162: Chapter 162 No one in the world is unaware of this.

A phone ringtone interrupted Song Siming's thoughts. It was his foreign friend, Mark, calling.

He pressed the answer button: "Hello, Mark, how are you?"

"Mr. Song, hello. I would like to ask you about someone."

"Oh? Ask about whom?"

"Zhao Yang, he is also an official. Do you happen to know him?"

Song Siming frowned, feeling a bit suspicious: "What do you want to know? Or rather, why are you asking about him?"

"The information our company received is that he possesses a great deal of personal wealth and is a potential client of ours. Mr. Song, can you help me get to know him? I would be most grateful."

Song Siming held the phone, deep in thought.

Mark had a good relationship with him; he was a market consultant for a foreign asset company and also his asset trustee, specifically responsible for managing his personal property.

He also knew that Mark didn't just serve him, but he hadn't expected that just as he had established a connection with Zhao Yang today, Mark's call would come through. He couldn't help but overthink it.

He suddenly chuckled: "I have to say, Mark, your company's efficiency isn't very high. It's not news that Zhao Yang is wealthy; he has been in Magic City for so long, why did you only think of him today?"

"I only received the notice from the company today. I wonder if Mr. Song is willing to do me this favor?"

Song Siming thought for a moment: "Although I know him, I am not familiar with him. I have noted this matter; if I can help you, I will give you a call."

"Then thank you, Mr. Song. There is one more thing I would like Mr. Song's help with."

"Oh? Please speak."

"My Dragon language is too unstandardized. I wonder if Mr. Song knows any teachers who can teach me the Dragon language?"

Song Siming smiled: "Actually, as long as you speak the Dragon language, Dragon people will definitely be able to understand you. I've noted the matter of a tutor, and I will help you find one."

"Thank you, the salary is negotiable."

After chatting a few more casual words, Song Siming hung up the phone. Just now, Mark's tone had no flaws, and based on Song Siming's understanding of Mark, this matter was likely just a coincidence.

...

Three days later in the evening, just as Zhao Yang returned home, his phone rang. It was a number without a name.

He hurriedly closed the door and pressed the answer button: "Xiaolan, is something the matter? Why are you calling this number?"

This was the confidential phone line between Gao Qilan and Zhao Yang, used only when encountering special circumstances.

Gao Qilan's crisp voice came through: "Brother Yang, news has come from Trump's side, saying that some financial groups in America are accelerating their efforts to reach into the country."

Zhao Yang paused for a moment: "They have always been doing that; has something changed now?"

"Most of those financial groups have suffered heavy losses recently, and they intend to use the money of some wealthy individuals and corrupt officials within the Dragon country to fill their holes."

Zhao Yang couldn't help but laugh: "That abacus is clicking quite loudly. It fits America's persona."

"Trump is also involved in this and managed to get the list of personnel they sent to the country; they are all operating under the guise of market consultants or consulting firms. I have already sent it to your confidential email."

"Good, I will take a look immediately." Zhao Yang immediately opened his computer and logged into the confidential email.

Upon opening the email, he couldn't help but click his tongue: "Good heavens, they've sent people to all the first-tier cities, and even Jinghai has people going there?"

Gao Qilan asked: "Yes, Brother Yang. Do you think these people need to be arrested?"

"Don't..." Zhao Yang laughed, "There might be our own people in there; we can't use a one-size-fits-all approach. Regarding Jinghai, there are also partners of Qilan Investment; just give them a slight reminder. I will keep an eye on things here in Magic City, and don't worry about the others. It's possible that those above have already received this list as well."

This wasn't because Zhao Yang had blind faith in the Dragon country; it was truly because after experiencing that thesis removal incident, he really couldn't figure out exactly how many 'Bureau Chiefs' there were.

Even in the original timeline, there were people who jokingly called several of America's presidents 'Deep Sea' agents of the Dragon country.

As the saying goes — everyone in the world is connected to the Middle Kingdom.

After chatting with Gao Qilan for a while longer with shameless, flirtatious sweet nothings, Zhao Yang hung up the phone.

One could tell from Gao Qilan's tone that although the financial tsunami triggered by the subprime mortgage crisis had not yet reached its peak, Qilan Investment had already harvested a rich bounty. Upon the crown of the financial queen, a few more bright, large gemstones would soon be embedded.

In the email opened on the computer screen, one name was located right in the middle — Mark.

This person was exactly the man in *dwelling narrowness* who looked polite and refined, and who eventually accepted Song Siming's entrustment to take Haizao to settle abroad.

In the show, his profession was a market consultant, but in reality, he was doing the work of an asset trustee, responsible for transferring Song Siming's assets abroad.

At the end of the show, Haizao followed him abroad to settle down alone; Zhao Yang really admired her courage.

After going abroad, her five million would sooner or later be swindled away, and the best outcome for her would be to return to the country with nothing; it was more likely that she would die in a foreign land for some strange reason, only that some of her high-quality organs would survive for a longer time on other wealthy people.

The show only portrayed Mark helping Song Siming manage his assets, but in reality, his clients were definitely not just Song Siming, but included many people like Song Siming.

Even if Gao Qilan hadn't made this call, Zhao Yang had intended to find an opportunity to meet that Mark. Now that he could confirm Mark's identity, this guy shouldn't think about leaving the Dragon country so easily.

While he was pondering, Zhao Yang's phone rang again; it was Haizao calling.

He pressed the answer button, and Haizao's voice immediately came through: "Brother Yang, it's me, Haizao. Lu Zhanbo is at my place, and we want to ask you something."

Zhao Yang paused: "You and Zhanbo are together?"

Lu Zhanbo's voice came through on the phone: "Brother Yang, I'm here too. I left my phone upstairs, so I asked Haizao to call you."

"Oh... I'm also at home, why don't we go to the bar at the entrance of the residential complex to chat?"

"Are you talking about the 'Lonely Corner' bar?"

"I suppose so."

"Alright, we'll be there right away."

Lonely Corner bar was an important scene in *iPartment*. Several friends would sit together, drinking sparkling wine, chatting and goofing off, whiling away the fatigue of the day's work, and the waiters coming and going in the bar were also very pleasing to the eye.

As soon as he entered, Zhao Yang saw Lu Zhanbo and Guo Haizao waving at him: "Brother Yang, over here, it's quiet here."

The two were sitting at a small round table near the window; seeing Zhao Yang approach, they both stood up to welcome him.

"Sit down, don't be so polite." Zhao Yang looked at the two, "If you have something to say, just say it directly."

Lu Zhanbo and Guo Haizao exchanged a glance. Then, Lu Zhanbo spoke: "Brother Yang, I want to rent an office space, but I can't find a suitable place for the time being, and I'm afraid of delaying the development progress. I was thinking, the two largest bedrooms in 3502 downstairs are empty, could you rent them to me for a while first? Once I find an office space, I will move the studio over."

Zhao Yang smiled: "This matter, you shouldn't ask me. I have entrusted that apartment entirely to the property management, so they need to agree to a short-term lease. Also, you have to ask Haizao and her sister's family if they agree, after all, you are using it for office work, not for living."

"Haizao's family has agreed," Lu Zhanbo said, "but the property management needs your consent to sign the contract."

"Is that so? Alright, no problem, you can use it." Zhao Yang looked at Haizao, suddenly a thought occurred to him, "Was it you who told Zhanbo about the house being empty?"

Guo Haizao nodded: "It was an idea I gave him. I've been hearing him argue with agents on the phone for the past two days, so that's why I mentioned it."

Zhao Yang had a strange expression: "You can hear him arguing on the phone?"

Haizao covered her mouth and smiled.

Lu Zhanbo looked ashamed: "It was because I was on the balcony talking on the phone too loudly, and I disturbed Haizao."

"No wonder." Zhao Yang smiled, suddenly feeling that the state between the two was a bit strange. Could it be that they had taken a liking to each other?

Hiss... If Lu Zhanbo and Guo Haizao got together, then what about Lin Wanyu?

Suddenly, an exasperated female voice came over: "Sekiya Guchi!"

The three of them turned to look and happened to see Hu Yifei angrily pointing at Sekiya Guchi, shouting: "Do you know why we have a holiday for National Day?"