loaded, the two got into the car, and Wang Ye started the engine.

Nova didn’t have time to talk to Alyona. She first looked around the car’s interior, clicking her tongue in admiration, “Wow! This car is really different. The interior is so nice.”

Wang Ye drove forward, joking, “You’re a college student now. How about your brother-in-law gives you a large G-class? Then you can drive to and from school.”

Nova was both surprised and delighted, just about to thank her brother-in-law, but Alyona stopped her.

Alyona scolded, “She’s just a child. How can she drive such a good car? Besides, she lives in the dormitory, which is just a few steps away from the main building. She doesn’t need a car at all!”

Nova was studying finance, and her classes were in the main building, just across the street from the dormitory area.

To be honest, there really was no need for a car.

Nova understood this herself, so she hung her head in disappointment and didn’t argue with her sister.

She turned her head to look out the window and seemed to notice something. Surprised, she said, “Huh! Why are those two large G-class cars following us? Could it be…”

Wang Ye understood her concern and casually replied, “Don’t worry, those are my bodyguards.”

This statement made Nova realize something. She turned her gaze to Wang Ye.

She discovered that this “brother-in-law” of hers seemed different from a few months ago!

She couldn’t quite put her finger on what was different…

Chapter 294: You Underestimate Your Brother-in-Law

“You… you’ve even started hiring bodyguards? Brother-in-law, what kind of business are you actually doing now?” Nova exclaimed in astonishment.

It made sense—she had always lived in the small city of Yalta, where no local boss needed bodyguards when going out.

She had seen such things on TV, but those bosses who required bodyguards were all business tycoons.

She certainly didn’t think Wang Ye could grow from a small-time boss to a business tycoon in just a few months!

That would be too absurd!

Wang Ye smiled but didn’t have time to answer—he was still driving.

Alyona hesitated for a moment before asking Wang Ye, “Should we tell this little one?”

She meant whether they should tell Nova about his businesses. After all, Nova had come to Moscow, and as her own sister, they would be in frequent contact. Keeping some things from her would be difficult.

But whether to tell her and how much to reveal was something Alyona wasn’t sure about—she needed to ask Wang Ye.

Wang Ye smiled faintly, unconcerned. “Nova isn’t an outsider; we’re all family. Just tell her directly—no need to hide anything.”

Listening to their conversation, Nova felt completely confused. What kind of riddle were they playing at?

Before she could ask further, Alyona turned to her and said, “Aren’t you curious about what kind of business Mikhail is doing now, why he can drive such a luxury car, and why he needs bodyguards?”

Nova quickly nodded—how could she not be curious!

Alyona explained further, “You don’t need to know the specifics, but what you should know is that Misha is now the boss of three major corporate groups!”

Nova’s eyes widened instantly. The term “corporate group” sounded anything but ordinary!

And he was the boss of three of them!

“Wow! How big are these corporate groups? Are they as big as… as the Yalta Winery back home?” Nova asked curiously.

The “Yalta Winery” she mentioned was the largest company in Yalta, even one of the biggest wineries in the entire Crimean Peninsula—it was practically a “pillar industry” of the region!

So in Nova’s eyes, this winery was already a major company. She assumed her brother-in-law’s companies must be of similar scale…

Alyona let out a soft laugh—she couldn’t help it; her little sister really hadn’t seen much of the world!

She said, slightly exasperated, “Don’t compare them to those small companies back home. Any one of Misha’s companies could match a hundred Yalta Wineries!”

Nova was left speechless. She couldn’t even imagine what a hundred Yalta Wineries would look like…

Wang Ye, still driving, chuckled and said, “Don’t scare the kid. My companies are just average. Oh, Nova, you must have heard about it—the Livadia Palace in Yalta is being acquired and turned into a grand hotel.”

Nova immediately nodded. “Yes, yes! Everyone in Yalta is talking about it. They say a major Russian company is investing in Yalta, turning the Livadia Palace into a five-star hotel and developing tourism there.”

“That major Russian company is Misha’s—it’s called the Little Eagle Group. And the Yalta project is just one of three investments by the Little Eagle Group. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, the Little Eagle Group will also build five-star hotels,” Alyona said with a hint of pride.

Of course, she felt proud—her boyfriend had achieved so much!

Although Alyona had only mentioned one of Wang Ye’s companies, it was already enough to shock Nova.

Three five-star hotels?!

How much would that cost…

After a long pause, she hesitantly asked, “So… is Brother-in-law a billionaire now?”

Looking at Wang Ye’s current lifestyle—the luxury car, the bodyguards, and the major company her sister had just mentioned—Nova felt her brother-in-law must already be a legendary “billionaire.”

Wang Ye smiled and joked, “A billionaire? You’re underestimating your brother-in-law!”

“Huh?” Nova was at a loss.

Alyona rolled her eyes at Wang Ye, though he couldn’t see it…

“Don’t tease the kid; you’ll scare her,” Alyona scolded.

Wang Ye laughed heartily but didn’t say more.

Alyona turned to Nova and said earnestly, “Nova, you’re about to start university, and you’re not a child anymore.

So about your brother-in-law—Misha’s—accomplishments, we haven’t hidden them from you. But you need to understand that those are his achievements, and they have nothing to do with you!

If you want to settle in Moscow or live a better life in the future, you’ll have to rely on yourself!

At the right time, your sister and Misha might give you a hand, but we won’t just give you money!”

She almost slipped and called him “brother-in-law” again.

But her words were also a warning to Nova—not to think that just because her “brother-in-law” was wealthy, she could stop working hard and rely on her sister and brother-in-law for support.

Nova was a sensible girl. She immediately nodded and replied, “Sister, Brother-in-law, don’t worry. I’ll study hard in school and won’t cause you any trouble. But after I graduate from university, can I work at Brother-in-law’s company?”

She wasn’t foolish—she knew that in Russia today, getting into university was easy, but finding a good job was extremely difficult!

Though she wouldn’t be a “parasite” and wouldn’t ask her sister and brother-in-law for money, asking her brother-in-law for a good job shouldn’t be too much…

Wang Ye laughed heartily. “Of course! When the time comes, you can pick any of my companies. Oh, aren’t you studying finance? I have an investment company—you can work there. It’ll match your major.”

He was, of course, referring to Polar Bear Investment Company.

Hearing that Wang Ye also had an investment company, Nova asked excitedly, “Really? My dream job is to work in investment banking! The pay is great, and you get to travel the world spending money—it’s such a comfortable job!”

Alyona was speechless. “It’s an investment company! It’s not about spending money recklessly—it’s about investing to make money!”

“Hehe, it’s pretty much the same. Oh, Brother-in-law, what does your investment company invest in? Is it big?”

“It currently has two billion US dollars in funds and has already acquired MAIL.RU and Yandex,” Wang Ye introduced briefly.

Nova had used the internet before, so she naturally understood what these two companies meant in the Russian online world!

At this point, she was no longer surprised.

From the moment she got into the car until now, in just over ten minutes, she had been “shocked” too many times…

Chapter 295: Where Will Nova Stay?

The car pulled up in front of the apartment building where Wang Ye and Alyona lived.

Wang Ye got out and waved to the two cars behind him, signaling that they could head home for the day.

Seryosha still got out of the back car and helped carry Nova’s large suitcase upstairs.

As the door opened, Nova followed Alyona into the living room, looking around.

“This place is nice, but it doesn’t seem quite fitting for a billionaire like you, brother-in-law,” she said with a laugh.

Alyona shot her a look and retorted, “And what do you think a billionaire should live in?”

“Hmm… probably a big estate, or even a castle, with hundreds of servants and a British butler in a tailcoat. You know, the kind who walks around with his hands behind his back, asking, Can I help you, sir? Hahaha…” Nova laughed at her own joke, clearly amused by the image.

Wang Ye walked in just in time to catch the end of their conversation.

He chuckled and said, “You know, if I ever find the right estate, I might actually buy one. Not for any other reason—just to hear a butler with a proper London accent ask me, Can I help you, sir!”

Buying an estate or mansion was a real possibility.

As for the British butler, that was just a joke…

But for now, Wang Ye had no interest in such extravagance. His career was just taking off—it wasn’t time to indulge yet.

…

There was no denying that Nova’s arrival brought a lot of laughter to Wang Ye and Alyona’s otherwise quiet lives.

Both Wang Ye and Alyona were naturally calm and reserved, so their home was usually peaceful.

But Nova was lively, her face always lit up with a bright smile that could lift anyone’s spirits.

And she loved to talk, especially with people she was close to…

Wang Ye had planned to take the sisters to the Turandot Restaurant for dinner as a welcome for Nova.

But Alyona stopped him, saying they could go another time. Tonight, she wanted to cook for her sister herself—let Nova taste whether her cooking had improved!

There was no arguing with that. When they first met, Alyona’s cooking skills were… basic, to say the least. She could manage a steak or some mashed potatoes, but that was about it.

But after she and Wang Ye became serious, her cooking improved by leaps and bounds!

Whenever she had free time after work, she would follow cooking shows or look up recipes online, experimenting in the kitchen.

She wasn’t quite at the level of a “professional” like Song Xiao Gang, but for everyday meals, she was more than capable.

And she could cook both Chinese and Russian dishes…

…

Of course, Nova stayed the night.

Naturally, the two sisters took the master bedroom, leaving Wang Ye to sleep alone in the smaller room.

As for where Nova would stay once school started, the three of them discussed it seriously over dinner.

Alyona thought Nova should stay in the dormitory. The University of Friendship’s dorms weren’t far from the apartment, and the conditions were decent enough—nothing to complain about.

But Wang Ye argued that Nova could stay at home or that they could rent another apartment nearby. After all, no dorm could compare to an apartment in terms of comfort.

Especially the University of Friendship’s dorms—they were nothing special. Moscow State University’s dorms were much better.

Since money wasn’t an issue, why make Nova suffer?

Nova hesitated. Deep down, she wanted to stay here.

Proximity breeds opportunity, after all. Since her brother-in-law was so successful, it would be foolish not to take advantage of the situation!

Though she called him “brother-in-law,” she knew there was still a distance between them—they weren’t that close.

But if she lived with him…

No, no, not like that—just in the same apartment.

Being around him all the time would help her get closer to him, right?

From that perspective, staying here would be much better.

But she couldn’t say that out loud. What if it caused misunderstandings between Wang Ye and her sister? That would be even worse…

…

Wang Ye and Alyona couldn’t convince each other, still debating, when Alyona suddenly had an idea.

Her eyes lit up. “I know what to do! If you think the regular dorms are too basic for Nova, then there’s another option. Don’t you remember? The University of Friendship has high-rise dorms. The conditions there are much better—private rooms, newly built elevator apartments. That should be good enough for Nova.”

Wang Ye nodded in agreement. He knew the high-rise dorm Alyona was talking about.

Back when Alyona was a teacher, she had lived there.

That building was the best in the University of Friendship’s dormitory area—and, of course, the most expensive.

The regular dorms were shared rooms for three people, with no private bathrooms. Each floor had a shared bathroom and kitchen.

If you wanted to shower, you had to go to the basement, where the facilities were… basic.

Just two rows of hot water pipes with no showerheads…

(Of course, Wang Ye was describing the men’s shower room. He had no idea what the women’s side looked like—he’d never been in there.)

And the hot water in the University of Friendship’s dorms was strange—full of impurities!

If you poured a cup of hot water, it looked like “milk mixed with water,” completely cloudy…

The regular dorms were cheap, but living there was far from comfortable—nothing like Moscow State University’s dorms!

But the high-rise elevator dorms were much better.

Like Moscow State University’s, each suite had two small bedrooms for two people, with a private bathroom where you could shower.

The only downside was that you still had to use the shared kitchen on each floor, but everything else could be done in your room.

The conditions were far superior to the regular dorms.

Of course, the cost was much higher.

A month in the high-rise dorm cost one hundred and fifty US dollars!

For an average student—or for Wang Ye when he first arrived in Moscow—that was completely unaffordable.

(And Nova couldn’t afford it either.)

But that didn’t matter. Alyona would cover the cost, and one hundred and fifty dollars was nothing to her—or to Wang Ye, for that matter.

In the end, they decided Nova would stay in the high-rise dorm.

She was still a student, after all. They couldn’t let her stand out too much—she had to keep up appearances…

Chapter 296: This Is Fate

Before the start of the new semester, Nova naturally stayed at home since her dormitory application hadn’t been approved yet.

Wang Ye, on the other hand, managed to find some time to stay with Katya and Nalan Yaqi for a couple of days…

Since the Little Eagle Hotel had begun renovations, Katya no longer stayed there and had moved back.

Fortunately, she and Alyona didn’t live on the same floor, which helped avoid any awkward encounters.

Alyona knew that Wang Ye was staying with Katya, and she had long since accepted this woman’s presence without saying anything.

However, for two nights, Wang Ye had actually been with Nalan Yaqi, but Alyona still thought he was with Katya…

Nalan Yaqi lived right next door, making Wang Ye nervous and cautious, not daring to make any noise.

Even inside the room, he moved stealthily, like a thief.

Thankfully, Alyona didn’t have the habit of visiting neighbors, otherwise, the secret might have been exposed…

Wang Ye hadn’t figured out how to tell Alyona about Nalan Yaqi, so he decided not to say anything for now. He would deal with it when the situation became unbearable.

………………..

The dormitory area of the University of Friendship had become lively.

As the new semester approached, most students had returned to campus, and every dormitory building was bustling with people.

But the liveliest of all was undoubtedly Building No. 6!

This was the preparatory courses building, and most of the students in this year’s preparatory courses at the University of Friendship were Chinese exchange students!

In fact, these exchange students came from two regions of the same province in China, and they had trained together for several months, so they were already familiar with each other…

So if you came to Building No. 6, you might feel as if you had arrived at a dormitory building of a university in China. Almost everyone you saw had yellow skin, and almost everyone you heard spoke Mandarin!

Oh, this Mandarin usually had a Central Plains accent…

Song Xiao Gang stood at the door of his dormitory, staring in amazement at the noisy crowd of new students in the hallway.

He knew that Wang Ye and the others had set up a study abroad agency and had brought in many students from China.

But it wasn’t until these students actually arrived that Song Xiao Gang understood what “many” really meant…

Almost half of the preparatory courses building was filled with Chinese students! This building could be renamed the “Chinese Dormitory Building”!

However, Song Xiao Gang didn’t have the mood to chat with these new students. He was about to move to another dormitory building because he had graduated from the preparatory courses and naturally couldn’t stay in the preparatory courses building anymore.

Today was his moving day. Fortunately, boys didn’t have much luggage. After packing, everything could fit into one large suitcase and two canvas bags.

Moreover, even if he moved to the new dormitory, he probably wouldn’t stay there for long…

Song Xiao Gang had already told Wang Ye that a few days after the start of the semester, he would go to St. Petersburg with Yanzi!

However, his school registration and dormitory would be kept, and he would come back to take exams, greet people, and do some paperwork. The exams were very easy to pass.

Getting a diploma was important for when he returned home. After all, his family had sold everything to send him abroad, and it would be hard to explain if he didn’t bring back a diploma.

Of course, Song Xiao Gang’s mind was no longer on school.

Wang Ye had provided him with a big enough stage, and how much he could achieve in the future depended on himself.

…………

As soon as he carried his suitcase downstairs and reached the lobby, he ran into Zhang Ke, who was rushing in.

This guy didn’t go back to China during the summer vacation. He was busy driving and making money. The vacation was the golden time for running “black taxis,” and it was said that Zhang Ke had earned a lot of money.

Moreover, this guy’s personality had changed recently. He was no longer as annoying, and his rogue-like demeanor had disappeared. He had become much more polite, smiling at people before even speaking.

If you didn’t know him well, it would be hard to imagine that Zhang Ke half a year ago was a completely different person…

Perhaps the big environment abroad could really change a person.

Wang Ye was a given, but Song Xiao Gang had also changed a lot in the past six months, and Zhang Ke was the same…

“Hey, Xiao Gang, are you moving?” Zhang Ke greeted first.

Song Xiao Gang nodded and asked, “Have you moved your dormitory? Your department should be moving to… Building No. 4?”

“Yeah, I moved a few days ago. Ugh, I’m so unlucky. I’m sharing a room with an Indian and a black guy. The smell is unbearable…” Zhang Ke looked a bit depressed as he said this.

Song Xiao Gang couldn’t help but laugh. Zhang Ke was indeed unlucky.

Among the exchange students, the most unpopular were the Indians.

They ate curry every day, which had a strong smell, and they were generally messy.

What was even more unbearable was that when they went to the bathroom to do their business, they didn’t bring toilet paper but carried an empty drink bottle.

At first, some Chinese exchange students didn’t understand why the Indians brought a bottle to the bathroom. Did they drink water while doing their business…

Later, everyone realized that they used it to wash…

In theory, this was a good hygiene habit. Washing with water was definitely cleaner than wiping with paper.

But the problem was that they didn’t wipe with paper first but washed directly…

If it were a Chinese person, they would probably feel like they couldn’t use that hand anymore!

The most ridiculous thing was that Indians didn’t use utensils when eating. They used their hands directly.

Although they distinguished between left and right hands, with the left hand for washing and the right hand for eating, when they cooked and cut vegetables, they couldn’t operate with one hand, so the left hand was often used, which made others feel disgusted…

As for the black guys, they were actually okay, except for their strong body odor. There weren’t too many other problems.

Especially the black guys who spoke French. Their overall quality was relatively high.

Like the black guy in Wang Ye and Song Xiao Gang’s dormitory, he was a good person, kind, studious, and very particular about personal hygiene. They were considered “high-quality” black guys.

…………

“By the way, which building are you moving to?” Zhang Ke asked.

“Building No. 8, room 306. Come visit when you have time.” Song Xiao Gang said casually.

After chatting for a while, the two went their separate ways. Song Xiao Gang still had to move, while Zhang Ke was busy meeting the new Chinese exchange students and handing out his business cards.

After all, he was in the service industry, so it was important to meet potential customers.

Song Xiao Gang carried his suitcase to room 306 in Building No. 8, not far away. The dormitory door was open, and a black guy was busy cleaning the room inside.

When he saw Song Xiao Gang, he grinned, revealing his white teeth.

Coincidentally, this black guy was the one who had shared a dormitory with Song Xiao Gang and Wang Ye during the preparatory courses!

He and Song Xiao Gang were in the same major, and they had applied for dormitories at the same time, so they were assigned to the same room.

This was fate.

As for the other empty bed in the room, there was nothing on it yet because it belonged to Wang Ye…

Chapter 297: He Turns Out to Be a Prince

A few days ago, when Wang Ye paid his tuition, he also paid his dormitory fees.

It wasn’t much money anyway—only forty-five dollars a month, just over five hundred dollars a year.

Though he usually stayed at his apartment, who knew when he might want to return to school to relive the student experience…

So he had Song Xiao Gang find the dormitory manager and assign his bed to the same room as Song Xiao Gang’s.

Once school started, their roommate Xiao Hei would probably be thrilled. Since Wang Ye and Song Xiao Gang rarely stayed there, the large room would be all to himself.

“Song, do you need any help? Have you moved all your things in?” Xiao Hei asked with concern as he saw Song Xiao Gang carrying bags of belongings.

Song Xiao Gang smiled and shook his head. “No need. I don’t have much, just one trip. This room is already clean—why did you clean it again?”

Their dormitory had flooring… vinyl? Or something like plastic, thick and patterned with dark yellow tiles.

This material seemed rare in China but was common among the Russians.

The good thing about it was that it was easy to clean. No matter what dirt got on it, a wipe with a damp cloth made it look brand new.

Xiao Hei was crouched with a basin of water and an old towel, scrubbing the floor.

The cleaned floor was spotless—you could walk barefoot in the room!

Anyone who had lived in a university dormitory knew how lucky it was to have a clean roommate.

And both Song Xiao Gang and Xiao Hei were such people…

So their dormitory was cleaner than most girls’.

Xiao Hei smiled shyly. “I’m used to it at home. After I finished unpacking, I saw the floor was a bit dirty, so I cleaned it again.”

Though they had lived together for nearly a year, Song Xiao Gang had never talked about their families.

Before, it was because of the language barrier—they could only communicate with simple Russian and gestures. But now, their Russian had improved greatly. With nothing else to do, Song Xiao Gang chatted with Xiao Hei while unpacking.

“Mumu, which country are you from? You told me once before, but I forgot,” Song Xiao Gang asked.

Xiao Hei’s real name was “Muwami Paul Kajiameru…”—a very long name!

His friends and classmates usually called him “Mumu,” similar to how Wang Ye’s Russian name was “Mikhail” with the nickname “Misha.”

Clearly, Mumu was used to people not knowing his country. He didn’t mind at all and answered with a smile: “I’m from Burkina Faso, a small country in West Africa. Oh, it was once colonized by France, so French is the official language there.”

Song Xiao Gang silently repeated “Burkina Faso” several times but eventually gave up. The name was too awkward—hard to remember…

Also, he had never heard of such a country before!

“How many people are in your country? How’s the economy… I mean, compared to other African countries?” Song Xiao Gang asked.

Obviously, Africa had almost no wealthy countries, so comparisons could only be made within the continent.

Mumu pursed his lips and shook his head. “Very poor, extremely poor! Our country has a lot of people—over sixteen million—but the economy is very backward, relying mainly on agriculture and livestock. There’s almost no industrial system.”

Song Xiao Gang was a little surprised. He hadn’t expected this unknown country to have over ten million people!

In Asia, that might not be much—after all, Asia had many “monster” countries…

But in Africa, it should be considered a fairly large country!

However, he wasn’t surprised by Mumu’s description of their economy relying on agriculture and livestock—weren’t most African countries like that?

To liven the mood, he joked, “I heard there are still many tribal chiefs in your area. You wouldn’t happen to be some kind of prince, would you?”

“Yeah, my father is the chief of the largest tribe of the Mossi people in the Voltaic region. If you put it that way, I guess I am a prince. But in our place, we don’t call it that. People respect my father, not me. And until I become a tribal chief, I have no special privileges,” Mumu grinned.

His words truly shocked Song Xiao Gang.

So he had been living with an African prince for a year…

“You… you’re not joking, are you?” Song Xiao Gang stared at Mumu in disbelief.

Mumu shrugged. “You might not know, but many of the black exchange students here are so-called princes and princesses. Otherwise, with how poor our countries are, we couldn’t even afford the plane ticket to Moscow. Even then, it’s only possible with some scholarships and because our families are relatively wealthy locally.”

Song Xiao Gang realized that made sense!

Many African countries were so poor that only the non-ordinary could send their children abroad to study.

And with so many tribal chiefs there, it wasn’t strange to have princes and princesses around.

But he couldn’t equate Mumu’s “prince” status with his own impression of princes.

Mumu had already explained—his father was just the chief of a large local tribe. How large that tribe was remained unknown.

It might only have a few thousand people, equivalent to a natural village in China…

Then the chief would be like a village head!

Or perhaps, African chiefs and princes were far less significant than those in the Middle East—they weren’t comparable at all!

Still, even so, Song Xiao Gang looked at Mumu differently now.

His dark face seemed to have become more refined…

…

In late August, students were busy with the start of the new semester.

Though Wang Ye was about to officially enter university as a “soon-to-be” college student, he clearly didn’t have his mind on enrollment.

As for the University of Friendship, he had already settled things with the foreign affairs office under the name “Wang Ye.” For the next few years, he wouldn’t even need to show up and could still graduate with “excellent” grades.

He might even snag an “Outstanding Graduate” honor…

On the other hand, following Khovansky’s arrangements, Wang Ye had also applied for a degree at Moscow State University under the name “Mikhail.”

As for his major—Khovansky had chosen it directly: political science!

Chapter 298: Freshman Year

Because of his “dual identity,” and the possibility that his Russian identity might one day be “forced” onto the political stage, Wang Ye had considered this issue.

He planned to let the identity of “Wang Ye” gradually fade away.

That meant avoiding public appearances as “Wang Ye,” visiting the University of Friendship less often, and skipping classes…

Over time, fewer and fewer people there would remember him.

After all, everyone was busy with their own lives—either working part-time, finding business opportunities, or making friends and playing on computers…

Hardly anyone would care about someone unrelated to them, even if that person had once been slightly famous.

Of course, even if some people still recognized “Mikhail” as “Wang Ye,” it didn’t matter.

His political career would only go as far as becoming a “Duma parliament member.” Climbing any higher was nearly impossible.

This was already the peak of his career…

As long as he remained aligned with the great emperor and had the great emperor’s support, no one could question his identity!

…

Time passed, and by early September, universities had reopened, and freshmen had arrived.

The main campus of Moscow State University was bustling with activity.

This was Russia’s top university, where almost all the “second-generation” elites gathered.

At the University of Friendship, you rarely saw students driving to school, but at Moscow State University, it was a completely different story.

Not only did students drive, but many drove luxury cars!

Especially in the summer evenings, Sparrow Hill, where Moscow State University was located, became a gathering spot for wealthy second-generation car enthusiasts, most of whom were Moscow State University students.

The parking lot in front of the main building gradually filled with cars.

From the cheapest Lada to better models like Toyota and Hyundai, to entry-level luxury cars like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and even high-end sports cars like Porsche—you could see them all!

Wang Ye had also come to register and attend classes. To avoid drawing attention, he had made some preparations.

The large G-class Mercedes was definitely out of the question—it would attract attention wherever it went!

So, Wang Ye had Katya buy him a used Toyota Camry…

It only cost a little over twenty thousand dollars.

A car like this, parked in front of the main building of Moscow State University, would never stand out.

It was just an ordinary mid-range car—not too expensive, not too cheap, just right…

He also took off his usual Ermenegildo Zegna and Armani suits, replacing them with an Adidas Trefoil tracksuit.

Instead of his polished Oxford shoes, he wore Converse canvas sneakers.

His usually neatly combed hair was tousled, falling loosely on his head.

In short, the current Wang Ye looked like a vibrant university student!

And not just any student—he looked like a freshman!

If Boss Kong, Anton, or Katya saw him now, they probably wouldn’t believe this was the “Mikhail” they knew!

…

Someone had already taken care of Wang Ye’s enrollment paperwork, and he had received his student ID.

From now on, when he visited the dormitory area of the main building to see Ruan Xiaozhu, he wouldn’t need her to come down and meet him—he was now a Moscow State University student himself!

Following the directions on the sign in front of the main building, Wang Ye made his way to a large classroom on the third floor.

There weren’t many students in the political science department. After all, Moscow State University had many excellent programs—mathematics, physics, law, and others were the university’s flagship disciplines.

Even if you studied something like computer science, medicine, economics, or finance, you’d have good job prospects in the future.

Those who chose to study political science were likely from “special” families.

Of course, there was another group that willingly studied political science—because it was one of the easiest departments to graduate from.

Clearly, that group was the Chinese exchange students…

At Moscow State University, Chinese exchange students knew that the two easiest departments to graduate from were sociology and political science!

However, far more Chinese students studied sociology than political science.

The reason was simple—tuition for sociology was much cheaper than for political science…

Wang Ye was in Political Science Class (1)…

Oh, their department only had one class this year!

There were thirty-two students in total, including five Chinese students (not counting Wang Ye), and the remaining twenty-seven were Russians.

Of course, Wang Ye could also be considered a “Russian,” since his registration listed Mikhail’s nationality as Russian…

…

As Wang Ye entered the classroom, a wave of chatter greeted him.

Everyone was a freshman, busy introducing themselves and getting to know each other.

He was the last to arrive; the other students had been there for a while.

As he walked in, several students nodded and smiled at him, greeting him warmly.

Wang Ye smiled in return and found an empty seat.

Behind him sat the five Chinese exchange students.

Three boys and two girls, they were chatting together when they saw Wang Ye and assumed he was another Chinese exchange student.

One of the boys reached out from behind and tapped Wang Ye’s shoulder, smiling as he said, “Hey, buddy, how come I never saw you in preparatory courses? You didn’t transfer from another school, did you?”

It made sense. If he had taken preparatory courses at Moscow State University, they would have all been in the same classes and would have at least recognized each other after a year.

So, he assumed Wang Ye had transferred from another school—meaning he had taken preparatory courses elsewhere, earned his certificate, and then enrolled in a department at Moscow State University.

This was a common situation.

Perhaps domestic students would find it hard to imagine, but in Russia, transferring between universities was incredibly easy.

You could even study your first and second years at the University of Friendship and then transfer to Moscow State University for your third year, and you’d still graduate with a Moscow State University diploma!

Of course, this required good academic performance and excellent Russian language skills to negotiate with the department head.

Not many Chinese exchange students could reach that level…

…

When someone tapped his shoulder, Wang Ye turned around and smiled, replying in Russian, “Hello, my name is Mikhail. I’m Russian.”

The Chinese students behind him were stunned.

They scrutinized Wang Ye for a long time before one of the girls finally said, “You’re joking, right? Russians don’t look like you…”

Wang Ye helplessly replied in Chinese, “I’m not joking. I really am Russian, but I’m also Chinese-Russian.”

The Chinese exchange students exchanged glances, starting to believe him.

“You speak Chinese really well. Your Mandarin is quite standard. By the way, are you from Moscow? Do you have a girlfriend?” the girl asked with great interest.

As she spoke, she exchanged a glance with the girl next to her, giving her a meaningful look…

Chapter 299: I Am Chinese-Russian

It had been said before—female exchange students abroad were far more open than their male counterparts!

Wang Ye’s good looks were indeed impressive, and with the added bonus of his “Russian of Chinese descent” identity, the two girls instantly took a great interest in him.

There were plenty of handsome Russian guys, but Chinese female exchange students rarely dated them.

The thing was, back in China, girls were used to being “doted on” by boys, but Russian men didn’t share that “hobby.” In fact, they were quite the opposite—chauvinistic to the core.

The female exchange students simply couldn’t stand it and didn’t dare pursue Russian boyfriends.

On the other hand, male exchange students preferred Russian girlfriends—great figures, stunning looks, and wonderful personalities.

The two girls were interested in Wang Ye precisely because of his “Chinese-Russian” background. His fluent Mandarin made him far more appealing than a pure Russian.

Hearing the girls’ question, Wang Ye hadn’t even responded yet when the three male students already felt a pang of jealousy.

There were far more male exchange students than female ones.

It was already a case of “too many wolves, too little meat,” and the three of them were still single. They had been trying to get close to these two girls, hoping for a chance to make friends, but Wang Ye’s arrival had stolen all the attention.

One of the guys sourly remarked, “Why even ask? Mikhail—Mikhail, right? He’s Russian. Isn’t it easy for them to chase Russian girls? How could he not have a girlfriend? He probably has two or three!”

Strangely enough, though he was just talking nonsense, he had actually hit the mark.

But Wang Ye couldn’t admit it. He just laughed and said, “Haha, you’re right, but only one.”

Hearing that Wang Ye already had a girlfriend, the two girls looked disappointed, while the three guys smirked.

As long as he wasn’t competing with them, he was a good buddy!

Honestly, these two girls were quite plain. They couldn’t compare to Alyona, Nova, or even Nalan Yaqi, who was far more beautiful!

Wang Ye had no interest in them at all.

As for the three guys, Wang Ye was just being polite. He had no intention of getting close to them.

In his past life, he had spent years in school and knew all too well the kind of people these exchange students were—especially those studying “social sciences,” “economics,” “politics,” or “journalism.”

Without exaggeration, every single one of them was just there to coast through and get a diploma.

Some couldn’t even manage that. They skipped classes, holed up in their dorms playing games all day, or worked part-time as translators at the Large Market to make money.

After a few years in Russia, they still couldn’t speak the language properly. They couldn’t even hold a basic conversation with a Russian.

After graduation, few of them amounted to anything. If their families had some business, they could go back and inherit it.

But if their families were just average, their futures were pretty bleak.

Of course, there were exceptions—students like Ruan Xiaozhu, Yanzi, and Song Xiao Gang, who took their studies seriously and had good grades.

Some were even more outstanding, pursuing doctoral degrees in science and engineering!

Undergraduate studies in Russian universities were indeed easy to coast through, especially for exchange students. As long as they attended classes, getting a diploma was no problem.

But earning a Ph.D. was a different story. The difficulty was far greater than in China.

…

Apart from these five Chinese exchange students, Wang Ye also got to know some of the Russian students in his class.

Perhaps because the political science students came from well-off families, there were many handsome guys and beautiful girls among them. Many students were decked out in luxury brands, clearly from wealthy backgrounds.

Wang Ye didn’t stand out much among them because these students cared more about family connections.

But his unique “Russian of Chinese descent” identity, fluent in both Russian and Chinese, left a deep impression on everyone.

It was safe to say that on the first day of school, most of the class remembered this student named “Mikhail.”

Though many students likely came from privileged backgrounds—second-generation officials or wealthy families—Wang Ye had no interest in befriending them.

At the end of the day, they weren’t on the same level.

Wang Ye was already a “first-generation” success!

If anything, their parents might not even measure up to his current status.

…

On the first day of school, Wang Ye stayed on campus like a proper freshman.

But in the future, he probably wouldn’t come to class every day. With so much to handle at the company, he didn’t have the “free time” to attend classes regularly.

He might come once a week or so, just to maintain a good relationship with the professors and keep his face familiar.

Fortunately, political science was an easy major to coast through. Many students skipped classes often, and the teachers were used to it.

These students generally came from good families and didn’t have to worry about finding jobs after graduation.

The teachers didn’t make things difficult for them and certainly didn’t fail them on exams. They gave passing grades, even excellent ones, just to be safe.

Who knew? In a few years, one of these unremarkable students might become a rising star in politics.

Don’t think it’s impossible. Moscow State University’s political science department was a breeding ground for Russian politicians, producing many prominent figures.

…

Around three in the afternoon, classes ended, and everyone scattered. Some went to the gym to play ball, others to the library to study.

Most, however, went straight back to their dorms to cook and rest.

Wang Ye had also applied for a dorm room in the main building’s residential area.

After all, attending Moscow State University without living in the main dormitory would be a real shame.

Dormitories at other universities, regardless of their condition, were just dormitories.

But the main dormitory at Moscow State University was different.

It was practically a historical landmark.

Living in this nearly century-old building was an experience that left one in awe, almost surreal.

The main building was massive, with thousands of rooms. Even seasoned students like Ruan Xiaozhu sometimes got lost wandering its halls.

Though he had been assigned a dorm and had the key, this was Wang Ye’s first time visiting his room.

After circling the main building several times and asking multiple students, he finally found his dorm.

Chapter 300: Moscow State University Main Building Dormitory

Unlocking the door with his key, Wang Ye found another young Russian man sitting in the other bedroom, fingers flying across the keyboard with a rapid clack-clack-clack.

An old-fashioned spherical monitor displayed cascading lines of code like a waterfall.

Clearly, this was another computer expert—probably a computer science student.

So engrossed was the young man in his coding that Wang Ye’s entrance didn’t even disturb him.

Wang Ye poked his head in and greeted him, “Hey! Hello.”

The young man jolted, seemingly startled by Wang Ye’s sudden appearance. He turned in surprise and asked, “You… hello, how did you get in?”

Wang Ye smiled, jingling the key in his hand before pointing to the adjacent bedroom. “I’m your roommate. Just moved in today. By the way, my name is Mikhail.”

Hearing that he was a roommate, the young man immediately understood. He quickly stood up and laughed, “No wonder the room next door has been empty. Are you a freshman? An Asian exchange student? I’m Sergei, a computer science major, third year.”

He had assumed Wang Ye was a foreign exchange student based on his appearance, though Moscow State University had many Asian students from various countries, so he wasn’t entirely sure where Wang Ye was from.

“No, I’m Russian too, just Chinese-Russian. My father is Chinese, and my mother is Russian. I’m a first-year student in political science,” Wang Ye explained with a smile.

Sergei quickly apologized, “Sorry, man, I just thought you looked Asian. Political science, huh? That’s a great major—future high-ranking official, haha.”

It was clear that Sergei was straightforward and easygoing.

“Saw you coding just now—must be a computer whiz. If I ever have any computer questions, I’ll come to you,” Wang Ye said with a grin.

Sergei patted his chest confidently. “No problem! If you need help with computers—buying, building, or anything—just ask. I won’t brag about anything else, but when it comes to computers, there aren’t many at Moscow State who know more than me, whether it’s hardware, software, or networking!”

After a brief chat, Wang Ye returned to his own room, and Sergei went back to his coding.

……

Opening the door to his small bedroom, Wang Ye took in the modest space. It was just large enough for a single bed, a desk, and a wardrobe for clothes and miscellaneous items.

The room was probably less than ten square meters…

The decor was indeed outdated. The walls were covered in faded yellow wallpaper, and the floor was made of traditional small wooden blocks that creaked underfoot.

But at least it was clean. The previous occupant must have been tidy, as they had left the place spotless before moving out.

Of course, this was also a dormitory requirement. Before a student moved out, the dorm manager would inspect the room.

It had to be cleaned thoroughly, and any damage would be repaired.

After inspecting the dorm, Wang Ye went to the floor manager to collect his bedsheets and blankets.

Since he wouldn’t be living here regularly, the room was empty, with no additional furnishings.

After a quick tidy-up, he checked the time—it was already past five o’clock. He said goodbye to Sergei, explaining that he wouldn’t be staying there often since his family lived in Moscow.

Sergei seemed a little disappointed—this meant he would be the only one living there, which would be quite boring…

……

After leaving the dormitory, Wang Ye didn’t return to his apartment. Instead, he went to visit Ruan Xiaozhu.

Ruan Xiaozhu also lived in the main building dormitory, and since it was the first day of school, she wasn’t working today and was staying on campus.

She already knew that Wang Ye was attending Moscow State University under the name “Mikhail.”

They had agreed earlier that after class, he would come to her dormitory for dinner.

As he strolled over, he arrived at Ruan Xiaozhu’s dorm. Knocking and entering, he found Yanzi there as well.

The two girls had already prepared the meal and were sipping juice while waiting for him.

After washing his hands and sitting down, they didn’t stand on ceremony—it was all family here—and dug in.

During the meal, Ruan Xiaozhu brought up Yanzi’s situation with a smile.

“In a few days, you and Xiao Gang will be heading to St. Petersburg, right? Don’t worry, if anything important comes up at school, I’ll call you. You’re really lucky, you know—husband and wife working together.”

She was referring to Song Xiao Gang and Yanzi going to St. Petersburg to help Wang Ye manage his hotel.

Speaking of which, Yanzi now had to call Wang Ye “boss.”

After all, both she and Song Xiao Gang were working for him!

At Ruan Xiaozhu’s words, Yanzi’s face flushed slightly. She was still quite shy.

Lowering her head, she softly replied, “We really have to thank Ye Ge for giving me and… Xiao Gang this opportunity. Besides, we’re in our final year now, so we need to think about work after graduation. I was actually considering whether to go back to China, but with such a great job opportunity, I’ll definitely stay.”

She wasn’t exaggerating.

Yanzi’s family wasn’t as well-off as Ruan Xiaozhu’s, and her prospects back in China weren’t great.

Without Wang Ye, she might not have found a good job in Moscow.

But now, with such a fantastic opportunity, she was more than willing to stay. After all, it was a five-star luxury hotel with a casino—an incredibly high-end establishment.

If she performed well, Wang Ye wouldn’t let her down.

Earning a million dollars a year wasn’t out of the question!

In this day and age, what job back in China could pay that much?

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that meeting Wang Ye had completely changed Yanzi and Song Xiao Gang’s lives!

………………

Wang Ye smiled faintly, dismissing the gratitude. “No need to thank me. I’m actually short on people right now—my business is expanding, and I need more hands. But I’m just giving you a stage. Whether you succeed depends on your own efforts.”

His words weren’t just for Yanzi and Song Xiao Gang—they were also for Ruan Xiaozhu.

He was reminding them that while opportunities were available, whether they could seize them—and even rise further—depended on their own hard work and performance.

Wang Ye wasn’t stingy with opportunities for his classmates and friends.

And he wouldn’t shortchange them on compensation.

But the prerequisite was that they had to work hard and make him proud!

If anyone thought they could coast by just because they were close to him, Wang Ye wouldn’t show any mercy!

Of course, women like Katya and Nalan Yaqi were exceptions—they had a different kind of relationship with him…

Chapter 301: Prosecutor General

Neither Yanzi nor Song Xiao Gang knew much about Wang Ye’s current business ventures. But privately, they had both speculated that Wang Ye was definitely not as simple as he appeared on the surface.

Just take the time he had gotten Song Xiao Gang out of the police station—that wasn’t something an ordinary person could do. Especially when they saw the chief’s attitude toward Wang Ye, so ingratiating, almost sycophantic…

And then there was the fact that Wang Ye had quietly set up the Little Eagle Group and even obtained the only gambling license in all of Russia, planning to open three five-star hotels in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Crimea. Was that something an ordinary businessman could pull off?

So, the two of them had long since concluded that Wang Ye must have encountered some great opportunity and was on the rise. As ordinary exchange students, having the chance to know such a “noble person” and being on good terms with him, anyone with half a brain would know what to do…

Song Xiao Gang decisively dropped out of school, and Yanzi abandoned her final year of studies. Both had made up their minds—even if it cost them their lives, they would do their best to complete the work Wang Ye had entrusted to them.

In this life, perhaps one only gets one chance to change their fate. If you seize it, the second half of your life will be worry-free. If you miss it, you might never get another chance.

…

After dinner, Wang Ye chatted idly with Ruan Xiaozhu and Yanzi before bidding farewell and preparing to return to his apartment. The two women escorted him to the parking lot downstairs. Seeing Wang Ye’s second-hand Toyota Camry, Ruan Xiaozhu couldn’t help but smile and ask, “Cousin, aren’t you being a little too low-key? Why did you specifically get such a car?”

Wang Ye smiled, jingling his car keys, and said casually, “I’m coming to school for classes, so of course I have to look like a student. What do you think of this car? I had someone buy it for me—it cost over twenty thousand dollars. Among Moscow State University students, it should be considered mid-range, right?”

Ruan Xiaozhu nodded. “Indeed, it’s completely unremarkable. Sigh, I was thinking of buying a luxury car after getting my dividends. But seeing you, a big rich man, driving a second-hand car worth over twenty thousand dollars, I guess I’ll save some money too and just get a second-hand car.”

She had just received two hundred thousand dollars in dividends and was itching to buy a Porsche or Mercedes sports car outright. After all, she had seen Alyona’s Porsche 911, and she had to admit, that kind of small sports car had a huge “impact” on girls!

Wang Ye waved his hand and laughed. “Don’t. I bought this car just for going to school. Honestly, it’s more comfortable to drive a good car. You’re not short on money, so buy a better car. You’re young, at the perfect age to enjoy life. There’s no need to be hard on yourself.”

He wasn’t joking; this was genuinely Wang Ye’s own philosophy. Life was only a few decades long. If you didn’t enjoy life when you were young and just focused on making money, by the time you were old, even if you had amassed a fortune, you would sadly realize that you couldn’t enjoy it anymore.

The greatest tragedy in life wasn’t it “the person is gone, but the money remains”?

Of course, Wang Ye wasn’t encouraging “conspicuous consumption” or “living beyond one’s means.” He was just saying that within your means, you should be a little kinder to yourself.

Ruan Xiaozhu didn’t have much money compared to Wang Ye, but as a young woman, she would have at least several hundred thousand dollars a year in the future. With so much money, if she didn’t spend it, was she supposed to save it all for retirement?

Hearing Wang Ye say this, Ruan Xiaozhu also saw the light. She squinted and smiled. “Since you, the big boss, say so, then I won’t be low-key either. I’ll go get a Porsche sports car like Alyona’s! Oh well, I’m going all out!”

Yanzi listened from the side, feeling a little envious. After all, she was a young woman too—who didn’t like driving sports cars and buying luxury goods?

…

When Wang Ye returned to the apartment, it was just past eight in the evening. Alyona had already eaten dinner, washed up, and was sitting on the sofa watching TV, waiting for Wang Ye.

Seeing Wang Ye return, she quickly got up to help him take off his coat and change into slippers. Smiling, she said, “Natalia called today. She wanted to thank you properly.”

“Oh? Thank me for what?” Wang Ye asked casually.

“She’s already become the Prosecutor General of Simferopol! They say she’s the youngest Prosecutor General in the history of Crimea, without exception!” Alyona said with a smile.

This was one of the conditions Wang Ye had negotiated with the president during his last trip to Crimea. It also included the Livadia Palace, the full gambling license, and Alyona’s seat in parliament!

It seemed the president’s efficiency was quite high. Most of the conditions had already been fulfilled, except for Alyona’s parliamentary seat. But that would still take some time. After all, the Crimean parliamentary elections hadn’t started yet, and it wasn’t possible to directly insert a member. Even with his great power, he still had to follow the proper procedures to ensure “legal compliance.”

Clearly, Wang Ye’s financial resources were very attractive to him. He urgently needed Wang Ye’s support to face the next election…

“That’s great. So, the next time we see Natalia, should we call her Prosecutor General?” Wang Ye joked.

“Hehe, I called her that today, and she was still a little uncomfortable with it.” Alyona laughed in response.

After thinking for a moment, Wang Ye said to her, “I estimate that in about two months, you’ll have to return to Crimea. The parliamentary elections will begin there. Although I’ve already negotiated your parliamentary seat with them, you’ll at least have to make an appearance, pull in some votes, and go through the motions. According to the plan, your constituency is in Yalta, your hometown, your home turf. At that time, I’ll have the Livadia Palace hotel’s work team build momentum for you to ensure the election goes smoothly!”

Alyona was still a little reluctant to leave Moscow, but more than that, she was reluctant to leave Wang Ye’s side. She frowned slightly, looking a little unhappy.

Wang Ye naturally understood her thoughts. He reached out and gently wrapped his arm around Alyona’s waist, smiling as he comforted her, “Don’t worry about anything. Didn’t I tell you before? In the future, I’ll often go there too. Let me put it this way—I didn’t arrange for Natalia to be Prosecutor General and for you to be a parliament member just for fun. I have plans for continuous and larger investments in Crimea! Not just financial investments, but in all aspects. In the future, that place might become our main base, our place to settle down!”

Chapter 302: A Gamble

Wang Ye had long considered turning Crimea into his “stronghold,” or even a refuge if he could no longer survive in Russia. This idea had taken root once he inevitably became entangled in politics.

In truth, he was learning from Aby, but Wang Ye wanted more than Aby ever had. Aby was shrewd, but his vision was too narrow, too cautious!

Wang Ye was effectively twenty years ahead of everyone else, with a deep understanding of global trends. Not taking advantage of this would be a waste.

After much deliberation, he had chosen Crimea—a strategic location!

In 2001, no one paid much attention to Crimea. To Ukraine, it was little more than a burden, and the great emperor had no spare energy to focus on it—he had far more pressing matters.

But Wang Ye knew how crucial Crimea was to Russia!

If he played his cards right over the next decade, he could gain control—or at least significant influence—over Crimea. Then, when the great emperor inevitably clashed with the West and abandoned hopes of integration, Crimea’s importance would become undeniable.

And that would give Wang Ye real leverage to negotiate with the great emperor.

So, Wang Ye was willing to support the current president’s re-election in exchange for the position of Prosecutor General and a seat in parliament.

But this was only the beginning…

…

Alyona listened to Wang Ye’s explanation, only half understanding. But if he believed it was necessary, she would follow without question.

She nodded and asked with a smile, “Today was your first day back at school. How was it? Are you planning to stay in class for a while?”

“Haha, it was fine, but I can’t just sit in class all day—there’s too much going on at the company. Today is the first, and I—”

Wang Ye suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his expression shifting strangely.

“What’s wrong? It’s the first, September first,” Alyona said, puzzled.

Wang Ye seemed to recall something, his brow furrowing. “The first… September first… Is this 2001?”

“Of course it’s 2001,” Alyona replied, bewildered.

Wang Ye’s expression turned serious. Without answering her, he grabbed his jacket from the rack and hurriedly said, “I have to go out. I probably won’t be back tonight—go to sleep, don’t wait up.”

Alyona watched him rush out the door, unsure what could have made him so urgent.

…

Downstairs, Wang Ye got into his large G-class Mercedes, starting the engine as he dialed a number.

“Uncle, are you at the Yukos Building? …Good, I’ll be there soon. I need to discuss something with you.”

After hanging up, he made another call.

“Milner, where are you? …Good, come back to the office immediately. I’ll be there in about an hour.”

Then another call: “Katya, are you asleep? Get up and go to the Polar Bear Investment Company. Wait for me there. Yes, it’s urgent—we need to meet.”

Katya was actually upstairs, but Wang Ye didn’t have time to go to her place.

After the calls, he started the car. The white headlights flared, and with a beastly roar, the black Mercedes sped away…

…

Ten minutes later, he arrived at the Yukos Building.

As the special assistant to the president of the Yukos Group, Wang Ye no longer needed Khovansky’s secretary to escort him. He hurried inside, took the elevator to the top floor, and entered the president’s office.

Khovansky, a workaholic, was still at his desk. Hearing the door, he looked up and smiled. “What’s the matter? What urgent business brings you here so late?”

Wang Ye didn’t sit. Instead, he leaned on the desk and said seriously, “Uncle, I need to use some funds from Polar Bear Investment for a personal investment.”

Though Wang Ye was the president of Polar Bear Investment, he wasn’t the ultimate boss. For large sums, he still needed Khovansky’s approval.

And this time, the funds were for his own purposes, unrelated to company business. It was essentially a personal loan from Khovansky.

Given their “uncle-nephew” relationship, as long as he repaid it, Khovansky would likely agree.

Khovansky grew serious. He knew that if Wang Ye was being this cautious, the amount must be substantial—hundreds of millions, even billions of dollars. Even for him, that wasn’t trivial.

“What kind of investment? Can’t you do it under the company’s name?” he asked.

Wang Ye shook his head. “This short-term investment is extremely high-risk and speculative! I’m not sure if the returns will be significant enough, so it’s not suitable for the company.”

His words carried multiple “extremes.”

Khovansky grew even more curious. What kind of investment was “short-term,” “extremely high-risk,” and “speculative”?

From his observations, Wang Ye wasn’t impulsive. Though his methods could be aggressive, they were always well-considered. So why was he so uncertain this time, yet still willing to take such a gamble?

“Can you tell me what this investment is, how much you need, and how long it will take?” Khovansky asked with a smile.

Wang Ye took a deep breath. “Around five hundred million dollars, for about a month. I plan to short the American stock market—or more precisely, the major indices.”

Khovansky’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Are you crazy?” he exclaimed. “Even after last year’s Nasdaq crash, the American economy is still stable, and the indices are rising steadily. All major financial institutions are optimistic about the U.S. economy this year. Shorting now? You won’t just lose money—you’ll lose a lot!”

Chapter 303: The Whims of a Genius

Wang Ye spread his hands, helplessly saying, “Yes, that’s why I said this is a speculative move, carrying enormous risk.”

“Huh? Then why are you still doing it?” Khovansky was utterly baffled.

“Instinct! And of course, technical analysis. I’ve been studying Russia’s stock market lately, so I took the opportunity to look into the American securities market as well. Based on my analysis, there’s bound to be a significant market fluctuation in the next month. So I thought I’d seize this chance to make some quick money.” Wang Ye spoke earnestly.

This was the only “reasonable” excuse he could come up with on his way over…

Khovansky stared at Wang Ye for a long moment, unsure how to evaluate him.

Could Wang Ye really predict the future of the American stock market through technical analysis?

Or was this just how geniuses behaved—whimsical and unpredictable?

Khovansky acknowledged Wang Ye’s business talent. In fact, he believed that at Wang Ye’s age, being able to manage several large companies simultaneously with such order and efficiency was nothing short of genius.

And let’s not forget, beyond business, Wang Ye was also gradually dipping his toes into politics.

He seemed to navigate that world just as effortlessly…

So, apart from “genius,” Khovansky couldn’t think of any other explanation.

Khovansky didn’t know much about the securities market, so he couldn’t judge whether Wang Ye’s move was impulsive or not.

But one thing he was certain of: investing five hundred million U.S. dollars in Wang Ye posed little risk to him.

In other words, Wang Ye’s value, in his eyes, far exceeded five hundred million…

If that was the case, then why not let Wang Ye give it a try? What was the big deal?

It wasn’t like he couldn’t afford to lose it!

Khovansky nodded decisively. “If you think there’s an opportunity, then go ahead and try. But I have to remind you— the securities market, especially America’s, isn’t our turf. Going into someone else’s territory to snatch food, be careful.”

Wang Ye smiled. “I understand. That’s why I’m only putting in five hundred million. It’s not a huge amount, but it’s not small either. In the vast American securities market, it’s just a drop in the bucket. No one should notice.”

Indeed, Wang Ye wasn’t reckless.

Though this investment was a spur-of-the-moment idea, in the short time he had, Wang Ye had already gone through it thoroughly.

And he wasn’t greedy—he only wanted to make the money he could!

The American securities and financial market operated on a scale of trillions of dollars.

So injecting five hundred million wouldn’t even cause a ripple. It was almost impossible for anyone to notice.

This was perfect. Using the information advantage he had, he could “quietly” make some quick money.

If he played his cards right, Wang Ye estimated he could at least double his investment, making a minimum of five hundred million…

This money would be quite useful.

After all, his Little Eagle Group still owed Khovansky three hundred million. Even though they were “uncle and nephew,” business was business.

Debts had to be repaid.

Moreover, Wang Ye didn’t want to keep relying on Khovansky for funds. He needed to build his own financial reserves.

Speaking of which, though he was worth billions, the cash he could actually use wasn’t much.

The money in Polar Bear Investment Company belonged to Khovansky; he was just a high-level employee.

Little Eagle Group was his, but the funds there were already allocated—several major hotels needed renovations, and there were substantial marketing and promotional expenses…

As for Sun Market Group, Wang Ye didn’t expect much from it in the short term. The market was just getting started.

So, when it came down to it, Wang Ye didn’t have much money he could freely use!

Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company and Hua Star Communications weren’t even worth mentioning. The dividends from those were pocket change to him now…

…

After obtaining Khovansky’s authorization, Wang Ye immediately took his leave, went downstairs, got into his car, and drove straight to Polar Bear Investment Company.

There, Milner and Katya were waiting for him.

For this operation, Wang Ye planned to entrust it to Milner. After all, this man was a top-tier expert in the financial world, having studied in America and worked in major investment banks. His connections and experience were more than sufficient.

As for Katya, she would serve as Wang Ye’s “supervisor.”

After all, several hundred million dollars were being moved, and with the expected returns, that was over a billion!

Without someone he trusted keeping an eye on things, Wang Ye wouldn’t feel at ease.

…

In the conference room of Polar Bear Investment Company, Wang Ye, Katya, and Milner sat together.

Wang Ye was explaining his impromptu investment plan to the two of them.

“Five hundred million U.S. dollars can be transferred to my personal account. Here’s Mr. Khovansky’s authorization.

I’ll use this money for no more than two months. It’s a personal investment, so I’ll bear any profits or losses.

After two months, I’ll return the full five hundred million to the company account. Oh, and this loan is interest-free.

Milner, I’m putting you in charge of executing this investment plan. As compensation, I’ll give you one million U.S. dollars.

This is a personal reward, unrelated to the company.

Katya, you’ll represent me in this plan. Every buy and sell order must be reviewed and approved by you, and only confirmed after verifying my instructions.

…”

After listening, Milner was actually full of questions.

But he was smart and didn’t voice any of them. Wang Ye had already made it clear that the entire plan was his call, and Milner just needed to execute it.

Regardless of profit or loss, he wouldn’t bear any responsibility. Plus, in less than two months, he’d earn a fixed income of one million dollars—on top of his regular salary. Why not do it?

The only downside was that he’d have to work harder for a while, given the time difference between America and Russia.

But it wasn’t too bad. Polar Bear Investment Company didn’t have any new investment tasks at the moment, so work was relatively light.

Katya, of course, wouldn’t raise any questions. She didn’t understand any of this…

As long as Wang Ye told her what to do, she’d do it.

…

“No problem, boss. I’ll transfer the money to the American securities market as soon as possible. Actually, it’s quite convenient. Mr. Khovansky’s bank has a quick fund transfer channel, which I’m familiar with. It should take at most two days for the money to appear in the American securities market.”

Milner spoke with confidence.

Chapter 304: The Calm Before the Storm

In 2001, the chaos of Russia’s financial markets was beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

During those years, an untold amount of money was secretly transferred out of Russia through various channels.

Wang Ye had even unknowingly participated in such “money laundering” activities in his “previous life.”

At the time, a senior student had approached the freshmen, claiming to have found a “good job” for them. All they had to do was take their passports to one of the small bank branches commonly found on the streets, fill out a simple form, and they would receive fifty dollars in return.

Naturally, this “good job” was met with great enthusiasm.

For a while, Wang Ye had done this more than ten times, earning several hundred dollars, which he used to buy a new computer.

At the time, he had no idea what he was doing, but later, everyone found out that the bank was using the names of foreign exchange students to transfer funds abroad—what was commonly known as “money laundering.”

Such things were far too common back then, and no one paid any attention to them.

So Milner was confident that he could transfer this sum of money out of the country as quickly as possible.

If the foreign investment went smoothly, the funds could make a round trip and return as “foreign investment.”

Or perhaps they wouldn’t return at all—it all depended on Wang Ye’s plans at the time.

…

After discussing business, Milner immediately got to work.

Wang Ye and Katya returned to the apartment together.

Tonight, Wang Ye was staying at Katya’s place because there were still some matters he needed to instruct her on.

After arriving home, the two of them freshen up and “exercised” for a while, completely relaxing their bodies and minds.

Only then did Wang Ye light a post-coital cigarette, taking a deep, satisfied drag and exhaling a smoke ring.

Katya also took the cigarette box, lit one, and joined him in smoking.

Perhaps influenced by him, the people around Wang Ye had all taken a liking to smoking Black Russian cigarettes. However, girls like Alyona and Katya smoked the “Rainbow” series of Black Russian cigarettes.

Similar to the Black Russian packaging, but with different colors, the cigarettes inside came in seven different hues, so everyone called it the “Rainbow.”

“How much money do I have left in my personal account?” Wang Ye suddenly asked.

He wasn’t very sensitive about money, so he wasn’t entirely sure how much he had.

Wang Ye’s assets were difficult to calculate precisely, and he was too lazy to do so.

But he only had two personal accounts.

One was his “salary card,” which could be considered Wang Ye’s small treasury.

The source of funds for this account came from his various positions, including “President of Sun Market Group,” “President of Polar Bear Investment Company,” “Chairman of Little Eagle Group,” and “Special Assistant to the President of Yukos Group.” All his salaries were deposited into this card.

Don’t underestimate this salary card—it probably had a considerable amount of money.

Because Wang Ye’s positions were all quite high, his salaries ranged from one million to two or three million dollars per year.

Adding in various subsidies and the like, he might earn six or seven million dollars a year.

This didn’t even include dividends.

If dividends were included, it could easily exceed ten million dollars.

This card was managed by Katya. For any significant personal expenses, Wang Ye would directly arrange for Katya to handle them.

The other was a “pocket money card,” which Wang Ye used for his daily expenses. The funds in this account came from dividends from Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company and Hua Star Communications Company.

It probably had around four or five hundred thousand dollars left.

…

“Currently, there’s a little over two million four hundred thousand dollars,” Katya replied without hesitation.

Wang Ye nodded. Not bad. He hadn’t expected his small treasury to have so much money.

He then instructed, “In a few days, go to Crimea and buy a large flat in Simferopol and another in Yalta. The locations should be good, preferably newly built with excellent finishes.”

“What’s a large flat?” Katya asked, puzzled.

Wang Ye chuckled. In this day and age, the concept of a large flat probably didn’t exist, at least not in Russia.

He explained, “It’s a high-end residential building, at least two hundred square meters, with the best being one unit per floor or at most two units per floor…”

But halfway through his explanation, Wang Ye shook his head. “Forget it. I doubt Crimea has such houses. Just buy according to luxury home standards. With a budget of one million dollars per unit, you should be able to buy anything in Crimea.”

Indeed, in this era, the price of luxury homes in Moscow was only about four to five thousand dollars per square meter. One million dollars could buy a standard luxury home, excluding mansions.

Compared to Moscow, Simferopol and Yalta were practically rural areas.

Although he hadn’t paid attention to the housing prices there, he estimated that they couldn’t exceed one thousand dollars per square meter.

With a budget of one million dollars per unit, they could buy a thousand-square-meter house.

So, this budget was more than sufficient.

Wang Ye planned to buy these two houses for Alyona to live in when she returned. It would also be convenient for him when he visited frequently.

Of course, if Natalia wanted to live there, that would be fine too.

After buying these two houses, if they stuck to the budget, Wang Ye’s small treasury would be nearly emptied.

But he didn’t mind. In less than a month, the five hundred million dollars borrowed from Uncle Khovansky would earn him at least three to five hundred million in returns.

At that time, he would truly be financially comfortable.

Additionally, he would buy both houses in Alyona’s name.

It could be considered a small gift from Wang Ye to her. Originally, he had planned to give Alyona a house in Moscow, but since she needed to return to Crimea, he would buy houses there instead.

Moreover, he was still hiding his relationship with Nalan Yaqi from Alyona, and he felt a bit guilty.

If he didn’t “compensate” Alyona, he would feel uneasy.

…

Over the next few days, everything appeared calm on the surface. Everyone continued with their usual routines.

Milner had already taken action. Five hundred million dollars had quietly entered the American securities market. Following Wang Ye’s instructions, they were discreetly shorting the market index.

In 2001, America was at its peak, unrivaled and unchallenged.

Undisputedly the world’s number one superpower.

The financial market attracted funds from all over the globe, with a scale so vast it was unimaginable. Thus, Wang Ye’s five hundred million dollars didn’t make a splash, and no one noticed.

Instead, because everyone was optimistic about America’s economic prospects, they were all bullish on the market. Almost no one dared to short the market index.

But no one could have predicted that in just a few days, an earth-shattering event would occur.

And after this event, the American stock market would collapse like an avalanche.

Chapter 305: A Loss of Sixty Million Dollars

These past few days, Wang Ye had been feeling restless. He was preparing for an event that would soon shake the entire world…

As someone who had been reborn, he might be the only one who knew what earth-shattering event would occur in just a few days!

Well, perhaps not the only one—after all, those “executing” this event also knew what was coming…

But perhaps only Wang Ye could clearly grasp, at this very moment, the profound impact this event would have on the global landscape!

On the night of September 10th, Wang Ye tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Alyona, lying beside him, noticed his unease and asked with concern, “Misha, what’s wrong? Did you drink too much coffee tonight and can’t sleep?”

The room was dark, the lights off.

Wang Ye silently shook his head. After a long pause, he said, “If a powerful nation invades a weaker one for its own interests, causing endless war and suffering for the weaker nation. And in retaliation, the weaker nation does something that harms the ordinary citizens of the powerful nation… who would be in the wrong?”

Alyona seemed taken aback by Wang Ye’s sudden question. She hesitated for a long time before replying, “It should be… the fault of the powerful nation.”

“But the decision to invade was made by politicians. The ordinary citizens are innocent—they become victims too,” Wang Ye said softly.

This stumped Alyona. She thought for a while before sighing and responding, “Yes, it’s always the common people who suffer. Just look at Russia—after all this turmoil, life for ordinary people only gets harder.”

Wang Ye didn’t say anything more. He couldn’t exactly tell Alyona what was about to happen.

He smiled silently to himself and whispered, “Go to sleep. Tomorrow… everything will be different.”

Alyona didn’t understand what Wang Ye meant. She thought he was just being poetic, so she quietly closed her eyes, turned to her side, and wrapped her arm around his, drifting off to sleep…

…

On the morning of September 11th, Wang Ye woke up and, without even washing up, turned on the TV to see if there was any news.

To his surprise, everything on TV seemed normal—no signs of anything unusual.

This meant the event hadn’t happened yet…

After a moment’s thought, Wang Ye slapped his forehead. He had forgotten about the time difference between Russia and America!

Russia was eight hours ahead of America.

That meant it was still the early hours of the morning in America at this time.

Additionally, Wang Ye couldn’t remember whether the event had happened in the morning or afternoon. If it was in the American afternoon, then in Russia, it would already be the early hours of the 12th.

No wonder there was no news on TV yet.

…

Throughout the entire day, Wang Ye was distracted.

He knew a world-changing event was about to happen, but it hadn’t yet, and he didn’t know the exact time.

The feeling was quite unsettling…

By the time he finished work in the afternoon, there was still no news.

Wang Ye even called Milner specifically. Milner had been working on shorting the American stock market index these past few days, so he was the most sensitive to any news from there.

He had temporarily assembled a small team responsible for monitoring the American market trends and gathering information twenty-four hours a day!

Of course, this was also Wang Ye’s requirement.

“Milner, how’s the market been these past few days? Any particularly bad news?” Wang Ye asked over the phone.

What he really wanted to know was whether there was any “particularly bad news”…

“No, boss. The market has been steadily rising. These past few days, our paper losses have almost reached sixty million dollars. Are you really confident the market will crash?” Milner replied.

It was clear Milner had lost all confidence!

They had invested a total of five hundred million dollars, even using some leverage, and in just a few days, their losses had already reached sixty million dollars!

Milner was terrified—he couldn’t see any signs of the market turning downward anytime soon. All the news was pointing toward a bullish trend. He was worried that in less than a month, the entire five hundred million would be lost!

Even though it wasn’t his money, it still hurt to see it vanish through his hands.

As far as Milner was concerned, this boss was being reckless. Mikhail probably had no experience with the stock market before suddenly deciding to throw five hundred million dollars into shorting the American market…

To a professional like him, this wasn’t just risky—it was like throwing money away!

Wang Ye was also disappointed.

Not because of the sixty million dollars lost, but because he hadn’t heard about the event he remembered…

“It’s fine. It’s been almost ten days, and we’ve only lost sixty million dollars. We have five hundred million of our own funds—we won’t run out, and we don’t even need to add more. Keep monitoring. If anything major happens, notify me immediately, no matter the time,” Wang Ye instructed.

After hanging up, Wang Ye felt a bit dazed.

He began to doubt his own “memories.” By this time, it should already be morning in America.

Why hadn’t the event happened yet?

Could it be that his “rebirth” had altered the course of this world?

It wasn’t impossible…

Although Wang Ye had confirmed over the past six months that he had indeed been “reborn,” and some events from his memories had indeed occurred, there was no denying that many things in this life had changed significantly from his previous one.

Especially things concerning himself and the people around him…

The question now was whether the major event he remembered happening in America would be affected by his rebirth!

If it was affected and no longer happened, Wang Ye would have to completely rethink his future plans. Many things would need to be revised.

…

By around nine in the evening, Wang Ye had already washed up and was preparing for bed, but his phone still hadn’t rung.

He wasn’t holding out much hope. If the event did happen, it would likely be in the American afternoon, which would be the middle of the night in Russia.

He would just check the news in the morning.

Perhaps when he woke up, the major news outlets would already be flooded with reports.

Just as he was about to drift off to sleep, his phone suddenly rang…

Chapter 306: What Was Meant to Happen Will Come to Pass

Wang Ye and Alyona were both jolted awake by the shrill ring of the phone.

Still half-asleep, Wang Ye fumbled for his phone and muttered, “Hello…”

“Boss! Something huge has happened! A massive incident in America—casualties are still unknown, but there will definitely be many deaths! Turn on the TV—every channel is broadcasting this emergency!” Milner’s voice crackled through the phone, a chaotic mix of shock, confusion, sorrow… and excitement.

His tone was a tangled mess—even Milner himself probably couldn’t articulate what he was feeling.

The shock and confusion were understandable—this was beyond anyone’s imagination! America was the most powerful nation in the world. In the fifty or sixty years since World War II, nothing this devastating had ever happened on its soil.

Who would dare do such a thing? What kind of person or organization?

The sorrow was natural too. From what he had just heard, the Twin Towers—iconic symbols of America—had been struck. Thousands of people worked there. And the timing… it was just after morning rush hour, when the buildings would be at their busiest.

At least a thousand people would die, most of them innocent civilians.

As for the excitement—well, that wasn’t heartless. Milner was managing an account that was shorting the U.S. stock market. With an event this massive, his professional instincts told him the market was about to collapse. That five hundred million dollars in profits? It was about to skyrocket.

Whether it would double or triple, he couldn’t say for sure. But at the very least, it would double.

…

After listening to Milner, Wang Ye fell silent for a moment.

So, what was meant to happen… had happened after all.

His rebirth hadn’t changed the course of the world.

Of course, that might be because, in both his past and present life, he had no connection to America. He couldn’t influence events there.

Snapping back to reality, Wang Ye made a quick decision. “Keep an eye on the market trends. Don’t make any moves without my say-so. Let’s observe for now.”

Because Wang Ye knew—this was only the beginning. Today, three planes would be hijacked, each striking a different building. And they wouldn’t happen all at once. There was a sequence.

The news Milner had just received was likely only about the first building being hit.

So, in the financial markets, people hadn’t fully processed what was happening. Even if the market crashed, it was still in freefall—far from hitting rock bottom.

…

After hanging up, Wang Ye couldn’t sleep. He hurriedly got dressed and headed to the living room to turn on the TV.

Alyona, still groggy, watched as Wang Ye answered the phone and then started dressing as if he were about to leave. Thinking something serious must have happened at the company, she asked anxiously, “Misha, are you going out?”

Without turning back, Wang Ye said, “I’m going to watch the TV. Something big has happened.”

Hearing that, Alyona forgot about sleep. She quickly dressed and followed him to the living room to see what was going on.

The TV was already on. Russia’s national broadcaster was airing an emergency report.

On the screen, a towering skyscraper billowed thick black smoke. Below, panicked crowds fled in all directions, while debris and papers rained down like snowflakes.

The urgent English commentary from the reporters on-site made it feel like the end of the world.

The Russian anchor provided live commentary: “Ladies and gentlemen, the building you see is the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York. Just minutes ago, a commercial airliner struck it. The details are still unclear—no one knows what’s happening…”

Wang Ye watched silently, his expression calm. But Alyona was too stunned to speak.

After a long pause, she stammered, “Wh-what’s happening?”

The TV had already explained the situation, but she couldn’t bring herself to believe it.

Wang Ye spoke softly, “It’s exactly what you’re seeing. There’s an old Chinese saying: ‘Good deeds are rewarded, and evil deeds are punished. If not now, then later.’ Whether it’s a person or a nation, they must face the consequences of their actions.”

After the fall of the Soviet Union, America looked around and saw no equal rival. It must have felt like an unstoppable force.

And so, for the sake of national interest, it had stirred up storms of bloodshed across the globe—arrogant, domineering, untouchable.

What happened today… was retribution.

Of course, Wang Ye didn’t think this was justified. The ones suffering were ordinary people.

…

As the two of them watched the TV in silence, the screen suddenly changed.

The camera, which had been switching between the North Tower and the streets below, suddenly panned upward. The reporter’s voice trembled with fear, as if realizing something but refusing to believe it.

“What… is that?!”

A small plane appeared on the screen, flying in from the distance. But its altitude was clearly wrong…

The reporter’s voice was filled with dread, as if sensing the impending disaster but unable—or unwilling—to accept it.

Before the eyes of millions, the plane grew larger on the screen, its roar growing louder.

The streets below seemed to fall silent as people stopped running and looked up.

The camera briefly captured the face of a bystander—his eyes filled with helpless confusion.

“BOOM!”

The plane slammed into the upper floors of the South Tower. A massive plume of smoke erupted, and dust billowed into the sky, as if swallowing the heavens whole.

A deathly silence followed.

Seconds later, the TV was filled with chaotic noise.

“Oh my God!”

“Someone, please tell me what’s happening…”

Screams, cries for help, prayers—all tangled together.

Alyona gasped, covering her mouth.

She hadn’t seen the first impact, so it hadn’t hit her as hard. But now, watching the second tower get struck…

Chapter 307: How to Divide the Shares

At this moment, countless people around the world were watching television.

Everything unfolding on the screen was a tremendous shock to everyone!

This was far more impactful than any Hollywood blockbuster special effects…

Though the visuals might not have been as polished, this was real—it was happening right now!

Witnessing hundreds, perhaps thousands of lives vanish before their eyes was an experience most people had never encountered.

Wang Ye swallowed hard, his mood growing unusually heavy.

Though he had known this would happen, and that even now, the tragedy was far from over—more horrors would soon unfold—he had only heard about it the next day at school in his past life.

To his shame, his first reaction back then had been indifference. After all, he was just a Chinese exchange student with no connection to America. The disaster there had no effect on him, and he had even felt a flicker of amusement.

Most Chinese didn’t have a high opinion of Americans, after all.

But in this life, he stood before the television, watching it all unfold irrevocably. His mindset was far more mature now, and the weight of it all pressed down on him.

Just then, his phone rang again. It was Khovansky.

As soon as he answered, Khovansky’s voice came through, filled with disbelief and shock. “Misha, how did you know something like this would happen today?”

Though the question was abrupt, Wang Ye understood.

About ten days ago, at this same time of night, he had gone to Khovansky and borrowed five hundred million dollars in cash.

His reason? He wanted to make a speculative bet—shorting the American stock market index.

He had told Khovansky that he believed something major was about to happen in America, and the market would inevitably crash.

At the time, Khovansky had looked at him with skepticism, likely only agreeing to the loan out of respect for their relationship.

But after tonight’s events, Khovansky had snapped back to reality, and his first thought was of Wang Ye’s words from ten days ago…

He instinctively connected the two, and immediately called.

Wang Ye sighed. “Of course I didn’t know this would happen! My intuition told me the American stock market was in trouble, based on technical analysis. It’s complicated to explain. But what just happened—no one could have predicted that!”

He quickly distanced himself from the matter.

Joking aside, who would dare to be involved in something like this? It was practically like digging up America’s ancestral graves…

If the Americans even suspected his involvement, not even the great emperor could protect him without serious consequences.

After all, the great emperor was still growing—far from his full power.

Khovansky realized he was overthinking it. He had been too worried to think clearly. How could Wang Ye have the power or audacity to orchestrate something like this?

It was absurd to think he would plan such a catastrophic event just for a five-hundred-million-dollar investment. That was unthinkable.

Besides, Wang Ye didn’t have that kind of influence.

Only a handful of entities in the world—countries, organizations, or individuals—had both the means and motive to pull off something like this.

“Then… your luck is just too good!” Khovansky finally said, resigned.

Truthfully, when he had lent Wang Ye the money, he had already prepared himself for the possibility of losing it all.

But he never expected something like this to happen in America. Even if he didn’t understand the stock market, he knew it would crash hard.

Wang Ye was about to make a fortune!

There was no logical explanation for this windfall—it had to be sheer luck.

Wang Ye played along. “Yeah, I got lucky. I was only hoping for a small profit, but now it looks like I’ll be making a lot.”

A sudden idea struck Khovansky, and he changed the subject. “What do you plan to do with the money you make?”

Wang Ye hesitated. He hadn’t seriously considered it yet.

Though Milner hadn’t reported back, the profits would be substantial—at least five hundred million, possibly even a billion.

What to do with so much money was indeed a problem.

He couldn’t just leave it in the bank to collect interest…

And his own Little Eagle Group didn’t need that much capital right now.

After a moment’s thought, Wang Ye replied, “I haven’t decided yet. It’s all happened so suddenly. Maybe I’ll invest it—private investments, nothing that would compete with Polar Bear Investment Company.”

“Hah! I knew it. Since it’s all investments, why keep them separate? Polar Bear Investment is already under your full control, but you don’t have any shares yet. Why not merge your profits into the company? Then you’ll truly be the boss.”

Wang Ye probed cautiously, “So… the shares would be divided based on capital contribution?”

Khovansky paused. “Here’s the deal: if you can put in a billion dollars, you’ll get fifty-one percent of Polar Bear Investment. If it’s five hundred million, you’ll get thirty percent.”

Wang Ye was taken aback.

At first glance, it seemed like the less he invested, the better the deal—thirty percent for five hundred million? Shouldn’t a billion get sixty percent? Fifty-one percent seemed stingy!

Maybe he should just invest five hundred million.

But Wang Ye wasn’t foolish. After a quick calculation, he realized that investing a billion for fifty-one percent was actually the better deal.

Polar Bear Investment already had twenty billion in capital.

If he invested five hundred million, that would only be twenty percent of the total, but he’d get thirty percent of the shares—a ten percent bonus.

If he invested a billion, that would be thirty-three point three percent of the capital, but he’d get fifty-one percent of the shares—an eighteen percent bonus.

So, as long as he made enough from the American stock market, he would definitely invest a billion to secure fifty-one percent of Polar Bear Investment.

That way, he would surpass Khovansky and become the largest shareholder of North Polar Bear Company!

Chapter 308: Know When to Stop, Don’t Be Greedy

Wang Ye, having thought it through, naturally knew what choice to make.

Of course, he would invest one billion US dollars to secure that 51% controlling stake!

As for why Khovansky had set two thresholds—five hundred million and one billion US dollars—with different equity allocations, Wang Ye had some understanding.

Khovansky knew Wang Ye’s financial situation. To come up with such a large sum, he could only rely on the profits from shorting the US stock market.

But how much profit that would yield was still uncertain. However, Khovansky probably estimated it wouldn’t be less than five hundred million US dollars…

So, whether Wang Ye chose to invest five hundred million or one billion US dollars now was meaningless.

He would have to wait until the final profits were in to decide how much to invest!

If Wang Ye could turn five hundred million US dollars into over one billion in less than a month, proving his investment talent, then Khovansky would willingly hand over the controlling stake of Polar Bear Investment Company.

After all, the company was in the investment business. If Wang Ye was truly that capable, even if Khovansky retained only 49% of the shares, the future profits would be astonishing!

It could be said that those who reached Khovansky’s level were definitely not fools and would not let emotions dictate their decisions…

Every word he spoke, seemingly casual, was actually laden with deep meaning.

…

Just as he hung up the phone with Khovansky, the television showed another sudden development.

The scene switched to another location—a large, pentagon-shaped building—struck by a civilian airliner…

There was no need for the host to introduce what this building was; many recognized it at a glance!

The Pentagon of America!

Even Wang Ye couldn’t help but sigh—these people were truly insane…

Judging by this momentum, they seemed determined to crush America completely!

The actual casualties might not be that high, but the symbolic significance was enormous.

This was happening under the watch of billions of people worldwide. All major television networks must be broadcasting it live.

It was like slapping America hard in the face in front of the entire world.

What kind of “sole superpower” couldn’t even ensure its own security? Its reputation was in tatters…

The events of today would shift America’s “offensive and defensive focus,” leading to chaos in certain regions for many years to come.

For some countries, this would be a rare opportunity for peaceful development, as America would no longer have the energy to pay attention to them.

For example, at the end of 2001, a certain country was officially approved to join the WTO, beginning a rapid development that lasted over a decade!

Of course, today’s events were also a rare development opportunity for Russia.

Twenty years later, looking back, the period from 2001 to 2014 would be the fastest economic growth Russia had seen since the collapse of the former Soviet Union!

As for what happened after 2014, leading to the complete breakdown of relations between Russia and Western countries…

But with Wang Ye’s involvement in this world, perhaps some changes would occur.

After all, he was in Russia and gradually gaining the power to influence certain matters. He had also made some arrangements in Crimea, and his influence there would continue to grow!

…

By now, both Wang Ye and Alyona had become somewhat numb.

Even if the next moment, the Statue of Liberty or the White House were struck by a plane, they wouldn’t be surprised.

At that moment, Wang Ye’s phone rang again!

“Boss, the stock market… it’s completely collapsed! Our paper profits are already close to one billion US dollars! What should we do next?” Milner’s voice on the phone was somewhat panicked.

Even though he had been in the financial industry for many years and was considered a financial elite, he had never seen anything like today.

Earlier tonight—or rather, this morning in America—before the market opened, the accounts he managed had paper losses exceeding one hundred million US dollars!

But in just over an hour, everything had changed.

The market index, which had been slowly and steadily rising, suddenly “plummeted,” diving downward at an angle approaching ninety degrees, with no sign of stopping…

The accounts Milner managed went from paper losses of over one hundred million US dollars to breaking even in the blink of an eye.

Then came profits of one hundred million…

Two hundred million…

Five hundred million…

Eight hundred million…

By the time he thought to call Wang Ye to report, the paper profits were already close to one billion!

In fact, before he even finished speaking, his peripheral vision caught the computer screen—his account profits had officially exceeded one billion US dollars!

With five hundred million in principal, in just over ten days since entering the market, he had made one billion US dollars!

This speed and efficiency of profit were unprecedented…

…

After listening, Wang Ye hesitated slightly before firmly saying, “Start liquidating! I want you to cash out and exit the market as quickly as possible!”

“Ah? But… at this rate, we could make even more!” Milner was surprised and even reluctant.

Although the money wasn’t his, and whether he made more or less didn’t affect him, he had personally managed these trades.

Anyone who had traded stocks knew the feeling—watching the numbers in your account grow was…

Truly the most wonderful feeling in the world!

Moreover, based on Milner’s judgment, the impact of this event hadn’t fully unfolded yet.

The US stock market wouldn’t recover anytime soon, and no one could say how far it would fall before stopping.

There was absolutely no need to cash out so quickly. If they waited a little longer, they could make even more!

Right now, the accounts he managed held a large number of short positions, which, at this moment, were practically “money-printing machines”!

Every second could earn more than an ordinary person could in a lifetime!

Wang Ye understood Milner’s feelings, so he didn’t rush him. Instead, he smiled and explained:

“We only make the money we can make; don’t be greedy.

Next, the stock market is likely to continue plummeting, and our profits could keep growing.

But don’t forget, once the regulatory authorities react, they won’t just sit by and watch the securities market collapse without taking action.

At the very least, they could use the simplest method: circuit breakers, closing the market for a day or several days to let market emotions settle.

Then, when trading resumes, can you guarantee it will continue to plummet?”

Milner suddenly came to his senses, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Indeed, as Wang Ye said, he had been blinded by the massive profits and become greedy…

Chapter 309: What’s the Change?

The current stock market had indeed suffered a “stock market crash.” The market was plummeting, and all stocks were in freefall!

Moreover, the American stock market operated under a “T+0” trading system, allowing for immediate buying and selling, with excellent liquidity.

Additionally, there were no limits on price fluctuations. Even if a stock was trading at ten thousand dollars one moment, it could drop to one cent the next…

The magnitude of these fluctuations was absolutely staggering!

After today’s disaster, the market sentiment had taken a massive hit, and it seemed as though everyone had lost their rationality.

Everyone was shouting, “Sell! Sell! Sell!”

It was as if the country was on the verge of collapse…

But was that really the case?

How much impact did today’s disaster truly have on America’s various industries?

These were questions that required time and rational analysis to answer.

So, the current market crash might just be an overreaction. Once people came to their senses and realized how absurdly low some stock prices had become, they would likely start shouting, “Buy! Buy! Buy!”

The “circuit breaker” Wang Ye had mentioned was also highly likely to occur.

The regulatory authorities wouldn’t just stand by and watch the market crash indefinitely. That would lead to a series of disastrous consequences, so they would probably take action immediately.

………………..

After understanding all this, Milner couldn’t afford to say anything else. He hurriedly replied, “Boss, I understand! I’ll liquidate and cash out immediately!”

After hanging up, a series of commands were issued, and everyone in Milner’s small team began operating frantically.

Reports came in one after another.

“Boss, I’ve sold everything here. It went very smoothly!”

“My accounts have all been liquidated. We’ve exited the market smoothly.”

“Cash-out complete!”

“Hah, everyone’s bearish right now, but we’re switching from short to long. Those short positions are so popular that as soon as we throw them out, they’re snatched up immediately.”

The cash-out and exit went smoothly because, at this moment, all investors were pessimistic.

Some might realize that the market was overreacting and that there would be a rebound later.

But no one could guarantee how far the market would fall before that rebound.

However, one thing was clear to everyone: as long as you were bearish and held short positions, you could make a fortune!

Thus, Milner and his team exited the market smoothly.

Switching from short to long might confuse many people. Simply put, if you wanted to short a stock in the domestic market, your account needed margin trading and securities lending permissions, with a minimum balance of five hundred thousand yuan.

In the U.S. stock market, it was much simpler—any account could short!

Essentially, short selling was like buying on credit. If you were bearish on a stock, you could borrow shares through various methods, sell them, and then return them after the price dropped.

To put it even more simply, if a stock was trading at one hundred dollars, and you didn’t think its price would rise, you could “borrow” ten thousand shares from a broker and sell them immediately!

When the stock price plummeted, say to one dollar per share, you could buy back ten thousand shares and return them to the broker, spending ten thousand dollars.

In this entire short-selling process, you would have made a profit of nine hundred and ninety thousand dollars!

………………..

After everyone had liquidated their positions, Milner compiled the data.

The final profit was a staggering figure: 1,120,840,000…

Of course, he didn’t need to count it. He knew what this number was just by looking at the first two digits.

Eleven billion!

After calming himself, he was about to call Wang Ye to report when suddenly, one of his subordinates shouted, “Boss, the U.S. stock market has triggered a circuit breaker! All trading is suspended. The resumption time is to be announced!”

Milner’s heart skipped a beat, and he secretly rejoiced.

Fortunately, he had strictly followed Wang Ye’s instructions. After hanging up, without any hesitation, he had immediately ordered his team to liquidate and “run.”

If he had hesitated for even a few minutes or been a little more greedy, he might not have been able to escape!

That was how finance worked. No matter how much paper profit you had, it was just a number.

As long as you hadn’t completely cashed out and exited, that money wasn’t real!

At any moment, a “black swan” event or some sudden news could turn those paper profits into nothing…

Sure enough, the U.S. stock market had suspended all trading. When trading resumed, the market sentiment would likely have calmed down, and stock prices might even start to rebound. At that point, trying to exit would not only reduce profit margins but also make liquidation much more difficult!

At this moment, Milner was truly convinced by Wang Ye!

As for how Wang Ye had “predicted” the recent avalanche in the U.S. stock market, Milner couldn’t comprehend it at all.

Of course, he wouldn’t associate Wang Ye with the events of today…

But regarding Wang Ye’s decisive order to liquidate and cash out, Milner was genuinely impressed.

Even ordinary people, including himself, would find it hard to control themselves when faced with the temptation of massive profits!

If it weren’t for Wang Ye’s command, he definitely wouldn’t have wanted to liquidate immediately. He would have wanted to make a little more…

But if he had waited just ten more minutes, he would have faced a “market closure,” a suspension of all trading!

It was so close! He almost didn’t make it out!

………………..

After dialing Wang Ye’s number, Milner reported that they had all exited the market, with a total profit of eleven billion and two hundred million dollars!

Even Wang Ye was somewhat shocked by this number.

Because this money had been earned too easily!

From the time he borrowed the money, to entering the market and setting up positions, to cashing out today, the entire process had taken only eleven short days!

And the result was a profit of eleven billion dollars, equivalent to one hundred million dollars per day…

“What should we do next? Should we transfer the funds back to Russia?” Milner asked again.

Wang Ye shook his head and instructed, “Leave the funds where they are for now. Our Polar Bear Investment Company will soon be opening a branch in America. This money will be converted into shares of the investment company and serve as the startup capital for the North American branch. Oh, right, transfer the change to my personal account.”

Milner asked foolishly, “The change? You mean the eighty million dollars?”

“No, the one hundred million. Leaving ten billion in the account is enough.”

The reason for leaving ten billion dollars was, of course, the agreement he had made with Khovansky to invest in Polar Bear Investment Company.

The extra one hundred million dollars was just change to Wang Ye.

He could simply transfer it to his personal account. There were still many places where he needed money.

Chapter 310: Joining the Top Ten Richest

Tonight, many people must be lying awake.

Everyone is pondering who could have done this in America and what kind of impact it will bring.

Wang Ye’s mood had already calmed down. After arranging the financial matters, he hung up the phone and turned to see Alyona still staring wide-eyed at the television.

As she watched, Alyona muttered, “This is America… how could something like this happen…”

It was no wonder. Even now, many people still couldn’t believe what had happened.

In the minds of many, America was simply too powerful!

Who would dare to stir up trouble right under their nose…

Yet, it had happened, whether you believed it or not.

“Alright, go to sleep. These things are hard to judge right or wrong, and they don’t really affect us,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

For Wang Ye, the impact of this event had already come to an end. Through temporary speculation, he had made a staggering one billion one hundred million dollars!

This amount wasn’t exactly huge, but it wasn’t small either. It probably wouldn’t attract much attention from the relevant authorities.

Moreover, he didn’t plan to transfer the money he had earned back to Russia. He intended to leave it in America for investment!

This way, it was even less likely that anyone would come after him.

Hearing Wang Ye’s words, Alyona nodded and turned off the television.

Wang Ye didn’t remember the details clearly, but he didn’t think there would be any major events after this. After all, in his memory, only the two World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon had been hit. There shouldn’t be anything else.

The two of them went to sleep, but many people, especially high-ranking officials in various countries, were kept awake all night by this incident!

Of course, due to time differences, many countries might not even be in the night…

But none of this had anything to do with Wang Ye. For him, this matter was completely over, and he would never bring it up again in the future.

After all, he had made a lot of money from this incident. If someone suspected that he was involved, it would be hard to explain…

…

Sure enough, the next day, almost everyone was talking about this incident.

Even Boss Kong, who was usually only interested in making money and never cared about national affairs, was enthusiastically discussing it with his colleagues.

When he saw Wang Ye arrive at the company, he hurriedly asked if Wang Ye knew about what had happened in America last night.

Wang Ye simply nodded and said in a sorrowful tone, “I know. Sigh, so many innocent civilians have been injured or killed. It’s too pitiful. This isn’t just America’s tragedy; it’s a tragedy for all of humanity!”

Boss Kong was taken aback and felt a bit ashamed.

He had been so caught up in schadenfreude that he hadn’t considered the casualties among the ordinary people or shown enough sympathy. It made him seem a bit petty…

But after Wang Ye returned to his office, he immediately called Khovansky.

“Uncle, my profits have come in. I can invest ten billion dollars into Polar Bear Investment. My plan is to leave all those funds, including the five billion dollars I borrowed, in America. They’re probably going to have a tough year. The market value of many companies has been suppressed, and many people have lost faith in the country. But I think this is the best time to invest, so leaving fifteen billion dollars there is perfect!…”

Wang Ye analyzed the situation over the phone.

Although America had suffered a heavy blow and seemed to be “down and out,” this was only reflected in its international reputation.

The American economy, however, didn’t have any major problems. It was still growing steadily, just not as fast as before, and certainly not as fast as its “competitors”…

Especially the internet industry, which wasn’t affected by the physical industry!

Khovansky was silent for several seconds, seemingly digesting what Wang Ye had said.

To be honest, he hadn’t expected Wang Ye to make so much money, and in such a short time!

After a moment of hesitation, Khovansky asked, “You’ve already cashed out and left? Why didn’t you wait another day or two? Wouldn’t you have made even more?”

Milner had asked Wang Ye the same question.

“I’ve made enough. I’m not that greedy, and I’ve never thought my luck was good enough to maximize my profits,” Wang Ye replied with a smile.

Clearly, Khovansky appreciated Wang Ye’s principle. He said straightforwardly:

“Then make time to come to the headquarters. Let’s re-sign the agreement to redistribute the shares of Polar Bear Investment. With your investment sensitivity and insight, this investment company might bring me another surprise in the future, haha…”

Wang Ye didn’t say anything, but he knew in his heart what heights this investment company could reach in the future!

If Khovansky didn’t “mess things up,” his 49% stake in Polar Bear Investment might one day be worth more than the entire Yukos Group…

…

There was no need to “make time.” That very afternoon, Wang Ye rushed to the Yukos Group headquarters and signed the share transfer agreement with Khovansky.

He directly registered a branch of Polar Bear Investment in America, and both his ten billion dollars and the five billion he had borrowed were transferred into the branch’s account.

At the same time, Wang Ye took 51% of Polar Bear Investment’s shares, officially becoming the controlling shareholder.

The second-largest shareholder was Khovansky, with 49%.

After signing, Khovansky smiled and shook Wang Ye’s hand, congratulating him, “Congratulations, Misha. With your wealth, you should now be able to rank among the top ten richest in all of Russia!”

Clearly, this was thanks to Wang Ye’s recent haul of one billion dollars from the American stock market!

Adding in the fact that Khovansky had given him a share in Polar Bear Investment, just the assets from Polar Bear Investment alone gave Wang Ye a net worth of fifteen billion dollars!

And the Little Eagle Group was now worth at least five billion dollars, right?

Adding these two together gave twenty billion dollars!

As for the other scattered assets, they weren’t worth much, so he didn’t bother calculating them.

Perhaps after the Sun Market had been running for a while, that part could also add a significant amount to Wang Ye’s wealth, but not now.

The Sun Market itself wasn’t worth much; the key was that its annual profits were astronomical, and its cash flow was abundant!

With a net worth of twenty billion dollars, Wang Ye could indeed rank among the top ten richest in all of Russia!

Of course, this wasn’t public knowledge, and Wang Ye didn’t want to draw that kind of attention.

Wang Ye smiled modestly and humbly said, “Everything I have now is thanks to your guidance, Uncle.”

He was expressing to Khovansky that he wasn’t the kind of person who would forget kindness, and he would always remember Khovansky’s help…

Chapter 311: Some Matters Need to Be Resolved

Khovansky smiled faintly, seemingly satisfied with Wang Ye’s attitude.

He waved his hand lightly and said, “No, achieving what you have now isn’t because of much help from me. It’s mainly because Misha, you worked hard enough!”

Indeed, if it weren’t for Wang Ye’s strong abilities and extraordinary talent, even with his connection to Khovansky, he wouldn’t have achieved his current success!

He might have been limited to the position of president of the Sun Market Group, and Khovansky wouldn’t have given him more opportunities.

True success always comes from one’s own efforts. Relying on others’ charity is clearly unreliable.

…

Wang Ye hesitated for a moment before reminding Khovansky, “Uncle, the incident last night should have a significant impact on the oil industry.”

“Haha, we’ve already held an emergency meeting to analyze it, and the conclusion is that this is a major boon for the oil industry! Next, international crude oil prices should soar!” Khovansky said with a smile, seemingly in a good mood.

“Uh… actually, my thoughts are the opposite. When everyone is optimistic, things often develop unexpectedly. I think that in the next few years, crude oil prices will continue to be sluggish,” Wang Ye said seriously.

Khovansky shook his head repeatedly after hearing this, dismissively saying, “No, Misha, you might be very accurate in judging the securities and financial markets, but the energy industry is different. This industry is simple; prices only depend on the balance between demand and production. As long as demand is high and production isn’t excessive, prices will naturally continue to rise…”

Originally, Wang Ye wanted to remind him, but instead, he was given a lesson by Khovansky.

He didn’t have much to argue with, as his research on the energy industry naturally couldn’t compare to Khovansky’s…

Truthfully, Wang Ye didn’t know why international crude oil prices would continue to be low for a considerable period of time. It was very abnormal.

But the problem was, in his “memory,” that was the case!

Since Khovansky didn’t agree, Wang Ye didn’t say more. After all, these energy giants had extremely low production costs. Even if crude oil prices weren’t high, it was just a matter of earning less money; there was no possibility of losing money!

Moreover, Khovansky had plenty of money. It was hard to estimate how much wealth he had. Earning less was just earning less…

…

The incident on September 11th was very sensational, but for ordinary people, it was just a topic of discussion for a couple of days.

A few days later, it seemed like the whole world had calmed down. Apart from America and various media outlets still discussing it, ordinary people no longer cared much about it, and everyone’s lives returned to normal.

Wang Ye now spent about two or three days a week going to school for classes, of course, at Moscow State University’s political science department.

He hadn’t shown his face at the University of Friendship since the start of the semester!

However, he had heard some news about the University of Friendship.

Song Xiao Gang and Yanzi had set off for St. Petersburg and started taking charge of the hotel-related work there.

Alyona’s younger sister, Nova, had also started school normally. She chose a single room on the thirteenth floor of the dormitory. Alyona had gone to see it and said the conditions were quite good.

After arranging all aspects of the matters, Wang Ye freed up his hands and began to seriously consider the matters of the Large Market in Lyublino.

This matter needed to be resolved sooner or later. He estimated that after he obtained that special license certificate, the other party would be very upset.

Next, either both parties could reach a reconciliation and coexist peacefully.

Or, it would be a case of both sides suffering…

…

On the morning of the 15th, after arriving at the office, Wang Ye picked up his phone and called Mairov.

“Bro, what have you been busy with lately? Haven’t seen you in a while.”

Although there was a significant age difference between the two, Wang Ye didn’t treat Mairov as an elder, nor did he address Mairov as “uncle” like he did with Aby.

Because Mairov’s strength wasn’t enough for Wang Ye to respect him…

In the business world, strength is respected. Wang Ye’s current strength, if we’re being honest, was definitely stronger than Mairov’s, so the two of them interacting as equals was completely fine.

Mairov naturally didn’t mind this. After receiving Wang Ye’s call, he was quite happy.

“Haha, Misha, hello. What else could I be busy with? Just a bunch of trivial matters in the market every day. Thanks to you, business is pretty good now,” he said with a laugh.

“It’s like this. I’m considering whether to meet with the boss of Lyublino. If there are any problems, we can talk face to face. After all, in the whole of Russia, there are only three large-scale wholesale markets. Why can’t we join hands and work together to make the business bigger and stronger?” Wang Ye stated his intention.

Mairov pondered for a few seconds before slapping his thigh in admiration, “Misha, you’re absolutely right! I completely agree. We should indeed unite. It’s better for everyone to make money together.”

“Are you familiar with the boss of Lyublino? If not, you can take the initiative to invite him out. The three of us can sit down together for a meal and discuss it. How about that?” Wang Ye added.

Mairov hesitated for a moment. He wasn’t particularly familiar with the boss of Lyublino; they were just casual acquaintances.

But just saying hello and arranging a meal shouldn’t be a problem.

Moreover, if this matter could be resolved smoothly, it would also be beneficial for the ACT Market.

After all, Lyublino wasn’t just targeting the customers of the Sun Market; they were also poaching customers from the ACT Market…

“Alright! Then I’ll take the initiative to invite him for a talk. Where should we meet?” Mairov said straightforwardly.

Wang Ye smiled and said, “I think the other party isn’t very trusting of me and wouldn’t dare to come to our territory. Similarly, I don’t want to go to his territory to talk. So let’s choose a place where everyone feels safe, a public venue, so no one will cause trouble. The Turandot Restaurant would be good. We can eat and talk there.”

This couldn’t be blamed on Wang Ye being “cowardly.” He really didn’t know the personality of the boss of the Lyublino Market and didn’t know if the other party would take desperate measures.

So he chose to meet the other party at Turandot. This was a public place, and the customers who dined here were either rich or noble!

Under normal circumstances, no one would dare to cause trouble here…

“Mmm, that place is pretty good. Then you wait for my news. I’ll call the other party right away to arrange a time, and we can all sit down for a meal together,” Mairov said decisively.

…

Not long after hanging up the phone, Mairov called back, saying that the other party had agreed to meet.

The time was set for tonight at seven o’clock sharp at the Turandot Restaurant. Don’t be late!

Chapter 312: Is This a Feast at Hongmen?

Wang Ye did not take tonight’s dinner lightly.

Though it couldn’t exactly be called a “feast at Hongmen,” he still made the necessary preparations.

After all, he had a professional security company under his command. If something happened despite his advance preparations, it would be the joke of the century!

Wang Ye only told Anton that he was meeting the boss of Lyublino Market tonight and that there was a certain level of danger involved.

He didn’t need to say more; Anton understood immediately and began making arrangements.

…

Around six in the evening, Wang Ye’s motorcade—three black large G-class Mercedes—arrived outside the Turandot Restaurant.

To lighten the mood, he had deliberately brought a female companion—Katya.

After getting out of the car, Wang Ye and Katya went straight to the large private room upstairs that had been reserved in advance. Tonight, he was the “host,” the boss of Lyublino was the “guest,” and Mairov was the “mediator.”

So, he arrived early to show respect for the guest and the mediator. Etiquette was still important.

As for what would happen if the negotiations tonight didn’t go well—whether they would end up in open conflict or something else—that was a matter for the future…

Inside the private room, just as they had sat down for a few minutes, Mairov arrived.

After meeting, the two shared a warm embrace, exchanging pleasantries as if they were old friends who hadn’t seen each other in years. Then they took their seats, sipping red tea and chatting while waiting for the boss of Lyublino to arrive.

“Misha, let me give you a brief introduction to the boss of Lyublino. You might not be very familiar with him,” Mairov said with a smile.

Wang Ye nodded. He indeed didn’t know much about this man, having only heard Mairov mention him briefly.

After all, he hadn’t been in the Russian business world for very long, and his network wasn’t extensive enough.

“He’s named Zinov. When he was very young, he immigrated to Russia from Kazakhstan and has Jewish ancestry. He’s a very clever man.

Besides Lyublino Market, he also acquired VDNKh. That market is where he made his fortune.

Also, you might not know this, but the Underground Mall outside Red Square—the most popular and high-end mall in Moscow right now—is also his!

And one more thing you might already know.

His biggest backer is the number one figure in Moscow Oblast, Luzhkov!

Their relationship is extraordinary. Otherwise, Zinov wouldn’t have been able to get the land for Lyublino, nor would he have been able to open a mall next to Red Square…”

Mairov’s words revealed a lot of information, some of which Wang Ye genuinely didn’t know.

For example, the fact that VDNKh and the Underground Mall belonged to Zinov was quite surprising!

After all, both of these malls were famous in Moscow—everyone knew about them!

The Underground Mall needed no introduction. It was currently the most high-end and bustling mall in Moscow, and Wang Ye often went there to shop.

VDNKh was no ordinary place either. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a mall but rather a former large exhibition… park!

Inside were dozens of buildings of various sizes, but after renovation, it had become a large commercial district.

You could buy anything there—from electronics to clothing and accessories, to all kinds of souvenirs and food. It had everything.

If you had to make a comparison, perhaps the Wangfujing in the capital was somewhat similar?

No wonder he was able to secure Lyublino and develop so many large-scale projects. It seemed his financial backing was truly substantial…

As for Zinov’s relationship with Luzhkov, Wang Ye already knew about that. This was also why he hadn’t taken drastic measures.

Because Wang Ye still didn’t understand how deep Zinov’s relationship with Luzhkov ran. If he rashly moved against Zinov and completely offended Luzhkov, it would truly be a case of the gain not being worth the loss.

After all, his relationship with the great emperor wasn’t that “solid” yet. If Luzhkov decided to move against him, who knew if the great emperor would offend Luzhkov for his sake.

All he could say was that politics was too complicated. Whenever politics or political figures were involved, Wang Ye was always very careful.

He knew his place well. Compared to those political bigwigs, he was still just a small ant…

…

As Wang Ye furrowed his brow in thought, the door to the private room was knocked on. A waitress led in a lean, middle-aged man with graying hair.

Beside this middle-aged man was a young and beautiful girl, apparently his female companion.

Mairov had already stood up and walked over with a smile. “Zinov, my old friend.”

The two shared a warm embrace, patting each other’s backs, looking very close.

After the embrace, Mairov introduced the two, fulfilling his role as the “mediator.”

Zinov looked at Wang Ye with bright eyes and a smile, saying, “So this is Mr. Mikhail. I’ve heard so much about you. Over the past few months, you’ve been making quite a splash in Moscow’s political and business circles. I’ve heard Mr. Luzhkov mention you several times.”

His words subtly highlighted his relationship with Luzhkov…

Wang Ye also smiled in response. “As for Mr. Zinov, I’ve admired you for even longer. Your VDNKh and the Underground Mall—I shop there often. I suppose that makes me one of your customers.”

The two laughed heartily and shook hands firmly.

After sitting down, Katya also instructed the waitress to serve the dishes.

For a while, glasses clinked, and laughter filled the air…

After about ten minutes, Wang Ye put down his knife and fork, took out a napkin, wiped his mouth, and began to get to the point.

He asked with a smile, “Mr. Zinov, I believe you already know why I invited you here tonight?”

Zinov also put down his knife and fork, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and looked up as he replied, “It’s about the competition between our three markets, isn’t it?”

Wang Ye nodded and continued:

“The situation is clear. Our Sun Market Group holds the exclusive import rights, allowing us to legally and efficiently handle customs clearance and taxation for our merchants.

But your two markets don’t have that. You can only rely on gray customs clearance for imports.

Mr. Mairov’s ACT Market is a different story. After all, we have an agreement, and there’s no competition for customer resources between us. Also, ACT Market is the oldest market, with all its shops rented out and a stable customer base.

But your Lyublino hasn’t even opened yet. What do you plan to do next?”

These words made Zinov’s expression darken.

Because everything Wang Ye said was true!

The current situation favored Sun Market and ACT, while Lyublino Market was at a disadvantage!

Chapter 313: To Sell or Not to Sell

Mairov quickly added, “Everyone here knows that many of the dark-haired traders and Vietnamese clients in the ACT Market are just agents for powerful Chinese merchants. They get their goods from those merchants. Since the Chinese merchants at Sun Market can clear customs formally, that means many of the goods in the ACT Market are also cleared through formal customs…”

Everyone present understood what he was saying.

In Moscow’s wholesale business, the truly powerful merchants were undoubtedly the Chinese. This was beyond question.

After all, whether in Russia or the surrounding “Stan” countries, their light industries couldn’t compare to China’s. If their light industry system was weak, where did the goods sold in the Large Market come from?

It was obvious—most came from China.

Many dark-haired traders and Vietnamese merchants were just middlemen getting goods from Chinese merchants.

Now, Wang Ye’s Sun Market had pulled in almost all the powerful Chinese merchants. Mairov’s ACT Market could still “get a taste,” since some Chinese merchants had stalls there, and there were plenty of middlemen.

Anyway, his market’s stalls weren’t hard to rent out, and he wouldn’t collect any less rent.

But Lyublino was in a tough spot. Their original goal had been to attract Chinese merchants to rent stalls.

…

After listening to both of them, Zinov asked calmly, “So, Mr. Mikhail, what do you think I should do?”

Wang Ye shrugged indifferently. “It’s not about what I think you should do, but what you want to do! If this stalemate continues, Sun Market won’t be affected—it’ll only get better. The same goes for ACT Market. Mr. Mairov used to make a certain amount, and now he makes the same, maybe even more! But you, Lyublino—can you even open smoothly? Will any merchants still want to do business there?”

Wang Ye’s ruthless exposure made it impossible for Zinov to stay calm.

Indeed, the one most anxious right now was Zinov, not Wang Ye or Mairov!

Lyublino Large Market had invested a lot of money!

Sun Market and ACT Market were container markets, simple in structure, easy to build, and not expensive.

But Lyublino was different—it was like a super-large shopping mall, all steel and concrete, with high construction costs!

Plus, the land was in a central urban area, so the cost of buying it wasn’t low either. The entire market had cost them four to five hundred million U.S. dollars in hard cash!

Originally, they thought they could attract merchants with a better location, better traffic, and superior facilities.

In Zinov’s plan, what ACT Market? What Sun Market!

Once Lyublino Market opened, all the merchants would be drawn there, and those two markets wouldn’t last long—they’d go bankrupt!

Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned.

Instead, Sun Market somehow obtained an import license, allowing their merchants to clear customs formally with the same cost and efficiency as before!

This was a huge draw. Lyublino, which had been doing well in attracting merchants, was hit hard by this “blow.”

Honestly, if Wang Ye hadn’t arranged this meal, Zinov would have had to make a move soon!

…

“To be honest, I don’t know what to do either. Since Mr. Mikhail invited me to dinner today, I assume you have a good solution. I’d like to hear your opinion,” Zinov said sincerely.

Wang Ye glanced at him and smiled. This old fox wasn’t without ideas—he just couldn’t bring them up!

But it didn’t matter. He had invited Zinov today precisely to solve the problem.

“It’s simple. Our Sun Market Group has an import license. You can just sell Lyublino Large Market to me. That way, you won’t lose too much of your initial investment. And after we take over Lyublino, we can continue to expand the wholesale distribution market. It’s a win-win,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Zinov’s fingers tapped the table rapidly, seemingly considering Wang Ye’s proposal.

Mairov, on the other hand, frowned.

With Lyublino Large Market still around, it was a “three-legged stand,” balancing each other out, maintaining a fragile equilibrium.

If Zinov really sold Lyublino to Sun Market Group, then Moscow’s wholesale markets would belong to Sun Market Group!

Would his ACT Market have to be sold to Sun Market Group next…

“If we acquire Lyublino Large Market, how much are you planning to offer?” Zinov suddenly asked.

Wang Ye and Mairov were both surprised.

Neither had expected Zinov to be so cooperative—no resistance at all?!

But Wang Ye reacted quickly. He held up three fingers and smiled. “Three hundred million U.S. dollars. That should be a fair price.”

Zinov shook his head repeatedly, dissatisfied. “Do you know how much we invested just to buy the land and build the market?”

“I don’t need to know that. I only know that if you keep holding on, Lyublino Market will only lose you more money! But if you sell it to Sun Market Group now, you can still get three hundred million in cash. The choice is obvious—no need for me to explain further,” Wang Ye said firmly, not backing down.

The logic was sound.

Lyublino Large Market had cost more than three hundred million, but in the current situation, holding on would only lead to more losses, not profits.

It would be better to “surrender,” sell the market to Sun Market Group, and take the three hundred million to do something else.

…

The atmosphere in the private room was tense. Wang Ye calmly swirled his wine glass.

Mairov, on the other hand, was nervous, afraid Zinov would agree.

As for Zinov, he frowned, lit a cigarette, and sat in silence.

Katya and Zinov’s female companion quietly ate, not saying a word—this wasn’t their place to speak.

After smoking most of the cigarette, Zinov seemed to have made up his mind. He stubbed it out and looked up at Wang Ye…

Chapter 314: Ambushed on the Way

“Mr. Mikhail, I still need to think carefully about this matter and discuss it with the company’s shareholders. After all, this is no small decision. However, from my personal perspective, selling Lyublino is indeed the better choice. In the wholesale distribution market, we no longer have much competitiveness.”

Zinov’s tone was very sincere and realistic.

It seemed he personally leaned toward selling Lyublino to Wang Ye. As for discussing it with the shareholders, that was just a formality, a way to save face.

Beside him, Mairov felt a wave of sorrow. The situation was stronger than the man. If he were in Zinov’s position, he probably wouldn’t have a better choice either.

If Lyublino were truly acquired by the Sun Market Group, the situation for ACT would not be “friendly.” Throughout Russia, the Sun Market Group would have only ACT left as a rival.

Moreover, the disparity in their strengths was vast. Next time Mikhail invited him to dinner, it would probably be to discuss the price for acquiring ACT Market…

…

Hearing Zinov’s straightforward response, Wang Ye’s expression was somewhat complex.

He nodded and smiled, saying, “That’s as it should be. I understand. Then, I’ll wait for your good news, Mr. Zinov.”

If he could acquire Lyublino, the large market, for three hundred million dollars, Wang Ye felt it would be very worthwhile.

Not to mention anything else, just the large plot of land alone was invaluable.

After all, Lyublino’s location was much better than Sun Market’s—closer to the city center and more convenient for transportation.

Not only could it be used for wholesale distribution, but even if some of the stalls were converted to retail, it would be very suitable.

Moreover, Lyublino Market’s hardware facilities were indeed much better than Sun Market’s, almost like a modern shopping center…

Sun Market and ACT Market were still too crude. The so-called shops were just stacked shipping containers. In the long run, such shops would eventually be phased out.

…

The official business discussion went very smoothly, and the atmosphere in the private room became lively.

No matter what they thought in their hearts, everyone on the surface was all smiles, raising their wine glasses frequently…

After eating and chatting for a while, everyone stood up to say their goodbyes and prepared to leave.

Outside Turandot Restaurant, Mairov was the first to get into his car—a large Hummer, towering and imposing, even larger than the Mercedes large G-class. In Russia, this was a favorite among the wealthy.

Clearly, there were armed bodyguards in the car as well.

According to etiquette, Wang Ye should have been the one to see Zinov off and leave last.

But Zinov was very polite and insisted on seeing Wang Ye off first before leaving himself.

Unable to refuse him, Wang Ye and Katya got into the middle large G-class, waving goodbye to Zinov.

The three black large G-class cars drove out of the parking lot in single file, heading toward the apartment.

Zinov stood at the hotel entrance, watching the departing convoy, a slight smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

…

It was already around eight or nine in the evening. The streets of Moscow seemed a bit deserted, with not many vehicles on the road.

Especially as they approached the apartment where Wang Ye lived, since it was in a more remote area, there were almost no cars coming or going on this stretch of road.

The dim yellow streetlights illuminated the road, and the September weather was already quite chilly.

Seryosha drove the car in the middle, with one car in front and one behind, both filled with bodyguards. They were about to turn into the internal road leading to the apartment, and the convoy began to slow down.

At that moment, an ordinary Lada car overtook them from behind. Seryosha glanced at it in the rearview mirror and didn’t think much of it.

After all, such Lada cars were everywhere in Moscow, usually used as unlicensed taxis.

But just as the Lada pulled up alongside Seryosha’s car, the front and rear windows on the side closest to the large G-class suddenly opened. Two rifles emerged from inside, their dark muzzles aimed at the large G-class Seryosha was driving.

The moment the Lada’s windows opened, Seryosha became alert. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, his peripheral vision already on the Lada beside him.

Seeing the gun barrels protruding from the windows, his scalp tingled, and the hairs on his body stood on end.

Instinctively, he swerved the car toward the Lada while shouting, “Watch out! Gunmen!”

Before he could finish shouting, gunfire erupted.

“Pop pop pop pop…”

The rapid gunfire sounded like firecrackers. The large G-class Seryosha was driving instantly became riddled with holes. Especially the rear, where the rear windows had been shattered, and the doors were covered in bullet holes.

Seryosha’s urgent shout was transmitted through the car’s radio to the two large G-class cars in front and behind. Everyone immediately sprang into action.

The two cars swerved sharply, their tires screeching as they veered off their original path. One in front and one behind, they sandwiched the Lada between them. Simultaneously, the rear side windows of both cars opened, and two figures emerged from each, holding Uzi submachine guns aimed at the white Lada.

Another burst of rapid gunfire erupted, mixed with the sound of colliding vehicles.

Gunfire, screeching brakes, and crashing cars intertwined…

It happened very quickly. From the Lada overtaking and opening fire to the three large G-class cars surrounding and stopping the Lada, it all took less than two minutes.

…

“Bang bang bang”—the sound of car doors opening and closing echoed.

Six burly men jumped out of the two large G-class cars. At this moment, they had pulled down the small black caps on their heads, turning them into black masks. Combined with their camouflage combat uniforms and the Uzi submachine guns in their arms, the air was filled with a killing intent.

After getting out of the cars, they raised their guns and quickly approached the stopped Lada.

Their division of labor was extremely clear. Two security personnel faced outward, guns at the ready, to prevent any accomplices of the gunmen from appearing.

Two security personnel aimed their guns at the inside of the Lada, ready to shoot without hesitation if anything happened.

The other two security personnel kicked the Lada’s doors with their military boots. After a few “bangs,” they pulled the doors off with their gloved hands.

Seryosha didn’t have time to get out of the car. He turned his head to look at the back seat, his eyes wide, and urgently shouted into the car radio, “Calling base! Calling base! We’ve been ambushed on the road. A teammate is seriously injured! Contact the hospital immediately, contact the hospital immediately!”

Anton’s voice came through the radio, “Base received! Proceeding to the nearest private hospital at XX Miklukho-Maklaya Street. Base will contact the hospital in advance. What’s the situation on the ground?”

“The enemy vehicle has been stopped. Two gunmen and one driver inside have been neutralized!” Seryosha reported quickly.

Chapter 315: A Narrow Escape

Although Seryosha hadn’t even gotten out of the car to look, he could already see through the window that the small Lada was nearly blown to pieces!

The entire car—front and rear windows, as well as the hood—was riddled with bullet holes!

The security personnel from the front and rear escort vehicles had already removed the Lada’s doors and dragged out three motionless people…

The scene had completely calmed down. Three large G-class Mercedes surrounded the small Lada, their emergency lights flashing, cordoning off the area.

After confirming there was no further danger, Seryosha directed a security officer with first aid training to stop the bleeding of the severely injured teammate. Then, he had the man carried into the undamaged front vehicle and ordered two security personnel to take him to a prearranged private hospital.

As for Seryosha himself, he stayed behind to handle the aftermath.

He had someone call the police while he dialed Wang Ye’s number…

…

Normally, Wang Ye and Katya should have been sitting in the back seat of the car Seryosha was driving. So why had they suddenly disappeared?

This required some explanation.

Before tonight’s banquet, Wang Ye had instructed Anton to make some preparations, primarily to ensure his personal safety.

He was only nineteen years old and had only been “reborn” for half a year. There were still so many things he hadn’t done—he wasn’t ready to die yet.

So, even though Wang Ye believed Zinov shouldn’t make a move, he didn’t want to take any risks. Better to be cautious than to bear the consequences.

During the meal, the two private rooms next to theirs were actually filled with undercover security personnel, all armed with handguns in case of trouble.

Nothing had happened during the meal, and everything seemed to be going smoothly. Zinov hadn’t shown any unusual behavior.

Even when they were leaving the restaurant to head home, Wang Ye had taken his usual seat in the back of Seryosha’s large G-class Mercedes.

All of this had been observed by Zinov…

But no one had seen that shortly after the convoy left the Tulando Restaurant, they had taken a shortcut through a small, unlit road with no other cars.

After passing through the small road, the convoy continued toward the apartment as usual. However, Wang Ye and Katya were no longer in Seryosha’s car.

They had switched to a Toyota Land Cruiser parked on the side of the road with its engine off. Naturally, this was a vehicle Anton had dispatched from the security base.

Only after the Mercedes convoy had driven away did the Land Cruiser start up, slowly pulling out of the small street and heading toward Wang Ye’s apartment.

The rear windows of the Mercedes were tinted for privacy, and since it was nighttime, no one could clearly see who—or if anyone—was sitting in the back, even if they pressed their face against the glass.

Just to be cautious, a security officer had been arranged to sit in Wang Ye’s usual spot.

Unfortunately, as they neared the apartment, an incident occurred—the security officer was severely injured!

Wang Ye, however, had narrowly escaped disaster!

…

“Boss, something happened! We were attacked on the road near the apartment. Three gunmen have been taken out, but… one of our men is severely injured and is being rushed to the hospital,” Seryosha reported gravely to Wang Ye.

Wang Ye was still in the Land Cruiser, halfway to the apartment.

Hearing Seryosha’s report, his heart skipped a beat, and a wave of relief washed over him.

Thank goodness he had made preparations. Otherwise, he and Katya would have been the ones in danger!

After the initial shock, anger surged within him. Though there was no concrete evidence, the odds were over ninety percent that Zinov was behind this!

No one else had a reason to make such a move.

“Spare no expense—do whatever it takes to save that man’s life! Handle the scene yourself; I won’t be coming over,” Wang Ye ordered decisively.

Then, he instructed the driver, “Head to the base!”

At this moment, returning to the apartment was out of the question. Wang Ye had no idea if Zinov had more tricks up his sleeve. For safety, he would stay at the base for the time being—it was clearly the most secure place.

The driver nodded, sharply turning the wheel, and the car made a U-turn, accelerating toward the security base.

Wang Ye made another call—this time to Alyona.

Before dialing, he had been worried the call might not go through or that no one would answer…

Fortunately, the phone rang only twice before it was picked up, and a familiar voice came through. “Hello, Misha.”

Wang Ye exhaled in relief, a smile forming on his face. “Alyona, are you at home?”

“Yeah, I’ve already had dinner and am watching TV,” Alyona replied cheerfully.

“Something’s come up. Pack your things immediately and stay at your sister’s dormitory tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll send you to Crimea. The initial campaigning is about to start there anyway, so it’s time for you to go,” Wang Ye said cautiously.

Alyona seemed taken aback, pausing for a moment before asking, “What’s wrong? Is it dangerous?”

Intelligent as she was, she had already guessed something was amiss.

“A little. Someone’s targeting me—my convoy was just ambushed,” Wang Ye admitted.

This startled Alyona even more. She quickly asked, “Ambushed?! Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine. The situation is under control for now. I’ll be staying at the security base for the next few days until this is fully resolved. That’s why I need to send you away first,” Wang Ye explained.

Hearing this, Alyona understood completely.

Without hesitation, she agreed, “Alright, I’ll pack right away and go to my sister’s place.”

Alyona knew that at this moment, leaving Moscow was the best way she could help Wang Ye.

After arranging everything, Wang Ye hung up and fell into deep thought.

Such an incident could not be ignored. He had to strike back with thunderous force!

He didn’t want to give anyone the impression that he was an easy target.

Instead, he wanted everyone to know that anyone who dared to move against him would face consequences—consequences they couldn’t afford…

…

As the car entered the security base, it was clear the entire base had already mobilized.

Lights blazed everywhere, whistles blew in succession, and squad leaders had assembled their teams, fully armed and ready.

They were waiting for Wang Ye’s command to move out and take down the enemy’s nest…

Anton hurried over, dressed in camouflage and combat boots.

His expression grave, he reported to Wang Ye, “Boss, we just received word from the hospital. The injured man’s condition was too severe—he didn’t make it!”

Chapter 316: Blood for Blood

Wang Ye clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and said, “This is the first fatality since the Wagner Security Company was founded, so we must inform all members. This is also a good opportunity to tell everyone a few things. Summon everyone to the training grounds for a meeting immediately!”

If this matter wasn’t handled properly, it could destabilize morale within the company.

After all, someone had died!

Though everyone working at a security company understood they had to accept a certain level of risk, that didn’t mean they didn’t value their own lives.

If another security company offered slightly lower wages but with less intense work and lower risk, many might choose to leave for those safer companies.

So Wang Ye needed to give everyone a “reassurance,” using this incident to make a statement and put their minds at ease.

As long as any accidents happened during work, the company would absolutely not mistreat them.

……….

Anton immediately began gathering the personnel. The floodlights above the training grounds in front of the building were all turned on, casting a bright white glow over the entire courtyard.

The Wagner Company now had nearly two hundred people. Aside from the team dispatched to Siberia and the two teams patrolling the Sun Market at night, the rest were all at the base, totaling just over two hundred.

At the base, everything was managed with strict military discipline. Everyone stood in neat rows on the training grounds, silent.

Wang Ye stood at the front of the formation, scanning the crowd, with Anton standing slightly behind him.

After a moment of silence, the atmosphere grew heavy.

Many of the security personnel still didn’t know what had happened, only that something had gone wrong…

Wang Ye spoke with a grave expression, “Just now, a comrade was ambushed while escorting me home and… passed away!”

The training grounds fell deathly silent, with only the sound of breathing. Clearly, those who could enter the Wagner Company had excellent discipline—no one whispered among themselves.

But it was obvious that everyone’s mood had turned somber and oppressive.

Most of these people had been comrades for years, having gone through battles together, shed blood together!

Naturally, their bonds ran deep. Though they didn’t yet know which brother had fallen, everyone felt the weight of the loss.

Wang Ye continued:

“When you first joined the company, we told you all that once you’re part of Wagner, you’re all brothers.

If anything happens to anyone, the company will not stand idly by—we will never mistreat them.

The comrade who tragically passed away—his family will receive one million US dollars in compensation. I hope this money can secure their future.

Additionally, the gunmen who attacked the convoy were killed on the spot, but we all know the mastermind behind this has yet to be punished.

I can promise you all here that no matter who they are or who stands behind them, if they dare to harm anyone from Wagner, we will strike back with equal force and make them pay in blood!

We will not let our fallen brother rest in peace with his eyes still open!

Three days!

At most, within three days, this debt must be repaid!”

At this point, Wang Ye paused for a moment before shouting, “Ura!”

This ignited the atmosphere on the spot.

The two hundred or so members on the training grounds roared in unison:

“Ura!”

“Ura!”

“Ura!”

In that moment, everyone’s morale soared, their hearts filled with burning passion. Even if Wang Ye led them to storm the Kremlin…

Well, that might be going too far.

But if it was just about avenging their fallen brother, every single one of them would charge forward without hesitation!

……….

Wang Ye’s words weren’t just empty rhetoric—he had deliberately stirred their emotions.

First, he delivered the tragic news, then immediately announced the company’s compensation for their fallen comrade.

One million US dollars!

This compensation standard was unmatched anywhere else in Russia!

According to Anton, their previous state-run security company had a maximum compensation of only ten thousand US dollars for work-related fatalities.

But at Wagner, that standard had been multiplied by a hundred!

This was an absolute fortune…

After the financial compensation, Wang Ye immediately declared that within three days, they would avenge their fallen brother, no matter who the enemy was—they would make them pay in blood!

With this, no one could find fault.

The young men below were moved, their blood boiling. They felt they had made the right choice coming to Wagner!

At the end of the day, they were risking their lives for money.

Now, Wang Ye not only provided generous compensation but also gave them “respect” and a sense of belonging!

With his speech, every Wagner warrior would be willing to lay down their lives for him!

Because they all knew that even if something happened to them, the company would avenge them and take care of their families…

……….

After boosting morale, Wang Ye didn’t immediately order anyone into action.

After all, this was Moscow—he couldn’t be too overt, or he’d be asking for trouble.

Instead, he announced that everyone should return to their dormitories to rest and stand by, as no immediate action was required.

Even if they were going after Zinov, they at least needed to investigate where he was. They couldn’t just send everyone out for a citywide manhunt in Moscow…

Everyone else could rest, but Wang Ye and Anton had no time for that.

Back in the office, Wang Ye immediately began assigning tasks.

“Anton, this must be the work of Zinov, the boss of Lyublino. Send someone to find out where he’s staying now. Since he’s gone this far, if we don’t respond, won’t we be seen as weak?” Wang Ye said coldly.

He wasn’t worried about wrongly accusing Zinov.

Honestly, he didn’t have many enemies. Besides Zinov, he couldn’t think of anyone else who would want him dead!

During the meal, when Wang Ye proposed buying the Large Market in Lyublino for three hundred million US dollars, Zinov’s reaction had been strange.

He hadn’t gotten angry or even tried to negotiate—he just said he needed to discuss it with the shareholders, expressing willingness to sell. And after the meal, Zinov had insisted on seeing him off, watching as he got into the large G-class Mercedes driven by Seryosha—probably to ensure the accuracy of the later “assassination”!

Unfortunately, Wang Ye had prepared a countermeasure, foiling his plan!

Besides, this wasn’t the first time Zinov had tried something like this.

Let’s not forget—last time, the incident with Gokhso was also his doing…

Chapter 317: Send Him to Meet God

Anton immediately nodded in response. “No problem, boss. I’ll send someone to investigate right away.”

The Wagner Company was no longer just a group of “muscle-bound, simple-minded” ex-soldiers. Recently, they had recruited quite a few so-called “professionals”!

Rumor had it that some of them were even former KGB reservists, but before they could join, the KGB had already disbanded…

In Russia’s current environment, these professionals naturally had no place to showcase their skills, so they could only rely on their connections to work as bodyguards for security companies.

After Wagner was established, Anton had poached a few such experts from state-owned companies because he knew Wang Ye would need them in the future.

Moreover, a professional security company couldn’t be made up entirely of people who only knew how to fight. They also needed people who could use their brains.

Sending out a few of these professionals to investigate Zinov’s address would be a piece of cake.

Anton was confident that as long as Zinov hadn’t fled Moscow, or even Russia, he wouldn’t escape their investigation!

…

What was Zinov doing on his end?

Immediately after the incident, Zinov had received a report.

Of course, tonight’s incident was something he had orchestrated!

Agreeing to Wang Ye’s offer at the dinner was just a way to deceive him. He had invested so much money in the Lyublino Large Market.

He had high hopes, wanting to use this market to elevate his wealth to the next level!

How could he just give up under Wang Ye’s pressure?

Zinov had the confidence to act because he had a powerful backer!

Moreover, Zinov had already calculated that the three gunmen he sent were meant to be expendable. Wang Ye’s convoy also had several professional bodyguards, all armed.

They would naturally fight back when attacked.

So, in his plan, the gunmen would kill Wang Ye, and then Wang Ye’s bodyguards would kill the three gunmen…

This way, there would be no witnesses, and it would be impossible to trace who was behind the attack through the three dead gunmen.

After all, these three gunmen were desperadoes he had secretly recruited from Gokhso’s side!

Such incidents happened too often in Moscow every year, and the police didn’t have the resources to investigate. This case would ultimately become an “unsolved mystery,” locked away in the police archives…

Zinov quickly received intelligence that the three gunmen he sent had indeed been killed, and they had shot and killed the passenger in the back seat of the large G-class Mercedes in the middle of the convoy!

Unfortunately, that person was not Mikhail, but a security personnel…

This made Zinov nervous because he realized that Mikhail’s side had been prepared for him!

Since he hadn’t succeeded, would there be retaliation from the other side?

Very likely!

Without hesitation, he didn’t even pack his things and immediately left his luxurious city apartment, bringing his bodyguards to his large estate outside the city.

The city apartment was in a complex environment with people coming and going, making it difficult to ensure security.

But at the suburban estate, security was much easier to manage, and there were more than ten armed bodyguards. These were not just any security company personnel but Zinov’s trusted confidants, whose loyalty was beyond question.

He planned to hide here for a few days, observe the situation, and then make his next move.

Moreover, Zinov felt he was being overly cautious. He didn’t believe Mikhail would dare to act against him immediately.

Of course, even if they did, he wasn’t afraid. Could the other side really send an army to surround him…

…

On the other side, Wang Ye was still discussing the follow-up plan with Anton when his phone rang.

He glanced at it and frowned. It was Gebrev calling!

It was almost eleven at night. Why would he suddenly call him unless…

Thinking this, Wang Ye answered the call.

Before he could speak, Gebrev’s voice came through.

“Misha, were you attacked tonight? Are you okay?” Gebrev’s voice was a bit urgent.

Wang Ye responded, “I’m fine. I’ve safely returned home, but one of my bodyguards took a bullet for me and didn’t make it after being rushed to the hospital.”

Gebrev sighed in relief and consoled, “It’s good that you’re okay. By the way, do you know who did it?”

“I can more or less guess. Apart from Zinov, the boss of Lyublino, there’s no one else,” Wang Ye said straightforwardly.

Gebrev pondered for a moment and tentatively asked, “So what do you plan to do? Have you told the police about your suspicions?”

Wang Ye smiled and said meaningfully, “Would telling the police be useful?”

“Hmm? Haha, they will do their best to investigate. As long as there’s evidence that Zinov did it, they will definitely bring him to justice. Do you have other ideas?” Gebrev laughed awkwardly.

“I don’t have other ideas, but I know that every action has consequences! Whether it’s Zinov or someone else, since they’ve shown the intent to kill me, their fate will be tragic!” Wang Ye said firmly.

Although he didn’t say it outright, Wang Ye’s meaning was clear—he wanted revenge!

Gebrev quickly said, “Don’t be impulsive! You have a bright future ahead of you. Don’t do anything illegal. Since you’re unharmed, it’s better to let it go. Otherwise, I can step in and arrange a meeting so everyone can sit down and talk. Remember when your uncle was assassinated? It was resolved satisfactorily, wasn’t it?”

Wang Ye smiled faintly, “Forgiving them is God’s business, and what I need to do is send them to meet God!”

This line was something Wang Ye had borrowed from the great emperor…

Sure enough, as soon as he said this, Gebrev was left speechless.

After a long silence, he could only sigh and say helplessly, “Alright, since you’ve made up your mind, I won’t stop you. But I must remind you, don’t make too big a scene! This is Moscow, the capital. If things get too loud, it won’t be easy to clean up!”

“I understand. Don’t worry, Uncle Gebrev. I know what I’m doing and won’t cause you any trouble,” Wang Ye said with a smile.

Gebrev shook his head and laughed bitterly, scolding, “You little rascal! You say you won’t cause me trouble, but in the end, won’t I still have to step in and clean up your mess? Alright, since you’re going to act, do it cleanly. You know what I mean!”

Wang Ye smiled knowingly. Talking to smart people was always a pleasure!

Moreover, this was also a test, and the results showed that in Gebrev’s or the great emperor’s eyes, his status was rising…

Chapter 318: The Two Elite Units

Wang Ye had no qualms about openly telling Gebrev that he intended to take care of Zinov. He wasn’t afraid of Gebrev or the great emperor finding out—he didn’t even care if they did.

Wang Ye knew full well that if the great emperor ever decided to move against him, whether or not he had any leverage over them wouldn’t matter in the slightest. The great emperor could find a thousand excuses to justify his actions.

But as long as Wang Ye maintained a good relationship with the great emperor, as long as he was seen as useful, then no matter how many “bad things” he did, the great emperor would turn a blind eye—or even help clean up the mess afterward.

It was the law of the jungle in Russia, and the great emperor understood that better than anyone.

“Don’t worry, Uncle Gebrev,” Wang Ye said with a smile. “My Wagner Security Company has professionals. They’ll handle things cleanly and efficiently.”

Gebrev sighed and shook his head. “You’re something else, kid. But speaking of your Wagner Security Company, I’ll introduce you to someone later. He’s got some real top-tier talent under him. You should get a few of his people.”

Wang Ye raised an eyebrow. “What kind of people? I already have plenty of skilled men—veterans from the Chechnya war, battle-hardened and experienced.”

Gebrev chuckled. “There are plenty of ex-soldiers like that in Russia! The man I’m talking about is the head of the Federal Security Service. Under him are two elite units—Signal Flag and Alpha. Those are the real deal.”

Wang Ye fell silent. He had heard of Signal Flag and Alpha before. Compared to those two elite units, his current men didn’t quite measure up.

“But… aren’t those active-duty units?” Wang Ye hesitated. “Can they even join my Wagner Security Company?”

He didn’t want Wagner to take on an “official” color. If it did, many of their future operations would be restricted.

What Wang Ye needed was a private armed force—one completely under his control.

Otherwise, he’d rather not have it at all.

“What are you thinking?” Gebrev said seriously. “Of course, I’m not suggesting you recruit active-duty special forces. I’m talking about introducing you to some of the recently retired ones. They can join Wagner. You know how things are—Russia’s economy isn’t great right now. These elite soldiers have to find new ways to make a living after retirement. Some of them end up on the wrong path. If they can work for your security company, it’d be good for them—and for society. Besides, you’ve got the money. Keeping a few more men won’t hurt.”

Wang Ye understood. It was a win-win situation.

Ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union, economic hardship had led to massive military downsizing. Many elite soldiers had been forced into civilian life.

Their skills—mostly centered around killing—weren’t exactly in high demand in society.

Driven by necessity, some became bodyguards, others turned to assassination or organized crime.

The social impact was devastating. These highly trained individuals were capable of causing immense destruction.

Others had gone abroad, joining criminal organizations. This was how the infamous Russian “Black S Party” had come to be.

Their professionalism and ruthlessness had once struck fear into the hearts of European and American gangs.

Compared to these elite units, the street thugs of the West were like kindergarteners.

…

Just as Wang Ye hung up the phone with Gebrev, Khovansky called. Clearly, he had also heard the news about the attack on Wang Ye.

“Misha, are you alright? How’s the situation?” Khovansky asked with concern.

“I’m fine. I was prepared. They couldn’t get to me,” Wang Ye replied with a smile.

Khovansky let out a sigh of relief. “As long as you’re safe. These people are ruthless! How did you end up on their bad side? Do you need any help from me?”

Khovansky despised underhanded tactics and rarely used them against his competitors.

“No need. I’ve already made arrangements. Uncle, don’t forget—I have a security company. This is where they come in,” Wang Ye said lightly.

“That’s good, that’s good. But be careful. Don’t make too much noise. You’re planning to enter politics, after all. You have to protect your reputation,” Khovansky advised.

In this regard, Khovansky was very cautious.

Since he intended to pursue a political career, he had been careful in his dealings over the years, ensuring no one could find any dirt on him.

He had plenty of money, and if a problem could be solved with cash, it wasn’t really a problem.

But Wang Ye’s approach was different. He believed in “repaying kindness with kindness, and enmity with justice.”

If no one provoked him, he would remain cordial and avoid extreme measures.

But if someone tried to cross him, he wouldn’t hesitate to show them just how powerful he was.

He knew that as long as he aligned himself correctly and stayed close to the great emperor, he could do as he pleased. And if any issues arose, Gebrev would help clean up the mess.

After all, the great emperor’s methods were far more ruthless than his own.

Perhaps the great emperor even admired his way of doing things.

…

The night passed in silence, seemingly peaceful on the surface.

But beneath the calm, many people and forces were already in motion.

Early the next morning, Alyona headed to the airport to catch a flight to Simferopol in Crimea, where she would meet up with Natalia.

For safety reasons, Wang Ye didn’t even go to her school to pick her up. Instead, he went straight from the base to the airport to see her off.

As they parted, Alyona clung to his arm, reluctant to let go.

“You go ahead. I’ll come join you soon, but I need to finish up some things here first,” Wang Ye said, patting her hand reassuringly.

“Then you have to be careful. It’s too chaotic here. I’d rather be in Crimea,” Alyona said, her eyes welling up.

Wang Ye smiled lightly. “Don’t worry. No one can touch me right now.”

Only after his reassurance did Alyona finally turn away, glancing back repeatedly as she passed through security and boarded the plane.

…

Outside the airport, Wang Ye’s motorcade waited by the roadside.

His entourage had grown even larger. He had added two more black large G-class Mercedes, bringing the total to five.

His security detail now numbered twelve—a full squad.

With this kind of setup, unless someone sent dozens of men to ambush him, no one could lay a finger on Wang Ye.

Chapter 319: Codename: Cobra

Wang Ye rolled down the car window, smoking as he gazed at the sky.

After a while, a plane roared overhead, soaring into the clouds.

Checking the time, it must have been Alyona’s flight taking off.

He watched the plane climb higher and higher until it vanished from sight.

Wang Ye flicked away his cigarette, the window slowly closing as the convoy headed toward the city.

…

Zinov’s hideout was quickly uncovered by Anton’s men.

In the security base, Anton’s office.

Wang Ye and Anton were gathered around a map spread across the desk.

“Boss, this place, east of the city, about ten kilometers out—Zinov’s estate is here. Our people have scouted it. The security isn’t weak; there are over a dozen armed guards. A direct assault would be difficult…” Anton reported, pointing at a spot on the map.

Wang Ye glanced at it. Zinov sure knew how to live.

His estate was in a prime location, not inferior to Aby’s.

Surrounded by vast forests, adjacent to a small lake, with no other buildings nearby—let alone factories.

It must be quite peaceful and comfortable.

He nodded. “If we’re going to take out Zinov, is there a way to keep it quiet?”

Though he didn’t care much, Wang Ye still had to consider the impact. Sending over a hundred men for a direct assault would definitely take the estate, but the commotion would be too great.

This was Moscow, the capital of Russia, after all.

Even if things were chaotic, appearances had to be maintained.

Wang Ye’s goal was to eliminate Zinov—partly to avenge the brother who took a bullet for him, and partly to remove a future threat.

Zinov couldn’t be allowed to live.

He had already made two attempts on Wang Ye’s life. The first time, at the Sun Market, wasn’t a big deal. But the second time, he had come for Wang Ye’s life. How could Wang Ye let that slide?

Zinov had money, influence, and the audacity to strike hard. If left alive, he would likely cause more trouble.

Wang Ye couldn’t be on guard forever. Better to eliminate him once and for all.

…

“It’s possible. Taking out the security quietly isn’t hard. After all, with so many people in the estate, they have to eat and drink. We have professionals who can handle that. By the time our people arrive, everyone in the estate will be unconscious,” Anton said with a smile.

That was the advantage of having “professionals” on hand.

If brute force was needed, Wagner had plenty of ex-soldiers with high combat capabilities.

But when brute force wasn’t an option, the company had other means. Those KGB reservists weren’t to be trifled with.

Wang Ye nodded. “Alright, then move quickly. Get it done fast. This can’t drag on too long, or there might be complications.”

“Understood. The strategy department has prepared two operation plans. One of them fits your requirements.” Anton pulled out a file and handed it to Wang Ye.

Opening the folder, the top page read: Codename: Cobra.

This was typical of special forces—planning operations in advance and giving them odd names.

Wang Ye raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Why ‘Cobra’?”

“Hehe, it means this operation will be as stealthy and silent as a cobra striking its prey—one hit, one kill,” Anton scratched his head and laughed.

After reviewing the plan, Wang Ye couldn’t find any flaws. He wasn’t a professional, after all, and hadn’t planned such operations himself.

Closing the file, he added, “When cleaning up, set a fire. Burn down his estate. Even if someone wants to investigate, they won’t find much.”

“Got it, boss. I’ll arrange it immediately.” Anton rolled up the map and left decisively.

Watching Anton’s retreating figure, Wang Ye lit another cigarette, lost in thought.

Taking out Zinov wasn’t difficult, and Anton’s team would likely handle it cleanly.

But he had to prepare for the aftermath.

Zinov wasn’t some small fry—he was a major figure.

Many relied on him, and he had powerful backers.

Wang Ye wondered if the big shot behind Zinov would come after him once Zinov was gone.

…

Meanwhile, Zinov wasn’t idle either.

In his grand estate, he hadn’t left for two days, communicating with the outside world only by phone.

Not that he knew Wang Ye was planning to strike—he was just being cautious.

Even now, Zinov still believed Wang Ye wouldn’t retaliate. More likely, he would send someone to negotiate.

After all, when Khovansky had been in a similar situation, it had been resolved through “peaceful means.” Mairov had told him about it.

As for the Gokhso gang, Zinov still didn’t know what had happened.

Wang Ye having the police round up Lokayev and his men made sense, but their disappearance after being released puzzled him.

He had specifically asked Elmar what happened that night.

Elmar told him that Lokayev’s enemies had taken the opportunity to exact revenge, kidnapping the Lokayev brothers. Fortunately, they had spared him.

Zinov was skeptical but didn’t suspect Wang Ye. Instead, he wondered if Elmar had orchestrated it to eliminate the Lokayev brothers and take their place.

But he couldn’t verify it and decided to let it go.

He didn’t want to get entangled with those gangsters. It wasn’t necessary. Even if Elmar had taken out the Lokayev brothers, it didn’t concern him much.

Of course, if Zinov had known it was Wang Ye who had eliminated the Lokayev brothers, he probably wouldn’t have dared to send gunmen after Wang Ye this time.

…

After two days in the estate, nothing unusual happened, and Zinov heard no news from Wang Ye’s side.

It was as if, after that night, Wang Ye had vanished from Moscow!

Chapter 320: Terror Descends

“Hah! I knew it—Mikhail must be just as much of a coward as his uncle Khovansky! Even if he knows it was me who went after him, so what? He doesn’t even dare call me to confront me!”

In the grand living room, Zinov smirked triumphantly as he boasted to his trusted assistant.

It had already been the third night since Zinov had taken refuge in his sprawling estate.

By now, Zinov had mostly put his mind at ease. That Mikhail was probably scared out of his wits—let alone retaliating, he was likely cowering somewhere, trembling in fear!

Tomorrow, he would move back to his city apartment. These past three days had been like a vacation.

Zinov had it all planned out. Since the other side was so weak-willed, once he returned, he could invite him to dinner again…

Forget it. Mikhail probably wouldn’t dare show his face again, afraid Zinov would send someone to kill him.

He would just have Mairov deliver a message: Lyublino wasn’t for sale, and he wanted to acquire the Sun Market Group!

As for the price… three hundred million… no, two hundred million dollars should suffice.

And that two hundred million was just to save Khovansky some face!

“You’re absolutely right, boss. Trying to fight us, he’s still too young. Even though we failed to take him out this time, we must have scared him half to death. You’re the real deal, boss,” the assistant quickly fawned.

“Enough. Isn’t it time for dinner? Why is it so late? Go see what’s going on,” Zinov said, slightly annoyed.

It was already nearly seven in the evening, and the butler still hadn’t come to arrange dinner.

The assistant had just risen to go ask the butler what was happening when a loud bang echoed as the door was pushed open, and the butler stumbled in.

“Sir… something… something’s happened!” he panted, his face etched with panic, devoid of his usual composure.

Zinov froze, instinctively asking, “What happened?”

“The estate’s security personnel and servants… more than half of them… they’ve… they’ve collapsed unconscious!” the butler gasped, hurriedly reporting.

Zinov and his assistant exchanged bewildered glances, unable to process what was happening.

“This… that can’t be. Everyone’s been inside the estate, not going out. Could they have caught some illness?” the assistant asked in shock.

Indeed, over the past three days, the estate’s guards and staff had barely left the premises, except to purchase food…

Zinov’s mind raced, as if recalling something. He quickly asked, “Did the unconscious ones eat something? Have they had dinner?”

The estate’s staff naturally didn’t eat with Zinov; they had separate work meals prepared separately.

And to avoid work “gaps,” they ate in shifts. Those not on duty ate first, then switched shifts so the rest could eat.

Though the estate’s gates had been tightly shut for three days, with almost no one entering or leaving…

But “almost” was the key word.

After all, with so many people, they still needed to eat, so someone had to go out to buy vegetables, fruits, meat, and other supplies.

…

The butler paused, then nodded after a moment’s thought. “Yes, yes! The first one collapsed around six-thirty, and the staff’s first dinner shift was around five-thirty. At first, only one person went down, so we didn’t pay much attention. I just sent someone to drive her to the hospital. But as soon as the car left, more people started collapsing. By the time four had gone down, we realized something was wrong…”

Zinov’s face darkened. “So all the staff have eaten dinner?”

“Ah? Yes… yes,” the butler replied blankly.

But as soon as he answered, he seemed to realize something. His face paled, and his body swayed.

Zinov stared at him, silent.

Under Zinov’s gaze, the butler suddenly clutched his forehead, swaying slightly, as if struggling to keep his eyes open.

He muttered, “So… so sleepy…”

Then, right before Zinov and the assistant’s eyes, his body went limp, and he crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

Zinov and the assistant jumped up at the same time.

“Quick! See who’s still awake—get everyone here! Bring weapons and lock the front door!” Zinov urged hastily.

He had realized something was very wrong.

Could Mikhail be making a move against him…

…

The assistant rushed out of the living room to gather people.

Zinov dashed into the adjacent upstairs study, pulling a loaded pistol from the drawer!

Tucking the gun into his waistband, he hurried back downstairs to the first-floor living room.

Just then, the assistant staggered in, drenched in sweat, his lips trembling. “Boss… boss, they’re… they’re all gone!”

Zinov grabbed him by the collar. “What’s gone? Speak clearly!”

The assistant’s face was ashen, his voice trembling. “The people… everyone’s down!”

Zinov’s hands shook, his forehead instantly beading with sweat. He released the assistant’s collar weakly.

Gritting his teeth, he said, “Hurry, get a few submachine guns and extra ammo. Then lock the living room door!”

After giving the order, Zinov immediately pulled out his phone, ready to call for “backup.”

Regardless of anything else, with his connections, he could mobilize the nearby police station’s forces. With “official” personnel present, even just a few, the other side wouldn’t dare make a move!

Strangely, as soon as he took out his phone to dial, Zinov was shocked to find—there was no signal.

That couldn’t be right. He was using the most expensive phone from Voltu, and the signal was usually excellent!

But he had no time to dwell on it. He grabbed the landline beside the sofa, ready to make the call.

But the landline just emitted a constant beep-beep-beep, unable to connect any calls!

Zinov stood frozen, an overwhelming dread surging through him, his legs trembling.

“Boss, boss, I brought the guns…” The assistant hurried in from outside the living room, arms full of two Uzis and several ammunition belts!

Before the assistant could reach Zinov, all the lights in the living room suddenly went out, plunging the room into darkness…

Zinov and the assistant stood motionless, not daring to breathe.

After a moment, with no further movement, Zinov abruptly drew the pistol from his waist, waving it in the air as he shouted, “Who’s there! Come out! Come out, I said…”

Chapter 321: Flames Soaring to the Sky

Zinov had barely called out twice when there was a response from outside.

A dense, hurried sound of footsteps echoed outside the room…

Zinov immediately fell silent, staring in terror out the window, though he couldn’t see anything…

Meanwhile, his assistant had already hidden behind a sofa, trembling in fear.

Crash!

Crash!

The sound of shattering glass rang out as the large windows on the first floor of the villa seemed to be smashed one by one.

Each crash felt like a blow to Zinov’s chest, making his heart pound in terror!

Gritting his teeth, Zinov pressed his back against a decorative pillar, gripping the pistol in his hand tightly, pointing it wildly.

If anyone dared to rush in, he would pull the trigger without hesitation!

But then, the outside fell silent again, as if everything that had just happened was an illusion…

Strangely, from the night outside the window, several thin “red lines” shot out, landing on Zinov and his assistant.

One on his forehead, one on his chest…

Zinov looked down at the red dot on his chest, then turned to glance at his assistant, who was cowering on the ground, trembling. He forced a bitter smile.

He dropped the gun, completely losing the will to resist.

What a joke. The other side had even deployed snipers. What good would his little pistol do now…

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Several blinding white beams of light shone in from the windows on all sides.

The light hit Zinov’s face, making him feel as if his eyes were about to be blinded. He couldn’t see anything…

The front door was pushed open, and several people walked in. The heavy footsteps reached Zinov’s ears.

Vaguely, he saw several tall figures. Their heads were covered with black masks, leaving only their eyes and mouths exposed.

The group stopped in front of Zinov.

The leader grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. “The boss sent me to greet you.”

Zinov closed his eyes and asked in despair, “Who is your boss? Is it Mikhail? Can you let me talk to him? Whatever conditions he sets, I’ll agree to them! I’ll even give him the Large Market in Lyublino for free. Please, let me talk to him…”

As he spoke, Zinov suddenly thudded to his knees!

The man in the black mask only gave a cold smile, looking down at him with disdain…

…

Not far from Zinov’s estate, on a small hilltop, stood several people.

Behind them were two black large G-class Mercedes, their engines turned off.

The group stood there silently, making no sound.

September in Moscow had already turned cold.

One of them wore a knee-length black overcoat, the smooth wool fabric and tailored cut making his already tall frame appear even more imposing.

He leaned casually against the hood of one of the large G-class cars, his gaze fixed on the massive estate shrouded in darkness not far away.

Click. A windproof lighter ignited a flame, and a cigarette was lit.

In the flickering light of the flame, his face became visible—it was none other than Wang Ye!

Wang Ye had not personally gone to Zinov’s estate.

First, such a small matter didn’t require his personal involvement.

Second, he wasn’t fond of violence. He couldn’t bear to see such things…

He took a deep, satisfied drag from his cigarette, squinting as he slowly exhaled a smoke ring.

The estate remained dark and silent, with no signs of movement.

But Wang Ye wasn’t in a hurry. He just continued smoking.

After most of the cigarette had been smoked, there was finally some movement.

A small flame appeared in the estate, about the same size as the one from Wang Ye’s lighter just now.

Of course, it only looked that small because of the distance.

In the blink of an eye, the small flame swelled. By the time Wang Ye took another drag, the flames were already soaring into the sky!

The entire estate seemed to have turned into a massive bonfire!

Wang Ye shook his head slightly, flicked away the cigarette butt, turned, and opened the car door to get in.

The security personnel accompanying him also immediately got into the car.

“Let’s go back.”

Wang Ye sat in the back seat, leaning against the seatback, his eyes closed as he spoke.

Seryosha nodded and said in a low voice, “Yes, boss.”

The car started up, the twelve-cylinder engine roaring like a beast as it sped down the hill…

…

That night, the outskirts of Moscow were lively.

Not long after the flames soared into the sky, sirens blared, and police cars and fire trucks rushed toward the estate.

But by the time they arrived, the once grand estate had already been reduced to a pile of ruins!

Still, they had to do their job. The fire trucks began spraying water on the flames.

The police set up a cordon, and searchlights were turned on.

The people on the scene looked solemn. One of them wrinkled his nose, took a deep breath, and lowered his voice to speak to the person next to him. “Do you smell that? Strong gasoline odor!”

The colleague beside him shook his head slightly and also lowered his voice. “Do we even need to smell it? It’s obvious! How could an ordinary fire have such intensity? But don’t say anything reckless. We don’t know who owns this estate, and we don’t know who…”

As he spoke, he drew a finger across his throat. The two exchanged knowing smiles.

Clearly, tonight’s incident was another “battle of the gods.”

Who knew which big shot the owner of this estate had offended? Judging by the scene, it looked like a “massacre…”

They didn’t want to get involved rashly. They would wait for their superiors to give the word.

Perhaps tomorrow, after a few phone calls among the higher-ups, they would “determine” that this was just an ordinary fire. As for whether anyone had died, that didn’t matter.

In a fire, if someone died, well, they had it coming.

Of course, there was also a possibility of a formal investigation…

…

Not long after the incident, many people received the news. After all, it wasn’t that late—only a little past eight in the evening.

When Gebrev heard the news, his expression remained calm, as if he had already known about it.

The hand that had been writing paused slightly, leaving an ink blot on the paper. He sighed and set down his pen.

He turned to look at the landline phone beside him, reaching out his hand before pulling it back.

He had wanted to call Wang Ye to ask about the details.

But in the end, he didn’t make the call.

On the other side, Khovansky also received the news quickly.

At this hour, he was still working in his office. Upon hearing the news, his expression was indescribable.

His mood was quite complicated, not knowing whether to feel happy or…

Chapter 322: Chain Reaction

The next morning, Wang Ye went to work as usual.

He had just arrived at the office and hadn’t even sat down when Boss Kong hurriedly knocked and entered.

“Boss, have you heard? The boss of the Large Market in Lyublino is in trouble!” Boss Kong couldn’t hide the smile on his face.

Wang Ye smiled slightly, keeping his composure as he asked, “Oh? What happened? Did the tax police shut down Lyublino?”

“No! It’s Zinov himself who’s in trouble! I heard that his big estate in the suburbs caught fire last night for some reason. It was pretty bad—quite a few people died! These people, who play both sides, are usually quite impressive, but they’ve made a lot of enemies. I don’t know if this was an accident or if someone was targeting him! But either way, it’s definitely good news for us at Sun Market. Without their boss, how can Lyublino compete with us?” Boss Kong said gleefully.

Lyublino had been poaching Sun Market’s clients for a while now.

Not only were they luring away customers, but they had also managed to recruit several employees from Sun Market—people who had access to client information. This had given Boss Kong a constant headache, unsure of how to respond.

Now, with Zinov gone…

“Well, those who do evil deeds will eventually face retribution,” Wang Ye sighed, shaking his head.

Boss Kong glanced at Wang Ye suspiciously but didn’t connect the incident to him.

After all, news of Wang Ye’s own incident had been suppressed, so Boss Kong was unaware.

If he had known, he might have guessed what had happened.

…

Just as Boss Kong left, Mairov called.

“Zinov is gone! Was this you…” He barely got the words out before Wang Ye cut him off.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You can eat recklessly, but you shouldn’t speak recklessly. I’ve been at home or the office these past few days. I only just heard about Zinov’s incident.” Wang Ye’s words carried a subtle warning.

Mairov suddenly realized his mistake and quickly apologized. “Yes, yes… I suppose it was just an accident. It doesn’t necessarily mean someone did it. But Mikhail, what should we do about acquiring Lyublino now? Should we continue?”

He knew about Wang Ye’s attack the other night and had been watching to see how Wang Ye would respond.

Then, last night, this major incident happened!

There was no doubt in Mairov’s mind about who was responsible.

But Wang Ye’s ruthless and decisive actions had completely caught him off guard.

After all, Zinov’s estate had been well-guarded with armed security personnel. How could someone so easily “massacre” the entire place?

It was clear that Wang Ye’s hidden strength was terrifying!

This was not someone Mairov dared to provoke…

“Hmm, let’s see. I can’t take advantage of someone else’s misfortune. What happens to the Large Market in Lyublino depends on the shareholders. Whether we acquire it or not doesn’t matter much anymore,” Wang Ye said lightly.

Indeed, without Zinov, Wang Ye didn’t believe Lyublino’s Large Market could continue.

If the shareholders weren’t foolish, they would quickly find a way to cut their losses and leave!

…

The “massacre” of Zinov naturally had significant repercussions.

The case was taken over by the Moscow City Police Department. After an investigation, the department’s leadership held an emergency meeting to discuss the matter.

There was disagreement among the leaders about how to classify the case.

“This is clearly a vicious homicide! The estate, including Zinov, staff, and security personnel—thirty-one people in total! Apart from the three who went to the hospital, twenty-eight people perished in the fire. This cannot be explained as an accident. I suggest forming a special investigation team to get to the bottom of this and give the victims and society an answer,” the chief said righteously from his seat.

The others remained silent, but the executive deputy chief cleared his throat and offered a different opinion.

“I don’t think that’s necessary. The department is already stretched thin just maintaining daily law and order. Where would we find the manpower for a special investigation team? Besides, after last night’s investigation, no suspicious evidence or leads were found. The personnel on-site believe it was an accidental fire. As for why Zinov’s estate had so much gasoline stored, who knows? Rich people have their quirks. I suggest we treat this as an accidental fire and not make trouble for ourselves.”

The executive deputy chief’s words carried a hidden meaning, directly opposing the chief’s stance.

With the two leaders at odds, the others sat stiffly, not daring to interject for fear of getting caught in the crossfire.

Vladimir was also in the meeting room. As a mid-level figure in the city police, he had the right to attend such meetings.

Watching the chief and the executive deputy chief argue, Vladimir frowned in thought.

Everyone knew that the chief and the executive deputy chief belonged to different factions.

The chief was a loyalist of Moscow Governor Luzhkov, while the executive deputy chief had been “parachuted in” at the beginning of the year, reportedly from the Federal Security Service!

Both had impressive backgrounds, so neither was willing to back down…

After nearly a year of conflict, the situation in the city police was quite complex.

Some mid-level leaders supported the chief, who had built up his own team over the years.

Others supported the executive deputy chief, who was highly capable, young, and energetic, with a military background and a bright future ahead.

Vladimir had entered the city police through the chief’s connections, so he should have unquestioningly sided with the chief.

But the chief already had many trusted subordinates. One more or one less didn’t matter.

So Vladimir decided to remain neutral, focusing on his work without taking sides, which had helped him establish a stable position in the department.

…

After a long debate, the two still couldn’t reach an agreement.

Finally, the chief proposed, “Since neither of us can convince the other, why don’t we let everyone vote? We’ll see whether more people support forming a special investigation team or concluding it as an accidental fire.”

The executive deputy chief pondered for a moment before nodding decisively. “I have no objections. Let’s decide together. But I still stand by my opinion—there’s no need to continue investigating. It will only bring trouble without any benefit.”

Chapter 323: The Truth of the Matter

The words spoken by the executive deputy director had already hinted at some issues…

Phrases like “no need” and “don’t bring trouble upon yourself” were enough for the astute to understand what was really going on.

Honestly, the Zinov estate had been reduced to ruins by a massive fire—could anyone with eyes fail to see that something was amiss?

Why was the executive deputy director insisting it was an “accidental fire” and refusing to let the bureau investigate further?

Clearly, he knew something!

And the director obviously knew as well—he even knew that the executive deputy director knew…

It was all quite convoluted!

In simpler terms, everyone knew there was something off about the situation, but no one was willing to openly acknowledge it.

One side wanted to use the opportunity to make some “waves.”

The other was subtly warning everyone that the Zinov affair was too deep, far beyond the control of a mere city bureau—don’t bring trouble upon yourself!

…

There were eleven people in the conference room, including the director and the executive deputy director. This was essentially the core leadership of the city bureau.

The vote began quickly. Those who supported the director’s proposal raised their hands; those who supported the executive deputy director did not need to.

In the end, if the number of raised hands exceeded half—six people—they would officially establish a special investigation team to continue probing the matter.

If not, the incident would be classified as an accidental fire. Whether other departments would continue to investigate was beyond their control.

The voting began. Expressions varied—some raised their hands without hesitation, while others deliberately looked around, avoiding the act.

The director scanned the room, his expression darkening. He realized that, including himself, only five people had raised their hands!

This was clearly abnormal. Normally, there should have been at least seven votes in support, or he wouldn’t have suggested a hand vote in the first place.

The problem was that two people who should have raised their hands had not.

The director’s gaze locked onto those two individuals, who avoided his eyes, lowering their heads guiltily.

It seemed they had “betrayed” him…

But there was no time to dwell on that now. The director turned his attention to Vladimir. This young man had entered the city bureau through his connections, yet now he had not raised his hand in support!

Vladimir’s demeanor was far more composed than the previous two. He met the director’s gaze without flinching, as if he were standing on the side of “justice”!

The executive deputy director looked at Vladimir differently, his gaze filled with approval. He nodded at Vladimir with a smile.

Fortunately, Vladimir had not raised his hand; otherwise, his side might have truly suffered a setback!

Originally, there was one more person in the executive deputy director’s plan who should not have raised their hand, but now they had.

It seemed the old fox of a director also had a hidden card…

The two men calculated back and forth, each trying to outmaneuver the other. In the end, Vladimir, who was not part of either’s original plan, became the decisive vote, tipping the balance of the vote!

…

In truth, Vladimir had not raised his hand for two reasons. First, he genuinely saw potential in the executive deputy director’s future and had decided to align himself at this moment.

Second, the Zinov estate fire was connected to someone else…

That person was none other than Mikhail!

Just three days ago, Mikhail’s motorcade had been ambushed, and one of his security personnel had been killed.

This case was already under investigation, and Vladimir was in charge of it.

He also knew that, before the incident, Mikhail had arranged to meet Zinov for dinner…

Combined with the fire at the Zinov estate the previous night, which had claimed so many lives, the truth of the matter was becoming painfully clear!

To be honest, even Vladimir was shocked after piecing together the truth.

The “forces” Mikhail now commanded were truly terrifying…

But then he recalled the last time he had seen Mikhail leaving the Kremlin. Could it be that he had secured the secret support of a high-ranking figure within the Kremlin?

He hadn’t been entirely sure before, but after witnessing the executive deputy director’s attitude just now, Vladimir suddenly understood!

Mikhail, the Kremlin, the Federal Security Service, and the executive deputy director—they were all on the same side!

Meanwhile, Zinov, the director, and Moscow’s governor, Luzhkov, were on the opposing side!

Which side should he choose?

The answer was obvious!

Moreover, he and Mikhail had interacted before—he could at least be considered an acquaintance!

…

After this round of open and covert struggles within the police bureau, the executive deputy director’s faction emerged victorious.

The investigation into the Zinov estate fire was temporarily suppressed, and no special investigation team was formed to pursue the truth.

Later, Vladimir called Wang Ye to inform him of the outcome.

Wang Ye listened with a faint smile. Clearly, Gebrev had done him a favor by suppressing the matter.

After all, even if Anton and his team had been meticulous, if someone had been determined to investigate, he might have ended up labeled a “criminal suspect.”

Now, the investigation had been halted entirely!

Apart from the police bureau, Gebrev had done Wang Ye another significant favor.

…

On the afternoon of September 26th, Gebrev called Wang Ye.

“Misha, let’s have dinner tonight—same place, Turandot Restaurant. You arrange it. I want to introduce you to someone.”

Wang Ye didn’t even ask who it was before readily agreeing.

He knew that if Gebrev was taking the trouble to arrange a dinner introduction, the person must undoubtedly be someone of great importance!

With Alyona now in Crimea, no one was keeping tabs on Wang Ye, so he didn’t need to report his whereabouts to anyone.

At six in the evening, a convoy of five large G-class Mercedes arrived outside the Turandot Restaurant.

Though Zinov had been eliminated and no one should dare target Wang Ye now, he still wasn’t taking any chances—he had brought twelve security personnel with him!

Wang Ye had already arranged for three adjacent private rooms on the second floor to be reserved.

The middle room would host Gebrev and his guest, while the flanking rooms would be occupied by the security team, ready to respond at a moment’s notice.

Inside the large private room, Wang Ye sat alone, smoking and sipping red tea as he awaited Gebrev and his guest.

As for who Gebrev intended to introduce him to, Wang Ye had his suspicions.

First, it had to be someone from the great emperor’s faction, and not just any member—it had to be someone from the core circle!

Otherwise, Gebrev wouldn’t have gone to such lengths.

Second, this person must be able to assist him in some way, which was why Gebrev had asked him to arrange this dinner—to facilitate their introduction!

It was the weekend, and he had planned to write more, but another round of nucleic acid testing had begun. Things seemed to be getting serious again—everyone, stay safe.

Chapter 324: Special Operations Commander

Just as Wang Ye was lost in thought, the door to the private room was knocked, and the waitress led Gebrev and another man inside.

Wang Ye set down his teacup, stubbed out his cigarette, and stood up with a smile.

“Haha, Misha, long time no see.” Gebrev gave Wang Ye an exaggeratedly warm embrace.

Then he turned to introduce the other man to Wang Ye. “Come, let me introduce you. This is Shao Yigu, the director of the Federal Security Service!”

Wang Ye’s heart skipped a beat. So this was Shao Yigu, a major figure in the military, a powerful man indeed!

No wonder Gebrev was being so formal…

Shao Yigu was still relatively young, only in his early forties, with a warm, smiling face that made him seem very approachable.

He had been promoted after the great emperor came to power and was considered one of the emperor’s favored and capable subordinates.

Wang Ye shook hands with Shao Yigu, and they exchanged pleasantries, each expressing admiration for the other’s reputation…

After the small talk, the three men sat down.

Wang Ye also called over a server and began ordering dishes.

………………..

“Misha, do you remember what I told you last time?” Gebrev asked with a smile.

Wang Ye blinked, looking a little confused.

Gebrev had told him so many things—how was he supposed to know which one he was referring to?

But seeing Shao Yigu sitting beside him, Wang Ye understood. Oh, that matter!

He smiled and replied, “Of course I remember. Last time, Uncle, you said you wanted Shao Yigu to introduce some professional experts to join the Wagner Security Company. We really are short on manpower, especially top-tier experts!”

In his past life, Wang Ye had rejected “violence.” After all, he had lived and worked on the mainland, where he had never even come into contact with such things.

But after being reborn in Moscow, though it had been less than a year, Wang Ye had experienced many things.

Especially after the incidents with the “Gokhso Gang” and “Zinov’s estate,” Wang Ye had gained a lot of insight into how to “reasonably” use “violence.”

Sometimes, when legal and compliant methods couldn’t solve the problem, violent means became indispensable and the most effective!

Moreover, in Wang Ye’s future plans, he would need a sufficiently powerful “armed force” to protect him!

So now, he really did need to quickly strengthen the Wagner Security Company. All kinds of experts and professionals were welcome!

Shao Yigu looked at Wang Ye and said meaningfully, “Your Wagner Security Company is still a bit weak in terms of strength. Some of your operations have been too crude! I have a lot of retired soldiers—it’s a waste for them to be doing odd jobs in society. Joining your security company would allow them to make the most of their talents. It’s a win-win situation. I hope you won’t shortchange them on pay.”

“Hehe, the guys at Wagner Company are already doing a great job. The company is expanding rapidly and really needs all kinds of talent. I hope you can introduce more people to me, Shao Yigu. As for pay, you can rest assured. Just a few days ago, the family of a brother who died in action received a condolence payment of one million US dollars from the company.”

Wang Ye was quite at ease. He hadn’t hidden any of his actions from Gebrev and the others.

After all, there was no point in hiding—it was better to be honest so that Gebrev and the great emperor wouldn’t become suspicious of him.

Hearing that Wagner Company’s condolence payment standard was as high as one million US dollars, even Gebrev and Shao Yigu were moved.

They exchanged a glance, and Shao Yigu sighed, “You’d better not make this standard public. Otherwise, I’m afraid all the elites in the bureau will want to come work for your company. Compared to that, the national compensation policy is too meager. Sigh, there’s nothing we can do. You’re rich, and the state can’t compete with you in this regard.”

This was normal. After all, in the military, there was still an emphasis on the spirit of “dedication,” and not everything could be measured in money.

Wagner Company had the support of Wang Ye, a “big spender,” and could offer outrageously high pay standards. But the Federal Security Service was different. Their annual budget was limited. Take the condolence payment standard, for example—the bureau’s uniform standard started at five thousand US dollars and was capped at twenty thousand US dollars…

Even the maximum twenty thousand US dollars was a huge gap compared to Wagner’s one million.

Shao Yigu wasn’t joking. If the people in the bureau found out that they could get such high pay at Wagner Company, they would probably all be thinking of ways to retire…

………………..

After finishing the discussion about pay, Shao Yigu, a man of action, said to Wang Ye, “I’ll call someone over for you to meet. In the future, if you need to recruit people, you can find him.”

Wang Ye nodded and said, “Then I’ll trouble you. Call him over.”

Shao Yigu took out his phone, made a call, and simply said, “Come up. We’re in the private room on the second floor.”

After hanging up, he smiled and said, “He’s already downstairs. He’ll be up soon.”

It seemed he had come prepared today. Wang Ye just didn’t know why he hadn’t brought the person up directly but had chatted with him for so long before calling him up.

Soon, the door to the private room was knocked, and a burly man in his thirties walked in.

He wasn’t very tall—only about 1.7 meters—which wasn’t impressive in Russia, let alone in the military, where burly men were everywhere.

But his physique was very well-proportioned and upright. Standing there, he was like a spear, exuding a cold, sharp aura!

His face was angular, and his eyes were firm.

As soon as he entered, he took two steps forward to the dining table and gave Wang Ye and the others a crisp salute.

Shao Yigu waved his hand and smiled, “Sit down. You’re retired now; no need for so many formalities. Come, let me introduce you…”

He introduced the burly man to Wang Ye. His name was Andelov, and he had retired from the Alpha Special Forces.

Moreover, Andelov wasn’t just an ordinary soldier—he had been a special operations commander in Alpha, with the rank of colonel!

Normally, someone like him wouldn’t retire in his thirties, but according to Shao Yigu, it was because of a failed secret operation last year. Andelov had taken responsibility and was forced to retire.

As for what the secret operation was, Shao Yigu didn’t elaborate, and Wang Ye naturally didn’t ask.

………………..

After listening to Shao Yigu’s introduction, Wang Ye’s face lit up with a smile.

Honestly, someone like Andelov was a rare find!

Being a special operations commander in Alpha meant he was the elite of the elite, the cream of the crop!

With him joining, the future of Wagner Company was limitless…

Chapter 325: State Agent

What was there to hesitate about? Wang Ye extended his right hand with a smile. “Andelov, welcome to Wagner!”

Andelov reached out with both hands, gripping Wang Ye’s firmly, his face sincere. “It’s my honor, Mr. Mikhail.”

He didn’t even ask about his position or compensation.

He understood—these things didn’t need to be asked. Wagner had given a million dollars in compensation to an ordinary security guard. For someone like him, they would surely offer even more.

Moreover, he had been personally introduced to Mikhail by Gebrev and Shao Yigu!

Even if he didn’t have much influence, Gebrev and Shao Yigu’s connections were nothing to scoff at…

…

Now, there were four people in the private room. After Andelov sat down, they continued eating and chatting.

Shao Yigu casually asked, “Mikhail, what kind of business do you plan to focus on with your Wagner Security Company in the future? You can’t just stick to ordinary security work forever, right?”

He seemed uninterested in Wang Ye’s other companies, always fixated on Wagner!

Wang Ye thought for a moment before replying:

“This company was originally established to meet the security needs of my other businesses. After all, both Little Eagle Group and Sun Market require security capabilities, or else things could easily go wrong. So, I set up Wagner Security Company, hiring some retired soldiers and even poaching a few from state-run security firms. Later, we took on some oil field security contracts for Yukos Group, so I thought about expanding the company. Besides serving my own businesses, we could also take on external contracts. Maybe even expand overseas in the future. Some foreign mercenary legions aren’t out of the question—our country has many retired soldiers with top-tier military training. This company could also create jobs and help address the issue of retired soldiers… It’s a way to contribute to the country.”

Wang Ye spoke at length about Wagner’s future plans. Shao Yigu and the others listened, nodding in approval, seemingly very satisfied with what he said.

After Wang Ye finished, Shao Yigu glanced at Gebrev, who gave a slight nod.

Shao Yigu then smiled and said, “Misha, your ideas are excellent. Our country’s massive military downsizing in recent years has indeed caused many problems. Many outstanding soldiers struggle to find work after retirement, and they have families to feed, which can lead them down the wrong path. If your security company grows strong, it could genuinely help solve some of these issues. How about this—I can provide as much assistance as possible to help Wagner Security Company expand quickly! Whether it’s personnel, intelligence, or weapons and equipment, you can come to me directly for any needs. I can also grant your company privileges that ordinary security firms don’t have!”

The implications of his words were significant!

Wang Ye’s eyes lit up, and he quickly asked, “What if our company wants to acquire some heavy equipment? Would that be possible?”

The inability to legally possess heavy weapons was a major pain point for Wagner Security Company!

Now, hearing Shao Yigu’s words, it seemed there might be a chance. Wang Ye couldn’t afford to miss it.

Shao Yigu smiled slightly, calmly asking, “What kind of heavy equipment are you referring to?”

Since the conversation had reached this point, Wang Ye didn’t hold back. “For example, rocket launchers, armored vehicles, heavy machine guns, or even… tanks?”

He had pushed the limits, but he only dared to mention “tanks.” Anything beyond that was unthinkable.

To his surprise, Shao Yigu laughed heartily, dismissively saying:

“Just that? No problem. Later, make a list of what equipment you need and how much, and have Andelov handle it. He knows who to contact for procurement. But I must make one thing clear—the price will be what it is. Don’t try to take advantage of the state just because you’re wealthy. The military isn’t rich either. Oh, and one more thing—you can’t deploy these heavy weapons around Moscow! I suggest setting up a large base in Siberia or Crimea and transporting all the equipment there.”

Wang Ye was stunned. He had pushed the limits, expecting some negotiation, thinking Shao Yigu might agree to heavy machine guns or armored vehicles but never rocket launchers or tanks.

He never imagined Shao Yigu would agree so readily, even suggesting that more requests would be acceptable!

After a moment of shock, Wang Ye cautiously asked, “All of this… is really possible?”

“Of course! We might not be strong in light industry, but our military industry is still world-leading. However, due to the country’s overall economic struggles, many military factories can’t maintain normal production. If more security companies like yours purchase military products, that would be a good thing. Of course, you can’t use these acquisitions domestically.” Shao Yigu smiled.

Not for domestic use?

Suggesting he go to Novosibirsk or Crimea…

A flash of insight struck Wang Ye. He understood…

In his past life, Wagner Security Company was known for being a Russian military proxy, established to protect Russia’s overseas interests and carry out operations the government couldn’t officially undertake!

With strong military backing, its members were mostly retired special forces soldiers, equipped with various heavy military gear!

Given Shao Yigu’s behavior today, it was clear—they intended to develop his Wagner Security Company into Russia’s overseas proxy.

That was why Shao Yigu was so generous with personnel, heavy equipment, and even suggested setting up a base in Crimea.

If Wang Ye still didn’t understand at this point, Shao Yigu would probably be very disappointed…

…

This dinner wasn’t just about gaining a “general” like Andelov.

More importantly, Wang Ye had met Shao Yigu, a true powerholder!

It seemed the great emperor was satisfied with his recent actions, gradually introducing him to the core figures of his faction.

That meant he was now entering the inner circle of the great emperor’s faction!

Chapter 326: A Legendary Figure

After dinner, Wang Ye instructed Andelov to meet him at the Sun Market management office the next morning. At that time, he would take Andelov directly to the security base for his official induction into the Wagner Security Company.

The group bid farewell downstairs, and Wang Ye got into his car as the convoy drove out of the parking lot. Andelov also drove away in his own car.

Watching the departing convoy of five large G-class Mercedes, Shao Yigu and Gebrev did not leave in a hurry.

“Gebrev, this guy’s ambitions aren’t small either. Can we really trust him?” Shao Yigu suddenly asked.

This was his first time dealing with Wang Ye, but he was already familiar with Wang Ye’s background and had reviewed all the relevant documents. As for the things Wang Ye did in private, of course, they were not hidden from him.

Making Wang Ye the so-called “agent” was a suggestion put forward by Gebrev, which had been approved by the great emperor. Shao Yigu was one of the executors of this plan.

To expand the Wagner Security Company and even surpass the later renowned Blackwater Company and the French mercenary group, they needed the support of military heavyweights like Shao Yigu.

Hearing Shao Yigu’s question, Gebrev smiled slightly, confidently saying, “It’s not easy to find someone with ambition, ability, financial strength, and who is easy to control. Mikhail’s identity is quite special, and his abilities are very strong. His way of doing things is also highly appreciated by Mr. Putin. Moreover, he knows very well what he should and shouldn’t do. So, if nothing unexpected happens, he will become the rising star of our faction.”

Shao Yigu was a bit surprised because Gebrev rarely had such high praise for anyone!

He shrugged and laughed, “Well, if Mr. Putin and you both think highly of him, then he must have something extraordinary. I will also try to help him, but of course, I will keep an eye on him. After all, he will have a formidable armed force in his hands in the future.”

Gebrev nonchalantly said, “No matter what, his is just a security company. What kind of waves can it stir up domestically? I will talk to him later and guide him. Strong military force must be used in the right place to exert its maximum effect. Otherwise, giving him so many elite retired soldiers would be a waste!”

Shao Yigu laughed, “Giving him people is fine. After all, we don’t lack them, and it’s a pity that many good soldiers retire. It’s good that they can be put to use in the security company. I hope he can really make the Wagner Company successful and buy more weapons from me. Our funds are really insufficient! By the way, when I apply for the budget next time, can you put in a good word for me? Many people in my department can’t even support their families. How can we expect them to risk their lives?”

“Sigh, you know the current financial situation. It’s not that I don’t want to help. You should think of a way yourself. I have found you a local tycoon. Mikhail is very rich. How much you can get from him depends on your own ability. But I also warn you in advance, he is one of us, so don’t cheat him,” Gebrev said seriously.

“That’s for sure. As long as he asks for equipment, I will definitely give it to him at cost price! There are plenty of equipment in the warehouse. What we lack now is buyers,” Shao Yigu replied with a smile.

These two old foxes were scheming behind his back about his money, but Wang Ye was unaware.

Of course, even if he knew, he wouldn’t care.

Not to mention being able to buy various military equipment at cost price, even if it was a bit more expensive than the market price, he would still be willing!

After all, having money alone is not enough. Many things you want to buy, others may not dare to sell to you.

Now that Shao Yigu and the others considered him as one of their own and were willing to sell him various military equipment, which were either not allowed or unavailable in the market, Wang Ye was secretly delighted…

…

The day after the dinner, September 27th.

Around ten in the morning, Wang Ye had just arrived at his office when he received a notification from the security personnel that Andelov had arrived!

Soon, Andelov, led by Seryosha, walked into Wang Ye’s office.

Wang Ye looked up and smiled, “Do you know each other?”

He noticed that Seryosha seemed quite restrained in front of Andelov, which was unlike his usual carefree demeanor.

Seryosha quickly replied, “Boss, I have met Colonel Andelov before. He is a legendary figure. Once…”

Andelov beside him smiled and interrupted Seryosha, “The past is the past. Let’s not talk about it. I have retired now and will soon join the Wagner Security Company. We will all be colleagues in the future.”

Wang Ye waved his hand and told Seryosha, “Let’s go. We are heading back to the security base.”

Without lingering in the office, Wang Ye, Andelov, and Seryosha went downstairs, got into the car, and drove straight to the security base.

…

Anton had probably already received Seryosha’s notification. By the time the convoy arrived at the base, he was already waiting downstairs at the office building.

Seeing Wang Ye and Andelov get out of the car, Anton snapped a salute.

“Boss, Colonel Andelov!”

It seemed that Andelov was indeed a remarkable figure. Both Seryosha and Anton showed great respect when they saw him.

Led by Anton, the group went directly to the meeting room on the second floor and sat down.

Apart from Wang Ye and Andelov, only Anton was present.

Anton was currently the person in charge of the Wagner Security Company and the only “executive” of the company. The company had just been established and was still in the “rough” management stage.

Wang Ye looked at Anton and then at Andelov, smiling as he asked, “Anton, did you know Andelov before?”

Anton scratched his head and replied shyly, “Seryosha and I once joined the special forces reserve for a while but were eliminated. The commanding officer at that time was Colonel Andelov.”

So, the two of them had such a history. No wonder Anton and Seryosha were so respectful to Andelov.

Andelov’s stern face also showed a smile as he said, “It’s not really an elimination. After all, there was a major downsizing at that time, and the number of selected candidates was very small. Most were eliminated. Look at me, aren’t I also eliminated now? Haha.”

As for why Andelov had retired, Wang Ye was not very clear, and he did not want to ask in detail.

He got straight to the point, “After Andelov comes, I want to hand over the position of Wagner’s head to him. Anton, do you have any objections?”

To expand the Wagner Security Company, they needed to bring in talents like Andelov.

Although Anton was very loyal, he was not yet capable of shouldering heavy responsibilities. There was nothing that could be done about it.

Chapter 327: Massive Procurement

Anton quickly patted his chest and said, “Boss, your arrangement is very suitable. I have no objections. To be honest, with only over two hundred people in the company, I’m already overwhelmed and can barely manage. Now that Colonel Andelov is taking over, that’s great—I’ll be much more relaxed in the future.”

Judging by his expression, it wasn’t just modesty; he genuinely admired Andelov.

Andelov, without hesitation, nodded and said, “Since the boss trusts me, I’ll take on this responsibility. What are your thoughts and plans for Wagner’s short-term and medium-to-long-term development?”

This question clearly had a different meaning from the one Shao Yigu had asked earlier.

Wang Ye replied, “In the short term, let’s expand the company’s scale a bit. Around a thousand combat personnel should be enough, and we’ll need to supplement various essential weapons and equipment. As for medium-to-long-term development, honestly, I’m not sure yet. We’ll have to see how things develop. But we’ll definitely be doing business abroad—we can’t limit ourselves to Russia.”

A thousand personnel!

That was no small number, especially since these were all combat personnel!

If you added logistics and support staff, it would easily exceed fifteen hundred or even more.

A security company of this scale was rare in Russia.

Perhaps that state-run security company could match the numbers, but in terms of weapons and equipment, it definitely wouldn’t compare to the future Wagner Security Company. After all, the state-run company only handled ordinary security work and didn’t engage in “mercenary” operations…

Andelov wasn’t surprised; he just nodded slightly and asked, “Since the boss wants to expand the company to this scale, you should be mentally prepared—the investment will be substantial. After all, these are combat personnel, and maintaining them is very expensive. The equipment isn’t cheap either.”

Wang Ye asked straightforwardly, “How much would it cost to maintain a force of this size per year? I don’t have much of an idea, so just give me the numbers.”

Andelov pondered for a moment before responding, “First, we need to procure equipment—armored transport vehicles, helicopters, and other large equipment, which are all very expensive. However, we don’t need to equip too much heavy gear initially. Purchasing ten helicopters and fifty armored transport vehicles should be enough. With these, we can become a fully mechanized force! Flexibility will greatly improve, and combat capability will be assured.”

Wow, starting with armored vehicles and helicopters—Wang Ye had never dared to dream of such things before…

But as soon as he heard it, he was tempted. If they could really buy these things, even if they were expensive, Wang Ye was willing to pay!

A thousand-person force, equipped with these, would be unstoppable in Russia as long as they weren’t “rebelling”…

Moreover, if such an armed force were deployed to places like Africa, it could practically “destroy a country.”

“How much would these equipment cost? It can’t be too outrageous, right?” Wang Ye pressed.

Andelov smiled and calmly replied, “For the helicopters, we can procure the Mi-8 model—buying ones that have served in active units for a while but are still serviceable and need refurbishment. Each would cost around one to two million US dollars. As for armored transport vehicles, they’re even cheaper. Used BTR-80s go for three to four hundred thousand US dollars each. Adding weapons and ammunition, the total would be around fifty million US dollars.”

Anton, beside them, had stars in his eyes and couldn’t help but explain to Wang Ye.

It turned out that the Mi-8 helicopter and BTR-80 armored transport vehicle were both legendary and highly practical.

The Mi-8 helicopter was the most produced helicopter in the world, durable and versatile, capable of transporting up to twenty-eight fully armed soldiers at once!

It was also equipped with powerful firepower—rocket launchers mounted on both sides of the fuselage, each holding sixteen 57mm rockets, totaling 128. It could also be fitted with a 12.7mm machine gun at the nose or carry up to 192 rockets and four “Svat” infrared-guided anti-tank missiles on its hardpoints!

Additionally, its one-way range could reach up to twelve hundred kilometers!

As for the BTR-80, it was one of the most commonly used armored transport vehicles in the Russian military, with an 8x8 configuration that could traverse all kinds of rough terrain and carry ten people!

…

Wang Ye took a sharp breath. Indeed, armed forces were a “money-eating beast” anywhere!

And this was just for helicopters and armored vehicles, even used ones—fifty million US dollars!

If they were new, wouldn’t that be two to three hundred million US dollars…

Adding other light weapons, the equipment procurement alone would cost sixty to seventy million US dollars!

But…

This money had to be spent!

He gritted his teeth and said, “In a couple of days, I’ll transfer a hundred million US dollars over. You can handle the procurement—buy the essential and commonly used equipment first. We can delay the rest and purchase them later. By the way, personnel expenses must be significant too. How much would the annual budget be for maintaining such a force?”

Andelov clearly knew these figures inside out and answered without hesitation, “I’m familiar with Wagner Company’s salary standards. Keeping them unchanged would be good—they’re already quite high. Calculating at an average monthly salary of fifteen hundred US dollars per person, the annual payroll alone would be around forty million. Adding daily expenses like food, lodging, medical care, and equipment maintenance, the annual budget would be about a hundred million US dollars. That should be enough.”

Hearing this number, Wang Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

This wasn’t too much…

A hundred million for equipment procurement and a hundred million annually for personnel—he could still afford it.

He said decisively, “No problem! Let’s proceed with this standard. I’ll leave personnel recruitment to you. Oh, regarding the base selection, my idea is to establish the main base in Novosibirsk, keep the Moscow base as a branch, and also set up a large base in Crimea near Sevastopol. That area is close to the port, which will be convenient for future operations.”

Andelov’s eyes sparkled with amusement as he looked at Wang Ye and nodded, “Boss, your choice of location is excellent. If it were up to me, I’d definitely pick the same place. By the way, should we also get a couple of warships? Having our own ships would make operations more convenient.”

Wang Ye was tempted but hesitated, “Warships… wouldn’t they be too expensive? Is it necessary right now?”

“It’s manageable. But these things aren’t easy to buy. I can try to see if we can get a couple of ships from Ukraine. After all, they sell ships cheaply, and the major shipyards are there.”

“Alright! Keep an eye on it. Since we’re going big, we should buy the necessary equipment!” Wang Ye said decisively.

Chapter 328: Two Major Business Segments

Aircraft, warships, armored vehicles…

These were the ultimate “big toys” every man dreamed of!

Now, they had aircraft and armored vehicles—well, helicopters and armored transport vehicles, but those were genuine military-grade equipment!

As for warships, if the price wasn’t too outrageous, Wang Ye wouldn’t hesitate to spend a fortune to buy a couple just to “play around” with.

Clearly, Andelov was a reliable man. His suggestion to purchase from Ukraine was an excellent idea.

Everyone knew that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the major republics went their separate ways. Ukraine had inherited quite a few good assets!

But Ukraine had been far too reckless on its path to “freedom,” and unlike Russia, it hadn’t produced a formidable figure like the great emperor.

So, the wastefulness had been staggering.

Not to mention warships—thousands of missiles had been destroyed, and strategic bombers like the White Swan, along with aircraft carriers, had been sold off…

Countless countries around the world had drooled over these assets but couldn’t get their hands on them!

Yet Ukraine had just thrown them away without a second thought…

Since that was the case, Andelov might as well go take a look and see if he could “snag” some good deals.

…

Money wasn’t the issue, but Wang Ye thought of another problem. He asked, “We can buy aircraft and warships with money, but once we have them, we’ll need people to operate them. Do we have that kind of talent here?”

It wasn’t that Wang Ye lacked military knowledge—anyone would agree that finding people who could operate aircraft and warships was no easy task.

Could a security company like Wagner really recruit such high-level personnel?

Andelov, however, was completely unfazed. He chuckled lightly, “I’ll handle that. There are plenty of retired personnel from units like Alpha and Signal Flag who can operate aircraft and warships. We’re not dealing with large-scale aircraft or warships, so the requirements aren’t that high. For things like helicopters, even if not every special forces soldier can fly them, they’re pretty close.”

Well, what Wang Ye considered a difficult problem was no problem at all for Andelov.

Perhaps that was just the difference in professional expertise.

Anton seized the opportunity to interject, “Boss, Colonel, I… I’d like to stay at the Moscow base. Maybe I could be responsible for the boss’s security in the future. After all, the elite soldiers the colonel recruits—retired personnel from units like Alpha and Signal Flag—are on a whole different level. People like me and Seryosha might just end up dragging them down.”

Anton knew his own limitations. He understood that while he and Seryosha were top-tier in regular units, they couldn’t compare to the “monsters” from Alpha and Signal Flag.

With someone of Andelov’s caliber joining Wagner, it was clear that the people he would recruit would be true experts—retired special forces personnel.

In front of them, he would pale in comparison.

So, it was better to stay at the Moscow base, working as a security guard for the boss’s companies. Being the boss’s bodyguard was easy work—why not enjoy it?

After a moment’s thought, Wang Ye nodded in agreement. “Alright, you, Seryosha, and the current personnel will all stay at the Moscow base. After all, the Sun Market and the Little Eagle Hotel here need quite a few people, and I need security around me as well. Two hundred people should be just enough.”

Then, Wang Ye turned to Andelov and asked, “Andelov, the preparation of the bases in Siberia and Crimea, as well as personnel recruitment, will be left to you. Will that be a problem?”

Both were straightforward men. Andelov didn’t hesitate for a second. “Boss, don’t worry. Leave it to me. But… shouldn’t you send over a financial officer or something?”

He wasn’t completely clueless. After all, Wagner was Wang Ye’s company, and every penny spent came from Wang Ye’s pocket.

So, it was best not to get involved in financial matters. Having the boss send someone to manage the money was the best approach.

Wang Ye, however, waved his hand dismissively. “No need. Since I’m entrusting this to you, you’ll be responsible for everything. Of course, the company’s financial system must still be in place, and the accounts must be clear.”

This was essentially handing over full financial and personnel authority to Andelov!

Andelov was slightly moved. Wang Ye’s trust in him was a bit overwhelming.

Even when he was a colonel, he had never held such immense power!

…

With this arrangement, Wang Ye had effectively divided Wagner Security Company into two major business segments.

The first segment was the security base in the Moscow suburbs, still responsible for security operations, led by Anton.

In the future, if there were any security tasks within Russia, especially in Moscow, they would be handled by Anton and his team.

Naturally, Wang Ye’s own businesses and personal safety would also be overseen by this security base.

The newly purchased heavy equipment couldn’t be kept here, of course. At most, they could station a couple of unarmed helicopters.

After all, this was Moscow, the capital of Russia. Private armed forces weren’t allowed to possess heavy firepower…

The second segment consisted of the two new bases in Novosibirsk and Crimea, led by Andelov!

Those two places were vast and sparsely populated, with plenty of wasteland. A large plot of land could be bought for a small sum, allowing the bases to be built on a massive scale—even a simple airstrip could be constructed for helicopter takeoffs and landings.

These two bases wouldn’t be handling domestic operations. Instead, they would be expanding into new battlefields abroad!

Heavy equipment, helicopters, armored vehicles, and even warships—whatever Shao Yigu was willing to sell, Wang Ye was willing to buy!

Perhaps he didn’t have enough money right now and was a bit strapped for cash, but once the three major casinos were up and running, along with the dividends from several companies, Wang Ye planned to increase his investments next year.

This wasn’t just about having money to burn—Wang Ye’s future plans genuinely required a certain amount of “military force” to support them!

Within Russia, even a force of a thousand wouldn’t make a ripple. But abroad, this armed force could work wonders…

…

Leaving Andelov at the base to coordinate with Anton, Wang Ye took Seryosha and the others and headed to the airport.

Today, his business partner, Ho Chiu-ying, was arriving.

The renovations at the Little Eagle Hotel in Moscow were progressing quickly and were expected to be completed and open for business around the New Year. The hotels in St. Petersburg and Crimea would take a bit longer, likely opening after the New Year.

Ho Chiu-ying was coming to discuss launching a major promotional campaign with Wang Ye!

After all, they had invested so much money—cutting corners on promotion wouldn’t do. Only by letting the “target customers” know about the place would they come and spend money…

From now on, updates should be back to normal—three chapters a day, barring any unexpected issues…

Chapter 329: This is a Private Army, Isn’t It?

Sheremetyevo Airport, Moscow.

After several months, the eldest daughter of the Ho family once again set foot on Russian soil.

Though she hadn’t been here for a while, she hadn’t been idle—in fact, she had been busier than ever.

During this time, through remote coordination over the phone, the Little Eagle Group had simultaneously begun renovations on three ultra-luxurious gambling and entertainment centers in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Crimea!

Among them, the fastest progress was at the former Little Eagle Hotel in Moscow, now officially renamed the “Little Eagle Entertainment Center,” integrating gambling, dining, and lodging all in one.

Thus, promotional work also needed to be formally put on the agenda. Her visit this time was to finalize this matter with Wang Ye.

According to the rough intentions discussed during their last meeting, the promotional work would also require a significant investment!

Of course, the Little Eagle Group wasn’t short on money. After deducting the renovation costs, the company still had nearly four hundred million U.S. dollars in cash sitting in its accounts!

Apart from maintaining the group’s normal operations, the rest of the money could be spent freely.

And it would be spent on promotion. After all, these three gambling and entertainment centers were newly opened and had no reputation whatsoever.

To make potential customers aware of them, they would need aggressive promotion…

…

As soon as she exited the international arrivals hall, Miss Ho saw Wang Ye, who had come to welcome her, and a smile appeared on her face.

“Misha, thank you for coming to pick me up in person. I could have just taken a taxi directly,” she said politely after shaking hands.

Wang Ye laughed heartily, “How could that be? A guest is a guest, and a host’s duties must be fulfilled. Let’s go, we’ll head to the hotel.”

The “hotel” he referred to was, of course, the Little Eagle Entertainment Center.

The basic structural renovations had been completed, and the guest rooms had also been decorated. Now, the main focus was on the installation and testing of the entertainment and gambling facilities on the first and second floors.

Arriving at the roadside, five black Mercedes large G-class vehicles were parked neatly in a row.

Several burly men in tactical gear stood by the cars, clearly Wang Ye’s bodyguards.

Miss Ho smiled and asked, “Misha, how many bodyguards did you bring? Is Moscow really that unsafe?”

“Hehe, better safe than sorry. Besides, I have my own security company, so manpower isn’t an issue,” Wang Ye replied with a smile.

Miss Ho was quite curious about Wang Ye’s security company. Just by looking at these bodyguards, it was clear this wasn’t an ordinary security firm. Not only were they fully armed, but they also exuded a killing intent!

They were clearly genuine soldiers who had seen real battle…

“How many people do you have in your security company now? Will it be enough to protect our three hotels in the future?” she asked casually.

By now, the two had gotten into the car, and the accompanying personnel had boarded the vehicles in front and behind.

“Currently, there are over two hundred, but I plan to expand to a thousand. There will be security bases in Moscow, Novosibirsk, and Crimea,” Wang Ye replied straightforwardly, without hesitation.

But this answer shocked Miss Ho.

A thousand people?

Is this still a security company?!

This is practically a private army!

The question was, did Russia even allow such a powerful private armed force to exist…

“You… why do you need so many people?” Miss Ho asked in astonishment.

Wang Ye shrugged and replied:

“This security company isn’t just for the three gambling centers. They will also take on external contracts, such as protecting oil fields, or even overseas operations.

You should know, Miss Ho, that internationally, there are actually quite a few so-called mercenary organizations. Wagner’s future direction will be along those lines.

By the way, the personnel Wagner recruits later will almost all be professional soldiers retired from special forces units like Alpha and Signal Flag.

And I’ve already negotiated with the relevant departments. Heavy equipment like armed helicopters, armored vehicles, and even warships can be purchased.

Once the three major security bases are built, I’ll invite you to visit. We can even hold a small military parade, haha…”

After hearing this, Miss Ho fell silent for a long time. She felt she needed to reassess Wang Ye!

After all, a private armed force of over a thousand men, all elite soldiers from actual special forces!

And this power was in the hands of the young man before her…

However, she didn’t say much more. After all, this matter had nothing to do with the Little Eagle Group, and even less to do with her.

Though, if she ever needed help in the future, she could always ask him for assistance.

…

The convoy arrived at the Little Eagle Gambling Center. The two inspected the nearly completely “transformed” venue.

The building now looked completely different from before.

Previously, from the outside, the overall style had been quite understated, but now it was all about opulence!

After all, it was a gambling establishment, so this style was quite fitting.

As for the guest room renovations, this was also a key focus. The Ho family’s Macau Gaming Group had provided the renovation plan, referencing their gambling venues in Macau.

The luxury level was definitely beyond that of an ordinary five-star hotel!

Unfortunately, the gambling center on the first and second floors hadn’t been renovated yet. This was the most crucial part, as future profits would depend on these two floors.

After a brief inspection, Miss Ho expressed great satisfaction with the renovation progress.

They say foreign construction progresses slowly, but that wasn’t entirely true. The key was whether the money had been properly allocated.

This time, the renovations were handled by Russia’s most powerful construction and decoration company, with a strict deadline.

The on-site workers were mostly dark-haired foreigners. In Russia, it was hard to find true Russians doing this kind of labor. Most were from neighboring countries coming to earn money.

After inspecting the site, Wang Ye took Miss Ho to the Turandot Restaurant for a meal, which also served as a welcome dinner for her.

…

In the familiar private dining room, Wang Ye, Katya, Miss Ho, and her two assistants—five people in total—took their seats.

After ordering, while waiting for the food, they sipped tea and discussed the opening of the gambling center.

“The Moscow gambling center is progressing the fastest. Just now, the construction team said it might finish ahead of schedule, possibly opening in November or December. But St. Petersburg and Crimea will be slower, likely after the New Year. Should we start promotions now?” Wang Ye asked.

In this regard, he still hoped to hear the professional opinion of Miss Ho.

After all, in his two lives, Wang Ye had never been involved in the gambling industry. This was his first time, so he wasn’t very familiar with it.

Miss Ho replied decisively, “We can start preparing. You should know that popular TV advertising slots need to be booked in advance, and we also need to film promotional videos ahead of time. Starting now should allow us to begin airing ads by the end of the year.”

Chapter 330: Preparing to Reap the Harvest

In those days, the internet wasn’t as developed as it is now, so advertising still relied on traditional media like television, magazines, and newspapers.

Wang Ye understood this, so he had no objections.

After a moment of thought, he asked, “So how should we choose the key regions for our advertising? We can’t possibly place ads all over the world. Even if our advertising budget is substantial, it can’t cover the entire globe.”

Miss Ho clearly had a plan ready for this question.

She smiled slightly, confidently saying, “Global advertising is unnecessary. After all, many people in other places won’t be able to come to Russia. Our initial focus should be on three major regions: East Asia, Eastern Europe, and Western Europe. To be more specific, East Asia’s China, Japan, and Korea; Eastern Europe’s smaller countries; and Western Europe’s developed nations like Germany, France, and Italy! Additionally, within these countries, we should prioritize certain ones and increase our advertising efforts there…”

Wang Ye listened and nodded, agreeing with Miss Ho’s plan. After hearing her out, he readily nodded and laughed, “Alright, let’s arrange it like that. For the first wave of advertising, we’ll allocate two hundred million US dollars for an advertising blitz!”

This advertising budget was truly substantial. Even among all the major companies worldwide, it would rank among the top few…

Spending so much money just for three casinos seemed a bit wasteful! But Wang Ye’s goals naturally extended beyond these three casinos; he had other plans…

Finally, the two agreed that the first wave of advertising would begin before the Lunar New Year. Miss Ho’s team would handle the advertising in Japan and Korea, the Little Eagle Group’s mainland branch would take care of the domestic advertising, and the Little Eagle Group’s headquarters would manage Eastern Europe. As for Western Europe, they could delay it until after the New Year.

The advertising videos would naturally be produced by professional media in Russia. When it came to art, Eastern Europe was quite capable.

………

The next few days were extremely busy.

Everyone started moving, and since Miss Ho had come all this way, she naturally wouldn’t just look around Moscow. She also planned to inspect St. Petersburg and Crimea.

Yuri and his team began looking for professional advertising companies to prepare for the filming of the promotional videos.

Katya coordinated with Liu Mei, as Liu Mei had called to say that the China World Trade Center floor had been negotiated and was ready to be purchased.

In addition to buying a floor in the China World Trade Center, Wang Ye also planned to have Liu Mei expand the scale of the domestic branch, as he knew that the opportunities in the domestic market over the next twenty years would be the most abundant!

If he wanted to make money, he naturally couldn’t overlook this vast and rapidly developing market.

So, although the branch managed by Liu Mei was nominally the “Little Eagle Group’s Domestic Branch,” in reality, it wouldn’t only serve the Little Eagle Group; there would be other businesses to operate in the future.

Wang Ye called Liu Mei and instructed her that, in addition to hiring people, she should buy a few luxury cars to enhance the company’s image.

After all, it was the capital, and Liu Mei’s Audi wasn’t impressive enough…

Moreover, since the branch was technically a foreign company, it had tax-free car quotas, making luxury cars not too expensive.

As for which luxury cars to buy, naturally, it would be Wang Ye’s favorite large Mercedes. Buy two Mercedes S600s as company reception cars!

Additionally, get a large G-class Mercedes; this was for Wang Ye himself.

Although he probably wouldn’t go back often, he should still have a car prepared in the country for when he did return.

With his current wealth, if he went home for the New Year and still had to take the train or a long-distance bus, that would be too embarrassing…

………

On October 2nd, Wang Ye received news that Milner had already established the Polar Bear Investment Company branch in America. The ten billion US dollars Wang Ye had earned from the stock market had been injected into the branch’s account and was ready for investment at any time.

As for the remaining one hundred million US dollars, it was also transferred to the branch’s account.

However, this money belonged to Khovansky and would be processed through the accounts, transferring the money from Russia to Wang Ye personally.

This way, it avoided the hassle of large cross-border fund transfers, saving on fees and avoiding attention.

After the one hundred million US dollars arrived, Wang Ye directly transferred one hundred million to the Wagner Company’s account. They were waiting for this money to purchase weapons…

At this point, it had been less than a month since the shocking disaster in America in September.

Wang Ye felt it was time to bottom-fish for America’s high-quality assets!

A few days ago, he had already sent Milner to America. On one hand, it was to have him register and establish the branch, and on the other hand, it was to recruit employees and gather information on several target companies.

Now, everything was ready, and it was time for Wang Ye to go and “reap the harvest”…

After all, the Polar Bear Investment Company had a total of three billion US dollars in funds. Now, only a little over one hundred million had been spent, leaving nearly twenty-nine billion in the account!

With so much money, why wait to spend it?

It was important to note that the global internet was still in a winter period, and America had just been attacked. Many future super companies were now severely undervalued!

Wang Ye was preparing to go to America to bottom-fish…

………

Before departing, he naturally had to arrange everything in Russia.

Since this trip would likely take a while, hopefully half a month, at most a month.

The Little Eagle Group didn’t need his attention; with Miss Ho, Yuri, and the others there, everything was proceeding smoothly.

The Sun Market Group had also entered a regular phase, and with the potential major rival Zinov out of the way, there shouldn’t be any problems for a long time.

As for companies like Qingyun Company and Hua Star Communications, Wang Ye didn’t even bother to ask about them; Liu Jun and Ruan Xiaozhu were handling those.

The only thing Wang Ye needed to pay attention to was perhaps his own studies…

After all, as a first-year student, he had only been to school a few times since the semester started!

Before leaving for America, Wang Ye rarely “made time” to go to school, not to attend classes, but to see the department head.

Others might not know Wang Ye’s identity, but the department head clearly knew something, as Wang Ye’s admission to Moscow State University’s political science department was arranged by his uncle, Khovansky.

So, when Wang Ye specifically came to “request leave,” the department head was quite pleased.

After all, for someone with Wang Ye’s “background,” attending university was purely for the sake of getting a degree. How he would develop in the future was something the school couldn’t teach.

After requesting leave, Wang Ye was ready to officially depart for America.

This time, he kept a low profile.

He only brought Katya, Seryosha, and another bodyguard.

After all, he couldn’t bring weapons, and having more people wouldn’t be useful.

Moreover, he was going for investment, not for fighting, so there shouldn’t be any danger…

Yesterday, he just said he would update normally, and today he was slapped in the face… Those in Shenzhen should understand; the situation there has become severe.

Chapter 331: Don’t Bite the Hand That Feeds You

America, the San Francisco Bay Area in California—this was the renowned Silicon Valley.

Between the southern part of the Bay Area and the western part of Santa Clara County lay a small town called Cupertino, a place most people had never heard of.

Yet, it was home to the headquarters of several world-class companies, the most famous of which was none other than Apple Inc.!

However, in 2001, Apple could hardly be called a major company, let alone world-famous.

After all, this company, which had gone public as early as 1980, had a market value of only five billion dollars by 2001 and was even on the verge of collapse…

Apple’s headquarters at the time was called “Infinite Loop,” a circular complex of six office buildings. As for “Apple Park,” it hadn’t even been designed yet.

Inside a conference room on the fourth floor of Building One—the core of Apple, housing management and marketing departments—Steve Jobs, accompanied by several Apple executives, was in negotiations with representatives from Gateway, including a man named Weite.

Weite tilted his head back, not even glancing at Jobs, and spoke in a condescending tone:

“Our company can value Apple at five billion dollars and proceed with the acquisition through a stock issuance. Of course, if your shareholders want cash, that can be discussed. But the valuation won’t reach five billion—everyone knows Apple is on the brink of collapse. That MP3 player you launched doesn’t seem to be selling well, and you’ve laid off half your staff…”

Clearly, Weite, representing Gateway, had come to take advantage of Apple’s dire situation.

Jobs’ sharp gaze bore into Weite, his lips pressed tightly together as he remained silent.

Apple was the company he had founded, the vessel of his greatest dreams in life!

Being belittled to the point of worthlessness naturally ignited his fury. Only his rationality kept his emotions in check; otherwise, he feared he might have already lashed out.

Apple’s current situation was indeed far from ideal. Since his return last year, the iPod he had personally championed had performed poorly in the market. Nearly half a year had passed, and total sales had barely reached thirty thousand units…

Compounded by the global collapse of the internet bubble, investment firms were now struggling to survive, cautiously controlling their investments.

In short, no one had money to spare…

To cut costs, Apple had been forced into large-scale layoffs. The Infinite Loop campus now felt eerily quiet.

Of the six office buildings, nearly half the office spaces stood empty, the atmosphere desolate. It truly seemed as if the company might not survive.

Even someone as strong-willed as Jobs had to bow his head to reality, leading to these acquisition negotiations.

In the past, someone like Weite, representing a company like Gateway, wouldn’t have even been worthy of an audience with him, let alone discussing an acquisition. That would have been an insult to Jobs and to Apple!

Of course, this was just Jobs’ angry outburst. After all, Gateway was no small company.

Known in Chinese as “Jiewei,” Gateway had once been a major player in the personal PC market, capable of competing with giants like HP. It was also one of the earliest companies in the personal computer business.

But even so, Gateway was in no position to acquire Apple!

Although Apple’s market value wasn’t high—only five billion dollars—Gateway’s market value was even lower, at less than two billion.

Talking about acquiring Apple through stock issuance was nothing more than trying to pull off a “snake swallowing an elephant” farce…

…

Seeing the tense atmosphere in the conference room, Tim Cook quickly smiled to ease the tension. “Weite, your offer doesn’t seem very sincere. You should know that Apple is indeed facing difficulties and urgently needs funds, which is why we agreed to these negotiations. However, we have no intention of selling the entire company. We prefer to collaborate through equity financing.”

Although Cook had only joined Apple this year, he had already become Jobs’ right-hand man. After all, Jobs had just made a “king’s return,” and within the company, he didn’t have many loyalists. He was now rebuilding his team, and Cook was someone he had personally interviewed and recruited, a subordinate he trusted deeply.

Weite, however, showed no appreciation for Cook’s goodwill.

He gave a faint smile, maintaining his arrogant demeanor, and said, “Cook, you know what our company does. We’re not an investment firm! And these past two years, how many investment firms are left in the country? They’re all dead, haha…”

Though his attitude was unpleasant, his words were undeniably realistic.

Everyone knew that investment firms, having bet big on the internet industry, had suffered “heavy casualties” over the past two years.

Every day, countless investment firms on Wall Street were going under!

At this stage, it was indeed impossible to find the kind of investment firms that used to wave checkbooks around, throwing money everywhere…

At that moment, Jobs seemed unable to hold back any longer. He coldly asked, “Weite, which company do you think is worth more, Apple or Gateway?”

Weite hesitated. He wanted to say Gateway was worth more.

But the problem was, both companies were publicly traded and in the same industry. Apple’s market value was five billion dollars, while Gateway’s was less than two billion…

That was the reality. Lying wouldn’t fool anyone.

So, he had to admit, “For now, Apple is definitely worth more, but…”

Before he could finish his “but,” Jobs cut him off.

“Either bring a cash check to the table, or get out of this conference room. Don’t try to play financial tricks in front of me!” Jobs said bluntly.

Hearing this, Weite could no longer maintain his arrogant expression.

He was furious. “Thud!” He stood up abruptly, both hands slamming onto the conference table as he leaned forward, glaring at Jobs. “Fine! Jobs, I’d like to see how much longer Apple can hold out! If you agree to be acquired by Gateway, I might even give you a position in the new company. I advise you not to bite the hand that feeds you!”

But Jobs seemed to ignore him completely. He stood up, turned, and walked straight out of the conference room, leaving the others staring at each other in bewilderment.

Cook could only handle the aftermath, smoothing things over by saying that the Apple board still needed to discuss Gateway’s offer…

Chapter 332: The Most Difficult Time

After seeing off Weite and his group, Tim Cook hurried back to Steve Jobs’ office on the fourth floor.

When he knocked and entered, he saw Steve Jobs sitting dejectedly on the small sofa, listlessly flipping through TV channels with the remote.

Upon seeing Tim Cook enter, Steve Jobs’ eyes were vacant as he asked in confusion, “Tim, do you think our company can still hold on? How much longer can we last in this state?”

The once indomitable Steve Jobs was now at his most helpless and least confident moment!

Tim Cook walked over, placed a hand on Steve Jobs’ shoulder, and gently patted it, offering words of comfort:

“Steve, have you forgotten the massive poster we hung in the park last year when you returned? It said ‘Think Different’! During our meetings, you always said that what we’re doing will change the world someday. The difficulties we’re facing now are just minor obstacles on our path to greatness.”

It had to be said that Tim Cook had earned Steve Jobs’ trust for a reason.

At the very least, when it came to speaking, he had quite the “skill”…

Hearing Tim Cook’s words, Steve Jobs’ expression softened slightly, and he managed a small smile.

He rubbed his forehead, took off his glasses to wipe them, and asked, “Has the iPod’s sales improved at all? It’s such an excellent product, so why are the sales so poor?”

Tim Cook shook his head and sighed:

“There’s definitely no issue with the hardware. The iPod is absolutely superior to all the MP3 players on the market!

The problem lies in the software. After all, it’s a music player, so it’s meant for listening to music.

Other MP3 players allow users to freely download songs from the internet without any restrictions and support various music formats.

But our iPod has many limitations, especially when it comes to downloading songs. Users can’t even find songs to listen to…”

Tim Cook was well-versed in the company’s flagship product of the year.

He admitted that the iPod project, which Steve Jobs had pushed forward with all his might, had indeed produced an excellent product.

While other MP3 players typically had capacities of 64MB, with 128 or 256MB considered large, the iPod started at 1GB!

Its capacity truly surpassed all other MP3 products on the market. Moreover, in terms of manufacturing, Apple Inc. spared no expense, using an all-aluminum alloy casing with a sleek silver-white finish, making it flawless.

After its release, the product received unanimous praise from everyone, including the media and users.

But the problem was the lack of songs to listen to…

At its core, the iPod was a music player. Without music to play, sales naturally wouldn’t be ideal.

Steve Jobs was well aware of this issue.

He sighed deeply and said, “Sigh, we still need to continue negotiations with the major record companies. Also, we need to accelerate the establishment of our own online music store. Ultimately, it’s a lack of money! If we had enough money, we could show our sincerity in negotiations with those record companies and secure sufficient music rights. If we had money, we could increase our workforce and quickly establish our own online music store…”

A penny can fell a hero, let alone Apple Inc., which was short not just a penny but as much cash as possible!

…

Seeing Steve Jobs’ worried expression, Tim Cook suddenly thought of something.

He smiled and said, “Oh, right, there’s an investment company coming tomorrow, supposedly from Russia. Maybe we can get a large sum of money from them, and all our problems will be solved!”

Steve Jobs wasn’t as optimistic as him and shook his head, saying, “Russia? Isn’t that place still in chaos? Where would there be any proper investment companies? They’re probably just trying to take advantage of the situation, not wanting to invest much but demanding a lot.”

“Well, meeting them won’t take much time anyway. Let’s see tomorrow,” Tim Cook persuaded.

In truth, neither of them had much hope for tomorrow’s meeting.

A few days ago, the person in charge of the so-called Russian Polar Bear Investment Company had contacted Tim Cook but didn’t reveal much information.

They only said that their company was interested in contacting Apple Inc. to see if there were any investment opportunities.

It was only because the person in charge, Milner, was a graduate of an Ivy League school and had previously worked at a major investment bank that Tim Cook was willing to talk to him.

Otherwise, Tim Cook probably wouldn’t have bothered to let them come.

Come on, what major companies are there in Russia?

Oh, there are some, but they’re all energy oligarchs, busy selling oil. They wouldn’t look twice at a computer company like Apple Inc.

…

On October 4th, in a five-star hotel in San Francisco.

In the presidential suite, Wang Ye temporarily convened a small meeting.

Milner gave him a brief work report,
including the establishment of the subsidiary, which was located right here in San Francisco and not on Wall Street.

This was Wang Ye’s instruction…

Additionally, he had already arranged a meeting with Apple Inc. for an initial negotiation that afternoon, which was also the purpose of Wang Ye’s visit.

Of course, more importantly, it was about Apple Inc.’s current situation, including its stock price, company valuation, financial status, and other information.

Milner had already investigated quite thoroughly.

After briefly understanding the situation, Wang Ye flipped through the materials about Apple Inc. that Milner had compiled and asked, “Is Apple Inc. really in such a bad state? Their workforce has been halved?”

In Wang Ye’s memory, Apple Inc. wasn’t doing well this year, but the iPod had been released, so why was the situation still so dire?

Milner smiled and said, “It might be even worse than I described! You see, their new flagship product, the iPod, which they’ve been heavily promoting this year, has seen declining sales. The company invested a lot of resources and funds into this project, and with the current state of the world, it’s already impressive that they haven’t gone bankrupt.”

Indeed, the overall economy in America this year wasn’t great, especially after what happened last month…

But for Wang Ye, this was good news.

The worse Apple Inc.’s situation, the easier it would be for him to invest.

He had a lot of cash on hand, which was probably what Apple Inc. needed most right now…

Looking at the time, it was already 11 AM. Wang Ye stood up and said, “Let’s go, have lunch at the restaurant first. Then we’ll head to Apple Inc. and try to get everything done in one go!”

From downtown San Francisco to Apple Inc.’s headquarters, it was about a one-hour drive, not too far.

…

After lunch, Wang Ye and his group set off for Apple Inc. in two Mercedes S600s provided by the hotel!

Chapter 333: I’ll Take It All

At exactly two in the afternoon, still within the Infinite Loop campus, in the first building’s large conference room.

Steve Jobs, Tim Cook, Wang Ye, Katya, Milner, and others sat facing each other.

Regarding the arrival of Wang Ye’s group, only Tim Cook had gone down to greet them; Steve Jobs hadn’t even come downstairs.

Looking at Wang Ye sitting across from him, Steve Jobs suddenly asked, “Japanese?”

He had seen Wang Ye’s black hair, black eyes, and yellow skin, so he assumed he was Asian, and guessed he was Japanese…

Because in that era, when Asians went to Europe or America, they were often assumed to be Japanese by Europeans and Americans.

There was no way around it; after all, at that time, Japan was almost synonymous with Asia and was the most developed country in Asia, without question!

Actually, Steve Jobs asking this was a bit impolite, but Wang Ye knew who this man was and didn’t mind.

Smiling, he said, “No, I’m a Chinese-Russian.”

Again, it was Tim Cook who stepped in to smooth things over. When it came to business negotiations, this clearly wasn’t Steve Jobs’ strong suit.

After mutual introductions, Steve Jobs was surprised to discover that the young man with black hair was actually the real decision-maker of Polar Bear Investment Company!

This piqued his interest.

Steve Jobs himself was a genius who had started his career early and was very familiar with Gates; the two were more or less the same type of person.

So seeing Wang Ye achieve such success at a young age…

Oh, he didn’t know what achievements Wang Ye had, but at least this investment company must have a lot of money, otherwise they wouldn’t dare come to Apple Inc. to talk about investment.

…

“So, Mr. Mikhail, I wonder what investment plan you’ve brought today? Let me make one thing clear: Apple Inc. currently only accepts cash financing, which can be done through share expansion. We do not accept acquisitions, especially so-called stock swap mergers!” Steve Jobs set the tone for today’s negotiations.

He didn’t want to experience yesterday’s “humiliation” again.

If Polar Bear Investment Company was also trying to pull a fast one, Steve Jobs would probably start cursing.

He didn’t have time to waste with these “financial scammers”!

Wang Ye smiled slightly and said seriously, “I come with sincerity, and Polar Bear Investment Company is a well-funded company in Russia; don’t doubt our strength. Tell me, how much funding does Apple Inc. need now, and how much equity can you offer?”

This was a bold statement, but Steve Jobs was exactly that kind of person…

He grinned, “To solve Apple Inc.’s current problems, we need at least three hundred million dollars. With that money, many plans can start to be executed, and the company can get through the current difficulties.”

Steve Jobs indeed had many plans that were limited by the company’s current situation and couldn’t be executed.

Such as establishing their own retail stores, purchasing music rights from major music companies, and creating their own music software.

All of this required a lot of money, but Apple Inc. didn’t have the funds right now…

This was why he was eager to find new investments.

After speaking, Steve Jobs didn’t have high hopes.

That was three hundred million dollars!

Even the big investment banks and funds in America usually couldn’t come up with that much money for investment.

Not to mention the current time, when almost no one was optimistic about America’s future.

After all, this so-called Russian investment company was previously unknown, so it probably didn’t have much money.

To be honest, he even wanted to suggest to Wang Ye that if he wanted to invest in Apple Inc., it would be simpler to buy some Apple stock on the market…

Who knew, Wang Ye would lightly nod and say, “Three hundred million dollars, right? What if I want to invest more?”

Steve Jobs was immediately stunned. He looked at Wang Ye incredulously, wondering if this young man didn’t understand how much three hundred million dollars was!

Tim Cook, sitting next to him, reacted quickly and immediately said, “Mr. Mikhail has prepared more funds? That’s great! Actually, our company’s board discussed a few days ago that if someone is willing to invest in Apple Inc. at this stage, our company can issue up to eight hundred million dollars worth of shares!”

He wasn’t lying.

Based on Apple Inc.’s recent stock price, the company’s current market value was forty-two billion dollars.

Issuing eight hundred million dollars worth of shares would mean issuing sixteen percent of the company’s shares after the increase, and the company would receive eight hundred million dollars in cash!

Not only would all the problems be solved, but the company would also have valuable cash reserves, allowing it to advance rapidly without worries during the industry’s winter!

…

As soon as Tim Cook finished speaking, Wang Ye nodded decisively and said, “Eight hundred million dollars in shares, I’ll take it all!”

The people sitting with him didn’t react much, although Milner was slightly surprised. After all, the San Francisco branch of Polar Bear only had eleven billion dollars in funds. Wang Ye was throwing eight hundred million dollars at this seemingly unremarkable small company—wasn’t that a bit risky…

But he didn’t raise any objections.

Because Wang Ye was the boss of the company!

Moreover, looking at Wang Ye’s recent short-selling operations in the U.S. stock market, he clearly wasn’t a reckless person. Since he dared to invest heavily in this company, he must have his reasons, and it wasn’t his place to question.

On the other side, Steve Jobs and Tim Cook were stunned.

Eight hundred million dollars in shares!

All taken?

Was Mr. Mikhail joking?

Steve Jobs blurted out, “That’s eight hundred million! Dollars!”

Clearly, he was emphasizing again to make sure Wang Ye understood—this wasn’t eight hundred million rubles, but dollars…

At this time, the exchange rate between dollars and rubles was about 1:25.

Eight hundred million dollars converted to rubles would be twenty billion rubles!

Wang Ye smiled. Seeing Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, who were unreachable in his “previous life,” being so surprised and shocked over eight hundred million dollars in front of him, he found it quite amusing…

Apple wasn’t yet the super giant with a market value of over ten trillion, twenty trillion, thirty trillion dollars a decade later…

This time, he had truly bottomed out Apple.

Investing eight hundred million dollars would give him sixteen percent of Apple’s shares!

And once the iPod started selling like hotcakes, Apple Inc. would become a real money-making machine!

The shareholders of Apple Inc. probably wouldn’t allow the company to issue more shares, so the opportunity to become a major shareholder of Apple would be almost impossible in the future.

It could be said that this year, at this time, was the best opportunity to bottom out Apple!

Chapter 334: The Largest Shareholder

“I know, it’s just eight hundred million dollars. Once the agreement is signed, the money can be transferred to Apple Inc.’s account immediately,” Wang Ye said calmly, then turned to signal Milner.

Milner understood and opened a folder in front of him, pushing it toward Steve Jobs. “This is the proof of funds from our North Polar Bear Company’s San Francisco branch account, issued by Citibank, ready to be cashed at any time.”

Steve Jobs took it and saw that it was indeed true!

The proof from Citibank clearly stated that the North Polar Bear Investment Company’s San Francisco branch had eleven hundred and forty million dollars in cash in its company account!

This money was obviously what Wang Ye had earned from shorting the American stock market…

After seeing the proof of funds, Steve Jobs finally believed that the young man across from him was not just talking big but actually had the means!

This was real, hard cash!

Not some messy loans or fundraising—it was cash that could be paid out immediately!

“Alright, I believe North Polar Bear Investment Company is here with sincerity. In theory, there’s no problem with this. I will report to the board of directors and do my best to make this investment happen!” Steve Jobs said excitedly.

Eight hundred million dollars!

With this money, Apple Inc. would be saved!

Many of his plans could also proceed smoothly.

It had to be said that for Apple Inc. right now, this money was as precious as sending charcoal in the snow!

Looking at Wang Ye again, Steve Jobs’ eyes were filled with gratitude.

Tim Cook was also beaming with joy. “The company’s expansion and financing were discussed at the last board meeting, so there shouldn’t be any issues. The basic plan is for the company to issue eight hundred million dollars’ worth of stock to your North Polar Bear Company. The procedure is also quite simple—just an announcement is needed.”

In America, due to the highly developed financial system, various investments and financings were very convenient, with simple procedures.

“Then, let’s wish our cooperation a pleasant one,” Wang Ye said straightforwardly.

Steve Jobs had already stood up, reaching across the conference table to extend his hand.

Wang Ye also stood up with a smile, shaking Steve Jobs’ hand firmly.

…

Today’s negotiations went very smoothly. One side needed money, the other had money—it was like dry wood meeting a raging fire; it couldn’t have gone more smoothly.

Moreover, Wang Ye didn’t haggle or take advantage of the situation. He directly agreed to Apple Inc.’s conditions, investing based on the current market value of Apple Inc. without any discount.

Apple Inc.’s current market value was four billion two hundred million dollars, with a stock price of five dollars and a few cents, and a total of eight hundred and forty million shares.

They planned to issue one hundred and sixty million new shares to sell to North Polar Bear Investment Company.

After this directed share issuance and financing, Apple Inc. would have one billion shares, with North Polar Bear Investment Company holding one hundred and sixty million shares, accounting for sixteen percent!

Although this percentage wasn’t high, in reality, it had become the largest shareholder of Apple Inc.!

Originally, the largest shareholder of Apple Inc. was Fidelity Investments, with a shareholding of about ten percent.

The second-largest shareholder was Vanguard Group, with a shareholding of about six point five percent.

Among the top ten shareholders, all were institutional investors.

As for Apple Inc.’s founder, Steve Jobs, how many shares did he hold?

It might be hard to believe, but Steve Jobs only had one symbolic share…

This was because when he left Apple Inc. before, he had sold all his shares.

Even though he had returned to Apple Inc. now, although the contract had stock incentive policies, he hadn’t been back for long, and the company’s business hadn’t really taken off, so he hadn’t received the incentive shares yet.

Additionally, it needed to be mentioned that Steve Jobs’ current annual salary was one dollar…

From his annual salary and shares, it could be seen that this guy truly didn’t care about fame and fortune.

He was completely fighting for his ideals…

Of course, he wasn’t short of money either.

After leaving Apple Inc., Steve Jobs had successively founded NEXT Company and Pixar Animation Studios. By 1996, his personal fortune had already reached hundreds of millions of dollars.

But why didn’t Steve Jobs invest in Apple Inc. personally when the company was in trouble, preferring to bring in new shareholders? This remained unknown.

…

After signing the letter of intent for cooperation, Milner needed to discuss some details with Tim Cook and others.

Steve Jobs, on the other hand, warmly invited Wang Ye, Katya, and the professional translator Wang Ye had brought to his office for a visit.

For his personality, this was already a way of showing gratitude and recognition to Wang Ye.

Wang Ye, of course, happily accepted the invitation. Steve Jobs’ office was absolutely worth seeing.

After all, in Wang Ye’s previous life, this was a true legendary figure!

Steve Jobs’ office wasn’t far from the conference room; after walking through the corridor for a short distance, they arrived.

Opening the door, Steve Jobs gestured for the three to enter.

The office wasn’t large, only about forty to fifty square meters, and the decoration was far from luxurious.

It could even be said to be a bit shabby—an ordinary desk, simple chairs, with books, stationery, and various electronic products scattered everywhere.

Steve Jobs picked up a few magazines from the sofa and put them aside, saying somewhat embarrassedly, “The office is a bit messy, please excuse it.”

Wang Ye laughed, “I understand. You tech people and those who run internet companies are all like this. It’s called order in chaos, right? Haha…”

After inviting Wang Ye and the others to sit down, Steve Jobs took three cans of chilled cherry-flavored cola from a small fridge beside him without asking if they wanted any…

In terms of social skills, he was indeed as rumored—quite lacking.

As soon as they sat down, Steve Jobs seemed to remember something and stood up again, going to a cabinet beside him to take out a silver-white, palm-sized object.

He handed it to Wang Ye, saying, “Mikhail, take a look. This is our newly released music player this year, the iPod!”

Wang Ye had never actually used one of these before.

In his previous life, he had bought a few MP3 players, but they were all traditional products like Patriot, iRiver, or even the earlier Sony Walkman.

He had heard of Apple’s iPod, but he had never bought one.

When Apple released this product, Wang Ye was in college and not very well-off, so the price wasn’t friendly to him.

Later, when he had money, the iPod had basically exited the historical stage, as it was already the era of smartphones.

…

Taking it and playing with it for a while, this thing was quite large, much bigger than the common MP3 players on the market, and the quality was much better.

The shell was made of aluminum-magnesium alloy, feeling cool and smooth to the touch.

And Wang Ye knew that it was this little thing that had completely revived Apple Inc.!

Chapter 335: A Genius Idea

Wang Ye put on the white Apple earphones and pressed the power button, giving them a test listen. Then, with a smile, he remarked, “A truly perfect product! The sound quality seems even better than any MP3 player I’ve used before.”

He spoke in Russian, of course, and the translator beside him relayed his words to Steve Jobs in English.

Steve Jobs grinned proudly. “Naturally. The iPod uses a special format, and we require music copyright holders to provide high-quality original tracks. Those other MP3 players out there have such small storage that they compress the songs as much as possible, losing all the musical details. That’s why they can’t compare to our iPod…”

He went on at length about the iPod’s advantages—superior sound quality, large storage capacity, and advanced manufacturing.

Suddenly, Wang Ye asked, “But I’ve heard the sales aren’t that great. Is that true?”

Steve Jobs froze for a moment.

After a pause, he tried to explain, “That’s just temporary! The main issue is that we haven’t secured enough music licenses, so we don’t have many songs, and our sales channels aren’t fully established yet. That’s why sales are low.”

“So, do you have a plan to solve this problem?” Wang Ye pressed.

“Of course! We have a detailed plan. Once the funding is in place, we can start implementing it,” Steve Jobs said confidently.

When it came to running a business, Wang Ye didn’t have much to “teach” Steve Jobs, even if he was a reincarnated individual.

Wang Ye knew his limits…

…

“By the way, aside from the iPod, is Apple Inc. preparing any new products?” Wang Ye changed the subject.

What he really wanted to ask about was the truly revolutionary product—the iPhone.

The iPod was a good product and could earn Apple Inc. a lot of money, but it was far from enough!

The product that would make Apple Inc. the world’s most valuable company was none other than the iPhone!

Steve Jobs hesitated for a moment before instinctively replying, “No, the company is currently focused entirely on the iPod. We don’t have plans for any other products right now.”

It was understandable. Given Apple Inc.’s current strength, they couldn’t afford to develop multiple new products simultaneously.

Even this one iPod had nearly dragged the company down. Forget about any other new products.

Wang Ye nodded, then picked up the silver iPod, running his fingers over the smooth aluminum-magnesium alloy casing. He deliberately said, “This product’s craftsmanship is excellent, and it’s incredibly simple to use. Looking at this, I thought of something.”

With that, he pulled out his own phone—a Nokia 3310.

Smiling at Steve Jobs, he said, “Look, most phones these days have plastic casings, with rough craftsmanship and very basic functions. But they’re still the most convenient communication tools available, and people can’t live without them. I was thinking, if the iPod could have communication functions, that would be amazing. Not only could you listen to high-quality music, but you could also make calls, especially since this product is so beautifully designed.”

As Steve Jobs listened to Wang Ye’s words, his eyes gradually lit up.

He nodded thoughtfully, then excitedly said, “Mikhail, that’s a genius idea! If we could really make such a product, it would absolutely take the world by storm! But developing something like that would require a massive amount of work. It’s not something that can be done overnight.”

That was exactly what Wang Ye wanted to hear…

In his “previous life,” Apple Inc. had only started preparing for their phone four years later, and it wasn’t until 2007 that the first iPhone was released.

Moreover, the first-generation product had quite a few issues and didn’t truly take the world by storm.

Now, with Wang Ye’s funding and inspiration, Steve Jobs would likely start developing the phone earlier, allowing it to launch sooner and be more refined.

As for how to develop the phone, Wang Ye wasn’t an expert and didn’t plan to interfere. He would leave it to Steve Jobs, Tim Cook, and the rest of the team to figure out.

After all, professional matters should be left to the professionals.

…

Things progressed more smoothly than Wang Ye had anticipated. The very next day, as he was resting in his San Francisco hotel room, Milner burst in excitedly.

“Boss, I just got a call from Tim Cook. The board has approved the stock expansion and financing plan!”

It seemed that after Wang Ye and his group left the night before, Apple Inc. had hastily convened a board meeting.

This also showed how dire Apple Inc.’s situation was—they were desperate for funding to save themselves!

Since that was the case, Wang Ye didn’t hesitate. He nodded and instructed, “Good. Work with them to arrange a time in the next couple of days to finalize the paperwork and transfer the funds. Our goal for this trip isn’t just Apple Inc. We still have over three hundred million dollars left, which should be enough to invest in one or two more companies.”

Wang Ye had two more targets in mind: Amazon and Google!

Both were pure internet companies. After last year’s internet winter, their market values and valuations had plummeted to rock bottom.

Amazon’s market value had dropped significantly, but it was still high—around seven to eight billion dollars.

Google hadn’t gone public yet, but as the search engine with the highest market share in America, its valuation was clearly not low either.

Wang Ye wasn’t set on acquiring these two companies. His main target was still Apple Inc.

After ensuring he could secure as many Apple Inc. shares as possible, he would consider Amazon and Google.

Now that he had become Apple Inc.’s largest shareholder and still had plenty of funds left, he could start thinking about investing in Amazon and Google.

After all, if he could get shares in both companies, the return on investment would be astonishing!

When it came to making money, you could never have too much.

…

Wang Ye had indeed chosen the right person in Milner.

He had spent many years in America’s financial industry, and even though he later returned to Russia to develop his career, he still had a wide network of connections there.

With Milner’s help and Wang Ye’s impeccable timing, the plan to invest in Google was quickly finalized.

They invested two hundred million dollars, securing a five percent stake in the pre-IPO Google.

At this point, Google’s valuation had reached four billion dollars!

This was during the internet winter. Otherwise, the valuation would have likely exceeded ten billion dollars.

Wang Ye also knew that three years later, on the day Google went public, the company’s market value would soar to forty billion dollars!

After investing in Google, there wasn’t much money left, so there was no need to discuss financing or stock expansion with Amazon. Wang Ye instructed Milner to simply buy some Amazon shares on the secondary market.

With the main business in America completed, Wang Ye and his group prepared to return to Russia.

But on the night before their departure, an unexpected incident occurred…

Chapter 336: Heaven and Hell

“Misha, we’ve been in San Francisco for so long and haven’t gone out to explore. Finally, we have some free time today. Come out with me for a bit,” Katya pleaded, tugging at Wang Ye’s arm in the evening.

Indeed, since arriving in America, every day had been packed with meetings with Apple and Google or discussions in the hotel. They had been swamped with work.

Although San Francisco was a bustling city, they hadn’t had the chance to go out and see it.

Katya had been very understanding, accompanying Wang Ye on his busy schedule, playing the role of a “flower vase” these past few days.

Wang Ye smiled and readily agreed, “Alright, let’s not eat at the hotel tonight. We can go to the mall in the city center, buy some things, and have dinner.”

Their hotel was located in the heart of San Francisco, just a short walk from the busiest commercial district.

So, they didn’t bother calling for a hotel car. Wang Ye, Katya, Seryosha, and another bodyguard set out on foot.

As for Milner and the others, they certainly didn’t have time for shopping. They were still busy with various programming issues.

…

Leaving the hotel and passing through a small alley, they arrived at the bustling commercial area. Malls, restaurants, bars, and various shopping and entertainment facilities were everywhere, making it quite lively.

It had to be said that America’s population was much larger than Russia’s, with over three hundred million people.

Russia, on the other hand, had only about one hundred and forty million.

San Francisco was one of the more important cities in California. Although its population wasn’t large, less than one million, the population density was quite high.

Additionally, the city had a diverse mix of ethnic groups. People of all skin colors could be seen, with a significant number of Chinese-Russians.

Wang Ye and his group didn’t stand out as they walked down the street.

Arriving at the most upscale mall in the area, they spent half the day browsing with Katya but didn’t buy anything.

Wang Ye, who was getting tired from all the walking, smiled and asked, “Why just look and not buy anything? You don’t need to save money for me. Buy whatever you like.”

Given his current wealth, saying such things was quite modest…

Buying clothes or bags was like a drizzle to him.

Katya smiled brightly and happily replied, “No need to buy. Anything we need can be bought in Moscow. Shopping is about the experience, not the buying. You don’t understand us girls.”

Well, Wang Ye didn’t understand. He rarely went shopping.

Whenever he went to a mall, it was because he needed something. He would go straight to his target, pick it, buy it, and leave…

He didn’t understand the fun in walking around until your legs were sore and not buying anything, like Katya.

After some thought, Wang Ye said, “Actually, I do have some things to buy. After all, we came all the way to America. We should buy some gifts to take back.”

Wang Ye was thinking that he hadn’t given gifts to people like Khovansky, Gebrev, Aby, or even the great emperor.

Although these people probably didn’t care about gifts, it was a matter of social etiquette. Giving gifts was better than not giving any, and it could increase “goodwill.”

Hearing that Wang Ye wanted to buy gifts, Katya perked up. She enthusiastically suggested, “Are you planning to give them to men or women?”

“Well, mostly men, but we can also buy some gifts for women. Like you and Alyona, I haven’t given you any gifts yet. Pick something for yourself later. Consider it a gift from me. You’ve been running around with me these past few days. It’s been tough on you,” Wang Ye replied.

Katya’s gaze softened as she looked at Wang Ye.

Girls like her lived by “attaching” themselves to a powerful man.

It could even be said that their “master” could completely determine their fate!

Some girls were less fortunate, ending up with old, overweight men. Once they were “played out,” their fate was quite tragic.

Fortunately, she was lucky to have met Wang Ye, a young, handsome, wealthy, generous, and romantic man…

“That… buying so many gifts will take a while,” Katya said softly.

Wang Ye casually replied, “No need. One store will do. Earlier, when we were shopping, I saw a Patek Philippe watch store on the first floor of the mall. Buying several watches will be suitable for both men and women!”

He was just trying to make things easier…

But Patek Philippe watches were indeed very suitable for Wang Ye to give as gifts.

The prestige and price were there. Giving them to anyone wouldn’t seem cheap, and the recipients could use them, collect them, or even regift them.

Moreover, Wang Ye was indeed too lazy to visit many stores and pick out gifts for each person!

…

On the first floor, near the mall’s entrance, there were two rows of luxury brands: LV, Hermès, Chanel, and more.

There were also famous watch and jewelry brands like Cartier, Rolex, and Patek Philippe.

As for watches, Wang Ye only knew Patek Philippe and Rolex. In his previous life, he hadn’t had the money to play with watches…

The store was decorated with dark brown mahogany and large crystal glass, giving it a very stylish look. Through the transparent display windows, it was clear that there weren’t many people inside, or almost none.

After all, watches at this price point were indeed unaffordable for most people. It was normal for the store to be empty…

At the entrance stood a tall and handsome young man in a well-fitted suit and white gloves. Seeing Wang Ye and Katya approaching, he immediately flashed a bright smile, bent down to open the store door for them, and welcomed them in.

Seryosha and the other bodyguard didn’t come in.

They found a place near the mall’s entrance where they could smoke, keeping an eye on the Patek Philippe store. If anything happened, they could rush over immediately.

Actually, America wasn’t that chaotic, especially in such high-end malls, where police patrols were frequent.

In America, the divide between rich and poor was extremely severe. In wealthy areas, the scenery was picturesque, and life was peaceful. The people living there were refined, polite, and well-mannered.

In Black neighborhoods or poor areas, however, it was dilapidated, with rampant gambling, drugs, and crime. At night, even the police didn’t dare to patrol there, nor did they want to. After all, these areas didn’t pay enough taxes…

There was a line from a TV show that said it well: “If you love someone, send them to New York, because it’s heaven there; if you hate someone, also send them to New York, because it’s hell there!”

It wasn’t just New York; the whole of America was like this.

Clearly, for the rich, it was heaven!

For the poor, it was hell…

Chapter 337: Like a Nouveau Riche

For Wang Ye, America was neither heaven nor hell, and he had no intention of settling here.

He knew he might still have a chance to integrate into Russia’s upper echelons, where bloodline purity wasn’t a concern—just look at the past few leaders.

But he would never fit into America’s elite circles. On the surface, it was an open immigrant nation, attracting talent from all over the world, but in reality, it was dominated by Anglo-Saxons and Jews, and was extremely conservative!

The only significance this place held for him was perhaps the opportunity to make money…

…

As they entered the store, a middle-aged sales associate immediately approached.

In these high-end watch boutiques, especially in Europe and America, the sales staff weren’t like the young, beautiful women in Chanel or Hermès. These luxury watch stores preferred older male associates. This one was in his forties.

“Sir, madam, how may I assist you today?” the man asked with a smile.

Internally, he was already speculating about the identities and purchasing power of the young couple before him…

Sales associates, especially seasoned ones, had a sharp eye. They could usually tell at a glance whether a customer was genuinely interested and what their spending level might be.

The young man and woman before him were both in their early twenties, seemingly a couple. The man appeared to be of Asian descent, while the woman had golden hair and blue eyes, looking more European.

As for why he could tell she wasn’t American—well, American women often had rougher skin and freckles…

This woman’s skin was as smooth and flawless as porcelain, something rarely seen in America.

But no matter how beautiful the woman was, it didn’t concern him. In this line of work, he saw all kinds of customers, and beautiful women were common.

What mattered more was the one paying—and usually, that was the man…

After just a couple of glances, the associate concluded that this young man was genuinely wealthy!

It wasn’t about his clothes—it was his demeanor.

Most people, even those with some spending power, would be somewhat restrained when entering a Patek Philippe boutique. They knew that even the cheapest watch here could cost several months’ or even years’ salary.

Whether they were just browsing or had saved up for years to buy an entry-level Patek, they would be tense, and an experienced salesperson could spot it instantly.

Of course, there was another type of customer—those who walked in as if they owned the place, as casually as if they were grabbing breakfast downstairs.

There was no doubt—such people had extremely high spending power.

For them, buying a Patek Philippe was as easy as ordering a cup of coffee.

And the young man before him had exactly that demeanor…

…

Hearing the associate’s greeting, Wang Ye casually said, “Do you have all the styles? I want to buy a few watches as gifts.”

Hearing “a few,” the associate’s smile grew even brighter.

“Of course! Ours is the largest Patek Philippe flagship store in California. We have all kinds of styles, though some rare models might not be available.”

Wang Ye wasn’t interested in rare models. He wasn’t a collector—just some high-end styles would suffice for gifts.

“So, let’s see the men’s watches first. Complicated ones, with a moon phase function, right?”

The associate’s grin widened even more. Patek Philippe’s complicated watches were anything but cheap—tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of dollars!

“Right this way, sir. These are our men’s watches.”

Approaching the glass display on the left, Wang Ye bent down, then pointed. “This one, this one… and those three over there.”

In one go, he selected six or seven styles. Any watch that caught his eye, he pointed at—price wasn’t a concern.

The associate had already put on white gloves, preparing to take out the watches for Wang Ye to try on.

But before he could even touch them, Wang Ye waved his hand. “No need to take them out. Just wrap them up. I’ll take all of these. Oh, that one’s nice—take it out. I’ll wear it. I wasn’t wearing a watch anyway.”

He pointed to one of the watches—a platinum-cased piece with an alligator strap and a moon phase function. It looked elegant.

Perfect for Wang Ye’s style.

The middle-aged associate maintained his composure, but his hands trembled slightly. The watches Wang Ye had casually pointed at were among the most expensive in the store, totaling nearly a million dollars!

A million dollars sounded light, but for anyone—even the wealthiest Americans—it was an astronomical figure.

“Of course, sir. I’ll take it out for you right away.”

The associate quickly retrieved the watch Wang Ye had indicated and carefully helped him put it on.

Wang Ye raised his wrist, admired it, and nodded in satisfaction.

“Alright, that’s enough for the men’s. Now, let’s pick a few women’s watches—something simple. Bring me five… no, ten. Katya, go take a look and help pick them out.”

He didn’t even bother selecting them himself—he just had Katya do it. After all, women knew women’s tastes better.

Why buy more women’s watches? Because when Wang Ye thought about it, he realized he had more women to give gifts to than men.

Katya, Alyona, Ruan Xiaozhu, and Nalan Yaqi were definite. Natalia, Nova, and Wang Dan would depend on the situation.

Plus, he might go back to China for the New Year—his mother would definitely need a gift.

Adding it all up, he might need ten or so watches…

…

In just ten minutes, Wang Ye had selected eighteen watches. At checkout, he swiped his card—nearly two million dollars gone in an instant!

Good thing his card had no limit.

His behavior might have seemed like that of a “nouveau riche,” but in truth, when you were as wealthy as he was, this was just “returning to simplicity, acting naturally…”

Chapter 338: Conflict Arises

After paying by card and signing the receipt, Wang Ye naturally didn’t carry all the watches he had bought with him.

These watches, though not large themselves, came in outrageously large packaging! Most were wrapped in precious hardwood and genuine calfskin leather, making the boxes heavy and bulky.

Nearly twenty watches meant a huge stack of boxes when piled together. Since they were about to go for dinner, they didn’t want to carry them around.

So, Wang Ye left the address of their hotel and had the store deliver the items directly there.

As they left the Patek Philippe store, Katya kept admiring the watch on her wrist—the one Wang Ye had just gifted her, worth over ninety thousand US dollars!

Wang Ye smiled and asked, “Are you satisfied with this gift?”

Katya beamed, grabbing his arm. “This watch is beautiful. I love it.”

“Let’s go eat. I saw a Chinese seafood restaurant earlier. Let’s try some Chinese cuisine!” Wang Ye nodded.

San Francisco had a significant Chinese-Russian population, so there were plenty of Chinese restaurants. The ones in the city center were likely more authentic.

This was far better than Moscow, where the Chinese restaurants were truly subpar.

Katya had no objections and immediately agreed.

Seryosha and the others caught up, asking, “Boss, are you done shopping?”

He hadn’t seen Wang Ye carrying anything, so he curiously asked.

“Yeah, I had them deliver everything to the hotel. Let’s go eat now. Seryosha, and Shergin, you two aren’t allergic to seafood, right?” Wang Ye asked.

Shergin was another bodyguard, young—just over twenty—and a bit shy, not much of a talker.

“Not allergic. I can eat anything!” Seryosha grinned.

Shergin just shook his head without saying a word.

…

They arrived at a large seafood restaurant outside the mall and booked a private room, ordering a full table of dishes.

Wang Ye specifically ordered two bottles of wine—one bottle of dry white wine for himself and Katya, and one bottle of Moutai for Seryosha and Shergin.

In his past life, he had lived in Pengcheng, a southern city where seafood was a staple. He was quite familiar with the etiquette of eating seafood—white wine or white grape wine was best, not beer or whiskey.

After a satisfying meal, they paid the bill and left the restaurant. It was already past nine in the evening.

The streetlights flickered on, and the pedestrians had thinned out.

“Shall we head back to the hotel?” Wang Ye asked with a smile.

But Katya didn’t seem ready to call it a night. She tugged at his arm, pleading, “Let’s go to a nightclub and dance for a bit. It’s been so long since I last went.”

Glancing at the time, it wasn’t too late. Though Wang Ye wasn’t particularly interested in nightclubs, since Katya wanted to go, he agreed.

After all, they were flying back to Russia tomorrow. Staying up late tonight wouldn’t be a problem—he could sleep on the plane.

“Alright, we passed by an alley earlier that seemed to have quite a few bars and nightclubs. Let’s check it out?” Wang Ye suggested.

So, the four of them headed toward that alley, which was also on the way back to the hotel.

Sure enough, the alley that had seemed quiet in the evening was now lit up with neon lights, transforming into a vibrant, bustling strip.

Many establishments had hosts or hostesses at their entrances, greeting customers.

Wang Ye and his group deliberately chose a nightclub that looked larger and more luxurious before stepping inside.

This was America, not Moscow, and they didn’t want to end up in some seedy place. A high-end nightclub would be much safer.

…

The nightclub they picked was indeed one of the most famous in San Francisco. As they entered, they found themselves in a whole new world.

A massive space filled with blaring music, the DJ’s shouts, and waves of sound crashing over them.

Guided by a server, they took a semi-open luxury booth.

As soon as they sat down, Katya eagerly pulled Wang Ye toward the dance floor.

The dance floor was packed with people—countless handsome men and beautiful women moving to the music.

Of course, beauty was subjective.

The moment Katya stepped onto the dance floor, she unknowingly became the center of attention!

Eastern Europe was known for its beautiful women, and Katya was the cream of the crop. Her looks and figure perfectly matched Western beauty standards.

San Francisco wasn’t exactly a major metropolis—places like Los Angeles or New York might have had more beautiful women.

But here, Katya stood out like a crane among chickens…

Whether singing or dancing, Katya was a professional. Wang Ye, on the other hand, was just average. He stood near the booth, holding a bottle of beer, swaying slightly but not dancing with Katya.

Seryosha and Shergin remained seated in the booth, each with a beer, occasionally scanning their surroundings vigilantly.

Nightclubs were complex environments, filled with all sorts of people. They had to stay alert and be ready to protect their boss at any moment.

…

Just as Katya became the focal point of the entire club, an unexpected incident occurred.

Wang Ye was sipping his beer and looking around when he heard a girl’s startled cry—it was Katya’s voice.

He turned to see her furious, swinging her arm and slapping a chubby Black man across the face with a loud smack.

The dance floor immediately erupted into chaos as people scattered, clearing a space for the two.

Wang Ye frowned and stepped forward.

Seryosha and Shergin, who had been sitting in the booth, quickly followed.

“What happened?” Wang Ye asked.

Katya’s face was flushed—whether from the heat of dancing or anger, it was hard to tell.

She pointed at the chubby Black man and said, “He… he just harassed me!”

Wang Ye immediately understood. He turned to the man.

The guy wasn’t very tall—around 1.8 meters—but he was heavy, at least two hundred pounds!

He stood there like a barrel, his belly protruding.

His head was covered in dirty dreadlocks, and a thick gold chain hung around his neck. On his right hand, which was rubbing his face, were several large gold rings…

His arms, exposed by his short-sleeved T-shirt, were covered in tattoos!

Perhaps because he was so fat, the slap from Katya didn’t seem to affect him at all. His face didn’t even redden.

Of course, with his skin tone, even if it had, no one would have noticed.

“Hey, little girl, do you know who you just hit? This isn’t over. Unless, of course, you want to apologize to me. Then we can talk,” the chubby man grinned, revealing his large white teeth.

Chapter 339: Crisis

Before he knew it, several black men with unfriendly expressions had gathered behind the fat man.

They were all dressed in hip-hop style—dirty dreadlocks, nose rings, lip piercings, sagging pants, and chains—looking like a chaotic mob.

Wang Ye couldn’t back down when his girlfriend was being bullied. Not to mention, given his current status, how could he swallow this insult?

Honestly, this was only happening in America. If it were in Moscow, Wang Ye would make sure these people never saw the sun again…

“Fatso, if you apologize to this lady right now, we can let this go. Otherwise…” Wang Ye said, narrowing his eyes.

This kind of situation was the most troublesome, especially in a foreign country.

Wang Ye couldn’t just go and beat them half to death. If he did, they probably wouldn’t be able to return to Russia and might end up in an American jail for a while.

But as a man, he couldn’t back down now.

So Wang Ye thought of smoothing things over first, calming the situation, and then figuring out how to retaliate later.

If he did retaliate, it would have to wait until he left San Francisco and returned to Moscow before sending someone over…

He couldn’t afford to get involved in legal trouble.

……

Wang Ye’s English wasn’t great to begin with—just enough for basic daily conversation.

So when he spoke up to confront the fat man, his English wasn’t very fluent.

Plus, since Katya was speaking to him in Russian, the fat man immediately realized they weren’t Americans.

Judging by his appearance, the young man confronting him was probably Asian, but the girl’s origins were unclear—maybe European.

Though his English wasn’t perfect, the fat man roughly understood what Wang Ye was saying.

He smirked. “Yellow pig, go back to your country and eat bananas! This is my turf. Believe me, I’ll strip you naked, break your legs, and toss you out on the street.”

That was unacceptable.

Wang Ye didn’t say a word. He just waved his hand, and Seryosha and Shergin lunged forward.

Before the fat man could react, Seryosha kicked him square in the chest with a powerful blow. A dull thud echoed as the man flew backward.

Luckily, his lackeys were standing behind him and caught him in time.

But that kick must have been brutal—the fat man nearly passed out, his eyes rolling back.

Seeing them fight, the onlookers cheered excitedly.

Whistles, shouts, and even encouragement filled the air.

“Nice! That kick was awesome, handsome!”

“Fight! Keep going! Beat that fat bastard to death!”

“Whoa! So intense!”

After steadying the fat man, his lackeys charged forward.

Wang Ye pulled Katya back a few steps while Seryosha and Shergin held the front.

Wang Ye wasn’t too worried about the situation.

Judging by their builds, none of them looked like they could fight. Seryosha and Shergin should be able to handle them easily.

……

Just as tensions were rising, a group of tall security guards rushed in, separating both sides.

Clearly, they were the nightclub’s security—some white, some black, but all imposing.

After all, nightclub security had to be able to control the situation.

They stepped in to stop the fight, which was normal. This wasn’t some small bar where brawls could be ignored.

So both sides stopped.

“Don’t cause trouble in the club! If you have a problem, take it outside. Now, both of you come with me,” the lead security guard said to Wang Ye and the fat man.

They were going to take them to a quiet place to settle things.

The club couldn’t afford to stop business because of their conflict, so Wang Ye understood and nodded, following the guards through the crowd toward the exit.

The fat man and his crew followed lazily.

But instead of heading to an office, they went out the back door.

As they reached the doorway, the fat man leaned toward Wang Ye and whispered threateningly, “Kid, you’re dead today.”

Wang Ye just smiled and ignored him.

If it wasn’t their fault, they could always call the police. It shouldn’t be too much trouble.

……

It was probably past ten at night. The back alley had no streetlights—just a dim, flickering bulb above the door.

“Rashawn, this is your show. Take it easy, don’t kill anyone. That’ll be trouble,” the head guard suddenly said to the fat man.

His voice was low and muffled.

Wang Ye and his group didn’t catch what they were saying—their English wasn’t that good.

But what happened next made them realize something was wrong…

The guards pulled the back door shut, locking it from the inside with a clang!

The fat man and his crew bared their teeth and advanced.

At the same time, they pulled out knives and chains from somewhere.

No need to ask—the guards and the fat man’s crew were in on this together.

They had deliberately lured Wang Ye’s group outside to a secluded spot so the fat man’s crew could attack without witnesses.

Shergin, young and hot-headed, stepped forward without hesitation. “Seryosha, protect the boss and get them out of here. I’ll hold them off!”

Seryosha didn’t hesitate.

The situation was critical—he didn’t know if the other side had real weapons, so protecting the boss was the top priority.

His eyes scanned the area. At the other end of the alley, there seemed to be a main road—he could see lights.

Both he and Shergin pulled out their telescopic batons.

They couldn’t carry real weapons in America, but basic security gear like batons was allowed.

And their batons weren’t ordinary civilian models—they were police-grade, more than enough to handle knives and chains.

As Shergin engaged the group of black men, Seryosha suddenly leaped and smashed the hanging bulb with his baton.

The alley plunged into darkness. Then Seryosha shouted, “Boss, run left!”

Wang Ye and Katya didn’t have time to think—they followed Seryosha’s lead and bolted down the alley.

A wise man doesn’t stand under a crumbling wall. He wasn’t about to risk his life in America fighting a bunch of thugs.

But as he ran, Wang Ye gritted his teeth, swearing that once he was safe, he would make sure these bastards paid…

Chapter 340: Gunfire Erupts

Wang Ye and the others were sprinting with their heads down when they heard angry shouts and the sounds of a struggle behind them—the dull thuds of weapons striking flesh and cries of alarm. Among the noise, they could make out a few familiar curses of “Sukabure…”

Clearly, Shergin was the one shouting.

At that moment, Wang Ye regretted being so careless.

He had thought their trip to America would only last a few days, and once their business was done, they would return. Besides, this was a developed country—most places weren’t that chaotic. As long as they were a little careful, everything would be fine. So, he hadn’t given much thought to security.

Seryosha and the others were Russians, so they couldn’t legally carry firearms in America. They could handle ordinary situations, but in a real crisis, relying solely on their combat skills was far from enough.

After all, they were just ordinary people—not martial arts masters, let alone superheroes.

When faced with a larger, armed group, they were bound to be overwhelmed and could get hurt.

If he had arranged for Milner to hire a local security company in advance—one that could legally carry firearms—this night wouldn’t have been so desperate.

But now, regret was useless.

Wang Ye and the others sprinted to the end of the alley. Looking up, they saw the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, where they were staying, not far ahead.

“Alright, I’ll call Milner to report to the police, then Katya and I will head straight back to the hotel. You go help Shergin—he can’t take on that many alone.” Wang Ye stopped, catching his breath as he hurriedly instructed them.

With that, he pulled out his phone to call Milner.

As for why he didn’t call the police himself—it was because his English wasn’t good enough. He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to explain the situation clearly and would only waste time.

Seryosha nodded and was just about to turn back into the alley when he heard a sharp crack from within.

His hair stood on end. As an experienced soldier, he recognized the sound—it was gunfire!

He grabbed Wang Ye’s arm urgently. “Boss, let’s go! It’s dangerous—they’re shooting!”

Besides Shergin and those few thugs, there shouldn’t have been anyone else in the alley. And Seryosha knew full well that Shergin wasn’t armed. So who had fired the shot?

When Wang Ye first heard the gunshot, he froze, not immediately processing what had happened.

But Seryosha’s grip snapped him back to reality. Instead of running, he urgently said, “Shergin’s still in there—what if something happens to him? We have to find a way to save him!”

Seryosha shook his head and, without another word, pulled Wang Ye and Katya toward the hotel. After a few steps, he finally spoke. “He’ll handle it himself. If he can’t, then going back won’t help—it’ll only make things worse. Now that guns are involved, the three of us would just be a burden.”

Then, several more bangs echoed from the alley.

Seryosha stumbled, nearly falling, but he kept his head down, his eyes welling up as he continued dragging Wang Ye toward the hotel.

He had a sinking feeling—Shergin was probably in serious trouble.

By now, Wang Ye’s mood had grown heavy. He had a rough idea of what was happening in the alley.

Gritting his teeth, he didn’t say anything, but he had already made up his mind.

If Shergin really didn’t make it, those thugs from tonight—and even those security guards—wouldn’t get off lightly. Blood debts had to be paid in blood!

…

Fortunately, the hotel wasn’t far. In just three or four minutes, the three of them had made it back.

As soon as they entered the lobby, Wang Ye didn’t rush upstairs. Instead, he called Milner and the translator, urging them to come down immediately. His tone was urgent.

He didn’t have time to explain what had happened over the phone.

Before long, Milner and the translator hurried down in the elevator and quickly approached Wang Ye. “Boss, what happened?”

“We were attacked at the nightclub. Shergin stayed behind to hold them off—he’s probably… in serious trouble. Call the police right away. Hopefully, it’s not too late.” Wang Ye’s voice was heavy.

Milner and the translator were startled. They immediately pulled out their phones, dialing the police as they asked Wang Ye where it had happened.

The call connected quickly. Milner explained the situation, and the police responded promptly, saying they would dispatch officers immediately.

Since this was downtown, there should have been plenty of patrol cars nearby. Sure enough, not long after hanging up, the wail of police sirens could be heard outside.

“We should go take a look too. They might need statements later,” Wang Ye said.

Accompanied by Seryosha, Milner, and the others, they retraced their steps back to the dark alley where the incident had taken place.

As soon as they arrived, they saw that the police had already cordoned off the alley, with police tape stretched across the entrance.

When the officers saw Wang Ye’s group approaching, they eyed them warily, their hands resting on their holsters.

Milner quickly raised his hands and stepped forward to explain the situation.

Hearing that these were the victims who had called the police, and seeing that they were all well-dressed and didn’t look like troublemakers, the officers relaxed slightly.

However, they didn’t let them enter. Instead, the officer said sternly, “Come with me to the station. We’ll need to take your statements. There’s no need to go inside.”

Wang Ye’s heart sank. He quickly asked in English, “What about my friend?”

It was clear he was referring to Shergin.

The officer shook his head. “There’s a body inside—shot dead. The shooter’s already fled. That person… is probably your friend.”

Wang Ye and the others stood frozen, unable to believe it.

Shergin, that quiet young man, was just… gone?

Katya covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face. She was the one who felt the most guilty.

After all, it was she who had suggested going to the nightclub. The conflict there had been because of her. Now, Shergin’s death was undoubtedly connected to her.

Seryosha’s eyes widened, his teeth grinding audibly, the muscles in his cheeks twitching as his fists clenched until his knuckles turned white.

He felt powerless.

This wasn’t their territory. If this had happened in Moscow, things would have been different.

Because back there, Wagner had the manpower and the firepower!

Wang Ye was the first to speak. “Officer, let us go in and take a look. We need to confirm if it’s really our friend. Maybe it’s not him…”

Though Wang Ye knew in his heart that a miracle was unlikely, he still clung to a sliver of hope.

Shergin had stayed behind to save him—he had taken the bullet meant for him!

As long as there was even the slightest chance, Wang Ye wasn’t willing to give up!

Chapter 341: Too Frustrating

Hearing their words, the police officer hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Alright, but only two of you can go in. The rest will have to wait here.”

Wang Ye and Seryosha entered the alley together. Inside, floodlights illuminated the scene, and a group of police officers were busy with something.

Near the back door of the nightclub, a body covered with a white sheet could faintly be seen lying on the ground.

The officer who had brought Wang Ye and the others over said a few words before waving them forward. He then lifted the white sheet.

Wang Ye took one look and immediately shut his eyes tightly.

He couldn’t bear to look any longer…

Seryosha, on the other hand, had calmed down. He stared fiercely at Shergin’s bullet-riddled body lying on the ground for a long time.

Only after the police asked several times whether the man on the ground was his friend did Seryosha nod and confirm that he was.

With that, it was settled.

The group of black men had already fled, and after Wang Ye reported the incident to the police through Milner, the nightclub’s security personnel were also taken to the police station to give statements.

The lawyers hired by the subsidiary had also arrived at the police station. With them present, the police treated Wang Ye and the others quite courteously.

After all, in America, money meant status!

After recounting the situation, they were allowed to return to the hotel. From then on, it was the police’s responsibility, and they only needed to wait for further notice.

Wang Ye felt that this matter shouldn’t be too difficult to handle.

It was clear that the nightclub’s security knew those black men. As long as the security personnel identified them, the police could go and arrest them directly.

…

By the time they returned to the hotel, it was already late at night.

But Wang Ye didn’t have time to sleep. Instead, he pulled Milner and the company’s lawyer into another meeting.

Since Wang Ye had to return to Moscow the next day, he couldn’t stay there indefinitely. Therefore, Shergin’s matter had to be left to Milner and the lawyer to handle.

Wang Ye had only one request: no matter the cost, he wanted those black men found!

However, America didn’t have the death penalty, so no matter how many years they were sentenced to, it wouldn’t be enough to satisfy Wang Ye’s desire for vengeance.

But regardless, they had to find those people first and put them behind bars.

As for what happened afterward—whether they could find a way or use some channels to have those murderers killed in prison—that was a matter for later…

After the meeting, as Wang Ye was about to go to sleep, Seryosha knocked on the door and entered.

“Boss, I want to stay behind…” he said.

Although he didn’t specify what he intended to do, Wang Ye immediately understood. He interrupted Seryosha, saying, “No! Whatever you’re thinking, we’ll discuss it after we return to Moscow. What can you do alone here?”

Clearly, Seryosha intended to take matters into his own hands and avenge Shergin!

He didn’t trust the American police and wasn’t satisfied with those black men just being sent to prison.

Seryosha wanted them to pay with their blood!

But the problem was, if he stayed behind alone, he was in unfamiliar territory, a foreign land, and his language skills weren’t good enough.

So Wang Ye didn’t approve of his idea.

Wang Ye believed that no matter the outcome, everyone should return to Moscow first. Once they were back on their own turf, they could see what results the American police provided and then discuss how to seek revenge.

Whether it meant paying to hire local gangsters or sending their own people over, it would be much safer and more controlled.

Seryosha could be impulsive, but Wang Ye couldn’t…

Killing a few people wasn’t difficult, but the challenge was doing it without getting caught and avoiding trouble.

If he acted impulsively and ended up in a shootout with those black men, only to be arrested by the police, that would be a complete joke and would make the great emperor, Gebrev, and Khovansky look down on him…

This didn’t mean Wang Ye was heartless and didn’t want to avenge Shergin. It was just that he carried too many responsibilities!

Too many people depended on him for their livelihood. He had to be responsible for everyone, so he couldn’t act recklessly.

After Wang Ye stopped him, Seryosha realized he had been impulsive. He also believed that Wang Ye wouldn’t just let it go. He trusted Wang Ye.

He nodded and said heavily, “Alright, then we’ll go back first. But if we send our own people to take revenge, I want to be there! I want to tear those bastards apart with my own hands!”

By the end, Seryosha was grinding his teeth as he spoke each word.

…

The next morning, as Wang Ye and the others were about to leave for the airport, they received a call from the lawyer.

The lawyer had gone to the police station early that morning to gather information.

After hanging up, Milner’s expression wasn’t good. He looked at Wang Ye and said, “The nightclub’s security personnel didn’t say anything. When they gave their statements at the police station, they claimed they didn’t know those black men at all. They only saw your two groups fighting in the nightclub and kicked you all out. They didn’t know what happened afterward.”

Clearly, the nightclub’s security and those black men were in cahoots, and they had given false statements!

But the problem was, if they didn’t admit it, there was nothing you could do. You could only rely on the police.

After hearing Milner’s words, Wang Ye only gave a cold smile. He didn’t ask any further questions but simply waved his hand and said, “Let’s go to the airport. We’ll talk about it when we get back.”

This time, only Wang Ye, Katya, and Seryosha were returning.

They had come with four people, but only three were going back…

Milner and the others had to stay a little longer. First, the process of investing in Apple and Google wasn’t complete, and second, they needed to follow up on Shergin’s case.

…

The journey was silent. None of the three had the mood to talk, and since they had gone to bed very late the night before, Wang Ye fell asleep as soon as he boarded the plane.

When he woke up, they were almost in Moscow.

Anton was there to pick them up.

He must have received Seryosha’s notification and knew something had happened, so when he picked up Wang Ye, his expression was grave.

Wang Ye sat in the back seat of the large G-class Mercedes, while Anton took the passenger seat.

The convoy set off, speeding toward the security base. Only then did Wang Ye let out a long sigh.

It felt so good to be back on his own turf!

In America, he had been utterly frustrated, watching someone close to him get shot and killed right in front of him, yet he couldn’t do anything about it.

Even his own life had been threatened!

And the ones responsible were just a few petty thugs, at most a small black gang…

“Boss, we all know about Shergin. Colonel Andelov has also returned from Siberia. We… must avenge Shergin!” Anton said through gritted teeth.

Chapter 342: The Black Devil Legion

“Let’s talk about this back at the base. This matter won’t just end like this,” Wang Ye said grimly.

The convoy drove back to the security base in silence. Wang Ye told Katya to rest while he, Seryosha, Anton, and Andelov went to the meeting room.

After closing the door, the four sat down. Seryosha recounted what had happened in San Francisco to Anton and Andelov, as they were unaware of many details.

Upon hearing about Shergin’s gruesome death, Anton clenched his fist and slammed it on the table with a dull thud. Andelov remained calm, though his brow furrowed.

“What’s the local police’s stance on this?” Andelov asked.

At this, Seryosha grew even more displeased. “I don’t think they even bothered to investigate properly. The nightclub security clearly knew those black thugs, but they lied in their statements, saying they didn’t. Such obvious false testimony, yet the local police didn’t even verify it.”

This was understandable. After all, America’s law and order was chaotic. With so many people dying mysteriously every day, the police didn’t have the time or energy to solve every case. Their main job was just to maintain order, and even then, only in wealthy areas…

As for a foreigner getting into a conflict with a gang and being beaten to death, in their eyes, it wasn’t even worth noting. Too common. They didn’t even have time for their own citizens dying every day…

So Shergin’s case would likely be dropped. But none of that mattered, because Wang Ye and his men hadn’t been counting on the San Francisco police in the first place. They intended to take revenge themselves!

The fact that the police hadn’t locked up those gang members actually made it easier for them to act.

…

“Forget the police. We can’t rely on them. We’ll handle this ourselves, but going to America might complicate things with the paperwork,” Wang Ye said decisively.

Anton and Seryosha both turned to Andelov. This kind of cross-border “operation” wasn’t their specialty, but Andelov was an expert.

Andelov didn’t disappoint. After a moment’s thought, he asked, “Boss, how do you want to take revenge? Bring them back or deal with them on the spot?”

Andelov didn’t even ask about punishment. Those black thugs had only one possible fate—death. The only difference might be how they died…

Seryosha looked at Wang Ye nervously, afraid he might suddenly show mercy.

Wang Ye thought for a moment before saying, “Deal with them on the spot. Bringing them back is too much trouble, and things could go wrong on the way. After all, this is for Shergin’s revenge, but I want those black thugs to pay a heavy price. And those security guards—none of them can be spared! Don’t let them die too easily.”

Since his rebirth, Wang Ye hadn’t killed anyone with his own hands, but under his orders, two murders had already taken place.

The first was the Gokhso gang. Wang Ye had ordered Anton and the others to take out the gang leader, Lokayev, and his cousin. However, they hadn’t tortured the two brothers, giving them a quick death instead.

The second was the revenge on the Lyublino boss. Though many had died that time, they had all been given a quick death. Many hadn’t even realized what was happening before they met their end…

These two incidents showed that Wang Ye wasn’t a bloodthirsty man and wouldn’t engage in torture. He had his limits.

But this time, Wang Ye was truly furious. He had seen with his own eyes how horribly Shergin had died. And Shergin had lost his life saving him.

Though it was Shergin’s duty as a bodyguard, Wang Ye didn’t want him to die with regrets…

…

Hearing Wang Ye’s words, Seryosha finally relaxed. He gritted his teeth and said, “The boss is right! We must make those bastards pay. They can’t die too easily.”

Andelov nodded. “In that case, I have the right people for this job. They’re perfect for it!”

Seryosha was taken aback and quickly asked, “Aren’t we sending our own people? I want to go and kill those sons of bitches with my own hands!”

Anton said, “Seryosha, don’t be impulsive. Listen to the boss and the colonel!”

Wang Ye asked, “The right people? We have plenty here who could do this. Are they the new recruits you’ve been bringing in, Andelov?”

He assumed Andelov had been expanding the team, recruiting many real special forces veterans. He probably wanted to send them.

But Andelov shook his head. “No, this isn’t something our people should handle. And you want it done ruthlessly. Our men are ex-soldiers—they can kill, but torture… they might not be able to do it. But I know a group that specializes in this kind of thing.”

The three of them were curious. What kind of ruthless people could make even Andelov admit he was no match?

“Andon and Seryosha must have heard of the Black Devil Legion from Chechnya. That’s who I’m talking about,” Andelov said calmly.

Wang Ye noticed that when Anton and Seryosha heard “Black Devil Legion,” their facial muscles twitched, and their pupils dilated. Clearly, they were shocked.

“What’s the Black Devil Legion? Are they famous? But aren’t Russia and Chechnya at odds? How do you know them?” Wang Ye didn’t understand.

Andelov shook his head and explained, “Boss, you might not know this, but during the Soviet era, there were many Chechens in the military, especially in the special forces. Chechens are known for their bravery in battle. Though Chechnya started causing trouble after the Soviet Union collapsed, the great emperor completely subdued them a couple of years ago. Well, not all Chechens are satisfied, but most have accepted reality…”

Andelov gave Wang Ye a brief lesson on Chechnya’s current situation. Through his explanation, Wang Ye finally understood the relationship between Chechnya and Russia at this time.

Now, Chechnya was divided into pro-Russian and anti-Russian factions, with the pro-Russian faction in control. The anti-Russian faction had become a minority, an underground opposition…

Later, Russia would face many terrorist attacks, all carried out by these so-called underground opposition groups.

The “Black Devil Legion” Andelov mentioned was a Chechen special forces unit controlled by the pro-Russian leader.

Of course, the people Andelov was looking for weren’t active-duty Black Devil soldiers—they must be veterans.

Chapter 343: Welcome to Hell

“These people… they’re real devils!” Anton said, still shaken.

“Are they even tougher than Russia’s Signal Flag or Alpha special forces?” Wang Ye asked in surprise.

Russian special forces were world-renowned. It baffled him that Petrov would ignore them and instead choose the Black Devil Legion from Chechnya.

“Because only they are ruthless enough,” Petrov explained. “Isn’t that exactly what you wanted, boss? To make those bastards die slowly. Besides, the Wagner Company needs people like them to handle the dirty work. After this, I plan to station them in Chechnya and set up a base there. It’ll make recruiting locals easier. Their combat skills are impressive, and their identities make them perfect for certain… delicate tasks.”

Wang Ye nodded in agreement. “Then get it done quickly. I want to see results soon.”

…

While Wang Ye and his group plotted their revenge, the black men in San Francisco had no idea that doom was closing in on them.

Rashawn was the black man who had caused trouble that night. He was indeed a gang leader, somewhat notorious in San Francisco.

Black gangs typically dealt in drugs, and Rashawn’s group was no exception.

After the conflict that night, Rashawn had personally shot and killed the skilled young Russian. He later boasted about it to his underlings.

“Hah! I told you, following me is the way to go. What good is skill these days? One bullet and you’re done! The key is having money and guns! Even if I killed someone, nothing happened to me. The cops know it was me, but do they dare mess with me?”

Rashawn’s words were partly bluster. The police weren’t avoiding him out of fear but because gathering enough evidence to convict him was too much trouble.

“Boss is amazing! That guy was tough, taking on several of us alone without breaking a sweat. Hah! But boss took him down with one shot. Watching boss empty an entire magazine without hesitation was thrilling!”

“Boss, we shouldn’t let our guard down. Those guys seemed wealthy, coming all the way from Russia. They won’t just let this go, will they?”

Some of Rashawn’s men were worried that the matter wasn’t over.

But Rashawn didn’t care. He patted his belly and laughed. “You’re not just a nigger, you’re a coward! This is our turf, America! The Russians don’t get to run wild here!”

The term “nigger” was highly offensive if used by whites or Asians, but among black people, it was often used jokingly.

“Alright, everyone gather early tomorrow night. We’re picking up a shipment at the junkyard in the suburbs. Business is booming, and this time we’re getting a big haul. Stay sharp and bring your weapons.”

“Hah! In San Francisco, who would dare mess with us? Everyone knows boss is ruthless and kills without blinking!”

…

The next day, on the evening of October 23rd, Rashawn and his men gathered, splitting into three cars as they headed to the junkyard in the suburbs.

They were there to pick up a new shipment, and the supplier was an old acquaintance.

Rashawn sat in the back of the middle car, smoking a cigar, while a subordinate held two briefcases full of cash.

“Joe, is the case with that Russian kid all cleared up?” Rashawn suddenly asked his assistant in the passenger seat.

Joe was the most educated in the gang, having studied law at a community college. He handled the gang’s legitimate affairs.

“It’s all taken care of. The cops didn’t trace it back to us, and the guys at the nightclub said they didn’t know us. Hah!”

Rashawn nodded, completely at ease. He took a satisfied drag of his cigar and looked out the window.

Apart from the distant city lights, there wasn’t much to see.

Soon, the convoy arrived at an abandoned junkyard about ten kilometers from the city.

The place was filled with scrapped vehicles, and there were no other buildings within a two or three-kilometer radius. It was remote and quiet, perfect for drug deals.

And if the cops showed up, it was easy to make a quick escape!

Rashawn’s convoy drove straight to a dilapidated warehouse deep in the junkyard.

They didn’t get out immediately. Instead, they turned off their headlights, and the lead car flashed its lights three times at the warehouse door.

A light from deep inside the warehouse flashed back four times.

The signal was correct!

Only then did Rashawn and his men turn off their engines and get out. Surrounded by seven or eight underlings, they pushed open the slightly ajar warehouse door and walked in.

The warehouse was filled with stacks of old tires, probably taken from the scrapped cars outside.

As they entered, the lights in the warehouse turned on.

A middle-aged man wearing a wide-brimmed hat sat there. He was Rashawn’s old friend, a “delivery man” from Mexico.

But Rashawn found it strange that his friend hadn’t moved, even after they had all entered.

“Hey, Slim, you didn’t fall asleep, did you? Where are your men?” he asked with a laugh.

But his hand had already crept toward the gun at his waist.

Bang! The warehouse door suddenly slammed shut behind them.

Rashawn’s scalp tingled. He turned to look but saw nothing unusual.

Before he could order his men to check, a raspy voice echoed from the depths of the warehouse.

In broken English, it said, “Welcome to hell…”

Chapter 344: He’s a Big Shot

Rashawn was startled and instinctively reached for his gun.

But before he could draw it, he froze.

He noticed that atop the piles of discarded tires on either side, a group of men had silently appeared, each clutching an AK-47, their dark muzzles trained on them.

These men were all dressed in black, their faces obscured by thick beards, their eyes gleaming with the ferocity of starving wolves.

Rashawn had no doubt—if he dared to draw his gun, they would open fire without hesitation.

He quickly raised his hands. “Hey! Hey, friends, no need for this. There must be some misunderstanding. I don’t think I’ve wronged you.”

He swore he had never seen these men before. San Francisco didn’t have gangs this ruthless.

And their appearance… they looked like the legendary “KB operatives”!

He had never provoked such dangerous people…

The men on the tire piles remained silent. Then, footsteps approached from the front, and a man of average height but unusually burly build stepped forward.

He was dressed the same as the others, with a thick beard.

Clearly, this was their leader.

“Heh, you’re right—you haven’t wronged us,” the bearded leader said in a raspy voice.

From his accent, it was clear he was the one who had said, “Welcome to hell.”

Rashawn forced a smile. “Then it’s a misunderstanding! We just came to buy some goods. Look, we brought money.”

He signaled to his underlings, who placed the two briefcases on the ground and opened them, revealing stacks of US dollars.

Rashawn wasn’t stupid—he knew that if he could trade these two cases for his life, it would be a bargain.

But the bearded leader didn’t even glance at the money. Instead, he placed a hand on the shoulder of Slim, who was still seated in his chair—the man who had been selling to Rashawn.

With a smile, he said, “Aren’t you curious about what happened to your old friend?”

Rashawn thought, What the hell does his fate have to do with me? I just want to get out of here alive…

But he couldn’t say that. He forced another smile. “Ah… he’s not my friend. We’re just business partners—buyer and seller. We’re not close.”

Rashawn was desperately trying to distance himself from Slim. He strongly suspected these bearded men were here for Slim.

He had never seen these people before—there was no way they had any grudge against him.

So he absolutely couldn’t admit to knowing Slim well. He feared they might take their anger out on him…

The bearded leader didn’t respond. Instead, he pushed Slim’s head forward.

What happened next made Rashawn’s blood run cold.

A dull thud echoed as a head rolled to his feet.

Rashawn looked down and saw Slim’s severed head staring up at him.

In that instant, Rashawn’s hair stood on end, his legs trembling as he felt a warm stream trickling down his thigh.

Not only was he terrified—his underlings behind him were even worse off.

The sound of chattering teeth filled the air. Without turning, he knew they were barely standing.

“You… you killed him… killed Slim,” Rashawn stammered.

Truthfully, if they had just killed Slim, Rashawn wouldn’t have been this afraid.

He had killed people himself—it wasn’t the act that terrified him, but the method.

Shooting someone was one thing, but decapitating them…

Rashawn couldn’t stomach it.

He didn’t dare look at the bearded leader now. In his mind, this man was a demon.

He feared that if he provoked him, he would end up like Slim.

“Sigh, he didn’t deserve this fate, but I hate drug dealers. So I sent him to meet his God,” the bearded leader said. “Rashawn, do you know why we’re here for you?”

Rashawn’s mind went blank. The moment the man said his name, he knew—the worst had happened.

They were here for him.

Otherwise, how would they know his name?

He lunged for his waist, grabbing his gun. Given their ruthless methods, they wouldn’t let him live anyway—he might as well fight to the death!

But before his fingers could close around the grip, a bang rang out. A searing pain shot through his right wrist, and he howled in agony.

He looked down—his right wrist was shattered.

His underlings behind him were trembling, huddled together, too terrified to move. None of them had ever seen anything like this.

The bearded leader calmly walked up to Rashawn, pulled the gun from his waist, glanced at it, and tossed it aside.

Throughout, Rashawn clutched his broken wrist, sweat pouring down his face, teeth clenched in silence.

But his trembling body betrayed his fear.

“You seem to have forgotten. Just last week, in the alley behind that nightclub in the city center—what was it called? Doesn’t matter—you shot and killed a young Russian man,” the bearded leader said in his raspy, accented English.

Rashawn’s heart pounded. So that’s why they’re here?

He slowly lifted his head, forcing a bitter laugh. “Because of him? Who the hell is he? At least let me die knowing!”

At this point, Rashawn had given up hope. He knew there was no way he was walking out of this junkyard alive.

If that was the case, he might as well ask. Better to die knowing than in ignorance.

“Heh, that young man wasn’t anyone important—just an ordinary Russian veteran. But you don’t remember the other person who was there that night, do you? The one who looked Asian? He’s the big shot. I’m here on his orders,” the bearded leader said calmly.

He didn’t hide the truth from Rashawn.

Rashawn’s eyes widened in disbelief. “That kid… is a big shot?”

He couldn’t wrap his head around it. He remembered that pale, clean-cut young man—he didn’t look like a big shot at all!

Chapter 345: The Mysterious Skull Pattern

“Hah, you wouldn’t believe it, but he’s got over a thousand elite soldiers under him—real elites! Any one of them, if they had a weapon, could take out you bastards!” the bearded man sneered.

Rashawn closed his eyes, resigned. “I see. I was blind not to recognize who I was dealing with. Just make it quick, will you?”

The situation was beyond his control. If there had been even the slightest chance, Rashawn wouldn’t have wanted to die.

But there was no way out. With so many guns pointed at him, he had no room to resist.

The bearded man gave a sinister smile but didn’t answer. He merely waved his hand, and the burly men standing on the pile of tires jumped down one by one.

No one knew what happened inside that warehouse…

Later, someone claimed they had driven past the abandoned parking lot that night and heard unearthly screams from within. Terrified, they had floored the gas pedal and fled back to the city…

…

In the early hours of the morning, around four or five, a fire suddenly broke out in a small alley in downtown San Francisco. Thick smoke billowed into the sky.

Sirens blared, and the wailing of fire trucks woke the entire city.

Several fire engines rushed to the scene after receiving the alert.

Before they could even get out of the vehicle, one firefighter suddenly exclaimed, “Look at that!”

Everyone inside the truck turned to see. In the flickering firelight, a row of human-shaped figures was clearly visible, hanging from the wall of the building opposite the nightclub, about three meters off the ground.

And in the middle of this row of hanging bodies was a bright red pattern, seemingly drawn in blood.

The pattern was a grinning skull, with two crossed rifles beneath it.

“This… this… call the police!” one firefighter stammered.

Only then did everyone realize the gravity of the situation.

This was no ordinary fire—it was clearly a major case of murder and arson!

As they called the police, the street grew increasingly chaotic, with police cars flashing their lights as they arrived one after another…

…

What had happened in the early hours of the morning couldn’t be kept secret. By the next morning, the entire city of San Francisco was in an uproar.

Everyone was talking about the night’s events, especially the row of bodies hanging on the wall and the bloody skull pattern.

The police held a press conference, revealing some details—after all, this was a place that valued democracy and freedom.

“Last night, a heinous crime occurred. Twelve people were killed. After our investigation, we found that all twelve were members of a drug trafficking ring. As for who killed them, we are still investigating. Please wait for further updates from the police…” the chief spoke confidently to the gathered reporters.

As soon as he finished, the reporters raised their hands in unison.

“Chief, was this a gang-related killing?” one reporter asked.

The chief scratched his head, hesitating before answering, “At this point, that seems likely, but we can’t rule out other possibilities.”

“Does the police know the meaning of the bloody skull pattern? Is it a gang symbol or… perhaps the emblem of some cult?” another reporter pressed.

To be honest, this wasn’t a random question.

The victims had died in a horrific manner, and the presence of the bloody skull pattern suggested this wasn’t just an ordinary gang fight—it seemed more like the work of some sinister organization.

The chief’s heart skipped a beat at the question.

If it really was what the reporter suggested, this case would be far more complicated.

Gangs were one thing, but if it was some cult or organization, he didn’t want to get involved in that kind of trouble.

After all, being a police officer was just a job to support his family. There was no need to provoke people who killed without hesitation.

He still remembered the scene when he arrived last night—it had sent chills down his spine.

Who knew what kind of people these victims had provoked to meet such a gruesome end?

…

While San Francisco was in an uproar over the incident, Wang Ye, far away in Moscow, had already received the news.

Petrov told him that the retired soldiers from the Chechnya Black Devil Legion had succeeded—they had avenged Shergin!

As for the bloody skull pattern on the wall at the scene, it was simple. That was the emblem of the Wagner Security Company’s special operations team!

Every country’s special forces had their own emblems. Wagner, as a quasi-military organization, naturally had its own emblem and even a flag to boost morale.

This was something Petrov had only recently implemented.

The bloody skull pattern was making its first appearance!

And perhaps this would be its only appearance on American soil, as Wagner Company had no operations that required them to act within America.

Looking at the photos Petrov showed him of the scene, Wang Ye felt his heart race.

The Black Devil Legion soldiers were truly ruthless…

No wonder Petrov said only the Chechens could handle such a job. Even the special forces from Alpha and Signal Flag couldn’t do it.

It wasn’t that they lacked the ability, but they simply couldn’t bring themselves to be so brutal.

“Where will these Black Devil soldiers be stationed? Surely not within Russia?” Wang Ye frowned.

He was worried. These men were bloodthirsty—what if they became a “time bomb”? If they were stationed in Russia, any trouble they caused would be a major problem.

Causing trouble in America was one thing—no one could trace it back to him.

But in Russia, Gebrev and his men weren’t to be trifled with. Wang Ye didn’t believe he could keep anything hidden from them.

“Of course not. Didn’t I tell you before? These men are for dirty work. I’ll set up a base in Chechnya. They’ll stay there normally, and only be deployed when needed,” Petrov said with a smile.

“These men are a double-edged sword. If not handled properly, they could turn on us,” Wang Ye shook his head.

“Don’t worry. Ordinary people might not be able to control them, but boss, don’t forget—we have a large number of retired special forces from regular units. In a real fight, the Black Devils would still be at a disadvantage,” Petrov said dismissively.

That was true. Wagner Company was expanding toward becoming a large mercenary army.

If they couldn’t even control the Chechen special forces, how could they handle bigger operations in the future?

Chapter 346: Bold and Fearless

After Petrov arrived, the Wagner Security Company quickly began to formalize its operations.

To be honest, before his arrival, Wagner was more like a “gang” than a real team.

Anton had only been a squad leader in the military and lacked experience managing large groups, so when the company expanded to two hundred people, he was already struggling to keep up.

At the time, Wang Ye had no intention of further expansion because he couldn’t find suitable talent to manage Wagner in the short term.

Fortunately, Gebrev “sent” Petrov, an experienced special forces officer, to him!

Wang Ye’s decision to hand over Wagner Security Company to Petrov without hesitation showed his absolute trust, but this wasn’t because Wang Ye was “naive.”

He understood that without Petrov, Wagner would never grow to a large scale.

No country would allow an uncontrolled armed force to exist within its borders—let alone the procurement of large quantities of ammunition, heavy weapons, and equipment.

At some point, the great emperor might directly ask Wang Ye what he intended to do with such a “military” force!

But with Petrov, a man sent by the great emperor, managing Wagner, there would be no misunderstandings between Wang Ye and the Kremlin.

Ammunition, heavy weapons, and equipment could also be obtained smoothly.

Clearly, Petrov had been assigned the task of “monitoring and guarding” against Wang Ye, and everyone knew it.

At the same time, if Wang Ye had no ill intentions and didn’t do anything harmful to Russia, Petrov would be a reliable and capable assistant!

Moreover, the Federal Security Service would support Wagner Security Company in various ways, ensuring no issues with personnel or equipment.

In the end, Wagner Security Company was essentially a “blade” forged by the great emperor using Wang Ye’s wealth!

Normally, Wang Ye could wield this blade as he pleased.

But when the state or the great emperor needed it, command would have to be handed over…

Wang Ye’s task was to use this power wisely to satisfy both the great emperor’s and his own interests!

………………

The incident in San Francisco had caused quite a stir. The media and the public were full of wild speculation, with some reporters even guessing it might be another KB attack targeting the Americans!

Perhaps due to the high attention, a few unknown small “gangs” emerged, claiming responsibility for the incident.

In Moscow, however, no one paid much attention to it—though a few people knew exactly who was behind it…

Inside the Kremlin, in Gebrev’s office.

Wang Ye was already familiar with the place, having visited countless times.

He walked in and saw Gebrev buried in some documents, so he didn’t disturb him.

Pulling over a chair, he sat down and noticed a box of unbranded cigarettes on the desk. He took one and lit it.

The taste was excellent, richer than his usual Black Russians—probably some “special supply” cigarettes.

Leaning back with his legs crossed, he took a couple of relaxed puffs before Gebrev finished his work.

Looking up, Gebrev saw Wang Ye like this and couldn’t help but feel both amused and exasperated. He put on a stern face and said, “Aren’t you being too reckless? Causing such a commotion abroad—aren’t you afraid of being exposed?”

Wang Ye, of course, knew what he was referring to—taking out those few black men.

He just smiled faintly and replied calmly, “I nearly got shot to death! And my bodyguard died protecting me. Of course, I had to avenge him. Anyway, I’ll try to go there less in the future. Even if they find out, I don’t believe they’d dare come to Moscow to arrest me.”

This was shameless, but Wang Ye had the right to be.

In just a month or two, he would become a respected member of the State Duma!

In Russia, that meant judicial immunity!

The Americans certainly wouldn’t dare come to his territory to arrest him—not to mention Wang Ye’s own security forces, and Gebrev and the others wouldn’t just stand by and watch him get taken.

This was a matter of national pride!

So Wang Ye was bold and fearless…

………………

Sure enough, after Wang Ye said this, Gebrev had nothing left to say.

In the end, he could only shake his head helplessly and say, “You! Be more careful in the future. Don’t act recklessly. First, you need to understand that you’re already a significant figure. Next time you go abroad, you must consider your security in advance. If you had hired local security personnel before going, would this have happened? Some things can be avoided beforehand, so there’s no need to cause trouble. Here, your uncle and I can protect you, but abroad, if something happens, we can’t reach you.”

His words were indeed for Wang Ye’s sake and made sense.

After returning, Wang Ye had also reflected on the matter. The incident had indeed been partly his fault.

It was a case of “a poor man suddenly becoming rich”—he still wasn’t fully accustomed to his new role.

Subconsciously, he still saw himself as an ordinary person.

But in reality, whether in wealth or status, he had long since left the ranks of ordinary people…

Wang Ye could only scratch his head and laugh, changing the subject. “Let’s not talk about that. I’ll be more careful in the future. Oh, I brought you some gifts from my trip to America. See if you like them. One is for you, and the other is for Mr. Putin—could you pass it along for me?”

With that, he bent down and picked up two small paper bags, placing them on Gebrev’s desk.

Clearly, they were two of the Patek Philippe watches he had bought that day.

Gebrev wasn’t ignorant of such things. Seeing the brand logo on the paper bags, he knew these were no ordinary items!

He hesitated for a moment, considering whether to accept them.

Wang Ye quickly added, “Don’t misunderstand. This is just a token of respect from a junior to his elders. It’s not just for you and Mr. Putin—I also have gifts for Uncle Khovansky, Uncle Aby, and some of my friends.”

Hearing this, Gebrev no longer hesitated and reluctantly accepted them.

But he opened both boxes and compared them before asking Wang Ye, “Which of these two watches is more expensive?”

Wang Ye leaned in to look—one was rose gold, the other platinum, both with highly complex functions and moon phases, though he didn’t know the exact prices…

“That… the white one is probably more expensive. Platinum should be pricier than rose gold.”

Chapter 347: They Won’t Allow It

Hearing Wang Ye say this, Gebrev took the rose gold watch, removed the Omega he was wearing, and put it on his wrist. He adjusted it and smiled, “I must say, this watch looks really good!”

Of course it did. These watches cost over a hundred thousand dollars each. In this day and age, it was like wearing a Moscow apartment on your wrist!

“Keep this one. Give it to Mr. Putin yourself at dinner tonight,” Gebrev instructed.

“Huh? Dinner with him tonight?” Wang Ye asked in surprise. He hadn’t received any notice.

Gebrev nodded. “Didn’t I tell you? No matter. It’s nothing serious. He just happened to have some free time tonight and heard you were coming, so he suggested we have dinner and chat.”

Since that was the case, Wang Ye didn’t stand on ceremony. He happily nodded to show he had no problem with it.

Not everyone got the chance to have dinner with the great emperor.

…

They were still in the hidden dining room within the great emperor’s office. The food was quite ordinary.

Grilled fish fillet, mashed potatoes, borscht, pickled cucumbers, caviar, and a small bowl of plain yogurt with some desserts and fruit.

It wasn’t much different from what Wang Ye ate in the school cafeteria.

Of course, the taste and ingredients were far superior to the school cafeteria’s.

Before the meal, Wang Ye had already given his gift to the great emperor.

The great emperor seemed to be a watch enthusiast as well. After looking it over, he happily accepted it.

“I heard you went to America?”

At the table, the great emperor asked Wang Ye as he ate.

Wang Ye quickly swallowed his food and replied, “Yes, Polar Bear Investment Company has two investments there. I went to sign the contracts.”

“This investment company was originally set up by Khovansky to acquire the Siberian Oil Company. After the merger, it shifted to investing in the internet sector. I heard recently that domestic companies like MAIL.RU and YANDEX were acquired by Polar Bear…” Gebrev gave the great emperor a brief introduction to Polar Bear Investment.

The background of Polar Bear Investment Company naturally couldn’t be hidden from the great emperor and Gebrev.

But the great emperor had too many things to worry about, so Gebrev explained it to him.

After listening, the great emperor nodded in satisfaction and commented, “If we can support domestic internet companies as much as possible, that’s still what we should do. After all, no matter how promising foreign companies are, they’re still other countries’ enterprises. You’ve done well in this regard. Capital may have no borders, but you capitalists do have nationalities.”

Regarding Wang Ye’s conflict with those black men and what happened afterward, the great emperor didn’t mention it at all.

Perhaps in his eyes, such matters weren’t even worth discussing. What’s done is done.

Could the American police come to Moscow to arrest someone?

Compared to fights and killings, the great emperor was more concerned with investments and economic development.

There was a deeper meaning in his words. Wang Ye’s back broke out in a cold sweat, and he replied guiltily, “Yes, actually, my investment in foreign companies is solely for making money. But investing in domestic companies isn’t just about making money, or rather, it’s not only about making money. I also hope to support a few internet giants that can occupy a place in the global internet field, especially in the Russian-speaking internet world.”

“I’m glad you have this understanding. It shows I didn’t misjudge you,” the great emperor said approvingly.

“Haha, this young man Misha is excellent. I’ve said it before. Not only does he have vision and courage, but he also has a big enough pattern and global perspective,” Gebrev chimed in, speaking up for Wang Ye.

Of course he would speak up for Wang Ye.

After all, Wang Ye was someone he had discovered and recommended to the great emperor!

If Wang Ye did well and gained the great emperor’s recognition, it would prove his good judgment.

Conversely, if Wang Ye messed things up, wouldn’t that also be a slap in his face?

…

Speaking of pattern and global perspective, the great emperor became interested and seemed to want to test Wang Ye.

He smiled and asked, “Misha, you’ve also been to America and seen their city construction and living standards firsthand. So, how long do you think it will take for Russia to reach their level?”

This question stumped Wang Ye.

It wasn’t that he didn’t know how to answer, but that he didn’t know whether he should tell the truth…

Perhaps sensing Wang Ye’s hesitation, the great emperor encouraged him, “It’s fine. We’re just chatting casually. You can say whatever you think.”

Gritting his teeth, Wang Ye made up his mind and replied, “Almost impossible!”

The great emperor and Gebrev both froze.

Gebrev instinctively refuted, “Why do you think that? I don’t think so! You should know that whether it’s land area or various resources, we have more than America. And our population is smaller than theirs. In terms of technology, we’re not inferior to Europe and America. As long as we can maintain social stability, the economy will develop rapidly. In a few years, our GDP, especially per capita GDP, should be able to catch up with developed countries in Europe and America.”

The great emperor also nodded in agreement with Gebrev’s words.

At this stage, Russia and Europe and America should still be in the “honeymoon period.” Including the great emperor, the political elite were almost all pro-Western.

So it wasn’t strange that they had such views.

But Wang Ye knew the real situation and how future development trends would go!

Although he couldn’t say many things, “hinting” was still possible. Moreover, Wang Ye was certain that the great emperor didn’t need a blindly obedient subordinate or confidant. He would definitely appreciate someone who had an accurate judgment of the international situation and global development!

Without saying too much, if he could accurately predict the development of the next two or three years, his position in front of the great emperor would be higher in the future!

That way, his safety would be more guaranteed…

So, taking this opportunity, he decided to “show off” a little!

Wang Ye put down his knife and fork and said seriously, “Because they won’t allow our people to live such a prosperous life!”

The great emperor’s eyebrows immediately furrowed. Clearly, he understood the meaning behind Wang Ye’s words.

Gebrev also understood, but he didn’t believe it. He asked, “Why won’t they allow it? What harm does it do to them if our people become prosperous? Nowadays, aren’t they talking about globalization and the global village? Besides, you should know a little bit. The reason our country isn’t developed enough now is also their responsibility!”

Wang Ye slowly shook his head and replied decisively, “Because a strong and prosperous Russia does not align with Western interests!”

Chapter 348: One Mountain Cannot Hold Two Tigers

Wang Ye’s words carried a heavy weight!

Gebrev and the great emperor exchanged a glance, and it was Gebrev who spoke first.

He asked, “There are many things you haven’t encountered yet, so you don’t understand. We and the West are now partners and friends, not competitors, let alone enemies. They have all assured us…”

Before he could finish, Wang Ye interrupted him rather impolitely.

“You can’t listen to what they say; you have to watch what they do!”

Gebrev paused, looking somewhat bewildered. “Do? They haven’t done anything. In fact, they’ve provided us with some economic assistance.”

Meanwhile, the great emperor seemed to recall something, his frown deepening.

Wang Ye smiled and asked, “I may not know the ins and outs, but even from the surface, it’s clear. Uncle Gebrev, I want to ask you—how much of the economic support the West promised us has actually been implemented? Isn’t most of it still just empty promises?”

Gebrev was left speechless.

Indeed, Europe and America had made many promises to Russia, spoken many sweet words, and proposed many seemingly wonderful plans.

But the reality was that almost none of these had materialized.

In other words, in the decade since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia had gained little from the West.

Wang Ye continued, “There’s another very obvious and far-reaching issue that I’m sure you two have noticed—the NATO is still expanding eastward! I don’t think I need to explain which country this organization was established to counter, do I?”

Gebrev and the great emperor fell silent. They weren’t unaware of these things, nor had they not thought about them.

But before Wang Ye’s blunt words, they had been deceiving themselves, or perhaps still harboring illusions…

From an emotional or historical perspective, this country still leaned toward the West, with deep ties to Western European nations.

Thus, from top to bottom, they chose to believe in the West’s promises, which is why the Soviet Union collapsed in the first place.

But the problem was, a decade had passed since the collapse, and the West’s promises were still nowhere to be seen.

Especially two years ago, in 1999, NATO conducted another round of expansion, with Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic officially joining!

This meant that NATO’s sphere of influence was expanding further, and the direction of this expansion was Eastern Europe…

…

The great emperor sighed softly. At this moment, he hadn’t yet fully matured, especially in his thinking, which was heavily influenced by his teacher and former superior.

His teacher, Sobchak, was a well-known pro-Western figure in Russia and had once been a rival to Yeltsin, known as the leader of Russia’s second core faction!

As for the great emperor’s former superior, that was none other than Yeltsin himself.

Influenced by these two, it was easy to see why the great emperor believed that for Russia to develop better, it must integrate with the West!

Thus, faced with the West’s broken promises and NATO’s continued eastward expansion, the great emperor endured, comforting himself that the West had no ill intentions. As long as Russia showed enough goodwill and desire, the Western nations would eventually accept this “poor relative.”

But today, with Wang Ye exposing the truth so bluntly, the great emperor began to awaken.

Yes, you can’t listen to what they say; you have to watch what they do!

If they truly harbored goodwill toward Russia, why would the Western nations do things filled with malice?

Seeing both men lost in thought, Wang Ye intensified his tone. “Have you seen how some Western media outlets describe us?”

“What do they say?” Gebrev asked instinctively.

“That we’re a gas station masquerading as a country!” Wang Ye said with a bitter smile.

Gebrev grimaced, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

The description was indeed hurtful to their pride, but it wasn’t entirely wrong.

Since the collapse, Russia’s economy had been stagnant, with everything in disarray.

Apart from exporting oil and natural gas, there really wasn’t much else they could offer…

The great emperor chimed in with a wry joke, “That’s not comprehensive enough. Our gas station doesn’t just provide gas; it also offers natural gas.”

Oil and natural gas—these were Russia’s two core energy resources. It could be said that seventy to eighty percent of the national economy relied on these!

…

Deeply ingrained beliefs couldn’t be changed by a few words from Wang Ye.

Thus, Gebrev tried to mediate, “Let’s take it slow. Integrating with Europe isn’t easy. After all, the two sides have been in opposition for decades. Even if we want to integrate now, it will probably take some time. But as long as the leaders on both sides can reach a consensus and gradually promote the development of relations, things will change eventually.”

The great emperor nodded in agreement, emphasizing, “Gebrev is right. It’s like an iceberg—it won’t melt in a day or two. But as long as there’s sunlight and the temperature gradually rises, it will eventually turn into warm water.”

Seeing both men deceiving themselves, Wang Ye was helpless. He had to play his trump card!

He said solemnly, “Based on my judgment, by next year at the latest, in 2002, NATO will conduct another round of eastward expansion! If that happens, will you still have illusions about Europe and America?”

These words left Gebrev and the great emperor staring at each other in disbelief.

After a long while, they asked doubtfully, “You’re… joking, right? Why haven’t we received any news or seen any signs of this happening? What are you basing your judgment on?”

If Wang Ye’s words were proven true, the consequences would be dire!

For Russia, this would be an enormous threat!

This wasn’t something that could be resolved by “taking it slow”—it was a clear act of malice!

Wang Ye shrugged. Of course, he couldn’t say that he had witnessed it himself in his “previous life.” He could only explain:

“Because in 1999, on the fiftieth anniversary of NATO’s establishment, they publicly released several so-called declarations. And there were some unpleasantries with our alliance during the war. To maintain their dominant position, or to demonstrate their power to the world, they will inevitably take action in the next two years. The simplest and most effective way is to continue recruiting more countries as their allies—or rather, their lackeys.”

“But why can’t they include us? Misha, you might not know, but we’ve also expressed our desire to join NATO, and they said they would consider it seriously,” Gebrev argued.

Wang Ye smiled slightly. “Simple. Because one mountain cannot hold two tigers!”

Chapter 349: This Is Too Generous, Isn’t It?

“What does that mean?”

Gebrev and the other man didn’t immediately understand Wang Ye’s words. After all, this proverb wasn’t Russian…

Wang Ye patiently explained, “It means that in a gang, there can’t be two bosses at the same time! Any group can only have one core figure. Think about it—if we joined NATO, what position would we hold there? If they made us someone else’s lackey, like some countries, without our own sovereignty, even having foreign troops stationed on our soil, could we accept that?”

The two men suddenly understood and nodded subconsciously.

Because what Wang Ye said made perfect sense.

Actually, they had thought about this before. In past interactions with various countries, they had exchanged opinions on certain issues.

Unfortunately, they had only received vague responses, never a clear answer.

Now that Wang Ye had laid it out so bluntly, the great emperor reluctantly realized that this was indeed an unsolvable deadlock—one they would eventually have to face!

In the end, he let out a long sigh and forced a smile. “These are just your speculations. The key point is your prediction that they’ll continue expanding next year or the year after, but that hasn’t happened yet. I don’t think it’ll come to that. They know our stance on this issue—they wouldn’t be so aggressive.”

At heart, he still harbored illusions about the West, believing they would accept Russia as a “poor relative.” So, subconsciously, he didn’t want to—or perhaps didn’t dare to—believe Wang Ye’s words.

This was also out of desperation. To integrate with the West, the former Soviet Union had already collapsed…

If they were really being played, not to mention the two of them, the entire nation would never accept it!

Wang Ye didn’t say anything more. Today, he had only intended to drop a hint.

When things truly unfolded next year—perhaps even more severely than he had described, with NATO absorbing seven countries in one go and drawing closer to Russia—the great emperor would gradually come to realize the truth.

Before saying these things, Wang Ye had known that his words alone couldn’t change Russia’s current national policy!

Nor could they immediately shift the great emperor’s mindset.

But this was like planting a seed. Once buried, it would eventually sprout and grow into a towering tree…

In a way, this could be considered a form of “salvation through indirect means.”

As for which country he was saving, that went without saying…

…

After staying at the security base in the suburbs for nearly a month, Wang Ye finally returned to his apartment once everything had settled down.

During this time, he had also stationed security personnel at his apartment to monitor for any suspicious individuals. As it turned out, everything was peaceful—no one had bothered his apartment.

It seemed that the matter with Lyublino boss Zinov had been completely resolved, and no one had come looking for trouble on his behalf.

This was only natural. As Gebrev had said, he was no longer a small fry!

Even if Zinov’s people knew it was him who had acted, they probably wouldn’t risk offending him over a dead man.

Especially after he had demonstrated his ruthless methods!

These past few days, living with Katya at the security base hadn’t been very comfortable.

After all, the place was full of soldiers. Aside from a few aunts in the kitchen and logistics, the environment couldn’t compare to his luxury apartment.

Having disappeared for so long, Nalan Yaqi, Nova, and Ruan Xiaozhu had all called him.

Wang Ye naturally didn’t tell them the truth—he didn’t want to scare them.

He simply said he had been busy with work and staying elsewhere, but would return to the apartment soon.

So, after arranging everything, on the afternoon of November 1st, Wang Ye decided to go back to his apartment.

Now that Alyona had returned to Crimea, the small apartment felt eerily quiet. Not to mention, there was no one to cook for him.

Wang Ye didn’t feel like cooking, so he took the opportunity to invite a few acquaintances out for a meal—a chance to catch up, since it had been a while.

He called Nova, Liu Jun, Nalan Yaqi, and Ruan Xiaozhu, inviting them to dinner at Turandot Restaurant!

Naturally, upon receiving Wang Ye’s call, they all agreed without hesitation.

This was Wang Ye treating them to a meal. Even if they had important matters, they would have to set them aside.

After all, none of them were foolish—they all knew who they relied on for their livelihood…

…

At the familiar Turandot Restaurant, in the usual private room on the second floor, everyone had already arrived early.

Wang Ye, the host, was the last to arrive…

Nova had been specifically asked by Wang Ye to be brought by Nalan Yaqi.

At first, she had been a little reserved, since she wasn’t very familiar with Nalan Yaqi, Ruan Xiaozhu, or Liu Jun. Plus, the other three were Chinese, leaving her as the only Russian…

Fortunately, Liu Jun and Ruan Xiaozhu’s Russian was excellent. Upon learning that Nova was Alyona’s sister, they warmly welcomed her.

Everyone spoke in Russian, which helped Nova relax.

The only one struggling was Nalan Yaqi, whose Russian was undoubtedly the weakest among them…

As the four chatted, the door to the private room opened, and Wang Ye walked in.

“Ye Ge!”

“Wang Ye.”

“Brother-in-law…”

The four stood up to greet him.

Wang Ye smiled broadly, raising both arms—not to hug them, but because each hand held two paper bags.

Smiling, he said, “I was away on business for a while and brought back some gifts for everyone. There’s something for each of you. Come see if you like them.”

With that, he placed the paper bags on the table.

Hearing there were gifts, Ruan Xiaozhu and Nalan Yaqi immediately perked up, beaming as they gathered around.

Liu Jun and Nova, however, weren’t as casual and didn’t want to appear too excited.

You had to admit, Ruan Xiaozhu and Nalan Yaqi were quite knowledgeable. Just by looking at the paper bags, they could guess what was inside.

“Wow! Ye Ge, you’re too generous! Is this… the legendary Patek Philippe watch?” Nalan Yaqi exclaimed.

Even though Nalan Yaqi’s family was well-off, this brand was still out of reach for her.

The entry-level models started at hundreds of thousands, and more complex designs could cost millions!

That kind of money could buy several apartments in the capital…

Back then, the capital’s housing prices were only two or three thousand per square meter?

A hundred-square-meter apartment would only cost two or three hundred thousand. Buying two or three apartments with the price of one watch was effortless.

So calling it “legendary” wasn’t an exaggeration at all.

Chapter 350: How About a General Manager?

As for Ruan Xiaozhu, she had never seen this brand back in China. She only learned about it after coming to Moscow, when she saw it in a luxury store near Red Square. At the time, she was stunned to see a single watch selling for tens of thousands of dollars—even over a hundred thousand. She had muttered about it for days afterward. But she had remembered the brand well.

She never expected that the gift Wang Ye would give today would be something so extravagant.

Wang Ye smiled and said casually, “I wasn’t sure what gift would be appropriate, so I just bought a few watches. This brand should be decent, right? Not too expensive—just around a hundred thousand dollars each.”

Hearing their conversation, Liu Jun behind them couldn’t help but swallow hard.

He didn’t know much about Wang Ye’s affairs, but he understood that the Wang Ye of today was completely different from the one a few months ago.

Privately, Liu Jun had even guessed how much money Wang Ye had now.

After all, he carried the title of “President of Sun Market Group”!

Liu Jun estimated that Wang Ye’s net worth must be in the tens of millions of dollars…

But today, he realized he had been far too conservative!

Someone worth tens of millions wouldn’t casually give away a hundred-thousand-dollar watch as a gift!

This kind of generosity could only come from a billionaire…

Nova, standing beside them, was stunned. She knew her brother-in-law was wealthy, but she never imagined he would casually give a gift worth a hundred thousand dollars! She glanced at the small paper bag on the table but didn’t dare reach for it.

Honestly, her parents had worked their entire lives, and their total assets probably didn’t even amount to a hundred thousand dollars…

After each of them took out their watches, they eagerly put them on, feeling the weight on their wrists.

…

After the gifts were given, everyone sat down to drink tea while waiting for the food to arrive.

As the “brother-in-law,” Wang Ye naturally cared about Nova’s recent situation and asked with a smile, “Now that school has been in session for a while, have you adjusted well?”

Nova quickly nodded and replied, “Everything’s great. The teachers and classmates are all very friendly.”

Life in Moscow was much more comfortable for her now than before.

Not to mention the freedom of university life, just the living expenses alone were far more generous than when she was in high school!

Her family didn’t give her much, but her sister, Alyona, had “subsidized” her quite a bit, occasionally giving her a few thousand dollars.

Alyona knew that in a big city like Moscow, life without money was miserable, especially for a girl.

Now that she had money, she didn’t want her little sister to suffer.

A few thousand dollars meant nothing to Alyona now, but for Nova, a university student, it was an absolute fortune!

This allowed Nova to live like a fish in water at school—she rarely cooked for herself.

She ate at the school cafeteria during classes and at the restaurant below her dormitory after school…

Wang Ye smiled and said, “I remember the school allows students to choose a second major. Would you like to learn another foreign language?”

Nova blinked and smiled, “Didn’t you know? I’ve been learning Chinese with my sister. She’s gotten pretty good at it, but I’ve just started, so I’m not there yet.”

Wang Ye hadn’t known about this.

Before Alyona returned to Crimea, she would occasionally speak a few words of Chinese to Wang Ye, but he hadn’t noticed that she was systematically studying it.

But it was easy to guess why the sisters were learning Chinese—it was because of him.

He responded, “That’s great. I was actually going to talk to you about this. In the future, the group will have a lot of business in China, so we’ll need people who are fluent in both Chinese and Russian, whether they’re Chinese or Russian. If you master Chinese, you can come work for me after graduation.”

Wang Ye had already started planning for the future.

In 2001, China’s strength was still far from what it would be twenty years later. It lacked the power and influence it would later possess.

Abroad, especially in Europe and America, most people still looked down on China, associating it with poverty and backwardness…

But at this moment, perhaps only Wang Ye knew that in twenty years…

No, in just seven or eight years, a certain Eastern power would rise with great momentum!

So he needed to prepare early, while that massive Eastern market was still overlooked by most, and slowly begin his layout.

This included cultivating his own team of talent, so he wouldn’t be left without trusted people in the future.

Not to mention, the people gathered here tonight were all people Wang Ye could trust.

Nalan Yaqi didn’t need to be mentioned—they had already been intimate.

As for Nova, she was his “little sister-in-law,” family, and someone he planned to rely on heavily in the future.

Ruan Xiaozhu was his cousin, a fellow townsman, and a relative. Combined with his knowledge of her from his past life, she was absolutely trustworthy and highly capable—a true powerhouse.

Wang Ye was slowly grooming her, intending to put her to great use in the future.

Liu Jun was another person Wang Ye trusted. In his past life, the two had worked together, and in terms of character, ability, and experience, there were no issues.

…

After checking on Nova, Wang Ye turned to Liu Jun and asked with a smile, “Liu Ge, has work at the company been busy lately?”

Being called “Liu Ge” made Liu Jun feel a little “honored and surprised”…

Although Wang Ye had always called him that when they first met.

But the problem was, Liu Jun was still the same Liu Jun.

And Wang Ye was no longer the same Wang Ye he once was…

In terms of status, the gap between them had become enormous!

Liu Jun quickly replied, “The busy season just ended. Now the company doesn’t have much to do—just some routine work. To be honest, suddenly having nothing to do makes me a little uncomfortable. Maybe I’m just destined for hard work, haha.”

He was mainly in charge of managing Qingyun Study Abroad Service Company, and the study abroad agency business was seasonal.

Around September, when school started, it was extremely busy, with all kinds of complicated tasks to handle.

But now that the students had enrolled, and the next recruitment season was still half a year away, things had suddenly slowed down.

Wang Ye thought for a moment and asked, “Liu Ge, would you be interested in working for Little Eagle Group? I’m opening a large-scale casino and entertainment center in Yalta, Crimea, after the New Year, and I still need someone to manage it. If you come over, the position of general manager for the branch will be yours.”

This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision—Wang Ye had been considering it for a while.

He intended to make Crimea his “main base,” so he had begun shifting resources and manpower there.

UNTITLED

Chapter 1: Eating Noodles in the Dark
Chapter 2: Returning to Eighteen
Chapter 3: Arrival at the Alma Mater
Chapter 4: The Enthusiastic Class Monitor
Chapter 5: The Black Roommate
Chapter 6: Midnight Turmoil

Chapter 7: Bullying the Weak, Fearing the Strong

Chapter 8: If You’re Going to Hit Someone, Hit Their Face

Chapter 9: Unspoken Hardships
Chapter 10: Qi Gege
Chapter 11: All His Savings
Chapter 12: The First Step of the Plan
Chapter 13: Searching for an Old Friend
Chapter 14: Someone’s Looking for Trouble
Chapter 15: Trouble Encountered
Chapter 16: Knowing the Rules
Chapter 17: Sun Market
Chapter 18: The Chinese Big Shot
Chapter 19: She Looks Like an Angel
Chapter 20: Closing the Distance
Chapter 21: The Iron Straight Man
Chapter 22: The Rich Second Generation
Chapter 23: An Old Friend
Chapter 24: Big Business
Chapter 25: Making a Friend
Chapter 26: Business is Booming
Chapter 27: Envy and Jealousy
Chapter 28: Kid, I Admire You
Chapter 29: The Convenient Cousin
Chapter 30: Little Eagle Hotel
Chapter 31: I’m Quite Gifted
Chapter 32: First Victory
Chapter 33: The First Subordinate
Chapter 34: Not That Simple
Chapter 35: Getting to Know Her
Chapter 36: Find a Girlfriend
Chapter 37: Starting the Company
Chapter 38: Perfectly Suited
Chapter 39: Alexander? Pressure-sander!
Chapter 40: Recruiting Another Agent
Chapter 41: Not Enough Funds
Chapter 42: Serving as a Shield
Chapter 43: You’re Comfortable Now
Chapter 44: Quite the Bold Move
Chapter 45: The Shady Agency
Chapter 46: A Lucrative Industry
Chapter 47: The Three Major Challenges
Chapter 48: A Prodigy
Chapter 49: I Can Handle Every Step
Chapter 50: Only Ten Percent?
Chapter 51: The Third Shareholder
Chapter 52: I’ll Cover the Risk
Chapter 53: Even a Secretary Would Do
Chapter 54: A New Customer Comes Knocking
Chapter 55: Underestimating Her Strength
Chapter 56: Do You Know What Her Father Does?
Chapter 57: Want to Work with Me?
Chapter 58: Being the Silent Partner

Chapter 59: At Eighteen, Standing Like a Lackey

Chapter 60: Great Potential
Chapter 61: The Company Begins Operations
Chapter 62: Strategic Partnership
Chapter 63: The Plan Takes Shape
Chapter 64: The Lone Commander
Chapter 65: If You Want It, You Can Have It
Chapter 66: A Toast to Our Future
Chapter 67: Luxury Apartment
Chapter 68: Our Home
Chapter 69: Give Yourself a Chance
Chapter 70: How to Sleep at Night
Chapter 71: Objection Overruled
Chapter 72: This Shameless Couple
Chapter 73: The Feeling of Home
Chapter 74: Time is Tight
Chapter 75: The Two of Us Going Solo
Chapter 76: Visitors from Home
Chapter 77: People Are Greedy
Chapter 78: A Win-Win for All
Chapter 79: A Whole New Person
Chapter 80: Found a Foreign Wife
Chapter 81: A New Understanding of Wang Ye

Chapter 82: A Breakthrough in Their Relationship

Chapter 83: This Can’t Be Possible
Chapter 84: There’s Still a Threshold
Chapter 85: Taking the Money Directly
Chapter 86: You’re on Dish Duty Tonight
Chapter 87: I Bought a Car
Chapter 88: What Can You Compare With Me?
Chapter 89: Take Me With You
Chapter 90: The Day Before the Presentation
Chapter 91: Is That a Foreigner?
Chapter 92: A Missed Encounter
Chapter 93: Who Outsmarts Whom
Chapter 94: The Wager Agreement
Chapter 95: Helping Them Make Up Their Minds
Chapter 96: I Feel Your Pain
Chapter 97: A Fiery Scene
Chapter 98: Additional Quotas
Chapter 99: Is Making Money This Easy?
Chapter 100: Dividing the Spoils
Chapter 101: The Money Arrived
Chapter 102: Preparing to Go Home
Chapter 103: The Neighbor is a Big Star
Chapter 104: Buying Expensive Is Always Right
Chapter 105: He Doesn’t Deserve It
Chapter 106: A Thousand Miles a Day
Chapter 107: This Gift is Too Much
Chapter 108: I Lay My Cards on the Table
Chapter 109: Is This Discrimination?
Chapter 110: The Most Beautiful Prosecutor
Chapter 111: Beach Tango
Chapter 112: The Real Money-Making Plan
Chapter 113: The New Market
Chapter 114: Buying a Few
Chapter 115: I Want Three Streets
Chapter 116: The Price is Practically Free
Chapter 117: Free for the Taking?
Chapter 118: Hot Shops, Free of Charge!
Chapter 119: The Oligarch Arrives
Chapter 120: Got a Wife, Forgot the Sister
Chapter 121: Building His Own Team
Chapter 122: First Meeting with the Oligarch
Chapter 123: Recruitment Invitation
Chapter 124: A Bolt from the Blue
Chapter 125: The Choice
Chapter 126: This Is Fate
Chapter 127: Launch Announcement
Chapter 128: Powerful Counterattack
Chapter 129: New Identity
Chapter 130: Wang Ye’s “Background”
Chapter 131: The New President Takes Office
Chapter 132: The First Three Moves
Chapter 133: Can You Do It?

Chapter 134: Shockwaves Through the Chinese Business Community

Chapter 135: A Path Never Imagined
Chapter 136: Men Love Playing with Guns
Chapter 137: Monopolizing the Market
Chapter 138: Field Training
Chapter 139: I Want to Move in With You
Chapter 140: The Best Time for Revenge
Chapter 141: Sukabure
Chapter 142: Let Me Show You My Real Stuff
Chapter 143: Sponsorship Fee
Chapter 144: Hua Star Communications
Chapter 145: Private Banquet
Chapter 146: Four Big Shots and One Newbie

Chapter 147: The Kremlin’s Grand Steward’s Face

Chapter 148: A Lesson for the Big Shots
Chapter 149: Life is Too Decadent
Chapter 150: A Little Too Naive
Chapter 151: Surprise or Shock
Chapter 152: Can He Really Do It?
Chapter 153: Satisfied with the Gift?
Chapter 154: A Sleepless Night
Chapter 155: Not Allowed Home
Chapter 156: Dividing the Territory
Chapter 157: Playing Dirty?
Chapter 158: Winning Hearts
Chapter 159: I Want to Be Like Her
Chapter 160: Caught in a Dilemma

Chapter 161: Taking Over the Little Eagle Hotel

Chapter 162: Personnel Arrangements
Chapter 163: Trouble at the Door
Chapter 164: Too Greedy
Chapter 165: Open Threats
Chapter 166: Let’s See How It Goes
Chapter 167: Gathering Intelligence
Chapter 168: Preparing to Strike Hard
Chapter 169: You Annoy Me
Chapter 1: About Refreshing
Chapter 170: The Market Was Set on Fire
Chapter 171: I Like Your Defiant Attitude
Chapter 172: Consequences Too Heavy to Bear
Chapter 173: Cutting the Weeds by the Root
Chapter 174: Something Feels Off
Chapter 175: Give Me a Quick End
Chapter 176: This Is Professional
Chapter 177: One Wave After Another
Chapter 178: The Power of Money
Chapter 179: Will He Be Executed?
Chapter 180: Extraordinary Influence
Chapter 181: Why the Fake ID?
Chapter 182: Are You a Billionaire Now?
Chapter 183: Complications
Chapter 184: He Is the Successor
Chapter 185: The Young Dare to Fight
Chapter 186: Too Ambitious

Chapter 187: The Cost of Recruitment is Too High

Chapter 188: Walking a Tightrope

Chapter 189: The Gambling King of Russia

Chapter 190: I Treated You Like a Brother, and You…

Chapter 191: Any Connections?
Chapter 192: Not Strong Enough Yet
Chapter 193: He Agreed to Everything

Chapter 194: The One Thing We Don’t Lack Is Money

Chapter 195: Have You and He…? (Happy New Year)

Chapter 196: That Deadbeat Dad (Happy New Year)

Chapter 197: We’re Going Big (Happy New Year)

Chapter 198: A Significant Mother-Daughter Divide

Chapter 199: Hard to Believe

Chapter 200: Worth Over One Hundred Million Dollars

Chapter 201: Wagner Security Company
Chapter 202: Natalia is Coming
Chapter 203: Privileges Have Their Perks
Chapter 204: The Gambling License is Secured
Chapter 205: How Did He Get In?
Chapter 206: Double Joy
Chapter 207: Establishing the Group Company
Chapter 208: The Difference Is Too Great
Chapter 209: Full-Scale Advancement

Chapter 210: The Eldest Daughter of the Ho Family

Chapter 211: A Display of Strength
Chapter 212: It’s Passable
Chapter 213: A Lesson for Wang Ye
Chapter 214: I’ll Cover the Shortfall
Chapter 215: A New Perspective
Chapter 216: One More Decisive Than the Other
Chapter 217: Don’t Be Too Harsh
Chapter 218: Poor Manners Lead to a Beating
Chapter 219: Trouble Arrives
Chapter 220: No Escape
Chapter 221: The Weight of Responsibility
Chapter 222: Polar Bear Investment Company
Chapter 223: Overconfidence
Chapter 224: Secret Mission
Chapter 225: Receiving State Guest Treatment
Chapter 226: The Background is Too Impressive
Chapter 227: Someone Wants to Take Me Down
Chapter 228: On the Same Boat
Chapter 229: Placing Two of His Own People
Chapter 230: Congratulations to You
Chapter 231: The Times Make the Hero
Chapter 232: Quite the Troublemaker

Chapter 233: Time to Lay the Cards on the Table

Chapter 234: Failed Cooperation
Chapter 235: The Final Negotiation
Chapter 236: The Dead Cannot Speak
Chapter 237: Earth-Shattering News
Chapter 238: Flawless
Chapter 239: Shockwaves
Chapter 240: Rewarding Merits
Chapter 241: A Meeting of Kings
Chapter 242: Official Certification
Chapter 243: Turning Crisis into Opportunity
Chapter 244: Too Fantastical
Chapter 245: Only Two Countries
Chapter 246: The Great Emperor’s Reward
Chapter 247: Just Move In
Chapter 244: Unlocked

Chapter 248: The Great Emperor Invites Me to Dinner

Chapter 249: An Old Acquaintance’s Promotion
Chapter 250: School’s Out for Summer
Chapter 251: Rivals in the Same Trade
Chapter 252: Just Waiting for This
Chapter 253: The Choice Is Yours
Chapter 254: Arranged Together
Chapter 255: Trying to Outdo Me, Huh?

Chapter 256: What Was Meant to Happen Couldn’t Be Avoided

Chapter 257: A Bit Too Familiar
Chapter 255: Released
Chapter 258: We Are Different
Chapter 259: Wang Ye’s New Plan
Chapter 260: Starting to Make Moves
Chapter 261: Privatization and Delisting
Chapter 262: The Lion’s Share
Chapter 263: This Is a Threat
Chapter 264: Think Bigger
Chapter 265: All Comrades
Chapter 266: A Significant Discount
Chapter 267: Big Trouble
Chapter 268: Market Reaction is Huge

Chapter 269: Pointing at the Nose and Scolding

Chapter 270: The Big Shot Behind the Scenes

Chapter 271: The More Dangerous, The More Exciting

Chapter 272: Bringing Trouble Upon Oneself
Chapter 273: I Have My Principles
Chapter 274: A Big Job

Chapter 275: Making a Grand Entrance (Happy New Year)

Chapter 276: The Big Shot Arrives (Happy New Year)

Chapter 277: Going Straight for the Kill
Chapter 278: Which Hand Was It?
Chapter 279: Unconventional Tactics
Chapter 280: Returning Home
Chapter 281: Official Debut
Chapter 282: Business is Too Good
Chapter 283: Company Dividends
Chapter 284: Take It When It’s Given
Chapter 285: Returning to Invest
Chapter 286: A Competitor Emerges
Chapter 287: Buying Out the Entire Floor
Chapter 288: Increasing Investment
Chapter 289: A Choice Must Be Made
Chapter 290: Wanting More
Chapter 291: Overwhelming with Cash
Chapter 292: Nova is Coming
Chapter 293: A Different Brother-in-Law

Chapter 294: You Underestimate Your Brother-in-Law

Chapter 295: Where Will Nova Stay?
Chapter 296: This Is Fate
Chapter 297: He Turns Out to Be a Prince
Chapter 298: Freshman Year
Chapter 299: I Am Chinese-Russian

Chapter 300: Moscow State University Main Building Dormitory

Chapter 301: Prosecutor General
Chapter 302: A Gamble
Chapter 303: The Whims of a Genius
Chapter 304: The Calm Before the Storm
Chapter 305: A Loss of Sixty Million Dollars

Chapter 306: What Was Meant to Happen Will Come to Pass

Chapter 307: How to Divide the Shares

Chapter 308: Know When to Stop, Don’t Be Greedy

Chapter 309: What’s the Change?
Chapter 310: Joining the Top Ten Richest
Chapter 311: Some Matters Need to Be Resolved
Chapter 312: Is This a Feast at Hongmen?
Chapter 313: To Sell or Not to Sell
Chapter 314: Ambushed on the Way
Chapter 315: A Narrow Escape
Chapter 316: Blood for Blood
Chapter 317: Send Him to Meet God
Chapter 318: The Two Elite Units
Chapter 319: Codename: Cobra
Chapter 320: Terror Descends
Chapter 321: Flames Soaring to the Sky
Chapter 322: Chain Reaction
Chapter 323: The Truth of the Matter
Chapter 324: Special Operations Commander
Chapter 325: State Agent
Chapter 326: A Legendary Figure
Chapter 327: Massive Procurement
Chapter 328: Two Major Business Segments

Chapter 329: This is a Private Army, Isn’t It?

Chapter 330: Preparing to Reap the Harvest

Chapter 331: Don’t Bite the Hand That Feeds You

Chapter 332: The Most Difficult Time
Chapter 333: I’ll Take It All
Chapter 334: The Largest Shareholder
Chapter 335: A Genius Idea
Chapter 336: Heaven and Hell
Chapter 337: Like a Nouveau Riche
Chapter 338: Conflict Arises
Chapter 339: Crisis
Chapter 340: Gunfire Erupts
Chapter 341: Too Frustrating
Chapter 342: The Black Devil Legion
Chapter 343: Welcome to Hell
Chapter 344: He’s a Big Shot
Chapter 345: The Mysterious Skull Pattern
Chapter 346: Bold and Fearless
Chapter 347: They Won’t Allow It

Chapter 348: One Mountain Cannot Hold Two Tigers

Chapter 349: This Is Too Generous, Isn’t It?

Chapter 350: How About a General Manager?