"Hahaha, don’t let anyone else hear that."
Leaving, Tong Jialu was puzzled. She hadn’t seen Chen Cheng or Xiao ier and didn’t know what to do for the mont.
"Sis, have you seen Brother Cheng?" she asked softly as she walked to Xia Yubing’s side.
Xia Yubing shook her head, "No, I haven’t. What’s wrong?"
"The opening ceremony is about to start, and yet Brother Cheng is nowhere to be seen. I’m a bit anxious!" Tong Jialu said worriedly.
Xia Yubing frowned slightly, "Where could he be? Did you try calling him?"
"I did, but the call was hung up," Tong Jialu replied.
"This..."
ng Wanning also walked over out of boredom. She didn’t know most of the people there and was slightly relieved upon seeing the Xia Family sisters.
"Xiao Ning," Tong Jialu waved. Since their last solo shopping trip, their relationship had deepened.
ng Wanning blinked, "What’s up?"
"Have you seen Brother Cheng?"
"Nope," ng Wanning replied, "I’m also looking for him."
"How strange."
ng Wanning thought for a mont, "Why don’t you ask i Xiang? She was the last to arrive."
"i Xiang... i Xiang..." Tong Jialu scanned around and finally spotted her eating with Li Ya.
They walked over, and Tong Jialu asked, "Miss i Xiang, have you seen Brother Cheng?"
i Xiang turned back, "Him... "
Li Ya interjected, "Brother Cheng went with Mommy to the office, said they had sothing to discuss, and told us to grab so food first."
Relieved by the answer, Tong Jialu said, "Sis, I’ll go knock on the door first. Such a big event and no sign of him, it’s just not right!"
Xia Yubing thought for a mont, "I’ll go with you."
"Okay."
After the sisters left, ng Wanning asked, "Li Ya, what is Grandpa discussing?"
Li Ya shrugged, "I don’t know," she said with a playful smile.
"Finally, I’ve found you guys," Liu Zhiying and Liu Zhiya arrived too.
"Xiao Ning, you look great today!" Liu Zhiying complinted first. "You look so gentle!"
ng Wanning smiled faintly, "Thank you, you look great today too. That color really suits your complexion."
"Hehe," Li Ya chid in, "I still think my Mommy looks the best!"
Everyone looked at Li Ya as she continued, "Really! She dressed up for the occasion today!"
As they were speaking, Yu Xinwei also arrived.
"Am I late?" she asked.
"No, you’re just in ti!" Li Ya smiled mysteriously.
...
...
anwhile, in the office.
Compared to the lively atmosphere downstairs, the luxurious room upstairs was silent.
Chen Cheng, Xiao ier, and Wen Shulin sat on three chairs without saying a word, simply looking at each other.
"Well..." Chen Cheng finally broke the silence, "I was really drunk that night."
He looked at Wen Shulin, "Chairman Wen, I’m sorry, I didn’t expect... "
Wen Shulin took a deep breath and shook her head, "It’s okay, it’s all in the past."
"Sister Lin, Xiao Cheng isn’t a frivolous person. He hugged you, and I feel bad about it too," Xiao ier said sincerely, "I’ve already talked to him about it, and he’s promised he won’t drink that much again."
Wen Shulin looked at Xiao ier’s sincere face,
"Xiao Er, you don’t need to be like this. I know Mr. Chen didn’t do it on purpose. Besides, I haven’t taken it to heart."
She turned to Chen Cheng, speaking gently, "Mr. Chen, I know you didn’t an it."
Relieved, Chen Cheng gratefully looked at Wen Shulin, "Thank you for understanding."
He then turned to Xiao ier, "And thank you, Xiao Er."
Xiao ier grasped Wen Shulin’s hand and said earnestly, "Sister Lin, we’re friends and good sisters, I hope nothing will co between us because of this."
Wen Shulin smiled, "Of course not. We’re still good friends and partners."
"Alright, everything’s cleared up," Chen Cheng stood up, "Let’s go down."
"I’ll freshen up," Xiao ier also took a deep breath, "These past few days I’ve been so worried about this matter, and now I can finally relax."
"Okay, I’ll wait for you."
"Do you have any makeup?" Wen Shulin took a lipstick and powder from her bag, "Everything else is fine, just a bit of lipstick and a dab on the forehead will do."
Xiao ier took it, "Thanks! I’ll be quick!"
Saying that, she went to the restroom.
Seeing she was gone, Chen Cheng leaned in and asked softly, "That night..."
Wen Shulin nudged him, "You know I can’t right now."
"Hmm?"
Wen Shulin saw he wouldn’t give up, "Alright, alright, I just secretly kissed you, satisfied?"
Chen Cheng gently lifted her chin, "That’s more like it. I like this side of you."
"Were you really drunk that night?" Wen Shulin asked.
"What else could it be?"
Xiao ier finished freshening up and ca out, "Alright, let’s go down."
A knock ca at the door at that mont. Xiao ier opened it to see Xia Yubing and Tong Jialu standing there.
"Sister Xiao Er," they greeted and then looked at Chen Cheng not far away. Tong Jialu said, "Boss, everyone upstairs is waiting for you."
Chen Cheng stood up, adjusted his suit, "I’m heading down now."
The five of them walked out.
Chen Cheng walked in front with steady steps, his pride and success evident on his face.
Following closely were Xiao ier and Wen Shulin, holding each other’s arms, their faces showing relaxed, joyful smiles with the prior unease completely gone.
Xia Yubing and Tong Jialu were at the back, genuinely happy for Chen Cheng’s success, or perhaps for his relationships.
When Chen Cheng appeared at the entrance of the banquet hall, the initially noisy hall suddenly quieted, and all eyes were focused on him.
After a brief silence, the banquet hall erupted in thunderous applause.
Flashes continued capturing the mont of Chen Cheng walking.
With a calm deanor, he walked to the center stage and picked up the microphone.
This ti, he didn’t give an extensive speech.
"Three months ago, Dili was just a concept, a dream. Today, it’s beco a reality,"
Chen Cheng spoke steadily, "These three months, we’ve faced countless challenges and difficulties, but we made it through. Because we all share one common belief: never give up!"
His words elicited rounds of applause from the audience.
"The founding of Dili wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of every Dili mber, and the support and help from all our friends."
Chen Cheng’s eyes scanned the audience, finally settling on two individuals.
"Here, I want to especially thank my fiancée, Miss Xiao ier, and Dili’s most loyal partner, HCG’s Miss Wen Shulin. Thank you for always being there and supporting !"
Xiao ier and Wen Shulin exchanged smiles.
A warm feeling surged in Wen Shulin’s heart. Chen Cheng expressing such a significant appreciation toward her in public recognized her value and silently confird her contributions.
anwhile, Xiao ier felt imnse happiness and reassurance.
Chen Cheng continued, "Dili’s future is full of challenges as well as opportunities. I believe that as long as we stand united and work together, our future is bright."
The host took the microphone and said:
"Now, let’s welco Mr. Chen Cheng, founder of Dili Private Equity, as well as Hoshino Mika from Huarui Financial Control, Su Liya, Xia Yubing, Tong Jialu, Liu Zhiying, and Liu Zhiya to join us on stage for the Dili Private Equity ribbon-cutting!"
As the host introduced the guests, the ceremonial ladies on the platform carried the tray. Chen Cheng stood in the center, with Xiao ier and Wen Shulin on either side.
Chen Cheng was the first to pick up scissors, and everyone followed suit.
With a "snip," the red ribbon was cut, confetti flying in the air, and a thundering applause erupted from the audience below.
He bead and walked confidently to the center of the stage, the joy of the mont evident on his face.
Looking down, he saw many familiar faces: ng Wanning, Hoshino Mika, Su Liya, Xia Yubing, Tong Jialu, Liu Zhiying, and Liu Zhiya.
Outside, the skies over Beijing were a clear blue,
Inside, it was hard for Chen Cheng to hide his overwhelming sense of accomplishnt.
"This is the era I, Chen Cheng, am destined to build!"
...
...
(The End)
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