Chapter 65 "I brought Xiaomi back..."
“I brought Xiaomi back. If you don’t want to keep her, you can leave her with me. You’ve left her with me for several years now anyway.”
The reason Xiang Zhinan asked this question was not so much because he was worried that Li Xingzhou, a workaholic, wouldn't have time to take care of Xiaomi, but rather because he genuinely loved Xiaomi the cat. After all, he had raised her for so many years, and it wouldn't be realistic to say that he hadn't developed feelings for her.
Although Xiaomi, the cat, often flies up and steps on his belly in the middle of the night, and sometimes doesn't hold back when it touches his beautiful face, and dares to eat as soon as it opens its eyes every day, it is all these experiences that make him feel that in Xiaomi's heart, even if it does something very outrageous to him, he will not hate it or drive it away.
To him, Xiaomi is just like its name suggests—a little kitten. If it likes to hit him, so be it. He's a grown man; how much pain can a little kitten hit him? It's not like it hits him every day, and besides, most of the time it's just playing around with him.
After Xiang Zhinan finished speaking, seeing that Li Xingzhou didn't say anything, and not knowing whether he agreed or disagreed, she asked again, "What do you think?" Her tone was a little nervous, afraid of being rejected.
Li Xingzhou, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up: "Well, you can take care of it for now. I don't have time to take care of a cat." He had no objection to this in the first place. In his opinion, Xiang Zhinan was indeed more suitable to take care of Xiaomi than him. He had personally witnessed Xiang Zhinan, who usually didn't even blink when going to the hospital for blood tests, but when he saw Xiaomi sick and getting blood drawn, tears streamed down his face. That kind of heartache was genuine and could be seen through.
Furthermore, Xiaomi also suffers from stress disorder, which may have started when he was studying abroad. The vet said that cats are very sensitive to changes in their external environment, and the stress was likely caused by a sudden change in the environment. However, since Xiang Zhinan took her in, this symptom has not occurred much.
Hearing Li Xingzhou say that, his tense back relaxed a lot. After all, anyone would agree that he had raised Xiaomi so well! However, he still didn't let his guard down and repeatedly confirmed, "Are you serious?"
Li Xingzhou nodded without hesitation, "Yes, take good care of it." Then, remembering Xiaomi's imposing figure, which resembled a truck, his eyebrows furrowed involuntarily, "Also, don't feed it too many snacks. Last time I touched it, it felt very full, and I couldn't squeeze out a drop of moisture. It's too old for it to lose weight."
What does it mean to feel very moist to the touch, and not a drop of moisture can be squeezed out?
Did Li Xingzhou think he couldn't understand that he was saying he had raised Xiaomi to be a pig?
Although he often scores only two or three points on the reading comprehension section of Chinese, he still has the necessary reading skills.
He is not convinced! ! !
Xiang Zhinan, with his own fatherly filter, said: "Our little Mimi isn't fat at all. It's only gained a little weight with great difficulty, and you actually say it's fat."
Seeing Xiang Zhinan blatantly lying, Li Xingzhou's lips twitched slightly. "Come on, explain yourself. I only weighed ten pounds when I delivered it to you. Why has it ballooned to twenty pounds in just four years?" He's practically turned it into an Alaskan bear.
"That's because of a large frame."
"You call this a large frame?" Li Xingzhou asked him.
"Hey, when you brought it here, it looked so pitifully thin. I thought it might have been abused." Xiang Zhinan coughed lightly, his eyes darting around, and then explained confidently, "Now it's probably just bigger and looks stronger. After all, Xiaomi is a Ragdoll cat, and its fur has grown out."
Does anyone have a Ragdoll cat whose fur grows to 20 pounds?!
Xiang Zhinan dared to say it, but he dared not listen.
"Now that you mention it," Li Xingzhou laughed. He genuinely felt that Xiang Zhinan had spoiled Xiaomi to the point of oblivion, and suddenly wanted to tease him. "Hey, I suddenly feel a bit guilty. I haven't fulfilled my duties as a father. Well, how about I take it back? After all, you already brought the cat back, didn't you?"
Xiang Zhinan's eyes nearly widened into astonishingly large circles when Li Xingzhou said he would take Xiaomi back: "!"
Is this person even speaking human language?!
He wanted to pounce on Li Xingzhou, that heartless man, and wail and demand, "Who raised Xiaomi with such care and love! Who stayed up all night by Xiaomi's sickbed! Who raised Xiaomi, a tiny kitten weighing only ten pounds, to be so plump and healthy now! And now they're telling me they want to take Xiaomi back!!!"
He seemed unable to believe what he was hearing.
Seeing Xiang Zhinan's reaction, Li Xingzhou's lips curled into a smile.
"No, you, this, I, ugh, my head hurts." Xiang Zhinan hurriedly tried to explain, but because he was in such a hurry, he didn't have time to think and his words were incoherent. Then, as if he was suddenly struck by an inspiration, his mind suddenly flashed, and he slapped his head with his hand. "It must be the aftereffects of the failed startup. My right side is throbbing again. My head is buzzing, and I can't hear what I'm saying."
Obviously, people tend to talk nonsense when they are flustered, and their brains are essentially shut down.
Li Xingzhou crossed his arms, stared at him intently, and said with a playful glint in his eyes, "You're holding onto the left side."
"..."
Xiang Zhinan's hand stopped, and his expression could be described as undergoing seventy-two transformations, even more so than Sun Wukong.
He kept his hand on the left side of his head, as if frozen in place. After a while, he pretended to be nonchalant, quickly moved his hand to the other side, and said in a light tone, "Yes, the left side, it's the left side. I'm having this aftereffect of a failed startup. Do you think I'm not suited for entrepreneurship? This is my third startup, and it's failed again. They say things don't happen more than three times." He stroked his hair absently as he spoke slowly, sounding somewhat melancholy.
Li Xingzhou knew that Xiang Zhinan was doubting his own abilities. Otherwise, how could he have failed in three consecutive startups? He could understand Xiang Zhinan's mentality. After all, Xiang Zhinan graduated from one of the top business schools, his family was in business, and his older sisters had achieved some success in their respective fields. Meanwhile, he himself had struggled on the road to entrepreneurship for so long and hadn't even achieved anything decent.
Faced with such a comparison, it's only natural for Xiang Zhinan to feel frustrated and doubt himself.
Li Xingzhou stared into his eyes and said earnestly, "The road to entrepreneurship is inherently difficult. Failure is a normal thing. No one can guarantee that they will succeed in starting a business once, twice, or three times. Everyone tries and makes mistakes again and again. As long as you can learn from your failures, then it is not a failure. These experiences can help you grow."
Xiang Zhinan was stunned when he heard this. He had thought that Li Xingzhou would tell him that he was indeed not suitable for entrepreneurship and should give up as soon as possible and stop messing around. Didn't he see that all the money was going down the drain? He didn't expect the result to be so unexpected.
He would normally scoff at such motivational platitudes, but hearing them from Li Xingzhou today, he suddenly felt they made sense, as if Li Xingzhou was right.
They say good things come to those who wait, and this is only the third time. Why not give it another try? After all, he's only in his early twenties and still so young. It's the age when he should be striving and having the courage to keep trying and making mistakes.
He was about to blurt out his ambitious thoughts when he saw a familiar figure surrounded by a crowd ahead. He swallowed his words and quickly called out to Li Xingzhou beside him.
"Hey, wait, wait, isn't that Helen?"
Li Xingzhou stopped and looked in the direction Xiang Zhinan was looking.
Looking up, one can see that the hall of the exhibition center not far away is surrounded by people on both sides. Several media reporters are holding long lenses and are almost ready to pounce. Huang Shiyu has already been swallowed up by the crowd.
Lu Xiao, who was standing next to her, wasn't in much better shape. Like Huang Shiyu, she was completely surrounded by this group of people and couldn't find a way to escape.
Just as Huang Shiyu was about to be cornered, Li Xingzhou was about to call security and yell at the group to make way when Huang Shiyu raised her hand and waved to them in mid-air, signaling them to calm down. Then her clear and steady voice rang out, "May I ask what you need me for?"
"You've come at the right time! When are we, the employees who are owed wages, going to get paid? Are you trying to renege on your promise?!"
"Yes! When I left, they said they would settle the payment next month, but they kept delaying it, using slow external payments as an excuse, or using the excuse of bank loans. You are maliciously withholding wages. Take your money and pay our wages!"
Shouts of condemnation rang out from all directions, and numerous cameras were immediately pointed at Huang Shiyu, almost shoving into her face.
Huang Shiyu seemed oblivious to the eager cameras, his face calm and fearless. He merely twitched his brow and smiled like a gentle spring breeze, saying, "Reason doesn't lie in the volume of your voice. Everyone, please stop and listen to what I have to say."
The crowd actually stopped, and countless eyes were fixed on her, as if they wanted to see what she would say.
"I'd like to ask you something," Huang Shiyu paused for a moment, then raised his voice and slowly asked, "Who here is an employee of United Innovation?"
These words, delivered like a slap in the face, quieted the scene considerably. People looked at each other, their expressions softening slightly, while the reporters snapped photos with their cameras, the sound crisp and pleasant.
Huang Shiyu glanced around at the group of people, maintaining her polite smile: "Then let me ask you again, on what company's behalf are you here today to demand unpaid wages from me?"
Li Xingzhou stood quietly not far away, watching this scene thoughtfully, his beautiful peach blossom eyes slightly narrowed.
Huang Shiyu's questioning method is much more effective than simply throwing out evidence and explanations to quiet everyone down. After all, trying to regain control of the situation by simply explaining can sometimes easily lead you astray.
Often, the more you want someone to willingly follow your line of thinking, the less you need to explain with countless words; instead, you need to learn to ask questions.
She's quite eloquent.
Thinking of this, Li Xingzhou smiled knowingly.
Xiang Zhinan, who was standing next to Li Xingzhou, was still trying to figure out what was going on when she heard a questioning voice coming from the crowd.
"You are the legal representative of YTO Express. Don't put on this high and mighty act. We're here today to collect our money. We're not leaving until you pay us what you owe us!"
These words caused a huge stir, drawing countless people to exclaim in agreement.
"Yes, we're not leaving..."
"You can leave whenever you pay back the money."
"That's right, that's right..."
"That's right..."
As the voices of agreement grew louder and the crowd became more agitated, Huang Shiyu's calm and composed expression darkened slightly. He looked rather sharp, and his voice rose several decibels from before.
"Okay, I know and understand how you all feel right now. I was also troubled by this a few months ago. We've all been through this. Here's what we'll do: everyone come with me here. I'll personally give each of you two thousand yuan as compensation. This is a small token of my appreciation for all the hard work you've put in during this time. As for how to compensate you for your wages, we can take legal action."
As he spoke, Huang Shiyu gestured to the crowd, intending to lead them to a corner of the hall.
But no one appreciated it at all.
"Are you trying to renege on your debt?! We absolutely need this money today!"
"Yes, we have to get it! We can't let her get away!"
"Take out your savings and use them to pay our salaries, or you're not leaving this house today."
"That's right, no one is leaving today if we don't pay our wages."
"..."
The shouts from the crowd grew louder and louder, but Huang Shiyu did not show any anger. His dark eyes coldly stared at the group of people, and he laughed again. "I'll say it one last time: I will take responsibility for what is my fault, and I will pay back the wages I owe. If it is not my fault, I will not bear it for no reason. If you do not come over now, not only will you not receive this sympathy payment, but I will also be unable to help you with the wages."
Seeing the hesitation in everyone's eyes, Huang Shiyu didn't say anything more and walked to the corner of the hall. Seeing that everyone was still standing there, Lu Xiao waved to them to follow her.
Xiang Zhinan, who had witnessed the whole thing, nudged Li Xingzhou's arm with his elbow, glanced quickly over there, and asked in a low voice, "Has she been messed with?"
Li Xingzhou stared intently at Huang Shiyu's departing figure, his clear black and white eyes revealing no change in expression, as if he were seriously considering Xiang Zhinan's words.
From his vantage point, he could see Huang Shiyu's still cold and resolute profile, as if no joy or sorrow would ever appear on that face. However, the next moment, he saw Huang Shiyu's expression change miraculously, and he gave Lu Xiaoyuan a slick smile, as if he had just closed a big deal.
While looking at Huang Shiyu, Lu Xiao glanced to the side several times, as if checking which angle wouldn't be noticed by the group behind her, before quietly giving Huang Shiyu an OK sign.
Very cautious and careful, revealing a sense of knowing when to stop.
For some reason, after watching the two perform such a smooth and fluid movement, Li Xingzhou seemed to understand something in an instant.
Immediately afterwards, he saw the people behind Huang Shiyu looking at each other, their previous struggles fading away, and then they all tacitly followed Huang Shiyu's back.
Li Xingzhou suddenly shook his head.
Xiang Zhinan looked at him with a puzzled expression, not understanding what he meant. "Why didn't she explain the whole story in front of so many people? And what's with the compensation? Has she been driven crazy by this commotion?" After a moment of thought, she said, "No, I have to go help her."
Li Xingzhou grabbed him and pressed down on his shoulder: "Don't go, behave yourself."
Xiang Zhinan: "Huh?"
Hearing this, Xiang Zhinan dared not make any rash moves. He stopped in his tracks, turned around, and asked, "Why did you tell me not to go? Didn't you see such a beautiful woman being surrounded and attacked without any weapons? If you ask me, you're not being very chivalrous. She does look about seven or eight points like your first love. You should stand up for her."
"..." What is this? Li Xingzhou was speechless. He was amazed by Xiang Zhinan's ability to make up stories. He really wanted to crack open Xiang Zhinan's head to see what it was made of to make such wildly imaginative things.
He took a deep breath, patted Xiang Zhinan on the shoulder, and said in a low voice, "Don't ruin her plans because of your recklessness."
"..."
Xiang Zhinan was puzzled and frowned at him, "Why would she take such a big risk?"
Li Xingzhou did not answer directly. His gaze refocused on Huang Shiyu, a sly glint in his eyes. "You'll find out soon enough."
Xiang Zhinan had no idea what Li Xingzhou was implying, and was completely baffled, but he felt that Li Xingzhou definitely knew something, and his curiosity was about to explode.
Could it be that Helen told him? But the problem is, are they already that close?
No, I don't think so.
All they had done was help Li Xingzhou move with her and drink together before, that's all. Or maybe they just had some collaboration since they both work on AI medical products, but that doesn't really make them acquaintances.
In an instant, Xiang Zhinan's mind was filled with a myriad of thoughts, and no matter how hard he racked his brains, he was still only entangled in this relationship.
Before he could get the answer he wanted, he saw several trending topics about Helen online.
#Founder of Joint Innovation Exposed for Long-Term Wage Arrears#
#Several employees of Youshe Technology demand compensation from the founder of the joint innovation company#
#Founder of Joint Innovation Denies Unpaid Wages#
#HeartfeltWordsProducts#
#Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Competition#
#Can collaborative innovation break through the competition in the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Competition?#
...
Without exception, these entries are all followed by a striking "爆" (explosive) character, its bright red color making it exceptionally eye-catching and impossible to ignore.
Xiang Zhinan pointed at the screen and asked him, "It's trending on social media. Look, it's all negative comments about her. Why is she doing this? She doesn't seem like such a passive person."
Li Xingzhou turned his head, his gaze lingering on the phone screen for a moment, then looked up and, seeing that Xiang Zhinan hadn't noticed anything amiss, explained unhurriedly, "This is the result she wanted. She deliberately instigated those employees."
"So, you're saying this was all a setup by her?" Xiang Zhinan was both shocked and confused. "She orchestrated this herself? That's unbelievable! What was she after?"
Li Xingzhou glanced at him silently and found the man staring at him with wide eyes, clearly shocked by the information he had just revealed. "Do I really suspect that you paid your way into Cambridge?"
He scored over 600 on his college entrance exam, and yet people are questioning his intelligence—it's outrageous!
"Stop doubting my intelligence, okay?" Xiang Zhinan retorted. "I just don't quite understand why she would use such methods."
"Have you forgotten the methods she used to spread information during the last acquisition negotiations with Speed Technology? It's exactly the same as this time."
Xiang Zhinan recalled what happened last time, but still looked puzzled. "If what you're saying is true, last time she was after Speed Technology to get a good price, but what about this time? I don't understand." He stared intently at Li Xingzhou, knowing that he already knew the answer.
This was also what puzzled Li Xingzhou before. After realizing it was the day of the AI competition, he immediately understood. It was a win-win situation. After all, marketing expenses are a huge expenditure, no less than R&D expenses. Startups must spend every penny wisely, splitting every penny in half to save as much as possible, since investors' money is harder to fool these days.
Li Xingzhou turned to look at him, his tone calm and composed, "Because she's using the media to create hype. Today happens to be the AI competition, and there's still some time before 'Heart Voice' is released. During this time, she must maintain market attention on this product. Don't forget about those 50,000 orders."
She also cleverly exploited the psychology of the employees who were owed wages and were in urgent need of getting their money back. The two sides collaborated to put on a good show. Both sides needed traffic, so they took a gamble. If they won, they would gain both fame and fortune. If they lost... well, no matter how bad things get, there's no situation that can be worse than the current one.
"But I feel like it might be mostly a coincidence."
“Why would she give out compensation? Knowing her character, she wouldn’t have swallowed this loss if she hadn’t done it, especially since she was short of money at the time of the equipment auction. She was trying to stretch every penny. Two thousand per person, and there are about seventy or eighty people demanding their wages. That’s no small sum.” Li Xingzhou’s speech remained unhurried. “On the other hand, she’s gambling with this money. If she gets any traffic, she can gain a reputation as a conscientious and approachable entrepreneur.”
At this point, there's no need to say anything more. Xiang Zhinan understood. Indeed, Helen's popularity soared after this incident, earning her a great reputation and praise, and even bringing an unknown small company to the forefront of the screen overnight.
This has given joint innovation a name in the field of AI healthcare projects.
This was a good move, but also a risky one.
She moved very cleverly; the whole thing was perfectly interconnected.
Xiang Zhinan glanced at the steadily rising trending topic, its popularity was obvious, and in just a few minutes it seemed poised to surge to the top spot.
This trending topic wasn't just some entertainment gossip; it was actually a meticulously planned battle for trending status, revealing Helen's immense ambition.
In this age of entertainment to the death, Xiang Zhinan himself felt that this person was undeniably a master of marketing, and knew very well how to leverage resources and use them for his own benefit. What's even more amazing is that he directly used trending topics to generate free publicity for himself, his company, and even his products. But is this kind of "artificially created gossip" really a good thing? Xiang Zhinan couldn't help but worry, after all, traffic is a double-edged sword. If it's not used properly, or if it's overused, it can easily backfire.
However, if the situation is well controlled and used properly, it can also be very beneficial for her.
He sighed, "Once the arrow is released, there's no turning back. The danger is far too great. What are her chances of success?"
"Let's see how she handles her public relations later."
Hearing Li Xingzhou's calm words, Xiang Zhinan sighed, "Just like you, no businessman is without guile." However, he also knew that Li Xingzhou was naturally calm and composed. No matter what happened, even if it was a major event like the sky falling, he would remain the same, just like a stone suddenly thrown into a calm lake, which would not cause any ripples.
Li Xingzhou paused for a moment, then slowly said, "That's how a true businessman is. People who are too aloof are not suited to doing business."
Essentially, Li Xingzhou's statement is not wrong. The capital market is full of dangers and is destined to be a bloody battlefield. Since it is a battlefield, there is no room for innocence.
Just as Xiang Zhinan was about to click on the entry to see what it said, Li Xingzhou said again, "We can give her another boost. Go and contact Lin Shuyu, the host of the financial channel."
At this point, he heard Xiang Zhinan ask in a low voice, "Isn't it too late? Time is so tight."
“There’s still time.” Li Xingzhou paused, thought for a moment, and then said, “She’s a financial journalist, very sensitive to time and news. If she can’t even do that, then she shouldn’t be doing this job. Go quickly.”
"good."
After sending the message to Lin Shuyu, Xiang Zhinan checked the Weibo trending topics page. As expected, the topic related to Helen was now at the top of the list, with an astonishing number of comments and reposts.
He already enjoyed gossiping and was curious to see what people were saying in the comments section. With this curiosity, he clicked on one of the entries, and the comments in the comment section were incredibly diverse.
[Tony Wang: To be honest, these people are something else. They've been owed wages for so long and didn't even bother to contact the relevant departments to resolve the issue. They only showed up and made a scene after the place was deserted. What good does that do? They won't get their money back.]
[The more I go to work, the more disheartened I feel: It's not like making a scene is effective; look how much attention it's getting. But this year is truly tough. Our boss has been withholding wages for several months, and when we ask for our pay, he says he has no money. I understand how these people feel all too well. If it weren't for dire circumstances, why would I go to the site to make a scene! Why is it so hard to get paid these days?!]
[This is so frustrating, I just want to lie down: My former company was even worse; they still owe over 400 employees more than a year's worth of wages, and we still can't find anyone to resolve it. It's truly despairing, but this incident gives me a glimmer of hope.]
Xiang Zhinan was about to comment when he saw this, just to maintain the buzz. Although one more comment wouldn't make a difference, since the word "explosive" following the entry was enough to show that the topic had a very high search volume and many users were paying attention. Just as he finished typing and was about to send it, his finger suddenly withdrew, as if he had touched something unspeakable.
His eyes were fixed on the comments section.
[The money coming to Qianjin is money for money: I searched it up, and emmm, this person's name is Huang Shiyu. Why is his face so uneven at only 28 years old? He's profited so much from others' misfortunes, doesn't he have any money to take care of himself?!]
[If you have poor eyesight, you can donate your photos to those in need: Is it possible that even ordinary people might not be able to handle this top-down lighting? Besides, Huang Shiyu isn't a celebrity. The fact that her features are still so clear and her skin is still in such good condition under this lighting makes one wonder how beautiful she must be in real life. And hasn't Huang Shiyu's appearance always been widely recognized? What's there to doubt? Shouldn't you look at the past comments about her? Media headlines all say she's a beautiful entrepreneur. She's certainly pretty, but her character isn't great.]
[My Life, Your Dream: No, why are you all fixated on Huang Shiyu's appearance? Shouldn't the point of discussion be her unpaid wages?]
...
Am I seeing things?
Xiang Zhinan's eyes widened suddenly.
……What?
Huang... Huang Shiyu?
He said he couldn't believe what he saw with his own eyes.
No...no, it must be because I've been looking at my phone for too long and my eyes are tired. Rubbing them will make them feel better.
He tried to comfort himself while nervously opening his eyes, but what lay before him was the established fact. Unwilling to believe it, he clicked on several more entries, and the comments section was, without exception, entirely focused on the three words "Huang Shiyu".
It turns out that Helen is Huang Shiyu.
So... it really was her.
Suddenly, he felt like the sky was about to collapse.
This news was like a devastating blow to his spirit!
At the time, he was so focused on the shock of seeing the red "hot" text next to the trending topic and the amazement at the speed at which the topic was rising that he didn't even click into the comments section. Otherwise, he wouldn't have only found out now.
Damn, no, Li Xingzhou clearly never told him anything from beginning to end. What kind of brother is this?!
The same goes for the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group. He was only away from him for a short time, and things had already developed to this extent. However, he felt that Li Xingzhou was right to do what he did. He should put aside his own family for the greater good. Wrongdoing should be judged by the law. After all, the consequences of what Li Mingsheng did were too serious. In the hearts of the citizens, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group was a sacred medical institution. When the sacred faith collapses, the public's trust in the national medical and health institutions will be greatly reduced, thus triggering a crisis of trust.
Although he didn't really want to equate Helen with Huang Shiyu, that's just how it is, forcing him to admit that they are the same person.
But he still wanted to struggle one last time: "No, did I hear that right? She...she is Huang...Shiyu?" As if he couldn't believe it, he clearly couldn't speak properly at the end and could only stammer out the rest of his sentence, but his eyes were full of "Tell me this isn't real, this isn't a person" when he looked at Li Xingzhou.
However, things didn't go as planned.
Li Xingzhou made the final statement: "You're only just realizing this now?"
"So she...she's not the substitute you found." Xiang Zhinan's eyes were full of shock, or rather, he was on the verge of tears. "My God, you've kept this a secret for so long. How could you be so good at hiding things? I was completely fooled by you." It was one thing to guess it himself, but to hear it from the other person's own mouth was another matter entirely. The impact on him was enormous.
Li Xingzhou was much calmer than Xiang Zhinan. He glanced at Huang Shiyu not far away, stared at her intently, and remained silent for several seconds before finally smiling gently. It was a smile that seemed incredibly gentle to anyone and impossible to refuse. "I never said she was a substitute I found, I never said that. Please don't think so badly of me."
He paused, then changed the subject.
"Why don't you believe me?"
"No." Xiang Zhinan dejectedly put his phone back in his pocket. "I remember you told me you wouldn't forgive her, so how come you're back together again in less than a year? Don't you really mind what happened before?"
Li Xingzhou knew he was referring to Huang Shiyu taking 500,000 yuan from Li Mansu and then breaking up with him. Actually, it wasn't really a breakup, since they hadn't even had a chance to be together before they were forced to separate.
"Actually, she had her own difficulties back then. After you hear me out, you'll feel really sorry for her. Her father gambled, and her mother remarried. From a very young age, she lived a life of dependence, moving between several families. Her beloved grandparents also passed away in a landslide after she graduated from high school. She took that 500,000 yuan because her father owed gambling debts. You know, she often did odd jobs to earn money when she was in high school. She was so thin and small. I felt so sorry for her. Can you understand this feeling?"
Xiang Zhinan never expected the reason behind this to be like this, nor did he expect that Huang Shiyu had such a miserable past and such a terrible family background. In fact, he always thought that even if Huang Shiyu hadn't taken the money for this reason, Li Xingzhou would have forgiven her.
Because I love her enough, I feel sorry for her past and believe that everything happened for a reason.
Ultimately, loving someone means feeling sorry for them.
Xiang Zhinan was actually quite curious as to why Li Xingzhou had liked Huang Shiyu for so long, so she asked, "Was she as beautiful before as she is now?"
“Back then, he looked malnourished.” Li Xingzhou paused for a few seconds, then recalled, “He had nothing to do with being good-looking.”
He watched as Huang Shiyu stepped forward and took Lin Shuyu's hand. That aloof and indifferent face was more composed and calm than before. For a moment, he felt a connection to Huang Shiyu, who used to look at him with stubborn eyes. But it wasn't just a few years now; they were still in high school, and he was no longer that naive boy.
Time has silently taken away many things.
But Huang Shiyu is still the gentle, kind, and brave girl in her memory.
"Then I'm even more curious about what you like about her?" Xiang Zhinan looked at him. "There's always a reason for liking someone, right? Just like some people have an intelligence worship complex and like people with high IQs, while others are purely attracted to good looks and like great beauties. So there's always a reason."
In Xiang Zhinan's subconscious, there is always a reason for liking someone. The secretion of hormones does not come out of thin air. It is nothing more than the attraction between one party and the other party. Some of these attraction are due to material things, some are due to personality, and some are due to appearance.
To be honest, his attraction to Huang Shiyu was also due to lust at first sight, or rather, that's how all his past relationships developed. He has never had any requirements when it comes to choosing a partner, except for one thing: she must be good-looking, especially without makeup. That's enough for him.
Li Xingzhou met Huang Shiyu's gaze as she looked over from across the crowd, a smile playing on his lips, before slowly saying, "Maybe I was blind back then, and could only see her in the whole world."
Perhaps it was the glaring incandescent light overhead that made him suddenly recall the scene from many years ago when he first met Huang Shiyu, sitting in front of the self-service piano room with a kitten he had rescued from who-knows-where in his arms, and then retorting to him with extremely innocent eyes and unwavering attitude: "So what if it's Darwin's theory of evolution? Survival of the fittest, for them I am their heaven."
"There's more than one Bill Gates in the world. Just because he can't do it doesn't mean I can't."
When Huang Shiyu said these words, Li Xingzhou felt that there was a light around her, which made him want to touch her.
He thought that he must have fallen in love with Huang Shiyu from that time on, whose eyes were clear yet unintentionally revealed a stubborn look.
That look in his eyes was like a tiny seed that had long since taken root in his heart and gradually sprouted, becoming deeply ingrained over time.
In this vast world, some encounters are like springtime when withered branches sprout new leaves, while others are like enduring a harsh winter only to be followed by the scorching heat of summer, or experiencing spring only to face the bitter cold of frost.
He embraced the entire spring with a dull and unassuming heart.
Because deep in his heart, there was a hurdle he could never overcome: the death of Mingxi. Otherwise, he wouldn't have later created Qidian, a medical device with personalized dialogue capabilities.
Healing others is also healing yourself.
Surprisingly, Huang Shiyu saw Li Xingzhou amidst a room full of cameras.
He stood silently a few feet away, his gaze surging like a tidal wave, ready to engulf her.
"Hello Mr. Huang, do you have any comments or responses regarding the issue of unpaid wages for YTO Express employees?"
Listening to Lin Shuyu's voice coming through the microphone.
In a daze, Huang Shiyu came back to his senses, looked away from his face and turned to the camera: "I am Huang Shiyu, the founder of United Innovation, and also the former CEO of Speed Technology. That's right, Speed Technology was the company before Yousu's acquisition."
At this point, the flashes from below continued, and the clicking of cameras was deafening. If Huang Shiyu hadn't frequently attended various forums and conferences and was already used to this kind of scene, he would have felt like his eyes were about to go blind.
Huang Shiyu, holding the microphone and standing ramrod straight, continued, "When Speed Technology was acquired, I had already sold my shares, so the fact that Youshe employees are owed wages has nothing to do with me. You can follow my personal account later and I will disclose all the details without any concealment."
Lin Shuyu then asked, "Since it's not the salary you owe, why go to the trouble of giving employees a 'compensation' payment? Is there another reason, Mr. Huang?"
Huang Shiyu replied: "As a businessman and even an entrepreneur, my personal principle has always been to be sincere and do things seriously. The compensation is given out of humanitarianism. These employees all have families and have been busy fighting for their wages during this period. They are under pressure in life. I would like to take this opportunity to extend an invitation to everyone in front of the screen. Talented people who are interested in joining AI intelligent medical care are welcome to come to the joint innovation.
Huang Shiyu paused for a moment, and under the barrage of flashing lights, she turned her head slightly, looking past the camera at Li Xingzhou. She saw him talking to Xiang Zhinan beside him, and then, as if sensing her gaze, he turned his head, stared at her for a while, and then smiled gently at her.
For some reason, a thought suddenly popped into Huang Shiyu's mind.
Was Lin Shuyu's appearance here by chance the work of Li Xingzhou?
After all, none of the media reporters who were able to enter the hall today were of this caliber.
But now is clearly not the time to think about that. She looked at the camera and said, "Finally, everyone is welcome to visit our production lines and R&D center at any time. Thank you."
Afterwards, Lin Shuyu asked her a few more professional questions, which Huang Shiyu answered fluently.
Just as she finished the interview and was about to catch her breath, she saw Lu Xiao rushing over as if she were on fire.
Could there be a problem with the booth? Huang Shiyu wondered.
However, to her surprise, the next second, Lu Xiao's hurried appearance was telling her to quickly check the trending topics on Weibo.
Uh, what's going on? It feels like a major disaster is about to strike.
Thinking this, Huang Shiyu's originally good mood plummeted, and even her beautiful eyebrows and eyes furrowed slightly.
She found the Weibo page and clicked on it.
#Huang Shiyu responds to the issue of unpaid wages for employees of Youshe Technology in a lengthy post#
#Huang Shiyu said everyone is welcome to visit the R&D base of Heartfelt Voices#
The real-time search volume for these two terms has exceeded one million, and the number of reposts and comments is also gradually increasing.
The sheer popularity of it was unbelievable to her.
But Huang Shiyu immediately noticed that something was wrong.
Although the comments from netizens are spontaneous, this isn't exactly sensational content. How could it possibly overshadow the official announcements of top celebrities on trending topics? There must be capital behind this, but who could it be?
Thinking of this, Huang Shiyu couldn't help but frown.
But soon, her attention was drawn to the constantly updating comments.
[A rhetorical question: Why do I always feel completely drained whenever I see Huang Shiyu? I saw her early startup pitch video before, and it was the same. Her eyes were unfocused, she looked listless, dark-skinned, oily, and颓废 (颓废 is a difficult word to translate directly, but it implies a state of being listless, tired, and lacking energy). She's not that old, and she's made a lot of money over the years, so why does she still look like this? I don't know how the media came up with the 'beautiful entrepreneur' image.]
Upon seeing this comment, Huang Shiyu almost burst out laughing. "Drained" is definitely true; she's practically been drained by her career. She disagreed with the claim that she'd made a lot of money; even if she did, she'd invested it all in her career. Besides, her overall demeanor today… she wanted to defend herself, suggesting that perhaps she'd only slept two or three hours a day, working herself to the bone, hence her poor condition. She thought that once the project successfully launched, her condition would likely be much better.
Regarding the hype about her being a beautiful businesswoman, she actually doesn't know why the media is hyping her up. I'll ask her next time.
She scrolled down the comments again, her eyes widening in surprise.
[There's only one kind of happiness in this world: living happily. Uh, are you serious? This is top lighting! The lighting is so bad, don't you even notice? Judging from your profile, you're a girl, and you know to look for good lighting when taking selfies. Knowing the importance of lighting, it's pointless to keep harping on this. Besides, she doesn't make a living off her looks. This trending topic didn't even include the hashtag "beautiful businesswoman," did it? Let's be objective; sometimes girls really shouldn't be so harsh, okay?]
If the previous comment evoked any particular feeling in her, it might have been a mix of amusement and slight annoyance. But this new comment felt like someone had gently brushed a feather across her heart, a light touch that stirred ripples within her soul.
In an instant, Huang Shiyu felt a warmth in her heart.
Wow, is this the treatment that celebrities get?
In fact, there have been countless posts about her online over the years. Although they are all mild and harmless, even the smallest hurt, as gentle as a cat's paw, can leave an indelible scar.
She gave a thumbs up to the kind-hearted netizen who stood up for her. She originally wanted to share it as well, but then she thought that with her current popularity, it wouldn't be good if someone with ulterior motives used this information to make a fuss. It wasn't that she was overthinking it, but it's always better to be safe than sorry.
She then didn't exit the entry, but scrolled down and her comments were completely revamped.
[Sunshine Always Happens Unexpectedly: Seriously, doesn't anyone think Huang Shiyu isn't as good as he seems on the surface? Otherwise, how could he be entangled with these two? Don't forget, one of the two main characters dared to issue false VAT invoices. If it weren't for his family's help in returning the illegal gains and paying the fine, he would be reflecting on his actions long ago. The other one, I feel I don't need to say much, is the son of the protagonist in the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group poisoning incident twenty years ago, which caused a huge uproar online a few days ago. Although the police investigation found him to be innocent, he can't be said to be innocent either. After all, can you say he hasn't benefited from his parents' money growing up? In conclusion, I think Huang Shiyu and they are essentially the same group. As the old saying goes, you can't sleep in the same bed with two kinds of people.]
[miko: If you put it that way, then it's really a bit chilling to think about.]
[Celery is delicious: No wonder it went straight to number one on the trending topics list. I didn't even know this person before. Turns out they were just promoting themselves. How hypocritical.]
[Those who know, know: Haha, I was indifferent to it to begin with, and now I feel even worse.]
...
Looking at these comments, Li Xingzhou frowned. In fact, he didn't care what the online public opinion said about him or what they talked about. But now that Huang Shiyu was involved, it was different. He couldn't let Huang Shiyu get involved. So, his first priority now was to prevent the public opinion from continuing to develop. Otherwise, the image that Huang Shiyu had worked so hard to build would be completely ruined because of this.
This was not the scene he wanted to see. He only hoped that she would soar high and not fall, just like always.
Li Xingzhou originally considered contacting some Weibo influencers for public relations, before the hype escalated. However, he then thought that if he suppressed public opinion at this critical juncture, people's rebellious mentality might backfire.
Huang Shiyu, who also saw the same Weibo post, shared the same thoughts as Li Xingzhou.
In this situation, it would be a dead end for a public relations professional, but she never expected the topic to turn out this way.
Was it a coincidence? Or was someone behind it? Could it be Song Chaoye? Thinking this, Huang Shiyu shook her head, dismissing the thought. It shouldn't be. Song Chaoye had finally managed to clear himself of all involvement in this matter, and he would definitely want to delete everything related to him from the internet. It's unlikely he would try to use this incident to his advantage, hoping to bring her into the public eye. Whatever was dug up would be a net loss for him.
But the key point is that she hasn't offended anyone. No, Huang Shiyu looked at the constantly updated critical comments that were clearly biased towards her and Li Xingzhou, and she understood why. The most likely reason was the incident involving the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Group not long ago. People were still indignant about livelihood issues, which she could understand.
But she was unwilling to watch her carefully planned efforts go to waste, which really gave her a headache.
Meanwhile, Lu Xiao was clicking through the hashtags related to Huang Shiyu's response to the wage arrears issue, quietly working as a data analyst. For someone who used to be a fangirl, scrolling through hashtags was a daily routine. She just didn't expect that after all these years, her typing speed would not only not decrease but actually increase. Before she could even feel happy for a while, she heard Huang Shiyu sigh. She asked what was wrong and turned her head to look at Huang Shiyu. In the blink of an eye, she saw Huang Shiyu showing her the hot topics on the internet.
The popular comment about Huang Shiyu being essentially part of the same group has been forwarded over 5,000 times, indicating it has gained some traction on a small scale.
"I hope this doesn't immediately trend on social media. Maybe I should contact some media and public relations professionals to quell the public outcry now."
Huang Shiyu put down his phone and looked at Lu Xiao: "I'm afraid that using PR to suppress public opinion will backfire. Netizens these days are very shrewd. They can tell at a glance that we paid for it. In this situation, I feel it's best not to show up. Besides, I haven't done any of those baseless rumors they're talking about. Even if they dig online, they won't find anything."
Huang Shiyu has never been afraid of the online criticism. Whether in her personal conduct or her work, she has always been upright and has nothing to fear.
Moreover, she doesn't see many reposts, so she probably won't cause any trouble.
Although Lu Xiao didn't understand Huang Shiyu's actions, she calmly analyzed the current situation for her, "If we don't suppress it now, it will be too late. We should take advantage of the fact that the situation is still under control. If we let it go unchecked, the consequences will be unimaginable, and it will also affect the image and sentiments you have worked so hard to build."
Huang Shiyu understood Lu Xiao's meaning very well. Although these rumors were small, once they were circulated, regardless of whether they were true or false, most people would spread them and make wild guesses. Moreover, these rumors could not be verified, and in the end, the impressions left in their minds would only be those in the rumors.
So now she's thinking about how to perfectly resolve this situation. She absolutely cannot allow her thoughts and feelings to be affected at this critical juncture, otherwise all her previous efforts will be in vain.
Before she could even process it, the online comments shifted again. Some accused her of faking it, of putting on a show to grab attention, while others took a different approach, questioning her and mocking her for using men to climb the ladder, calling her a veritable Huang Daji of the startup world. Their reasoning was that her first startup's success was due to her then-boyfriend, Song Chaoye, and how her family's connections allowed her to reach the top ten in the gaming industry. They claimed that when the gaming industry became unprofitable, she set her sights on the emerging field of AI-powered healthcare, hooking up with industry leader Li Xingzhou, only to dump Song Chaoye and sell her shares.
These remarks immediately drew criticism and resentment from the internet.
Huang Shiyu's knuckles turned white as she swiped the screen. As the person involved, she found these comments absurd, even wanting to laugh.
Seeing these comments demonizing Huang Shiyu, Lu Xiao, standing nearby, was even more indignant: "You still don't feel any pressure? Look at what the online comments are saying about you! They say you climbed the ladder by relying on men, they say you're some kind of Daji in the startup world, can you tolerate this?"
Anyone would find this unbearable. Huang Shiyu was about to reply to Lu Xiao's question when Li Xingzhou sent her a message.
[Shiyu, where are you? Are you alright?]
She figured Li Xingzhou must have seen those comments online too.
"I'm fine, nothing's wrong. What's wrong?"
I'll handle the online comments; you just focus on the game.
Just as she had thought. However, she was quite curious about how Li Xingzhou would handle the online public opinion, since they were both in the internet industry and knew very well that public opinion and traffic were linked. Huang Shiyu looked at the message in the chat box, thought for a long time, and then began to type.
If I'm not mistaken, you're trying to suppress public opinion?
My plan is to contact influential Weibo users to post articles on gender issues, thereby sparking gender antagonism and controversy. This way, the existing conflicts will be shifted to areas that are difficult to resolve.
What about the other part?
After sending the message, it was like throwing a stone into the sea; the chat window remained silent for a long time. Huang Shiyu stared at her phone, waiting for Li Xingzhou to reply. Fortunately, he didn't keep her in suspense, and soon the message popped up.
[I'm going to reveal my real identity online and explain the situation to everyone, since most of the online criticism against you is directed at the fact that I'm Li Mingsheng's son.]
Huang Shiyu's hand holding the phone paused noticeably. The moment she saw the message, she could clearly feel her heart being struck by a soft blow, and even the depths of her soul were trembling in a daze. This feeling lasted for a long time until Li Xingzhou sent another message.
Don't feel guilty; this is what I should do. After all, the root cause of the criticism you received from uninformed netizens lies with me.
In the chat box, besides this message, Li Xingzhou also asked her if she was afraid that all her efforts would be in vain when she first saw those comments. Of course she was afraid; she was also afraid that one day the building would collapse and she would have nothing left.
However, it seems that no one ever asks her if she is afraid. In everyone's heart, she will always be that reliable boss and trustworthy friend. Everyone thinks she is omnipotent, so she has always played that role, forgetting that these emotions can be exposed to the light of day and do not have to be hidden under an umbrella all the time.
But it is precisely this experience that allows her to calmly cope with adversity and quickly force herself to come up with the optimal solution.
Huang Shiyu stared intently at the information, and ultimately refused him with righteous indignation, almost without hesitation: "There's no need to violate your principles and reveal your identity for me. If we're talking about the cause, the online public opinion started because of me; you were passively dragged into it."
After posting, she reopened Weibo, constantly monitoring the online public opinion. The doubts persisted, but this time it was different; there were more people speaking up for her, with comments like: "Does it really matter whether she's building a persona or putting on a show? Isn't the point that she genuinely helped people?", "Yes, a gentleman judges by actions, not intentions!", "After reading so many comments, I finally understand. It turns out that no matter how successful someone is, they first spread a false rumor, right?", "Honestly, what the person who started this hype said at the beginning was completely unsubstantiated, wasn't it? Is spreading rumors online so cheap now?"
Although she could only occasionally see a few scattered messages, it was a good thing for her. At least the situation was no longer passive for her. Huang Shiyu felt a little relieved, and then she had an idea in her mind. At that moment, Li Xingzhou's message came again.
Where are you now? I'm coming to find you.
"No need, the competition is about to start, and I need to go in too."
I was too impulsive. I forgot that this is a critical time, and many eyes are definitely watching us. Maintaining an appropriate distance is the right thing to do.
Huang Shiyu smiled silently and replied, "What are you thinking? Take back these random thoughts. I have more important things to do than for you to come to me."
The Weibo post I had just seen flashed through my mind, and I typed out another sentence.
[Please help me contact some Weibo influencers; I'll need their help soon.]
When she put down her phone, Lu Xiao beside her was still browsing the online comments attacking her, muttering to herself, "Why are these people so rude? Can they negate all of someone's hard work over the years with just a few words? Shi Yu, if you ask me, we should have just decided to go straight to the media and nip this in the bud." The reason she was so angry when she saw these comments about Huang Shi Yu was because she knew how good Huang Shi Yu was, and she knew how hard she had worked to get where she was. She was nothing like what was said online, which is why she was so angry when she saw those rumors.
“Suppressing public opinion is useful, but it’s not the most effective method.” Huang Shiyu curled the corners of his mouth and smiled casually. “Let me tell you what’s the most effective method.”
Soon, Lu Xiao deeply realized what she meant by "what is most useful." A newly opened Weibo account named [User 456321] revealed that Huang Shiyu had been doing charity work since high school, listing her years of quiet support for animal protection centers, participation in stray animal aid, and her good deeds of doing charity work in impoverished areas with charitable organizations. As soon as the article and edited video were released, they were immediately forwarded by a large number of people, including many Weibo big V's. In less than half an hour, the traffic was unprecedented, and it quickly set off a new wave of discussion.
[No one is perfect: She started doing charity work in high school, that's really kind. Thinking back to my high school days, all I thought about was when class would end and when I could eat. Compared to her, I'm ashamed. And I think she wasn't even an adult yet. To have such great love at such a young age, calling her an angel wouldn't be an exaggeration. So I really don't understand why anyone would say she's putting on a show. I don't understand and can't respect her.]
[User 6666: I've seen several of your comments. How much is it? Count me in, let's make money together [hug]]
[Good luck always with you: I agree with the comment above. I didn't know Huang Shiyu before, but today the internet is suddenly flooded with news about her. If I didn't know her, I would have thought she was some celebrity or internet celebrity. I must say, she's quite good at marketing. If you ask me, forget about your AI medical product and just go into the entertainment industry.]
[Every day, the first thing I do upon waking is to go to work: The comments saying she bought marketing is a bit laughable. First of all, she has consistently done charity work, and not just once! She's been doing it for ten years straight! So even if she did some marketing, so what? What's wrong with publicizing good deeds? Why must good deeds be done quietly and secretly? It seems everyone's judgment of good intentions is quite strict.]
[I don't like watermelon, but I love eating melons: LOL. To be honest, it's just that she can't stand seeing others do well. It's like she thinks buying marketing is something you can just do casually. She needs to genuinely be doing charity work! It's not like you can just type a few words online. Anyway, I don't dislike marketing; after all, she genuinely helped people, and that's enough.]
...
Although the negative online comments about Huang Shiyu hadn't completely subsided, the tone of public opinion had shifted from criticism and attacks to sympathy and pity. This eased Lu Xiao's initial tension somewhat.
Therefore, this is why Huang Shiyu, taking advantage of the shift in public opinion towards the "a gentleman judges by his actions, not his intentions" viewpoint, had Li Xingzhou contact Weibo influencers immediately. All she could do was quickly reverse online public opinion; after all, public opinion isn't something that can be easily suppressed, and sometimes even power can't completely silence it, since the public's focus is always on the points of conflict. However, she has indeed been involved in charity work; it's a concrete and undeniable fact, and she's not afraid of being exposed.
Although she never considered herself a good person or particularly kind, she at least had a clear conscience in her conduct and actions.
At this moment, she felt more and more grateful to herself for having persisted in doing public service since high school, because it was her past self who supported her present self.
As she looked at the online comments and the various glances directed at her from the people coming and going in the lobby, her gaze suddenly stopped as she caught sight of a familiar figure.
That person's back view looks so much like Yan Shi.
If she remembered correctly, he should still be in Vancouver, so how did he end up here?
Before she could take a closer look, the figure vanished in the blink of an eye. Despite scanning the entire exhibition hall, she couldn't find him anywhere. All she could hear was Lu Xiao rambling on about how she was being praised online, and Huang Shiyu absentmindedly hummed in response.
Never mind, if that person is Yan Shi, then he probably knows why this person is here.
In the end, she still had feelings for him and couldn't bear to let go.
Meanwhile, at the entrance of the World Expo Center.
"The journey from the movie theater to here only took about twenty minutes, but just getting a general understanding of the cause and course of events took almost all of that time. The time was too tight."
"I think you spend all your time and effort on making excuses when you're writing your articles."
Lin Shuyu listened to the two people behind her arguing about the manuscript for more than ten minutes. Her brows unconsciously furrowed into a deep frown, and she glanced back.
Just as Lin Shu was about to continue refuting Xiang Qing, he saw Lin Shuyu standing two or three meters away, staring straight at them without saying a word. Lin Shu's heart raced, he panicked, and his lips trembled uncontrollably. "I didn't, senior, please listen to me..."
Lin Shuyu didn't react much to this. She interrupted directly, her tone unchanged, "It's not important. Whether I have a script or not, I'll still perform as usual, won't I?" After thinking for a moment, she continued calmly, "Besides, it's just a small-scale event. What's the big deal?" She then winked at them, signaling them to follow.
Then he looked away and turned to walk towards the parking lot.
Oh no, they actually made the senior wait for them up ahead. I wonder how long they waited.
Lin Shu swallowed hard in fright and quickly jogged to catch up. "I'm sorry, senior, I'm guilty! I'll study hard and keep my keen intuition for news as long as I get back!"
Perhaps finding Lin Shu's words quite interesting, Lin Shuyu couldn't help but smile, and Lin Shu, standing beside her, held his breath upon seeing this.
April is the season of transition from spring to summer. The morning sun rises quickly, and its rays shine steadily on Lin Shuyu's flawless face. Even though only half of her profile can be seen, it is still impossible not to be amazed by her face.
Unfortunately, an uninvited guest arrived, shattering this beautiful moment.
"Hey, isn't this Host Lin? You're really quick with the interviews. We rushed over after hearing the news, and Host Lin had already finished interviewing us."
The person who came was Wang Lei, her newly appointed colleague, who was specially invited by the station to keep her in check.
Lin Shuyu sneered, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes: "Is it possible that you didn't do your intelligence work properly? Well, after all, you have absolutely no vigilance as a journalist. You even arrived late at such a crucial moment. I wonder if the station director will regret putting you in this position."
Wang Lei slowly smiled faintly: "It seems you're not entirely indifferent to me sitting in this position. You know, I'm extremely happy." He emphasized the last few words.
Lin Shuyu seemed to have heard an interesting joke, and slowly said, "Don't end up not in jail for this position, but as a dog in the capitalist world, barely surviving and trembling with fear. Are you satisfied with what I said? Can we stop this meaningless discussion? Please move aside."
Hearing this, Wang Lei wasn't annoyed by Lin Shuyu's sarcasm. Instead, he smiled rather cheerfully. "Of course, but I disagree with your claim that I lack the vigilance of a journalist. Today, I'll show you what vigilance a journalist should have." With that, he changed the subject and raised his voice, "Host Lin is a pillar of our midday news, a big star. I'm sure many of you have questions you'd like to ask our host Lin. Don't miss this opportunity; you won't have another chance like this next time."
Just then, a commotion arose from around the corner in the distance, and a group of reporters rushed over, creating an uproar.
These are media reporters who were just at the World Expo Center!
Lin Shuyu frowned, looking at the group of reporters in front of her, who were holding microphones and eager to get started, as well as the long lenses and microphones that made her feel pressured. She didn't know if they had started recording yet.
Then she turned her head and saw Wang Lei with his usual smile on his face, looking at her with great interest. His eyes were full of malice, clearly showing that he was a typical person who loved to watch the show.
Lin Shuyu suddenly realized that this was a premeditated and targeted plan. Wang Lei was deliberately trying to embarrass her and had arranged for these media reporters to be placed at the corner of her only route, waiting for the right moment to swarm out.
Lin Shuyu's breath hitched, her whole body tensed. She glanced at their car not far away and saw that it wasn't too far. Just as she was about to cover her face with her hands and rush over, not intending to pay any attention to this group of people, a loud voice came from the crowd.
“Host Lin, I’m a fan of yours. I’ve watched every single episode of any of your shows. If you agree to my interview today, I’ll go back and review every single episode you’ve hosted, and memorize them all, word for word!”
"What kind of fan are you? I think you're more like a spy sent by the rivals. I really thank you. It's like you can justify everything you do just because you're a fan," Lin Shuyu thought to herself.
However, a reporter from some unknown station dropped a bombshell, leaving Lin Shuyu stunned for half a second.
"Appointee Lin, there are rumors that your insistence on personally broadcasting the news of your husband's death was related to you. Is that really true? Do you have anything to say about it?"
All around was silent, with only the sound of cars whizzing by and the wind.
Immediately following was a row of cameras aimed at Lin Shuyu.
Lin Shu was completely dumbfounded. It was only after Xiang Qing spoke up to stop him that he reacted. He immediately shielded Lin Shuyu behind him and blocked the group of reporters with one hand, saying, "Hey, what are you doing!"
"No filming! No interviews!" Lin Shu shouted, almost losing his voice, but he couldn't stop the advancing and retreating cameras and microphones. "Get out of the way! Don't come any closer! Stop filming!"
During the scuffle, one of the reporters showed his credentials, saying, "We are reporters who were invited today. We have an invitation letter from email, so we have the legitimate right to conduct interviews."
This is bad, we've run into a tough opponent.
Lin Shuyu took another step back, quickly thinking of a solution, when a voice came from the sky, carrying a carefree and nonchalant tone that attracted the attention of everyone present.
Hello, fellow journalists from China!
Lin Shuyu suddenly turned around.
Not far away, Yan Shi, standing apart from the crowd, smiled, flashing his eight dazzlingly white teeth as he strolled over leisurely. With one hand in his pocket and the other waving methodically at the media reporters, he nodded from time to time. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought he was attending a fan meeting.
Lin Shuyu was very surprised and somewhat dazed by Yan Shi's sudden appearance. Wasn't he the one who disliked these kinds of occasions the most? Why was he here?
Is it... because of her? Thinking of this, Lin Shuyu shook her head. How could that be? She saw it last time. Yan Shi didn't want to see her at all, not even to catch up. How could it be because of her?
Lin Shuyu, stop being so presumptuous. This is really making you look bad.
She watched Yan Shi without moving, observing how gentle he was to others, her expression slightly forlorn.
Even knowing there were cameras everywhere, I couldn't help but look at him, no matter how inappropriate it was.
This is probably the first time in all these years that Lin Shuyu has lost control of her emotions in front of the camera. It just so happens that the media reporters are not focused on her at the moment, otherwise they would definitely have captured this rare moment on camera.
Yan Shi smiled gently at the reporters closest to him: "Wait, I have camera phobia, so please don't all point the camera at me at once, okay?" Seeing that the reporters were excited and wanted to hand him the microphone after hearing him say this, Yan Shi reached out and blocked them, still smiling with his eyes crinkling, and his voice was very gentle, "I know you really want to interview me, but please wait a moment, okay?"
Then he turned around, strode towards Lin Shuyu, and as he got closer, he put his shoulder against hers, turned his head, stared straight at her, and said with a hint of mockery, "You're supposed to be a big host, how come you're being attacked so badly by your own colleagues? Hmm?"
As he spoke, he winked at the media reporters who were looking at them, completely unconcerned about what kind of sensational headlines they would get.
Lin Shuyu paused, unsure whether it was because of the probing gazes that felt like thorns on her back, or because of Yan Shi's words.
"So you're here to gang up on me too?" Lin Shuyu originally wanted to ask him this, but she didn't, because she didn't want to be at odds with him every time they met, like enemies.
After a moment of silence, she lowered her eyelashes and said, "You're right, why don't you do the interview for me?"
Yan Shi didn't directly answer whether it was good or bad. Instead, he leaned down slightly, came close to the other person's ear, and said slowly in a captivating tone with a smile, "Lin Shuyu, I can accept the interview for you, as long as you kiss me in front of these media reporters, how about it?"
-----------------------
Author's Note: Yan Shi: Hello~ Hello viewers in front of the screen, we meet again. This time I'm bringing my CP (Lin Shuyu) for a small cameo (mainly to get some recognition "Wink").
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