Reborn in 2012, building a new energy empire

There was no applause, no whistles. The entire audience was still immersed in the lingering shock of being struck by both pure beauty and profound sorrow.

After several seconds, Zhou Mingyu clapped lightly, his face showing a mixture of satisfaction, control, and a hint of smugness.

The dancer slowly rose, still with her head bowed and eyes downcast, her breathing uneven.

She didn't look at anyone, but walked towards the sofa area with light yet slightly unsteady steps, as if she had completed a task that had to be done.

The direction was perfect, right where Jiang Haoran was. She quietly sat down next to him, and a very faint scent, mixed with sweat, the delicate sandalwood fragrance from her classical dance costume, and a clean aura unique to young girls, wafted over as she approached.

She turned slightly to the side, her veil trembling slightly with her breath.

The light was dim, but Jiang Haoran could still make out the outline of her upper face and her eyes.

The distance is too close.

Up close, I could see the lingering dance notes in her eyes, the tiny damp marks on her eyelashes, and the complex, almost overwhelming emotions that were startling: exhaustion, humiliation, resignation... and a faint, yet familiar, proud gleam, like a ember remaining in ashes.

That glimmer of light, like a key, clicked open the lock of memory.

At the campus freshman dance competition, in the auditorium, under the spotlight...

A figure in a dress resembling a dancer performed a solo dance to thunderous applause. She stood in the center of the spotlight to take her bow, her chin slightly raised, her eyes bright and proud. As she swept across the audience, her gaze inadvertently swept over Jiang Haoran in the corner. Her gaze was clear, yet distant, and deeply imprinted on the heart of that young man…

Through those eyes so close to his own, Jiang Haoran recognized her in a flash—Gao Qian.

My heart felt as if it had been gently squeezed by an invisible hand. It wasn't a throbbing sensation, but a sudden realization mixed with absurdity and coldness.

The unattainable campus goddess from his distant past life and the dancer who was easily brought to his side now collided, overlapped, and were cruelly torn apart.

The "gift" that Zhou Mingyu meticulously prepared for him was so thoughtful and the methods so... ruthless.

Jiang Haoran's face showed no dramatic change in expression, and the slight contraction of his pupils was perfectly concealed by the dim light.

He simply looked at Gao Qian quietly and deeply, his gaze seemingly trying to penetrate her eyes and see all the unavoidable reasons and deals behind it all.

Then, he averted his gaze with remarkable ease, as if he were merely examining an exquisite ornament.

He picked up the untouched glass of ice water in front of him, took a slow sip, and the cool liquid slid down his throat, suppressing the slight ripple in his heart.

Throughout the entire process, Zhou Mingyu never said "I'm giving this to you," nor did he give any explicit instructions.

But at this moment, Gao Qian sitting quietly next to Jiang Haoran was itself a silent yet deafening declaration.

"Brother Jiang," Zhou Mingyu paused, his tone suddenly becoming relaxed, "this girl's name is Gao Qian. She was young and ignorant before, and if she offended anyone... I apologize on her behalf."

"Tonight, she's yours. Consider it my apology and a small gift. Do with her as you please, Brother Jiang."

In an instant, the deafening music in the private room seemed to be muted.

All eyes, both overt and covert, were fixed on Jiang Haoran like spotlights.

Gao Qian's body began to tremble violently and uncontrollably. She bit her lower lip so hard that it almost bled, and her nails dug deep into her palms, leaving crescent-shaped white marks.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she forced them back with her strong willpower, leaving only boundless despair and shame that completely overwhelmed her.

Jiang Haoran looked at her quietly.

The vague feelings of affection from a past life have long since vanished with the passage of time and the experiences of life.

Any lingering goodwill from my past life has long since vanished. What wells up in my heart now is a detached indifference to the rules and a faint pity for those who are powerless to change their circumstances.

In this "game" controlled by Zhou Mingyu, Gao Qian and he himself are, to some extent, pawns.

However, he was a "general" that Zhou Mingyu was trying his best to win over and give him some initiative, while Gao Qian was a "pawn" that could be sacrificed at any time and used to show goodwill or test him.

Zhou Mingyu not only demonstrated in the most straightforward way the "privileges" and "enjoyments" he could give to "his own people" to test Jiang Haoran's character and weaknesses, but also in a cruel way to completely crush Gao Qian's possible remaining self-esteem, binding her firmly to his control network, perhaps with debts, or perhaps with other leverage.

Jiang Haoran's calm smile deepened slightly as he met Zhou Mingyu's probing gaze, his eyes revealing a perfectly timed hint of "surprise" and "understanding."

"Brother Zhou's 'kindness'..." He paused, his gaze seemingly lingering on Gao Qian for a moment longer than intended, his tone carrying a subtle, almost imperceptible, eagerness enhanced by the alcohol and the atmosphere. "It's truly unexpected. Gao Qian? I didn't expect to see you here."

This reaction, in Zhou Mingyu's eyes, was exactly what he expected—a "good understanding."

She didn't appear eager, yet she expressed her awareness and interest in this "special gift," striking the perfect balance.

"I'm glad Brother Jiang is happy." Zhou Mingyu's smile widened, and he leaned back. "Let Gao Qian keep Brother Jiang company for a few drinks."

The atmosphere inside the private room subtly became lively.

Jiang Haoran accepted all offers with a smile, taking the wine glass that Gao Qian stiffly handed him, clinking glasses with everyone, and even taking the initiative to drink a few rounds with Zhao Rui and Chen Zi'an next to him.

He chatted and laughed with ease, seemingly completely immersed in the noisy and extravagant atmosphere.

Gao Qian was forced to play the role of "accompanying" him. She sat next to Jiang Haoran, so close that she could smell the faint smell of alcohol and another kind of cool scent on him.

She forced a stiff smile as she poured him a drink, but her fingers trembled uncontrollably.

Jiang Haoran would occasionally turn his head and whisper a few unimportant words to her, his tone ordinary, but his gaze calm and unwavering, leaving her completely unable to fathom his thoughts. The fear and despair in her heart entwined her more and more tightly like vines.

She could only respond mechanically, feeling like a prisoner being slowly sentenced.

Time slipped quietly into the night amidst the soft music and sloshing liquor.

The heat in the private room began to subside. Wang Hao's laughter and chatter with his female companion waned, Li Zhenyu let out a long yawn, and even Zhao Rui's dice-playing movements showed a hint of absentmindedness.

Zhou Mingyu leaned back on the sofa, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the wine glass. His gaze occasionally swept across the room, revealing the composure of a host considering when to end the feast at the perfect moment.

Jiang Haoran took in all these subtle changes.

His face flushed even deeper, and his eyes appeared slightly unfocused under the light, but beneath that unfocused gaze lay a calm and clear mind. He no longer raised his glass proactively, only responding with a slow smile when others offered toasts, and mostly leaning back on the sofa, as if fighting against the gradually rising fatigue.

When another upbeat song ended and the music switched to a soothing blues tune, a brief moment of silence fell over the room. Zhou Mingyu put down his glass and clapped his hands gently.

"That's about enough." He smiled. "That's all for today, time to head back. Hope you had a good time."

This is the closing signal.

Wang Hao released his female companion with a sigh of relief and stood up to stretch his shoulders; Li Zhenyu quickly nodded in agreement; Zhao Rui also put down the dice cup.

Jiang Haoran seemed to be "startled" by the commotion around him. He struggled to stand up, supporting himself on the sofa. He swayed slightly and said, "Brother Zhou, the alcohol is starting to take effect... I'm feeling really dizzy. I'm afraid I should go ahead and find a place to lie down."

Gao Qian, who was standing next to him, almost subconsciously and stiffly as if she had just completed a task, reached out to help him.

Zhou Mingyu's gaze swept back and forth between Gao Qian's "drunken" face and her anxious expression, a satisfied smile curving his lips.

Everything seemed to be unfolding according to his planned script.

He nodded understandingly, his voice tinged with indulgence: "Brother Jiang has a great capacity for tolerance, but there are times when he can't take it anymore. Alright, go and rest now, make sure you get plenty of rest."

He emphasized the last three words, then gestured with his chin towards Gao Qian, "Gao Qian, you're responsible for getting Jiang safely to his destination and taking good care of him. Understand?"

Gao Qian's body trembled almost imperceptibly. She lowered her head and responded in a barely audible voice, "Understood."