Chen Yang had always had a good memory, so he called out their names at first sight. He was also quite surprised that after so many years, he would meet them here again.

The man, whose full name was Zheng Qiang, immediately burst into laughter. "Much more than just a long time! Let's see... it must be twenty years since we've seen each other, right?"

Chen Yang patted Zheng Qiang's shoulder and nodded in agreement.

The three of them had once lived in the same orphanage and were later adopted by different families. They had thought that from then on, they would go their separate ways and never have the chance to meet again. Yet, twenty years later, in this very orphanage in Lingjin City, they had unexpectedly met again. While marveling at the coincidence, they also felt a surge of complex emotions.

Back in the orphanage, Chen Yang was the king of the kids, Zheng Qiang was his number one tagalong, and Ruolan was a troublemaker. Every time she got into trouble, Chen Yang would be the one to stand up for her.

Ruolan, whose full name was Lin Ruolan, had a much more dramatic emotional reaction to seeing Chen Yang than Zheng Qiang did. Her gaze swept over him, carefully sizing up the simply-dressed Chen Yang holding a little girl in his arms.

Looks like he isn't doing too well for himself!

Even though they were young back then, the aunties at the orphanage often teased them, saying they were a perfect match and that Lin Ruolan should marry Chen Yang when they grew up. But the naturally proud and haughty Lin Ruolan had never thought much of Chen Yang. Even as a child, she had dreamed of marrying a prince. This eventually fostered a sense of disdain for Chen Yang, to the point where she stopped turning to him for help, even when she was being bullied.

"What a coincidence," Chen Yang said with a smile, taking the initiative to greet her.

Lin Ruolan's makeup was exquisite. Her long hair was piled high in an updo, adding a dash of sharp, heroic spirit to her already striking features. Standing at one meter sixty-five, she had the unmistakable air of a goddess.

"It is surprising," Lin Ruolan nodded slightly. With her husband right beside her, she looked away after a brief assessment, but a sense of triumph and relief welled up inside her. Chen Yang was clearly not doing well for himself, while she had found a husband with assets in the tens of millions.

What did this prove? That her convictions as a child had been right all along!

"Darling, this is Chen Yang. We were in the same orphanage," Lin Ruolan said, gently shaking the arm of the man she was holding. "Chen Yang, this is my husband, Yue Kang."

Yue Kang, dressed in a custom-tailored suit, was clearly from a wealthy family. The crisp, well-fitted suit made him look dashing and distinguished. His Rolex watch and the Porsche key hanging from his waist practically screamed opulence and ostentation. With all that, his looks became secondary; even though he was quite ordinary, he still exuded an air of importance.

Yue Kang stood with one hand in his pocket, the other holding a silk handkerchief to his nose and mouth, seemingly disgusted by the place with a deep-seated aversion, even nausea. He gave Chen Yang a slight nod, which he apparently considered a sufficient greeting.

"Yang, what have you been up to all these years?" Zheng Qiang asked, breaking the ice.

When Chen Yang mentioned he had joined the Martial Department, Zheng Qiang's face filled with envy. He had once harbored the same ambition but was disqualified for failing the medical examination.

"You must have retired from the service by now, right? What work are you doing these days?" Lin Ruolan interjected.

"I haven't retired yet."

Yue Kang cut in, "At your age, if you still don't have so much as a minor official post in the Martial Department, you'd be better off leaving. While you're still young, you might be able to learn a trade."

"How do you know Yang doesn't hold a position?" Zheng Qiang shot back, irritated. He had already taken a dislike to this pretentious man who acted as if no one else was worthy of his notice.

Yue Kang didn't get angry. He simply smiled faintly and said, "Just look at him. Isn't it obvious enough?"

Lin Ruolan shot Zheng Qiang a disdainful glance before turning to Chen Yang. "Actually, my husband has a point. After you leave the service, if you need a job, I can have him arrange something for you."

"Arrange what?" However, Yue Kang immediately shot down Lin Ruolan's seemingly kind offer.

"My family's company is about to go public. We need social elites, and he has no academic qualifications. What do you think my company is, a recycling center for trash?" Yue Kang scolded harshly, holding nothing back.

I was being rash. A major company about to go public can't afford to be careless. Lin Ruolan thought with a smile, then snuck a glance at Chen Yang.

To her surprise, the man's expression hadn't changed in the slightest, as if their conversation had nothing to do with him. Involuntarily, a flicker of disappointment arose in her heart.

She was disappointed not only by his pretense of being unfathomable but also by his complete lack of ambition. No matter what, shouldn't he at least try to fight for it? What if he actually succeeded? Besides, if Chen Yang had just swallowed his pride and flattered Yue Kang a little, she would have put in a good word for him and persuaded her husband to agree.

Heh. Lin Ruolan sighed to herself. Thank goodness I kept my distance from him back then. If I'd actually ended up with him, how could I have the wealth and glamor I enjoy today?

"Qiangzi, when should we grab a drink?" The conversation between Lin Ruolan and Yue Kang didn't seem to faze Chen Yang in the slightest. He simply turned to Zheng Qiang.

Then, he gently adjusted Shanshan, who was asleep in his arms. He was perfectly composed, and it was clear he was in a good mood.

But in Lin Ruolan's eyes, this inexplicably ignited a flicker of anger in her, or more accurately, an extremely uncomfortable feeling. She had poured all her effort into finding a wealthy man, not just so she could live a glamorous life free from worrying about daily necessities, but also so she could help out the friends around her.

As the saying goes, "When one person achieves greatness, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven"! Yet here he was, completely ignoring the goodwill I was actively extending to him, pretending he hadn't heard a thing. Is it true what they say? Is he really like useless mud that can't be plastered on a wall?

"Once my husband's company successfully goes public, his personal assets alone will be worth over a hundred million," Lin Ruolan said, casually brushing her bangs aside in a clear display of showing off.

"It's nothing worth mentioning," Yue Kang said with a dismissive wave of his hand. He glanced at Chen Yang. "Still, since you've all known each other since childhood, I should give Ruolan some face. How about this? My company is hiring security guards. You can come be a doorman for me."

"The pay might not be great, but the work is easy, and it doesn't require any educational qualifications."

Yue Kang's words made Lin Ruolan very happy.

"Darling, I knew you were the best!" After some affectionate cooing, Lin Ruolan turned to urge Chen Yang, "Chen Yang, my husband has finally relented. Aren't you going to thank him?"

"Huh? Were you talking to me?" Chen Yang asked, looking genuinely surprised as he smoothed out the wrinkles on Shanshan's clothes. "Sorry, I was just thinking about finding a place to get a drink with Qiangzi. What were you all saying?"

Yue Kang was speechless.

So was Lin Ruolan.

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