Chapter 131: 131 - Fruitful Discussions
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Fang flushed, embarrassed. "Be serious, Pax," he said shyly. "Do you really think that this idea is going to work?"
Pax chuckled. "You know, you could do with a bit of confidence," he said. "Your plan is perfect, and if things go smoothly, you would have earned your first billion within the next six months, all by yourself and independent of the sum of money that is there in your account right now."
Fang choked.
Pax quickly patted his back and handed him a mini bottle of mineral water. Pax was very, very particular about keeping small bottles of mineral water ready in his car all the time. There was a whole pack in the boot of his car, too.
Fang broke the seal on the bottle and drank the entire bottle in one go.
Then he glared at Pax. "Don't mess with me like this!" he said. "How can I make a billion off this even if everything works out perfectly? The budget is far less than that, and the maximum profit I can make from this project is three hundred million – and that's the best case scenario. Realistically, I don't think it would be more than two hundred and fifty million."
Pax chuckled. "Well, this is where experience comes in handy," he said to Fang. "And you are lucky that I am very fond of you and Ren."
"Why?" Fang asked. "Are you going to teach me secret things that will help me make a billion?"
"Of course I will," Pax said. "I wouldn't do it for anyone else – but if it is for you and Ren, then I am happy to."
Fang's eyes glowed with excitement. He trusted Pax and his business sense. If Pax said that he could make a billion with this new company in six months, then he could definitely make a billion within that six month time frame!
A billion! Fang had never imagined that he would be able to earn so much on his own in his entire life! And now – now he was being told that he could earn a billion within six months! At the age of eighteen!
Fang pinched himself hard until tears sprang into his eyes.
"Hey, kid, don't do that," Pax said, quickly grabbing his hand. "Ren will kill me if he sees that I let you get injured even the slightest bit."
Fang chuckled. "I am far tougher than Ren and you know it," he pointed out.
Pax huffed. "Well, I know it – but your stupid and beloved fiancé doesn't know it – so can you blame me for wanting to be careful?" he accused. "Will you defend me when your dear Ren starts berating me because his little darling Fang got a bruise because he pinched himself? Remember that time when you got a paper cut and he made us replace all the papers with a better quality set with smoothened edges so that it would never happen again? That man is paranoid and extremely unreasonable when it comes to you!"
Fang frowned. "Ren is more likely to get paper cuts than me, with his soft skin and delicate hands," he murmured. He glanced at Fang. "Speaking of which – I didn't see that expensive paper around any more in the office?"
Pax sighed. "Well, it was very expensive – so Ren stopped using it for himself, and since Ren stopped using it, the rest of us felt guilty about using it as well – and now we're using much cheaper paper. The first one – the cheapest one – that Ren got for himself, that gave him an allergy, so we discarded that. We've got a decent quality manufacturer now," he said.
"Allergy?" Fang asked, alarmed. "When was this?"
"About ten days ago," Pax said. "Ren didn't tell you? It was fairly severe – we had to give him an epinephrine shot."
Fang froze. "What else has Ren been hiding from me?" he demanded. "He has been passing off so many things as just being tired, but if he is hiding these things, then…"
Pax sighed. "Fang – to be honest, this is something that you and Ren need to figure out between yourselves," he murmured. "It doesn't help if you are worrying about him behind his back but it doesn't flow across to him – or where he hesitates to let you know anything because he thinks that you would worry too much. It's probably a bit of a difficult situation for Ren – on one hand, he admires you and thinks that you are brilliant and capable and is very proud of you – while, on the other hand, he has this compulsive need to protect you from anything and everything because he loves you too much and can't bear to see even the slightest bit of hurt or injury upon you, either physically or mentally."
Fang sighed as well. "I have been rather blind and immature," he murmured. "It isn't surprising that Ren has been feeling this way. I have been stewing in my own insecurities and I have been ignoring my Ren and his feelings. I should be smacked on the head ten times."
Pax threw up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Well, don't look at me – I am most definitely not smacking you. I don't want to be murdered by your Ren!" he said firmly.
Fang couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, I'll try to be better and not someone who deserves to be smacked left, right and centre," he murmured.
"That would be the most optimal solution for all of us," Pax agreed. "Just pay attention to Ren and observe what he needs – I am sure you will figure it out, Fang. There is no one who cares about Ren more than you do, and there is no one who cares about you more than Ren does – it stands to reason that the two of you would be able to fulfil all the unspoken desires of each other's hearts – and only you can give him what he needs, at this point."
Fang sighed. "How much authority do I have at Sirocco?" he asked quietly.
"As much as you want," Pax said. "Ren issued standing instructions many months ago that you were to be accorded every courtesy and the same level of obedience and cooperation that ren or I enjoy at Sirocco. So, other that Ren or myself, there is no one at Sirocco who can deny you anything."
Fang blinked in surprise. He had never known this – well, it wasn't that he had ever requested for anything at Sirocco except information about Ren's schedule or an occasional cup of coffee.
But it was a pleasant surprise, and it also meant that he would be able to issue the instructions that he wanted to issue right away without having to pass through any hurdles or without having to try to convince Ren or Pax. Pax would definitely be on his side for this, and Ren – well, he didn't need to know. He just needed to enjoy the end result and hopefully, also understand that under no circumstances did Fang want Ren to short change himself!
Pax looked at Fang who was sitting a daze with great curiosity. Fang had never demanded any authority at Sirocco – and this was the first time that he had asked such a question. Pax was naturally curious about Fang's motives behind asking such a question. What could possibly be going on in that pretty little head of his? What did Fang want to ask for?
Pax shrugged. Well, it wasn't as if Ren wouldn't give Fang whatever he wanted – so Pax was not worried about that at all. In Ren's head, Sirocco was as much Fang's company as Ren's own – so he would definitely let Fang do whatever he wanted to do, and if something went wrong, or if a bad decision was taken, then Ren would step in and fix it – but he would never let anyone refuse Fang or stop the boy from doing what he wanted.
Ren's pampering really was quite extreme, Pax thought wryly. There should be some limit to doting on your partner!
But then again, Pax had never been in love, so he had no idea how these things worked at all. And, at the moment, he didn't really care, either.
"Tell me, Fang," Pax said. "What is it that you want from Sirocco?"
Fang hesitated for a moment and then pursed his lips, and titled his head, showing the determination in his chin.
"It may be a little expensive," Fang said. "But I want Ren to go back to using all the expensive material that he has been used to. If he tries to change anything to a cheap substitute just to save money – or if you see him deny himself something, I want you – and everyone at Sirocco – to override that and to give him his usual brands and his usual products. No amount of money can be worth Ren's health and safety, and I want to ensure that this is followed. Is it possible?" he asked.
Pax beamed at him. "Of course," he said.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Fang flushed, embarrassed. "Be serious, Pax," he said shyly. "Do you really think that this idea is going to work?"
Pax chuckled. "You know, you could do with a bit of confidence," he said. "Your plan is perfect, and if things go smoothly, you would have earned your first billion within the next six months, all by yourself and independent of the sum of money that is there in your account right now."
Fang choked.
Pax quickly patted his back and handed him a mini bottle of mineral water. Pax was very, very particular about keeping small bottles of mineral water ready in his car all the time. There was a whole pack in the boot of his car, too.
Fang broke the seal on the bottle and drank the entire bottle in one go.
Then he glared at Pax. "Don't mess with me like this!" he said. "How can I make a billion off this even if everything works out perfectly? The budget is far less than that, and the maximum profit I can make from this project is three hundred million – and that's the best case scenario. Realistically, I don't think it would be more than two hundred and fifty million."
Pax chuckled. "Well, this is where experience comes in handy," he said to Fang. "And you are lucky that I am very fond of you and Ren."
"Why?" Fang asked. "Are you going to teach me secret things that will help me make a billion?"
"Of course I will," Pax said. "I wouldn't do it for anyone else – but if it is for you and Ren, then I am happy to."
Fang's eyes glowed with excitement. He trusted Pax and his business sense. If Pax said that he could make a billion with this new company in six months, then he could definitely make a billion within that six month time frame!
A billion! Fang had never imagined that he would be able to earn so much on his own in his entire life! And now – now he was being told that he could earn a billion within six months! At the age of eighteen!
Fang pinched himself hard until tears sprang into his eyes.
"Hey, kid, don't do that," Pax said, quickly grabbing his hand. "Ren will kill me if he sees that I let you get injured even the slightest bit."
Fang chuckled. "I am far tougher than Ren and you know it," he pointed out.
Pax huffed. "Well, I know it – but your stupid and beloved fiancé doesn't know it – so can you blame me for wanting to be careful?" he accused. "Will you defend me when your dear Ren starts berating me because his little darling Fang got a bruise because he pinched himself? Remember that time when you got a paper cut and he made us replace all the papers with a better quality set with smoothened edges so that it would never happen again? That man is paranoid and extremely unreasonable when it comes to you!"
Fang frowned. "Ren is more likely to get paper cuts than me, with his soft skin and delicate hands," he murmured. He glanced at Fang. "Speaking of which – I didn't see that expensive paper around any more in the office?"
Pax sighed. "Well, it was very expensive – so Ren stopped using it for himself, and since Ren stopped using it, the rest of us felt guilty about using it as well – and now we're using much cheaper paper. The first one – the cheapest one – that Ren got for himself, that gave him an allergy, so we discarded that. We've got a decent quality manufacturer now," he said.
"Allergy?" Fang asked, alarmed. "When was this?"
"About ten days ago," Pax said. "Ren didn't tell you? It was fairly severe – we had to give him an epinephrine shot."
Fang froze. "What else has Ren been hiding from me?" he demanded. "He has been passing off so many things as just being tired, but if he is hiding these things, then…"
Pax sighed. "Fang – to be honest, this is something that you and Ren need to figure out between yourselves," he murmured. "It doesn't help if you are worrying about him behind his back but it doesn't flow across to him – or where he hesitates to let you know anything because he thinks that you would worry too much. It's probably a bit of a difficult situation for Ren – on one hand, he admires you and thinks that you are brilliant and capable and is very proud of you – while, on the other hand, he has this compulsive need to protect you from anything and everything because he loves you too much and can't bear to see even the slightest bit of hurt or injury upon you, either physically or mentally."
Fang sighed as well. "I have been rather blind and immature," he murmured. "It isn't surprising that Ren has been feeling this way. I have been stewing in my own insecurities and I have been ignoring my Ren and his feelings. I should be smacked on the head ten times."
Pax threw up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Well, don't look at me – I am most definitely not smacking you. I don't want to be murdered by your Ren!" he said firmly.
Fang couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, I'll try to be better and not someone who deserves to be smacked left, right and centre," he murmured.
"That would be the most optimal solution for all of us," Pax agreed. "Just pay attention to Ren and observe what he needs – I am sure you will figure it out, Fang. There is no one who cares about Ren more than you do, and there is no one who cares about you more than Ren does – it stands to reason that the two of you would be able to fulfil all the unspoken desires of each other's hearts – and only you can give him what he needs, at this point."
Fang sighed. "How much authority do I have at Sirocco?" he asked quietly.
"As much as you want," Pax said. "Ren issued standing instructions many months ago that you were to be accorded every courtesy and the same level of obedience and cooperation that ren or I enjoy at Sirocco. So, other that Ren or myself, there is no one at Sirocco who can deny you anything."
Fang blinked in surprise. He had never known this – well, it wasn't that he had ever requested for anything at Sirocco except information about Ren's schedule or an occasional cup of coffee.
But it was a pleasant surprise, and it also meant that he would be able to issue the instructions that he wanted to issue right away without having to pass through any hurdles or without having to try to convince Ren or Pax. Pax would definitely be on his side for this, and Ren – well, he didn't need to know. He just needed to enjoy the end result and hopefully, also understand that under no circumstances did Fang want Ren to short change himself!
Pax looked at Fang who was sitting a daze with great curiosity. Fang had never demanded any authority at Sirocco – and this was the first time that he had asked such a question. Pax was naturally curious about Fang's motives behind asking such a question. What could possibly be going on in that pretty little head of his? What did Fang want to ask for?
Pax shrugged. Well, it wasn't as if Ren wouldn't give Fang whatever he wanted – so Pax was not worried about that at all. In Ren's head, Sirocco was as much Fang's company as Ren's own – so he would definitely let Fang do whatever he wanted to do, and if something went wrong, or if a bad decision was taken, then Ren would step in and fix it – but he would never let anyone refuse Fang or stop the boy from doing what he wanted.
Ren's pampering really was quite extreme, Pax thought wryly. There should be some limit to doting on your partner!
But then again, Pax had never been in love, so he had no idea how these things worked at all. And, at the moment, he didn't really care, either.
"Tell me, Fang," Pax said. "What is it that you want from Sirocco?"
Fang hesitated for a moment and then pursed his lips, and titled his head, showing the determination in his chin.
"It may be a little expensive," Fang said. "But I want Ren to go back to using all the expensive material that he has been used to. If he tries to change anything to a cheap substitute just to save money – or if you see him deny himself something, I want you – and everyone at Sirocco – to override that and to give him his usual brands and his usual products. No amount of money can be worth Ren's health and safety, and I want to ensure that this is followed. Is it possible?" he asked.
Pax beamed at him. "Of course," he said.
Fang flushed, embarrassed. "Be serious, Pax," he said shyly. "Do you really think that this idea is going to work?"Pax chuckled. "You know, you could do with a bit of confidence," he said. "Your plan is perfect, and if things go smoothly, you would have earned your first billion within the next six months, all by yourself and independent of the sum of money that is there in your account right now."Fang choked.Pax quickly patted his back and handed him a mini bottle of mineral water. Pax was very, very particular about keeping small bottles of mineral water ready in his car all the time. There was a whole pack in the boot of his car, too.Fang broke the seal on the bottle and drank the entire bottle in one go.Then he glared at Pax. "Don't mess with me like this!" he said. "How can I make a billion off this even if everything works out perfectly? The budget is far less than that, and the maximum profit I can make from this project is three hundred million and that's the best case scenario. Realistically, I don't think it would be more than two hundred and fifty million."Pax chuckled. "Well, this is where experience comes in handy," he said to Fang. "And you are lucky that I am very fond of you and Ren.""Why?" Fang asked. "Are you going to teach me secret things that will help me make a billion?""Of course I will," Pax said. "I wouldn't do it for anyone else but if it is for you and Ren, then I am happy to."Fang's eyes glowed with excitement. He trusted Pax and his business sense. If Pax said that he could make a billion with this new company in six months, then he could definitely make a billion within that six month time frame!A billion! Fang had never imagined that he would be able to earn so much on his own in his entire life! And now now he was being told that he could earn a billion within six months! At the age of eighteen!Fang pinched himself hard until tears sprang into his eyes."Hey, kid, don't do that," Pax said, quickly grabbing his hand. "Ren will kill me if he sees that I let you get injured even the slightest bit."Fang chuckled. "I am far tougher than Ren and you know it," he pointed out.Pax huffed. "Well, I know it but your stupid and beloved fianc doesn't know it so can you blame me for wanting to be careful?" he accused. "Will you defend me when your dear Ren starts berating me because his little darling Fang got a bruise because he pinched himself? Remember that time when you got a paper cut and he made us replace all the papers with a better quality set with smoothened edges so that it would never happen again? That man is paranoid and extremely unreasonable when it comes to you!"Fang frowned. "Ren is more likely to get paper cuts than me, with his soft skin and delicate hands," he murmured. He glanced at Fang. "Speaking of which I didn't see that expensive paper around any more in the office?"Pax sighed. "Well, it was very expensive so Ren stopped using it for himself, and since Ren stopped using it, the rest of us felt guilty about using it as well and now we're using much cheaper paper. The first one the cheapest one that Ren got for himself, that gave him an allergy, so we discarded that. We've got a decent quality manufacturer now," he said."Allergy?" Fang asked, alarmed. "When was this?""About ten days ago," Pax said. "Ren didn't tell you? It was fairly severe we had to give him an epinephrine shot."Fang froze. "What else has Ren been hiding from me?" he demanded. "He has been passing off so many things as just being tired, but if he is hiding these things, then"Pax sighed. "Fang to be honest, this is something that you and Ren need to figure out between yourselves," he murmured. "It doesn't help if you are worrying about him behind his back but it doesn't flow across to him or where he hesitates to let you know anything because he thinks that you would worry too much. It's probably a bit of a difficult situation for Ren on one hand, he admires you and thinks that you are brilliant and capable and is very proud of you while, on the other hand, he has this compulsive need to protect you from anything and everything because he loves you too much and can't bear to see even the slightest bit of hurt or injury upon you, either physically or mentally."Fang sighed as well. "I have been rather blind and immature," he murmured. "It isn't surprising that Ren has been feeling this way. I have been stewing in my own insecurities and I have been ignoring my Ren and his feelings. I should be smacked on the head ten times."Pax threw up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Well, don't look at me I am most definitely not smacking you. I don't want to be murdered by your Ren!" he said firmly.Fang couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, I'll try to be better and not someone who deserves to be smacked left, right and centre," he murmured."That would be the most optimal solution for all of us," Pax agreed. "Just pay attention to Ren and observe what he needs I am sure you will figure it out, Fang. There is no one who cares about Ren more than you do, and there is no one who cares about you more than Ren does it stands to reason that the two of you would be able to fulfil all the unspoken desires of each other's hearts and only you can give him what he needs, at this point."Fang sighed. "How much authority do I have at Sirocco?" he asked quietly."As much as you want," Pax said. "Ren issued standing instructions many months ago that you were to be accorded every courtesy and the same level of obedience and cooperation that ren or I enjoy at Sirocco. So, other that Ren or myself, there is no one at Sirocco who can deny you anything."Fang blinked in surprise. He had never known this well, it wasn't that he had ever requested for anything at Sirocco except information about Ren's schedule or an occasional cup of coffee.But it was a pleasant surprise, and it also meant that he would be able to issue the instructions that he wanted to issue right away without having to pass through any hurdles or without having to try to convince Ren or Pax. Pax would definitely be on his side for this, and Ren well, he didn't need to know. He just needed to enjoy the end result and hopefully, also understand that under no circumstances did Fang want Ren to short change himself!Pax looked at Fang who was sitting a daze with great curiosity. Fang had never demanded any authority at Sirocco and this was the first time that he had asked such a question. Pax was naturally curious about Fang's motives behind asking such a question. What could possibly be going on in that pretty little head of his? What did Fang want to ask for?Pax shrugged. Well, it wasn't as if Ren wouldn't give Fang whatever he wanted so Pax was not worried about that at all. In Ren's head, Sirocco was as much Fang's company as Ren's own so he would definitely let Fang do whatever he wanted to do, and if something went wrong, or if a bad decision was taken, then Ren would step in and fix it but he would never let anyone refuse Fang or stop the boy from doing what he wanted.Ren's pampering really was quite extreme, Pax thought wryly. There should be some limit to doting on your partner!But then again, Pax had never been in love, so he had no idea how these things worked at all. And, at the moment, he didn't really care, either."Tell me, Fang," Pax said. "What is it that you want from Sirocco?"Fang hesitated for a moment and then pursed his lips, and titled his head, showing the determination in his chin."It may be a little expensive," Fang said. "But I want Ren to go back to using all the expensive material that he has been used to. If he tries to change anything to a cheap substitute just to save money or if you see him deny himself something, I want you and everyone at Sirocco to override that and to give him his usual brands and his usual products. No amount of money can be worth Ren's health and safety, and I want to ensure that this is followed. Is it possible?" he asked.Pax beamed at him. "Of course," he said.
