Agent Yi Leng

Ali said, "Something happened back home..."

Earlier, when she called her mother to ask her to ship some of her belongings, her mother revealed that Ou Corporation was in trouble. Her father had to return to Singapore to face an investigation, and the family's assets had been frozen—they couldn't access a single cent. Her mother, too, would be flying back to help resolve the crisis, leaving no one to take care of Ali for the time being.

Ali immediately insisted on returning home to face this unexpected disaster alongside her family. However, her mother reassured her, saying, "Staying safe where you are is the biggest help you can give us. I'll send your things over. Just hang in there for three to six months, and everything should be fine."

What Ali didn't know was that this "crisis" had been orchestrated by her parents. They both felt that their daughter had been shielded too much growing up. Life for her had been carefree, as though she'd been raised in a sterile bubble. They worried that, despite her excellent education, she would struggle to face real hardships or challenges. If she didn't learn to grow now, it might be too late by the time they were no longer around to protect her.

After consulting with doctors and being assured that her transplanted heart was strong and healthy, they quietly revised their will. The shares they had initially planned to donate would now all go to Ali. One day, the Ou Corporation would be hers to helm.

But a naive, carefree girl wouldn't be capable of such a responsibility. The journey toward becoming a strong and capable leader began now, with this trial by fire.

What her parents underestimated, however, was Ali's intelligence and sharpness. While she was sweet and innocent, she wasn't foolish. The situation had come so suddenly and without warning, but when connected with past clues, it seemed highly likely to be a well-meaning ploy. Rather than resist, she decided to play along, fully aware of her parents' intentions.

Ali was multi-talented, fluent in multiple languages, skilled in various instruments, and adept at photography and painting at a professional level. With her qualifications and artistic expertise, she could easily earn a good living as a pricey private tutor. But as the daughter of Ou Jinhua, such a route didn't align with her identity or ambitions.

Yi Leng was unaware of these behind-the-scenes machinations, and Wu Yumei certainly didn't know either. All Wu Yumei thought was, "If someone's in trouble, I'll help as much as I can."

"The restaurant does need an extra set of hands, but girl, working as a waitress seems like a waste of your talent," Wu Yumei said.

Ali responded, "I think being a waitress is great! I really like the food here, and I believe there's a lot of potential. In fact, I want to invest in this restaurant."

Wu Yumei froze, completely taken aback. This was beyond her imagination. Usually, when girls fall on hard times, they turn to others for help. But here was Ali flipping the script. What could there possibly be to invest in this tiny eatery? There were dozens of similar small restaurants along Meigang Road. If Ali really wanted to enter the food industry, she could just open her own shop.

Yi Leng, however, understood Ali's perspective. The knowledge and exposure Ali had gained through her upbringing were worlds apart from what Wu Yumei had encountered in her life. This could be a rare opportunity—one that most people might only encounter once or twice in their lifetimes.

"Let's hear your idea," Yi Leng said, inviting Ali into the room. Wu Yumei made tea and feigned interest, though she was internally dismissive.

Ali flipped over the restaurant's menu and began sketching on the back, explaining her vision. "Our ultimate goal is to build a global restaurant chain, something akin to the Yum! Brands Group."

"I've never heard of Yum! Brands," Wu Yumei said.

"Pizza Hut and KFC belong to them. They operate over 30,000 stores across more than 100 countries and regions, employing 800,000 people," Yi Leng explained, cigarette in hand, giving Wu Yumei a quick lesson.

But Wu Yumei scoffed. She had long outgrown dreaming of fantastical ideas. To her, Ali's ambitious plans sounded like nothing more than wild nonsense.

"We'll start by building a brand, opening multiple chain stores, attracting investors, and eventually going public..." Ali continued enthusiastically. These were words she often heard from her father, Ou Jinhua, but to Wu Yumei, it all sounded like fairy tales—completely irrelevant to the lives of ordinary people.

"So you're the angel investor, then?" Yi Leng asked.

"You could put it that way," Ali nodded.

"How much are you willing to invest?" Yi Leng followed up.

"Initially, 500,000 yuan," Ali replied.

Wu Yumei nearly choked on her tea. This girl casually mentioned half a million yuan like it was pocket change. But her serious demeanor suggested she wasn't joking.

Now Wu Yumei was starting to feel tempted. She'd opened this small restaurant purely to make a living. She had no grand ambitions or deep-rooted convictions—making money was her top priority. If someone was willing to invest, not lend, then why not agree?

Besides, Wu Yumei's financial situation was dire. She was carrying hundreds of thousands of yuan in debt. Her six-table restaurant was just enough to cover basic living expenses, but making a fortune would require immense effort, time, and dedication. The food industry was a labor-intensive field, with little room for shortcuts. If someone offered her a way to leap forward, why wouldn't she take it?

"Girl, you're not joking, are you?" Wu Yumei asked cautiously.

Ali nodded. "I'm not joking."

Wu Yumei pressed further. "Do your parents approve of this? This is a huge amount of money—don't go stealing from their savings accounts!"

Ali reassured her, "I wouldn't do that. I don't have that much cash on hand right now, but I can get it soon. All I have to do is sell a few of my cameras and lenses."

"What kind of cameras are worth that much? Are they gold-plated?" Wu Yumei asked incredulously.

"Hasselblad H6D, Leica S3, Canon 1D, and a few dozen lenses," Ali listed casually.

"That's it?" Wu Yumei asked in disbelief.

Ali nodded earnestly. "That's it."

Wu Yumei turned to look at Yi Leng. She trusted him above all. This restaurant had been on the verge of collapse before his arrival, but under his management, it had miraculously revived and was even thriving. She attributed its success entirely to him. In her eyes, Yi Leng held 80% of the decision-making power over the restaurant's fate.

Of course, there was another, more personal reason for her trust. Wu Yumei had already started seeing Yi Leng as an ideal partner—a man of integrity and steadfastness, someone she could rely on. So, she deferred to his judgment.

Without hesitation, Yi Leng made the decision: "Let's do it."

Ali beamed with joy. "I have one condition: we need to rename the restaurant. Something more distinctive, memorable, and unique."

The name "Yumei Restaurant" was too generic—a casual choice reflecting Wu Yumei's lack of branding efforts. While it had sufficed in the past, a more professional name was necessary for future growth and formal operations.

"I'll throw out a suggestion: let's name it after Huang Pihu. How about 'Huang Pihu Restaurant'?" Ali said, standing up and grabbing a yellow tiger plushie from the counter. She quickly sketched a cartoon tiger on a piece of paper. "This will be our logo."

The name "Huang Pihu" had originally been Yi Leng's moniker, derived from the plush tiger. Now, by sheer coincidence, it was becoming the name of the restaurant. It felt like fate, and Yi Leng had no objections.

With Yi Leng on board, Wu Yumei certainly wouldn't oppose the idea. While she personally preferred names like "Good Fortune Restaurant" or "Golden Harvest," she ultimately went along with the new name.

Just then, Xiao Hong returned with a bucket of red paint. Yi Leng dipped a new mop into the paint, climbed a ladder, and painted three large characters—"Huang Pihu"—on the white wall above the restaurant's entrance.

Writing with a mop on a vertical wall was no easy feat, yet Yi Leng's brushstrokes were bold and precise. While it might not impress a calligrapher, to the neighbors and local merchants, it solidified his status as the most impressive figure on Meigang Road—a man of both strength and skill.

Ali decided to showcase her own talents as well. Xiao Hong fetched some additional paint in various colors and handed her a few brushes. Treating the brushes like oil paint tools, Ali painted a cartoon tiger in the blank space above the new restaurant name.

Ali said, "Something happened back home..."

Earlier, when she had called her mother to arrange for her things to be shipped over, her mother informed her of a family crisis: Ou Corporation was in trouble. Her father had to return to Singapore to face an investigation, their family assets had been frozen, and they couldn't access a single cent. Her mother, too, needed to fly back to Singapore to try to salvage the situation, leaving Ali to fend for herself for the time being.

Ali immediately offered to return home to face this sudden disaster with her family. But her mother reassured her, saying, "The best way you can help us is by staying where you are. I'll send your things over. Just hold on for three to six months, and everything should be resolved."

What Ali didn't know was that this "crisis" was part of a scheme orchestrated by her parents. They both believed that their daughter had been excessively sheltered growing up. Her life had been worry-free, as though she had been raised in a bubble. Despite her excellent education, they feared she lacked the ability to face real adversity. If she didn't learn to grow now, it might be too late by the time they were no longer there to protect her.

After consulting with doctors and ensuring that her transplanted heart was healthy and functioning well, they revised their plans. The shares and assets they had originally planned to donate would now be left to their daughter. One day, Ou Corporation would be Ali's responsibility.

But they knew that a carefree, naive girl wouldn't be able to handle such a burden. The process of shaping Ali into a strong and capable leader began now, with this trial.

What Ali's parents didn't realize, however, was how sharp and perceptive their daughter truly was. While she was sweet and innocent, she was far from foolish. The suddenness of the crisis, combined with previous subtle hints, made it clear that this was likely a well-intentioned "game." She decided to play along, understanding her parents' good intentions.

Yi Leng and Wu Yumei, on the other hand, were completely unaware of the orchestration behind the scenes. To them, Ali's situation was simple: someone had run into trouble, and helping her was the natural thing to do.

"The restaurant does need an extra set of hands, but girl, wouldn't being a waitress be wasting your talents?" Wu Yumei said.

Ali replied confidently, "I think being a waitress is great! I love the food here, and I see a lot of potential. In fact, I want to invest in this restaurant."

Wu Yumei was stunned. This completely defied her expectations. Typically, when girls faced hard times, they would seek shelter and support from others. But here was Ali flipping the script. What could there possibly be to invest in at this small eatery? There were dozens of similar restaurants along Meigang Road. If Ali really wanted to get involved in the food industry, she could have just opened her own shop.

However, Yi Leng immediately understood Ali's perspective. The knowledge and exposure Ali had gained through her upbringing were on a completely different level. The opportunity she saw was something Wu Yumei couldn't comprehend. For most people, life-changing opportunities only come once or twice in their lifetimes.

"Let's hear your idea," Yi Leng said, inviting Ali to sit down. Wu Yumei brewed some tea and pretended to listen with interest, though her heart wasn't in it.

Ali flipped over the restaurant's menu and began sketching on the back. "Our ultimate goal is to build a global restaurant chain, something like Yum! Brands."

"I've never heard of Yum! Brands," Wu Yumei said, puzzled.

"Pizza Hut and KFC are part of Yum! Brands," Yi Leng explained, cigarette in hand. "They operate over 30,000 stores in more than 100 countries and employ 800,000 people."

Wu Yumei scoffed. She had long since stopped dreaming of fantastical ambitions. To her, Ali's grand vision sounded like pure nonsense.

"We'll start by building a brand, opening chain stores, attracting investors, and eventually going public..." Ali continued, her tone confident. These were ideas she had often heard from her father, Ou Jinhua. But to Wu Yumei, they sounded like fairy tales, completely irrelevant to the lives of ordinary people.

"So, are you the angel investor?" Yi Leng asked.

"You could put it that way," Ali replied.

"How much are you planning to invest?" Yi Leng inquired.

"Initially, 500,000 yuan," Ali said.

Wu Yumei nearly spat out her tea. This girl casually mentioned half a million yuan like it was nothing. But her serious demeanor suggested she wasn't joking.

Now Wu Yumei was starting to feel tempted. She had opened this small restaurant simply to make a living and had no lofty ambitions. Making money was her sole priority, and if someone was willing to invest, not lend, why wouldn't she agree?

"What kind of cameras are worth that much? Are they gold-plated?" Wu Yumei asked skeptically.

"Hasselblad H6D, Leica S3, Canon 1D, and a few dozen lenses," Ali listed casually.

"That's it?" Wu Yumei asked, still in disbelief.

Ali nodded earnestly. "That's it."

By the afternoon, Ali had sold her cameras and other luxury items, including a platinum handbag and a Cartier watch her mother had given her. She received 580,000 yuan in cash as starting capital. She immediately withdrew 49,000 yuan and began making moves.

With her guidance, the restaurant began the process of registering as a company. They also expanded by acquiring the dry-cleaner's shop next door, which was closing due to poor business. After the dry-cleaning machines were removed, there was no need for renovations—the space was ready for use as a dining area.

The new company was registered under the name Jiangwei Wuyumei Culinary Consulting and Management Development Co., Ltd., with Wu Yumei as the legal representative. They also registered trademarks for "Huang Pihu," "Wuyumei," and "Spicy Sesame Chicken."

Ali's strategic vision was clear: as an individual business entity, the restaurant couldn't franchise or open additional branches. But as a company, the possibilities for expansion were endless. Although Wu Yumei didn't fully understand the details, her instincts told her that Ali's direction was the right one.

Meanwhile, Ali continued to balance her teaching responsibilities. She visited the school and asked Yi Nuan Nuan what she had for lunch.

"Fried rice with avocado, cherry tomatoes, braised beef shank, and a yogurt," Nuan Nuan replied.

"Did you get a note with it?" Ali asked.

Nuan Nuan pulled out a pale yellow sticky note with neatly written calligraphy. The handwriting matched the note from the restaurant.

"So it was Huang Pihu who did this," Ali thought, feeling intrigued. She didn't immediately reveal this secret to Nuan Nuan.

Later, Ali shared some good news with Nuan Nuan: they were now neighbors, living in the same building, one upstairs and the other downstairs.

Their conversation was interrupted by two girls, Jian Shiyu and Mei Xin, who had been watching them from a distance. Mei Xin whispered bitterly, "We were going to teach Yi Nuan Nuan a lesson. Who knew Ali would stick to her side like glue? Guess we'll have to back off for now."

"Let's go to the hospital and find the boss," Mei Xin said. They rode their electric scooters straight to the shipyard hospital, where they reported to their leader, Yin Weiran, about the recent events at school, emphasizing how much attention Yi Nuan Nuan was getting.

"I'm getting discharged tomorrow!" Yin Weiran declared angrily. "I'll put her in her place!"

"But, boss, your leg's still in a cast. Are you sure you're up for it?" Jian Shiyu asked hesitantly.

"That's nothing," Yin Weiran replied. "My dad will drive me to school. Besides, with my injury, my resilience will inspire everyone. Even the class monitor might start helping me every day."

Elsewhere, class monitor Feng Xiaoxiao, who had been pedaling home to the Hawaiian Coastal Villas, returned to an empty house as usual. His mother was likely at the beauty salon or playing mahjong, while his father was forever "working overtime."

Just as loneliness began to creep into his heart, he heard movement from the garage. His father's black Passat was back.

"Today must be important," Feng thought, rushing downstairs to find his father loading Maotai liquor and premium cigarettes into the car.

"Your grandfather is having a big birthday celebration today," Ma Xiaowei said. "Go change—you're coming with me."

At that moment, Feng Xiaoxiao realized today wasn't just any day.

[--------------------------------------------]

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