[][][]
“Fangshi"s Shanghai branch will be established next week. I want you to come over.” Fang Minghao said over the phone. “Daddy, you know I don"t like these types of things. Those people are too fake.” Fang Yan always rejected her father"s request about this. This time it was no exception.
Fang Minghao sighed. Of course, he understood his daughter. “You were young when your mother left so we blocked off all your responsibilities, but in the end, you still have to step up to your position. You are an adult now, so we have to slowly give back what was rightfully yours bit by bit.”
.
“Daddy, you know I don"t want to.” The reason why she didn"t go back to Fangshi after graduating was that she was afraid of this, so she would rather stay at Yinglun as a humble office worker. “Just because you don"t want it doesn"t mean you can escape it. This is your responsibility, there is no reason for someone to replace you forever.” Fang Minghao"s approach towards this matter was only this, “I didn"t say that I want you to come back to Fangshi right away, I want you to have some contact with it.”
“Daddy!” Fang Yan cried out.
“If you"re not going to go then I will immediately send out a message that you are––” Fang Minghao drawled.
“Daddy, are you threatening me?” This trick is useful against her, it didn"t even give her a chance to refute.
“Is this the only method I could get you to obediently go?” Fang Minghao laughed over the phone.
Fang Yan could imagine his father with a proud look on his face and grumbled, “You old fox.”
“As the saying goes ‘Old ginger is hotter than young ginger"*” Fang Minghao took it as a compliment.
T/N: Experience counts
“Fine, I"ll go, but you must not tell anyone about our relationship, especially my relationship with Fangshi.” Fang Yan finds it necessary to first establish some ground rules with this ‘old ginger." “Whatever you say.” As long as she often attends these occasions and slowly adapts to the rules of the business world, everything else would come together sooner or later. “I"ll have Fang Rui pick you up that day, or do you want to come with Wei Qian instead.”
“Why should I go with Zheng Weiqian?” Fang Yan felt angry at the mention of his name. For two months, that guy acted like a stranger and didn"t even say h.e.l.lo. One time she was really late for work and couldn"t wait for the next elevator. She just happened to him walking towards his private elevator and wanted to hitch a ride. Who would"ve thought that he would ignore her and close the elevator door?
“Aren"t you two––” Boyfriend and girlfriend? He didn"t finish saying his sentence before he was interrupted by the loud voice at the other end.
“We"re not familiar with each other so don"t put us together.” Fang Yan exclaimed but her tone made the listener misunderstand.
The young couple must be quarreling, Fang Minghao silently smiled.
“How about this, you directly send me an invitation and I will go alone.” Fang Yan doesn"t know why her father didn"t speak but took it that he had agreed to her request. Since she must go, she might as well go alone instead of following gege around and watching those hypocritical people come up and congratulate him.
“Fang Shi has an opening reception at seven o"clock tonight at Shangri-La Hotel. This is the invitation they had sent over.” Shen Mulin handed him the invitation and dutifully reminded him of the itinerary for tonight, “Do you need me to arrange for a dance partner?”
“No, Xuanxuan is in Shanghai, she will accompany me.” After taking his suit jacket from the chair, Zheng Weiqian got ready to meet his dance partner, Lin Xuanxuan.
Today is the day Fangshi"s Shanghai branch opened. A few days ago, Hao shu had called him to inform him about it and had even invited his parents. When he received the call, he was having dinner with Xuanxuan. When she heard about it, she wanted to go with him. Besides, he didn"t have a dance partner so he complied. Today Fang Yan must be accompanying Fang Rui to attend. Although he had been avoiding, just thinking about them being together made his heart feel sour.
Shanghai"s Pudong Shangri-La Hotel is a famous international 5-star hotel located in the center of the Financial and Trade Zone which allowed guests to take in the beautiful scenery of the Pujiang River. Today, the hotel entrance is packed with many luxurious limousines.
Although the reception had not started, the magnificent hall is filled with many people including many influential figures in the business world. One can imagine that the influence of Fangshi could not be underestimated. These early people are not idle. While holding a wine gla.s.s, they shuffled among the crowd looking for those who could benefit their company or cooperate together, taking this opportunity to draw good relations. Presumably, this is the main purpose for which they are here today.
After taking a wine gla.s.s from a waiter, Fang Yan sat alone as she watches people come and go. She never liked these kinds of party, there was hardly anyone that she knows. Besides, the people that she knows are surrounded by other people, talking and saying flattering words. Before she could use the excuse that she lived far away to not attend these events but now her dad had opened the company right at her front door. That day, her dad said some very sharp words over the phone and she couldn"t think of any way to refuse.
.
However, what"s strange is that Fang Rui had not made an appearance yet. Logically speaking, he arrived in Shanghai yesterday but he had not contacted her nor had he come to look for her. She called him earlier and he said that he invited someone so he might be late. Right at seven 0"clock, Fang Minghao politely said a few words on the stage and then the reception began. Fang Yan idly walked around the crowd. No one is aware of her ident.i.ty and only a.s.sumed that she is someone"s dance partner so they paid her no heed.
At seven twenty-five, the door opened and a man and a woman walked in, her hand on his arm. The beautiful couple attracted the attention of everyone.
At one side, when Fang Yan saw the pair walk in, her heart unconsciously had a sour taste.