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Gu Xuanyu’s agent sat by the hospital bed, looking as if he had grown numb to Gu Xuanyu’s appearance. He said indifferently, “The company’s intention is not to terminate your contract. You can remain under contract without fulfilling your responsibilities and obligations. But there will be no money.”
Gu Xuanyu clasped his hands behind his head: “Got it.”
The agent sat down and asked him, “Your girlfriend’s family is quite wealthy. Why did you break up with her at this critical moment? Do you not want to live? Do you know how desperate I was when the doctor told me to prepare money?”
Gu Xuanyu smiled, “I conned her for two years. That’s enough.”
“Don’t give me that crap. Don’t I know what kind of person you are? You’re a player. You’d play with three if you could, not two. Why are you acting like a prodigal son returning home with me?”
Gu Xuanyu fell silent.
Being a player was true, being heartless was true, letting down Qiu Mingyun’s deep affection was true, and wanting to let her off the hook was also true.
He detested men being described with adjectives like “deeply affectionate” or “heartless.” Humans were complex creatures; how could they be summarized by just two words? He wouldn’t say he was deeply affectionate, but he wasn’t as absolute as “heartless” either.
He believed this was what a normal person was like.
The tragic stories he told Qiu Mingyun were, in fact, all true. His father indeed froze to death on Changbai Mountain after drinking. His mother indeed lost custody of him due to pyramid schemes. He was truly alone, growing up to sixteen by eating from many different households.
Later, he was scouted by an internet celebrity incubation company and trained to become a somewhat famous influencer. Just as he was about to soar, he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. From the name of the disease to the pain and cost of treating it, these were tools that could destroy him a hundred times over.
He didn’t want treatment anymore. Let it be, he thought, life and death were up to fate.
He truly liked Qiu Mingyun, and he also genuinely liked other women, so with this illness, he cut ties with all of them.
It wasn’t that his conscience was bothering him.
He just didn’t have the energy to maintain so many relationships, nor did he want to see them cry for him. It wasn’t worth it for them.
The agent prattled on, still giving him bad ideas. He didn’t hear a word, suddenly asking: “Have you read Keigo Higashino’s Malice? The company mentioned adapting it, right? Said all of us who joined the company at this time might get that opportunity.”
The agent had never seen him so concerned about work before: “Your priority now is to get treatment. Besides, we didn’t even secure that IP.”
Gu Xuanyu wasn’t trying to discuss work with him: “At first, I didn’t know why I wanted Qiu Mingyun to slowly wither in my hands. During that time, you forced me to read that book, and I understood. I harbored malice towards her, and towards everyone who lived in the sunlight.”
The agent was used to his scoundrel talk: “It’s rare to see a scumbag who’s as self-aware as you.”
Gu Xuanyu probably knew how much longer he had to live. He said, “I still have an outstanding payment for a blue-chip brand advertisement, right?”
The agent nodded: “Yes, I’m pressing them. Get the money and get treated quickly.”
Gu Xuanyu said, “When it comes, you distribute it. The largest portion to Qiu Mingyun, smaller portions to Xiao Lanxi and Youko, and you keep the rest.”
The agent was dumbfounded: “Are you settling your affairs?”
Gu Xuanyu smiled: “It’s pretty good that I even have affairs to settle. When my parents left me, they didn’t even leave me a change of clothes.”
The agent suddenly felt his nose sting. The person in front of him, whom he had managed for a long time, was certainly a scumbag, but also loyal to his friends, and was now about to disappear from this world. It was a disappearance, the kind that meant he would never appear again in any form.
He felt a profound sense of loss: “Is it really incurable?”
Even if it could be cured, Gu Xuanyu had lived enough: “Help me ask if I can donate organs with this illness, and if so, what can be donated.”
The agent forced a smile: “Is this a case of a dying man’s words being good? Ever since I walked in, you’ve said quite a few things that don’t sound like you.”
Gu Xuanyu told him: “The version of me you see, that’s what I want you to see. It’s what I can freely create. What you don’t see, that’s the real me.”
After that conversation, Gu Xuanyu stopped cooperating with his treatment. To save his life, the agent mobilized the entire company to raise funds for his treatment. Among these funds was a large sum, big enough to pay off his hospital bills, yet it still didn’t deter his resolve to die.
It was only on the seventh day after Gu Xuanyu’s death that the agent learned the large sum was from the company boss, intentionally left anonymous.
Of course, that was a story for later.
By the time Qiu Mingyun knew, he had already become a scar—the mark was there, but the pain was gone.
________________________________________
This small-scale academic salon, primarily for young scholars, took place at the Aman Summer Palace Hotel. The organizers were researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and several lab directors. The attendees were mostly university teaching assistants and master’s/doctoral students. Although Wen Huo didn’t meet the entry qualifications, she was brought by Wu Guo. As the person who invited Yang Yinlou, Wu Guo had some privileges, and Wen Huo had published in authoritative journals, so she wasn’t considered an imposter.
Yang Yinlou, a physicist, forty years old, from Jiangsu. He graduated from Peking University in 2000 and obtained his master’s and doctoral degrees from MIT in 2010. In 2018, he was elected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
He was thin, only about 1.7 meters tall, but his features were well-defined; one could tell he was handsome in his youth.
Wen Huo had seen him before, but from a distance. This time, sitting in a conference room, she finally had the chance to observe him closely. He was only eight or nine years older than Shen Cheng, but he looked twenty years older.
The salon mainly focused on physics and mathematics, a cross-disciplinary sharing event. It was essentially about listening to academic progress and research findings in other fields and directions, with little practical application, somewhat serving as a gathering and exchange under the guise of academia. Therefore, the atmosphere was quite relaxed, and it ended relatively early. Soon, the group moved from the conference room to a private dining room.
The organizer of the salon handed the menu to Yang Yinlou, who then passed it to the ladies present: “Ladies first.”
Everyone exchanged polite words and then resumed discussing professional knowledge. Wu Guo, fearing Wen Huo would be bored, whispered to her: “If you don’t want to eat here, we can leave early. I know a barbecue place nearby.”
Leaving right after ordering wasn’t very appropriate, and Wen Huo hadn’t taken a photo with Yang Yinlou yet, so she politely declined: “It’s not proper with so many people still here.”
Wu Guo said nothing more.
The meal was almost finished, and the wine almost gone. Those who had barely interacted in the conference room were now lively. A few teaching assistants who had traveled from other cities asked Wen Huo for her contact information.
Wen Huo politely added them as friends and then took a photo with Yang Yinlou.
Yang Yinlou always had a droopy face, but his personality was actually fine; he wasn’t as unapproachable as he looked.
Wen Huo took a few more pictures and posted them on her Moments. After posting, she thought Shen Cheng might not check Moments, and he might not even know how many people he had on WeChat. What if there were too many messages and he didn’t see it?
Thinking this, she deleted it, reposted it, and then used the reminder function.
________________________________________
Yan Zhiguo of Guotong Industry arrived in Beijing at noon and was staying at the Aman Summer Palace. Shen Cheng made it convenient for him by setting the meeting location there.
Lu Xingchuan and Tang Jun’en hadn’t arrived yet. Yan Zhiguo said to Shen Cheng, “Professor Shen, you don’t need to be too concerned. It’s not a major issue, if you think about it.”
Shen Cheng smiled faintly, still showing an apologetic expression: “I deeply apologize for the losses incurred by Guotong Industry due to our oversight this time. If it can be compensated, I still hope it won’t be by leveraging my father’s favor.”
Yan Zhiguo also smiled, remained silent for a moment, then said, “Then we’ll have to see Professor Shen’s sincerity in making amends.”
Yan Zhiguo had a connection with Shen Cheng’s father, Shen Wenli. Shen Wenli had helped him, so Yan Zhiguo owed Shen Wenli a favor. This time, their collaboration faced a loophole in Shen Cheng’s patent technology oversight, leading to a large batch of Guotong Industry’s products being suspected of infringement. Yan Zhiguo wanted to use this incident to repay Shen Wenli’s favor, but Shen Cheng apparently didn’t see it that way; he didn’t want his father’s favor repaid in this manner.
Soon, Lu Xingchuan and Tang Jun’en arrived.
Lu Xingchuan was a bit surprised to see so many people, but didn’t show it too obviously.
Tang Jun’en didn’t know what Shen Cheng was up to and decided to speak less, waiting to see his next move.
Shen Cheng introduced everyone to each other, then mentioned that Lu Xingchuan had recently encountered some trouble manipulating the stock market. Lu Xingchuan’s heart sank, and he suddenly felt that this meeting was not a good decision.
Tang Jun’en half-gripped his glass, watching.
Yan Zhiguo had a bad feeling and perfunctorily said, “Oh? Is that so?”
Shen Cheng calmly recounted: “President Lu first bought and established positions, then highly recommended selling. This is a basic market manipulation tactic, easily identifiable. Yet he has been mixed in the market for many years and even became a top-tier retail investor. The reason is he has a master behind him, Guo Gonghua.”
Yan Zhiguo’s face suddenly changed.
Lu Xingchuan held his breath.
Shen Cheng continued: “Guo Gonghua is a top stock operator in A-shares. His manipulation tactics are so subtle that no flaws can be found. As far as I know, President Yan should have some connection with him. So, about his recent downfall, do you have nothing to say?”
Yan Zhiguo knew Shen Cheng’s intention.
He truly was Shen Wenli’s son, cunning enough.
Guo Gonghua was Yan Zhiguo’s brother-in-law. In his early years, he was a famous individual investor, influential in the stock market. He had previously manipulated Guotong Industry, but back then, he wasn’t good at covering his tracks and was reported to the CSRC. It was Yan Zhiguo who falsified data, reducing his penalty.
Later, Yan Zhiguo cut ties with him and had no contact for many years.
Recently, he heard that something had happened to him and feared that the old incident would be exposed. After all, settling accounts in autumn was always brutal, and his Guotong Industry couldn’t afford it.
He had avoided it for so long, yet Shen Cheng still found this loophole...
Shen Cheng continued, “I believe the data I saw recently was all real, with no possibility of fabrication. How could President Yan do something that would damage his reputation so much?”
Yan Zhiguo tugged at the corner of his mouth: “Right. Of course.”
Lu Xingchuan wanted to leave.
Tang Jun’en subtly smiled. These were all Shen Cheng’s usual tactics.
The atmosphere grew increasingly bizarre. Yan Zhiguo suddenly stood up, swayed slightly, then said, “I’m going to the restroom.”
After the man walked away, Shen Cheng poured Lu Xingchuan a drink and said, “What do you think of Guotong Industry’s influence in China?”
Lu Xingchuan said nothing, trying his best to maintain a composed expression.
Shen Cheng continued: “What about your Hanxing Media’s influence? How much is it?”
Lu Xingchuan couldn’t keep silent any longer: “Professor Shen, please be direct.”
Then Shen Cheng was direct: “I know all the leverage you hold over my wife, but you don’t know if it can affect me, so are you still going to gamble with me?”
Lu Xingchuan now understood why Shen Cheng embarrassed Yan Zhiguo in front of him. If Shen Cheng could easily control Yan Zhiguo, let alone him, Lu Xingchuan.
Shen Cheng was very accommodating: “I appreciate you looking after my wife when I was too busy. In return, I am willing to acquire Hanxing Media to resolve your urgent needs.”
Lu Xingchuan was shocked: “Professor Shen... you...”
Shen Cheng smiled: “Is this a valuable deal?”
If the leverage Lu Xingchuan held over Han Bailu couldn’t threaten Shen Cheng and extort him, then there was indeed no faster way to raise money than by selling Hanxing. But Hanxing was currently just an empty shell, with no money or resources. Why would Shen Cheng want it?
“Are you going to consider it for a long time?”
Lu Xingchuan feared there was a trick, but given his current predicament, he couldn’t afford to worry too much and agreed.
Shen Cheng nodded: “Then I’ll arrange for someone to come in for an appraisal shortly.”
Lu Xingchuan’s agreement was half a beat slow.
Shen Cheng’s secretary came in and escorted Lu Xingchuan out. Tang Jun’en glanced towards the restroom; Yan Zhiguo hadn’t come out yet: “That old man didn’t fall into the urinal, did he?”
Shen Cheng took a sip of wine, knowing full well Yan Zhiguo was probably on the phone, confirming if Shen Cheng had truly caught him by the tail.
Tang Jun’en averted his gaze and looked at Shen Cheng: “This Hanxing Media, you’re getting it for me, aren’t you?”
Shen Cheng said nothing.
Tang Jun’en knew Shen Cheng didn’t just call him to watch a show: “Did you do something to offend me?”
Shen Cheng said: “Isn’t your birthday coming soon? This is your birthday gift.”
Tang Jun’en shot him a look: “What’s the catch?”
“After my grandmother passed away, my grandfather became overly immersed in his jade collection. I know he hasn’t moved on, so I hope you can spend more time with him when you have time. We have very few common topics.”
Tang Jun’en didn’t expect it to be for this reason. Of course, he had no problem with it; he truly regarded Shen Huaiyu as his own grandfather: “You have few common topics? You just refuse to spend time with them.”
Besides Shen Cheng’s doctor, no one knew about his emotional disorder, only that he always refused to spend too long with one person.
When the conversation shifted to this topic, Shen Cheng stopped talking. Tang Jun’en didn’t waste any more words either: “Alright. I’ll go stay with my grandfather for two days soon.”
Shen Cheng raised his glass to him.
Tang Jun’en rolled his eyes at his polite gesture: “Dramatic.”
As the two drank, Yan Zhiguo returned: “Excuse me, I ate something bad this morning, so it took a while.”
Shen Cheng and Tang Jun’en smiled, indicating it was fine.
Yan Zhiguo sat back down and brought the conversation back to the topic Shen Cheng had veered away from earlier: “Professor Shen, let’s talk about our cooperation first. Patent technology being suspected of plagiarism could ruin your reputation.”
Tang Jun’en raised an eyebrow slightly. This old man was quite quick-witted, already thinking about how to counterattack.
Shen Cheng remained calm: “You might not be aware, but the person in charge of your project is one of our shareholders through technical investment. Because he didn’t meet our conditions when he joined the firm, no cooperation contract was signed. He recently proposed formally joining the firm, and I naturally had to evaluate his contributions to the firm before making a decision. Who knew he would maliciously frame me?”
Yan Zhiguo stared at him, trying to discern the truth of his words.
Shen Cheng continued: “My data can all be disclosed. You know me, President Shen, I don’t like to falsify things.”
Just as the topic was about to shift back to Yan Zhiguo fabricating data, Yan Zhiguo didn’t elaborate further on the matter: “Then, Professor Shen, how do you plan to compensate us for the losses you’ve caused?”
Shen Cheng took out his phone: “Please wait a moment.”
Yan Zhiguo and Tang Jun’en were both curious what Shen Cheng was going to do.
Shen Cheng sent Wen Huo a WeChat message: “Come to the Aman Summer Palace restaurant now, I’m waiting for you here.”
Wen Huo received this WeChat message and thought he had seen her Moments. She put down her chopsticks, thought for a moment, and replied: “But I’m eating, Professor Shen, are you in a hurry?”
“Very urgent.”
Wen Huo returned the favor: “Oh, be in a hurry then.”
Shen Cheng didn’t reply again. He stood up: “Excuse me, please wait a moment.”
Having said that, he left the restaurant.
He knew Yang Yinlou’s academic salon was taking place at the Aman Summer Palace, so he knew Wen Huo was also there. That’s why he booked a suite for Yan Zhiguo at the Aman Summer Palace Hotel.
After asking a server, he found the private room where Wen Huo and her group were, then entered guided by the server.
Everyone’s expressions upon seeing Shen Cheng were incredibly varied, and several even stood up directly, unable to speak coherently: “Prof... Professor Shen?”
Yang Yinlou was also a little surprised. Why was he here?
Shen Cheng, being the junior, greeted Yang Yinlou first: “Professor Yang.”
Only then did Yang Yinlou stand up: “Does Professor Shen also know about our amateur salon today? Why didn’t you come earlier?”
“I happened to have something here. I heard you were here, so I came to say hello and take someone with me.”
Shen Cheng’s words puzzled everyone even more. Their relationship with Shen Cheng was limited to them knowing Shen Cheng, but Shen Cheng not knowing them. Who could he be looking for?
Wen Huo, who had been in an obscure corner, slowly lowered her head, trying to make her presence as small as possible.
Wu Guo, seeing the situation, also knew Shen Cheng was looking for Wen Huo, but seeing that Wen Huo seemed reluctant to go with him, he kept silent.
Yang Yinlou was curious: “Take someone with you? Is there someone Professor Shen knows among these juniors? I haven’t heard.”
Shen Cheng smiled faintly, walked halfway around the round table, stopped in front of Wen Huo, and said, “Let’s go.”
Wen Huo’s head was almost touching the floor. She didn’t move or make a sound.
The teaching assistants who had asked Wen Huo for her WeChat earlier were stunned. No way? This seemingly low-key, quiet girl actually knew Shen Cheng? It was too dramatic!
Shen Cheng called her: “Wen Huo.”
Wen Huo instinctively looked up: “I’m here!”
“Let’s go.”
Wen Huo’s expression was complex, her mood even more so. Should she go or not? She really wanted to explain that she had no relationship with Shen Cheng. After all, there were so many mouths here, all from her circle. With each person’s gossip, she definitely wouldn’t be able to clear her name.
Shen Cheng saw Wen Huo still hesitating, took her wrist, and forcibly led her out of the private room.
Indeed, as soon as Wen Huo left, the murmurs from the private room overflowed. She could clearly hear the astonished tones from outside the room.
Shen Cheng said nothing, just pulled her out.
Wen Huo didn’t know what he was doing and stopped walking.
Shen Cheng turned around and looked at her.
Wen Huo rubbed her wrist: “Professor Shen, believe it or not, by tomorrow, news of you and a Tsinghua student being entangled will be out.”
“I wouldn’t be that short-sighted, so they won’t think too much of it.”
Wen Huo inwardly snorted. Who was he looking down on? “Then why did you condescend to come find me?”
“Didn’t you want to see me? You said you missed me, have you forgotten?”
Wen Huo changed quickly: “After meeting Professor Yang, I stopped missing you, it’s quite strange. Now my mind is full of Professor Yang, he truly has the charm of a mature man.”
Shen Cheng nodded gently: “Hmm, you find thirty old, but forty not. Wen Huo, I didn’t realize you were quite the hypocrite.”
Wen Huo saw he had no other business and prepared to leave: “If Professor Shen has nothing else, then I’ll leave. I have quite a lot to do.”
Shen Cheng took two steps closer and pulled up her intentionally low-cut top: “Did I tell you to leave?”
Wen Huo pulled her top down, challenging him: “I’ll wear it like this!”
Then Shen Cheng pulled it down even harder, exposing her chest. She gasped, then threw herself into his arms, using his chest to cover her exposed parts, and looked up, glaring at him: “Are you being funny?”
Shen Cheng reached his hand to her chest, helped her pull her clothes up, and incidentally gave a gentle pinch, using a bit of force: “To teach you a lesson.”
Wen Huo straightened her clothes and tried to pull away from his embrace, but he held her waist firmly. She struggled twice, but couldn’t break free: “What are you doing?”
Shen Cheng looked down at her: “Go back and throw this outfit away. If I see you wearing anything similar again, try to see if you can still get out of bed.”
“What if I don’t listen?”
“I’ll take you right now.”
Wen Huo glanced around. It was already completely dark. Occasionally, people would pass by, but not many. She suddenly felt that Shen Cheng really dared... After weighing her options, she conceded: “I’ll throw it away when I get back.”
Only then did Shen Cheng let her go: “Let’s go.”
“Where to?”
Shen Cheng didn’t say, leading her back to the restaurant.
Yan Zhiguo looked at Wen Huo twice and asked Shen Cheng: “This is...?”
Tang Jun’en wanted to jump in and answer: Can’t you tell? Look at Shen Cheng’s disheveled tie after going out. Who else could this woman be? She must be his little darling.
Shen Cheng said: “Weren’t you asking how I plan to compensate your losses? This is my student. Her current research direction can help Guotong Industry upgrade some of its products. With a theoretical foundation, there can be applied technology, products can be updated, and you can continue to maintain market advantage.”
Yan Zhiguo had considered many possibilities: Shen Cheng might give him money, or recommend new technology. He just hadn’t expected him to arrange for a person to come over.
Wen Huo was slightly stunned.
Tang Jun’en wasn’t surprised; this was also typical of Shen Cheng’s operations.
Yan Zhiguo naturally trusted Shen Cheng’s student. As far as he knew, Shen Cheng didn’t take students. Since she was someone he was willing to acknowledge, she must have some capability, but he couldn’t help but feel that Shen Cheng had outmaneuvered him.
He thought for a moment and stopped beating around the bush: “Professor Shen, just tell me the truth. What are your conditions?”
Shen Cheng smiled: “Of course, I also have a selfish motive. I hope you can give her an opportunity for practical experience, so she can gain more exposure.”
Yan Zhiguo understood. This was Shen Cheng paving the way for his student while also solving their product upgrade issue. He nodded, sighing aloud: “You are even smarter than your father, truly outshining your master.”
“You flatter me.”
“From now on, I’ll need some brain-boosting supplements when dealing with you.”
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