Chapter 89
Wen Shao Ze was the last to arrive, practically at the very last minute. Even Yuan Qi had arrived half an hour earlier, so naturally, there were penalties.
Li Wan pointed at the wine glass in front of him and said with a smile, “Mr. Wen, three glasses as a penalty for being late, that’s not too much to ask, is it?”
It was winter, yet Wen Shao Ze’s forehead was beaded with sweat, his cheeks flushed, he had clearly rushed over, and being penalized with alcohol as soon as he sat down was unheard of in his usual business dinners.
Those people would be fawning over him, they wouldn’t dare to make such a request, and Wen Shao Ze was indeed taken aback.
“We’ve all been waiting for you with empty stomachs, shouldn’t you offer some compensation?” Li Wan wasn’t forcing him to drink though.
Wen Shao Ze looked around, then quickly glanced at Yuan Qi, who remained with his head lowered, seemingly uninterested in him.
His heart sinking slightly, Wen Shao Ze didn’t want to spoil everyone’s mood, but he was still reluctant to accept the three-glass penalty. He stood up and drank one glass.
“I’ll compensate for the rest with red envelopes.”
Li Wan clapped her hands in satisfaction. “That’s more like it, alcohol and red envelopes, that’s the generosity of a true CEO.”
Li Wan had often teased Wen Shao Ze like this, having bullied him relentlessly during their university days. Initially, their families had thought there might be something between them, but after observing their interactions, they had shaken their heads, if they were truly together, Wen Shao Ze would probably never have a moment of peace.
Wen Shao Ze finished his drink, took a sip of warm water to soothe his throat, then turned to Qin Qianrou for help. “Qianrou, you have to help me, I haven’t even warmed my seat yet, and I’m already being extorted for red envelopes.”
Qin Qianrou was used to Wen Shao Ze’s dramatic exaggerations, but he seemed different today, unusually excited.
With everyone at the table waiting for him, and his constant chatter, he had naturally become the center of attention, even Yuan Qi, despite his silence, couldn’t help but notice him.
“You were late, a little penalty is normal, you can just eat more later to compensate.”
With even Qin Qianrou not taking his side, Wen Shao Ze felt a sense of despair and looked at Shen Yiqiu, about to plead with her, when Qin Qianrou spoke again,
“Don’t even think about asking Shen Yiqiu for help, she’s on my side.”
Shen Yiqiu smiled apologetically at Wen Shao Ze and then ladled a bowl of chicken soup for him.
“Shao Ze-ge, try this soup, it’s delicious.”
Wen Shao Ze, having learned about Shen Yiqiu’s relationship with Yuan Qi, now hearing her call him “Shao Ze-ge,” while calling Yuan Qi “Cousin,” suddenly felt a generation older.
He took the soup, stirred it gently, and looked at Shen Yiqiu with a slightly aggrieved expression.
He glanced at Yuan Qi from the corner of his eye, seeing him still seemingly indifferent, lost in his own world.
“Ahem, you can’t call me Shao Ze-ge anymore, it’s not appropriate.”
Shen Yiqiu was taken aback, was Wen Shao Ze truly angry? He had been an hour late, being penalized with a drink and a few red envelopes, a CEO shouldn’t be so petty.
Wen Shao Ze felt a little nervous, even multi-million dollar deals hadn’t made him feel this anxious,
“Although you and Qianrou are together now, you should still just call me Shao Ze.” Asking you to call me “Uncle” probably won’t work either, Qianrou would kill me, I’ll just have to suffer the indignity of dropping the “-ge.”
What’s with this? Shen Yiqiu didn’t understand, was Wen Shao Ze voluntarily demoting himself to be on the same level as her?
“It’s more… cosmopolitan. Like those foreigners, calling their parents and grandparents by their first names, it’s more intimate.”
It was a strained explanation, and everyone at the table exchanged knowing looks, as if saying, Alright, alright, we understand, no need to explain further, but no one said it out loud.
Shen Yiqiu, not knowing about the past between Wen Shao Ze and her cousin, naturally didn’t understand his reason for saying this.
“Since Shao Ze has requested it, just call him by his name from now on.” Qin Qianrou spoke, and Shen Yiqiu smiled and nodded in agreement.
Their effortless synergy was enough to make any bystander feel like they were being force-fed dog food (public displays of affection), Li Wan beaming at their interaction, pleased with her friend’s current state of happiness.
Lin Shuangzhi, seeing Li Wan’s wistful expression, seemed lost in thought, then quietly placed a piece of preserved duck in her bowl.
Yuan Qi finally looked up, but his attention was mostly on Shen Yiqiu, occasionally exchanging a few words with Qin Qianrou, the atmosphere relatively harmonious. Li Wan, unsure of their current relationship, didn’t dare to tease them, so she talked about some amusing incidents at the television station instead.
The New Year’s Eve dinner was a cheerful and satisfying affair, two hours passing quickly, everyone having a hearty appetite, the table almost completely cleared, a stark contrast to their usual formal dinners.
Wen Shao Ze, looking at the empty plates being cleared away, sighed contentedly, “Home-cooked meals are truly the best, my appetite is always better at home.”
Rong Fei teased him, “You want home-cooked meals? That’s easy for you, I heard you have several chefs at home.”
Wen Shao Ze, having had quite a few drinks, although not drunk, was more relaxed than usual. As CEO, he was always cautious at social gatherings, many tried to get him drunk to gain an advantage.
“Having chefs at home means nothing, returning to an empty house, even a feast would be tasteless, it’s not a chef I lack, it’s someone who’ll ask me if my porridge is warm enough when I get home!”
Everyone fell silent at his words, while Qin Qianrou, a smile playing on her lips, reached under the table and took Shen Yiqiu’s hand. Her sweet and thoughtful little one always prepared a late-night snack for her, no matter how tired she was when she got home.
Back then, Qin Qianrou had been struggling with her own internal conflict, now, looking back, she realized Shen Yiqiu had already been showering her with affection.
Thankfully, she hadn’t missed it.
Her hand was held tightly in return, Shen Yiqiu not only had grown taller, her hand was also slightly larger than Qin Qianrou’s now. Their fingers intertwined, a silent expression of their deep love.
They didn’t have to say a word, the warmth spreading through their hearts, they weren’t just lovers now, but also family, together, making this house a home.
Yuan Qi, as if triggered by Wen Shao Ze’s words, suddenly poured himself a glass of wine and downed it in one gulp, having been unusually quiet all evening. Shen Yiqiu, surprised by his action, was about to ask when the person beside her stopped her.
Qin Qianrou gave her a look and gently shook her head, and Shen Yiqiu suppressed her curiosity, thankfully, both Wen Shao Ze and Yuan Qi were composed individuals, their drinking hadn’t affected their behavior, and the dinner ended in a cheerful atmosphere.
The kitchen, naturally, was filled with dirty dishes. Shen Yiqiu’s cooking habits were good, and some of the dishes had already been washed, but with so many guests, there were still many more than usual.
Qin Qianrou didn’t want Shen Yiqiu to work any harder and suggested leaving them for the housekeeper tomorrow, when Wen Shao Ze, rolling up his sleeves, volunteered, “I’ll do them, it’ll help me sober up.”
This wasn’t Wen Shao Ze’s first time doing dishes at Qin Qianrou’s home, and Shen Yiqiu, besides feeling slightly embarrassed, wasn’t worried.
Yuan Qi joined them in the living room, sipping tea and chatting. Li Wan had always been interested in Yuan Qi’s travels around the world, and she took this opportunity to ask him about his experiences.
“I didn’t go to that many places, I’m a lazy traveler, stopping and going as I pleased, sometimes staying in one place for three months.”
“How carefree and relaxing, coming and going as you please, so much better than us wage slaves.”
Yuan Qi casually glanced towards the kitchen and took a sip of tea, “Isn’t that something you can do anytime?”
Li Wan’s family background was well-known, working at the television station was purely out of passion, she wasn’t reliant on her salary. He had wandered the world simply because he hadn’t wanted to come back, there had been happy times, and also lonely times.
Li Wan, however, sighed seriously, “Coming and going as you please, it sounds simple, but it’s not that easy in reality, I’m not a student anymore, I have responsibilities now.”
Yuan Qi looked at her meaningfully, her straightforward, fiery, and determined personality still the same, he had thought Li Wan hadn’t changed.
“It’s different when you have something, or someone, to care about, especially after having a home, everywhere else feels less… important.”
Li Wan agreed, “I’m getting older now, I do want a home.”
Compared to her youthful ambition of traveling the world, seeing all the sights, Li Wan now yearned for a more settled, domestic life.
Lin Shuangzhi and Rong Fei sat quietly, listening attentively, but Li Wan’s words resonated deeply with Lin Shuangzhi.
Qin Qianrou, however, was thinking about her promise to Shen Yiqiu during their movie date. Since Yuan Qi was here, she asked him about traveling to Mexico.
“Mexico? It’s a good place to visit, but you have to choose the right time of year.”
“Is it safe there?” Qin Qianrou was thinking about their safety, just the two of them traveling together.
“It’s relatively safe in the tourist areas, I have a few acquaintances there, I’ll give you their contact information.”
“Thank you.”
Shen Yiqiu hadn’t expected Jiejie to actually remember, she had only mentioned it casually, it hadn’t been a serious request, but Jiejie, despite being so busy, still remembered.
“Jiejie…”
Qin Qianrou smiled tenderly, “I’ll try to arrange my work schedule.”
After their guests left, Wen Shao Ze, emerging from the kitchen after washing the dishes, realized Yuan Qi had already disappeared. His eyes dimmed slightly, a bitter smile on his lips, but he wasn’t particularly disappointed, he had expected this.
But tonight had been enough, after so many years, it was the first time he had spent so much time with A-Yuan.
Shen Yiqiu smiled at him gratefully. “Shao Ze, thank you for your help tonight.”
“It was nothing, after all that delicious food, I had to contribute somehow, otherwise Qianrou won’t let me visit again.”
Qin Qianrou, still sitting there, sipping her tea, her demeanor calm and composed,
Wen Shao Ze glanced at the time, then at Shen Yiqiu beside him, hesitated for a moment, then said, “Shen Yiqiu, there’s something I need to discuss with Qianrou.”
“Okay, I’ll be in my room.”
After Shen Yiqiu left, Wen Shao Ze walked over and sat down opposite Qin Qianrou.
A freshly brewed cup of tea was already waiting for him. Qin Qianrou seemed to have anticipated he had something to say.
“You volunteering to wash the dishes earlier, I knew you had something on your mind.”
Wen Shao Ze looked at Qin Qianrou with affection, not bothering to hide anything. “You’ve always been so perceptive since you were a child, nothing gets past you.”
He took a few sips of tea, then put down his cup, glanced at Shen Yiqiu’s closed door, and lowered his voice, “I received new information about the He Chao case just before leaving today, there’s been a development.”
Qin Qianrou looked up; she had been following the He Chao case, and Wen Shao Ze regularly provided her with updates, but his tone sounded… strange.
“It seems the information He Chao revealed might be related to Shen Zhifeng.”
Shen Zhifeng, Shen Yiqiu’s father.
Qin Qianrou’s brow furrowed slightly at the mention of his name.
Wen Shao Ze continued, “I’ve arranged for someone to look after Jiang Yuan discreetly, although we can’t get her released on medical parole yet, at least her safety is guaranteed inside.”
Jiang Yuan definitely knew many of He Chao’s secrets. His sudden death in prison, and his plea to Qin Qianrou before his death to protect Jiang Yuan, although she had initially assumed it was out of marital affection, now, it seemed there was more to it, perhaps He Chao had been hoping Jiang Yuan would avenge him.
“What does this have to do with the Shen family?” Qin Qianrou was still puzzled by this sudden turn of events, this was her main concern.
“There’s evidence suggesting Shen Zhifeng was also involved in those… dealings.”
Qin Qianrou was shocked, “What?!”
This was completely unexpected.
She didn’t know much about Shen Zhifeng, most of her knowledge coming from Shen Yiqiu’s memories, but she did know about the patent donation, and judging by the number of research projects, their family’s living conditions didn’t seem to match.
The Shen family were, at most, middle-class, if Shen Zhifeng had been like He Chao, their wealth would have been much more substantial.
“I don’t quite believe it either, Shen Zhifeng’s reputation in the industry has always been excellent, everyone who worked with him praised him highly, he and He Chao… they don’t seem like the same kind of people.” Although less biased than Qin Qianrou, Wen Shao Ze also believed Shen Zhifeng was a man of integrity.
“Investigate this thoroughly as soon as possible, regardless of the truth, I want to know the results quickly.”
Qin Qianrou’s mind was in turmoil. She had been determined to get to the bottom of the He Chao matter, but she hadn’t expected it to be connected to Shen Zhifeng, she suddenly recalled Shao Qidong’s words at the hospital, she hadn’t understood how Dongsheng Group could possibly be related to a university professor back then, now, she seemed to have a clue.
“Alright, I’ll personally oversee this.” Wen Shao Ze stood up, grabbing his coat, preparing to leave.
“Are you planning to tell her about this?” He gestured towards the closed door of Shen Yiqiu’s room.
Qin Qianrou frowned, thinking for a moment. “If it truly involves her father, she has the right to know, I’ll tell her when we have more concrete information.”
“Okay, since you’ve already decided, I’ll be going then.”
**
Thanks to Zhuo Cheng’s blunder, Shao Qidong’s Chinese New Year had been anything but pleasant, he was a suspicious person by nature, and with the recent series of incidents involving his peers, his anxiety and frustration growing, he could only accelerate his plans to transfer his assets.
Zhuo Cheng, having proven unreliable, he had to take matters into his own hands. Dongsheng Group officially closed for the holidays on New Year’s Eve, and while his employees returned home for the celebrations, he was at the airport, heading to the US.
He reviewed the reports he had received just before boarding, information he had been gathering since He Chao’s death, he and He Chao had been involved in similar activities, although their past interactions had been limited, the downfall of one inevitably made him worry about his own fate.
The He Chao couple had been after Shen Zhifeng’s promising research patents, while Shao Qidong wanted the raw data, he had a more established and capable research team, and with that valuable data, it would be like acquiring precious raw materials, he could then process them into any finished product he desired.
Having failed to deceive Shen Yiqiu at the hospital, and with the He Chao couple’s interference, Shao Qidong had temporarily retreated. But Shen Zhifeng’s research was too tempting, he couldn’t give up so easily.
If he truly went abroad, the assets he had been accumulating for others wouldn’t leave him with much. But if he had that data, he could rebuild his empire overseas, he wouldn’t have to be subservient to anyone, he could become a true leader in the field.
Shao Qidong, suppressing his exhaustion, continued reviewing the documents, searching for clues about where Shen Zhifeng might have hidden his research data.
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