Chapter 483: The Inside Story
Chapter 483: The Inside Story
Fang Zhixin said, "Xiao Jin is no ordinary person; after all, he is the son of Mr. Chen. At such a young age, he has already demonstrated talents beyond that of the average person."
As he spoke, he glanced at Chen Chuan and continued, "But Captain Chen, do you think Xiao Jin can compare to you?"
Chen Chuan shook his head, "Not just compared to you, but even with Ding Ge, or any of the outstanding students here today, what do you think of Xiao Jin's abilities in comparison?"
"Such a comparison isn't really appropriate," Chen Chuan said.
He understood what Fang Zhixin was referring to. Xiao Jin's talents were better than most, but when compared to the elite, they didn't stand out as much.
However, what determines a person's future achievements isn't solely based on talent. It also includes one's willpower, personal efforts, the resources invested in the future, and the changes in the external environment.
To judge a person's entire life value based on a single phase is too hasty.
"But Captain Chen, he's the son of Mr. Chen. It's inevitable that he'll be compared to you. This is something Xiao Jin can't avoid."
Fang Zhixin explained, "Mr. Chen has always been surrounded by and in contact with outstanding students like you, Captain Zhan, and the others here today.
Even Xiao Jin's older siblings are exceptionally talented. At Xiao Jin's age, he's already learning how to engage enemies at the Fusion Boundary, which is truly outstanding. In comparison, Xiao Jin seems rather ordinary."
Chen Chuan contemplated for a moment and said, "I watched Xiao Jin practice his punches today, and it seems like he lacks systematic guidance."
Fang Zhixin sighed softly and said, "Mr. Chen has limited energy, and he needs to allocate his time and focus on students with higher aptitudes.
He's often stationed away from home and rarely returns. Ever since the passing of his wife, he has also neglected Xiao Jin's care.
The father-son relationship is hard to describe; while it's not exactly terrible, their interactions are limited to greetings. From our perspective, he sometimes seems like a stranger to Xiao Jin, and he's even less involved in Xiao Jin's life than the nanny who takes care of him.
As for us, although we've noticed that Xiao Jin's training direction might be a bit off, to be honest, at most, he'll only achieve limited success. It won't lead to anything significant.
Many of us were teammates with his older siblings, and witnessing their sacrifices one after another has been emotionally challenging. We genuinely don't want to see Xiao Jin, the only remaining son of Mr. Chen, walk down the same path. His talents aren't exceptional, and perhaps it's not a bad thing for him."
"Then have you asked Xiao Jin about his own thoughts?" Chen Chuan asked.
Fang Zhixin paused and shook his head.
They deeply respected Mr. Chen and had a bond of camaraderie with Xiao Jin's older siblings, but they didn't have as strong an emotional connection with Xiao Jin.
When they could, they were willing to take care of him, but they all had their own matters to attend to. They didn't have the time or energy to understand a young man's thoughts.
Moreover, it wasn't their place to interfere in this matter.
"Even though you think this way, I've seen that Xiao Jin is still very diligent. It seems he hasn't given up on this path," Chen Chuan said.
"Yes, Xiao Jin is very diligent," Fang Zhixin affirmed. He sighed and said, "He's as persistent as his older siblings, but the gap between them is evident. No matter how hard he tries, he can't catch up.
Furthermore, Xiao Jin is very introverted and doesn't talk much to anyone. But just now, I think I saw him speaking with you, which is quite rare."
Chen Chuan didn't find this strange. A young man like Xiao Jin might not have fully matured mentally and lacked life experiences, but he knew who truly cared for him.
As the two of them were talking, a man from the opposite table walked over to them. When he reached them, he greeted Fang Zhixin and Ding Mai before turning to Chen Chuan. He extended his hand and smiled, "Captain Chen, nice to meet you. I'm Gu Haiting."
Chen Chuan stood up and shook his hand. Although this man wasn't in uniform, his confident demeanor and the familiarity with those around him indicated that he was likely from a high-ranking military family and undoubtedly from the same circle.
Gu Haiting smiled and said, "I'm currently in the Public Relations Department of Canglong Corporation. I heard about you from Sun Zhuguan, and I never expected to meet you here. It's a pleasure."
Chen Chuan's heart stirred slightly. He said, "How's Sun Shixiong doing? After that cruise, we haven't seen each other again."
"Sun Zhuguan is doing well. He's still in charge of the cruise project. Recently, he also returned to Central City. He mentioned that if it weren't for Captain Chen's help, the situation might have been much more difficult to handle."
"Sun Xiong is too kind," Chen Chuan said. "Even without me, he could have handled it just as well."
Gu Haiting chatted briefly with Chen Chuan and didn't say much more before leaving, seemingly just coming over to introduce himself as he had said.
However, Chen Chuan didn't think it was that simple. Gao Ming had mentioned to him that with the Ferris Wheel Corporation joining the United Heavy Machinery, Canglong Corporation, which primarily operates in the Distant Seas, would undoubtedly feel the pressure and respond accordingly.
As someone who had been attacked by the Ferris Wheel Corporation in the past, Chen Chuan was a natural ally against them. Combined with previous connections, it was likely that they were reaching out to gauge his stance.
For days, there had been no activity, but today, he encountered this person here. Could this be a coincidence?
Sipping his drink slowly, he decided to wait and see what would unfold.
He spent over two hours here, chatting with Ding Mai and Fang Zhixin about their experiences in the military and the Fusion Ground. He also indirectly inquired about Chen Bitong. Many others approached and initiated conversations, eager to connect.
As the gathering dispersed, he exchanged contact information with Ding Mai and Fang Zhixin and exited the bar with the crowd.
Unlike others, he didn't immediately leave the building but returned to the training hall upstairs. There, he found Xiao Jin still listlessly punching the air.
Observing for a while, he said, "Practicing martial arts isn't about venting inner frustrations or forcing yourself. Your alienated tendons can sense your emotions. The more you think about it, the more it will respond accordingly, limiting your progress. Only when you find genuine joy in it can you achieve greater advancement."
Xiao Jin paused and looked at him.
Chen Chuan said, "No matter why you practice martial arts, it's always about making yourself stronger. There are many ways to do that, but they all require walking the right path."
Chen Xiao Jin pondered and nodded.
Looking at him, Chen Chuan said, "You have talent. Don't waste it."
"I..." Chen Xiao Jin hesitated, lacking confidence but with a hint of expectation in his eyes, he asked, "Do I have talent...?"
Chen Chuan smiled and replied, "In my opinion, you do. I believe I have a better eye for talent than most."
Convinced, Chen Xiao Jin nodded. Chen Chuan's previous demonstration and their recent sparring made his words highly persuasive.
Chen Chuan said, "Well, I'm off. Remember not to overtrain and give your alienated tendons time to rest." With that, he turned and walked away.
"Captain Chen..."
A book titled "One-Six-One-Nine" caught his attention.
Chen Chuan turned back and looked at him.
Chen Xiao Jin mustered the courage to ask, "Can I add you to my contacts? I have some questions I can't figure out and would like to ask you. Is that okay?"
Chen Chuan smiled and said, "Sure." He tapped his interdimensional link, added Chen Xiao Jin's contact, waved goodbye, and left.
As he stepped into the elevator, he heard the sound of someone striking the training dummy in the hall.
Upon exiting the building, he drove his Gard car away. Midway, he contacted Advisor Pei, who answered, "Hold on, I'll switch to another channel."
Soon, he was connected to a secret channel. Advisor Pei said, "Captain Chen, go ahead."
Chen Chuan said, "I've been to the training session, but I didn't see that person."
Advisor Pei replied, "Today, that person was invited to the Speaker's residence. It was a last-minute invitation, and we just received the news."
Chen Chuan said, "I did meet many others, though."
He mentioned the people he met that day but only briefly mentioned Chen Xiao Jin.
After listening, Advisor Pei said, "Don't worry if you didn't see him today. Let things unfold naturally.
By the next rest day, he would be at the theater. If the opportunity arises, he'll say a few words; if not, just make an appearance. No need to overthink it."
Chen Chuan acknowledged. If Chen Bitong appeared in public, those he approached or interacted with would likely be under surveillance by the Defense Department, so there was no need for Chen Chuan to take extra measures.
Ending the call, he didn't head back but instead drove to the Deep Mist Zone to visit Lu Fang in Central City.
He had also planned to visit Wu Han's new residence but learned that Wu Han and Lao Qi were out on a commission during their rest day.
Lao Qi wanted to make up for his previous absence, as he still remembered the favor and debt he owed Chen Chuan. Wu Han, on the other hand, was single-minded and didn't understand the concept of rest. Moreover, he had just arrived in Central City, brimming with enthusiasm.
Chen Chuan borrowed the company's platform to contact Lu Ke and Yu Gang. Recently, everything had been normal, and with the support of Fusion Boundary Corporation, they were gradually regaining lost business shares.
He arrived at an open area with a green park nearby and parked his car. Leaning against it, he could see the towering buildings and dazzling neon lights in the distance.
As more classmates and friends moved to Central City, his circle of acquaintances in the city expanded.
After joining the defense plan, with his current rank, he could have brought his aunt's family to live in Central City. However, given the current situation, it was safer for his family to remain in Yangzhi.
Moreover, it was unlikely that his uncle would give up his position in the Patrol Bureau, and there were still many coordination issues to address. So, he needed to wait a little longer.
At the very least, the threat from the Ferris Wheel Corporation needed to be eliminated.
After a while, a message arrived through his interdimensional link. He accepted the call, and Ni Qianxi's voice said, "Brother Chen, the first compensation payment from the Ferris Wheel Corporation for you has arrived at the bureau. Please come by when you have time to collect it."
Chen Chuan replied, "Okay, I'll be there soon."
...
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(End of Chapter)
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