When Ren Bai heard their voices, he didn’t catch what they were saying exactly, but he could guess it wasn’t directed at him. So, he just urged, “Come on, let’s eat.”
After the two sat down, Lin Shuang brought out the last dish and sat at the table with Gao Yuan. There were no fancy dishes, just some home-cooked meals. Most of them were Yu Shiqing’s favorites, with a few that Jiang Yu and Ren Bai liked. There wasn’t any seafood on the table after staying at Yufeng Jingyuan for a few days, she had also learned about Yu Shiqing’s new allergy.
“Try it and see how it tastes,” Lin Shuang said. “If it’s not good, there are still ingredients in the kitchen. I can make something else.”
Yu Shiqing said, “This is enough.”
Ren Bai glanced at him instinctively, feeling a lot of emotions in his heart.
Yu Shiqing rarely celebrated his birthday. He never posted anything about it online, let alone told anyone the actual date. In past years, even if he wasn’t working, he treated the day like any other. He wouldn’t even remember there was anything special about it. So in the end, only Ren Bai remembered and cared.
But this year was finally different. The misunderstanding with Lin Shuang was resolved, and feelings had grown between him and Jiang Yu. Yu Shiqing’s life was no longer cold and lonely and it would never be again.
Adding to that, Yu Shiqing’s current career achievements meant that this year, he had gained both love and success. It was the kind of perfect life many could only dream of.
Ren Bai casually picked up some food and stuffed it in his mouth, feeling cheerful. But halfway through the meal, his phone, which was placed beside him, suddenly rang.
It was an unknown number.
Ren Bai picked up the phone and exchanged a look with Yu Shiqing. A call at this time was most likely related to the hot topic exploding on social media today.
“Should I answer it?” he asked.
Yu Shiqing said, “Up to you.”
Since there were no outsiders present, Ren Bai answered and turned on the speaker.
A middle-aged man’s voice came through the speaker immediately.
“Hello, is this Mr. Ren Bai, manager of Mr. Yu Shiqing?”
He sounded polite and respectful.
Ren Bai said, “Yes, that’s me.”
Hearing the confirmation, the man introduced himself: “Hello, Mr. Ren. I’m Kou Rong from Huaze Media.”
Ren Bai’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. He asked cautiously, “President Kou personally calling me? What’s the matter?”
Kou Rong, Chairman of Huaze Media, had stepped down from active management years ago due to illness. His health was said to have never improved, and he rarely showed up at the company. In nearly four years of being under contract with Huaze, Ren Bai had never even met him.
Kou Rong said, “Mr. Ren, let’s speak openly. I’d like to meet with Mr. Yu Shiqing.”
Ren Bai didn’t hesitate: “Sorry, Yu Shiqing doesn’t have time.”
“Mr. Ren, I know there were some issues between Yu Shiqing and Huaze in the past. I want to meet to sincerely apologize.”
He paused to cough hard before continuing, “Please believe I’m sincere. I’m here to solve the problem.”
Ren Bai sneered, “Some issues? Isn’t that a bit of an understatement?”
From signing the contract to being blacklisted, what Yu Shiqing had suffered at Huaze was beyond what most people could bear. The public only saw the tip of the iceberg and already found it unbearable. How much worse was it for Yu Shiqing, who experienced it all?
Calling it a “disagreement” was shameless.
“Alright, I used the wrong words,” Kou Rong admitted. “But what I mean is, I’m sorry I didn’t catch what was going on in the company because of my illness. Now that I know, I want to discuss with Mr. Yu how to resolve this face-to-face.”
Ren Bai exchanged another look with Yu Shiqing and replied calmly, “Resolve? I thought it was already resolved.”
Kou Rong said, “Please don’t joke, Mr. Ren. I genuinely want to communicate with you both.”
“Who’s joking?” Ren Bai rolled his eyes and completely lost patience. “Let me put it this way. Huaze ended up in this situation all because you deserve it. You brought this on yourselves. You should’ve thought of the consequences when you did all those horrible things.”
“You—!”
“What about me?” Ren Bai said. “And don’t play the sympathy card. So what if you’re sick? It’s not like Yu Shiqing gave you the virus. But Huaze really did back him into a corner. Back then you didn’t say a word. Now that it’s your turn to suffer, you want us to just let it go? How convenient!”
“If you pretended not to know anything then, don’t act pitiful now. If you did something wrong, take responsibility. President Kou, maybe go to kindergarten and learn some basic morals. Looks like you’ve got time.”
Kou Rong coughed violently, and after catching his breath, he said, “Yu Shiqing has already terminated his contract. Going after Huaze now won’t benefit you. But if you agree to release a joint statement with us, that’s all it takes whatever you want after that, money, resources, as long as Huaze can provide it, we will.”
Ren Bai didn’t even need to ask Yu Shiqing.
If Yu Shiqing had been tempted by any of those offers even once, those past three years wouldn’t have been so hard.
Thinking of that, Ren Bai asked, “What did you just say again?”
Kou Rong said, “If you issue a joint statement with Huaze—”
“No, the sentence before that.”
There was a pause before Kou Rong replied, “That going after Huaze doesn’t benefit you anymore?”
“Yes! That one!” Ren Bai clapped. “Who said it’s not beneficial?”
Kou Rong was confused: “What do you mean?”
Ren Bai said, “Watching Huaze fall is better than celebrating the New Year! Don’t worry, President Kou, when Huaze goes bankrupt, I’ll buy lots of firecrackers to celebrate!”
He listened carefully for a reaction. The speaker let out a few suppressed coughs, muffled in a handkerchief, followed by a faint sound of someone nearby crying out in surprise. Clearly, Kou Rong was very upset.
Ren Bai couldn’t hold back his laughter and was about to say more when he heard the call end.
He shrugged. “I was just starting to enjoy the conversation. Didn’t think President Kou couldn’t even take a joke.”
Yu Shiqing just said, “Let’s eat.”
Ren Bai followed orders and picked up his bowl again. But just as he put the phone down, it rang again.
Same number.
Ren Bai had no idea why the other party was asking for more humiliation. He looked at Yu Shiqing.
Yu Shiqing didn’t say anything.
Kou Rong hadn’t been involved in Huaze’s management for years, and now he had come out personally. That meant Huaze’s situation was likely worse than they imagined.
Even after being mocked and insulted, he was still trying to solve things peacefully. That in itself was unusual.
Seeing no objection, Ren Bai answered again and put it on speaker.
“Mr. Ren, if the conditions I offered weren’t sincere enough, feel free to name yours,” Kou Rong’s tone was a bit colder than before, but he was still very humble. “We can—”
“No matter what conditions you offer, Yu Shiqing doesn’t need them,” Ren Bai interrupted again. “President Kou, this is called ‘what goes around comes around.’ Or more accurately, it’s ‘the wheel of fate turns.’ Now it’s your turn to taste helplessness!”
Without waiting for a reply, he hung up and turned on airplane mode to block all further calls. Then he focused on eating.
After the meal, Yu Shiqing and Jiang Yu got up together.
Jiang Yu was about to help clean the table, but Lin Shuang quickly stopped him. “How can I let you do this?”
Hearing this, Ren Bai automatically put his bowl back on the table, waiting for her to ask him to go rest too.
However—
“Xiao Bai can help me just fine.”
Ren Bai: “?”
Lin Shuang turned to Yu Shiqing. “You and Jiang Yu go sit for a bit longer. The cake is still in the oven. Have some before you head back.”
Ren Bai knew there was no escaping this fate. He accepted it and began gathering the dishes again. Lin Shuang also reached for a rag but paused when she noticed Yu Shiqing hadn’t left.
She looked up at him.
Yu Shiqing pulled his gaze away from Jiang Yu and looked at her. “There’s something I want to tell you.”
This familiar line made Ren Bai’s hands tremble. The chopsticks on the bowl clattered loudly on the table.
Taking advantage of Lin Shuang’s momentary distraction, Ren Bai whispered, “Shiqing, are you really sure about this?”
“Sure about what?” Lin Shuang turned back and heard that line. She asked curiously.
Ren Bai’s mouth twitched. He didn’t dare say another word.
Yu Shiqing turned to Jiang Yu and reached out his hand. “Come here.”
Jiang Yu stepped forward and laced his fingers with his.
Yu Shiqing said, “I’m in a relationship.”
Lin Shuang nodded, waiting for him to continue.
Ren Bai was so nervous he felt like his heart was about to jump out of his throat. He watched Lin Shuang’s reaction closely, afraid she might be too shocked.
Yu Shiqing said, “Jiang Yu is the one I love.”
Lin Shuang looked completely blank.
Three seconds passed.
“Uh…” Ren Bai made a noise, then said, “Auntie, Yu Shiqing and Jiang Yu are together now.”
Faced with such an explosive statement, Lin Shuang didn’t react at all. Had she been too shocked to respond?
Even Yu Shiqing looked puzzled.
But then Lin Shuang simply said, “I know.”
Ren Bai: “???”
What the heck?
So he was the last person in the world to find out about this??
