Wei Hanyun only remembered Zhong Ziyan’s phone call from the morning after he finished his workday, left the office, and got into the car for home.
Leaning back in the seat with his eyes half-closed, he spoke indifferently, “Zhong Ziyan?”
The secretary in the passenger seat, well-trained, replied promptly, “Ms. Zhong has already moved to Tingshan Villa this morning.”
“Did she use the card?”
“Yes,” the secretary paused, his expression behind gold-rimmed glasses slightly peculiar, “Three transactions totaling two hundred and ten thousand.”
Wei Hanyun frowned.
He had met Zhong Ziyan once a few days ago and had long since investigated her background.
Zhong Ziyan had once come from a well-off family, but after her parents passed away and relatives seized the family assets through various means, she fell into despair. All she had left was a high-end apartment, far from enough to sustain her extravagant lifestyle.
Wei Hanyun had chosen her for a contractual marriage partly because she had no way out.
But given the greedy nature of the woman he had met last time, she shouldn’t have spent such a trivial amount the moment she got her hands on his supplementary card.
“To Tingshan,” Wei Hanyun glanced at his watch and ordered.
The driver silently changed the route.
Zhong Ziyan thought the life of the rich was truly wonderful.
She didn’t have to lift a finger for the move. The moment she stepped into the intimidatingly large duplex villa, she was still looking around when the butler approached and asked if she would like breakfast.
“I hope it suits your taste, madam,” the butler said with a smile.
Zhong Ziyan answered without hesitation, “It definitely will.”
After years of surviving on bland nutrient solutions, would she be picky? Impossible!
“I noticed you were looking at the staircase to the second floor,” the butler inquired politely, “Is there anything unsatisfactory that needs to be changed?”
Zhong Ziyan: “…No, just occupational habits.” Entering an enclosed space always made her instinctively scout escape routes—a lingering reflex.
“Would madam like to tour the house first?” the butler asked again.
Zhong Ziyan had already roughly mapped out the layout, but she nodded anyway. “Please.”
The butler gestured for her to proceed, his gaze flickering subtly over her. The young woman before him seemed nothing like the rumors he’d heard.
Not only did Zhong Ziyan carry herself with effortless ease, as if every inch of ground she stood on naturally belonged to her, but the butler—having served the Wei family for years and met many composed, high-profile figures—had rarely seen someone with such presence.
There wasn’t a trace of greed or envy in her eyes.
To her, the luxurious mansion was as splendid and natural as the clear blue sky outside—no different.
Zhong Ziyan walked forward with her hands in her coat pockets while the butler followed slightly behind, composedly introducing, “Ahead is the main living room, divided into two sections…”
Listening to the butler’s explanations, Zhong Ziyan gained a new understanding of what a twelve-figure fortune truly meant.
For instance, this wasn’t even Wei Hanyun’s residence.
It was just a newly purchased property intended as their marital home—one he had never lived in despite owning it for so long.
Zhong Ziyan: “…” Very rich people behavior.
The three-story villa in the affluent district was a marvel.
The first floor was dedicated to daily living, entertaining, and dining—even the tableware was antique.
Zhong Ziyan: “…”
The second floor housed bedrooms, a study, and display rooms—filled with sculptures and paintings that screamed exorbitant value.
Zhong Ziyan: “…” Wait, wasn’t that painting on the wall the Pollock Wei Hanyun had bought for eight hundred million at auction yesterday?
Her pupils trembled.
Eight hundred million! Just hanging on the wall! Shouldn’t it be locked in a bank vault?!
“Mind the steps,” the butler gently guided her to the third floor.
“This is the greenhouse; the other half is the flower garden,” he explained.
Zhong Ziyan: “…” Did they really need thousands of square feet just to grow flowers and vegetables? …Well, compared to hanging eight hundred million on a wall, this was still acceptable.
“Your bedroom will be ready shortly. If you have any modification requests or needs, please let me know at any time,” the butler said, pressing a button on the wall. “Lastly, let me show you the basement.”
Zhong Ziyan’s memories of basements were traumatic—in the infinite world, they were the most likely places for disasters to strike.
Watching the hidden elevator doors open, she hesitated before following the butler inside as he pressed the button for B1.
There was a B2 next to it.
Was this a house or a corporate headquarters?
“The basement floor is for recreational and fitness activities,” the butler listed leisurely, “Gym, sauna, home theater, gaming area, bar, and a swimming pool.”
With a ding, the elevator doors opened.
Zhong Ziyan immediately scanned both sides before her gaze landed on the massive swimming pool: “…” You call this thousand-square-meter pool a ‘home swimming pool’? Isn’t this a full-blown aquatic center?
The butler followed her gaze and sighed. “It has never been used.”
Zhong Ziyan immediately declared, “Leave it to me.” Why maintain it so meticulously if it wasn’t even used? Wouldn’t draining it be simpler?!
Damn rich people.
Ah, no—mustn’t insult herself.
After the swimming pool, even an IMAX home theater that could seat over twenty people failed to faze her.
“You may invite friends over,” the butler suggested.
Zhong Ziyan was moved but declined. “No need. I don’t have friends.”
The butler’s eyes seemed to fill with sympathy.
Zhong Ziyan walked back toward the elevator, hands in pockets. “Is the second basement level a garage?”
“Yes, though it currently only stores some of the young master’s less frequently used cars,” the butler replied, following at a measured pace. “You may use them at any time.”
The elevator soon descended to the underground garage, and the butler turned on the lights.
Zhong Ziyan stared at the dozens of parking spaces, half-filled with an array of luxury cars: “…”
Though she didn’t recognize the brands, their sleek designs alone screamed extravagance.
Having been too poor in the infinite world, she had rarely driven, relying mostly on her own two diligent legs.
After all, if you could fly, who needed flashy sports cars? =)
“Please inform me when you need to go out. I will arrange the vehicle, driver, and security personnel for you.”
Zhong Ziyan instinctively refused. “I don’t need bodyguards.” In this low-combat world, no one stood a chance against her.
“It’s for your safety,” the butler smiled. “Now, shall we proceed to the dining room? Breakfast should be ready.”
Zhong Ziyan returned from B2 to the first floor, her mind occupied with calculating the worth of this property.
Were the cars in the basement more valuable, or the house itself? Or was it the eight-hundred-million painting on the wall?
The question lingered even after dinner, as she swam laps in the thousand-square-meter pool and lounged on a massage chair, enjoying a full-body treatment—yet still arriving at no conclusion.
Ah, the intoxicating scent of money!
And this extravagant mansion was merely one of Wei Hanyun’s insignificant properties.
Zhong Ziyan had been lying on the massage chair for just over ten minutes when she opened her eyes, got up, and draped a towel around herself before heading out—she had heard the sound of a car engine outside the house, which must have been Wei Hanyun’s.
This wasn’t exactly their first meeting, but it was close enough. She needed to make a good impression on her soon-to-be boss for the next year.
When Wei Hanyun stepped inside, the first person he saw was the butler. He set his briefcase aside and asked, “Is she asleep?”
“She thought it would be a waste to leave your pool unused,” the butler replied with a meaningful smile.
“Pool?” Wei Hanyun hadn’t even known the house came with one.
He bent down to change his shoes, and when he straightened up again, there was another person standing in the foyer.
Wei Hanyun recognized her as Zhong Ziyan, but upon closer inspection, she didn’t quite look like the Zhong Ziyan he knew.
Zhong Ziyan stood a few steps away, wrapped in a towel, barefoot, her hair slicked back and still dripping wet, revealing pale shoulders and flawlessly delicate features.
She tilted her head slightly, studying him, her long, dark lashes fluttering once before she smiled.
Even from a distance, Wei Hanyun could see the shimmering droplets clinging to her lashes, softening the otherwise unapproachable aura around her.
He paused thoughtfully, giving Zhong Ziyan the chance to speak first.
“Hello,” she said, stepping toward him, leaving wet footprints in her wake. “I’m Zhong Ziyan.”
Wei Hanyun shook her hand, his tone deliberate. “Mrs. Wei, hello.”
Zhong Ziyan hadn’t expected Wei Hanyun to be this good-looking in person.
She had seen plenty of billboards on the streets the day before, but few of the celebrities on them could hold a candle to Wei Hanyun.
Heaven had been overly generous, blessing this ridiculously wealthy man with an aristocratic face, and to top it off, he carried himself with polite grace—not a trace of arrogance.
“Is it almost time for you to sleep?” he asked courteously.
Zhong Ziyan, ever enthusiastic about a boss who wasn’t just rich but also sharp, replied, “Not yet. Are you hungry?”
Wei Hanyun nodded and gestured for her to follow. “Perfect. There are a few things I’d like to discuss with you.”
Zhong Ziyan had originally planned to change first, but at his words, her guard instantly went up. “Did I spend too much money?”
Ah, these damn rich people were always as stingy as dragons hoarding their treasure.
Wei Hanyun’s steps faltered slightly. With an amused smile, he beckoned her closer. “Come here.”
Zhong Ziyan padded over to him, already mentally calculating what she could return and how, when Wei Hanyun spoke again.
Calmly, he said, “The truth is, you haven’t spent enough, Mrs. Wei.”
Zhong Ziyan: “…” What do I do when my boss is too handsome?!
