Chapter 193 It Just Arrives

in first year high school, he too had unrealistic fantasies of Sun Xiaoman, and was one of many perverts who placed a copy of Teen Boys & Girls magazine with her picture on the cover next to their pil...Volume 6 Chapter 193: Arriving This Way

The farewell between men is often just a pat on the back and a few words.

How should one define success Schuyi Yang had never given it much thought since childhood.

In his youth, when he was playing PS2, dreaming of owning an Xbox to play soccer games anytime would have made him content. In middle school, making it to high school seemed like a stroke of luck; in high school, getting into a second-tier university was considered a glorious future. After entering college, earning around 1500 yuan per month and being able to buy a few packs of Zhenshipashan cigarettes each month felt like comfort and happiness.

He rarely had plans beyond these stages, as it didn't make sense to chase after more elusive goals. His parents in Xia Hai had told him that there were two paths: if he returned to Xia Hai after graduation, they could help him secure a job at a government office or enterprise using connections, and with their decades of savings, they could buy an apartment in a small city; then he would marry and live a stable life.

The other option was staying outside Xia Hai after graduating, possibly working in Changsha. With his family's money plus his own earnings, he could afford the down payment on a house.

He didn't aim for overnight riches, as those who had become wealthy over thirty years of reform and opening-up were now fathers to second- or third-generation rich kids; the iron pyramid structure was too solid for him to shake. He also didn't dream about becoming someone like Nodding Hill's success story: while a girl driving an Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or Maserati might be gentle and well-read, her life would shine brightly, unlikely to pause for someone like him. Moreover, even if such a thing happened, it wouldn't align with the harsh reality of his circumstances, nor could he resist the pressure from his surroundings that threatened to squeeze him out and drain him dry.

Striving for a realistic path was much better than chasing after illusions.

Schuyi Yang thought that their generation would always be like this: including Liu Rui and Su Zhan, they would all work hard to support themselves and strive to own an apartment and marry with children. Unlike those who were born into affluent families or had become millionaires at a young age, the first pot of gold for them might take decades of hard work to achieve.

Life was always on the move, possibly working until death.

This was a vicious cycle in fate, like a star's gravity acting upon its surrounding planets, forming a relatively stable stellar system that couldn't be easily shaken by human effort.

Schuyi Yang had admired many people throughout history and the modern era. He also envied some individuals featured in entertainment and finance magazines as successful figures of society, or those mentioned in financial textbooks for their bold mergers and acquisitions in economic and financial domains that left a mark in history.

Occasionally, he would get excited reading biographies about these people, but such excitement was like an addiction. It felt the same as imagining what life would be like if he won 50 million yuan tomorrow or became someone like them—would he ponder whether his fate is decided by his thoughts or his circumstances

But after considering all this, reality returned to him: a new day would dawn with its usual routine of breakfast sausage and instant noodles.

So, Schuyi Yang still had to climb down from his top bunk bed and take out the half-pack of Zhenshipashan cigarettes on the worn-down desk filled with splinters to smoke. In front of him were CET-4 English exams, computer level 2 tests, and specialized course topics; he would occasionally think about his future, unable to sleep all night.

Before this, he had seen a young and inexperienced TV host who spoke with soft Wu dialect on talk shows. She was lively and alluringly real. There were also people he vaguely knew from newspapers sold at newsstands across the country; he didn't even know what industry they were in or which magazine had interviewed them. But he knew that they existed, just like how they seemed to be right beside him, talking about topics where he felt almost unable to insert his own voice.

So, he thought there was a deep chasm between himself and Su Cen now; they couldn't go back to the way things were before.

The boys who used to chase trends together had all been swept into the storm of this great era.

Xue Yiyang spent three days in Shanghai. On his last day there, Su Cen went to see him off at the airport waiting hall. Xue Yiyang expressed mixed feelings about what he saw and heard over these past few days: "You don't have to send me off; you're so busy... Always letting Tang Wu work at the company while you stay away, that's not good for her..."

"It's okay... She can handle it. Big decisions are still made by others..." Su Cen smiled.

Xue Yiyang moved his lips as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself, then prepared to leave with a backpack slung over him: "Alright, I'm going in."

Su Cen got up from the rest area and walked him to the gate. Xue Yiyang finally said, "I used to think we were on the same side..."

Su Cen stood there and replied, "We still are now, and we will be in the future."

"It's different now." Xue Yiyang shook his head. With a backpack over his shoulders, light from the glass ceiling of the waiting hall hit him as he said: "Lately I often think back to the past. At Xia Hai No. 1 High School, we were already considered quite exceptional, but there are still so many people in Xia Hai City who take exams every year without counting. Entering Xia Hai No. 1 High School was rare enough; yet even among these few of us, we had to go through the grueling college entrance exam. Seeing others depressed or crying after failing made me feel fortunate. Now that I'm at university, it's like a fortress. Many think a student from a second-tier institution is already remarkable, but who knows how sad it might be if all I can do is find work with a monthly salary of one thousand two hundred yuan and be content with that."

"Back then, many students at Xia Hai No. 1 High School came from affluent families... Do you remember when someone would provoke us and you offered to stand up for me but I told you not to because we couldn't afford a fight"

Xue Yiyang went to the smoking area, took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, handed one to Su Cen, lit one himself, seemingly hoping to delay going through security. As he exhaled smoke, he said, "It's not because I'm a coward; it’s that I understand some gaps we can’t bridge. This is often the result in this messed-up society. Last summer vacation, I traveled to Yunnan and took photos along Nujiang Gongshan, Tengchong Shidian Gengma. In mountainous areas, there are hope elementary schools where children gather around eating instant noodles. Many kids in villages don’t even have enough food to eat, let alone quality education that could compare with the blue skies and white clouds of urban classrooms. The educational resources in counties differ from those in cities when it comes to teaching staff and standards. Likewise, ordinary city schools are no match for provincial capitals or municipalities in terms of educational resources. Wealthy families can easily expose their children to piano lessons, foreign languages, economics, finance, travel—taking them to Switzerland to see snow, the Maldives to watch fish, high-quality concerts... They receive top-notch education and have unique perspectives and ambition. Free from burdens, they often perform exceptionally well, far beyond our imagination. I've seen someone from our school who is a famous businessman's child in Changsha driving their own sports car with an extremely impressive academic record...

Speaking of which, Xue Yiyang coughed a bit and told Su Cen, "What I just mentioned is like a drop in the ocean. In your Nan Da University, there must be loads of people like this..."

"Similarly, after graduation, our first thoughts are about finding work to earn money and buying homes and cars for supporting families. We can't help but compromise and submit to this sharp world. But those at the top don’t have to worry about basic survival needs like 'money.' They never have financial worries. Thus, they can pursue their true interests without working just for a living. With abundant resources, success often comes naturally."

"But for us, platforms that others easily cross may take us our entire lives to climb and fight for, getting bruised along the way... That’s the difference. A migrant worker returning home every year during Spring Festival might not be able to enter the world of someone in a luxury car beside them even after generations of effort. That's how different we are."

"This is precisely why my fate and yours couldn't compare with theirs from before."

Su Cen pondered for a while, trying to ease the turmoil in his heart. He then grinned and said, "Your thoughts are rather bleak."

"Reality is indeed bleak," Xue Yi Yang responded with a smile and continued, "However, Su Can, when you first got admitted into the First High School from the Third Middle School, when your father's job transfer forced your family to move to Chengdu, or even now as you're at Nan University but have actually started Facebook Chinese, you've already been challenging this world in your own way and fighting against the fate that binds you. What mindset are you using to climb forward You've made many people who view ordinary folks like livestock, robots, or even China's massive national assets merely as 'labor resources' look up at your back as you leave them far behind. Even I can't help feeling proud and excited just thinking about it."

If fate were an invisible gravitational pull, then Su Can was already a new star breaking free from such constraints and would gradually reveal his immense power in the future.

"There are two types of people in this world: happy pigs and suffering humans. Yet, human suffering isn't because of unattainable desires or losses but rather not knowing what they truly want. Suffering humans feel even more lost in the dark, but now I am no longer blind. You've shown me a possibility that seemed impossible before. Perhaps in the future, many authoritative figures spanning generations cannot match your achievements. And one day, when Su Can's name is no longer exclusive to our circle of friends and many people know about him, I will proudly tell them, 'He’s my childhood friend who grew up together with me.'"

"Rough words but not rough道理。" Xue Yi Yang stubbed out his cigarette butt and threw it into the trash bin. He then shouldered his backpack and waved at Su Can as he walked away through the corridor, "I’m leaving now. You two take care... The advantage of today’s era is that no matter how far apart we are, there's no need to call each other for updates; I just need to read the news to get a rough idea about your situation... No need to see you off. Goodbye."

Xue Yi Yang returned to Changsha.

By the end of the month, Tang Wu would be departing with the Nan University EMBA class for a two-week study tour in America's West Coast.

This year marked the inaugural EMBA program at Nan University. The theme was "Challenges Faced by International Entrepreneurs," which included visits to Anderson School of Management, Los Angeles factories, Stanford University, and Silicon Valley companies among Fortune 500 corporations. It featured renowned professors from the birthplace of MBA programs, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists from highly efficient companies, founders of financial theories, as well as international business directors like HP, all presenting cutting-edge global concepts and experiences.

The original slot for this EMBA program was meant for Qiao Shuxin, CEO of Facebook Chinese. However, he had temporarily given it to Tang Wu because the girl was destined to go far one day.

This matter received significant attention from the department due to Tang Wu's status and the significance behind Facebook Chinese. Prior to her departure, Tang Wu had meetings with both her advisor and head of the department regarding this trip.

On the morning of her departure, a chilly breeze blew in Shanghai; Su Can drove quickly on the highway to take Tang Wu to the airport.

Tang Wu sat beside him wearing a baseball cap, tidying up items in her small shoulder bag. A backpack was placed behind the Bentley's seat containing necessities like clothes and a laptop for her stay.

Along the way, Su Can kept reminding Tang Wu of safety precautions and details about her reception when she arrived at Facebook USA. Tang Wu listened to him attentively while nodding and smiling, "I know that, I’m not a kid."

In the parking lot, as planes took off from the terminal building, Su Cen suddenly thought of Xue Yi Yang and asked Tang Wu, "Doesn't the gap between people often make them feel like there's an insurmountable chasm, causing them to gradually drift apart"

Tang Wu’s nose was slightly red from the morning mist but made her look even more delicate. After a moment of thought, she replied, "We are destined to lose some people in life; otherwise, how would we know their true importance

"Dong Xiawu," said Su Can.

"Hmm" Tang Wu swept a glance at Su Can with her clear eyes.

"I can't hold back anymore. Come here and let the big guy give you a kiss." Su Can chuckled lecherously as he tried to put his arm around Tang Wu's waist.

His fingers touched her slender waist, but she nimbly dodged him. Blushing, she threatened with a pout, "I'll beat you."

Su Can thought this was why the girl captivated people—her coldness wasn't due to inner indifference; it stemmed from her intelligence and foresight that surpassed ordinary people.

"If only I could be as carefree as you," Su Can sighed, thinking he still had a long way to go compared to Tang Wu despite his two lifetimes of experience.

"Actually, there were times when I wasn't so calm either," Tang Wu said with her waist slightly forward. She gently held onto his arm and smiled brightly, "If it were you, I probably wouldn't be as carefree."

Finally, Tang Wu walked into the venue holding Su Can's hand to meet up with the project team.

The two hugged each other at the airport lobby when they said goodbye. Many of their teammates couldn’t help but smile, and others around them were envious. Then outside the terminal building, Su Can watched as the plane carrying Tang Wu and her Chinese project group to a study tour in Western America took off into the sky. The streamlined aircraft glimmered slightly under the morning mist.

Like his reborn journey, although Su Can knew what lay ahead of him, life was like an old-fashioned chocolate with no label; you never know what flavor awaits you next.

Su Can thought that his career and university life would progress steadily in a predictable manner, resembling the flight path of the aircraft, seemingly unchanging.

One year later, when countless people from the future referred to it as the "Tumult of the Two Kings," marking the start of the rift between the two giants that slowly revealed its grand and formidable facade, it proved his naive ideas were like a boat on the sea, easily swallowed by waves.

His astonishing rise, his reborn life after harboring regrets from the past, his trajectory resembling a new star breaking free from the solar system all foreshadowed that he was destined to be swept into this boiling decade and face an unavoidable collision with destiny.

The spring would pass but come again; flowers would wilt but bloom once more.

Before long, another year had passed in a blink of the eye.ften the hardest for people to recognize. When admiring a car, people usually focused first on the grille.Su Can was deeply impressed by the Alfa Romeo 156 model, particularly its striking grille desi...