Chapter 81 "Pei Lu, I can come..."

Fang Qingyu's funeral was truly unforgettable.

Not only was she a member of the Fang family and the wife of the Pei family, but she also passed away at a young age.

Furthermore, the deceased wife's husband and son had fought violently at that funeral.

I heard that not long after that, Pei Shuwen went abroad. Lin Chaoyue was still young at the time, and she only heard a few words about it from her aunt.

My mother's passing meant a long, somber period ahead.

Therefore, even when Pei Shuwen brought it up, his tone was frank.

Lin Chaoyue deliberately skipped this part.

Lin Chaoyue: "Besides when we were little, when else have we met? I have absolutely no recollection of it. Could you give me a hint? I'll definitely remember if I've ever seen you before."

"17 years."

Pei Shuwen stated a precise year.

Lin Chaoyue counted the years on her fingers.

I was 16 years old that year, and I skipped a grade to go to the second year of high school.

She attended a private school, which did not prioritize college entrance rates and devoted a great deal of time to knowledge outside of textbooks.

She had done the social practice that is popular on university campuses now.

That year, a school teacher, through her aunt's connections, took more than a dozen students from her class to a branch of Simei Biotechnology to experience two months of fully automated skincare product production.

That was her first time getting involved in the family business, and she was full of enthusiasm, meeting many people outside of school.

"Did you already have a collaboration with your mom and aunt back in 2017?"

“No,” Lin Chaoyue subconsciously dismissed the idea: “We’re not that much older, and you were in school back then.”

"Don't mention it yet, let me think about it some more."

Pei Shuwen: "If you really can't remember, I can give you another hint."

joke!

She boasted that besides being born into a good family, she also had the best memory.

Moreover, ever since she realized she had feelings for Pei Shuwen.

It looks a bit like a peacock spreading its tail feathers.

I have to show off this skill every now and then.

Pei Shuwen would occasionally compliment her.

You have to understand how rare it is to hear praise from Pei Shuwen, this 'strict teacher'!

She's maintained this persona for so long.

She can't let her first downfall be caused by her own man.

That would be too embarrassing.

Lin Chaoyue's competitive spirit was ignited, and she even sat up straighter.

Lin Chaoyue: "Are you sure we've met before? And it wasn't just a casual meeting, at least... at least we made eye contact."

Pei Shuwen glanced at her, thinking back to the past, and said with certainty, "It wasn't just that we made eye contact; it was actually a very memorable meeting. Think about it again."

"Think about it carefully..."

"I've remembered this for many years, but I didn't expect you to have forgotten it so completely."

Although Lin Chaoyue had limited experience in dating, she knew that she shouldn't easily engage in conversation at this time.

Lin Chaoyue coughed lightly and asked tentatively, "You went abroad to study before you were an adult. I guess it must have been the Pei family who started making things difficult for you from that time."

Pei Shuwen didn't respond, so Lin Chaoyue took it as a tacit agreement and continued speaking.

"Actually, living abroad alone is quite carefree. If there's nothing important, you definitely won't come back; but you saw me back then, so I guess... you came back to see Grandpa Fang?"

"Yes, you could say that. I went back to China that year to pay respects to my mother."

cemetery.

Mentioning the keywords brought back a flood of memories for Lin Chaoyue.

That year, it wasn't just Pei Shuwen.

She had actually accompanied her aunt to pay respects to Aunt Fang.

The Fang and Zhong families are old friends, and Fang Qingyu and her aunt are friends of similar age, having been close since their youth.

When Aunt Fang passed away, her aunt was saddened for a long time. Every year on Aunt Fang's birthday, she would bring flowers and dancing shoes to the cemetery to pay her respects.

On the anniversary of her death that year, my aunt drove to the cemetery in the suburbs early in the morning, as usual, but found that the flowers had fallen along the way.

During summer vacation, she was very free and didn't want to be controlled by her parents, so she spent all her time at her aunt's house.

She took a taxi to deliver it that day.

So she was there at the memorial service that year.

Although she really didn't remember.

But that's where the routine comes in.

"The cemetery! We met at the cemetery, didn't we! I guessed right!"

I'll tell you next time.

Lin Chaoyue felt the excitement of a mediocre student finally solving a difficult problem.

But a calm remark from Teacher Pei immediately extinguished her excitement.

That's outrageous!

Bad guy!

Lin Chaoyue frowned, somewhat unhappy: "Why do we have to do it again next time?"

"We've arrived at the restaurant. Aunt Wen is waiting for you."

Lin Chaoyue was so focused on talking to him that she didn't even notice when Pei Shuwen stopped the car.

Her aunt was indeed waiting for her; Zhong Wen was standing at the restaurant entrance at that moment.

Lin Chaoyue unbuckled her seatbelt. Although she wasn't very happy, she still asked Pei Shuwen, "Auntie booked a private room. Since you're already here, do you want to go have lunch together?"

"I won't go. Aunt Wen has something to say to you privately since she's back this time. We can have a formal meeting next time."

A formal meeting?

Is it the kind of formal meeting she understands?

They've only just gotten together, isn't this too fast?

Pei Shuwen: "We met when you first returned to China. It was just a meal between the two families, and I only invited my grandfather over."

"You still say that? That wasn't a meeting, it was clearly a trap. You were an accomplice."

She still feels lingering fear from the anxiety she felt at the time.

Later, it was discovered that Pei Shuwen was not only the most venomous, but also a formidable fighter.

She had been keeping a low profile for a long time, afraid that a fist might land on her.

Pei Shuwen ruffled her fluffy head, then moved down to her eyebrows, smoothing out her furrowed brows: "Okay, don't be unhappy anymore. So this also means that all problems will be solved, we can be together, and the things that are bothering you now can also be resolved smoothly."

"You know I'm not happy."

Is it that obvious?

She was indeed in a low mood today.

"Um."

Thinking that she would be meeting her aunt later, Lin Chaoyue quickly forced a smile: "How about this then?"

"It looks great."

Who asked him if he was good-looking or not?

This person is really something...

Could it be that he was chatting with me in the car because he saw I was unhappy?

Lin Chaoyue opened the car door halfway, then, remembering something, turned back and asked him, "So, when you said you'd seen me before, you weren't just lying to me to make me happy, were you?"

She really had no recollection of it at all.

"no."

Putting aside all her worries, Lin Chaoyue was in a great mood because she was in love with the person she liked.

Her eyelashes were long and curled, and her little face was rosy. She had grown up, but she still looked like a little girl.

Zhong Wen saw her get out of the car and jogged over, glancing back twice along the way, and asked with a smile, "Did Shu Wen bring you here?"

Pei Shuwen didn't leave, but after getting out of the car, he didn't come over either. He just stood there and nodded slightly in this direction.

"Yes, Auntie, he said he'd like to have dinner with us again next time."

Fearing her aunt might overthink things, she added an explanation.

Zhong Wen responded with a smile. It wasn't until the two entered the restaurant that Zhong Wen pinched Lin Chaoyue's cheek and teased, "You've only just started dating, and you're already explaining things for your boyfriend. Girls grow up and leave home, you know. Your parents will be heartbroken if they find out."

Lin Chaoyue muttered, "If my parents hadn't insisted on leaving me with him, I probably wouldn't have fallen for this type."

"By the way, Auntie, I called Mom, but she didn't answer or reply to my messages. Is there some kind of problem at her company lately?"

Zhong Wen was much calmer today, saying only, "There's a small problem, but it'll be resolved soon. Let's not stand here anymore, let's go inside and talk. I've ordered your favorite dish."

As soon as Lin Chaoyue met her aunt, she asked about the company.

But in reality, she and her aunt didn't talk about much during the whole meal.

Only at the very beginning did Zhong Wen give her the company's official seal and explain some precautions for monitoring the goods.

My aunt still treats her a bit like a child; she asked about things she didn't have time to check yesterday in detail today.

Will I eat well, stay warm, and be tired at work after returning to China? Will I be able to adapt to life at the law firm?

"Everything is fine."

"It seems that Shuwen has indeed taken good care of you. Your parents have a longer-term vision than your aunt."

Lunchtime is short.

After leaving the restaurant, Lin Chaoyue finally didn't hesitate and immediately called Tang Ruxue.

"Oh, isn't this Miss Lin? I heard you got my phone number from someone. I've been waiting for you for ages. So, what do you need from me?"

Tang Ruxue listened and heard nothing like someone who had recently broken up with someone, or was even threatening to die.

Hearing the sarcasm from the other side, Lin Chaoyue, unusually, didn't retort: ​​"There's something I want to ask you."

"What is it? Tell me about it."

Lin Chaoyue didn't mince words and went straight to the point: "How did you know that Simei Biotechnology was having financial problems?"

"Of course I am..."

The voices stopped abruptly.

"What do I care how I know? Why did I tell you? You're so slow to react. It's been so long, and you're only now thinking of asking? Could it be that your family is completely unable to hold on and has already made arrangements for your escape route?"

Lin Chaoyue remained silent.

Tang Ruxue was probably getting her nails done. Seeing Lin Chaoyue's silence, she told the nail technician to leave: "Wait for me outside. I'll call you when you come in."

After the door closed, Tang Ruxue said, "You really can't hold on anymore? It can't be that bad. It's just a problem with the production line. Even if your dad is being impeached by the board of directors, it shouldn't be that you can't even come up with this much money. Your parents are getting a divorce too?"

"What impeachment?"

"Ah! You don't know? Lin Chaoyue, you're trying to trick me! Ah!"

She really didn't know anything, otherwise she wouldn't have come to her.

What I just said was all to get information out of her.

Tang Ruxue was clearly slow to realize it.

She was so angry that her voice cracked: "Lin Chaoyue, you're shameless!"

"Two bottles of Lehua Ovina Knight, I need to know the details."

Tang Ruxue pouted: "I don't know anything about wine. Give me your limited edition skis, the pink ones with your signature."

"make a deal."

"Well, I heard about this from my family..."

Tang Ruxue spoke for a long time on the other end of the phone, but Lin Chaoyue remained silent for the same length of time she spoke.

Later, Tang Ruxue even thought Lin Chaoyue had fallen asleep.

"Okay, that's all. Anyway, it's your fully automated production line that's broken. My mom wanted to copy yours, but thankfully she didn't. These fully automated things are unreliable."

“Once the production line is up, it can’t be stopped. That batch of goods is ruined, and we also have to pay the breach of contract penalty from the Netherlands, which is not a small amount.”

"And I heard..." Tang Ruxue said mysteriously, "Your company has a mole. A very important formula was leaked from the domestic R&D center. Do you think your company is mistreating its employees? Or are they underpaying them? I think you should learn from my company in this regard. We always treat our employees well..."

"Okay, I'm hanging up now. I'll ask you again if I need anything."

Tang Ruxue, annoyed by the interruption, snorted coldly, "Then where are my skis? When are you going to give them to me?"

"My skis are in Tangwan, but my house has been taken over."

"Ah! Lin Chaoyue! I've talked to you so much, my mouth is dry! And now you're telling me you're planning to get something for nothing?!"

"I'll find some time in a month to go back and climb over the wall to get it for you."

The thought of Lin Chaoyue climbing over the wall instantly made Tang Ruxue feel relieved.

"That's more like it."

I can't get through to my aunt on the phone; she should be on a plane back to the Netherlands right now.

Lin Chaoyue was a little late after delivering the documents.

It was already afternoon when I got back to the office.

The collaboration with Simei Biotechnology has been a hot topic in the institute recently.

Feng Xiao and Tang Chenbin, two of the most promising senior lawyers in the firm to be promoted to partners, have joined forces to take on the M&A business of Simei Biotechnology and are currently recruiting lawyers from across the firm.

She stood on the bulletin board for half an hour, and after get off work, she took her computer and documents and knocked on Pei Shuwen's door.

"Why didn't you come up directly?" Pei Shuwen had just finished showering, and her hair was still wet.

"Pei Lu, can I come to your house to work overtime for a bit?"