83: biased

Once inside the car, Sun Binghe glanced to the side slightly: "Boss, it will take about forty minutes."

Chu Yilan: "Good."

After saying this, Sun Binghe raised the partition in the middle, quiet and professional.

Shen Lian was curious and whispered to Chu Yilan: "Has Special Assistant Sun ever been in a relationship?"

Chu Yilan shook his head: "I haven't heard of it."

"I guessed as much," Shen Lian continued: "His mind is completely filled with work."

Chu Yilan felt no guilt about gossiping behind his assistant's back with Shen Lian; he even seemed willing to spill everything: "But since Binghe became my assistant, there have been many who pursued him. Setting aside those in the company, my friend Zhou Yuanlin, whom you've met, also expressed interest."

Shen Lian's eyes widened suddenly, and he tugged at Chu Yilan's sleeve to signal him to continue.

"I have no objections to that, as long as it doesn't affect work or the company's reputation," Chu Yilan recalled slowly: "At that time, Zhou Yuanlin often used cooperation as an excuse to have meals with Binghe, but later, after one dinner, Zhou Yuanlin gave up completely."

Shen Lian thought about Zhou Yuanlin's usual behavior: "That guy is too much of a playboy."

"No," Chu Yilan shook his head: "It was because Binghe said, 'Apologies, CEO Zhou, I do not wish to develop a deeper relationship with someone whose Chinese scores barely passed. Of course, I am not questioning your intelligence, but the fact that you failed math, physics, and chemistry is truly too shocking for me.'"

These words were equally shocking to Zhou Yuanlin.

According to Zhou Yuanlin, even though Sun Binghe tried his best to hide it, he still saw a look of disdain and indifference in the other man's eyes, similar to a 'superior organism' staring at an 'amoeba.'

Sun Binghe was not joking; to him, grades and schools were the foundation for whether someone could even get a passing grade. Zhou Yuanlin had never cared about grades before, but at that dinner table, he felt a belated sense of humiliation and shame from his student days.

In that instant, Zhou Yuanlin's rose-tinted glasses and affection for Sun Binghe vanished into thin air.

Because he felt that when Sun Binghe judged his grades, he was exactly like his grandfather.

Feng Yueshan, who was at the dinner table at the time, almost laughed himself under the table upon hearing this.

Ning Sixian also covered his mouth to suppress his laughter, while teasing Feng Yueshan: "What are you laughing at? Your past grades would be considered trash in Special Assistant Sun's eyes too."

Now it was Shen Lian's turn to hold back laughter; he leaned on Chu Yilan's shoulder, gently covering his face.

Forty minutes later, the black maybach arrived at the destination.

There were many people present today; the atmosphere was much more solemn than a typical cocktail party.

Shen Lian and Chu Yilan got out of the car one after the other.

Not all businessmen in Qudu have the opportunity to see Chu Yilan, but those who had seen him were now, intentionally or unintentionally, moving closer, waiting for a chance to strike up a conversation.

Shen Lian trailed half a step behind Chu Yilan, walking side-by-side with Sun Binghe.

Xu Jingge had arrived early, accompanied by Chang Qing, and was chatting over tea with Su Yaning. Upon seeing Chu Yilan and the others, the three of them stood up.

"I arrived so early, that shows enough sincerity, right?" Xu Jingge extended his hand.

Chu Yilan shook his hand: "It's alright."

"CEO Chu." Su Yaning was dressed exquisitely with a noble temperament. After greeting him, she looked at Shen Lian: "Mr. Shen, long time no see."

Su Yaning was even more polite to Shen Lian than to Chu Yilan. She couldn't help it; her daughter was her life. Since Shen Lian had saved Jinhuan, he held absolute sway with Su Yaning, not to mention that Shen Lian was a person who understood boundaries very well; he had never used his favor to demand anything in return.

"sea god descends" was indeed a thank-you gift from Su Yaning to Shen Lian. She held shares in Qinggua, and Su Yaning had prepared for the possibility that if Shen Lian messed it up, his reputation would decline and she would lose money. However, in reality, the episode Shen Lian participated in broke viewership records, and the online discussion about him was extremely intense.

"CEO Su." Shen Lian looked around: "Did you not bring Jinhuan?"

"I did bring her, but she didn't like it, so she went out to play with the assistant."

Shen Lian: "I see."

Chang Qing put down his water cup, stepped forward, and patted Shen Lian on the shoulder, and the two went to the side to chat.

There was a speech before the chamber of commerce meeting started. Chu Yilan's seat was in the very center of the first row. Shen Lian did not want to be too conspicuous, so he declined the seat next to the man and sat in the row behind, with Yang Bin on his right side, which meant he had someone to talk to.

As the person above gave the speech, Yang Bin took notes quickly in his notebook.

Shen Lian whispered: "Can't you use a computer?"

"I'm used to it," Yang Bin explained: "And once I write it out by hand, I can remember it."

Shen Lian raised an eyebrow: "Your memory is amazing."

Chu Yilan's straight posture leaned back slightly against the chair.

At this moment, Sun Binghe turned his head and said with a hint of emphasis: "Boss's memory is also very good."

Shen Lian nodded. Fine, fine, fine, I know you are Chu Yilan's die-hard fan.

In reality, that wasn't the case; Sun Binghe was just trying to save Yang Bin's life.

Shen Lian didn't get jealous over nothing; Sun Binghe was simply a fierce general who had been conquered by Chu Yilan's capabilities.

Shen Lian pointed at a chibi doll in the upper right corner of Yang Bin's notebook: "Did you draw that?"

Yang Bin: "...I drew it when I was bored."

Shen Lian didn't notice that Yang Bin was having a headache. The other party was Chu Yilan's confidant, so he was his brother; if it were just some random person sitting here, he wouldn't have bothered talking.

Shen Lian: "Hey Yang Bin..."

"Shen Lian." This time, the interruption came from Xu Jingge. He turned his body, handsome and dashing, with a half-smile: "Stop talking for a moment."

Chu Yilan: "Whether he speaks or not, what does that have to do with you?"

Xu Jingge: "...If you have the ability, then stop radiating low pressure."

Shen Lian frowned: "Chu Yilan is sitting there just fine, how is he radiating low pressure?"

Xu Jingge: "..."

Su Yaning tried hard to control her expression, but amusement quickly spilled from her eyes.

Chang Qing patted Xu Jingge on the back, signaling him to let it go. When you are under someone else's roof, you have to bow your head.

The commotion on their side wasn't large, but they were definitely the center of the venue.

What's going on? The people behind stretched their necks, guessing constantly. Did they reach an agreement? Did they change their minds? Or was there a new proposal?

Yang Bin put away the notebook that was the source of the trouble.

Shen Lian pondered and realized that these people were exaggerating. Chu Yilan just had a strong possessive streak; wasn't he easy to talk to usually?

He didn't care that he was biased; he reached out and poked Chu Yilan's waist on the right side of the chair. Under the cover of his overcoat, Chu Yilan grabbed Shen Lian's fingers and gently rubbed them, as if touching a piece of warm jade.

Yang Bin could see it the moment he lowered his eyes, and he truly felt like every second was like a year.

The speech ended, and they were led by waiters to the cocktail party in the back.

One of the waiters had a delicate appearance, standing out among the crowd of uniforms. He waited for Chu Yilan to approach and immediately stepped forward.

He didn't know who arranged it, but it didn't matter. Sun Binghe separated the person with two steps, his eyes carrying a warning.

Chu Yilan had already noticed this waiter.

Seeing him look over, the waiter immediately squeezed out a smile that could be described as pretty.

The next second, Chu Yilan's gaze moved away, calm and waveless, as if the other person were merely an object.

There were many people today who attempted to take a share of the spoils. Chu Yilan held the power of decision; at critical moments, naturally, all kinds of tactics would be employed.

Shen Lian saw it but didn't say a word.

Xu Jingge slowed down half a step to wait for him, curious: "Aren't you angry?"

"Chang Qing has almost become the nation's husband, aren't you angry?"

Xu Jingge's chest heaved violently, performing an act of being angry on the spot.