Chapter 49. Everyone's talking about it, it's about President Zhou of Shijie...
The marks Zhou Shilin left on Shen Ci have not completely faded yet.
Yesterday, Chenci wore clothes that could cover up the marks on her neck when she went out to eat. Today, her dress couldn't cover them, so she used some concealer.
The moment Zhou Mingye asked that question, Chen Ci's first thought was that the marks on her neck had been revealed.
She couldn't wait to take out a mirror and touch up her makeup.
The Zhou parents, who had been chatting and laughing just moments before, fell silent, a hint of embarrassment creeping across their faces.
The only person in the living room remained calm and composed. Looking at Zhou Mingye, who had a gossipy expression, he said in a measured tone, "Is this a question someone who's never been in a relationship should be asking?"
"..." Zhou Mingye paused for a moment, then told him, "It's precisely because I've never been in a relationship that I'm curious about these kinds of questions."
At this opportune moment, Zhou's mother spoke up: "If you're curious, why don't you go and find yourself a girlfriend?"
Zhou Mingye: "..."
Chen Ci looked at them and smiled politely and elegantly: "Actually, it's nothing. Zhou Shilin just wanted to show off his fitness results."
Zhou Shilin looked at her without saying anything. Chen Ci, under his gaze, picked up the plum from the plate and took a bite: "These plums are so sweet."
"Have some if you like." Mrs. Zhou gave her another piece. "Lunch will be ready soon, why don't we all move to the dining room?"
“Okay, okay.” Mr. Zhou was the first to stand up and respond. Chen Ci also got up from the sofa and walked towards the dining room with Zhou Shilin.
The auntie cooked a lot of dishes at noon. In addition to the fish that Zhou's father caught himself, there were also several dishes that Chen Ci liked. Zhou's mother had asked Zhou Shilin about Chen Ci's tastes in advance and then asked the kitchen to prepare them.
"I heard from Xiaolin that you like spicy food, so I specially made a chopped chili fish head with the fish that your Uncle Zhou caught."
"Thank you, Uncle and Aunt." Chen Ci looked at the dishes on the table. Uncle Zhou had used part of the fish he caught today to make fish soup and part to make steamed fish head with chopped chili peppers. In addition, there were freshly sliced sashimi on the table.
...She now somewhat believes that Uncle Zhou almost caught a 30-pound fish back then.
"Are these sashimi also made from fish that Uncle Zhou caught?" Chen Ci asked uncertainly.
Mrs. Zhou said, "The fish he catches are nowhere near this good. These were air-freighted over this morning, and these crabs are also very fresh. Try them all."
"Okay, thank you, Auntie." Chen Ci thanked Zhou's mother quickly when she saw that she had also put so much food on her plate.
"Try this boiled shrimp paste." Zhou Shilin scooped up a round, large shrimp paste with a spoon and placed it in the small bowl in front of Shen Ci. "This is a new way of cooking that Auntie specially tried today. It's spicy. See if you like it."
Aside from eating hot pot and mala tang, Chen Ci had never actually tried spicy shrimp paste before. She picked up a spoon, took a bite, and her eyes lit up slightly: "It's delicious! It tastes even better than what you get at mala tang restaurants!"
Zhou Shilin smiled and said, "It seems Zhou Mingye was right; you did eat honey before you went out today."
"...No, I'm just telling the truth." Putting everything else aside, the quality of this shrimp meat alone is far superior to that of hot pot restaurants.
Mrs. Zhou smiled and put more food on her plate: "It's good that you like it. Eat more and don't be shy."
"Okay, thank you, Auntie. You should eat too."
Zhou Mingye watched them eating happily and said coolly, "I feel like you guys are the real family."
Chen Ci quickly picked up a crab for him as well: "Eat crab."
"As expected, the heroine is the best to me."
As Zhou Mingye was moved, his mother reminded him from the side, "You should change how you address people in the future; it makes you seem disrespectful."
"..." Zhou Mingye put down his hand that was about to peel the crab. "No, I'm a few months older than the heroine, how is that disrespectful?"
“You’re older than her, so she’s still your sister-in-law.”
Zhou Mingye: "..."
The word "sister-in-law" dealt Zhou Mingye a heavy blow, and even the crabs on the plate didn't smell so good anymore.
After lunch, Zhou Mingye was picked up by his assistant to continue working. Chen Ci and Zhou's mother went for a walk in the garden. When they returned, Zhou Shilin had just finished talking to Zhou's father about work.
"Are you leaving already?" Seeing Zhou Shilin pick up his coat, indicating he was preparing to leave, Zhou's mother was a little reluctant to part with Chen Ci. "Why don't you just have dinner before you go?"
"No, I have to go back to the company later."
“…Okay, wait a moment, I’ll go get something for Xiaoci.” Zhou’s mother said, turning around and walking inside. After a while, she came back with a bag of cakes. “They’re all freshly made cakes today, all kinds of flavors. I saw that Xiaoci likes them, so I got you a few.”
"Oh, thank you, Auntie."
"It's just a few small cakes, no need to be so polite." Zhou's mother handed the paper bag to Chen Ci and looked at her with a smile, saying, "Come to our house for dinner more often in the future. Since you came, the meals have become much more lively."
"Okay, I'll definitely come again if I have the chance." After saying goodbye to Zhou's mother, Chen Ci carried the cake and walked out with Zhou Shilin.
After the car drove away from the Zhou family villa, Chen Ci finally relaxed. Zhou Shilin saw her rubbing her face and asked, "Is your face sore from laughing?"
"...I was just relaxing." She had been somewhat acting in front of Zhou Shilin's parents earlier, since it was their first meeting and she wanted to leave them with the best impression. "By the way, why did you mention that I know martial arts in front of them today?"
Zhou Shilin clarified, "That wasn't me who said it, it was Zhou Mingye who said it."
"Did you say I was a martial arts champion? Did you say I scored 800 points with one punch?"
Zhou Shilin raised an eyebrow slightly: "Isn't what I said true?"
"But what if... what if your aunt and uncle worry that I'll abuse you in the future!"
These words made Zhou Shilin chuckle. He slightly curled the corners of his mouth and said to Chen Ci, "Don't worry, you said it yourself, I'm the kind of person who can lift you up with one hand."
Chen Ci: "..."
Instead of worrying about that, let's see what kind of cake my mom packed.
Zhou Shilin's words successfully diverted Chen Ci's attention. Chen Ci lowered her head, opened the paper bag that Zhou's mother had given her, and began to read.
"Zhou Shilin." She took a big, bright red envelope from the paper bag containing the cake. "Auntie actually gave me a red envelope!"
Zhou Shilin seemed to have expected this. He nodded and glanced at the red envelope: "It looks quite thick."
"It's really quite thick." Chen Ci pinched the brick-like banknotes. "Auntie, you're too kind. This money..."
"Here you go, so just take it without worry."
Chen Ci blinked and put the money back in her pocket: "Thank you, Auntie."
Zhou Shilin first took Chen Ci home before going to the company. After arriving home, Chen Ci took a shower, changed her clothes, and lay down on the bed.
Indeed, this is what makes it feel like a weekend.
She had originally planned to take a nap, but she got so engrossed in her phone that she forgot all about it. If Zhou Shilin hadn't sent her a text message, she would have even forgotten about dinner.
Zhou Shilin: I ordered some food for you at Tianxiaju, it should be delivered soon.
Chen Ci: Thank you, Mr. Zhou! Actually, I ate a lot at noon today, so I'm not very hungry now.
Zhou Shilin: I'll definitely be hungry at night, I can eat when I'm hungry.
Chen Ci: Hmm, what are you having for dinner?
Zhou Shilin: I had a meeting with our partners and then had a light business dinner in the evening.
He sent Chen Ci a picture of the business lunch he was currently eating. After looking at it, Chen Ci sent him a question mark.
Chen Ci: You call this a light meal?
What about the takeout she usually eats? Animal feed?
Zhou Shilin: The meal I ordered for you was more lavish than this.
Chen Ci: Mr. Zhou, you're eating by yourself, yet you still remember to order for me! Love you! [fancy heart emoji]
Mr. Huang, who was having a business lunch with Zhou Shilin, saw the whole process of him exchanging messages with Chen Ci and asked curiously, "I heard Chairman Zhou say before that President Zhou is in a relationship. Now it seems that it is true."
Zhou Shilin put away his phone and said to President Huang, "Indeed, I just met my family today."
"Oh? Doesn't that mean good things are on the horizon?" Mr. Huang had been chatting with other executives before, mentioning Zhou Shilin as a wonderful person except for his complete lack of interest in relationships. They'd tried to introduce him to girlfriends, but he'd refused them all. Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, he'd already taken someone home to meet his parents?
"You absolutely must invite me to Mr. Zhou's wedding banquet!"
"must."
The news that Zhou Shilin had brought his girlfriend home to meet his parents spread like wildfire. While Chen Ci was eating the food Zhou Shilin had ordered, her father suddenly called. Chen Ci thought he still wanted to talk about buying a car, so she answered the phone and said to him, "Dad, I really don't have time to look at cars lately."
"Put the car aside for now." Chen Ci's father's deliberately deep voice came through the receiver. "I heard that Zhou Shilin took his girlfriend home to meet his parents this afternoon. Did you know about this?"
Chen Ci: "..."
"Ahem." She cleared her throat and put down her chopsticks. "How did you find out about this? Did you call Chairman Zhou again?"
“This time, Zhou Shilin said it himself,” Chen Ci’s father said. “He brought it up himself, which proves that he’s not afraid of people spreading the word that your relationship has reached this point?”
When I called Chen Ci last time, she wouldn't admit they were dating. How come their relationship has progressed so rapidly in just a few days? Will the next time I hear news about them, it's because they're getting married?
"Just to be on the safe side, let me ask one more question: Is the person he brought you?"
"..." Chen Ci coughed twice more, "It is indeed I."
"...Fine, such a big thing, and you didn't tell us anything? We had to hear it from other people!"
"Uh, you don't need to get so worked up. It's just a casual meal."
"Then invite Zhou Shilin to our house for a casual meal tomorrow."
"...Then it might be inconvenient for him."
"Heh." Chen Ci's father chuckled coldly. "Is it inconvenient for him, or for you? It doesn't matter, we can ask him ourselves."
"...Tomorrow is Monday. Even if you want to make plans, let's make them for the weekend, right?" Chen Ci began to use delaying tactics. "I'll ask him, and I'll let you know when we've agreed on a time."
"Okay, then I'll wait for you."
A week passed, and there was still no news from Chen Ci.
Chen Ci wasn't just placating her father; she genuinely had a lot of free time before the Science and Technology Expo. This weekend, after receiving the factory's prototype, Chen Ci posted photos of it in the work group.
Chenci: Hello everyone, the samples for our surrounding area have been completed. I took some photos and will bring the actual products to everyone at the meeting on Monday.
Chenci: The souvenir set of Cheese Rin is also ready!
Chen Ci posted several photos in the group chat in one go, and the group chat immediately became lively.
Zhao Liang: So cool! Wearing this cheese-flavored T-shirt, I'm the most stylish guy in the whole world!
Yang Shuang: The actual product looks even better than the photos! President Shen personally went to the factory to repeatedly communicate and confirm everything! Thank you for your hard work, President Shen!
Chen Ci: Thankfully, receiving the actual product makes all the hard work worthwhile. [President Shijie's affirmation.jpg]
Miao Duo: "..."
President Shen has started sending President Zhou's memes again. It seems that President Zhou's lawyer's letter warning can only suppress President Shen for a while.
She pretended not to see it and sent a message in the group: "They all look great. This is the first time I've ever looked forward to Monday so much."
Yang Shuang: We're really looking forward to it too, hahaha, it's our first time going to the Czech Republic, hahahaha!
Miao Duo: President Shen must have come a few times by now.
Chen Ci: Yes, yes, but it was all personal business when I went to see President Zhou. This was my first time attending a meeting.
The group chat went quiet for a moment.
So it turns out that President Shen and President Zhou have so many private matters.
Recently, everyone has been saying that Mr. Zhou has a girlfriend and has even brought her home to meet his parents. It seems that she also happens to have the surname Chen.
Hahaha, what a coincidence!
Zhou Shilin: I will also attend tomorrow's meeting.
Zhao Liang: "..."
He knew then that their project was indeed S+++.
Wu Junnan: So, do you think I need to participate?
Sinking porcelain: Not really needed
Wu Junnan: "..."
oh. :)
On Monday, Chen Ci led her team to a meeting at Shijie. Shijie's headquarters building is one of the landmark buildings in City A. The towering building is magnificent. Yang Shuang, carrying a bag, looked up at the tall building in front of her: "Is this what it feels like to work in a big company?"
"Let's go, Miao Duo has come down to meet us."
"Oh? President Miao came to pick us up in person?" Yang Shuang called the others and followed Shen Ci, walking quickly into the Shijie Building. "President Shen, who picked you up when you came to Shijie before?"
"Someone from the CEO's office."
Yang Shuang gave a meaningful "oh": "I heard from Zhao Liang that there's been a rumor going around Shijie lately that President Zhou is dating a beautiful woman surnamed Shen."
Chen Ci: "..."
You guys are pretty good at spreading rumors.
She glanced at Yang Shuang, who was standing next to her, and asked her, "You and Zhao Liang are so close now?"
Yang Shuang humbly replied, "I'm still not as familiar with you as I am with President Zhou."
Could it be that Pupu Paradise is really going to become related to Shijie through marriage?
"President Shen, you've arrived?" Miao Duo, dressed in a business suit, immediately went up to shake hands with Shen Ci as they walked in. "Welcome, welcome. The meeting room is ready. Let's go upstairs first."
“Okay.” Chen Ci led the group and Miao Duo into the elevator. Luckily, Shijie’s elevator was big enough to fit all of them in at once.
Chen Ci had visited Shijie several times, always heading straight to the top floor—the floor where the president's office was located. This time, the meeting was scheduled on another floor, which Chen Ci had never been to before.
Miao Duo arranged a large multimedia conference room, where the Shijie project team members were already seated. When they saw them come in, they all stood up and greeted them.
After exchanging pleasantries, the people Chen Ci brought sat down side by side on the other side of the conference table. Chen Ci brought out his computer and related documents, and also placed the factory's sample products on the table for everyone to review later.
Just as I finished doing these things, I heard someone whisper, "President Zhou is here."
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