Chapter 121 Back to Shanghai

Chapter 121: Back to Shanghai

Huo Zongzhuo never intended to transform Jiang Luo into someone like himself; he knew it was impossible.

All he desired was Jiang Luo's trust and dependence, making him increasingly indispensable.

Whether it was intimate conversations, hugs, or even sleeping entwined, in Huo Zongzhuo's eyes, these were all outcomes he had tacitly allowed and subtly orchestrated.

He yearned for Jiang Luo to see and feel only him, to grasp how good he was, and to realize that in this world, only he could offer Jiang Luo what he most craved.

No one else—not women, not even young and beautiful ones—could compare to him.

Huo Zongzhuo spent two days with Jiang Luo in Shenzhen before leaving to attend to his own affairs.

No sooner had Huo Zongzhuo departed than Wang Chuang reappeared in the office.

"Hey, what's the real situation now?"

Jiang Luo ran a hand over his face, then sat behind his desk, a thoughtful expression on his face. He tsked, "Damn, too busy."

No time at all to boil the frog.

Wang Chuang: "He really doesn't get hard?"

Jiang Luo gave him a "shoo-shoo" look: "Go do your work."

Wang Chuang, with a speculative air, asked: "Do you think it's possible for a straight guy to change and start liking men?"

Jiang Luo: "Isn't that me?"

Wang Chuang exclaimed, "Huh?", surprised: "I thought you just weren't attracted to women."

Jiang Luo: "Get lost! Go do your job!"

While Jiang Luo was swamped in Shenzhen, back in Haicheng, at the Zhao residence, Zhao Mingshi had returned to the country.

Zhao Guangyuan, receiving a call from Su Lan at his Pudong office, decided not to go home at all, completely avoiding his son.

Zhao Shuo also stayed away, not returning home. He called his girlfriend, Huang Bing Bing, who advised him: "You know better than anyone why Uncle ended up in the hospital needing emergency care."

"It was also you who secretly sent him abroad in the first place. You spoiled him."

"If you see him, what can he possibly say to you? Nothing more than asking for your forgiveness and understanding."

"As his older brother, you've loved and cherished him for almost 20 years, even covering for him. Isn't that enough?"

"Zhao Shuo, our wedding was almost delayed because of him. Don't soften up again."

Zhao Shuo: "Okay, I understand. Since Dad isn't going back, I won't either."

Huang Bing Bing, still worried, said: "Come pick me up after I get off work."

She wanted to keep an eye on Zhao Shuo herself.

At home, Zhao Mingshi knelt before Su Lan, hugging her waist and crying, saying he knew he was wrong, knew he had harmed An Qiao, and knew he had hurt Zhao Guangyuan.

"Mom, please forgive me."

"Dad and Brother won't forgive me. If you ignore me too, I really can't go on living alone in the U.S."

Su Lan cried too, a mix of resentment, hatred, sorrow, and heartache.

Zhao Mingshi tearfully promised: "Mom, I'll study hard in the U.S."

"I'll get a green card and bring you all to America."

"I will definitely make something of myself!"

—

A few days later, Jiang Luo flew back to Haicheng, with Wang Junqing, Old Fourth, and Old Third following as usual.

Before returning, Jiang Luo specifically instructed Wang Junqing: "Don't tell your Boss Huo."

Upon returning, Jiang Luo first went to Shengfei Factory to handle some work there and also met with Pan Xiao, who had come from Haimen on business.

He asked Pan Xiao: "How's everything at Hongming lately?"

Pan Xiao smiled: "Everything's going well, all normal."

Pan Xiao was also very happy and said: "The books look better and better. It's all thanks to you, General Manager Jiang. We really owe it to you."

Jiang Luo: "Alright, enough flattery. While I'm away, keep the factory running well. If anything comes up, call me."

Jiang Luo also took some time to ask about Zhang Ningfu's divorce situation.

Zhang Ningfu: "I'm not taking their calls anymore. I'm letting the lawyer handle it."

"She... or rather, their side—probably their son's idea—is asking for 20,000 in compensation, otherwise they won't agree to divorce."

20,000?

Jiang Luo snorted: "They're dreaming if they think they'll get 20,000."

"Leave it to the lawyer. Don't give them a cent."

"I'd like to see if this marriage can really not be ended just because they don't want to divorce."

After finishing his work, Jiang Luo didn't rest at all and immediately headed to Huo Zongzhuo's company.

Arriving at the company and entering, Jiang Luo saw Huo Zongzhuo alone on the sofa, leaning back with his head tilted, seemingly asleep.

"Boss Huo…"

The secretary had opened the door for Jiang Luo.

Jiang Luo quickly stopped the secretary, waving his hand to keep him from waking Huo Zongzhuo.

The secretary left, gently closing the door behind him.

Jiang Luo tiptoed over, approaching Huo Zongzhuo, and slowly sat down beside him.

He checked his watch; it was only a little past four in the afternoon. He knew Huo Zongzhuo must have been napping on the sofa temporarily because he'd been too busy and tired lately.

Jiang Luo felt a pang of heartache for him.

He leaned against the sofa, quietly keeping company, silently watching the man, allowing love and the accompanying warmth to fill his heart—he realized he really quite liked Huo Zongzhuo.

Just watching Huo Zongzhuo rest and sleep like this made him feel incredibly content and happy.

Jiang Luo let his eyes trace Huo Zongzhuo's peaceful face as he slept, bit by bit.

He thought to himself: Huo Zongzhuo is so busy, yet he still took two days off to be with me in Shenzhen. How is that not love?

But to him, it still didn't feel like enough.

He hoped Huo Zongzhuo's love was the same kind of love he felt.

He was indeed a bit—no, incredibly greedy.

He couldn't help his greed.

This was his first time falling for someone.

Whatever the situation, he wished to receive the other person's 100% sincerity and love.

Thinking this, Jiang Luo edged a little closer to look at Huo Zongzhuo.

He suddenly felt the urge to kiss him but held back, secretly giving him a mental kiss instead.

He also felt that feelings were strange.

Because he liked Huo Zongzhuo, even just sitting there, accompanying him and watching him, he wished time could last forever like this.

He could watch forever.

Jiang Luo gazed at Huo Zongzhuo, every look full of affection.

Twenty minutes later, Huo Zongzhuo woke up and opened his eyes.

Surprised to see Jiang Luo, he asked, "What brought you back?"

"You're awake."

Jiang Luo immediately scooted closer, leaning in and asking with concern, "Have you been too tired lately?"

"You were sound asleep when I came in, didn't even stir."

Huo Zongzhuo hummed in response, tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and stretched to wake up properly.

He instinctively reached out an arm, draping it over Jiang Luo's shoulder, and said, "The groundbreaking ceremony is over, and the construction site has started."

"There are more meetings, more people to see, and social dinners that run late."

"It's fine, I've got it under control."

Jiang Luo naturally rested his hand on Huo Zongzhuo's leg, looking at the man: "With all that going on, you still came to Shenzhen to see me?"

He stayed for two full days.

God knows how much work backed up during those two days.

Huo Zongzhuo, now alert, turned to look at Jiang Luo: "You worried about me?"

"Mm."

Jiang Luo kept looking at Huo Zongzhuo, his eyes bright and looking almost puppy-like.

Huo Zongzhuo smiled: "Don't worry. You're busy too, mind your own work."

"If I'm really tired, I'll take a break when I need to."

Jiang Luo studied him closely, observing his face: "Have you lost weight?"

"No."

Huo Zongzhuo used the arm around Jiang Luo's shoulder to gently brush against the younger man's face. "You're seeing things because you worry. You're concerned about me, so you think I've lost weight."

"I think you're the one who's lost weight."

He then asked, "Why are you back?"

Normally, Jiang Luo would have said it was because of work at the factory. But now, with love flowing in his heart, he spoke from the heart: "I missed you. As soon as you left Shenzhen, I started missing you."

Huo Zongzhuo liked hearing that. He smiled, drew Jiang Luo closer into his embrace, resting his head against Jiang Luo's shoulder, and naturally pressed his cheek against the top of Jiang Luo's head: "Mm, then stay in Haicheng for a few more days. Don't rush back to Shenzhen yet."

"Okay."

Jiang Luo couldn't agree fast enough.

The next day, Jiang Luo cleared his schedule to join Huo Zongzhuo, who specifically took him to the construction site in Pudong.

On the way, Jiang Luo noticed new buildings going up everywhere in Pudong and felt a pang of nostalgia. After all, in his previous life, he had never paid attention to such things.

Now, witnessing the tearing down and building up around him firsthand, he could truly feel the rapid development of Haicheng and Pudong.

Huo Zongzhuo, while driving, explained what each construction site was for and what was being built where.

When they arrived at Huo Zongzhuo's two adjacent construction sites, Jiang Luo was genuinely impressed—they were in Lujiazui.

Huo Zongzhuo took Jiang Luo for a walk around the site, telling Jiang Luo that one of the adjacent plots was for a commercial building, while the other was for a residential, high-end project.

Jiang Luo walked past the roaring cement mixer, covering his ears, and asked Huo Zongzhuo, "What made you choose these two lots?"

Huo Zongzhuo also raised his voice: "Land in Lujiazui goes fast. It's by the river, and it will definitely be the best area in Pudong in the future."

Jiang Luo was once again impressed by his vision and good judgment.

As they were leaving, near the river, Jiang Luo looked at a still-empty plot and once again felt how weird fate could be—in his previous life, he had seen the towering Oriental Pearl Tower on the opposite side of the river. In this life, the Oriental Pearl Tower project hadn't even started yet.

Noticing Jiang Luo looking in that direction, Huo Zongzhuo commented from the driver's seat, "The project over there is a TV tower."

"If I remember correctly, construction will start sometime before year's end."

"It will take at least a few years to complete."

"The estimated construction cost is already three hundred million."

Jiang Luo twisted his head back: "What are they calling that TV tower?"

Huo Zongzhuo: "When I had dinner with the head contractor last time, I remember the name hadn't been decided yet. He didn't say, said it was confidential."

Jiang Luo laughed: "I'll bet you."

Huh?

Jiang Luo: "It'll be called something like 'Pearl.'"

Huo Zongzhuo glanced at Jiang Luo, feeling a little odd about it inside but not showing it on his face.

The topic soon passed, and Huo Zongzhuo headed back, saying, "For the residential project, once it launches, it won't be completely sold out until beyond the year 2000."

"I'll have them reserve a few apartments for you then. You can pick the ones you like, or keep them all."

"The commercial buildings will be for lease only, not for sale. When the time comes, you can also choose first—pick whichever floor you prefer."

Jiang Luo turned to look at Huo Zongzhuo and joked, "Are you building a love nest?"

Huo Zongzhuo laughed. "Is that how the phrase is used?"

"Why not? If there's something good, of course, I'll give you first dibs."

Hearing this, Jiang Luo couldn't suppress the smile on his lips, feeling so delighted he was practically floating.

In a taxi on the way to the airport, Zhao Mingshi sat in the back seat. The scenery outside the window reflected on the glass, swiftly passing before his eyes.

Zhao Mingshi had no time to appreciate Haicheng, which was keeping pace with the times. His mind was filled with one thought: I can do it. I won't be inferior to Jiang Luo. It's just a matter of time.

Just wait. Just wait.

In two years, when he returns from the United States, he will surely make his mark.

Whether it's the Zhao family, anyone else, or even Jiang Luo—none of them will be able to look down on him.

And no one can block his path.