Chapter One: Starting Off With Twenty Billion

"Sir, congratulations! The shares you bought in Alpha Petroleum have soared. If you sell all your stocks now, you can make twenty billion in one go. Shall I sell them?"
In Linhai City, by a bustling street filled with passing cars, Chen Yang, who was dressed in a delivery uniform delivering takeout, suddenly received a call from his stock account manager, who brought him this unexpected good news.

Chen Yang could hardly believe his ears. "Today isn't April Fool's Day, is it? Don't joke with me."

"Mr. Chen, why would I joke with you? If you don't believe me, you can check the share price of Alpha Group online," the manager replied.

"Fine, I'll check. I have to check," Chen Yang said.

Saying that, he quickly opened his browser and searched for Alpha's stock price.

It didn't matter if he didn't look, but once he did, his eyes widened in shock.

The price had truly skyrocketed—so much so that it was over two thousand times higher than when he had bought it.

"Mr. Chen, you've checked?" the manager asked with a laugh.

"Hurry, hurry, sell all my shares, now!" Chen Yang urged.

After all, when a stock price soared to such a ridiculous degree, only a fool wouldn't cash out.

"Alright, alright, I'll handle it right away," the manager said cheerfully.

Of course, he was pleased too. Once he sold all of Chen Yang's shares, he'd get a nice commission.

"Looks like my mother really did leave me a great fortune," Chen Yang murmured softly.

Thinking of his mother, a pang of sadness welled in his heart.

Ten years ago, he and his mother had been driven out of a prominent family in Yan Capital. She had used her life savings to buy shares in Alpha Group.

At that time, Alpha was just an obscure little company. Chen Yang was still a child, not understanding his mother's decision.

Five years ago, his mother passed away, leaving all the shares to him. Before dying, she told him not to sell unless the account manager called him.

He hadn't really understood at the time.

For five years, Chen Yang occasionally checked the stock price, but it stayed low. Over time, he stopped caring much about it.

He never imagined that today, the share price would rise so dramatically.

Ding.

Moments later, Chen Yang received a text: twenty billion had arrived in his account.

"Damn," Chen Yang exhaled.

He looked at the twenty billion in his account, then at his yellow delivery uniform, and immediately made a decision: no more takeout deliveries for him.

Bang!

Just as he was reveling in his good fortune, his electric scooter was suddenly bumped from behind.

Man and vehicle alike, Chen Yang was knocked to the ground.

Chen Yang was irritated. Turning around, he saw it was a blue Porsche that had hit his scooter.

The driver was a middle-aged woman, her hair permed in yellow curls, her complexion sallow—she looked every bit the part of a woman in menopause.

She stepped out, pointing at Chen Yang and berating him, "Are you crazy? Why did you park here—look what you've done to my Porsche! Don't you dare leave. Pay up!"

Chen Yang saw that his scooter had been properly parked on the sidewalk. Clearly, this menopausal woman had carelessly hit his bike with her car, yet she was blaming him.

He scrambled to his feet. "Ma'am, that's not fair. My scooter was parked properly on the sidewalk. It was your car that hit mine."

"You hit my car! Pay up, now!" the woman growled, her eyes wide as if she wanted to devour him.

"Can't you speak civilly?" Chen Yang frowned, his tone cold and impatient with her attitude.

She grabbed his arm, pulling hard. "You’re not leaving until you pay!"

Chen Yang shook her off. "What are you doing? Keep your hands to yourself!"

She sneered at him. "Look at you, you’re clearly poor. But you’re not running away today. My car's repairs will cost at least a hundred thousand—if you don’t pay, you won’t have peace!"

Chen Yang curled his lips in a cold smile.

Inwardly, he thought, what a mad old dog.

No money? Who says I have no money?

Glancing at a nearby bank, he said, "Fine, I'll get you your money. Come with me."

"Fine, let’s go," she replied frostily.

Under her watchful eye, Chen Yang entered the bank, approached the counter, and withdrew half a million in cash.

The venomous woman watched, her eyes glittering greedily. "You delivery guys really have this much cash?"

Chen Yang stuffed the five hundred thousand into a black bag.

She reached for it. "Give me my hundred thousand for repairs."

"What's the rush?" Chen Yang replied with an icy smile.

With that, he rose and called an acquaintance of his, a local tough named Hai.

"Hai, bring your crew to the entrance of Wanfook Mall. I have a half-million job for you."

"Seriously?" Hai sounded skeptical.

"Why would I lie? What would I gain from it?" Chen Yang replied with a slight smile.

"Alright, I’ll come take a look," Zhang Hailang agreed. After all, who would refuse money? And lately, he was especially strapped for cash.

The woman hadn’t heard the call, but after Chen Yang hung up, she grew impatient. "Aren’t you going to pay? What’s the holdup?"

Chen Yang said, "See this? Five hundred thousand in cash. But you’ll have to wait if you want it."

"How long do I have to wait? I have lots to do—give me the money already!" she snapped.

Chen Yang snorted. "What, you want to rob me in broad daylight?"

"Rob you? I have five houses, get fifty or sixty thousand a month for pocket money. Why would I care about your paltry cash?" she sneered.

Chen Yang didn’t bother with her any longer.

Soon, Zhang Hailang arrived at the entrance of Wanfook Mall with seven or eight men in a black van.

Chen Yang waved the five hundred thousand in his hand, pointed at the blue Porsche, and said, "Zhang Hailang, see that car? Smash it for me. Then drag this woman into your van and teach her a lesson. The five hundred thousand is yours."

"If you do a good enough job, I'll throw in an extra hundred thousand."

Both the woman and Zhang Hailang were stunned by his words.

Only now did the woman realize what Chen Yang meant by "wait a moment." He was about to lavish half a million to deal with her.

Zhang Hailang stared at the cash, his eyes gleaming.

Money talks, after all, and he already disliked the venomous woman's vicious demeanor.

He ordered his men, "Three of you, smash the car. The other three, drag this old hag into the van and rough her up."

The woman trembled with fear. She opened her mouth to scream for help, but two of Zhang's men dragged her into the van.

Meanwhile, the other five went at the Porsche, smashing it mercilessly.

Chen Yang was deeply satisfied. He tossed the money to Zhang Hailang. "Take care of the woman and this business for me."

Zhang Hailang was dumbfounded. He had met Chen Yang at a hometown gathering, and had always thought of him as just a small-time delivery guy.

Who would have thought he had so much money?

With the cash in hand, Zhang Hailang beamed, "Brother, are you a rich kid?"

"That's right. A rich kid out experiencing life. Is that a problem?" Chen Yang replied coolly.

Zhang Hailang grinned. "Thanks, man."

"Just make sure you handle this woman and the matter properly. Understood?" Chen Yang said.

"Don't worry, brother. I’m experienced with these things," Zhang Hailang assured him.

"Good. Looks like this money is well spent," Chen Yang said, satisfied.

He then walked briskly to his scooter, got on, and rode home.

As for the takeout delivery—who needed that, with twenty billion in the bank?