Start with push-ups to gain experience

Fang Cheng pushed open the left-hand car door and moved to the side.

Wen Xin skillfully climbed into the back seat.

The car doors closed, completely shutting out the heat and noise from outside.

She took off her pink cartoon backpack, casually put it aside, and looked up happily, saying:

"Brother, I thought you were too busy with work to come today!"

A few wisps of hair clung to the little girl's forehead, and fine beads of sweat glistened on the tip of her nose. Her appearance exuded an indescribable cuteness and obedience.

Fang Cheng pulled a tissue from the center console and handed it over:

"Wipe your sweat first. How did you do on your final exams?"

Wen Xin took the tissue, wiped her face haphazardly a couple of times, and then eagerly hugged her schoolbag to her chest, unzipping it with a "whoosh".

She pulled out a stack of neatly arranged papers and a red envelope with the school emblem printed on it, as if presenting a treasure.

Then he presented both hands to Fang Cheng, his chin slightly raised, his tone carrying an undisguised hint of pride:

"Ta-da! Second in the class, fifth in the whole school!"

Fang Cheng took the report card, his gaze sweeping over the long row of "Excellent" grades and the prominent scores, a smile appearing in his eyes:

"Wow, that's great! You've improved so much this semester. I remember you were ranked nineteenth in the class during the midterm exams, right?"

"That is."

Wen Xin puffed out her slender chest and said with a hint of pride:
"My homeroom teacher even praised me for being smart in front of the whole class, saying that I had the most positive attitude towards learning."

"And, brother, I'll tell you a secret: Li Ziming, who got first place in the class last midterm, only got third place this time because he got the last math problem wrong. I was the only one in the class who got it right!"

"Haha, he's usually so arrogant and looks down on people, but when we handed out the test papers today, I saw his face turn red with embarrassment..."

Wen Xin chattered on and on, her face flushed red, her eyes filled with pure joy.

Fang Cheng listened patiently with a smile on his face.

This unreserved desire to share stems from her deepest reliance and trust.

For Wen Xin, Fang Cheng was not only the older brother next door, but also the ray of light that pulled her and her mother out of the abyss in the darkness.

After talking for a while, Wen Xin picked up the red envelope and shook it:
"Brother, look what's in here!"

Fang Cheng took it casually, opened the seal, and saw several brand-new banknotes inside.

"scholarship?"

Fang Cheng raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise as he weighed the envelope in his hand:

"Looks like it costs a few thousand dollars. Sigh, even I'm envious. Maybe I should go to elementary school with you next year and be your classmate."

"No way, brother, you're exaggerating."

Wen Xin was amused and giggled, her eyes curving into crescents.

After laughing, she carefully put the envelope away, placing it in a compartment of her schoolbag, and her tone became serious:
“There is a total of three thousand yuan here. I want to give this money to my mother intact.”

She looked down and fiddled with the charm on the zipper of her backpack, her voice unconsciously softening considerably:

“My mom works so hard every day. With this scholarship, she can work a few less days and sleep in at home.”

Hearing these sensible words, Fang Cheng felt a warmth in his heart.

He then reached out and gently patted Wen Xin's back.

His gaze returned to the report card, and he smoothly changed the subject:

"Wen Xin, you got full marks in math and English on the final exams, which is commendable. However, you lost four points on reading comprehension in Chinese."

"Next year you'll be facing the unified entrance exam for junior high school. You need to read more extracurricular books during the summer vacation, make up for your weaknesses, and strive to get into the best junior high school in Dongdu, so that your mother can also hold her head high for a while."

"Yes, I will continue to work hard."

Wen Xin nodded repeatedly, agreeing with full confidence.

After a moment's pause, she seemed to remember something, leaned closer to Fang Cheng, and looked at him with her big, blinking eyes:
"Brother, do you still stand by what you promised me?"

Fang Cheng's gaze remained fixed on the report card. Without even looking up, he deliberately drew out his question:
"What did I promise you? What was it? I don't remember anything about it."

Wen Xin was stunned, and her previously radiant expression instantly dimmed.

Her lips pursed slightly, and she whispered a reminder, her voice filled with grievance:
"You said that if I could get into the top ten in my class in the final exams, you would take me to see the beach during summer vacation..."

Seeing the little girl's disappointed look, Fang Cheng finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.

He then closed the report card, raised his large hand and placed it on Wen Xin's head, ruffling her short hair in the process.
"I was just kidding. When has your brother ever gone back on his word?"

Wen Xin felt the warm force coming from above her head, and her dim eyes instantly brightened again, regaining their luster.

She excitedly grabbed Fang Cheng's sleeve and kept asking:

"Really, brother? Which beach are we going to?"

The location is currently confidential.

Fang Cheng handed the report card back to her, leaned back in his chair, and kept her in suspense:
"In short, the scenery there is beautiful, and there are many fun places and people to visit. You definitely won't be disappointed."

"Oh, really?"

Holding her report card, Wen Xin smiled slightly, her mind already conjuring up images of golden beaches and surging waves.

After a moment's thought, her eyes darted around, and she made a suggestion full of anticipation:
"Then... can we invite Sister Xiumei along too? She told me a few days ago that she wanted to go to the beach to collect seashells."

"Okay, I'll listen to you. I'll invite Xiumei along too, and we'll go on vacation together."

Fang Cheng smiled and agreed.

In the driver's seat, Su Xiaoyong gripped the steering wheel firmly with both hands, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

He could clearly hear the laughter and chatter from the back row, but he kept his eyes straight ahead and remained silent.

Like a dutiful machine part, it faithfully drives the car.

His years as a reconnaissance soldier honed his keen sense of smell and ability to read people.

He knew very well that the smiling little girl in the back seat held an extraordinary place in his chairman's heart.

This is an absolute taboo subject that must not be touched. From now on, whether it's picking someone up from school or secretly protecting them, we must treat it with utmost care.

The Bentley Flying Spur cruised smoothly on the wide city thoroughfare.

The midday sun was increasingly glaring, baking the asphalt road surface and sending up waves of distorted heat.

As the car drove through the bustling commercial district, towering glass curtain walls were gradually replaced by slightly mottled old buildings.

As the roadside trees gradually became sparse and messy, more and more electric scooters shuttled through the road.

The car gradually slowed down.

Su Xiaoyong turned the steering wheel, avoiding several pedestrians crossing the road at the intersection, and smoothly turned into a slightly crowded street.

The old factory street retains its vibrant local atmosphere as always.

Along the narrow street, loudspeakers from shops were playing promotional advertisements on a loop.

A rich aroma of braised meat wafted from a nearby food stall.

But today, the activity on the streets is noticeably different from usual.

All the noise and commotion seemed to be drowned out by the sounds of electric drills and hammering coming from Building 58. A dark green protective net and scaffolding had been erected around the entire building.

Workers wearing safety helmets are busy going up and down the elevator, working both inside and outside at the same time, making quite a commotion.

Across from the building, a group of neighbors, fanning themselves and enjoying the cool breeze, gathered in the shops and pointed at the construction site.

Su Xiaoyong slowly stepped on the brakes, barely managing to find an open space to bring the Bentley to a steady stop.

He deftly turned off the engine, got out of the car, and quickly walked around to the back seat, bent down, reached out, and opened the driver's side door.

Fang Cheng took Wen Xin's small hand and stepped out of the carriage.

Su Xiaoyong then took out two bags of high-end fruit he had bought along the way from the trunk and waited quietly to the side.

The neighbors who were chatting suddenly fell silent, and more than a dozen pairs of eyes stared at them.

"Wow, this car looks really impressive, with a winged emblem on the front. Could it be a new Chery model?"

An old man with his shirt off squinted and examined the object.

"Chery my foot! That's a Bentley!"

The owner of the auto repair shop downstairs curled his lip and lowered his voice to explain:
"The official name of this car is Bentley Flying Spur. It costs at least two or three hundred thousand yuan after it's been put on the market. The Fang family has really made a fortune this time. Not only have they bought an entire building, but they also drive luxury cars and have personal drivers."

"Oh dear, spending two or three million to buy a metal shell to run on our runaway streets? What a waste..."

The scattered whispers drifted into Fang Cheng's ears on the wind.

He smiled slightly but didn't respond.

This could be considered a different kind of triumphant return home.

He then took Wen Xin's hand and walked straight into the dimly lit corridor of the tenement building.

Wen Xin was in a great mood, her little leather shoes clicking on the steps as she hummed an unknown, cheerful nursery rhyme.

The stairwell was filled with the pungent smell of paint and cement dust.

Tap tap tap tap—

A muffled sound of chiseling could be heard from upstairs from time to time.

Fang Cheng raised his hand to shield the little girl from the falling dust.

Since buying the entire tenement building, preparing for a large-scale renovation.

Because the noise from the large-scale renovations couldn't stand it, most of the original residents have moved out recently, leaving many rooms empty.

He then had the Wen family mother and daughter move out of the cramped and damp basement and into a well-lit two-bedroom apartment on the ninth floor.

However, Fang Cheng did not directly waive the Wen family's rent.

Because he understood the pride of a single mother like Wen Huiyi, he only symbolically charged a very low rent each month.

The renovation of this old building was a massive undertaking.

To appease the remaining residents, Fang Cheng acted quite generously.

He proactively posted notices offering two months' rent waivers to residents who were willing to stay and cooperate with the construction period, and promised to renovate the walls and ceilings of their homes free of charge after completion.

With such a generous reward, the entire renovation plan progressed exceptionally smoothly, and even the most picky troublemakers couldn't find a single fault with it.

The two climbed the dusty steps to the ninth floor.

As soon as Fang Cheng reached the corner of the stairs, he heard familiar laughter coming from the corridor.

Recently, Li Biyun, the mother, has been staying in Wanghu Town at night and keeping an eye on the renovation progress on Jiuchang Street during the day.

At that moment, she was surrounded by Uncle Chen, Aunt Li, Aunt Xu, and He Huiqin from next door, chatting about everyday things.

Because the large rooftop apartment is undergoing major demolition and renovation, the old furniture inside has already been cleared out and moved out.

With nowhere to sit, Li Biyun simply moved a few plastic stools and sat in the well-ventilated corridor.

"Oh my, look who's back! Our big boss, Fang Cheng, has arrived!"

He Huiqin, with her sharp eyes, spotted the figure at the stairwell and immediately shouted at the top of her lungs, her face beaming with smiles.

Everyone stopped talking and turned to look.

"Aunt He, Uncle Chen, Aunt Li, Aunt Xu."

Fang Cheng smiled and nodded, then greeted everyone in turn.

He then let go of Su Xiaoyong's hand and took the bag of fruit from her, handing it to Wen Xin.

"Go home first, it's dusty outside. This is for you to celebrate getting good grades on your final exams."

"Thank you, brother! Goodbye Aunt Li, goodbye Aunt He..."

Wen Xin obediently bowed to each person, then, clutching her bag, ran happily back to her home at the end of the corridor.

Seeing the little girl enter, Fang Cheng then walked to Li Biyun's side:
"Mom, it's so dusty up here today, why don't you find a teahouse downstairs to sit in?"

Li Biyun patted the white dust off her trousers, her eyes radiating irrepressible pride and affection:
"You've spent so much money on renovations, how can I sit here and drink tea in peace? Standing here listening to them knocking on the wall makes me feel at ease."

"Biyun, you should be secretly happy."

Aunt Li, standing nearby, looked on with envy and sighed sourly:

“Your Cheng has really made something of himself now, buying you such a big building. If I had known he was capable, I would have made my daughter pay him back no matter what.”

"Ugh, look at my wretched girl. What kind of jerk did she find recently? He's always idling around, it's driving me crazy."

Uncle Chen next door was a straightforward man, and upon hearing this, he burst into laughter:

"You're blind to talent. Ah Cheng has been steady and intelligent since he was a child. How could your spoiled girl be worthy of him?"

Aunt Xu chimed in from the side:
"That's right, Acheng is a golden phoenix that flew out of our old factory street. Who knows which wealthy family's daughter he will marry in the future. Sister Biyun, you can just wait to enjoy your retirement and hold your big, fat grandson."

Upon hearing this, He Huiqin's smile froze for a moment.

She had always wanted Fang Cheng to be her son-in-law, so when people mentioned tycoons or heiresses, she quickly retorted:
"What's so great about rich girls? Those girls from wealthy families are spoiled and have terrible tempers. They don't know how to be considerate or manage a household!"

“Our Acheng is a sentimental and loyal guy. I think he should find someone he knows well, who is virtuous and family-oriented. Don’t you think so, Sister Biyun?”

As she spoke, she glanced at Fang Cheng intentionally or unintentionally.

That fixed gaze was exactly like a mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law, growing more and more fond of him the more she looked.

Li Biyun just smiled and didn't respond to the comment.

The group surrounded Fang Cheng and his mother, showering them with compliments.

Just as they were chatting enthusiastically, a crisp sound of shattering glass suddenly came from the slightly ajar door of the Zhou family next door, followed by Zhou Peng's deafening wail.

He Huiqin's face changed instantly, and she slapped her thigh:
"Oh dear, my little darling, what did you break this time?"

She hurriedly gave a greeting and immediately ran home.

Seeing this, Uncle Chen, Aunt Li, and Aunt Xu each found an excuse to disperse.

The corridor became much quieter.

Li Biyun stood up and casually picked up the plastic stool: "Let's go inside and take a look."

Fang Cheng nodded and followed his mother into the large, single-level apartment that was under construction. (End of Chapter)