Chapter Forty-Eight: Boasting

As soon as Zhang Ding heard they were going to the car dealership, he answered Ling Tian’s question and then seemed to become a different person, falling into a silent gloom, not saying a word the whole way, keeping his head down and focusing solely on driving. Zhang Ding was now extremely sensitive to the term "car dealership," because his wife had run off with the owner of one.

Of course, Zhang Ding had no idea which dealership it was, and he hadn’t seen his wife in Yunhai City. Still, one thing he was certain of: that spendthrift woman must be somewhere in Yunhai. Now she was a wealthy lady, living a completely different life from his own as a poor driver. With Yunhai’s vast population—over five million—the odds of running into her were lower than winning the lottery.

Zhang Ting looked at Zhang Ding with a hint of sympathy, then glanced back at Ling Tian, hoping Ling Tian would say something to comfort Zhang Ding.

Ling Tian shook his head and said, "Love wounds the deepest. It’s something he needs to come to terms with himself. I think Zhang Ding has moved on, but sometimes the past comes back to him."

Suddenly, Ling Tian had a strange thought—what if, when they visited the car dealership, they ran into Zhang Ding’s ex-wife…

About half an hour later, Zhang Ding drove them to one of the most renowned car dealerships in Yunhai City. It offered every kind of car from domestic and international brands, a testament to the owner’s formidable power—being able to represent so many brands at once.

After getting out, Ling Tian walked at the front with his hands behind his back, Zhang Ding followed silently, and Zhang Ting, familiar with the place, trailed after. She had once worked here as a car model, but the owner was a notorious lecher who had tried to proposition her. Zhang Ting firmly refused, and as a result, lost her position as a car model here.

As Ling Tian walked, he sensed something off. Zhang Ding’s gloom was understandable given thoughts of his ex-wife, but why was Zhang Ting so silent as well? Clearly, both carried stories of their own.

The three entered the dealership one after another. Ling Tian glanced around and headed straight toward the business vehicles section—an old habit of his, always purposeful, always straight to the point.

A saleswoman saw potential customers and hurried over, her face plastered with a professional smile, addressing Ling Tian, "Sir, what type of business vehicle do you like? Here are this year’s new models…"

The well-trained saleswoman launched into an enthusiastic introduction of various business vehicles and their advantages.

"Sir, this Toyota business van—"

Before she could finish, Ling Tian cut her off, "I don’t buy Japanese cars. Show me a domestic model."

The saleswoman paused for a moment, then sneered, muttering under her breath, "I thought he was a big client, turns out he’s just a pauper." Domestic business vehicles were cheaper, so her commission would be less, and naturally she wasn’t pleased.

Her words reached Ling Tian’s ears and stung. Customers are supposed to be king; what car they choose is their own business, yet the saleswoman dared to judge him. "You, get out of here. The farther, the better," Ling Tian said coldly and without courtesy.

The saleswoman hadn’t expected him to hear her comment, let alone order her to leave. She stomped her feet in anger and walked away.

Zhang Ting, who knew the dealership well, came over and said, "Most of the salespeople here are snobs. If you buy a luxury car, they’ll fawn over you endlessly. But if you want something cheap, they’ll immediately look down on you and mock you. Many customers end up feeling as if buying an inexpensive car here is a mark of disgrace."

Ling Tian scoffed, "Buy what you need—no need to worry about others' opinions, or you’ll end up living a miserable life."

"Let’s go over there and have a look, they’re holding a car exhibition," Zhang Ting said, heading toward the showroom.

The exhibition hall was vast, packed with throngs of people. Of course, most weren’t there for the cars, but for the scantily clad car models. A few men had even climbed onto the stage, frantically snapping photos up close. One man, overcome with excitement, had a nosebleed.

Ling Tian had little interest in such exhibitions, but since Zhang Ting and Zhang Ding wanted to look around, he said nothing.

"Hey, isn’t that Ling Tian? Do you still remember me?" A pot-bellied man emerged from the crowd, addressing them with a tone of arrogance—yes, arrogance, the kind that comes from feeling superior.

Ling Tian frowned slightly, studying the man for a while before recognizing him as Luo Jun, a high school classmate—a classic snob whom Ling Tian had put in his place more than once back then.

"So it’s you. Long time no see. You’ve gained some weight," Ling Tian replied coolly, clearly uninterested in chatting further with someone he didn’t care for.

Ling Tian’s lack of interest didn’t deter Luo Jun. Now that he was doing well for himself, he just had to flaunt it in front of his old classmates, especially those he’d once clashed with.

"Old classmate, it’s been five or six years since we last met. Where are you working now?" Luo Jun grinned, sizing up Ling Tian, whose attire was plain—clearly not doing very well, he thought.

"Currently at Qingcheng Group, just an ordinary low-level employee," Ling Tian replied blandly.

Though Qingcheng Group was a powerful company, being a mere employee there meant little. Luo Jun felt reassured. But he was frustrated that Ling Tian, after answering, didn’t ask Luo Jun about his own situation, denying him the chance to boast.

"Not bad. Qingcheng Group is a big company. Compared to you, I’m struggling much more. Right now, I’m a manager at a company under the Nangong Family. Do you know the Nangong Family? It’s one of the four great families of Yunhai City, immensely powerful," Luo Jun said proudly, clearly feeling he’d surpassed Ling Tian.

He thought he was doing well, but in reality, he was just a manager at a small company under the Nangong Family. If only Luo Jun knew that even the eldest son of the Nangong Family would call Ling Tian "big brother," he’d be shocked.

Ling Tian didn’t respond, nor did he even look at Luo Jun.

Luo Jun pressed on, "Times are tough—no car, no house, can’t find a wife. I’ve been struggling all these years, and I’ve only just bought a house. Today I’m planning to buy a car. By the way, you’re here for the car models, aren’t you?"

Clearly, he was looking down on Ling Tian, assuming he’d come for the spectacle rather than to buy a car.

Ling Tian snorted disdainfully. Wife? He’d already settled that, and with the most beautiful CEO in Yunhai City, no less.

"My annual income is only about two hundred thousand. With Yunhai’s high cost of living, it’s barely enough. How much do you make in a year?" Luo Jun continued, eager to show off.