The Secret Realm of Time, His and Her Life Through the Changes

Chapter 265 Father and Son

We arrived at Zimoyuan Garden half an hour later than expected.

As soon as Shang Yibo entered, he heard Chu Yiming loudly debating: "My ideal is to build a game company, and I definitely want to be one of the top companies in the world. If you still don't believe me, just wait and see how wild and crazy this unicorn of mine becomes."

"We need to understand that the future will be dominated by AI, and people won't need to work anymore, but they will still need a spiritual life, and games are the best way to provide emotional value."

The sound was coming from the living room. Shang Yibo was very curious that Chu Yiming dared to spout nonsense at home. Who was he arguing with? Wasn't Chu Fanqing supposed to be home already?

Passing the cabinet in the entryway, Shang Yibo saw Chu Fanqing sitting lazily on the sofa by the window, while Chu Yiming stood in front of him, gesturing wildly as he spoke enthusiastically.

Shang Yibo had never seen Chu Fanqing sitting lazily, nor had he ever seen Chu Yiming dare to act so smugly in front of his father.

He went up to him with a puzzled look and called out, "Dad."

Chu Fanqing smiled broadly. "Yibo's back. Come sit down and listen to Yiming's life plan with me."

Chu Yiming turned his head and called out, "Brother." He was still immersed in the excitement of looking forward to the future.

"Then turn what you just verbally described into a plan and submit it to me," Chu Fanqing said to Shang Yibo. "He wants to start a game company and wants me to invest in it. Do you think I can invest in this project?"

Shang Yibo joked, "Then we'll have to see how Yiming performs."

"Brother, I have to criticize you for being unprofessional. Isn't investing about looking at the industry's prospects? Instead, you're being discriminatory."

“Your brother isn’t being discriminatory. The essence of investment is investing in people, and that’s true.” Chu Fanqing looked at the two brothers in front of him, finding it rare to have the leisure to make a joke.

Fang Xichen walked over gracefully, watching the father and his two sons chatting and laughing, and joined in with satisfaction: "Yiming is talking about your game company again. Your main task now is to study. We can talk about starting a business later."

"Mom, Dad already supports me, why are you still objecting?" Chu Yiming quickly retorted, afraid that Chu Fanqing would be persuaded. "Dad, don't let Mom influence you. We men keep our word. I'll give you a plan when I've finished it."

Fang Xichen ignored him and turned to Shang Yibo: "Yibo, why did you come back alone? Wasn't Yanruo with you?"

Shang Yibo replied, "Her rehearsals haven't finished yet, so she won't be coming today."

Chu Fanqing: "I was wondering how Zhou Yanruo became a star. Last month, she suddenly resigned. I was worried that you two had a fight. Your mother told me that Zhou Yanruo was going to work in some 'corridor' and didn't have the energy to take care of her work, so she resigned."

Chu Yiming laughed loudly: "What 'walking down the aisle'? It's 'debuting'. Dad, you're so unsophisticated."

Fang Xichen raised her hand and patted the back of Chu Yiming's head, saying affectionately, "You're brilliant in everything except studying."

"Mom, don't tease me. I'm just talking to Dad about serious business." Chu Yiming turned his head away.

Fang Xichen: "I was just about to ask you that. I saw a large sum of money on your joint card yesterday, but it's all been transferred out today. The transfer information is all in English. Where did you get such a large sum of money? And where did it go? Don't do anything reckless."

Upon hearing this, Chu Fanqing straightened up and looked at Chu Yiming seriously.

Chu Yiming glanced at Shang Yibo beside him, chuckled, and said, "It was my brother who paid me for my services. As for where I spent it, that's my money, and I'm free to do it. You'll find out when the time comes."

Chu Fanqing was about to lash out.

Chu Yiming snapped to attention, raised three fingers, and said, "I swear, I'll use them for the right things."

He glanced around at everyone, but no one responded. "Tch, you don't believe me? Just wait and see, I'll give you a big surprise. I'm going to take a shower first, call me when it's time to eat." He turned and went upstairs.

Fang Xichen gestured towards her husband with her lip, "Dinner won't be ready for a while."

Chu Fanqing understood and stood up. "Yibo, let's go to the study to talk."

"Okay, Dad." Shang Yibo got up and followed behind Chu Fanqing.

Fang Xichen added, "I'll go check the kitchen, then I'll come find you."

The father and son went to the study and, without prior arrangement, both chose to sit on the sofa rest area by the window.

"The legal department submitted a share transfer plan and a power of attorney for shareholders. I heard this is your idea," Chu Fanqing asked bluntly.

He casually pulled open the last shelf of the coffee table, reached out and touched it—it was empty. The cigarettes and lighter that had been there were gone. He withdrew his hand dejectedly and leaned back against the sofa as if nothing had happened.

Seeing this, Shang Yibo secretly found it amusing. Chu Fanqing, who was always shrewd and opinionated, had been manipulated by Fang Xichen for most of her life, and it seemed that there would be no "improvement" in the second half of her life. However, Chu Fanqing accepted and enjoyed it willingly.

Shang Yibo replied casually, "I had my lawyer prepare it."

Chu Fanqing became serious. "Why did you do that?"

Shang Yibo: "Rushang Group has achieved its current success and scale under your leadership. In the future, only you have the prestige, or to put it bluntly, the qualification, to continue to be the leader. This is not something that I, as a mere nominal major shareholder, can achieve. I have not made any contributions before, and I will never be able to achieve the same level of success as you in the future."

Chu Fanqing frowned slightly: "This is your grandfather's last wish. I want to properly hand over Rushang to you. I promised him, and I will keep my promise. I can't let your willfulness and a single sentence of 'I don't want it' destroy the trust that our two generations have built. What kind of person would I be? You can't turn me into an ungrateful and fickle person."

Chu Fanqing's words were quite harsh.

Shang Yibo quickly sat up straight and explained earnestly, "Dad, please don't say that. You've misunderstood me."

"Go ahead and say it," Chu Fanqing said, giving him a chance to explain and seeing how he would put it.

"Rushang Group is not only a source of wealth but also a business opportunity. You agree with that, right?"

Chu Fanqing nodded slightly, her expression still full of doubt.

“If you agree with this concept, then things are much easier to discuss,” Shang Yibo continued. “We are family. Let’s put aside for now whose name the wealth is in. Shang is the culmination of your and your grandfather’s hard work, your business, and even more so, your spiritual belief. What right do I have to stand at the height that you have paved for me?”

He paused, seeing Chu Fanqing deep in thought, and then said, "Actually, Ru Shang is a burden to me."

Shang Yibo curled his lips smugly, "I have absolutely no interest in the traditional industries that Rushang has been deeply involved in. It's not that I don't want to take over, but that I'm not giving them to you. I'm just passing them on as a troublesome burden. Can't you see that I'm dumping a burden?"

"What nonsense are you spouting? You're treating our hard work as a burden..." Chu Fanqing scolded, but then realized something and seemed to understand Shang Yibo's thoughts. She continued, "You want to start a business, you want to work in investment banking, so that's why you're going to New York?"

“Dad, you finally understand me for once. You always say you want to keep your promise to Grandpa, and I think that’s what Grandpa wants to see most.”

"Sigh, starting a business is never an easy thing," Chu Fanqing sighed softly.

Fang Xichen walked into the study and said in a clear voice, "Yibo, I support you."

“Mom is the most open-minded.” Shang Yibo stood up to greet Fang Xichen. “I’m starving, isn’t dinner ready?”

Fang Xichen held a long wooden box in her hand, glanced at Chu Fanqing sitting on the sofa, and said, "I think it's time to hand it over to Yibo."

Chu Fanqing nodded.

"What kind of family heirloom are you going to pass on to me?" Shang Yibo joked as he took the wooden box.

Chu Fanqing said seriously, "These are your mother's belongings, which she always kept with her."

Shang Yibo withdrew his smile and solemnly opened the wooden box.

Inside the wooden box was a black fountain pen, the metal pin on the cap faded, as ordinary as could be.

He took out his pen and, under the light, saw the words "First Prize in Mathematics Competition" engraved on the pen.

Shang Yibo instantly understood who the pen belonged to and was stunned.

Outside the study, Chu Fanyan came over to inform everyone, "Dinner is ready."