Chapter 608 - Persona
"You dare to bring your work here?" A cold voice with no ripples of emotion made the flipping of pages stop.
"You called me here so suddenly while I am on my busiest time. Since I am your dearest friend, I cannot reject your invitation, but I also cannot abandon my work. Why do you want to see me personally? Do you miss me?" Guan Guan Gao Huan teasingly asked.
His always neatly combed light brown hair that reached to his shoulders was slightly disheveled. It was tied up in a messy bun. His coat was hung on the armrest of the couch. Guan Gao Huan even took his tie off and opened three buttons of his white shirt.
Lu Jin was surprised to see Guan Gao Huan's change in his whole persona.
His friend's usual neat and pretentious gentlemanly and prince-like appearance was gone.
In front of him resembled a hardworking workaholic who drowned himself with work for the sake of higher income and higher position. This was really not Gao Huan.
"Why do you look like this?"
On Lu Jin's cold and handsome face, there was a subtle frown.
"I told you already. In two weeks, I will be announcing Univ One's launch. All preparations are complete. I am now carefully checking the advertising and marketing plans of the final product."
If Linfeng and Jang Shin were here, they would sigh and say that this scene was very familiar! They had been here as well when one could not even have the time to sleep.
Lu Jin stared at his friend whom he almost could not recognize. He felt somewhat distressed after seeing Guan Gao Huan work so hard like this.
This was his friend's first time working earnestly without dirtying his hands.
Despite the two bags under his eyes, Guan Gao Huan still looked energetic and enthusiastic.
Lu Jin lowered his eyes. The thick long lashes hid the feelings of pity and sympathy for his friend. He knew that Guan Gao Huan's hard work would crumble like dust in the future once that man learned his friend's bold disobedience to his words.
It would be one thing if Guan Gao Huan won in his competition with Linfeng. However, Lu Jin could not confidently say that Guan Gao Huan could truly win. Linfeng's ZD World was already unshakeable.
Lu Jin had already said these things to Guan Gao Huan the first time he learned that his friend foolishly competed with Linfeng. But Guan Gao Huan believed that he could still stand a chance.
Lu Jin did not even know what Guan Gao Huan was fighting for.
Was he really competing against Linfeng?
Or was it against the name that bound Guan Gao Huan?
Or was it for the competency of Gunan?
Lu Jin hid these complicated feelings in his heart.
"Didn't I say to better wait after IAmFashionista? If father learns that you disobeyed him at this crucial time, he will not be merciful. You might really lose a finger."
Guan Gao Huan smiled. "I can lose a finger. But I am telling you, father will not be disappointed once he learns how great Univ One is. It can rival ZD World! Univ One will be another gold stash for our father then," he excitedly declared.
His golden eyes shimmered like they were sprayed with golden fairy dust.
"Besides, four months are too long. I have heard that Shinichi came to the country and stayed in SC to personally supervise the new cooperation project with ZD World. I can't just stand by and waste time. I need to launch the project now. This is the right time."
Seeing that Guan Gao Huan had really set his heart on this and was being stubborn about it, Lu Jin knew that he could not change his friend's mind.
He pushed down the uncomfortable feeling in his heart.
If father knew this and saw this side of his friend, then father would....
Lu Jin did not dare to think about it.
He somberly sat across Guan Gao Huan and interrupted his work.
"The last signature failed. We need you to move."
Guan Gao Huan's hand froze.
Silence.
His demeanor slowly morphed.
The hardworking young man was gone. In its place was a snakelike man with a chilling aura. His golden eyes that were bright and burning earlier were now cold with killing intent.
"So the time has finally come, eh?"
Lu Jin looked away. "...Yes."
Guan Gao Huan was not in the mood to work anymore. He spread out his arms on the arm rest and looked at Lu Jin.
"Are you fine with that?"
Lu Jin looked up.
His dark eyes were unreadable.
"I should be asking you that. Are you fine with that?"
Guan Gao Huan shrugged his shoulders. "They are never my family. I have no qualms about it. I will double the dosage starting today."
"...."
Lu Jin's heavily lidded eyes lowered. His fist slowly clenched.
Guan Gao Huan knew that his friend was hesitating.
"Lu Jin. I really wonder how you became that man's son when you are this weak? Don't tell me you are close with that old man?" Guan Gao Huan joked.
But his lame jokes were not funny.
Lu Jin relaxed his hand. "...I am thinking of possible consequences."
"Everyone will die. It is just a matter of when. That old man has to die. We are just giving it to him sooner."
Lu Jin did not comment.
There was a long silence in the room.
Guan Gao Huan turned impatient and took his files. "If you make a decision, just tell me. I can't wait for you all day."
Lu Jin finally spoke, albeit slowly. "...If you start doubling the dosage today, he will not last for three months, will he?"
Guan Gao Huan looked at him weirdly. "It's not like you don't know. It's your people who made this."
Lu Jin ever so faintly trembled. Finally, he nodded.
"...You may start today."
Guan Gao Huan looked at him silently. He then put on his coat and arranged his clothes. He tied up his hair in a neat pony tail. He then put on his contact lenses that turned his eyes into a shade of light champagne.
"Alright. It shall be done."
Guan Gao Huan picked up his files, stood up, and left the room, leaving his friend to solitude.
Guan Gao Huan did not know how to properly comfort his friend. Whenever he tried to comfort him, like earlier, it just made his friend feel worse.
Perhaps it was because he did not know what Lu Jin was thinking, so he could not comfort him?
Anyway, it's not like it was their first murder.
Their hands had long been stained with blood, ever since they were very young.
*****
The cool shades from the trees in the Xiong's main courtyard gave off a relaxing and peaceful afternoon vibe. Under one of the shades was a tea table set up with a pot of hot tea and delicate snacks.
Old Xiong sipped his tea calmly. His white traditional clothes made him look like a dignified old deity detached from the world.
The old man's figure of sipping tea was elegant and could invoke admiration and reverence from any people who saw him.
However, if one looked closely, anyone could see a trace of sweat drop from the old man's temple running to the side of his old face. His back was sweaty too.
Zhou Min who was standing at the side took notice of it and took out a clean handkerchief. He excused himself and lightly dabbed the cotton handkerchief to wipe the sweat on his master's face.
Old Xiong who was focusing on maintaining his dignified appearance was surprised by his butler's sudden action. The tea he was holding spilled.
The table that was covered with clean and smooth white cloth suddenly had patches of black tea.
The old man's dignified image was suddenly broken.
"Zhou Min, ah! Clean the table quickly! If I can't present myself well in front of my granddaughter then I will blame it all on you!"
Pressing down a smile, Zhou Min immediately ordered the nearby servants to change the table cloth.
If people learned that the ruthless and dignified Old Xiong would actually bother to set up this kind of noble show outwardly just to impress his granddaughter, no one would believe him.
However, Zhou Min who stayed by his master side all these years knew that Old Xiong had grown closer to his granddaughter and learned to pamper her. The elder even acted silly sometimes, like this moment, just to impress the heiress.
Old Xiong turned to Zhou Min urgently with a somber face. "Check my appearance, Zhou Min. I think I ran too much that my clothes are sticking to me!"
Zhou Min again wiped the sweat from both of his master's temples with light movements. Then he looked at the traditional clothes that were definitely sticking to his master's back.
"...Master, I think it's better for you to change your robe. There's still time before the heiress arrives."
Earlier, while the master and butler were immersed in playing in ArtWorld's VRC and was clearing the 98th dungeon, one of Zhuo Min's junior suddenly appeared in their party space.
(A/n: Virtual Reality Game Chronicle)
The junior who was wearing his red armor ran to them not to help them defeat the boss but to report them an urgent matter.
[Messenger]: Head Butler! Young Miss Zhi will be coming to the Xiong Mansion right now! She is looking for Master!
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