Leo's face remained devoid of any smile, matching the growing coldness in his expression. He locked his eyes onto Joseph's, and after a long pause, he responded, "I nearly forgot that Roy is now also your relative. What a joke."
Joseph chose not to say anything further. He stood up, his voice returning to a state of calmness, and stated, "If you still consider me your brother, then let it be."
Leo chuckled and remarked, "Do I still need to find a professional manager for Roy?"
Joseph gently picked up his lips. When Joseph turned around to leave, Leo raised his voice.
"Joseph."
Joseph stepped and turned around to look at him.
Leo stood up lazily, his gaze fixed on Joseph for a moment. Then, with a hint of derision, he spoke words intended to demean him, "I still remember you in your suit and tie. Look at you now, how utterly ridiculous!"
Joseph didn't anticipate such a comment from Leo and was taken aback. He glanced down at his own attire, seemingly unsure of how to react.
T-shirt and simple jeans.
Well, it was not his style.
"People always learn to adapt." He still threw out a word to keep his face and then turned away.
"Sometimes, useless adaptations are silly!" Leo said behind his back.
****
Joseph hailed a taxi and headed home.
As the car moved along, Joseph couldn't shake off the feeling that someone's gaze was fixed on him. He looked up and met the driver's eyes. The driver appeared slightly embarrassed and offered a smile.
"Is there something wrong?" Joseph asked directly.
"Oh no, I mean, my daughter likes to wear the same brand of clothes." The driver was honest.
Joseph opened his mouth and asked, "How old is your daughter?"
"Almost ten." The driver said with a happy face.
Joseph was speechless.
Indeed, Joseph found himself wearing clothing that resembled something a ten-year-old would wear. It became clear why Leo had made that remark, as even Joseph himself couldn't help but feel the same way.
The driver said nothing more, and it was clear that the clothes were not enough to arouse a topic of discussion. After a dull moment in the car, the driver opened the radio, and the very light music filled in.
Joseph fell into deep contemplation.
As the taxi continued its journey, the buildings on both sides appeared to recede rapidly, creating the illusion of time slipping away just as quickly.
In the midst of the rushing buildings, Joseph's mind drifted back to his student days.
During their student days, Leo had a strong passion for cars. He was particularly enamored by a brand-new model with its innovative design and high price tag. Leo would often drag Joseph along to car dealerships to admire it. Eventually, Leo mustered up the courage to ask his father for money, a difficult request for him to make.
However, instead of simply giving him the money like other fathers might have done, Leo's father responded differently. He told Leo that as his father, he had the responsibility to provide for him, but as the future successor of the family group, Leo shouldn't rely solely on asking for money from others.
Leo felt humiliated and left home, carrying the weight of his father's words.
During a break from classes, Leo confided in Joseph about the situation, expressing his anger and frustration. Joseph, who had been involved in a holiday trip to South Africa to learn diamond grinding technology, suggested that Leo join him on the trip. Joseph even mentioned that his father might consider buying Leo the coveted car after seeing how hard-working he was.
However, Leo shook his head, stating that he had to do an internship at the company during the holiday period.
Both of them fell into deep contemplation, and finally, Joseph proposed, "Why don't you ask your father to lend you the money?"
Leo pondered over Joseph's suggestion for a long time, remaining silent throughout.
A few days later, Leo arrived in a depressed state and informed Joseph that the limited-edition car he desired had been booked by someone else and would be challenging to secure again.
Joseph offered words of consolation, assuring Leo that there would be better models available in the future.
However, Leo remained deeply saddened by the news.
In the following days, while dining at the school restaurant, Leo's father unexpectedly appeared and took a seat in front of both of them. Leo, still consumed by thoughts of the car, chose to ignore his father while Joseph politely greeted him.
"You need to learn something," Leo's father began, breaking the silence. It was the first sentence he uttered after sitting down.
Both Leo and Joseph looked up at him, their curiosity piqued.
Leo's father emphasized the importance of having the strength to attain the things one desires. He explained that if one wished to possess what they liked, they must first ensure they have the capability to obtain and keep it. Otherwise, they would be left watching as others obtained what they desired. The message was clear: one must be strong enough to possess what they want.
These words resonated with Joseph. At the very least, he understood the underlying message.
Leo's father then presented a stack of documents, placing them in front of Leo. He explained that the papers contained information on the company's stock products for the next six months. He admitted that the quality of the precious stones was not exceptional, which was why they had become stock items. However, he made a proposition: if Leo could successfully sell the goods and secure signed letters of intent, he promised that Leo would obtain the desired car.
Leo was puzzled, opened the document, and frowned.
Joseph also took a look.
The design of the product was very old-fashioned and difficult to sell.
Leo's father assigned him a specific buyer, emphasizing, "You must secure his order."
With this added pressure, Leo felt the task becoming even more challenging.
"The path to success in business is through achieving results," Leo's father declared with sincerity.
Leo closed the file and asked, "If I close the deal will you help me order that car from abroad?"
Leo's father shook his head.
Joseph was also puzzled.
Leo's father looked at them and said, "Once you sell the goods, you have a good commission, so you can take the commission to book the car. Remember, in this world, when you have enough ability, others will also be around you."
Leo's father left, and Joseph thought for a long time.
Leo is facing the challenge of selling his products.
Despite the late hour, Leo remained awake, burdened with an abundance of product information, and sought guidance from Joseph. Regardless of Joseph's drowsiness, he forcibly roused him from his bed, accompanying him in search of a solution.
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