"Fine, have it your way." Shen Zhaoli sat on the sofa, frowning, and threw a USB drive onto the low table, speaking coldly and seriously, "You guessed right, Li Sihe has been investigating you recently."
Shen Jinci’s expression remained calm, indifferent to Shen Zhaoli’s words.
"You guessed it?" Shen Zhaoli raised an eyebrow, looking at Shen Jinci inquisitively, "If you knew, why didn’t you take precautions? You just let him investigate?"
"I’m quite curious as to what Li Sihe could find out." Shen Jinci spoke mildly, suppressing the aloof coldness in his eyes, as he slowly said, "If he can find anything, I’ll accept it."
Shen Zhaoli read an exceptionally complex emotion in Shen Jinci’s words and frowned, "Do you also not want to keep covering things up..."
’Covering up’ is quite the fitting word.
Of course, it’s about covering up. Those shameful pasts and dim memories should always be concealed.
Shen Jinci lifted the corner of his lips, speaking softly, "Many years ago, I knew that paper can’t contain fire. I never had the illusion that I could live in the daylight for a lifetime."
Shen Zhaoli couldn’t entirely guess Shen Jinci’s true identity, but as they were both clever and interacted day after day, they could always see hints and clues.
But Shen Zhaoli never expected Shen Jinci to say such things.
He frowned and spoke in a low voice, "What about Bian Yue then?"
The curve at the corner of Shen Jinci’s lips retracted, he looked down at the ring on his ring finger, the one that matched the one he gave to Bian Yue, now stably resting on his joint.
He subtly caressed the ring, then after a pause, said softly, "I don’t know what Bian Yue will think. If she wants to leave..."
Shen Jinci stopped here, and his lips turned white as he pressed them together.
If Bian Yue wanted to leave, he could only hope that she would be happy.
In truth, he was very afraid, afraid that Bian Yue would leave, but this undated fear was torture.
Day after day, his love for her grew deeper, to the point where his paranoid and arrogant self was subdued by humility.
He should have been a relentless madman, but love made him repeatedly tell himself that he should let her be...
But if that day really came, Shen Jinci also did not know what kind of decision he would make.
He was just living day by day in trepidation, wanting an outcome, even if it wasn’t one he could bear.
The next day, at Mintang Media.
Bian Yue sat in the office, looking at Ah Si holding a script, gazing at her expectantly.
"President Bian, are you really giving this script to me?" Ah Si’s expression was one of excitement, "Mr. Yao’s new drama, can I make a cameo?"
"Really," Bian Yue looked at Ah Si amusedly, teasing him, "Didn’t you always tell them you wanted to work with Mr. Yao? This new script was handpicked by him, and he’s confirmed to star in it."
Ah Si’s face was flushed, his puppy-like eyes bright and adorable, he raised two fingers as if making an oath, "President Bian! Rest assured! I will study the script carefully!"
Bian Yue nodded, urging Ah Si to go out.
As soon as Ah Si left, anny walked in excitedly.
anny was visibly thrilled, her tone fervent as she rushed to say, "President Bian! The data for ’Shengshi Yan’ is out, and it’s better than you and President Lu predicted."
Bian Yue was startled and took the document from Anny’s hand, looking it over.
"Let me tell you, President Lu really has foresight! This time, the platform’s first-day broadcast statistics have directly broken Xinghe’s historical records from the past two years. Fans of Yao Yimin are very satisfied with the script, and the reputation is very good."
Anny looked at Bian Yue with a beaming smile and teased, "President Bian, when do you plan to hold the celebration party?"
Bian Yue had anticipated that the premiere viewership of "Shengshi Yan" would be good, but she didn’t expect such a brilliant start.
She understood why Lu Zhonian had chosen to sign a contract with her in advance; he probably had foreseen this outcome even earlier than she had.
Bian Yue closed the document and said with a slight smile, "How about tonight? You handle the arrangements, and make sure everyone has a great time."
Anny thanked her with a laugh and then asked curiously, "President Bian, aren’t you coming too?"
"No," Bian Yue paused, then added, "I have some matters to take care of."
Once Anny left, Bian Yue took out a file from the bottom of the stack, looking at the words ’Lixing Group’ on it with a slightly surprised expression...
Zhuang Jie Ning was sitting in the Xinghe office, her emotions yet to settle. She had seen the good news about "Shengshi Yan" early in the morning, and likewise, she had seen the news of the collaboration between Xinghe and Mintang Media.
This news was like a thunderbolt out of the blue. Zhuang Jie Ning had wanted to collaborate with Xinghe, but Lu Zhonian, without saying a word, sought someone else. And that someone else was Bian Yue...
The vast chairman’s office was filled with a morbid atmosphere.
Zhuang Jie Ning lifted her gaze to see Lu Zhonian looking indifferent and distant.
A frustration built up in Zhuang Jie Ning’s heart. Clutching the coffee cup in her hand, her eyes rimmed red as she looked at Lu Zhonian, her voice choked up: "Cousin, how could you collaborate with Bian Yue?"
"Zhuang Jie Ning, if you’re here to talk about this, you can leave."
Lu Zhonian gave Zhuang Jie Ning a cold glance, "Out of respect for our elders, I have already stepped in to plead with Bian Yue on your behalf, but all I can do is to plead. You can’t ask me to act against Feng Cheng’s interests and take your side."
A storm of anger raged inside Zhuang Jie Ning. Her eyes stinging, she took a deep breath, "Do you know how much I’ve suffered because of Bian Yue?"
"This is your private matter." Lu Zhonian frowned, pressed the intercom, and commanded, "Come up now and take her away."
Zhuang Jie Ning looked at Lu Zhonian in astonishment, not expecting him to be so uncompromising.
"Zhuang Jie Ning, there comes a time when favors are exhausted," Lu Zhonian looked at her coldly, "leave some room for yourself."
Zhuang Jie Ning’s mind was buzzing. She got up with a cold laugh, "No need to trouble someone to come here, I can leave on my own! Lu Zhonian, you really have let down my Zhuang Family’s contributions to the Lu Family!"
After saying so, she walked away hastily.
Her expression was frosty all the way until the elevator doors closed, and then she hysterically yelled, "Immediately! Schedule the release for Su Youxue’s drama!"
Meanwhile, at Lixing Group.
Li Sihe sat in the rest room with a pale and sickly face, quietly coughing into his fist.
He looked at the blood on his palm, his expression stoic, until he heard footsteps approaching. Then he clenched his fist and sat calmly.
He lifted his eyes to smile at the entering Shen Jinci, "How should I address you? Mister Shen."
Shen Jinci paused in his steps, his expression becoming reserved.
He glanced at Li Sihe’s pale face, his voice calm and light, "There’s no need for riddles between us, speak directly if you have something to say."