From Wage Slave to Tycoon

The weather in Xiangjiang was exceptionally clear today, with a few white clouds drifting high above the city.

The plane slowly descended, and the full panorama of Xiangjiang gradually came into Su Chen’s view.

Su Chen looked down through the window.

A slash of deep blue cut through the city, flanked on both sides by towering skyscrapers that reached for the clouds, a testament to the city’s prosperity.

"I never expected Xiangjiang to look like this from a plane!"

"It’s alright. Only the areas around Victoria Harbor are bustling. The rest is just so-so," Sicong mumbled, his eyes still hazy with sleep.

After the two had agreed to come to Xiangjiang together yesterday, Sicong had immediately taken care of the flight arrangements, pulling out his private jet.

Sicong had wanted to sleep in and leave in the afternoon, but Su Chen had dragged him out of bed early in the morning.

And boy, was he reluctant!

This time, Su Chen hadn’t brought his entire investment team to Xiangjiang, only five people including Pei Rang.

Four traders and one team lead.

The plane soon landed at the Xiangjiang airport.

The service for private jets was impeccable. The moment they stepped off the plane, they saw a minibus shuttle waiting quietly to the side.

’Looks like I’ll have to buy a plane myself someday. It makes traveling so convenient!’ Su Chen mused to himself.

Ever since getting to know Sicong, Su Chen had broadened his horizons and learned quite a bit.

Private luxury yachts, private jets... he had only ever seen such things online or in novels before. Only after experiencing them did he understand they were nothing more than big toys for the wealthy.

Things he’d never even dared to dream of were just playthings for the rich... whether they were people or objects.

By the time Su Chen and the others got off the shuttle, they were already in the parking lot outside the airport.

"Hey, Sicong, what exactly is your game here?"

Su Chen had been about to book a five-star hotel in Xiangjiang and have them arrange for a luxury car pickup, but Sicong stopped him, saying he had other arrangements.

And the result... was their whole group standing around in the parking lot like idiots.

"You can’t rush perfection. Just be patient..."

The words had barely left Sicong’s lips when a small motorcade drove toward them, led by a Rolls-Royce Phantom!

Seeing the cars approach, Sicong jutted his chin. "See? Here they come."

Su Chen shot him the international gesture. This guy’s show-off attitude was so damn annoying...

’What can I do? It’s not like I have a rich dad. Everything I have, I fought for myself.’

(System Bro: Oh, right, right. All by yourself!)

The Rolls-Royce Phantom pulled to a stop in front of them. A middle-aged man of about fifty stepped out. Sicong’s expression changed instantly... he hurried forward to greet him. "Whoa, Uncle Huang! Why did you trouble yourself to come pick me up personally? If my dad finds out, he’ll kill me!"

The middle-aged man’s name was Huang Yu. He was a good friend of his father’s, and they had many business dealings.

"Since you’re in Xiangjiang, I have to host you properly! Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to face your father!"

Just then, Huang Yu noticed Su Chen standing next to Sicong. He was surprised to see that their group’s formation seemed to be centered around this young man, and his interest was immediately piqued.

"Sicong, and this young brother is...?" Huang Yu asked, curious.

"Uncle Huang, this is my good friend, Su Chen. I’m actually here in Xiangjiang with him!"

Su Chen offered a slight smile and said, "Hello, Mr. Huang."

When Huang Yu heard Su Chen call him Mr. Huang... his heart sank.

’From Su Chen’s polite demeanor, he doesn’t seem like someone who’s ignorant of social etiquette. Logically, he should have called me Uncle Huang. Why would he say Mr. Huang?’

’There’s only one possibility... His background is extraordinary, and he can’t be bothered to build a connection with someone like me.’

If Su Chen knew about Huang Yu’s mental gymnastics, he would have laughed until he snorted. He simply wasn’t in the habit of casually calling people ’uncle’.

"Welcome to Xiangjiang. Come, get in the car. I’ve already made arrangements at the Peninsula Hotel!" Huang Yu said with a smile, shaking Su Chen’s hand before ushering both of them into the Phantom.

As for Pei Rang and the others, they got into the cars behind them.

Xiangjiang’s airport is on Lantau Island in the New Territories, several dozen kilometers from Xiangjiang’s main island. The drive alone takes forty minutes.

Along the way, Huang Yu was a complete motormouth, chatting nonstop with Sicong as if they hadn’t seen each other in years.

From time to time, he would steer the conversation toward Su Chen, trying to probe his background. Having been through this before, Su Chen had learned how to deflect with jokes and banter.

’If I don’t want to say it, you’re not going to find out.’

Sicong, who was sitting beside him, noticed Su Chen’s intentions and quickly stepped in to smooth things over.

He managed to save face for Huang Yu without revealing anything about Su Chen’s background.

.......

......

「The Peninsula Hotel」

The Rolls-Royce Phantom came to a smooth stop at the entrance.

"I’ve already arranged your accommodations. Let’s go check you in first."

Su Chen was just about to say, ’We’ll book our own hotel, there’s no need for Mr. Huang to go to such an expense,’ when Sicong grabbed him and pulled him into the hotel.

"What were you about to do? Still thinking of paying your own way? Just relax and stay here..."

"But I don’t know him well. I haven’t done anything to deserve this. Now I’ll be in his debt!"

In today’s society, you can repay almost anything—except a favor. Especially in the circle of the wealthy.

"Relax, don’t worry about being in his debt. Worst case, we’ll treat him to a meal before we leave!" Sicong understood Su Chen’s concerns. After all, it was their first meeting, yet the man was already treating them to dinner and arranging a hotel.

But there were some things Sicong couldn’t say right now...

Seeing Sicong’s strong insistence, Su Chen didn’t argue and went along with the check-in process.

"Pei Rang, take the others to get something to eat. This afternoon, remember to contact Citibank and finalize our requirements so there are no mistakes later on."

"Don’t worry, Boss!" Pei Rang’s expression was also a bit heavy. This operation concerned his entire future. If it ended badly... he wouldn’t have the face to stay at Yunmengze Capital any longer.

After checking in, Su Chen followed Huang Yu and Sicong toward the hotel’s restaurant.

As the most historic five-star hotel in Xiangjiang, the Peninsula Hotel held the beautiful moniker of "The Grande Dame of the Far East." Aside from its excellent service, you could also dine on all sorts of rare ingredients—provided you had the money!

The Peninsula Hotel, Jialin Building!

A Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant!

"HAHAHA, welcome to Xiangjiang, Sicong! And to meet a brilliant young talent like you, Su Chen, is truly my good fortune! Come, let’s have a drink!" Huang Yu said, raising a wine glass filled with Romanée-Conti.

"You’re too generous, Mr. Huang."

"You’re too kind, Uncle Huang!"

Su Chen was inwardly speechless. That bottle of Romanée-Conti alone was worth three hundred thousand, and that wasn’t even including the various rare delicacies on the table...

’I wonder if this meal is to welcome Sicong... or me, Su Chen.’

’I don’t think my name carries that much weight...’