HBWMA -Chapter 374 Not Enemies, Not Meeting

July was bright and radiant, already hinting at the height of summer.

On the wide road, four luxury cars sped forward in a blur.

The North District counted as a newly developed area of Jinggang. Though it couldn’t compare to the bustling city center, the endless stretch of green lakes and the sunlit grasslands teeming with life offered a different kind of carefree, rustic charm.

Fu Sui’er leaned against the window, letting the wind brush past her face. Through the layered mountain ridges, a faint glimpse of Gongling could already be seen.

“I heard just clearing this land in the North District cost fifty million. Looks like the Gu family has made quite a fortune these past few years.”

Shen Mianzhi replied, “The Gu family only secured the land. The real money came from the Lan family of Xiwan. They’ve poured in 250 million into this project alone. The hotel was originally set to open last year, but invited guests weren’t satisfied with the experience, so they expanded it again—adding a racetrack, a shooting range, and even a winery.”

Fu Sui’er let out a small exclamation. “How do you know all this?”

“I don’t just know that,” Shen Mianzhi said with a faint smile. “I also know the Lan family is throwing money at this project like there’s no tomorrow. That’s not how businessmen usually act. Businessmen care about profit—about whose pockets the money ends up in. But the Lan family seems more afraid of neglecting their distinguished guests, regardless of cost.”

Fu Sui’er suddenly understood. “So they’re trying to build a new high-society playground. That’s quite an ambition.”

Shen Mianzhi smiled. “So, are you still upset about me having afternoon tea with them?”

Fu Sui’er froze for a moment, looking slightly embarrassed. “I wasn’t upset. I’ve always supported you making friends outside, right, Shanshan?”

Jiang Huashan had been drowsy ever since they set out. She waved her hand perfunctorily. “Yeah. You only complained furiously once.”

Fu Sui’er: “……”

Naturally, Shen Mianzhi didn’t take it to heart. She glanced out the window. “We’re almost there.”

As she spoke, the mountains opened up before them, and a shimmering golden lake came into view.

Beneath the vast blue sky, a resort rose from the ground, its buildings encircling the lake. Ornately carved beams, layered rooftops, and rich colors gave it the grandeur of the flourishing Tang dynasty.

At that moment, the front of the resort was already packed with luxury cars. Shen Lanxi was the first to step out.

The others followed. Fu Sui’er casually raised a hand to shield herself from the sun, and a staff member immediately opened a parasol beside her. Jiang Huashan, on the other hand, calmly put on her own bucket hat.

Having received prior instructions, the hotel manager was already waiting at the entrance. Recognizing the Shen family, he hurried forward with a broad smile.

“Welcome, honored guests. This way, please. Your luggage will be delivered to your rooms by our staff.”

Fu Sui’er glanced at the cluster of luxury cars. “Wow, quite a crowd.”

Shen Mianzhi had already spotted that ostentatious black car. She turned slightly and smiled. “Otherwise, how could you call it ambition?”

The group passed through the hotel lobby. Beyond it stretched an endless green lawn, where a man-made pool had been built. Sunlight filtered through the rolling canopy of trees, casting shimmering reflections across the grass.

It had to be said—the Lan family had indeed put in considerable effort to win over Jinggang’s elite.

This return-to-nature greenery paired perfectly with the blazing summer sun. After all, wealthy young masters and ladies who had grown up with every luxury imaginable had seen it all—something unexpected worked far better.

Crossing the front grounds, pavilions and covered corridors rose from the earth. At that moment, a group of people walked over from the arched bridge, chatting and laughing.

From a distance, Gu Yuzhu spotted Shen Mianzhi and waved enthusiastically. In a few quick steps, she rushed over, pushed past Fu Sui’er, and linked her arm with Shen Mianzhi’s.

“Why are you only getting here now? We were just planning to go skiing—come join us!”

Fu Sui’er rolled her eyes at Gu Yuzhu and pulled Jiang Huashan aside.

Shen Mianzhi smiled politely. “No, thanks. We just arrived—we’d like to rest first.”

“Oh, come on, come on! Our teams are already set.” As she spoke, she turned to Shen Lanxi. “Brothwe Lanxi, you should join too. Yu Sheng’s side already has Brother A-Heng—if you don’t come to our team, we’re definitely going to lose.”

Originally, she wanted to ask Shen Qingyu, but remembering his attitude from a few days ago, she couldn’t bring herself to do it, so she had no choice but to turn to Shen Lanxi.

“A-Zhu!!”

The girls from her friend group, seeing Gu Yuzhu chatting with the young masters of the Shen family, rushed over excitedly.

Lan Dai carefully glanced at Shen Qingyu and said softly, “You haven’t seen the rooms yet, right? Why don’t you go rest first?”

“All rooms are the same—no need to look. Let’s go compete first.”

“Yeah, yeah, there’s plenty of time later.”

Standing outside the crowd, Su Yun’s gaze lightly rested on Shen Lanxi’s profile. Back then, the boy in the alley holding flowers had astonished her entire girlhood.

In two years, she had grown accustomed to her identity as the eldest daughter of the Su family. Not only had she made friends of matching status, but she had also entered the Military-Political Academy with excellent results. The distance between her and that boy with flowers was no longer an insurmountable gulf.

Jiang Huashan adjusted the brim of her cap, her eyes drifting between Lan Dai and Su Yun before returning to her fingertips.

“Well, well! No wonder it’s so lively—if it isn’t our young hero, the one-star warrant officer?”

Amid the chatter of the girls, a sharp male voice suddenly rang out. As the words fell, a group of young men and women approached from under the corridor bridge.

Zhou Yanheng wore a careless smile, his gaze sweeping across the crowd before settling on Shen Guiling. “Officer.”

Taking the lead, several boys behind him lazily followed with salutes. “Greetings, Officer.”

Guan He leaned casually against Zhou Yanheng’s shoulder, his gaze unfriendly as he sized Shen Guiling up and down. “I thought Officer Shen was too busy risking his life earning military merit to spare a moment—but looks like you still have time for a vacation?”

The words carried a strong hint of provocation, instantly silencing the surrounding crowd.

Fu Sui’er leaned closer to Jiang Huashan and whispered, “In this academy assessment, Brother A-Ling was assigned to Zhou Yanheng’s team for a simulated exam. Since he went out on a mission, he never joined their group discussions. But I heard that three minutes before submission, he revised Zhou Yanheng’s team report.”

Jiang Huashan crossed her arms. “Why? Didn’t Zhou Yanheng include his name?”

Fu Sui’er blinked. “No—after Brother Ling revised it, they got the best score overall. Zhou Yanheng and Guan He even gained five military points.”

No wonder. Someone as arrogant as Zhou Yanheng could never tolerate being stepped on like that.

That said, Shen Guiling was quite strange too. Someone so socially adept—why would he do something like this?

Jiang Huashan asked, “How do you know all this?”

Fu Sui’er grinned. “It’s all over the freshmen group chat at the Military-Political Academy. Everyone worships Brother Ling now—he crushed a month’s worth of Zhou Yanheng’s team effort in just three minutes.”

“The funniest part is, Guan He even tried to clarify in the group, saying the report was something Zhou Yanheng casually wrote during a lunch break. But the matter reached the instructor, and the school penalized them for having a poor learning attitude—their military points were taken back. I heard even their summer break got canceled.”

Jiang Huashan: “…”