Chapter 1780: A Huge Favor

Zhao Fusheng had always firmly believed that he was a man who lived by his looks and talent.

Even his own wife, Fan Baobao, couldn't be bothered to criticize this claim, let alone Zheng Yao, Xue Yuanfang, and the others.

In Zheng Yao's words, this guy didn't have a single note of music in his head.

"Alright, let's first go to the US to negotiate, then talk to China Unicom and China Mobile."

Xue Yuanfang thought for a moment and said to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "That's only natural."

In the original timeline, it would be two years before the iPhone landed in China, causing a frenzy of hundreds of people queuing to buy it on the first day.

Zhao Fusheng couldn't wait two years; when it came to making money, the sooner the better.

"But are you really sure this project will definitely make money?"

Xue Yuanfang looked at Zhao Fusheng with some suspicion, genuinely uneasy because it all seemed too miraculous.

Zhao Fusheng shrugged: "You should know, I never make mistakes, especially when it comes to making money."

"That's true."

Xue Yuanfang nodded; this wasn't Zhao Fusheng bragging—he really did have that ability.

"But seriously, how did you come up with it?"

Zheng Yao asked curiously.

"Of course, with my own clever mind." Zhao Fusheng touched his head, looking smug.

"Hey, can you not look at the sky when you say that?"

Zheng Yao said helplessly to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng looked at her: "Don't talk nonsense if you don't understand. I'm looking at the lightning in the sky."

Zheng Yao was puzzled, furrowed her brows, and looked out the window: "It's not raining. What lightning?"

Zhao Fusheng squinted: "What do you know? If I were talking nonsense, God would surely strike me with lightning. But apparently not—it seems even Heaven agrees with me."

"..."

Zheng Yao and the others were speechless. This guy's narcissism had to have limits.

Being this narcissistic was simply shameless.

"God, letting a guy like you be rich and powerful is just unjust!" Zheng Yao sighed.

Zhao Fusheng chuckled: "I'll take that as you being jealous of me."

Zheng Yao felt exhausted and decisively turned to chat with Fan Baobao, ignoring Zhao Fusheng, that jerk.

Regarding marriage, Zheng Yao was actually somewhat afraid. Zhao Fusheng had discussed this with Fan Baobao, believing it was probably due to her previous boyfriend.

Though time had passed, the psychological damage to her was severe.

In Zhao Fusheng's view, Zheng Yao really shouldn't be like this.

How to put it? Everyone thinks marriage or relationships should maintain respect and loyalty, because that's how couples should get along.

But the problem is, marriage itself involves deception.

All those vows and sweet words are just lies used to placate people.

People talk about loving each other to death, but how many would truly die for their partner?

Most people just meet the right person at the right time, marry, and live together.

Before marriage, the distance is great; everyone tries to show their best side, making the other feel pleased. But after marriage, living together means nothing can be hidden.

The good and the bad all come out.

The result is naturally conflict. No matter how sweet the couple, arguments are inevitable.

Where there are people, there are disputes—this is beyond doubt.

Take most divorce cases: aside from a small portion due to infidelity, the rest are because of some incident that stirs emotions, leading to a heated demand for divorce.

Especially for the post-80s and post-90s generations—they marry impulsively and divorce just as impulsively.

So, in Zhao Fusheng's view, Zheng Yao was overthinking.

Once people overthink, they easily make mistakes.

Zhao Fusheng didn't want her to live a lonely life; that wouldn't be pleasant for her.

Given that, he let Zheng Yao talk more with Fan Baobao. For someone in her situation, Fan Baobao, who lived in happiness every day, was undoubtedly the best positive example.

...

...

"By the way, how are things on your end lately?"

Zhao Fusheng and Xue Yuanfang stood on the balcony chatting casually, and he asked Xue Yuanfang offhandedly.

"Same as usual."

Xue Yuanfang shook his head: "You know, our family keeps a very low profile now, especially after my uncle went to Mingzhu."

Zhao Fusheng nodded upon hearing this. Xue Yuanfang's uncle was now the top official in Mingzhu's municipal party committee. Though it was a transitional role, the Xue family dared not be high-profile at this critical moment.

After all, next year would be the year to determine the successor.

At this time, not only would they avoid causing trouble, but they wouldn't even touch anything slightly sensitive.

They were waiting for everything to settle.

When that time came, Zhao Fusheng was certain no one would dare act arrogantly in front of Xue Yuanfang.

Because by then, he would be the top playboy in China.

"Don't worry."

Zhao Fusheng said to Xue Yuanfang: "Everything will have a result, and I have faith in your uncle."

Xue Yuanfang smiled and shook his head: "You don't understand; there are still many variables."

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, then nodded and said nothing more.

He naturally understood political matters less than Xue Yuanfang.

Even as a reborn person, Zhao Fusheng was ultimately just an ordinary person. As a commoner, his understanding of high-level politics mostly came from various gossip, which was the least reliable.

Hearsay might sometimes be true, but most of it is false.

So, on this matter, Zhao Fusheng wisely chose not to give Xue Yuanfang more advice.

"By the way, after the New Year, I plan to travel to Xichuan and invest in a few projects. If your uncle has returned to the central government by then, he could come over and give me some advice."

Zhao Fusheng suddenly said casually to Xue Yuanfang.

Xue Yuanfang was startled, then understood Zhao Fusheng's intention—he was helping his uncle gain political achievements.

After all, given Zhao Fusheng's current wealth, any investment would be in the billions.

Such an investment, brought along during his uncle's inspection, would undoubtedly be a matter of great face.

After all, the state had been promoting the Western Development and poverty alleviation for years.

"I understand. I'll tell my uncle."

Xue Yuanfang thought for a moment and said to Zhao Fusheng.

Regardless, this was beneficial to the family, so he certainly wouldn't hide it from the elders.

Little did he know, hearing his words, a huge weight lifted from Zhao Fusheng's heart.

Whether this matter ultimately succeeded or not, he had effectively sold a favor to that person.

A favor from that person was as vast as the sky.

Moreover, Zhao Fusheng had other ideas, but he couldn't tell anyone now.

Though disaster was inevitable, if possible, he still hoped to do something.

This wasn't pretentiousness; it was Zhao Fusheng's most instinctive thought as a Chinese person.

Xue Yuanfang turned and went back inside. Zhao Fusheng stood alone on the balcony, looking at the scenery outside, lost in thought.

He had now grown accustomed to being alone like this.

They say the higher you stand, the farther you see. But when you reach a certain level, you truly feel a sense of loneliness.

That hollow feeling really isn't pleasant.

In his previous life, Zhao Fusheng heard Ma Xiaoyun say that making money was boring and that he disliked money the most. He thought Boss Ma was too pretentious—with hundreds of billions in wealth, of course he could spout nonsense.

But now, Zhao Fusheng felt that maybe Ma Xiaoyun was sincere, just that many people lacked the ability to understand him.

At a certain point, money truly becomes just a number, a tool.

Take Li Chaoren, for example. At ninety, seeing a group of children dancing adorably at the airport, he decided to sponsor them with a million.

Was he seeking publicity?

Of course not—that was Li Chaoren; did he need such news for hype?

And at ninety, there was no need for that.

So the reason was simple: he did it just to make himself happy.

Yes, donating a million to children he didn't know, who looked cute, to sponsor their overseas competition—just to make himself smile.

Isn't that absurd?

To ordinary people, this might seem impossible.

That's a million!

But the thing is, to Li Chaoren, that million probably felt no different from a hundred yuan.

Would someone earning over ten thousand a month feel distressed spending a hundred yuan?

Not at all.

If spending a million could make him happy, then for Li Chaoren, with a net worth of over a hundred billion, it was undoubtedly a great deal.

Money—you can't bring it into the world or take it with you. Hoarding it isn't harmful, but hoarding too much is meaningless.

Zhao Fusheng understood this too.

So now, Zhao Fusheng no longer saw making money as so important.

He cared more about whether he was happy, whether the people around him were happy, and if not, whether he should strive to make them happy.

Because their existence was the meaning of his own existence.

Though Zhao Fusheng had never said it out loud, deep down he had long accepted this conclusion.

"What are you doing? Time to eat!"

At that moment, Fan Baobao's voice came from behind. Zhao Fusheng snapped back to reality and saw that they had already set the dishes on the table.

They had bought the food and cooked it at home. For them, what they ate no longer mattered; what mattered was who they ate with.