Chapter 36: Disciple, Aren’t You Going to Serve Your Master Some Tea?

Jiang Ruotang sensed that Lawyer Dai was a rational type. Without solid reasoning, Dai probably wouldn’t support him or put much effort into the negotiations.

He could only deduce his investment reasoning based on what he knew would happen ten years later, hoping to convince Dai.

“Since you’re someone my grandfather trusted—and he raised you—you’re probably no different from half a son to him. Then I’ll just call you Uncle Dai.” Jiang Ruotang spread out a map of Sheng City on the table in front of Lawyer Dai. “Look here—these are the eight districts of Sheng City. The old downtown area in the center is already nearing full development. The provincial government is here too, and commerce is heavily concentrated in this area.”

Dai Ming nodded. “So?”

“So if the city wants to keep growing, it can expand toward Dongsheng, Xisheng, or Hongnan districts to broaden the economic circle. There’s no need to go as far as Chengtan, is there?”

“Uncle Dai, do you know where the busiest commercial center is these days?”

“Jinshang Twin Mall,” Dai Ming replied.

“And that Jinshang Twin Mall stands right across the river from Chengtan. For the past two years, there have been persistent rumors that the provincial government wants to relocate and create a new economic development zone. The big hospitals in the old city want to open new branches, government agencies want larger, more modern buildings—and with how much our economy relies on real estate, where else can you find such a vast, empty space?” Jiang Ruotang tapped the map on Chengtan. “Nowhere but here.”

Dai Ming’s tightly furrowed brows slightly relaxed. He accepted Jiang Ruotang’s analysis—but to make such a big decision based solely on the thoughts of an eighteen-year-old high schooler with no real-world experience was still too reckless.

“Here’s what I’ll do, Ruotang. I haven’t been following the developments in Chengtan closely. Since you’re calling me ‘Uncle’ and want to trust me like your grandfather did, let me go make some inquiries. If there really are signs of this happening, I’ll do my best to help you secure the properties you’ve marked. But if there’s nothing to back this up, I hope you’ll reconsider and be cautious. Fair enough?”

Jiang Ruotang himself had some doubts—just because something had happened in his past life didn’t guarantee it would happen in this one.

Still, Dai Ming’s willingness to actively investigate was exactly what he wanted.

“Thank you, Uncle Dai. I’ll leave it all to you!” Jiang Ruotang hesitated, then added, “Could I trouble you with one more thing?”

“What is it? Speak.” Dai Ming’s instincts told him this kid had no ordinary thoughts in his head.

“It’s about a domestic smartphone brand—Xiaolan. I want to know how much debt they have right now, and how much investment they’d need to survive the impact of the M5’s release.”

“Domestic smartphones? That’s not something you can get into with just a few tens of millions!” Dai Ming’s expression turned even graver than when he heard about Chengtan.

Jiang Ruotang smiled slightly and slowly explained, “I don’t need to build the brand up. I just need to use limited funds to keep Xiaolan alive long enough for a strong investor to notice them. Any far-sighted capital player knows the value of domestic smartphones. Xiaolan is the most technically mature among them. If we invest in this early phase, we’ll have a seat at the board table in the future.”

That “we” slipped out so naturally, as if Dai Ming had already been pulled into Jiang Ruotang’s grand investment plans—even though this was their very first real conversation. Why did this child act like they’d known each other for years?

“I’ll investigate carefully. Don’t act rashly.”

“Thank you, Uncle Dai. I’ll be counting on you. These two things are very important to me.” Jiang Ruotang sincerely bowed his head to him.

After Jiang Ruotang left, Dai Ming slumped in his chair, exhaling deeply. He knew this kid had no real connection to him—but when he called him “Uncle” and asked for his help, Dai Ming simply couldn’t say no.

He glanced at the photo frame in the corner of his desk—a picture of himself and He Daochen when he graduated from university.

“Should I really be indulging this kid’s wild ideas?”

But the things this child said—the thoughts he expressed—were so forward-thinking.

Especially when Jiang Ruotang got serious—his expression was exactly like He Daochen’s, making Dai Ming instinctively believe him.

———

Back at school, there were still twenty minutes until class. The seafood fried rice Jiang Ruotang had ordered was sitting on his desk.

Lin Lu, who had been napping, straightened up, rubbed his eyes, and asked, “Ruotang, where’d you go? Haven’t seen you all noon.”

“Nowhere important. You sleep.” Jiang Ruotang grabbed his lunchbox and headed for the end of the hallway, where the school had placed a microwave room for students to heat their food.

Lin Lu hesitated—normally, Jiang Ruotang would have happily shared every little thing he’d done. But now, all he got was a casual “nowhere.” Not to mention that the lunch had been brought back by Zhao Changfeng, not Ruotang himself… their lives were slowly drifting apart.

At the end of the hallway, Jiang Ruotang was surprised to find the microwave room locked. Just as he reached for the handle, faint voices came from inside.

He wasn’t one to eavesdrop on private matters—but just as he was about to turn away, he heard something that made his heart tighten:

“Lu Guifan won’t appreciate what you did anyway.”

Instantly, Jiang Ruotang perked up, itching to press his ear to the door.

“Say something, you snitch! You love tattling so much—you got me hauled in for talks by those old geezers over and over again!”

That voice—wasn’t that Meng Yang? He’d smashed Lu Guifan’s glasses. Later, Jiang Ruotang had accompanied Lu Guifan to submit the receipts for new glasses and lenses to Meng Yang’s homeroom teacher. Meng Yang had reluctantly repaid him after stalling for days.

That matter should’ve been over. Why was Meng Yang still upset about Lu Guifan?

“You… you did those things yourself… you helped Ye Jiaming scheme against our class leader… What if you try something worse next time?”

This voice sounded familiar. Who was it?

Must be a classmate—but Jiang Ruotang didn’t socialize much. There were only two people he paid attention to—Zhao Changfeng and Lu Guifan—and maybe badminton partner Jian Sha from across the aisle.

“Dead loser! You think you’re some righteous hero punishing evil? Just wait till tonight when I see your brother at the internet cafe—I’ll make sure he beats you black and blue!”

Dead loser? That could only mean Cai Ji.

Cai Ji never offended anyone—though his math and science were great, his language and English scores were terrible, always hovering in the thirties rank-wise. Why would he clash with Meng Yang?

As Jiang Ruotang pondered, there was a loud bang from inside, followed by a muffled grunt from Cai Ji.

Jiang Ruotang immediately imagined Meng Yang slamming the poor, harmless Cai Ji against the door.

He felt a rush of tension—Cai Ji was the type who’d be grateful just for someone asking how he was.

“Hey! Who’s in there? I need to heat my lunch!” Jiang Ruotang called out.

“Go use the microwave downstairs!” Meng Yang’s impatient voice snapped back.

“Then you take my lunch down and heat it for me! Why should I run errands for you?” Jiang Ruotang snapped in a spoiled, young master tone, giving the door a few hard kicks—making it clear that if they didn’t open up, he’d make the whole building hear him.

“Sh*t! Jiang Ruotang?!” Meng Yang yanked the door open, glaring.

Jiang Ruotang wasn’t afraid at all. This guy wouldn’t dare lay a finger on him—or he’d howl till the whole world knew.

“Yeah, it’s me! What—did you buy or rent this microwave? I can’t heat my food anymore?”

Meng Yang glanced down at the lunchbox in Jiang Ruotang’s hand—probably figuring he really did just want to heat food—his expression eased slightly. He grunted and reached back toward Cai Ji, but Jiang Ruotang barged in sideways, shoulder-checking them apart, making it clear Meng Yang wasn’t going to lay another hand on Cai Ji.

“What were you two doing, locked in here? Secret date?” Jiang Ruotang sneered as he set his lunchbox in the microwave, his voice dripping with mocking sarcasm.

“I? Like this useless loser? Do you think everyone’s as brain-dead as you—unable to walk past a pretty face without falling over themselves?” Meng Yang suddenly lost it and shouted at Jiang Ruotang.

Jiang Ruotang chuckled lightly. “Yeah, I do like pretty ones—but you’re really not good-looking at all. So get out of my sight, thanks.”

“You’re insane!”

Meng Yang had wanted to drag Cai Ji away again, but after Jiang Ruotang’s sharp jab, he hesitated. Who knew what this notorious young master might go around telling others? Scowling, Meng Yang could only leave.

Cai Ji took a deep breath and was about to head back to the classroom when Jiang Ruotang suddenly spoke:

“What did you tell the teacher about the class monitor to make Meng Yang this pissed at you?”

Cai Ji froze. He’d honestly thought Jiang Ruotang had only come to heat his lunch—he never expected he’d come to save him.

“Does… does it matter?”

“If it’s about the class monitor, then yeah—it matters to me. And you’re my classmate. Even if you’re being bullied by someone from another class, that matters to me too.” Jiang Ruotang’s tone was that of a class tyrant speaking.

Cai Ji swallowed, then finally opened his mouth.

“Two days ago, in the restroom by the sports field… I overheard Meng Yang asking Ye Jiaming for money for the glasses. He said he wouldn’t have had to pay up if he wasn’t helping Ye Jiaming. Ye Jiaming promised to give him the money in a few days… that’s all…”

Ding—the microwave beeped. Jiang Ruotang casually took out the seafood fried rice.

He turned, leaned against the table, and started eating slowly.

“Next time Meng Yang tries to drag you off, don’t worry about saving face—just yell. He’s guilty as hell and will probably back off.”

“…Okay.”

Jiang Ruotang took a few more bites. Since he hadn’t said Cai Ji could leave, the boy just stood there foolishly, head down, waiting.

“If he bothers you again—don’t you have a phone? Turn on the recorder. You didn’t record what you overheard in the restroom last time, did you? So even though you told the teacher, they could only give Ye Jiaming and Meng Yang a warning—they can’t really punish them without proof.” Jiang Ruotang glanced at his downcast look and reminded him again, though he wasn’t sure if it got through.

A while passed—Jiang Ruotang had eaten over half his rice—yet Cai Ji still hadn’t left. Then he suddenly asked:

“Why did you say… anything about the class monitor is important to you? You and him… you hardly even spoke the past couple of years.”

Jiang Ruotang smiled slightly and replied with a question: “Is my answer important to you?”

“…Just curious. You don’t have to say if you don’t want to.”

“There are two kinds of friends. One kind offers emotional comfort, keeps you company, but they’re useless in the long run—maybe they even take advantage of you and stab you in the back if given the chance. The worse off you are, the better they feel.”

“Like… you and Lin…” Cai Ji trailed off, realizing he’d gone too far, and shut his mouth quickly.

Looks like even though Cai Ji didn’t stand out, he saw everything happening in class.

“And then there’s the other kind—like our class monitor. He’s not the type you hang out with or get chummy with—but when you see him, you know what’s right and what’s wrong. When you’re flying high, he doesn’t care. But when you’re at rock bottom, he’ll reach out a hand. He’s not the nicest talker—but whatever he says is useful.” Jiang Ruotang explained.

“So… you think of the class monitor as your friend… but only on your side?”

“Yeah. Problem?”

“…No problem…” Cai Ji muttered softly.

“And you? You okay?” Jiang Ruotang raised his chin.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Just now—when you hit the door?”

Jiang Ruotang quickly finished the last of his rice, tossing the box in the trash. If Cai Ji was hurt, he’d go straight to the office and raise hell.

“No… I shoved Meng Yang into the door.”

“Wow! Impressive!” Jiang Ruotang was genuinely surprised. “Meng Yang’s on the school basketball team—solid core strength. You look all skinny but you pushed him? With that much strength, why are you even scared of him?”

“It’s nothing…”

Cai Ji unconsciously tugged at his sleeve.

That made Jiang Ruotang instantly alert. He stepped forward and pulled Cai Ji’s sleeve up—revealing a round burn scar from a cigarette. All the hair on Jiang Ruotang’s body stood on end.

Because he had one like it too.

An entertainment industry big shot had done it—back when Jiang Ruotang and Lin Lu were helping Bai Yingchuan land a role. The big shot had taken a liking to Lin Lu, who made an excuse to leave, leaving Jiang Ruotang to handle him. The man stubbed a cigarette out on the back of Jiang Ruotang’s hand while passing him the contract, as punishment.

It hurt like hell—but Jiang Ruotang held it in for Bai Yingchuan’s sake. The big shot seemed impressed by his endurance and stopped giving him trouble. After that, any deal Jiang Ruotang negotiated went smoothly.

Now, seeing the same scar on Cai Ji’s wrist, Jiang Ruotang’s mind raced.

The scar was old—healed over. Not recent. And Meng Yang was a sports kid—didn’t smoke. So who did this?

Cai Ji hurriedly pulled his sleeve down, looking terrified. “Class’s starting.”

Then he turned and left.

Jiang Ruotang followed—and both of them froze as soon as they stepped outside.

Lu Guifan was standing right there.

“C-Class monitor…?”

Lu Guifan had one hand in his pocket, the other holding the mini thermos Jiang Ruotang had given him earlier—seemingly heading to get hot water.

“Mm.” Lu Guifan responded coolly, standing not far away.

Jiang Ruotang exhaled quietly. Thank goodness Lu Guifan hadn’t heard all that embarrassing “one-sided friend” nonsense—or he’d have died of shame.

But then Lu Guifan suddenly said, “Cai Ji, I’ll have a good talk with Ye Jiaming. I won’t let him or Meng Yang bother you again.”

Cai Ji paused, dumbly nodded. “Oh.”

Jiang Ruotang felt like dying.

If Lu Guifan heard Cai Ji… he definitely heard him, too.

God, kill me now! How embarrassing!

Wait… wasn’t it Cai Ji who said the “one-sided friend” thing? Why am I the one embarrassed?!

Back to class! As long as the class monitor doesn’t call out to me, I’m fine!

“Jiang Ruotang,” Lu Guifan’s voice came.

Speak of the devil…

“Ah, class monitor… you’re fetching water,” Jiang Ruotang said, stepping aside to clear the way to the hot water dispenser.

Lu Guifan lifted his eyelids slightly. “Since when did we become one-sided friends?”

Jiang Ruotang felt utterly awkward, like someone who had just proposed and been rejected—while being watched by a crowd.

“Aren’t we master and disciple?” Lu Guifan handed his mini thermos cup to Jiang Ruotang.

The meaning was clear: Disciple, aren’t you going to serve your master some tea?

Jiang Ruotang gasped and quickly took the thermos to fill it with water.

The cup was rather shallow, and just as the hot water was about to overflow, Lu Guifan swiftly turned off the tap first—otherwise the hot water would definitely have scalded Jiang Ruotang’s fingers.

“What a silly disciple. Always making me worry,” Lu Guifan muttered.

With that, he poured out a little of the hot water, screwed the lid on, and turned to leave.

Cai Ji squeezed over in surprise. “This is the first time I’ve ever heard the class monitor joke with anyone!”

“Really… was that a joke… haha…” Jiang Ruotang followed behind, ears burning red, as they headed back to the classroom.

Lu Guifan sat back down at his desk with an expressionless face, as if nothing had happened.

It felt like Jiang Ruotang was the only one in the whole world who cared about what Lu Guifan had overheard by the microwave room door.

But Lu Guifan’s directness far exceeded Jiang Ruotang’s expectations. During the break after the second class that afternoon, he went straight to Class Two next door, standing at the door and calmly calling out, “Ye Jiaming.”

“Ye Jiaming, can you step outside for a moment? I have something to tell you.”

Ye Jiaming froze. His calm expression turned slightly pale in that instant, as if he had realized something.

But with so many classmates watching in Class Two, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and walk out of the room.

Lu Guifan silently walked toward the end of the corridor. Ye Jiaming wasn’t sure what he wanted to say—he even imagined Lu Guifan suddenly turning around and smashing his teeth out with a punch.

When they reached the door of the microwave room, Lu Guifan jerked his chin toward the small room.

Ye Jiaming swallowed, thinking Lu Guifan wanted him to go inside. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, Lu Guifan’s cold voice cut in.

“If what you care about is the guaranteed admission spot to Sheng City University, take it. I can get into Capital University of Science and Technology on my own.”

Ye Jiaming was stunned. He hadn’t expected Lu Guifan to be so straightforward.

“But… studying and living in the capital is expensive…”

This was exactly why Ye Jiaming thought Lu Guifan, though capable of getting into a better university, would choose to stay in their city.

Lu Guifan’s expression did not change in the slightest. “Do you think I won’t qualify for a scholarship?”

A sharp, fresh pang struck deep inside Ye Jiaming’s heart.

“I’m telling you this today because I want you to pass the message to Meng Yang—tell him not to trouble my classmates again. There’s nothing wrong with kindness and justice. But if anyone gets hurt because of this so-called competition between you and me, I won’t stay silent any longer.”

Ye Jiaming’s ears turned red. Even though Lu Guifan hadn’t hit him, his face burned as if slapped, and his tightly clenched fingers dug into his palms.

“If you don’t say anything, I’ll take that as agreement.”

With that, Lu Guifan sidestepped and walked past Ye Jiaming.

Only when Lu Guifan’s footsteps faded into the distance did Ye Jiaming let out a long breath.

As soon as Lu Guifan returned, he saw Jiang Ruotang craning his neck by the back door of the classroom, watching him.

With a sigh, Lu Guifan flicked Jiang Ruotang’s forehead and pushed him back into the classroom.

“What did you say to him?”

“Want to know?”

“Yes!”

“If you can finish the last problem on the math practice sheet by yourself tonight, I’ll tell you.”

“…That’s cruel.”

At last, this matter was settled.

To be fair, Dai Ming really was efficient. Barely three days had passed when he called Jiang Ruotang and said he wanted to have a proper talk.

Considering Jiang Ruotang had class in the afternoon, Dai Ming offered to meet near his school.

But to avoid being noticed by anyone at school, Jiang Ruotang suggested they meet at a café about a ten-minute drive away.

Dai Ming arrived a few minutes earlier and waited for him in a private booth.

When the door opened, Dai Ming turned to see Jiang Ruotang poking his head in, eyes wide and round like a mischievous spirit.

“Come in. If you haven’t had lunch, feel free to order something—my treat,” Dai Ming said gently without meaning to.

“Great! I was waiting for you to say that!”

Jiang Ruotang made himself comfortable and ordered a steak set with a soda.

Dai Ming didn’t waste time and got straight to the point. “As far as I know, the provincial government just started discussing developing Chengtan during this month’s meetings. But there’s still a long way to go—evaluations, inspections by higher-level leaders, final approvals. For now, the industry is watching and waiting. No one has made a move yet.”

This was exactly what Jiang Ruotang had expected.

But the fact that Dai Ming could get this information meant that most of what Jiang Ruotang remembered was likely to happen.

“Uncle Dai, you know very well—even if this news is only fifty percent reliable, even thirty percent, we won’t be able to get a foothold in Chengtan. There are plenty of big real estate groups with deep pockets eyeing it. This short window of time is our only chance,” Jiang Ruotang said slowly.