Chapter 120: One Good Thing After Another! This Is Something Even a Time Traveler Couldn't Fix!
Beijing, China.
As the youngest and most promising staff member in his department, Xia Xi had been endlessly busy these past few years.
Rarely did he get a chance like tonight—to relax at home, sip a little wine, and watch a football match.
The only reason he made time for it? His father, Xia Anmin, Chairman of Zhongxin Bank.
And the only person worth doing this for? His sister.
Xia Anmin was even busier. At his level, work never ended, and problems never stopped.
But a week ago, he had already asked his secretary to clear his entire schedule for tonight—no meetings, no dinners, no social obligations.
All so he could sit at home, have a drink with his son, and watch the match.
Because of Xia Qing, and because of the club's name, they both supported Bayswater China.
"This team plays some really good football!"
After seeing Bayswater China score back-to-back goals, Xia Anmin nodded with a tone of expert authority.
Xia Xi grumbled inwardly: Right, sure, football expert.
But on the surface, he kept popping peanuts into his mouth, nodding obediently.
Yes yes yes, Chairman Xia is always right.
"I heard my sister is one of the club's core executives. She handles salary structures and budgets, right? The team's CFO."
"Of course she's a core executive. Without her approval, no policy, no project, nothing gets done."
When the camera panned to Yang Cheng on the sidelines, Xia Anmin let out a thoughtful "tsk-tsk."
"You think this young man was just as capable back when he was still in China?"
"No idea. I heard he was very low-key."
"Probably because the domestic football environment is hopeless," Xia Anmin said casually. At home, he didn't have to be so diplomatic.
"If he were still in China, he probably wouldn't be allowed to do anything—he doesn't even have a coaching license," Xia Xi laughed.
Xia Anmin nodded, smiling. "Talented young man, though. Not bad at all."
As the match drew to a close and the stadium atmosphere turned electric, both father and son shared a sense of joy.
"Come on, Xia Xi, this calls for a drink."
"Cheers, Dad."
It was rare for the two to even sit down for dinner, let alone watch a football match together.
Every time Xia Xi returned home, his wife Cao Wenhui would somehow manage to invite a female student over, trying to matchmake, which gave Xia Xi such a complex that he'd moved out.
Moments like this—drinks, football, father-son bonding—were becoming increasingly rare.
And given their status, going out in public wasn't really an option.
So home was better. Safer.
But then, something on the TV ruined the mood.
Just as the broadcast was about to end, the camera suddenly cut to the VIP stands.
To their shock, Yang Cheng was seen holding a Premier League trophy overflowing with roses, walking straight up to Xia Qing and handing it to her.
Down on the field below, a massive heart-shaped arrangement of roses was visible.
And the most shocking part?
Xia Qing took it. She looked deeply moved. And then… she hugged him.
"What the hell is going on?"
Xia Anmin jumped to his feet, pointing at the screen.
Xia Xi was stunned. "I… I don't know!"
"You don't know? What's the relationship between your sister and him?"
"Uh… college classmates."
"Classmates?"
"Not exactly. He's three years younger than her, maybe two or three years apart."
"So they were dating in college?"
"No! I really don't know!"
"Bullshit! Last year, you were pulling strings and asking favors for them all over the place—people were even coming to me about it. And you're telling me you didn't know?"
Xia Xi was at a loss.
He really didn't know anything.
But now it was like mud on white pants—you can't explain it away.
"Dad, please calm down. Don't act on impulse. Let me think this through."
They'd both had a bit to drink, and neither was thinking clearly.
But this? This was serious.
Xia Qing was the family's precious daughter, the one they'd always protected—now she was in a relationship?
And they had no clue?
Unacceptable.
"Forget it. Call her. Tell her to come home immediately. I'll ask her myself."
Xia Anmin was furious.
He usually gave her plenty of freedom—but not on this kind of thing.
"Dad, calm down. Let me think first."
They weren't the kind of family that ruled with an iron fist, and Xia Xi wasn't afraid to push back.
Besides, if his dad had the guts, he could make the call himself.
Let's see if she listens to him.
But Xia Anmin didn't move. He sat back down.
"Listen, Dad. I've thought it over. I think they just started seeing each other."
"Just started?"
"Yes. I know Xia Qing. I'm sure of it. You know what she's like."
That made Xia Anmin pause.
"In high school, how many guys chased her to our front door? Rich, handsome, smart—you name it. Did she ever show interest in any of them?"
Xia Anmin nodded.
She had always been grounded. Never gave them trouble.
"And just a few days ago, I talked to her on the phone. Jokingly brought up how Mom wants to introduce her to someone. She didn't sound interested, but she didn't say anything about being in a relationship either."
"My guess is—they haven't even made it official yet."
"And did you see that scene just now? It looked more like a confession, not a proposal."
That seemed to calm Xia Anmin a bit.
Thank god—his little girl hadn't been snatched away just yet.
But the thought of her dating?
Still made him uneasy.
Not because of Yang Cheng—but because he was a dad. That's just how dads are.
"Dad, honestly? If they are together, I think it's a good thing."
"What do you mean 'good'?" Xia Anmin snapped.
"I mean, I did some digging. Yang Cheng's a good guy. Capable, smart—you even praised him earlier."
"That was before I knew!"
"Come on, Dad, don't be unreasonable."
"How do you even know he's a good guy?"
"Easy. Think about it. With how obsessed the British tabloids are, if he was the type to fool around, don't you think it would've made the news by now?"
"The club's CEO is a known playboy. He's had tons of scandals. But Yang Cheng? Not one. Not even a rumor. That says something."
Xia Anmin had to admit…
That was a solid point.
And suddenly, he felt much better.
"And I've looked into his family too. They run a private business—started in footwear and apparel. Now they're expanding into real estate. Very successful. In fact, they're becoming one of the top domestic brands."
"I know."
Xia Anmin had done his own research too.
Their bank had worked with Yang's family business. He was familiar with their rise.
Originally, it was just because Xia Qing was working at the club.
But now, it was potentially becoming family.
Not the same thing.
Truthfully, Xia Anmin wasn't a rigid, authoritarian father.
He was just caught off guard. Shocked.
But after hearing Xia Xi's reasoning, he calmed down.
He had always felt guilty about Xia Qing.
Her birth had been an accident—a decision made by her parents.
When she was still in elementary school, a nosy relative mentioned this to her, and it left a deep scar.
She had always believed she had held her parents back, that she was a burden.
Xia Anmin and Cao Wenhui knew about it. But what could they do?
All they could do was love her even more.
Sometimes, children who are too mature, too well-behaved…
Carry more pain than anyone realizes.
After a few glasses of red wine and the emotional roller coaster earlier, Xia Anmin, who was normally calm and composed in front of others, couldn't help but feel his eyes water and his nose sting.
"Dad," Xia Xi said gently, fully understanding how his parents felt.
"Tomorrow, give your sister a call. Ask her to come home. Let us meet the young man," Xia Anmin sighed.
Somehow, his daughter was already 30.
His son, meanwhile, had been focused solely on his career these past few years and still hadn't found a girlfriend.
It was really frustrating.
…
"Hello? Mom? What's up?"
Outside the home dressing room at Wembley Stadium, Yang Cheng picked up a long-distance call from home.
"Two things," said Li Hongying, his mother, her voice cheerful.
"Go on."
"Your dad wants to know—when are you bringing her home for us to meet?"
Yang Cheng couldn't help but laugh.
Apparently, his parents had been watching the live broadcast.
What a mess.
"You've met her already, haven't you?"
"That's different. That was back then. Now it's official—of course we need a proper meeting."
"Okay, I'll ask her."
"And second thing… when are you getting married?"
"Not yet. We just started dating."
"You're about to turn 28. Back in our hometown, kids your age already have kids in middle school."
"Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?"
"No! It's true!"
"Let's talk about this later."
"You better not mess this up. Xia Qing is a great girl. If you let her down, I'll come after you myself!"
That voice came from Yang Jianguo, his dad, shouting in the background.
"Okay, okay, I hear you."
"One last thing," his dad quickly added before he could hang up.
"Yeah?"
"Your mom and I are very happy with Xia Qing."
Yang Cheng hung up the phone with a smile.
He'd always believed that when it came to love, he'd make his own decisions.
But getting his parents' blessing? That felt pretty good.
Just thinking about Xia Qing made his heart warm.
He had assumed, after living three lives and being such a playboy in his past one, that he wouldn't fall for anyone again.
And yet…
He'd fallen head over heels for Xia Qing.
Guess men really are creatures driven by testosterone.
Still, maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.
…
Bayswater China's early title win triggered an earthquake across the football world.
In recent years, the Premier League's power structure had started to shift.
Chelsea's billionaire ownership broke the United-Arsenal duopoly.
But now, a team that had only just been promoted two seasons ago had gone toe-to-toe with Manchester United—and beaten them to the title.
Fans around the world were in awe.
Bayswater China's rise was nothing short of legendary.
But what really shocked people was what happened next.
In the final match of the season, with the title already secured, Bayswater China sent a squad of youngsters to the north to face Blackburn.
The result? A thrilling 3–3 draw.
Lewandowski, Gareth Bale, and Di María all scored.
Fun fact: last season's final game was also a 3–3 draw, away at Arsenal.
So with the season complete:
Bayswater China, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool finished top 4 and qualified for the Champions League.Arsenal, Spurs, Everton, and Bolton followed in 5th to 8th.
But that wasn't the biggest surprise.
A week later, it was time for the FA Cup Final:
Manchester United vs. Chelsea, at Wembley.
Final score?
United lost 0–1.
Everyone was stunned.
The same media that once cheered them on as treble-winners-to-be now had to face a hard truth:
Manchester United finished the season with nothing.
Ferguson was under immense pressure.
In his post-match press conference, he admitted that if United wanted to compete for the title again, they'd need to invest heavily.
Especially in midfield and attack.
Reports suggested that in addition to Ashley Young, Ferguson also had his eye on Džeko.
Berbatov, from Spurs, was another target.
Other names included Nani from Sporting Lisbon and Anderson from Porto—young talents being monitored closely.
In other words, Manchester United were about to go on a summer spending spree.
Chelsea were already ahead of them.
French media reported they had made a bid for Lyon winger Malouda.
Ashley Young was also reportedly on Chelsea's radar.
Meanwhile, Mourinho had lost trust in Robben, and Real Madrid were circling.
With Bayswater China shaking up the balance, United and Chelsea were forced to act.
Meanwhile, the newly promoted clubs from the Championship were confirmed.
Sunderland, nicknamed the Black Cats, returned to the Premier League again.This time, they were determined to spend and stay up.Last time, they came up alongside Bayswater China, refused to spend, and promptly went back down.The other two promoted sides: Birmingham and Derby County.Yang Cheng's former club, Reading, lost in the playoff final to Derby.Southampton, another traditional powerhouse, also fell to Derby in the playoffs.
…
Bayswater China would have a quiet summer transfer window.
Yang Cheng stuck to his philosophy of small adjustments.
Several key midfielders had already agreed to stay, including:
Yaya TouréLass DiarraMatuidiModrić
All were keen to renew their contracts.
Next step? Negotiations.
Yang Cheng's transfer policy was cautious. Team stability came first.
If he couldn't bring in someone better, no one was leaving.
That midfield unit had been their most potent weapon in the league and Europe.
In attack, Ashley Young might be sold.
Yang Cheng had already promised him a move and authorized his agent, Jonathan Barnett, to explore offers.
Now it was a matter of who would pay the most.
Nine goals, sixteen assists, homegrown talent—what's he worth?
Any interested club better be ready to cough up some serious cash.
As for Spurs, Everton, or any mid-tier clubs?
Forget it. Out of their league.
The rest of the squad was in decent shape—except for one conundrum:
Danny Coyne.
The former Welsh international had joined in 2004 and helped them fight through the Championship. Now, after three years, he was 34 and wanted to leave.
He had an offer from Tranmere Rovers in League One.
Yang Cheng couldn't understand it.
Sure, he was a backup now—but he still got to play in cup matches.
And he had trophies! Lots of them!
If he were leaving for the Premier League or the Championship to be a starter, that would be understandable. But to League One?
And it's not like Tranmere was a club that could offer a big payday.
Yang Cheng really couldn't understand what Danny Coyne was thinking.
But the man had made it clear—he wouldn't be renewing his contract. He wanted to leave.
So what could Yang Cheng say?
Beg him to stay?
Still, this posed a real problem: once Coyne left, the backup goalkeeper position would be tricky.
Neuer was entering the peak of his development—getting better and more dominant by the day. He was practically Germany's next No. 1.
Anyone who joined Bayswater China now would be joining as a backup.
And that was the issue.
The club was now a Champions League-caliber team. If Neuer got injured, they'd need a quality replacement.
But if Neuer stayed healthy, that same keeper would have to ride the bench without complaint.
Awkward, right?
The first name that came to mind? Jerzy Dudek at Liverpool.
He'd fallen out with Benítez and had been frozen out ever since Pepe Reina arrived.
Dudek was experienced, still had market value, but… his salary wasn't cheap.
Bringing him in would probably cause Neuer to riot.
Why? Because he'd be the undisputed No. 1, but making the same or less than the backup?
Unacceptable.
Another option Yang Cheng considered was Tim Howard, United's backup.
Funny enough, this was partially his own fault.
In his previous life, Tim Howard had gone to Everton.
But now that Joe Hart was at Everton, there was no place for Tim.
Still, that deal was a no-go.
Howard was leaving United on a free transfer for two reasons:
He wanted a starting job and a big paycheck.
Bayswater China could offer neither.
After circling around, Yang Cheng realized something truly depressing:
He couldn't find a backup keeper.
Work permits, transfer fees, salary expectations, guaranteed minutes…
Finding someone who checked every box?
Impossible.
Yang Cheng felt for his fellow transmigrators.
Seriously—how could a full-on time traveler not even sort out a backup keeper? What a joke.
In the end, he threw the problem at Mike Rigg, the club's Chief Talent Officer.
That's your job, buddy.
After the league ended, Rigg came back with two names.
One: Asmir Begović, a Bosnian keeper from Portsmouth's youth academy.
He was turning 20, held Bosnian, Canadian, and British nationality, and had been in England since 16—meaning he qualified as a homegrown player.
In recent years, he'd been loaned out constantly—but only as a backup. He hadn't gotten any real playing time.
His market value? £100,000.
Basically, he hadn't made any name for himself and was bouncing between lower-tier clubs.
Rigg said, "A player like this wouldn't say no to us, even to be a backup."
He was young, cheap, and had room to grow.
The only hiccup? Portsmouth believed he had potential and might not sell for market value.
Yang Cheng hadn't paid much attention to him—but once the name came up, he remembered.
Later, Begović would join Chelsea.
If Chelsea had signed him, he couldn't be that bad.
The other option? Carlo Nash from Preston North End in the Championship.
Born in 1973, same age as Coyne—33 years old.
He'd been Preston's starter and was even loaned to Wigan in January as a backup, though he never played.
Now, Wigan and Preston were negotiating a permanent deal.
"Preston want £300,000, but Wigan aren't keen—they're still talking," said Rigg.
Yang Cheng didn't need to think too hard.
"Talk to Portsmouth. If Begović is under £500,000, forget about Nash."
Rigg nodded.
The reason he presented both options was simple:
Begović = future potential, but risk.
Young players might shine—or they might flop.
Nash = reliability, could step in right away, but old.
But to Yang Cheng, it was a no-brainer.
Take Begović.
Even if he cost a bit more than £500k—he was worth it.
Give him a few cup matches, build his profile, and when a club needed a keeper?
Sell high.
£3–5 million minimum.
Easy profit.
…
After sorting out club business, Yang Cheng finally took some time off—and went shopping in Knightsbridge with Xia Qing.
They were official now, openly dating.
Walking arm in arm through London's high streets.
Paparazzi? Let them take pictures.
You want a pose? A kiss? Just say the word.
The British press got a face full of PDA.
How did this turn into a full-blown public romance?
The last time a coach was this open about a relationship?
Never.
The last time someone this high-profile was openly trailed by paparazzi for love?
David Beckham.
Most managers were either old or cheating on their wives—not openly dating, and certainly not looking this happy.
And everyone already knew about Yang Cheng and Xia Qing.
The British tabloids quickly discovered that the two had been shopping for gifts for days.
Luxury handbags, designer cosmetics, belts, pens...
Clearly, something big was coming.
…
Yang Cheng and Xia Qing returned to China in secret.
Xia Xi picked them up from the airport in Beijing.
A black Volkswagen Bora. Perfectly average. Totally low-profile.
Driving carefully, sticking to speed limits.
Yang Cheng's first impression: Xia Xi was steady. Practical. Reliable.
In the front seat, Xia Xi was sneakily glancing at the lovebirds cuddling in the back.
"Hey, sis, tone it down a bit when we get home, yeah?"
"Nope!" Xia Qing replied playfully.
Yang Cheng was stunned.
He'd never seen this side of her before.
In his mind, Miss Xia was always strong, composed, and capable.
"If you're jealous, go get a girlfriend. Mom and Dad should be thanking me," she teased.
Clearly, Xia Xi couldn't win.
Still, watching the two of them being so grossly in love?
Yeah… he was a little jealous.
That kind of pure, obvious affection—you couldn't fake that.
"Yang Cheng, you better keep her in line. She's spoiled rotten by our parents!"
Xia Xi barked from the front seat, half-joking.
Yang Cheng just chuckled. He knew this was a trap.
"She's the one managing me. She tells me when to eat, when to sleep..."
Oops.
Xia Qing pinched his arm hard, face flushing, eyes glaring.
Why would you say that out loud?!
It slipped out…
In the front, Xia Xi nearly choked laughing.
So… they'd already reached that stage?
Poor Dad. He thought his precious daughter was still untouched.
Little did he know… the cabbage had long since been taken.
If he hadn't seen them together in person, Xia Xi probably would've felt awkward—maybe even angry—if he'd just heard the news.
After all, it was his little sister.
But watching them now, so sweet and affectionate, he felt completely at peace.
Yang Cheng really was a great guy.
"I'm telling you," Xia Qing whispered softly, her head resting on Yang Cheng's shoulder in the back seat, "My dad… he's used to being a big shot at work, so at home he can be a little bossy. He likes giving orders, and his tone's not always nice. Just don't take it personally, okay?"
In the driver's seat, Xia Xi was all ears.
Smart little sister—laying the groundwork in advance.
Mental note taken.
"Oh, and my mom's a teacher. She's big on rules and manners. Just be polite and you'll be fine."
"Got it," Yang Cheng replied, mentally bracing himself.
Xia Qing thought he didn't know what he was walking into—but he'd come prepared.
"Yang Cheng," Xia Xi called out from the front seat, "Honestly, our family's not bad. Grandma, Grandpa—on both sides—they're all nice. No need to be nervous."
He could tell Yang Cheng was anxious.
What first-time son-in-law wouldn't be?
One of his friends once got so nervous meeting his girlfriend's parents, he couldn't even bring himself to knock on the door.
…
From the airport to the city, Xia Qing and Xia Xi kept prepping Yang Cheng with little tips and warnings.
But when they actually arrived, the reality was… completely different.
Yang Cheng hadn't expected that the chairman of Zhongxin Bank, Xia Anmin, would live not in a mansion, not in some exclusive gated community—but in a normal residential complex near Qingbei University.
A simple, spacious apartment in a mid-rise building.
When the door opened and he heard Xia Qing and Xia Xi call "Dad," Yang Cheng immediately greeted him with a polite "Uncle."
Xia Anmin beamed. "Ah, little Yang! Come in, come in!"
He clapped him on the shoulder warmly. "You look even better in person than on TV and in the papers. I've watched several of your matches!"
Inside, both sets of grandparents were already waiting—white-haired, retired, and beaming with curiosity.
They didn't live here normally, but with Xia Qing bringing home a boyfriend, this was a major family event.
How could they not show up?
Yang Cheng stuck to one golden rule: sweet-talking is king.
He immediately greeted everyone with smiles, calling out "Grandpa," "Grandma," and so on.
Then he pulled out the gifts Xia Qing had helped prepare in advance.
Instant win.
For Xia Anmin, he'd brought an expensive leather belt and a high-end fountain pen.
The old man knew quality when he saw it—he was delighted.
"Do you drink?" he asked Yang Cheng.
On an occasion like this?
Of course. Drink like a man.
Xia Xi jumped in as the designated hype man.
Three Kingdoms-style drinking match: initiated.
Standing off to the side, Xia Qing watched with a wide grin.
Seeing Yang Cheng get accepted so quickly, seeing him naturally fit in with the family—her worries melted away.
She knew deep down: everything Yang Cheng did, he did for her.
And when the time came for her to meet his parents, she'd do the same.
"Happy, silly girl?" Cao Wenhui came up behind her daughter and wrapped her arms around her.
She could see it all on Xia Qing's face—pure, radiant joy.
Cao Wenhui had grown more and more fond of Yang Cheng.
At first, she'd worried about his personality.
But now?
She realized those worries were completely unnecessary.
Not just her—even her husband, Xia Anmin, and her son, Xia Xi… they all went along with it because of Xia Qing.
That's what family does.
"I still remember you once told me you'd never fall for someone easily. But when you do, it'd be for life."
"So… is this the one? When's the wedding?"
Xia Qing's smile froze.
Oh no. The pressure's on.
Is this a marriage trap?!
…
Yang Cheng stayed in Beijing for a week.
But given the attention around him, he didn't stay at Xia Qing's home—instead, he got a hotel.
Too awkward otherwise.
Still, he ate two meals a day at the Xia household.
Even with his busy schedule, Xia Anmin came home every night for dinner that week.
When there was nothing else to do, he'd sit down with Yang Cheng and chat—about football, business, even his own family's ventures in China.
He and Yang Jianguo, Yang Cheng's father, had crossed paths before at certain events—but only as fellow VIP guests. No personal connection.
During the day, Yang Cheng and Xia Qing went sightseeing.
He even took her to see the apartment his mother had bought for him in Beijing.
Before the couple left to head south again, Xia Anmin personally asked Yang Cheng to arrange a dinner—for the two families to meet.
Yang Cheng agreed on the spot.
Cao Wenhui packed an enormous amount of stuff for them—local delicacies, gifts, everything.
At the airport, their luggage was overweight.
This would be Yang Cheng's first visit to his hometown since traveling through time.
Even he felt a bit out of place.
But his parents came to pick them up in person.
The moment they saw Xia Qing, they couldn't stop praising her—leaving Yang Cheng off to the side, carrying all the luggage like a porter.
His mom had loved Xia Qing from the moment she first saw her in London.
Now that their son had sealed the deal?
She was over the moon.
Especially when she saw the thoughtful gifts Xia Qing had brought—they couldn't stop smiling.
Yang Cheng's family lived in a luxury villa district in the city center.
All their neighbors were local business owners—many of whom already knew Yang Cheng's story.
After Bayswater China won the League Cup and got promoted, domestic media covered it widely.
When they went on to win both the League Cup and the UEFA Cup, the coverage was wall-to-wall.
During the club's Asia tour, Yang Cheng became a household name.
And in their hometown?
He wasn't just famous—he was a civic icon.
So now that he had brought home a girlfriend, everyone came to visit.
Some who were well-connected even already knew about Xia Qing's background.
They were all secretly jealous of Yang Jianguo.
A son this successful, and now a future daughter-in-law with power, beauty, and brains?
Unmatched.
Among this circle of elite entrepreneurs, money was no longer the only benchmark.
What mattered more was legacy—and succession.
After all, business was unpredictable.
But even if your empire survived, if the next generation couldn't take the reins… what was the point?
That was what made everyone envy Yang Jianguo.
With a son like Yang Cheng and now a daughter-in-law like Xia Qing?
The future looked unstoppable.
…
Yang Cheng bringing Xia Qing home had earned Yang Jianguo major bragging rights among relatives and friends.
He didn't care anymore whether people said his business was big or not.
His son had made him proud—and that meant everything.
When Yang Cheng had first gone abroad after college, people assumed he was a spoiled rich kid.
But now?
He was building a £1 billion stadium.
That's 10 billion yuan.
In their province, in the whole country—how many 27-year-olds could say the same?
The only downside?
Both his son and future daughter-in-law were in England.
But that was fine.
They were young. They were still building their futures.
The best was yet to come.
Yang Cheng had given Yang Jianguo a few helpful pointers over the years, which helped his father's business grow steadily. As a result, Yang Jianguo had grown more and more impressed with his son.
During this visit, he pulled Yang Cheng into the study for a private chat.
Yang Cheng didn't hold back. He told him bluntly: after the 2008 Olympics, the sportswear industry would face overcapacity.
It was something to prepare for—a wave of consolidation was coming.
Those who couldn't adapt would be eliminated. Even some of the ones that tried to pivot might suffer heavy losses.
Yang Jianguo immediately understood what he had to do.
As for real estate, Yang Cheng didn't offer too much advice—he admitted he didn't know enough.
But he did say one thing: don't chase high-speed turnover.
Fast expansion was pointless. Better to focus on quality, reputation, and financial health.
It might seem slower—but in a market that was about to boom, what's "slow" really mean?
Truth be told, in the next few years, the property market would be so hot, you could make money just buying land.
"No wonder you told Uncle Lin to go work for a real estate firm. You were trying to keep an eye on me," Yang Jianguo laughed.
Yang Cheng chuckled to himself.
Sure, his dad had guts—but sometimes, he took too many risks.
With someone like Lin Zhongqiu, cautious and detail-oriented, keeping an eye on things, Yang Cheng could rest easy.
"Alright. I'll do what you said." Yang Jianguo wasn't the type to argue.
Yang Cheng also gave a few investment tips.
The Yang Group had already invested in some supply chain companies—for example, one that specialized in developing new shoe materials.
Yang Cheng was all for in-house R&D.
He also mentioned BYD and Jingdong (JD.com)—both worth investing in.
Back in Beijing, he'd heard from Xia Anmin that JD was looking for financing.
BYD, meanwhile, was already listed in Hong Kong.
Yang Cheng checked their stock—around 8 pounds per share. Even Warren Buffett bought in at that price.
But if he remembered correctly, BYD would eventually fall to 4 pounds.
So he told his dad, if it hits 5, buy as much as you want—it's a lock.
As for JD, invest as much as they want to raise.
"Trust Brother Dong, you can't go wrong."
Yang Jianguo made mental notes of everything.
From his perspective, Yang Cheng lived abroad—how could he possibly know this stuff?
Clearly, it must've come from chatting with Xia Anmin.
And in this day and age, what's more valuable than insider information?
He didn't doubt it for a second.
And it only confirmed one thing in his mind:
Xia Qing was an incredible daughter-in-law.
…
Yang Cheng and Xia Qing stayed in his hometown for a while.
Unlike at her parents' place, they lived together openly here.
Yang Jianguo and his wife couldn't be happier.
According to Xia Qing, Yang Cheng's mom was already planning how many grandkids they should have.
Best to do it while she was still healthy enough to help.
Give it a few years, and she might not have the energy.
But Yang Cheng and Xia Qing weren't ready for that yet.
They had just gotten together—why not enjoy their time first?
By June, it was time to head back to Europe.
Yang Jianguo and his wife joined them for the trip to Beijing.
Lin Zhongqiu came along too.
They were planning to meet with Brother Dong to discuss financing.
That reminded Yang Cheng of something.
After asking Xia Qing, he discovered—she had been transferring a salary to his bank account every month.
Since taking the job—three years ago.
He barely used that card, so he'd had no idea.
When he finally checked?
Over £600,000 in there.
That's when Yang Cheng realized:
He was actually the highest-paid person at Bayswater China.
So what to do with that money?
Buy a house in London, of course.
He had just started browsing listings when his mom dropped the bomb:
"Go find a house you like in London. Preferably near Xia Qing's workplace. And make sure it's in a safe neighborhood—since you'll be away often with the team."
"Don't worry about the price. I'll pay for it."
Yang Cheng was stunned. Since when was his mom so loaded?
"Oh, I didn't do much," she said. "Just partnered with your uncle on a cardboard box factory to support our sportswear packaging. Brings in a nice chunk every year."
"Oh, and I bought up all the factory waste materials. That alone makes me a few million."
So yeah, none of that income ever showed up in the company books.
Yang Cheng was speechless.
For the first time, he realized:
Even if he did nothing for the rest of his life—he'd still be filthy rich.
Being a rich second-gen really was the life.
…
While in Beijing, Yang Cheng organized a family dinner.
Xia Qing's parents, grandparents, and brother were all invited, along with his own family.
That night, Yang Cheng found out: Xia Xi had a girlfriend now.
A full-time civil servant in a government ministry.
Talk about a surprise.
Way to go, brother-in-law.
Turns out he wasn't single by default—just by choice.
Xia Xi, playing it cool, gave Yang Cheng a knowing grin.
"Blame you two. That week of PDA? I couldn't take it anymore."
Funny thing was, this made Xia Qing's parents like Yang Cheng even more.
He was a lucky charm for the family.
Cao Wenhui had spent years worrying about her son's love life.
Now, after one visit home, with Yang Cheng and Xia Qing showing off their love?
Problem solved.
If she'd known earlier that this was the trick, she would've tried it long ago.
She might already be holding a grandson by now.
Two happy milestones in one—both families were overjoyed. The dinner was filled with laughter and warmth.
Yang Jianguo was a no-nonsense businessman.
Xia Anmin was equally sincere.
The two men bonded over a few drinks and hit it off right away.
As they said, how you drink says a lot about who you are.
…
While Yang Cheng was in China, Bayswater China didn't pause its operations.
Mike Rigg personally flew to Portsmouth to negotiate.
Eventually, Asmir Begović was signed for £300,000.
Meanwhile, United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool all began bidding for Ashley Young—offering around £20 million.
But Bayswater China rejected them all.
And then came the real surprise:
Manchester City was also in the race.
That summer, City had been bought by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The deal? £81.6 million.
£21.6M went toward buying club shares.The remaining £60M cleared the club's debts.
Heavily in debt, City couldn't say no.
The board agreed almost immediately.
Once the deal was done, Thaksin pumped cash into the club and dove into the transfer market.
He declared that City's summer transfer budget would exceed £50 million.
At the top of his shopping list?
Ashley Young and Gökhan Inler from Bayswater China.
Actually, City's top target was Yaya Touré, but when that was rejected, they pivoted to Inler.
Shortly after the season ended, City's starting midfielder Joey Barton was sold to Newcastle for £6 million.
But for Inler, City opened with a £10 million bid.
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