Chapter 99

Younger brother's still alive, healthy, and still a man.

If that day ever comes, before younger brother cuts himself up, while he's still a man, he'll let all you big brothers know.

This chapter is just to make up for the big brothers who subscribed last chapter. Future accumulated content will still be bundled into a full chapter.

The stats were decent originally, but this break of a few days probably tanked them. But illness? That's not something younger brother can control. Life's still bearable, nowhere near the point where I'd push through sickness to death. My brain's just not fast enough, and I've got no saved drafts—gotta pause for a bit. Big brothers, please understand.

Also, younger brother tried a certain poison—it actually worked! That shit sprayed me, seriously…

Still, thanks to all you big brothers for your support.

Thank you, Big Brother (Bloom Poro), for donating 1500 coins and three 3000-coin supports.

Thank you, Big Brother (Four Worms of the Jianghu), for donating 1500 coins.

Thank you, Big Brother (Wu'an Wenxing), for donating 1500 coins.

Thank you, Big Brother (Flower Burial Shaking the Moon), for donating 1500 coins.

Thank you, Big Brother (Memories Covered by Time), for donating 1500 coins.

Thank you, Big Brother (Ink Snow Drifting Clouds), for donating 1500 coins.

Thank you, Big Brother (Willow Bank Flower Bright Liu Yang), for donating 500 coins.

Thank you, Big Brother (No Man's Land), for donating 100 coins.

Thank you, Big Brother (Cherry Blossoms of Misty Island*), for donating 100 coins.

Thank you, Big Brother (July Drifting Snow), for donating 100 coins.

Thank you, Big Brother (Fei Fei Fei Fei Has Arrived), for donating 100 coins.

Thank you, reading user (Reminiscing Like Flowing Water), for donating 400 coins.

Thank you, reading user (Golden Birch Velvet), for donating 300 coins.

Thank you, reading user (Lost Youth), for donating 100 coins.

………………

Thank you to all the big brothers who supported with monthly vote tickets this period. Younger brother feels your hearts, truly can't thank you all enough—thanks!

Thank you to all the older brothers who consistently recommend.

Thank you to the older brothers who comment and those who just read without speaking.

Thanks for your overwhelming kindness, big brothers.

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Really don't like writing this stuff—big brothers, just pretend you skipped it and make do.

Really don't like writing this stuff—big brothers, just pretend you skipped it and make do.

Really don't like writing this stuff—big brothers, just pretend you skipped it and make do.

…………………………………………

Watching Meng Xiaojun raise his index finger, eyes gleaming as he said "America," Cheng Dongqing felt immense envy…

With his outstanding professional skills, Wang Yan negotiated a price and set a submission deadline with the publisher, then returned to Jingda.

Seeing it was still early, he went straight to the library, found an empty seat, and began translating quietly.

After a long while, he felt someone sit beside him; he turned and saw Su Mei, whom he'd met that morning. He nodded to her, said nothing, and lowered his head to continue working.

Su Mei nodded; she hadn't expected to randomly pick a seat where she'd just seen him. Her impression of this person? … Ran really fast?

Watching Wang Yan's forceful, swift handwriting and his occasional book-checking motions, Su Mei asked curiously: "What are you doing?"

"Translating."

Su Mei paused—she could imagine the level required for translation; it wasn't something just anyone could handle.

"Let me introduce myself—I'm Su Mei, from the Law Department."

He glanced at her pale, delicate hand, gave a light shake: "Wang Yan, Chinese Literature Department."

"You're from Chinese Literature?"

Wang Yan smiled faintly: "Think the major doesn't match?"

"A bit," Su Mei said, embarrassed.

"Just read," he gave her a smile, offered no explanation, and returned to his work.

He'd thought about publishing something—his level? He wouldn't claim high, but he believed it was decent enough. But anything he wrote might clash with his resume—that'd be fatal. Writing well was hard; writing poorly was no easier. So he had to weigh, weigh, and weigh again before releasing even small works to test the waters. He wasn't in a hurry—after all, he had all the time in the world.

Seeing Wang Yan busy with serious work, Su Mei wisely didn't disturb him and settled down to read.

When it neared mealtime, he greeted Su Mei, returned to his dorm to fetch his lunchbox, went to the cafeteria, grabbed food, and ate hastily. Conditions were truly poor now—just not starving was enough; Wang Yan didn't care much.

Time passed slowly; before long, a month had gone by.

During this period, Wang Yan often encountered Su Mei during his daily exercise or library visits; they'd become acquainted, and their relationship was quite good. Since learning Wang Yan had publishable English translation skills, Su Mei occasionally asked him questions—this was the main reason their bond deepened.

During this time, Cheng Dongqing kept following Meng Xiaojun to events, listening to him go on and on about the wonders of free America. Sometimes he accompanied Wang Yang, primarily learning authentic American accents and watching how he chased foreign girls.

Of course, he didn't forget his first friend at Jingda—he'd sometimes seek out Wang Yan to talk, unburdening his worries.

Just like now, in the cafeteria,

"Wang Yan, your English is so good—how'd you train it? They always say I've got a Japanese accent." As he spoke, Cheng Dongqing nervously stole a glance at Su Mei, who was eating quietly beside him. He knew Su Mei and Wang Yan were close—he'd even met Su Mei through Wang Yan—but he just couldn't help staring at her.

"There's no trick—just memorize and practice. Everyone goes through it. I can't help you."

Such obvious behavior? Wang Yan couldn't miss it. But he didn't care—really, wasn't it he who intruded into their relationship? Besides, didn't his hundred-plus years of experience give him enough confidence?

Cheng Dongqing glanced nervously at Wang Yan and said: "Lately, I've been attending events with new friends, and they've been talking about America…"

Wang Yan ate silently, indifferent. But Su Mei listened intently, her eating noticeably slowing. Cheng Dongqing noticed her small reaction and spoke even more enthusiastically… First love, youthful admiration—understandable. But if he kept this up too long, it'd be excessive. Wang Yan believed he had some sense…

After that day, Cheng Dongqing, just as in the original plot, threw himself into reading and studying. The difference? Because of Wang Yan's presence, Su Mei was no longer by his side.

As for Wang Yang and Meng Xiaojun—Wang Yan didn't need to care.

After earning his first money from translation, his articles were accepted by several journals and magazines, and he received his first royalty payment.

After the publisher recognized Wang Yan's level, Wang Yan organized a group from the Spanish department who had sufficient English to join in, taking charge himself. This would train their abilities, increase income, and allow him to teach and reshape their thinking.

Wang Yan's life settled into calmness—reading, writing articles, translating, and occasionally wandering around scrap yards. Though he had no specialized study of this subject, antiques and cultural relics could be considered a sub-branch of history. He dared not claim mastery, but understanding was within his reach; after enough false starts, his level naturally rose. In this era, while not everyone noticed these things, there were still few who did, and good items remained plentiful.

In 1984, the first private enterprise business license was issued, and the great power of the times truly emerged.

Also in this year, Cheng Dongqing, having avoided romantic entanglements with Su Mei, did not contract tuberculosis and graduated on schedule. But he did not stay to teach; instead, Wang Yan convinced him to use his money to open a training school.

Cheng Dongqing didn't need Wang Yan's direct involvement—Su Mei was enough. She was another powerful woman Wang Yan had persuaded to vow to build something great.

Wang Yan, with outstanding grades and high-level works, remained at Beijing University as a teacher.

At year's end, Wang Yan married Su Mei. The following autumn, they gave birth to a daughter named Wang Qiu. Su Mei adamantly refused, insisting on having a son. Wang Yan had no choice but to comply; the next winter, they gave birth to a son named Wang Dong.

After the children passed their first birthday, Su Mei fully unleashed herself. Under Wang Yan's guidance, her business grew ever larger—she became an undisputed leader among private enterprises.

Aside from teaching students, Wang Yan spent most of his time caring for the two children. In his spare moments, he wrote articles and pursued creative work, determined to become a literary giant.

Due to Wang Yan's development and progress, he gained some fame and status in the literary world—quarrels were inevitable, as scholars have always looked down on one another. But Wang Yan found joy in these battles, and as a result, his reputation soared; he became one of Beijing University's most popular professors.

Meanwhile, Cheng Dongqing's training school expanded rapidly, extending its operations to major universities nationwide. Wang Yan, watching movies, felt Cheng Dongqing's approach was flawed—only sending students out, never bringing them back, too narrow in scope. He thus proposed a plan to offer a full-service package for studying abroad to those with clear goals.

Because tuition fees at foreign universities rose yearly and living costs were high, this was a costly plan with no quick return. After all, even with national power, only thirty to forty thousand students were sent abroad annually. For Wang Yan to send a few thousand more himself—and bring them back—would be nothing short of miraculous.

Due to financial constraints, after verifying their family background and personal abilities, those who signed contracts promising to work for Wang Yan's newly established Huaxing Group upon completing their studies would receive low-interest student loans, guaranteed passage abroad, guaranteed employment, and guaranteed salaries.

The moment the plan was proposed, it caused an uproar—but the final outcome was certainly positive. This plan offered a new path and choice to those who had never planned to study abroad, precisely Wang Yan's target group. As for those who, after going abroad, considered themselves superior to Western citizens, lacked contractual spirit, and reneged on their promises—Wang Yan would show them what real Western society truly meant.

Of course, most could not obtain loans, but Wang Yan certainly wouldn't let them go unattended—he had to cleanse them too. He wanted them, when they struggled, to remember they still had a home.

At the end of 1991, Wang Yan personally traveled to his older brother Lao Su's territory to broker connections, bringing back goods by trainload. With limited funds, he inevitably collaborated with his "good brother," just like in *Infernal Affairs*, to arrange deals. The whole operation didn't yield the most profit, but compared to *Infernal Affairs*, he gained far more—after all, he was better prepared.

With the newly acquired high-end machinery and cutting-edge technologies, Su Mei's company once again accelerated onto the fast track.

At the same time, Wang Yan appointed an agent in the United States and, through convoluted channels, invested heavily there to help elevate certain politicians who were ambiguous in stance and held some leverage. He didn't seek their loyalty to China, but merely wanted them to speak up and lend a small hand on certain matters.

Notably, in this same year, Meng Xiaojun, who had been a lowly waiter in a restaurant, could no longer make ends meet. He stubbornly sought out Cheng Dongqing, whom he had once looked down upon. As the elder brother of New Dream and a shareholder holding 10% equity, Cheng Dongqing had the authority to help. Later, through Cheng Dongqing's promotion and Meng Xiaojun's own genuine ability, Wang Yan learned of this.

As for Wang Yang, he had long followed Cheng Dongqing and was doing quite well.

The great wheel of the times rolled forward; Wang Yan could no longer let his company grow unchecked—it was time to transform. After the year 2000, Wang Yan had Su Mei gradually divest unimportant industries, cede market share, and redirect more energy toward R&D.

By 2016, when Su Mei led a group of smaller enterprises in openly confronting American financial conglomerates, the fifty-four-year-old Cheng Dongqing, past fifty, stared at a document Wang Yan handed him—clearly listing the names of those who had left New Dream and returned over thirty years, along with detailed records of their contributions—and silently shed two tears.

Wang Yan didn't know if this was what he wanted to change—but change had occurred, and significantly so. The system also notified him the task was complete.

Wang Yan had lived a vivid life, rising to the position of leading figure in Beijing University's Chinese Department. Since his children had grown and he no longer needed to care for them, he devoted himself entirely to scholarship, teaching, and being the literary world's number-one critic. After years of criticism, his status had risen with his voice—he was now a major power.

Having taught for so many years, it was inevitable he'd have a few undesirables among his students—but Wang Yan made it clear to others with ambition what authority truly meant.

For the construction of the people's spiritual civilization and to counter cultural invasion, Wang Yan had long laid plans in the entertainment industry.

For the first time, Wang Yan, who had never been a public figure, stepped fully into the spotlight. His wife had money and connections and ran her own entertainment company; he himself had talent and could produce outstanding works. In literature, he dared not claim the top spot—but in entertainment, he was unquestionably the boss. No one dared challenge him.

Looking back on his half-life, Wang Yan felt it was enough—he had no regrets.

That evening, the family shared dinner. After Su Mei fell asleep, Wang Yan looked at the woman who had accompanied him for half his life…

Pulled up the interface, selected return.

Blue light flashed…