For three consecutive days, Li Zeliang did not come to work at the company, and the president's office responded that "Mr. Li is on a business trip." On the seventh day, Li Zeliang returned to City A with news that shocked the business community.
At that time, Xie Yi was just getting off work and suddenly saw a group of people rushing towards him in the lobby on the first floor. Li Zeliang was walking in front like the moon surrounded by stars and was talking to a director next to him.
Xiao Lin saw Xie Yi and said, "Lawyer Shen, I'm looking for you. Lawyer Qiao from Tang Qiao Law Firm will be here soon."
"Okay." She immediately dropped her hands and turned around.
Sure enough, in less than ten minutes, Qiao Hanmin and Tang Qiao's elite men arrived.
Zhan Dongzhen, the owner of Dongzheng Group, is a well-known name in the real estate industry of City B. A year ago, the underground hot springs in Lantian Bay, a suburb of City B, were successfully developed, and Zhan Dongzhen took the opportunity to spend a huge amount of money to acquire it. While developing tourism, Dongzheng Group planned all the land outside the hot spring park as a high-end hot spring villa area. Unexpectedly, the villa sales were much lower than expected, which almost dragged down Dongzheng's capital repatriation plan, making it impossible for them to start the project on the B02 plot in the urban area of City B on schedule, and the huge mortgage deposit paid to the government would also be gone.
The troubled Zhan Dongzhen proposed a plan to Li Zeliang, hoping to cooperate with the Li family.
At the meeting, the legal team and senior executives from various departments listed all the pros and cons of the cooperation contract and presented them in detail to the board of directors and Li Zeliang.
"In addition to these, I also need a copy of the most detailed municipal planning and transportation plan for City B." Li Zeliang listened quietly and said, "And we need to make Zhan Dongzhen understand that our Li Group is not looking for financing, but we need absolute equity in Lantian Bay."
"I'm afraid this is unlikely. This is the entire fortune of the Dongzheng Group for its comeback. They won't let it go easily."
"General Manager Xue," Li Zeliang raised the corner of his lips and smiled at him, "Is there anything impossible for me in this world?"
Xue Qigui was silent for a moment, then replied, "No."
"The Li family will never be inferior to others and let others tell us what to do. He needs our money, so we have the final say. This is the deal." Li Zeliang left after saying these words, and Xiaolin followed him immediately. What surprised her was that from beginning to end, Li Zeliang never even looked at Xieyi. Could it be that he really didn't know her
The others who stayed behind racked their brains and frantically discussed countermeasures. Xieyi was both Li's subordinate and Tang Qiao's man, so naturally he could be ordered around by everyone.
The next day, the contract, which was still in the intention stage, was hyped up by Dongzheng Group as the headlines of the two cities, and a large picture of Li Zeliang appearing in Lantian Bay, City B a few days ago was attached. An hour after the opening, Dongzheng's stock began to rise, and all kinds of inquiries flooded the phone of Li's Real Estate Public Relations Department.
Xue Qigui asked: "Mr. Li, do we need to hold a press conference to clarify this?"
"The more impatient and urgent they are, the more reassured you should be." Li Zeliang said as he picked up the phone and asked Xiaolin to connect to Zhan Dongzhen in City B.
Zhan Dongzhen had obviously received the news that Li's company was going to acquire Lantian Bay. After exchanging pleasantries, Zhan Dongzhen got down to business.
Li Zeliang said: "Mr. Zhan, you can name a price."
"Mr. Li, even if I want to sell it, I'm afraid the Li Group can't swallow it all in one gulp." Zhan Dongzhen said with a smile on the other end of the phone.
Li Zeliang then smiled and said, "President Zhan, don't worry whether I can afford it or not, but as for how much it is worth, maybe President Zhan will need to re-evaluate it in the future."
At night, Wu Weiming and Xie Yi talked about the affairs of the Zhan and Li families on the phone.
"Zhan Dongzhen is still a little young compared to Li Zeliang. But I heard that man is very good-looking. He can be regarded as a rare talent like your CEO Li."
Xieyi smiled but didn't answer.
Wu Weiming added, "I'm going to City B on a business trip this weekend. Do you want to take a ride home?"
"Okay, it's rare that you're so kind. I just happen to have nothing to do on the weekend." Xieyi readily agreed.
It took three or four hours to drive between cities A and B, and it was noon when they arrived. Xieyi called Wu Weiming and asked him to go to lunch with her.
A woman had been looking out the door, and when she saw Xie Yi she smiled.
“Freehand!”
"Aunt Ren." Xie Yi then turned around and introduced Wu Weiming.
"Aunt Ren looks so young," Wu Weiming flattered.
"Mr. Wu, I often hear Xieyi mention you. Thank you for taking care of her." She greeted him and poured tea, and then said to Xieyi, "I was wondering to Xiao Xie the other day why Xieyi didn't come back to see us."
"Where is Xie Qing?"
"Upstairs, Xiao Xie is helping her water the flowers. You go and burn incense for your father first." Aunt Ren said, and led Xie Yi and Wu Weiming to the shrine in the study.
Xie Yi had just finished burning incense when she heard someone outside the door calling, "Mom, is Dad back?"
Wu Weiming looked over and saw that the person was a woman in her twenties, dressed casually but still smart and outstanding. He had never heard Xieyi talk about her family affairs, but it was not difficult to guess that this person was Xieyi's sister, and the young man behind her was probably Xiao Xie who accompanied her upstairs to water the flowers.
"This is my sister Shen Xieqing, and this is Xie Minghao." She introduced Wu Weiming.
"Mom, where's Dad? The two osmanthus trees that Minghao helped me plant last time are about to bloom. They smell so good." As Xieqing spoke, she looked at Wu Weiming. Wu Weiming was about to say hello to her, but she looked away, as if she was ignoring him. She didn't say hello to Xieyi either, and he suddenly felt something was wrong.
In the middle of the meal, Xie Qing saw an empty seat and suddenly asked, "Dad is out for a social event again?"
Wu Weiming suddenly understood something.
"Did you figure it out?" After dinner, Xie Minghao coaxed Xie Qing to take a nap, Aunt Ren went to clean up the dishes, and Xie Yi sat on the sofa and asked Wu Weiming.
"It's a bit strange." He said bluntly.
"She only recognizes three people, Aunt Ren, Brother Minghao, and my dad. She will automatically filter out anyone else, including me. But as long as she doesn't talk too much, many people think she's normal." Xie Yi said calmly, "For several years, we have completely accepted the current situation."
As he looked at Xie Yi, he vaguely understood where his good friend's strength and stubbornness came from.
In the bedroom, Xie Minghao was tucking in the quilt for the sleeping Xie Qing.
Xie Yi leaned against the door and watched Xie Minghao's actions with a smile, "They said that you were also so patient when you were a child. You always waited for your sister at the school gate after school. Even if she got angry with you, you didn't get angry."
"Hasn't this been our fate since childhood?" Xie Minghao smiled.
"Is your sister showing any signs of improvement?"
"Of course. Maybe she'll recognize you next time you come."
"You always say that." Xie Yi smiled bitterly, "She has never liked me very much. This is the fundamental reason why she doesn't know me."
"Shh..." He made a gesture to silence Xieyi, "Xieqing will be unhappy if you say that. How can there be a difference between likes and dislikes between sisters? You are a lawyer, and you still say such petty words."
"It's rare that you never leave her." Xie Yi sighed, saying that it is difficult even for relatives to do so.
"I always feel that being able to take care of Xie Qing is the happiest thing in the world, and she is now more obedient and lovely than before," said Xie Minghao.
Early the next morning, Xieyi received a call.
"Xie Yi, it's me. Are you free at noon today?"
The male voice that did not introduce itself puzzled Xieyi for a long time before she realized it was Yang Wangjie. She had not seen him for many days on a business trip, and she could hardly remember him.
"I'm in City B now. I just arrived at noon. What's going on?"
"My friend is getting married and wants you to be his companion. Should I drive to City B to pick you up right away?"
"No need, I can take a car by myself. You wait for me at the highway exit." She couldn't refuse the kind invitation, so she had to keep it.
According to Yang Wangjie, the groom's name is Yin Xiao, who is his friend from school and whose family is also well-known in the real estate industry. When they arrived at the wedding banquet, they saw that it was indeed a grand occasion. Xieyi immediately regretted that she was dressed so casually after traveling so long. When they arrived at the banquet, the auspicious time was approaching and many tables in the back were already occupied. The groom took Yang Wangjie away and made him the second best man to help. Xieyi was left alone and was arranged to sit in the front row as the guest of honor.
Xieyi sat down and took a look, and was shocked. It was true that people always meet each other in life, and the person next to him was none other than Li Zeliang.
"The foreign investor who bid for the C-19 plot last time was said to be in the plastics business."
"You want to be the king of land without even knowing the land well."
"When someone falls, it's your turn to laugh."
…
A table of businessmen continued the topic they were discussing before. Xie Yi sounded dull, just a few Mediterraneans and beer bellies discussing the evil issue of money.
Li Zeliang seemed to like these topics more. Although he didn't interrupt casually, he listened with great interest. Of course, according to Li Zeliang's skills, he could get 9.9 points just by pretending to be interested. The remaining 0.1 point was because he smiled too handsomely. As an idol actor, you have to be more modest in acting, otherwise you will let the talented actors starve to death.
Xieyi glanced at him secretly.
She and Xiao Lin had discussed a problem before: when Li Zeliang didn't smile, it was as if a cold wind was blowing behind him.
"Could it be that when I smile I turn into a spring breeze?" Xieyi was curious at the time.
"Who said that? His smile is like a gust of cold wind."
Suddenly thinking of this sentence, Xie Yi couldn't help but smile. If Li Zeliang heard someone talking about him like this behind his back, I wonder how he would feel.
Her inexplicable silly smile was not very noticeable in the noisy wedding banquet, but it was enough to attract the suspicious gaze of Li Zeliang beside her.
As soon as she met his narrow and light eyes, Xie Yi immediately explained: "I... I think what the MC said just now is very funny." As soon as she said it, she regretted it. Why should she be afraid of him? He is the boss during working hours, but it is not against the law to smile foolishly after get off work.
"Lawyer Shen is in a good mood." Li Zeliang concluded the situation at the moment.
"Fortunately, I neither regret that I am not the bride, nor do I resent that he is the groom, so I am happy for them and for myself at the same time." She didn't want to show weakness in front of him every time.
Li Zeliang tilted his head, obviously not expecting this woman to say so much, and seemed to be interested, "I'm curious about what kind of groom will make Lawyer Shen hate him in the future."
If she wasn't trying to maintain her glorious image as a lawyer in front of the public, she would have wanted to call him a "crow's mouth." However, she had to be moderate in being arrogant in front of her boss, so she said, "If an outstanding young man like Mr. Li gets married, not only me, but also all the single women of marriageable age in the city will cry bitterly at the banquet."
He nodded somewhat narcissistically, and it was obvious that he was extremely satisfied with the flattery.
In fact, Li Zeliang was always polite and modest to women. Even if the other party was a stranger, he would lower his body and whisper to them occasionally, which made people blush and feel palpitated. Therefore, many people of the opposite sex would have some ambiguous fantasies. Of course, these people also included the bride Qing Xiaoyue.
A man like that can captivate people even if he stands there indifferently without saying a word, not to mention that his words and actions are so smooth and intimate.
"Meimei, the senior you have a crush on is here." The bride Qing Xiaoyue returned to the dressing room at the end of the corridor to change into her dress, teasing her sister-in-law with a happy face.
"Who?" Sister-in-law Yin Xiaomei was helping her zip up her back and didn't understand for a moment.
"Li Zeliang."
Yin Xiaomei said, "Xiaoyue, that happened many years ago, and you're still bringing it up to laugh at me."
"Then why are you calling him 'senior'? He is four years older than you. You and I are not related at all except for the stamp on our diplomas."
"You are still the same, only talking about me."
On the other side, Xie Yi and Li Zeliang's table had just started eating. This table was the man's guest of honor, so the wedding wine was toasted from these tables.
"Thank you all the elders and friends for your support." The groom Yin Xiao raised the wine glass first.
Yang Wangjie, who was helping, introduced the brides one by one. When it was Li Zeliang's turn, "This is Mr. Li Zeliang from the Li Group."
"Mr. Li, thank you for your care in the past."
Li Zeliang smiled softly, "Miss Qing, congratulations."
"This is..." Yang Wangjie thought for a moment, "Li's lawyer Shen Xieyi."
"Mr. Shen, it's nice to meet you. Thank you for your presence." The newlyweds thanked him while clinking glasses with everyone.
After the newlyweds left, the people at the table said, "Mr. Yin's daughter-in-law looks pretty good."
"Mr. Yin has only one son, and this is his first marriage. Could it be that he has more than one wife, and there are this and that?" another person responded.
"Haha, it was a slip of the tongue."
"However, it seems that Miss Qing was quite close to President Li for a period of time." The topic turned to Li Zeliang.
Xieyi glanced at Li Zeliang. She didn't expect the two of them to have such a scene. No wonder he just said "thank you for your care". It turned out that this was how he meant it. She couldn't help but move her chair slightly further away, and then she began to criticize Li Zeliang's character.
However, Xieyi's attention was quickly attracted by the sweet and sour meatballs that had just been served. She had loved this thing since she was a child, so she immediately grabbed the chopsticks and started to pick it up. She quickly aimed at one, moved her hand, and used force, but the meatball slipped and fell back without her control.
Xieyi was a little discouraged. She had never been very good at using chopsticks to pick up certain round things, and people had often made fun of her for it.
She glanced around secretly again and found that there was no spoon on the table.
So, I took another look at one that looked flatter, tried again, and it slid away again.
While she was struggling with the sweet and sour meatballs, people on the other side were still discussing women.
"Mr. Wang," Li Zeliang said with a smile, "Does it count as being close to any of the young ladies I talk to? Mr. Wang, you can't always use the standard your wife uses to discipline you to measure all men and women, right?" As he spoke, he raised his chopsticks and reached into the plate of sweet and sour meatballs, easily picked up one, and then, very naturally, put it into Xie Yi's bowl.
As he spoke, he picked up the meatball and did the whole series of actions smoothly. When the meatball gently fell into Xieyi's bowl, not only Xieyi himself, but also everyone else present was stunned.
"Ah." Suddenly realizing the expressions of everyone at the table, Li Zeliang's empty pair of chopsticks paused for a moment above the table, then he smiled and said, "Every man has the responsibility to protect women."
"oh."
After hearing his explanation, everyone present said "Oh" at the same time, but it was particularly meaningful to Xieyi's ears. Xieyi looked at the meatballs in the bowl, not knowing whether to eat them or not, so he could only say "thank you" in a weak voice.
"You're welcome. If Miss Shen needs anything else, just let me know." Li Zeliang answered very gentlemanly.
Xie Yi still wanted it, but how could she let what happened just now happen again? This time, she aimed at the target, prepared for a moment, and then attacked quickly. As expected, she captured the ball and returned with success.
Just when Xieyi was feeling smug, she heard a splash and the meatball fell into her goblet, splashing water and unfortunately splashing onto Li Zeliang's shirt.
With Xieyi's apologetic eyes, Li Zeliang went to the bathroom. Xieyi prayed in her heart that he didn't have mysophobia or be petty.
After finally finding the hardworking and busy Yang Wangjie, Xieyi had no choice but to trouble him, "Can you find a men's shirt?"
"How big?"
"Pretty much same as you."
"Okay, I'll ask the groom and best man."
This person was very efficient. He brought a piece of clothing to report in less than a minute. Xieyi took a look at the shirt and thought it was just so-so. She was very worried about Li Zeliang, who always smiled but didn't smile. It was hard to guarantee that he would say he didn't mind but was actually mad at heart.
As Xieyi walked to the bathroom door, he was blocked by a figure.
"Lawyer Shen," the person who came was Zhu Anhuai, "It's not uncommon to meet someone in life."
"Mr. Zhu, what a coincidence." Xieyi answered as pleasantly as possible.
"It's not a coincidence, it's fate." Zhu Anhuai blocked her way and lowered his body to get closer, "When will Lawyer Shen do us the honor of getting together?"
Xie Yi took a step back, avoiding his expression, "Mr. Zhu, please respect yourself."
"Self-respect? Where's your passion for being affectionate with others just now? Are you pretending to be a noble lawyer in front of me?"
This place is deep in the corridor, and there are few people. Occasionally, a waiter passes by, but he doesn't know what's going on and doesn't want to look at them for too long. Xieyi doesn't want to waste time talking to him, so he gives him a cold look and tries to walk around.