Chapter 213 - 176
"Dear classmates, let's welcome Li Long with warm applause to award the top ten winners!"
Amid fervent applause, Li Long strode onto the stage, met by hundreds of eager eyes. Among his swimsuit-clad staff, he handed prizes to the ten winners, giving warm hugs and watching their flushed excitement. Notably, Runhong, whom he'd favored, screamed, hugged him tightly, and claimed her first-prize package.
"The competition was a triumph! Finally, the teacher and Li Long will perform 'Tomorrow Will Be Better,' wishing everyone a brighter future. Welcome them with applause!"
"Pa, pa, pa..."
"Brother Long, Brother Long..."
"I love you..."
Under the fervent cheers, joining Le Qiu's chorus, Li Long took her smiling gaze and sang to the music:
"(Chorus) Tomorrow will be better (music) (Female) Gently wake the sleeping soul, slowly open your eyes (Male) See if the busy world still turns lonely (Female) Spring breeze stirs the young heart, naive to customs (Female) Let yesterday's tears dry with memories (Female) Look up, find skyward wings; migratory birds leave marks (Male) Bringing distant famine news, where cruel wars persist (Female) Yushan's snow drifts, burning young hearts (Female) Let true feelings melt into notes (Chorus) Send distant blessings (Female) Sing your passion, stretch out your hands, let me embrace your dream (Female) Let me hold your sincere face (Male) Let our smiles brim with youth's pride (Male) Offer a pious prayer for tomorrow (Female) Who can ignore their homeland, forsaking childhood memories? (Female) Who can bear yesterday's sorrow stealing our smiles? (Male) Youth, naive to mortal ways, rouge stained with ash (Female) Let long-lost tears moisten your face"
"Everyone, join in!" Moved, Li Long watched the crowd sing, raising hands and swaying. "(Group) Sing your passion, stretch out your hands, let me embrace your dreams (Group) Let me hold your sincere face (Group) Let our smiles brim with youth's pride (Group) Offer a pious prayer for tomorrow
(Group Female) Gently wake the sleeping soul, slowly open your eyes (Group Female) See if the busy world still turns lonely (Group Female) Sunrise revives the Earth nation's glory (Group Female) Let the breeze compose life's music (Group Female) Sing your passion, stretch out your hands, let me embrace your dreams (Male) Embrace your dreams (Group Female) Let me hold your sincere face (Male) Your sincere face (Group Female) Let our smiles brim with youth's pride (Male) Youth's pride (Group Female) Let us await a better tomorrow (Group Male) Sing your passion, stretch out your hands, let me embrace your dreams (Male) Your sincere face (Group Male) Let our smiles brim with youth's pride (Group Female) Youth's pride (Group All) Let us await a better tomorrow"
Li Long enjoyed a blissful weekend. The only downside was Chen Lixiu's nagging phone call, the little resentful girl draining him. Finally, he hung up, collapsing into sleep, exhausted, with a delicate body in his arms.
Warm sunlight streamed through the window. Seeing the delicate figure still asleep in his embrace, Li Long slipped out quietly, dressed, and headed to the bathroom. The faint fragrance lingering on him drew a knowing smile as he washed.
Half an hour later, emerging from the bathroom, he found the bed empty. A pink garment discarded by the bedside confirmed it wasn't a dream.
Noticing it was past 8:50, too late for school, he abandoned the idea. Humming a tune, he descended to the living room, spotting his mother in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Sneaking behind her, he hugged her, inhaling her scent, and asked, "Mom, what's for breakfast today, Xiaolong?"
"Stop pestering me—you'll see soon. It's your fault Xiaoxin and the others left for school without eating!" Chen Xiuyan cooed, her beautiful face flushing.
"Hehe!" Grinning at her playful tone, Li Long released her, plopped onto the living room sofa, grabbed the TV remote, and tuned into the news.
"Ding, Boss, Ziyi has compiled and researched the tech you requested. Shall I send it now?" Ziyi's voice interrupted as he watched a scandalous report about a leader smeared with foul waste. Delighted, he replied, "So fast? Great, send a few high-tech ones first." A virtual light screen appeared, displaying data. He'd skimmed a third when footsteps approached, followed by a scream: "Ah, Xiaolong, what's that light screen?"
"Haha, Mom, it's high-tech—careful, don't get burned!" Shutting off the screen, he turned, rose, and approached his shocked mother, taking two bowls of fragrant bird's nest porridge from her hands with a laugh.
An hour later, over breakfast, Chen Xiuyan, stunned by her son's talk of the Shenlong, grew excited and asked, "Xiaolong, can you take Mom to see it next time?"
"Of course!" Li Long nodded happily, then added, "Mom, keep this to yourself, okay?"
"Don't worry, Xiaolong, Mom knows it's important," she replied eagerly.
"Mom, I'm visiting the company today—want to come?" After lounging on the sofa with her, Li Long suggested.
"Sure, I'd love to see your company and how it's growing." Though unfamiliar with business, Chen Xiuyan was curious about her son's ventures. Recently, Xiuli mentioned that, beyond the factory under construction, Longyu Company had recruited over half its needed talent, and Xiaolong's acquired firms were integrating. Intrigued, she wanted to see for herself.
They arrived at a 34-story tower in Beilin City's heart, the tallest and most striking building there. Standing on the plaza 50 meters from its entrance, Li Long asked, "Mom, what do you think of this building Xiaolong bought for 200 million? Pretty good, right?"
"This... Xiaolong, did you need the whole building? I don't know much, but does the company require such a huge space?" Chen Xiuyan marveled at the sleek, newly built structure with its mirrored windows, proud it housed her son's company. But she couldn't help chiding his lavish spending.
"Haha, Mom, still thinking small? Once my company's truly established, I'll build the world's grandest headquarters in Hong Kong's core. It'll stun the globe!" Li Long scoffed at the building, his ambitions soaring.
"Forget it, I don't get these things. Do what you want, Xiaolong. I'll stick to watching your internet cafe and living simply!" Chen Xiuyan shied from speculating on his career, wary of future shocks overwhelming her preference for a quiet life.
Suddenly, a crowd of white-collar workers streamed from the building's entrance, led by two secretaries trailing two stunning young women. The pair called out joyfully, "Xiaolong, Sister Yan!" Chen Xiuli turned to the diverse group of department heads behind her and said, "These are the boss and Sister Yan. Get acquainted!"
"Hello, Boss! Hello, Sister Yan..."
"Xiuli, Yuhong, no need for such a fuss. Look, people are staring—it's awkward!" Chen Xiuyan, startled by the spectacle, felt uneasy, especially being called Sister Yan by men older than her. Passersby's curious glances heightened her discomfort. After returning the employees' bows, she clutched her sister's hand and whispered.
Li Long nodded calmly to his staff, unfazed. Seeing his mother's nervous grip on her aunt's hand, he said casually, "Mom, Auntie, let's head upstairs to talk."
"Okay..."
In Longyu Company's largest conference room, Li Long took the main seat unceremoniously, gestured for his mother to sit beside him, and waved to the employees lining the walls. "Sit down, no need for formalities!"
Despite his casual tone, the staff, unfamiliar with their new boss's temperament, sat nervously, silently awaiting his words.
Li Long, pleased with their demeanor, glanced approvingly at Xiuli and Yuhong, then addressed the group. "Let me introduce myself: I'm Li Long, and this is my mother. Now, please introduce yourselves. Relax—I'm not a heartless boss. At my company, don't always wear grim faces. As they say, smile often, stay ten years younger, hehe..."
"Hehe, Boss, you're right!" A nearly 50-year-old man in the front stood, chuckling. "I'm Zheng Kang, 48, leading the marketing department to expand our market under President Chen's guidance."
Following Zheng Kang's lead, Longyu's department heads relaxed, introducing their roles and the company's progress.
"Excellent, everyone's dedicated!" Li Long was thrilled to hear that, under Xiuli and Yuhong, the company had achieved 80% of his set goals. "Keep up the effort. As the first employees, your contributions won't be forgotten as we grow. Our strength lies in robust finances. I'll share that we possess several world-leading technologies. Our future focus is producing these cutting-edge products to make the company shine globally!"
"Pah, pah, pah..."
Their excitement, sincere or not, didn't concern Li Long. As long as tasks were executed, he was content. He signaled them to stop, saying, "Alright, Secretary Dantian, stay—everyone else, back to work!"
After they left, Li Long turned to his mother, aunt, Yuhong, and chief secretary Dantian, asking, "Auntie, where's Sister Feiyan? I didn't see her today."
"Feiyan's tied up—her daughter Youyou is sick, and she's caring for her at home," Chen Xiuli replied.
"Oh, then Xiaolong should visit her today. By the way, Auntie, I'm here for two reasons. First, these high-tech products—I want our acquired companies to produce them!" Li Long requested a computer, beckoned Xiuli and Yuhong to his side, plugged in a mobile hard drive, and displayed data. "Look: biological rubber simulation manufacturing technology, milky white repair fluid, and special instant solidifying fluid!"
**Biological Rubber Simulation Manufacturing Technology**: Using rubber raw materials, it creates external humanoid models with 99% human realism. The surface mimics real skin but is three times stronger, generating natural static electricity that stimulates human nerves for pleasant excitement, with no side effects.
**Milky White Repair Fluid**: Invented via biological gene tech, this fluid fully repairs human skin cell damage, modifies cell genes, whitens and moisturizes skin, boosts UV resistance, and has no side effects.
**Special Instant Solidifying Fluid**: Using a unique formula, it instantly solidifies ordinary cement, increasing hardness by 300%, and enhances special cements. Post-solidification, it emits a calming fragrance lasting over a century, with no side effects.