Chapter 147: Can He Actually Smile?

Upon hearing this, the crowd finally came to their senses and spoke up in succession.

"That's right, that's right. In the future, we'll have to interact more with him regarding this game project between Ryan and the Shen Family. Why not have him come down so everyone can have a drink together?"

"Everyone, my younger brother, he..."

Shen Huai paused, revealing a bitter smile with a hint of apology, "He is feeling a bit unwell and is currently resting upstairs. It is not suitable for him to drink, so I ask for your understanding."

"Oh, that is truly a pity!"

A man with a beer belly and a thick gold chain around his neck winked and said, "General Manager Shen, you two brothers look so much alike, you're practically cut from the same mold! We were hoping to admire him up close!"

"Yes, yes," another woman in heavy makeup and a low-cut gown chimed in, "General Manager Shen, just let your brother come down. It's just one drink; we promise not to force him!"

Shen Huai swept a calm gaze over the crowd, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes: "Didn't everyone already see him just now? My brother even greeted you all."

The crowd looked at one another, each revealing a meaningful smile.

"We saw him, but it was just a fleeting glance; it wasn't enough!" The man with the gold chain rubbed his hands together, his eyes excited, "General Manager Shen, stop holding out on us, let us get a good look!"

"That's right, General Manager Shen, don't keep us in suspense!"

Just as Shen Huai was about to speak, Shen Zhiyuan, who was sitting in the main seat, suddenly set down his wine glass and gave a light cough.

Instantly, everyone who had been heckling went as quiet as a mouse.

"Ladies and gentlemen,"

Shen Zhiyuan spoke slowly, his tone carrying a trace of unquestionable majesty, "My youngest son was only recently found and is not yet accustomed to his own identity. I fear he might make a fool of himself in such a setting, so it is better that he does not appear for now."

Since the Chairman of the Shen Group had spoken, the others naturally dared not persuade him further. The crowd fell silent, though the looks they cast toward Shen Huai became all the more intriguing.

Shen Huai let out a secret sigh of relief.

He raised his glass to signal to Shen Zhiyuan, then tilted his head back and drained the wine in one gulp, as if to mask some emotion.

The toast and speech segment of the celebration banquet soon began.

The host first introduced the guests in attendance with great enthusiasm.

He praised every single one of them to the skies, as if they were all business giants or industry elites.

Immediately following, Lu Kang, the Chairman of Ryan, took the stage and delivered a passionate speech.

The content was nothing more than thanking the Shen Corporation for their trust and looking forward to the bright prospects of their cooperation.

Finally, it was Shen Huai's turn to take the stage for the finale.

The spotlight hit him, stretching his silhouette to be exceptionally tall and slender.

Offstage, everyone's gaze was focused on him.

Shen Zhiyuan also sat offstage, looking at him with deep eyes, a smile of unknown meaning lingering at the corners of his mouth.

Standing on the stage and looking down.

Shen Huai had a fleeting illusion that he had returned to the day of the mobilization meeting for the high school entrance exams.

That day was just like this; students went up to give speeches one by one, and the parents and classmates of the entire grade were staring at him.

The only difference was.

That day, Shen Zhiyuan was not offstage, but today, he was not alone.

"Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good evening!"

Shen Huai's voice was low and magnetic, highly stirring, "First, please allow me, on behalf of the Shen Corporation, to express our warm welcome and heartfelt thanks for your attendance..."

He paused.

Shen Huai suddenly folded his speech notes and picked up the microphone: "Here, I would also like to specifically thank one person."

"And that is my younger brother who has suddenly appeared."

"I never expected that there would actually be someone in this world who looks so much like me."

"The reason I handed this game project to him is also because he is another me in this world; we are one and the same."

"My brother is unwell today, so I am greeting all the guests on his behalf, and at the same time, I thank Ryan for their trust and support."

"I believe that under the leadership of my brother, Shen Huai, this project will surely achieve complete success!"

After finishing the last sentence.

A deep, clear sound of applause suddenly rang out from the front row.

Immediately after, thunderous applause hit like a tide, striking the eardrums with a deafening roar. Shen Huai's gaze turned toward the first person to lead the applause.

He saw Shen Zhiyuan wearing a faint smile, looking at him with a warm expression, his applause louder and more sincere than anyone else's.

Shen Huai was stunned for a moment.

Is Shen Zhiyuan... smiling at him?

He actually... knows how to smile too.

The applause continued until Shen Huai left the stage.

Shen Huai returned to his seat in a daze; because of this sudden, positive encouragement from Shen Zhiyuan, Shen Huai found himself momentarily afraid to look up and meet his eyes.

"What's wrong? Something on your mind?" Shen Zhiyuan took a light sip of wine and asked in a low voice.

"... It's nothing."

"That's good." Shen Zhiyuan paused, then added in a measured tone, "You spoke well."

Instantly, Shen Huai jerked his head up and stared blankly at Shen Zhiyuan.

The next second.

Shen Huai caught off guard, raised his hand and, as if possessed, pressed against Shen Zhiyuan's face.

"What are you doing!" Shen Zhiyuan immediately wiped the smile away and said indignantly, "Do you still think you're a child? Doing this in such a setting, what kind of decorum is this!"

Hearing this familiar tone, Shen Huai finally let out a long sigh of relief.

This is the right vibe.

Having just witnessed a fake person who looked exactly like him, Shen Huai was truly a bit jumpy right now.

For that split second, he even wondered if Shen Zhiyuan was also a Robot.

"It's nothing, I'm just not used to hearing you praise someone for the first time," Shen Huai said quietly, pulling his hand back.

"I think you're just asking for a beating."

Shen Zhiyuan let out a cold snort and returned to his previous indifferent expression.

Although the surface was calm, the level of panic in Shen Zhiyuan's heart at this moment was no less than Shen Huai's.

Did the concern he inadvertently revealed actually make his son feel that uncomfortable?

Why was the father-son relationship so much more troublesome than acquiring a company? Really.

It was all Yang Shuqin's fault for coming up with that terrible idea.

Shen Zhiyuan grumbled a few words in his heart, then suddenly thought of something, turned his head, and looked at Shen Huai again: "You said just now that your younger brother is unwell?"

"... Ah, yes."

Shen Huai looked around, having no choice but to bite the bullet and nod.

With so many outsiders present, he couldn't possibly tell the truth.

"Take me to see him." Shen Zhiyuan's eyes narrowed, his tone brook no argument.

"... Ah? Now?" A flash of awkwardness crossed Shen Huai's expression, "Wouldn't that be inconvenient?"

If he found out that the Yang Family had already manufactured a Robot with such a high degree of simulation.

Given Shen Zhiyuan's ruthless nature, there was no telling what bad ideas he might come up with.

"What's inconvenient about a father going to see his own son? Lead the way, quickly."

After saying this, Shen Zhiyuan stood up and walked toward the second floor.

Seeing Shen Zhiyuan taking the stairs two at a time in his impatience, Shen Huai didn't have time to explain and hurriedly followed.

"Father, listen to me first..."

Shen Huai grabbed Shen Zhiyuan at the corner of the second floor.

Unexpectedly, Shen Zhiyuan suddenly stood still, turned back to look at Shen Huai, and said in a flat tone: "How long do you intend to keep hiding things for the Yang Family?"

"...?" Shen Huai was stunned.

Seeing this, Shen Zhiyuan shook his head helplessly and sighed: "You don't really think your old man built the Shen Group to be this big just by relying on luck, do you?"

(End of chapter)