18: He has powerful connections; who would dare to mess with him?

"You are humiliating me!"

Liu Ruyan felt somewhat defeated.

Who could understand?

Having lost her support, she had resolved to come here to work, fearing only running into someone she knew.

Yet, on her very first day on the job, she ran into Zhang Yu?

And he even talked about patronizing her business? Wasn't that blatant humiliation?

Moreover, what puzzled her even more was this.

How did he transform from a poor student into the "President Zhang" that everyone spoke of?

What kind of incredible luck did he stumble upon these past few days?

A single expenditure at Drunken Wind Tower starts at tens of thousands per person; how could an ordinary salaried worker afford that?

Whether you were the host or the guest here, who didn't possess a special status?

Therefore, what truly defeated Liu Ruyan was that after the breakup, Zhang Yu had somehow only gotten better.

While she, conversely, was doing worse and worse.

"Say whatever you want."

Zhang Yu spread his legs, "Go fetch a basin of water and give me a foot soak."

In this moment.

The last bit of frustration in his heart was completely cleared away.

Being dumped in person, right in front of so many people at the school gate.

That was a stain.

No matter how rich he was now, or how many beautiful girls he knew, that stain would always remain.

Now, forcing Liu Ruyan to do the thing she least wanted to do was a massive release of pent-up anger.

"A foot soak?"

Liu Ruyan countered.

"What, you don't want to?"

Zhang Yu smiled again.

"You're earning this kind of money, and you're still debating this? What happens if I complain that your service is inadequate?"

Liu Ruyan froze for a few seconds, then steeled herself and complied.

She brought over a basin of water and knelt before his legs.

The last shred of pride she held in her heart was now utterly shattered.

She was the Campus Belle of the Arts Department and had never done work serving others.

Even when she was dating Zhang Yu, she never washed his feet.

She never expected to run into her ex-boyfriend on her very first day.

This disillusionment and blow were immense.

"Oh right, also help me pick off the dead skin from the soles of my feet later."

Zhang Yu chuckled.

Liu Ruyan lowered her head and began to sob softly.

"Crying? Crying doesn't count toward the time, you know."

He twisted the knife further.

"Zhang Yu, I was wrong. Will you forgive me?"

She finally couldn't hold back and burst into tears.

"Actually, I always had feelings for you. But I was so anxious about not finding a job after graduation, and Ding Kun just happened to appear, so I..."

Liu Ruyan played the emotional card.

She hoped to win him back using their three years of history.

Whenever they argued before, he would soften up the moment she cried.

But this time was different.

Zhang Yu was completely unmoved by her tearful pleas.

There was no expression on his face.

"I think you misunderstood. I am a customer today. And you are Number 003. I don't understand what you're talking about."

"If you scrub well, I can give you a tip."

Liu Ruyan remained silent.

She lifted her head, her eyes red-rimmed.

However, there was nothing she could do.

Everything that happened today was her own doing.

She could only obediently comply.

"President Zhang, is the pressure alright?"

"Yes, just like that."

Zhang Yu lay on the sofa with his arms crossed.

One hour later.

Liu Ruyan picked up the basin and stood up again.

Her hands ached terribly, feeling like they weren't her own.

"Very good. Nice performance."

Zhang Yu nodded.

"I've transferred the tip to you. Check wechat later."

Liu Ruyan bowed slightly, left the private room without looking back, and hurried away.

As if she had made up her mind, she walked toward the door.

"President Zhang! How was it?"

Just then, Wang Tiejun pushed the door open and entered from outside, "If you liked that girl, should I arrange something else?"

He was a frequent customer here and naturally knew that as long as the money was right.

Nothing was impossible to arrange.

This was a perfect way to cater to the client's preferences.

"Forget it," Zhang Yu smiled, "Don't mess with her anymore."

"Since President Zhang says so, I will certainly comply!"

Wang Tiejun smiled, picked up his wine glass, "Come, I'll toast you! I'll finish mine, please drink as you wish."

"Right. Why did you ask me to come today?"

Zhang Yu checked the time. He had seen what he wanted to see, so there was no need to stay longer.

"President Zhang, it's like this."

Wang Tiejun said, "The loan I took from your company last time is about to expire, and I wanted to apply for an extension... President Zhang, please rest assured, I will definitely repay the principal and interest!"

Sure enough, it was about this matter.

Zhang Yu had anticipated this in his heart.

"However, my company doesn't have a precedent for this. If we open this door, the company might as well shut down."

"That's why I came to discuss this with President Zhang, to see how we can resolve it." Wang Tiejun's attitude was sincere.

"How about this: I heard President Wang runs a big business. Since repayment is difficult, you don't need to pay it back; consider it my investment."

According to the information, Wang Tiejun is in the earthwork and stone business.

This industry operates in a gray area.

Not everyone can get involved, which shows he has significant influence behind him.

His borrowing wasn't limited to just one company (mine), and rather than letting him drag it out indefinitely.

It was better to take the initiative and convert the debt into equity.

And simultaneously expand his own business territory.

"Acquire a stake?"

Wang Tiejun hadn't expected Zhang Yu to say that.

He truly played outside the box.

"President Wang, is there some difficulty?"

"Not exactly, but the company's board of directors needs to discuss it..."

"Alright then, President Wang, contact me anytime with the results of your discussion!"

Zhang Yu stood up, finished the wine in his glass, and said, "Then I'll be going now."

Watching his silhouette disappear at the private room door.

Wang Tiejun couldn't help but clench the glass in his hand. The light had gone out of his eyes.

"Brother Tie?"

A few of his subordinates asked.

"That kid Zhang Yu... in the future, he is guaranteed a place in Jiangcheng's business world."

He sighed with emotion.

At the age of a recent college graduate, he handled affairs without showing any timidity or youthful naivety.

He didn't fall into the trap Wang Tiejun had set, but instead gave him a difficult problem.

Either repay the money on time, or accept the equity investment.

Either way, Wang Tiejun couldn't gain an advantage.

"In that case, should we send someone to..."

The subordinates saw Wang Tiejun's predicament.

"Don't mess around."

Wang Tiejun glared at them, "Zhang Yu must be someone with significant backing. How many guts do you think you have to dare provoke him?"

To be so young and yet control a lending company that operates in a gray area.

And he even proactively suggested buying into their company, indicating he had researched it.

His mind was sharp enough, too.

How could an ordinary person achieve that!

He definitely has some unknown background.

But exactly what kind of powerful origin he has, they couldn't find out now, nor did they have any leads.

"So what do we do next? Should we follow his suggestion? Should I go try to probe his background?"

The woman in the leopard print and black stockings asked.

"Go back first and see what the Big Boss says."

Wang Tiejun thought for a moment, then waved and called over the Lobby Manager, "Check, please!"

...Switching gears, back to Zhang Yu.

After leaving the Drunken Wind Tower, he got into his car and prepared to leave.

As the car turned, he saw Liu Ruyan squatting on the steps by the entrance, crying hysterically.

The clothing she wore was no longer the Traditional Chinese Long Dress; she had changed back into what she was wearing when she first arrived.

It seemed that after washing his feet, her moral foundation had collapsed, she realized the harsh reality of earning this kind of money, and she had quit and run away.

He glanced through the rearview mirror, and his heart remained unmoved.

This path was chosen by her.

Every choice she made had a price tag already attached to it.

Therefore, whatever the cost, she alone had to bear it.

Liu Ruyan, crying with her head buried, heard the roar of a sports car engine.

She looked up and saw an extremely sleek and cool sports car driving past her.

And the person in the driver's seat was none other than Zhang Yu.

She stood up in shock, parted her lips, intending to say something.