Rivals

Shi Yen was getting under his skin.

Yuan Shun knew that Shi Yen resented him, hated him, but he wanted to make things better. Shi Group had ruined many lives, and though Yuan Bank wasn't any better, their feud was a lot more complicated.

Shi Group was a conglomerate that bought out companies that made many families suffer, intending to become one whole organization. They came for Yuan Bank, and fortunately, for him, he managed to deflect their schemes. He strengthened his team, his business, and then he counter-attacked when Shi Group least expected it.

Yuan Bank only wounded their business, but their other rivals and some insiders sought to destroy them until they crumbled altogether. It was utterly ruined when their CEO and his wife mysteriously died; many believed it was a murder-suicide between domestic partners, to avoid their debts. But when he discovered that the former Chief Executive Officer had two daughters, it puzzled him.

He then wondered: is it possible to leave your children behind to suffer? Almost unlikely. But it wasn't his problem. Did that make him a cold person? Perhaps.

However, what intrigued him was when he learned that their twenty-year-old daughter bounced back from a student to a well-respected businesswoman in two industries over the years. He watched, as she'd grown, not physically. He occasionally requested Fang Qi to report to him about what she had been up to over the years in business.

He heard many things about what she's done. She proved to be like her father, scheming her way to top, manipulating businessmen—though well deserved—and she tricked businesswomen into helping her.

Some part of him thought he would fear her, because if she was anything like Shi Yan, her father, then there was something to fear. As there is no one more dangerous than the daughter of a villain with a vendetta—and yet, his feelings were more perplexed. He didn't fear her, but he felt something else entirely.

Yuan Shun found Fang Qi idling in the lobby. He went to his friend; he faced him coldly.

Fang Qi began to sweat. "How did it go?" his voice cracked.

Yuan Shun passed him, and Fang Qi followed him to the car that waited for them. "You're going to tell me how you know Shi Yen," Yuan Shun demanded.

"Well, you've asked me to check up on her from time to time."

Yuan Shun glared at him. "No. You have to tell me how you two seem to know each other—mutually."

Fang Qi sighed. They both got into the car, and the driver took them back to the main office.

On the way, Fang Qi started, "We went to the same high school. She was very quiet and reserved, only kept to herself. I noticed her when we ended up in the martial arts club. We were training partners, and we quickly became friends. We didn't keep in touch after graduation, but two years after, I heard what happened to her family. I sent her my condolences. We weren't close, but if I'm going to be honest…I think I was her only friend. The other club members saw her as competition, not teammates. I only regret that I didn't keep in touch with her after."

Yuan Shun looked at him considerably. After a moment of silence, Yuan Shun said, "Then you should keep in touch with her now."

Fang Qi shook his head. "She probably hates me now for not being honest."

Yuan Shun chuckled lightly. "Believe me. She doesn't hate anyone more than me."

Fang Qi pressed his lips into a thin line. "What do you plan to do with her?" He questioned. Fang Qi knew what Yuan Shun was capable of. He took every threat seriously and eliminated them or forced them to confront problems with little to no solutions. No one was an exception.

"You know what I plan to do," Yuan Shun said.

Fang Qi was afraid of that answer.

"Shi Group may be under my power, but it doesn't mean that Shi Yen wouldn't plan to build a new one or come for me," Yuan Shun remarked.

Fang Qi sighed. For years, Shi Yen and Yuan Shun have been discreetly circling each other like predators hunting over the same prey. But they're too stubborn to admit that they're the same. This is why Fang Qi convinced Yuan Shun to try to get her on his side.

"How did the meeting go?" he questioned.

"She's declared herself to be my rival."

"Then, are you to take action immediately?" Fang Qi asked

"No," replied Yuan Shun. "I want to wait."

Fang Qi inwardly shuddered in relief. He was loyal to Yuan Shun because he was the one who helped him under difficult circumstances, but Shi Yen was a friend from his past. He considered them both…and he would hate to witness their feud.

When they arrived at the company, Fang Qi followed Yuan Shun to his office.

His secretary then ran up to them and said, "Mr. Yuan! I have received a call from Mr. Meng. He wants to pull out of the collaboration you proposed the other day with his oil company. He says he is going with another bank."

"Which bank?" Yuan Shun questioned harshly.

His secretary remained stoic. She learned not to waver whenever her boss was angry. "Han Bank."

Yuan Shun didn't understand. He spent weeks on the business proposal; he was to handle the finances with one of the richest oil companies. He then called Mr. Meng immediately. He answered when the phone almost cut off. "Hello?" said Mr. Meng.

"How's your evening so far?" Yuan Shun questioned with a calm, sarcastic tone.

"Apologies, Mr. Yuan. May I get back to you? I'm currently meeting with Miss Shi Yen."

Yuan Shun heard the line cut off. He put down his phone and began to laugh menacingly. "That Shi Yen…" he said. "She's really something."

Fang Qi shuddered. "Are you all right?"

Yuan Shun straightened. He faked a smile and gritted out, "Never better."