At three in the afternoon, the Xie Corporation building was bustling.
Hua Jian found Assistant Sun and waited in the secretaries' office for a while before he could see Xie Zhiwei.
"Young Master Hua, the meeting is over. The president would like you to come over now."
"Thank you, Assistant Sun. Go ahead with your work. I can find my own way."
Xie Corporation had always focused on the production and sale of physical goods, in sectors such as construction, steel, and home appliances.
But with the global economy struggling, Xie Corporation had begun declining over a decade ago.
Later, Xie Zhiwei returned to take over Xie Corporation, pushed through sweeping reforms, cut unprofitable subsidiaries, and expanded into finance, e-commerce, and entertainment.
Only then had Xie Corporation flourished, weathering several crises.
Thinking about Xie Corporation's history along the way, Hua Jian soon reached Xie Zhiwei's office.
Xie Zhiwei asked, "What brings you to the office?"
Hua Jian said, "There's a little something I wanted to discuss with you, big brother."
Xie Zhiwei paused, set down his pen, and looked at the boy before him.
"Sit down and tell me."
Hua Jian weighed his words before speaking. "Big brother, first, I want to make it clear that this has nothing in common with third brother wanting to start an entertainment company the other day."
Xie Zhiwei smiled. "Why are you so nervous? I won't jump to conclusions before hearing you out. Go on."
Hua Jian smiled sheepishly. "Big brother, didn't Dad Xie transfer some shares to me on my eighteenth birthday? I..."
Xie Zhiwei instinctively frowned. "You want to sell your shares too?"
Hua Jian hurriedly waved his hands. "Of course not. I remember the shares Dad Xie gave me were in an entertainment company the family owns. Here's the thing: I know a very talented director, and I've already bought his script with my pocket money. I was wondering if I could ask the company to take on his project."
Xie Zhiwei's expression remained neutral, betraying neither pleasure nor displeasure.
Hua Jian thought, He's not suspecting me of trying to fight over the Xie Family's assets, is he? That's really not what I mean. Cheng Ruimu is so talented. If another company makes this show, we'll miss out on a whole lot of money!
"Big brother, trust me. He really is amazing, and that script has even won an award."
"If Fengxin Entertainment hadn't behaved so disgustingly, someone would have signed him ages ago. Big brother..."
Xie Zhiwei interrupted him. "Sure."
Hua Jian froze. "Huh?"
A smile curved Xie Zhiwei's lips. "I said sure. And the shares your Dad Xie gave you weren't just a few.
"That little entertainment company may not be large, but it has a few profitable artists.
"Besides, you hold twenty percent, as much as Xie Zhiyan does. You don't need to come asking me specifically for something this minor."
Joy filled Hua Jian's eyes, and he asked hopefully, "Thank you, big brother! There's one more thing. Could you not tell my mom?"
On the very day "Hua Jian" had received that twenty-percent stake, he had signed an agreement allowing Madam Hua to hold the shares on his behalf.
The company's dividends from the past two years had also remained with Madam Hua.
If he hadn't unexpectedly met Cheng Ruimu and been unable to think of a better solution right away, Hua Jian might not even have remembered the twenty-percent stake "Hua Jian" held in the entertainment company.
Xie Zhiwei's smile briefly faltered. "All right."
Big brother really is a man destined for great things! Decisive and ruthless, with no dawdling!
"All right, get lost if there's nothing else. I have an important guest to meet shortly!"
Xie Zhiwei had no patience for his flattery and waved him away.
"Talk to Assistant Sun about filming. Have him tell the entertainment company to draw up a report, and I'll approve it."
"Also, the Bo family patriarch's birthday banquet is coming up. Get a different pair of glasses for it."
"I can't. My mom would be angry," Hua Jian said helplessly.
In this world practically overflowing with gay men, Madam Hua was a staunch homophobe.
As a child, "Hua Jian" had merely been exquisitely cute, but the older he grew, the more stunning he became, outshining even a great beauty like Madam Hua.
She had begun worrying about her son's sexuality early on, afraid that others would covet him. That was why she had done this.
"I'll talk to her. All right, off you go."
At the same time, a striking man entered through the revolving doors on the ground floor of Xie Corporation.
With his slim waist, long legs, and aloof expression, he looked exceptionally distinguished in his bespoke black suit.
He wore no accessories apart from a rather youthful-looking watch on his left wrist.
Following behind Bo Lin, Jiang Kai went over his schedule. "Boss, you only have half an hour. You're meeting the eldest son of the Shen Family at the newly opened golf course in North City this afternoon."
"Mm. Clear my schedule for tonight. I'm having dinner with Fanling."
"Yes, boss."
As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, Xie Zhiwei appeared before them, all smiles.
"President Bo, forgive me for not coming down to welcome you! It's truly an honor for Minghua to have you here today."
"You're too kind, Mr. Xie," Bo Lin said coolly. "Let's get straight to business. Minghua only has half an hour."
Xie Zhiwei raised his eyebrows slightly. "Of course. Please follow me."
Jiang Kai followed the two tall, slender men, silently wondering what his boss had in mind.
Their partnership with Minghua had already been finalized, and the investment wasn't particularly large. Why was his boss taking it so seriously?
Suddenly, the person ahead stopped. Startled, Jiang Kai hurried to a halt.
"Hua Jian, why haven't you left yet?"
It was Xie Zhiwei's voice.
Jiang Kai looked between the two tall men. It was him. An odd feeling stirred in his chest.
Hua Jian, the man who had gotten entangled with his boss at the Haiping Hotel and later become Miss Fanling's art teacher.
He actually knew Xie Zhiwei?
What was their relationship?
A strange thought crossed Jiang Kai's mind. Surely his boss's visit here couldn't have anything to do with Hua Jian?
"I went to wash my hands. I'm just leaving."
As he spoke, Hua Jian looked at Bo Lin. He still remembered that, in this getup, he was Qi Fanling's art teacher.
Yet the moment he looked over, the powerful man averted his gaze and even turned slightly away.
He certainly looked as though he wanted nothing to do with him.
Hua Jian was good at reading the room. After a brief pause, he smiled at Xie Zhiwei, brushed past Bo Lin, and left.
It had all happened in an instant. Xie Zhiwei noticed none of the undercurrents between them.
"President Bo, please follow me."
"Mm."
Once Hua Jian's presence had faded from around him, Bo Lin relaxed the left hand he had unconsciously hidden at his side.
Throughout the half-hour project briefing, Bo Lin stared at the projected presentation, but his mind had long since wandered elsewhere.
After they left Minghua, Jiang Kai turned off the music in the car and cautiously glanced at Bo Lin in the back seat.
"Boss, you don't look well. Would you like to sleep for a bit?"
Bo Lin raised a hand to press his temple, then his arm froze in midair.
The brown watch on his wrist clashed badly with his outfit.
He stared at it for a long while, then listlessly took it off and tossed it aside.
"Clear my schedule for this Friday afternoon. I have a personal matter to attend to."
Jiang Kai immediately replied, "Yes, boss."
Before you continue