A Heavy Assault Ship
Chapter 310: A Heavy Assault Ship
Xia Fei smiled and asked, "Mr. Li, are you satisfied with Xia Fei's performance?"
Li Guan squeezed the glass in his hand and said unwillingly, "Not bad."
He felt his face burning as soon as he said the words. He had the urge to dig a hole and hide in it.
Li Guan was the one who suggested that Xia Fei play the galaxy piano. His goal was to humiliate Xia Fei, not to praise him. Xia Fei's performance was out of everyone's expectation. Not only did Li Guan not get what he wanted, but Xia Fei even beat him up.
The crowd applauded. Some of the emotional ladies even had tears rolling down their cheeks.
There was no need to argue whether the song "Rebirth of the Milky Way" was good or bad. The suffocating sense of oppression had already conquered everyone present.
Avril dashed out from the crowd and hugged Xia Fei, burying her face in his chest.
The crowd burst into laughter, but there was no longer any disdain in their laughter, only envy and jealousy.
Nicole clapped with all her might as she cried, as if the lady in Xia Fei's arms was not Avril but herself. In her eyes, Avril was undoubtedly the lucky one. What he had was exactly what she had dreamed of. She felt a pang of bitterness in her heart. Nicole took out her handkerchief and quietly wiped her tears. The role she played in this circle was not as easy as Avril's. She carried the burden of Gaia Corporation on her shoulders, so she had to appear strong in front of outsiders at all times.
"Thank you," Xia Fei said to Phantom.
Phantom sighed. "You don't have to thank me. I only simulated the performance and hummed the notes. You're the one who performed 'Rebirth of the Galaxy'. To be honest, I realized that you're very talented in music. You might be a little awkward at first, but you've already gotten used to playing the galaxy piano. You're like a different person now, and your understanding of music is top-notch, too."
Xia Fei smiled. "Let's talk about it in the future. I'm not in the mood to play the galaxy piano right now."
It was true that Xia Fei did not know how to play the galaxy piano. It was actually his first time playing an instrument in his life. Logically speaking, he should not have been able to perform such a complicated piece even with Phantom's help, yet Xia Fei managed to do it!
Perhaps it was because some of the tunes touched the depths of his heart, but Xia Fei felt that he could understand what the tunes were trying to express. Countless top musicians would lack vividness when they performed 'Rebirth of the Galaxy' because they had never walked with the Grim Reaper in their lives. They had no idea what kind of shadow it would leave in people's hearts when night fell.
Xia Fei's method was simple. Phantom played the galaxy piano first. Since he was a spirit, he could not make the galaxy piano produce any sound. Thus, he could only demonstrate the movement while he hummed the melody. Phantom was not playing the galaxy piano piano piano. He could not do anything. Xia Fei could judge how his fingers were on the keys and the melody.
Xia Fei was a speed ability user, so he was quite agile and had an outstanding memory. He memorized every movement Phantom made and played it back like a video recorder.
Due to the lack of practice, Xia Fei's performance at the beginning was not particularly impressive. He could only be considered accurate at best, and his hand shape was very unprofessional, which made it a little difficult for him to play. Fortunately, the first movement was relatively easy, so Xia Fei had enough time to get used to the galaxy piano and understand the deeper meaning of the tune.
By the time he reached the second movement, Xia Fei had already gotten used to playing the galaxy piano. He was beginning to understand the composer's original intention, so he tried to add some of his own understanding into the performance. He did not expect it to work so well that he was so immersed in it that he could not help himself.
Xia Fei, who had never received any musical training, managed to play the extremely difficult melody in such a clumsy way.
"Alright, put the galaxy piano away. Let's have a chat," Xiao En said with a smile. Xiao En smiled. As a grandfather, Xiao En did not wish for Xia Fei and Avrils to be together. Putting aside the fact that Xia Fei had killed his son, just the difference in their statuses was enough to be an obstacle for Xia Fei and Avrils to be together.
However, as the patriarch of the Jian family, Xiao En was quite satisfied with Xia Fei's performance. After all, the young man was his guest, and he had even danced with Avril for the first dance. The Jian family would be embarrassed if Xia Fei ended up in a sorry state.
He was secretly complaining about Li Guan's methods. It was true that Xiao En had allowed Xia Fei to go against Xia Fei, but he hoped that Li Mo would be together with Avril. After all, only the two of them could be considered a good match. However, Xiao En did not say anything about involving the Jian family when he allowed Li Guan to go against Xia Fei. Xiao En was very annoyed by Li Guan's actions.
Soon, the staff carefully moved the expensive galaxy piano away. It was not too far away from midnight. According to the tradition of the capital ring, Xiao En would light the fireworks to celebrate his birthday, and the ball would reach a new climax.
The topic of discussion was still about Xia Fei's performance. The upper class had a tradition of respecting scholars and artists. Though Xia Fei's performance had not fully integrated him into this circle, it had, to a large extent, dispelled the doubts and distrust people had toward him.
The one-on-one conversation between Tai and Xia Fei, the dance between Avrils and Xia Fei, and that marvelous Galaxy Rebirth, Xia Fei had already won enough chips for himself. Some of the more enlightened people had already taken the initiative to invite Xia Fei to the banquets they organized. They believed that Xia Fei might really be able to earn a place in the upper class of the Alliance one day. It was better to have a friend than an opponent, and many people understood this logic. Of course, the so-called friends in this circle were not those who would sacrifice themselves for others but those who would use each other to their advantage.
Li Guan coldly watched as the crowd tried to strike up a conversation with Xia Fei. All of a sudden, the corner of his lips curled up into a barely detectable viciousness. The goateed old man beside him immediately understood what he meant. He took a few steps toward Xia Fei and pretended to give him a toast as he loudly said, Xia Fei, I heard that you have your own company, right?
Xia Fei smiled and proudly said, "That's right. My company is called Quantum Holdings. It's based in my hometown."
The old man with a goatee nodded. "I also heard that Quantum Holdings' sales in the last financial year was 230 million star coins."
The upper class controlled most of the money in the Alliance, and the richest people in the Alliance were very sensitive to money. A figure of 230 million was just a month's pocket money to most of the people present. Xia Fei's company had only made such a small amount in an entire year. Everyone was shocked, thinking to themselves, 'So he's just a poor man?!'
The banquet immediately quieted down. Even the stupidest guest could tell that the man with a goatee was purposely picking a fight with Xia Fei. Otherwise, why would he reveal his company's sales for no reason? While the upper class was sensitive to money, few people would talk about it openly. To them, talking about money was a very shameful thing, let alone such a small amount.
Sean almost fainted from anger. Others might not know what was going on, but he knew very well that the man with the goatee was called Mendieta. Due to poor management of his company, he owed a large debt to Planet Conglomerate Bank. He had always followed Li Guan's lead and was a typical follower.
Would Mendieta dare to mess with the Jian family's plan with his meager financial resources? He would not dare even if he was given ten guts. It must be Li Guan's doing.
Ernst did not say anything, but his eyes were angrily glaring at Li Guan. This was already the second time tonight. Even the most good-tempered person would not be able to hold back his anger.
Li Guan quietly turned around and chatted with a rather good-looking woman next to him, acting as if the matter had nothing to do with him.
Xia Fei softly said to Mendieta, "Indeed. Quantum Holdings has only been established for less than three years …"
Just as Xia Fei was about to introduce the situation of Quantum Holdings, a soft chuckle suddenly broke out from the crowd.
"Three years? My dog has a longer lifespan than his company. "
"Exactly. A company established for less than three years with less than three hundred million in sales can only be considered a workshop at best."
"Does that mean Xia Fei is also a workshop owner?"
"That's interesting. I never thought I'd be lucky enough to attend a banquet with a workshop owner."
Although they were speaking softly, Xia Fei could still hear them clearly. This was, after all, a circle of money and power. Xia Fei, who had neither, was just a poor man in the eyes of these people, and the poor had no status anywhere.
Mendieta had no intention of letting Li Guan go. He was still hoping to make fun of Li Guan to gain Li Guan's favor. Mendieta could not bring himself to be happy when he thought about the debt that was due next month. Although doing so would undoubtedly hurt the Jian family, he did not owe them any money, so he would not hesitate to stand on Li Guan's side even if he was given a thousand chances.
"Your company recently came to an agreement with Core Mining to provide the minerals you need. A few hours ago, this company was purchased by Vastshore International and forced to go bankrupt. I'm afraid your company's order is going to be ruined. How do you plan to deal with this?" Mendieta said, taking pleasure in the company's misfortune.
Beside him, Li Guan had a smug smile on his face. Everything had been done under his orders, all for the sake of teaching Xia Fei a small lesson. A mining company was not even comparable to an ant in front of the strongest bank in the Alliance, Planet Financial. Making a company that served Xia Fei go bankrupt and disrupt the normal production of Quantum Holdings was as simple as going to a cafe for a cup of coffee to the Li family, but it was a fatal blow to Xia Fei and the fledgling Quantum Holdings.
Xia Fei was slightly stunned. Charlie once said that the minerals needed to produce the energy-shield boosters had been bought by a mining company at a low price. Could it be this company?
"I haven't received any announcement about Core Mining's bankruptcy yet. How did you know?" Xia Fei asked.
Mendieta did not care. "Some things can't be considered secrets. Many people in the circle already know about it. The news of Core Mining's dissolution will be announced tomorrow morning."
Xia Fei smiled. "That's not a big deal. The company will be liquidated, and the deposit will naturally be returned. We'll just have to find another partner then."
"It's not that simple." Mendieta slyly said, "The liquidation of a company won't be completed overnight. I'm afraid it'll drag on for a long time. I heard that your company placed a five-year long-term order. The amount of deposit is quite a lot for your company. If you can't get the money back, won't it affect the company's normal operations?"
Xia Fei displayed his excellent mental fortitude in the face of Mendieta's aggressiveness. He was neither servile nor overbearing as he dealt with the situation calmly. On the other hand, Tai was getting more and more annoyed.
Taking a step forward, Tai spoke loudly with a slightly hoarse voice, "Quantum Holdings is now an A-list supplier recognized by the military. Now that the core mining company has fallen, there will definitely be other mining companies fighting to work with Quantum Holdings. This might not be a bad thing."
"What? Xia Fei's factory has been designated as an A-list supplier? "
"How is that possible? Just anyone can accept an order from the military. Besides, being an A-list supplier means that Xia Fei has a partnership with the military. It's not something a normal supplier can compare to. "
"I wouldn't believe it if Xia Fei said it himself, but it's coming from Tai's mouth. Do you guys still have any doubts?"
Everyone was discussing among themselves. Li Guan suddenly felt like the world was spinning. This was even more fantastical than a fantasy novel. He had originally planned to use Xia Fei's small company as an entry point to crush Xia Fei in one fell swoop. He would then threaten and bribe Xia Fei to end his relationship with Avrils, or even kill him in one fell swoop.
Tai's speech had smashed his plans into smithereens. Even a fool would know the consequences of going against the military. Xia Fei was already an A-list supplier to the military, and Quantum Holdings had also become a company that provided essential equipment to the military. Even the powerful Li family could not go head-on against him. After all, Xia Fei had the entire Alliance military standing behind him.
The crowd suddenly became extremely friendly. Many strangers came up to Xia Fei to introduce themselves and leave their phone numbers.
Xia Fei was indifferent, saying that he was only the owner of Quantum Holdings and was not directly involved in its management. He gave them Charlie's mailbox number.
Avrils happily watched all this from the side. Which girl did not want their man to stand out? Xia Fei's performance had far exceeded Avrils expectations. She felt that she was the luckiest girl in the world right now.
Xia Fei's high-spirited attitude was a stark contrast to the disappointment of the father and son of the Li family. Li Guan sighed deeply as he looked at his despondent son. He turned around and left. Li Mo followed closely behind with his head hung low.
…
"General Tai, thank you for what you did just now," Xia Fei said to Tai when he found an opportunity.
Tai nodded. "Actually, I'm just speaking the truth. You'll understand in the future that the military's A-list supplier isn't just a title. Your rise and fall will affect the combat power of the entire Alliance Army. So, when someone starts shooting at you, the military will definitely not sit idly by. Of course …"
Xia Fei continued. "Of course, I also need to be responsible for the military. I'll do everything I can to ensure that the military's orders are completed on time and with high quality."
Tai chuckled. "That's right. You're very smart. Benefits are always mutual. When you receive that plaque of yours tomorrow, you'd better weigh it first before hanging it up."
Xia Fei was confused. "Didn't you say that it needs the approval of the Congress and the president?"
Tai confidently said, "The military's matters aren't for those politicians to care. If I want it to pass, then it has to pass. You should know that the military is loyal to the entire Alliance, not a single person or organization. Besides, I've already spread the word today, so it won't be long before the entire Alliance gets wind of it. In that case, let's skip the formalities."
Xia Fei smiled. He admired Tai's disregard for the politicians. The military wielded a lethal force, and if it was used by a single person or political party, it would undoubtedly be a disaster for the people.
…
While Xia Fei mingled with the crowd, Avril quietly retreated to the side, holding a glass of fruit juice in her hand and chewing on a fresh crystal grape.
The surprise that Xia Fei had given Avril tonight was far beyond what she had expected. She felt unusually calm inside. The world should belong to men, so when Xia Fei stepped onto the stage of the Pan-Human Alliance, Avril felt a lot more relaxed.
Nicole walked over, and the two young ladies sat side by side, looking at Xia Fei in the distance.
The two of them were very similar, yet they were also very different.
Avril had Xia Fei. She could rely on him for everything, and she could rely on him even more in the days to come. Even in her most difficult times, Xia Fei had stood up for her.
Nicole, on the other hand, did not have such a person by her side. She had to bear everything with her young and tender shoulders.
"You're very lucky," Nicole said softly as she took a sip of her wine.
Avril's face was slightly flushed, and she softly said, "I think so, too."
Nicole sighed and drank even more, one glass after another.
"I'm going to have a few words with your Xia Fei. You don't mind, do you?" Nicole asked mysteriously.
"Go ahead," Avril said softly.
"Aren't you afraid that I'll snatch him away?"
Avril acted like a little fox. "Xia Fei wont leave."
"You're that confident?" Nicole asked, somewhat surprised.
"Will a man who's willing to risk his life for you leave so easily? Unless I've done something wrong, but how could I possibly dare to hurt his heart? "Avril said with a smile, her eyes inadvertently glancing at Xia Fei, her words filled with happiness.
Nicole was in a daze. She downed the wine in her glass in one gulp and walked over, muttering to herself, "This world has never been fair. Indeed."
Xia Fei was called to a corner by Nicole, and he was a little worried. Nicole was obviously quite drunk at the moment, and she was even stuttering when she spoke.
"Where's the number I gave you?"
"I threw it away," Xia Fei said honestly.
"Why?" Nicole glared at Xia Fei angrily.
"Because I don't need a job at the moment," Xia Fei said with a smile.
Nicole was silent at first, but she soon let out a self-deprecating laugh. She took out a pen from her bag and wrote a phone number on Xia Fei's palm, whispering, "Call me tomorrow at nine in the morning. I won't wait after that."
Xia Fei furrowed his brows. "Why?"
Nicole mysteriously said, "To give you a present."
Xia Fei smiled. "Miss Nicole, it's my honor to be able to serve you. You don't have to mind."
Nicole did not seem to hear him. She turned around and walked down Half Moon Hill, casually saying, "No man would be stupid enough to reject a heavy-assault cruiser, and you don't look stupid at all."
* * *: Sorry
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