YA Ch8: West Gate
In front of Chengyu Technology, a group of reporters had indeed gathered.
They were packed in a row on the steps like sparrows perched on a high-voltage wire, waiting for Ming Yan’s car to stop so they could swarm over and chatter away like birds scrambling for food.
“Sparrows outside the window, chattering on the utility pole…” Lu Yu hummed a tune as he watched the chattering reporters in the square. “Doesn’t this office building have an underground parking lot?”
Chengyu Technology was far less grand than one would expect of a tech company, being a slightly old and low building. The company’s name was written at the top of the building, along with a logo of a half-submerged, open-mouthed fish in simple lines.
There were no other companies in this building. If there were an underground parking lot, the media wouldn’t have to wait around like this early in the morning. Ming Yan didn’t answer this obvious question and instructed, “The security guards are already waiting at the entrance. Once you get out of the car, run straight to the door.”
As soon as the car stopped, the reporters indeed swarmed over.
“Mr. Ming, what do you think about the failed IPO?”
“We heard Chengyu Technology is considering financing from Qingqu Capital. Is that true?”
“There are rumors that Chengyu Technology will fall into a debt crisis if it doesn’t accept the financing. Are you particularly experienced in handling debt crises?”
The crowd jostled, with the front-row reporters pressing their faces against the car window, making them look flattened. Ming Yan couldn’t even push the door open.
Lu Yu, wearing a mask, got out of the passenger seat, quickly dashed to the steps, and pulled down his mask: “If you have questions, come to me!”
The crowd fell silent for a second, then erupted.
“Lu Yu!”
“Lu Yu!”
Seeing that long-missed face, the reporters immediately abandoned their questions for Ming Yan and swarmed toward Lu Yu.
The car door, previously impenetrable, was suddenly clear. Ming Yan got out of the car, frowned at the sight of Lu Yu surrounded by cameras and microphones.
“Mr. Ming, let’s go.” The secretary, accompanied by bodyguards, came to protect Ming Yan.
Ming Yan signaled the secretary to help Lu Yu, while he himself entered the company lobby through the side door.
“Mr. Lu, what do you think about the failed IPO?”
A reporter, particularly persistent about this question, asked again.
Lu Yu grabbed a microphone that seemed to have many functions and turned on the amplification mode: “The company has been in business for a short time and has already met the listing standards, thanks to the industry’s support. Although I’ve achieved such success at 28, I will remain humble and work harder!”
The chattering reporters instantly fell silent, as if they had collectively swallowed rat poison.
How could there be someone so shameless in this world?
A quick-witted front-row reporter asked, “Since you believe you are already very successful, why are you still seeking to go public? Is it to quench your thirst and resolve Chengyu Technology’s debt crisis?”
Lu Yu lazily replied, “To get a new office building. This place has an open parking lot, making it easy for reporters to block us.”
By now, the security guards had squeezed through the crowd, ready to pull Lu Yu away at any moment.
“Alright, today’s interview ends here. Thank you all for your hard work!” Lu Yu handed the microphone back to the reporter and turned to leave.
At this moment, a reporter suddenly shouted:
“Lu Yu, you’re the one who’s washed up as a writer and switched careers to AI assistant. You’re a deserter, a disgrace to the online literary world!”
“Now that the IPO has failed, do you regret it?”
Lu Yu paused, then abruptly turned back around. “Do you even understand a damn thing?!”
The secretary turned pale with fear, reaching out to restrain Lu Yu, afraid he might charge and start a fight. Lu Yu had always despised being called “washed up”, and hearing it would always provoke him.
Yet, to everyone’s surprise, Lu Yu didn’t get angry. Instead, he asked solemnly, “Do you know what the ultimate dream of an author is?”
Before anyone could respond, Lu Yu answered himself passionately, “It’s to live long enough to hear the characters in their stories call them ‘mother’ or ‘father’!”
With that, he extended his left hand, revealing a smart brain device on his wrist, and shouted, “Dongdong.”
The AI assistant immediately responded, “I’m here, father!”
“Who in the online literature world has a paper character child who can call them ‘father’ like my Lu Dongdong? This is why I exhausted all my efforts for an AI assistant—to let my characters ascend to cyber-heaven!”
Lu Yu raised his left hand high, like a warrior of light about to transform. The morning light shone on him, brilliant and magnificent.
Everyone was stunned by this scene, and no one spoke for a long time. Only the sound of camera shutters recorded this historic moment.
Today’s headline:
[The Ultimate in Online Literature: Cyber Ascension!]
In the lobby, Ming Yan covered his face with one hand, signaled the bodyguards to keep an eye on things, and turned to the elevator, feeling utterly embarrassed.
After sending off the reporters, Lu Yu walked into Chengyu Technology’s lobby, satisfied, only to be greeted by a shiny bald head.
“Lao Lu, you were so awesome just now!” The person hugged Lu Yu, very moved.
“Lao Yang?” Lu Yu looked at the man in front of him in shock. Although he had changed a lot, it was indeed his college roommate Yang Chen with the messy hair. “Damn, in just a few days…how did you go bald like this?”
The once lush hair had completely fallen out.
Yang Chen punched him: “Damn, can we not talk about it? I did this all for whom, do you think?”
Back in college, Yang Chen was most proud of his hair, which looked like a steel wool ball. In their major, they were destined to become programmers, and his hair seemed more resistant to balding than others.
However, after graduation, Yang Chen was recruited by a big tech company. Not only did he have to work 996 (9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week), but he was also oppressed and bullied by his superiors. Frustrated and exhausted, his hair fell out in handfuls. At that time, Lu Yu, who had already made his first small fortune, found him: “Why don’t you come and start a business with me?”
Lao Yang followed Lu Yu without hesitation, and they started Chengyu Technology, which indeed became successful. But because it was their own business, he automatically worked 007 (24/7), and instead of stopping the hair loss, he went bald even faster. He wasn’t even thirty yet and had no hair left to lose.
“You finally came. The simulator is ready, just waiting for you to test it,” Yang Chen, excited to see Lu Yu after days of absence from the company, pulled him along and chatted non-stop, “We’re going live with the new product next week. You have to test it first, or we’ll be scrambling at the last minute. This thing is really amazing. I finally understand why you spent so much money on it… By the way, how’s your plan going?”
After talking for a while and seeing no response from Lu Yu, Yang Chen elbowed him.
Lu Yu didn’t understand a word he was saying but still responded seriously, “Don’t worry, I’ll check it out.”
Yang Chen nodded, didn’t ask more, and pulled Lu Yu into the elevator, signaling the secretary and others to take another one.
“What are you doing, being all secretive,” Lu Yu stepped aside, keeping his distance from Yang Chen, “I have a family, you know.”
“Get lost,” Yang Chen scolded him with disdain, “That Ximen Qing1“Ximen Qing” (西门庆) is a character from classical Chinese literature, specifically from the novel “Jin Ping Mei” (金瓶梅), also known as “The Plum in the Golden Vase.” This novel is infamous for its explicit depiction of the life of its protagonist, Ximen Qing, who is portrayed as a wealthy merchant with a voracious sexual appetite and a penchant for indulgence in various vices.
In contemporary usage, referring to someone as “Ximen Qing” often implies criticism or mockery, suggesting someone who is wealthy, indulgent, and morally corrupt, especially in the context of business or personal conduct. The name has become a metaphor for someone who embodies excess and moral decadence, akin to the character’s portrayal in the novel. is here again. You have to be careful, don’t let him near Ming Yan.”
“What Ximen Qing?” Lu Yu perked up his ears. The name sounded unusual.
“Tsk, the president of Qingqu Capital, Zhao Yanqing. You nicknamed him Ximen Qing, remember?” Yang Chen said, exasperated, “There’s a financing discussion meeting today, and for some reason, he showed up.”
In the small high-level meeting room.
Zhao Yanqing, dressed in a grayish-blue suit, sat opposite Ming Yan, slowly pushing a letter with a gold-embossed logo: “Back then, I asked you to do private equity with me, but you refused and insisted on working with that Lu guy on AI assistance. And now? Those who went with me are managing hundreds of billions in funds, while you’re still worrying about a billion-dollar financing. What are you trying to prove?”
The hard card of the letter touched Ming Yan’s fingertips on the table and didn’t stop, continuing to push forward.
Ming Yan curled his fingers into a fist and placed his hand under the table, not taking the paper: “This letter was already sent yesterday. Why did you bring another one personally, Mr. Zhao? Such urgency is not like Qingqu Capital’s style. Inquiry investigations usually take at least two weeks.”
Zhao Yanqing smiled: “I’m in a hurry. I didn’t receive a reply yesterday and was afraid you didn’t understand our company’s intentions, so I came personally to check.”
Ming Yan looked up, his gaze suddenly sharp.
“Bang!” The meeting room door was suddenly pushed open with great force, hitting the wall and rebounding with a piercing creak.
Both men turned their heads to see Lu Yu walking in with a displeased expression. After surveying the situation, he adopted a more relaxed posture.
Lu Yu walked behind Ming Yan, put both hands on the conference table in front of Ming Yan, as if placing his chin on Ming Yan’s head, and said with a smile, “Today is our internal discussion meeting. Please, President Ximen, move to the guest room next door and wait.”
“Hehe,” Zhao Yanqing glanced at Lu Yu, sneered, stood up, and started to leave. After taking a few steps, he suddenly felt something was wrong, “Wait a minute, who is President Ximen?”
____________
Author’s Note:
Annotation①: Lyrics from Jay Chou’s “Seven Mile Fragrance”
Footnotes:
JOIN DISCORD
