Chapter 584: Dignity

I had a private jet at home.

I had a helicopter, too.

But I certainly didn’t need them for my daily commute.

Throughout all of Peng City, only a handful of the top tycoons used helicopters for their daily commute. It wasn’t my place to be that ostentatious.

“Do you live far away?”

He asked the question casually.

The pilot smiled and explained, “On an island, a helicopter is more convenient.”

Looking down on World Island from above, one could see luxurious architecture like white pearls dotting the azure sea. The sun shone brightly on the pristine white beaches.

After landing on the helipad, You Shaoqiang saw Lin Chu waiting to welcome him, dressed in a T-shirt and shorts.

Kang Hao stepped out of the helicopter and glanced at Lin Chu. He was about to offer a smile and a nod when his expression suddenly froze.

An Yunzhi!

‘How could An Yunzhi be here?’

She was holding Lin Chu’s arm, looking for all the world like an intimate couple.

In that moment, he felt his brain short-circuit.

Not long ago, Lin Chu had called to ask him about An Yunzhi.

‘Ever since the An Family fell, I naturally cut my ties with her. I even got engaged and told Lin Chu I’d invite him to the wedding…’

But now… seeing Lin Chu and An Yunzhi together in a place like this, Kang Hao felt an inexplicable, faint sense of guilt, as if he were the one who had committed a betrayal.

It wasn’t as though he and An Yunzhi had ever actually been together. To put it bluntly, he had just been a bootlicker. Even though he had successfully turned the tables and abandoned his unrequited love, the psychological scars from the past remained.

“You didn’t even tell me you were coming. Sneaking over like this, trying to launch a surprise attack on me?”

Lin Chu strode forward, smiling as he extended a hand to You Shaoqiang. As he teased him, he felt the hand An Yunzhi had on his arm tighten slightly. He also noted Kang Hao’s awkward expression and the visible blush creeping up his neck. But none of that mattered. To Lin Chu, Kang Hao had always been just a kid.

You Shaoqiang gripped Lin Chu’s hand firmly. “It was a last-minute trip. I wanted to give you a surprise.”

“It’s definitely a surprise.”

“Come on, Kang Hao. We meet again. So, when’s the wedding?”

“Let’s head inside first.”

Lin Chu then shook Kang Hao’s hand, asking his question with a hint of playful malice. The younger man grew even more flustered, looking like he wanted to dive into the ocean to cool his head. He was so flustered he couldn’t even form a reply.

An Yunzhi, however, was beaming.

The bonds and decency between people were often both simple and complex.

She had never loved Kang Hao, so she certainly didn’t hate him now. While he hadn’t offered a helping hand in her time of need, he at least hadn’t kicked her while she was down.

As for him getting married, that was wonderful news.

Life was a brilliant fireworks display; the collision of any two sparks was at once coincidental and inevitable.

“Oh, right, there was something I wanted to talk to you about. Hahaha, I’m a little short on cash recently… My friend, how about I sell my shares back to you? No need to calculate any interest, just return my one billion.”

They had just sat down and had a couple of cups of tea when Lin Chu said this with a light, breezy smile.

From the moment You Shaoqiang had stepped off the helicopter, Lin Chu had seen his position written all over him. His micro-expressions had made everything clear, so there was nothing left to discuss.

Of course, allowing others to save face was a way of preserving one’s own dignity.

‘Damn, I’m such a gentleman,’ he thought. ‘A gentleman doesn’t speak ill, even when parting ways.’

Hearing this, You Shaoqiang’s eyes flickered. He looked at Lin Chu with surprise, and for the first time, an unspeakable sense of shame washed over him.

This…

He never imagined Lin Chu would say something like that.

The stock price had more than doubled. Even by a conservative estimate, Lin Chu’s initial one billion investment had grown by seven or eight hundred million, yet he was only asking for the principal…

‘For a moment, You Shaoqiang even wondered, ‘Is he on the verge of bankruptcy? Is he in some kind of urgent trouble?’ If that were true, then the one asking for his money back was in a tight spot. Perhaps he could drag this out a bit longer, maybe even negotiate a lower price…’

The thought flashed through his mind and was gone. Pursing his lips and taking a deep breath, You Shaoqiang beamed. “Hey, how could I do that? It was one billion then, but it’s worth much more now—at least one and a half billion. Besides, you helped me out so much. That’s no way to do business. Since you’re in a rush for cash and want to sell, we should part on good terms. Is your capital shortfall large?”

Lin Chu had a gun.

And a security company, a training base, and men armed with live ammunition.

Forcibly suppressing the devilish thought, You Shaoqiang presented his bright and respectable side.

Lin Chu gave him a meaningful look and smiled back. “You’re so straightforward, and smart too. A 50% net profit on one billion in less than three months. If another good deal like this comes up, be sure to find me… How soon can you transfer the funds?”

“Give me a week to get it ready. Do you want it in RMB or USD?”

You Shaoqiang took a sip of his coffee. A great weight lifted from his heart, and he let out a long sigh of relief.

His father wasn’t the type to burn bridges, and neither was he. That was the You Family way.

Handling this matter amicably without offending Lin Chu meant he had accomplished his mission for this trip.

Of course, thinking back on it, Lin Chu… was truly someone who left you at a loss for words.

Looking on the bright side, the man was a true friend. He had been straightforward when he needed the money, and now he was willingly taking a loss on the return.

Even at the one and a half billion he had quoted, after factoring out stock fluctuations and transaction costs, Lin Chu was still taking a twenty-percent loss based on the fair market value of the shares.

“Either is fine. Whatever’s most convenient for you.”

“Did you bring the agreement?”

“Just give it to me to sign.”

Lin Chu smiled and offered each of them a cigarette. You Shaoqiang paused for a moment before pulling a prepared memorandum of share transfer from his bag. Without even a glance, Lin Chu signed his name with a series of quick, flamboyant strokes.

“Alright, business is done. Time to have some fun. I’m throwing a party tonight. This place is huge, so you can just stay here.”

You Shaoqiang: …

He had always thought Lin Chu was mysterious.

Now, he seemed even more so, possessing an indescribable air of confidence. He was decisive, carefree, a man whose word was his bond. The aura of a true magnate around him was growing stronger, an aura few men, even in his father’s generation, could match.

‘Perhaps… we made the wrong decision?’

After a few seconds of dazed silence, You Shaoqiang collected himself and just smiled. “Alright, then. Thanks for your hospitality, Brother Chu.”

…

As night fell, a festive atmosphere descended upon the island where Lin Chu lived.

The party arrangements, of course, were handled by the butler, who managed everything in perfect order.

He had been attending all sorts of social functions and other people’s parties these past few days. Now that he was hosting his own, he had invited quite a few people.

It wasn’t just to welcome You Shaoqiang and Kang Hao; it was also an opportunity for him to make his own splash.

Many local business people had been trying to get to know him through various channels, both overt and covert. This was the perfect chance to invite them all over for a lively gathering.

Over a dozen yachts were moored at the pier, but there wasn’t enough room. The extras had to turn back and shuttle guests over in shifts.

Above, a continuous stream of helicopters arrived and landed, creating what looked like an aerial traffic jam.

Watching the Princes in white formal robes, the Celebrities in tailored suits, and the endless stream of beauties, starlets, and models from all over the world laughing and mingling, You Shaoqiang and Kang Hao felt like country mice visiting the big city for the first time.

Wait…

Had the scale of his operation really reached this level?

Did Lin Chu really have this much clout?

It seemed that the recent legal case hadn’t affected Lin Chu in the slightest.

Just as the party was about to begin…

The Chinese envoy stationed in the country arrived.

All sorts of people immediately rushed forward to greet him.

Watching this scene, You Shaoqiang felt another wave of profound shock.

He gained a new, clear, and thorough understanding of the depth of Lin Chu’s connections.

This meant that Lin Chu wasn’t just an influential figure locally and among the populace; he was officially recognized and endorsed, even by the government back home.

‘This time… I was too shortsighted.’

‘In the end, my perspective was just too narrow.’