bayedsolid Chapter 216 Upside Down
Chapter 216 Upside Down
Shang Yibo couldn't help but worry, "No wonder my mom was evasive when she called me last night, so that's why."
“When I came, Chairman Chu and General Manager Fang both told me not to mention this to you, saying that you're filming outside and it won't solve the problem, and knowing would only make you anxious and affect you. Look at me, I told you everything as soon as I saw you, forgetting all their advice.” Zhou Yanruo said, then sighed, “Sigh…”
"That's right, stop sighing. I see you've lost weight and you're feeling really down. Don't be like this, we'll find a solution eventually," Shang Yibo comforted Zhou Yanruo.
“Yuehai’s project was also won two years ago. Last month, I saw a project briefing that said the planning permits had been approved and other procedures were progressing smoothly. The marketing department has already started attracting investment, hasn’t it?” Shang Yibo said, outlining the project’s details.
“That’s right. Several well-known medical institutions in Beijing have already signed letters of intent to enter the zone, and overseas investment promotion has also begun. At last week’s meeting, I heard a report from the overseas marketing department that Meilian Zhonghe Medical Group is expected to cooperate with the Yuehai Medical Pilot Zone. If they really reach an agreement, insurance companies will take the initiative to come to them to discuss cooperation. Opening up the market will be a piece of cake.” Zhou Yanruo introduced the project’s progress to Shang Yibo.
Shang Yibo frowned and asked, "What's the situation now?"
Zhou Yanruo replied solemnly, "Yuehai City has already formed an investigation team, and the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection has also sent people to the team. This morning, Chairman Chu led his team to Yuehai City to cooperate with the investigation." She turned to look at Shang Yibo, whose expression was grim, and added, "I originally applied to go to Yuehai to assist Chairman Chu, but he didn't agree. He said that I hadn't joined the company when the project was tendered, and to minimize any involvement, he didn't want me to participate. Therefore, I came to Huizhou as planned to meet you."
Zhou Yanruo's retelling only deepened Shang Yibo's worries. If it were merely a matter of cooperating with the investigation into the compliance of the tender documents, Chairman Chu wouldn't have needed to be present in person. This was clearly an attempt to protect others while voluntarily taking on the primary responsibility.
Clearly, Zhou Yanruo wasn't fully aware of the specifics of the situation. From her words, one could sense that while she was worried, she seemed to view the matter merely as a thorny issue, difficult to resolve, or concerned that a prolonged resolution would hinder the project's progress. She was oversimplifying the situation and being overly optimistic in her predictions of how things would unfold. This was far more than just a "thorny" problem.
Keeping it quiet might be a good thing for Zhou Yanruo, preventing her from becoming anxious and having no way to solve the problem. Thinking about it this way, Shang Yibo understood the deeper meaning behind his parents' decision not to let him know about this matter.
At this point, the waiter began serving the dishes, and soon three dishes and two bowls of rice were brought to the table one after another.
Shang Yibo picked up his chopsticks and put some food into the dish in front of Zhou Yanruo. He said casually, "Since my dad has already taken care of it personally, I believe the problem can be solved. Let's not talk about this anymore, let's eat something."
“You’re right, there’s no use in us just worrying here.” Zhou Yanruo agreed, and then put an egg yolk roll into Shang Yibo’s bowl. “This looks pretty good, I don’t know if it’s good, you can try it.”
Shang Yibo thanked the waiter, but did not touch his chopsticks. Instead, he stared blankly at the roast duck that the waiter had just brought over.
Zhou Yanruo followed his gaze and saw the red-skinned roast duck. She couldn't help but laugh and said, "Are you missing the roast duck in Beijing? I did some research before coming to Huizhou. This 'Wuhu Red-Skinned Roast Duck' in Huizhou cuisine is just as good as the roast duck in Beijing. You've been here for more than half a month, and I guess you haven't had a chance to go out and have a proper meal, so I ordered some dishes with local characteristics."
Shang Yibo muttered to himself, "I wonder if it was baked in a hanging oven or a closed oven?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yanruo's heart tightened, and she cautiously asked, "What did you say? How did you know all this?"
Shang Yibo didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "Yan Ruo, you once said that I resemble someone you know. Can you tell me about that person?"
Zhou Yanruo was silent for a moment, and when she looked up, her eyes were already filled with a layer of mist. "That person has disappeared. Why bring him up again?"
Shang Yibo responded gently, "If you're willing, you can try to treat me like him."
Zhou Yanruo's expression was tinged with sadness. "Do you know what our relationship is? You're just making me treat you like him."
Shang Yibo remained silent, waiting for Zhou Yanruo to continue.
After a moment, Zhou Yanruo said softly, "He is my boyfriend, from a long time ago."
Shang Yibo lowered his eyes and stared at the table, his voice low and firm: "If I said I was willing to become him, could you accept it?"
Zhou Yanruo said incredulously, "He's my boyfriend, the kind of boyfriend with whom I have an intimate relationship. You want me to treat you like him?"
After speaking, Zhou Yanruo smiled wryly to herself, feeling that Shang Yibo was clearly joking with her. However, to her surprise, Shang Yibo was not angry at all, but instead joined in with her sentimental remarks.
"Are you kidding me?" Zhou Yanruo had to save face, so she pretended to scold him. Seeing Shang Yibo staring at her with a serious expression, she felt that he wasn't joking. In a panic, she made up an excuse and said, "Besides, you and him are different in every way except for looking alike."
Shang Yibo pressed on relentlessly, asking, "What's different?"
Zhou Yanruo shook her head slightly, a bitter smile on her lips: "Take now for example, he would never make such a childish request."
"I'm serious," Shang Yibo said earnestly. "I feel at ease as long as you're by my side. Can you always stay by my side?"
"Of course you can, why not? There's no need to make such a big deal out of it." So that's what it was about. Zhou Yanruo breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhou Yanruo's answer was crisp and clear, but Shang Yibo was not happy at all. Although the meaning of her words was correct, the feeling she gave him was quite different from what he had expected.
"That's not what I meant," Shang Yibo wanted to clarify.
"You want me to leave Rushang and become your full-time agent, right? Haven't you been thinking about this for a while?" Zhou Yanruo asked tentatively.
"You're going to drive me crazy," Shang Yibo said helplessly.
“It’s not the right time yet, but I promise you, once Ru Shang gets through this crisis, I will immediately apply for a transfer,” Zhou Yanruo said earnestly.
"I feel like we're not even on the same wavelength," Shang Yibo said, shaking his head helplessly.
"What's wrong with you? What are you trying to say? Is there something you're saying that I can't understand?"
"Even paparazzi can see it, but you still don't understand," Shang Yibo said anxiously.
"What does this have to do with paparazzi? Why bring up paparazzi?" Zhou Yanruo looked at Shang Yibo suspiciously. "Are you too tired lately? Why are you talking incoherently?"