Chapter 90 President Shang's Insight
After the presentation, soothing jazz music played in the tea room.
This is the real arena of fame and fortune. Students, with wine glasses in hand, are trying to find opportunities to chat with the big shots they usually only see in financial news, hoping to secure a bright future for themselves.
Mark and Emma were still basking in the immense excitement of winning second place. They each pulled a somewhat unsettled Yan Shuang along, their eyes gleaming as they searched for their target.
"Look! That's the Managing Director of KKR over there!"
"And that VP from Goldman Sachs! Yanshuang, let's go, let's go and make our faces known!"
Yan Shuang was being dragged along by them, her steps were a little unsteady, and her gaze involuntarily drifted to the other side of the hall.
There, Shangqiu bamboo is undoubtedly the absolute center.
The president of USC, several academic authorities, and several business tycoons who frequently appear on the covers of financial magazines were surrounding him like stars around the moon, with obsequious smiles on their faces.
Shangqiu Zhu held a glass of champagne in his hand, occasionally nodding his head. His expression was indifferent, yet he exuded an undeniable aura of authority.
Yan Shuang's heart sank little by little.
She is now 100% certain that Shangqiu Zhu definitely heard the professor's teasing remark about "boyfriend" and took it seriously.
His eyes were so cold and terrifying.
She really wanted to disappear right away and find a place to catch her breath.
A senior executive from a company, who was fawning over Shang Qiuzhu, asked with a smile, "President Shang, I heard that the Shang family has also recommended outstanding talents to participate in this project? I wonder which young talent has won the favor of the Shang family?"
Yan Shuang's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.
Almost at the same time, Lin Chengyu walked through the crowd and stood beside Yan Shuang.
He keenly sensed her unease, and very naturally reached out to pat her shoulder gently, his voice soothing: "Are you alright? You did a fantastic job just now."
This action can have completely different meanings depending on who sees it.
Shangqiu Zhu, who was in the center, did not answer the executive's question, but simply raised his eyelids slightly.
Those unfathomable eyes locked onto Yan Shuang.
The vice principal's smile faltered slightly, his gaze quickly sweeping over Yan Shuang, Lin Chengyu, and Shang Qiuzhu, as if he had sensed something unusual.
With a slightly uncertain smile, he tentatively asked, "Is the talent recommended by President Shang the team of this Ms. Yan Shuang?"
Yan Shuang felt a chill run down her spine when she heard the vice principal's words.
I really want to escape from the center of this vortex immediately.
She lowered her head, mumbled "Excuse me, I'll be right back," and turned to try and sneak away through the crowd.
However, she had only taken two steps.
A voice rang out clearly behind her.
"Yan Shuang".
He didn't raise his voice, nor did he show any extra emotion; he simply called her name.
This caused the entire tea room to quickly fall silent, with him at the center.
All curious eyes once again focused on the slender figure trying to escape.
After a few seconds of suffocating silence, Yan Shuang turned around very slowly.
With her head down, she moved step by step, almost with difficulty, back to that oppressive central area, and obediently stopped beside Shangqiu Zhu.
"President Shang." Her voice was soft, almost inaudible.
Shang Qiuzhu didn't look at her again. He turned slightly to bring her somewhat flustered figure into his circle, and then, facing the inquisitive business tycoons and academic authorities, introduced a distinguished junior of his own family in a natural tone:
“Yan Shuang, an employee of the Shang family, is also a core member of this award-winning team.” He raised his hand and gestured to Mark and Emma, who were also somewhat stunned not far away, “and her teammates, who are all very promising.”
The bigwigs immediately showed expressions of realization and approval, and all cast appraising and interested glances at Yan Shuang.
"I see, truly heroes emerge from among the young."
"President Shang has a keen eye; the person he recommended is indeed a talented individual."
"Miss Yan's report just now was excellent."
Shangqiu Zhu calmly introduced her to resources: "This is David, Managing Director of KKR, who is very interested in the risk hedging part of your model. This is Mr. Liu, VP of Morgan Stanley, who is in charge of structured products in the Asia Pacific region... We can exchange ideas and ask him questions when we have time."
Every time he introduced someone, Yan Shuang had to force a smile and greet them.
Mark and Emma were also stunned by this sudden "opportunity." Excited and nervous, they stepped forward and, together with Yan Shuang, clumsily but earnestly tried to seize this priceless opportunity.
Shangqiu Zhu stood beside Yan Shuang, his demeanor composed, as if he were merely a boss who valued talent and was mentoring a junior.
But his very existence was like an invisible barrier, firmly confining Yan Shuang within his sphere of influence, isolating her from all other possible prying eyes and approach.
A few steps away at the edge of the crowd, Lin Chengyu stood still, watching Yan Shuang's slender figure being controlled by Shang Qiuzhu with an unquestionable air, accepting the resources he brought. His hands, hanging by his sides, clenched silently.
After enduring a round of pleasantries, Yan Shuang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if she had fought a tough battle, with fine beads of sweat seeping from her back.
She was trying to find an excuse to get something to eat and escape the suffocating atmosphere.
Lin Chengyu walked over at just the right moment, carrying a plate of avocado salad. His voice was still gentle: "You've been busy for so long, why don't you eat something to fill your stomach? The salad over there is pretty good, I got you some."
Just as Yan Shuang took a slight step, a cold gaze finally fell upon her.
Throughout the introduction, Shang Qiuzhu remained composed as she interacted with everyone, not even glancing at her. But at this moment, as Lin Chengyu approached, his gaze fell directly on her, like a silent warning.
Yan Shuang's nerves, which had just begun to relax, tensed up again.
She dared not provoke Shangqiu Zhu at this moment, and forced a smile.
"I...I'm not hungry yet. You guys go eat first. Mark, Emma, you two go with Cheng Yu to try it."
She almost hastily pushed her teammate out.
After saying that, she didn't dare to look at Shang Qiuzhu or Lin Chengyu again, quickly lowered her head, and whispered, "Excuse me, I'm going to the restroom."
Then, without waiting for anyone to react, she turned around abruptly and walked quickly toward the restroom as if fleeing, disappearing into the crowd in an instant.
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