Chapter 428: They Had a Conspiracy All Along

Yang Xiaokang was once again their companion for the second day.

After yesterday's events, Yang Xiaokang had a much deeper understanding of the influence wielded by Wang Chenning's team.

He also keenly felt the immense influence of this "national male god," Wang Chenning.

There were plenty of internet celebrities, and the number of fans for those stars and artists was astonishing. But it was rare to see someone like Wang Chenning, who could completely transform a place and even affect its local economy with just a few words.

This just went to show that Wang Chenning's idol-like effect as an internet celebrity was on a completely different level from others.

It was no wonder so many beautiful women orbited around Wang Chenning. His excellence was evident just from the caliber of the women by his side.

Even women like Yang Xiaofei, Zhao Xiao'an, Li Yanxian, and Luo Yuqing—women who were utterly unattainable for people of his status—all showed favor to Wang Chenning. And yet, Wang Chenning didn't seem to care much about them. 'It's infuriating how different people's lots in life are!'

Thinking of Miao Jianhang, who had met with misfortune for coveting beautiful women, Yang Xiaokang couldn't help but sigh once more at the unfairness of the world.

'If Wang Chenning wanted to make a move on Yan Dongling, would she refuse?'

'Definitely not. She'd probably throw herself at him before he even had to say anything.'

Yang Xiaokang was a smart man. He didn't waste the opportunity to accompany Wang Chenning and his female companions. During the two days he spent showing them around, he managed to get on good terms with them.

He also subtly expressed his own ambitions, hoping to receive some help from Wang Chenning or the other women.

Wang Chenning understood what Yang Xiaokang was getting at. In consideration of the two days Yang Xiaokang had spent with them, he put in a few good words for him to Li Dongjun, and he did it right in front of him.

This made Yang Xiaokang ecstatic.

Li Dongjun had originally wanted to invite Wang Chenning's group for dinner, but Wang Chenning and Luo Yuqing declined.

That evening, they wanted to dine on a painted barge on the Qinhuai River and enjoy the night scenery.

This was Li Yanxian's suggestion, and it was a wish shared by the others as well.

Li Dongjun didn't press them. After arranging for the boat and dinner to be prepared, he left them undisturbed.

"I'm really benefiting from being with you all on this trip!" Wang Chenning said with a grin as he sat on the painted barge, leisurely snacking on fruit and melon seeds while watching the performers sing and dance. "I've never been treated like this when traveling before. It's great having you guys around!"

His words earned him a collective eye-roll from the other women.

"Ever since you swept away the kimchis and the Japs in Seoul and Tokyo, you haven't been the same man you were before!" Luo Yuqing said with a chuckle. "We're just the icing on the cake."

This displeased Li Yanxian. "Auntie Luo Yuqing, how can you talk about us like that?"

Luo Yuqing paused for a moment, then shook her head. "No, no, it was just a casual term. My mistake, I misspoke. Alright?"

Yang Xiaofei chimed in with a scornful look, "Are you guys still so hung up on what country you're from?"

Li Yanxian was taken aback. Li Fuzhen quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "It's just a label. Let's not get hung up on it. A lot of the time, what country we're in doesn't really matter. What matters is what we're doing, right everyone?"

Since Li Fuzhen had spoken, Li Yanxian didn't pursue the matter, but she still didn't want to be referred to as one of the "kimchis."

Luo Yuqing also changed the subject immediately, asking Wang Chenning when he planned to go to Seoul again.

"We need to find a way to get in touch with the upper echelons of South Korea!" Luo Yuqing offered, giving Wang Chenning a strategy. "Once people reach a certain age, their health inevitably starts to decline, and chronic illnesses increase. You can use the opportunity to diagnose and treat them to build closer relationships. Fuzhen, what do you think?"

"That's an excellent idea!" Li Fuzhen's eyes widened. "When I get back tomorrow, I'll investigate this thoroughly and try to make the initial connections!"

"Let's go again in May; it'll be too hot later on. And it's not just Seoul, I need to go to Tokyo, too," Wang Chenning replied with a cheerful laugh. "For now, let's gather intelligence. Once we have it, we'll analyze it carefully and see how we can find the best point of entry. In the second half of the year, I'm going to Europe. If you have any intel on Europe, pass it on to me. Preferably on the royal families of the old empires. If we can establish a connection just once, we can make a name for ourselves!"

"Then let's all work hard together!" Luo Yuqing nodded, then instructed Li Fuzhen and Li Yanxian with great seriousness, "I think that since you're both communicating with us in Chinese now, you should stop thinking of us as people from two different countries. Just think of us as one family! We need to pull in the same direction and avoid conflict as much as possible, or none of our plans will ever be realized!"

Then she reminded Wang Chenning, "You need to be more assertive. Anyone who joins this team must follow your arrangements. If you see any signs of insubordination, you have to squash them from the very beginning. Does anyone have any objections?"

Li Fuzhen was the first to shake her head, followed by Li Yanxian.

"I have no objections!" Although Yang Xiaofei was a bit resistant to Luo Yuqing's assertiveness, she wasn't going to voice her opposition at a time like this.

"I trust you can manage our team well!" Luo Yuqing said to Wang Chenning very seriously. "Those who accomplish great things don't get bogged down in trivialities. Every decision must be based on the overall interests of our team."

Li Fuzhen strongly agreed with Luo Yuqing's proposal, adding, "That's exactly how it should be."

She then suggested to Wang Chenning that everyone who joins the team should be given a role and assigned a mission, allowing them to divide the work and cooperate to achieve their goals.

Hearing Luo Yuqing and Li Fuzhen speak like this, Yang Xiaofei and Li Yanxian finally understood. 'So these two old women have been scheming all along...'