Wang Ning’an was a capable man, but he had not joined his current large company immediately after graduating from university.
Papa Wang had once mentioned that during the first few years after graduation, his eldest son had actually wanted to start his own business. At the time, he founded a pharmaceutical company with only two people in it, the other being a friend who had shared his dorm room for all four years of university. Because they were short on capital, however, and because a large company happened to take an interest in acquiring them, the venture eventually came to nothing.
Given Eldest Brother’s strong-willed personality, he would never have willingly watched the company he founded with his own hands get bought out by someone else. In the end, he shut the little company down.
Despite that setback, Eldest Brother truly was capable. He had only been with his current large company for around a year and a half, yet he was already a vice president. Because of his outstanding performance, the company had given him an apartment half a year ago, the very one he lived in now.
The apartment was in an upscale residential complex downtown, not far from Eldest Brother’s company.
The taxi ride took Wang Cheng less than fifteen minutes. Taxis were not allowed inside the complex, however, so the driver could only drop him off outside the entrance.
Before leaving work, Wang Cheng had called his brother from the office phone. Unfortunately, Wang Ning’an had been about to enter an emergency meeting and could not come pick him up. Since he had no idea when the meeting would end, he told Wang Cheng to go over by himself and even explained where the spare apartment key was hidden. Clever as Wang Ning’an was, however, he had overlooked one detail: his younger brother was rather careless about his appearance. As a result, the security guard stopped Wang Cheng at the entrance, suspecting him of being up to no good.
Wang Cheng’s luggage consisted of a single simple suitcase containing only a few changes of clothes. Since moving back home, he had hardly bought any new clothes. His family had not noticed, mostly because they were used to seeing him that way. Mama Wang had also been busy from morning to night and had completely forgotten that her second son would be working in the city, where dressing the way he normally did simply would not do.
“Brother Security Guard, I’m not a bad person. I’m here to see my eldest brother. He lives here. You can check if you don’t believe me. My brother’s name is Wang Ning’an. He lives in Apartment 202 on the eighteenth floor of Building B.” Wang Cheng patiently explained himself to the guard detaining him, but no matter what he said, the man seemed unwilling to believe him.
“Even if what you’re saying is true, what thief wouldn’t investigate the resident beforehand?” The guard wore an expression that plainly said, You think I’m stupid? I’m not falling for that. He was certainly stubborn.
“Have you ever seen a thief walk up this openly? If I really were a thief, why would I come straight to you?”
“No, but I have seen thieves as scruffy as you.”
Wang Cheng nearly choked on his anger, but he still tried to reason with the man. He did not want his brother to finish the meeting and come back only to find him still stuck outside.
“Brother Security Guard, look at my face. Don’t I look upright and handsome? How could someone as decent-looking and handsome as me possibly be a thief? Just let me in.”
“So what if you’re handsome? Who says handsome men can’t be thieves? Looking the way you do, maybe sneaking around stealing things is exactly your line of work. If you insist you aren’t one, show me proof. Otherwise, I absolutely cannot let you in. This is my responsibility, so please don’t make things difficult for me, or I’ll have to call the police.” The guard felt he had never met anyone this shameless before. Handsome or not, he was still being kept outside.
Wang Cheng felt stifled with indignation. This guy was obviously just jealous that he was handsome.
Just then, a black sports car approached the entrance. The guard immediately abandoned Wang Cheng and hurried over, bending at the waist with a fawning expression completely unlike the one he had worn moments before. The difference in treatment could not have been clearer. So clothes really did make the man, and gold made the Buddha shine. Wang Cheng had just received a vivid lesson in that truth.
Still fuming, he followed the guard outside. At that exact moment, the sports car window slid down. Chu Yifeng’s familiar face appeared like the warm radiance of an angel, instantly illuminating Wang Cheng’s “darkened” heart. He nearly wept with joy.
“Wang Cheng?”
Wang Cheng was still delighted when Chu Yifeng called his name. Clearly, Chu Yifeng had spotted him too. He looked surprised to see Wang Cheng there at first, then seemed to realize that his brother might also live in the complex.
“Boss, I’m so glad to see you.” Wang Cheng hurried over. “Boss, can you take me inside? The security guard here is completely unreasonable. I told him my brother lives here, but he refused to believe me and even said I look like a thief. I’m obviously a model young man, well-rounded in morals, intellect, fitness, aesthetics, and practical skills. How could I possibly be a thief? His eyes must be completely crusted over. The kind that haven’t been washed in years.”
Chu Yifeng looked him up and down. No wonder the guard had mistaken him for a thief. Still, Wang Cheng was even more thick-skinned than he had imagined. “Get in.”
Wang Cheng turned toward the security guard, who was already staring in stunned silence, and gave him a smug look. “See? I told you I wasn’t a thief. Remember to wash your eyes more often.”
The car sped away a moment later.