Chapter 23: Secrets (Part 1)

  Late at night, the moonlight was cold and pale. In a certain high-rise building in the west of the city, the fax machine emitted a rustling sound. The green warning light on the machine flashed incessantly, as if it were about to tear through the darkness of the night.

  Chu Lin Tao arrived at the company just as it started raining. Today was the regular meeting of all senior executives of Anbang Software, a subsidiary of the company, and there was only one agenda item to be discussed: why the design program of the company's latest product had appeared in a rival company.

  The large conference room was silent. Chu Lin Tao looked at the anxious expressions of everyone present, and smiled slightly. "The matter has already happened, the primary problem is next month's new product launch conference. As for who leaked the confidential documents, you can choose not to come forward, but if I find out who did it, regardless of whether they are a company veteran or a small clerk in the mailroom, they will be handed over to the law."

  After the meeting, he patted a young man in his twenties on the shoulder and said apologetically, "Hao Ran, I'm really sorry that this kind of thing happened."

  Shang Hao Ran laughed tiredly, three consecutive months of closed development had exhausted him, and he didn't expect something like this to happen now. "Director Chu, I'm afraid this is the design that my team members and I are most proud of in our lifetime..."

  Chu Lin Tao's eyes were filled with apology, "Hao Ran, I know, I really should have known. You lost your heart and blood, while the company lost money."

  On another moonlit night, the fax machine was still making a rustling sound, and what was sent out was another confidential document from the company.

  A month later, Anbang Software Company under the Chu Group was abandoned by its parent company due to data leakage and massive loss of technical personnel, and was acquired and taken over by a private investment company. The vice president in charge of the technology research and development department suddenly disappeared from the company on the eve of the news release, along with a large sum of money that went missing.

  The company is in a state of utter chaos. Dark clouds and thick fog are everywhere, and people's minds are filled with anxiety. The new boss will take office soon, and all the original high-level executives have been thoroughly dispersed.

  However, Haoran remained unmoved and continued to sit in front of the computer, his ten fingers flying across the keyboard. Just then, the head of the technical department walked over and said to him, "Haoran, the new CEO wants to see you."

  Pushing open the familiar door, the CEO's office was still the same CEO's office, but the person sitting inside had changed. Shang Haoran exchanged gazes with the person inside, and the new CEO made a gesture for him to sit down. Under the other party's profound gaze, Shang Haoran returned his gaze with equal indifference.

  "Mr. Shang Hao Ran, your design is indeed flawless."

  Shang Haoran said with a hint of self-deprecation, "Thank you for your praise, but this humble work is really not worth mentioning."

  The other party listened to Shang Hao Ran's words and did not react particularly, only smiled slightly, then handed him a check, saying "This is the remuneration you deserve, your design will be directly adopted by Hedi Company, absolutely no waste."

  Shang Haoran took over the check and saw the price on it that made him satisfied. He knew that even if his software design was perfect, he wouldn't get this price.

  Yes, that's right, this is all the compensation he got for selling out his own company.

  Seeing Shang Haoran calmly put away the check, the other party continued to say, "Mr. Shang Haoran, you are a talent, and our company absolutely believes in your R&D capabilities. However, for some reason, our company cannot confirm your integrity."

  He glanced at him, but didn't say much. In fact, it was only natural for the new president not to trust him. Since he could betray his own company, who's to say he won't use the same tactics to turn against them in the future? So, worrying that he would cause trouble later on was a very natural thing.

  Shang Haoran looked into the other person's eyes, suddenly smiled, and then put the resignation letter that had just been printed on the table. "President, please rest assured, I, Shang Haoran, am a sensible person and will not make things difficult for you."

  The newly appointed president glanced at his resignation letter, and his tone also turned cold, emitting a chilly aura. "You seem to have been prepared."

  "Yes." A corner of his mouth rose, and Shang Hao Ran said slowly, "Not all companies have the guts to hire employees with a dangerous nature, unless they are confident enough to be strong and will not be destroyed by any external forces."

  The newly appointed president's thin lips curled up with a calculating smile, "You're very eloquent."

  "It's okay." Xiang Haoran stood up and walked to the door.

  Just as he was turning the door handle, he heard the new president say behind him, "Shang Haoran, although you can't stay here, but someone is very interested in you, do you want to give it a try?"

  Shang Haoran turned his head to look at him, and the newly appointed president on the other side also stared at him in the same way. However, in his indifferent eyes, Shang Haoran saw not admiration, but ridicule.

  "Give me a reason to try an adventure," he asked.

  The newly appointed president smiled slightly at him, "Very simple, because that person can absolutely satisfy your ambition."

  "What is your relationship with him?"

  The newly appointed president's smile at the corner of his mouth deepened slowly, "I'm just a professional manager he hired."

  "People who are too curious usually die early." Shang Haoran still had that faint, elusive cold smile, "And I just so happen to be the kind of person with no curiosity."

  "Everything is calculated, every step is taken carefully, and in the end, what you get is just that." The new CEO picked up his resignation letter, raised an eyebrow slightly, and a hint of a smile was hidden in the corner of his mouth. "But you should know, sometimes life requires taking out courage to take a gamble."

  When Shang Hao Ran left the company, it was raining again. A black Rolls-Royce was quietly parked on the empty street. He hesitated for a moment and walked slowly to the side of the car.

  A man wearing glasses immediately stepped forward and opened the car door for him. Shang Hao Ran saw the young man sitting inside, and his expression changed in an instant, "Who are you?"

  "Is that Mr. Shang?" The young man in the car lazily glanced at Shang Hao Ran's figure, smiled faintly, but his calm eyes had a sharpness that was stunning.

  When the car drove out, Shang Hao Ran saw a BMW coming from the other side of the street. He knew it was Chu Lin Tao's car, but Chu Lin Tao didn't see the sedan whizzing past him.

  Shang Hao Ran remained silent, having lost the initiative from the moment he got on the car.

  The young man's mouth slowly drew a perfect arc, "Mr. Shang, the timing is just right, why don't we have dinner together?" he said.

  "I can't eat spicy food." Shang Hao Ran smiled at the young man, knowing that if he didn't agree, he might have to jump into the river below when the car reached the bridge.

  The young man opposite him initially seemed very young, but now that he looked at him carefully, he felt very steady, yet he didn't know what kind of person he was.

  "Mu Yang." The young man called out softly.

  "Don't worry, young master. It's already been prepared according to Mr. Shang's taste." The man who was driving for Shang Haoran earlier replied in a low voice from the passenger seat.

  Jian Hao Ran continued to gaze at him with a complex expression, the young man nodded and smiled at him, "I am Gu Tian Xi, this time seeing you is my intention, it has nothing to do with Zheng Lan, you don't need to be swayed by his words."

  What?

  "Shouldn't Mr. Chu be Young Master Gu's uncle?" The corners of Shang Hao Ran's eyebrows furrowed slightly, he knew he was being used. As for the grudge between this Young Master Gu and Mr. Chu, he felt he had no right to know, but he couldn't help asking anyway, perhaps in the deepest part of his heart, a thread of curiosity still remained.

  "That's right." Gu Tianxi replied.

  Shang Haoran was still full of doubts, but he couldn't find a reason to continue speaking, so he remained silent. It wasn't until the car stopped in front of the hotel that Gu Tianxi had just gotten out when someone immediately came over to greet him. Shang Haoran walked alongside him, with the attendants standing respectfully by their side all along the way, as if they didn't dare to overstep their bounds like a monarch and his subjects.

  Shang Haoran's mind finally turned to the news about the Gu family enterprise from TV and newspapers, and he even thought of the previous kidnapping case. Although no media reported on this incident, relying on Shang Haoran's abilities, he still discovered some clues on the company's internal network, and then found out that Miss Gu, who was living with the Chu family, was mistaken for Miss Chu and kidnapped.

  He vaguely felt that he was being drawn into something terrible. Although, he knew that the Chu Corporation was a leader in the city, and Chu Lintao had the ability to call the wind and rain in both business and politics. However, this time the software company's acquisition made Shang Haoran understand that compared to the Gu Corporation, Chu Lintao's company was not worth mentioning.

  They were arranged in the best room, not only quiet and spacious, but also with a large floor-to-ceiling window facing outwards with excellent views. At this time, although it was noon, the rain had not stopped. The sky and earth seemed to have been washed by water, yet they were shrouded in thick dark clouds, the entire city was under the rain curtain, like pebbles embedded at the foot of the hotel overlooking the valley.

  The waiter poured a glass of wine for Shang Hao Ran under the sparkling crystal chandelier, and he could even smell the faint scent of flowers.

  "Sorry, Mr. Shang, but I'm not of drinking age yet, so you'll have to enjoy it alone." Gu Tianxi said calmly with his hands crossed over his knees.

  Shang Hao Ran slightly bowed his head, "How dare I, besides... my alcohol tolerance isn't good."

  Gu Tianxi looked at him, her amber eyes gleaming like cold stars, "It's okay, you can leave the wine here and come back to taste it next time."

  "I don't have money... nor am I qualified to enjoy a place like this."

  "With the check in your hand, this shouldn't be a difficult task." Gu Tian Xi saw that he was straightforward and honest about his desire for money, and her appreciation for him increased. "If you want to achieve your goal, that amount of money is probably still far from enough."

  He didn't panic, he said calmly, "That's right, I need money. Money isn't omnipotent, but it can help my mother pay her medical bills and let my younger siblings continue their studies. So even if I join your side, for the sake of money, I can still betray you, betray anyone." After finishing speaking, he picked up his high-footed cup and downed the red wine in one gulp.

  "It doesn't matter." Gu Tianxi took a light sip of the mineral water in his cup, and when he raised his eyes, he said, "Desires are endless and boundless, forever without edges. I don't need you to keep promises, just follow your own ambitions and desires. If you can't meet my requirements, even if you want to betray me, there won't be any opportunity."

  "Master Gu has time to worry about me, it's better to first make the Gu Corporation stronger, strong enough that it will never be destroyed by any external forces."

  "Who told you I was recruiting you on behalf of the Gu's?" Gu Tianxi put down the high-footed cup in his hand, and smiled slightly. "I'm hiring you in my personal capacity. At the same time, in the new company, you don't have to worry about your power or research projects being restricted, nor do you have to worry that your salary will make you distracted by part-time jobs."

  This was indeed a tempting proposal, and Shang Hao couldn't resist it. He sighed, asking in a low voice, "Where does Master Gu plan to arrange for me? What position will I hold?"

  "Wind and Cloud Network Limited, Chief Technology Officer."