As Charlie observed the shame etched on Trent’s face, his perception of him began to shift.


    Initially, Charlie viewed Trent as nothing more than a self-centered individual, driven solely by a desire for fame and fortune. However, witnessing Trent’s vulnerability revealed that he still harbored some sense of conscience within him.


    Trent, over the years, had never expressed such heartfelt emotions to anyone. He didn’t truly believe that he had a significant connection with Charlie that would allow him to share the deepest truths hidden in his heart.


    These thoughts had been locked away in his mind for far too long, and he had never found the right person to confide in.


    In an effort tofort him, Charlie remarked, “The mothend has always shown kindness to its children. Many individuals like you have returned after years away, and the mothend has weed them with open arms. It’s not just about continuously sending talented people abroad for study; the aim is that those who go out will eventuallye back to serve the nation. Even if some get lost along the way, that’s just a natural part of the process—it’s merely a loss.”<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    After a brief pause, Charlie continued, “Think of it like transporting a block of ice in a foam container. No matter how securely you wrap it, some will inevitably melt during transit. But for the transporter, as long as there’s still some ice left upon arrival, then the effort has been worthwhile.”


    Trent was taken aback for a moment, then softly nodded in agreement, murmuring, “You know, we were drawn to the vibrant world of the West back then. We believed the stage wasrger and that we could truly express ourselves. It’s not that we forgot our homnd; everyone was filled with ambition. If things had gone well, many of us would have returned to serve our country a hundred, a thousand, or even ten thousand times. But people like me gradually faded into the background…”


    With tears welling in his eyes, Trent expressed, “I genuinely want to serve my country! But right now, I can’t even provide for my own mother. She’s in her 70s and still working at a Chinese restaurant to support the family. After years of studying, acquiring skills, and writing code, I find myself working as a seafarer to make ends meet. How can I face returning to China?”


    Charlie then asked him, “Do you have a grasp of what a seafarer does?”


    Trent shook his head, replying, “I only understand the general workflow. I’m probably just doing menial tasks on the boat. I’m still new and learning. The key to this job is hard work, and sometimes I can’t go home for a year and a half.”


    Charlie probed further, “Do you think you are well-suited to be a seafarer?”


    Once again, Trent shook his head. “Honestly, I work inmunication technology. If you ask me how to locate a freighter, navigate obstacles, or establish contact withnd via satellite, I can exin it all. But to be a seaman? I’mpletely lost. I don’t even know the ship’s basic structure, nor do I know if I’ll get seasick when I step aboard.”


    As he spoke, Trent reflected, “But I have no choice; I must do this for my livelihood.”


    Charlie spent a considerable amount of time chatting with Trent, learning more about his background.


    Trent had once been a gifted student.


    While others were just entering high school, he had already gained admission to a prestigious university.


    As his peers were preparing for college entrance exams, he had already gone abroad as a public student.


    At that time, many young people, including himself, were reluctant to leave.


    This coincided with a golden era of rapid growth in Silicon Valley, where the Inte was transforming the world. Trent watched as individuals like Zhang Chaoyang, who had also studied in the U.S., returned to China to establish Sohu. He also saw Li Yanhong, another American returnee, found Baidu.


    He witnessed many seniors opting to stay in the U.S. for their careers, bing wealthy as the Inte boomed, with some rising to be presidents of publicly listedpanies worth hundreds of millions of dors, while others celebrated at Nasdaq as their fortunes skyrocketed overnight.<fn3471> For original chapters go to fι?dnοvel</fn3471>


    He also noticed many finance graduates whonded lucrative positions at Wall Street investment banks, often earning sries in the hundreds of thousands or even millions. Some managed multi-million dor venture capital funds, having the power to decide on significant investment projects over a single meal.