Chapter 171 Became a Coward Who Ran Away
"What's this?"
Shang Wu opened her eyes wide and stared intently at the news report on the screen.
Startled, Aying nearly jumped up, frantically trying to cover the screen, stammering, "Mr. Shang, why did you suddenly come? And why..."
"Don't block it, I've already seen it."
Shang Wu pulled her away, her face growing increasingly grim as she looked at the news report on the screen.
The press release was full of stories about how Lu Zheng's former company was cheated out of business and went bankrupt, and how the young lady of the Yu family was manipulated by her best friend into becoming a star, which led to her developing depression.
The press release was so detailed that it felt as if the writer had experienced it firsthand.
The only people capable of producing such a press release are Lu Zheng and Lu Rang.
"Mr. Shang, Mr. Shang, are you alright?"
Aying held Shang Wu's arm, unsure how to comfort her. "I really don't know which unscrupulous reporter was so bored that they exposed this kind of thing!"
"Was it really an unscrupulous reporter?" Shang Wu murmured. "Tell me, do you really believe it was an unscrupulous reporter who exposed it?"
A single question left A-Ying speechless.
Yes, what unscrupulous reporter would expose such a secretive matter concerning the Yu family.
This was clearly orchestrated by someone in the know.
Aying swallowed hard and said softly, "Then, that might have been done by Mr. Lu. He has hated Madam Shang for so many years, so it's normal for him to want to expose this matter."
No, it wasn't him either.
Shang Wu's mind was in turmoil. "Or it really is him, but that doesn't matter anymore."
For the businesses involved, this exposure is something they deserved to suffer.
But in the past few days, the balance she had painstakingly maintained has been broken.
She pretended not to know anything about what had happened before, not wanting to expose the painful past that Lu Rang had painstakingly protected and concealed, which would become a heavy obstacle between them.
This is believed to be Lu Rang's original intention.
They both tacitly agreed not to mention it, trying to leave these past events in the past and not affect their relationship.
But now it's all been exposed.
Shang Wu didn't know how to talk to Lu Rang about this face to face.
"President Shang, President Shang, you have to think of a solution. I guess Attorney Lu doesn't know about this yet."
Ah Ying urged her on, trying her best to find a way to help her salvage the situation.
“We’ve suppressed the heat of this matter. Maybe Lawyer Lu saw it, but he thought you didn’t know about it.”
Shang Wu smiled, then said weakly, "Don't say any more of this. It's useless. This is such big news. Even if I didn't know, you and the others around me would have told me. Pretending not to know is simply unrealistic."
Aying pursed her lips, looking at her with worry: "What should we do now?"
Shang Wu felt that suffocating feeling again.
She didn't know how to say it, and managed to say with difficulty, "Go, let's calm things down first. Don't you have a business trip project that requires you to go on?"
Aying nodded: "Yes, it's Vice President Wen who's in charge. He's already bought the plane tickets."
Shang Wu pondered for a moment and said, "Let him rest. I will go on the business trip myself."
Aying asked in surprise, "Are you going to avoid Lu Lu?" This wasn't like Shang Wu's usual way of doing things.
“I don’t know how to deal with this. I don’t want to talk to him about it, and I don’t want to hear him admit it to me. He will think of Ruan Yuzhi whenever he sees me.”
Shang Wu took a deep breath and tried her best to calm down.
Aying nodded: "Okay, I'll arrange it for you right away."
Shang Wu turned and left. Just as she arrived at her office, the landline phone rang.
She picked up the landline phone: "Hello."
"Miss Shang, did you sever ties with your family because your mother killed the eldest daughter of the Yu family?"
"Does the young master of the Yu family have any objections to this? You look alike with your mother; could this be an obstacle to your relationship...?"
Bang!
Shang Wu slammed down the phone, rubbed her temples, and walked to the French windows.
She looked down and saw a group of reporters gathered at the main entrance downstairs.
Shang Wu pursed her lips and left directly through the back door.
After she arrived at the underground parking garage and got into her car, a phone call came in.
Shang Wu thought it was a reporter. She answered the phone and was about to snap back at them and tell them not to bother her when she heard a familiar voice.
Did you do those things online?
The question almost made Shang Wu burst out laughing.
"I didn't do it! I wouldn't do anything that would affect my relationship with Lu Rang in the slightest! On the contrary, it's normal for your parents to be exposed for doing something wrong, so don't bother me!"
After hanging up the phone, Shang Wu immediately blocked Shang Yunshen's other number and stepped on the gas to go to the airport.
Two hours had passed since the press release was published before they left.
She didn't know if Lu Rang was too busy with work to see it, or if he was unable to contact her right now.
Shang Wu told A Ying to handle the matter as soon as possible and not to let these messy news stories that were affecting Lu Rang's mood spread everywhere.
Before boarding the plane, she sent Lu Rang a text message.
I'm going on a business trip. I'll be back in three days. Wait for me.
As for Aying, she specifically instructed that if Lu Rang asked, she should say that this project was very important and that she was personally going on a business trip because she was afraid that others would not handle it well.
With everything in place, Shang Wu boarded a plane and left.
Even when reporters arrived after receiving the news, all they could see were planes taking off.
For the next three days, Shang Wu barely even dared to look at her phone.
She was afraid to see any information about Lu Rang, afraid that it wouldn't be what she wanted to see, so she kept her head down and worked.
The trip was filled with meetings of all sizes.
On the afternoon of the third day, Shang Wu held his last meeting, and he was so hungry that his stomach was practically sticking to his back.
The partner is a wealthy second-generation heir, young and promising, who has just taken over the company and is perhaps not yet very familiar with it.
Therefore, his team has strict controls over collaborations and meetings.
The meeting, which should have ended in three hours, was extended by two hours.
As evening approached, Shang Wu and the other person stood at the top of the stairs, too exhausted to even smile.
She said weakly, "Mr. Chen, then our cooperation has been successfully completed. When you lead your team to Lincheng next week, I will definitely give you a proper welcome."
Chen Chunzhi looked at Shang Wu's slightly pale face and burst out laughing.
"Mr. Shang, I've realized I'm a complete jerk."
Those around him paused upon hearing this.
The elevator doors opened.
Shang Wu gestured for him to enter, and then, forcing herself to be alert, asked, "Why did you suddenly say that, Mr. Chen?"
"Am I not? My business skills are inadequate. I can't even hold a meeting properly. I'm so sorry that you and your team are so exhausted that you don't even have the energy to speak."
Chen Chunzhi, being easy to talk to, made a few self-deprecating remarks and shrugged.
Shang Wu smiled politely: "What's wrong with that? No one can be perfect when they first take over a company. It's a good thing to have a longer meeting and be more cautious. At least both sides can reach a consensus and cooperate smoothly."
Chen Chunzhi gave her a deep look: "How about we exchange private contact information? My assistant has arranged for you to go to a famous local restaurant for roast lamb?"
Upon hearing this, there were very soft swallowing sounds behind Shang Wu.
The staff who came with Shang Wu were so hungry that they were all secretly swallowing their saliva.
Shang Wu felt somewhat helpless.
She could only nod and say, "Then thank you for the treat, Mr. Chen."
The employees behind him were all beaming with joy, exchanging glances and secretly rejoicing that they would have a big meal after finishing their work.
Everyone went out for a meal together.
Upon arriving at the private room, Chen Chunzhi deliberately sat next to Shang Wu.
"Mr. Shang, do you know why I absolutely must cooperate with you?"
Shang Wu smiled and said, "Our team is definitely the most reliable. Working with us has a proven track record, and we will never let you down."
She paused for a moment, then said, "Of course, it's also because Mr. Chen has good judgment."
Chen Chunzhi couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Don't flatter me. To be honest, I want to work with you because I admire you as a person. You're about my age, yet you're so capable and independent. I'm ashamed of myself."
Shang Wu picked up her wine glass and clinked glasses with him.
"I dare not accept such praise."
Chen Chunzhi smiled and watched her take a sip of wine, then refilled her glass.
"If there's anything I don't understand in the future, please don't hesitate to teach me, Mr. Shang."
The row of employees across the table all stared blankly.
This is the first time I've seen a client's CEO adopt such a humble attitude.
Shang Wu always showed even more respect to those who respected her, and after clinking glasses with Chen Chunzhi, she finished her entire glass of wine.
By the end of the dinner, she was half-drunk, her mind was clear, but she was walking unsteadily.
When the group came out of the restaurant, Shang Wu was being supported by a female employee from the same team.
Chen Chunzhi insisted that his driver take Shang Wu back.
Unable to refuse, Shang Wu got into the car.
After the car door closed, only she and the driver remained.
After the driver politely asked Shang Wu if she wanted some water, he stopped talking.
The carriage was unusually quiet, unlike the noisy atmosphere during the dinner earlier.
Once it gets this quiet, I can't help but let my mind wander.
Shang Wu looked out the window, sighing softly from exhaustion after a day of forced socializing.
She took out her phone, turned on airplane mode, and saw a text message from Lu Rang.
Shang Wu didn't even dare to click to see the content; just staring at the dozen or so unread text messages displayed on the icon made her subconsciously panic.
She knew Lu Rang wouldn't break up with her, but she couldn't help thinking about it. She would open the text message and see that Lu Rang wanted to separate temporarily to cool off.
Shang Wu's feelings became increasingly complicated.
The driver stepped on the brakes and stopped the car in front of the hotel.
"Miss Shang, you can get off the bus now."
Shang Wu nodded, pushed open the car door and got out, still feeling a little dizzy.
The hotel greeters at the entrance saw this and immediately rushed over to help him.
The driver nodded to Shang Wu: "Miss Shang, I'll head back now. Please get some rest."
"Please thank Mr. Chen for me." Shang Wu nodded politely.
The driver did not agree as was the normal procedure.
He said with a half-smile, "Miss Shang, don't you have Mr. Chen's contact information? If you want to thank him, why don't you do it yourself?"
Shang Wu was stunned for a moment, then watched the driver drive away.
"Miss, shall we go in?" the greeter asked.
Shang Wu nodded and turned around: "Go in..."
Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly saw a figure walking out of the hotel lobby.
Shang Wu stared wide-eyed in astonishment, unsure whether it was a drunken illusion or the real Lu Rang walking towards her.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com