At a table of four sharing a meal, He Zhen and Wen Ying could feel indignation on Pang Jinglong’s behalf, yet they could not truly understand his desire to host a grand banquet if his scumbag father dropped dead.
Only Xie Qian shared Pang Jinglong’s feelings completely.
Pang Zhigang wanted to repair his relationship with Pang Jinglong. By coincidence, Xie Jinghu wanted the same with Xie Qian.
Pang Zhigang and Xie Jinghu were the same type of scumbag father. Whenever Xie Qian recalled Xie Jinghu’s occasional displays of concern, he lost his appetite looking at the dishes before him.
The difference was that Xie Qian had the confidence to reject Xie Jinghu’s overtures. Pang Jinglong’s confidence was not yet sufficient.
The startup company had only just begun. It could not withstand too many storms. There was no need to make enemies unnecessarily.
Xie Jinghu had once tried to prevent Xie Qian from starting his own venture, but fearing Xie Yuping he had not gone too far.
The Pang family, however, had no fair patriarch like Xie Yuping. No one could stop Pang Zhigang from causing chaos as he pleased.
In that case, Pang Jinglong could only continue to deal evasively with Pang Zhigang.
“Starting a business means dealing with all sorts of clients. Some are easy to work with, pay promptly, and make few demands. Others drive hard bargains, make endless demands, and are extremely difficult, yet you cannot turn down their orders. So the process of entrepreneurship is like a form of cultivation. When you cannot manage the client, you can only manage yourself.”
Xie Qian spoke unexpectedly.
Pang Jinglong was sensitive. “You also think I should accept the flat?”
Pang Jinglong felt no jealousy towards Xie Qian, yet they were not close.
He Zhen and Wen Ying could offer advice. He Zhen was a childhood friend, and Wen Ying had helped with Zhang Liqun and Pang Zhigang’s divorce.
On what standing was Xie Qian speaking?
Pang Jinglong felt Xie Qian was overstepping.
This Pang Jinglong fancies the hamster.
Low-level jealousy involves crude attacks on the rival, making the rival hate you. High-level jealousy involves tolerating the rival, winning him over.
Thus Xie Qian felt no anger. Instead he advised sincerely, “I am indeed speaking out of turn given how little we know each other, but please believe me. At this table, I am the one with the most experience.”
What did that mean?
Could Xie Qian also have…
Pang Jinglong stole glances at He Zhen and Wen Ying’s expressions. Wen Ying seemed fine, but He Zhen was already shaking his head slightly at Pang Jinglong, signalling him not to pry.
Pang Jinglong burned with curiosity, nearly bursting.
“You mean I should treat that man as a client?”
Xie Qian countered, “Otherwise what? Do you still want to treat him as a proper father?”
Pah.
Only when beating gongs and drums for a funeral would Pang Jinglong feel he had a father.
“How is that the same…”
Wen Ying interjected cheerfully, “How is it not the same? You earn money from clients. Whoever brings you profit is your client. The difference is that usually you must humour the client. Now this client is eagerly offering money and must humour you instead.”
Only a fool refuses free money.
If Pang Jinglong firmly refused the flat, would Pang Zhigang give up his schemes?
No.
A self-important scumbag father like Pang Zhigang would simply switch tactics and continue forcing his presence on Pang Jinglong.
For example, criticising any girlfriend Pang Jinglong might have.
Or, when Pang Jinglong faced setbacks in business, offering condescending advice.
Far better to accept the sweetened coating, spit out the cannonball, and let Pang Zhigang believe his overtures worked. That way he would not try other methods, leaving Pang Jinglong passive.
Of course, accepting the flat did not mean Pang Zhigang would behave.
Whether Pang Jinglong accepted or not, Pang Zhigang would still leap about causing trouble. He was the sort of difficult client Pang Jinglong could not shake off.
Since harassment was inevitable either way, why not collect some interest?
Wen Ying’s words Pang Jinglong could accept. With her explanation, he finally understood Xie Qian’s meaning and looked towards Xie Qian.
“How do you manage to remain so calm?”
Xie Qian smiled. “Since he is a client, you need only care how much business he brings. Do you concern yourself with a client’s personal morals?”
With clients, one truly need not care about their private ethics.
Pang Jinglong finally understood.
He grew angry seeing Pang Zhigang because he still cared.
The reverse of hatred is love. Throughout Pang Jinglong’s upbringing, fatherly love had always been absent. Previously Pang Zhigang had given none. Now he stuffed fake concern down his throat. Naturally Pang Jinglong found it revolting.
Pang Jinglong’s softening was avoidance. Not seeing Pang Zhigang meant not thinking of him. Seeing him stirred anger without composure.
The day Pang Jinglong felt nothing towards Pang Zhigang would mark the completion of his cultivation.
Pang Jinglong understood, yet did not know how to act.
“I get angry just seeing him.”
Xie Qian said mildly, “Because you are not strong enough yet. You can only let yourself get angry. When you stand high enough, if someone makes you angry you can make them unhappy instead.”
High-level jealousy not only wins over the rival but points him in the right direction.
The more time spent on real work, the less time for stray thoughts.
Once Pang Jinglong tasted the flavour of building a career, he would have no time to dwell on Wen Ying.
Pang Jinglong felt stirred. “You mean…”
“I mean nothing in particular. I am merely sharing my experience. Whether it is right or suits you, you must verify for yourself.”
Xie Qian had spoken out of turn. Pang Jinglong was unused to it.
Yet Xie Qian stopped there, leaving Pang Jinglong itching to hear more. Throughout the meal he kept finding chances to speak to Xie Qian.
Sometimes Xie Qian replied, sometimes he merely smiled, polite yet distant.
Pang Jinglong’s heart rose and fell. His view of Xie Qian shifted from doubt to conviction.
He Zhen sighed inwardly. The intelligence gap between people truly is vast.
Still, bringing Xie Qian tonight had been right. Had Pang Jinglong not seen for himself, how could he let go?
At the table, the two clever young men each harboured their own thoughts. The other clever one, Wen Ying, felt puzzled. Xie Qian usually minded his own business, yet tonight he had said much to Pang Jinglong, truly speaking out of turn.
Could Pang Jinglong’s situation have touched him?
Wen Ying thought for a moment and decided she was overthinking.
Xie Qian had always been cool on the surface but warm-hearted.
Wen Ying looked at Xie Qian with eyes full of affection. When their gazes met occasionally, even for mere seconds, the burning passion between them was plain for anyone to see, even the blind.
Pang Jinglong froze slightly. The bitterness he had forced down surged again.
Yet as soon as it surfaced, Pang Jinglong despised himself for it.
Wen Ying was a wonderful person, and Xie Qian was too.
Wen Ying had helped mother and son escape their plight. Xie Qian had guided Pang Jinglong in handling his scumbag father’s entanglement. Neither was related to him, yet both had helped.
Such good people naturally deserved happiness.
Pang Jinglong forced a relaxed expression. “Come, come. I toast you both. May your love last forever.”
Without waiting for Wen Ying or Xie Qian to raise their glasses, Pang Jinglong threw back his own drink.
His throat burned.
His heart tasted bitter.
Xie Qian had bloodlessly neutralised a potential rival still in the egg. He felt the meal had been well worth attending.
