A few days after seeing the gourami grow far beyond his expectations, Rian began paying more attention to the pond. It wasn't that he didn't trust Arman. The opposite, actually. The results were simply too good. The fish, which should have still been in an ordinary growth stage, had already reached a size that made Rian check the weight records several times just to make sure there hadn't been a mistake. If they kept growing at this rate, he had no idea how big the gourami would become after another three months. That morning, Rian returned to the pond with Arman. Arman was already carrying the notebook that had practically become a permanent part of his routine. A few weeks ago, he had only recorded the necessary information, but after seeing the unusual growth of the fish, he had started seriously studying gourami farming. “How are the fish doing today?” Arman opened his notebook. “Overall, they're doing well, Sir. Their appetite is still strong, they're active, and none of them seem sick. The water conditions are stable too.” Rian nodded. “What about the feed?” “I've adjusted it according to the number and size of the fish. I've also started reducing the amount of pellets little by little because some of them are already quite large.” Rian looked at Arman for a moment. “Are you sure that's the right decision?” Arman didn't answer immediately. Instead, he flipped through several pages of his previous notes. “I read through some more references about gourami, Sir. Once they reach a certain size, they don't have to get all their nutrition from pellets. Taro leaves can be used as additional feed. But I don't want to replace the pellets completely right away. I want to see how the fish respond first.” Rian smiled slightly. He was pleased with that answer. A few weeks ago, Arman had only relied on his experience raising fish at home. Now the young man was researching on his own, keeping detailed records, and willing to give his own considerations before making a decision. That was exactly what Rian wanted. Not a worker who simply waited for orders. He needed someone who could think for himself. “Good,” Rian said while looking at the notes. “I'm actually glad you're starting to take this seriously. Don't just learn from me. Look for information from other farmers, read books, learn how people manage water quality and feeding, and even study how to select broodstock later.” Arman nodded seriously. “Yes, Sir.” “And one more thing.” Rian pointed toward the pond. “Don't focus only on making the fish grow quickly.” Arman looked at him. “What do you mean?” “Size is important, but quality is more important. I don't want the gourami to become huge only for their meat to be ordinary, for them to get sick easily, or for the quality to be inconsistent.” Rian slowly walked along the edge of the pond. “If we're really going to sell them as premium gourami later, we need to maintain that quality. Water, feed, stocking density, fish health, even the way we harvest them.” Arman wrote down several points. “So I should start creating a proper maintenance standard?” “Exactly. Keep clear records. How much feed they receive, when they're fed, water conditions, weight gain, everything. If there's even a small change, write it down.” Rian stopped and looked at him. “And if you ever think something I'm doing is wrong, tell me.” Arman looked slightly hesitant. “If I tell you that you're wrong, you won't get angry?” Rian laughed. “If you have a reasonable explanation, why would I get angry?” Arman finally laughed as well. “Okay, Sir. I'll try.” “Don't try. Do it.” Rian patted Arman's shoulder. “If I'm wrong, I'm the one who loses money if you stay silent.” Arman nodded more firmly. “Yes, Sir.” Rian looked back at the fish swimming beneath the surface. There was one more thing he had been thinking about for the past few days. “Arman.” “Yes, Sir?” “When it's time to harvest, don't sell all of them.” Arman frowned. “Not all of them?” “No.” Rian pointed toward several gourami swimming near the surface. “Keep some of the best ones.” “For what?” “Broodstock.” Arman immediately understood. “Oh…” Rian smiled. “If we can produce our own fingerlings, eventually we won't have to keep buying them from outside suppliers. We can select the best fish as broodstock and develop the next generation ourselves.” Arman looked even more interested. “So we could eventually have our own cycle, Sir?” “More or less.” Rian nodded. “It'll be slower at first. But if it works, we'll have much more control over the quality of our fingerlings. We won't have to depend as much on suppliers.” Arman wrote another note. “So we should start selecting potential broodstock from now?” “Exactly. Don't wait until harvest time to start thinking about it.” Rian smiled while looking at the pond. “From now on, pay attention to their growth. Which ones grow quickly, stay healthy, have a good body shape, remain active, and don't get sick easily. We'll select them later.” Arman nodded. “Understood, Sir. I'll study this more seriously.” Rian felt satisfied. What had started as a simple experiment to see what the magical liquid could do was slowly turning into a long-term business plan. If everything worked out, he wouldn't just have enormous fish. He could have his own farming system, from fingerlings all the way to harvest. And of course, the more things he could produce himself, the greater his potential profits would be. Rian smiled. Not bad. He really couldn't stop thinking about money. --- A few days later, while Rian was sitting in his office checking the sales reports, his phone suddenly rang. The name appearing on the screen immediately changed his expression. Diah. Rian even straightened his posture before answering. “Hello?” Diah's voice came from the other end. “Rian, are you busy?” “Not really. Why?” “Can I ask you something?” “Sure.” Rian leaned back while waiting. Diah sounded slightly hesitant before finally saying, “There’s going to be a high school reunion next week. Some of our old classmates are getting together. Do you want to come?” Rian fell silent. A high school reunion. He hadn't seen some of his old classmates in years. After graduating, life had simply been too busy for him to think about gatherings like this. Especially because his life back then had been far from comfortable. But things were different now. And what made him even more interested was the fact that Diah would be there. “You're going?” “Yes.” “If you're going…” Rian paused for a moment. “Then I'll come.” Diah laughed softly. “That was a really quick answer.” “Do I need to hold a meeting first?” “I thought you might be busy.” “If it's something like this, I can make time.” Rian smiled to himself. Diah then explained that the reunion would be held at a famous restaurant in Malang, Savana Garden Restaurant. Several old classmates had already confirmed their attendance, and the event would probably be fairly casual. After the call ended, Rian continued holding his phone while staring at the screen. A reunion. He honestly didn't care much about what his old classmates thought of him. But then he noticed what he was wearing. A plain T-shirt. Simple pants. Sandals. Rian looked down for a few seconds. Then he sighed. “I guess I really do need to buy some clothes.” Jojo, who had been sleeping on the sofa, opened one eye. “Why?” “I'm going to a reunion.” Jojo yawned. “So?” “I can't show up dressed like this.” Jojo looked Rian up and down. “I think you look good.” Rian stared at him suspiciously. “Seriously?” “Seriously.” Jojo closed his eyes again. “Good for going to the market.” Rian immediately grabbed a sofa cushion and threw it. Jojo jumped out of the way. “Unprovoked attack!” “Your mouth has no brakes.” After laughing, Rian returned to thinking about the reunion. He realized that almost all the money he earned had gone straight back into the business. Whenever he bought a vehicle, it was for work. The car he currently owned was just a pickup, which was extremely useful for transporting crops but obviously wasn't the kind of vehicle he wanted to arrive in at a reunion. And for some reason, this time Rian felt like buying something for himself. Not for the farm. Not for work. Not as an investment. Just for himself. “Maybe I should buy a car too.” Jojo opened his eyes again. “Another car?” “Not a pickup.” “Then what?” “A personal car.” Jojo stared at him. “Why?” “Because all I have right now is a pickup.” Rian stood up and grabbed his car keys. “If I'm meeting people, how am I supposed to show up in a vegetable delivery truck?” Jojo nodded. “If the vegetables come along, that's fine.” “Shut up.” --- The next day, Rian went to a car showroom. As soon as he entered, he immediately noticed how different the place felt from anywhere he normally visited. Shiny cars were lined up neatly across the spacious showroom. The floor was spotless, the lighting was bright, and several salespeople stood around in formal clothes, welcoming potential customers. Rian arrived wearing simple clothes. A plain T-shirt, long pants, and ordinary shoes. One of the salespeople immediately approached him. “Good afternoon, Sir. Is there anything I can help you with?” Rian smiled. “I'd like to look around.” “Of course, Sir. What kind of car are you looking for?” “A personal car.” The salesperson began explaining several options. Rian followed along, examining each one. However, he noticed that the salesperson kept directing him toward cars that seemed like the safe choices. Reasonable price. Enough features. Comfortable. Practical. Rian understood why. He certainly didn't look like someone who could casually spend billions of rupiah on a car. “This one would be quite good for everyday use, Sir,” the salesperson explained while pointing toward one of the cars. “The engine is reliable, and the fuel consumption is relatively efficient.” Rian nodded. “What else?” The salesperson showed him several other models. Rian sat inside one, checked the dashboard, adjusted the seat, looked at the legroom, and then stepped out again. It was good. But nothing about it really caught his attention. “Can I look around by myself?” The salesperson looked slightly surprised. “Of course, Sir.” “I want to see everything first.” “Certainly.” Rian then walked around without rushing. This time, he wasn't following the salesperson's route. He looked at whatever caught his eye, opened doors, checked interiors, examined the designs, and compared one model with another. A few minutes later, he stopped in front of a BMW. Rian stood there silently. He looked at the body from front to back. Elegant. Not excessively flashy. But clearly different from ordinary cars. Rian opened the door. The interior immediately made him raise his eyebrows slightly. “Wow…” He sat in the driver's seat. The position felt just right. The dashboard looked modern, and the interior materials felt far more luxurious than the cars he'd looked at earlier. Rian pressed a few buttons, adjusted the seat, then looked toward the salesperson standing several meters away. “Excuse me.” “Yes, Sir?” “How much is this one?” The salesperson walked closer. “This is the BMW M4, Sir.” “Yes, I know.” Rian pointed at the car. “I asked how much it costs.” The salesperson then explained that the price was around three billion rupiah, along with several available specifications. Rian listened without much reaction. The number was certainly large. But considering his current financial situation, it was still within a range he could reasonably afford. Rian leaned back in the seat. I've been working nonstop all this time. Even the cars I've bought before were for work. Maybe there's nothing wrong with buying something I actually like for once. He didn't need a car this expensive. That was the problem. He didn't need it. He simply wanted it. And for the first time, Rian felt that he didn't need to come up with a business-related excuse to justify something he wanted. He stepped out of the car and walked around it one more time. “If I take this one, how does the process work?” The salesperson immediately became more serious. “Of course, Sir. I can explain the payment options, equipment, and administrative process.” Rian nodded. “Explain everything.” The salesperson began going through everything in greater detail. This time, there was no more attempt to steer Rian toward cheaper cars. Rian listened while occasionally asking about features, warranty coverage, servicing, and several other things he considered important. He wasn't the kind of person who bought something simply because of the logo. If he was going to spend that much money, he still wanted to know exactly what he was buying. After nearly an hour of looking and considering, Rian finally made his decision. “I'll take this one.” The salesperson smiled widely. “Certainly, Sir.” Rian nodded. “As long as the process is clear and the car matches the specifications you explained.” “Of course, Sir.” Rian then provided the information needed for the purchase process. When he finally left the showroom, he felt somewhat strange. For years, whenever he earned money, his mind always went straight to one thing. How can I make this money generate even more money? And now he'd just spent a huge amount of money on something that wouldn't generate any direct profit. A car. For himself. Rian opened the door of his pickup and sat inside. He stared at the old dashboard in front of him. Then he chuckled. “Well… I guess once in a while is fine.” Jojo, who had been waiting in the back seat, lifted his head. “So you bought it?” “Yep.” “A BMW?” “Yep.” Jojo was silent for a few seconds. “Can I sit inside it?” “Sure.” “Can I scratch the seats?” Rian immediately turned around. “If you scratch the seats, you're walking home.” Jojo lay back down. “Then I guess I'll have to keep my claws under control.” Rian laughed. In his head, he was already imagining the reunion. New clothes. A new car. Old friends. And of course, Diah. For some reason, just thinking about the last part was enough to make Rian smile to himself. Jojo watched him from the back seat. “Thinking about Diah again?” Rian immediately pressed the accelerator a little harder. “No.” “Liar.” “Shut up.” Jojo narrowed his eyes. “When you smile like that, I already know.” Rian didn't answer. He simply smiled while keeping his eyes on the road ahead. For the first time, Rian felt that it was okay if, once in a while, people saw a different version of the Rian they used to know. Not to show off. Not to make anyone jealous. He simply wanted to enjoy the results of his own hard work. And if there happened to be someone he wanted to impress just a little… Well, that was another matter entirely.

Chapter 38 — a New Car