Wang Yifan sat outside by the doorway, letting the cold winter wind wash over him.
Wasn’t the warmth and coldness of human relationships just like the wind?
The summer breeze was refreshing.
The winter wind, however, cut to the bone.
Tonight was a joyful family dinner for Wang Baoshan.
But for Wang Yifan and his parents, it was anything but.
If they hadn’t come, people in the village would have started gossiping the very next day, saying that his parents were jealous because Wang Baoshan had found a girlfriend while Wang Yifan hadn’t, so they refused to attend.
That was exactly why, despite knowing they would become the target of ridicule, his parents had still insisted on bringing him.
The dim glow of the streetlight fell over him, making his lonely figure appear even more desolate.
Just then, his phone chimed.
Ding!
Ding!
Wang Yifan took out his phone and checked the sender.
The contact name read:
Wife Yifei.
He was still somewhat bewildered.
He had no idea when Liu Yifei and Zhao Lusi had been added to his WeChat contacts.
It had to be the system’s doing.
Just as he was about to open their messages—
His phone rang.
It was an unfamiliar number.
He answered.
A middle-aged man’s voice came through.
“Hello, President Wang. I’m Song Qingshu, CEO of ByteDance.”
Hearing the caller introduce himself as ByteDance’s CEO, Wang Yifan was stunned.
He quickly recovered.
“What can I do for you?”
“It’s like this, President Wang. This year’s shareholder dividend will be transferred to your account tomorrow. Please check your bank balance then.”
The moment he heard that, Wang Yifan trembled with excitement.
He had never imagined this.
Not only had he become ByteDance’s largest shareholder with absolute control over the company…
He was also about to receive shareholder dividends!
Hahaha… this feels incredible!
“Alright. Thank you for your hard work.”
Suppressing his excitement, Wang Yifan answered calmly.
“President Wang, do you have any instructions regarding the company’s future operations?”
“No. Keep everything running as usual. I’ll leave the company in your hands.”
On the other end of the line, Song Qingshu let out a sigh of relief.
When he’d learned that ByteDance’s largest shareholder had suddenly changed, he’d been extremely nervous.
That was why he had hurriedly called the new owner—to test his attitude.
Fortunately…
The new chairman seemed easy to work with.
At the same time, Song Qingshu couldn’t help feeling shocked.
Anyone capable of acquiring so many shares of ByteDance was undoubtedly an extraordinary figure.
Even Lei Jun only owned around 3% of Douyin, and Douyin itself was merely one subsidiary of ByteDance.
With ByteDance valued at 1.56 trillion yuan, the new chairman’s holdings alone were worth approximately 780 billion yuan.
It was simply terrifying.
“Very well, President Wang. I won’t disturb you any longer.”
“Mm.”
The call ended.
Wang Yifan couldn’t help wondering just how much a year’s worth of shareholder dividends would amount to.
He would find out tomorrow.
Once tomorrow arrived…
He would truly be wealthy.
Well…
He was technically already rich now.
His wealth simply existed in the form of shares.
After hanging up with Song Qingshu, Wang Yifan opened Zhao Lusi’s chat first.
The conversation showed several new messages.
Wife Lusi: Yifan, what are you doing?
Wife Lusi: Yifan, why aren’t you replying?
Wife Lusi: Yifan, have you eaten yet?
Looking at her messages, Wang Yifan suddenly didn’t know how to respond.
Although he had obtained the identity of Zhao Lusi’s boyfriend…
He still felt that she was a famous celebrity while he was just an ordinary person.
Suddenly having the WeChat of such a popular actress—and becoming her boyfriend—was something he still couldn’t wrap his head around.
Besides…
He hadn’t chatted with a girl in a very long time.
His fingers trembled as he typed.
Whether from the cold or excitement, he wasn’t sure.
It took him more than a full minute just to type:
I just finished dinner.
What about you?
Then, with trembling fingers, he pressed Send.
To be honest, Wang Yifan felt rather awkward.
It was almost like they were a couple thrown together through an arranged marriage.
He still couldn’t understand how the system was capable of something this outrageous.
Giving him the identity of Zhao Lusi’s boyfriend…
It was unbelievable.
Almost immediately after his message was sent, Zhao Lusi replied.
Wife Lusi: (Photo)
Wife Lusi: I’m having dinner with my parents right now.
Look!
This is what I’m eating today.
There are so many delicious dishes!
Looking at the message, Wang Yifan could almost picture the cheerful expression on Zhao Lusi’s face as she sent it.
He quickly replied.
That looks so delicious.
Now I’m hungry too!
After chatting with Zhao Lusi for a while, the awkwardness he had felt completely disappeared.
Now they were chatting just like a couple deeply in love, naturally sharing the little moments of their day.
And after getting used to chatting with Zhao Lusi, talking with Liu Yifei also became much more natural.
Half an hour slipped by without him noticing.
When Wang Yifan finally checked the time, he was astonished.
He had only been chatting with Zhao Lusi and Liu Yifei…
Yet thirty minutes had passed in the blink of an eye.
It felt completely different from his previous relationships.
Talking with Zhao Lusi and Liu Yifei felt effortless.
He didn’t have to struggle to find conversation topics.
They naturally kept the conversation going.
It was…
Comfortable.
“So… this is what being in love really feels like.”
He murmured softly.
Although tonight’s family dinner had been a miserable experience…
For him, the gains were enormous.
He had awakened a system.
He had also obtained two incredible identities.
It couldn’t have gone any better.
After chatting with Zhao Lusi and Liu Yifei for the past half hour, he had also learned about their current situations.
Liu Yifei was currently in Heilongjiang, accompanying her mother back to her hometown, so she wouldn’t be able to visit anytime soon.
Zhao Lusi, however, was in Chengdu, Sichuan—not too far from his own home.
Since she didn’t have much work scheduled during the New Year holiday, she was the only one who could realistically come to his house.
Of course, Wang Yifan hadn’t brought it up with her yet.
He planned to discuss it after returning home.
Ideally…
They could even have a video call.
He was genuinely curious to see what the famous actress Zhao Lusi looked like without makeup.
After standing outside in the freezing wind for half an hour, Wang Yifan slipped his phone back into his pocket and rubbed his hands together.
Only now did he realize they had gone completely numb.
While chatting with Zhao Lusi and Liu Yifei, he had been too excited to notice.
Now, they hardly felt like his own hands anymore.
After warming them a little, he stood up…
…and walked back into Wang Baoshan’s house.