Chapter 150: Homeless Alice

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Once they had agreed in principle, they moved on to discussing the details, finalizing the transfer of shares, various rights, and the rest.

After another two hours of work, they finally finished signing the contract.

The moment Zhang Tianfeng and Jobs put pen to paper and pressed their fingerprints onto the document, the weight on both their hearts finally lifted.

Zhang Tianfeng was relieved that he had finally established a connection with Jobs.

Although Steve Jobs was now worth far more than Zhang Tianfeng, years of work had instilled in him the habit of never passing up an opportunity.

This Chinese man gave him a strange and mysterious impression. He seemed capable of anything, yet was frank and generous, unlike other investors who demanded all sorts of rights.

That was what Jobs appreciated most.

With this Chinese investor helping him share the risks, Jobs felt completely at ease.

Putting away the contract, Jobs said, “To celebrate our partnership, let’s go have dinner at an even better restaurant.”

“How about Chinatown?”

“Sure, as long as you don’t call me stingy.”

“Of course not. I’d actually like to take a look around.”

Chinatown had a long history. Nearly every country had one, and it was a place overseas Chinese and Chinese people traveling abroad for work or study would inevitably visit.

Having arrived in this unfamiliar country, Zhang Tianfeng was no exception to the feeling of alienation. He wanted to spend some time in Chinatown to ease himself into the place, regain a sense of familiarity, and, incidentally, change up his diet.

They drove to Chinatown and arrived at ten that night. Yun Qian was so sleepy that she had dozed off in the car.

But when the window was lowered and the distinctive aroma of Chinese cuisine drifted inside, she suddenly opened her eyes and became wide awake.

The taste of home was the best way to wake someone up.

After wandering around for more than ten minutes, they settled on a restaurant called the Drunken Moon Pavilion.

The building was entirely Chinese in style. In a place like Chinatown, where every inch of land was worth a fortune, the restaurant occupied an enormous area and rose four stories high. Clearly, its owner was a man of considerable means.

When they entered, the waiter first greeted them in Chinese before switching to English.

“Are the ingredients and chefs here authentic?”

“So you’re Chinese, sir. Please rest assured. All our chefs were recruited from China, and every one of them is a renowned master. Whatever regional cuisine you’d like, they can prepare it.”

“As for the ingredients and seasonings, they’re even more authentic. We transport everything here from China at great expense, so you can be sure the flavor is genuine.”

“All right. Start with four dishes from Xikang Province, then add stir-fried shrimp with broccoli…”

They ordered eight purely Chinese dishes, three dishes adapted to Western tastes, and a winter melon soup with dried shrimp. With that, the order was complete.

“Please wait a moment, sir. The dishes will be served shortly.”

The waiter withdrew, and less than five minutes later, the food began arriving.

By the end of the meal, the three of them were thoroughly satisfied. Jobs was especially pleased, because while eating, he and Zhang Tianfeng had discussed the internet, computers, communications, and other related fields.

Many of Zhang Tianfeng’s views coincided with his own. Finding someone who truly understood him felt even better than earning a hundred million.

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With their meal and drinks finished, it was time to part.

Outside the restaurant, Zhang Tianfeng said, “Mr. Jobs, I can see how absorbed you are in your work, but please don’t neglect your health.”

Jobs was unquestionably a great, epoch-making figure in the mobile-phone industry. If he had not died of illness back then, no one could say what the industry might have become.

In his previous life, Zhang Tianfeng had never had the chance to find out. Perhaps in this life, he had the power to make that possibility a reality.

“I nearly forgot about my physical examination, which I’m supposed to have every six months. I’ll go tomorrow. Thank you for reminding me.”

“You’re welcome. We’ll be in touch if anything comes up. If I return to China, I’ll let you know beforehand.”

Jobs nodded and drove away alone. Zhang Tianfeng did not leave. Carrying Yun Qian, who had fallen asleep immediately after eating her fill, he strolled down the street with Gao Ran.

A large group of bodyguards followed behind them, so there was no need to worry about any fool trying to make trouble.

“Crazy, I really understand you less and less.”

“What is there not to understand?”

“The way you make money.”

Gao Ran had practically watched Zhang Tianfeng rise step by step to where he was now. She had witnessed almost every stage of his money-making career.

This man had gone from having only a few dozen yuan to a fortune worth hundreds of millions in less than two months.

His father, Qin Lin, had taken nearly twenty years to accumulate his capital. The most important period of explosive growth had also come from following Zhang Tianfeng’s advice—first buying the business plan for vehicle advertising from him, then developing small workshops.

It could be said that all of it was thanks to Zhang Tianfeng.

Now Gao Ran felt that the Zhang Tianfeng before her was becoming increasingly elusive, as though he might ascend to immortality in broad daylight at any moment.

“You studied economics. You know that making money is just a disguised form of gambling. I was simply lucky enough to win every time.”

“Only a fool would believe that. Even if you don’t say it, I can understand. I understand even better why you refuse to accept my advances.”

She continued talking to herself for quite some time, but the person beside her never responded. When she turned her head, she discovered that Zhang Tianfeng was staring intently at a Chinese restaurant.

A quarrel was taking place inside. A diner was loudly berating one of the waitresses.

Gao Ran rolled her eyes. He was truly aloof—he would rather watch some gossip unfold than listen to her speak from the heart.

At that moment, Zhang Tianfeng handed Yun Qian to Gao Ran and strode into the Chinese restaurant. Xiang Chen and the others followed close behind, though three men stayed behind to protect Gao Ran.

Before long, Zhang Tianfeng emerged from the restaurant, pulling the waitress along with him.

Only after he removed her employee cap did Gao Ran realize that the waitress was none other than the foreign beauty who had shared a night with Zhang Tianfeng in Harbor City.

“What… is going on?”

“I don’t know either. Let’s find somewhere to talk.”

Not long after the two of them had taken what they needed from each other, Alice had vanished without a word.

It was only after the financial firm called Zhang Tianfeng that he learned the person managing his investments had been replaced.

Because he did not want too many people to know about the investment company he controlled, Zhang Tianfeng had never established contact with the new staff member. All his investment strategies continued as before.

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He had also tried to track down Alice, but had found no leads.

He had assumed they had simply lost each other in the sea of humanity. He never expected to encounter her again in Chinatown.

After pulling Alice into the car, Zhang Tianfeng asked sternly, “Don’t you think you should tell me what happened?”

“Why should I tell you? We have nothing to do with each other.”

Alice broke free of Zhang Tianfeng’s arm and said coldly, “I worked for the company. Before resigning, I completed every handover, and afterward I followed industry regulations. I never disclosed any client’s privacy.”

“There has been nothing between us for a long time. If you don’t let me leave, I will sue you.”

“You’re the foreigner here. I guarantee you’ll end up in prison.”

“Why are you being so ungrateful? I’m trying to help you!” Zhang Tianfeng glared at her.

“I don’t need your help. I’m doing very well now.”

“Your idea of doing well is being cursed at by customers while having to endure it even when it isn’t your fault?”

Alice was rendered speechless by his retort. Her eyes reddened as she clenched her fists, but she still said nothing.

“Why don’t you let me try?” Gao Ran looked into Zhang Tianfeng’s eyes. “Relax, I won’t do anything to her. I also guarantee that you’ll get the information—and the person—you want.”

Her final words carried endless implications.

Zhang Tianfeng did not even dare look Gao Ran in the eye. The situation was rather like a concubine giving birth while the principal wife came to care for her during confinement.

Of course, it was merely an inappropriate metaphor used to highlight the tangled emotions Zhang Tianfeng was experiencing.

On the way back, the two women rode in one car, while Zhang Tianfeng rode in another with Yun Qian in his arms.

After returning to the hotel, he coaxed Yun Qian to sleep, then sat on the sofa and waited.

Half an hour later, Gao Ran returned and shook her drenched sleeves. With a smug look, she said, “Aren’t you going to thank me?”

“Did you go swimming?”

Not only her sleeves but also large portions of her clothes and trousers were soaked.

“Don’t ask. It was all Alice’s tears.”

Standing at the bathroom door, Gao Ran said, “Her mother is ill, and her father and siblings abandoned her because of her condition. She was essentially driven out of her home and left with nowhere to go.”

“What kind of illness could make such a large family abandon her?”

Zhang Tianfeng remembered perfectly well that Alice’s father was named Rothschild.

That was not a name just anyone could have.

“Congenital infertility.”

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