Translated by Eve
Edited by Kara
Two hours before the work day ended, the Song Group’s quarterly meeting was in session.
Fifteen minutes before the end of the meeting, a ringtone suddenly went off in the conference room, interrupting the financial director’s report. Everyone exchanged looks, looking for the source of the sound.
Song Xuanhe leaned to one side. His gaze leisurely fell on Song Guochao, who sat in front of him. His hearing had always been rather good. While others were looking for the source of the sound, he already knew that it was Song Guochao’s phone.
Chairman Song Yansong, who sat at the head of the table, also heard it. His already stern expression grew even more taut. He swept an imposing gaze around, wanting to find out who had broken the rule of silencing one’s phone during meetings.
Usually, Song Guochao couldn’t be considered smart. However, considering how he was already at such an age and had such a high position, he naturally wouldn’t break such a tiny rule. His phone had been put on silent. It was just that he had set up a special number. No matter when, so long as this phone number called, the ringtone would sound.
“Father, why does it seem like the sound is coming from you?”
Song Xuanhe leaned against the office chair, smiling. It was extremely provoking.
Song Guochao had originally been hesitating between answering the call and silencing it. When he saw that Song Xuanhe had put him on the spot in front of everyone in the conference room, rage boiled in his chest. However, he also didn’t want to lose face, so he said coldly, “It’s from Mr. Huang, who I have been discussing the new development zone with recently. Because we haven’t confirmed the partnership, I made his number special so that it can bypass the phone’s silent mode.”
After saying this, Song Guochao looked at the head of the table and said to Song Yansong, “Chairman, the meeting is just about to end. I cannot put off the matter with Mr. Huang. How about I go take this call?”
Song Yansong’s expression became a bit better. The new development zone was one of the Song Group’s biggest projects from the last half-year. Indeed, they could not be sloppy with it. Moreover, this meeting was indeed nearing the end. There was nothing much more to say. Therefore, he nodded and said, “What needs to be said has been said. We’ll end things here today.”
Song Guochao sighed in relief. He could faintly make out Song Xuanhe’s smile. His heart was in disorder, and anger arose. He must have sinned a lot in his last life to have been forced to connect with the Li family in marriage and have such a hateful, unfilial son.
The door to the conference room opened, and Song Yansong left first. The others also filed out. Song Guochao hurried to return the call and naturally was at the front of the line. Song Xuanhe fell to the back. Seeing Song Xuanhe look like he wanted to make trouble, Song Xuanlin said to him, “Don’t provoke Father. When you have time, come home more. Mom has been mentioning you often recently.”
Since Song Xuanhe had transmigrated into this body, he had had few opportunities to speak with Song Xuanlin. Because, the description of Song Xuanlin in the book was very sparse. There was nothing useful, so he didn’t have much interest in interacting with him. Right now, hearing him suddenly speak, he still felt it was a bit strange.
Only, his memories of the original host and Song Xuanlin interacting were very distinct. Song Xuanhe’s tone was rather relaxed, and he smiled. “I know. I wasn’t making trouble for him.”
Song Xuanlin, however, knew his brother well. He didn’t believe him at all. He could only stress his point, “Jiani called me at lunch saying that you fired her. She probably went to her mom in the afternoon. Grandpa is already displeased about you and that man from the venture investment department. Don’t stir anything else up. If you do, Song Guochao will get involved with your marriage and might decide it for you. Don’t show off.”
When he heard this, Song Xuanhe nodded, taking his advice. Probably because of his personality, Song Xuanlin, who had been mature and steady from a young age, truly wanted what was best for his younger brother, despite the fact that they were not close like normal brothers. It was just that Song Xuanhe didn’t understand why the other could watch on without doing anything when his own brother had been chased out of the house.
“I have a sense of propriety.” Song Xuanhe had a smile on his face. He was about to continue when his phone began to vibrate.
Song Xuanlin saw that Song Xuanhe had a call, so he didn’t say anything more. “Answer the call, ba. I’ll take my leave first. Remember to go see Mom when you have time.”
Song Xuanhe watched him leave. Only then did he answer his call. “Mr. Song, someone stormed into that person’s villa not too long ago and destroyed the place. Right now, those people have already left. That person is on the phone now. I don’t know if she’s calling the police.”
“No.” When Song Xuanhe thought of how Song Guochao had rushed out to answer the phone, he smiled and leaned against the wall. He was in a very good mood. “Continue watching the situation over there. When you see Song Guochao, help me take a few photos. Also, don’t loosen the watch on Liu Xu. I’m keeping myself entertained with their play these days.”
The person on the other side fell silent for a moment. In the end, they still replied in a very professional manner, “Alright. I will send the photos to you at night. If something happens, I will notify you at once.”
After hanging up, Song Xuanhe put his cell phone back into the pocket of his blazer. He went back to his office with curved eyes.
Prior to today, Liu Xu had attempted to seduce Song Xuanhe several times, but the other remained unmoved. Therefore, she gave up and turned back around to fawn over Song Guochao. Song Guochao, if nothing else, was liberal with his money. Not just film opportunities, but he had also gifted her a seaside home and several auctioned jewellery pieces worth tens of millions.
It was because of this that there had been a small rumour about the relationship between Liu Xu and Song Guochao. Because her behind-the-scenes patron was so perfect, and her resources were plentiful, her status had risen accordingly. Just two weeks with Song Guochao had Liu Xu, who had just barely made it as a famous actress, enjoying treatment that exceeded what even a famous actress would receive. Naturally, her ambition grew.
She knew that she could not be Song Guochao’s official wife. Thus, she wanted to find a way to keep Song Guochao hanging. At the very least, she wanted to keep her place as his number one mistress. Song Guochao clearly really liked her. When she acted coquettish or jealous, he would actually sever his relationships with his other mistresses. He had only been favouring her for a while. As long as she asked for it, Song Guochao would never refuse to give her expensive cars, homes, or resources.
Liu Xu really enjoyed the benefits that came with being Song Guochao’s lover. She naturally wanted to wrack her brains over how to flatter him even more. She was even more clear about how it was only if she could string this man up that she would be able to get even better benefits.
However, it was at this time that someone anonymously sent her an email. There was nothing else aside from information about one woman. The information had detailed the relationship between this woman and Song Guochao very clearly. It had also detailed the history between the two of them.
When she saw the woman who looked 60% similar to her, Liu Xu was furious. When she saw that this other woman was Song Guochao’s first love, how could she not understand what was going on?
Although Liu Xu came from a poor family, because her appearance was outstanding, she had never suffered since she was young. Later on, when she entered the entertainment industry, with her beauty and sensibility, she was like a fish in water. After two years, she had won a Best Actress award in film. While others would have to suck up to superiors and yet still find it hard to gain success, it had been smooth-sailing for her over her entire twenty-something years of life.
And it was because it had been so smooth-sailing that although Liu Xu was a slick one when it came to the ways of this world, there was still a haughtiness that was deeply-entrenched in her bones from having been popular all her life.
She knew that Song Guochao liked her for her youthful beauty. She also liked Song Guochao for his money and status. The two of them were both getting what they wanted from the other. Even though she knew that he had a wife and a son that was about her own age, she didn’t think that she was doing anything wrong.
However, if Song Guochao was using her as a substitute for someone else, then she was really unhappy. Moreover, that other person was nothing but another mistress he was keeping outside. Although “first love” sounded good, she was nothing but an old lady with no official status. Liu Xu, a Film Empress who thousands chased after, was actually being used as a substitute for an old, withered mistress. She could not accept this.
Moreover, Liu Xu wasn’t stupid. If Song Guochao had wanted to be with her for her youthful beauty, then she could still keep him bound for a long time on the principle that familiarity breeds fondness. However, if she was nothing but a substitute, when he was sick of her, he would throw her away. In any case, as long as the real person was still around, he would leave without any reluctance. Without a financial supporter, she would have nothing.
Her heart was filled with rage and hate. However, Liu Xu was not worried. She had first sent someone to check if the information was true. She had also dispatched people to keep watch. She wanted to confirm the place that woman had in Song Guochao’s heart. However, after half a month, Song Guochao had only gone there once and then left in a hurry just two hours later. It seemed that that woman, now that she was old and withered, had lost most of her charm. Only then did she send people to go make trouble at ease.
Although she wanted to make trouble, Liu Xu wasn’t stupid. She naturally would not leave any evidence. She had hired help. When the time came, she would send photos of Song Guochao and his first love to Song Guochao’s wife. At that time, there would naturally be someone who would deal with her. Even if the nominal wife didn’t care, she still had many other means to expose their relationship.
And when Song Guochao’s relationship with his first love was exposed, she didn’t believe that they could continue to meet privately. Their relationship would come to an end, and Song Guochao would naturally come looking for her.
As time passed, she didn’t believe that Song Guochao would abandon her and risk going to look for his first love, who was already an old granny, again.
Song Xuanhe had someone watching Liu Xu. He naturally knew of all the things Liu Xu did. He had already seen these kinds of things plenty of times in his original world. He had also seen many women like Liu Xu. Therefore, he didn’t have to look into it all that much and was able to accurately guess her goal.
Actually, Liu Xu’s goal was the same as Song Xuanhe’s. In the early days of planning, he had already anticipated this ending. He only hoped that Liu Xu would put in some extra work to ensure that Song Guochao’s benevolent father image would be destroyed as soon as possible and that Song Xuanhe wouldn’t have to think of a way to provoke Song Guochao. Then, he could estrange himself from Song Guochao after being “disappointed” by him without being criticized.
Song Xuanhe returned to his office and grabbed his car key. It was just in time for him to get off work. He didn’t even sit down and instead headed out directly. When he reached the marketing division’s floor, he discovered that his secretary was actually still there. Moreover, she was talking to a familiar-looking woman.
The secretary saw Song Xuanhe and said something to the woman before walking over. She was beaming, “Today, the venture investment division has a meeting. I wanted to notify you but didn’t think that you would already come down. Your meeting must have ended very early today.”
Although Song Xuanhe had a noble air to him, being the son of a rich family, and would occasionally have a bit of a temper, he was usually amiable and easy-to-deal-with to his coworkers and subordinates. Moreover, he was also very handsome. When he smiled, he looked easy-going and cheerful. He would also joke around. With all of this, his short little fits of temper became cute in the eyes of others. The secretary had become much more friendly and casual with him when speaking because of this.
“It’s fine. I’ll just wait here. You leave first, ba.”
The secretary glanced at the tightly closed meeting room door. She thought it over and then said, “My friend is in the venture investment division. I’m also waiting for her. How about we wait together? The break room is on the other side. I can talk to you about your schedule for next week.”
When he thought about how he had to talk about work after just getting off work, Song Xuanhe furrowed his brows imperceptibly. However, he had no reason to refuse. He could only follow his secretary into the break room.
The secretary was really professional. As soon as she sat down, she reported everything in his schedule for the next week. She then introduced him to everyone he had to and would want to contact as well as those who already had appointments with him. After she said all this, Song Xuanhe was really looking forward to Xiao Yuanmu’s meeting ending early so that he could leave.
“Mr. Song,” The secretary suddenly stopped speaking and said to Song Xuanhe, “There’s a red mark on your collar.”
Song Xuanhe paused his action of drinking. When he thought of how the scene of Song Jiani pouncing on him at lunch had already made Xiao Yuanmu make him wipe his face with a cold expression, he promptly looked down. However, he couldn’t see the red mark.
When the secretary saw that he couldn’t find the mark despite pulling at his collar, she came closer and helped him wipe it with a dampened napkin. After wiping it, she lifted the napkin up to let him see the red on it, showing him that she had helped him wipe it clean.
Just at this moment, the door to the meeting room opened. Xiao Yuanmu was at the forefront. He looked up and was met with the sight of the two sitting intimately together. It looked like Song Xuanhe and the secretary were kissing.
The author has something to say:
Make trouble, make trouble!
Some of you readers said that there’s no reason for my son Xuan to have transmigrated into the original host’s body. Actually, there is a reason, la. But I don’t want to spoil it so I can’t explain it. When you see the later half of the text, you’ll understand. Therefore, hold your horses everyone. (づ￣ 3￣)づ
Eve: The start of jealous Mumu hehe.
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