CH 12

Translator:

all previous chapters have been edited with these changes, happy reading!

Shen Dai was restless all morning because of Uncle Heng’s words.

In fact, many things didn’t need to be pointed out, he already knows. But people will deceive themselves, they will bargain, escape, get lucky, and will let reason and sensibility fight endlessly like a dilemma. 

He must become more restrained. At the very least, he shouldn’t become Qu Moyu’s “troublesomeness”.

One of his juniors walked over and interrupted Shen Dai’s gloominess, “Shen-shixiong, laoshi asked you to go to his office.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Professor Liu Xi is one of the most influential experts in the field of international rare earth research and also Shen Dai’s mentor. Under his leadership, Shen Dai was selected into the talent plan and entered Xingzhou, the top Rare Earths Research Institute in China. What makes Shen Dai admire him the most is not only his contribution in the academic circles, but also because he is a beta that broke his way through a crowd of alphas.

“Laoshi.” Shen Dai entered the office and picked up Liu Xi’s teacup. “How many times have I told you not to make such strong tea, it’s bad for your health. You also water the flowers with it all the time, killing one pot after another.”

“There’s not enough taste if it’s light.” Liu Xi pulled out a manuscript from a pile of documents. “The materials of the investors’ meeting are well written.”

Shen Dai said with a smile, “Thank you, laoshi.”

“Since it’s written by you, you sub in for me and give the speech this time.” 

“Ah?”

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Shen Dai was a little dumbfounded, “Isn’t it happening at the beginning of next month?”

“Yeah, since you work on tasks every day, what else do you need to prepare? You have attended the meeting before, just talk about our achievements and future plans. In fact, many of them won’t even understand.” 

The so-called investors’ meeting is an annual work report to the senior management, major shareholders, and shareholders’ representatives of the group. Their team takes hundreds of millions of funds every year, of course they have to let the payers know what they have been doing. This is a very important meeting.

This means that as CEO, Qu Moyu will definitely attend.

Shen Dai said reluctantly, “Laoshi, you’re too trusting. This is the investors’ meeting. What if they ask me some tricky questions, aren’t you afraid that I won’t be able to hold us up? They may not understand rare earths, but they know about the financial report.”

“We do have achievements this year though? Since we have achievements, we should have more confidence. What’s there to be afraid of?” Liu Xi slapped the table with firm eyes. “You need to keep up an imposing manner, okay? If they talk about money, you will just mention the future returns. Just counter their attacks. It’ll be alright as long as there’s no huge problem. The superiors gave me words saying they won’t cut the budget this year, which is why I dare to leave.” 

“… Fine, then when will you be back?” Shen Dai’s intuition told him that this level wasn’t so easy. In the investment stage, investors often intentionally throw out some difficult problems, which, to them, can be regarded as a type of psychological compensation. Since a sound could still be heard if the money was merely thrown into the water, yet it was being thrown at scientific research that could be found everywhere and haven’t seen results in eight to ten years.

“I don’t know. This mine hasn’t proved its reserves, but the contents of neodymium and dysprosium are not low. I might stay for a while. Your seniors are camping in Gansu again. I’ll have to leave this place to you and Zimei for the time being.”

“Okay, laoshi can rest assured.”

In order to prepare for his speech, Shen Dai has been working late these days. This was more nerve-wracking than his thesis defense. If he screws up the defense, it’s merely his own business, but screwing up the investors’ meeting will drag down the whole team. Although his teacher told him to be relaxed, he didn’t dare to neglect it at all. 

One night, Shen Dai and Qu Moyu came home at the same time —— the two haven’t met face to face since that day.

Shen Dai nodded and said, “Hello President Qu.” He thought that since Qu Moyu would not mention that trivial dish, nor would he, it would be just as if nothing had happened. Which is the case for what he said when he was drunk and his self-assertiveness after sobering up.

“Coming back so late, was it overtime?” Qu Moyu asked casually.

“Yes, there’s been more overtime recently.” 

“I heard that Professor Liu asked you to give the speech for the investors’ meeting.”

“Yes, laoshi is in a hurry to go prospecting in South Africa.” Shen Dai joked, “I’m quite nervous. Please go easy on me when the time comes.”

“You have to face not only me, but also the senior management, the shareholders, and the shareholders’ representatives.” Qu Moyu lowered his head to look at Shen Dai. “Be well-prepared, don’t get stage fright, and just say whatever you have. I will give them my greetings.”

“Thank you, President Qu.” Shen Dai felt warm in his heart. With Qu Moyu being so perfect, the fact that it’s impossible not to like him wasn’t Qu Moyu’s flaw, it was his. 

“The topic from your team has the most potential from the research institute. The board of directors are very optimistic about it and will not cut your budget. If the prospecting in South Africa goes well, it may even be increased.”

Shen Dai said with joy, “That’s great, laoshi is very confident about the mine in South Africa.”

Qu Moyu nodded, “Rest early.”

Shen Dai said quietly, “Good night.” As soon as these two words came out, a burst of both sourness and sweetness filled his heart. Good night is different from good morning. People always say good morning to people at school or work, but the ones people say good night to are usually someone close, thus, it gave these two words a hazy romantic ambiguity. 

For the first time, he said good night to Qu Moyu openly.

When he went home on the weekend, Shen Dai brought over some vegetables and daily necessities like usual, but as soon as he entered the door, he felt that the atmosphere at home wasn’t right. Grandma was sitting on the sofa waiting for him with a long face.

“Grandma, you haven’t cooked yet? Then I’ll do it.”

“No need to hurry.” Grandma patted the spot beside her, “Come here and let’s talk.” 

Shen Dai knew he couldn’t escape this level. The moment he sat down, he decided to tell the truth.

“Where did you get so much money and suddenly pay off the debt?” Grandma showed an expression of her thinking it was unbelievable. “When I got the call, I thought it was a scam. The last time you took me to see the doctor, you said you got a bonus. How is it possible for you to get such a high bonus?”

“Grandma, don’t be anxious, let’s talk through this slowly.”

Grandma took a deep breath, “Okay, we can talk slowly, but you must tell me the truth.” 

Shen Dai nodded. “The reason I didn’t tell you is was because I don’t know how to say it. I was also scared that you’ll get angry.”

“Th- this money, did it come righteously?” Grandma clenched her hands nervously.

“Don’t worry, it’s absolutely righteous.” Shen Dai hurriedly said, “Don’t make blind guesses. In fact, this money was… given to me by the You family.”

Grandma widened her eyes and suddenly spoke in a harsh tone, “You family?!” She hates You Xinghai to the bone because You Xinghai ruined her son. 

“Grandma.” Shen Dai took grandma’s hand and said softly, “Will you listen to me?”

Grandma lowered her head slowly, her chest was still fluctuating, “Why did the You family give you so much money? It’s impossible. Why?”

“The reason may sound hard to believe, but it’s true.” Shen Dai gave a brief account of his need to fulfill the engagement for You Baiyue, but hid Qu Moyu’s name.

Grandma was silent for a long time, her grip on Shen Dai’s hand became painful, but she still did not say a word. A moment later, she quietly shed tears. 

Shen Dai’s heart twitched in follow-up, he gently wiped grandma’s tears, “Grandma, I know you don’t want me to have anything to do with the You family, and I never thought of looking for him, but we really do need money right now. This cooperation doesn’t hurt me, I can work and live as usual, as well as pay off the debts. We can even use the remaining money to switch up the house and for your treatment. This money has helped us a lot.”

“I know.” Grandma said chokingly, “It’s because I know that I’m unhappy. You shouldn’t be bearing these. Although that scumbag is hateful, the reason your dad has become like that was because your grandfather and I didn’t bring him up well. You are innocent, yet you had to be the one to make money and support the family. You even had to use your major life event as payment, which delayed you everything.”

“It’s not delaying anything. We will be dissolving our marriage soon, when their cooperation is completed, which should be soon.” Shen Dai forced out a smile. “Grandma, think about the good sides. These are all good things. The You family is becoming worse and worse in recent years, they even have a son that won’t free them from worry. We took his money and saw his miserable times, doesn’t it feel good?”

“He gave you 10 million, such a large sum of money, he really only told you to get a marriage certificate?” Grandma said anxiously, “With a creature like You Xinghai, I’m really worried he has different intentions.” 

“No, he looked for me because he had no other choice. Now I have the money and even spent it, what else can he do to me?”

Grandma shook her head with a sad face, “I hope so. Then your… the person you married, who is he? And how does he treat you?”

“It’s a stranger. I haven’t even seen him much. He’s polite.” Shen Dai stroked grandma’s thin back. “Our cooperation will not last too long. When things are finished and we’re divorced, it’ll just be an extra marriage history. Such a small price for us to live a normal life, isn’t it a good deal?” Although the former half was a lie, the latter half is the truth. The contract says five years, which is to fully protect Qu Moyu’s benefits. In fact, it wouldn’t take that long. Before long, the only false connection between him and Qu Moyu will disappear.

Grandma sighed, “Don’t get too close to people of the You family.” 

Shen Dai thought of You Baiyue and somehow also thought of Qu Chengchen. He frowned slightly, “I won’t.”

“Then…” Grandma looked like she wanted to speak but hesitated, “If you get married, although it’s cooperation, will the other want you to…”

Shen Dai immediately understood grandma’s hesitation, “No, I already told you. I haven’t even seen him much. We don’t contact each other without business.”

Only then was grandma was relieved, “That’s good, that’s good. Omegas are the easiest to be at a disadvantage. No matter what you do, you need to have proper limits. Learn from your father’s failure.” 

Shen Dai’s eyes darkened. No one understood better than him, because he was the price of that mistake. He was forced to use his life to bear the consequences of mistakes that he did not commit, he said in a deep voice, “I understand.”