Chapter 45: On Principles

“I say, why do you keep getting tangled up in right and wrong? You’re right, and so is he—it’s just a matter of perspective. In the universe, there are plenty who’ll kill over a difference of opinion! Sometimes, you just glance at someone the wrong way and they’ll kill you, sending you straight to hell and back. Who are you going to argue with then?” Bai, seeing that Lan Tian had stood there in silence for ages, peeked into his thoughts, only to find the young man mired in such rigid thinking that he couldn’t help but lecture him.

“The most important thing is to make yourself strong. Stronger. Stronger still. When you’re more powerful than anyone else, then whatever you do is right!”

“That is the law of survival in the universe!”

“If you keep clinging to this sense of right and wrong, the moment you step off Earth, you’re as good as dead!”

“That... actually makes a bit of sense...” Lan Tian nodded at this, but something still nagged at him, leaving his heart heavy.

“No, you do have a point, but I still think I should stick to what I believe is right. If a person lacks even the most basic sense of right and wrong, how are they any different from a beast?” Lan Tian thought for a moment and replied, “But there’s a condition—it has to be from my own perspective.”

“From my perspective, I’ll do what I believe is right. And as long as it doesn’t harm my own interests, I’ll do my best to take others’ positions into account as well. That’s my sense of right and wrong.” Lan Tian’s eyes began to shine as clarity dawned within him.

He had only wanted to get back at Zou Tao, but as the situation unfolded and he realized he could take Forest Realty for himself, greed had crept in—quite naturally, and not without reason. The only thing worth examining was, if Zou Lin Sen hadn’t had so much dirt on him, if he were just an ordinary, law-abiding businessman, would Lan Tian have still tried to seize Forest Realty by force?

He searched his heart for an answer.

No, he wouldn’t.

Yes, if Zou Lin Sen hadn’t done those things, he would merely have taught Zou Tao a lesson, not gone to such lengths to take over Forest Realty.

It was precisely because Zou Lin Sen was corrupt that he’d made such a decision, bringing ruin upon Zou Lin Sen and his family.

So, at the root of it all, the fault lay with Zou Lin Sen himself.

He had done no wrong!

He could commit evil, do bad things, but even in wrongdoing, there must be a rationale behind it—then he could live with himself.

With this realization, all doubts and guilt vanished from his heart, and he felt invigorated. He shouted, “Bai! Again! Let’s go another three hundred rounds! Don’t run, fight me until dawn!”

“Idiot! I’ll conjure up three lionbeasts to tear you apart!” Bai assumed a menacing posture, but a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“This kid—I meant to teach him a lesson, but in the end, he taught me something. But... I’m satisfied,” Bai thought to himself, having witnessed Lan Tian’s inner journey.

Principled, yet not shackled by principle.

Such a youth is truly likable, from the bottom of the heart.

...

A burst of raucous phone ringing yanked Lan Tian out of the virtual game and back to reality.

Lying on his bed, his eyes snapped open, and a murderous aura filled the room.

Having been kicked out of the game by Bai so abruptly, he was still caught up in the heat of battling the lionbeast. “Comrade Bai, how many times have I asked you—could you at least warn me before kicking me out?”

If his mind kept jumping like this, he really would end up with multiple personalities!

The phone kept ringing. Lan Tian, exasperated, glanced at the caller ID and quickly answered.

“Hey, Miss Wang, isn’t it a bit early for this? Don’t you have any sense of decency?”

“Bah, it’s already past nine! Early, my foot!” Wang Ling spat back, her tone turning petulant. “Someone’s a big chairman now, all high and mighty. Who was it that promised us dinner last night? Xiao Xuan and I waited like fools at her company till seven or eight and you were nowhere to be found!”

“Uh... did I?” Lan Tian scratched his head, thinking back.

Come to think of it... he really had said something like that.

Yesterday at the café, just as he was leaving, he’d tossed out the invitation... but then, eager to get home and train, he’d forgotten all about it.

“Hmph! Xiao Xuan and I are out for breakfast, I’ve sent you the location on WeChat. Get over here, now! Something big’s happened!” Wang Ling huffed and hung up.

Well... he was in the wrong, so he couldn’t blame her for hanging up on him.

After a quick wash, Lan Tian headed to the spot sent to him on WeChat.

He arrived shortly. To his surprise, it wasn’t a teahouse or anything fancy, just a tiny breakfast joint—so small there were only seven or eight tables in total.

He remembered the second time he’d met Wang Ling, it was at a roadside food stall. Apparently, not all rich, pretty girls chased after luxury.

He lingered at the entrance, double-checking the address before heading inside.

“What are you looking at? Don’t be fooled by the size—this place is famous for breakfast. If you’d come an hour earlier, you wouldn’t even have found a spot at the door.” Chen Xiaoxuan, seeing Lan Tian dawdle, shot him a reproachful look before explaining.

Ever since the three of them had spent a day shopping and watched a movie together, she and Lan Tian had grown more familiar.

“Oh, come on, he’s a big-shot chairman now—why would he care for a tiny place like this?” Wang Ling said, deliberately looking away.

“Xiao Xuan, look at her—so petty. I got caught up with something last night, all right? I apologize, isn’t that enough?” Lan Tian offered a mock bow.

“All right, all right, stop teasing him. Order something, I’m starving,” Chen Xiaoxuan giggled, addressing Wang Ling.

“My, my, the great beauty Chen is feeling sorry for him~” Wang Ling teased, “Weren’t you the one who said we’d put him on trial today?”

“Bah, you’re the one feeling sorry! I’m just hungry!” Chen Xiaoxuan shot back, and the two started bickering playfully.

Lan Tian stole a few furtive glances at the delightful “scenery,” then called the owner over, ordering a plate of steamed dumplings, three bowls of sweet taro shoots, and three baskets of soup dumplings—only stopping when the two girls kept protesting, and urged the owner to hurry up with the food.

“Heavens! Do you think we’re pigs? How could we eat all that?” Chen Xiaoxuan gasped. With her appetite, even one bowl of the sweet taro soup would be plenty.

“Haha, just eat what you like. If you can’t finish, I’ll help,” Lan Tian laughed. “By the way, you said something big happened—what is it?”

“Isn’t it all your doing?” Wang Ling snapped. “Early this morning, Zou Lin Sen turned himself in to the police, Zou Tao’s gone missing, and Forest Realty’s shares on Nasdaq have plummeted to rock bottom...”

“You’re the chairman—how can you just ignore things? If I hadn’t called, you’d still be snoring away!”

“Uh... that’s a lot to take in... So much happened this morning?” Lan Tian was momentarily stunned. Zou Lin Sen turning himself in was expected; Zou Tao going missing was no big deal—he’d probably run off somewhere to cry in secret.

But why had Forest Realty’s stock price crashed? Wasn’t Bai keeping an eye on everything?