Chapter 26: The Rise of the Small Man

当她穿过人群时,沈明注意到苏家所有的亲戚都认识她,不需要苏宁的介绍.她能感觉到他们眼神对她的压力.在病房门口,在一层保镖挡住了他们的去路后,她和苏宁第一个进入了病房.外面,苏宁的长子苏玉燕,还被拦着进去.刹那间,人群中爆发出窃窃私语.欢迎宴会甚至还没举行,所有人就已经看到了苏家长女的魅力.这不仅仅是她的外表——她气势磅礴的存在非同寻常.难怪苏宁一被带回来就把她收在了自己的羽翼下.的确,苏宁的亲生女儿和养女之间有着明显的区别,养女在某些方面似乎总是有所欠缺."别胡说八道.我觉得顾峰还年轻.假以时日,家里的女主人会把更大的责任托付给她."我认为你不了解这种情况.现在苏家的大女儿回来了,整个家庭都要变了.老人醒来后最想看到的人就是她.就连玉燕也会被推到一边."谁能接替喻燕的位置?再过几年,整个苏家还是会在他的掌控之下."谁知道呢?如果事情继续这样下去,也许这个新回来的大女儿会变成一个坚韧的角色.亲戚们低声交谈传开,一两句话传到了顾峰的耳中.她站在苏玉燕身后,轻轻拉扯着他的袖子."哥哥."苏玉燕转过身来,看了一眼八卦的亲戚.他们立刻沉默了.虽然老人已经恢复了意识,但他的身体仍然很脆弱,需要好好休息.会议明确了一件事:沈明是苏家的女儿这一事实必须公开宣布,并举行盛大的庆祝活动——从媒体到为他们的熟人举行的正式欢迎宴会.给予这个受苦的孙女极大的尊重是必不可少的.走出病房,沈明心里有些不舒服.那个老人还是她记忆中的那个老人,一个已经老去的坚强,固执的老人.躺在那张医院的病床上,他很痛苦.尽管老人本性倔强强悍,但看到他如此虚弱,静静地躺在那里,她心中激起了一丝同情.苏宁护送沈明走出病房,传达了老人的信息.今天的会议结束了.老人的病情需要休息,所以大家改天再来.人群很快就散去了,但走廊上仍然挤满了人.在分散的人群中,还是有一些窃窃私语."你看到了吗?苏家的长女进来了,苏家的势力显然在转移.虽然医院无法阻止人们八卦,但消息很快就传开了.苏宁正在苏轼集团的销售活动上准备盛大的酒宴,正式宣布他们的新家庭成员.这比简单的欢迎宴会还要炫耀.看来苏宁急于公开验证长女的回归.苏轼集团只举办过一次如此奢华的活动——几年前,苏宁的第三个儿子苏玉燕在 18 岁时庆祝了他的成人仪式.命运的车轮转动了.那时,没有人能预料到其他人会成为如此关注的焦点.Su Yuyan had always thought the idea of a grand banquet was absurd.But Su Ning had asked him to take full responsibility for organizing the entire event.Shen Ming felt that Su Ning's arrangements were quite clever.As for the conflict between her son and her, she didn't see it as something that would be difficult to handle at all.Thinking about this, she couldn't help but smile.This time, Su Yuyan wouldn't have any excuse to avoid interacting with her.Lyan walked down the steps from the company building, carrying a box. When she reached Shen Ming's side, she saw her laughing foolishly while holding her phone.The constant smile made Lyan a bit suspicious."President Shen, are you in a relationship?"A relationship?With someone like Rong Zhaonan? Could that be called a relationship?"No, I'm just replying to my brother's message."Brother?What brother?Lyan was confused. She had never heard Shen Ming mention any family members before, so where did this "brother" come from?"President Shen, from today on, you're no longer my boss. You left Minglai and saved us low-level employees. On behalf of the entire staff, I want to thank you."Shen Ming took the heavy box from Lyan's hands. It was filled with her office supplies.The box was so heavy that Lyan almost collapsed under its weight, nearly squashing herself in the process."Lyan, I didn't know you were so practical."Lyan shot her a side-eye."President Shen, it's not that I'm practical. It's just that you've already left Minglai with nothing to your name. You can't even pay my salary. I haven't seen you send me any money for months now. I can't keep working for you. I've decided to go find a proper job."Lyan looked up at the sky as though a new light had ignited in her eyes.Seeing her like this, Shen Ming couldn't help but laugh.The day they were trapped in the heavy rain, she didn't know who had pitifully begged her not to fire them.And now, just after Shen Ming left Minglai, Lyan had already left her behind."Who says I have no money? I sold my shares and got quite a bit of cash. I can still afford to support you. Are you really not going to keep working with me?"Lyan felt that Shen Ming had it hard. Everything seemed difficult for her."President Shen, use that money to buy back your old house. You have no place to stay. Once I've saved up a bit more from my new job, I'll come back to you. Whatever you're doing, I'll follow."Lyan was not the most capable assistant under Shen Ming's employ, but she had been with her the longest."You're right. My car broke down too. It's inconvenient for you to follow me around."Seeing how difficult it was for Shen Ming to carry the heavy box, Lyan stepped in to help."President Shen, have you thought about what to do next? The company's been acquired, and your business venture failed. Have you considered looking for a proper job, like I did?"Working for someone else—when would that be the solution?"Mm, you're right. Starting a business made me realize how tough it really is. So, I've decided to take a break and prepare to inherit my family's business."Lyan knew Shen Ming's family background well. If she truly had something to inherit, why did she struggle so much before, even having to sell her house?Lyan couldn't help but laugh."President Shen, stop kidding me—"Suddenly, a delicate female voice interrupted them from behind."Well, well, look who it is, still here."Shen Ming turned around and saw Cheng Anyi, accompanied by several assistants and bodyguards.Cheng Anyi had caused a scene at the shareholder meeting, forcing Shen Ming to leave Minglai. As soon as the contract was signed, Cheng Anyi had her assistants pack Shen Ming's office supplies.Rather than saying Shen Ming had been forced out of Minglai, it was more accurate to say she was driven out by Cheng Anyi.But what was she doing here? Why had she brought so many bodyguards?Was she here to watch her drama unfold?