Steve had alreadye to a realization.
Having been entangled with Charlie’s crew of thieves, he knew he couldn’t afford to be a mere prisoner aboard the ship, sighing endlessly.
In the words of ancient Chinese wisdom, if something is meant to happen, it will eventually lead to safety. The priority for him was to establish himself on Charlie’s ship.
This was crucial because his future as the patriarch hinged almost entirely on Charlie’s whims.
If Charlie chose to block his path, all it would take was a little persuasion from Helena to the old man, and Steve couldfortably remain the crown prince until his death.<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">
Thus, whether he became the patriarch or enjoyed longevity depended solely on Charlie’s desires.
Given this reality, it made sense to align himself with Charlie.
To demonstrate hismitment, Steve decided that personallying to Aurous Hill to invest would be a beneficial move for both parties.
Upon hearing Steve’s determination, Charlie smiled and replied, “Aurous Hill is a wonderful location with remarkable people. As Mr. Rothschild ns to invest here, I, as a local, wholeheartedly wee you.”<fn05f0> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn05f0>
Relieved by Charlie’s weing gesture, Steve eagerly responded, “With Mr. Wade’s words, I feel at ease!”
Charlie nodded and picked up an unopened bottle of white wine. In front of Steve, he retrieved a Blood Dispersing and Heart Saving Pill and dropped it into the bottle.
The ebony pill dissolved instantly, transforming the wine into a light greyish-brown hue.
Steve watched in astonishment, wondering if this was meant for him to drink.
Momentster, Charlie poured a ss for Zhou Liangyun and a smaller amount into Steve’s cup.
Noticing that Charlie filled Zhou Liangyun’s ss nearly two-fifths full while his own was only one-fifth, Steve quickly interjected, “Wade… Mr. Wade… I can handle a bit more…”
Charlie smiled and replied, “Steve, medicinal wine is beneficial, but don’t be greedy.”
With that, he poured the remaining wine into his own ss.
Although Steve’s eyes expressed desire, he held back, knowing that even this one-fifth was a generous gift. He feared that disying greed might sour Charlie’s attitude.
Thus, he respectfully expressed, “Thank you, Mr. Wade, thank you!”
Zhou Liangyun also felt ttered and added, “Young Master Wade, this… is truly too generous!”
Charlie responded modestly, “Uncle Zhou, there’s no need for such formality. Let’s enjoy this drink as an early wee for Steve to Aurous Hill. Once he bes the leading foreign investor here, we contribute to the country’s efforts to attract foreign investment.”
Zhou Liangyun nodded vigorously, raising his ss to say, “Let’s wee Steve to Aurous Hill in advance!”
Steve promptly lifted his ss with both hands, dering, “Rest assured, both of you! I will definitely give it my all!”
After this, he nced at Charlie, knowing he wouldn’t dare drink the medicinal wine without Charlie’s approval.
Charlie smiled and raised his ss, saying, “Come on, let’s toast.”
Upon hearing this, Steve quickly lifted his ss and downed the strong liquor.
As the wine coursed through him, the sensation was dramatically different from before!
While regr wine offered a spicy and stimting warmth, this medicinal blend enveloped him in a soothingfort. After drinking, he felt a profound rxation, as if every pore was rejuvenated.
This was the enhanced Blood Dispersing and Heart Saving Pill, its potency significantly increasedpared to earlier versions. Even just one-fifth of the pill could restore Steve to his prime from two years ago.
The experience was nothing short of extraordinary; fatigue vanished, and he felt no difort from sitting on the mat. His vision improved noticeably as well, seemingly reversing some presbyopia.
Overall, it was an unparalleled sensation of ease!
Looking across at Zhou Liangyun, Steve noticed that hisplexion appeared much healthier and his wrinkles had visibly diminished!
Realizing that Zhou Liangyun was enjoying a double dose of effectiveness, Steve couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.
In that moment, he reflected, “Mr. Wade, I think I understand why my father values your elixir so highly. What you’re serving is not just medicine; it’s like turning back time!”
Charlie chuckled, “Steve, keep in mind that longevity is the true victory. If luck is on your side, your life is only halfway through, and the future holds infinite possibilities.”
Steve quickly stood and bowed deeply to Charlie, saying, “Mr. Wade, you are absolutely right. I hope to always have the chance to apany you and learn from your wisdom!”
……
While Charlie was busy toasting with Zhou Liangyun and Steve, Jacob found a budget hotel for the night.
He didn’t want his daughter and son-inw to know he was back in China, nor did he wish to spend much on lodging. Thus, he settled for a night in a budget hotel, nning to head to the airport early the next morning for his flight back to Dubai to reunite with Ma Lan.
After taking a shower in the dim and musty bathroom, Jacobid down on the worn bed, tears streaming down his face again.
He reflected on the many opportunities he had missed in life, including Han Meiqing and the Northern Song Gilt Bronze Buddha.
Beyond that, a careful review of his life revealed that he had failed to capitalize on many opportunities.
He had worked hard to join the Painting and Calligraphy Association and attain the role of executive vice president, only to remove himself from the game.
Now, hey on the bed,posing a resignation email to President Pei on his phone, well aware that it was more of a formality, a gesture to signal his intentions, or perhaps to leave room for negotiation with President Pei.
Meanwhile, President Pei was also busy at home, having tracked down Master Don Albert’s phone number through various inquiries.
After a moment of hesitation, he finally decided to call Master Hong Fifth.