KC | Chapter 52

Except for a very small number of second-generation officials, rich second-generation, and demolition second-generation kids, no one was born strong.

Take the advertising industry Chen Xi worked in for example, salespeople had to quietly build themselves up for more than ten years, or even longer, before they could hold key clients in their hands, negotiate with ease, master core connections, and establish their own brand.

Only someone like Lin Yiran, standing at the top of KA, with influence strong enough to shake the North China advertising circle and powerful enough to draw everyone’s attention, had the capital to choose and live the life he wanted.

His clothes were soaked through and stuck to his body, which felt very uncomfortable. Early autumn was not like midsummer, the breeze was chilly, and Chen Xi was very cold.

Only now did he deeply understand that plans were made by people, but success was decided by heaven.

Some things were destined not to be yours. Even if you gave it your all, you still could not complete them.

Chen Xi’s eyes lost focus, his face was pale, and rainwater mixed with sweat and tears flowed down his cheeks. The huge sense of frustration was almost about to crush him.

The three little figures were drenched through by the rain, the remaining clouds in the distance rolled up filthy water, and the surging mountains and rivers twisted and spiraled, forming a huge whirlpool. Trees flowed, broken rocks swayed, and all sounds around him vanished. His hot heartbeat gradually steadied, and the string that had been taut for a whole week snapped.

The huge pain brought by despair was almost driving him crazy.

He wanted to shout and scream, to wildly swing his fists in the rain and be a madman for a while, but he chose silence.

Chen Xi sat alone in the corner, pain eroding his nerves and corroding his bones, freezing him inch by inch.

Everything around him grew blurry, and only the firm goal became clearer in the pouring rain. That damned sense of ambition temporarily became a painkiller, and using poison against poison became the force that supported Chen Xi.

Roaring and shouting were nothing more than venting emotions, and releasing emotions brought no positive effect. My goal was “carry out the event and get the final payment,” since the “rain” could no longer be changed, then I would wait for the rain to stop.

Chen Xi pulled out two tissues and wiped his wet hair, gathering his strength and waiting for the rain to stop, waiting for a new opening.

What often destroyed a person was emotion, and meaningless internal friction would keep wearing him down. Drifting through a painful life, there were very few who could truly remain unmoved by gain or loss, and it was even rarer to not lose one’s original heart.

Life could not destroy a true strong person, and inner strength was never something spoken with the mouth.

–

Lin Yiran planned to go to Huiling Mountain this afternoon, both for Chen Xi and for Pinsheng.

He wanted to trick Chen Xi back home, and he also wanted to completely take down Pinsheng.

Pinsheng was Chen Xi’s key client, and also Yucheng Lanhai’s, and Lin Yiran’s.

In the years Lin Yiran had been leading KA, he had always put the priority of employees and clients first. Because many KA people with connections could not talk deals as soon as they joined, causing key clients to be lost. It was also because the assessment pressure for KA was relatively heavy, and many people with resources were assessed out before they had even closed a deal after joining for three months. In order to reduce the loss of key clients and employees, Lin Yiran never spared his time or energy.

In the morning, after attending the client’s press conference, Lin Yiran went to the supermarket to buy ingredients.

Why buy ingredients? Because the fridge was completely empty, or more accurately, it had been empty for more than a year.

What were the ingredients for? Of course they were for tricking a certain little white rabbit back home, showing off a little skill, and displaying the sincerity of “vanilla.”

But if he prepared too fully and Chen Xi still refused to go home with him, what then? That kind of hypothesis did not exist! Negotiation experts were best at turning black into white, and “forcing a good person into prostitution” was so easy.

The sudden rain brought the plan forward by a few hours. The moment the first drop of rain fell on his head, he thought of Chen Xi.

Chen Xi was his subordinate, but he was also a little different.

He would not take the initiative to expose old illnesses and pains to other coworkers; he would not often pay attention to other subordinates’ Moments; and even more, he would not buy vanilla lattes for other people.

Because Pinsheng was Chen Xi’s client, Lin Yiran hoped to get him to sign the contract, but also did not want him to have any connection with Shen Yuesheng, so he put in more effort than usual.

–

These past few days, Lin Yiran had investigated Shen Yuesheng’s background. There was very little information about him in the advertising circle, and he could not borrow much leverage from that. Lin Yiran had broad connections, and after asking a few clients who drove Maseratis, one of them said he had seen Shen Yuesheng at a car club. According to the client’s description, at a car club meeting a month ago, Shen Yuesheng had attended together with a friend, and the two had been very close.

Lin Yiran called Shen Pin and said: Shen Yuesheng’s “buddy” had rear-ended his car while driving drunk, and he wanted to ask how this “buddy” was related to Shen Yuesheng. If they were all acquaintances, then they could settle it privately.

Shen Pin said: The son’s “buddy” was the young master of the Culture and Tourism Bureau, and the two of them had played together since they were little. No matter from which level of relationship, they all hoped Lin Yiran would take care of it.

According to Uncle Zhang from within the system: the young master of the Culture and Tourism Bureau was on the books at Huiling Mountain.

Heh, Huiling Mountain, no wonder Pinsheng’s event was at Huiling Mountain.

Lin Yiran opened Pinsheng’s official website, Douyin account, and WeChat public account, and sure enough, just as he had expected, Pinsheng’s recent activities were all centered around “study tours” and “culture and tourism.”

So, Shen Yuesheng was trying to build ties with the Culture and Tourism Bureau’s young master in order to get culture and tourism related resources.

Just like that, Lin Yiran easily “cajoled out” Shen Yuesheng’s social connections and deduced his purpose.

The top KA chuckled lightly, “Heh, culture and tourism resources, I have those!”

–

The rain grew heavier, raindrops hit the car window, and the glass was covered in fog.

Lin Yiran looked toward the thick cumulonimbus clouds in the sky. The bottom of the cloud mass was flat, and from a distance he could vaguely see the bright upper part. It looked like this rain would not last long.

After dialing the “little white rabbit”’s phone, Lin Yiran asked, “Chen Xi, what are you doing?”

Chen Xi was very cold, and his voice could not help trembling: “Brother Lin, I’m waiting for the rain to stop.”

That deep voice came through the receiver, as if the person was right beside him: “It’s fine, it’s just a light drizzle. It probably won’t last long. If you’re upset, just cry for a bit first, then talk after you’re done crying.”

Chen Xi: …

He had been pretty upset, but after Lin Yiran said it like that, he could not stay upset anymore.

Chen Xi wiped the water off his face and snorted softly, “I didn’t cry.”

“Haha, if you didn’t cry then go do your work.” Lin Yiran deliberately said lightly, “First put away the event props that are afraid of the rain, then find a warmer place to shelter from the rain.” Get the important things done first, then I’ll comfort you.

Chen Xi said, “I already put them away.”

“Good, well done.” When Lin Yiran spoke, he could hear the navigation voice from his phone. He should have been driving.

Chen Xi knew he was trying to lift his mood on purpose by speaking humorously. His mood was better, but he was still sad.

The omnipotent Lin Yiran could only help him negotiate deals, and could not change the weather. Chen Xi kept quiet about asking for help, and did not want to reveal negative emotions.

But even if Chen Xi made no sound at all, the sound of rain would still carry his emotions to Lin Yiran.

If one cared, rain, moonlight, air, everything could convey it.

He listened to his strength and felt his sadness.

Lin Yiran pulled Chen Xi out of the pouring rain.

–

The smooth talker drew a breath, and because of driving with an unstable dantian, he sang in a florid style that sounded like storytelling: “I observe the celestial signs, and see thick clouds piling up like mountains, this rain is doomed not to last. Wait for me to wave my sleeve, and within two quarters of an hour, I shall surely slay these unruly clouds!”

Chen Xi covered his forehead and burst out laughing, thinking: Brother Lin has lost his mind again, what is he even singing.

Over the years since graduation, Chen Xi had drifted around Yucheng like a rootless weed, with no sense of belonging. He had been trying hard to become stronger, constantly creating a sense of safety for himself, using silence to cover up his weakness.

Lin Yiran found his soft spot, took his self-esteem into account, and did not expose his armor. He gave him affirmation instead of guidance or blame.

He respected his thoughts, cared about his feelings, and wrapped him up tightly.

Lin Yiran had not said “care,” but Chen Xi had felt it.

So, “care” did not necessarily have to be hung on the lips, some words did not need to be said outright.

Even though the other person was not by his side, he could still bring warmth.

He gave him support in the rain, so he was no longer alone. The stones and dirt of the dam trying hard to suppress sadness loosened, and the surging emotions were like a mountain flood, finally breaking loose.

“Brother Lin, in order to achieve the expected effect, I’ve been following this event the whole time. I didn’t tell you the details because I didn’t want you to worry. We rehearsed countless times, tested it many times, and I had planned to go through the process once more later. The afternoon execution would have been perfect. But now… I…”

Chen Xi gripped the cold phone, his voice muffled by the rain and a little uncertain, with more reliance than anything else: “I don’t know what to do anymore.”

Lin Yiran’s voice was steady and forceful, cutting through the rustling rain and shattering the reflection on the pond, giving him something to lean on: “Chen Xi, I’m here.”

–

“You don’t need to think about what to do, you just need to do as I say, okay?”

He was asking for his consent, not giving an order.

Chen Xi could not clearly see the hazy mountains and waters in the distance, and could only grab onto the lifesaving straw by his ear. A schizophrenia patient who lacked a sense of security to the extreme, once he spoke his heart, was completely handing himself over. He was willing to trust and obey all of Lin Yiran’s decisions.

“Okay.”

“In a moment, first ask Shen Yuesheng whether the event should continue.”

“Mm.”

“I just checked, and the contract you signed was Lanhai’s template contract. It says that if force majeure happens, the losses will be borne by Party A. The shuttle buses have already brought Pinsheng’s trainees to Huiling Mountain, the actors are already in place, and the personnel cost is 10,000 yuan a day. Even if the event can’t be carried out, this money still has to be paid. You need to make that clear to Shen Yuesheng.”

Although the navigation voice on the other end was very noisy, Lin Yiran’s words were clear, and his reasoning was organized.

“Okay.”

“As for Lanhai’s labor costs, I’ll coordinate that side. We’ll try our best to make sure there’s no loss, but you probably won’t have much gross profit left.”

“I’m fine.” The original purpose of taking this order was to get the payment back, and to pry open Pinsheng’s cooperation point, not to get gross profit.

The signal on Lin Yiran’s side was not very good, and his speech was intermittent. Chen Xi heard a few words, “rain stops, continue, make him wait.”

Chen Xi said, “Brother Lin, you drive first, pay attention to safety, we’ll later…” He could say it too.

“No!” Lin Yiran refused decisively.

“Now…”

“Can you hear me clearly now?”

The Cadillac sped through the tunnel. Lin Yiran kept asking about the phone signal again and again, and Chen Xi listened in bits and pieces, warmed again and again by him.

Finally, they came out of the tunnel, and Chen Xi said, “Yes, now it’s good.”

“If Shen Yuesheng wants to continue, then let him wait another hour.”

Chen Xi: ?

Lin Yiran completely drove away the chill in Chen Xi’s heart: “Wait for me to go.”