Greed truly is your greatest enemy. The ancients were right. It seems I underestimated how dangerous the world can be and overestimated my own abilities. I thought that just because I was reborn, a supposed child of fortune, I could be fearless and reckless.

From now on, I need to speed up my development and build my own network. Take Chen Ting and her father, for example. They had already investigated me thoroughly, while I was still completely in the dark about them and the Chen Corporation. Fortunately, they don't seem to have any ill intentions. If they really wanted to harm me, I would be utterly defenseless. A conventional business attack isn't much of a concern; I don't have many vulnerabilities on that front. What I'm afraid of are people who don't play by the rules, leaving me with no way to fight back.

It's just like my recent decision to buy two thousand apartments in Qianhai Fashion Garden. If Chen Jianjun hadn't brought it up, I would have had no idea I was already at great risk. Ou Xiaolong certainly wouldn't harm me; he could only be grateful. However, by helping him through his crisis, I was making an enemy of his competitors. His real estate company was mired in a deep financial crisis, on the verge of its funding chain breaking. This wasn't a simple matter—it was the result of rivals fanning the flames and internal struggles among the company's shareholders. With someone like me stepping in to stir the pot, how could Ou Xiaolong's rivals possibly be happy?

They would definitely investigate my identity and background. Once they did, they'd find out I'm just a nouveau riche who struck it rich through sheer luck. An ordinary person buying a thousand apartments out of the blue is anything but ordinary. My source of funds, the bank loan procedures... who would believe there wasn't something shady going on? Once they grasped these clues, dealing with me would be easy. I would have no one to blame but myself for my lack of backing. If I had powerful connections, no one would dare touch me.

As for Zhuo Weidong, would he support me to the very end, even if it meant making powerful enemies? Would I dare to bet on it? Human nature is the most complex thing of all. Maybe Zhuo Weidong really does see me as a brother and would back me up completely. Or maybe he'd choose to wait and see. It was impossible to know for sure, and I wasn't willing to take that gamble.

「The next day.」

Yi Anguo called Ou Xiaolong and told him to halt the mortgage application with the bank. He was going to pay in full.

Ou Xiaolong was stunned. He asked anxiously, "Why? Why the sudden decision to pay in full? Even if you can come up with that much cash, it's not financially sound!"

"Brother Ou, you can't see the situation? You've dragged me into your mess. If we go through with the bank loan, and you pull the strings to get it approved for me, not only will I be in huge trouble, but you'll face significant problems too. Your opponents would never pass up such a golden opportunity to attack you," Yi Anguo complained resentfully. "And as for me, the moment they find out I have no background, they won't let me off the hook. They'll make sure I rot in jail. This time, by trying to help you, you almost got me killed."

"I'm sorry, Brother Yi! That was shortsighted of me. I oversimplified things," Ou Xiaolong said apologetically. "I hadn't considered that angle, but now that you mention it, this whole situation is more serious than I thought. This could be a trap they set for me, and you were just an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire."

"Maybe you should stay out of this. Let's terminate our agreement. After all, I'm the one they're after; they won't intentionally target you."

"If you back out now, they won't bother you, right?"

"It's too late," Yi Anguo said calmly. "Your rivals have already started investigating me and are preparing to make their move. So, I'm not backing out. But instead of a bank loan, I'll pay for the properties in full. That will give your opponents no leverage against me."

Ou Xiaolong thought for a moment before replying, "Even if you can afford to buy all 2,000 units from me outright, what about your properties at Blue Coast? Since they've already started investigating you, there's no way they don't know you own over 3,000 units there!"

"They still have ways to get to you. Don't underestimate how vicious they are. You're implicated because of me now, and you've angered them. The moment they find an opening, they won't let you go."

"I already have a way to handle them, so you don't need to worry about it," Yi Anguo told Ou Xiaolong. "I just hope that after I've helped you, you can defeat your opponents quickly."

"Showing mercy to an enemy is being cruel to yourself. Sooner or later, it will come down to a life-or-death battle between you. Either you fall, or they do."

"You may call them 'uncle,' but they won't treat you like a real nephew. Once your father-in-law is gone, if they seize power and take control of the company, they won't even spare your wife and daughter."

After Chen Jianjun's warning, if I still couldn't come up with a countermeasure, I'd really be an idiot. I'll pay for the properties in full, then mortgage those same fully-paid properties to get a bank loan. That way, nothing is illegal, right? Of course, with this method, I could get a loan for fifty percent of the appraised value at most. The interest rate would be higher and the term shorter, meaning the monthly payments would be steep.

But so what? The price of property at Blue Coast is guaranteed to exceed ten thousand yuan per square meter after the New Year, more than double my actual cost. Even borrowing fifty percent of the total value is no problem at all! As for the maximum ten-year term, that's even less of an issue. Three years is more than enough time for me.

Over the past months, through Zhuo Weidong's introductions, Yi Anguo had met quite a few influential people and established his own connections in the banking sector. While his network wasn't as robust as Zhuo Weidong's, handling a standard early mortgage repayment and then securing a new collateralized loan on the cleared property was perfectly feasible.

After a flurry of arrangements, everything was settled before the Spring Festival. He could finally enjoy the New Year with a clear mind, free from worry.

Yi Anguo had initially estimated that the average resale price at Blue Coast would surpass ten thousand yuan after the New Year. In reality, prices began a new surge just after New Year's Day, quickly breaking the ten-thousand-yuan barrier. In other words, his assets had appreciated yet again. This was highly advantageous for the bank's reappraisal of his properties, as it meant he could secure an even larger loan.

Using a channel provided by the Chen Corporation, Yi Anguo also successfully exchanged two hundred million Hong Kong dollars. Before the New Year, he invested it in the Hong Kong stock market, purchasing 40,400,000 shares of Penguin Holdings at an average price of 4.95 HKD per share, securing a stake of 2.23%.

Setting aside any future share issuances that might dilute my stake, just these 40.4 million shares, after the planned five-for-one stock split, will become 202 million shares. The post-split peak price was 775 HKD per share in 2021. Even at a conservative 750 HKD per share, that's a value of over 150 billion! And that's if I do nothing. If I engaged in swing trading, buying low and selling high repeatedly, how much could that value grow? It's impossible to say for sure.

As the dust settled and everything fell into place according to his plans, Yi Anguo finally let out a long sigh of relief. This period had been incredibly busy and exhausting. It wasn't physical fatigue, but a deep mental and emotional weariness.

Yi Anguo leaned back in his office chair, closing his eyes to rest. Li Shanshan, now on her winter vacation, had come again to bring him lunch.

The office door was unlocked, so Li Shanshan quietly opened it and stepped inside. When she saw Yi Anguo slouched in his chair, his legs casually and uncouthly crossed on the desk, she had to stifle a giggle. Seeing that he was resting with his eyes closed, however, she managed to hold back her laughter.

But he's fallen asleep. If I wait for him to wake up on his own, the food will get cold!

"Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law! Time to eat!" Li Shanshan set down the meal container, walked around behind Yi Anguo, and bent down to whisper in his ear.

However, Yi Anguo, who had only meant to rest his eyes, had unintentionally drifted off to sleep. There was no way her quiet whisper could wake him.

Li Shanshan gazed at the sleeping Yi Anguo. She thought he looked just as handsome and cute asleep as he did awake. A pang of envy and jealousy toward her older sister struck her. How did she get so lucky, finding such a wonderful man? What kind of man will I end up with? If he's half as good as my brother-in-law, I'll be content. But is it even possible to find another man as amazing as him?

At this thought, Li Shanshan felt her cheeks flush. I shouldn't be fantasizing about him... He's my brother-in-law! My sister's husband! How can I be having such improper thoughts? Yet, the more she tried to suppress them, the more insistent they became.

Ever since he had helped her with the senior at school who wouldn't leave her alone, Li Shanshan found she couldn't control her thoughts. His image would frequently surface in her mind.

Especially the memory of that kiss. That was my first kiss! And I gave it to my own brother-in-law. It wasn't just a peck, either, but a deep, French kiss. Even now, I can't believe I was so bold at that moment. But looking back, I savor the memory. So this is what it feels like when a man and a woman are together... This must be the taste of love. It's a shame this man is my brother-in-law. Even if I love him, what can I do?

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