Chapter 145: Years of Deception
"So... you really plan on keeping this strictly business and not holding back?" Shen Zhaoli took a deep breath, looking at Shen Jinci, and slowly shook his head, "Aren’t you being too unsympathetic?"
Shen Zhaoli actually already considered Bian Yue one of his own, and to some extent, he felt that Bian Yue seemed more like family than Shen Jinci did.
He frowned, his tone matter-of-fact, "If Bian Yue wants it, why not just give it to her directly? With Lixing involved, who would dare to trip her up?"
"If she’s always protected by me, of course no one would dare to do anything to her, but what if one day, she wants to live independently?"
Shen Zhaoli’s brow furrowed deeper, "Are you saying... Bian Yue would leave you?"
The word ’leave’ seemed to carry sharp thorns, piercing into Shen Jinci’s flesh, and yet he still maintained a calm and composed appearance, seemingly unharmed by these words at all.
He looked at Shen Zhaoli, still calm and detached, his eyes even deeper, "No one knows what will happen in the future with the unforeseen changes of the world."
Shen Jinci closed the partnership document he was holding, "I roughly understand your and the board’s intentions. I will assess and consider them. Even if I end up working with Bian Yue, I will not damage Lixing’s interests."
Shen Zhaoli wanted to say more but hesitated; after a long moment, his expression complex, "Shen Jinci, why... why don’t you just ask Bian Yue? Perhaps she has already fallen in love with you, maybe she wants to spend her whole life with you. Then, are these trials really necessary?"
"Bian Yue is an independent person, not my accessory. She has her dreams. What I can do is to support and respect her. Not treating her like a helpless woman in need of my protection is the greatest respect I can show her."