Chapter 132: I Can’t Give You a Single Penny

It seems every billionaire has a sprawling estate, and the Zhong family is no exception.

As Yang Fan gazed at the manor, he mused that once he broke into the top one hundred, he would buy one for himself. Or perhaps he would just buy out the entire area around Garden Residential District; it was technically on the outskirts and usually deserted anyway.

In truth, he already owned five vacation estates and a resort, but combined, they didn’t match the scale of this place. The main issue was that he lacked the spare capital for proper development. Thus, his goal remained firmly fixed on ascending into the ranks of the ultra-wealthy. Thinking about the future always lifted his spirits—after all, if one is to live a life, it should be lived this way. But for now, he was still just poor.

"Wow, what a grand estate!"

"When I get rich, I’ll buy one just like it and invite you all to stay for a couple of days," Yang Fan declared.

"What about me?"

"You’ll stay there too. And you can bring the SWAT team’s police dogs along to let them get a taste of the high life, too!"

"You idiot!" Huo Xinxi couldn't help but snap.

"It’s an ideal!"

"Your ideal is awfully tacky. Why don't you just say you'll have the SWAT team serve as your security guards while you're at it?"

"Hey, that’s actually a great idea!"

The group groaned. They couldn't believe he was actually entertaining the thought.

"The men can be security guards, and the women can be waitresses. Especially if you wear your SWAT uniforms—people will see you from a distance and really feel the prestige!"

As Yang Fan rambled on about his dream, Huo Xinxi decided she didn't want to speak to him anymore.

They reached the manor quickly. The head of the Zhong family didn't bother coming out; only the butler stepped forward to greet them. Yang Fan silently cursed them as two-fifty idiots. The Zhong family was nowhere near the level of the Han family, yet they acted as if they were in the top fifty.

"Captain Huo, the auction doesn't start until three. We’re worried about troublemakers sneaking in to disrupt the proceedings, so we’ve asked you here to oversee security and maintain order."

Yang Fan looked on with disdain, but Huo Xinxi accepted with a smile. She inspected the venue and assigned her team members before being led to a meal by the butler. As for Yang Fan, he kept a low profile and was naturally ignored by the Zhong family. With his connections to the Liu family, President Chen, and President Qian, he might at most rank around one hundred and tenth—hardly worth the Zhong family’s notice.

There were plenty of rich people out there, and Tianning never lacked for them. The Zhong family’s arrogance was misguided; they had no idea who Yang Fan truly was. If he were to include President Han in the mix, the head of the Zhong family would likely be bowing to him. But Yang Fan felt no need to be so flashy. If they didn't know who he was, that was fine—he didn't know them either.

Back in the dining hall, Yang Fan ate without restraint.

"This auction is a complete sham," Huo Xinxi whispered.

"You realized that?" Yang Fan asked.

"Haven't you seen the venue? That's no auction house; it's clearly a matchmaking event."

"So, how ugly must the Zhong family’s daughter be to resort to this? I just wonder if this is a martial arts competition for a suitor or a bride-tossing ceremony," Yang Fan said, stuffing a large piece of meat into his mouth.

"Who knows?"

"It doesn't matter. Look at those second-generation rich kids—they can’t write poetry and they can’t fight. You should tell Little Liu and the others to work hard. Even if she's ugly, as long as they can get their hands on her family’s money, they can afford to keep as many mistresses as they want. With the Zhong family's assets, you wouldn't be able to spend it all in a lifetime," Yang Fan said calmly.

He patted a nearby officer on the shoulder and asked, "Handsome, you got a girlfriend? If not, go up there later and fight for her!"

"Why don't you go fight for her yourself? Then you'd be even richer and could keep as many mistresses as you want," Huo Xinxi retorted.

"I'm not the right fit. I'm the type who loves beauty over status. I don't want an ugly wife!" Yang Fan declared. To save everyone a lifetime of hard work, he started mobilizing the rest of the team. Those who were married should fake a divorce, and those who weren't should fight hard for the prize. It was a golden opportunity not to be missed. Yang Fan thought he was doing a good deed; helping others was simply his nature.

They rested until one-thirty. By the time they reached the manor gates, the Zhong family’s bodyguards were setting up a security perimeter. Well, an auction should look like an auction; entry by invitation only was the proper way to do it. The SWAT team was really just there for show—they had nothing to do but stand there, as the Zhong family only wanted the prestige of having the SWAT insignia on their uniforms.

Yang Fan was too lazy to move. He watched the attendees arrive, all accompanied by female companions. Not bad, he thought; it was good for the eyes.

"Not bad at all!"

"What's not bad?" Huo Xinxi asked, unable to help herself.

"The beauties!" Yang Fan watched with great interest.

Huo Xinxi ignored him, and the rest of the SWAT team wanted to give him a beating. It was one thing to be with Captain Xi, but now he was already scouting new targets.

Among the crowd were some familiar faces—the supporters of Jiang Huai, all partners of Fanmei. These were just the small fry; the big bosses were still to come. Yang Fan flicked his fingers in a casual greeting, a signal for them not to approach him. Standing there was already awkward enough. They acknowledged him in return and entered with their companions.

After about thirty or forty people had passed, a line of luxury cars approached from the distance.

"It’s always the small fry first; the main event is always saved for last," Yang Fan chatted with the group.

Suddenly, there was a stir inside the manor. All the bodyguards straightened up in respect as a woman walked out. She was moving in a hurry, her expression panicked. Driven by curiosity, Yang Fan took a look and froze.

"How could it be her?" Yang Fan gasped.

"Good afternoon, Young Miss!" the bodyguards shouted in unison.

The woman waved them off, but as she glanced toward the side, she also froze—she had seen Yang Fan.

"Yang Fan?" she said in surprise.

"How is it you?" Yang Fan couldn't help but ask.

This daughter of the Zhong family was none other than the person he had tried to "keep" as a mistress during a film set encounter, back when Ai Xiaomei had set him up.

"You..."

Before the young lady of the Zhong family could say more, several cars pulled up to the open space at the gate. Yang Fan recognized one of them—it was Jiang Huai’s car. Another car followed with a license plate number just one digit off; it was likely Jiang Bo, the younger brother competing with Jiang Huai for the succession.

At that exact moment, Yang Fan felt the young lady of the Zhong family shudder. Through his Sky Eye, no subtle movement could escape him. It looked like fear, yet that defied logic.