15: Chapter 15: A Million-Dollar Investment and a Promising Future

Tang Wanqing pulled back the heavy curtains, and the morning light poured in like molten gold, instantly flooding the entire room.

She raised a hand to block the light, her fingertips gliding across the phone screen. When she dialed, her tone had returned to its usual composed state: "Chenxi, bring a set of my clothes to..."

Tang Wanqing stopped mid-sentence and turned to look at Zhang Fan, who was standing by the sofa.

Feeling her gaze, Zhang Fan instinctively shrank back, his voice dropping to a low murmur: "Sheraton Hotel, 1808."

"Deliver them to room 1808 at the Sheraton Hotel." Tang Wanqing nodded, completing the room number. Her tone returned to its usual crispness as she instructed the person on the other end, "Arrive within half an hour, and bring the folder I left in the car."

Chenxi, on the other end of the line, paused noticeably before replying: "Understood, CEO Tang. Are there any other arrangements?"

A hint of imperceptible surprise was hidden in her voice.

Having followed CEO Tang for seven or eight years, she knew the female president's rules better than anyone. No matter how late a business engagement went, she would always return to the villa. Even if she occasionally stayed at a hotel, she never had anyone deliver a change of clothes, let alone... the faint, indistinct male voice on the phone.

Chenxi’s knuckles turned white as she gripped the phone. Her heart felt as if a stone had been dropped into it; at first, it was just a gentle ripple, but then it stirred up raging waves. CEO Tang had never had any close male companions; in the industry, she was known as an "iceberg." How could she suddenly...

Tang Wanqing didn't notice her assistant's odd behavior, her gaze as sharp as a knife: "Help me check the list of clients from last night's business dinner, especially the recent financial transactions of President Wang and Vice President Li. Also... check the surveillance near Xiouqiu Park and pull the footage from 11 PM last night to 1 AM this morning."

"Understood."

After hanging up, Tang Wanqing walked to the window and tapped her fingertips lightly against the glass. In the morning light, her profile was as cold as ice; the vulnerability from being drunk earlier had completely vanished.

In less than ten minutes, the phone rang again. Chenxi’s voice was urgent: "CEO Tang, I found it! President Wang just signed a secret agreement with our competitor last week; last night's dinner was a setup! Also, regarding the park surveillance, those two thugs were hired by someone, and the transfer records point to..."

"I know." Tang Wanqing interrupted her, a flash of coldness in her eyes. "Organize the evidence and send it to the Legal Department."

After hanging up, she turned around, her gaze toward Zhang Fan much more complex.

So, the drunkenness wasn't a coincidence, and the attack wasn't an accident. From beginning to end, it was a scheme by her business rivals—using indecent photos to destroy her reputation and take the opportunity to disrupt Gu Corporation's stock price. And Zhang Fan's appearance was the only unexpected variable in this conspiracy.

"Thank you for last night." Tang Wanqing walked over to the sofa, pulled a checkbook and a fountain pen from her handbag, and the pen nib scratched against the paper with a "rustling" sound. She wrote down the amount and pushed it toward Zhang Fan. "This is one million; consider it my token of gratitude."

The "1,000,000" on the check was blinding.

Zhang Fan didn't look at it, only shook his head: "Aunt Tang, I cannot accept this money."

"Not enough?" Tang Wanqing raised an eyebrow, her pen hovering over the paper. "I can add more."

"It's not about the money." Zhang Fan's voice was soft but exceptionally firm. "I saved you because you are Old Gu's family. Even though he had a sharp tongue, he cared for you deeply. If it were him, he would have done the same."

He paused and added, "Besides, I'm not the kind of person who earns money this way."

Tang Wanqing stared at him for a full half-minute.

The young man before her was wearing a suit that wasn't exactly new, with bits of grass from the park still clinging to his shoulder, yet he sat straight before a million dollars, his eyes clear and devoid of any greed.

In the business world, where she was accustomed to sycophants, he was like a piece of jade covered in dust, revealing a rare purity.

She suddenly smiled, tore the check into pieces, and threw them into the trash can. "Alright, I understand."

Zhang Fan was stunned, not expecting her to be so decisive.

"Tell me about yourself." Tang Wanqing poured herself a glass of warm water; water droplets condensed on the glass wall. "Do you plan to work at Blue Whale Games for the rest of your life?"

At the mention of this, Zhang Fan's shoulders slumped. He lowered his head to stare at the patterns on the carpet, his voice muffled as if covered up: "I've already been fired."

He didn't hide anything, pouring out the whole story about Chang Yuan stealing his code results, his girlfriend Gu Feifei's betrayal, and how he was fired after trying to appeal.

By the end, his voice carried a hint of resentment: "I spent three months writing the core architecture of that game, only for it to become his credit, and then he turned around and bit me."

Tang Wanqing listened quietly without interrupting, only speaking after he finished: "So, do you plan to just let it go?"

"No." Zhang Fan looked up, his eyes shining. "In the future, I will establish my own studio and make truly good games. Sooner or later, I will let Blue Whale know who the real developer is."

These words carried a young man's sharpness, yet they weren't arrogant. Tang Wanqing looked at the stubbornness in his eyes and suddenly remembered her younger self—when Old Gu had just passed away, the board members all advised her that "a woman cannot hold onto a family business," and she had gritted her teeth just like this, forcibly pulling Gu Corporation out of the mire.

"Interesting." She set down the water glass, her fingertips tracing half a circle along the rim. She leaned forward slightly, her tone carrying an unquestionable sharpness. "Since you've already resigned, why wait for the future? Set up your studio now."

Zhang Fan was completely stunned, the water glass in his hand wobbling, nearly spilling.

Set it up now?

He had just solved his basic needs thanks to the system and hadn't even found a decent place to live. Although he had a winning lottery ticket for 50,000, setting up a studio...

Zhang Fan's inexplicable confidence suddenly wavered.

Could he really handle a studio?

"What? No confidence?" Tang Wanqing raised an eyebrow, her gaze landing on his face like a searchlight.

These words were like a needle, striking the one place a young man couldn't afford to lose. Zhang Fan sat up abruptly, his cheeks flushing red: "Of course I do!"

Being questioned by a woman with such a strong aura, especially after she had just acknowledged him, his hesitation was instantly washed away by his refusal to admit defeat. "If you trust me, I can start right now!"

Tang Wanqing looked at the flames igniting in his eyes, and a genuine smile finally appeared at the corners of her mouth: "Good. I will invest one million for a 40% stake in your studio."

Her knuckles tapped lightly on the coffee table in a steady rhythm. "This is not charity; it is an investment. I believe in your skills, but I believe even more in your character—in this line of work, a straight heart is stronger than mere ability."

"Thank you, CEO Tang." This time, he didn't call her "Aunt," but used a more respectful form of address.

Tang Wanqing nodded with satisfaction and picked up her phone to pull up her contacts: "I'll have Secretary Zhang contact you this afternoon; you can coordinate the contract details and site selection with her." She paused and added, "Don't let me down."

Sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting a pattern of light and shadow on her face. In those eyes that were always scrutinizing, there was, for the moment, a hint of expectation.

Zhang Fan clenched his fists, his fingertips turning white from the force. He knew this wasn't just an investment; it was a chance to break out of his cocoon and transform.

Just then, Zhang Fan's phone "buzzed." It was a screenshot sent in his university alumni group—it showed him helping Tang Wanqing into the hotel elevator...