The Rise of the Ultimate Challenger

Qinling Mountains, the crown of celestial realms, the most blessed land in the world. Legend has it that tens of thousands of people have secluded themselves here, seeking spiritual enlightenment, and among them are many reclusive masters.

At the foot of Louguantai in the Qinling Mountains, a disheveled man stood before a grave without even a tombstone. Any expert in geomancy would be terrified by the geomantic pattern of this burial site. What kind of person would dare choose such a place?

"Grandpa, your grandson is back," the man murmured, his head bowed.

His name was Qin Sheng, 26 years old, 1.8 meters tall. Not exactly handsome, but with a certain rugged charm.

He poured an entire bottle of 375ml Xifeng liquor, his grandfather's favorite, onto the grave. His grandfather had passed away two years ago at the age of 89. Before his death, his grandfather had instructed him not to return for two years.

Since then, Qin Sheng had traveled all over China, visiting famous mountains and rivers, fulfilling his grandfather's wishes. He would never forget the experiences of those two years, how he had cheated death countless times.

"Grandpa, I'm leaving for Shanghai tomorrow. I'll come back to see you during the New Year. Take care of yourself," Qin Sheng said casually after clearing the weeds from the grave. In fact, Qin Sheng had many questions for his grandfather, but now that his grandfather was gone, there was no point in asking.

For example, he wasn't from Xi'an. He only knew that his grandfather had brought him here when he was four years old, and he had lived here ever since. He had no idea where he was from or who his parents were. He had asked his grandfather, but the old man had never said, only saying that he would know when the time was right.

After chatting with his grandfather for a while, Qin Sheng left. He had just returned, but he had to leave tomorrow. He still had a few friends to meet.

As Qin Sheng left, two men emerged slowly from the nearby woods. "Master, should we let him go?" asked the burly man with a fierce look, addressing the middle-aged man beside him respectfully.

The middle-aged man was dressed in comfortable linen clothes and cloth shoes. His face was lined with wrinkles, and his temples were flecked with gray. Without speaking, he exuded an aura of authority, his eyes narrowed as he watched Qin Sheng leave and then turned to the inconspicuous grave. "Let him go for now. I'm curious to see what kind of monster the old man has raised," the middle-aged man sneered.

It took twenty minutes to walk from the mountain to the road, but before Qin Sheng could leave, he was intercepted by three strangers. It was clear they were up to no good.

"Young man, hand over that thing and we'll let you go," the leader said, playing with a dagger, a sneer on his face.

"From Sichuan to Xinjiang, from Xinjiang to Qinghai, and now Xi'an? Aren't you tired of chasing me?" Qin Sheng chuckled.

"Don't waste our time. You know the consequences," the man threatened.

Qin Sheng sighed. "I've told you countless times, that thing you're looking for from the Song family isn't with me. Why don't you believe me? Is there no trust between people anymore?"

"Looks like we'll have to use force," the man growled.

Qin Sheng found it boring and didn't bother to explain. "Come on then, if you're going to do something, just do it."

The three men, enraged by his sarcasm, charged at Qin Sheng. "You all think I'm a pushover?" Qin Sheng smirked. If his grandfather hadn't told him to keep a low profile, he would have dealt with these pests long ago.

Now that the time his grandfather had specified had passed, he no longer needed to be humble. After all, people had underestimated him for so long that they genuinely believed he was weak.

As the first man approached, Qin Sheng kicked his wrist, snatched the dagger from his hand, ducked a sneak attack from behind, and plunged the dagger into the man's thigh.

The other two men closed in, but Qin Sheng calmly dodged their attacks, waiting for an opportunity. With a powerful elbow strike, he hit the man on the left in the chest, breaking two of his ribs. He then leaped up and slammed his knee into the man's side.

The man on the right lunged at Qin Sheng with his dagger, but Qin Sheng, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, spun around and caught the man's wrist, twisting the dagger into the left man's shoulder. With a final hook punch to the right man's chin, he knocked him unconscious. Not stopping there, he pulled out the dagger and plunged it into the right man's arm.

Within a few minutes, the fight was over. Qin Sheng was unharmed, while the three men were incapacitated and posed no further threat.

"I told you I'm not a waste of space, why won't you believe me?"

"Come on, come on, hand over your phones," Qin Sheng said with a smirk.

The three injured men stared at Qin Sheng in confusion, wondering what he was up to. They hadn't expected him to be so tough. Who the hell had said he was weak?

"You won't, huh? Fine, I'll do it myself," Qin Sheng snorted, and proceeded to search the three men for their phones.

"D*mn it, I'm still using an old Nokia, and you guys are all using iPhone 6s? You're so rich," he muttered.

After saying that, Qin Sheng, under the astonished gazes of the three men, threw the phones to the ground and stomped on them with all his might, cursing, "For chasing me, for chasing me!"

In no time, Qin Sheng had completely destroyed the three phones. The men were so distraught they could have cried. Out here in the wilderness, if no one came to their rescue, they were bound to bleed to death.

After finishing, Qin Sheng swaggered away, leaving the three men cursing him to high heaven.

Leaving the Qinling Mountains behind, Qin Sheng cleaned himself up, shaved, and changed his clothes. When he returned to the city in the afternoon, he headed to a residential complex in the southern suburbs. There lived his benefactors, the family he had considered his own since elementary school. He treated the elderly couple like his own parents and would have adopted them as his grandparents if his grandfather hadn't forbidden it.

"Sheng'er, you're finally back! Where have you been for the past two years? You have no idea how worried we were," a middle-aged woman hugged Qin Sheng tightly, tears streaming down her face as soon as he entered.

Qin Sheng didn't know how to explain. He knew the woman saw him as her own son, so he held her and let her vent her emotions.

After a long time, the woman finally calmed down. She pulled Qin Sheng to sit down. She had known he was coming back and had prepared a meal.

"Aunt, I know what happened at home. How are you doing? How is Uncle Lin?" Qin Sheng asked calmly.

He knew that during his absence, his family had almost fallen apart. His uncle had been framed and his company had been taken over. They had nearly lost everything.

"Sheng'er, your Uncle Lin has suffered so much," Wang Li cried again.

Qin Sheng felt guilty. Although they weren't his biological parents, he had become part of the family. As the only man in the family besides his uncle, he should have been there to support them.

"Aunt, it's okay. Just think of it as a loss to avoid a greater misfortune. Grandpa had said long ago that Uncle Lin would face a difficult time in middle age. He probably knew it himself. But as long as he's alive, there's still hope," Qin Sheng comforted her.

"Your uncle is fine. He's taken it all in stride," Wang Li wiped away her tears and shook her head.

Qin Sheng continued, "Besides, I'm back now. I'll find a way to help Uncle Lin."

"Sheng'er, there's nothing you can do to help your uncle. Don't tire yourself out. As long as you and Xinxin are okay, I'll be relieved," Wang Li dismissed Qin Sheng's offer. Qin Sheng was just a young man, while the problems his uncle faced were too big for him to handle.

"By the way, Aunt, where is Xinxin studying?" Qin Sheng asked, concerned about his aunt and uncle's only daughter, Xinxin, who was a few years younger than him. He had always treated her as a younger sister.

"She's studying in Shanghai, just like you," Wang Li said with a wry smile.

Qin Sheng was delighted. "Shanghai? That's great. I'm going to Shanghai tomorrow. I can look after Xinxin then."

"You're leaving tomorrow?" Wang Li was surprised.

Qin Sheng felt a pang of guilt. Although they weren't his biological parents, he had become part of this family. As a member of this family and the only other man besides Uncle Lin, he should have been the one to bear the burden at that time. But...

"Aunt, it's okay. Just think of it as a loss to avoid a greater misfortune. Grandpa had said long ago that Uncle Lin would face a difficult time in middle age. He probably knew it himself. But as long as he's alive, there's still hope," Qin Sheng comforted her.

"Your uncle is fine. He's taken it all in stride," Wang Li wiped away her tears and shook her head.

Qin Sheng continued, "Besides, I'm back now. I'll find a way to help Uncle Lin."

"Sheng'er, there's nothing you can do to help your uncle. Don't tire yourself out. As long as you and Xinxin are okay, I'll be relieved," Wang Li dismissed Qin Sheng's offer. Qin Sheng was just a young man, while the problems his uncle faced were too big for him to handle.

"By the way, Aunt, where is Xinxin studying?" Qin Sheng asked, concerned about his aunt and uncle's only daughter, Xinxin, who was a few years younger than him. He had always treated her as a younger sister.

"She's studying in Shanghai, just like you," Wang Li said with a wry smile.

Qin Sheng was delighted. "Shanghai? That's great. I'm going to Shanghai tomorrow. I can look after Xinxin then."

"You're leaving tomorrow?" Wang Li was surprised.

At dinner, Qin Sheng kept Wang Li company. The food tasted just like it always had. When he took a bite of the eight-treasure spicy meat sandwich, Qin Sheng's eyes welled up. He only had his grandfather and no parents. Others called him an orphan, but only here did he feel like he belonged.

His grandfather had said, "If someone does something good for you, you don't need to say it out loud. Just remember it in your heart. When they need you, be there for them."

So, if anyone had wronged Uncle Lin and his family, Qin Sheng would make them pay.

After dinner, Qin Sheng left the Lins' house and went to a barbecue place on Yanta North Road. There was a Sichuan bamboo skewer barbecue restaurant there that was particularly delicious. Whenever he came back, he would come here with his friends.

Qin Sheng arrived early. He called his four friends, and they were all surprised to hear from him. Only two of them could make it, but Qin Sheng didn't say anything about it.

He knew that as people grew older, they would drift apart. Many things would never be the same.

"Qin, d*mn it, we thought you had disappeared. Where the hell have you been for the past two years?" Two of his friends arrived at the same time. The one who spoke was Mengzhe, a handsome guy who used to be called Pretty Boy.

"F*ck, I thought you were a scammer when you called. I never thought it was actually you," Hao Lei cursed, spitting out the words. He had been in the military and had only recently been discharged. He was tall and a bit thin.

"Sit down and let's talk. There's a lot I need to tell you," Qin Sheng said, putting his arms around his two friends.

After they sat down, Hao Lei shouted, "Waiter, three cases of 9-degree beer, 20 yuan worth of meat, 20 yuan worth of tendon, 20 yuan worth of kidney, three baked oil cakes, a plate of baked eggplant, and a mixed vegetable platter."

"Let's get drunk tonight," Mengzhe said happily.

Drinking was a part of life, but it was only enjoyable when you drank with the right people. Drinking with boring people was just drinking for the sake of drinking.

So Qin Sheng happily replied, "D*mn right, I'm not afraid of you guys. Let's get drunk."

The three of them clinked their glasses three times before starting to chat.

"What have you guys been up to for the past two years?" Qin Sheng asked.

"I just got discharged from the military and haven't found a job yet. Lao Meng is getting engaged. He's probably getting married next year. Don't disappear then," Hao Lei said with a laugh.

"What about the others?" Qin Sheng asked.

Lao Meng sighed. "Lao Xu and Wu Yong aren't on the same page as us anymore. I guess you called them too. We've barely seen each other in the past year. I don't know how to say this..."

Qin Sheng sighed. "Let's not talk about it. Let's just drink."

"Come on, come on, let's drink."

It was early October, so the weather was still a bit hot. The barbecue plaza was bustling with activity. Everyone was eating and drinking heartily, laughing and cursing. It was a familiar place, with a familiar feeling.

Qin Sheng felt good.

"You know, drinking is best when you're with the right people. It makes it so much more enjoyable. Drinking with boring people is just drinking for the sake of it, it's pointless," Qin Sheng said, grinning.

"D*mn right, I'm not scared of you guys. Let's get wasted," he replied, raising his glass.

The three of them clinked glasses three times before starting to chat.

"How've you guys been doing these past two years?" Qin Sheng asked.

"I just got discharged from the military and I haven't found a job yet. Lao Meng is getting engaged, probably next year. Don't you dare disappear then," Hao Lei laughed.

"What about the others?" Qin Sheng continued.

Lao Meng sighed, "Lao Xu and Wu Yong aren't really on the same page as us anymore. I guess you called them too. We barely see each other once a year. You know what I mean..."

Qin Sheng nodded, a bit wistful. "Let's not talk about it. Let's just drink."

"Come on, let's drink!"

It was early October, so the weather was still a bit warm. The barbecue plaza was buzzing with activity.

Everyone was eating and drinking heartily, laughing and cursing. It was a familiar place, with a familiar feeling.

Qin Sheng felt good.

"Qin, what the hell have you been up to for the past two years? Spill it," one of his friends asked.

"We'll talk about it later. Everything's fine," Qin Sheng replied.

"You little sh*t, so what are you going to do next?"

"My train leaves at one. After we finish drinking, I'm going to Shanghai. I'm going to start a new life there," Qin Sheng explained, not hiding anything from his best friends.

"Shanghai? Isn't Suqin there too?"

"Lao Meng, shut up," Hao Lei quickly interrupted, and Mengzhe realized he had said something wrong.

Qin Sheng shook his head and chuckled. "It's okay, say whatever you want. It's all in the past."

"Let's drink, let's drink, stop talking nonsense."

Before they finished the three cases of beer, the three friends parted ways. After all, Qin Sheng had a train to catch, and the others had things to do the next day.

Qin Sheng took a taxi to the train station. With little luggage, he sat in the taxi and looked out the window at the city's night view. The mottled city walls told stories of the past, and the familiar street names seemed worlds away. The city was like an aging old man, coldly watching the changes of time.

As the train started to move, Qin Sheng knew he was about to embark on a new journey...

Qin Sheng preferred trains to planes, not because he was afraid of heights or anything. It was because train journeys allowed him to appreciate the passing scenery and local customs. Sometimes, they even offered a unique charm and a chance to observe passengers from all over the country, searching for interesting people.

In truth, the most important reason was that he couldn't afford to fly.

On this seventeen-hour journey, Qin Sheng had bought a hard sleeper ticket. The compartment was filled with students from northwestern provinces who were heading back to school after the National Day holiday. They were chattering excitedly about all the great things about Shanghai, as if they had all decided they would never return to their hometowns after graduation.

It reminded Qin Sheng of his own journey to Shanghai for university. He had also taken a train, filled with curiosity and anticipation. It had been his first time traveling out of his province, and he had carried his luggage alone, embarking on a four-year journey.

What was Qin Sheng's ultimate conclusion after spending four years in Shanghai?

It was that the good was better, and the bad was worse. Most people were merely surviving, not living.

After waking up, Qin Sheng chatted with the students. They all attended prestigious universities and were undoubtedly top students from their respective regions. It seemed that education was the best way out for most people.

Many people nowadays say that education is useless, but in Qin Sheng's eyes, it was the best path for most ordinary people. It might not make you rich or guarantee you a good job, but it would give you more choices and help you become a better version of yourself.

Whether it's the books you've read, the places you've been, the people you've met, or the experiences you've had, both good and bad, they would eventually settle and bear fruit.

However, most of the time, Qin Sheng didn't like all the noise. He would just sit by the aisle and admire the scenery rushing past outside.

When he arrived in Shanghai, it was already dusk.

Stepping onto this land again, Qin Sheng took a deep breath of the no longer pure air. It had been almost three years since he had left. Memories of people, places, and things flooded back into his mind.

Qin Sheng really wanted to say, "If only life could stay as it was when we first met."

"Shanghai, I'm back!" Qin Sheng shouted loudly. The passersby stared at him as if he were crazy, but Qin Sheng didn't care. He had never cared about what others thought of him.

His grandfather had said that Shanghai was his "dragon's rising place." Qin Sheng didn't know if he could truly succeed here.

From the train station, he took a bus directly to his destination: Tomson Golf Villa, located on Longdong Avenue in Pudong. He was going to meet an old friend and fulfill a promise.

Although he had studied at a university in Shanghai for four years, Qin Sheng had barely explored the city. If it weren't for his grandfather's words about Shanghai being his "dragon's rising place," he would never have returned.

Tomson Golf was one of the most expensive residential areas in Shanghai. Those who could afford to live in this inch-by-inch piece of land in Pudong were among the city's elite.

Qin Sheng was going to meet one of them.

After taking a taxi to the entrance of Tomson Golf, he was ushered inside by a bodyguard after a brief announcement. Qin Sheng said nothing along the way.

A few minutes later, they finally arrived at the old friend's villa. It was a three-story mansion of nearly a thousand square meters, surrounded by a wall and iron railings. There was a private garden and swimming pool inside.

The villa was brightly lit at the moment. As Qin Sheng entered, he happened to meet an elderly man who was tending to the flowers and plants with a bent back. The bodyguard bowed slightly and said, "Mr. Wu."

Qin Sheng also bowed slightly. The old man merely glanced at Qin Sheng and lost interest.

When Qin Sheng was led into the villa, the bodyguard pointed to a room not far away and said, "Mr. Han is waiting for you in his study."

Qin Sheng thanked him with a smile and went straight to the study.

He knocked on the door...

And waited...

After a while, a deep middle-aged man's voice came from inside, "Come in."

Qin Sheng pushed open the door.

The study was filled with smoke, making it hard to open his eyes. If you didn't know any better, you would think there was a fire.

A slightly overweight middle-aged man with gray hair was sitting on the sofa smoking. The ashtray was full of cigarette butts, and there were quite a few on the floor as well.

"Qin Sheng, you're finally here," the middle-aged man looked up and saw Qin Sheng. He was stunned for a moment before extinguishing his cigarette and quickly got up to meet Qin Sheng, laughing heartily.

Qin Sheng chuckled, "Uncle Han, it's been a year and three months since we last met on Mount Kunlun."

"You little rascal, you said you would definitely come to Shanghai to develop and that you would find me as soon as you arrived. I thought you were bluffing me, but it turns out you really did come," the man Qin Sheng called Uncle Han laughed loudly.

Qin Sheng sat down on the sofa, taking the tea pot from the man and pouring tea for both of them. "Uncle Han, you said that if a man can't do something, he shouldn't make promises lightly. Honesty is something young people don't understand, but the older you get, the more important it becomes. Besides, you saved my life."

"You kid," Uncle Han pointed at Qin Sheng and laughed. "When did you arrive?"

"I came right after getting off the train."

"You're still so straightforward. I've been a bit busy these past few days. I'll find some time to give you a proper welcome," Uncle Han patted Qin Sheng on the shoulder.

Uncle Han, whose real name was Han Ping, was a businessman, although Qin Sheng had never looked into what he did exactly. They had met by chance on Mount Kunlun while traveling around China. They had been going to the same place and had traveled together. Qin Sheng was probably too young and inexperienced, and if it hadn't been for Han Ping, he might have been killed in that avalanche.

"Uncle Han, is something wrong? If there's anything I can do to help, just say the word," Qin Sheng and Han Ping got along well, and they could be considered old friends. That's why he came to see him as soon as he arrived in Shanghai.

Han Ping sighed and lit another cigarette. "It's just a small matter. Everyone goes through ups and downs in life."

"But right after that, he said, 'Since you've brought it up, Xiao Qin, I actually have something I need your help with. Are you free?'

Qin Sheng replied earnestly, 'Mr. Han, you name it.'"

Han Ping handed Qin Sheng a cigarette, lit it for him despite Qin Sheng's refusal, and then said, "I've made an enemy. He's been targeting me recently, and I'm worried he might take it out on my daughter. So I want you to protect her until this storm passes."

Though Han Ping seemed calm on the surface, Qin Sheng could sense the underlying tension. He pondered for a moment and said, "Mr. Han, can I really trust you? And has she agreed to this?"

Han Ping replied, his voice steady, "I've made a few wrong judgments in my life, but I'm absolutely certain I won't make one with you this time. Once this is over, you can come work for me. As for her, don't worry about it. I'll talk to her. I'll just tell her you're her new assistant." Han Ping looked quite haggard, his eyes bloodshot.

Just then, someone knocked on the door. It was the villa's butler. He bowed and said, "Mr. Han, your guest has arrived."

"Please show him to the study. And ask Han Bing to come here as well. I have something to tell her," Han Ping said calmly.

After the butler left, he turned to Qin Sheng and said, "Xiao Qin, I have some things to attend to, so I can't keep you company. You just got off the train, so you must be hungry. There's food ready in the kitchen, or if you want something specific, just ask them to make it for you. I'll find you again after my daughter arrives."

Qin Sheng nodded and left with a smile.

In the dining room, the maid prepared some dishes and a few steamed buns for him. This was exactly what Qin Sheng preferred; he liked steamed buns more than rice. And coincidentally, Han Ping was from the northwest too, and he also loved steamed buns.

Usually, Qin Sheng ate very quickly, but today he chewed slowly, carefully observing everyone in the villa, from the bodyguards to the maids. He wouldn't miss a single detail. It was a habit he had developed to stay alive.

Any carelessness towards strangers could be fatal.

Qin Sheng ate for half an hour, until a tall, s*xy beauty walked into the villa. This must be Han's daughter, Han Bing. No wonder Han was so worried. Any man would go wild for her, especially those ruthless killers.

"So late at night, what does old man want from me? This is so annoying," Han Bing mumbled as she walked into the villa.

She had short hair, a gray tight-fitting T-shirt paired with black shorts, and casual flip-flops. She wore a Bulgari Serpenti pendant necklace, a limited-edition Bvlgari Saint Valentin heart-shaped diamond watch, and a Saint Laurent bag.

A true super-rich beauty...

Not long after the beauty went upstairs, the maid came down and called Qin Sheng, "The master wants to see you."

When Qin Sheng approached the study, he heard Han Bing shouting, "I don't want any bodyguard. You're invading my privacy."

"Don't give me that nonsense. I'm your father. If you don't want an assistant, fine. I'll immediately withdraw my investment from your company, freeze all your credit cards, and take back your car and house. From now on, you'll just stay home obediently," Han Ping said angrily.

Qin Sheng walked in at this moment, and Han Ping immediately beamed. "Come here, come here, Qin Sheng. This is my daughter, Han Bing. Let's get to know each other."

"Qin Sheng, nice to meet you," Qin Sheng extended his hand, but Han Bing didn't seem interested in shaking hands with him. The atmosphere was a bit awkward, but Qin Sheng understood. He withdrew his hand sheepishly.

Han Ping said apologetically, "She's just got a temper, and I've spoiled her since she was a child. Sorry if I've put you in an awkward position. I'll entrust her safety to you from now on. I'll ask the butler to give you some money later. If you run out, just ask him for more. Han Bing lives in Huarun Riverside Nine. I have a house in the opposite Shimao Binjiang Garden. The butler will give you the key later. Everything you need is there. It'll be convenient for you to pick her up and drop her off. Why don't you go find the butler? I need to talk to her for a bit more."

Qin Sheng went to find the butler, while Han Ping continued his heart-to-heart with his spoiled daughter...

After Qin Sheng got the key and money from the butler, Han Bing came downstairs from the study. Seeing Qin Sheng, she shouted, "Hey, lackey, let's go. Take me home."

The butler chuckled helplessly, but Qin Sheng didn't get angry. It would be beneath him to argue with a spoiled rich girl who was still under her father's wing.

Han Bing's car was a bright red Maserati GranTurismo. After getting in, she handed the keys to Qin Sheng and stared at him with a smirk.

Qin Sheng had rarely driven such a luxury car, but he remained calm. After a moment's thought, he started the engine and drove towards the Bund. Han Bing held her breath and glared at Qin Sheng angrily.

The whole journey, they didn't say a word.

When they arrived at Huarun Riverside Nine, Qin Sheng escorted Han Bing inside. She said viciously, "Pick me up at nine sharp tomorrow morning. If you're one second late, you're fired."

Then she slammed the door shut.

Qin Sheng shook his head helplessly and smiled wryly. Then he left.

After going downstairs, instead of driving back to Shimao Binjiang Garden, he parked the Maserati on the side of the road and took a taxi to the Bund.

In Qin Sheng's eyes, if a man had any ambition, he should go to Beijing and walk down Chang'an Avenue, and come to Shanghai to see the Bund. That would ignite the deepest desires within him.

Did Qin Sheng have ambition? Yes.

Did he have desires? Yes.

He felt that if a man didn't live an exciting life, if he couldn't reach a certain height, then this life would be a waste.

Everyone has the right to choose their life. Maybe many people are willing to live a simple and ordinary life.

But Qin Sheng didn't want to be ordinary.

On one side, the Bund glittered with its decadent allure; on the other, Pudong's skyscrapers twinkled with their neon lights. Qin Sheng stood by the Huangpu River, lighting a cigarette, inhaling deeply, and then slowly exhaling the smoke.

Gazing at this bustling, superficial city, Qin Sheng narrowed his eyes and muttered, "One day, this city will remember me for many years to come..."

Qin Sheng left the Bund after finishing his cigarette. One day, he would have his own place here, not looking up from below but looking down from the top of the Shanghai Center.

Returning to Huarun Riverside Nine, Qin Sheng drove the flashy red Maserati back to Shimao Binjiang Garden. After searching for a while, he finally found the building where he was staying.

When he turned on the lights after entering the house, Qin Sheng thought to himself, "It's really great to be rich. When I have money, I'll also buy such a luxurious house." When he stood on the balcony and saw the view of the Bund, he became even more determined.

Qin Sheng hadn't brought anything with him on this trip to Shanghai, so he had to buy everything tomorrow. Fortunately, there were daily necessities here, so he didn't have to worry about it.

Lying on the long, soft bed, Qin Sheng couldn't sleep well. He began to consider his current situation.

Han Ping must be a big shot; otherwise, he wouldn't be living in the opulent Tomson Golf Villa. But Han Ping must be in deep trouble; otherwise, he wouldn't be so stressed and haggard, a far cry from the calm and collected man I first met.

What kind of person could make Han Ping so difficult, and what kind of trouble was Han Ping in? Could he get through it?

These were all questions Qin Sheng needed to know, because it related to his first step in Shanghai.

If Han Ping was willing to cultivate him, then his first step would be easier, and he would have a higher starting point than others. If he couldn't get through it, then he could only find another way out.

But for now, his most important task was to protect Han Bing.

"D*mn it, what a headache," Qin Sheng said helplessly, but he could only comfort himself with the thought of being able to spend every day with a beautiful woman.

Early in the morning, Qin Sheng got up early and ran two laps around the neighborhood. After breakfast, he bought some snacks for that little ancestor. When he drove downstairs, it was only eight o'clock.

Before 8:30, Han Bing came downstairs. Today she wasn't as s*xy as last night, but she had an OL style, wearing a gray and white DOLCE&GABBANA suit and carrying an Hermès bag.

Although she wasn't s*xy, she was elegant.

"You're actually on time, you lackey," Han Bing had no affection for Qin Sheng at all. In fact, she resisted everything her father had arranged for her, and she felt that Qin Sheng was sent by her father to monitor her.

At 1.7 meters tall and wearing high heels, Han Bing stood next to Qin Sheng, and they actually looked quite a match, except that Qin Sheng looked a little shabby.

"I'm sure you haven't eaten. I bought you breakfast," Qin Sheng handed her the food and said softly.

Han Bing didn't refuse, but she just glanced at it and threw it directly into the nearby trash can, coldly snorted, "I don't eat this kind of street food. When we get to the company building, there's a coffee shop there that makes fresh coffee. Buy me a mocha."

Wasting food was the most shameful thing. Qin Sheng knew what it was like to be so hungry that he would eat anything. He suppressed his anger and smiled, "As you wish."

Han Bing's company was in republican style building next to the Sinan Mansion. It was her own advertising design company, not a family business.

Han Bing didn't want to be a successor to a wealthy family. She wanted to do something she liked. As for who would inherit her father's vast business in the future, that was his problem.

A few years ago, her mother died of illness. That kind and hardworking woman had suffered with her husband for most of her life but hadn't enjoyed much happiness before she passed away.

So, when her father was wandering around outside and rarely came home, and her mother was bedridden and in pain but didn't want outsiders to know, which eventually led to her mother's death, her relationship with Han Ping had completely broken down and had never been repaired since.

That was also why, although Huarun Riverside Nine was not far from Tomson Golf.

"Lackey, although Han Ping asked you to protect me, we need to make a few rules," Han Bing finally decided to talk to Qin Sheng after getting in the car.

"You say it, I'll listen, and then I'll decide," Qin Sheng replied simply.

Han Bing pouted and said, "First, pick me up and drop me off on time, and be on call. You're basically free labor, so don't complain."

"No problem, if I have something to do, I'll tell you," Qin Sheng nodded.

"Second, don't pry into my privacy, and don't tell Han Ping anything, including where I go, who I meet, and what I do."

"No problem. Uncle Han asked me to protect you, as long as you don't get into trouble, you can do whatever you want."

"Third, you do whatever I tell you to do, and you have to listen to me most of the time."

"I have to reserve my opinion on this one. As long as it's not too outrageous, I agree. But if you force me to do something unreasonable, I won't do it," Qin Sheng narrowed his eyes.

"Don't worry, I'm not interested in you," Han Bing scoffed. "What's your phone number, and your WeChat? If you need anything, I'll contact you."

Qin Sheng took out his treasured Nokia phone and said, "I'll call you. I don't have WeChat, this phone can't use it."

When she saw this antique-like Nokia phone, Han Bing couldn't help but burst out laughing. She pointed at Qin Sheng and laughed so hard that her stomach ached. "You... you... did you come out of a deep mountain forest? It's the 21st century, and you're still using a Nokia? Hahahaha, I can't take it anymore."

Qin Sheng's previous phone was also a smartphone, but later, when he was traveling, he sold the phone to get money and bought the cheapest old Nokia phone.

"Didn't Han Ping give you money? After you drop me off at the company, go buy a better phone, at least one that can use WeChat," Han Bing couldn't stop laughing, and then she looked Qin Sheng up and down. "And buy some decent clothes, don't embarrass me when you go out."

Qin Sheng didn't bother to respond to Han Bing's mockery. He knew that most of these rich kids were not actually bad at heart, but they were spoiled by their living environment.

If they couldn't grow up, they would suffer sooner or later. When they grew up, they would realize how stupid they had been.

So, he didn't need to get angry with Han Bing.

When they arrived at Han Bing's company building, Han Bing went in first. When she got out of the car, everyone was stunned. This was the first time they had seen a man send Han Bing to work, and they all thought he was Han Bing's boyfriend.

Qin Sheng parked the car and went to buy coffee for Han Bing. He also bought a piece of cake. After asking the company employees, Qin Sheng went straight to Han Bing's office. Everyone was shocked that no one stopped him and asked if he had made an appointment.

He knocked on the door, placed the coffee and cake on the table, and left without saying a word.

Sure enough, when Qin Sheng walked out of the three-story Chinese republican style building, all the dozens of people in the company exploded, and Han Bing still didn't understand what was going on.

Qin Sheng drove to the nearest shopping mall. He didn't want to waste Han's family's money, so he just bought a few clothes that he could wear without embarrassing Han Bing, including two suits. Even so, it cost him several thousand yuan, which made him feel quite distressed.

It's easy to go from simple to extravagant, but it's difficult to go from extravagant to simple.

He knew how hard it was to make money. Since college, he had been working part-time jobs everywhere, and every penny he had was saved up. Not to mention the past two years of traveling around the country, which had made him acutely aware of the pain of being broken.

When Qin Sheng returned to the company, Han Bing had realized that she had been played by this lackey of hers. So she dragged Qin Sheng to the lobby and said, "Everyone, stop what you're doing. Let me introduce you to him. His name is Qin Sheng, and he's my personal assistant. From now on, if you need any help, you can ask him to do it. Now, get back to work."

At that moment, Qin Sheng was dumbfounded, knowing that his miserable days were about to begin.

Sure enough, many people knew what Han Bing meant. They deliberately found a lot of things for Qin Sheng to do, like buying snacks and drinks, or carrying several buckets of water up from downstairs. It was as if she was saying, "I can't draw this picture, handsome, can you give me some inspiration?"

That day, Qin Sheng had a really miserable time.

Han Bing was a workaholic. She didn't even eat lunch, and she kept having meetings, seeing clients, and yelling at people.

When Qin Sheng passed by, he was startled. This beauty had a really bad temper, and she scolded her subordinates mercilessly.

After work that night, everyone had left, and only Han Bing was still working overtime. Qin Sheng's stomach was growling, but Han Bing still didn't seem to be leaving.

Finally, Qin Sheng couldn't take it anymore. He pushed open the door and said, "Whatever you need to do, wait until after dinner. If it's not important, then we can talk about it tomorrow."

"That's none of your business. Just wait for me outside," Han Bing replied without looking up.

Qin Sheng deliberately flashed a lewd smile and licked his lips, saying, "Just the two of us in an empty building. If I were to do something right now, no one would be able to stop me."

"What are you trying to do?" Han Bing asked, her voice trembling slightly. The empty three-story building, just her and Qin Sheng, made her feel a little scared, especially since she had only known him for a day.

Qin Sheng sneered, "If you listen to me, I won't do anything. But if you don't, who knows what might happen."

Han Bing knew that Qin Sheng was just trying to annoy her. She was tired anyway, so she decided to finish up her work at home. She couldn't stand seeing this lackey anymore.

She gathered her things, turned off the lights, and locked the door. Qin Sheng went to get the car.

As soon as Qin Sheng stepped out of the building, he noticed something was wrong. Two men were slowly walking towards them. Without turning around, Qin Sheng reached back and tried to push Han Bing inside.

But he felt something he shouldn't have, and he even subconsciously squeezed it.

When he realized what he had done, Han Bing screamed, "Qin Sheng!"

Her scream was loud enough to be heard for miles.

Qin Sheng knew he was in big trouble.