Chapter 115: The Adorable Sister of Shen He! - It’s the Cyber Age—Still Playing a Traditional Villain?

Chapter 115: The Adorable Sister of Shen He! Inside the meeting room. Xu Shi naturally noticed Shen Qing and silently observed her. A tall stature, straight long legs, impeccable features. Indeed, this sister of Shen He matched the description from the original work—a true beauty. It was obvious she was the one; among the leaders, she was the only woman. Who else could it be if not her? However, her slightly frail appearance made her seem less intimidating. From Xu Shi's perspective, she appeared… a bit adorable? The adorable sister of Shen He! There was no denying that compared to Shen He himself, Shen Qing's presence seemed even stronger by a few degrees. Of course, one couldn't rule out the fact that when he had last seen Shen He, the latter was already in a sorry state, thanks to him. Now, observing her closely, Xu Shi could clearly sense the restrained hostility she held towards him. Needless to say, the missing Shen He was most likely under her protection. Oh, how intriguing. Usually, when dealing with matters, you'd start with the smaller ones and then deal with the more significant ones. But here, it was the reverse—starting with the small, only for an even smaller one to show up. Truly amusing. While Xu Shi was calculating in his mind, Shen Qing maintained her vigilance as she observed him. Considering what had happened with Shen He, she naturally harbored no goodwill towards Xu Shi. She also couldn’t believe that the widespread rumors had nothing to do with him. However, the aura of authority and pressure he exuded made her feel uncomfortable and uneasy. Even her father, in his glory days, lacked this kind of youthful edge compared to him. She had to admit he was a formidable force to contend with. And those standing behind him went without saying. The leaders of “The Forgotten” were allowed to bring a servant to the meeting as per the rules. Shen Qing did not bring Shen He but rather Li Tang, the tall man in the black robe from earlier. Li Tang was unfailingly loyal to Shen Qing and did not harbor resentment despite past events. But upon seeing Xu Shi today, he was further convinced that his earlier words were accurate. “The Forgotten” were no strangers to the internet, and while they might not know much, he was aware of some of the stories surrounding Xu Shi. Becoming a director of six major corporations at a young age and being accomplished in his endeavors, Xu Shi was indeed someone of poise and charm. Growing up with "The Forgotten," he had never encountered someone like this. In contrast, Shen Qing's brother seemed so... Li Tang didn’t know the past of the Shen siblings, so he viewed Shen He as nothing more than a gang leader—a league apart from Xu Shi. The first time he saw Shen He, Li Tang was utterly taken aback; had Shen Qing not explained, he might have mistaken Shen He for a beggar from who-knows-where. Even among "The Forgotten," none were as destitute as he! It was genuinely advisable to persuade Leader Shen; making enemies out of Xu Shi for Shen He's sake was hardly worthwhile. “Since everyone’s here, let’s begin, Miss Nan Qian?” Seeing everyone seated, the little elder Yue Chizheng spoke with a cheerful smile. Nan Qian was really just Shen Qing’s alias. This was a measure considered by "The Forgotten" since many members had been banished as criminals. Even if the events were long ago, openly revealing their identities would still be imprudent. So, before contacting City Hall, they had all agreed to use aliases, Song Chen and Zhao Yuan included. For Shen Qing, this was advantageous; at the very least, she wouldn’t reveal any information about her brother to Xu Shi. What she didn’t know was that Xu Shi was already well aware of such details. Chairman Xu found it amusing and couldn’t help but smile inwardly. But this worked in his favor; pretending he didn't recognize her actual identity meant less trouble for him. Originally, Shen Qing was his main target, so this development only saved him some effort. “Before we discuss matters, shouldn’t you clarify those slanders against ‘The Forgotten’?” Even before Shen Qing could nod, Zhao Yuan, unable to hold back, asked sullenly, “We are not the freaks you claim us to be.” “Oh? What kind of explanation does Lord Zhang Shan seek?” Amused, everyone maintained their composure except for Long Tianding, who coldly glanced at Zhao Yuan with disdain. “...Zhang Shan! What are you saying?” Song Chen was getting anxious, thinking, what kind of hole are you digging for us by starting like this? Despite repeated warnings on the way, why can’t this big guy keep calm? “My apologies, he sometimes acts without thinking. Please don’t mind him,” He quickly intervened to smooth things over, “The interactions between Night Sin City and us, ‘The Forgotten,’ have been limited, so it’s understandable for you to have some misconceptions.” “However, now that we plan to integrate, we hope to dispel these wrong impressions through this collaboration.” “That’s true. Lord Li Si is quite discerning,” Xu Shi continued with a smile, “Misunderstandings are inevitable, just as many here might have thought of me as an unlearned playboy.” “Though I indeed claim not to be a good person, properly understanding each other is crucial for both our sides.” “Chairman Xu calling himself a playboy is quite a blow to us, huh.” Xie Qingyan chimed in playfully, “Whether he’s a good man might be debatable, but I call him the mischievous man.” Their banter lightened the atmosphere considerably. Realizing his misstep, Zhao Yuan waved it off and remained silent. Huh? Was the brat actually giving him a backup? Seriously? This was rare for Xu Shi, especially since they were in the middle of a cold war… He glanced at her with a peculiar look. She simply smiled cryptically, her gaze suggesting some meaning, though not too much. What on earth was his fiancée up to now… Xu Shi didn’t dwell on it much—there’d be time to discuss it later. This wasn’t the place to hash things out with her. However, from this exchange, Xu Shi got a partial grasp of Zhao Yuan and Song Chen, perhaps Zhang Shan and Li Si too. The former was a reckless brute, while the latter a rather smooth operator. A combination that seemed vaguely familiar… Was it like Lei Song and Zhang Shinian? Chairman Xu felt slightly dizzy as he tried to mentally categorize them, finding it strangely seamless. At least it seemed so for now; time would tell if this truly held. Any initial awkwardness in the meeting quickly faded into obscurity. The discussion soon returned to its main focus. The first topic at hand. “The Forgotten wish to return to Night Sin City, but we have our own challenges,” Yue Chizheng stated earnestly, “So first, we need to see the sincerity from you all… What can you offer?” “If it’s just manpower, there’s no need. We don’t lack hands.” Long Tianding added. “...That won’t be the case,” Shen Qing collected herself, smiling broadly, “Manpower is only one aspect. We have other offers of sincerity.” As she spoke, those behind the three leaders each placed a case on the table, simultaneously opening them. Upon seeing the contents, everyone widened their eyes in surprise. “I believe these items… should interest you?” End of Chapter