Chapter 131: Brother-in-Law’s Gesture, Zhang Long Exposed (Special Addition for Front Page Recommendation)

Saturday, February 2, morning.

Zhang Long drove Luo Man back home. On the way, they stopped at a shopping mall to buy some health supplements and gifts. Seeing this, Luo Man felt a swell of joy, her beautiful eyes shimmering with warmth. Now that their relationship was official and he had a car, Zhang Long felt it was time to meet her family.

...

"You've been acting strange lately."

In an apartment, Liang Xue looked at Qin Miaotong, who had been uncharacteristically diligent lately, with a sense of wonder. Was this girl finally seeing the light? She had started taking the initiative to clean and cook.

"Can't I just have found my conscience?"

After placing the final dish on the table, Qin Miaotong washed her hands and invited her to eat. "It’s not as good as your cooking, but it’s not bad. You know what they say—he who stays near vermilion gets stained red."

"Pfft, it tastes terrible."

Despite her complaints, Liang Xue was relieved; at least she wasn't the only one cooking all the time. As for culinary skills, practice makes perfect—as long as it wasn't some kind of culinary disaster, it was edible.

"Alright, tell me, what’s up?"

Chewing on a bite of shredded radish, Liang Xue added, "Gratuitous favors usually imply ulterior motives. You’ve even started snooping on my phone lately. You’re asking for a beating."

"There’s nothing to see anyway."

Scolded, Qin Miaotong’s eyes flickered as she pursed her lips. "You definitely have another phone. I just wanted to see what the man who has you so distracted looks like. If you're not married, it's fine, but if he's a married man, I have to stop you from jumping into that pit."

"Hmph, mind your own business."

Liang Xue’s tone rose by two degrees. "I wouldn't involve myself in a marriage. That’s just boring."

"Oh, really?"

Qin Miaotong suddenly clicked her tongue. "The other day, when you went to take a shower, your WeChat pinged. A guy named Zhang Long asked, 'Dear, off work yet?' So cheesy." She shuddered for effect. "First of all, I didn't mean to snoop. It was just lying on the sofa with the screen facing up, and I happened to see it. So, how far have you two gone?"

Liang Xue didn't take the bait, mostly because she didn't know where she stood with Zhang Long herself.

"Do you want my help?" Qin Miaotong’s eyes sparkled. "Tell me where you two are stuck, and I’ll help you move things along. Just treat me to a meal once it's done, deal?"

"Stop. Cut it out." Liang Xue retorted impatiently. "You don't do any real work, just come up with a thousand bad ideas. Shut up and eat. If you bring this up again, I’m not coming over anymore. You’ll be sent to the cold palace for good."

*Ugh, so ruthless,* Qin Miaotong lamented inwardly. Still, she couldn't help but wonder—was this Zhang Long the *same* Zhang Long? Although unlikely, what if it was? She would have to keep investigating.

...

In an old residential complex in the northern suburbs, Zhang Long drove directly to the parking spot beneath a unit building. This location was so remote it was practically outside of Shanghai. The Luo family hadn't always lived here; their previous home was further in, but they had to mortgage and sell their old house due to family circumstances. Now, the family of three rented this small two-bedroom apartment.

Her younger sister, Luo Xin, had just started university. Their mother worked as a housekeeper and nursing aide, while Luo Man herself was a bank clerk. As for their father, he had passed away a few years ago.

Luo Man’s bank job had been secured by an old classmate of her mother’s. That classmate, now divorced, had actually been trying to partner up with their mother, but she had always refused, not wanting to drag him down with their burdens. Still, he had helped the Luo family consistently over the years—they were practically a couple in all but name.

"Sister? And... brother-in-law?"

Without an elevator, they walked up to the fifth floor. When the door opened, a pair of bright, large eyes appeared. The girl had a ponytail, looked youthful and vibrant, and was quite pretty. She froze when she saw the stranger standing next to her sister, then tentatively called out, "Brother-in-law?"

"You must be Xiaoxin," Zhang Long smiled slightly. He looked at Luo Xin, who was pale and frail, noting the intense, resilient darkness in her eyes. He could tell that this girl, who was battling illness, had a very optimistic outlook. As the saying goes, the eyes are the windows to the soul; it was easy to distinguish fake optimism from the real thing.

"Uh, please, come in."

Luo Xin scrambled to invite Zhang Long inside. The apartment was small and sparsely furnished, but Zhang Long didn't mind. When it comes to dating or marriage, men rarely care about the woman's material conditions; they are marrying the person. As long as she’s good and they can live a life together, that’s enough.

Luo Man’s mother wasn't home; weekends were her busiest time. The sisters would handle the cooking, so it didn't need to be a lavish affair. Zhang Long’s main purpose today was just to drop Luo Man off and get acquainted with the place, so Luo Man hadn't notified her family beforehand. Otherwise, they would have made sure her mother stayed home to prepare a proper meal for a formal introduction.

"I’m going to cook. You two chat."

After hauling their luggage and gifts up the stairs, Luo Man got to work. There were enough vegetables and meat in the fridge for a decent lunch.

...

"This is my sister when she was little."

While Luo Man was busy in the kitchen, Zhang Long toured her bedroom, which she shared with Luo Xin. When both girls were home, they slept in the same bed. The room was tidy, with photos of the two sisters hanging on the walls and displayed on the table.

Luo Xin happily told Zhang Long how excellent and hardworking her sister had been since she was young. Zhang Long listened with a smile; it was clear the sisters had a close bond and looked out for each other. It was heartening to see. There were also photos of their parents—their mother gentle and virtuous, their father sunny and handsome. It was a shame that fate had been so cruel, leaving them with such hardships.

"Brother-in-law, why don't you stay tonight? I can go sleep with Mom. It won't be a problem..." Luo Xin suddenly blurted out.

Zhang Long broke into a cold sweat. He hadn't expected the young girl to be so precocious and thoughtful. He declined, however; he had been quite active with Luo Man yesterday, and besides, he had plans to go racing with Lin Yuan that night. He would save the overnight stay for another time.

"Here, take this." Zhang Long didn't address her suggestion, instead pulling a red envelope from his coat pocket. "Don't tell your sister. Buy whatever you want. You’ve gotten so thin, like a little monkey."

"Ah, I can't take this..." Luo Xin waved her hands in refusal. It was improper to accept a red envelope from her brother-in-law on his first visit.

"Come on, just take it." Zhang Long took her cold, bony hand, his tone serious. "If you want your sister to truly stop worrying, you need to take care of yourself. Haven't you noticed she’s gained a bit of weight lately? Food is the fuel of life; make sure you eat more fruit and nutritious food at school."

Luo Man stood 165cm and weighed nearly 100 jin, while Luo Xin looked to be 155cm and only about 80 jin—far too thin. It’s often said that people view food as their heaven. Proper nutrition was essential for the body. Regardless of whether Luo Xin would undergo a heart transplant in the future, taking care of her health was a responsibility to herself. After some persuasion, she finally accepted. Of course, she still checked with Luo Man first, and only after her sister nodded did she take the envelope.

...

Lunch was simple: four dishes and one soup. Luo Man’s cooking was excellent; while not on par with a master chef, her home-cooked meals were flavorful and beautifully presented. They polished off every last bit.

After lunch, Zhang Long drove the two sisters to a nearby mall for some shopping. He bought items for their mother and supplies to fill out their home, acting with great generosity. Luo Xin felt a pang of heartache every time he swiped his card, but Luo Man was used to it. While the items added up, they were a massive improvement to their living conditions, so she didn't refuse and let Zhang Long buy what he pleased.

Long before the New Year, Luo Xin already had several new outfits and pairs of shoes. She felt a mix of bewilderment, happiness, and a strange, lingering sadness. She knew these things came at her sister's expense. Although they seemed like a couple in a passionate romance, as a younger sister, she could see how insecure Luo Man was—she felt she lacked the standing in this relationship and feared they might part ways at any moment. Having shared a bed for so many years, she understood the subtle changes in her sister’s expressions.

"Alright, cheer up." Zhang Long was at the checkout counter. Luo Man didn't know what her sister was moping about, but she knew she was being sentimental. She reached out and comforted her.

"Yeah, I'm happy." After nodding, Luo Xin looked toward the tall, handsome man ahead. He felt both very close and very far away.

"Brother-in-law, are you coming back tomorrow?" After they returned home and put the items away, Zhang Long prepared to leave. Luo Xin spoke up again. "Tomorrow is the twenty-third of the twelfth lunar month—the Minor New Year. Mom, my sister, and I are making dumplings. Will you come?"

Facing Luo Xin’s expectant gaze, Zhang Long hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "I have some things to take care of tomorrow, sorry. I’ll come by another time."

"Alright, you two go ahead and get busy. I’m off."

Zhang Long turned and left without further hesitation. Luo Xin pursed her lips tightly as she watched him go.

"Don't overthink it, silly girl," Luo Man sighed, offering comfort. "It’s not your fault. Zhang Long just prefers to spend the New Year alone due to some reasons; he isn't used to lively atmospheres. Come on, let’s put these things away. Don't waste your brother-in-law's kindness—treat them well."

...

"Is it already the Minor New Year?"

In his BMW downstairs, Zhang Long glanced at the date. Time was moving fast; the New Year was almost here. Sadly, in his past life, the New Year had lost all meaning, and in this life, having no family, it meant even less. If he wasn't going out, he would just hunker down at home and trade foreign exchange; making money was enough.

Next Friday, the 8th, the domestic stock market would close for the New Year, not reopening until Monday the 18th. But international forex markets wouldn't. Except for weekends or specific international holidays, global investments were almost always open. They didn't revolve around Chinese holidays.

"Vroom, vroom!"

Plans were nice, but life often brought surprises. That night, after meeting up with Lin Yuan for a spirited drive and parking to chat, Lin Yuan handed him an invitation. It was for a seven-day luxury cruise during the Spring Festival.

"What’s this for?" Zhang Long asked, puzzled.

"I can't go anymore," Lin Yuan said with a sigh of regret. "I booked this with my ex-ex-girlfriend six months ago, but we had a falling out and broke up. Plus, there are family obligations for the New Year, so I can't go out and play."

"This cruise ship docks in Shanghai on New Year’s Eve. It tours several Asian countries. It’s like a small town on the water—food, drink, entertainment, gambling, and even auctions. You should go take a look and take some pictures for me, don't let it go to waste."

"I don't really have a need for this," Zhang Long shook his head, but Lin Yuan was dismissive.

"Just give it to someone else if you want. They don't check names, just the invitation. It’s my treat. You can take your girlfriend, or any other companion—the invite covers two people."

With that, Lin Yuan drove off. Zhang Long looked at the invitation and twitched his lips. There was internet on the cruise, so he could still trade, but he didn't really have a companion. Luo Man had to be with her family, Liang Xue was heading back to her hometown, and there was no one else.

*Auctions?* Zhang Long mused. He could skip the gambling and carousing, but a cruise ship auction sounded like an interesting way to broaden his horizons.

...

February 4, Monday, the beginning of Spring.

With one week left until the Lunar New Year, the final week of the stock market was expected to be volatile. After waking up, Zhang Long began his trades. Once his three forex accounts doubled their principal, he would withdraw the initial investment. The rest would be pure profit to play with. He’d withdraw his funds once he made enough, just like trading spot goods—he never kept too much capital in his forex accounts. As for the stock market, he would close all positions by Thursday and withdraw everything on Friday. He wouldn't keep large sums of money in the market over the holidays; it felt much better to have it in his bank account.

"President Du, long time no see."

"President Liu, looking as sharp as ever..."

At a spot exchange industry meeting held in Sanya—the southernmost tourist city in China—the weather was beautiful. With the New Year approaching, everyone had carved out three or four days to meet and discuss development. However, Du Hong noticed that President Liu, who had just greeted him, didn't look quite so sharp.

"Sharp? I'm miserable," Liu Qingsong muttered. It wasn't the kind of thing one aired in public, but he couldn't help it. His company’s net profit was supposed to break 200 million before the year ended, but an accident had occurred. Some unknown "greenhorn" had managed to swipe over 10 million from them. It would be a lie to say he wasn't pained. But compared to his peers in Beijing, who had lost 100 million, he supposed he was lucky.

"You're joking, President Liu," Du Hong teased. "Your company's performance is much stronger than mine. You must have hit that 200 million target. You're just being modest."

"No, I’m really not," Liu Qingsong shrugged. He didn't say another word about the "sheep" who had shorn him.

Although Liu didn't mention it, someone else did. The first item on the agenda was performance statistics and sharing information on suspicious trading accounts to alert other platforms—especially customers who had made massive profits.

"Hmm?" Du Hong suddenly stiffened.

Looking at the email sent out by the exchange, which listed the top-earning accounts from high to low, he saw over a hundred names. The highest single account had cleared over 100 million, and even the lowest were in the tens of millions. But the name at number 26 looked familiar. He felt a flicker of doubt. *Could it be?*

Location: Shanghai. Platforms: Three major exchanges...