Page 3

Three flavors?

Not even pizza and fried chicken shops supported that many flavor combinations.

The car finally arrived.

Shi Bochuan, who had been quiet the whole way, said, "I'll get out first, then help you down."

Shi Jihan reservedly and shyly held out a hand, lowering his eyes to the side.

His fingertips nearly poked Shi Bochuan's bewildered eye.

Huh? Was I talking about you?

Shen Qinghuai's voice turned slightly cold. "I have hands and feet. No need to trouble yourself, President Shi."

Shi Jihan, who had neither hands nor feet: O.o?

Shi Bochuan looked at his younger brother's hand with obvious distaste, but still took it and led him out. Before leaving, he reminded him, "I have other matters after entering. When you go find the business partner, it's best not to let anyone else see you."

The moment the three members of the Shi Family appeared, they drew quite a few looks.

Shi Jihan looked fairly presentable in a suit. Especially when he smiled with narrowed eyes, his clear black-and-white eyes curved into crescents, making him look obedient and soft.

His slightly baby-fat cheeks made him seem innocent and harmless. His features were small and delicate, with a tiny mole on the tip of his nose and slightly curly hair. He was like the most expensive doll in a display window—the one dressed in a little white suit with a bow tie.

But those looks were strange.

It was as though they had gossiped about him from head to toe countless times with their eyes, constantly exchanging glances and nodding at their companions as they shared their gossip.

It was hard for Shi Jihan to pretend not to notice.

Fine, he knew why. The original owner had already made no effort to hide his coveting of the Shi Family's wealth, yet his methods could not keep up. The joke about him losing an investor had already spread.

Only Shi Bochuan, that blind-hearted fool who needed a trip to the crematorium, thought this was his belated rebellious phase.

Shi Jihan silently glanced at Shen Qinghuai, who was being gossiped about too, and sighed. "Brother, we can't walk together."

Shen Qinghuai had long grown used to strange looks, and he was also used to being looked down on by this younger brother-in-law. "Mm."

Shi Jihan said, "It'll combine like terms."

Shen Qinghuai said, "Mm??"

"Wait," he said, grabbing someone who had already naturally started walking toward the

food

buffet area. "Aren't we finding the business partner first?"

Zero-Zero-Zero praised him lavishly: [Sincerity—what a wonderful virtue. Host, he's sincerely inviting you to make trouble for himself.]

Shi Jihan gave a thumbs-up. [How could I disappoint him?]

Make money first, eat later. It was delicious enough to eat three bowls.

The business partner's surname was Wang, and he was not far away.

Shen Qinghuai walked over and greeted him. "Hello, President Wang."

He softened his breathing.

He was afraid that if he breathed too heavily, he would blow away the few remaining hairs on President Wang's head.

He had even received special training in this bit of social etiquette.

"Oh, it's you two." President Wang, who had just finished speaking with someone else, nodded and looked the two of them over. "What is it?"

Shi Jihan strode forward, grabbed President Wang's hand, and looked at him with eyes so affectionate they could charm a dog. "President Wang, do you remember me? You held me when I was little."

He was just a little too affectionate, and his breathing was a little too strong, blowing up the hairs on President Wang's head.

"What did you say?" President Wang touched his chilly scalp, uncertainty in his eyes.

Had he gotten old? Was his hearing failing?

A trace of stiffness crept into Shen Qinghuai's perfect smile as he forcibly changed the subject. "President Wang, I have a fashion show project here. I wonder if you might be interested?"

The peer beside them, who had been planning to leave after finishing his discussion, tripped over his own feet, made a sharp turn, and came back.

What was this? Why was someone openly poaching resources right in front of him?

"Don't play the emotional card," the peer said warily. "Since we're discussing the same project, why don't we talk it over properly and let President Wang make a choice?"

"Yes, yes, yes." President Wang hurriedly contacted his private doctor and said repeatedly, "Go ahead and tell me what advantages you have over the other side."

The peer proudly puffed out his chest. "For this fashion show, we invited a renowned foreign fashion designer. We spent an entire year preparing it meticulously, and our proposed guest list includes famous figures from all walks of life. It'll definitely be grander than Shi Corporation's."

"We're shameless," Shi Jihan cut in before Shen Qinghuai could speak, puffing out his chest with the same pride. "I'll pour oil on your runway."

The peer's mouth twitched as he glared at him. "Our company has invested heavily in curating this exhibition, and we have follow-up marketing methods ready. On the day of the show, we'll seize the front-page headlines."

Shi Jihan said, "Then you'll all slip and fall flat on your asses. Hahaha."

The peer's mouth twitched wildly. "You—you're so malicious! Your company only became the industry leader because you're shameless!"

Shi Jihan looked puzzled. "How can you blame your underwear for catching wind just because you can't fly?"

[Ding, Malice Points +0.03]

Shi Jihan looked disgusted. Why was it so little?

[After all, he's an unimportant passerby.]

Shen Qinghuai could not stop him at all. His vision went dark again and again, flashing more dazzlingly than club lights.

It was over.

Those were the only two words in his mind.

What was ruined was not just his career, but also his reputation.

President Wang pondered. "I've already made my decision."

"President Wang, tell Brother Huai," Shi Jihan said, retiring after accomplishing his deed and hiding his merits and fame. "I have something else to do, so I'll be leaving first."

Wagyu beef,

lobster

salmon, truffle foie gras, macarons.

Here he came!

Shi Jihan looked regretfully at Shen Qinghuai, sighed and shook his head, then left in satisfaction.

The partnership was definitely a lost cause. Hahaha, time to wait for today's allowance!

With the peer's gaze burning holes through him, Shen Qinghuai took a deep breath. He no longer cared whether they cooperated or not. He only cared whether his reputation would be utterly destroyed. "President Wang, in that case, I won't disturb you any longer."

He was too ashamed to remain here.

"Stop right there."

Shen Qinghuai stiffened.

Was he really planning to settle the score with him?

President Wang grabbed his shoulder.

President Wang gave it a hard pat, his eyes full of approval. "For this investment, we're choosing you!"

Shen Qinghuai & the peer: "?"

Shen Qinghuai & the peer: "President Wang, are you all right?"

"Of course I'm all right. I'm better than ever," President Wang declared in a firm, resounding voice. "Your company truly deserves to be the industry leader. With only a few words, your young master made his opponent lose without a fight, crushing him step by step! Yet he never revealed a thing about your own plans, leaving others unable to figure you out. Too profound. His scheming is on another level."

The peer was stunned, then suddenly enlightened. Right! I said everything, but I had no idea what my opponent's plan even was.

Damn it, they had probed him for information without him even realizing it.

Shi Jihan was terrifyingly skilled at manipulating people's hearts!

Seeing his expression, President Wang shook his head repeatedly, thinking he was far too green. Then he pulled Shen Qinghuai into a corner and quietly asked, "You refused to reveal anything just now, so you must have some secret trump card to outshine every fashion brand's show this time, right? Give me a hint."

Shen Qinghuai looked lost. "Do I... have one?"

President Wang lightly punched his shoulder. "Oh, Little Shen, why are you still pretending with me?"

-

[Ding, "Increase Shen Qinghuai's negative reputation" completed. Mission reward received: +10]

Shi Jihan was so excited he practically wanted to jump up and down.

He looked around and met eyes with the peer from before.

The peer avoided his gaze and muttered to the people around him, "I'm telling you, those Shi Family people are unbelievably shameless! Blah blah blah..."

The people around him exclaimed, "Oh my god, they're actually that shameless!"

Shi Jihan asked Zero-Zero-Zero, [Why is it only half? Didn't we agree on 20?]

[There's still your brother's share.]

Damn it, he had fallen into the trap of installment payments again.

Shi Jihan turned his grief and indignation into appetite.

This one was so expensive, I'll eat it. Nom nom nom. This one was expensive too, I'll eat it. Nom nom nom.

[Who organized this banquet? If I leave a thirty-word five-star review with pictures, can I get cashback?]

Zero-Zero-Zero said, "[The Zhou Family's Zhou Jingcheng. Their family business is involved in the entertainment industry, and this time you're cooperating with his company.]"

Shi Jihan slowly stopped chewing. [That sounds familiar, but I can't remember who he is.]

[He's the Qidian male lead from the third book. You even insulted him before, saying he was a rabid dog that ate arsenic—once he opened his dog mouth, he was looking to die.]

"Pfft—cough, cough, cough!"

Everything that happened below was seen by the person upstairs.

The Qidian male lead rested a hand on the railing and looked down at the most inactive malicious cannon fodder in the entire story. His earlier careless demeanor vanished as he smiled without smiling. "Did I see that right? Someone from the Shi Family discussed a partnership at my banquet, then planned to sell it to me at a clearly marked price?"

Wasn't that middleman markup a little too blatant?

Secretary Sun beside him heard the displeasure in his tone. "Please don't be angry. They may not have expected you to actually come. Otherwise, they would never dare poach your resources like this."

Zhou Jingcheng glanced at him and sneered. "Isn't my coming here all thanks to my mother and you?"

They had arranged a banquet behind his back and forced him to attend, making him look for someone he liked so he could get married as soon as possible.

Secretary Sun said quietly, "You can't put it that way. You never leave the house except for work. You stay home every day—where are you supposed to meet your destined partner?"

"I'm waiting for someone to break into my house and rob me. Is that not allowed?" Zhou Jingcheng headed downstairs. "Come on. Let's meet this young master of the Shi Family."

After learning that this was a Zhou Family clubhouse, Shi Jihan's eyes lit up. He found a good way to earn points.

"This painting," he said, pointing at the postmodern abstract painting on the wall, "one day I'll roll over something with a paint roller too and sell it to this idiot for twenty-five thousand."

[Ding, Malice Points +0.2]

Tsk. Even a mosquito leg was still meat.

"This music," he said, shaking his head, "sounds terrible. Only Tom and Jerry counts as having taste."

[Ding, Malice Points +0.1]

He walked onto the balcony, looked down at the flowers in the garden, and shook his head. "The taste is terrible. What kind of shape is this supposed to be?"

Someone beside him heard that and retorted, "What's wrong with that shape? Look carefully. It's clearly Young Master Zhou's self-portrait. It looks great."

"Huh?" Shi Jihan was shocked. After studying it seriously for a long time, he said, "It does look kind of like a person..."

He turned to the suited man who had just walked over and said, "Keeping a self-portrait at home—bro, do you think Young Master Zhou is so narcissistic that even licking his lips counts as kissing himself?"