Chapter 56

“Big Brother! You should get moving, or you’ll be late.” Sakura’s voice, which resembled the sound of a unique electronic synthesis, suddenly rang out. It was apparent that Ren Hong wouldn’t use Little You instead of Sakura. Little You was at best an excellent voice assistant and didn’t have a mind of her own. But Sakura was different. She managed the virtual security measures for the entire headquarters, and as long as there was an internet connection, Ren Hong could contact her anytime and anywhere. She was his personal butler; the only one in the world.

“Late? Oh, I almost forgot that I’m having dinner with my brothers tonight.” Ren Hong was taken aback. He instantly recalled what he said to Zhang Han earlier. He looked at the time, immediately closed his personal computer, and soon, left the hotel with his bodyguard.

Without his own vehicle, it was rather inconvenient. For that reason, Ren Hong bought a decent, but not luxurious car. After leaving the Hyatt Hotel, his bodyguard cum driver drove him to NOBU Restaurant.

“Yo! What a coincidence!”

It was the punk guy on the road the other day. On the first floor of the JW Marriott Hotel, Zhang Han and Chen Kai had just entered the NOBU Restaurant. The five close friends came here in high spirits, but didn’t expect to hear a screeching voice directed at them just after their arrival.

Zhang Han originally wore a smile, but instantly sulked as soon as he saw that the woman this punk guy was hugging was exactly Xin Yan, his girlfriend. Or rather, ex-girlfriend.

Xin Yan stared at the S-1 in her hands and looked up. She was a little surprised when she saw Zhang Han. “What are you doing here?”

“What else can you do in a restaurant?” Zhou Hui said indifferently. He already learned about Zhang Han’s breakup. It was saddening to know that Xin Yan was such a realistic and foolish woman. At the same time, he was also glad for his buddy since it was so much better for him to see the true side of this woman than to regret it later in life.

Xin Yan was taken aback. She scanned Zhang Han and his friends who were clad in unimpressive clothes. To her, they were still graduates who hadn’t even stepped into society and experienced hardships. She shook her head in amusement and didn’t say a word.

However, the punk guy beside her didn’t let go of the opportunity to mock them. Especially after staring at Zhang Han, he gave a smug look and ridiculed: “NOBU is a famous restaurant that is ranked the 30th store in the world. The average spending at this restaurant is 1500 RMB, can you guys even afford that?” The punk man suddenly changed his tone of voice, “Oh, no! The five of you should be able to afford a meal, just that you’ll spend a few weeks eating instant noodles later!”

“Pfft…” Zhou Hui suddenly let out an outburst of joy, looking at his buddies around him and laughing. “I’ve never heard that billionaires can’t even afford a meal here. Haha…”

The punk guy was stunned to see Zhou Hui exchanging smiles with one another. Suddenly, he put on an exaggerated look and continued to ridicule the group, “Billionaires? Rich guys in cheap, street clothes? Hahaha…”

Xin Yan also couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Are these guys here to make a fool of themselves?

Chen Kai, who was only interested in coding, hated women like Xin Yan. He said to her, “You think you’re smart, don’t you? You think you’re realistic and can see through everything, don’t you? You think you’re Zhao Wen[1]? No! You’ve even failed miserably at being a gold-digger because your sight is shorter than his little d*ck; a filthy and dark-colored one even!”

Xin Yan’s complexion turned pale, weak, and ugly. Meanwhile, the punk man beside her froze on the spot.

How does he know that my d*ck is dark-colored…!

“Damnnn! This guy usually behaves all gentle and elegant. Apart from being interested in coding, he’s like a geek. Whoa…” Zuo Wang stood next to Zhou Hui and mumbled under his breath.

“I swear I won’t mess with him again. Goddammit, this verbal attack hits with an additional 80,000 mental damage; it also ignores physical defense.” Zhou Hui said, while Zuo Wang on the other side nodded in agreement.

But Chen Kai wasn’t done yet, “Today I’ll make you see how short-sighted you are! Look carefully, each of the five people standing in front of you right now is a major shareholder of XlouS. And that S-1 in your hand has just risen the value of the five of us a little bit more! Got it? Idiot!

“Not only are you short-sighted, you’re also less worthy than a realistic woman because you’re stupid as hell, get it?” Chen Kai became particularly relaxed after finishing speaking in one breath.

“You…” Xin Yan stared at him with an extremely ugly face.

The punk man was bewildered. He would have been furious but instead laughed so hard he was about to slap the floor, “Hahaha~~! You’re a shareholder in XlouS? If that’s the case, I’m the freaking chairman of the board. A bunch of poor b*stards dreaming to be rich. You can’t even afford a goddamn iPhone, and you’re still talking about S-1? Also… Hahaha, it’s as if you guys are making me laugh on purpose!”

“Pfft…” Zhou Hui almost burst into laughter as he watched the punk guy taunt him by holding an S-1 in his hand. However, he urged his buddies to leave right away. “To preserve our intellect, we shall keep away from ret*rds! Let’s go! I can’t stand it anymore!”

“Remember to lick your plate clean, it’s really expensive!” The punk guy mocked and watched as Zhang Han and his group walked away.

“A bunch of poor b*stards pretending to be rich. Hilarious!” The punk guy wrapped his arm around Xin Yan’s waist and they sauntered toward the Lamborghini at the parking lot.

“Just my luck!” Xin Yan said in distaste.

“Let’s get in bed after we’re home and I’ll ease your anger!” The punk guy gave a vulgar smile and looked at her beautiful face.

Coincidentally, Ren Hong had just arrived and his car pulled up next to the Lamborghini. He wore a pair of top-flat sunglasses, got out of the vehicle, and held a strip to his mouth, “Zhang Han! Are you guys there yet? I’m downstairs!”

Xin Yan, who was about to get in the luxury car, suddenly froze when she heard the name. She subconsciously turned to the voice and even though it was late at night, her vision wasn’t obscured.

“Okay, gotcha. I’m coming up!” Ren Hong said, skillfully placing the strip around his wrist. The bodyguard passed him a cap from the window of the car. Ren Hong put on the cap and said a few words to the bodyguard in the driver’s seat before heading to the restaurant.

The engine of the Lamborghini had already started, and Xin Yan, who sat in the car, felt dubious. She had a feeling that this man looked rather familiar.

Did he say Zhang Han? That should be him then.

Zhang Han, you learned to curry favor with those powerful people already?

Xin Yan thought and let out a silent snicker.

As long as you step into society, you’ll eventually become a realistic person. But I didn’t expect you to cozy up to someone powerful so soon. I have to say that I’m really impressed! You’ll have to thank me for learning so fast, Zhang Han!

***

“No one believes the truth nowadays; everyone is so easily taken in by lies. People these days… Sigh.” Inside the private room, Zuo Wang said with a forlorn gaze.

“I wouldn’t believe it if I were you!”

“Pedantic!”

“Hell! What do you mean by pedantic? This is perfectly normal thinking for normal people! The only difference is that I know the truth, that’s all, and how many people in the world know the truth? I’m glad for myself!”

“That said, there’s one sentence I’m not happy hearing about—because there are no normal people here!”

“Ugh. Say, Zuo Wang, you don’t even spare yourself when criticizing others? Do you need to go that far?”

“It’s rude to interrupt; let me finish… We’re all geniuses, so raise your hand or don’t raise your hand if you agree! Well, it seems like the votes passed unanimously, and everyone is convinced of that. Hah!”

“You guys having quite a pleasant chat, huh~ Besides, what’s the point of voting for nothing?”

“Yo, the boss is here!”

Ren Hong walked into the private room with a smile, tossing his cap to the side and taking a seat on a vacant seat. Zuo Wang, who sat at the side, laughed and said: “I’m just trying to lighten the mood and get rid of some unluckiness. We came to enjoy ourselves over dinner and almost stirred up a fuss earlier.”

“What’s wrong?” Ren Hong asked, looking at Zhang Han. “Could it be related to Zhang Han?”

“How do you know?”

“I met them by coincidence!”

“What a small world!”

“That’s why we need to find a way to break out of Earth as quickly as possible.” Ren Hong said with a smile, “Cheers!”

“Right on, Boss! I heard from Zhang Han that you’ll be attending the China-US Entrepreneur Summit?” Zhou Hui said, his two eyes of adoration sending a chill down Ren Hong’s spine.

“Awesome!” Zhou Hui exclaimed. “That place is full of big shots! Say, will you be all panicky then? If I were there, I would surely slur my words and shiver!”

Ren Hong was instantly displeased. “Say, you drunkard, do you mean I’m not a big shot? Now, besides XlouS, can you find me a second company in China that’s either listed or valued at over 350 billion USD?”

“Let’s leave it at that. Anyone who calls me a drunkard again…”

“Drunkard…”

Before Zhou Hui finished his sentence, the unified voices of the other men forced him to surrender, “Damn, you guys are ruthless! I give up!”

“Just accept your fate, Buddy! Hahaha…” Zuo Wang teased with a smile.

A boisterous get-together of six close friends didn’t change due to the change in their identity and value. It was what it was, and there was nothing Ren Hong cared about more than that.

“By the way, in a few days I’m going to the studio for… Uh… What’s that called again… Yes, a famous talk show. I’ve decided to reveal to the world our initial team.” Ren Hong took a sip of his drink and said.

“Uh… Why the sudden decision? I still want to live a peaceful life!” Zhang Han curiously said.

Ren Hong smiled. “You are all coming back to the headquarters with me, so it doesn’t matter if I expose it or not. In that case, it’s all set! This is a so-called legendary saga! What’s a legend if it’s not celebrated? Gates, Jobs, and the other billionaires are widely praised as legends, and so should we! That settles it then! Cheers to us being legends!”

“We are legends!”

One had to admit that Ren Hong had always been there whenever the group needed someone to say some powerful words. His distinct voice never failed to bring the group closer, keeping them together.

They believed that XlouS was born in an ordinary classroom from six ordinary young people who created an extraordinary deed. This would certainly become a new legendary story full of passion and inspiration that would be told and passed on to the world…

[1] A TV actress.