Shen Chi Yan saw Shen Qi Wen with a refined and elegant man as soon as he entered the private room.
Shen Qi Wen was the first to stand up and greet them, introducing them to each other. "President Shen, this is Mr. Li Jun Shen. Mr. Li, this is my brother, and also the CEO of Dingsheng Group, Shen Chi Yan."
Li Jun Shen stood up and extended his hand to Shen Chi Yan. "President Shen, we meet again. Are you in a better mood today?"
"Oh? We've met before?"
"We had a brief encounter at a bar last Thursday. However, President Shen seemed to be in a bad mood that day, so you might not remember me."
Shen Chi Yan then recalled the night Song Qi Nian told him about the divorce. He had gone to a bar to drink and seemed to have seen He Gao Min arrive with a man.
Shen Chi Yan nodded faintly. "My apologies."
"Alright, alright, let's sit down and chat."
After seating themselves, Li Jun Shen looked at Shen Chi Yan and smiled faintly. "The Longjing tea from before the rain at this place is quite good. President Shen should try some."
Shen Qi Wen chuckled. "Mr. Li, haven't you only returned to the country not long ago? How do you know so much about this tea house?"
Li Jun Shen smiled as he poured tea. "I grew up in Jinghua City. I only went to Australia in my teens. This place has been here for as long as I can remember, so of course, I know it."
Shen Chi Yan had little interest in other people's life stories. He was here for business.
"Qi Wen mentioned that Mr. Li is interested in investing in Dingsheng's new railway project?"
Li Jun Shen took a slow sip of tea, his movements elegant. "Yes, I am very interested in this project. And Dingsheng Group is one of the top conglomerates in Jinghua City. I feel very secure partnering with you."
"Is that so? I have a question that I'm rather curious about. Is Mr. Li planning to develop here long-term now that he's returned to Jinghua City?"
"Yes, the woman I love is here. I've been away from her for nearly ten years. I've come for her this time, and I will stay in this land for her."
Perhaps thinking of his beloved woman, his eyes under his glasses softened considerably.
Shen Chi Yan smiled. "I didn't expect Mr. Li to be such a devoted lover."
Li Jun Shen smiled faintly and remained silent.
"Mr. Li, there's something I'd like to ask your advice on."
"Please, President Shen, feel free to ask. It would be my honor to enlighten you."
"I recently heard that someone is acquiring Dingsheng Group's scattered shares. What are Mr. Li's thoughts on this?"
Li Jun Shen smiled faintly. "Although Dingsheng Group was founded by Old Master Shen, it is a joint-stock company. Whether it's the shares held by current shareholders or the scattered shares in the hands of ordinary investors, they are all shares of Dingsheng Group. As long as Dingsheng Group continues to prosper, why should we care who acquires the scattered shares? In the end, it all amounts to shares in President Shen's possession."
Shen Chi Yan's expression remained unchanged. "That's true."
Shen Qi Wen's gaze flickered back and forth between the two men.
Although they were chatting pleasantly, he felt that the energy between them was not quite right, as if they were regarding each other with a mixture of curiosity and guardedness.
Shen Chi Yan had an imposing aura, and few people could remain calm and composed in his presence. This Li Jun Shen seemed less gentle than he appeared on the surface.
Afterward, the three of them discussed the new railway project for a while. Shen Qi Wen, caught between them, secretly felt that he was no match for either of them.
If Shen Chi Yan was a dragon looking down on the world, then Li Jun Shen was a lurking beast. He wondered who would emerge victorious in a battle between this dragon and tiger.
However, as long as he secured Li Jun Shen's billion-dollar investment, his status within the Shen family and Dingsheng Group would be entirely different.
After Li Jun Shen left, Shen Chi Yan cast a cursory glance at Shen Qi Wen. "Since you've secured the investment, make sure to do a good job with the new railway project."
Shen Qi Wen followed Shen Chi Yan, feigning meekness. "Yes, thank you, brother, for your recommendation."
"This is your own capability, it has nothing to do with me."
Throughout his life, Shen Qi Wen had never received any praise, even for his outstanding achievements. Suddenly hearing praise from Shen Chi Yan, he was caught off guard.
He never imagined that the first praise he'd receive in his life would come from the man he had nearly killed.
"Until the funds are in place, anything could happen. You'd best keep a close eye on this Li Jun Shen."
Seeing Shen Qi Wen's long silence, Shen Chi Yan impatiently glanced at him. "Did you hear me?"
"Mm, I understand."
As they went downstairs, Shen Qi Wen stopped Shen Chi Yan. "Brother, I heard you and Song Qi Nian..."
Before Shen Qi Wen could finish his sentence, he was met with Shen Chi Yan's cold and sharp gaze. "From now on, I don't want to hear Song Qi Nian's name from your lips."
As they walked out of the tea house, they noticed that snow had begun to fall.
This was Jinghua City's first snow of the year, arriving earlier than usual.
The moment Shen Chi Yan saw the snowflakes falling from the sky, a scene flashed through his mind: a girl in a long white sweater and a red scarf stood before a cluster of red plum blossoms. She leaned down to sniff the blossoms and took out her phone to photograph the snow-covered red plums.
Her appearance was like a divine maiden emerging from a manga, making one's heart flutter.
By the time he realized it, he had already taken out his phone and captured the scene. However, the girl's face seemed veiled by layers of mist, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't see it clearly.
His head throbbed as if pricked by a needle. He clutched his forehead in pain and then saw Song Qi Nian holding a coffee and a bag.
Song Qi Nian stood not far from the tea house, extending a hand to carefully catch the snowflakes falling from the sky.
The fragile snowflakes vanished the moment they touched her warm palm. Her previously smiling face suddenly held a hint of melancholy.
It was as if she lamented the fleeting existence of the snowflakes.
Meanwhile, in a car across the street, Li Jun Shen also saw Song Qi Nian catching snowflakes. His Nian Nian, standing amidst the swirling snow, was so beautiful, so breathtaking. His heart pounded uncontrollably, and he longed to rush down and hold her tightly.
"Song Qi Nian!"
Shen Chi Yan's clear, angry voice suddenly rang out. "With this much snow, what are you still standing out here for? Do you want to catch a cold so you can take sick leave?"
Hearing Shen Chi Yan's voice, Song Qi Nian, clutching her belongings, trotted over to him. Shen Chi Yan impatiently brushed the snow from her hair and spoke cruelly, "Already putting on a show to entice people right after your divorce. You really can't sit still for a day."
Li Jun Shen, witnessing Shen Chi Yan's attitude towards Song Qi Nian, a hint of cold light flashed in his dark eyes.
Shen Chi Yan felt the ill-intentioned, even murderous, gaze and instinctively looked over, only to see a car driving away amidst the falling snow.