Chapter 1184: The Return of Mr. Ono

"Brother, sister, what are you talking about?"

Just as an ambiguous emotion called romance was flowing between Zhao Fusheng and Fan Baobao, Fan Beibei's voice suddenly rang out.

Fan Baobao immediately jumped away like a startled rabbit, pulled her sister, and ran off to play elsewhere, leaving Zhao Fusheng standing there dumbfounded.

"Well, I actually said it..." Zhao Fusheng muttered to himself.

But then he smiled, after all, his relationship with Fan Baobao was clear; even if he spoke his mind, it was nothing serious.

An old married couple, teasing each other occasionally, just for fun.

Speaking of which, Zhao Fusheng actually knew that Fan Baobao had dragged him out today largely because he had been in a bad mood lately, and she wanted him to relax.

But Zhao Fusheng's mood wasn't as bad as Fan Baobao thought. Although the company was facing some problems, they weren't insurmountable. What Zhao Fusheng was really worried about was the current domestic economic situation.

After all, no one knew better than him that although the Olympics were approaching, in fact, the country's economic situation was actually getting worse for many people.

Class differentiation was becoming more pronounced, the rich were getting richer, and the difficulty for the poor to change their destiny was increasing—that was the development trend in China for the next ten years.

But Zhao Fusheng also understood that some things were beyond his power to change.

All he could do was try to make those around him prosperous.

After spending the day with the Fan sisters at the amusement park, in the evening, Zhao Fusheng received an unexpected phone call inviting him for tea.

Knowing that the other party must have something to discuss, Zhao Fusheng didn't refuse and went to the tea room as directed.

"Mr. Ono, long time no see."

At the entrance of the tea room, Zhao Fusheng smiled and greeted Ono Masao, who was welcoming him.

Indeed, the person who sought out Zhao Fusheng at this time and wanted to meet him was none other than Ono Masao, the president of SoftBank Asia.

Speaking of which, the two were old acquaintances. Back in the matter of Xiaonei.com, Zhao Fusheng had tricked him. Ono Masao held a grudge against Zhao Fusheng's actions afterward, but he had to admit that this young man was very capable, more so than most people he had met; otherwise, he wouldn't have successfully deceived him.

"Chairman Zhao's presence graces my humble abode," Ono Masao said with a slight smile.

Having reached his current position, Ono Masao wouldn't have gotten this far without some ability to swallow insults. Although inwardly he wanted to curse Zhao Fusheng to his face, outwardly he remained composed and expressed welcome.

Zhao Fusheng knew that the other party was surely cursing him inwardly. Without further ado, the two walked side by side into the tea room.

This tea room was small and exquisite, quite elegant. The structure was compact, small but complete, with dedicated areas for the bedchamber, guest seating, tea preparation, and hearth. There was also an indoor stove and antique wooden windows. On the right was a water room for storing utensils for boiling water, brewing tea, and cleaning. In the bedchamber hung famous calligraphy and paintings, and beside it hung a bamboo vase with flowers. The flower varieties and accompanying decorations changed with the seasons to match the time.

This was a typical Japanese tea ceremony house. Well, in Zhao Fusheng's view, it was purely a display of wealth and willfulness.

Zhao Fusheng and Ono Masao sat facing each other. A female tea master in a kimono, with elegant manners, knelt on the tatami and had already completed a series of procedures: lighting the charcoal, boiling water, and brewing tea. At that moment, holding the tea bowl with her left hand and supporting the rim with her right hand, she raised it respectfully and presented it to Ono Masao. Watching the female tea master bow before him, the wide collar of her kimono opening to reveal a large expanse of white skin and a deep cleavage, Ono Masao blinked, his heart stirring slightly.

Although he was no longer young, he was still a normal man.

"Thank you."

Zhao Fusheng also took the tea cup and smiled at the female tea master.

"Turning a blind eye to beauty, Chairman Zhao is truly a standout among men," Ono Masao said meaningfully, glancing at Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng chuckled: "It's normal for a man to want to sleep with a beautiful woman; it's animal instinct and nature. If a man doesn't react to a beauty, he's probably physiologically abnormal. But casual flings are just thoughts. People need to distinguish between impulse and love..."

Ono Masao blinked, shrugged, and made no comment on Zhao Fusheng's words.

After all, their worldviews were different, so some ideas naturally couldn't align. The social morality of Japan and that of China still had significant differences.

"Mr. Ono invited me here, I'm afraid it's not just for tea?" Zhao Fusheng said slowly, looking at Ono Masao.

As the saying goes, one doesn't go to the temple without a reason. In Zhao Fusheng's view, his relationship with Ono Masao was definitely not the kind where they could sit and chat over tea for no reason.

There was no doubt about that; Zhao Fusheng was a hundred percent sure that unless there was something to discuss, Ono Masao wouldn't be willing to sit and have tea with him.

After all, what he had left him with was not a pleasant memory.

"Heh, Chairman Zhao is indeed straightforward," Ono Masao said with a smile upon hearing Zhao Fusheng's words. "To be honest, I invited you here today because there is indeed something I want to discuss with you."

Since the other party had already seen through his intentions, there was no point in hiding anything.

Although reluctant to admit it, Ono Masao had to say that Zhao Fusheng, like himself, was a sly old fox who wouldn't tolerate any deceit. The petty tricks of the business world were meaningless between them.

"Please go ahead, Mr. Ono," Zhao Fusheng said with a faint smile. No matter what Ono Masao said, Zhao Fusheng was determined not to give him an answer right away.

After all, he knew nothing now. He had come just because he was invited for tea, and now Ono Masao said he had something to discuss. Zhao Fusheng didn't believe that this old fox Ono Masao had any good intentions.

"I heard that you hold a batch of NetEase US stocks, is that true?" Ono Masao asked, looking at Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng was startled, then laughed: "Mr. Ono is well-informed. Yes, I do hold NetEase stocks, and I can tell you frankly that if we include bearer shares, my holdings exceed five percent."

As a listed company, if Zhao Fusheng held more than five percent of NetEase shares, NetEase would have to make an announcement. So Dong Chenxi used a method of decentralized accumulation.

This was not a secret, but what surprised Zhao Fusheng was why Ono Masao suddenly brought this up.

Many people clearly know that as they age and their understanding deepens, especially those who are dissatisfied with life, they gradually succumb to the arrangement of fate. At such times, people have no ability or desire to resist fate; they attribute everything to the injustice of fate.

Others get promoted, marry a rich and beautiful woman, and reach the peak of life, but they don't—that's fate.

Others start businesses and go public, while they hold an iron rice bowl and end up laid off—that's fate.

Others are born into luxury and drive Koenigseggs, while they can only ride a bicycle—that's fate.

Luck, opportunity, talent, wisdom, character—everything is predestined.

But Zhao Fusheng didn't think so.

In his view, nothing in this world is predestined. Empirically, when one strongly pursues something, it usually doesn't come; but when one tries to avoid it, it comes easily.

As the saying goes, all gains cannot be retained; follow your heart, be plain and simple.

Ono Masao shared the same view as Zhao Fusheng on this point. The Japanese have a wolfish nature in their bones. In Ono Masao's view, there is nothing in the world that money can't buy; as long as the price is right, anything can be obtained.

"Chairman Zhao, are you interested in selling your NetEase stocks?" Ono Masao asked directly, looking at Zhao Fusheng.

Clearly, he had no interest in beating around the bush, or rather, he felt there was no need to do so with Zhao Fusheng.

After all, this wasn't their first confrontation. Ono Masao knew very well that Zhao Fusheng was not as harmless as he appeared on the surface.

This guy was a complete wolf, devouring people without spitting out the bones.

Of course, that referred to business negotiations.

Hearing Ono Masao's words, Zhao Fusheng smiled, his expression quite calm. He glanced at Ono Masao and slowly said, "Mr. Ono, if you'll forgive my frankness, don't you think this request is a bit abrupt?"

In his view, Ono Masao's request was nothing short of a pipe dream. Anyone could see that NetEase stocks would continue to appreciate. For no reason, since he wasn't short of money, why would he sell his NetEase shares?

"Heh, Chairman Zhao, don't rush to refuse," Ono Masao said with a smile. "I think perhaps we could discuss the possibility of cooperation regarding the shares of Alibaba, what do you say?"

Zhao Fusheng was startled, raised an eyebrow, and looked quite surprised.

If Ono Masao's attitude had surprised him earlier, now his sudden mention of Ma Xiaoyun's Alibaba truly made Zhao Fusheng see him in a new light.

Or, to be more precise, Ono Masao's proposal made Zhao Fusheng realize that he had underestimated this old fox.