Director Han wasn’t expecting that President Shen would show up and join the meeting in place of his younger brother, Shen Xue. Shen Xue might have reported the problem to his brother and decided that it was better if he’d be the one to talk to them.
“We have some business to discuss. I believe you owe us an explanation to what happened at the last round of the exams.” Shen Yi’s voice was serious and stoic that Han Zhiling felt that it was useless to hide the switched ingredients caused by one of their proctors.
“I apologize, but I’ll let my daughter speak with you. I need to oversee the examinees’ scores that would be announced later.” Chairman Han excused himself and left the conference room.
“Yes, of course, President Shen. This is why we’re having an impromptu meeting. Yes, it’s true that some ingredients of the examinees had been altered not by the management but by one of the proctors of the exam. We still haven’t found out the real motive for this.” Han Zhiling explained. She was waiting for President Shen and Madam Li to complain since their family representatives were affected by the alteration.
“It can’t be helped, but I do hope there isn’t anyone within the five families trying to play underhanded trick to defeat us.” Madam Li broke the silence between them.
“I don’t think that’s the case,” Liu Huan, the president of the Liu Technologies and the second master of the Liu family, spoke, “We’ve been doing this tradition for years and haven’t encountered the same problem between the students.”
“This is Shen family’s first year on joining the fun. It’s just sad someone is trying to ruin it.” Sun Feiyan added with a sly smile on her lips—her eyes on Shen Yi’s face, but the man refused to acknowledge her presence.
“Then we’re lucky that none of our representatives had undergone the same pressure from the altered boxes.” Tang Shui of Griffin Entertainment told Liu Huan which the other man nodded in agreement.
“This shouldn’t happen again. I don’t appreciate that Lu Xinyi has to suffer because of some negligence on your part.” Shen Yi’s brows drew together. “Have you apprehended the said proctor?”
“She’s at the other room, refusing to say anything why she did it. Do you want to see her?” Han Zhiling knew he wanted to. She could sense his anger thru his body movements. Was he always like this? Shen Xue was capable of setting the matter, and yet he took the reign and oversaw everything. He might be a control freak like her.
“Yes,” Shen Yi affirmed.
“Let me see her, too.” Madam Li said.
“Then let’s go.” Han Zhiling stood up and led Shen Yi and Madam Li to the door. She then turned to the three people left in the room. “Miss Sun, President Liu, President Tang, the whole academy apologizes for this inconvenience. Please be a.s.sured that this won’t happen again in the future.”
“Please, Director Han. There’s no need for you to apologize. Meng Jiao was safe from any harm as well as the other examinees. If I may be bold to say, this twist was interesting; for the examinees had been able to experience such pressure that they probably won’t experience until they leave the academy.” Sun Feiyan’s eyes flickered and then turned to Shen Yi.
“President Shen, please tell Sister Xinyi that she did well, and I wish her the best of luck.”
Shen Yi regarded her for a moment and then turned his head away from her.
“Lu Xinyi isn’t the one you should worry about. Mind your own business, Sun Feiyan.” Shen Yi went ahead, dismissing Sun Feiyan before stepping outside the room to follow Madam Li.
Sun Feiyan’s smile faltered. Did Shen Yi just ignore her?
“Ah, I see he’s still not good conversing with women. It wasn’t surprising that rumors spread around him. Do you think it’s true that he preferred men over women?” Liu Huan laughed.
“That’s not a good thing to say to a friend, Huan. Shen Yi is just socially awkward.” Tang Shui scolded him. “It’s okay, Miss Sun. President Shen is known for his cold att.i.tude towards women.”
“It’s alright. I should have known better than to offend him.” Sun Feiyan smiled before taking a sip on her coffee.
—
At the other room, Tong Yan was seated in front of an empty desk, her head bowed low. She refused to say anything since Lin Ai apprehended her. What was the point on interrogating her if Sun Feiyan could get away with it?
True, she was the one who volunteered to make Lu Xinyi fail the entrance exam, and the lady of the Sun family had never told her what to do. She felt very stupid at the moment. The Shen family was after her, and there was no escaping from them.
Shen Yi… just by his name alone, Tong Yan s.h.i.+vered in her seat. The air conditioner of the room wasn’t set too low, but the coldness within the room seemed to seep and bite her skin beneath her clothes.
When the door opened, Tong Yan shrieked on her seat. As Director Han welcomed Shen Yi and Madam Li inside the room, Tong Yan felt like the floor would give out, letting the earth swallow her alive. She could feel the room turning into a cage closing in, sealing off any viable exit. Her fear was weighing on her shoulders, her eyes stung with tears. She was like a vulnerable deer in sight of the deadly lion, ready to pounce on her.