While Li Xiaoya and Qin Sui were enjoying "global cuisine" in the cafeteria, Wei Wenjuan was being led by Zhou General to meet his college classmate.
Zhou General's college classmate had been full of ambition when he first graduated, which was why he had invested money to start a company with Zhou. However, due to unfortunate family circumstances, he first lost his gravely ill father, and then his ailing mother.
After suffering such blows, although he hadn't sold all his shares, he had lost his drive and no longer cared to involve himself in company affairs. Of course, even if he did get involved, it wouldn't have made much difference.
President Liu, relying on his long-standing industry experience, had ways of making money that weren't entirely above board, but were undeniably effective. With this 2-against-2 situation, Zhou General found himself constantly at a disadvantage.
"This gentleman would like to buy some shares from you," Zhou General introduced Wei Wenjuan to his old classmate.
That was about all he could say in introduction, given that Zhou General himself didn't know much about Wei's identity.
Wei Wenjuan had initially been reluctant to meet strangers, mainly because he didn't want people to look at his legs with surprise and curiosity.
But now, seeing the man across from him, with his dejected, self-destructive appearance, seemingly detached from the world... he wasn't so different from Wei himself.
Wei Wenjuan suddenly felt desensitized.
"My surname is Wei," he said, taking the initiative.
The man across from him slowly shook his head and said, "Zhou Qiang, you know I don't spend much. I've barely touched the dividends I've received over the past few years. I'm not in dire need of money now. Besides, I've come to understand that some things can't be held onto, and money can't hold onto them either."
Zhou General said, "What if I need you to do me this favor?"
The man showed a hesitant expression.
At this point, Wei Wenjuan glanced around the room and asked, "Are you married?"
The man nodded.
Wei Wenjuan asked in a slow tone, "Is your daughter ill? Or..."
The man looked offended, "I'm sorry, please leave."
Zhou General was somewhat taken aback, "Is this true? Tell me, Liyuan!"
The man kept a stern face and remained silent.
Wei Wenjuan, however, put himself in the man's shoes and suddenly realized why his attitude was so unusual.
Wei Wenjuan's tone became even more gentle, "Your parents passed away in middle age, and now your daughter is ill. Is it some kind of rare disease? This makes people around you wonder if your family is being punished for something..."
The man's face suddenly changed, "Shut up! Both of you, get out! Zhou Qiang, it was only out of respect for you that I..."
Wei Wenjuan interrupted him firmly, "I'm not mocking you, why are you so agitated? People say the same things about my family."
The man's anger instantly subsided, as if doused with a bucket of ice water, falling into complete silence.
He stared at Wei Wenjuan, glancing at his legs.
For once, Wei Wenjuan didn't feel offended.
At this moment, it was as if two "fellow sufferers" were communicating silently.
The man asked, "How did you know my daughter was ill?"
Zhou General was also curious about this.
Wei Wenjuan now appeared exceptionally calm, finally showing some of the demeanor of the Ghost family heir.
He said, "The photos on the wall."
Zhou General glanced over accordingly.
His old classmate was a man who greatly valued family, otherwise the death of his parents wouldn't have hit him so hard. He had hung many photos with his parents on the wall, followed by photos with his wife, and then photos of the three of them as a family.
In the photos, the baby gradually grew, from crawling to toddling, to a one-year-old in a dress playing with her mother's braid while nestled at her feet... In the last family photo, there was still light in the man's eyes.
Clearly, starting a family and having a daughter had helped him emerge a bit from the pain of losing his parents.
Compared to the man's current appearance, it was a world of difference.
"Um, why didn't Mr. Wei guess that it might be his wife who was ill? I don't mean anything by it, I'm just curious," Zhou General said, raising both hands.
He received a glare from his college classmate, but the man didn't lose his temper again.
Wei Wenjuan said, "If it were his wife, the daughter would probably be at home, under his care. In fact... if you had come today, you probably wouldn't have found him at home. He would have been taking care of his wife."
"Ah, right! Right! Exactly!" Zhou General slapped his forehead, then turned to his classmate again, "So what's really going on? Why didn't you tell your old classmate?"
"I just didn't want people gossiping..." the man said helplessly, "It's β-thalassemia. She was diagnosed as an infant. At first, we didn't know what was wrong, later we maintained her condition with blood transfusions. They say it's a 'rich man's disease,' and we do have the money for blood transfusions. But recently, she's started showing signs of iron overload and organ damage. I want to transplant my bone marrow to her."
"That's why I can't sell my shares. If something were to happen to me during the surgery, or if I had adverse reactions afterward, those shares would be the capital her mother and she would rely on to survive. What use would selling them for cash be? If someone targeted that money, it could be gone in an instant, leaving them with nothing!"
Zhou General clicked his tongue, "Brother, you really believe my company won't go under, huh."
"You have ambition and aspirations. You'll always achieve something."
Wei Wenjuan interjected at this point, "Have you considered treatment in Australia?"
"Australia?"
"I remember their Zynteglo gene therapy was close to success a couple of years ago. I don't follow it closely, but you can look it up yourself, or I can make a call to inquire."
The man lowered his head, deep in thought.
"What's there to hesitate about? Just take your wife and daughter there directly."
"Our family was just middle-class to begin with. It was only because we invested in the right industry with Zhou Qiang after graduation that we've accumulated what we have today. The cost of a vacation in Australia would be simple for me, but long-term residence for medical treatment isn't just about various expenses. The main issue is that we don't know anyone there. If we were cheated, we'd have nowhere to turn for help. I can handle hardship, but my daughter can't..."
Wei Wenjuan had never been so certain and passionate before. He waved his hand generously, "What are you afraid of? I can arrange all of this for you. I may not be able to do much in China, but abroad..."
Wei Wenjuan's eyes, which had been dull for years, now sparkled with life: "That's my territory."
Zhou General was stunned.
So... who exactly was this man? How could he make such grand promises!
The matter of the share transfer was finally settled.
The man agreed to retain only 1% of his shares, transferring the rest to Wei Wenjuan.
Although it was just a meeting at home, it gave Wei Wenjuan a long-lost sense of achievement from a successful negotiation.
The gloom brought by his leg disability could no longer obscure that sharp light.
He called Li Xiaoya almost immediately.
"Uncle has half the job done here!"
"Uncle is so amazing," Li Xiaoya praised in a soft voice on the other end of the phone.
It was just a child's praise, but it meant more than anything else in the world.
Wei Wenjuan thought to himself, to hell with it! Why should he fixate on his father's praise and special treatment in the future?
Isn't it enough that little Xiaoya thinks I'm a good uncle!
Zhou General said beside him, "I should be done soon on my end too."
After saying this, Zhou General turned and called President Liu, urging him, "Has President Liu finished reading that notification? If you don't intend to purchase, please let me know as soon as possible."
President Liu on the other end furrowed his brow tightly.
Why such a rush?
There must be something fishy going on here!
President Liu's tone didn't betray any of his suspicions. Instead, he said with a smile, "Oh my, why the sudden decision to sell shares? I've always had a non-interference policy regarding your actions, but for the sake of the company's interests... who do you plan to sell to? If it's convenient, why don't you arrange for us to meet at the company?"
Zhou General hesitated for a moment before saying, "Alright."
I hope you don't fall out of your chair when you see him.
At school.
Li Xiaoya put away her phone, thinking, hmm, good little kids get rewards. So what should she reward uncle with?
