Blazing Sun~Extra Chapter 2.2: Prologue

 

Extra Chapter 2: Prologue

2

In a Western restaurant by the Lujiazui riverside, Alex put down his phone and said casually, "Another friend is coming over later. He's a former colleague of Shawn's and mine from Bank A. Does everyone mind?"

Of course, no one minded. These kinds of dinners with friends bringing friends were common; that's how connections expand. Right now, there were two people at the table whom Alex was meeting for the first time.

But similarly, no one seemed particularly concerned, except Shawn who asked, "Who's coming over?"

Alex had been waiting for him to ask, and continued calmly, "Zhuang."

Shawn was taken aback: "Who?"

"Zhuang, he was in our department at first, then went to investment banking not long after, don't you remember?"

Shawn certainly wouldn't forget: "Zhuang Xu?"

No introduction was needed; everyone present was from the finance industry, and someone immediately exclaimed, "Whoa, it's not Zhuang Xu from 'Sequence,' is it?"

Alex nodded: "Otherwise, that name isn't common."

Shawn was extremely surprised: "Zhuang only worked at Bank A for a little over a year, I remember he left before I went abroad. You guys are still so close? He's become very famous these past few years; I've heard about his legendary growth against the market trend even abroad."

Alex almost rolled his eyes. "What are you saying? So once you're successful, you don't need friends anymore?"

The others couldn't help but interject, "Alex, you're so modest? You managed to get such a big shot to come? I've never heard you say you were so close to Zhuang Xu before."

Alex modestly replied, "It's not like I'm the one who's successful. It's pointless to talk about that. Shawn is coming back to China today, so I asked if he was coming."

Shawn quickly waved his hand, "I don't have that kind of influence. It's Alex who's so important."

Alex was satisfied and became even more modest, "We used to be roommates, so we're closer."

Though he said that, Alex knew in his heart that if Zhuang Xu hadn't suddenly contacted him years ago, using official business as an excuse to go to Suzhou with him, they might still be just casual acquaintances.

They truly became friends after returning from that photovoltaic company in Suzhou.

He still clearly remembered Zhuang Xu's appearance on the way back that day—he tried so hard to maintain a normal appearance, but every detail was fragmented.

That day, after returning to Shanghai, he had a date with a girl he liked, but even after reaching the entrance of her apartment complex, he called and stood her up. Back home, he grabbed a bunch of beer and knocked on Zhuang Xu's door.

Later, Alex inexplicably started paying special attention to the photovoltaic sector.

He wondered if Zhuang Xu would do the same. A few years ago, when photovoltaic stocks were particularly good, he even suddenly wondered if Zhuang Xu might have heavily invested in that sector.

Would that remind him of an old friend?

Sometimes he felt that Zhuang Xu's reckless departure from the A-share bank back then might have been partly due to that old friend.

Large institutions are certainly glamorous and respectable, but they're too slow.

As Alex reminisced about the past, the conversation at the table had shifted to Zhuang Xu's personal life. A friend asked him curiously, "I heard he's still single?"

Alex felt there was nothing wrong with saying this. "Yeah, he was last seen with her, but we had dinner together three months ago."

"I heard Grace from DC is his girlfriend?"

"That's ancient history," another friend chimed in. "They broke up a long time ago. They dated for a year or two, and Grace is now with a younger guy, posting about him on social media every day."

The Shanghai financial circle isn't big, and gossip spreads quickly, so it's not surprising that some people know about it. Alex had met this Grace; they'd had dinner together once, but weren't very close. He was more familiar with Zhuang Xu's later girlfriend, Susie, a stylish and beautiful woman. She was his classmate when they studied in England, and they even met through him. But they had broken up a year ago too.

Men are actually much more enthusiastic about gossip than women, and things gradually became more and more unrelated. Alex quickly stopped them: "Don't spread rumors! Zhuang is an upright person; he doesn't do any of this nonsense. He's only had two girlfriends, and they both broke up."

"Is he a jerk?"

Alex retorted irritably: "Amicable breakups."

So amicable that Susie would even later eat with them.

He privately asked Susie how she managed to be so unconcerned. Susie said magnanimously, "He didn't do anything wrong, why can't we be friends?"

"Then why did you break up?"

Susie countered, "Can't we break up if there's no wrongdoing? What an outdated idea."

Alex snapped, "I'm worried you won't find a boyfriend with such good qualities in the future!"

Susie shook her head: "He is good—outstanding, handsome, rich, even considerate and gentlemanly. Who wouldn't love him? Having him would be really fun, but slowly I'd feel lonely. Alex, I don't want to say these sentimental, old-fashioned things, but he doesn't love me enough. I can't bear this torment."

"Welcome!" the waiter's voice suddenly rang out. Alex leaned towards the door and, sure enough, saw Zhuang Xu. He immediately waved.

The others at the table followed his gaze. Upon seeing him, his friend, who had been gossiping the most, gasped, "He's really that handsome! I thought the public photos were photoshopped."

Alex: "..."

He watched his old friend approach, as tall, slender, and handsome as ever, his mere presence effortlessly changing the atmosphere of the entire gathering. Time seemed to have left only gentle marks on him; his every gesture was more relaxed and natural.

Zhuang Xu walked to the table and naturally pulled out the chair next to Alex. "I'm late."

Alex chuckled and said, "Don't worry about being late, just pay the bill."

Zhuang Xu smiled faintly and said, "Of course."

The meal was enjoyed by both host and guest, and they didn't leave until after nine o'clock. Alex, of course, wouldn't actually let Zhuang Xu pay; after all, it was Alex who had organized the gathering, and Zhuang Xu's presence and lingering until the end already gave him a lot of face.

After saying goodbye to everyone at the restaurant entrance, Alex asked Zhuang Xu, "Are you walking back?"

Zhuang Xu nodded; his home was nearby.

"Let's go together then. I'll go back to the company to get my car; we can walk part of the way together."

Along the way, Alex kept lamenting, "I should have gritted my teeth and bought this place back then."

"At least I can sleep in an extra half hour in the morning."

Zhuang Xu teased slightly, "That doesn't sound like something a party king would say. You used to party until almost dawn every weekend."

Alex got goosebumps. "No, no, don't mention my old nickname, it's too lame. I'm older now, I need to take care of myself."

They chatted as they walked, passing the neighborhood they used to rent in, and their pace slowed almost simultaneously.

Alex looked at the familiar gate of the neighborhood and suddenly laughed, "Actually, when I asked you to live with me back then, I had ulterior motives."

Realizing his misunderstanding, he quickly corrected himself, "Not ulterior motives at all. I'm a married man with a normal orientation. I mean, when I asked you to share an apartment, I thought you were so handsome, lots of girls would want to get to know you, and if I lived with you, I could meet more girls through you."

Time has passed, and Alex can now laugh about his past little schemes.

"I guessed a little."

"You guessed?" "Alex was surprised.

"Back then, we weren't very close. You suddenly came to me and said the rent was 60% for you and 40% for me, giving me such a big advantage. There must be a reason, right?"

Alex immediately became dissatisfied: "You knew it was a big advantage, so why did you hesitate for so long back then?!"

"40% isn't cheap." Zhuang Xu looked up at the building he used to rent in—a habit he had every night when he walked into the complex.

He smiled and said, "I must have struggled a lot."

Alex looked at his expression, and for some reason, he thought of that person buried in his memory again.

He remembered that before going to Suzhou, they had also met Ms. Nie in the complex. At that time, Zhuang Xu didn't seem very enthusiastic; in fact, he had already begun to actively participate in the social activities he organized.

Did Zhuang Xu know that she also lived here before he agreed to share the apartment with him?

Zhuang Xu looked away and walked forward. Alex caught up with him and said casually, "Zhuang, you and Susie broke up more than a year ago, right? Haven't you dated anyone else?" "

Zhuang Xu's demeanor was relaxed: "What, are you going to introduce me to someone?"

Alex was speechless: "You need me to introduce you? What kind of circle are you in now? Everyone there is exceptional."

"Hey, you haven't forgotten that girl from Suzhou, have you? It's been years." Alex calculated the time, exclaiming in surprise, "Almost ten years."

Alex thought Zhuang Xu would immediately deny it, but instead, he lowered his eyes and said calmly, "I'm not at the age where I can forget." "But not in a way that he hadn't forgotten.

Actually, if it weren't for the school anniversary celebration, he felt like he had completely forgotten about it.

They parted ways at the next intersection. Alex watched Zhuang Xu's tall, thin figure recede into the distance, and for some reason, Susie's words came to mind—being with him would be lonely.

At this moment, however, he felt that Zhuang Xu might not want to disappoint his girlfriend; he was genuinely invested, but his inherent nature was lonely.

Then he found himself ridiculous.

His friend was now a financial upstart managing nearly 10 billion yuan, his personal wealth probably in the nine figures; how could he possibly think he was lonely?

Besides, if one could achieve such a career at a young age, even if it meant a little loneliness, who wouldn't want that?