Looking back more than thirty years ago, Su Hao and Bo Jingming were in their prime. From meeting in college to jointly founding their own empires, they had been a part of each other's lives for half a lifetime.
Su Hao, heart - broken by love, went abroad to seek projects and established a branch of the Su Entertainment. He left the domestic company to Su Minghan with full trust, and the company was managed quite well.
Bo Jingming, after losing his beloved wife, went abroad incognito in a fit of anger, leaving his two sons in the country unattended. It was not until he was in his fifties and heard that Bo Yanhai had become a vegetable that he rushed back.
In terms of filial piety, neither of them had done their due diligence. In terms of education, they had not fulfilled their duties as fathers. They were both in the same boat, just muddling through life.
After more than a decade of separation, when they got together again, they naturally poured out their inner sorrows and sighed about the cruelty and harshness of the world.
"What! You mean it was Si Ming who harmed the old man?" Su Hao gasped in shock after hearing Bo Jingming's account.
"I haven't found any solid evidence yet. It's just a suspicion." Bo Jingming looked much older and more haggard. "If it really turns out to be as I think, I don't know how I can face it."
"Lao Bo, we've worked together for so long. We're more like brothers than anything else. If things really come to that..." Su Hao patted his shoulder helplessly. "Then face the reality. Running away won't solve the problem. It will only make it worse. We've tasted this kind of pain once. We can't make the same mistake again!"
Bo Jingming was well aware of the consequences. Because of his cowardice, he had evaded his family for more than twenty years. Now, it was too late to make up for it, even if he was willing to give everything.
"What should I do?"
Su Hao held a cigarette but didn't light it for a long time. "Saving Si Ming is the top priority for now."
"He's an adult. He has to take responsibility for his mistakes." Bo Jingming frowned and fell into deep thought.
Every night, Bo Siming was very lucid. Thinking about the operation the next day, he was extremely nervous.
Since he had been abroad, Wen Jinrui hadn't sent him a single message. Had she fallen in love with someone else? Or had someone snatched her away?
"It's all that damned Bo Jingyu's fault! If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be in this mess!" he muttered angrily to himself.
"Once I recover, I'll tear him to pieces!"
Buzz, buzz. The phone under his pillow vibrated twice. Bo Siming struggled to take it out. When he saw who the message was from, he immediately beamed with joy.
"I miss you so much."
He quickly replied with one hand.
Wen Jinrui replied quickly -
"Shi Yu told me that you're going to have an engagement ceremony with her after you recover. Is it true? If so, let's stop contacting each other. I don't want to break up your happiness."
These words made Bo Siming's heart skip a beat.
"She's talking nonsense! You're the one I've always loved. You have to believe me!"
Seeing that there was no response for a long time, he was so anxious that he made an international call.
"Ruirui, don't think blindly. I love you!"
It was night in the foreign country but morning in the domestic one. Shen Ximan was sitting with her legs crossed, sipping coffee. She put the phone on speaker, making the conversation clear to Xue Xiaoqi, Yan Kun and others present.
"How do I know if you're lying to me? Forget it."
If he hadn't been half - paralyzed, Bo Siming would have booked a plane ticket to Yancheng long ago to explain everything to her in person.
"What do you want me to do for you to believe me?"
Shen Ximan smirked, her tone full of temptation.
"It's not too much to ask for a long - term cooperation between A Hairui and Zhong's Petroleum, right?"
Such a favorable condition, only a fool would refuse.
"Sure! Don't worry. I'll take 30% and you'll take 70%. Do you have any other requests? As long as I can do it, I'll grant them all!"
As long as he could keep Wen Jinrui's heart, Bo Siming was willing to do anything.
"You said it yourself," Shen Ximan's smile grew broader. "Give me the position of Deputy General Manager Shen. Don't worry. I'll just hold it for you temporarily. I'm just working for you."
This stumped him. He didn't know how to respond for a moment.
She noticed his hesitation and sighed disappointedly.
"It seems that Shi Yu is still more important to you than me."
"Okay! She's nothing in front of me. She's just a pawn to watch over the company for me. She can neither manage nor negotiate. She has no skills at all. How can she compare to your intelligence?"
Bo Siming knew very well what was more important. It was just a temporary substitution. He could just pay Wen Jinrui some fees later. Considering their current relationship, they might even expand the scale of Zhong's Petroleum.
"You're so good to me. I'll send you the cooperation agreement later."
After saying a few sweet words, Shen Ximan hung up the phone.
"General Manager Shen, isn't this a bit too risky?" Yan Kun was worried.
"I think so too," Xue Xiaoqi chimed in. "The eldest young master is extremely cruel - minded and suspicious. If he guesses your intention, it will be hard to deal with the consequences!"
Shen Ximan smiled. "I can still figure out his thoughts for now. All he wants is to show off his power with my appearance and abilities. Once a man falls into the swamp of love, he's no different from a woman. He becomes a love - struck fool with zero IQ."
"Do we need to tell the second young master about this?" Xue Xiaoqi asked tentatively.
The smile on Shen Ximan's face faded. "No need."
"But didn't we cooperate with him?"
"If we want to grasp Bo Siming's handle, we have to break through his inner defense. What's the use of telling Bo Jingyu? Can he help me seduce men?"
Although her words were harsh, she actually had a plan in mind. The cooperation was just nominal. If she wanted to find the core of the enemy's internal affairs, she had to go in person. If she wasn't discovered, it meant that God was on her side. If she was discovered, even if it meant perishing together, she would avenge her grievances.
Yan Kun and Xue Xiaoqi looked at each other, speechless. They had followed Shen Ximan for so long, but this was the first time they felt they couldn't be of much help.
"General Manager Shen, as long as you need us, we'll go through fire and water for you!"
"No need to be so dramatic. Before going through fire and water, go and ask about the situation of the rescue team. No one is allowed to be absent tonight. I'm waiting to hold a thank - you party."
Shen Ximan showed a comforting smile to ease their nerves.
"We've already informed everyone. They'll definitely be there tonight."
Time flew by. The blue sky seemed to be splashed with ink. Shen Shiyu was dressed expensively and luxuriously. She got out of the car smiling. Just thinking about Zhu Kai's touched expression made her extremely happy.
"Ruirui!"
She lifted her skirt and trotted towards the hotel entrance.