Chapter 18 "I don't know why Manager You is doing this..."
"I wonder what brings Manager Youshe to see me today?"
Song Chaoye sat down opposite Sam and leisurely sipped the special pre-Qingming tea from Xuefangzhai. This tea was different from others because it was brewed with dew from flowers picked in the courtyard every morning.
The tea soup was smooth and mellow on the palate, with a sweet and fragrant aftertaste. After the bitterness in his mouth faded, Song Chaoye slowly raised his eyes and looked at the other person with a nonchalant expression.
“Mr. Song, you’re a sensible person, so I won’t beat around the bush with you.” Sam’s eyes were sharp, like the deep darkness of the night. “Why did you switch partners so quickly? We signed a confidentiality agreement.”
“I think it’s perfectly reasonable,” Song Chaoye smiled. “The progress of this matter that I entrusted to you is just too slow.”
The matter involved asking them to acquire Speed Technology, because given Speed Technology's current situation, it would be very difficult to take it to the next level as soon as possible. Moreover, Song Chaoye is a very picky person, especially when it comes to making games, and he often disagrees with Huang Shiyu.
He also knew that Huang Shiyu was now focused on intelligent healthcare and had tried to restructure the company many times, but Huang Shiyu gave up after being rejected by him multiple times.
He knew all too well that people like them would become extremely sensitive to anything that might jeopardize their own interests.
Therefore, he had no choice but to strike first.
The victor is king, the loser is villain; the strong prey on the weak—this is an unchanging truth throughout history.
"Besides, isn't Youshe also under the Black Tower? What difference does it make who acquires it?" Song Chaoye said nonchalantly, not taking Sam seriously at all.
"Besides, it wasn't me who broke the contract; it was your Black Tower Group that came knocking on our door." These words seemed to pierce Sam's lungs, yet also to make Sam understand more clearly.
"You said it was the Black Tower Group... that came knocking?" Sam froze on the spot at those words, his eyes filled with disbelief. It took him a long time to find his voice, "Who is it?"
From Song Chaoye's perspective, Sam's mask, which always showed a smile, was finally removed. He was no longer a face that was well disguised and good at hiding his emotions, but rather a face full of pent-up anger.
"You've really put me in a difficult position, but it's okay to tell you. We're practically family now, so consider it a favor you owe me."
He wasn't a good person in the absolute sense, but he was also aware of Sam's capabilities. Sam was once a capable assistant to Mr. Xie, who founded the Black Tower Group. Anyone who could climb to that level would definitely try to get revenge if they suffered a loss; it was only a matter of time.
He might as well do her a favor; he might need her in the future.
Women are not weak in his eyes, especially ambitious women.
Song Chaoye sipped his tea, glanced at her casually, and said indifferently, "It's Salis."
"Actually, you must be furious inside too. You and he took on the project together, but in the end, you were the only one who got kicked out of headquarters and ended up in a sickly subsidiary, while he rose through the ranks by the president's side." These words hit the nail on the head.
"Do you think this makes sense?" Song Chaoye asked in a low voice.
Song Chaoye's seemingly casual voice was actually hitting the very spot of her heartbeat with every word. She didn't know what prefix to use to describe this feeling.
As Song Chaoye said, she, as the subordinate, was responsible for all the mistakes in that multi-million dollar bond case. However, everyone felt that the chairman's decision to send her to the subsidiary was a sign of kindness and leniency towards her.
Only she knew the reasons behind it all: the power dynamics within the group had deteriorated, and interests were intertwined; she had been dragged into this as a scapegoat.
Sam stared at the teacup in front of her, the steam almost blurring her vision. When she looked again, the lingering aroma of tea had faded, and she found herself in a conference room with about twenty people sitting in it. Everyone was looking at each other in bewilderment because of what Salis had said.
"Everyone knows how important the acquisition of Speed Technology is to the Black Tower Group. However, Sam is someone who has made serious mistakes before. Can we really entrust such a matter concerning the fate of the group to her again? Speed Technology's choice of its parent company and me is certainly based on their own considerations."
Salis slammed the documents he had prepared in front of Sam, glanced at her, and gave her what he thought was a very appropriate smile: "As a colleague, I've even specially given you several projects to work on. You can't look down on them, after all, it's all for the company, it's all for the clients. I think Sam hasn't forgotten the chairman's motto, has she?"
"No problem, Sam?" Salis's ambiguous smile was staring directly at her face.
She immediately understood. If she refused, she would be stirring up conflict between the subsidiary and the parent company. He wanted her to be the villain.
"Thank you for your personal care, Salis. I will definitely keep the president's words in mind and there will be no problem this time." She hesitated for only two seconds, thought through the cause and effect, and then replied with a smile.
From Sam's perspective, the sunlight streaming through the window was blinding, making Salis's smiling face appear like a demon. In a flash of sunlight, the scene before him vanished into thin air.
Song Chaoye, who was enjoying tea across from Sam, had already left. Sam picked up the tea, which had long since cooled and was no longer steaming, and slowly savored it.
She took a small sip, gazing at the boundless moonlight outside the window, and sighed: "Tasting tea is supposed to be a mood, a state of mind, a leisurely and elegant pursuit, but now it only brings bitterness."
Huang Shiyu, for some unknown reason, followed Li Xingzhou blankly, winding his way to the crowded little shop.
The shop is small, located in a residential building, and is also a chess and card room. If Huang Shiyu hadn't seen someone making wontons by hand, he would never have guessed that it was actually a wonton shop.
The earthenware pot on the old stove sizzled, and the aroma of wontons wafted over, causing Huang Shiyu's stomach to rumble inappropriately.
Although the shop was full of people, there were only seven or eight tables and chairs, so her few untimely voices were quite loud.
She didn't know if the people around her heard it, but she was certain that Li Xingzhou had.
When was the last time I was in such a mess? Come to think of it, it seems like it was around the time I moved.
Why is it that whenever she's with Li Xingzhou, it's not pleasant in that sense?
Sometimes Huang Shiyu would think about it too.
If she and Li Xingzhou broke up peacefully like a normal couple, then after several years, if they met again, it might be quite appropriate for them to sit down, order some drinks, recount what they had seen and heard over the years, and calmly discuss their future.
Their reunion is like a level in a game; if you make the wrong choice from the start, it can only lead to tragedy.
Huang Shiyu slightly raised her eyes, her tone somewhat sincere: "Are you sure you want me to invite you here?"
Li Xingzhou's gaze remained calm and undisturbed. He glanced at her, then looked at the large red menu posted on the wall behind her, and said in a natural tone, "Shrimp wontons, pork wontons, mustard green wontons, what flavor would you like?"
"Mustard greens, I guess." She hadn't had them in a long time and was craving them.
Li Xingzhou didn't care, and she didn't care either. After this meal, the two of them would truly be strangers.
Li Xingzhou ordered some more things and brought over two bottles of mineral water. He twisted off the caps and handed them to her, saying, "Have some water."
Huang Shiyu unconsciously licked his lips and found that they were a little chapped. He was a bit thirsty, so he took the water that Li Xingzhou handed him and took a sip.
"Where are you planning to rent a house?" Li Xingzhou asked her.
In fact, Li Xingzhou really wanted to help her rent a house, or rather, he wanted Huang Shiyu to live next to him so that he could protect her if necessary. He didn't want the situation from happening again. That time, he had followed her on a whim and happened to run into her. He didn't want to think that there would be a next time.
But he didn't say it out loud. This sharp piece of white paper is strong-willed and sometimes stubborn. He knew this from their previous encounters. Huang Shiyu was very resistant to being in a subordinate position in front of him.
He wanted to wait until she was willing, until the rain in his bones was willing, willing to speak to him.
Huang Shiyu had just taken a sip of water when she heard him ask that question. She immediately put down the water bottle, her pupils dilating for a moment, as if she was surprised that he would care about her.
However, she didn't think too much about it. She just assumed that Li Xingzhou felt the atmosphere was too awkward while they were waiting for food and asked her something to make conversation. She casually replied, "There are so many urban villages in Shanghai. You can find plenty of houses if you look around."
Taking advantage of this rare opportunity, Li Xingzhou asked her, "Haven't you ever thought about buying your own apartment in Shanghai all these years?"
He also wanted to take this opportunity to ask her why she took 500,000 yuan from Li Mansu in the first place.
He couldn't believe he had misjudged him, or he didn't want to believe that Huang Shiyu would abandon him for a mere 500,000.
He stared intently at Huang Shiyu, as if afraid of missing any subtle expression or imperceptible movement that might flash across her face.
Huang Shiyu was stunned, staring straight at him, seemingly not expecting him to ask such a question. His mind almost couldn't process it for a moment. After a few seconds, he half-jokingly said, "President Li, you don't know how expensive things are until you're in charge. Shanghai's housing prices are so high, they cost tens of millions."
Huang Shiyu was telling the truth and wasn't exaggerating. In Shanghai, it's practically impossible to buy a decent house in the city center without tens of millions of yuan.
She has indeed made a lot of money in business over the years. Although she is not extremely wealthy, it is enough for her to live a good life. Buying a house worth tens of millions is not a problem at all. However, she was afraid of being poor in the past, and she does not feel at ease if she does not have money in her hands. She used some of the money to buy gold bars and used some to buy a villa for Ms. Tong in Yucheng, which was just renovated two years ago.
Lu Xiao even said to her about buying a house, "Are you out of your mind? You might as well use that money to buy one for yourself."
Of course she knew how important it was to have her own house. Even if her marriage didn't go well in the future and she didn't get along with her husband, she wouldn't be kicked out and end up on the streets. At least she would have a place to stay.
But she really wanted to buy it for Ms. Tong, and she had been thinking about it for a long time.
This decision didn't come out of nowhere or on a whim. She had simply seen too many things in the financial world that could be bought with money, so she was influenced by what she saw and heard and began to imitate what she saw.
She thought that giving Ms. Tong a house would strengthen their kinship and win Ms. Tong's attention and maternal love.
Ultimately, Huang Shiyu is just a young woman in her early twenties. No matter how strong or tough she appears in front of others, she still longs for family affection and the love of her parents. Blood ties are irreplaceable.
There's a saying that goes, "Don't force yourself into a circle you can't fit into." Especially since both of them have started their own new families and have children. Even the most clueless person should realize what this means.
She's just someone who has their blood in her veins.
Therefore, she could no longer hope that the bond that maintained their blood relationship could continue to be forced.
In the end, she chose to accept the reality that Ms. Tong didn't love her that much.
No one ever taught her that parents' love for their children doesn't need to be bought with money. A relationship that can be maintained with money isn't real family affection; at best, it's just responsibility and obligation.
She thought about it, but she didn't say the reasons. The two of them met by chance, which was a sudden and unexpected event.
She had no intention of being open and honest about it all. Firstly, it was unnecessary, and secondly, what difference would it make if she did?
What does it prove? Does it prove that the house she bought for Ms. Tong was a mistake?
She has already learned her lesson within the constraints of blood ties that symbolize family bonds, and she doesn't need anyone to remind her of this painful moment again.
So let's leave it at that, that's how it should be. Life has so many regrets, one more won't make a difference.
Compared to Huang Shiyu's half-joking tone, Li Xingzhou asked very seriously, "With your abilities, buying a three-bedroom apartment shouldn't be too much of a problem for me."
Li Xingzhou had expected her to explain that the house she wanted to buy was analogous to a Bugatti Veyron among luxury cars, but to his surprise, Huang Shiyu shook her head with a slight smile in her eyes, "I think what I should be thinking about more right now is whether my earning ability can keep up with the current rate of material growth."
Li Xingzhou looked at her, raised an eyebrow slightly, and remained silent.
Huang Shiyu smiled, her eyes crinkling, and her tone became a little more serious than before, "I think it's better for me to improve my earning ability. I believe that in the future, these material possessions will not be a problem for me."
Just then, the aunt brought over the cooked wontons and placed them in front of Huang Shiyu, specifically instructing her, "You don't want cilantro, right? Be careful, it's hot. Eat slowly, young lady." After saying that, she glanced at Li Xingzhou with a smile.
She herself had forgotten to say no cilantro, but Li Xingzhou remembered. Even though she hadn't drunk any alcohol, she felt her cheeks were burning. Thinking about it, it was probably from the steam rising from the bowl of wontons.
When Huang Shiyu saw that his aunt had only brought over a bowl of wontons, he asked, "Aren't you going to eat any?"
"I'm not hungry, and I have a stomach problem so I need to eat less," Li Xingzhou said slowly, sipping his water.
"You're not hungry and you want me to treat you to a meal? That's really something else." She said that Li Xingzhou doesn't follow the rules and acts entirely on his own whims.
The meal ended with Huang Shiyu finishing it all by himself. After leaving the residential building, the two went their separate ways. Li Xingzhou headed towards Jing'an District, while Huang Shiyu headed towards Lujiazui.
This was her first appearance at the Speed Technology building since the merger and acquisition ended. The employees who were busy at their workstations couldn't help but steal a glance at her after she passed by, and then they all turned back to continue with their work in an orderly fashion.
In truth, there's a wild horse galloping within everyone, ready to be unleashed when no one's around, and that's when all the chaos begins.
As Huang Shiyu finished packing his things, an uninvited guest arrived at the office.
Huang Shiyu caught a glimpse of a dark figure out of the corner of his eye, and knew who it was without even looking up.
"Congratulations, Mr. Song." She sighed softly. "Song Chaoye, we've been together for so many years, and you really don't understand me. If you want something, I will give it to you. From the moment you lied to me, you have truly betrayed my trust in you."
Song Chaoye walked up to Huang Shiyu, the distance between them instantly closing. The faint scent of Song Chaoye's perfume wafted towards her nose. Huang Shiyu, holding the cardboard box, took a few steps back, and the scent of Song Chaoye dissipated slightly. She thought to herself, "It doesn't even smell as good as the perfume Li Xingzhou wears. If I have the chance next time, I'll ask him for a link."
“You might think I’m guarding against you.” Song Chaoye said naturally, “Having been with you for so long, I can’t say I know you very well, but you’re not someone who treats money like dirt. On the contrary, you value money like your life. I don’t think you would be so generous. Shiyu, we are all adults. It’s not shameful to face your desires. You don’t need to say it so grandly and put yourself on a moral high ground.”
Huang Shiyu felt a sharp pain in her heart, a throbbing pain as if blood was gushing out. She took a deep breath, and as she brushed past Song Chaoye while carrying the cardboard box, she said calmly, "I know your answer."
She didn't look at Song Chaoye's expression behind her, and calmly walked out of the office where she had worked for several years. Lu Xiao happened to come towards her and asked her about her future plans.
Her mind raced, and if she remembered correctly, Speed Technology was about to go public.
The door she had casually tugged at as she came out was about to close when she turned around and her gaze met Song Chaoye's. Clearly, Song Chaoye had also been looking at her in the same way for a long time.
Her eyes were serious, and her speech was as slow as a solemn declaration: "Wait for it to go public, then short it."
A note from the author:
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Xiaoyu is so handsome! I'm raising the flag for you!!!
In Japan, the term "会长" (huìzháng) is equivalent to "chairman of the board."
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