I Am Rich

The Guan family is highly respected in the Imperial Capital. Guan Hong's, the grandfather of Guan Zhiyi, resolute approach and decision-making when he established Guan Corporation in this place back in the day are now considered exemplary. After decades of development, the Guan family has become a prominent force in various industries that could not be underestimated.

Guan Hong is now old and has retired, passing the reins of the Guan Group to his children and grandchildren. He has three sons. The eldest son gave him two grandchildren. The second son has a daughter. While the third son has a son and a daughter, Guan Zhiyi was the daughter.

She has three brothers and a sister before her, the fifth in line in the family, so she grew up with the family and relatives calling her Xiaowu**.

(**Little Five)

However, outside of her relatives, hardly anyone else refers to her by that name.

Except for ......

"What, after not seeing me for a few years, you don't recognize me anymore?" The man's smile slightly converged, his eyes as deep as a pool.

Guan Zhiyi looked at him dumbly for a few seconds, and when she realized who was standing in front of her, a clear joy and inexplicable aggravation surged up from the depths of her heart.

Of course, she would recognise him.

Qi Chengyan, someone whom she had known for as long as she could remember. He was her brother's best friend, one of the people who had watched her grow up.

Guan Zhiyi remembered that when she was young, Qi Chengyan used to tease her like this: 'Do you want Guan Yuanbai as your brother or me as your brother?'

When she was young, Guan Yuanbai was strict with her. Qi Chengyan, on the other hand, always took her to eat delicious food and play every time they met. So, she naturally would choose him instead of Guan Yuanbai.

It had been eight years since Qi Chengyan suddenly left the country when she was still in the third year of junior high school. She was sad for a long time after learning that he would not come back.

She had almost forgotten about him.

But with just one sentence, he seemed to have brought back all the past memories.

"Brother, it's you. Are you... back?" Guan Zhiyi asked.

"You still know how to call me, it appears that you haven't forgotten about me," Qi Chengyan remarked, glancing at her. "I'm back. It's been years since we last saw each other, but you haven't changed much." 

Guan Zhiyi: "No way...I have grown taller."

"Just a little bit."

Guan Zhiyi widened her eyes slightly.

She wasn't sure whether she had changed or not, but Qi Chengyan was definitely different from a few years ago.

If the Hua Hongxi she saw just now had the air of a rebellious boy, Qi Chengyan's first impression was the opposite, a fully manly mature man.

Guan Yuanbai asked again, "You still haven't told us why you're here. Did you come for dinner alone?".

Guan Zhiyi shook her head, "No, I'm with someone."

"With who."

"Just.... a friend."

Guan Zhiyi didn't want to reveal the truth. She suddenly felt embarrassed to admit that she was on a blind date in front of Qi Chengyan.

However, just as she finished speaking, she heard Hua Hongxi's voice coming from behind.

"Brother Chengyan! You're here too!" Guan Zhiyi turned her head to see Hua Hongxi approaching with a surprised expression. "Why are you all standing here? Zhiyi, do you know my cousin as well?"

Cousin...?

Such a coincidence?

The corners of Guan Zhiyi's mouth twitched slightly, "I know."

"That's right, brother. You have a good relationship with her family, right?" Hua Hongxi reached out and placed his hand on Qi Chengyan's shoulder. "Then there's no need for me to introduce her. Brother, this is my blind date partner."

"What?"

"What?"

Qi Chengyan and Guan Yuanbai turn to look at Hua Hongxi at the same time.

Unaware of the tension in the air, Hua Hongxi spoke up, "Yes, didn't I mention it the other day? My mother told me to go on a blind date."

Guan Yuanbai took a deep breath, his voice sounding a bit heavy as he said, "Xiaowu."

Guan Zhiyi noticed Guan Yuanbai's gaze and felt a bit embarrassed. She blinked and whispered, "Why are you looking at me like that? It was arranged by dad."

"Dad?"

"Yes, you can ask him yourself if you don't believe me."

Guan Yuanbai frowned, he knew that his father had always intended to arrange a suitable match for Guan Zhiyi so that someone could take care of her, but he hadn't expected it to happen so soon. 

Guan Yuanbai glanced at Hua Hongxi.

Although he had never met him before, he had heard about him from Qi Chengyan. Hua Hongxi, the only son of the Hua family, came from a good background, but Guan Yuanbai knew nothing about his character.

"Are you Guan Yuanbai?" Hua Hongxi remembered that his family wanted him to get closer with the Guan family, so he quickly extended his hand and said, "Hello, Brother Yuanbai! I've heard a lot about you."

Guan Yuanbai was unhappy, but he still gave Hua Hongxi some face and shook his hand. "Yeah."

"Xiaowu has reached the age for blind dates," Qi Chengyan said melancholy.

Guan Zhiyi felt embarrassed, "I have not ...It's just that my dad is more anxious."

"I'm not at the age for blind dates either," Hua Hongxi chimed in. "Brother, you're a few years older than me and you're still not married. Why is it my turn now?"

Qi Chengyan looked at him with a slightly serious expression, "Isn't it because my uncle thinks you don't have a good reputation?"

"I am very serious, alright......"

"Well, then, have you both finished eating?"

Worried that Hua Hongxi would said that he hadn't eaten, Guan Zhiyi quickly replied, "We're done!"

Hua Hongxi "Well, I guess I've eaten. I'm planning to head home. Oh, by the way, did you drive here? Can you give me a ride?"

"You didn't drive by yourself?" Qi Chengyan looked at Guan Zhiyi after he finished speaking. It was obvious that Hua Hongxi had no intention of sending Guan Zhiyi home after dinner.

Hua Hongxi, however, didn't get the hint. "I made plans to hang out with a friend and asked him to pick me up, but he stood me up."

Qi Chengyan: "What about Xiaowu?"

Guan Zhiyi: "Me? I'll go back by myself."

"Not driving?"

"What car can she drive? She panics the moment she gets on the road." Guan Yuanbai said.

Qi Chengyan smiled a little."Alright then, take my car. I'll give you a ride home."

Guan Zhiyi looked at her brother.

Qi Chengyan raised his eyebrows slightly, then reached out to tap her forehead,"Your brother has something to do later. What's wrong? Can't I give you a ride?"

It was a familiar gesture, just like when she was young.

Guan Zhiyi touched her forehead, and for a moment, she felt a sense of familiarity coming back.

"Of course you can." She said, slightly dazed.

"Then let's go."

"En."

Guan Yuanbai did have a social function to attend afterwards and left with his own car. 

Hua Hongxi and Guan Zhiyi followed Qi Chengyan to his car. Just as Hua Hongxi was about to get into the passenger seat and open the door, Qi Chengyan pulled him away.

"Sit in the back."

Hua Hongxi wanted to complain, but when he saw the little girl following Qi Chengyan, his gentlemanly manner resurfaced, "Yes, yes, ladies first. Zhiyi, you sit."

Guan Zhiyi thanked him and got into the passenger seat.

"Where do you live?" Qi Chengyan asked after the car was on the road.

Guan Zhiyi said the address, and then saw Qi Chengyan enter it into the navigation system.

After being away for so many years, does he find this city unfamiliar? 

The car's interior was illuminated by a cool and gentle light, signifying Qi Chengyan's sharp and beautiful side profile. She felt like he would definitely find it strange how much the city had transformed over the past seven or eight years, with its towering buildings and countless roads, it has long since changed from its past appearance. 

"What are you looking at?" Suddenly, Qi Chengyan glanced at her and asked with a faint smile.

Guan Zhiyi quickly averted her gaze. "Nothing, I just feel a little weird."

"Hmm?"

"I didn't expect you to return, brother. I thought you'd never come back."

Qi Chengyan gripped the steering wheel and looked ahead, "I believe there is more potential for development in China in recent years."

"So are you planning to stay in China from now on?"

"Yeah."

There was no denying that Guan Zhiyi felt a sense of joy upon hearing this. After all, Qi Chengyan had been a cherished and close person to her during her youth. Even Guan Yuanbai couldn't compare to him in her heart back then.

"I heard your brother say that you've been pursuing acting these past years."

Guan Zhiyi: "Um."

"Your father and brother don't approve of you being an actor, do they?"

"Yes, they don't." Guan Zhiyi was a little unhappy about this. "And I didn't force them either. I just liked it myself."

Qi Chengyan seemed to laugh again, "As stubborn as when you were young, I see."

"No, I really love it. My father and brother may not support me, but it doesn't matter. I don't need their support. I can take care of myself."

"How ambitious."

Qi Chengyan looked indifferent as he spoke. At first glance, it might seem like he didn't care, but Guan Zhiyi knew that he had always spoken like that, he wasn't cold, at least when she was a child, she remembered him as particularly kind and gentle.

"But being alone in that industry must not be easy, right?"

Guan Zhiyi was taken aback, "Ah?"

"I think your father and brother are doing it on purpose, hoping that you would give up after knowing the difficulty."

Guan Zhiyi didn't expect Qi Chengyan to see through it right away, "I don't want to give up from difficulty, I want to move forward courageously."

"Zhiyi, you have a great attitude. I'm exactly the same. I don't like to give up from difficulty." said Hua Hongxi from the back seat while leaning his head. "Besides, you're so cute and beautiful. Popularity is just a matter of time."

Qi Chengyan glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "Stay put."

Hua Hongxi blinked and said 'oh', then obediently sat back.

Thirty minutes later, they reached Guan Zhiyi's neighborhood. Qi Chengyan parked the car on the side of the road, then Guan Zhiyi opened the door.

"Pay attention to safety." Qi Chengyan said.

Guan Zhiyi leaned in and waved at him, "Got it. Goodbye, brother."

Qi Chengyan nodded.

Hua Hongxi rolled down the window, "Zhiyi, bye~"

Guan Zhiyi shifted her gaze from Qi Chengyan to Hua Hongxi. "Goodbye."

"Let's stay in touch on WeChat. We should meet up for dinner or movie next time."

Guan Zhiyi forced a dry laugh, ".....sure."

With that, she turned around and walked towards the neighborhood.

Only after her figure had completely disappeared did Qi Chengyan start the car again. By then, Hua Hongxi had already moved from the back seat to the passenger side.

"Eh, brother, I remember Grandpa mentioned that you were interested in getting involved with the domestic entertainment industry. Do you have any plan after coming back this time?"

"Why so many questions? Are you interested too?"

"No, you do you, I'm busy." Hua Hongxi replied,"What I mean is, if you have any good resources in the future, could you help Zhiyi? If I treat her well, I might be able to get closer to the Guan family."

"Do you really think her family would appreciate you helping Xiaowu?"

"I'm not expecting appreciation. I just want to show my support."

Qi Chengyan: "Don't waste your time on these pointless tasks. Her family is trying to pull her out, and yet you want to push her in."

Qi Chengyan knew how unhappy Guan Yuanbai and his father were about Guan Zhiyi being in the industry. And he himself also believed that Guan Zhiyi would not persist for long. This little girl grew up spoiled, without the support of her father and brother, how much real hardship could she endure? 

She was only being so determined now because she's still young.

Qi Chengyan tightly held onto the steering wheel and suddenly asked, "Do you really like Xiaowu?"

"Why do you all call her Xiaowu? Is that her nickname? It's quite interesting." Hua Hongxi laughed, "I can't say how much I like her after only one meeting, but this girl is very smart."

"If you don't like her, don't fool around."

"I'm not fooling around. We'll just go on dates then..."

Before he could finish the sentence, Qi Chengyan shot him a cold glare. Hua Hongxi was taken aback and spoke in a hushed voice, "This, this is the process of falling in love."

Qi Chengyan withdrew his gaze, "I watched Xiaowu grow up. Just wait and see how I'll deal with you if you fool around."

"I know, I know." Hua Hongxi buckled his seatbelt unhappily and muttered, "Why are you favoring her? I'm clearly your own brother..."