1 The beginning of the end
The Soutwest area of the city of Beijing. It is the middle of winter, and the sound of droplets can be heard as they fall a hit the window and create the illusion of start by the reflection of the city lights. Looking around, one would notice that this seemed to be a small apartment, or at least an attempt at one, as it was clear by the dilapidated surroundings, and the peeling paint on the walls, and this place was lacking in maintenance. A young man lies seemingly sleeping in a futon on the floor. However, upon a closer look, one would notice the intensive quivering of the man lying down. He is in a fetal position, holding strongly to the blanket that serves as the only protection against hypothermia. He might have been thought as an attractive guy in the past, as his smooth black hair, sharp nose, thin lips, and blue eyes, give him a look that shines in the darkness of the night. Or that would be the case, were it not for his pale complexion, dirty appearance, and thin body shape that showcases the desperate situation he is currently in. If one were to take a guess, it would be impossible to say that this was a one of the smartest physics students at the university of Beijing.
This man is Zhang Wei, and just a few months ago, he might have been thought of as one of the most successful youths of his generation in Beijing. He was born of a middle-class family in the Xicheng district of Beijing, near the historic landmarks of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. His family was not rich, but they were decently well off. His family's apartment was located in a tall building complex, surrounded by other similar complexes and a few small shops and markets. The area was relatively quiet and peaceful, with tree-lined streets and small parks. Born Zhang Hui, a tall, imposing man from which Zhang Wei got most of his appearance. With a stern expression, but a hardworking and loving father, and Wang Jian, a small, delicate woman with brown hair and blue eyes. With a kind smile that is gentle and nurturing to the likes of her family.
Since very young, Zhang Wei was a smart kid who loved science and learning new things. As such, his parents dotted on him and nurtured his passion, which allowed him to learn and grow, and gain entry to one of the most prestigious universities of his country with a scholarship. There, he met Zhou Yun, one of the school flowers, and who quickly hit it off with him as they got to know each other. And as such, Zhang Wei started his own company. As for the company, Zhang Wei had founded a tech startup that specialized in developing advanced AI software. The company had secured a few major contracts with government agencies and private corporations, which led to significant growth and profits as its advances in AI continued to become more and more relevant in the world.
A degree in a top tier university, a growing business, a loving girlfriend, and caring friends. Zhang Wei seemed to lack nothing and was straight cruising on his path towards success. It could not be better for him, and he was grateful for what he had, he never forgot about his roots as he was humble and caring towards everyone around him, and as such, he became popular among his peers as he grew in influence and power. Then, how could such a person be the same as the one lying down on the floor as if he had nothing to lose and ready to die? Such is life, full of twists and turns, and only fate could predict what was to come.
*CLING* the sound of the door opening is heard across the walls, and Zhang Wei looks up at the entrance to his office as a man with green eyes and blonde hair appears to be approaching. The clear crystal on the door allowed Zhang Wei to see him before he entered, so he stopped his accounting and stood up to welcome him. As the door opens, the blonde young man could be seen smiling back at Zhang Wei, as we smiled back at him.
"Chen Jie! There you are! I was waiting for you, we have so much work to get done, as the government contract is almost a done deal, we need to be on our toes and do our best." Said Zhang Wei
"You have always worried to much about things that never happen Wei, you need to relax man, we will get the contract, and everything will be fine!" Said Chen Jie, the blonde guy.
"Ugh, you know how it is, we can never be too careful, especially as this contract is so important for our future as a company" said Zhang Wei with a worried expression, you could tell that someone was bothering him at the back of his mind.
"I know, I know, but we will be fine, as we just signed a contract with MacroSoftware, we are already set for success, you know that our newest language model, GPR-3 is showing great promise as the first model to show near imperceptible language capabilities in the market!" Chen Jie
"I know I know, I'm just worried, especially as I noticed some inconsistencies in our books, I need to look deeper into this as it could affect us in the future" Zhang Wei
Chen Jie's lips seem to twitch slightly as Zhang Wei says this, and he approaches him with a smile on his face as he pats his back.
"Hey man, don't worry so much, you must be lacking sleep and fun! Let me take you out of this office so you can touch some grass and clear you mind; I will check the books later for you."
Zhang Wei seemed to relax a little upon hearing this; however, you could still notice a hint of worry on his eyes.
"Sigh... Maybe you are right, I might be too tense since we are approaching such an important turning point in our lives..."
At this moment, the door of this office is swung open as a woman can be seen flying through the skies. She moved with such finesse at speeds that seemed to approach Match 1, as she collides with the black hair man and kisses him on the cheek.
"WEEEEEIIIIII darliiing ~~ your beautiful girlfriend is finally here!!!" Said the woman.
Upon inspection, one could see that this woman was gorgeous, with a fair complexity, green eyes, and a brown smooth and long hair that fell from the scalp with little resistant, until it collides with a huge bottom that could take the breath of a monk away. She had fairly sized breast and an almost hourglass body that showcased a beauty deserving of the title of a model.
"Zhou Yun, be careful and don't hurt yourself, you are always so high spirited," said Zhang Wei.
This woman was Zhou Yun, one of the flowers of the university of Beijing, admired by countless men, and our protagonist's girlfriend.
"I know, I know... hump" said the girl with a pout on her face. "Darling, darling, I need some money and I was wondering if you could give me a little, I just wanted to get a new purse for my... mother, but I cannot afford it" A sad expression could be seen on her face.
Zhang Wei seemed to hesitate for a second before showing a smile on his face. "How much do you need?" he said awkwardly.
He loved his girlfriend a lot, but she had a serious issue with self-control, as she would frequently as him for money for various things that she needed to buy.
"Is just a little over 1000 yuan, I know is expensive, but I also know that my darling is so great that he can easily afford this little amount" *Muac* She said as she kissed his cheek.
With a little embarrassment on his face, Zhang Wei took out his purse and took some money out. "Here, and be careful out there with that money, hide it well" You could see a tint of worry on his face as he hesitantly gave her the money. It might be a lot, but he wanted to indulge her, as she was doing so much for her mother...
As such, Zhou Yu could be seen storming out of the room, as a faint "love youu ~~" could be heard under the wind.
Zhang Wei Sighs upon this scene as he goes back to his seat and tries to get back to bookkeeping. He needed to figure out what was off with the bills, as whatever it was, was giving him a bad feeling.
However, not a second passes before he's jolted out of his seat.
"What did I tell you! you need to rest; it is almost 5 and you are still so focused on work. Let me take you out to have so drinks! I know this is exactly what you need to forget about your worries and that high maintenance girlfriend of yours" said Chen Jie as he laughed and pushed Zhang Wei out of his office.
"Alright, alright, I get it. I can walk by myself, no need to be so forceful" he said with a chuckle.
And as such, the worries were put on hold on the back of his mind, there is not much he could do anyways before the big meeting tomorrow. He can only relax and hope that everything goes according to plan.
