Volume One, Chapter Three: Xie Feng, Which One of Us Is the Real Green Turtle?

Zhou Yang sensed something was off, so he got up in his pajamas and opened the door.

“What’s the matter?”

“I’m here to get my diploma!”

Today, Lu Wei was dressed in professional attire, yet it couldn’t hide her alluring figure.

As she spoke, Lu Wei entered and immediately started searching around.

Xie Feng had recommended Lu Wei for a position at EPS headquarters and was planning to drive her to the company’s main office to complete her onboarding.

Last night, while Lu Wei was packing, she realized her diploma was missing—likely left behind during the move.

Without the diploma, she couldn’t proceed with the employment formalities.

So, before heading to the headquarters this morning, she stopped by Zhou Yang’s place to retrieve it.

To avoid any conflict, Lu Wei asked Xie Feng to wait in the car downstairs.

“Did you hide my diploma?”

After searching in vain, Lu Wei asked Zhou Yang.

“Do I look that bored?” Zhou Yang said groggily, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Then how could it have disappeared?” Lu Wei frowned.

Zhou Yang sighed and smiled wryly, “You put your diploma under the cabinet last time you were organizing your clothes. Have you forgotten?”

Lu Wei recalled his words and hurriedly opened the cabinet, finding the diploma lying there untouched.

Sure enough, Zhou Yang hadn’t meddled with it.

“I wrongly accused you!” Lu Wei picked up the diploma and noticed the little flower sticker Zhou Yang had stuck on it. Memories of their four years in college flooded back, and she sighed, “Zhou Yang, actually... I still have feelings for you.”

“Cut the act,” Zhou Yang sneered, pointing toward the door. “Take your stuff and get out!”

“Zhou Yang!” Lu Wei became serious. “I just want a better life. I hope you don’t hate me. I know the breakup hurts you—I’m hurting too—but that’s reality. We’re adults now, and love without a material foundation won’t last. I have half an hour left. Even though we can’t be together, I can make it up to you...”

She set down her bag and approached the bed.

Even a fool could understand what she meant.

Zhou Yang, however, was caught between laughter and tears.

When did she become like this?

“Xie Feng’s waiting downstairs. You need to decide quickly!” Lu Wei sat on the bed, flipping her hair like old times. “Yes or no?”

Zhou Yang drew aside the curtain and looked down from the second-floor window.

Xie Feng’s car was parked right beneath it.

Xie Feng sat inside, rolling down the window, smoking, and leisurely scrolling on his phone.

“I’m not interested,” Zhou Yang said coldly.

“Zhou Yang!”

Lu Wei suddenly lunged forward and kissed him.

“What are you doing?” Zhou Yang pushed her away.

“Zhou Yang, you’re my first love. Breakups deserve a ceremony, right?” Lu Wei intended to bid farewell to her first love this way. “This is your last chance. We might never meet again!”

Zhou Yang felt a pang of sorrow. Though she was harsh, recalling their college years and the memories in their rented room made him waver.

“Zhou Yang!”

Lu Wei advanced again...

Because the window was open, their voices carried downstairs.

Hearing Lu Wei’s shouts from upstairs, Xie Feng frowned, thinking, “Could it be that little Wei is fighting with that poor guy again?”

He quickly dialed Lu Wei’s number.

Upstairs, caught in the heat of the moment, Lu Wei shakily reached out and hung up.

Xie Feng shouted from below, “Wei, Wei, is that bastard bullying you? I’m coming up now!”

Hearing this, Lu Wei panicked, told Zhou Yang to pause, and quickly called back.

“Don’t come up. It’s fine; I’m negotiating with him.”

She ended the call hastily, afraid her trembling voice would give her away.

Satisfied, Xie Feng stayed in the car playing on his phone.

Half an hour later, inside the bedroom upstairs.

Lu Wei, hair disheveled, stood up and looked at Zhou Yang with a hint of resentment. “You don’t pity other people’s girlfriends at all, do you?”

Zhou Yang said nothing.

Lu Wei sighed and went to the bathroom to freshen up.

After about ten minutes, she grabbed her diploma and went downstairs.

Zhou Yang moved to the window and watched as Lu Wei happily threw herself into Xie Feng’s arms.

Xie Feng looked up, saw Zhou Yang at the window, flipped him the middle finger, and shouted, “Goodbye, green turtle!”

Then he got into the car and drove away with Lu Wei.

Watching the car disappear, Zhou Yang felt dazed.

He paid no mind to Xie Feng’s provocation.

He and Lu Wei had already broken up; his feelings for her were long gone. Their recent intimacy was merely to satisfy physical needs.

Thus, Xie Feng’s taunts couldn’t ruffle his nerves.

Zhou Yang just felt a bit lost.

Student love was so pure, but after graduation, it turned sour.

Lu Wei might still love him deeply, but she clearly loved money more.

For money and future prospects, she was willing to forsake everything.

Women like Lu Wei were everywhere in this world.

Was it Lu Wei’s fault? Or his own?

At that moment, Zhou Yang realized his youth had come to a definitive end.

He swore to himself that from now on, he would grow stronger.

He would break free from the fate of a lowly nobody.

He would showcase his talents and ambitions and become the person who decides everything with a wave of the hand.

“Thank you, Lu Wei, for making me grow!”

At the same time, his resolve hardened.

Born into a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, Zhou Yang had advantages others lacked.

He had been immersed in the world of herbs since childhood, reciting the Materia Medica at five, practicing pulse diagnosis on family members at eight.

His ancestors left behind many precious family herbal formulas.

But trapped in shallow waters, his talents could only truly flourish in a broader world.

Therefore, he needed to quickly build up his achievements.

Only when his performance soared could he secure a permanent position and apply to transfer to the ESP Group headquarters.

Only in that vast realm could he truly spread his wings and realize his ambitions.

There, he would have the chance to gain greater wealth and prestige.

And, find women more beautiful and refined than Lu Wei...

He was going to conquer them all!

After these grand ambitions, reality intruded.

Unable to sleep, Zhou Yang got up to wash and headed to work.

Unexpectedly, Manager Xie Hongtao arrived early and called him into the office.

“Zhou Yang, how’s it going with Tang Yumei?”

This was the third time in a week Xie Hongtao had asked the same question.

Zhou Yang found the word “progress” odd.

“I’ve been maintaining a decent client relationship,” Zhou Yang replied.

That was the plan; when Xie Hongtao mentioned Tang Yumei as the next target, Zhou Yang had promised to keep a proper professional relationship with the client.

He felt he had done his part.

“You need to hurry! Your internship is ending soon. If Tang Yumei doesn’t support you, you won’t get a permanent position!” Xie Hongtao said, frustrated. “Fine, I’ll help you!”

He tossed a pile of files to Zhou Yang.

“These are some details about Tang Yumei. Hope they help.”

Zhou Yang took the files, which contained detailed records of Tang Yumei’s resume, birthday, and all sorts of information.

Even her private habits, preferences, and social circles...

Xie Hongtao lit a cigarette and said vaguely, “Xiao Zhou, I’m doing this because I really want you to get close to Tang Yumei!”

He emphasized the words “get close” quite loudly.

Zhou Yang increasingly felt something was off.

Originally, he was only supposed to maintain client relations.

Now, with files and hints, what exactly did Xie Hongtao want?

As a newcomer to society, Zhou Yang was bewildered, so he asked directly, “Manager, just tell me what you want me to do!”

“Hahaha!” Xie Hongtao laughed and thought for a moment. “Alright, I’ll be straightforward. There’s a top leader who gave me a task, and you’re the best person to carry it out.”

“What task?” Zhou Yang asked.

Xie Hongtao’s face turned mysterious. “I need you to establish a relationship with Tang Yumei and film a video for me.”

“A video? What kind of video?” Zhou Yang asked.

“At this point, you’re still pretending to be clueless?” Xie Hongtao smiled ambiguously. “What else could it be?”

He took a drag of his cigarette and clapped his hands twice.

Zhou Yang was speechless...