Shen Xi had severed contact with Fu Qingye and Fu Qingxuan following the threat from Fu Qingli. It was only because of Li Yuan and another matter that left her with no choice but to seek help from Fu Qingxuan.
She paid for his service too, a million bucks in line with the market rate for Fu Qingxuan’s help to look at Li Yuan’s medical report and treatment plan.
Alpha Xu gave her two million for her trip here, and Shen Xi was thinking of handing Fu Qingxuan the money tomorrow. A cash transaction was simpler than owing a favor.
However, Shen Xi knew that no amount of money could buy the use and access of facilities to the highly secured private medical laboratory if she did not know Fu Qingxuan.
At the end of the day, Shen Xi was buying herself a peace of mind. A favor was still a favor.
“Xixi, they don’t need your pity.” Li Yuan tried to help the unhappy girl see the light. “You don’t have to let them do as they please because of pity either.”
Particularly that arrogant b*stard Fu Qingli, who always thought he was right and that everyone should bow to him.
“Sure,” Shen Xi nodded but it was easier said than done. Nevertheless, she felt better to let it all out and soon regained her composure.
With his fair lady feeling herself again, Li Yuan said with a smile, “I’m in talks with Situs about a medical laboratory. Dr. Shen, care to give me a suggestion or two?”
“Really?” The mention of “Dr. Shen” prompted Shen Xi to abruptly lift her head and reveal her sparkling eyes. A great medical center was a sure deal if this big-time player offered funds to the Situ family as support.
It did not have to be on par with Fu Qingxi’s Medical Laboratory since that would be asking for too much, but it would not be far from that. At most, the facilities would not be as good.
“Yes,” Li Yuan answered with a straight face.
His plans already involved the pharmaceutical line and with Situ Zhangyou a part of his crew, the pharmaceutical industry was in a major shakeout.
“Equipment! The priority should be the facilities. The Situ family’s equipment is outdated, but their shareholders believe that medical tests are only secondary and irrelevant to research and development. They have no interest in the facilities and are unwilling to loosen those purse strings,” Shen Xi was all fired up talking about this.
The Situs led the world in medical machinery development. Only the most cutting-edge made the cut in this business.
Nevertheless, equipment to do with clinical trial runs and pathological studies was deemed obsolete, much less the research scientists in this related field.
Shen Xi had chatted with Situ Zhangyou about this and despite Situ Zhangyou’s efforts to argue the case at the board meetings, those bigots refused to budge.
All gloom was swept away at the mention of a new medical laboratory. This meant Shen Xi no longer had to implore and trouble Fu Qingxuan. With her mind at ease, Shen Xi enthusiastically blurted out her long-thought-out plan.
Even Chairman Yuan, a stranger to the pharmaceutical industry, was amazed by her ideas and wanted to sell everything just to build the lab. Shen Xi had to pull him back to reality. The matter of fact was, they had no money!
Li Yuan watched as his fair lady regained her spirit, reflecting brilliant ardor in her bright and black eyes when talking about her plan.
Then a sudden rang on the doorbell.
Kun Lun went over for a look before respectfully reporting to Li Yuan. “Boss, it’s the Fu family’s Second Young Master.”
Shen Xi’s eyes lit up, but the image of Fu Qingli’s deadpan face flashing before her eyes showered cold water over the affection she had for Fu Qingye. She quickly snapped out of it.
This should not go on. Qingye was nice to her, and she did not want to be the reason Qingye was in a spot or for the brothers to turn on each other.
It confirmed Li Yuan’s thoughts that Fu Qingli had given Shen Xi a hard time judging by the short-lived joy on his fair lady’s face.
Fu Qingye could spot the girl on the sofa from the door. He was a little sad that Shen Xi did not come to meet him at the door.
He got a message from Qingxuan that the girl was hanging out with Li Yuan. Concerned to leave the pair alone, Fu Qingye quickly made his way over.
Li Yuan was a shameless antisocial old man! He sure had no boundaries to get involved with an underaged high schooler!
Fu Qingye came bearing many of Shen Xi’s favorite dishes. These were prepared by a chef specialized in authentic royal Chinese feasts. It was a full banquet served on the table.
Li Yuan looked at him and ordered, “Now that you have delivered the food, it’s time for you to go.”
Not feeling out of place at all, Fu Qingye smiled gently. “It’s been two years since we met, buddy. We should catch up over food.”
Li Yuan’s eyes sparked danger to catch glimpses of Fu Qingli in Fu Qingye’s face. However, it was bad etiquette to decline the invitation. “Young Master Qingye, please have a seat.”
“After you.” Fu Qingye was relieved that Li Yuan did not chase him away, but what was up with that look? Did he step on Li Yuan’s toes?
Li Yuan had always remained courteous to Fu Qingye even when he and Qingli were engaged in a turf war. Fu Qingye never burned this bridge or overstepped this boundary.
Nevertheless, Fu Qingye could sense great animosity from him. It was more like Li Yuan was taking it out on him.
Ever since the first warning from Fu Qingli, Shen Xi stopped initiating contact with Fu Qingye and only got in touch with Fu Qingxuan twice due to emergencies.
Shen Xi had not seen Fu Qingye since the new year. He was the same refined gentleman, always a breath of fresh air.
“Girl, why didn’t you tell me you were here?” Fu Qingye feigned anger.
Shen Xi grinned. “I’m here on official business and will leave after wrapping it up tomorrow.”
She would not dare take up his time.
By the sound of her tone, Fu Qingye pondered whether his long absence had shifted the girl away from him.
However, her expression told a different story. Then it hit him – Qingli had upset her.
Fu Qingye was back to square one. He put in a lot of work to get the girl to accept him, and Qingli managed to swoop in and chased the girl’s prying head back into her protective shell.
Shen Xi was not bothered by Fu Qingye’s presence, but Li Yuan had her best interest in mind, cueing Fu Qingye to leave amid dinner.
Fu Qingye played dumb and joked around, refusing to leave. Halfway through the meal, he asked Li Yuan, “Do you have wine?”
Li Yuan coldly replied, “Nope.”
Fu Qingye shook his head with a rueful smile. Sorrow could be read in his voice. “Today is the day my sister went missing.”
