Chapter 78: An Unexpected Encounter with the Queen of Commerce

Li Chao gently took the proffered business card, his gaze settling upon the name—“Zhou Jiacheng.” In that instant, the three characters stirred a thousand thoughts in his mind. As the leader of Jiasheng Group in Kaiyuan County, Zhou Jiacheng’s reputation thundered through the business world. His company, in particular, had once reigned as the uncrowned king of Kaiyuan’s real estate scene—before the Liu family’s arrival, the title of county’s wealthiest belonged solely to him, making him the true local overlord.

Li Chao’s brows lifted ever so slightly, surprise flickering in his heart. He had never expected that the legendary “local dragon” would appear before him in person. Suddenly, Zhou Shaofeng’s previous arrogance made sense; the root was now clear and everything fell into place. A ripple of emotion stirred within Li Chao, his thoughts surging. This business titan, whom he once could only look up to from afar, was now lowering himself to apologize to him. The drama of this moment far exceeded anything he had imagined, leaving him with a sense of unreality.

The crowd nearby, witnessing this astonishing scene, were left wide-eyed and speechless, as if time itself had frozen. Those who had initially gathered merely for entertainment now found themselves awash in disbelief; the air was thick with incredulity.

On the edge of the crowd, in a concealed corner, Li Fugui trembled uncontrollably in utter shock. To him, Zhou Jiacheng was a figure beyond reach—just to secure a brief meeting would require elaborate planning and lengthy appointments. Yet now, this lofty magnate was displaying the utmost respect to a seemingly ordinary young man. The impact of this scene was nearly too much to bear. Had he not seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed such a reversal possible.

Then, two figures emerged slowly behind Zhou Jiacheng. One was the venerable and dignified Ye Wuji; the other, a woman clad in an elegantly simple white business suit. Her beauty was like a painting, her features as exquisitely sculpted as a masterwork in jade—never ostentatious, yet exquisitely refined. She did not possess the voluptuousness of traditional ideals, yet her bearing exuded a perfect balance of charm and poise. Especially striking were her long, graceful legs, their lines so fluid and natural they seemed nature’s own masterpiece, drawing every gaze in the room.

As she stepped into view, it seemed as though all color and light in the room faded, the carefully arranged flowers paling in comparison, as if all brilliance radiated from her alone. This was Liu Lele, a woman not only blessed with beauty, but also a unique and captivating charisma.

Originally, Liu Lele had been resting at the county hospital, paying little mind to Zhou Shaofeng’s antics. Yet fate had placed her with Ye Wuji, and through the high-tech remote surveillance system, they had inadvertently discovered the chaos unfolding at the scene—and that Li Chao was involved. Realizing the gravity of the situation, they sprang into action. Liu Lele was summoned at once, and with both concern for Li Chao and apprehension for the situation, she set out for the scene without hesitation. Meanwhile, to forestall any further escalation, Ye Wuji promptly notified Zhou Jiacheng, hoping he would intervene to quell the disturbance.

Liu Lele stepped forward, her gaze coolly sweeping over Zhou Shaofeng, her tone firm and unquestionable: “Young Master Zhou, is it because my family replaced yours as the wealthiest in Kaiyuan County that you harbor resentment?” Her words, though softly spoken, brimmed with a force not to be underestimated, and paired with her commanding presence, she seemed every inch the powerful businesswoman, as though she had stepped straight out of a television drama, her aura unmistakable.

Confronted by Liu Lele’s questioning, Zhou Shaofeng’s usual bluster vanished in an instant. He lacked even the courage to retort, lowering his head in silence. Once again, the ancient wisdom that “every strong man meets his match” proved true.

At this moment, Zhou Jiacheng stepped forward at just the right time. He sighed, his tone mingling reproach with resignation: “This child, I have indeed spoiled him. He acts without thought.” Turning to Liu Lele, he made a solemn apology: “On behalf of the Zhou family, I offer you my sincerest apologies, President Liu.”

Liu Lele nodded slightly to accept, but then shifted the focus to Li Chao: “However, my personal forgiveness is not enough to settle this matter. What truly matters is Mr. Li’s opinion.” She turned to Li Chao, her eyes gentle. “I heard you are having difficulty getting around these days, Mr. Li. If you don’t mind, perhaps we could offer a small token of assistance.”

Zhou Jiacheng caught her meaning at once and immediately agreed, “President Liu is absolutely right. Please, leave this to me.” With that, he bowed deeply to Li Chao once more, then gave Zhou Shaofeng a stern kick, signaling him to leave together. Thus, the storm was quelled.

“All right, Xie Long, you may all head back now,” Li Chao said coolly. His tone carried an undeniable authority. Xie Long hastily nodded, sweat beading on his brow under the lights, and hurried off with his men, anxious to avoid further trouble. With their departure, peace returned at last to the scene.

Ye Wuji strode over to Chen Shan, grasped his hand warmly, and smiled with genuine affection: “Brother Li, what a small world it is! We meet again!” This unexpected display of warmth surprised those who knew Ye Wuji, for he was not known for such easy familiarity. The two exchanged a few brief, cordial words, their rapport evident.

Liu Lele then stepped forward with graceful composure, extending her fair, slender hand to Li Chao and smiling: “Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Liu Lele. It is truly an honor to see you here today, and I must thank you again for saving my life.” Li Chao smiled lightly and shook her hand politely. “You’re too kind, President Liu. It was nothing. How is your recovery? Seeing your good spirits puts my mind at ease.”

Liu Lele’s smile brightened. “Thanks to you, I’m almost completely recovered. I had originally planned to visit and thank you in person after I was well, but fate has brought us together sooner than expected.”

The exchange left the three in a warm and harmonious atmosphere. Around them, envious gazes abounded—receiving the favor of both Ye Wuji and Liu Lele, Li Chao’s status and strength were beyond doubt.

“Come, let’s continue our conversation upstairs in the office,” Liu Lele invited, gesturing toward the upper floor. Li Chao nodded, turned to give Sun Peng a brief instruction to leave ahead, and prepared to accompany Liu Lele upstairs.

In that moment of warmth tinged with farewell, a delicate voice broke the calm. The waitress standing behind Li Chao, Song Ying, after a moment’s hesitation, summoned her courage and tugged gently at his sleeve, speaking softly and shyly: “My name is Song Ying. I hope we’ll meet again someday.” Her voice, though quiet, was filled with nervous anticipation, as if she had mustered all her courage for this one moment.

Li Chao turned in response, offering Su Yi a warm smile and a gentle nod. He did not linger, for greater matters awaited him, but he understood that for Song Ying, this passing encounter might leave a deep and lasting mark.

As they conversed, the lobby manager, ever observant, seized the opportunity to approach Liu Lele quietly, lowering his voice to a whisper: “President Liu, that man over there is Jiang Shiren. What do you think…” His tone was cautious and uneasy, clearly concerned about Jiang Shiren’s identity or conduct.

Following the manager’s gesture, Liu Lele’s gaze quickly settled on Jiang Shiren in the crowd. She frowned slightly, as if pondering something, but soon regained her composure. The manager’s warning had caught her attention, prompting her to inquire about Jiang Shiren’s identity. Li Chao’s reply was brief and unambiguous: “Just an acquaintance. We’re not close.”

Those few words doused Jiang Shiren’s hopes like a bucket of cold water. The light faded from his eyes; he had hoped that attending such an event with Li Chao might win him a chance to connect with the likes of Liu Lele, Zhou Jiacheng, and Ye Wuji, and thus change his fate. Reality, however, was cruel—Li Chao’s casual dismissal shattered all his illusions.

Liu Lele merely nodded in response, sparing Jiang Shiren not a single glance more before leading Li Chao and Ye Wuji upstairs. Her attitude was clear and resolute; she never wasted time or energy on irrelevant people or matters.

Jiang Shiren stood alone, watching the three recede into the distance, regret and self-reproach welling within him. He slapped himself twice, as if such punishment could ease his inner pain and bitterness. Only now did he realize how shallow his understanding of Li Chao had been—he had seen only the surface, never grasping the strength and status that lay behind. This experience was a harsh lesson, prompting him to reflect on his own conduct and attitude. He understood that true change required more than currying favor with the powerful—it demanded the improvement of one’s own abilities and character.

Jiang Shiren’s emotions were a chaotic blend of regret and frustration. He now fully appreciated what it meant to be blind to someone’s true worth. Had he known Li Chao’s capabilities ran so deep, had he realized that even the county’s top figures—Liu Lele, Zhou Jiacheng, Ye Wuji—valued his friendship, how could he have squandered the chance to build a deeper relationship? Looking back on his own rashness and neglect, he was filled with remorse.

He understood now that he had once had the opportunity to stand beside these successful people, to learn from their wisdom and experience, perhaps even to change his own fate. But due to his own shortsightedness and ignorance, all hope was lost. “Who else can I blame?” Jiang Shiren murmured to himself, burdened by guilt and helplessness. He knew these were the consequences of his own choices—no one else was to blame. Yet, even so, he could not suppress his sense of loss and unwillingness.

Through this bitter lesson, Jiang Shiren began to reexamine his life and values. He realized that to find one’s footing in this world, luck and opportunity were not enough—true strength and intelligence were essential.

He resolved to better himself, hoping that one day he could earn the respect and recognition of others through his own abilities. At the same time, he learned to approach relationships with greater caution and humility. He understood that everyone had their own worth and potential; it was folly to judge by appearances or first impressions. Only by truly knowing a person could one make sound judgments and decisions.

In the back seat of a Mercedes G-Class, Zhou Jiacheng sat gazing pensively out the window, while Zhou Shaofeng sat beside him, visibly disgruntled and grumbling his grievances. Zhou Jiacheng sighed softly. He understood his son’s sense of injustice, but he knew even more clearly that Li Chao’s capabilities and background were far from what they appeared on the surface.

“Shaofeng, you’re mistaken,” Zhou Jiacheng said slowly, his tone grave and weighty. “Li Chao is not the country bumpkin you imagine. His abilities and methods are beyond anything you or I can comprehend. Xie Long is a notorious tough in Kaiyuan County, yet before Li Chao, he was crushed like an ant. Do you realize the magnitude of the disparity?”

Zhou Shaofeng’s expression shifted, but he still refused to concede. “But… but I’m the county’s number one bad boy. Are we just going to let this go?”

Zhou Jiacheng shook his head earnestly. “Shaofeng, the world does not judge everything by your status or identity. Strength is the true measure of all things. Li Chao possesses not only formidable skill, but also remarkable luck and connections. Ye Wuji—he’s a veritable pillar of Kaiyuan. The fact that he addresses Li Chao as a brother speaks volumes about Li Chao’s standing and ability.”

“And Liu Lele,” Zhou Jiacheng continued, “when she was in that car accident, you and I both know how dire it was. Yet Li Chao was able to snatch her back from the jaws of death. Such medical prowess and nerve are far beyond our reach.”

Zhou Shaofeng fell silent, beginning to realize just how mistaken he had been in underestimating Li Chao. Reflecting on the day’s events, he felt a surge of fear; had his father not been present to intervene, a direct conflict with Li Chao would have led to unimaginable consequences.

“Dad, I understand,” Zhou Shaofeng finally said, bowing his head, his voice tinged with dejection and resignation. “I’ll remember this lesson and never again look down on anyone.”

Zhou Jiacheng nodded in satisfaction. He knew his son was impulsive, but not beyond redemption. As long as he could recognize his mistakes and correct them, there was hope for his future.

“Remember this,” Zhou Jiacheng said at last, “never underestimate anyone. You never know what strength or background they may have hidden behind them.”

His words struck Zhou Shaofeng like a hammer, forcing him to reconsider his view of Li Chao. The resentment and anger he had felt were gradually replaced by reason and awe.

“Dad, I understand,” Zhou Shaofeng repeated, this time with determination in his voice. “I’ll never again belittle anyone, especially someone as truly capable as Li Chao. As for today’s incident, I’ll do as you instruct—personally go to Huaxi City, pick out a fine car, and present it to Li Chao as an apology and a gesture of goodwill.”

Zhou Jiacheng nodded approvingly, a glint of admiration in his eyes. He knew that although his son was young and impulsive, he was not beyond hope. If he could learn from his mistakes and improve, he would surely achieve great things in the future.

“Remember, when forging connections, don’t just look at someone’s status—what matters more is their ability and potential,” Zhou Jiacheng said earnestly. “If someone like Li Chao is allowed to thrive, he’ll become a figure of great influence. Befriending him can bring you unimaginable benefits in the future.”

These words brought clarity to Zhou Shaofeng’s mind. He realized just how shortsighted he had been. Now, a new goal emerged—he would strive to better himself and seek out more friendships with capable people like Li Chao.

“Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll seize this opportunity,” Zhou Shaofeng replied, raising his head, his eyes shining with resolve. “Not only will I deliver the car to Li Chao myself, I’ll also strive to learn from him and become someone just as capable.”

A gratified smile spread across Zhou Jiacheng’s face. He knew his son had truly begun to mature and understand how to survive and thrive in this complex, ever-changing world. He believed that before long, Zhou Shaofeng would carve out a place for himself in the world.