Rebirth: My Business Empire

Antique Market.
In just a few fleeting moments, memories from the past vividly surfaced in Ye Chen's mind.
Zhang Jingshan.
Although Ye Chen had never interacted with this name in his previous life, it was not unfamiliar!
A grandfather who was once the top municipal leader of Jiangzhou City.
A father who was the chairman of a construction company.
And a self-made founder of Yunshan Network Company, which quickly became a sensation on the internet.
However, it wasn't Zhang Jingshan's impressive family background that triggered Ye Chen's memories.
What made him remember this name was a hot topic from his past life.
The incident began with a female streamer—one working under Zhang Jingshan's network company!
In a widely circulated video that dominated the internet, Zhang Jingshan was seen forcing himself on the streamer, who feigned resistance, seemingly caught off guard. Little did he know that her home was rigged with cameras, recording the entire event.
Ye Chen wasn't sure what drove the streamer to go all out and leak the video online.
But her act of desperation ruined not just Zhang Jingshan but also his father.
That so-called assault case not only stirred massive public outrage but also unearthed various scandals involving the Zhang family.
This included the revelation that his father's construction company had been cutting corners in municipal projects affecting public welfare!
While the Zhang family was already mired in a crisis of public opinion, another blow came like a storm. A fatal accident occurred at one of their construction sites due to negligence, resulting in several workers losing their lives.
This sealed the Zhang family's fate, pushing them to the brink of destruction. Zhang's grandfather was so furious that he coughed up blood and passed away a few months later.
Both Zhang Jingshan and his father were sentenced to prison. Yunshan Network Company went bankrupt, and the Zhang family became the scorn of millions, vilified by everyone.
The promising future of the family was utterly destroyed, drowned in public outcry.
But the most lamentable part?
Years later, the Zhang family was proven innocent.
It turned out that the assault was a setup, a deliberate frame job.
As for the alleged cutting corners in construction, it was all due to the project manager's betrayal, deceiving Zhang's father by secretly swapping materials to pocket the difference.
The fatal site accident? Indeed, it was negligence, but it was just that—an accident. However, given the Zhang family's dire situation in public opinion at the time, this naturally became the straw that broke the camel's back.
Sadly, by the time the truth came to light, several years had already passed.
Thinking about this, and knowing the prayer bead bracelet was meant for Zhang Jingshan's grandfather, a leader known for his lifetime of integrity, Ye Chen decided not to haggle over the price.
He didn't care about earning an extra ten or twenty thousand yuan. After all, there would be plenty of opportunities to rake in money later. Thirty thousand was enough to cover the high-interest loans he owed.
"Fine," Ye Chen thought. "Although the bracelet is worth more than thirty thousand, I don't want to drag this out. Thirty thousand it is."
Nodding, Ye Chen agreed.
However, he had no intention of warning Zhang Jingshan about the impending crisis.
For one, even if he spoke up, the other party might not believe him.
And given their chance meeting, Ye Chen felt no obligation to meddle in his affairs, especially if it might invite unnecessary trouble.
"Let's hope this prayer bead bracelet with its profound Buddhist significance can alter the Zhang family's fate," Ye Chen thought.
"Alright, I'll transfer the money now," Zhang Jingshan said with a big smile.
But just as he was about to pull out his phone, he realized he had left in such a hurry that he forgot both his phone and wallet!
"Jingshan, what's wrong?" Seeing Zhang Jingshan suddenly freeze, Lu Cheng asked in confusion.
Spending thirty thousand yuan to buy this prayer bead bracelet might seem extravagant to others, but presenting it to his grandfather, a former top municipal leader, was a steal!
Why the hesitation now?
"Uncle Lu, I forgot my wallet and phone!" Zhang Jingshan said awkwardly, looking at Lu Cheng.
"What?!" Lu Cheng was stunned.
"Uncle Lu, can you…"
Before Zhang Jingshan could finish, Lu Cheng, as if anticipating his request, interrupted, "Don't look at me. I've only got a few thousand yuan in my savings, and that's back at home! How about you call your father and ask him to send the money over?"
Unexpectedly, Zhang Jingshan immediately refused, "No. No matter what, I won't ask him!"
"Then what should we do?" Lu Cheng asked.
Zhang Jingshan turned to Ye Chen, feeling embarrassed but compelled to ask, "Buddy, could you follow me back to get the money? Or maybe you could give me your bank account, and I'll transfer the money to you later?"
As he spoke, Zhang Jingshan's face turned red with embarrassment.
After all, who in their right mind would trust a stranger enough to agree to this?
As Zhang Jingshan expected, Ye Chen shook his head.
But what caught him completely off guard was what happened next.
"Forget it. I didn't bring my bank card, so I can't provide an account number. How about this: go back, prepare the money, and then give me a call. I'll come to you to collect it. That way, it's convenient for everyone," Ye Chen said.
"Uh…"
Hearing this, not only were Zhang Jingshan and Lu Cheng dumbfounded, but so were the onlookers, including the stall owner who had sold the prayer beads to Ye Chen.
"What… is this guy an idiot?"
Thirty thousand yuan. Once the other party left with the goods, how would he find him again?
But how could they know what Ye Chen was thinking?
With Zhang Jingshan's status, there was no way he would default on a mere thirty thousand yuan.
Especially since it was meant for his grandfather, a former municipal leader.
"You trust me that much? Aren't you afraid I won't pay?" Zhang Jingshan asked incredulously.
"You don't look like someone who'd default," Ye Chen said with a smile.
"Uh…"
Was that a flimsy reason?
It couldn't get any flimsier!
Even Zhang Jingshan thought Ye Chen was too naive.
…
"Uncle Lu, do you think that guy is genuine or just a fool? But looking at him, he doesn't seem like some naive country bumpkin," Zhang Jingshan said cautiously as they walked out of the antique market with the prayer bead bracelet.
"Jingshan, that bracelet is worth more than thirty thousand! He knows it too!" Lu Cheng said seriously.
"Hmm? Then why did he sell it to me?" Zhang Jingshan asked, bewildered.
"I noticed from his expressions that he wasn't planning to sell it at first. But he changed his mind after hearing your name," Lu Cheng said.
Zhang Jingshan was even more confused. "I don't know him, and I have no impression of someone like him! Also, if he changed his mind after hearing my name, what's his motive?"
"Good question."
Lu Cheng chuckled and shook his head, his thoughtful expression fading. "Maybe he's just heard of you. Knowing you're the grandson of the former leader and the CEO of Yunshan Network, he figured you wouldn't default on a mere thirty thousand yuan!"
"That makes sense!"
Zhang Jingshan laughed. "Alright then, let's head back to the office and prepare the money for him. Honestly, with all the digital transactions these days, this feels like some underground deal!"