ORCBRB – Chapter 75

Chapter 75

The familiar CEO's office.

The last time Sang Shi'an came, she had sat directly on the desk, crossing her legs while talking to Sang Shiyue.

This time, she was deprived of the right to sit on the two-seater sofa and was huddled aggrievedly in a corner by herself.

After they entered, it was as if Sang Shiyue and Jian Cenyu had forgotten her. The two began discussing business—the previous collaboration projects between their families, the development after securing the business association, and the progress of the clinical trials for Jian Cenyu's research.

No detail was too small.

Sang Shi'an understood. No matter how many vows of eternal love were made, they were less reliable than mutual interests.

After holding the same position without moving for a whole hour, Sang Shi'an's leg started to cramp. She moved her leg, planning to use the opportunity of pouring water for Sang Shiyue and Jian Cenyu to stretch a bit.

Just as she stood up, Sang Shiyue turned his head to look at her and asked with a smile, "Can't sit still already?"

Sang Shi'an said dryly, "Ah... I was afraid you two were thirsty, so I wanted to pour you some water."

Sang Shiyue deliberately pointed to a cabinet. "The electric kettle and mineral water are in the cabinet."

Sang Shi'an clearly remembered there was a high-end water dispenser in the pantry. But with Jian Cenyu in Sang Shiyue's hands, she had no choice but to bow her head. Sang Shi'an forced a smile and said respectfully, "Please wait a moment, CEO Sang."

Sang Shiyue waved his hand, his gaze returning to the annotated document.

Three minutes later, a cup of boiled water was placed on the coffee table. It even contained the Earl Grey tea that Sang Shiyue liked. Sang Shiyue's expression finally softened a little. He figured he had given Sang Shi'an the cold shoulder for long enough; it was time to offer a bit of sweetness.

"If I'm not mistaken, you two only got together after An'an's birthday, right?"

Even if Sang Shi'an was prone to mischief, Jian Cenyu wouldn't possibly two-time him while still engaged to him.

"Yes." Sang Shi'an nodded. "But I've had a one-sided crush on her for a long time. Didn't you already know that, Brother? Even though we've only been together for a short time, I really, really like her."

Sang Shi'an used to constantly say, 'I'm the most beautiful person in the world.' Sang Shiyue shot a cold glance at Jian Cenyu, a look that could kill.

"What I mean is, since you've only been together for a short time, not many people should know, right? That's an advantage. As for the hugging and cuddling at the airport just now, we can just pass it off as you two being close like sisters. Just be more careful in the future."

It was rare for Sang Shi'an to receive a compliment. Her tail was just about to stick up in pride when she thought of something else and suddenly froze.

Actually, it wasn't that no one knew.

People like Su Ningyue didn't matter. The key was—there were still many posts about them on the Yanjing University forum. The hype had died down now, but the traces were not gone.

She hadn't thought much of it before, but now that she was reminded, she felt like the sky was falling.

Sang Shi'an looked at Jian Cenyu for help. Before Jian Cenyu could guess what Sang Shi'an meant, Sang Shiyue noticed something was amiss.

Sang Shiyue pressed on Sang Shi'an's head, turning her back to face him. He asked with a half-smile, "It seems I spoke too soon. Who else who shouldn't know knows that you're dating?"

Sang Shi'an's mind was filled with 'It's over, it's over.'

The angles of those photos on the forum were tricky. Even if she and Jian Cenyu had cold expressions, they could be captured with a sense of palpable chemistry. If someone with ulterior motives went to browse the forum, wouldn't everything be exposed?

Sang Shi'an silently mouthed to Jian Cenyu, 'The forum, the forum, think of something, quick!'

Jian Cenyu: ...

It had already happened. How could they argue their way out of it?

They couldn't very well say they had an elective that required them to shoot a short video for show, could they?

"On our university forum, someone initially took photos of us living together. Later, some people thought we looked good together, so they took a lot of photos of us, pretending we were a couple."

Sang Shiyue looked at Jian Cenyu expressionlessly. "The key is, now it's real."

There was no other way to handle this. Jian Cenyu could only say, "I'll have those posts cleaned up as soon as possible."

Sang Shiyue could see it now. It wasn't just his sister who was muddle-headed. Jian Cenyu, whose mind was always clear when it came to research and business, seemed to lose her clarity when it came to Sang Shi'an.

To only think of dealing with this now... did that mean Jian Cenyu also thought it looked good being posted on the forum before?

Seeing Sang Shiyue's expression darken, Sang Shi'an clutched her chest, let out a pained "Ooh," and suddenly fell onto Sang Shiyue's shoulder.

Both Jian Cenyu and Sang Shiyue were startled. Jian Cenyu quickly got up and moved behind Sang Shiyue. "What's wrong?"

Sang Shi'an lifted her eyes, blinked gently, then painfully rubbed her lipstick on Sang Shiyue's shoulder. "Ah, it hurts—"

Jian Cenyu froze.

Hearing Sang Shi'an cry out like that, Sang Shiyue didn't even dare to breathe loudly. His voice was very soft, "Where does it hurt? Did you eat something bad, or is it something else?"

Sang Shi'an silently moved the hand clutching her chest downward, stopping at her stomach. "I had crab for dinner. My stomach feels upset."

Sang Shiyue had Jian Cenyu hold Sang Shi'an and immediately took out his phone to dial 120.

The thought of the battery of tests at the hospital gave Sang Shi'an a headache. She immediately blocked Sang Shiyue's phone and said pitifully, "Crab is a 'cold' food. I'll be fine if I just bear with it. There's no need to trouble yourself, Brother."

She pointed to the hot water she had boiled but hadn't taken a sip of. "It would be even better if I had some hot water to warm my stomach."

Sang Shiyue poured a cup for Sang Shi'an. "It's a bit hot. Drink it slowly."

Sang Shi'an leaned against Jian Cenyu, sipping the water in small mouthfuls. The steam moistened her eyelashes, making her eyes look wet and utterly pitiful. "Brother, please don't frown. I'm scared."

Sang Shiyue: ...

Why weren't you scared when your eyes were chasing after Jian Cenyu? Now you know fear?

Sang Shiyue frowned and pondered for nearly a minute before speaking frankly, "This isn't something that can be solved just because I agree or Mom and Dad agree. The Jian family's side will be very troublesome. Couldn't you two have waited until you secured the inheritance rights to Jian Corporation before starting to date?"

Sang Shi'an grew anxious. "After getting the inheritance rights, we'd have to pressure the shareholders. Pressuring the shareholders means considering consolidating share ownership. That's something Uncle Jian hasn't managed to do in twenty years. If I wait, I'll be old!"

Actually, that was secondary.

The main reason Sang Shi'an was unwilling to compromise, regardless of the bigger picture, was—she was terrified Jian Cenyu would go crazy again.

What if she locked her up again?

Sang Shiyue was about to laugh out of anger at Sang Shi'an. Just as he was about to say more, Jian Cenyu, who had been holding Sang Shi'an all this time, suddenly spoke.

"The three percent of Shengyu's shares that were exchanged with the Jian family were originally with my father. I've already convinced him to transfer the shares to me. I can transfer them to An'an as partial compensation for the public opinion backlash the Sang family might face in the future."

Sang Shiyue's brow furrowed.

The value of three percent of Shengyu's shares now far exceeded five percent of Jian Corporation's. The value of this share transfer was undeniably immense. Moreover, since Jian Cenyu had proposed it, she certainly wouldn't ask the Sang family to return their three percent of Jian Corporation's shares.

That wouldn't be compensation; it would be a collaboration.

"No way!" Sang Shi'an immediately objected, her previously weak voice becoming full and resonant.

Sang Shiyue saw through Sang Shi'an with a cold smile. Sang Shi'an's voice immediately softened. "Our family doesn't accept handouts. Right, Brother?"

A few thousand or tens of thousands, of course not. But could billions of yuan be called a handout?

Sang Shiyue, however, refused. He pointed at Sang Shi'an with a half-smile and settled the score with Jian Cenyu, "After giving her three percent of the shares, if she gets a whim one day and collects some loose shares from others, she'll surpass me and usurp my position. That won't do."

Sang Shi'an: ...

Jian Cenyu: ...

Jian Cenyu really hadn't considered that layer. Although she knew it was just an excuse for Sang Shiyue to refuse, she couldn't rebut it at this moment.

Sang Shi'an, the beneficiary, had an even stronger reaction than Sang Shiyue. "Right, right, right! I don't want to work. It's better for these shares to stay with the Jian family."

The dividends from Shengyu were enough for Sang Shi'an to live a carefree life. Having three percent more or less was just icing on the cake for her. If having these extra three points meant she had to work during the day and attend social functions at night and on weekends, it would be too much of a loss.

Sang Shi'an tugged on Sang Shiyue's sleeve. "Brother, you absolutely cannot agree to her."

Seeing Sang Shi'an's expression, which looked like she was about to cry at the thought of having to work, Sang Shiyue ground his teeth. "We'll talk about this later. Jian Cenyu, do you have any other plans?"

"Yes," Jian Cenyu said. "The laboratory in Australia I mentioned to you before."

Sang Shiyue was confused. "Didn't you already mention this? You're doing clinical trials there."

Jian Cenyu explained, "I am indeed conducting tests there. To be precise, I am only conducting tests there, including all my research findings, pharmaceuticals, and so on."

"The tolerance for these things is relatively higher abroad. Even if our relationship is exposed and met with rejection one day, I can continue my research, production, and sales in Australia without being affected by the malicious public opinion here. One day, the people here will also accept me and my medicine."

Sang Shiyue's gaze toward Jian Cenyu finally returned to its usual admiration, instead of the suspicion he'd had just moments ago that dating had turned her brain to mush.

"I originally thought you just weren't sharing your work with Jian Corporation. It turns out, from the very beginning of your research, you..." Sang Shiyue smiled and didn't finish his sentence.

Since Jian Cenyu had long been aware of her sexual orientation, she would naturally have considered the social environment. If the people here couldn't accept her, then she would wait until her medicine was fully developed before returning to her roots.

Sang Shiyue was more curious. "What about Jian Corporation, then? You don't want it? You're not going to bother with it anymore?"

Jian Cenyu smiled and said, "That is my father's obsession, and it was also the development platform I had originally hoped for. I will strive for it, but if it cannot accept all of me, then I can also choose to withdraw. And don't laugh, but I believe my research can allow me to create more profit than Jian Corporation currently does."

Hearing Jian Cenyu's words, Sang Shi'an's eyes lit up. She suddenly reached out and tugged on Jian Cenyu's sleeve.

Jian Cenyu immediately understood, lowering her head to listen as Sang Shi'an whispered in her ear, "When the time comes, if I go abroad with you, can we get a marriage certificate right away?"

Jian Cenyu nodded. "Theoretically, yes."

She reminded Sang Shi'an, "But you have to stay in the country for your studies. Otherwise, you took the college entrance exam for nothing."

The light in Sang Shi'an's eyes dimmed for a moment, but she quickly tugged on Jian Cenyu's sleeve again. "I can apply for an exchange student program! Any university will do, as long as it's in Australia, I'm fine with it."

There was a hint of smugness in Sang Shi'an's tone. "Besides, I have money. Helping you set up a new pharmaceutical company in Australia would be a piece of cake, right? If your research is too expensive, I'll help you get funding from my aunt. She already admires you, so she'll definitely be willing."

The office seemed to have been split in two. The corner of Sang Shiyue's mouth twitched. Listening to Sang Shi'an and Jian Cenyu's intimate words, he finally couldn't take it anymore. "Ladies, I can hear you."

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