His maternal uncle lived in an old apartment complex.
The tallest building was only twelve stories high. The structures were blocky and unadorned, with dated architecture.
It was no match for the modern, high-end complexes built in recent years, which often soared over thirty stories high.
The residents were mostly ordinary working-class people. Anyone with a bit more means had already bought a new home in a newer development, renting out their old places to out-of-town workers for some extra income.
The hallways were narrow and dimly lit, cluttered with bicycles and electric scooters. At least there was an elevator, so they didn’t have to climb the stairs.
"Lizhu, you’re off work? And who is this?" Just as Dong Lizhu entered the building, a woman about her age, laden with shopping bags, caught sight of the well-dressed Wu Jun and sized him up curiously, asking Dong Lizhu.
The residents of this complex were as ordinary as they come, and any relatives who came to visit weren’t much better off.
But Wu Jun was dressed so sharply. His outfit was clearly designer, he was clean-cut and handsome, and his tall frame was like that of a clothing store mannequin. You wouldn’t see a young man like him in this neighborhood more than once every few years.
"Ms. Li, this is my nephew, Wu Jun. I’ve mentioned him before," Dong Lizhu said, introducing him. It seemed she wasn’t very keen on speaking with this Ms. Li.
Dong Lizhu called her Ms. Li. ’Based on my own relationship to my aunt, I should probably call her Auntie,’ he thought.
However, seeing as she only looked to be in her forties, he figured she’d probably think he was an idiot if he actually called her that.
"Hello, Ms. Li." Wu Jun nodded in greeting.
"Oh, so you’re Wu Jun. Hello." After hearing Dong Lizhu’s introduction, Li Yueling remembered who he was.
About six months ago, while Li Yueling and Dong Lizhu were chatting, Li Yueling had mentioned she had a niece.
Her niece was gorgeous, had it all, and was quite capable—she had even saved up enough to buy her own apartment.
The girl was perfect in every way, except she was a bit of a free spirit who just wanted to have fun and stubbornly refused to get a boyfriend, much to her family’s concern.
When Dong Lizhu inquired further, she learned that Li Yueling’s niece was only a year younger than Wu Jun. Their ages were perfect, so she suggested introducing Wu Jun to the niece to see if they would hit it off.
As it turned out, Li Yueling killed the conversation with just three questions.
"What’s his job? A small supermarket owner?"
"How much does he make? Only four or five thousand a month?"
"Does he own property? A self-built house back in his hometown?"
’With credentials like that, he thinks he’s good enough for my goddess of a niece?’
The matter fizzled out, and they never ended up meeting. Wu Jun didn’t even know any of this had transpired.
After that, a rift formed between Dong Lizhu and Li Yueling, and their relationship was never as close as it had been.
After the brief introduction, the three of them fell silent. The atmosphere was a little awkward.
"The elevator’s here." Seeing it arrive, Wu Jun gestured for the two women to get in first.
The doors opened, and the three of them stepped inside. Dong Lizhu pressed the button for the 8th floor while Li Yueling stood unmoving in the corner.
"What floor are you on, Ms. Li?" Wu Jun asked, turning to Li Yueling, thinking he might be in her way.
Li Yueling replied, "The 8th floor, too. I live right across the hall from your aunt. Thanks."
"You’re welcome." Wu Jun smiled, nodded, and turned back around, asking no more questions.
The elevator began to rise.
From behind, Li Yueling secretly sized Wu Jun up.
’Broad shoulders, a narrow waist, a firm rear. He stands up straight, no slouching. Two long legs, perfect proportions. The white shirt looks crisp and clean, and the black trousers look sharp and professional.’
’Based on looks alone, Dong Lizhu’s nephew is actually a great match for my niece. It’s just that their financial situations are worlds apart.’
’Just now, from the entrance, I saw him and Dong Lizhu get out of a pickup truck. A man’s car is a reflection of his status, and driving a truck like that shows he’s nothing special.’
’What a coincidence, my niece is coming over for dinner tonight, and we live right across the hall. If his financial situation were up to snuff, I could have used this chance to have them meet.’
’Too bad you can’t live on good looks.’
RRRING~
The elevator had just reached the 2nd floor when the phone in Wu Jun’s pocket rang. He pulled it out and saw it was a call from Dong Shanshan.
Wu Jun casually answered. "What’s up, Shanshan? Something wrong this late?"
"Wu Jun," came Dong Shanshan’s voice. "The payment for this order is too large to transfer conveniently, so I had our finance department cut you a check for 36 million. When are you free to come get it? Or I can have someone deliver it to you."
The elevator was small and the space was confined, so Li Yueling heard every word from the phone with perfect clarity.
’A check for 36 million? Are you kidding me?’
’You’re just a small-time supermarket owner. How could you possibly be involved in a deal that big?’
’Dong Lizhu and her nephew must have planned this. They’re deliberately putting on an act for my benefit. That has to be it.’
She wouldn’t believe it for a second. How could someone who was running a tiny supermarket and earning only four or five thousand a month just six months ago—someone who couldn’t even afford an apartment—suddenly be involved in a deal worth tens of millions?
’Go ahead, keep up the act,’ Li Yueling scoffed internally, turning her head away from Wu Jun.
’The young man is handsome, sure, all dressed up and looking the part, but he’s just so dishonest.’
Wu Jun replied, "Thanks, Shanshan, you’re always so efficient. I’ll send someone over to get it tomorrow, so you don’t have to worry about it. Is there anything else? I’m in an elevator right now, visiting someone."
"Nope, that’s it. I’ll let you go. Bye." Dong Shanshan said before hanging up.
Wu Jun hung up and had just put his phone back in his pocket when the elevator doors opened. They had reached the 8th floor.
"Goodbye, Ms. Li." Wu Jun nodded to her and stepped out of the elevator with Dong Lizhu.
Wu Jun and Dong Lizhu turned left, and Li Yueling turned right, each entering their respective apartments across the hall from one another.
After getting home, Li Yueling changed into her slippers and headed for the kitchen, still carrying her bags.
"Guess who I just ran into?" Li Yueling asked as she walked past her husband, Zheng Jingshan, who was sitting on the sofa playing with his phone.
Zheng Jingshan looked up at Li Yueling irritably. "You and your games. Why can’t you just say what you mean instead of making me guess? If I could read minds and predict the future, would I be sitting here waiting for your niece to find me a job? I’d be out buying a lottery ticket."
"You’re no fun to talk to!" Seeing her husband was in a foul mood from being unemployed, Li Yueling dropped the suspense. "I just ran into Dong Lizhu in the elevator, along with that nephew of hers she wanted to set up with Xiaoxiao."
"Those two are such good actors," Li Yueling said, finding it funnier the more she thought about it. She plopped down next to Zheng Jingshan and dramatically reenacted Wu Jun’s side of the phone conversation.
Shaking her head, she said, "Thirty-six million, just like that. He says it like he’s talking about thirty-six hundred yuan. I’m surprised he’s not afraid of spraining his tongue from all that big talk."
Li Yueling had barely finished speaking when there was a knock at the door.
"That must be Xiaoxiao," Li Yueling said, getting up from the sofa to open the door.
"Auntie! Auntie, did you see the owner of that pickup truck parked downstairs? Oh my god, what is our CEO Wu doing here?!" Li Xiaoxiao exclaimed excitedly the moment she stepped through the door, grabbing Li Yueling’s hand.