Pinkie promise, cross my heart, a hundred years without breaking it?

Regarding Chen Ling and his business, Ruan Hui had actually made some inquiries among his classmates and lingered quietly in the group chat. After all, his master had told him to wait for the right opportunity, and he had already deduced that Chen Ling was the leader among them—a vision as sharp as a hawk’s. Yet when he entered the dormitory just now and saw that "mountain of gold," his heart couldn't help but race wildly, his mouth dry. He knew it was Bao Zhenhai's commission—how could even he have made so much money? Then how much had Chen Ling and Zhang Peng earned?

“Why?”
His thoughts echoed those of Ye Jianwei.
“We’re all university students, and I’m the one with the best grades. Why is it them making the big money and not me?”
“Heh~ Let them enjoy their triumph for a few more days. Soon, everything will be different!”

Chen Ling stood alone on the balcony, smoking and deep in thought…
Ruan Hui’s sudden return had been marked by a strange demeanor. His smile was clearly forced, his enthusiasm excessive and servile, and he would occasionally exchange mysterious smiles with himself.
Harboring resentment? Most likely. The fragile harmony of the dorm was broken by Chen Ling, and the comments Ruan Hui made online showed he had significant grievances against the others. These grievances would inevitably turn into hostility, directed at a specific target…

At that moment, Zhang Peng slipped out, closing the door behind him as he leaned in to whisper to Chen Ling, “Do you think Ruan Hui’s been possessed or something? I hear there’s a fortune teller, Blind Chen, in the nearby neighborhood who’s supposed to be incredible. Should we recommend him? This is too bizarre! He’s like a completely different person!”

“Blind Chen?” Chen Ling raised an eyebrow. “Are you implying something about me?”

“Misunderstanding! Just a coincidence!” Zhang Peng laughed sheepishly, then grew serious. “Chen, there’s something I want to discuss with you.”

Chen Ling turned to look at him.

“I’ve crunched the numbers. All our current funds amount to about 3.4 million. Based on the announced figures, each apartment number requires a 20,000 deposit, so we can only secure about 170 units. That’s not even counting basic operating costs! But the opening dates of Qingfeng Community and Binhu Flower City practically coincide, and there’ll be over 350 units released… If we don’t grab as many as possible, it feels like a waste. So I’m thinking—should I ask my dad for another round of funds to buy up all the units?”

Seeing Chen Ling remain silent, Zhang Peng quickly added, “Don’t worry! The investment ratio won’t affect our shareholding. The profits will be divided as usual. I just think it’d be a shame not to make the most of this opportunity!”

Chen Ling chuckled softly. “Peng, do you think what I care about most is profit?”

“Huh? Isn’t that the most important thing?” Zhang Peng was baffled.

Chen Ling sighed and shook his head. “Peng, what I dislike most is how you play dumb. Your acting is terrible, yet you wear a mask every day. Isn’t it exhausting?”

Zhang Peng froze, gradually dropping his confused expression as he watched Chen Ling, a smile creeping onto his lips.
“You figured it out?”

“Just now.” Chen Ling pursed his lips; after his intelligence template had leveled up, many fragments began to fit together. He’d been piecing them together on the balcony earlier, analyzing the information.
What shocked him most was Zhang Peng’s disguise! There had been hints—like when he helped Bao Zhenhai out, or deliberately acted low-IQ coming out of Feng Lifang’s house, or when he reduced his own shares.
Zhang Peng was actually very smart. With a father who built a group from nothing, there was no reason he’d be a fool! At least, not at the level he appeared to be…

Yet he had always stood firmly behind Chen Ling, letting him shine in every moment, giving him every benefit…
Kindness, he gave; profit, he offered—all for one purpose: binding Chen Ling to the Zhang family’s ship!
It was a frightening strategy.
With time and repeated gestures, once the moment was ripe, if Zhang Peng extended an olive branch to Chen Ling…
Chen Ling would have no choice but to accept.

“Didn’t you tell me to listen to my father?” Zhang Peng lit a cigarette and looked into the distance. “Actually, I’ve always reported everything about the business, including you, to my dad. He said, if you didn’t notice, you’d be destined to be a high-level employee…”
Chen Ling also gazed out, smoking quietly, waiting.

“If you did notice, then you’d be one in a million… Forget it. Someone like you, not just me—even my dad says he can’t control you. Because you’re destined never to be beneath anyone; you were born to overturn the heavens!”

“So you and your father planned to trap me?” Chen Ling laughed. “Luckily, I’m sharp. But it’s fine—I understand. If I were in your shoes, I’d do the same.”

“I knew you’d understand.” Zhang Peng took a deep drag and exhaled slowly, returning to his usual lazy demeanor. “This is good—I can finally relax. Acting every day is exhausting.”

Chen Ling turned to Zhang Peng, sharing a smile. “All right. Now let’s talk business. You want to ask your dad for funds to maximize profits—I get it. But how well do you really know your father? We’re starting a company, using some of your family’s resources and connections—that’s natural, since you’re the heir.”

“But directly reallocating funds from your family, while it can maximize profits, have you considered the implications?”

Zhang Peng frowned, thinking deeply… After a moment, he looked at Chen Ling in disbelief. “You mean, this is also a test from my father?”

“What else? You’re the heir! It’s Pengcheng Group—worth billions!” Chen Ling smiled as if it were obvious. “So what we really need to consider is how to raise another round of funds! It doesn’t matter how we get it, but it mustn’t come from your father.”

Zhang Peng thought for a moment, a guilty look crossing his face. “So you’re looking out for me…”

“You were trying to trap me—I can’t trap you in return!” Chen Ling smiled. “How should I put it… I’m a bit complicated. My standards for friends or brothers are quite high. But at the same time, I really hope… we’re true friends, bound together not just by profit! If you agree…”

“After all, your standards for friends aren’t low either, are they?”

“Friends?” Zhang Peng glanced back through the glass at Bao Zhenhai, who was happily counting money. “Before today, I didn’t have a single one… but after today, well, hey~”

“Should we pinky swear for a hundred years? Get it stamped?” Chen Ling stuck out his pinky and grinned mischievously.

Zhang Peng immediately felt exasperated. “Come on, isn’t that way too childish?”

Even so, he subconsciously extended his own pinky…

“Just kidding! Two grown men, really? You pervert! Hahaha…” Chen Ling burst out laughing.

Zhang Peng: “???”

Damn it, be human!

After a bout of laughter…

“So, where do we get another round of funds?” Zhang Peng was genuinely stumped. “Over 350 units, 7 million! We’re still short by 3.5 million! What else can you do?”

Chen Ling smiled slightly, turned on the faucet to extinguish his cigarette, and flicked it perfectly into the dustpan in the corner. “You’ll find out. But you’ll have to wait a bit—I have some personal matters to sort out first.”

His smile filled Zhang Peng with surprise and anticipation!
A profit of over four million in a month had already shocked Zhang Peng. Now, another round?
He really couldn’t figure out Chen Ling’s trump card—not even a hint…

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