ORCBRB – Chapter 70
Chapter 70
With the time, place, and contact person all set, Sang Shi'an opened a ticket booking app. She found that the morning direct flights to Shanghai were already sold out, so she could only book a ticket for a 3 PM departure.
This left her with plenty of time.
It was nearly ten o'clock when Sang Shi'an received a call from Jian Cenyu.
Sang Shi'an put down her finance notes and pretended she had just woken up, answering with a lazy, "Hello?"
"I just got to the hotel. You're not up yet?" Jian Cenyu's gentle voice traveled through the electromagnetic waves to Sang Shi'an's ear.
A small flame seemed to flicker in Sang Shi'an's ear, teasing it into a tingling itch. "Yeah, I'm a little sleepy."
"That won't do. Have you forgotten about your exam on Monday?" Jian Cenyu asked. "It seems my wake-up call service came just in time."
Sang Shi'an lay on her stomach, pushing her damp hair to one side. "How do you plan on waking me up?"
"How about I tell you about something that happened on the plane today?"
"What kind of gossip could there be on a plane?"
"The two women in the seat behind me were a couple. The flight attendants were short-staffed when we boarded, so I helped them with their luggage, and they gave me a bag of candy."
Jian Cenyu's voice was soft and slow. Sang Shi'an rolled over in bed and asked, "And then?"
"Then I chatted with them for a bit. They've been classmates since elementary school, competing for first place all the way through high school. Then one of them developed feelings first and confessed, and they got together."
"Later, they both went to the same university and were both accepted into the same school's graduate program. But one day, their families discovered their relationship, and they couldn't handle the pressure, so they broke up."
"After graduating, one of them stayed in the country to work, while the other went to Europe for her PhD. It wasn't until they were thirty-five that the family of the one who stayed in the country relented. She bought a plane ticket to Europe that very night."
Sang Shi'an held her breath. "And then?"
Jian Cenyu said, "They got back together on the first day they reunited, and they even got their marriage certificate before returning to the country this time."
Sang Shi'an clenched her hand. "For those ten years, did they really not have any contact?"
"Perhaps they did, but it was probably just greetings," Jian Cenyu said. "Neither of them would have wanted the other to worry."
Sang Shi'an hesitated. "...I see."
"When I was listening to their story, I was thinking about us, about how your mother almost found out last night," Jian Cenyu said. "I'm not a good older sister. I seduced you into a relationship with me, but I can't help you handle the risks if your family finds out."
Sang Shi'an turned her head, looking at the delicate fabric of the bedsheet dampened by her long hair. "What does that have to do with you? Even if it wasn't you, I might have fallen for another woman. I just hadn't liked anyone before, so I never considered my sexual orientation."
"In my ideal scenario, I'd hope that in two or three years, once you've graduated and I've stabilized the situation at Jian Corporation, I would have a bit more confidence when I go to your house to meet your parents and your brother."
Jian Cenyu smiled faintly. "If they don't agree, I'll use Jian Corporation as my dowry and shamelessly insist on marrying you."
Sang Shi'an really couldn't imagine what a 'shameless' Jian Cenyu would look like. The melancholy that had arisen from the other couple's long-distance love story dissipated quite a bit, and she laughed out loud. "My family still has my older brother. Your family only has you. Have you ever considered what would happen if your parents were the ones who disagreed?"
"I would have already sold the company. If they disagreed, they would lose both the person and the money."
"Huh?" It was rare for Sang Shi'an to hear Jian Cenyu say something so improper.
Jian Cenyu couldn't help but laugh too. "But it would be best to threaten my father while my mother is out of the country."
Sang Shi'an teased her, "So you get scared too?"
"I do. Of course I get scared." Jian Cenyu sighed softly. "But I'm more scared that we'll have to be apart for so many years like they were."
Sang Shi'an's voice grew tight. "What if we have to?"
Jian Cenyu fell silent, her breathing a little heavy.
Sang Shi'an hadn't dried her hair after washing it and suddenly felt a bit cold. Her voice was muffled. "But what if I can't stop myself from contacting you? I can't be as considerate as the couple you met on the plane. When I can't see you, I want to call you every hour."
"I want to receive your call every hour, too," Jian Cenyu replied in kind.
Sang Shi'an's panicked heart suddenly settled. She thought to herself that whether or not to separate was ultimately a choice made by the people involved. Even if she were sent abroad, couldn't she just secretly fly back?
There was no need to worry needlessly.
"Let's not talk about this. You've completely woken me up," Sang Shi'an complained. "You have to compensate me."
"How about I bring you back a souvenir?"
Sang Shi'an made an outrageous demand. "Okay, I want a LinaBell from Disneyland, the biggest one."
Jian Cenyu pleaded, "Darling, do you think I'll have time to go to Disneyland?"
Sang Shi'an exclaimed dramatically, "Oh my god, oh my god, don't tell me you're going to bring me an investment brochure from your cocktail party?"
Jian Cenyu held back her laughter. "Yes, after all, since getting off the plane, I've decided to start saving money from today. Otherwise, how will I marry you in the future?"
Sang Shi'an was not moved. "Then you can go be a vagrant right now."
They both burst out laughing. After a few more words, another call came in for Jian Cenyu. Sang Shi'an hung up, got out of bed, and went to the bathroom to dry her hair.
As she dried it, she replayed Jian Cenyu's words in her mind. Although Jian Cenyu's tone hadn't changed and was as gentle as ever, Sang Shi'an still detected a hint of sadness in some of her words.
She thought, why does Jian Cenyu always feel like she was the one who seduced me? It makes it seem like it's all her fault.
Whether older people were clingier was yet to be proven, but they certainly liked to take responsibility. It was clearly she who had first pretended to be Kitty to seduce Jian Cenyu.
Thinking of Kitty...
Sang Shi'an's eyes lit up; she had suddenly found a way to cheer Jian Cenyu up.
Ten minutes later, an elven holy maiden with white hair was curled up on the messy bed. Two soft strands of white hair fell smoothly beside her neck, and the elven crown on her head shone brightly.
Sang Shi'an adjusted the crown so it was slightly askew, then picked up a strand of white hair and held it in her mouth. The camera panned down to a snow-white yet mottled neck.
It was dotted with smudged lipstick marks, from her neck to her collarbone. The video began to record.
On the other side, Jian Cenyu had just finished a call with Wen Yansheng, who was stuck in traffic. Just as she was about to order room service, a WeChat message popped up.
It was from the Kitty account that had blocked her long ago.
Jian Cenyu paused, then opened it.
The gold-trimmed elven brocade was beautiful and magnificent, its hem barely covering the tops of her thighs. A red rope, as thick as two fingers, was tied tightly around her curled legs. The extreme contrast of red and white created red marks as her legs struggled restlessly.
The camera moved up along the red rope, crisscrossing over her waist and abdomen, converging at the short top that barely covered her chest. Then came the mottled neck, and further up, her tightly bitten lips parted slightly. "Please... buy me."
The fallen elf revealed a holy yet radiant face, and with a sudden sob, she said, "You can do anything to me."
The video ended abruptly.
The second the video finished, Jian Cenyu immediately sent a video call request.
Sang Shi'an hadn't expected Jian Cenyu to be so quick. The red rope wasn't actually tied; she had just used her body to hold it in place while filming, and it had come loose as soon as she was done.
Sang Shi'an was holding the end of the rope in her mouth, adjusting her position, planning to film another segment for Jian Cenyu.
But she accidentally hit the answer button.
A startled gasp escaped Sang Shi'an's lips, and the red rope fell from her mouth. Before her panicked expression could fade, she saw Jian Cenyu's eyes fixed on her.
When Kitty used to video call Jian Cenyu, Kitty always wore a mask, and Jian Cenyu never turned on her camera.
This time, their gazes met, and Sang Shi'an's face turned crimson in an instant. "I, I, I..."
"Didn't you say I could do anything I want to you?" Jian Cenyu was wearing a formal suit, leaning back on a sofa with one hand resting lightly on the armrest, truly giving off the feeling of someone at an auction.
Sang Shi'an coughed lightly. "Weren't you busy?"
"I'm going to the venue this afternoon. I still have time now." Jian Cenyu pointed to the watch on her wrist. "It should be enough time to inspect the goods."
When she was filming the video with no one watching, Sang Shi'an dared to say all sorts of provocative things, but now, facing the camera, she was timid. "I sent it to tell you that if we ever have to separate in the future, I'll send you videos every day so you'll absolutely, absolutely never forget me. Isn't this a good idea?"
Good, of course it was good.
Faced with this version of Sang Shi'an, Jian Cenyu's heart was completely and utterly captivated.
After she finished speaking, Sang Shi'an saw that Jian Cenyu wasn't saying anything and found it strange. "Do you think it's not a good idea?"
"It is. I think this is an excellent idea," Jian Cenyu said. "I just took a few screenshots."
Sang Shi'an: ...
Screenshots of what?
Sang Shi'an asked hesitantly, "Are you taking screenshots of me?"
"Yes." Jian Cenyu took a few more. "This is Kitty's first time showing her face. I have to save it properly."
Sang Shi'an was speechless. "Wasn't that video enough for you? I had to film it several times."
Jian Cenyu, busy with what she was doing, said curtly, "Not enough."
She urged her, "Aren't you supposed to be promoting yourself?"
Seeing how interested Jian Cenyu was, Sang Shi'an's eyes darted around as a mischievous idea popped into her head.
She lay down on her side, readjusted the red rope on her body, and her breathing became heavy.
She spread her legs, pretending to kick them. The rope, tied loosely but impossible to escape, swayed back and forth, as if she were being restrained and unable to flee. "Ugly beast... get... get away..."
Sang Shi'an reached her hand out toward Jian Cenyu. "Don't touch me... Master, Master, save me... save me... ah..."
The end of her word was soft and trembling. As she writhed, the red rope constantly brushed against her short top, revealing a hint of red from her chest.
When Sang Shi'an looked toward the camera, she noticed that Jian Cenyu's hand had stopped moving.
As if guessing her confusion, Jian Cenyu said succinctly, "Screen recording."
Sang Shi'an was dying of laughter inside but didn't let it show on her face.
After successfully seducing Jian Cenyu, Sang Shi'an shook her head with a "tsk tsk." "Poor Cenyu Jiejie, you can only secretly screen record."
Jian Cenyu's expression visibly changed. She finally realized and chuckled lightly. "An'an, are you doing this on purpose?"
Sang Shi'an didn't care what Jian Cenyu thought. She said, "I'm going to study," and hung up the video call directly.
The skin under the red rope had already turned pink.
Not from being tied, but from Jian Cenyu's gaze.
Sang Shi'an ran to the bathroom and splashed her face with two handfuls of cold water to finally bring her temperature down.
At one in the afternoon, Sang Shi'an received a call from Wen Yansheng, who asked about her flight. "It's good that you're coming. You can add to your Cenyu Jiejie's bargaining chips."
Sang Shi'an began to waver. "But I don't know anything. Can I really help Cenyu Jiejie by going?"
"Don't you represent your brother and Shengyu?" Wen Yansheng's tone was leisurely, displaying her cunning business tactics to the fullest. "Those people won't go to Yancheng to verify. And you don't want to see your Cenyu Jiejie isolated and helpless, do you?"
Sang Shi'an asked in a small voice, "Does Jian Zhenyang have a lot of supporters there?"
"He does." Wen Yansheng glanced at the assistants surrounding Jian Zhenyang in the distance. "A lot of them, one after another, all his support. It looks like he has a high chance of winning."
"I'm coming." Sang Shi'an couldn't stand the thought of Jian Cenyu being bullied by Jian Zhenyang. After giving her flight number, she started packing her luggage, specifically emphasizing that she wanted a separate hotel room.
Wen Yansheng didn't ask any more questions and readily agreed.
As Jian Cenyu got out of the car, she saw Wen Yansheng smiling while on the phone and asked curiously, "Senior Wen, what's the happy occasion?"
Wen Yansheng replied, "I've added a bargaining chip for you. Does that count?"
Jian Cenyu thought Wen Yansheng had found another connection and said with a smile, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Senior Wen."
The first day of the networking cocktail party wouldn't decide the project. The heads of all interested companies gathered here to sound each other out with the host, the chamber of commerce alliance, and to assess the value each could create for the other.
It seemed like the Overseas Chinese Business Association was choosing people, but in reality, it was a mutual selection process. Only by connecting with mainland enterprises could they adapt to mainland rules and thus cater to mainland government bidding projects; otherwise, it was all empty talk.
When Jian Cenyu entered the venue, she saw Jian Zhenyang chatting and laughing with people. Thanks to Huaxing's public listing, Jian Zhenyang had been in high demand these past few days and had made a name for himself in Shanghai's business circles.
In the crowded hall, their gazes met, and they both nodded politely. But many people knew of their relationship—two heirs from one company. Those who recognized them were more or less hoping to see some drama.
Jian Cenyu ignored the scrutinizing gazes, picked up a glass of wine, and walked with Wen Yansheng toward the president of the chamber of commerce that had organized the event.
After a round of socializing, the chamber president went on stage to give a speech, explaining the purpose of their return to the country and the chamber's future plans. Regardless of whether the chamber's plans could proceed as he envisioned, the terms at least sounded very tempting.
At mealtime, the leaders of the chamber of commerce split into several groups to facilitate dining with different entrepreneurs.
Jian Cenyu unexpectedly received an invitation from the president herself, which was quite surprising. After all, tomorrow was the main event. When she had just spoken with the president, she had only engaged in polite conversation on behalf of Jian Corporation and hadn't mentioned the core research she was holding.
Jian Cenyu was actually a bit hesitant.
She and Wen Yansheng had systematically investigated this chamber's methods beforehand. If she were to offer her research, she would certainly be able to suppress Jian Zhenyang and become the chamber's chosen representative for Jian Corporation.
But at the same time, the chamber had a large appetite and would surely demand a stake in the research for a "shared win-win" outcome. That would put her in a passive position.
That was a last resort. In any case, the anti-cancer drug research would eventually need to attract investment and financing; doing it earlier would just mean being a bit more passive.
Upon receiving the chamber president's invitation, Jian Cenyu was silent for a moment before asking, "Was Jian Zhenyang invited?"
Wen Yansheng shook her head. "As far as I know, he was invited by another group of important chamber members."
"Do you know why?" Jian Cenyu had a very clear understanding of her own strengths and weaknesses. She felt her performance just now had been standard. Compared to the financial capabilities Jian Zhenyang could display, the chamber president should have invited Jian Zhenyang for talks.
Wen Yansheng said, "Perhaps he's heard about your research and is interested in you? Or maybe it was a random choice. These old foxes are very shrewd; we'll only know their purpose once we go."
The chamber president was an intellectual middle-aged woman named Ye Jinsui. Her Mandarin wasn't quite standard; it was said she had grown up in Hong Kong and later moved to Los Angeles with her family.
Jian Cenyu reviewed the information on the chamber president again but still couldn't find a reason. Her expression grew more solemn. "You're right."
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