Chapter 57 Chapter 57
Wen Shuo signed the contract and handed the tablet to his assistant. "How come I didn't know you had a girlfriend? And as for your social media posts, is it just basketball?"
Lu Rendong shrugged: "How can you be so sure that I don't have a girlfriend? Maybe I sent a photo of my girlfriend specifically to block you."
Wen Shuo: "Tell me, what's the progress? When will I prepare the money for you?"
"It will be soon," Lu Rendong said. "I will definitely let you know on the wedding day."
Wen Shuo: "Just fool yourself. I know what kind of person you are."
Lu Rendong was silent for a moment. He sat on the sofa in the reception room, looked around, and couldn't help but sigh, "How did you manage to get so far? Back then, you really... left us brothers behind without even saying goodbye and went to America. I never thought that after all these years, you'd become President Wen."
"Don't give me that. If you really want to contact me, just call me."
"I sent you a message. Your domestic account has been deactivated for a long time. You don't even reply to my messages."
Wen Shuo couldn't refute what he said. After he went to the United States, he changed his mobile phone and rarely looked at the original one.
Because there is no one above who is worthy of his attention.
Lu Rendong continued to lament, "If I had known you'd end up like this, I wouldn't have gone too far by investing in some stocks earlier. I really regret it now. The money I've cashed out from the stocks should be enough for me to retire early."
Wen Shuo smiled slightly: "It's not too late for you to buy our company's stocks now."
Lu Rendong: "Forget it, your stock is too expensive right now, even if I buy one. I'm completely absorbed in scientific research and will be going to graduate school soon. If you're willing to consider our friendship, don't let your company go bankrupt. When I graduate and can't find a job, I'll come to you. Just remember to save a position for me."
Wen Shuo: "No problem, as long as you are willing to give up everything in China and come to the United States, I have no objection."
Lu Rendong: "I need to think about this carefully. After all, I still have to stay in China to pursue a girlfriend."
Hearing him talk about pursuing a girlfriend, Wen Shuo knew that everything Lu Rendong had just said was a lie. He glanced at his watch and saw that it was time for dinner.
"It's my treat today, let's just grab a bite downstairs."
Lu Rendong said, "No, even though you're Mr. Wen now, I can still afford to treat you to a meal. You don't live in Beijing, so you don't know. The China World Trade Center is a bit fancy, but there's nothing special to eat there. I know a roast duck restaurant there that's pretty good."
Wen Shuo: "What's your name?"
Lu Rendong: "It's a big pressure."
He deliberately lengthened the pronunciation of the word "pear".
The assistant standing by couldn't help but frown and glanced at his boss nervously.
"Oh." Wen Shuo raised an eyebrow, "Why is it called such a name?"
Lu Rendong: "Nothing special, maybe it's because their pear soup tastes better."
He also deliberately lengthened the pronunciation of the word "pear".
The assistant next to him looked back and forth between his boss and Lu Rendong, and finally couldn't help but interrupt: "Boss Lu, you may not know that our Boss Wen doesn't like words related to 'pear'."
Lu Rendong laughed: "Why, is it because of Ren Li?"
He said this without any prelude, and the name "Ren Li" was spoken so directly and sharply.
Some things are one thing to understand tacitly, but another to say them out loud.
Wen Shuo paused for a moment, then returned to his indifferent attitude: "Oh, so you didn't come to me today just to reminisce and chat."
"Yes," Lu Rendong said, "the questions your secretary asked me last night didn't seem like they were just inviting me to reminisce."
Hearing him say this, Wen Shuo was not surprised. He raised his eyes and looked at him, "Then what do you want to say?"
Lu Rendong: "We've been brothers for so many years, there's no need for us to beat around the bush. I've been pursuing Ren Li for the past few years, and I feel the need to be clear with you today."
He knew that Wen Shuo and Ren Li had a history in high school, but that was not important.
The important thing is that after college, Ren Li went to Beijing, and Wen Shuo went to the United States, and the two did not continue to be together.
Perhaps, he fell in love with Ren Li much earlier than he expected, but at that time, the person who was with Ren Li was Wen Shuo.
He had no intention of competing with Wen Shuo, nor did he want to compete. However, by chance, after college, he learned that Ren Li was also in Beijing.
He got Ren Li's contact information and ran into her several times by chance on her university campus.
No one can resist the gentle Ren Li, and he is no exception.
She had been pursuing Ren Li seriously, even though they were just friends. But whenever he tried to show the slightest bit of his feelings, Ren Li would start making excuses and stop accepting his invitations.
He was not discouraged, hoping that his long-term companionship would make Ren Li feel his feelings. However, just yesterday, a phone call broke the peace. Wen Shuo came to Beijing, which made him feel a sense of crisis.
Since Wen Shuo is already Ren Li's "past", but in his eyes, Wen Shuo is his buddy, he wants to tell Wen Shuo about this matter openly.
He didn't know what Wen Shuo's plan was when he came back, but even if he didn't have much chance of winning, at least he would try his best.
He originally thought that after hearing what he said, Wen Shuo would turn his face cold like he did at the gate of No. 4 Middle School many years ago.
But unexpectedly, the other party listened calmly and said, "Oh, so the boyfriend that Ren Li dated during college is not you anymore."
Lu Rendong was stunned: "Boyfriend? Are you talking about Ren Li's squad leader?"
Unexpectedly, Wen Shuo was frozen in place for a few seconds by these words. After a long while, he gritted his teeth and uttered one word: "Yes."
"Oh, he's not." Lu Rendong said, "That guy wanted to confess his love to Ren Li, but it didn't work out. During the New Year's Eve party of my freshman year, their class was making dumplings together, and that guy told everyone he was going to confess his love that night, but Ren Li was invited to a movie that day, so he didn't succeed."
Lu Rendong knew what Wen Shuo was thinking at the moment.
He knew that Wen Shuo was not a "good guy" at heart. If it were him, he would definitely be angry with that guy after hearing about his ex-girlfriend's current boyfriend.
Although the matter with my ex-girlfriend has nothing to do with me now, it is just the possessiveness in men's nature that is at work.
He knew that Ren Libing had never had a boyfriend during college.
So this also shows that Wen Shuo really knows nothing about what happened at Renli University.
Wen Shuo: "How do you know so clearly?"
Lu Rendong: "Because it was me who asked Ren Li out to watch a movie that night."
Wen Shuo: “…”
Lu Rendong: "You didn't go to university in China, so of course you don't know. Those people in university just love to stir up trouble. Ren Li happened to be the study committee member of her class, so everyone likes to jokingly pair her up with the class monitor. But honestly, that guy really doesn't deserve it. He's far inferior to you and me."
After hearing this, Wen Shuo's expression looked a little better.
Lu Rendong: "I'm getting off topic. I know you were with Ren Li before, but that's history. Wen Shuo, I'm seriously telling you that I'm pursuing Ren Li! I like her no less than you do.
What are you laughing at? I'm serious. Yes, you have more money than me now, but I'm not short of money either. I can easily buy a house worth tens of millions in Beijing. I can also give her a comfortable life and give her something you can't give her - my companionship by giving up everything.
Wen Shuo's face finally turned cold: "Lao Lu, you came to me today just to tell me this."
Lu Rendong: "Yes, I treat you as a friend, so I told you clearly in advance. I don't want to wait until you attend our wedding to find out about this."
"Okay, forget about eating today." Wen Shuo picked up his coat and said, "Let's go drink."
-
There were few people in the bar on the top floor of the China World Hotel at noon.
There were no dim lights or atmosphere for reminiscing about the past, only people talking about business. Although it wasn't a suitable occasion, at least there was wine to get drunk.
There were already a bunch of empty wine glasses on the table in the booth. Lu Rendong was a little drunk and clinked glasses with Wen Shuo:
"I never thought you were someone who gave up so easily. It seems I overestimated you."
Wen Shuo was already a little drunk at this time.
Normally, he could drink quite a lot and never got drunk at various business receptions, but today, he wanted to immerse himself in a complete dream where he could think of Ren Li at any time, hopelessly and unable to extricate himself.
"But that's just how life is." Lu Rendong's self-deprecating words echoed in his ears. "I'm still the same. I've been chasing Ren Li for four years, but I still haven't caught up with her."
"Ren Li, have you been living a happy life these years?"
Wen Shuo's voice was stained with alcohol, low and a little hoarse.
"Yes, it's university. The beautiful ivory tower of university, life's last lost paradise." Lu Rendong said, "She really lived a happy life, and I was fortunate enough to witness all her happy and unhappy moments.
I still remember her freshman year, when the school had an 1,800-meter run. She almost failed, so she sat on the edge of the playground after the run, dazed and unconsciously pouting. I also remember the time I wanted to treat her to a meal and prepared several thousand yuan, but she unexpectedly chose a spicy hot pot restaurant down the street.
Lu Rendong smiled and said, "She is indeed living a happy life, but this has nothing to do with you."
Wen Shuo's knuckles turned pale from the force with which he gripped the cup.
“Eating these things makes me happy.”
"Of course, you don't understand, this isn't just about eating, it's about childhood memories."
"Oh, congratulations. Every time you eat spicy hot pot in the future, you will have another memory of being with me."
…
He smiled, but it was a bitter one. He tilted his head back and took another drink.
He envied Lu Rendong. No, to be more precise, he was jealous, jealous to the point of going crazy.
But no matter what, he would never meet Ren Li of those years again.
The phone rang and Wen Shuo picked it up. It was Song Jin.
"Mr. Wen, the C Company Strategy Roundtable Forum has ended. I'm on my way to the hotel now..."
Song Jin on the other end of the phone said something else, and Wen Shuo hummed, "Okay, got it."
"According to your instructions, my flight back to the United States has been rescheduled to 11 o'clock tonight. Do I need to change the time again?
Lu Rendong, who was standing by, vaguely heard words like "air ticket" and "change of ticket", and couldn't help but look up at him.
"No need." Wen Shuo said, "According to the original plan, come to the hotel to pick me up at 8 o'clock tonight."
He hung up the phone.
Lu Rendong stood up and patted Wen Shuo on the shoulder:
"We've met people, had some drinks, and reminisced about the past. You're a big boss, and you're very busy, so I won't waste your time. We'll see each other later. Now, what's your room number? I'll take you back."
-
It was already two o'clock in the afternoon when Wen Shuo returned to the hotel suite.
He worked intensively all day yesterday. After getting off the plane, he met with mainland investors at a cocktail party, and then had a meeting with the American side for the whole evening.
Working day and night was tiring, but it was also the best medicine he used to numb himself.
Because only work can keep him from thinking about anything related to Ren Li.
He loosened his tie and walked into the bathroom to take a shower. The black hair tie on his wrist inadvertently appeared in front of him again.
At that moment, the inner fortress that had always been indestructible finally cracked into an imperceptible tiny crack, and then the high wall collapsed, and the pain burst out.
In fact, everything he has done over the years has been nothing but self-deception.
He never forgot Ren Li and would still carry this "amulet" with him on certain important occasions.
That not-so-passionate unrequited love is like a sudden serious illness during adolescence. It will slowly heal over time, but it will still relapse late at night, and the pain will be difficult to control.
Over the years, he had also heard some things about her from other people.
She betrayed their agreement, went to Beijing, chose finance as her major, and got a boyfriend.
He finally closed his heart and stopped mentioning Ren Li, and even did not allow others to mention words related to her.
So many years later, he finally felt that he had let it go.
He came back to China this time not to attend a strategy meeting of a securities company, but to meet some investors. However, fate was so fond of playing tricks on him that he met Ren Li again.
Wen Shuo stared quietly at the black hair tie on his wrist for a long time. Finally, he took it off and put it back into the safe.
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