Alas, she came across a brick wall just as she was about to achieve all this. She suddenly realised that she was actually lacking in so many aspects and her confidence was destroyed over and over again. Xiao Fei could not help but reflect that her position today as well as her greatest advancement in life could all be traced back to this student known as Wang Zheng. If not for him, there would not have been the Theory of Spatial Delivery and she would not possess all that she had today. Perhaps she would have been able to reach similar heights many years down the road, but she certainly would not have been able to do it by now.
In this entire process, she unconsciously attributed everything to her own perseverance and hard work, when in reality this was not the case.
However, her conceitedness had brought about severe consequences and it was too late to turn back. OMG and Lucky Star had invested a large amount into this project while Wang Zheng had gone around borrowing money using various connections and resources. If KING Corporation were to go bankrupt, the debts would amount to upwards of ten billion.
Sorting out these chaotic thoughts in her mind only left her with the feeling of boundless dread.
Xiao Fei could not shift the blame onto anyone else. The responsibility was hers to bear from beginning to end. When it came to Wang Zheng, she did not really know how to feel. It was her meeting with him that allowed her to achieve her dreams so far in advance, yet this also caused her life to come to an early end.
However, she had no regrets. Her life may have been short, but all in all she led a happy life. Living fast and dying young was better than immortality - perhaps having such a point of view would allow her to feel better about herself.
Wang Zheng furrowed his brow. Xiao Fei actually had an aura of death and despair around her!
This event had clearly dealt a huge blow to Xiao Fei. Wang Zheng realised almost instantly that she shared the same symptoms as him when he had been forced to break up with Aina.
Wang Zheng sat on the side of the bed and held Xiao Fei's hand. Xiao Fei's body trembled slightly.
"Teacher Xiao Fei, I'll let you in on a secret. This is something that only you and I know. You can't tell anyone else, or else I'll be too ashamed to live." Wang Zheng solemnly said, "Even Yan Xiaosu and Ye Zisu don't know about this."
Women naturally loved gossip. Xiao Fei's eyes opened wide and hazily gazed at Wang Zheng. What was this secret?
"Actually this matter has continually put me in a bind. You already know about me and Aina. Due to various reasons we broke up and I felt that I let her down as a man despite having no other choice. Worse still… under a certain emotional state I got together with Meng Tian. I didn't really understand my feelings toward her and she left me as well. I feel like everything is my fault. I just want to escape, leave and not come to terms with it forever." Wang Zheng bitterly laughed.
Xiao Fei's eyes gradually grew wider, "Ah, so you're not a virgin anymore?"
Wang Zheng nearly spurted out. Why this… could you focus on the main point!?
"Sigh, during that period of time I was really depressed and Zhang Shan gave me a good talking to. He felt that I was too narcissistic for always wanting to shoulder all responsibility without being able to see the good side of things.
Things did not have to made crystal clear when talking to Xiao Fei, for she would still be able to understand.
All he wanted to do was to tell Xiao Fei that regardless of the results of the project, it would be due to everyone's decision, hence the burden should be borne by all. In actual fact Wang Zheng only played a simple role in this project. All the difficult matters were handled by Xiao Fei, so she definitely contributed much more, yet Xiao Fei wanted to bear all responsibility alone because she believed that failure was entirely her fault.
In actual fact her every move received the support of everyone else after much deliberation. This was their approach all along.
"Teacher Xiao Fei, trust is for better or for worse. Even if the sky were to come tumbling down there will be a roof protecting our heads. I once knew an old man who always said that whatever does not kill us only makes us stronger." Wang Zheng said.
Xiao Fei did not utter a word and just tightly held Wang Zheng's hand like it was her source of strength. It took a long time for her to finally let out a laugh. In the instant of her grief turning to happiness bloomed a mature girl's most touching moment.
"Wang Zheng, I realise that you have the potential to become a teacher."
"That's only because Professor Xiao Fei has taught me well. A student takes after their teacher after all."
"What a sweet talker. Perhaps many young girls have already been deceived by you!?" Xiao Fei questioned.
Wang Zheng stroked his nose. He really did consider himself to be an honest and reliable gentleman.
"Stop touching your nose already. Alas, KING Corporation's situation really isn't good. The problems with the experiments have been really significant, yet solutions can't be found. You should mentally prepare yourself for the possibility that the company goes bankrupt, Wang Zheng.
Wang Zheng laughed, "I've already explained it to you. With effort, one can achieve anything. Even if the company were to really go bankrupt it wouldn't be a big deal. Just continue doing what needs to be done, and we'll cross the bridge when we come to it. Moreover, don't they say that we have to tear something down to build it up again and also that things will change for the better?
"Alright, alright, stop with your rhetoric… The most likely outcome is failure. As for the money you acquired… the funds may be lost forever. Even so, I'm not satisfied with the outcome, so I want to try even harder."
Xiao Fei truly did not have much stamina left towards the end. Maintaining the status quo would undoubtedly lead to nothing. Simply put, if the experiments were to continue, more money was needed.
Wang Zheng nodded. He naturally understood, for even the Old Merchant met his Waterloo when he relied on the Milky Way Alliance back then. The fact that Xiao Fei was facing such difficulty was no big surprise. Perhaps due to the Old Merchant's influence, he was rather supportive when it came to these matters. Funding was truly a big problem, but as with all problems there was definitely a solution out there.
In this moment of deep thought, Xiao Fei's mood started to worsen again, for she was not yet able to resolve her deepest concerns. Continuing on like this would not do. As the director of the project, she had to have unflinching determination and willpower. It would be a huge problem if she ever started doubting herself.
"Professor Xiao Fei, I feel that I'm really lucky." Wang Zheng suddenly interjected.
"Lucky?" Xiao Fei stared blankly.
" You too know that your situation now is rather difficult. When it comes to people, there always has to be something in it for them to help out. I can think of ways of solving your funding issues, but are you able to give me anything as collateral?"
"Collateral?" Xiao Fei did not really know what Wang Zheng could want. It did not seem like she had anything to offer him. Equity shares? She did not really mind, but Wang Zheng was definitely not looking for that.
"I want you. If your project fails, you will become part of my private property. This way, even if the project drowns in debt I will not be entirely ruined, whereas if you succeed instead, I would profit greatly - principal and interest included. In that case we'll just pretend that this never happened." Wang Zheng explained.
Xiao Fei face turned red for an instant, the phrase "I want you" momentarily gave Xiao Fei a big shock.
"Until this project concludes, you belong to me. You better take care of yourself and not let this precious asset of mine suffer any damage. I don't want to lose both the person and her possessions!"
Without knowing the reason why, the heavy burden that Xiao Fei experienced disappeared in an instant. This was great. The reality was that In her heart of hearts, Xiao Fei would never admit defeat. She wanted to continue on and would stop only when she died. However, she was unable to selfishly drag someone else to her death with her, so she needed a reason, a way to compensate another person. This person was Wang Zheng.
Did he really want her?