Chapter 10: Betting Agreement. As he nodded, two tears dropped heavily from his eyes.

Lou Yi collected himself, "Younger brother, do you really want an outsider to control Xingyu? I wanted you to rescue Xingyu; even if you failed, you'd lose nothing. If successful, we both profit. But now, what's with involving He Guan? Will the company executives trust this? If anything goes wrong, you'd be the one blamed, accused of nepotism, stuffing the company with incompetents..."

Lou Yi directed all these words at Lou Dongcang, entirely disregarding He Guan as someone with whom he could negotiate, naturally not considering his feelings.

He was sweating profusely, but had the sense to persuade with benefits while pointing out the potential risks He Guan could bring to the company.

But why would Lou Dongcang care about these risks?

He wouldn't mind if they all went down together.

Lou Dongcang: "Elder brother, do you think the terms I've offered aren't enough? 20%, not enough?"

Lou Yi quickly replied, "Of course not, of course not. It's enough, it's enough."

Lou Dongcang: "Your reactions and your words seem to be at odds."

Lou Yi abruptly looked up into his eyes.

Lou Dongcang said with a hint of boredom, "I may be blind, but my ears work just fine. Your tone speaks volumes. So, elder brother, do you doubt my judgment?"

Lou Yi remained silent.

Who would trust a little con artist who married you just for money? He'd have to be mad to believe her!

But the current situation was that He Guan had already signed the contract, Lou Dongcang was standing firm, and all Lou Yi could do was try to maintain the upper hand as much as possible.

The situation was too passive; he needed to devise a way to regain control.

A few minutes later, Lou Yi spoke, "Then, younger brother, you'll have to sign a betting agreement with me. To be frank, 20% of the shares is not enough. If He Guan drives the company to the ground and it goes bankrupt, that 20% won't mean much. He can just walk away, leaving the mess for me to clean up. Without this agreement, I can't possibly agree."

Lou Dongcang seemed intrigued, "Go on."

In the few minutes before, Lou Yi's mind had worked rapidly, like sparks flying off a welding arc.

Lou Dongcang would never agree to ordinary terms. Since Lou Yi was in a disadvantaged position... he needed to offer something big to bait him.

Lou Yi's voice quivered slightly before he steadied himself, "If, after a quarter of He Guan being in charge, the company's turnover doesn't increase by at least five percent, you have to sell me your original shares at a third of their original price."

The original shares of Xingyu Media Ltd. were priced at three dollars each.

Compared to the original price of three dollars per share, Xingyu's stock has been steadily rising, from three dollars to thirty.

Now, Lou Yi wanted Lou Dongcang to sell them at a third of the original price, which is just one dollar per share. It's practically a giveaway.

If He Guan fails, Lou Dongcang would have to give up his 20% of shares.

Lou Dongcang calmly asked, "And if He Guan succeeds?"

Lou Yi: "Then I will give all of my 35% to He Guan."

He emphasized the word "give."

An increase of five percent in total turnover is a very stringent condition.

Normally, anyone making such a proposal would either be mad or drunk.

Leaving aside how difficult this condition would be for a well-established company like Xingyu, even if He Guan succeeded, the beneficiary of this 35% would still be He Guan.

If the beneficiary of these 35% shares was Lou Dongcang, then together with his current 20%, he would hold 55%, surpassing 50%.

A shareholder with more than 50% has absolute control of the company and is its de facto controller.

Unlike a director who is essentially a senior manager of the company, holding a controlling stake is a genuine interest.

If there's a disagreement between He Guan and Lou Dongcang, this 35% can escalate tensions, potentially destroying their alliance.

The malicious intent in this is clear as day.

But if Lou Yi wins, he would have controlling rights in the company. On the surface, the other three siblings combined would still hold 40% of the shares, but in reality, Lou Yi would be the one with the ultimate say, unchallenged in his decisions.

It can truly be described as a high-stakes gamble.

Lou Yi had expected to see Lou Dongcang pondering the terms, as he himself wasn’t entirely sure about them.

But no.

In front of the two young individuals… it seemed like a trifling matter.

Lou Dongcang slightly turned his face to He Guan and asked, “Are you confident you can do it?”

He Guan grinned, “Of course, I'll take care of you. Don't worry, dear.”

Lou Dongcang, ever unfazed by He Guan’s occasional cheekiness, turned back, “Given how the discussion has proceeded, elder brother, you might as well head back now. Since you didn’t bring the betting agreement today, have Attorney Rong draft it in the next few days and send it over. I’ll sign it.”

Lou Yi was stunned by their interactions and responded almost reflexively, “...Alright, alright.”

Realizing how feeble he sounded, he cleared his throat and, trying to regain his composure, repeated, “Fine, I understood. I'll get it done soon, don’t rush.”

He Guan stood up gracefully and said, “Alright, then, elder brother, allow me to see you out.”

Seeing He Guan's confidence, Lou Yi couldn't fathom where such assurance came from.

Clearly, his assistant had shown him the scant paper trail on He Guan before this meeting, revealing him as a directionless youngster without even a trace of his parents.

With Lou Yi's ever-growing suspicions, he couldn't help but overthink.

Had he missed any crucial information about He Guan?

Amidst his contemplation, Lou Yi, being somewhat overweight, began to sweat profusely. He Guan pulled a couple of tissues from the box on the table and, with a wide smile, handed them over, "Elder brother, are you okay?"

Taking the tissues, Lou Yi mumbled, “I’m...I’m fine.”

Observing He Guan's current eagerness for money, he seemed no different from before.

Today's negotiations did indeed pivot around He Guan—had He Guan not signed the agreement, he wouldn’t have risked proposing the betting contract.

Yet, the negotiation had been controlled by Lou Dongcang.

To Lou Yi, Lou Dongcang seemed to have merely acquired a puppet, not really something to be feared.

For once, Lou Yi took a good look at He Guan.

After observing him for a bit, he had to admit, the young man was rather handsome.

Standing tall and unfazed, he emanated the charisma of a dashing young gentleman.

His smile was charming, especially those eyes—captivating and luminous, as if they could speak.

The only flaw, perhaps, were his hands. Not the most elegant, but boy, could they move fast when he signed.

The mere thought infuriated Lou Yi, and he quickly averted his gaze.

But it wasn't the end, and it wasn’t worth getting mad at a child.

Having spent so many years in the Star Domain, how could Lou Yi not know how challenging it is to achieve a 5% increase?

He had lived for decades and never witnessed a quarterly revenue growth exceeding 5%.

Aiming for a 5% leap?

Even a class ascension isn't this hard.

He came to his senses, letting out a sigh of relief, now looking more at ease.

Lou Yi smiled, subconsciously touching the sagging flesh on his face, saying, "No need to see me out. I didn't mean to intrude today. Rest up, little brother, and sister, stay put here."

He might say this, but He Guan still insisted on escorting him out.

After all, among the four siblings, Lou Yi was the most prideful and the trickiest. If He Guan didn't walk him out, he'd probably hear gossip at the company about his disrespect.

The two appeared cordial as they reached the door, and sure enough, a Mercedes-Benz was parked outside.

He Guan casually remarked, "Big brother, you have a beautiful car."

If only he could get one for himself.

Lou Yi grinned wryly, feigning ignorance to He Guan's implications, and patted his shoulder lightly, "Soon, little brother. Work hard, and not just the car—my shares can be yours. I have high hopes for you."

He mused, "Honestly, I have a good eye. I lent you a hand when you were struggling, and now you're married to Dongzang and living in the house I gifted. It makes me happy."

He Guan fully understood the subtext, an implicit reminder of the favor Lou Yi did for him.

He Guan responded aptly, "Of course, I'll never forget your kindness. It's engraved in my heart."

Lou Yi chuckled, "That's good to hear, He Guan. I'll be on my way. No need to escort me further."

He Guan stayed put, obediently not taking another step.

Only when the car began to pull away did he raise his arm, waving goodbye to Lou Yi as the window lowered.

Both of their faces held smiles, but upon closer inspection, He Guan's appeared more sincere.

As the sleek lines of the EQS580 disappeared down the winding road, this strategic dance concluded. He Guan collected his thoughts, glancing at the mess at the entrance, wondering if a cleaning service would be willing to come out here.

Would reimbursing travel expenses and offering a higher hourly wage be feasible?

For the massive project that is Dongzang Garden, just cleaning might require contracting a cleaning company and deploying dozens of workers.

After a brief thought, he decided cleaning the house could wait. Preparing a meal was the top priority now. With hands in his pockets, he continued to wait at the door.

What dish should he prepare?

He sent Uncle Yue to buy groceries, and he hasn’t returned yet.

As evening approached, the mountainside was bathed in an orange glow.

The distant coastline appeared blurry and ethereal; the half-set sun gently descended in the west, while nearby, unnamed wild plants thrived.

Gazing into the distance, the view was delightful.

Ren Ning heard him leading people out and waited a moment in the side room. Estimating that they had left, he followed.

He Guan recognized from behind him that it was Ren Ning's entry, yet he kept looking into the distance without turning around.

Ren Ning, looking slightly perplexed, squatted beside him on the steps and asked, “Guanzi, are you truly giving up on being a star?”

He Guan replied with an upbeat tone, “Yes, bro, I’ve told you this several times already.”

Ren Ning looked up, “So, what do you plan to do next?”

He Guan looked down at him, smiled, and said, “I have plans, don't worry. I’ll be working in the star realm. I wanted to discuss this matter with you today, especially regarding the people under your supervision.”

Ren Ning responded, “Go on.”

He Guan continued, “The two left with you are still trainees, right? They follow a strict schedule at the company’s dormitory and have limited resources. Without me, you're relatively free, aren’t you?”

Ren Ning was puzzled, “Yes, that’s right. What are you getting at? Do you need my help with something?”

Without managing He Guan’s hectic schedules, PR, and business commitments, Ren Ning had lots of free time.

For instance, Ren Ning had enjoyed more leisure recently, not like when he first met He Guan, always catching up on sleep whenever he could.

He Guan praised, “Yes, I have something for you to assist with.”

Back then, Ren Ning painstakingly managed to divert the deceitful and lazy original owner of his body into the entertainment industry, eventually taking the right path. Due to his kinship with He Guan, he voluntarily became his exclusive agent.

Among the five about to debut... aside from Chu Li, who had a "sugar mommy" desiring to push him towards a golden sponsor, the other four lacked managers.

Of course, now Chu Li was without one too.

With He Guan taking charge soon, he must lead the group personally, but he couldn't make a public appearance.

Ren Ning was the perfect candidate.

He Guan inquired, “Would you like to manage Nolimit?”

Ren Ning was taken aback, “What? Me manage them?”

He Guan didn't repeat himself, waiting for his response.

Ren Ning pondered for a while, couldn't make heads or tails of it, instinctively pulled out his phone from his pocket, squatted on the steps, and opened Weibo.

He Guan: "?"

After scrolling through a few trending topics, Ren Ning sighed despondently, "What if something goes wrong? I'd be crucified."

He Guan: "Is that what you're afraid of?"

Ren Ning nodded.

He Guan gently laughed, pointing to his temple, "With popularity comes controversy. Not everyone thinks the same. Look at the hot debates trending right now. With such attention, if Nolimit truly rises and becomes a superstar group, then what will you be?"

He continued persuasively with a hint of mirth, "You'd become a phenomenally unprecedented, top-tier agent."

Ren Ning playfully slapped himself, "You're really good at sweet talk! Your persuasion skills these days are even scarier than when you conned people."

He Guan, hands in his pockets and shrugging, responded, "Of course, there's a risk. If they don't break through, you'll fade into obscurity too. Ren Ning, currently you're on my side in the star realm. However, once I ascend, things aren't looking too promising, so..."

For the first time since their meeting in this new world, He Guan addressed Ren Ning by his full name, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

Ren Ning interrupted, "Wait, wait, wait. You mentioned working in the star realm, but what job? You haven't told me yet!"

He Guan looked surprised, "Maybe I forgot. I thought you overheard since you hadn't gone far from the main house."

Ren Ning retorted, "Not a chance. I left immediately. I know better than to eavesdrop, especially when it involves your wife. I saw how annoyed you got earlier, why would I risk upsetting you? It was clear that conversation wasn't meant for my ears."

Good.

He Guan then nodded in reassurance, ending his slight test, "Yes, I'm about to stand in for my wife as one of the board members of the star realm, participating in company activities."

Ren Ning: "…???!!!"

Ren Ning's jaw nearly dropped.

He said in a daze, "No wonder you only mentioned getting married without naming the bride. Your wife holds such a position... Does that mean you're now in the top echelon of the star realm? Oh my god, should I address you as 'Director He' from tomorrow?!"

Ren Ning jumped up and hugged him by the neck, "You've done me proud, little brother! You've truly brought honor to our family!"

The weight of the gesture left He Guan momentarily stunned.

For the first time in his life, he felt a genuine blessing.

In his parents' company, after taking over, all he faced were doubts and resistance from subordinates.

Parachuted in.

Young master.

An apparent rich kid clueless about everything.

He couldn't even find the pantry on his own; honestly, what a burden.

Upon returning home, his parents only showed concern for the company's performance and the mistakes he'd made.

As for He Guan's achievements, they took them for granted in their eyes.

Nobody knew how many financial statements and operational reports He Guan went through behind the scenes, or how he even lived and dined with the workshop workers for three months just to validate a minor idea for optimizing the production line.

He thought this time would be no different.

It was only after Ren Ning's excitement subsided that He Guan raised his hand, lightly patting him on the back, whispering, "Yes, I will."

Ren Ning gave a thumbs up, "I trust you! Our Guan is the best! With you around, I'm sure to lead!"

He Guan replied, "Alright."

Not far away, a taxi honked.

As they separated, He Guan saw the driver's car, carrying Uncle Yue, pulling up to the house.

The driver rolled down his window, lifted his well-worn baseball cap, and said, "Mr. He, I leave my son in your hands! He told me he's added you and is on standby."

He Guan responded, "Alright, I'll be expecting him. Safe travels."

Meanwhile, Uncle Yue emerged from the taxi carrying two bags of groceries.

Upon closer inspection, He Guan recognized oysters, crabs, squid, pumpkin, and a few spicy sausages.

There was also a mouthwateringly aromatic roasted duck, its scent wafting from afar.

As Uncle Yue approached, noticing He Guan's gaze, he laughed, revealing gentle wrinkles, "Young master, how about a roast duck and some seafood? I'll help you, it'll be quick."

He Guan nodded.

Tears unexpectedly welled up and fell, blending with the ash-infused earth beneath.

When He Guan looked up again, there was no trace of his tears, only his eyes seemed gentler than usual, and he smiled, uttering a single word.

"Alright."

This time, he wasn't alone.

In the distance, a magnificent sunset filled half the sky, unabashedly showcasing its bestowed beauty.

He Guan took one of the plastic bags, Ren Ning closed the garden's grand gate, and Uncle Yue waited up front with the groceries.

"Guan, can I stay here tonight?"

"It's quite far from the city center, and night is approaching. Stay. Uncle Yue, you too. Wander around the sixth entrance and pick a room you like. From now on, this will be your home. It's convenient for me to have you here, watching over my wife. I fear she might be bullied."

"Alright."

"Hey, Guan, can I meet your wife? I haven't seen her yet."

"He won't agree, brother. You might as well give up."

"Hey, how can you be so certain?"

"It's not about certainty. I just know. I'd advise you to let it go..."

The trio occasionally chatted as they walked, their voices obscured and dissipated by the evergreen trees' elongated leaves as they passed barren twigs and fallen leaves, heading towards the tranquil two-story house.

Author's Note:

Another update tonight, guaranteed to be at least 4k words.