Morning Longing for Warmth – Chapter 58
by Little PandaHold Me
Hold me, take me to the rest room.
When Shiyi saw Wei Hui, she almost didn’t recognize her. She was wearing a red long dress, walking in wedge heels, and her once-flowing long hair was gone, replaced with fresh short hair. Her whole appearance looked more crisp and decisive, making her facial features appear more defined. Light fell upon her, stretching her shadow long, her figure thin. Shiyi stood frozen for a long while before stammering: “Huihui?”
When Wei Hui saw her come out, she walked two steps forward. Pei Tian took Shiyi’s luggage and walked straight out. Behind him, the two gazed at each other. Like the gaunt Wei Hui, Shiyi had also become much thinner. Her height had increased considerably – when she first entered the Wei family, she only reached Wei Hui’s shoulder, but now she was nearly at her eyebrow level. With high heels on, she showed signs of being slightly taller than Wei Hui.
“Your hair, why…”
Wei Hui lowered her eyes: “It was troublesome to maintain, so I cut it.” She smiled at Shiyi: “Does it look good?”
Shiyi choked up, swallowing her bitterness: “It looks good.”
“Very good.”
Wei Hui nodded: “Let’s go, to the company first.”
After getting in the car, Wei Hui and Shiyi sat in the back seat. Shiyi kept looking at Wei Hui, her gaze deep and profound, as if trying to engrave this image deeply into her mind. Wei Hui looked down at reports, accidentally meeting her gaze, and frowned: “What’s wrong?”
Shiyi shook her head: “Nothing, just feels unfamiliar.”
Having been used to Wei Hui’s long hair, the short hair still felt a bit strange.
Wei Hui smiled: “The hairdresser said short hair suits me well, what do you think?”
Shiyi’s heart ached sharply, filled with bitterness. The information she had found online matched the person before her. She forced a smile: “It suits you well, looks very good. How’s your health lately?”
Wei Hui continued looking down at her tablet, responding as light as clouds and wind [ι²ζ·‘ι’¨θΌ | yΓΊn dΓ n fΔng qΔ«ng | meaning: with casual indifference]: “Quite good.”
Those brief words made Shiyi’s heart clench again. Good my ass! She had already learned from Su Ziyan that Wei Hui’s health was deteriorating day by day. After the New Year, she had completely collapsed. These past two years, Luo Zhouping’s branch company had been developing rapidly. Though he had no evidence of Wei Hui’s illness, he took advantage of her inability to manage affairs, taking over many company matters, and even attracting many shareholders to invest in the branch company.
Unable to shake Wei Tian, Luo Zhouping was trying to hollow it out bit by bit.
His intentions deserve death!
Halfway through the drive, at a traffic light, Pei Tian stopped the car. Shiyi asked: “What moves is Luo Zhouping making now?”
Wei Hui closed her tablet, her expression grave.
Last month, Wei Tian and Zhihua competed for a contract. Luo Zhouping interfered, causing Wei Tian to lose 30 million for nothing. Although they knew it was Luo Zhouping’s doing, without solid evidence, they could only swallow this bitter pill. In the past half year, Wei Hui had clearly been struggling with company affairs. Pei Tian, caring for her health, couldn’t frequently oversee the company. Luo Zhouping was like a monkey becoming king in a mountain without its tiger [ε±±δΈζ²δΊθθοΌη΄ε稱衷δΊιΈη | shΔn zhΕng mΓ©ile lΗohΗ, hΓ³uzi chΔng qΗle bΓ wΓ‘ng | metaphor for taking advantage when authority is absent], repeatedly suppressing Wei Tian while expanding his own branch.
Shiyi had known some of this from phone calls, but hadn’t expected the situation to be so dire. Wei Hui said: “For now, we can’t let him know about my illness.”
If Luo Zhouping found out and spread the news, Wei Tian might not survive this hurdle. The shareholders were already dissatisfied with her actions over the past half year. If they learned about her illness, forget about turning their spears [εζ | dΗogΔ | meaning: switching allegiance], they would likely unite and choose to push Luo Zhouping into the president’s position.
Shiyi nodded: “I understand.”
“What should we do next?”
Wei Hui remained silent for a few seconds, then sighed: “Let’s discuss it when we get to the company.”
Shiyi took the tablet from her hands. Seeing Wei Hui’s surprised look, she said: “I’ll look at it myself, you rest well.”
Watching the once-following-behind-her young girl now handling matters with such steadiness, having bamboo in one’s chest [θΈζζη«Ή | xiΕng yΗu chΓ©ng zhΓΊ | idiom: to have a well-thought-out plan], Wei Hui smiled indulgently: “Alright.”
She spoke while leaning against Shiyi, closing her eyes: “Wake me when we reach the company.”
Shiyi glanced at her sleeping face from the corner of her eye. Her eyebrows had lost their sharpness, gaining gentleness. Her nose was elegant and straight, her lips tinged red with carefully applied lipstick. She had always loved bold colors, and this hadn’t changed. As Shiyi watched, her heart stirred, and she leaned forward to kiss her, only stopping when her mouth was filled with the sweet fragrance of her lipstick. Wei Hui, eyes still closed, bit her lip corner, deepening the kiss.
In the front, Pei Tian, seriously driving, kept his gaze straight ahead, pretending not to see the intimate moment between the two behind him.
They soon arrived at the company. Though Wei Hui hadn’t rested long, perhaps Shiyi’s return had considerably improved her mood. When getting out of the car, her complexion looked good, with a rosy tinge to her pale skin, her eyes bright and clear. Pei Tian couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen Wei Hui with such an expression, and he couldn’t help but give Shiyi a few grateful glances.
He had been by Wei Hui’s side for many years and was very familiar with her health condition. Initially, when he saw Wei Hui and Shiyi together, he couldn’t help but worry – firstly about Shiyi’s character, after all, she was a habitual thief, and secondly about whether this relationship would harm Wei Hui’s health. Unexpectedly, after they got together, Wei Hui became increasingly resilient. It was truly as Su Ziyan said, once a person has a soft rib, they become stronger.
Shiyi was Wei Hui’s weakness.
Over time, Pei Tian had tacitly acknowledged Shiyi as Wei Hui’s partner, treating her with much more respect.
Upon reaching the company, the secretary hurriedly came forward, glancing at Wei Hui and showing a moment’s surprise at her short hair before quickly regaining composure: “President Wei, several directors are waiting for you in the office.”
Wei Hui nodded: “Understood.”
She turned to look at Shiyi, but before she could speak, Shiyi handed the tablet to Pei Tian and said with composed ease: “I’ll accompany you inside.”
Wei Hui smiled at her composure: “Alright.”
The two entered the office together.
Several senior shareholder didn’t even stand when Wei Hui entered, sitting smugly drinking tea. Wei Hui remained unhurried, taking the main seat with Shiyi. One director asked: “President Wei, this person doesn’t seem to be a company employee, is it appropriate for her to hear our discussion?”
“Wei Nuan is a shareholder of Qimao. Old Mr. Su, do you think she’s suitable to be here?”
In the first half of this year, the Shen family had voluntarily withdrawn from the abandoned building development project, with Qimao filling their vacancy. Therefore, Qimao was now not only a business partner with Wei Tian but also a major client they couldn’t afford to offend. As a Qimao shareholder, Wei Nuan’s presence here was entirely justified.
The elderly director who had spoken was choked by Wei Hui’s words, remaining silent for a while. Seeing his setback, others began to raise difficulties. Wei Hui and Zhihua’s failed bid had lost them 30 million. With mid-year dividends approaching, they had inexplicably lost such a large sum, and everyone was uncomfortable. The shareholders cooperating with Luo Zhouping were still fine, as they could get some sweet taste [ηι | tiΓ‘n tou | meaning: benefits] from his side. But now the shareholders who looked down on Luo Zhouping’s petty actions yet couldn’t bear to see money slip away were causing trouble, demanding an explanation from Wei Hui.
In business, profit and loss were natural occurrences, but Wei Hui had been in charge for nearly ten years without ever letting them suffer losses, so their appetites had become spoiled. Now, with just a small loss, they came demanding explanations. Wei Hui asked: “What kind of explanation do the directors want?”
“What kind of talk is this?” One elderly man stood up: “Are we demanding explanations?”
“We are concerned about Wei Tian’s future!”
“There are rumors outside…”
Shiyi laughed lightly: “If rumors could become truth, directors wouldn’t be sitting here.”
The men exchanged glances, and the previous speaker continued huffing: “Aren’t we just worried about Wei Tian going downhill? We’re old now, can’t handle much turmoil. We rely on Wei Tian eat a bowl of rice [εε£ι£― | chΔ« kΗu fΓ n | meaning: livelihood]. With things like this happening, how can we not be anxious?”
Just as Wei Hui was about to speak, Shiyi pressed her wrist, maintaining a smile: “In that case, I have a proposal.”
The directors looked at each other: “Go on.”
Shiyi sat in her position, speaking deliberately: “Since you’re all worried about Wei Tian’s decline, why not take this opportunity to sell your shares? I’ll buy them from you at double the price. How about that?”
Her presence was too composed – though only in her early twenties, she remained calm and collected. Compared to these smug directors, she carried an air of certainty. The directors weren’t fools – they originally disapproved of Luo Zhouping’s methods, but having suffered losses, they wanted an explanation. They came today hoping to make Wei Hui personally fill this gap, but hadn’t expected Shiyi to make the first move.
Abandon Wei Tian’s shares?
What a joke! How could they possibly let go of this golden goose? They had only lost 30 million now – even if they lost 300 million, their dividends would still be substantial. How could they give their shares to others for no reason? Unless they were crazy!
They weren’t crazy, but they couldn’t refute either. Shiyi was too resolute, as if one more word of interference from them would result in her signing share transfer agreements on the spot. The elderly directors exchanged glances, adjusted their expressions, and smiled: “President Wei, you should know we sincerely want the best for Wei Tian. President Luo has invited us out several times, but we never accepted. You should be clear which side we stand on.”
Wei Hui nodded: “I know.”
She and Shiyi had played white face and red face [ε±η½θεη΄ θ | chΓ ng bΓ‘i liΗn hΓ© hΓ³ng liΗn | meaning: good cop-bad cop routine]. Seeing they couldn’t gain any advantage, the directors had to stand up: “President Wei, we’re not pressuring you. Everyone wants what’s best for Wei Tian. We prefer you in this position, but if losses continue, we won’t be able to support you.”
Wei Hui lowered her eyes, thinking for a few seconds: “Rest assured, I know my limits.”
The directors looked at each other, finally leaving with a flick of their sleeves. The office door opened and closed, and Pei Tian entered, respectfully saying: “Third Miss, the Shen family has recently invested in Luo Zhouping’s branch company.”
Wei Hui stared at the documents before her, her vision blurring. She raised her hand: “Alright, you may leave first.”
Pei Tian bowed his head and left the office.
After Pei Tian’s departure, Shiyi took the documents from Wei Hui. Just as she lowered her head to look, she heard Wei Hui’s slightly lowered voice: “Shiyi.”
She turned her head and saw Wei Hui’s pale face saying: “Hold me and take me to the back rest room.”
Hold meβ
Shiyi’s hands trembled slightly, her voice quavering: “What’s wrong? Where are you uncomfortable?”
Wei Hui looked up at her, her vision unclear. She reached out and firmly grabbed Shiyi’s hand, gasping: “My heart hurts.”
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