Chapter 2088 - 684: About the Same Age_3
Before he could finish, he was cut off again by Chen Jingsong’s low, icy voice. "Don’t think I don’t know anything! You went into the internal ERP system and changed Glimmer Coffee’s supply price—added two points to it. Did you do that or not? And you deliberately put their shipments at the lowest priority in the supply chain schedule, causing repeated delays. Did you do that or not?!"
"Yes." Chen Hao hurriedly explained, "But Dad, I only did that to put a bit of pressure on them, hoping to push the cross-shareholding plan with Coffee and Time. I’d discussed this idea with the group’s Vice President Zhao before—it’s viable."
"This whole thing was arranged by you personally?"
"Yes..."
A heavy panting sound came through the receiver.
Chen Hao tensed up in an instant, realizing something was off. "Dad, what... what on earth happened?"
"Right now! Immediately! At once! Go contact Glimmer Coffee’s Xie Shuyu and you must obtain her forgiveness—whatever means you use, whatever it costs! If you can’t..."
Chen Jingsong was silent for a moment, then enunciated each word: "Then get out of the country. Don’t stay in Zhongshu Group anymore!"
The expression on Chen Hao’s face froze. "Why... why? Dad! Xie Shuyu, she... I checked her background, she should... she should be..."
"Shut up! You idiot! Do you know who just called me?"
"Who...?" Chen Hao’s voice was trembling.
Right after that, an unbelievable name came through the receiver.
Chen Hao’s brain buzzed and went completely blank.
This... how is this possible?!
The call was hung up.
But Chen Hao was still standing there, stunned, his phone pressed against his ear.
Half a minute later, his hand began shaking violently, completely out of control.
His face was deathly pale.
...
Glimmer Coffee flagship store.
Outside the window, the night view of Rong City was brilliantly lit and bustling.
Inside, the rich aroma of coffee and food filled the air.
Xie Shuyu and Meng Ran sat side by side across from Tang Song, but none of them were really focused on eating.
Between the two women, Shuyu’s phone—which had been on silent the whole time—was lighting up and going dark over and over, like a revolving lantern.
The incoming calls were from one familiar, weighty name after another.
[Shuxian Supply Chain - Chen Hao], [Provincial Catering Association - Deputy Secretary-General Zhao Ying], [New Hope Dairy - Regional Sales Director Wang Chengyong]... and several unfamiliar numbers she hadn’t saved.
On top of that, the red dot on WhatsApp kept flashing nonstop.
There were lowly, groveling apologies from Chen Hao.
And enthusiastic cooperation invitations from other suppliers who had previously been stalling and shirking her.
All of this had happened within just one short hour.
Lips pressed together, Xie Shuyu followed Tang Song’s request to "focus" on eating and didn’t respond to any of it.
The shock in her heart was hard to calm.
All these years of starting her own business, she’d always relied on herself to knock on doors, negotiate, and hold the line.
She’d gotten used to both cold stares from capital and suppression from competitors.
After all, entrepreneurship is inherently full of hardships and obstacles.
But at this moment, for the first time, she genuinely felt what it was like to be "backed" by someone.
"Hoo—"
Meng Ran let out a long breath. She had just picked up her fork when her hand froze again, eyes widening.
Shuyu’s phone screen lit up yet again—it was a text message from an unfamiliar number.
[President Xie, hello. I am Chen Jingsong of Zhongshu Group. My son has behaved outrageously and caused great trouble to your company. I offer my deepest apologies. Please rest assured, we will make up for all losses and show our utmost sincerity, hoping to obtain your and Mr. Tang’s forgiveness.]
The air suddenly congealed.
Xie Shuyu stared blankly at the screen, her fingertips trembling slightly.
Meng Ran’s fork slipped from her hand with a clatter onto the plate, splattering a bit of cream sauce.
Her lips parted, but for a long while she couldn’t say a word.
She just stared dumbly at Tang Song, who was elegantly sipping his coffee, her gaze instinctively tinged with awe.
Damn... just how much official clout did he mobilize for this?!
This is insane!
"Tap—"
Tang Song set down his coffee cup and gently dabbed the corner of his mouth with a napkin.
He looked up at the female CEO opposite him, a smile appearing on his face. "Things should be resolved soon. President Xie, you’ve been out all day, you must be tired, right? A friend of mine has a standalone courtyard villa by Huanhua Creek with a fantastic environment. Want to stay there tonight?"
Staying at her best friend Meng Ran’s place was, after all, inconvenient.
Shuyu also couldn’t fully relax there.
Once they got there, it would be his turf.
He wanted to see what kind of breathtaking brilliance this composed, dignified female CEO could show him after she completely let down her guard.
Their gazes met.
Looking at those deep eyes of his that felt like they could pull a person in, hearing that "invitation" which sounded like a question but left no room for refusal—
Her heartbeat skipped half a beat.
She opened her mouth; her voice was dry. "Okay."
...
At the same time.
By Huanhua Creek, in the Moon-Questioning Courtyard.
Ouyang Xianyue ended a video conference with TY Precision’s European Headquarters and walked over to the tea table by the window.
She picked up the cup of tea that had already gone cold and took a sip.
Her gaze drifted to the century-old ginkgo in the courtyard, and her fingers unconsciously brushed the jade pendant at her chest.
A moment later.
She sighed, then paced into the study connected to the tearoom.
She laid out a sheet of rice paper, picked up a brush, and began to paint in ink.
The tip of the brush glided across the pristine paper, the black ink shifting from dense to light.
With just a few strokes, a tall, upright figure was outlined.
It was precisely Tang Song, as he had been a few days ago under the red maple outside Bamboo Pavilion, reaching out to brush the fallen leaves from her shoulder, his eyes brimming with gentle laughter.