The difference between cloud and mud

"Actually, you don't have to participate in this board meeting." Already sitting in the conference room, Fang Zhixing was still not at ease: "Anyway, it's just a formality, you send an email to authorize me to vote on your behalf."

He persuaded him earnestly, but unfortunately Xiao Fengtai not only turned a deaf ear, but also turned on the camera without saying a word.When his face suddenly appeared on the big screen, Fang Zhixing kicked his legs in fright, and sat on the wheelchair and slid out of the camera range.

"Can you hear it? Hua Yu is online." Xiao Fengtai ignored Fang Zhixing's grinning expression of dissatisfaction, and pointed the small microphone by the table and said, "Kenneth and Fang Zhixing are online."

Huaqing's screen was full of garbled characters, but fortunately the phone signal was clear: "Mr. Xiao Fang, I'm Li Qianqian of Huaqing. Mr. Jiang and I are online. Please wait a moment, we still have two organizations dialing in."

The young girl's voice trembled slightly from nervousness.Xiao Fengtai searched in the memory, there seems to be a short girl next to Jiang Tong, with long curly hair and a thin figure... What does she look like?

Xiao Fengtai smiled lowly.In such a short time, he didn't even remember the appearance of Jiang Tong's follower.

The screen suddenly went black, and when it came back on, the picture had returned to normal.Xiao Fengtai subconsciously raised his head, caught off guard and met Jiang Tong's gaze.

Jiang Tong froze for a moment, then smiled at him.He looked great.

Xiao Fengtai's back tensed, and he subconsciously turned his head away.

Fang Zhixing stretched out his long arms and muted the microphone.

"You can leave now." He turned his back to the camera and whispered to Xiao Fengtai.

Xiao Fengtai snatched the microphone from his hand with a cold face: "Say one more word and the bonus will be zero next year."

It's just a formality.He repeated silently in his heart, raised his hand twice, signed a document, and then hung up the phone.It's just a half hour video conference, no big deal.

... How long had it been since he had heard his voice?

"Thank you all investors for taking time out of their busy schedules to participate in this board meeting." Jiang Tong spoke, interrupting his thoughts: "The agenda for this meeting has been sent out by email in advance. Before voting starts, I have a few words to tell you .”

"Because of some well-known reasons, Huaqing recently..." He lowered his head and pondered for a moment to choose his words: "I have encountered some troubles in public relations."

"Many investors who care about Huaqing have expressed their concerns about the situation to us through various channels, and the company has also immediately clarified the false rumors. Taking this opportunity today, first of all, I would like to emphasize that myself, and Huaqing Qing’s core management personnel have never, and will never, take any improper interests in the financing process.”

"Secondly, I am very happy to tell you that despite the constant rumors in the market, Huaqing's internal work has been progressing in an orderly manner during this period of time. In terms of research and development, we have launched the first phase clinical trial of CD30 and the third phase clinical trial of btk27 , another three pipeline products are in the pre-clinical research and development stage, and one pipeline product is about to apply for ind. In terms of marketing, we are looking for the head of the sales team and plan to form a promotion team of 50 people by the end of this year to start warming up for the launch of btk27 .”

Xiao Fengtai stared at Jiang Tong in a daze.He looked really good--ruddy, with piercing eyes, and what seemed to be some flesh on his cheeks.Looking directly at the camera, his eyes are open and gentle, and there is a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth when he speaks.

Did the quarrel outside the bar that night really happen?Xiao Fengtai was in a trance for a while, and suddenly felt that the whole thing was like a hallucination after he was drunk.He couldn't connect the man holding him under the bright green neon light with Jiang Tong on the screen.Close your eyes, Jiang Tong's expression that night is still vivid in his mind, his arms are numb due to lack of blood, the tequila smells tangy, and the sharp pain in the man's eyes seems to be transformed into an invisible sword , pierced into Xiao Fengtai's heart.

"...But it is undeniable that the whole incident was caused by me personally, and it did have a certain impact on Huaqing's reputation." Jiang Tong's voice brought him back to reality: "I understand everyone's concerns very well, and the team also has a certain impact. Several meetings were held to discuss this.”

"Today, Huaqing's product development and commercialization are on the right track. With the clinical launch of CD30, my personal role in product promotion is actually relatively limited."

"So, in order to fully respect and balance the opinions of existing shareholders, I will abstain from this vote." Jiang Tong said slowly: "If the votes in favor of me leaving the management position occupy an absolute majority, I will step down as Huaqing CEO and CEO. As the chief scientist, I will only retain the existing company shares. After the company's management team successfully completes the reorganization, I will no longer participate in any strategic decisions of Huaqing including financing, product development and commercialization."

Xiao Fengtai suddenly raised his head.

Just as he was about to move, Fang Zhixing snatched the microphone from him and unplugged the power cord.

"The two of you have only one relationship now, the investor and the founder of the invested company." He warned Xiao Fengtai in a low voice: "Don't do unnecessary things."

Xiao Fengtai turned a deaf ear and took out his mobile phone to dial.

"Think about your position!" Fang Zhixing said sharply, "What can you tell him when the call is connected?"

Xiao Fengtai's fingers froze on the screen.

Fang Zhixing slowed down his tone: "This is Jiang Tong's decision, and it has been discussed within Huaqing. Since he dared to take this risk, he must have understood the consequences."

"You don't understand." Xiao Fengtai smiled bitterly: "It's all my fault."

In a flash of inspiration, the man's urgent and earnest request seemed to echo in his ears again.This time, he finally understood what Jiang Tong said.

"I will prove it to you, we will not repeat the mistakes of ten years ago."

"I'm sorry for hurting you ten years ago. I know you won't trust me easily. But... please give me a little confidence. Even if you don't have confidence, please give me some time."

Xiao Fengtai slumped and leaned back, entrusting the weight of his body to the back of the chair.Going around, it turned out that they had been stopping at the table for two in the western restaurant of the university ten years ago.Only this time, he was sitting at the other end of the table.

He loved Jiang Tong so passionately, but the other party was overwhelmed and ran away.After ten years of twists and turns, finally meeting again, Jiang Tong finally responded to his expectations, but he has learned to look forward and backward, weigh the pros and cons, and he no longer has the courage of the past.

Now he finally believed in Jiang Tong.It's just that the trust came too late.An old scar healed, but a new wound opened again on the tender skin, the cut was deeper and longer, dripping with blood.

If Jiang Tong really left Huaqing because of him... Xiao Fengtai buried his face in his hands.What did he do.

"Voting starts now." The girl with long curly hair had an embarrassing expression on her face, "Please vote on the computer within the next 10 minutes. If it is overdue, the vote will be invalid."

The screen went dark, and the automatic screen saver began to scroll.The small conference room fell silent for a while.

"Here." Fang Zhixing pushed the laptop in front of Xiao Fengtai: "You make your own decision."

He hurriedly interrupted before Xiao Fengtai could speak: "I said, you pushed him away first this time. You don't need to repeat the truth of no regrets."

"Huaqing has come to this point, it is his choice, and it is also your choice. This is the last thing you can do, accept the reality like a man, and stop making yourself regret it."

When Jiang Tong did not abstain, the other party hidden in the dark insisted on holding a board meeting, and he must have made sufficient preparations.Looking at the current situation from Fang Zhixing's perspective, it is already powerless.

Those who are in love love to die.

He looked at Xiao Fengtai who was in a daze, and sighed quietly.

Time passed by every minute, and with Fang Zhixing's understanding of Xiao Fengtai, even if he knew that the overall situation was settled, he should at least struggle to the death and try to make a few calls to other members of the board of directors who are familiar with him.However, the young man just sat motionless at the desk, his eyelashes drooping, the corners of his lips pursed into a straight line, and his fingers resting on the keyboard, like a lifeless marble sculpture.

"There are still 3 minutes." Fang Zhixing finally felt that he had to remind him: "Do what you can do first."

Xiao Fengtai suddenly raised his head, staring at Fang Zhixing fixedly.The latter suddenly felt chills down his back, and Xiao Fengtai's eyes were frighteningly bright, the eyes of a person who has made up his mind and made some kind of important decision.

"You're wrong." He said bluntly: "No matter what the voting result is, this will not be our last."

He hit the vote button.

"It's time." The screen turned on again, and the curly-haired girl pressed the timer: "Late votes will be void, and we will start counting votes now."

"Jiang Tong, abstain."

Xiao Fengtai unlocked the phone, opened and closed the dialog box countless times in the middle of the night, and thought about Tianming's confession that he didn't know how to start, and suddenly poured out from his fingertips.

I am sorry.

The girl's voice continued: "Dexin, object."

You are right, I am scared.I am afraid of public opinion, afraid of gossip in the company, afraid of confronting my father... afraid of being abandoned by you again.I have no right to accuse you of cowardice, I am more afraid of you than you are, and I dare not even try again.

"Excellent Era Capital, agree."

My greatest fear is myself.I'm afraid I really fall in love with you again.

"Porton Asset Management agrees"

It's been ten years, and I've done so many ridiculous things in those ten years that I can't even remember what it's like to be in love.In retrospect, love did not bring me any good, a little happiness, the rest is all pain, four years, grievance, anger, unable to sleep in the middle of the night, thinking of you, my heart will tighten.I didn't know what that felt like when I was a kid, convincing myself that I hate you.

"Fonda Holdings, in favor"

But now I think clearly, this is love.Liking is a daily drunken joy, only love is painful.In the past ten years, I have liked many people, but I only loved you.

If there is still time, I want you back.

"Huayu Capital, object."

He kept typing, afraid that if he moved slowly, the words would slip out of his mind.

I was wrong that day, love is not a useless thing.I seem to be able to live without love, and even look happy.But only I know something is wrong.I seem to be separated from the world by a transparent membrane. I don’t have enough, I’m just scratching the surface. I’m still alive, but I’m like a ghost.The past is pale, and the future is hopeless. You are the bridge connecting me with the senses of this world.

"Neutralization Group, object."

sorry Sorry sorry.Let me say it as many times as you want, as long as you forgive me.I have ridiculed you countless times, despised you, and accused you of leaving without saying goodbye, but I also let go of your hand because of cowardice.Can you give me another chance?

"Pulley Capital, agree."

It's because I didn't dare to believe in you anymore that we have come to this day.Regardless of today's vote, can we start over?If you leave Huaqing, I will accompany you to start all over again.You are right, we have all grown up, as long as we can be firm, no one can easily separate us.

Teacher Jiang, I was wrong.Would you like to forgive me one more time?

The voice of the girl singing votes suddenly stopped for a moment.

"Linton Capital... abstained!"

Xiao Fengtai closed his eyes and pressed the send button.

"...Fuck." Fang Zhixing looked at the big screen and cursed in disbelief.

"...What's the matter?" Xiao Fengtai focused on the phone, didn't notice the voting results at all, and just asked casually.However, it was dark before his eyes, and Fang Zhixing rushed over and pulled him up from the stool: "It's raining red! The vote has not been passed, and Jiang Tong actually stayed!"

Xiao Fengtai still couldn't react: "...What did you say?"

Fang Zhixing looked at him contemptuously: "Didn't you listen to the voting? Lin Dun, the second largest shareholder in the C round of financing, abstained. Now we and several small shareholders together, the opposition votes accounted for an absolute majority. Really keep Jiang Tong down."

"I think they voted with confidence. They thought that Linton must be settled, but I didn't expect them to abstain."

Fang Zhixing turned on his phone and searched for the name: "The person in charge of the Huaqing project seems to be called Gu Yu. He also studied in the UK before. Do you know him?"

However, Xiao Fengtai could no longer pay attention to him, the phone buzzed and vibrated on the desktop.He grabbed his eyes and connected the phone with trembling fingers.

There was a lot of background noise on the other end of the microphone, and Jiang Tong's voice was hurried, mixed with footsteps and panting: "I'm going out now, give me half an hour to get you downstairs."

The hanging breath finally exhaled from his chest, Xiao Fengtai couldn't help laughing out loud, his cheeks were hot and his heart was pounding, as if he was back in his teens: "Let's have dinner together at night? There are too many things to do right after the voting is over. Don't come here."

"I can't wait that long." Jiang Tong whispered, "I'm afraid you'll regret it again."

"How could it be—" Xiao Fengtai laughed, and suddenly got bad intentions: "What if I go back on my word?"

Jiang Tong choked for a moment, then calmed down as usual: "Then pursue you again, once not twice, twice not three times, I can do anything until you believe me."

Xiao Fengtai raised his eyebrows: "I don't like clingy men."

Jiang Tong smiled lowly: "But you like me."

"The car will be here soon, I won't say much, see you later." He hastily cut off Xiao Fengtai's unspoken rebuttal: "Kenneth, I love you."

The phone hangs up.A mechanical notification sound came from the receiver, Fang Zhixing was still yelling, Xiao Fengtai put down the phone.Looking out of the window in a daze, the drowning person was suddenly rescued, and his body returned to the shore. His brain was still immersed in the moment of despair and sinking. The surroundings seemed to be separated by a layer of frosted glass, which was blurry and lacked a sense of reality.

The morning fog dissipated, the city skyline was bathed in bright sunshine, the blue sky was like washing, and a green hill loomed in the distance.

Love and hate with all their strength when they were teenagers, and the ten years they were separated by accident, the longing was buried so deep that neither of them noticed.Meet again, be attracted again, still quarrel, doubt, there are moments of weakness and hesitation.Fortunately, none of them wasted their time. During the long and long suffering, water dripped through stone, and finally became stronger and calmer people.

There are thorns and bumps ahead.But breaking out of the tight encirclement at this moment, holding each other's hands tightly, the warmth and warmth of the palms, can allow them to support side by side for a long, long time.

I love you too.

Xiao Fengtai spoke softly to the new day that was slowly starting outside the window.