Chapter 60 His actions of taking advantage of others' misfortunes were not perfect…
Qin Qiao walked over slowly and sat down next to him. He turned his head to the side, and his eyes, covered by gauze behind his sunglasses, seemed to blink slightly. Qin Qiao's heart clenched even tighter.
Qin Qiao understood him; what he longed to give her was pure love, not a performance swayed by public opinion.
Did her offhand reply just now make him think she was just desperate to salvage her reputation? Just a few days ago, she had clearly told him that she disagreed with his decision.
“Jia…”
"Jia Shu"
Gu Xu interrupted her hesitation, and she and Chen Jiashu turned to look at the man at the same time.
Then Gu Xu spoke solemnly: "I understand your concerns. Being in the eye of the storm, it's inevitable that others will scrutinize, misinterpret, and question your motives. You're more afraid that Qin Qiao will be harmed, right?"
Chen Jiashu nodded and shared his thoughts: "Professor Gu, I don't really understand your public relations stuff, but I'll share my own thoughts. The internet is currently flooded with discussions about me and Qiaoqiao… If we immediately hold a press conference, propose, and overturn their speculations, it reminds me of a celebrity who was exposed for cheating six months ago. He immediately stood in front of the media with his girlfriend, showing off their love, but not long after, he was caught cheating again. At that point, his public image completely collapsed and could never be salvaged."
“If public opinion becomes exaggerated and sensationalized, we will inevitably be subject to their daily ‘censorship,’ which is like putting ourselves under a magnifying glass. Those people cannot tolerate even a grain of sand in their eyes, and the praise we receive now could very well become a boomerang. I do have this concern.”
Chen Jiashu knew about that artist because the group had just terminated the artist's contract when it expired, and luckily, they were not affected.
The sunlight outside the window had faded, and the tiles were devoid of light and shadow, making the room dark and gloomy.
It looks like another snowfall is coming.
Gu Xu smiled knowingly.
The protection this man sought was not merely to help Qin Qiao through the immediate crisis, but also long-term "stability maintenance." This is what he admired about Chen Jiashu; whether in business or in his relationship with his partner, his strategic vision was always geared towards the future.
“You’re absolutely right, but that brings up your weakness. As far as I know, the reason why the male celebrity with the surname C was ‘backfired’ was because the story he provided was false.”
Gu Xu deliberately emphasized the word "fake," and his gaze slowly swept over the two people who were waiting for him to continue. He raised the corner of his mouth slightly: "Jia Shu... is this how it is between you and Qin Qiao? When Qin Qiao was a senior in college, she went to the earthquake-stricken area with me. We encountered an aftershock, and our car overturned down the hillside and was buried for almost a day."
When Gu Xu brought up the distant past, both Qin Qiao and Chen Jiashu were slightly taken aback. This was exactly what he wanted to see. Gu Xu's gaze swept over them imperceptibly as he continued, "I saw with my own eyes you digging your fingers until they were covered in blood and mud, peeling away those deformed metal pieces again and again... and then carrying her out of the car. Jiashu, tell me, was that fake? A man who would give his life for her, would you be afraid of others saying that the love and promises you give her are fake?"
From Gu Xu's perspective, he could see Chen Jiashu's long eyelashes blinking slowly, as if he were moved.
Gu Xu leaned forward slightly: "We are not 'making up stories,' but 'telling the truth.' However, we want to use the most solemn way to tell everyone the truth that has been covered up by rumors."
The room fell silent for a moment. Qin Qiao glanced at Chen Jiashu, who was deep in thought, then quickly scanned Gu Xu, who seemed confident, before finally fixing her gaze on her fingers.
They were intertwined, moving unconsciously, just like her chaotic state of mind at that moment.
Disorganized and chaotic.
Six years were lost, and after their reunion, she hurt him time and time again. She discovered the truth and learned that he had attempted suicide because of Yang Shuhua's deception... All of this was evidence of his deep love for her... She was extremely regretful and self-reproachful... She stubbornly waited for him to admit his mistakes, thus missing out on the most difficult years for this man.
Two voices were calling out in my ears, "Jia Shu, please say yes," and "Jia Shu, I will never leave you again from now on."
Suddenly, a warm weight pressed against the back of her hand. Long, slender fingers completely covered her hand, and his palm was warm and moist, as if burning with fire, scorching her skin.
Scalding hot.
Qin Qiao's eyes welled up with tears. Chen Jiashu turned his head very slowly through her blurry vision.
The angular lines of the sunglasses accentuated the coldness and hardness of his facial features, especially when he pursed his lips.
Hold your hand still.
Qin Qiao stared intently at his face without blinking.
A faint line slowly rippled across her thin lips, like the first ray of light breaking through the dark clouds in the coldest weather.
Chen Jiashu smiled.
Qin Qiao felt a slight sense of relief, as she had a feeling that he had something important to announce, and a sense of anticipation arose in her heart.
Chen Jiashu's Adam's apple bobbed, and his deep, magnetic voice rang out: "Qiaoqiao... are you... really willing? Under these circumstances? This might... not be perfect."
He was taking advantage of someone's vulnerability, which is not a perfect act;
His current state is not perfect;
Even so, he still wanted to have her back, even though it wasn't perfect;
The timing was wrong, the appearance was pathetic, and even the eager heart carried a hint of selfishness. None of the conditions were good, but the love he had for her was real and burning.
Qiaoqiao, are you really willing to accept this dilapidated state?
Qin Qiao grasped Chen Jiashu's hand in return. Unlike her palm, his fingertips were slightly cool. She tightened her grip and emphasized, word by word:
"I do."
*
Qin Qiao went to see Gu Xu off but didn't run into Zhu Ao, who came out of another elevator. Zhu Ao was carrying a gift box, turned into the ward, and walked straight to the ward door as if he knew the way well.
The door was open, as if it had been left open for someone. He immediately saw Chen Jiashu standing by the window, his back view conveying a sense of coldness and desolation.
Zhu Ao knocked on the door twice as a token gesture, but the man only turned his head slightly and did not say a word.
Zhu Ao went inside anyway, closing the door behind him and placing the gift box on the side cabinet. He turned to look at Chen Jiashu, raising his eyebrows and saying, "I ran into President Li when I came up. She said you called her here but then sent her back."
It was just casual conversation. Chen Jiashu was aloof and never one to find topics to talk about; it was always Zhu Ao who took the initiative to strike up a conversation with him.
"How's your injury?" Chen Jiashu asked, his tone filled with concern.
Zhu Ao's eyes flickered behind his glasses. He pushed up his glasses, but the movement aggravated the injury on his cheek, which stung slightly.
“Zhu Ao,” Chen Jiashu interrupted him, pausing briefly before continuing, “The distance you walked from the door to here… reminds me of the times we went to collect debts from clients together. Back then, we weren’t like Zhang Shuang… who would just block doors and waste time trying to get money. That time, to catch up with that client who refused to pay, you drove alone to the airport, and got into a serious car accident on the way… You were taken to the hospital with a broken nose and bruises all over your face, just like you are now…”
His eyes, hidden behind sunglasses, blinked slightly from time to time. His eyes were deep in color, and there was a clear warning in Chen Jiashu's nostalgic words.
This man rarely loses control of his emotions, unless he's dealing with Qin Qiao. Zhu Ao thought this design project would create a rift between them, even leading to conflict, but he ultimately underestimated the bond between them.
He had listened outside for a while ten minutes earlier.
They were already planning to hold a press conference to officially announce their relationship to the public.
Zhu Ao had anticipated what situation he would face if the two reconciled. However, he considered that possibility to be extremely unlikely.
Qin Qiao's mother arrived in a rage and slapped Chen Jiashu, which truly surprised him. But didn't this confirm her betrayal?
Originally, it was thought that this slap would only add fuel to the fire, but unexpectedly, Chen Jiashu was willing to be a "love-struck fool" in order to avoid putting Qin Qiao in a difficult position.
Zhu Ao let out a heavy sigh, momentarily forgetting that Chen Jiashu was still standing next to him.
"...We've worked together for so many years, and I've seen your abilities firsthand. I also remember how much you sacrificed and worked tirelessly for the company. Every bit of hard work back then was for today."
Chen Jiashu slowly turned around, took off his sunglasses, lowered his hand, and gently rubbed the temple of his glasses with his thumb: "As the group has grown larger and larger, and with more and more things to do, our team's original aspirations should not change. The board members are watching, the employees are watching, and the investors and customers are watching. Zhu Ao, if we stir up trouble between us, it will not only hurt each other but also shake everyone's confidence. Don't make things difficult for your subordinates, and even more importantly... don't make those who care about us worry, or give outsiders a reason to laugh at us."
Zhu Ao's fingers curled slightly, and he replied in a low voice, "Jia Shu, I understand."
Chen Jiashu added, "My health... I told you last year that if that day really comes, I won't push myself."
The man's dark pupils, thick as ink, reflected Zhu Ao's cautious, lowered chin. Seeing himself in that darkness, Zhu Ao's body stiffened slightly.
Chen Jiashu grabbed the sunglasses and tucked them into his palm, his tone cold and stern: "Qin Qiao, and the two children, they are my bottom line. A quiet life is very important to them. Don't touch them. No form of disturbance is allowed."
“I know,” Zhu Ao replied.
"What the group needs is stability and a focus on the core business. You are the group's vice president, the core of all projects, and you should put your mind on the right path. This is best for you, for me, for all of us...
How could Zhu Ao not understand Chen Jiashu's heartfelt words? This might be Chen Jiashu giving him a chance, or perhaps the last one.
While Zhu Ao was still processing these words, Chen Jiashu had already turned around and started walking forward.
The distance from the window to the bed is only seven or eight steps, a straight line with no obstructions.
Zhu Ao quietly turned around and silently watched the man's back.
Chen Jiashu's legs first touched the edge of the bed, then stopped. Then his fingertips slid along the edge of the bed towards the headboard, moving slowly.
With just three steps, his toes lightly touched the bedside table. He immediately bent down, reached for the corner of the blanket, lifted it, sat down, and finally took off his shoes and lay down under the covers.
The entire process was slow and careful, yet without a single mistake, just like his meticulousness when reviewing documents, scrutinizing every minute detail.
Zhu Ao genuinely admired Chen Jiashu. Although they were only a year apart in age, Chen's maturity and foresight far surpassed his actual age.
People outside say that Chen Jiashu is a purely benevolent entrepreneur. How can someone who has struggled in the business world be associated with "pure benevolence"?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
