“It all started with the inheritance my maternal grandfather left behind.”

Jiang Ruotang recounted the establishment of Tangyun Culture Investment, helping Zhao Yunshu bring down Huang Tengyue, then investing in smartphones and Dream Bubble, which caused Lin Chengdong to lose tens of millions in investments. He also described his strategic investments in Chengtan, using a fish farm to swindle a large sum from Lin Chengdong, and then using that money to become the largest shareholder of Little Sweet Fruit.

Once Little Sweet Fruit was on track, he signed Bai Yingchuan, which made Lin Chengdong envious and impatient, leading Lin Chengdong to threaten Bai Yingchuan into joining his interest group.

Bai Yingchuan then used Jian Sha’s plagiarism by Zhang Chun to strike back at Lin Chengdong’s entire project, further enraging Lin Chengdong.

In his anger, Lin Chengdong would inevitably threaten Bai Yue, and Bai Yingchuan would use this to “force the palace” on Bai Yue—either sacrifice her current interests and draw a line with Lin Chengdong, or be “righteously disowned” by her own son.

At first, Jiang Ruotang was apprehensive, even a bit muddled, requiring Lu Guifan to ask him questions to clarify the logic.

But as he continued talking, Jiang Ruotang noticed that Lu Guifan’s posture was relaxed, his eyes, propped on his chin, seemed to hold subtly shimmering stars. He even seemed to enjoy what Jiang Ruotang was saying.

This made Jiang Ruotang speak with even more enthusiasm, “Actually, I owe my current success to you.”

“Thank me for what?”

“Well… like investing in cloud technology. If it weren’t for your and Cai Cai’s reminders, I might not have thought of becoming a shareholder in Aoxiang Technology, which now provides cloud support for Little Sweet Fruit. And investing in smartphones, that was also because you used Xiaolan…”

Jiang Ruotang paused, a frown appearing on his brow. He leaned closer to Lu Guifan.

Lu Guifan’s gaze remained unwavering, directly meeting Jiang Ruotang’s.

“Something’s not right…”

“Oh, what’s not right?”

“Why do I feel now… that you actually knew what I was doing all along?”

Thinking back, it seemed that Lu Guifan had subtly influenced some of his investment decisions, and now that he had revealed everything, Lu Guifan remained calm, not surprised at all?

Lu Guifan gently flicked his forehead.

“Do I look that stupid? Once or twice is a coincidence, but every time something you’re interested in, something you ask me and Cai Ji about, turns into a hot investment, if I still didn’t notice, my brain must be made of tofu.”

Jiang Ruotang clutched his forehead. It didn’t hurt at all, but for the first time, he felt that he and Lu Guifan were so close.

Suddenly, he felt like he had endless things to tell him, even talking about what he wanted to do in the future, such as the future of Xiaolan and Little Sweet Fruit.

He excitedly grasped Lu Guifan’s wrist and said, “Once Little Sweet Fruit grows stronger, I must invest in making a movie! A hard sci-fi blockbuster with massive scenes and incredibly awesome!”

“Why must it be sci-fi, and hard sci-fi at that?” Lu Guifan asked, amused.

Jiang Ruotang blurted out, “Because you like it!”

Lu Guifan froze for a moment.

And Jiang Ruotang suddenly realized that his reason sounded like a confession.

There it was again, that anxiety of his fervent enthusiasm possibly falling flat flowed back from Jiang Ruotang’s limbs into his heart, the warmth receding, a chill rising.

Until Lu Guifan’s lips slowly curved upwards.

He was so close to Jiang Ruotang, smiling so beautifully, like melting hexagonal frost flowers, seeping into Jiang Ruotang’s heart.

“That really sounds like King You of Zhou playing with beacon fires for his concubine Bao Si, but I don’t want to be that Bao Si.”

“Oh…” Jiang Ruotang lowered his eyes, feeling quite foolish.

“I hope that when you truly start planning such a hard sci-fi film, I will already be in a position to be your technical consultant.”

“Huh?”

“That big data algorithm you mentioned, I find it very interesting too. I really hope I can learn it and give it to you.”

Jiang Ruotang’s eyes, at that moment, were like a tiny silent universe, suddenly illuminated.

“Ruotang, your so-called scheming is to protect your father, mother, and brother, to protect your friends from harm. But to me, that’s not scheming; that’s your sincerity. Your meticulous planning has never been just for yourself, but also for me.”

“Me?” Jiang Ruotang shifted his feet under the desk, a little embarrassed.

“You deliberately had Aunt Zhao take my mother to Lawyer Hong’s for help, not just because Lawyer Hong needed a reliable person to take care of the children, but also because Lawyer Hong’s partner is Professor Yang. You were creating an opportunity for me to be noticed by Professor Yang. So when we went to pay New Year’s greetings, you noticed I was interested in the problems Professor Yang left behind, and you kept encouraging me to solve them. You wanted Professor Yang to remember me and become my helper. You were paving the way for my future.”

Jiang Ruotang’s throat bobbed. This was Lu Guifan’s future, yet it was “paved” by someone else. Would he resent it?

“Ruotang, I also want to tell you something today. That patent, a large new energy company has taken an interest in it. Lawyer Hong helped us negotiate, and it’s been confirmed that they’ll pay through a patent licensing fee plus a commission. The fixed licensing fee was negotiated to six million, plus 0.5% of sales as a commission, estimated to bring in no less than one million annually. I’ve decided to split it fifty-fifty with Professor Yang. This is money my parents and I have never seen in our lives. But because I met you, I know my future is definitely more than just this.”

Jiang Ruotang knew Lu Guifan was praising him, and he blushed completely from his neck to the tips of his ears.

“That’s amazing… indeed, science and technology are the primary productive forces.”

Lu Guifan turned his face, a hint of teasing in his smile: “By the way, Mr. Zheng holds shares on your behalf, and my father is working for Mr. Zheng, so you’re actually my father’s real boss?”

“Ah? No, no, no! Although I recommended Uncle Lu to Uncle Zheng, it was Uncle Zheng who ultimately decided to keep him. I can’t make decisions for Uncle Zheng. Uncle Zheng said Uncle Lu is diligent, honest, and tight-lipped, and he takes everything taught to heart, so Uncle Zheng is willing to have an assistant like Uncle Lu.”

“My father also really likes this job. It’s shown him things beyond three meals a day. He’s accompanied Mr. Zheng to the tax bureau and figured out the difference between individual income tax and corporate income tax. When Mr. Zheng manages your assets, he watches and learns by his side. He even came home and chatted with me about stock index futures, commodity futures, and agricultural futures. If he hadn’t been with Mr. Zheng, he might never have known what places outside of Sheng City were like in his life. In the science park in Shenzhen City, he put on VR glasses and saw a future world. So, Ruotang, thank you.”

Jiang Ruotang looked at Lu Guifan for a long time, slowly leaning closer, and carefully asked, looking into Lu Guifan’s eyes, “So you don’t dislike me like this?”

“Of course not. But I will be very worried.”

“Worried?”

“Worried that you’re always planning for others and shortchanging yourself. I don’t want you to be King You of Zhou, playing with beacon fires just for a Bao Si? I hope you do everything only to make yourself happy.”

Lu Guifan spoke slowly, but every word was absolutely clear.

This was the first time someone had told Jiang Ruotang to “do everything only to make yourself happy.” Jiang Ruotang felt his heart overflowing, as if it would burst, yet he was incredibly happy.

He straightened up and hugged Lu Guifan tightly, his throat choked with so many emotions that he couldn’t utter a single word, only held him tightly.

Lu Guifan was stunned for a moment. He had thought that since they were both boys, hugging wouldn’t feel particularly special.

But the moment Jiang Ruotang crashed into his arms, his own arms were suspended, filled with the desire to hug and protect him.

“Ruotang…”

Lu Guifan took a deep breath. The warmth radiating from Jiang Ruotang was gentle, softening his heart… even making him restless.

“Just one hug, don’t be stingy,” Jiang Ruotang whispered in Lu Guifan’s ear.

Lu Guifan slowly breathed, wrapping his arms around Jiang Ruotang.

This fool, it’s not me who’s stingy, it’s you.

You only want one hug, but I want to hug you for a very, very long time.

“Alright, it’s half past twelve. Go to sleep, little boss.”

Lu Guifan’s voice sounded gentle and helpless, which only made Jiang Ruotang want to be more mischievous.

Lu Guifan had no choice but to scoop Jiang Ruotang off the chair. In the instant of weightlessness, Jiang Ruotang’s heart nearly jumped out of his throat, and he tightened his grip around Lu Guifan even more.

Lu Guifan almost carried Jiang Ruotang with one hand, like a parent holding a kindergarten child. He even had enough composure to turn around and switch off the desk lamp, then walked step by step to the bed, bent down, and gently placed Jiang Ruotang on the pillow.

“Are you going to sleep now? I’m really tired, you know.”

Hearing him say that, Jiang Ruotang had to let go, but the feeling of palpitation lingered for a long time.

“Sleep on the inside,” Lu Guifan patted Jiang Ruotang’s waist.

Jiang Ruotang immediately rolled to the side against the wall, then turned to look at Lu Guifan.

“Why are you tired? When I used to ask you questions, you’d answer me even at midnight.”

“Because of Zhao Changfeng.”

“Ah?”

Lu Guifan rubbed the corner of his eye and replied, “During this tryout, both Capital University of Sports and Capital University of Science and Technology extended olive branches to him.”

“I know that. We all hope he goes to Capital University of Science and Technology because it has consistently been in the top four of the college一级联赛 for eight consecutive years. If he gets into Capital University of Science and Technology, his chances of being drafted professionally will be higher, and he might even realize his dream of entering professional men’s basketball.”

Moreover, Lu Guifan’s goal should also be Capital University of Science and Technology, in which case he and Zhao Changfeng would be alumni.

If Zhao Changfeng, who was holding back the enrollment rate, could actually get into a top university, all the teachers would probably drop their jaws!

“But he has to reach 65% of the minimum control score, which is probably around 420 to 440.”

“His last mock exam was 350, right?” Jiang Ruotang asked somewhat guiltily, as if he had given Lu Guifan a big problem.

“Yes. Actually, the fastest way to improve in the short term is Chinese, memorize what needs to be memorized. For math, physics, and chemistry, we can only rely on predicting exam questions.”

Lu Guifan’s predictions were probably more accurate than an entire research group’s.

But even if he predicted correctly, Zhao Changfeng still had to be able to understand what he learned.

“I really wish Zhao Changfeng could allocate some of his good looks to his IQ!” Jiang Ruotang muttered softly.

“Why not his basketball skills to his IQ?”

“His basketball skills are his livelihood in the future. His good looks are useless; he’s not willing to marry into wealth based on his face.” Jiang Ruotang thought, who knows if he’ll take an elbow to the court, knock out a tooth, or twist his nose.

His good looks are a waste on him; such a pure, handsome college student’s face on a basketball player doesn’t match.

Lu Guifan seemed to have read Jiang Ruotang’s thoughts. At that moment, he felt sympathetic towards Zhao Changfeng.

“Actually… good looks are also very important; they contribute to his future commercial value.” Lu Guifan hoped Jiang Ruotang could change his opinion on Zhao Changfeng’s appearance.

“I guess so, a pure handsomeness plus an athlete’s physique, he should attract quite a few ‘mom fans’ and ‘sister fans’. Sorry, I took up your rest time, you should go to sleep now.”

Jiang Ruotang pulled the quilt up, and when he withdrew his hand, it remained by Lu Guifan’s side.

After such a long and frank conversation with Lu Guifan, Jiang Ruotang felt much clearer and happier.

Besides happiness, there was an urge to hug Lu Guifan and roll around on the spot.

He waited quietly for a long time. Lu Guifan was a very still sleeper, barely moving at all. The only way to tell if he was asleep was by listening to his breathing.

Jiang Ruotang maintained his side-lying position for a very long time, until he himself was exhausted. He slowly leaned closer, draped an arm over Lu Guifan, pretending to curl up more visibly so he could unashamedly rest his forehead on the other’s shoulder.

He successfully completed the first step. Just as he was about to execute the second, Lu Guifan suddenly moved, directly rolling over to face Jiang Ruotang.

Nine times out of ten, he was going to push his arm back!

Just as Jiang Ruotang felt disappointed, thinking his long wait was in vain, Lu Guifan didn’t push him away. Instead, his other arm wrapped around him, gently holding Jiang Ruotang’s back, and pulling him directly into his embrace!

Jiang Ruotang’s heart swelled. He looked up at Lu Guifan.

Was he doing it on purpose?

In the darkness, Jiang Ruotang gradually adjusted, and Lu Guifan’s features became clearer and clearer.

His eyes were closed, and his expression, from his eyebrows downwards, was relaxed.

Sure enough, Lu Guifan was unconscious.

But Jiang Ruotang still lingered, sniffing Lu Guifan’s scent, and slowly drifted to sleep.