In just a few days, several industries under the Xia Group have been seized. Today, Liu Jianbai appeared at the negotiation table to discuss the acquisition of a subsidiary under the Xia Group.
The building materials subsidiary was jointly founded by Xia Weiyi and others. In recent years, the Xia family has gradually gained control of the company, continuously acquiring shares from small shareholders and turning the company into Xia Weiyi’s autocracy.
Other members of the board of directors have long been dissatisfied but dare not offend him.
Recently, however, they seemed to have gained some confidence, as several investors simultaneously expressed their intention to cash out and leave.
Affected by public opinion, the company’s business was already struggling to make profits. With a large number of clients canceling orders, the investors’ decision to leave undoubtedly added insult to injury for Xia Weiyi.
At this moment, Liu Jianbai proposed to acquire the company. If Xia Weiyi refused, he would either watch the company collapse or continue to pour money into it, sustaining losses.
The acquisition of the company had become an unchangeable fact. Xia Weiyi looked at Liu Jianbai, who came to negotiate the acquisition in person, unable to feign indifference, and asked, “Where is Shao Ming?”
Liu Jianbai leaned back in his chair, hands clasped together, calm and composed. “He’s interning at the company. Why? Xia-zong, you’re too preoccupied to worry about temporary workers in my company?”
Xia Weiyi clenched his fists, suppressing his anger. “That person has my blood running through his veins, Liu-zong. Aren’t you afraid of inviting trouble by bringing him into your company?”
“Only those without ability would worry about being bitten back. If the contract is fine, please sign it as soon as possible. Delaying it won’t change anything.”
With Liu Jianbai speaking, no one else in A City dared to acquire the building materials company under the Xia name. So Liu Jianbai could freely press for a lower price.
He single-handedly caused the downfall of the building materials company and now stood before Xia Weiyi in the guise of a victor.
Xia Weiyi gnashed his teeth with hatred but couldn’t help feeling fearful.
He was well aware that the acquisition of a building materials company was just the beginning. The power behind Liu Jianbai was unfathomable. He aimed to suppress someone to the point where they wouldn’t even dare to resist.
The unknown was the most terrifying.
But why would someone like Liu Jianbai step forward for a stranger with unclear relations?
People like them should cooperate for mutual benefit.
But Liu Jianbai refused his cooperation. Despite knowing that Shao Ming was his son, he brazenly brought him to the company and kept him by his side.
He had repeatedly threatened and enticed Shao Ming with arrogance. Every word he said about status and identity to Shao Ming had now become a slap in his own face.
What aristocratic young master, what perfect match of families – he firmly believed that Shao Ming lacked something essential, only to be trampled into the dust by others.
He helped others target Shao Ming because of suspicions about the swapped child.
The things he valued – bloodline, status – were worthless in the eyes of others.
Now, even the industries he had worked so hard to build over the years were gradually being eroded, and he had no way to stop it.
Xia Weiyi couldn’t help but think of what Xiang Shuyi had said to him.
If he hadn’t been so arrogant back then, if he had done a paternity test before sending the child away, Shao Ming would be his son now, his own flesh and blood, helping him manage the Xia Group and multiplying the family’s assets.
If he hadn’t disturbed Shao Ming’s life after learning he was his biological son, if he hadn’t always tried to use others, if he had approached Liu Jianbai as a normal collaborator, then everything would be different.
As he looked at the acquisition contract already laid out in front of him, Xia Weiyi still couldn’t accept it, still resentful.
But he had to admit, he regretted it.
He regretted doing the paternity test when Qiu Shaoping came to collect the debt, regretted sending the child away all those years ago, and regretted letting Xiang Shuyi give birth to the child!
Both mother and son were mad!
In just a few days, after Shao Ming went to the company, he became busy.
Zhu Tong didn’t know what he was busy with, but he always saw some news about the Xia Conglomerate online.
From aristocratic marriages to marital betrayals, and the swapping of legitimate and illegitimate children, each topic was enough to keep Xia Weiyi in the online spotlight for a long time.
So whenever negative news related to the group surfaced, Xia Weiyi would be dragged into discussions.
It started with minor issues like tax evasion, mistreatment of employees, and hostile takeovers, but then escalated to allegations of fraud, manipulation of shareholders, and selling counterfeit products.
[The depths of aristocratic families are indeed unfathomable, completely refreshing my worldview.]
[It could also be malicious slander from competitors. How can we be sure if these are all true?]
[Why doubt? They’re capable of even swapping children, harming their own offspring. What else wouldn’t they do?]
[…]
Initially just suspicions, the voices of doubt gradually grew louder, prompting “righteous individuals” to urge relevant authorities to investigate.
As the online discussions went, if Xia Weiyi could resort to swapping children, the means he employed to develop the Xia Conglomerate to its current status couldn’t possibly be entirely clean.
While not all the news online might be true, once the authorities intervened, the entire Xia Conglomerate wouldn’t escape legal consequences.
Things were proceeding in an orderly manner.
Alone in his room, after doing homework for two hours, Zhu Tong stretched lazily and picked up his phone to check.
As soon as he unlocked his phone, he received a message from Shao Ming.
They were just some routine greetings.
After replying to each one, Zhu Tong asked, “What are you doing?”
Every time he asked this, Shao Ming’s response was consistent: “Thinking of you.”
Zhu Tong: …
Even though Shao Ming was busy every day, he would still find time to message Zhu Tong whenever he could.
Zhu Tong couldn’t help but smile.
He actually wanted to go to the company to see what Shao Ming was doing, but he was afraid that his presence might not be welcomed.
He wouldn’t be of much help even if he went.
In moments like these, Zhu Tong would feel a sense of powerlessness.
‘Aiyah, what to do when your boyfriend is too outstanding?’
Of course, it’s to strive hard to deserve him.
After finishing their chat, Zhu Tong opened the class group chat.
A few days ago, the homeroom teacher announced the rankings for Class 3 in the group chat. The usually composed Chinese teacher made a typo in the chat due to excitement.
The reason was simple – he was too excited.
Zhu Tong looked at his score, 612 points.
Rising from a baseline score of around 400 at the beginning of the semester to over 600, an increase of over 200 points, was truly remarkable progress.
His wish of Class 3 sweeping the top three spots was one step closer. It wasn’t surprising that the usually arrogant top scorer didn’t boast in the group chat after the results came out. Luo Suo, who couldn’t reach Shao Ming, knocked on his chat window once again.
<Luo Suo is not Long-Winded>: Are you two enjoying your own little world?
Zhu Tong: …
They were indeed in their own little world now, separate from one another.
Not knowing what Shao Ming was doing specifically, Zhu Tong could only evade the question.
<Zhu>: Not really.
<Zhu>: Why?
<Luo Suo is not Long-Winded>: Nothing much, just curious. Have you guys seen the news online? Is Xia Yang’s family really going under?
Even Luo Suo could see it.
But Zhu Tong wondered what Luo Suo’s reaction would be if he knew that Shao Ming was the legitimate child mentioned in the online news.
<Zhu>: Not sure. We’ll have to wait for the investigation results from the review team.
Clearly, Luo Suo wasn’t really asking for information. After a couple of questions, he stopped and started complaining.
<Luo Suo is not Long-Winded>: Sigh, ever since Ming-ge stopped working at the shop, it feels like the whole milk tea shop has lost its soul. Auntie seems off lately too, always absent-minded. Maybe she’s missing her son.
<Luo Suo is not Long-Winded>: Is Ming-ge coming back before the New Year?
With Chinese New Year just around the corner, Zhu Tong felt a faint sense of anticipation because this year would definitely be a completely different New Year from previous ones.
<Zhu>: He’ll be back before the New Year.
After replying to Luo Suo, Zhu Tong turned off his phone and stared out of the window, lost in thought.
Auntie seemed absent-minded at the milk tea shop… Was it because of the Xia family?
If she missed her son, which son was she thinking of?
With Xia Weiyi currently in trouble, if the review team did find problems, what would happen to the group? What about Xia Yang?
Would he do anything?
Zhu Tong suddenly focused, bringing up the system interface. The progress bar showed 95%.
‘It should increase once he’s dealt with the Xia family’s affairs on his own.’
The system spoke in his mind after a long absence.
Zhu Tong replied, ‘I don’t like it this way.’
The system puzzled, ‘Why?’
Zhu Tong closed the system interface again. ‘I don’t like situations where I can only wait for him to solve the problem on his own and I can’t do anything.’
The system sighed, ‘Host, you’re just an ordinary high school student. As a student, you’re already outstanding compared to many people. You shouldn’t always compare yourself to the moonlight. Unless you want to drive yourself crazy.’
Zhu Tong supported his head with one hand. ‘But humans are never satisfied.’
The system: “…”
Zhu Tong sighed and picked up his pen again.
Shao Ming was indeed very busy. He didn’t even come back for dinner that day.
Zhu Tong had been doing homework all day, and during dinner, his mind was blank. After returning to his room, he couldn’t help but feel drowsy and ended up lying on the bed for a while.
He fell asleep quickly and had a dream, but it wasn’t a good one.
He dreamt of people he didn’t like, always finding various excuses to approach him.
Their faces were unclear in the dream, but Zhu Tong instinctively felt repulsed by them.
In the dream, he tried to avoid those people by all means, but wherever he went, he had to worry about being encountered. Their gazes carried undisguised desire, making his hair stand on end.
When someone tried to grab his hand in the dream, Zhu Tong instantly woke up.
As soon as he opened his eyes, he furrowed his brow.
Sitting up in bed, Zhu Tong looked at his hand.
The sensation of being touched in the dream still seemed to linger on the back of his hand, surrounded by a feeling of suffocation brought by being crowded together.
Zhu Tong frowned and got up, feeling a bit uncomfortable. He took a shower in the bathroom to refresh himself a bit.
He let out a long sigh, feeling puzzled.
After his favorability rating surpassed 80%, he no longer repelled others when interacting with them like he used to.
There were reasons for his physical improvement, as well as reasons he had gradually overcome on his own.
Sometimes when Shao Ming wasn’t in class, classmates would come to him with questions. Although he still felt uncomfortable, he didn’t reject them too much.
But what was just now?
It was just a dream, yet the aversion felt so real.
He called the butler to heat up some milk for him. When he took the milk from the butler, he intentionally touched the butler’s hand, but the suffocating feeling from the dream didn’t appear again.
Zhu Tong absentmindedly took a sip of milk.
“Young Master, are you feeling unwell?” The butler, seeing his not-so-good complexion, felt a bit worried.
Zhu Tong shook his head. “No, I just had a nightmare, it’s nothing.”
The butler breathed a sigh of relief.
After drinking half a cup of milk, Zhu Tong looked up again. “Has Shao Ming come back?”
The butler shook his head gently. “Not yet.”
Zhu Tong suddenly felt a bit disappointed.
Although Shao Ming had called him in the afternoon, saying he would come back late, today seemed a bit too late.
Because he had just had a nightmare, Zhu Tong didn’t dare to lie back down in his own bed. While the butler went downstairs, he secretly slipped into the adjacent guest room.
The place where Shao Ming slept.
Zhu Tong hesitated in front of Shao Ming’s bed for a moment, then took off his shoes and slipped into the bed.
Shao Ming was accustomed to sleeping on his right side, so Zhu Tong also crawled in from the right side.
The bedding had a familiar scent, the scent of the shower gel he often used.
The shower gel Shao Ming had been using for the past few days was the same as his.
Lying in the positions Shao Ming had slept in these past few nights didn’t feel enough, so Zhu Tong buried his head in the pillow and took a deep breath.
At that moment, he heard the sound of the lock turning at the door. He raised his head in response and saw the “temporary occupant” of this guest room standing at the door.
It was already past ten o’clock, and Shao Ming was worried that Zhu Tong might have gone to bed already, so he didn’t even call before coming back.
He had intended to surprise Zhu Tong by apologizing tomorrow morning, but as he pushed open his own door, he saw a head poking out from where he usually slept.
Shao Ming was pleasantly surprised. “You…”
Caught red-handed sneaking into his bed, Zhu Tong felt a bit embarrassed. He quickly sat up, clutching the blanket with both hands. “…You’re back?”
Shao Ming walked over to him. “Why are you sleeping here?”
He approached the bedside, took off his jacket and placed it on the bedside table, then sat down by the bed.
Zhu Tong’s gaze never left him.
Shao Ming felt itchy under his gaze and couldn’t help but reach out to touch his face. However, before his hand could reach, the person on the bed suddenly leaned forward and threw himself at Shao Ming, wrapping his arms around his neck.
“…”
Shao Ming was caught off guard.
His hand, which had reached out, rested on Zhu Tong’s back. He lowered his head and rubbed Zhu Tong’s hair, “What’s wrong? Little Young Master.”
Zhu Tong buried his head in the crook of his neck. “Hug me.”
Shao Ming: “…”
His coquettish tone was full of dependence.
Originally meant to be an embrace that would stir one’s emotions, Shao Ming suddenly felt a tightness in his chest. He wanted to push Zhu Tong away to see his face, “What’s wrong? Is it…”
“No.” Zhu Tong interrupted his doubts, tightening his grip around his neck and burying his head even deeper, “I just miss you.”
Shao Ming almost lost control on the spot.
He hugged Zhu Tong’s waist, his voice hoarse, “I’m sorry, I came back late.”
Zhu Tong shook his head against his neck, his hair brushing against Shao Ming’s neck, intentionally or unintentionally teasing.
Shao Ming took a deep breath, reminding himself, “I haven’t showered yet.”
Zhu Tong still didn’t let go, because his voice muffled against his neck was a bit muffled, “It’s okay.”
“…”
Feeling like he was acting too out of character, Zhu Tong didn’t want Shao Ming to worry. He truthfully said, “I just had a nightmare, and I’ll feel better if you hug me for a while.”
Shao Ming also didn’t ask what the nightmare was about. He lowered his head to kiss the top of his head and gently patted his back. “Okay.”
Zhu Tong: “…”
–He felt like he was being coaxed like a child.
