Chapter 120: Video
On Monday afternoon, the department managers of Shen Group were reporting their work in the top-floor conference room as usual.
Almost everyone felt the atmospheric pressure around them was exceptionally low, simply because the aura emanating from the head seat was too powerful.
CEO Shen, who was always cold and stern, looked even more tense than usual. Terrified of making a mistake and crossing their boss while she was in a foul mood, the staff were extraordinarily nervous and cautious even while giving reports. They couldn’t help but wonder: who would dare to displease such a powerful, ruthless, and terrifying woman?
Secretary Zhou, sitting at the far end of the conference table taking notes, felt the deathly silence in the room and couldn’t help but steal a glance at CEO Shen.
For some reason, her mind drifted back to late last night.
CEO Shen had suddenly sent a message, instructing her to reach out and arrange the lecture at X University—the very one she had previously declined due to a scheduling conflict.
The secretary naturally remembered this matter; a junior of Shen Yi’s from the Academy of Sciences had specially invited her to be a guest speaker for a chemistry lecture.
But wasn’t the original schedule a business trip? The business dinner would have already started by the time of the lecture on Tuesday night.
She offered a tactful reminder, only to receive a single sentence in response:
“Cancel the dinner party, rebook for an early morning flight, and go straight to the conference venue upon landing.”
X University…?
Secretary Zhou found it hard not to link this unusual decision to that young girl who was still a student at X University.
Seeing how late it was, a possibility suddenly dawned on her. Could CEO Shen actually be missing her? Since she wouldn’t be able to see her for the next few days while away on business, she was squeezing out every spare moment and finding any excuse just to see Miss Xu one last time.
It hadn’t even been a day since they parted!
When had anyone ever seen CEO Shen like this?
No matter how shocked she was, she didn’t dare ask a single question. After coordinating and handling everything with the utmost speed throughout the morning, she finally went to notify Xu Yinian, her tone as composed as ever.
She acted as if the lecture had been scheduled long ago, not breathing a word about the immense trouble she had gone through—canceling business dinners and rescheduling flights—just to see her.
Yet for some reason, CEO Shen remained dissatisfied, her gloom visible to the naked eye.
…
At that moment, in the deathly silent meeting room, a phone notification suddenly chimed, shattering the stifling atmosphere.
While everyone’s hearts leaped into their throats and they glanced around to see who was bold enough to forget to mute their phone in front of CEO Shen, the cold, elegant, and noble woman herself felt her brow twitch. Her inscrutable gaze fell upon the phone screen lighting up right in front of her.
…The notification sound came from CEO Shen’s phone? Then it was fine.
Although such an oversight occurring to an extreme perfectionist and workaholic like CEO Shen was only more peculiar.
The secretary, however, saw through it all as clearly as a mirror.
CEO Shen’s work phone and WeChat were still with her; the one on the desk was clearly her private account. Furthermore, just before the notification chimed, Secretary Zhou had also received a reply from Xu Yinian. At this moment, every question finally had an answer.
So, all this trouble and the gloom lingering between her brows were simply because Miss Xu hadn’t replied to CEO Shen’s private message?
CEO Shen had no intention of speaking, not even sparing a glance.
Seeing that the briefing was nearly over, Secretary Zhou quickly wrapped things up and dismissed the group:
“That concludes today’s meeting. CEO Shen has a tight schedule ahead, so we will send the relevant feedback to your emails.”
Who among the department heads hadn’t experienced CEO Shen’s exacting and harsh standards? They only wished for it to end sooner.
Soon, only Shen Yi and her secretary remained in the massive conference room.
Xyn: [I’m not uncomfortable.]
These stiff words, radiating rejection, allowed Shen Yi to easily imagine the scene on the other side of the screen. She could see exactly how the young girl, with flushed cheeks and bitten lip, had used her trembling rose-white fingertips to type those few words—stubbornly refusing to admit the truth despite being bashful to the extreme.
She had waited all day for a message, only to be met with the same evasiveness as always.
Shen Yi’s dark, cold eyes stared at those few short words, the atmosphere around her growing increasingly heavy.
Secretary Zhou hadn’t had a chance to check the messages yet, but she didn’t forget to mention something to her boss first:
“CEO Shen, Miss Xu just replied to me.”
…She had only just seen the message.
Shen Yi still said nothing. Her fingertips moved slightly as she sent an ambiguous [Mhm].
When the secretary saw the content of the message, she suddenly regretted being so prompt in relaying the news.
The young girl had sent a pitiful reply:
[Didn’t you say we wouldn’t see each other even twice a month, and I’m still at school… Do I have to go?]
Wasn’t it less than twice a month before? She was feeling quite desperate herself!
My little ancestor, you have no idea how much effort CEO Shen has put in behind the scenes…
Secretary Zhou wiped the sweat from her forehead. She didn’t dare relay any of that, so she could only reply:
“[I have no authority to change CEO Shen’s wishes, but Miss Xu can rest assured, CEO Shen doesn’t want anyone to find out either.]”
CEO Shen’s decision…
Xu Yinian looked at the blank profile picture that happened to be online and had replied with a single “Mm.”
It seemed that without Shen Yi physically present, she wasn’t quite as afraid of her. Thinking she might as well give it a shot, she said meekly:
[Is it also inconvenient to meet during the lecture…]
The moment it was sent, she regretted it, frantically recalling the message in a flurry of movement.
S-she probably didn’t see it, right?
A brief silence followed; she wanted to pretend nothing had happened.
To her surprise, her phone rang the very next second, with “CEO Shen” flashing prominently on the screen. She was so nervous that she didn’t even notice the sound of the water in the bathroom had long since stopped. Along with the ringing of the phone, the sound of Ji Yan opening the door came from behind her.
Xu Yinian was scared out of her wits. She didn’t forget to quickly hang up the call, typing rapidly:
