The afternoon was exceptionally busy. Propelled largely by Jiang Muzhou’s promotional speech, a massive crowd suddenly flooded their booth to try out the game.
Their game was still only in its initial prototype phase and far from complete, featuring just a small playable module for visitors to experience.
The business cards they had brought were practically gone, replaced entirely by mutual WeChat contact exchanges.
When Shang Shiru walked over, Jiang Muzhou was scanning a QR code with a smile, laughing happily at something the person adding him had said.
The gaming market in recent years had remained in a slump, primarily because domestic titles lacked any real heavy hitters.
The man was highly optimistic about Fengshen and arranged to sit down with Jiang Muzhou for serious discussions once they returned to Beijing.
Seeing the two of them finishing up their conversation, Shang Shiru stepped forward.
The person about to leave caught sight of Shang Shiru, froze for a moment, and then hurried over with a look of pleasant surprise. President Shang, you are in Suzhou too?
Shang Shiru tilted his head slightly as Chen Jinghuai stepped in close to whisper a reminder, It is Director Zhao from Guhai, Zhao Hai.
Director Zhao, hello.
The two men shook hands.
Is President Shang here for an inspection as well? Zhao Hai stated the purpose of his visit.
No, I am here exhibiting.
Hearing Shang Shiru say this, Zhao Hai grew interested. Oh? President Shang, which project are you exhibiting?
Shang Shiru lifted his chin and pointed toward the densely packed crowd around the booth. That game.
A look of surprise flickered in Zhao Hai’s eyes. This is your project?
I invested in the first round.
Zhao Hai’s mind raced for a moment before he said with a smile, Then I simply must invest in this project too. Any project President Shang sets his sights on is bound to be exceptional.
When it comes to investments, you still have to look to Director Jiang. Shang Shiru glanced at Jiang Muzhou.
Meeting his gaze, Jiang Muzhou smiled back.
Knowing Shang Shiru’s net worth, Zhao Hai understood that this was merely a polite jest and that they had likely already reached some form of agreement.
With a flattering smile, he praised, I only knew President Shang excelled in industry, but I never expected you to shine quite so brightly in other sectors as well.
Shang Shiru swept his gaze toward Jiang Muzhou and replied courteously, I have always been exceptionally lucky.
After a few more pleasantries, Zhao Hai took his leave.
Watching Zhao Hai depart, Jiang Muzhou asked, How is that Director Zhao’s standing?
Shang Shiru pondered for a few seconds. Definitely not as good as me.
Jiang Muzhou raised an eyebrow and looked at him. Shang Shiru’s expression was gentle, yet every gesture carried the effortless aura of someone at the top.
Well, there was truly no way to argue with that.
Standing nearby, Chen Jinghuai suspected he was hallucinating, actually hearing their normally stern boss utter such a haughty remark.
Before he could recover, he heard Jiang Muzhou’s praise: Indeed, President Shang is the most impressive.
And then he seemed to witness President Shang looking even more pleased.
Turning his gaze back to the crowd surrounding the booth, Shang Shiru told Jiang Muzhou to go handle things while he and his assistant headed toward the temporary lounge area near the booth.
Just as Jiang Muzhou felt that his game was gaining real traction, he suddenly noticed that a good majority of the investment firms that had constantly been coming over to request contact information had mysteriously vanished.
Could it be because…
He looked over at Shang Shiru sitting in the booth’s lounge area. With this heavyweight deity sitting right here, who else would dare to approach?
Even if people didn’t recognize Shang Shiru, the Zhongshi Group was a household name. The moment anyone realized the Zhongshi Group had set its sights on this project, others would logically assume they no longer needed outside funding.
Realizing this, Jiang Muzhou beckoned Ale over, gave him a few instructions, and walked over to Shang Shiru.
Shang Shiru had just finished a phone call and turned to look at him. What is wrong?
Jiang Muzhou smiled. It will still be another hour or two before things wrap up. Shall we go outside for some fresh air?
Shang Shiru put away his phone and stood up. Let us go.
The weather outside was fine and blistering hot. Jiang Muzhou walked over to a small stand near the exhibition hall, bought two popsicles, and paid for them.
He handed one to Shang Shiru.
Shang Shiru was about to say he didn’t eat sweets, but seeing that the packaging had already been torn open, he accepted it anyway.
Jiang Muzhou took a bite of his popsicle, the cool, milky sweetness stimulating his taste buds and instantly making him feel much more refreshed.
Standing on the sports center terrace, he looked down at the crowds on the steps below, sharing a popsicle with Shang Shiru in quiet companionship.
His phone suddenly rang, and Jiang Muzhou answered it.
Zhang Ning’s voice came through the receiver: Is your company near Fangli Road?
Yes, why?
Zhang Ning said with a sense of natural entitlement: I am coming over to hang out with you.
Not these past few days. I am away on a business trip.
The disappointment in Zhang Ning’s tone was palpable. Alright then. Contact me the moment you get back. I have been awfully idle lately.
Will do.
Ever since the two of them added each other on WeChat, Zhang Ning had probed a few times regarding Gu Yubai, but after Jiang Muzhou ignored those inquiries, Zhang Ning stopped bringing Gu Yubai up entirely.
With Gu Yubai out of the conversation, their contact actually increased. Sometimes the two of them would arrange to go out for a drink.
Zhang Ning traded in antiques. Jiang Muzhou hadn’t been particularly interested in the subject before, but ever since Shang Shiru gifted him a Pixiu charm, he had looked up plenty of information online.
Combined with Zhang Ning’s shares of knowledge, Jiang Muzhou had even bought a couple of prayer bead bracelets to fiddle with in his spare time.
While Jiang Muzhou was on the phone with Zhang Ning, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Shang Shiru also taking a call. After exchanging a few more words with Zhang Ning, Jiang Muzhou hung up.
With one hand holding the phone to his ear and the other pinching his popsicle stick, Shang Shiru finished off his last bite. Alright, once I am done here I will head back. We will eat at that place you mentioned last time.
Jiang Muzhou reached over, wrapping the wrapper around both of their popsicle sticks together.
Shang Shiru watched as Jiang Muzhou carried the trash over to a nearby waste bin and tossed it inside.
Yeah, alright. We will talk when I get back.
By the time Jiang Muzhou returned, Shang Shiru had already ended his call.
Looking at him with a teasing glint, Jiang Muzhou asked, Girlfriend doing a routine check-in?
Do I need a routine check-in?
Must be proactively reporting in, then? You do not strike me as the type.
Are you supposed to proactively report in every time you date someone?
If it were me, I would definitely report in every single second, Jiang Muzhou stated with absolute certainty.
Shang Shiru looked at him. The light in the shaded corridor was soft, acting almost like a filter that stripped away the scorching heat and cast Jiang Muzhou’s profile in a cool, detached light, leaving only those bright, sparkling eyes looking back at him with a smile.
Shang Shiru chuckled. I look forward to seeing what you are actually like when you fall in love.
Jiang Muzhou let out a couple of laughs. Well, you will be waiting a long time for that.
After enjoying the breeze for a bit longer, Jiang Muzhou pulled out his phone to check incoming messages.
Ale was sending a quick status report on the venue.
Zhang Ning? Shang Shiru asked.
Jiang Muzhou paused for a couple of seconds, realizing Shang Shiru must have overheard his end of the phone call, and simply gave a confirming hum.
You two have gotten that close?
It is alright.
Shang Shiru wasn’t sure how the two of them had struck up a friendship. Knowing Zhang Ning as he did, he remarked, Zhang Ning is the type to get familiar with people instantly and act a bit wild, but he is a good guy at heart.
Jiang Muzhou finished typing out a reply and sent it. After interacting with him a few times, he really is a good person, and quite devoted when it comes to feelings.
Shang Shiru looked away. Things without a future.
Jiang Muzhou nodded in agreement. Gu Yubai wasn’t the type to like men, and nowadays he actively avoided Zhang Ning to the point of blocking his contact info.
That was something he had heard from Gu Yubai later on, while Zhang Ning had never mentioned it in front of him.
Matters of the heart cannot be forced. True happiness requires mutual affection.
The moment he finished speaking, Jiang Muzhou felt as though he had said too much. Why was he discussing this with Shang Shiru?
Zhang Ning and Shang Shiru were close friends, while Gu Yubai and he were close friends. Since Gu Yubai had hurt Zhang Ning, he wasn’t sure if Shang Shiru would harbor any resentment.
Fortunately, their circles didn’t overlap; with Zhang Ning and Gu Yubai having a falling out, the two parties wouldn’t be running into each other in the same social scenes anyway.
Jiang Muzhou changed the subject. How did you guys get to Suzhou? High-speed rail or plane?
Suzhou does not seem to have an airport.
Jiang Muzhou scratched his head and smiled. True.
We drove over.
Drove? Ten-plus hours?
Shang Shiru replied, With Old Xia and Chen Jinghuai along, we took turns driving. We went to Jinan first, then Nanjing, and finally arrived in Suzhou.
Hearing their route, Jiang Muzhou couldn’t help feeling a wave of nostalgia for his motorcycle-riding days. His dream back in student days had been to ride a motorcycle around the world, only to realize after graduation that a dream was just a dream, meant for dreaming.
His phone chimed again. Jiang Muzhou glanced at Ale’s message and proactively wrapped up the conversation. Let us head back, it is almost time for things to wind down.
Shang Shiru lowered his dark eyes without a word, following Jiang Muzhou back into the exhibition hall.