or what she likes or dislikes, which is why they couldn’t win her heart. Of course, this was because they didn’t have a professional advisor."Some people had seen this boy before; he was from Class S...Chapter 121: Counterattack

The scorching summer heat had enveloped the driving practice grounds, surrounded by red brick walls and low-rise houses. Originally a factory site, it had been transformed into a training area with trees and vegetation planted in newly expanded areas on the outskirts.

Those getting into cars were doing so, while others not yet inside were squatting against the wall of the flat building for shade from its old overhang to block out the intense sunlight.

Su Can found himself with Tang Wu on his left and Lin Luoran on his right. This arrangement was quite noticeable. Lin Luoran dressed lightly, while Tang Wu supported her wrist, her fair skin adding an extra layer of warmth in this already hot summer.

The two girls seemed to have realized their positions next to Su Can and the scene felt somewhat delicate. Something needed to break the awkward atmosphere.

"A few days from now, some friends who are driving over from Shanghai will be coming here. I want you to meet them, Tang Wu."

Tang Wu shook her head: "I won't come; just have fun."

Lin Luoran felt a bit disappointed but turned to Su Can with a look of earnestness in her eyes, "But you must come! I've told them all about you. This time, I want to meet you face-to-face."

"They are all friends from Shanghai and insist on me treating them this time. When we go there next time, let's make up for it by having a good time at their expense! That’s what I call low investment with high returns in the long run!"

Su Can smiled and nodded. Although Tang Wu appeared to be uninterested in watching the cars on the field, she heard everything clearly. She felt somewhat regretful for turning down Lin Luoran's invitation without hesitation earlier. Yet, there was a hint of jealousy from the word "we" in Lin Luoran's tone. She knew that Lin Luoran’s family background was extraordinary and so were her friends like Wang Weiwei. Even during their senior year, they would often have out-of-town guests come specifically to see them.

Tang Wu felt she couldn’t match Lin Luoran in this regard; her social network was extensive, similar to how her parents’ business and political connections worked where relationships mattered more than academic achievements. Even if someone had perfect scores in every subject, it wouldn't make much difference without the right connections. For people like Lin Luoran and Wang Weiwei, they were valuable resources with immense potential.

Despite Tang Wu’s parents often joking that such views were biased, they would remind her that personal capability was key to everything.

However, after seeing her parents interact and discuss matters, Tang Wu understands the importance of networking.

When Su Cen came to Rongcheng, appeared before her, took her to America as an exchange student, and they would attend the same university together, many unbelievable events for Tang Wu started to come true gradually. In the past, she never dared to think about their future because it seemed so distant that after graduation, they would go their separate ways.

Now, however, Tang Wu began imagining and contemplating her future.

She also knew that Lin Luoran, Wang Weiwei, and Lin Zouwu were precious to Su Cen. As they grew up together, these friends could offer him substantial help in his career or other aspects of life.

Yet comparatively speaking, her family background and ordinary upbringing didn't equip her with such abilities. She couldn’t be as tactful as Lin Luoran.

Then Tang Wu thought again; it seemed there was no need to belittle herself because she still had time. Her path with Su Cen would likely be long, too. Although she might not introduce him to many friends with good family backgrounds like Lin Luoran did, she could offer help and support through other means.

Lin Zouwu puffed on a cigarette, lit it, took two drags, the flame flickered slightly before he slowly exhaled the smoke. He sighed contentedly, "To be able to enjoy such good tobacco here in this beautiful countryside would make me trade for immortality."

This place was a cluster of forest land near Rongcheng city and heading towards the scenic area known as Green Mountain, with an old brick kiln nearby. Tang Wu, Lin Luoran, and a first-year female university student from Rong University who was learning to drive during her holiday went there to observe those brick kilns.

Here there were streams and some pristine forests, then came huge blocks of rocks – the stream followed the winding channels around, trickling past everyone’s feet.

Wang Weiwei squatted by a large rock, playing with the water ripples, stood up to stretch his arms, and said, "Do you know Xiao Zhaoyu"

Su Cen was momentarily taken aback, looking at Wang Weiwei; he wasn’t sure how this name came out of Wang Weiwei's mouth.

Lin Zouwu, having observed Su Cen’s expression meticulously, threw the smoked-out cigarette to avoid polluting the scenic area environment and said to Wang Weiwei, "I knew it. Su Cen doesn't really know that guy well. That kid is quite direct and tense, I don’t like him much. But why would he act so familiar with Su Cen From what I see, they probably just know each other."

Wang Weiwei approached Su Chen a few days ago, telling me that he was pleased to work with you and hoped for a pleasant future cooperation. This person is quite puzzling; I don't like him very much.

Su Cun's heart trembled slightly at this moment, realizing his own carelessness. He had been put in an awkward position by someone.

It turned out that when he and Lin Guangdong negotiated with Xiao Zhaoxu back then, Xiao Zhaoxu probably already knew about Su Cun’s relationship with Wang Weiwei. At least the incident at Dynasty Hotel laid the groundwork for this. Su Cun had underestimated the range of guests invited by Dynasty Hotel to cultivate their "high-end market."

This was enough to spread rumors in Chengdu circles about their unusual relationship, and such things, especially when involving someone like Wang Weiwei, easily became focal points.

Just looking at Xiao Zhaoxu deliberately adopting a high-profile attitude towards Su Cun, making unreasonable demands as if trying to provoke him into escalating the situation with Pineapple Media, was clearly testing Su Cun’s limits.

His true intention might still be waiting for Su Cun to lose patience and bring out his “backup card.”

Su Cun could guarantee that once he couldn’t bear Xiao Zhaoxu's arrogance and actually brought out Wang Weiwei, this person would immediately change his attitude drastically towards him. Perhaps he was even prepared to pay some "cost" to demonstrate sincerity.

This definitely wasn't something a lazy and idle wealthy young man could do as rumored by others; it proves that one can hardly gauge someone's true inner world from their appearance alone.

Xiao Zhaoxu might be leveraging Su Cun’s status while connecting with Wang Weiwei, even going so far as to lower his profile enough to give Su Cun sufficient face in order to facilitate this matter. This wasn't impossible either.

Perhaps Xiao Zhaoxu genuinely believed that the true power behind Su Cun's magazine was Wang Weiwei. This boy was extremely shrewd; if he had flattered Su Cun from the start, it would have backfired instead of getting him in the door. However, by adopting this high-profile attitude and approaching Su Cun through his relationship with Wang Weiwei in a confrontational manner, it appeared that he succeeded—at least he believed so.

This person was not stupid; growing up amidst officialdom from a young age had taught him much about dealing with people and the intricacies of social interactions.

Some say offspring raised under strict family education in an official's household are generally more refined than those from ordinary families, but this kind of smoke screen talk can only be listened to for amusement. However, regarding the sensitivity and discernment involved in understanding interpersonal relations, it is indeed quite sophisticated.

However, the Bentley convertible he kept talking about seemed to be nothing more than an excuse, but it also reflected his genuine desire to own one.

Xiao Zhaoxu must have been extremely shocked when he found out that Su Cen was giving him a 5% equity share. He naturally believed that this was a great gain and not only did he benefit greatly from it, but he also managed to cooperate with Wang Weiwei to some extent.

"What's wrong" Wang Weiwei frowned when he saw Su Cen deep in thought.

“Nothing’s wrong. What you said is right; this person is odd and I don’t like him either.” Su Cen smiled, thinking that Xiao Zhaoxu was very smart, but perhaps too clever for his own good.

Xiao Zhaoxu thought Wang Weiwei was the one pulling the strings behind Pineapple Media, whereas in reality, Wang Weiwei was just an ordinary high official's son who had no ambitions and was merely living out the life of a senior high school graduate.

Feeling uncomfortable about being played by this kid, Su Cen realized that even if he had firmly rejected Lin Guangdong face to face back then, Xiao Zhaoxu would never have dared to touch Pineapple Media. Everything was just smoke and mirrors, all of it nothing more than a test for him. He ended up with his efforts easily exploited.

However, fortunately, this Xiao Zhaoxu, who thought he had everything under control from the start, actually made a wrong move, inadvertently boosting Pineapple Media's strength.

Till now, Su Cen could only go along with it. After taking full control of Sharp Magazine’s sales network, even if they knew there was no involvement from Wang Weiwei at all, they would just have to sigh in frustration.

Driving a 1997 Passat, Xiao Zhaoxu was on his way to a bar by Nine-eye Bridge to meet with friends. One hand gripping the steering wheel, he tapped his leg rhythmically along to the soothing jazz music playing inside the car during the intervals between traffic lights. Suddenly feeling everything going smoothly, he even imagined himself making an impressive entrance at Shanghai's International Auto Show in the second half of the year, proudly riding in the Bentley convertible that had captured everyone’s admiration.

Thanks for all the uncountable votes from "Wind Little Xiao Bai", "Lanling Yi San", and "Colorful Desert Tianmu".

Thank you to brothers like "Phoenix Feather Bi", "Dust Year Pretender: Ardent Strategy", "Ugly to the Point of No Makeover", and "Sit High Above" for your generous donations.

Wishing everyone a happy Dragon Boat Festival.d, blooming brilliantly—a scene that resembled a utopia."Brother... where are we" Zeng Yuan looked at Su Cen in astonishment. "There really is an ancient castle... your classmate lives here""Come with...