Chapter 58. The office building of Yousu Technology. ...
U-Speed Technology Office Building.
The glass reflecting the blue sky and white clouds was bright enough that Sam turned his head to look.
She first looked at the window glass, which displayed two different colors, hazy yet dazzling, giving the building a light creamy yellow hue. That creamy yellow substance was stuck to the glass and was being squeezed and scattered.
The more she looked at the sunlight, the brighter it became. She vaguely sensed that what lay before her was a sharp arrow, dripping with gold paint, hanging outside the window, poised to be released.
There was a person standing under the window.
It was an old acquaintance.
“Silas.” She feigned surprise. “Oh, it’s been a long time.”
He then asked, "What's this?"
They seemed surprised by his presence here.
Silas didn't speak immediately. Instead, she looked up the stairs at Sam, who was standing in the middle. Sam was still wearing a business suit, her posture elegant, and a slight smile on her lips. Because of the distance, the pair of red spiders on her earrings were vaguely clustered together, like two blushes on her fair face, giving her a somewhat girlish, lovestruck look.
But clearly, the phrase "a young girl in love" is not suitable for Sam, and Silas was so frightened by his terrible imagination that he almost vomited.
That's disgusting. How could he associate that word with Sam?
If it weren't for Sam, he wouldn't be in such a sorry state today.
Although the news broadcast shocked him, his first thought was that Song Chaoye had actually betrayed him.
However, he quickly dismissed this answer. The video's blurring was essentially ineffective; his and Song Chaoye's faces were clearly visible, and their voices hadn't been altered. It was obvious that Song Chaoye wouldn't gain anything from doing this and would only drag himself into the mess.
Just when he was completely baffled and almost got trapped in his home by the group of people demanding back pay, he was fortunate enough to have a flash of inspiration and remember that there was a hidden door in his bedroom that led to the back gate of the community. This allowed him to escape unscathed.
However, the moment he stood there and saw this person, at that very moment, all the little details he hadn't noticed were awakened. On the day he and Song Chaoye reached an agreement at Xuefangzhai, the moment he turned around after leaving, he saw Sam pushing open the door and coming out. At that time, he thought it was quite a coincidence. Now, looking back, he could only say that it was a trap set for him to fall into.
Then he jumped willingly.
That's fucking ridiculous.
The two had been fighting openly and secretly for so long, and Silas never imagined that he would lose to her in this way. He was obviously very unwilling to accept it.
“Sam, I didn’t expect you to be so shrewd, actually managing to get Song Chaoye to outmaneuver me.” Silas clapped his hands, the crisp applause echoing throughout the stairwell. “For your own personal grudge, have you ever thought about where you put the company’s dignity? You’ve made Black Tower Group a laughing stock in the Chinese industry.”
Faced with Silas's accusations, Sam remained calm and composed. "I've also heard rumors that YTO Express has been shut down. Could this be related to you?"
“Sam, stop pretending. If you do this, President Zhou won’t let you off easily.” Silas tried his best to control the emotions surging in his chest so as not to curse at Sam. “You should save your energy for arguing and explain to President Zhou later.”
Silas deliberately brought up President Zhou to intimidate Sam. After all, he was President Zhou's man, unlike Sam, who had become a stray dog and been transferred from headquarters. Silas thought that Sam would show fear after hearing him say that, but to his surprise, Sam just smiled slightly.
She said, "You probably don't know this yet, but I've been officially transferred back to the Black Tower Group headquarters to take over your position as investment manager."
"What?!"
Silas was utterly shocked and turned pale.
"You're not feeling well now, are you, Silas?"
"No..." His eyes widened, his triangular eyes almost turning into parallelograms, "You..."
Seeing his expression, Sam knew what he was going to say and directly said what he was stammering out, "You want to say that I am the sinner who caused the group to be burdened with hundreds of billions of debt, so how come I was transferred back to the Black Tower Group headquarters?"
Silas remained standing where they started, staring at Sam with an incredulous look on her face. "You..."
Sam interrupted him before he could finish speaking, saying in a calm and steady voice, "Have you ever thought about why, if I really was the main person responsible for the billions of dollars in debt back then, the chairman only transferred me from headquarters to Youshe instead of firing me? After all, I am the sinner who caused the group to be burdened with hundreds of billions of dollars in debt."
Perhaps fearing that Silas was still unaware of the intricacies involved, she added, "Employees of the Black Tower Group have always considered it their mission to obey the Group's orders and cannot disobey them. I was just following the Group's personnel transfer arrangements. Even you were just following the person who promoted you to the position."
If he scoffed at what he just said, then this last sentence was the finishing touch. Sam had made it so clear, and Silas wasn't stupid either. The reason he would target Sam like this was not only because of the direct conflict of interest between the two, but also because they belonged to different factions, which naturally led to constant disputes.
Sam's words also made him realize that there was no right or wrong in the Black Tower Group. The orders of the superiors were like imperial edicts, and the subordinates only needed to follow orders. Of course, you had to take the blame when they asked you to. The right to say no never belonged to them.
Time seemed to stretch on endlessly, like water flowing right before our eyes, before Silas finally spoke slowly: "Actually, we're in the same situation. We're both victims of that group's power struggle. My stepping down doesn't mean your position is secure or that everything is over. Even without me, there are thousands upon thousands of Silas. As long as you're in the Black Tower Group, this blood-sucking lifestyle will never end."
All of the above was just setup; the next sentence is the key point.
“Why not save me? Then we’ll both have a chance to survive.” He glanced around to make sure it was just the two of them before he felt relieved and continued, “There’s an old Chinese saying: ‘Take a step back and the sea and sky will broaden. Leave a way out for others so you can meet again in the future.’ Don’t go too far, Sam.”
The implication of his words seemed to be that Sam should be lenient and let him off the hook, but the words also carried a clear threat, as if to say that everyone has their downfall, so don't make things too ugly, otherwise the wheel of fortune will turn and it will be your turn to see what happens.
Sam has lived to be this old and has seen all sorts of storms, so how could she be intimidated by his few words? She deliberately brought up another matter, "Speaking of which, I just remembered that you specially reserved several projects for me before, and I haven't forgotten that."
As soon as Sam said this, he saw Silas's face immediately fall. He must have remembered the scene when he publicly humiliated her during the meeting. She was a very vengeful person and held a grudge for a long time. She had just remembered this incident, but the situation at the time prevented her from taking revenge immediately. Now that the opportunity had come, she seized it and brought it up directly without holding back. She enjoyed the look of panic, hesitation, and paleness on Silas's face when she mentioned it. She was very pleased at this moment.
She continued to mock him: "But your abilities aren't good enough for me to overlook past grievances and protect you."
Upon hearing the last part, Silas's face darkened, becoming as black as soot.
"Sam, do you have to be so ruthless?! Always leave room for maneuver."
Sam scoffed when he heard him say this through gritted teeth: "Do you remember what you told me when you first joined the company? You said you wanted to become independent as soon as possible and become an investor who could help companies innovate. You said you would fight for this goal for the rest of your life. I bet you've forgotten all about it now."
Sam had introduced Silas to the family, but no one expected that the two would end up as adversaries.
"I haven't forgotten. It's just that someone was willing to lend me a hand and help me get to the top back then."
Silas paused, then slowly said, word by word, "To try to do these things without any backing is ridiculous, utterly absurd, don't you think, Sam?"
"What have you done to help the group and the company over the years?" Sam said with some disgust. "None at all. You've only focused on fighting. You've let down your past self."
Silas considered her words for a moment, wanting to refute them, but couldn't find a point to counter. After a silence, she tacitly agreed with her statement, but she was still unwilling to give up. "What exactly do you want in return for helping me?"
Sam found it somewhat amusing; wasn't her answer clear and unambiguous enough?
The office building's overhead lights were so bright that they illuminated the two people going up and down the dimly lit stairs, creating a strong sense of oppression in Sam's eyes, as did his words.
"Who told you to go down such a dark path? Black Tower Group doesn't need an incompetent, worthless, zero-contribution investor like you. I'm just following market rules. Survival of the fittest. Darwin's theory of evolution is not merciful."
Her tone was unmistakably sarcastic.
"So Silas is sorry."
Hearing these words, Silas's face turned even uglier. He knew that Sam would not help him, even though he had been trying to please her and agree with her.
He wasn't going to play along with Sam anymore and was going to cut ties completely. "Don't talk nonsense. You're just holding a grudge against me because I stole your subsidiary's acquisition deal. I was just following orders from the group. You're taking this opportunity to get revenge on me. Have you ever thought that by colluding with outsiders to do this, you're not only harming me, but also damaging the group's interests. President Zhou won't let you get away with this."
Sam walked down the steps one by one, the clatter of her high heels echoing on the steps, each clatter striking Silas's heart.
“Since you’ve brought this up, I’ll have a serious talk with you.” Sam walked up the steps for a while and came to him. The tapping stopped. “When you used underhanded tactics to steal the subsidiary’s acquisition deal, did you ever think that the subsidiary was part of the group? Did you consider the group’s interests at that time? Or did you put your own interests first?”
Upon hearing this, Silas scoffed. He had been struggling in the Black Tower Group, a den of dragons and tigers, for so long that Sam's words had no real effect on him. In any case, he was now in a "what's the use" mentality. If he was having a hard time, he wouldn't let Sam have it easy either.
"This can only mean that your subsidiary is not strong enough, and Speed Technology did not choose you. How can this be related to the interests of the group? In the end, Sam, you are trying to destroy U-Speed because you hold a grudge against me over this matter."
Knowing that Silas wanted to pin the blame for the shutdown of YTO Express on her, she, who had been in the business world for so many years, would not fall into the trap of Silas's words. However, she was also a little displeased. "At a time like this, you are still thinking about this kind of thing. Should I praise your good attitude or say that you are short-sighted?"
Silas was clearly aware of his current situation, but he still didn't budge. "It's okay if you don't help me. I'll keep an eye on you from prison. I'll definitely keep a close eye on you."
Sam took a few steps forward and stopped just centimeters away from him. The scene looked familiar to him, and then he remembered that he had done the same thing to Sam last year at the Shanghai Tower, only now the roles were reversed.
She admired Silas's unwilling and frustrated look, and then smiled and said, "As a former colleague, I'll give you one last piece of advice: learn how to be a good person in there."
Then she reached out and gently touched his shoulder, saying, "Please move aside now."
She used very little force, but somehow Silas still staggered back a few steps.
He stood there in that position for a long time.
Sam glanced at him one last time, then looked away for a long time, as if he were enjoying the sight of his prey finally being killed and dying. Only then did he leisurely walk out of the U-Speed Building in his high heels.
The bright sunshine outside the building has gradually transformed into a blue-toned night over time.
Wang Yutong had just stepped out of the Joint Innovation Building and was standing by the roadside, intending to hail a taxi to go home, when a car that had disappeared into the night slowly pulled up in front of her. The closed car window rolled down, and the fatigue from working overtime vanished the moment Wang Yutong saw where the car finally stopped.
Inside the car, Song Chaoye, sitting in the back seat, lifted his eyelids and said, "Wang Yutong."
“Song…” She wanted to call him President Song, but then she thought of those unpleasant things, and that she was no longer an employee of Yousu, so she quickly swallowed the “President” and changed the subject to “Song Chaoye”.
Song Chaoye didn't get out of the car, he just looked at her and said, "The reason I came to see you so suddenly is to talk to you about the non-compete agreement you have."
"You mean?" Wang Yutong was clearly taken aback.
Song Chaoye glanced at his watch and, without mincing words, went straight to the point: "I need you to help me obtain the core solution documents for Huang Shiyu's project."
That's the real reason he's here today, looking for Wang Yutong.
If Huang Shiyu dares to scheme against him, he will definitely find an opportunity to retaliate. He is not the kind of person who will accept defeat easily.
Although Wang Yutong didn't know the intricacies of the situation, she was still somewhat bewildered by his tough stance.
"What nonsense are you talking about? Why would I help you in broad daylight?" All she knew was that Yousu was a company formed by the merger of Speed Technology and Youshe.
“You will help me.” Song Chaoye remained seated in the car and said slowly, “I guess Huang Shiyu must have promised you that if your marketing strategy is well received in the market, she will help you resolve your non-compete agreement with YTO Express.”
"Yes, that's right." She wasn't surprised by this, because ever since she left, YTO Express had initiated a non-compete agreement against her and even sent people to track her movements, trying to find out if she had violated any clauses in the non-compete agreement. She just didn't expect that even though she had joined the education industry, she would still violate the non-compete agreement she signed with YTO Express when she joined the company, even though the two were not in the same industry. Later, she learned that YTO Express's non-compete agreement was basically all-encompassing, giving her the feeling that they would rather kill a hundred innocent people than let one guilty person go free.
YTO Express did offer her compensation during this non-compete period, but compared to the penalty for breach of contract, it was insignificant. The compensation was only a few thousand, while the damages amounted to two million.
Indeed, how can one be a good entrepreneur without being ruthless?
Song Chaoye didn't want to waste any more time here: "Let me make myself clear, I don't want to waste your time here."
That's what they said, but Song Chaoye handed her a document and gestured for her to look at it.
Wang Yutong looked at the document and saw that it was all about tax issues.
These issues are based on Speed Technology before the merger, meaning they are related to Hwang Si-woo.
Wang Yutong's heart skipped a beat, and she inexplicably felt that something was wrong.
Huang Shiyu really did evade taxes. She thought to herself, Song Chaoye and Huang Shiyu used to run a company together. Wouldn't it be easy for Song Chaoye to investigate her? So Huang Shiyu just got out and is about to go back in.
If someone knowledgeable about the law were here and saw this document, they would only think that Huang Shiyu had a thorough understanding of the policy and had perfectly avoided many risks, and that it had absolutely nothing to do with tax evasion.
But Wang Yutong studied media, so she didn't understand.
The situation was destined to be controlled by Song Chaoye.
She returned the documents, raising an eyebrow: "Huang Shiyu is already out, Mr. Song, are you still not connected to the internet?"
Song Chaoye just looked down at the documents: "This time it was just a coincidence. Huang Shiyu caused Yousu to end up in its current state of being investigated and liquidated. How long do you think her peaceful days can last?"
After saying that, he looked up at her and said, "Open your eyes and take a look."
Wang Yutong remained unmoved, treating it as if she were listening to a story, waiting to see what else he could say.
Song Chaoye continued to persuade her, his words both gentle and incisive, “Especially since you have a close connection to Huang Shiyu’s father’s death, oh no, it’s your father who lent money to Huang Shiyu’s father, Huang Guodong, at exorbitant interest rates, which ballooned to a total of two million. That’s why he jumped off the building. If Huang Shiyu knew about this cause and effect, would he still stand against the Black Tower Group for your sake?”
These words really caught Wang Yutong completely off guard, because her father was indeed a loan shark, and she had even told Song Chaoye that Huang Shiyu's father had jumped off a building because of the loan sharks her father was involved in. She was very surprised and at a loss.
"Stop talking nonsense, trying to sow discord?"
After saying that, Wang Yutong's heart sank. Was Song Chaoye telling the truth? He probably wanted her to help him get the core project documents from her, but looking at his serious expression, he didn't seem to be faking it.
Song Chaoye smiled and suddenly stopped trying to persuade her. "It's okay if you don't believe me. You can go home and ask your dad. Or, with the internet so developed now, what can't you ask? You're a smart person, you know what I mean. You can't make the same mistake twice."
For some reason, Wang Yutong thought of what the person who advised her not to take the job in the bar restroom had said that day, especially the sentence that this job would greatly affect her resume and would not play any substantial role in her career development. If she had listened to him back then, would she not have gotten involved in the lawsuit with Yousu? But if she could do it all over again, she might not make the same choice as before.
For someone like Wang Yutong, who has had a smooth and successful life since childhood, encountering the lawsuit against Yousu is a rare setback in her life.
So for someone as proud and confident as her, she could have easily resolved the lawsuit with YTO Express by asking her father. It was only a matter of two million, which she could have easily obtained with a simple question. But she was unwilling. She was an outstanding individual among her peers, with top-notch academic qualifications and project achievements. Therefore, she had a very strong sense of self-esteem and would not allow herself to have this matter added such a significant chapter to her brilliant life experience.
But sometimes, just a slight difference in mindset can cause many things to go against expectations.
In the nearly two minutes of silence, neither she nor Song Chaoye spoke. The only sound was the rushing of cars. When a black sedan peeked out from the road, Wang Yutong finally spoke.
"You said it yourself, the core solution is obviously a secret. I'm not in charge of the project, so how would I know where it is?"
Song Chaoye remained in the same posture, looking at her with a half-smile. "If you want to resolve the non-compete agreement without spending a single penny, then show me your sincerity. This is my promise to you. Do you understand what I mean?"
Amidst the tense atmosphere around her, Wang Yutong didn't reply. She glanced at Song Chaoye, then put on her high heels again, stepped onto the gleaming asphalt, and strode away.
Not far away, another black sedan was parked, having been lying in wait for quite some time. The colorful lights of the bustling street reflected off the black car, making it look like a painting in an oil painting world, so prosperous and beautiful.
Inside the closed car window, Li Xingzhou looked away and asked, "Isn't that Song Chaoye? Does he have a next plan?"
These words made Huang Shiyu's expression become more serious. She watched as the car window that had been lowered slowly rose. Their car window was wide open, and Huang Shiyu's hand hung naturally outside the window. The cigarette between her fingers was half-burned and smoky. "His methods are just so-so."
She stared intently at the car window, the tightly sealed gap faintly reflected in the depths of her pupils. The black car then drove out of sight, but she still didn't look away. "It's mainly because I was too careless back then."
Li Xingzhou turned his head, his gaze deep and unfathomable: "Don't put so much pressure on yourself."
The only visible part of the black car was its exhaust fumes. She looked away, lowered her eyelids, took a drag of her cigarette, and replied, "Mm."
The room was filled with the smell of smoke. He watched the man puffing away, his extremely beautiful eyes half-hidden.
The man even turned around and asked him with a smile if he wanted one.
Li Xingzhou glanced at her red lips as she wrapped a cigarette around her lips, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily. For some reason, his tailbone felt like it had been electrocuted, and his voice was a little deeper than before when he spoke again, "Also, smoke less in the future, it's bad for your health."
She exhaled a puff of smoke and replied, "Okay."
The night breeze in Shanghai was intoxicating, carrying with it the alluring scent of nicotine. She suddenly asked, "Have you been busy lately?"
"fine."
After responding, neither of them spoke.
Huang Shiyu leaned back in her chair, watching the ash from her cigarette brush against her fingers. She flicked it out the window and said, "You know what? He wasn't optimistic about the Heartfelt Words project at first and even advised me to give up."
Hearing her say that, Li Xingzhou replied without thinking, "But you didn't do that, and now everything is moving in a positive direction."
She smiled faintly: "Why can't Song Chaoye understand me like you do?"
Speaking of this, she couldn't help but think of Song Chaoye.
She was the most unable to accept Song Chaoye's gossip, as if everything she had done was in vain and useless.
She admitted that she wasn't an expert in this new field, but everyone starts from scratch, so she wasn't swayed by Song Chaoye's words and continued to delve into the field of artificial intelligence, hoping that one day she could openly say that her initial decision was not wrong.
Li Xingzhou looked down and idly watched Huang Shiyu's hand, which was lighting a cigarette with her index and middle fingers. He noticed that the woman's hand bones were quite slender and long, and the back of her hand was very white with several prominent veins, making her look very strong. Then Li Xingzhou reached out and gently squeezed the back of her hand. He clearly felt that the other woman paused because of his action. Since Huang Shiyu's hand was lighting a cigarette, she did not make any resistance and let him hold it.
"Because we are evenly matched, we are kindred spirits, Shiyu."
Huang Shiyu heard him say that.
For a moment, the air inside the car froze, breaths mingled in the enclosed space, and hearts collided, clanging together inside the car.
It took Huang Shiyu a long time to find his own heartbeat. "Let's go, I'll take you somewhere."
"Where are you going?"
"Let's have a big meal."
Li Xingzhou raised an eyebrow: "A trap?"
Huang Shiyu laughed: "A Manchu Han Imperial Feast."
After saying that, she stared out the window without saying a word. The streetlights, couples strolling along the roadside, and white-collar workers rushing off work created a warm and peaceful scene in the darkness. Just as the cigarette was about to burn her fingers, she quickly stubbed it out and threw it into the small bucket next to her. The black car started up again and surged into the traffic, becoming a light in the city lights.
The car soon stopped in front of a charming little house. The two got out of the car and went inside together.
Shen Nanfeng, dressed in his pajamas and slippers, was walking downstairs when Huang Shiyu and Li Xingzhou walked in. The three of them looked at each other and Huang Shiyu smiled and nodded at him, asking, "Where's Lu Xiao?" Shen Nanfeng replied as he walked downstairs that she was upstairs helping Dou Dou with a puzzle.
Huang Shiyu wasn't the kind of person who would actively start a conversation, and she wasn't very familiar with Shen Nanfeng either. Meeting Shen Nanfeng today was purely accidental. Perhaps because the atmosphere was a bit awkward, Shen Nanfeng volunteered to get them some juice.
Huang Shiyu led Li Xingzhou to sit down on the sofa at the other end.
When Li Xingzhou saw that the dessert on the table was exactly the same as the one he had ordered at the restaurant in Toronto, he was somewhat taken aback. Huang Shiyu glanced at him and gave him a brief explanation.
“Lu Xiao asked me what you like to eat. I remembered seeing you order several desserts in Toronto last time, so I figured you must really like sweets.”
He doesn't actually like sweets. In Toronto, it was just a cover-up. And would he even have any to eat? It's more likely that it all ended up in Huang Shiyu's mouth.
Li Xingzhou gave a brief, faint laugh. "It's really kind of you, Mr. Huang, to have such a concern."
As Huang Shiyu gazed at the desserts on the table, he leaned down and whispered in her ear, "I like them very much."
He spoke slowly, and the heat from his breath sent shivers down Huang Shiyu's spine, causing her to tremble slightly and turn to look at him.
The butterflies in their stomachs hadn't lasted long when an uninvited guest arrived in the living room. Both of them silently suppressed their racing hearts.
DouDou, wearing bear-shaped cotton slippers, saw Li Xingzhou on the living room sofa and her eyes lit up.
He's a handsome older brother.
Then he ran down the hill.
Lu Xiao watched him from behind, amused by his impatient manner. She thought to herself that she would have to have a good talk with Dou Dou after he left. The stairs were so high, and he was running so fast. What if he accidentally missed a step and fell?
DouDou skipped over, full of the vibrancy, carefree spirit, and joy of a child his age. He stopped in front of Li Xingzhou, tilted his head slightly, and stared at him. Perhaps unsure of where to begin, he looked at Li Xingzhou for several seconds before finally speaking.
“You finally came in today. Last time, your godmother asked me to call you in, but you left without even coming in.”
Li Xingzhou glanced at Huang Shiyu, then looked at him and smiled: "Brother had something to do last time."
"It's okay." DouDou took out a brooch that shimmered faintly from her pocket. "Handsome brother, this is for you. It's based on my favorite hero."
Li Xingzhou stared at the brooch for a while and said, "It's Ultraman Tiga."
"It was given to me by my godmother."
It was a gift from his godmother, who is none other than Huang Shiyu.
Huang Shiyu and Lu Xiao huddled in a corner of the sofa without saying a word, just watching the two of them staring at each other, each talking to themselves.
“I think it suits you very well, handsome brother, let me put it on you.” Dou Dou pointed to the area on Li Xingzhou’s chest and mustered up her courage to ask, “Is it okay to wear it here?”
Looking at the soft, cuddly child, Li Xingzhou asked with great interest, "Hmm, why do you think it suits me?"
Seeing that the brooch had finally been put on intact, DouDou's lips slowly relaxed into a smile, and she happily answered his question, "Ultraman Tiga is the hero of light in the darkness. He represents the rising sun. I heard from my mother the other day that my brother's family lost a lot of money. It's okay. I'm giving you this symbol of hope. You'll definitely be able to make a comeback."
Huang Shiyu and Lu Xiao watched this scene and couldn't stop laughing.
DouDou looked at Huang Shiyu and Lu Xiao with a confused expression, clearly not knowing what they were laughing at.
Li Xingzhou patted his head and ruffled his soft hair, saying in an extremely gentle voice, "Thank you for the gift, Dou Dou. I like it very much."
Hearing this, Dou Dou was overjoyed. This joy lasted until the tutor arrived, when it completely vanished. Dou Dou looked down, turning back every few steps, and reluctantly followed the teacher upstairs.
Huang Shiyu examined the brooch on Li Xingzhou's suit. The solemn and formal black suit and the whimsical brooch were so mismatched and ridiculous, yet he didn't take it off and kept it on.
She thought: If Li Xingzhou had a child, he would probably be a good father. He is so gentle with children.
Huang Shiyu put aside these unfounded thoughts, picked up a knife and fork, randomly picked a plate of dessert from the table for him, and said, "Have something to eat."
Although he doesn't like sweets, he accepted them because he knew Huang Shiyu had prepared them especially for him. He was so excited that his adrenaline surged and his hand trembled a few times, smearing cream all over his hand.
Huang Shiyu looked at the cream all over his hand and kept muttering, "What happened? What happened?"
Li Xingzhou glanced at her and said, "Where is there a place to wash my hands?"
Just as Huang Shiyu was about to point to the location, Shen Nanfeng walked over with a glass of juice and said calmly, "I'll take President Li there. The layout of my room is a bit complicated, and I'm afraid President Li might get lost, which would make it seem like I haven't been a good host."
Li Xingzhou stood up and said politely, "Then I'll have to trouble Judge Shen."
Watching the two disappear around the corner, Huang Shiyu plopped down next to Lu Xiao and asked, "How have things been between you and Shen Nanfeng lately?"
Lu Xiao paused while drinking her juice, put down the cup after a few seconds, and said with a half-smirk, "Nothing much, same as always."
She didn't tell Huang Shiyu what happened that day; she hadn't figured out how to say it. She thought she'd wait until the time was right.
"That's fine then." Huang Shiyu didn't suspect anything and started eating the small cakes.
The two walked for a while before finally arriving at the restroom.
The room was completely silent except for the sound of flowing water.
Shen Nanfeng leaned against the door, watching Li Xingzhou wash his hands, and said, "I heard that Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group is going to launch a nationwide live broadcast, initiated by a reporter from the Capital TV station."
“Yes, that’s right.” Li Xingzhou smiled faintly. “If Judge Shen is here to sound out the details, then I really can’t disclose them.”
"First of all, congratulations Mr. Li on the potential recovery of the Shenzhen and Hong Kong stock prices." He said with a hint of sarcasm, "However, I still have to remind Mr. Li to be extra careful with live streaming. After all, better safe than sorry."
Li Xingzhou watched the water flow over the back of his hand. "Judge Shen is very knowledgeable. He's right. We need to be careful."
Then he added, "Judge Shen can also take advantage of the current low stock prices in Shenzhen and Hong Kong to buy more shares. Maybe he'll make a profit after the live broadcast."
"Hmm, maybe." Shen Nanfeng stared at Li Xingzhou's profile and asked, "
I'm rather ignorant, but could you please tell me which "boat" is in Mr. Li's name?
Li Xingzhou paused in his hand sanitizer-squeezing motion, seemingly pondering how to answer Shen Nanfeng's question. After a few seconds of silence, once the milky-white hand sanitizer was back in his hand, he finally spoke: "Xiao Zhou, the boat that has passed away."
I don't think so.
After wiping his hands, Li Xingzhou turned around and stared intently at Shen Nanfeng.
"Then Judge Shen, tell me, which boat is it?"
Shen Nanfeng didn't answer immediately, but thought about it carefully before slowly saying, "Has anyone told you it's the 'zhou' in Mingzhou?"
Li Xingzhou frowned almost imperceptibly, his expression unreadable: "I would have thought so, but unfortunately it isn't."
Shen Nanfeng naturally didn't miss Li Xingzhou's fleeting moment of surprise. He already understood the situation and felt that he had made the right bet. He walked up to Li Xingzhou and said, "Let me tell you a story."
"A story?" Li Xingzhou looked at him with a puzzled expression.
Shen Nanfeng nodded: "I'd like to take a moment of your time, Mr. Li, and hope you'll listen to me finish this story."
Then, he continued, "This story happened twenty years ago. After the affordable antiviral vaccine was launched, tens of thousands of infants across the country received it. Just as the vaccine was about to be exported overseas, a sudden change occurred. Infants began to show varying degrees of irreversible damage to their skin and organs. These infants came from all over the country. The only thing they had in common was that they had received this vaccine. However, when all the clues and evidence pointed to the founder of the vaccine, and when all the victims' families confronted him, he shifted all the blame and responsibility to the person in charge of the vaccine's development at the time. There were very few pharmaceutical companies willing to make affordable vaccines at that time, and none of them had the resources of this medical company. The founder promised that if he took full responsibility, he would fulfill his wish. This person in charge of the development took full responsibility for the future of these children. I think his choice was wrong, but I also admire his selfless dedication to ensure that all children in the future could receive affordable vaccines."
Just as Shen Nanfeng finished speaking, Li Xingzhou's phone rang.
"Excuse me, I need to take this call." He looked at Shen Nanfeng as he answered the phone, "Hello."
Li Mingsheng's tone was very serious on the phone: "Xiaozhou, the reporter from the Capital TV station has arrived at the airport. I've asked my secretary to pick him up. You can come to my house now."
"Now?" He continued the phone call, his eyes fixed on Shen Nanfeng.
Li Mingsheng rarely spoke with such a serious tone: "Yes, it concerns the reputation of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group, so we still need to make full preparations. You should come back quickly so we can discuss it further."
"Okay, I understand."
After exchanging a few words, the call ended. Li Xingzhou glanced at his phone before looking up.
Seeing that the call had ended, Shen Nanfeng politely addressed him as "President Li".
Li Xingzhou turned off his phone screen: "Do you have any evidence for what you're saying? Don't start believing your own stories as you tell them."
"Medicine is the economic lifeline of a country and a guarantee of national health. I myself have suffered greatly from it. I was one of those 100,000 babies back then. I was just lucky enough to grow up unharmed. Now I have children of my own. For the future of my children, and for the future of medicine in our country." He paused, hesitated for a moment, and then took out an envelope-like thing from his pocket and handed it to Li Xingzhou. His tone was solemn. "All my beliefs are contained here."
Li Xingzhou didn't reply, his gaze shifting from Shen Nanfeng, who was dressed in pajamas, to the resignation letter in front of him.
Upon seeing the resignation letter, he knew that Shen Nanfeng was gambling with her future, betting on an impossible possibility.
But how could Shen Nanfeng know that he would definitely help him?
Moreover, this person was too purposeful. From asking his name to mentioning Mingzhou, he controlled the pace perfectly, stopping short of making a point and subtly reminding him.
Oh.
He hates being schemed against and taken advantage of.
Shen Nanfeng looked at Li Xingzhou for a few seconds, then stared at the resignation letter, and said, "So we still need President Li to lend us a hand at crucial moments."
“Judge Shen, police investigations still require evidence, especially crucial evidence.” Li Xingzhou turned his gaze back to Shen Nanfeng. “Your ability to fabricate stories out of thin air is quite impressive; it’s a real shame you’re not writing novels.” He paused, then added, “That’s all I have to say.”
After saying that, Li Xingzhou turned to leave, but Shen Nanfeng immediately stopped him.
Li Xingzhou frowned as his steps were interrupted.
Shen Nanfeng continued to emphasize: "Is it because if this matter is exposed, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group will fall from its pedestal as a leading company overnight? Can I understand it that way? Because from the moment you took control of the Shenzhen-Hong Kong stock market, I boldly guess that you don't want Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group to be handed over to others."
Li Xingzhou seemed to have heard something amusing. "I don't understand what Judge Shen is saying. The rise and fall of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Exchange Group's stock price follows the fluctuations of the market economy. I can't bear such a big accusation." He then looked at his hands. "But thank you anyway, Judge Shen. Your hand sanitizer smells pretty good. I'll take my leave now."
The corridor was empty, leaving only Shen Nanfeng. The lights were as dazzling as daylight, shining on Shen Nanfeng and making his back look so cold and lonely.
On the other side, Li Xingzhou got out of the car and went straight to Li Mingsheng's study.
In the study, Li Mingsheng stood in front of the fish tank, sprinkled some fish food into it, then turned to look at Li Xingzhou, who had arrived late, and asked, "The reporters from the Capital TV station haven't arrived yet, have they?"
"This is right in the middle of rush hour traffic, we're still on the road," he replied.
"Where did you come from so fast?"
This question seemed casual, yet it also seemed to be a probe into something.
Seeing that he looked perfectly normal, Li Xingzhou thought that he had made this unfounded assumption because he had just met Shen Nanfeng.
"I was just handling some things at the company," he replied calmly.
Li Mingsheng put down the box of feed, looked at the brooch on his suit, and said, "Really? But your brooch is quite unique. It was my oversight as a father that I didn't know you liked this style of thing."
Hearing his words, Li Xingzhou remained calm and composed, showing no inappropriate emotion whatsoever.
Li Mingsheng continued, "Ultraman Tiga is a fairy tale that only children like and believe in. Xiaozhou's style is somewhat different from yours, so it's not suitable for you."
These words sounded like earnest advice, as if Li Xingzhou were someone who had gone astray and didn't know how to turn back.
After a while, Li Mingsheng glanced at the clock on the wall, then walked over to Li Xingzhou, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Let's go, don't keep those reporters waiting."
Li Xingzhou neither answered nor moved, staring at the brooch pinned to his chest, which shimmered faintly in the light, and remained lost in thought for a long time.
-----------------------
Author's Note: It's almost over, and things are finally settling down. Sam will still be embroiled in power struggles when he returns to the Black Tower, probably a fight to the death. But I don't plan to write about that now. Maybe I'll see if I get the chance to write a new book about how he navigates and outwits another faction after returning. Thank you to everyone who's read this far, and thank you all for your continued support!
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