But for some reason, Chen Yan wasn't sure if it was because President Xuan's rank was too high, his inner voice Headphones did not pick up any effective information.

Even listening to President Xuan's inner voice was extremely rare.

Chen Yan had used the inner voice Headphones twice, but aside from a mental comment from President Xuan that "this Boston lobster seems a bit smaller than last time," there was no other psychological fluctuation.

Chen Yan wondered… perhaps this was what it meant to reach the "still water" stage of composure?

Or was he simply…pure as a blank slate?

Chen Yan himself didn't believe the second possibility...

And whenever he couldn't hear President Xuan's inner voice, and then looked up to see the smiling, cheerful-looking President Xuan enjoying his meal, Chen Yan couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart.

He felt that he had really underestimated the heroes of the world before.

Just a seemingly harmless, inherently affable division president of a conglomerate was so unfathomable. How much more terrifying, then, must be the wealthiest man on Qin Island, and the current chairman of Zhao Group, Zhao Qingtian?

It seemed, reaching high positions in this cutthroat society was not an affair for the ordinary.

After the meal, President Xuan didn't hold Chen Yan back; they chatted for a bit, and then President Xuan called the butler to take Chen Yan home.

And when Chen Yan was about to leave, Zhao Ying, who hadn't spoken all evening, took the initiative and said she wanted to send Chen Yan off.

At that moment, President Xuan looked at Zhao Ying, his smile unchanged, merely nodding his head.

Perhaps because Zhao Ying said she would send Chen Yan off, President Xuan did not leave but accompanied them to the door.

Standing at the villa's entrance, President Xuan once again encouraged Chen Yan and then warned him not to be impetuous or overly ambitious. It was more secure to develop the company step by step.

The overseas market was not as simple as one might think. So there was no need to rush to go international. One should solidify the domestic market first.

Having said this, he then left Chen Yan with a contact number, telling him if he encountered any insurmountable difficulties, he could reach out to him.

Chen Yan took down his contact information seriously and then got into the limousine with Zhao Ying.

As the vehicle slowly left the villa entrance, President Xuan, hands behind his back and his plump body slowly pacing, returned to the villa...

After getting back into the villa, he turned around and went into his study, then picked up the phone, dialing a number for Tiandu.

"Beep… beep… beep..."

After a moment, the phone connected, and a somewhat cold voice came through, "Hello, President Xuan."

President Xuan cheerfully said, "Good evening, President Feng."

The man known as President Feng inquired, "Do we have a result?"

President Xuan nodded, "Yes. They do not accept our investment."

President Feng responded with a questioning "Oh?" "Did you explain to him the pros and cons?"

President Xuan replied, "I didn't. Because I found another good opportunity."

President Feng hummed with anticipation for an explanation.

President Xuan cheerfully continued, "I feel he really is an energetic young man, and a genius."

"But... it seems he hasn't been smoothed out by society yet, not quite steady. And he is taking steps that are too big."

"I remember their company has only released one game, right? And its performance was just okay."

"And now his second game is already considering international release. Looking for translations and voice actors in various languages."

"So, at that moment, I thought, perhaps we could wait."

"If his new game fails, we can give him a hand then. The terms will be easier to negotiate. And he'd be even more grateful to Zhao Group."

"It's always better to offer help during hardship than add to someone's happiness."

After hearing this, President Feng on the other side pondered for a moment, then gave an affirming "hmm", saying, "That works. I'll make a note of it."

Finished talking, he said, "Thank you for dealing with this matter."

President Xuan replied, "No trouble at all, it was just a little effort."

President Feng, obviously not one for pleasantries or chat, hung up after the important matters were discussed.

After ending the call, President Xuan hummed a tune, shifting his plump figure, tidied up his desk, and then leisurely took out brush, ink, paper, and inkstone from the drawer.

Then, with precise movements, he laid out the paper, ground the ink, and dipped the brush.

Following that... the characters danced on the paper with the brush as he finished in one go writing down four characters: The Real and The Fake.

This had been President Xuan's understanding from his years of dominating the business field.

Everything said was true, everything said was also false.

Except for himself… no one else could guess which meaning was his true viewpoint.

After writing, he put down the brush, stood with his hands behind his back, went to the window, and looked at the night scenery of the estate with a profound, distant gaze...

...

Today's visit to Zhao Ying's home was an opportunity Chen Yan had always wanted to take to have a chat with her.

After all, she was the one who'd unexpectedly invited him over, and stayed silent the whole time.

Even... if Chen Yan tried to recall tonight's events, he found... apart from having a meal, meeting Zhao Ying's father, and incidentally learning about Zhao Ying's identity, he hadn't gained anything meaningful.

Even... those three things weren't particularly significant.

So, when Zhao Ying said she would take him home, Chen Yan thought she had something to talk about.

Who knew that on the car ride, Zhao Ying still did not speak a word, simply playing a mobile fighting game on her phone.

Chen Yan glanced at it and noticed it was a mobile fighting game...

The character that Zhao Ying was controlling was getting pummeled by an NPC in-game. Battered and swollen.

Judging from the health bar, it was probably seconds from GAME OVER.

Yet, Zhao Ying was not annoyed at all, fiercely maneuvering her character... receiving the beating.

After a moment, the game ended, and without hesitation, Zhao Ying clicked on [Continue Game] and started another round of PvP.

But in reality, while her combat skills were pretty good, in the game, she had no talent; it didn't take long for her to be defeated once again.

Chen Yan watched for a while, then extended his hand, asking, "Can I try?"

Zhao Ying looked at him, nodded, and handed the phone to him.

Chen Yan might not be good at other things, but when it came to games, he was truly skilled.

Especially since mobile fighting games were relatively simple, so even though it was his first time playing it, Chen Yan easily K.O.'d the opponent.

Having thrashed the opponent, Chen Yan himself was somewhat surprised: he had already noticed that Zhao Ying's level in the game was quite low, but seeing her lose so miserably, he thought the game must have some difficulty. So how come... it was so easy?

Zhao Ying, too, looked at him with surprise.

Subsequently, as if to defy the notion, she took the phone back from Chen Yan's hand and started the level again herself.

Thus... as with countless previous endeavours, she was bloodily thrashed again.

Chen Yan watched her stubbornly click [Continue Game] again, and the corner of his mouth twitched: Could Brother Ying be a fighting game idiot?

Otherwise, it didn't make sense that she couldn't get past such an easy game.

So it went: one played, the other watched. Occasionally, when Zhao Ying couldn't beat the opponent, she handed the phone to Chen Yan.

Each time, Chen Yan would take the phone and effortlessly thrash the opponent.

Then Zhao Ying would take the phone back and continue with the next opponent.

Along the way, the atmosphere was harmonious and quiet.

Barely a few words were exchanged between the two.

Apart from... Chen Yan being like a pinch hitter, everything seemed so harmonious.

Quickly, the car arrived at the entrance of Qin Island University—the place where Chen Yan indicated he wanted to get off.

When they reached the drop-off point, Chen Yan got out of the car.

He was about to turn around and say something to Zhao Ying when... Zhao Ying also got out of the car.

Chen Yan looked at Zhao Ying, confused about what she was doing.

Zhao Ying looked back at him and said, "I'll walk you."

Chen Yan made an 'oh' sound and walked towards the entrance to his neighborhood.

Once they reached the corner, Zhao Ying stopped.

Seeing Zhao Ying stop, Chen Yan also stopped and looked at her.

Zhao Ying said, "I owe you a favor."

Chen Yan managed an uncertain 'Ah?'

He didn't know what Zhao Ying's favor meant...

Was it him going to her house that evening?

Or... him just helping her play the game moments ago.

While Chen Yan was puzzled, Zhao Ying clenched her fist and said, "If there's someone you dislike, just tell me. I'll help you beat them up."

Chen Yan went 'Ah, what??' with a head full of question marks.

Zhao Ying patted Chen Yan's shoulder and said, "Okay, you can go back now."

"I'm leaving."

Chen Yan: ??

Chen Yan's head swirled with even more question marks.

He had no idea what Zhao Ying was up to.

Had he missed some detail?

While Chen Yan was baffled, Zhao Ying had already returned to the limousine.

Chen Yan watched her, thinking she was getting back into the car, but who would have thought, in an unexpected outburst, she suddenly kicked the limousine's door.

With a loud "bang," Chen Yan could visibly see the door crumple into a dent.

Then Zhao Ying clenched her fist again and smashed it into the car window.

"Crash-!" With a brittle sound, a window shattered.

The car alarm blared, the butler and the bodyguards got out looking alarmed, and shouted, "Miss?"

Zhao Ying completely ignored them, kicked the door, smashed the window, turned around and ran, then swiftly disappeared into the campus.

Chen Yan dazedly watched the scene unfold before him... feeling as if several crows had flown by overhead...

"Caw... caw... caw..."

What were the unknown factors about tonight's gathering?

Why did this father and daughter both seem so odd?

Carrying confusion, Chen Yan went back home.

Perhaps because it was too bewildering, Chen Yan couldn't figure out the issue at hand.

He checked in on the game.

Boss Qiao Qiao's pixelated character was in the dormitory, and Zhao Ying had already returned to the dorms, seemingly chatting.

Chen Yan pondered... maybe go ask Boss Qiao Qiao tomorrow?

See if Zhao Ying would mention anything back in the dormitory?

It just so happened... Boss Qiao Qiao was coming to the company tomorrow to sculpt clay figurines.

Two birds with one stone.

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