To Be A Star - ZhanYi

Chapter - 5

The plot of the story is purely fictitious, any similarity to reality is purely coincidental.

2018

Two years had passed since his grandmother's passing and his move to Beijing. Despite his desire to visit Tianjin, he simply couldn't find the time to make the trip. His days were occupied with his responsibilities at the fitness center and the recycling mill established by Tang Jia in Beijing.

During this time, Zheng Lei, his good friend, made the bold decision to leave his job as a debugging engineer and fully commit himself to the recycling mill. Initially, Xiao Zhan had felt immense embarrassment over explaining the business to Zheng Lei, avoiding encounters whenever he visited the center. However, Zheng Lei's determination brought them face to face once again.

"Why are you not responding? I wanted to discuss business," Zheng Lei confronted Xiao Zhan.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Zheng. At that time, I was unaware of your background. Please accept my apologies for my ignorance," Xiao Zhan responded.

"ZhanZhan, what's with the formality? I thought we were friends. I'm not here to receive your apologies. I want to have a serious business discussion," Zheng Lei insisted, and Xiao Zhan looked at him as if he had seen a ghost.

"Why are you talking about business when you yourself are an heir to a business?" Xiao Zhan questioned.

"I have no intention of stepping into my father's business, nor do I wish to rely on him for my success. I want to build my own empire and generate profits independently. Considering my strained relationship with my father and the existence of my older brother, I cannot expect to inherit all the family property when my father passes away. Hence, I am determined to build my own kingdom," Zheng Lei explained with determination in his voice.

Xiao Zhan's eyes widened as he listened to Zheng Lei's words. Why are people so complex? Why does everyone constantly think about the future? Why are money and power so crucial? His mind spun with these questions, unable to comprehend the human motivations.

"Okay, I'll discuss this with Jia-ge. If he's on board with it, then you can proceed with your investment," Xiao Zhan replied nervously, fiddling with his hands.

Zheng Lei smirked confidently and responded, "Of course he will be! Xiao Zhan, even if the business were to face difficulties which I highly doubt and that's why I'm investing—the burden of the loss would fall solely on him if he doesn't have partners. But with partners, both the joy and sorrow are shared, as partners are bound together, forever."

Oh.

When Xiao Zhan conveyed the proposal, Tang Jia, true to Zheng Lei's words, agreed to meet with him. Zheng Lei made a substantial investment, making Xiao Zhan's own investment, which he had obtained by selling his home, appear relatively small in comparison.

Although his investment may not have been significant, Xiao Zhan knew that the returns he gained from this venture far exceeded what he earned through his daily wages from selling snacks. Unlike himself, Zheng Lei granted him the position of a working partner.

As the days went by, Xiao Zhan witnessed numerous celebrities visiting the fitness centre where he worked. However, he disliked how these celebrities treated the staff as if they were their servants. Despite his inner urge to shout at them, he maintained his professional etiquette, preventing him from doing so.

Amongst the people he interacted with, Zheng Lei was closer to him than Tang Jia. The young master frequently visited the fitness centre, establishing not only a close bond with Xiao Zhan but also with the other trainers. He would playfully flirt with the women who came to the centre, creating an enjoyable atmosphere. Although Xiao Zhan himself wasn't accustomed to flirting with women, he found it fun to spend time with Zheng Lei.