Chapter 6
When Shen Yichen stepped into the company, the secretaries immediately came up to greet him. These secretaries assisted Shen Yichen in handling the company’s affairs on a daily basis. They had never seen Shen Yue before and did not know her identity, but they were very tactful, adhering to the principle of not asking about or looking into things they should not. Without making any comments on Shen Yue's presence, they simply reported the progress of their work to Shen Yichen as usual.
"Mr. Shen, as you requested, adjustments have been made to today's schedule. The review meeting was pushed back to 10 AM and the external reception this afternoon was set at Yayuan Restaurant. The accompanying directors have been notified. After collecting feedback, the third draft of the new compensation system formulated by the company was compiled. Do you want to convene a meeting this afternoon between 2-3 PM for final adjustments..."
"Cancel all external events today. All meeting plans remain unchanged. I will let Li Xinbai be fully responsible for the system reform." After saying this, Shen Yichen glanced at Shen Yue, who was still looking around, and suddenly changed his mind. "Move the review meeting to the afternoon. Get a basin of hot water to my office right away. Zhang Xia, go to the mall and buy some clothes for the child."
While giving orders, Shen Yichen led Shen Yue towards the elevator. By the time they reached it, everything had been arranged.
Along the way, some gazes did fall on Shen Yue, but they were all fleeting, with no one rudely staring for long or commenting out loud. This showed that Shen Yichen ran his company very well.
"Yes, Mr. Shen."
The elevator doors slowly closed in front of Shen Yue. Only then did she realize that all of Shen Yichen's secretaries were male.
Seeing Shen Yue look around just now, Shen Yichen figured she was probably interested in the company. But he wasn't too sure what the child was thinking, so he asked, "Do you want to walk around the company later?"
Shen Yue immediately nodded vigorously.
This was the Shang Family conglomerate's company. If she didn't take this chance to look around, she'd have no opportunity after her identity was exposed and she was driven out of the family.
Emotions were contagious. Seeing that Shen Yue didn't seem as upset as before, the corners of Shen Yichen's mouth also curled up slightly. "Let's go up and take care of the glue on you first, then change into some clean clothes."
Shen Yue suddenly asked, "Does Uncle know what size clothes I wear?"
Shen Yichen paused for a moment instead of answering directly. "They'll figure it out themselves."
Shen Yue understood. This was the legendary privilege of a domineering president.
The two soon arrived at the office. At a glance, Shen Yue's only impression was that it was tidy and solemn, just like Shen Yichen himself.
Every area was clearly defined, with different things in different zones. The floor-to-ceiling windows provided a panoramic view of the city center. Most importantly, the office had large open spaces, with nothing placed in them, just empty.
Shen Yichen led Shen Yue to sit on the sofa. The secretary quickly brought over the hot water. Shen Yichen tested the temperature with his own hand first before grabbing Shen Yue's and immersing them in the hot water.
After soaking for a while, Shen Yue found her hands were still stuck together.
Shen Yichen held down her fidgeting hands. "Don't rush, soak for a while longer."
Shen Yue immediately became obedient, not only stopping her squirming but even sitting completely still.
Perhaps it was the silence between them that made the atmosphere a little strange. Shen Yichen racked his brains for a conversation topic. "Shen Yue, do you know what the main component of glue is?"
"Ethyl cyanoacrylate," Shen Yue answered very quickly, as if the response was etched into her bones and required no thought, her body producing the answer automatically.
Shen Yichen was not at all surprised that Shen Yue could answer this question, even finding it somewhat matter of course.
"Have you already covered this in your studies?"
"No."
"So you studied it yourself? Are you interested in chemistry?" Shen Yichen suddenly thought of his younger brother at home.
His fifth brother had also been interested in chemistry from a young age and had now been accepted into the chemistry department at Huada University while still underage.
Shen Yue suddenly choked up.
The reason she knew the main component of glue was ethyl cyanoacrylate was because someone had taught her the molecular formula of 502 glue when burned, back in prison. They had even collected the resulting toxic gases, planning to use them in an escape attempt...
She felt so pitiful having to forcibly recall her difficult prison life over and over like this.
She had no interest in chemistry whatsoever, she just wanted to rest! Lie down!
"I'm not interested in chemistry, just interested in sleeping." Hearing this answer, Shen Yichen was taken aback. It was not what he had expected at all.
As the eldest brother, before formally inheriting the company, Shen Yichen had been the most involved in caring for his younger siblings at home. His few younger brothers also liked chatting with him very much, so he knew that the second brother had dreamed of becoming an actor since a very young age.
The third brother didn't have any particular interests but wasn't afraid to try new things and had great executive ability, so Shen Yichen had recommended he join the military.
The fourth brother was extremely smart, interested in mechanical things, and was currently researching weapons at the national research institute.
The fifth brother was interested in the human body and very sensitive to chemistry, planning to become a doctor in the future.
Including Shen Yichen himself, he had also understood since childhood that he would become the pillar of the Shen family in the future, and must inherit and carry forward the family business. So he had studied business-related knowledge very hard.
By the time he was Shen Yue's age now, he had already earned his first billion dollars in life.
Yet his sister was now telling him her main interest was sleeping.
Shen Yichen: ...
"You're still young. There are many interesting things waiting for you other than sleeping."
"I think sleeping is the most interesting. Lying in bed makes me feel so content."
"What else do you usually do at home besides sleeping?"
Shen Yue thought for a moment. "Read the books Mom gives me."
Shen Yichen's expression improved a little as he asked, "What kind of books?"
"Domineering CEO's Cute Secretary." After answering, Shen Yue felt something was off and added another sentence. "But why do you only have male secretaries, Big Brother?"
Shen Yichen's face darkened. He knew there was a reason Shen Yue had been brought up this way after he left home. Just what were those two doing raising children?
"It's to avoid the situations described in the book you read that I need male secretaries."
"Then do your male secretaries also sit on your lap?"
"Shen! Yue!"
Shen Yue got two big knuckle raps and finally quieted down.
The two were silent for a good while before Shen Yichen started washing her hands to get rid of the glue, which had dissolved by now and quickly rinsed off.
This was also the first time Shen Yue realized her big brother wasn't as scary as she had imagined.
"I'm sorry, Big Brother."
Thinking Shen Yue was apologizing for just now, Shen Yichen used a paper towel to dry her hands while admonishing, "There are some things you can't say, understand?"
Shen Yue nodded.
Seeing Shen Yue's well-behaved appearance, Shen Yichen couldn't help ruffling her hair.
Just then, the secretary returned with the clothes. Not only was the sizing perfect, even the styles were all ones Shen Yue liked.
This gave Shen Yue a new understanding of her big brother's secretaries' capabilities.
"Pick a dress you like and go change in that room."
As Shen Yue obediently held the clothes, she suddenly recalled an issue. She said to Shen Yichen, "Big Brother, I also got glue on my butt."
Shen Yichen's expression flickered for a moment, but he quickly controlled his emotions. While calling the secretary to bring more hot water up, he gently told Shen Yue, "Wash off the glue yourself later."
Shen Yue nodded. She really couldn't make Big Brother wash her butt.
This extra delay took over half an hour. Shen Yue finally emerged from the room changed into new clothes, only to see Shen Yichen standing at his desk on a call.
"Director Zhang should have told you about the school matter. I don't know what stance the Shangs are taking, but you can get a good understanding of Shang Junyu's attitude. Shen Yue is young and doesn't understand some things, how can you all not see it clearly?"
"If they want to wait, let them keep waiting. Shen Yue is staying with me tonight and we'll go back later."
"I know, I'll ask Shen Yue what she thinks in a bit."
Shen Yichen turned his head and saw Shen Yue standing at the door already changed, so he quickly ended the call. He walked up to Shen Yue and looked her up and down, commenting, "It fits well."
Shen Yue also nodded, "Yes! This skirt is very comfortable!"
"Let's go, I'll take you around."
Shen Yichen's idea of taking her around was to bring Shen Yue from the top floor down, touring each floor one by one.
It would have been fine if they were just strolling, but Shen Yichen didn't just stroll - he also brought Shen Yue into every office on each floor to inspect.
Starting from 9am in the morning, by noon Shen Yue and Shen Yichen had only covered less than half the floors.
If it wasn't for lunchtime, Shen Yue felt like her legs would be wasted here today.
At this moment, she regretted. Regretted so much.
This regret only lasted until Shen Yichen brought her to a private room at the Yayuan Restaurant.
As Shen Yue ate the meat dish called Hundred Birds Paying Homage to Phoenix but was actually just chicken, she felt very satisfied.
What is the meaning of life, if not to eat all sorts of strange and exotic dishes?
Shen Yue heartily wolfed down her food, even letting out a loud burp.
"Full?"
"Full."
"My family called just now saying the Shang family came to apologize to you, and should still be waiting at home now."
Upon hearing Shang Junyu's name, Shen Yue had a feeling of "I knew it".
In her memories, she had quarreled with Shang Junyu before too, but every time the Shang family found out, they would bring Shang Junyu to apologize to her.
Shang Junyu always behaved very well in front of his parents, patiently coaxing her, and sincerely apologizing with remorse. But every time she thought Shang Junyu would really be nice to her, he would become a different person altogether.
Then she would be upset again, and Shang Junyu would coax her again.
As they grew older, rumors of Shen Yue's arrogance and Shang Junyu's courtesy also gradually spread.
But only Shen Yue herself knew that Shang Junyu kept flaunting new girlfriends at her, but she didn't bear to let Shang Junyu be punished by his family again, so she helped him cover it up every time.
When Shang Junyu's business ran into trouble, she took out her own money to help Shang Junyu fill the hole, but was scolded for meddling.
Always following behind Shang Junyu, feeling happy from even a single kind word from him. But only got a sentence in return: Shen Yue, you're so disgusting.
Shen Yue's obsequiousness to Shang Junyu wasn't purely because she liked him.
More importantly, when they were 14, Shen Yue and Shang Junyu had a fight. To punish Shang Junyu, the Shang family starved him for five whole days, until Shen Yue went to find him then discovered this.
The first thing Shang Junyu did after waking up wasn't to thank Shen Yue, but to tell her, "This is all your fault."
From that day forth, Shen Yue had been atoning.
But now Shen Yue was very clear-headed. The prison boss sister said this was Shang Junyu messing with her mind, she had to quickly set boundaries with this kind of person!
"Big brother, I don't want to see Shang Junyu again."
Shen Yichen's fingers lightly tapped the table. Even though he hadn't been home much previously, he also knew about Shen Yue always chasing after Shang Junyu. It was precisely because Shen Yue really liked him that their parents tried to build ties with the Shang family.
But now Shen Yue's attitude was very strange. What exactly did Shang Junyu do?
Shen Yichen didn't ask directly. He usually went to find out about things he wanted to know himself.
"Do you trust big brother?"
Shen Yue didn't understand why Shen Yichen suddenly asked this, but still replied, "I trust you."
At least for now she trusted him.
Shen Yichen's mood inexplicably improved a little. Gently, he said, "Later when we go home don't say anything, and don't have any expressions either. Just stand by my side."
Shen Yue nodded.
At this time, she still didn't know that she was about to be molded by Shen Yichen into a pitiful, mentally scarred, withdrawn young miss of a prestigious household who suffered from campus violence.