Climbing the Career Ladder - -

Li Mengze took a ride in a Wansheng company car back to the hotel to pick up his luggage, then headed straight for Baiyun Airport. His flight was scheduled to depart at 10 PM, and three hours later, the last group of passengers from Guangzhou to Beijing set foot on the northern lands.

October 18th, deep into the autumn season. The nights were cold, but Li Mengze felt no discomfort. He wrapped his arm around Sima Xiaoyu’s shoulders, smiling broadly without a care in the world, looking around them.

Li Mengze had completely relaxed. He had been tense for three days, filled with worry, anxiety, fear, and numerous concerns. Now, everything had vanished like smoke in the air; he had won. From now on, he was no longer a minor employee; he could savor life without hesitation and share the miracles he created with the woman he loved.

Li Mengze lay back on a comfortable lounge chair, listening to their joyful laughter and sharing in their inner happiness. He felt that all his struggles were worthwhile. This was especially true when he saw their worn faces at Baiyun Airport after several days.

Li Mengze felt a mix of heartache, satisfaction, and pride. These were his family members, whom he cherished and protected. He had a warm home, a unique home.

The Li family had many members and a large house. The houses in Beijing and Tianjin were so expensive that they pained his heart, especially the one in Beijing. Because of the high property prices and costly renovations in Beijing.

When Li Mengze first bought the house, they called him a miser. He reluctantly spent 1.3 million yuan, only to realize he had been duped. However, he couldn’t back out, and this nearly drained all his funds, making him wary of even buying a car in the future.

The Beijing house was 200 square meters with seven bedrooms, a lounge, and a large hall.

Li Mengze did not usually live in Beijing; his place of employment was in the Tianjin Development Zone. However, four people regularly lived in the Beijing house. It’s important to note, they were part of a large family, a very big family indeed.

Li Mengze earns the least money in his family, bringing in only 1,500 yuan a month, though he does have an additional 500 yuan in private cash. The least anyone else earns is 3,000 yuan, so he has the least say at home.

Li Mengze’s household has many regular expenses. While they aren’t spending more than they earn, saving 5,000 yuan a month would be quite an achievement. He is now contemplating what the three old timers at Wansheng would think if he took them out to dinner with 5,000 yuan. The thought alone makes him chuckle.

Before Li Mengze could laugh out loud, someone approached him to speak. The person, a professional-looking woman, could be instantly recognized as a doctor by those in the know; if Chen Xiaochong were there, he would immediately know she’s the “free capital holder.”

“How much money do we actually have? Can we come up with 5 billion yuan?” The question, filled with worry and uncertainty, was posed by Jing Wen, echoing everyone’s doubts.

“Jing Wen, why, don’t you trust me? Of course, we can come up with it. Otherwise, how could we afford to support you all?” Li Mengze, cheerful upon arriving home, soon realized something was amiss. “You all, don’t, don’t… it’s my fault, don’t come any closer, I surrender. ”

“Mengze, I’m also a bit worried. Can we handle the consequences of such a large investment? What if it fails? Can we recover?” Sima Xiaoyu also voiced her concerns.

“Ah, why does no one ever treat me like an adult? I’m already mature enough, so why am I always a worry to someone? First, my sister worries about me, and now you all. Well, let me tell you, even if this investment fails, it won’t impact us much. The amount we’re putting in is less than one-tenth of our total assets. Hey, stop looking at me like that, don’t come any closer, I’ll leave…”

Li Mengze felt as though he was surrounded by a pack of wolves, each ready to pounce on him. Indeed, he didn’t dare provoke the crowd and sat down beside them.

“Don’t treat me like a hero, don’t look at me like one! You know, our family made some money from Wansheng, like this house we’re living in-it was bought by Wansheng, right? Yes, just nod-that’s right, we made a total of 54.09 billion yuan from Wansheng, not a small amount, eh?”

Li Mengze felt Jing Wen shift slightly, then comfortably nestle in his arms, while the others, including Sima Xiaoyu, stared at him in astonishment.

“What was your original capital?” Su Qianyun, who had also traded stocks and made money from Wansheng on Li Mengze’s advice by selling at a high price point, asked.

“You guess… okay, stop… fine, can’t I just confess? I bought in early, investing a total of 120 million yuan in Wansheng.” Li Mengze’s head was about to explode; he was genuinely frightened by these women.

“God, Mengze, you made over 450 times your investment, you really pulled off quite the feat! Why didn’t you sell earlier? You are too ruthless!” Liu Yun’s words nearly made Li Mengze spit blood; her remarks were always direct.

“Liu Yun, can’t you say something nice for once? If I die suddenly one day, it’ll definitely be because your words choked me to death. And you others, you don’t need to look at me like that. You know, the more I earned, the greater the pressure I faced! Back then, I had put all my capital into it, and for months, each day felt like a year!”

Li Mengze knew the impact his words had on them.

“How did you know the stocks were going to crash, and why did you insist on us short-selling at that time?” Su Qianyun was puzzled and upset about blindly following his advice back then, short-selling whenever he said to.

“Xiaoyu knows the answer to this. Tell Su Qianyun and Liu Yun, Xiaoyu.”

“By that time, Mengze had already sold most of his shares just before we started selling. Because the securities regulatory commission has rules that large amounts of stocks cannot be shorted all at once but must be sold in batches. Given the huge amount he sold, it was bound to cause market fluctuations, which is why he had us short-sell too. The fundamental reason was that Wansheng’s actual business couldn’t support such a massive market valuation, and a crash was inevitable,” Sima Xiaoyu clarified the confusion for Su Qianyun and Liu Yun, but she didn’t miss the opportunity to tease them-a bit of banter was always part of the fun among the sisters.

“You didn’t just drop your stocks because Li Mengze told you to, did you?” Liu Yun never missed a chance to have the last word.

“That’s because I trust Li Mengze. Besides, I had already made enough money by then.”

“Xiaoyu, some people at our hospital also invest in stocks, and I’ve heard about a few who are really stuck now. They want to sell but can’t, walking around all day with frowns on their faces; ugh, I’m glad I don’t mess with stocks.” Jing Wen, the eldest among the sisters and older than Li Mengze, always poised and graceful, couldn’t help but express her relief.

“Jing Wen, what are you worried about? Even if you did invest, with Mengze around, could he really let you fall into a trap? Even if Xiaoyu got caught up, you certainly wouldn’t!” Liu Yun was quick with her words, never missing an opportunity to tease Jing Wen.

“Liu Yun, you’re always so quick to speak, no wonder Mengze took a liking to you right from the start, not shy at all.” Liu Yun and Li Mengze had hit it off immediately, becoming an item soon after meeting, a story often laughed about among the sisters.

“I really do wonder if Mengze was out of his mind, how could he spend 3 or 4 months with big sister and not fall for her?” Sima Xiaoyu was ostensibly sticking up for the elder sister, but all the sisters knew it was another jab at Jing Wen. Among them, Jing Wen and Li Mengze spent the most time alone together but were the last to make their relationship official, making them a frequent topic of conversation for Sima Xiaoyu and the others.

“At that time, Mengze definitely had the desire but not the courage, so he let Jing Wen be for a few months. Later, he still managed to get what he wanted when he finally made his move. If Jing Wen had been into stocks, he would have started courting her much earlier. We mustn’t forget about Jing Wen either,” Su Qianyun took over from Sima Xiaoyu, continuing the solidarity of the sisters.

“Jing Wen, don’t worry, your colleagues will be able to get rid of their shares soon, though at a loss,” Li Mengze patted Jing Wen on the shoulder, comforting her. He knew she was no match for the three of them, so he deliberately changed the subject.

“Qianyun, come here, I have a gift for you,” Li Mengze said sincerely, letting go of Jing Wen and rummaging in his pocket.

Everyone was puzzled and curious. Jing Wen sat up straight while everyone else watched Li Mengze silently, including a perplexed Su Qianyun.

“Here it is, yes… Qianyun is absolutely right, this is a reward. I couldn’t help falling for Jing Wen the moment I saw her, but I was too scared to confess until I met you all. Here, another reward, don’t move, don’t move… Tonight, you’ll sleep with me, good night, everyone!”

Li Mengze’s hands were empty, but he ended up embracing a surprised Su Qianyun, who struggled as he alternated between harassment and attempts to comfort her. Finally, amidst laughter from the others, he carried her into her own room.

Sima Xiaoyu then went into Jing Wen’s room. They needed to discuss how to handle an emergency that had arisen in Guangzhou, and Liu Yun was also called to join them.

Sima Xiaoyu opened her eyes and immediately closed them again; she was simply too exhausted.

Liu Yun felt Li Mengze climbing into her bed.

“Ah, I’m late, late for work again,” Liu Yun exclaimed as she sprang up from bed-a ritual she had grown too familiar with. Once her head hit the pillow, she could instantly fall asleep and completely forget the time to rise. She particularly detested alarm clocks. If it hadn’t been for Su Qianyun taking care of her in the past, even the most lenient boss would have fired her.

However, this time Liu Yun woke to a significant dilemma. She found Li Mengze sleeping beside her, despite remembering that she had gone to sleep in Jing Wen’s bed. The main issue was that she found herself nestled in Li Mengze’s arms, while he was also holding Xiaoyu by the waist.

“Liu Yun, honey, don’t be scared. Ah, it’s only 8:30. You have a cold today; you can’t go to work,” Li Mengze, already awake, reassured her. In fact, he hadn’t slept at all. Imagine, a person so anxious, how could he possibly sleep? Now, seeing Liu Yun about to explode only added to his troubles.

“That’s great, no work today. Plus tomorrow and the day after, that’s three days to have fun. When did you get here? Who let you in?” Liu Yun sensed something was off.

“Shh… don’t wake Xiaoyu; she’s exhausted,” Li Mengze quickly redirected Liu Yun’s attention.

Sima Xiaoyu had been awake for a while. Unlike Liu Yun, who was a deep sleeper, Sima Xiaoyu noticed Li Mengze the moment he got into bed. She had wanted to speak, but his kiss calmed her down; then it was too late to leave, and her explosive mood settled as well. She was just too tired and soon fell asleep in Li Mengze’s arms.

“Liu Yun, be gentle, don’t let Xiaoyu know,” Li Mengze, enduring the pain, still didn’t forget to remind her, knowing full well that Xiaoyu was also awake; his tone teasing.

“Alright, it’s time to get up. Today, I’m treating you guys to a meal, I’ll pay. Order whatever you want; consider it my apology. Is that okay with you, Liu Yun?”

Li Mengze patted Liu Yun and Xiaoyu, signaling them to get out of bed. He didn’t dare truly upset Liu Yun and Xiaoyu; he couldn’t fully grasp their real reactions. Things had to be taken step by step, and he had all the time in the world.

“We get to choose the restaurant then,” Liu Yun immediately perked up, with a hint of cunning. Li Mengze had taken them out before, where even ordering dishes for five tables wouldn’t cost 1000 yuan, and she remembered that well.

“Fine, but you have to make sure Jing Wen and the others don’t find out about today,” Li Mengze seized the moment to point out the most crucial detail.

“Then I’ll drive today,” Liu Yun bargained for more benefits. Although they had two cars at home, she was usually not allowed to drive, especially alone.

“Okay, I agree,” Li Mengze immediately consented, but he wasn’t really being so “generous.” “However, you still need to get Xiaoyu’s approval.”

“Hmph, just say you disagree, why stir up trouble between us sisters, right, Xiaoyu?”

Liu Yun knew her family’s concerns all too well; none of her sisters trusted her driving skills, but she still pleaded with hopeful eyes.

“Fine, but be careful on the road, I’ll sit in the passenger seat,” Sima Xiaoyu couldn’t resist Liu Yun’s persuasive, hopeful eyes, especially since she had stood up for her today, so she agreed.

“Xiaoyu, you’re awesome… Ha!” Liu Yun suddenly kissed Sima Xiaoyu, and when she went to kiss Li Mengze, he held her tight and stole a long kiss;

Liu Yun rolled her eyes at Li Mengze and hopped out of bed.

The bank had just opened when Li Mengze and his party were ushered into the VIP room.

After all, 5 billion is not a small amount anywhere, 5 billion yuan.

The VIP room is different, offering meticulous service, convenience, speed, and security, all in a less crowded environment.

For Li Mengze, who was experiencing this level of service for the first time, it felt surprisingly familiar and comfortable. The bank had made sure everything was clearly explained in advance, and there was always someone on hand to guide him through the process, helping him make informed choices and understand the consequences of those choices.

It reminded Li Mengze of the first time he installed the Windows XP operating system.

“Did you just add money to your credit card?” Liu Yun asked, just after Li Mengze had finished a call with Wansheng.

Li Mengze was startled by her question.

“Liu Yun, focus on driving. We’re heading to the hospital, but we should still try to save where we can, okay? Just drive. I was actually thinking of adding some money to my credit card because I’m out of cash.”

Li Mengze was worried. Previously, when he was low on cash, even having a few hundred yuan in his pocket was a concern. Now, despite having money, he was still worried about not having any at hand.

“How could you be out of money, Li Mengze? Didn’t you save quite a bit? Besides, all of us have handed over our entire salaries, without keeping any personal savings, but you only contributed three-quarters,” Liu Yun said, never one to mince words and always ready to point out uncomfortable truths, clearly not believing he was out of money.

“I really don’t have any money left, just 5000 yuan,” Li Mengze responded, choosing not to retaliate against Liu Yun’s remarks. He needed to discuss it with Su Qianyun; he had thought about adding more money, but ultimately decided against it.

“I can hardly believe this,” Sima Xiaoyu said as she kept a watchful eye on Liu Yun driving, not daring to relax, and joined in their conversation.

Sima Xiaoyu also felt that Li Mengze was being too frugal in Guangzhou, originally thinking it was a deliberate choice.

“I’m really running a deficit here! As you all know, I only make 2000 yuan a month, and I can only save about 500 yuan in my account each month, and even that’s an exception. Besides that, I have no other way to add money; there’s not much saved in my account to begin with, and with my high expenses, it’s all coming from the account, like buying flowers for you or taking you out to eat, etc.”

Li Mengze used to have some private savings, but not much. Mainly, ever since they decided to stay together, he hasn’t added money to his credit card anymore.

“And you still complain about being poor. You’re the only one in our family playing the stock market now. Xiaoyu, Qianyun, and I have stopped trading stocks. With your skills, how can you be out of money?” Liu Yun had already accepted the fact that Li Mengze was out of money, but she didn’t let him off easily in conversation.

Ever since Liu Yun met Li Mengze, especially after the Wansheng company stock incident, none of them had traded stocks anymore.

“Liu Yun, do you think trading stocks is easy? Do you know how hard it is to pick a company with potential for appreciation? If I weren’t in urgent need of a large amount of capital, I wouldn’t bother so much. Every stock purchase is a nerve-wracking experience for me, worrying all day long about taking a dive, so I only choose one company each time.”

Li Mengze was really hurt by Liu Yun’s words, thinking that trading stocks was as easy as drinking mineral water. But it wasn’t entirely her fault; Liu Yun really admired him, thinking he was the best at trading stocks. To her, every stock he touched turned to gold, and in reality, she wasn’t the only one who thought this way. If it were up to Liu Yun, even the small change he left behind would be substantial.

“Li Mengze’s okay this time, right?” Sima Xiaoyu asked with concern, as their relationships were incredibly close, a matter of shared fortunes and misfortunes, making it impossible for them not to be concerned.

“Rest assured, ever since I had you all by my side, I dare not put all my eggs in one basket anymore. I’ve prepared a way out. If I don’t even consider my own feelings, how could I ignore yours? If I were constantly anxious, wouldn’t that make you all suffer as well? This time, I’ve invested 3 billion yuan. Even if I lose it, it won’t break me, especially since I usually win more than I lose,” Li Mengze said, not wanting the women to worry about him, as that was not his intention.

“Ah, I was hoping Mengze would go shopping for clothes with Xiaoyu and me today. How could you be out of money? You could even borrow some from Qianyun.”

Liu Yun still wouldn’t let Li Mengze off the hook, seizing the perfect opportunity today to make him splurge. Just think about it-taking a day off to shop at the mall, how thrilling and romantic! This amused Sima Xiaoyu as well, realizing Liu Yun had this in mind.

“I’m impressed with Liu Yun. Here’s an idea: lend me your credit card to use, and I will pay back whatever I spend,” Li Mengze said, feeling joyous today and also wanting to accompany the women on a shopping spree. Who else would accompany his own women if not him? Recently, everyone had been too stressed to enjoy themselves. But now, with his father’s health improving and the Wansheng company issues resolved, it was time to relax a bit, and tapping into Liu Yun’s little treasury was also a fun prospect.