At the start, I had to choose one of four options, and I immediately picked the Brahmin from the cou

The three-day exam passed in the blink of an eye. As Li Xiao walked out of the exam room after finishing his last biology exam, the June sunset hung over the eaves of the west side of the teaching building, turning the entire corridor into a golden-red hue.

Surrounded by a sea of ​​students pouring out, Li Xiao tucked his pencil case under his arm and slowly walked back along the tree-lined path for faculty and staff.

Old Zhang had been waiting outside the side door for a while. When he saw him come out, he surprisingly didn't ask how the exam went. He just smiled, opened the car door, and said, "Young Master, you've worked hard."

When Li Xiao got home, he had just changed into his slippers when he looked up and froze.

A middle-aged man sat on the sofa. He had a square face, thick eyebrows, and wore a dark gray polo shirt that was perfectly pressed without a single wrinkle. The Patek Philippe watch on his wrist gleamed subtly under the light.

It was his father, Li Jianguo, the CEO who was usually so busy that he was rarely seen even on weekends. He was sitting in the middle of the living room, drinking tea and flipping through some documents. Hearing the noise from the entrance, he looked up.

"Finished the exam?" Li Jianguo put down the documents in his hand, took off his glasses, and waved to him. "Come and sit down."

Li Xiao was not quite used to this kind of situation.

In his past life, his father was just an ordinary factory worker. The first thing he did when he got home from get off work was to take off his socks and watch TV. He didn't have this kind of aura as if he were sitting under a crystal chandelier meeting his subordinates with a big boss.

He composed himself, walked over, and sat down on the sofa to the side.

Li Jianguo looked him up and down, not asking how he did on the exam or how difficult it was, but simply patting him on the shoulder. "You're an adult now. From now on, you'll have to gradually learn to participate in family matters. Today is your eighteenth birthday, and Dad doesn't have much to give you—"

He took a dark blue velvet box from under the coffee table and handed it to him. Li Xiao took it and opened it; inside lay a car key with a golden bull as its emblem.

"Once you get your driver's license, the car is yours."

Li Xiao looked down at the key. In his previous life, he barely touched the steering wheel in the first three years after he got his driver's license. Now, his first car was a Lamborghini.

"Thank you, Dad."

A hint of admiration flashed in Li Jianguo's eyes.

My son, though obedient in the past, always had a bit of the frivolity of a rich young master. Today, he seems to have suddenly grown up, and his aura has calmed down. Is this the change that comes with adulthood?

"If you like it, that's fine. Park the car in the garage for now. In the meantime, get your driver's license. Don't ask your Uncle Sun for help with this. Getting a driver's license isn't just about being responsible to pedestrians, it's also about being responsible to yourself, understand?"

"Don't worry, Dad. Even if you really get Uncle Sun to give me the green light, I would never dare to risk my life."

Meeting Li Jianguo's slightly scrutinizing gaze, Li Xiao said with extreme certainty, "The bottom line rules must be followed. After all, the good days have just begun, and I cherish my life."

Li Jianguo was stunned for a moment.

He originally thought his son would deal with it with a smile as usual, but he didn't expect that today Li Xiao not only agreed immediately, but also said that the bottom line rules should still be followed.

If these words came from his mouth, they would be perfectly natural, but when they came from a young boy who had just turned eighteen, they carried a different weight.

Li Jianguo picked up his teacup, took a sip, and a rare smile curved his usually serious face. "Alright. With you saying that, Dad is relieved. This car wasn't a waste of money."

Li Jianguo put down his teacup, looked at his son who seemed to have transformed overnight, and nodded with satisfaction. "Now that you understand things, there are some things I can let you handle without worry. Relax for the next few days. I've already had Lao Zhang register you for your driver's license. Also, get ready to come with me to Guilan next Wednesday night."

"Gui Lan?"

He had lunch there the day before yesterday, so he knew that it was not only a top-tier private restaurant, but also a private reception room used by the Li family to maintain their connections and showcase their wealth.

"Next Wednesday, several investors from the province who are in the new energy sector will come to inspect the area. A few uncles from the county will also be accompanying them. You'll come with me. At the dinner table, you don't need to toast or flatter anyone. Just listen attentively and observe carefully. Get to know our family's circle first. You're an adult now, and you need to gradually understand where the Li family's roots really are in Jiangyang County."

As they were talking, Zhao Xiulan walked over from the kitchen, carrying a plate of freshly sliced ​​honeydew melon.

"Alright, alright, our son just finished his exams and his brain hasn't even had a chance to recover yet, and you're already giving him a political lecture. Really... Xiaoxiao, don't mind your dad. Today I specially asked Sister Liu to prepare a big table of dishes, all of which are your favorites."

"Mom, it's okay. I think Dad is right. I'm eighteen today, and I can't keep hiding under your wings and being a carefree young master who only knows how to spend money. It's good to see the world and get familiar with the family business in advance."

Zhao Xiulan was taken aback, looked her son up and down with some surprise, and then her smile deepened.

She glared at Li Jianguo reproachfully, "Look at him, my son is so much more sensible! Unlike you, all you do is lecturing him with that stern face all day long."

Li Jianguo shook his head helplessly, picked up his teacup, and took a tactical sip.

Despite his authoritative and domineering presence outside the county, where business owners of all sizes respectfully address him as "General Manager Li," his ruthless aura automatically melts away when he's home and in front of Zhao Xiulan. According to him, this isn't fear of his wife; it's respect.

Before Zhao Xiulan could finish speaking, Li Xiao's phone vibrated in his pocket.

He took it out and saw a video call request pop up on the screen. The name in the contact was Zheng Hao, followed by a dog emoji.

When Li Xiao saw this name, his memories of this life automatically matched up – Zheng Hao, his best friend since childhood, whose family ran a building materials market in the county town, making him a typical second-generation rich kid from a small town.

Although the Zheng family is not as powerful as the Li Xiao family, they are still one of the most prominent families in this small county.

When you tap the call button, Zheng Hao's signature round face immediately pops up on the phone screen, with the background being a KTV room where the lights are dazzling.

Seeing that Li Xiao had answered the phone, Zheng Hao yelled at him, "Brother Xiao! Are you done with the exam? All the brothers are here, just waiting for you, the birthday boy!"

Li Xiao held the phone a little further away, and only brought it back to his ear after the deafening bass had subsided. "Keep your voice down, I just got in the door, I haven't even changed my shoes yet."

"Why are you changing your shoes?! Get out here right now! I'm in the biggest VIP room at Golden Diamond KTV, and I've already ordered the drinks. Tonight is your 18th birthday, and I've got everything planned out for you. We'll sing karaoke first, then move on to another place, and we won't leave until we're completely drunk!"

Zheng Hao was halfway through his sentence when he suddenly lowered his voice and added with a wink, "Oh, right, I've prepared a special coming-of-age gift for you. You'll see when you get here; it'll be a real surprise."

Li Xiao's brow twitched; he had a feeling that the surprise this guy was talking about was probably nothing serious.