Chapter Sixteen: Refreshing

Lin Peishi watched the group walk into Shu Yiming’s office, unable to shake off a sense of worry. She followed, a little anxious, fearing that something had happened to Shu Yiming.

Once inside, however, she was met with the sight of Shu Zucheng crying out his innocence, panicked and refusing to leave.

Lin Peishi was taken aback, her face flushing with embarrassment. She hurried out, questioning herself as to why she suddenly cared so much about Shu Yiming.

Meanwhile, outside, Ouyang Zhuo waited for a while, growing anxious that something might have gone wrong. Just as he was about to knock and ask, he saw Shu Yiming emerge from the office, grinning from ear to ear.

“Hey, man, what’s with you? Did you win the lottery, or did that girl finally fall for you? Look at that grin—you can hardly close your mouth!” Ouyang Zhuo couldn’t help but laugh along.

“Come on, today’s a great day. I need to celebrate. Let me tell you, today I really struck it lucky. Enough talk, let’s go check it out!”

As Shu Yiming stroked the contract in his hand, a particular face flashed through his mind.

After sharing a couple of drinks in quiet celebration with Ouyang Zhuo, Shu Yiming returned to the company looking perfectly calm.

Back at the office, the news of Shu Zucheng’s arrest was causing a stir. Everyone was speculating whether Shu Yiming had anything to do with it; wherever people gathered, that was the center of conversation.

Noticing the furtive and peculiar glances from those around him, Shu Yiming was puzzled. Spotting Lin Peishi, he called out to her.

Lin Peishi paused for a moment when she saw Shu Yiming, then walked over to ask, “Mr. Shu, do you need something?”

“Why are you so nervous? I’m not a tiger, I won’t eat you. By the way, did something happen at the company today? Everyone’s acting so strangely.” Shu Yiming was still unaware of Shu Zucheng’s arrest.

After Lin Peishi explained, Shu Yiming fell silent, deciding he ought to make a trip to the station.

“By the way, you can take a few days off—there might be a major shake-up at the company soon, and I don’t want you caught up in it.” After what happened last time, Shu Yiming didn’t want Lin Peishi forced to take sides.

This place was crawling with all types of shady characters; who knew what someone might do next.

“Alright, if you say so, then I’ll really take the leave.” Lin Peishi was all too happy to oblige, immediately turning to leave as soon as Shu Yiming gave her permission.

Watching her retreating figure, Shu Yiming felt a bit at a loss...

To return to the point—when Shu Yiming arrived at the station, he immediately spotted Zhu Wanwan and understood what was going on. The one who reported the matter was none other than Zhao Tianguang.

Initially, Shu Yiming had intended to pull Shu Zucheng out of trouble, but now he hesitated.

“What are you doing here?” Zhu Wanwan was surprised to see Shu Yiming; she’d already leaked the news—Shu Yiming should be furious with Shu Zucheng by now.

“Sister Wanwan, it’s nothing. I just came to see what was happening—after all, he’s family.”

“Oh? Actually, it’s all fine. They’re just asking a few questions, taking a statement. The boss just wants to make a point with this incident. With your uncle’s way with words, he’ll be out by tonight, no problem.”

Zhu Wanwan smiled and gestured toward the cars outside. “Alright, I’m just here to give my statement too. Now that I’m done, let’s go—you’re taking me out to dinner.”

“Huh?”

“You really are slow! If I didn’t see you as so adorably clueless, I wouldn’t have told you about all that. What’s wrong, you can’t even buy me a meal now? I must have misjudged you.” Zhu Wanwan pouted, ready to storm off.

Shu Yiming quickly caught up and blocked her path, beaming. “Sister Wanwan, my mistake—I’m slow on the uptake. How about this: you pick the place, order anything you like, invite anyone you want, I’ll cover the bill and keep you company. How’s that?”

Zhu Wanwan laughed, covering her mouth, and called him an idiot. She hopped into the passenger seat of Shu Yiming’s car, shouting, “What are you standing around for? I want to go to New Plum International. I heard they have huge lobsters. I wanted to go last time, but the boss flew to Australia at the last minute, so I missed out.”

“You got it!” Shu Yiming was overjoyed—this was a rare opportunity.

A secretary of Zhu Wanwan’s caliber wasn’t someone you could just approach. It seemed his luck was finally turning; maybe fate was finally compensating him for all his past hardships.

Half an hour later, on the third floor of the New Plum Hotel, Shu Yiming sat at the table, feeling a little dazed.

This wasn’t a place just anyone could come to; most patrons were business people, and the private rooms were the norm here. Booths like this were rare—not unheard of, but few chose them.

Business meetings were typically discreet, held in private rooms with attentive service, higher standards, and better conditions. Booth seating was seldom used.

“Sister Wanwan, why don’t we move to a private room upstairs? The view from the Meilan Suite is wonderful. I don’t want to give you the wrong impression—I know you’re thinking of my reputation, but your status is special, and I don’t want you to feel slighted.”

For Shu Yiming, watching the show from a booth was ideal.

Zhu Wanwan was a well-known figure in the industry, so everyone who saw them would know he had managed to connect with Tiansheng Group. In future business dealings, people would give him more respect.

If this was Zhao Tianguang’s idea, that was fine; if Zhu Wanwan was only doing it out of pity, Shu Yiming feared Zhao Tianguang would make things difficult for her.

But Zhu Wanwan ignored his suggestion, focusing on ordering dishes. Only after she finished did she say, “You really are slow, aren’t you? Don’t worry, I wouldn’t be sitting here if it wasn’t the boss’s idea.”

“The boss? This was the boss’s idea?”

Shu Yiming sobered instantly, a flicker of unease crossing his mind.

Looking back, everything seemed too coincidental, and he couldn’t spot a single flaw. By rights, someone like Zhao Tianguang wouldn’t be associating with him at all. Yet now, it seemed Zhao Tianguang was deliberately looking out for him.

Shu Yiming felt out of his depth. Zhao Tianguang was unfathomable, and for the moment, he couldn’t guess his intentions.

Over dinner, Shu Yiming made Zhu Wanwan laugh out loud, catching plenty of attention from others nearby. Those coming and going for business negotiations took note of their presence. Their looks weren’t exactly surprised, but certainly intrigued.

After dinner, Shu Yiming returned home. Before he even entered, he saw someone standing at the door, hands on his hips, pacing anxiously, a cigarette pinched between his fingers—clearly agitated.

There was no need to guess; at this hour, the only person who couldn’t sleep had to be Shu Zucheng.

Straightening his clothes, Shu Yiming strode over, excitement in his step. From four or five meters away, he called out, “Hey, Uncle! What are you doing out here? The wind’s pretty strong at this hour.”