Chapter Ninety-Nine: Untimely

Shen Guodong had always believed that the future lay in integrating the internet with the real economy; only then would true opportunities arise. This, to him, was an inevitable outcome. If one failed to combine the two, no matter what venture one pursued, there would always be immense limitations.

On this matter, Shen Guodong saw with remarkable clarity. He likened it to the two great tycoons of his previous life, Jack Ma and Pony Ma. These two seemed to bask in glory, trading the top spot on the rich list back and forth. Yet their true wealth paled in comparison to the tycoon of Hong Kong, who never even appeared on the Forbes list. That man possessed countless tangible industries, and his wealth was invisible to the public eye—no one could grasp its true extent.

What’s more, everything you possessed was ultimately under someone else’s control. In other words, if your company underwent a significant upheaval, the Hong Kong tycoon could sell off his assets to save himself, whereas your holdings existed only in the virtual realm of the internet economy. Should turmoil strike, even the banks would refuse you loans, and without tangible assets to liquidate, you’d have no lifeline to convert into cash for survival.

Such limitations were glaring. For this reason, Shen Guodong firmly believed that the real economy was the true pillar and foundation of a nation. If the internet economy ever suffered a blow, for tycoons like the two Mas, it would be a fatal strike. Another crucial factor was that, even if your company’s stock was worth a fortune, as the soul of the company, you could never cash out in large quantities without eroding the confidence of your shareholders. If even the founder began to sell off shares, how could anyone trust the company? Thus, while they seemed to enjoy boundless prosperity, they were in fact tightly constrained.

Of course, there were undeniable advantages as well. When fortunes smiled, your wealth could multiply at an exponential rate, something the real economy could never replicate. Yet the real economy, while gradual in its changes, always retained value and grew at a colossal pace.

This was the very reason for his conviction. There was a particularly illustrative example in world economic history: in the 1990s, the nation of cherry blossoms. During the seventies and eighties, thanks to booming industries like home appliances, that country developed at breakneck speed, which in turn led to a monumental property market boom. Countless capitals poured into real estate, inflating the bubble larger and larger. Some keen observers once calculated that if all the land and real estate in the most prosperous city of that nation were sold at current prices, it could buy out the world’s most developed country.

But was that truly the case? Did it really hold such staggering value? This is worth pondering. In the end, within just ten years, that bubble swelled to an unprecedented size, and in the ensuing storm, countless investors lost everything.

When confronted by such irresistible forces, the real economy could certainly suffer serious blows, but in most cases, it achieved steady growth. On this front, Shen Guodong’s faith was unshakable. There was nothing more to say on the matter; a smile surfaced on his lips. The path he had chosen was already paving the way for tangible industries, and only thus could his interests be maximized.

Shen Guodong firmly believed that what he was doing now was the right course; as long as he kept to this rhythm, the future would surely grant him a place of prominence. To surpass Mango Phone, to surpass Musk of Tesla, to surpass Bezos of Amazon—such things were not beyond possibility. After all, in this era, none of them had yet begun their ventures, while he was already laying out his plans. If Shen Nanfeng had already begun investing in these industries, how could they possibly overtake him? That would be nothing short of a pipe dream—there was absolutely no such possibility.

He was, after all, a man with the experience of an entire lifetime. If even that couldn’t give him an edge, then what meaning would all that experience and insight hold for the future?

Beside him, Zhou Meiniang sat quietly, keeping him company without a word. While the man was lost in thought, she gazed at him with a dazed expression, as though her very spirit had been stirred by Shen Guodong.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” Shen Guodong snapped out of his reverie to find a pair of enchanting eyes fixed intently on him. He was momentarily taken aback and asked the question in surprise.

Zhou Meiniang’s cheeks flushed a delicate pink, and she replied bashfully, “Can’t I admire your good looks?”

“Of course you can!” Shen Guodong burst out laughing, casting an appreciative gaze over Zhou Meiniang’s exquisite face, made all the more beautiful by her shy blush. He grinned and asked, “By the way, has your relative left?”

“My relative? No one’s visited,” Zhou Meiniang answered, momentarily puzzled, but then she suddenly understood.

Could it be that this man was up to something mischievous? She counted the days and realized her time hadn’t come—though she felt a little embarrassed, she was, after all, Shen Guodong’s woman now. To refuse him would be unreasonable in every sense.

She nodded, a gesture of reluctant consent.

Shen Guodong was instantly elated. “Really?” He wrapped her in his arms.

He had to admit, this woman’s body was incredibly soft—just holding her brought a comfort that was almost irresistible. His excitement surged; to have such a peerless woman give herself to him completely—who wouldn’t be thrilled by such fortune?

“Be gentle, it’s my first time,” Zhou Meiniang whispered shyly.

Shen Guodong, of course, understood. He was exceedingly careful, but even so, her delicate form trembled in his arms, much to his astonishment. Could this be that rare constitution people spoke of? He’d only ever heard tales—never encountered one himself. That such a marvel would appear before him seemed almost unbelievable.

Just as Shen Guodong smiled and prepared to take matters further, a sudden knock at the door shattered the moment.

His expression froze instantly. He was on the verge of success, only to have someone barge in and spoil everything? What could he say?

Zhou Meiniang quickly straightened her clothes, her cheeks still burning with embarrassment. Seeing Shen Guodong’s expression, she couldn’t help but find the situation quite amusing…