159: Chapter 160 A Battlefield of Four Women Forcing Marriage
On the morning after the celebration banquet, just as Zhang Fan arrived downstairs at Singularity Technology, he saw Lu Qingan leaning against his car, holding two gift boxes printed with "Couple's Limited Edition," smiling craftily:
"Brother-in-law, morning! These are couple's watches I had someone bring from France. One for you and one for Wanyi. You can even engrave the dials. I've already chosen the text for you—'star path Together.' How fitting!"
Zhang Fan looked at the blinding diamond patterns on the gift boxes and was just about to decline when Lu Qingping's call came in, his tone filled with irresistible enthusiasm:
"President Zhang, oh no, brother-in-law! I've booked a private room at 'Cloud Top Pavilion' by the river tonight for just you and Wanyi. The dishes are all things she loved to eat when she was little. You must seize the opportunity and have a heart-to-heart with her!"
After hanging up, Zhang Fan helplessly rubbed his temples—the "assists" from the three Lu brothers were fierce and frequent. From couple's gifts to private dinners, even Lu Qingyan sent a message saying, "I checked the band Wanyi likes recently and have already bought concert tickets for you both for the weekend," clearly determined to pair him and Lin Wanyi together.
As soon as he walked into the company, the young receptionist timidly handed him a gold-stamped business card: "President Zhang, Richest Man Song is here. He brought lawyers and said he has something important to discuss with you. He's waiting for you in the reception room right now."
"Richest Man Song?" Zhang Fan's heart skipped a beat, and he had a vague, ominous premonition.
Walking into the reception room, he saw Song Zhiwei's father, Song Mingyuan, sitting on the sofa with two lawyers in suits standing behind him. He held a red velvet box, his aura so powerful that the air seemed to freeze.
"Young President Zhang, no need for formalities, sit." Song Mingyuan got straight to the point and signaled the lawyer to open the box—inside was not jewelry, but a check for "100,000,000." The eight zeros after the number were dazzling.
"I'm here today for Zhiwei. She told me she's been dealing with company matters with you lately and cares about you a lot. My daughter, Song Mingyuan's daughter, cannot be wronged."
He paused, his tone carrying the unique arrogance of the richest man: "If you are willing to marry Zhiwei, this hundred million is the betrothal gift. All of the Song family's overseas channels, including game distribution and music promotion, will be given to Singularity to use. Additionally, I will give you 10% of the shares in Song Capital. From now on, we will be family. Joining forces to fight Polaris Capital, or even taking our business global, will not be a problem."
Zhang Fan was completely stunned and nearly dropped the water cup in his hand: "Chairman Song, you've misunderstood. Zhiwei and I are just..."
"Misunderstood?" Song Mingyuan interrupted him, pointing outside the window. "When I came in just now, I saw Zhiwei's car still waiting downstairs. She was afraid I would give you a hard time and specifically followed me here. Young President Zhang, I know there are other girls around you, but in terms of family background and resources, Zhiwei is the one who can help you the most, and she is the one who truly cares about you."
Just then, Zhou Yurou happened to pass by the reception room carrying documents and heard the words "betrothal gift" and "marry Zhiwei," causing her to stop in her tracks abruptly.
She looked at the check in Song Mingyuan's hand inside the glass door and recalled how she had accompanied Zhang Fan since the founding of Singularity—staying up late to revise business plans, securing the first angel investment, and withstanding capital pressure when he was framed by Chang Yuan. Those instant noodles they ate together and the all-nighters they pulled suddenly felt like thorns, stabbing at her heart.
She didn't go in, just turned away quietly, her fingers gripping the documents turning white, her back revealing a hint of loneliness.
Zhang Fan caught a glimpse of Zhou Yurou's figure from the corner of his eye and, feeling anxious, immediately stood up: "Chairman Song, I'm sorry, I cannot agree to this. Zhiwei and I are just friends, and besides..."
He took a deep breath, his tone incredibly firm. "President Zhou's significance to Singularity cannot be measured by money. Without her initial planning and investment, Singularity might still be a small workshop right now, without even the prototype of the Star Core Engine, let alone the ability to fight Polaris Capital. I cannot let her down."
These words were like a thunderclap, stunning Song Mingyuan and causing Zhou Yurou, who was hiding outside the door, to tremble, her eyes instantly turning red.
Just then, Liu Ruyan walked in carrying a stack of technical documents. Hearing Zhang Fan's words, she suddenly put down the documents and walked in front of him. Her usually shy face was full of stubbornness: "President Zhang, I... I also have something I want to say to you."
Everyone's eyes focused on her.
Liu Ruyan gripped the corner of her shirt tightly, her voice not loud but exceptionally clear: "Since the company's founding, I've followed you in modifying the Star Core Engine code. You taught me dynamic lighting algorithms and defended me when people said I 'relied on connections to get ahead.' I just... I just fell for you. I don't need a betrothal gift, and I don't need shares. As long as I can do technical work with you and protect Singularity together, I will be satisfied."
"Nani?" Zhang Fan was completely dumbfounded, feeling like he had fallen into a melodramatic plot from a TV show.
On the left was the Richest Man Song with a hundred-million-level betrothal gift, on the right was a technical backbone confessing her feelings, and outside the door was a lonely founding partner. And he was just an ordinary person who wanted to quietly work on technology and live a laid-back life!
Even worse, Lin Wanyi had arrived at some point and was standing at the door. Looking at the scene in the room, her face instantly turned pale.
Song Zhiwei also rushed up from downstairs. Seeing the check in her father's hand and then seeing Liu Ruyan's confession, she looked at Zhang Fan with complex eyes.
Four women thus surrounded Zhang Fan in the center of the reception room—Lin Wanyi's eyes were full of grievance, Zhou Yurou revealed loneliness, Liu Ruyan carried stubbornness, and Song Zhiwei hid expectation. Finally, it was Song Zhiwei who spoke first, her voice trembling slightly: "Zhang Fan, among us, who exactly do you choose?"
These words were like a switch, and the others also looked at him one after another, their eyes different, but all waiting for an answer. Zhang Fan's scalp tingled, and the cold sweat on his back soaked his shirt. He complained frantically in his heart: "I just wanted to be a salted fish! How did I end up in this Shuraba? Even business wars aren't this dangerous!"
Just as he was about to say, "I'm just an ordinary person who wants to lie flat, everyone please don't be like this," a harsh buzzing sound suddenly rang in his mind.
A purple intelligence box that had never appeared before, with ominous black patterns, forcibly popped up in his consciousness, and even the system's usual light blue glow disappeared:
[Warning! The multinational organization 'Tianming Group' has listed you as a 'high-value unstable factor,' and the elimination plan has been initiated!]
[Key Intelligence: Polaris Capital is only a third-tier fund under the Tianming Group, responsible for 'technology looting and financial suppression'; Tianming Group was formed by Jewish people, and its core goal is to monopolize global wealth, adopting dual methods of 'physical elimination + financial suppression' against 'threats.']
[Emergency Warning: The first wave of attacks will arrive within 24 hours. The attack method is 'network intrusion + offline infiltration,' and the targets are Singularity's core servers and your personal safety.]
Zhang Fan's cold sweat instantly poured down, and his back felt as cold as ice. He finally understood that the previous Polaris Capital was just a small fry; the real enemy was only now baring its fangs. The emotional Shuraba before him suddenly became insignificant in the face of the "Tianming Group's" elimination plan—he not only had to protect the people around him but also had to defend all of Singularity and protect the spark of Huaxia technology.
He looked up abruptly, the panic from just a moment ago gone, leaving only gravity in his eyes: "Sorry, now is not the time to talk about this. We have a more dangerous enemy to deal with—I have received reliable information that the Tianming Group behind Polaris Capital is about to take action against us, and we have 24 hours left."
Everyone was stunned; the ambiguity, grievance, and stubbornness from a moment ago were instantly replaced by the words "dangerous enemy" and "24 hours."
A sudden emotional Shuraba was thus interrupted by a more lethal crisis. Zhang Fan looked at everyone who had quickly entered combat mode, and he knew clearly—the real war had only just begun.