Chapter 11 Don't Recognize Me as Your Mother
The Shang's Building, top-floor conference room.
Yan Shuang stood in front of the screen, lightly tapped the remote control with her fingertips, and a set of brand-new data analysis charts were clearly presented.
“Based on the issues raised by the General Chamber of Commerce last time, we have re-examined the overseas regulatory provisions.” Her voice was calm and clear, without the slightest wavering from the previous days. “We not only completed the analysis of the anti-money laundering provisions, but also discovered a key point.”
The screen switches, revealing a complex equity structure diagram.
“The shell company that Zhou Lin used to mortgage the patent is actually controlled by his cousin.” Yan Shuang’s laser pointer stopped at a certain point. “And this cousin happens to be the CFO of Du’s competitor. This means that if we report this to the regulatory authorities on the grounds of ‘commercial espionage risk,’ we can not only force Zhou Lin to give up the patent, but also make his backer unable to protect himself.”
She clicked on the next page, which displayed a complete legal plan.
"This is a plan drafted by the Ministry of Justice overnight." Yan Shuang looked directly at Shang Qiuzhu for the first time. "It is expected that the acquisition price can be reduced by another 10%."
The air froze for a few seconds.
Du Yunchuan suddenly chuckled, "Brilliant." He turned to Shang Qiuzhu, "Qiuzhu, do you still think it's a waste of talent for me to poach him?"
Shangqiu Zhu ignored her friend's teasing.
His deep gaze was fixed on her calm, watery eyes.
"good."
Those two simple words instantly silenced the meeting room.
Everyone knows that Shangqiu Zhu is extremely strict and rarely affirms his subordinates so directly.
"Let's proceed with this plan." He closed the folder. "Send me the detailed plan to my email this afternoon."
Yan Shuang nodded slightly, her lips curving into an uncontrollable smile.
That wasn't her usual precise, professional smile, but a light that shone from the depths of her heart, clear and dazzling.
Shangqiu Zhu withdrew his gaze.
The atmosphere in the meeting room was tense on the day of the acquisition negotiations.
Zhou Lin sat opposite him, his face gloomy, his fingers tapping incessantly on the table, clearly extremely dissatisfied with the Shang family's increasingly aggressive terms.
His legal team was on high alert, with documents laid out, ready to refute his claims at any moment.
Shangqiu Zhu sat in the main seat, his expression cold and his gaze sharp as a blade.
Beside him, Yan Shuang sat quietly, her notebook in front of her filled with key notes, and neatly organized folders with each document clearly labeled.
"President Zhou, I think we've made the issue of patent ownership very clear." Shang Qiuzhu's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable sense of authority.
Zhou Lin sneered: "President Shang, the conditions you've proposed are far too harsh."
Shangqiu Zhu did not respond immediately, but merely turned her head slightly, her gaze sweeping towards Yan Shuang.
Without him even having to say a word, Yan Shuang had already raised her hand, precisely pulled a document from the folder, and gently pushed it in front of him.
Shangqiu Zhu glanced down at it; it was the supplementary agreement he wanted.
He opened the document and tapped a clause with his finger: "If Mr. Zhou finds the conditions too harsh, then you might want to take a look at this."
Zhou Lin frowned as he took it, his expression instantly changing.
Yan Shuang's gaze remained fixed on Shang Qiuzhu's fingertips. Just as he was about to turn the page, she had already adjusted the angle of the next page's information to ensure that he could see the key data at a glance.
When Zhou Lin's lawyer tried to refute, Shang Qiuzhu simply raised a finger slightly, and Yan Shuang had already pulled up the corresponding legal clauses and projected them on the screen, precisely plugging the loopholes in the other party's argument.
Throughout the entire negotiation, the two did not exchange a single unnecessary word, yet they seemed to be in perfect sync.
With just a glance, Shangqiu Zhu could immediately receive the information Yan Shuang needed.
He paused for a moment, and she was able to fill in the points he hadn't said aloud.
Zhou Lin's face grew increasingly grim. Finally, he gritted his teeth and slammed his fist on the table: "Enough!"
The meeting room fell silent instantly.
Shang Qiuzhu looked at him calmly, her tone still composed: "President Zhou, is there any other question?"
Zhou Lin took a deep breath and finally slumped back into his chair: "...I'll sign."
The negotiations ended, and everyone left one after another.
"Great!" Du Yunchuan's clapping was particularly crisp in the conference room. He leaned against the conference table and gave Yan Shuang a thumbs up. "Secretary Yan's performance today was simply rubbing Zhou Lin in the ground."
Yan Shuang paused slightly as she was organizing documents, and a smile appeared on her lips: "President Du, you flatter me. It's mainly because President Shang's negotiation strategy is excellent."
"Don't give me that," Du Yunchuan said with a smile, leaning over the conference table in front of her. "Seriously, how about coming to Du's Group? I'll give you the position of investment manager."
The air suddenly froze for a moment.
Yan Shuang looked up and met Du Yunchuan's smiling peach blossom eyes.
"I......"
Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly felt a cold gaze fall on her back.
I know who it is without even turning around.
Du Yunchuan clearly noticed this as well, but deliberately raised his voice: "Double the salary, a private office, and report directly to me."
He tapped the folder in front of Yan Shuang lightly with his fingertips. "It's much better than being a secretary here."
"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Du," Yan Shuang said, closing the folder. Her voice remained gentle. "However, I still have a lot to learn at Shang's."
Du Yunchuan raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting back and forth between her and Shang Qiuzhu: "Tsk, truly loyal."
He straightened up, took out a business card from his suit pocket, and gently slipped it into Yan Shuang's folder. "Contact me anytime if you change your mind."
Yan Shuang was stunned for a moment, looking at the business card in front of her that read "Du Yunchuan, CEO of Yunchuan Capital", and didn't know how to react.
Just as she hesitated, a slender hand reached out from the side and deftly pulled the business card hanging in the folder away.
Yan Shuang and Du Yunchuan turned their heads at the same time.
Shangqiu Zhu walked over at some point and stood beside them.
He didn't even glance at the business card. He casually held it between his fingers, flicked his arm, and accurately tossed it into a nearby trash can.
The entire movement was fluid and natural, as if he were simply throwing away a useless piece of waste paper.
Du Yunchuan: "..."
Yan Shuang: "..."
Shang Qiuzhu glanced indifferently at Du Yunchuan's surprised face. "You've tried to poach people from me?"
Du Yunchuan was the first to react, shaking his head with a laugh: "Hey, Qiu Zhu, isn't that a bit unfair? I was just appreciating your talent..."
Shangqiu Zhu ignored his protest, turned around indifferently, and walked straight to the group of senior executives who had been waiting at the door, leaving the two of them looking at each other in bewilderment.
Yan Shuang was busy until the end of the workday. She had just finished packing up her documents and stepped out of the elevator when she was startled by a burst of cheers.
"Secretary Yan! Over here!"
The acquisition team members stood in the company lobby, with Manager Xue holding up a simple sign that read, "Celebrating the successful acquisition!" in crooked handwriting.
Yan Shuang stood there, stunned: "You... what's going on?"
"Of course it's a celebration banquet!" Wang Hequan walked over. "Thanks to you this time, that old fox Zhou Lin finally agreed to sign. We've all agreed that we have to make sure you get a good meal!"
"Huh?" Yan Shuang blinked, somewhat at a loss. "I'll treat you?"
Assistant Xue put her arm around her shoulder. "Of course, we'll split the bill! But..." she lowered her voice and winked. "Before President Du left, he secretly slipped me a VIP card and told us to go to 'Amber' Bar and put all the drinks on his tab."
"Let's go, let's go!" Everyone was already pushing her outside impatiently. "We're not leaving until we're drunk tonight!"
A group of people poured out of the building in a lively atmosphere, and the night breeze carried the tipsy feeling of late summer.
Surrounded by her colleagues, Yan Shuang listened to their chatter about what drinks they wanted, occasionally responding with a smile.
The bar was dimly lit and the music was deafening.
Yan Shuang sat in a corner booth, holding a mojito in her hand. The coolness of the mint mixed with the slight intoxication of the alcohol finally relaxed her nerves, which had been tense for several days.
My colleagues were playing dice noisily, their laughter rising and falling.
Wang Hequan, his cheeks flushed from drinking, insisted on clinking glasses with her, saying, "Secretary Yan! We really owe you a lot this time! From now on, we're sworn brothers!"
Yan Shuang smiled and clinked glasses with him. Just as she was about to drink, her phone suddenly vibrated in her palm.
The name flashing on the screen made her fingers freeze: Mom.
She put down her glass and went to the terrace outside the bar to pick it up.
"Hello, Mom."
A rare gentle voice came from the other end of the phone, even carrying a hint of barely perceptible caution: "Shuangshuang, are you busy? Have you eaten?"
"The company is having a celebration banquet, I've already eaten." Yan Shuang's tone was calm, but with a hint of wariness.
“Oh, a celebration banquet is great…” Zhou Yaqin paused, her voice softening, “Shuangshuang, it’s been so many days… when are you coming home? Mom misses you.”
Yan Shuang's heart skipped a beat, but then she remembered the unpleasantness in the study that night, and said in a muffled tone, "Go back? If we go back, are you going to force me to marry Zhao Mingyuan again?"
"Oh no, no!" Zhou Yaqin immediately denied. "Mom thought about it a lot that night too. I was just too anxious. You're right, marriage is a serious matter and can't be forced. I've figured it out, and I won't pressure you anymore, really."
Yan Shuang held her phone, somewhat incredulous.
Her mother's change in attitude surprised her, and the tension that had been building for days suddenly eased.
The grievances and stubbornness of the past few days seemed to have found an outlet.
Her nose tingled slightly, and her voice softened involuntarily, "Really? You're not lying to me?"
"I'm not lying to you, I'm not lying to you. When has Mom ever lied to you?" Zhou Yaqin quickly assured her. "Come back soon, your room is cleaned every day. Your sister's wedding dress has been ordered, and she's going on her pre-wedding trip next week. Why don't you come and take a look?"
Yan Shuang gazed at the flashing neon lights in the distance. "Okay," she whispered, "I'll go back tonight."
After hanging up the phone, Yan Shuang leaned against the balcony railing and took a deep breath.
The night breeze, carrying the city's unique hustle and bustle and warmth, dispersed the moisture in her eyes.
She turned and went back to the bar, where her colleagues were already drunk and staggering.
Manager Xue looked up groggily: "Secretary Yan... are you leaving?"
"Hmm." She picked up her bag and smiled. "Something came up at home."
"Then, let's get together again next time!" Wang Hequan waved his hand drunkenly.
Yan Shuang nodded and walked out of the bar.
She pushed open the door and stood in the entryway, her fingers still resting on the doorknob, gazing somewhat dazedly at the scene in the living room.
Zhou Yaqin and Yan You were sitting on the sofa when they heard the door open and turned around at the same time, their faces beaming with joy.
"Shuangshuang!" Zhou Yaqin walked up to her. "You're finally back! Your mother was so worried."
Yan You got up from the sofa and took the backpack from Yan Shuang's shoulder: "You silly girl, you ran away from home without saying a word. Do you know how worried we were?"
Yan Shuang's eyes instantly reddened.
"I'm sorry..." Her voice was barely audible.
"Don't talk about that, it's good that you're back." Zhou Yaqin took her hand and walked towards the restaurant. "Are you hungry? I made your favorite chicken soup."
Under the restaurant lights, the steaming chicken soup was golden and translucent, with a thin layer of oil floating on the surface, and the aroma wafted straight into Yan Shuang's nose.
Yan Shuang's tears finally fell.
"Why are you crying?" Yan You handed her a tissue and gently patted her back. "Did you suffer some mistreatment outside?"
"No..." Yan Shuang shook her head, sobbing, "I just... I just feel like I was being so immature..."
Zhou Yaqin sat next to her, stirring the chicken soup with a spoon to cool it down. "Silly child, there's no such thing as a grudge that lasts overnight between family members. Drink the soup quickly, it won't taste good when it gets cold."
Yan Shuang held the bowl in both hands, the warm touch spreading from her fingertips all the way to her heart.
She sipped it slowly.
"Shuangshuang," Zhou Yaqin's voice was a bit more serious than before, "Actually... there's something I want to discuss with you."
Yan Shuang put down her bowl, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and asked, "Mom, what's wrong?"
Zhou Yaqin and Yan You exchanged a glance.
Yan You lowered her head, looking somewhat uneasy.
“It’s like this,” Zhou Yaqin carefully chose her words, “Tomorrow You’er and Qiu Zhu are going on a pre-wedding trip to the Maldives…”
Yan Shuang nodded; she knew about this.
“But…” she hesitated, then glanced at Yan You, “You’er… is no longer a virgin.”
Yan Shuang frowned. "What era are we living in? Why do you still care about this? Besides, my brother-in-law seems quite open-minded."
“You don’t understand,” Yan You finally spoke, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible, “I want to leave the best impression on Brother Qiu Zhu.”
Yan Shuang found it utterly absurd, but looking at her sister's expression, she swallowed back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
"So I'd like to ask you for a favor," Zhou Yaqin whispered in her ear.
Yan Shuang suddenly had a bad feeling.
“Anyway, you all look alike, so just dim the lights…” Zhou Yaqin’s voice trailed off, “If you take You’er’s place that night… Qiu Zhu will be too drunk to tell the difference…”
Yan Shuang's mind went blank.
She stared at Zhou Yaqin's lips as they moved, wondering if she was hallucinating.
"Are you... insane?" She jumped up, her knee slamming into the corner of the table. "You want me to sleep with my brother-in-law? Is that something a human being would say?"
The pain shot up the top of my head along my nerves, but it was nothing compared to the nausea churning in my stomach.
"Shuangshuang, calm down!" Zhou Yaqin also stood up. "It's just a temporary measure, anyway..."
"Anyway what? Anyway we look the same?" Yan Shuang's voice began to tremble. "Am I an object? Someone I can just borrow and use?"
Yan You grabbed her hand, "Shuangshuang, please... I've never asked you for anything before... just this once..."
Yan Shuang shook off her hand and took two steps back.
She looked at the two people closest to her, yet felt an unprecedented sense of estrangement.
She had just felt guilty about running away from home, but now she felt that leaving this home might have been the best decision she had ever made.
“You guys are disgusting,” she said, enunciating each word clearly, her voice as cold as ice.
Zhou Yaqin's expression turned stern. "Yan Shuang! How dare you speak like that? We're family, isn't it only natural for us to help each other?"
"Help each other?" Yan Shuang sneered. "Do you even consider me family? If you did, why would you bring up such an absurd idea!"
After saying that, she walked towards the door.
"Yan Shuang!" Zhou Yaqin called out from behind, her voice laced with threat, "If you dare to step out of this door, don't acknowledge me as your mother!"
Yan Shuang's hand stopped on the doorknob, her shoulders trembling slightly.
A moment later, she turned around, her face streaked with tears but bearing a resolute smile.
"Fine, then I won't admit it."
She opened the door, and a sudden wave of dizziness struck the back of her head.
The scene before her eyes began to distort, and the doorknob became slippery and difficult to grip in her palm.
She blinked, trying to dispel the strange feeling, but found her eyelids as heavy as lead.
"What... happened to me?" she murmured to herself, her voice becoming distant and indistinct in her ears.
Suddenly losing her footing, Yan Shuang staggered forward.
Just as she was about to fall to the ground, a pair of arms caught her from behind.
She turned her head with difficulty and saw Zhou Yaqin's familiar face, but now it wore a kind of almost cold calm that she had never seen before.
“Mom…chicken soup…” Yan Shuang slowly and painstakingly pieced together the truth.
"Don't struggle, the medicine will work quickly." Zhou Yaqin's voice was as gentle as if she were coaxing a child to sleep. "I'm sorry, Mom knows you won't agree, so this is the only way to keep you here."
Yan Shuang wanted to scream and push away this woman who had suddenly become a stranger, but her muscles refused to obey her brain's commands.
She slumped limply into Zhou Yaqin's arms...
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