Chapter 14

"听说你要出国。" Liu Xin sat across from Shen Zhenghui, looking at him with a worried expression. "Did something happen?"

Shen Zhenghui pursed his lips. "Did you come here by yourself?"

"I drove here by myself," Liu Xin replied.

"No, I mean, did you tell your father you were coming?"

Liu Xin showed a hint of confusion. "No, does this have anything to do with my father?"

Shen Zhenghui shrugged. "I've already told your father the truth. You can go back and ask him."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Liu Xin was a bit angry.

Shen Zhenghui opened his mouth and turned his head to the side. "It's just that it's hard to talk about these things with women."

"What is it, then!" Liu Xin stood up. "We are partners, aren't we? What about our animation project now that you're leaving?"

"Of course, the professionals will handle the specifics. As the boss, it's enough to set the direction," Shen Zhenghui said nonchalantly. Then he stared at Liu Xin and said in a feigned solemn tone, "I'm leaving, and the responsibility to revitalize China's animation industry is in your hands."

"You're joking," Liu Xin said angrily, slapping the table hard. "Can you be serious? My father said you're going to transfer your shares to someone else. Are you short of money?"

"No, I've never been short of money," Shen Zhenghui said seriously.

"Then why are you doing this? The company is doing so well!"

Shen Zhenghui rubbed his face. "Blame it on the fact that our country isn't a capitalist republic. Even if it were, bad luck could still lead to a different kind of death."

"What are you talking about?" Liu Xin was exasperated. "Can't you speak in a way I can understand?"

"Xiao Xin!"

"Don't call me that, it sounds terrible."

"My capital operations are not complicated. Your father understands them completely, but you might only understand a little. Rapid capital expansion carries significant risks. In China, policy and connections are crucial. If I put it bluntly, unless there are irreplaceable factors, such as technology patents, general capital operations require a strong backing. We use established capital as collateral to borrow from banks, then use that money to accumulate more capital, and then use that capital as collateral to borrow more, controlling the risk within a certain cycle to rapidly accumulate capital. However, this isn't foolproof, especially in China. If the banks cut us off, we're dead. Do you understand?"

Liu Xin showed a thoughtful expression and slowly sat down. "What does this have to do with you going abroad?"

"Because someone doesn't want to see me in the country. Of course, this is just my guess. Maybe he wants me to stay so he can control me at any time. He's in a good mood now, like a cat playing with a mouse. I'm determined not to give him that chance."

"What are you talking about?" Liu Xin frowned and then asked, "Who is this person?"

"It's better if you don't know," Shen Zhenghui replied in a low voice.

"Tch!" Liu Xin pouted. "Is it because of a woman?"

"Are you that sensitive?"

"TV dramas have lots of such plots. I just don't know if you're the hero or the villain."

"Whether you're the hero or the villain doesn't matter. What matters is being the main character. Also," Shen Zhenghui paused, "I've already discussed the shares with your father. The person who will take over my shares won't interfere with our daily operations, so don't worry too much."

"I know, buying peace with money!" Liu Xin pouted.

"You're still smart!" Shen Zhenghui praised her. "By the way, I won't give away all the shares of the animation company and the magazine."

Liu Xin suppressed her joy. "What does that have to do with me?" Then she couldn't hold it in. "When are you coming back?"

"Looks like I'll have to stay abroad for at least five years, maybe even ten."

"Ah, that long?" Liu Xin was surprised. "Why?"

"I'm just shifting the focus of my business abroad, not leaving forever." Shen Zhenghui shrugged. "So you need to work hard. The animation company and the magazine are in your hands."

"I..." Liu Xin hesitated. "I can't do it."

"You can. Don't underestimate yourself," Shen Zhenghui said seriously. "Look around the country, which animation company and magazine are as high-end as ours? As long as we stay steady, other speculative companies won't catch up. Besides, I won't completely abandon the company."

Liu Xin breathed a sigh of relief but then felt something was off. She had come to question why Shen Zhenghui was leaving, but it seemed like he was arranging his work after he left.

Sighing, Liu Xin asked, "When are you leaving?"

"First, I'm going to the capital, then directly to Japan," Shen Zhenghui replied.

"Japan!" Liu Xin's eyes were full of mischief. "A place you men love so much!"

"How can you think that? I'm leaving the country with a heavy heart."

Shen Xingguo and Liang Kexiu had already been convinced. After going through disbelief, bitter crying, and finally accepting the reality, they had some hope. Shen Xingguo didn't say much; his attitude was the same as Shen Zhenghui's. This was an unforeseen disaster, and to some extent, the pause in expansion relieved him.

Liang Kexiu felt deeply wronged for her son. She even suggested writing to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, but the father and son talked her out of it. Strictly speaking, Shen Zhenghui's business methods weren't legally protected. There was no law saying the bank had to lend him money, and Li Rui had seen through this.

Liu Dekai's thoughts might have changed. Shen Zhenghui's departure meant a difference in profit for Liu Dekai, but it was just a matter of more or less. So he just lamented that one shouldn't fight with officials and advised Shen Zhenghui to be cautious and maintain harmony. This was like a plot from a novel, where a high-ranking official's grandson had a grudge. Liu Dekai advised Shen Zhenghui to burn incense and pray.

So Shen Zhenghui flew to the capital, and the people seeing him off seemed to be experiencing a life-and-death farewell. This made Shen Zhenghui feel a bit helpless.

After landing, Wang Anran still came to pick him up. His serious expression made Shen Zhenghui take notice.

"Sorry, I can't help you anymore."

"It's okay, I have to take care of my own people!"

"I talked to Li Rui. He's like a mad dog, biting down and not letting go. He even says he's looking out for me."

"I know what kind of person he is, and I can understand."

"I talked to Jingfang about it, and she's also powerless."

"Understood."

As if worried that Shen Zhenghui wouldn't believe him, Wang Anran continued, "This isn't just Li Rui. He's also pulling in the Zou family." The Zou family was a deeply rooted major clan, and Lingnan Province was their territory. With this, Shen Zhenghui fully understood the pressure Wang Anran was under. Besides, he was just Wang Anran's good friend, and his relationship with the Wang family wasn't deep. The Wang family wouldn't fight the Li and Zou families for his sake. The older generation always acted according to established rules, and Li Rui was taking advantage of this. He wasn't trying to吞掉Shen Zhenghui, but to force him to choose a protector. This way, the older generation couldn't say he was being excessive. Without a backing, the Zou family would swallow Shen Zhenghui whole.

"Or, you could stay in the capital and develop here?" Wang Anran continued. "That way, Li Rui won't touch you."

Shen Zhenghui took a deep breath. "I told you before that there was no possibility between me and Sun Jingfang, but you still pushed it."

This made Wang Anran a bit embarrassed. "So, what do you want to do?"

"I want... my... freedom!" Shen Zhenghui responded with a line from a song, but this line hadn't appeared yet, and Wang Anran couldn't recognize the tune from Shen Zhenghui's off-key singing. He pouted. "Speak in plain language!"

"I will never be your family's white glove. That would make our relationship impure," Shen Zhenghui's words made Wang Anran shudder.

"Can you be more direct and get to the point?" He slammed on the brakes.

"Didn't I already tell you? I want to sell my shares and go to Japan to study."

Wang Anran glanced at him. "I don't believe you!"

"I just think," Shen Zhenghui continued, "if I become a famous director like Kurosawa, even if someone wants to target me, they would have to be cautious, right?"

Wang Anran pouted. "Idiot, Kurosawa wasn't exactly well-off either."

"Then Miyazaki."

"Those people stay out of trouble, so no one targets them."

"I think I'm different. I'm such a cool guy that wherever I go, I stand out like a firefly in the dark..."

"Hey, that's enough!"

"Look, how did Sun Jingfang find you? How did Li Rui find you?"

"Li Rui was indeed too lenient with you! You should go and cause trouble in Japan."

"Ha ha ha," Shen Zhenghui laughed. "This is an opportunity. Leaving this domestic pond, I might grow into an international tycoon."

Wang Anran, with a complex expression, couldn't help but spit out a "Pah!"

"Old Shen, you're really optimistic."

"Gifted people are always optimistic wherever they go!"