Chapter 41: The Things Remain, but the People Have Changed

When Lu Ming heard this, he sneered coldly.
"Damn it, he swindled my brother out of his money, living carefree every day while we suffer. Let’s go, let’s pay this Meng Changjiang a visit."
Lu Ming stood up and addressed Zhang Jianmin, "Thank you, Secretary Zhang. We’ll go find him now."
Zhang Jianmin frowned, "Let’s go together. I’ll call Old Zhang from the Municipal Bureau."
"No need, Secretary Zhang. We’ll handle the rest ourselves," Lu Ming said, pausing deliberately between each word.
At that moment, Yun Ketian chimed in, "Secretary Zhang, since Brother Lu wants to settle this himself, you needn’t worry. Thank you for everything. Drop by our house when you have time."
Zhang Jianmin’s eyes instantly crinkled with a smile, quickly replying, "Absolutely, absolutely."
Others might not understand, but he knew very well how difficult it was to visit Yun Shengguo’s home.
Normally, he had to ask around through the higher-ups’ informants, checking if Secretary Yun was busy or in a good mood.
Only when Yun Shengguo was free and in good spirits could he tentatively call to make an appointment. If he managed to secure one, it was fortunate; most times, Yun Shengguo wouldn't see them at all.
Now, with Yun Ketian’s invitation, he could visit at his convenience. The significance of this, outsiders could never fathom.
Lu Ming and his companions entrusted Chen Bing’s mother to Li Xiujuan, then immediately set off for Baofeng City.
Once they left, Zhang Jianmin also departed.
Though Yun Ketian and the others claimed they didn’t need his help, he still had preparations to make. If anything happened to Yun Ketian, it would be a disaster he couldn’t bear responsibility for.
...
At that moment, in the luxurious private room on the third-floor KTV of Xinghui Grand Hotel, Meng Changjiang was drinking and laughing with two other men.
Around them, a dozen beautiful hostesses continuously toasted them.
Meng Changjiang, barely in his twenties, wore an expression of smug satisfaction.
He had always run shell companies, sinking deep in debt.
Recently, while visiting home, he bumped into his childhood friend Chen Bing. Seeing Chen Bing crippled, he hadn’t intended to pay him any mind.
But overhearing that Chen Bing had served overseas as a soldier and received a large compensation payout, Meng Changjiang, desperate for cash, immediately set his sights on Chen Bing.
After several meetings, the unsuspecting and straightforward Chen Bing, charmed by Meng Changjiang’s smooth talk, invested his entire six million compensation with him.
Meng Changjiang was nearly delirious with joy. He’d expected Chen Bing to have only a few hundred thousand at most, never imagining his fortune was so substantial.
After getting the money, he vanished without a trace.
Some time later, learning that his hometown was undergoing development and the government was tendering projects, he quickly affiliated himself with a company, poured in another chunk of cash, and won the bid. With money, everything was easier. But even with six million, he couldn't actually complete the project.
...
So he started scheming again, asking someone to bring in Baofeng’s underworld boss, Chen Lei, who introduced him to a bank president.
After another hefty bribe, leveraging the bid and his capital, he secured a two hundred million loan. All the paperwork was done—he was just waiting for the money.
Today, his companions were Baofeng’s top boss, Chen Lei, and the bank president, Wei Wenbo.
Lately, they spent every night indulging in wine and women, living extravagantly. That unlucky Chen Bing had been forgotten completely.
...
Over an hour later, Lu Ming, Yun Ketian, and Chen Bing arrived at Xinghui Grand Hotel. At the presidential suite, they found no one and learned their target was in the third-floor KTV.
They headed up to the third floor and stopped at the door of Meng Changjiang’s private room.
Confirming Meng Changjiang was inside, Lu Ming kicked the door open.
Meng Changjiang and his companions were enjoying themselves with the hostesses when—the door crashed open, and Lu Ming and his friends strode in.
Everyone froze. Then Chen Lei shouted, "Damn it, who are you? Who dares to mess with me?"
Meng Changjiang finally recognized Chen Bing and two unfamiliar young men.
"Chen Bing, what brings you here? Come in, come in, have a seat," Meng Changjiang greeted, feigning warmth.
But Chen Bing’s face was full of grief and anger. "Meng Changjiang, you still have the nerve to speak to me?"
"Chen Bing, what’s this about? We’re old classmates and childhood friends. Why say such things?" Meng Changjiang protested innocently.
The hostesses sensed trouble and quietly moved aside, all except one who remained nestled in Meng Changjiang’s arms.
Wei Wenbo lit a cigarette, watching the events unfold from the side.
"You cheated me out of the six million I risked my life to earn, ordered Wang Liuqiang to demolish my house, and had my father crushed to death by a bulldozer. I treated you as a friend, a brother, and this is how you repay me?"
Chen Bing clenched his only fist, speaking with sorrow and fury.
"Chen Bing, you can’t just make wild accusations. Who cheated you out of six million? What does your father’s death have to do with me? If you’re in trouble, you can talk to me—I’d help you. But framing people isn’t right. Isn’t that so, Xiaoyu?"
The heavily made-up, scantily clad hostess beside Meng Changjiang sat up straight and addressed Chen Bing.
"Chen Bing, we understand you’re in difficulty, but falsely accusing people is beneath you."
Chen Bing stared at her for a long moment, then exclaimed in surprise, "You’re... Wang Xiaoyu?"
"Yes, we were classmates. Don’t you recognize me?" Wang Xiaoyu replied with a smile.
Chen Bing frowned, "Why are you working here?"
Wang Xiaoyu had been Chen Bing’s high school classmate—the campus beauty. Meng Changjiang had pursued her relentlessly, but she’d always ignored him.
She only mingled with wealthy outsiders, and rumor had it she’d been dumped by those rich boys several times. After graduation, everyone went their separate ways.
...
He never imagined the former school beauty would end up as a hostess, even consorting with the Meng Changjiang she once scorned.
Wang Xiaoyu’s face changed as she retorted,
"So what if I work here? Being a hostess is still better than you. Look at yourself—what have you become? Aside from begging and blackmailing, what else can you do?"
Chen Bing’s face turned pale; his introverted nature left him speechless.
Seeing Chen Bing humiliated and unable to respond, Yun Ketian grew anxious and spoke up.
"You filthy woman, begging is better than being a hostess. If you want to call yourself a hostess, fine, but let’s not pretend—you’re just a prostitute. What are you so proud of?"
Raised in a strict family, Yun Ketian wasn’t adept at insults, but this was the harshest he could manage—and it had its effect. Wang Xiaoyu’s chest heaved with anger.
"Changjiang, he insulted me," Wang Xiaoyu pouted, complaining to Meng Changjiang.
Meng Changjiang adored Wang Xiaoyu. In high school, he’d pursued her desperately, but as a campus beauty, she never gave him the time of day, always associating with wealthy heirs outside school. Sadly, those heirs only played with her, discarding her when bored.
Even so, Meng Changjiang never gave up, hoping she’d return to him someday—even willing to be her rebound.
But throughout high school, Wang Xiaoyu never acknowledged him.
After graduation, he failed the college entrance exam and began drifting, losing touch with Wang Xiaoyu.
Recently, after swindling Chen Bing’s six million, he started frequenting the five-star Xinghui Hotel for loan business, entertaining Chen Lei and Wei Wenbo.
During this time, he discovered Wang Xiaoyu working as a hostess and was thrilled—he immediately requested her.
Wang Xiaoyu, also from a rural background and having failed college entrance, stayed in Baofeng after graduation.
Unwilling to work and lacking any skills, she became a hostess, working at the KTV and occasionally contacting rich heirs, living a carefree life.
After meeting Meng Changjiang, she was surprised to find the former pauper now lavishly spending as a tycoon, and they quickly became involved.
The school beauty who once ignored him now obeyed his every word, giving Meng Changjiang immense satisfaction both emotionally and physically.
Now, hearing Wang Xiaoyu’s complaint, Meng Changjiang’s face darkened.
"Chen Bing, accuse me all you want, but your friend cannot insult my girlfriend. Tell him to apologize to Xiaoyu, or he’ll face the consequences."
Set a small goal for yourself—for example, remember this mobile reading site in one second: