Unspoken Tensions

Just as Meng Mei was about to enter the room, she noticed Xie Jianchen approaching, holding a folder. Seeing him made her pause momentarily.

"Good morning," Xie Jianchen greeted her cheerfully.

Meng Mei remained still. As Xie Jianchen neared her, she said with a hint of sarcasm, "Isn't someone here for the same project as me? I thought you were genuinely interested in discussing the project."

With a pause, Xie Jianchen leaned in closer to Meng Mei and held out his hand, making a playful remark, "Meng Mei, I'm truly here to discuss the project. Some things I can't do as well as you. Delving into the details is a technical task. Do you follow?"

Meng Mei's pleasant expression suddenly shifted. She gave Xie Jianchen a cold look, then walked over to Gu Antong's side.

Xie Jianchen placed the document on Gu Antong's desk, "Miss Gu?"

Gu Antong sat at her desk, tidying up. When she looked up, she saw Xie Jian Chen placing a folder on her desk along with a beautifully wrapped box of chocolates.

"Why, Mr. Xie, what is this?" Gu Antong looked at the chocolates with surprise.

"Oh, I heard you haven't been feeling well lately," Xie Jianchen pointed to the chocolates with a nod. "They say desserts can brighten a woman's day. Give them a try."

Gu Antong felt like everyone in the room was watching her with special interest. She felt a little embarrassed.

Xiaoyue, in the background, winked and chimed in, "Xie is so considerate. Why doesn't any of the other girls get such special treatment? Team Leader Gu, you're playing favorites!"

Laughter erupted among the group.

Gu Antong blushed as she accepted the box of chocolates. It seemed like Xie Jianchen was showing interest in her, but he clearly didn't realize that she was already married to Si Zhenxuan.

People in the company didn't know that she was Si Zhenxuan's wife. However, she wondered what Si Zhenxuan might think if he heard about this.

Gu Antong regained her composure, pushed the chocolates toward Xiaoyue, and smiled, "Let's share these. We shouldn't waste Mr. Xie's kindness."

Xiaoyue eagerly took the chocolates. She had been craving these famous Italian chocolates for a long time, and they weren't available in China.

Xie Jianchen didn't mind, shrugging his shoulders. He happily handed the folder to Gu Antong and said, "Indeed, Gu Group Leader, this is a market research report on perfumes for the female market over thirty."

Gu Antong was surprised, "Did Meng Mei receive this as well?"

"Absolutely not," Xie Jianchen leaned closer to Gu Antong and said in a hushed tone, "I prepared this specifically for you."

To outsiders, their posture seemed rather intimate.

Gu Antong heard Xiaoyue giggling. She took a step back, whispering, "Mr. Xie, I can't accept this. Both groups should compete on equal footing."

"Fair?" Xie Jianchen glanced back at another office, "Are you certain? I heard Jiang Nuan is favoring Team Leader Bai. It's been unfair from the start. Even if you don't think about yourself, you should consider your team members."

Gu Antong raised her eyes, her gaze unwavering.

Xie Jianchen chuckled and said, "So, shall we be friends, then?"

Gu Antong saw him add the words "my wife" with his lips. Her heart, which had been on edge, finally relaxed. Maybe she had been overthinking things. Perhaps Xie Jianchen meant nothing more.

Xiaoyue and the other team members also chimed in, pleading with Gu Antong, "Yes, Team Leader, Director Jiang is clearly showing favoritism to Team Leader Bai. We can't afford to lose without any advantage. If we do, it might lead to job cuts in our group. General Manager Xie is like a godsend! Give it a shot."

They all gazed at Gu Antong with eyes full of sympathy, which tugged at her heartstrings, making her soften a bit.

"Well..."

"Yes, that's correct!" Xie Jianchen cheerfully took a seat. "Come on, let me share this information with you."

On the top floor in the director's office, Si Zhen is firmly settled at his desk, leafing through some documents. This task is of utmost importance.

Being the leading daily chemical enterprise in China, Si Zhenxuan's aim is to dominate the largest share in every product line they offer. However, at present, Si Zhenxuan is facing a critical situation regarding the century-old brand "Jing Chun." Once a household name known for its creams, Jing Chun had dominated the market in the last century. But with the influx of various foreign brands, Jing Chun's vitality dwindled, and the company now stands on the brink of dissolution.

Si Zhenxuan is optimistic about the deep-rooted place this century-old brand holds in people's hearts. Hence, he's contemplating acquiring this company.

As Si Zhenxuan studies the information about Jing Chun, a phone rings on his desk. Apart from the secretary, only close friends have access to this phone. Si Zhen Xuan raises an eyebrow, puts down the work he's holding, and answers, "Hello."

"I said, Zhenxuan."

The moment he heard the voice, Si Zhenxuan recognized the caller. He replied seriously, "If you have something to say, let's get straight to it."

Shen Haosong, a thirty-seven-year-old eligible bachelor with an impeccable reputation as an investment consultant, has three investment firms under his command. He has maintained a strong and beneficial working relationship with Si Zhenxuan.

After evaluating Jing Chun's company, Shen Haosong believed that it was feasible for Si Zhenxuan to merge and acquire this brand, rebrand it, and reintroduce it to the market, potentially yielding profits more than a hundredfold of its original value.

"You're such a killjoy," Shen Haosong sighed. He continued, "Do you know that the person who used to butt heads with me has changed? It's not you, it's your brother, that inept fool."

"That's my brother. Don't be too harsh," Si Zhenxuan defended.

"I've always been straightforward," Shen Haosong remarked coldly. "Without you, you'd be in deep trouble. All you'd have is the pests that buzz around filth."

Si Zhenxuan knew that he didn't want to engage in this aspect of conversation with Shen Haosong. First, he mentioned that he couldn't do it, and second, his imagination wasn't as vivid as Shen Haosong's. He redirected the conversation back to the main topic, saying, "So, how did they inform you that Yue Yun would be in touch with you in the future?"

"Indeed, someone from your company named Liao called me. He mentioned that he would be the point of contact for the company in the future," Shen Haosong chuckled. "But they don't know that you and I are friends. How could they have possibly agreed to that?"

His surname is Liao, but he goes by Liao Yongcheng. Liao Yongcheng is always by Si Yueyun's side, perhaps aware of Si Yueyun's true position as the company's real prince. Liao Yongcheng faithfully follows Si Yueyun, whether in front or behind.

However, Si Zhenxuan rarely bit his lower lip and smiled, saying, "I believe you agreed to it."

Shen Haosong stayed silent for a while, then chuckled, "Yes, I did. I want to see how Si Yueyun, that fool, can deal with me."

"I had a feeling," Si Zhenxuan said, appearing somewhat resigned. He struggled to understand Shen Haosong's way of thinking.

"Haha, you still know me well," Shen Haosong laughed. He sounded content, as if he recalled something pleasant. His tone suddenly shifted, becoming more mysterious. "Your wedding came out of nowhere, and it seems to be quite the spectacle. Even I, living abroad, heard about it. What's your take on it?"

"What do you mean?" Si Zhenxuan's fingers lightly grazed the table, his tone remaining composed.

"Gu Jia and Gu Antong! You asked me to investigate the Gu family's situation. Are you trying to tell me you don't know? Moreover, Gu Antong mentioned something at the wedding, and you seemed intrigued. Don't tell me that you fell in love with someone else when Si Yueyun and Gu Antong were introduced." Shen Haosong's voice dripped with sarcasm, especially when he mentioned Si Yueyun. He always held a grudge against those who couldn't control their temper.

Si Zhenxuan paused, then lowered his eyes slightly and said, "I know all about it, but the timing was right, so we got married."

Shen Haosong fell silent. After a long pause, he spoke slowly, "If there's something on your mind, just say it."

Then, changing his tone, he chuckled, "I never got to give you a wedding gift on time when you got married. This time, I've chosen a gift you'll surely love, and I'm sending it your way."

"A gift?" Si Zhenxuan raised an eyebrow, feeling an uneasy premonition.

"Yes, you'll love it. Anyway, take care." Shen Haosong's tone remained ambiguous, and he hung up the phone abruptly, leaving Si Zhenxuan staring at his mobile with a sense of foreboding.

Nonetheless, Si Zhenxuan simply shook his head and refocused on the documents. While Si Yueyun had secured numerous projects and clients, it didn't mean Si Zhenxuan had nothing to do.

On the project team's side, Xie Jianchen had spent the whole day with Gu Antong, participating in discussions and explaining various materials. Gu Antong felt increasingly uneasy and sensed that something was amiss.

Ignoring Meng Mei and Jiang Nuan's inability to hide their emotions, they couldn't utter a word about Xie Jianchen's identity. However, today, as they passed each other, they exchanged resentful glares.

This unusual development heightened Gu Antong's anxiety. As the workday neared its end, team members began leaving one by one. Gu Antong and Xie Jianchen remained, and Xiaoyue was the last to depart.

As she left, she glanced at Gu Antong and Xie Jianchen, smiling mysteriously as if she held some secret knowledge. "Team leader, I'll head off now. I won't disturb you any longer."

Gu Antong's heart raced. He shot a quick look at Xie Jianchen, who only smiled, offering no explanation. This left Gu Antong even more uneasy and awkward. He told Xiaoyue, "Xiaoyue, what's going on? Wait for me; I'll leave with you."

Xiaoyue hurriedly waved her hand and dashed out of the project team's office, saying, "Team leader, no need to be shy. I know everything." She disappeared swiftly, leaving Gu Antong flustered. He stood staring at the door, eventually feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable, particularly in Xie Jianchen's presence.