Regarding Shen Mingkuo, the CEO of Shen Corporation, Shi Xinxin felt indifferent. A CEO who couldn't even manage a crucial bidding project for his design staff clearly lacked oversight of his employees.
"Hmm, apart from Shen Corporation, other companies really can't find any leverage against me."
He chuckled. Only powerful foreign corporations could be considered his rivals. The domestic ones were merely minor players, not worth his attention.
Shi Xinxin wanted to say more, but for a moment, she didn't know how to begin.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
"Sister, are you home?"
Shi Xinxin quickly went to open the door and saw Feng Yu looking anxious.
"Come in quickly, what happened?"
Shi Xinxin, thinking he had encountered trouble last night, also became nervous.
"Sister, you must listen carefully to what I'm about to tell you."
"Can you stay calm?"
Feng Yu asked her to sit down, his expression extremely serious.
Shi Xinxin gave him a questioning look.
"What is it? May I listen?"
Sheng Chenjin finished his porridge, washed his bowl, and walked into the living room.
Feng Yu glanced at him strangely.
Why was this man here?
But he really didn't have time to think. Seeing that Shi Xinxin wasn't deliberately avoiding him, he just nodded vaguely.
"Yes."
Sheng Chenjin sat down next to Shi Xinxin. Shi Xinxin's mind was racing, wondering what had happened to Feng Yu to make him like this.
She imagined many scenarios, only registering that Sheng Chenjin had said something and then sat down.
"Sister, what's your current relationship with Elder Feng?"
Feng Yu asked nervously, not wanting Shi Xinxin to be sad.
"It's fine, just say it."
Shi Xinxin had a rough idea of what Feng Yu was going to tell her.
"The wine Zhu Guo had yesterday was given by Elder Feng, and its effect was very peculiar. Zhu Guo wanted to get you drunk to pry information from you."
"I don't know what information."
"Yesterday, Elder Feng and Zhu Guo had a phone call, seemingly to use this opportunity to formulate a new plan."
Feng Yu glanced at Sheng Chenjin, as if asking why Shi Xinxin was sober now if he had mentioned her drinking.
"His situation is special. I've also guessed some of what you're saying."
Shi Xinxin explained Sheng Chenjin's condition and exchanged a look with him.
Elder Feng's motives were becoming clearer.
Feng Yu observed their interaction and understood; they were indeed sharp people.
Feng Yu sighed softly. Just then, the doorbell rang again.
Shi Xinxin went to the door and saw Yan Hao through the peephole.
"Junior Sister." Yan Hao entered with a grave expression.
Shi Xinxin's mind was full of questions. What was wrong with everyone today?
"You're all here."
Yan Hao looked at the two men on the sofa in surprise, especially at Sheng Chenjin sitting so close to Shi Xinxin.
"Junior Sister, I have something very important to tell you."
Yan Hao wanted to speak with Shi Xinxin alone.
This made both Sheng Chenjin and Feng Yu unhappy.
"We can't listen?" the two men agreed, unusually unified.
Yan Hao was momentarily awkward.
"What are you all talking about?" Yan Hao noticed that the expressions of the three were not relaxed.
His conversation with Elder Feng today had not gone smoothly, and he had a general understanding of Elder Feng's feelings towards his junior sister.
However, whether it was about benefits or anything else, he chose to stand with Shi Xinxin.
"Talking about Master." Shi Xinxin pulled at the corners of her mouth, but found she couldn't smile. Her expression looked bitter no matter how she looked at it.
After all, he was the Master who had painstakingly trained her for so many years. It was impossible to let go immediately and turn into enemies.
Yan Hao's heart sank. He could only brace himself and let his junior sister know the truth.
"Sit down and talk,"
Yan Hao placed a hand on Shi Xinxin's shoulder and patted it gently, trying to soothe her slightly stiff body.
Though her expression remained unchanged, Yan Hao knew clearly that her tear-filled eyes would soon overflow.
"Firstly, my return to China to take charge of the Second People's Hospital was arranged by Master. He subtly hinted that I should observe your movements."
Disappointment flickered in Shi Xinxin's eyes.
"The director of the Second Hospital is one of Master's sycophants and someone he uses..."
"All my contact with him was at the hospital."
Yan Hao tightened his fists, which rested on his knees.
He decided to be honest with Shi Xinxin.
If there were any misunderstandings, they would be difficult to resolve.
"He didn't get any useful information from me and turned his target to Zhu Guo."
Yan Hao checked Zhu Guo in his hotel contacts and, following the thread, discovered that Elder Feng was also in contact with this Zhu Guo.
Combined with his previous suspicions about Elder Feng...
His junior sister should have made up her mind.
"This morning, he made his stance clear..."
Silence. A long, heavy silence.
Yan Hao opened his mouth but found himself unable to offer any comforting words. He felt only disappointment towards Elder Feng.
"Master... Elder Feng is really going this far?"
A sliver of hope remained in Shi Xinxin's heart. She felt that unless she heard Elder Feng admit it himself, she wouldn't give up.
Seeing his junior sister's hesitation, Yan Hao spoke, deciding to reveal everything he knew.
"Master... no, Elder Feng said that your talent is excellent. If your parents knew how he cultivated you, perhaps..."
"Perhaps they would be so moved that they would... prostrate themselves in reverence."
The last four words were squeezed out between Yan Hao's teeth. He despised Elder Feng's behavior.
Upon hearing these four words, Shi Xinxin's heart truly turned cold.
Sheng Chenjin's heart fluttered, his gaze fixed on Shi Xinxin.
Feng Yu also looked over with concern.
Yan Hao was already prepared with tissues.
"Junior Sister, actually..."
Yan Hao didn't know how to comfort her anymore.
Anything said now would be futile.
"Senior Brother, you don't need to say more. I didn't have high hopes for him either."
"Since Zhu Guo appeared, all the terrible things happening to me have begun."
Shi Xinxin raised her slightly misty eyes.
She finally managed a smile.
"I'm truly grateful to him for making me completely give up hope."
"This way, I can concentrate on confronting him, can't I?"
Although this confrontation would only make Elder Feng more reckless, even openly opposing her within the sect,
Her days ahead would require even greater caution.
"The Sacred Relics haven't seen eye-to-eye with me for more than a day or two. Don't worry, they won't be able to defeat me so easily."
Shi Xinxin gritted her teeth and blinked hard. Her tears were almost evaporated, leaving only dryness.
"Don't worry, we will definitely stand by your side," Yan Hao promised.
"The grievances of the past must be settled," Sheng Chenjin said with a grim expression.
"Sister, you still have us," Feng Yu quickly added.
"Thank you," Shi Xinxin offered a genuine smile.