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After finishing a cup of iced coffee, the anger in Shen Tang’s heart still hadn’t subsided.
Ning Yinchen’s smooth and rapid investment in Lu Zhifei’s company meant that Chairman Ning couldn’t have been unaware, yet he was also a protector of Chairman Xiao and Lu Zhifei.
For Chairman Ning, his grandson’s startup company was far less important than the interests of the Xiao Ning Group. Sacrificing small interests to preserve large ones was always a profitable deal.
They all thought she would, without hesitation, destroy the Xiao Ning Group just as she had destroyed Fan Yu and Chen Nanjin.
Lu Zhifei ordered another iced coffee for Shen Tang. Shen Tang’s anger only confirmed Ning Yinchen’s importance in her heart.
The dangerous move of cutting off their lifeline (literally ‘removing the firewood from under the cauldron’) had paid off.
“Miss Shen, Ning Yinchen’s investment in my company isn’t a loss. The return rate I’m offering him is unmatched in the investment world. As long as you don’t play dirty tricks behind the scenes, he’s guaranteed to profit.”
Shen Tang picked up her second cup of iced coffee and made a toasting gesture. “Congratulations, Ms. Lu.”
Lu Zhifei picked up her coffee cup and gave a fake smile, “You’re too kind.”
She took a sip.
Bitterness and sourness were all in this cup of coffee.
“How are things with Jiang Chengyu now?” she asked.
It sounded like idle chat between friends, a harmless question.
Only she knew that every word pierced her to the core.
Jiang Chengyu, such a proud man, after a complete break of six months, actually met Shen Tang again in Hawaii.
“You’re so curious about my private life, let me satisfy you a bit.” Shen Tang put down her coffee cup and carefully took out the diamond ring from her handbag, placing it on the table.
Lu Zhifei paused, suppressing the surge of thoughts in her mind. She smiled, not stinting on praise: “Good taste, it’s quite beautiful.”
She didn’t ask who gave her the ring, though the answer was obvious. She was just burying her head in the sand.
To deceive herself for a moment was better than nothing.
“Jiang Chengyu’s proposal ring for me. He proposed over the phone, and I refused. He even put the ring in my pocket before he left.” Shen Tang put the ring on her ring finger. “The size was estimated by him just by looking at the ring band, even more precise than a measurement.”
Lu Zhifei also put down her coffee cup and ordered herself an iced coffee.
The piece of her heart was being sliced away inch by inch by Shen Tang’s blunt knife, yet her face remained smiling. “You must feel a great sense of accomplishment, wantonly trampling on something I yearn for but can’t have.”
She exhaled softly. Even breathing hurt.
“You won in love, congratulations.”
“Ms. Lu, you’re wrong,” Shen Tang said, taking off the ring. “I never competed with you for love. What do you mean I won?”
Lu Zhifei sneered, “You’re taking advantage and still acting innocent.”
“Perhaps in your eyes, but Ms. Lu, think about it carefully, when did I ever compete with you for him?”
The iced coffee arrived, and Lu Zhifei used the coffee to block Shen Tang’s question.
Shen Tang asked the waiter, “Do you have ice cream? Two servings for us.” Iced coffee wasn’t enough to quell the anger; both she and Lu Zhifei desperately needed a box of ice cream.
The waiter smiled, “What flavor?”
Shen Tang: “Durian.” She asked Lu Zhifei what she wanted.
Lu Zhifei also stopped trying to hide her composure after learning Jiang Chengyu’s proposal was rejected. “The same as yours.”
Two servings of durian ice cream.
Two people who hated each other to death could still sit calmly and eat ice cream together. Lu Zhifei felt Shen Tang was leading her astray, and she was not far from going crazy.
The waiter quickly brought the ice cream.
Shen Tang continued what she was interrupted from saying, “I will only fight for my future with Jiang Chengyu. If I can’t get it, then we’ll part amicably. But I absolutely do not have the time or interest to fight with another woman for him.”
Shen Tang was implying that Lu Zhifei would stop at nothing to get a man. Lu Zhifei’s pride and self-esteem were crushed by Shen Tang, like the colorful nuts sprinkled on top of the ice cream, shattered to pieces.
“Miss Shen, don’t be too pretentious. Since Jiang Chengyu proposed to you, you should cherish it. Whether it’s sincere or not, I can still offer my blessings.”
Lu Zhifei scooped a large spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. The coldness stimulated her stomach, but couldn’t suppress her anger. “In business, I might not have a bottom line. In a world where the strong prey on the weak, a bottom line is a joke.”
“However, when it comes to relationships, if Jiang Chengyu absolutely needs you, I won’t cling to him. I can still live up to the last two characters of my name.”
Zhifei was the name her grandfather gave her, meaning to know right from wrong.
As she spoke, she ate the ice cream. “From now on, you live your life well, and I’ll quietly run my business. We’ll stay out of each other’s way.”
Shen Tang found it amusing. “You use me, building your business on my pain, and you say we’ll stay out of each other’s way? It sounds like you’re taking all the benefits in the world.”
She scooped most of the ice cream into her coffee cup and drank it mixed with the iced coffee.
Lu Zhifei advised her, “You’re at a dead end in business, so hold on tight to your love. Don’t end up losing everything.”
Shen Tang shook the ring. “I showed you the ring to tell you that I won’t even yield for Jiang Chengyu, let alone for you.”
The afternoon sunlight slanted in through the window, falling directly on Shen Tang.
In the light and shadow, she was in the light, and Lu Zhifei was in the dark.
________________________________________
Back home, Shen Tang sat cross-legged on the carpet, leaning against the sofa, meticulously reviewing everything that had happened recently in her mind.
Suddenly, she got up, went to the study, and opened her tablet.
That day at the Hawaii yacht party, several socialites uploaded photos of the revelry. Because she was next to the center, she was in almost every group photo.
She sent a few photos to Xie Yucheng: [Help me find out who these socialites in the photos dislike or are at odds with, preferably people in the business world, the more detailed the better.]
Xie Yucheng: [What are you going to do?]
Shen Tang: [It’s useful. I stumbled a bit with Lu Zhifei. Let’s talk in person. If you’re free tonight, come to the apartment for dinner. I’m cooking.]
Xie Yucheng had no compliments for Shen Tang’s cooking, but still bravely accepted the invitation. Even if it was a terrible meal, he planned to eat it with his eyes closed.
Shen Tang put down her phone and went to prepare dinner. Her cooking skills were limited, so she could only make do.
The last time she cooked was on Lunar New Year’s Eve last year, the New Year’s Eve dinner for just her and her grandfather.
She had only cooked for two people: her grandfather and Jiang Chengyu.
In less than half an hour, the doorbell rang.
Shen Tang opened the door. Xie Yucheng brought several bottles of red wine.
“You’ve almost finished the wine in the cabinet, haven’t you?”
“There’s half a bottle left.”
Shen Tang closed the door and followed him into the kitchen.
The kitchen had two large floor-to-ceiling windows, making it bright and airy.
Cooking while overlooking the bustling city was both luxurious and comfortable.
“What kind of trap did Lu Zhifei set for you?” Xie Yucheng poured half a glass of red wine.
Shen Tang recounted her meeting with Lu Zhifei that afternoon in detail, holding nothing back.
Xie Yucheng sat on a high stool in front of the island counter, long legs on the floor, staring at the ice cubes floating in his wine glass.
He pondered for a while, “Why do I feel like Lu Zhifei started planning this a long time ago?”
“She did,” Shen Tang said, taking butter out of the fridge to use. “Lu Zhifei exposing your relationship with me seemed to be clarifying that I didn’t enter the entertainment industry to make money off Chen Nanjin’s connections. In reality, she greatly helped Chairman Xiao. She’s cunning.”
She paused her work. “Lu Zhifei was certain I had solid proof of my relationship with Xiao Zhen, and that I would eventually force Chairman Xiao to admit it. So, she acted first, exposing that you and I were boyfriend and girlfriend, the kind that were getting married. Behind you is the powerful M.K Group.”
Later, after Chairman Xiao publicly acknowledged her, Xiao Ning’s stock price didn’t fall. Instead, because it was implicitly linked to Xie Yucheng and the M.K Group, investors became optimistic about Xiao Ning Group’s future collaborations with M.K, causing Xiao Ning Group’s stock price to continue to rise.
Otherwise, Chairman Xiao wouldn’t have been so eager to help Lu Zhifei this time.
Everyone had their own agenda; no one was foolish.
Xie Yucheng nodded. “This time, Xiao Ning Group’s stock price rose instead of falling. We should thank Lu Zhifei.”
Lu Zhifei’s move to expose the relationship back then was a win-win situation for her.
The best outcome was that after Shen Tang and Jiang Chengyu broke up, she might get together with Jiang Chengyu, while also continuing to develop her career.
The worst outcome was that even if she didn’t find love, with the Xiao family’s support in her career, she would thrive in Europe and America.
Xie Yucheng sipped his cold red wine. “A woman like her can live without love, but if she loses her career, she’d rather die. If you fight her in the business world, you might not be able to beat her for now.”
He asked, “I’m offering free consulting services, do you want them?”
“No,” Shen Tang said, having her own plans. “Just help me find out who the opponents of those people in the photos are. As for the rest, I’ll do it myself, otherwise it won’t feel right.”
She genuinely lacked experience in business, especially in the capital market.
“I want to learn from Jiang Chengyu. I want him to guide me.”
“What?” Xie Yucheng swallowed a small ice cube in surprise, which caught in his throat, making his chest hurt. “You finally came around?”
Shen Tang nodded. “His kindness to me now isn’t condescending. I can accept his current attitude, and I’m willing to give myself a chance to be with him. If it still doesn’t work out in the end, at least I won’t have any regrets. And it won’t delay my dealing with Lu Zhifei. It’s quite good.”
Xie Yucheng put down his wine glass, grabbed an apron, and tied it on. “You rest. I’ll make you Western food. Since you’ve turned over a new leaf, I should show some sincerity too.”
Shen Tang didn’t stand on ceremony and took his place on the high stool in front of the island counter.
The dazzling night view before her belonged to her; the desolation belonged to the city.
________________________________________
Meanwhile, in Beijing, it was another chilly morning.
The temperature had been in the tens of degrees a few days ago, but today brought a cold snap in early spring.
Before leaving home, Jiang Chengyu received a message from his niece: [Uncle, that set of cosmetics I gave you last year, can you give it back to me? You don’t use it anyway.]
Stepping out, the cold wind was biting.
He held down the hem of his trench coat with one hand and replied to his niece with a voice message: [I’m keeping it for Tangtang. If you need some, buy it yourself.]
Niece: [Uncle, people need to have principles. Shen Tang already has a boyfriend. You should find another young lady. No matter what, I love you and I’ll try my best to ship your OTP. You don’t know how much I wish for a little brother or sister, they could be flower children when Fu Chengbin and I get married. It’s just that Fu Chengbin would be embarrassed, having to carry a little brother or sister in his thirties.]
Jiang Chengyu: “...”
The conversation couldn’t continue, so he turned off his phone screen and got into the car, heading to the company.
Mid-way, he received a call from Xie Yucheng.
This was the first time Xie Yucheng had initiated a call to Jiang Chengyu. The two groups were about to collaborate on acquiring a company, and the target company was in Beijing. People from M.K’s project team were being transferred from their headquarters.
“Mr. Jiang, we’ll have to trouble you with a lot of care then.”
Out of consideration for Shen Tang, even though Xie Yucheng had challenged him in various ways at the Hawaii party that night, Jiang Chengyu still politely said, “It’s only right.”
The project team would arrive in Beijing next week. Xie Yucheng asked Jiang Chengyu, “I wonder who will be in charge of the project from Jingxu’s side?”
“Whenever it involves an M&A project, I personally oversee it.”
After hearing this, Xie Yucheng was relieved.
However, since Jiang Chengyu, the boss of Jingxu, was taking charge of the project, M.K couldn’t just send any vice president. When they eventually fought for their respective interests, no one would have the same authority as Jiang Chengyu.
“I’ll be in charge of M.K’s side. The rest of the project team will go first. I’ll handle some matters and then head to Beijing.”
“Then we’ll see you in Beijing,” Jiang Chengyu hung up the phone.
The target company for this acquisition had a conservative valuation of 12 billion.
Countless tasks awaited him, leaving him very little time to see Shen Tang.
She still wouldn’t know how to complain that he wasn’t sincere enough in his pursuit.
A week later, the news of Jingxu Group and M.K’s collaboration on an acquisition, despite the entire project team signing non-disclosure agreements, still spread through the industry like wildfire.
Chairman Xiao, far away in London, also heard about it. He had just finished his morning meeting, and Chairman Ning was also there today.
“I heard Shen Tang went to Beijing,” Chairman Ning said, looking at today’s financial newspaper.
Chairman Xiao smiled. “You’re quite well-informed.”
Chairman Ning’s gaze remained on the newspaper, his eyes behind his glasses calm. “No choice, it concerns Xiao Ning’s future expansion in China.”
He paused for a few seconds.
“Is Shen Tang planning to give up and marry Jiang Chengyu?”
Chairman Xiao was boiling water for flower tea. He had only loved red wine and flower tea his whole life. Now that he was older, he didn’t dare drink red wine every day, so he brewed flower tea instead.
“Marriage isn’t impossible. With her personality, if she doesn’t retaliate against Lu Zhifei, then she’s not Shen Tang.”
________________________________________
These past few days, Beijing had experienced a rain shower, causing the temperature to drop by more than ten degrees.
Yuanyuan was showing off today. Before coming to the airport, she spent several hours getting ready, putting on beautiful makeup, wearing a newly bought spring dress, and topping it with the latest trench coat.
The moment she stepped out of the car, she shivered from the cold.
Seeing a familiar person emerge, she excitedly waved, “Sister Tang!” Then she also saw the person pushing luggage behind Shen Tang, the bodyguard wearing sunglasses.
Shen Tang looked at her former assistant, dressed up, and shook her head helplessly. This was dressing up for someone who appreciates you.
“Sister Tang, I missed you so much.” Yuanyuan hugged Shen Tang tightly. She had been sleepless for two nights after learning Shen Tang was coming. Over Shen Tang’s shoulder, she looked at the bodyguard. “Long time no see.”
The bodyguard was surprised that the little assistant greeted him and nodded.
“Sister Tang, I’ve already tidied up the apartment. Your room is still just as it was, the bed sheets haven’t changed, and the green plants are growing even more lushly,” Yuanyuan chattered about the changes in Beijing and the apartment over the past seven months.
Shen Tang didn’t know how long she would live in Beijing, or what the outcome with Jiang Chengyu would be, so she didn’t rent a place and planned to stay in a hotel.
Yuanyuan refused to let her, insisting she return to the apartment, saying it used to be her home.
A two-bedroom apartment was enough for her and Yuanyuan.
Yuanyuan was very enthusiastic and took the initiative to rent an apartment for the bodyguard in the next building.
After seven months away, Shen Tang had almost forgotten what the apartment looked like. Seeing a colorful set of markers on the coffee table in the bedroom, and stacks of well-worn scripts, her memories were rekindled.
“The Fated Romance of Sheng Xiao,” “That Early Summer,” and even the script for “A Dream Awakened,” her last drama before leaving the industry, Yuanyuan had brought back.
Shen Tang opened “That Early Summer.” The scene of Jiang Chengyu getting jealous over her kissing scene was still vivid in her mind.
A message came in on her phone from Xie Yucheng: [Around 10:30 PM, the clubhouse.]
He sent her a screenshot of the clubhouse’s location.
Shen Tang put down the script, put her suitcase in the walk-in closet, and opened it to find a sexy long dress. After putting it on, she looked at herself in the mirror and suddenly chuckled.
She was just like Yuanyuan.
At 10:45 PM, several luxurious cars drove into the clubhouse courtyard in sequence.
This was Jiang Chengyu’s second event tonight; he had to attend.
“Brother Jiang, have a cigarette before we go in.” A companion offered him a cigarette.
Jiang Chengyu waved his hand, taking a bottle of iced water from the car to drink.
Someone couldn’t hold back and asked, “Are you really going to cooperate with Xie Yucheng?” This was already a semi-open secret within their small circle.
Jiang Chengyu: “Yes.”
“...Are you crazy?” The person who said this had also attended the Hawaii party that night and personally witnessed that Xie Yucheng and Shen Tang were still together.
How long had it been, and he was already going to cooperate with her official boyfriend?
They used to not believe in being blinded, but now they understood. Two begonia flowers had made him lose sight of what he was doing.
Jiang Chengyu couldn’t be bothered to respond. He had explained on the yacht that night; if they didn’t believe him, whose fault was it?
He drank half a bottle of iced water, screwed the cap back on, and walked towards the clubhouse.
“Jiang Chengyu.” A cold, slightly arrogant voice pierced his eardrums.
Jiang Chengyu paused his steps. He was certain he wasn’t drunk; it wasn’t a hallucination.
He turned sharply. Shen Tang was a few meters away.
The soft streetlights made her seem less heartless.
Jiang Chengyu handed the bottle of iced water to his bodyguard and strode towards her.
He said nothing, bending down and sweeping her into his arms.
It had been a long time since he had held her properly.
“Hey! What are you doing!” Shen Tang was startled.
There were several other people in the courtyard. How could he just pick her up directly?
Even during the three years they were together, he had never been so emotional as to pick her up like this.
“Put me down.”
Jiang Chengyu put her down, involuntarily leaning down and kissing her lips. His voice was slightly hoarse. “Thank you for coming back.”
From the moment they met until now, he had only said that one sentence.
Then, his arms encircled her in an embrace.
The calm, composed, and usually emotionally detached Second Young Master Jiang had, today, stabbed the hearts of several people present.
They hadn’t even smoked their cigarettes yet; they just threw them and went into the clubhouse building.
On the second floor, a few people moved to the window to smoke. Looking down from the building at the two figures standing so close in the courtyard, their eyes full of affection, they couldn’t help but sigh, “Do you know why Shen Tang has Jiang Ge wrapped around her finger?”
“Beautiful, and has personality.”
“That’s not important. The main thing is, Shen Tang grew up by the sea. She’s seen all kinds of ‘fish,’ she has the potential to be a ‘sea king’.”
“...”
Shen Tang allowed Jiang Chengyu to hold her for a few seconds. When he calmed down, she gently pushed him away. “Mr. Jiang, you’ve misunderstood. I’m not here to accept your proposal. I’m a member of the M.K project team. Please guide me in the future.”
“My apologies, just now...” He had lost his composure a bit. Jiang Chengyu released her. “No matter the reason, at least you’re willing to come back.”
Shen Tang stated directly, “Although I’m temporarily working at M.K, I haven’t given up on dealing with Lu...”
Jiang Chengyu knew what she was going to say. “It’s okay. What you don’t understand, I’ll teach you.”
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