BF Chapter 32

In the afternoon, Xu Shen, who had just woken up from a nap, went downstairs to make some coffee. As soon as he reached the stairs, he heard arguing and cursing coming from downstairs.

He stopped and looked toward the living room. Xu Tianlang had been released on bail and was hiding dejectedly behind Lin Meina, not daring to utter a sound. Xu Ziren was furious and wanted to hit him, but Lin Meina stopped him. The married couple were arguing; one accusing the other of spoiling their son, while the other retorted that he hadn’t exactly taken care of their son either while he was out fooling around and enjoying himself.

Qin Su pretended to mediate the fight, chiming in every other sentence, but was really just fanning the flames.

Xu Shiji wasn’t there, probably because he was too disappointed in his grandson and no longer wanted to waste his energy personally disciplining him.

Xu Ziren dragged Xu Tianlang out from behind Lin Meina and slapped him. In the corner of his eye, he saw Xu Shen standing on the stairs watching the commotion and glared at him. Feeling that he had lost face, he ignored his wife’s tantrum, slammed the door, and left.

Xu Shen leisurely walked down the stairs, in a very good mood as he went to make himself some coffee.

Xu Ziren had been overwhelmed lately, with a bunch of troublesome things happening at home and things at work not going his way either.

Zhuosheng had beaten him to the punch with the Damega acquisition, but he still wasn’t willing to hand over the Real Estate Development Department to Xu Shen without a struggle. At another executive meeting, Xu Ziren directly ignored the proposal to vote on the new general manager of the Real Estate Development Department and instead proposed bidding for a prime commercial plot the government had just released on the Central’s new waterfront.

“This prime location is even better than the land beneath Damega’s properties, and it’s vacant land that can be developed directly. In the future, a new commercial centre and office buildings built there will undoubtedly become a new landmark in Central…”

Xu Ziren had clearly come prepared. He had someone give a detailed presentation on the project’s advantages and development prospects, trying his best to persuade the directors, determined to win the bid.

The project did indeed sound very attractive. Everyone whispered among themselves, visibly tempted.

Only at the end did Zhan Shili raise an objection: “The company’s financial situation hasn’t been good this year, and the investment in the Mong Kok project is already substantial. We still had some financial leeway when we previously discussed acquiring Damega, but if we invest in this project as well, since it’s being called a prime plot, the land price could exceed 40 or 50 billion, not including the subsequent development costs. The funding gap would be at least 10 billion.”

Xu Ziren waved his hand and said, “I’ve already taken this issue into consideration. We can reduce part of our holdings in CLP Power Hong Kong Limited to alleviate the company’s current cash flow problems.”

His suggestion caused an uproar.

CLP Power supplied electricity to two-thirds of Hong Kong and had a market capitalization of over a hundred billion. Zhaoqi was the power company’s largest shareholder and earned several billion in stable net profits from it every year. At the mention of reducing their holdings, most people’s immediate reaction was reluctance.

Xu Ziren tried to persuade everyone: “We’ll only reduce part of our holdings to cash out. Zhaoqi will still remain Hong Kong Central Electric’s largest shareholder, and once our funds come back in later, we can simply buy the shares back.”

Some asked worriedly, “Are you sure there won’t be any problems? What if someone tries to take advantage of this opportunity to snatch this piece of fat meat right out of Zhaoqi’s mouth?”

Xu Ziren didn’t think much of it: “They’d have to be capable of doing that first, and they’d also have to be unafraid of offending Zhaoqi.”

Xu Shen was also somewhat surprised. He hadn’t expected Xu Ziren to come up with such an idea.

He looked toward Zhan Shili sitting across from him, only to see that his expression remained perfectly normal, without the slightest hint of surprise.

The matter was not settled immediately, and everyone still had some concerns.

Xu Ziren was confident and said he would persuade Xu Shiji. Most of the board members naturally trusted Xu Shiji as chairman, so if Xu Shiji really gave his approval, they wouldn’t continue opposing it.

With that, the matter of deciding on a new general manager of the Real Estate Development Department was temporarily shelved yet again.

The meeting was adjourned, and attendees gradually left.

Having finally vented some of his frustration, Xu Ziren walked out of the conference room in high spirits. As he left, he turned around and pinched his female secretary’s ass. The woman laughed and patted his arm, and the two walked away together intimately.

Xu Shen was slowly tidying up his documents when he witnessed this scene. He raised his chin toward Zhan Shili, who was sitting across from him and hadn’t left yet: “What kind of relationship does Xu Ziren and his secretary have? Does he want to follow in Dad’s footsteps?”

There was no one else left in the conference room, and Zhan Shili said without any surprise, “Fiona is quite capable. She’s very good at advising Second Young Master when it comes to his career, and he values her highly. The proposal to reduce their stake in the power company to cash out was probably Fiona’s idea.”

Xu Shen commented, “Lust is a double-edged sword; who can say for sure whether it’ll be a blessing or a curse?”

Zhan Shili lifted his eyelids and looked at him: “Then Young Master Shen should reflect on himself too.”

Xu Shen finished packing up, walked around the conference table, and as he passed Zhan Shili on his way out, tugged at his tie: “Same goes for you.”

On Saturday, the family had guests over.

Xu Shen went downstairs and saw Qin Su accompanying Xu Shiji in the living room as they drank tea and chatted with the guests. The guests were Xu Shiji’s old friends, Mr. and Mrs. Lin, along with their youngest daughter who had just graduated from university.

Out of politeness, Xu Shen went over to greet them.

Xu Shiji gestured for him to sit and introduced him to the guests.

“Your Uncle Lin and his wife just returned from the UK. I haven’t seen them in many years. We should get together more often when we have the chance. Si’er is their youngest daughter, a few years younger than you. You young people should get along well.”

Lin Si’er had originally been drinking her tea somewhat absentmindedly, but her eyes brightened slightly upon seeing Xu Shen. When Xu Shen greeted her with a smile, she nodded reservedly and said, “Hello, Brother Shen.”

Mrs. Lin, who was standing next to her, noticed her daughter’s interest and smiled as she praised Xu Shen to Xu Shiji for his handsome appearance and outstanding temperament.

The elders chatted and laughed, everyone tacitly understanding what the other party was thinking in just a few words.

The Lin family was a large and powerful financial investment family. They had been living abroad for many years and now intend to move their company back, making them a well-matched family for the Xus. If the two families could be joined through marriage, it would certainly be a wonderful thing.

It didn’t matter that Xu Shen was an illegitimate son, since he had already been officially acknowledged by the family. Besides, Xu Shiji told outsiders that Xu Shen was the son of his second wife, who had spent many years studying abroad and had only recently returned after completing his studies. Even if others knew the truth, no one would say anything about it to his face.

Xu Shen noticed the implication behind their words but didn’t take it to heart.

Qin Su, well aware of Xu Shiji’s thoughts, suggested, “Ah Shen, why don’t you show Si’er around and take her to the back garden for a while? Don’t just sit here listening to us chat, it must be boring.”

Mrs. Lin also said, “That’s right, you young people should go have some fun.”

Xu Shen politely invited the girl to join him, and Lin Si’er agreed, getting up with him.

They walked out through the sitting room and followed the wall-mounted waterfall and fish pond all to the back.

Xu Shen casually brought up a topic and asked Lin Si’er, “What was your life like in the UK?”

The girl said, “Pretty carefree. My parents didn’t really interfere much with me. Besides studying, I would travel all over Europe with my classmates and friends whenever there was a holiday.”

Xu Shen said, “Then you probably found it hard to adjust, coming back here; The pace of life here is too fast.”

The girl asked him, “Are you used to it?”

Xu Shen didn’t answer and instead said, “I have a friend who also studied in the UK before, but he went there on a scholarship, so he probably didn’t have the chance to travel around like you did. I’m just a little curious about what his life was like over there and how he ended up developing the personality he has now.”

Lin Si’er was momentarily at a loss for words, not knowing how to respond.

Xu Shen said, “Forget it, he’s different from you. I doubt anyone can see through him.”

They had already reached the back of the villa and entered through the floor-to-ceiling glass doors by the terrace. There was a piano here, and Lin Si’er sat down, lifted the lid, and randomly picked a piece to play.

The lively melody of the piano flowed from the girl’s fingertips. Xu Shen stood quietly beside her, listening. When she finished, he rested one hand on the keys and alternated between two fingers freely, surprisingly producing a rather melodious tune of his own.

The girl was slightly surprised: “You can play the piano too?”

“I only know the basics,” Xu Shen said. “I took it as an elective when I was in school, but I’m just showing off my meager skills in front of an expert.”

Lin Si’er laughed: “No, I don’t think so. You played quite nicely.”

Xu Shen smiled and said, “Miss Lin is too kind.”

Zhan Shili had just come over from the carport when he saw Xu Shen playing the piano and chatting happily with a girl, his gaze pausing slightly.

Xu Shen looked up and saw him. Even while talking to Lin Si’er, the gaze he directed at Zhan Shili was as blatant as ever.

Zhan Shili ignored him and went straight toward the front to see Xu Shiji first.

An hour later, when Zhan Shili came over again, Lin Si’er had already left. Xu Shen was sitting alone in front of the piano with his eyes closed, playing an unfamiliar piece. The melody was gloomy and slow, sounding somewhat oppressive.

When the piece ended, Zhan Shili asked, “Why are you playing a piece like this?”

Xu Shen slowly opened his eyes: “I felt like playing it, so I did. Why does everything need a reason? Is this piece not beautiful?”

Zhan Shili willfully pressed down on one of the keys to stop him from continuing: “Was that Mr. Lin’s daughter just now?”

“Mn.” Xu Shen had little interest in continuing this topic.

Zhan Shili refused to let him off: “Are you interested in her?”

Instead of answering, Xu Shen asked, “Nic, what right do you have to ask me that?”

He tilted his head up slightly and looked quietly at Zhan Shili standing before him. His eyes were deep and bright under the sunlight, the emotions in them unfathomable.

After a silent internal conflict, Zhan Shili released his finger from the piano key and changed the subject: “The boss neither supports nor opposes the Second Young Master’s proposal to reduce Zhaoqi’s stake in Hong Kong Central Electric to raise cash for bidding on that plot in Central, which can be considered tacit approval. If he succeeds, his standing on the board will definitely rise significantly. Do you have any plans?”

“What’s the rush? He has to actually succeed first.” Xu Shen had even less interest in discussing such mood-ruining matters. He continued playing the piano, immersing himself in the music.

Seeing that Xu Shen had no intention of conversing with him, Zhan Shili was about to leave. Xu Shen finally stopped and called out to him, “Nic, I’m not interested in her. Serving some spoiled young lady would be too troublesome, I’m not interested in doing that. Stop being jealous.”

Zhan Shili stared at him and rephrased the same words Xu Shen had said a moment ago: “Do I have the right to be jealous?”

“You do if you want, it’s up to you.” Xu Shen met his gaze. “Nic, now do you know how awful I feel every time I see you being so intimate with Xu Zikang?”

Zhan Shili admitted that he was truly torn at that moment. Perhaps Xu Shen was acting, but those words and the almost dejected expression on Xu Shen’s face still stirred something in him.

“Really?” Zhan Shili asked, his tone uncertain. He wasn’t usually one to seek confirmation on things like this, but the question just slipped out before he could stop himself.

Xu Shen looked straight at him and said softly, “Really.”

Zhan Shili’s gaze stilled.

Xu Shen was grabbed by the wrist and pulled over to a secluded corner next to the terrace. Using the moss-covered wooden partition wall behind him as cover, Zhan Shili pressed him against the wall, running his fingers through Xu Shen’s hair as he leaned forward: “Does it have to be like this?”

Zhan Shili’s voice was slightly hoarse—it was rare for him to show this kind of suppressed impatience in front of Xu Shen.

Xu Shen found it intriguing. He raised a hand and touched Zhan Shili’s face, his gaze slowly tracing over his features as he said, “I was just kidding.”

“I can never tell which words you say are true and which are lies,” Zhan Shili said emphatically.

“You’re falsely accusing me,” Xu Shen argued softly. “How could that be?”

He tilted his head to the side, his fingers sliding down to Zhan Shili’s nape, caressing it. Suddenly, he leaned close to Zhan Shili’s ear and whispered, “Shh, someone’s coming.”

The sound from behind them drew closer; it wasn’t footsteps, but rather the sound of a wheelchair turning. 

The phone in Zhan Shili’s pocket began to vibrate.

Xu Zikang had gone out that morning and had just returned. When he saw Zhan Shili’s car beneath the carport, he didn’t think much of it and directly called him.

Zhan Shili held Xu Shen tightly and after the call automatically disconnected, the phone quickly began vibrating again. He ignored it and, hearing Xu Shen’s muffled laughter against him, held the back of Xu Shen’s head and kissed him as the wheelchair got closer and closer.

Their lips and tongues pressed together, licking and intertwining.

Neither of them paid attention to when the phone stopped vibrating or when the sound of the wheelchair faded into the distance.

When they finally stopped, Xu Shen murmured against Zhan Shili’s lips, “You’re really bold, aren’t you afraid he’ll see us?”

“He left.” Zhan Shili’s breathing was unsteady.

“Hmm,” Xu Shen pecked at his lips and sighed, “Forget it for now. Once Zhaoqi is in my hands, dump him.”

Zhan Shili pulled back slightly, his fingers brushing against the corner of Xu Shen’s lips. His breathing hitched momentarily: “Okay.”

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t/n: Getting literal cardiac arrest from the nearly-getting-caught scenes oml

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