Chapter 62 Evenly Matched

Nie Yunyang had no intention of staying permanently at the Splendid Splendor Court. In fact, even if he did wish to, Cao Weihua would not be pleased.

Often, Nie Yunyang preferred to keep a low profile. After entering the Splendid Splendor Court, he had no desire to have everyone look at him with newfound respect simply because of his connection to Cao Weihua.

However, after observing things for a while, Nie Yunyang realized how terribly mistaken he was. Even if he wanted to maintain a low profile, other people would still go out of their way to make trouble.

By now, Nie Yunyang had figured it all out completely. There was no need to be polite to such people, as they were simply not on the same level. It was high time to put them in their place.

That woman, Tang Yurong, was extremely calculating and deeply scheming. Ordinary men simply could not handle a woman like her, and there was no telling what kind of serious trouble she might bring Nie Yunyang in the future.

As for Zheng Qingcang, Nie Yunyang was not worried in the least. What kind of threat could a guy who relied entirely on his looks possibly pose?

At that moment, Nie Yunyang had already left the private dining room, leaving Tang Yurong still in a daze as the developments completely exceeded her expectations.

This Nie Yunyang was truly audacious. Tang Yurong felt a pang of regret for having underestimated this man in the past.

Originally, she had assumed Nie Yunyang was merely an ordinary employee; she never imagined his background ran so deep!

"Nie Yunyang, you are shameless!"

Tang Yurong felt deeply aggrieved, sensing that she had been toyed with.

In this society, the lives of most people followed a nine-to-five routine. Young people liked to vent their emotions after getting off work, either gorging on meat at street-side barbecue stalls or drinking and seeking amusement in nightclubs.

Nie Yunyang did just the opposite, leading a rather mundane existence. In truth, he merely wanted to adapt to the rhythm of Chongqing and better integrate himself into the city.

For four consecutive days, Nie Yunyang went to work during the day and browsed bookstores at night. Occasionally, he would buy a book—inexpensive yet of good quality—while enjoying some hot tea. In the process, he grew quite familiar with the female clerks in the shop, frequently exchanging banter with Landuo and joking around with Tong Yan.

Upon leaving the bookstore, he would head to a fitness club to work out, remaining there until ten o'clock at night before returning home.

Sometimes Chen Jiong and Tan Weibo would return early, while on other occasions, Mu Qingyao would be caught up in business dinners or social gatherings and would come back much later.

Through reading, Nie Yunyang continuously enriched his spiritual world.

Such a lifestyle was somewhat dull, and ordinary people could hardly endure it. Yet Nie Yunyang savored it like sweet nectar; after all, back on Mount Longhu, he had frequently perused Daoist scriptures.

Furthermore, the task Xiang Tao had entrusted to Nie Yunyang was passed on to Chen Jiong and Tan Weibo. Someone as worldly and slick as Tan Weibo was uniquely suited to play the role of the shadow enforcer.

Chen Jiong and Tan Weibo had dragged those three high school students out to the suburbs, blindfolded and gagged them, left them abandoned in the woods for two hours, and then gave them a thorough beating before finally warning them never to provoke Xiang Tao again.

Those high schoolers, who had never even seen bloodshed during their usual petty fights, were scared out of their wits on the spot, with one of them even suffering involuntary incontinence.

At noon the following day, while Nie Yunyang was eating in the employee cafeteria of the Splendid Splendor Court, Xiang Tao called him in great excitement, asking, "When did you deal with them?"

"Don't ask too many questions, kid. As long as it worked!" Nie Yunyang replied.

Xiang Tao burst into loud laughter and said, "Brother Nie, you are incredible! That guy, who usually walks around with his nose in the air, looked at me today like a mouse seeing a cat, hiding as far away as possible. Even more absurdly, they actually apologized to me and said they wouldn't dare try anything ever again. I seized the moment to drop a line saying that keeping a low profile is never a bad thing."

"Alright, they won't bully you anymore from now on," Nie Yunyang said.

With excitement written all over his face, Xiang Tao asked, "Brother Nie, do you have time tonight?"

"What? Want to treat me to dinner tonight?" Nie Yunyang countered.

Xiang Tao hurriedly explained, "It's not me, it's my aunt. She's going to cook personally to host you. Brother Nie, you've got to seize such a rare opportunity! I've never seen my aunt cook for any other man—not in the entire Mountain City. You are truly blessed with extraordinary fortune. From now on, you help me solve my problems, and I'll help you pursue my aunt. How about that?"

Nie Yunyang stood frozen in place, his mind buzzing. He genuinely wondered what kind of thoughts would run through Xiang Sixuan's mind if she ever found out she had been sold out by her own nephew.

"Those who offer courtesies for no reason are harboring either deceit or theft. I'm not going."

Nie Yunyang refused decisively.

Xiang Tao immediately grew anxious and cursed, "Nie Yunyang, you rascal, stop playing hard to get when you're already holding the advantage. Other people would kill for a chance to eat food cooked by my aunt. What deceit or theft? My aunt said that since you helped her out immensely last time and she had misunderstood you, she felt guilty in her heart and wanted to cook a meal to make it up to you. Can't you tell good intentions from malicious ones?"

"Is that true?" Nie Yunyang asked skeptically.

Looking thoroughly displeased, Xiang Tao retorted, "May I turn into a puppy if I'm lying! Are you coming or not?"

"Time and place," Nie Yunyang said.

"Seven o'clock tonight, Sunac Peach Blossom Land. Call me when you arrive, and I'll come out to pick you up."

With that, Xiang Tao hung up the phone.

Sunac Peach Blossom Land?
The name sounded slightly familiar to Nie Yunyang. Opening the AMap app, he saw it was only a few kilometers away from Lakeside Serenade, where Mu Qingyao lived. That place was a cluster of single-family villas; it turned out the woman in the black uniform was truly a wealthy woman.

At two in the afternoon, Dai Zhenxuan sought out Nie Yunyang, saying that Boss Cao wanted to see him. Since employees were not allowed to carry mobile phones during working hours, Dai Zhenxuan had to be the one to deliver the message.

Inside Dai Zhenxuan's office, Nie Yunyang placed a call, and Cao Weihua informed him that he had returned to Chongqing and had time today to discuss the matter mentioned during their previous phone call.

What matter?
Ah, right. Nie Yunyang suddenly remembered that Tan Weibo wanted to meet Cao Weihua before deciding whether to come work at the Splendid Splendor Court.

Having just returned to Chongqing today, Cao Weihua wanted to meet Tan Weibo immediately, as he held a rather strong interest in this man.

After hanging up, Nie Yunyang said to Dai Zhenxuan, "Director Dai, Boss Cao wants me to go over. I'd like to request a leave of absence."

"Yunyang, you don't need to be so formal when it's just the two of us. Just call me Uncle Dai."

Dai Zhenxuan patted Nie Yunyang's shoulder and said with a warm smile, "Go ahead. I'll have a word with He Lei and just tell her I sent you out to accompany a client."

"Thank you, Uncle Dai," Nie Yunyang said.

After leaving the Splendid Splendor Court, Nie Yunyang called Tan Weibo to inform him that Cao Weihua was back and wished to meet him.

Tan Weibo replied that he was free at the moment, so Nie Yunyang hailed a cab to pick him up, and the two of them headed straight for Vanke Eling Peak.

Originally, Cao Weihua had intended to have his own driver take up the position of deputy manager of the security department at the Splendid Splendor Court, but he eventually gave up on the idea.

That young man had followed Cao Weihua for three years, handling all matters with polished ease, and Cao Weihua was genuinely reluctant to let him go. Besides, the security here at the residential estate also required someone reliable in charge.

Nie Yunyang had already become a familiar face among the residents of the Vanke Eling Peak townhouses, and since Cao Weihua had given instructions long ago that Nie Yunyang could come and go at any time—treating the place as his own home—the guards at the entrance naturally let him through without any obstruction.

Cao Weihua was not in the living room today; instead, he was upstairs on the second floor dusting his collection of antique jars and vessels. The housekeeper went up to inform him that Nie Yunyang and his companion had arrived.

From the moment he stepped through the front door, Tan Weibo had been scrutinizing Cao Weihua's townhouse. It was evident that the owner was a man of refined tastes, which immediately piqued Tan Weibo's interest.

Following the housekeeper up to the second floor, Nie Yunyang found Cao Weihua examining the decorative patterns on a vase with a magnifying glass.

Nie Yunyang let out a cold chuckle and said, "Uncle Cao, still refusing to part with your precious treasures, huh?"

"Get lost, you're getting more and more insolent," Cao Weihua retorted.

He put down the vase in his hand, looked over at Tan Weibo, and smiled. "This must be Weibo. Truly, a hero hides his brilliance behind a modest exterior."

Tan Weibo offered no polite pleasantries. He merely narrowed his eyes, smiled faintly, and nodded in greeting.

"Yunyang, Ah Hui's car was sent to the shop for routine maintenance today, and it's difficult to flag down a cab right now. Sorry to trouble you with a trip, but go to the Chongqing Arts School and bring her back. The housekeeper has Ah Hui's phone number, just ask him for it."

Cao Weihua instructed.

He wanted to have a private chat with Tan Weibo while simultaneously creating more opportunities for Nie Yunyang and Shen Hui to spend time together. There was no telling what might spark between the two of them.

Knowing that Cao Weihua wanted to test Tan Weibo, Nie Yunyang tactfully took his leave. He had always felt that both men were immensely powerful, yet neither could fully display their presence with him around.

Cao Weihua and Tan Weibo were evenly matched adversaries; he wondered what kind of sparks their meeting would ignite.