Chapter 87

Nie Lingbo replied mildly, “No, I didn’t.”

Song Pianxian blinked.

“Didn’t you hear? Why aren’t you leaving?” Nie Lingbo glared at her.

Originally easy to bully, if she found out, she would expect total compliance from her.

Nie Lingbo lifted her chin, with a slightly arrogant expression.

What Nie Lingbo wanted wasn’t gratitude and obedience.

After Song Pianxian left, Nie Lingbo glanced at her wristwatch and headed to her study.

She sat down at her desk, put on her silver-framed glasses, her demeanor becoming even more sharp and elite.

Nie Lingbo first reviewed several urgent documents sent by her assistant Jiang Nan, her gaze like a cold spring passing over each A4 paper, making them feel soft.

One by one, numbers raced through her mind. She ran her fingers over the edges of the papers, frowned in contemplation, then coldly instructed Jiang Nan to convene a remote meeting.

The Nie Family started as a business, with a wide range of interests. Over the past century or two, the group had continuously adjusted its policies and transitions, and almost every currently popular industry had the shadow of the Nie Family behind it.

In recent decades, while Nie Lingbo had been overseas, her eldest brother had been holding down the fort domestically. However, behind the life-and-death decisions of the Nie Family, Nie Lingbo’s presence was indispensable.

Among this generation of the Nie Family, no one could surpass her.

In this era, gender distinctions were no longer as pronounced as they were over a century ago. Now, the one who wielded power was king. Nie Lingbo was the designated successor appointed by her father, the true head of the Nie Family in the future.

Therefore, although she hadn’t officially taken any position in the main group in the country yet, her actual power almost exceeded that of the true executives.

She needed to conduct a remote meeting. In less than five minutes, the screens displayed the images of six different department directors, all looking serious and respectful, not daring to be careless.

Nie Lingbo swept her gaze over them.

The managers facing her were all older than her, to the point where they could be her father’s age, but when they met her gaze, each one showed a cautious and respectful attitude.

Nie Lingbo tapped her black and gold pen with her fingertips, her voice low and powerful:

“Good afternoon, everyone.”

In the elegantly furnished study dominated by reddish-brown tones, the atmosphere was serious, and it seemed like a report was ongoing on the other end of the network, as Nie Lingbo spoke very little.

But each time she spoke briefly, the atmosphere became even more condensed.

Until the end, the people on the screen seemed to be immersed in a heavy and stifling atmosphere, not icy cold, but enough to make one’s body suddenly heavier, unable to move freely.

Tick, tock, tick, tock.

As the hour hand moved several notches, Nie Xingzhou’s lively voice could be faintly heard outside the door, calling out for Xiang Sixi like “Little Teacher Xiang Sixi.”

It was the end of Song Pianxian’s class, and she was about to leave the Nie Family with Xiang Sixi.

Nie Lingbo’s pen, casually held in her hand, paused, leaving a dark ink spot on the paper.

While the managers were discussing emergency plans on-site, Nie Lingbo suddenly stood up on the other end, startling them into silence. But she didn’t even look at them; instead, she walked straight to the window.

Seemingly finding the study too stuffy, Nie Lingbo pulled aside the gauzy curtain, allowing the thin golden sunlight to spill into the dim room, casting bright golden squares on the floor.

She opened the window about a palm’s width, and a breeze rolled past her ears, lifting a few strands of her hair and causing the papers to rustle.

Nie Lingbo stood by the bright window, looking down at the garden.

Two figures, one tall and one short, walked along the lush greenery, becoming smaller and smaller until they completely disappeared from her sight.

Just before they left completely, the small silhouette belonging to Song Pianxian seemed to move.

It seemed like she glanced back, yet maybe she didn’t.

A very small gesture, or perhaps a nonexistent one.

Did Song Pianxian look back?

During the meeting, when Jiang Nan was reporting the schedule, this question popped into Nie Lingbo’s mind, causing her to miss a segment of the schedule.

“Repeat the first two items,” Nie Lingbo ordered.

“On the 23rd evening, dinner with the Xia Family. On the 24th morning at 10 o’clock, attending the centennial celebration of S University.”

The centennial celebration of S University.

Nie Lingbo suddenly remembered this event.

S University also had a reputation, with a long history. For its centennial celebration, numerous activities were planned, and the board of directors mobilized their connections to invite a group of outstanding alumni to celebrate the occasion.

In recent years, Nie Lingbo hasn’t been invited by anyone while abroad, and the university didn’t hold much hope when sending the invitation.

Coincidentally, Nie Lingbo had been considering returning to the country during that period and decided to accept the invitation as an opportunity to socialize.

Upon hearing the name of S University, the first thought that came to Nie Lingbo’s mind was Song Pianxian, who is also an alumna of S University.

Just graduated less than a year ago, Song Pianxian is like a junior sister.

Junior sister.

Nie Lingbo savored these three words, a pleasant light flickering in her eyes, adding an inexplicable excitement to this event.

It seemed that anything related to Song Pianxian made everything feel special.

In the days when she couldn’t see Song Pianxian, time passed quickly.

The Nie Family’s business was managed relatively well, but with such a large family and business, there were always matters to attend to. Nie Lingbo was busy during the day and didn’t even have time for Xi Zihua when she came to see her.

Xi Zihua came to see Nie Lingbo for business matters.

The Xi Family had been in a mess due to Fu Siyuan’s actions, but Xi Wei, with her shrewdness, didn’t let anything slip through her fingers. Moreover, connections were always more valuable than money. The Xi Family’s good reputation from the past now reflected on Xi Wei and her children.

For example, because of the relationship between the Xi and Nie Families, Xi Zihua was able to gain experience under Nie Lingbo’s guidance and later founded her own company upon returning to the country.

In Xi Zihua’s newly established company, Nie Lingbo holds shares, making her the second-largest shareholder after Xi Zihua.

When it comes to decision-making, Xi Zihua relies on her, often seeking her advice when unsure.

The Xi Family originally started with batteries and possessed several dozen technical patents. It was Fu Siyuan who shared the core technology with Xi Heng. Thanks to this, Xi Heng was able to leverage the Xi Family’s century-old foundation and made breakthroughs in the development of power batteries, becoming a rising star in the business world.

Xi Zihua’s registered company also focuses on batteries. With significant progress in new energy exploitation, new energy vehicles are no longer new. Leading companies are now setting their sights on high-speed trains, aircraft, and even higher and farther goals.

Power batteries are the core equipment for new energy exploitation, but the market is still vacant. Xi Heng is eyeing this cake eagerly. It now depends on these two “Xi Family members” who can step on the other in terms of market share, or even render them incapable of recovery.

Originally, Nie Lingbo wanted Xi Zihua to leave first as she had to attend the Xia Family’s appointment. However, upon hearing that it concerned the solicitation of parts manufacturers from both sides, Nie Lingbo remembered Xi Heng’s other identity and raised her eyebrows with interest, giving Xi Zihua some advice.

The more Xi Zihua listened, the brighter her eyes sparkled, like an owl at night. Finally, she got so excited that she jumped up and pounced on Nie Lingbo:

“I can’t wait to see how Xi Heng and I will compete, Lingbo, I love you!”

“Stay away from me,” Nie Lingbo said mercilessly.

Xi Zihua’s voice abruptly stopped, and she withdrew her outstretched arms, hugging herself pitifully and helplessly:

“We’ve known each other for so many years, can’t I even give you a hug?”

Nie Lingbo glanced at her watch, unmoved:

“You know what to do, so you can leave now.”

“Okay.”

After her excitement, Xi Zihua returned to her elegant demeanor as a Xi Family young lady and left sensibly.

As she walked towards the elevator, she comforted herself. Nie Lingbo was always like this. She had seen through it a long time ago. Perhaps only Mrs. Nie could hug her daughter. When had she ever shown affection to outsiders?

Suddenly, Xi Zihua remembered Xi Heng’s former girlfriend.

Her name was… Song Pianxian?

Xi Zihua covered her mouth with her hand in surprise.

Had she noticed something?

She turned around and, through the frosted glass, looked at the graceful figure in the conference room.

So Sister Lingbo… is this narcissistic?

The only exception to the rule of not getting close to strangers or acquaintances is a girl who looks very much like herself…?

Xia Zhang is the current head of the Xia Family. The Xia Family has only two daughters in this generation.

The eldest daughter, Xia Zhang, takes charge and is decisive, similar in status to Nie Lingbo in the Nie Family.

The second daughter, Xia Lei, is just coasting along. When asked about her aspirations since childhood, while others talked about becoming scientists from Peking University or Tsinghua University, her dream was to look pretty and conveniently marry into a family.

When news of this noble schoolgirl spread, many people joked about how the parents of the Xia Family taught their children these things from a young age. The parents of the Xia Family were also very wronged; they didn’t teach a 9-year-old child how to prepare for marriage better.

But there is some truth to the saying “seeing an old person in a child.” Ms. Xia Lei perfectly executed her childhood dream after graduation and successfully implemented her marriage plan. In this regard, one can only say that everyone has their own aspirations.

She thought she would spend her ordinary and simple life “spending her parent’s money at home and her husband’s money after marriage.”

Unexpectedly, one evening, her Big Sister came back from socializing and sat in the living room, contemplating in silence for a full half hour while looking at her.

Xia Lei was so scared that she hastily reflected on whether she had bought too many cars recently or maxed out her Big Sister’s supplementary card. After realizing that she had done almost both, she became more and more anxious and cautiously decided to peel an apple to please her Big Sister.

Just as the red-skinned apple was being peeled, Xia Lei heard Xia Zhang say:

“Your engagement with Xi Heng may be canceled.”

“Huh?”

Xia Lei was a bit slow to react.

But her first reaction was, great, looks like she could continue swiping tomorrow.

Even at the gathering of the centennial school celebration, Nie Lingbo is still a key guest.

Her seat is in the front row, surrounded by top figures from various fields.

Xi Heng, as a rising star in the business world who graduated from S University, also received an invitation, but he still has some reputation among young talents outside. Here, his seat can only be arranged in the third row.

Throughout the school celebration, apart from Nie Lingbo’s speech on stage, he can hardly find an opportunity or reason to approach.

The people around Nie Lingbo are beyond his current reach, including scientists with white hair, legends of the previous generation in the business world, and well-known old artists…

Xi Heng had to admit that standing with these figures, he felt like a fish out of water, insignificant and cheap.

He attributed this to his lack of time.

When his career develops further, he will definitely catch up with Nie Lingbo and stand shoulder to shoulder with her, Xi Heng confidently thought.

Comparisons are odious, and at this moment he doesn’t want to approach, lest Nie Lingbo leaves with a negative impression of him.

Therefore, Xi Heng waited until the halfway break of the school celebration, when Nie Lingbo returned to the VIP room alone to rest, before seizing the opportunity to slip into the same room.

He adjusted his suit, confidently strode to Nie Lingbo, looked at his beloved moonlight, and used his most magnetic voice:

“Ms. Nie, we meet again.”

Nie Lingbo leaned on the sofa, graceful and charming, exuding charm like ripe cherries, overflowing with charm. As she casually gathered herself, she became even more fragrant, enticing.

With a flutter of her eyelashes, she looked over.

Just one glance made Xi Heng’s blood boil.

“It’s you.”

Nie Lingbo’s figure showed no joy or sorrow, no sadness or joy, but it made Xi Heng’s heart boil even more.

Nie Lingbo remembered him, she recognized him!

Xi Heng’s voice was eager, his eyes revealing passionate affection:

“It’s me, I have something to tell you.”

“I also have something to tell you.”

The goddess has something to say to him? Xi Heng really didn’t expect it, but then he became even more excited. Whether it’s business cooperation or anything else, having a topic is always a good thing, and what if it’s about him—

He was eager to urge Nie Lingbo to speak quickly.

Perhaps his expression had already revealed this intention, or perhaps Nie Lingbo didn’t wait for his response at all.

Nie Lingbo stood up.

Only then did Xi Heng notice that Nie Lingbo’s high heels today were unusually high.

At this moment, she was not even shorter than him.

He felt a sense of oppression.

“In the future, don’t harass Song Pianxian anymore, and don’t appear in front of me again.”

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu

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