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Five o’clock rolled around, and the class came to an end. Zhou Xing didn’t drag it out, simply picking up his book and leaving.

"Brother Ling, that was insane!"

"Are you taking disciples? I want to be that awesome!"

"Count me in!"

The moment Zhou Xing left, He Jian and the other two swarmed over.

"Get outta here. Go on, shoo."

Ye Ling shot the guys an annoyed glare.

’Taking disciples?’

’Just study hard and that’s it. Once you become a top student, everything else will fall into place!’

"Sigh, this is depressing. I have to go review."

Hearing this, He Jian couldn’t help but sigh. "I have a feeling I won’t be getting any sleep for the foreseeable future."

Isn’t that what they all say online?

Modern university students have insane cramming abilities—they can learn a whole semester’s worth of material in a single week!

"Impressive."

With the noble intention of encouraging his classmate, Ye Ling gave He Jian a thumbs-up, then added, "Me, I’m not as dedicated as you. My situation just doesn’t allow for it. The moment it gets late, Ning Ruoxi drags me off to bed."

As he spoke, Ye Ling let out a long sigh, his face a perfect picture of helplessness and sorrow.

In that instant, He Jian felt like he’d taken ten thousand points of critical damage. Three pairs of resentful eyes immediately locked onto Ye Ling.

’Honestly, it’s a miracle Brother Ling has survived this long. If he weren’t so damn amazing, he probably would have been killed by his own Yin-Yang Speech Art by now, right?’

’A Yin-Yang Master, for real!’

After class, Ye Ling went to the School of Arts to pick up Ning Ruoxi and take her home. On the way, he started thinking about the upcoming New Year’s Day holiday.

In Ye Ling’s view, Christmas was, after all, a foreign holiday. New Year’s Day, however, was a homegrown holiday in their Xia Country, so he treated it a bit differently.

"So, New Year’s is coming up."

After meeting up with Ning Ruoxi, Ye Ling nonchalantly took her hand and said with a light chuckle.

"Oh, it is."

Ning Ruoxi nodded, tilting her head to look at Ye Ling. "Do you have any plans?"

"Not really."

Ye Ling shook his head with a hint of resignation.

At first, he’d wanted to take Ning Ruoxi on a trip, but on second thought, almost every school at Modu University had final exams right after New Year’s, so it didn’t seem like a good idea.

"Then let’s not make any plans. We can just wander around and go shopping. As long as you’re with me, that’s all that matters."

Ning Ruoxi said, completely unfazed.

She wasn’t like some girls who needed creative dates and all sorts of gifts for every holiday.

In her eyes, the most important part of a relationship was the person, wasn’t it?

As long as it was Ye Ling, nothing else was a problem!

"Such a good girl. I’ll take you on a trip after the final exams."

Ye Ling squeezed Ning Ruoxi’s small hand as he spoke.

"Okay-dokey."

Ning Ruoxi’s big eyes immediately curved into smiling crescents.

Back home, Ning Ruoxi took the initiative to start preparing dinner while Ye Ling lounged leisurely on the sofa, playing on his phone. Suddenly, his phone rang. The caller ID read: Yu Peng.

This Yu Peng was a key figure at DJI Technology, currently serving as its President and Chairman.

He was the one who had arranged the drone light show for Ning Ruoxi’s birthday.

Ye Ling casually answered the call and offered a greeting. "President Yu, hello."

"President Ye, hello."

Yu Peng’s voice on the other end was also very polite. "I apologize for bothering you so late. It’s like this—I’ve just arrived in Modu. I was wondering if you might have time to share a meal?"

"Today? I’m afraid not, I have to be with my girlfriend. President Yu, are you leaving today?"

Ye Ling paused for a moment before asking.

The last time Ye Ling had asked him for a favor, they had agreed to meet when they had time to discuss the future development plans for DJI Technology.

Although Ye Ling only owned fifteen percent of the shares, he was, in fact, DJI Technology’s second-largest shareholder.

There weren’t many publicly traded shares of DJI Technology. Yu Peng himself, for instance, single-handedly owned seventy percent of the company!

Therefore, Yu Peng held Ye Ling in very high regard.

"No, no, I should be staying in Modu for a few days. President Ye, please spend time with your girlfriend. It’s no trouble at all on my end."

Yu Peng said immediately from the other end of the line.

"Then tomorrow at three in the afternoon, Drunken Immortal Inn," Ye Ling arranged.

"Not a problem."

Yu Peng hung up decisively.

...

While all was calm and peaceful in Modu, the Imperial Capital was being battered by one storm after another.

These past few days, life for the Jiang Family had become more difficult with each passing day.

The revelations that had exploded online had, as expected, alarmed the Xia Country Government, which sent an investigation team directly to Bauhinia Energy.

As far as the Xia Country Government was concerned, it generally didn’t interfere too much in the internal struggles between companies and capitalists, as long as things didn’t go too far.

After all, it was a market economy; without competition, it would inevitably lack vitality.

But this time, the Jiang Family’s murky and inexplicable relationship with the Dugan Consortium was a very serious matter.

News of the investigation team’s arrival at Bauhinia Energy spread like wildfire online. All sorts of public opinions emerged, and what followed was a continuous nosedive of Bauhinia Energy’s stock.

At this moment, a certain power emerged, rapidly gobbling up these shares.

It wasn’t just Bauhinia Energy’s stock. Other stocks under the Jiang Family’s umbrella were also affected by the scandal, their values plummeting across the board.

"These people are kicking us while we’re down!"

Jiang Tingjun sat in his office, looking at the report his secretary had handed him. Unable to contain his anger, he slammed a hand on the table, his face livid with fury.

According to reliable sources, the powers that were devouring the Jiang Family’s stocks were none other than the remaining seven great families of the capital!

In truth, this was more or less to be expected. With the Jiang Family in trouble, how could the remaining seven families not make a move and fight for a slice of the cake?

What a joke!

However, in the eyes of a Jiang family member like Jiang Tingjun, the seven families were undoubtedly kicking them while they were down.

Ye Ling paid no attention to these conflicts so far away in the Imperial Capital. The main reason was the distance; he didn’t think his influence could stretch from Modu all the way to the Imperial Capital to get a piece of the pie.

This time, apart from the seven families, no other major powers had gotten involved. Why was that?

Was it because they lacked the money?

Pure nonsense!

Never mind Penguin and Ah Li Baba, just look at international giants like Ning International and Yun International—would they be short on cash?

Of course not!

But all these powers had, by unspoken agreement, followed one rule: just watch the show, don’t get on stage.

That circle in the Imperial Capital ran deep; ordinary powers wouldn’t dare enter it casually.

If it was the seven great families fighting over the big cake that was the Jiang Family, that was fine. No one would interfere. They were all powers from the Imperial Capital. At worst, one player would be kicked out, and the shares would be re-divided.

But if an outside power were to get involved, like Shengding Group for example, it would mean an external force was trying to take a piece of the Imperial Capital powers’ big cake. Would those local powers ever allow that?