Great Power Reclamation

Chapter 3008 Yang Geyong's Love
Yang Geyong is decisive and shrewd in the business world, but in matters of the heart, he always retains a touch of the stubborn honesty and naivety typical of men from northern Xinjiang.

He admired Ye Yuze's subtle and charming "love saint" demeanor, which could make women devoted to him, but he couldn't learn it himself. He was often straightforward and used money to express his "sincerity," which often made him a "sucker" or "stud" in other people's eyes.

This time, he was outmaneuvered by a rising film and television star, Su Da (stage name).

It was at a charity gala that Yang Geyong was dragged along by Ye Yuze to fill in.

Amidst the clinking of glasses, he spotted a woman in a moon-white cheongsam, with a slender figure and eyes that exuded a captivating blend of melancholy and allure.

She sat quietly in the corner, out of place with the hustle and bustle around her, like a white magnolia blooming alone in the night.

Yang Geyong's old heart skipped a beat.

He leaned close to Ye Yuze's ear and whispered, "Old Ye, look at that girl, doesn't she look like... doesn't she look like that Pingtan singer we met in Jiangnan back then?"

Ye Yuze glanced at her and said indifferently, "They look alike, but are worlds apart. Put away your thoughts; the women in this kind of situation are too complicated."

But Yang Geyong wouldn't listen. What Old Master Yang had his eye on, there was no reason for him to let it go easily.

He straightened his expensive bespoke suit, picked up his wine glass, and walked over.

The opening remarks were clumsy and direct: "Miss Su, right? My name is Yang Geyong, from the Warriors Group. I've seen your plays, they're really good!" (He hadn't actually seen a single one.)
Su Da raised her eyelids, glanced at him, her gaze cool and indifferent, devoid of warmth, and merely nodded slightly.

"Mr. Yang, you flatter me." The voice was pleasant, with a touch of soft Wu dialect, which made Yang Geyong even more eager.

In the days that followed, Yang Geyong launched what he considered a "romantic" and intense pursuit.

Today I'm sending her a limited edition Hermès bag, tomorrow I'll be air-freighting roses from a French estate, and the day after tomorrow I'll book an entire floor of the hotel where her film crew is staying, all just to treat her to a meal.

Suda's attitude remained aloof. She accepted all the gifts and occasionally went on dates, but always maintained a sense of distance.

She would tell Yang Geyong about her "arduous" journey in the performing arts and her pursuit of "pure art," her eyes melancholic and her tone carrying a fragile beauty.

This made Yang Geyong feel even more strongly that she was different from those flashy, cheap women outside! She was a good girl with substance and aspirations! She was just unappreciated!
He even genuinely considered settling down and spending the rest of his life with this woman who "understood him." He took her to meet Ye Yuze, proudly showing her off:

"Old Ye, look, this time I'm serious!"

Ye Yuze only glanced at Su Da. The woman acted even more reserved and "artistic" in front of Ye Yuze, but Ye Yuze's insightful eyes caught a glimpse of greed and calculation for wealth in the depths of her eyes when she looked at Yang Geyong.

He privately told Yang Geyong, "Brother, this woman isn't innocent. It's fine to play around with her, but don't get serious."

Yang Geyong was in high spirits and refused to believe it. Instead, he thought Ye Yuze was jealous that he had found "true love".

The turning point came on the eve of an important international film festival. Suda set her sights on becoming the global ambassador for a top luxury brand, but the competition was fierce.

Nestled in Yang Geyong's arms, she tearfully recounted the importance of this opportunity to her "artistic life," implying that with enough "sponsorship" to smooth things over, her chances would be much better.

Blinded by "love," Yang Geyong, with a wave of his hand, mobilized tens of millions of yuan to sponsor the brand and the film festival's judges under the guise of "advertising sponsorship."

He didn't even carefully review the contract terms, completely trusting Suda and her "all-powerful" agent cousin.

The money was poured in, and the splash was indeed loud. Su Da successfully landed the endorsement, becoming incredibly popular overnight, with international gigs pouring in.

However, after securing the endorsement deal, Su Da's attitude towards Yang Geyong noticeably cooled.

He was slow to reply to messages, always said he was busy on dates, and eventually he subtly suggested a "cooling-off period" because he needed to maintain a single image in order to develop his career in Hollywood.

Even the slow-witted Yang Geyong sensed something was wrong. He sent people to investigate, and what they found nearly made him explode with rage! Most of the tens of millions in "sponsorship" hadn't gone into the brand's pockets at all; instead, it had flowed through various complicated channels into shell companies set up overseas by Su Da and her "cousin"!
The so-called "Hollywood development" is completely fabricated. She only took on a few second-rate independent films and focused her main energy on how to monetize the luxury goods he had given her before!

He stormed off to confront Su Da. The once aloof and melancholic "White Orchid" was now a completely different person; her makeup was exquisite, and her eyes were filled with mercenary shrewdness and mockery.
"Mr. Yang, we're all adults. It's just a game, why take it so seriously? You're after my youth and beauty, and I'm after your generosity. It's a win-win situation, very fair. Do you really think I'd be interested in a money-grubbing, vulgar old man like you?"

These words were like a poisoned dagger, piercing Yang Geyong's heart. In his long and successful life, when had he ever suffered such humiliation? Especially not in front of the woman he thought he had given his heart to!

For the first time, he experienced what it meant to "die and come back to life." Not physically, but emotionally, it was the feeling of being hollowed out and trampled upon.

He locked himself in his most luxurious penthouse apartment in Beijing, smashed everything he could, drank himself into a stupor while clutching a bottle of liquor, and kept muttering "why" and "bastard"...

When Ye Yuze found him, he saw a disheveled old man with sunken eyes and reeking of alcohol, slumped in a mess. He looked nothing like the once powerful and influential Yang Daheng.

Ye Yuze didn't say anything, he just walked over, kicked away the empty wine bottle on the ground, sat down next to him, and silently lit a cigarette.

Seeing him, Yang Geyong seemed to have found an outlet for his emotions. He grabbed Yang Geyong's arm and asked with red eyes:
"Old Ye! Tell me! Haven't I, Old Yang, treated her well? I gave her money when she wanted money, and resources when she wanted resources! Why is she treating me like this?!"

Ye Yuze exhaled a smoke ring and looked at him calmly: "Because what you gave her was not what she wanted, or rather, you gave her what she wanted in the wrong way from the beginning."

"You think money can buy true feelings, but you forget that some people don't have that in their hearts at all. You treat her like your ideal woman, but she treats you like an ATM. From the very beginning, you were not on the same path."

Yang Geyong was stunned and listened blankly.

"You," Ye Yuze sighed, his tone tinged with helplessness and brotherly affection:
"I'll never learn how to judge a woman in my entire life. You can't become a Casanova by throwing money at her. You have to give your heart to someone who deserves it. Is it worth dying for something like this? The Yang Geyong I know is a tough guy who can rip open train cars in minus forty degrees Celsius in northern Xinjiang!"

Yang Geyong remained silent for a long time, then suddenly snatched the cigarette from Ye Yuze's hand, took a deep drag, and coughed so hard that tears welled up in his eyes.

He wiped his face and said in a hoarse voice, "Damn it... I... I've really lost out this time!"

“You can always make money back,” Ye Yuze stood up and held out his hand to him. “Just don’t lose your mind. Come on, come with me to the courtyard house. We’ll make dumplings and have some drinks. This time it’s real wine to drown our sorrows.”

Yang Geyong looked at his old friend's outstretched hand, then at the mess around him, and finally gritted his teeth, grabbed Ye Yuze's hand, and used it to stand up. He staggered, looked out the window at the myriad lights of Beijing, and spat angrily:
"Damn it! I was blind! Let's go eat dumplings! From now on... from now on I'll change my surname to yours if I ever believe in these actors again!"

Ye Yuze supported him and smiled upon hearing this: "Take my surname? I'd rather not, I'm afraid your dad won't agree."

After this battle, Yang Geyong was depressed for a long time, but he was still the indomitable Yang Geyong.

Although his "love guru dream" was completely shattered and his wallet was much thinner, he seemed to have learned something. At least, when he saw those women fluttering around him again, his weathered eyes held a more discerning and clear-headed look.

Occasionally, when he'd had too much to drink, he'd pound the table and curse, "That actor surnamed Su, he's a real piece of work!" And Ye Yuze would always be there, silently refilling his glass. Some stumbles hurt, but they help you see the path ahead.

The dumplings are filled with chives and pork, and Ye Yuze personally prepared the seasoning. The taste has remained unchanged for decades, and it is the most comforting bite in Yang Geyong's memory.

After a few cups of warm Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor), the anger and humiliation that had been building up inside seemed to be somewhat diluted by the familiar taste and alcohol. But the depression lingered like willow catkins in Beijing in spring, sticky and clinging to my heart, impossible to shake off.

In the days that followed, Yang Geyong really kept a low profile for a while. He stopped making a big fuss about everything and stopped hanging out with celebrities and models.

He spent most of his time in Ye Yuze's courtyard house, either playing chess with Ye Yuze (losing nine out of ten games, and refusing to admit defeat), or lying on a deck chair basking in the sun, staring blankly at the persimmon tree in the yard, and sighing from time to time.

"Old Ye, do you think I'm a complete failure? Besides making a few pennies, is there really nothing about me that people like?" Yang Geyong asked this soul-searching question for the nth time.

Ye Yuze was focused on watering his orchids, not even looking up: "You only understand now?"

Yang Geyong rolled his eyes, choked, and grabbed a walnut from the stone table, crushing it fiercely: "I don't believe it! Without that hypocritical face, can't I find someone who cares about me?"

“Go ahead and look, no one’s stopping you.” Ye Yuze put down the spray bottle and said slowly, “But open your eyes wider, and don’t mistake fish eyes for pearls. Also, tone down your nouveau riche attitude; you didn’t really get what you deserved by throwing money at you.”

"Then what should I do?" Yang Geyong asked, somewhat frustrated.

“Use this,” Ye Yuze pointed to his chest, then to his head, “and this as well. See what people want from you, and then see what you can offer. Don’t just throw your heart out and your wallet right away; that’s not generosity, that’s foolishness.”

Yang Geyong seemed to be deep in thought, but it was no easy task to change a habit that had lasted for decades all at once.

A turning point came a little over a month later. Ye Yuze had a close friend, a national-level artist who played classical musical instruments, surnamed Song, who came to visit the courtyard house with his youngest daughter, Song Qingyun.

Song Qingyun was in her early thirties, with a gentle and serene temperament, and exquisite features. Dressed in a simple cotton and linen dress, she didn't look like someone in the entertainment industry; she resembled a university professor. She played the guzheng and was said to be quite well-known in the field, but she was extremely low-key.

Yang Geyong didn't pay much attention at first. He had always kept his distance from those who engaged in "high art" and felt very uncomfortable.

However, Song Qingyun was poised and generous, her words and actions were neither obsequious nor aloof. She showed great respect to Ye Yuze, and only nodded politely to Yang Geyong, this "legendary" figure, her eyes as clear as mountain spring water.

During the conversation about music, Song Qingyun mentioned that she was preparing a research and restoration project on ancient Silk Road music. Her eyes sparkled with pure love and light, a kind of light that Yang Geyong had never seen in the eyes of people like Su Da.

Old Song casually mentioned that the project funding application was not going smoothly, and the restoration of some precious ancient scores and musical instruments required a lot of financial support.

What was said in jest was taken seriously by Yang Geyong this time. Unlike before, he didn't immediately pat his chest and say, "Leave it to me."

After the Song family father and daughter left, he casually asked Ye Yuze, "Old Ye, is that project that Miss Song mentioned reliable?"

Ye Yuze glanced at him and said calmly, "Qingyun is a kind-hearted person who is genuinely dedicated to scholarship. Her project is highly regarded in the industry, but it's a money pit and doesn't offer much commercial return."

"Oh..." Yang Geyong stroked his chin and didn't ask any more questions.

A few days later, Yang Geyong secretly learned about Song Qingyun and her project through his own channels.

The feedback confirmed Ye Yuze's words: Song Qingyun was devoted to art, lived a simple life, had almost no material desires, and invested all her income in research and teaching. The Silk Road ancient music project was indeed a cultural treasure, but it was too sophisticated for many.

This time, Yang Geyong didn't directly spend money. He found an opportunity, through Ye Yuze's introduction, to visit Song Qingyun's studio as an "entrepreneur interested in traditional culture."

The studio is located in an old cultural and creative park, filled with various musical instruments, sheet music and books. It is somewhat messy, but full of artistic atmosphere.

Song Qingyun, dressed in her practice clothes and without makeup, was intently tuning a replica of a Tang Dynasty harp. Her fingers moved nimbly, and her expression was so focused that she didn't even notice their arrival.

Looking at her earnest profile and listening to the off-key yet ancient-sounding strings, Yang Geyong felt a slight stirring in his heart. This time, it wasn't her beauty that captivated him, but rather her focused and focused demeanor.

During the visit, Yang Geyong's questions were no longer "How much does it cost?" or "What do you want?", but rather "What are the intricacies of this musical instrument?", "How do you interpret this ancient score?", and "What are the difficulties in its restoration?"

Although he didn't understand, his attitude was sincere, and he seemed genuinely interested in learning.

Song Qingyun was somewhat surprised, but she still answered patiently. When she got excited, her eyes sparkled like a little girl's.

Looking into her eyes, Yang Geyong realized for the first time that "art" wasn't so high and mighty that it made people feel uncomfortable.

Before leaving, Yang Geyong still didn't mention the money. He only said, "Teacher Song, your work is very meaningful. If there's anything I, a rough old man, can do for you in the future, just let me know, don't be shy."

Song Qingyun smiled politely, not taking it too seriously.

Another week passed, and the biggest sponsor of Song Qingyun's project suddenly withdrew its investment, putting the project on the verge of collapse. She was so anxious that she developed blisters on her lips and ran around everywhere seeking help, but to no avail.

At her most desperate moment, she received a call from a stranger who claimed to be the head of a "cultural foundation under the Warrior Group." The caller said that after evaluation, they believed her project had great cultural value and decided to provide unconditional funding without interfering with any research or artistic creation.

Song Qingyun was both surprised and delighted, and could hardly believe that such a windfall had fallen from the sky.

She carefully checked and found that the foundation did exist and was of good standing. She never imagined that this timely help was actually being quietly and cautiously pushed forward by some "roughneck" in a "roundabout" way that he was least used to.

Yang Geyong even strictly ordered the foundation's负责人 (person in charge) not to reveal his existence.

He only occasionally heard news about the project's progress from Ye Yuze, and he felt good knowing that the problem was solved and that Song Qingyun could focus on her research again.

Sometimes, in the courtyard, when Ye Yuze plays a piece of guzheng music played by Song Qingyun, he can squint his eyes and listen for a while, seemingly understanding but not quite, no longer thinking that it is a hypnotic thing.

"How was it? How did it feel this time?" Ye Yuze asked him one of his time.

Yang Geyong scratched his newly styled white hair and smacked his lips:
"I can't really explain it... I just feel at ease helping her like this, unlike before when I always felt uneasy, afraid that she might stop talking to me one day."

Ye Yuze smiled and didn't say anything more. He knew that although this old guy was still a long way from being a "love guru," he had at least climbed halfway out of the pit and was starting to use his brain instead of just using his wallet to experience "emotions."

As for what will happen next, who knows? Life is always full of surprises. But at least, Yang Geyong has taken a different step this time.