Xie Yunshen learned only then that this Tech Forum was being broadcast live in real-time. On-site were authoritative news reporters from Country A and dozens of television stations. Several major national entertainment apps were also streaming it; no wonder Yan Shiying took it so seriously. Top figures from across the Southern Province and the Northern Region were gathered here.
Xie Yunshen loved these kinds of occasions. Essentially, he and Yi Wuyi didn’t have to worry about security issues. The two of them stood guard in the venue’s corridors, next to a gourmet buffet and various cutting-edge technology exhibitions—it was practically getting paid to eat, drink, and play.
Before the actual lecture, there was a tech exhibition walkthrough. The 3D holographic imaging technology under the Yan Group was drawing a lot of attention. Many company representatives and reporters gathered at the Yan Group’s tech exhibition booth.
Yan Shiying was responsible for this presentation. Facing various media questions, Shiying—true to his self-made background—performed calmly and with ease.
A middle-aged man with sharp eyes asked, “Sir, you aren’t the Chairman of the Yan Group, are you?”
Yan Shiying sensed his ill intent and replied, “No, but I am the Chairman’s brother.”
Xie Yunshen was a bit surprised. In such a short time, Yan Shiying was already able to acknowledge himself as Yan Shiqi’s brother with such grace and confidence.
The middle-aged man, speaking somewhat broken Country A language, smiled. “It seems the Yan family has truly grown too prestigious lately. Even at a national tech forum exhibition like this, the Chairman of the Yan Group doesn’t have time to show up and give the presentation.”
The reporters on-site immediately started snapping photos. The Yan family was indeed in the spotlight recently, and the reporters were lamenting that they hadn’t caught the Family Head on camera. Now, wasn’t this a hot news hook?
Other heads of peer companies mostly laughed, as if to say Yan Shiqi was being too bold. In such important official live-streamed events, usually the CEO or President personally takes the lead. Who lets a newcomer handle the task alone? The risk was too high.
Yan Shiying replied composedly, “Then why do you think the Tech Forum gave the Yan family two slots?”
The man looked left and right. “Perhaps because certain so-called Great Families always try to cut corners. Without two slots, how would the work get done?”
“Because an enterprise not only needs an excellent navigator, it must also have rising stars brave enough to try new things—an endless cycle of vitality. This is the privilege and trust the state gives to every outstanding enterprise,” Yan Shiying said very sincerely.
Master Chen and Master Bai were the first to applaud, followed by everyone else. The reporters also nodded and smiled. With this, Yan Shiying instantly expanded the Yan Group’s prestige and gave plenty of face to the forum organizers.
The challenger’s expression cooled. What Yan Shiying said was fact; only enterprises with a large enough scale were granted the exception of two slots. For example, his group only had one.
Xie Yunshen opened his phone app, and sure enough, the live-stream comments were already showering Yan Shiying with praise. These forums were mostly watched by university students, who likely appreciated the sharp, ambitious energy Shiying possessed.
“But as far as I know, you didn’t contribute a single bit to the completion of this imaging technology,” the middle-aged tycoon continued.
“That’s right.” Yan Shiying smiled slightly and raised his hand to point behind him. “Mr. Choi, my brother is right back there. You’re welcome to ask him.”
Yan Shiying, who had been attacking sharply, suddenly withdrew his forces, catching everyone off guard. The reporters’ lenses turned toward Shiying’s hand, and everyone followed suit.
Yan Shiqi was sitting in the waiting area opposite the lecture hall, staring back expressionlessly. Almost everyone felt their heart tighten simultaneously. Flashes went off incessantly. Even with the cameras focused on him, his stern and calm face didn’t change at all; his naturally commanding aura didn’t flicker once. Regarding the farce he had just witnessed, he was calm to the point of disdain.
People immediately understood Yan Shiying’s point. Shiying was a dragon among men, but Yan Shiqi was a born helmsman. For work that required social interaction and presentation, it was better left to the more approachable Shiying.
Xie Yunshen, standing to the side, excitedly grabbed Yi Wuyi’s shoulder. “Old Five, did you see that? Mr. Yan’s eyelashes look so long under the flashes… mm… so handsome.”
Yi Wuyi: “…Your point of focus is always so fresh?”
“…The word is ‘novel’.”
Xie Yunshen looked back down at the live stream.
[I thought the brother was invincible]
[Didn’t expect the older brother to be even more top-tier]
[Brother, please kick me]
The screen was covered in similar comments. Xie Yunshen was stunned. What do these comments even mean?
Following the exhibition was the lecture, and after that, each entrepreneur had a five-minute independent interview.
Because of the recent mountain road collapse, the Huang Group’s stock had plummeted. Master Huang was overwhelmed, looking utterly haggard. Even during the tech interview, the official reporter mentioned the incident. Master Huang could only smile bitterly. “I apologize. I personally feel immense shame. Because I failed to discover the problem in time, I caused severe harm and burden to society and the people. The Huang Group will take full responsibility for this disaster and for the victims, without evasion.”
“People online are comparing the Huang Group’s performance to the Yan Group’s. Do you think they’re right?”
The question was lethal. Master Huang felt stifled and extremely indignant because he had just learned that Yan Shiqi had rectified the South District electronics factory’s overloading issue only two days prior. As if he could predict the future, the timing was so perfect it seemed divinely aided. Everyone had problems, yet only his Huang family was the unlucky one, while the Yans became the beneficiaries. If the Yan Group had also been overloaded, they would have been the ones caught in the storm.
In front of an official broadcast, Master Huang didn’t dare show any emotion. “I calmly accept the public’s criticism. The Yan Group is an outstanding Southern Province enterprise. The Huang Group will humbly learn from them.”
The final blow was that shortly after, an official Southern Province bulletin praised the Yan Group for its social responsibility as an exemplary enterprise. The stocks of several major Yan subsidiaries hit the daily limit overnight. Rumors spread among the Five Families: the Huang family, who were fiercely loyal to the Top Star Sect, suddenly lost their advantage, while the Yan family, who opposed the Sect, was flourishing. It was very intriguing.
Meanwhile, the interviews continued. The questions for the Yan Group were standard, but once Yan Shiqi appeared on screen, the comment volume spiked. This was Yan Shiqi’s first time appearing before the entire nation as Chairman, which naturally caused a sensation.
[Regardless: 34, unmarried, Chairman of a top Southern Province enterprise, Family Head, plus that face—any one of those traits alone is full of sex appeal!]
[A real-life Overbearing CEO ahhh]
[Damn, should I choose Yan Shiqi or Yan Shiying?]
The reporter’s last question: “The Yan Group has reached where it is today. Do you think the greatest help has come from within or from external forces?”
Yan Shiqi’s gaze suddenly turned toward a direction outside the venue. He then replaced a verbal answer with a polite smile. “There are external forces, but it is a secret given by the gods.”
The female reporter smiled knowingly.
[He definitely has someone he likes.]
[Wuwu, everyone here including me is a loser…]
Xie Yunshen was also watching through the live stream. He was stunned for a long time, then looked at Old Five with a solemn face. “A secret of the gods? What other secrets does Mr. Yan have?”
“A-Xie, you’re doomed,” Yi Wuyi said suddenly.
“What do you mean I’m doomed?” Xie Yunshen was busy reading comments and answered casually.
Yi Wuyi grabbed both sides of his head and forced him to turn and look. A familiar figure was standing in the crowd below, looking around. That irritable and vicious look—wasn’t that the second-generation tycoon who clashed with them on the cruise?
“Why is that guy here too…?”
“For this Tech Forum, some foreign tech companies are also here for the exhibition. He’s likely with his tycoon father.”
“He got better so fast? Seems he recovered well.”
“He saw Mr. Yan was here, so he’s definitely looking for you.” Yi Wuyi didn’t understand why Xie still had an unbothered look.
Xie Yunshen moved to the side, perfectly blocking the tycoon’s line of sight.
Yi Wuyi added, “His father is a famous B-Country tycoon. He’s been ‘seven in, seven out’.”
“What does that mean?”
“He’s been in prison seven times for suspected contract killing, bribery, illegal trading, and so on. But he gets out within two months every time.”
As expected, like father, like son.
The lecture concluded successfully. Mr. Yan began walking toward the corridor.
“Once Mr. Yan comes over, ‘Choi the Rooster’ will find us immediately,” Xie Yunshen said.
“Retreat behind the door,” Yi Wuyi said.
They weren’t afraid of the tycoon causing trouble, but in such a serious setting, they couldn’t lose face for the family or Mr. Yan. Thus, among the sea of black-suited bodyguards, Yi Wuyi and Xie Yunshen retreated silently behind the door.
On his way over, Yan Shiqi encountered several people wanting to chat. It took him over ten minutes to get from the hall to the corridor. During this time, the tycoon’s gaze was fixed on Yan Shiqi, slowly following him through the crowd. Yan Shiqi noticed and sent Yi Wuyi a message before getting on the elevator. The tycoon watched Yan Shiqi get on alone, scratching his head like a manic-depressive and cursing.
“Mr. Yan wants us on the seventh floor. Let’s go.” Yi Wuyi put his phone away.
The seventh floor was where the organizers prepared dinner for the guests. Most importantly, the restaurant was only open to invited entrepreneurs; the tycoon and his son were only there for the exhibition and couldn’t enter. The two of them took the stairs to the seventh floor, their long legs moving rapidly. Xie Yunshen was never at ease when he wasn’t by Mr. Yan’s side in a crowded place.
At the restaurant entrance, Yan Shiqi was waiting for them. “Go eat.”
“Wait, we can eat too?” Xie Yunshen naturally wanted to. But as bodyguards in this setting, how could they have the status to sit and dine with these titans?
Yan Shiqi said, “You can apply for ‘Family Member’ seats.”
Heavens, Xie Yunshen really wanted to grab him and give him a big hug. But with so many big shots around, he had to hold back.
Yi Wuyi, however, said, “Mr. Yan, I’ll wait outside.”
“Yeah, me too,” Xie Yunshen agreed. It really wasn’t appropriate, even if he wanted the food.
Yi Wuyi looked at him in surprise. Xie Yunshen closed his eyes and thought: Please, I have a bit of social awareness. These big shots likely brought family, but mostly wives and children. Only Mr. Yan would be bringing two bodyguards to the feast… it wouldn’t look good.
Yi Wuyi closed his eyes as well: I’m certain this guy is just waiting. If Mr. Yan opens his mouth just a bit more, he’ll agree immediately.
Yan Shiqi frowned at them. “It’s just a meal. No need to be so formal over such a small matter.”
Xie Yunshen immediately said, “Right. Old Five, let’s go.”
Yi Wuyi: I knew it!
The dishes weren’t exactly extravagant, but they were refined and dignified. Sitting at the table besides Yan Shiying were the Bai and Chen couples, and the currently unlucky Master Huang.
“Mr. Yan, the Yan family is flourishing lately. Even the treatment of the people by your side is different—even the bodyguards get a seat at the table.”
Master Huang smiled, but his words were “nuclear-kind.” Xie Yunshen’s chopsticks paused. The sarcasm was obvious, a vent for the day’s resentment. Master Chen and Master Bai had seen how much Yan Shiqi valued these two. Especially his attitude toward the young man named Xie—it was gentler than his attitude toward his own brothers.
Yan Shiying let out a dark smile. Some sightless fool had just provoked his brother. Now, they were just waiting for the show.
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