RALP Chapter 38.2

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Five minutes later, and the black coffee is done, filling the table with a bitter but energising fragrance.

“Customer, your coffee.”

Not the waiter’s voice; in fact, it sounds familiar.

The man raises his head and sees that it’s the chef.

“Hmph, black coffee. And I was wondering who it was,” his father sits opposite him, “I’ve seen your car loitering about the place since a few days ago. What, finally decided to come in?”

Shen Chen takes a sip of the coffee with a nonchalant looks, “just contributing to my father’s business.”

“Since just now?” His father of course doesn’t buy it at all, “and sneaking into your own father’s shop? Just say it, who you’re looking for.”

Shen Chen does not reply.

“Well, it’s obvious anyway; Xiao You often comes, so you’re here hoping to meet him by chance?”

Shen Chen’s eyes twitch, but, with a calm face, he denies, “no.”

“Getting embarrassed in front of your own father now? Please,” his father teases him, “but, you’re too late. Xiao You has just left.”

Shen Chen puts the cup of coffee down, “the cheque, please.”

His father’s lips twitch in turn.

You’re making it way too obvious but also way too indirect. Seriously, he’s inherited none of his disposition back when he wooed his wife.

He decides to push him a bit.

“Xiao You didn’t come alone either.”

Shen Chen’s hand visibly shakes slightly as he puts the cup down.

“He’s an employee, he said, but I don’t think so. They specifically arranged for a room too. Say, if you were eating out with your staff would you need that privacy?”

Ripples form on the surface of the coffee.

“That kid is good-looking too. If a certain someone isn’t going to up his game, his prize will be slipping from him for sure.”

A ‘clack,’ and the cup is on the table. A few drops spill out onto the clean white sheet.

Shen Chen, brows furrowed, “the cheque.”

In the end, he only spent 10 minutes in the shop. His father sees him out, “if you’re going to see Xiao You, remember to help me check on his condition.”

Shen Chen wanted to deny that he’s going to look for him, but then he hears the latter part of that.

So instead, he asks, “what’s wrong?”

“He came for lunch, but he didn’t finish today,” the chef looks quite worried, “his stomach might be upset.”

Shen Chen replies after an awkward silence, “I believe his stomach is upset thanks to your dishes.”

“You brat, what did you just say?!”

Shen Chen is uninterested in scuffling over this question for now, and goes to take his leave.

“Hmph, and here I was thinking about calling you from now on whenever Xiao You comes.”

Shen Chen pauses, then makes a u-turn.

His father, with his all-seeing eye look, “what, want to support my business some more now?”

“Of course…”

“If you really don’t want to know, then fine.”

“…”

“Tell me,” says Shen Chen.

His father waves him off standing at the door. Shen Chen gets back on his car, and opens up some lighthearted music on the controls. It will help soothe his mind.

Yet, the music happens to be the one he and Du You heard together that night; it is agitating his mind more than calming it down.

He shuts the music off and leans his head against the steering wheel, and closes his eyes.

The cold air brushing against his skin gives him a bit more clarity for thought.

He probably hasn’t fallen for Du You; why would he ever fall for Du You?

A guy that’s just an endless glutton, speaks with that damned straightforwardness, and likes to clamp his jaw?

He simply holds goodwill for him as a friend who has helped him.

…

Definitely.

Shen Chen opens his eyes and calls up secretary Dong.

A quick reply, “Mr. Shen?”

“We have a meeting with the Du Conglomerate this afternoon?”

“Yes, for a minor project. The one in charge will be heading out…”

Shen Chen cuts him off, “add me to the list of people going.”

The secretary, surprised, asks, “Mr. Shen, is there something wrong with this project?”

An unhappy voice replies, “what, you’re questioning my decision?”

“No, of course not!” Secretary Dong doesn’t know how he managed to offend his boss again, “I will immediately inform them.”

After receiving communication from the Shen Conglomerate, the Du conglomerate also reacts in turn.

In principle, the same level of manager need to be present in a meeting to show respect.

While they’re not sure why the other company’s CEO is personally coming, but the person in charge still immediately informs assistant Lu and for her to relay to her boss.

Meanwhile, the bossy CEO You is sitting in his office with his face buried on his desk.

He’s hungry.

He didn’t eat enough before he came back; it’s three hours from dinner.

Du You feels like having afternoon tea immediately.

He stands up, but then, a knock.

So he sits back down.

Assistant Lu walks in to see her boss’s expression worse than usual and is afraid she made a blunder somewhere, but, she still holds steadfast in her fear and responsibly relays the information on.

Du You nods after listening.

Assistant Lu, still just freshly appointed, doesn’t understand the implication of the nod yet, and asks, “then… will you be in attendance?”

“Mm,” he’s a responsible bossy CEO.

“Understood! I will arrange immediately,” the assistant quickly excuses herself.

In the end, this minor, trivial little project has suddenly become the thing on everyone’s mind due to the CEOs from both sides suddenly joining.

This also happens to lead to everyone on the project to diligently work all their bones off.

Which actually resulted in a brand new brand as a joint venture by both the Du and Shen Conglomerates which quickly occupied the niche in the need for cheaper but non-imitated luxurious products and propelled both companies forward immensely.

Of course, that’s far into the future.

Now they’re in the historic meeting itself. Due to anxiety from both sides the voices of both the representatives actually cracked several times each in their turns to speak.

When they reach an agreement in the end, they both turn to their top bosses for approval.

“Was this… acceptable?”

Du You nods to approve.

Shen Chen retracts his gaze from Du You and also gives a nonchalant nod.

“Alright, then we will proceed according to the schedule discussed and implement it in time,” the manager responsible for the project has cracked his voice again.

After the meeting, assistant Lu and the manager sees the other party off.

Du You is heading back to the office to pack up for the day and then go get tea, but then he sees Shen Chen walk in front of him and extend his hand.

“Mr. Du, I hope for a fruitful cooperation this time.”

Their last joint operation didn’t go well due to Xiao Tiantian.

Du You takes his hand and, this is supposed to be a business gesture, but when Du You is about to retract his hand, he realise it is still held firmly by the other person.

Du You “?”

Shen Chen seems to have snapped back out of his daze then and, clearing his throat after letting his hand go, says, “I heard you’re feeling unwell?”

Then he clarifies, “don’t misunderstand, but my father sent a message to me. Since I’m here for the meeting anyways, I’m asking for him.”

Du You replies, “I’m not unwell.”

An awkward silence.

Then, Du You continues, “you can tell the chef not to worry. I was not performing up to standard today; I will still be visiting his restaurant.”

“Alright,” then Shen Chen acts as if he just happens to ask, “were you full this noon?”

Du You shakes his head, “I’m getting an extra meal now.”

The two of them are at the conference room door already.

Then, Shen Chen stops and says casually, “together? I haven’t eaten lunch yet.”

He really seems like he just mentioned it as an aside without looking at Du You’s face at all.

“Sure,” Du You does not overthink things.

Shen Chen sighs in relief inside. There’s cold sweat in his palms too, but he is still looking calm and collected like any old prominent bachelor.

Outside of the personal offices, the rooms of the building are all only separated by glass, so that the workers can be supervised at a glance.

At the same time, people from the office can also see the corridor outside.

“Eks, what is it?”

A coworker sees that the new intern is looking outside, and he’s looking at the two people walking out the conference room.

He introduces, “that’s our boss and the other is the Shen Conglomerate’s CEO. Surprised, right? They’re both so young.”

“Mm,” Qin Ge retracts his gaze and with a smile, “yes, surprised.”

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Buy me a coffee?

TL’s notes: Oof, school…