Chapter 83: That Damn Woman, She Kissed Me!

At this thought, everyone turned their gaze to Meng Xinghe.

It was common knowledge that the Chu Group was funded by the Meng family, making the Mengs the largest shareholder. As the young master of the Meng family, Meng Xinghe should naturally know who the chairman of Chu Group was.

But if Chu Fei truly was the chairman of Chu Group, there was no way Meng Xinghe would have made such a scene with him. After all, to put it nicely, the chairman was just someone working for the Meng family; to put it bluntly, he was little more than a subordinate. Who’s ever seen an employee dare to cross the foolish son of the landlord?

“Wait, don’t worry, let me ask my sister about this,” Meng Xinghe reassured the Shen family crowd before dialing Meng Ziyi’s number—only to be met with silence. Clearly, after being blocked last time, Meng Ziyi still hadn’t unblocked him.

But with so many eyes watching, Meng Xinghe couldn’t afford to lose face, especially since he’d already been humiliated enough today!

“Sis, what’s going on? Didn’t you agree to let Chu Group cooperate with the Shen family? Oh, I see, that’s how it is. Got it!” he said, pretending to question his sister and putting on a performance convincing enough to fool even himself.

After hanging up, he put on an air of superiority before the Shen family. “The cooperation hasn’t been canceled. It’s just that, due to pressure from above, my sister has to put on a show, pretending to temporarily suspend the partnership!”

He lied with a straight face. Yet the Shen family, as if under some intelligence-sapping curse, believed every word.

It wasn’t entirely their fault; after all, Meng Xinghe’s status as the legitimate young master of the Meng family lent his words a weight that was hard to doubt.

“I knew it! Since the Shen family already signed the contract, how could they possibly back out?” Shen Linglong breathed a sigh of relief.

For a split second, she had almost believed Chu Fei was really the chairman of Chu Group. Thank goodness it was just a false alarm!

“But even so, how did that Chu Fei know about this?” Shen Qiushan scratched his head, as if on the verge of a revelation.

But Shen Linglong quickly nipped that dangerous thought in the bud. “Why else? Just a lucky guess, Dad. He was just putting on an act—you don’t really think he’s the chairman of Chu Group, do you?”

“How could that be? A bumpkin from the mountains like him? If he’s the chairman, then I must be the First Emperor of Qin,” Shen Qiushan chuckled. “Who do you believe—him, or that I’m the Emperor of Qin?”

Everyone burst into laughter.

Shen Qiushan wasn’t wrong—a country bumpkin from the mountains couldn’t possibly transform into the chairman of Chu Group overnight.

What do they think this is—a fantasy novel where the protagonist is a master with five legendary mentors?

This is exactly why people say you should never argue with a fool: they’ll drag you down to their level and defeat you with experience!

Especially with both Shen Linglong and Shen Qiushan present—the damage was doubled.

If only they weren’t so foolish, they wouldn’t be so full of themselves now!

“Although the cooperation is only temporarily suspended, we must still follow up diligently,” Old Madam Shen said seriously. “Whether our Shen family can soar to greater heights depends on this partnership with Chu Group. Nothing can be allowed to go wrong!”

Shen Linglong, confidently gripping Meng Xinghe’s arm, said, “Grandmother, with Brother Xinghe here, there’s nothing to worry about. The Wanlicheng project will definitely be ours!”

Hearing this, Old Madam Shen finally relaxed. With the Meng family’s young master on their side, there was nothing to fear.

“Everyone here knows that in three days, Chu Group will be hosting their grand banquet,” Old Madam Shen announced proudly. “If all goes as expected, the mysterious chairman of Chu Group will make an appearance and officially announce our Shen family as their sole partner!”

“On that day, I invite you all to witness it. From then on, Longcheng will be under our Shen family’s rule!”

These words were not only to regain the dignity lost earlier but also to tie Meng Xinghe to their cause. This way, the partnership was as good as sealed—if anything went wrong, it would be not just the Shen family but also Meng Xinghe’s face at stake.

“This old woman’s setting me up,” Meng Xinghe muttered to himself, disgruntled.

Outwardly, he maintained an unflappable facade, but inside, he was panicking. His pride was on the line, so once the birthday banquet ended, he arranged to send Uncle Zhao to the hospital and called his second brother, Meng Kaiwen.

“Brother, something big has happened. You have to help me this time…”

Meanwhile, on the way back.

Shen Miaoyu was on the phone with Secretary Jin, while Chu Fei chatted with Jiang Yunqi.

“My cramps are killing me—it feels like someone’s drilling into my stomach!”

“Clockwise or counterclockwise?” he asked.

“Can’t you show some concern?”

“I always show concern by cussing. Didn’t you know?”

Jiang Yunqi sent him a meme about hopeless men and added, “Don’t forget, you promised to take me out tomorrow!”

“Maybe we should cancel—I’m a man of principle, I never run red lights.”

“What if I tell you my period ends tomorrow?”

“Well, on second thought…”

In the end, the ever-considerate Chu Fei agreed to her suggestion—he’d take her to karaoke the next evening.

It wasn’t because her cramps would be over; he just really wanted to sing.

As Chu Fei finished his conversation, Shen Miaoyu hung up her own call. She looked at him and unexpectedly said, “Your performance just now made me think of an ancient king.”

“Oh? Which one do you think I resemble?” Chu Fei straightened up, ready for praise.

“The King of Yue.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re shameless.”

Shen Miaoyu burst out laughing with goose-like honks, then asked, “Why aren’t you laughing? Is it a crime to laugh?”

Chu Fei rolled his eyes. “Thanks, I feel thoroughly insulted.”

Indeed, they say you’re influenced by those you’re close to—spend a few days with Chu Fei, and even a goddess turns into a madwoman.

After her laughter subsided, Shen Miaoyu said, “Secretary Jin just called. The cooperation with the Shen family has been terminated.”

“But, knowing them, they won’t let this go easily, especially since they still have the contract. And now the Meng family’s young master is on their side…”

Before Shen Miaoyu could finish, Chu Fei interrupted, “So you still haven’t given up?”

“No, I’m done. From now on, whoever you want to work with, I have no objections.”

She knew when to let go. Chu Fei had already done more than enough for her; it was the Shen family’s own stupidity that was to blame.

“And… thank you for today,” Shen Miaoyu added, blushing.

For someone as unruly as Chu Fei to accompany her to such a foolish banquet and meet her foolish relatives—she was truly grateful.

“That’s all? Just a verbal thank you?” Chu Fei’s gaze openly lingered on her soft lips.

Suddenly, Shen Miaoyu slammed on the brakes and unfastened her seatbelt. Just as Chu Fei thought she was about to hit him, she leaned in, her lips pressing softly against his.

Damn! This woman—she kissed me?

What right does she have to kiss me!