When Shen Yuzhi finally regained his composure, he realized just how strange his behavior had been. He leaned back on the sofa, waving his hand as his memories swirled in a chaotic mess.
Shen Yuzhi was constantly at war with himself. Seeing Qin Huai made him feel excited and happy, but the recollection of the pain Qin Huai had caused him years ago left him feeling that forgiveness was impossible. After much internal struggle, he finally decided to abandon these conflicting thoughts and treat Qin Huai according to his true feelings.
Moreover, Ling Feng’s intentions toward Qin Huai were written all over his face. He looked as if he wanted to devour him whole, and Shen Yuzhi was determined not to let him succeed. While part of his motivation stemmed from being Ling Feng’s long-term rival, the truth was that it had far more to do with Qin Huai himself.
Shen Yuzhi closed his eyes and leaned back against the sofa, feeling utterly exhausted. Suddenly, his phone rang. The harsh, jarring ringtone caused him to frown in displeasure, his expression turning cold and icy.
“Young Master, there is movement from Ling Feng’s side. He has gone to the Cheng residence again, but this time, he brought Cheng An with him.”
Hearing this report from his subordinate, Shen Yuzhi was not surprised. Furthermore, he had no desire to go to the Cheng residence to see those irritating people again. He dismissed his subordinate with a few curt words.
No sooner had he hung up than the phone rang again. This time, it was an unfamiliar number, but Shen Yuzhi answered it anyway.
“I am telling you, Shen Yuzhi! If you dare to do anything to Qin Huai, I will not let you off! You do not know who he is, but you must stop harassing him, do you hear me?”
It was Song Zhe. The fact that this guy had the audacity to call him made Shen Yuzhi laugh. If Song Zhe had not arrived to rescue Qin Huai, no one would have known he was being held captive in the villa. It was all because of him that his plans had been ruined.
Shen Yuzhi gritted his teeth and replied, “What I do is none of your business, Young Master Song.”
This retort infuriated Song Zhe. He gripped his phone tightly, his eyes reddening as he roared into the receiver.
“Shen Yuzhi, I am telling you, whatever you are planning, I will not let you succeed! You have caused Qin Huai enough pain, and I will not stand by and let you continue!”
Upon hearing this, Shen Yuzhi laughed in anger. What kind of pain had he caused Qin Huai? It was Qin Huai who had cruelly abandoned him years ago. How had the narrative shifted to this?
Frowning deeply, Shen Yuzhi hung up the phone. He realized just how profound the misunderstandings between him and Qin Huai had been all those years ago. But for now, he could not remove the thorn in his heart, so he could only let time dull the wound.
Meanwhile, Qin Huai, unaware that his good friend Song Zhe had called Shen Yuzhi, continued to add food to his plate with a smile.
“Are you really going to the bar later? Why do you seem so upset? Did someone say something to you? If you are going, just drop me back at the villa. Actually, I have been thinking: now that I have joined the Shen Group, why can I not just live at the Cheng residence?”
Seeing Song Zhe return with his phone and a sullen expression, Qin Huai asked his question with a hint of confusion.
“Never mind who spoke to me, it is nothing! You cannot live at their house. If you do, I will go there and cause a scene every single day! Do you not know what kind of people they are? I will not allow you to go.”
Song Zhe wore a stern, unhappy expression. After hearing him, Qin Huai nodded without hesitation, knowing his friend would never lead him astray.
“You are right. If their family started causing trouble, I could never live there peacefully. I feel drained just being around them.”
“That is exactly right. Xiao Huai, let us just keep living at the villa; is it not better than that place? I will not go to the bar tonight; I will stay home and watch a movie with you.”
The two chatted happily and returned to the villa after dinner. It was a peaceful night, and since Qin Huai had to work the next day, he fell asleep early.
The following morning, he was driven to the Shen Group by the Song family driver. As soon as he entered the lobby, he saw a sharp-featured man sitting on a leather sofa. Shen Yuzhi’s piercing gaze swept over Qin Huai, causing him to lower his head and slow his pace.
He had intended to greet Shen Yuzhi, but seeing his grim expression, he decided against it. He clutched his bag and headed for the elevator, only to be followed by Shen Yuzhi. The two stood in the cramped, crowded space, staring at each other.
Just as Qin Huai was about to speak, he noticed Shen Yuzhi deliberately look away, as if he had no interest in interacting and their encounter was purely coincidental.
“Um, President Shen? Are you here for a business meeting so early? If there is anything I can help with, I will do my best.”
Despite the cold shoulder, Qin Huai took the initiative to speak. However, he waited until the elevator reached his floor, and still, Shen Yuzhi remained silent. Qin Huai found this very strange; he could not fathom what Shen Yuzhi was planning.
The two stepped out of the elevator together. Seeing the empty office area, Qin Huai was puzzled. Why had they not parted ways? What exactly was Shen Yuzhi trying to do? Besides, what CEO waits around the office this early in the morning?
Unable to guess his motives, Qin Huai walked slowly toward his office area, while Shen Yuzhi followed leisurely. When Qin Huai took his seat, he noticed Shen Yuzhi slowly settling onto a sofa nearby.
In the vast office, the two remained in a quiet, distant stalemate. Neither broke the silence. It was not until employees began to arrive and caught sight of Shen Yuzhi that the silence was shattered by bursts of exclamation.
“Is that Young Master Shen Yuzhi? He looks even more handsome in person than on TV!”
“Oh my god, I heard he is not married yet. Does he have a fiancée?”
“I do not know, I have never heard any rumors about him. Sigh, this man is truly incredible.”
Whispers like these echoed throughout the office. Shen Yuzhi was young, wealthy, exceptionally handsome, and single; the perfect combination to attract everyone’s attention. Furthermore, his distant and cold demeanor only added an air of mystery that made him all the more alluring.
The chatter continued unabated until Shen Yuzhi stood up and swept his gaze across the room, instantly silencing everyone. No one dared to utter another word. After all, rumors claimed his temper was far from gentle, and they were all afraid of provoking such a powerful man.
After surveying the room, Shen Yuzhi’s gaze finally settled on Qin Huai.
Qin Huai, being new to the position, was not yet entirely familiar with the data he was handling. Nevertheless, he remained organized, flipping through documents and checking them one by one. Watching him work with such focus, Shen Yuzhi’s lips curled into a faint smile before he turned and left the office area.
News of Shen Yuzhi’s presence at the Cheng Group reached the senior management, and they immediately came to the office to invite him to a meeting room. But by the time they arrived, Shen Yuzhi was already gone.
After leaving the office, Shen Yuzhi drove back to his villa. He organized the reports his subordinates had submitted over the past few days and reviewed them carefully. He discovered that the Shen Group’s cash flow had been remarkably low for years, business was stagnant, and many shareholders were threatening to withdraw their investments. That was likely the desperate reason for the forced marriage with Ling Feng’s family.
Yet, reviewing the recent data, he saw that the financial support from the Ling family was minimal. While business had improved slightly, it had failed to shake the positions of rival groups. Shen Yuzhi arched an eyebrow, a new plan forming in his mind. He knew Ling Feng’s tactics and anticipated his underhanded maneuvers, so he resolved to stay vigilant.
“Deliver these files I have organized to Qin Huai.”
Shen Yuzhi placed the documents into a file folder and handed them to a subordinate, instructing them to return to the Shen Group to deliver them to Qin Huai. Even if the files contained only basic information, he knew that with Qin Huai’s intelligence, he would be able to deduce the intent behind them.
Having just finished a massive stack of paperwork and without a moment to rest, Qin Huai received the files delivered by Shen Yuzhi’s man. They contained, for the most part, information on the senior management of the Cheng family. Clutching the papers, Qin Huai felt his mind become a whirlwind of confusion.
He could guess who had sent them, but he could not understand why. Was he truly trying to help him? If so, that would be for the best.