32: Chapter 32 The Golden Body is First Formed, and the Mortal World is Moved Away

Noon the next day, in the male dormitory at Huahai University of Finance and Economics.

The hallway was filled with the sounds of horseplay and the smell of instant noodles.

Shen Du leaned against the railing of the lower bunk, and the Nokia in his hand vibrated right on time.

The screen displayed a number with the location set to Kyoto.

Shen Du pressed the answer button.

"Mr. Shen."

On the other end of the line, Wang Xing lowered his posture, his tone respectful:

"As for those two toughest areas in Shanghai, it's thanks to you personally stepping in to settle things this time."

Wang Xing didn't probe into the details of Wei Ziang's bankruptcy.

Changing the subject, he threw out a bargaining chip:

"I know you're not short on money. But I heard you're still living in the dormitory, which must be somewhat inconvenient."

"I've asked someone to find a large luxury flat for you in the city center. The paperwork and security are all top-tier."

Without waiting for Shen Du to react, Wang Xing immediately played his trump card:

"From now on, if you have any trivial matters in Shanghai, just order Gong Jun to handle them."

"If you encounter any trouble he can't handle, feel free to text me anytime. I will personally arrange for someone to take care of it for you."

With just a few short sentences, Wang Xing had gifted a luxury mansion and handed over actual control of the Shanghai region.

Shen Du shifted his position, leaning against the bed frame. His fingertips tapped against the metal railing.

Regarding this kind of luxury flat, his breathing rhythm didn't change at all.

He knew clearly in his heart. This was the protection money Wang Xing was paying after seeing his methods.

"Hmm, that works too."

Shen Du's voice was calm, carrying a sense of relaxation:

"I was just planning to move out of the school recently. Since you've already arranged it, Mr. Wang, I won't decline."

He glanced at the "Wenhua Finance" interface that was still open on his screen.

The two million spent on that meal at Tingquan Water Pavilion and the ten million cash promise had been offset.

This was a reimbursement, and even more so, an exchange of interests.

"I'll have Gong Jun personally deliver the specific address and keys to you." On the other end of the line, seeing that Shen Du accepted, Wang Xing breathed a sigh of relief.

"Got it." Shen Du replied. Without further pleasantries, he pressed the hang-up button.

In the dormitory, the noisy background sounds rushed back in. Shen Du tossed his phone next to his pillow.

Since Wang Xing was willing to gild this identity, he didn't mind letting the other party continue to fill in the blanks with their imagination.

The phone had just been put down, and before the backlight had even faded, the vibration sounded on the bed board again.

Shen Du looked over. Three characters danced on the screen: Qin Tiankuo.

He picked up the phone again and pressed the answer button.

"Young Master Shen." The call connected, and Qin Tiankuo's voice came through.

Unlike when they had their private talk, his tone now carried the familiarity of an insider, cutting straight to the point:

"It's almost the end of the year."

"You've made quite a stir around here this year. As it happens, the local circle in Shanghai is organizing an internal party led by Young Master Jie."

Qin Tiankuo paused, then cast his bait: "Everyone in the circle wants to meet you in person now."

Hearing this, Shen Du understood the weight behind it.

Having successively taken down the basic strongholds of the two old and new districts, and cooperating with Qin Tiankuo to set a trap and swallow the Wei family, this series of actions had already attracted the attention of Shanghai's core circle.

Previous probes could be brushed off. But now, he, this fake tiger wearing a tiger skin, had been targeted by a pack of wolves.

To retreat would be to show weakness. He had no way to avoid it; he had to step into this trap.

"Okay." Shen Du didn't hesitate, calmly spitting out a few words into the phone: "Send me the time and location, and I'll be there on time."

"Click." His thumb pressed the hang-up button.

Shen Du tossed the Nokia phone onto the professional books on his desk, making a dull thud.

He turned and walked to the narrow dormitory wardrobe, reached out to grasp the metal handle, and pulled open the somewhat warped cabinet door.

Shen Du stood there. His gaze slowly scanned the row of old Bottega Veneta jackets and slightly faded, washed-out shirts in the wardrobe:

"Bottega Veneta isn't high-end enough anymore; I need to get a new outfit."

Standing in front of the open wardrobe, his gaze moved past the row of old clothes, focusing on the mottled mirror embedded on the inside of the cabinet door.

The young man in the mirror had no expression. He raised his hand and tugged at the jacket he was wearing, which had become rough in texture and slightly distorted at the collar.

A self-deprecating smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, and he whispered in a volume only he could hear: "Tsk, acting is really tiring."

"Bang!" Shen Du used one hand to force the peeling wooden wardrobe door shut.

The dull sound of the impact rang out in the crowded dormitory, drowning out the game background music from the computer speakers.

Shen Du turned around, his gaze crossing the narrow aisle. It swept directly toward his three roommates, who were sitting at their respective computers, typing on their keyboards.

Without any pleasantries or preamble, Shen Du looked at their backs and spoke in a calm tone: "Which of you has a driver's license?"

With a "slap," a mouse was slammed onto a mousepad. Xu Hao spun his swivel chair around violently, the first to raise his right hand, his eyes filled with eagerness:

"Brother Shen, I have a driver's license! I got it right after graduating high school! Are you... planning to buy a car?"

Shen Du casually pulled over a folding chair next to Lin Zimo and sat down, his tone as flat as if he were discussing what to eat for dinner:

"Yeah. In a few days, I'm going to attend a party organized by Young Master Jie. I can't keep going to these meetings by taking a taxi like before."

As soon as the words "Young Master Jie" were spoken, the clattering keyboard sounds in the dormitory came to an abrupt halt.

Chen Fei and Lin Zimo's backs stiffened. The two subconsciously exchanged a glance, their breathing pausing for a beat.

At Huahai University of Finance and Economics, and even in the entire Shanghai circle, there was no one who hadn't heard the name of this top-tier figure in Shanghai.

He was someone who truly stood at the very top, the kind of person who could crush others just by lifting a finger.

They couldn't imagine what kind of scene it would be when Shen Du, this dragon crossing the river, collided with a local tiger like Young Master Jie.

The air in the dormitory seemed to have frozen.

But Xu Hao, who was single-mindedly determined to cling to Shen Du, couldn't be bothered with fear at this moment.

Faced with this kind of battle between titans that ordinary people would avoid at all costs, he instead saw it as an opportunity to pledge his allegiance, and he suddenly stood up from his chair.

He vigorously patted his own chest and loudly took on the task: "Brother Shen! I'm good at being a driver! Leave this job to me, and I guarantee I won't let you down!"

Shen Du looked at the eager-to-perform Xu Hao and nodded, accepting this pledge of allegiance.

Afterward, he stood up and walked to Lin Zimo's computer desk.

The screen was filled with red. In the dark interface of the trading software, the K-line of the "Zhengzhou Cotton" main contract was climbing upward in a steep posture.

Shen Du bent his index finger and tapped lightly twice on the wooden edge of the computer desk, making a "tut-tut" sound.

"Zimo." Shen Du stared at the jumping numbers on the screen and instructed:

"Withdraw 5.1 million directly from the account. Transfer 5 million into my private account, and the remaining 100,000 is your reward for watching the market 24/7 during this period."

Since returning from the National Day holiday, Lin Zimo, having made money by following Shen Du in the market, had long since shed his original timidity.

Hearing this cash-out figure, he didn't even ask a single useless question like "Why sell now?"

Lin Zimo straightened his body and placed his hands on the keyboard. "Received! Brother Shen, I'll process the withdrawal right now."