The frankness of Jiang Ren’s answer stirred up excitement below. Throughout history, countless people have stood on that stage, but none have dared to speak so boldly.

When they asked that question, most expected him to give a tactful response, perhaps citing a desire to provide Meng Ting with a better life as part of his motivation. Instead, he directly admitted the truth.

This led to even more people vying to ask the second question. The girl who managed to grab the microphone was so excited that it took her a moment to compose herself before asking, “Hello, Mr. Jiang. During last year’s food poisoning incident, I was also at the hospital. Was that you we saw as the construction worker?”

This was a question many were curious about. The man on stage exuded an air of nobility, making it hard for people to believe that the down-on-his-luck, limping man was him.

Jiang Ren simply replied, “Yes, it was me.”

The audience below was thrilled. So it was true that Jiang Ren had once rushed from a construction site to see Meng Ting.

Everyone treasured the opportunity for the third question. Once a classmate secured the microphone, the audience fell silent. The male student asked, “I’ve heard that the chairman of Junyang is your father. With such a prestigious family background, why did you choose to start your own business instead of taking over Junyang after finishing university?”

This question caused a momentary hush in the hall. Once Jiang Ren’s identity as the Junyang heir was revealed, many recalled that he had been driven away to H City back then.

As this question touched upon family secrets, Jiang Ren glanced at the student and calmly replied, “Because the chairman said that as long as he’s alive, there’s no need to think about inheritance matters.”

The audience burst into laughter. So Mr. Jiang was earning his way?

Though his tone was calm, he used self-deprecating humor to skillfully gloss over the family conflicts the students were eager to explore.

Throughout the lecture, his speech was simple yet impressive. Upon closer reflection, it also subtly showcased the savviness of a businessman.

Jiang Ren mentioned that due to his lack of academic prowess, he missed out on attending B University. However, he managed to make the name Jiang Ren renowned at B University differently today.

Meng Ting stood outside the door. By the time the lecture ended, it was already 10:30 PM, and the queue of onlookers outside had grown quite long.

She had imagined Jiang Ren giving a lecture many times before, but she never expected him to be so outstanding and composed.

He handled every situation with ease, maintaining control of the audience while remaining humble. Throughout the entire lecture, he was incredibly modest. The once arrogant young man had gradually transformed into someone remarkable when she wasn’t looking.

Song Huanhuan could hardly contain her excitement. She wanted nothing more than to push through the crowd and present him with a bouquet.

Most people around recognized Meng Ting and kept glancing her way.

Previously, they thought the Law School beauty had poor taste and questionable judgment. But now they realized just how exceptional the man she had chosen was.

In just a few years, Jiang Ren would become one of the most outstanding entrepreneurs.

As Song Huanhuan and Meng Ting walked back together, she said, “Most people look for a partner to support and encourage each other, but your boyfriend is so special.”

“How so?” Meng Ting asked.

“He shouldered all the hardships, matured ahead of you, and then came to cherish you. He loves you so much.”

While you were still a young girl, he had already endured various hardships and grown into a man capable of shouldering great responsibilities.

Song Huanhuan spoke with admiration and sincerity in her eyes, causing Meng Ting to pause.

He loves you so much.

Originally not one to smile easily, he would beam at the mere mention of your name. He said he had only cried once in his life, on the day he uttered the words of breakup. He said he missed out on a part of his youth by not attending university, but he used that time to strive forward, working himself to exhaustion in the small port city, all in hopes of earning an admiring glance from her.

Meng Ting nodded and smiled, saying softly, “He is truly remarkable.”

The remarkable Jiang Ren had not only become famous throughout B University but also the entire Jiang family.

Jiang Jixian swore that when his son appeared alongside him in the financial news, he was completely dumbfounded.

Their Junyang Group has gradually expanded through the years in the real estate industry. His father’s generation consisted of formidable military officers, and by his generation, Junyang had already developed considerably.

However, while Junyang was a continuation, the new enterprise Xiting was a fresh start.

Jiang Jixian had initially thought that even if Jiang Ren sold all his sports cars and houses, or even took out loans, he wouldn’t be able to achieve much, at best breaking even. After all, H City wasn’t even considered a first-tier city.

Yet, it was precisely because it was a small coastal city that Jiang Ren was able to buy the cheapest land and build an entire real estate empire on what was once barren ground.

And now his son, that temperamental young master who used to dye his hair and curse at the age of ten, had suddenly become his equal.

No, not just equal. How much money had Jiang Ren made? Jiang Jixian still found it unbelievable.

So much so that when the black luxury car stopped at the Jiang family mansion and Jiang Ren walked in, Jiang Jixian couldn’t even recognize him.

His son stood at 187 cm, wearing a black coat and leather shoes, his eyes calm and indifferent.

Jiang Ren’s right foot problem was still noticeable when he walked, but the man’s cold and detached demeanor made people overlook his imperfection.

Jiang Ren turned the watch on his wrist as a servant came to take his coat.

Everyone had seen the news and knew how impressive Young Master Jiang had become.

Jiang Jixian said, “Let’s talk about this company of yours.”

Jiang Ren chuckled lightly, ignoring him as Grandmother Jiang came downstairs, overjoyed. He went over to support her.

The old woman’s emotions were unstable. She had come down smiling, but now she was crying like a child.

She was over eighty years old, and her hair was almost completely white. Time had robbed her of her memory and temperament, and illness left her remembering only her young grandson, Jiang Ren.

The Jiang Ren whom no one loved when he was little.

Grandmother Jiang covered her face, tears flowing through her fingers. “My little Ren has come home. They all said you wouldn’t come back.”

Jiang Ren looked at the caretaker, who shuddered under his gaze.

Grandmother Jiang cried heartbrokenly.

The old woman barely reached his chest. Jiang Ren stroked her graying hair. “Grandmother, I’m back. The money you lent me is all here. I didn’t lose your money.”

He had put Grandmother Jiang’s money in a card, but she refused it. “You buy candy to eat, buy candy to eat.”

Jiang Ren didn’t insist. He was planning to take his grandmother away. Jiang Jixian was too busy with work, and even with housekeepers and servants, he worried they might not treat his grandmother well.

Since he hadn’t spared Jiang Jixian a glance the entire time, Jiang Jixian felt very uncomfortable. He said, “Now that your wings have grown strong, you’re ignoring your old man?”

Jiang Ren raised an eyebrow slightly. “Dad.”

Jiang Jixian’s face darkened.

Jiang Ren said, “I’m taking grandmother out to live elsewhere for a while.”

“What do you mean? Not coming home yourself and now taking the old lady out too? How old is your grandmother? Can she handle running around with a troublemaker like you?”

“I’m more worried about Grandmother staying with the Jiang family. How many hours a day are you at home? If that Wen fellow lets someone mistreat her, would you even know?”

“That’s his Aunt Lan! You brat, what are you saying?”

Jiang Ren gave a cold laugh.

Jiang Jixian said, “Let go of your grandmother! Is this proper? Come here.”

“You didn’t care about me before, and you have no right to manage me now or in the future.”

As father and son faced off, Grandmother Jiang was frightened to tears, thinking something terrible had happened in the family.

Jiang Ren frowned and wiped the old woman’s tears. “It’s alright, nothing serious has happened.”

He couldn’t forcibly take her away, so he had to go over to talk to Jiang Jixian.

Jiang Jixian asked, “What’s the deal with the news? Is that place of yours worth that much now?”

Jiang Ren laughed, neither confirming nor denying.

Jiang Jixian had a good idea that it was true. The real estate trend was already hot this year, and Jiang Ren had developed that entire area very well.

Not only had Jiang Ren’s net worth skyrocketed, but Gao Yi, who had followed Jiang Ren to start the business, was now a vice president quietly making a fortune.

Jiang Jixian wasn’t after Jiang Ren’s money; the Jiang family had never lacked money.

He had made a considerable profit this year with his conventional real estate business, but compared to Jiang Ren, it wasn’t enough.

Jiang Jixian said, “What’s with that attitude? Do you think your old man wants your money? Now that you’re back, just behave and stay at home.”

Jiang Ren calmly added, “And I suppose I should get along peacefully with Wen Rui too?”

“He’s your mother’s brother, also your elder. Little Rui is much less trouble than you. Why do you always give him a hard time?” Jiang Jixian said sternly. “We’re all family. Since you’re doing well, you should help him out more.”

Jiang Ren laughed. Damn.

Help out Wen Rui? The company would go bankrupt before they knew it.

Wen Rui received a call from the housekeeper saying Young Master Jiang had returned, and he rushed back immediately.

He wore a sour expression all the way, but upon entering and seeing Jiang Ren sitting cross-legged on the sofa, he smiled and said, “Young Master Jiang is back. Since you’re here, stay at home for a few days. Your brother-in-law was just thinking about you the other day.”

Jiang Jixian scowled, “Who’s thinking about this brat?”

In the past, Jiang Ren was easily provoked, almost like a firecracker ready to explode at the slightest touch.

Jiang Ren didn’t move, lowering his eyes to sip the tea the servant had brewed. “I’ll stay for a few days. Will you voluntarily get lost?”

Wen Rui said, “Young Master Jiang is still so fond of joking. Now that you’re back, you should go pay respects to your mother.”

Jiang Ren couldn’t be bothered to waste words on him.

A coward like Wen Rui, his cunning far outweighed his courage.

He must have been born into the wrong family; he shouldn’t have been a man.

Wen Rui deliberately mentioned Wen Man. If it were the Jiang Ren of the past, he would have lashed out immediately.

Jiang Ren didn’t get angry, he didn’t even look at him.

Gao Yi had been collecting all sorts of information about Wen Rui through his connections in B City. For Jiang Ren to destroy him was just a matter of time.

When Grandmother Jiang came downstairs again, Jiang Ren said, “Grandmother, would you like to go out with your grandson for a while?”

“Yes, yes, yes. Grandmother will accompany little Ren to play!”

Jiang Ren smiled.

Jiang Jixian’s face turned ashen, but he couldn’t very well drag the happily agreeing Grandmother Jiang back.

Wen Rui clenched his fists.

In the blink of an eye, that wild boy who wouldn’t cry even when beaten had grown up. His growth meant that Wen Rui himself had nothing left.

He never imagined Jiang Ren could change so much in just a few short years, no longer easily angered or ill-tempered. He had paid such a high price, only to end up cultivating today’s Jiang Ren!

How could he accept this? Just based on the intentional injury charge from back then, Jiang Ren should have been locked up in prison!

Jiang Ren didn’t take Grandmother Jiang to the apartment in the university town, but instead to the apartment his grandmother had arranged before.

Jiang Ren had planned. Grandmother Jiang had two distant relatives, a brother and a sister, who were living in poverty.

The siblings were hardworking, but their father was good for nothing, beating them when drunk and not allowing them to go to school. Despite being distant relatives and growing up in the countryside, the two children could do all sorts of work and didn’t resent their father.

They were of good character and diligent.

Jiang Ren had people observe them for a year before bringing them to B City recently. Now the siblings were living in the apartment.

When he brought his grandmother over, they greeted them with smiles, calling out “Mr. Jiang” and “Great-grandmother.”

Their smiles were simple and sincere, showing gratitude. The apartment was kept spotlessly clean. They were grateful for the opportunity to care for the elderly, no longer having to endure beatings or farm work, and even receiving a salary.

After settling his grandmother, Grandmother Jiang pulled him aside secretly: “I prayed to the Buddha yesterday, asking the little Guanyin to bless our little Ren with a good wife.”

She took out a necklace from her pocket, treating it as a wishing charm to show Jiang Ren.

Jiang Ren’s eyes curved into a smile. “The fairy said there’s no need for blessings. She’s coming to be my wife.”