Chapter 1 – Awaken from a dream

The orange morning gentle leaped into the hole between the curtains. It slipped into the cold-toned front room and crept on the polished ground.

The smoke curled and handed the proprietor of the cigarette. The mist swirled within the mid-air.

A ringing tone all of the sudden broke the silent house of the particular person and made the translucent espresso desk whine.

The chilly white hand crushes the cigarette butt within the ashtray and his slender finger frivolously swipes the cellphone display to attach within the name.

“Zhou, I do know you are a really busy particular person. Xiaoyuan’s birthday is coming. I thought of all of it night time. I actually do not know what present I am going to current to him. You give me some recommendation.”

Tang Zhou turned on the hands-free and leaned again on the couch. His eyes moved from the wall clock, and gently pulled the corners of his lips.

The identical query on the identical time.

After he woke up from a dream yesterday night, he sat on the couch all night time and waited for the end result.

That dream did transform actual.

He adopted his personal reply within the dream and mentioned in a bored tone: “Simply ask him what he desires.”

“Is not there no shock should you ask?”

After smoking for half an evening, Tang Zhou misplaced his voice.

“It is extra terrific should you let it off.”

“…”

The opposite facet was silent for a couple of seconds and sighed, “I should not have requested you. You might want to see a physician. Why is your voice so hoarse, you did not sleep effectively?”

Listening to a special query than the one in his dream, Tang Zhou felt barely recent as he reached as much as cowl his eyes and block the unsolicited gentle.

“Lu Ye, if at some point you discover out that you just’re only a character within the digital world, how would you are feeling?”

Lu Ye: “Did you watch 《Westworld》 all night time?”

This reply has been simply how he anticipated, Tang Zhou frivolously laughed and didn’t converse once more.

Lu Ye has lengthy been used to his temperament, after which he mentioned: “What do you actually take into consideration the surname Fu? Do not you all the time hate that form of particular person? Why did you promise to take a position earlier than?”

If Tang Zhou didn’t dream, he in all probability would have dismissed it casually. However after half an evening of contemplation, he mentioned in a critical tone, “I invested as a result of his venture has the worth of being invested in, and it has nothing to do with who he’s. Additionally, if I bear in mind appropriately, the content material of your earlier investigation solely proves that he’s associated to Xiaoyuan’s father, not that he’s an illegitimate little one.”

Lu Ye was astonished, “Did not you hate him earlier than? And his angle in direction of Xiaoyuan is a bit unusual, I am actually frightened that he’ll damage Xiaoyuan.”

Tang Zhou solely dreamed of his personal ending. He did not know what different folks within the dream had skilled later. Nonetheless, on the finish of the dream, Qiao Yuan’s household had certainly been destroyed. He was hit laborious. Lu Ye was in a large number so as to assist Qiao Yuan.

From the angle of Lu Ye and Qiao Yuan, Fu Shen is certainly a “villain”. He stirred the storm and made Qiao Yuan undergo a collection of heavy blows.

As a pal of Lu Ye and Qiao Yuan, Tang Zhou naturally opposed Fu Shen due to Fu Shen’s stand in life.

However from Fu Shen’s perspective, there isn’t a excuse for what he did.

Tang Zhou lit one other cigarette. He was choked abruptly and coughed till he burst into tears. After some time, he mentioned: “I have not solely watched 《Westworld》, but in addition 《Satisfaction and Prejudice》[1].”

In one among his desires, due to contempt and vanity, he was framed by his illegitimate brother whom he as soon as appeared down on, and ended up with a foul fame.

“Are you okay?” Lu Ye has recognized him for a few years and sensed that one thing was improper, “Why are you coughing so laborious and speaking unusually. It is your… household issues?”

Tang Zhou laughed and the nook of his eyes was full of ridicule. “If one thing occurs, it will not be now.”

“That is proper, in spite of everything, you have not formally taken over the corporate.” Lu Ye sighed and suggested, “However should you actually have a plan, let me know. Do not carry it alone.”

Tang Zhou’s voice was hoarse, “Yeah. I nonetheless have issues to do, let’s discuss once more later.”

“Wait! You are coming to Xiaoyuan’s birthday, proper?”

“Sure.”

Ending the decision, Tang Zhou extinguished his cigarette butt and opened the curtain by distant management.

The sunshine in early spring was mild and vibrant. With the opening of the curtains, they rushed via the clear glass and caressed his cheek. Tang Zhou was born with chilly white pores and skin, barely deep eye sockets, dense and lengthy eyelashes drooping barely, and the shadow simply lined the darkish circles underneath his eyes after staying up late. Underneath the tall bridge of his nostril, the sunshine pink lips closed tightly.

Like a decadent jade carving.

When Fu Shen came to visit, what he noticed was such an image. The motion of getting into the door disturbed the ideas of the jade sculpture. The jade sculpture raised his eyes. The sunshine brown pupils have been like crystal clear glass balls, they have been calm and chilly.

He performed this type of glass ball when he was a toddler. When he first touched it, it was chilly and heat up in a short while.

The room was stuffed with smoke and it was very choking.

Fu Shen walked a couple of steps ahead, his eyes swept over the pile of cigarette butts on the espresso desk, and voluntarily bent down to wash it up.

He remembered that Tang Zhou often doesn’t smoke a lot.

Nonetheless, whether or not he smokes or not has nothing to do with him. He is solely accountable for cleansing up.

“I did not name you to wash up.” Tang Zhou coughed frivolously, his throat was actually a bit insufferable, and habitually ordered, “Pour me a glass of water.”

Fu Shen put down the ashtray and picked up the cup to get water underneath the water dispenser.

The water is heat and excellent to moisten his throat.

Tang Zhou drank a number of mouthfuls in a row, and his dry throat was lastly relieved. He appeared on the younger man who bent over to tidy up the rubbish bag and mentioned: “Sit down.”

Fu Shen raised his head and met his gaze, exhibiting a confused look.

He’s very good-looking. The kind of handsome who’s very manly. His quick hair is neat and his eyebrows are very thick, even his eyes are clear and vivid. His lips are effectively formed, and his pores and skin shade is wheat. He is sporting an odd black sports activities zipper coat, which is barely pulled up by two-thirds, revealing the white T-shirt inside.

It’s no totally different from odd boys who’ve simply entered school, just a bit extra good-looking than these folks.

If Tang Zhou didn’t dream, it’s estimated that he could be fooled by the false picture proven by the particular person in entrance of him.

Just a few years later, the school scholar in entrance of him grew to become the largest darkish horse[2] within the enterprise world and ruined his organic father, which isn’t odd in itself.

Seeing that Fu Shen stayed nonetheless, Tang Zhou spoke once more: “Sit down.”

Fu Shen not hesitated, and sat down reverse of Tang Zhou with a clear smile on his face, which appeared like he is a brother subsequent door.

In consequence, he was shocked by the “bomb” dropped by Tang Zhou within the subsequent second.

“What?” He requested in a daze.

Tang Zhou patiently repeated, “The earlier settlement is invalid. I can provide the funds instantly. How a lot you need, I’ll give, however I’ve a situation.”

Because the successor of the Tang household, Tang Zhou has been well-known within the business since he was a young person. He appears to have opened the door and invested in what’s widespread. Now he’s about to graduate from school. He has change into a well-known rich particular person within the business. Many individuals are ready in line for his favor.

A month in the past, Fu Shen, on behalf of his crew, got here to Tang Zhou to speak about cooperation. Regardless that he knew that Tang Zhou was biased towards him, he may solely come to Tang Zhou so as to not disappoint the crew and to begin the venture after assembly him in different places numerous occasions.

Tang Zhou gave him two decisions.

He can make investments if Fu Shen will work as his private assistant for half a yr. In any other case, he will not assist.

Fu Shen compromised.

This month, Tang Zhou modified his methods to “enslave” him. He needed to do no matter he was requested to do, he is no totally different from being a “bully”.

Not less than Tang Zhou thought so.

However in Fu Shen’s eyes, Tang Zhou’s little tips had all the time been only a small struggle for him. The younger grasp is born within the nest of wealth and would not know what actual human struggling is.

In contrast with what Fu Shen skilled when he was a toddler, Tang Zhou’s approach of “making issues troublesome” just isn’t painful in any respect.

Working for him as a private assistant for half a yr and getting an funding in return is value it.

Now, the rich particular person desires to alter the settlement.

Fu Shen smiled and his eyes fell on the youthful picture of Tang Zhou, as if he didn’t know methods to negotiate. He cautiously mentioned: “Senior, please converse.”

The 2 folks studied in the identical college. Tang Zhou will quickly graduate and Fu Shen is barely within the first semester of freshman yr. Typically, he’ll name him “senior”.

“I need extra shares.”

Tang Zhou ordered in his hoarse voice and the room grew to become silent.

Fu Shen’s smile regularly vanished. His amber eyes could not assist narrowing. His eyes have been towards the sunshine, as in the event that they have been chilly.

Within the unique settlement, so long as Fu Shen labored as a private assistant for half a yr, Tang Zhou would make investments 5 million yuan, accounting for five% of the shares.

The preliminary funding of the sport venture is sort of big. 5 million is barely a small quantity, however even a small quantity is a big sum of cash for Fu Shen’s crew.

Fu Shen has a expertise for computer systems. He has been earning money by promoting software program since highschool. Nonetheless, earning money by promoting software program is an completely insufficient measure for a recreation developer.

5 million just isn’t a lot, and never quite a bit.

5 p.c of the shares aren’t a lot, however they’re additionally quite a bit.

Fu Shen questioned why Tang Zhou all of the sudden modified his thoughts, and whether or not this matter had something to do together with his sudden frenzy of smoking.

He stared at Tang Zhou and requested: “How a lot are you able to make investments?”

Tang Zhou made gentle of the scenario, nonetheless, he mentioned in a robust tone: “To the best extent you required.”

He thought of it in the midst of the night time and determined to alter the end result of his dream. Fu Shen is an excellent companion in enterprise.

After investing for thus a few years, Tang Zhou’s private property have been past the attain of many individuals for a number of generations. He has good imaginative and prescient and funding expertise. The rationale why he ended up like that in his dream is that he was blinded by the so-called familial love.

In different phrases, he sure himself by the shackles of household affection.

Fu Shen smiled and requested: “What number of shares would you like?”

“Forty p.c.”

Fu Shen: “…” This fully got here to the lion’s mouth.

His smile remained unchanged. “At this time appears to be April 1st.”

“I am not kidding.”

In fact, Tang Zhou did not really need 40% of the shares. He simply needed to see if the Mr. Fu who was strategizing in his dream would present a special look.

In spite of everything, Fu Shen continues to be not the Mr. Fu from years later. His smile had disappeared. A pair of thick eyebrows frowned barely, attempting to persuade Tang Zhou: “I can solely give you the ten% of the shares.”

“It is too little.” Tang Zhou, as an investor, totally revealed his coldness and ruthlessness.

The fist hanging down on his facet clenched in silence. Fu Shen bowed his head and thought for a very long time earlier than he mentioned, “I am unable to comply with your circumstances.”

This was anticipated by Tang Zhou, he pretended to not care, “Then overlook it.”

Fu Shen slowly obtained up, his tall and upright physique made him look superior.

He fixedly appeared down at Tang Zhou, and all of the sudden smiled once more, “In the event you cancel the settlement with out authorization, do not you give an evidence?”

The younger man’s physique blocked the dazzling daylight, permitting Tang Zhou to search for at him wantonly.

“Two statements. I can take duty for the breach of contract, or you may return and ask the crew in the event that they agree.”

Fu Shen: “…”

Solely a idiot would comply with it.

Footnotes:

1. 傲慢与偏见 (Àomànyǔ Piānjiàn) – Satisfaction and Prejudice, novel by Jane Austen 珍·奧斯汀｜珍·奥斯汀

2. 黑马 (hēimǎ) – darkish horse / fig. sudden winne