The four of them set off at dawn and didn’t arrive in Pengcheng until around 4 PM—a sleepless city built by migrant workers.
Among the four super-first-tier cities in China, Pengcheng was undoubtedly the youngest and most vibrant. Unlike the tensions between locals and outsiders in the capital, Shanghai, or Guangzhou, Pengcheng’s slogan, “Come, and you’re a Pengchenger,” was its greatest appeal.
The city embodied the ultimate dream of countless migrants who had flocked here in the 1980s to chase opportunities, ultimately shaping Pengcheng into the nation’s most expensive housing market.
As a pioneering special economic zone with convenient transportation and thriving maritime trade, Pengcheng attracted many renowned corporations. Lanshan District, in particular, became a hub for internet companies, including the headquarters of Tencent, the country’s most prominent tech giant. The tax revenue from Aohai Subdistrict alone could sustain the entire district’s finances.
The Tencent Seafront Towers bathed in Pengcheng’s morning light and evening glow, standing in harmony with the landmark Spring Bamboo Tower in Pengcheng Bay. Though the city was already crowded with industry titans, there was still room for rising stars to spread their wings.
Mei Fang, who dreamed of becoming a leading figure in the new generation of otaku culture, was now walking this very path.
Who could have guessed that in his past life, he was just another faceless wage slave lost in the urban shadows?
Under the setting sun, the towering skyscrapers stretched endlessly, quickly capturing Xia Yuan and Lin Youxi’s attention through the car window.
“Wow… the greenery here is amazing! It feels so lush everywhere, though there are way too many skyscrapers—it lacks a bit of that lived-in charm…”
“Ah! Over there—you can see the ocean! Is that the sea? Ah Fang, look! The sea!” Having grown up inland, Xia Yuan was especially excited about the ocean, filled with longing.
“…Doesn’t it just look like a big river from here?”
“We’ll only know if we get closer!”
“But after a whole day in the car, it’s better to rest first. Let Ah Fang take you tomorrow, Yuan Yuan.”
“Uncle Mei, aren’t you coming with us tomorrow?”
Mei Lijun smiled and shook his head. “I only have two days off. After resting tonight, I’m heading back tomorrow—there’s an important meeting…”
“Ugh, Uncle Mei works so hard…”
Xia Yuan leaned over from the backseat. “Uncle Mei, my dad has an S400 gathering dust in the garage. Since you love cars so much, how about I ask him to lend it to you for a while?”
“Good, good! Ah—I mean, such a nice car sitting idle is such a waste, right, Yuan Yuan? And your Auntie Xiang is getting her license—I could let her drive one. Very convenient…”
Xia Yuan was delighted to have pleased Uncle Mei.
Meanwhile, Xia Xun, who was parking his car at that very moment, suddenly sneezed violently.
“Hubby, do you have a cold? Are you feeling unwell…?”
“Yeah, feels like someone’s talking about me.”
“Maybe our precious daughter is missing her dad?”
Yu Ling handed him a tissue.
“I don’t expect Yuan Yuan to miss me anymore. As long as she doesn’t sell me off, I’ll take it.”
“Don’t talk about our daughter like that.”
Yu Ling frowned. “Even though Yuan Yuan is clingy with Ah Fang, she still cares about you. Didn’t she consult you when they were buying a car the other day?”
“Only because she needed my advice…”
As Xia Xun and Yu Ling stepped out of the car, unloading their shopping haul, Yu Ling added, “That’s not necessarily true. Didn’t Yuan Yuan ask if you were planning to buy a new car? Maybe she’s thinking of gifting you one.”
Xia Xun grunted noncommittally, though the corners of his mouth curled upward.
“Our S400 hasn’t even been around that long. No need to replace it yet… Ah—achoo!” Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on NovᴇlFire(.)nᴇt
“You really might be sick! Let’s hurry home and rest.”
While Xia Xun basked in the fantasy of his daughter gifting him a new car, Mei Fang’s group arrived at their hotel. Located near Pengcheng University, the hotel had been arranged by the company’s HR department. Uncle Chen Rui and several mid-level technical leads from CStation, who had already begun setting up operations in Pengcheng since July, were there to welcome the trio.
These mid-level employees were newly promoted by Uncle, while most of the original founding team remained in their previous locations for now. Mei Fang wasn’t yet familiar with these newcomers, offering only nods and brief greetings.
“Welcome, welcome! Station Head, Young Miss, and Yuan Bao—oh, and, uh, Bureau Chief Mei! You’ve all had a long journey!”
Uncle nearly slipped up addressing Mei Lijun, but the atmosphere remained lighthearted. Mei Lijun didn’t mind, urging everyone to sit down for dinner.
“Pengcheng cuisine leans toward light and healthy flavors. It might take some getting used to, but since it’s your first time here, consider it a taste of local culture…”
Mei Fang, long accustomed to Pengcheng’s Cantonese-style dishes, observed Uncle’s demeanor as he spoke.
“Uncle, you’re from Sichuan, right? Must’ve been tough adjusting here this past month…”
Mei Fang remarked. “Jiangcheng food isn’t as spicy, but it’s still bold—like the crayfish. Here, it’s just too mild.”
Chen Rui chuckled. “Haha, though I am from there, I don’t actually eat much spicy food. Especially peppers—I think they have a weird aftertaste.”
Just as Chen Rui finished speaking, Xia Yuan suddenly burst into laughter, covering her mouth.
“Yuan Yuan, what’s so funny?”
Lin Youxi looked puzzled, and the others turned to stare. Xia Yuan, blushing, mumbled, “I just thought of a dumb joke. Don’t blame me if it’s not funny. So, you know why Uncle doesn’t like peppers? Because… Uncle eating peppers—Uncle goes numb (输麻了, a pun on ‘losing until numb’)! Hahahaha!”
Her laughter echoed through the dining room, leaving everyone else frozen in awkward silence—until Chen Rui himself broke into laughter. “Yuan Bao’s wordplay is on point! Hahaha—”
Seeing that Uncle wasn’t offended, the mood instantly lightened, and the mid-level leads joined in with boisterous laughter. This subtle dynamic didn’t escape Mei Fang’s notice.
With his cousin Mei Yue still handling affairs back in Jiangcheng, Uncle, as the professional manager, was effectively the acting authority in Pengcheng. While Mei Fang trusted him and delegated power freely, he couldn’t ignore the risk of being sidelined.
It was understandable—without the shared struggles of CStation’s early days, these new corporate employees likely saw Mei Fang and the others as little more than kids or mascots.
But now that his high school years were behind him, Mei Fang was ready to re-engage with CStation’s strategic core, reasserting his leadership to establish his authority among the Pengcheng team—an urgent priority.