第101章 金蝉脱壳 1

    虽然比尔.盖茨很想替他的朋友和贾磊搭线，但是贾磊考虑了一下华夏方面的感受，还是委婉的拒绝了。

    “盖茨先生，虽然我很想和你的朋友见见，但是我最近真的没有时间。

    我明天就要飞回岛国，去参加一个...

    “Gauge,Ijustcan‘tshakeoffthefeelingthatI‘mmissingoutonsomething.Somethingimportant.Andit‘snotjustaboutmyworkormyresponsibilities.It‘sabout...well,it‘saboutyouandyourfriends.

    IknowI‘vebeenabitdistantlately,butthat‘sonlybecauseIneedtofocusonmyownlife.Myownlegacy.AndI‘mafraidthatifIgettooinvolvedinyours,I‘lljustendupholdingyouback.

    Buttellme,Gauge,whatisitaboutthis...‘venture‘ofyoursthat‘sgoteveryonesoexcited?Isitthepromiseofrichesandfame?Orisitsomethingmore?

    Iwanttoknowwhatdrivesyou,whatmotivatesyou.Becauseifit‘snotsomethinggood,thenIdon‘tthinkIcangetinvolved.

    ButevenifIcould,I‘mafraidI‘djustbeaburden.You‘realreadydealingwithsomuchpressurefromthegovernmentandthemedia.Thelastthingyouneedissomeoldmanlikemegettingintheway.

    So,I‘llletyoumakeyourowndecision.Butplease,Gauge,takecareofyourself.Andwatchoutforthosewhowouldseektodoyouharm.

    I‘mgoingbacktomyisland,tomyfriendsandfamily.Weneedyou,notyouandyour...‘businesspartners‘.

    Oh,andonemorething:ifyou‘relookingforme,youknowwhereI‘llbe.Sittingonthebeach,watchingthesunsetwithadrinkinmyhand.

    Andthat‘sit,Gauge.That‘sallIhavetosay.Youmakeyourownway,andwe‘llcrosspathsagainsoonenough.

    Oh,andbytheway:don‘tforgetabouttheinvitationtotheannualgalaatthepalace.It‘sgoingtobeabignight,andyouwouldn‘twanttomissitfortheworld.

    So,goahead,Gauge.Makemeproud.Showthemallwhatyou‘remadeof.Andremember,nomatterwherelifetakesyou,I‘llalwaysbehere,cheeringyouonfromafar.“

    BillGatestookadeepbreath,feelingamixofemotionsswirlinginsidehim.Hehadalwaysknownthathewassomeonespecial,butlately,itseemedliketheworldhadforgottenabouthim.

    Butashelookedathiswatch,heknewitwastimetogetmoving.Hehadaplanetocatch,andanislandtoreturnto.

    Hemadehiswaybacktothehotelroom,wherehisassistantwaswaitingforhimwithasmileonherface.

    “Mr.Gates,yourfriendJiaJiongisontheline,”shesaid,handinghimthephone.

    Billpickeditup,expectingtohearthefamiliarvoiceofhisfriendontheotherend.Butinstead,heheardonlysilence.

    Andthen,inasuddenburstofenergy,JiaJiongspokeup.“Gauge,Iknowyou‘relistening!AndIwanttotellyousomething...”

    Butbeforehecouldsayanotherword,Bill‘sphonewentdead,leavinghimwithmorequestionsthananswers.

    Hesighedandputthephonedown,shakinghisheadinfrustration.Whatwasgoingon?Whydideveryonekeepdisappearinglikethis?

    Andthen,asheturnedtoleave,heheardafaintbuzzingsouningfromhispocket.Hereachedinandpulledoutanote,foldedneatlyintoasmallpieceofpaper.

    Itread:“Meetmeattheoldoaktreeintheparkatmidnight.Comealone.”

    Bill‘seyesnarrowedashelookedaroundtheroom,wonderingwhocouldhavewrittenthismessageandwhytheywantedtoseehimsobadly.

    Hecrumpledthenoteupinhishand,feelingashiverrundownhisspine.Whatwasgoingon?AndwhatdidithavetodowithJiaJiong?

    Asheleftthehotelroom,Billcouldn‘tshakeoffthefeelingthatsomethingbigwasbrewing,somethingthatwouldchangeeverythingforever.

    Andso,atmidnight,hemadehiswaytotheoldoaktreeinthepark,readyforwhateverlayahead.