Her shouts could be heard all the way out in the hallway—

"Han Yong, you old brooder, stop fiddling around and come out quickly! Come out! Your son has gone mad; he bought you an Audi Q7 worth 1.75 million!"

Han Yong rushed out, holding his hands carefully in front of him, and blurted out, "What the heck?"

Ma Honglian excitedly held out the contract, then suddenly pulled it back. "Your hands, your hands!"

"Oh, oh!"

Han Yong wasn't wearing an apron. He glanced around for some paper but found none. Making up his mind, he wiped his hands vigorously on his clothes twice before eagerly taking the contract.

The moment he saw the four large characters for "Vehicle Purchase Contract," his mouth involuntarily stretched into a grin.

Ha! I have a car now?! And it's a seven-figure Q7?!

In an instant, Han Yong, who was already a man of few words, found himself utterly speechless.

Old Dong and Huang Yu... those guys are going to be so envious...

Huang Yu was somewhat better off; his son was only nine years old, and it wasn't clear yet what he'd turn out to be.

But Old Dong was a different story.

Usually, he loved to boast about his son in front of Han Yong and his wife. Dong Zhipeng really did make him proud, giving him a sense of achievement and a feeling that his future was secure.

But now, after just one semester of college, someone else's son comes home and buys his father a car!

Never mind the price; it's the attitude that's completely different!

And what about my own son? He was just complaining that he didn't have enough spending money...

Comparisons are always odious. Old Dong couldn't sit still any longer.

In contrast, Auntie Liu's surprise was purer. "Wow, Han Lie, you've really made something of yourself! You must have earned a fortune. Last time I chatted with your mom, I asked how you were doing in the Magic Capital, but she was being so secretive..."

The neighborhood's number one gossip... kept licking her lips as she stared at Han Lie's face.

"Isn't that the truth! Ah, Han Lie, this old auntie watched you grow up. If you've found some way to get rich, you can't forget about me, you hear?"

Up until now, everything was still relatively normal.

But perhaps feeling she hadn't established enough of a connection, the gossip queen racked her brains and dredged up some old, trivial tales.

"Back then, when I was nursing my baby, you were staring and licking your lips. I asked if you wanted some, and you just zoomed off and disappeared! HA HA HA HA HA..."

She cackled with delight, while a vein on Han Lie's forehead looked ready to pop...

Sigh, it's so damn hard to show off back home. You always end up facing all sorts of bizarre, unexpected situations...

However, seeing Han Lie's discomfort brought a smile to Old Dong's face.

Just as he was about to speak, the gossip queen suddenly piped up again, "Now look at Zhipeng there. Not pretentious at all. When I asked him if he wanted to eat, his eyes would light up, and he'd rush right over to me, drool and all..."

Old Dong: DAMMIT!

In just that short period, someone else started peeking in through the door.

Ma Honglian hadn't closed the main door properly to begin with, leaving a small gap, making it easy for anyone wanting to come in to just give it a pull.

The one who poked his head through the door had a very square face, bearing some resemblance to Yao Jiongming.

The person whispered, "Dad, dinner's ready. Why are you still... Holy crap, is that Liezi?!"

The scholarly air about him lasted only for a moment. In the next second, Dong Zhipeng stared at Han Lie and exclaimed, "Holy shit!"

"Long time no see, Zhipeng," Han Lie responded with a light laugh.

Dong Zhipeng was, in the truest sense, Han Lie's childhood friend. Before 1998, they were classmates in nursery school. After 1998, they not only lived across the hall from each other but were also in the same class throughout elementary and middle school.

As for their relationship... well, it was just so-so.

Dong Zhipeng was a bit of a dud in daily life, the type who didn't even know how to have fun, but he was exceptionally good at studying.

During their high school years, only a subtle sense of one-upmanship remained between them. Eventually, they only saw each other during the New Year holiday.

They had even been "love rivals" for a time.

Han Lie had the upper hand until the first year of high school.

However, that slight edge he had over Dong Zhipeng was completely useless. Liu Lianlian had always been into older guys, while Han Lie himself had fallen for Chen Yanfei's radiant, healing smile the moment he first saw her.

That was pretty much the extent of their story; there were no deeper, fundamental conflicts or grudges between Dong Zhipeng and Han Lie.

But since it was a rare trip back, Han Lie still decided... he'd lure him in and mess with him.

We're childhood friends, after all. If I don't pick on you, who else is there?

"Come on in, Zhipeng, I've got a gift for you."

Ooh, a gift? How unexpected!

Dong Zhipeng's curiosity about this supposed gift was thoroughly piqued. He instinctively pulled the door open wider and was about to step inside.

But Old Dong reacted faster. Sensing trouble, he quickly got to his feet and pushed his son back outside.

"Uh... dinner's ready at our place, and my wife is waiting. We won't keep you then... Let's get together some other time!"

Dong Zhipeng, utterly baffled as he was pushed out, thought, Hey, I just wanted to see the gift. What's the big rush?

Old Dong glared, fuming internally, Are you an idiot? What kind of good thing could that little troublemaker possibly have for you? If we both walk in there, we'll just be sitting ducks, letting them metaphorically slap us in the face. Would that be enjoyable?! Let's scram! Now!

Seeing Old Dong, who usually loved to show off and lecture, now scared and fleeing like a frightened rat, Ma Honglian was absolutely delighted.

She escorted Old Dong and his son all the way to the hallway, then yelled at the top of her lungs, "Alright then, I won't keep you! Since our places are so close, I'll get things sorted here and then pop over to your house with a gift later!"

Old Dong's face instantly turned ashen.

Oh God! Is she going to follow us home and torment us to death?! That woman is downright vicious!

Old Dong fled, practically clutching his head, but Ma Honglian's booming voice had already attracted another family.

Zhang Deshui from the fifth floor opened his door and called out into the hallway, "Honglian, what's all the commotion? Is your Peipei back?"

"He is! He's back! Brother Zhang, why don't you and your wife come down and sit for a while?"

Damn! This was the first time Han Lie had ever seen his mother so eager to invite people into their home. She really wanted to gather all the neighbors and put them all in their place, didn't she...

But seeing his mother full of life, Han Lie felt deeply contented.

Although these neighbors were hardly worth him making a move himself, the true joy of success lay in sharing it with his loved ones.

Since his mother wanted to show off, as her son, he had to play along.

He would even actively create the right atmosphere for her to do so.

Otherwise, how could she vent all the resentment and frustration she had accumulated over the years?

There are many ways to be a filial son.

Han Lie couldn't always be by his parents' side. What he could do was enable them to hold their heads high, re-establish their standing in their social circle, and become the focus of attention.

Therefore...

Comrade Ma Honglian, go on and flaunt it all you want! If there's even one person you can't put in their place, it's my fault as your son! I just hope you all are sensible enough not to force my hand...

******