Chapter 329: No Need for You to Ask, I'll Give You Even More

Li Hanyu gazed at the beautiful face and well-maintained curvaceous figure in the mirror; bruises showed on her chest, like tooth marks left by a man's roughness.

She said in a low voice:

"Son, you've always been outstanding, but you've always had one biggest flaw: you always want to clutch the greatest benefits in your own hands. That you could make a wise choice this time, I know it pains you, but I'm glad to see you've grown."

Not waiting for the other end of the phone to speak, Li Hanyu continued:

"Son, Mother taught you a principle before: when fighting for your life to survive, you can't hesitate and look back and forth; you must go mad!"

"Mother is teaching you another principle now: when you're climbing upward, don't clutch too many things in your hand; give away the things you can't hold onto as early as possible. The more you give away, the faster you climb."

Li Hanyu gently stroked the bite marks on her chest that still ached faintly; hidden within the pain were threads of inexplicable pleasure, making one immerse in it. She licked her lips and smiled:

"When you climb high enough, you'll have the chance to take back double from their hands what you lost."

Qian Huan fell silent for a long time. This principle he hadn't not known before, yet between knowing and understanding there often lies a chasm difficult to cross. And now, perhaps he truly understood a little.

What a painful realization.

Yet Li Hanyu felt this bit of pain still wasn't profound enough. With such a rare good teaching opportunity, she decided to let her son ache to the marrow once and for all, to truly learn this principle.

She said: "After you hang up the phone, go to Guangming Group and find General Manager Lu Chenjia."

Qian Huan's voice carried a trace of confusion and puzzlement: "What do you mean?"

Li Hanyu explained:

"Foolish son, what 49% stake in Second Prison do we still have in our hands? The equity in your uncle's hands I've already transferred to General Manager Lu. So the new company's formation cannot do without General Manager Lu's support."

Qian Huan's face darkened; his heart already ached to the point of being unable to breathe. He comprehended the principle even more deeply, down to the bone marrow.

Li Hanyu continued:

"Be more proactive. Don't wait for General Manager Lu to open his mouth; just give away our remaining equity too. Us orphan and widow will just keep 10%, just leave a pair of chopsticks on the table and that's enough."

Qian Huan felt his heart bleeding, but he also thoroughly comprehended his mother's teaching. He slowly hung up the phone, leaned exhausted against the soft backrest, and muttered to himself:

"Mother was right. To make a good feast, you have to invite at least two honored guests before the banquet can truly begin. Even if I become part of this feast, at least I still keep a pair of chopsticks!"

Shi Wuming and Wang Cong listened quietly to Qian Huan hang up the phone. Both their faces showed thoughtful expressions, only one's focus was on General Manager Lu, the other's focus on the Prison Warden's mother.

Qian Huan abruptly straightened up, rallied himself. He gave Shi Wuming a sidelong glance, then said indifferently to Wang Cong:

"Let's go, to Guangming Group. We're going to find General Manager Lu."

Guangming Group's headquarters is located in the most bustling central area of the Ninth District, standing tall. The entire building's design is uniquely ingenious, like a giant tree rising from the ground, a full 600-plus meters high.

The treetop position is the Board of Directors' floor, reputed to be the place in the Nine Districts closest to Upper City's butt. Standing there one might perhaps hear Upper City's clamor.

Below the Board of Directors' floor is Lu Chenjia's personal office.

At this moment, Lu Chenjia stood before the huge floor-to-ceiling window, holding a pair of scissors trimming the potted plant's branches and leaves.

This potted plant was no ordinary thing. It was a rare variety carefully selected and transported from Upper City — Sunflower. This plant has long been extinct in Lower City.

This pot he is trimming, after the laboratory's special cultivation and genetic modification, its capitulum mutated into an eerie pitch-black color. It can maintain blooming beauty 365 days a year in Lower City, then on the 366th day suddenly wither and die.

The crisp sound of scissors cutting echoed in the spacious office.

Lu Chenjia trimmed carefully for a while, then turned to look at Qian Huan, saying with much emotion:

"Every time I see this bewitchingly blooming sunflower, I'm deeply moved by its furious blooming beauty. People are actually the same. Living in Upper City, or Lower City, even living in prison — it's all the same. What's important isn't how long you live, but that you bloom furiously."

After Lu Chenjia finished trimming, he suddenly snipped through the flower stem with one cut of the scissors, cupped the intact flower head in his hand, and handed it to Qian Huan.

Qian Huan blanked for a moment, then heard Lu Chenjia speak slowly in a tone full of philosophy:

"This sunflower was only moved from the laboratory this morning. Theoretically it still has 365 days of life left.

But I think, since it has already bloomed today, it should die gorgeously today. Only such beauty is the most moving.

Because the 364 days after are merely a repetition of today, truly boring."

Qian Huan couldn't quite understand Lu Chenjia's words, but still nodded respectfully and accepted the flower head. Wang Cong following at the side, however, saw his pupils contract slightly; he had some realization.

Because Wang Cong's life is in a countdown at every moment.

Seeing Qian Huan accept the flower head, Lu Chenjia smiled and said:

"The 【Eight-Cage Beast Fighting Plan】, I admire your plan very much.

To give those prisoners muddling through their days a chance to die brilliantly on the platform — for them, it's not without being a kind of beautiful salvation."

Qian Huan's face reddened slightly. He passed the flower head to Wang Cong behind him, coughed once, and said:

"General Manager Lu misunderstands. The 【Eight-Cage Beast Fighting Plan】 was actually proposed by my subordinate Wang Cong in the first place."

Lu Chenjia let out an "Oh," then his gaze turned to Wang Cong, a trace of faint approval surfacing on his face.

Wang Cong received the sunflower, flattered and startled, lowered his head, and gave Lu Chenjia a smile unique to a small figure — both restrained and stiff.

Lu Chenjia patted Qian Huan's shoulder, still smiling broadly:

"Although this creativity is the crystallization of your subordinate's wisdom, that you could discover and value it proves your discerning eye for talent. Like the sunflower's blooming, the most important thing isn't itself, but the person who irrigates and fertilizes it."

Seeing Lu Chenjia act friendly, Qian Huan no longer hid or held back, cutting straight to the theme:

"Since General Manager Lu also finds the 'Eight-Cage Beast Fighting Plan' quite attractive, then I wonder if our Second Prison has the honor to invite General Manager Lu to join this plan together, to irrigate and fertilize together?"

Lu Chenjia looked at Qian Huan, still smiling broadly. To tell the truth, Qian Huan invited him to join earlier than he had anticipated.

He originally wasn't someone who likes to sit at the table during the ingredient preparation phase. He prefers to wait until all the dishes are served, then elegantly enjoy the delicacies.

He's different from Wang Xinfa. He appears a bit less greedy, acts more elegant, but in reality is more fierce and overbearing.

Lu Chenjia pondered slightly, then asked: "Then, what do I need to do to participate in this plan?"

Qian Huan's heart originally held all sorts of expectations and demands, but at this moment, strangely, he didn't put forward a single one. Li Hanyu's teaching had ultimately made him more mature.

He took a deep breath, then answered respectfully:

"General Manager Lu, you don't need to do anything. As long as you're willing to join us, that is the greatest support and care for us. How would we dare have any other demands."

Lu Chenjia asked back with slight surprise: "Really not needed?"

Qian Huan nodded firmly and heavily: "Not only that, we're also willing to transfer another portion of Second Prison's remaining equity to General Manager Lu."

Qian Huan paused for a moment, then, struck by inspiration, pointed at the sunflower beside him and said:

"Just like a sunflower needs irrigation and pruning, but what its blooming needs most is the shining of light. Your joining, Lu Zong, is precisely that ray of light our 【Octagonal Cage Beast Arena】 plan has been longing for!"

(End of Chapter)