C55

"Okay then. Have you applied to Nexus International?" asked Xue.

Ran looked at her and said, "Yes, I did. My interview is next week. Till then, I'm a free bird. You will have to take care of me…hehehe…"

"Also, I want to meet Song Jue."

"And now you are going to tell me all about your mysterious boyfriend…."

Xue said, "OK sure…. I will call Jue tomorrow and we will go shopping."

Both of them sat down together and ordered some snacks. Xue started telling her about various events that had happened since she joined MLH.

============================================

Li's Penthouse-

Yang Li sat in his living room with his laptop. He was on a video conference call with a foreign client. He was in the midst of consultation when he received a message from Qin Wentian.

It said- 'Boss, Xi Fan tried to dig deeper into Sister Mei. He even hired some hackers. He is really trying hard. All the bugs have been planted and everything is set. Awaiting further instructions.

Boss, I also have a favor to ask.'

After twenty minutes Yang Li finished the video conference. He called Wentian.

"Hello Boss! so what do you want me to do?" asked Wentian.

Li said, "First tell me what is the favor?"

Wentian was surprised.

He said, "Boss, my sister Qin Ran has come back from Uruk. She specialized in AI and worked in a start-up when she was in Rhone."

"She is as skilled as me and in certain areas even more avant-garde than me. I think she would be a great addition to the workshop."

Li paused for a moment and said, "You can hire her but make sure everything is official. Set up a few rounds and tests. Discuss the details with Zhou Jin."

"However, is she even interested in joining YLM?"

Wentian was excited by Li's response.

He said hurriedly, "Don't worry boss even if she is not, I will convince her...hehehe…"

Li said, "Now, let's discuss proper business."

He gave Qin Wentian some instructions.

"We are only going to damage the legitimate businesses. Xi Fan has made a lot of effort to change his criminal establishments into legitimate businesses. I am going to destroy them and buy them at a cheap rate."

"You can start the process."

Wentian attacked the Xi Enterprise and leaked their confidential data. This caused their share prices to fall rapidly.

Thereafter their legitimate businesses were attacked with a newly developed ransomware.

These attacks caused the Xi family to divert the funds from their illegitimate businesses to the family company.

In a few hours, although the share prices had stabilized, they suffered a huge loss.

Many shareholders sold their shares during this period.

Li had instructed Jin to buy as much as he could by any means necessary.

After the process was completed, Yang li said to Jin, "Anything else?"

"Mother Yu said to tell you to go visit her at Zenith. She also wants to meet Bing Xue. She was angry that you didn't call her and tell her about Bing Xue." Said Jin.

Li replied, "I called her thrice but each time she was busy in the lab. I will go meet her tomorrow. Alright, anything else?"

Jin said, "No, nothing else. I will send you the final report on Xi's after the process is completed."

After that Zhou Jin ended the call.

An hour later Yang Li received a message to allow a visitor into the penthouse. It was none other Han Kai.

Han Kai was not able to attend the engagement as there was an emergency back at home in Zijin. His mother was in a car accident. Therefore, he had to fly back to Zijin.

When Han Kai exited the lift, he looked tired and worn out.

Li asked him, "When did you come back?"

Han Kai said, "In the morning. I'm extremely tired. Quickly, tell me which room is empty?"

Li snorted and said, "Why didn't you go to your apartment?"

Kai said impatiently, "Too far. Now tell me which one or I'll sleep here in the living room next to you."

Li said flatly, "The third room is empty."

Kai smirked and said, "Goodnight my best friend; see you in a few hours."

And then he rushed into the third room to take a nap.

============================================

Later in the evening, after Yang Li finished all his work, he went to the kitchen to make some coffee.

He sat down on his couch to enjoy a cup of coffee when he received a call.

It was Bing Xue. They started chatting. Xue told him all about her day including her talk with Qin Ran.

She asked, "So, does her brother work at YLM?"

Li replied, "Yes. He works at the workshop."

Xue was surprised as the people who worked at the workshop were the core employees of YLM. She now understood why Ran's brother could refer her to work in YLM.

She also understood that her friend knew nothing about her brother's real job.

Li said, "Actually, Wentian talked to me about Qin Ran today. He wanted to employ her. I agreed. But I don't think she is interested."

Xue said, "It's not that she is uninterested but she is doubtful."

Li said, "Doubtful?"

"Yes, doubtful whether her brother has any real influence to refer her to YLM. And also doubtful about the mysterious owner and background of YLM." Replied Xue.

Li said, "It's fine. If she applies, she will be hired. If not, Nexus is also a good company."

Xue replied, "Yaaahh…. I don't want her to join your rival company. But I don't want to interfere."

Li said, "Don't worry about it. She is an adult. In the end, it should be her own choice."

"So, you will go shopping with Song Jue and Qin Ran tomorrow."

Xue said, "Yes that is the plan. What about you? Are you free tomorrow?"

Li said, "I have to go to Zenith. But I can accompany you after you finish your shopping."

Xue said, "Cool then. Take care. Bye bye…. Kiss, kiss, muah, muah,muah…." And she ended the call.

Fifteen minutes later Han Kai came out of his room.

Li saw him yawning as he walked toward the refrigerator in the kitchen. He took out a bottle of water and took a huge gulp.

Li said, "There is dinner in the refrigerator. Finish it otherwise it will go bad."

Kai said, "What about you?"

Li replied, "I have already eaten."

Kai looked at him and said, "Hey, are you free tomorrow?"

Li said, "Nope. I have to go to Zenith and then accompany Xue'er."

"Why, what happened?"

Kai said, "I wanted you to accompany me on a blind date."

Li frowned and said, "What the f**k are you talking about? What blind date?"

"Actually, the daughter of a friend of my father's saw me somewhere. She asked her father to ask my dad to set up a blind date."

"Nobody at home knows about my feelings for Shishi. So, my dad agreed."

"Now I'm stuck. I even fought with my dad. But finally, I had to compromise as mom intervened. She said that I just need to meet her once. If I don't like it then there is no need to continue."

"Initially, I thought of taking you to the date. I could use your face to shift her focus from me to you. But you don't seem to care about my fate."

Yang Li's face blackened on hearing his words and he said to Kai, "GET LOST!"

He continued, "I have some work to do so I will be in my room. What about you? Will you stay or go back to your apartment?"

Kai thought for a moment and said, "Naah, I will stay here tonight."

"OK, Goodnight." saying so Li went to his room.