Jiang Ruotang didn’t expect Qi Yanfeng to be so efficient; he thought he would take a week or two to evaluate before making a decision.

It seemed the other party’s sincerity in cooperation was absolute.

“Hongtian Borui! It’s a film and television company whose strength is no less than Huanyu’s!” Jiang Huaiyuan said excitedly.

Jiang Ruotang nodded: “I know.”

“Their investment is very generous, and the initial conditions they offered are very reasonable and sincere! Tomorrow, Yun Shu and I are going there to discuss the specifics. It’s truly a case of ‘mountains and rivers may end, but beyond the willows and flowers, a new village appears!'”

“Mm-hmm, go for it, Dad.” Jiang Ruotang gently punched him on the chest, then met Zhao Yun Shu’s gaze.

The two nodded tacitly. Zhao Yun Shu understood that this cooperation was something Jiang Ruotang had secured for them.

Everything was on track; all was well.

---

Two weeks later, Artisan Film, founded by Jiang Huaiyuan and Zhao Yun Shu, and Hongtian Borui jointly announced their collaboration. The project “Drunken Immortal Stage” officially launched.

When Old Master Qin, who was leisurely brewing Kung Fu tea, heard this news, he rarely frowned, pondered for a full minute, and then dialed his grandson’s office number.

“Grandpa, is it about Jiang Huaiyuan’s collaboration with Hongtian Borui?”

Qin ZhanChao’s voice sounded calm, but the fact that he brought up this matter directly showed that he realized he had made a misstep.

“It seems you understand what I want to tell you.”

“It’s my mistake. Even when asserting authority, one must gauge the timing. Now Hongtian Borui has taken advantage of the situation and joined forces with Jiang Huaiyuan. No matter what, Jiang Huaiyuan is a director with box office appeal, and his previously produced TV dramas had a good reputation on the national TV station… If we had fully supported them in independently producing a xianxia drama, we could have not only shared profits but also used Jiang Huaiyuan’s reputation to nurture new talent. But now, our competitor has snatched the opportunity.”

“Indeed. Now that Hongtian Borui has offered help in their time of need, I understand Jiang Huaiyuan’s character very well; he will certainly return the favor. Any future projects he undertakes will likely prioritize using Hongtian Borui’s artists.”

“I miscalculated. I thought the industry would shun Jiang Huaiyuan because of Lin Chengdong’s case, but I didn’t expect Qi Yanfeng to act so quickly.”

“So, we still need to find a way to mend our relationship with the Jiang family.”

Qin ZhanChao fell silent. Even if he offered investment now, the other party no longer needed it.

Moreover, once a rift appeared, it was unlikely to disappear, no matter how much it was mended.

“Grandpa told you before, Jiang Huaiyuan has no ambition in business. If you let him take it easy, given his personality, he’d be overjoyed. And he has always cultivated his son to study art, clearly not intending for Jiang Ruotang to join Huanyu as a manager. This time, we pushed Jiang Huaiyuan towards Hongtian Borui. Many shareholders and executives are watching you make a fool of yourself. They don’t say it to your face, but in their hearts, they think you, as a young man, are not broad-minded enough, which led to this backlash.”

“I understand. It just so happens that your birthday banquet is next week. We were planning to gather everyone anyway, and I will arrange it properly.”

Qin ZhanChao’s tone sounded humble, but Old Master Qin knew that he was very displeased, having been initially full of confidence only to stumble.

This was good too; he should learn a lesson.

Otherwise, if he were too aggressive in the future, he would only suffer greater setbacks.

---

The third mock exam was rumored to be the easiest one, and Jiang Ruotang, for the first time, scored over 540. Looking at his report card, he told Lu Guifan, “I think even if I don’t pursue an art career, I could still get into a key university with my brain!”

Lu Guifan raised his hand and firmly pressed down on Jiang Ruotang’s head, “Isn’t the third mock exam just to boost your confidence?”

“Even with a 10% discount, that’s nearly 490! That’s enough!”

Jiang Ruotang felt like a miracle, having retrieved everything from the past two years in less than a year.

Even Zhao Changfeng in the back row scored over 460, looking so overjoyed as if he had already been admitted to the Capital University of Science and Technology.

“I’ll go over these few problems with you tonight. You’ve fallen into this pit three times; don’t fall for a fourth time during the actual college entrance exam.”

Jiang Ruotang rested his chin on his hand, watching the other. Lu Guifan’s expression was very serious.

“Teacher Lu, I’m sorry, but Zhao Changfeng and I both have to take leave tonight. An old gentleman is celebrating his birthday, and we have to attend the banquet,” Jiang Ruotang said.

“Oh.” Lu Guifan nodded slightly and returned the test paper to Jiang Ruotang.

Who knew Jiang Ruotang would lean closer again, as if searching for some secret. Lu Guifan felt uncomfortable under his gaze and poked him between the eyebrows to move his head away.

“What are you looking at?”

“I won’t see you tonight, so I’m checking if you’ll be very disappointed.”

Jiang Ruotang’s eyes curved into crescents, smiling quite happily.

“Not at all.”

“I’ll be wearing a tuxedo tonight, with a bow tie.”

Don’t you want to see me looking handsome?

Lu Guifan nodded: “Be careful not to get it dirty while eating.”

What a mood killer.

Jiang Ruotang was annoyed for two seconds, then leaned in again and said, “If only I could see you in a tuxedo. A black one, that accentuates your waist, neat and sharp… And a pair of rimless glasses, plus how smart you look, mm… just like…”

After waiting for two or three seconds without a follow-up, Lu Guifan asked, “Just like what?”

“A refined scoundrel from a movie.”

After saying that, Jiang Ruotang quickly pulled his head away, but Lu Guifan’s arm was long enough to press down on Jiang Ruotang’s head, pinning him to his lap, not letting the mischievous boy get up.

Jiang Ruotang struggled several times, one hand propped on the table, the other on the side of Lu Guifan’s chair, exerting all his strength, but couldn’t get up at all.

The key was that Lu Guifan only used one hand! Just one hand!

Jiang Ruotang’s face flushed red with effort. He was about to beg for mercy when he heard Zhao Changfeng still cheering him on, saying something like, “Serves you right, finally someone taught you a lesson!”

And Jian Sha was gloating, “Oh my, what kind of divine plot is this? A powerful alpha can mark his omega with just one hand!”

Jiang Ruotang’s understanding of an omega was someone who smelled fragrant, and compared to him, Lu Guifan was clearly the fragrant one.

Even if I don’t contend for alpha, I have to fight for my dignity!

Jiang Ruotang exerted all his strength to lift his head upwards. His back trembled slightly from muscle tension, his pink neck and ears, and his warm breath, through the school uniform pants, felt as if it could burn Lu Guifan.

Jiang Ruotang’s face almost hit something, but Lu Guifan suddenly released him. Jiang Ruotang sharply straightened his back, gasping for air, his hair disheveled.

Zhao Changfeng chuckled: “I think you should work out more. You’re too weak.”

Jiang Ruotang couldn’t help but say: “The class monitor is very strong, you might not even be able to beat him!”

“Oh really?” Zhao Changfeng suddenly rolled up his sleeves and beckoned to Lu Guifan: “Come on, let’s spar!”

Jiang Ruotang initially thought Lu Guifan wouldn’t bother with Zhao Changfeng, but then he suddenly turned sideways, grabbed Zhao Changfeng’s hand, and swiftly pinned Zhao Changfeng’s wrist down!

“Oh my God…” Jian Sha was dumbfounded.

Everyone else in the class looked over. They only thought Lu Guifan was thin and tall; who would have thought he was so strong?

Jiang Ruotang stared blankly at Zhao Changfeng: “Are you… okay?”

Zhao Changfeng was also stunned. He had the arm strength to do one-arm pull-ups while hanging from a basketball hoop, and he just lost to Lu Guifan like that?

“I… I’m fine! Class monitor, that was a sneak attack! I didn’t even react! Again!”

Lu Guifan glanced back: “If we do it again, your self-esteem will be hurt even more.”

Zhao Changfeng was so choked up. He refused to believe it and wanted to challenge again, but alas, the next class had already begun.

---

When afternoon classes ended, Jiang Ruotang and Zhao Changfeng packed their things, ready to leave.

Just as he was about to leave his seat, Jiang Ruotang felt a light hook on his lower back.

He paused, turned his head and looked down, seeing that Lu Guifan, who was reading a book, seemed to have said something.

“Huh?” Jiang Ruotang bent down, tilting his ear towards him, “What did you say? I didn’t hear you clearly.”

He wouldn’t want me to keep doing practice problems even after going home, would he…? Can’t he give me a moment to breathe?

“I… wanted to see it.”

“See what?” Jiang Ruotang was baffled; this was so random.

“You in a tuxedo.”

Jiang Ruotang carefully studied Lu Guifan’s expression; it was still as calm as ever. But for this guy to actually voice what he wanted, it was definitely not just a slight desire, but a very strong one.

This made Jiang Ruotang unable to resist, wanting to tease him even more.

“Alright, when it’s my birthday, I’ll throw a party too. I’ll prepare a dozen or twenty tuxedos, and change into a new one every half hour for you to see.”

After saying that, Jiang Ruotang even smiled with his eyes curved, revealing two small canine teeth.

Lu Guifan clenched the book in his hand, trying very hard to resist biting his nose.

“You might as well say you’ll shed eighteen layers of skin for me to see.”

With that, Lu Guifan used the tip of his pink marker pen to poke Jiang Ruotang’s head away.

---

Old Master Qin’s birthday banquet was held in the top floor banquet hall of the high-end hotel THRONE in Sheng City.

The 360-degree cityscape lights shimmered in harmony with the stars. Shareholders and executives from Huanyu Film, as well as some industry partners, all came to the banquet.

Even Qi Yanfeng, the chairman of Hongtian Borui, was among the invited.

When Jiang Ruotang and Zhao Changfeng entered the venue with Mr. and Mrs. Jiang Huaiyuan, they immediately became the center of attention.

Zhao Changfeng was tall and imposing; his black tuxedo made his figure even more striking. At over 1.9 meters tall, he stood out like a crane among chickens the moment he stepped into the hall.

It was said that the director of a certain luxury brand’s Asia-Pacific region in the fashion industry was also invited. When he saw Zhao Changfeng, the astonishment in his eyes was undeniable.

Zhao Changfeng’s long legs could cover the distance to Jiang Ruotang in two or three steps. At such times, he would stop and wait for Jiang Ruotang, then stand slightly behind him.

He instantly transformed from a top male model into a top bodyguard.

Perhaps it was the clothes that made the man, but after Jiang Ruotang put on the custom-made suit, in addition to being refreshingly handsome, he also gained a touch of nobility.

The two of them managed to walk the entrance corridor with the aura of a red carpet.

Jiang Ruotang glanced up and caught sight of Mu Xianqing not far away. The fellow was lounging bonelessly in a chair.

Still, many people surrounded him, trying to get close, but Mu Xianqing was lazy, his gaze passing through them to meet Jiang Ruotang’s. A smile curved his lips, and he mouthed, “My little ancestor.”

Jiang Ruotang’s throat moved; he was a little intimidated by him, afraid he would come over and ask for his artwork, even though Jiang Ruotang hadn’t drawn anything.

So Jiang Ruotang turned his face and deliberately walked to Zhao Changfeng’s other side, using the latter’s tall figure to shield himself.

Mu Xianqing seemed to know what Jiang Ruotang was thinking, and the smile on his lips became more pronounced.

He wasn’t interested in the old man’s birthday banquet, and Old Man Qin’s banquet wasn’t important enough to require a big shot like Mu He to attend, so Mu Xianqing was sent by his family to make an appearance.

He hadn’t seen Jiang Ruotang in a long time, and being able to see the little painter in a suit was also a treat.

---

Old Master Qin gently patted Qin ZhanChao’s shoulder. The twenty-seven-year-old youth then put on a graceful smile and walked towards Mr. and Mrs. Jiang Huaiyuan.

“Uncle Jiang, Aunt Zhao, I’ve been waiting for you for a while.”

Jiang Huaiyuan said apologetically, “Ruotang and Changfeng got out of class a bit late, please forgive us!”

“Third year of high school, after all, studies are certainly more important.” Qin ZhanChao smiled and looked behind Jiang Huaiyuan, “Uncle Jiang and Aunt Zhao, aren’t you going to introduce me?”

“Oh, oh, oh!” Jiang Huaiyuan turned sideways. Because Zhao Changfeng was closer to him, he first patted Zhao Changfeng’s shoulder, “This is Changfeng, Zhao Changfeng. He’s already a handsome young man a whole head taller than me. Changfeng is good at basketball. He just came back from the capital last month, and several universities have invited him for tryouts!”

Zhao Changfeng didn’t expect Jiang Huaiyuan to introduce him first and was a bit embarrassed by the praise. He suddenly realized he had blocked Jiang Ruotang.

He quickly turned sideways, tugged Jiang Ruotang’s arm, and whispered, “Why are you always behind me?”

“Your back is tall and straight; I admire it,” Jiang Ruotang smiled, his eyes curving.

Jiang Huaiyuan then patted Jiang Ruotang’s shoulder again, “Haha, this is Ruotang. When he was in kindergarten, you even held him. I wonder if you, ZhanChao, still remember.”

Qin ZhanChao revealed a slightly surprised expression, surveying Jiang Ruotang from head to toe.

Little Jiang Ruotang used to be a soft, chubby child, delicate and willful. He only went to kindergarten for one day and cried as if a faucet had been turned on.

More than ten years passed, and the once little baby had grown up.

“Hello, General Manager Qin,” Jiang Ruotang tilted his head.

Among a group of bald, pot-bellied executives and shareholders reeking of money, Qin ZhanChao was truly a breath of fresh air.

His features were sharp, his eyes held a keenness, yet he didn’t give off an overly oppressive feeling.

The man’s smile softened his aggressive demeanor. With his height, likely over 1.85 meters, and in that well-tailored black tuxedo, he exuded the aura of an industry elite straight out of a script, crucially without the unskillful, mysterious confidence of a domineering CEO.

Qin ZhanChao lowered his head slightly, leaning in to look into Jiang Ruotang’s eyes. Faint lines of a smile appeared at the corners of his eyes, truly giving off a familiar, older brother vibe.

“High school students shouldn’t bother with adult pleasantries and formalities. Just call me ‘Brother ZhanChao.’ You used to call me that when you were little.”

“Thank you, Brother ZhanChao.”

Good, at least he didn’t ask me to call him “Brother Qin,” which sounds like “Brother Love,” making my toes curl with every utterance.

And Jiang Ruotang knew that from the very beginning, Qin ZhanChao had been observing him.

He wanted to know if Jiang Ruotang had any ambitions for the chairman position. After all, even if Jiang Huaiyuan wanted to retire, if his son strongly desired the position, he might unite with other forces to reclaim it.

Jiang Ruotang thought to himself: Sigh, little Qin, you’re overthinking it. I know your capabilities; in my previous life, you were the only one who could challenge Lin Chengdong and infuriate him to the point of vomiting blood in the board meeting! A talent like you should just focus on doing well and earning more money and dividends for our family.

Only a top-tier workhorse like you deserves my dad’s assets.

Qin ZhanChao led the Jiang Huaiyuan family of four to Old Master Qin. After offering birthday greetings, Old Master Qin enthusiastically pulled Jiang Ruotang to his side, asking about his studies, grades, and future aspirations.

Jiang Ruotang graciously stated that he was determined to pursue his goal of attending the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

Old Master Qin chuckled, “Ruotang’s art scores are very high, and he even won a major award, right? But I heard that the Central Academy of Fine Arts also has high cultural score requirements!”

Jiang Huaiyuan, standing nearby, immediately said, “Ruotang has been studying very hard all year. He scored over 500 in all three mock exams.”

Old Master Qin immediately smiled: “Then it seems to be pretty much a sure thing.”

Jiang Ruotang rubbed the back of his head: “You’ve all revealed my hand. If I fail the college entrance exam, will I become a laughingstock on my dad’s WeChat Moments?”

Old Master Qin immediately said, “Who dares to laugh at you? Grandpa Qin will personally deal with them!”

Everyone laughed, looking quite harmonious, but only Old Master Qin and his grandson knew what was really going on inside.

Jiang Ruotang’s peripheral vision caught Zhao Changfeng, who was being chatted up by a foreigner. With his terrible English, only knowing the “how are you” trio, he probably looked utterly lost.

“Grandpa Qin, you adults always bring up the college entrance exam the moment you see me. It’s too much pressure. Can I go play with Changfeng?”

Old Master Qin laughed, “Go on, go on. It’s a rare chance to relax. Don’t think about anything; just eat and drink well!”

“Oh, I almost forgot. Happy birthday, Grandpa Qin! May your blessings be as vast as the Eastern Sea and your life as long as the Southern Mountains’ ageless pine!”

Jiang Ruotang respectfully bowed, making Old Master Qin burst into laughter, and guests around them looked over.

“Looking at this, the Jiang family doesn’t seem to have had much of a reaction to losing the chairman position, do they?”

“To put it bluntly, the Qin family has been decent enough, protecting Jiang Huaiyuan for nearly twenty years. Now that the position has been abdicated, Jiang Huaiyuan can be like a contented Liu Adou, so enlightened that this is actually a beautiful thing!”

“Moreover, Jiang Huaiyuan’s son is an art student, and his stepson is a sports student. Neither is material for management. In the future, if their descendants are also protected by the Qin family, it might not be a bad thing!”

---

Qi Yanfeng, the chairman of Hongtian Borui, was mingling with guests and heard these private discussions, letting out a faint chuckle.

Jiang Ruotang not management material?

In terms of investment vision and conceptual ideas, probably few people present could surpass him.

Qi Yanfeng was even curious what kind of expressions these people would have when Little Sweet Fruit announced the identity of its behind-the-scenes investment big shot.

Jiang Ruotang walked behind Zhao Changfeng and, hearing the foreigner babble a lot, realized that the other person was speaking French, not English.

“You’re here at just the right time. Help me tell this foreigner that I don’t understand him and to find someone else to chat with!”

Today was Zhao Changfeng’s indulgence day; he didn’t have to control his diet. This guy probably just wanted to grab a bunch of small cakes and such and quietly enjoy them in a corner.

In his previous life, because Bai Yingchuan was often invited to fashion weeks and for endorsements, he frequently encountered situations requiring French communication. So Jiang Ruotang specifically learned a bit; although it was only basic conversation, it should be enough for the current situation.

Jiang Ruotang spoke in French: “I’m sorry, my brother has no intention of becoming a model; he is solely dedicated to being a basketball player. Perhaps one day he will appear in the NBA, and at that time, sir, you can invite him to walk for your work again.”

The fashion designer immediately spoke to Jiang Ruotang enthusiastically, at a rather fast pace. Jiang Ruotang could only grasp a few keywords, roughly meaning that Zhao Changfeng possessed a unique blend of youthful innocence and sensual hormones, making his demeanor very special, and that he was destined to become a darling of the fashion world, and so on.

Jiang Ruotang showed a regretful expression: “But he loves basketball, and his resolve is unshakeable. So you’d better pray that he becomes a popular sports star in the future, so your brand can collaborate with his club, and then he’ll have to attend commercial events like fashion shows.”

The other party spoke for a long segment, then enthusiastically added Jiang Ruotang’s contact information, and even wanted to embrace him.

Zhao Changfeng immediately tensed up, shielding Jiang Ruotang behind him.

“What are you doing? What are you doing? Don’t touch him!”

“It’s okay, foreigners just like to greet this way!” Jiang Ruotang said with a laugh.

Zhao Changfeng immediately said seriously: “Even greetings are not allowed! He definitely thinks you’re good-looking and has improper thoughts about you!”

Jiang Ruotang’s eyes lit up: “Changfeng? You think I’m good-looking?”

“W-what’s so good-looking about a ‘white-cut chicken’? It’s not like Jian Sha says you have ‘peach blossom eyes’ every day… wh-what ‘blindingly captivating flowers’…”

Zhao Changfeng stammered, his neck turning red.

“I don’t care, you just said I’m good-looking!”

So he still wanted to take photos to show Lu Guifan!

Jiang Ruotang smiled very happily, holding his plate and taking something to eat.

“If only Cai Cai, Jian Sha, and the class monitor could be here too, there’s so much good food…” Zhao Changfeng said regretfully.

“They’re in class. Jian Sha just sent a message asking us to take pictures for her to see, so she can experience what this ‘luxurious banquet of high society’ is like, for her writing material.”

“Let’s eat first. We’ll take pictures for her after we’re full.”

Just then, a deep, soft chuckle came from behind Jiang Ruotang.