Chapter 126 - 126 – Business Matters

And thus, the secret plans for Ren's birthday party took shape.

The next day, Ren found that Fang had run away from SIMS as soon as they were done for the day, while Ren had been pulled away by some department or the other to check on or to discuss new research projects. Of course, Ren didn't mind talking about the medical advancements from his previous world and set people to work on it – after all, that was a very good thing for this world!

But after Fang ran away for the second day in a row, Ren was worried and called Pax.

"Yes, yes, your little darling is at Sirocco – I needed his help with something and called him here," Pax said without preamble the moment the phone call got connected.

Ren was stunned into silence for a moment. "All right, then," he murmured. "How long do you need Fang for?"

"I think I'll need him for a couple of weeks or so, but don't worry, your promised weekend with the babies at home won't be affected, I'll make sure of that," Pax promised quickly. "After all, Sylvia threatened to run away from home with her siblings if you two didn't stay at home as promised over the weekend – and I definitely don't want that to happen," he added.

Ren was successfully distracted by that remark – and Pax knew that he would be, which is exactly why he had brought it up. Otherwise Ren would ask him what he needed Fang's help with, and Ren might even turn up at Sirocco himself to help with Fang's work – and that would be a disaster.

Because Fang was now frantically working on customisation designs for the massage chairs and the luxury car – the inspiration capsule sent by Miccan43 had really done wonders. Even Pax was quite excited about how the final massage chairs and the luxury car from Miccan43 would look like!

Of course, Fang and Pax were also working on the arrangements for the grand party for Ren's birthday. Pax was quite impressed with how involved Fang was with everything – the venue, the menu, the guest list, the invitations, the décor, the gift bags for guests – Fang helped with everything.

And finally, when they had put down everything they wanted (with inputs from Sylvia and the three furballs as well), Pax found Fang rubbing his temples as if to ward off a headache.

"What's wrong?" Pax asked worriedly. Ren would kill him if his darling Fang went home looking sick and tired.

Fang sighed. "Would it be cheaper for us to simply buy this resort?" he asked tiredly.

Pax stared at Fang for a moment, stunned. Then he burst out laughing.

"Finally!" Pax guffawed, clutching his stomach. "Finally you get to think like Ren! Ah ha ha ha – the corruption is complete!"

Fang frowned at Pax. "Don't call it corruption," he said. "It's a good thing if I can think like Ren!"

Pax threw up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Yes, yes, of course, it's a good thing, a very good thing!" he said, gasping for breath because of laughing too hard.

Fang pursed his lips, clearly displeased because it seemed to him as if Pax was making fun of Ren.

Pax finally stopped laughing and resumed his usual serious face. "Do you know the secret thing about rich people and why they seem to attract money without even doing anything, Fang?" he asked.

Fang shook his head.

"It's the mindset," Pax said. "It's not always about conscious calculation – it's the way people think about money. It's not about saving money all the time or about spending money all the time. It's not even about using money to make more money all the time, either. A lot of it comes at an involuntary and subconscious level, and this comes from, to some extent, from one's nurture and the values that one had growing up. Of course, it can be cultivated, too. And those who can do that, go on to become really rich and successful."

Fang nodded thoughtfully. It made sense. "So, how do I cultivate that mindset?" he asked. He was tired of fighting with Ren about money and about Ren's spending habits – and if there was something Fang could do to prevent that – even if it was to change himself and to adopt a different way of thinking, Fang was willing to do that. He had realised that most of his disagreements with Ren – and most of Fang's own insecurities – revolved around the issue of money and finances. And while he knew at a conscious level that Ren honestly didn't care about mundane things like money and only thought about money as a tool to get stuff he wanted or needed – but at an instinctive and subconscious level, Fang still felt it, and he minded about this difference between the two of them. And he was eager to rectify it.

Pax thought about Ren's recent reluctance to spend money and his complete stoppage of buying anything for himself, regardless of whether he needed it or not, and decided to take this chance to educate Fang about these things, and he felt that it was really good that Fang was willing to take this step. Pax had always felt that Ren was overestimating Fang whenever Ren said that Fang was going to be an unsurpassed business tycoon who would rule the world in the future – of course, he would never dare to say so to Ren. But now that Pax saw that he had a chance to educate the supposed future top business tycoon – he immediately grabbed it.

The lecture lasted four hours – and finally ended when Ren turned up at Sirocco in a huff, demanding an explanation from Pax about why he was holding Fang captive in office!

Thanks to the warning from Pax's secretary, Pax and Fang quickly hid away all the evidence of the party planning and gift planning, and delved into a discussion about Sirocco's latest project – and that's when Ren burst into the room.

"What is the meaning of this, Pax?" Ren demanded, clearly annoyed. "How long are you going to keep Fang here? He's already working at SIMS, and then you are making him work like this here! Aren't you afraid that he will exhaust himself?!"

Pax rolled his eyes. Ren couldn't bear to scold Fang, so he was scolding Pax instead – and Pax knew this very well. Still, for the greater good, the man decided to sacrifice himself.

But unexpectedly, Fang jumped up and rushed to Ren, and took Ren's hand in his own.

"Don't blame Pax, my love," he said softly. "I am very interested in working on this new project, and I asked Pax especially for a chance to work on this one…"

Ren raised an eyebrow. "Which project is this?" he demanded.

Fang pointed at the papers that he and Pax had just spread on the table. Quite timely, he thought to himself.

Ren strode to the table and picked up the papers. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw which project Fang had taken up. He remembered this well, because this was the project in the book 'The Trials of Ren' (which he had nearly forgotten about) which had led to the rise of Fang as a business tycoon!

Well, then it was a good thing, Ren decided. "Looks good," he said, smiling at Fang. "What are your plans?"

Fang hadn't expected to be questioned by Ren – but fortunately, he and Pax had indeed read through the papers, although they hadn't gotten to the stage of discussing any ideas.

So, Fang ended up making stuff up in his head based on what he had read and the general lecture that Pax had been giving him about the mindset of the rich – and spoke about them to Pax and Ren.

Both the older men were stunned. Especially Pax, who knew that Fang had taken nothing more than a cursory glance at the project papers! How was he able to come up with such excellent ideas out of the blue! And so perfectly apply everything Pax had just told him about?!

For the first time, Pax realised that Ren's frequent bragging about Fang's heaven defying talent and his potential to become an unmatched business tycoon was based on the truth. Pax had always known about Fang's terrifyingly high IQ and his talents with a lot of things – but given Fang's attitude to monetary matters, he had always had reservations about the 'business tycoon' bit.

But now, Pax realised that Ren was absolutely right! Fang was indeed a phenomenal business tycoon in the making – one that would probably surpass Ren in a few years, even!

Ren listened attentively to Fang's ideas, and then asked quietly, "How do you want to go about this? Do you want to set up your own company and take it forward from there?"

Fang blinked.. "Set up my own company?" he repeated. He had to admit – he was sorely tempted to do that! Wouldn't that be the best way to test his own mettle?