Chapter 6 – Insomnia

Luo Lin didn’t eat much at the dinner table. Instead, he snuck occasionally glances toward both his parents.

“Little Lin, what’s wrong? Why do you keep looking at us? Why aren’t you eating?” His mother, Li Hong placed a slice of meat into Luo Lin’s bowl and asked.

His father, Luo Jianrong felt that Luo Lin seemed a little strange today. He raised his head and looked toward Luo Lin.

Luo Lin realized his impropriety and chuckled: “Dad, Mum, I just missed you guys because you’ve been away for quite some time. That’s why I took a few more glances at the both of you.”

‘Oh?’ Mother Luo and Father Luo were stunned by his words. They wondered what was wrong with their son today?

‘Why is he talking so sweetly today, was this still their mischievous prodigal son?’
Mother Luo paused for a moment before an expression of sudden realization appeared: “Haha, stinky rascal, you’re being particularly sweet today. Did a fancy motorcycle catch your eye?”

Luo Lin froze momentarily before breaking out into a smile. He remembered that the former Luo Lin seemed to have an interest in motorcycles.

Naturally, this interest was influenced by those biker hooligans.

“Dad, Mom, you’ve misunderstood me.” Luo Lin waved his hand and spoke seriously, “I know that I haven’t been a good son, and I’ve broken your hearts many times.

Even though you weren’t at home regularly, I know your hearts are filled with worries about me. Afraid that I might starve myself, or don’t have enough clothes to wear, and that I might mingle with gangsters..

In the past, I often complained that you worked too much in the province and didn’t care about me.

Now, your son has understood everything. It should’ve been hard for you guys to leave the business alone. You guys must’ve dropped a lot of important business matters to come home just to take a look at me right?”

These words came straight from his heart. The former Luo Lin wished to say these words to show his gratefulness but alas, there were no more chances.

Both Father Luo and Mother Luo exchanged glances. Their gazes contained gratification, and moving sentiments. For a moment, the atmosphere at the dinner table became silent.

After a long period of silence, Father Luo placed both his utensils down. He then stared at Luo Lin in silence.

Luo Lin met his eyes, his gaze was filled with gratitude for his father, and also the firmness and determination befitting of a man, and a son.

Finally, a gratifying smile appeared on the solemn Father Luo’s face. He turned toward Mother Luo and waved his hand: “Go grab some fine wine from my study, I will have a drink with Little Lin today.”
“Huh? This…” Mother Luo fell into a daze. Usually, Father Luo strictly prohibited Luo Lin from touching any alcohol. However, why was her solemn husband proposing to have a drink with their son?

“Hehe, mom, take a seat. I’ll go get it.” Luo Lin got up with a chuckle and scurried into his father’s study room.

…

After having a few casual drinks, Luo Lin began to chat up with his father.

In his impression, his father always had a dignified appearance. However tonight, he had been smiling to himself.

Luo Lin made it clear that he would study hard and stop fooling around. These words pleased his parents so much they couldn’t stop smiling.

“Dad, how is the company doing recently?” Luo Lin went straight to the point.

Father Luo was startled by this question but soon smiled: “Little Lin, your task now is just to focus on studying. You don’t have to worry about company matters.

Mother Luo who heard this disagreed and patted Father Luo on the shoulder: “Since you’re so happy today, and our son is concerned about company matters, you should just talk about it. Not to mention, in the future, our son is going to inherit the company. There’s no difference in mentioning it now or later right”

Father Luo’s brows furrowed, but when he noticed Luo Lin’s expectant expression, he heaved out a sigh: “The company profits have declined a little recently. However, this degree of fluctuation is a common issue. It isn’t worth mentioning..”

“Not worth mentioning?” Mother Luo rolled her eyes at Father Luo, “Old Luo, why aren’t you coming clean with our son? Little Lin has grown up, some things should not be kept a secret.”

Luo Lin noticed Father Luo’s grim expression, and he knew his concerns were indeed correct.

“Dad, is our business in the mainland getting worse?”

Father Luo noticed Luo Lin’s concerned eyes and nodded his head.

Luo Lin frowned: “This shouldn’t be happening. The level of consumption in the mainland is soaring daily. The main businesses we deal with are mainly the recreational industries.

Over the years, network infrastructures within the provinces have proven to be reliable and have a good reputation.

Overall data also shows that the entire recreational industry is showing a rising trend. We are an established brand that’s been around for so many years, it’s fine if our profits aren’t growing, but this decline seems a little odd doesn’t it?”

Issues after issues, layer by layer, analyzing it little by little. Luo Lin opened his mouth and made a rough future outlook of the current recreational industry. He also highlighted the oddity of the profit decline that was occurring for the Luo Enterprise.

Luo Jianrong’s expression changed several times during Luo Lin’s words, he then glanced at Li Hong with surprise evident within his eyes.

It was very clear that both Father and Mother Luo were startled by Luo Lin’s speech.

Mother Luo extended her hand to caress Luo Lin’s forehead: “This child, what happened to you today? Are you sick?”

“Nonsense.” At this moment, Luo Jianrong interrupted Li Hong, “Our son had analyzed every situation in every aspect. Is this something that could be done by a sick person? In my eyes, I think during the two months while we were away, our son had grown up.”

Those words were refreshing. Luo Lin’s father who had always been a miser with words had begun praising him.

Luo Jianrong was a well-known figure in the business world, so how would someone like that be dim-witted? More or less, he vaguely guessed the purpose of Luo Lin.

“What’s the problem son? After having a few drinks with me, you’re already trying to pry words from my mouth?”
Luo Lin felt warm in his heart when he realized his father was opening his heart to him, as though he was talking to a friend: “Dad, your son is also really happy. Recently, you’ve been spending longer in the province so I speculated that there might be some thorny issues that appeared.”

“Mom is right, I’ll inherit our family business in the future so worrying about these issues earlier isn’t redundant.”

Luo Jianrong put away his smile and nodded approvingly: “Little Lin, you’ve grown up. I’m very pleased. However, now is the time to study. If you wish to worry about our business, then get into Yanjing’s top university. There isn’t much time left, only one year until your entrance examination. What do you think?”

“Yanjing? …” Luo Lin frowned, “Dad, you wish to develop hotels in Yanjing. That’s the capital, the market had long since been saturated. It’s not easy to step a foot into the market.”

“Why are you in such a hurry? There is still a year to go.” Luo Jianrong chortled out loud, “Alright, this matter is set. Come, drink up then go take a shower and sleep. “

“You have classes tomorrow. If you don’t manage to get into the number one university in Yanjing, see if your mom doesn’t beat you up!”

Li Hong was so happy she could not stop smiling: “That’s right, if you don’t get into a good university, your allowance will be deducted to a hundred!”

“Ahhhh…. no!” Luo Lin rolled his eyes.

Luo Lin went to bed after taking a shower. He turned off the lights and hugged his arms.

Moonlight spilled into the room from the windows.

‘Today’s interaction with my parents went well, I’m very happy. Not only have they stopped worrying about my matters, but I have also clarified my stance.’

‘What’s more important is that I got a message from my father’s words- There’s an issue with the company. ‘

‘However, it seems a little unrealistic to get him to agree to investigate the company’s current issue.’

‘What should I do?’

Do I watch as the issues grow larger?’

Of course not, Luo Lin had already thought of a plan. He wants to start a business, and the goal is to step into Yanjing’s market before his father does.

The company issues blew up in Yanjing, this showed that the problem lied in Yanjing. Further speculation was that this must have a direct relationship with Pan Family’s Pan Corporation!

In 2008, Luo Lin became enemies with Pan Jiajun during the Investment Convention, that was the fuse.

Additionally, as a foreign upstart trying to step a foot into the capital, the resistance they would come across will never be simple.

There might even be commercial spies within the enterprise. Despite these being mere speculations, they must not be ignored.
An important thing to note was that to resist a commercial behemoth like the Pan Conglomerate, one must have a secret backer, or a trump card.

Luo Lin understood that right now, his task was to fill the gap for Luo Enterprise in this department.

Three years should be plenty!

What was Luo Lin relying on?

Both his boldness and vision befitting that of a person that lived two lifetimes, including his future foresight of unknown obstacles!

Luo Lin who experienced many ups-and-downs during his previous life realized something. In this world, there are no black or white, if you want fairness, then you have to be strong enough.

Only when one possesses the strength, and bargaining chips. They’ll then be able to talk about fairness, or even take control of it.

In the darkness, Luo Lin’s calm and immature face concealed a strong and ambitious heart.

…

Luo Lin couldn’t fall asleep. So he simply sat up and shook his head in helplessness.

The Luo Lin of this time hadn’t picked up smoking, but he had the soul of a twenty-year-old smoker. He had a habit, that was to smoke before he went to bed. It would be hard to change in such a short period of time.

Luo Lin put on some clothing, took the phone and grabbed his wallet. Silently, he snuck out the door, and looked at the time, it’s already 2 AM in the morning.

He walked out of the community district and got into a taxi.

“Master, please head to the night market.”

TL Note: Master is used as a respectful form of address for an older gentleman.
This night market was a rather chaotic place, and it’s because of it that five years later, this place was developed into a car-free zone.

On the street, there were many stalls. Snacks, barbeques, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, salons, and even pedicures. Someone had come up with a summary, every month, whether big or small, there are at least an average of 38 counts of violent conflicts. Most of the area consists of recreational venues that more or less provide special services.

In Zhengzhou City, this was considered a disclosed secret.

Let’s reminisce for a little. The younger me used to frequent here for some fun. Who knows, maybe there might be some unexpected gains right?’