Long Aotian smiled faintly. "CEO Lu, how is my eight-billion investment coming along?"
Lu Chengwu replied irritably, "It fell through. That couple isn't getting divorced anymore. The man kept several models, and the woman kept several models too. They said they were going to live lovingly ever after."
Long Aotian smiled. "Then what about my money?"
"I'll give it back!" Lu Chengwu said. "There wasn't enough time today. Such a large sum needs to be prepared. Tomorrow or the day after, or sometime this week—at the latest, before you die, I'll return it."
Long Aotian laughed. "Then where's my profit?"
"What profit? It's over! Finished! It fell through! Can you understand that?"
At that moment, the strategist placed one hand on Lu Chengwu's shoulder. "Our investment must yield a profit."
Lu Chengwu looked at the strategist, shook off his hand, and asked Long Aotian, "Who the hell is this guy? Coming up and putting his hands all over me. Long Aotian, didn't you swear up and down that you wanted me to bring you in? Didn't you say that even if the deal fell through, friendship would remain, and that neither gains nor losses would ruin our relationship? Now, forget about you not making money—I didn't make any either! I even agreed to return your principal. How have I wronged you?"
Long Aotian laughed. "Uh... yes, brother. Why don't we... sit down and talk? Even if the deal didn't work out, you wouldn't begrudge me a couple of drinks, would you?"
Lu Chengwu said impatiently, "Come over, then. I'm really sick of you poor bastards. You don't have a penny to your name, you spend every day soaked in sweat and piss, yet you still look so spirited."
Lu Chengwu sat down. His men brought in assorted fruit platters and