Chapter 41 [Plot Chapter] The Banquet
Ying Shixue was suddenly awakened from her sleep. Before she could straighten up, she collapsed back onto the pillow and blankets, feeling utterly powerless.
"Don't move." Someone pressed down on his shoulder: "Your hand is still on an IV drip."
Brother...? He hadn't recovered from his blurry vision yet, and in his weakness he could only see the figure of a tall, adult male in front of him. His lips were moving, and the sound was so soft that only he himself could hear it.
The man seemed to freeze for a moment. Ying Shixue paused for a moment and then opened her eyes again. Only then did she see Xi Bojian sitting beside her bed under the dim light.
With a cold expression, Ying Shixue listlessly closed her eyes and leaned back against the pillow.
Xi Bojian was almost laughing in anger. He put down the medicine bowl in his hand and said, "Your body can't support such high-intensity work. If you continue like this, you'll collapse from exhaustion before you even bring down Xi Zongbo."
Ying Shixue's eyelashes drooped, and the delicate curve of her fair neck appeared fragile and easily broken. She spoke softly yet with an undeniable air: "I know what I'm doing."
Xi Bojian scoffed coldly and leaned back lazily: "I don't care. Anyway, if you fall, it just means that my time to take over the Xi family will be delayed a little."
Ying Shixue didn't respond to him: "A week from now is Sheng'an's anniversary celebration, and Xi Zongbo will also be attending. If this project is secured..."
"Then we'll gain access to Sheng'an's core business," Xi Bojian continued, "and obtain the original ledgers, finding the only remaining sample of the first-generation level ten product..."
Ying Shixue lifted her eyelids to look at him: "It's good that you know."
—
Sheng'an's anniversary celebration was indeed one of the grandest days in Liancheng. On that day, a long line of luxury cars stretched outside the Taiting Hotel.
Ying Shixue was dressed in a black suit. The stiff fabric made him look even more upright, elegant and graceful.
Unlike his near-ignorance at Song Qi's birthday banquet, in these three months he has fully demonstrated his strength, meticulous and wise mind, outstanding and far-sighted vision, friendly and courteous attitude, and the perfectly revealed, burgeoning ambition.
Those who have already decided to side with the party are still observing, but at least many of them who have no contact with those in power have begun to openly or covertly pledge allegiance.
At this moment, people came in droves to offer toasts under the guise of offering their names, and the surroundings were lively and filled with the clinking of glasses.
Ying Shixue finished her social engagements and, using the glass of her wine as a cover, peered through the crowd at Old Master Xi, who had already come down and was being fawned over in the center.
Xi Bojian was already waving to him from afar. Ying Shixue put down his wine glass and apologized, indicating that he had to excuse himself.
Everyone readily agreed. Although they were sincere, the young prince's thoughts were hard to fathom. He neither refused nor explicitly agreed, subtly evading the question again. It was best not to offend him unless absolutely necessary...
“Grandpa, this is the Mr. Ying from SK that I told you about.” Xi Bojian stood beside the old man and said gently.
Xi Zongbo looked really old, leaning on a dragon-head cane, wearing a black Tangshan suit, with white hair and beard, and the marks of time on his forehead and around his eyes, but he had a smiling face.
People say that the older you get, the softer your heart becomes. Old Master Xi and his family took extra care of their children and grandchildren. But when Xi Zongbo turned around, Ying Shixue felt a chill run down her spine.
The world in the distance was hazy and dim, everything seemed to flow away like water, and the sound of drumming, caused by a rapid heartbeat, came from my ears.
He bit the back of his tongue to keep himself awake, his face bearing an impeccable smile, and bowed slightly to show his respect: "Old Master."
Xi Bojian spoke up at the opportune moment: "The project we're launching next quarter is one we're currently working on with General Manager Ying."
Xi Zongbo looked at him, his eyes clouded like those of an elderly person, a glint of cunning flashing in them.
If someone like Xi Zongbo had reached the pinnacle of fame, fortune, and status, his suspicion and cunning would be unimaginable. He might be laughing and joking with someone one second before he strikes, and the next second he could suddenly kill them.
Ying Shixue knew that even the slightest mistake would be noticed by the other party. The air was thick with tension, almost unseen, until Xi Zongbo burst into laughter: "The younger generation is truly formidable! The younger generation is truly formidable!"
A look of reminiscence crossed his face: "Back then, Zehe and I worked hard together, and now our children are all grown up."
He gestured and said, "I remember, when Xiaoqi was about Mingli's age, she was already married."
“That kid,” Xi Zongbo shook his head with a smile, “when Weiwei first married him, he was absolutely unhappy and didn’t give her a kind look for six months. But later he became a henpecked husband and even learned some manners…”
People around them joined in the jokes, and the atmosphere instantly became relaxed and joyful.
It wasn't until the banquet was almost over that Ying Shixue was able to extricate himself slightly, leaning against a marble pillar. The tall, lush green potted plants next to him almost completely obscured his figure.
In the past three months, he has pushed the project forward to a certain extent. Currently, Xi Bojian is handling things at Sheng'an, and it is possible that they will be able to successfully win the bidding for the next quarter. However, the application submitted to the headquarters has not yet been approved.
Bright lights from the banquet ceiling slanted down through the hall, creating two distinct shades on the floor. Ying Shixue looked down at the boundary between the two shades, pondering the ins and outs of the project.
Chips are shipped directly from headquarters, then piloted in various branches, and then distributed to other companies in cooperation with distributors. This usually falls under the planning or economics department, but the final approval definitely requires the approval of the CEO.
SK is known for its efficiency; such approvals typically take 3-5 days. He submitted the form two weeks ago, and there's still no word...
After days of being on edge, now that I'm alone for a while, many thoughts that I usually suppress begin to surface uncontrollably.
Upon hearing this, Ying Shixue's heart suddenly trembled, and a sudden, overwhelming surge of emotions almost swallowed him up completely. After a short while, he closed his eyes.
Does he know?
"Xiaoxue".
It had been a long time since anyone had called him that, so when Ying Shixue heard it, her first reaction was to be stunned.
He paused for a moment, then looked up. Shan Qi stood before him, holding a wine glass, his expression complex.
Ying Shixue slowly straightened up: "...Why are you here?"
Dan Qi walked to his side and gave him a somewhat weathered smile: "I'm also starting to gradually take over the family business. I came with my sister to congratulate you this time."
He raised his hand to touch his nose, but Ying Shixue saw it was him and smiled slightly: "What are you pretending for?"
His composure crumbled in a second; Shan Qi's deep expression lasted less than a minute.
Dan Qi burst out laughing, scratched his head, and leaned against the stone pillar with him: "Okay, actually I was forced to come by my mom, who told me to learn from my sister."
Ying Shixue: "It's good to learn, you'll have to take over eventually."
The two stood in this small place that seemed to be separated from the world. In just a few months, their identities had become very different. After exchanging a few words, they stood side by side, staring at the floor, and remained silent for a moment.
A moment later, Ying Shixue gently touched his shoulder with her own.
This gesture was a tacit little action they shared before taking action during their school years. In an instant, Shan Qi seemed to return to those carefree days when his only worry was laughing foolishly, and a bit of his sillyness reappeared on his face.
He rubbed his hands together: "What exactly happened between you and Mingli?"
"There are rumors that you two broke up, but how could that be? Mingli cherishes you so much, he would never break up with you, let alone anyone else."
Ying Shixue paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Nothing much, I just suddenly realized there's something really urgent that I need to do."
"Can't we tell Mingli?"
"I don't even know if it will work out..."
"Oh," Shan Qi nodded, seemingly understanding, clearly unaware of the connection between the two sentences.
"The class monitor went to do an internship, and I heard he was even praised at that newspaper. Well, Cheng Cheng is still the same, spending all his time in the lab..." Shan Qi rambled on. "As for me, you've seen it yourself, that's just how I am."
Ying Shixue listened quietly, his expression serene and serious, as if these matters were no less important than the various documents and collaborations that lay on his desk every day.
"SK headquarters will also be sending people to this celebration." Shan Qi pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment, and cautiously asked, "I wonder if Brother Mingli will attend..."
They were very close, and for a moment Shan Qi could feel the other's body extremely tense, but after a while the muscles relaxed again, perhaps it was just a forced relaxation under the rational control of the brain.
Ying Shixue looked up at her watch and stepped down from the stone pillar: "I have to go on."
"Are you going back to Fancheng?" Before he had completely walked away, Shan Qi couldn't help but call out to him and ask loudly.
Ying Shixue had already reached the intersection of the bright lights in the hall. Her figure was thin and solitary in the light and shadow, and with her back to Shan Qi, the expression on his face could not be seen.
“Archi,” he heard Ying Shixue speak after a few seconds. Her voice sounded like it was being ground from her throat, low and terrifying in the night.
"...Each of us has things we must do."
-
By the time the banquet ended, it was already late at night.
It was cool at night, and he couldn't drive because he had been drinking. His assistants were probably all resting at this hour, and driving at night was also difficult.
After a few seconds of deliberation, Ying Shixue decisively chose to go to the hotel opposite the banquet venue, which had been originally booked by everyone.
After walking only a few hundred meters, the elevator dinged as it arrived at the floor. Ying Shixue stepped out of the elevator, the alcohol and the cold making him feel chilly all over.
After confirming the room number, Ying Shixue took out her room card, and the door opened immediately.
He lowered his eyelashes and walked in while loosening his tie. The lights and appliances hummed as the owner returned, and the moment the room lights came on, Ying Shixue clearly saw the person sitting in the chair by the bed.
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