Chapter 8

Tong Yehui occupied a large private room in the extravagant establishment and then had the waiter bring several bottles of foreign liquor. Tong Yehui, due to having an alcoholic father, harbored a deep aversion to alcohol and generally abstained from it. He understood that people had died, and that his reckless indulgence was meaningless, yet the very knowledge of death—of loss, of nothingness—plunged him into profound despair. This despair ignited an impulse within him to self-destruct without regard for consequences. Ultimately, he achieved his wish and drank himself into oblivion. He knew that people had died, and that his reckless indulgence was meaningless, yet the very knowledge of death—of loss, of nothingness—plunged him into profound despair. This despair ignited an impulse within him to self-destruct without regard for consequences. Ultimately, he achieved his wish and drank himself into oblivion.

It was Gu Changqing's remark comparing himself to his own son that instilled a slightly different sentiment in Tong Yehui towards Gu Changqing. Later, when Gu Changqing suddenly encountered trouble and his entire family was taken to the detention center, he found himself abandoned, as no one came to see him. Tong Yehui, motivated by that slight sentiment, largely approached it with an investment mentality. He had a keen eye for assessing situations and people, and instinctively believed that Gu Changqing would not fall apart like that. So, he would occasionally visit him and bring some daily necessities.

Tong Yehui opened his eyes, and all the furniture in the room had simple lines, filled with a clean and minimalist atmosphere. This was a space he had deliberately created for himself, one he had once been very satisfied with and enjoyed. However, now it seemed to have completely lost its meaning

He suddenly turned over and stood up from the sofa, knocking over the ashtray. Without even glancing at it, he grabbed the car keys and hurried out the door, feeling as if he would go mad from being cooped up here

Du Cheng was taken aback, his imposing aura diminished considerably, and he asked in a quieter tone, "Who has died?"

Contrary to everyone's expectations, Gu Bei managed Jin Mi very well. He seemed to have a particular talent for this area, and with an influential figure backing him, Jin Mi quickly became successful. Within a few years, Jin Mi had become a well-known consumer finance hub in City B

Tong Yehui originally intended to get up, but Gu Bei's remark, "Whose question is 'regret for life'?" pushed him back down.

Gu Bei pushed open the door to Tong Yehui's private room. The man inside was already passed out on the sofa, sprawled in an unseemly manner. He slowly walked up to the man, first bending down to take a look at his face, then turning to glance at the coffee table. There were two empty bottles on the table, and his beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly. Suddenly, he stood up, the diamond earrings at his ears catching the light brilliantly. He took out his phone and dialed a number. As soon as the call connected, he shouted with a voice that shook the mountains and rivers: "Du Cheng, is your company collapsing or going bankrupt?"

Gu Bei is a handsome man. He has been attractive since childhood, being a charming little boy and growing into a strikingly handsome man. He enjoys presenting himself in a meticulously refined manner, cherishing his face like a girl would. His hair is styled into a medium-length layered cut by top designers, and he adorns one ear with a sparkling diamond earring. Unlike Tong Yehui, who always dresses in a mature and serious manner, Gu Bei exudes a neutral charm, filled with allure and a hint of devilish charisma. He cherishes his face like a girl would, with his hair styled into a medium-length layered cut by top designers, and a sparkling diamond earring on one ear, radiating a neutral charm, filled with allure and a hint of devilish charisma.

Gu Bei persistently questioned: "What exactly is going on?"

Gu Bei's father, Gu Changqing, was a newly rich individual who was busy acquiring land and speculating in real estate when he first crossed paths with Tong Yehui. At that time, Gu Changqing held the position of a director in the Land Planning Bureau of City B. Although his official rank was not high, he wielded significant power. The relationship between Tong Yehui and him was merely that of ordinary collusion between officials and businessmen; they had some acquaintance, but it was not deep.

In those years, Tong Yehui was engaged in the business of buying and selling, most of the time closing deals over meals and drinks at the dining table. Tong Yehui was not adept at drinking; he avoided strong liquor and would only have beer at most, never allowing himself to get drunk. Generally, it was Du Cheng who handled the socializing at the dining table. On one occasion, while dining with a group of leaders from the Land Bureau, one person found Tong Yehui's pretense irritating and insisted that he drink from a full cup, demanding that he show some respect. At that moment, the crowd behind began to cheer him on, forcing Tong Yehui's face to turn pale. Just as the situation became increasingly chaotic, it was Gu Changqing who intervened, speaking in a measured tone to diffuse the tension: "He is of the same age as my son, and you all are calling him 'uncle' and 'elder'; why make things difficult for a younger generation?"

Two men, one lying down and the other propped up, stared at each other for a while. Gu Bei suddenly asked, "Brother, who is Han Sheng?" Gu Bei usually presents himself like a proud peacock in front of others, but he is very obedient when it comes to Tong Yehui, whom he privately calls brother.

Not long after, Gu Changqing indeed came out. It turned out that Gu Changqing was a retired soldier, and during his time in the army, he had a close relationship with an old leader. After learning that he had been imprisoned, this leader quickly helped him out. Those who were unaware of his background often met with unfortunate fates later on. In the years following his release, Gu Changqing steadily rose through the ranks and is now the mayor of City B. The success of Tong Yehui's business is also significantly related to having such a person backing him from above.

As Gu Bei was halfway through asking, "Who is Han Sheng?", he was interrupted by the beeping sound from the microphone. After hanging up, he tried to call back, but the other side was already turned off. "Damn it!" he cursed fiercely, and in the end, he could only hang up the phone.

In recent years, when Gu Bei is mentioned, he is no longer seen as the impression of a wealthy heir. He has thrived in his own kingdom, working diligently day and night, and has blended seamlessly with the world of books, truly becoming a remarkable figure

As Tong Yehui's consciousness returned to his body in the morning, he felt as if his head had been trampled by a herd of elephants, leaving him in a state of blankness. When he finally opened his eyes, he found himself locking gazes with Gu Bei, who was resting his head on his hand and looking at him.

"Regrettable." After saying this, the phone was abruptly disconnected with a "bang".

Du Cheng over there was also suppressing an emotion that was about to erupt, and finally he said lightly: "It's nothing much, just that someone has died"

Tong Yehui nearly drank himself to death in the private room. Later, the young waiter who came to clean up recognized him as the second boss and did not dare to move him casually. He hurriedly went to find the manager to notify the big boss

Tong Yehui ultimately returned home, where the house was large and empty. In the quietest moments, even his breathing echoed. He collapsed onto the sofa in the living room, smoking one cigarette after another. He did not drink alcohol, but he had a slight addiction to cigarettes, holding the cigarette butt in his mouth, maintaining its burn with his breath, waiting for it to burn down, then extinguishing it to light another.

Gu Bei was still howling: "Why did Tong Yehui come here to drink? Do you know he drank? Is the sky about to fall? He drank two whole bottles of 'Lafite' and got himself completely drunk."

Du Chengton over there remained silent for a long time, and finally said in a flat tone: "There has been no collapse, nor has there been any closure"

Tong Yehui's investment return on Gu Changqing is substantial, and the Gu family regards him as half a family member. Gu Changqing is a remarkable individual, yet he has a son, Gu Bei, who is quite unremarkable. Like all second-generation heirs, Gu Bei has been spoiled by his mother, raised in luxury from a young age, and has grown up to be inept. He could not even get into a university in the country, so he was sent abroad to study for a few years, yet he did not even obtain a diploma from a mediocre university. After returning to the country, he continued to indulge in a life of extravagance, doing nothing of substance. When his father encountered trouble, he did indeed suffer some hardships and truly experienced the ups and downs of human relationships. After that, he became more sensible and intended to do something meaningful. However, having lived a dissipated life for over twenty years, he lacked any real skills and did not know where to start to turn his life around. Eventually, after much contemplation, he concluded that he was most adept at the entertainment industry, so he decided to pursue that path. Gu Bei asked his mother for money to open a entertainment club, but she was not at ease and sought Tong Yehui's advice. In the end, Tong Yehui provided half the funds, allowing him to establish a lavish venue.

Tong Yehui drove to "Jinmi" in the middle of the night. "Jinmi" is the premier entertainment venue in City B. It is publicly referred to as a nightclub, but its business model is somewhat unconventional. Inside, it features a bar, KTV, and various membership-based salons; it has it all. Of course, there are also escorts, who are of a much higher caliber than those found outside. Tong Yehui is a half-owner of this establishment.

When the human body suddenly suffers from severe external trauma, such as fractures or cuts, it does not initially feel pain, because the nerve endings have not yet transmitted the pain signals. The true sensation of pain actually takes some time to manifest. Once the nerves respond, the pain begins to subtly and slowly creep in, first affecting the skin, then the flesh, and finally the bone marrow. The severity of the trauma correlates with the intensity of the pain. However, the most tormenting aspect is not this acute pain, as it will eventually pass and heal. The most unbearable part comes after the wound has healed; you may think it is fine, yet on rainy days, it will ache subtly. It does not cause excruciating pain, but it exists in a very real way, following you for a lifetime, with the reactions becoming more intense as you age. Tong Yehui lies there like a corpse, and he can clearly see the lingering, desolate pain that will accompany him throughout the long years of his future.

When Tong Yehui went to see Gu Changqing, he also took the opportunity to visit his family. Gu Changqing's wife was in a women's prison, making it inconvenient for him to go, so he also stopped by to see his son. It was during that time that the friendship with Gu Bei was established.

Finally, Tong Yehui turned over and got out of bed. He staggered as he walked outside and slowly said to Gu Bei: "Regret in life is simply regret in life"

In the end, Gu Bei carried Tong Yehui back. He lived right next door to Tong Yehui, and they resided in a row villa, with their houses separated by just a wall. Later, he even opened a door in that wall, making their homes essentially one. Concerned about Tong Yehui, who had passed out from drinking, and discontented with the uncomfortable bed at Tong Yehui's place, he took Tong Yehui to his own home and kept watch over him for an entire night

Du Cheng seemed very tired, his tone filled with helplessness: "Is Ye Hui with you? Take good care of him."

Who is Han Sheng? Han Sheng was once his lover, beloved, or creditor. Han Sheng is his festering wound, the person who causes him pain just by thinking about her. Han Sheng is the one who makes him feel that everything he has fought for is worthless. Han Sheng occupies most of his life, she is the one he is most deeply entangled with. But she is dead, yes, Han Sheng is dead. Tong Yehui fell back onto the pillow, staring at the ceiling. His face was pale, his expression like a bleak surface of water, his gaze dim yet focused. Han Sheng occupies most of his life, she is the one he is most deeply entangled with. But she is dead, yes, Han Sheng is dead. Tong Yehui fell back onto the pillow, staring at the ceiling. His face was pale, his expression like a bleak surface of water, his gaze dim yet focused.

Speaking of which, Tong Yehui, a respectable businessman, is able to hold shares in Jinmi primarily due to the influence of the major owner here. The major owner of Jinmi is Gu Bei, who is a second-generation wealthy individual; his father is a high-ranking official. Tong Yehui's connection with him began through his father.

The appearance of Tong Yehui made Gu Bei feel a bit frightened, as he stared blankly at him, unsure of what to say.