Chapter 13

Shen Zhenghui received a call from Yang Chao, the secretary of Minister Wu Renhai, saying that the minister had invited him to Xinke Grand Hotel for a meeting and specifically requested that he come alone.

What was going on? After receiving the call, Shen Zhenghui was incredibly surprised. This request for a secret meeting immediately triggered all sorts of negative associations in his mind. He wondered if Minister Wu was about to be investigated and was looking for money to run away, or if he was preparing to discuss the next year's dividends and clean up loose ends. With a new secretary just appointed, Shen Zhenghui naturally thought about political adjustments. So, he made a series of calls to his father, his nominal "father-in-law," and his nominal "girlfriend" to inform them of the situation, so they would know what to do if he went missing. Just before leaving, he still felt a bit uneasy and decided to take a Hero fountain pen and clip it to his chest pocket. He didn't have a gun, and a knife would be too obvious, but a fountain pen would be enough for self-defense.

However, as he was about to leave, Shen Zhenghui comforted himself, thinking that maybe things weren't so bad. Maybe Minister Wu wanted to introduce his mistress to him or even his daughter, and he didn't want Liu Dekai to know! With a head full of wild thoughts, Shen Zhenghui arrived at the agreed-upon Xinke Grand Hotel.

A waiter warmly greeted him and, upon learning that he was a guest of Director Yang, immediately led Shen Zhenghui to room 318. Surprisingly, the waiter did not open the door for him but stood at the door and said, "The guest is already waiting for you inside," then walked away. Shen Zhenghui scanned the floor and was surprised to find almost no other waiters on the third floor. This unusual situation made him feel uneasy. He patted the fountain pen in his pocket, took a deep breath, turned on the recording function on his phone and placed it in his pocket, and also turned on a small recorder and placed it in his inner pocket before calmly knocking on the door.

"Please come in!" It was Yang Chao's voice.

Shen Zhenghui pushed the door open and saw Yang Chao's young face first. However, Minister Wu was not in the room; instead, a person who greatly surprised Shen Zhenghui was there.

"Hey, old classmate, how are you?" Li Rui sat at the dining table, directly facing the door, with a half-smiling, half-mocking expression as he sized up Shen Zhenghui.

Yang Chao stood up, "Mr. Shen has arrived," he said politely, walking to Shen Zhenghui's side, "Mr. Li asked me to invite you for dinner, so I'll be leaving now."

"Isn't it Minister Wu?" Shen Zhenghui raised an eyebrow.

Yang Chao, being young, seemed a bit embarrassed, "This..."

"Alright, Xiao Yang," Li Rui said, "you can go now." He then looked at Shen Zhenghui, "I'm giving my old classmate a surprise; he won't blame you."

Yang Chao hurriedly left, closing the door tightly behind him.

Shen Zhenghui surveyed the large private room. The dining table only occupied a small part of the room, and there was a suite inside. Shen Zhenghui had no doubt that Li Rui was not alone, and his bodyguards were likely listening in from the suite.

"Are you not going to sit down?" Li Rui asked, picking up a teapot and pouring a cup of tea, which he placed on the large Lazy Susan, "You don't need to worry; I have no interest in having someone beat you up today."

"If you say that, I think my fate tonight will be worse than a beating," Shen Zhenghui sat down, his back to the door, facing Li Rui directly.

"Aren't you going to sit next to me?" Li Rui asked, turning the cup of tea to Shen Zhenghui, "It's easier to talk this way."

"Never mind, I'm still a bit scared," Shen Zhenghui reached out and took the cup from the Lazy Susan, placing it in front of him, "Let's get straight to the point."

"I don't like getting straight to the point with you," Li Rui sat up straight, "you're such a buzzkill, just like last time."

"I strictly followed my promise last time," Shen Zhenghui responded, "as you can see, I didn't stay in the capital but went straight back to my hometown. I don't understand why you chased me here. Can we get straight to the point?"

"Don't be so impatient. As classmates, shouldn't we catch up a bit first?" Li Rui lowered his head and took a sip of tea.

"We can only be considered alumni," Shen Zhenghui rubbed his nose.

"I hate your attitude," Li Rui said, "as if you can really be on equal footing with me."

"Then... should I stand up?" Shen Zhenghui moved the teacup.

Li Rui took a deep breath, "Actually, your promise last time didn't satisfy me."

"Oh? Then do you want to add a supplementary clause?" Shen Zhenghui sat steadily and raised an eyebrow.

Li Rui clenched his fists and suddenly laughed, "Don't be so arrogant, thinking that Sun Jingfang really likes you."

"I would never dare to think that," Shen Zhenghui replied seriously, "and I don't want it to happen."

"You're really pleased with yourself!"

"That's a misunderstanding. Sun Jingfang's attitude towards me is also troubling, and the problems it brings me are even more troubling."

Li Rui's face was filled with barely suppressed anger, "Ha, you're even more pleased with yourself."

Shen Zhenghui spread his hands, "Why don't you believe me when I tell the truth?"

Li Rui's gaze, like that of a fierce wolf, fixed on Shen Zhenghui. After a while, he said, "My engagement to the Sun family is off."

Shen Zhenghui spread his hands, looking innocent.

Ignoring Shen Zhenghui's attitude, Li Rui continued, "Sun Jingfang convinced her father with a firm attitude." Li Rui's gaze became playful.

"It has nothing to do with me," Shen Zhenghui was inwardly cursing these second-generation rich kids for having too much free time.

"The Sun family is already helping her apply for a study abroad program in the United States," Li Rui continued, "so her reason for rejecting me is very legitimate. She wants to study and doesn't want to start a relationship so early." A hypocritical smile appeared on Li Rui's face, "It has nothing to do with you on the surface."

"It has nothing to do with me in reality," Shen Zhenghui defended himself.

Li Rui looked up at the ceiling, then down at Shen Zhenghui, "Do you think I'm here to reason with you?"

"Feelings can't be forced," Shen Zhenghui licked his lips, "and I absolutely don't like Sun Jingfang. Look, I already have a girlfriend in Pengcheng." Shen Zhenghui thought it was time to bring up Liu Xin, while inwardly cursing, "You, this second-generation rich kid, when did you start caring about spiritual purity? The chairman didn't care, and your father didn't care either."

Li Rui turned his face to look out the window, "You must be cursing me in your heart and thinking you're innocent."

"Hey, if you say that, I can't deny it," Shen Zhenghui twisted his mouth, "I think I'm cooperating with you, but this is just a disaster for me!"

Li Rui snorted, "According to some people, the wheels of history crush everything, regardless of whether it's innocent or not."

Shen Zhenghui blinked.

"Alright, let's get straight to the point," Li Rui exhaled, "I heard what you're up to," he stared at Shen Zhenghui seriously, "and I did some serious investigating. You know I can find out what you're doing just by knowing Yang Chao."

Shen Zhenghui swallowed.

"Don't think that just because I haven't caught you in a compromising position, you're safe," Li Rui sneered, "I won't mention the things you did with Wu Renhai. Maybe the Pengcheng Municipal Committee still cares about its reputation, but do you think an animated series is a big deal?"

Shen Zhenghui licked his lips.

"Of course, that's not the main issue," Li Rui waved his hand, "but what if a few bank presidents, or vice-presidents, are investigated for loan issues? What do you think the impact would be on you and your family?"

Shen Zhenghui narrowed his eyes and said nothing.

"Hmm," Li Rui nodded, "You're still calm, probably thinking that you can reconcile with the Wang family through Wang Anran, after all, sometimes people still care about face."

Shen Zhenghui touched his nose.

"But if our old man decides to teach someone a lesson, do you think the old man from the Wang family will stand up for you?"

Shen Zhenghui pursed his lips and said nothing, but his expression grew increasingly grim.

"You don't realize how important Sun Jingfang's statement is. Maybe you think, or those who know, that it's a personal matter, but," Li Rui paused, "sometimes it's interpreted as a political signal." Li Rui smiled at Shen Zhenghui, "Now you understand, right?"

Shen Zhenghui nodded, "I understand!" He sighed, "Alright, I'll transfer all the shares of the toy company to you, and I won't stay in the country."

"You still want to go to the United States?" Li Rui asked.

"Then I'll go to Japan."

"You're such a buzzkill, which is why I hate getting straight to the point with you," Li Rui snorted, "I won't force you to leave, and I don't want your shares, but you can't keep them either." He paused and looked at Shen Zhenghui's expression, "I know Wang Anran is your close friend. You can give the shares to him. I've helped him make so much money; I'll see if he has the nerve to cause me trouble in the future!"

Shen Zhenghui breathed a sigh of relief but was also hit by a wave of frustration—what have I done! These second-generation rich kids, you can't touch any of them. From Li Rui's smug expression, it seemed he had more in mind.

Li Rui raised his cup, "I wish you a good future, working diligently for the Wang family." He said this, and to Shen Zhenghui, it seemed to hide a greater conspiracy.

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