#52 (Don’t You Miss Me?)

Under the night sky, the car sped along.

Shen Tang watched the fleeting road view outside the window, a faint scent of tobacco lingering on her lips. She was still thinking about what Jiang Chengyu had just said, that it took him over a year to quit smoking.

Jiang Chengyu had drunk quite a bit at the wedding banquet tonight. He leaned back in his seat, resting with his eyes closed.

The car was quiet, just like countless times they had been in the car together before. After drinking, he didn’t like to be disturbed by others. This was the best way; she was right beside him, occasionally moving, and he could feel her presence.

“Tangtang, give me a bottle of water.”

His throat was dry, so he opened his eyes.

Shen Tang was closer to the car’s refrigerator on her side. She handed him a bottle of sparkling water.

Jiang Chengyu twisted open the cap and first offered it to her.

Shen Tang shook her head; she had drunk several glasses of water that evening.

Jiang Chengyu absently drank water, thinking about things ever since they got in the car.

He turned to look at her. “Next Saturday, I’m inviting a few friends to my place for a get-together. You should come too. It’ll be a seafood barbecue, should be quite lively.”

Shen Tang knew he disliked lively gatherings the most. In the three years they were together, he rarely attended anyone’s social events unless it was absolutely necessary for business.

And his home was definitely a private space, off-limits to casual visitors.

This was probably the first time his villa’s yard would be opened for a friends’ gathering.

“We’ll see then. If I’m free, I’ll go.”

Jiang Chengyu raised his chin and took a few more sips of iced water.

“There’s still a week. That’s enough time for you to reschedule anything for that day,” He capped the bottle. “Come. The gathering is specifically for you. I’ll introduce all my friends to you.”

She lowered her head, looking at the watch face, the begonia petals faintly shimmering with pinkish-white. “We’re not even officially together yet. Why the rush to meet friends?”

Jiang Chengyu’s gaze also fell on her wrist’s watch face. “Whether we’re officially together or just starting, I’ll be yours sooner or later.”

He paused for two seconds. “You’ll have to meet those friends eventually, so why not meet them sooner? If anything comes up in the future, you can just go directly to them.”

Shen Tang realized she also needed a bottle of iced water. His casual words were like a raging fire, falling into her heart and burning fiercely.

________________________________________

For next Saturday’s gathering, Jiang Chengyu instructed the housekeeper to prepare the very next day. He wrote down the types of seafood Shen Tang usually liked for them to purchase accordingly.

After work in the evening, he made a special trip back to the old mansion.

Elder Mr. Jiang and Mrs. Jiang were playing chess. When the housekeeper said Jiang Chengyu’s car had returned, they continued playing without even looking up.

Mrs. Jiang pressed down on a chess piece in Elder Mr. Jiang’s hand. “Don’t move yet; I want to put it here.”

Footsteps sounded at the door. “Dad, Mom.”

Jiang Chengyu entered the house.

Mrs. Jiang hadn’t seen her son since the end of April, and now it was early June.

This youngest son of hers was the kind who only showed up when he wanted something.

Mrs. Jiang found a suitable spot for her chess piece, then released the piece in Elder Mr. Jiang’s hand. “It’s your turn now.”

She pointed to a certain intersection on the chessboard. “This is the spot I’m eyeing. You’re not allowed to put yours here.”

Saying this, she placed a pistachio to occupy that spot.

For so many years, she had won chess games by ‘reserving’ spots.

Elder Mr. Jiang had long been accustomed to it and had developed an indestructible heart.

There was iced coffee on the coffee table. Mrs. Jiang had brewed it but hadn’t had time to drink it yet. Jiang Chengyu took it and sat beside his mother, watching her game.

It was disastrous.

Mrs. Jiang turned to glance at him, scrutinizing his black shirt.

“It’s so hot, why are you wearing black?”

“Negotiating.”

Mrs. Jiang thought he was discussing business today. She removed the pistachio from the chessboard and placed her own white piece there. “Did you remember you have a home today?”

Jiang Chengyu: “I remembered yesterday.”

“...” Mrs. Jiang gave him a light slap.

Elder Mr. Jiang cast a glance at his son, not directly asking him why he had returned today, waiting for him to volunteer the information.

Jiang Chengyu drank half a cup of coffee; his parents were still locked in a fierce battle on the chessboard.

When this game ended, he spoke: “You heard about me pursuing Shen Tang from Zhengzheng, didn’t you?”

Mrs. Jiang tidied the chess pieces. “Of course, we heard. She talked for two hours straight.”

“I’ve set my mind on Shen Tang,” Jiang Chengyu watched his mother collect the white chess pieces one by one into the chess container. “You should also understand her situation. Her personality isn’t very good, she’s not good at social niceties, and she’s quite unlikable.”

Mrs. Jiang, before Shen Tang retired from the industry, had been pestered by her granddaughter to help promote Shen Tang, so she knew more about Shen Tang than the average person.

Shen Tang’s independent nature was indeed a bit troublesome.

Jiang Chengyu got to the point. “As for her family, it’s shattered glass now; there’s no hope of putting it back together. Her family definitely won’t meet your expectations.”

Elder Mr. Jiang didn’t interrupt, looking at his wife.

Mrs. Jiang rarely saw her son with such a serious demeanor. “Have you decided to marry her? Regardless of our opinions?”

Jiang Chengyu nodded, adopting a negotiating stance. “You have no other choice. If I marry, I’ll only marry Shen Tang. Otherwise, I won’t marry anyone.”

Mrs. Jiang accidentally put a black chess piece into her white chess container, then picked it out. “Are you trying to intimidate us by wearing a black shirt today?”

“I just grabbed the black shirt this morning,” Jiang Chengyu changed the subject. “But if you feel I’m intimidating you, then so be it.”

Mrs. Jiang placed the chess container on the chessboard and turned to face her son.

If she remembered correctly, “You haven’t even won Shen Tang over yet. Why are you so anxious about marriage?”

“I don’t want to wait until I finally win her over, only for you to obstruct us again,” Jiang Chengyu placed his coffee cup on the coffee table, wiped his hands, and helped his mother pick up the uncollected chess pieces and put them in the container.

The agate chess pieces were round and exquisite; he handled them gently.

Mrs. Jiang was still waiting for him to continue, but he started doing chores instead.

She patted her son’s shoulder. “Don’t get sidetracked. Talk about your serious business.”

“There’s nothing else to say; I’ve said everything that needed to be said.” Jiang Chengyu picked up the last three white chess pieces from the chessboard. “I came today to express my stance to you and Dad: I want to marry Shen Tang. You also know my bad habits; once I decide on something, no one can change it.”

Only on the matter of not marrying did he compromise with himself, and it took him over a year, plus a few extra days.

Jiang Chengyu swapped places with his mother; he wanted to play a game with his father.

Elder Mr. Jiang, holding the black pieces, made the first move.

Mrs. Jiang looked at her husband. “Whatever your opinion is, that’s my opinion too.”

Mrs. Jiang was particularly curious and asked her son, “What if your father and I don’t agree to you marrying Shen Tang?”

“Then I’ll find a way to convince you until you accept Shen Tang. Don’t worry, I won’t argue with you or cut ties.”

Jiang Chengyu’s mind rapidly calculated, thinking about his next move on the chessboard.

While playing chess, he replied to his mother, “You are the most important people to me, and so is Shen Tang. It’s my responsibility to take care of you and make you happy.”

“Tsk, tsk, playing the family card with me now, are we?”

“It’s not playing the family card; it’s playing a game of family.”

Mrs. Jiang realized she couldn’t out-argue her son. She asked the maid to brew her another cup of coffee.

Jiang Chengyu played two games of chess with his father. After that, his parents didn’t bring up the topic of his marriage again, nor did they mention anything about Shen Tang, implying they didn’t object.

After leaving the old mansion, he sent a message to his niece: [Next Saturday, we’re having a get-together at my villa. Don’t go empty-handed; prepare a gift for Shen Tang.]

As soon as the message was sent, Xie Yucheng’s call came in.

Xie Yucheng was at Jingxu Tower and only learned that Jiang Chengyu had gone home early today. The due diligence report for the target company they wanted to acquire had come out, and some things needed to be discussed with him in person.

“Where is convenient for you? I’ll come over.”

Involving business secrets, Jiang Chengyu decided to return to the company. “Just wait for me there.”

Originally, he had planned to go see Shen Tang, but he had to instruct the driver to change course.

The target company’s debt issues were even worse than they had imagined.

The ownership of many of the company’s patented technologies was extremely troublesome, and there might also be traps in the authorization of the core technology they valued most.

Xie Yucheng and Jiang Chengyu were proficient in business operations, but only had a superficial understanding of legal matters.

When Jiang Chengyu returned to the company, Xie Yucheng had already had two cups of tea.

The two discussed the existing investigation data for over three hours, and when they looked up again, it was almost midnight.

Xie Yucheng put away the documents. “I heard Xiao Dongkai is coming to Beijing soon.” The legal counsel commissioned by the target company this time was Xiao Dongkai’s Casey Law Firm.

However, this project wasn’t handled by Xiao Dongkai himself, but by someone under him. It was unclear why he would personally come.

“I also saw Xiao Donghan today.”

Jiang Chengyu was closing his laptop and couldn’t help but frown. “He’s in Beijing too?”

“Yes,” Xie Yucheng was sure he hadn’t mistaken him.

Xiao Donghan was Xiao Dongkai’s younger brother, Shen Tang’s second cousin. Among Chairman Xiao’s many grandchildren, Xiao Donghan was most similar to him in his methods and was quite cunning.

Currently, Xiao Donghan managed some core businesses of Xiao Ning Group and was on the board of directors.

He was widely considered the most likely successor to Xiao Ning Group.

In terms of ability, Xiao Dongkai was the strongest, but unfortunately, he never concerned himself with group affairs.

Xie Yucheng drank the last sip of tea in his cup. “Perhaps Xiao Donghan came to test the waters with Shen Tang. After Chairman Xiao acknowledged Shen Tang, he even planned to give her 3% of the shares. Xiao Donghan might be feeling threatened.”

The struggles within wealthy families, while seemingly harmonious on the surface, were in fact rife with undercurrents.

Jiang Chengyu said nonchalantly, “It doesn’t matter if he comes. With Shen Tang’s personality of not giving up until she utterly crushes her opponent, he’ll be stripped of a layer of skin.”

Xie Yucheng: “...”

________________________________________

It was late, and Shen Tang still wasn’t asleep.

She was reviewing the company’s renovation plans. She had rented an entire floor for the office today, which was quite grand.

Sister Li called her a nouveau riche, someone who clearly meant business. Actually, she meant that Shen Tang didn’t need to rent such a large space and should spend money where it truly mattered.

A message came in. Jiang Chengyu: [Asleep or not?]

Shen Tang marked the areas needing modification on the design plan with a pen, and briefly replied: [No.]

Jiang Chengyu: [Want to meet up?]

Shen Tang didn’t want to go downstairs, let alone walk to the community entrance. She had already showered and changed into her pajamas. [Maybe another day. I’m already in bed.]

Jiang Chengyu called her. Shen Tang placed the design plan and pen on her bedside table, turned off the light, lay on the bed, pulled the covers tight, and then answered his call.

Listening to his voice helped her sleep; she could fall asleep quickly.

Jiang Chengyu had just left the company. The car window was open, and the rushing sound of the wind came through the phone receiver to her ear, as if she herself were standing in the wind.

“I’m on my way home, just passing by your community entrance.”

“Not ‘just passing by,’ you’d have to turn two more roads.”

Jiang Chengyu: “It’s still on the way. Haven’t seen you in two days.”

Shen Tang corrected him: “We just saw each other at the wedding banquet on Saturday. Today is only Sunday.” There weren’t two days.

“It’s already 12:35 AM, Monday.” He asked her, “Don’t you miss me?”

Shen Tang put her phone on speaker, resting her chin on her arm. “If I tell you the truth, it might hurt you a little.”

Jiang Chengyu gave himself an out. “You’ve been busy these past few days, so it’s normal not to think of me.” He looked out the window. “I miss you, now.”

Shen Tang enjoyed the quiet and wonderful moment. “Just bear with it. You won’t miss me once you’re home and asleep.”

Jiang Chengyu smiled, having no recourse with her. “Are you tired?” “Not really.”

“If you’re not tired, talk to me for a bit.”

Shen Tang didn’t mind chatting; she couldn’t sleep anyway. “You don’t like people chattering in the middle of the night.”

“You’re an exception.”

Shen Tang’s nerves were about to break. “Jiang Chengyu, talk less about sweet nothings. Chatting is just idle talk; you make it impossible to continue talking like this.”

Jiang Chengyu countered, “How am I saying sweet nothings again? If I don’t say you’re an exception, what else can I say? You teach me, I’ll follow your standard answer.”

Shen Tang: “You can say, ‘I’m bored on the way home, it’s not chattering.’“

Jiang Chengyu closed the car window. The phone call suddenly became so quiet that only their breathing could be heard.

He spoke into the phone, “If I said I was bored and that’s why I called you, you’d just hang up on me.”

Regarding why he called her so late, “It’s not that I’m bored on the way home. I could have gone to see you earlier, but Xie Yucheng came to find me, and we’ve been discussing that acquisition case until now.”

She had participated in that acquisition case, and he talked to her about it in detail.

Shen Tang also began to speak properly, telling him that she hadn’t been idle for a moment today, having signed the lease agreement and then gone to the renovation company for designs.

It was originally an office building, so not many modifications were needed.

This was the first time the two of them had seriously told each other what they had done all day.

Jiang Chengyu hadn’t hung up the phone even after arriving home. Shen Tang was tired.

“You sleep. I’m home.”

Shen Tang didn’t even have the strength to end the call, vaguely remembering to pull the covers up over her head.

That night, she had no dreams.

________________________________________

A new week began, and the company’s renovation was in full swing.

They temporarily worked in the studio’s original office. Sister Li’s inbox had been overflowing these past few days with job applications, and Yuanyuan was responsible for printing and sorting them.

“Tangtang, you’re here so early today.” Sister Li threw her bag onto the sofa, a spring in her step. “Guess who wants to collaborate with us?”

Shen Tang had brewed coffee and handed a cup to Sister Li. “Zhang Xu?”

She couldn’t guess anyone else.

Sister Li shook her head. “It’s Huo Teng. His agent called me first thing this morning, saying he wanted to set up a time to discuss collaboration details. Huo Teng wants to collaborate with us as a studio.”

It would be a binding of works and profit-sharing.

“His agent isn’t stupid. They know your future resources won’t be worse than Evergreen Entertainment’s, and since we’re just starting, their share will definitely be high.”

For Shen Tang, this was a win-win, and another form of support from Huo Teng.

Sister Li blew on her coffee. “Right now, we only have Huo Teng and Wen Di who can draw traffic. Compared to Fan Yu’s company, the disparity is still huge.”

The new artists signed by the studio were all rookies. Whether they could make it big someday depended not only on talent but also on luck.

As she was speaking, Sister Li’s phone rang again.

It was an unfamiliar number, but the last digits were good.

She answered, and before she could speak, the other party introduced herself.

“Hello, Sister Li, I’m Chu Ran. Sorry for the sudden disturbance. I’m downstairs at your company. I was wondering if it’s convenient to meet. If the conditions are suitable, I’ll consider signing with your company.”

Sister Li was stunned. What a lucky day it was, one surprise after another. Regardless of their past grievances, the person had come to them, so she had to maintain a certain grace. “I’m here. I’ll send someone down to pick you up.”

She instructed her secretary to go downstairs and greet the person.

“What’s Chu Ran’s game?” Sister Li still found it incredible. “Just assume I have persecution paranoia, but could she be colluding with Fan Yu, deliberately coming to cause trouble?”

Shen Tang added a little milk to her coffee. “Chu Ran’s brain isn’t capable of any schemes. You don’t need to worry; she’ll expose herself. Fan Yu wouldn’t use her.”

“...” Sister Li felt reassured.

Soon, the secretary brought Chu Ran upstairs.

The sharp click-clack of high heels echoed from afar.

Chu Ran came alone, without an assistant or driver.

Yuanyuan was sorting resumes and glanced towards the reception area. Chu Ran still had that haughty demeanor, as if her eyes were fixed on the ceiling.

She still hadn’t forgotten the scene in the Evergreen Hotel’s 18th-floor conference room in Shanghai, where she and Chu Ran counted down with timers.

And the scene of Sister Tang fighting with Chu Ran felt like it was just yesterday.

Once they had hated each other to the bone, who would have thought they’d face challenges together next?

Sister Li poured Chu Ran some tea. “The conditions here are simple, so please make do.”

Chu Ran smiled, took the cup, placed it on the coffee table in front of her, and leaned back on the sofa, full of imposing presence.

She looked at Shen Tang and said, “I’ve terminated my contract with Evergreen Entertainment.”

As for the reason for termination, she briefly explained, “I had a boyfriend last year, and our relationship is quite stable; we’ve also met each other’s families. After all, I used to like Zhao Zhiyi, and everyone knew about it back then. It’s not appropriate for me to stay at Evergreen anymore; I need to avoid suspicion.”

Shen Tang’s expression was faint, but she listened intently.

Chu Ran cut to the chase: “There are only a few companies in the industry with good resources. Fan Yu’s company is out of the question for me; I need to consider my second uncle’s and second aunt’s feelings.”

She had started too high, signing with Evergreen right after her debut, with all resources tilted towards her. Asking her to go to a small company now would be impossible for her.

And to Shen Tang, she said openly, “I know you don’t like me.”

Shen Tang smiled. “Good, you’re self-aware.”

Chu Ran choked, then pretended to be magnanimous. “I won’t stoop to your level. Did you really think I wanted to come here? It’s Chu Xiaoyue, my younger cousin, who strongly recommended me to come.”

Shen Tang’s hand, stirring her coffee, paused slightly.

Speaking of self-awareness, she wasn’t entirely lacking. “I don’t have many good connections in the entertainment industry either. Now that my second aunt’s capital has completely pulled out, I don’t have any backing. I’d definitely be secretly ostracized if I went to another agency.”

Chu Ran spoke frankly, without any pretense. “I thought about it, and your resources here will probably be among the best.”

The key was that she had offended Shen Tang before. With Shen Tang’s vindictive personality, if she went to another company, she would inevitably be targeted by Shen Tang. So, it was better to come to Shen Tang’s company.

She gambled that Shen Tang wouldn’t blacklist her.

She was willing to come and actively seek cooperation with Shen Tang because Shen Tang was a top student, and she was willing to be overshadowed.

Having said all she needed to say, Chu Ran took out her contract demands from her bag. “It’s all written here. If you think it’s suitable, just notify my assistant, and I’ll come over to sign the contract.”

She didn’t drink the tea. She put on her sunglasses, stood up, and glanced at Shen Tang. “Don’t take your blessings for granted.”

Sister Li: “...”

This was telling Shen Tang to cherish her as an artist.

After seeing Chu Ran off, Sister Li asked Shen Tang for her opinion.

Shen Tang took a sip of coffee. “Sign her. Her acting is good. I’ll just fix her bad habits.”

As soon as she finished speaking, her phone received a WeChat message.

Before she could open it, a call came immediately after.

At 8:30, Jiang Chengyu chose the perfect time to call. “Today is your first official day at work. First, I wish you smooth work.”

“Thank you, Mr. Jiang.”

Jiang Chengyu told her to open the WeChat message. “A little secret for you. Read it aloud to me.”

Shen Tang put down her coffee cup, wondering what secret he had sent that he insisted she read aloud. Opening their chat, she unconsciously read aloud, “I opened a company not to fight, but to operate well and become a successful female boss.”