Both Kneel Down

Xie Zhiyu's heart went cold. "Is there anything else you want to tell me?"

Sang Ya said, "I'll tell you when we meet tomorrow!"

"Okay," Xie Zhiyu replied.

He hung up.

The next day, Sang Ya arrived at Xie Group on time to see Xie Zhiyu. Following his boss's instructions, Assistant Liu took her to the office. His manner was as respectful as ever. "Miss Sang, President Xie is in a meeting. Please have a seat in his office for now."

"Would you like something to drink? Coffee or tea?"

Not seeing Xie Zhiyu came as a relief to Sang Ya. "I must be early."

"A coffee, please. Thank you."

"You're welcome," Assistant Liu said. "Your coffee will be here shortly."

After the secretary brought her coffee, Sang Ya was alone in the office. She maintained her ladylike composure, sitting up straight as her gaze drifted naturally to the file cabinet.

An hour later, Xie Zhiyu came out of the conference room.

As he had before, he patiently guided Sang Ya, then drove her home to the Sang Family residence.

Sang Ya smiled and said goodbye, arranging a time for their next meeting.

Xie Zhiyu lowered the car window and watched her leave.

Sang Ya, don't disappoint me again.

Once he saw her safely enter the Sang Family residence, Xie Zhiyu drove away.

A few days later, the eagerly anticipated technology tender took place as scheduled.

Luxury cars streamed past the entrance to the hall, enough to make anyone's head spin.

One sharply dressed executive after another walked inside.

Perhaps by a twist of fate, Gu Yeliang arrived just after Xie Zhiyu. The two came face-to-face in the center of the grand hall.

Gu Yeliang's suit was immaculate, and he looked full of confidence. "President Xie, I've heard so much about you."

Standing across from him, half a head taller, Xie Zhiyu looked calmly puzzled. "I'm sorry, who are you?"

Gu Yeliang wore a perfectly measured smile, unbothered by his cool reception. "I'm Gu Zheng's second son and the president of Gu Technology. I'm in charge of our bid for this project."

Xie Zhiyu raised an eyebrow. "I thought Chairman Gu had only one son."

Gu Yeliang's smile did not waver. "I'm his illegitimate son. I'm grateful my father gave me a chance to prove myself."

He had to act as though the circumstances of his birth meant nothing to him, though they mattered to him more than anything. He even had to thank the Gu Family members he hated to the bone. Gu Yeliang was used to it.

The angrier he became, the wider his smile grew.

How could someone born with every advantage understand what life was like at the bottom of the pecking order? That superior air of his was sickening.

Never mind. Xie Zhiyu's mask of false nobility would soon be torn away.

Gu Yeliang looked forward to seeing his reaction when the winning bid was announced.

Power, wealth, prestige... and love. I'll have them all.

Xie Zhiyu had no interest in talking to Gu Yeliang any longer. It was pointless.

"I have something else to attend to. Excuse me."

"See you in there," Gu Yeliang said warmly.

In the solemn conference room, the project leads from each company occupied their own places, with clear lines between them.

The bidding process was closed to the public. Each company would submit its proposal to the review panel, which would select its preferred company and announce the decision on the spot.

The conference room door opened, and every eye turned to the person in charge of the tender.

Xie Zhiyu was as calm and composed as ever. His expression gave nothing away.

Gu Yeliang glanced at him without drawing attention, certain of victory.

His only rival in this tender was Xie Group.

Gu Yeliang admitted that their proposal was excellent. They had thoroughly prepared every aspect, from project planning and operation to maintenance, and every quoted price addressed a concern of the client's.

But Gu Technology's proposal had taken all that and done it even better.

Sure of victory, Gu Yeliang felt his heart race despite himself. He clenched his fists and kept his composure.

It's here! Everything I've been waiting for is finally here.

Gu Yeliang listened intently, afraid he might miss a single word.

"...I announce that the winning company is Xie Group."

"President Xie, your company's proposal was excellent. We very much look forward to working with you."

Xie Zhiyu smiled and shook his hand. "Thank you. We look forward to working with your company as well."

"Congratulations, President Xie. You take after Chairman Xie. Such talent at such a young age!"

The conference room had become a place for people to seek favor. As Gu Yeliang watched Xie Zhiyu at the center of the crowd, he could no longer keep smiling.

From beginning to end, Xie Zhiyu never once looked his way.

That stung Gu Yeliang more than being mocked to his face.

In the space of a few minutes, Gu Yeliang experienced what it felt like to fall from heaven into hell.

He watched Xie Zhiyu become the center of attention once again, and wave after wave of emotion surged through him.

The result made Gu Yeliang feel like a clown who had been making a spectacle of himself. He was a joke.

I got my hands on Xie Group's proposal. How did they still win the bid?

Did Sang Ya betray me?

Did her privileged fiancé seem more dependable than an illegitimate son who had to stay in the shadows? Had she sold me out without a second thought?

Gu Yeliang could not stop the dark thoughts. They stayed with him until he saw Sang Ya, when he nearly demanded answers.

But when the words reached his lips, they came out as an apology.

"I'm sorry, Ya Ya. I didn't win the project."

The news hit Sang Ya like a blow. She thought she must have misheard him. "What? Didn't you get the proposal from me?"

She looked at Gu Yeliang closely. "Are you joking?"

"It isn't funny at all." Sang Ya was growing angry. She hated jokes made at the wrong time.

"I'm not joking." Gu Yeliang sounded full of remorse. He knew how to win Sang Ya's sympathy.