CH 99

Chapter 99: Meeting But Not Recognizing

The Zheng family wasn’t one of the biggest families in Central City, but it was definitely one of the richest. The villa where the Zheng family lived even had a garden. All kinds of non-mutated plants decorated the garden, making it a breathtaking sight.

Shi Qingyang and Cheng Ran followed Zheng Gaoyuan in. After a few steps, they saw a pair of old people looking at them excitedly. Although Zheng Gaoyuan didn’t tell his family about his arrival in Central City, it was obvious that the elders of the Zheng family had already known.

“Xiao Yuan…” Grandpa Zheng was about the same age as Cheng Xuze. Although he used to see his grandson over video chat, now he was really excited. He looked Zheng Gaoyuan up and down, and his lips couldn’t help shaking.

“Xiao Yuan is so handsome now!” Zheng Gaoyuan’s grandmother, with tears in her eyes, stealthily wiped them away with her hands. When Zheng Gaoyuan was young, they had still been working, so this child ended up suffering a great injustice. She had always regretted this. Now she was very happy to see Zheng Gaoyuan return to normal.

“Grandpa, grandma.” Zheng Gaoyuan’s nervousness disappeared, and he sniffed. When he spoke, he also cried a little. Although he hadn’t come back in the past few years, he had been chatting with his grandparents. Although he had been a little homesick at first, at this moment, all of his feelings came rushing back.

“Shi Qingyang, thank you so much. If it weren’t for you, Xiao Yuan wouldn’t have this chance.” Zheng Gaoyuan’s grandfather had already set his eyes on Shi Qingyang.

Shi Qingyang had listened to such thanks many times, and smiled: “This is also a result of his own effort.” At first, Zheng Gaoyuan had been forced by him, but later he also relied on his own efforts to reach level-5–If he didn’t work hard, even if he had eaten the meat of the queen ant, he wouldn’t be so excellent.

“If it weren’t for you, how would he work hard? I’ve always wanted to thank you in person, but my bones are too old and can’t walk long… Please come in!” Grandpa Zheng said quickly.

“Grandpa, you found out I was back already?” Zheng Gaoyuan was surprised to see the tea and snacks already prepared in the room.

“I heard it from Feng Linqiu. If he hadn’t contacted me yesterday, I wouldn’t have known about it. You……” Grandpa Zheng sighed.

“Grandpa, I don’t know what to say.” Zheng Gaoyuan scratched his head: “Grandpa, haven’t I come back early this morning?”

“Well, since you’re back, you can stay at home. Your father has missed you so much these past few years. As for other people, you don’t have to care about them,” Grandma Zheng advised.

“Grandpa, I’m not used to living here, so I’d better live with Master. I……” Zheng Gaoyuan touched his hair and finally thought of a reason: “I want to compete in the Rad-Energy Competition and train every day!”

“The Radiaton Energy Competition?” Zheng Gaoyuan’s grandfather asked in surprise, “Xiao Yuan, is it dangerous? You’re now level-4, so it won’t be much fun to participate. It’s better to go to Central Academy and take over the family business in the future.” In the past, because Zheng Gaoyuan’s brain was bad, he had lost his rights to inherit the Zheng family, but now Zheng Gaoyuan was normal.

“Grandpa, you should let me go. I’m not a student, my brain’s bad at thinking. Someone like Brother Cheng is the right kind of person to go into studying,” Zheng Gaoyuan hurriedly spoke in front of his grandparents, and he finally stopped calling Cheng Ran casually, instead calling him brother. Zheng Gaoyuan said, “Grandpa, do you know anyone from Central Academy? Brother Cheng is going there to study!”

“I have several people I know at Central Academy. I’ll ask them right away,” Grandpa Zheng immediately said. When he saw that his grandson obviously didn’t want to stay, he didn’t ask: “But if you want to enter Central Academy, you’ll have to take the entrance examination…”

“This is certainly no problem, Grandpa Zheng. If someone wanted to go to the Central Radiation Energy College for further study, what should they do?” Shi Qingyang asked. He would stay in Central City for a long while this time. It wasn’t like him to stay at home, so he had the intention to go to the Central Radiation Energy College.

This was the place where the most thorough research on radiation energy was conducted in the whole of China… He had been very strong when he had gone to Central City in his last life. He had been employed as an honorary professor there, but he’d never had the opportunity to study there. In fact, it was a pity.

“The Central Radiation Energy College also needs an examination, but if you are strong, you can enter directly. You are already a level-5 rad-energy warrior, and you are not yet 25 years old. Just go through the formalities. Let me say say some words for you,” Grandpa Zheng immediately said.

“Thank you.” Shi Qingyang smiled.

“No need, it’s nothing much. I’ll just help you go in faster at the most… It’s me who should say thank you. I never would have thought Xiao Yuan could become like this,” Grandpa Zheng said. If he hadn’t seen Zheng Gaoyuan lose a little weight, he might not have recognized this grandson now.

The two men thanked each other again and again, and Shi Qingyang could not adapt to it. At that moment, someone came to report that the second young master had come.

Zheng Gaoyuan was already much more comfortable. When he heard the words “second young master”, his face stiffened. The second young master of the Zheng family was the child born by the woman who killed him. Before that woman doing something to him had been discovered, he hadn’t been as good at things as his brother, and had often been laughed at.

When the woman’s conniving was discovered, his brother had been sent away for a period of time, but even so, the other side was still better than him. Many people liked to compare him with his brother, and this man even made trouble for him several times in private.

“What is he doing here?” Grandpa Zheng frowned. He had guessed that Zheng Gaoyuan might come today, but he didn’t even tell his son, precisely to help Zheng Gaoyuan relax…

“Grandpa, dad asked me to bring you something.” Zheng Gaocheng came in from the outside with two keys in his hand: “Grandpa, you asked Dad to prepare two of the latest combat armored vehicles for you. Now I’ve brought them.”

Zheng Gaocheng was a few years younger than Zheng Gaoyuan, but he looked much more mature. He respectfully gave the two car keys to his grandfather and looked at Shi Qingyang and the others: “Grandpa, they are your guests? They seem very excellent.”

Grandpa Zheng was shocked when he heard this. Zheng Gaocheng had been trying to get close to him to try and curry favor from him. He had known this for a long time and understood that Zheng Gaocheng should have received the news that he was receiving guests at this time, so he specially looked for an opportunity to come, but he didn’t expect that this person wouldn’t recognize Zheng Gaoyuan.

Thinking about it, in Zheng Gaocheng’s memory, Zheng Gaoyuan had never lost weight. Not only that, they didn’t tell anyone about Zheng Gaoyuan’s contact with them over the years. They only showed their son Zheng Gaoyuan’s photos…

Although his son didn’t even know that his wife had harmed his son in the beginning, that had been because of his cold personality. Now he had deprived Zheng Gaocheng of his inheritance right. Naturally, he wouldn’t show Zheng Gaoyuan’s photos to him for no reason.

“Oh, am I excellent?” Zheng Gaoyuan had been ready for his brother when he saw him, but he didn’t expect that he wouldn’t be recognized by him at all…

“People who can let Grandpa send them armored vehicles must be excellent.” Zheng Gaocheng immediately said, “You’re from Central City, are you? Are you here to participate in the Radiation Energy Competition?” In the annual Radiation Energy Competition, the Zheng family would take the opportunity to advertise their armored vehicles. Now Zheng Gaocheng naturally felt this was related. In his opinion, the three people sitting in front of him looked like radiation warriors. In this case, the two armored vehicles should naturally be sent to Zheng Gaoyuan and Shi Qingyang.

Zheng Gaocheng’s attitude was very warm, but Zheng Gaoyuan couldn’t help laughing: “Yes, I’m here to participate in the Radiation Energy Competition!”

“You have the same momentum as Feng Linqiu. I’m sure you’ll win,” Zheng Gaocheng complimented. Since his mother’s plotting had become known, his life in the Zheng family had become difficult. It was clear that those things had nothing to do with him, but he had been deprived of his inheritance rights. In the future, he could only get a little dividend like Zheng Gaoyuan, a fool… Maybe he would get even less than Zheng Gaoyuan.

Of course, Zheng Gaocheng would not be happy with this result, so he had been trying to get close to his grandparents. Now he saw people who were valued by his grandparents, so he tried to curry favor with them.

Feng Linqiu was a recognized genius. He had always looked down on his younger brother, yet thought he was the same as Feng Linqiu? Zheng Gaoyuan was in a complicated mood for a while, and suddenly realized that there was no need for him to show his shyness: “Second brother, I will be embarrassed if you praise me so much.”

Zheng Gaocheng was overwhelmed by Zheng Gaoyuan’s “second brother” and was completely speechless. In the whole hall, only Zheng Gaoyuan laughed.

“You… Are you Zheng Gaoyuan?” Zheng Gaocheng looked at Zheng Gaoyuan in disbelief. Now Zheng Gaoyuan was in his mid-twenties, with sword eyebrows and starry eyes. He was handsome and completely different from the fat man in the beginning… How could this be Zheng Gaoyuan?

“Gaocheng, he is your elder brother. Your elder brother’s disease has been cured. He is now a level-4 radiant warrior,” Grandpa Zheng proudly opened his mouth. The people of the Zheng family were not very good in radiation energy. He was only level-4, his son was only level-4, and Zheng Gaocheng was even only level-3 now.

“Level-4?” Zheng Gaocheng looked at Zheng Gaoyuan in shock. Six years ago, his brother couldn’t even learn the lowest level of combat skills. Now he was level-4.

“Grandpa, I’m not level-4.” Zheng Gaoyuan waved his hand.

“You’re level-3? Level-3 is good,” Grandpa Zheng immediately said. It was Zheng Gaoyuan who had bragged about his strength.

“How can it be level-3, Grandpa? I broke through level-5 not long ago.” Zheng Gaoyuan smiled and was very proud.

Since he wanted to take part in the Radiation Energy Competition, his strength would naturally be exposed. As far as his age was concerned, although he was a young master at level-5, there were also many like him.

“Level 5?” Grandpa Zheng and Zheng Gaocheng each took a quick inhale of breath. When Grandpa Zheng went to look at Shi Qingyang again, it was just like seeing a savior.

As for Zheng Gaocheng, his face became even more ugly. Originally, Zheng Gaoyuan had been inferior to him in every respect. This person he had known from childhood suddenly surpassed him… Now he even wanted to slap himself and let him swallow all he said before.

Shi Qingyang’s treatment in the Zheng family had been improved a lot. When he returned home that night, he drove the latest armored vehicle and had many gifts in hand. As soon as he got home, he met Cheng Xuze, who had just returned from the Feng’s home. Like him, Cheng Xuze also had many gifts in hand.

“Grandpa, you’re back?”

“Yes, I’m back at last!” Cheng Xuze was a little impressed: “This was the first time I experienced Feng Yunhong being such a warm and hospitable person.”

He had met Feng Yunhong before. At that time, Feng Yunhong didn’t talk to him much, but this time he was really enthusiastic and asked a lot about the pharmacists of the Cheng family.

“Different situations create different attitudes. Grandpa, I don’t think he is a good person,” Shi Qingyang said. The Cheng family was not what it used to be. Every company in their hands was a hen laying golden eggs, which naturally attracted people’s attention.

Although the Feng family was a big family, there didn’t have many companies that exerted a lot of influence, especially as far as money was concerned. In their last life, they once made a lot of money by acquiring the Huofeng company of the Zheng family. But in this life, they did not have this opportunity, so maybe they would target the Cheng family.

“I know that. Although Feng Yunhong is an old fox, I am no worse than him.” Cheng Xuze smiled: “Well, let’s not stand at the door. Go in.”

Cheng Xuze now didn’t treat Shi Qingyang as a child like before. After entering the house, he spoke a lot about the Feng’s home, which had also provided letters of recommendation for Cheng Ran and Shi Qingyang to Central Academy. If they were willing, they could go to study with the letter of recommendation.

This enthusiasm from the Feng family was not much different from that he’d experienced his first time coming to Central City… they had sent another recommendation letter. The Zheng family’s was naturally not as good as the Feng family’s recommendation, but Shi Qingyang still did not intend to use the Feng family’s letter. He even deleted the recommendation letter sent by Cheng Xuze to him as soon as he finished his conversation with Cheng Xuze.

“That Feng Linqiu is not a good person.” Seeing this scene, Cheng Ran affirmed Shi Qingyang’s behavior.

“That’s right, he’s not a good man!” Shi Qingyang smiled and began to deal with his affairs in Central City with Cheng Ran in his arms. Early this morning, Shang Mufeng had gone out to find a suitable building and planned to open more Qinghe taverns. Now the results had been achieved.

Not only that, Shang Mufeng, who had just come to Central City, also found some employees for Shi Qingyang, and their information had been sent over.

Shi Qingyang was not a businessman. These things were handed over to the people recommended by Shang Mufeng and Cheng Xuze. After seeing them, he let them go. Then he turned around and hugged Cheng Ran: “Ranran, tomorrow we will go to Central Academy first, and then to the Radiation Energy Competition. In the future, shall we study together?”

“Good.” Cheng Ran put his hands around Shi Qingyang’s neck.

Although one couldn’t see anything from Cheng Ran’s appearance, he was really a level-6 radiant warrior. So although Shi Qingyang was very bold last night, the next day, one couldn’t see any signs from him. Just after putting on his clothes, Cheng Ran couldn’t help thinking: “Qingyang, I don’t think my new ointment is suitable. There are too many herbs in it, making it feel too chilly on me yesterday.”

“There’s nothing bad about it. It’s a double heaven of ice and fire…” Shi Qingyang felt it was especially good. After feeling cold, the chrysanthemum would tighten up…

“If you like it, we’ll keep using it.” Cheng Ran nodded. In fact, he had mainly worried that Shi Qingyang would feel too cold and go soft.

“Master, brother Cheng, what ointment are you talking about?” Zheng Gaoyuan popped out again.

“Weren’t you staying at the Zheng family yesterday? Why did you come again today?” Shi Qingyang was speechless. Yesterday, Zheng Gaoyuan was so happy to fight against his brother that he decided to stay and fight. Unexpectedly, he came back early in the morning.

“Master, those people’s numbers are too low. I’ve had enough fun at home, so I decided to change places to continue to enjoy myself.” Zheng Gaoyuan immediately said, “Master, don’t you want to go to Central Academy? Next to Central Academy is the Central Radiation Energy College. I have a sworn enemy who is still studying there. I think I should go stir up trouble for him! I’ll have such a refreshing, cool time.”

“…” Shi Qingyang was very helpless: “Can you not use the word ‘cool.’”

“Is there any other word I should use for ‘cool’?” Zheng Gaoyuan asked humbly.

Shi Qingyang simply ignored him.

Cheng Ran’s recommendation couldn’t make him a student of Central Academy, but it could make it easier for him to conduct assessment. Since he had real skills, he naturally wasn’t worried about it.

After several rounds of assessment with a teacher in the morning, Cheng Ran had become a doctoral student under a professor of Central Academy and could enter its library.

When Cheng Ran’s work was finished, it was time for Shi Qingyang’s meeting with a teacher. The three of them walked towards the Central Radiation Energy College. Along the way, Zheng Gaoyuan kept sending messages.

“What are you doing?” Shi Qingyang asked. Zheng Gaoyuan had said that he’d come to the radiation energy college to seek revenge. How could he smile like this now?

“Master, I’m looking for internal help from the radiation energy college. Hee hee, if someone helps me, I can definitely beat my nemesis down!” Zheng Gaoyuan immediately said. Although he had been a little fat at the beginning, he had still been well-protected and had a lot of money, so many people flattered him.

Like Zhao Li who had been with him in the beginning, who had actually been pretty good. At least Zhao Li really took care of him, but some people looked down on him after spending his money.

At that time, he had been very kind. When he’d read the news occasionally, he felt that others were pitiful. His grandparents were willing to let him be so simple and kind, so they helped him contact some people and subsidize them to study.

His grandparents wanted to cultivate some influence for him. They hoped that those people would repay their kindness and take care of him after they passed. However, they did not expect to have raised so many white-eyed wolves in the end.

The most disgusting one for Zheng Gaoyuan was Mu Tianshi. Mu Tianshi was born in the Satellite City No. 3 of Central City. His family had been poor and he had good talents. However, he had a sick mother and a gambling father, and in the end he had no money to study.

At that time, Mu Tianshi uploaded a video on a help website, hoping to find a sponsor. At last, Zheng Gaoyuan saw the video. When he saw that Mu Tianshi said he could not eat enough, he felt that this person was really poor and gave him money.

Mu Tianshi also seemed very grateful. He came to his house to thank him. Once he came and went, he became familiar with Mu Tianshi. He even often wanted to play with Mu Tianshi. Every time Mu Tianshi asked him for money, he never refused.

As a result, Mu Tianshi intensified his efforts. Mu Tianshi once asked him to play a bully and stop a beautiful girl so he could save people. He had also made a bet with him to trick him and make him feel embarrassed… Although he’d felt something wrong at that time, he’d thought that Mu Tianshi was his friend and didn’t say anything. As a result, Mu Tianshi also got to know the engineers of the Huofeng company through his relationship…

At the start, when the armored vehicle of the Huofeng company had problems, it would explode after driving at high speed for a long time. This wasn’t due to the negligence of the Huofeng company, but because someone concealed the problem and did not report it.

The engineer was later investigated to find who was responsible, but Mu Tianshi had cleared himself up of all responsibilities. Even so, his grandparents had guessed something.

It was precisely because of this that his grandparents allowed him to leave Central City and journey around, hoping that he would grow up. They also specially asked him to thank Cheng Xuze–at that time, if ‘I don’t want to starve’ who had known Cheng Xuze hadn’t spoken up, maybe their company would end up in hot water!

Thinking of what happened at the beginning, Zheng Gaoyuan’s expression became serious. He did not know who was behind Mu Tianshi, but he knew that if he beat Mu Tianshi, no one else could do anything about it.

Central City, Zheng Gaoyuan was back!