Chapter Forty-One: The Great Meatball – Li Jin

"What?" Except for Su Mei, the other three stared in disbelief at the man seated at the head of the table.

"Young Master Xu, that's not funny at all. If that's really the case, then what's the point of playing anymore?"

"No, no, no, you've misunderstood again. The gene enhancement serum is impressive, sure, but those old men at the top won't care much about it."

"I get what you're saying now. Since Zhu Lan has drawn the higher-ups' attention, we can't use any underhanded means. Everything has to be out in the open."

"That's more or less it. When it comes to business, the authorities don't interfere. Even if Illusion Tech gets squeezed out and goes bankrupt, they won't blame us. It's just business. In short, whatever we do, as long as Zhu Lan isn't harmed, as long as he's not directly targeted, the higher-ups won't bother with us. That's the bottom line. Zhu Lan's contributions have earned him a layer of minimum protection; it's the same whether the threat is internal or external!"

"I understand now. This must be why General Luo is protecting him, isn't it?"

Xu Bin nodded. "Exactly. I hope none of you want to cross the powers above and get summoned back by the old men for a few years behind closed doors. So, regarding Illusion Tech, keep it strictly commercial. If I find out anyone resorts to the old tricks, never mind the old men—I'll be the first to object!"

The group fell silent, shaking their heads helplessly.

They all understood the reality. Though others called them "princelings," they knew their own situations well. There were lines that could not be crossed, and to do so meant permanent confinement. Those notorious tales of reckless heirs were rare among their kind; from a young age, they'd been taught to think far ahead.

Leaving the airport, Zhu Lan felt the heat of Yangcheng pressing down on him. Although autumn had begun, the city was still stifling.

"Sir, is this the car you requested?"

Zhu Lan nodded, took the keys, got in, and drove toward the city center.

An hour and a half later, he parked at the entrance to a quaint old street, checked his phone for directions, and nodded. "This should be the place."

"Antiquity Pavilion!" Before long, Zhu Lan found his destination.

"Welcome!"

He entered an antique shop, its interior a faithful echo of an ancient courtyard, all wood—tables, chairs, even the walls paneled in timber.

"Is your boss in?"

"And may I ask what you need from our boss?"

"Just tell him Zhu Lan is here—he'll know who I am."

The young woman eyed him curiously, then nodded. "Please wait a moment, I'll go ask."

Tap, tap, tap—

Soon, a chubby figure came hurrying down from the second floor. The sight startled Zhu Lan.

"Old Zhu, what brings you here?"

"Third Brother? Is that you?" Hearing the familiar voice, Zhu Lan was stunned. This round fellow was Old Third, Li Jin?

Li Jin caught Zhu Lan's gaze and grinned awkwardly. "Put on some weight, you know how it is!"

Zhu Lan shook his head. "You haven't changed a bit!"

"Well, you should've let me know you were coming. As it happens, Big Brother is here today too. Come on, let's head upstairs and talk!"

"Big Brother, look who's here!"

The second floor was a spacious parlor, something like a private lounge. In the center, a refined man wearing glasses sipped tea leisurely.

As Zhu Lan emerged from behind Li Jin, the seated man stood up abruptly. "Zhu Lan? You—you—"

"Big Brother, it's been a long time."

"It really has!"

"Come, sit down! It's great to have you here, Old Zhu. We're only missing Second Brother now, ah!" Li Jin sighed as the memory struck him.

"Have some tea!"

Back in their college dormitory days, Zhu Lan was the least around, and because of his surname, he was called "Old Zhu"—which, given how "Zhu" sounds like "pig," inevitably morphed into "Old Pig" among close friends.

Li Jin, Old Third, was a legendary scion of a wealthy family, though he never had that typical arrogance. Second Brother, Zhang Daniu, was a straightforward man from a rural family near the Yellow River; after graduation, he’d gone to teach in a poor, remote area, and they’d lost touch with him even more than with Zhu Lan.

Big Brother, Su An, belonged to a family of scholars—a top student back in the day. He seldom spoke of his family, but everyone knew his father was a lawyer and his grandfather a calligrapher of some renown since the Republican era.

"It's been so long. Tonight, we don't go home until we're drunk!" Su An set a cup of tea in front of Zhu Lan, smiling.

Zhu Lan shook his head with a wry smile. "You two are always trying to get me drunk. What's the appeal?"

"Hahaha!" Li Jin clapped Zhu Lan on the shoulder, laughing loud and hard.

"Fourth Brother, what brings you here today? Don't tell me your business failed?" Li Jin's words were nothing serious, just good-natured teasing. Several million was no small sum to him, but he didn't really mind.

Zhu Lan rolled his eyes. "Do I look like that sort? I actually came for two reasons. First, we haven't caught up in ages, and I wanted to see how you've been. But that's clear enough—you're living better than I am, practically a meatball now."

"Ha!" Su An burst out laughing as Zhu Lan called Li Jin a meatball.

Li Jin's expression was priceless. Not many would dare call him that.

Zhu Lan chuckled. "The second thing is this." He took out a bank card and placed it on the table.

"What's this?" Li Jin looked at him curiously.

"The money I borrowed from you."

"Fourth Brother, you..."

"You never asked what I needed the three million for. Our friendship is solid, but I never forget a favor. Today, I'm returning thirty million to you—a little bonus for trusting me back then!"

"What? Thirty million?" Li Jin was shocked.

Su An looked at Zhu Lan in surprise as well.

Zhu Lan nodded. "That's right, thirty million on this card. How about that? You lent me money and didn't lose out. In less than half a year, it's multiplied tenfold—better than any loan shark's rate!"

"Come on, Fourth Brother, you didn't get into smuggling, did you?"

"Honestly, did you? How else do you make that much in six months?"

Zhu Lan rolled his eyes again, but couldn't really blame them. His city was known for smuggling; even local fishermen sometimes ferried goods—or even drugs—into the country for big profits. Many took the risk, though it was less common now.

"No, I just opened a company and earned this money fair and square!"

"A company? What kind?" Now Li Jin was truly curious.

"Nothing special, just a biotech company. You know that's my field, so..."

"Biotech? Zhu Lan, don't tell me it's Illusion Tech?" Su An suddenly frowned, his gaze sharp with realization.

To produce tens of millions in such a short time, with a newly founded biotech company—it had to be the much-discussed Illusion Tech.

"Illusion Tech? No way!" Li Jin looked at Zhu Lan in disbelief.

Zhu Lan grinned helplessly. "Big Brother, you really are sharp. I hadn't even said it and you guessed."

"So it's true..." Li Jin was floored. Illusion Tech was the hottest topic these days, rumored to be worth billions, poised to become a Fortune 500 company if it went public.

"Fourth Brother, I have to hand it to you—you really don't make a move unless it's earth-shaking! You've been working on that gene optimization serum all these years, haven't you?"

Zhu Lan nodded; after all, he'd already decided to admit it.

"Fourth Brother, look at me—" Li Jin suddenly gestured to his bulk and grinned.

Zhu Lan shook his head. "Forget it. You'd better just get surgery. Unless you want to be a guinea pig, in which case I can whip up a batch of gene serum to see if it melts that fat."

Li Jin waved his hands frantically. "No thanks, I'm comfortable enough as I am!"

"So, do you want the money?" Zhu Lan pointed at the bank card, smiling.

"Of course I do! This is for the people—redistribution of wealth!" Li Jin snatched the card as if afraid Zhu Lan might take it back.

Now that he knew Zhu Lan owned Illusion Tech, Li Jin was not about to be modest. What were a few million compared to a golden goose like Illusion Tech?

"Fourth Brother, well done!"

Zhu Lan smiled but said nothing.

"By the way, there's something I've been wanting to ask," Li Jin said thoughtfully.

"You mean all those rumors online?" Zhu Lan guessed.

Li Jin nodded. "Exactly. My old man hasn't been well lately—if your gene optimization serum works, I'd like to buy a few doses for him."

"A few doses? Do you know what they go for these days?"

"How much could it be? Money's no object for me!"

Zhu Lan laughed. "Due to some problems at the company, the serum is no longer available on the market. In Europe, it's being speculated at over ten million per dose!"

"Ten million?" Li Jin was stunned.

"In euros," Zhu Lan added.

"What? Ten million euros? That's over a hundred million per dose! My god, Fourth Brother, you’re a real profiteer!"

Zhu Lan burst out laughing. "Don't blame me. It's not my doing—other people are driving up the price."

"So, Fourth Brother, that means you're a billionaire now. Congratulations!" Su An was surprised, but knowing how hot Illusion Tech was, wasn't shocked. With Zhu Lan confirming the rumors, Su An knew Zhu Lan had truly forged his own path.

Back at graduation, Zhu Lan's future had seemed the least promising—Su An became a lawyer, Li Jin invested his family’s money in antiques, and Daniu became a devoted rural teacher. Only Zhu Lan was left, but now it looked like he had far outstripped the rest, by a long margin.