She’s a Passerby, But Can See the Protagonist’s Halo

Yan had never imagined the situation would become so awkward.

Rewinding to an hour ago, after she and Zhu Jue arrived at the car exhibition, they were immediately whisked away by the Bin City general manager of the Jidao brand, thanks to the contact information provided by Tan Dabao.

The manager kept addressing them as "Chairman Yan" and "Chairman Zhu," making Yan grip Zhu Jue's hand so tightly that red marks were left.

Such titles were utterly mortifying!

Yan said to Manager Li, "You can just call us Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhu."

But Manager Li was quite old-fashioned and insisted, "Both Chairman Tan have already instructed us. You two are the founders and designers of Jidao. Although I’m a bit older, this is a professional setting, and we must follow company protocol."

"I’ve long heard that Chairman Yan and Chairman Zhu are both talented and incredibly humble. Seeing you today, the rumors are indeed true!"

"I used to work at the Ning City R&D center, but I never had the chance to meet you two. Finally meeting the other two founders of Jidao today is truly exciting!"

Manager Li's flattery left Yan with a stiff but polite smile.

Damn it, the truth was she had never even set foot in Jidao’s Ning City R&D center. This was her first time visiting the Jidao brand.

Since when had she and Zhu Jue become company founders? What on earth had Tan Dabao and Tan Xiaobao done behind her back this time?

Yan was internally crumbling as she listened to Manager Li’s endless praise.

Finally, when Manager Li shifted his attention to the new car test drive, Yan and Zhu Jue were shown the location, route, and arrangements for the test drive.

Seizing a moment when Manager Li paused to drink water, Yan quickly messaged Tan Dabao in a frenzy.

**[Yan]**: Dabao, explain yourself. When did I and your brother become company directors? Founders? Designers?

**[Tan Dabao]**: Sis, even though you and my brother haven’t been around much these years, you haven’t forgotten that Jidao was something the four of us worked on together, right? Xiaobao and I own half, and you and my brother own the other half.

**[Yan]**: ?

**[Yan]**: I haven’t forgotten, but that was just a game we played in middle school! A game is a game—it doesn’t mean you had to give us half the company!

**[Tan Dabao]**: The concept behind Jidao’s founding, the initial design sketches, all came from the game we developed together six years ago. It’s just that it went from fantasy to reality. None of Jidao’s current models have strayed from the core designs you two came up with. What’s wrong with you being the founders and chief designers?

**[Yan]**: Are you telling me the design sketches you’re referring to are the stick-figure cars I doodled, with a few wheels and wings added? And Zhu Jue’s car with fins?

**[Tan Dabao]**: Exactly. The simplicity doesn’t matter. A true designer can capture the core concept with just a few strokes. Your stick-figure designs are full of essence.

**[Tan Dabao]**: Plus, when I said I wanted to build a car and raised funds, you and my brother contributed half of the initial investment.

**[Yan]**: But if I remember correctly, Zhu Jue and I each only gave you 100 yuan to help you buy toy cars to dismantle, right?

**[Tan Dabao]**: Right. With a total of 400 yuan, I bought a lot of toy parts to assemble and disassemble, which eventually led to Jidao’s first prototype. That’s all thanks to you.

Reading these messages, Yan’s hands trembled as she recalled something else.

She remembered that when they were playing that dream-building game, they had tried to make it as realistic as possible, even drafting some kind of agreement. After she and Zhu Jue each gave Tan Dabao 100 yuan, about half a year later, Dabao had them sign some supplementary agreement. Since it was all just make-believe, their parents had also signed off on it.

At the time, Yan and Zhu Jue hadn’t taken it seriously, and over the years, they had completely forgotten about it.

**[Yan]**: So, the company was already established back then? And the shares were transferred to my mom, Zhu Jue’s mom, and Auntie Tan?

**[Tan Dabao]**: Yes, sis.

Yan painfully remembered that after their college entrance exams, she and Zhu Jue had been surrounded by their families and made to sign a pile of documents, including property transfers. The day before, they had been dragged out by Xu Jiaojiao and others, and a series of dramatic events had unfolded. By the time they got home, they were utterly exhausted and just signed everything before passing out.

Now, thinking back, it was likely that the share transfer agreement had been among those documents!

**[Tan Dabao]**: Sis, so there’s absolutely no issue with you two owning half the company.

┐(￣ヘ￣)┌

Yan’s face went blank, her mind in turmoil.

Two words: ridiculous!

Arguing with this genius was a losing battle, so Yan chose to stay silent. She then messaged Tan Xiaobao, only to receive the same explanation.

Yan sighed in resignation. Fine, Chairman Yan it is. As far as she knew, Jidao was still in heavy R&D mode, with Tan Dabao funding the car company through his other ventures. The brand was constantly upgrading, with limited production and low visibility compared to foreign luxury car brands. It was a niche market, and the company was likely operating at a loss, so there wouldn’t be any dividends.

In any case, if the company ever turned a profit, she’d find a way to return the shares. If it kept losing money, it didn’t matter.

If they hadn’t decided to visit today, who knows how long it would have taken for them to find out about this.

After chatting with Manager Li in the VIP lounge for a while, Yan and Zhu Jue noticed him suddenly touch his earpiece, as if something major had happened.

"Today is truly a great day," Manager Li said with a beaming smile.

"Not only have you two arrived, but the owner who pre-ordered the Jidao Tyrant at this exhibition has also arrived at the showroom."

Hearing this, Yan and Zhu Jue immediately stood up. If they didn’t leave now, when would they?

They politely thanked Manager Li and assured him they wouldn’t disturb his meeting with the car owner. After a few more pleasantries, Manager Li handed them some materials and escorted them out of the VIP lounge.

Thus, the timeline returns to the present.

Chu Bingbing greeted them with a look of surprise. "Yan, you’re here too?"

Manager Li was equally delighted. "So, you’re the owner of the Jidao Tyrant? And you’re acquainted with Chairman Yan?"

Yan closed her eyes, her heart sinking.

Was the social circle in Bin City really this small? Just kill her now!

She had no choice but to play along.

Taking a deep breath, she nodded calmly. "You’re here to pick up your car? Manager Li, you can take over. We won’t disturb you."

But Chu Bingbing seemed eager. "Are you heading back to school or going out? I’m planning to drive off right away. If you’re not in a hurry, why not come with me? I’m going to check out a property."

Yan initially wanted to refuse, but then she thought—if she did, she might accidentally run into other roommates.

After all, it was still Sunday, and the others had also left campus.

Compared to that, being around Chu Bingbing felt safer.

After a few seconds of thought, she said, "Sure."

"We’ll wait outside for you. Need some fresh air."

Yan was worried Manager Li might start showering Chu Bingbing with compliments in front of her. Whether Chu Bingbing would feel awkward or not, Yan herself would definitely die of embarrassment.

In the Jidao brand’s super VIP lounge, after consulting Chu Bingbing, only Manager Li remained to assist her.

She took out the relevant documents from her bag and waited for Manager Li to review them one by one.

Bottled Tianquan mineral water and freshly cut fruit were placed on the table.

On the table was also Jidao’s internal promotional booklet. Chu Bingbing picked it up and flipped through it.

Brand introduction, concept cars, corporate culture… She browsed through the descriptions of Jidao’s different models, divided into the T, Y, and Z series.

"The Jidao Y series envisions a sky-dominating vehicle, inspired by Founder Y…"

"The Jidao Z series envisions an amphibious vehicle, inspired by Founder Z…"

Chu Bingbing’s eyelids twitched. She had researched Jidao’s background the day before and knew the public information listed the founders as the Tan siblings—the T series.

She couldn’t help but ask, "Manager Li, are Founders Y and Z Chairman Yan and Chairman Zhu?"

Manager Li looked up with a smile. "Exactly. Normally, information about the two of them is confidential, but since you’re Chairman Yan’s friend, it’s fine for you to know."

"Speaking of which, I've been with Jidao for five years, and this is the first time I've met the two directors."

Directors! Chu Bingbing was somewhat prepared, but she couldn't help feeling a bit startled.

"Oh? You weren't in Bin City before?" she asked.

Manager Li was very patient with major clients, and there was no need to hide his career details. On the contrary, the more honest he was, the easier it was to gain their trust.

"Miss Chu, before being transferred to Bin City, I mainly worked at the R&D center in Ning City," Manager Li said with a hint of genuine humility and pride.

"When it comes to everything about the Jidao Tyrant, I wouldn't dare claim to be the best, but there aren't many in the company who would dare say they're second best," Manager Li chuckled.

"So you were a technical expert before," Chu Bingbing remarked.

At this, Manager Li took on a tone of brand pride: "At Jidao, anyone who rises to management must have solid technical skills. Not understanding technology is a no-go—that's a rule set by the board of directors."

As ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‍they chatted with Manager Li, the paperwork was soon completed.

Chu Bingbing didn't receive a car key because, well, this car didn’t have one.

"The Jidao Tyrant uses the latest holographic owner scanning system, automatically verifying your fingerprint, iris, bone structure, and life monitoring with automatic alerts," Manager Li explained.

Chu Bingbing mentally translated this: if the owner is deceased, the car can't be hijacked by someone else, and if there are anomalies in fingerprint, iris, or life signs, the car won’t unlock.

This was the first time she had heard of such technology, though she had come across similar stories online—like a girlfriend being killed, and the criminal boyfriend using her fingerprint to unlock her phone, only to be caught by backend monitoring systems.

After registering all her owner information and familiarizing herself with the car's basic functions, Chu Bingbing took delivery of the car.

The Jidao Tyrant was a luxurious five-seater with sofa-like seats. The doors opened in opposite directions, making it incredibly convenient to get in and out.

With its wide body and rugged exterior, driving this car would undoubtedly make her the most eye-catching presence on the road.

Manager Li personally, wearing white gloves, installed the license plate Chu Bingbing had brought: "Bin BB8888." A local Bin City plate, it was immediately clear that the numbers were meant to signify "Bingbing, prosper, prosper, prosper!" Chu Bingbing was quite pleased with it.

The car's interior featured a mesmerizing starry sky ceiling. The driver's seat automatically adjusted to fit her perfectly, requiring no manual input. Other controls were fully voice-activated, and the car could even drive itself with full assistance. Even someone who didn’t know how to drive could become a perfect owner and hit the road effortlessly.

Yan and Zhu Jue sat cautiously in the back seat, watching as Chu Bingbing became completely absorbed in her new car. Yan quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Great, Chu Bingbing's attention was entirely on the car, and not on her. This was perfect!

The Jidao Tyrant exited the Bin City Convention Center through a special lane, its unique design instantly drawing countless eyes.

The carbon-gray color seemed to cast a mysterious glow over the car under the sunlight.

"Holy crap, what kind of car is that? A doomsday fortress?"

"Is that a space battle car? Is this even legal? Or is it custom-made?"

"Isn’t this supposed to be a concept car from an auto show? How is it on the road? Won’t the traffic cops fine it?"

"Whoa, I just looked it up. That's the king of the auto show—the Jidao Tyrant, a brand worth 19 million. This car costs more than my house. What kind of rich person is this?"

As the Jidao Tyrant hit the road, Yan and Zhu Jue could clearly feel the commanding "above it all" perspective from inside the car.

"Wow," Chu Bingbing whistled. The feeling of driving such a massive car was truly exhilarating.

The top-tier luxury car came with special features, including bulletproof and UV-resistant glass. No matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t see inside from the outside.

But Chu Bingbing didn’t mind. To prevent anyone from sneaking photos and bragging about it later, she rolled down the driver's side window.

Instantly, everyone nearby—whether in front, behind, or at a distance—could see that the person driving was a stunningly beautiful woman with long hair and a flawless profile.

"It's a rich lady! Which family's heiress is out for a drive?"

"Some people are born at the top of the pyramid. That car, that license plate '8888'—what kind of wealthy family is she from...?"

The Jidao Tyrant's self-driving system was incredibly responsive. Chu Bingbing felt like she was holding the steering wheel just for show, as the car automatically navigated, adhering to speed limits and traffic lights on its way to the destination.

She was heading to Lakeside Heights to take possession of her new property, which happened to be in the same district as the convention center. As they drove, even some cars tailed them, snapping photos nonstop.

In the half-hour Chu Bingbing spent driving, she had no idea how many lenses had captured her.

As the car entered Lakeside Heights, the curious onlookers who had followed them continued snapping photos.

Both car doors opened simultaneously. Yan watched as Chu Bingbing stepped out, her presence radiating an intense aura.

It was as if a voiceover was announcing—

"The heiress has arrived, everyone else, step aside!"

She and Zhu Jue quietly got out of the car, one carrying a small bag, the other a backpack, looking every bit like the heiress's entourage.

Since Chu Bingbing had already contacted the property manager in advance, the Jidao Tyrant's license plate information was directly entered into the garage system, allowing them to drive straight into the underground private parking area.

After the three got out of the car, the Lakeside Heights staff, dressed in black suits and white gloves, were already waiting respectfully. Their eyes couldn’t hide their admiration and awe as they looked at the group stepping out of the car.

Even though the residents here were all multimillionaires or billionaires, this young woman who had splurged 200 million on a property was shockingly youthful.

Coupled with the extraordinary luxury car that surpassed the usual standards of wealth, it silently spoke volumes about her personality.

"Miss Chu, we’ve prepared a special property handover ceremony for you. Please, this way."

Chu Bingbing raised an eyebrow. Huh, not bad—this sense of ceremony was quite nice.

The property ownership certificate and other documents had already been transferred. Chu Bingbing had checked the details on her phone earlier. Lakeside Heights was the crown jewel of Bin City's luxury real estate, and her penthouse was on the top floor, offering an unobstructed view of the lake.

However, the handover ceremony here had already taken place for many owners last year. Her unit had been fully renovated by the previous owner.

Since this was a system reward, she wasn’t sure how the previous owner had sold it—perhaps the system had bought it outright.

As they walked further in, Chu Bingbing maintained her composure, but inwardly, she marveled. This was Bin City, after all. The luxury homes in her hometown, Ping City, paled in comparison to the understated opulence here.

One floor, one elevator, one unit—no noisy neighbors to worry about.

The front door was adorned with a red banner with black characters announcing "Congratulations on the Move." A white-gloved butler opened the door, and Chu Bingbing was the first to step inside, with Yan and Zhu Jue following behind to take in the sights.

"This decor is quite nice," Chu Bingbing said as soon as she entered. She was starting to like it.

She had been a bit worried that the renovation might have been done over the original high-end finish, perhaps in the currently popular minimalist marble style, which she really didn’t care for.

But the decor before her eyes was completely different from what she had imagined. The previous owner had clearly put a lot of thought into it.

What she saw was a classic century-old retro style, blending the charm of Bin City and Nanyang from a hundred years ago. The vintage furniture and the layered dark wood floors complemented each other perfectly.

The scattered tropical plants seemed to transport her back to another era.

The 570-square-meter penthouse had a massive terrace with no obstructions. The weather was perfect today, and the view of the lake from the terrace under the blue sky and white clouds was simply breathtaking.

This was exactly the kind of "someone else's house" she would see on social media!

The more Chu Bingbing looked around, the more she noticed the incredible attention to detail. Just then, the property manager brought over a housewarming gift—a set of H-branded aromatherapy tools, clearly tailored to the lifestyle of the residents here.

"Yan, what do you think?" Chu Bingbing excitedly called out, noticing that Yan was speaking with the property manager.

"It's amazing," Yan replied.

Chu Bingbing saw her pointing at several pieces of furniture. "The previous owner seems like a really good person. This gramophone, this piano table, this... they're all nearly a hundred years old. The vinyl records left behind are mostly rare editions."

In the dressing room, there was even a cabinet filled with various vintage perfume bottles and powder boxes from both Eastern and Western cultures.

These were clearly valuable collectibles that hadn’t been taken away. Yan couldn’t help but wonder if the previous owner had encountered some major issue and had to sell the property in a hurry.

Yan and Zhu Jue pointed out some furniture and items they recognized, estimating their values.

“This silverware brand is from a century-old handmade workshop in Gaul. It takes five years to get an order,” Yan said.

“This painting seems to be the work of a deceased artist from a hundred years ago. It’s been quite popular recently, almost impossible to get, though there’s a possibility of collectors inflating its value,” she added.

“And this, it must be the work of an artist from Pizza Country.”

Thanks to her time at a private high school, frequent parties, and school-organized art trips, Yan had developed a keen eye for identifying top-tier brands and antique furniture.

What was said casually by Yan was taken seriously by Chu Bingbing.

Chu Bingbing watched as Yan and her boyfriend stood in the spacious house, casually pointing out the origins and values of the furniture. Their tone wasn’t boastful but rather matter-of-fact, as if it were second nature to them.

Yan spoke effortlessly, as if she didn’t care much about these items, yet she knew them inside out.

This wasn’t the result of cramming or memorizing facts. It felt innate, as if she had been immersed in this world since birth, exuding a natural ease and familiarity.

After hearing Yan explain the century-old history and exorbitant prices of certain pieces, Chu Bingbing instinctively stepped back, afraid she might accidentally damage something.

But Yan was different.

Chu Bingbing observed them. Compared to herself, Yan and her boyfriend seemed completely at ease, as if they were the rightful owners of the house.

No matter how much historical or monetary value these items held, to Yan, they were just furniture.

Whether it was cars or the unimaginably luxurious mansion before them, they remained composed and unflustered.

This was because Yan had seen it all before.

Or perhaps, Yan had grown up in such an environment.

That title, “Director Yan,” wasn’t just a manager but a founder, the founder of Jidao Company.

Chu Bingbing had secretly looked up some information and combined it with what she learned from Manager Li. Jidao Company was established six years ago, and the equity changes had only occurred this year.

She once came across an online discussion about what the lives of real wealthy people were like.

Some mentioned their wealthy classmates who lived in mansions, drove luxury cars, and splurged on high-end brands, becoming VIPs of top luxury brands.

This was the public’s imagination of the wealthy.

But Chu Bingbing knew that this was more characteristic of “new money,” like herself, who had suddenly come into wealth and relied on external brands to project an image of affluence and security.

However, truly wealthy families with generations of low-key development wouldn’t even appear on wealth rankings. They lived in ancestral homes, wore clothes and carried bags without visible logos. To the average person, these items seemed ordinary, but only insiders could recognize the unique fabrics, stitching, and tailoring—custom-made exclusives tailored to their preferences.

Children from such families wouldn’t pursue popular, lucrative majors like computer science or finance. Instead, they followed their passions, growing up surrounded by unimaginable resources, with ample opportunities for trial and error and unwavering support.

Their personalities wouldn’t be overly aggressive or timid, as their upbringing provided them with inner richness.

While their peers were still playing in the mud or going through teenage rebellion, their lives had already progressed far beyond.

Like Yan and her boyfriend, who had founded Jidao Company six years ago, daring to design cars when Chu Bingbing was still a middle schooler pretending to be an adult. Now, six years later, the brand had become a top-tier luxury car manufacturer!

What kind of family could support such an endeavor?

It’s often said that the best way for wealthy heirs to go bankrupt is to start a business. But according to Chu Bingbing’s research, Jidao Company’s investments over the past six years amounted to several nine-digit figures. What kind of family would allow middle schoolers to make such investments? What kind of confidence and resources did they have?

The idea of a “doomsday vehicle” sounded like a fantasy, yet it was fully supported. Yan’s family wealth…

Was it in the billions? No, Chu Bingbing felt she was underestimating it.

She recalled Jidao Company’s introduction, which mentioned that the initial idea was to create a doomsday vehicle. Most parents would dismiss such an idea as absurd, telling their kids to focus on their studies.

But six years ago, Yan and her boyfriend had drawn up plans, started a company, and received parental support and investment. The brand grew, and as adults, they naturally transferred the equity to its rightful owners.

The professionalism and specialized R&D team behind Jidao’s cars were evident. The promotional materials even listed collaborations with national science academies and electronic intelligence research institutes.

Such resources, such influence, and such connections couldn’t be accumulated in just one generation.

This was the legacy of a family with at least five generations of wealth accumulation!

And children from such families were extremely selective when it came to choosing partners. Those outside their circle wouldn’t even be considered. Marriages were often arranged early, keeping everything within the community.

Yan and her boyfriend were the perfect example—childhood sweethearts, both exceptionally talented, and co-directors of the same company. They were the epitome of a family alliance.

Chu Bingbing thought back to yesterday’s auction. She couldn’t even find the location of the so-called Furong Residence Antique Gathering, but Yan had effortlessly solved the problem by asking someone.

A secret auction for billionaires—how could an ordinary person access such information?

The fact that Yan could find out about it proved she was part of that exclusive circle.

At the auction, every item had stirred Chu Bingbing’s emotions.

But Yan and her boyfriend remained calm throughout, even when Chu Bingbing announced the donation of the 360 million yuan scroll.

Their gazes when viewing the items were filled with genuine appreciation and admiration, but without a hint of possessiveness.

Yan was calm, composed, and always wore a smile, treating everyone with just the right amount of warmth.

Chu Bingbing also recalled something else. One day, Gu Jiasui suddenly gave gifts to everyone in the dorm. At the time, Chu Bingbing found it odd but guessed it was to thank Yan. Later, she noticed Yan didn’t wear the bracelet and eventually returned it.

She hadn’t understood much about jade before, but after seeing imperial green jade at the auction, she did some research.

The bracelet Gu Jiasui gave Yan was made of ice jade, worth millions.

Yan had undoubtedly recognized its value immediately and returned it.

Now, Chu Bingbing looked at the dress Yan was wearing. Today’s outfit was different—no cheap, wrinkled fabric. The soft lavender color, which might seem dull on a young person, suited Yan perfectly. The dress hugged her figure without being overly revealing, exuding elegance and grace.

It was understated, free, and effortlessly chic.

“Yan, your dress is beautiful. Where did you buy it?” Chu Bingbing asked.

Yan glanced down. “I didn’t buy it. It was made by Grandma Huang, my neighbor.” She explained that after her college entrance exam results came out, Grandma Huang had made her and Zhu Jue matching outfits for their graduation celebration.

Chu Bingbing was stunned.

Yan didn’t know what Chu Bingbing was thinking. It was normal for girls to ask about clothing links.

“Oh, does she take custom orders?” Chu Bingbing inquired.

Yan thought for a moment. “Grandma Huang is getting older, so she only makes clothes for family now. But her daughter, Auntie Huang Lihua, might take orders. You can look her up.”

Though Auntie Huang’s design fees were high, Chu Bingbing could certainly afford them. Yan didn’t think much of it.

Chu Bingbing searched for “Huang Lihua” and immediately found her online.

Huang Lihua, female, currently a professor at Ning City Fashion University. Her mother, Huang Wanrong, was a world-renowned fashion designer in Xia Country, personally invited by the state to design national attire…

Chu Bingbing’s eyes widened. A world-class fashion designer in Xia Country!

And this was the neighbor Grandma Huang Yan mentioned? A world-class designer who created clothes for the nation’s top officials had made a dress for Yan! Just what was Yan’s true background?

Chu Bingbing: !!!

She was in a daze. If she hadn’t accidentally run into Manager Li from Extreme Path Corporation today, she might have remained in the dark about Yan’s secrets for who knows how long!

Just what kind of family does Yan come from?