Chapter 43

The news of the tragedy struck, and just a day after being discharged from the hospital, Zhai Kuo fainted and was hospitalized again. Zhai Zheng and other suspects were arrested by the police. Shen Yun, who was usually gentle, cried hysterically, collapsing into a sobbing mess, and at one point, she too fainted.

Zhai Yue, dazed and disoriented, leaned against the wall of the ward, covering her face as she slowly slid down to the floor, sitting there in despair and terror. She had repeatedly warned her brother not to act rashly! Ever since Song Chen had issued his warning, she had almost every day reminded her brother not to do anything foolish... but he didn’t listen! Not only did he not listen, but he also escalated his actions, seeking revenge without any principles or moral底线!

He never even considered the reactions of his father, mother, and herself, and boldly carried out such a heinous act!

Can you please consider my advice? Don’t let things get to a point of no return, only to regret it later!

Thinking of Song Chen’s words, the tears that had dried up once again uncontrollably streamed down her face.

On the other side, standing under the emergency lights at the ward entrance, Zhai Yan, covering her mouth, cried like a lost soul, her sobs filled with indescribable sorrow and resentment.

Sitting at the bar, enveloped in the penetrating music, Song Chen, who was usually confident, felt a faint weariness. Sipping a cocktail, he wished that at least for this moment, he didn’t have to be on high alert, anxious, and urgently awake.

Since he had traveled through time, he had been constantly trying to change his fate! Mortgaging his property, opening an internet cafe, guiding Yang De and others, registering a software company... he had taken every step with determination, moving closer to the network empire he remembered, replicating, optimizing, and eventually owning it...

He was confident that if he were to redesign this network empire, it would be even more powerful and unshakable than in the original history! It would not just be a monopolistic empire akin to state-owned enterprises in China, but a great network empire that could rival Google and Microsoft!

Yes! That’s what he thought and planned, each step taken with utmost caution and without a moment’s relaxation! — Because, compared to those talented “heroes,” he, who lacked business acumen or a track record of success, could not afford to relax.

While changing his own fate, he also wanted to change the fates of others: his respectable yet pitiful mother, who in the previous life had relied on a son who turned out to be a hopeless case... and Zhai Yan, the woman he deeply loved but never dared to confess to, the woman who made him feel both love and pain, the woman who was willing to use her body and intelligence to completely bury her father’s business...

“I always thought you were a confident man!”

As a gentle fragrance wafted over, a woman in a white T-shirt and jeans sat on the stool next to him.

Song Chen turned his head and saw Jiang Yan, her face serene.

“How did you get out here!” Song Chen smiled, his hand holding the cocktail shaking slightly.

“While everyone was discussing the details of the internet cafe investment, I noticed you didn’t look well!” Jiang Yan, realizing the flaw in her words, quickly changed the subject, “Do you remember when you said that investing in a shop was a great opportunity to make money?”

Song Chen said leisurely, “As long as the shop isn’t in a failed commercial property, making money is inevitable! But are you sure you want to invest?”

Jiang Yan shook her head, “My family isn’t like Yang De or Chen Daohui’s, where their parents are in business and can easily come up with a sum of money! My parents are just minor officials!”

Just minor officials, huh? Song Chen smiled faintly, not commenting.

In the early 1990s, a term became popular: “going into business.” The profound meaning of this term was hard to understand for those not from that era. It referred to intellectuals and some officials, who, due to the turbulent political background, passively or actively transitioned into business. In the early 1990s, people would ask each other, “Have you gone into business this year?”

Some of those who went into business stood out and became part of the elite in the business world, making a name for themselves in China! Most, however, after a few years of struggling in the business world, realized that going into business was an extremely foolish mistake! In China, the “parents’ officials” who ensured a stable income were everything!

Starting in the mid-1990s, as the state retreated and the private sector advanced, the number of civil servants actually increased at an astonishing rate...

Regardless of whether Jiang Yan’s parents were minor officials, the fact that they had a foothold in the political arena was not just a matter of their abilities; having connections was key. For example, as Yang De mentioned, Cui Yao’s father, Cui Yang, was a branch manager, his grandfather was a high-ranking official at the central bank, and his maternal grandfather was a provincial-level leader...

Seeing the faint mockery in Song Chen’s eyes, Jiang Yan’s usually cold face changed slightly. The Jiang family had no right to claim integrity and selflessness in front of a smart person. Those who dared to say such things might not dare to act on them, as it would make everyone uncomfortable, and if everyone was uncomfortable, they would make it impossible for you to act. Some things were understood by everyone, and Song Chen was clearly not a naive newcomer who knew nothing!

Jiang Yan bit her lip and said, “Actually, I’m asking for my brother!”

“Oh!” Song Chen seemed disinterested, his voice lacking energy.

Jiang Yan looked at Song Chen seriously, “My brother doesn’t want to enter the civil service. He’s been idle, learning business from others, and my parents are very worried. I want to find something for him to do!”

Nodding, Song Chen said leisurely, “Investing in a shop is a good idea! In a few years, those who bought good locations will find that they can just wake up, sleep, and enjoy life without worrying about the future!”

Song Chen’s crude words made Jiang Yan’s eyebrows furrow, but seeing his flushed face and unfocused eyes, she realized he had drunk a lot and seemed to be in a bad mood. She glared at him angrily, suppressing her anger, and said coldly, “That’s good! I’ll go back to the private room. Do you want to come with me?”

“...Let’s go!” Song Chen shook his head, exhaling a breath filled with a sour smell, and followed Jiang Yan back to the private room.

Seeing Song Chen and Jiang Yan return to the private room together, many people’s eyes showed surprise and ambiguity, and Wang Xiaoxue frowned slightly.

“Xiaochen, you said you were going to the bathroom, why did you go out to drink?” Yang De glanced at the calm Jiang Yan and asked Song Chen with a smile.

Song Chen said leisurely, “I’ve been busy with business lately and forgot that I also enjoy cocktails and music!”

Ye Lin teased, “Did you forget something? Women?”

Nodding, Song Chen smiled ambiguously, “Cocktails, music, and women!”

“Wang Xiaoxue said you registered a software development company?” Shi Tao asked curiously, “What kind of software?”

Speaking of this, Song Chen smiled and replied, “It’s a good thing for you all. When I opened the internet cafe, I met some students from the software engineering department. I had the idea to have them develop a management software for internet cafes. I’ll let you use it for free for a while to test its functions!” Additionally, the built-in advertising in the internet cafe management software would lay a good foundation for his next step, but he didn’t need to mention that. Of course, early advertisements were embedded in the software rather than downloaded automatically from the internet, which was a limitation of the early network environment, so the initial built-in advertising market was small.

“So that’s it!”

“I heard his computer is always on, and his business is booming!” Zhao Lin chuckled, looking at Song Chen like a fat pig ready to be slaughtered, “Not just the software engineering students, but all the male students in the school know about the Chenxing Internet Cafe nearby!”

Song Chen smiled bitterly, “Doesn’t that mean I’ll attract too much attention and get into trouble?”

Liu Jun laughed, “What trouble? With so many brothers backing you, who would dare to come and tear down your sign? At worst, Princess Lin can give a call to the head of the Industry and Commerce Bureau! They won’t refuse the Zhao family!”

“Hmph! What’s in it for me?”

Zhao Lin chuckled, but before she could take advantage of Song Chen, Jiang Yan said coolly, “The head of the Industry and Commerce Bureau knows my father. If anything happens, I can have my father talk to him!”

Song Chen smiled, “Then I won’t have to worry about going bankrupt and sleeping on the street, freezing to death! Thanks!”

Seeing Zhao Lin pout and glare at Jiang Yan, Wang Xiaoxue chuckled, her eyes showing a thoughtful expression.

“By the way, what should we name our internet cafe?” Yang De clapped his hands and asked for everyone’s opinions.

Chen Daohui shrugged, indicating it didn’t matter to him.

Ye Lin looked at Song Chen and said, “Since Song Chen is the one leading this, and he came up with the overall plan, I think we should call it Chenxing!”

Liu Jun laughed, “The name is fine! Chenxing, it’s a good name!”

Everyone nodded. Song Chen bowed, “That’s great! Maybe my software can save some advertising costs with this name! Thanks!”

“Then it’s settled! Our company will be called Chenxing Internet Cafe Chain Co., Ltd.!”

Yang De, as the major shareholder, made the decision immediately.