Chapter 32 Nervous About What?

The day of the bidding conference arrived quickly.

Since it was an internal bidding event, the conference hall wasn't very large, but it was modern and elegant, perfectly in line with the international standards of a listed corporation. This was likely also a venue for hosting high-level meetings.

I stood before a group of shareholders and seasoned professionals in the industry, speaking with confidence, narrating the story that had been buried deep in my heart.

At that moment, I felt like I had waited far too long for this.

From my position, I could clearly see the expression of a well-respected producer in the first row change as he listened to me.

At first, he was dismissively doodling on his notebook, but soon he looked up to listen. His eyes shifted from surprise to approval, and finally, a knowing smile appeared as he realized the twist in the story.

Yes, he had been drawn into the narrative.

Every industry has its hierarchy, and I understood the rules. That's why I was even more grateful to Shen Jibai at this moment.

Without him, Lin Xiyi and I wouldn't even have qualified to stand here, let alone present our script.

When the shareholders announced that we had secured the project, I believed that this outcome was earned through our own abilities.

No matter how infatuated Shen Jibai might be with me, he wouldn't gamble with the company's reputation or his family's prestige just to humor me.

Having navigated the business world for so many years, steering the entire corporation amidst hidden dangers and shifting dynamics, he was not someone who acted impulsively out of emotion.

Yet, there were times when he showed me extraordinary tenderness, making me foolishly think that I might be the only exception in his world.

The scene from that night in Bangkok flashed through my mind at an inappropriate moment, and my ears began to feel warm.

In the past, achieving such a significant victory would have had me and Lin Xiyi hugging each other and screaming like cavemen. But today, in such a formal setting, we had to act like mature adults, smiling, bowing, and thanking the investors for their discerning judgment.

Through the crowd, a figure walked toward me, exuding elegance and grace.

"Congratulations to you both," Shen Jibai said.

His eyes were clear, his face devastatingly handsome, pale and refined, yet devoid of any trace of a smile.

He bent slightly and shook hands with Lin Xiyi like a gentleman.

It was hard to reconcile this austere and serious man with the beast who had pulled me onto his lap and kissed me against the steering wheel in the car just last night.

"Thank you, President Shen," Lin Xiyi replied with a polite smile and nod.

Snapping out of my daze, I followed suit, smiling and extending my hand.

He leaned down and clasped my hand.

I looked up, meeting Shen Jibai's deep and solemn gaze.

He looked at me intently and spoke, "Congratulations, Miss Jiang, on securing this project with our company. The work ahead will be challenging—be prepared. I wish you and your team all the best."

Then, he suddenly leaned forward and gave me a hug.

The entire gesture was professional, without any impropriety. Yet, perhaps because of my own thoughts, the moment he embraced me, my heart raced to my throat.

Thankfully, I managed to control myself and didn't embarrass myself too much.

He noticed my unease entirely. As he straightened up, he raised an eyebrow playfully and teased in a low voice, "What were you so nervous about just now? How can someone so young be thinking such unhealthy thoughts?"

I was speechless.

As he turned away, I caught a glimpse of the faint curve of his lips.

But as he moved toward the others, he had already returned to his usual calm and indifferent demeanor.

"Let's go! We have to celebrate our first victory tonight!"

Watching Shen Jibai's retreating figure, Lin Xiyi grabbed my arm and tried to suppress her excitement.

"Yes, we must pop a bottle of champagne!" I nodded repeatedly in agreement.

The two of us weaved through the dispersing crowd.

Suddenly, a man I had never met before blocked our path.

Looking up, I guessed he was about the same age as Shen Jibai, but his features carried a worldly sophistication.

Dressed in expensive attire and exuding an extraordinary aura, it was clear he wasn't here for me.

Lin Xiyi stepped forward.

"Long time no see, husband."

What?!

You… you two talk. I'll just excuse myself now…

Our celebration plans were completely hijacked by this unexpected man, leaving me to return to my apartment with a face full of disappointment.

I started with a hot shower and then aimlessly scrolled through social media.

Only then did I realize how busy I'd been with work lately—I hadn't even checked my phone, leaving a pile of unread messages unanswered.

After replying to them one by one and exchanging some small talk, half the day had passed.

During this time, I didn't receive a single message from Shen Jibai.

As the tension eased, I suddenly felt a sense of emptiness.

I even began to look forward to the next wave of busyness.

After idling away the rest of the day in my apartment, I couldn't bear the boredom anymore. I called Shen Jin and asked him to join me at the gym.

"Of course, Your Majesty! This humble servant will come to your palace at once!" Even over the phone, I could imagine Shen Jin striking a flamboyant pose with a mischievous grin.

"Park your car in the garage and stay there. I'll come pick you up," I interrupted him rudely, desperate to get out of the house.

The gym was part of a large chain, designed with a futuristic aesthetic. The strength training area, in particular, was illuminated by lights reflected off numerous floor-to-ceiling mirrors, creating a striking interplay of brightness and shadow.

After finishing a few sets of strength exercises, I wiped my sweat and watched Shen Jin flit around like a social butterfly, collecting five girls' WeChat contacts in just half an hour.

Shen Jin and I were the same age and had been classmates in middle school.

As much as Shen Jibai understood me, I understood Shen Jin just as well.

Shen Jin was also a member of the Shen family—a classic rich playboy. But in his case, the term wasn't derogatory. He was well-mannered, responsible, and bold.

His upbringing was different from mine. While my father never taught me the ways of business, Shen Jin had been immersed in the Shen family's corporate empire from birth. He deeply understood that relationships built on mutual benefit were the most stable and enduring.

When it came to matters of romance, he was exceptionally clear-headed and pragmatic.

I didn't know what kind of partner he envisioned for his future, and he had never mentioned it to me.

At least so far, when it came to women, he never invested genuine feelings in situations that could be resolved with money.

I'd occasionally heard rumors about Shen Jin's romantic escapades, but I'd never seen him introduce a woman to us as his girlfriend.

Of course, let me clarify—Shen Jin didn't like men either.

Perhaps his only true hobby was hanging out with us.

He was quite the enigma.

Sitting on the lat pulldown machine, I was staring absentmindedly at Shen Jin when my phone rang—it was Shen Jibai calling.