Bo Jingyu frowned. "What's going on?"
Before Qian Li could respond, Shen Ximan stepped forward. "I had a conflict with Mrs. Zhang Ronglian."
"Ronglian? Zhang Ronglian?" Bo Yanhai was on the verge of pinching his own philtrum.
"…Yes."
"Zhang Shengze is the major investor in the Huazhi Lake Project. Now that you've offended his wife, how can we cooperate?"
Shen Ximan hadn't expected the situation to be this serious. She lowered her head and twiddled her fingers.
"I'm sorry, Grandpa. I'll find a way to make up for it."
"Grandpa, there must be something fishy about this incident with Man'er. I'll definitely investigate thoroughly and give you a satisfactory answer," Bo Jingyu said seriously as he pulled her behind him to protect her.
"Humph, what a perfect match!" Bo Yanhai sized them up. "If there are any mistakes in this matter, who will take responsibility? Who will make up for the company's losses?"
Without hesitation, he blurted out, "I'll take all the responsibility."
"Good! You said it yourself. If you can't handle it well, you don't need to be the president anymore. There are always more capable people who can take your place."
After saying that, Bo Yanhai entered the banquet hall with a gloomy face.
Shen Ximan didn't know that Zhang Ronglian was the wife of an investor in the company's project. Moreover, she didn't think her actions were too harsh. But no matter how much she tried to justify herself in her heart, she owed another favor.
"Come with me," Bo Jingyu said coldly after watching his grandpa leave. Then he strode towards a less crowded area of the banquet hall.
Whether she was in the right or not, being scolded by her grandpa meant she was wrong. She obediently lowered her head, pouted, and quietly followed behind.
"Are you hurt?"
Shen Ximan thought he would scold her severely, but instead, she was greeted with such kind and gentle words. She was completely stunned.
Bo Jingyu thought she hadn't recovered from being bullied by Mrs. Zhang Ronglian. After hesitating for a few seconds, he stepped forward and hugged her. The fresh and light perfume wafted into Shen Ximan's nostrils.
It was as if they weren't in the banquet hall but on a beach under the blue sky and white clouds. She could hear the sound of the waves, and the air was filled with a refreshing and natural smell.
"If something like this happens again in the future, you must tell me," his magnetic voice echoed in her ear, interrupting her daze.
"I... I'm fine..."
Thump, thump. She covered her chest. Her face was red and hot.
Damn heart, stop beating!
This man was so good at playing tricks. Saying a few sweet words was nothing but a sugar-coated bullet. There must be a conspiracy behind it!
Shen Ximan suddenly pushed him away and dared not look him in the eye. "I... I'm really fine. You don't need to care about me."
Bo Jingyu pursed his lips in confusion and didn't speak for a while.
"You're my wife. Is it appropriate for me not to care about you in such a big occasion?"
"Now there are only the two of us around. You don't need to act so affectionate. I'll pay you back for this favor," Shen Ximan said, then turned to leave, but he suddenly grabbed her wrist.
"What do you mean?" Bo Jingyu asked with a cold face.
"I'll go and apologize to Mrs. Zhang Ronglian and ask her to forgive me."
"But I don't think you did anything wrong."
She turned to look at him in disbelief. "Even Grandpa said it was my fault. You shouldn't have spoken up for me just now without thinking!"
"It wasn't without thinking. It was instinct." Shen Ximan's words of complaint stopped abruptly. What was wrong with this man?
Everyone was laughing at her, and all these rich kids were the same kind of scoundrels. But why...
He was the "special one" among them.
The corners of her eyes were a bit moist, but her self - esteem warned her not to shed tears easily in front of a man she didn't know well.
"This is my own business. You don't need to interfere," Bo Jingyu sighed helplessly. What was wrong with this woman? Why was she so stubborn about such an easy - to - understand thing!
"Zhang Shengze, Mrs. Zhang Ronglian's husband, suddenly got rich three months ago when the land in his hometown was expropriated. In short, he's a nouveau riche. The couple is really annoying, and they've become even more unscrupulous since they entered this circle."
He explained patiently, "Since they're bad, we have to be even worse. Do you understand?"
Shen Ximan shook her head in a daze.
"…Anyway, when Grandpa introduces other business partners to us later, just keep quiet."
"Are you sure?"
Bo Jingyu lifted his long - lashed eyelids and smiled wickedly. "Trust me."
"Hey, isn't this Old Ma! You've really aged after all these years," Bo Yanhai said with a smiling face as he shook hands.
"You've also gotten older. Our era is coming to an end," Old Ma replied.
"Yes, it's the young people's world now. We old fogeys sometimes have to learn new things. It's really tiring!"
Old Ma laughed mockingly. "That's right. Your granddaughter - in - law is really extraordinary. When you weren't here just now, she got into a big fight with Mrs. Zhang Ronglian. It was quite a spectacle!"
Bo Yanhai felt a bit embarrassed and forced out a few awkward smiles.
"She's only been married into our family for a short time. She doesn't understand the rules well," just as he was saying this, he saw them coming over. "Jingyu, come and greet your Uncle Ma quickly."
"Hello, Uncle Ma," Bo Jingyu and Shen Ximan said in unison.
"…From afar, it's scary. Up close, it's really creepy. Girl, can you stay away from us?"
This old man surnamed Ma was still polite enough not to say it directly.
Just as Shen Ximan was about to obediently leave, her palm was suddenly held tightly, and their fingers were intertwined!
"Uncle Ma, Man'er is my wife. She doesn't need to leave."
Bo Yanhai was also stunned. Although he was losing face, he still wanted to see how his grandson would solve the problem.
"But she..."
Bo Jingyu interrupted again. "If you don't respect her, you don't respect me, my grandpa, and the Bo family. I originally planned to discuss the Huazhi Lake Project with your grandson, but since your attitude is so firm, I don't think it's necessary anymore."
"Oh no, that won't do! Old, Old Bo, look at your grandson. How can he make such a hasty decision without considering the situation?"
He looked at Bo Yanhai, clearly calculating.
"Haha, Old Ma, Jingyu did act a bit inappropriately. I'll talk to him when I get home."
When the old man surnamed Ma heard that the problem was solved, he grinned from ear to ear. The stone in his throat finally dropped.
If Bo Jingyu was a shrewd and calculating man, then Bo Yanhai, the old man, must be even more cunning.
"But, Old Ma, I just thought about it. I'll still deduct 2% from the overall operating profit of the Huazhi Lake Project as compensation for your rude words just now. How about it?"