Chapter 55: The Regretful Relatives
This was Xiaoyuan’s way of repaying her?
Everyone fell silent, staring intently at Cheng Yuan.
When Cheng Yuan got in trouble with the law, they had all thought he was a lost cause, that his life was over.
That’s why Wu Renqing, Wu Renguang, and Wu Xiulan didn’t lend them money, choosing to stand by and do nothing.
Back then, they had even mocked Wu Xiuhua, saying she was so poor she could barely feed herself, yet she was still trying to save face by lending her eldest sister’s family five thousand yuan.
But now...
Wu Renqing, Wu Renguang, and Wu Xiulan were all filled with regret!
If they had known Cheng Yuan would become so successful, if they had known he was so generous that he would give away a twenty-million-yuan annex building without a second thought, they would have lent his mother money back then—and they would have lent more!
Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs" in this world.
Wu Xiuhua murmured, "But, this is more than a thousand times the amount! I really can’t accept it! It’s far too valuable!"
Wu Xiuli smiled. "Xiuhua, if Xiaoyuan is giving it to you, just accept it. We sisters can live together, and it’ll be easier to take care of Elder Gu."
Easier to take care of Elder Gu??
Wu Xiuhua turned to look at Elder Gu, who had been silent the whole time.
Elder Gu gave her a slight nod. He knew his children’s characters very well. Xiuli was the most straightforward, and Xiuhua was the kindest. He had always worried that these two would be taken advantage of, but now that Xiaoyuan was successful, he didn’t need to worry about anything anymore.
Since Elder Gu had nodded, Wu Xiuhua could only nod back in reluctant acceptance.
"Xiaoyuan, I appreciate your kindness. I’ll accept Annex One. If you ever need money and have to sell it, just tell me. Your Second Aunt will move out for you immediately."
Cheng Yuan smiled. "Don’t worry, Second Aunt. That day will never come."
A moment ago, Lian Shishi couldn’t have been bothered with Cheng Yuan, but now, a fawning smile spread across her face. "Cousin, you’re so capable! Starting from nothing and earning hundreds of millions... Do you have any good money-making tips? How about you help us younger cousins out?"
Lian Shishi’s words reminded everyone, and they all looked at Cheng Yuan with confusion.
"Xiaoyuan, you just got out of prison. What connections did you use to make so much money?"
Cheng Yuan began to spin a tale. "What connections could I have? I just helped Boss Mei Xing’an out with a small matter. Villa One was his thank-you gift. The favor he owed me has long since been repaid."
Mei Xing’an?
Everyone gasped!
Isn’t he the biggest real estate developer in Luocheng?
A moment ago, when Cheng Yuan said the favor had been repaid, they might have believed him. But now, no one believed his nonsense.
What kind of favor would be repaid with a 260-million-yuan villa?
A favor that immense would have to be for saving his life, and even that could never truly be repaid!
’This must mean Xiaoyuan has latched onto the juggernaut that is the Xing’an Group!’
Of course, no one would expose Cheng Yuan’s lie.
Lian Shishi was dying to see Villa One, but her relationship with Cheng Yuan was mediocre at best, so she was too embarrassed to ask. Instead, she turned to Liu Qian.
"Cousin, I heard Annex One is even bigger than most small villas. Why don’t you take us for a look and let us broaden our horizons?"
All this time, Liu Qian had always felt inferior around Lian Shishi. This was the first time she had ever felt a sense of vindication.
Liu Qian didn’t answer Lian Shishi directly. She turned and looked at Cheng Yuan, asking with her eyes. "Cousin, is it okay?"
Cheng Yuan knew what Lian Shishi was planning. Since the cat was already out of the bag, there was no need to be reserved. "Annex One is your house now, why are you asking me? Let’s go. We’ll all go together."
"Yeah!!"
With Cheng Yuan’s approval, all the younger cousins became excited. They were actually going to have the chance to tour Villa One!
After learning that Cheng Yuan was the owner of Villa One, Wu Kun completely lost any desire to compete with him. He very perceptively went to Elder Gu’s side. "Grandpa, let me help you. Villa One is a bit far, let’s drive over."
To Wu Kun’s surprise, Elder Gu didn’t answer him. Instead, he turned to Cheng Yuan. "Xiaoyuan, I haven’t been in a taxi for over a decade. Help me to your father’s taxi."
"Alright!"
Cheng Yuan quickly helped Elder Gu and walked toward the taxi.
If this had been before, Wu Renqing and Wu Xiulan would have surely tried to stop them and fought to have Elder Gu with them.
After all, whoever Elder Gu was closest to was a symbol of which family was the most successful.
But now, Wu Renqing and Wu Xiulan could only offer a bitter smile.
In the face of the owner of the Building King, they lacked the courage to compete in the slightest.
’Since they couldn’t win over Elder Gu, they would have to win over Xiuhua (Second Sister)!’
"Xiuhua, Zhengyun, ride in our car!" Wu Renqing invited, hoping to mend his relationship with Wu Xiuhua.
Wu Xiuhua gave a slight nod.
Liu Zhengyun, on the other hand, was rather flattered.
Ever since his business failed, Liu Zhengyun had been given the cold shoulder by everyone, living on the fringes of the family. This was the first time his eldest brother-in-law had ever paid him any real attention.
’Liu Zhengyun knew that all of this was thanks to Xiaoyuan!’
’Back when his wife wanted to lend money to her older sister, he had questioned it. Looking back now, his wife had been brilliant. She had bet on the right horse!’
Seeing Wu Xiuhua and her husband snatched up by her big brother, Wu Xiulan shot a look at Lian Shishi.
Lian Shishi understood her mother’s intention and affectionately grabbed Liu Qian’s hand. "Cousin, let’s sit together."
"Oh, okay."
VROOM! VROOM!
The convoy set off.
This time, the lead car wasn’t the Hongqi H9, but Cheng Hongbing’s taxi.
This was the first time Cheng Hongbing had ever driven Elder Gu, and he was a little nervous.
"Dad, is the speed okay? Not too bumpy, is it?"
"Hongbing, don’t be nervous. Just pretend you’re driving a regular customer. Drive like you normally do."
"Yes, okay."
Soon, they arrived at Villa One.
Cheng Yuan helped Elder Gu out of the car, and the other relatives followed suit.
When they observed it from a distance, they hadn’t fully grasped its scale. Up close, Villa One was simply immense, absolutely luxurious. Even its two annex buildings could easily put other small villas to shame!
This made everyone burn with envy.
CLICK!
Cheng Yuan opened the large iron gate of the villa and invited his relatives in.
"Everyone, please, come in."
Everyone walked into the villa gingerly, and were then stunned by the beautiful scenery inside.
"Is this a castle from a fairy tale? It’s too beautiful!"
"This lawn is even more beautiful than the grass on a soccer field. It’s obviously professionally maintained. And the paths paved with cobblestones... it has such a great atmosphere!"
Following the cobblestone path, the group headed straight for the main building.
In front of the main building was an outdoor swimming pool, and next to it was a row of lounge chairs with sun umbrellas.
Lian Shishi was green with envy. "This pool is huge! The water is so clear! It’s just as good as the most high-end swimming club I’ve ever been to!"
Wu Kun gave a bitter smile. "The key difference is that you have to pay to go to a swimming club. Xiaoyuan can swim a lap here every single day."
The relatives looked at each other, speechless. The good mood from buying their own large apartments had completely vanished, crushed to dust by Villa One.
Cheng Yuan, smiling brightly, extended another invitation: "Don’t just stand outside, come in and have a look!"