Tao Mu has very complicated feelings towards Shen Chen, or the men of the Shen family. In his previous life, after he returned to the Shen family, everyone hated him, excluded him, spoke harshly to him, and speculated about him with the most vicious thoughts. Only Shen's father and Shen Chen always ignored him and treated him as if he didn't exist. The other allowed him to join the company after he was banned from the entertainment industry. He even taught him step by step how to do business, trade stocks, and negotiate with others. How to judge whether a company has potential and how to seize the opportunity to acquire it.
Although Chen Chen's attitude towards him was still indifferent and he never discussed personal matters with him except for official business, Tao Mu could even vaguely feel Chen Chen's alienation and vigilance towards him. But compared to the many people around Shen Yu who mindlessly reject him, Shen Chen's attitude towards him is the best in the entire Shen family. At least treat him as a living person. At least I'm willing to communicate with him.
Although all their conversations were limited to official matters.
After living a new life, Tao Mu always thought of what happened to him after returning to the Shen family in his previous life. At first, he felt heartbroken, as if a big hole had been dug out of his heart, empty and bloody, and it would bleed even if he didn't touch it. But when he was adopted by Liu Yaomengqi, had his own father and grandfather, and received his own household registration book, he recalled the things about the Shen family again. The unforgettable pain seemed to have subsided a lot, and he had the leisure to ponder the details that were hidden under the intense emotions.
It's like a stray dog that has suffered a lot of harm from humans. Even if it is skinny, covered with wounds, and even has a conditioned fear and vigilance when seeing humans, one day, it is lucky enough to be adopted by a kind owner, who heals its wounds, cures its diseases, gives it fresh food, and even touches, hugs, and caresses its hair from time to time. Strong and warm love can heal the fear and pain hidden deep in the heart and memory. Make it a healthy dog again. Even if I recall again the wandering life that was so terrifying that I had nowhere to go, all that is left is simple memories and gratitude for the current situation.
The pain and shadow that I thought would haunt me for a lifetime can no longer hurt me.
Tao Mu's situation is similar. So when he had his own family and friends, who were not affected by Shen Yu's halo at all, and who neither hated him for no reason, nor thought he was unkind, nor spoke ill of him or stabbed him in the back for no reason, Tao Mu felt that he was finally in a relatively safe environment.
Recalling his experience in his previous life again, Tao Mu was shocked to find a detail - that is, every time he targeted Shen Yu, he would face crazy suppression from Shen's family and Shen Yu's admirers; in addition, whenever Tao Mu performed better, such as breaking box office records for movies he invested in, having super high ratings for TV series he supervised as an investor, and helping Shen's Group win big orders, or successfully helping the group acquire an emerging enterprise with huge development potential, and being treated differently by Shen's family friends and other shareholders of the group, he would always inexplicably expose various scandals. Of course, it was later proved that these scandals were all caused by Shen Yu's admirers. Then Tao Mu's attention will shift from official business to the feud with Shen Yu and his admirers. The major shareholders, who had originally looked upon him with a different eye, were disappointed with him and said that he was a hopeless case.
Just like a traveler struggling to climb out of a quagmire, every time he tries his best to climb to the edge, he will be dragged into the quagmire again. It's like a cycle with no hope and will never end until death.
In his previous life, Tao Mu always believed that Shen Yu was behind all these things. But in this life, when he was completely free from the influence of the plot halo, he thought about these experiences again. You will discover the subtleties.
At least based on his understanding of Shen Yu, that brainless naive person simply doesn't have such scheming and intentions. So Tao Mu guessed that these things were all done by Shen Yu's admirers on their own initiative, just to suppress him so that his existence would not cause harm to Shen Yu. However, in the last few years of his previous life, Tao Mu was banned from the entertainment industry by others, and was called into the company by Chen Chen to help. In order to adapt to the high-intensity working atmosphere within the group, Tao Mu had no time to be distracted. He put all his energy into his work. When there was a project, he would often work overtime for several months in a row, for fear that his dullness and unfamiliarity would affect the progress of the project. Until the task was finally completed, he presented the fruits of his hard work for several months to Chen Chen, just to get a compliment from him saying "not bad".
Since he had no energy to think about Shen Yu, how could he threaten or harm him? Since there is no fundamental conflict, Shen Yu's admirers always counterattack for unknown reasons. As long as you think about the timing of their counterattacks, some clues will immediately come to mind.
Perhaps the person in the Shen family who disliked him the most and did not want him to make a comeback was not the usurper Shen Yu, nor his mother Shen and Shen Yan who hated him inexplicably, nor Shen Yu's admirers, but his eldest brother Shen Chen, who had never shown any disgust from beginning to end and even taught him how to do business.
As for the reason, after living a new life without the halo of the plot, Tao Mu, who was deeply trapped in the situation, was finally able to see things more clearly as a bystander.
——That is what Shen Yan always yelled out loudly when she was targeting him, fearing that others could not hear her: "You work so hard, so urgently, are you coming back to fight with big brother for the family property?" And what Shen's father and mother always said, seemingly disappointed in him: "Why can't you be as innocent as Yu Yu, innocent and sincere to others? Don't always think about competing with others."
No matter whether in his previous life, those members of the Shen family truly hated him or were intentionally giving him a reminder. Tao Mu thought of how every time Chen Chen praised him, he would always sigh expressionlessly, "You are worthy of being my brother, you really look like me." Every time he heard these words in his previous life, no matter how hard or tiring it was, he would feel that his hard work was worth it, at least he could get the recognition from his eldest brother. But in this life, Tao Mu always felt creepy whenever he recalled the profound meaning of Shen Chen's words.
——As expected of my younger brother, he really looks like me. So the better you are, the more worried I will be. That's why I have to suppress you, and even keep you by my side and keep an eye on you all the time. I will never tolerate your development getting out of my control and posing a threat to my inheritance rights.
This is what Chen Chen actually wanted to express, right?
Then, when I was betrayed by people around me in my previous life, was it also your fault, my big brother? I ended up jumping off a building and committing suicide at Shen Yu's wedding. Did you feel satisfied and could rest easy from then on?
Tao Mu looked at Chen Chen with an obscure expression, his profile blending into the light and shadow, his double-fold phoenix eyes were narrow and long, with the tails of his eyes tilted up, and when his eyes were lowered, he looked even more arrogant, solemn, cold and unruly. In a trance, he was exactly the same as Chen Chen who was sitting opposite him.
When Chen Chen's assistant knocked on the door and came in, he was inevitably startled by the two people's expressions that seemed like they were looking in a mirror. He immediately came to his senses, walked over to Chen Chen and whispered a few words.
Shen Chen waved his hand, and his trusted assistant left quietly. Just then the waiter came in to serve the dishes. Tao Mu looked coldly at the table full of his favorite dishes and couldn't help laughing in his heart.
Chen Chen is a person who has this ability. Even though he was always cold and expressionless, and never said a cheesy word to anyone. But if he is sincere, he can still make you feel that he values you very much. He will ask his men to investigate your past experiences and preferences first, and then reveal a few things about you inadvertently. You will feel a sense of honor and awe as if the emperor who is high and mighty has condescended to please you.
Just like in his previous life, Tao Mu went on business trips with Chen Chen. When eating out, Chen Chen would look at the menu and casually order two dishes that Tao Mu liked. Of course, Chen Chen never explained to Tao Mu why he ordered these two dishes. Just don't touch it at all when eating. Then Tao Mu would be self-indulgent and think that Shen Chen had specially ordered it for him. I suddenly felt that "Although my brother is indifferent, he still cares about me. It's just that he is not good at expressing it."
What's more, in his previous life, Chen Chen did more than just ordering food when eating. When Tao Mu worked overtime to push the project and had a fever due to excessive fatigue, Chen Chen would stay by his side all night to take care of him. When he was so busy at work that he forgot to eat, Shen Chen would send his trusted assistant to come to him with a lunch box. When he celebrated his birthday with Shen Yu, the Shen family was busy preparing a grand surprise for Shen Yu. Only Shen Chen remembered to give him a handwritten birthday card and a bunch of books - the contents of the books ranged from how to improve acting skills to large works on economic management. Shen Yu buys a Ferrari luxury car every year. Even the brand hasn’t changed, it’s the latest model of the year.
So much so that Tao Mu always thought that he was special in Shen Chen's heart.
Then comes the saying that a gentleman will die for his friend.
Tao Mu really died in his previous life. Until his death, he never doubted this good brother who taught him step by step.
That's right, when everyone around you is rejecting and hating you, and there is only one person who is willing to lend you a hand, even if his attitude is cold and not warm at all, but considering his careful teaching of you, how can you suspect that this person has bad intentions?
A drowning person would only worry about drowning himself with the sea water. Would he also suspect that the driftwood he is holding tightly in his hands could kill him?
No. So in his previous life, Tao Mu never doubted Chen Chen. It has never been verified. In this life, although Tao Mu suspected it, he had no way to verify it. He also didn't want to make malicious speculations about the only person in the Shen family who was kind to him in his previous life based on suspicion alone. Anyway, he will never return to the Shen family in this life, and there is no conflict of interest with Shen Chen.
From now on, one of them will be in the capital and the other in Shanghai. There is no chance for us to meet anyway, so let’s just leave those bad things from the past life as they are.
Chen Chen watched coldly, seeing Tao Mu's expression suddenly dim after seeing the dishes on the table, and asked softly: "Why, these dishes don't suit Mr. Tao's appetite? Why don't we order a few more?"
"No need." Tao Mu came back to his senses: "These dishes are very good. Mr. Shen, please continue."
After living a new life, Tao Mu and the Shen family have nothing to say to each other. But seeing that Shen Chen could tell Yao Sheng'an and Sheng'an Group's past experiences and behaviors in detail at the dinner table, Tao Mu still patiently finished this dinner, which could not be said to be an apology, but was a willing bait.
After dinner, Chen Chen wanted to send Tao Mu back to school out of politeness. After being rejected by Tao Mu, he did not insist and drove back to the hotel.
Father Shen had been waiting in Shen Chen's room for a long time.
After seeing Chen Chen, he slowly asked, "Have you met the boy named Tao?"
Chen Chen nodded. He took off his coat and casually hung it on the hanger, untied his tie with his slender fingers: "He is a very interesting young man. My assistant also said that we are very similar."
Father Shen echoed casually, probably even he didn’t pay attention to what he said. He just looked at his eldest son, hesitant to speak.
Chen Chen frowned slightly, and without his father saying anything, he said, "Grandpa Yao came to see you?"
Father Shen nodded repeatedly and said, "I always feel that the Yao family and the Shen family have been friends for generations. If we really help Tao Mu to defeat the Sheng'an Group. You also said that Li Xiaoheng is standing behind Tao Mu, and he has a good relationship with the Luo Group. The Luo Group just took over the land in Pudong New Area in Shanghai. It is obvious that they also want to enter the real estate industry in Shanghai. If we do this, will it become a tiger swallowing a wolf?"
Chen Chen curled the corners of his mouth. My father is indeed old.
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