After Xiang Xingzhao's funeral, the lawyer notarized the will the next day and all procedures went according to plan.
Xiang Mingzhang held an overwhelming share of shares and the support of more than half of the board of directors. With the help of Xiang Xingzhao's will, he officially took over and became the actual ruler of Xiang Yue.
Over the years, Xiang Mingzhang has always been the center of attention. He is outstanding, young, and ambitious. Now that he has taken office, countless eyes are watching him and he cannot afford to be careless.
All this was not easy. Xiang Mingzhang devoted all his energy to the company, leaving home early and returning late every day. However, he did not return to the Bomanjia Apartment. Recently, he lived in Manzhuang with Bai Yongti.
The illness is gradually fading away, and Bai Yongti is in good spirits. In the past, she hardly cared about Xiang Mingzhang's work and life, but now she asks Xiang Mingzhang if he is tired and whether it is too hard to take care of both companies.
In the past half month, Xiang Mingzhang had only been to Xiangyue Communication twice, and left in a hurry after the meeting. He didn't have time to talk to Shen Ruozhen alone, so he could only take a few more glances at her during the meeting.
He left first when the meeting ended for the second time. Others turned their heads and said, "Goodbye, Mr. Xiang." Shen Ruozheng didn't know whether he was trying to avoid suspicion or was fearless, as he lowered his head to organize documents and didn't look at him.
Passing behind the seat, Xiang Mingzhang looked straight ahead and raised his hand to touch the back of Shen Ruozhen's neck.
In the early morning of that night, Xiang Mingzhang called Shen Ruozhen. He had just finished his work and said lazily and insincerely, "I'm sorry, Director Shen, for touching you during the day."
Shen Ruozhen hung up and called to video chat.
Xiang Mingzhang had dark circles under his eyes, and was afraid that he was not handsome enough, so he hesitated to answer: "What? Do you want me to apologize in person?"
Shen Ruozhen looked at the camera and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Xiang, I didn't look at you a few times during the day."
Listening to the human voice transmitted by radio waves through the screen, Xiang Mingzhang thought it would ease the thoughts in his heart, but unexpectedly it was like drinking sea water to quench his thirst, and he missed the real person on the other side even more.
On Friday, an old employee in Yisi's sales department had his birthday. Shen Ruozhen had not had the opportunity to treat everyone to a meal since he was promoted to director, so he simply invited the department to a dinner to celebrate the birthday boy.
Shen Ruozhen is strict at work, but gentlemanly in private, and gets along very well with his subordinates.
After a satisfying dinner, Shen Ruozhen got home almost at dawn. After taking a shower, he sat on the head of the bed and browsed his circle of friends. The manager, supervisor, and team leader, seven or eight people posted a group photo of the party.
He gave everyone a thumbs up as if he was checking his work summary.
Soon a message was received and Shen Ruozhen switched to the chat list. Xiang Mingzhang sent: Are you still asleep
Shen Ruozhen replied: How do you know
The department manager was their mutual friend. Xiang Mingzhang saw the post and said: Why do you only like other people’s photos but not post one of your own
Shen Ruozhen has never posted on WeChat Moments. People in the old days didn’t have the conditions to take photos frequently, so he usually didn’t remember to take photos with his mobile phone. He only wanted to record something at special moments.
Even if he took photos, he liked to keep them and was not used to showing them to the public.
Shen Ruozhen asked: Are you done with your work
Xiang Mingzhang: Not yet.
Shen Ruozhen: Then how do you have time to entertain yourself
Xiang Mingzhang: Have a cup of coffee and take a break.
Shen Ruozhen edited the word "hard work", but was afraid that Xiang Mingzhang would say he was speaking in the tone of the bank's president, so he deleted it. Just as he was thinking about what to say in reply, someone sent him a new message.
Returning to the chat list, the project manager sent me a photo, which was accidentally taken during the dinner party. In the photo, Shen Ruozhen was dressed in a suit and tie, holding a wine glass as he should, but was holding a piece of birthday cake, which was cut by the birthday boy himself. It was a very big piece.
Shen Ruozhen found it a little funny and clicked the forward button, trying to make Xiang Mingzhang laugh.
After he sent the message, he waited for a while, but Xiang Mingzhang did not reply. He probably finished his coffee and went on with his work.
After turning off the desk lamp, Shen Ruozhen lay down to sleep. More than an hour later, his cell phone suddenly vibrated on the bedside table.
The light from the screen was dazzling. Shen Ruozhen didn't look at who was calling and buried his face in the pillow to answer the call.
In my ear, Xiang Mingzhang said gently, "Did I disturb your sweet dream?"
Shen Ruozhen suddenly woke up. It was almost three o'clock. He asked, "No, what happened?"
Xiang Mingzhang complained: "Why would you send a photo for no reason?"
Shen Ruozhen didn't expect that he had done something wrong, and said, "It's not a good photo. I just wanted to make you laugh to relieve your boredom. Is it too ugly?"
The phone was silent as if by default, Shen Ruozhen said awkwardly: "You delete-"
Before he could finish, Xiang Mingzhang interrupted him: "Come down, I'm at your door."
Shen Ruozhen was stunned for a moment, threw off the quilt and got out of bed. Without even bothering to go to the terrace to check whether it was real or not, he went downstairs in his slippers.
He walked quickly through the garden. A lamp was hung above the carved iron gate. A black sports car was parked at the edge of the semicircular halo. Xiang Mingzhang leaned against the car door with his arms folded.
Shen Ruozhen's thin pajamas fluttered with her steps. As she approached, Xiang Mingzhang took off his coat, spread it out, and draped it over Shen Ruozhen. Then he grabbed the sides of her coat and hugged her.
Shen Ruozhen asked again worriedly: "Why are you here so late? What happened?"
Xiang Mingzhang lowered his head, his breath sprayed on Shen Ruozhen's neck, and said, "It's okay."
He was embarrassed to admit that he was disturbed by a photo - Shen Ruozhen was sitting quietly in the laughing crowd, concentrating on eating cake. How popular did he have to be to get such a big piece
The ring was rubbed with cream and turned white. He studied it for a long time and thought that the blue agate was replaced by pearl, so he ran over in the middle of the night to find out what was going on.
Xiang Mingzhang was clearly asking, "Do you miss me?" even though he couldn't help it.
Shen Ruozhen exposed it with one word, but he also tried to cheer people up by saying, "I am on par with you."
Xiang Mingzhang smiled with satisfaction and said, "Then next time we go to the park for a meeting, don't ignore me."
Right at the doorstep, a security guard on duty might pass by at any time. Shen Ruozhen was nervous and immersed in the embrace of the moment, saying, "My peripheral vision is always on you."
Xiang Mingzhang asked: "Am I not worthy of your attention?"
"Are you done yet?" Shen Ruozhen said jokingly, "I'm afraid that others will misunderstand that I'm coveting your position."
A breeze blew, and Xiang Mingzhang hugged Shen Ruozhen tighter. He smelled the breath in Shen Ruozhen's mouth. In addition to the minty smell of toothpaste and mouthwash, there was something else. He asked, "Did you drink at the dinner?"
Shen Ruozhen said: "A glass of white wine."
Xiang Mingzhang has a keen nose: "It smells a bit sweet."
Shen Ruozhen said: "My colleague taught me to mix it with Sprite."
"Is it delicious?" Xiang Mingzhang said, "I'll try it tomorrow night."
A circle of ambient lights was on in the car, and a computer bag and a gray folder were placed on the passenger seat. Shen Ruozhen guessed that Xiang Mingzhang would have to work overtime when he got home, and said, "You can't rest tomorrow, Saturday. Do you have any social events?"
"I want to meet with Mrs. Chu and Miss Chu to discuss Yisi's shares."
Shen Ruozhen said: "Okay, I'll help you speak."
Xiang Mingzhang hugged Shen Ruozhen and turned half a circle close to the car door, just leaving the edge of the light. It was suddenly dark. He put forward a condition: "Give me a sweet treat, and I'll let you go back to sleep."
Shen Ruozhen was no longer sleepy, and he raised his head and kissed the corner of Xiang Mingzhang's mouth.
It was cold at night, so Xiang Mingzhang let go of him and pulled his coat tighter: "Put it on, and take it off when we get back to the room."
After a tryst in the middle of the night, Shen Ruozhen returned to his room and did not fall asleep until dawn. When he woke up, it was almost noon.
Mrs. Chu came up to the building and knocked on the door and came in: "Xiaochen, are you free tonight?"
Shen Ruozhen said: "Mom, what's the matter?"
Mrs. Chu had heard that Xiang Long had returned to China and divorced Bai Yongti. She said, "Miss Bai is finally free. Didn't she agree to meet again another day after returning from New Zealand? I'll invite her to have dinner with me."
Shen Ruozhen knew that Xiang Mingzhang had been accompanying Bai Yongti during this period, and said, "Auntie should be in a better mood."
"Yes, she agreed." Mrs. Chu was very excited. "Mingzhang will also go. Our two families will have a good gathering tonight."
Shen Ruozhen laughed. Before he could say anything, Mrs. Chu made the invitation first.
In the evening, the family arrived at the restaurant on time. Shen Ruozhen did not ask for the address. When he got off the car, he found that the restaurant and the surrounding scenery looked familiar.
A car drove up from behind, Xiang Mingzhang got out first, and was speechless for two seconds after seeing the restaurant sign clearly.
Bai Yongti got out of the car as well. She had her hair tied up and looked very energetic. Mrs. Chu was not as smooth-talking as she was in social situations. She walked over to her gently, greeted her and held Bai Yongti's hand.
Xiang Mingzhang walked closer to Shen Ruozhen and muttered in a low voice: "Why did you meet at Meijinlou?" Last year, the Xiang family and the Chu family held banquets in Meiman Hall and Meihe Hall respectively, which made a mess. The restaurant made many phone calls to apologize, and Mrs. Chu felt very guilty.
Shen Ruozhen said: "It's fate."
Xiang Mingzhang once said that those two halls were unlucky, but luckily we had booked the Meihua Hall tonight, which is on the top floor of the restaurant and offers a panoramic view of the river.
Mrs. Chu took Bai Yongti to appreciate it: "Once the view is broadened, my mood becomes relaxed."
Bai Yongti said: "You are very considerate."
Mrs. Chu took the opportunity to persuade her: "You should go out more often. No matter how spacious Manzhuang is, you will get bored if you stay there for too long."
Bai Yongti had been isolated for too long, and her invitation was hesitant: "When you have time... come and have a chat, and bring Miss Chu with you."
Shen Ruozhen deliberately said: "You won't take me with you?"
Bai Yongti said, "You should take Mingzhang away. He lives there and is picky about the food being bland and the tea being too bitter. He is always dissatisfied."
The red wine was ready, and the two families sat down at the long dining table. Xiang Mingzhang came with his bag and put it casually at his feet.
Shen Ruozhen knew that they wanted to discuss the shares, but the documents were not ready yet. He was about to ask, but the executive chef came with the waiters to serve the food, so he had to give up.
The dishes were varied but not fancy, just like a real family dinner. Mrs. Chu was the organizer. She raised her glass and said, "Xiaochen and Mingzhang have experienced life and death, Miss Bai has started a new life, and my precious daughter is single again. Oh! Let's have a drink together!"
Xiang Mingzhang drank the red wine, poured another glass, and said, "Aunt, this glass is for you."
Mrs. Chu took a sip and said with a smile, "What are you toasting me with?"
"Thank you for inviting my mother, and..." Xiang Mingzhang paused, "for Chu Shichen."
Mrs. Chu misunderstood and said, "Xiaochen is right next to you, why don't you just clink glasses with him?"
Once he made a decision, Xiang Mingzhang never hesitated and said, "Aunt, Miss Chu, I came here today not only to eat, but I have something to tell you."
Chu Shihui was drinking soup. Upon hearing this, she put down her spoon. Mrs. Chu also put down her wine glass. Too many things had happened recently. She asked anxiously, "What happened?"
"Don't be nervous." Shen Ruozhen said, "Mingzhang wants to return the shares sold to Xiang Yue last year to Yisi."
Mrs. Chu was a little confused: "What does this mean?"
Xiang Mingzhang said solemnly: "I want to return the acquired shares to the Chu family."
Mrs. Chu said, "Something happened to Yisi? What do you mean by return it to us? Do you mean resell it at the original purchase price, or—"
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Don't worry, Auntie, Yisi is doing well and will get better and better. This is not a deal, you don't have to give me anything."
Chu Shihui asked: "Why?"
Xiang Mingzhang replied: "Chu Shichen was implicated by me, so this should be considered as a small compensation."
Mrs. Chu thought she was referring to "Chu Shichen" in front of her, and she said, "This is not a small amount at all, I dare not agree to it. Since it is to compensate Xiaochen, you two can decide."
Since it was about interests, many things were inconvenient to say. Xiang Mingzhang said considerately, "Aunt, don't rush to reply. You can go back and discuss it. Anyway, I hope you can give me a chance to make amends."
Mrs. Chu breathed a sigh of relief and nodded.
Xiang Mingzhang bent down and pulled out a folder from his bag, saying, "In addition to the shares, here is a detailed plan. Xiangyue Communications will also provide business cooperation and support to Huiyisi."
Shen Ruozhen looked at the gray folder and realized belatedly what Xiang Mingzhang was busy with last night, but this item was not included in the compensation they had discussed.
Although Mrs. Chu does not know how to do business, she understands the importance of "long-term planning". This thick plan and Xiang Yue's help are more immeasurable than shares.
She waved her hands quickly: "How can this be possible..."
Xiang Mingzhang thought it through clearly, handed over the document and said, "I am shameless and I will use this extra compensation to make a request to you."
Mrs. Chu asked, "What request?"
Xiang Mingzhang held Shen Ruozhen's hand under the table and said, "If he makes a mistake one day, can you forgive him?"
(End of this chapter)