Chapter 349: A Great Man Like You
When did Raka first meet Lucian?
Raka racked his brain, but all he could remember were the times he had berated the man.
The dented car flashed through his mind like a curse.
Then came the parent-teacher meeting.
All those mornings he had honked impatiently at Lucian outside the school gates.
The Foundation Day games.
And after that... every rude remark, every dismissive comment.
Every time he had looked down on Ashley and Lucian.
Even today, while Lucian was driving him to this building, Raka hadn’t been able to stop criticizing him.
All of it replayed in his head like a broken record.
"Is he okay?" Ashley wondered aloud from across the coffee table, eyeing Raka curiously. "It feels like his soul left his body."
"He must be shocked," Lucian remarked before glancing at Gustav. "Perhaps he’s shocked that Gustav is being nice to him. Were you not nice to him, Gustav?"
Standing nearby, Gustav lowered his head.
"I believe Mr. Jean is more surprised that you’re the person behind this company, sir." He lifted his head and added politely, "You should have told him beforehand."
"I tried," Lucian said.
Ashley immediately nodded.
"My husband tried."
She had absolutely no idea whether he had tried or not. All she knew was that her job was to side with him. Always.
Lucian turned back to Raka.
"However, I wasn’t given many opportunities to clear up the misunderstanding."
"I’m sorry, Mr. Jean," he continued sincerely. "I never intended for this to happen."
The moment Ashley heard that, she scooted closer to Lucian and puffed out her chest.
"My husband’s sorry," she declared with a sharp nod. "Forgive him now."
Raka remained motionless. His brain seemed to restart itself over and over again, yet nothing changed.
Eventually, his gaze drifted toward the couple. The moment it did, he jolted backward.
"No." One hand clutched his chest. Horror spread across his face before he narrowed his eyes suspiciously at them.
Lucian narrowed his eyes.
Ashley narrowed hers as well.
Even Gustav narrowed his eyes.
A second later, Raka laughed.
"No. No, no, no." He shook his head and touched his temple. "This has to be a prank."
His gaze darted around. "Where’s the hidden camera?"
The trio blinked at him.
When nobody answered, Raka leaned forward with wide eyes.
"Did you drive me to a different building?" he demanded, staring at Lucian. "Tell me the truth."
Lucian shook his head.
"Then explain how you’re the chairman!" Raka slapped the coffee table. "None of this makes sense! You drive that old piece of junk!"
He pointed dramatically. "And she sometimes picks up your son on a bicycle! A bicycle!"
Again, silence filled the room. Three full seconds passed. Then Lucian spoke.
"My car is not a piece of junk."
"And what’s wrong with using a bicycle?" Ashley added. "It’s exercise for me and Primo."
Gustav subtly leaned back, glancing between the couple.
He was already accustomed to Lucian focusing on completely irrelevant details at the worst possible moments.
Ashley, however, somehow managed to be even worse.
At times like these, Gustav could clearly see why the two got along so well.
They were alike in the strangest ways.
"Mr. Jean." Gustav cleared his throat. "My boss drives that car because of its engine. Also, it may look old, but that’s because he doesn’t enjoy driving vehicles that attract too much attention."
It wasn’t exactly a lie, just not the whole truth.
There were many reasons Lucian drove that car.
The engine happened to be one of them.
In a race, that vehicle would outperform most luxury cars. After all, it had been maintained by one of the finest mechanics in the world. The only problem was that the mechanic was eccentric and refused to work on any other vehicle.
"As for the madam’s bicycle," Gustav continued evenly, "it’s simply part of her exercise routine and a way for her to spend time with the young master."
Ashley nodded in satisfaction.
Lucian remained silent.
Meanwhile, Raka stared at Gustav blankly.
His mouth opened and closed.
Earlier, he had subconsciously ignored Gustav’s existence so he could convince himself this was all a prank. Or that Lucian had somehow driven him somewhere else.
Even though he had personally watched them enter Black Dragon Corporation.
But now...
Now Gustav had joined the conversation, and Raka’s mind finally crashed.
He had met Gustav before.
Gustav was calling Lucian his boss. And Ashley the madam.
Without thinking, Raka pounded a fist against his chest.
Every insult.
Every sarcastic remark.
Every time he had called them freeloaders.
Every time he had insisted they could never afford his consultation fees.
The memories assaulted him one after another.
"I’m doomed," he blurted.
Completely forgetting that he had literally saved Lucian’s life. Completely forgetting all the good things he had done for them.
"I’m... I’m worse than a dog." His voice cracked. "I shouldn’t even bark. That would be an insult to man’s best friend."
Gustav pursed his lips.
That was not the reaction he had expected.
He had only stepped in because he couldn’t rely on either Lucian or Ashley to explain the situation properly.
Instead, his explanation seemed to have shoved Raka even deeper into despair.
Ashley shook her head and then nodded. Then shook it again.
"Yeah. Don’t bark. That’s bad."
Lucian quietly watched Raka spiral further into emotional ruin. Finally, he broke the silence.
"I apologize for not clearing this up sooner."
Raka slowly looked at him.
"I should have been more direct."
Then again... both Lucian and Ashley knew it wouldn’t have mattered. Raka would have laughed or assumed they were joking. Or simply refused to believe them.
"I’d like to introduce myself properly, Mr. Jean." Lucian exhaled softly. "My name is Lucian. Founder and chairman of Black Dragon Corporation."
He paused, hoping that would finally get through.
It didn’t.
So he continued.
"When I first reviewed your research, I was intrigued."
Raka’s attention slowly focused.
"I’ve funded many research projects over the years. I’ve heard countless pitches. Yet yours was the first that genuinely sought to create a miracle drug capable of treating the incurable."
Lucian smiled.
"I believed it had potential." He nodded toward Raka. "And now that I’m personally participating in its clinical trial, I look forward to our partnership."
Life gradually returned to Raka’s eyes.
His blank expression faded, and his face brightened. Then, to the surprise of Lucian, Ashley, and Gustav, Raka suddenly shot to his feet.
"YES, CHAIRMAN!" His voice thundered through the room. "Thank you, Chairman!"
He stood ramrod straight, practically vibrating with excitement.
"I also look forward to working with a great man like you!"
