Chapter 64: The Donation, Yan Peng Asks for Help

On New Year's Eve, the family gathered for a meal. While they called it a family gathering, it was really just a household of four, plus the mother-in-law, Zhao Na.

Zhou Chen had not returned to his hometown this year. For one thing, there was the pandemic; for another, he didn't really have much emotional attachment to the mother back home. It was better to avoid direct contact for the time being.

"Mom, why don't you come live with us? The current situation is truly too frightening."

Nan Li brought up the suggestion once again. This was already the third time she had mentioned it.

Zhao Na waved her hand and said, "No need. I live right across the way, just a few steps away. Don't worry, I'll take all the precautions. There are plenty of masks and disinfectant at home."

At this, she sighed and added, "What kind of New Year is this? Oh, sigh, you can't even see a soul on the streets now. How could something like this possibly happen?"

Nan Li replied, "This is a nationwide disaster, especially during the Spring Festival period like this. The risks are simply too high. Right now, there's nothing we can do except hope the government can get it under control. Husband, didn't you buy a lot of masks? Should we donate some of them?"

When Zhou Chen had suddenly purchased several million masks, packing the storage room to the brim, she had even joked that it was enough to last them for generations.

Yet looking at it now, that inadvertent action back then had turned out to be of such monumental importance. The price of masks was continuously rising, and she had heard that in many places, people couldn't buy them no matter how much money they offered.

Zhou Chen nodded and said, "Mm, we certainly need to donate a portion. Consider it our small contribution to the country. Besides, we can contact Deputy District Chief Li. When our Chenxing first opened, she helped us immensely, and we never had the chance to repay her. This is a great opportunity to show our gratitude. Not only masks and disinfectant, but we should also make a financial donation—let's make it one million."

"One million?"

Zhao Na cried out in astonishment, "Xia Junshan, have you lost your mind?"

Zhou Chen said, "Mom, with the disaster upon us, if we lacked the ability, that would be one thing. But since we have a bit of capacity right now, we ought to help others. Money lost can be earned back, but in a situation like this, we must do our utmost. Li Li, what do you think?"

Nan Li also furrowed her brow slightly. One million was by no means a small sum. Up until now, their tutoring institution had just barely started turning a profit, and their household living expenses relied entirely on the money Zhou Chen earned from writing novels. To donate one million all at once, she felt a genuine pang of reluctance.

Yet, seeing Zhou Chen's steadfast expression, she still nodded and said, "I have no objections. You decide."

Zhao Na opened her mouth. Well, since neither of the couple had any objections, what else could she say? Yet the mere thought of one million vanishing made her heart ache terribly—her own savings accumulated over all these years amounted to roughly that exact sum.

Zhou Chen wore a smile. In the real world, he had lacked the capability and could do nothing; having come to this world and gained ability, he naturally had to lend a hand.

Over the past half year or so, his first novel had already concluded. Although he had never read the original author's ending, by improvising based on his own hard work, he had managed to bring it to a smooth completion.

From the beginning until now, over a ten-month period, subscriptions alone had brought in over eighteen million, with subsequent revenues still to come. Furthermore, the copyright had been sold; from the film and television adaptations, his share amounted to a little over four million—far less than the subscription earnings, though traditional publishing and audiobook rights were still under negotiation.

His editor had also told him that because he was a newcomer, his copyright revenue split was relatively low. However, now that he had established a name for himself, as long as the quality of his next book remained high, his share would definitely increase.

Additionally, after the Chinese New Year, his contract tier would be upgraded to the "God-tier" level, at which point his subscription revenue split would also rise.

Now that the foundation had been firmly laid, Zhou Chen certainly wouldn't give up writing novels. Not long after finishing the first one, he launched a second novel—a fantasy piece. Although he no longer updated with the frantic pace of the first book, his established popularity meant the metrics were still quite good.

Therefore, up to the present moment, Zhou Chen possessed over twenty million in cash alone. In accordance with Nan Li's wishes, these funds had been invested in bank wealth management products. While the returns were ordinary, they had the advantage of being safe and reliable.

Pulling out one million, for Zhou Chen's family, was certainly a considerable sum, but it by no means shook their foundations nor affected their standard of living.

Nan Li personally took charge of donating the funds and supplies, as she was the current head of Chenxing, and through Nan Jianlong, she managed to get in touch with Deputy District Chief Li.

Upon learning that Chenxing was willing to donate such a vast quantity of supplies and money, Deputy District Chief Li was exceedingly delighted.

The current reality was that money was relatively easy to handle, but supplies like masks and disinfectant were in desperately short supply. For Chenxing to suddenly donate two million masks along with massive quantities of disinfectant was truly astonishing; many companies with assets exceeding one billion would not necessarily have been willing to part with them.

Days passed one by one. Lately, Zhou Chen and his family rarely left the residential compound. Daily necessities, including vegetables and meat, could all be purchased right inside the community.

Although they could not go out, they were not idle. Online training at Chenxing Education had heated up significantly; many students who originally took classes in person at Chenxing now signed up for online courses. Nan Li took charge of the coordination, and her phone and WeChat notifications practically never stopped.

The explosive growth of online training amazed Nan Li greatly, prompting consecutive nights of rewards that made Zhou Chen cry out that he couldn't take it, while also making him deeply regret why he hadn't added points to his physical constitution attribute back then.

The pandemic dragged on for a long time, and by March it still showed no signs of ending. Nevertheless, some companies had already resumed operations. Although the new office building for the Saima Group could not begin construction, Zhou Chen, acting as the design consultant, never stopped working. He continuously communicated with designers from the design institute, reviewing blueprints, modifying drawings, and so on.

One day, Zhou Chen and Nan Li were cooking dinner when his phone suddenly rang. Seeing the name on the caller ID, an expression of astonishment immediately crossed his face.

Nan Li leaned over to look and asked, "Oh? Yan Peng, why would he call you?"

The person calling was indeed Yan Peng, yet ever since that physical fight, the two sides had had no contact for nearly ten months. For Yan Peng to proactively call at a time like this naturally struck Nan Li as extremely odd.

Zhou Chen also shook his head and said, "I have no idea either."

After such a long time, the past events had long since faded. Though his feelings were somewhat complicated, Zhou Chen still answered the call.

"It's me, Yan Peng."

"I know. Is something the matter?" Zhou Chen genuinely didn't know what to say.

"Um, I have something I'd like to ask your help with. Do you have time to step out?"

Yan Peng's voice sounded deeply subdued, entirely unlike his usual active and brisk demeanor.

Zhou Chen fell silent for a few seconds before answering, "Alright."

After hanging up, he said to Nan Li, "Yan Peng wants to meet. Judging by his tone, it seems something has happened."

Nan Li nodded and said, "Go ahead. After all, you've known each other for so many years, and he's different from Tian Yulan. When you go out, wear your mask properly, don't eat anything random, and stay away from crowded places."

"Mm, I know."

Zhou Chen put on his mask and headed out. The place Yan Peng chose was a café not far from the residential compound. By the time he arrived, Yan Peng was already there.

Because the pandemic had not yet ended, the café had virtually no patrons. Aside from Yan Peng, the only other people present were a couple sitting together at a table in the distance.

Zhou Chen walked over and sat down opposite Yan Peng. The coffee had already been ordered, but the moment he caught sight of Yan Peng's appearance, he was instantly startled.

Compared to when they had last met, Yan Peng looked significantly more weathered. Even though he was wearing a mask, the profound exhaustion and despair etched across his face were still clearly visible.

"Yan Peng, how did you end up like this?"

In the past, Yan Peng was either playing video games or engaging in sports. While he might not have been described as high-spirited, he certainly appeared youthful—a stark contrast to the man before him with his world-weary eyes, sunken eye sockets, and thoroughly dejected face.

Barely half a year had passed; what kind of ordeal could possibly transform Yan Peng into this state?

"Brother, I came to look for you today because I need your help with something."

His voice remained low and heavy, devoid of any vitality, let alone his usual cheerfulness.

A shock ran through Zhou Chen's heart. In the past, Yan Peng had always called him "Brother," but ever since their final meeting and falling out, he hadn't heard that form of address in a long time. Hearing it again now, coupled with Yan Peng's wretched state, for some inexplicable reason, his heart suddenly felt a bit sore.

"Have you run into difficulties?"

Yan Peng lowered his head, his eyes dodging evasively. After hesitating for a dozen seconds, he finally spoke.

"Brother, my family's business has run into severe capital problems. Everything that could be sold, I've sold, but it's still not enough. I have no other choice left, I truly have no other choice. Brother, I honestly have no way out, I..."