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Nanyang High School was a private school with Xinlei Group holding more than fifty percent of the school’s shares. The principal was a hired staff and, apart from managing the school, he didn’t really have much power.
Fu Hai however was different. He had a stake in the school’s projects and his power exceeded that of the principal’s despite the fact that he only carried the vice-principal title. He typically didn’t interfere with the school’s operation but if he wanted to, even the principal wouldn’t be able to do anything.Just like now, Fu Hai had asked the principal Xue Yi to expel Xie Zhongxing. His tone however wasn’t a request, but an order.Xue Yi was speechless, “Fu Hai, you may not know this, but Xie Zhongxing entered this school ranking first in the city and has always been maintaining first place all these years. I can’t think of a reason to expel him all of a sudden.”Fu Hai disagreed, “After he leaves, someone else will be first in the grade. A school as big as ours would be lacking in that?”Xue Yi explained in earnest, “It’s different. Since our school was established, we have spent two billion yuan on building it and giving it the best resources and we have even hired the best teachers in the area. All that we’re missing is a top scorer! As long as our school has one, the school’s reputation will skyrocket, and it will in turn benefit you.”Fu Hai who heard this began to reconsider his options. Unlike other shareholders who had just invested a part of their savings, he had used all his savings and even borrowed some money from Fu Donglin’s father, Fu Chaosheng, to buy the shares. It could be said that this school was his last form of retreat.But his older brother had asked him a favour and he couldn’t refuse him. He asked, “Are you certain he will be a top scorer?”Xue Yi said, “You can come and take a look. These are his grades since he enrolled.”Fu Hai walked behind Xue Yi and looked at the computer. The screen showed Xie Zhongxing’s results from all the large and small exams he had taken over the past few years.Xue Yi said, “He has been performing very stably. It can be seen that the scores are also gradually increasing. In his first monthly exam in his first year, his total score was 656 but in his last mock exam in March this year, he achieved a high score of 720. Second place only got 688, that’s a difference of more than 30 points. You should understand how difficult it is for one to catch up to such a high score.”Fu Hai no longer spoke.Xue Yi continued, “And it’s also his third year now. There are only two months left till the college entrance exams. If you make him drop out, you’re basically gifting this top scorer to another school----Did you really think that he wouldn’t enrol into another school after being expelled?”Fu Hai took in Xie Zhongxing’s blinding results and couldn’t say anything to refute Xue Yi.He couldn’t help but internally grumble at Fu Chaosheng. How could he expel a future top scorer like this? Even if he could expel him, the other shareholders would definitely not agree with that decision. When the time comes, those shareholders would no longer see him in a good light and they also wouldn’t involve him in good business opportunities.Fu Hai decided to no longer push the matter of expelling Xie Zhongxing.Xue Yi said, “Your nephew has created a big ruckus this time.”Fu Hai’s expression wasn’t very good. Xue Yi lowered his voice, “Let me tell you this. It’s best that you don’t get involved in this matter. The transfer student who transferred here a few days ago is Qin Xiangqian’s son and he has a good relationship with Xie Zhongxing. If he wants to stand up for him, your older brother is finished.”Fu Hai was taken aback, “Qin Xiangqian?”
Xue Yi nodded, “It’s the Qin Xiangqian you’re thinking of.”Fu Hai’s expression changed immediately, “Him?!”Qin Xiangqian’s name was one that even someone who didn’t pay much attention to the news would know of. It would often appear in financial papers and the news, and he was recognised as the richest man in China who had established the Qin Enterprise from scratch which had since been involved in various industries.The most popular search engine originated from the Qin Enterprise’s technology company and high-end electronics such as smartphones and laptops were also pioneered by the Qin Enterprise. The most famous jewellery brand belonged to the Qin Enterprise, as did the largest hotel chain in China as well as the largest winery in China…..Gradually, the Qin Enterprise had taken root in various industries, becoming a leader of those industries in a terrifyingly short period of time. It is hard to imagine how rich this enterprise that had spread its roots all over the country and had even started to venture overseas really was.In front of such a behemoth, more than just Fu Hai, even Xinlei Group was just a small, insignificant ant.And Qin Xiangqian’s son had a good relationship with this student…..Fu Hai immediately made a decision inside.When Fu Chaosheng called him again, Fu Hai began to play dead.Fu Chaosheng, who couldn’t get through to Fu Hai’s phone, also didn’t try to call him again. To him, Xie Zhongxing was just an insignificant character. He had encountered some other more troublesome matters instead and didn’t have the time to worry about Xie Zhongxing.But Huang Yuan continued to call him. Fu Chaosheng hung up on her several times but she still continued to call him. He angrily answered the call, “I already said that I’m busy and that you shouldn’t call me yet you’re still calling?!”Huang Yuan said anxiously, “It has almost been a whole day, why haven’t you done anything? Hurry and let those guys release my son!”Fu Chaosheng was already in an extremely bad mood, “There are some matters with the company right now. Stop making a fuss and we’ll talk about this after I’m done with the matters on this end.”A female secretary with a voluptuous figure entered the room. Her gorgeous make up was a little sweaty at this moment as she hurried in with a file in her hands, “Boss, the construction company in Xicheng also cancelled their order. What should we do?!”Fu Chaosheng’s vision darkened. He no longer cared that he was still on the phone and asked, “The order is already on their way and they’re cancelling it?”The female secretary said, “They just said to cancel it and didn’t give us a reason. It’s not only Xicheng, even the city government cancelled their order for their new construction site….”Without leaving anything out, she listed out all the orders that had been cancelled. Except for the ones that had already been completed, all the ones that were in progress or in discussion had been cancelled.Moreover, in a transaction like this, they were Party B so there was no risk or major backlash for breaching an agreement and cancelling an order.
Fu Chaosheng was in so much stress, an ulcer had formed in the corner of his lips. Huang Yuan on the other end was still yelling through the phone. Unable to rein in his anger, he roared, “You shut up! Your son ended up like this because of you! The reason why he’s in jail is because you as the mother have always been spoiling him! You should be reflecting on this instead of constantly calling me. I’ll deal with that matter when I’m done here! That’s all!”Once done, without giving Huang Yuan a chance to say anything, he hung up.The female secretary cautiously asked, “Boss, what should we do now? Is someone deliberately messing with us?”Fu Chaosheng heard this and instantly understood. For everyone to suddenly cancel their orders at the same time, the only possible explanation for it was that there was an agreement of some sort. Many of these were old clients so why did they suddenly cancel their orders?He calmed himself down and took out his phone. After finding an old friend from one of the companies, he called to enquire about the situation.The old friend of his was evasive at first but after Fu Chaosheng continued to pester him, he could only speak up, “Stop asking. It’s because you have offended the other party and it’s someone we don’t dare offend. You should carefully think about who you have offended. We’re all businessmen here so we naturally don’t have the spare time or energy to go around messing with others just for fun. Us cancelling our orders from your company have also affected the construction on our end.”Fu Chaosheng hung up and carefully tried to recall. He felt that he didn’t seem to have done anything that would have offended anyone recently. He however wasn’t given the luxury to sit down and think about this problem. Bad news came one after another and in just three days, his company had reached a point where it was on the verge of bankruptcy.That’s right. In just three days, Fu Chaosheng was on the verge of bankruptcy. He wanted to take a loan from the bank to allow the company to get by for a period of time but the news he got from the bank's end was that his application could not be approved.Fu Chaosheng sold his family’s mansion, luxury cars and even stole Huang Yuan’s private savings, but even all of this was not enough.Very soon, Fu Chaosheng went bankrupt.*Qin Zhongyue who had just received this good news from Qin Xiangqian couldn’t wait to share it with Xie Zhongxing.Qin Xiangqian wanted to tell him how he managed to do this, but Qin Zhongyue wasn’t interested at all. He very perfunctorily brushed him off, “I know, dad, you’re really amazing! But isn’t three days too long? I thought you could make them bankrupt in one day.”Qin Xiangqian, “…….”It’s not like it’s medicine where you’ll see an effect so quickly.Qin Zhongyue said, “Then that’s that. I’m going to school to tell my desk mate this good news!”Qin Xiangqian stopped him, “Wait, I haven’t asked you how you’re doing at your new school.”Qin Zhongyue answered, “It’s not bad. Much better than Plitton International School.”
Qin Xiangqian casually asked, “How is that classmate of yours?”“Which?”Qin Xiangqian: “That Xie Zhongxing.”Qin Zhongyue was horrified, “Dad, did you investigate me?! How could you investigate me?!”Qin Xiangqian, “?”Qin Xiangqian, “I didn’t investigate you.”Qin Zhongyue asked aggrievedly, “You say you didn’t, but I have always referred to him as my ‘desk mate’. How did you know he’s called Xie Zhongxing?”Qin Xiangqian, “……..”Qin Xiangqian looked up at the ceiling, speechless, “You accidentally said it once.”Qin Zhongyue was still suspicious, “Really?”Qin Xiangqian was very calm, “Really. I’m too busy to care about what kind of friends you make.”Qin Zhongyue breathed a sigh of relief and said sternly, “That’s good then. Let me tell you, dad, you can’t spy on me. I am a free and independent individual, not a vassal of my parents.”Qin Xiangqian, “……..”Didn’t you say earlier that us father and son are of the same mind and body? Why has it changed now?Qin Zhongyue probably also felt that he had spoken too seriously. He immediately softened his tone and added, “Thank you dad, you’re the best! As expected of my dad! Your son will definitely get into Tsinghua or Peking University to make you proud!! When I do, you can take all our family’s cars and helicopters and then add a small speaker to each of them and get them to loop around the entire city while broadcasting this good news to let the entire country know that Qin Xiangqian’s son got in! Try closing your eyes and imagining it. Do you feel your face glowing with pride?!”Qin Xiangqian closed his eyes, “….I don’t know about the glowing part but I know that even the Great Wall of China is about to be blown apart by your boasting.”No longer wanting to continue on this topic, Qin Xiangqian added, “I’m hanging up. You go to school.”After saying that, the call ended.After he ended the call with Qin Zhongyue, Qin Xiangqian immediately called Uncle Li, the old housekeeper taking care of Qin Zhongyue, and instructed, “Help me look into that Xie Zhongxing.”A father knows his son best. Qin Xiangqian naturally noticed that his son seemed to care a lot about this classmate called Xie Zhongxing and wanted to look into it to see if there was anything going on.
Qin Zhongyue on the other hand didn’t think much about it after ending the call. He and Qin Xiangqian’s relationship wasn’t like that of an ordinary father and son. Thinking of the fact that Qin Xiangqian would be bald in ten years time, he couldn’t help but feel some sympathy towards him.As such, his attitude towards Qin Xiangqian had also become more and more easy-going. Rather than a father and son relationship, it may be closer to that of brothers.Qin Zhongyue excitedly hurried to school. He had arrived early and happened to see Xie Zhongxing having breakfast.Qin Zhongyue walked over and saw the half-eaten bread in Xie Zhongxing’s hand. He was a little incredulous, “You only have this for breakfast?”Xie Zhongxing looked up at him, his eyes containing a questioning look.Qin Zhongyue, “Bread does not have much nutrition!”Xie Zhongxing withdrew his gaze and lowered his head back down to continue eating his bread.Seeing this, Qin Zhongyue hesitated for a moment. He then cautiously spoke up, “At least it should be accompanied by a bottle of milk? Otherwise, it’s easy to become malnourished.”Xie Zhongxing licked the corner of his lips and asked in a low voice, “If I said that this isn’t bread, would you believe me?”Qin Zhongyue: “……Huh?”Xie Zhongxing said, “This isn’t bread. It’s a special type of food that is rich in a variety of essential nutrients and high in fibre, so it helps with digestion and absorption of the necessary nutrients. Long term consumption of this can help with strengthening the body and prolonging life.”Qin Zhongyue was rendered dizzy by those words of his. Those bright eyes of his turned dazed, “………”Xie Zhongxing, “Do you believe me?”Qin Zhongyue glanced at the packaging around the bread hesitantly and then looked back at Xie Zhongxing, “…..Y-yes?”Xie Zhongxing said, “It was a lie. This is bread.”Qin Zhongyue, “………..”The author has something to say:Baby Yue: How could wifey lie to me QUQXing Xing rolls his eyes: Why don’t they eat meat? (KKnotes: 何不食肉糜: Spoken by Emperor Hui of Jin when told that his people didn’t have enough rice to eat. Used to express a situation where someone, usually of higher class, is oblivious of other people’s plights)