Ali said, "Sothing happened back ho..."
Earlier, when she called her mother to ask her to ship so of her belongings, her mother revealed that Ou Corporation was in trouble. Her father had to return to Singapore to face an investigation, and the family's assets had been frozen—they couldn’t access a single cent. Her mother, too, would be flying back to help resolve the crisis, leaving no one to take care of Ali for the ti being.
Ali imdiately insisted on returning ho to face this unexpected disaster alongside her family. However, her mother reassured her, saying, "Staying safe where you are is the biggest help you can give us. I’ll send your things over. Just hang in there for three to six months, and everything should be fine."
What Ali didn’t know was that this "crisis" had been orchestrated by her parents. They both felt that their daughter had been shielded too much growing up. Life for her had been carefree, as though she’d been raised in a sterile bubble. They worried that, despite her excellent education, she would struggle to face real hardships or challenges. If she didn’t learn to grow now, it might be too late by the ti they were no longer around to protect her.
After consulting with doctors and being assured that her transplanted heart was strong and healthy, they quietly revised their will. The shares they had initially planned to donate would now all go to Ali. One day, the Ou Corporation would be hers to helm.
But a naive, carefree girl wouldn’t be capable of such a responsibility. The journey toward becoming a strong and capable leader began now, with this trial by fire.
What her parents underestimated, however, was Ali’s intelligence and sharpness. While she was sweet and innocent, she wasn’t foolish. The situation had co so suddenly and without warning, but when connected with past clues, it seed highly likely to be a well-aning ploy. Rather than resist, she decided to play along, fully aware of her parents' intentions.
Ali was multi-talented, fluent in multiple languages, skilled in various instrunts, and adept at photography and painting at a professional level. With her qualifications and artistic expertise, she could easily earn a good living as a pricey private tutor. But as the daughter of Ou Jinhua, such a route didn’t align with her identity or ambitions.
Yi Leng was unaware of these behind-the-scenes machinations, and Wu Yui certainly didn’t know either. All Wu Yui thought was, "If soone’s in trouble, I’ll help as much as I can."
"The restaurant does need an extra set of hands, but girl, working as a waitress seems like a waste of your talent," Wu Yui said.
Ali responded, "I think being a waitress is great! I really like the food here, and I believe there’s a lot of potential. In fact, I want to invest in this restaurant."
Wu Yui froze, completely taken aback. This was beyond her imagination. Usually, when girls fall on hard tis, they turn to others for help. But here was Ali flipping the script. What could there possibly be to invest in this tiny eatery? There were dozens of similar small restaurants along igang Road. If Ali really wanted to enter the food industry, she could just open her own shop.
Yi Leng, however, understood Ali’s perspective. The knowledge and exposure Ali had gained through her upbringing were worlds apart from what Wu Yui had encountered in her life. This could be a rare opportunity—one that most people might only encounter once or twice in their lifetis.
"Let’s hear your idea," Yi Leng said, inviting Ali into the room. Wu Yui made tea and feigned interest, though she was internally dismissive.
Ali flipped over the restaurant’s nu and began sketching on the back, explaining her vision. "Our ultimate goal is to build a global restaurant chain, sothing akin to the Yum! Brands Group."
"I’ve never heard of Yum! Brands," Wu Yui said.
"Pizza Hut and KFC belong to them. They operate over 30,000 stores across more than 100 countries and regions, employing 800,000 people," Yi Leng explained, cigarette in hand, giving Wu Yui a quick lesson.
But Wu Yui scoffed. She had long outgrown dreaming of fantastical ideas. To her, Ali’s ambitious plans sounded like nothing more than wild nonsense.
"We’ll start by building a brand, opening multiple chain stores, attracting investors, and eventually going public..." Ali continued enthusiastically. These were words she often heard from her father, Ou Jinhua, but to Wu Yui, it all sounded like fairy tales—completely irrelevant to the lives of ordinary people.
"So you’re the angel investor, then?" Yi Leng asked.
"You could put it that way," Ali nodded.
"How much are you willing to invest?" Yi Leng followed up.
"Initially, 500,000 yuan," Ali replied.
Wu Yui nearly choked on her tea. This girl casually ntioned half a million yuan like it was pocket change. But her serious deanor suggested she wasn’t joking.
Now Wu Yui was starting to feel tempted. She’d opened this small restaurant purely to make a living. She had no grand ambitions or deep-rooted convictions—making money was her top priority. If soone was willing to invest, not lend, then why not agree?
Besides, Wu Yui’s financial situation was dire. She was carrying hundreds of thousands of yuan in debt. Her six-table restaurant was just enough to cover basic living expenses, but making a fortune would require imnse effort, ti, and dedication. The food industry was a labor-intensive field, with little room for shortcuts. If soone offered her a way to leap forward, why wouldn’t she take it?
"Girl, you’re not joking, are you?" Wu Yui asked cautiously.
Ali nodded. "I’m not joking."
Wu Yui pressed further. "Do your parents approve of this? This is a huge amount of money—don’t go stealing from their savings accounts!"
Ali reassured her, "I wouldn’t do that. I don’t have that much cash on hand right now, but I can get it soon. All I have to do is sell a few of my caras and lenses."
"What kind of caras are worth that much? Are they gold-plated?" Wu Yui asked incredulously.
"Hasselblad H6D, Leica S3, Canon 1D, and a few dozen lenses," Ali listed casually.
"That’s it?" Wu Yui asked in disbelief.
Ali nodded earnestly. "That’s it."
Wu Yui turned to look at Yi Leng. She trusted him above all. This restaurant had been on the verge of collapse before his arrival, but under his managent, it had miraculously revived and was even thriving. She attributed its success entirely to him. In her eyes, Yi Leng held 80% of the decision-making power over the restaurant's fate.
Of course, there was another, more personal reason for her trust. Wu Yui had already started seeing Yi Leng as an ideal partner—a man of integrity and steadfastness, soone she could rely on. So, she deferred to his judgnt.
Without hesitation, Yi Leng made the decision: "Let’s do it."
Ali bead with joy. "I have one condition: we need to rena the restaurant. Sothing more distinctive, morable, and unique."
The na "Yui Restaurant" was too generic—a casual choice reflecting Wu Yui’s lack of branding efforts. While it had sufficed in the past, a more professional na was necessary for future growth and formal operations.
"I’ll throw out a suggestion: let’s na it after Huang Pihu. How about 'Huang Pihu Restaurant'?" Ali said, standing up and grabbing a yellow tiger plushie from the counter. She quickly sketched a cartoon tiger on a piece of paper. "This will be our logo."
The na "Huang Pihu" had originally been Yi Leng’s moniker, derived from the plush tiger. Now, by sheer coincidence, it was becoming the na of the restaurant. It felt like fate, and Yi Leng had no objections.
With Yi Leng on board, Wu Yui certainly wouldn’t oppose the idea. While she personally preferred nas like "Good Fortune Restaurant" or "Golden Harvest," she ultimately went along with the new na.
Just then, Xiao Hong returned with a bucket of red paint. Yi Leng dipped a new mop into the paint, climbed a ladder, and painted three large characters—"Huang Pihu"—on the white wall above the restaurant’s entrance.
Writing with a mop on a vertical wall was no easy feat, yet Yi Leng’s brushstrokes were bold and precise. While it might not impress a calligrapher, to the neighbors and local rchants, it solidified his status as the most impressive figure on igang Road—a man of both strength and skill.
Ali decided to showcase her own talents as well. Xiao Hong fetched so additional paint in various colors and handed her a few brushes. Treating the brushes like oil paint tools, Ali painted a cartoon tiger in the blank space above the new restaurant na.
Ali said, "Sothing happened back ho..."
Earlier, when she had called her mother to arrange for her things to be shipped over, her mother inford her of a family crisis: Ou Corporation was in trouble. Her father had to return to Singapore to face an investigation, their family assets had been frozen, and they couldn’t access a single cent. Her mother, too, needed to fly back to Singapore to try to salvage the situation, leaving Ali to fend for herself for the ti being.
Ali imdiately offered to return ho to face this sudden disaster with her family. But her mother reassured her, saying, "The best way you can help us is by staying where you are. I’ll send your things over. Just hold on for three to six months, and everything should be resolved."
What Ali didn’t know was that this "crisis" was part of a sche orchestrated by her parents. They both believed that their daughter had been excessively sheltered growing up. Her life had been worry-free, as though she had been raised in a bubble. Despite her excellent education, they feared she lacked the ability to face real adversity. If she didn’t learn to grow now, it might be too late by the ti they were no longer there to protect her.
After consulting with doctors and ensuring that her transplanted heart was healthy and functioning well, they revised their plans. The shares and assets they had originally planned to donate would now be left to their daughter. One day, Ou Corporation would be Ali’s responsibility.
But they knew that a carefree, naive girl wouldn’t be able to handle such a burden. The process of shaping Ali into a strong and capable leader began now, with this trial.
What Ali’s parents didn’t realize, however, was how sharp and perceptive their daughter truly was. While she was sweet and innocent, she was far from foolish. The suddenness of the crisis, combined with previous subtle hints, made it clear that this was likely a well-intentioned "ga." She decided to play along, understanding her parents' good intentions.
Yi Leng and Wu Yui, on the other hand, were completely unaware of the orchestration behind the scenes. To them, Ali’s situation was simple: soone had run into trouble, and helping her was the natural thing to do.
"The restaurant does need an extra set of hands, but girl, wouldn’t being a waitress be wasting your talents?" Wu Yui said.
Ali replied confidently, "I think being a waitress is great! I love the food here, and I see a lot of potential. In fact, I want to invest in this restaurant."
Wu Yui was stunned. This completely defied her expectations. Typically, when girls faced hard tis, they would seek shelter and support from others. But here was Ali flipping the script. What could there possibly be to invest in at this small eatery? There were dozens of similar restaurants along igang Road. If Ali really wanted to get involved in the food industry, she could have just opened her own shop.
However, Yi Leng imdiately understood Ali’s perspective. The knowledge and exposure Ali had gained through her upbringing were on a completely different level. The opportunity she saw was sothing Wu Yui couldn’t comprehend. For most people, life-changing opportunities only co once or twice in their lifetis.
"Let’s hear your idea," Yi Leng said, inviting Ali to sit down. Wu Yui brewed so tea and pretended to listen with interest, though her heart wasn’t in it.
Ali flipped over the restaurant’s nu and began sketching on the back. "Our ultimate goal is to build a global restaurant chain, sothing like Yum! Brands."
"I’ve never heard of Yum! Brands," Wu Yui said, puzzled.
"Pizza Hut and KFC are part of Yum! Brands," Yi Leng explained, cigarette in hand. "They operate over 30,000 stores in more than 100 countries and employ 800,000 people."
Wu Yui scoffed. She had long since stopped dreaming of fantastical ambitions. To her, Ali’s grand vision sounded like pure nonsense.
"We’ll start by building a brand, opening chain stores, attracting investors, and eventually going public..." Ali continued, her tone confident. These were ideas she had often heard from her father, Ou Jinhua. But to Wu Yui, they sounded like fairy tales, completely irrelevant to the lives of ordinary people.
"So, are you the angel investor?" Yi Leng asked.
"You could put it that way," Ali replied.
"How much are you planning to invest?" Yi Leng inquired.
"Initially, 500,000 yuan," Ali said.
Wu Yui nearly spat out her tea. This girl casually ntioned half a million yuan like it was nothing. But her serious deanor suggested she wasn’t joking.
Now Wu Yui was starting to feel tempted. She had opened this small restaurant simply to make a living and had no lofty ambitions. Making money was her sole priority, and if soone was willing to invest, not lend, why wouldn’t she agree?
"What kind of caras are worth that much? Are they gold-plated?" Wu Yui asked skeptically.
"Hasselblad H6D, Leica S3, Canon 1D, and a few dozen lenses," Ali listed casually.
"That’s it?" Wu Yui asked, still in disbelief.
Ali nodded earnestly. "That’s it."
By the afternoon, Ali had sold her caras and other luxury items, including a platinum handbag and a Cartier watch her mother had given her. She received 580,000 yuan in cash as starting capital. She imdiately withdrew 49,000 yuan and began making moves.
With her guidance, the restaurant began the process of registering as a company. They also expanded by acquiring the dry-cleaner’s shop next door, which was closing due to poor business. After the dry-cleaning machines were removed, there was no need for renovations—the space was ready for use as a dining area.
The new company was registered under the na Jiangwei Wuyui Culinary Consulting and Managent Developnt Co., Ltd., with Wu Yui as the legal representative. They also registered trademarks for "Huang Pihu," "Wuyui," and "Spicy Sesa Chicken."
Ali’s strategic vision was clear: as an individual business entity, the restaurant couldn’t franchise or open additional branches. But as a company, the possibilities for expansion were endless. Although Wu Yui didn’t fully understand the details, her instincts told her that Ali’s direction was the right one.
anwhile, Ali continued to balance her teaching responsibilities. She visited the school and asked Yi Nuan Nuan what she had for lunch.
"Fried rice with avocado, cherry tomatoes, braised beef shank, and a yogurt," Nuan Nuan replied.
"Did you get a note with it?" Ali asked.
Nuan Nuan pulled out a pale yellow sticky note with neatly written calligraphy. The handwriting matched the note from the restaurant.
"So it was Huang Pihu who did this," Ali thought, feeling intrigued. She didn’t imdiately reveal this secret to Nuan Nuan.
Later, Ali shared so good news with Nuan Nuan: they were now neighbors, living in the sa building, one upstairs and the other downstairs.
Their conversation was interrupted by two girls, Jian Shiyu and i Xin, who had been watching them from a distance. i Xin whispered bitterly, "We were going to teach Yi Nuan Nuan a lesson. Who knew Ali would stick to her side like glue? Guess we’ll have to back off for now."
"Let’s go to the hospital and find the boss," i Xin said. They rode their electric scooters straight to the shipyard hospital, where they reported to their leader, Yin Weiran, about the recent events at school, emphasizing how much attention Yi Nuan Nuan was getting.
"I’m getting discharged tomorrow!" Yin Weiran declared angrily. "I’ll put her in her place!"
"But, boss, your leg’s still in a cast. Are you sure you’re up for it?" Jian Shiyu asked hesitantly.
"That’s nothing," Yin Weiran replied. "My dad will drive to school. Besides, with my injury, my resilience will inspire everyone. Even the class monitor might start helping every day."
Elsewhere, class monitor Feng Xiaoxiao, who had been pedaling ho to the Hawaiian Coastal Villas, returned to an empty house as usual. His mother was likely at the beauty salon or playing mahjong, while his father was forever "working overti."
Just as loneliness began to creep into his heart, he heard movent from the garage. His father’s black Passat was back.
"Today must be important," Feng thought, rushing downstairs to find his father loading Maotai liquor and premium cigarettes into the car.
"Your grandfather is having a big birthday celebration today," Ma Xiaowei said. "Go change—you’re coming with ."
At that mont, Feng Xiaoxiao realized today wasn’t just any day.
[--------------------------------------------]
Enjoyed the chapter?
If you want early access to new chapters and to support the continuation of this story, consider subscribing to my Patreon. Your support ans a lot and helps bring more great content to you!
Join on Patreon: /flokixy
Reviews
All reviews (0)