ORCBRB – Chapter 71
Chapter 71
Dinner was arranged at a Cantonese restaurant where the ingredients were extremely exquisite. The double-boiled old duck soup served at the beginning of the meal was said to have been stewed for a full eight hours.
“A business partner recommended this restaurant to me when I was in Shanghai before. Two years have passed, the buildings on this street have been demolished, and many shops have closed and reopened. I didn't expect this restaurant to still be here.” Ye Jinsui wore an imperial green jade bracelet of excellent quality on her wrist, with a market price of at least eight figures.
Hearing her words, Jian Cenyu also offered a few words of praise, but she drank her soup with a hint of distraction.
According to news from the business association, its members would be inviting entrepreneurs they were interested in cooperating with to dinner tonight. Based on the invitations other entrepreneurs had received, their tables were all full.
Yet, Ye Jinsui had only invited Jian Cenyu and Wen Yansheng.
There were four sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table, which gave Jian Cenyu a slight sense of relief—at least, there should be one more invited guest.
As the host, Ye Jinsui was the first to pick up her chopsticks, so Jian Cenyu naturally didn't ask any questions. Throughout the meal, the conversation revolved around Ye Jinsui's experiences since returning to the country, with only occasional questions about Jian Corporation, causing the expressions of both Jian Cenyu and Wen Yansheng to gradually grow solemn.
It wasn't until Ye Jinsui's phone lit up that she turned to Jian Cenyu and said, “I have another person coming. Miss Jian, could you please go out and pick them up for me?”
Asking Jian Cenyu to pick someone up—what kind of way was this to treat a business partner? It was nothing short of a power play.
Wen Yansheng placed a hand on Jian Cenyu's shoulder and stood up first. “President Ye, you're in the middle of a conversation with our CEO Jian. I'm familiar with Shanghai, how about I go pick them up for you?”
Ye Jinsui elegantly blew on the hot steam rising from the old duck soup, took a light sip, and set it down. The spoon made a soft 'clink'. “The person outside is very important to me. She's not familiar with Shanghai. I just feel that if Miss Jian handles it, I can be more at ease.”
Jian Cenyu and Wen Yansheng exchanged a look, both seeing the vigilance in each other's eyes. Jian Cenyu pressed down on Wen Yansheng's hand, signaling for her to sit back down.
“President Ye, please wait a moment.” Jian Cenyu stood up and walked out with composure.
Ye Jinsui resumed drinking her soup.
This area was located at the junction of the old and new city districts. One half consisted of elegant and historic residential buildings, while the other half was filled with towering commercial skyscrapers. As the sun set, the soft light blended the two sides together, creating a rare moment of harmony in the day.
When she saw the caller ID, Jian Cenyu hesitated for a moment but decided to answer, offer a quick explanation, and then hang up.
However, Sang Shi'an's first words were: “Jian Cenyu, you're not by my side, and I think I'm lost.”
Sang Shi'an was slightly out of breath, sounding very anxious.
The words Jian Cenyu had intended to say about being busy and needing to pick someone up got stuck in her throat. “Lost? Have you tried using navigation to find your way?”
Jian Cenyu walked to the restaurant entrance but saw no one waiting outside, so she continued walking a little further, to the intersection.
“Here…” Sang Shi'an's voice was troubled. “The navigation map isn't detailed enough, it can't guide me to the exit.”
Today's navigation systems were already quite advanced, so this situation shouldn't have occurred. Sang Shi'an must be in a very small place. After filtering through Sang Shi'an's preferences, Jian Cenyu guessed, “Did you go to an escape room with friends? I can't help you with that.”
“No,” Sang Shi'an said sullenly. “What's the fun in hugging your friends and screaming 'ahhh' in a place like that?”
Jian Cenyu guessed again, “Did you go to your family's company? And ended up on an unfamiliar floor?”
Sang Shi'an: “That's not it either.”
“I'm just on a street, and I can't find my destination.”
“Are there any passersby? Do you want to ask for directions?” Jian Cenyu was extremely patient, continuing to coax Sang Shi'an.
Compared to picking up another distinguished guest, she would much rather chat a little longer with Sang Shi'an.
The feeling of powerlessness and suffocation from being tested by Ye Jinsui at the dinner table was easily soothed by Sang Shi'an's voice. As a chemistry student who had spent four years in a lab, Jian Cenyu wasn't actually as skilled at socializing or as poised as she appeared. It was just that she carried the expectations of many people and had to learn to act that way.
Sang Shi'an said, “The driver who brought me here got a new ride and dropped me at the intersection. I followed a passerby's directions for a long time but still haven't reached my destination. Do you think I was tricked?”
Hearing that Sang Shi'an was truly in an unfamiliar environment and had very likely been misdirected, the gentleness in Jian Cenyu's tone faded, gradually becoming serious. “Don't wander around. Stay where you are. Send me a few pictures of your surroundings, I'll see if I recognize it.”
Sang Shi'an replied with an 'okay', then switched to a video call. Her meticulously styled long hair was lifted by the evening breeze, and the vast sunset glow outlined her in the frame like an oil painting.
Sang Shi'an found an angle that made her look her best. “Can you tell where this is?”
Jian Cenyu was worried about Sang Shi'an, so her attention wasn't on that. “Tilt the camera up a bit, I can't see the surrounding signs and buildings.”
Sang Shi'an had specifically put on exquisite makeup on the plane, not expecting Jian Cenyu to show no appreciation for it at all. But seeing Jian Cenyu's worried expression, she generously decided not to hold it against her and turned the camera around.
“Look! There are many small, independent Western-style houses here. Oh, and next to them are commercial buildings. I even saw the name of a familiar entertainment agency, but unfortunately, I didn't even see a single trainee on the way. Their security is really good.”
Jian Cenyu looked at the familiar buildings, her fingertips holding the phone slowly tightening.
Sang Shi'an switched to the rear-facing camera, and the road ahead appeared on the screen. “There are no passersby around here. Let me turn a corner and see if I can find one… Hey, there's actually a pretty young lady. I'll go ask her for directions.”
Jian Cenyu saw herself on the phone screen.
The phone was slowly lowered. Sang Shi'an appeared in her field of vision, waving at her in the twilight.
Sang Shi'an jogged over to Jian Cenyu with her suitcase. She had wanted to pounce on her for a hug but stopped herself, leaned in, and gave Jian Cenyu a polite embrace.
As they parted, she said, “CEO Jian, the guest you were supposed to pick up has arrived.”
Jian Cenyu was stunned. Looking at the empty old alley, she finally realized, “So it was you?”
Sang Shi'an shoved the suitcase handle into Jian Cenyu's hand, dissatisfied. “What, are you disappointed it's me? Are you upset that you had to leave your dinner halfway to pick me up? Then I'll just leave. I'll get a pot-bellied middle-aged man for you to deal with instead.”
Jian Cenyu held the suitcase with one hand and grabbed Sang Shi'an's wrist with the other. “That's not what I meant. I'm just very surprised.”
Sang Shi'an's lips curled. “That's more like it.”
She followed Jian Cenyu towards the restaurant, complaining as she walked, “I didn't want to trouble you either, but the driver really did abandon me halfway. He said a few words in the local dialect, and when I didn't react, he guessed I wasn't from around here and… what an embarrassment to this international metropolis.”
“I thought this was President Ye's way of putting me in my place, testing my obedience to the business association.” Jian Cenyu shook her head, her tone slightly helpless. Just then, her fingers were lightly hooked by Sang Shi'an's. She sighed, “So it was a false alarm.”
Now that she put it that way, Sang Shi'an felt a bit embarrassed and muttered softly, “I originally wanted to give you a surprise.”
Jian Cenyu said flatly, “And it turned into a scare.”
Sang Shi'an stopped outside the private room, pulled on Jian Cenyu's arm, and after a moment of deliberation, said, “I was wrong.”
Jian Cenyu turned the doorknob. “I'm not blaming you. Let's go in.”
Inside the private room, Wen Yansheng was also truly shocked to see Sang Shi'an. She wanted to ask but felt the occasion wasn't quite right. After Sang Shi'an took her seat, Ye Jinsui's attitude remained subtle. She didn't treat Sang Shi'an like the important guest she had specifically sent Jian Cenyu to pick up, but rather like an assistant, setting her aside.
It was only when Jian Cenyu spoke of Jian Corporation's sincerity that she would patiently listen to a few of Sang Shi'an's opinions.
Sang Shi'an ignored the gazes from Jian Cenyu and Wen Yansheng, acting all profound and mysterious.
She had to admit, it felt pretty good.
By the time dinner ended, it was already eight in the evening. Ye Jinsui politely declined Jian Cenyu's subsequent invitations. “I'm getting old and haven't adjusted to the time difference yet. I need to go back to the hotel and rest.”
Jian Cenyu handed the gift box she had brought to Ye Jinsui's assistant and saw her off to her car.
As the vehicle slowly drove away into the night, Wen Yansheng brought their car over. Jian Cenyu gave Sang Shi'an a meaningful look, as if she intended to settle scores later.
A shiver ran down Sang Shi'an's spine. She evasively pulled open the rear door handle and quickly shut it behind her.
Jian Cenyu studied her through the car window for a moment. As Sang Shi'an's expression grew increasingly nervous, she opened the passenger door and got in.
On the way back to the hotel, Wen Yansheng and Jian Cenyu analyzed the information Ye Jinsui had mentioned at the dinner table. Sang Shi'an huddled quietly in the back seat, terrified that the two in front would turn the topic to her.
Others might see Jian Cenyu as polite and eloquent, but having known her for so long, how could she not recognize how terrifying Jian Cenyu's gaze towards her had been at the dinner table?
It was like a prelude to the madness from a few days ago when she had locked her in the house.
The hotel was nearby. As soon as the car came to a stop, Sang Shi'an took the initiative to ask Wen Yansheng for the room key. “Senior Wen, is my room ready? Give me the key card, I won't disturb your discussion.”
Jian Cenyu, who had just opened the car door, turned back. “You contacted Senior before you came?”
Sang Shi'an didn't want Jian Cenyu to know that she had other private contact with Wen Yansheng, otherwise Jian Cenyu would definitely stop her from spending money.
“Yeah, I don't know anyone in Shanghai, and Senior Wen was close by, so I tried contacting her. I didn't expect you two to be together.”
Whether she believed her or not, Jian Cenyu took the key card directly from Wen Yansheng's hand. “Give me the key card. I'll take her up.”
Wen Yansheng nodded and instructed Jian Cenyu, “Alright. I'll go up later to finalize tomorrow's bidding documents. It might be late, so don't go to bed too early.”
“Okay.” Jian Cenyu got out of the car, holding Sang Shi'an's key card in one hand and pulling her suitcase with the other, not at all worried that Sang Shi'an would run.
Sang Shi'an's identification documents were all in her suitcase, so she had no choice but to follow with a stiff upper lip.
As they exited the elevator, Jian Cenyu deliberately held up the key card to look at the number. “3409 should be on this floor, right?”
“Let me help you look.” Sang Shi'an seized the opportunity and reached for it.
Jian Cenyu pulled the card back, her eyes narrowing slightly. “You want it that badly?”
Sensing the heat in Jian Cenyu's gaze, Sang Shi'an averted her eyes. “Find it yourself.”
The room wasn't far from the elevator. Jian Cenyu stood at the door of room 3409, swiped the card, and the door clicked open.
Jian Cenyu pushed the suitcase into the entryway and gestured to Sang Shi'an. “Come in.”
Hearing that tone, Sang Shi'an had a bad feeling. “You can just leave the things there. Senior Wen is waiting for you.”
Jian Cenyu: “Do you want me to drag you in?”
Sang Shi'an grumbled internally, So you're the only one who can be fierce, who are you trying to scare?
She shuffled over, still maintaining a safe distance of one meter.
Jian Cenyu's patience ran out. “Sang Shi'an?”
Hearing her full name, Sang Shi'an dropped the act of a mysterious, suddenly-appearing big shot and immediately groveled. “President Ye is my—”
“Who's talking about that?” Jian Cenyu interrupted, grabbing Sang Shi'an's wrist as she approached and pulling her inside.
The door slammed shut with a loud 'bang'.
Pinned against the wall, Sang Shi'an placed her hands on Jian Cenyu's shoulders and asked, feigning composure, “What are you doing?”
“Didn't you want your master to save you?” Jian Cenyu's voice lilted upwards, and she suddenly let out a laugh.
Sang Shi'an recalled the video call before coming to Shanghai, her face flushing bright red. “I-I was just afraid you were in a bad mood, so I was trying to coax you.”
Jian Cenyu's hand slid from Sang Shi'an's back to her waist, slipping inside. “Mm, you can start coaxing me now.”
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