Chapter 87

When Chen Shuyuan, at the next day's high-level meeting, humbly 'requested' Liu Jiming to take over the cooperation with Zhonglei Group, the entire room was stunned. But when Liu Jiming received this 'weighty' honor, he did not smile as everyone had expected; instead, his words carried a hint of refusal!

Recalling the past, Chen Shuyuan nostalgically reminisced about the former glory of Huaxin and elaborated on the current crisis. As an old-timer at Huaxin and the second-largest shareholder, Liu Jiming was in charge of several key departments. If he still refused to take over under Chen Shuyuan's attitude, it would make him appear petty and lacking in a sense of the bigger picture! Even a young and spirited girl could put aside past grievances for the greater good, so if an old man like him kept declining, it would seem unreasonable! In the end, Liu Jiming, 'unable to refuse the earnest request,' reluctantly accepted the烫手的荣耀 (burning honor).

Liu Hanming, who followed his father back to the office, immediately broke into a long-missed smile after closing the door. He flattered his father, saying:

"Dad, it seems even that woman Chen Shuyuan knows how crucial you are to Huaxin."

"You don't understand a thing. Do you really think that girl is so kind-hearted to push away the credit she has earned? This is... well, well, don't ask about this matter. Go and inform the team that this cooperation must be handled perfectly, with no room for error." Liu Hanming, who had been scolded by his father, was very puzzled but didn't dare to ask more questions. He nodded in agreement and left the office.

After his unambitious son left the room, Liu Jiming picked up his phone and dialed a number. When the call connected, Liu Jiming, with a bright smile, softly said:

"Brother Yan, it's Jiming. Yes, yes, the plan we discussed last night has changed. Let's put it on hold for now... Haha, thank you, Brother Yan!" After hanging up, Liu Jiming's smile froze, and he clenched his fist, slamming it on the table, muttering to himself:

"Such a clever two-pronged strategy. I underestimated you, Chen Shuyuan..."

...

For Xiao Sheng, the best news in the past two days was that Hong Qiquan, who had been hospitalized after receiving several heavy blows from him, had returned. His return significantly reduced Xiao Sheng's workload. At the very least, he no longer had to personally instruct the daily personnel deployment. As the former head of Huaxin's security department, Hong Qiquan's influence at Huaxin was far beyond what Xiao Sheng could match! He was adept at personnel management, and the subordinates were more willing to follow his orders.

Their second meeting took place in the public smoking area outside the office. Soldiers naturally admire the strong and are straightforward, without many ulterior motives. Even if they were beaten today, they would still call you brother and drink with you the next day if they felt you were a good match!

Squatting there without any rules, Xiao Sheng took out a cigarette and offered one to Hong Qiquan, who did not refuse and bent down to accept it.

"I hit a bit too hard, don't take it to heart..." Hong Qiquan, who laughed lightly, sat on the ground for the first time at Huaxin, relaxed. His voice was heavy but loud as he replied:

"Too many rules, it was my own overestimation. Assistant Xiao, how did you develop such skills? You're so fierce!" Hearing this, Xiao Sheng turned his head and smiled at him, softly answering:

"After crawling out of a pile of corpses, I developed these skills to earn my living..." This straightforward statement made Hong Qiquan's smile freeze. The phrase 'crawling out of a pile of corpses' spoke volumes!

"Brother, you..."

"I used to serve on the border of Yunnan Province..." Hearing this, Hong Qiquan let out a relieved 'oh' and looked at Xiao Sheng with more respect. Any special forces soldier who had survived the border of Yunnan Province had seen countless battles! In comparison, Hong Qiquan, who had served in the northwest, was less fierce in mission execution, so it was only natural that he was not as formidable as Xiao Sheng!

During the lunch break, the two men chatted quite well, both being former soldiers and sharing similar interests. They didn't like beating around the bush and even talked about girls straightforwardly, as if they wanted to strip off their clothes and discuss them thoroughly! Such a relaxed and free conversation was something Hong Qiquan hadn't experienced in years at Huaxin, this 'prison'!

Before the end of the workday, Chen Shuyuan, dressed in an OL suit, hurriedly opened the office door. Before Xiao Sheng could ask what was going on, she said directly:

"Come with me to my home. Tong Tong's parents are in Hong Kong." After saying this, Chen Shuyuan turned and quietly instructed Dai Muxue about some work matters before rushing downstairs.

When Xiao Sheng drove back to Chen's residence at high speed, he hadn't even parked the car when he heard Tong Tong's shouting from inside the house:

"I won't go back to Huai City, not even if you beat me to death!" Perhaps hearing the car stop, Tong Tong ran out quickly. Before Chen Shuyuan could get out of the car, Tong Tong grabbed her arm, pouting and tearfully asked:

"Sis, didn't you promise me you wouldn't tell them?"

Chen Shuyuan's expression was somewhat awkward. With such a big incident, she had to inform her younger brother and sister-in-law, though she was very tactful in her words. However, Tong Tong's parents, concerned for her safety, immediately put aside their work and came to Hong Kong to take her back. But this girl was as stubborn as ever!

Shortly after Tong Tong ran out, a middle-aged man and woman emerged from the living room. The man, who resembled Tong Tong somewhat, was undoubtedly her father, Tong Jiahua. The elegant woman beside him was Tong Tong's mother, Li Yuwan, the only daughter of the Li family in Huai City.

Seeing these two people, Chen Shuyuan, with an awkward expression, called out:

"Uncle, Auntie." Tong Jiahua nodded with a bright smile, but Tong Tong's mother, Li Yuwan, was haughty, merely grunting and then glaring at her spoiled daughter hiding behind Chen Shuyuan. After a moment of silence, she coldly replied:

"You have to go back, whether you like it or not. Look what you've learned in Hong Kong. You've become a wild girl and almost got hit by a car. What kind of behavior is this... We shouldn't have let you come to Hong Kong in the first place!" Li Yuwan's indirect criticism made Tong Jiahua, who had married into the family, look uncomfortable. He tried to smile and explain but was silenced by Li Yuwan's glare.

Standing to the side, Xiao Sheng understood that Li Yuwan was directing her anger at Chen Shuyuan. Chen Shuyuan, who had been familiar with her aunt's domineering attitude since childhood, did not respond. The Li family's dominance in Huaxi's logistics and recycling industries made her act this way towards everyone.

Xiao Sheng, not wanting to get involved in family matters, turned to leave for his room. Suddenly, Tong Tong grabbed his arm tightly, pleading:

"Big guy, I don't want to go back to Huai City..." Just as Tong Tong said this, Li Yuwan, who had been standing a meter away, rushed over and pulled Tong Tong's hand off Xiao Sheng's arm, saying harshly:

"How can you be so intimate with such a disreputable man?" Xiao Sheng, standing there, was stunned and muttered:

"Wow... You have a keen eye, you saw right through me. Impressive, impressive..." With that, he turned and walked back to his room, chuckling coldly.