birthday party
When Ruan Xiaohui's overseas shell company successfully obtained the "East City Project" released by Song Shiyou, he was overjoyed, as if he saw the dawn of revival.
He flew overseas in person, proudly connecting with the project and immersed in the dream of making a great comeback.
However, joy was soon replaced by doubt.
In the early stages of the project, funds were continuously invested like water was released from the floodgates, but there was no sign of substantial construction on the site. Various approval links were inexplicably stuck, and the partners began to be evasive.
Ruan Xiaohui ran around anxiously, but encountered obstacles everywhere. The anxiety in his heart grew like a snowball.
It was not until Song Shi and his trusted assistant overseas found him with irrefutable evidence and a cold smile that Ruan Xiaohui woke up from his dream and realized that he had fallen into a trap carefully set by his nephew from the beginning to the end.
He was overwhelmed by great anger and panic. Like a completely enraged beast, he immediately bought the earliest flight ticket, rushed back to the country angrily, and went straight to Song Shiyu's office.
In the evening, the afterglow of the setting sun shines through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm golden glow on the office.
Song Shiyu was carefully placing the birthday gift he had carefully prepared for Ji Zhiqi into the gift box, his fingertips brushing across the velvet surface with a tenderness that he himself was unaware of.
He checked the time and prepared to leave for the birthday party.
Just then—
"Bang!"
The office door was kicked open with brute force, making a loud noise and breaking the silence in the room.
Ruan Xiaohui rushed in like a mad bull, his eyes red and his face ferocious. He pointed at Song Shiyu and roared:
"Song Shiyu! Is it you?! Are you behind this?! How could that overseas project suddenly go wrong?! You're the one who set me up! You ungrateful bastard! I'm your uncle!"
Song Shiyu didn't even pause for a moment. He gently placed the gift box back in the safest place on the table, then slowly turned around.
He watched Ruan Xiaohui's hysterical performance expressionlessly, his eyes without a trace of emotion, as if he was watching a clumsy farce that had nothing to do with him.
He ignored the finger that was almost poking his nose, walked straight to the main seat behind the desk and sat down, leaning back in the chair, his posture calm and even a little lazy.
Then, he casually threw a thick brown paper file bag that he had picked up at some point onto the shiny table with a "bang".
The sound was not loud, but it was like a thunderclap, instantly shattering all of Ruan Xiaohui's roar and momentum.
"Are you done scolding me?" Song Shiyu's voice was not loud, but it carried a chill that penetrated into the bone marrow. Every word was clear and cold, like ice beads hitting the marble floor. "After scolding me, let's talk business."
He opened the briefcase slowly and gracefully, as if he were performing some kind of ritual.
He took out the documents one by one and slowly spread them out in front of Ruan Xiaohui - the clearest details of the flow of funds, with irrefutable evidence proving that the huge amount of money ultimately flowed into the overseas shell company of which he, Ruan Xiaohui, was the legal representative;
A detailed background investigation report on the shell company exposed its true nature as a shell company; a professional project evaluation report mercilessly pointed out that the so-called "Chengdong Project" was a death trap from the outset, with its resources secretly cut off.
Finally, there is a carefully worded preliminary legal risk opinion issued by the group's top legal team, which clearly points out that Ruan Xiaohui's behavior has involved the use of his position to embezzle company assets, and the amount is particularly huge.
As the documents unfolded, Ruan Xiaohui's eyes grew more and more desperate.
His face was like a palette, changing from the blood-red of rage to the pale of fear, then from pale to the gray-green of death, and finally to a completely deathly gray.
His whole body began to tremble violently uncontrollably, his lips quivering. He tried to explain something, but found that his throat seemed to be strangled and he couldn't utter a word.
"Here is the funds that you have embezzled from the group in recent years by means of false reporting of projects, forged contracts, etc., together with the last part you tried to withdraw this time, totaling 63 million." Song Shiyu's tone was calm as if he was presenting an ordinary financial statement, but his eyes were as sharp as a hawk locking onto its prey, holding Ruan Xiaohui tightly, not giving the other party any chance to breathe.
"You used the company's money to fill your bottomless pit overseas." Song Shiyu's voice suddenly rose a little, with a cold questioning, "Mom trusts you, and because of the relationship between sister and brother, she never scrutinizes the figures you handed over! You are unworthy of Mom's trust, you are unworthy of the Song family, who can you be worthy of?!"
At this moment, Ruan Ning, who had heard the news, rushed in and happened to hear his son's powerful question.
She looked at the tense scene before her and the shocking evidence on the table, her steps stopped where she stood, her eyes filled with incredible pain and disappointment.
She opened her mouth but said nothing in the end. She just stared at her disappointing brother with red eyes.
Song Shiyu looked at Ruan Xiaohui with an unquestionable final verdict:
"I've already made you pay back all the money through the project. Not a penny less, not a penny more. Now, I'm only giving you one way." He paused, then spoke word by word.
"Leave the company and resign. Announce to the public that you are leaving due to personal health reasons. For Mom's sake, the Song family can end this matter here and preserve a last shred of dignity for you."
Ruan Xiaohui suddenly raised his head, and a trace of desperate struggle of a trapped beast flashed in his eyes, as if he wanted to argue something.
But suddenly, like a taut string snapping, Ruan Xiaohui leaped up from his chair without warning, like a madman out of control, punching Song Shiyu in the face! He let out an incoherent roar.
Song Shiyu's eyes flashed, but he still sat on the chair. He just turned slightly sideways, and his movements were swift and calm, easily avoiding the unpredictable punch.
Ruan Xiaohui's punch missed, and inertia caused him to stagger. His eyes happened to sweep across the expensive jade coffee table next to him, and the conspicuous, beautifully packaged gift box on the coffee table.
Extreme anger and frustration made him lose his mind. He raised his foot angrily and was about to kick the coffee table hard!
Song Shiyu, who had been watching calmly, suddenly felt extremely dangerous the moment he saw Ruan Xiaohui pointing at the gift box!
He stood up suddenly almost as if by reflex, his movements so fast that only a shadow was left. He kicked Ruan Xiaohui sideways with a fierce side kick, and the force was so great that the latter staggered to the side and hit the bookshelf heavily with a dull sound.
Song Shiyu stood steadily in front of the coffee table, bent over and carefully checked the gift box. After confirming that it was intact, he slowly stood up.
He looked at Ruan Xiaohui, who was groaning and clutching her waist, her face filled with fear. His eyes were colder and more violent than ever before, and his voice was as deep as a warning from hell:
"If you dare to touch this, I will kill you."
The murderous intent in his eyes was undisguised. Ruan Xiaohui was completely frightened, as if a basin of ice water was poured over him from head to toe. Even his moans were stuck in his throat, leaving only endless fear.
Soon, the alarmed security guards rushed over and carried out Ruan Xiaohui, who was limp as mud and pale.
Silence returned to the office, leaving only a mess and stagnant air.
Ruan Ning watched the whole scene, and her heart felt like it was torn apart.
Her disappointment in her brother reached its peak, and she was even more frightened by the ruthlessness her son had just displayed in an instant to protect something. But in the end, all her emotions turned into silent tears, sliding down her well-maintained cheeks.
She said nothing, just looked at her son deeply, turned and left the office. Her back looked particularly tired and old.
After dealing with this farce, Song Shiyu walked to his mother, looked at her red eyes, and felt relieved.
He gently put his arm around his mother's shoulders.
"Xiaojiu, thank you for your hard work." Ruan Ning's voice was choked with sobs. She leaned on her son's shoulder, as if looking for support. "Mom... I was too confused and indulged him too much before."
"It's all over, Mom." Song Shiyu hugged his mother back, his tone gentle but with a reassuring firmness and strength, "From now on, I'll be there for you."
After comforting his mother and sending her away, Song Shiyu immediately looked at the time.
Ji Zhiqi’s birthday party has already started for a while!
His heart tightened and he no longer cared about anything else. He carefully picked up the crucial gift box, walked quickly to the elevator, started the car, and drove towards the banquet venue.
When we arrived at the banquet hall, the atmosphere inside was very lively.
Song Shiyu didn't bother to control his slightly rapid breathing, and his eyes were eagerly searching for the only figure in the crowd.
Soon, he saw it - Ji Zhiqi was sitting on the sofa in the corner, chatting and laughing with a few friends. The warm light fell on him, softening his overly delicate outline, but still couldn't hide his innate sense of alienation.
Song Shiyu calmed himself down and walked towards that direction.
Almost at the same time, Ji Zhiqi raised his head as if he had sensed something, and his eyes passed through the crowd and accurately captured him.
When he saw Song Shiyu, he seemed to be stunned for a moment, and then he stood up on his own initiative and walked towards Song Shiyu.
At this moment, everything around seemed to become a blurred background.
"Ji Zhiqi," Song Shiyu stood in front of him. This was the first time he had called out this name so formally and directly to his face. His voice was slightly breathless from running before. "Happy birthday."
Ji Zhiqi looked at him, a hint of surprise flashed across his deep eyes, and a faint arc appeared at the corner of his lips: "I thought Mr. Song would not come today."
"No," Song Shiyu answered without hesitation, looking at him firmly, "No matter how late it is, I will come."
After he finished speaking, he handed over the gift box that he had been carefully holding in his hands.
Ji Zhiqi's gaze fell on the gift box, and then he looked up at Song Shiyu. There was a hint of clear inquiry in those eyes that were always calm.
He took it politely, said thank you, and gently opened the lid of the box under Song Shiyu's gaze, which was filled with nervousness and expectation.
When the exquisitely customized collection cabinet and the limited edition headphones quietly displayed in the cabinet, each of which was a work of art, came into view, Ji Zhiqi's expression froze obviously, and even his breathing seemed to pause for a moment.
His slender fingers curled up unconsciously, and his fingertips trembled slightly.
He raised his eyes and looked at Song Shiyu with a complicated look, with a hint of a more obscure emotion that Song Shiyu could not immediately interpret.
"Thank you," he said, his voice a little huskier than usual. "I like it very much."
He paused, his eyes fixed on Song Shiyu, with a sharpness that was almost scrutinizing. "However, there are very few people who know about my insignificant hobby. Mr. Song... really understands me well."
Ji Zhiqi looked at him silently, his gaze seemed to have the power to penetrate the soul, trying to peel off all of Song Shiyi's calm disguise and see the surging emotions underneath, which he might have already noticed but never pointed out.
For Song Shiyu, these few seconds of silence were as long as walking on the edge of a cliff, with his heart being tightly gripped by an invisible hand.
He suppressed his frantic heartbeat, put on an impeccable smile with a touch of business courtesy, and responded in a relaxed tone:
"As an important partner, isn't it the most basic professional quality to have a deep understanding of each other's preferences and characteristics?"
Ji Zhiqi raised his eyebrows slightly, as if he found his answer very interesting. He asked, "Oh? Your company has many artists. Does President Song have such a… 'thorough' understanding of each one of them?"
"Of course." Song Shiyu answered decisively without blushing or beating his heart, as if this was really the norm in his daily work. Only he himself knew that behind this "understanding" lay countless late-night searches and careful speculations.
The banquet was gradually coming to an end. As the absolute protagonist of the night, Ji Zhiqi once again stood on the small stage, holding the microphone, and said the standard closing remarks of thanking the guests, thanking friends, and thanking the team.
He had an impeccable, gentle smile on his face and his manners were elegant and proper.
But Song Shiyu, who was standing in the crowd, keenly caught a glimpse of something strange.
Although Ji Zhiqi's beautiful eyes were filled with smiles, the smiles did not actually reach his eyes, as if there was an invisible layer of glass separating his true emotions.
Behind that smile, there seemed to be a subtle hint of fatigue, or even a fleeting... emptiness.
Song Shiyu's heart sank slightly.
He looked at the figure who still seemed a little lonely amidst the crowd, and an indescribable heartache and deeper longing surged in his heart.
What he wanted to see was the defenseless Ji Zhiqi who was resting with his eyes closed by the lake.
It was Ji Zhiqi who burned his life and sang to his heart's content on the stage.
Even Ji Zhiqi, who teased him jokingly in the parking lot
Instead of Ji Zhiqi at this moment, who wrapped himself in layers of perfect smile.
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