Chapter 48: The Business Mindset (Part 1)

[Chapter 48: The Business Mindset (Part 1)]

When Ian woke up in the morning, he heard a knock on the door.

It was Gaskill.

This made Ian instinctively a bit tense.

He glanced over at the sleeping beauty beside him; Lena was already awake.

She playfully called out, "Just give us a minute, Gaskill."

The old man didn't respond, but simply walked away.

Lena kissed Ian and said, "Get up; we have things to do today."

Ian had returned home around three in the morning. Lena had been waiting for him and he couldn't resist, and now he was still slightly groggy.

He smiled as he got out of bed and dressed, joining Gaskill with Lena in his own room.

...

Gaskill was having breakfast in the room and had brought them a meal as well.

Lena walked over, hugged Gaskill, and gave him a sweet kiss on the forehead. "Thank you, Gaskill, I love you!"

Gaskill smiled. "Looks like he pleased you last night."

"He was great," Lena said openly as she sat down, inviting Ian to join them for breakfast.

It turned out that as long as you didn't feel awkward, there was no embarrassment.

Ian took a seat, and the three quietly had breakfast together.

Lena, sipping milk, asked, "By the way, Ian, you haven't mentioned how you handled things last night."

Gaskill looked at Ian in surprise. "You went out last night?"

Ian smiled. "It's all taken care of."

Saying that, he grabbed the camera and handed it to Gaskill.

Looking at the clear photos on the medical report, Gaskill shook his head in astonishment. "I don't know how you did it, Ian, but you're obviously impressive!"

"Are you sure you're a journalist?"

Lena murmured, "He's very dedicated."

'He even remembered to work while he was with me for the first time; he's really a workaholic.'

If it weren't for Ian's blend of tenderness and wildness melting her heart, she might have thought he had no feelings for her at all.

But the truth was, Ian's favorite was Lena now.

Even though they had just met, Ian's affection for Lena surpassed even that for Kate.

There was an indescribable feeling... Did he have a natural inclination for cucking?

Gaskill said, "Next, we consider short selling."

"Can we wait a few days?" Ian asked.

Gaskill looked puzzled. "Why?"

After thinking for a moment, Ian replied, "I'm not going to lie to you, Gaskill. You're the most respected elder I've met so far."

Gaskill smiled. "Just be honest with me."

"I need to go to Las Vegas."

Gaskill was taken aback. "You want to gamble?"

Ian nodded. "Short selling requires capital."

Lena quickly interjected, "Don't joke, Ian. That's not making money; that's giving it away."

Ian smiled. "I'm confident I can make money, not relying on luck."

Gaskill frowned slightly. "Cheating?"

Ian remained confident and calm. "I won't get caught."

"No, no!" Gaskill immediately said, "You can't do that!"

Ian replied with a grin, "You don't believe in my ability?"

Given what had happened in the past couple of days, Gaskill should have some confidence in him by now.

Gaskill hurried to say, "No, I believe in you! You're a very capable young man, but I still have to tell you, you can't gain the funds you need through gambling, even if you're sure to win and won't get caught."

"Why?" Ian was confused.

Gaskill explained, "Because of habits! Sometimes winning can be scarier than losing! If you win money, you'll constantly rely on gambling for funding. After all, it's too easy to make money there, and you could become addicted to it while neglecting your career. Ian, what is money? It's a tool! What truly places us at the pinnacle of the world, allowing us to influence and control this world, has never been money; it's the methods and foundations for obtaining money!"

Saying this, Gaskill became a bit excited. "So even if you have a hundred percent guarantee of winning, I wouldn't want you to do it. Because you'd be sacrificing your most fundamental things! No matter how much money a gambler wins, none of them can truly stand at the top because of it. What elevates your status is your powerful business, your extensive network, your mastery over various political and economic resources! Gambling won't bring you those things! Earning money through gambling is the hope of the poor, and it shouldn't be the pursuit of a promising young man!"

Ian listened seriously to Gaskill's words.

He had to admit that what he said made sense.

Only the poor would think that having money was enough.

Any wealthy person wouldn't be satisfied with just having money, after all, there was so much that money couldn't bring.

A strong enterprise, a vast network, theoretically, you could buy it with money, but how much would that take? Which casino would allow you to win hundreds of millions?

You could say you'd stop after winning a portion, but you cannot solve the problem of human greed.

To avoid that greed, the best way is not to play at all from the start.

And the more you need capital, the more you shouldn't acquire it this way.

Otherwise, you might be able to do it today, and tomorrow as well, but in the end, it would only lead to the wrong path.

In fact, Ian himself sensed this to some extent; he just hadn't sorted out the complete concept; otherwise, he could have gone to play at an underground casino when he was in Los Angeles.

Gaskill's words completely enlightened him.

Yes!

Money is just a tool; the business is the foundation!

Although Ian was a genius, as he himself said, during that past period, he had spent most of his wisdom lighting up the "news tree."

As for the skills of the business tree, he hadn't focused on it much.

Gaskill's guidance opened a door for Ian, letting him see the magnificent behind-the-scenes world of business, with its myriad oddities and dazzling operations, and truly transitioned Ian from a journalist into a businessman.

Ian nodded earnestly. "You're right, Gaskill. I shouldn't rely on gambling as a method to acquire funds and develop a bad thinking pattern. So... can Lino lend me some money?"

Gaskill laughed. "Of course; banks are specifically for lending money to others."

...

After finishing breakfast, the three of them drove to the Oakland Police Department to bail out Leyso.

The winter wind howled, and the streets were empty and desolate.

Gaskill drove, while Ian sat in the back with Lena.

They casually chatted about life experiences.

Ian spoke of his past, and his former privileged life surprised Lena.

Could it be that this boy, who had disregarded everything for his career, had once had such ridiculous moments?

"So what changed you?" Lena asked.

Ian fell silent.

After a while, he said, "Love."

Lena looked at him in surprise. "Love?"

Ian turned to look out the window, the scenery outside rolled by, but his heart recalled another time in his life.

So he murmured, "Once, I also pursued true love. Back in school, there was a classmate; she was the beauty of our school. I had a crush on her but lacked the courage to pursue her... She was so perfect in my heart, gentle, caring, beautiful, and generous, just like a piece of white moonlight."

Lena listened quietly.

Then Ian curled his lips into a smile. "At that time, I was too afraid to confess my feelings, and after graduation, we parted ways."

Lena, surprised. Ian Carr didn't seem like someone lacking in courage at all.

Well, everyone needs to grow through experiences.

Ian continued, "Not long after graduation, I became a journalist. In our line of work, you often need to socialize; sometimes you have to go to places to entertain clients. Once, I went to a private club with a few colleagues."

Ian chuckled. "It's a club, with some private rooms where some girls come to provide services. That day they arranged for some girls to keep us company, until I saw her..."

His gaze became distant. "Only eight hundred bucks for a night."

Lena understood.

She smiled and asked, "Did you spend money?"

Ian gently shook his head. "No. She was once the dream of my heart, my white moonlight, only to have shattered later. From that moment... you know this is life..."

Ian sighed softly, his eyes filled with memories.

Once, there was a romantic youth, who also hoped for beautiful love, but ultimately became trampled by reality.

That day was his first time in such a place, reluctant yet forced to accompany, and unexpectedly met her...

That night, the white moonlight cost only eight hundred bucks, fully available.

Ian gave up.

He held the goddess of his heart and cried out, drinking until he was completely hammered.

And from that night on, his heart died; he changed.

He became more realistic and more dedicated.

Everything in this world could betray you; only your career wouldn't!

*****

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