Xi Yan looked at him coldly. "I don't need to hear things I already know."
Secretary Xing hurriedly added, "Although she seemed ordinary, my investigation found that her movements were strange on several days, so I looked into it and found that she had been at one of Second Master Xi's establishments."
It was just as he had expected. Xi Yan's lips twitched. "Keep an eye on them."
"Yes."
The next day was Wednesday. Bai Le was late again when he arrived at the company, but no one except his father dared call him out on it.
He sat in the leather swivel chair in his office, drinking an Americano as he looked over documents.
The company had recently been planning to partner with the Xi Family to launch a talent show. When he first heard they would be working with the Xi Family, his instinct was to resist, but he later learned that the Xi Family was involved in many industries.
Take Xi Yan, for example: the businesses he held real power over were in electronic technology, while Xi Defeng, Xi Yan's second uncle, was responsible for entertainment. The video streaming platform developed under him had become one of the country's biggest traffic magnets.
Their partner this time was Xi Defeng, Xi Yan's second uncle and his father's younger brother. Bai Le had never dealt with him, but the original novel's description had mentioned that he and Xi Yan were like fire and water. Come to think of it, the waters ran deep in a wealthy family like the Xi Family.
The Bai family still fell short of the Xi Family. His father had made his fortune in real estate in his early years, and over the past few years had gradually adjusted the structure of his businesses, shifting his focus to
the entertainment industry,
a lucrative prize.
Bai Le glanced again at the proposal submitted by his subordinates and pressed the top of his pen, just as he was about to make revisions, the door was suddenly kicked open.
"Get over here! You unfilial son!"
Bai Huizhang's face was red with anger, and the cane in his hand was about to come crashing down on Bai Le. Startled, Bai Le hurriedly dodged to the side.
"Dad, what's gotten into you? Why do you always want to hit me?"
Bai Huizhang missed and could only pant as he said, "Didn't I tell you not to cause trouble outside? Of all the people you could offend, you had to offend the Xi Family. What on earth did you do? They sent such a huge bill straight to the company without a word!"
A bill?
Holy shit, Xi Yan really isn't being a bro. I thought he was just saying it. It would've only taken a phone call, but I didn't expect him to actually send it to the company.
"Dad, please calm down. Don't make yourself sick with anger." Bai Le hurriedly tried to soothe Bai Huizhang.
"You only call me Dad when you've done something wrong. The rest of the time, you call me old man."
Bai Huizhang glared at him. The longer he looked, the more upset he became. He shook his head repeatedly. "Your mother really spoiled you rotten and made you into the disappointment you are today. Whenever you did something wrong before, she always stopped me from teaching you a lesson. Just look at what you've become."
Bai Le's mother was an interpreter who traveled all over the world year-round, so busy she was constantly on the go. She was fiercely protective of her only son and wouldn't let anyone criticize him. Besides their incompatible feelings for each other, a major reason Bai Le's parents had separated was their differing views on how to raise him.
"Dad, you've really got me wrong this time. It wasn't anything serious. I just accidentally rear-ended a Xi Family car, and now I have to pay them."
Bai Huizhang was only half convinced. "If money really can solve it, that's fine. We're about to work with the Xi Family. They may be a branch of the family, but they're still part of the Xi Family. If you mess this up, even if your mother flies back from France to protect you, I'll still give you a beating."
Bai Le put on an ingratiating smile. "Hehe, I promise I won't mess it up."
The meeting with the Xi Family was arranged at an upscale restaurant in the city.
As soon as they entered, a waiter led them toward a private room. Unexpectedly, reaching it required them to lift a curtain and pass through a charming, intricate courtyard. There was even a pavilion, a small bridge over running water, and a winding path. Delicate lanterns hung along the side, giving the place an unmistakably classical feel.
Only as they walked did they realize how large the courtyard was. When they reached their destination, they pushed open a carved door and saw several middle-aged men seated inside.
The man sitting in the center had to be Xi Defeng. He looked to be in his forties and, contrary to what Bai Le had imagined, appeared quite ordinary, even amiable.
"Haha, President Xi, long time no see."
As soon as they entered, Bai Le watched his father become a different person. Unlike the sour face he wore around Bai Le, he warmly shook hands with Xi Defeng.
As for Xi Defeng, Bai Le didn't know what became of him, or who won or lost in his fight with Xi Yan, because he had never read the original novel to the end. After seeing a flood of comments that seemed to criticize its botched ending, he hadn't read the ending, but he regretted it now. If he'd known, he would have memorized the entire novel, even if the ending was botched.
"Long time no see, Chairman Bai." Xi Defeng spoke with a smile, his eyes squeezed into slits.
"The same goes for you, President Xi. It's been a long time, but you're as vigorous as ever."
"Ah, I'm getting old and losing my usefulness. My words don't carry as much weight as they used to."
Bai Huizhang's face twitched, but he acted as though he hadn't caught the meaning behind those words and said cheerfully, "Who says? The old blade is as sharp as ever. Who would dare disregard what you say, President Xi?"
Xi Defeng made no comment. His gaze fell on Bai Le. "This must be Young President Bai?"
"That's my son. Ah, his temperament is far too unruly. Even now, he still hasn't settled down, so I can only teach him about business step by step. Otherwise, if I were to fall one day, how could I feel at ease leaving the company to him?"
"You're being modest. A tiger father won't have a dog for a son. Young people do love to have fun, and compared with others his age in our circle, I think Young President Bai is much more sensible."
That was indeed true. Bai Le didn't gamble, visit prostitutes, or snort drugs. Compared with the others, he was much better.
"How old are you this year, Young President Bai?"
"Twenty-two."
"Haha, do you have a girlfriend?"
"It's too early for that. This boy still hasn't grown a sense of responsibility."
"You'd better hurry up. Your dad is waiting for you to give him a grandson."
Listening from the side, Bai Le could only laugh awkwardly along. He felt as awkward as if he were facing a horde of aunts during the New Year.