Chapter 113: Jiang Ying's Project

Zhao Fan was eating breakfast when he suddenly received a call from Shi Wenxuan.

"My company is gone."

The five short words made Zhao Fan’s hand, holding the chopsticks, tighten abruptly.

"What happened?"

"Everyone at the company has resigned."

*Whoosh.*

Zhao Fan stood up immediately. Facing the surprised looks of his father and mother, he said, "I have some things to deal with, I’m leaving now."

His decision to return to school last night was now canceled.

After leaving those words, Zhao Fan departed on his crutches. A few minutes later, his father caught up with him from behind.

"I’ll drive you."

When Zhao Fan was at school, his father had specifically gone to get his driver's license, and now he was a car owner too.

"Many thanks, Dad."

"Why are you being so polite with me, you brat..." His father smiled, though he didn't say anything else. "Where are we headed?"

"Nanyuan."

The place where Shi Wenxuan was hospitalized.

His father was stunned. "Isn't that where you... wait, your friend is hospitalized there?"

"Not exactly a friend, a business partner."

"I see. Should we buy something to take with us?"

Zhao Fan thought about it and agreed that he really should bring something.

Afterward, his father bought a fruit basket on the way and dropped him off at the hospital entrance before leaving.

"It’s just a few people resigning, is it really worth being this dispirited?"

In the hospital room, Zhao Fan set down the fruit basket and moved a few steps to sit down.

Shi Wenxuan sighed. "It's my entire staff that resigned."

"You say that as if you weren't a one-man army when you started."

Shi Wenxuan clutched his chest. "Are you serious? Attacking me like this, aren't you afraid of crushing my fighting spirit completely?"

Zhao Fan found this odd. "Would your fighting spirit really be crushed that easily?"

If Shi Wenxuan’s spirit were that fragile, he wouldn't have been able to create a brand as significant as Sangtian in his past life.

Shi Wenxuan was choked by Zhao Fan’s words. "Fine, I can't win against you."

"Whether you can win or not isn't the point. Life has too many hurdles; there's no need to get stuck on just one. Walk past it, and your path will be even wider."

Zhao Fan thought to himself that Shi Wenxuan’s current predicament was entirely due to his conflict with the Bai family. He couldn't let Shi Wenxuan fall into a slump here. If the future Sangtian were to vanish, he would be to blame.

Tossing an apple toward him, Zhao Fan spoke again: "If the company is gone, just build another one. How big of a deal is that? If nothing else works, I'll set up a cubicle for you at my place; you can hold down the fort by yourself."

Shi Wenxuan fell silent. After a few minutes, he sighed, "My fighting spirit has actually been rekindled by you."

"Can't help it. Since my shopping mall is still in your hands," Zhao Fan said with a look of feigned difficulty, shaking his head, "there's really no other way."

Shi Wenxuan was so annoyed he laughed, but he remained silent for a long time.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

The door to the room was knocked. Zhao Fan looked toward the door and froze.

Leaning against the doorframe was Jiang Ying, whom Zhao Fan had met twice before.

"Mr. Zhao, you truly are a man of note in Yangcheng. The way you handle those crutches is certainly unique."

Jiang Ying’s words sounded like a compliment, but Zhao Fan felt a hint of sarcasm and snark beneath them.

"Man, watching you hobble back and forth is really interesting."

Zhao Fan: "..."

Shi Wenxuan: "..."

How did someone with this level of emotional intelligence survive until now?

Zhao Fan replied with a forced smile, "I'm glad you find it interesting. I wonder what brings you here?"

"I want to talk to you about a collaboration."

"What kind of collaboration?"

Zhao Fan didn't refuse directly; instead, he asked about the content of the proposal.

"Mobile phone research and development."

Zhao Fan studied Jiang Ying. With his demeanor, it wouldn't be strange if he had spent time abroad, but R&D... could it really be true that one shouldn't judge a book by its cover?

"Why come to me?"

"Others lack vision."

Zhao Fan chuckled. "It seems you've been rejected quite a bit."

"Hey, it's business. Getting rejected is normal. So, how about it? Any interest?"

Of course, Zhao Fan was interested. Mobile phones were still in the era of button phones—what would later be called "senior phones." They were fine for simple calls and texts, but to reach the level of the time Zhao Fan had returned from, there was still a long way to go.

Mobile phones were profitable; he just wondered what Jiang Ying’s plan was.

"Do you have a specific document? I'll say this upfront: if your proposal doesn't pass my standards, I won't be working with you."

Jiang Ying grinned, a look of unbridled roguishness on his face.

"Don't worry, I'm serious when it comes to making money."

Jiang Ying reached into his jacket and pulled out a few sheets of paper.

"Here, the specific details are all on there. Actually, you don't have to do much; just set up a factory for me and put up some capital."

Zhao Fan scanned the contents of the papers. "I need to take these with me. I can only give you an answer after my company's professionals have reviewed them."

Jiang Ying made a 'no problem' gesture. "Sure. But to make it easier to stay in touch, we should exchange numbers, right?"

"Sure."

After exchanging contact information, Jiang Ying waved his hand and left in a carefree manner. A minute later, he turned back and, to the bewildered looks of Zhao Fan and Shi Wenxuan, closed the hospital room door that had been left open.

Zhao Fan: "..."

How could Jiang Ying’s personality be so different from his appearance?

Shi Wenxuan remarked, "This guy's personality and looks are quite contradictory. But... can mobile phone R&D really make money?"

Zhao Fan said, "As the times progress, the things we use will inevitably change. Beyond just the exterior, the functions will certainly increase. Mobile phones... there will be no shortage of changes."

He spoke calmly, but Shi Wenxuan felt that Zhao Fan had a mysterious, unfathomable quality, as if what he said was absolute fact, with no room for doubt.

After sitting for a few more minutes, Zhao Fan left. It was eight in the morning, and he could still make it to a class if he returned to school.

At noon, Zhao Fan was dragged into the office by He Yongshan.

"You promised a three-day leave. Tell me, how many days have you actually been gone?"

Zhao Fan felt guilty about this and rubbed his nose. "Some unexpected things came up. Old He, I was wrong."

"You were wrong." He Yongshan was so angry he laughed. "Zhao Fan, if you weren't my student, I’d kick you out of this school right now."

"Yes, yes, Old He is a good man."

"Hmph. The lessons these past few days haven't been easy. You better find a way to make them up for me, otherwise..."

He Yongshan cracked his knuckles. The meaning behind his unfinished sentence was crystal clear to Zhao Fan.

"No problem, I will definitely make it up."

Having dealt with He Yongshan, Zhao Fan walked out of the office looking weary, only to find Chen Tianyu and Duan Gaoxuan squatting nearby, whispering to each other about something.

Zhao Fan softened his footsteps as he approached and heard Chen Tianyu mention Chen Sicheng. He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow; ever since he returned to school, Chen Sicheng had been acting snide and strange.

"What has he done this time?"