Chapter 434: I’ll Say It Again, I Don’t know
Slap…
There was a loud echo, and soon there was silence in the living room.
Realizing that he had been overexcited, Sheng Kai promptly returned to the sofa.
Third Brother merely clutched his slapped cheek and chuckled drily.
Soon, Old Sheng arrived too. He had clearly heard the brothers’ conversation, and so leaned on his cane as he asked Third Brother, “You knew?”
“I’ll say it again: I don’t know.” Third Brother replied coldly. “Believe what you want.”
With that, he returned to his room.
The other two men were left in the darkness, utterly miserable with their extraordinary grudge.
But who could they blame?
They only had Sheng Xiao to blame for being to crafty. Even having Feng Shanshan keeping an eye on Mu Qiqi did not uncover a single thing.
It seems that the Sheng family was destined to get no sleep tonight.
***
At the same time, the media and tabloids were in an uproar.
After all, how legendary was Sheng Xiao’s tale?
Over the last six months, everyone was convinced that they could put their feet over Sheng Xiao’s head. They did not imagine him to be so obstinate, and discreetly developed Zhongteng to become what they are now without anyone knowing.
It was simply unthinkable, and fully proved that Sheng Xiao’s ability was nothing mere mortals could compare to.
By the next morning, images of Sheng Xiao bringing along Mu Qiqi to attend the business gathering was published everywhere. They certainly looked like the ideal couple, and were very much made for each other.
After reading the newspaper with one such image, Papa Sheng asked Sheng Xiao when he saw him coming downstairs, “What was the Sheng family’s reaction last night?”
“Second Brother left halfway through.” Sheng Xiao replied.
“He may be Huang Yao’s CEO now, but his mindset is still wanting.” Papa Sheng set aside the paper at that. “Let alone the old thing in that family.”
“Who cares about them now?” Mama Sheng came out of the kitchen with a jar of milk, and took a seat beside her husband. “I only need the whole wide world to see my son. The last six months did feel a little boring.”
“Whatever happens, you all should stay safe.”
“Your father stays inside his works.p.a.ce throughout the day and I have my own business to see too. There’s no concern about dangers or whatnot, although you should care for Xiao Qi more.”
Mu Qiqi herself was sleeping all the way to the way until noon.
She was on a rare break, and there was no case at the forensics lab, which was why she did not got out of bed when Sheng Xiao did. Still, she did get a call from Feng Shanshan to play around.
“Forget it. You’re still under the old man’s payroll. I’m afraid you would eat me up.”
Still, she was surprised when Feng Shanshan laughed from the other end. “Everyone in the whole world now knows who is the CEO of Zhongteng. Don’t you want to come out to relax a bit?”
“Please have the self-awareness of an enemy. I’m going back to sleep.”
There’s no telling how Old Sheng would have in store for Feng Shanshan, though she might be able to handle it herself.
Even so, Mu Qiqi hope that no innocents would be hurt over the matter.
***
There was certainly no need to speak of the atmosphere in the Sheng family. All was doom and gloom after news of Sheng Xiao’s new position got out, since none of them expected that someone who was down and out yesterday to rise again today.
Of course, aside from Old Sheng and Sheng Kai, Sixth Brother was very much upset too.
“I really did not expect that sc.u.mbag to turn things around.”
Meanwhile, the old man had not said a word since last night, and that continued even as he sat at the breakfast table today. The others did not even dare too loudly as they waited for him to speak.
“Eat. What are you all looking at me for?”
“We are worried about you, Grandfather.”
“What about me is there to worry about?” Old Sheng retorted, even though he seemed to have aged overnight. “If it’s about Sheng Xiao, don’t worry. I’m still very much lively here. I’m not that irritated.”
Even so, Sheng Kai was still worried. “Ziling, stay home and give Grandfather some company.”
Gu Ziling nodded, agreeing with Sheng Kai’s arrangements. The truth was that everyone was not pleased about such a thing happening—aside from Third Brother, who was going about his daily life as usual.
“And Third Brother will be relieved of his duties.”
Everyone did a double take, unsure why that was happening. Still, Third Brother knew the reason very well, and so promptly rose from the table after finis.h.i.+ng his breakfast, not at all concerned with the old man’s words.
In response, Sheng Kai put down his chopsticks and barked at Third Brother, “What is that att.i.tude you’re showing Grandfather now?”
“Don’t vent your anger just because you people are upset. I’m innocent.” Third Brother said as he returned to his room.
Meanwhile, seeing how furious her husband and elders were, Gu Ziling finally could not hold back what she was keeping inside.
“Kai, Grandfather. I don’t think Sheng Xiao’s founding of Zhongteng is necessary a bad thing for us. Just think about it: even if Sheng Xiao left the family, his blood is a Sheng’s. Since he wants to separate from us, we just have to prevent him from getting what he wants.”
“We could use him to curry influence and increase our connections, adding leverage to our side whenever we head to the negotiating table.”
“Just imagine. Even if Zhongteng is set on challenging us, everyone else would think of us as allies like the Gu family and the Sheng family. With that, Huang Yao would gain another layer of a.s.surance.”
“What is that if not an advantage?”
Sheng Kai’s eyes brightened at Gu Ziling’s words, and the old man did not look that somber either.
“Even if everyone can’t accept Zhongteng’s a.s.sistance, would it not be better to use them for our own benefit?”
Sixth Brother flashed a huge thumb-up at Gu Ziling. “Second Sister, you are really smart!”
“Yes, he was the one who left us and abandoned Huang Yao. Why should we evade him? That’s just unreasonable.”
As expected, everything has two sides to it.
Gu Ziling’s words left Sheng Kai seeing his wife in a different light too.
Even so, he became even guiltier because he could not give her a child.
“So, if his Zhongteng likes to play a high-stakes game, let’s raise the bets and entertain him. What are we afraid of? Huang Yao is yours and mine. Who would dare to say anything against that?”
Either way, it meant that Huang Yao was going to start becoming unreasonable.
No. They were going to be shameless!
Since both sides were bent on mutual harm, then hurt away.
With that, Old Sheng made up his mind—Gu Ziling’s words had hit the nail on the head.
“Sheng Kai, go ask around and find out who Zhongteng’s partners are. We’ll use Zhongteng’s own name to build good relations with them.”