After an afternoon of golf with Jack Welch and others, Simon had separate dinner plans.
Returning to his estate in the northern Greenwich suburbs around six in the evening, Simon found Chen Qing and Lin Su waiting for him, along with Lin Su's younger brother, Lin Dong, and Lin Dong's girlfriend, Bai Lan.
Simon had previously received some background on Lin Su's brother, though this was their first meeting.
Like his sister, Lin Dong had inherited his parents' good genes. He was handsome, nearly six feet tall, and wore frameless glasses that added a scholarly touch. His girlfriend, Bai Lan, was also tall and had a refined oval face, making the couple a picture-perfect match.
Lin Su was both excited and nervous about Simon's invitation to bring her brother along for dinner. She hoped her brother would make a good impression, yet feared that Simon might be overly critical. And, given the complex relationship between her and Simon, the whole situation was delicate.
Observing Simon and her brother's friendly exchange, Lin Su finally relaxed. Simon wasn't aloof, and her brother was handling the conversation well, which eased her concerns.
But there was one small irritation.
Simon was speaking English, even though his Chinese was excellent. When he was with her and Chen Qing, he always used Chinese. Lin Su quickly figured out his motive—he was probably testing her brother's English skills. Indeed, English conversation was a weak spot for Lin Dong. Lacking a natural environment to practice, his spoken English wasn't fluent, though as a top student from Peking University, he managed well enough. However, Bai Lan, who had started discussing marriage with Lin Dong, clearly struggled to keep up.
After some polite small talk, they all moved to the villa's lounge. Simon checked with the housekeeper, Angie, about dinner preparations before turning to Lin Dong with a gentle tone. "So, you've been in the U.S. for a week now. What do you think?"
Lin Dong thought for a moment and replied, "It's very prosperous—impressive."
His real feelings went much deeper.
Back in China, the Lin family was already part of the upper-tier bureaucracy. Lin Dong had always been a "golden child," with a privileged upbringing. But from the moment he boarded Simon's Gulfstream V, he felt he had stepped into a different world—a world that was like the capitalism of people's dreams.
Though well-off himself, Lin Dong wasn't a naïve bookworm. He understood that this difference wasn't just between China and the U.S., nor was it something the average person could simply experience by crossing the Pacific.
It all came down to the young man seated beside him.
Simon Westeros.
The world's first and only trillionaire, a man whose net worth exceeded China's GDP. And his sister was his lover.
In other circumstances, Lin Su being someone's lover would be a disgrace to the family, but since that someone was Simon Westeros, no one seemed to mind. People around the Lin family in China were mostly aware of the situation, and, apart from the unavoidable few who were jealous or bitter, the general reaction was one of awe and envy. The Lin family had received numerous connections and compliments because of it.
Even Lin Dong's parents, although concerned about Lin Su's future, had not shown much resistance to the relationship.
It was precisely because of Lin Su's connection to Simon that Lin Dong was now able to experience the world from the top of the pyramid.
Admission to MIT seemed to have taken just a word from Simon.
Flying on a private jet—a fantasy for most people in China—felt almost routine. Arriving in the U.S., they were housed in a top-floor luxury penthouse in Manhattan. At a Wall Street party, Lin Su had introduced him to financial magnates with global influence.
It was like a dream.
Having followed the news about Chinese students overseas, Lin Dong knew that their lives were far from golden.
The land of opportunity? Hardly.
If not for his sister, even with his family's background, he'd likely end up looking for a part-time job to help cover expenses. His family's official status didn't grant them endless wealth, especially with parents who were honest and had few opportunities to take advantage of their roles.
For most students, life overseas was far from glamorous. Without family wealth, many students faced financial constraints.
Lin Dong never expected to escape this reality. But experiencing life at the top alongside his sister had profoundly shaken his once-proud mindset. He even considered abandoning his studies to enter the business world.
Without this lifestyle as a future, what good would a doctorate or an advanced academic path do?
Simon noticed the outwardly relaxed Lin Dong keeping his hands motionless on his knees. Smiling slightly, he said, "Since it's summer break, I'm not sure about MIT's start date for doctoral programs. If there's no rush, you could have your sister show you around the U.S. a bit."
Inwardly, Lin Dong was indeed eager, but after a brief hesitation, he replied, "Simon, if possible, I'd like to find a job here for the time being."
Simon looked at the young man seated next to him, only a few years younger than himself. Without responding directly, he asked, "So, are you planning on going into business after graduation?"
If he could, Lin Dong would start immediately. But he was also cautious, as he wasn't sure of Simon's attitude toward him. Lin Su had mentioned Simon's value on capability, so Lin Dong figured it would still be best to earn a doctorate.
Thinking it through, Lin Dong replied earnestly, "Yes."
"In that case, have your sister show you around for now," Simon said, suddenly smiling a bit mischievously. "Once you start your program, you might not have any free time at all."
Noticing the hint in Simon's expression, Lin Su recalled his earlier mention of planning her brother's future. While she didn't doubt his intentions, she worried that Simon might put her brother through the wringer. Lin Dong had never endured hardships.
After a brief hesitation, Lin Su asked, "Simon, what exactly do you have in mind for Lin?"
Switching to Chinese, Simon responded, "I mentioned earlier that Lin could study for an MBA while completing his PhD. I'll arrange it at Harvard. And since he's sure he wants to go into business, he should get some practical experience too. In Boston, I'll arrange a position for him at Boston Consulting Group. Working in consulting is an excellent way to develop a business perspective."
Boston Consulting Group was one of the world's top management consulting firms, on par with McKinsey.
Lin Su understood this and knew Simon's plans would greatly benefit her brother's future.
But she also doubted Simon would go easy on Lin Dong just because he was her brother. Quite the opposite—he might hold him to even higher standards. Balancing a PhD, an MBA, and a job at BCG, Lin Dong wouldn't have much downtime for the next few years.
"Couldn't we let Lin focus on his studies first?" she asked.
Simon looked at Lin Dong. "How old are you?"
"Twenty-four."
Simon shrugged and looked back at Lin Su. "In China, many people have married and have children by twenty-four, with kids already in preschool. Even though Lin is still young, if he wants to go far, he needs to start now. You know, many people peak by thirty and don't achieve much afterward. That gives your brother six years, which isn't much, is it?"
Lin Dong, sensing his sister's worry, quickly said, "Sis, I think it's fine."
Simon smiled and nodded. "Then it's settled."
Lin Su shot her brother a disapproving look and gave Simon a sidelong glance but ultimately agreed. Whether she opposed it or not, it was clear that her influence would be limited.
After settling Lin Dong's future, they chatted casually until seven, when a maid informed them that dinner was ready.
Following dinner, Chen Qing stayed, while Lin Su insisted on escorting Lin Dong and Bai Lan back to Manhattan, not wanting her brother to witness her staying behind with Chen Qing.
Understanding her feelings, Simon didn't object.
After saying goodbye, Simon returned to the villa with Chen Qing, who casually took his arm and began talking about her latest project—a training program focused on internet skills. True to her efficient nature, she had already drafted a business plan and started hiring for the project.
Once back in the lounge, she curled up next to Simon, wrapping her arms around his neck and asking, "So, boss, what do you think?"
Simon shook his head. "It's not promising."
Pouting, Chen Qing replied, "You said the same about the Direct project. But based on recent sales, it's actually a success!"
Simon, resting a hand on her waist, asked, "Are you short on funds?"
"Not at all."
"Then try to aim higher," he advised. "It's not that I think the project is bad, but I don't think you should be personally involved in small projects. You need to focus on a broader vision. You know the saying: the lower man toils, the middle man strategizes, and the upper man commands. You understand this better than I do."
Smiling, she said, "You always surprise me with how well you know Chinese culture."
"All right, enough flattery."
Chen Qing reined in her smile and said, "Actually, I do delegate work. You know I have my own team. It's like how you directed movies yourself when you started out—I need to be hands-on with some projects too."
Simon shrugged. "Fine, do your best. I'll be watching to see how far you can go."
Snuggling closer, she continued, "I know the internet training program won't be
huge, but I'm hoping it can grow into something prestigious. Information technology is the future. China might be behind for now, but the industry there will eventually flourish. Don't you agree?"
Simon nodded, understanding her vision, and gestured for her to continue.
Chen Qing went on, "Though China's internet industry will become massive, many people don't know where to start. So I want to create a platform that supports budding talent in China's internet industry, maybe even providing venture capital to promising startups. This could give us a foothold early on. Isn't that a good plan?"
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