Chapter 1374: Only the Wearer Knows Where the Shoe Pinches

In a sense, Zhao Fusheng had always been an easygoing person.

Because of his background and experiences, he was not the type to carry an air of nobility. He understood ordinary people and even those at the bottom of society well, and he knew that people like Hu Donghai, who worked by his side, also had their own hardships.

Therefore, Zhao Fusheng rarely made things difficult for them.

This was also why Hu Donghai and the others were particularly satisfied with Zhao Fusheng—their boss never displayed the arrogance of youth, as if he had no bad habits at all.

Not only that, but Zhao Fusheng also lacked the philandering habits common among the wealthy. In private discussions, Hu Donghai and the others even joked that if it weren't for the deep affection between the boss and Fan Baobao, they might have suspected Zhao Fusheng of secretly keeping a college girl.

Sitting in the car, Zhao Fusheng had no idea what his bodyguards were thinking. He just felt a bit weary, recalling his past life and comparing it to the present, sometimes wondering why people had to be so tired.

"Boss, heading home?" Hu Donghai asked Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment. Fan Baobao had mentioned going to Zhou Yun's place to see the kids today, so he shook his head: "No, not home. Let's go to Future Network instead."

He was curious if Dong Guoxiang had come up with anything new, so he wanted to check it out.

To be honest, although Future Film and Future Advertising were doing well, and Future Investment held many public company stocks, in Zhao Fusheng's heart, he valued Future Network even more.

The reason was simple: Zhao Fusheng knew that while people thought the internet was developing rapidly, once smartphones became widespread, its growth would be even faster.

Various apps and mini-programs would emerge and take over people's lives. Who could have imagined that a short video platform lasting just a few seconds could become so popular that it might even go public?

Sometimes Zhao Fusheng even thought that even if all his current businesses lost money, as long as he kept the programmers at Future Network and developed programs like Douyin or WeChat ahead of time, he would be guaranteed to make a profit.

Of course, he couldn't tell anyone this; he could only silently focus on Future Network. Many people found it strange that before securing the agency for World of Warcraft, Future Network Technology Company had an odd position within the entire group. Although it generated little profit, the chairman valued it more than the other companies.

At first, people thought it was because of the friendship Zhao Fusheng and Dong Guoxiang had built while working on the virtual community together. But as time passed, everyone became even more puzzled. After all, in terms of personal relationships, Dong Chenxi, Zheng Yao, and Ye Jing were no less close to Zhao Fusheng than Dong Guoxiang.

In the end, everyone attributed it to Zhao Fusheng's sentimental attachment to internet program development, since he had started out with a virtual community.

Zhao Fusheng didn't bother to explain. Let them misunderstand if they wanted; it was all trivial. He just needed to wait.

……

……

The car slowly drove into the compound of Future Network Technology Company. When Zhao Fusheng got out, Dong Guoxiang was already waiting with a group of people in front of the building.

"Chairman, welcome to inspect our work," Dong Guoxiang said to Zhao Fusheng with great seriousness.

Although the two had a good personal relationship, that was personal and had nothing to do with work. Dong Guoxiang had always been like this.

Zhao Fusheng had told him a few times, but Dong Guoxiang listened well and then went back to his old ways, so Zhao Fusheng eventually gave up.

"Mm, just taking a casual look." Zhao Fusheng smiled and nodded at Dong Guoxiang, then looked at him and joked, "Hey, senior, you're not even thirty yet, but you've already got so many white hairs."

Several of Future Network's management exchanged glances, silently acknowledging that the legendary close relationship between their general manager and the chairman was indeed true. Who would have thought they were so close that the chairman's first act upon arriving was to tease the general manager?

"I've had premature graying since I was young," Dong Guoxiang said helplessly, but he still tried to explain: "Besides, you knew that a long time ago."

Zhao Fusheng burst out laughing. He remembered the early days of starting the business, when a few of them crowded into a single room, staring at the server and user growth numbers. Back then, none of them could have imagined they'd be where they are today.

Recalling the past was a joyful thing, especially remembering the days when they had shared hardships. It made the present life seem even better.

Zhao Fusheng felt the same. His weary mood actually eased a bit as he and Dong Guoxiang reminisced about old times.

"What do you think would have happened if we hadn't started that virtual community back then?" Zhao Fusheng walked side by side with Dong Guoxiang, chatting not about the company's development but about the past.

"Who knows? Maybe I would have ended up working at an ad agency or teaching computer science at some school," Dong Guoxiang said with a simple smile.

Zhao Fusheng said nothing, just sighed silently to himself.

In his previous life, toward the end, Zhao Fusheng felt his life was unbearably dull—going to work, coming home, eating, sleeping, completely unaware of his purpose. Perhaps it was in the smiles of his company's boss or in the words of some karaoke hostesses; in short, amid the concrete jungle of the city, Zhao Fusheng felt that he was not far from rotting away.

But he also knew that no one cared about him then, especially after his parents were gone. Who would remember an ordinary person who was neither high nor low? He was just an insignificant part of the world.

Now, at least, his life was no longer stagnant; it had warmth. For Zhao Fusheng, that was undoubtedly important.

As Zhao Fusheng was lost in thought, Dong Guoxiang's voice sounded in his ear: "What's up? Feeling worn out lately?" He looked up to see Dong Guoxiang watching him with concern, while the middle and senior management of Future Network had been shooed away, standing at a distance watching the two of them.

Everyone knew the two big shots were close friends, so they assumed Zhao Fusheng and Dong Guoxiang had something to discuss.

Little did they know, Dong Guoxiang had simply noticed that Zhao Fusheng was zoning out again.

"Not exactly worn out, but after running the company for Zheng Yao for a while, I suddenly feel like I've been making her work too hard." Zhao Fusheng smiled, not hiding his thoughts from Dong Guoxiang, and shared what was on his mind.

Zheng Yao, Dong Chenxi, Dong Guoxiang, and Bai Jie—these four were Zhao Fusheng's earliest team. It was no exaggeration to say that without them, the Future Group would never have grown from nothing to its current size.

That was also why Zhao Fusheng was willing to share his thoughts with them.

"Hard work?"

Dong Guoxiang muttered to himself after hearing Zhao Fusheng's words.

Then he smiled: "You know, you worry too much about others."

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback.

"You think we're working hard, but we feel that you've changed our lives," Dong Guoxiang said, a simple smile spreading across his honest face. "Think about it: without you, would Zheng Yao still be a counselor at school? Would I have ended up as just an ordinary white-collar worker after graduation?"

He spoke from the heart, and it seemed that Zheng Yao and the others had discussed this topic before.

"Is that so? Maybe." Zhao Fusheng sighed after a long pause, then smiled lightly, saying nothing more.

In truth, he knew better than anyone that without him, the fates of these people would certainly be different. Whether for better or worse—well, only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches.