A dull, piercing roar of an engine abruptly shattered the silence of the underground parking lot.
Shane’s old pickup truck, which had been his companion for a long time, rolled over the gravel on the ground with a faint “crunch” as it slowly entered the parking lot entrance.
The body was covered in shallow scratches of varying depths, like marks polished by time and the elements.
When the engine ran, it carried a subtle vibration that traveled through the chassis to his fingertips with startling clarity.
It came to a halt amidst a sea of luxury cars—gleaming Mercedes, BMWs, and Ferraris with sleek lines, each exuding an aura of wealth and high-end status.
Shane’s pickup was like a sparrow that had blundered into a flock of peacocks, so out of place that it drew eyes instantly.
Yet, there wasn’t a trace of inferiority or awkwardness on Shane’s face.
He reached up to tug at his simple casual shirt and casually parked in a vacant corner spot, letting the truck stubbornly maintain its eccentricity among the luxury vehicles.
He pulled open the door, his leather shoes clicking sharply against the smooth concrete floor.
Before he could even stretch his body after the long drive, a crisp, professional female voice called out from not far away.
“Boss!
You really need to change your car!”
It was Bernie, Shane’s chief assistant.
She was dressed in a well-tailored, sharp professional suit, her long hair tied back neatly.
She held a stack of perfectly organized documents in her arms, the edges of the paper crisp and unwrinkled.
Seeing that her high heels were free of dust and her expression lacked any sign of impatience, it was clear she had been waiting quietly in the corner of the parking lot for quite some time.
Seeing Shane approach, she quickly stepped forward and handed the documents over with both hands.
“These are the documents that need your signature—contracts, reports, and approval forms.
I’ve organized them all and highlighted the key clauses.”
Shane reached out and took the documents.
His fingertips brushed against the cool paper, which carried the faint scent of printer ink.
He glanced at the cover and spoke calmly, his tone devoid of any ripples.
“My money has more important things to do than buy a car.”
He didn’t sit down to sign immediately or just flip through them casually.
Instead, he stood right there, his fingers lightly turning each page.
His gaze was focused and serious, his eyes sharp enough to pierce through the paper, refusing to let a single detail slip by.
Once he confirmed that there were no issues and the clauses met his expectations, he closed the folder and nodded to Bernie.
“Let’s go,” he said succinctly.
With that, he followed Bernie toward the elevator.
The elevator doors slid shut, cutting off the outside light.
The cabin became quiet, save for the faint “ding” of the elevator’s operation.
Shane leaned casually against the cold wall of the cabin, hands in his pockets, looking relaxed.
“Where is the product expo taking place?”
Bernie stood tall beside him.
Hearing the question, she responded respectfully and quickly.
“In Las Vegas.
It’s the world-renowned CES, the Consumer Electronics Show.
This year’s expo is larger than previous years, and many famous companies will be there.”
The elevator rose steadily, the numbers ticking upward until they reached the top floor.
The doors opened to a spacious, bright corridor carpeted in expensive rugs that muffled their footsteps. Find the original chapter at g.com.
The two stepped out and walked straight to the office at the end of the hall.
That was Shane’s private office.
The door was made of heavy solid wood with a rich texture.
Bernie stepped forward, pushed the door open, and made a gesture for him to enter.
The moment he stepped inside, Shane tossed the documents onto a corner of the large desk by the door without stopping.
He walked straight to the AC controller on the wall.
He reached out and turned the dial, gradually setting the room to a comfortable twenty-four degrees Celsius.
Then, he tapped the light switch next to it, and the harsh white light instantly shifted to a soft warm glow, slowly filling the office and dispelling the chill.
This office had been prioritized and furnished during the early stages of the company’s renovation.
It was high-spec, exquisitely decorated, and fully equipped, comparable to a five-star hotel suite.
Yet, Shane had barely been here a handful of times.
Usually, he spent most of his time in the lab downstairs, either researching technology or reviewing data.
To him, the office was more of a decoration.
Shane sat behind the wide desk and leaned back slightly into the soft leather chair.
His expression was languid, and he simply uttered a flat, “Oh.”
Clearly, he had little interest in the CES Consumer Electronics Show Bernie mentioned.
Although CES was globally famous and gathered all sorts of novel electronic products, in his eyes, those things were far less attractive than his research in the lab.
Bernie had been quietly observing his expression and immediately caught his cold indifference.
A flash of realization crossed her eyes, and she gave a soft smile, her tone carrying a hint of playfulness as she teased, “I heard this CES will be particularly lively.
After all, that famous playboy from the magazines is actually going to attend in person.”
Her tone was thick with mockery, but her eyes were secretly gauging Shane’s reaction, not wanting to miss any change in his face.
She had always wanted Shane to attend this expo.
Since he was the core developer of all the company’s products, his presence would not only boost the products’ credibility but also bring more attention to the Lark Company.
She paused and then added with even more teasing in her voice, a hint of mischief in her eyes: “I wonder if he’s truly going to attend the expo to understand industry trends, or if he’s just using Las Vegas as a new playground to find some fun.”
“Hm?
Stark is going?”
Upon hearing the name “Tony Stark,” Shane’s lazy expression vanished instantly, replaced by a clear light in his eyes.
His previously indifferent tone took on an undetectable spark of interest, and he sat up a bit straighter.
Bernie felt a surge of joy, knowing her words had worked.
However, she maintained her composure and replied steadily, “That’s right, Tony Stark himself.
That man always loves a crowd; wherever there’s a spotlight, he’s there.
He naturally wouldn’t miss such a large expo.”
After speaking, she looked directly at Shane with a trace of anticipation.
“Are you going?
If you decide to go, I’ll go sign you up for registration right now.”
“Add my name.”
Shane didn’t hesitate for a second.
His tone was certain, without a hint of ambiguity.
He had originally been determined not to attend this CES expo.
But if Tony Stark was going, he changed his mind immediately.
He wanted to see for himself what this rumored genius playboy was really like—if he was truly as gifted and cynical as the magazines portrayed him.
“Right away, Boss!”
A clear smile appeared on Bernie’s face, the anticipation in her eyes turning into delight as she nodded.
She then quickly pulled back her smile and adopted a serious tone.
“By the way, Boss, it’s almost time for the meeting.
The investors from State Street Global are already waiting in the conference room.”
She hadn’t forgotten the most important business of the day.
The investors’ visit concerned the company’s second round of financing, which was crucial for the fledgling Lark Company and left no room for error.
Shane nodded slowly and stood up.
He smoothed out the hem of his shirt, his tone confident and firm.
“Alright, it’s time to let our investors see the potential and strength of the Lark Company.”
Shane’s meeting with the State Street Global investors lasted more than three hours, stretching from the afternoon until evening.
During the meeting, Bernie, as the assistant, gave a detailed presentation of the company’s progress over the past month, core business data, and long-term development plans.
Explaining these details alone took up a significant amount of time.
While the investors listened intently, they frequently raised questions.
Shane handled them all with ease, his logic clear and his tone certain, with every word hitting the mark.
Fortunately, the meeting went smoothly.
Seeing the detailed data Bernie provided and Shane’s clear vision, the investors were very satisfied with Lark’s current development and wore smiles of approval.
After the meeting, both parties successfully signed the financing agreement.
The second round of funding was soon transferred into Lark’s dedicated account, solving the company’s current financial hurdles.
Once the funds were received, Shane and Bernie accompanied the investors to a high-end restaurant near the company for a sumptuous dinner to express their gratitude and further maintain the relationship.
The atmosphere was harmonious, and they conversed pleasantly.
When dinner ended, Shane politely bid farewell to Bernie and the investors before driving home alone.
“Whatever.
I’ll take a nice bath first and relax.
I’ll head to Las Vegas tomorrow.”
Back at home, Shane took off his jacket and draped it over the sofa, speaking softly to himself with a trace of fatigue in his voice.
After returning home, Shane rarely didn’t dive straight into the lab next to his study.
During dinner, he had had a few drinks with the investors.
At the moment, his head felt a bit buzzy, and his thinking wasn’t as sharp as usual.
He knew full well that this state was not suitable for learning or research.
Forcing it would not only be ineffective but would likely result in half the effort for double the work, or even lead to errors that could affect his progress.
That night, he finally cut himself some slack.
He didn’t push himself to study or research.
Instead, he washed up and went to bed early, allowing his long-exhausted body and mind a temporary reprieve.
He slept without dreams.
As the first light of dawn broke and the horizon turned pale, Shane woke up right on time.
Without any delay, he quickly washed up and packed a simple bag—a few changes of clothes and his laptop—and hurried out the door to arrive early at the Lark Company.