"Sorry for my presence. I fear I've interrupted the sweet time between grandmother and grandson…"
"Mr. Wang?" Lay was surprised.
Granny slowly rose from the table and opened the glass door.
"Wang! Is everything fine?" Her brows furrowed.
"Yes, ma'am," Wang replied. His face showed he had something important to say, though the words seemed heavy on his tongue.
"Sir, please sit." Lay gestured toward a chair. Then he turned to the maid. "Bring snacks and tea."
"Sir, I've never seen you so tense. Is everything all right? May I—"
"Is my Xiao alive?!" Granny cut in, her voice trembling. She began to breathe heavily.
"Madam, it is not about Xiao's life," Wang answered gently, "but it does concern both Xiao and Lay's future."
Neither of them spoke. Yet their expressions showed a thousand questions waiting for answers.
"Lay," Wang began, his tone solemn, "after your mother's death, Xiao lost interest in business, in life, in everything. You were his only happiness—and you still are. He handed his empire to me without even asking for a price.
Because of him, I am respected. Because of him, I am Wang, CEO of NOVA, one of the wealthiest men in the world. Without Xiao, I would have been an ordinary man leading an ordinary life. For that, I thank him. But since the day he entrusted me with his empire, I have carried a heavy feeling inside me—was I truly worthy of it?
So, I made a decision. From the profits of your father's assets, I set aside a fund—a legacy fund—drawn from the technologies and businesses he left behind. Everything we stand upon today comes from Xiao."
"Sir… I'm not fully understanding," Lay admitted.
"Do not worry, Lay. I will explain. You already know your enemy—Mr. Lu. He began tearing apart your father's legacy the moment he had the chance. Though still beneath us, he has grown dangerous. He is a threat."
"Sir, let him do as he pleases. We should focus on our own business. We will ensure nothing disturbs us. And… how did you come to know this? I haven't seen a single article or press report."
Wang chuckled softly. "Lay, why are you so innocent? Have you forgotten about informers? These people whisper what goes on behind closed doors. And we listen."
Lay leaned back in his chair. As an employee, he had been cautious, but as an owner, he realized he had overlooked this part.
"Then tell us, Wang," Granny pressed, "what exactly is Lu planning now?"
"Madam," Wang said gravely, "Lu is pouring his wealth into one thing: Reality-Reconstruction Studio. A system where a single photograph can rebuild the entire environment and moment in three-dimensional holographic realism. It's like walking into history itself."
Both Granny and Lay exchanged bewildered looks, struggling to grasp the concept.
Wang read their faces and continued.
"Imagine this—if a murder occurred and only the victim's photograph was captured, this technology could rebuild the scene. Using artificial intelligence and nearby surveillance feeds, it could reconstruct who killed him, how many attackers there were, their height, their weapons—ninety percent accurate in recreating the truth."
"Wow," Lay exclaimed. "I never imagined anything like this. Then Mr. Lu is… intelligent."
Inside, however, he thought bitterly: I need to grow up. Am I truly this blind?
"Yes, he is intelligent, Lay," Wang admitted. "But would you like to hear something even more surprising?"
"What's that?" Lay asked, leaning forward.