How could she stop Pang Jinglong from killing his stepmother?
Wen Ying certainly couldn’t act like some fortune-telling charlatan and say on their first meeting, “I see a calamity awaiting you on a certain date; listen to me and you’ll survive.” Forget whether Pang Jinglong would believe her; in front of He Zhen and Rebecca, Wen Ying would die of embarrassment before she even finished the sentence.
Doing it behind their backs? Don’t be ridiculous. The only reason Pang Jinglong was willing to talk to her at all was because she knew He Zhen. Without He Zhen as the bridge, Pang Jinglong wouldn’t give her the time of day.
Wen Ying hid her thoughts and continued drinking and chatting casually with the three of them.
They were all young; they found plenty to talk about.
A few beers later, everyone loosened up.
Pang Jinglong, already tipsy, raised his can to He Zhen. “Bro, this toast is for you! I’m really happy. Not because I’m abroad, you know why… I’m not good with words, but I know who treats me well!”
He didn’t wait for a reply and chugged the entire can.
He drank too fast and let out a huge burp.
“Hey, why are you getting all sentimental? You’re the one supporting my startup, and now you’re thanking me instead?”
Despite his words, seeing Pang Jinglong so worked up, He Zhen could only smile helplessly and down a can with him.
Pang Jinglong, who had been maybe five parts drunk, was now at least seven.
“Anyway, I just know who’s good to me. Giving you money to start the company was 100% willing!”
Probably because he’d gulped the beer too quickly, emotion plus cold liquid hit his stomach. The moment he finished speaking, Pang Jinglong turned and vomited over the railing.
Rebecca gave him a thumbs-up. “Impressive!”
He Zhen was the best to Pang Jinglong, so naturally He Zhen had to clean up the mess after his friend threw up.
Rebecca pulled Wen Ying aside. “This is men’s friendship. We stay out of it.”
Wen Ying smiled and nodded. “I have nothing but respect for this kind of friendship.”
The two girls exchanged a knowing smile.
Pang Jinglong was still mumbling, saying that if they needed more money he’d sell his apartment and invest everything.
He Zhen looked at the drunkard, head in hands. “Sell the apartment and sleep where? Under a bridge? And make your mum sleep under a bridge with you?”
An outsider would never believe it.
Uncle Pang’s business was huge. He bought cars and houses for his mistress, let her take part in the company, and sent his illegitimate son abroad for elite education.
The illegitimate son lived in mansions and drove luxury cars, while Pang Jinglong’s name only had one apartment.
That apartment, in Shanghai, had been “compensation” fought for by rural relatives because Pang Jinglong couldn’t study abroad; they felt it looked too bad otherwise.
Bought years ago, it was now worth around three million if sold.
Three million sounds like a lot.
But compared to what the mistress and bastard son received, it was nothing.
Pang Jinglong had long wanted to sell it. He Zhen had never agreed.
It was Pang Jinglong’s last safety net.
Recently, relations between Pang Jinglong’s parents had deteriorated sharply. His mother had already moved out of the old home and into that very apartment in Pang Jinglong’s name.
Wen Ying didn’t know these details, but she caught the word “investment.”
“Invest in what?”
Rebecca answered casually, “They’re starting a business.”
Wen Ying looked at her with focused, puzzled eyes.
Rebecca assumed that Wen Ying, a bestselling author who earned money with words, probably wasn’t very interested in business or economics. She patiently explained, “Jobs and his friend built the first Apple computer in a garage; now Apple is worth over 200 billion dollars. Zuck started Facebook while at Harvard; in less than four years its valuation is estimated at 15 billion. With examples like that, some young people aren’t satisfied with ordinary jobs. They want bigger success, so they choose entrepreneurship… But you know, we only ever see the winners celebrating. We don’t see the mountain of failures behind Jobs and Zuck. There’s nothing wrong with entrepreneurship itself, but betting everything is irrational.”
Rebecca was explaining to Wen Ying and, at the same time, gently reminding Pang Jinglong.
She had heard about Pang Jinglong’s family situation from He Zhen.
He Zhen had merely cut financial ties with his parents; he needed success, but he wasn’t desperate.
Pang Jinglong was different. Family conflict had wounded him deeply. He wanted to crush his “enemies” with success.
That wasn’t healthy.
It went against everything Rebecca had been taught growing up.
Investing requires a little risk, but far more rationality.
Rebecca believed He Zhen was trustworthy; he would be responsible with both Pang Jinglong’s money and any other investor’s.
But trustworthiness didn’t guarantee success!
Had Pang Jinglong considered what would happen if He Zhen’s startup failed?
Normally, Rebecca wouldn’t interfere with others’ choices, but because she loved He Zhen, she couldn’t help caring a little for his friend.
Unfortunately, Pang Jinglong was plastered and still draped over the railing vomiting, completely missing her well-meaning hint.
Rebecca turned and saw Wen Ying’s eyes sparkling, as if she were suddenly fascinated by the topic of entrepreneurship.
The thought had barely formed when Wen Ying spoke. “I’ve heard the stories of Jobs and Zuck. I also know they dropped out to start their companies. Personally I don’t support dropping out, those are just exceptional cases. Actually, I’ve always been very interested in entrepreneurship, just never had the chance to get involved. He Zhen, are you going into internet too?”
President Xiao Wen, who should have invested ten million in Tianjiao while still in high school, activated full bullshitting mode.
Before becoming a bestselling author, she had been a lawyer. Once she started lying mode, even people who knew her well might not see through it; Rebecca, who barely knew her, stood no chance.
“No, they’re doing medical aesthetics.”
Rebecca still hadn’t caught on to Wen Ying’s real intention.
Wen Ying had just thought of a brilliant plan that could kill two birds with one stone.
Telling Pang Jinglong like a fortune-teller to not commit a crime? He’d never listen.
But what if she stopped him as a fellow investor?
Pang Jinglong was an investor, and so was she. Shared identity would make him trust her.
Plus, getting money into He Zhen’s startup would help him gain independence faster. In the future, no matter how Sara Zhuo or Zhao Dong tried to stir trouble, it would have much less to do with He Zhen.
Wen Ying wasn’t doing this because of lingering old feelings.
In her previous life, He Zhen had taught her many things. In this life they wouldn’t be lovers again, but she could still repay his kindness.
Helping He Zhen become independent early might even prevent him from breaking up with Rebecca later.
Losing Rebecca had been He Zhen’s greatest regret after achieving success in their last life!
Wen Ying’s eyes shone brighter, her voice full of innocent expectation like a complete newbie. “Actually, I have some money I’ve never figured out how to spend. He Zhen, is your startup still accepting investment? Can you bring me in?”
Rebecca wanted to clean out her ears.
What was going on? She had been trying to persuade Pang Jinglong to be cautious with investments.
Why hadn’t she persuaded Pang Jinglong, but somehow convinced Wen Ying instead?
He Zhen was equally stunned.
They were acquaintances at best; he had once had a one-sided crush on her.
He had buried those feelings long ago, and now Wen Ying suddenly wanted to invest in his company?!
He Zhen felt that not only was Pang Jinglong drunk tonight; Wen Ying was even drunker.
Pang Jinglong was still bleary-eyed, hanging on the railing with a silly grin. “You’ve got great taste! Of course we’ll bring you in. How much can you invest?”
