Dragon Raja 4; Chapter 123: Mr. Shao’s Summer (1)

Dragon Raja 4

In the busiest part of the CBD, a black obelisk-like skyscraper stood at the intersection, its surface covered with black crystal glass. The reflection was so intense that passersby regretted not bringing sunglasses. The building was called the Black Prince International Financial Center, owned by the city’s leading company, the Black Prince Group. The headquarters of the Black Prince Group was also located in this building.

On a long sofa in the top floor lobby, a glamorous beauty sat proudly, wearing a wine-red body-hugging short dress, matching wine-red high heels, with wine-red eyeshadow and lipstick. She looked like a glass of bold and intoxicating wine.

This was Miss Tu Xiaojiao, 21 years old, formerly the lead dancer in a South Korean girl group. She made her acting debut last year, and with her agent’s support, she was now hailed as “China’s Sophie Marceau.”

Today, she had come here to meet the legendary Shao Gongzi (Young Master Shao). But she had already been sitting on the sofa outside his office for half an hour, with the female secretary continuously informing her that Shao Gongzi was busy with important matters and asking her to wait.

If it were anyone else, Tu Xiaojiao would have left immediately. After all, she was “China’s Sophie Marceau,” used to being greeted by fans at airports and followed by photographers wherever she went. Everywhere she went, doors would open early to welcome her.

But Shao Gongzi wasn’t just anyone. If one could get a meeting with him, beautiful women from all over would wait with the patience of someone ready to “do time.”

Shao Gongzi’s real name was Shao Yifeng, the sole heir to the Black Prince Group, a classic second-generation wealthy scion.

The Black Prince Group was an empire built by Shao’s father during a boom period. He had gone from a small-town Party Secretary to the Chairman of a mining conglomerate, multiplying his wealth by millions in a decade. Shao Yifeng, as the only child, was destined to be the heir. Shao’s father doted on his precious son, allowing him to misbehave without consequences, always cleaning up after him with a smile.

Shao Gongzi could have easily grown into a carefree playboy. However, Shao’s father read a book by chance, “Three Generations to Cultivate a Nobleman,” and realized he had nothing but money. Deep down, he was still the village leader he used to be. With this epiphany, he decided he couldn’t let his son repeat his own mistakes—he needed to send him to England, to elite schools, to make him a true nobleman!

Thus, at the tender age of seven, Shao Yifeng was shipped off to the UK, attending school all the way to Eton College. After years of struggle overseas, Shao Gongzi finally grew up to be different from his father: he became a playboy who spoke English.

Shao Gongzi loved everything fun, especially the film industry and its beautiful actresses. He invested only in big productions, working with famous directors and fresh-faced actresses.

Tu Xiaojiao had her eyes set on Shao Gongzi’s upcoming big production and was determined to win him over. Today, she wore the shortest skirt she owned and the highest, thinnest heels to ace her “interview.”

The secretary, with an apologetic smile, approached her on the sofa. “Sorry to keep you waiting. The boss will see you now.”

Tu Xiaojiao immediately shifted into battle mode, confidently striding into Shao Gongzi’s office with her head held high and chest out. The door closed silently behind her.

It was an opulent office, furnished entirely with Armani pieces, a plush horsehair sofa, and abstract paintings on the walls. Through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, one could overlook the entire CBD. A chubby man in a blue vest and checkered trousers stood by the window, flipping through a book, his expression melancholic and profound.

Tu Xiaojiao thought to herself, What kind of game is this? If you’re trying to seduce me, just say it! No need for this elaborate act. Does he think I’m someone who can’t handle this?

Shao Gongzi recited poetry amid the sound of the rain:

“My heart aches, weary and numb, poisoned like a sip of hemlock, as if I just swallowed opium… Tu Xiaojiao, right? Find a seat for yourself, and help yourself to a drink.”

Shao Gongzi didn’t even glance at Tu Xiaojiao, took a sip of water, and continued reciting:

“You! Little woodland sprite, in the green shadows of the beech trees, you sang out in song, serenading the summer!”

“Ah! A sip of wine! The chilled sweetness, aged for years underground, tasted like flowers, green earth, dances, love songs, and scorching joy!”

“I must drink to oblivion, to leave the mortal world and follow you into the dark depths of the forest!”

It was an afternoon of poetic inspiration for Shao Gongzi and the most absurd afternoon in Tu Xiaojiao’s life. She had dressed in her most seductive outfit, preparing for a seductive showdown, only to sit through a 15-minute poetry recital from the investor.

Shao Gongzi finally closed the book and turned to scrutinize Tu Xiaojiao, his gaze lingering long and appreciatively on her long legs wrapped in black stockings. This gave Tu Xiaojiao back a bit of her confidence.

“Miss Tu likes red! Red is the most proper color!” Shao Gongzi praised her approvingly. “My senior sister also loves wearing red!”

Tu Xiaojiao thought, Who is this mythical woman who can make a playboy like Shao recite poetry for her?

“Is your senior sister your girlfriend?” Tu Xiaojiao asked cautiously.

“No, no, we’re just classmates from England,” Shao Gongzi replied quickly, although he clearly enjoyed talking about this topic, eagerly showing her a framed photo from his desk.

The photo showed two kids in British school uniforms with their arms around each other’s shoulders. They looked about eight or nine years old, with the girl appearing even more defiant than the boy, like two little troublemakers.

“Elementary school classmates?” Tu Xiaojiao was a bit confused.

“After graduation, she went to a girls’ school, so we don’t see each other often, but she’s visiting me now,” Shao Gongzi beamed. “Every time she comes back to the country, she comes to see me.”

Tu Xiaojiao thought, I’m a girl too! A girl! A girl! What’s the point of showing off your bond with your senior sister?

Suddenly, the door was flung open, and several young men in black suits excitedly rushed in. “Boss! We found out! Miss Chen has a friend in the hospital, and they’re very close!”

Shao Gongzi grabbed his jacket and rushed out. A moment later, the roar of a Ferrari’s engine echoed from downstairs, Shao Gongzi leading the way with his lackeys following behind as they sped into the approaching night.

He didn’t even bother to say goodbye. Tu Xiaojiao sat quietly in the rain-soaked evening, dejected enough to want to crawl into a designer Hermès bag and hide.

The secretary re-entered, offering an apologetic smile. “If it were any other time, the boss would definitely have invited you for dinner. Unfortunately, your timing was off—Miss Chen has returned.”

“Is Miss Chen really that beautiful?” Tu Xiaojiao asked, still reeling from the blow.

“Well, it depends on who you compare her to… But when Miss Chen isn’t around, the boss’s IQ and EQ are about average for a 20-year-old. When she’s around, he drops to about five.”

γ之春, 91st reload, mission failed.

Lu Mingfei opened his eyes and glanced at the clock on the wall. It was only 6:30 PM, but outside, it was already pitch black. Autumn had arrived, and the days were getting shorter.

The hospital room was empty. Around this time, patients would have just finished dinner and were likely strolling in the corridors.

The ceiling fan spun slowly, and Lu Mingfei stared at it, replaying the failure of his latest attempt in his mind. The mission had reached the end when their car caught fire, and the doors locked. Nono tried to push him out through the window, but he lazily refused to move, figuring it was another failure and they’d just reload. However, he suddenly noticed Nono’s terrified yet determined face, and his heart ached slightly. He spread his arms, intending to hug her, but Nono, startled, slapped him and said, “Are you crazy?” Then the car exploded.

For him, when the game failed, it was just a matter of restarting, but for each version of Nono in the game, failure meant total doom. He wasn’t sure whether he had it worse or if those simulated Nono had it worse.

“Hey, you’re awake? How was your sleep?” A strange voice broke through the darkness.

Lu Mingfei finally noticed a chubby guy sitting by his bed. Dressed in a blue vest and checkered trousers, his hair neatly slicked back, he resembled a small, greasy, delicious piece of braised pork.

“I’m a friend of your senior, Chen,” Shao Gongzi said, shaking a Ferrari key as proof of identity. “You’ve been through a lot, bro. I came to check on you.”

He popped open a can of beer, pouring a sip into Lu Mingfei’s mouth, then taking one himself, acting like they were long-lost brothers reunited after years apart.

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