Chapter 1105 - 1103: Inner Voice
"There's a tea house nearby, let's go there," said Zhou Rui.
Lin Chuan nodded in agreement. Zhou Rui parked the car by the roadside within two minutes.
The two entered the tea house, where the environment was quite tranquil. They got a private room and ordered a pot of Tieguanyin. Lin Chuan and Zhou Rui sat down.
"Lin Chuan," Zhou Rui took a sip of tea, looked at Lin Chuan and said, "The Sichuan University Group's IPO is a done deal. I've roughly drafted a stock distribution plan according to your request."
Lin Chuan smiled slightly and said, "Let's hear it."
Zhou Rui said, "You founded the Sichuan University Group single-handedly, and you hold 35% of the shares. Zhou Kai, Lu Dapao, Li Qiang, and Huang Bo hold 5% each. Besides the tradable shares, there's 10% of shares, which I want to distribute to the main management team of the group."
"How much do you hold then?" Lin Chuan asked with a smile.
"I'll pass," Zhou Rui said a little shyly.
Lin Chuan's expression turned serious and replied, "That's not acceptable. Sichuan University wouldn't be where it is today without at least half of your contribution. I've been thinking recently, with the IPO, 25% of the total shares will be tradable, leaving 75% of the shares. You and I will each hold 15%, and Zhou Kai and the others will each hold 8%, with the remaining 13% distributed to the managers based on their contributions."
"That's not right, how can I have as many shares as you?" Zhou Rui immediately objected.
Lin Chuan said, "Why not? I've hardly managed anything at Sichuan University, you take care of everything big and small. You might as well be Chairman of Sichuan University. It's settled."
Zhou Rui wanted to argue further, but Lin Chuan quickly said, "I'm leaving Jiangbei City tomorrow and might be gone for a long time, so you can take full charge of matters at Sichuan University."
"Where are you going again?" Zhou Rui looked at Lin Chuan with some resentment.
Lin Chuan laughed, "I'm going to Beijing, and might also take a trip to Thailand."
Zhou Rui muttered in response, and lowered her head to sip tea without saying much.
Lin Chuan saw Zhou Rui's pretty face showing signs of displeasure and asked, "Is there anything bothering you? You can tell me."
After being silent for a while, Zhou Rui said, "Lin Chuan, have you ever truly liked me?"
Zhou Rui's sudden question caught Lin Chuan off guard, and he said, "Xiao Rui, I treat you as family, and you're my best assistant."
Lin Chuan didn't directly answer Zhou Rui's question but instead responded in a more subtle manner.
"If things don't work out with Tang Yumeng, would you choose me?" Zhou Rui asked again.
Lin Chuan didn't know how to answer Zhou Rui's question and quickly changed the topic, "Xiao Rui, this tea is really fragrant. Come on, let's drink the tea first."
Lin Chuan avoided the question, which made Zhou Rui misunderstand, thinking his avoidance meant he wouldn't choose her, causing her tears to flow.
Seeing Zhou Rui in tears, Lin Chuan hurriedly said, "Xiao Rui, you've already been someone special to me, but I cannot promise you anything."
Zhou Rui suddenly reached out her hands, tightly grasping Lin Chuan's hands, and said tearfully, "Lin Chuan, I don't expect to live with you in the future. Just don't forget me."
Lin Chuan said emotionally, "Xiao Rui, how could I forget you? I'll never forget you."
Alas, Lin Chuan indeed tends to be a bit messy with emotional matters, making it uncertain how he'll handle things with these women in the future. But honestly, it's fortunate for Lin Chuan that Zhou Rui, Song Xiaojia, Helen, and Fang Yuan haven't turned bitter like Yang Zi.
Lin Chuan's words brought a smile to Zhou Rui's face, clearly lifting her spirits.
Seeing Zhou Rui smile again, Lin Chuan finally let out a sigh of relief, reversed his hands to grasp Zhou Rui's snow-white hands, gently stroked them, and felt the softness and smoothness, laughing, "Xiao Rui, it's been a long time since we've been alone together."
"Go aside, I don't have time. There are lots of company matters waiting for me to handle." Zhou Rui's fiery personality quickly went back to her usual self.
Lin Chuan laughed, "Don't give me that, there's no one at the group today. Come, let's find a quiet place to have a chat and bond a bit."
"Pervert," Zhou Rui blushed and cursed softly.
Eight-thirty in the evening, at Zhou Kai's home.
Zhou Kai finally sobered up from his drunken state, feeling a severe headache. It's been a long time since he drank this much; such heavy drinking suddenly felt unfamiliar.
From the next room came the sound of snoring, Lu Dapao was sleeping like a dead pig.
Getting up from the bed, Zhou Kai walked out of his room; his parents were watching TV.
Seeing their son sober, Zhou Kai's mother quickly got up and said, "Xiao Kai, I made you some sour plum soup, let me bring it to you."
Zhou Kai's father glanced at Zhou Kai, somewhat displeased, "If you can't drink, don't push it. Look at yourself."
Zhou Kai chuckled quietly and sat down on the sofa, not daring to say anything.
Zhou Kai's mother brought out some sour plum soup and handed it to Zhou Kai. He took it and drank a whole bowl in one gulp, instantly feeling much better.
"Xiao Kai, I have something to tell you," Zhou Kai's mother said.
"What is it?" Zhou Kai asked, looking at his mother.
"What do you think of Xiao Rui?" Zhou Kai's mother said with a smile.
Zhou Kai was taken aback and said, "She's great."
"That's good. Today I talked with Xiao Rui's aunt, and we think you and Xiao Rui are a great match. Why not just bring Xiao Rui home as your wife," Zhou Kai's mother said.
"Mom, let's drop this. There's no way between me and Xiao Rui, please don't meddle," Zhou Kai said, feeling a bit anxious.
Zhou Kai's mother glared and said, "Why not? Xiao Rui is such a wonderful girl. I just want her to be my daughter-in-law."
"Mom, I'll say it again, there's absolutely no way between Xiao Rui and me," Zhou Kai said.
Zhou Kai's father turned to him and said, "You brat, you're nearly thirty and still making your mom and me worry about your lifelong matters."
"Dad, Mom, please don't worry about me, I have a girlfriend," Zhou Kai didn't want to argue with his parents anymore, so he casually lied.
"Xiao Kai, is that true? Why not bring her home so your dad and I can meet her," Zhou Kai's mother said, beaming with joy.
Without thinking, Zhou Kai blurted out, "Okay, I'll bring her home tomorrow for you to see."
"Great, tomorrow your dad and I will be waiting. By the way, what's your girlfriend's name, where is she from, and how old is she?" Zhou Kai's mother asked a flurry of questions.
"You'll know when I bring her home tomorrow. Dad, Mom, I need to head out now, and if Da Pao wakes up later, have him call me, I'm leaving now," Zhou Kai said, then left the house almost in a hurry.
After stepping out, Zhou Kai walked a little distance from home and lit a cigarette.
Once calm, he regretted it a bit inside; he didn't actually have a girlfriend, how would he explain to his parents tomorrow?
The more he thought about it, the more he regretted it, but he already made a big promise to his parents. What to do now?
After thinking for a while without any idea, Zhou Kai decided to call Lin Chuan, hoping he'd come up with something.
Lin Chuan was still with Zhou Rui at the moment. The two had been fooling around in a hotel room, and Lin Chuan was now chatting with Zhou Rui.
Upon receiving Zhou Kai's call and hearing his grievance, Lin Chuan couldn't help but laugh and asked where he was.
Zhou Kai said he was not far from home, and Lin Chuan mentioned a location, telling Zhou Kai to wait for him there.
He recounted the situation to Zhou Rui, who also couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Lin Chuan, we have to help Zhou Kai this time, otherwise with his personality, it'll be hard for him to find a girlfriend."
"Indeed, do you have anyone suitable to introduce to him?" Lin Chuan asked.
Zhou Rui thought deeply for a while, then said, "I have someone in mind. The newly joined Ma Yilin in the corporate office is a good girl, not only pretty but kind-hearted."
"Then what are we waiting for? Quickly call her and set up a meeting for them," Lin Chuan said.
Zhou Rui gave Lin Chuan a flirtatious look and said, "Look at how eager you are, as if it's you going on the blind date."
Half an hour later, Lin Chuan and Zhou Rui arrived at the meeting spot with Zhou Kai, who had already arrived.
"Kai, Xiao Rui set you up with a girl, you better be proactive and passionate later, don't act like a blockhead," Lin Chuan said as soon as they met.
Zhou Kai was startled but awkwardly smiled.
Not long after, a taxi pulled up in front of them. A girl emerged, sporting a short bob of jet-black hair and an outfit that was casual yet charming.
"Mr. Zhou, why did you call me?" The girl looked at Zhou Rui, then turned to Zhou Kai and Lin Chuan, and smiled at Zhou Rui.
This girl was precisely Ma Yilin, whom Zhou Rui had mentioned; she was indeed impressive.
Zhou Kai caught sight of Ma Yilin, and his eyes widened as he felt an inexplicable nervousness.
"Xiao Ma, let me introduce you. This is Lin Chuan, our group's chairman, and this is Zhou Kai, the general manager of our group's Japanese fishery division," Zhou Rui introduced Ma Yilin.
Ma Yilin naturally knew these famous names, gracefully extending her hand to Lin Chuan and Zhou Kai, saying, "Hello, Chairman Lin, Mr. Zhou."
Lin Chuan smiled as he shook Ma Yilin's hand, while Zhou Kai, visibly tense, turned red after shaking hands with her.
"Kai, can you act a bit more like a man?" Seeing Zhou Kai act this way, Lin Chuan felt rather annoyed and whispered to him.